Topic:Biopsy
Biopsy in horses involves the collection of tissue samples for diagnostic purposes, often to identify the presence of disease, evaluate tissue abnormalities, or monitor treatment responses. This procedure can be performed on various tissues, including skin, muscle, liver, and other organs, depending on the clinical indications. Biopsies are typically obtained using specialized instruments and techniques to ensure minimal discomfort and accurate sample collection. The analysis of biopsy samples can provide detailed histological information that aids in diagnosing conditions such as neoplasia, inflammatory diseases, and infectious processes. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, applications, and outcomes of biopsy procedures in equine veterinary practice.
Evaluation of transabdominal ultrasound-guided amniocentesis in the late gestational mare. Serial transabdominal amniocentesis was performed on eight mares in late gestation. Ultrasonography was used to identify the two placental fluid sacs and the foetus. A biopsy guide attached to the transducer allowed visualisation of the needle path during insertion. Amniotic fluid was obtained in 85 per cent of the attempts, although as mares approached parturition substantial pools of amniotic fluid were more difficult to locate. Two mares aborted during the study probably because of complications of the procedures, whereas six mares produced normal foals at term. The abortions preclude clini...
Altered ionic permeability in skeletal muscle from horses with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis. A recently described disorder in certain registered Quarter horses bears many clinical similarities to the muscle disease identified as hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HPP) in humans. Pathological changes in membrane permeability or Na(+)-K+ pump activity have been proposed to produce the muscle depolarization and inexcitability that characterize the condition in humans. Biopsies of external intercostal muscle from normal and affected horses were used to determine whether alterations in either permeability and/or pump activity could be linked to the pathology in horses. Affected horse muscle ...
Titrimetric determination of muscle buffering capacity (beta mtitr) in biopsy samples. In vitro titration of muscle homogenates has been used to assess muscle buffering capacity (beta mtitr) in a variety of species. In the present study, factors likely to affect the estimation of beta mtitr were investigated. Also, values of beta mtitr from normal Thoroughbred horses are presented. A non-linear titration curve was obtained with addition of HCl to muscle homogenates. As a result, beta mtitr is expressed as the mumol H+ required to change the pH of 1g of dry muscle or wet muscle from 7.1 to 6.5. An effect of dilution on the initial pH was found below 40 mg wet muscle per ml homoge...
Assessment of the breeding prognosis of mares using paired endometrial biopsy techniques. Paired endometrial biopsy samples were taken from 530 subfertile mares, before and after treatment (where indicated) and a period of sexual rest. Prognoses were made after each biopsy (Categories 1A-4A before treatment and Categories 1B-4B after treatment), using histopathological criteria similar to those described by Kenney and Doig (1986). Eighty-seven per cent of the mares were assigned to first biopsy prognosis Category 3A. The second biopsy prognosis produced a more even population distribution (10, 47, 40 and 3 per cent respectively for Category 1B, 2B, 3B and 4B mares). First biopsy Ca...
The effect of age and parity on the development of equine chronic endometrial disease. The results of a retrospective analysis of 3,804 endometrial biopsy specimens collected from non-pregnant mares during the course of routine equine stud farm practice demonstrates a significant and practically useful correlation between the severity of chronic degenerative endometrial disease (CDE) diagnosed and age of mare at the time of examination. There were significant correlations between the number of foals born and the mares' barren years prior to biopsy and the severity of CDE, but the differences were not sufficiently large to be useful. Correlations between the severity of chronic i...
Reverse-phase ion-pairing high-performance liquid chromatography of phosphocreatine, creatine and creatinine in equine muscle. A simple, robust and reproducible analytical method for the determination of phosphocreatine (PCr), creatine (Cr) and creatinine (Cn) in equine skeletal muscle is presented. The technique used isocratic reverse-phase ion-pairing high-performance liquid chromatography. Neutralized perchloric acid extracts of equine muscle biopsies were analysed and the values obtained were compared with determinations from an established enzymic procedure. Good resolution of all three metabolites was achieved within a retention time of less than 11 min. Linearity for each metabolite within the concentration ran...
Muscle fibre type composition in untrained and endurance-trained Andalusian and Arab horses. Muscle biopsies were taken from the middle gluteal muscle of 68 stallions (52 Andalusian [AN] and 16 Arab [AR]) ranging from six to 12 years of age. Seventeen AN horses and eight AR horses were untrained, while the remainder underwent active endurance training for 6 months. Fifteen AN horses were moderately endurance-trained while the other 20 AN horses and eight AR horses were strongly endurance-trained. Percentages of type I and type II fibres were similar in all groups (P greater than 0.05). The group of horses with the hardest training had a higher percentage of type IIA fibres (AN P less ...
Biochemical study of repair of induced osteochondral defects of the distal portion of the radial carpal bone in horses by use of periosteal autografts. Periosteal autografts were used for repair of large osteochondral defects in 10 horses aged 2 to 3 years old. In each horse, osteochondral defects measuring 1.0 x 1.0 cm2 were induced bilaterally on the distal articular surface of each radial carpal bone. Control and experimental defects were drilled. Periosteum was harvested from the proximal portion of the tibia and was glued into the principal defects, using a fibrin adhesive. Control defects were glued, but were not grafted. Sixteen weeks after the grafting procedure, the quality of the repair tissue of control and grafted defects was asse...
Equine cutaneous mastocytoma: morphology, biological behaviour and evolution of the lesion. Thirty equine cutaneous mastocytomas were examined histologically and two were studied ultrastructurally. Lesions were characterized by distinct sheets of well-differentiated mast cells with variable degrees of eosinophil infiltration, collagen degeneration, necrosis, granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis. Twenty-two of 25 growths did not recur for up to 6 years after surgical excision, two recurred at the surgical site and one spontaneously regressed less than 3 months after obtaining a biopsy sample. Equine cutaneous mastocytoma is a benign proliferative lesion which seldom recurs after ex...
Severe masseter myonecrosis in a horse. A 6-year-old Quarter Horse was examined because of acute, severely swollen masseter muscles (palpation of which elicited pain response), exophthalmos, severe chemosis, and protrusion of the third eyelids. Blood selenium and vitamin E concentrations, and results of feed analysis and muscle biopsy supported a diagnosis of nutritional myopathy. The horse was treated and was clinically normal 2 weeks after discharge from the hospital.
Pathological changes of the mare endometrium and genotypes for transferrin and ELA. Histological features of the endometrium, as assessed in biopsy samples, were related to Standardbred mare genotypes for transferrin, esterase (as a control) and equine leucocyte antigens (ELA). Pathological changes were found more frequently in each successively older age group of mares. Among mares aged 6-19 years, there were significant pathologic changes on first examination following an infertile breeding season for 46 of 90 (51%) of transferrin homozygotes and 50 of 146 (34%) of transferrin heterozygotes. The difference between the two groups was significant for the total data (chi 1(2) ...
[Bone marrow examination in the horse]. The technique of needle biopsy, the examination of aspirated bone marrow and the interpretation of bone marrow smears are described. The indications for a bone marrow biopsy are listed and the literature is reviewed. The significance of this examination is illustrated with some clinical cases.
Interspecies and interregional analysis of the comparative histologic thickness and laser Doppler blood flow measurements at five cutaneous sites in nine species. Studies in dermatology, cutaneous pharmacology, and toxicology utilize skin from different animal species and body sites. However, regional differences exist in topical chemical percutaneous absorption studies in man and in animal. The objective of this study was to compare epidermal thickness and number of cell layers across species and body sites using both formalin-fixed paraffin and frozen sections. Cutaneous blood flow determined by laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) was compared to histologic data. Six animals of each of the following species were used: monkeys, pigs, dogs, cats, cows, hors...
Histologic and ultrastructural studies of dermal sarcoma of walleye (Pisces: Stizostedion vitreum). Sixty-seven adult walleye fish were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. The fish were affected by a mesenchymal tumor previously termed Walleye Dermal Sarcoma that commonly affects up to 27% of the population seasonally. Biopsies from 24 fish were collected, and complete postmortem examinations were performed on 43 fish. Grossly, the tumors had the appearance of randomly distributed, often clustered, spherical nodules, 2-5 mm in diameter with a smooth and often ulcerated surface. The tumors arose from the superficial surface of scales and consisted of fibroblast-like cells ...
Right dorsal colitis. Moderate to severe ulcerative colitis of the right dorsal colon was diagnosed by necropsy or by exploratory celiotomy and biopsy in 13 horses with a primary clinical complaint of either colic, diarrhea, or weight loss. Clinical signs varied from acute fulminating diarrhea (possibly with fever), colic, dehydration, endotoxic shock and death, to a chronic condition manifested by mild intermittent colic up to several months in duration, and weight loss with or without mild diarrhea. In a large percentage of the horses, those affected had been hypovolemic and received nonsteroidal anti-inflammator...
Distribution of labelled cysteine and methionine in the matrix of the stratum medium of the wall and in the laminar layer of the equine hoof. The distribution of 35-S-labelled cysteine and methionine in the epidermis of the equine hoof following 2 hours of intra-arterial injection was studied by microautoradiography. Material for autoradiography was obtained by biopsy about 1 hour after termination of the intra-arterial injection and also 10 and 40 days later. In the specimens obtained one hour after the injection of labelled cysteine and methionine, the amount of radioactivity in the matrix and in the most proximal part of the laminar layer was very high. There was a clear difference between the distribution of the two labelled ami...
Equine insect hypersensitivity: skin test and biopsy results correlated with clinical data. Forty-four seasonally pruritic horses and 21 asymptomatic horses in Florida, USA, were tested for insect, grass and mould hypersensitivity by intradermal injection of allergenic extracts. The affected horses ranged in age from 10 months to over 30 years and included a variety of breeds. Affected horses reacted to varying dilutions of extracts made from Culicoides, mosquitoes, horse flies and black flies. Reactions to Culicoides were more intense than those caused by injection of antigens from other arthropods. Mild pruritus existed from the end of February until the end of June when the condit...
Squamous cell carcinoma originating from an epithelial scar in a horse. A Quarter Horse stallion developed an abscess over the left gluteal region after an IM injection of antihistamine. The wound healed with considerable fibrous scarring and some persistent granulation tissue. The lesion was static for 2 years before the granulation tissue went through a 6-month period of progressive enlargement. At that time, histopathologic diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma was made from excisional biopsy. Six months after diagnosis, the horse had lost body weight and the lesional diameter had further increased, so the horse was euthanatized.
Bilateral renal dysplasia with nephron hypoplasia in a foal. Bilateral renal dysplasia and nephron hypoplasia was diagnosed in a Quarter Horse foal with clinical signs of lethargy, convulsions, and diarrhea. Laboratory evaluation revealed anemia, hypoproteinemia, leukopenia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and hyposmolality. The foal also had high concentrations of serum creatinine, BUN, and phosphorus. Evaluation of urinary indices revealed a high ratio of urinary gamma-glutamyl-transferase activity to concentration of creatinine, as well as a high fractional clearance ratio of sodium and potassium. Intravenous treatment with saline solution (0.9% NaCl) a...
Muscle responses of thoroughbreds to conventional race training and detraining. Ten healthy sedentary Thoroughbreds with previous race training experience were trained conventionally for 9 weeks. Muscle biopsy samples were obtained before and after training and after 6 weeks of detraining pasture rest. Biopsy samples were obtained from the right deltoid, triceps, vastus lateralis, middle gluteal, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus muscles. The deep-frozen biopsy samples were analyzed for activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), 3-hydroxy-acylcoenzyme A dehydrogenase (HAD), and phosphorylase (PHOS) and for glycogen concentration. The triceps and gluteal muscle samples ...
Sterile nodular panniculitis in five horses. Sterile nodular panniculitis was diagnosed in 5 horses. Physical abnormalities were predominantly limited to cutaneous changes, consisting of multiple subcutaneous nodules that had a tendency to wax and wane over time and were commonly distributed over the trunk, neck, and proximal portion of the limbs. In each horse, the diagnosis was confirmed by excisional biopsy of a nodule and by exclusion of infective causes of panniculitis on the basis of negative culture results and special stain application to skin specimens. Treatment with immunosuppressive doses of glucocorticoids was curative in 1 ...
Pleuroscopic diagnosis of disseminated hemangiosarcoma in a horse. A 7-year-old Thoroughbred mare was examined because of persistent bilateral epistaxis and respiratory distress. Evidence of bilateral pleural effusion was found during physical examination, and a large amount of serosanguineous fluid was drained from the right side of the thorax. Cytologic examination and bacteriologic culture of the transtracheal aspirate and pleural fluid did not yield evidence of sepsis. A coagulation profile was unremarkable. Radiographic and echographic changes were seen in the lung parenchyma. Pleuroscopy, with the horse standing, revealed numerous dark nodules on the pl...
Contracture test and histologic and histochemical analyses of muscle biopsy specimens from horses with exertional rhabdomyolysis. Biopsy specimens of the cutaneous omobrachialis muscle were obtained from 10 horses with a problem of myositis from mild exercise. One horse had been evaluated previously and malignant hyperthermia-like contractures developed in its muscle biopsy specimen during the contracture test. In this study, the halothane-caffeine contracture test and histologic and histochemical evaluations were performed on muscle biopsy specimens. In the contracture test, no muscle biopsy specimen developed contracture in the presence of 2 or 4% halothane alone. The mean (+/- SEM) caffeine-specific concentration in t...
Variation in glycogen and mucins in the equine uterus related to physiologic and pathologic conditions. Histochemical stains were applied to six equine uterine biopsies representative of the physiologic breeding season, Spring and Fall transition, and Winter anestrus periods. These were compared with uterine biopsies from six mares with intrauterine urine pooling, eight mares used to study the uterine response to indwelling catheterization, and necropsy specimens from four pregnant mares at approximately 60 or 100 d of gestation. Alcian blue staining at pH 2.5 or 1.0 was used to identify the presence of carboxylated and sulfated acid mucins or only suflated acid mucins, respectively. Periodic ac...
Changes in the metabolic profile of equine muscle from birth through 1 yr of age. The purpose of this study was to investigate metabolic changes in equine muscle from birth to 1 yr of age. Duplicate biopsies from the middle portion of the gluteus medius were obtained from a depth of 2 cm beneath the superficial fascia at 1 day, 7 days, 1 mo, 3 mo, 6 mo, and 1 yr of age in 11 quarter horses and at 1 day, 3 mo, 6 mo, and 1 yr of age in 5 Standardbreds. Muscle enzyme activities determined were citrate synthase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, phosphorylase, and lactate dehydrogenase. Percent fast-twitch, fast-twitch high oxidative, and slow-twitch oxidative fiber types were d...
Quantitative and qualitative morphology of equine peripheral nerve: teased fibre studies. Single teased fibre studies were made on samples of the lateral palmar nerve from 16 horses of mixed age and size which had no evidence of neuromuscular disease. Significant proportions of abnormal fibres indicative of axonal degeneration/regeneration and demyelination/remyelination were identified. Measurements of internodal length and fibre diameter were made. Internodal length was shown to be related to fibre diameter, changes in this relationship being mainly influenced by the incidence of abnormal fibres rather than by the age of the horse. Information about the incidence of abnormal fibr...
Failure to demonstrate reperfusion injury following ischaemia of the equine large colon using dimethyl sulphoxide. A study was undertaken to evaluate the significance and mechanism of reperfusion injury in the equine large colon following 1 h of haemorrhagic strangulation obstruction (HSO) or ischaemic strangulation obstruction (ISO) and to assess the effect of treatment with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). ISO or HSO were created 40 cm from the pelvic flexure and maintained for 60 mins under general anaesthesia. Normal saline or 20 per cent DMSO (1 g/kg bodyweight) was administered intravenously 10 mins prior to the end of the ischaemic period. Four groups of four horses in a 2 x 2 factorial design were used....
Endometrial concentrations of ampicillin in mares after intrauterine infusion of the drug. Serum concentration of ampicillin, a semisynthetic penicillin, was measured in mares at various time intervals up to 24 hours after intrauterine infusion of 3 g of ampicillin. Blood samples were drawn immediately before infusion and at 1-, 4-, 10- and 24-hour intervals after infusion. At postinfusion hour 24, two endometrial biopsy specimens were obtained to measure endometrial concentrations of ampicillin. Blood was drawn twice as part of the 24-hour postinfusion sample collection, once before removal of the biopsy specimens and again 5 minutes after removal of the biopsy specimens. After dru...
Primary cholangiohepatitis in a horse. An 8-year-old mare was presented to the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine Large Animal Clinic for evaluation of anorexia, fever and icterus. The mare had a 5-day history of anorexia, depression and tongue protrusion. Diagnostic procedures included serum hepatic enzyme activities, serum bile acid concentrations, blood ammonia evaluations and hepatic ultrasound and ultrasound guided biopsy. The history, clinical pathology and histopathology in this case supported a probable diagnosis of primary septic cholangiohepatitis.