Topic:Abdominal
Research in the abdominal health and conditions category examines digestive physiology, gastrointestinal disorders, and treatment protocols in horses. This page compiles peer-reviewed studies and journal articles on the pathophysiology of common digestive issues, diagnostic techniques for conditions like colic and gastric ulcers, and evaluations of various treatment strategies.
Trichophytobezoar as a cause of transverse colon obstruction in a foal. A 5-week-old belgian colt was examined for colic of 12 hours duration after several episodes of diarrhea. Physical examination revealed signs of abdominal pain, mild dehydration and normal auscultable borborygmi in all abdominal quadrants. Distention of the cecum, large colon and small intestinal was evident on abdominal radiographs. The foal was treated medically as the owners declined surgery. The colt was euthanized because of continued deterioration and failure to respond to medical therapy. Post-mortem exam revealed the presence of a trichophytobezoar obstructing the distal part of the tr...
Topography of equine chorionic gonadotropin epitopes relative to the luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor interaction sites. In order to localize the epitopes of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) involved in interaction with luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptors, we used 14 monoclonal anti-eCG antibodies (mAbs). Different effects of these mAbs on the bioactivities of eCG were observed in in vitro bioassays, but the effects of each mAb on the two bioactivities were similar for all but four mAbs. All mAbs were found to inhibit the binding of eCG to LH receptors except 3A3 mAb, in radioreceptor assay. Six mAbs, which were strong inhibitors of eCG binding to LH receptors and of both...
Incarceration of the large colon in the gastrosplenic ligament of a horse. Incarceration of the large colon through a rent in the gastrosplenic ligament of a horse was surgically corrected via ventral midline celiotomy. Clinical signs were similar to those in other horses with nonstrangulating large colon disorders. Diagnosis of large colon incarceration in the gastrosplenic ligament was determined by surgical abdominal exploration. The findings of medial deviation of the spleen, location of the large colon lateral to the stomach and caudolateral to the spleen, and caudocraniad passage of the large colon through the gastrosplenic ligament are similar to findings in h...
Choledocholithiasis attributable to a foreign body in a horse. Cholelithiasis is the most common cause of biliary obstruction in horses. Proposed mechanisms include ascariasis, biliary stasis, ascending biliary infection, and changes in bile composition. In this horse, a foreign body acted as the nidus for bile-salt deposition and ascending cholangitis. Clinical signs (intermittent abdominal pain, icterus, and pyrexia) in conjunction with high serum activity of enzymes indicative of obstructive biliary disease led to a tentative diagnosis of cholelithiasis. Ultrasonography was used to confirm the diagnosis. Postmortem examination revealed a 7-cm wooden st...
[Indications for ultrasonography in the diagnosis of surgical diseases]. Ultrasonography has established itself as an invaluable diagnostic aid in surgical diseases. In addition to the diagnosis of thoracic and abdominal disease, ultrasonography is increasing in importance in the examination of muscles, tendons and joints in small animals. In the horse, the application of the technique is being extended from tendon conditions to organ diseases. The optimal diagnostic information can only be achieved through the use of different scanner types.
Secretory patterns and rates of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone revealed by intensive sampling of pituitary venous blood in the luteal phase mare. We used our unique nonsurgical technique for collecting pituitary venous (pit) blood to study GnRH, FSH, and LH secretion patterns in midluteal phase mares. This method does not perturb endocrine function and allows continuous monitoring of GnRH and gonadotropin (Gn) secretion, determination of the amount of GnRH perfusing gonadotropes, and direct measurements of the amounts of Gn secreted. In a total of 80 h of 5-min sampling in four mares, eight Gn peaks occurred; however, more frequent sampling was needed to define secretory events precisely. Therefore, pit blood was collected continuously ...
Obstructive enterolith in an 11-month-old miniature horse. An obstructive enterolith was diagnosed in an 11-month-old 68-kg miniature horse with a 24-hour history of mild, intermittent colic. Abdominal radiography revealed gas distention of the cecum and the right and left ascending colon, and a radiodense elliptical structure in the area of the left kidney. During exploratory laparotomy, the right dorsal colon was noticed to contain ecchymotic hemorrhage and generalized discoloration in the portion proximal to the location of the enterolith. While exteriorizing the ascending colon, it ruptured caudal to the diaphragmatic flexure in the right dorsal c...
Reduction and reoxidation of equine gonadotropin alpha-subunits. Ovine (o) and equine (e) LH alpha-subunits were reduced and reoxidized using conditions known to be effective for bovine and human alpha-subunits. The major product of oLH alpha refolding was alpha-subunit monomer. In contrast, eLH alpha formed a 121,000 mol wt aggregate. Monomeric eLH alpha was recovered, but in greatly reduced yield. To test the effects of carbohydrate variation on the aggregation of equine alpha-subunits, all of the equine gonadotropin alpha-subunits (eFSH alpha, eCG alpha, eLH alpha, and free alpha-subunit) were reduced and reoxidized. In each case, the major product was t...
Dose-response effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone on plasma concentrations of gonadotropins and testosterone in fertile and subfertile stallions. Five fertile and five subfertile stallions were treated with a single intravenous injection of saline the first week followed by a single intravenous injection of varying doses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (5, 10, 25, 100, 500 micrograms) given in a randomized fashion over the next 5 weeks during the nonbreeding season. Blood samples were collected periodically before and after treatment for analysis of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and testosterone content by radioimmunoassay. Before treatment, semen samples were collected every other day for 3 weeks for analysis of ...
Pedunculated lipomas as a cause of intestinal obstruction in horses: 17 cases (1983-1990). The medical records of 17 horses that were evaluated and treated because of colic caused by pedunculated lipomas between 1983 and 1990 were reviewed. The mean age of the horses was 16.6 +/- 3.9 years (range, 10 to 26 years), which was significantly greater than that of the population of horses evaluated because of colic (control population) during the same period. There were significantly more geldings (76.5%), compared with the control population. Nasogastric reflux ranged from 1 to 16 L in 8 horses and was not obtained in 9 horses. Abdominal palpation per rectum revealed small intestinal dis...
Ionized calcium concentration in horses with surgically managed gastrointestinal disease: 147 cases (1988-1990). Packed cell volume, total plasma protein, serum sodium, potassium, and ionized Ca2+ concentrations, and blood pH were determined at the time of admission and following surgery in 147 horses with acute abdominal crisis. Horses were allotted to 3 categories on the basis of the surgical lesion: (1) nonstrangulating obstruction of the ascending or descending colon (category A, n = 76), (2) strangulating and nonstrangulating infarction of the cecum or ascending colon (category B, n = 37), and (3) strangulating and nonstrangulating infarction of the small intestine (category C, n = 25). Horses with ...
Colopexy in broodmares: 44 cases (1986-1990). Colopexies were performed in 44 broodmares requiring abdominal surgery for large colon volvulus or right dorsal displacement of the large colon. Colopexies were performed by suturing the lateral bands of the left and right ventral colon to the ventral abdominal wall. Forty-seven percent of the mares in which a colopexy was performed had previous surgery for a large colon volvulus or right dorsal displacement of the large colon. Postoperative complications considered directly associated with the colopexy procedure were intermittent abdominal pain in 7, reoperation in 5, subcutaneous fistulous t...
Changes in the hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis of mares in relation to the winter solstice. In mares, the amount of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is low in the hypothalamus during seasonal anoestrus, but by early spring, concentrations of GnRH are high. The timing of this response was characterized more precisely by determining concentrations of GnRH in hypothalamic tissue collected immediately before and at various times after the winter solstice (22 December 1986). Ovaries, pituitary gland, hypothalamus and a blood sample were collected from six groups of mares (6-12 mares per group) at death, 1 week before day of the winter solstice and 1, 2, 3 and 12 weeks afterwards. No...
Cholelith causing duodenal obstruction in a horse. A 10-year-old Appaloosa stallion was referred for evaluation of colic. At admission, the heart rate, capillary refill time, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature were high. Fifteen liters of reflux was obtained by nasogastric intubation. Palpation of an abdominal mass per rectum elicited signs of pain. At exploratory laparotomy, a mass was palpated in the ascending portion of the duodenum. The small intestine ruptured at the site of obstruction during manipulation. The horse was euthanatized. A large cholelith was the cause of the duodenal obstruction. At necropsy, multiple choleliths of va...
Squamous cell carcinoma of the equine stomach: a report of five cases. Five horses with squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach are described. The clinical findings included anorexia, weight loss, abdominal distension, abnormal chewing and swallowing behaviour and abdominal masses palpable per rectum in four cases. Haematological studies revealed a normocytic anaemia in three horses, and neutrophilia and hypoalbuminaemia in two. Analysis of peritoneal fluid revealed abnormal effusions in all five horses and neoplastic cells were identified in three of them. The tumours originated in the cardia and metastases were present in all the horses. Three of them had many s...
Surgical treatment of colic in American miniature horses: 15 cases (1980-1987). A study of 15 American miniature horses (AMH) that underwent surgical treatment for colic was performed. Information obtained from the medical records included signalment, clinical signs, type and location of gastrointestinal lesion, and postoperative complications. All 15 AMH had intraluminal obstructions, attributable to feed impactions (11 horses), enteroliths (2), and sand (2). The most common location of obstruction was the small colon, which was involved in 9 of the 15 cases. All 15 AMH survived and were discharged from the hospital. Six of the 15 AMH underwent subsequent surgical treatm...
Uterine torsion and uterine tear in a mare. A 15-year-old Standard-bred mare was examined because of signs of abdominal discomfort in late gestation. Palpation per rectum revealed tight broad ligaments above and below the uterus, with the right broad ligament running across the top of the uterine body down toward the left, ventral side of the abdomen. A diagnosis of counterclockwise uterine torsion was made and surgical correction was approached via a left, flank laparotomy with the horse standing. The uterus was repositioned and a uterine tear encompassing 180 degrees of the uterine surface was found in the lateral, uterine body just c...
Struvite urethral calculus in a three-month-old thoroughbred colt. A 3-month-old Thoroughbred colt was presented with signs of colic. Findings from physical examination, abdominal paracentesis, abdominal radiographs and clinical pathology revealed uroperitoneum secondary to a calculus obstructing the urethra and causing subsequent urinary bladder rupture. Analysis of the calculus demonstrated a tissue center with outer concretions composed primarily of struvite.
Gastric ulceration in horses: 91 cases (1987-1990). Gastroendoscopy was performed on 111 horses (1 to 22 years old) that had signs of abdominal discomfort of variable duration and severity. At least 1 episode of colic had been observed within 48 hours of examination in 31 horses. Recurrent episodes of colic were observed in 28 horses within 2 to 10 days of examination, 31 horses within 11 to 30 days, 12 horses within 31 to 60 days, and in 9 horses at more than 60 days after the initial examination. Gastric ulceration was found in 91 of 111 horses examined. Other abnormalities involving the gastrointestinal tract or other abdominal viscera were ...
Conservative management of uroperitoneum in a gelding. Uroperitoneum as a sequela to urethral calculus in an adult gelding was successfully managed by use of subischial urethrotomy and abdominal drainage. Necrosis of bladder mucosa was seen endoscopically, but a tear or rupture was never identified. Peritonitis developed but was controlled with antibacterial treatment. Although uroperitoneum is usually a sequela to bladder rupture and the ideal treatment is surgical repair, conservative management may be warranted in selected cases.
Cryptococcosis in seven horses. The clinical, radiographic and post-mortem findings in 6 horses with cryptococcal pneumonia and one horse with an abdominal cryptococcal granuloma are described. In pulmonary cryptococcosis, the lesions were either diffuse and multiple, with bilateral lung involvement, or localised mainly to the dorsocaudal region of one lung. The cases of diffuse multiple cryptococcosis were thought to be associated with haematogenous spread of the fungus after gastrointestinal infection and dissemination from regional lymph nodes. The localised form of the disease was thought to have been associated with inh...
A single gene encodes the beta-subunits of equine luteinizing hormone and chorionic gonadotropin. Equine (e) CG and LH beta-subunits have identical amino acid sequences, including an extended carboxyl-terminal peptide (CTP). This suggests that unlike the corresponding human genes, the beta-subunits of eCG and eLH may be encoded by a single gene and share a common proximal promotor region. To explore this, we isolated and characterized the eLH/CG beta gene(s). Data from Southern analyses suggest that the eCG beta and eLH beta subunits are products of the same single copy gene (eLH/CG beta). Overlapping fragments of the eLH/CG beta gene and cDNA were amplified from equine genomic DNA and pit...
Diagnosis of ruptured urinary bladder in a foal by the identification of calcium carbonate crystals in the peritoneal fluid. A 3-day-old Quarter Horse colt was examined because of signs of severe depression, discomfort, and abdominal straining. The foal seemed disoriented, and the abdomen was tense and distended ventrally. The differential diagnoses included ruptured urinary bladder, retained meconium, septicemia/bacteremia, and neonatal maladjustment syndrome. Serum biochemical analysis revealed marked hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and moderate hyperkalemia, as well as mildly high urea, creatinine, and phosphorus concentrations. The primary differential diagnosis at this time was ruptured urinary bladder. Abdominoce...
Septic cholangitis and peritonitis in a gelding. An 8-year-old Arabian gelding with septic cholangitis and peritonitis was successfully treated with trimethoprim/sulfadiazine. The gelding was referred for evaluation of signs of abdominal pain, icterus, fever, and weight loss. Peritoneal fluid analysis revealed septic and suppurative peritonitis. Culture of the peritoneal fluid yielded Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which were sensitive to trimethoprim/sulfadiazine. On the basis of results of hepatic ultrasonography, a diagnosis of septic cholangitis also was made. The horse was treated with 30 mg of trimethoprim/sulfadiazine/kg,...
Tissue-specific gene expression in the pituitary: the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene is regulated by a gonadotrope-specific protein. The molecular mechanisms for the development of multiple distinct endocrine cell types in the anterior pituitary have been an area of intensive investigation. Though the homeodomain protein Pit-1/GHF-1 is known to be involved in differentiation of the somatotrope and lactotrope lineages, which produce growth hormone and prolactin, respectively, little is known of the transcriptional regulators important for the gonadotrope cell lineage, which produces the glycoprotein hormones luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. Using transgenic mice and transfection into a novel gonadotrope ...
Seasonal effects on seminal quality, plasma hormone concentrations, and GnRH-induced LH response in fertile and subfertile stallions. Seasonal effects on hormonal and seminal parameters in subfertile stallions have not been well documented and could provide information that is needed to understand the underlying endocrine mechanisms associated with testicular dysfunction. Such information may be useful in developing diagnostic tools to identify those stallions who are candidates for treatment. This investigation characterizes and compares the effects of season on endocrine function and seminal quality in fertile and subfertile stallions. Eight fertile and six subfertile stallions between the ages of 5 and 18 years were injec...
Hypoglycemia and hepatic ischemic necrosis after small intestinal incarceration through the epiploic foramen in a horse. A 16-year-old stallion was presented to the Louisiana State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for evaluation of acute abdominal pain. Physical examination and diagnostic procedures indicated a strangulating obstruction of the small intestine. At exploratory celiotomy, a strangulating incarceration of the jejunum through the epiploic foramen was found. The incarcerated small intestine was reduced, then resection of the nonviable bowel and anastomosis performed. After surgery, the horse exhibited clinical signs and laboratory findings associated with hypoglycemia and died in spite of emerg...
Endocrine abnormalities and hormonal therapy. Routine measurement of estrogens, testosterone, T4, insulin, FSH, and LH at least four times per year (e.g., during each of the four seasons) may improve the efficiency of stallion management. Benefits may not be realized in the short term but will provide valuable historical data on individual stallions that, when added to other data, will improve ability of management personnel to initiate early treatment and delay or slow declining fertility. This ability will be greatly improved as more data and products become available. There appears to be a relationship between low total estrogen concen...
Endocrine and testicular changes associated with season, artificial photoperiod, and the peri-pubertal period in stallions. The seasonal reproductive cycle of stallions is characterized by an annual regression and recrudescence in testicular function and concentrations of LH, FSH, and testosterone in serum. Maximum reproductive capacity occurs during the increasing day lengths of spring and summer. The annual cycle in LH secretion may reflect a seasonally associated and photosensitive reduction and replenishment in pituitary content of LH. Similar to other seasonal breeders, it appears that stallions may possess an endogenous circannual rhythm in reproductive function that is subject to manipulation by altering the...
Intestinal myxosarcoma in a thoroughbred mare. A large fibrotic mass originating from the cecal base was discovered upon surgical exploration of the abdomen in a Thoroughbred mare with a history of chronic colic and weight loss. The mass protruded intraluminally resulting in partial obstruction. Surgical excision was not feasible due to the location of the mass and the inability to exteriorize it adequately from the abdominal cavity. The mass was fibrous with a shiny, gelatinous material present throughout the neoplasm. Histologically, large confluent spaces filled with mucopolysaccharides were identified by staining with Alcian blue. The ...