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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.
Skin grafts and skin flaps in the horse. Although most equine wounds can be easily treated and heal without consequence, there are many that present special challenges. Skin grafts area valuable part of the veterinarian's armamentarium for treatment of complicated wounds, particularly limb wounds. Attention to preparation of the recipient site and proper aftercare are critical to successful grafting. With better understanding of equine wound and graft physiology and the promise foretold by advances in human skin grafting, the outcome of treatments of difficult equine wounds should continue to improve in the future.
Management of equine hoof injuries. Hoof injuries are common in horses. Some wounds can pose diagnostic and treatment challenges because of the rigid nature of horn,the tissue involved, the deeper underlying structures eventually invaded, or the pattern of healing. By combining knowledge about the anatomy and biomechanical properties of the foot and healing characteristics of the hoof with adapted general principles of wound management, satisfactory clinical outcomes usually result.
Microbiologic and pathologic findings in an epidemic of equine pericarditis. During the spring and summer of 2001 and in association with the mare reproductive loss syndrome, 22 terminal and 12 clinical cases of equine pericarditis were diagnosed in central Kentucky. Actinobacillus species were the principal isolates from 8 of 10 nontreated, terminally affected and 3 of 10 clinically affected horses. Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus zooepidemicus were cultured from the remaining 2 nontreated terminal cases. No viruses were isolated in tissue culture. Nucleic acid of equine herpesvirus-2 was detected in pericardial and tracheal wash fluids of 3 and 1 individuals,...
The effects of automated plasmapheresis on clinical, haematological, biochemical and coagulation variables in horses. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of plasmapheresis on the behaviour, general condition, haematological, biochemical and coagulation variables of donor horses for 32 days following the procedure. Twenty millilitres of plasma/kg body weight were collected via plasmapheresis in six clinically healthy horses. The general behaviour and condition of the horses was not affected by the procedure. During plasmapheresis, there was a mild increase in the haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration and total erythrocyte and leucocyte counts (P < 0.01). The mean concentrations of total pro...
The effects of two endotracheal tube cuff inflation pressures on liquid aspiration and tracheal wall damage in horses. To investigate the effect of endotracheal tube cuff inflation pressure on the occurrence of liquid aspiration and tracheal wall damage. Methods: Prospective, randomized experimental study. Methods: Ten healthy horses, weighing 535 +/- 55 kg. Methods: Horses were anesthetized, orotracheally intubated, placed in dorsal recumbency, and maintained on isoflurane in oxygen with controlled ventilation for 175 +/- 15 minutes. The horses were randomly assigned to an endotracheal cuff pressure of 80-100 or 120 cm H2O. The cuff pressure was continuously monitored and maintained at a constant pressure. Me...
Differential effects of virulent and avirulent equine infectious anemia virus on macrophage cytokine expression. Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) causes rapid development of acute disease followed by recurring episodes of fever, thrombocytopenia, and viremia. Most infected equid eventually bring the virus under immunological control. We recently reported the development of an equine-specific ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) to quantitate mRNA levels of 10 cytokines. Using this newly developed RPA, we now show significant differences in cytokine induction in equine monocyte-derived macrophages (EMDM) exposed to virulent and avirulent EIAV. Virulent EIAV17 induced significant increases in interleuk...
Behavior and misbehavior of the horse. For decades after the discipline of psychiatry had been established as an accepted specialty, many medical schools continued to fail to train their students in the fundamentals of this discipline. Medical students all have at least cursory exposure to psychiatric principles and basic psychology. Unfortunately, the veterinary profession has lagged behind human medicine in this regard. Until recently, veterinary students received no training in animal behavior, and there were no available residencies within our schools for developing board-certified behavioral specialists.
Digital imaging advances and the future. Digitization of clinical data is becoming increasingly important in veterinary medicine. Current veterinary applications range from digital cameras to computed radiography. The opportunity for increased productivity and diagnostic capabilities makes the computerization of veterinary medicine especially exciting. Future trends seem to indicate that more veterinarians should have better technology available in their practices and more veterinarians should be connected to experts, clients, and each other.
Look before you leap. Learning to critically evaluate therapeutic claims is vital to the success of the practicing veterinarian and the veterinary profession as a whole. Until such time as good scientific data in support of therapies are obtained, veterinarians should be careful in their advocacy and employment of new and unproved practices. They should also be aware of the many reasons why therapeutic "success" may be the result of a variety of factors unrelated to the treatment modality itself. Only by relying on rigorous standards of evidence can equine veterinarians prevent a return to the sincere but misguided...
Keratomycosis in six horses in the United Kingdom. Six horses with keratomycosis were examined and three different clinical expressions of the disease were recognised. The diagnostic work-up and response to treatment is described.
Equine dental advances. The reintroduction and development of safe motorized instruments, the increased availability of continuing education, and the understanding and implementation of appropriate procedures allow practitioners to provide better dental care. Veterinarians realize that sedation, analgesia, a full-mouth speculum, and proper instrumentation are necessary to provide these services. Continued instrument design, future research, and new treatment and prophylactic protocols should have a positive impact on the future of equine dental health. New and rediscovered procedures for equilibrating equine occlusio...
Systemic AL amyloidosis associated with multiple myeloma in a horse. AL amyloidosis is the most common type of systemic amyloidosis in humans, and it is frequently associated with multiple myeloma. But, AL amyloidosis is very rare in domestic animals. A 16-year-old Quarter horse gelding was diagnosed with systemic AL amyloidosis associated with multiple myeloma. Clinical problems were rapid weight loss, muscle atrophy, soft unformed stool, and ventral edema. Grossly, diffuse gastrointestinal hemorrhage, markedly thickened jejunal mucosa, and splenomegaly were present. Microscopically, diffuse severe amyloid deposits were present in the lamina propria of glandul...
Mepivacaine local anaesthetic duration in equine palmar digital nerve blocks. Perineural analgesics are used for lameness diagnosis but the duration of effect, knowledge of which would provide valuable information when performing subsequent blocks, is unknown. Objective: To evaluate the duration of a palmar digital nerve block using force plate measurements. Methods: Ten horses diagnosed with unilateral navicular syndrome were trotted at range of 3 +/- 0.15 m/sec over a force plate to record ground reaction forces for 5 trials of each forelimb. Data were recorded before nerve block, and then at 15 mins, 1, 2 and 24 h post nerve block. Results: Before nerve block, peak v...
[A horse with a badly-healing wound? A case report]. A 14-year-old Haflinger mare was presented with a wound on the right metatarsus which it had sustained 3 years earlier. The wound had never completely healed but had only recently become a problem. Over a period of several months, the wound became larger, produced a lot of exudate, and the horse became lame on the affected limb. Clinical examination and radiographs failed to reveal the cause of the deterioration. Histological evaluation of tissue removed during debridement of the wound revealed squamous cell carcinoma. Because the tumour had already invaded the bone, the prognosis was unfavour...
The role of electromyography in clinical diagnosis of neuromuscular locomotor problems in the horse. Systematically performed EMG needle examination of muscles provides essential information about the functional aspects of the motor unit. However, clinical studies in which information is given on the diagnostic and discriminative values of electromyography (EMG) in the horse are scarce. Objective: To determine to what extent inclusion of EMG analysis in clinical examination contributes to determination of type and localisation of abnormality. Methods: EMG analysis, complete clinical examination and diagnosis of 108 horses (mean +/- s.d. age 75 +/- 3.8 years; bodyweight 548 +/- 86 kg; height 1...
Three-dimensional kinematic analysis of horses with induced tarsal synovitis. Techniques for 3D analysis have recently been developed. This study applied 3D kinematic analysis to describe the effects of lameness in the distal intertarsal (DIT) and tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints; complex joints such as this may show measurable amounts of movement outside the sagittal plane that may change in response to pathological conditions. Objective: Three-dimensional motions of the tarsal joint change after the induction of synovitis at the DIT and TMT joints. Methods: Twelve retroreflective markers, attached on the skin over the right limb, were used to develop 3D coordinate systems...
In vitro measurement of internal hoof strain. Strains during stance on the hoof wall surface have been measured by a number of authors in vitro and in vivo. Histological structure and mechanical properties vary through the wall thickness (radially); radial strain measurements may therefore aid the understanding of mechanical function of the capsule and adjacent tissues. Objective: To develop instrumentation capable of measuring internal hoof strain, and to carry out a preliminary comparison of normal and laminitic hooves. Methods: Six forelimbs from 4 horses, including 2 with laminitis from the same horse, were tested using an Instron tes...
Effects of cyclooxygenase inhibitors flunixin and deracoxib on permeability of ischaemic-injured equine jejunum. Recent studies have shown that flunixin prevented recovery of equine jejunum post ischaemia. However, the use of a purported cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 preferential inhibitor, etodolac, also prevented recovery. These findings may have implications for the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in colic patients. Objective: To compare the effects of deracoxib, a highly selective canine COX-2 inhibitor, with flunixin on in vitro recovery of ischaemic-injured equine jejunum. Methods: Six horses underwent 2 h jejunal ischaemia, after which mucosa was mounted in Ussing chambers and recovered for 2...
Cardiopulmonary effects and pharmacokinetics of i.v. dexmedetomidine in ponies. Currently available sedatives depress cardiopulmonary function considerably; therefore, it is important to search for new, less depressive sedatives. The study was performed to assess duration and intensity of cardiopulmonary side effects of a new sedative, dexmedetomidine (DEX), in horses. Objective: To study pharmacokinetics and cardiopulmonary effects of i.v. DEX. Methods: Pharmacokinetics of 3.5 microg/kg bwt i.v. DEX were studied in a group of 8 mature (mean age 4.4 years) and 6 old ponies (mean age 20 years). Cardiopulmonary data were recorded in mature ponies before and 5, 10, 20, 30, 4...
Arterial lactate concentration, hospital survival, sepsis and SIRS in critically ill neonatal foals. Blood lactate concentration has been shown to be a useful clinical indicator in human patients, but has not been formally investigated in critically ill foals. Objective: To investigate the association of blood lactate with hospital survival, markers of cardiovascular status, metabolic acid base status, sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Methods: A database containing clinical, haematological, plasma biochemical and hospital outcome data on neonatal foals referred to an intensive care unit in 2000-2001 was analysed. Seventy-two foals for which arterial lactate was measu...
Analysis of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) degradation and synthesis in equine joint disease. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is abundant within cartilage; its turnover and/or degradation have been investigated in various equine joint diseases and it has been suggested that COMP fragmentation might be useful for monitoring such conditions. Objective: To determine whether COMP metabolism is compromised in equine osteoarthritis (OA) and whether COMP degradation is a useful joint marker representing cartilage destruction. Objective: A monoclonal antibody (mAb) with a higher affinity for degraded COMP allows discrimination of diseased joints by quantifying COMP levels and fragme...
Colorectal distention in the horse: visceral sensitivity, rectal compliance and effect of i.v. xylazine or intrarectal lidocaine. Most current models of visceral sensitivity testing in the horse have required visceral cannulation. Colorectal distention (CRD) is a widely used, noninvasive method for testing in other species and could be adapted for use in horses. Objective: To develop a protocol of controlled CRD in the conscious horse and to evaluate the effect of i.v. xylazine or intrarectal lidocaine on CRD threshold and rectal compliance. Methods: Eight horses were used for baseline studies (3 trials each) and 6 horses to evaluate treatments (4 trials, 2 per treatment). A 45 cm diameter polyvinyl balloon attached to p...
Age-related changes in serum insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor-I binding protein-3 and articular cartilage structure in Thoroughbred horses. Structural changes in articular cartilage associated with the ageing process require definition for investigators performing developmental and age-related studies, for which information is lacking. Objective: To 1) determine the onset and end of puberty as defined by serum insulin like growth factor (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) concentrations and 2) correlate articular-epiphyseal cartilage complex structural changes with the onset and end of puberty. Methods: IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were measured in serum samples from normal female and male horses age 9-715 days to determine peak and ...
Entrapment of the small intestine in the epiploic foramen in horses: a retrospective analysis of 71 cases recorded between 1991 and 2001. The clinical features of 71 cases in 70 horses in which part of the small intestine became entrapped in the epiploic foramen are described. The horses' sex, age and breed, the month during which they were affected, and whether they exhibited stereotypic behaviour were compared with the same variables in 1279 horses which suffered other types of surgical colic during the same period. Thoroughbred and thoroughbred cross horses were over-represented among the 70 affected horses. There was no age or sex predilection. Fifty-five (77.5 per cent) of the cases occurred between October and March and 15...
Unilateral nephrectomy as a treatment for renal trauma in a foal. A 2-day-old Warmblood colt foal was referred for evaluation of progressive abdominal distension and lethargy. Haemoperitoneum was diagnosed and a ventral midline laparotomy revealed capsular rupture, sub capsular haematoma and haemorrhage of the left kidney. Unilateral nephrectomy was performed and the foal recovered uneventfully, with no reported complications 1 year later.
Effect of dental floating on weight gain, body condition score, feed digestibility, and fecal particle size in pregnant mares. To investigate the effect of routine dental floating on weight gain, body condition score, feed digestibility, and fecal particle size in pregnant mares fed various diets. Methods: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Methods: 56 pregnant mares. Methods: Mares were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 feed groups (n = 14 mares/group). All horses were sedated and an oral examination was performed, after which dental floating was performed on 7 horses in each group. Body weight was measured, and a body condition score was assigned before and at various times for 24 weeks after dental floating. Feed dig...
Occurrence of equine coital exanthema in pastured draft horses and isolation of equine herpesvirus 3 from progenital lesions. During the period from 2001 to the following year, progenital diseases had been epidemic among the draft stallions and mares pastured together in Iwate Prefecture, the northeastern district of Japan. A stallion and 8 of 31 mares were affected in 2001, and 1 of 2 stallions and 10 of 36 mares in 2002. The clinical symptoms consisted of the formation of papules, pustules, ulcers and scabs on the progenital skin and mucosa in stallions and mares. In 2002, Equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV3) was isolated from 2 mares and the glycoprotein G gene of the virus detected from a stallion and 4 mares by polymeras...
