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Topic:Clinical Pathology
Clinical pathology in horses involves the study and analysis of biological samples to diagnose and monitor diseases and health conditions. This discipline encompasses various laboratory tests and procedures that assess the physiological and biochemical status of equines. Common analyses include hematology, biochemistry, urinalysis, and cytology, each providing insights into different aspects of equine health. Hematology evaluates blood components, such as red and white blood cells and platelets, to identify conditions like anemia or infection. Biochemistry tests measure enzymes, electrolytes, and metabolites to assess organ function and metabolic status. Urinalysis examines urine samples for indicators of renal function and systemic diseases. Cytology involves the microscopic examination of cells from tissues or fluids to detect abnormalities. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, applications, and diagnostic value of clinical pathology in equine medicine.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy as a cause of unexpected cardiac death in two horses. Postmortem and histological examination of the hearts from two horses, a five-year-old Clydesdale gelding and a 15-year-old cob gelding, revealed changes characteristic of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. In both cases, on gross examination, the right ventricular endocardium and interventricular septum were almost entirely replaced with a gelatinous yellow fibroareolar tissue. This tissue was histologically a combination of fibrous and adipose tissue that had replaced the normal myofibres and disrupted the Purkinje fibres.
The interstitial cells of Cajal of the equine gastrointestinal tract: what we know so far. Gastrointestinal motility disorders are a serious problem in both veterinary and human medicine and may represent a dysfunction of the neural, muscular or pacemaker components (interstitial cells of Cajal) of bowel control. The interstitial cells of Cajal are considered to be the pacemakers and mediators of certain forms of neurotransmission in the gastrointestinal tract. These cells have been implicated, either primarily or secondarily, in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal disease processes in which there is a prominent element of disturbance to intestinal motility. In the horse, their inv...
Quantitative analysis of lignocaine and metabolites in equine urine and plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In this paper, a method for the sensitive and reproducible analysis of lignocaine and its four principal metabolites, monoethylxylidide (MEGX), glycylxylidide (GX), 3-hydroxylignocaine (3-HO-LIG), 4-hydroxylignocaine (4-HO-LIG) in equine urine and plasma samples is presented. The method uses liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry operating in electrospray ionisation positive ion mode (+ESI) via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Sample preparation involved solid-phase extraction using a mixed-mode phase. The internal standard adopted was lignocaine-d(10). Lignocaine and its...
Vector competence of Culex (Melanoconion) taeniopus for equine-virulent subtype IE strains of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. The mosquito Culex (Melanoconion) taeniopus is a proven vector of enzootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) subtype IE in Central America. It has been shown to be highly susceptible to infection by this subtype, and conversely to be highly refractory to infection by other VEEV subtypes. During the 1990s in southern coastal Mexico, two VEE epizootics in horses were attributed to subtype IE VEEV. These outbreaks were associated with VEEV strains with an altered infection phenotype for the epizootic mosquito vector, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) taeniorhynchus. To determine the infectivity for ...
Evaluation of MUC5AC expression and upregulation in airway epithelial cells of horses. To isolate and culture primary equine airway epithelial cells in vitro and elucidate the major cytokines involved in expression of the gel-forming mucin gene MUC5AC in horses. Methods: 12 tracheas obtained within 5 hours after euthanasia from horses free from respiratory tract disease. Methods: Tracheal rings were digested overnight in 0.2% protease, and dissociated airway epithelial cells were grown in a serum-free defined medium at an air-liquid interface until confluence was achieved. Differentiated airway epithelial cells were treated with a panel of recombinant equine cytokines followed b...
Tear volume, turnover rate, and flow rate in ophthalmologically normal horses. To determine tear volume, turnover rate, and flow rate in ophthalmologically normal horses by use of fluorophotometry. Methods: 12 mares free of ophthalmic disease. Methods: 2 microL of 10% sodium fluorescein was instilled onto 1 eye of each horse, and tear samples were collected via microcapillary tubes from the inferonasal conjunctival culde-sac at 0, 2, 4, 6, 10, 15, and 20 minutes after instillation. Collected tear samples were then measured for fluorescein concentrations with a computerized scanning ocular fluorophotometer. A decay curve plot of concentration changes over time was used to...
Chronic equine wounds: what is the role of infection and biofilms?. Wound research is an evolving science in the equine species. In particular, interest is growing regarding the role that microorganisms play in delaying both acute and chronic wound healing. Equine wounds, particularly lower limb wounds, frequently display delayed healing and infection is commonly the underlying reason. This review will summarize the current research and knowledge surrounding equine wound healing and wound care. Particular focus is placed on the role that microbes play in chronic equine wounds and the significance of associated bacterial biofilms. .
The immune response of foals to natural infection with equid herpesvirus-2 and its association with febrile illness. Equid herpesvirus-2 (EHV-2) infection is ubiquitous in horses. Although EHV-2 infection has been associated with several disease syndromes, its true pathogenic significance in horses remains uncertain. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), another gammaherpesvirus, has been shown to cause febrile illness in humans related to its immunopathologic effects. Thus, the purpose of this study was to describe the ontogeny of the immune response of a cohort of 9 foals to natural infection with EHV-2 by evaluating serial complete blood counts, lymphocyte morphology, cytokine gene expression in peripheral blood mono...
Bovine papillomavirus DNA can be detected in keratinocytes of equine sarcoid tumors. Bovine papillomavirus (BPV)-1 and -2 is linked to equine sarcoids, a commonly observed skin tumor in horses that is of considerable veterinary importance. Previous studies using in situ hybridization have detected BPV DNA only in fibroblasts and not in keratinocytes of sarcoids. In contrast, normal equine skin latently infected with BPV shows a dysplastic epithelium without dermal changes, similar to lesions induced by other papillomavirus types infecting the epithelium. The first goal of our study was to describe the epidermal and dermal characteristics of several stages in sarcoid developmen...
Light and electron microscopy studies of the midgut and salivary glands of second and third instars of the horse stomach bot, Gasterophilus intestinalis. A morphological study of the midgut and salivary glands of second and third instars of Gasterophilus intestinalis (De Geer) (Diptera: Oestridae) was conducted by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The midgut is anteriorly delimited by a proventriculus, without caeca, and is composed of posterior foregut and anterior midgut tissue from which a double-layered peritrophic matrix is produced. The midgut can be divided into anterior, median and posterior regions on the basis of the structural and physiological variations of the columnar cells which occur along its length. Two oth...
In vitro antimicrobial activity of gallium maltolate against virulent Rhodococcus equi. The objective of this study was to determine the in vitro antimicrobial activity of gallium maltolate (GaM) against Rhodococcus equi. A total of 98 virulent bacterial isolates from equine clinical cases were examined, of which 19 isolates were known to be resistant to macrolides and rifampin. Isolates were cultured with various concentrations of GaM and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined after 24 and 48 h. Both the MIC(50) and the MIC(90) after 24h of growth were 558 ng/mL (8 μM) and after 48 h of growth were 2230 ng/mL (32 μM). There were no apparent differences b...
Pharmacological studies of bronchial constriction inhibited by parasympatholytics and cilomilast using equine precision-cut lung slices. Equine precision cut lung slices (PCLS) were used to evaluate the ability of several pharmacologic compounds, parasympatholytics atropine, ipratropium, tiotropium and phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4-inhibitor cilomilast, to inhibit methacholine (MCh) induced bronchial constriction. The study war performed using vital lung samples from 20 horses, harvested immediately after euthanasia and lung examination.Tissue samples from the cranial, caudal and accessory lobe were taken for histological examination. Viability in PCLS of 250 +/- 20 microm was confirmed by observation of cilia movement and bronchia...
Equine granulocytic anaplasmosis in the Czech Republic. Twelve confirmed cases of equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA) and five additional suspected cases, showing a compatible clinical history and specific IgG titres of 1280 or above, were recorded in the Czech Republic during the period 2002 to 2008. The diagnosis was based on clinical signs, the detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum morulae in neutrophils in blood smears, serology and molecular methods. Pyrexia (39.8 to 41.3 degrees C), depression, partial or total anorexia, limb oedema and icterus were the most frequently observed clinical abnormalities. Haematological examination revealed t...
Use of multi-detector computed tomographic angiography in the diagnosis of a parapharyngeal aneurysm in a 6-week-old foal. Multidetector-row computed tomographic contrast angiography (MDCTA) is routinely employed to investigate vascular masses in human patients but, to date, the use of this technique to investigate an aneurysmal mass has not been reported in an equine case. The potential of MDCTA to investigate a right-sided parapharyngeal mass in a 6-week-old Thoroughbred foal was therefore investigated. A 4-slice helical computed tomography scanner was used on a superficial, firm, ovoid mass yielding arterial blood on fine needle aspiration. MDCTA enabled identification of the vessels involved thus assisting in ...
Spurious hypercreatininemia: 28 neonatal foals (2000-2008). To (1) determine the occurrence of spurious hypercreatininemia in a population of hospitalized foals<2 days old, (2) assess the resolution of the hypercreatininemia, and (3) determine its association with survival in these foals. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 2 Referral hospitals. Methods: Foals442 micromol/L (>5.0 mg/dL) from 2 referral hospitals. Methods: None. Results: The medical records of 33 foals were reviewed. Twenty-eight had spurious hypercreatininemia and 5 had acute renal failure. Admission creatinine was not significantly different between the 2 groups (mean [...
Magnetic resonance imaging of the equine temporomandibular joint anatomy. In human medicine, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the 'gold standard' imaging procedure to assess the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). However, there is no information regarding MRI evaluation of equine TMJ. Objective: To describe the normal sectional MRI anatomy of equine TMJ by using frozen and plastinated anatomical sections as reference; and determine the best imaging planes and sequences to visualise TMJ components. Methods: TMJs from 6 Spanish Purebred horse cadavers (4 immature and 2 mature) underwent MRI examination. Spin-echo T1-weighting (SE T1W), T2*W, fat-suppressed (...
Focal skeletal muscle uptake of 99mTechnetium-hydroxymethylene diphosphonate following peroneal nerve blocks in horses. We have observed focal skeletal muscle uptake of 99mTechnetium-hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (Tc-HDP), which could mimic a tibial lesion, in horses following peroneal nerve blocks. To characterize this observation further, 45 bone phase scintigrams were performed in 12 horses undergoing peroneal nerve blocks. Scans were performed before, and 1, 3, 7, and 14 days postblock. The superficial and deep branches of the peroneal nerve were blocked by injecting 10 ml of 2% mepivacaine in one limb and 20 ml in the other. Images were evaluated for uptake at the block site and uptake likely to mimic a t...
Distal interphalangeal articular cartilage assessment using low-field magnetic resonance imaging. The suitability of low-field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for assessment of articular cartilage has been questioned, based on insufficient image quality. The purposes of this study were to describe the MR anatomy of the normal distal interphalangeal (DIP) cartilage, and to evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of low-field MR imaging for identification of cartilage erosions that were created ex vivo. Imaging sequences included sagittal and dorsal multiple-oblique T1-weighted gradient-recalled echo (GRE) and sagittal dual echo sequences. In the thickest regions, normal cartilage appeared as ...
Tissue and cell tropism of African horse sickness virus demonstrated by immunoperoxidase labeling in natural and experimental infection in horses in South Africa. Tissues from 196 experimental and confirmed natural cases of African horse sickness (all 9 serotypes) were examined with a standardized and validated immunohistochemical assay for detection of the causative virus. The study confirmed that heart and lung are the main target tissues for African horse sickness virus (across all serotypes), followed closely by spleen. It also indicated that microvascular endothelial cells and monocyte-macrophages are the main target cells for virus replication. The importance of monocytes as target cells was emphasized, with relatively few tissue macrophages conta...
Topographic comparative study of paranasal sinuses in adult horses by computed tomography, sinuscopy, and sectional anatomy. Clinical and radiographic investigations of paranasal sinuses in horses are difficult due to the complex anatomy of these regions, the lack of patognomonic symptoms, and the low sensitivity of conventional diagnostic techniques. The aim of this study was to produce an anatomical atlas to support computed tomography (CT) and sinuscopy of the paranasal sinuses of the adult horse. Transverse, sagittal, and dorsal CT images were acquired, and sinuscopy with both rigid and flexible endoscopes was performed. The heads were frozen and sectioned using a band saw, with the cuts aligned as close as poss...
Lawsonia intracellularis and virulent Rhodococcus equi infection in a thoroughbred colt. A 26-month-old thoroughbred colt with a 4-month history of continuous diarrhoea and weight loss was subject to necropsy examination. The small intestinal mucosa was thickened and this change particularly affected the terminal ileum. Microscopical examination revealed multifocal epithelial hyperplasia, with multifocal granulomas and marked lymphocytic infiltration of the lamina propria. Numerous gram-negative argyrophilic curved bacilli were observed within the cytoplasm of affected enterocytes. Macrophages and epithelioid cells forming the granulomas had abundant, lightly eosinophilic, foamy c...
Enteric dysganglionosis resembling intestinal neuronal dysplasia in a foal with bacterial colitis. A 5-day-old quarter horse colt with a history of hypothermia, agonal breathing, and diarrhea was euthanized. At necropsy, numerous slightly raised, discrete, closely approximated submucosal nodules were observed in the colon and small intestine. Histologically, these nodules were composed of expanded submucosal mesenchyme that contained numerous neurons either individually or in ganglia. Thirty-two percent of these ganglia included 8 or more neurons, in contrast to 6% in an age-matched foal. Some nodules had necrosuppurative inflammation with vasculitis, thrombosis, and bacterial colonization....
Pathological changes caused by Anoplocephala perfoliata in the equine ileocecal junction. Gastrointestinal motility disorders represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in horses. Previously regarded as a non-pathogenic tapeworm, Anoplocephala perfoliata has been recently associated with equine colic. In this study, pathological changes related to A. perfoliata at the ileocecal junction were investigated in 31 slaughtered horses. Our results showed a significant relationship between parasitic burden and grading of histopathological lesions in both the mucosa and submucosa. Moreover, in infested horses, hypertrophy of the circular muscle layer was determined. Finally, ...
Tachypnea and antipyresis in febrile horses after sedation with alpha-agonists. Signs of tachypnea after sedation of febrile horses with alpha2-agonists have been noted previously but have not been further investigated. Objective: To examine the effects of xylazine and detomidine on respiratory rate and rectal temperature in febrile horses and to investigate if either drug would be less likely than the other to cause changes in these variables. Methods: Nine febrile horses and 9 healthy horses were included in the study. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to sedation with xylazine 0.5 mg/kg or detomidine 0.01 mg/kg. Heart rate and respiratory rate were recorded before...
