Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chronic fatigue syndrome in horses: diagnosis and treatment of 4 cases.
- Journal:
- Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases
- Year:
- 2001
- Authors:
- Tarello, W
- Affiliation:
- Veterinary Surgeon · Italy
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A recent report from England has highlighted that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), which causes horses to feel very tired and lethargic, is becoming a recognized issue in veterinary medicine. Four horses diagnosed with CFS had already tried other treatments without success, but they received a low dose of an arsenic-based drug called sodium thiacetarsamide. After this treatment, all four horses showed complete improvement, with no side effects noted. Additionally, two of the horses recovered from anemia, and bacteria that were previously found on their red blood cells disappeared after treatment. Overall, the treatment was effective in resolving the symptoms of CFS in these horses.
Abstract
A report from England has suggested that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome exists in equines and constitutes an emerging veterinary problem. Preliminary epidemiological studies seem to confirm the zoonotic implications of CFS. An arsenical drug, sodium thiacetarsamide, was administered to four horses with a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), already treated unsuccessfully with different medications. The CFS-like lethargy, with accompanying symptoms and signs, of the four animals obtained a complete remission after intravenous treatment with this drug at low dosage (0.1 mg/kg/day). No adverse side effects were ever noticed. This clinical response was associated with recovery from anaemia and decrease of muscular enzyme values in two of the four horses. In all patients, micrococci-like bacteria found before treatment adhering to the outer surface of many red blood cells, disappeared at post-treatment controls. Considerations are made on the possible action of an arsenical drug, used in isolation, in the treatment of CFS.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11131041/