Disease diagnosis in horses involves the identification and characterization of illnesses through various diagnostic methods and tools. This process is essential for effective veterinary care and management of equine health. Techniques used in diagnosing diseases in horses include clinical examinations, laboratory tests, imaging modalities such as ultrasonography and radiography, and molecular diagnostics. Blood tests are frequently utilized to assess parameters such as complete blood count and biochemical profiles, which can indicate underlying health issues. Additionally, advancements in genetic testing and biomarker identification have enhanced the ability to detect specific diseases early. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore diagnostic methodologies, their applications, and their impact on equine health management.
Savini F, Gallina L, Prosperi A, Battilani M, Bettini G, Scagliarini A.BPV-1 is known as the main causative agent of equine sarcoid, but the virus has also been detected in skin and blood of healthy horses. Previous reports demonstrated the presence of E5 variants in sarcoids of donkeys and horses; we investigated whether this genetic variability might be also found in BPV-1, PBMC associated, of sub-clinically infected horses. With this aim, we analyzed the E5 gene of 21 BPV-1 strains from diseased and sub-clinically infected horses. Our analyses lead us to demonstrate that multiple sequence variants can be present in the blood of sub-clinically infected horses, ...
Colborne GR, Routh JE, Weir KR, McKendry JE, Busschers E.To determine the frontal plane position of the ground reaction force vector at its centre of pressure under the hoof of walking horses, and its projection through the distal limb joints, and to relate this to hoof geometric measurements. Methods: Reflective markers were glued to the forelimb hooves and skin of 26 horses, over palpable landmarks representing centres of the coffin, fetlock and carpal joints, and the dorsal toe at its most distal point. A 4-camera kinematic system recorded the position of these markers as the horse walked in hand across a force platform, to generate a frontal pla...
Weyer CT, Joone C, Lourens CW, Monyai MS, Koekemoer O, Grewar JD, van Schalkwyk A, Majiwa PO, MacLachlan NJ, Guthrie AJ.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 ...
López-Sanromán FJ, Gómez Cisneros D, Varela del Arco M, Santiago Llorente I, Santos González M.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, ...
Hytychová T, Bezděková B.To identify the specific pathogens causing sepsis in hospitalized foals in the Czech Republic and identify important factors associated with their survival. Methods: A retrospective study from 2011 to 2013. Methods: University veterinary teaching hospital. Methods: Fifty compromised foals. Methods: None. Results: Blood was aseptically collected for bacterial culture from compromised foals. The foals were classified as septic according to a positive blood culture result or sepsis score ≥11. Blood cultures were positive in 44% of the foals. In these positive cultures, 27.3% had only Gram-posit...
Lester SJ, Mollat WH, Bryant JE.This article is intended to serve as a reference for clinical pathology in the equine with algorithms and tables provided for anemia diagnosis and leukogram alterations associated with both acute and chronic inflammation. A table of reference is provided for fluid evaluations including joint fluid and effusions into body cavities. Evaluation of newer serum markers, such as cardiac troponin, and a table highlighting test procedures for the evaluation of endocrine disease in the horse are included. A brief overview of quality assurance in the laboratory is provided to stimulate interest in this ...
Rech R, Barros C.This article focuses on the gross examination of the brain and spinal cord and outlines the main lesions and neuroanatomic location related to neurologic diseases in horses.
Snider TA.Reproductive disease is relatively common in the horse, resulting in a variable, yet significant, economic impact on individual horsemen as well as the entire industry. Diverse expertise from the veterinary community ensures and improves individual and population health of the horse. From a pathology and diagnostics perspective, this review provides a comprehensive overview of pathology of the male and female equine reproductive tract. Recognition by clinical and gross features is emphasized, although some essential histologic parameters are included, as appropriate. Where relevant, discussion...
Bauer BS.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...
Proietto LR, Plummer CE, Maxwell KM, Lamb KE, Brooks DE.The purpose of this investigation was to identify potential environmental risk factors for the diagnosis of equine deep stromal abscesses (DSA) in the subtropical climate at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center (UFVMC). Methods: Cases included were selected from the UFVMC medical record and imaging database, and included all cases of equine DSA diagnosed during the period from December 1991 to December 2013 in patients residing in north central Florida. Patient date of diagnosis and atmospheric data was obtained for north central Florida for the corresponding time period. Univar...
Jackson BF, Reed SR, Price JS, Verheyen KL.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...
Pozor M, Freeman D, Troedsson M, Brown M, Morton A, Smith A, McNaughten J.Fusion anomalies of the epididymis with the testis may be clinically relevant in horses. However, anatomical variations in epididymal-testicular fusion have not been classified, and their clinical significance is unknown. Objective: To describe anatomical variations and clinical significance of epididymal-testicular fusion in stallions. Methods: Anatomical study of testes from castrations, and description of 2 clinical cases with atypical epididymal-testicular fusion. Methods: A total of 104 testes were obtained from equine castrations. Eight patterns of epididymal-testicular fusion were ident...
Brünisholz HP, Hagen R, Fürst AE, Kuemmerle JM.To characterize the configuration of incomplete proximal fractures of the proximal phalanx (P1) in horses not used for racing and compare radiographic with computed tomography (CT) findings. Methods: Historical cohort. Methods: Twenty-four horses with incomplete fractures of P1. Methods: Medical records of horses not used for racing diagnosed with an incomplete proximal fracture of P1 based on clinical and radiographic examination and confirmed by CT between 2008 and 2013 were retrieved. Radiographs and CT studies of these horses were analyzed using a subjective grading system and by measuring...
Underwood C, Pollitt CC, Metselaar JM, Laverman P, van Bloois L, van den Hoven JM, Storm G, van Eps AW.Liposomes are phospholipid nanoparticles used for targeted drug delivery. This study aimed to determine whether intravenous liposomes accumulate in lamellar tissue during laminitis development in horses so as to assess their potential for targeted lamellar drug delivery. Polyethylene-glycol (PEG) coated liposomes were prepared according to the film hydration method and labelled using (99m)Tc-hexamethyl-propylene-amine-oxime. Six horses received 10 g/kg oligofructose via nasogastric tube to induce laminitis, and four control horses received water via nasogastric tube. All horses received 300â...
Giles C, Vanniasinkam T, Barton M, Mahony TJ.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...
Hamond C, Pestana CP, Rocha-de-Souza CM, Cunha LE, Brandão FZ, Medeiros MA, Lilenbaum W.Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance, and has a worldwide distribution. Equine leptospirosis is commonly manifested by recurrent uveitis, reproductive disorders, as abortions, embryonic absorption, stillbirth and the birth of weak foals. The aim of this study was to verify the presence of Leptospira sp or its DNA in genital tract of mares with reproductive problems. A total of 38 mares with reproductive problems were studied. All the mares were sampled for blood (for serology), urine (for culturing and qPCR), vaginal fluid-VF and endometrial biopsy-EB (for culturing, qPCR a...
Żuraw A, Dietert K, Kühnel S, Sander J, Klopfleisch R.Evidence suggest there is a link between equine atypical myopathy (EAM) and ingestion of sycamore maple tree seeds. Objective: To further evaluate the hypothesis that the ingestion of hypoglycin A (HGA) containing sycamore maple tree seeds causes acquired multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency and might be associated with the clinical and pathological signs of EAM. Methods: Case report. Methods: Necropsy and histopathology, using hematoxylin and eosin and Sudan III stains, were performed on a 2.5-year-old mare that died following the development of clinical signs of progressive muscle stif...
Dória RG, Carvalho MB, Freitas SH, Laskoski LM, Colodel EM, Mendonça FS, Silva MA, Grigoletto R, Fantinato Neto P.Treatment for horses with pythiosis of a limb is challenging. This study aims to evaluate the effects of administering amphotericin B in a 10 % solution of dimethylsulfoxide by intravenous regional limb perfusion (IRLP) to treat horses for cutaneous pythiosis of a limb. Results: All 15 of the horses treated had complete resolutions of their lesion between 6 to 9 weeks after a single IRLP treatment. No complications were observed at the site of venipuncture for IRLP. Before initiation of treatment, there was anemia and marked leucocytosis which resolved following treatment. Serum biochemistry ...
Van Der Vekens N, van Dievoet MA, De Puydt H, Decloedt A, Ven S, De Clercq D, Deprez P, van Loon G.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...
Socha W, Rola J, Żmudziński JF.The genetic stability of ORF1a encoding non-structural proteins nsp1, nsp2, nsp3 and nsp4 of equine arteritis virus (EAV) has been analysed for nearly seven years in a persistently infected stallion of the Malopolska breed. Between November 2004 and June 2011, 11 semen samples were collected. Viral RNA extracted from semen of this carrier stallion was amplified, sequenced and compared with the sequences of the other known strains of EAV. Sequence analysis of ORF1a showed 84 synonymous and 16 non-synonymous mutations. The most variable part of ORF1a was the region encoding nsp2 protein with 13 ...
Crispe EJ, Lester GD, Robertson ID, Secombe CJ.Ambient temperature has been identified as a risk factor for exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) in racing Thoroughbreds. This warranted a more expansive investigation of climatic conditions on the incidence and severity of EIPH. The impact of other variables such as the type of bit used, tongue ties and nonstandard shoes has not been reported and also warrant investigation. Objective: To examine the effect of various climatic variables as contributing risk factors for EIPH. Other previously uninvestigated variables as well as standard track and population factors will also be examin...
Heim C, Pfau T, Gerber V, Schweizer C, Doherr M, Schüpbach-Regula G, Witte S.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 ...
Niedzwiedz A, Jaworski Z, Kubiak K.Equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), also known as heaves, is one of the most common respiratory problems in older horses. When RAO-affected horses stay pastured or in a dust-free environment for a prolonged time, clinical signs as well as airway inflammation wane. A number of environmental, immunologic, infectious, and genetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of RAO, and the immunologic basis of this disease is still poorly understood. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of allergen-specific IgE in the serum of horses suffering from R...
Skelly-Smith E, Ireland J, Dyson S.There have been no detailed descriptions of the radiological appearance of the centrodistal joint interosseous ligament region in horses with and without distal tarsal joint pain. Objective: To describe the normal radiological appearance of the centrodistal joint interosseous ligament region; to determine the prevalence of mineralisation or ossification of the interosseous ligament; and to describe radiological abnormalities surrounding the interosseous space and concurrent radiological abnormalities in the tarsus. The association between interosseous ligament region abnormalities and radiolog...
Treupel E, Czerwonka N, Schröder S, Böhm J, Wehrend A.Retained fetal membranes in mares is a relative frequent disease which can lead to severe complications. Two case studies are described in which mares died acutely despite intensive care. Pathological examination confirmed severe hemorrhage as the cause of death in both animals.
Davidson MG, Geoly FJ, Gilger BC, McLellan GJ, Whitley W.A group of Walker Hounds and Beagles that were fed a diet of table scraps were examined because of slow, progressive loss of vision. Clinical and microscopic features of the disease were correlated to the dogs' micronutrient status. Sensory retinal degeneration, predominantly in the central tapetal fundus, was found in all dogs, and severity of changes varied with age of the dog. Plasma, serum, and tissue concentrations of vitamin E were low in affected dogs (10 to 40% of control values). Lipofuscin accumulation was found on microscopic examination in retinal pigment epithelium, smooth muscle ...
McGorum BC, Chen Z, Glendinning L, Gweon HS, Hunt L, Ivens A, Keen JA, Pirie RS, Taylor J, Wilkinson T, McLachlan G.Equine grass sickness (EGS) is a multiple systems neuropathy of grazing horses of unknown aetiology. An apparently identical disease occurs in cats, dogs, rabbits, hares, sheep, alpacas and llamas. Many of the risk factors for EGS are consistent with it being a pasture mycotoxicosis. To identify potential causal fungi, the gastrointestinal mycobiota of EGS horses were evaluated using targeted amplicon sequencing, and compared with those of two control groups. Samples were collected post mortem from up to 5 sites in the gastrointestinal tracts of EGS horses (EGS group; 150 samples from 54 horse...
Satoh M, Fujinaga T, Okumura M, Hagio M.To measure the concentration of serum amyloid A (sAA) protein in horses, a sensitive and highly reproducible sandwich (ELISA) was established, using affinity purified SAA antibody. Results of the ELISA were found to have a high correlation (r = 0.95) with those of the single radial immunodiffusion test. Equine SAA concentration was measured by use of this ELISA. In clinically normal horses, the concentration of SAA was high immediately after birth to 2 weeks of age. After that, SAA concentration had periodic fluctuations in the range of approximately 1.0 to 30 micrograms/ml. Mean (+/- SD)) con...
Carter RA, Engiles JB, Megee SO, Senoo M, Galantino-Homer HL.Abnormal epidermal stem cell regulation may contribute to the pathogenesis of equine chronic laminitis. Objective: To analyse the involvement of p63, a regulator of epidermal stem cell proliferative potential, in chronic laminitis. Methods: Epidermal tissues from skin, coronet and lamellae of the dorsal foot were harvested from 5 horses with chronic laminitis and 5 control horses. Tissues were analysed using histopathology, immunofluorescence microscopy and quantitative immunoblotting. Results: Hoof lamellae of laminitic horses had a lower frequency of p63 positive cells than control lamellae,...
Mendes Junior AAV, Filgueira CPB, Miranda LFC, de Almeida AB, Cantanhêde LM, Fagundes A, Pereira SA, Menezes RC, Cupolillo E.Epidemiological data related to leishmaniases or Leishmania infection in horses are scarce. However, studies carried out in different regions in the world showed equids parasitised by Leishmania braziliensis, L. infantum and L. martiniquensis. Objective: Identify the Leishmania species causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in a mare, living in Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil), and search the presence of Leishmania viruses in the isolated parasite. Methods: Isoenzymes and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting ITSrDNA region followed by sequencing were conducted for typing the isolated parasite. A se...
Tartor YH, El Damaty HM, Mahmmod YS.Rapid and accurate identification of dermatophytes is crucial for the effective control of disease outbreaks. Current methods based on culture and microscopic characteristics may require weeks before positive identification is made. Objective: To (i) identify the most common pathogenic dermatophytes affecting Arabian horses; (ii) compare the performance of direct microscopy (DM), culture, PCR using hair samples (PCRhair ) and PCR based on culture isolates (PCRculture ) for the diagnosis of dermatophytosis. Methods: Samples of hair and crusts of skin lesions from Arabian horses were collected o...
Altan E, Hui A, Li Y, Pesavento P, AsÃn J, Crossley B, Deng X, Uzal FA, Delwart E.Six foals with interstitial pneumonia of undetermined etiology from Southern California were analyzed by viral metagenomics. Spleen, lung, and colon content samples obtained during necropsy from each animal were pooled, and nucleic acids from virus-like particles enriched for deep sequencing. The recently described equine copiparvovirus named eqcopivirus, as well as three previously uncharacterized viruses, were identified. The complete ORFs genomes of two closely related protoparvoviruses, and of a bocaparvovirus, plus the partial genome of a picornavirus were assembled. The parvoviruses were...
Klier J, Lindner D, Reese S, Mueller RS, Gehlen H.Potential triggers for equine asthma are allergens from hay and straw dusts, mold spores and storage mites. The contribution of these environmental trigger factors to equine asthma is still largely uncertain. The aim of this study was to compare results of four allergy tests from healthy and asthma-affected horses, and to evaluate the clinical relevance of allergens tested positive via specific inhalation provocation test. Fifteen horses were classified using a clinical scoring system as asthmatic (n = 9) or control (n = 6). Four different allergy tests (functional in vitro test, intraderm...
Pellegrini-Masini A, Bentz AI, Johns IC, Parsons CS, Beech J, Whitlock RH, Flaminio MJ.Three adult horses were evaluated for signs of musculoskeletal pain, dullness, ataxia, and seizures. A diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was made on the basis of results of CSF analysis. Because primary bacterial meningitis is so rare in adult horses without any history of generalized sepsis or trauma, immune function testing was pursued. Flow cytometric phenotyping of peripheral blood lymphocytes was performed, and proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, and lipopolysaccharide was determined. Serum IgA, IgM, and IgG co...
Rivera D, Allel K, Dueñas F, Tardone R, Soza P, Hamilton-West C, Moreno-Switt AI.Salmonella is a major bacterial foodborne pathogen that causes the majority of worldwide food-related outbreaks and hospitalizations. Salmonellosis outbreaks can be caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public health and safer food production. Nevertheless, the drivers of MDR Salmonella serovars have remained poorly understood. In this study, we compare the resistance profiles of Salmonella strains isolated from 4047 samples from domestic and wild animals in Chile. A total of 106 Salmonella strains (2.61%) are isolated, and their serogroups are ...
Sacco SC, Ortega J, Navarro MA, Fresneda KC, Anderson M, Woods LW, Moore J, Uzal FA.Gas gangrene occurs in several animal species and is caused by one or more clostridial species. In horses, the disease is most often caused by Clostridium perfringens type A. Although Clostridium sordellii has been associated with gas gangrene in ruminants and humans, cases of the disease associated with this microorganism have not been described in horses, to our knowledge. We report herein 8 cases of gas gangrene caused by C. sordellii in horses. These cases were characterized by myonecrosis and cellulitis, associated with systemic changes suggestive of toxic shock. The diagnosis was confirm...
De-Simone SG, Souza ALA, Aguiar AS, Melgarejo AR, Provance DW.Hypersensitive diseases that involve IgE reactivity are important concern of public, especially those encompassing the potential pathogenesis from the administration of horse serum-based therapeutics such as antivenoms. A method for the definitive diagnosis of reactive IgE is important for identifying allergic patients to control severe collateral effects during planned and emergency application of immunotherapies when the allergy source cannot be avoided for treatment. To date, no tests have been developed to accompany the wide range of antivenoms produced from horse sera. The aim of this was...
Schobesberger H, Peham C.The purpose of this study was to investigate whether artificial neural networks could be used to determine equine lameness by computational means only. The integral parts of our approach were the combination of automated signal tracking of horses on a treadmill and the computational power of artificial neural networks (ANN). The motion of 175 horses trotting on a treadmill was recorded using the SELSPOT II system for motion analysis. Two cameras traced infrared (IR) markers on the head and on the left forehoof. The motion of the head was Fourier-transformed and further processed by a multilaye...
Evans KS, Carpenter SL, Sevoian M.The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antigen-positive and agar-gel immunodiffusion test (AGID)-negative horses do not have infective equine infectious anemia (EIA) virus. The ELISA testing of horse leukocyte culture (HLC) supernatants did detect EIA virus in a HLC that was infected with the Wyoming strain of EIA virus and in HLC derived from horses in febrile, acute, or subacute stages of EIA infection. In supernatants of HLC derived from chronic and inapparent carrier horses, EIA virus was not detected with ELISA. Direct fluorescent antibody tests detected EIA virus in HLC infected w...
Snyder JR.Intestinal edema, luminal distention, and ischemia are common pathologic processes involved in producing the intestinal damage found during surgical exploration for acute abdominal disorders in the horse. The severity of intestinal edema depends on the degree of altered intravascular forces and changes in capillary permeability. Capillary hydrostatic pressure rises as the less pliable venules and veins become occluded during intestinal obstruction. Concurrently, the production of various endogenous products that damage the vascular wall leads to increases in capillary permeability and protein ...
Ginther OJ.Prolonged luteal activity is one of the most formidable terminology challenges in mare reproductive biology. Prolonged luteal activity can be a result of persistence of an individual corpus luteum or the sequential development of luteal glands, each of which may have a normal life span. Luteal tissue can originate from an unovulated follicle or from an ovulation occurring during either follicular or luteal dominance. These complexities, together with ambiguous and inconsistent terminology, have resulted in confusion regarding those conditions which can be grouped broadly under the term prolong...
Sampson SN, Schneider RK, Gavin PR, Ho CP, Tucker RL, Charles EM.Seventy-two horses with recent onset of navicular syndrome and normal radiographs were assessed. Horses underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of both front feet. All abnormalities were characterized and the most severe abnormality identified, if possible. Abnormal signal intensity in the navicular bone was the most severe abnormality in 24 (33%) horses. Pathologic change in the deep digital flexor tendon was the most severe abnormality in 13 (18%) horses. Pathologic change in the collateral sesamoidean ligament was the most severe abnormality in 11 (15%) horses. Pathologic change in the di...
Taira T, Fujinaga T, Okumura M, Yamashita K, Tsunoda N, Mizuno S.Haptoglobin (Hp) was isolated from equine serum by ammonium sulphate precipitation, anion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Equine Hp which migrated to the alpha 2-globulin region in electrophoresis, contained 2 fractions with molecular weights (NW) of 108,000 and 105,000, and each fraction consisting of 2 subunits. Quantitative measurement of Hp in equine serum was performed by the single radial immunodiffusion method using anti-equine Hp serum. In clinically normal horses, the highest concentration of serum Hp was found in newborn foals and a high value was maintained until 12 mont...
Rollinson J, Taylor FG, Chesney J.Six cases of accidental salinomycin poisoning in horses are described. The horses were fed a contaminated ration and presented clinical signs which were extremely varied in nature and severity. However, the range of signs, including anorexia, colic, weakness and ataxia bore similarities to those described in horses poisoned with the related ionophore monensin. Other similarities became apparent in serum biochemical profiles of the clinical cases. Although ionophore toxicity is rarely reported in horses they appear to be particularly susceptible, and it should therefore be considered as a diffe...
Boos GS, Nobach D, Failing K, Eickmann M, Herden C.A suitable RNA extraction protocol was established to gain high quality RNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues to perform reliable molecular assays either applicable for using FFPE tissue archives or tissues with harsh formalin-fixation. Eighteen FFPE samples from the central nervous system of horses, stored up to 11 years, were used as archive cases. To test the influence of the fixation period, brain, liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle tissue fragments from another horse, were treated either with water or tris-acetate-EDTA buffer after fixation under different timepoints with 10...
East LM, Dargatz DA, Traub-Dargatz JL, Savage CJ.Enterocolitis associated with Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) infection in neonatal foals is often severe and has been associated with a high case-mortality risk. We designed a premises-based survey to evaluate the associations of regional foaling practices, premises environmental management, periparturient foal and brood-mare management, and periparturient brood-mare ration with the occurrence of neonatal enterocolitis attributed to C. perfringens infection. Potential risk factors individually associated with enterocolitis were breed type, housing type at foaling and in the first thr...
Sikora M, Król J, Nowak M, Stefaniak T, Aubertsson G, Kozdrowski R.Endometritis is a common problem in a broodmare practice, often leading to infertility. The diagnosis is based on several methods such as cytology, bacteriology and histopathology; however the outcome of these methods may be inconclusive even when used together. The objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate the usefulness of acute phase proteins as an additional diagnostic tool for diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in mares and (2) to evaluate the association between macroscopic changes in uterine flushes and inflammation of the uterus. Materials were collected from 53 Icelandic ma...
Skedros JG, Dayton MR, Sybrowsky CL, Bloebaum RD, Bachus KN.It has been hypothesized that a major objective of morphological adaptation in limb-bone diaphyses is the achievement of uniform regional safety factors between discrete cortical locations (e.g. between cranial and caudal cortices at mid-diaphysis). This hypothesis has been tested, and appears to be supported in the diaphyses of ovine and equine radii. The present study more rigorously examined this question using the equine third metacarpal (MC3), which has had functionally generated intracortical strains estimated by a sophisticated finite element model. Mechanical properties of multiple mid...
Gerard MP, Blikslager AT, Roberts MC, Tate LP, Argenzio RA.Recent studies suggest that horses requiring surgical correction of strangulating intestinal obstruction may develop post operative complications as a result of ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore, the mucosal and serosal margins of resected small intestine from 9 horses with small intestinal strangulating lesions were examined for evidence of ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Severe mucosal injury and marked elevations in myeloperoxidase activity were detected at ileal resection margins (n = 4), whereas the mucosa from proximal jejunal (n = 9) and distal jejunal (n = 5) resection margins was ...
Van Der Vekens N, Decloedt A, Ven S, De Clercq D, van Loon G.Different cardiac troponin I (cTnI) assays give different results. Only 1 manufacturer has marketed troponin T (cTnT) assays. Therefore, cTnT often is preferred for detection of myocardial infarction in human patients. Studies of cTnT in horses are limited. Objective: To compare a cTnI and a high-sensitive cTnT assay (hs-cTnT) in horses. Methods: Cardiac troponin I and cTnT were determined in 35 healthy horses (group 1), 23 horses suspected to have primary myocardial damage (group 2a), and 41 horses with secondary myocardial damage caused by structural heart disease (group 2b). Methods: All cT...
Zhu Y, Jiang W, Holyoak R, Liu B, Li J.The objective of this study was to investigate the oral microbial composition of the donkey and whether basic dental treatment, such as dental floating, would make a difference to the oral microbial environment in donkeys with dental diseases using high-throughput bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Oral swab samples were collected from 14 donkeys with various dental abnormalities on day 0 (before treatment) and day 20 (twenty days after treatment). It is the first report focusing on the oral microbiome in donkeys with dental diseases and the impact of common dental procedures thereon. Identif...
Ushimi C, Henson JB, Gorham JR.Primary horse leukocyte cultures were inoculated with 2 or 10 50% tissue culture infective doses (TCID(50)) of equine infectious anemia (EIA) virus per cell, and the titer of cell-associated and fluid-phase virus was determined from 1 to 72 hr postinoculation (PI). Cover slips were collected from 4 to 72 hr PI and stained for EIA viral antigen by the indirect immunofluorescent (FA) technique. Viral replication was detected after a latent period of approximately 18 to 24 hr and reached peak titers of approximately 10(4.5) to 10(6) TCID(50)/0.5 ml from 48 to 72 hr PI. The fluid phase contained 1...
Burgueño A, Spinsanti L, DÃaz LA, Rivarola ME, Arbiza J, Contigiani M, Delfraro A.St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) and West Nile virus (WNV) belong to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex (Flavivirus genus, Flaviviridae family). They show antigenic close relationships and share many similarities in their ecology. Both are responsible for serious human diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of neutralizing antibodies to these viruses in horses from Uruguay. To do this, 425 horse sera were collected in 2007 and analyzed by plaque reduction neutralization tests. As a result, 205 sera (48.2%) were found positive for SLEV, with titers ranging b...
Kiemle J, Hindenberg S, Bauer N, Roecken M.Rapid, accurate detection of serum amyloid A (SAA) is needed in equine practice. We validated a patient-side point-of-care (POC) assay (Stablelab; Zoetis) compared to the turbidimetric immunoassays LZ-SAA (TIA-Hum) and VET-SAA (TIA-Vet; both Eiken Chemical). Analytical performance was assessed at 3 different concentration ranges and with interferences. Inter-method comparison using 49 equine serum samples revealed a significant difference between median SAA results ( < 0.0001), with the strongest bias between the POC and TIA-Vet (median 1,093 vs. 578 mg/L). The median SAA value obtain...
Johnson JA, Prescott JF, Markham RJ.The intragastric inoculation of a suspension of Corynebacterium equi on five consecutive days induced severe ulcerative colitis, typhlitis, and lymphadenitis of colonic and cecal nodes in two ponies necropsied three weeks after infection. No gross lesions were observed in two ponies necropsied ten days after infection. A single inoculum of equivalent size failed to induce gross lesions in four ponies killed at ten or 20 days after infection. Microscopic lesions consistent with early C. equi infection of Peyer's patches were seen in two of the ponies killed ten days after infection. Only one sm...
