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.
Payne SL, La Celle K, Pei XF, Qi XM, Shao H, Steagall WK, Perry S, Fuller F.The Wyoming strain of equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) is a highly virulent field strain that replicates to high titre in vitro only in primary equine monocyte-derived macrophages. In contrast, Wyoming-derived fibroblast-adapted EIAV strains (Malmquist virus) replicate in primary foetal equine kidney and equine dermis cells as well as in the cell lines FEA and Cf2Th. Wyoming and Malmquist viruses differ extensively both in long terminal repeat (LTR) and envelope region sequences. We have compared the promoter activities of the Wyoming LTR with those of LTRs derived from fibroblast-adapte...
Stadejek T, Bj Rklund H, Bascu Ana CR, Ciabatti IM, Scicluna MT, Amaddeo D, McCollum WH, Autorino GL, Timoney PJ, Paton DJ, Klingeborn B, Bel K S.Equine arteritis viruses (EAV) from Europe and America were compared by phylogenetic analysis of 43 isolates obtained over four decades. An additional 22 virus sequences were retrieved from GenBank. Fragments of the glycoprotein G(L) and the replicase genes were amplified by RT-PCR, prior to sequencing and construction of phylogenetic trees. The trees revealed many distinctive lineages, consistent with prolonged diversification within geographically separated host populations. Two large groups and five subgroups were distinguished. Group I consisted mainly of viruses from North America, whilst...
The Journal of infectionMarch 25, 1999
Volume 38, Issue 1 22-23 doi: 10.1016/s0163-4453(99)90023-3
McCormack JG, Allworth AM, Selvey LA, Selleck PW.Determination of potential infectivity of a new paramyxovirus equine morbillivirus (EMV) from horses to humans and humans to humans as a result of two outbreaks in Queensland which involved 23 horses and three humans. Methods: Seroepidemiological testing using neutralizing and immunofluorescing antibodies on people with variable levels of exposure to infected horses and humans. Results: All serological testing on a total of 298 individual contacts was negative. Conclusions: While the three human cases of EMV were probably infected as a result of very close contact with horses, these data sugge...
Sellon DC, Russell KE, Monroe VL, Walker KM.Seven ponies were infected with the virulent wild-type Wyoming strain of equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV). Infection status was monitored by serum reverse transcriptase activity, rectal temperature, and complete blood count. Preinfection serum and serum obtained during the initial febrile episode following infection were assayed for interleukin 6 (IL-6) activity. Postinfection IL-6 activity was significantly increased as compared to preinfection values. The magnitude of increase in IL-6 was positively correlated with reverse transcriptase activity (an indirect measure of viraemia) but wa...
Koenig J, Hurtig M, Pearce S, Henderson J, Morris T.Prolonged postoperative recuperation time and restricted exercise were circumvented by using ballistic shock wave lithotripsy to break up an 8-cm diameter vesical calculus and by flushing out the sand-like residue under epidural anesthesia with the horse standing. Recovery was uneventful.
Otto P, Elschner M, Schulze P, Prudlo J, Schrader R.The commercially available immunoassay "OnSite Rotavirus" was used for the detection of animal rotaviruses in 113 faecal samples. The sensitivity of the test was 88% and the specificity 96% compared with reference methods (EIA, EM). This test would detect approximately 4.4 x 10(6) to 1.8 x 10(7) virus particles per ml. The presence of virus could be demonstrated in fresh faecal samples from cattle, horses and pigs within a few minutes. The rotaviruses of group A were identified independently of the virus serotype. Further results and additional problems of using this test kit are described.
Abo-Shehada MN, Anshassi H, Mustafa G, Amr Z.The prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi infection among camels and horses in Jordan was studied using thick blood smears and inoculation techniques with mice and rats. A total of 437 camels and 83 horses from four climatic zones were surveyed. In addition, 40 donkeys, 32 cattle and 35 goats in contact with infected camels and horses were also tested in the same way. Clinical disease was evident in 8.2% of the camels (36 out of 437) and in 9.6% of the horses (8 out of 83). Infection was limited only to the Sweama area on the Dead Sea (within the warm desert-climatic zone), with prevalence of 30.5%...
Lonning SM, Zhang W, Leib SR, McGuire TC.Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) appear to be critical in resolving or reducing the severity of lentivirus infections. Retroviral vectors expressing the Gag/Pr or SU protein of the lentivirus equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) were constructed and used to evaluate EIAV-specific CTL responses in horses. Three promoters, cytomegalovirus, simian virus SV40, and Moloney murine sarcoma virus (MoMSV) long terminal repeat (LTR), were used, and there was considerable variation in their ability to direct expression of Gag/Pr and SU. Vectors expressing EIAV proteins under the direction of MoMSV LTR and ...
Olszewski MA, Robinson NE, Zhu FX, Zhang XY, Tithof PK.Neutrophilic inflammation in small airways (SA) and bronchospasm mediated via muscarinic receptors are features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in horses (COPD). Histamine, serotonin, and leukotrienes (LTs) are reported to be involved in the exacerbation of COPD, and currently, histamine has been shown to increase tension response to electrical field simulation (EFS) in equine SA. We tested the effects of these mediators and the effects of activated neutrophils on the cholinergic responses in SA. Histamine, serotonin, and LTD4 had a synergistic effect on EFS responses and only an addi...
Cruz AM, Barber SM, Kaestner SB, Townsend HG.Anomalies of the urethra are uncommon. Urethrorectal fistula in horses has only been reported in foals and only in conjunction with other congenital anomalies. This report describes the diagnosis, surgical management, and possible etiologies of a unique case of urethrorectal fistula in a mature gelding.
Shiue YL, Bickel LA, Caetano AR, Millon LV, Clark RS, Eggleston ML, Michelmore R, Bailey E, Guérin G, Godard S, Mickelson JR, Valberg SJ, Murray JD....To generate a domestic horse genome map we integrated synteny information for markers screened on a somatic cell hybrid (SCH) panel with published information for markers physically assigned to chromosomes. The mouse-horse SCH panel was established by fusing pSV2neo transformed primary horse fibroblasts to either RAG or LMTk mouse cells, followed by G418 antibiotic selection. For each of the 108 cell lines of the panel, we defined the presence or absence of 240 genetic markers by PCR, including 58 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and 182 microsatellites. Thirty-three syntenic gr...
Hobo S, Ogasawara Y, Kuroki Y, Akino T, Yoshihara T.To characterize surfactant protein isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of healthy horses. Methods: 10 Thoroughbreds (5 males, 5 females; 26 to 40 months old) that did not have a history or clinical signs of respiratory tract disease. Methods: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained and centrifuged at 33,000 X g. Lipid was removed from precipitated fractions by means of extraction with 1-butanol, and organic solvent-insoluble protein precipitates were dialyzed against Tris buffer. The suspension was centrifuged, and supernatant was placed in a mannose-Sepharose affinity column,...
Mazan MR, Hoffman AM, Manjerovic N.To compare response of horses to histamine bronchoprovocation (HBP), using total respiratory resistance (Rrs) measured by forced oscillatory mechanics (FOM) with dynamic compliance (Cdyn) and pulmonary resistance (RL) measured by the esophageal balloon method. Methods: 10 horses with various degrees of airway reactivity. Methods: The 2 methods for measuring airway responses to HBP were performed on separate days. Endpoints compared were increase of 150 or 200% of baseline Rrs (PC150Rrs, PC200Rrs) and to 150% of baseline RL (PC150RL) or decrease to 65% of baseline Cdyn (PC65Cdyn). Frequency dep...
Eastman TG, Honnas CM, Hague BA, Moyer W, von der Rosen HD.To determine long-term prognosis for horses with laminitis treated by deep digital flexor (DDF) tenotomy and to identify factors affecting success of the surgical procedure. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 35 horses with laminitis treated by DDF tenotomy between 1988 and 1997. Methods: Information was obtained from individual medical records and follow-up telephone interviews with owners and referring veterinarians. Cumulative proportions of horses that survived 6 months and 2 years after tenotomy were determined. Effect of Obel grade of lameness on 6-month and 2-year survival and effec...
Starick E.Serum samples from 72 stallions were examined for the occurrence of antibodies against equine arteritis virus, of which 41 animals (57%) were found to be positive. 32 of the seropositive stallions were then screened for persistent EAV infection, before and after the breeding season. Semen samples were investigated by RT-PCR followed by dot blot hybridization and nested PCR, and by virus isolation on cell cultures as well. The carrier state was virologically confirmed in 11 of 32 stallions (34%) during the first and in 9 of 20 (45%) during the second investigation. RT-PCR followed by confirmato...
Adams LG, Senior DF.The literal meaning of lithotripsy is the "act of breaking stones." There are two forms of lithotripsy available for use in veterinary medicine: electrohydraulic shock-wave lithotripsy (EHL) and extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL). With EHL, a shock-wave is generated immediately adjacent to a urolith within the urinary bladder. In dogs, nephroliths or ureteroliths can be successfully treated with ESWL. With ESWL, the shock-waves are generated outside the body and directed toward the urolith.
Schumacher J, Varner DD, Crabill MR, Blanchard TL.To evaluate the effect of a shunt created between the corpus cavernosum penis (CCP) and corpus spongiosum penis (CSP) on erectile and ejaculatory function of normal stallions and to verify persistence of the shunt. Methods: The capability of stallions to develop an erection and to ejaculate was evaluated before and after creation of a corporeal shunt. Persistence of the shunt was determined by dye injection into the CCP at necropsy. Methods: Six stallions. Methods: A CCP-CSP shunt was created in five stallions. Semen was collected before and 4 to 14 weeks after surgery, before the horses were ...
Klein LV, Soma LR, Nann LE.To investigate the accuracy and precision of the portable, battery-powered StatPal II and the laboratory-based NOVA StatProfile 1 blood gas and pH analyzers for use in analysis of equine blood. Methods: Patient sample comparison and whole blood tonometry. Methods: Patient sample comparison: 125 arterial or venous blood samples from 49 healthy, awake, or anesthetized horses or ponies. Tonometry: venous blood samples from 11 healthy Thoroughbred horses. Methods: Arterial and venous blood taken from awake and anesthetized equine patients was placed in an ice-water bath, then analyzed within 30 mi...
Cohen ND, Woods AM.To characterize horses with acute diarrhea and determine risk factors for failure to survive. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 122 adult horses admitted for acute diarrhea at the teaching hospital between Jan 1, 1990 and Dec 31, 1996. Methods: Medical records of horses with acute diarrhea were reviewed to abstract information regarding signalment, history, physical examination, clinicopathologic testing, treatment, and outcome. Results: 91 of 122 (74.6%) horses lived and were discharged from the hospital. Horses with history of administration of antimicrobials for a problem preceding dia...
Norrdin RW, Kawcak CE, Capwell BA, McIlwraith CW.The calcified layer of articular cartilage is known to be affected by age and mechanical factors that may play a role in the development of arthrosis. Because these factors are also related to subchondral remodeling and sclerosis, a morphometric study was carried out in fluorochrome-labeled animals to determine whether the level of subchondral remodeling affected the thickness of the calcified cartilage layer and its irregularity and vascularity at the interface with subchondral bone. These parameters were also studied at a site of increased mechanical stress. The area and thickness of the cal...
Kawai S, Igarashi I, Abgaandorjiin A, Ikadai H, Omata Y, Saito A, Nagasawa H, Toyoda Y, Suzuki N, Matsuda H.In-vitro-propagated Babesia caballi parasites were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Many small pores were observed over the entire surface of infected erythrocytes on scanning electron microscopy, and on transmission electron microscopy these small pores were found to be openings of tubular structures. By the examination of a number of infected cells the tubular structures were found to be connected with the parasite, and this observation might indicate that the tubular structures arose the edge of the parasite and terminated at an Invagination on the surface of the e...
Wright IM, McMahon PJ.The paper describes a series of cases with longitudinal tears in the superficial or deep digital flexor tendons within the digital flexor tendon sheath. This appears to be a previously unreported condition. Twenty cases are described, one horse was affected bilaterally. Nineteen defects involved the deep digital flexor tendon and in 2 horses the manica flexoria of the superficial digital flexor tendon was torn. All affected horses were lame and there was marked distension of the digital flexor tendon sheaths. Ultrasonography revealed nonspecific signs of chronic tenosynovitis but not the cause...
LeBlanc PH, Broadstone RV, Derksen FJ, Robinson NE.Distal airway segments (ID, 3 to 4 mm; length, 5 mm) from 2 groups of horses were isolated and suspended in tissue baths filled with Krebs solution, aerated with 5% CO2 in oxygen and maintained at 37 degrees C. Responses to exogenous acetylcholine, isoproterenol, or electrical field stimulation were compared. Control horses (n = 30) had no history of recurrent airway obstruction, whereas principal horses (n = 15) had recurrent airway obstruction and were studied during an acute episode of airway obstruction. Although the distal airways contracted in response to the cumulative half-logarithmic ...
Miller C, Hoffman AM, Hunter J.Respiratory inductive plethysmography (RIP) can be used to obtain a valid measure of tidal volume in humans. This device also compares the contributions to ventilation of the thorax and abdomen. Although thoracoabdominal asynchrony is a prominent clinical feature for patients with airway obstruction, the accuracy of the RIP device to assess the severity of obstruction is unclear. This study analyzes how well RIP variables reflect the degree of a fixed external inspiratory plus expiratory resistive load in foals. Foals were employed because the species and age group are commonly afflicted with ...
Black P, Douglas I, Field H.Hendra virus was first described in 1994 in Australia, causally associated with a cluster of fatal equine and human cases at a thoroughbred racing stable in the Brisbane suburb of Hendra. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the identification of pteropid bats (flying-foxes) as the natural host of the virus, and it is timely to reflect on a pivotal meeting of an eclectic group of scientists in that process. They included animal and public health experts, environmental scientists, veterinary and horse industry representatives, and wildlife experts. The task was to review and prioritise ...
Wagner B, Brandt K, Sheoran A, Holmes MA, Deegen E, Leibold W.The functional properties of different immunoglobulin isotypes in equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) has not been investigated yet. Here, we describe the quantitative determination of total immunoglobulin levels and isotype differentiation in the vitreous of four horses with ERU as compared to that of seven healthy horses. In contrast to almost equal amounts of total immunoglobulin in the vitreous of both groups, remarkable differences were found: All four of the horses with ERU had significantly higher IgA contents in their vitreous as compared to the control group. However, the other isotypes mo...
Steckel RR.Bone scanning to help diagnose orthopedic disease has been used in human patients for over two decades. The value of this diagnostic tool has been well established in helping to identify a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. It has only recently been used by veterinarians for more accurate characterization of equine musculoskeletal disease. The technique offers the major advantage of increased sensitivity over standard radiographic imaging. The case material illustrated here shows that except for consistent identification of bone cysts, most of the pathologic changes to the horse's musculos...
Werner HW.Prepurchase examination provides a significant opportunity for veterinarians to offer an important professional service to the equine industry. When the service is performed competently and ethically, prospective buyers and sellers will recommend the examining veterinarian to fellow horse owners and professionals. To become comfortable with and skilled at performing prepurchase examinations, a veterinarian must understand the operational challenges associated with this service-and master them. Veterinarians performing prepurchase examinations should address the needs and manage the expectation...
Hifumi T, Akioka K, Tanaka T, Miyoshi N.Alveolar echinococcosis, which is caused by a larval-stage infection of Echinococcus multilocularis, is a zoonosis with public health importance. Recently, alveolar echinococcosis in slaughtered horses has been reported in Japan and Poland. In terms of public health, a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic method is essential for early detection during meat inspection. In this study, the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed and validated to target the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cob) gene of E. multilocularis. Forty-one hepatic solid nodules obtained from each h...
Scott CJ, de Mestre AM, Verheyen KL, Arango-Sabogal JC.The overall aim of this work was to identify the potential impact of misclassification errors associated with routine screening and diagnostic testing for endometritis in mares. Using Bayesian latent class models (BLCM), specific objectives were to: 1) estimate the diagnostic accuracy of cytology and culture of endometrial swab samples to detect endometritis in mares; 2) assess the impact of different cytology thresholds on test accuracy and misclassification costs; and 3) assess the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of a diagnostic strategy including both tests interpreted in series and p...
Orsini PG, Raker CW, Reid CF, Mann P.The normal radiographic anatomy of the equine larynx was determine by use of xeroradiography and dissection. The body and laminae of the thyroid cartilage, the muscular process of the arytenoid cartilages, and the dorsal lamina and arch of the cricoid cartilage had radiographic evidence of mineralization (calcification) and/or ossification in clinically normal horses. There was a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in the degree of mineralization of the thyroid and arytenoid cartilages with advancing age. Horses with diagnosis of arytenoid chondrosis (arytenoid chondral dysplasia, arytenoi...
Knowles EJ, Menzies-Gow NJ, Mair TS.Plasma fructosamine concentration ([fructosamine]) is believed to reflect medium term, average blood glucose concentration and in a previous study was higher in horses with active laminitis than in normal horses. Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is associated with hyperglycaemia and laminitis. Objective: To test the hypotheses that: [fructosamine] is higher in PPID cases than normal animals; furthermore, that within cases of PPID [fructosamine] is higher in those with active laminitis than nonlaminitic cases and in cases that have been affected by active laminitis in the preceding ...
Dik KJ, van den Belt AJ, van den Broek J.Estimating the shape of the proximal articular border of the navicular bone and grading the radiological navicular bone condition (grades 3 and 4 representing the most severe changes), the aim of this study was to assess potential age-related implications of the previously reported shape predisposition to navicular disease in 746 normal and 174 clinically affected Dutch Warmbloods age 3-19 years. A significant, age-independent, shape-grade association found in normal and affected horses emphasises the fundamental character of the shape predisposition to navicular disease. A significant age-rel...
Allbaugh RA, Ben-Shlomo G, Whitley RD.To evaluate the impact of extensive bullet-hole nontapetal fundic lesions in horses on retinal function as measured by full-field electroretinography (ERG). Methods: Full-field ERG was performed on two horses with numerous bullet-hole lesions in the nontapetal fundus of both eyes. The ERG was first recorded from the eye with the more extensive lesions in response to a low-intensity light stimulus (0.03 cd s/m(2) ) that was given at times (T) T = 5, 10, 15, 20 min of dark adaptation. Consecutively, combined rod-cone response was evaluated bilaterally in response to high-intensity light stimulus...
Robinson P, Derksen FJ, Stick JA, Sullins KE, DeTolve PG, Robinson NE.Recent studies have evaluated surgical techniques aimed at reducing noise and improving airway function in horses with recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN). These techniques require general anaesthesia and are invasive. A minimally invasive transnasal surgical technique for treatment of RLN that may be employed in the standing, sedated horse would be advantageous. Objective: To determine whether unilateral laser-assisted ventriculocordectomy (LVC) improves upper airway function and reduces noise during inhalation in exercising horses with laryngeal hemiplegia (LH). Methods: Six Standardbred ho...
Archer RM, Knight CG, Bishop WJ.Six horses from several geographical locations in New Zealand presented with signs of guttural pouch mycosis. All horses had experienced epistaxis within 14 days of presentation. Results: In five horses with epistaxis, a diagnosis of guttural pouch mycosis was made on endoscopic observation of fungal plaques in the affected guttural pouches. One of these cases died before surgery was attempted. The remaining four cases underwent ligation and balloon catheter occlusion of the internal carotid artery of the affected pouch. Three of these horses survived and were reported to be healthy 1 year aft...
De Lange L, Vernemmen I, van Loon G, Decloedt A.The ductus arteriosus (DA) and foramen ovale (FO), including the septum primum (SP) and septum secundum (SS), are important structures in fetal circulation and are unexplored in neonatal equids. The objective of this study is to describe echocardiographic characteristics in a hospital-based population of neonatal foals. On days 2, 5 and 10 after parturition, cardiac ultrasound was performed, and clinical data were collected in healthy and diseased Warmblood foals. Fifty healthy ( = 15) and diseased ( = 35) Warmblood foals were examined. A left-sided and right-sided holosystolic murmur was audi...
Paweska JT, Binns MM, Woods PS, Chirnside ED.A seroepidemiological survey of donkeys in South Africa (n = 4300) indicated a wide distribution and increasing prevalence of antibodies to equine arteritis virus (EAV). Donkey sera inhibited equine arteritis virus infection in virus neutralisation (VN) tests and in ELISA specifically bound to a recombinant antigen derived from the Bucyrus isolate of EAV. These results suggest that donkeys have been exposed to the same serotype of this virus as circulates among horses. A good correlation existed between EAV neutralising antibody titres and ELISA absorbance values (0.8631); the ELISA was sensit...
Rideout MI, Burns SJ, Simpson RB.Sterile filtrates were prepared from equine isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae (genitalium), Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Streptococcus equisimilis, Actinobacillus equuli, and Corynebacterium equi and mixed individually with extended stallion semen. When diluted in the extended semen the filtrates represented bacterial populations of 0.5 x 10(6), 1 x 10(6), 2 x 10(6) and 4 x 10(6) cells/ml. pH values were recorded for each filtrate. Specimens were monitored for percentage motile spermatozoa at 30-min intervals until they reached 10% o...
Rakhshandehroo E, Sharifiyazdi H, Shayegh H, Ahmadi A.Habronema muscae is a spirurid nematode that undergoes developmental stages in the stomach of equids, causing chronic catarrhal gastritis. Despite preceding investigations have developed polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays for molecular diagnosis, we aimed to assess the applicability of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) sequences to identify the H. muscae infection and to assess the level of intraspecific variations in this parasite obtained from affected horses in Southern Iran. According to the morphological characterizations, two different isolates of H. muscae were identified....
Eaton SA, Allen D, Eades SC, Schneider DA.Starling forces and hemodynamics in the digits of 5 horses were studied during early laminitis induced by oral administration of an aqueous extract of black walnut (Juglans nigra). The black walnut extract was prepared from heartwood shavings and was administered by nasogastric tube. Heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperature, central venous and arterial pressures, digital pulses, and signs of lameness were monitored. Blood samples were collected for determination of WBC count, hemoglobin concentration, and PCV and for endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor assays. Total WBC count and centra...
Mishra PC, Leach DH.The extrinsic and intrinsic venous drainage of the equine hoof have previously been poorly described. There is also an absence of information about the venous organisation of both primary and secondary dermal lamellae of the hoof wall. The purpose of this study was to describe the normal venous pattern of the horse hoof, especially that associated with the dermal lamellae of the wall. The venous organisation of 46 pairs of hooves from clinically healthy horses was studied using standard plastic vascular corrosion casts and histological sections. A consistent pattern of venous organisation was ...
Arnold CE, Taylor T, Chaffin MK, Schott HC, Caron JP.To report technique for, and outcome after, nephrectomy through a ventral median celiotomy in equids. Methods: Case series. Methods: Equids with unilateral renal disease (n = 6), aged 2 months to 18 years, weighing 90-434 kg. Methods: A ventral median celiotomy was used to access the left or right kidney. To facilitate surgical exposure, the small intestine was reflected towards the diaphragm using laparotomy sponges and the ascending colon was exteriorized and in some cases evacuated. The peritoneum over the affected kidney was incised and blunt dissection used to free the kidney from the ret...
Duncan ID, Schneider RK, Hammang JP.The suprascapular nerve from 14 horses, which had no clinical evidence of spinatus muscle atrophy, were obtained to determine whether the nerve was sub-clinically compressed at the scapular edge. The nerves were divided into three portions, proximal and distal to the scapular edge and as it reflected around it. In nine horses there was evidence of a chronic neuropathy which varied in severity and which was most severe at the site of reflection, where the nerve appeared constricted by a tendinous band. At this site the predominant change was that of chronic demyelination and remyelination, with...
Kumar J, Chaudhury A, Bera BC, Kumar R, Kumar R, Tatu U, Yadav SC.The present immuno-diagnostic method using soluble antigens from whole cell lysate antigen for trypanosomosis have certain inherent problems like lack of standardized and reproducible antigens, as well as ethical issues due to in vivo production, that could be alleviated by in vitro production. In the present study we have identified heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) from T. evansi proteome. The nucleotide sequence of T. evansi HSP70 was 2116 bp, which encodes 690 amino acid residues. The phylogenetic analysis of T. evansi HSP70 showed that T. evansi occurred within Trypanosoma clade and is most c...
Kusano K, Hobo S, Ode H, Ishikawa Y.Cytology of tracheal aspirates, tracheal endoscopic and blood tests were carried out to 86 Thoroughbred racehorses presenting coughs or poor performance which were suspected to have lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) to assess the conditions of the disorders. Racehorses were classified into coughing (66 horses) and non-coughing (20 horses) groups based on clinical symptoms. Nine Thoroughbred racehorses without respiratory abnormality were used as controls. Assessment of grades of airway mucus, cytology of tracheal aspirates and serum amyloid A (SAA), fibrinogen (Fbg) and pulmonary surfacta...
Verschooten F, Roels J, Lampo P, Desmet P, De Moor A, Picavet T.Radiographic measurements from the lateromedial projection of the equine foot were compared in three groups of horses. Group 1 consisted of 143 normal horses, group 2 were 60 horses with clinical navicular disease and group 3 were 161 horses with clinical and radiographic navicular disease. Several measurements tended to be larger in group 3 than group 1. An enlargement of the navicular bone was observed in proximodistal and dorsopalmar directions. Partial enlargement of the pedal bone was observed in groups 2 and 3. Few differences were observed between age classes. All horses aged four years...
Brown SA, Dusza K, Boehmer J.A relation exists between colloid osmotic pressure (pi) and serum total protein concentration; equations describing this relation have been used to determine a calculated value for pi. However, the relation between total protein concentration and pi is altered by the method used to measure protein and by changes in the ratio of concentrations of albumin (A) to globulin (G). We developed nomograms for estimating pi from A and G concentrations, using samples obtained from clinically normal animals and compared the accuracy of these nomograms with that of previously described equations relating p...
Taniwaki SA, Magro AJ, Gorino AC, Oliveira-Filho JP, Fontes MR, Borges AS, Araujo JP.Papillomaviruses (PVs) infect a wide range of animal species and show great genetic diversity. To date, excluding equine sarcoids, only three species of PVs were identified associated with lesions in horses: Equus caballus papillomavirus 1 (EcPV1-cutaneous), EcPV2 (genital) and EcPV3 (aural plaques). In this study, we identified a novel equine PV from aural plaques, which we designated EcPV4. Cutaneous samples from horses with lesions that were microscopically diagnosed as aural plaques were subjected to DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing. Rolling circle amplification and inverse PCR...
Elsener J, Villeneuve A.Fecal samples were examined immediately before and 24 to 48 h after cestocide treatment for a comparative detection of tapeworm-positive horses. In early winter, 17 weanlings, 20 yearlings, 15 2-year-old horses, 24 breeding mares, and 2 stallions were treated with praziquantel in combination with a macrocyclic lactone. The horses were presumed to be naturally infected with tapeworms after pasture grazing. Fecal samples were collected before treatment (Day 0), at 24 or 48 h after treatment (Day 1-2), and 16 to 21 d after treatment (Day 16-21). A Wisconsin test was done on all fecal samples. Odd...
Dyson S, Murray R.Nuclear scintigraphy is commonly used as a diagnostic aid for foot pain, but there is limited information about different patterns of radiopharmaceutical uptake (RU) and their correlation with the results of other imaging modalities. Objective: To describe patterns of RU in horses with foot pain. Methods: Scintigraphic images of the feet of 264 horses with front foot pain were analysed subjectively and using region of interest analysis. Magnetic resonance images of all feet were analysed prospectively; the navicular bones were reassessed retrospectively and assigned a grade. A Spearman rank co...
Cuervo-Arango J, Newcombe JR.The most common pathological anovulatory condition that occurs spontaneously during the breeding season in the mare is the haemorrhagic anovulatory follicle (HAF). A relatively high proportion of mares, soon after ovulation, develop a corpus haemorrhagicum (CH) with a central lacuna. This type of corpora lutea may resemble an HAF, which may complicate the accurate diagnosis of ovulation. The main objective of this study was to compare the ultrasound data of mares examined frequently with HAFs and CHs to elucidate whether it is possible to distinguish them from each other. A total of 135 ovulat...
