Prevalences and clinical signs of polysaccharide storage myopathy and shivers in Belgian draft horses.
OBJECTIVE
To determine prevalences of polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) and shivers in Belgian Draft Horses (BDHs) and determine whether there was an association between these 2 conditions.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
103 BDHs > 1 year old.


METHODS
Owners were questioned regarding clinical signs of PSSM, shivers, and hindquarter weakness, defined as poor hindquarter muscling and lack of propulsion. Blood samples were collected for determination of serum creatine kinase and aspartate transferase activities and serum selenium and vitamin E concentrations. A biopsy sample from the gluteus medius muscle was submitted for histologic, histochemical, and biochemical analysis. A diagnosis of PSSM was made if abnormal amylase-resistant polysaccharide inclusions were seen histologically.


RESULTS
37 (36%) horses had PSSM and 19 (18%) had shivers, but only 6 (6%) had both PSSM and shivers, whereas 31 (30%) had PSSM alone, 13 (13%) had shivers alone, and 53 (51%) had neither, and a significant association between PSSM and shivers was not detected. Hindquarter weakness was found in 30 horses. Only 13 of 37 (35%) horses with PSSM and 11 of 19 (58%) horses with shivers had hindquarter weakness. Serum creatine kinase and aspartate transferase activities and serum selenium and vitamin E concentrations were not significantly different between horses with and without PSSM or between horses with and without shivers.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that PSSM and shivers are common but unrelated disorders in BDHs.
Firshman
Anna M
AM
Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA.
Baird
John D
JD
Valberg
Stephanie J
SJ
D000818:Animals; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006008:Glycogen Storage Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies