1. Plasma and liver copper values in horses with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy.
- Author
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Dill SG, Hintz HF, deLahunta A, and Waldron CH
- Subjects
- Animals, Brain Diseases blood, Brain Diseases etiology, Brain Diseases metabolism, Copper blood, Copper deficiency, Horse Diseases blood, Horse Diseases etiology, Horses, Spinal Cord Diseases blood, Spinal Cord Diseases etiology, Spinal Cord Diseases metabolism, Brain Diseases veterinary, Copper metabolism, Horse Diseases metabolism, Liver metabolism, Spinal Cord Diseases veterinary
- Abstract
Equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM) is a common spinal cord disease in the horse. The etiology of EDM currently is unknown. In other species, there are similarities in the clinical signs and neuropathological changes observed in EDM and in copper deficiency. The objective of this study was to determine if horses affected with EDM had low levels of plasma or liver copper. Plasma copper values were determined in 25 EDM affected horses and 35 normal horses. Liver copper levels were determined on 13 EDM affected horses and 22 normal horses. Plasma and liver copper values were not significantly lower in EDM affected horses than in control horses.
- Published
- 1989