Degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis, commonly called DSLD, also known as equine systemic proteoglycan accumulation (ESPA), is a systemic disease of the connective tissue of the horse and other equines. It is a disorder akin to Ehlers–Danlos syndrome being researched in multiple horse breeds. Originally thought to be a condition of overwork and old age, the disease is now recognized as hereditary and has been seen in horses of all ages, including foals. The latest research (2010) has led to the proposed renaming of the disease from DSLD to ESPA because of the systemic and hereditary components now being found.[1][2]
In the beginning, it's hard to detect DSLD in horses due to mild or sporadic lameness. Yet, as it advances, distinct signs like heat, swelling, and pain in the suspensory ligaments emerge. An altered gait or a flat-footed stance due to a sinking fetlock joint are also indicative of the disease.[3]
DSLD was once considered a condition of the legs only, as one of the most visible signs is when the fetlocks, particularly on the hind legs, collapse into a "coon-footed" position. However, microscopic examination in necropsy has shown DSLD horses can not only be affected in the tendons and ligaments of all legs and the patella, but can have affected tissues in the nuchal ligament, eyes, aorta, skin and fascia, lungs and other organs, as well as ligaments and tendons throughout the body. Because of its systemic nature, and because connective tissue is present everywhere in a biological entity, the entire body becomes affected in multiple ways as the disease progresses. Some horses have shown an iron overload in the liver as well.
Ongoing research is working on the biochemical aspects of the disease and has found a problem in the transfer growth factor and decorin. It is strongly believed to be passed genetically, and those aspects are being studied in the search for a DNA marker.
ReferencesEdit
^Halper et al. “Degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis as a systemic disorder characterized by proteoglycan accumulation”. Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens GA, 2006
^Halper et al. “Glycan profiling of a defect in decorin glycosylation in equine systemic proteoglycan accumulation, a potential model of progeroid form of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome”. Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens GA, 2010
^"DSLD In Horses - Complete Horse Guide". 2023-08-12. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
SourcesEdit
About all aspects of DSLD/ESPA, dsldequine.info - Home
October 23, 2023
degenerative, suspensory, ligament, desmitis, commonly, called, dsld, also, known, equine, systemic, proteoglycan, accumulation, espa, systemic, disease, connective, tissue, horse, other, equines, disorder, akin, ehlers, danlos, syndrome, being, researched, mu. Degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis commonly called DSLD also known as equine systemic proteoglycan accumulation ESPA is a systemic disease of the connective tissue of the horse and other equines It is a disorder akin to Ehlers Danlos syndrome being researched in multiple horse breeds Originally thought to be a condition of overwork and old age the disease is now recognized as hereditary and has been seen in horses of all ages including foals The latest research 2010 has led to the proposed renaming of the disease from DSLD to ESPA because of the systemic and hereditary components now being found 1 2 In the beginning it s hard to detect DSLD in horses due to mild or sporadic lameness Yet as it advances distinct signs like heat swelling and pain in the suspensory ligaments emerge An altered gait or a flat footed stance due to a sinking fetlock joint are also indicative of the disease 3 It has been found in many horse breeds including Arabians Thoroughbreds American Quarter Horses Morgans Peruvian Pasos Paso Finos American Saddlebreds several breeds of warmblood Appaloosas Friesians Missouri Fox Trotters Tennessee Walkers American Paint Horses National Show Horses and Mustangs as well as crossbreds and mules DSLD was once considered a condition of the legs only as one of the most visible signs is when the fetlocks particularly on the hind legs collapse into a coon footed position However microscopic examination in necropsy has shown DSLD horses can not only be affected in the tendons and ligaments of all legs and the patella but can have affected tissues in the nuchal ligament eyes aorta skin and fascia lungs and other organs as well as ligaments and tendons throughout the body Because of its systemic nature and because connective tissue is present everywhere in a biological entity the entire body becomes affected in multiple ways as the disease progresses Some horses have shown an iron overload in the liver as well Ongoing research is working on the biochemical aspects of the disease and has found a problem in the transfer growth factor and decorin It is strongly believed to be passed genetically and those aspects are being studied in the search for a DNA marker References Edit Halper et al Degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis as a systemic disorder characterized by proteoglycan accumulation Department of Pathology College of Veterinary Medicine The University of Georgia Athens GA 2006 Halper et al Glycan profiling of a defect in decorin glycosylation in equine systemic proteoglycan accumulation a potential model of progeroid form of Ehlers Danlos syndrome Department of Pathology College of Veterinary Medicine The University of Georgia Athens GA 2010 DSLD In Horses Complete Horse Guide 2023 08 12 Retrieved 2023 09 19 Sources EditAbout all aspects of DSLD ESPA dsldequine info Home DSLD ESPA Akhal Teke A Differentiated View Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis amp oldid 1176115455, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
