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.
Warmerdam EP.Ultrasonography of the femoral artery in the horse, including color, power and spectral Doppler, provides morphologic and dynamic information. This paper describes the use of the techniques in six clinically normal horses and three with femoral artery thrombosis. Useful landmarks for orientation are the saphenous artery and the medial saphenous vein. The lateral circumflex femoral artery can not be visualized. Recognition of the genus descendens artery is complicated due to the presence of multiple distal caudal femoral arteries. The femoral artery feeds a high resistance bed. In normal horses...
Ruohoniemi M, Ryhänen V, Tulamo RM.Radiographic findings in the navicular bone and distal interphalangeal joint as well as the ossification status of the collateral cartilages of the distal phalanx were evaluated in 100 Finnhorse cadaver forefeet. The most common shapes of the proximal articular margin of the navicular bone were convex and straight. Remodeling of the navicular bone was common, especially on the lateral extremity. No bony fragments were identified at the distal flexor margin even though this area appeared irregular in several feet. Several large, rounded or lollipop-shaped synovial invaginations were identified ...
Widmer WR, Blevins WE, Jakovljevic S, Levy M, Teclaw RF, Han CM, Hurd CD.A prospective clinical trial comparing adverse postmyelographic effects and myelographic quality of metrizamide and iohexol was conducted. Using a predetermined, randomized assignment, 24 horses exhibiting neurologic signs were administered either metrizamide (180 mgl/ml) or iohexol (180 mgl/ml) via cerebellomedullary puncture. Each horse was evaluated postmyelographically for adverse effects. Myelographic quality was assessed by a numerical scoring method. Adverse effects were observed more frequently with metrizamide (21) compared with iohexol (6) myelography (p < 0.05). Seizures, intensific...
Young LE, Scott GR.In order to assess the reliability and repeatability of transthoracic echocardiography for detecting serial changes in cardiac function in horses, day to day variability of a number of echocardiographic indices of ventricular function were studied. The variables investigated were, from 2-dimensional (2-D) and M-mode echocardiography - aortic diameter in systole (Aos), pulmonary artery diameter in systole (Pas), left ventricular internal diameter in systole (LLVIDs) and diastole (LLVIDd), and left ventricular fractional shortening (%FS) and estimated ejection fraction (EF). From pulsed Doppler ...
Higuchi T, Taharaguchi S, Hashikura S, Hagiwara S, Gojo C, Satoh S, Yoshida M, Takai S.To evaluate results of physical and serologic examinations of foals at 30 and 45 days of age on 3 types of farms with various prevalences of clinical disease (endemic, sporadic, none) caused by Rhodococcus equi and to determine whether evaluations were helpful in early diagnosis and control of the disease. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Methods: 144 foals at 30 and 45 days of age. Methods: During a 2-year period, 36 foals on farms at which R equi infection was endemic, 71 foals on farms at which the disease was sporadically detected, and 37 foals on farms without the disease were examined ...
Ammann VJ, Vrins AA, Lavoie JP.The effects of beclomethasone dipropionate on pulmonary function and arterial blood gas values were investigated in horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Six mature mares, diagnosed as having COPD based on clinical signs, cytological examination of bronchoalveolar lavage and pulmonary function testing, were used. Beclomethasone dipropionate (3750 microg) was administered b.i.d. for a 2 week period with a metered dose inhaler using a mask. Pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gas analyses were performed at weekly intervals, starting before beclomethasone administratio...
van Foreest AW, Wiemer P.Periapical disorders in horses can be treated by resection of the apex. The indications, contraindications, diagnosis, treatment and complications of the intervention are discussed. Four case reports of horses in which apicoectomy with retrograde endodontic treatment was performed are reviewed.
Parlevliet JM.The studies described in this thesis investigated the factors that can affect the fertility of stallions. The introduction describes the male gamete and the processes that occur during maturation of sperm and fertilization. Methods to evaluate the quality of sperm and ova are then discussed. Fertility can be expressed in various ways and is also affected by many factors such as the stallion, the mare and management factors. The fertility of stallions is usually assessed a good year after they have served mares, because then the number of foals is known. However, it would be preferable to be ab...
La Perle KM, Piercy RJ, Long JF, Blomme EA.Multisystemic, eosinophilic, epitheliotropic disease and intestinal lymphosarcoma were diagnosed in a Paso Fino mare that presented with anorexia and weight loss. The stomach, ileum, cecum, colon, pancreas, and lungs were infiltrated by large numbers of eosinophils forming prominent eosinophilic granulomas, as well as lymphocytes and plasma cells. Two jejunal masses composed of solid sheets of neoplastic lymphocytes were present. In contrast to the regions of inflammation, the infiltrates in these masses did not contain plasma cells, eosinophils, and eosinophilic granulomas. Immunohistochemica...
van Schaik AM, van der Pol BA, van der Linde-Sipman JS.A healthy, 10-day-old Welsh A pony colt was totally blind 1 day after arrival at a studfarm. Both eyes appeared normal on external inspection. The young animal had been very distressed during the 40-km journey to the studfarm. Intravenous corticosteroids were administered for 2 days, but did not result in any observable improvement. The animal was euthanized at the owner's request. Both eyes with the optic nerves were removed for histological examination. Both optic nerves showed Wallerian degeneration, a well-known response of peripheral nerves to trauma. The foal, which was not tethered duri...
Bouré L, Marcoux M, Lavoie JP, Laverty S.Exploratory laparoscopy of the right dorsal portion of the abdominal cavity was performed on a Standardbred filly because of signs of mild abdominal pain of 7 days' duration. On the basis of clinical examination, diagnosis was suppurative peritonitis, abdominal adhesions in the area of the right ovary, and right displacement and impaction of the pelvic flexure of the ascending colon. During laparoscopy, an abdominal adhesion between the right uterine horn, the cecum, and the pelvic flexure was identified. The abdominal adhesions were either stretched with laparoscopic forceps used as a probe o...
Rebhun WC, Del Piero F.To determine the most common ocular lesions in horses with lymphosarcoma. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 79 horses histologically confirmed to have lymphosarcoma. Methods: Ophthalmic examinations were performed by a single individual. Results: 21 of 79 horses had lesions involving the eye or ocular adnexa. Infiltration of the palpebral conjunctiva and eyelids was the most common lesion (n = 11). Other lesions included uveitis (n = 4), corneoscleral masses (2), third eyelid masses (2), and diffuse retrobulbar infiltrates (2). Conclusions: In horses with lymphosarcoma, ocular lesions may...
Brugmans F, Venner M, Menzel D, Mischke R.The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of two heat-precipitation techniques (Schalm- and Millar-method) as screening tests to measure plasma fibrinogen concentration in horses. Based on the measurement of samples from 108 different horses, the coefficient of correlation (CC) for the relationship between the results with the Schalm- and with the reference-method (Jacobsson) were much lower (r = 0.78) than between the Millar- and Jacobsson-method (r = 0.94). Furthermore the Schalm-method was less precise as reflected by the greater coefficient of variation (CV, within-run pr...
Southwood LL, Stashak TS, Kainer RA.To describe the tenoscopic anatomy of the carpal sheath of the flexor tendons (carpal sheath) viewed from a lateral approach. Methods: Tenoscopic observation of structures within the carpal sheath subsequently confirmed by dissection. Methods: 12 equine cadaveric forelimbs. Methods: The limbs were positioned lateral side up with the carpus slightly flexed. After distention of the carpal sheath, a portal for the arthroscope was made approximately 3 cm proximal to the distal radial physis and 2.5 cm caudal to the radius between the tendons of the ulnaris lateralis and lateral digital extensor mu...
Veeramachaneni DN, Sawyer HR.The presence of atypical germ cells resembling carcinoma in situ of human testis is reported for the first time in an unilaterally cryptorchid stallion. These cells were found in association with developing intratubular seminoma indicating they represented carcinoma in situ.
Hardy J, Bertone AL, Malemud CJ.To determine the functional response of synovium to infection, and the influence of infected synovium on articular cartilage metabolism. Methods: Synovium and articular cartilage explants from the midcarpal and tarsocrural joints of adult horses. Methods: For experiment 1, synovium explants were incubated as follows: control--incubation in standard medium, infected (I)--incubation with Staphylococcus aureus, and infected-filtered (IF)--incubation with medium collected from the infected group and filtered (0.22-micron filter). Daily collected medium was assayed for interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta...
Lester GD, Merritt AM, Neuwirth L, Vetro-Widenhouse T, Steible C, Rice B.To determine the effect of erythromycin lactobionate (ERY) on ileocecocolic myoelectric activity and passage of radiolabeled markers from the cecum. Methods: 6 healthy adult ponies. Methods: After a 12-hour nonfeeding period, 370 MBq of technetium 99m-labeled sulfur colloid in egg albumen and 37 MBq of indium 111-labeled diethyltriaminepentaacetic acid in 60 ml of water were administered directly into the cecal apex. The following drug concentrations were tested: ERY, 0.01, 0.10, 1.0, and 10.0 mg/kg of body weight; ERY, 0.10 mg/kg bolus; and saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, 10 ml. All treatments, ...
Kooreman K, Babbs C, Fessler J.To evaluate and compare oxidative processes during ischemia and reperfusion of the equine large colon and jejunum. Methods: 2 groups of 6 anesthetized horses undergoing a terminal procedure. Methods: Isolated loops of large colon and jejunum were subjected to 2 hours of ischemia, followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Tissue specimens were taken after 105 minutes of ischemia and 10, 30, 60, and 120 minutes of reperfusion. Mesenteric arterial and venous blood samples were collected for blood gas analysis at the same times to evaluate ischemia and reoxygenation. Oxidative processes in tissues were ...
Lester GD, Merritt AM, Neuwirth L, Vetro-Widenhouse T, Steible C, Rice B, Mauragis DF, Madison JB.To determine normal cecal emptying curves for liquid- and solid-phase radiolabeled markers and to further define myoelectric patterns of the ileum, cecum, and colon in healthy ponies. Methods: 6 adult ponies. Methods: A cecal cannula and 12 bipolar Ag-AgCl recording electrodes were sutured to the ileum, cecum, and right ventral colon of the ponies. Radioisotopes, indium 111-labeled diethyltriaminepentaacetic acid (111In-DTPA) and technetium 99m (99mTc)-labeled sulfur colloid bound to egg albumen, were introduced through the cannula directly into the cecal body. Movement of these markers from t...
von Zallinger C, Tempel K.A review of the latest literature concerning the present level of radiation therapy in veterinary medicine is given. In a general section physico-technical as well as biological fundamentals are discussed. In the special part of the paper indications for a radiation therapy of dogs, cats and horses are stated. In this respect the basis for a decision is the TNM-classification into different clinical stages according to the directions of the WHO. Tumors of the hemolymphatic system are very responsive to radiation therapy. While epithelial tumors are sensitive, tumors arising from the mesenchyma...
Marcili A, Sousa IKF, Sousa RDS, Souza RA, Batista GF, Bosco VC, Santos TND, Farias BA, Miranda LM, Soares HS, Onófrio VC, Nieri-Bastos FA. Visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonosis distributed throughout Brazil and caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum. The disease manifests in its visceral form, with dogs being the primary reservoir. Manaus is the largest city in the Brazilian Amazon region, and despite its significance, there are only documented cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of Leishmania infantum in horses in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. A total of 178 horses from 16 different properties within the city were sampled, and the specific molecular diagnosis was based...
Latham E, Scherrer NM, Stefanovski D.To compare the measurement of intraocular pressure in horses with clinical ocular disease using three tonometry devices. Conclusions: All three tonometers showed strong agreement, however, the TonoVet and the TonoVet Plus carried the strongest agreement with the TonoVet Plus having slightly higher measurements overall compared with the TonoVet. Due to small variations between devices, it is recommended that the same device be used for serial measurements of intraocular pressure. However, all three devices are appropriate to use in horses presented for ophthalmic evaluation.
Bertin FR, Frank N, Breuhaus BA, Schott HC, Kritchevsky JE.Equine thyroid disorders pose a diagnostic challenge in clinical practice because of the effects of nonthyroidal factors on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, and the horse's ability to tolerate wide fluctuations in thyroid hormone concentrations and survive without a thyroid gland. While benign thyroid tumours are common in older horses, other disorders like primary hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism in adult horses and congenital hypothyroidism in foals are rare. There is a common misunderstanding regarding hypothyroidism in adult horses, especially when associated with the clinical pro...
Rule EK, Boyle AG, Stefanovski D, Anis E, Linton J, Lorello O.Equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA) is a common disease in adult horses, but clinical disease in foals is rarely reported. The relationship between equine maternal and neonatal antibodies to Anaplasma phagocytophilum is unclear. Objective: That mares in an endemic region would be seropositive for A. phagocytophilum and that mare and foal serum IgG concentrations for A. phagocytophilum would correlate. Additionally, we hypothesized that foal IgG concentrations for A. phagocytophilum acquired by passive immunity would decline by 6 months of age. Methods: Twenty-two healthy mare-foal pairs. ...
Schroeder E, Wollmer A, Kubicki J, Ohlenbusch HD.The effect of proton concentration upon the subunit dissociation of horse methemoglobin has been investigated at two ionic strengths by light scattering photometry at 700 nm. Differential refractometry revealed a slight but systematic decrease of the specific refractive index increment with decreasing protein concentration for solutions in dialytic equilibrium with the solvent. In the pH range 4.8-7.2 the dissociation can be described by a simple equilibrium between tetramers and dimers. The dissociation constant Kd of the met derivative is found to be very similar to those of the O2- and CO-l...
Hart LT, Braymer HD, Larson AD, Broussard EA.Equine infectious anemia (EIA) antigen extracted from the spleen of horses infected with EIA virus was purified by pH treatment, (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and affinity chromatography. The homogeneity of the antigen was indicated by sedimentation rate and sedimentation equilibrium experiments. A S20,w of 0.51 was determined and a molecular weight of 7600 was calculated from sedimentation equilibrium analysis. The amino acid composition of the pure antigen indicated the antigen is an acidic protein. Employing radical immunodiffusion (RID) and pure antigen a method for quantitating antigen content ...
Matas Riera M, Cardenas Nadal M, Martínez-Sogues L, Ferrer L.Dermatological clinical signs have been seldom reported in the literature secondary to equine leishmaniasis. This case depicts the clinical signs, treatment, and outcome of a young horse with a pink, elevated lesion on the ventromedial quadrant of the cornea. A corneal cytology was performed and revealed the presence of leishmania amastigotes reaching the diagnosis of keratitis secondary to leishmania. Surgical resection was recommended but the owner declined the procedure, and the lesion was treated with a topical antimonial for 6 weeks. The lesion reduced remarkably during the first weeks ...
de Melo UP, Ferreira C.Oral and dental diseases are common in horses, as evidenced by the results of incidence studies of dental diseases carried out on abattoir specimens or sports horses. Thus, periodic dental examinations in horses are essential to ensure the maintenance of dental health and proper use of ingested food. A retrospective study of the dental records of 416 Quarter Horses (256 males, 160 females), distributed in the western region of the Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, was conducted. Horses were examined between July 2012 and August 2022. The variables collected were age, sex, type of diet, dental alter...
Li L, Maboni G, Lack A, Gomez DE.Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections are increasing in human and veterinary medicine. Although horses were initially thought to be resistant to NTM infection, reports of horses suffering from gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive diseases associated with NTM have increased in the last few decades. The aim of this literature review is to summarize the mycobacteria species found in horses, describe clinical manifestations, diagnostic and treatment approaches, and public health concerns of NTM infection in horses. Clinical manifestations of NTM in horses include pulmonary diseas...
Legere RM, Allegro AR, Affram Y, Silveira BPD, Fridley JL, Wells KM, Oezguen N, Burghardt RC, Wright GA, Pollet J, Bordin AI, Figueiredo P....To examine the susceptibility of cultured primary equine bronchial epithelial cells (EBECs) to a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pseudovirus relative to human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs). Methods: Primary EBEC cultures established from healthy adult horses and commercially sourced human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) were used as a positive control. Methods: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression by EBECs was demonstrated using immunofluorescence, western immunoblot, and flow cytometry. EBECs were transduced with a lentivirus pseudotyped with ...
Smyth GB.An abnormal cryptorchid testicle removed from the abdominal cavity of a 4 year old Thoroughbred stallion is described. The abnormal organ conforms to the requirements of Willis (1960) for a teratoma. The difference between these tumours in man and horses is discussed.
Levitt NH, Miller HV, Pedersen CE, Eddy GA.The development of a new diagnostic procedure for the identification of Venezvelan, eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis (VEE, EEE, WEE) viruses is described. The procedure utilizes virus precipitation with reference fluorescein-conjugated gamma globulin, followed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Clinical specimens containing varying concentrations of virus yielded, in primary duck embryo cell culture, sufficient virus for detection within 22 to 44 hours. Identification of VEE, EEE and WEE virus in specimens was accomplished by microprecipitation within this time. In contrast to c...
Glazier DB, Farrelly BT, O'Connor J.A congenital heart defect characterised by persistent patency (open-ness) of the ventricular septum, permitting flow of blood directly between ventricles, bypassing the pulmonary circulation and resulting in various degrees of cyanosis (blue discolouration of the skin) due to oxygen deficiency. Clinical signs include systolic murmur and a palpable thrill on both sides of the chest, dyspnoea and poor tolerance of exercise.