More than 100 horses worldwide were diagnosed with atypical myopathy in 2011, according to an alert from the European-based website MyopathieAtypique.fr/en/.

"At the date of the Dec. 23, 2011, 116 clinical cases compatible with the diagnosis of atypical myopathy have been communicated to Liège University (in Belgium, the location of a great deal of atypical myopathy research) and to the RESPE (Réseau d’Epidémio-Surveillance en Pathologie Equine, or the Epidemiological Surveillance Network for Equine Diseases)," the alert reads.

The cases were reported in the following nations:

• France–34 cases;
• Great Britain–34 cases;
• Germany–19 cases;
• Belgium–16 cases);
• Switzerland–6 cases;
• Austria–3 cases
• United States–3 cases; and
• Canada–1 case.

Atypical myopathy, a seasonal, pasture-associated muscle disorder of unknown etiology (cause), presents a particular challenge to veterinarians. The disease is characterized by a generalized complete degeneration of muscle fibers, which leads to sudden death due to the collapse of the cardiorespiratory system in more than 90% of cases. The economic impact is often devastating