MAL SECO, A GRASS SICKNESS-LIKE SYNDROME OF HORSES IN ARGENTINA

Mal seco is a grass sickness-like syndrome of horses which has mainly been observed in Patagonia, Argentina, although some reports indicate that the disease may exist in other Argentinian provinces and in the s outh of Chile. The aetiology of mal seco remains unknown but the disea se seems to be restricted to animals grazing on natural pastures and n ot receiving supplementary feeding. Mal seco is clinically characteriz ed by total or partial bowel stasis and the main findings at post-mort em examination are almost exclusively restricted to the bowel. The mos t striking histopathological changes found consisted of degenerative c hanges in the coeliaco-mesenteric ganglia and also in other central an d peripheral structures of the nervous system.