Semilobar Holoprosencephaly in a Morgan Horse

Abstract

A6 1/2-month-old Morgan filly was examined because of a history of abnormal behavior, teeth grinding, hypothermia, and electrolyte disturbances when weaned. She was from a breeding farm with several other Morgan horses. The 11-year-old dam had been purchased the year before as a proven broodmare, which had several previous foals. Breeding, gestation, and birth of this foal were normal. She was raised with 4 other mares and their offspring on pasture with free access to shelter in an open barn. Supplementary feeding consisted of oats and timothy hay. The owners reported that the foal showed unusual behavior, such as lack of apprehension of people, lack of distress from maternal separation, and a higher activity level than other foals of the same age. The foal extensively chewed the dam's tail and mane, masticated oats slowly with rapid jaw movements without actually swallowing them, and ground her teeth. She frequently nibbled the handler's clothes without biting, ate pebbles, and played with the salt block in the paddock. At 4 1/2 months of age, she was treated for suspected gastroduodenal ulcers and weaned. The referring veterinarian examined her 5 days after weaning because of dull demeanor and excessive teeth grinding. The foal was in thin body condition, hypothermic (37°C, 98.6°F), and tachycardic (60 beats per minute [bpm]) and had decreased borborygmi. Major abnormalities on serum biochemistry were severe hypernatremia (166 mmol/L; reference range 136–144 mmol/L) and hyperchloremia (128 mmol/L; reference range 94–104 mmol/L), azotemia (urea, 11.3 mmol/L; reference range 4.2–8.9 mmol/L), and hyperfibrinogenemia (5.2 g/L, reference range 1.6–2.9 g/L). The only abnormality on the CBC was hemoconcentration (PCV, 0.57 L/L; reference range 0.28–0.44 L/L). The foal was treated with penicillin procaine Ga (20,000 IU/kg [9072 IU/1b] IM q12h) and rifampinb (5 mg/kg [2.7 mg/1b] PO q8h). The next day the tachycardia worsened (120 bpm) and the foal was estimated to be 5–8% dehydrated. IV fluid therapy with lactated Ringer solutionc (LRS) was initiated, and the antibiotic was changed to ceftiofurd (2 mg/kg [0.91 mg/1b] IV q12h). The foal and dam were rejoined, and the foal's clinical status improved with resumption of nursing. Serial laboratory testing showed persistent hypernatremia 160 mmol/L) and hyperchloremia (123 mmol/L), azotemia urea 11.3 mmol/L and creatinine 168 umol/L; reference range 80–130 μmol/L), hyperglycemia (8.7 mmol/L; reference range 3.7–6.7 mmol/L), high aspartate aminotranferase activity (662 U/L; reference range 259–595 U/L), and high creatine kinase (CK) activity (1,196 U/L; reference range 108–430 U/L). The foal's condition improved and IV fluids were discontinued. Ceftiofur administration was discontinued and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazolee (25 mg/kg [11.3 mg/1b] PO q12h) was administered for 3 days. During the next month the foal was stable but the abnormal behavior persisted. She was weaned again, and within days marked behavior changes such as circling, throwing the head around compulsively, and severe hind-end shivering recurred. At examination, the foal was dull, tachycardic (60 bpm), was hypothermic (33.6°C, 92.5°F), had dark red mucous membranes, and was estimated to be 5% dehydrated. Laboratory findings were similar to those of the previous tests except for high fibrinogen (7.1 g/L). The foal was again rejoined with the dam, treated with intramuscular penicillin, and referred