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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.
Outcome analysis of 95 harness racehorses with confirmed dorsal displacement of the soft palate treated with laryngeal tie-forward surgery. The laryngeal tie-forward (LTF) procedure is commonly used to treat intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (iDDSP). There is a wide range in reported efficacy of treating horses with and without a definitive diagnosis of iDDSP. Objective: To evaluate the racing performance of harness racehorses in which iDDSP had been definitely diagnosed and treated solely with the LTF procedure. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Ninety-five harness racehorses were treated with LTF for confirmed iDDSP. A definite diagnosis of iDDSP was made with high-speed treadmill or overground endos...
Diagnosing Strongylus vulgaris in pooled fecal samples. Strongylus vulgaris is the most pathogenic intestinal helminth parasite infecting horses. The migrating larvae in the mesenteric blood vessels can cause non-strangulating intestinal infarctions, which have a guarded prognosis for survival. Infections are typically diagnosed by coproculture, but a PCR test is available in some countries. While it is ideal to test horses individually, many veterinarians and clients wish to pool samples to reduce workload and cost of the diagnostic method. The purpose of this study was to determine if pooling of fecal samples would negatively impact diagnostic pe...
Serosurvey for equine piroplasms in horses and donkeys from North-Western Nigeria using IFAT and ELISA. Equine piroplasmosis is caused by apicomplexan parasites, namely, and , which are transmitted to equids principally through ticks. To ascertain the exposure of equines to agents of equine piroplasms, we tested serum samples collected from horses (n = 272) and donkeys (n = 170) in North-Western Nigeria for the presence of antibodies against and using IFAT and ELISA. The seroprevalence of in the horses determined using IFAT and ELISA was 48.89% and 45.96%, respectively, while for , it was 6.3% and 0.4%, respectively. For , the seroprevalence based on IFAT and ELISA results in donkeys was...
Gene transcripts expressed in equine white blood cells are potential biomarkers of extracorporeal shock wave therapy. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a treatment applied to musculoskeletal injuries in equine athletes to alleviate pain and accelerate healing. ESWT also causes acute tissue damage. Therefore, its ability to act as an analgesic and cause tissue damage potentially increases the risk of a catastrophic event if used shortly before a strenuous competition such as horseracing. While ESWT is prohibited by many racing jurisdictions within 10 days prior to competition, a test to detect whether a horse has received ESWT is needed. ESWT changes the protein levels of inflammatory mediators in bl...
Equid herpesvirus-1 Distribution in Equine Lymphoid and Neural Tissues 70 Days Post Infection. Equid herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) causes respiratory disease, abortion and myeloencephalopathy in horses worldwide. As member of the , latency is key to EHV-1 epidemiology. EHV-1 latent infection has been detected in the trigeminal ganglion (TG), respiratory associated lymphoid tissue (RALT) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) but additional locations are likely. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of viral DNA throughout the equine body. Twenty-five horses divided into three groups were experimentally infected via intranasal instillation with one of three EHV-1 virus...
Position of the midline septum of the guttural pouches in horses subjected to computed tomography. Standing computed tomographic (CT) examination of the equine guttural pouch frequently reveals deviation of the midline septum. The significance of deviation is currently unknown. The aims of this retrospective, single-centre study were to determine the prevalence of deviation of the midline septum of the guttural pouch and determine whether there was an association between the presence and degree of deviation of the septum, and guttural pouch disease. Case records were reviewed, identifying 95 horses that had undergone a standing, sedated, head CT and guttural pouch endoscopy. The presence, l...
Rater agreement for assessment of equine back mobility at walk and trot compared to quantitative gait analysis. Lameness assessment in horses is still predominantly performed using subjective methods. Visual assessment is known to have moderate to good intra-rater agreement but relatively poor inter-rater agreement. Little is known about inter- and intra-rater agreement on the evaluation of back motion, for which no objective measurement technique in a clinical setting is available thus far. To describe inter- and intra-rater agreement of visual evaluation of equine back mobility. Rater reliability study using a fully crossed design in which all horses are rated by all observers. This data is compared w...
Pocket-Sized Ultrasound Versus Traditional Ultrasound Images in Equine Imaging: A Pictorial Essay. This pictorial essay aims to display the image quality of pocket-sized ultrasound devices and hospital-based equipment to provide clinicians visual information about the potential uses of point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) in equine practice. Twenty-two paired images were obtained using traditional ultrasound equipment and pocket-sized ultrasound devices from patients evaluated at veterinary teaching hospitals. Images of many common ultrasound windows and miscellaneous sonographic abnormalities were obtained using pocket-sized ultrasound equipment.
Smartphone-Based Pelvic Movement Asymmetry Measures for Clinical Decision Making in Equine Lameness Assessment. Visual evaluation of hindlimb lameness in the horse is challenging. Objective measurements, simultaneous to visual assessment, are used increasingly to aid clinical decision making. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of pelvic movement asymmetry with lameness scores (UK scale 0-10) of one experienced veterinarian. Absolute values of pelvic asymmetry measures, quantifying differences between vertical minima (AbPDMin), maxima (AbPDMax) and upward movement amplitudes (AbPDUp), were recorded during straight-line trot with a smartphone attached to the sacrum ( = 301 horses). O...
Ultrasonography Evaluation of Umbilical Structures in Clinically Healthy Donkey Foals during the First Week of Life. The umbilicus is a potential access-point for pathogens in equine foal, causing umbilical infections and potentially life-threating illness. Early diagnosis based on ultrasonographic appearance and measurement is crucial to avoid severe complications and promptly implement appropriate therapy. This study ultrasonographically evaluates the umbilical remnants of donkey foals, in the first week of life. Fifteen healthy donkey foals were included in the study. The umbilical vein, arteries and urachus ultrasounds were performed at 24 h, 3 and 7 days of life, using a portable ultrasound machine and ...
Case Report: Toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans Diphtheria-Like Infection in a Horse in the United Kingdom. () may cause diphtheria in humans and can be carried by a wide range of animal species including dairy cows and, more recently, dogs and cats that have been increasingly involved in zoonotic trasmission. We isolated and characterized, by WGS, a toxigenic strain from a diseased horse in the United Kingdom showing clinical signs of respiratory diphtheria comparable to those seen in people. Our results indicate a role for horses as reservoirs for zoonotic .
Towards Machine Recognition of Facial Expressions of Pain in Horses. Automated recognition of human facial expressions of pain and emotions is to a certain degree a solved problem, using approaches based on computer vision and machine learning. However, the application of such methods to horses has proven difficult. Major barriers are the lack of sufficiently large, annotated databases for horses and difficulties in obtaining correct classifications of pain because horses are non-verbal. This review describes our work to overcome these barriers, using two different approaches. One involves the use of a manual, but relatively objective, classification system for...
The Protraction and Retraction Angles of Horse Limbs: An Estimation during Trotting Using Inertial Sensors. The protraction and retraction angles of horse limbs are important in the analysis of horse locomotion. This study explored two methods from an IMU positioned on the canon bone of eight horses to estimate these angles. Each method was based on a hypothesis in order to define the moment corresponding with the verticality of the canon bone: (i) the canon bone is in a vertical position at 50% of the stance phase or (ii) the verticality of the canon bone corresponds with the moment when the horse's withers reach their lowest point. The measurements were carried out on a treadmill at a trot and com...
Influence of multiple factors on hematologic reference intervals in horses residing in livery yards in Spain. The hemogram is a routine analysis for equine veterinary practitioners in the assessment of patient clinical status. Reference intervals (RIs) of hematologic constituents vary according to different horse populations and are often described for a particular breed or horse type. The aims of this study were to determine RIs for hematologic constituents in a mixed-breed horse population residing in livery yards in central Spain and evaluate the associations between estimated RIs and multiple phenotypic and management characteristics. A total of 122 healthy horses from different breeds in central ...
Elastosonographic features of the metacarpophalangeal joint capsule in horses. Capsulitis leads to the release of inflammatory mediators in the joint, causing capsular fibrosis and osteoarthritis (OA). Strain elastosonography (SE) measures the elasticity of tissue by evaluating its strain in operator-dependent deformation. The aims of the study were to assess the feasibility, repeatability, and reproducibility of SE for imaging the distal attachment of the joint capsule (DJC) of metacarpophalangeal joints in sound horses (Group S) and in horses with metacarpophalangeal OA (Group P) and to evaluate differences in the elastosonographic patterns of these horses. After a who...
Sevoflurane or isoflurane anaesthesia? A prospective, randomised blinded clinical trial in horses undergoing elective surgery. Isoflurane is the only volatile anaesthetic agent licensed for equine use in the United Kingdom, but sevoflurane is also commonly used. The two agents have rarely been compared for use in clinical elective surgery. Methods: This single centre, prospective, randomised, blinded clinical investigation recruited 101 healthy client owned horses undergoing elective surgery. Anaesthesia was standardised and horses randomly assigned to receive isoflurane (I) or sevoflurane (S) for maintenance of anaesthesia in 100% oxygen. Horses were ventilated to normocapnia and received intravenous fluid therapy an...
Biplanar High-Speed Fluoroscopy of Pony Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon (SDFT)-An In Vivo Pilot Study. The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is the most frequently injured structure of the musculoskeletal system in sport horses and a common cause for early retirement. This project's aim was to visualize and measure the strain of the sound, injured, and healing SDFTs in a pony during walk and trot. For this purpose, biplanar high-speed fluoroscopic kinematography (FluoKin), as a high precision X-ray movement analysis tool, was used for the first time in vivo with equine tendons. The strain in the metacarpal region of the sound SDFT was 2.86% during walk and 6.78% during trot. When injured...
Clinical, pathologic, and epidemiologic features of nocardioform placentitis in the mare. Placentitis is the leading cause of infectious abortion in the horse and contributes to roughly 19% of all abortions in the United States. A type of placental infection, nocardioform placentitis (NP) is associated with gram-positive branching actinomycetes localized within the ventral body of the feto-maternal interface to create a lymphoplasmacytic mucoid lesion. While the etiology of this disease is poorly described, this placental infection continues to cause episodic abortions in addition to weak and/or growth retarded neonates. The goal of the present study was to perform a comprehensive ...
Renal Resistive Index as A Potential Indicator of Acute Kidney Injury in Horses. Reliable and simple tests are constantly being sought to enable the quick detection of acute kidney injury in humans and animals. Diagnosis of subclinical AKI in horses, mainly in field practice, is difficult. An ultrasound scan is a routine test performed when kidney disease is suspected. The aim of the study was to establish the value of the renal resistive index (RRI) in intrarenal arteries in horses with clinical AKI and compare it to that of healthy horses. The second goal was to determine whether potentially nephrotoxic agents can influence RRI. The kidney ultrasonography examination was...
Construction and Application of an In-House Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) Database Specific to Bacteria From Horses. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is used for identification of bacterial species isolated from horses. However, because of insufficiencies in the reference database, some bacterial species isolated from horses are difficult to identify with MALDI-TOF MS, and enriching the databases is expected to enhance the accuracy of MALDI-TOF MS identification. Here we created an in-house database including 271 bacterial isolates from horses. Furthermore, we used an enhanced database (our in-house database plus a commercially provided database) to ...
Relationship between endogenous plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentration and reproductive performance in Thoroughbred broodmares. Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is an endocrine disorder the clinical signs of which include infertility, but few reports have examined the relationship between PPID and reproductive performance in broodmares. Objective: Broodmares with infertility of unknown etiology were screened for PPID using baseline endogenous plasma ACTH concentrations, and its relationship with subsequent reproductive performance was analyzed. Methods: Sixty-seven Thoroughbred broodmares. Methods: Adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations were measured in autumn. The broodmares were divided into 3 groups ...
Association between the Area of the Highest Flank Temperature and Concentrations of Reproductive Hormones during Pregnancy in Polish Konik Horses-A Preliminary Study. Determination of the pregnancy status is one of the most important factors for effective pregnancy management. Knowledge of the stage of pregnancy is important to interpret many of the reproductive hormones' concentrations, including progesterone (P4), estrone sulfate (E1S), 17-ß estradiol (E2), and relaxin (REL). However, it is limited in wildlife or captive equids that cannot be handled. Reproductive hormones affect regional blood flow, the proliferation of tissues, and local metabolism intensity. Therefore, this preliminary study aimed to assess changes in thermal features of the abdomen l...
Three Manual Noncommercial Methods to Prepare Equine Platelet-Rich Plasma. In light of PRP's increasing popularity in veterinary practice, this study aimed to compare three manual methods to prepare and cool equine PRP. The blood of 18 clinically healthy mares was collected via venipuncture in a blood transfusion bag (method 1), blood tubes (method 2), and a syringe (method 3). In method 1, samples were double centrifuged; method 2 involved one centrifugation, and in method 3 the syringe was kept in an upright position to sediment for 4 h. After processing with three methods, PRP and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) were extracted and assessed for red (RBC) and white blood...
Novel Algorithms for Comprehensive Untargeted Detection of Doping Agents in Biological Samples. To address the limitations of current targeted analytical methods that can only detect known doping agents, a novel methodology that permits untargeted drug detection (UDD) has been developed to help in the fight against doping in sports. Fifty-seven drugs were spiked into blank equine plasma and were treated as unknowns since their exact masses and chromatographic retention times were not utilized for detection. The spiked drugs were extracted from the plasma samples and were analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The acquired LC-HRMS raw ...
Extracranial guiding structures for navigation to specific topographical sectors of the equine neopallium: an anatomical investigation performing three-dimensional distance measurements in adult warm-blooded horses. This basically anatomical study focuses on two items; firstly, the establishment of a system for the cartographic subdivision of the neopallium; secondly, the topographical correlation of extracranial landmarks and intracranial sites on the neopallium. Methods: The surface of the neopallium was subdivided into 15 sectors with reference to a newly introduced pattern of Primary Sulci. The topographical link between extracranial landmarks and certain intracranial sites (i.e. neopallium sectors) was elaborated by using a simple stereotactic device and a computer-assisted measurement device. Measur...
Evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of basal plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone concentration for diagnosing pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in horses: A systematic review. Measurement of basal adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) is currently used to diagnose pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in horses, yet a systematic review of the evidence for its use has not been undertaken. This study aimed to systematically review evidence regarding the sensitivity and specificity of the basal ACTH diagnostic test. Electronic databases were systematically searched in January 2019, September 2020 and January 2021, for English language publications published prior to these dates. Screening, data extraction and quality assessment of publications was undertaken by th...
Circovirus in Blood of a Febrile Horse with Hepatitis. Circoviruses infect vertebrates where they can result in a wide range of disease signs or in asymptomatic infections. Using viral metagenomics we analyzed a pool of five sera from four healthy and one sick horse. Sequences from parvovirus-H, equus anellovirus, and distantly related to mammalian circoviruses were recognized. PCR identified the circovirus reads as originating from a pregnant mare with fever and hepatitis. That horse's serum was also positive by real time PCR for equine parvovirus H and negative for the flavivirus equine hepacivirus. The complete circular genome of equine circovi...
Screening and detection of chromosomal copy number alterations in the domestic horse using SNP-array genotyping data. Chromosomal abnormalities are a common cause of infertility in horses. However, they are difficult to detect using automated methods. Here, we propose a simple methodology based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-array data that allows us to detect the main chromosomal abnormalities in horses in a single procedure. As proof of concept, we were able to detect chromosomal abnormalities in 33 out of 268 individuals, including monosomies, chimerisms, and male and female sex-reversions, by analyzing the raw signal intensity produced by an SNP array-based genotyping platform. We also demonstrat...
ANCHOR-tagged equine herpesvirus 1: A new tool for monitoring viral infection and discovering new antiviral compounds. Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) is a causative agent of respiratory disorders, abortion and myeloencephalopathy in horses and has an important impact on equine health and economy. Several bacterial artificial chromosomes have already been developed and enabled identification and functional characterization of EHV-1 genes. Unfortunately, little is known about its replication. Here, the ANCHOR system was inserted by targeted homologous recombination into the equine herpesvirus genome. This insertion led to the conversion of EHV-1 DNA to auto-fluorescent spots easily detectable by fluorescence micro...
