The nervous system in horses is a complex network responsible for transmitting signals between different parts of the body. It consists of the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which comprises nerves that extend throughout the body. The nervous system regulates various physiological processes, including movement, sensation, and the coordination of bodily functions. It plays a critical role in processing sensory information and initiating appropriate responses. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the structure, function, and clinical implications of the equine nervous system, including its role in behavior, response to stimuli, and neurological disorders.
Tate LP, Evans LH.Cryoneurectomy was performed experimentally on 10 digital plantar nerves of normal horses. All nerves were frozen to -30 C, using a double freeze-thaw cycle. Nerves were harvested at 10 days and at 4, 12, 16, and 24 weeks and were examined histologically for evidence of regeneration. The terminal portion of the transected nerves treated with cryosurgery did not have any signs of regeneration or neuroma formation at these periods. Cryoneurectomy was performed on 101 nerves of 32 horses with diseases requiring neurectomy. Twenty-seven of these nerves had been subjected to previous neurectomy, an...
The Journal of protozoologyAugust 1, 1980
Volume 27, Issue 3 288-292 doi: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1980.tb04259.x
Simpson CF, Mayhew IG.Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) was diagnosed in 10 horses. By electron microscopy, schizonts were found in intact host cells of the spinal cords or, more frequently, free in the extracellular spaces. Developmental stages of schizonts differed morphologically, and the late stage of schizogony was characterized by endopolygeny. These findings permitted tentative identification of the protozoon as a Sarcocystis sp. Free merozoites were present in the extracellular spaces or in cells of the spinal cord. Pericytes of capillaries were most frequently parasitized by merozoites were present ...
Greet TR, Jeffcott LB, Whitwell KE, Cook WR.The paper describes the assessment and practical implications of a laryngeal adductory reflex in a series of 30 ataxic and 64 non-ataxic horses. The reflex was evoked by slapping the saddle region just caudal to the withers. In normal horses this produced a flickering adductory movement of the contralateral arytenoid cartilage which was observed endoscopically. Abolition of the laryngeal response was encountered in in 3 situations:--(1) Disruption of the afferent impulse occurred in those horses in which there was significant spinal cord pathology affecting the pathway from the cranial thoraci...
Henry RW, Diesem CD, Wiechers DO.Eleven ponies and 13 horses were used to develop a technique for determining conduction velocity for the radial and median nerves and establishing normal limits for these values. One pony was euthanatized to determine the course of the radial and the median nerves. From this dissection, both proximal and distal stimulation sites for the radial and the median nerves were selected, as well as areas for recording muscle evoked responses from the abductor digiti I longus (extensor carpi obliquus) and the radial head of the deep digital flexor muscles. The other ten ponies and the horses were used ...
Cummings JF, de Lahunta A, Timoney JF.Four cases of neuritis of the cauda equina (NCE) were studied by light and electron microscopy. Examination of sacral intradural rootlets revealed inflammatory cell infiltrates and an array of myelinated fiber changes which included myelin stripping by invading mononuclear cells and macrophages, as well as splitting and vesiculation of myelin lamellae without obvious participation by leukocytes. More distally in the extradural roots, there was marked granulomatous inflammation, and demyelinative changes were overshadowed by widespread evidence of irreversible axon damage. In all cases, unusual...
Garcia MC, Freedman LJ, Ginther OJ.A working hypothesis for the regulation of LH secretion in the mare is postulated which involves the following two components: (1) a primary central nervous system (CNS)-pituitary component which is responsible for a basal circannual LH rhythm, entrained to an environmental 'Zeitgeber' (most probably photoperiod) and independent of ovarian influences, and (2) a secondary ovarian (steroidal) component which modifies the primary rhythm during the ovulatory season. This hypothesis does not seem to apply in its entirety to FSH secretion; the CNS-pituitary component is demonstrable within the first...
Boratyński Z, Flieger S, Eustachiewicz R, Sławomirski J.In this paper, structure and position of the centers of the parasympathetic nervous system in the horse spinal cord were presented. Studies were carried out on 2 horse spinal cordis. After sampling, the material was dehydrated in alcohol, embedded in paraffin and cut into 15 micron thick sections. The sections were stained according to Nissl's method. Every third section was studied. Nucleus intermediomedialis in the horse spinal cord is an intermittent tract of nervous cells passing from the I cervical neuromere to the V sacral segment. The cells of this nucleus form round, horizontally--oval...
Duncan ID, Griffiths IR, Madrid RE.A study has been made of the pathological changes in the recurrent laryngeal nerves from horses with clinical and sub-clinical idiopathic laryngeal hemiplegia. Qualitative and quantitative studies showed in clinical cases there was a progressive distal loss of large myelinated fibres in the left recurrent nerve. Regenerating clusters and onion bulbs were frequently seen in affected nerves both at proximal and distal levels. Degenerating axons were characterized by collections of organelles, and denervated bands of Bungner were common. Similar but less severe changes were seen in the left recur...
Smith JS, Mayhew IG.The sympathetic nervous innervation of the head was surgically transected in the horse, cow, sheep and goat. The site of transection was preganglionic in all 4 species and ganglionic-postganglionic in 2 additional horses. The Horner's syndrome, manifested as a result of the iatrogenic lesion, varied with the species. Ptosis was the most constant sign in all species. Unilateral sweating over the face and proximal neck, particularly at the base of the ear, was the most prominent feature in the horse. The cow revealed distension of vasculature and cutaneous heat of the pinna, and a reduced produc...
Rumbaugh GE.Physical, neurologic, and clinicopathologic findings in a 3-year-old female Morgan horse with anorexia and nasal discharge suggested suppurative meningitis. Necropsy findings substantiated the tentative diagnosis. Actinomyces sp was cultured from a meningeal abscess surrounding the pituitary gland and from resolving lung abscesses.
Taylor HW, Vandevelde M, Firth EC.A horse that suddenly became recumbent had a focal ischemic infarct of the spinal cord between C6 and C7. The infarct was attributed to multiple fibrocartilaginous emboli. Adherence of fibrocartilaginous debris to the outer surface of the dura was interpreted as evidence that intervertebral disc degeneration and displacement of the nucleus pulposus had occurred and that the emboli arose from the disc.
O'Sullivan BM, Goodwin JA.On 6 properties in south-western Queensland an outbreak of nervous disease occurred horses due to ingestion of Swainsonia (Darling pea). Loss of condition, depression, hyperaesthesia and hyperexcitability were seen in affected horses. At autopsy of 2 horses generalised c ytoplasmic vacuolation was seen in the neurones of the central nervous system and in the liver, adrenal and thyroid. The clinical and pathological features were similar to those described in horses suffering from Swainsona poisoning in Australia and Astragalus and Oxytropis in North America.
Traver DS, Moore JN, Thornburg LP, Johnson JH, Coffman JR.An aged gray stallion was examined because of fullminating posterior paresis, bladder paralysis, and perineal anesthesia. Lower motor neuron dysfunction was detected at the lumbosacral level of the spinal cord, and cerebrospinal fluid was yellow. After brief supportive treatment, the horse died. Necropsy revealed a single epidural melanoma at L5-6. The absence of cutaneous melanotic growth, absence of organ involvement, and extensive vertebral remodeling indicated the neoplasm to have been primary and to have been present for an extended period. Neurologic dysfunction was acute and progressive...
Gard GP, Marshall ID, Walker KH, Acland HM, Saren WG.An outbreak of Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) occurred in New South Wales during the first five months of 1974. Specimens from 52 horses with nervous disease collected January to May 1974 were examined histopathological or virologically. Although MVE virus was not isolated, 13 horses had serological evidence of recent infection with MVE virus. Another 4 horses had evidence of recent infection with Ross River virus. Two animals had histological evidence of viral infection of the central nervous system. Attempts to experimentally infect 2 horses with a low dose of MVE virus were not successful...
Mayhew IG, deLahunta A, Whitlock RH, Geary JC.Five horses of mixed breeding and 1 zebra with symmetric tetraparesis and ataxia were studied. There were 2 females and 4 males. Signs of illness were first noticed from birth to 12 months of age. Clinical and pathologic studies were performed when the animals were 4 to 24 months old. Two of the horses were related. All of the subjects had diffuse degenerative myeloencephalopathy. The degeneration was most pronounced in thoracic segments of the spinal cord. Ventral and dorsolateral funiculi were most severely affected. Axonal swelling and abnormal neuronal cell bodies were seen in the gray mat...
Science (New York, N.Y.)November 5, 1976
Volume 194, Issue 4265 626-627 doi: 10.1126/science.790567
Radinsky L.Previous interpretations of early horse brains were based on an incorrectly identified fossil endocast, now believed to be from a condylarth. Newly prepared endocasts of Hyracotherium, the oldest horse and one of the earliest perissodactyls, reveal a relatively larger brain, with a more expanded neocortex, than existed in the condylarth ancestors of perissodactyls. Fifty million years ago, horse brains had suprasylvian, ectolateral, and lateral sulci, but the frontal lobe was undeveloped.
Marasas WF, Kellerman TS, Pienaar JG, Naudé TW.When 2 horses were dosed with cultures of a Fusarium moniliforme isolate that had previously caused only hepatosis, 1 developed brain oedema and hepatosis, and the other only leukoencephalomalacia. A 3rd horse developed both leukoencephalomalacia and hepatosis after being dosed with another isolate obtained from maize which was associated with a natural outbreak of the nervous form of the disease. Since leukoencephalomalacia and hepatosis could be induced by the same culture material, it was concluded that both syndromes were manifestations of the same toxicosis. There was also some evidence t...
Timoney PJ, Donnelly WJ, Clements LO, Fenlon M.An outbreak of LI infection in a group of free range horses is described. Three of 4 horses displayed signs of CNS disturbance and 2 of these died after illnesses ranging from 2-12 days duration. In both cases a variable degree of viral polioencephalomyelitis was observed. A virus antigenically indistinguishable from a reference strain of LI virus was isolated from the brain and cervical cord of a 3 y.o. draft mare. Serum samples obtained from 3 of the horses contained HI, CF, precipitating and neutralising antibodies to LI virus, with a rise in antibody titre being demonstrated in 2 animals.
Haughey KG, Jones RT.A high frequency of meningeal lesions was found at autopsy in foals dying perinatally. Such lesions are considered an index of injury to the fetal central nervous system, from trauma and/or hypoxia during birth. Their incidence in the sample examined (26 foals) is similar to that observed in the perinatal mortality of lambs and calves.
Barrowman PR.This paper is a record of observations on the transmission and clinical signs of dourine in naturally infected cases of known duration, and of temporal and quantitative aspects of the immune response in blood and cerebro-spinal fluid. Included in the record are observations on the presence of Trypanosoma equiperdum parasites in these body fluids and methods for their detection. There is evidence that the occurrence of nervous symptoms and lesions in infected horses is associated with the presence of Trypanosoma equiperdum parasites in cerebro-spinal fluid. The suitability of cerebro-spinal flu...
van Loon JP, Stienen PJ, Doornenbal A, Hellebrekers LJ.To determine whether epidurally derived evoked potentials (EPs) can be used to reliably assess nociception and antinociception in ponies. Methods: 7 ponies. Methods: EPs and electromyograms (EMGs) from the quadriceps femoris muscles were recorded simultaneously, following electrical stimulation applied to the distal portion of the hind limb. The effect of increasing stimulus intensity, conduction velocities of the stimulated nerves, effect of epidurally applied methadone, and effect of systemically administered propofol were evaluated. Results: In the EP and EMG waveforms, 2 distinct complexes...
Harris WF.Three horses exhibited nervous and cardiopulmonary signs after ingestins small amounts of metaldehyde, and 2 died in 3 to 5 hours. A colt given 0.1 mg/kg was similarly affected and died.
Bunton TE.Developmental defects are rarely reported in the horse. Severe craniofacial and central nervous system defects in an equine foetus are described and their possible causation and pathogenesis are suggested.
Simoens P, Lauwers H, De Muelenare C, Muylle E, Steenhaut M.A clinical case of Horner's syndrome is described in a Standardbred horse, and the various symptoms of cranial sympathetic denervation are studied in two ponies after experimental transection of the left cervical sympathetic trunk and vagosympathetic trunk, respectively. The most prominent symptoms of equine Horner's syndrome were ptosis, local sweating and increased cutaneous temperature in the denervated area. Enophthalmos, miosis and increased lacrimation were also observed but these symptoms were mild, variable and difficult to ascertain. Prolapse of the third eyelid was not noticed. Conco...
Estell K.Acute central nervous system (CNS) trauma in the field is best approached by a systematic and thorough physical and neurologic examination that allows the practitioner to localize the brain or spinal cord injury. The skull and vertebral canal are complex 3-dimensional structures, and orthogonal radiographic views are necessary for an accurate diagnosis. Therapeutics aimed at decreasing pain, inflammation, and edema or increased intracranial pressure in the case of traumatic brain injury should be administered. Survival and return to athleticism can be achieved even in moderate-to-severe trauma...
Aleman M.The vestibular system (VS) is the primary specialized sensory system responsible for maintaining balance (equilibrium) and orientation of the eyes, neck, trunk, and limbs during rest and movement. Two important reflexes are responsible for maintaining balance: vestibulo-ocular and vestibulospinal reflexes. These reflexes involve peripheral and central components of the VS. Whether central or peripheral disease, most of the disorders of the VS result in ipsilateral neurologic deficits. A few uncommon exceptions present with contralateral signs to the site of the lesion. This article provides a ...
Furr MO, Tyler RD.The CSF creatine kinase (CK) activity was determined in 70 CSF samples from 69 horses with CNS disease. Abnormal values (greater than or equal to 1 IU/L) were determined from 32 CSF samples, and normal values (less than 1 IU/L) were found in 38 samples. Increased CK activity was most frequently associated with a diagnosis of equine protozoal myelitis; CK activity was not increased in 11 horses with cervical compressive myelopathy. Other diagnoses, in which CSF CK activity was increased included trauma (n = 1), idiopathic epilepsy (n = 2), botulism (n = 2), articular facet fracture (n = 1), int...
Hahn C.The neurological examination is undertaken to determine whether any deficit is due to a lesion in the nervous system and, if so, where within the nervous system any possible lesion or lesions are located. The examination of horses has challenges not encountered when doing the equivalent examination in dogs and cats, principally that spinal reflexes and postural reactions are impossible/difficult to assess in most animals. The anatomy book can be consulted later but at the end of the neurological examination the clinician then should be able to determine broadly which area of the neuromuscular ...
Cohen ND.Neurologic evaluation should be performed in horses with diseases of the head. Although neurologic examination should focus on assessing behavior, mental status, and cranial nerve evaluation, evaluation of neurologic function of other body regions should be performed. Neurologic evaluation of the head can be performed expediently by practitioners to provide useful diagnostic and prognostic information. The numerous causes of dysphagia can be classified as obstructive, painful, or neurogenic. Common causes of neurogenic dysphagia are summarized, and methods for initial diagnosis and management ...
Mair TS, Pearson GR.A 3 1/2-year-old bay gelding of the cob type showed nervous signs and coughing associated with breaking-in and exercise. At post-mortem examination, heavy melanin pigmentation of the meninges of the hind brain and the medulla was identified and, on histological examination, melanin-containing cells were found within connective tissue extending into the medulla. The lesion was considered to be a melanotic hamartoma.
Gruys E, Beynen AC, Binkhorst GJ, van Dijk S, Koeman JP, Stolk P.The most important neurodegenerative diseases of the horse are reviewed. In addition to the literature, neurodegenerative diseases occurring in patients (horses, Mongolian Przewalski-horses, and two zebras) referred to the Utrecht Veterinary Faculty are mentioned. Neurodegenerative diseases described are: I. ataxia associated with: A/ static stenosis, B/ dynamic stenosis, C/ lesions at various locations in the central nervous system, D/ equine herpesvirus infections, E/ equine degenerative myelo-encephalopathy, or F/ cerebellar abiotrophy; II. equine motor neuron disease; III. grass sickness o...
Wobeser BK, Godson DL, Rejmanek D, Dowling P.A protozoal parasite identified as Neospora hughesi was found in inflammatory lesions in the central nervous system of a Canadian-born adult horse presented with neurological signs. This is believed to be the first case of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) caused by Neospora hughesi in a horse outside of the United States. Un parasite protozoaire identifié comme a été trouvé dans les lésions inflammatoires du système nerveux central d’un cheval adulte né au Canada présentant des signes neurologiques. On croit qu’il s’agit du premier cas d’encéphalomyélite protozoai...
Finno CJ, Aleman M, Ofri R, Hollingsworth SR, Madigan JE, Winfield L, Bannasch DL.Neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD) is a disease characterized by the sudden onset of neurologic signs in horses ranging from 4 to 36 months of age. Equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM), a disease that has been associated with low vitamin E concentrations, is considered a more advanced form of NAD. The objective of this report is to describe the electrophysiological features of NAD/EDM in American Quarter horses (QHs). HORSES: Six NAD/EDM-affected QHs and six unaffected QHs were evaluated by ophthalmic examination and electroretinography. Five of the NAD/EDM-affected QH and five unaffected QH...
Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Binkhorst GJ.The differences in aetiology, symptomatology, pathomorphology, diagnosis and therapy between the nervous form (paralytic form) of Equine Herpes Virus, type 1, and Neuritis Caudae Equinae are reviewed. The conclusion is that in most cases it is possible to differentiate between these two clinical syndromes.
Hooper PT, Williamson MM.The most important clinical and pathological manifestation of Hendra virus infection in horses and humans is that of severe interstitial pneumonia caused by viral infection of small blood vessels. The virus is also capable of causing nervous disease. Hendra virus is not contagious in horses and is spread by close contact with body fluids, such as froth from infected lungs. Diagnosis should be based on the laboratory examination of blood, lung, kidney, spleen, and, if nervous signs are present, also of the brain. Evidence of infection with the more recently identified and related Nipah virus wa...
Haughey KG, Jones RT.A high frequency of meningeal lesions was found at autopsy in foals dying perinatally. Such lesions are considered an index of injury to the fetal central nervous system, from trauma and/or hypoxia during birth. Their incidence in the sample examined (26 foals) is similar to that observed in the perinatal mortality of lambs and calves.
Flieger S, Sławomirski J, Boratyński Z, Jastrzebski M.Two medullae oblongatae of horses were cut into 15 microns cross-sections and stained according to the modified method of Nissel. The lateral motor nucleus lies in the lateral and median part of the ventral column of spinal cord grey matter. It adjoins medially nucleus motorius medialis of the spinal ventral column. Cells of this nucleus occur both along the whole lumbar and sacral segment of the spinal cord. In the lateral motor nucleus three cell groups are distinguished-median, basal and lateral. The latter is divided in some segments into subgroups-dorsal and ventral. Along the nucleus qui...
Thein P, Brown K.Infections with EHV1 can lead to manifestation at the CNS of horses followed by encephalomyelitis and "equine stroke". Horse experiments could confirm the clinical picture and gave links to the potential pathogenesis of the disease. We also have been in the position to isolate and characterize an EHV4 virus out of the brain of a horse with CNS disorders. The two viruses carry different biological properties which obviously dominate the pathogenesis. These properties as well as experimental and field cases are described and different diagnostic tests are discussed.
Journée HL, Journée SL.Depending on the localization of the lesion, spinal cord ataxia is the most common type of ataxia in horses. Most prevalent diagnoses include cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), trauma and equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM). Other causes of ataxia and weakness are associated with infectious causes, trauma and neoplasia. A neurologic examination is indispensable to identify the type of ataxia. In addition, clinical neurophysiology offers tools to locate functional abnormalities in the central and peripheral nervous system. Clinical...
Henker LC, Lorenzett MP, Piva MM, Wronski JG, de Andrade DGA, Borges AS, Driemeier D, Oliveira-Filho JP, Pavarini SP.Holoprosencephaly is a central nervous system malformation, characterized by incomplete or total lack of division of prosencephalon hemispheres, which is commonly accompanied by craniofacial malformations. A 9-month-gestation aborted American Quarter Horse fetus was submitted for postmortem examination. The fetus lacked haircoat and had severe facial malformations including marked shortening/absence of the maxillary, incisive and nasal bones, bilateral anophthalmia, and pre-maxillary agenesis. The prosencephalon was small and nearly spherical, represented by a single lobe, with no visible sepa...
Rojas-Núñez I, Gomez AM, Palmer S, Mohammed HO.Neurofilaments are structural proteins that are concentrated in the body and axons of neurons. Damage to the neurons or axons as a result of trauma or infectious diseases leads to the release of neurofilaments into blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This case-control study was carried out to compare serum levels of phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNF-H) between clinically healthy Thoroughbred (TB) horses and TB horses that suffered catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries (cMSI), and to investigate the correlation between putative risk factors and serum concentrations of pNF-H in inju...
Bolat D, Yıldız D, Bahar S, Yürüker S, Kaymaz F, Ilgın C, Bozkurt EÜ, Karahan S, Sabancı SS.We investigated the microscopic structure of transverse sections of the oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nerves of Arabian foals using stereological methods. Bilateral nerve pairs from 2-month-old female Arabian foals were analyzed. The tissues were embedded in plastic blocks, then 1 µm thick sections were cut and stained with osmium tetroxide and methylene blue-azure II. Stereology was performed using light microscopy. Morphometry showed that the right and left pairs of nerves were similar. The transverse sectional areas of the oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nerves were 1.93 ± 0.19 mm...
Sakurai M, Isshiki S, Sasaki N, Sakai Y, Yamada Y, Morimoto M.A 7-year-old male Thoroughbred horse exhibited recurrent falls followed by convulsive seizures. The horse was clinically diagnosed with epilepsy and phenobarbital treatment was initiated. However, as seizure control was unsuccessful, the animal was euthanized. At necropsy, yellow-brown linear lesions were found extensively at the U-fibres and cingulate gyrus within the cerebral white matter. Histopathologically, linear demyelination and occasional cavitation were observed. Glial cells with yellow-brown pigment granules, which were autofluorescent, positive to the periodic acid-Schiff reaction ...
Bowker RM, Rockershouser SJ, Vex KB, Sonea IM, Caron JP, Kotyk R.To determine whether the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint directly or indirectly communicates with the navicular bursa (bursa podotrochlearis) and to identify sensory nerves in these synovial structures that might be desensitized by intra-articular injections of anesthetics, Evans blue dye in physiologic saline solution, Luxol fast blue dye with mepivicaine, or commercial latex was injected into the DIP joint (5 ml) or the navicular bursa (3 ml) of 152 digits obtained from horses or ponies at necropsy. The digits were frozen, cut with a band saw, and examined for distribution of dye or latex...
Furr MO.Neurologic disease of foals is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for veterinarians. Disease conditions such as neonatal encephalopathy are seen as well as developmental and congenital defects, bacterial infections, and trauma. Neonatal encephalopathy can be considered a "syndrome" with a variety of causes resulting in a similar clinical presentation. These causes can be categorized as maladaptation, hypoxic/ischemic encephalopathy, and metabolic abnormalities, all leading to signs of cerebral and brainstem disease. Spinal cord signs may occasionally be seen, but these signs are usually ov...
Rakestraw PC, Snyder JR, Sanders KM, Shuttleworth WC.To evaluate electrical activity of jejunal circular muscle in horses and characterize electrical responses to stimulation by intrinsic inhibitory neurons. Methods: Portions of jejunum obtained from horses euthanatized for reasons other than gastrointestinal tract disease. Methods: Isolated circular muscle preparations were perfused with oxygenated modified Krebs solution. Glass microelectrodes were used for intracellular recording of membrane potentials from single smooth muscle cells. Electrical activity and responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS) of intrinsic neurons in the presence ...
Rasbech NO.Ejaculatory disorders of the stallion seem to occur more frequently than hitherto accepted. The condition is manifested differently in individual stallions from normal copulation without ejaculation to an abnormal pattern of copulation without or with occasional ejaculation. The condition is probably caused by a functional disturbance of the nervous mechanism which controls the ejaculatory process, and may be caused by environmental or other factors. Eleven cases of ejaculatory disorders in normal healthy stallions were investigated and three of these animals recovered after simple correction ...
Domange C, Casteignau A, Collignon G, Pumarola M, Priymenko N.Seventy horses with clinical evidence of Australian stringhalt were studied in France from 2003 to 2008. All horses but one had history of bilateral stringhalt and grazed pastures infested with Hypochoeris radicata (L.). They displayed hind limbs hyperflexion and an abnormal gait because of a distal axonopathy with a skeletal muscle denervation and atrophy. Fifty percentage of them recovered spontaneously in 8 months, and only the more affected horses were unable to recover even if they looked healthy on dry and hot days. Clinical troubles revealed also depression or aggressive behaviour, sugg...
Ciosek J, Kimes A, Vinardell T, Miller DC, Antczak DF, Brooks S.Valued for their temperament, beauty, athletic ability, and exhibition in the show ring, Arabian horses are an important component of the horse industry. Juvenile idiopathic epilepsy (JIE), a seizure disorder, is most often reported in Arabian foals from birth to 6 months of age. Affected foals exhibit tonic-clonic seizures lasting as long as 5 min and risking secondary complications like temporary blindness and disorientation. Some foals outgrow this condition, while others die or suffer lifelong complications if not treated. Previous work suggested a strong genetic component to JIE and propo...
