Cover Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN:
0003-1488
Publication Date:
01 Sep 2007
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  • 8

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  • 12

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  • 14

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Estimated prevalence of polysaccharide storage myopathy among overtly healthy Quarter Horses in the United States

Molly E. McCue DVM, MS, DACVIM1 and Stephanie J. Valberg DVM, PhD, DACVIM2
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  • 1 Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108.
  • | 2 Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.231.5.746
Volume/Issue:
Volume 231: Issue 5
Online Publication Date:
01 Sep 2007
Restricted access
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Abstract

Objective—To estimate the prevalence of polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) among Quarter Horses in the United States and evaluate possible relationships between muscle glycogen concentration, turnout time, and exercise level.

Design—Cross-sectional study.

Animals—164 overtly healthy Quarter Horses > 2 years old from 5 states.

Procedures—Horses with a history of exertional rhabdomyolysis or any other muscular disease were excluded. Muscle biopsy specimens were examined histologically for evidence of PSSM and were submitted for determination of muscle glycogen concentration. A diagnosis of PSSM was made if amylase-resistant inclusions that stained with periodic acid–Schiff stain were detected.

Results—Prevalences of PSSM on the 2 farms with a history of PSSM were 20% (1/5) and 40.7% (11/27); mean prevalence for the other 4 farms was 6.1% (8/132). Sex was not significantly associated with a diagnosis of PSSM, and age was not significantly different between horses with and without PSSM. Total histologic score, serum creatine kinase ac-tivity, and muscle glycogen concentration were significantly higher in horses with PSSM than in horses without.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that the prevalence of PSSM among overtly healthy Quarter Horses in the United States is likely to be between 6% and 12%.

Abstract

Objective—To estimate the prevalence of polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) among Quarter Horses in the United States and evaluate possible relationships between muscle glycogen concentration, turnout time, and exercise level.

Design—Cross-sectional study.

Animals—164 overtly healthy Quarter Horses > 2 years old from 5 states.

Procedures—Horses with a history of exertional rhabdomyolysis or any other muscular disease were excluded. Muscle biopsy specimens were examined histologically for evidence of PSSM and were submitted for determination of muscle glycogen concentration. A diagnosis of PSSM was made if amylase-resistant inclusions that stained with periodic acid–Schiff stain were detected.

Results—Prevalences of PSSM on the 2 farms with a history of PSSM were 20% (1/5) and 40.7% (11/27); mean prevalence for the other 4 farms was 6.1% (8/132). Sex was not significantly associated with a diagnosis of PSSM, and age was not significantly different between horses with and without PSSM. Total histologic score, serum creatine kinase ac-tivity, and muscle glycogen concentration were significantly higher in horses with PSSM than in horses without.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that the prevalence of PSSM among overtly healthy Quarter Horses in the United States is likely to be between 6% and 12%.

Contributor Notes

Supported by the American Quarter Horse Association.

Presented at the 24th Annual Meeting of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Louisville, June 2006.

The authors thank William Ribeiro and Michelle Lucio for technical assistance.

Address correspondence to Dr. McCue.