|
|
| Line 7: |
Line 7: |
| | * Most notably affects horses and cats. | | * Most notably affects horses and cats. |
| | | | |
| − | =====Equine dysautonomia, or grass sickness=====
| + | [[Grass Sickness]] |
| | + | |
| | + | |
| | | | |
| − | * Most prevalent in the UK and western Europe.
| |
| − | ** Common in wetter areas, e.g. the South West.
| |
| − | * Seen in horses out at pasture in late summer and autumn.
| |
| − | * Usually affects young adults.
| |
| − | ** 6-7 years old.
| |
| − | * '''Clinical'''
| |
| − | ** Acute oneset:
| |
| − | *** Muscular tremors
| |
| − | *** Abdominal pain
| |
| − | *** Does not eat
| |
| − | *** Constipation
| |
| − | *** Become severly tympanic in acute cases
| |
| − | *** Dull and restless
| |
| − | *** Avoid swallowing
| |
| − | *** Salivate excessively
| |
| − | ** Degenerative lesions are seen in the autonomic nerve ganglia, including enteric plexuses
| |
| − | ** May either:
| |
| − | *** Progress rapidly to death
| |
| − | *** Take a slower clinical course.
| |
| − | **** Eat a bit, but food drops out of mouth
| |
| − | **** Go on to die slowly.
| |
| − | ** Some horses recover
| |
| − | *** This is very unlikely, and the condition is usually fatal.
| |
| − | ** Clinically difficult to diagnose - signs are confined to the gut.
| |
| − | *** Easy to diagnose on post mortem
| |
| − | * '''Pathology'''
| |
| − | ** [[Forestomach - Anatomy & Physiology|Stomach]] and [[Small Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|small intestine]] large amounts of contain watery yellow fluid.
| |
| − | *** There is an abrupt change in the [[Large Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|large intestine]], where no fluid is present.
| |
| − | **** [[Large Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|large intestine]] has very dry mucoid contents.
| |
| − | * '''Pathogenesis'''
| |
| − | ** Due to functional obstruction at ileocaecal valve and a degree of paralytic ileus of the [[Small Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology|small intestine]].
| |
| − | ** The exact cause is unknown, but a type of bacterial or fungal toxin which may damage autonomic nervous system ganglia may be involved.
| |
| − | *** ''[[Clostridium botulinum]]'' is thought to be involved.
| |
| − | * A similar condition seen in hares
| |
| − | ** Certain yeares almost seem to have outbreaks.
| |
| − | * Certain pastures at certain times of year produce grass sickness quite often.
| |
| − | ** A definitive diagnosis must be made - if the condition is due to the grazing we need to know.
| |
| − | *** E.g. if on livery or stud grazing, may put people off going there.
| |
| − | * 'Diagnosis'''
| |
| − | ** At post mortem look for degenerative changes in coeliaco-mesenteric ganglia - need to examine histologically.
| |
| − | *** Ganglia are peanut sized and found in perirenal fat between adrenal gland and the aorta.
| |
| | | | |
| | =====Feline dysautonomia, or Key-Gaskell Syndrome===== | | =====Feline dysautonomia, or Key-Gaskell Syndrome===== |
