Megaesophagus in Friesian horses associated with muscular hypertrophy of the caudal esophagus.
Abstract: Friesian horses have a perceived high rate of congenital or hereditary diseases, including megaesophagus, that may lead to choke and death. A retrospective study was performed to determine the prevalence and pathologic characteristics of esophageal disease in 852 horses, including 17 Friesians, that had been necropsied over a 6-year period at the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Forty-two horses had grossly described esophageal lesions (25 muscular hypertrophy, 7 hemorrhage, 6 megaesophagus, 4 erosion/ulceration, 3 obstruction, 2 tears, 2 secondary neoplasms, 2 lymphoid patches, 1 thin wall, 1 esophagitis). Some of these lesions occurred concurrently in the same horse. Ten of these horses died or were euthanatized because of severe esophageal disease (6 megaesophagus causing tears in 2 horses, 3 esophageal obstruction with food bolus, and 1 esophagitis). All 6 horses with megaesophagus were Friesians. No cause for megaesophagus was noted in the necropsy reports; however, 5 of these 6 Friesians had marked caudal esophageal muscular hypertrophy (wall thickness: 1.9 ± 0.3 cm). Microscopic review of the esophagus of these Friesians confirmed smooth muscle hypertrophy, with no obvious fibrosis, degeneration, or loss of myenteric plexi. Unlike the Friesians, the 4 non-Friesian horses with severe esophageal disease had esophageal obstruction with an intraluminal food bolus or severe esophagitis. None had caudal esophageal muscular hypertrophy. It is concluded that in comparison to other horse breeds, Friesians have a higher prevalence of severe esophageal disease, specifically megaesophagus, that is commonly associated with marked caudal muscular hypertrophy.
© The Author(s) 2013.
Publication Date: 2013-11-13 PubMed ID: 24227010DOI: 10.1177/0300985813511126Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research study explores the prevalence of esophageal disease, specifically megaesophagus beyond normal size associated with muscular thickening, in Friesian horses. The key finding identifies a higher prevalence of this severe condition in Friesian breed compared to others.
Research Overview
- This study is a retrospective one, meaning that it analyzes past data, specifically regarding the prevalence and pathological traits of esophageal disease in 852 horses, which included 17 Friesians. This was done over a span of six years at the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health.
- The horses that underwent this necropsy procedure had exhibited a range of esophageal anomalies, including muscular hypertrophy (enlargement), hemorrhage, megaesophagus, erosion or ulceration of the esophagus, obstruction, tears, secondary neoplasms, lymphoid patches, thinned walls and esophagitis (inflammation in lining of esophagus).
- It is notable that some of these conditions coincided in a single horse.
Findings on Severe Esophageal Disease
- Among these horses, 10 were reported to have died or were euthanized due to severe esophageal illness. The causes included megaesophagus leading to tears, esophageal obstruction due to a food bolus, and esophagitis.
- Significantly, all six horses diagnosed with megaesophagus were of the Friesian breed, and there was no explicit cause stated for the disease in the corresponding autopsy reports.
- However, it was found that 5 of these Friesian horses showed considerable hypertrophy in the muscular section of the caudal esophagus, with a wall thickness above the normal range.
- Upon microscopic examination of these Friesians’ esophagi, the researchers discovered smooth muscle hypertrophy, but there was no discernible fibrosis, degenerative losses, or loss of myenteric plexi (networks of neurons in the gastrointestinal tract).
- In comparison, the severe esophageal disease in the four non-Friesian horses was found to be due to obstruction by a food bolus in the esophagus or severe esophagitis, but none exhibited muscular hypertrophy.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that Friesian horses have a significantly higher risk of severe esophageal disease compared to horses of other breeds.
- Specifically, megaesophagus combined with noteworthy muscular hypertrophy in the caudal esophagus is more common among Friesians.
These findings can assist in better understanding, diagnosing, and treating such esophageal conditions in Friesian horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Komine M, Langohr IM, Kiupel M.
(2013).
Megaesophagus in Friesian horses associated with muscular hypertrophy of the caudal esophagus.
Vet Pathol, 51(5), 979-985.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985813511126 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health (DCPAH) and Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
- Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health (DCPAH) and Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana langohr@msu.edu.
- Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health (DCPAH) and Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Breeding
- Esophageal Achalasia / pathology
- Esophageal Achalasia / veterinary
- Esophagus / pathology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Hypertrophy / veterinary
- Male
- Muscle, Smooth / pathology
- Prevalence
- Retrospective Studies
- Species Specificity
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