Syringomyelia in an Adult American Paint Horse.
Abstract: Syringomyelia is a form of myelodysplasia defined by the formation of one or more fluid-filled cavities within the spinal cord that do not communicate with the central canal. The defect may be congenital or acquired. Clinical signs correlate to the segment of spinal cord affected and include pain, paresis, proprioceptive deficits, alterations in sensation, scoliosis, and autonomic dysfunction. This report describes the clinical and pathologic changes in a case of acquired syringomyelia in a 10-year-old American Paint Horse mare. The horse had a six-week history of progressive proprioceptive deficits in all four limbs, bilateral pelvic limb ataxia, and muscle fasciculations that were unresponsive to treatment with stall rest, phenylbutazone, and dexamethasone. Syringomyelia was diagnosed postmortem within cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal cord segments. Acquired syringomyelia should be considered among differential diagnoses in adult horses displaying progressive neurologic deficits.
Publication Date: 2018-04-05 PubMed ID: 29621191PubMed Central: PMC6024669DOI: 10.3390/vetsci5020039Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Disease Etiology
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Summary
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This research discusses a case of acquired syringomyelia, a spinal cord disorder characterized by the presence of fluid-filled cavities, in an adult Paint Horse. The study elaborates on the clinical and pathological changes, symptoms experienced, and diagnostic procedures, suggesting this condition should be considered in adult horses displaying progressive neurologic symptoms.
Understanding Syringomyelia
- Syringomyelia is a form of myelodysplasia, a category of disorders that involve malformation or deformation of the spinal cord.
- It is characterized by the creation of one or more fluid-filled cavities within the spinal cord, distinct from the main central canal. These cavities, or syrinxes, can cause damage to the spinal cord over time.
- This condition can be either congenital (present at birth) or acquired (developed later in life due to injury, infection, or some other factors).
Clinical Signs of Syringomyelia
- Specific symptoms depend on which segment of the spinal cord is affected. They might include pain, paresis (muscle weakness or partial paralysis), issues with proprioception (the ability to sense the position, location, and movement of the body), changes in sensation, scoliosis (spinal curvature), and autonomic dysfunction (disruptions in automatic body functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and digestion).
The Case of the Adult American Paint Horse
- The study documents a case of acquired syringomyelia in a 10-year-old American Paint Horse mare.
- This horse had experienced progressive proprioceptive deficits in all four limbs, abnormalities in walking (ataxia) in both hind limbs, and muscle spasms for six weeks. Unfortunately, these symptoms did not improve with rest, or treatment with commonly used anti-inflammatory drugs, such as phenylbutazone and dexamethasone.
- The horse was diagnosed postmortem (after death) with syringomyelia. The condition was identified within the cervical (neck), thoracic (chest), and lumbar (lower back) segments of the spinal cord.
Significance of the Study
- This case study underscores the need for considering acquired syringomyelia as possible diagnosis in adult horses that show signs of progressive neurologic deficits.
- By highlighting the symptoms, diagnosis, and pathological changes related to syringomyelia, the research can help veterinary professionals better identify and understand this condition in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Kurz JP, Schoenhals KE, Hullinger GA, Van Wettere AJ.
(2018).
Syringomyelia in an Adult American Paint Horse.
Vet Sci, 5(2), 39.
https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci5020039 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84341, USA. jacqueline.larose@usu.edu.
- Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Logan, UT 84341, USA. jacqueline.larose@usu.edu.
- South Mountain Equine Veterinary Services, Blￚle, UT 84065, USA. kate@southmountainequine.net.
- Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Logan, UT 84341, USA. gordon.hullinger@usu.edu.
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84341, USA. arnaud.vanwettere@usu.edu.
- Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Logan, UT 84341, USA. arnaud.vanwettere@usu.edu.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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