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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Horses very tired and reluctant to move - could it be cholesterinic

By Jackson, C A et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·1994·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Neurological manifestation of cholesterinic granulomas in three horses.

Species:
horse

Plain-English summary

Three adult horses were found to have cholesterinic granulomas, which are abnormal growths that can affect the brain. These horses showed signs of being very depressed, sleepy, and unwilling to move, with one horse even having seizures. Tests of their cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the brain and spinal cord, showed changes indicating problems, including a yellowish color and higher protein levels in two cases. The large growths were pushing against parts of the brain, leading to a buildup of fluid and causing further complications. Unfortunately, the outcome for these horses is not specified in the study.

Abstract

Cholesterinic granulomas have been previously reported as an incidental post mortem in horses. Three adult horses with diencephalic dysfunction due to cholesterinic granulomas are described. All the horses exhibited profound depression, somnolence and reluctance to move. One horse experienced generalised seizures. Cerebrosinal fluid was xanthochromic with an elevated total protein in two of the cases evaluated. The large cholesterinic granulomas caused expansion of the lateral ventricle and secondary hydrocephalus due to the build up of cerebrospinal fluid behind the mass. Cholesterinic granulomas are believed to result from choroid plexus congestion and haemorrhage.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7801440/