Interobserver Variation in the Diagnosis of Neurologic Abnormalities in the Horse

Abstract

Background: The diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) relies heavily on the clinical examination. The accurate identification of neurologic signs during a clinical examination is critical to the interpretation of laboratory results. Objective: To investigate the level of agreement between board-certified veterinary internists when performing neurologic examinations in horses. Animals: Ninety-seven horses admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at The Ohio State University from December 1997 to June 1998. Methods: A prospective epidemiologic research design was used. Horses enrolled in the study were examined by the internist responsible for care of the horse, and later b..