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Clinical and histopathological features in horses with neuroaxonal degeneration: 100 cases (2017-2021).
Abstract: Adult horses with proprioceptive ataxia and behavior changes that have histologic lesions consistent with neurodegenerative disease have been increasingly recognized. Objective: Describe the history, clinical findings and histopathologic features of horses presented to a referral institution with neuroaxonal degeneration. Methods: One hundred horses with a necropsy diagnosis of neuroaxonal degeneration compatible with neuroaxonal dystrophy/degenerative myeloencephalopathy (eNAD/EDM). Methods: Retrospective study of horses presented to the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, between 2017 and 2021 with a necropsy diagnosis of eNAD/EDM. Results: Affected horses had a median age of 8 years (range, 1-22), and the majority were Warmbloods (72). Sixty-eight horses had behavioral changes, and all 100 had proprioceptive ataxia (median grade, 2/5). Fifty-seven horses had abnormal findings on cervical vertebral radiographs, and 14 had myelographic findings consistent with compressive myelopathy. No antemortem diagnostic test results were consistently associated with necropsy diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease. All 100 horses had degenerative lesions characteristic of eNAD in the brainstem gray matter, and 24 had concurrent degenerative features of EDM in the spinal cord white matter. Conclusions: Clinical and histopathologic findings in this large group of horses with neurodegenerative disease were most consistent with eNAD/EDM, but with a different signalment and clinical presentation from earlier descriptions. The increasing occurrence of neurodegenerative disease in horses and the safety risk posed emphasize the importance of focused research in affected horses.
© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2023-12-14 PubMed ID: 38095342PubMed Central: PMC10800219DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16969Google 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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This research examines the clinical, historical, and histopathological features of horses diagnosed with neuroaxonal degeneration. The study is based on 100 cases handled by the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, between 2017 and 2021. Given the increasing occurrence of this neurodegenerative disease in horses and the safety risks it poses, the study underscores the significance of concentrated research in this field.
Objective and Methods
- The main objective of the study was to document the history, clinical findings, and histopathological features of horses diagnosed with neuroaxonal degeneration, often related to equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/degenerative myeloencephalopathy (eNAD/EDM).
- The method used was retrospective, looking back at horses that were presented to the given university center with a necropsy diagnosis of eNAD/EDM over a period of four years.
Results
- The findings reveal that the majority of horses affected were Warmbloods (72 out of 100), with a median age of 8 years.
- Behavioural changes were observed in sixty-eight of the horses, while all featured proprioceptive ataxia (a lack of self-movement and body positioning).
- Fifty-seven horses displayed abnormal findings in their cervical vertebral radiographs, while fourteen presented with signs of compressive myelopathy (damage to the spinal cord).
- No premortem diagnostic tests were consistently associated with a necropsy diagnosis of the neurodegenerative disease.
- The histopathology showed that all the horses had degenerative lesions typical of eNAD in the brainstem gray matter. Concurrently, 24 had degenerative features of EDM in the spinal cord white matter.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that the clinical and histopathological findings in these horses were most consistent with eNAD/EDM. However, the clinical presentation differed from the earlier descriptions.
- The research highlights the growing incidence of neurodegenerative disease in horses, pointing out the safety risks these present. It hence emphasizes the importance of conducting focused research on affected horses to get a better understanding and develop useful interventions.
Cite This Article
APA
Brown KA, Bender SJ, Johnson AL.
(2023).
Clinical and histopathological features in horses with neuroaxonal degeneration: 100 cases (2017-2021).
J Vet Intern Med, 38(1), 431-439.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16969 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Horses
- Animals
- Neurodegenerative Diseases / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / veterinary
- Spinal Cord Compression / veterinary
- Ataxia / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
Conflict of Interest Statement
Dr. Johnson has spoken at educational meetings in addition to serving as an expert witness in a trial involving a horse with neurodegenerative disease. However, she has no financial investment in the topics addressed in this manuscript. Histologic specimens were evaluated separately by Dr. Bender to minimize risk of bias.
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Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Finno CJ, Rogers SL, Donnelly CG, Affolter VK, Woolard K, Miller AD, Bellone RR, Petersen JL. Spatial transcriptomics defines the cell-specific RNA landscape of equine dorsal root ganglia. Vet Pathol 2025 Jul;62(4):546-554.
- Powers A, Peek SF, Reed S, Donnelly CG, Tinkler S, Gasper D, Woolard KD, Finno CJ. Equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/degenerative myeloencephalopathy in Gypsy Vanner horses. J Vet Intern Med 2024 May-Jun;38(3):1792-1798.
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