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Topic:Diagnostic Technique
Diagnostic techniques in equine medicine encompass a range of procedures and tools used to identify diseases, injuries, or other health conditions in horses. These techniques include imaging methods such as radiography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as laboratory tests like blood work and tissue biopsies. Each diagnostic method provides specific information that can aid in the assessment and management of equine health issues. Radiography is commonly used for evaluating bone structures, while ultrasonography is useful for soft tissue examination. MRI offers detailed images of both soft and hard tissues, though its use is limited by cost and availability. Laboratory tests can detect biochemical and hematological changes indicative of disease. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the development, application, and efficacy of various diagnostic techniques in equine veterinary practice.
Infundibula of equine maxillary cheek teeth. Part 1: Development, blood supply and infundibular cementogenesis. There is increasing interest in diseases of infundibula of equine maxillary cheek teeth. Imperfect infundibular cementogenesis has been recognized as an aetiopathological factor for the onset of infundibular necrosis. In this article, infundibular development was examined with particular attention to infundibular blood vessels and cementogenesis. Forty-one deciduous maxillary premolars prior to eruption were investigated using routine histological and immunohistological methods to visualize blood vessels and the enamel organ. Selected specimens were scanned by micro-computed tomography to anal...
RADIOGRAPHIC AND ANATOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF DORSAL HOOF WALL LAYERS IN NONLAMINITIC HORSES. Early radiographic diagnosis of acute laminitis is important for treatment planning and prognosis in horses. While four histopathologic layers make up the hoof wall, only two layers are distinguished on digital radiographs of horses' hooves. Objectives of this descriptive study were to determine which macroscopic layers correspond to the two radiographically visible layers, and to describe radiographic layer measurements in a group of clinically sound Warmblood horses. Twelve ex vivo equine hooves were examined at three different levels of the dorsal hoof wall. The four macroscopic layers were...
Development of three triplex real-time reverse transcription PCR assays for the qualitative molecular typing of the nine serotypes of African horse sickness virus. Blood samples collected as part of routine diagnostic investigations from South African horses with clinical signs suggestive of African horse sickness (AHS) were subjected to analysis with an AHS virus (AHSV) group specific reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (AHSV RT-qPCR) assay and virus isolation (VI) with subsequent serotyping by plaque inhibition (PI) assays using AHSV serotype-specific antisera. Blood samples that tested positive by AHSV RT-qPCR were then selected for analysis using AHSV type specific RT-qPCR (AHSV TS RT-qPCR) assays. The TS RT-qPCR assays were ...
The equine forelimb suspensory ligament exhibits a heterogeneous strain pattern under tensile load. To determine if regional variations in strain patterns occur within the suspensory ligament under tensile load. Local increases in strain may put certain regions of the suspensory ligament at risk and may explain the poor healing and high recurrence rates associated with suspensory branch injuries. Methods: The suspensory ligament and its bone attachments were isolated from each of 10 adult equine cadaveric forelimbs and radiodense reference beads were inserted throughout the length of the ligament. Specimens were attached to a custom fixture secured to a materials testing system. Radiographs ...
The use of low doses of acepromazine as an aid for lameness diagnosis in horses: An accelerometric evaluation. The aim of the present study was to quantify by accelerometry the trotting pattern of adult horses sedated with two different doses of acepromazine, in order to assess the use of this drug in equine lameness evaluations. Methods: Seven mature horses were used and three treatments were administered to each horse: saline solution, acepromazine (0.01 mg/kg), and acepromazine (0.02 mg/kg). The portable gait analyzer used consisted of three orthogonal accelerometers that measure accelerations along the dorsoventral, longitudinal, and lateral axes. Baseline values were obtained and after treatment, ...
Ocular Pathology. Although not comprehensive of all ocular conditions in the equine species, this article concentrates on various ophthalmic conditions observed in the horse where laboratory diagnostics are recommended. The importance of laboratory diagnostic testing cannot be underestimated with equine ophthalmic disease. In many cases, laboratory diagnostics can aid in obtaining an early diagnosis and determining appropriate therapy, which in turn, can provide a better prognosis. In unfortunate cases where ocular disease results in a blind, painful eye necessitating enucleation, light microscopic evaluation i...
Localization of Bovine Papillomavirus Nucleic Acid in Equine Sarcoids. Bovine papillomaviruses (BPV1/BPV2) have long been associated with equine sarcoids; deciphering their contribution has been difficult due to their ubiquitous presence on skin and in the environment, as well as the lack of decent techniques to interrogate their role in pathogenesis. We have developed and characterized an in situ hybridization (ISH) assay that uses a pool of probes complementary to portions of the E5, E6, and E7 genes. This assay is highly sensitive for direct visualization of viral transcript and nucleic acid in routinely processed histopathologic samples. We demonstrate here t...
Relationship between serum biomarkers of cartilage and bone metabolism and joint injury in young Thoroughbred racehorses in training. To compare serum concentrations of biomarkers of cartilage and bone metabolism between racehorses with a carpal or metacarpophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal (ie, fetlock) joint injury and matched uninjured control horses, determine changes in biomarker concentrations following joint injury, and establish the biomarkers' diagnostic test performance. Methods: 50 Thoroughbred racehorses with a carpal or fetlock joint injury and 50 matched uninjured horses (control horses). Methods: Serum concentrations of 2 cartilage synthesis biomarkers (carboxy-terminal propeptide of type II collagen [CPII] an...
Musculoskeletal Health, Kidney and Liver Function in Retired Jockeys. The long-term implications of making-weight daily on musculoskeletal health and functioning of the kidney and liver remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate musculoskeletal health and kidney and liver function in a group of retired jockeys. 28 retired male jockeys (age 50-70 years) provided fasting blood samples for markers of bone metabolism and kidney and liver function. A dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan was performed for the assessment of bone mineral density (BMD). Established reference ranges were used for interpretation of results. Comparisons were made between retired...
Effects of 10% hydroxyethyl starch (HES 200/0.5) solution in intraoperative fluid therapy management of horses undergoing elective surgical procedures. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of pentastarch on colloid osmotic pressure (COP) and cardiopulmonary function during and up to 24 h after anaesthesia in horses. Twenty-five systemically healthy horses were anaesthetised using isoflurane-medetomidine balanced anaesthesia. Twelve were assigned to treatment with hydroxyethyl starch (HES) (H group) and 13 to no HES (NH group). In the H group, 6 mL/kg of pentastarch 10% HES (200/0.5) was infused over 1 h starting 30 min after induction of anaesthesia. Horses of the NH group received an equal amount of lactated Ringer's so...
Characterisation of the Equine adenovirus 2 genome. Equine adenovirus 2 (EAdV-2) is one of two serotypes of adenoviruses known to infect equines. Initial studies did not associate EAdV-2 infections with any specific clinical syndromes, although more recent evidence suggests that EAdV-2 may be associated with clinical and subclinical gastrointestinal infections of foals and adults respectively. In contrast, Equine adenovirus 1 is well recognised as a pathogen associated with upper respiratory tract infections of horses. In this study the complete genome sequence of EAdV-2 is reported. As expected, genes common to the adenoviruses were identified...
Analytical validation of a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T assay in horses. Although cardiac troponin T (cTnT) assays have been used to detect myocardial damage in horses, a cTnT assay has not been analytically validated, to our knowledge. The aims of this study were to estimate the precision of a high-sensitivity cTnT assay in horses and determine the effect of hemolysis on the measured cTnT concentration. Serum samples from horses were mixed in 3 different pools. Pool 1 consisted of samples from 3 healthy horses, pool 2 from 6 horses with heart failure or atypical myopathy, and pool 3 from 10 horses with atypical myopathy. The within- and between-run coefficients of...
Determination of vertebral range of motion using inertial measurement units in 27 Franches-Montagnes stallions and comparison between conditions and with a mixed population. The diagnosis of equine back disorders is challenging. Objectively determining movement of the vertebral column may therefore be of value in a clinical setting. Objective: To establish whether surface-mounted inertial measurement units (IMUs) can be used to establish normal values for range of motion (ROM) of the vertebral column in a uniform population of horses trotting under different conditions. Methods: Vertebral ROM was established in Franches-Montagnes stallions and a general population of horses and the variability in measurements compared between the two groups. Repeatability and the ...
Comparison of culture versus quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Taylorella equigenitalis in field samples from naturally infected horses in Canada and Germany. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method (qPCR) was developed and tested for the detection of Taylorella equigenitalis. It was shown to have an analytical sensitivity of 5 colony-forming units (CFU) of T. equigenitalis when applied to the testing of culture swabs that mimicked field samples, and a high analytical specificity in not reacting to 8 other commensal bacterial species associated with horses. As designed, it could also differentiate specifically between T. equigenitalis and T. asinigenitalis. The qPCR was compared to standard culture in a study that included 45 swab ...
Changes in Serum Strongylus Vulgaris-Specific Antibody Concentrations in Response to Anthelmintic Treatment of Experimentally Infected Foals. Strongylus vulgaris is the most pathogenic nematode parasite of horses. Its extensive migration in the mesenteric blood vessels can lead to life-threatening intestinal infarctions. Recent work has shown that this parasite is still identified among managed horse populations. A serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed for the detection of migrating larvae of S. vulgaris. Previous work has documented an increase in ELISA values following larvicidal treatment with ivermectin and suggested that the target parasite antigen is primarily produced by the later larval stages. T...
Effect of age and endometrial degenerative changes on uterine blood flow during early gestation in mares. The present experiment was divided into three studies to investigate the effect of age and endometrial degeneration on uterine blood flow of mares. In study 1, the influence of semen infusion and conception was evaluated using noninseminated (non-AI), inseminated nonpregnant (AI-NP), and inseminated pregnant (AI-P) mares (n = 7 mares/group). In study 2, the effect of age was investigated using young (≤6 years), adult (from 8 to 12 years), and old (≥15 years) pregnant mares (n = 7 mares/group). In study 3, uterine blood flow was also characterized in pregnant mares (n = 7 mares/group) with ...
Introduction of the use of thermography and thermometry in the diagnosis of uveitis in horses: a pilot project. To date assessment of changes in ocular temperature, as a hallmark of uveitis in horses has not been determined. Therefore the aim of the current study was to determine whether ocular temperature is increased in acute uveitic eyes compared with non-uveitic eyes, and to compare an affordable thermometry device with a thermography device. Methods: Ocular temperatures of both eyes of five horses with acute unilateral uveitis and 10 normal horses were measured using thermometry and thermography. Presence and absence of acute uveitis were diagnosed through a complete ophthalmological examination. A...
Novel in vitro diagnosis of equine allergies using a protein array and mathematical modelling approach: a proof of concept using insect bite hypersensitivity. Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is a seasonal recurrent skin allergy of horses caused by IgE-mediated reactions to allergens present in the saliva of biting insects of the genus Culicoides, and possibly also Simulium and Stomoxys species. In this work we show that protein microarrays containing complex extracts and pure proteins, including recombinant Culicoides allergens, can be used as a powerful technique for the diagnosis of IBH. Besides the obvious advantages such as general profiling and use of few microliters of samples, this microarray technique permits automation and allows the gen...
Changes in synovial fluid biomarker concentrations following arthroscopic surgery in horses with osteochondritis dissecans of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia. To quantify concentrations of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and fibromodulin in synovial fluid from the tarsocrural joints (TCJs) of horses with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia and determine whether concentrations would change following arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments. Methods: 115 client-owned horses with OCD of the TCJ and 29 control horses euthanized for unrelated reasons. Methods: COMP and fibromodulin concentrations were measured in synovial fluid from the TCJs of the affected horses before and after osteochondral ...
Comparison of the Equine Reference Sequence with Its Sanger Source Data and New Illumina Reads. The reference assembly for the domestic horse, EquCab2, published in 2009, was built using approximately 30 million Sanger reads from a Thoroughbred mare named Twilight. Contiguity in the assembly was facilitated using nearly 315 thousand BAC end sequences from Twilight's half brother Bravo. Since then, it has served as the foundation for many genome-wide analyses that include not only the modern horse, but ancient horses and other equid species as well. As data mapped to this reference has accumulated, consistent variation between mapped datasets and the reference, in terms of regions with no...
Complete Mitochondrial genome of an equine intestinal parasite, Triodontophorus brevicauda (Chromadorea: Strongylidae): the first characterization within the genus. The complete mitochondrial (mt) genome sequence of Triodontophorus brevicauda, an intestinal equine nematode parasite was determined for the first time. The circular T. brevicauda mt genome is 14,305 bp in length and contains 36 genes, of which 12 code for protein, 22 for transfer RNA, and two for ribosomal RNA, and lacks atp8 mtDNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated amino acid sequence of the 12 protein-coding genes was performed using three different tree-building methods. The Strongyloidea cluster divides into two large branches, and each nematode family included in our s...
Teaching of diagnostic skills in equine gynecology: simulator-based training versus schooling on live horses. Transrectal palpation and ultrasonography of the genital tract in mares are first-day skills for equine veterinarians. In this study, the learning outcome in equine gynecology after four times training on horses (group H4, n = 8), training on horses once (group H1, n = 9), and four times simulator-based training (group Sim, n = 8) was assessed in third-year veterinary students with two tests in live mares 14 days apart. The students of group H4 always scored better for transrectal palpation than students of group Sim and H1 (P < 0.05). Overall, the students reached better results for palpat...
Development of the larval migration inhibition test for comparative analysis of ivermectin sensitivity in cyathostomin populations. Cyathostomins are the most prevalent parasitic pathogens of equids worldwide. These nematodes have been controlled using broad-spectrum anthelmintics; however, cyathostomin resistance to each anthelmintic class has been reported and populations insensitive to more than one class are relatively commonplace. The faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) is considered the most suitable method for screening anthelmintic sensitivity in horses, but is subject to variation and is relatively time-consuming to perform. Here, we describe a larval migration inhibition test (LMIT) to assess ivermectin (IVM)...
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of five bisphosphonates in equine urine and plasma. Bisphosphonates are used in the management of skeletal disorder in humans and horses, with tiludronic acid being the first licensed veterinary medicine in the treatment of lameness associated with degenerative joint disease. Bisphosphonates are prohibited in horseracing according to Article 6 of the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering (published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities). In order to control the use of bisphosphonates in equine sports, an effective method to detect the use of bisphosphonates is required. Bisphosphonates are difficult-to-de...
Application of the ASVCP guidelines for the establishment of haematologic and biochemical reference intervals in Icelandic horses in Austria. Despite the increasing popularity of Icelandic horses, published reference intervals (RIs) in this breed are rare. Due to their isolation and their small gene pool, alterations in some variables are likely and some possible breed-specific peculiarities have been described. The purpose of the present study was the establishment of comprehensive RIs in Icelandic horses according to recently published guidelines. In a prospective observational study, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 142 Icelandic horses into EDTA and serum tubes. Reference intervals were established for haema...
Local and systemic effect of transfection-reagent formulated DNA vectors on equine melanoma. Equine melanoma has a high incidence in grey horses. Xenogenic DNA vaccination may represent a promising therapeutic approach against equine melanoma as it successfully induced an immunological response in other species suffering from melanoma and in healthy horses. In a clinical study, twenty-seven, grey, melanoma-bearing, horses were assigned to three groups (n = 9) and vaccinated on days 1, 22, and 78 with DNA vectors encoding for equine (eq) IL-12 and IL-18 alone or in combination with either human glycoprotein (hgp) 100 or human tyrosinase (htyr). Horses were vaccinated intramuscularl...
Activation of persistent Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus in mares with subclinical endometritis. Endometritis in horses caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) may be underdiagnosed due to traditional diagnostic methods lacking sensitivity and specificity. We serendipitously identified a bacterial growth medium (bActivate) that appeared capable of inducing growth of dormant S. zooepidemicus, which subsequently allowed detection by standard diagnostics. To assess the effect of bActivate we compared its ability to activate dormant S. zooepidemicus in a group of potentially infected subfertile mares with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). All mares had to test ...
Evaluation of the non-calibrated pulse contour cardiac output monitor FloTrac/Vigileo against thermodilution in standing horses. To evaluate the non-calibrated, minimally invasive cardiac output (CO) monitor FloTrac/Vigileo (FloTrac) against thermodilution (TD) CO in standing horses. Methods: Prospective, experimental trial. Methods: Nine adult horses weighing a median (range) of 535 (470-602) kg. Methods: Catheters were placed in the right atrium, pulmonary artery and carotid artery under local anaesthesia. CO was measured 147 times by TD and FloTrac and indexed to body weight. Changes in CO were achieved with romifidine or xylazine and dobutamine constant rate infusions. Bland-Altman analysis, concordance and polar pl...
Comparison between available serologic tests for detecting antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi in horses in Canada. To investigate the agreement between available serologic tests for the detection of antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi, 50 serum samples from horses of unknown clinical status and at low risk for infection were tested. In addition to a point-of-care enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (pocELISA), the evaluated tests included 2 indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IFATs) for antibodies against A. phagocytophilum and an IFAT, an ELISA confirmed with Western blot, and the Lyme multiplex assay for antibodies against B. burgdorferi. For each pair-wise comparison bet...
