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Topic:Diagnosis
Diagnosis in horses involves the systematic identification of diseases and conditions affecting equine health. This process relies on a combination of clinical evaluations, laboratory tests, imaging techniques, and other diagnostic tools to assess the health status of horses. Veterinarians utilize these methods to identify symptoms, determine the underlying causes of health issues, and formulate appropriate treatment plans. Diagnostic procedures in equine medicine can include blood tests, ultrasound, radiography, endoscopy, and more specialized tests such as genetic screening or advanced imaging modalities like MRI and CT scans. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various diagnostic techniques, their applications, and advancements in the field of equine veterinary medicine.
Effect of transvenous electrical cardioversion on plasma cardiac troponin I concentrations in horses with atrial fibrillation. Whether electrical cardioversion of cardiac arrhythmias results in cardiomyocyte damage is unknown. Objective: To describe effect of transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) on plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentration in horses. Methods: All horses presented to the Cornell University Hospital for Animals for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation between May 2006 and October 2008 were eligible for inclusion in the study. Owners of 14 horses elected for TVEC and each horse was then enrolled (16 procedures). Methods: Prospective observational study measuring concentrations of plasma cTnI ...
The increased prevalence of neuropathogenic strains of EHV-1 in equine abortions. A panel of 426 archived EHV-1 isolates collected (1951-2006) from equine abortions was analyzed using a real-time Taq-Man((R)) allelic discrimination PCR assay. Based on previous findings, isolates possessing adenine at nucleotide position 2254 (A(2254)) in ORF30 were classified as having a non-neuropathogenic genotype and those with guanine at 2254 (G(2254)) were designated as the neuropathogenic genotype. The resultant data demonstrated that viruses with the neuropathogenic genotype existed in the 1950s and isolates with this genotype increased from 3.3% in the 1960s to 14.4% in the 1990s. T...
Sporotrichosis: a retrospective evaluation of 23 cases seen in northern California (1987-2007). Sporotrichosis is an uncommon to rare cutaneous and subcutaneous mycosis of animals and humans caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. Twenty-three mammalian cases of sporotrichosis examined between 1987 and 2007 at the University of California, Davis - Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, were retrospectively evaluated with regard to the historical, clinical, diagnostic and treatment findings. Cats were the most common species affected (n = 14). In addition, sporotrichosis was diagnosed in four dogs, four horses and a donkey. Six of 23 cases were diagnosed with the localized cut...
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in horses and horse personnel: an investigation of several outbreaks. At the Veterinary Microbiological Diagnostic Center, the Netherlands, the percentage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates found in equine clinical samples increased from 0% in 2002 to 37% in 2008. MRSA of spa-type t064, belonging to MLST ST8 and spa-types t011 and t2123, both belonging to the livestock-associated MLST ST398, predominated. During an outbreak of post-surgical MRSA infections in horses at a veterinary teaching hospital in 2006/2007, MRSA isolates of spa-type t2123 were cultured from 7 horses and 4/61 personnel which indicated zoonotic transmission. After...
Two novel IgG endopeptidases of Streptococcus equi. Streptococcus equi ssp. equi causes strangles, a highly contagious and serious disease in the upper respiratory tract of horses. Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus, another subspecies of this genus, is regarded as an opportunistic commensal in horses. The present study describes the characterization of two novel immunoglobulin G (IgG) endopeptidases of these subspecies, IdeE2 and IdeZ2. Both enzymes display sequence similarities with two previously characterized IgG endopeptidases, IdeE of S. equi ssp. equi and IdeZ of S. equi ssp. zooepidemicus. IdeE2 and IdeZ2 display high substrate-speci...
That horse bit me: zoonotic infections of equines to consider after exposure through the bite or the oral/nasal secretions. Millions of individuals are in contact with horses through occupational or recreational activities. Injuries from horses are responsible for over 100,000 emergency room visits each year in the United States. Although various types of traumatic injuries related to direct contact with horses are well described, roughly 3% to 4.5% of all reported injuries are due to bites by equines. The immediate injuries are commonly either blunt or penetrating trauma to local tissue; however, the bite exposure may also transmit a microbial agent of equine origin that can lead to a zoonotic infection. In almost...
Analysis of complete genome sequence of Neorickettsia risticii: causative agent of Potomac horse fever. Neorickettsia risticii is an obligate intracellular bacterium of the trematodes and mammals. Horses develop Potomac horse fever (PHF) when they ingest aquatic insects containing encysted N. risticii-infected trematodes. The complete genome sequence of N. risticii Illinois consists of a single circular chromosome of 879 977 bp and encodes 38 RNA species and 898 proteins. Although N. risticii has limited ability to synthesize amino acids and lacks many metabolic pathways, it is capable of making major vitamins, cofactors and nucleotides. Comparison with its closely related human pathogen N. senn...
Antibody responses induced by experimental West Nile virus infection with or without previous immunization with inactivated Japanese encephalitis vaccine in horses. A group of horses immunized with inactivated Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine (JE-Immune Group) and a group of non-immunized horses (Non-Immune Group) were infected with West Nile virus (WNV). After WNV infection, neutralizing (Nt) antibody (Ab) titers to WNV were higher than those to JE virus (JEV) in the Non-Immune Group, but the NtAb titers to JEV were higher than those to WNV during most of the post-challenge observation period in the JE-Immune Group. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) Abs to WNV tested positive in the Non-Immune Group but negative in the JE-Immune Group, except for in one horse. Th...
Occurrence of strongyles (Strongylidae) in horses from small farms on the basis of necropsy. Three parts of the large intestine, i.e. the dorsal and ventral colon, and caecum in 41 working horses from small farms in southern Poland were examined. Five species of large strongyles (3 migratory species from genus Strongylus and 2 non-migratory from genus Triodontophorus) and as well as 17 species of cyathostomes were revealed. The prevalence of large strongyles was observed, accordingly: Strongylus vulgaris--80.5%, S. equinus--9.8%, S. edentatus--4.9%, Triodontophorus serratus--19.5% and T. brevicauda--7.3%. Among cyathostomes, 5 most prevalent species were Cyathostomum catinatum--31.7%,...
Suture exostosis causing obstruction in the nasolacrimal duct in three horses. Three horses were presented with facial swelling and epiphora. Results: All horses had facial swellings and radiographic findings consistent with exostosis at the lacrimomaxillary suture, and ipsilateral epiphora. Positive contrast dacryocystorhinography demonstrated that the site of obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct was located where the duct traverses the lacrimomaxillary suture. Methods: Lacrimomaxillary suture exostosis. Conclusions: Lacrimomaxillary suture exostosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of epiphora in horses. Dacryocystorhinography, preferably retro...
Lack of detectable equine herpesviruses 1 and 2 in paraffin-embedded specimens of equine sarcoidosis. Equine sarcoidosis is a rare, multisystemic, noncaseating, granulomatous and lymphoplasmacytic disease of unknown etiology. A recent report described a horse with granulomatous skin disease displaying histologic, electron microscopic, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) findings consistent with equine herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2). Objective: To investigate the presence of EHV-2 and equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) in 8 horses with sarcoidosis. Methods: Eight horses with sarcoidosis, reported previously. Methods: Retrospective study. PCR assays of the tissues were performed to detect DNA associated with E...
Mixed inheritance of equine recurrent airway obstruction. Mode of inheritance of equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is unknown. Objective: Major genes are responsible for RAO. Methods: Direct offspring of 2 RAO-affected Warmblood stallions (n = 197; n = 163) and a representative sample of Swiss Warmbloods (n = 401). Methods: One environmental and 4 genetic models (general, mixed inheritance, major gene, and polygene) were tested for Horse Owner Assessed Respiratory Signs Index (1-4, unaffected to severely affected) by segregation analyses of the 2 half-sib sire families, both combined and separately, using prevalences estimated in a representa...
Multiple oral dosing of valacyclovir in horses and ponies. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether multiple oral dosing of valacyclovir could result in plasma concentrations exceeding the EC(50)-value of acyclovir against equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV1) during the majority of the treatment period. Additionally, we wanted to determine the concentration of acyclovir in nasal mucus and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Valacyclovir was administered to four horses and two ponies, three times daily, at a dosage of 40 mg/kg, for four consecutive days. Blood was collected prior to each administration and 1 h after dosing. Nasal mucus samples and CSF wer...
Molecular evidence for persistence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the absence of clinical abnormalities in horses after recovery from acute experimental infection. Anaplasma phagocytophilum infects several mammalian species, and can persist in sheep, dogs, and calves. However, whether this organism persists in horses or induces long-term clinical abnormalities is not known. Objective: To evaluate whether A. phagocytophilum can persist in horses and to document clinical findings for 3 months after complete recovery from acute disease. Methods: Five clinically normal adult horses that had recovered spontaneously from experimentally induced acute disease caused by a Swedish equine isolate of A. phagocytophilum. Methods: Horses were monitored for up to 129 d...
Detection and identification of rickettsial agents in ticks from domestic mammals in eastern Panama. Several outbreaks of Rocky Mountain spotted fever have occurred in recent years in Colombian communities close to the border with Panama. However, little is known about rickettsiae and rickettsial diseases in eastern Panamanian provinces, the Darien Province and the Kuna Yala, located north of the endemic area in Colombia. In 2007, 289 ticks were collected in several towns from dogs, horses, mules, cows, and pigs. DNA was extracted from 124 Dermacentor nitens, 64 Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 43 Amblyomma ovale, 35 A. cajennense, 10 Boophilus microplus, 4 A. oblongoguttatum, and 9 A. cajennense ny...
Influence of the position of the foot on MRI signal in the deep digital flexor tendon and collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint in the standing horse. Hyperintense signal is sometimes observed in ligaments and tendons of the equine foot on standing magnetic resonance examination without associated changes in size and shape. In such cases, the presence of a true lesion or an artifact should be considered. A change in position of a ligament or tendon relative to the magnetic field can induce increased signal intensity due to the magic angle effect. Objective: To assess if positional rotation of the foot in the solar plane could be responsible for artifactual changes in signal intensity in the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal ...
The range and prevalence of pathological abnormalities associated with lameness in working horses from developing countries. Lameness is highly prevalent in working horses, but published reports on the associated pathological abnormalities are lacking. With over 42 million horses in developing countries and the majority used for work, lameness has major welfare implications. Objective: To describe the range and prevalence of pathological abnormalities associated with lameness in working horses. Methods: A standard lameness assessment was adapted for field use in working equids. Data on pathological abnormalities and pain responses in the feet, limbs and spine were collected through observation, palpation, manipulati...
Two- and three-dimensional computed tomographic anatomy of the enamel, infundibulae and pulp of 126 equine cheek teeth. Part 1: Findings in teeth without macroscopic occlusal or computed tomographic lesions. Dental disorders are of major clinical importance in equine practice; however, the knowledge of normal dental anatomy, especially that of the pulp remains incomplete. Computed tomography (CT) is being used increasingly in the diagnosis of dental disease, although the normal 2- (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) CT anatomy has not yet been fully described. Objective: To describe the 2D and 3D CT appearance of the enamel, infundibulae and pulp of normal equine cheek teeth. Methods: One-hundred-and-twenty-six cadaveric cheek teeth with eruption ages of 0.5-19 years were evaluated; CT scans of each tooth...
Initial investigation of mortality rates and prognostic indicators in horses with colic in Israel: a retrospective study. Initial assessment of the mortality rates and prognostic indicators in horses with colic presented to a referral hospital in Israel. Objective: To determine mortality rates and to identify potential prognostic indicators in horses undergoing treatment for colic. Methods: The medical records of 208 colic cases were reviewed and mortality rates calculated including 95% confidence intervals. Mortality rates in surgical cases were calculated separately for strangulating and nonstrangulating lesions as well as for lesions of the large and small intestines. Potential prognostic indicators were ident...
Two- and three-dimensional computed tomographic anatomy of the enamel, infundibulae and pulp of 126 equine cheek teeth. Part 2: Findings in teeth with macroscopic occlusal or computed tomographic lesions. Dental disease often presents a diagnostic challenge in the horse. Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used in the evaluation of head related disease in the horse, but the CT appearance of the most common dental diseases of horses has not yet been fully described. Objective: To describe the CT appearance of the peripheral enamel, pulp, infundibular enamel and cement in equine cheek teeth with macroscopic occlusal or CT lesions. Methods: In this study, 126 cadaveric cheek teeth with eruption ages of between 05 and 19 years were evaluated for lesions of their infundibulae, pulp and enamel u...
Lactobacillus equicursoris sp. nov., isolated from the faeces of a thoroughbred racehorse. We previously isolated five strains of putative lactobacilli from the faeces of a thoroughbred horse (a 4-year-old male). Of the five strains, four were identified as members of existing Lactobacillus species; however, sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the fifth isolate, DI70(T), showed approximately 97 % identity (1325/1366 bp) with the type strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii. Therefore, we considered the possibility that DI70(T) represents a novel species of the genus Lactobacillus. Cells of strain DI70(T) were Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative, non-spore-forming, no...
Re-emergence of West Nile virus in Italy. In August 2008, West Nile disease re-emerged in Italy. The infection is affecting the North Eastern regions and, as of November 2008, has caused 33 clinical cases and five fatalities in horses. Until now, no deaths have been reported in birds. Mosquitoes, blood, serum and tissue samples, from horses and birds, within and around the outbreak area, have been collected and tested by various methods both serologically and virologically. West Nile virus strains have been isolated from blood samples of one horse and one donkey and from pools of brain, kidneys, heart and spleen of a pigeon and three ...
Identification of chromosome abnormalities in the horse using a panel of chromosome-specific painting probes generated by microdissection. Fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) using a panel of molecular probes for all chromosome pairs obtained by chromosome microdissection of the domestic horse ( Equus caballus ) was used to diagnose karyotype abnormalities in 35 horses (32 mares, 2 stallions and 1 intersex), which were selected for the study due to infertility (23 horses), reduced fertility (10 horses) and developmental anomalies (2 horses). The use of the FISH technique with probes for each horse chromosome pair enabled the diagnosis of many different chromosome aberrations in this population. Among the horses analysed, 21 ...
The fracture toughness of cancellous bone. The mechanical capacity and integrity of cancellous bone is crucial in osteoporosis, a condition which is set to become more prevalent with increasing lifespan and population sizes. The fracture toughness (FT) of cancellous bone has never been examined before and the conditions associated with the growth of a major crack through the lattice of cancellous bone, a cellular solid, may improve our understanding for structural integrity of this material. The aim of this study is to provide (i) basic data on cancellous bone FT and (ii) the experimental support for the hypothesis of Gibson, L.J., Ash...
Diaphragmatic hernia in horses: 44 cases (1986-2006). To present a case series of horses diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia, and to determine the significance of (1) historical information, examination findings, and laboratory data; and (2) exploratory laparotomy or necropsy findings on short- and long-term outcome. Methods: University Referral Hospital. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Forty-four horses/foals admitted between 1986 and 2006 with a diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia made either at exploratory laparotomy or necropsy. Methods: None. Results: Information from the medical records included history, clinical examination findings a...
Synthesis and detection of toltrazuril sulfone and its pharmacokinetics in horses following administration in dimethylsulfoxide. Triazine-based antiprotozoal agents are known for their lipophylic characteristics and may therefore be expected to be well absorbed following oral administration. However, although an increase in lipid solubility generally increases the absorption of chemicals, extremely lipid-soluble chemicals may dissolve poorly in gastrointestinal (GI) fluids, and their corresponding absorption and bioavailability would be low. Also, if the compound is administered in solid form and is relatively insoluble in GI fluids, it is likely to have limited contact with the GI mucosa, and therefore, its rate of abs...
