Neurological syndromes among horses in The Netherlands a 5 year retrospective survey (1999–2004)

Summary

The presence of toxins or infectious agents combined with environmental factors in combination susceptible host can be the with a cause for neurological disease in groups of horses. During a 5 year observational period outbreaks of neurological diseases among horses were evaluated. Causes of occurring neurological diseases were equine botulism, lolitrem intoxications, equine herpesvirus type 1‐associated myelo(encephalo)pathy, and encephalitis caused by (disseminated) Streptococcus equi subspecies equi infection. This article focuses on the first three syndromes because of their predominant influence on locomotion. The pathogenesis of each disease is presented, followed by a description of a general presentation of the diseases as encountered under Dutch circumstances.

Keywords:

• Bacterial diseases
• Botulism
• Encephalitis
• Encephalopathy
• Equine diseases
• Equine herpesvirus type 1 infections
• Horse diseases
• Herpesvirus infections
• Intoxication
• Lolitrem intoxication
• Myeloencephalopathy
• Myelopathy
• Streptococcus equi subspecies equi encephalitis
• Viral diseases
• West Nile virus

Notes

Corresponding author

Address: Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, PO Box 80153, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands.

E‐mail: [email protected]