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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.
Isolation and characterization of the equine influenza virus causing the 2006 outbreak in Chile. The equine influenza virus is the causal agent of influenza in horses. In July 2006, horses from various regions of Chile presented fever, serious nasal discharge, dry cough, anorexia and depression. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of the virus responsible for this outbreak. The virus was identified as equine influenza virus H3N8, since haemagglutination was inhibited by an anti-A/equi/1/H3N8 serum, but not by an anti-A/equi/1/H7N7 serum. The isolate was named A/equi/2/Lonquén/06 (H3N8). In addition, we describe the isolation and sequencing of the haemagglutinin, neuramini...
The activity and expression of chitinase in the equine lung and its activity in normal horses and animals with recurrent airway obstruction. Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is a chronic inflammatory condition in equine lung, which may share a common immunological basis with human asthma, in which dysregulated Th2 responses occur. Mammals express chitinases and chitinase-like proteins, two of which are active enzymes, chitotriosidase and acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase). Both enzymes are upregulated in a range of inflammatory conditions, including asthma. We investigated the activity of chitinase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from horses with and without RAO in response to organic dust challenges. No significant differences ...
Equine Multiple Congenital Ocular Anomalies maps to a 4.9 megabase interval on horse chromosome 6. Equine Multiple Congenital Ocular Anomalies (MCOA) syndrome consists of a diverse set of abnormalities predominantly localized to the frontal part of the eye. The disease is in agreement with a codominant mode of inheritance in our horse material. Animals presumed to be heterozygous for the mutant allele have cysts originating from the temporal ciliary body, peripheral retina and/or iris. In contrast, animals predicted to be homozygous for the disease-causing allele possess a wide range of multiple abnormalities, including iridociliary and/or peripheral retinal cysts, iridocorneal angle abnorm...
Blindness, optic atrophy and sinusitis in the horse. The case histories described each presented with a visual deficit, varying from permanent total blindness with ophthalmoscopic evidence of optic atrophy to variable and transient visual disturbances, including occasional blindness, but with absence of ophthalmoscopic or any other ocular abnormality. Methods: Three horses of widely different age and type, but all with an original history of upper respiratory tract infection. Methods: All three cases were examined by a specialist veterinary ophthalmologist. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, where possible, postmortem and histopa...
Photodynamic therapy for the treatment of periocular squamous cell carcinoma in horses: a pilot study. Local photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel cancer therapy in veterinary ophthalmology. A prospective pilot study seeking to demonstrate proof of principle and safety for the treatment of equine periocular squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) was therefore conducted. We hypothesized that surgical excision with adjunctive local PDT is an effective and safe treatment for equine PSCC. Methods: Nine horses (10 eyes) with PSCC were treated with surgical resection, local infiltration of resulting wound beds with 2-[1-hexyloxyethyl]-2-devinylpyropheophorbide-a (HPPH) and irradiation with 665-nm wavelength ...
Ocular and multicentric lymphoma in a young racehorse. A 6-year-old thoroughbred gelding was presented with a history of blepharospasm and opacity in the OS of 1 weeks' duration. Ophthalmic examination findings were consistent with acute uveitis in the OS, and traditional treatment was initiated with systemic antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, topical mydriatics, and corticosteroids. During the total treatment period of 4 weeks response to treatment was weak and the horse developed further problems such as cellulitis of the right hind limb with fever and eventually weight loss and dependent edema. Blood work was indicative of liver disease. ...
An overview of recent developments in corneal immunobiology: potential relevance in the etiogenesis of corneal disease in the horse. This paper overviews some recent developments in mammalian corneal immunobiology, and discusses how these may act as pointers towards understanding the immunology underlying some common corneal diseases in the horse, including infectious ulceration and presumptively immune-mediated non-ulcerative disease. Specifically, three aspects of corneal immunobiology are examined: the role of Toll-like receptors in surface immunity and in the etiogenesis of microbial ulceration, the relationship between conjunctiva associated lymphoid tissue (CALT) and immunoprotection of the corneal surface, and the me...
Epibulbar melanoma in a foal. A case of epibulbar melanoma in a 6-month-old, gelded, chestnut Hanoverian foal is reported. The location and clinical appearance upon initial presentation led to the tentative diagnosis of staphyloma or a congenital mass of unknown origin. An attempt was made to surgically excise the mass under general anesthesia, but due to its infiltrative nature and intraoperative appearance, most, but not all was removed without compromising the integrity of the globe. Histopathological evaluation revealed a multinodular to packeted, poorly demarcated, unencapsulated, infiltrative exophytic melanocytic ne...
Daily rhythm of tear production in normal horse. This study was designed to assess the daily rhythm of tear production in clinically healthy horses, to compare left eye and right eye, and to evaluate the influence of time and gender. Methods: For our study 18 horses (nine female and nine male) were subjected to three different light/dark (L/D) schedules: 12/12 L/D cycles, constant light (24/0 L/D) and constant darkness (0/24 L/D). Methods: In all subjects Schirmer tear tests were performed at 4-h intervals over a 24-h period. Results: A circadian rhythm of tear production was found during the 12/12 L/D period and during constant darkness. Al...
Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 by equine ocular and adnexal squamous cell carcinomas. To investigate whether cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is expressed by equine ocular and adnexal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Methods: Forty-three samples of histologically confirmed cases of ocular SCC or carcinoma in situ (CIS) from 34 horses presented to the Animal Health Trust between 1992 and 2004 were subjected to a standard, two-layered, indirect immunohistochemical method using a rabbit polyclonal antihuman COX-2 antibody. Ten formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples taken from recognized predilection sites for SCC, from the grossly normal eyes of 10 horses euthanized for reasons u...
Poorly differentiated leiomyosarcoma of the urogenital tract in a horse. A 2-year-old Thoroughbred filly was evaluated because of hemorrhage from the vulva and suspected hematuria of 5 days' duration. Results: A primary coagulopathy was ruled out on the basis of results of hematologic testing. Vaginoscopy and cystoscopy revealed a large bleeding mass in the bladder that extended into the vagina, causing marked obliteration of normal urogenital structures and difficulty in urination. Histologic examination of endoscopic and surgical biopsy specimens revealed a poorly differentiated neoplasia likely of mesenchymal origin. Chronic suppurative cystitis caused by Strept...
Deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty in 10 horses. To describe and evaluate a surgical technique utilized for the therapy of deep corneal stromal abscesses (DSA) in horses. The DSA is excised and replaced with a partial thickness corneal lamellar allograft. Methods: A retrospective clinical study describing the indications for the surgical technique utilized and the outcomes of this procedure in 10 eyes of 10 horses. Results: Each affected eye had a discrete DSA within the posterior stroma. An initial partial thickness semicircular corneal incision was made at the limbus, followed by anterior stromal lamellar dissection over the lesion. After ...
Virion associated proteins of equine rhinitis B virus 1 (ERBV1): the non-structural protein 3C(pro) co-purifies with virions. Equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV), genus Erbovirus, is most closely related to the Cardiovirus genus in the family Picornaviridae. The structural proteins (VP1-4) of erboviruses are not well described, but are predicted by sequence to be 35, 29, 26 and 7 kDa. Methods for the purification of cardioviruses (polyethylene glycol, trypsin treatment) were used to characterise the structural proteins of ERBV1. Only one of the virus proteins detected was an expected molecular mass, and this 26 kDa protein was identified as VP3 by N-terminal amino acid sequencing. N-terminal sequencing of the 56 and a 29 ...
Real-time RT-PCR for detection of equine influenza and evaluation using samples from horses infected with A/equine/Sydney/2007 (H3N8). Equine influenza (EI) virus (H3N8) was identified in the Australian horse population for the first time in August 2007. The principal molecular diagnostic tool used for detection was a TaqMan real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) assay specific for the matrix (MA) gene of influenza virus type A (IVA). As this assay is not specific for EI, we developed a new EI H3-specific TaqMan assay targeting the haemagglutinin (HA) gene of all recent EI H3 strains. The IVA and the EI H3 TaqMan assays were assessed using in vitro transcribed RNA template, virus culture, diagnost...
Antigenic, microbicidal and antiparasitic properties of an l-amino acid oxidase isolated from Bothrops jararaca snake venom. Venoms from the bee Apis mellifera, the caterpillar Lonomia achelous, the spiders Lycosa sp. and Phoneutria nigriventer, the scorpions Tityus bahiensis and Tityus serrulatus, and the snakes Bothrops alternatus, Bothrops jararaca, Bothrops jararacussu, Bothrops moojeni, Bothrops neuwiedi, Crotalus durissus terrificus, and Lachesis muta were assayed (800mug/mL) for activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Venoms from B. jararaca and B. jararacussu showed the highest S. aureus growth inhibition and also against other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. To characterize the microbicidal compon...
Sharpea azabuensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a Gram-positive, strictly anaerobic bacterium isolated from the faeces of thoroughbred horses. Four bacterial strains, designated ST18(T), HM244, HM250 and DI49, were isolated from the fresh faeces of four thoroughbred horses in Japan. Cells were Gram-positive, strictly anaerobic, catalase-negative, non-spore-forming, non-motile rods that occurred in chains. They were placed in the same subcluster based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, phenotypic characteristics and levels of DNA-DNA relatedness. Their DNA G+C content ranged from 36 to 38 mol%. Lactobacillus catenaformis, Lactobacillus vitulinus and Catenibacterium mitsuokai belong to cluster XVII of the Clostridium subphylum. Strain...
Evaluation of four topical preparations for the treatment of cannon hyperkeratosis in a horse. The response to treatment with four topical preparations was evaluated in an 11-year-old Morgan horse mare with histologically confirmed quadrilateral cannon hyperkeratosis. Each limb was treated for 30 days with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment, 0.1% adapalene gel, 0.2% phytosphingosine spray or a water-based emollient. Response to treatment was evaluated both histologically and visually. A water-based emollient and 0.1% tacrolimus ointment produced encouraging clinical responses. Pre-treatment histopathology identified marked, mostly compact, hyperkeratosis and follicular hyperkeratosis, most promin...
Biotechnological advances in the diagnosis of little-known parasitoses of pets. Dogs, cats, and horses are popular pets in many countries of the World and they have lived in close proximity with human beings for thousands of years. The effect of pet ownership on human health is well known and there is significant merit in preserving the health and welfare of these animals. Some infections caused by parasitic nematodes and arthropods of dogs, cats, and horses are now spreading in several areas of the world. This is the case of canine spirocercosis, feline aelurostrongylosis, and equine gastro-intestinal and nasal nematode and botfly infections. These diseases affect animal...
Serial gastrointestinal ultrasonography following exploratory celiotomy in normal adult ponies. The objective was to characterize ultrasonographic changes in bowel wall thickness, contractility, degree of distension, luminal contents, and peritoneal fluid associated with exploratory celiotomy in normal ponies. Gastrointestinal ultrasonographic examination was performed in 14 ponies on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after an exploratory celiotomy. Wall thickness, contractility, degree of distension, and luminal contents were recorded for the duodenum and jejunum. Stomach wall thickness and location, cecal wall thickness, and peritoneal fluid location and character were recorded. Peritoneal fluid was...
Isolation, establishment, and characterization of ex vivo equine melanoma cell cultures. Gray horses spontaneously develop metastatic melanomas that resemble human disease, and this is often accompanied with metastasis to other organs. Unlike in other species, the establishment of primary equine melanoma cultures that could be used to develop new therapeutic approaches has remained a major challenge. The purpose of the study was to develop a protocol for routine isolation and cultivation of primary equine melanocytes. Melanoma tissues were excised from 13 horses under local anesthesia, mainly from the perianal area. The melanoma cells were isolated from the melanoma tissue by seri...
Imaging diagnosis–avulsion of the origin of the popliteal tendon in a horse. No abstract available
Magnetic resonance imaging of distal sesamoidean ligament injury. Distal sesamoidean ligament injury is a recognized cause of lameness but diagnosis using ultrasonography is sometimes difficult. Herein, we describe the normal appearance of the distal sesamoidean ligaments on magnetic resonance (MR) images and the changes that occur when the ligaments are injured. The appearance of the distal sesamoidean ligaments on MR images from 66 control horses and 58 horses with distal sesamoidean desmitis were described and the cross-sectional area and signal intensity of the ligaments measured. In control horses, the ligaments had a characteristic appearance and stron...
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca attributable to parasympathetic facial nerve dysfunction associated with hypothyroidism in a horse. A 6-year-old 680-kg (1,496-lb) German Warmblood gelding was evaluated because of bilateral blepharospasm and head shaking. Results: Moderate blepharospasm was evident bilaterally, and both eyes had hyperemic and edematous conjunctivas and lusterless corneas. For each eye, the Schirmer tear test value was only 7 mm/min. The horse's nasal mucosa was dry. Abnormal behaviors included mild repetitive vertical movement of the head, snorting, and flehmen response (classic signs of head shaking). Touching the horse's nostrils and face revealed paresthesia and dysesthesia with slight nasolabial muscle ...
Polysaccharide storage myopathy phenotype in quarter horse-related breeds is modified by the presence of an RYR1 mutation. In this study we examined a family of Quarter Horses with Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM) with a dominant mutation in the skeletal muscle glycogen synthase (GYS1) gene. A subset of horses within this family had a more severe and occasionally fatal PSSM phenotype. The purpose of this study was to identify a modifying gene(s) for the severe clinical phenotype. A genetic association analysis was used to identify RYR1 as a candidate modifying gene. A rare, known equine RYR1 mutation, associated with malignant hyperthermia (MH), was found to segregate in this GYS1 PSSM family. Retrospective ...
Risk factors for development of neurologic disease after experimental exposure to equine herpesvirus-1 in horses. To identify risk factors associated with development of clinical neurologic signs in horses exposed to equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). Methods: 36 adult horses. Methods: Blood samples collected before and after challenge inoculation with nonneuropathogenic or neuropathogenic EHV-1 were analyzed for leukocyte-associated viremia, serum neutralizing antibody, and EHV-1-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursors (CTLPs). Associations between variables and neurologic disease and correlations between age category or breed and development of neurologic disease were examined. Results: 9 horses developed...
