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Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association2011; 239(6); 823-833; doi: 10.2460/javma.239.6.823

Evaluation of epidemiological, clinical, and pathological features of neuroaxonal dystrophy in Quarter Horses.

Abstract: To describe epidemiological, clinical, and pathological features of neuroaxonal dystrophy in Quarter Horses (QHs) on a single farm. Methods: Prospective case series. Animals-148 horses. Methods: Neurologic, pathological, and toxicological evaluations were completed in selected neurologically affected horses over a 2-year period. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results: 87 QHs and 1 QH-crossbred horse were affected. Most (50/88 [56.8%]) affected horses were 1 to 2 years old (median age, 2 years [range, 2 months to 34 years]). Neurologic deficits included obtundation (53/88 [60%] horses), decreased to absent menace response (33/88 [37.5%]), proprioceptive positioning deficits, wide-based stance, ataxia, and dysmetria (88/88 [100%]). Most (78/88 [88.6%]) horses had mild ataxia, but some (10/88 [11.4%]) had moderate to severe ataxia. Low serum concentrations of vitamin E (≤ 2 mg/L) were detected in 3 index case horses and 16 of 17 randomly selected horses (13/14 affected and 3/3 unaffected) during study year 1. Dietary vitamin E supplementation did not improve neurologic deficits in affected horses; vitamin E administration in pregnant mares appeared to decrease but not prevent disease development among offspring born the following year. Lesions detected at necropsy included bilaterally symmetric neuroaxonal degeneration with axonal spheroids in the nucleus gracilis, nucleus cuneatus medialis, nucleus cuneatus lateralis, and nucleus thoracicus (5/5 horses). Conclusions: Neuroaxonal dystrophy should be considered in evaluation of young horses with ataxia and proprioceptive positioning deficits. Vitamin E deficiency may contribute to disease severity.
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Publication Date: 2011-09-16 PubMed ID: 21916766DOI: 10.2460/javma.239.6.823Google 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.

The research study outlines the features of neuroaxonal dystrophy (a neurological disorder) in Quarter Horses from a single farm, examining the epidemiological, clinical, and pathological aspects of the disorder, along with the role of vitamin E deficiency as a possible contributing factor.

Epidemiological and clinical evaluation

  • The study involved a prospective case series, including 148 Quarter Horses.
  • Neuroaxonal dystrophy was found in 87 Quarter Horses and 1 Quarter Horse-crossbred, predominantly affecting horses aged 1 to 2 years.
  • Clinical symptoms included obtundation (a decrease in alertness or consciousness), decreased menace response (an automatic closing of the eyelids in response to an approaching object), proprioceptive positioning deficits (loss of body position sense and balance), wide stance, ataxia (lack of muscle control or coordination), and dysmetria (a lack of control over the range of movement).
  • The majority of affected horses (88.6%) showed mild ataxia, while 11.4% had moderate to severe ataxia.

Pathological and toxicological evaluations

  • The study involved detailed neurological, pathological, and toxicological evaluations of selected horses that presented neurological symptoms.
  • The evaluations showed low serum concentrations of vitamin E in the affected horses, which implies a possible link between vitamin E deficiency and the disease severity.
  • However, dietary supplementation of vitamin E did not show improvement in the neurological deficits in the affected horses.
  • Data suggests that administering vitamin E to pregnant mares slightly decreased the occurrence of neuroaxonal dystrophy in their offspring, but did not prevent the disease entirely.

Necropsy findings and conclusion.

  • Examination of horses after death revealed lesions typical of neuroaxonal degeneration, located in various nuclei (clusters of nerve cells) in the spinal cord.
  • The study concludes that neuroaxonal dystrophy should be considered in young horses showing symptoms of ataxia and proprioceptive dysfunction.
  • While vitamin E deficiency may exacerbate the disease, its supplementation did not alleviate the neurological symptoms, suggesting other factors should be investigated for the development and progression of this disorder in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Aleman M, Finno CJ, Higgins RJ, Puschner B, Gericota B, Gohil K, LeCouteur RA, Madigan JE. (2011). Evaluation of epidemiological, clinical, and pathological features of neuroaxonal dystrophy in Quarter Horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 239(6), 823-833. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.239.6.823

Publication

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN: 1943-569X
NlmUniqueID: 7503067
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 239
Issue: 6
Pages: 823-833

Researcher Affiliations

Aleman, Monica
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA. mraleman@ucdavis.edu
Finno, Carrie J
    Higgins, Robert J
      Puschner, Birgit
        Gericota, Barbara
          Gohil, Kishorchandra
            LeCouteur, Richard A
              Madigan, John E

                MeSH Terms

                • Aging
                • Animals
                • Carrier Proteins / genetics
                • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
                • Dietary Supplements
                • Electroencephalography / veterinary
                • Female
                • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
                • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
                • Horse Diseases / etiology
                • Horse Diseases / pathology
                • Horses
                • Male
                • Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / etiology
                • Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / pathology
                • Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / veterinary
                • Pregnancy
                • RNA, Messenger / genetics
                • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
                • Vitamin E / therapeutic use
                • Vitamin E Deficiency / complications
                • Vitamin E Deficiency / diagnosis
                • Vitamin E Deficiency / pathology
                • Vitamin E Deficiency / veterinary

                Citations

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