Grass sickness ‐ the same old suspects but still no convictions!

Collier, Dean S.; Collier, Shaleise; Rossdale, P. D.

doi:10.2746/042516401776563454

Cited by 13 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Various hypotheses were advanced as to the possible association of Clostridium botulinum type C with dysautonomia (Hunter et al . 1999) and the death of a famous stallion in 2001 provided financial impetus to research and for the development of a potential vaccine (Collier et al . 2001; Hedderson and Newton 2004).…”

Section: New and Old Medical Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fifty years of the British Equine Veterinary Association as a facilitator of progress in equine clinical science

Silver

Jeffcott²,

Rossdale³

2011

Equine Veterinary Journal

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Section: New and Old Medical Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fifty years of the British Equine Veterinary Association as a facilitator of progress in equine clinical science

Silver

Jeffcott²,

Rossdale³

2011

Equine Veterinary Journal

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“…Following in vivo challenges, it was noted that, in both experimental animals and horses, the bacillus and toxin produced lesions known to be associated with botulism, although the lesions were not absolutely identical with those exhibited in horses suffering EGS. In 1922 and 1923, Tocher and co-workers performed controlled vaccine trials involving more than 2000 horses, with half the horses on each premises receiving an antitoxin-neutralised botulinum toxin vaccine and the other half remaining as unvaccinated controls (Tocher et al 1923;Tocher 1924;Wood et al 1999;Collier et al 2001). Results showed a highly statistically significant reduction in EGS mortality rate among the vaccinated group in both years of the study.…”

Section: Sessionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prospects for vaccination against equine grass sickness

Hedderson

Newton

2004

Equine Veterinary Journal

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“…Equine dysautonomia or “grass sickness” (EGS) is a distressing and usually fatal disease of equids of uncertain etiology (Collier et al, 2001). Symptoms include damage to the autonomic nervous system and lowered gastrointestinal motility, which in acute cases results in total ileus (Pirie, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been hypothesized that EGS is a toxico-infectious condition similar to infant botulism in humans, which may explain the different clinical and histopathological features of EGS and classic botulism in the horse (Hunter et al, 1999; Wood and McGorum, 1999; Collier et al, 2001; Böhnel et al, 2003; Newton et al, 2004). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The pasture association of EGS have led many to propose a potential role for toxins in the development of the disease (Tocher et al, 1923; Pool, 1928; Collier et al, 2001; Newton et al, 2004). Possible pasture based toxins include those originating from plants (e.g., ranunculin), soil (e.g., heavy metals), and microbes (e.g., cyanobacteria).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Edaphic and Phytochemical Factors as Predictors of Equine Grass Sickness Cases in the UK

Edwards¹,

Martz²,

Rogge³

et al. 2010

Front. Pharm.

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Background: Equine dysautonomia or equine grass sickness (EGS), as it is more commonly known, is a usually fatal disease of equids of uncertain etiology, although associated with grazing, that affects the autonomic and enteric nervous system. Lowered gastrointestinal motility, leading to paralysis of the gut, is one of the main symptoms of EGS. Previous studies have implicated anaerobic bacteria, notably Clostridium botulinum, but what triggers the severe bacterial infestations remains enigmatic. We hypothesized that a detailed comparison of soil mineral and botanical composition of EGS and control sites would yield new insights into the causation of the disease. Results: Between March 2007 and September 2008, soil, plant, and water samples from a total of 23 EGS sites and 11 control sites were studied. Metal and non-metal element levels of the soil and herbage samples were assessed. Significantly, EGS sites had higher levels of soil nitrogen, and significantly higher levels of iron, lead, arsenic, and chromium in the herbage. Toxic Ranunculus spp. (buttercups) were found in abundance at every EGS site, making ingestion plausible. Conversely, neurotoxin-producing cyanobacteria were not found in any of the water samples analyzed. Conclusions: The significantly higher levels of iron and heavy metals found in herbage growing in EGS sites, in addition to toxic Ranunculus species, suggest that previously unknown triggers are involved in a multi-factorial EGS etiology. Our results also show that cyanobacteria on the other hand, are unlikely to be a factor in EGS. Consequently, the concomitant presence of two (or more) factors could be the trigger for an outbreak of EGS.

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Grass sickness ‐ the same old suspects but still no convictions!

Cited by 13 publications

References 16 publications

Fifty years of the British Equine Veterinary Association as a facilitator of progress in equine clinical science

Fifty years of the British Equine Veterinary Association as a facilitator of progress in equine clinical science

Prospects for vaccination against equine grass sickness

Edaphic and Phytochemical Factors as Predictors of Equine Grass Sickness Cases in the UK

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