Equine Atypical Myopathy Since the first cases in Belgium in autumn 2000 [1], the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Liège (FMV-ULg) is working on atypical myopathy. The definition of the clinical, pathological and epidemiological features of the disease was the first lines of work [1-3]. In 2004, the FMV-ULg has initiated an epidemiosurveillance network for atypical myopathy called AMAG (« Atypical Myopathy Alert Group » ; myopathieatypique.fr/en/) and supervised by Dr D. Votion. This network aims at linking scientists working on the disease. Atypical myopathy is a condition of environmental origin that kills 75% of horses within 72 hours. The network informs the equine sector of the emergence of cases so that owners of horses can take the appropriate preventive measures when clinical series are reported (usually in the fall and spring). More than a dozen European countries are now working in this network. Recently, a research group from the University of Minnesota, United States joined the network and has benefited from sera collected on European cases (more than 1000 cases have been reported to AMAG since the fall of 2006 and something like 30 sera were sent to the US). In Belgium, the main partners are the equine clinic of the Faculty of veterinary Medicine of Liège (ULg-FMV), the Centre for Oxygen Research and Development (ULg), , the Department of Morphology and Pathology (FMV-ULg), the laboratory of biochemical Genetics (ULg), the laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (ULg) and the Faculty of veterinary Medicine of Ghent. Undoubtedly, veterinary practitioners are the central axis of this network and it is thanks to them that great strides have been possible in the prevention, management and treatment of cases [Votion et al., 2009 ; van Galen & Votion, 2012a,b ; van Galen et al., 2012a,b] and more recently the finding of the cause. [Votion et al., 2013]. The hypothesis of the cause From results of epidemiological studies performed on European cases [van Galen et al., 2012a,b] and by elucidating the pathophysiological mechanism [Westermann et al., 2008], using several samples collected through the network, the assumption of a toxin from the environment and altering the energy metabolism has been hypothetised. Recently, Valberg and Colleagues [10] (see: onlinelibrary.wiley/doi/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00684.x/pdf) showed that Seasonal Pasture Myopathy (SPM) in the US, which closely resembles atypical myopathy (AM) in Europe, was caused by a toxin, the toxic amino acid hypoglycin A present in the seeds of box elder trees (Acer negundo). Once ingested, hypoglycin A is metabolized into a toxic compound (i.e. MCPA) that disrupt energetic metabolism leading to the biochemical derangements seen in both, SPM and AM. Hypoglycin A may be contained in seeds of several trees of the genus Acer. In the past, botanical surveys of Belgium cases consistently reported the presence of Acer pseudoplatanus (maple tree; Aceraceae) in pastures [Votion et al., 2007], and moreover the contribution of trees (generally speaking) in the pathogenesis of the condition has been suggested in a recent descriptive study where trees were present at 98% of the pastures of 354 European cases [van Galen et al., 2012a].. Concerning the cause of AM in Europe, sera from European cases are being analyzed in collaboration with the University of Minnesota to search for MCPA conjugates in blood. The result is positive : the toxic metabolit of hypoglycin A (contained in acer platanus seeds) can be found in European cases blood samples Meanwhile, clues for diagnosis, prognosis, and preventive measures may be found in the latest studies performed on European cases [van Galen et al., 2012a,b]. We would like to insist on the importance of continuing reporting of European cases to the AMAG (Atypical Myopathy Alert Group; myopathieatypique.fr/en/). This European epidemiosurveillance system allows scientific groups that are working together on this disease to know where and when cases occur so that the data and samples that are needed for research can be collected.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 07:52:50 +0000
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