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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Horse showing nervous signs and coughing - what could it be?

By Mair, T S & Pearson, G R·Published in Journal of comparative pathology·1990·Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Melanotic hamartoma of the hind brain in a riding horse.

Species:
horse
Equine sarcoidsBreathing & coughHorses

Plain-English summary

A 3 and a half-year-old bay gelding, which is a type of riding horse, started showing signs of nervousness and coughing during training and exercise. After the horse passed away, a thorough examination revealed that there was a lot of melanin, the pigment that gives color to skin and hair, in the protective layers of the brain and spinal cord. Further tests showed that there were cells containing melanin in the connective tissue of the brain. This condition was diagnosed as a melanotic hamartoma, which is a type of benign tumor. Unfortunately, the outcome was not favorable since the horse did not survive.

Abstract

A 3 1/2-year-old bay gelding of the cob type showed nervous signs and coughing associated with breaking-in and exercise. At post-mortem examination, heavy melanin pigmentation of the meninges of the hind brain and the medulla was identified and, on histological examination, melanin-containing cells were found within connective tissue extending into the medulla. The lesion was considered to be a melanotic hamartoma.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2324345/