Myodegeneration and suspected selenium/vitamin E deficiency in horses.

This research observes a correlation between myodegeneration in foals and a deficiency in selenium and vitamin E, as found in hay and oats from a specific breeding stable. The implication is that the lack of these nutrients in the horses’ diet contributed to their muscle decay, indicating nutritional myodegeneration as a potential diagnosis.

Research Methodology and Findings

• The researchers studied the clinical, macroscopic, and microscopic features of 10 isolated cases of myodegeneration in foals. This allowed them to understand the physical and cellular manifestations of the disease.
• From their observations, certain features were found to be common across all cases including pale lesions in the myocardium and skeletal muscle masses, and fragmented and hyaline changes in swollen muscle fibers located within scattered skeletal muscle masses.
• An analysis of the hay and oats from one particular breeding stable showed low levels of selenium and vitamin E. This suggested that the nutrition provided at this stable might not be sufficient for the horses and could be contributing to their myodegeneration.
• In addition to the feed, serum selenium concentrations in the mares at this stable were found to be low, providing further evidence that the horses at this stable were deficient in crucial nutrients.
• The researchers also observed increased activity of creatinine phosphokinase and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase in two young foals at this stable, indicating muscle damage or muscle strain.
• In one of these foals, enzymatic activities significantly dropped after treatment with vitamin E and selenium, which further substantiated the hypothesis that nutrient deficiency was a crucial factor in the observed myodegeneration.

Conclusion and Implications

• Based on the histological findings, feed analyses, serum selenium values, response to treatment, and enzymatic determinations, the researchers suggested nutritional myodegeneration as a diagnosis for the condition observed in the stable.
• Furthermore, the other nine isolated cases of myodegeneration were also tentatively diagnosed as nutritional myodegeneration based on similar macroscopic and microscopic findings and the young age of the horses.
• This study gestures that nutrition plays a crucial role in the health of horses, and that deficiencies in key nutrients, like selenium and vitamin E, can lead to serious muscular disorders.
• Stables and breeding facilities might need to reassess feed composition and dietary supplements to ensure they are providing adequate nutrition for their horses.