Investigating the Risk of Equine Motor Neuron Disease in a Brazilian Stable and Successful Intervention.
Abstract: We carried out an investigation to identify the factors that predispose to the risk of equine motor neuron disease (EMND) and evaluated the long-term impact of an intervention. Data on several biomarkers, including antioxidants (α-tocopherols, β-carotenes, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx)), and superoxide dismutase (SOD1), neurofilaments, and other putative risk factors hypothesized to associate with the likelihood of EMND were collected. The data were analyzed for their significance of association with the condition. The EMND outbreak started in 1991 and continued until 1998. A total of 69 EMND cases and 64 control horses met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. Most cases (74%) occurred in 1996 and 1997. Horses afflicted with EMND had significantly lower plasma levels of vitamin E than control horses (0.381 vs. 1.148 μg/mL). There were no significant differences in the levels of vitamin A, β-carotenes, GSHPx, or the activities of SOD1 between EMND cases and control horses. Horses afflicted with EMND had significantly higher serum levels of phosphorylated neurofilament heavy than controls (2.85 vs. 0.27 ng/mL). The probability of EMND diagnosis increased above 50% when the serum levels of phosphorylated neurofilament heavy increased beyond 2.54 ng/mL. Mixed and Brazilian breeds had a significantly higher risk of EMND in comparison to Standardbred horse among the study population. In 1997, there was a change in the diet where better quality green hay was used. The incidence of EMND dropped to 0 in 1 year after intervention and remained at that level for the past 20 years.
Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2019-03-27 PubMed ID: 31133307DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.02.024Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Antioxidants
- Biomarkers
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Treatment
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Motor Neuron Disease
- Equine Science
- Horse Breeds
- Neurological Diseases
- Risk Factors
- Standardbred Horses
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Vitamin E
Summary
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The research article discusses an investigation conducted to determine the risk factors for Equine Motor Neuron Disease (EMND) in a stable in Brazil, the aftermath of a specific intervention, and the measure of its long-term impact. Factors such as various biomarkers and putative risk elements were taken into account and studied for their correlation with the increased likelihood of EMND. Results revealed a significant deficiency in plasma vitamin E levels in horses suffering from EMND.
Methodology and Data Collection
- Horses in a Brazilian stable were observed for an EMND outbreak that spanned from 1991 to 1998. From this population, 69 EMND cases and 64 control horses were selected based on specific inclusion criteria.
- Biomarker data was collected for evaluation, comprising antioxidants like α-tocopherols, β-carotenes, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD1), in addition to neurofilaments and assumed risk factors for EMND.
Findings and Analysis
- Vitamin E was found to be significantly lower in horses suffering from EMND, compared to the control group.
- The researchers did not observe any substantial differences in the levels of vitamin A, β-carotenes, GSHPx, or the activities of SOD1 between EMND cases and the control horses.
- Horses with EMND had a considerably higher level of phosphorylated neurofilament heavy than control horses. There was a more than 50% chance of diagnosing EMND when the serum levels of this neurofilament exceeded 2.54 ng/mL.
- Diverse breed horses, particularly mixed and Brazilian breeds, showed a more significant risk of EMND than Standardbred horses among the study samples.
Intervention and Impact
- In 1997, the diet of the horses was altered by incorporating better quality green hay.
- This dietary change led to a complete halt in EMND incidence within a year and continued to maintain this result for the succeeding 20 years, highlighting the success of the intervention and its long-term impact.
Cite This Article
APA
Banfield J, Lisak R, Omar A, Domingos W, Fiaschitello A, Morales-Gomez A, Divers TJ, Mohammed HO.
(2019).
Investigating the Risk of Equine Motor Neuron Disease in a Brazilian Stable and Successful Intervention.
J Equine Vet Sci, 77, 132-138.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2019.02.024 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Sao Paulo Police Cavalry, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
- Sao Paulo Police Cavalry, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
- Sao Paulo Police Cavalry, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
- Sao Paulo Police Cavalry, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Electronic address: hom1@cornell.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Brazil
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Motor Neuron Disease / veterinary
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin E Deficiency / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Cahalan SD, Boehm I, Jones RA, Piercy RJ. Recognising the potential of large animals for modelling neuromuscular junction physiology and disease. J Anat 2022 Nov;241(5):1120-1132.
- Carvalho KS, de Barros CSL, Mendonça FS, Machado M, Riet-Correa F. Diseases of the nervous system of equids in Brazil: a review. J Vet Diagn Invest 2025 Sep;37(5):729-752.
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