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CNS Idiopathic Conditions - Pathology (view source)
Revision as of 16:19, 15 May 2009
, 16:19, 15 May 2009no edit summary
** However, biopsy is required for a definative diagnosis.
** However, biopsy is required for a definative diagnosis.
* Life span is between 6 months and 1 year from diagnosis.
* Life span is between 6 months and 1 year from diagnosis.
==Polyneuritis equi==
* A non-infectious [[CNS Inflammation - Pathology|central nervous inflammatory disease]]
* Polyneuritis equi (PNE) is an uncommon disease which affects mature horses
* Formerly known as 'cauda equina syndrome' or 'cauda equine neuritis'
* May occur as:
** A disease effecting the spinal nerve roots and ganglia of the cauda equina.
** A disease effecting the cranial nerves.
* Cauda equina disease is characterised by progressive loss of anal tone, tail paralysis, urinary and/or faecal incontinence, urine scalding of the hindlimbs, hyperaesthesia and muscle fasciculations over hindquarters.
* If the pelvic nerve roots are also involved, there may be changes in hindlimb gait.
* Cranial nerve signs may be apparent, including signs associated with facial nerve paralysis.
* Changes in the CSF are often non-specific.
** There is usually a moderate mononucloear pleocytosis.
** Protein is usually elveated.
* Histologically, the disease presents as a severe, chronic, destructive lymphocytic and histiocytic polyradiculoneuritis.
* Considered to be caused by a T-lymphocyte mediated response to myelin, followed by destruction of myelin and axons by macrophages
* Disease appears similar to:
** Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), an autoimmune demyelinating diease in humans
** Experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) in laboratory animals
* Important differential diagnoses for progressive neurologic signs effecting the bladder, rectum, perineum, tail, penis and hindlimbs in horses include:
** Equine herpesvirus-1 myeloencephalopathy
** Sacral/coccygeal trauma
** Equine motor neuron disease
** Abberant parasite migration (e.g. ''Strongylus'')
** In endemic areas, ''Sarcocystis neurona'' myelitis (equine protozoal myelitis), rabies and ''rhodococcus equi'' myeloencepahlitis should also be considered.