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.
Poyet JL, Srinivasula SM, Alnemri ES.vCLAP, the E10 gene product of equine herpesvirus-2, is a caspase-recruitment domain (CARD)-containing protein that has been shown to induce both apoptosis and NF-kappaB activation in mammalian cells. vCLAP has a cellular counterpart, Bcl10/cCLAP, which is also an activator of apoptosis and NF-kappaB. Recent studies demonstrated that vCLAP activates NF-kappaB through an IkappaB kinase (IKK)-dependent pathway, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this report, we demonstrate that vCLAP associates stably with the IKK complex through direct binding to the C-terminal region of IKKgamma....
Hahn CN, Mayhew IG.The effect of an ocular administration of the alpha-1 adrenergic agonist phenylephrine was studied in 23 cases of grass sickness and 12 control horses. In the horses with grass sickness there was a significantly greater mean increase in the size of the palpebral fissure, as measured by the change in the angle of the eyelashes to the head observed from a frontal view.
van den Wollenberg L, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.Since it has become possible to make an ante-mortem diagnosis of gastric ulceration in horses by means of endoscopy, interest in the presence and treatment of this syndrome has increased. Several endoscopic surveys have indicated that the frequency of gastric ulceration in Thoroughbreds in training is fairly high. Less is known about other breeds and horses that are kept under different (training) conditions. The equine stomach is covered by two different kinds of mucous membranes: squamous and glandular. These two areas differ from one another in the incidence and aetiology of ulceration and,...
Sutcliffe IC, Trigg J, Harrington D.Using preparative electrophoresis, a low molecular weight protein has been partially purified from a cell extract of the equine pathogen Streptococcus equi susp. equi. N-terminal sequence analysis and Western blotting revealed the protein to be HPr, a central component of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS). Interestingly, the only form of the HPr protein detected in S. equi was one with the amino-terminal methionine removed, a modification that has previously been associated with surface localization of streptococcal HPr proteins.
French K, Pollitt CC, Pass MA.Experiments were performed to establish the pharmacokinetics of triamcinolone acetonide and the effects of the glucocorticoid on glucose metabolism in horses. The pharmacokinetics after intravenous (i.v.) dosing was best described by a three-compartment open model. There was rapid distribution from the central compartment followed by two phases of elimination. The half-life of the rapid elimination phase was 83.5 min and of the slower phase was 12 h. The term (Vss/Vc)-1was 12.3 indicating extensive distribution into the tissues. Triamcinolone acetonide given i.v. or intramuscularly (i.m. ) ind...
Yasuda R, Kawano J, Onda H, Takagi M, Shimizu A, Anzai T.To determine patterns of methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolated from apparently healthy horses. Methods: 44 horses from 8 riding clubs in Japan. Methods: Methicill in-resistant staphylococci were isolated from the skin or nares, using a selective medium containing a beta-(symboric) lactam antibiotic, ceftizoxime. Clonality of isolates was determined by use of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Detection of mecA, mecl, and mecR1 genes was accomplished by use of polymerase chain reactions. Results: Of the 44 horses, 13 (29.5%) yielded 15 isolates of methicillin-resistant staphylococci. The ...
Hamilton A, Harrington D, Sutcliffe IC.Acid phosphatases hydrolyse phosphomonoesters at acidic pH in a variety of physiological contexts. The recently defined class C family of acid phosphatases includes the 32 kDa LppC lipoprotein of Streptococcus equisimilis. To define further the distribution of acid phosphatases in the genus Streptococcus we have examined the equine pathogens Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus. Whole cell assays indicated that these organisms possess two acid phosphatases with activity optima at pH 5.0 and pH 6.0-6.5 and that only the former of these was, like LppC, resis...
Patterson-Kane JC, Tramontin RR, Giles RC, Harrison LR.A 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding with a history of acute onset of hematuria was presented for necropsy. Transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder with intra-abdominal dissemination was diagnosed. Tumor masses were observed on the splenic capsule and surrounding the distal abdominal aorta. Tumor cells showed diffuse cytoplasmic reactivity for cytokeratin but were negative for epithelial membrane antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen, tumor-associated glycoprotein 72, and vimentin.
Guy JS, Breslin JJ, Breuhaus B, Vivrette S, Smith LG.A coronavirus was isolated from feces of a diarrheic foal and serially propagated in human rectal adenocarcinoma (HRT-18) cells. Antigenic and genomic characterizations of the virus (isolate NC99) were based on serological comparison with other avian and mammalian coronaviruses and sequence analysis of the nucleocapsid (N) protein gene. Indirect fluorescent-antibody assay procedures and virus neutralization assays demonstrated a close antigenic relationship with bovine coronavirus (BCV) and porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (mammalian group 2 coronaviruses). Using previously des...
Boireau P, Vallée I, Roman T, Perret C, Mingyuan L, Gamble HR, Gajadhar A.After the initial report in 1976 of a trichinellosis epidemic caused by the consumption of infected horsemeat, 12 other outbreaks have been described in Europe. Since the first serious human outbreak several experiments have confirmed the susceptibility of horses to Trichinella species and the rapid disappearance of specific antibodies in this host that prevents the use of serological methods for routine screening. A review of the distribution of parasite burdens in muscles of naturally or experimentally infected horses indicates that the tongue is the most likely sample to contain detectable ...
Van Hoogmoed L, Snyder JR, Pascoe JR, Olander H.To determine if morphologic evaluation of intraoperative biopsies of the large colon could be used to accurately predict outcome in horses with large colon torsion. Methods: Clinical study. Methods: Fifty-four horses with large colon torsion. Methods: A full-thickness biopsy was collected from the pelvic flexure of the ascending colon after correction of naturally occurring colonic torsion. Morphologic changes were evaluated and graded for interstitial tissue to crypt ratio (I:C ratio), percentage loss of superficial and glandular epithelium, and the degree of hemorrhage and edema. These varia...
Booth TM, Clegg PD.An 8-year-old show-jumper gelding was referred for examination as a result of a purchase dispute for reported back pain. Clinical examination identified back pain and atrophy of the left semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles, but no lameness. Standing pelvic radiography demonstrated a chronic nonunion fracture of the left ischium, the clinical significance of which was uncertain. The apparent back pain was thought to be probably unrelated to the pelvic lesion. We conclude that chronic ischial fracture in the horse can lead to specific atrophy of the semimembranosus and semitendinosus musc...
Freeman SL, Bowen IM, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, England GC.The cardiopulmonary effects of romifidine at 80 microg/kg (R80) or 120 pg/kg (R120), and detomidine at 20 pg/kg (D20) when used as premedicants for ketamine/halothane anaesthesia were investigated in six ponies. Using a blinded crossover design, acepromazine (0-04 mg/kg) was administered followed by the alpha-2 agonist. Anaesthesia was induced with ketamine at 2.2 mg/kg and maintained with halothane (expired concentration 1.0 per cent) in oxygen for three hours. During anaesthesia, arterial blood pressure, cardiac index, PaO2 and PmvO2 decreased, and systemic vascular resistance and PaCO2 incr...
Carnevale EM, Ramirez RJ, Squires EL, Alvarenga MA, Vanderwall DK, McCue PM.In the present study, 638 embryo transfers conducted over 3 yr were retrospectively examined to determine which factors (recipient, embryo and transfer) significantly influenced pregnancy and embryo loss rates and to determine how rates could be improved. On Day 7 or 8 after ovulation, embryos (fresh or cooled/transported) were transferred by surgical or nonsurgical techniques into recipients ovulating from 5 to 9 d before transfer. At 12 and 50 d of gestation (Day 0 = day of ovulation), pregnancy rates were 65.7% (419 of 638) and 55.5% (354 of 638). Pregnancy rates on Day 50 were significantl...
Ethell MT, Hodgson DR, Hills BA.This study was undertaken to determine the hydrophobicity of the luminal surface of the equine stomach and to elucidate the ultrastructure of the lining imparting that property. Gastric and duodenal mucosal samples from 5 horses were collected immediately after euthanasia and subjected to surface contact angle measurement using a goniometer. Gastric mucosal samples from 4 horses and a foal were examined by electron microscopy following a fixation procedure known to preserve phospholipids and oligolamellar structures. Contact angles for the equine gastric glandular mucosal surface (mean +/- s.e...
Bailey SR, Cunningham FM, Elliott J.Uptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) into platelets is an important mechanism by which low plasma concentrations are maintained, and platelet activation may therefore result in significant release of this vasoconstrictor. The present study examined the kinetics of active uptake of radiolabelled [3H]5-HT by washed equine platelets in vitro, and investigated the effects on this process of 4 other naturally occurring monoamines which may be released from the caecum in conditions of carbohydrate overload. The release of [3H]5-HT by platelets was also studied, since platelet accumulation and activa...
Parviainen AK, Trim CM.This retrospective study was initiated to identify complications of anaesthesia occurring during ocular surgery. Records of 74 horses anaesthetised for eye enucleation, 65 horses anaesthetised for surgery of the eye and adnexa, and 51 horses anaesthetised for splint bone excision were reviewed. Fifty-three percent of the horses anaesthetised for eye enucleation moved during surgery which was significantly more frequent than in the other groups (P = 0.001). The incidence of moving was significantly reduced by use of an anaesthetic gas analyser for monitoring (P = 0.001). Transient hypertension ...
Hashikura S, Higuchi T, Taharaguchi S, Orita Y, Nanao Y, Takai S.The reliability of preparing bacteriological cultures from nasotracheal aspirates of foals routinely in order to diagnose R. equi pneumonia in foals was studied by isolating Rhodococcus equi from specimens obtained from 96 foals by nasotracheal aspiration with a silicon catheter. Results were compared with specimens obtained from 21 foals by transtracheal aspiration (percutaneous tracheal puncture). These 117 foals showed clinical signs of respiratory tract infection at sampling. R. equi was isolated from 14 of 21 (66.7%) specimens by transtracheal aspiration and from 59 of 96 (61.4%) specimen...
Johnson PJ, Kreeger JM, Keeler M, Ganjam VK, Messer NT.In order better to evaluate the extent to which degradation of the lamellar basement membrane (LBM) by matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) occurs in equine laminitis, we determined the concentration of type IV collagen and laminin in normal and laminitic horses, using specific immunoassays. Blood samples were obtained from both the jugular and the cephalic veins of horses (n = 10) before and after the induction of acute alimentary laminitis by carbohydrate overload. Jugular and cephalic venous blood samples were also obtained from horses affected with naturally occurring laminitis (n = 16) and non...
Hinton TM, Li F, Crabb BS.Equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV) has recently been classified as an aphthovirus, a genus otherwise comprised of the different serotypes of Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). FMDV initiates translation via a type II internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) and utilizes two in-frame AUG codons to produce the leader proteinases Lab and Lb. Here we show that the ERAV 5' nontranslated region also possesses the core structures of a type II IRES. The functional activity of this region was characterized by transfection of bicistronic plasmids into BHK-21 cells. In this system the core type II structures, ...
Várady M, Königová A, Corba J.The present study included 19 stud farms, including 243 horses, that were investigated for the occurrence of anthelmintic resistant cyathostomes. The number of horses on the farms varied from nine to more than 100, and horses of all ages were included. A minimum of seven horses were used for faecal egg count reduction (FECR) tests. The anthelmintics included were: fenbendazole (paste formulation), ivermectin (paste formulation) and pyrantel (powder). Resistance to benzimidazoles was detected on 14 farms, with FECR values ranging from 65.1 to 86.3%. Larval cultures after fenbendazole treatment ...
Hasegaw T, Sato F, Ishida N, Fukushima Y, Mukoyama H.A quick method for sex determination of horses was developed. Simultaneous amplification of the equine sex-determining region of the Y chromosome gene (SRY) and amelogenin gene (AMEL) accomplished the determination of the presence of both the Y chromosome and SRY gene. In agarose gel electrophoresis, a normal stallion showed 1 SRY band and 3 AMEL (AMELX, AMELY, and AMELX/AMELY heteroduplex) bands, and a normal mare showed a single AMELX band. In XY-mares, 3 AMEL bands were detected as in a normal stallion, but no SRY band. The present method enables a quick diagnosis for XY-mare prior to cytog...
Ceci L, Carelli G.This paper reviews basic information on the knowledge of tick-borne diseases, babesiosis, anaplasmosis and theileriosis, in horses, cattle, sheep and goats in Italy with particular reference to the southern part of the country. It is stressed that there is limited knowledge about the parasite species present, their vectors, distribution, prevalence and impact on livestock production and there is the need to assess their epidemiology. A study carried out in the Apulia region to assess the prevalence of Anaplasma marginale infection in 1,648 cattle showed a seroprevalence of 17% using the Card A...
Barstow A, Pfau T, Bolt DM, Smith RK, Weller R.The ability to recognize lameness in the horse is an important skill for veterinary graduates; however, opportunities to develop this skill at the undergraduate level are limited. Computer-aided learning programs (CALs) have been successful in supplementing practical skills teaching. The aim of this study was to design and validate a CAL for the teaching of equine lameness recognition (CAL1). A control CAL was designed to simulate learning by experience (CAL2). Student volunteers were randomly assigned to either CAL and tested to establish their current ability to recognize lameness. Retesting...
Slocombe JO, McCraw BM, Pennock PW, Ducharme N, Baird JD.A preliminary investigation was made into the effect of fourth-stage Strongylus vulgaris larvae sequestered in the tunica media of ileocolic arteries of pony foals treated with ivermectin. The foals had been reared parasite-free, inoculated with infective larvae and given orally a placebo or ivermectin paste. Two foals received subsequently one or two further inoculations with larvae and treatment with ivermectin. Arteriography was used to identify the lesions in the ileocolic artery following inoculation and their regression following treatment. At necropsy, foals were examined for lesions an...
Burns TA, Westerman T, Nuovo GJ, Watts MR, Pettigrew A, Yin C, Belknap JK.Oxidative stress reportedly plays a role in sepsis-induced organ dysfunction and failure in many species. In septic horses, laminae are targeted; evidence of laminar oxidative stress has been reported experimentally in the black walnut extract (BWE) model. Carbohydrate (CHO)-induced laminitis may be more similar to clinical sepsis-related laminitis than the BWE model in that animals with CHO-induced disease commonly develop laminar failure. The role of oxidative stress in the CHO model remains unknown. Objective: Markers of oxidative stress will be increased in laminae from horses with BWE- an...
Magee AA, Ragle CA, Hines MT, Madigan JE, Booth LC.Enlarged anorectal lymph nodes can cause colic in young horses by obstructing the caudal aspect of the rectum. Dyschezia and clinical signs consistent with abdominal pain were the predominant reasons for evaluation of the 5 young (3 to 15 month old) horses of this report. Digital transrectal palpation revealed a firm mass obstructing the caudal aspect of the rectum in each horse. Results of cytologic evaluation of the masses revealed a lymphoid population of cells in 4 of 5 horses. These nodes regressed over time or became abscesses and drained into the rectum. In 1 horse, detection of a matur...
Blissitt KJ, Bonagura JD.Colour flow Doppler echocardiography is a technique that is used with two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography to study blood flow patterns in the heart and blood vessels. This method was used to define normal flow patterns and to evaluate valvular function in 40 clinically normal Thoroughbred and Thoroughbred cross horses. Flow patterns from 10 standardised echocardiographic images were described in relation to anatomic landmarks and timing during the cardiac cycle. Consistent intracardiac flow patterns were identified in the normal horses. High velocity flow signals or regurgitant jets were re...
Hemberg E, Niazi A, Guo Y, Debnár VJ, Vincze B, Morrell JM, Kútvölgyi G.The presence of a microbiome/microbiota in the placenta is hotly debated. In previous studies, the presence of bacteria in equine amniotic fluid and umbilical blood was independent of foal health. The objective of the present study was to determine if the same bacteria are present in the equine placenta as in amniotic fluid and umbilical blood. Samples were obtained from 24 parturient mares and foals. Placental bacterial DNA was extracted, and the microbiome was identified using 16S rRNA sequencing. All amniotic fluid samples contained some polymorphonucleocytes; bacteria were isolated from fo...
Salciccia A, Gougnard A, Grulke S, de la Rebière de Pouyade G, Libertiaux V, Busoni V, Sandersen C, Serteyn D.The ultrasonographic images of the gastrointestinal tract in horses can be influenced by fasting and sedation but the proper effect of general anaesthesia (GA) on them has not been determined yet. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of GA on ultrasonographic images of the gastrointestinal tract in horses and to compare these effects with a clinical evaluation. Twenty horses undergoing non-abdominal surgeries were evaluated by ultrasonography before and 4 times within 24 h after GA. Each ultrasonographic exam focused on the stomach, the duodenum and on 5 locations on the jejunum. The fou...
Stein RS, Means RT, Krantz SB, Flexner JM, Greer JP.The authors evaluated antilymphocyte serum prepared in rabbits (ALS-R) as an alternative to antilymphocyte serum prepared in horses (ALG-H) in the therapy of aplastic anemia. Between 1980 and 1993, 57 evaluable patients received ALS-R and prednisone +/- cyclosporine +/- androgens. Standard response criteria were used and patients were evaluated at 3 months from the start of therapy. Median age was 43 years. Disease was present for up to 2 months in 24 patients, 2-5 months in 14 patients, and 6 months or more in 19 patients. Disease was severe in 30 patients and moderate in 27. Responses occurr...
Hinkle FE, Selberg KT, Frisbie DD, Barrett MF.Comparison of radiography to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help objectively assess the value and limitations of radiographs in orthopaedic disease processes. The tarsus and proximal suspensory origin of the metatarsus are commonly imaged regions for lameness. The knowledge gained by comparison between imaging modalities will aid in improving accuracy of radiographic interpretation. Objective: To compare the radiographic and MRI findings of the proximal third metatarsal bone (MTIII) and proximal suspensory ligament using MRI as the gold standard. Methods: Retrospective observational stud...
Macon EL, Harris P, Bailey S, Barker VD, Adams A.Controlling postprandial hyperinsulinaemia is important in insulin dysregulated (ID) horses to reduce the risk of laminitis. Objective: To evaluate postprandial insulin responses of ID versus non-insulin dysregulated (NID) horses to feedstuffs varying in nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) and crude protein (CP). Methods: Randomised crossover. Methods: Eighteen adult mixed-breed horses (13.3 ± 2.2 years; 621 ± 78.8 kg) were individually fed [~1 g/kg body weight (BW)] specific feedstuffs within two crossover studies. Eight ID and eight NID were used in Study A, and 11 ID and 5 NID in Stud...
Goetz TE, Holland CJ, Dawson JE, Ristic M, Skibbe K, Keegan KG, Johnson PJ, Schaeffer DJ, Baker GJ.The seroprevalence and seasonal trend of antibody titers against equine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Potomac horse fever) were determined in apparently healthy horses in selected areas of Illinois in 1986. Sera from 1,367 horses (6 months to 29 years old) were evaluated for the presence of antibodies against Ehrlichia risticii with indirect immunofluorescence. The majority (88%) of the horses were Thoroughbred or Standardbred racehorses. The number of horses with antibodies against E risticii was 229/1,367 (16.75%). The titers in these horses ranged from 1:10 to 1:640. As the year progressed, the n...
Hood DM, Grosenbaugh DA, Slater MR.Vascular perfusion casts were used to define and characterise the macroscopic perfusion defects present in the distal digit of 11 horses affected by chronic laminitis. Five clinically normal horses were used as controls. Based on clinical history and clinical status, horses with chronic laminitis were classified as being potentially treatable or clinically refractory. Eleven macroscopic vascular defects were noted in the casts from horses with laminitis. Four types of lesions were identified in the submural laminar circulation, 3 in the coronary bed and 4 were associated with the solar circula...
Sponseller BT, Wong DM, Ruby R, Ware WA, Wilson S, Haynes JS.A 9-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was presented for lethargy, decreased appetite, polyuria and polydipsia (PU/PD), and severe muscle wasting suggestive of immune-mediated myositis. Results: The horse displayed lethargy, fever, tachyarrhythmia, inappetence, PU/PD, and severe epaxial and gluteal muscle wasting. Clinicopathologic findings were consistent with previously reported cases of systemic calcinosis in horses, including increased muscle enzyme activity, hyperphosphatemia, increased calcium-phosphorus product, hypoproteinemia, and an inflammatory leukogram. A diagnosis of systemic calcino...
BMC research notesApril 16, 2013
Volume 6 152 doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-6-152
Christensen MB, Sørensen JC, Jacobsen S, Kjelgaard-Hansen M.Serum amyloid A (SAA) is useful as a diagnostic marker of systemic inflammation in horses, but only heterologous assays based on non-equine calibration and standardization are available for measurements of equine SAA. More accurate measurements could be obtained using purified species-specific SAA in native conformation for assay calibration and standardization. Further knowledge about the biochemical properties of SAA would facilitate a future production of native species-specific calibration material Therefore, the aim of the study was an investigation of the solubility and potentials for pu...
Wibmer CK, Mashilo P.Horses and humans share a close relationship that includes both species' viromes. Many emerging infectious diseases can be transmitted between horses and humans and can exhibit mortality rates as high as 90% in both populations. Antibody biologics represents an emerging field of rapidly discoverable and potent antiviral therapeutics. These biologics can be used to provide passive immunity, as well as blueprints for the rational design of novel active vaccine antigens. Here, we exploit the limited diversity of immunoglobulin variable genes used by horses to develop a rapid, high-throughput mono...
Brink P, Schumacher J.To describe canaliculosinostomy performed to resolve epiphora caused by nasolacrimal duct obstruction and to report the outcome of horses undergoing this procedure. Methods: Case series. Methods: Seven horses with uni- or bilateral nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Methods: The ventral lacrimal punctum and canaliculus were expanded with catheters of increasing diameter until a 14 gauge, Jamshedi needle could be passed into and through the lacrimal sac into the caudal maxillary sinus. One end of a plastic tube was inserted through the needle into the sinus, and the needle was withdrawn over the tu...
Breuhaus BA.Glucocorticoids are known to exert inhibitory action on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. With recent evidence that free plasma cortisol and urinary excretion of cortisol metabolites may be increased in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), it is important to further examine thyroid function in horses with PPID. To test the hypothesis that serum thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations are decreased in horses with PPID, baseline serum thyroid hormone and TSH concentrations, and responses to TSH-releasing hormone (TRH), were compared between 12 horses diagnosed as having PPID...
Holmes JR, Alps BJ.The paper describes observations on the distributions of the P, QRS and T cardiac vectors in the horizontal plane, comparing healthy horses with those with arrhythmia and cardiac murmurs. Deviation of the T vector from the normal range appeared to occur most commonly in association with cardiac murmurs, particularly those involving the semilunar valves and aorta.
Merridale-Punter MS, Prutton JSW, Stefanovski D, Worsman FCF, Payne RJ, Wylie CE, Archer DC, Menzies-Gow NJ, Coles L, McGovern KF, Parker RA.Emergency laparotomies in donkeys are infrequently performed and there is limited literature on the subject. Objective: To determine findings and associated outcomes of exploratory laparotomies in donkeys. Methods: Descriptive retrospective study. Methods: Donkeys undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy for investigation and treatment of colic at seven UK referral hospitals between 2005-2017 were included. Data were retrieved from available hospital records. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistical analysis of outcomes of interest was performed in three steps. Results: Thirty-thr...
Dumoulin M, Pille F, Desmet P, Dewulf J, Steenhaut M, Gasthuys F, Martens A.The objective of the present study was to assess the incidence of upward fixation of the patella (UFP) in different types of patients and to evaluate the outcome of conservative and surgical treatment for correcting this condition. A particular attempt was made to find out whether corrective trimming and/or shoeing (CTS) is efficient in the conservative treatment of UFP, and whether a longer postoperative resting period reduces the risk of complications after medial patellar desmotomy (MPD). Medical records of 78 horses with intermittent or permanent UFP were analyzed retrospectively. Young an...
Duk M, Lisowska E.Rare polyagglutinable NOR erythrocytes contain unusual globoside extention products terminating with a Galalpha1-4GalNAcbeta1-3Gal- unit. This trisaccharide epitope is recognized by recently characterized antibodies naturally occurring in most human sera (Duk et al., Glycobiology, 15, 109, 2005). These antibodies represent two major types of fine specificity. All these antibodies are most strongly inhibited by Galalpha1-4GalNAcbeta1-3Gal (NOR-tri), and weakly by Galalpha1-4Gal. However, the type 1 antibodies are strongly inhibited by Galalpha1-4Galbeta1-3Gal-R and weakly by Galalpha1-4GalNAc, ...
Spann K, Barnum S, Pusterla N.EHV-1 vaccines are often administered intranasally during emergency situation such as outbreaks of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy. However, there is currently no data available on the efficacy of such protocols, nor the diagnostic challenge when recently vaccinated horses become clinically infected and nasal secretions are collected to support a diagnosis of EHV-1 infection. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if two commercially available EHV-1 vaccines, a killed-adjuvanted (Calvenza) and a modified-live (Rhinomune) EHV-1 vaccine, could induce a measurable systemic...
Sprick M, Koch C.A 12-year-old, 170 kg, Shetland pony mare was presented with an acute severe right pelvic limb lameness and concurrent upward fixation of the right patella. The affected limb was rotated externally and adducted with a prominent greater trochanter and the right calcaneal tuber being more proximal than its left counterpart. Radiographic examination revealed complete dislocation of the right femoral head from the acetabular cavity in a dorsal and caudal direction. A closed reduction of the coxofemoral luxation was performed successfully under general anaesthesia. A full-body animal rescue and t...
Hackett ES, Leise BS.Upper respiratory tract (URT) endoscopy at rest is commonly used to evaluate competition draught horses with URT conditions. Overground endoscopy might be preferred for draught horse URT evaluation as it allows the horses to be driven with harness, overcheck and cart-load under similar conditions to those experienced in the show ring where airway conditions are most prominent. Objective: To describe the exercising URT findings of competition draught horses with abnormal respiratory noise and/or poor performance. Methods: Case series. Methods: Medical records of competition draught horses under...
Livengood JL, Lanka S, Maddox C, Tewari D.Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi), the causative agent of strangles, is an important equine pathogen. Strangles is a highly contagious disease and a commercial modified live vaccine (MLV) is used for protection, which although effective, may also result in clinical signs of the disease. A rapid means to differentiate between the MLV and wild-type infection is crucial for quarantine release and limiting the disease spread. This study describes the use of a pyrosequencing assay targeting a single nucleotide deletion upstream of the SzPSe gene to distinguish between the wild-type and v...
Wyn-Jones G.The value of radiology as part of an examination of the equine head is emphasised and the radiological appearances of more commonly occurring conditions are described. Even the normal anatomy of this complex site is subject to great variation and the aspiring radiologist should, therefore, have a good knowledge of the possible normal variations. A flexible approach must be used rather than a limitation to one or two ritual projections. The use of contrast media, wherever it might be useful, is advocated so that the maximum amount of information may be obtained from each examination. Finally, e...
Curtis L, Trewin I, England GC, Burford JH, Freeman SL.The aim of this study was to survey veterinary practitioners' selection of diagnostic tests for horses with clinical signs of abdominal pain. A questionnaire was distributed to veterinary surgeons involved in the primary evaluation of horses with abdominal pain, including the respondent's demographics, selection of diagnostic tests and factors affecting decision-making. Data analysis included descriptive analysis, categorisation of free text and simple univariable correlations to explore the relationships between independent variables and the relative self-estimated frequency that diagnostic t...
Moiroud CH, Coudry V, Denoix JM. The aim of this study was to analyse the pelvic fracture distribution and location in a referral centre caseload. Methods: Medical records of 6,717 horses examined in a referral centre over a 7-year period were reviewed to identify all horses diagnosed with a pelvic fracture. Eighty-six horses were identified and divided into three disciplines, namely Thoroughbred racehorses (TBR), Standardbred trotter racehorses (STR) and non-racing sport horses (NRSH). Results: A pelvic fracture was diagnosed in 1.3% of the cases examined during the study period. Prevalence was significantly higher ...
Apprich V, Spergser J, Rosengarten R, Stanek C.Keratinolytic properties of two dermatophytes (Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes) and three moulds (Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Alternaria alternata, Geotrichum candidum) isolated from diseased equine hooves were examined to improve the understanding of pathogenic mechanisms leading to equine onychomycosis. Equine hoof horn material and skin, as well as hoof keratin and dermal keratin extracted from corresponding tissues, were used as sole carbon and nitrogen sources in five test tubes for each fungus. Within 18 days, supernatants of all tubes were repeatedly examined for kerati...
Lakritz J, Madigan J, Carlson GP.Hypovolemic hyponatremia attributable to severe fluid and electrolyte alterations was diagnosed in a foal with diarrhea. Subsequent consumption of water resulted in rapid reduction of serum sodium concentration and serum osmolar depression. Clinical signs of neurologic disease developed including blindness, loss of menace response, and seizures. Treatment of this condition with IV administered fluids included hypertonic saline solution (7.2%; 2 ml/kg of body weight), and frequent monitoring of serum electrolyte concentrations and osmolality resulted in gradual correction of the fluid and elect...
