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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.
Neonatal equine herpesvirus type 1 infection on a thoroughbred breeding farm. Of 17 foals born on a Thoroughbred breeding farm between March and April 1995, infection with equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) was associated with neonatal morbidity in 5 foals, 3 of which died or were euthanized. Morbidity and mortality were associated with pulmonary inflammation, and EHV-1 was identified in the lungs of the 3 foals that died. All neonatal EHV-1 infections occurred in foals of mares housed in the same pasture and barn. No other clinical manifestations of EHV-1 infection (e.g., abortion, neurologic disease, or respiratory disease) occurred during this outbreak. Three foals we...
A toxicity study of eltenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in horses. A double-blind study was performed, in horses, to determine the potential toxic effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, eltenac(4-[(2,6-dichlorophenyl) amino]-3-thiopheneacetic acid). Four treatment groups of six horses were formed. The drug was injected intravenously, once daily, at a dose level of 0.5 mg/kg, 1.5 mg/kg or 2.5 mg/kg for 15 days. A control group was injected with sterile saline solution. Horses were monitored for changes in appetite, physical examinations, biochemical evaluations and gastroscopic examinations. Complete post-mortem examinations were also performed. A...
An equine herpesvirus type 1 recombinant with a deletion in the gE and gI genes is avirulent in young horses. The cell culture-adapted KyA strain of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) has been found to be attenuated in young horses (Matsumura et al., 1996, Vet. Microbiol. 48, 353-365). The KyA strain lacks at least six genes in its genome, including those encoding glycoproteins gE and gI. To elucidate whether EHV-1 glycoproteins gE and gI play a role in viral virulence, we have constructed an EHV-1 recombinant that has the genes encoding both gE and gI deleted from its genome and its revertant. Growth properties of the deletion mutant virus in vitro were compared with those of the parent and the revert...
Efficacy of moxidectin 2% equine gel against natural nematode infections in ponies. The efficacy of moxidectin 2% oral gel (Equest, Fort-Dodge) against European worm strains was studied through post-mortem worm counts and feacal egg counts (FECs) in 12 young ponies naturally infected. The animals were allocated in two groups of six ponies each: the first one was treated at 0.4 mg/kg b.w. and the second one received a placebo and served as control. All the ponies were necropsied 14 days post-treatment. The efficacy of moxidectin in reducing strongyle FECs ranged from 99.8% to 100% from 3 to 14 days after treatment. Moxidectin efficacy was 100% against Trichostrongylus axei and...
Reliability of coprological diagnosis of Anoplocephala perfoliata infection. Three coprological methods were tested to establish the reliability of in vivo diagnosis of Anoplocephala perfoliata. A total of 107 faecal samples were analyzed, and the presence of tapeworms were confirmed postmortem in 24 animals with burdens that ranged from 1 to 248 worms; most of them (71%) with less than 100 parasites. Best results were obtained with a combination of two sedimentation/flotation methods, detecting only half the parasitized animals (54% sensitivity). No relationship could be established between tapeworm burden and egg detection, but results indicate that coprological meth...
Distribution of Trichinella spiralis larvae in muscles from a naturally infected horse. Epidemiological investigations conducted during 10 trichinellosis outbreaks between 1975 and 1994 showed that horse-meat was the probable source of infection. Though hundreds of thousands of horses have been examined at abattoirs in America and Europe to detect Trichinella infection by artificial digestion or trichinelloscopy, an infected horse has never been detected during routine analysis, which consists of examining 1 g of tissue muscle from the diaphragm. In November 1996, a naturally infected horse imported from Romania was detected in Southern Italy. The parasite was identified as Trich...
Effect of pin hole size and number on in vitro bone strength in the equine radius loaded in torsion. To determine the effect of pin hole size and number on the breaking strength of the adult equine radius when loaded in torsion to failure. Methods: 54 pairs of equine radii from adult horses. Methods: For test one, 12 pairs of radii were used to determine the effect of pin hole size on torsional breaking strength. A 6.35-mm hole was drilled in 1 radius, and a 9.5-mm hole was drilled in the contralateral radius. For test two, 36 pairs of radii were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups (n = 12) to determine the effect of pin hole number on the torsional breaking strength of the equine ra...
Screening for bovine papillomavirus in peripheral blood cells of donkeys with and without sarcoids. Papillomaviral DNA has been identified in peripheral blood cells of both cattle and humans with and without associated disease and it has been suggested that such cells may act as sites of viral latency. In order to investigate the possibility of latent papillomaviral infection in the aetiopathogenesis of the equine sarcoid, peripheral blood derived DNA samples from 20 healthy and 34 sarcoid-affected donkeys were subject to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using papillomaviral specific primers. Analysis of blood derived DNA samples failed to demonstrate the presence of papillomaviral DNA in any...
Mycosis fungoides in a horse. A 17-year-old Quarter Horse mare was examined to determine the cause of a vulvar mass. Differential diagnoses for the swollen, ulcerated tissue included hypersensitivity reaction to insect stings or bites and cutaneous neoplasia. During the next 4 months, the mass enlarged involving the skin of the perineum and ventral aspect of the abdomen with secondary dependent edema of both hind limbs. Histologic examination of biopsy and necropsy specimens revealed changes consistent with a diagnosis of mycosis fungoides (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma). Diagnostic features included invasion of neoplastic lym...
Aorto-cardiac fistulas in seven horses. This report describes the history, clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings, treatment, outcome and post-mortem findings in seven horses with aorto-cardiac fistula. Affected horses included 5 stallions, one gelding and one mare; 2 each of the Thoroughbred, Arabian and Standardbred breeds and one Thoroughbred-cross with a mean +/- s.d. age of 12 +/- 4 years, range 6-18 years. The presenting signs were acute distress (four horses), exercise intolerance (two horses) and the lesion was detected during a routine examination in one horse. Five horses had monomorphic ventricular ...
The distribution of Anoplocephala perfoliata in the intestine of the horse and associated pathological changes. The intestinal tracts of 130 horses were examined for infection with Anoplocephala perfoliata at necropsy. Fifty horses (38.5%) harboured the tapeworm, and the site of attachment of each worm was recorded using predetermined anatomical landmarks. The worms were attached in four regions of the gastrointestinal tract: 17% of the worms were found at the ileocaecal junction, 81% on the caecal wall, 1.7% in the terminal ileum and 0.2% in the ventral colon. The severity of lesions produced at the sites of attachment was related to the number of worms attached. Due to the small area of the ileocaecal...
Foals raised on pasture with or without daily pyrantel tartrate feed additive: comparison of parasite burdens and host responses following experimental challenge with large and small strongyle larvae. Three groups of foals were raised under different management programs in this study: Group 1 (n = 6) and Group 2 (n = 6) were raised with their dams on pasture; Group 3 foals (n = 5) were raised under parasite-free conditions. Mares and foals of Group 1 received daily pyrantel tartrate (PT) treatment with their pelleted feed ration, whereas mares and foals of Groups 2 and 3 received only the pelleted ration. Pasture-reared foals were weaned and moved to a heavily contaminated pasture for 5 weeks. Group 1 foals continued to receive daily PT treatment whereas Group 2 foals received only the pell...
Parasites of stomach and small intestine of 70 horses slaughtered in The Netherlands. The prevalence of metazoan parasites in the stomach and small intestine was investigated in 70 horses slaughtered in the period February 1994-July 1994. Most horses were young (1.5-3 years) and in good condition. Trichostrongylus axei was the most prevalent parasite species in the stomach (51.4%), followed by Gasterophilus intestinalis (41.4%) and Habronema spp. (4.3%). In the small intestine, Parascaris equorum (28.6%) and Paranoplocephala mamillana (1.4%) were found. The mean worm burden of T. axei was 957 (max. 8502), of G. intestinalis 21 (max. 84), of Habronema spp. 3 (max. 5), and of P. ...
Videoendoscopic assessment of dynamic laryngeal function during exercise in horses with grade-III left laryngeal hemiparesis at rest: 26 cases (1992-1995). To evaluate laryngeal function by means of videoendoscopy during high-speed treadmill exercise in racehorses with grade-III left laryngeal hemiparesis at rest and to determine outcome of treatment. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 26 racehorses. Methods: Videoendoscopy of the larynx was performed while horses were at rest and exercising on a treadmill. Horses were classified as having grade-IIIA, -IIIB, or -IIIC laryngeal hemiparesis on the basis of the degree of arytenoid cartilage abduction maintained during exercise. Postoperative racing performance was determined by evaluating race r...
Treatment of a chronic comminuted fracture of the fibula in a horse. A four-year-old Standardbred gelding was examined because of vague right hind limb lameness of 3 to 4 months' duration. Results of physical examination, radiography, and scintigraphy were indicative of a chronic comminuted fracture of the proximal portion of the right fibula. A cancellous bone graft was placed in the fracture site, and 3 months later, the fracture appeared to be healed radiographically. Fractures of the fibula are rare in horses and should not be confused with normal anatomic discontinuities that result in a bi- or tripartite appearance of the fibula on radiographs. Because th...
Idiopathic hypocalcemia in foals. Five thoroughbred foals (4 fillies and 1 colt), all in good to excellent body condition, ranging in age from 4 days to 5 weeks at the time of onset of signs, were presented to 2 Kentucky equine hospitals from 1992 through 1996. All 5 foals presented with tachycardia, hyperhidrosis, diarrhea or a recent history of diarrhea, and muscle rigidity or stiff gait. Four of the 5 foals presented for recumbency, seizure-like activity with opisthotonos, or pronounced extensor muscle rigidity. All 5 foals were hypocalcemic. All foals either died or had euthanasia performed. None responded to oral calcium ...
[Demonstration of immunoglobulin isotypes in the vitreous body as a contribution to the etiology of recurrent equine uveitis]. The functional properties of different immunoglobulin isotypes in equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) has not been investigated yet. Here, we describe the quantitative determination of total immunoglobulin levels and isotype differentiation in the vitreous of four horses with ERU as compared to that of seven healthy horses. In contrast to almost equal amounts of total immunoglobulin in the vitreous of both groups, remarkable differences were found: All four of the horses with ERU had significantly higher IgA contents in their vitreous as compared to the control group. However, the other isotypes mo...
Emericella nidulans as an agent of guttural pouch mycosis in a horse. A case is reported in a 9-year-old Anglo-Arab horse with guttural pouch mycosis caused by Emericella nidulans. Acute death occurred by exsanguination following erosion of the external carotid artery. Histopathological examination of the mycotic plaque demonstrated septate hyphae, conidial heads, hülle cells and mature cleistothecia containing characteristic ascospores. Specific identification was confirmed by culture. In accordance with previous reports, Emericella nidulans should be considered as the major agent of guttural pouch mycosis in Equidae.
Detection of Trichinella spiralis in a horse during routine examination in Italy. Routine examination for Trichinella infection by artificial digestion of 5-g samples of muscle tissue revealed the presence of muscle larvae in one out of 28 horses imported from Romania to an abattoir in Italy. The parasite, identified as Trichinella spiralis by the polymerase chain reaction, showed a reproductive capacity index of 68 in Swiss mice. Light microscope examination of 200 nurse cell-larva complexes showed that 22% of them were calcified and that the capsules of the non-calcified nurse cells were 17.5-27.5 microns (s = 22.67 microns) thick and had very few cellular infiltrates. Th...
Strains of Actinobacillus spp. from diseases of animals and ostriches in Zimbabwe. Among the Actinobacillus spp. only A. lignieresii represents a homogenous and well studied taxon. However, haemolytic and non-haemolytic strains of A. equuli and A. suis are also isolated from a wide range of diseases in a variety of hosts. These isolates often pose problems in definitive identification. Consequently, several studies have been published, emphasizing the need for detailed studies to reclassify various members of this genus and also to assess their disease significance. We isolated 48 strains of Actinobacillus from clinical cases in horses, cattle, sheep, cat, pigs and ostrich. ...
Ocular tuberculosis in a horse. This paper is the first report of systemic tuberculosis involving the eyes in a horse. The animal lost condition and gradually became increasingly blind in both eyes; it was eventually euthanased. The pathological findings included bilateral, mycobacterial granulomatous uveitis with unilateral retinal detachment and necrosis, and disseminated, mycobacterial granulomatous foci in the myocardium, lungs, bronchial lymph nodes, kidneys, liver, pancreas, colon and visceral serosal surfaces, with the most extensive lesions in the myocardium. The mycobacteria were identified as Mycobacterium avium.
Association of deficiency in antibody response to vaccine and heterogeneity of Ehrlichia risticii strains with Potomac horse fever vaccine failure in horses. Ehrlichia risticii is the causative agent of Potomac horse fever (PHF), which continues to be an important disease of horses. Commercial inactivated whole-cell vaccines are regularly used for immunization of horses against the disease. However, PHF is occurring in large numbers of horses in spite of vaccination. In a limited study, 43 confirmed cases of PHF occurred between the 1994 and 1996 seasons; of these, 38 (89%) were in horses that had been vaccinated for the respective season, thereby clearly indicating vaccine failure. A field study of horses vaccinated with two PHF vaccines indicated...
