Bilateral laryngeal paralysis in the horse

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Abstract
Four 2-yr-old Thoroughbreds suffered an acute gastrointestinal illness shortly after dosing with mineral oil which was thought to have been contaminated with an organophosphate compound. Three weeks later all 4 were noted to be dyspneic and endoscopic examination showed that they had developed bilateral laryngeal paralysis. Two of the horses died during severe bouts of dyspnea 6 and 8 mo. later and the 3rd was killed shortly thereafter. Examination of the left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves from these horses showed a severe loss of myelinated fibers distally, especially in the left nerve. A similar but less severe lesion was seen in other long peripheral nerves, including the phrenic and digital nerves of the 3rd horse. The spinal cord in 2 horses showed evidence of mild axonal degeneration which was not related to a particular tract or location. The 4th horse had bilateral laryngeal paralysis 2 yr later. The acute clinical signs and delayed neurological sequelae seen in these horses were strongly suggestive of accidental organophosphate toxicity.

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