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Fibrocartilaginous Emboli in a 15-Year-Old Pony Mare.
Abstract: Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCE) was diagnosed in a 15-year-old pony mare by histopathologic examination of the spinal cord. The horse was euthanized and submitted for necropsy following focal seizures and lateral recumbency for approximately 12 h. Histopathology of spinal cord segments C5-C7 revealed severe ischemic myelomalacia with intravascular amorphous material that stained positive with Alcian Blue, consistent with cartilaginous matrix. These features in addition to the acute onset of clinical signs are characteristic for FCE. This case report describes the clinical and histopathological findings of a horse with an FCE with confirmation via histochemical staining.
© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Publication Date: 2025-11-14 PubMed ID: 41236494PubMed Central: PMC12617349DOI: 10.1002/vms3.70699Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
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Summary
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Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCE) was identified as the cause of spinal cord damage in a 15-year-old pony mare showing neurological symptoms. The diagnosis was confirmed through post-mortem histopathological and histochemical analysis.
Overview of the Case
- The subject was a 15-year-old pony mare presenting with neurological symptoms including focal seizures and lateral recumbency lasting about 12 hours.
- Due to the severity and progression of symptoms, the mare was euthanized and submitted for necropsy to determine the underlying cause.
Clinical Presentation
- Focal seizures indicated localized neurological dysfunction.
- Lateral recumbency, meaning the horse was lying on its side and unable to rise, suggested severe impairment of motor function.
Histopathological Findings
- Examination focused on the spinal cord segments C5-C7 (cervical region).
- Severe ischemic myelomalacia was observed, indicating localized softening and death of spinal cord tissue due to lack of blood supply.
- Intravascular amorphous material was present within the blood vessels, meaning abnormal substances obstructed blood flow.
- This material stained positively with Alcian Blue, a histochemical stain that binds to cartilaginous matrix components, confirming its fibrocartilaginous nature.
Diagnosis and Significance
- The presence of fibrocartilaginous emboli obstructing spinal cord blood vessels is characteristic of fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCE).
- FCE results from fibrocartilaginous material, typically originating from intervertebral discs, entering the bloodstream and causing ischemia in the spinal cord.
- Clinically, FCE most often presents as an acute onset of neurological deficits, matching the mare’s sudden symptoms.
- This case is significant as it documents FCE occurrence in a pony mare, with confirmation by histochemical staining, adding to the veterinary literature on equine spinal cord diseases.
Conclusion
- The study successfully diagnosed FCE through a combination of clinical observation, necropsy, and specialized staining techniques.
- It highlights the importance of considering FCE as a differential diagnosis in horses presenting with acute spinal cord dysfunction.
- The use of Alcian Blue staining provided definitive evidence of fibrocartilaginous emboli, confirming the diagnosis post-mortem.
Cite This Article
APA
Kyle-LaBell E, Andersson A, Baughman B.
(2025).
Fibrocartilaginous Emboli in a 15-Year-Old Pony Mare.
Vet Med Sci, 11(6), e70699.
https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70699 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State, Mississippi, USA.
- Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State, Mississippi, USA.
- Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State, Mississippi, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Female
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Embolism / veterinary
- Embolism / pathology
- Embolism / diagnosis
- Cartilage Diseases / veterinary
- Cartilage Diseases / pathology
- Cartilage Diseases / diagnosis
- Spinal Cord Diseases / veterinary
- Spinal Cord Diseases / pathology
- Spinal Cord Diseases / diagnosis
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
References
This article includes 13 references
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