Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Familial occurrence of narcolepsy in miniature horses.
- Journal:
- Equine veterinary journal
- Year:
- 1993
- Authors:
- Lunn, D P et al.
- Affiliation:
- School of Veterinary Medicine
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In a study of two closely related Miniature Horses, both showed signs of excessive sleepiness, depression, and episodes of collapsing. After thorough testing, they were diagnosed with narcolepsy, a condition that causes sudden sleep attacks. Additional tests, including brain wave monitoring and analysis of their spinal fluid, did not reveal any unusual findings compared to other healthy Miniature Horses. The research suggests that narcolepsy is a rare but recognized condition in this breed, and these cases seem to be linked through their family background. Overall, the findings indicate that narcolepsy can occur in Miniature Horses, particularly among closely related individuals.
Abstract
In an investigation of 2 closely related Miniature Horses with a history of excessive sleepiness, depression and episodes of collapse, a diagnosis of narcolepsy was made on the basis of neurological examination and pharmacological testing. Further investigations included electroencephalographic examination (EEG), and analysis of protein content, cell count and monoamine metabolite concentrations of lumbosacral cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). There were no abnormalities noted in the EEGs, and no consistent changes in CSF neurotransmitter metabolites in the narcoleptic horses when compared with 3 normal, unrelated Miniature Horses and 2 related, clinically unaffected animals. The breeding background of the 2 affected horses was investigated and a limited survey of Miniature Horse breeders in North America was conducted. These investigations have shown that narcolepsy is a rare but distinct syndrome in the Miniature Horse, and that the cases described here appear to represent a familial occurrence of the disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7903939/