Intrinsic, management, and nutritional factors associated with equine motor neuron disease.
Abstract: To identify intrinsic, management, nutritional, and environmental risk factors associated with equine motor neuron disease (EMND) and to determine whether epidemiologic evidence supports oxidative stress as a risk factor for developing EMND. Methods: Case-control study. Methods: 87 horses with EMND and 259 control horses. Methods: Information concerning each horse's history of exposure to multiple environmental factors prior to developing EMND was obtained by means of a questionnaire or personal interview. Exposure histories of horses with EMND and control horses were compared, and the association of each risk factor with EMND was evaluated, using logistic regression analysis. Results: Factors significantly associated with risk of developing EMND included age, breed of horse, duration of residence at the farm, not vaccinating against rabies, and certain feeding practices. Horses that were exercised on green pasture or in grass paddocks were less likely to develop EMND, compared with horses that were exercised in dirt pad-docks. Feeding complete pelleted feed as the only source of concentrate or combined with sweet feed was associated with a significant increase in the risk of EMND. Supplementary feeding of vitamin and mineral mixtures not formulated to provide vitamin E or selenium was associated with increased risk of EMND. Horses with a history of cribbing or coprophagia were also at higher risk of developing EMND. Conclusions: Several husbandry practices and intrinsic characteristics of horses appear to modify the risk of EMND. The relationship of specific nutritional factors to EMND supports the hypothesis that a deficiency of vitamin E contributes to the disease.
Publication Date: 1997-11-28 PubMed ID: 9373362
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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The research investigates the causative factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic, connected to equine motor neuron disease (EMND), particularly highlighting the role of poor feeding practices and deficiencies of certain nutrients, like Vitamin E, in the development of the disease.
Objectives of the Study
- The study aimed to investigate the intrinsic, environmental, nutritional, and management-related risk factors associated with Equine Motor Neuron Disease (EMND).
- It also sought to establish whether epidemiologic evidence supports the theory that oxidative stress is a risk factor for the development of EMND.
Methodology
- A case-control study was conducted with 87 horses diagnosed with EMND and 259 control horses.
- The researchers collected information regarding the exposure history of each horse to various environmental factors before the development of EMND through questionnaires or personal interviews.
- The exposure histories of the horses, whether affected by EMND or not, were compared, and the correlation of each risk factor with EMND was assessed using logistic regression analysis.
Results
- The factors found to have a significant connection with the risk of developing EMND included the horse’s age and breed, how long the horse had been resident on a farm, and specific feeding practices.
- Horses that were unvaccinated against rabies were at a higher risk.
- Exercising on green pasture or in grass paddocks was inversely related to the risk of developing EMND, compared to exercising in dirt paddocks.
- Feeding practices, such as providing complete pelleted feed as the only concentrate or combined with sweet feed, significantly escalated the risk of contracting EMND.
- Additionally, if supplementary feed of vitamin and mineral mixtures were provided that were not formulated to provide Vitamin E or Selenium, the risk of EMND increased.
- Horses exhibiting abnormal behaviour like cribbing or coprophagia were also at a higher risk.
Conclusion
- Multiple management practices and intrinsic traits are suggested by the study as modifiers of the risk of EMND in horses.
- The strong relation of certain nutritional factors to EMND supports the idea of a deficiency of Vitamin E while contributing to the disease.
Cite This Article
APA
de la Rúa-Domènech R, Mohammed HO, Cummings JF, Divers TJ, de Lahunta A, Summers BA.
(1997).
Intrinsic, management, and nutritional factors associated with equine motor neuron disease.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 211(10), 1261-1267.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850-6401, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / physiology
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Breeding
- Case-Control Studies
- Dietary Supplements
- Environment
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Male
- Motor Neuron Disease / epidemiology
- Motor Neuron Disease / etiology
- Motor Neuron Disease / veterinary
- Oxidative Stress / physiology
- Regression Analysis
- Risk Factors
- Selenium / administration & dosage
- Selenium / adverse effects
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Vitamin E / administration & dosage
- Vitamin E / adverse effects
- Vitamin E Deficiency / complications
- Vitamin E Deficiency / physiopathology
- Vitamin E Deficiency / veterinary
Grant Funding
- IR 29NS 29674-01 / NINDS NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Pitel MO, McKenzie EC, Johns JL, Stuart RL. Influence of specific management practices on blood selenium, vitamin E, and beta-carotene concentrations in horses and risk of nutritional deficiency. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Sep;34(5):2132-2141.
- 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.
- Mohammed HO, Starkey SR, Stipetic K, Divers TJ, Summers BA, de Lahunta A. The role of dietary antioxidant insufficiency on the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2008 Dec;67(12):1187-93.
- Delguste C, de Moffarts B, Kirschvink N, Art T, Pincemail J, Defraigne JO, Amory H, Lekeux P. Change in blood antioxidant status of horses moved from a stable following diagnosis of equine motor neuron disease. Can Vet J 2007 Nov;48(11):1165-7.
- Mohammed HO, Divers TJ, Summers BA, de Lahunta A. Vitamin E deficiency and risk of equine motor neuron disease. Acta Vet Scand 2007 Jul 2;49(1):17.
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