Spinal Ataxia in Zebras. Comparison with the Wobbler Syndrome of Horses

Abstract

Eight of 17 zebra foals (Equus burchelli) born at the National Zoological Park, Washington, D. C., developed an ataxic condition that clinically resembled the wobbler syndrome of horses. Four were males and four were females. All were the progeny of one stallion and two mares. The parent animals were not ataxic. In three of the affected foals raised at the zoo, signs progressed to severe ataxia, and the animals were killed. In contrast to the findings in wobbler horses there was no radiographic or pathologic evidence of narrowing of the vertebral canals, nor were malacic foci found in the cords to suggest that focal compression had occurred. There was degeneration of ascending and descending tracts in the same segments throughout the spinal cords. There were no lesions in two brains studied nor were other possible causes for the spinal cord degeneration evident. These findings and the high incidence of ataxia in this herd suggest a familial degenerative myelopathy.