Neuroaxonal Dystrophy in a mule: first case reported

ABSTRACT A 12-month-old mule (sterile hybrid equine species) presented unspecific neurological changes (symmetric ataxia, dysmetria, conscious proprioceptive deficit and weakness). Due to poor prognosis and to the fact that a sibling from the previous generation exhibited similar clinical signs that were not definitively diagnosed, the animal was euthanized. Diagnosis of neuroaxonal dystrophy was confirmed by anatomohistopathological analysis. This is the first clinical case of neuronal dystrophy in a mule reported in the world. The clinical and histopathological characteristics of this disease were very similar to those reported for several equine breeds. Therefore, the disease should also be considered in the diagnosis of neurological conditions in mules and donkeys.摘要：12月龄骡（不育的杂交马属动物）表现出非特异性神经系统病变（对称性共济失调、辨距不良、意识性本体感觉缺失及肌无力）。由于预后不良，且其前代同胞个体曾出现过相似但未得到明确诊断的临床症状，该动物被实施安乐死。经组织病理学分析，确诊为神经轴索营养不良症（neuroaxonal dystrophy）。这是全球首例报道的骡神经元营养不良临床病例。该病的临床及组织病理学特征与多个马品种已报道的病例高度相似，因此在骡和驴的神经系统疾病诊断中，也应将该疾病纳入鉴别范畴。