Pathology in Practice

摘要

A 450-kg (990-lb) 16-year-old American Saddlebred gelding was evaluated at the University of Georgia Large Animal Teaching Hospital because of progressing neurologic disease. The horse lived in a pasture until 1 week prior to initial evaluation, at which time it was noted that the horse had lost a large amount of weight and was moved indoors. In the week prior to initial evaluation, signs of depressed mentation developed and progressed to ataxia and head pressing. Except for evidence of mild dehydration, results of routine hematologic and serum biochemical analysis performed by the referring veterinarian were within reference ranges. No other horses on the premises appeared ill. The horse was vaccinated earlier that year against rabies and West Nilevirus encephalitis; it had not been dewormed recently because a routine fecal floatation had revealed a low parasite burden.