title: Motor neuron degeneration in a horse.
abstract: A 9-year-old Quarter Horse mare was examined because of progressive weight loss, weakness, muscle atrophy and tremors, and behavioral change. Selenium and glutathione peroxidase assays, blood lead analysis, erythrocyte transketolase analysis, pseudorabies and Borrelia burgdorferi serology, electromyography, and CSF analysis were performed. Motor neuron degeneration was diagnosed by microscopic examination of neural tissues. The cause of the disease was not substantiated, but several possibilities were excluded via diagnostic testing. Diagnosis of motor neuron degeneration in horses may be made from an accurate history, thorough neurologic examination, and ancillary testing. In particular, antemortem diagnosis may be based on finding scattered angular atrophy of predominantly type-1 or of type-1 and -2 skeletal muscle fibers in frozen sections of muscle biopsy specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Step
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Lahunta
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Valentine
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Eckerlin
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Rebhun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000473:pathology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006736:Horses; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D011379:Prognosis; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology