title: The effect of Clostridium botulinum toxin type A injections on motor unit activity of the deep digital flexor muscle in healthy sound Royal Dutch sport horses.
abstract: Therapeutic reduction of the activity of the deep digital flexor (DDF) muscle may play a role in treatment of laminitic horses. Clostridium botulinum toxin type A induces reduced muscle activity and has a spasmolytic effect in horses. In this study, the effectiveness of 200 IU C. botulinum toxin type A on reduction of DDF muscle activity was measured in seven healthy, sound, adult Royal Dutch sport horses. C. botulinum toxin type A was injected using ultrasound and electromyographic (EMG) guidance. The effectiveness was assessed by interference pattern analysis (IPA) and motor unit action potential (MUAP) analysis. All needle EMG MUAP variables, along with IPA amplitude/turn and turns/s, were significantly reduced after C. botulinum toxin type A injections. The strongest effect occurred within the first 3 days after injection. The reduced muscle induced by C. botulinum toxin type A may have benefits in the treatment of horses with laminitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: I.D.Wijnberg@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Inge D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Wijnberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lotte C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hardeman
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bram R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: van der Meij
authors.affiliation: Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veraa
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Back
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johannes H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: van der Kolk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects*; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011999:Recruitment, Neurophysiological / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A
keywords: Clostridium botulinum toxin type A; Deep digital flexor muscle; Electromyography; Equine