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.
Eberly VE, Tyler WS, Gillespie JR.EBERLY, V. E., W. S. TYLER, AND J. R. GILLESPIE. Cardio-vascular parameters in emphysematous and control horses. J. Appl. Physiol. 2 1 (3) : 883-889. I 966.—Horses with clinical signs of chronic pulmonary emphysema were demonstrated to have heart rates, total peripheral vascular resistance, pulmonary vascular resistance, and mean pulmonary artery blood pres-sure highly significantly greater than normal. They also had a highly significant decrease in central blood volume, stroke volume, stroke index, and left ventricular work. Cardiac out-put was significantly lower than in control (normal) h...
Corrêa WM, Nilsson MR.Five livers of equine fetuses, aborted due to the action of equine abortion virus, five livers from men, two of whom died of epidemic hepatitis and three obtained by needle biopsies, 5 livers of dogs with infectious canine hepatitis and 7 livers of ducklings that had hepatitis, were studied histopathologically. The foals' livers were studied by several staining methods and the others by H. E. only. The results indicate that the lesions are quite similar in the four species with the appearance of nuclear inclusion bodies only in foals and dogs. The strong staining properties of the nuclear incl...
Hudson BJ, Chicken C, Blishen A, Todhunter KH, Begg AP, Chan L, Karagiannis T, Raymond B, Bogema D, Adkins AR, O'Sullivan CB, O'Rourke BA....We describe three cases of osteoarticular infection (OAI) in young thoroughbred horses in which the causative organism was identified by MALDI-TOF as . The pattern of OAI resembled that reported with infection in humans. Analysis by 16S rRNA PCR enabled construction of a phylogenetic tree that placed the isolates closer to and , rather than . Average nucleotide identity (ANI) comparison between the new isolate and and however revealed low probability that the new isolate belonged to either of these species. This preliminary analysis suggests the organism isolated is a previously unrecognis...
Hansen TL, Bobel JM, Rankins EM, Sanchez LC, Warren LK.Digesta retention time within specific segments of the equine gastrointestinal tract (GIT) may be more relevant to scientific inquiries than total tract mean retention time (TTMRT); however, measuring retention time in individual segments requires access to the digestive tract. The objective of this study was to compare prececal, cecal, and colonic mean retention time (MRT) with model-derived compartment MRT. A cecally fistulated gelding was fed indigestible particulate and liquid markers to determine TTMRT and dosed with different pairs of particulate and liquid markers into the cecum (hindgu...
Thein P, Essich G.An investigation was carried out upon occurrence and course of infectious and non infectious diseases as well as the mortality in foals born and raised at the State Stud Marbach/Lauter between 1982 and 1991. The foals have been investigated from birth to weaning, they consisted of 177 Thoroughbred Arabians and 285 German Warmblood foals (total 462 foals). The diseases were divided into pre-, peri- and postnatal according to their known or assumed cause and onset. There was a preponderance of prenatal diseases (11.25%) whereas the perinatal rate was 1.30% and the postnatal rate of diseases was ...
Fubini SL, Cummings JF, Todhunter RJ.Painful neuroma formation after palmar digital neurectomy in the horse is common. Experimentally, injection of doxorubicin (Adriamycin) into the proximal transected nerve stump has been shown to prevent axon sprouting and neuroma formation for up to 5 months. This procedure was used in 28 horses with navicular disease, preexisting painful neuroma, or wing fractures of the distal phalanx. At 1 month, 16 horses had incisional complications. At 1 year, 15 horses were sound. Eight horses were lame, although three were improved. Three horses required a second surgical procedure, two of which became...
Zelli R, Sylla L, Monaci M, Stradaioli G, Sibley LE, Roser JF, Munro C, Liu IK.Granulosa-theca cell tumors (GTCTs) are able to secrete variable amounts of sex steroids and immunoreactive inhibin (ir-INH). Although the pituitary appears to be affected by the presence of a GTCT, pituitary responsiveness to exogenous GnRH has not been examined. The aims of the present study were to: (i) assess the plasma hormone concentrations of ir-INH, gonadotropins and sex steroids in eight mares with GTCT and (ii) assess the responsiveness of pituitary gonadotroph cells to exogenous GnRH stimulus both before and after tumor removal. In seven mares, the contralateral ovary was firm, smal...
Torrent A, Kilcoyne I, Johnson A, Affolter VK, Berryhill E, Aleman M.This report describes an unusual presentation of multicentric B-cell lymphoma with central and peripheral nerve involvement in a horse that was presented with acute onset, severe, multiple limb lameness, and muscle atrophy. This case highlights the importance of including neoplasia in the differential list in horses presenting for severe limb lameness associated with muscle atrophy, muscle fasciculations, and weakness. Présentation atypique d’un lymphome à cellules B multisystémique chez un cheval. Ce rapport décrit la présentation inhabituelle d’un lymphome à cellules B multicentriq...
Akbari Shahkhosravi N, Kakavand R, Davies HMS, Komeili A.The health and performance of horses are significantly affected by diseases associated with the hoof. Laminitis is a critical hoof disease that causes pain and, potentially, severe hoof and bone pathology. Objective: To generate an equine hoof finite element (FE) model to investigate the impact of normal and toe-in hoof conformations on the degeneration (decrease in elastic modulus) of the laminar junction (LJ), as occurs in chronic laminitis. Methods: Computer software modelling. Methods: A hoof FE model was generated to investigate the biomechanics of hoof laminitis. A 3D model, consisting o...
Gehlen H, Groner U, Rohn K, Stadler P.In the present study, a right heart catheterisation was carried out on three consecutive days in 17 healthy horses to evaluate the day-to-day variability of cardiac pressure values. Cardiac pressure values were measured in the right atrium, the right ventricle, the pulmonary artery, and the pulmonary capillaries (pulmonary artery wedge pressure). Additionally it was examined wether the cardiac pressure variability was influenced by the heart rate and if there are differences between trained and untrained horses. Beside the coefficient of variances, statistical analysis with assessment of varia...
Polikepahad S, Haque M, Francis J, Moore RM, Venugopal CS.The purpose of the study was to determine and compare the expression of endothelin (ET) receptors in the peripheral lungs of healthy horses and those affected with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time PCR, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemical techniques. Two groups of horses (7 healthy and 7 RAO-affected) were selected from a pool of horses destined for euthanasia. The grouping of horses was based on the history, clinical scoring, and pulmonary function testing. After euthanasia, gross postmortem evaluation of th...
Foley JP, Legendre AM.Itraconazole, a tricyclic azole effective against a number of deep mycotic diseases, was used to treat a Quarter Horse filly with coccidioidomycosis. The horse was almost normal after 90 days of treatment. Five months after discontinuing itraconazole treatment, the filly had severe neck pain and neurologic signs from recurrence of coccidioidomycosis and was treated with itraconazole for an additional 6 months. Her clinical condition improved to almost normal and the filly has remained normal for 2 years. There was no evidence of drug toxicity.
Otani S, Arimitsu Y, Akama K.Antileptospiral sera from hyperimmunized horses were fractionated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 or by starch block electrophoresis. The fractions were examined quantitatively for leptospiricidal, agglutinating and complement fixing activities. The leptospiricidal activity was higher in the 78 globulin fraction than in the 19S globulin fraction, while the agglutinating activity was shared by both the fractions being higher in the 19S fraction. Complement fixing activity was found evenly in both the fractions. Leptospiricidal and complement fixing activities were higher in gamma-globulin t...
Milne EM, Pogson DM, Else RW, Rowland AC.One case of caecocaecal intussusception (case 1) and one case of caecocolic intussusception (case 2) in ponies are described. Case 1 showed mild abdominal discomfort for seven days followed by sudden death whereas case 2 showed continuous moderate pain for three weeks. At post mortem examination, case 1 showed intussusception of the base of the caecum into the body whereas in case 2, the entire caecum had invaginated into the right ventral colon. Histopathological examination showed that the lesions in both animals had been present for a long time.
Pelegrino JL, Vázquez S, Morier L, Castillo A, Guzmán MG, Kourí G.We present the results attained in the identification of Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus isolations in Vero and XL-2 cell systems, using a double-antibody ELISA technique and the indirect immunofluorescence method. The results attained through these two techniques coincided by 100% with identification through neutralization. With the former, the virus was detected within 6-8 hours after inoculation. Better results were attained with XL-2 cells.
Sassot LN, Ragle CA, Farnsworth KD, Heaton K, Jones ARE.Two mares, aged 15 and 21 years, were examined because of urinary incontinence, intermittent hematuria, and urine scalding. On admission of both horses, physical parameters were within normal limits and urine scalding of the skin at the ventral perineum was noted. Transrectal palpation and cystoscopy revealed a large type I cystolith (>10 cm) with associated hyperemia and focal ulceration of the bladder mucosa. In horse 1, hemogram, serum biochemical analysis, and renal ultrasound were not performed because of owner finances. In horse 2, results from hematological and serum biochemical analys...
Al-Dissi A.A wide variety of toxins cause diseases in the horse and are investigated routinely by veterinarians and veterinary pathologists to identify the cause of illness and death. A complete investigation involves performing a thorough necropsy and requires macroscopic and microscopic examination of lesions and a variety of laboratory testing to obtain an accurate diagnosis. The identification of gross lesions by equine practitioners is often the first step in formulating a diagnostic plan. This article provides a description of selected common toxins producing detectable gross lesions in horses in N...
Harrington DD.Acute accidental vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) toxicosis was diagnosed in a 6-month-old foal with extensive lesions of soft tissue mineralization. In an experimental study, three 18-month-old horses were given ergocalciferol per os at a rate of 9,300, 22,200, or 47,200 IU/kg of body weight/day for 21 days. Clinical signs or lesions were not seen in horses given the low and intermediate doses, whereas the horse receiving the highest dose developed clinical signs and lesions similar to those noted in the foal. Signs included depression, loss of appetite, weakness, limb stiffness with impaired mobi...
Monzon CM, Jara GA, Hoyos CB.The usefulness of the direct agglutination test (DA) to diagnose Mal de Caderas disease was evaluated. Forty four sera samples from two lots of horses with natural T. evansi infection (Lot 1 and Lot 2) were used. Thirteen (81.2%) of sixteen horses in which parasites were isolated gave positive agglutination titres (> or = 1:512) in the DA test. Treatment of these positive sera with 2-mercaptoethanol drops three to eight dilutions the agglutination titres in twelve samples (92%), showing the IgM nature of these antibodies. The DA test was also positive in seventeen of twenty eight horses in ...
Page AE, Stills HF, Horohov DW.In the horse, Lawsonia intracellularis infection results in equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE). While upwards of 100% of weanlings on an endemic farm may seroconvert, only a small percentage (approximately 5%) will develop clinical disease. Cell-mediated immune mechanisms likely play a role in resistance to L. intracellularis and the absence of a L. intracellularis-specific IFN-γ response has been associated with the development of EPE. The goal of this study was to determine whether protection from clinical EPE is associated with the induction of a systemic IgG sub-isotypic response cons...
Timoney JF.An R antigen of the group C streptococcus S. equi that cross reacts with a similar antigen of S. zooepidemicus has been identified and characterized. It is acid, heat and trypsin resistant, but pepsin sensitive and has an isoelectric point of 4.8. The amino acids in highest concentration are glutamic, aspartic, alanine, leucine, and valine. Bacterial components released in a French Press contain large amounts of R antigen, which is present also in culture supernatants and acid extracts. It has a molecular weight of about 82,000. Trypsin extraction of cells yields molecules of predominantly 56,...
Miller PJ, Holmes JR.Systolic time intervals (STIs), isovolumic contraction time (ICT) and left ventricular ejection time (LVET) were recorded from seven horses with supraventricular arrhythmia. The STIs were measured over a number of beats (33 to 100) directly from the left ventricular (LV) and aortic (Ao) pressure contours which were recorded simultaneously using two catheter-mounted transducers. ICT was significantly (P less than 0.01) and directly related to beat-by-beat heart rate (HR = 60/pulse interval) and LVET was significantly (P less than 0.01) and inversely related to heart rate in each of five horses....
Maher M, Kuebelbeck L.Nonhealing wounds present a common challenge to the equine practitioner. An underlying source of inflammation and infection is almost always present and needs to be resolved for healing to proceed. Wound débridement is the mainstay for this resolution. In addition, wound closure, wound dressings, and skin grafts can be used to achieve successful wound healing.
Poulsen L, Henriksson FV, Dahl M, Honoré ML, Olsen SN, Leifsson PS, Staerk-Østergaard J, Jacobsen S, Pihl TH.Horses with non-strangulating intestinal infarction (NSII) are often misdiagnosed with idiopathic peritonitis or acute colitis. Early diagnosis is essential to ensure early surgical intervention and improve survival. Clinical and laboratory data from horses admitted to the University of Copenhagen Large Animal Teaching Hospital with NSII, idiopathic peritonitis or acute colitis between 2009 and 2018 were used for univariate comparisons and a multivariable logistic regression model for prediction of NSII. Two hundred and thirty-one horses were included. A multivariable model for the prediction ...
Blikslager AT, Bristol DG, Bowman KF, Engelbert TA.To determine the feasibility of performing a single-incision loop colostomy for treatment of grade-3 rectal tears in horses. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Seven adult horses with grade-3 rectal tears. Methods: A single-incision loop colostomy was performed with horses under general anesthesia (n = 6) or while restrained in standing stocks (n = 1). The rectal tear was lavaged via an endoscope. The colostomy was resected after the rectal tear healed. Results: Rectal tears ranged from 4 to 10 cm in diameter and were > 25 cm proximal to the anus. All horses survived colostomy surger...
Milne EM, Pemberton AD, McGorum BC, Dixon PM, Miller HR.The equine alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1PI) system differs from that of man in that the equine system consists of four closely-linked genes (Spi1-Spi4) whereas in man, a single gene encodes for alpha 1PI. We have previously found differences in the proportion of the Spi proteins in equine serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). We therefore wished to determine whether, as reported in man, there was any molecular weight difference between the Spi proteins in serum and BALF. alpha 1PI and albumin from equine BALF migrated further towards the anode compared with serum alpha 1PI on ...
Gossett KA, McCoy DJ, Jowett PL, Kearney MT.Nitrofurazone solution containing 0.2% nitrofurazone and 99.8% polyethylene glycol was given to 4 healthy horses (2 L in 2 L of lactated Ringer solution, intraperitoneally). Horses developed hypovolemia, hyperosmolality, and mixed respiratory and metabolic acidosis. These changes were largely attributable to polyethylene glycol, but a contribution of nitrofurazone cannot be excluded. Intraperitoneal infusion of nitrofurazone solution in horses is contraindicated.
Lacitignola L, De Luca P, Imperante A, Tommasa SD, Crovace A.The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a single-portal endoscopic desmotomy of the PAL with the use of Arthrex - Centerline™. Ten horse distal front limbs from horses free of PAL disease were prepared for tenoscopy of the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS). A dual-port endoscopic desmotomy with a hook knife was performed in 5 specimens (Group A) and single port Arthrex-Centerline™ Desmotomy was performed in another 5 specimens (Group B). The performing time, judgments of the surgeon, number of blade passages, and gross anatomy were evaluated. The performing time and surgeon judg...
Ohmuro K, Okada K, Satoh A, Murakami K, Satake S, Asahina M, Numakunai S, Ohshima K.A thoroughbred horse, gelding, gray color, aged 19 years old had cutaneous melanomas from the root to the middle of the tail, and throughout the connective tissues of the whole body. Histologically, the tumors were diagnosed as mature melanotic melanomas characteristically deposited with abundant melanin pigment. Examined with an electron microscope, melanosomes were electron opaque without internal structure (stage IV), or as mature granular and lamellar types. Most of them were fused with each other, and formed compound melanosomes, which was similar to internal melanin aggregates in shape. ...
Groschup M, Müller HP, Weiss R, Schliesser T.For the determination of a species-specific antigen of Streptococcus (S.) equi, acid extracts of group C streptococcal strains from horses (S. equi, S. zooepidemicus, S. equisimilis) were investigated using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the immunoblotting technique. Using sera of horses suffering from strangles as well as sera from horses with respiratory infection of unknown etiology, Western blotting yielded more or less multiple banding reactions with bands in the 70, 54, 42, 40, and 31-28 kd molecular weight ranges against extracts of all of the 3 different bacterial species. Howe...
DiGiovanni DL, Rademacher N, Riggs LM, Baumruck RA, Gaschen L.Palmar/plantar annular desmitis is a common disease that may be associated with adhesions and structures affecting the flexor tendons, which requires tenoscopy to diagnose. The purpose of this descriptive study was to develop a dynamic sonographic technique for evaluating the motion of normal equine flexor tendons in relation to the palmar/plantar annular ligament and to compare findings with horses previously diagnosed with palmar/plantar annular desmitis. Ten healthy adult horses were examined prospectively and the images of four horses diagnosed with palmar/plantar annular desmitis were ret...
Edlund PO, Bowers L, Henion J.Monitoring steroid use requires an understanding of the metabolism in the species in question and development of sensitive methods for screening of the steroid or its metabolites in urine. Qualitative information for confirmation of methandrostenolone and identification of its metabolites was primarily obtained by coupled-column high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The steroids and a sulphuric acid conjugate were isolated and identified by their daughter ion mass spectra in the urine of both man and the horse following administration of methandrostenolone. Spontaneo...
