Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse with stiffness and muscle twitching - what is neuromyotonia?
By Zakia, Luiza Stachewski et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2019·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Neuromyotonia in a horse.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 19-month-old male crossbred Quarter Horse was diagnosed with neuromyotonia, a condition affecting muscle control. The horse showed signs of stiffness and uneven muscle development in its back legs, along with unusual muscle movements in the lower back and hindquarters. Tests on the horse's muscles revealed continuous activity that shouldn't be happening, along with other abnormal electrical signals. A closer look at the muscle tissue showed a mix of nerve and muscle problems. Overall, the findings confirmed the diagnosis of neuromyotonia.
Abstract
This article describes the clinical and electromyographic findings of neuromyotonia in a 19-month-old male crossbred Quarter Horse that presented with stiffness and muscle asymmetry in the hind limbs as well as sacrococcygeal, paravertebral, and gluteal myokymia. An electromyographic study showed spontaneous continuous muscle fiber activity with high-frequency discharges, fibrillations, positive sharp waves, fasciculation potentials, and complex repetitive discharges. Histological examination of the gluteal muscle showed a mixed neurogenic and myopathic pattern. The findings are consistent with neuromyotonia.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30511761/