Analyze Diet

Topic:Clinical Study

Clinical studies in equine research involve the systematic investigation of health and disease in horses through structured scientific methods. These studies aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of treatments, understand disease mechanisms, and improve veterinary care practices. Clinical studies can include randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and case-control studies. They may focus on various aspects such as pharmacokinetics, therapeutic interventions, and diagnostic techniques. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the design, implementation, and findings of clinical studies in equine medicine, providing insights into their impact on horse health and veterinary practices.
Efficacy and effects of various anti-crib devices on behaviour and physiology of crib-biting horses.
Equine veterinary journal    December 11, 2015   Volume 48, Issue 6 727-731 doi: 10.1111/evj.12534
Albright JD, Witte TH, Rohrbach BW, Reed A, Houpt KA.Crib-biting is a common oral stereotypy. Although most treatments involve prevention, the efficacy of various anti-crib devices, including surgically implanted gingival rings, has thus far not been empirically tested. Objective: Demonstrate the effect that 2 anti-crib collars, muzzle and gingival rings have on crib-biting, other maintenance behaviours, and cortisol levels in established crib-biting horses. Methods: Randomised, crossover clinical trial. Methods: In Experiment I, 2 anti-crib collars and a muzzle were used on 8 established crib-biting horses; horses wore each of 3 devices for 7 d...
Intravenous administration of a polyionic solution containing 84 mEq/l of lactate resolves experimentally induced hyperchloraemic acidosis in horses.
Equine veterinary journal    December 10, 2015   Volume 49, Issue 1 87-93 doi: 10.1111/evj.12525
Romão FT, Pereira PF, Flaiban KK, Dearo AC, Fernandes TM, Lisbôa JA.Treatment of metabolic acidosis using sodium bicarbonate solutions is safe when blood gas analysis is available. The evidence that solutions containing metabolisable buffers can be used as an alternative for treatment of metabolic acidosis in horses is of practical interest. Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of a polyionic solution containing 84 mEq/l of lactate (L84) for the correction of induced hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis. Methods: Non-randomised crossover design. Methods: Five healthy, adult, crossbred horses were used. A solution containing 100 mmol/l of HCl was inf...
Water depth modifies back kinematics of horses during water treadmill exercise.
Equine veterinary journal    December 10, 2015   Volume 48, Issue 6 732-736 doi: 10.1111/evj.12519
Nankervis KJ, Finney P, Launder L.Water treadmill exercise can be incorporated into the rehabilitation programmes of horses recovering from back pathology, yet little is known about the effect of this type of exercise on thoracolumbar movement ranges. Objective: To measure the flexion-extension range of motion (FE ROM) of the thoracolumbar spine and pelvic vertical displacement during water treadmill walking at 3 water depths and compare these with the control condition. Methods: Within-subject trial using a crossover design in healthy horses. Methods: A total of 14 horses walked at 0.8 m/s on a water treadmill for 3 min at ea...
Ligation of the ipsilateral common carotid artery and topical treatment for the prevention of epistaxis from guttural pouch mycosis in horses.
The Veterinary record    December 9, 2015   Volume 178, Issue 2 44 doi: 10.1136/vr.103376
Cousty M, Tricaud C, De Beauregard T, Picandet V, Bizon-Mercier C, Tessier C.The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of ligation of the ipsilateral common carotid artery (CCA) combined with various antimycotic treatments for the prevention of epistaxis in horses with guttural pouch mycosis. For each case, ipsilateral ligation of the CCA was performed, followed by application of various topical medications under endoscopic guidance. Frequency and number of treatments, outcome and recurrence of haemorrhage were retrospectively recorded. Twenty-four horses were included. Topical medication was administered by detachment of the diphtheric membrane and sprayin...
Horse Allergy: Curly Horses Allow Horse Allergic Riders To Ride Again.
Pneumologie (Stuttgart, Germany)    December 9, 2015   Volume 69, Issue 12 711-718 doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1393396
Mitlehner W, Mitlehner HC, Niggemann B.To test the hypothesis that so called hypoallergenic horses (Curly horses) allow horse allergic riders to ride again, we investigated 40 horse allergic riders in a period of 37 months. We tested these patients (pts.) by skin prick test (SPT) with different non-curly and Curly horses and studied the riding hours and horse brushing by measurements of peak expiratory flow (PEF) and Tiffeneau tests (FEV1) as well as peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) over 12 months. The results in 37/40 pts. showed no relevant reactions of the lower airways or nasal flow. Only in 3/40 patients an initial signific...
In Vivo Imaging and Tracking of Technetium-99m Labeled Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Equine Tendinopathy.
Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE    December 9, 2015   Issue 106 e52748 doi: 10.3791/52748
Dudhia J, Becerra P, Valdés MA, Neves F, Hartman NG, Smith RK.Recent advances in the application of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC) for the treatment of tendon and ligament injuries in the horse suggest improved outcome measures in both experimental and clinical studies. Although the BMMSC are implanted into the tendon lesion in large numbers (usually 10 - 20 million cells), only a relatively small number survive (<10%) although these can persist for up to 5 months after implantation. This appears to be a common observation in other species where BMMSC have been implanted into other tissues and it is important to understand when this loss o...
Neuronal chromatolysis in the subgemmal plexus of gustatory papillae in horses with grass sickness.
Equine veterinary journal    December 9, 2015   Volume 48, Issue 6 773-778 doi: 10.1111/evj.12530
McGorum BC, Pirie RS, Shaw D, Macintyre N, Cox A.Diagnosis of equine grass sickness (EGS) can be challenging. We hypothesised that subgemmal plexus neurons are chromatolytic in EGS. If correct, histopathological examination of gustatory papillae biopsies could aid premortem diagnosis of EGS, and EGS could represent a spontaneous model of subgemmal neuronal chromatolysis to facilitate study of the pathology of structures involved in taste. Objective: To compare subgemmal plexi and gustatory papillae in EGS and control horses. Methods: Observational study. Methods: Conventional histology and immunohistochemistry were used to compare subgemmal ...
Measurement of Incisor Overjet and Physiological Diastemata Parameters in Quarter Horse Foals.
Journal of veterinary dentistry    December 8, 2015   Volume 32, Issue 3 173-175 doi: 10.1177/089875641503200304
Omura CM, Drumond B, Rossi JL, Coelho CS, Gioso MA.Cephalometric studies are important to quantify abnormalities of jaw length and positioning. In this study, 4 to 7-month-old Quarter horse foals (n = 51) were examined to determine overjet (horizontal overlap) prevalence and measure the size of the physiological diastemata. Results were analyzed in relation to age, sex, and lineage. Another aim of this study was to develop a simple field technique for measuring incisor malocclusion and physiological diastemata dimensions that could be used to monitor the growth of the rostral components of maxilla, incisive bone, and mandible. The overall prev...
Development and evaluation of the internal-controlled real-time PCR assay for Rhodococcus equi detection in various clinical specimens.
The Journal of veterinary medical science    December 8, 2015   Volume 78, Issue 4 543-549 doi: 10.1292/jvms.15-0516
Stefańska I, Witkowski L, Rzewuska M, Dzieciątkowski T.Rhodococcus equi is the causative agent of rhodococcosis in horses, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality in foals. This bacterium has also been isolated from a variety of animals and is being increasingly reported as a cause of infection in humans, mainly in immunosuppressed individuals. Laboratory diagnostics of R. equi infections based only on conventional microbiological methods shows low accuracy and can lead to misidentification. The objective of the study was to develop and evaluate a real-time PCR assay for direct detection of R. equi in various clinical specimens, including...
Internal Fixation of Cervical Fractures in Three Horses.
Veterinary surgery : VS    December 7, 2015   Volume 45, Issue 1 104-109 doi: 10.1111/vsu.12425
Rossignol F, Brandenberger O, Mespoulhes-Rivière C.To describe the surgical treatment outcome of cervical fractures in 3 horses. Methods: Case report. Methods: Three client-owned horses with cervical vertebral fractures. Methods: Three horses were refered for neck stiffness, pain, and ataxia after a cervical trauma because of a fall. Radiographic examination showed an oblique displaced fracture of the caudal aspect of the body of the second cervical vertebra (C2) in horse 1, an oblique displaced fracture of the caudal aspect of C4 involving the disc between C4 and C5 in horse 2, and a displaced transverse fracture of the body of the axis (C2) ...
An Investigation of Equine Mesenchymal Stem Cell Characteristics from Different Harvest Sites: More Similar Than Not.
Frontiers in veterinary science    December 7, 2015   Volume 2 67 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2015.00067
Lombana KG, Goodrich LR, Phillips JN, Kisiday JD, Ruple-Czerniak A, McIlwraith CW.Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are a major cause of loss of use and retirement in sport horses. The use of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMDMSCs) for healing of traumatized tissue has gained substantial favor in clinical settings and can assist healing and tissue regeneration in orthopedic injuries. There are two common sites of harvest of BMDMSCs, the sternum and the ilium. Our objective was to determine if any differences exist in BMDMSCs acquired from the sternum and the ilium. We compared the two harvest sites in their propensity to undergo multilineage differentiatio...
Evaluation of the genes encoding CD39/NTPDase-1 and CD39L1/NTPDase-2 in horses with and without abnormal hemorrhage and in horses with pathologic evidence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage.
Veterinary clinical pathology    December 7, 2015   Volume 44, Issue 4 617-625 doi: 10.1111/vcp.12303
Boudreaux MK, Koehler J, Habecker PL, Del Piero F.Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) is a common disorder of equine athletes. The role of polymorphisms in genes encoding hemostasis-regulatory proteins in horses with abnormal hemorrhage is unknown. Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the genes encoding 2 ectonucleotidases, CD39/NTPDase-1 and CD39L1/NTPDase-2, and one ecto-5' nucleotidase, CD73, in horses with abnormal hemorrhage or pathologic changes consistent with EIPH. Methods: Twenty-three horses with histories of abnormal hemorrhage, 8 horses with gastrointestinal signs, and 45 healthy horses were evaluated using p...
[Horse riding as a form of recreation and professional sport taking into account the spine mobility of riders – a preliminary results].
Polski merkuriusz lekarski : organ Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego    December 5, 2015   Volume 39, Issue 233 297-304 
Dąbek J, Koczy B, Piotrkowicz J.Horse riding becoming increasingly common and popular form of recreation and leisure activities. However, enforced, proper posture while riding a horse, may contribute to decrease mobility of spine and lead to occurrence back pain. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the systematic training of horse riding on the global mobility of the spine and back pain prevalence in-training horse riders professionally and recreational. Methods: The study included 70 horse riders. The subjects were divided into two groups: 1) professional horse riders (n=50; 71.43%) or 2) a group of...
Acceptance of the bodypainting as supportive method to learn the surface locomotor apparatus anatomy of the horse.
Folia morphologica    December 2, 2015   Volume 74, Issue 4 503-507 doi: 10.5603/FM.2015.0023
Senos R, Ribeiro MS, Martins Kde S, Pereira LV, Mattos MF, Kfoury Júnior JR, Rodrigues MR.Although bodypainting has been reported as a great resource for teaching surface anatomy of humans, its use in veterinary anatomy has not been scientifically reported. In the present study, bodypainting was performed on 4 horses for anatomy teaching purposes of the equine locomotor apparatus. We aimed to use the bodypainting method as an additional tool to classic teaching and to test the relevance of our purpose. Twenty one Brazilian veterinary students were given a 90-min session, which included a presentation of painted horses, with opportunities for the students to ask questions and to pal...
Neonatal Care and Management of Foals Derived by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer.
Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)    December 2, 2015   Volume 1330 189-201 doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2848-4_16
Johnson AK, Hinrichs K.There are few reports on the birth of foals resulting from equine adult somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT). On evaluation of reports of 28 live-born adult somatic-cell NT (clone) foals, 3 died within 2 weeks of birth of complications. Approximately 50 % of all reported cloned foals had complications, some requiring aggressive supportive care. The most common abnormalities reported were neonatal maladjustment syndrome, enlarged umbilical remnant, and angular deformity of the forelimbs, similar to problems described in cloned cattle. In contrast, large offspring syndrome and gross abnormalities ...
Clinical features and management of equine post operative ileus (POI): Survey of Diplomates of the American Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) and Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC).
Equine veterinary journal    December 1, 2015   Volume 48, Issue 6 714-719 doi: 10.1111/evj.12520
Lefebvre D, Hudson NP, Elce YA, Blikslager A, Divers TJ, Handel IG, Tremaine WH, Pirie RS.A recent survey of European Colleges (European College of Equine Internal Medicine [ECEIM] and European College of Veterinary Surgeons [ECVS]) revealed the different strategies implemented by, and some of the challenges facing, European clinicians presented with cases of post operative ileus (POI). It was concluded that further comparative analysis of opinions, canvassed from additional colleges of equine veterinary specialism worldwide, would provide valuable additional insight into current POI knowledge on a more global scale. Objective: To report and compare the current strategies favoured ...
Effect of firocoxib on cyclooxygenase 2, microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase 1, and cytosolic phospholipase A2 gene expression in equine mononuclear cells.
American journal of veterinary research    December 1, 2015   Volume 76, Issue 12 1051-1057 doi: 10.2460/ajvr.76.12.1051
Barton MH, Darden JE, Clifton S, Vandenplas M.To validate primer sets for use in reverse transcription quantitative PCR assays to measure gene expression of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase 1 (mPGES1) in equine mononuclear cells and determine the effects of firocoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor, on COX-2, cPLA2, and mPGES1 gene expression following incubation of mononuclear cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: 8 healthy adult horses. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated by density gradient centrifugation and incubated at 37°C with medium alone, f...
Cytological evaluation of tracheal aspirate and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid in comparison to endoscopic assessment of lower airways in horses with recurrent airways obstruction or inflammatory airway disease.
Polish journal of veterinary sciences    December 1, 2015   Volume 18, Issue 3 587-597 doi: 10.1515/pjvs-2015-0076
Wysocka B, Kluciński W.The aim of the present study was to compare the grade of discharge accumulation in the tracheal lumen, area of tracheal bifurcation, main bronchi and the tracheal septum thickness with the cytology of the tracheal aspirate (TA) and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in horses with recurrent airways obstruction and inflammatory airway disease from those horses. This study was conducted on 96 horses with RAO, 139 horses with IAD and 10 control horses. In all the horses, both clinical and endoscopic examinations were performed. During endoscopy, a score of mucus accumulation was estimated in 3/...
Ex Vivo Assessment of an Ultrasound-Guided Injection Technique of the Navicular Bursa in the Horse.
Anatomia, histologia, embryologia    December 1, 2015   Volume 45, Issue 6 450-456 doi: 10.1111/ahe.12220
Perrin R, Diguet AC, Cantet P, Bailly C, Brogniez L, Dugdale A, Nisolle JF, Vandeweerd JM.Synovitis of the navicular bursa is common in performance horses. The objective of this study was to describe an ultrasound-guided technique to inject a distended navicular bursa and to evaluate its feasibility for use by a clinician not trained in the technique. Twenty distal limbs of horses of various breeds and sizes were used. To produce synovial distension, the navicular bursa of each limb was injected with contrast medium using a lateral approach and radiography was performed to confirm that the contrast medium was distending the bursa. The digit was positioned with the distal interphala...
Dynamic modulation of platelet aggregation, albumin and nonesterified fatty acids during physical exercise in Thoroughbred horses.
Research in veterinary science    November 30, 2015   Volume 104 86-91 doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.11.013
Arfuso F, Giannetto C, Giudice E, Fazio F, Piccione G.The effect of exercise on platelet aggregation, albumin and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) values and the correlation among these parameters were evaluated in ten clinically healthy and regularly trained Thoroughbred horses. All horses were subjected to two simulated races. Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture before and after the first simulated race (T0PRE and T0POST), every 7 days at rest condition for a month (T1R-T2R-T3R), and before and after the second simulated race (T4PRE and T4POST) in order to assess platelet aggregation, albumin and nonesterified fatty acids (NEF...
FSH supplementation to culture medium is beneficial for activation and survival of preantral follicles enclosed in equine ovarian tissue.
Theriogenology    November 30, 2015   Volume 85, Issue 6 1106-1112 doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.11.022
Aguiar FL, Lunardi FO, Lima LF, Rocha RM, Bruno JB, Magalhães-Padilha DM, Cibin FW, Nunes-Pinheiro DC, Gastal MO, Rodrigues AP, Apgar GA, Gastal EL....This study investigated the effect of adding different concentrations of bovine recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone on the IVC of equine preantral follicles enclosed in ovarian tissue fragments. Randomized ovarian fragments were fixed immediately (fresh noncultured control) or cultured for 1 or 7 days in α-MEM(+) supplemented with 0, 10, 50, and 100 ng/mL FSH and subsequently analyzed by classical histology. Culture media collected on Day 1 or Day 7 and were analyzed for steroids (estradiol and progesterone) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). After Day 1 and Day 7 of culture, 50-ng/mL FS...
The longitudinal effect of a multi-strain probiotic on the intestinal bacterial microbiota of neonatal foals.
Equine veterinary journal    November 29, 2015   Volume 48, Issue 6 689-696 doi: 10.1111/evj.12524
Schoster A, Guardabassi L, Staempfli HR, Abrahams M, Jalali M, Weese JS.The microbiota plays a key role in health and disease. Probiotics are a potential way to therapeutically modify the intestinal microbiota and prevent disease. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of probiotics on the bacterial microbiota of foals during and after administration. Methods: Randomised placebo controlled field trial. Methods: Thirty-eight healthy neonatal foals enrolled in a previous study were selected. The foals had received a multi-strain probiotic (four Lactobacillus spp. 3-4 × 10 colony-forming units (cfu)/g each, Bifidobacterium animalis spp. lact...
Defining the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Equine Neonates.
The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice    November 28, 2015   Volume 31, Issue 3 463-481 doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2015.08.001
Wong DM, Wilkins PA.Defining and describing the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis facilitated recognition and investigation of the complex disease processes involving the host response to infection and trauma. Over the years a variety of definitions of SIRS have been examined and applied to numerous research studies to improve critical care in both human and veterinary clinical practice. This article summarizes the history of the development of the SIRS definition, outlines the pathophysiologic processes that are involved in SIRS, and provides a specific definition for use in foal medicine...
Prognostic Indicators for Survival and Athletic Outcome in Critically Ill Neonatal Foals.
The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice    November 28, 2015   Volume 31, Issue 3 615-628 doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2015.09.006
Wilkins PA.Equine neonatal intensive care units have expanded knowledge and understanding of the normal and abnormal physiology of the equine neonate, resulting in successful treatment of critically ill equine neonates. The overall survival rate has increased tremendously since the early 1980s, from a little more than 50% to 80% or more for most facilities. The severely septic foal and the very premature foal still remain large treatment challenges, but less severely septic foals and foals challenged by adverse peripartum events such as dystocia and placentitis are surviving to hospital discharge and per...
Anesthesia of the Equine Neonate in Health and Disease.
The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice    November 28, 2015   Volume 31, Issue 3 567-585 doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2015.09.002
Fischer B, Clark-Price S.Anesthetizing the neonatal foal presents significant challenges as a result of physiologic differences from the adult equine. This article gives the reader an overview of these differences and the impact they have on anesthetic drug selection, monitoring, and support of the equine neonate. Special emphasis is directed to the sick neonate and appropriate preparation and maintenance of anesthesia in the face of commonly presented disease conditions.
Oral creatine supplementation on performance of Quarter Horses used in barrel racing.
Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition    November 28, 2015   Volume 100, Issue 3 513-519 doi: 10.1111/jpn.12411
Teixeira FA, Araújo AL, Ramalho LO, Adamkosky MS, Lacerda TF, Coelho CS.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral creatine supplementation on the athletic performance of equines used for barrel racing. Ten healthy Quarter Horses, or Quarter Horse crossbred, weighing 429.7 ± 25.3 kg and with mean age of 3.8 ± 1.2 years, were used. Animals were evaluated in four different moments (M1, M2, M3, M4), and between M3 and M4, they were supplemented with 28 g of creatine/100 kg of body weight, orally, for 45 days. Although significant alterations for LDH activity, plasma glucose and packed cell volume were observed, it was possible to conclude th...
Comparison of two tourniquet application times for regional intravenous limb perfusions with amikacin in sedated or anesthetized horses.
Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)    November 27, 2015   Volume 208 50-54 doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.10.017
Aristizabal FA, Nieto JE, Guedes AG, Dechant JE, Yamout S, Morales B, Snyder J.Regional limb perfusion (RLP) in horses has proven to be a simple and effective technique for the treatment of synovial and musculoskeletal infections in the distal portion of the limbs. The ideal tourniquet time needed to achieve therapeutic synovial concentrations remains unknown. The pharmacokinetic effects of general anesthesia (GA) versus standing sedation (SS) RLP on synovial amikacin concentrations are not completely understood. This study investigated the pharmacokinetic effects of RLP under general anesthesia (GA) versus standing sedation (SS) on synovial amikacin concentration follow...
Clinical and Pathological Features of Pheochromocytoma in the Horse: A Multi-Center Retrospective Study of 37 Cases (2007-2014).
Journal of veterinary internal medicine    November 27, 2015   Volume 30, Issue 1 309-313 doi: 10.1111/jvim.13799
Luethy D, Habecker P, Murphy B, Nolen-Walston R.Pheochromocytoma is the most common adrenal medullary neoplasm of domestic animals, but it is rare in horses. Antemortem diagnosis in horses is difficult, with clinical signs often being vague or non-specific. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the clinical, laboratory, and pathologic findings of pheochromocytoma in horses. Methods: Thirty-seven horses diagnosed with pheochromocytoma based on postmortem examination from 2007 to 2014. Methods: Retrospective case series. Results: Pheochromocytoma was identified in 37/4094 horses during postmortem examination. Clinical signs c...
Total plasma proANP increases with atrial dilatation in horses.
The Veterinary record    November 27, 2015   Volume 177, Issue 24 624 doi: 10.1136/vr.103316
Van Der Vekens N, Hunter I, Timm A, Decloedt A, De Clercq D, Deprez P, Goetze JP, van Loon G.Equine atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) plasma concentrations are correlated with left atrial size. However, species-specific assays are lacking and the results from human assays are poorly reproducible. A new methodology called processing independent analysis (PIA) that measures the total proANP product in plasma has proven to be successful in human medicine, but has never been used in horses. The aims were to establish an equine proANP reference interval by measurement of the total proANP product using PIA and to examine the proANP concentrations in horses with atrial dilatation. Sample stab...
Diagnostic performance and application of a real-time PCR assay for the detection of Salmonella in fecal samples collected from hospitalized horses with or without signs of gastrointestinal tract disease.
Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)    November 27, 2015   Volume 208 28-32 doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.11.011
Ekiri AB, Long MT, Hernandez JA.The main objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of Salmonella in fecal samples collected from hospitalized horses with or without signs of gastrointestinal (GI) tract disease. The PCR assay used primers and a probe that targeted the invA gene of Salmonella. Assuming a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 96.6%, and a disease prevalence of 2%, 5%, and 10-15% in study horses, the PCR assay had a high (100%) negative predictive value, and a positive predictive value that ranged from 37% in horses ...