BackgroundWhite muscle disease (WMD) is a nutritional myopathy caused by selenium (Se) deficiency. In most soils, Se is present in low concentrations, sometimes even below 0.2 mg/kg, a trend which is seen in many countries. Apart from total soil Se concentrations, soil conditions may be such that the bio-availability of Se is so low that it causes very low uptake in plants which can ultimately lead to deficiency problems in animals. This is the first case series to report clinical WMD in foals in areas deficient in Se, in the Netherlands.The aim of the current report is to provide an overview of the clinical history, symptoms and (clinical) pathology of 8 newborn foals living at 4 different premises and suffering from WMD together with the effectiveness of Se and vitamin E (Vit E) supplementation in the affected foals, their dams and herd members. Hands on practical information is provided to apply a correct and effective Se supplementation management in horses and which pitfalls need to be avoided for a successful approach.Case presentationCase features and history were mapped out for all foals. Se and Vit E status were assessed for the foals, their dams and herd members, at admission and after 3 months of Vit E/Se supplementation.Common symptoms were muscle weakness, inability to rise, lethargy and inadequate suckle reflex together with increased serum muscle enzymes and low glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and low to normal serum vit E levels. Necropsy revealed necrosis of skeletal muscles consistent with nutritional myopathy. Se status of the dams and herd members correlated well with the Se status of the foals. All surviving foals (n = 6) showed normal Vit E and GSH-Px levels after supplementation, likewise, all horses tested at premises 1, 3 and 4. However, dams and herd members in premises 2 showed no normalization. Horses of that premises were diagnosed with pyrrolizidine intoxication one year prior to the study.ConclusionsCertain regions in the Netherlands are sufficiently Se deficient to predispose newborn foals to develop WMD, especially when they are being fed a diet that mainly consists of locally harvested roughage.
General rightsThis document is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above. Full terms of use are available: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/pure/about/ebr-terms Conclusions: A negative response to diagnostic local anaesthesia of the maxillary nerve does not 28 disprove facial dysaesthesia as the cause of headshaking in that horse as a false negative response 29 could arise due to failure to deposit local anaesthetic around the target area. Increased experience 30 in performing the procedure decreases the probability of false negative results. 31
Introduction Diagnostic local analgesia of the caudal portion of the infraorbital nerve (CPIN) and caudal nasal nerve (CNN) is a valuable aid to the diagnosis of idiopathic headshaking in horses. The site of deposition of local anaesthetic has not been verified. Aims To verify the site of deposition of local anaesthetic in this procedure, and to identify any correlation between accuracy of the technique and operator experience. Methods The procedure was performed bilaterally using contrast material on 30 cadaver horse heads by 3 groups of veterinarians and veterinary students with varying levels of experience in the technique. Location of deposition was identified by use of computed tomography (CT). Results Contrast was deposited around the target site in 53.3% (32/60) of injections. The most experienced operator performed the procedure accurately significantly (P<0.05) more often (80% [16/20]) than did the less and nonexperienced performers (40% [16/40]). Conclusions A negative response to diagnostic local analgesia of the CPIN and CNN in the investigation of headshaking does not disprove facial pain as the cause of headshaking in that horse. A negative response could arise due to failure to deposit local anaesthetic around the target area. Sufficient experience of performing the procedure decreases the probability of false negative results. Practical significance Clinicians performing diagnostic local analgesia of the CPIN and CNN must be aware of the possibility of false negative results. Experience improves the reliability of results. Ethical animal research Not required by this Congress. Horse cadaver heads obtained from horses subjected to euthanasia for reasons other than this study were used. Sources of funding: The Langford Trust for Animal Health and Welfare funded this study and Langford Veterinary Services funded the first author's residency training. Competing interests: None.
Sanne Wilmink looks at the options and discusses the benefits
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