Equine Neurological Flashcards
What is wobblers syndrome
Genetic malformation of spinal cord
West Nile Virus causes
Encephalitis (inflammation of brain)
How WNV is transmitted
Mosquitos; usu aquire from biting birds then go and bite horses or people
Signs of WNV
Listless / depressed, weak limbs, ataxia, stumbling gait, partial paralysis
How to treat WNV
No cure, supportive care
How to prevent WNV
Vaccine, mosquito control
Why horses and humans are considered “dead end hosts” for WNV
Can not transmit to anyone else, even via mosquito vectors
Equine encephalomyletis is a vita disease that affects the
Brain (cephalo) and spinal cord (myelo)
3 different Equine Encephalomyelitis strains
EEE- east
WEE- west
VEE- Venezuelan
How strains of equine encephalomyelitis differ in epidemiology
EEE and WEE= host is bird, horse is dead end host
VEE= host is horse, can spread via mosquitos to others
Which equine neurological disease is zoonotic
Equine encephalomyelitis
EEE and WEE= via mosquitos from birds
VEE= via mosquitos from horses
Who are reservoir hosts of VEE, what does that mean?
Mice or birds, always have in population (enzootic), gets picked up from mosquitos (enzootic vector)
Horses act as an amplification host for VEE, meaning
Gains high virus load, spreads to others via epizootic vector (like mosquitos)
Early signs of equine encephalomyelitis
Progresses to
Fever, hypersensitivity (overreacts to stimulus)
Progresses= anorexia and depression, posterior weakness and ataxia, unable to rise
Equine encephalomyelitis has a high mortality rate of about _%
50-90% (EEE/ VEE on higher side)
Difference between EEE/ WEE vaccine and VEE vaccine
EEE and WEE =core vaccinations, v effective, annual
VEE= only administered in areas of high incidence
What causes equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM)
Migration of protozoa in the spinal cord (protozoa ingested )
Protozoa that causes EPM
Sarcocystis neurona
Will EPM spread to other horses via host horse
No; horse is dead end host and does not shed the protozoa
How EPM can be diagnosed
neurological exam, blood Ab titer, spinal fluid analysis
How to treat EPM
Anti protozoal drugs for long term treatment
Common reservoir for EPM protozoa
Opossum and other wildlife, feces contaminant environment
How to prevent EPM
Rodent control, cover food so rodents don’t contaminate
Signs of EPM
early and progressive
Early= ataxia, pelvic limbs usually affected first Later= muscle atrophy, possible paralyzation
Tetanus is also referred to as
Lockjaw
Tetanus is a severe neurological disease cause by
Bacteria Clostridium tetani
What kind of disease is tetanus
Infectious, non-contagious, highly fatal neurological disease
How Clostridium tetani enters host
Thro break in skin, stays in environment for long periods via spores
What kind of wound is ideal for Clostridium tetani invasion and why
Deep puncture wound; reproduces ideally in anaerobic environment
Route of Clostridium tetani infection
Nerves in wound-> spinal cord-> brain
What causes the clinical signs of tetanus
A) bacteria
B) toxins produced via bacteria
C) spores
B
Signs of tetanus
Muscle stiffness (paralyzed in contraction =tetany) stiff leg gait (saw horse stance), hypersensitivity to stimuli, paralysis, convulsions, lack swallowing ability ( lock jaw)
Why we would clap our hands as an indicator of tetanus
Hypersensitivity to stimuli, causes 3rd eyelid to flash Bc muscle of eyeball pulls it into skull
Why tetanus is also called lock jaw
Those affected lack swallowing ability
Tetanus treatment
High mortality and poor response to any treatment (none)
How to prevent tetanus
Tetanus toxoid (active) or a tetanus antitoxin (passive) given at time of wound
Animals most commonly affected by tetanus
Horses, sheep, goats, humans
What kind of disease is Equine Rhabdomyelosis
Metabolic disease
Equine Rhabdomyelosis is also called
Azoturia, or tying up, or Monday morning sickness
What causes equine Rhabdomyelosis
Forced exercise after period of rest (during which feed has not been restricted)
Equine Rhabdomyelosis is common in
Horses regularly worked/ in training
Signs of equine Rhabdomyelosis
Acute onset, profuse sweating, tremors, reluctant to walk, stiff gait, weakness in hind limbs, hard muscles painful upon palpitation
Signs of extreme equine Rhabdomyelosis
Red urine due to muscle breakdown, myoglobin in Urine (released from muscle cells) myoglobinuria
Why equine Rhabdomyelosis is also called red water disease
Extreme cases cause red urine
How to treat equine Rhabdomyelosis
Rest, painkillers, maintain fluids to prevent kidney disease, gradually return to exercise, modify management
Why we don’t give horses fluids SQ
Can cause abscesses
