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.
Gaskin JM, Neal FC, Rubin HL.Precipitin lines not associated with equine infectious anemia (EIA) were observed in routine agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) testing for the infection. The serums which produced these lines were obtained from horses which had been given multiple vaccinations with commercially available cell culture-origin equine virus vaccines as part of a comprehensive herd health program. The lines formed against cell culture-derived, but not spleen-derived EIA viral antigens. Investigation revealed that bovine serum proteins in the vaccines induced precipitating antibodies which reacted with bovine serum pr...
Evenberg A, Meyer H, Gaastra W, Verheij HM, De Haas GH.The complete amino acid sequence of phosphlipase A2 (EC 3.1.1.4) from horse pancreas was determined. The protein controls of a single polypeptide chain of 125 amino acids and has a molecular weight of 13,927. The chain is crosslinked by seven disulfide bridges. The sequence was determined by automated Edman degradation of the intact protein and several of the large peptide fragments. Smaller peptides were analyzed by manual Edman degradation. Fragmentation of the peptide chain was accomplished by enzymatic digestion with trypsin, chymotrypsin, and thermolysin. The final overlap was found by di...
Wheeldon EB, Greig WA.The history, clinical signs and post mortem findings in a case of Globidium leuckarti infection in a horse with chronic diarrhoea are described. The limited literature concerning this infection is reviewed, with particular reference to pathogenicity.
Gard GP, Marshall ID, Walker KH, Acland HM, Saren WG.An outbreak of Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) occurred in New South Wales during the first five months of 1974. Specimens from 52 horses with nervous disease collected January to May 1974 were examined histopathological or virologically. Although MVE virus was not isolated, 13 horses had serological evidence of recent infection with MVE virus. Another 4 horses had evidence of recent infection with Ross River virus. Two animals had histological evidence of viral infection of the central nervous system. Attempts to experimentally infect 2 horses with a low dose of MVE virus were not successful...
Holley DC, Evans JW.Total and ultrafilterable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) values were determined for Shetland pony stallions, stallions, and pregnant and diestrous mares, using a simple, inexpensive, quick procedure to obtain an ultrafiltrate of serum. There was no significant difference between horses and ponies, between stallions and mares, or between pregnant and nonpregnant mares. The percentage of total serum Ca that was ultrafilterable was 63.4+/-1.7 for horses and 64.8+/-2.2 for ponies. The percentage of total serum Mg that was ultrafilterable was 75.6+/-1.5 for horses and 77.0+/-1.7 for ponies. Total ...
Hilwig RW.Electrocardiograms were obtained from normal horses and from horses with cardiac or other organic disease that affected the cardiac rhythm. Tracings were obtained from a base-apex bipolar monitor lead, with the negative electrode attached to the skin in the right jugular furrow and the positive electrode attached to the skin on the ventral medline, beneath the apex of the heart. Each arrhythmia was discussed relative to importance and probable cause.
Sundberg JP, Burnstein T, Page EH, Kirkham WW, Robinson FR.In a retrospective study of neoplasms in Equidae pre;ented to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University, from Jan 1, 1970, to Dec 31, 1974, data were compiled on numbers and anatomic sites of neoplasms as well as on age, sex, and breed of subjects from which the neoplasms were taken. During this 5-year period, 21 neoplasms were diagnosed from 687 equine necropsies (3.1%) and 215 from 635 biopsies (33.9%), totaling 236 neoplasms from 1,322 cases (17.9%). The most common neoplasms were sarcoids (43.6%) and squamous cell carcinomas (24.6%). Papillomas (5.5%), nerve sheath tumors...
Perryman LE, McGuire TC, Hilbert BJ.Selective immunoglobulin M deficiency was diagnosed in 5 foals, on the basis of reduced serum immunoglobulin M concentrations (more than 2 standard deviations below the normal mean). All 5 foals had clinical signs or lesions involving the respiratory tract. Lkebsiella sp was isolated from joint fluids, bronchial lymph nodes, or tracheal washings from the 3 foals in which such samples were available for microbiologic evaluation.
Beech J, Dubielzig R, Bester R.Periodic episodes of diffuse central nervous system disease occurred in a yearling Thoroughbred gelding that had a history of frequent respiratory tract disease and stunted growth. Hepatic encephalopathy was diagnosed on the basis of history, clinical signs, prolonged bromsulphalein clearance, and increased blood ammonia content. Because of the poor prognosis and recurrent clinical signs the horse was euthanatized. Necropsy revealed an arteriovenous anomaly and thrombosis of the portal vein. Histologically, there was diffuse primary astrocytosis of the brain.
Smith BP.Pleural effusion in 37 horses, including 15 acutely affected and 22 chronically affected, was found to be due to a variety of causes, including lymphocarcoma, pulmonary granulomas, coccidioidomycosis, equine infectious anemia, pulmonary abscesses, chronic pneumonia, and primary septic pleural effusion. Age, breed, or sex predilection was not found. Horses with chronic disease had weight loss, increased respiratory rate, dull respiratory sounds in the ventral portion of the thorax, and varying degrees of anorexia. Many horses were anemic. Those acutely affected had respiratory distress or signs...
Duncan JL, McBeath DG, Best JM, Preston NK.The efficacy of fenbendazole against immature stages of Trichonema spp., Strongylus vulgaris and Strongylus edentatus was evaluated. Naturally infected 6 to 12 month old ponies were given single, oral doses of 0, 15, 30 and 60 mg/kg of body weight. A dose response relationship was noted between increasing dose levels and efficiency against larval trichonemes and migrating stages of S. vulgaris and S. edentatus. Dose levels of 30 mg/kg and higher removed 93 per cent of mucosal stages of Trichonema spp., while doses of 60 mg/kg removed 83 per cent and 89 per cent of the migrating larvae of S. vu...
Ullrich E, Selbitz HJ, Schieck R, Friedrich U, Schulz J.Clinical, bacteriological and serological examinations on a 6 years old pony mare were performed. Cytological alterations in the genital tract were also recorded. A cellular reaction was seen after infection with T. equigenitalis. This reaction is an evidence for infection but it is not specific for this organism. Cytological studies should be performed on mares especially in cases of latent infections to complete bacteriological examination and to prevent false positive or negative results.
de Almeida Campos AC, Cicolo S, de Oliveira CM, Molina CV, Navas-Suárez PE, Dos Santos TP, da Silveira VB, Barbosa CM, Baccarin RYA, Durigon EL....No abstract available
Nation PN.Over sixteen years, 49 horses were diagnosed by Alberta Agriculture Animal Health laboratories as having "alsike clover poisoning". There was a distinct northwestern distribution of cases, the majority coming from the Peace River district. This distribution is opposite to that of the Alberta horse population, but coincides with areas of alsike clover cultivation. Cases could be divided into chronic or nervous clinical presentations, as described by Schofield. Tissues from 45 animals were retrieved and examined microscopically. Significant histological lesions were confined to the liver and con...
van Gorkom LP, van Wessum R, van den Hoven R.A major part of the residing horses and ponies of a riding school in Noord-Holland became affected by a febrile disorder that included anorexia, depression, conjunctivitis, urticaria, edema of the legs and laborious locomotion. All remaining horses fell ill within one week. Based on the clinical symptoms the disorder was diagnosed as vasculitis. With serology the causative agent of the disorder appeared to be equine arteritis virus.