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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.
Characterization of normal tidal breathing flow-volume loops for thoroughbred horses. The purpose of this study was to characterize the normal equine tidal breathing flow-volume loop (TBFVL). The study was performed using 18 healthy Thoroughbred horses. TBFVLs constructed from data collected from resting horses had a typical biphasic inspiratory and expiratory phase. The interindividual variability of the indices used to describe TBFVLs was in the range 16-32%, which is comparable to the variability of other measures of equine pulmonary mechanics. The large variability of these data probably limits the value of resting TBFVL indices for detecting subclinical respiratory conditi...
Bacterial flora of semen collected from Danish warmblood stallions by artificial vagina. Semen samples were collected from 21 Danish Warmblood stallions by the Colorado artificial vagina (Colorado AV, 14 samples) or by the Missouri artificial vagina (Missouri AV, 7 samples). The semen was examined bacteriologically by direct plating (DP) on blood agar plates, and by plating of semen swabs stored in Stuart's transport media (TM) at 4 degrees C for 1-4 days. No significant differences were observed between results obtained by DP and cultures of identical TM samples. Of the 21 samples examined, only 1 TM (4.8%) and 2 DP samples (9.5%) were sterile, while the rest yielded a predominan...
Effect of dexamethasone administration on serum thyroid hormone concentrations in clinically normal horses. The effect that 5 consecutive days of treatment with dexamethasone (0.04 mg/kg of body weight, IM, q 24 h) would have on baseline concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), reverse T3 (rT3), free T3 (FT3), and free T4 (FT4), and on response to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) administration was determined in 12 clinically normal horses. Results of TSH response tests indicated that the horses could be placed into 2 groups: in 6 horses (group A), T4 concentration after administration of TSH was more than twice the baseline concentration; in the other 6 horses (group B), T4 concent...
Crystalline composition of equine urinary sabulous deposits. The composition and crystal morphology of 141 equine sabulous deposits were determined by infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The IR analysis revealed that all investigated deposits contained calcium carbonates (calcite, CaCO3, and/or vaterite, CaCO3) as major constituents; 42 samples were composed of calcite and vaterite, 33 of calcite, 18 of calcite/vaterite and calcium oxalate, and 17 of vaterite. The remaining specimens contained calcite/vaterite and other compounds (calcium phosphates, sulphate and/or oxalates and/or s...
The prevalence and epidemiology of Anoplocephala perfoliata infection in Norway. The caecum and the adjacent 30 cm lengths of ileum and large colon of 201 horses from two different regions of Norway (Ostlandet and Trøndelag) were examined for the presence of Anoplocephala perfoliata. In all, 20% of the horses were infested with the cestode (27% in Ostlandet and 7% in Trøndelag). The mean number of worms in infected horses from the two regions was 18 and 6, respectively. Information was obtained on the age, sex, breed, type of pasture and anthelmintic treatment after the grazing season for 183 of the 20 horses. The degree of infestation with A. perfoliata was not influenc...
Diagnosis of equine gammaherpesvirus 2 and 5 infections by polymerase chain reaction. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were developed for the detection of equine herpesvirus 2 (EHV2) and equine herpesvirus 5 (EHV5) using the nucleotide sequences from the glycoprotein B (gB) gene of EHV2 and the thymidine kinase (TK) gene of EHV5. The simultaneous use of EHV2 specific and EHV5 specific primers in one nested amplification assay (multiplex PCR) enabled a rapid, specific and sensitive diagnosis for each virus. PCR was found to be 10(3) times more sensitive than virus isolation by cell culture for EHV2 and 10(6) for EHV5. In separate PCR assays, the routine detection li...
Consideration of anatomic and radiographic features of the caudal pouches of the femorotibial joints of horses for the purpose of arthroscopy. Development of an arthroscopic approach to the caudal pouches of the equine stifle has been necessary because cranial approaches do not allow access to articular lesions in the caudal aspect of the joint. Therefore, the anatomy of the caudal region was examined in 52 cadaver limbs by use of gross dissection (29), x-ray-computed tomography (6), fluoroscopy (8), or arthroscopy (9). Additionally, using arthroscopic techniques developed in equine cadaver limbs, 3 stifles from 2 anesthetized horses were arthroscopically explored. Fluoroscopy was used to verify needle placement for joint injection a...
Examination of the equine patient with gastrointestinal emergency. Clinical examination of the equine patient with acute abdominal pain should identify the affected body system and yield a provisional diagnosis. Determination of signalment, history, physical examination, and basic laboratory tests should assist in classification of the gastrointestinal disorder and direct the therapeutic plan. Determination of the definitive diagnosis of abdominal pain based on clinical examination is not crucial. For a successful outcome, efforts should be directed toward early recognition of the need for surgery and treatment of cardiovascular compromise in horses with seve...
Horse plasma corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH): characterisation and lack of a late gestational rise or a plasma CRH-binding protein. Immunoreactive corticotrophin-releasing hormone (irCRH) was present in methanolic extracts of equine peripheral blood and showed no elevation in maternal peripheral serum in late gestation (0.54 +/- 0.25 pmol/l; mean +/- S.D.) compared with control horses (0.41 +/- 0.15 pmol/l). The irCRH of methanolic extracts of pituitary venous plasma had a similar elution position following reverse-phase HPLC to synthetic human CRH(1-41) and to irCRH released from horse stalk-median eminence tissue incubated in vitro. Gel chromatographic studies showed no evidence for a plasma CRH-binding protein (CRHBP) a...
Effect of sternothyrohyoid myectomy on upper airway mechanics in normal horses. The effect of transection of the sternothyroideus and sternohyoideus muscles on upper airway mechanics was investigated in exercising horses. Upper airway mechanics of six Standardbred horses were measured at rest and during exercise before and 24 h and 2 wk after sternothyrohyoid myectomy. Transnasal tracheal and pharyngeal catheters connected to differential pressure transducers were used to measure tracheal and pharyngeal pressures. A pneumotachograph mounted on the rostral end of an airtight face mask was used to measure airflow. Horses ran at 50, 75, and 100% of maximal O2 consumption on ...
Generic immunoassay of corticosteroids with minimum pre-treatment of urine samples. A generic, rapid and sensitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test has been developed which allows large-scale simultaneous testing of synthetic corticosteroids viz., flumethasone, dexamethasone and betamethasone. This assay can be directly applied to diluted urine samples (1 + 9) without hydrolysis of glucuronide or sulfate conjugates or any other treatment of samples. The polyclonal antibody was obtained by immunizing sheep with a flumethasone derivative linked to human serum albumin. This polyclonal antibody displayed high-reactivity with several synthetic corticosteroids whilst ...
Determination of succinonitrile in horse urine by gas chromatography-nitrogen-phosphorus detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A chromatographic method was developed to detect and confirm the presence of succinonitrile (SDN) in horse urine samples, for antidoping control. The urine samples (5 ml) were extracted with diethyl ether and screened by gas chromatography-nitrogen-phosphorus detector and the confirmation of the drug's presence was accomplished by using gas chromatography-mass selective detection. The recovery of extraction was 78 and 81% for 1.0 and 2.0 micrograms ml-1 (relative standard deviation, < 10%), respectively. Urine samples collected after the administration of Energisan were positive for SDN (1-30 ...
Screening of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, barbiturates and methyl xanthines in equine urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) screening procedure for 23 acidic drugs in equine urine is described. With the GC-MS method fifteen anti-inflammatory drugs, five barbiturates and three methyl xanthines can be detected with good sensitivity and selectivity. The method consists of alkaline hydrolysis, extraction with organic solvent using salting-out, clean-up extraction, methylation and screening with GC-MS in selected-ion monitoring mode. The limit of detection is 10 micrograms 1(-1) or lower, for most drugs.
Morphological analysis of cervical vertebrae in ataxic foals. Morphological differences between cervical vertebrae were statistically analyzed in ataxic foals to clarify abnormal structural factors in the pathogenesis of this problem. At first, multiple regression analysis and cluster analysis were performed with 28 variables in C3-C7 of 39 control foals without lameness. As a result, there were no sex differences in the growth of all cervical vertebral sites, and the most suitable categorization of the age of the foals was 3 clusters of 8 months old or younger, 9-12 months old and 13 months old or older in any sites in the cervical vertebrae. Twenty-eig...
Monoclonal antibodies to the equine CD2 T lymphocyte marker, to a pan-granulocyte/monocyte marker and to a unique pan-B lymphocyte marker. Murine monoclonal antibodies, HB88A, B29A and DH59B separately identify the CD2 T lymphocyte molecule, a unique pan-B lymphocyte surface marker and a pan-granulocyte/monocyte surface molecule, respectively, in the horse. Specificity was shown by two-color immunofluorescent flow cytometry and immunofluorescent microscopy. MAb HB88A reacted with a 52 kDa pan-T lymphocyte molecule present on 75% +/- 7 of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) (n = 15 horses). It also reacted with lymphocytes restricted to T lymphocyte dependent areas of lymph node and spleen. Specificity of mAb HB88A to CD2 was demon...
Endogenic nortestosterone in cattle? When residues of nortestosterone (NT) were found in the urine of cattle, racehorses or bodybuilders, exogenic administration was thought to be proven. In previous literature, no records were found of the endogenic presence of this molecule. In the horse-racing world, Houghton and Courthot found that NT is normally present in the urine of the stallion. Belgian and Dutch researchers found that NT is also present in the urine and edible parts of the intact boar. Vandenbroeck et al. (1991) suggested the endogenous presence of NT (in the beta form) in the pregnant cow. Meyer (1992) reported the pre...
Efficacy of the new radiographic measurement method for cervical vertebral instability in wobbling foals. Cervical myelography and survey radiography was performed on 12 light breed wobbling foals and a new radiographic measurement method was applied for more accurate diagnosis of cervical vertebral instability. Ratios of stenosis of the spinal canal on survey radiography and myelography using relative values in an individual foal were defined on radiograms of lateral flexed position of mid-cervical region, and coincidence between the ratios and histopathological lesions in the cervical spinal cord was investigated. Five of 6 foals had ratios of stenosis on myelography more than 40% at the interve...
Sequence analyses of the p24 gene of Borna disease virus in naturally infected horse, donkey and sheep. By reverse transcriptase/PCR amplification and subsequent sequence determination of the p24 gene, the relatedness of Borna disease virus (BDV) in various naturally infected animal species was determined. These results are indicative of a common ancestral virus pool and a remarkably low species barrier of BDV. Comparison of 11 sequences to that of tissue culture adapted virus revealed that the homology among all isolates was at least 96.2% at the nucleotide level, and 97% at the amino acid level. Viral sequences from sheep, donkey and horse were found to be not more distantly related to each ot...
Sonographic findings in horses with mediastinal lymphosarcoma: 13 cases (1985-1992). Sonographic findings correlated with necropsy findings in 8 of 9 horses in which the cranial portion of the mediastinum was evaluated by use of both methods. Cranial mediastinal masses were imaged as multilobular and homogeneously hypoechoic; a complex echogenic pattern was observed with necrosis within the mass. Pleural effusion was a common finding in horses with mediastinal lymphosarcoma. Cytologic evaluation of pleural fluid samples was useful in diagnosis of lymphosarcoma in 10 of 12 horses that had thoracentesis. Sonographic examination of the thorax and cranial portion of the mediastinu...
An algorithm to describe the oxygen equilibrium curve for the thoroughbred racehorse. An algorithm to describe the oxygen equilibrium curve (OEC) of the Thoroughbred horse was derived from raw oxygen equilibrium curve data obtained under standard conditions of temperature, pH and PCO2 (Smale and Butler, 1994). This algorithm was derived by a curve-fitting procedure based on the algorithm for human blood produced by Kelman (1966). The temperature, fixed acid and net CO2 coefficients were then incorporated in the algorithm to enable the accurate calculation of % saturation from any combination of PO2, temperature, pH and PCO2. The algorithm was checked using blood gas data obtain...
Relationships between electrocardiographic findings, racing performance and training in standardbred horses. The presence of abnormal T waves in three or more electrocardiographic leads has been used to diagnose the cause of poor race performance in horses. This study investigated the relationship between previous racing performance in Standardbred horses and T waves, and the effect of training on the T wave. Thirty-two horses were electrocardiographed in two Sydney racing stables. Sixteen horses (50%) had ECGs with three or more leads with abnormal T waves, and these horses had won more races, had a greater ratio of wins per start and a greater number of dollars earned per start than horses with les...
Effect of prior lavage on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cell population of lavaged and unlavaged lung segments in horses. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed on 16 horses to determine whether it caused local or diffuse inflammation in the lungs. In 7 horses, BAL was performed in both lungs twice, 48 hours apart. Although total cell counts of the BAL samples did not change significantly, there were increased numbers and percentage of neutrophils in the second lavage fluid samples. In 5 horses, BAL was performed in 1 lung and repeated 48 hours later in the same lung and in the corresponding airway in the contralateral lung. The absolute cell count and percentage of neutrophils were significantly (P = < 0....
Equine echocardiography–sound advice at the heart of the matter. Echocardiography is an extremely versatile tool for both the equine clinician and physiologist. There are three useful forms of echocardiography, B mode, M mode and Doppler. Together they provide complementary information on cardiac disease and haemodynamic status. B mode is used to image the cardiac chambers, valves, myocardium and pericardium. M mode allows determination of motion of cardiac structures; it is superior to B mode for timing of events and it is used to make precise measurements of the heart. Doppler echocardiography can assess intracardiac blood flow and its velocity. Echocardi...
The cross-sectional areas of normal equine digital flexor tendons determined ultrasonographically. Fifty-two animals, comprising 22 Irish Draught crosses (Group A), 15 Thoroughbreds (Group B) and 15 ponies (Group C) were examined ultrasonographically using a 7.5 mHz linear array probe and stand-off pad. All animals were free of tendon disease as determined from clinical and ultrasonographical examination. The superficial (SDFT) and deep (DDFT) digital flexor tendons were scanned at 7 transverse (axial) levels between the carpus and metacarpophalangeal joint. Each transverse image was digitised using a commercially available frame grabber and the cross-sectional areas of each tendon at each ...
Histological findings in corneal stromal abscesses of 11 horses: correlation with cultures and cytology. Histopathology was compared to culture results and cytology from horses with corneal stromal abscess at the Auburn University and the Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospitals. Significant bacteria were not isolated in culture or seen on histopathology in any of the horses. Although most bacteria infecting equine corneas can be isolated with blood and MacConkey's agars, failure to detect bacterial growth may not rule out infection because anaerobic or intracellular bacteria would not be isolated. The inability to visualise bacterial organisms on histological sections did not rule out...
