Bell Teagan, Kyriazopoulou Panoraia, Mowbray Camilla, Murphy Barbara A
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland.
Equilume Ltd., Naas, W91 TP22 Co. Kildare, Ireland.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Mar 13;14(6):875. doi: 10.3390/ani14060875.
Equine headshaking syndrome is a poorly understood neuropathic pain condition presenting as uncontrollable shaking, flicking, or striking of the head. Therapeutic options are limited, and treatments are only partially successful. Currently, epidemiological information on headshaking in the Southern Hemisphere is lacking. An online survey was circulated to Australian owners of headshaking horses to collect information on triggers, symptoms, seasonality, treatments, and perceived treatment efficacy. The responses (n = 216) showed the mean age at symptom onset as 9.6 (±4.7) years. More geldings were affected than mares (76% vs. 24%), and symptom onset occurred later in geldings compared to mares (10.1 ± 4.7 vs. 7.9 ± 4.0 years; < 0.01). Bright sunlight, wind, and high pollen were the most commonly reported triggers (61%, 46% and 40%, respectively), and seasonal onset of symptoms was reported by 54% of respondents. In total, 71% of respondents reported using two or more treatments. The most common treatments were supplements (68%), nose nets (63%), light-blocking masks (48%), bodywork (48%) and pharmaceutical compounds (38%). Overall, treatments were considered ineffective by 33% of respondents. The findings were in agreement with surveys from the Northern Hemisphere. Of note was the perception of bright light as a primary trigger, alongside the reported low treatment efficacy of light-blocking masks. Seasonal intensification of symptoms and its relationship to day length merits further exploration.
马摇头综合征是一种了解甚少的神经性疼痛病症,表现为头部无法控制的摇晃、轻弹或撞击。治疗选择有限,治疗仅部分成功。目前,南半球缺乏关于摇头的流行病学信息。一项在线调查已分发给澳大利亚摇头马的主人,以收集有关触发因素、症状、季节性、治疗方法以及感知到的治疗效果的信息。回复(n = 216)显示症状出现的平均年龄为9.6(±4.7)岁。受影响的阉马比母马多(76%对24%),与母马相比,阉马的症状出现时间较晚(10.1±4.7岁对7.9±4.0岁;P<0.01)。强烈阳光、风和高花粉是最常报告的触发因素(分别为61%、46%和40%),54%的受访者报告症状有季节性发作。总体而言,71%的受访者报告使用了两种或更多种治疗方法。最常见的治疗方法是补充剂(68%)、鼻网(63%)、遮光面罩(48%)、身体护理(48%)和药物化合物(38%)。总体而言,33%的受访者认为治疗无效。这些发现与北半球的调查结果一致。值得注意的是,人们认为强光为主要触发因素,同时报告遮光面罩的治疗效果不佳。症状的季节性加重及其与日照时长的关系值得进一步探索。