Epidemiologic characteristics and management of polysaccharide storage myopathy in Quarter Horses.
Abstract: To characterize onset and clinical signs of polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) in a well-defined population of affected Quarter Horses, identify risk factors for PSSM, determine compliance of owners to dietary and exercise recommendations, and evaluate the efficacy of dietary and exercise recommendations. Methods: 40 Quarter Horses with PSSM and 37 unaffected control horses. Methods: Owners of horses with PSSM completed a retrospective questionnaire concerning their horse's condition. Results: Between horses with PSSM and control horses, no significant differences were found in sex distribution (21 vs 15 females and 16 vs 22 males, respectively), temperament, muscle build, diet, or amount of turnout. In horses with PSSM, signs of muscle stiffness, muscle fasciculations, sweating, exercise intolerance, weakness, muscle wasting, reluctance to move, colic, abnormal gait, recumbency, lameness, and swollen muscles began between the age of 1 day and 14 years (mean age, 4.9 +/- 3.5 years). Five horses with PSSM developed acute muscle atrophy. Sixty-three percent (25/40) of owners fed the recommended diet, 55% (22/40) provided regular exercise, and 40% (16/40) followed both dietary and exercise recommendations. Owners of affected horses for which a decrease in severity or frequency of PSSM was not found did not follow the exercise, dietary, or both recommendations. All horses for which both dietary and exercise recommendations were followed had improvement in signs of PSSM. Conclusions: n addition to exertional rhabdomyolysis, signs of PSSM include acute muscle atrophy and gait abnormalities. It appears that PSSM can be managed by following dietary recommendations combined with gradual increases in daily exercise.
Publication Date: 2003-11-05 PubMed ID: 14596472DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.1319Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the onset, symptoms, and management of Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM) in Quarter Horses, looking at risk factors and evaluating the efficacy of dietary and exercise recommendations.
Study Background and Methods
- This study focuses on a condition called Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM). This is a muscular disease commonly found in Quarter Horses, causing symptoms such as muscle stiffness and weakness.
- To gather their data, the researchers used a sample group of 40 Quarter Horses diagnosed with PSSM. They also had a control group of 37 healthy horses for comparison.
- Owners of the horses with PSSM were asked to fill out a questionnaire about their horse’s condition, providing the researchers with retrospective data.
Findings
- The researchers found that there were no significant differences between the group of horses with PSSM and the control group in terms of sex, temperament, muscle build, diet, or the amount of time the horses spent outside.
- Symptoms of PSSM identified in the study included muscle stiffness, reluctance to move, colic, abnormal gait, recumbency, lameness, and swollen muscles. These symptoms could begin at any age, from a day old to 14 years.
- Acute muscle atrophy was developed by five of the horses suffering from PSSM.
Management of PSSM
- Of the horses with PSSM, 63% of owners followed the recommended diet, 55% provided regular exercise, and 40% followed both dietary and exercise recommendations.
- Notably, all the owners who didn’t see an improvement in their horse’s PSSM hadn’t followed the recommended exercise and/or dietary regimes.
- In contrast, all horses whose owners followed both the dietary and exercise recommendations did see an improvement in PSSM symptoms.
Conclusions
- The researchers concluded that PSSM can result in symptoms like acute muscle atrophy and gait abnormalities, besides the more common exertional rhabdomyolysis.
- The findings suggest that managing PSSM effectively requires adherence to both dietary recommendations and regular exercise regimes. It underscores the importance of these measures in managing PSSM symptoms and improving the horses’ health.
Cite This Article
APA
Firshman AM, Valberg SJ, Bender JB, Finno CJ.
(2003).
Epidemiologic characteristics and management of polysaccharide storage myopathy in Quarter Horses.
Am J Vet Res, 64(10), 1319-1327.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.1319 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical and Population Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN 55108, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Glycogen Storage Disease / epidemiology
- Glycogen Storage Disease / pathology
- Glycogen Storage Disease / therapy
- Glycogen Storage Disease / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
- Muscular Diseases / epidemiology
- Muscular Diseases / pathology
- Muscular Diseases / therapy
- Muscular Diseases / veterinary
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Stang FL, Bjerregaard R, Müller CE, Ergon Å, Halling M, Thorringer NW, Kidane A, Jensen RB. The effect of harvest time of forage on carbohydrate digestion in horses quantified by in vitro and mobile bag techniques. J Anim Sci 2023 Jan 3;101.
- Williams ZJ, Bertels M, Valberg SJ. Muscle glycogen concentrations and response to diet and exercise regimes in Warmblood horses with type 2 Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy. PLoS One 2018;13(9):e0203467.
- McCoy AM, Schaefer R, Petersen JL, Morrell PL, Slamka MA, Mickelson JR, Valberg SJ, McCue ME. Evidence of positive selection for a glycogen synthase (GYS1) mutation in domestic horse populations. J Hered 2014 Mar-Apr;105(2):163-72.
- Naylor RJ, Livesey L, Schumacher J, Henke N, Massey C, Brock KV, Fernandez-Fuente M, Piercy RJ. Allele copy number and underlying pathology are associated with subclinical severity in equine type 1 polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM1). PLoS One 2012;7(7):e42317.
- Brosnahan MM, Brooks SA, Antczak DF. Equine clinical genomics: A clinician's primer. Equine Vet J 2010 Oct;42(7):658-70.
- Isgren CM, Upjohn MM, Fernandez-Fuente M, Massey C, Pollott G, Verheyen KL, Piercy RJ. Epidemiology of exertional rhabdomyolysis susceptibility in standardbred horses reveals associated risk factors and underlying enhanced performance. PLoS One 2010 Jul 14;5(7):e11594.
- McCue ME, Valberg SJ, Miller MB, Wade C, DiMauro S, Akman HO, Mickelson JR. Glycogen synthase (GYS1) mutation causes a novel skeletal muscle glycogenosis. Genomics 2008 May;91(5):458-66.
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