Geolocation and temporal distribution of equine atypical myopathy cases in Belgium and France from years 2006 to 2019

Atypical myopathy (AM) is a severe and often fatal muscle disorder arising from ingestion of toxins contained in sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) seeds and seedlings. Progresses in research to diagnose and treat AM after intoxication are moving forward, but the acuteness of the disease with a fatality rate of ~75% reinforces the need for preventive measures. The condition is a seasonal disorder. Ingestions of Samaras (seeds) in autumn and seedlings the following spring causes two subsequent clinical case series, with a majority of cases observed in autumn.