Splashed white 5/deafness (SW5)
Summary
The splashed white 5 (SW5) gene causes white markings. They can range from large facial markings and socks to the white face, blue eyes, white legs and white belly of a typical boldly marked splash horse. A fair proportion of SW5 horses are deaf.
Chestnut splashed white horses generally have larger markings than bay/brown or black splashed white horses.
In Australia the SW5 version of splashed white is generally found in Paint horses descended from the stallion Intensity.
No horses with two copies of SW5 have been identified, and it is possible that foals inheriting SW5 plus another splashed white gene may be lost in utero.
Gene or region and technical reference
Gene: MITF (causative). Reference:
Reported alleles
n. Test developed using animal controls.
SW5. Test developed using animal cases.
Panels: groups of tests that are often ordered together
This test is not in any panels.
