Abstract
Case description: A 23-year-old female mule was presented for bilateral ocular abnormalities and an abnormal pelvic limb gait. Clinical findings: Anisocoria, unilateral enophthalmos, medial strabismus, ptosis, pupillary light reflex deficits, and bilateral reticulated pigmentary retinopathy were observed on ophthalmic examination. Neurologic abnormalities included right-sided facial nerve paralysis, extensive symmetric muscle atrophy, and asymmetric pelvic limb ataxia with an abnormal pelvic limb gait. A positive titer (1:40) for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) associated with Neospora hughesi was obtained from cerebrospinal fluid with minimal (<1 red blood cell/μL) blood contamination. Muscle biopsies of the sacrocaudalis dorsalis medialis muscle revealed predominantly type I neurogenic muscle atrophy, consistent with a diagnosis of equine motor neuron disease (EMND). Treatment and outcome: Treatment included a 2-month course of ponazuril (5 mg/kg PO q24 h), vitamin E (8000 IU PO q24 h), and selenium (2 mg PO q24 h). Clinical improvement was not observed after 2 months although the mule remained stable. Clinical deterioration was reported upon discontinuation of the ponazuril after a 2-month course. Conclusion: Concurrent disease with EPM associated with N. hughesi and EMND should be considered in cases demonstrating cranial nerve abnormalities, pronounced symmetric muscle atrophy, unusual asymmetric gait abnormalities, and reticulated pigmentary retinopathy.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 259-265 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Veterinary Ophthalmology |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 2010 |
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Keywords
- Horse
- Neurologic disease
- Pigmentary retinopathy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- veterinary(all)
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis due to Neospora hughesi and equine motor neuron disease in a mule. / Finno, Carrie J; Eaton, Joshua Seth; Aleman, Monica R; Hollingsworth, Steven R.
In: Veterinary Ophthalmology, Vol. 13, No. 4, 07.2010, p. 259-265.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis due to Neospora hughesi and equine motor neuron disease in a mule
AU - Finno, Carrie J
AU - Eaton, Joshua Seth
AU - Aleman, Monica R
AU - Hollingsworth, Steven R
PY - 2010/7
Y1 - 2010/7
N2 - Case description: A 23-year-old female mule was presented for bilateral ocular abnormalities and an abnormal pelvic limb gait. Clinical findings: Anisocoria, unilateral enophthalmos, medial strabismus, ptosis, pupillary light reflex deficits, and bilateral reticulated pigmentary retinopathy were observed on ophthalmic examination. Neurologic abnormalities included right-sided facial nerve paralysis, extensive symmetric muscle atrophy, and asymmetric pelvic limb ataxia with an abnormal pelvic limb gait. A positive titer (1:40) for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) associated with Neospora hughesi was obtained from cerebrospinal fluid with minimal (<1 red blood cell/μL) blood contamination. Muscle biopsies of the sacrocaudalis dorsalis medialis muscle revealed predominantly type I neurogenic muscle atrophy, consistent with a diagnosis of equine motor neuron disease (EMND). Treatment and outcome: Treatment included a 2-month course of ponazuril (5 mg/kg PO q24 h), vitamin E (8000 IU PO q24 h), and selenium (2 mg PO q24 h). Clinical improvement was not observed after 2 months although the mule remained stable. Clinical deterioration was reported upon discontinuation of the ponazuril after a 2-month course. Conclusion: Concurrent disease with EPM associated with N. hughesi and EMND should be considered in cases demonstrating cranial nerve abnormalities, pronounced symmetric muscle atrophy, unusual asymmetric gait abnormalities, and reticulated pigmentary retinopathy.
AB - Case description: A 23-year-old female mule was presented for bilateral ocular abnormalities and an abnormal pelvic limb gait. Clinical findings: Anisocoria, unilateral enophthalmos, medial strabismus, ptosis, pupillary light reflex deficits, and bilateral reticulated pigmentary retinopathy were observed on ophthalmic examination. Neurologic abnormalities included right-sided facial nerve paralysis, extensive symmetric muscle atrophy, and asymmetric pelvic limb ataxia with an abnormal pelvic limb gait. A positive titer (1:40) for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) associated with Neospora hughesi was obtained from cerebrospinal fluid with minimal (<1 red blood cell/μL) blood contamination. Muscle biopsies of the sacrocaudalis dorsalis medialis muscle revealed predominantly type I neurogenic muscle atrophy, consistent with a diagnosis of equine motor neuron disease (EMND). Treatment and outcome: Treatment included a 2-month course of ponazuril (5 mg/kg PO q24 h), vitamin E (8000 IU PO q24 h), and selenium (2 mg PO q24 h). Clinical improvement was not observed after 2 months although the mule remained stable. Clinical deterioration was reported upon discontinuation of the ponazuril after a 2-month course. Conclusion: Concurrent disease with EPM associated with N. hughesi and EMND should be considered in cases demonstrating cranial nerve abnormalities, pronounced symmetric muscle atrophy, unusual asymmetric gait abnormalities, and reticulated pigmentary retinopathy.
KW - Horse
KW - Neurologic disease
KW - Pigmentary retinopathy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77955169262&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77955169262&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2010.00790.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2010.00790.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 20618805
AN - SCOPUS:77955169262
VL - 13
SP - 259
EP - 265
JO - Veterinary Ophthalmology
JF - Veterinary Ophthalmology
SN - 1463-5216
IS - 4
ER -