Equine grass sickness

Summary Equine grass sickness (EGS; equine dysautonomia) is a polyneuronopathy affecting both the central and the peripheral nervous systems of horses. As the name implies, EGS almost exclusively affects grazing horses, resulting in the development of a characteristic array of clinical signs, most o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Equine veterinary journal 2014-09, Vol.46 (5), p.545-553
Main Authors: Pirie, R. S., Jago, R. C., Hudson, N. P. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Clostridium botulinum
dysautonomia
Fusarium
Gastrointestinal Diseases - pathology
Gastrointestinal Diseases - therapy
Gastrointestinal Diseases - veterinary
grass sickness
horse
Horse Diseases - pathology
Horses
Key-Gaskell
Polyneuropathies - diagnosis
Polyneuropathies - pathology
Polyneuropathies - therapy
Polyneuropathies - veterinary
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Summary:Summary Equine grass sickness (EGS; equine dysautonomia) is a polyneuronopathy affecting both the central and the peripheral nervous systems of horses. As the name implies, EGS almost exclusively affects grazing horses, resulting in the development of a characteristic array of clinical signs, most of which can be attributed to neuronal degeneration in the autonomic and enteric nervous systems. Varying disease severities occur, largely determined by the extent of neuronal degeneration in the myenteric and submucous plexuses of the enteric nervous system. Extensive neuronal degeneration, as seen in acute and subacute forms of EGS, results in intestinal dysmotility, the severity of which is incompatible with survival. In comparison, a proportion of chronic forms of EGS, characterised by less severe neuronal degeneration, will survive. Despite extensive research efforts since EGS was first reported over 100 years ago, the precise aetiology remains elusive. This article reviews much of the scientific literature on EGS, covering epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment and aetiological hypotheses.
ISSN:0425-1644
2042-3306
DOI:10.1111/evj.12254