A lovak fűbetegsége és annak magyarországi vonatkozásai

Abstract

SUMMARY Background: New updates about the epidemiology and aetiology of equine grass sickness (EGS) are necessary since the diagnosis of the first Hungarian cases in 2001. Objectives: To review the epidemiology, aetiology, clinical signs, treatment and diagnostic opportunities of equine grass sickness, including its Hungarian relations. Materials and Methods: 98 publications have been reviewed. Results and Discussion: Equine grass sickness or equine dysautonomia is a frequently fatal polyneuropathy, which affects both the peripheral and central nervous systems. The disease occurs almost only in grazing horses. EGS was first described in the United Kingdom (Scotland) in 1909, but after that it appeared in many countries around the world including Hungary from 2001. Grass sickness has three main forms: acute, subacute and chronic, but there is an overlap between the forms, because the signs reflect the severity of neuronal degeneration in the autonomic and enteric nervous system. Accurate, noninvasive, ante mortem diagnosis is not available. A definitive diagnosis can be made by histopathological examination of the affected ganglia during exploratory laparotomy or after euthanasia. Acute and subacute cases of EGS are fatal,but selected chronic cases can be treated successfully with intensive nursing care. Vaccine trials have been performed in the United Kingdom, but until the causative agent is identified, the only way of prevention is the reduction of the premises- and management-related risk factors. The disease occurs yearly in a North-Hungarian stud with severe outbreaks in certain years. The last outbreak was in April 2017, when 15 foals were euthanized or died in the acute form of the disease after a marked decrease in temperature and heavy snowing during which the horses were kept in a stable. Also, there was a histopathologically confirmed case in Pest county, therefore Hungarian veterinarians should be prepared to prevent, diagnose, and occasionally treat cases.