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.
Serum bone metabolism biomarkers in healthy filies and colts from weaning until one year of age. This study aimed to investigate the serum concentration of osteocalcin (OC), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin (CT), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (AP) in healthy-weaned-foals from 8 months of age until the first year of life. Moreover, the correlation of investigated parameters and foals' age, as well as the relationship between the serum values of PTH and the other markers of bone remodeling were assessed. From 20 foals (10 fillies, 10 colts), blood samples were monthly collected (from 8 to 12 months of age, T1-T5) and the concentration o...
Ocular and facial porcupine quills in a miniature horse. A 22-year-old miniature horse gelding was brought to a veterinary clinic with multiple porcupine quills embedded in the face. One quill had perforated through the left caudoventral cornea but did not extend beyond the anterior chamber. The horse was referred to a specialist clinic for removal of the intraocular quill and subsequent primary surgical repair of the corneal wound. Following aggressive medical treatment, the horse retained vision. Piquants de porc-épic oculaires et faciaux chez un cheval miniature. Un cheval hongre miniature de 22 ans a été amené à une clinique vétérinaire a...
Relationships between the age and blood test results or body sizes in Noma horses. The objective of this study is to analyze the relationships between the age and blood test results or body sizes in Noma horses by using the results of periodical health examination. Out of 45 hematological or physical items examined, statistically significant, but loose correlations were observed in 14 items. Red blood cell count, activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and creatinine kinase, concentrations of calcium and inorganic phosphorus decreased with aging. Conversely, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, lipase activity, γ-globulin and chlorid...
[New drugs for horses and production animals in 2021]. In 2021, one novel pharmaceutical agent for horses or food-producing animals was released on the German market, making the anti-haemorrhagic etamsylate (Hemosilate) available for horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, dogs and cats, for the first time. The authorization of one established veterinary active ingredient was extended to an additional species: The endectocide eprinomectin (Eprecis) from the group of macrocyclic lactones was also approved for sheeps and goats. Additionally, two veterinary formulations with a new active substance content (bromhexine, tiamulin) and one active ingredient ...
The effect of month and breed on plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations in equids. Use of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations for the diagnosis of PPID in equids requires awareness of other factors that might influence ACTH concentrations, including breed and time of year. This study was designed to investigate effects of breed on plasma ACTH concentrations and potential interactions between breed and time of year. Ten breeds were selected from a laboratory database containing data on plasma ACTH concentrations. Breeds represented were Arabians, Cobs, Connemara ponies, donkeys, Irish Sports horses, New Forest ponies, Shetland ponies, Thoroughbreds, Warmb...
A Systematic Review of Clinical Signs Associated With Degenerative Conditions and Morphological Variations of the Equine Caudal Neck. Conditions of the equine caudal neck (C5-C7) are thought to be associated with various clinical signs. However, little investigation has been undertaken to isolate clinical indicators associated with specific conditions of the equine caudal cervical spine. This systematic review aimed to evaluate associations of clinical signs with anatomical malformation of caudal cervical vertebrae, spinal cord compression of the caudal cervical spine, and arthropathy of the caudal cervical articular process joints (APJs). A literature search was carried out using Google Scholar in accordance with PRISMA (Pr...
Osteochondrosis (Osteochondritis Dissecans) in Lusitano Horses: Prevalence and Characteristics. Osteochondrosis (osteochondritis dissecans), OC(D), is an important joint disorder that has been studied through the years in different breeds but, to our knowledge, there are no reports of its prevalence in Lusitano horses. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of OC(D) in Lusitanos, define the characteristics of the disorder in this breed and compare with Spanish Purebred horses. This is a retrospective study that analysed the radiographs from the metacarpometatarsophalangeal, tarsocrural and femoropatellar joints that were taken in 302 Lusitano horses (1-12 years; obtained from...
A Retrospective Study of Pythiosis in Domestic Animals in Northeastern Brazil. Pythiosis is an endemic disease in northeastern Brazil and we now report the epidemiological, clinical and pathological findings in a retrospective study of naturally occurring cases in domestic animals. From January 1985 to December 2020, the Laboratory of Animal Pathology of the Federal University of Campina Grande examined 13,542 tissue samples from necropsies and biopsies. Among these samples, 306 were diagnosed as pythiosis: 195 cases in horses, 75 in sheep, 19 in dogs, six in mules, four in cattle, three in cats, two in goats, one in a donkey and one in an ostrich. Affected equids had le...
Site- and Zone-Dependent Changes in Proteoglycan Content and Biomechanical Properties of Bluntly and Sharply Grooved Equine Articular Cartilage. In this study, we mapped and quantified changes of proteoglycan (PG) content and biomechanical properties in articular cartilage in which either blunt or sharp grooves had been made, both close to the groove and more remote of it, and at the opposing joint surface (kissing site) in equine carpal joints. In nine adult Shetland ponies, standardized blunt and sharp grooves were surgically made in the radiocarpal and middle carpal joints of a randomly chosen front limb. The contralateral control limb was sham-operated. At 39 weeks after surgery, ponies were euthanized. In 10 regions of interest (...
Immune and Inflammatory Response in Horse Vaccinated Against Equine Herpesviruses 1 (EHV-1) and 4 (EHV-4) Assessed by Serum Protein Electrophoretic Pattern and Leukocyte Population. Protection against infectious diseases can be obtained with vaccines generating immunogenic response through a combination of humoral and cellular immunity. In this study haematological and serum protein electrophoretic profiles of horses vaccinated against herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and 4 (EHV-4) were evaluated. Blood samples were collected from 16 horses before (T0), after 24h, 48h, 72h, 1st week, 2nd week and 3rd week (T1I, T2I, T3I, T7I, T14I and T21I) from the first EHV vaccine-dose administration as well as before (TPRE), and after 24h, 48h, 72h, 1st week, 2nd week, 3rd week and 4th week (T1I...
Use of a novel helical fan beam imaging system for computed tomography of the distal limb in sedated standing horses: 167 cases (2019-2020). To evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of a novel helical fan beam CT system used for imaging of horses with a range of clinical distal limb problems. 167 horses. Medical records were reviewed of horses presented for CT of the distal limb at 2 university-based veterinary hospitals. The following data were recorded: age, sex, breed, presenting complaint, sedation used for imaging, scanning time, procedure time, other diagnostic imaging methods performed, imaging diagnosis, clinical diagnosis, and complications during imaging. Most horses were Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. Procedure times r...
Use of a novel helical fan beam imaging system for computed tomography of the head and neck in sedated standing horses: 120 cases (2019-2020). To evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of a novel helical fan beam CT system used for imaging of horses with clinical problems of the head and neck. 120 horses. Medical records were reviewed of horses presented for CT of the head or neck at 2 university hospitals. The following data were recorded: age, sex, breed, presenting complaint, sedation used for imaging, scanning time, procedure time, other diagnostic imaging methods performed, imaging diagnosis, clinical diagnosis, and complications during imaging. Quarter Horses and Warmbloods were the most common breeds, and the most common complai...
Outcome following emergency laparotomy in 33 UK donkeys: A retrospective multicentre study. Emergency laparotomies in donkeys are infrequently performed and there is limited literature on the subject. Objective: To determine findings and associated outcomes of exploratory laparotomies in donkeys. Methods: Descriptive retrospective study. Methods: Donkeys undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy for investigation and treatment of colic at seven UK referral hospitals between 2005-2017 were included. Data were retrieved from available hospital records. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistical analysis of outcomes of interest was performed in three steps. Results: Thirty-thr...
Concentrations of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin are increased in serum and peritoneal fluid from horses with inflammatory abdominal disease and non-strangulating intestinal infarctions. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is produced in response to inflammation in horses, but it has not yet been investigated as a biomarker in horses with the abdominal disease. Objective: To investigate NGAL in serum and peritoneal fluid in horses with the abdominal disease. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: Data from medical records of 270 horses admitted with acute abdominal disease (simple obstructions [n = 43], strangulating obstructions [n = 104], inflammatory abdominal disease [n = 99], non-strangulating intestinal infarction [NSII, n = 24]) and 9 heal...
Mandibular Osteoma in a Haflinger Mare: Clinical and Pathological Features. A 11-year-old, Haflinger breed mare developed a slowly growing mass, protruding on the ventral aspect of the mandible. On palpation, the lesion was pedunculated, very firm, cold and not painful. Radiographic examinations showed a radiopaque, multi-lobular, "mushroom-like" lesion, which arose from the mandibular cortex without involving the bone marrow cavity. Thereafter, the mass was excised for cosmetic purposes. Microscopically, the lesion mainly consisted of bone trabeculae, covered by a thick layer of connective tissue resembling the periosteum. History and clinical findings allowed the te...
Detection of subtle cartilage and bone tissue degeneration in the equine joint using polarisation-sensitive optical coherence tomography. To explore the ability of polarisation-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) to rapidly identify subtle signs of tissue degeneration in the equine joint. Polarisation-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) images were systematically acquired in four locations along the medial and lateral condyles of the third metacarpal bone in five dissected equine specimens. Intensity and retardation PS-OCT images, and anomalies observed therein, were then compared and validated with high resolution images of the tissue sections obtained using Differential Interference contrast (DIC) optic...
Characterization of Equine Chronic Tendon Lesions in Low- and High-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging. In equine medicine, experience regarding MRI of chronic tendon lesions is limited, and evidence on the suitability of different sequences in 3 T high-field MRI is scarce. Therefore, macroscopically healthy and altered tendons were examined by histology and in 0.27 T low- and 3 T high-field MRI, focusing on T1-weighted (T1w) sequences to visualize chronic lesions. In high-field MRI, tendons were positioned parallel (horizontal) and perpendicular (vertical) to the magnetic field, acknowledging the possible impact of the magic angle effect. The images were evaluated qualitatively and signal inten...
Effects of intravenous administration of peripheral blood-derived mesenchymal stromal cells after infusion of lipopolysaccharide in horses. A systemic and dysregulated immune response to infection contributes to morbidity and mortality associated with sepsis. Peripheral blood-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (PB-MSC) mitigate inflammation in animal models of sepsis. Allogeneic PB-MSC administered IV to horses is well-tolerated but therapeutic benefits are unknown. Objective: After IV lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infusion, horses treated with PB-MSC would have less severe clinical signs, clinicopathological abnormalities, inflammatory cytokine gene expression, and oxidative stress compared to controls administered a placebo. Methods: ...
Detection of the origin of atrial tachycardia by 3D electro-anatomical mapping and treatment by radiofrequency catheter ablation in horses. Atrial tachycardia (AT) can be treated by medical or electrical cardioversion but the recurrence rate is high. Three-dimensional electro-anatomical mapping, recently described in horses, might be used to map AT to identify a focal source or reentry mechanism and to guide treatment by radiofrequency ablation. Objective: To describe the feasibility of 3D electro-anatomical mapping and radiofrequency catheter ablation to characterize and treat sustained AT in horses. Methods: Nine horses with sustained AT. Methods: Records from horses with sustained AT referred for radiofrequency ablation at Ghen...
In vitro antifungal susceptibility of Fusarium species and Aspergillus fumigatus cultured from eleven horses with fungal keratitis. To examine the relationship between Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MICs) and response to therapy of 6 Fusarium spp. and 5 Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from equine ulcerative keratitis cases. Methods: Fungi were identified by morphology and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with sequencing and evaluated at the University of Texas Fungal Testing Laboratory for susceptibility to three azole antifungals (miconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole), natamycin, and two echinocandins (anidulafungin, caspofungin). A Mann-Whitney rank sum test was used for the compariso...
Performance of predictive models of survival in horses undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy for colic. To evaluate previously published predictive survival models in a population of horses undergoing colic surgery in the midwestern United States. Methods: Retrospective cohort study; single referral hospital. Methods: A total of 260 horses met the inclusion criteria. Methods: Medical records of horses undergoing surgical treatment for colic were reviewed. Previously published models were applied to cohort data to predict outcome. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy for prediction of short-term survival were calculated. Results:...
Positron emission tomography: a horse in the musculoskeletal imaging race. Positron emission tomography (PET) has established itself as a pertinent tool in equine musculoskeletal imaging in the last few years. With the ability to provide functional information regarding both bone and soft tissues, PET has found several clinical applications in horses. PET is currently used in horses as an enhanced bone scan, providing high-resolution 3-dimensional information, in particular for imaging of the racehorse fetlock. Combined with CT and MRI, PET is particularly pertinent in horses for the assessment of subchondral bone and enthesis. The development of a dedicated PET scan...
Investigation of a contributing factor for cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy using computed tomography for measuring the cervical vertebral volume. Thoroughbred horses appear to be particularly predisposed to cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), also known as wobbler syndrome. We hypothesized that variations in the cervical vertebral volumes can affect the dynamic instability of the cervical vertebrae. This observational study aimed to clarify whether cervical vertebral volume could be considered as a contributing factor in CVSM in Thoroughbred horses. Computed tomography (CT) was used to investigate a total of 21 male Thoroughbred horses (age range, 217-1,002 days; mean, 542.3 days). The study population comprised 17 CVSM horse...
Dystocia in the Standardbred Mare: A Retrospective Study from 2004 to 2020. Dystocia as a prolonged stage II parturition (>30 min) was associated with a higher risk of complications. The hypothesis of the study was that any type of dystocia could affect the foal’s health, even when the stage II was <30 min. Clinical reports on 222 Standardbred mares and their foals hospitalized at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Bologna from 2004 to 2020 were reviewed. Mares were divided into the Eutocia Group (165, eutocic delivery) and the Dystocia Group (57, dystocic delivery). The incidence of dystocia was 4.9%. Stage II was longer in the Dystocia Gro...
Plasma-Ionized Magnesium in Hospitalized Horses with Gastrointestinal Disorders and Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. Magnesium disorders in horses with gastrointestinal disorders or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) are scarcely characterized. The purpose of the study was to explore the association of magnesium disorders with diagnosis, SIRS and mortality in horses admitted to a referral equine hospital. In total, 75 sick horses were included in an observational prospective study and classified as: obstructive ( = 17), inflammatory ( = 10) and ischemic gastrointestinal disorders ( = 12), and other non-gastrointestinal systemic disorders ( = 36). All sick horses were also divided according to the...
Solar radiation leads to increased collagenase gene expression (MMP1) in HERDA (Hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia) affected horses and may explain the typical dorsal distribution of their lesions. Hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA) is a genetic disease that alters collagen biosynthesis. Affected horses exhibit fragile, hyperextensible skin, especially over the dorsal region. Although ultraviolet (UV) radiation seems to contribute to the regional distribution of lesions and worsening of clinical signs, the molecular mechanisms involved are largely unknown. Objective: To evaluate the effect of solar radiation on matrix metalloproteinase MMP1, MMP8 and MMP13 gene expression in the dorsal and ventral skin of HERDA-affected and HERDA-unaffected horses [wild-type (WT) horses]....
Morphomolecular characterization of Strongylus vulgaris isolated from donkeys with special references to histopathological study on the affected organs. Equine gastrointestinal tract is infected with () which is highly pathogenic parasite for its harmful effect on cranial mesenteric artery during its migration. So, this study was applied for identification of in donkeys ultramorphologically and molecularly. In addition to, detection of the pathological effect of larval stage of on the mesenteric arterial system using histopathology and immunohistochemistry. During the period from September to December; 2019, 60 male and 20 female donkeys at the Giza Zoo was postmortem examined. adults and larvae were collected from the large intestine and ...
Erratum: Prevalence of and risk factors for equine glandular and squamous gastric disease in polo horses. [This corrects the article on p. 880 in vol. 59, PMID: 30104780.].
Comparison of hydromorphone and butorphanol for management of pain in equine patients undergoing elective arthroscopy: a randomized clinical trial. To compare the effects of hydromorphone and butorphanol in horses undergoing arthroscopy and describe the pharmacokinetics of hydromorphone in anesthetized horses. Methods: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Methods: A total of 40 adult horses admitted for elective arthroscopy. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to be administered intravenous hydromorphone (0.04 mg kg-1; group TxH; n = 19) or butorphanol (0.02 mg kg-1; group TxB; n = 21) prior to surgery as part of a standardized anesthetic protocol. Pain was scored by two observers unaware of group assignment using the Equine Utrecht...
Focused cardiac ultrasound examination in the emergency and critical care horse: Training for non-specialist veterinarians and evaluation of proficiency. Focused cardiac ultrasound examination (FoCUS) is rapidly emerging for point-of-care cardiac assessment using hand-carried ultrasound (HCU) devices. A specific FoCUS protocol for horses and adequate training guidelines currently are not available. Objective: To gain knowledge about the training necessary to become proficient in performing FoCUS using a HCU device. Methods: Three healthy Warmblood horses were used for practical training of veterinarians and veterinary students in equine focused cardiac ultrasound (eFoCUS). Methods: Prospective educational study. An eFoCUS protocol and 1-day tra...