Osteochondrosis of the occipital condyles and atlanto-occipital dysplasia in a Belgian horse.
Abstract: A lesion in the cervical region of a 14-month-old Belgian gelding with severe ataxia was suspected. Necropsy revealed symmetric focal cartilage defects compatible with osteochondrosis of the occipital condyles and atlanto-occipital dysplasia. To our knowledge this is the first equine report of symmetrical osteochondrosis of the occipital condyles causing neurologic signs.
Publication Date: 2004-01-02 PubMed ID: 14703085PubMed Central: PMC340367
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Summary
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This research article is about a study on a 14-month-old Belgian horse that was suspected to have a lesion in the neck region. It was found to have osteochondrosis of the occipital condyles and atlanto-occipital dysplasia, conditions that were causing severe uncoordinated movements.
Objective of the Study
- The research aimed to understand and diagnose the condition responsible for the observed severe lack of coordinated movements (ataxia) in a 14-month-old Belgian horse.
Methodology
- The horse’s health condition was evaluated after suspecting a lesion (abnormal tissue or growth) in the cervical (neck) region.
- A necropsy, which is a post-mortem examination, was performed on the horse to further investigate the suspected condition.
Findings
- The necropsy results revealed symmetric focal cartilage defects. This means there were corresponding defects or abnormalities in the cartilage of the horse on both sides of the body.
- These abnormalities were identified as osteochondrosis of the occipital condyles and atlanto-occipital dysplasia.
- Osteochondrosis refers to a developmental disorder of the cartilage that results in its abnormal maturation and formation.
- Specifically, ‘of the occipital condyles’ refers to this disorder occurring in the rounded, bony protrusions known as condyles, at the base of the skull (occiput).
- Atlanto-occipital dysplasia refers to a disorder involving the junction (referred to as the atlanto-occipital joint) between the head (using the occipital regions of the skull) and the spinal column (marked by the first vertebral bone known as the ‘atlas’).
Significance
- The significance of this study lies in the diagnosis and report of these conditions from the horse’s necropsy results.
- Notably, this is the first reported case of a horse showing neurological signs resulting from symmetrical osteochondrosis of the occipital condyles.
Cite This Article
APA
Muirhead T, McClure JT, Bourque A, Pack L.
(2004).
Osteochondrosis of the occipital condyles and atlanto-occipital dysplasia in a Belgian horse.
Can Vet J, 44(12), 984-986.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 4P3.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Ataxia / etiology
- Ataxia / pathology
- Ataxia / veterinary
- Atlanto-Occipital Joint / pathology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Occipital Bone / pathology
- Osteochondritis / diagnosis
- Osteochondritis / pathology
- Osteochondritis / veterinary
References
This article includes 11 references
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- Riley CB, Scott WM, Caron JP, Fretz PB, Bailey JV, Barber SM. Osteochondritis dessicans and subchondral cystic lesions in draft horses: a retrospective study.. Can Vet J 1998 Oct;39(10):627-33.
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- Tomizawa N, Nishimura R, Sasaki N, Hayashi Y, Senba H, Hara S, Kadosawa T, Takeuchi A. Morphological analysis of cervical vertebrae in ataxic foals.. J Vet Med Sci 1994 Dec;56(6):1081-5.
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- Reiland S, Asheim A, Jeffcott LB, Ekman S. Spinal osteochondrosis in the horse. Svensk-Veterinartidning 1983;35:63–65.
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- Savage CJ, McCarthy RN, Jeffcott LB. Effects of dietary energy and protein on induction of dyschondroplasia in foals. Equine Vet J 1993;16:74–79.
- Savage CJ, McCarthy RN, Jeffcott LB. Effects of dietary phosphorus and calcium on induction of dyschondroplasia in foals. Equine Vet J 1993;16:80–83.
- Jeffcott LB. Problems and pointers in equine osteochondrosis. Equine Vet J 1993;16:1–3.
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Lim CK, Hawkins JF, Vanderpool AL, Heng HG, Gillespie Harmon CC, Lenz SD. Osteochondritis dissecans-like lesions of the occipital condyle and cervical articular process joints in a Saddlebred colt horse.. Acta Vet Scand 2017 Oct 30;59(1):76.
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