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Causes Of Wobbler Syndrome Discussed At UK Equine Research Showcase

University of Kentucky hosted the first session of its 10th annual UK Equine Research Showcase in a virtual setting Jan. 5. The session emphasized musculoskeletal topics in weanling to yearling horses and presented both completed and work-in-progress projects.

Jennifer Janes, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVP, associate professor of anatomic pathology at UK's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory presented on bone pathology in equine Wobbler Syndrome during the session.

She focused on the condition seen in younger horses, which can develop anywhere from 6 months to 7 years of age depending on breed.

Janes defined equine Wobbler Syndrome as an equine neurological disease resulting from spinal cord compression in the neck due to vertebral malformations. This is a disease that is caused by skeletal malformations or related pathological changes that decrease the space available in the spinal canal. On a clinical level, it presents as a neurological disorder. The underlying skeletal changes that lead to a stricture or narrowing of the spinal canal can be variable. What they all have in common, however, is a resulting compression of the spinal cord that leads to the observed neurological deficits.

According to Janes, research shows that although the disease isn't gender specific, males are more predisposed to developing wobblers compared to females, by a ratio anywhere from 3:1 up to 15:1 described in the literature. The disease is seen most commonly in Thoroughbreds, Tennessee Walking Horses and Warmbloods, but can be found in other breeds.

According to Janes, neurologic deficits are typically more severe in the hind limbs than the forelimbs in Wobblers. This is because nerve tracts that control hind limb placement are more superficial in the spinal cord. Thus, they are the first to be a compressed due to vertebral malformations.

Janes said Wobbler Syndrome is considered a multifactorial disease with contributing factors including rapid growth, high energy diets and altered copper and zinc. A potential genetic role is suspected but has yet to been specifically characterized. Available treatment options range from conservative management and nutritional changes to surgical intervention. Appropriate treatment recommendations can be made in consultation with a horse owner's veterinarian.

There is evidence showing that horses with Wobbler Syndrome can have increased frequency of osteochondrosis in the neck as compared to unaffected horses. Osteochondrosis is a developmental orthopaedic disorder where the normal transition of cartilage to bone does not occur. In Wobblers, osteochondrosis is located in the articular processes of the cervical vertebrae.

Janes and colleagues investigated articular process pathology in the entire cervical column, comparing horses with Wobblers Syndrome to unaffected horses. The goal was to increase knowledge on the skeletal pathology associated with the disease in order to advance our understanding of the underlying causes and disease mechanisms.

As background, according to Janes, articular process joints in the neck are synovial joints that function to link adjacent vertebrae in the column. For reference, the knee is a type of synovial joint. This type of joint is composed of two adjacent bones lined by articular cartilage that are connected by a joint capsule and synovial fluid fills the intervening joint space.

The investigative approach was to first quantitatively assess lesions identified on postmortem MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Secondly, a representative group of identified of articular process bone and cartilage lesions were further characterized using micro-CT (computerized tomography) and histopathology.

Findings included cartilage and bone lesions in the articular processes occurred with more frequency in Wobbler horses as compared to controls. In addition, articular process lesions were not limited to only sites of compression but also located at sites away from compression as well. All lesions involving the articular process cartilage were osteochondrosis. Lesions in the bone included bone cysts, areas of fibrosis and osteosclerosis (thickening of the bone).

“Osteochondrosis and true bone cysts support developmental aberrations in bone and cartilage maturation and osteosclerosis was also observed, supporting likely secondary biomechanical influences,” Janes said.

Annual UK Equine Research Showcase To Take Place Virtually

University of Kentucky Ag Equine Programs will host its 10th annual UK Equine Showcase virtually through four sessions over four dates in January and February 2021.The event will continue the “life journey” theme initiated last year and will emphasize weanling to yearling horses, presenting both completed and work-in-progress projects relevant to this age group.

“We are excited to once again put together an excellent set of lectures and continuing education featuring many of our colleagues,” said Emma Adam, assistant professor and research and industry liaison at the Gluck Equine Research Center. ““The way our industry is helped through the resources we have at the University of Kentucky is unparalleled.”

Due to the current pandemic, the event has moved to a virtual format. Organizers wanted to continue to provide information and continuing education opportunities in 2021 rather than postpone for a year. Recognizing that staying engaged for long periods of time via a virtual format is challenging, organizers chose to break up the annual event into several shorter sessions over the course of a few weeks.

Jan. 5, 6-7:30 p.m. EST, will focus on musculoskeletal issues and include the following topics and speakers:

Bisphosphonates, NSAIDs and other medicines in the juvenile horse with Scott Stanley, professor of analytical chemistry at the Gluck Equine Research Center.
Sesamoid bone maturation by the laboratory of James MacLeod, director of UK Ag Equine Programs and John S. and Elizabeth A. Knight chair and professor of veterinary science at the Gluck Center.
Bone pathology in Wobbler's Syndrome with Jennifer Janes, assistant professor of anatomic pathology at UK's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

Jan. 19, 6-7:30 p.m. EST, will focus on nutrition and pasture topics and include the following information and speakers:

Mineral requirements for a growing horse with Mieke Brummer-Holder, assistant professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences.
Amino acids and protein synthesis in the growing horse with Kristine Urschel, associate professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences.
UK Horse Pasture Evaluation Program information with Krista Lea, program coordinator, and Ray Smith, professor and extension forage specialist, both from the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.

Feb. 2, 6-7:30 p.m. EST, will focus on parasitology, vaccination immunology and causes of mortality and include the following information and speakers:

Vaccination, immunity and immune response in weanlings with David Horohov, chair of the Department of Veterinary Science, director of and Jes E. and Clementine M. Schlaikjer Endowed Chair at the Gluck Center.
Parasitology as it pertains to weanlings and yearlings with Martin Nielsen, Schlaikjer professor of Equine Infectious Disease at the Gluck Center.
Common(est) causes of mortality in this age group with Laura Kennedy, assistant professor and veterinary pathologist at the UK VDL.

Feb. 9, 6-7:30 p.m. EST will cover hot topics in a mini session format of 10 minutes each, with updates about equine research literature resources at UK, nocardioform placentitis summary from 2020, COVID-19 economic impact and the next equine survey, lab updates, Equine Biological Passport update, genetic diversity project, updates on equine surface research, important parasitology updates and more.

“This is a unique and special outreach event. The purpose is to showcase some of what is happening at the University of Kentucky in terms of scientific discovery and service efforts relevant to the young horse,” MacLeod said. “Participants will hopefully gain new information they can apply to their programs, but importantly also a greater appreciation for some of the critical questions being addressed at UK, why these issues are important and where the cutting edge of research is on a number of very interesting topics. This annual program, now reaching 10 years, highlights our commitment to advance research, service and teaching for the benefit of horses and the equine community.”

The UK Equine Showcase is open to veterinarians, owners and managers of all horse breeds or anyone with an interest in learning more about foals and horse management. Its virtual format means that this opportunity is open to attendees from across the U.S. and even world.

The cost to attend all sessions is $25 until the early-bird registration deadline of Jan. 5. This package will include a PDF of the presentations and access to a recording of the sessions after the event has concluded. Attendees can also opt to attend only one or two of the sessions they are interested in. Individual event registration will also be available for $10 each. There are special rates for farms interested in having multiple employees attend. Students from any university can participate for free. Please contact equine@uky.edu for help in registering for those discounted or free sessions. Continuing education credit for veterinarians and veterinary technicians is pending approval by the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners. Register here. Contact equine@uky.edu with questions about the event or with help registering.

UK is also accepting sponsor participation for the showcase. Presenting opportunities are available to participating organizations on a first-come, first-served basis. Email equine@uky.edu for details.

Opinion: Dismissing Research Can Be Harmful To Horses

Though it can seem like some studies that are done repeat a foregone conclusion, it's important not to dismiss them as a known quantity. Some equine enthusiasts don't hesitate to express their feelings that an institution is “wasting” funds researching a topic they feel no longer needs to be examined.

Often this blatant dismissal of research indicates that the person doesn't truly understand how scientific research is done. In the long term, this mindset can end up hurting horses. Researchers design their studies so that any other group can conduct the same research and have the same results. This confirms the conclusions that were drawn.

It's important to scientifically confirm what is “known,” as sometimes what is known is wrong—even when it's common practice, reports EQUUS. Withholding water from hot horses was common until research was completed for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, which showed that, though often done, not allowing horses to drink after exercise was harmful to them.

Even if research confirms observations made by horse owners, it's still valuable–it increases the body of knowledge available. Studies collect data that can be used to better understand an issue and form the basis for more research—which can lead to better diagnosis and treatments, a win for both horses and their owners.

Horses Better At Adding Than Some Humans

A study from Germany suggests that horses may be more mathematically inclined than originally thought. Researchers from the University of Gottingen trained three Shetland ponies to choose images that matched a specific visual cue.

First Drs. Vivian Gabor and Martina Gerken taught the ponies to walk up to a device and press a button; they were rewarded each time they approached the device and eventually for pressing one of the buttons.

Next, the ponies were shown a computer screen on the device that had a stimulus image in the center, and two images below it—one of which matched the stimulus. Each time the pony touched the image that matched the stimulus image, he got a treat delivered through a tube. To make sure the ponies weren't just selecting a familiar symbol, the researchers changed the options on the computer screen each time.

Once the ponies learned this, the scientists ran the same test, but used different quantities of the same image. For example, the stimulus image may show two dots; the options below may show two options: one with two dots and one with three. If the ponies chose the two-dot choice, they got a treat.

The researchers varied the size and arrangement of the images to ensure the ponies were choosing options based on numbers alone and not on other visual cues. The final phase of the study used images that were groupings of different geometric symbols, such as a cross, triangle and rhombus.

All three ponies had an 80 percent accuracy in matching images with at least four elements in at least two training sessions. One pony could tell the difference between four and five geometric symbols.

While proving that a horse's cognitive abilities may be much higher than previously believed, these finding don't mean the pony was “counting,” the team says. True counting indicated that the individual had an idea of numerical order. The ponies were subitizing: Quickly and spontaneously adding a short number of objects. Some primates and avian species can do this.