title: Clinical and biochemical features of grass sickness (equine dysautonomia).
abstract: An attempt has been made to assess the diagnostic value of clinical features seen at initial examination of horses with grass sickness, colic cases and cases submitted as possible grass sickness but diagnosed subsequently as some other condition. There appears to be no single pathognomonic sign for grass sickness. A range of signs has been associated with grass sickness but these are of value only when related to the length of illness and the history. Biochemical tests related to intestinal tissue damage, stress and dehydration were evaluated and most were found to be of value in diagnosing acute grass sickness. No evidence was found relating selected mineral or vitamin deficiencies to grass sickness, nor were protein changes specific. A marked fall in glutathione peroxidase values was associated with grazing rather than disease.
authors.affiliation: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush, Roslin, UK.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Doxey
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Milne
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gilmour
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Pogson
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D003085:Colic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006736:Horses; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D006854:Hydrocortisone