Incidence and risk factors of equine motor neuron disease: an ambidirectional study.
Abstract: We have conducted an ambidirectional study to estimate the incidence of equine motor neuron disease (EMND) in the northeastern US. The clinical and pathological features of EMND are similar to those described in human motor neuron disease. We have also collected data on all EMND cases reported in the US and described the geographic distribution of the disease. To identify factors associated with the risk of EMND, the authors assembled 163 control horses from the population in which cases were identified. The significance of association between the hypothesized factors and the risk of EMND was evaluated using the logistic regression analysis and the risk was estimated using the odds ratio. Seventy-eight horses in North America were diagnosed with EMND between the period of January 1985 and November 1993. Most of the cases were identified in the Northeast of the US and the incidence of EMND appears to be increasing in this area. Factors found to be significantly associated with EMND were breed and the age of the horse. Quarter horses were the only breed with a significantly higher risk of EMND (odds ratio = 2.3). The risk of EMND increased with age, reached a peak around 16 years of age and then declined. The sex of the horse was not associated with the risk of the disease.
Publication Date: 1995-01-01 PubMed ID: 7891815DOI: 10.1159/000109779Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
- Age Factors
- Breed Differences
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Management
- Disease Prevalence
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Treatment
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Motor Neuron Disease
- Horse Breeds
- Horses
- Neurological Diseases
- Risk Factors
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research study conducted is aimed at understanding the incidence and risk factors associated with equine motor neuron disease (EMND) in the northeastern US. The study revealed that occurrences of EMND are increasing in this region, with horse breed and age identified as significant risk factors.
Overview of the Study
- The researchers embarked on an ambidirectional study – a design that gathers data from both past records (retrospective) and current/future data (prospective) – on EMND in the northeastern United States.
- The disease, whose clinical and pathological features correlate with human motor neuron disease, was studied across the entire US, with specific data on each case documented for detailed geographical analysis.
Methodology and Sampling
- In order to identify factors associated with the risk of EMND, the authors assembled a control group comprising of 163 horses from the population in which the cases were identified.
- A logistic regression analysis was leveraged to establish the significance of association between the label of risk factors and the risk of EMND.
- Odds ratio was then used to estimate the risk.
Results and Observations
- From January 1985 to November 1993, 78 horses across North America were diagnosed with EMND. It was observed that a majority of these cases were found in the northeastern US indicating an increasing trend of the disease in this area.
- Upon analyzing the risk factors, the researchers found horse breed and age to be significantly intertwined with EMND. The Quarter horse breed was singled out as having a significantly higher risk of EMND, with an odds ratio of 2.3.
- Notably, the age of a horse also constituted a risk towards EMND. The risk grows with age, culminating at peak vulnerability around 16 years, after which it starts to decline.
- The study, however, found no association between the horse’s gender and the risk of contracting the disease.
Cite This Article
APA
de la Rúa-Doménech R, Mohammed HO, Cummings JF, Divers TJ, de Lahunta A, Valentine B, Summers BA, Jackson CA.
(1995).
Incidence and risk factors of equine motor neuron disease: an ambidirectional study.
Neuroepidemiology, 14(2), 54-64.
https://doi.org/10.1159/000109779 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 14853, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Age Distribution
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Breeding
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Humans
- Incidence
- Motor Neuron Disease / epidemiology
- Motor Neuron Disease / veterinary
- Odds Ratio
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Sex Distribution
Grant Funding
- 2 AHR-F IR 29NS 29674-0181 / NINDS NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Díez de Castro E, Zafra R, Acevedo LM, Pérez J, Acosta I, Rivero JL, Aguilera-Tejero E. Eosinophilic Enteritis in Horses with Motor Neuron Disease. J Vet Intern Med 2016 May;30(3):873-9.
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