Equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy in a horse in the UK

Histopathological examination of cervical, thoracic and lumbar segments of spinal cord revealed bilateral, symmetrical degenerative changes within peripheral (subpial) areas of the ventral and lateral spinal cord funiculi, characterised by pallor and reactive astrogliosis, particularly within the ventral spinocerebellar and adjoining tracts; dorsal spinocerebellar tracts were only mildly affected and the dorsal funiculi were minimally affected ( Fig 1a, b, c ). Supplementation of pregnant mares and newborn foals with vitamin E can prevent the disease in predisposed families ( Mayhew and others 1987 , Blythe and others 1989 ).