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Equine veterinary journal2024; 57(5); 1290-1301; doi: 10.1111/evj.14429

Osseous pathologic changes in the thoracic region of the equine vertebral column: A descriptive post-mortem study in three breeds.

Abstract: Data on equine thoracic pathology hardly exist in breeds other than Thoroughbreds. Objective: To describe pathological changes of the osseous thoracic vertebral column in Warmblood horses, Shetland ponies and Konik horses, and to compare prevalence and severity. Methods: Descriptive post-mortem study. Methods: Computed tomography was used to examine the thoracic vertebral column of 34 Warmblood horses, 28 Shetland ponies, and 18 Konik horses. Osteoarthritis (OA), periarticular osteolysis, osseous cyst-like lesions and fragments of articular processes (APJs), costovertebral and costotransverse joints, soft tissue mineralisation surrounding these joints, intervertebral disc (IVD) mineralisation, impingement of spinous processes (SPs) and spondylosis were scored. Results: APJ aplasia (98%; 58/59) occurred in 14 Shetland ponies. OA predominated in Warmblood horses across all joints (45% vs. 29 and 32%, p < 0.001). OA and periarticular osteolysis were found in particular in the costotransverse joints (p < 0.001) across all breeds. Warmblood and Konik horses had more and severe soft tissue mineralisation than Shetland ponies (2.3%, score 1.5 and 3.2%, score 1.3, respectively, vs. 0.3%, score 0.9, p < 0.01). Mid location was most often affected with highest severity score (4.2%, 1.5, p < 0.001). Konik horses displayed the highest IVD mineralisation (20%, p < 0.001), which notably increased with age (p < 0.001) compared with Warmblood horses (4.5%) and Shetland ponies (1.1%). SPs impingement was absent in Shetland ponies, and most prevalent in Warmblood horses (11.2%, p < 0.001) compared with Konik horses (2.2%). Osseous cyst-like lesions, fragments and spondylosis were minimal in all breeds and nearly absent in Shetland ponies. Conclusions: Clinical histories and macroscopic and histologic examinations were unavailable. Conclusions: Distinct breed differences exist in prevalence and severity of thoracic vertebral column osseous pathologies. Costotransverse joint pathology is more common than APJ pathology in all breeds. Warmblood horses are prone to OA, spondylosis and SPs impingement; Konik horses exhibit significant IVD mineralisation, and Shetland ponies demonstrate a high prevalence of APJ aplasia. Periarticular osteolysis, osseous cyst-like lesions, fragments and soft tissue mineralisation are notably low in Shetland ponies. Unassigned: Dados sobre patologia torácica em equinos são escassos em outras raças além dos Puro‐Sangue Inglês. Objective: Descrever e comparar a prevalência e gravidade de alterações patológicas da coluna vertebral torácica óssea em cavalos de salto (Warmblood), pôneis Shetland e cavalos Konik. Unassigned: Estudo descritivo post‐mortem. MÉTODOS: A coluna vertebral torácica de 34 cavalos de salto, 28 pôneis Shetland e 18 cavalos Konik foi avaliada por tomografia computadorizada. A presença de osteoartrite (OA), osteólise periarticular, lesões similares à cistos ósseos e fragmentos dos processos articulares (PA), articulações costovertebrais e costotransversas, mineralização de tecidos moles ao redor dessas articulações, mineralização do disco intervertebral (DIV), compressão dos processos espinhosos (PEs) e espondilose foi analisada. Results: A aplasia de PA (98%; 58/59) ocorreu em 14 pôneis Shetland. A OA predominou nos cavalos de salto em todas as articulações (45% vs. 29% e 32%, p < 0,001). OA e osteólise periarticular foram particularmente encontradas nas articulações costotransversas (p < 0,001) em todas as raças. Cavalos de salto e Konik mostraram mineralização de tecidos moles mais severa e mais frequentemente e do que pôneis Shetland (2,3%, escore 1,5 e 3,2%, escore 1,3, respectivamente, vs. 0,3%, escore 0,9, p < 0,01). A localização média foi a mais frequentemente afetada, com o maior escore de gravidade (4,2%, 1,5, p < 0,001). Cavalos Konik apresentaram a maior mineralização de DIV (20%, p < 0,001), que aumentou notavelmente com a idade (p < 0,001) em comparação com cavalos de salto (4,5%) e pôneis Shetland (1,1%). A compressão de PEs estava ausente nos pôneis Shetland, e foi mais prevalente em cavalos Warmblood (11,2%, p < 0,001) em comparação com cavalos Konik (2,2%). Lesões similares à cistos ósseos, fragmentos e espondilose foram mínimas em todas as raças, quase ausentes nos pôneis Shetland. PRINCIPAIS LIMITAÇÕES: Ausência de histórico clínico, exames macroscópicos e histológicos. CONCLUSÕES: Existem diferenças distintas entre raças na prevalência e gravidade das patologias ósseas da coluna vertebral torácica. A patologia da articulação costotransversa prevalece sobre a de PA em todas as raças. Cavalos de salto são propensos à OA, espondilose e compressão de PEs; cavalos Konik exibem significativa mineralização de DIV, e pôneis Shetland demonstram alta aplasia de PA. Osteólise periarticular, lesões císticas ósseas, fragmentos e mineralização de tecidos moles são notavelmente baixos nos pôneis Shetland.
© 2024 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2024-10-21 PubMed ID: 39433426PubMed Central: PMC12326894DOI: 10.1111/evj.14429Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article investigates the pathological changes in the thoracic vertebrae of three different breeds of horses: Warmblood horses, Shetland ponies, and Konik horses. The study utilizes computed tomography and focuses on conditions such as osteoarthritis, periarticular osteolysis, and osseous cyst-like lesions among others.

Research Methodology

  • For this study, the researchers performed a post-mortem exam on 34 Warmblood horses, 28 Shetland ponies, and 18 Konik horses.
  • The team employed computed tomography (CT scans) to examine the thoracic vertebral column of these horses.
  • Each horse was checked for the presence of several conditions: osteoarthritis (OA), periarticular osteolysis, osseous cyst-like lesions, articular process joints (APJs), costovertebral and costotransverse joints, soft tissue mineralisation surrounding these joints, intervertebral disc (IVD) mineralisation, impingement of spinous processes (SPs), and spondylosis.

Major Findings

  • In Shetland ponies, APJ aplasia was found in an overwhelming majority (98%), exclusive to this breed.
  • Osteoarthritis (OA) was prevalent in Warmblood horses across all joints when compared with the other two breeds.
  • Costotransverse joint pathologies were common across all breeds, with OA and periarticular osteolysis being the main issues.
  • Warmblood and Konik horses experienced more severe soft tissue mineralisation than the Shetland ponies.
  • Konik horses displayed the highest levels of IVD mineralisation, which increased noticeably with age. These levels were higher than those observed in Warmblood horses and Shetland ponies.
  • Impingement of spinous processes (SPs) was absent in Shetland ponies but quite prevalent in Warmblood horses.
  • Shetland ponies showed almost no instances of osseous cyst-like lesions, fragments, and spondylosis.

Conclusions

  • There are breed-specific differences in the prevalence and severity of thoracic vertebral column osseous pathologies. Warmblood horses appear more prone to OA, spondylosis, and SPs impingement; Konik horses to significant IVD mineralisation; and Shetland ponies to a high prevalence of APJ aplasia.
  • Conditions such as periarticular osteolysis, osseous cyst-like lesions, fragments, and soft tissue mineralisation were notably low in Shetland ponies.
  • The authors recognize the study limitations in terms of unavailability of clinical histories and macroscopic and histologic examinations.

Cite This Article

APA
Spoormakers TJP, Veraa S, Graat EAM, van Weeren PR, Brommer H. (2024). Osseous pathologic changes in the thoracic region of the equine vertebral column: A descriptive post-mortem study in three breeds. Equine Vet J, 57(5), 1290-1301. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14429

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 5
Pages: 1290-1301

Researcher Affiliations

Spoormakers, Tijn J P
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Equine Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Veraa, Stefanie
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Graat, Elisabeth A M
  • Department of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
van Weeren, P René
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Equine Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Brommer, Harold
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Equine Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / pathology
  • Male
  • Female
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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