Karen Koomans schreef op woensdag 5 mei 2010, 21:45:
De belangrijkste info die daar staat:
Animals at riskCharacteristics of horses particularly at risk for AM (atypical myopathy)
- Young horses less than 3 years old (especially horses of 18 months) are more frequently affected by atypical myopathy, but older horses may also be affected by the condition
- Horses in poor bodily condition are particularly at risk for atypical myopathy but atypical myopathy must not be considered as a disease concerning badly groomed horses!
- Horses out of work
- Not vaccinated, not dewormed horse
Prevention:
- Restrict access to pastures to young horses when clinical series of atypical myopathy occur
- Regular deworming and vaccination of horses
- Feed the horse enough for them to be in good body condition (however, obesity may not be recommended)
- Feed the horse concentrates during the at risk seasons (i.e. autumn and spring)
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Risky pastures Characteristics of pastures associated with AM
- In Belgium, cases are more often encountered in the Walloon region than in the Flanders
- Pasture with a history of previous death(s) of horses
- Pasture with bare grassland
- Old permanent pastures
- Pastures on a steep slope
- Particularly humid pastures with trees
- Pastures where a stream/river flows across or around
- Pasture in a valley or depression
- Pastures with accumulation of a lot of dead leaves
Preventive measures
- Removal of dead leaves
- Give only access to dry and lush pastures during the seasons at risk (i.e. autumn and spring)
- Once a case of atypical myopathy has been confirmed, the field should be banned for pasturing at least during autumn and spring. Prevention recommendations may only be broad and should target at reducing time spent at pasture during critical seasons
- Remove any potential toxic plants and/or moulds
Environmental factors
In autumn and spring, pasturing horses are at higher risk for atypical myopathy, especially when climatic conditions are bad:
- Adverse climatic conditions (low sunshine, strong winds, heavy rain…) favour outbreaks of atypical myopathy
- Outbreaks occur mainly with a minimum daily temperature between 0°C and 8°C (no heavy frost)
Preventive measures
- The seasonal repartition of atypical myopathy suggests that the disease can be prevented by permanent stabling during the critical periods (i.e. autumn and spring) or at least, by reducing the time spent at pasture (a weather-dependent stabling should be considered in autumn and spring)
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Management Increased risk of atypical myopathy associated to management
- Horses not receiving supplementary feeding are more at risk for atypical myopathy
- supplementing hay during autumn increases the risk of atypical myopathy when it is given on the ground in a humid environment and/ or when it contains moulds
- The spreading of manures by mechanical harrowing of pastures increases the risk of atypical myopathy
- Permanent pasturing increases the risk of atypical myopathy
Preventive measures
- Remove regularly the manure
- Give supplementary feeding all year round
- Provide a salt block
- During the risky season, give drinking water coming from the distribution network and avoid giving access to humid areas for water
- Reserve dry and fat pastures to young horses during the risky seasons
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Warboel
