New research at The School of Pharmacy aims to uncover the causes of a disease of horses that has eluded scientists for almost a century.

Equine grass sickness (EGS) or dysautonomia is a potentially fatal disease of horses, ponies and donkeys. It primarily affects animals between the age of two and seven years that are pasture-grazed, hence its name. Visible symptoms include colic, difficulty in swallowing, drooling, muscle tremors, rapid weight loss and behavioural abnormalities. The disease, which has a high mortality rate, causes impaired intestinal activity as a result of damage to the autonomic nervous system. Incidences of the disease are more likely to occur from April to July, and on premises where there has been a previous outbreak.

While there have been a number of scientific studies investigating EGS since it was first documented in 1907, the causative agents remain speculative, hindering efforts to develop diagnostic testing and treatment. It is likely that the disease is linked to elements of the animals’ diet, either in the food or the drinking water. Now, researchers in the Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy at The School of Pharmacy are to investigate the causes of EGS, including environmental factors.

The Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy is world-renowned for its trans-disciplinary research in pharmacognosy - the study of natural agents and products using a broad spectrum of bioscientific methods, including macroscopical, microscopical and chemical evaluation, to determine their implications for health management. It is hoped that by using a pharmacognistic approach, a greater understanding of EGS will be made possible.

The research team, led by Professor Michael Heinrich and Dr Sarah Edwards, is keen to hear from members of the public who have premises that have experienced outbreaks of EGS. Strict privacy and anonymity of participating premises will be adhered to in their studies. 

The School of Pharmacy would like to record its grateful thanks to Mrs Patricia Brown for funding this project.

For further information, please contact:

Dr Sarah Edwards FLS
Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy
The School of Pharmacy
University of London
29/39 Brunswick Square
London WC1N 1AX

T   020 7753 5884
M  07958 445 402
E   sarah.edwards@pharmacy.ac.uk

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