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Topic:Disease Diagnosis
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.
Hypereosinophilia in a horse with intestinal lymphosarcoma. Paraneoplastic eosinophilia is reported in dogs, cats, and humans. Hypereosinophilia (an eosinophil count greater than 1.5 x 10(9) L) is often associated with metastasis and a poor prognosis. This report describes a case of paraneoplastic hypereosinophilia in a pony. Neoplasia should be included in the differential diagnoses in a horse with eosinophilia.
Multiple vertebral osteochondrosis in a foal. No abstract available
Cartilage canals in equine articular/epiphyseal growth cartilage and a possible association with dyschondroplasia. Cartilage canals have been described in most mammals and contain the vascular elements necessary for the maintenance of epiphyseal growth cartilage. The presence and longevity of cartilage canals in developing articular/epiphyseal cartilage of horses is described for the first time. Growth cartilages from 30 normal horses (from 130 days gestation to age 2 years) and 6 cases of dyschondroplasia (age 6 months. Cartilage canals were associated with retained cartilage of dyschondroplastic lesions found in animals age < 15 months. The presence of cartilage canals in association with dyschondrop...
Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in equine synovial fluids. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may be important in the destruction of cartilage seen in equine osteoarthritis and may be detectable in synovial fluid. Synovial fluids were obtained from normal equine joints and from joints of horses with aseptic and septic joint diseases. The total MMP gelatinase enzyme activities were measured by gelatin zymography and image analysis of the gels. The bioactivity of gelatinase in synovial fluid was determined by a gelatin degradation ELISA. Potential MMP-2 & MMP-9 monomer enzyme activities were significantly elevated in both septic and aseptic joint dise...
Bacterial endocarditis in horses: ten cases (1984-1995). A retrospective study of 10 horses with bacterial endocarditis was performed in order to describe the echocardiographic findings in horses with bacterial endocarditis, in conjunction with clinical signs and post mortem findings, and to evaluate the usefulness and the formulation of a prognosis. Echocardiographic and post mortem examinations were performed in 7 horses. Post mortem examination alone was performed in 2 horses and echocardiographic examination alone performed in one horse. No breed or sex predilection was obvious. Mean age +/- s.d. was 2.12 +/- 3.32 years. Predominant clinical sig...
Light microscopy of the enteric nervous system of horses with or without equine dysautonomia (grass sickness): its correlation with the motor effects of physostigmine. Light microscopy was undertaken on sections from the caudal flexure of the duodenum and the terminal ileum proximal to the ileocaecal fold in 5 control horses, 5 horses with acute grass sickness (AGS), and 5 horses with chronic grass sickness (CGS). With the exception of the ileal submucous plexus of the CGS group, the AGS group had the lowest number of neurons as measured using a subjective scoring scheme. The proportion of abnormal neurons in the AGS group was similar in both plexuses and both regions, whereas the values for the CGS group were much higher in the duodenal region than in the i...
Flow cytometric method for detecting thiazole orange-positive (reticulated) platelets in thrombocytopenic horses. To evaluate a method for detecting thiazole orange-positive (TO+, reticulated) platelets in equine blood, using flow cytometry. Methods: 16 healthy, equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV)-negative horses and ponies; 9 thrombocytopenic, EIAV-positive horses and ponies; and 2 thrombocytopenic, EIAV-negative horses. Methods: Blood from healthy and thrombocytopenic horses was collected by jugular venipuncture. Appropriate sample requirement and incubation time for the assay were evaluated, using blood anticoagulated with EDTA or sodium citrate, or platelet-rich plasma in sodium citrate. The sample ...
Mechanisms of echinocytosis induced by Crotalus atrox venom. Transient echinocytosis has been reported in association with snake envenomation in humans and dogs. An in vitro model of echinocytosis induced by venom of crotalus atrox (western diamondback rattlesnake) was established to characterize erythrocyte morphologic changes and to investigate potential mechanisms of echinocytic transformation. Erythrocyte morphologic changes produced after the addition of venom to canine, feline, equine, and human blood were characterized by dose-dependent echinocytosis. Type III echinocytosis were consistently induced in vitro at a dose comparable to in vivo enveno...
Influence of antigen challenge on platelet responsiveness in horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A role for platelets in allergic airways disease has been postulated and changes in the responsiveness of circulating platelets have been demonstrated following antigen challenge of asthmatic human subjects. In this study agonist-induced aggregation of equine platelets in vitro has been compared before and after exposure of horses to a controlled hay and stray challenge. Prior to challenge the response of platelets, from horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and normal animals, to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and platelet activating factor (PAF) did not differ. Five hours aft...
Clinical features of blister beetle poisoning in equids: 70 cases (1983-1996). To document clinical signs and gross pathologic changes associated with naturally acquired cantharidiasis (blister beetle poisoning) in equids. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 70 equids with laboratory-confirmed blister beetle poisoning. Methods: Medical records were reviewed to obtain history, physical examination findings, feeding practices, and diagnostic test and necropsy results. Results: 32 horses and 2 donkeys died from exposure to cantharidin, whereas 36 horses survived. Diet content varied, but alfalfa hay was the common component. Onset of signs of disease was rapid. Most equi...
[An experience of the modified Norwood’s operation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome with aberrant origin of right subclavian artery and persistent left superior vena cava–the procedure without total circulatory arrest and cardiac arrest]. We reported a successful case of the modified Norwood operation for a 21-day-old neonate with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (MS and AS) associated with an aberrant right subclavian artery and a persistent left superior vena cava. The modified Norwood operation was performed without total circulatory arrest and Cardiac arrest. A 4 mm Gore-Tex graft, which was anastomosed between the right carotid artery and the right pulmonary artery for systemic-pulmonary shunt, was used for cerebral perfusion during aortic arch reconstruction. Coronary perfusion was performed with a small cannula placed on ...
Brodifacoum toxicosis in two horses. Increased popularity during the past decade of brodifacoum, an anticoagulant rodenticide, has led to an increase in cases of accidental poisoning in nontarget species, including pets and farm animals. Pharmacokinetics of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides such as brodifacoum are substantially different from those of first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides such as warfarin. This difference dramatically influences management of exposure in terms of duration and cost of treatment and may affect outcome. The National Poison Control Center reports that approximately 50 cases of brodif...
Influence of preoperative complete blood cell counts on surgical outcomes in healthy horses: 102 cases (1986-1996). To assess the value of CBC as a preoperative test in healthy horses undergoing cryptorchidectomy. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 117 horses. Methods: Medical records were reviewed to identify horses that had had cryptorchidectomy. Of the 117 horses identified, 102 were found that did not have a known medical condition believed to adversely affect surgery. Preoperative CBC was assessed in terms of abnormalities detected and effects of these abnormalities on development of complications during and after surgery and patient management. Results: Of 102 CBC performed, 55 contained abnormali...
Antigenic diversity of granulocytic Ehrlichia isolates from humans in Wisconsin and New York and a horse in California. The agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), Ehrlichia phagocytophila, and Ehrlichia equi are very similar. HGE is of variable severity. Genetic and antigenic differences among 3 human isolates (Webster, Spooner, and NY-8) and 1 horse isolate (MRK) were evaluated. The 16S rRNA gene sequences were identical in all human isolates. By use of 5 homologous antisera from these 3 humans and 1 horse and an additional 5 antisera in heterologous reactions, the immunodominant antigens of each isolate were noted to differ in molecular size: 43 kDa in the Webster (Wisconsin) isolate, 46 kDa in the S...
Management of headshaking in three horses by treatment for protozoal myeloencephalitis. Unlike the incidence of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), which appears to be increasing, headshaking is an uncommon problem for horses in Missouri and the adjacent states. Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis was incriminated in three horses examined for the treatment of headshaking on the basis of a neurological examination, an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid and their response to treatment. The headshaking and stereotypical behaviour associated with EPM was successfully treated with potentiated sulphonamides and pyrimethamine.
Airway response of horses with COPD to dry powder inhalation of ipratropium bromide. To determine the effects of the dry powder inhalation (DPI) of ipratropium bromide (ipratropium) on the airways of health horses and the dose-response curve in horses suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by means of pulmonary function tests, five healthy horses were first studied. Ipratropium (2400 micrograms ipratropium horse-1) was contained in gelatine capsules and administered using a dry powder device connected to an adapted face mask. Pulmonary function tests were recorded before inhalation and 15 and 60 min after inhalation. No modification of pulmonary function w...
The intercarpal ligaments of the equine midcarpal joint, Part 3: Clinical observations in 32 racing horses with midcarpal joint disease. To characterize the clinical features of intercarpal ligament pathology and to determine the relationship among palmar intercarpal ligament tearing, dorsomedial intercarpal ligament (DMICL) hypertrophy, and other intraarticular lesions. Methods: Prospective clinical observations. Methods: Twenty-eight thoroughbred and four standardbred race horses. Methods: Clinical, radiographic, and arthroscopic examination of 53 midcarpal joints of 32 horses. Results: Palmar intercarpal ligament tearing was observed in 30 joints of 22 horses. Some tearing of the medial palmar intercarpal ligament (MPICL) wa...
IL-1 beta induces the degradation of equine articular cartilage by a mechanism that is not mediated by nitric oxide. Proteoglycan degradation was induced in young equine articular cartilage explants cultured for eight days in the presence of 50 ng/ml recombinant human interleukin-1 beta. Degradation was initiated after 6 hours of exposure to the cytokine. This was accompanied by an induction of nitric oxide synthesis and a decrease in the incorporation of [36S]sulphate into the glycosaminoglycan chains of proteoglycans. The addition of 1mM N-iminoethyl-L-ornithine (an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase) to the explant cultures in the presence of rhIL-1 beta suppressed the synthesis of NO and restored proteog...
Multiple aneurysmal bone cysts in a foal. Multiple aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are previously unreported in horses. An ABC was diagnosed in the left 3rd metacarpal of a Thoroughbred foal, which partially resolved following surgical curettage. A 2nd ABC developed in the left tibia, 7 wk postoperatively, and the foal was euthanized.
Pseudocyst of the spermatic cord of a gelding. Clinical, echographic, and histopathological features of an unusual enlarging scrotal mass in a 5-year-old gelding are described. Echography of the scrotal mass in this case provided valuable information concerning the nature of the tissue present, and assisted in narrowing the differential diagnosis.
Identification of thrombospondin as a high molecular mass protein released from activated equine platelets. To establish the existence of platelet-derived proteins in equine plasma, with the future goal of developing an assay for the detection of in vivo platelet activation. Methods: 5 mature healthy horses. Methods: Platelet-rich plasma and platelet-poor plasma were prepared from anticoagulated blood. Platelets were separated from plasma proteins by gel filtration, then activated with 0.5 microM platelet-activating factor. Protease inhibitors were added, and the released platelet proteins were harvested. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was performed on the released platele...
Comparison of PCR and culture to the indirect fluorescent-antibody test for diagnosis of Potomac horse fever. Potomac horse fever is an acute systemic equine disease caused by Ehrlichia risticii. Currently, serologic methods are widely used to diagnose this disease. However, serologic methods cannot determine whether the horse is presently infected or has been exposed to ehrlichial antigens in the past. The purpose of the present study was to compare the sensitivities of the nested PCR and cell culture with that of the indirect fluorescent-antibody (IFA) test for the diagnosis of Potomac horse fever. Blood and fecal specimens serially collected from a pony experimentally infected with E. risticii Mary...
High resolution protein electrophoresis of equine cerebrospinal fluid. To determine normal CSF electrophoresis patterns in horses, and to determine whether the electrophoretic scans from horses with cervical compression differ from those of neurologically normal horses. Methods: 32 horses assigned to 1 of 2 groups: neurologically normal (n = 18) or cervical compression (n = 14). Methods: CSF was collected from 18 neurologically normal horses referred to the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, and protein electrophoresis was performed to describe the normal equine CSF electrophoretogram. Results of CSF electrophoresis from 14 horses with cervical compressio...
Equine infectious anemia virus utilizes a YXXL motif within the late assembly domain of the Gag p9 protein. We have previously demonstrated that the Gag p9 protein of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is functionally homologous with Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) p2b and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) p6 in providing a critical late assembly function in RSV Gag-mediated budding from transfected COS-1 cells (L. J. Parent et al., J. Virol. 69:5455-5460, 1995). In light of the absence of amino acid sequence homology between EIAV p9 and the functional homologs of RSV and HIV-1, we have now designed an EIAV Gag-mediated budding assay to define the late assembly (L) domain peptide sequences con...
