NEURO-DEGENERATIVE DISEASES OF THE CENTRA L NERVE-SYSTEM IN THE HORSE

The most important neurodegenerative diseases of the horse are reviewe d. In addition to the literature, neurodegenerative diseases occurring in patients (horses, Mongolian Przewalski-horses, and two zebras) ref erred to the Utrecht Veterinary Faculty are mentioned. Neurodegenerati ve diseases described are: I. ataxia associated with: A/ static stenos is, B/ dynamic stenosis, C/ lesions at various locations in the centra l nervous system, D/ equiene herpesvirus infections, E/ equiene degene rative myelo-encefalopathy, or F/ cerebellar abiotrophy; II. equiene m otor neuron disease; III. grass sickness or equiene dysautonomia; IV. postanaesthetic myelomalacia; and V. equiene leuko-encefalomalacia. Th e patient descriptions show, that mixed forms of some of the different iated diseases can be diagnosed. Little is known with certainty about the aetiology of the neurodegenerative lesions found. In some patients vitamin E may play a role, possibly in combination with other factors . A mycotoxin known to interfere with myelin metabolism is involved in leukoemcephalomalacia.