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.
Duncan ID, Schneider RK, Hammang JP.The suprascapular nerve from 14 horses, which had no clinical evidence of spinatus muscle atrophy, were obtained to determine whether the nerve was sub-clinically compressed at the scapular edge. The nerves were divided into three portions, proximal and distal to the scapular edge and as it reflected around it. In nine horses there was evidence of a chronic neuropathy which varied in severity and which was most severe at the site of reflection, where the nerve appeared constricted by a tendinous band. At this site the predominant change was that of chronic demyelination and remyelination, with...
Platt H.A series of 9 cases of primary diffuse alimentary lymphoma of the equine small intestine is described. Clinically, the principal effects were attributable to malabsorption and disordered alimentary function and several cases had severe anaemia; in four this was of the haemolytic type. Hypoalbuminaemia and elevated gamma globulin levels were often present. The neoplasms were confined mainly to the small intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes, sometimes with some involvement of other lymph nodes as well. The large bowel was affected in one horse, but none of the cases showed detectable invasion of...
Pretzman CI, Rikihisa Y, Ralph D, Gordon JC, Bech-Nielsen S.An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM in natural and experimental infections of equids with Ehrlichia risticii was developed. Ehrlichial organisms purified from an infected mouse macrophage cell line were used as the antigen. IgM was separated from serum IgG by the expedient of spun-column chromatography, allowing the use of an indirect ELISA for quantitation of both IgG and IgM in the test sera. Among 16 paired sera from horses exhibiting clinical signs of Potomac horse fever, 8 were positive by the indirect fluorescent-antibody test (IFA), 11 were po...
Watson ED, Stokes CR, David JS, Bourne FJ, Ricketts SW.Intrauterine infusion of 1 per cent oyster glycogen solution was used to induce acute endometritis in four genitally normal mares. Numbers of viable neutrophils recovered in uterine washings had increased by 1 h after infusion and remained elevated for at least 72 h. There was a significant correlation between numbers of viable neutrophils and total protein concentrations and between prostaglandin (PG)F and PGE2 concentrations in washings. There was also a significant relationship between concentrations of 15-keto-13, 14-dihydro PGF2 alpha in plasma and PGF in washings. Intrauterine concentrat...
Vandeplassche MM.From a total of 601 severe dystocias in mares, 408 (68%) of the fetuses were in anterior, 95 (16%) in posterior and 98 (16%) in transverse presentation, compared with 99%, 1% and 0.1% respectively for spontaneous parturitions. From the cases with anterior presentation, 151 (37%) showed reflected heads and necks. From the cases with posterior presentation, 47 (50%) presented hip flexions, 25% had hock flexions, and 25% had stretched hind legs, 45 (47%) of the fetuses were in lateral or ventral position, and 28 (30%) of the fetuses were malformed (mainly torticollis and head scoliosis). All 98 c...
Sentsui H, Kono Y.Horse erythrocytes treated with equine infectious anemia virus hemagglutinin were phagocytized by cultivated horse leukocytes (mainly macrophage-like cells and partly polymorphonuclear cells) after incubation with fresh horse serum but not with inactivated horse serum. The phagocytosis began as soon as the erythrocytes were added to the leukocyte cultures, and the majority of the reaction proceeded within 30 minutes. Addition of antiserum showed a slightly suppressing but no enhancing effect on the phagocytosis. Phagocytosis seemed to be caused by the recognition of the third complement compon...
Meijler FL, van der Tweel I.Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias in humans. It also occurs quite frequently in dogs and horses. Comparative study of this arrhythmia may contribute to better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved. In this study, we present a quantitative analysis of atrial fibrillation in humans, dogs, horses, and in a kangaroo, making use of histograms and serial autocorrelograms of the ventricular rhythm with and without digitalis medication. Increase in the size of the animal and thus in the size of the heart is accompanied by a decrease in ventricular ...
Mitchell CJ, Monath TP, Sabattini MS, Daffner JF, Cropp CB, Calisher CH, Darsie RF, Jakob WL.Mosquitoes were collected in Santa Fe and Rio Negro provinces, Argentina, in 1982-1983 during a western equine encephalitis (WEE) epizootic. Totals of 153,084 mosquitoes from Santa Fe Province and 484 from Rio Negro Province were tested for virus in 2,351 pools. Seventeen virus strains were isolated, all from Santa Fe collections, as follows: 4 WEE, 6 Venezuelan equine encephalitis, 1 St. Louis encephalitis, 2 Antequera, 1 Maguari, 1 Melao, 1 new vesiculovirus (Calchaqui), and 1 Gamboa. The WEE virus isolates were from Aedes albifasciatus, Anopheles albitarsis, Mansonia species, and Psorophora...
Johnstone IB, Petersen D, Crane S.Plasma Antithrombin III (ATIII) activity was quantitated in 24 clinically normal Standardbred/Thoroughbred horses using a clotting time technique. ATIII activity ranged from 80 to 106% of the pooled reference standard plasma, with a mean of 94%. Horses presenting with impaction or spasmotic colic (n=17) had normal plasma ATIII activity, while 15 horses presenting with acute diarrhea/colitis had significantly lower plasma ATIII activity with a mean of only 74% of the reference plasma. Seven horses presenting with liver disease had significantly higher plasma ATIII activity with a range of 127 t...
Eichhorn W.Infections and clinical diseases caused by equine 2 influenza A viruses are observed worldwide. The frequency of these outbreaks supports the hypothesis that antigenic variation of the surface proteins may play an important role. For the demonstration of these variations, monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were prepared. They are directed against the hemagglutinin or the neuraminidase of the prototype strain a/eq/Miami/1/63. In hemagglutination-inhibition assays with Mabs two reaction patterns were observed: four Mabs inhibited 14 out of 17 strains tested. Another Mab recognized the hemagglutinin of...
Reif JS, Webb PA, Monath TP, Emerson JK, Poland JD, Kemp GE, Cholas G.In 1982-1983, an epizootic of vesicular stomatitis occurred in the western United States. Veterinarians, research workers, and regulatory personnel who were exposed to vesicular stomatitis virus were examined for patterns of human infection and prevalence of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey serotype neutralizing antibody. Insight into the mechanism of transmission was sought by comparing activities of antibody-positive and antibody-negative persons. A statistically significant risk factor was a history of infected animals sneezing in the face of serosurvey participants. Elevated odds ratios wer...
Bertone AL, Stashak TS, Sullins KE, Ralston SL.Ten normal horses had approximately 95% of the length of the large colon resected with a side-to-side anastomosis between right ventral and right dorsal colon performed with surgical stapling equipment. Four horses died shortly after surgery of colitis (1 horse) or failure of the TA 90 transection staple line (3 horses). Another horse died 4 months after surgery from disseminated streptococcal infection but had recovered well from the colon resection. Five horses survived long term (18 months) with no clinical evidence of adverse effects of the resection. Surviving horses had weight loss and s...
Ducharme NG, Burton JH, van Dreumel AA, Horney FD, Baird JD, Arighi M.The nutritional implications and adaptive processes resulting from resection of 75% of the length of the large colon in ponies were investigated. Ten ponies in good physical condition were divided into two groups: six in the experimental group and four in the control group. During the sixth postoperative month, two digestibility studies were conducted, and phosphate fractional renal excretion and serum biochemical profiles were determined in both groups. The ponies (N = 10) were euthanized six months postoperatively, and gross and histopathological examinations were performed. Results of the s...
Lane JG, Lucke VM, Wright AI.Papillomatous lesions intruding into the laryngeal airway were identified in an imported polo pony during a routine neurological examination for partial quadriplegia. Histological examination established a diagnosis of laryngeal besnoitiosis but it is unlikely that the laryngeal parasitism was associated with the cerebellar neuropathy which was also present.
Beaver BV.Accurate diagnosis of the cause of aggression in horses is essential to determining the appropriate course of action. The affective forms of aggression include fear-induced, pain-induced, intermale, dominance, protective, maternal, learned, and redirected aggressions. Non-affective aggression includes play and sex-related forms. Irritable aggression and hypertestosteronism in mares are medical problems, whereas genetic factors, brain dysfunction, and self-mutilation are also concerns.
The Journal of urologyDecember 1, 1986
Volume 136, Issue 6 1314-1315 doi: 10.1016/s0022-5347(17)45327-4
Wheeler JS, Culkin DJ, O'Connell J, Winters G.The immunocompromised patient after organ transplantation is susceptible to unusual and life-threatening infections. We report a case of epididymitis that evolved into testicular nocardiosis after cardiac transplantation. An awareness of the potential for these infections and early diagnosis may prevent extensive morbidity in the post-transplantation patient.
Liu IK, Cheung AT, Walsh EM, Ayin S.The functional competence of uterine-derived polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) from 28 mares was measured for migration responsiveness by use of a chamber (filter) assay. Uterine infection was induced with Streptococcus zooepidemicus in mares considered resistant to chronic uterine infection (Grade I). In sequential analysis of uterine flushings obtained from these mares 5, 12, 15, 20, and 25 h after infection was induced, PMNs showed an initial rise at 12 h (from 5), then a general decline in migration response and in concentration of cells per ml from 12 through 25 h post-inoculation. In ...
Gummow B, Herr S, Brett OL.A complement fixation test, using round-bottomed microtitration plates and an 8 channel microdiluter, based on that used for brucellosis by Herr, Huchzermeyer, Te Brugge, Williamson, Roos & Schiele, 1985, has been developed for use on the sera of horses to detect antibodies to the contagious equine metritis organism. The results with 2 known positive sera tested 116 times in 27 separate tests were reproducible for the most part within a twofold range. They seldom exceeded these limits and never exceeded a fourfold range. The test itself is capable of being carried out within 90 min. The test w...
Crowell-Davis SL, Houpt KA.A thorough behavioral history is essential for adequate assessment of a given case. In reviewing the chief complaint, a description of what actually happened, rather than the owner's interpretation of what happened, is required. Other behavior problems, environment, rearing history, and training need to be reviewed. Sample question sets for some common problems are given.
Adeyefa CA.The effects of the various growth factors with regard to the nutritional physiology of zoophilic dermatophytes isolated from horses are reported. The optimum temperature, pH and growth period for the fungal isolates were found to be 30 degrees-35 degrees C, 5-6 and 7-12 days respectively while the carbon and nitrogen sources utilised by the organisms were sucrose, fructose, maltose, L-arginine and calcium nitrate. The use of these factors in preparation of efficacious fungicides used in the treatment of ringworm infections in man and animals is discussed.
Wong PL, Nickel LS, Bowling AT, Steffey EP.Serum samples of 20 horses were evaluated for antibodies against RBC after homologous blood transfusion. Transfusion-associated antibodies against RBC were detected in 10 horses. Antibodies recognizing horse blood group antigens Aa, Ae, Db, and Dc were identified. Antibodies against Aa were found in all samples from Aa-negative horses that were transfused with Aa-positive RBC. Antibodies against Aa persisted for at least 1 year after transfusion. Antibodies against Ae were detected in 7 of 8 horses transfused with Ae-positive RBC. Initial appearance and persistence of antibodies against Ae dif...
Baker SM, Drummond WH, Lane TJ, Koterba AM.A follow-up study was conducted on 131 foals that were less than 7 days old when admitted to the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital between 1981 and 1983. Of the 71 foals (54%) that survived to be discharged, 39 (55%) were alive at follow-up evaluation, 19 (27%) could not be located, and 13 (18%) had died. The owners of surviving foals were sent questionnaires and 72% responded. The horses were visited and examined, if geographically possible, and an age-matched stablemate or a sibling also was evaluated and used as a control. Thirteen foals (10% of total admitted) died...
Clark GG, Crabbs CL, Bailey CL, Calisher CH, Craig GB.An arbovirus survey was conducted during August 1985 at White Sands Missile Range in southcentral New Mexico following a suspected arboviral disease epizootic among feral horses. A total of 20,566 mosquitoes (18,505 females and 2,061 males) and 8,900 biting gnats were collected and assayed for virus. Female mosquitoes were principally Aedes campestris (54.8%), Aedes dorsalis (30.4%) and Culex tarsalis (13.2%). Arboviruses were not isolated from biting gnats, but mosquitoes yielded a total of 37 viral isolates, including western equine encephalitis (WEE) (18), California serogroup (15), Cache V...
Dale B, Brown R, Miller J, White RT, Air GM, Cordell B.Equine influenza is caused by two serotypes of type A influenza virus, EIV-A1 and EIV-A2. The complete nucleotide sequence of the neuraminidase (NA) genes of both the A1 (N7 subtype) and A2 (N8 subtype) serotype has been determined following cloning of full-length viral NA cDNAs into pBR322. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences reveals that the N7 and N8 genes share expected extensive homologies with the previously sequenced N1, N2, and N9 NA subtypes. These homologies include conservation of basic NA gene and protein structure, cysteine residues, potential glycosylation sites, and res...
Torbert BJ, Klei TR, Lichtenfels JR, Chapman MR.Ponies reared with minimal or no exposure to anthelmintics were surveyed for intestinal helminths in order to estimate prevalence and intensity of parasite populations unaltered by frequent exposure to anthelmintics. Thirty-seven mixed breed ponies of varying ages were examined. Thirty-four species of nematodes and 2 species of cestodes were found. Twenty-four of the nematode species (including 1 new species) were in the subfamily Cyathostominae (small strongyles). Eighty-seven percent of the total burden of adult small strongyles in the large intestine was composed of 10 species. By comparing...
Rushlow K, Olsen K, Stiegler G, Payne SL, Montelaro RC, Issel CJ.The nucleotide sequence of the envelope (env) gene region of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), a member of the lentivirus subfamily of retroviruses, has been determined from a clone of integrated proviral DNA for which the gag and pol sequences have been reported previously. The env gene is 859 codons in length and the sequence reported here is consistent with the published biochemical properties of EIAV glycoproteins. The env gene region of EIAV shares considerable structural similarities but negligible sequence homologies with the env genes of other members of the lentivirus subfamily, ...
Holland M, Snyder JR, Steffey EP, Heath RB.Laryngotracheal damage following short-term nasotracheal intubation was studied in 7 healthy horses. A flexible fiberoptic endoscope was used to examine the upper respiratory tract of each horse before nasal intubation with a cuffed silicone endotracheal tube and again at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours after extubation. Any abnormalities still evident at 48 hours were evaluated at 7 days after extubation. Mucosal damage involved the nasal meatus (5 of 7 horses), the arytenoid cartilages (5 of 7 horses), the trachea (5 of 7 horses), the dorsal pharyngeal recess (4 of 7 horses), the vocal folds ...
GARDIKAS C, KALLINIKOU M, KALLINIKOS G.The present experiments seem to indicate that horse blood is deficient in both Factors VIII and IX, the concentration of Factor VIII varying from 30 to 60 per cent of the normal human levels, and the concentration of Factor IX varying from 50 to 80 per cent, the corresponding concentrations in 12 normal human males varying from 60 to 150 per cent and from 70 to 150 per cent, respectively.
The finding that the recalcification time of horse plasma was considerably longer than that of normal human plasma is of interest, since it is known that only very low concentrations of Factor VIII or Fact...
Sonmez K, Gurel A, Takai S.The aim of the present study was to develop an immunocytochemical procedure for the early detection and demonstration of Rhodococcus equi in smears of tracheal aspirates taken from live foals in field conditions. Tracheal wash samples were collected from thoroughbred foals, aged 1-5 months and located in studs around Bursa and Istanbul, Turkey. Some foals were suspected of having R. equi infection on the basis of clinical examination (n=56) and others were unaffected control animals (n=54). Serum samples were also collected from each foal for testing for the presence of R. equi-specific antibo...
Rigg DL, Ramey DW, Reinertson EL.Respiratory distress and laryngeal paralysis were found to be caused by a Streptococcus equi abscess of cranial mediastinal lymph nodes, putting pressure on the trachea at the thoracic inlet. Surgical drainage was required to relieve the compression, and long-term antibiotic therapy was used to treat the bacterial infection. The trachea returned to normal diameter but left laryngeal hemiplegia persisted. Peritracheal abscesses should be considered in the differential diagnosis of inspiratory dyspnea of the horse.
Pickett BW, Voss JL.Experimental and clinical observations were made to treat abnormal sexual behaviour. The most common cause of abnormality was mismanagement of the animal; over-use and rough treatment at service and too-frequent ejaculation during winter had a detrimental effect on the behaviour of young stallions. Pain due to injury incurred at copulation or when associated with mounting attempts was also a common cause of impotence. Most impotent stallions responded well to re-training and recovery can be achieved without pharmacological treatment in most cases.
Meehan LJ, Taylor SE, Labens R, Cillán-García E.Assessment of the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in treatment planning in suspected cases of quittor in the horse. Methods: Five horses with chronic discharging tracts at the level of the foot underwent MRI for treatment planning. Results: The MRI examination revealed variable involvement of soft tissue and osseous structures of the foot in addition to abnormalities of the ungular cartilages in all cases. In two cases, follow-up MRI examination was performed. Four of five horses had a successful outcome, with three of these undergoing only one surgical procedure and one being m...
McGorum BC, Railton DI, Clarke CJ, Dixon PM, Woodman MP, Long KJ.Hydatid cysts (metacestode of Echinococcus grunulosus) are a
common incidental post-mortem finding in horses in the United
Kingdom (Cranley 1982), being found most frequently in the liver
and the lungs (Schwabe 1986). However, hydatid cysts are well
tolerated by horses and clinical hydatidosis is rare, even in
heavily infected animals (Thompson and Smyth 1975; Thompson
and Allsopp 1988). Clinical disease has been attributed to hydatid
cysts in the equine retrobulbar region (Bamett et ul. 1988), brain
(Gordon 1974, quoted by Thompson 1977) and liver (Barvaux
and Derzelle 1947). This is...
Malalana F, Ireland JL, Pinchbeck GL, McGowan CM.Risk factors for a first episode of primary uveitis in horses have not been determined. In addition, disease progression and the proportion of horses that develop recurrence following the original episode are not known. Objective: To determine the risk factors for the development of a first episode of primary uveitis in horses in the UK and to document the proportion of cases that experience recurrence following this first episode. Methods: Prospective case-control longitudinal study. Methods: Horses with a first episode of primary uveitis between July 2014 and August 2018 were recruited to th...
Barnett AL, Steel JD, Stewart GA.Free erythrocyte protoporphyrin was estimated in 166 Thoroughbred horses and the mean value was found to be 4o vg.Poo ml. packed cells. Signifi-cantly lower haemoglobin concentrations were found in 21 horses whose erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentration was 7o p.g.lioo ml. packed cells or greater.