The aim of the present paper was to describe a case of Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopa- thy (EDM) in a female yearling trotter horse with locomotory and postural deficits on the four limbs. Cranial nerve assessment was normal and the horse was bright and alert. On neurological examination, wide-based stance, grade 4/5 sym- metrical ataxia, grade 2/5 paresis in thoracic limbs and 3/5 in pelvic limbs were detected. Mental sta- tus, cranial nerves and perineal reflex were nor- mal, while cervico-facial reflex was absent. Neu- roanatomical localization suggested a cervico-tho- racic spinal cord lesion. Plasmatic vitamin E con- centration was low, plain lateral radiography and myelography of the caudal skull and cervical ver- tebrae was unremarkable. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was clear and colourless. Total protein con- centration and total nucleated cell count were wi- thin normal references. On the basis of the clini- cal and diagnostic findings, EDM was considered most likely. Vitamin E was administered per os at the dose of 6000 IU/foal with mild improvement. The filly was euthanized six months later. No ma- croscopic lesions were observed in the brain and spinal cord. At different levels of the spinal cord, histological lesions were characterized by astro- gliosis, loss of myelinated fibres, and accumulation of lipofuscin granules.
Mieloencefalopatia degenerativa equina: sintomatologia clinica, indagini collaterali ed esame post-mortem in una puledra trottatrice
SGORBINI, MICAELA;CANTILE, CARLO;CITI, SIMONETTA;MARCHETTI, VERONICA;BRIGANTI, ANGELA;BONELLI, FRANCESCA;CORAZZA, MICHELE
2013-01-01
Abstract
The aim of the present paper was to describe a case of Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopa- thy (EDM) in a female yearling trotter horse with locomotory and postural deficits on the four limbs. Cranial nerve assessment was normal and the horse was bright and alert. On neurological examination, wide-based stance, grade 4/5 sym- metrical ataxia, grade 2/5 paresis in thoracic limbs and 3/5 in pelvic limbs were detected. Mental sta- tus, cranial nerves and perineal reflex were nor- mal, while cervico-facial reflex was absent. Neu- roanatomical localization suggested a cervico-tho- racic spinal cord lesion. Plasmatic vitamin E con- centration was low, plain lateral radiography and myelography of the caudal skull and cervical ver- tebrae was unremarkable. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was clear and colourless. Total protein con- centration and total nucleated cell count were wi- thin normal references. On the basis of the clini- cal and diagnostic findings, EDM was considered most likely. Vitamin E was administered per os at the dose of 6000 IU/foal with mild improvement. The filly was euthanized six months later. No ma- croscopic lesions were observed in the brain and spinal cord. At different levels of the spinal cord, histological lesions were characterized by astro- gliosis, loss of myelinated fibres, and accumulation of lipofuscin granules.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
