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Enteric neuropathy in horses with grass sickness
S F Scholes1, C Vaillant, P Peacock
1Department of Veterinary Preclinical Science, University of Liverpool.
The Veterinary Record
|June 26, 1993
Summary
Grass sickness causes severe enteric neuropathy in horses, affecting the entire gut in acute cases and the distal small intestine in chronic cases. This nerve degeneration explains the gastrointestinal dysfunction seen in this equine disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Equine Neurology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Grass sickness is a severe equine disease characterized by enteric nervous system degeneration.
- The precise distribution and impact of these neuronal lesions on disease severity remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of enteric neuronal lesions in horses with grass sickness.
- To correlate lesion location and severity with clinical signs of acute and chronic grass sickness.
Main Methods:
- Histological examination of enteric ganglia from 11 anatomical sites in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Comparison of samples from control horses, horses with acute grass sickness, and horses with chronic grass sickness.
Main Results:
- All grass sickness cases exhibited severe enteric neuropathy.
- Lesions were widespread in acute grass sickness but localized to the distal small intestine in chronic cases.
- Enteric ganglia organization was generally similar to other large mammals, with minor exceptions.
Conclusions:
- The widespread or localized enteric neuropathy in grass sickness is consistent with the observed gastrointestinal propulsive deficits.
- These findings provide a pathological explanation for the intractable nature of grass sickness.