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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.
Effect of endotoxin administration on body fluid compartments in the horse. Plasma volume, extracellular fluid volume (ECFV), and total body water (TBW) were measured before and after endotoxin (Escherichia coli) administration in 6 conscious adult horses. Evan's blue dye, sodium thiocyanate, and antipyrine were the test substances used to estimate plasma volume, ECFV, and TBW, respectively. Pharmacokinetic analysis of plasma concentration vs time was used to determine changes in body fluid compartments. The pathophysiologic effects of endotoxin were monitored by clinical evaluation, blood chemical changes, and blood gas determinations. All horses became dyspneic with...
Review of exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage and its possible relationship with mechanical stress. Exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) is a condition of uncertain aetiology. This article reviews the evidence relating to its incidence, clinical findings, radiological observations, histopathology and certain aspects of respiratory physiology. It is proposed that EIPH is primarily caused by mechanical stress in the dorsocaudal region of the lung.
Fiberoptic gastroduodenoscopy in the horse. A method of fiberoptic gastroduodenoscopy and biopsy was developed for use in large horses. A 275 cm X 13.5 mm fiberendoscope was used to examine the stomach and proximal portion of the duodenum. Food was withheld for 24 to 48 hours before examination. In more than 50 horses, gastric and duodenal structures were easily visualized. A variety of lesions was detected, including parasitic lesions, gastric ulcers, gastric neoplasia, and pyloric stenosis. Mucosal biopsy specimens were obtained in selected cases.
Bilateral laryngeal paralysis in the horse. Four two-year-old Thoroughbreds suffered an acute gastrointestinal illness shortly after dosing with mineral oil which was thought to have been contaminated with an organophosphate compound. Three weeks later all four were noted to be dyspnoeic and endoscopic examination showed that they had developed bilateral laryngeal paralysis. Two of the horses died during severe bouts of dyspnoea six and eight months later and the third was killed shortly thereafter. Examination of the left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves from these horses showed a severe loss of myelinated fibres distally, especial...
Cryptosporidiosis in two foals. Cryptosporidium oocysts were identified by phase contrast microscopy on smears from flotations of greenish-yellow pasty feces obtained from two foals. One foal, a one week old Percheron was recumbent, anorectic and lethargic, believed to be the result of a septicemia of undetermined etiology. Despite therapy and nursing care the animal died. Using light and electron microscopy, numerous stages of Cryptosporidium sp. were seen protruding from the surface of epithelial cells of intestinal villi. The other foal, a six week old Arabian had a mild diarrhea. The diarrhea and passage of oocysts event...
Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test and serum lysozyme assay in newborn Arabian foals and mares.
Summary:
Serum lysozyme (LZM) activity and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction capacity of circulating phagocytes were determined by the lysoplate technique and the microquantitative method, respectively. As blood donors 47 clinically normal Arabian foals ranging in age from 6 hours to 22 days and their 40 dams were used.
A significantly (p < 0.05) lower serum LZM activity was found in foals older than 24 hours, compared with the mares (40.84 U/ml ± 15.32 and 48,96 U/ml ± 17.9, respectively), but the LZM/phagocyte ratio was similar in foals and mares.
Circulating phagocytes from...
Neonatal ophthalmology. This discussion of normal and abnormal findings on routine ophthalmic examination of the foal should prove useful to the equine practitioner who must provide counsel to the concerned owner and/or breeder. Early diagnosis and treatment of ocular abnormalities improve the prognosis for continued function and aid determination of the significance of lesions observed in later life.
Phycomycosis caused by Basidiobolus haptosporus in two horses. Basidiobolus haptosporus was isolated from a horse with a rapidly progressive ulcerative lesion of the ventral midline. The pathologic findings of an irregular line of yellow material composed of hyphae, eosinophils, and granulomatous inflammation between the superficial edematous tissue and the underlying muscle, and hyphae in tissue sections intimately surrounded by granular eosinophilic cuffs were considered diagnostic for this and one other case diagnosed retrospectively. Both horses were successfully treated by surgery and potassium iodide.
Parasites in lungs of dead equids in Kentucky: emphasis on Dictyocaulus arnfieldi. Prevalence of natural infections of parasites from the lungs of 488 dead Thoroughbreds in Kentucky was investigated. The horses varied from 1 to 32 years of age; 419 horses were from 215 farms and 69 horses were from 68 individual sources for which a specific farm was not identified. Examinations of the lungs were made from Mar 1, 1983 through Feb 29, 1984. Dictyocaulus arnfieldi was recovered from 56 (11%) of the horses. Other parasites found were larvae of Parascaris equorum in 37 (8%) and of Habronema/Draschia in 67 (14%) of the horses. The possible effect of ivermectin treatment on the pre...
Neurologic diseases. The responses of apparently healthy newborn foals to neurologic testing differ significantly from those of adult horses. These responses and the diagnostic techniques pertinent to neurologic problems are reviewed as a basis for evaluation of the compromised neonatal foal. The more frequently encountered neurologic diseases are discussed in a problem-oriented format. These clinical problems include behavioral abnormalities, convulsions, changes in consciousness, blindness, ataxia without loss of strength, ataxia with weakness and paralysis, and the floppy foal.
Comparison of peripheral blood and uterine-derived polymorphonuclear leukocytes from mares resistant and susceptible to chronic endometritis: chemotactic and cell elastimetry analysis. The functional competence of peripheral blood and uterine-derived polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) from 12 mares were analyzed for chemotactic responsiveness using a chemotactic chamber (filter) assay and for deformability by cell elastimetry analysis. Peripheral blood PMN obtained from control mares and from 8 mares experimentally inoculated via the uterus with 1 x 10(9) Streptococcus zooepidemicus had similar normal chemotactic responsiveness and were highly deformable before and at 12 hours after inoculation. Uterine PMN obtained 12 hours after uterine inoculation with S zooepidemicus fro...
Identification and characteristics of staphylococci isolated from lesions and normal skin of horses. One hundred and twenty eight strains of Staphylococcus from lesions, mostly of the skin, in horses were identified and compared with 29 strains isolated from the healthy skin. The pathogenic species Staphylococcus aureus, S. intermedius and S. hyicus were found almost exclusively in lesions. Other species such as S. xylosus and S. sciuri were more frequently found on the healthy skin than in lesions. The S. aureus strains formed a very heterogeneous collection. Many of these strains were staphylokinase positive and rapidly coagulated bovine plasma. Such strains are rarely found in other animal...
Pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia in Thoroughbred racehorses in training. The prevalence of pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia in Thoroughbred racehorses in training was investigated using a fibre optic endoscope. Of the 70 horses examined, all but 8 showed evidence of pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia and the severity of the pharyngeal changes decreased with age. Two-year old horses had greater pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia (p less than 0.05) when compared to all other age groups. More horses (p less than 0.05) with Grade 3 or Grade 4 pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia experienced recent mild respiratory disease than did horses with Grade 2 or less pharyngeal lymphoid hy...
Aspects of pharmacology in the neonatal foal. Other therapeutic agents used in foals for specific diseases are discussed elsewhere. The marked effect of species, age, and degree of maturity on drug metabolism in the neonate reinforces the danger of interspecies extrapolation of pharmacology, the need for information specific for the foal, and the necessity for monitoring drug levels in the individual. Suggested antimicrobial doses are listed in Tables 3, 4, and 6. Recommended doses of anticonvulsants and sedatives are listed in Table 8 and in the article "Intensive Care of the Neonatal Foal." The following are recommendations for drug the...
Changes in blood constituents accompanying exercise in polo horses. There have been several studies of biochemical changes in horses doing intense exercise such as Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses and in horses performing exercise over a long period of time such as endurance horses and three-day eventing horses, but we are not aware of studies with polo horses. Blood samples were taken from 18 polo horses at rest, immediately after playing 2 chukkers of indoor polo, and after a 15 minute rest period. Each horse was studied at 2 different games. The blood samples were analyzed for lactic acid, protein, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, H...
Plasma and serum concentrations of phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone in racing Thoroughbreds 24 hours after treatment with various dosage regimens. The plasma and serum concentrations of phenylbutazone (PBZ) and oxyphenbutazone were measured in 158 Thoroughbred horses after various doses of PBZ wer given. All horses were competing or training at racetracks in various parts of the country. All horses used in the study had not been given PBZ 24 hours before they were placed on a specific dosage schedule. Samples were collected 24 hours after the last PBZ administration. Four grams of PBZ were given daily by stomach tube, paste, or tablet for 3 days. On day 4, 24 hours before sample collection, an IV dose of 2 g of PBZ was given, regardless ...
Ileal impaction in the horse. Twelve cases of ileal impaction in the horse were reviewed. Clinical features of the disease included evidence of mild abdominal pain, reduced or absent intestinal sounds, rectally palpable distended small intestine, gastric reflux, and in the early stages, normal peritoneal fluid. Surgical correction of the impaction was accomplished in 10 horses. Of 8 horses discharged from the hospital, 7 returned to full function. It was concluded that the shorter the duration of colic before surgical intervention, the better the prognosis.
Ataxia and weakness associated with fourth ventricle vascular anomalies in two horses. Two adult horses with progressive neurologic signs were examined clinically and at necropsy. Both horses had signs of progressive ataxia and weakness, clinically diagnosed as spinal cord in origin. Differential diagnoses for cervical spinal ataxia in horses included cervical vertebral malformation, equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy, equine herpes-virus-I myeloencephalopathy, and equine protozoal myeloencephalopathy. Necropsy findings in both horses were similar and consisted of a large hematoma in the fourth ventricle, with upward compression of the cerebellum and downward compression of...
Clinical and radiographic findings in Corynebacterium equi pneumonia of foals. Thirty-nine foals with pneumonia were admitted to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis. Corynebacterium equi was recovered from each of them on bacteriologic culture of transtracheal aspiration specimens or lung specimens at necropsy. The foals were divided into 2 groups. Group I consisted of 20 foals that died because of C equi pneumonia and were subsequently necropsied. Group II consisted of 19 foals that were treated and discharged from the hospital. Radiography was performed on all foals. Clinical signs included increased respiratory rate, fever, ...
Tarsal osteomyelitis in foals. Nine foals with haematogenous osteomyelitis of the tarsal bones were studied clinically, radiologically and pathologically. Clinical examination, including aspiration of articular or periarticular effusions in the tarsal area, and radiological study provide definitive diagnosis in most cases.
Sacroiliac lesions as a cause of chronic poor performance in competitive horses. The histories and clinical signs in 11 horses with longstanding poor performance attributed to chronic sacroiliac damage are described. The main clinical feature was a lack of impulsion from one or both hindlimbs causing a restriction in the hind gait or lowgrade lameness. A temporary improvement was often achieved using anti-inflammatory medication, but eventually all the horses were killed because of unsatisfactory progress at exercise. Post mortem examination revealed that changes were confined to the sacroiliac joints. The macroscopic and histological findings varied considerably and in on...
Laboratory evaluation of aqueous humor in the healthy dog, cat, horse, and cow. Using routinely available clinical laboratory methods, aqueous humor samples were evaluated from 12 healthy dogs, 15 healthy cats, 7 healthy horses, and 6 healthy cows. Aqueous humor was almost acellular; cells that were present had degenerated beyond recognition. Protein concentration was low; only albumin was detectable on electrophoresis. Creatine phosphokinase and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes were not detected. Artifacts induced by sampling were insignificant compared with alterations in aqueous humor composition that occur with ocular diseases.
Sixteen fractures of the shoulder region in the horse. The clinical and radiological features of fractures of the shoulder region in 16 horses are described. High quality radiographic views were essential for an accurate diagnosis. This sometimes necessitated general anaesthesia. The limitations of radiography are discussed. Nine horses had articular fractures of the supraglenoid tuberosity and eight of these were destroyed because of persistent lameness. The possibility of surgical removal of the fracture fragment(s) is discussed and the importance of early diagnosis emphasised. Seven other fractures of the shoulder region are described. The clin...
