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Encephalopathy with idiopathic hyperammonaemia and Alzheimer type II astrocytes in Equidae

1999; Wiley; Volume: 31; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03854.x

2042-3306

KRISTIN M. HASEL, Brian A. Summers, Alexander de Lahunta,

Plant Toxicity and Pharmacological Properties

Summary In 3 mature female horses of varying breeds, episodes of colic and depression for 1–4 days preceded an encephalopathic disorder with maniacal behaviour, anxiety, profuse sweating and, in one case, terminal opisthotonus. Blood ammonia levels were elevated approximately 10‐fold. At necropsy, there were gastrointestinal serosal and mesenteric haemorrhages. Histologically, all 3 cases revealed diffuse Alzheimer type II astrocytes in the cerebral grey matter. Alzheimer type II astrocytes were glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) negative or only weakly positive, weakly S‐100 positive, and vimentin negative. In the absence of primary hepatic and/or renal lesions, an increase in intestinal ammonia absorption due to ileus or increased ammonia production by colonic bacteria is hypothesised.