Equine grass sickness in italy: a case series study.

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Equine Grass Sickness in Italy This case series represents the first published documentation of equine grass sickness (EGS) in Italy, addressing a notable gap in the European literature despite the disease's known presence across the continent. Laus and colleagues compiled clinical presentations from affected horses to characterise the autonomic and enteric nervous system dysfunction typical of EGS in an Italian population. The cases encompassed the full spectrum of disease severity—acute, subacute and chronic forms—with clinical manifestations ranging from subtle signs such as ptosis and patchy sweating to more severe presentations including dysphagia, substantial nasogastric reflux and abdominal pain. Establishing this clinical documentation is essential for Italian practitioners, as recognition of the disease's varied presentations may prevent diagnostic delays and mismanagement, particularly in pasture-kept horses presenting with non-specific signs of autonomic dysfunction. Given that EGS aetiology remains speculative, detailed case documentation from different geographic regions contributes valuable epidemiological data and may ultimately assist in identifying environmental or management factors relevant to disease occurrence.

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Key Findings

• •First documented case series of equine grass sickness (EGS) reported in Italy
• •EGS presents with acute, subacute, and chronic syndromes affecting horses on pasture
• •Clinical signs include dullness, anorexia, dysphagia, drooling, tachycardia, ptosis, patchy sweating, and muscle fasciculations
• •Acute forms may include abdominal pain and large volumes of nasogastric reflux

Conditions Studied

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