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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.
Residual strength of equine bone is not reduced by intense fatigue loading: implications for stress fracture. Fatigue or stress fractures are an important clinical problem in humans as well as racehorses. An important question in this context is, when a bone experiences fatigue damage during extreme use, how much is it weakened compared to its original state? Since there are very limited data on this question and stress fractures are common in racehorses, we sought to determine the effect of fatigue loading on the monotonic strength of equine cortical bone. Beams were machined from the dorsal, medial and lateral cortices of the third metacarpal bones of six thoroughbred racehorses. Beams from left and...
Naturally occurring persistent and asymptomatic infection of the guttural pouches of horses with Streptococcus equi. During an outbreak of strangles on a farm with approximately 1500 horses, the spread of Streptococcus equi infection was monitored by repeated nasopharyngeal swabbing and culture. In order to control the infection and prevent new introductions of strangles on to the premises, a system of quarantine and swabbing of cases and all incoming animals was instituted. Long-term carriage of the organism was detected in four clinically healthy convalescent animals, and in two of 350 new ponies; it persisted for between seven and 39 months, but it was detected only intermittently by the culture of swabs ...
High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of N-alpha-acetyl-L-carnosine in equine plasma. N-alpha-Acetyl-L-carnosine (NAcCAR) in perchloric acid extracts of equine plasma was assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography on a 3 microns Hypersil ODS (150 x 4.6 mm I.D.) column eluted with 5 mM phosphoric acid-1 mM triethylamine, pH 2.58. NAcCAR was isolated by solid-phase extraction on Isolute PRS (propylsulphonyl) columns. The HPLC mean retention time for NAcCAR was 5.9 +/- 0.2 min. The recovery from plasma by solid-phase extraction was 93.9-99.7% and lower limit of detection in plasma was 0.18 microM. The normal NAcCAR concentration in equine plasma was 2.4 +/- 0.3 microM. The ...
Comparative pharmacokinetics of phenylbutazone and its metabolite oxyphenbutazone in clinically normal horses and donkeys. To compare plasma disposition of phenylbutazone and its metabolite oxyphenbutazone after i.v. administration of phenylbutazone in horses and donkeys. Methods: 4 clinically normal horses and 6 clinically normal donkeys. Methods: Blood samples were collected from each animal at time 0 (before) and 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300, 360, and 480 minutes after i.v. administration of a bolus dose of phenylbutazone. Serum was analyzed in triplicate by use of high-performance liquid chromatography for determination of phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone concentrations. The serum concentrat...
Effects of delayed serum separation and long-term storage on the measurement of thyroid hormones in equine blood samples. Studies were conducted to determine the effects of delaying the separation of serum from the clot and of long-term storage of serum samples on the measurement of thyroid hormones in blood from horses using a fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The measured concentrations of T3 and T4 were not affected by leaving serum on the clot for as long as 24 hours at room temperatures. Storage of serum for 19 to 22 months at -20 degrees C resulted in significant increases of measured T4, but not T3. These studies support previous work demonstrating that thyroid hormones are resistant to degradation, i...
[Peritonitis in horses: a retrospective study of 95 cases]. Clinical signs of horses with peritonitis were colic (67.4%), elevated heart rate (53.2%), altered mucous membranes (75.8%), reduced intestinal motility (63.2%), increased tension of the abdominal wall (69.9%) and pyrexia (45.1%). The amount of obtained peritoneal fluid was increased in 62.3% of the horses. Colour and translucency of the peritoneal fluid were abnormal in 98.8% of the patients. The nucleated cell count was 83.5 (10-595) x 10(3)/microliter, protein content 35.6 g/l (+/-14.2), specific gravity 1027.3 (+/-7.4) and the relative amount of neutrophils was 87.8% (+/-11). The physical ...
Thrombocytosis in 24 horses (1989-1994). The records of horses presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine between January 1, 1989 and April 30, 1994 were evaluated to determine risk factors associated with thrombocytosis. Of the 2,346 horses for which a CBC was performed, 24 (1.0%) had a platelet count > 400,000/microL. Demographic, diagnostic, physical examination, and clinicopathologic variables from these cases were compared with a reference population consisting of 189 horses with a normal platelet count presenting during the same period. Infectious/ inflamma...
[Animal systemic iron sources utilized in vitro by staphylococci]. Under iron-restricted conditions staphylococcal strains could utilize in vitro several animals body iron sources in form of bovine haemoglobin, hemin, lactoferrin and transferrin, ovotransferrin, horse myoglobin ferritin and cytochrome C. Spectrum of utilized iron sources was not dependent on species affiliation and kind of siderophores system. Strains isolated from clinical materials utilized largest spectrum of animal iron body sources.
A clinical trial of probiotic administration for prevention of Salmonella shedding in the postoperative period in horses with colic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotic administration on the prevalence of fecal shedding of Salmonella, the prevalence of postoperative diarrhea, the length of antimicrobial therapy, and the length of the hospitalization stay during the postoperative period in horses with colic. Two commercially available probiotics for horses were used in a double-blind prospective study of 200 horses undergoing surgery for colic. Probiotic or placebo was administered PO once a day for 7 days postoperatively, and fecal cultures for Salmonella were obtained daily for 10 days. After...
Heart rate variability in the horse by ambulatory monitoring. Using a microprocessor controlled Ambulatory Monitoring System (AMS) developed by one of us (LvD), we have been studying the changes in and control of heart rate in the resting horse. The system provides us with InterBeat Intervals (IBI in milliseconds), motion sensing, and a time domain measure (mean successive differences: MSD) of heart rate variability for periods up to 72 hours. Thoracic impedance is also available but parameters for the equine chest are not currently available. The system is completely noninvasive, small, and carried on a surcingle worn by the subject. The equine subject ...
Clinical and laboratory alterations in horses during immunization with snake venoms for the production of polyvalent (Crotalinae) antivenom. Six horses were immunized with the venoms of Bothrops asper, Crotalus durissus durissus and Lachesis muta stenophrys for the production of polyvalent (Crotalinae) antivenom. During the immunization, clinical and laboratory alterations were evaluated in these animals, and the development of humoral immune response was followed. Only moderate local tissue changes (edema, abscesses, fistules and fibrosis) were observed in these animals, whereas no systemic alterations occurred. Regarding laboratory tests, there was a drop in hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit, together with an increment in t...
Characterisation of Australian isolates of Actinobacillus capsulatus, Actinobacillus equuli, Pasteurella caballi and Bisgaard Taxa 9 and 11. The objective of this work was to perform a comprehensive phenotypic characterisation of 16 isolates of bacteria previously identified as Actinobacillus equuli. Methods: The 16 isolates that had been obtained from Australian animals--15 from horses and one from a rabbit--were compared with reference strains of A equuli, A capsulatus, Pasteurella caballi and Bisgaard Taxa 9 and 11. Results: The characterisation study demonstrated that only nine of the isolates were A equuli. The other isolates were identified as A capsulatus (the isolate from rabbit), P caballi (one isolate), Bisgaard Taxon 11 ...
Survey of diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Surgeons regarding clinical aspects and treatment of endotoxemia in horses. A questionnaire designed to elicit information concerning prevalence, underlying causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and complications of endotoxemia in horses was mailed to diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Surgeons who identified themselves as equine practitioners. Gastrointestinal tract compromise, conditions associated with foaling, and grain overload were reported to be the most common clinical conditions that led to endotoxemia. Most of the respondents diagnosed endotoxemia on the basis of the following clinica...
Flexion test of the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints and flexion angle of the metacarpophalangeal joint in sound horses. This paper describes the application of a measuring device 'Flextest' to control the effect of traction force and traction time during flexion tests of the distal limb joints of the forelimbs. The optimal force for a flexion test is 100 N, over 1 min. A higher force (150 N) was not harmful. A slightly positive flexion response (100 N/1 min) in a horse with no other clinical signs or radiographic abnormalities is not of clinical significance. Individual left and right flexion and extension angles are almost identical and do not depend on age. Stabled horses which have been rested or horses rest...
Biochemical, histochemical, and immunohistochemical characterization of distal tibial osteochondrosis in horses. To compare the biochemical, histochemical, and immunohistochemical profiles of articular cartilage from horses with naturally acquired distal tibial osteochondrosis (OC) with cartilage from a similar location in clinically normal horses. Methods: 9 affected horses (group 1, 16 OC lesions) and 4 control horses (group 2, 8 normal osteochondral specimens). Methods: OC specimens were collected during arthroscopic removal of the fragment, and control specimens were collected by aseptic osteotomy. Uronic acid, total protein, total glycosaminoglycan (GAG), chondroitin sulfate (CS), and keratan sulfat...
[Poisoning of horses by the bark of the false acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia)]. The present study describes the poisoning due to Robinia pseudoacacia in two horses. One of the horses showed mainly intestinal symptoms such as decreased intestinal motility and obstipation of the pelvic flexure. In the second animal central nervous symptoms were predominant. It showed intermittent phases of somnolence alternating with phases of excitation and head pressing. In addition mydriasis and a lacking menace response could be observed. Sensation to the head and the spinal reflexes were reduced. Symptomatic treatment was initiated in both animals and recovery occurred within 2 days.
Collagenolytic activity and its sensitivity to doxycycline inhibition in tracheal aspirates of horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The collagenolytic activity and its sensitivity to doxycycline inhibition in tracheal aspirates (TA) of horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was analyzed with SDS-PA gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), using Type 1 collagen as the substrate. Both autoactive and total collagenase activities were significantly higher in TAs of horses with symptomatic COPD than in TAs of healthy horses. Doxycycline inhibition studies suggest that most of the TA collagenase is of the neutrophil type (MMP-8), but some is derived from other cells such as fibroblasts and monocyte/macrophages (MMP-1) a...
Local electrostatic potentials in pyridoxal phosphate labelled horse heart cytochrome c. The present work shows the application of an optical label pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) for the experimental determination of local electrostatic potentials in singly substituted cytochromes c modified by pyridoxal phosphate at Lys 79 (PLP-Lys-79-cyt.c) or at Lys 86 (PLP-Lys-86-cyt.c). PLP has also been used to calculate the pKa values of all ionizable groups and the electrostatic potentials in the modified proteins and to analyse their properties. The experimental pKa values for the pyridine nitrogen and phenolic hydroxyl of the bound label were obtained from pH-dependent absorbance and fluoresc...
Quantitative two-dimensional echocardiography in the horse: a review. Quantitative two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) was introduced into equine cardiology in the early 1990s. At first, linear and area dimensions and left ventricular volume were validated by the comparison of parameters determined during in vitro 2DE and autopsy measurements. Based on these studies, tomographic planes and intracardiac reference points for in vivo measurements were established and 2DE values have been determined for healthy adult horses by various authors. These data were similar to each other and proved to be comparable with M-mode echocardiography measurements. However, dif...
Mutational changes in the hemagglutinin of equine H3 influenza viruses result in the introduction of a glycosylation site which enhances the infectivity of the viruses. The complete amino acid sequences of the hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein of three equine-2 influenza viruses from tropical Africa are presented in comparison with that of a well characterized European equine-2 virus (Suffolk/89) and a consensus sequence from the database. The sequences of the tropical African viruses were deduced from the complete nucleotide sequences of their HA genes reported earlier. Mutational changes in the nucleotide sequences resulted in amino acid changes in the HA which led to the introduction of a new asparagine-linked (N-linked) glycosylation site in two viruses. Th...
[Observations of Setaria equina (Nematoda: Setariidae) with the optical microscope and scanning electron microscope]. Adults of S. equina (Spirurida, Setariidae), 1 male and 2 females, collected from vaginal sac of stallion, were studied by soanning electron microscopy (SEM). The amphids, cephalic and cervical papillae, peribuccal ring, fine transverse bands and bosses of the cuticle, as well as caudal papillae were visualized clearly at this examination. The results of the present survey contribute towards the identification of S. equina, improve the definition of the characters which are demonstrated by common light microscopy and give the exact number of male caudal papillae including the lateral cloacal r...
[Natural and synthetic glucocorticoids in the racing horse: a review of the literature]. This review compromises data about endogenous cortisol and its physiological variations in horses. The influence of synthetic glucocorticoids on the endogenous cortisol concentrations is discussed as well. The second part of the review summarizes detection times of therapeutically used glucocorticoids (dexamethasone, betamethasone, triamcinolone, prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone) in the horse and their implication for doping control.
