Protein Biomarkers in Diagnostic Tools for Equine Neurodegenerative Disease

This lecture will provide an update on the clinical use of the phosphorylated neurofilament heavy (pNfH) protein in the diagnosis of equine neurodegenerative diseases, including equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/degenerative myeloencephalopathy (eNAD/EDM) and cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy (CVCM). A summary of diagnostic test results performed at UC Davis over the past year will be presented. Additionally, unpublished research, evaluating the effect of vitamin E on pNfH protein concentrations in young foals, will be discussed. Lastly, newly identified protein biomarkers that are more specific for a diagnosis of eNAD/EDM or CVCM will be described.