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.
Magnarelli LA, Flavell RA, Padula SJ, Anderson JF, Fikrig E.Serum samples from dogs and equids suspected of having canine or equine borreliosis, respectively, were analyzed in polyvalent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) with whole-cell or recombinant antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. Purified preparations of recombinant antigens included outer surface protein A (OspA), OspB, OspC, OspE, OspF, and p41-G (a fragment of flagellin). Of the 36 dog sera that reacted positively to whole-cell antigen, 32 (88.9%) contained antibodies to one or more recombinant antigens. Reactivities to OspF (88.9% positive) and p41-G (75% positive) were...
Koivunen AL, Maisi P, Konttinen YT, Sandholm M.The gelatinolytic activity in tracheal aspirates (TA) of horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was analyzed using SDS-PAGE-gelatin-gel electrophoresis (zymography) and compared to TAs from healthy controls. The 110-90 kD MMP-9 type gelatinase was high in symptomatic disease phases (permanent disease 0.46 +/- 0.15, p < 0.001; or intermittent disease 0.47 +/- 0.12, p < 0.001) compared to healthy controls (0.10 +/- 0.07). Similarly, the overall gelatinolytic activity, the activity in high-mw gelatinolytic bands (210-190 and 150 kD) and in proteolytically processed fragments in ...
Parma AE, Sanz ME, Lucchesi PM, Mazzonelli J, Petruccelli MA.A protein epitope which is involved in an antigenic relationship between equine ocular tissues and Leptospira interrogans was detected in homogenates of the bacterium. The antigenic determinant was harboured on a peptide structure which was shown to be sensitive to the action of denaturing and reducing agents by means of Western blotting. The outer surface of the leptospires appeared to be free of this epitope as was proved by dot-blot and electron microscopic studies.
Christley RM, Hodgson DR, Evans DL, Rose RJ.The relationship between different grades of laryngeal function, as assessed by endoscopy at rest, and the measurements of indices of gas exchange and exercise capacity was assessed during a standardised treadmill exercise test in 149 horses. Horses with abnormalities other than idiopathic laryngeal hemiplegia (ILH) were excluded from the study and laryngeal function was graded according to an established system. There were no significant differences in age, weight, maximum oxygen uptake, maximum carbon dioxide production, maximum respiratory exchange ratio, maximum oxygen pulse and run time b...
Borgsteede FH, Dvojnos GM, Kharchenko VA.The efficacy of treatment with cambendazole was tested in 1-year-old horses on a farm in Dubrovka, Ukraine. Thirty-five horses were treated. Their egg output was compared on the day of treatment and 14 days later with that of 33 untreated horses. Before treatment the mean number of eggs g-1 faeces was 614 in the controls and 766 in horses that had been treated. After 14 days the mean egg output in the controls was 580 and in the treated horses 369. This means a reduction of 54.5%. Only cyathostome larvae could be cultured from faeces collected after treatment. It can be concluded that benzimid...
Polzer J, Slater MR.A case-control study was conducted at the Texas Veterinary Medical Center between January 1, 1986 and December 31, 1991. Logistic regression was used to assess age, breed, sex, and seasonality as risk factors for equine laminitis. There were 70 acute cases, 183 chronic cases, and 779 controls. No statistical association was found between age, breed, sex, or seasonality and the diagnosis of acute laminitis. For chronic cases, the estimated odds ratio was statistically significant for age (OR = 1.05, 95% CI (1.02, 1.08)) and for the diagnosis of laminitis in the third quarter of the year (OR = 2...
Chopin JB, Sigler L, Connole MD, O'Boyle DA, Mackay B, Goldstein L.This report describes an infection of a horse's cornea caused by Cladorrhinum bulbillosum. Minor surgery and treatment with antibiotics successfully resolved the infection. The only previous reported case involving this fungus was an Argentinian boy who was infected while working with horses.
Mayhew IG, Washbourne JR.Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were recorded from 27 ponies. The peak and inter-peak (IP) latencies, V:I ratios and dispersal values were determined and the results from each category were compared with each other and with the authors' Thoroughbred BAEP data. Peak latencies were faster for ponies. The V:I ratios and dispersal values had similar characteristics in horses and ponies. In ponies there was a strong trend for IP latencies to be positively correlated with height, inter-aural distance and age. A positive relationship between I-V IP latency and inter-aural distance was co...
Lisiecki P, Sobiś-Glinkowska M, Mikucki J.Under iron-restricted conditions staphylococcal strains could utilize in vitro several animals body iron sources in form of bovine haemoglobin, hemin, lactoferrin and transferrin, ovotransferrin, horse myoglobin ferritin and cytochrome C. Spectrum of utilized iron sources was not dependent on species affiliation and kind of siderophores system. Strains isolated from clinical materials utilized largest spectrum of animal iron body sources.
Glatthaar R.In April 1996 an attack of black flies (Diptera, Simuliidae) to horses was observed in the region of Basle, Switzerland. Females of Simulium erythrocephalum and Simulium ornatum were involved in this attack, part of them had taken a blood meal. For S. ornatum this is the first record in Switzerland that this species takes blood meals on horses.
Ruohoniemi M, Raekallio M, Tulamo RM, Salonius K.One hundred Finnhorse cadaver front feet were measured and examined both radiographically and visually to report the incidence of various foot problems and their relationship to ossification of the cartilages of the foot. Ossification extending above the proximal border of the navicular bone and/or separate centres of ossification were found in 36 feet, and the lateral cartilages showed more ossification than the medial cartilages. The feet were generally broad with well developed frogs, but the long toe-low heel syndrome was a relatively common finding. Ossification of the cartilages correlat...
Welle MM, Audigé L, Belz JP.Endometrial biopsies of 44 broodmares were histologically examined on days 3, 6, and 9 postpartum. The mares were subdivided into three groups according to the course of the puerperal period. In 29 mares, parturition and expulsion of the placenta was normal, six mares showed dystocia, and in nine mares, the placenta was retained for > 2 hours. Tissue samples were evaluated histologically, and the average numbers of granulocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages, siderophages, and mast cells was determined. Protease content of mast cells was examined with a double-enzyme immunohistochemical staining te...
Parraga ME, Spier SJ, Thurmond M, Hirsh D.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotic administration on the prevalence of fecal shedding of Salmonella, the prevalence of postoperative diarrhea, the length of antimicrobial therapy, and the length of the hospitalization stay during the postoperative period in horses with colic. Two commercially available probiotics for horses were used in a double-blind prospective study of 200 horses undergoing surgery for colic. Probiotic or placebo was administered PO once a day for 7 days postoperatively, and fecal cultures for Salmonella were obtained daily for 10 days. After...
Jørgensen HS, Proschowsky H, Falk-Rønne J, Willeberg P, Hesselholt M.A retrospective cohort study was made of the racing performance of trotters which had been subjected routinely to radiography before they started training and racing. Sixty-one per cent (148) of the 243 horses, foaled in 3 consecutive years, had one or more abnormal findings categorised into 5 relevant groups based on radiography, of which osteochondrosis (OCD) was the most specific diagnosis. Parameters used to reflect racing performance were: proportion of horses starting in races, number of starts per year, earnings per year, earnings per start and racing longevity. No significant associati...
Carman S, Rosendal S, Huber L, Gyles C, McKee S, Willoughby RA, Dubovi E, Thorsen J, Lein D.A study of acute respiratory disease in horses in Ontario was undertaken to determine the identity of current causative infectious agents. A nasopharyngeal swab was designed and utilized to maximize isolation of viruses, mycoplasma, and pathogenic bacteria. Serum samples were collected for parallel determination of antibody titers to equine influenza virus type A subtype 1 (H7N7) and subtype 2 (H3N8), equine rhinovirus types 1 and 2, equine herpesvirus type 1, Mycoplasma equirhinius, and Mycoplasma felis. Equine rhinovirus type 2 was recovered from 28/92 horses tested, and equine influenza vir...
Blackall PJ, Bisgaard M, McKenzie RA.The objective of this work was to perform a comprehensive phenotypic characterisation of 16 isolates of bacteria previously identified as Actinobacillus equuli. Methods: The 16 isolates that had been obtained from Australian animals--15 from horses and one from a rabbit--were compared with reference strains of A equuli, A capsulatus, Pasteurella caballi and Bisgaard Taxa 9 and 11. Results: The characterisation study demonstrated that only nine of the isolates were A equuli. The other isolates were identified as A capsulatus (the isolate from rabbit), P caballi (one isolate), Bisgaard Taxon 11 ...
Kong XG, Pang H, Sugiura T, Sentsui H, Onodera T, Matsumoto Y, Akashi H.Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) core proteins were obtained from a baculovirus expression system. Recombinant baculoviruses (rBVs) highly expressed the Gag precursor and p26 antigens in an rBV-infected Sf21 cell culture supernatant. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) were conducted using the expressed proteins to detect antibodies from experimentally infected horses. The expressed antigens showed low background levels, high specificity and sensitivity in ELISA and AGID. The results of the serological tests using the expressed antigens were ident...
Höglund J, Ljungström BL, Nilsson O, Lundquist H, Osterman E, Uggla A.A survey was performed on the occurrence of some internal parasites in 461 horses (1-30 years old) slaughtered from October 1992 to September 1993 at the Linköping abattoir in central Sweden. Macroscopical examination was carried out specifically for parasites of the tear ducts and conjunctival sacs of the eyes, and of selected parts of the alimentary tract and cardio-vascular system. The following parasites were found in selected parts of the large intestine: encapsulated cyathostome larvae (in 35.6% of the horses), and mature strongyle worms (17.4%); in the stomach: Gasterophilus intestinal...
Verschooten F, Verbeeck J.This paper describes the application of a measuring device 'Flextest' to control the effect of traction force and traction time during flexion tests of the distal limb joints of the forelimbs. The optimal force for a flexion test is 100 N, over 1 min. A higher force (150 N) was not harmful. A slightly positive flexion response (100 N/1 min) in a horse with no other clinical signs or radiographic abnormalities is not of clinical significance. Individual left and right flexion and extension angles are almost identical and do not depend on age. Stabled horses which have been rested or horses rest...
Lillich JD, Bertone AL, Malemud CJ, Weisbrode SE, Ruggles AJ, Stevenson S.To compare the biochemical, histochemical, and immunohistochemical profiles of articular cartilage from horses with naturally acquired distal tibial osteochondrosis (OC) with cartilage from a similar location in clinically normal horses. Methods: 9 affected horses (group 1, 16 OC lesions) and 4 control horses (group 2, 8 normal osteochondral specimens). Methods: OC specimens were collected during arthroscopic removal of the fragment, and control specimens were collected by aseptic osteotomy. Uronic acid, total protein, total glycosaminoglycan (GAG), chondroitin sulfate (CS), and keratan sulfat...
Tyler-McGowan CM, Hodgson JL, Hodgson DR.To determine the regional incidence and effectiveness of treatment of failure of passive transfer (FPT) in foals. Methods: A study of disease incidence. Methods: Eighty-eight foals and 57 mares from four studs in the practice area of the Rural Veterinary Centre were tested. Methods: Foals were tested for their serum IgG and total serum protein (TSP) concentration within the first 72 hours of life. Colostrum was collected from mares and specific gravity determined. FPT and partial failure of passive transfer (PFPT) of immunoglobulins was diagnosed when serum IgG concentrations were < 4 g/L and ...
Stanek C.A retrospective study (1984-1994) was made of 10 cases of septic arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint in horses aged 7 months to 17 years. In 6 cases a hind limb was affected, in 4 cases a front limb. The arthritis was caused either by a puncture wound in the sole area (8 cases), by a perforating wound in the coronary region (1) or iatrogenic (1). All horses exhibited a severe lameness at the walk. Radiography showed no typical lesions in fresh cases, whilst later an increasing subluxation of the joint was observed followed by periosteal reactions. Therapy included partial resection o...
Herholz C, Tschudi P, Gerber H, Moens Y, Straub R.A new computerised ultrasound-based spirometry system according to Buess et al. (1995) modified by a double flow measurement facility was used to study pulmonary function in healthy horses and horses affected with subclinical and manifest chronic bronchiolitis (CB). The horses were first evaluated at rest without any medication. On another occasion all horses were tested following i.v. administration of xylazine (0.4 mg/kg) and following i.v. administration of lobeline hydrochloride (l.hy.; 0.2 mg/kg) to evaluate the effect of xylazine and l.hy. on different spirometric variables. Ultrasound-b...
Landolt G, Feige K, Schöberl M.The present study describes the poisoning due to Robinia pseudoacacia in two horses. One of the horses showed mainly intestinal symptoms such as decreased intestinal motility and obstipation of the pelvic flexure. In the second animal central nervous symptoms were predominant. It showed intermittent phases of somnolence alternating with phases of excitation and head pressing. In addition mydriasis and a lacking menace response could be observed. Sensation to the head and the spinal reflexes were reduced. Symptomatic treatment was initiated in both animals and recovery occurred within 2 days.
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...
Reubel GH, Studdert MJ.Based on sequence homology with human adenovirus 2 (HAdV2), the hexon gene of equine adenovirus 1 (EAdV1) was identified. HindIII restriction fragments containing the hexon and other viral genes were cloned into the plasmids pUC19 and pBlueScript SK(-) and sequenced. The nucleotide sequence of the hexon gene was completely determined and partial sequence data were obtained for seven other EAdV1 genes. Amino acid (aa) sequence comparison with published adenovirus (AdV) proteins identified the genes for the IIIa, penton, pVII, PVI, 23K proteinase, DNA binding and 100K proteins. The eight EAdV1 g...
Tetens J, Ross MW, Lloyd JW.To assess the effect of incomplete, midsagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx (P1) on racing performance in Standardbreds. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: 49 Standardbred horses admitted to the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals between July 1986 and December 1992 with a definitive radiographic diagnosis of an incomplete, midsagittal fracture of P1 and a known method of treatment. Methods: Performance index and racing time were compared before and after diagnosis and treatment of fracture, using ANOVA that controlled for the effects of horse, gender, age, track leng...
Chabchoub A, Landolsi F, Zientara S, Amira A, Mejri M, Ghorbel A, Ghram A.The authors describe an equine influenza epizootic that occurred in Tunisia during February and March 1998 in the regions of Tozeur, Sousse and Tunis. They relate the symptoms, the different stages of diagnosis and the serological results.
Jackson C, Collyer PB, Loynachan A.A stillborn full term foal was presented at necropsy. The dilated duodenum and the dorsal and ventral left colon and cecum extended into the thoracic cavity and were encased by a thin transparent membrane originating from the diaphragm. The congenital condition was diagnosed as a developmental anomaly with diaphragmatic eventration. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of diaphragmatic eventration in a Thoroughbred stillborn foal.
Vandermyde CR, DiPietro JA, Todd KS, Lock TF.Fifteen pony foals were inoculated with 1,500 +/- 298.7 infective Parascaris equorum eggs. The foals were assigned to 3 treatment groups. Treatments included 10 mg of fenbendazole/kg given once on postinoculation day (PID) 11, 10 mg of fenbendazole/kg given daily on PID 11 to 15, and no treatment (controls). The foals were euthanatized on PID 25 and examined for P equorum larvae in the small intestine, lungs, and liver. Significantly (P less than 0.05) lower mean numbers of P equorum larvae were found in the small intestine of foals treated on PID 11 to 15 (1.4 [range, 0 to 6]) than in the sma...
Jarvis SM, Harris RC.The inward transport of two purines, adenosine and hypoxanthine, at 37 degrees C by horse erythrocytes was compared. No mediated transport of adenosine was detected in horse erythrocytes, nor was saturable, high-affinity binding of the potent facilitated-diffusion inhibitor nitrobenzylthioinosine demonstrable in horse erythrocyte membranes. In contrast, erythrocytes from most horses possessed a saturable sodium-dependent hypoxanthine transporter (apparent K(m), 100 +/- 28 microM; Vmax, 0.20 +/- 0.08 mmol (l cells)-1 h-1; means +/- S.E.M., n = 5). Guanine inhibited hypoxanthine influx (apparent...
Hunt RJ.There are few diseases that instill a comparable sense of doom in the mind of a treating veterinarian as laminitis. There is a feeling of cautious optimism when a horse with laminitis responds favorably to treatment. Although this optimism all too often proves false when treating laminitic patients, management of the patient afflicted with chronic laminitis can be rewarding. Through diligent and careful client communication and instruction, many geriatric patients with chronic laminitis can be maintained for years as comfortable companions, for light riding use, or as productive breeding anima...
Kettler MK, Weil MR, Perryman LE.Serum uric acid concentrations were determined in horses known to be carriers of combined immunodeficiency gene(s) and in presumed noncarrier horses. Uric acid concentrations were significantly higher (P less than 0.005) in carrier horses than in presumed noncarrier horses. However, there was some overlap in serum uric acid concentrations between carrier and presumed noncarrier horses.
Rissi DR, Avery AC, Burnett RC.T-cell-rich, large B-cell lymphoma (TCRLBCL) is the most commonly diagnosed type of lymphoma in horses. Here we describe the clinical signs, neuropathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement (PARR) analysis results of a TCRLBCL in the brain of an 8-y-old male Quarter Horse that was euthanized after acute anorexia, tremors, head pressing, falling, blindness, incoordination, and seizures. Autopsy revealed a firm, smooth, pale-yellow mass that expanded both lateral ventricles and the adjacent subcortical white matter. Histologically, the mass consisted of a de...
Mentoor JL, Lubisi AB, Gerdes T, Human S, Williams JH, Venter M.We report here the complete genome sequence of a lineage 2 West Nile virus (WNV) strain that resulted in fatal neurological disease in a horse in South Africa. Several recent reports exist of neurological disease associated with lineage 2 WNV in humans and horses in South Africa and Europe; however, there are a lack of sequencing data from recent fatal cases in Southern Africa, where these strains likely originate. A better understanding of the genetic composition of highly neuroinvasive lineage 2 strains may facilitate the identification of putative genetic factors associated with increased v...
Cuevas-Ramos G, Cova M, Arguelles D, Prades M.The function of the popliteal muscle and tendon in horses remains undescribed. In humans, it is considered a stabilizer of the posterior-lateral region of the knee; its function is closely related to that of the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and meniscus. The popliteal tendon (PopT) constitutes the main proximal attachment of the popliteus muscle to the femur, and in humans, insertional variations have been described. Knowledge of anatomical variations is needed for the correct interpretation of diagnostic images and arthroscopic findings. To elucidate further the anatomy of the equine Pop...
de Favare GM, de Almeida Cipriano I, do Carmo TA, Mena MO, Guelpa GJ, do Amarante AFT, de Soutello RVG.The indiscriminate use of drugs to control gastrointestinal helminths in horses can lead to serious consequences for the animals, which represents a growing problem for health, animal welfare and productivity. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of ivermectin in naturally infected horses in the western region of the state of São Paulo. From May 2021 to April 2022, 123 naturally infected adult horses in 12 equine breeding farms (7 to 14 animals per farm) were evaluated with the fecal egg count reduction test. The horses had not been treated with anthelminti...
Scheffer CJ, Drijfhout PN, Boerma S.The case of a 5-year-old Friesian mare with a mass in her abdomen and a gait irregularity of the left hind limb is discussed. At rectal ultrasonogrphic examination the mass appeared to be a thin-walled, anechogenic cavity in the left abdomen. By means of laparoscopy the mass could be visualized as a smooth structure, covered by peritoneum and fat. Under laparoscopic guidance the mass was punctured and fluid was aspirated. Cytological and bacteriological findings of the fluid were indicative of a cyst. After drainage of the cyst the locomotion disorder of the left hind limb disappeared. It is c...
Damron GW.A survey of horses for gastrointestinal trichomonads was conducted to determine the organism's role in equine diarrhea and to establish its proper identity and morphology. Trichomonads were found by cultural examination of feces of 101 (35%) of 289 apparently healthy horses. At necropsy, trichomonads were cultured from 11 (37%) of another 30 horses which showed no signs of diarrhea at the time of death. In 4 of the 11 horses, colonies of trichomonads numbered 30,000 to 150,000/ml of cecal fluid. Diarrhea was induced in 1 of 6 horses, with the fecal fluid containing 10,000 to 110,000 trichomona...