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A survey of neurological diseases in horses.
Abstract: Case records of 450 horses with signs of neurological disease are reviewed. One hundred and nineteen horses with neurological disease due to trauma were examined, of which 60 were due to spinal cord trauma, 47 to brain or cranial nerve trauma and 12 to peripheral nerve trauma. Cervical vertebral fractures/trauma were the most common injury. Basisphenoid/basioccipital bone fractures were the most common form of cranial trauma and facial nerve paralysis the most common cranial nerve injury. Eighty-nine horses with neurological disease due to malformation were examined. Cervical vertebral malformation occurred in 83 horses and congenital defects in 6 foals. Neurological disease due to inflammation or infection occurred in 30 horses. The most common disease of this type was meningitis, which occurred in 11 horses and foals. Neoplasms in the CNS caused neurological disease in 8 horses. The final category was miscellaneous neurological disease, which was diagnosed in 204 horses. Diseases in this category included neonatal (28 cases), toxic/metabolic (27 cases), idiopathic (133 cases), degenerative (3 cases) and other neurological diseases (13 cases). The most common condition was idiopathic laryngeal hemiplegia (116 cases). Where possible, diagnosis relied on a thorough neurological examination with use of ancillary tests in selected cases including rhinolaryngoscopy, radiography, myelography, ophthalmoscopy and cerebrospinal fluid analysis when indicated. In many cases necropsy and histopathological confirmation or diagnosis was necessary.
Publication Date: 1993-12-01 PubMed ID: 8117210DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1993.tb00846.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research reviews case records of 450 horses presenting with neurological disorders. It divided the cases based on cause: trauma, malformation, inflammation or infection, neoplasms, and other miscellaneous conditions. The study relied mainly on thorough neurological examinations and applied various diagnostic tests when needed. Necropsy and histopathological confirmation were necessary in several cases.
Case Review
- The research involved a review of 450 cases which features horses that indicated signs of neurological diseases. These cases were categorised based on the cause of the disease.
Trauma-Related Neurological Diseases
- Out of the total, 119 horses suffered from neurological diseases attributed to trauma.
- These cases were further classified with 60 attributed to spinal cord trauma, 47 to brain or cranial nerve trauma, and 12 to peripheral nerve trauma.
- The most recurrent injury was cervical vertebral fractures/trauma. Also, the most prevalent form of cranial trauma was basisphenoid/basioccipital bone fractures, while facial nerve paralysis was the most typical cranial nerve injury.
Malformation-Based Neurological Diseases
- Eighty-nine horses were diagnosed with neurological diseases resulting from malformation.
- The majority of these, specifically 83 horses, had a condition known as cervical vertebral malformation. On the other hand, congenital defects were diagnosed in 6 foals.
Inflammation or Infection Originated Neurological Diseases
- 30 horses showed neurological symptoms that were traced back to inflammation or infection.
- The most frequently diagnosed disease in this category was meningitis, found in 11 horses and foals.
Neurological Diseases Triggered by Neoplasms
- Neoplasms in the central nervous system led to neurological diseases in 8 horses.
Miscellaneous Neurological Diseases
- In the final category, 204 horses had miscellaneous neurological diseases, which incorporated neonatal (28 cases), toxic/metabolic (27 cases), idiopathic (133 cases), degenerative (3 cases) and other neurological diseases (13 cases).
- The most common condition under this category was idiopathic laryngeal hemiplegia, diagnosed in 116 cases.
Diagnosis Process
- For most cases, the diagnosis relied on detailed neurological examinations and employed various ancillary tests when necessary. These tests included rhinolaryngoscopy, radiography, myelography, ophthalmoscopy, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.
- In multiple instances, researchers carried out necropsy and histopathological confirmations for making a diagnosis.
Cite This Article
APA
Tyler CM, Davis RE, Begg AP, Hutchins DR, Hodgson DR.
(1993).
A survey of neurological diseases in horses.
Aust Vet J, 70(12), 445-449.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1993.tb00846.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Health, University of Sydney, Camden, New South Wales.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Congenital Abnormalities / epidemiology
- Congenital Abnormalities / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Infections / complications
- Infections / veterinary
- Male
- Neoplasms / complications
- Neoplasms / veterinary
- Nervous System Diseases / diagnosis
- Nervous System Diseases / epidemiology
- Nervous System Diseases / etiology
- Nervous System Diseases / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Wounds and Injuries / complications
- Wounds and Injuries / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Domańska-Kruppa N, Stefanik E, Wierzbicka M, Kleinpeter A. A Closed Reduction of Cervical Spine Subluxation in an Arabian Foal with an External Neck Stabilizer. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 23;15(3).
- Kabir A, Lamichhane B, Habib T, Adams A, El-Sheikh Ali H, Slovis NM, Troedsson MHT, Helmy YA. Antimicrobial Resistance in Equines: A Growing Threat to Horse Health and Beyond-A Comprehensive Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024 Jul 29;13(8).
- Lee H, Hwang H, Ro Y, Kim JH, Lee K, Choi E, Bae Y, So B, Lee I. Setaria digitata was the main cause of equine neurological ataxia in Korea: 50 cases (2015-2016). J Vet Med Sci 2021 Jun 2;83(5):869-875.
- Rijckaert J, Raes E, Buczinski S, Dumoulin M, Deprez P, Van Ham L, van Loon G, Pardon B. Accuracy of transcranial magnetic stimulation and a Bayesian latent class model for diagnosis of spinal cord dysfunction in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Mar;34(2):964-971.
- Lecollinet S, Pronost S, Coulpier M, Beck C, Gonzalez G, Leblond A, Tritz P. Viral Equine Encephalitis, a Growing Threat to the Horse Population in Europe?. Viruses 2019 Dec 24;12(1).
- Martin-Giménez T, Cruz AM, Barragán A, Montero E, Sanchez PG, Caballero G, Corradini I. Delayed onset vagus nerve paralysis after occipital condyle fracture in a horse. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Nov;33(6):2780-2785.
- Rigoglio NN, Barreto RS, Favaron PO, Jacob JC, Smith LC, Gastal MO, Gastal EL, Miglino MA. Central Nervous System and Vertebrae Development in Horses: a Chronological Study with Differential Temporal Expression of Nestin and GFAP. J Mol Neurosci 2017 Jan;61(1):61-78.
- Aleman M, Dimock AN, Wisner ER, Prutton JW, Madigan JE. Atlanto-axial approach for cervical myelography in a Thoroughbred horse with complete fusion of the atlanto-occipital bones. Can Vet J 2014 Nov;55(11):1069-73.
- Lang HM, Panizzi L, Smyth TT, Plaxton AE, Lohmann KL, Barber SM. Management and long-term outcome of partial glossectomy in 2 horses. Can Vet J 2014 Mar;55(3):263-7.
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