Selenium deposition in an atypically disintegrated hoof wall in a Thoroughbred racehorse with alkali disease: Proof by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis.
Abstract: From summer 2018 to summer 2019, several Thoroughbred racehorses held at the Miho Training Centre of the Japan Racing Association inadvertently ingested excessive amounts of sodium selenite, resulting in typical chronic selenium (Se) poisoning - the so-called alkali disease. The typical abnormality was a hoof wall disorder with a circumferentially deep ring and/or transverse hoof wall cracks parallel to the coronet on all feet and appearing after excessive ingestion. One affected Thoroughbred male was unique in that all the hooves had a rough surface with a very fragile hoof wall, but no wall rings or transverse cracking. This horse was euthanized because of dysstasia due to the permanent foot pain associated with hoof wall deformities in the front feet. To detect Se deposition in the hooves, we used energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis to measure the Se signal intensity of each lesion. Characteristic Se-kα signals were emitted from the areas of histologically damaged hoof wall at 33.76 ± 11.78 (mean ± SD) counts per second (cps)/mm2. In contrast, the signal from the uninjured proximal hoof wall was 1.43 ± 0.14 cps/mm2 and that from the uninjured distal hoof wall was 1.51 ± 0.23 cps/mm2. The much greater Se deposition in the injured hoof walls suggests that their disintegration was caused by alkali disease. These results indicate that atypical hoof wall abnormalities due to alkali disease can be diagnosed by EDXRF analysis.
Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2024-07-15 PubMed ID: 39013218DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2024.06.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study investigates the abnormal hoof conditions in Thoroughbred racehorses exposed to excessive sodium selenite, leading to alkali disease. Using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis, researchers found a significant amount of selenium deposition in the injured hoof walls, suggesting that their disintegration was caused by alkali disease.
Background
- This research was conducted amidst an outbreak of alkali disease among Thoroughbred racehorses at the Miho Training Centre of the Japan Racing Association from summer 2018 to summer 2019.
- Alkali disease is a chronic selenium (Se) poisoning caused by inadvertent ingestion of large amounts of sodium selenite. One of the visible abnormalities of this disease is a hoof wall disorder characterized by deep rings or transverse hoof wall cracks.
Unique Presentation of Alkali Disease
- Among the affected horses, one Thoroughbred male exhibited a unique set of symptoms. All its hooves developed a rough surface and a very fragile hoof wall, but it didn’t show any of the typical wall rings or transverse cracking.
- The horse had to be euthanized due to painful hoof wall deformities in the front feet, which caused dysstasia — an inability to stand properly.
Use of EDXRF Analysis
- To ascertain the cause of this unique hoof disintegration, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis was employed to detect selenium (Se) deposition in the hooves.
- The researchers measured the Se signal intensity in each lesion of the hoof wall and found that the areas of histologically damaged hoof wall emitted a much greater Se-kα signal than the uninjured parts. This indicated a higher selenium deposition in the injured parts of the hoof.
Findings
- The findings suggested that the atypical hoof wall disintegration in this Thoroughbred racehorse was indeed caused by alkali disease further denoting the role of selenium toxicity in hoof wall disorders.
- This study established that atypical hoof wall abnormalities due to alkali disease can be diagnosed using EDXRF analysis, presenting a useful tool for the future examination of such conditions.
Cite This Article
APA
Kuwano A, Ueno T, Katsurashima Y, Tateno O, Saitoh S.
(2024).
Selenium deposition in an atypically disintegrated hoof wall in a Thoroughbred racehorse with alkali disease: Proof by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis.
J Comp Pathol, 212, 51-55.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpa.2024.06.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Clinical Science & Pathobiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shiba 1400-4, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0412, Japan. Electronic address: hoofvet@icloud.com.
- Clinical Science & Pathobiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shiba 1400-4, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0412, Japan.
- Racehorse Clinical Hospital, Miho Training Center, Japan Racing Association, Mikoma 2500-2, Miho-mura, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki 3009-0493, Japan.
- Racehorse Clinical Hospital, Miho Training Center, Japan Racing Association, Mikoma 2500-2, Miho-mura, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki 3009-0493, Japan.
- Yamato Kohgen Animal Medical Clinic, Kaizuka 2592, Ryugasaki-shi, Ibaraki 301-0856, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Selenium / analysis
- Horse Diseases
- Hoof and Claw / pathology
- Male
- Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / veterinary
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of competing interests The authors declared no conflicts of interest in relation to the research, authorship or publication of this article.
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