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.
Oikawa S, McGuirk S, Nishibe K, Higuchi T, Kurosawa T, Watanuki M, Satoh H.Hyperlipemia in horses is a disorder of lipid metabolism peculiar to ponies. This study reports changes of blood biochemical values from the acute to the postconvalescent phases in 3 Shetland ponies with hyperlipemia in Japan. Diseased ponies (all 7 to 9 years old, in late pregnancy, and obese) were fed in the same farm. The periods of their hospitalizations ranged from 30 to 45 days. Twelve well-conditioned ponies (3 to 13 years old) around parturition were used to establish baseline values for blood test results. Main clinical findings in the affected ponies were depression, dysphagia, anore...
Yamanaka T, Tsujimura K, Kondo T, Matsumura T.To investigate the possibilities of two NA inhibitors [oseltamivir carboxylate (OC) and zanamivir (ZA)] as the clinical agents for equine influenza A virus (EIV) infection, we examined the efficacies of these inhibitors against twelve EIVs in vitro. OC and ZA inhibited NA activities of all EIVs with 50% inhibitory concentrations with ranging from 0.017 to 0.130 and from 0.010 to 0.074 microM, respectively. OC and ZA inhibited plaque-forming of all EIVs in MDCK cells with 50% effective concentrations with ranging from 0.015 to 0.097 and from 0.016 to 0.089 microM, respectively, except for one s...
Treiber KH, Kronfeld DS, Hess TM, Byrd BM, Splan RK, Staniar WB.To evaluate genetic and metabolic predispositions and nutritional risk factors for development of pasture-associated laminitis in ponies. Methods: Observational cohort study. Methods: 160 ponies. Methods: A previous diagnosis of laminitis was used to differentiate 54 ponies (PL group) from 106 nonlaminitic ponies (NL group). Pedigree analysis was used to determine a mode of inheritance for ponies with a previous diagnosis of laminitis. In early March, ponies were weighed and scored for body condition and basal venous blood samples were obtained. Plasma was analyzed for glucose, insulin, trigly...
Pereira JR, Vianna SS.Over a period of 12 years, from 1988 to 2000, a total of 20 individual equines (16 horses and 4 mules) were selected at random, from 10 municipalities in the Paraíba Valley, in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and then subjected to necropsy for collection of gastrointestinal worms. Individual samples of 10% of the intestinal contents were also taken for counting and identifying the species present, and to establish the prevalence of worms in equine species in the Paraíba Valley. In the sample considered, the presence of parasites ranged from 155 to 1249 worms. Tapeworms (Cestoidea) were pres...
Slocombe JO, de Gannes RV.Clinical trials using fecal egg count reduction tests and coproculture were conducted with yearlings and mares on a farm in 1997. Fecal samples were taken from each horse to estimate the number of strongyle eggs/g feces with Cornell-Wisconsin centrifugal flotation and Cornell-McMaster dilution techniques. Eleven of 15 yearlings, which had been on a daily feeding of grain with pyrantel tartrate for 66 d were found with strongyle eggs in feces. This was the first time the in-feed medication had been used on the farm. Nine yearlings were randomised into three groups; continuation of daily pyrante...
Båverud V, Nyström C, Johansson KE.Contagious equine metritis (CEM), caused by Taylorella equigenitalis, is a widely known highly contagious genital equine disease that is transmitted venereally. A new bacterium, Taylorella asinigenitalis resembling T. equigenitalis was recently isolated from three American donkey jacks, at routine testing for CEM. The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize a strain of Taylorella sp. from the genital tract of a stallion. Swab samples for culture of T. equigenitalis were taken from urethral fossa, urethra and penile sheath of a 3-year-old stallion of the Ardennes breed when it wa...
Sargent SJ, Frank LA, Buchanan BR, Donnell RL, Morandi F.Otoscopic examination and cytology of the equine ear would be beneficial in diseases such as head trauma, headshaking, otitis externa secondary to otitis media, vestibular disease, aural neoplasia and aural pruritus secondary to parasites. In practice, otic examinations of horses are rarely done due to the perceived difficulty in visualizing the equine external ear canal and tympanic membrane, as well as the need for chemical restraint. In this study, the proximal external ear canal was examined in live horses using a handheld otoscope and in cadaver heads using video otoscopy. Visualization o...
Valentine BA, Flint TH, Fischer KA.Serial sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded muscle biopsy specimens from 28 Quarter Horse, Paint, and draft-related breeds, aged 0.5-23 years, were treated with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain for glycogen and were immunostained to detect ubiquitin expression. On the basis of findings in PAS-stained sections, a diagnosis of equine polysaccharide storage myopathy (EPSSM) was made in 22 horses aged 2-23 years (mean, 9.4 years); samples from 6 horses aged 0.5-15 years (mean, 7.3 years) had a normal PAS staining pattern, with no relevant lesions. Ubiquitin expression was detected in all ...
Firshman AM, Valberg SJ, Bender JB, Annandale EJ, Hayden DW.The purpose of the study reported here was to determine the effect of three methods of fixation of skeletal muscle biopsy specimens on the histopathologic appearance of muscle sections and to determine criteria that were most consistently associated with a diagnosis of polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) in horses. Surgically excised semimembranosus muscle biopsy specimens were obtained from nine horses previously diagnosed with PSSM and from 15 control horses. Portions of each specimen were fixed in formalin, frozen immediately, and chilled for 24 hours prior to freezing. Sections stained ...
Keel MK, Songer JG.Clostridium difficile is a confirmed pathogen in a wide variety of mammals, but the incidence of disease varies greatly in relation to host species, age, environmental density of spores, administration of antibiotics, and possibly, other factors. Lesions vary as well, in severity and distribution within individuals, and in some instances, age groups, of a given species. The cecum and colon are principally affected in most species, but foals and rabbits develop severe jejunal lesions. Explanations for variable susceptibility of species, and age groups within a species, are largely speculative. ...
Brown JJ, Ollier WE, Thomson W, Matthews JB, Carter SD, Binns M, Pinchbeck G, Clegg PD.Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a crucial role in the regulation of inflammatory and immune responses. In all vertebrate species the genes encoding TNF-alpha are located within the major histocompatability complex. In the horse TNF-alpha has been ascribed a role in a variety of important disease processes. Previously two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been reported within the 5' un-translated region of the equine TNF-alpha gene. We have examined the equine TNF-alpha promoter region further for additional SNPs by analysing DNA from...
Duarte PC, Ebel ED, Traub-Dargatz J, Wilson WD, Conrad PA, Gardner IA.To assess the use of CSF testing with an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) caused by Sarcocystis neurona. Methods: Test results of 428 serum and 355 CSF samples from 182 naturally exposed, experimentally infected, or vaccinated horses. Methods: EPM was diagnosed on the basis of histologic examination of the CNS. Probability distributions were fitted to serum IFAT results in the EPM+ and EPM-horses, and correlation between serum and CSF results was modeled. Pairs of serum-CSF titers were generated by simulation, and titer-specifi...
Devine DV, Jann HW, Payton ME.To assess gait abnormalities associated with selective anesthesia of the suprascapular nerve (SSN) achieved by use of perineural catheterization and thereby determine the function of that nerve as it relates to gait in horses. Methods: 3 adult horses with no preexisting clinically apparent lameness at a walk. Methods: Each horse was anesthetized; the right SSN was exposed surgically for placement of a perineural catheter to permit delivery of 1 mL of 2% mepivacaine hydrochloride. Six hours after recovery from anesthesia, each horse was videotaped while walking (50-step data acquisition period)...
Koenig JB, Sawhney S, Cote N, LaMarre J.To determine whether inflammation of the jejunum of horses decreases the number of motilin receptors and amounts of motilin receptor mRNA and alters erythromycin lactobionate binding affinity to the motilin receptor in jejunal tissues. Methods: Jejunal segments in 6 adult horses. Methods: Each horse was anesthetized, and a ventral median celiotomy was performed; 2 segments of jejunum underwent a sham operation, 2 segments underwent ischemic strangulation obstruction (ISO), and 2 segments underwent intraluminal distension (ILD). Treatments were maintained for 120 minutes. From each segment, ful...
Anthenill LA, Stover SM, Gardner IA, Hill AE, Lee CM, Anderson ML, Barr BC, Read DH, Johnson BJ, Woods LW, Daft BM, Kinde H, Moore JD, Farman CA....To determine the distribution for limbs and bones in horses with fractures of the proximal sesamoid bones and relationships with findings on palmarodorsal radiographic images. Methods: Proximal sesamoid bones obtained from both forelimbs of cadavers of 328 racing Thoroughbreds. Methods: Osteophytes; large vascular channels; and fracture location, orientation, configuration, and margin distinctness were categorized by use of high-detail contact palmarodorsal radiographs. Distributions of findings were determined. Relationships between radiographic findings and fracture characteristics were exam...
Zelli R, Sylla L, Monaci M, Stradaioli G, Sibley LE, Roser JF, Munro C, Liu IK.Granulosa-theca cell tumors (GTCTs) are able to secrete variable amounts of sex steroids and immunoreactive inhibin (ir-INH). Although the pituitary appears to be affected by the presence of a GTCT, pituitary responsiveness to exogenous GnRH has not been examined. The aims of the present study were to: (i) assess the plasma hormone concentrations of ir-INH, gonadotropins and sex steroids in eight mares with GTCT and (ii) assess the responsiveness of pituitary gonadotroph cells to exogenous GnRH stimulus both before and after tumor removal. In seven mares, the contralateral ovary was firm, smal...
Bogaert L, Van Poucke M, De Baere C, Peelman L, Gasthuys F, Martens A.Real-time quantitative PCR can be a very powerful and accurate technique to examine gene transcription patterns in different biological conditions. One of the critical steps in comparing transcription profiles is accurate normalisation. In most of the studies published on real-time PCR in horses, normalisation occurred against only one reference gene, usually GAPDH or ACTB, without validation of its expression stability. This might result in unreliable conclusions, because it has been demonstrated that the expression levels of so called "housekeeping genes" may vary considerably in different t...
Cassotis NJ, Schiffman P.A 12-year-old Paso Fino mare was evaluated for a chronic nasal and ocular discharge. A calcification was identified eroding through the nasal mucosa of the middle meatus. Differential considerations for this mass included dacryolith, nasal calculus, or calcified tooth root abscess. Anatomical location and case history and progression supported a dacryolith. Following removal, the calculus was submitted for mineralogic analysis. The calculus was primarily carbonate hydroxylapatite (Ca10(PO4)3(CO3)3(OH)2) with a minor NaCl halite constituent. Dacryoliths, or nasolacrimal calculi, are an uncommon...
Brommer H, Laasanen MS, Brama PA, van Weeren PR, Helminen HJ, Jurvelin JS.To evaluate an arthroscopic indentation instrument (Artscan 200) for assessment of the health status of equine articular cartilage. Methods: In vitro experiment using equine isolated proximal phalanx (P1) specimens. Methods: P1 specimens from 39 horses (aged 1.5-22 years). Methods: Reproducibility was tested by determination of the coefficient of variation (CV). Dynamic modulus and cartilage degeneration index (CDI) values were measured at 2 predefined sites (site 1, joint margin; site 2, joint center) to assess the accuracy and to evaluate the relation with surface integrity. Results: CV was ...
Saifzadeh S, Derakhshanfar A, Shokouhi F, Hashemi M, Mazaheri R.We report a 5-year-old gelding with a rare benign tumour of 2-month duration in the subcutis of the hind limb that presented with lameness. Physical examination revealed normal vital signs. Laboratory findings were within normal ranges. No bone abnormalities were detected on radiographic examination of the affected area. Bloody fluid was obtained by aspiration. Through an I-shape skin incision the tumour was excised en-block. Microscopic study showed a vascular hamartoma characterized by cavernous haemangiomatous tissue and proliferation of multiple vessels of variable diameter. This report hi...
Phumoonna T, Muscatello G, Chicken C, Gilkerson JR, Browning GF, Barton MD, Heuzenroeder MW.A total of 227 field samples from naturally exposed foals aged between 3 weeks and 6 months were used in an evaluation of a peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for diagnosis of Rhodococcus equi infection. A biotinylated peptide derived from the virulence-associated protein A (VapA) of R. equi, a horse pathogen, was synthesized and designated as PN11-14. The peptide corresponds to the N-terminal B-cell epitope TSLNLQKDEPNGRASDTAGQ of the VapA protein. Based upon a serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G titre of 512 as a positive cut-off value for the R. equi infection, the ELISA provide...
Reis JK, Craigo JK, Cook SJ, Issel CJ, Montelaro RC.Dynamic genomic variation resulting in changes in envelope antigenicity has been established as a fundamental mechanism of persistence by equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), as observed with other lentiviruses, including HIV-1. In addition to the reported changes in envelope sequences, however, certain studies indicate the viral LTR as a second variable EIAV gene, with the enhancer region being designated as hypervariable. These observations have lead to the suggestion that LTR variation may alter viral replication properties to optimize to the microenvironment of particular tissue reservoi...
Brandon CI, Vandenplas M, Dookwah H, Murray TF.The aim of this study was to establish a heterologous expression system for the equine adenosine A(3) receptor (eA(3)-R) in an effort to ascertain its pharmacologic profile. Initially, radioligand binding assays identified clones expressing the eA(3)-R in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK) based on the specific binding of [(125)I]AB-MECA. Subsequently, adenylate cyclase assays were utilized to demonstrate functional coupling of the eA(3)-R to the G-protein/adenylate cyclase system. Equilibrium competition binding assays were then performed using selective and non-selective A(3) agonists and an...
Aldrich ED, Goodrich LR, Monahan MK, Conway JD, Valdés-Martínez A.Injury to the tendons and ligaments of the equine stifle is a common cause of lameness in horses. Individual radiographic localisation of each tendon and ligament of the stifle has not been previously reported or demonstrated in multiple radiographic projections. Objective: To create a series of radiographs identifying the origins and/or insertions of the tendons and ligaments of the equine stifle. Methods: Descriptive study of radiographic anatomy. Methods: The location of all entheses were determined by gross dissection. The proximal tibia and fibula, distal femur, patella and menisci were i...
Sentsui H, Kono Y.Six strains of equine infectious anemia (EIA) virus propagated in equine leukocyte cultures were found to agglutinate horse erythrocytes. Concentrated virus material containing about 20 units of complement fixation (CF) titer showed hemagglutinating (HA) titers ranging from 4 to 8 units. The HA activity remained stable after ether treatment and was reduced by trypsin, formaldehyde and KIO4. Cesium chloride equilibrium density gradient centrifugation revealed two populations of hemagglutinin, one in the density range of 1.15-1.16 g/ml coinciding with a peak of CF antigen and the other at round ...
Bowman KF, Tate LP, Evans LH, Donawick WJ.Seven foals, 2 horses, and 2 calves were presented to the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at New Bolton Center and the Large Animal Clinic at Auburn University for surgical repair of cleft palate. All animals had preexisting pneumonia. Initial repair of cleft palate in 6 foals, 2 horses, and 2 calves was performed via mandibular symphysiotomy. Primary repair of cleft soft palate in a foal was attempted through a pharyngotomy incision after fracture of the basal hyoid bone; however, exposure was inadequate and mandibular symphysiotomy had to be done. Dehiscence of a portion of the ...
Holland M, Kelly AB, Snyder JR, Steffey EP, Willits N, McNeal D.A chromogenic peptide substrate assay was used to determine serially plasma antithrombin III (AT III) activity in 4 groups of horses. Group I consisted of healthy, mature horses in which AT III activity was determined twice daily for 7 consecutive days. Groups 2 and 3 contained healthy horses in which AT III activity was monitored for 7 days after controlled, but varying, conditions of general anesthesia and surgery (median celiotomy). Group 4 was made up of patients with a presurgical diagnosis of colonic torsion. In healthy awake horses (group I), there was no difference in AT III values ove...
Dechant JE, Nieto JE, Le Jeune SS.To evaluate clinical findings, underlying causes, and short-term outcome associated with hemoperitoneum in horses. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 67 horses with hemoperitoneum. Methods: Medical records of horses with hemo-peritoneum (excluding postoperative abdominal hemorrhage) from 1989 through 2004 were analyzed. Information obtained included history, signalment, physical examination findings, diagnostic test results, and short-term outcome. Results: Breed distribution was 28 Thoroughbreds, 13 Arabians, 10 Quarter Horses, 5 Warmbloods, 3 Appaloosas, and 1 each of 8 other breed...
Clark GG, Crabbs CL, Bailey CL, Calisher CH, Craig GB.An arbovirus survey was conducted during August 1985 at White Sands Missile Range in southcentral New Mexico following a suspected arboviral disease epizootic among feral horses. A total of 20,566 mosquitoes (18,505 females and 2,061 males) and 8,900 biting gnats were collected and assayed for virus. Female mosquitoes were principally Aedes campestris (54.8%), Aedes dorsalis (30.4%) and Culex tarsalis (13.2%). Arboviruses were not isolated from biting gnats, but mosquitoes yielded a total of 37 viral isolates, including western equine encephalitis (WEE) (18), California serogroup (15), Cache V...
Schmidburg I, Pagger H, Zsoldos RR, Mehnen J, Peham C, Licka TF.Laterolateral radiographs of equine necks are reported to be inaccurate in determining the site of spinal cord lesions even when a myelogram is carried out. The goal of this study was to assess constrictions present in the cervical vertebral canal at any time point throughout the extremes of movement. Sixteen equine cervical vertebral columns without history of cervical disease were used. After removal of the spinal cord, the dura mater was filled with polyurethane foam and during its plastic phase the cervical vertebral column was passively moved in flexion-extension, lateral bending and 30°...
Schaaf KL, Kannegieter NJ, Lovell DK.Three horses, a 10-year-old Thoroughbred mare, a 9-year-old Thoroughbred gelding and a 6-year-old Arab gelding, with calcified tumours of the paranasal sinuses, are described. All horses presented with purulent nasal discharges and facial distortion. Exophthalmos, blepharospasm and ocular discharge were also a feature in individual horses. A presumptive diagnosis of a calcified tumour was made on the basis of clinical signs and radiographic and endoscopic findings. The tumours ranged from 15 to 25 cm in diameter. A large frontonasal bone flap was used to expose the tumours, which were cleaved ...
Guerin G, Bertaud M, Chardon P, Geffrotin C, Vaiman M, Cohen D.Restriction fragment length polymorphism was studied in an ELA typed horse family which included a stallion, a mare with two full-sibs, another mare with three full-sibs and, in addition, three paternal half-sibs. DNA samples from all individuals were investigated by Southern blot analysis using three restriction enzymes (EcoRI, HindIII or TaqI) and human cDNA class I, class II (DR beta) and class III (C4) probes. In addition, a genomic class II DQ alpha probe was used. Fragments hybridized with the various probes revealed the existence of DNA sequences homologous to HLA class I, DR beta, DQ a...
Poltep K, Tesena P, Yingchutrakul Y, Taylor J, Wongtawan T.Silent gastric ulceration occurs without evidence of clinical signs and is common in horses. There is currently no a simple and effective method to diagnose this disease. Proteomics can be used to identify serum biomarkers, but the most abundant serum protein, albumin, could conceal candidate biomarkers. Therefore, it is recommended to remove albumin before a proteomic study; however, there is no specific albumin depletion kit or standard protocol available for horse samples. The objectives of this study were to optimise a protocol to remove equine serum albumin and to use albumin-depleted ser...
Johansson AM, Gardner SY, Atkins CE, LaFevers DH, Breuhaus BA.Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is common in horses. Although pulmonary artery (PA) pressure increases during RAO, cardiac function in horses with RAO has received limited attention. Objective: The purpose of this study was to noninvasively determine the cardiovascular effects of acute pulmonary obstruction (APO) in horses with RAO and their reversibility. Methods: Five geldings with RAO, inducible by exposure to moldy hay, were studied. Methods: Pulmonary mechanics, echocardiography, serum troponin I concentrations, arterial blood gases, and hematocrit were obtained before and after 7 days...
Adams R, Mayhew IG.Behaviour and response to neurological testing of apparently healthy newborn foals differed significantly from the adult in several ways. Foals responded to external stimulation with exaggerated movements although they tended to sink into a relaxed state when restrained. They had a more angular head position and assumed a base wide stance. The menace reflex developed during the first two weeks post partum. In general, the foals' gait was choppy or dysmetric. In lateral recumbency the foals had increased extensor tone, hyperreflexive tendon reflexes, crossed extensor reflexes as well as recumbe...
Adler DM, Cornett C, Damborg P, Verwilghen DR.Local anaesthetics (LAs) are frequently used for diagnostic procedures in equine veterinary practice. The objective of this study was to investigate the physico-chemical stability and bacterial contamination of bupivacaine, lidocaine and mepivacaine used for lameness examinations in horses. The LAs were stored in 12 different groups at different temperatures (-18 °C to 70 °C), light intensities and in common veterinary field conditions for up to 16 months. The pH, presence of bacterial contamination and concentrations of LAs and methylparaben (a preservative present in lidocaine) were de...
Johnson J, Messier S, Meulyzer M, Vinardell T, Marcoux M, David F.To compare bacterial colonization after diluted iodine tincture or povidone iodine solution for presurgical disinfection of the equine peripodal region. Methods: Complete block design. Methods: Five horses. Methods: Disinfection protocols using iodine tincture or povidone iodine solutions were tested on 5 pairs (n = 10) equine front feet. Iodine tincture was applied to the left feet and povidone iodine to the right feet. Fixed surfaces of the sole, frog, hoof wall, and peripodal skin were swabbed pre-preparation (T0), after a standard pre-disinfection step (T1), after short disinfection wi...
Hurd H.A total of 28 components were detected in the free amino acid (FAA) pool of hydatid fluid from primary and secondary equine cysts, secondary ovine cysts and host plasma. Examination of data from equine cysts revealed that the majority of FAAs were present in significantly greater concentrations in secondary cysts, glycine being over 30 times more concentrated. Values for total carbohydrates and glucose did not, however, differ significantly and total protein content was greater in primary cysts. Comparison of the (FAA) pool of secondary equine and ovine cysts revealed strain variation. It was ...
Merkens HW, Schamhardt HC, Hartman W, Kersjes AW.The amplitudes, impulses and times of occurrence of a number of selected peaks in the ground reaction force tracings of 17 horses with various clinical histories were compared with those of 20 horses used to establish values for the 'standard' Dutch Warmblood horse. The resulting factors were combined, using different weighting factors, into indices characterising each limb. The symmetry between the loading of the forelimbs and the hindlimbs was used to calculate amplitude and peak-time symmetry indices. Limb and symmetry indices were combined in one H(orse) INDEX. This method of quantifying t...
Kleiber C, Grünig G, Jungi T, Schmucker N, Gerber H, Davis WC, Straub R.A panel of specific antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD5, CD8, MHC I and II was used in single and two colour flow cytometry to define T cell subpopulations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of horses affected with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and of healthy controls. According to the results of the clinical examination including bronchoscopy and cytology of the tracheal aspirate the horses were divided into four groups (healthy, subclinically to mildly affected; moderately affected, and severely affected). All groups of horses had a similar percentage of CD3+ cells in the BALF. Compared to...
Alonso JM, Esper CS, Pantoja JCF, Rosa GDS, Giampietro RR, Dos Santos B, Guerra ST, Ribeiro MG, Takahira RK, Watanabe MJ, Alves ALG, Rodrigues CA....Difference in blood and peritoneal glucose (DBPG) is used in clinical practice to support a diagnosis of septic peritonitis in horses. It is inexpensive, easy and rapid to perform. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the DBPG to differentiate between septic and non-septic peritonitis in horses. Blood and peritoneal fluids were harvested from suspected animals. Plasma and peritoneal glucose levels, total nucleated cell count, direct microscopic and microbiological examinations of the peritoneal fluid were evaluated. Using DBPG levels, the animals were classified into two group...
Marti M, Mevissen M, Althaus H, Steiner A.The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of bethanechol (BeCh) on contractility patterns of smooth muscle preparations of equine duodenum descendens, jejunum, caecum and pelvic flexure in vitro. Concentration-response relationships were developed for BeCh using in vitro assays with and without preincubation of muscarinic (M) receptor antagonists for M2 and M3 receptors. BeCh induced a significant, concentration-dependent increase in contractile response in equine intestine in specimens with circular orientation. The maximal effect was largest for jejunal specimens with no differenc...
Happold J, Rubira R.This study included 10 large Thoroughbred horse studs in the upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales and in southeast Queensland, Australia. The aims were to describe the EI epidemic in studs in the Special Restricted Area (Purple Zone) of NSW, to estimate seroprevalence among different groups of horses on these studs and to look for evidence of exposure to EI virus in horses on 'vaccinated' studs in southeast Queensland that were thought to have remained free of infection. As serology results from Queensland suggest that vaccination may have reduced the sensitivity of clinical surveillance to ...
Wamsley HL, Alleman AR, Porter MB, Long MT.To evaluate CSF in horses with confirmed West Nile virus encephalomyelitis. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 30 horses. Methods: Results of CSF analyses from horses with acute neurologic signs attributed to West Nile virus infection that was confirmed by immunoglobulin M antibody capture ELISA were reviewed and analyzed. Results: Among 30 CSF samples, findings in 8 (27%) were within reference ranges and in 22 (73%) were abnormal. Among the 22 abnormal samples, mononuclear pleocytosis was found in 16 (73%) and high protein concentration with nucleated cell count within reference range was...
Singh V, Chaudhari SS, Kumar S, Chhabra MB.An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed for the detection of Trypanosoma evansi antigens in serum samples of field cases of buffaloes and horses in northern India. In 323 naturally infected/suspected buffaloes, circulating antigenaemia was detected in 180 (55.72%), whereas parasitaemia by wet blood smear examination was found in 62 (19.19%) only. The antigen-ELISA was positive in 47 of the 62 parasitologically proven cases and in 86 of the 116 cases with anti-trypanosome antibodies detected by ELISA. Of the 80 horses examined antigen-ELISA was positive in 45 (56.75%) sera. Th...
Alves BG, Alves KA, Gastal GDA, Gastal MO, Figueiredo JR, Gastal EL.Comprehensive studies on spatial distribution of preantral follicles in the ovary are scarce. Considering that preantral follicles represent the main ovarian reserve, harvesting of these follicles is crucial for the development/use of assisted reproductive techniques. Therefore, knowledge on follicle spatial distribution can be helpful for targeting areas with richer number of preantral follicles through biopsy procedures. The aim of this study was to assess the distribution and localization of equine preantral follicles according to: (i) age, (ii) ovarian portion (lateral and intermediary) an...
Górski K, Borowska M, Stefanik E, Polkowska I, Turek B, Bereznowski A, Domino M.Dental disorders are a serious health problem in equine medicine, their early recognition benefits the long-term general health of the horse. Most of the initial signs of Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis (EOTRH) syndrome concern the alveolar aspect of the teeth, thus, the need for early recognition radiographic imaging. This study is aimed to evaluate the applicability of entropy measures to quantify the radiological signs of tooth resorption and hypercementosis as well as to enhance radiographic image quality in order to facilitate the identification of the signs of E...
Mathewos M, Bukero R, Endale H, Mekbib B, Giday W, Mekore D.Epizootic lymphangitis is a contagious, chronic and overwhelming disease of equids, characterized by chronic discharging skin nodules. This study was aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of epizootic lymphangitis in equines at Nagele Arsi town, southeastern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study using a random sampling technique was employed from December 2021 to June 2022 via clinical and microscopic examinations of the lesions. The overall prevalence of epizootic lymphangitis was 4.37% with a prevalence of 6.69%, 0.72%, and 0% in horses, donkeys, and mules, respectively...
Sheoran AS, Holmes MA.Equine IgG possesses four well-defined subisotypes, designated IgGa, IgGb, IgGc and IgG(T) on the basis of their increasing anodal mobility in electrophoresis. However, the preparation of IgGa and IgGb reference proteins has not previously been reported. Certain bacterial cell wall proteins, termed protein A and protein G, have been used for purification of IgG subisotypes from the serum of domestic animals which, combined with other techniques utilising differences in the physico-chemical properties of the proteins, has allowed the purification of Ig isotypes. This paper describes purificatio...
Riley SC, Thomassen R, Bae SE, Leask R, Pedersen HG, Watson ED.Profound hormonally controlled tissue remodelling occurs in the equine ovary for follicle growth and development, and also for the alteration in follicle shape directed towards the ovulation fossa, the site where ovulation occurs. The aim of this study was to examine the spatial and temporal regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, important enzymes in tissue remodelling, during follicle growth, and ovulation. Using gelatin substrate zymography, we measured these MMPs in follicular fluid of large anovulatory follicles collected during spring transition, early dominant follicl...
White SD, Ghoddusi M, Grooters AM, Jones K.An 18-year-old Arabian mare was examined with a large mass on the left hind pastern and fetlock. The mare was located in the Central Valley of northern California, and had never been out of the state. Routine histopathological processing and examination of biopsy samples from the mass showed several hyphal organisms that were delineated with a silver stain. Using immunohistochemistry the organism was diagnosed as Pythium insidiosum. The owner declined debulking surgery, and despite treatment with an immunotherapeutic vaccine, the horse's condition deteriorated leading to euthanasia.
