Alerts

An atypical myopathy alert network (AMAG) has been created to allow equine owners to implement specific preventive measures when the risk of poisoning is high. Even though atypical myopathy does not have the characteristics of a contagious disease, it nevertheless declares itself in the form of an epizootic (i.e., an epidemic which affects animals): several equines are affected by the disease at the same time in different regions and even in different European countries.

An alert widely distributed via an efficient network allows equine owners to take ad hoc measures (preventive measures) to reduce the risk of atypical myopathy.

In 2004, on the initiative of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Liège, an alert group called « AMAG » for "Atypical Myopathy Alert Group" was created. The AMAG is an informal association bringing together scientists, veterinarians and owners of equines confronted with cases of atypical myopathy and who declare their case(s) in order to feed the alert. Many European faculties of veterinary medicine declare their cases (MYOPATHIE - Report a case) via this website dedicated to atypical myopathy. In France, alerts are nourished by sentinel veterinarians from the Equine Pathology Epidemiological Surveillance Network (RESPE) which collaborates with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Liège since the appearance of the first french cases (autumn 2002).

The declaration of cases, associated with the collection of clinical and epidemiological information, makes it possible to follow the geographical and temporal distribution of cases, the conditions of their appearance and the clinical characteristics of the disease. Analyses of the collected information makes it possible to improve the diagnosis , to identify prognostic factors for survival and to recommend preventive measures. 

Currently, the network has identified cases in fifteen European countries including Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands Bas, Portugal, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland.

Outside Europe, similar poisonings have been reported in Australia (unpublished data), in the United States (mettre le lien vers ) and in New Zealand.

Declare a case and encourage your entourage to report theirs cases too!

 To receive alerts, please register on the following link - register here.