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.
Harvey JW.Deficiencies of enzymes involved in erythrocyte metabolism can have significant effects on erythrocyte function and survival. Animals with pyruvate kinase (PK) or phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiencies have shortened erythrocyte life spans and regenerative anemia. PK-deficient dogs (but not PK-deficient cats) develop progressive myelofibrosis and osteosclerosis of bone marrow and hemochromatosis and cirrhosis of the liver. PFK-deficient dogs have sporadic episodes of hyperventilation-induced intravascular hemolysis and hemoglobinuria. Cytochrome b5 reductase (Cb5R) deficiency in dogs and cats ...
Stickle JE, McKnight CA, Williams KJ, Carr EA.A 2-year-old, Quarter Horse filly was referred to Michigan State University, Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a 2-3 day history of depression and partial anorexia progressing to severe, watery diarrhea with severe neurologic abnormalities, including repetitive muscle fasciculations, muscle stiffening, and collapse. Laboratory findings included severe polycythemia, neutropenia, metabolic acidosis, and electrolyte and fluid loss, consistent with watery diarrhea and endotoxic shock. Increased creatine kinase and aspartate transaminase activities were consistent with recent transport and the musc...
Sharkey LC, DeWitt S, Stockman C.A 23-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was referred for the evaluation of acute onset of ataxia and depression, and a 2-day history of fever. On physical examination, the gelding was profoundly depressed and 10-12% dehydrated. The horse appeared very unstable, with a wide-based stance in the hind limbs, severe symmetric ataxia in all 4 limbs, and proprioceptive deficits in both hind limbs. Nasogastric intubation produced 4 L of brown, fetid reflux, and rectal examination revealed mild small intestinal and cecal distention. Hematologic abnormalities included neutropenia with toxic change, compatibl...
Kasperowicz B, Rotkiewicz T, Otrocka-Domagała I.The purpose of the study was a pathomorphological and immunohistochemical analysis of tumour cells and connective tissue in equine sarcoids. Investigations were performed using histopathological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical (PCNA, p53, cytokeratin, vimentin) and histochemical (Ag-NORs) methods. The study was conducted on 50 sarcoids originating from 36 horses and classified as occult, verrucous, fibroblastic and a mixed type of sarcoid based on their clinical appearance. Most of the tumours were located on the girth (30%), neck (24%), head (12%), and legs (12%). The average age of the...
Kummer M, Geyer H, Imboden I, Auer J, Lischer C.The understanding of the normal position of the third phalanx (P3) and the distal sesamoid bone in relation to the size and shape of the hoof capsule in sound horses is helpful in the diagnosis of equine foot lameness. Some measurements on radiographs used to define the position of the pedal bone within the hoof capsule are significantly influenced by hoof trimming and the height of the withers. In this study, the front hooves of 40 Warmblood horses were radiographed twice, eight weeks apart, both before and after their hooves were trimmed by an experienced farrier. Using the software programm...
The Journal of nutritionJune 15, 2006
Volume 136, Issue 7 Suppl 2090S-2093S doi: 10.1093/jn/136.7.2090S
Kronfeld DS, Treiber KH, Hess TM, Splan RK, Byrd BM, Staniar WB, White NW.Treatment of clinical laminitis usually fails to prevent some degree of persistent disability; thus, intervention should aim at avoiding risk factors and preventing the disease. Efficiency of intervention would be improved by identifying predisposed horses and ponies. A herd of 160 healthy ponies included 54 previously laminitic (PL) and 106 never laminitic (NL). Pedigree analysis was consistent with dominant inheritance partially suppressed in males. Blood analysis revealed higher plasma concentrations of insulin and triglycerides but not cortisol, glucose, or free fatty acids in the PL group...
The Journal of nutritionJune 15, 2006
Volume 136, Issue 7 Suppl 2099S-2102S doi: 10.1093/jn/136.7.2099S
Longland AC, Byrd BM.Fresh forages constitute a majority of the diet for many horses and ponies that graze on pastures during the growing season in many parts of the world. Grasses generally predominate in such pastures, with varying proportions of legumes. Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) (simple sugars, starch, and fructan) can induce laminitis experimentally, and NSC can accumulate to >400 g/kg of dry matter (DM) in pasture grasses. In this article we discuss the environmental factors affecting NSC accumulation in pastures and estimate the potential daily intakes of pasture NSC by grazing horses. We also di...
The Journal of nutritionJune 15, 2006
Volume 136, Issue 7 Suppl 2094S-2098S doi: 10.1093/jn/136.7.2094S
Treiber KH, Kronfeld DS, Geor RJ.Insulin is a major regulatory hormone in glucose and fat metabolism, vascular function, inflammation, tissue remodeling, and the somatotropic axis of growth. Insulin resistance alters insulin signaling by decreasing insulin action in certain resistant pathways while increasing insulin signaling in other unaffected pathways via compensatory hyperinsulinemia. In humans, altered insulin signaling is implicated in reduced glucose availability to insulin-sensitive cells, vasoconstriction and endothelial damage, and inflammatory response. Although no direct evidence exists for insulin's role in thes...
Gangl M, Serteyn D, Lejeune JP, Schneider N, Grulke S, Peters F, Vila T, Deby-Dupont G, Deberg M, Henrotin Y.Markers of cartilage breakdown enable studying the degradation of cartilage matrix in equine joint pathologies. This study was designed to determine the levels of Coll2-1, a peptide of the triple helix of type II collagen, and Coll2-1NO(2), its nitrated form in the plasma of healthy horses (controls; n=37) and horses suffering from osteochondrosis (n=34). Clinical and arthroscopic scores were attributed reflecting the severity of lesions and were related to the plasma levels of Coll2-1 and Coll2-1NO(2). The median of Coll2-1 was significantly higher in the control group, whereas the mean of Co...
Wyse CA, Nixon C, McLaughlin M, Dowell FJ, Philbey AW.The aim of this study was to characterise the expression of haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in healthy lung tissue from horses and to measure its activity. Samples of lung tissue were collected from six horses euthanased for reasons other than respiratory disease. HO-1 expression and activity were detected in type II alveolar epithelial cells, macrophages and neutrophils in all the samples examined. The activity was dependent on the presence of NADPH and inhibited quantitatively by the addition of increasing concentrations of a competitive inhibitor of HO-1, tin mesoporphyrin IX.
Bell SA, Balasuriya UB, Gardner IA, Barry PA, Wilson WD, Ferraro GL, MacLachlan NJ.The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of equine herpesviruses (EHV) 1-5 in the nasal secretions (NS) of a cohort of 12 mares and their foals from birth to 6 months of age, estimate the prevalence of EHV-1-5 infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of selected foals, and investigate phylogenetic relationships amongst the various strains of EHV-2 and 5. Virus-specific PCR assays were used to detect EHV-1-5 in NS and PBMC. A homologous portion of the glycoprotein B (gB) gene of the various strains of EHV-2 and 5 was sequenced and compared. EHV-2, 4, and 5 were...
Diana A, Guglielmini C, Candini D, Pietra M, Cipone M.Cardiac dysfunction is a rare complication of babesiosis in domestic animals. The horse in this report showed clinical signs of anorexia, depression, fever, icterus and brown urine, and laboratory results (monocytosis, thrombocytopenia, azotemia, hyperbilirubinemia and bilirubinuria) indicated sub-acute piroplasmosis. Furthermore, junctional and polymorphic ventricular premature complexes and tachycardia associated with increased serum cardiac troponin I and myocardial-bound creatine kinase concentration were found. The diagnosis of piroplasmosis was confirmed by serology. Specific and support...
Mathis SC, Slone DE, Lynch TM, Hughes FE, Clark CK.To evaluate the relationship of colonic luminal pressure (CLP) measurements to outcome in horses with large colon volvulus (LCV) after either manual correction or large colon resection and anastomosis (LCRA). Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Horses (n=57) that had LCV. Methods: Records for horses with LCV (March 1997-December 2003) were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were strangulating LCV proximal to the cecocolic ligament (>270 degrees), recorded CLP, and successful recovery from anesthesia. CLP measurements and survival/mortality rates were compared between horses that had manual correc...
Traversa D, Otranto D.The myiasis caused by larvae of Rhinoestrus purpureus and Rhinoestrus usbekistanicus (Diptera, Oestridae) are of importance in the horse medicine since it causes severe respiratory diseases. Therefore an accurate diagnosis of rhinoestrosis is central to its epidemiology and control. This paper describes concisely a molecular diagnostic tool that overcomes the current inherent diagnostic constraints and, therefore, is of importance to understand the actual incidence and epidemiology of this myiasis in live horses.
Bousquet-Mélou A, Formentini E, Picard-Hagen N, Delage L, Laroute V, Toutain PL.The present study aimed to characterize the adrenal response to ACTH. A model was developed that coupled the nonlinear disposition of cortisol with a physiologically based model for cortisol secretion by the adrenals. It was assumed that the response to ACTH resulted from two mechanisms: a stimulation of the cortisol secretion rate and control of the duration of the secretion. Seven dose levels of ACTH were tested in horses, a species similar to man as regards adrenal function. The main result was that the secretion rate of the adrenal gland can be modelized by a zero order process that is max...
Lykkjen S, Strand E, Haga HA, Lie KI.To report treatment and wound healing after radical surgical mass excision in the equine buccal region. Methods: Clinical case reports. Methods: An 11-year-old Warmblood gelding and a 9-year-old Norwegian Trotter gelding. Methods: Large tumoral masses were removed from the buccal region by radical electrosurgery, creating large defects into the oral cavity. Wound ultimately healed by second intention. Results: Buccal defects in both horses healed well by second intention without tumor recurrence. Conclusions: Locally invasive tumors involving the cheek region of the horse can be successfully t...
Weaver RE, Sharif M, Livingston LA, Andrews KL, Fuller CJ.The objective of this study was to assess whether macroscopically normal articular cartilage taken from joints containing focal osteoarthritic lesions is histologically similar to articular cartilage taken from macroscopically normal joints. Metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, and distal interphalangeal joints were obtained from 10 horses following euthanasia. Gross articular cartilage damage was scored and the cartilage assigned to one of two groups: (1) macroscopically normal cartilage from normal joints (control) and (2) macroscopically normal cartilage from diseased joints in wh...
Rodríguez-Lázaro D, Lewis DA, Ocampo-Sosa AA, Fogarty U, Makrai L, Navas J, Scortti M, Hernández M, Vázquez-Boland JA.We developed a novel quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) method for the soil actinomycete Rhodococcus equi, an important horse pathogen and emerging human pathogen. Species-specific quantification was achieved by targeting the chromosomal monocopy gene choE, universally conserved in R. equi. The choE Q-PCR included an internal amplification control (IAC) for identification of false negatives. A second Q-PCR targeted the virulence plasmid gene vapA, carried by most horse isolates but infrequently found in isolates from other sources. The choE-IAC and vapA assays were 100% sensitive and specific ...
Couëtil LL, Art T, de Moffarts B, Becker M, Mélotte D, Jaspar F, Bureau F, Lekeux P.Horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) present many similarities with human asthmatics including airway inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, reversible obstruction, and increased NF-kappaB expression. Studies in experimental asthma models have shown that transcriptions factors such as activator protein-1 (AP-1), GATA-3, cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) and CAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) may also play an important role in airway inflammation. The purpose of this study was to measure DNA binding activity of these transcription factors in the airways of horses with ...
Boscan P, Van Hoogmoed LM, Farver TB, Snyder JR.To evaluate the effects of morphine administration for 6 days on gastrointestinal tract function in healthy adult horses. Methods: 5 horses. Methods: Horses were randomly allocated into 2 groups in a crossover study. Horses in the treatment group received morphine sulfate at a dosage of 0.5 mg/kg, IV, every 12 hours for 6 days. Horses in the control group received saline (0.9% NaCl) solution at a dosage of 10 mL, IV, every 12 hours for 6 days. Variables assessed included defecation frequency, weight of feces produced, intestinal transit time (evaluated by use of barium-filled spheres and radio...
Rohrbach BW, Buchanan BR, Drake JM, Andrews FM, Bain FT, Byars DT, Bernard WV, Furr MO, Paradis MR, Lawler J, Giguère S, Dunkel B.To create a mathematical model to assist in early prediction of the probability of discharge in hospitalized foals < or= 7 days old. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 1,073 foals. Methods: Medical records from 910 hospitalized foals < or = 7 days old for which outcome was recorded as died or discharged alive were reviewed. Thirty-four variables including historical information, physical examination findings, and laboratory results were examined for association with survival. Variables associated with being discharged alive were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model. A...
Stock KF, Distl O.To evaluate whether additive genetic correlations existed between certain aspects of the radiographic appearance of the distal sesamoid (navicular) bones (RNB) or between RNB and other types of radiographic changes in the limbs of Hanoverian Warmblood horses. Methods: 5,157 horses. Methods: Quasi-linear and binary traits were defined by the appearance of canales sesamoidales (CSs) and the structure and contour of the forelimb navicular bones (NBs). Prevalences of osseous fragments in the metacarphophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal (fetlock) and tarsocrural joints and deforming arthropathy in ...
Pusterla N, Magdesian KG, Mapes S, Leutenegger CM.To determine gene expression of selected molecular markers (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, interleukin [IL]-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, procalcitonin [PCT], and transforming growth factor [TGF]-beta) in the blood of healthy and sick foals. Methods: 28 sick foals without sepsis, 21 foals with sepsis, and 21 healthy foals. Methods: Total RNA was extracted from blood samples and converted into complementary DNA (cDNA). Gene expression was measured for the molecular markers by use of real-time PCR assay, and final quantitation was performed with the comparative threshold cycle method. Results: S...
Kurth A, Skilling DE, Smith AW.To test horses for serologic evidence of an association between vesiviral antibodies and abortion. Methods: Sera from 141 horses. Methods: 2 experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 comprised sera obtained in 2001 and 2002 from 3 groups of horses (58 mares from farms with a history of abortion problems, 25 mares between 3 and 13 years of age with unknown reproductive histories that were sold at auction [breeding-age control mares], and 29 mixed-age males and yearling females sold at auction [negative control population]). Experiment 2 comprised sera from 3 groups of pregnant mares (10 pregnant...
Segura D, Monreal L, Pérez-Pujol S, Pino M, Ordinas A, Brugués R, White JG, Escolar G.We studied equine platelet function and activation using ultrastructural examination, flow cytometry, and perfusion. The main aim of the study was to evaluate hemostatic mechanisms in horses using these techniques. Ultrastructural observations were done on resting and activated platelets. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate binding of antibodies to major platelet glycoproteins (GPIIb-IIIa, GPIV, and GPIb) and activation-dependent antigens (P-selectin and lysosomal integral membrane protein [LIMP]). Perfusion techniques were used to evaluate the interaction between platelets and damaged subendo...
Sugiyama A, Takeuchi T, Morita T, Matsuu A, Kanda T, Shimada A, Amaya T, Hikasa Y.A 15-year-old, neutered-male pony presented with a history of weight loss during 4 months. Clinical evaluation revealed severe bradycardia and complete atrioventricular block. At necropsy, a lobulated mass in the anterior mediastinum and moderate enlargement of the superficial cervical lymph nodes were observed. The vagus nerve and the brachiocephalic trunk were embedded in this anterior mediastinal tumor. Histologically, the mass was composed of sheets of neoplastic lymphoid cells expressing CD3, with a low mitotic rate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of mediast...
Polikepahad S, Paulsen DB, Moore RM, Costa LR, Venugopal CS.To immunohistochemically determine the expression of endothelin (ET) receptors in bronchial smooth muscle and epithelium of healthy horses and horses affected by summer pasture-associated obstructive pulmonary disease (SPAOPD). Methods: Tissue specimens obtained from 8 healthy and 8 SPAOPD-affected horses. Methods: Horses were examined and assigned to healthy and SPAOPD groups. Horses were then euthanatized, and tissue specimens containing bronchi of approximately 4 to 8 mm in diameter were immediately collected from all lung lobes, fixed in zinc-formalin solution for 12 hours, and embedded in...
Mills PC, Auer DE, Kramer H, Barry D, Ng JC.To determine the effect of an acute soft tissue inflammatory response on biochemical and haematological indices of hepatic and renal function in the Thoroughbred horse. Methods: Soft tissue inflammation was induced in four Thoroughbred horses by intramuscular injections of Freund's complete adjuvant. The horses were clinically examined and blood and urine samples were collected before and after the adjuvant injections. Biochemical and haematological indices were measured in samples collected and used to determine the onset of the acute-phase response and to assess hepatic and renal function at...
Serena A, Schumacher J, Schramme MC, Degraves F, Bell E, Ravis W.The centrodistal (CD) and tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints are often injected individually with a corticosteroid to resolve lameness caused by osteoarthritis (OA). There are no data available regarding diffusion of methylprednisolone (MP) from the TMT joint to the CD joint. Objective: A therapeutic concentration of MP diffuses into the CD joint after methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) is administered into the TMT joint. Objective: To measure the concentration of MP in the CD joint after MPA was administered into the TMT joint. Methods: MPA was administered into a TMT joint of 16 horses. At different...
Hilmas DE, Gillette EL.The clinical records and follow-up data obtained over 13 years on the results of radiotherapy of spontaneous fibrous connective-tissue sarcomas in dogs, cats, and horses were reviewed. The results obtained from the treatment of fibrosarcomas and sarcoids of horses indicated that radiation administered with 60Co is important in the medical and surgical management of these tumors. Fibrous connective-tissue sarcomas in horses were radioresponsive. When radiotherapy was applied postoperatively, the probability of a 2-year cure approached 50% for all prescribed radiation doses of less than 2,000 to...
Rickards KJ, Page CP, Lees P, Cunningham FM.Neutrophils are recruited to the lungs of horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and exhibit increased activity after antigen challenge, which may contribute to inflammation and lung damage. Inhibition of phosphodiesterase isoenzymes (PDEs) has been shown to attenuate human neutrophil functions including superoxide production, leukotriene (LT)B4 biosynthesis, enzyme and chemokine release. As equine neutrophils contain predominantly the isoenzyme, PDE4, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of rolipram, a PDE4 inhibitor, on equine neutrophil function. For...
Glazier DB, Littledike ET, Evans RD.In 11 crossbred ponies, hyperkalemia was induced by acute intracardiac infusion of a 0.4M solution of potassium chloride. The ECG changes noticed can be assigned to 4 stages: (1) a widening and a lowering of amplitude followed by inversion and final disappearance of the P wave; (2) an increase in the amplitude of the T wave; (3) an increase in the QRS interval, with some irregularity in the ventricular rate; and (4) periods of cardiac arrest that became terminal or were followed by ventricular fibrillation. At plasma potassium values of greater than 7.5 mM/L, the T-wave amplitude and duration ...
Joó K, Povázsai Á, Nyerges-Bohák Z, Szenci O, Kutasi O.It is important to treat the upper and lower respiratory tracts as a single unit, as lower respiratory tract diseases can often cause upper respiratory functional disorders, whereas upper respiratory obstructions could be a factor in lower respiratory problems. The present study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that asthmatic diseases may be an underlying cause of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in horses. Pleasure or sport horses (n = 57) with a history of asthmatic disease were incorporated in the study. All horses were examined in the exacerbation phase of the asthmatic disease. ...
Semik-Gurgul E, Szmatoła T, Gurgul A, Pawlina-Tyszko K, Gałuszka A, Pędziwiatr R, Witkowski M, Ząbek T.DNA methylation is a key mechanism in transcription regulation, and aberrant methylation is a common and important mechanism in tumor initiation, maintenance, and progression. To find genes that are aberrantly regulated by altered methylation in horse sarcoids, we used reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) accompanied by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) for methylome (whole genome DNA methylation sequencing) and transcriptome profiling, respectively. We found that the DNA methylation level was generally lower in lesion samples than in controls. In the analyzed samples, a total of 14,692 d...
Sentsui H, Kono Y.The serologic relationships between 6 strains of equine infectious anemia (EIA) viruses were investigated by hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) tests. Cross HI tests, using sera from horses in the early stage of infection, revealed that all strains were inhibited only by homologous strain antisera and that HI antibody was always detectable before virus-neutralizing antibody. In the later stages of infection, both homologous and heterologous HI antibodies were detected in a sera of most of the horses, and the order of appearance of heterologous HI antibodies was random in 2 horses inoculated with...
Kaabia Z, Dervilly-Pinel G, Hanganu F, Cesbron N, Bichon E, Popot MA, Bonnaire Y, Le Bizec B.During last decades, the use of natural steroids in racing and food producing animals for doping purposes has been flourishing. The endogenous or exogenous origin of these naturally occurring steroids has since remained a challenge for the different anti-doping laboratories. The administration of these substances to animals is usually made through an intra-muscular pathway with the steroid under its ester form for a higher bioavailability and a longer lasting effect. Detecting these steroid esters would provide an unequivocal proof of an exogenous administration of the considered naturally occ...
Navas de Solis C, Dallap Schaer BL, Boston R, Slack J.The objectives of this investigation were to: (1) Determine if acute hemorrhage is associated with increased plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentration or cardiac arrhythmias, (2) to describe the types of arrhythmias and their clinical course in horses following acute hemorrhage, (3) to determine the ability of clinical or clinicopathological variables to predict an increase in cTnI concentration and the presence of arrhythmias, and (4) to determine the associations of cTnI and cardiac arrhythmias with outcome. Methods: Prospective observational study. Methods: Large animal veterinary teac...
Ragle CA, Meagher DM, Schrader JL, Honnas CM.A blind study was designed to determine if abdominal auscultation is an effective method for detecting the presence of intestinal sand. Fifteen horses divided into two groups were used in the study. There were seven horses in Group 1 and eight horses in Group 2. All horses were auscultated and determined to be free of sand sounds before initiation of Trial 1. Group 1 horses were given 4.2 g/kg body weight of sand via nasogastric tube using carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) as a suspending agent at 9.0 ml/kg body weight. Group 2 horses were given CMC only. Horses remained in the same group through a...
Cehak A, Wilkens MR, Guschlbauer M, Mrochen N, Schröder B, Feige K, Breves G.Transepithelial transport mechanisms play a key role in regulating the absorption and secretion of calcium (Ca(2+)) and inorganic phosphate (P(i)) in the gastrointestinal tract. Although intestinal disorders with imbalances in macromineral homeostasis are frequently observed in horses, available data on intestinal Ca(2+) and P(i) transport are limited. The aim of the present study was to characterize the intestinal Ca(2+) and P(i) transport functionally by using the in vitro radioisotope tracer technique with Ussing chambers and to identify components involved in Ca(2+) transport at both mRNA ...
Niedermaier G, Wollanke B, Hoffmann R, Matiasek K, Gerhards H.Neither the ultrastructure of the vitreous body from horses without ocular diseases, nor the pathomorphological changes in the vitreous body associated with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) have been described. However, the vitreous body plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ERU. Ten vitreous body samples obtained from 5 horses without ocular disease, and 38 vitreous body samples from horses with ERU (collected during vitrectomy) were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The vitreous body samples of horses without ocular diseases were characterized by a loose network of unbranc...
Camp CJ, Leid RW.A method for the isolation of equine neutrophils was developed using metrizamide cushions. A purity of greater than 95% was routinely obtained with greater than 90% viability. These cells were radiolabeled and tested for their chemotactic response in Boyden chambers to zymosan-activated equine serum, the partially purified equine complement component C5a, and formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine. The time and ionic requirements for chemotaxis of radiolabeled equine neutrophils were investigated and maximal movement was observed at 2 hours' incubation and 1.0 mM Ca and 0.5 mM Mg. Dinitro...
Tozaki T, Ohnuma A, Kikuchi M, Ishige T, Kakoi H, Hirota K, Kusano K, Nagata S.Gene doping is prohibited in horseracing. In a previous study, we developed a method for non-targeted transgene detection using DELLY, which is based on split-read (SR) and paired-end (PE) algorithms to detect structural variants, on WGS data. In this study, we validated the detection sensitivity of DELLY using artificially generated sequence data of 12 target genes. With DELLY, at least one intron was detected as a deletion in eight targeted genes using the 150 bp PE read WGS data, whereas all targeted genes were detected by DELLY using the 100 bp PE read data. The detection sensitivity was h...
Forster HV, Erickson BK, Lowry TF, Pan LG, Korducki MJ, Forster AL.Two questions were addressed in this study: 1) Does respiratory resistive unloading (inspired O2 fraction = 0.21, inspired He fraction = 0.79) elicit a compensatory reduction in stimulation of the diaphragm? 2) Do diaphragm and lung afferents contribute to compensatory responses to unloading? Ten intact (I), five diaphragm-deafferented (DD), four hilar nerve-denervated (HND), and seven DD+HND adult ponies were studied at rest and during mild and moderate treadmill exercise. During steady-state unloading at rest, duration of the diaphragm electromyogram (EMGdi) was less (P < 0.05) than contr...
Ross MW, Lowe JE, Cooper BJ, Reimers TJ, Froscher BA.A 12-year-old, 195 kg Shetland pony broodmare had eight seizures between May 29 and August 7, 1979. Plasma glucose levels during three of these seizures were markedly depressed (16, 18 and 19 mg/100 ml). Serum insulin levels were elevated during two of the seizures (86.0 and 97.7 microU/ml). Although a fasting hypoglycemia was not demonstrated, plasma glucose values during a normal day were abnormal; a plasma glucose level of 42 mg/100 ml was noted eight hours post-feeding. Serum insulin values obtained during an oral glucose tolerance test and intravenous glucagon tolerance test were consiste...
Dabareiner RM, Snyder JR, Sullins KE, White NA, Gardner IA.Intramural vascular patterns of the jejunum and colon were evaluated during ischemic strangulation obstruction (ISO, 70 minutes) and subsequent reperfusion (60 minutes) in 7 adult anesthetized horses. Microvasculature of experimental and control segments was described by comparison of results from microangiography, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy of vascular replicas. Experimental and control segments with isolated vascular arcades were removed either immediately after the experimental period or after 60 minutes of reperfusion. Blood was flushed from the vascular system by u...
Sellke L, Patan-Zugaj B, Ludewig E, Cimrman R, Witter K.Different measuring techniques have been used to objectify the classification of hoof shape. The MicroScribe is a novel tool that might prove useful for measuring hooves without prior reconstruction or compensation of projection artefacts. The aim of this study was to compare biometric data of the equine hoof collected by the MicroScribe tool and measurements collected directly from hooves, scaled photographs and radiographs, from photogrammetry models and computed tomography datasets. The suitability of MicroScribe generated data to differentiate individual hoof conformations was tested. A to...
Ross MW, Bayha R.A 2-year-old Standardbred colt was examined because of signs of abdominal pain of 12 hours' duration. Clinical signs of disease, including tachycardia and abdominal distention, and rectal palpation findings of distention and thickening of the ventral colon, were consistent with displacement or early strangulation obstruction of the large colon. Surgical exploration revealed volvulus of the large colon around an axis formed by the dorsal mesenteric attachment of the transverse colon. The cecum could be completely exteriorized and lacked the cecocolic ligament and dorsal mesenteric attachments. ...
Onzere CK, Fry LM, Bishop RP, Da Silva M, Madsen-Bouterse SA, Bastos RG, Knowles DP, Suarez CE.Theileria equi is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that causes severe hemolytic anaemia in most equid species. Similar to other apicomplexan parasites, T. equi contains rhoptries whose contents have been implicated in host cell invasion and formation of the parasitophorous vacuole that is crucial for survival of the species within cells. Despite their importance, the composition of T. equi rhoptries and their role(s) in host cell invasion remain unexplored. To gain insight into these issues, we evaluated the expression, immunogenicity, and functional roles of two T. equi rhoptry-as...
Chisu V, Serra E, Foxi C, Chessa G, Masala G.Piroplasmoses are tick-borne diseases caused by hemoprotozoan parasites of veterinary and public health significance. This study focuses on the molecular identification and characterization of species belonging to the genera in 152 blood samples, collected from 80 horses and 72 cattle from several farms in Sardinia, by targeting the 18S rRNA gene. The PCR results highlighted that 72% of the samples were positive for spp., with a rate of infection of 68% and 75% for the horses and cattle, respectively. Sequencing and the BLASTn analysis showed that the 18S rRNA generated in this study has 99-...
Tesena P, Yingchutrakul Y, Roytrakul S, Wongtawan T, Angkanaporn K.Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD) is a common disease in sport horses. This disease might be associated with usage of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for treating inflammatory diseases. Although gastroscopy has been an effective method for diagnosis, but a less invasive, and inexpensive method is preferred. This study used proteomic technology to identify candidate serum proteins that might be used as markers of NSAIDs induced EGGD. Five Thoroughbred horses were given high doses of NSAID, phenylbutazone to treat lameness. The experiment was divided into three periods: (i) P...
Kinsley R, Pronost S, De Bock M, Temperton N, Daly JM, Paillot R, Scott S.Equine influenza is a major respiratory disease of horses that is largely controlled by vaccination in some equine populations. Virus-neutralising antibodies, the mainstay of the protective immune response, are problematic in assaying for equine influenza virus, as most strains do not replicate efficiently in cell culture. Surrogate measures of protective antibody responses include the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and single radial haemolysis (SRH) assay. For this study, a pseudotyped virus, bearing an envelope containing the haemagglutinin (HA) from the Florida clade 2 equine influe...
Bustos CP, Dominguez JE, Garda D, Moroni M, Pallarols Molinari N, Herrera M, Chacana PA, Mesplet M.Salmonella spp. causes digestive clinical signs in horses. Foals and hospitalized animals are more susceptible to the disease. Nowadays, the report of multidrug-resistant Salmonella spp. producer of extended-spectrum β-lactamases, is more frequent. The aim of this work was to study the clonal relationship and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles among Salmonella ser. Typhimurium isolates, obtained during a salmonellosis outbreak in an Argentinian equine hospital. Thus, in 2017, we studied the genotypic profiles and the susceptibility to antimicrobials of the strains isolated from three anima...
Byrne CA, Marshall JF, Voute LC.Investigation of image quality in clinical equine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may optimise diagnostic value. Objective: To assess the influence of field strength and anaesthesia on image quality in MR imaging of the equine foot in a clinical context. Methods: Analytical clinical study. Methods: Fifteen equine foot studies (five studies per system) were randomly selected from the clinical databases of three MR imaging systems: low-field standing (LF St), low-field anaesthetised (LF GA) and high-field anaesthetised (HF GA). Ten experienced observers graded image quality for entire studies an...
Beech J.The cytology of cerebrospinal fluid samples from horses is described. The samples were obtained from 24 normal horses, 35 horses with axonal degeneration and/or spinal cord compression, 29 horses with encephalomyelitis, 14 horses with other lesions of the nervous system, and eight horses with signs of neurologic dysfunction of undetermined origin. (Three of the latter were suspected botulinum intoxications.) Fluid was aspirated from the atlanto-occipital space following general anesthesia or immediately after a lethal dose of barbiturate. In two horses, fluid also was aspirated from the lumbos...
Beech J, Fletcher JE, Lizzo F, Johnston J.In vitro twitch characteristics of the semimembranosus muscle were evaluated in 9 clinically normal horses, in 15 horses with chronic intermittent rhabdomyolysis (CIR) and in 2 horses with myotonia. Effects of phenytoin on in vitro muscle twitch and clinical signs of CIR and myotonia were evaluated in these same horses. Times to 90% relaxation were prolonged in the horses with CIR (mean +/- SEM, 186 +/- 5.9 ms) and in 2 horses with myotonia (197 and 177 ms) compared with those in clinically normal horses (mean +/- SEM, 146 +/- 2.1 ms). Horses with CIR also had significantly (P less than 0.05) ...
