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.
Jeske JM, Spier SJ, Whitcomb MB, Pusterla N, Gardner IA.To estimate likelihood ratios (LRs) of correctly identifying internal Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in horses by measurement of antibody titers via serum synergistic hemolysis inhibition (SHI) testing. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: 170 horses (171 records; 92 cases of C pseudotuberculosis infection and 79 controls). Methods: Medical records were reviewed, and horses were grouped on the basis of evidence of internal or external C pseudotuberculosis infection. The LRs and 95% confidence intervals for identification of internal C pseudotuberculosis infection b...
Kelmer G, Martin-Jimenez T, Saxton AM, Catasus C, Elliot SB, Lakritz J.There are no reported studies evaluating the use of erythromycin for regional limb perfusion (RLP) in horses. Our hypothesis was that using the cephalic and saphenous veins for RLP will enable delivery of therapeutic concentrations of erythromycin to the distal limb. Nineteen healthy horses participated in the study. The cephalic, saphenous or palmar digital (PD) vein was used to perfuse the limb with erythromycin. Synovial samples were collected from the metacarpo/metatarso-phalangeal (MCP/MTP) joint and blood samples were collected from the jugular vein. Maximum concentration (C(max)) of ery...
de Araújo Silva DO, Matis GK, Costa LF, Kitamura MA, de Carvalho Junior EV, de Moura Silva M, Barbosa BJ, Pereira CU, da Silva JC, Birbilis TA....To present the accumulated experience from treating chronic subdural hematomas (CSDH) in a local hospital of a third world country. Methods: One hundred and twenty-five consecutive patients with CSDH who were surgically treated in the Neurosurgical Department of the Hospital da Restauração, Recife-PE, Brazil, between January 2006 and May 2008, were retrospectively studied. Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was employed to define outcome at 6 months as good (GOS 4 and 5) or poor (GOS ≤ 3). Age, admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), location of hematomas (unilateral/bilateral), drainage system place...
Schaffer PA, Wobeser B, Martin LE, Dennis MM, Duncan CG.To identify epidemiological trends in cutaneous neoplasms affecting equids in central North America and compare them with previously reported trends. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 3,351 cutaneous biopsy specimens from 3,272 equids with a neoplastic diagnosis. Methods: Diagnostic reports from 2 diagnostic laboratories (Colorado State University and Prairie Diagnostic Services Inc) were reviewed for frequency of specific lesions and epidemiological trends. Variables included in analyses (if known) were age, sex, breed, geographic location, date of diagnosis, location of neoplasm o...
Szczepanik MP, Wilkołek PM, Pluta M, Adamek ŁR, Pomorski ZJ.The purpose of this study was to evaluate transepidermal water loss, skin hydration and skin pH in normal ponies. Sixteen ponies of both sexes were examined in the study. Measurements were taken from seven different sites: the neck region, the shoulder, thorax, lumbar, inguinal, lip region and the auricle. In each of the regions transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration and skin pH were measured. For transepidermal water loss, the lowest values were observed in the lumbar region (9.71g/hm2), while the highest values were observed in the lip region (22.35 g/hm2). In the case of skin hydr...
Olver CS, Nielsen VG.Carboxyheme and metheme states modulate hemostasis in humans and other species. Further, carbon monoxide and/or nitric oxide production increase in inflammatory disorders involving the gastrointestinal tract, with associated hypercoagulability or hypocoagulability. In particular, the horse suffers both thrombotic or coagulopathic complications during acute gastrointestinal disease. This investigation characterized the thrombelastographic response to carboxyheme (via CORM-2) or metheme (via phenylhydroxylamine, PHA) states without/with addition of tissue type plasminogen activator. Citrated pla...
Agrawal K, Ebel JG, Altier C, Bischoff K.The leaves of Acer rubrum (red maple), especially when wilted in the fall, cause severe oxidative damage to equine erythrocytes, leading to potentially fatal methemoglobinemia and hemolytic anemia. Gallic acid and tannins from A. rubrum leaves have been implicated as the toxic compounds responsible for red maple toxicosis, but the mechanism of action and toxic principle(s) have not been elucidated to date. In order to investigate further how red maple toxicosis occurs, aqueous solutions of gallic acid, tannic acid, and ground dried A. rubrum leaves were incubated with contents of equine ileum,...
Osińska E, Golke A, Słońska A, Cymerys J, Bańbura MW, Dzieciatkowski T.Equid herpesvirus type 2 (EHV-2) together with equid herpesvirus type 5 are members of Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily, genus Rhadinovirus. EHV-2 is one of major agents causing diseases of horses common worldwide. A possible role of EHV-2 in reactivating latent equid herpesvirus type-1 has been suggested, because reactivation of latent EHV-1 was always accompanied by EHV-2 replication. Variety techniques, including cell culture, PCR and its modifications, have been used to diagnose EHV-2 infections. The aim of this study was to develop, optimize and determine specificity of real-time PCR (qPCR) f...
Swadzba ME, Hauck SM, Naim HY, Amann B, Deeg CA.Complete knowledge of autoantigen spectra is crucial for understanding pathomechanisms of autoimmune diseases like equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), a spontaneous model for human autoimmune uveitis. While several ERU autoantigens were identified previously, no membrane protein was found so far. As there is a great overlap between glycoproteins and membrane proteins, the aim of this study was to test whether pre-enrichment of retinal glycoproteins by ConA affinity is an effective tool to detect autoantigen candidates among membrane proteins. In 1D Western blots, the glycoprotein preparation allow...
Diouf ND, Etter E, Lo MM, Lo M, Akakpo AJ.Since first being detected in Nigeria in January 2007, African horse sickness virus serotype 2 (AHSV-2) has spread throughout the northern hemisphere, and was first reported in Senegal. A retrospective study was conducted from December 2009 to April 2010 using data collected in the field combined with information available at the Direction of Veterinary Services. The epidemic started in the Dakar region with two outbreaks in March and June 2007, respectively, and spread in several parts of the country between July and November 2007. During this period, 232 outbreaks and 1137 horse deaths were ...
Setterbo JJ, Chau A, Fyhrie PB, Hubbard M, Upadhyaya SK, Symons JE, Stover SM.Racetrack surface is a risk factor for racehorse injuries and fatalities. Current research indicates that race surface mechanical properties may be influenced by material composition, moisture content, temperature, and maintenance. Race surface mechanical testing in a controlled laboratory setting would allow for objective evaluation of dynamic properties of surface and factors that affect surface behavior. Objective: To develop a method for reconstruction of race surfaces in the laboratory and validate the method by comparison with racetrack measurements of dynamic surface properties. Methods...
Kelleher ME, Brosnan RJ, Kass PH, le Jeune SS.To determine if preoperative physical examination and blood work values, intraoperative physiologic variables, and intraoperative treatments can be correlated with survival to anesthetic recovery and short-term survival to hospital discharge in horses that undergo exploratory celiotomy for large colon volvulus (LCV) with and without colon resection. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Horses (n = 156) undergoing exploratory celiotomy for correction of LCV ≥ 360(ο) . Methods: Medical records (January 2000-December 2009) of horses that had surgical correction of LCV ≥ 360(ο) were ...
Hansen S, Sun L, Baptiste KE, Fjeldborg J, Horohov DW.Diseases of the lower airways represent some of the most common conditions affecting horses of all ages, but the type and severity tends to follow the horses' age. The age-related dysregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines may, in part contribute to the development of the diseases. Therefore, we hypothesize that the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines increases with age. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from clinically healthy horses of different ages were used for the investigation. The cells were stimulated and the production of IFN-γ an...
Kinnunen PM, Palva A, Vaheri A, Vapalahti O.Borna disease virus (BDV) has gained lot of interest because of its zoonotic potential, ability to introduce cDNA of its RNA transcripts into host genomes, and ability to cause severe neurobehavioural diseases. Classical Borna disease is a progressive meningoencephalomyelitis in horses and sheep, known in central Europe for centuries. According to current knowledge, BDV or a close relative also infects several other species, including humans at least occasionally, in central Europe and elsewhere, but the existence of potential 'human Borna disease' with its suspected neuropsychiatric symptoms ...
Marqués FJ, Sharma A, Wilson DG.Advanced diagnostic imaging and histopathological investigation were performed in an adult horse with chronic facial swelling due to a bone sequestrum and abscessation. In contrast to other cases, there were no draining tracts, difficulty eating, weight loss, head shaking, or fistula formation between the oral cavity and the maxillary sinus. Une investigation d’imagerie diagnostique avancée et un examen histopathologique ont été réalisés chez un cheval adulte présentant de l’enflure faciale chronique attribuable à un séquestre osseux et à une abcédation. Par contraste à d’aut...
Panzani S, Castagnetti C, Prandi A, Faustini M, Zamboni A, Veronesi MC.Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I represents one of the most important growth regulators, playing a central role in fetal and neonatal growth. Plasma IGF-I levels increase rapidly after birth, and they are influenced by numerous factors, including sex, age, nutritional state, and premature birth. The aims of this study were: (1) to evaluate the IGF-I plasma profile in healthy newborn foals during the first 2 weeks of life; (2) to assess the possible influence of sex and birth weight on this hormone; (3) to analyze the percentage increment of IGF-I values in healthy foals; (4) to evaluate the ...
Findley JA, De Oliveira F, Bladon B.To determine typical clinical features associated with tears of the manica flexoria (MF) and prognosis for return to athletic function after surgical resection. Methods: Case series. Methods: Medical records (January 2001-December 2011) of horses that underwent tenoscopic surgical treatment of MF tears were reviewed and outcome obtained by telephone questionnaire of owners. Results: Fifty three horses (65 MF tears) were treated; 83% were cobs or ponies. Injuries occurred more frequently in hindlimbs (85%) and effusion of the digital flexor tendon sheath was associated with all MF tears. Follow...
Hart KA, Linnenkohl W, Mayer JR, House AM, Gold JR, Giguère S.Medical management of sand enteropathy is common in equine practice, but the clinical features and outcomes associated with medically managed sand enteropathy are not well described. Objective: To review clinical features, therapeutic approaches and outcomes associated with primary medical management of sand enteropathy in the mature horse. Methods: Medical record databases at 3 equine referral hospitals from January 2000 to April 2010 were reviewed for cases of sand enteropathy diagnosed via abdominal radiographs in mature horses that were initially managed medically. Data were collected and ...
Erridge ME, Cox AL, Dixon PM.Peripheral caries of equine cheek teeth is a poorly described disorder and, in particular little is known of its histopathology. Histological examinations of decalcified sections of 21 equine peripheral caries-affected cheek teeth showed two different patterns of cemental lesions; including progressive enlargement of focal, flask-like lesions leading to breakdown of the adjacent cementum, and secondly; a more generalized flaking-off of thin layers of under-run, surface cementum. A thick layer of plaque and food material usually lay on the surface of affected cementum and also within cemental d...
van Galen G, Cerri S, Porter S, Saegerman C, Lefere L, Roscher K, Marr C, Amory H, Votion DM.Descriptions of acid-base disturbances in atypical myopathy (AM) are limited. Objective: Describe and compare traditional and quantitative acid-base abnormalities and cardiovascular shock status in horses with AM at admission. Methods: 34 horses with AM, 15 healthy controls. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Records were searched for shock variables (packed cell volume [PCV], blood urea nitrogen [BUN], heart and respiratory rate) and acid-base variables (venous blood gas analysis, electrolytes, total protein, lactate) on admission. Base excess (BE) of free water (BEfw), chloride (BEcl...
Puchalski SM.Advances in equine computed tomography have been made as a result of improvements in software and hardware and an increasing body of knowledge. Contrast media can be administered intravascularly or intrathecally. Contrast media is useful to differentiate between tissues of similar density. Equine computed tomography can be used for many different clinical conditions, including lameness diagnosis, fracture identification and characterization, preoperative planning, and characterization of skull diseases.
Werpy NM, Denoix JM.Injury to the suspensory ligament can result in significant lameness. Multiple imaging modalities may be required to fully characterize injury to the suspensory ligament. Ultrasonography of the suspensory ligament is challenging, due to the normal anatomy. This article describes imaging of the proximal suspensory ligament in the front and hind limbs of the horse.
Pease A.The use of molecular imaging of cartilage is the next vital step in understanding, treating, and training the equine athlete. Because of the logistics of precontrast and postcontrast medium imaging, the clinical usefulness of the examination has come into question. With the large number of horses undergoing high-field magnetic resonance imaging, the use of contrast medium administration and T1 mapping or T2 imaging precontrast and postcontrast medium administration may add a limited amount of time to the scan and has the potential to provide more detailed information about the chemical composi...
Winter MD.The usefulness of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis of equine lameness is unquestionable. As with most imaging modalities, advances in technology happen quickly, and the information that can be obtained can seem limitless. An understanding of MR sequences, expected signal intensity of normal tissues, and the role of multiplanar imaging is the foundation for interpreting MR images. The rapid development of new techniques and sequences and the potential for biochemical changes to be indirectly assessed using MR spectroscopy offer possibilities for the continued development of this...
Mohammed HO, Divers TJ, Kwak J, Omar AH, White ME, de Lahunta A.To investigate the influence of oxidative stress in terms of antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation on the probability of motor neuron disease (MND) in horses. Methods: 88 horses with MND (cases) and 49 controls. Methods: Blood samples were collected from all horses enrolled, and RBCs and plasma were harvested. Activity of the enzyme erythrocytic superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) was determined in the RBCs. Plasma concentrations of α-tocopherols and β-carotenes and activity of glutathione peroxidase were also evaluated. Degree of lipid peroxidation was measured by determining plasma concent...
Oliveira T, Santos A, Silva J, Trindade P, Yamada A, Jaramillo F, Silva L, Baccarin R.In humans, hospitalisation, disease type, and environmental factors evidently affect the quality of sleep, further influencing patient recovery. The objective of the present study was to report the resting and lying behaviour of hospitalised horses, and whether lying behaviours differ depending on the physiological severity of joint damage. We hypothesised that the resting and lying behaviour can change during the hospitalisation and physiological severity of joint damage affect the time of rest in horses. A descriptive observational study was performed to evaluate the effect of hospitalisatio...
Bedenice D, Heuwieser W, Brawer R, Solano M, Rand W, Paradis MR.A total of 207 thoracic radiographs obtained from 128 foals were evaluated to assess the impact of pulmonary radiographic pattern, distribution, and severity of pulmonary changes on short-term survival of neonatal foals. The association between selected clinical variables and the radiographic manifestation of neonatal respiratory disease was also investigated. The evaluation of interstitial and alveolar-interstitial radiographic patterns within the caudodorsal, caudoventral, and cranioventral lung regions proved to be highly reliable between viewers in the study. A diagnosis of systemic inflam...
van der Kolk JH, Heinrichs M, van Amerongen JD, Stooker RC, in de Wal LJ, van den Ingh TS.To determine size and weight of the pituitary gland and associations between pituitary gland size and weight and sex and age in horses without clinical signs associated with pituitary pars intermedia adenoma (PPIA) and horses and ponies with PPIA. Methods: Pituitary glands from 100 horses without clinical signs of PPIA and 19 horses and 17 ponies with PPIA. Methods: Pituitary glands were weighed, measured, and examined histologically by use of H&E stain. Masson trichrome and periodic acid-Schiff staining were used, when appropriate. Histologic lesions in the pars intermedia, pars distalis,...
Shettko DL.As laparoscopic surgery gains popularity, it becomes crucial to understand complications associated with the procedure. The potential complications of laparoscopy include those related to laparoscopy and those related to the surgical procedure. As new applications for laparoscopic surgery emerge, it is important for the surgeon to become familiar with potential complications.
Nagamine CM, Castro F, Buchanan B, Schumacher J, Craig LE.Spirochetes were identified histologically in canker (proliferative pododermatitis) in 3 horses. The data suggest that spirochetes may contribute to the pathology of equine chronic foot diseases similar to the manner in which they contribute to the pathology of bovine papillomatous digital dermatitis and contagious ovine digital dermatitis.
Barclay WP, Phillips TN, Foerner JJ.Intussusception associated with Anoplocephala perfoliata infection was found in 5 horses. The unusual types of intussusception and the presence of tapeworms at the leading edge of the intussuscipiens suggested tapeworms as the cause of the problem. Lesions attributable to tapeworm attachment on the mucosa were found to fit a mechanical model of intussusception. Treatment of two of the horses and some of their pasturemates with pyrantel pamoate caused elimination of intact tapeworms.
Divers TJ, Irby NL, Mohammed HO, Schwark WS.Information on antibiotic concentrations in the equine eye following systemic therapy is limited. Reports that Leptospira spp. are frequently present in the eyes of horses with recurrent uveitis, emphasises a need for studies on ocular concentrations of specific antibiotics. Objective: 1) Enrofloxacin, administered i.v. at 7.5 mg/kg bwt q. 24 h, results in aqueous humour concentrations greater than the reported minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Leptospira pomona. 2) Aqueous humour paracentesis sufficiently disrupts the blood-aqueous humour barrier (BAB) to cause an increase in aqueous...
Postey RC, Appleyard GD, Kidney BA.Immunohistochemical (IHC) testing and electron microscopy have implicated Papillomavirus (PV) as the etiologic agent for equine papillomas and aural plaques, but Equine papillomavirus (EPV) DNA has yet to be demonstrated in these lesions by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The purpose of this study was to evaluate formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from naturally occurring cases of equine papillomas, aural plaques, and sarcoids for the presence of EPV DNA by means of PCR and for the presence of PV antigen by means of IHC testing. We used EPV-specific primers that amplified a region of 3...
Sandow C, Fugler LA, Leise B, Riggs L, Monroe WT, Totaro N, Belknap J, Eades S.Laminitis has a considerable impact on the equine industry. Endocrinopathic laminitis is the most common form and affected horses often have hyperinsulinaemia due to an underlying metabolic disorder. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if insulin weakens the structural integrity of digital lamellae and to develop an ex vivo model for the study of hyperinsulinaemia-induced lamellar failure. Methods: Ex vivo experiment. Methods: Biomechanical testing was used to assess the structural integrity of lamellar explants exposed to either medium alone (control) or medium supplemented with...
Elfenbein JR, Sanchez LC.Gastric ulcer disease is reported to be a significant cause of morbidity in foals, but the prevalence of ulcers in this population has not recently been evaluated. Objective: To determine the prevalence of gastric and duodenal ulceration in nonsurviving foals, and the association of ulceration with the body system of primary diagnosis. Secondary objectives were to evaluate a potential association between age and ulcer prevalence and to evaluate the use of antacid medication in the neonatal hospital population during the study years. Methods: Necropsy records were searched for all equine access...
Toribio RE.Knowledge of urinary tract anatomy and the numerous functions of the kidney in regulating fluids, electrolytes, acid-base balance, and waste products improves the ability of the clinician to diagnose, treat, and make appropriate recommendations for the management of the horse with renal disease. Several conditions can directly or indirectly affect renal function on a temporary or permanent basis. Endogenous and exogenous compounds (eg, drugs, toxins, hemoglobin) alone or in combination with inappropriate renal blood flow can promote or exacerbate renal disease.
Rüfenacht S, Straub R, Steinmann B, Winand N, Bidaut A, Stoffel MH, Gerber V, Wyder M, Müller E, Roosje PJ.Hereditary equine dermal asthenia (HERDA) is an autosomal recessive skin disease that affects predominantly Quarter Horses and related breeds. Typical symptoms are easy bruising and hyperextensible skin on the back. The prognosis is guarded, as affected horses cannot be ridden normally and are often euthanised. In the Quarter Horse, HERDA is associated with a mutation in cyclophilin B (PPIB), an enzyme involved in triple helix formation of collagen. Here we describe the case of a Swiss Warmblood filly with symptoms of HERDA without PPIB-mutation and in which we also could exclude Ehlers-Danlos...
Navas de Solís C, Reef VB, Slack J, Jose-Cunilleras E.To evaluate horses with atrial fibrillation for hypercoagulability; plasma D-dimer concentrations, as a marker of a procoagulant state; and a relationship between coagulation profile results and duration of atrial fibrillation or presence of structural heart disease. Methods: Case-control study. Methods: Plasma samples from 42 horses (25 with atrial fibrillation and 17 without cardiovascular or systemic disease [control group]). Methods: Results of hematologic tests (ie, plasma fibrinogen and D-dimer concentrations, prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times, and antithrombin activ...
Cassimeris L, Engiles JB, Galantino-Homer H.Supporting Limb Laminitis (SLL) is a painful and crippling secondary complication of orthopedic injuries and infections in horses, often resulting in euthanasia. SLL causes structural alterations and inflammation of the interdigitating layers of specialized epidermal and dermal tissues, the lamellae, which suspend the equine distal phalanx from the hoof capsule. Activation of the interleukin-17A (IL-17A)-dependent inflammatory pathway is an epidermal stress response that contributes to physiologic cutaneous wound healing as well as pathological skin conditions. As a first test of the hypothesi...
Dutta SK.An adenovirus was isolated from a foal with respiratory tract disease. The virus produced cytopathic effects (CPE) in equine embryo kidney (EEK) cell culture, contained deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), was resistant to chloroform and pH 3, and was moderately resistant to heat. The virus caused hemagglutination of human (type O) erythrocytes. Viral density was 1.34 g/cm,3 and diameter was 75 nm. An adenovirus-associated virus (AAV) isolated from the infected cell culture was 22 nm in diameter. These viruses are classified as equine adenovirus and equine AAV.
Bocklisch H, Ludwig C, Lange S.Between 1982 and 1989 59 equine fetuses were investigated for chlamydiae using animal experiments and embryonated eggs. Chlamydiae were isolated from 16 fetuses (27.1%) originating from 8 studs. The macroscopical lesions of the fetal organs were characterized by extensive haemorrhages. The histological picture shows severe lesions of the blood vessels of different organs. In 6 studs in which chlamydiae had been isolated, blood sera of clinically healthy and pregnant mares were investigated for antibodies during 1989 and 1990. Antibody titres between 1:10++ and 1:40 were detected by using compl...
Xuan X, Chahan B, Huang X, Yokoyama N, Makala LH, Igarashi I, Fujisaki K, Maruyama S, Sakai T, Mikami T.The prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in Xinjiang province, China, was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). A total of 70 serum samples were taken from horses pastured on three farms in western Xinjiang, and examined for diagnosis of equine Babesia equi (B. equi) infection and B. caballi infection by ELISAs using recombinant equi merozoite antigen 1 (EMA-1) and recombinant P48 antigen, respectively. Of the 70 samples, 28 (40.0%) and 17 (24.3%) samples were positive for B. equi infection and B. caballi infection, respectively. In addition, 11 (15.7%) samples were positive f...
Gross TL, Mayhew IG.Gastroesophageal candidiasis in association with ulceration was diagnosed in 5 foals in which signs of colic had been nonresponsive to medical treatment. The ulceration was found in the stomach of all foals and in the esophagus of 1 foal. Candida colonized hyperkeratotic mucosa surrounding the ulcers, and the associated inflammation resulted in splitting of the mucosal epithelium. Loss of the superficial mucosa may have allowed invasion by bacteria, leading to ulceration.