Concurrent Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy and Equine Motor Neuron Disease in Three Young Horses.
Abstract: No abstract available
Publication Date: 2016-06-14 PubMed ID: 27298214PubMed Central: PMC5089576DOI: 10.1111/jvim.13977Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research focuses on multiple neurologic illnesses observed in a family of Paint horses. The study specifically investigates three young horses which presented symptoms such as degenerative myeloencephalopathy and motor neuron disease.
Case Presentation and Findings
- The initial case was discovered in a gelding from a Paint horse breeding farm, showing symptoms of muscle wasting, difficulty in moving, and spending most of the day lying on its side. To evaluate the condition, a series of tests were conducted, like serum a-tocopherol (a-TP) concentration, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, and necropsy examination.
- Postmortem examination revealed noteworthy muscle atrophy and damage to neurons in different areas of the brainstem. Notably, spheroids were found in the lateral accessory cuneate nucleus (LACN) bilaterally (on both sides) which is significant due to their usual existence in neurodegenerative conditions.
- Additional findings included axonal degeneration, muscle fiber irregularities, and neurodegeneration throughout the nervous system.
Diagnosis
- Based on these findings, the gelding was diagnosed with equine motor neuron disease (EMND). The presence of spheroids and axonal degeneration also led to a secondary concurrent diagnosis of equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM).
Extended Family Assessment
- Following the initial case, an investigation into the horse’s family presented similar symptoms in an affected half-sibling and full sibling. Each displayed signs consistent with their underlying health problems, further distorting the family’s medical status.
- The biological parents of the gelding exhibited no noticeable neurologic deficiencies, however, they had low levels of serum a-TP, which is associated with such neurologic conditions.
- Examinations of the grand-dam and the dam also discovered low levels of serum a-TP, though there were no significant neurologic deficits found in either horse.
Overall, this study offers essential insights into the co-existence of neurologic diseases in equine subjects and may contribute to future research on prevention and treatment.
Cite This Article
APA
Finno CJ, Miller AD, Sisó S, Divers T, Gianino G, Barro MV, Valberg SJ.
(2016).
Concurrent Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy and Equine Motor Neuron Disease in Three Young Horses.
J Vet Intern Med, 30(4), 1344-1350.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.13977 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Anatomic Pathology, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY.
- Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY.
- Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
- Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Grant Funding
- K01 OD015134 / NIH HHS
- L40 TR001136 / NCATS NIH HHS
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Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Journée SL, Journée HL, Bergmann W, Chantziaras I, Vanderperren K, Raes E, Reed SM, de Bruijn CM, Berends HI, Delesalle CJG. Evaluation of the diagnostic value of transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) to assess neuronal functional integrity in horses. Front Neurosci 2024;18:1342803.
- 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.
- Lorenzett MP, Armién AG, Henker LC, Schwertz CI, Cruz RAS, Panziera W, de Barros CSL, Driemeier D, Pavarini SP. Motor and somatosensory degenerative myelopathy responsive to pantothenic acid in piglets. Vet Pathol 2023 Jan;60(1):101-114.
- Cappai MG, Dimauro C, Biggio GP, Cherchi R, Accioni F, Pudda F, Boatto G, Pinna W. The metabolic profile of Asinara (albino) and Sardo donkeys (pigmented) (Equus asinus L., 1758) points to unequivocal breed assignment of individuals. PeerJ 2020;8:e9297.
- Burns EN, Finno CJ. Equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy: prevalence, impact, and management. Vet Med (Auckl) 2018;9:63-67.
- Finno CJ, Kaese HJ, Miller AD, Gianino G, Divers T, Valberg SJ. Pigment retinopathy in warmblood horses with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy and equine motor neuron disease. Vet Ophthalmol 2017 Jul;20(4):304-309.
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