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.
Buckley T, Creighton A, Fogarty U.Respiratory infections, recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) and exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) are major causes of poor performance in horses. Fungi and mycotoxins are now recognised as a major cause of these conditions. The most notable fungi are Aspergillus and Fusarium. Fungal spores can originate from forage, bedding and feed and, in turn, these fungal spores can produce a series of mycotoxins as secondary metabolites.This study set out to ascertain the degree of fungal and mycotoxin contamination in feed and fodder used in Irish racing yards over a one-year period. Weather c...
Mömke S, Distl O.Chronic pastern dermatitis predominantly affects draft horses, and this condition is characterized by hyperkeratotic-hyperplastic dermal alterations. Chronic pastern dermatitis resembles the acral-hemorrhagic phenotype of Darier-White disease in humans. The ATP2A2 gene has been shown to be responsible for human Darier-White. Thus, we chose ATP2A2 on equine chromosome 8 (ECA8) as candidate for chronic pastern dermatitis in coldblood horses. A linkage analysis was performed in 10 paternal half-sib families consisting of 85 German coldblood horses using a microsatellite closely linked to ATP2A2, ...
Spriet M, Mai W, McKnight A.Increased signal intensity in one of the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint of sound horses in images acquired using a low-field magnet with vertical orientation of the magnetic field was investigated as a possible manifestation of the magic angle effect. Three isolated equine digits were imaged using the following pulse sequences: (1) spin echo TI, (2) turbo spin echo proton density and T2, and (3) 3D gradient echo T1, in different positions by mildly changing the orientation of the long axis of the digit, in the dorsal plane, relative to the magnetic field. The si...
Lundström TS, Dahlén GG, Wattle OS.Swedish equine dental practices have empirically found that the prevalence of infundibular caries as a primary disorder in the first permanent premolar teeth (P2) of the horse upper jaw has increased during the last 10 years. A previously unknown bacterial species, Streptococcus devriesei (CCUG 47155T), which is related to Streptococcus mutans, has recently been isolated from these carious lesions. To understand the aetiology of caries in horses, it is essential to elucidate the relationship between S. devriesei and P2 infundibular caries. Methods: The anterior infundibulum of maxillary P2, or...
Kutasi O, Vörös K, Biksi I, Szenci O, Sötonyi P.This paper presents the embryological and pathological features as well as the terminology and classification of common atrioventricular canal, a type of endocardial cushion defect. The authors give a complete description of an extremely rare congenital cardiac malformation in an equine neonate. The diagnosis of a complete, balanced common atrioventricular canal of type C in Rastelli's classification scheme was based on two-dimensional, contrast and colour Doppler echocardiography and subsequent postmortem gross pathology. To support our diagnosis and study the pathophysiological effect of the...
Hill DE, Forbes L, Kramer M, Gajadhar A, Gamble HR.The horse is considered an aberrant host for the nematode parasite Trichinella spiralis, and many aspects of the biology and epidemiology of Trichinella infection in the horse are poorly understood. It has been reported that experimentally-infected horses produce a transient serological response to infection and that muscle larvae are cleared more rapidly than in parasite-adapted hosts such as the pig and humans. However, limited numbers of animals have been studied, and both the longevity of larvae in horse musculature and the immune response to Trichinella larvae remain unclear. In this stud...
Landolt GA.Acute poisoning and envenomation often represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Although identification ultimately may benefit the affected animal, treatment frequently must commence before an etiologic diagnosis is established. Therefore, the goals for the management of acutely intoxicated horses must be focused on emergency intervention and stabilization of the patient, prevention of further exposure, and aggressive decontamination. This article reviews the treatment steps that should be considered during the management of horses experiencing poisoning or envenomation.
Palmer JE.Cardiac arrest in foals is generally secondary to other serious systemic diseases. Although it can often be anticipated, a clear plan is vital to success. Establishing cardiac output through chest compressions is the most important first step. This step should be followed by ventilation, drug therapy, identifying the nonperfusing cardiac rhythm, and following a preplanned treatment algorithm. Birth resuscitation requires special treatment considerations. The clinician should be prepared to perform resuscitation any time a birth is attended.
Marsh PS.Although not common in horses, fire and smoke inhalation trauma may require veterinary assistance at several levels. Most commonly, the equine clinician is called on to provide care of potentially complex and emotionally charged cases. Thermal injury, along with smoke inhalation, can cause local and diffuse lesions. Massive tissue edema may occur, which can be a challenge to manage as well as creating organ dysfunction at distant sites. Further complications of severely affected patients are varied and include life-threatening sepsis. This article reviews some of the important features of this...
Joyce J.Injuries to synovial structures are common in horses and may be life threatening or career ending if severe. Early recognition and initiation of aggressive treatment in the form of appropriate systemic and local antimicrobial therapy and surgical treatment improve the likelihood of a good outcome. Chronic injuries and delayed treatment may result in progression of infection into tendons, bone, and other structures, thus complicating treatment and resulting in a poorer prognosis for return to function.
Proudman CJ, Edwards GB, Barnes J.Horses requiring different methods of intestinal anastomosis during equine colic surgery may have differences in mortality and morbidity. Objective: Horses requiring side-to-side jejunocaecal anastomosis have a higher mortality and morbidity rate than those requiring end-to-end jejunojejunal anastomosis. Morbidity and mortality of handsewn vs. stapled side-to-side jejunocaecal anastomoses are not significantly different. Methods: A prospective, nonrandomised, observational study was conducted. Clinical and surgical details were recorded during hospitalisation and survival data acquired by peri...
Hassel DM.Thoracic trauma represents an important cause of morbidity in mortality after injury in human beings and animals. After any form of suspected chest wall trauma, initial emergency management should include assurance of a patent airway and adequate ventilation, along with treatment for shock if present. As with any open wound, tetanus prophylaxis should be instituted. Types of trauma to the thoracic region of the horse include pectoral and axillary lacerations, penetrating chest wounds, flail chest, fractures of the ribs, blunt thoracic trauma, and several potential sequelae that include pneumot...
Schaer BD.The emergency clinician is frequently in the position of receiving, evaluating, and initiating treatment on horses with ophthalmic emergencies or orbital trauma. In the best of circumstances, an ophthalmologist is available to guide initial therapy and ultimately assume responsibility for the management of the patient during the remainder of its hospitalization, but this is not always the case. The information presented here is meant to provide the emergency clinician with basic guidelines for the initial assessment and management of horses sustaining ocular injuries or presented with an ophth...
Branch MV, Murray RC, Dyson SJ, Goodship AE.Understanding of the development of pathology and source of pain in distal tarsal osteoarthritis is poorly understood. Magnetic resonance imaging is often used in the analysis of human osteoarthritis (OA) because it is sensitive to early changes. Objective: In association with distal tarsal joint (DTJ) pain, there will be an alteration in the characteristic subchondral bone (SCB) thickness pattern of horses with no history of pain when subjected to low-level exercise. Methods: Sixteen cadaver tarsal joints were collected from 9 mature horses with a history of tarsal pain and radiographic evide...
Jean D, Picandet V, Macieira S, Beauregard G, D'Anjou MA, Beauchamp G.Previous studies have shown that in man ultrasonography is more accurate than radiography for detecting rib fractures. Objective: To describe clinical, radiographic and ultrasonographic findings related with rib fractures in newborn foals in an equine critical care unit; and to compare diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography to radiography. Methods: A prospective ultrasonographic study was performed on 29 foals presented to the emergency unit. This study was performed at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire (CHUV), University of Montreal. Physical examination as well as radiograph...
Newton JR, Woodt JL, Chanter N.Recurring respiratory infections can contribute to prolonged burdens of disease, especially in younger horses and better knowledge of factors and effective interventions, such as vaccines, should improve therapeutic and preventive strategies. Objective: To identify factors and infections associated with naturally occurring respiratory disease in recently weaned Welsh Mountain ponies maintained at pasture and to determine whether ponies vaccinated with an experimental inactivated bacterial vaccine had lower burdens of disease and infection compared to nonvaccinated controls. Transferrin allele,...
Wensman JJ, Thorén P, Hakhverdyan M, Belák S, Berg M.Borna disease virus (BDV) is a non-segmented, negative-stranded RNA virus, which infects cells of the central nervous system (CNS) in many different species. BDV is the causative agent of the neurological disorders in horses and sheep termed classical Borna disease (BD), as well as staggering disease in cats. At present, the diagnosis staggering disease or feline BD is made by histopathology or immunohistochemistry of the CNS. In order to obtain a better clinical diagnostic tool, a duplex real-time RT-PCR assay (rRT-PCR) was developed. TaqMan probes and primers specific for the BDV P and BDV L...
Craig MI, Barrandeguy ME, Fernández FM.Equine herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) was isolated from healthy animals; therefore, the association between EHV-2 infection and respiratory disease raises the question of the role of this agent in this pathology. To date, there are no reports that relate viral excretion to health, this study then analysed 153 nasal swabs from horses in different age groups (older and younger than 1 year old) and state of health (clinically healthy and with respiratory symptoms). Results showed that the percentage of horses with viral excretion was higher within the clinically healthy group, being significative (p < 0.0...
Parsons CS, Orsini JA, Krafty R, Capewell L, Boston R.To identify risk factors for development of acute laminitis in horses during hospitalization for illness or injury. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: 73 horses that developed laminitis (case horses) and 146 horses that did not develop laminitis (control horses) during hospitalization. Methods: Case and control horses were matched in a 2:1 ratio by the date on which each horse was evaluated. Potential risk factors investigated included age, breed, and sex; highest and lowest values recorded during hospitalization for fibrinogen concentration, WBC count, PCV, and total solids c...
Venter GJ, Koekemoer JJ, Paweska JT.Confirmed outbreaks of African horse sickness (AHS) occurred in the surveillance zone of the Western Cape in 1999 and 2004, both of which led to a two-year suspension on the export of horses. Light trap surveys in the outbreak areas showed that known vector competent Culicoides species, notably C. imicola, were abundant and present in numbers equal to those in the traditional AHS endemic areas. Isolations of AHS virus serotypes 1 and 7, equine encephalosis virus, and bluetongue virus from field-collected C. imicola in the surveillance zone demonstrated that this species was highly competent an...
Cihocki LM, Divers TJ, Johnson AL, Warren AL, Schramme M, Rassnick KM, Scott DW.This case report describes a rare epitrichial sweat gland ductal carcinoma in a 14-year-old horse and is the first report of multiple carcinomas of this type in horses. Although several tumours developed, mostly on the distal extremities, over a 2-year period, the horse remained otherwise healthy. Topical treatment with imiquimod was successful for many of them.
Künzle F, Gerber V, Van Der Haegen A, Wampfler B, Straub R, Marti E.Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is a common condition in stabled horses characterized by small airway inflammation, airway neutrophilia and obstruction following exposure of susceptible horses to mouldy hay and straw and is thus regarded as a hypersensitivity reaction to mould spores. However, the role of immunoglobulin E antibodies (IgE) in the pathogenesis of RAO is unclear. We hypothesized that the number of cells with receptor-bound IgE in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and IgE levels in serum would be higher in RAO-affected than in healthy horses living in the same environment. Th...
Torina A, Vicente J, Alongi A, Scimeca S, Turlá R, Nicosia S, Di Marco V, Caracappa S, de la Fuente J.The objective of this study was to characterize the observed prevalence of tick-borne pathogens (TBP) in domestic animals in Sicily, Italy during 2003-2005. Serological (competitive ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence antibody, n = 3299) and DNA tests (polymerase chain reaction and reverse line blot, n = 2565) were conducted on horse, donkey, cattle, sheep, goat, pig and dog samples. Pathogens analysed included Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Babesia and Theileria species, and Coxiella burnetii. The most prevalent TBP were Anaplasma and Babesia species. The results reported herein suggeste...
Koivunen AL, Maisi P, Fang W, Sandholm M.To clarify the role of proteolytic enzymes in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in horses, and to investigate new possibilities for treatment of this disease by interfering in the proteolytic process. Methods: Effect of antiproteolytic activity of selected protease inhibitors on tracheal aspirates was studied in vitro, and the inhibition profiles were compared with those of purified proteases. Methods: Respiratory tract secretions with antiproteolytic activity from 9 horses with COPD. Methods: Caseinolytic agar-diffusion assay. Results: The protease-inhibition pr...
da Silva Curiel JM, Murphy CJ, Jang SS, Bellhorn RW.Nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS) are nutritionally deficient viridans streptococci that require pyridoxal for growth. Although NVS are pathogenic in human beings, they have not been considered to be pathogenic in domestic animals. In 1982 and 1983, 24 isolates of NVS were recovered from horses with ulcerative keratitis. A retrospective study was done to determine the incidence of NVS in horses with corneal disease. The medical records of 249 horses (259 eyes) examined for clinical signs of corneal disease were reviewed. Nutritionally variant streptococci were isolated from approximatel...
Sahu SP, Dardiri AH.Uterine, cervical, and clitoral specimens on swabs from pony mares infected with contagious equine equine metritis (CEM) bacteria were streaked on agar plates. Colonies of CEM bacteria were observed under CO2 incubation in 2 days on Eugon chocolate agar and Eugon blood agar plates. The diameter of the colonies varied from 0.2 mm to 1 mm in 2 days which increased to 0.3 mm to 2.0 mm on day 4. The colonies on Eugon chocolate agar plates on days 2 to 4 were shiny, brown, round, and convex, and easily glided when pushed with a loop. The diameter of the colonies on chocolate and blood agar plates m...
Williams R, Du Plessis DH, Van Wyngaardt W.Group-reactive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed to selectively detect antibodies to African horsesickness virus (AHSV) and equine encephalosis virus (EEV), 2 orbiviruses that infect equids. In indirect ELISA, guinea pig antisera to all known AHSV or EEV serotypes recognized immobilized AHSV serotype 3 or EEV Cascara, respectively. Antisera from naturally infected animals did not cross-react with their respective heterologous viruses. The ELISA was used in parallel with the complement fixation (CF) and agar gel immunodiffusion tests to detect antibodies in sera from an...
Furr MO, Crisman MV, Robertson J, Barta O, Swecker WS.Immune system dysfunction and immunoglobulin deficiency was diagnosed in a 2-year-old horse with disseminated lymphosarcoma. Prolonged (35 days) parenteral nutrition was delivered to support the horse during a period in which immune function studies could be performed. Correction of nutritional compromise by use of parenteral nutrition did not correct the immunoglobulin deficiency, and results of lymphocyte phenotype testing did not indicate abnormal proportions of leukocytes. Lymphoblast transformation studies were suggestive of a circulating immunosuppressive factor in the horse's serum. Nor...
Peter VG, O'Keeffe TA, Smith LCR, Schweizer-Gorgas D. To investigate the racing performance of Thoroughbred horses with osseous cyst-like lesions (OCLLs) in the distal phalanx causing lameness and treated conservatively. To assess horses' ability to race and perform after radiographic identification of OCLL in the distal phalanx of Thoroughbred horses with lameness at the time of detection and undergoing conservative treatment. Retrospective case control study. The clinical database of one equine clinic was reviewed in a 10-year period for Thoroughbreds showing lameness localized to the foot and a radiographic diagnosis of OCLL in the distal ...
Seahorn TL, Carter GK, Martens JG, Crandell RA, Martin MT, Scrutchfield WL, Cummins JM, Martens RJ.The immunotherapeutic effect of low-dose human alpha interferon on viral shedding and clinical disease was evaluated in horses inoculated with equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). Eighteen clinically healthy weanling horses, 5 to 7 months old, were allotted to 3 equal groups. Two groups were treated orally with human alpha-2a interferon (0.22 or 2.2 U/kg of body weight), on days 2 and 1 before inoculation with EHV-1, the day of inoculation, and again on postinoculation day 1. The horses of the remaining group were given a placebo orally on the same days. The horses were monitored daily for changes in...
Gilkerson JR.The clinical symptoms observed during the 2007 equine influenza outbreak are compared and contrasted with those observed in overseas outbreaks and described in the veterinary literature.
Miyazaki S, Fukumura M, Yoshioka M, Yamanaka N.From 1997 to 1999, 29 cases of disorders were detected in cattle and horses that had been fed ryegrass straw imported from the U.S.A. These animals showed symptoms resembling ryegrass staggers and the clinical signs disappeared after removal of the straw. Endophytic hyphae were detected in the seeds of all straw samples that were responsible for the clinical cases. Lolitrem B concentrations in the straw ranged between 972 and 3740 ppb. Ergovaline concentrations were between 355 and 1300 ppb. Even though the concentrations of lolitrem B were lower than the toxic threshold proposed by Oregon Sta...
Scruggs JL, Flatland B, McCormick KA, Reed A.To assess the utility of population-based reference intervals (PRIs) for interpreting thromboelastography (TEG) variables in horses using biological variation data. Methods: Prospective cohort biologic variation study conducted over a 5-week period. Methods: Veterinary teaching hospital and research facility. Methods: Ten clinically healthy horses randomly selected from a veterinary school research and teaching herd. Methods: Horse health was determined using physical examination, CBC, and biochemical and coagulation profiles prior to the start of the study. Subsequently, once weekly blood sam...
Easterwood L, Cohen ND.Evaluating the body temperature of horses is an essential tool for monitoring horse health and biosecurity in groups of horses. Temperatures of horses and foals are determined most often using rectal thermometry. Rectal thermometry has limitations that include safety considerations for horses and humans. Thus, we investigated the agreement between a noncontact infrared thermometer (NCIT) and a rectal digital thermometer in 142 horses and 34 foals. For each horse and foal, measurements using the NCIT were collected from the forehead (n = 2) or neck (n = 1) and with a rectal digital thermome...
Hodgson DR.This article reviews what are considered the basic concepts of gas transport, blood gases, and acid-base physiology is most mammalian species. Techniques for the appropriate collection of blood samples for blood gas and acid-base determinations in the newborn foal are described. Guidelines for interpretation of these values in the normal foal and those animals undergoing respiratory and metabolic derangements are provided.
Ness SL, Bain FT, Zantingh AJ, Gaughan EM, Story MR, Nydam DV, Divers TJ.Visualization of colonic mesenteric vasculature during transabdominal ultrasonographic examination of horses with colic can be a predictor of right dorsal displacement of the large colon or 180° large colon volvulus, or both. Medical records of 82 horses having had surgical treatment of colic and having received a transabdominal ultrasonographic examination on admission were reviewed. Colonic mesenteric vessels were sonographically identified coursing laterally on the right side of the abdomen in 24 of the 82 cases. Horses with colonic vessels identified on ultrasound were 32.5 times more lik...
Nolen-Walston R, Paxson J, Ramey DW.The use of an evidence-based approach allows veterinary clinicians to assess questions that are clinically relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of equine gastrointestinal tract disease. This approach involves formulating a clinical question, searching the literature, and answering the question with the best available evidence, with the results summarized as a clinical "bottom line." This article is organized to reinforce the principle that the cornerstone of evidence-based medicine is the clinical question. Specific questions are further categorized as to topic, with epidemiologic risk fact...
Curtin DJ.An aggressive mare, presented for prebreeding examination, was found to have a significantly enlarged ovary (soccer ball size). A granulosa thecal cell tumor was initially suspected. Following laboratory and repeated clinical examination, the mare was diagnosed with an ovarian hematoma, which regressed with treatment.
Miskovic Feutz M, Couetil LL, Riley CP, Zhang X, Adamec J, Raskin RE.Lower expression of secretoglobin and transferrin has been found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of a small number of horses with experimentally induced signs of recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) compared to healthy controls. Objective: Secretoglobin and transferrin BALF expression will be similarly decreased in horses with naturally occurring clinical signs of RAO and in horses with experimentally induced clinical signs of RAO as compared to healthy controls and intermediate in horses with inflammatory airway disease (IAD). Methods: Recurrent airway obstruction-affected and contro...
Ascenzi P, Coletta M, Desideri A, Polizio F, Condò SG, Giardina B.The effect of inositol hexakisphosphate (IHP) on the spectroscopic (EPR and absorbance) properties of the nitric oxide derivative of ferrous horse and bovine hemoglobin (Hb) has been investigated. In the absence of IHP, the nitric oxide derivative of ferrous horse Hb shows spectroscopic properties similar to those of the corresponding derivative of ferrous human Hb that are generally taken as typical of the high affinity state of tetrametric hemoproteins. Similar to human Hb, the addition of IHP to the nitric oxide derivative of ferrous horse Hb induces a transition toward a species characteri...
Kumanomido T, Kamada M, Wada R, Kenemaru T, Sugiura T, Akiyama Y.Sagiyama virus is a member of the Getah virus group. Its pathogenicity for horses was examined. All the horses infected with the original 4 strains of Sagiyama virus (M6/Mag 33, Mag 121, Mag 132 and Mag 258) developed pyrexia ranging from 39.0 to 40.0 degrees C. Other clinical signs, characterized by eruptions, edema in the hind legs, enlargement of the submandibular lymph node and mild leukopenia, were also manifested. Viremia occurred 1-4 days post-inoculation (p.i.). Virus was recovered from spleen, liver, lung and various lymph nodes of a horse autopsied on Day 4 p.i. The maximum titer of ...
Kornreich B, Enyeart M, Jesty SA, Nydam DV, Divers T.Pentoxifylline (PTX) possesses a number of vasomotor, immunomodulatory, and hemorheologic properties. Based upon the hypothesis that equine laminitis and navicular disease result from microthrombosis, the inhibitory effects of PTX on inflammatory cytokines, and its inhibitory effects on human platelet aggregation, PTX has been widely used to treat equine endotoxemia, navicular disease, and laminitis. Despite this, the effects of PTX on equine platelet aggregation have not been investigated previously. Objective: PTX decreases platelet aggregation in equine whole blood at concentrations approxi...
Jacobsen S.Serum amyloid A (SAA) has become an indispensable part of the management of equine patients in general practice and specialized hospital settings. Although several proteins possess acute phase properties in horses, the usefulness of SAA exceeds that of other acute phase proteins. This is due to the highly desirable kinetics of the equine SAA response. SAA concentrations exhibit a rapid and pronounced increase in response to inflammation and a rapid decline after the resolution of inflammation. This facilitates the detection of inflammatory disease and real-time monitoring of inflammatory activ...
Wiley KL, Tormos JR, Quinn DM.beta-Secondary deuterium isotope effects have been measured for equine serum butyrylcholinesterase-catalyzed hydrolysis of acetyl-L(3)-thiocholine (L=H or (2)H). The dependencies of initial rates on isotopic substrate concentrations show close adherence to Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and yield the following isotope effects: (D3)k(cat)/K(m)=0.98+/-0.02 and (D3)k(cat)=1.10+/-0.02. The modestly inverse isotope effect on k(cat)/K(m) is consistent with partial rate limitation by a step that converts the sp(2)-hybridized ester carbonyl of the E+A reactant state into a quasi-tetrahedral transition sta...
Scott EA, Snoy P, Prasse KW, Hoffman PE, Thrall DE.A yearling Quarter Horse colt was examined because of intermittent esophageal obstruction. A soft tissue mass was palpated in the cervical portion of the esophagus. Plain and contrast radiography and esophagoscopy were utilized to confirm the location of the lesion in the esophageal wall. Surgical exploration and removal of the mass was performed through a ventral midline cervical incision. Histologically, the mass was a keratinizing squamous epithelial inclusion cyst.
Shimizu A, Kawano J, Ozaki J, Sasaki N, Kimura S, Kamada M, Anzai S, Saito H, Sato H.Seventy-six Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from various lesions of horses were characterized. All of the 76 strains were identified as biotypes B (38.2%) and C (61.8%). Of 55 strains tested, 42 (76.4%) were differentiated into 7 coagulase types. Coagulase types V and VII were predominant in the metritis strains. Coagulase type II was found most frequently in the strains from phlegmon, dermatitis, sinusitis, empyema sinus, and nasal catarrh. Forty-two (55.3%) of the 76 strains were differentiated into 24 phage patterns. Twenty (58.8%) of 34 typable strains from metritis were lysed by th...
Szenci O, Brydl E, Bajcsy CA.The stability of blood ionized calcium (Ca2+) and acid-base variables in equine, bovine, ovine, and canine venous blood samples (n = 15, in each group) stored at 4 C for 3, 6, 9, 24, or 48 hours was studied. Variables included blood Ca2+ and standard ionized calcium (Ca2+ corrected to pH 7.4) concentrations, pH, blood carbon dioxide and oxygen tensions, base excess, bicarbonate concentration, and total carbon dioxide content. Results indicate that storage of blood samples at 4 C for up to 48 hours, despite appreciable acid-base changes, is associated with less than 1.5% change in equine, bovin...
Dorrego A, Herranz C, Pérez-Sancho M, Camino E, Gómez-Arrones V, Carrasco JJ, De Gabriel-Pérez J, Serres C, Cruz-López F.Taylorella asinigenitalis is a non-pathogenic bacteria isolated from the genital tract of donkeys but also a cause of metritis and vaginal discharge in mares. It is closely related to Taylorella equigenitalis, the cause of Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) in horses, and has been present in different countries in Europe since 1995. Up to date, there are no studies on the prevalence of T. asinigenitalis in the equine or asinine populations in Spain; this is the first report of the presence of T. asinigenitalis in donkeys (Equus asinus) from different breeds in three regions of Spain. A total of ...
Rowley KJ, Townsend NB, Chang YR, Fiske-Jackson AR.Sagittal fractures of equine cheek teeth are commonly observed during oral examination. There are few reports on the apical and endodontic pathology associated with such fractures seen during computed tomographic (CT) examination. Objective: This study aimed to document the prevalence of CT changes indicative of apical disease in equine cheek teeth, which have suffered a sagittal fracture involving the clinical ± reserve crown. Methods: This study is a retrospective case series. Methods: CT examinations of equine heads with sagittal fractures of cheek teeth present were reviewed: 81 teeth f...
Lieto LD, Swerczek TW, Cothran EG.Necropsy of two American Saddlebred fillies diagnosed with epitheliogenesis imperfecta (EI) revealed missing patches of epithelium of the skin and oral mucosa as well as dental abnormalities. Examination of the digestive tract did not reveal signs of pyloric atresia in either foal. Histopathologic examination revealed separation of the epidermis from the dermis. In both foals a division within the lamina lucida of the basal lamina was observed by transmission electron microscopy. In comparison with an age-specific control, the ultrastructure of intact skin from the EI-affected foals showed abn...
Bernoco D, Bailey E.Severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) of horses is an autosomal, recessive hereditary disease occurring among Arabian horses. The genetic defect responsible for this disease was recently identified as a 5-basepair deletion in the gene encoding DNA-protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs). Horses with one copy of the gene appear normal, while horses with two copies of the gene manifest the disease. The present report describes a PCR-based test for detection of the gene defect and the results from testing 250 randomly selected Arabian horses. The frequency of SCID gene carriers was ...
Englisch LM, Kostrzewa K, Kopke S, Failing K, Staszyk C.Hypsodont equine cheek teeth possess large dental crowns, resting partly in the bony alveolus. Over a horse's life cheek teeth erupt continuously to compensate for occlusal wear of 3-4 mm per year. Parts of the crown initially resting in the bony alveolus become progressively exposed at the occlusal surface with time. Hitherto, it is unclear whether the typical structure of the equine occlusal surface, composed of a complex arrangement of enamel, dentin and cementum, remains constant or undergoes structural changes with age. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the occlusal surface composi...
Parker JT, McCoy MV.1. The serum of horses immunized with increasing doses of certain anaerobically produced autolysates of pneumococci contain potent neutralizing antibodies for the pneumotoxin. 2. The method for the in vitro titration of these horse antipneumotoxic serums is given.
