Juvenile idiopathic epilepsy in Egyptian Arabian foals, a potential animal model of self‐limited epilepsy in children

Abstract Background Juvenile idiopathic epilepsy (JIE) is categorized as a generalized epilepsy. Epilepsy classification entails electrocortical characterization and localization of epileptic discharges (ED) using electroencephalography (EEG). Hypothesis/Objectives Characterize epilepsy in Egyptian Arabian foals with JIE using EEG. Animals Sixty‐nine foals (JIE, 48; controls, 21). Methods Retrospective study. Inclusion criteria consisted of Egyptian Arabian foals: (1) JIE group diagnosed based on witnessed or recorded seizures, and neurological and EEG findings, and (2) control group of healthy nonepileptic age‐matched foals. Clinical data were obtained in 48 foals. Electroencephalography with photic stimulation was performed under standing sedation in 37 JIE foals and 21 controls. Results Abnormalities on EEG were found in 95% of epileptic foals (35 of 37) and in 3 of 21 control asymptomatic foals with affected siblings. Focal ED were detected predominantly in the central vertex with diffusion into the centroparietal or frontocentral regions (n = 35). Generalization of ED occurred in 14 JIE foals. Epileptic discharges commonly were seen during wakefulness (n = 27/37 JIE foals) and sedated sleep (n = 35/37 JIE foals; 3/21 controls). Photic stimulation triggered focal central ED in 15 of 21 JIE foals. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Juvenile idiopathic epilepsy has a focal onset of ED at the central vertex with spread resulting in clinical generalized tonic‐clonic seizures with facial motor activity and loss of consciousness. Electroencephalography with photic stimulation contributes to accurate phenotyping of epilepsy. Foals with this benign self‐limiting disorder might serve as a naturally occurring animal model for self‐limited epilepsy in children.