EN
Goal: The evaluation of the brainstem function by the method of auditory brainstem evoked potentials in a reference group of healthy horses and the use of the method for diagnosis in the course of some neurological diseases of horses Materials and methods: The study was conducted on two groups of animals: nine control horses and seven horses with known neurological diseases. All patients underwent full clinical examination, otoscopic examination and detailed neurological examination. The BAER test was carried out under sedation (detomidine combined with butorphanol). Sound stimulation was performed with insertion headphones emitting the sound of a volume of 75dB, 90dB, and 105dB, 1000 pulses each, with a frequency of 11Hz. Auditory threshold examination was also conducted by increasing the intensity of sound by 10 dB in a range of 10-70 dB, and emitting 300 sound pulses for each volume level. Results: In all the BAER records, waves I, II, III, IV and V were identified on both sides. In all horses in the control group waves VI and VII were impossible to identify. There were no statistically significant differences between the sexes. In the group of healthy horses, the auditory threshold was determined at a level of 30 dB in 6 horses and 40 dB in 3 horses. In the group of horses with neurological diseases, a lesion of vestibulocochlear nerve (NC VIII) due to a head injury sustained during training was diagnosed in 3 cases, air sac infection in 2 cases, and an acquired senile deafness in 2 cases. Conclusion: Records of auditory brainstem evoked potentials in most healthy horses consist of waves I to V. The BAER technique can be used for the diagnosis of functional disorders of the CNS, especially the brainstem, midbrain and thalamus, and as an objective evaluation of hearing in horses. Summary: The technique of auditory brainstem evoked potentials in horses can be used as an additional diagnostic method in neurological diseases.