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.
Nishita T, Matsushita H.Sections of equine thymus were examined for the presence of carbonic anhydrase (CA) isozymes by an immunohistochemical method. Carbonic anhydrase III, a major enzyme of skeletal muscle, was localized in some of the epithelial-reticular cells of the equine thymus. This finding suggests the presence of a new type of cell in the thymic cortex. The concentration of CA-III in the thymus was 17 micrograms/g wet tissue. CA-I and CA-II were not found in equine thymus.
Harasawa R, Higashi T.Viral DNA obtained from the equine adenovirus propagated in equine transitional cell carcinoma (ETCC) cells and in equine fetal dermis cells were compared by cleaving with isoschizomeric restriction enzymes, HpaII and MspI, and then electrophoresed in 1.4 per cent agarose gels. Differences between the HpaII and MspI cleavage patterns were evident in viral DNA obtained only from the equine adenovirus propagated in ETCC cells, suggesting site specific methylation at CpG sequences.
Durchfeld B, Rüdiger J.Bilateral rupture of the musculus longus capitis from the tuberculum musculare of the os occipitale and of the musculus rectus capitis ventralis from the os occipitale combined with a synchondrolysis of the synchondrosis sphenooccipitalis in a 17 months old thoroughbred stallion is reported.
Fischer A, Lechner J, Kraft W, Hirschberger J.The QBC is a centrifugal haematology system. Modified haematocrit capillaries are measured optically. The parameters haematocrit, total leukocyte count, relative and absolute values of granulocyte and lympho-/monocyte fractions, and total thrombocyte count are stated. The microhaematocrit method, the counting chamber, and the differential blood count are reference methods. Blood samples of the dog, cat and horse were used for the study. As a screening method the QBC analysis meets all requirements for the veterinary practice.
Gerber H, Ueltschi G, Diehl M, Schatzmann U, Straub R.For various anamnestic reasons the cervical vertebral column of 78 horses was examined radiologically. Statistical comparisons showed that male "warmbloods" were more frequently affected than was expected. Our horses were older than comparable animals in the international literature. Independently of their history the radiologic diagnosis of "cervical spondylarthrosis" was established in 56 horses. Arthrosis and other conditions were clinically manifested by spinal ataxia (44 horses) or mechanical impairment of the neck's mobility (21 horses). 10 of the arthrotic patients had synovial cysts ca...
Dahn M, Ueltschi G.Normal radiographs of hocks were analyzed for 270 horses (3 views for each hock). They were mainly from young and sound horses. For such animals, the mean number of abnormalities found was 2 to 4.5 for each picture. The mean dimension of certain tarsal bones was measured; geldings had greater bones than mares. An increase of reactions at the origin of the M. interosseus was seen with the age. It was possible to demonstrate that Medichrome films increase the number of discrete abnormalities to be found; this is of particular value for purchase examinations of young horses. The direction of the ...
Cornick JL, Brumbaugh GW.An eight-year-old Thoroughbred gelding with dermatographic urticaria is presented. Forelimb edema and generalized urticaria were the presenting clinical signs. All hematologic and serum biochemical values were normal. Immunologic and histologic evaluation failed to reveal specific abnormalities. During hospitalization, an urticarial response to mechanical pressure (dermatographism) was identified. Clinical responses to corticosteroid and antihistaminic (H1) therapy were equivocal. The condition resolved in five weeks and an etiology was not discovered. A discussion of the pathogenesis, diagnos...
de Jong EG, Kiffers J, Maes RA.Results are given for a more sensitive screening procedure for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs using GC-MS-MS. By monitoring a selected characteristic reaction for each drug very low detection limits are reached even in a difficult biological matrix such as equine urine. Detection down to 5 ng ml-1 for ibuprofen, ibufenac, alclofenac, fenoprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen and diclofenac is possible in contrast to the 0.5 microgram ml-1 limit for normal GC-MS detection. Examples are given of real positive cases for diclofenac and ibuprofen.
Derksen FJ, Brown CM, Sonea I, Darien BJ, Robinson NE.Comparisons were made between transtracheal aspirate (TTA) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology obtained from 50 horses with chronic lung disease and from 10 control horses. There was no significant correlation between the TTA cytology and the BAL cytology, suggesting that the cell population in the trachea is not representative of the cell population in the lower airways. In control horses the range of differential cell counts obtained from TTA fluid was remarkably large, whereas the variability in cell populations observed in BAL fluid was smaller. In the principal horses the total and ...
Dudan F, Hirni H.Since 1980 techniques specifically designed to treat human neonatal diseases have also started to be applied to ill or premature equine newborns. These techniques will be described and their application to the most common equine neonatal disorders will be discussed. Such techniques include: post-natal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, exogenous thermal support, administration of broad spectrum antibiotics after diagnostic studies, supplemental oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation, intravenous fluid and electrolyte therapy, blood component transfusion and total parenteral nutrition.
Ragle CA, Meagher DM, Schrader JL, Honnas CM.A blind study was designed to determine if abdominal auscultation is an effective method for detecting the presence of intestinal sand. Fifteen horses divided into two groups were used in the study. There were seven horses in Group 1 and eight horses in Group 2. All horses were auscultated and determined to be free of sand sounds before initiation of Trial 1. Group 1 horses were given 4.2 g/kg body weight of sand via nasogastric tube using carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) as a suspending agent at 9.0 ml/kg body weight. Group 2 horses were given CMC only. Horses remained in the same group through a...
Reeves MJ, Curtis CR, Salman MD, Hilbert BJ.Multiple logistic regression was used to investigate prognosis in 308 horses referred to the University of Minnesota veterinary teaching hospital with colic. Bivariate results identified the following significant individual parameters: absent or hypomotile abdominal sounds, medical or surgical classification, peritoneal fluid total protein, anion gap, serum glucose, capillary refill time, blood pH, heart rate, packed cell volume, base excess, serum chloride, plasma bicarbonate, serum urinary nitrogen and age. Two multivariable prognostic models were developed using logistic regression. Model I...
Antal A, Szabó I, Vajda G, Antal VD, Polner A, Totth B, Szollár I, Stipkovits L.Clinical, microbiological, haematological, and immunological investigations were carried out in mares and their foals of 2 studs. A considerable number of foals fell ill with pneumonia, the mortality rate was high. Mycoplasmas were mostly isolated from nasal swabs and from the lungs. The isolation rate of bacteria was lower. Serum IgG concentration was reduced in the diseased or dead foals compared to that of healthy animals, the data stress in importance of IgG in the development of respiratory diseases also in foals.
Pycock JF, Allen WE.The uteri of normal pony mares in oestrus were infected experimentally with Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Uterine contents were collected 30, 60, 120 or 240 minutes later and were tested for their chemotactic effect on equine-neutrophils both with a morphological assay based on neutrophil shape changes and with a modified Boyden chamber technique. By 30 minutes after infection the uterine contents were markedly chemotactic for isolated peripheral neutrophils and remained so at the 240-minute collection. Uterine contents from uninfected mares had minimal chemotactic properties. These results cou...
Parks AH, Doran RE, White NA, Allen D, Baxter GM.Records of 75 horses with ileal impactions were examined retrospectively. There was a sex predilection towards mares. Arabians were over-represented compared to the hospital population. The average age was 8.3 years. Abdominal pain was observed in 96% of horses. Nasogastric reflux was present in 56% of horses, small intestinal distention was found on rectal palpation in 96% and an ileal impaction in 25%. Exploratory celiotomy was performed in 69 horses, the mass was reduced by extramural massage in 67 horses, and ingesta was removed via enterotomy in 2. Jejunocecostomies were performed in 47 h...
Murray MJ, Doran RE, Pfeiffer CJ, Tyler DE, Moore JN, Sriranganathan N.Isolated segments of left dorsal colon and a side-to-side colocolostomy (between the left ventral colon and left dorsal colon) were surgically created in 6 adult ponies. Four segments, each separated by an empty segment, were inoculated (20 ml) with 1 of the following 4 solutions: phosphate buffered saline solution (PBSS)/1% polyethylene glycol (PEG); purified cholera toxin in PBSS/1% PEG (5 micrograms cholera toxin/ml of PBSS/1% PEG); lyophilized Salmonella typhimurium UCD 1755 culture lysate, reconstituted in PBSS/1% PEG; and viable S typhimurium UCD 1755 (10(8) organisms/ml of PBSS/1% PEG)....
Soulé C, Boulard C, Levieux D, Barnouin J, Plateau E.Three, four, and one horses were respectively infected with 100, 1,000, and 5,000 metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica. Six of them were reinfected 38 weeks later with 1,000 metacercariae each. Specific antibodies assayed by counter-electrophoresis, passive hemagglutination and ELISA tests appeared three to six weeks post-infection and peaked 10 to 17 weeks post-infection. Horses infected by 1,000 metacercariae and more showed 17.6% of positive samples by counter-electrophoresis, 49.2% by ELISA, and 75.6% by passive hemagglutination. Plasma glutamate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyltransferase l...
Winder NC, Gruenig G, Hermann M, Howald B, von Fellenberg R.Equine respiratory secretions (RS) collected before (33 horses) and after (76 horses) slaughter were evaluated cytologically and grouped according to the histological diagnosis of the lungs from which they were obtained. The histological categories included normal lungs (control; 17 horses), chronic small airway disease with mild (23 horses), moderate (13 horses) and severe lesions (25 horses), interstitial pneumonia (13 horses), pulmonary eosinophilic infiltration (13 horses) and pulmonary haemorrhage (5 horses). On a group basis there were significantly more neutrophils in RS of horses with ...
Shankarappa B, Dutta SK, Sanusi J, Mattingly BL.Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CELISA), mediated by a monoclonal antibody designated HybI, was developed for the diagnosis of equine monocytic ehrlichiosis. Inhibition of binding of HybI by the horse antibodies to Ehrlichia risticii was optimum at dilutions of 1:20 for serum and 1:10,000 for HybI. Mean optical densities (ODs) of positive and negative sera were 0.158 and 0.855, respectively. A comparison of ODs obtained by CELISA and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) indicated a marked tendency of positive and negative samples to cluster separately with respect ...
Freeman DE, Ross MW, Donawick WJ, Hamir AN.Balloon-tipped catheters were used to occlude the external carotid artery and its branches in nine horses with hemorrhage caused by guttural pouch mycosis. The internal carotid artery on the affected side was occluded simultaneously in four horses and had been occluded previously in two others. In three horses, a single balloon-tipped catheter was inserted in the external carotid artery beneath the floor of the guttural pouch and its tip was advanced blindly into distal branches. In one horse, the superficial temporal artery was occluded briefly during surgery by a balloon-tipped catheter so a...
Jenkinson DM, Loney C, Elder HY, Montgomery I, Mason DK.Histological studies of the sweat glands of anhidrotic horses in the Hong Kong summer and under conditions of reduced thermal stress, both natural and controlled, were undertaken to determine if glandular regeneration occurs. Clinical data were collected for comparison with the histological results in each instance. Horses were assigned to one of three categories on the basis of the resulting change in the number of thin glandular profiles in a cooler environment. Group 1, which was classed as normal, had a low initial value, which was maintained. Group 2, typical of mild and moderately affect...
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...
Kawaoka Y, Webster RG.A severe influenza outbreak occurred in horses in South Africa in 1986. The causative agent was identified as an influenza virus [A/Equine/Johannesburg/86 (H3N8)]. Antigenic analyses of the hemagglutinin (HA) with ferret antisera and monoclonal antibodies showed that the Eq/Johannesburg/86 virus is similar to recent equine H3 viruses. The nucleotide sequence analysis on the HA genes of Eq/Johannesburg/86 and other equine H3 influenza viruses, together with the epidemiological data, clearly demonstrated that the Eq/Johannesburg/86 virus was derived from a virus that had been circulating in hors...
Ginther OJ.Ultrasonography was used to determine whether there is embryo reduction in mares with unilaterally fixed twins when a major portion of the vascularized area of the wall of one of the embryonic vesicles is in apposition with the wall of the adjacent vesicle, rather than with the endometrium (deprivation hypothesis). In addition, the effect of ovulatory pattern (synchronous and asynchronous) on the incidence of embryo reduction was studied. Twin vesicles were ultrasonically detected on days 11 to 15 (ovulation = day 0) and were examined daily until there was embryo reduction or until day 40. In ...
van Schie HT.The ultrasonic examination of tendons and ligaments of the distal limb of the horse improves the diagnostic possibilities of these frequently injured structures. The successful application is based upon a reliable knowledge of the normal sonographic anatomy and upon a standardized, flawless technic of the examination. Practice and experience allow the recognition of minor alterations which enables a more precise diagnosis, a more reliable prognosis, and in follow-up examinations also more specific information about the further use of the horse.
Tobin T, Kwiatkowski S, Watt DS, Tai HH, Tai CL, Woods WE, Goodman JP, Taylor DG, Weckman TJ, Yang JM.We have developed and evaluated a one step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for sufentanil and a 125I radioimmunoassay test for alfentanil as part of a panel of pre- and post-race tests for narcotic analgesics in racing horses. Our sufentanil ELISA test detects sufentanil with an I-50 of about 0.5 ng/ml. The test is rapid and economical in that it can be read with an inexpensive spectrophotometer, or even by eye. The test readily detects the presence of sufentanil or its metabolites in equine blood and urine from 1 to 24 hours respectively after administration of therapeutic or s...
Dill SG, Kallfelz FA, deLahunta A, Waldron CH.Serum vitamin E and blood glutathione peroxidase values were determined in 40 horses with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of degenerative myeloencephalopathy and in 49 age-matched control horses with normal neurologic function. Significant differences were not detected in serum vitamin E or blood glutathione peroxidase values between horses affected with degenerative myeloencephalopathy and control horses. These findings fail to support a reported role of vitamin E deficiency as a cause of equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy.
Hesford F, Lazary S, Curty-Hänni K, Gerber H.A number of horse alloantisera were characterized biochemically as being directed against MHC class I or class II antigens by immunoprecipitation of the corresponding antigens from lysates of biosynthetically radioactively labelled lymphocytes and determination of their molecular weights by SDS-PAGE and fluorography. Sera recognizing A2 and A3 specificities precipitated antigens of 44,000 Daltons molecular weight (class I heavy chain), whereas sera with specificities W13, W22 and W23 precipitated antigens corresponding to class II dimers (30,000 and 32,000 Daltons). Comparison with antigens pr...
Meijer AE, van den Hoven R, Wensing T, Breukink HJ.Needle biopsies from m. gluteus medius of 22 horses which had suffered from repeated attacks of exertional myopathy were studied at various times after an attack, to determine if metabolic alterations can be demonstrated by enzyme histochemistry. Morphological changes and activity of 25 enzymes were studied. Immediately after onset of an attack, some large rounded fibres with a defect of the oxidative phosphorylation were seen. After some hours these fibres lost their glycolytic enzyme activity, followed by disappearance of mitochondrial enzyme activity with accumulation of Ca2+-containing sub...
Ball BA, Little TV, Weber JA, Woods GL.The estimated embryonic loss rate between Days 4 and 14 after ovulation for young, normal mares (9%) was significantly lower (P less than 0.01) than the estimated embryonic loss rate for aged subfertile mares (62%). Fertilization rates, which were based on the recovery of embryos at Day 4 after ovulation, were 96% and 81% (P less than 0.1) for normal and subfertile mares, respectively. Day-4 embryos were collected from the oviducts of normal and subfertile donors mares. These embryos were transferred to the uteri of synchronized, normal recipient mares to test the hypothesis that the high inci...
Ghanem YM, Ibrahim el-SM, Yamada S, Matsumura T, Osterrieder N, Yamaguchi T, Fukushi H.The pathogenicities of RacL11 and Kentucky D strains of equine herpesvirus 1 in the hamster infection model are different from those of Ab4p and the Japanese isolates. Virus genome restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and sequence comparison of an intergenic region, glycoproteins and tegument genes showed higher conservation but with some strain-specific differences. These results indicate that point nucleotide differences in RacL11 and Kentucky D might be responsible for their pathogenicity in rodent models.
Slater MR, Hood DM, Carter GK.A descriptive and matched case-control study of laminitis was conducted in 7 private practices and at the Texas Veterinary Medical Centre (TVMC) between May 1992 and July 1993. Out of 108 horses with laminitis, 19 acute (49%) and 20 chronic (51%) cases were seen in private practice and 16 acute (23%) and 53 (77%) cases at the TVMC. Gastrointestinal disease was the most common problem in 19/35 horses (54%), occurring just prior to the onset of acute laminitis in all hospitals. Among all horses in the study, most commonly used drugs were phenylbutazone (68%), acepromazine (34%), dimethyl sulphox...
Whitcomb MB, Doval J, Peters J.Ultrasonography has gained increased utility to diagnose pelvic fractures in horses; however, internal pelvic contours can be difficult to appreciate from external palpable landmarks. We developed three-dimensional (3D) simulations of the pelvic ultrasonographic examination to assist with translation of pelvic contours into two-dimensional (2D) images. Contiguous 1mm transverse computed tomography (CT) images were acquired through an equine femur and hemipelvis using a single slice helical scanner. 3D surface models were created using a DICOM reader and imported into a 3D modeling and animatio...
Bass LG, Peña-Álvarez P, Hidalgo-Dittel JD, Robles-Herrera FD, Cappella-Flores PM, Zúñiga-Cortés DS, Olivares RWI.Sarcina spp. is a Gram-positive, coccoid microorganism that forms tetrads or octets, and is observed with a characteristic "bundle" arrangement. The most recognized species are Sarcina ventriculi and Sarcina maxima. It has been described as part of the normal microbiota in horses and cats, but it has also been linked to abomasal bloat in goats, lambs, and calves, although its causality has not been proven yet. This work presents the case of a 3-months-old female horse that died of generalized tympanism. Macroscopic findings showed mild cyanosis and abundant gas in the lumen of the stomach, and...
Guan F, Robinson MA, Soma LR.Etanercept is a protein-based medication for the treatment of human patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune-based diseases; its pharmacological action is to inhibit and antagonize tumour necrosis factor alpha. Etanercept was rumoured to be used in horse racing in North America. To detect such use, the aim of this study was to develop a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for confirmation of etanercept in equine plasma. Etanercept was extracted from plasma by anti-human IgG antibody linked to magnetic beads. The analyte was reduced and alkylated, and then dige...
Verwilghen D, Easley J, Zwick T, Uhlhorn M, Grulke S, Simhofer H, Townsend N, Liyou O, Bodeus F, Zani DD, Vlaminck L, Pearce C, Staszyk C....Suture exostosis is an intriguing and not uncommon pathology that has to be included in the differential diagnosis for horses with swelling of the head. Although several singular case reports have been published, no large case series is available. The aim of this study is to report a multicentric retrospective collection of suture exostosis cases. Data concerning horses with suture exostosis in the facial region were collected retrospectively. Information regarding breed, age, gender, history, imaging findings, initiated treatment, response to treatment and follow up was recorded. One hundred ...
Van Der Vekens N, van Dievoet MA, De Puydt H, Decloedt A, Ven S, De Clercq D, Deprez P, van Loon G.Although cardiac troponin T (cTnT) assays have been used to detect myocardial damage in horses, a cTnT assay has not been analytically validated, to our knowledge. The aims of this study were to estimate the precision of a high-sensitivity cTnT assay in horses and determine the effect of hemolysis on the measured cTnT concentration. Serum samples from horses were mixed in 3 different pools. Pool 1 consisted of samples from 3 healthy horses, pool 2 from 6 horses with heart failure or atypical myopathy, and pool 3 from 10 horses with atypical myopathy. The within- and between-run coefficients of...
Kinsella HM, Hostnik LD, Snyder HA, Mazur SE, Kamr AM, Burns TA, Mossbarger JC, Toribio RE.The equine neonate is considered to have impaired glucose tolerance due to delayed maturation of the pancreatic endocrine system. Few studies have investigated insulin sensitivity in newborn foals using dynamic testing methods. The objective of this study was to assess insulin sensitivity by comparing the insulin-modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (I-FSIGTT) between neonatal foals and adult horses. This study was performed on healthy neonatal foals (n = 12), 24 to 60 hours of age, and horses (n = 8), 3 to 14 years of age using dextrose (300 mg/kg IV) and insulin (0....
Lores M, Lofstedt J, Martinson S, Riley CB.A 15-day-old American Quarter horse colt was presented for depression and pyrexia. Peritonitis was diagnosed following peritoneal fluid analysis. Exploratory laparotomy revealed an area of focal necrosis over the dorsal wall of the urinary bladder leading to peritonitis and uroperitoneum. The affected area of the urinary bladder was resected and the peritonitis resolved with medical treatment. Péritonite et uropéritoine septiques secondaires à une omphalite subclinique et à une cystite nécrosante concomitante chez un poulain. Un poulain American Quarter Horse âgé de 15 jours a été pr...
Naudé TW, Gerber R, Smith RJ, Botha CJ.Datura poisoning of horses is extensively reviewed. An outbreak of intractable impaction colic affecting 18 of 83 horses was stopped by withdrawing dried tef hay contaminated with young Datura plants. The dried, botanically identified Datura stramonium and D. ferox contained respectively 0.15% mass/mass (m/m) hyoscyamine as well as 0.16% m/m hyoscine (scopolamine) and only hyoscine at a concentration of 0.11% m/m. Immature, unidentifiable plants resembling D. stramonium, contained 0.14% m/m and 0.12% m/m of the 2 respective tropane alkaloids. The outbreak was characterised by protracted and re...
Hart SK, Sullins KE.Results of surgical treatment of sinonasal disease in horses have been reported previously; however, this paper describes the outcome of horses in which a specific post operative treatment protocol was used. Objective: The objectives of the study were to determine: 1) short- and long-term outcome; 2) complications; and 3) recurrence rates of different disease processes, when horses were treated with a specific treatment protocol. Methods: Medical records of horses presented for surgical treatment of sinonasal disease from 1996-2007 were reviewed. Results and duration of surgical exploration we...
Ochi A, Bannai H, Aonuma H, Kanuka H, Uchida-Fujii E, Kinoshita Y, Ohta M, Kambayashi Y, Tsujimura K, Ueno T, Nemoto M.Mosquitoes and EDTA-treated blood samples from febrile racehorses were investigated for Getah virus infection from 2016 to 2019 at the Miho Training Center, where several outbreaks of Getah virus have occurred. We collected 5557 mosquitoes and 331 blood samples from febrile horses in this study. The most frequently captured mosquito species was Culex tritaeniorhynchus (51.9%), followed by Aedes vexans nipponii (14.2%) and Anopheles sinensis (11.2%). Getah virus was detected in mosquitoes (Aedes vexans nipponii) in 2016 (strain 16-0810-26) but not in 2017-2019. Six of 74 febrile horses in 2016 ...
Packer MJ, German AJ, Hunter L, Trayhurn P, Proudman CJ.Adipose tissue is an important source of inflammatory cytokines (adipokines) and adiposity has been identified as having a significant effect on human morbidity and mortality. Obesity is also an emerging welfare problem in the UK horse population, but the role that it plays in secondary diseases is unclear. Objective: To examine the expression of inflammation-related adipokine genes in retroperitoneal adipose tissue of horses undergoing emergency abdominal surgery and to explore associations with adiposity and post operative survival. Methods: Retroperitoneal adipose tissue samples were obtain...
Perkins NR, Heath TJ.Pathways of peripheral lymph flow from the legs in horses were studied with casts, and with light and electron microscopic techniques. Although lymph nodes in horses occur in large groups, each lymph vessel draining from the periphery appeared to terminate on a single node within a group. The larger branches of each vessel divided either on the node surface or after penetrating into the node, and 25 to 60 terminal afferent vessels entered either the subcapsular, medullary or trabecular sinuses. Numerous initial efferent lymphatics arose either within the medulla, or at its surface, and they of...
Chen J, Guo X, Li L.The nucleocapsid (N) protein is the most conserved structural protein in equine arteritis virus (EAV). This study aimed to identify the minimal conserved B cell epitope on the EAV N protein. The purified N protein was used to immunize mice for preparing monoclonal antibody (mAb). The reactivity of mAb was evaluated by Western blot and immunofluorescence assay. Moreover, 11 overlapping peptides (named MBP-N1 to MBP-N11) were designed to localize the linear antigenic epitope within the N protein. The peptides were identified by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot....
Steiger R, Feige K.A 13 year old Thoroughbred gelding was presented with a history of a single episode of collapse during mild exercise. Clinical examination revealed a high packed cell volume (PCV) of 72%, a haemoglobin concentration of 24.9 g/l and 15.2 millions erythrocytes/microliters. Despite continuous intravenous infusion therapy with large volumes, the PCV never decreased to a physiological level. The animal showed a normal appetite and no signs of discomfort or syncope. Arterial blood gas values were in the normal range as well as the concentration of erythropoietin (measured by radioimmunoassay, RIA). ...
Faramarzi B.Hoof health is a major concern of horse owners as well as the equine industry. However, many questions remain concerning regional variations of laminar junction and its potential to remodel. Objective: To examine regional variations in the morphology of the laminar junction and thickness of the hoof wall in Thoroughbred horses. Methods: The forefeet of 25 Thoroughbred cadavers were examined. Each hoof was divided into 20 blocks through 4 proximodistal slices (below the coronary band, each 1 cm apart) and 5 circumferential positions (toe, medial and lateral quarters and heels). In each block, 2...
Amat JP, Vergne T, Tapprest J, Ferry B, Hans A, Hendrikx P, Dufour B, Leblond A.Equine viral arteritis (EVA) may have serious economic impact on the equine industry. For this reason, it is monitored in many countries, especially in breeding stock, to avoid its spread during breeding activities. In France, surveillance is mainly based on serological tests, since mares are not vaccinated, but difficulties in interpreting certain series of results may impair the estimation of the number of outbreaks. In this study, we propose specific rules for identifying seroconversion in order to estimate the number of outbreaks that were detected by the breeding stock surveillance compon...
Jones LE, Dyson SJ.To describe in detail the radiographic appearance of ossified ungular cartilages in horses and to evaluate the usefulness of a flexed dorsolateral-palmaromedial oblique (flexed oblique) radiographic view in evaluating the ungular cartilages. Methods: Retrospective case series. Sample-Radiographs of 1,255 front feet of horses. Methods: Ossification of the ungular cartilages was graded during evaluation of radiographs on a scale from 0 to 5; feet with cartilages with an ossification grade ≥ 2 were included (386 feet [271 horses]). The shape (straight, curved outward or inward, and dorsopalmar ...
Gross DK, Morley PS, Hinchcliff KW, Reichle JK, Slemons RD.The purpose of this investigation was to determine if naturally occurring acute infectious upper respiratory disease (IRD) caused by equine influenza virus is associated with ultrasonographically detectable pleural and pulmonary abnormalities in horses. Standardbred racehorses were evaluated for signs of IRD, defined as acute coughing or mucopurulent nasal discharge. For every horse with IRD (n = 16), 1 or 2 horses with no signs of IRD and the same owner or trainer (n = 30) were included. Thoracic ultrasonography was performed within 5-10 days of the onset of clinical disease in horses with IR...
Brankston G, Rossi TM, O'Sullivan TL, Greer AL.This retrospective study describes testing patterns and the incidence of subsp. in Ontario to assess the utility of laboratory data for surveillance purposes. Laboratory records for equine infectious disease test submissions were extracted from the Animal Health Laboratory (AHL) at the University of Guelph for the years 2008 to 2018. Yearly and seasonal trends in testing and the proportion of tests that returned positive results were assessed. The number of samples submitted for testing decreased over the 11-year period (odds ratio = 0.96, 95% confidence interval: 0.92 to 0.999; = 0.04). ...
Senderska-Płonowska M, Zielińska P, Żak A, Stefaniak T.Heel contraction is an undesired but common condition in domestic horses. Some authors indicate shoeing as a risk factor. There is a correlation between shoeing and a restriction of heel expansion, but the clinical significance is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of shoeing and other risk factors, such as age, access to paddock, and breed, on heel contraction. This study included 114 horses, 55 of which were barefoot their whole life and 59 had been shod consistently for at least the previous year. The width and length of the frog were measured. Linear mixed-effects models w...
Rowe Á, Flanagan S, Barry G, Katz LM, Lane EA, Duggan V.Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome (WFFS) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation in the procollagen-lysine, 2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 1 (PLOD1) gene. Homozygosity for the mutation results in defective collagen synthesis which clinically manifests as the birth of non viable or still born foals with abnormally fragile skin. While the mutation has been identified in non Warmblood breeds including the Thoroughbred, to date all homozygous clinically affected cases reported in the scientific literature are Warmblood foals. The objective of this study was to investigate the carrier f...
Baptiste KE, Grahn BH.The clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and survival times of 10 horses with orbital neoplasms are reported. In all cases, orbital neoplasms were malignant and locally invasive with no defined surgical circumscribed edges. It was often difficult to identify the primary cell type of the neoplasia in histologic specimens due to the poorly differentiated, anaplastic nature of the majority of cases. All except one horse were eventually euthanized 2 mo to 5 y after diagnosis due to poor response to treatment, metastasis, or unrelenting orbital neoplasia. Mean survival time increased with ...
Wilson DV, Patterson JS, Stick JA, Provost PJ.The role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in mediating the colonic damage that develops after large-colon torsion was studied in 14 ponies. Morphologic changes in areas of the ascending colon and selected abdominal and thoracic viscera after 1 hour of large-colon torsion and 3 to 5 hours of reperfusion were determined, as well as the protective effects of systemic administration of a specific PAF antagonist (WEB 2086). Ponies were selected then allocated at random and in equal numbers to 2 groups that received 1 of 2 treatments prior to induction of large-colon torsion: group 1--control (sa...
Jakowski RM.The case records of 17 horses with atrophy of the right hepatic lobe were reviewed. Fifteen horses had signs of colic. Two horses had clinical problems that were unassociated with gastrointestinal tract disease. Ages ranged from 5 to 30 years (mean, 12.6 years) and there was no breed or sex predisposition. In clinically normal horses, the right hepatic lobe constitutes half of the total liver weight. The right hepatic lobe in the 17 horses in this study ranged from 11.0 to 38.3% of the total liver weight (mean, 27.8%). Findings on histologic examination of hepatic tissue from horses in the stu...
Simmons EJ, Bertone AL, Hardy J, Weisbrode SE.To quantitate nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in healthy and interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta)-exposed equine synovial membrane. Methods: 6 healthy horses, 2 to 8 years old. Methods: Recombinant human IL-1beta (0.35 ng/kg of body weight) was injected intra-articularly into 1 metacarpophalangeal joint of each horse. The contralateral joint served as an unexposed control. All horses were euthanatized 6 hours after injection of IL-1beta, and synovial membrane specimens were assayed for NOS activity by measuring conversion of arginine to citrulline. Severity of inflammation was semiquantitated by ...
Ramsey GD, Hunter PJ, Nash MP.In the treatment of laminitis it is believed that reducing tension in the deep digital flexor tendon by raising the palmar angle of the hoof can reduce the load on the dorsal lamellae, allowing them to heal or prevent further damage. Objective: To determine the effect of alterations in hoof angle on the load in the dorsal laminar junction. Methods: Biomechanical finite element models of equine hooves were created with palmar angles of the distal phalanx varying from 0-15°. Tissue material relations accounting for anisotropy and the effect of moisture were used. Loading conditions simulating t...
de Souza TC, Suthers JM, Busschers E, Burford JH, Freeman SL.Synovial sepsis is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in horses. Despite advances in diagnostics and treatments, persistent infection or chronic lameness can occur. Objective: To perform a scoping review to identify and evaluate the current evidence on the factors implicated in the success of treatment for synovial sepsis. Methods: Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review. Methods: A protocol was registered, and a systematic literature search was performed on CAB abstracts, Medline, Scopus and Embase. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed and studies systematically reviewed ag...
Stonehouse O, Stefanovski D, Bowman B, Sertich PL, Demchur J, Lewis GM, Turner RM, Turner RMO.Nocardioform placentitis (NP) has been associated with mid to late pregnancy loss in mares. To date, disease outbreaks have been described only in central Kentucky, although sporadic, isolated cases have been reported globally. This study describes a series of cases of NP that occurred in a sample population of 299 mares foaling in southeastern Pennsylvania and northeastern Maryland in 2020. These cases coincided with an outbreak of NP that occurred in Kentucky that same year. On farms that reported information on both normal and abnormal foalings, nocardioform organisms/DNA were isolated from...
