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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2012; 26(4); 1012-1018; doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00957.x

Equine multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) associated with seasonal pasture myopathy in the midwestern United States.

Abstract: Seasonal pasture myopathy (SPM) is a highly fatal form of nonexertional rhabdomyolysis that occurs in pastured horses in the United States during autumn or spring. In Europe, a similar condition, atypical myopathy (AM), is common. Recently, a defect of lipid metabolism, multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD), has been identified in horses with AM. Objective: To determine if SPM in the United States is caused by MADD. Methods: Six horses diagnosed with SPM based on history, clinical signs, and serum creatine kinase activity, or postmortem findings. Methods: Retrospective descriptive study. Submissions to the Neuromuscular Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Minnesota were reviewed between April 2009 and January 2010 to identify cases of SPM. Inclusion criteria were pastured, presenting with acute nonexertional rhabdomyolysis, and serum, urine, or muscle samples available for analysis. Horses were evaluated for MADD by urine organic acids, serum acylcarnitines, muscle carnitine, or histopathology. Results: Six horses had clinical signs and, where performed (4/6 horses), postmortem findings consistent with SPM. Affected muscle (4/4) showed degeneration with intramyofiber lipid accumulation, decreased free carnitine concentration, and increased carnitine esters. Serum acylcarnitine profiles (3/3) showed increases in short- and medium-chain acylcarnitines and urinary organic acid profiles (3/3) revealed increased ethylmalonic and methylsuccinic acid levels, and glycine conjugates, consistent with equine MADD. Conclusions: Similar to AM, the biochemical defect causing SPM is MADD, which causes defective muscular lipid metabolism and excessive myofiber lipid content. Diagnosis can be made by assessing serum acylcarnitine and urine organic acid profiles.
Copyright © 2012 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2012-06-18 PubMed ID: 22708588DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00957.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

The research primarily explores the link between a rare horse condition, known as Seasonal Pasture Myopathy (SPM) prevalent in the United States, and Equine Multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD). The study confirms that SPM is caused by an underlying metabolic defect, MADD, which leads to defective muscle lipid metabolism and excessive lipid content in muscle fibers. Diagnosis can be made through assessing serum acylcarnitine and urine organic acid profiles.

Objective and Methods

  • The goal of this study was to examine if SPM in horses in the United States is caused by MADD, a defect linked to similar conditions in Europe.
  • The research was conducted on six horses diagnosed with SPM through their history, clinical signs, serum creatine kinase activity, and in some cases, postmortem findings.
  • This retrospective study reviewed submissions to the Neuromuscular Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Minnesota between April 2009 and January 2010 to identify SPM cases.
  • The inclusion criteria indicated that the horses should be pastured, present with acute nonexertional rhabdomyolysis, and have serum, urine, or muscle samples available for analysis.
  • The researchers evaluated these horses for MADD through urine organic acids, serum acylcarnitines, muscle carnitine, or histopathology.

Results

  • Out of the six horses in the study, all of them had clinical signs of SPM and four of these horses had postmortem findings related to SPM.
  • The affected muscle (in all four horses) exhibited degeneration with intra-myofiber lipid accumulation, decreased free carnitine concentration, and increased carnitine esters.
  • The serum acylcarnitine profiles from three horses showed increases in short and medium-chain acylcarnitines.
  • The urinary organic acid profiles from three horses revealed increased ethylmalonic and methylsuccinic acid levels, and glycine conjugates, all consistent with equine MADD.

Conclusions

  • The findings confirm that just like Atypical Myopathy (AM) in European horses, SPM in the United States is caused by MADD.
  • MADD is determined as the cause of defective muscular lipid metabolism and excessive myofiber lipid content.
  • Based on the study’s findings, a diagnosis of SPM can be made by assessing serum acylcarnitine and urine organic acid profiles.

Cite This Article

APA
Sponseller BT, Valberg SJ, Schultz NE, Bedford H, Wong DM, Kersh K, Shelton GD. (2012). Equine multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) associated with seasonal pasture myopathy in the midwestern United States. J Vet Intern Med, 26(4), 1012-1018. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00957.x

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 26
Issue: 4
Pages: 1012-1018

Researcher Affiliations

Sponseller, B T
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. beatrice@iastate.edu
Valberg, S J
    Schultz, N E
      Bedford, H
        Wong, D M
          Kersh, K
            Shelton, G D

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Female
              • Histocytochemistry / veterinary
              • Horse Diseases / enzymology
              • Horse Diseases / etiology
              • Horses
              • Male
              • Midwestern United States
              • Multiple Acyl Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase Deficiency / blood
              • Multiple Acyl Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase Deficiency / urine
              • Multiple Acyl Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase Deficiency / veterinary
              • Muscle, Skeletal / enzymology
              • Retrospective Studies
              • Rhabdomyolysis / enzymology
              • Rhabdomyolysis / etiology
              • Rhabdomyolysis / veterinary

              Citations

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