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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Vet Res / Equine grass sickness in italy: a case series study.
BMC veterinary research2021; 17(1); 264; doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-02966-y

Equine grass sickness in italy: a case series study.

Abstract: Equine grass sickness (EGS) has been reported in several European and extra-European countries. Despite this, no scientific paper about clinical cases of EGS in Italy has been published. EGS is a disease affecting almost exclusively horses kept on pasture, characterized by clinical signs related to lesions in autonomic nervous system (ANS), particularly in the enteric nervous system (ENS). According to clinical presentation, acute, subacute and chornic syndromes can be observed, with various sympthoms including dullness, anorexia, dysphagia, drooling of saliva, tachycardia, ptosis, patchy sweating and muscle fasciculations. In horses affected by acute forms, mild to moderate abdominal pain and large volumes of nasogastric reflux can be observed. The etiology is still speculative and many hypothesis have been proposed to explain the pathogenesis. Methods: The present study describes four cases of EGS (one subacute and three chronic forms) occurred in Central Italy during early spring. In all the cases included in the study, the prognosis was poor and the horses were euthanized. The diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination of ANS or ENS. In two cases, in vivo diagnosis was obtained by histological examination of enteric bioptic samples collected during laparoscopy. Conclusions: EGS in Italy could be underdiagnosed and incidence understimated. Greater awareness should be applied in Italy for the inclusion of EGS in differential diagnosis for horses presenting clinical signs of abdominal pain associated or not with gastric reflux and muscular fasciculation. All the cases in this study concerned horses kept in the same pasture, confirming a possible premise-linked and management-linked factors on the ethiopathogenesis of EGS. The age of horses ranged from 2 to 6 years, that is consistent with the risk factor age for EGS (from 2 to 7 years of age). Previous suspected EGS diagnosis in the same livestock and recent cool dry weather were considered additional potential risk factors.
© 2021. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2021-08-06 PubMed ID: 34362361PubMed Central: PMC8343987DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02966-yGoogle 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 dives into the disease known as Equine Grass Sickness (EGS) seen in horses, focusing particularly on cases in Italy, where there is little published data. Four cases that took place in Central Italy were studied, revealing insights into the symptoms, speculated causes, diagnosis and potential risk factors of EGS.

Understanding Equine Grass Sickness (EGS)

  • EGS is a disorder that primarily affects horses kept in pastures. It is characterized by symptoms related to lesions in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and especially the enteric nervous system (ENS).
  • The syndrome versions of EGS can be acute, subacute or chronic, all of which present different symptoms such as dullness, loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, rapid heart rate, patchy sweating and muscle twitching.
  • Horses suffering from acute forms of EGS often experience mild to severe abdominal pain and large volumes of nasogastric reflux.
  • Although the cause of EGS remains unknown, several theories have been put forth to explain its pathogenesis.

Details About the Studied Cases

  • The research encompasses four cases of EGS, one subacute and three chronic, that occurred in the early spring in Central Italy.
  • All four horses had a poor prognosis and were eventually euthanized.
  • Diagnosis was confirmed through histological examination of the ANS or ENS. In two of the cases, diagnosis was obtained in vivo through histological analysis of enteric bioptic samples collected via laparoscopy.

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

  • The researchers suggest that EGS cases in Italy may be underdiagnosed and its incidence underestimated.
  • They advocate for greater awareness and inclusion of EGS in the differential diagnosis for horses displaying signs of abdominal pain, whether associated with gastric reflux and muscle twitching or not.
  • The fact that all the studied cases involved horses kept in the same pasture suggests that factors related to the premises and management of the animals might play a role in the development of EGS.
  • The age of the horses ranged from 2 to 6 years, which aligns with the considered risk factor age for EGS (2 to 7 years).
  • The study suggests that the previous suspicion of EGS in the same livestock and recent cool, dry weather could also be potential risk factors for the disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Laus F, Corsalini J, Mandara MT, Bazzano M, Bertoletti A, Gialletti R. (2021). Equine grass sickness in italy: a case series study. BMC Vet Res, 17(1), 264. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02966-y

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Pages: 264
PII: 264

Researcher Affiliations

Laus, Fulvio
  • School of Bioscences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Matelica, MC, Italy. fulvio.laus@unicam.it.
Corsalini, Jacopo
  • Pratictioner, Perugia, Italy.
Mandara, Maria Teresa
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Bazzano, Marilena
  • School of Bioscences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Matelica, MC, Italy.
Bertoletti, Alice
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Gialletti, Rodolfo
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Incidence
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Laus F, Corsalini J, Mandara MT, Bazzano M, Bertoletti A, Gialletti R. Correction to: Equine grass sickness in Italy: a case series study. BMC Vet Res 2022 Mar 22;18(1):113.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03195-7pubmed: 35317807google scholar: lookup
  2. Atkins CN, Hahn CN, McGorum BC. Comparison of Dysautonomia Across Species: Current Knowledge and Future Research Opportunities. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Jul-Aug;39(4):e70140.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.70140pubmed: 40525668google scholar: lookup
  3. Harte T, Smith D, Moore J, Wells B. Review of published research on primary dysautonomia of domestic animals. Vet Rec 2026 Jan 3;198(1):e30-e40.
    doi: 10.1002/vetr.5499pubmed: 40482055google scholar: lookup
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