Abstract
Radiographic and morphological investigation was performed to establish the accurte antemortem diagnostic technique for wobbling foals. 1) There were radiographic abnormalities on cervical radiography in 17 out of 19 wobbling foals. Twelve out of those 17 foals had severe histopathological lesions in the white matter of the spinal cord at the level of the vertebrae with radiographic abnormalities. Thus, radiographic examinations including myelography on cervical vertebrae is a quite important and effective diagnostic aid for wobbling foals. 2) As a result of discriminant analysis on cervical vertebrae of the foals with the age of 13 months or elder consisting of 28 ataxic foals and 19 control foals, sufficient discrimination was performed with the high hit rates on C3-C7. 3) Ratios of stenosis of spinal canal on myelography and survey radiography were defined on radiograms of lateral flexed position of mid-cervical region in 12 wobbling foals. When the standard value of the ratio of stenosis on myelography was set at 40%, the stenosis and histopathological lesions at the same site was well coincided in 10 out of 12 foals. When the standard value of the ratio of stenosis on survey radiography was set at 40%, the stenosis and histopathological lesions at the same site was well coincided in 9 out of 12 foals.
