Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Deafness and blue eyes linked to MITF gene in Dalmatian dogs
By Stritzel, S et al.·Published in Journal of animal breeding and genetics = Zeitschrift fur Tierzuchtung und Zuchtungsbiologie·2009·Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A role of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor in congenital sensorineural deafness and eye pigmentation in Dalmatian dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Dalmatian dogs was studied to understand the connection between a specific gene (MITF) and congenital sensorineural deafness (CCSD), which is a type of hearing loss present at birth. The researchers found that certain markers related to this gene were significantly linked to both deafness and blue eye color in these dogs. This suggests that the MITF gene may influence not only hearing ability but also eye pigmentation in Dalmatians. Understanding this genetic link can help breeders and owners be more aware of potential hearing issues in puppies.
People also search for: Dalmatian congenital deafness · blue-eyed Dalmatian hearing problems · dog deafness genetic factors
Abstract
Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is involved in white spotting and deafness associated with lack of pigmentation in human and mice. In the present study, we employed MITF-associated markers to evaluate MITF as a candidate for canine congenital sensorineural deafness (CCSD) in Dalmatian dogs. We performed an association study using MITF flanking and intragenic markers for 88 Dalmatian dogs of different hearing and eye pigmentation status. A significant association was identified for MITF-related markers with CCSD and blue iris colour. We conclude that MITF might play a role in CCSD and blue eye colour in Dalmatian dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19207931/