Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Clinical and pathologic findings in two draft horses with progressive muscle atrophy, neuromuscular weakness, and abnormal gait characteristic of shivers syndrome.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1999
- Authors:
- Valentine, B A et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Biomedical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Two Belgian geldings, one 4 years old and the other 14, were found to have muscle wasting, weakness, and unusual walking patterns typical of a condition called shivers syndrome. A thorough examination showed no signs of coordination problems, leading to a diagnosis of neuromuscular weakness and shivers. When the horses were examined after death, there were no major abnormalities in their brains, spinal cords, or nerves, but muscle samples showed signs of chronic muscle disease and specific changes that suggest a condition known as equine polysaccharide storage myopathy, which affects how muscles store energy. The researchers believe that a metabolic issue in the muscles might be causing the weakness and cramping seen in these horses with shivers.
Abstract
Two Belgian geldings, 4 and 14 years old, respectively, with muscle atrophy, weakness, and abnormal gait characteristic of severe advanced shivers were examined clinically and on necropsy. Neurologic examination revealed no evidence of ataxia, and the clinical diagnosis was neuromuscular weakness and shivers. Necropsies of both horses, including examination of pituitary, brain, spinal cord, spinal roots and ganglia, and peripheral nerves, revealed no gross or histologic abnormalities. Examination of multiple skeletal muscle specimens revealed chronic myopathic changes and periodic acid-Schiff positive, amylase-resistant inclusions within muscle fibers, characteristic of equine polysaccharide storage myopathy. It is suggested that underlying metabolic myopathy may be the cause of muscle weakness and cramping in horses with shivers.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14567431/