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OMIA:000715-9796 : Neuroaxonal dystrophy, generic in Equus caballus (horse)

In other species: dog , domestic cat , sheep , rabbit , pied imperial-pigeon

Categories: Nervous system phene

Links to possible relevant human trait(s) and/or gene(s) in OMIM: 608507 (gene)

Mendelian trait/disorder: no

Mode of inheritance: Multifactorial

Disease-related: yes

Key variant known: no

Cross-species summary: Progressive ataxia, hypermetria, proprioceptive deficits, head incoordination and tremors.

Species-specific symbol: eNAD 

Species-specific description: In a detailed review, Finno and Johnson (2022) stated "it was apparent that eNAD [equine NeuroAxonal Dystrophy; this OMIA entry] was clinically indistinguishable from EDM [Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy; OMIA:001163-9796 : Myeloencephalopathy, degenerative in Equus caballus], and the current consensus is that the conditions have such striking clinical and pathologic similarities that eNAD could be considered a localized form of EDM or EDM a more diffuse form of eNAD." Powers et al. (2024): "Equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/degenerative myeloencephalopathy (eNAD/EDM) is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects young, genetically predisposed horses that are deficient in vitamin E." 

Inheritance: From a pedigree analysis, Finno et al. (2013) concluded that this disorder is polygenic with high heritability of 70%.

Molecular basis: Transcriptome profiling by Finno et al. (2016) led them to "hypothesize that the protective role of α-TOH [α-tocopherol] in eNAD may reside in its ability to prevent oxysterol accumulation and subsequent activation of the LXR [liver X receptor] in order to decrease lipid peroxidation associated neurodegeneration."

Breeds: American Paint (Horse) (VBO_0000897), American Trotter (Horse) (VBO_0000899), Appaloosa (Horse) (VBO_0000904), Arab (Horse) (VBO_0000905), Haflinger (Horse) (VBO_0000978), Lusitanian (Horse) (VBO_0001017), Morgan (Horse) (VBO_0001022), Paso Fino (Horse) (VBO_0001040), Quarter Horse (Horse) (VBO_0001057), Thoroughbred (Horse) (VBO_0001083), Traditional Gypsy Cob, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Horse) (VBO_0011496), Warmblood (Horse) (VBO_0017483).
Breeds in which the phene has been documented. (If a likely causal variant has been documented for the phene, see the variant table breeds in which the variant has been reported).

Cite this entry

Nicholas, F. W., Tammen, I., & Sydney Informatics Hub. (2024). OMIA:000715-9796: Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA) [dataset]. https://omia.org/. https://doi.org/10.25910/2AMR-PV70

References

Note: the references are listed in reverse chronological order (from the most recent year to the earliest year), and alphabetically by first author within a year.

2024 Brown, K.A., Bender, S.J., Johnson, A.L. :
Clinical and histopathological features in horses with neuroaxonal degeneration: 100 cases (2017-2021). J Vet Intern Med 38:431-439, 2024. Pubmed reference: 38095342. DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16969.
Powers, A., Peek, S.F., Reed, S., Donnelly, C.G., Tinkler, S., Gasper, D., Woolard, K.D., Finno, C.J. :
Equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/degenerative myeloencephalopathy in Gypsy Vanner horses. J Vet Intern Med 38:1792-1798, 2024. Pubmed reference: 38613444. DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17062.
Young, A.E., Finno, C.J. :
Current insights into equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy. Vet J 305:106129, 2024. Pubmed reference: 38734404. DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106129.
2023 Donnelly, C.G., Johnson, A.L., Reed, S., Finno, C.J. :
Cerebrospinal fluid and serum proteomic profiles accurately distinguish neuroaxonal dystrophy from cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy in horses. J Vet Intern Med 37:689-696, 2023. Pubmed reference: 36929645. DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16660.
2022 Finno, C.J., Johnson, A.L. :
Equine neuroaxonal dystrophy and degenerative myeloencephalopathy. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 38:213-224, 2022. Pubmed reference: 35811203. DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2022.04.003.
2021 Hales, E.N., Habib, H., Favro, G., Katzman, S., Sakai, R.R., Marquardt, S., Bordbari, M.H., Ming-Whitfield, B., Peterson, J., Dahlgren, A.R., Rivas, V., Ramirez, C.A., Peng, S., Donnelly, C.G., Dizmang, B.S., Kallenberg, A., Grahn, R., Miller, A.D., Woolard, K., Moeller, B., Puschner, B., Finno, C.J. :
Increased α-tocopherol metabolism in horses with equine neuroaxonal dystrophy. J Vet Intern Med 35:2473-2485, 2021. Pubmed reference: 34331715. DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16233.
2020 Hales, E.N., Esparza, C., Peng, S., Dahlgren, A.R., Peterson, J.M., Miller, A.D., Finno, C.J. :
Genome-wide association study and subsequent exclusion of ATCAY as a candidate gene involved in equine neuroaxonal dystrophy using two animal models. Genes (Basel) 11:82, 2020. Pubmed reference: 31936863. DOI: 10.3390/genes11010082.
2017 Brown, J.C., Valberg, S.J., Hogg, M., Finno, C.J. :
Effects of feeding two RRR-α-tocopherol formulations on serum, cerebrospinal fluid and muscle α-tocopherol concentrations in horses with subclinical vitamin E deficiency. Equine Vet J 49:753-758, 2017. Pubmed reference: 28432750. DOI: 10.1111/evj.12692.
2016 Finno, C.J., Bordbari, M.H., Valberg, S.J., Lee, D., Herron, J., Hines, K., Monsour, T., Scott, E., Bannasch, D.L., Mickelson, J., Xu, L. :
Transcriptome profiling of equine vitamin E deficient neuroaxonal dystrophy identifies upregulation of liver X receptor target genes. Free Radic Biol Med 101:261-271, 2016. Pubmed reference: 27751910. DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.10.009.
Finno, C.J., Miller, A.D., Sisó, S., Divers, T., Gianino, G., Barro, M.V., Valberg, S.J. :
Concurrent equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy and equine motor neuron disease in three young horses. J Vet Intern Med 30:1344-50, 2016. Pubmed reference: 27298214. DOI: 10.1111/jvim.13977.
2015 Finno, C.J., Estell, K.E., Katzman, S., Winfield, L., Rendahl, A., Textor, J., Bannasch, D.L., Puschner, B. :
Blood and cerebrospinal fluid α-tocopherol and selenium concentrations in neonatal foals with neuroaxonal dystrophy. J Vet Intern Med 29:1667-75, 2015. Pubmed reference: 26391904. DOI: 10.1111/jvim.13618.
2013 Finno, C.J., Famula, T., Aleman, M., Higgins, R.J., Madigan, J.E., Bannasch, D.L. :
Pedigree analysis and exclusion of alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (TTPA) as a candidate gene for neuroaxonal dystrophy in the American Quarter Horse. J Vet Intern Med 27:177-85, 2013. Pubmed reference: 23186252. DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12015.
2012 Finno, C.J., Aleman, M., Ofri, R., Hollingsworth, S.R., Madigan, J.E., Winfield, L., Bannasch, D.L. :
Electrophysiological studies in American Quarter horses with neuroaxonal dystrophy. Vet Ophthalmol 15 Suppl 2:3-7, 2012. Pubmed reference: 22432889. DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2012.00997.x.
2011 Aleman, M., Finno, C.J., Higgins, R.J., Puschner, B., Gericota, B., Gohil, K., LeCouteur, R.A., Madigan, J.E. :
Evaluation of epidemiological, clinical, and pathological features of neuroaxonal dystrophy in Quarter Horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc 239:823-33, 2011. Pubmed reference: 21916766. DOI: 10.2460/javma.239.6.823.
Finno, C.J., Higgins, R.J., Aleman, M., Ofri, R., Hollingsworth, S.R., Bannasch, D.L., Reilly, C.M., Madigan, J.E. :
Equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy in Lusitano horses. J Vet Intern Med 25:1439-46, 2011. Pubmed reference: 22092640. DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00817.x.
2003 Sisó, S., Ferrer, I., Pumarola, M. :
Abnormal synaptic protein expression in two Arabian horses with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy. Vet J 166:238-43, 2003. Pubmed reference: 14550734. DOI: 10.1016/s1090-0233(02)00302-7.
1996 Adams, A.P., Collatos, C., Fuentealba, C., Illanes, O., Blanchard, R. :
Neuroaxonal dystrophy in a two-year-old quarter horse filly Canadian Veterinary Journal 37:43-44, 1996.
1990 Baumgärtner, W., Frese, K., Elmadfa, I. :
Neuroaxonal dystrophy associated with vitamin E deficiency in two Haflinger horses. J Comp Pathol 103:114-9, 1990. Pubmed reference: 2394844.
1987 Beech, J., Haskins, M. :
Genetic studies of neuraxonal dystrophy in the Morgan. Am J Vet Res 48:109-13, 1987. Pubmed reference: 3826829.
Mayhew, I.G., Brown, C.M., Stowe, H.D., Trapp, A.L., Derksen, F.J., Clement, S.F. :
Equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy: a vitamin E deficiency that may be familial. J Vet Intern Med 1:45-50, 1987. Pubmed reference: 3506620. DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1987.tb01985.x.
1983 Liu, S.K., Dolensek, E.P., Adams, C.R., Tappe, J.P. :
Myelopathy and vitamin E deficiency in six Mongolian wild horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc 183:1266-8, 1983. Pubmed reference: 6643241.

Edit History


  • Created by Frank Nicholas on 06 Sep 2005
  • Changed by Frank Nicholas on 11 Feb 2013
  • Changed by Frank Nicholas on 28 Oct 2016
  • Changed by Imke Tammen2 on 06 Aug 2021
  • Changed by Frank Nicholas on 12 Jul 2022
  • Changed by Imke Tammen2 on 15 Apr 2024