Abstract

The objective of the study was to compare selenium and vitamin E status in equine farms with and without occurrence of myopathies in order to evaluate the role of lack of these substances in the aetiology of myopathies in horses in the Czech Republic. Concentrations of selenium (in 136 horses) and vitamin E(in 131 horses) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities (in 136 horses) were measured in horses from farms with the occurrence of myopathies (group Mincluding 46 horses from 10 farms) and in horses from farms without occurrence of myopathies (group Hincluding 90 horses from 22 farms). Significantly lower concentrations of selenium (43.09 ±36.84 µg·l-1; p < 0.001), vitamin E (9.55 ± 9.29 µmol·l-1; p < 0.01) and GSH-Px activities (153.38 ± 177.28 µkat·l-1; p < 0.001) were found in horses from the farms with the occurrence of myopathies when compared to those without the occurrence of myopathies (Se 117.35 ± 52.10 µg·l-1; vitamin E 10.75 ± 4.34 µmol·l-1; GSH-Px 397.41 ± 242.15 µkat·l-1). The diagnosis of nutritional myodegeneration (white muscle disease, WMD) was established in six horses with myopathy. The aetiology of myopathy in the other four affected horses was probably different. Evaluating all examined horses, insufficient whole blood selenium and serum vitamin E concentrations were found in 42 % and 96 % of horses, respectively. Poor saturation with selenium and vitamin Eare important factors in the aetiology of WMD in horses in the Czech Republic. Apart from WMD, horses in the Czec