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Topic:Neurology
Neurology in horses encompasses the study of the equine nervous system, including its structure, function, and associated disorders. The equine nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS), consisting of the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which includes nerves extending throughout the body. Neurological conditions in horses can manifest as gait abnormalities, behavioral changes, or sensory deficits. Common neurological disorders include equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Diagnostic approaches may involve clinical evaluation, imaging techniques, and laboratory tests. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the anatomy, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of neurological disorders in horses.
[Structure and topography of the nucleus proprius cornus dorsalis of the spinal cord of horses]. The studies performed on spinal cords of two horses revealed that cells of the nucleus of the own dorsal horn are present in all segments of lumbo-sacral part of the spinal cord. The nucleus is composed of two parts: basal and marginal. Basal part is composed of large and medium size cells situated in 2/3 of the lower part of the grey substance of the dorsal horn. The marginal part of the described nucleus is composed of elongated and spindle shaped cells situated along the dorsal margine of the grey substance of the dorsal horn. Continuity of the nucleus in lumbo-sacral part of the spinal cor...
The relationship between lipofuscin and neuromelanin in some sites of the nervous system of the horse. Histochemical and cytochemical features of neuronal pigment in the spinal cord, and in the sympathetic and spinal ganglia of the adult horse have been studied. Light and electron microscopical observations revealed that lipofuscin pigment is present in the spinal ganglia and in the spinal cord, whereas in the sympathetic ganglia both lipofuscin and neuromelanin are present. The ultrastructural studies showed that lipofuscin granules exhibited a triphasic organization consisting of a matrix, a system of lamellae and one or more lipid vacuoles. Neuromelanin granules have structural features in c...
Macroscopic organization and sensitive innervation of the tendinous intersection and the lacertus fibrosus of the biceps brachii muscle in the ass and horse. The most developed and organized lamina running trough the biceps brachii muscle belly forms a well-marked tendinous intersection connecting the proximal tendon with the distal one. Moreover, the lacertus fibrosus arises from this lamina close to the distal tendon and blends with the fascia of the forearm and joins the extensor carpi radialis muscle. The nerve supply for the biceps tendinous intersection arises from the intramuscular rami of the musculo-cutaneous nerve, whereas the lacertus fibrosus is provided with some cutaneous rami of the same nerve. The biceps brachii tendinous intersecti...
Preliminary studies on long distance, retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase in equine peripheral nerves. As a prelude to studies on retrograde axonal transport of neurotoxin (ie, so-called suicide transport) as a means to prevent post neurectomy neuroma formation, preliminary studies were conducted with an innocuous enzymatic marker, horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The proximal stumps of resected medial and lateral palmar digital nerves in six ponies were injected via a tuberculin syringe and needle with 50 micron 1 of a 30 per cent solution of HRP in order to assess long distance retrograde axonal transport. The dorsal root ganglion of the cervical spinal enlargement (ie, C6, C7, C8, T1, T2) were ...
Isolation of equine herpesvirus 1 from the brain of a horse affected with paresis. This research paper discusses the isolation of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV1) from the brain of a horse experiencing paresis, demonstrating the connection between EHV1 infections and neurological disorders like ataxia, […]
Solubilization and characterization of [3H] 5HT high affinity binding sites (5HT1 and 5HT3). The solubilization of the serotonergic 5HT1 and 5HT3 sites was performed with digitonin and sodium cholate at 1% (final concentration). Two binding sites for [3H]5HT were observed on rat or horse brain synaptosomal membranes solubilized with these detergents. The corresponding dissociation constants (KD) were 1-3 nM and 13-30 nM respectively. These values were closely similar to those corresponding to 5HT1 and 5HT3 sites located in intact membranes. The solubilized sites specifically bound 5HT. The effect of GTP decreasing the binding to 5HT1 sites was lost on solubilized 5HT1 sites; it was re...
Degenerative optic neuropathy in a horse. The research article discusses a case of blindness in a horse due to degeneration of the optic nerves and tracts and explores potential causes for the condition. Case Presentation and […]
Neurologic diseases. The responses of apparently healthy newborn foals to neurologic testing differ significantly from those of adult horses. These responses and the diagnostic techniques pertinent to neurologic problems are reviewed as a basis for evaluation of the compromised neonatal foal. The more frequently encountered neurologic diseases are discussed in a problem-oriented format. These clinical problems include behavioral abnormalities, convulsions, changes in consciousness, blindness, ataxia without loss of strength, ataxia with weakness and paralysis, and the floppy foal.
Electroencephalographic patterns of clinically normal, sedated, and tranquilized newborn foals and adult horses. To establish a clinically practical procedure for recording the equine EEG, 25 healthy adult horses and 6 newborn foals were used. Recordings were taken with the animals alert and tranquilized, confined in metal stocks, or physically restrained. The dominant alert waveforms of adult horses were fast activity (25 to 40 Hz) with medium-to-low voltages (5 to 40 microV-dominant 10 to 15 microV). Underlying this fast activity was slower (0.5 to 4.0 Hz) activity with medium-to-low voltages (10 to 40 microV). Twelve of the 25 adult horses had EEG frequencies in the alpha frequency range (10 to 15 Hz,...
Sensory nerve endings in the peroneus tertius muscle of the ass and horse: a functional hypothesis. The various types of sensory nerve endings found in the peroneus tertius muscle in the ass and in the horse have been studied with Ruffini's gold chloride method. Free nerve endings have been described as well as encapsulated receptors. These corpuscles are classified as Pacini-like, Ruffini's terminations and also Golgi's tendon-organs. The authors have pointed out the morphology, topography and structural characteristics of the above named nervous terminations and have hypothesized that a probable functional relation existed between these nervous corpuscles and the considered tendinous struc...
Distribution of substance P-like immunoreactivity in the enteric neurons of the large colon of normal and amitraz-treated ponies: an immunocytochemical study. The distribution of the putative motor excitatory neurotransmitter, substance P, was studied immunocytochemically in the left dorsal colon of four normal control ponies and three ponies with amitraz-induced impaction colic. Substance P-like immunoreactivity in the control ponies was observed in nerve fibres in all layers of the bowel wall and in the nerve cell bodies of the enteric ganglia. The substance P-like immunoreactivity was clearly more intense in the cell bodies of submucosal ganglia than in those of the myenteric ganglia. The internodal nerve strands of the myenteric plexus were very...
[Neurological disorders caused by equine herpesvirus type 1 and cauda equina neuritis in horses]. 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.
The distribution and origin of a novel brain peptide, neuropeptide Y, in the spinal cord of several mammals. The distribution of neuropeptide Y [NPY]-immunoreactive material was examined in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia of rat, guinea-pig, cat, marmoset, and horse. Considerable concentrations of NPY and similar distribution patterns of immunoreactive nerve fibres were found in the spinal cord of all species investigated. The dorsal root ganglia of the cat and the horse contained numerous immunoreactive nerve fibres, but in these species, as in the other three studied [rat, guinea-pig, marmoset], no positively stained cell bodies were found. Neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive nerves were observed...
Neuroaxonal dystrophy of the accessory cuneate nucleus in horses. Data were collected from 37 horses with a neurologic disability and compared to a group of 34 normal horses. Affected horses had neuroaxonal dystrophy, gliosis, vacuoles, and sometimes pigment localized to the accessory cuneate nuclei with minimal or no changes in the spinal cord and no changes in the proximal peripheral nerves. The focal nature of the change and usual absence of significant light microscopic spinal cord or peripheral nerve changes are different than previously described equine neuropathologic conditions.
Neurological examination of newborn foals. Behaviour and response to neurological testing of apparently healthy newborn foals differed significantly from the adult in several ways. Foals responded to external stimulation with exaggerated movements although they tended to sink into a relaxed state when restrained. They had a more angular head position and assumed a base wide stance. The menace reflex developed during the first two weeks post partum. In general, the foals' gait was choppy or dysmetric. In lateral recumbency the foals had increased extensor tone, hyperreflexive tendon reflexes, crossed extensor reflexes as well as recumbe...
Pain perception and alleviation in animals. In the last 2 decades there have been substantial advances in our knowledge of the scientific basis of the mechanisms of pain. Nociceptors or pain receptors are widespread in the skin and tissues of animals; chemical mediation of nociceptor excitation may provide a key for understanding the peripheral phenomena related to pain. The expression of pain in animals involves multiple ascending and descending branches, as well as specialized pain-signaling mechanisms in the spinal cord. The importance of these different pathways varies with species and circumstances. Endogenous neural systems in the...
Neuromuscular arthrogryposis multiplex congenita in a thoroughbred foal. Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita was studied in a newborn thoroughbred foal. The syndrome affected only the left hind limb allowing the right hind limb to serve as a reference. There was a significant depletion of large motor neurons from the ventral horn of the spinal cord from L3 to S4 on the affected side. Hypoplasia of nerves, muscles, and bones was present in the affected limb. Histologically, hypoplasia and degeneration of myofibers and nerve bundles were seen. No cause of the syndrome, which corresponds to most human cases, was determined. Neuromuscular arthrogryposis was diagnosed be...
The distribution and origin of VIP in the spinal cord of six mammalian species. The distribution of VIP-immunoreactivity was studied in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia of 6 mammalian species. Immunoreactive fibres and cell bodies were most apparent in the dorsal horn, dorsolateral funiculus, intermediolateral cell columns and the area around the central canal. The distribution of VIP immunoreactivity was similar in all species studied, mouse, rat, guinea pig, cat, horse and the marmoset monkey. There were fewer VIP fibres in the dorsal horn of cervical and thoracic segments than in lumbosacral segments. Using radioimmunoassay this gradient increase was quantitativ...
[Lateral motor nucleus in the lumbosacral segment of the spinal cord of the horse]. 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...
Verminous (Strongylus vulgaris) myelitis in a donkey. A fifth stage Strongylus vulgaris migrated through the spinal cord of a 2-year-old, male donkey resulting in progressive paraparesis and then tetraplegia. A profound neutrophilic pleocytosis was detected on analysis of cerebrospinal fluid. The parasite appeared to have entered the mid-lumbar spinal cord, migrated to the cranial thoracic segments, exited, then re-entered the spinal cord a few segments craniad. It then traveled further cranially and was found in the third cervical spinal cord segment. Some parts of the lesion were remarkably free from tissue necrosis, hemorrhage and inflammation...
[Medial motor nucleus in the lumbosacral segment of the spinal cord of the horse]. The studies carried out on 2 spinal cords of horses showed that cells of the medial motor nucleus (nucleus motorius medialis) are present in all neuromers of the lumbar and sacral segment of the spinal cord. It lies in the medial part of grey matter of the ventral column, neighbouring laterally and ventrally with cells of the lateral motor nucleus, whereas dorsally with cells of the nucleus of the ventral commissural horn. Along the nucleus numerous constrictions and intervals are found, which are connected with various numbers of nerve cells in particular cross-sections.
[Nucleus motorius medialis in the lumbosacral segment of the spinal cord in horses]. The studies carried out on 2 spinal cords of horses showed that cells of the medial motor nucleus (nucleus motorius medialis) are present in all neuromers of the lumbar and sacral segment of the spinal cord. It lies in the medial part of grey matter of the ventral column, neighbouring laterally and ventrally with cells of the lateral motor nucleus, whereas dorsally with cells of the nucleus of the ventral commissural horn. Along the nucleus numerous constrictions and intervals are found, which are connected with various numbers of nerve cells in particular cross-sections.
[Nucleus motorius lateralis in the lumbosacral segment of the spinal cord in horses]. 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...
A giant congenital pigmented nevus in a horse. Pigmented nevi have not been widely recognized in domesticated animals. We describe, for the first time, a giant congenital pigmented nevus in a horse. Because of a prominent neuroid component within the lesion, neurofibromatosis was the major differential diagnosis.
Facial and vestibulocochlear nerve disease in six horses. In 6 horses, clinical signs of illness implicated a lesion involving the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves. One horse had signs of otitis externa. Five horses had radiographic changes primarily involving periosteal bony proliferation of the stylohyoid bone at its articulation with the temporal bone. Five horses improved with antibiotic therapy. Otitis media-interna was found at necropsy of one horse.
Cytology of equine cerebrospinal fluid. The cytology of cerebrospinal fluid samples from horses is described. The samples were obtained from 24 normal horses, 35 horses with axonal degeneration and/or spinal cord compression, 29 horses with encephalomyelitis, 14 horses with other lesions of the nervous system, and eight horses with signs of neurologic dysfunction of undetermined origin. (Three of the latter were suspected botulinum intoxications.) Fluid was aspirated from the atlanto-occipital space following general anesthesia or immediately after a lethal dose of barbiturate. In two horses, fluid also was aspirated from the lumbos...
Sensory nerve conduction velocities in forelimb of ponies. Normal nerve conduction velocity values in 10 ponies were determined for sensory nerve fibers in the median and ulnar nerves. A percutaneous signal-averaging technique was developed and used. Medial and lateral palmar digital nerves on the abaxial surface of the proximal sesamoid bones were used as the sites for percutaneous stimulation, whereas recording sites included the medial and lateral palmar nerves just distal to the carpus and the median and ulnar nerves in the middle of the radius. Sensory nerve conduction velocities can be evaluated simply and clinically in the limbs of horses, usin...
