Suspected systemic calcinosis and calciphylaxis in 5 horses.
Abstract: Five horses were presented with signs of myopathy along with systemic malaise, hyperfibrinogenemia, hyperphosphatemia, and an elevated calcium phosphorus product (Ca*P). Postmortem findings were consistent with systemic calcinosis, a syndrome of calcium deposition in the tissue of organs including lungs, kidneys, muscle, and heart that has not been previously described in horses. Cinq chevaux ont été présentés avec des signes de myopathie et un malaise systémique, d’hyperfibrinogénémie, d’hyperphosphatémie et d’un produit de phosphore de calcium élevé (Ca*P). Les constatations à l’autopsie étaient conformes à une calcinose systémique; un syndrome de dépôt de calcium dans les tissus conjonctifs des organes incluant les poumons, les reins, les muscles et le cœur n’avait pas déjà été décrit chez les chevaux. (Traduit par Isabelle Vallières)
Publication Date: 2010-12-02 PubMed ID: 21119866PubMed Central: PMC2920174
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Summary
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The research presents a study on five horses that exhibited unfamiliar symptoms, identified as myopathy, systemic malaise, elevated calcium phosphorus product (Ca*P), hyperphosphatemia, and hyperfibrinogenemia. Upon their death, the autopsy results pointed to systemic calcinosis, a condition not previously observed in horses marked by calcium deposition in various organs’ tissues.
Research Overview
- The research paper centers on an unusual syndrome observed in five horses. It was characterized by a series of symptoms including myopathy, which is a disease of muscle tissue leading to muscle weakness; systemic malaise, a general feeling of discomfort or illness; hyperfibrinogenemia, abnormally high levels of fibrinogen (a protein necessary for blood clotting) in the blood; hyperphosphatemia, which is an excessive level of phosphate in the blood; and a high calcium phosphorus product, which can affect various bodily functions.
- The horses’ conditions worsened over time and eventually led to their demise. As part of the investigation into this uncommon occurrence, post-mortem examinations were conducted.
Post-mortem Examination and Findings
- The post-mortem examinations of the five horses were carried out to understand the cause of the unfamiliar symptoms and the reasons behind their deaths.
- The autopsy results revealed the presence of systemic calcinosis in the horses. Systemic calcinosis is a medical state typified by abnormal calcium deposits in the soft tissues of various organs such as the lungs, kidneys, muscles, and heart.
- This discovery was significant because systemic calcinosis had not been previously identified or described in horses. Consequently, the findings add new information to the veterinary medical literature concerning horse diseases.
Implications of the Findings
- The findings in this research indicate the possibility of horses contracting systemic calcinosis, suggesting consideration for further investigation and research efforts in this area.
- This discovery can contribute to the improvement of diagnosis and treatments for horses displaying similar symptoms in the future. Early detection and proper interventions, guided by this study, can lead to better management and outcomes.
- By identifying systemic calcinosis in horses, it can promote awareness among veterinarians about this potential health issue, leading to improvements in horse health care.
Cite This Article
APA
Tan JY, Valberg SJ, Sebastian MM, Davis GD, Kelly JR, Goehring LS, Harland MM, Kuebelbeck KL, Waldridge BM, Newton JC, Reimer JM.
(2010).
Suspected systemic calcinosis and calciphylaxis in 5 horses.
Can Vet J, 51(9), 993-999.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. jeanyintan@gmail.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Calcinosis / blood
- Calcinosis / diagnosis
- Calcinosis / veterinary
- Calciphylaxis / blood
- Calciphylaxis / diagnosis
- Calciphylaxis / veterinary
- Calcium / blood
- Fatal Outcome
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Male
- Phosphorus / blood
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Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Sponseller BT, Wong DM, Ruby R, Ware WA, Wilson S, Haynes JS. Systemic calcinosis in a Quarter Horse gelding homozygous for a myosin heavy chain 1 mutation. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Jul;36(4):1543-1549.
- Watson A, Sookram V, Driscoll M, Morris M, Suepaul R, López-Alvarez J, Corradini I. Mitral Kissing Vegetation and Acquired Aortic Valve Stenosis Secondary to Infectious Endocarditis in a Goat with Suppurative Mastitis. Vet Sci 2018 Jul 10;5(3).
- Anfinsen KP, Piercy RJ, Massey C, Smith KC, Kenny PJ, Garden OA. Severe systemic calciphylaxis in a young cat. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Jul-Aug;28(4):1325-30.
- De Luca E, Del Piero F. Animal Tissue Mineralization: An Overview of Disease Processes, Comparative Pathology, and Diagnostic Approaches. Biomolecules 2026 Jan 7;16(1).
- Durward-Akhurst SA, Valberg SJ. Myosin Heavy Chain Myopathy and Immune-Mediated Muscle Disorders. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2025 Apr;41(1):61-75.
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