A mystery disease that usually strikes horses in Nordic countries during the winter months has emerged in Iceland for the first time, leading to the death of 13 horses. Equine polyneuropathy (AEP), also known as Scandanavian knuckling syndrome, first appeared in Scandanavia in 1995 and despite extensive research, its cause has never been identified.
The illness presents as muscle weakness in the back of the body, which can cause the fetlock joints to knuckle forward, giving it its common name. Horses with the disease exhibit full consciousness, good appetite, and normal behavior. To help understand the reasons causing this horse disease, Sigríður Björnsdóttir, a veterinary officer for health and welfare of the horse at MAST explains how the illness is connected to the way the horse has been fed.
“All affected animals had been fed with hay from the same field, although not all horses who ate the hay showed symptoms. AEP has not been found on any other farms in the country, and it can be assumed that the risk of discovering more cases this year [2019] is low, as most young horses are now grazing. There is a risk, however, that the disease will arise elsewhere in the future, as the conditions that cause it have now clearly appeared in Iceland,” the statement added.
As the disease is new to the country, MAST requests notification of all cases where AEP is suspected or confirmed.” Do you think the disease will become international? There should be strict control of the horse’s food because one of the main reasons for such illness is the food provided to the horses, Let’s hope the illness won’t be present somewhere else.
