Disease treatment in horses encompasses a range of medical interventions and management strategies aimed at addressing various health conditions affecting equine species. These treatments can include pharmacological approaches, such as the administration of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antiparasitic medications, as well as non-pharmacological methods like physical therapy, dietary adjustments, and surgical procedures. The selection of appropriate treatments depends on the specific disease, its severity, and the individual needs of the horse. This topic brings together peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the efficacy, safety, and advancements in therapeutic options for equine diseases, providing insights into best practices and emerging trends in equine veterinary medicine.
Wylie CE, Shaw DJ, Verheyen KL, Newton JR.The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare the prevalence of selected clinical signs in laminitis cases and non-laminitic but lame controls to evaluate their capability to discriminate laminitis from other causes of lameness. Participating veterinary practitioners completed a checklist of laminitis-associated clinical signs identified by literature review. Cases were defined as horses/ponies with veterinary-diagnosed, clinically apparent laminitis; controls were horses/ponies with any lameness other than laminitis. Associations were tested by logistic regression with adjusted o...
Liebenberg D, Piketh S, van Hamburg H.Africa horse sickness (AHS) is the most lethal infectious non-contagious horse disease and has accordingly been declared notifiable by the World Organisation for Animal Health. AHS is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and causes considerable losses to the equestrian industry. The effect of diseases in livestock on socio-economic factors is well researched, but the effect of anthropogenic factors on the distribution of a disease is poorly understood. The purpose of the study was to assess Namibian and South African horse owners' perceptions and the effect of horse movement on AHS distribution. A cr...
Kinsley R, Scott SD, Daly JM.Serological assays provide an indirect route for the recognition of infectious agents via the detection of antibodies against the infectious agent of interest within serum. Serological assays for equine influenza A virus can be applied for different purposes: diagnosing infections; subtyping isolates; surveillance of circulating strains; and to evaluate the efficacy of vaccines before they reach the market. Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and single radial haemolysis (SRH) assays are most commonly used in the equine field. This review outlines how both these assays together with virus neutra...
Swerczek TW.Unexplained clinical signs of weight loss and emaciation were reported in a herd of Thoroughbred horses grazing spring pastures on a central Kentucky farm, even though supplemental grain and hay were provided. Results: A buttercup plant, Ranunculus bulbosus L, was abundantly present in all pastures and paddocks on the farm. All horses, especially lactating mares and their foals, had mild to severe weight loss as assessed by body condition. Seven mares on the farm had been confirmed pregnant between 30 and 45 days of gestation, but were later found to have aborted. Two 2-year-old fillies develo...
Sanna G, Pipia AP, Tamponi C, Manca R, Varcasia A, Traversa D, Scala A.Intestinal strongyles (IS) are the most important parasites of equids, due to their high prevalence worldwide, pathogenicity and the spread of drug-resistant populations. Despite the large number of horses bred in Sardinia Island, Italy, no data are available on the efficacy of anthelmintic compounds in the control of horse strongylosis. Therefore the aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of five commercial anthelmintic formulations containing fenbendazole (FBZ), pyrantel (PYR), moxidectin (MOX) and two ivermectin formulations (IVM1 and IVM2) against IS in Sardinia by performin...
Barker WH, Wright IM.A technique for minimally invasive repair of slab fractures of the third tarsal bone has not previously been reported. Results of third tarsal bone slab fracture repair in Thoroughbred racehorses are lacking. Objective: To report the outcomes of repair of uniplanar frontal slab factures of the third tarsal bone using a single 3.5 mm cortex screw in lag fashion. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Case records of horses that had undergone this procedure were reviewed. Results: Seventeen horses underwent surgery. Eighteen percent of cases had wedge shaped third tarsal bones. A point mid...
Williams LB, Russell KA, Koenig JB, Koch TG.Recently, equine multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have received significant attention as therapy for various conditions due to their proposed regenerative and immune-modulating capacity. MSC are commonly administered to the patient through a hypodermic needle. Currently, little information is available on the effect of such injection has on equine MSC immediate and delayed viability. We hypothesize that viability of equine MSC is not correlated with needle diameter during aspiration and injection. Results: Using a 3 mL syringe, manual injection of equine cord blood (CB) or bone ma...
Mackenzie CJ, Carslake HB, Robin M, Kent RJ, Malalana F.An 8-year-old mare was presented for investigation of a 1-month history of blepharospasm, eyelid swelling, corneal edema, and ocular discharge of the right eye (OD). Ophthalmic examination confirmed mucopurulent ocular discharge, conjunctival hyperemia, and a dry, dull appearance to the cornea OD. Schirmer tear test results confirmed an absence of tear production OD (0 mm/min) consistent with keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Treatment with topical 0.2% cyclosporine A resulted in an improvement in clinical signs. An episcleral cyclosporine A implant was placed under standing sedation 5 days after in...
Carslake H, Karikoski N, Pinchbeck G, McGowan C.Serum insulin concentration is commonly measured during investigation of suspected endocrinopathic disease in horses, but immediate analysis is frequently unavailable. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of storing samples at room temperature for 72 h as serum and as whole blood, compared to immediate separation and freezing. Samples from 14 horses were evaluated. Correlation was excellent for all comparisons (≥0.992). Bland-Altman plots revealed a negative bias (mean difference 2.16 µIU/mL) in samples stored as whole blood compared to serum, but this difference was not cons...
Hallamaa R, Batchu K.Lipids have become an important target for searching new biomarkers typical of different autoimmune and allergic diseases. The most common allergic dermatitis of the horse is related to stings of insects and is known as insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) or summer eczema, referring to its recurrence during the summer months. This intense pruritus has certain similarities with atopic dermatitis of humans. The treatment of IBH is difficult and therefore new strategies for therapy are needed. Autoserum therapy based on the use of serum phospholipids has recently been introduced for horses. So far...
Kuhl J, Nagel C, Ille N, Aurich JE, Aurich C.In the present study we have evaluated a possible stress reaction in response to two different PGF2α analogs-luprostiol and D-cloprostenol--and their effects on estrous cycle characteristics. In a cross-over-design eight mares received in alternating order either luprostiol (Treatment LUP; 3.75 mg im), D-cloprostenol (Treatment CLO; 22.5μg im) or saline (Treatment CON; NaCl 0.9% 0.5ml im) on day 8 after ovulation. Injection of either LUP or CLO, but not of CON resulted in a significant decline of progesterone concentration in plasma to baseline concentrations within two days (time: p<0.00...
Mullen KR, Yasuda K, Divers TJ, Weese JS.While certainly not a novel concept, faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) has recently garnered renewed interest in veterinary medicine due to its remarkable success in treating recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in man. There is a dearth of information on indications and efficacy of FMT for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in the horse; however, based on evidence in man and other veterinary species, and anecdotal reports in horses, FMT may be a useful treatment for selected cases of acute and chronic diarrhoea and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the horse. In the abs...
This year's Association of Veterinary Students' congress was held at the University of Liverpool, and included a varied programme, with subjects ranging from the role of large-scale production systems in dairy farming and fertility practices in horses to the importance of recognising and talking about mental health problems within the veterinary profession. Jordan Sinclair, editor of the Journal of the Association of Veterinary Students, reports.
Gülegen E, Girisgin O, Girisgin AO, Cirak VY.The aim of the present study was to examine sport horses in Northwest Turkey for Eimeria (E.) leuckarti infections. Between 2004 and 2008 fecal samples from 549 horses of different age, breed and sex of 21 farms were examined for E. leuckarti oocysts using a qualitative method which involved centrifugation/flotation and saturated sugar solution as medium. The prevalence of infection was evaluated relative to host age, sex, breed and pasture availability. 16 (2.9%) horses were found to be infected with E. leuckarti, whilst infected horses were located in nine (42.8%) farms. Younger horses (<...
Kenny M, Cercone M, Rawlinson JJ, Ducharme NG, Bookbinder L, Thompson M, Cheetham J.Early detection of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) is of considerable interest to the equine industry. Objective: To describe two imaging modalities, transoesophageal ultrasound (TEU) and computed tomography (CT) with multiplanar reconstruction to assess laryngeal muscle geometry, and determine the relationship between cricoarytenoid dorsalis (CAD) geometry and function. Methods: Two-phase study evaluating CAD geometry in experimental horses and horses with naturally occurring RLN. Methods: Equine CAD muscle volume was determined from CT scan sets using volumetric reconstruction with Live...
Mosing M, MacFarlane P, Bardell D, Lüthi L, Cripps PJ, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R.To evaluate the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on intrapulmonary shunt, cardiac output and oxygen delivery in horses subjected to a 6 hour period of general anaesthesia. Methods: Randomized, experimental, crossover study. Methods: Ten healthy adult horses. Methods: Following medetomidine, diazepam and ketamine administration, orotracheal intubation was performed and horses positioned in dorsal recumbency. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane carried in an oxygen and air mix (FiO 0.5) combined with a medetomidine infusion. Horses were anaesthetized twice and either...
le Jeune S, Henneman K, May K.Acupuncture is one of the most common veterinary integrative medicine modalities. Acupuncture can greatly contribute to a rehabilitation protocol by promoting analgesia, tissue healing, and muscle strength. Acupuncture is safe, has minimal detrimental side effects, and is well tolerated by most horses.
Geiser DR.There are several beneficial physiologic and therapeutic effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). The indications list for the use of HBOT in the horse has been developed through extrapolation from a review of human indications and from anecdotal clinical experiences. Hyperbaric therapy is a safe treatment option with very few side effects when administered properly.
King MR.Hydrotherapy has become a key element within equine rehabilitation protocols and is used to address range of motion, proprioception, strength, neuromotor control, pain, and inflammation. Various forms of hydrotherapy can be tailored to the individual's injury and the expected return to athletic performance. This article describes the mechanisms of action of hydrotherapies and potential use in the clinical management of equine musculoskeletal injuries.
Davidson EJ.Controlled exercise is a fundamental and critical component of any rehabilitation program for the equine athlete. The ideal controlled exercise program is designed to complement the normal tissue reparative process after injury. As a general rule, the program starts with complete rest followed by stall rest and short periods of walking. Over time, the intensity of the controlled exercise is gradually and systemically increased until complete healing has occurred. A well-designed, injury-directed, controlled exercise program enhances the healing process.
Molle S.The Kinesio taping method was developed in Japan for use in humans in 1979. The use of complementary therapies is becoming common in equine athletes and the discovery of Kinesio taping potential brought it into the animal world. Kinesio taping can be used to treat a wide range of clinical conditions, from tendon injuries to neurologic disorders and from muscle contractures to postural insufficiencies. Its use in veterinary medicine is promising, but relies heavily on evidence-based clinical reports. Further scientific research is needed to fully understand the real effectiveness of application...
Kaneps AJ.Physical treatment and rehabilitation play major roles in recovery and maintenance of the equine athlete, and many therapeutic measures are accessible by the veterinarian in general practice. An accurate diagnosis of the condition undergoing treatment is a requirement, and measurable parameters obtained at diagnosis allows for quantification of treatment outcomes. Therapeutic modalities accessible to the general practicing veterinarian are reviewed. Mechanisms of action, indications, and treatment protocols of thermal therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, extracorporeal shock wave, and laser are di...
Reghini MF, Ramires Neto C, Segabinazzi LG, Castro Chaves MM, Dell'Aqua Cde P, Bussiere MC, Dell'Aqua JA, Papa FO, Alvarenga MA.Degenerative changes of the endometrium are directly related to age and fertility in mares. Chronic degenerative endometritis (CDE) is correlated with uterine fluid retention and reduced ability to clear uterine inflammation. Recent research in the areas of equine surgery and sports medicine has shown that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment acts as an immunomodulator of the inflammatory response. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine if the uterine infusion of PRP could modulate the local inflammatory response and modify the intrauterine NO concentrations after artificial insemin...
Handing KB, Shabalin IG, Szlachta K, Majorek KA, Minor W.Serum albumin (SA) is the main transporter of drugs in mammalian blood plasma. Here, we report the first crystal structure of equine serum albumin (ESA) in complex with antihistamine drug cetirizine at a resolution of 2.1Å. Cetirizine is bound in two sites--a novel drug binding site (CBS1) and the fatty acid binding site 6 (CBS2). Both sites differ from those that have been proposed in multiple reports based on equilibrium dialysis and fluorescence studies for mammalian albumins as cetirizine binding sites. We show that the residues forming the binding pockets in ESA are highly conserved in h...
Valenzuela OA, Jellyman JK, Allen VL, Holdstock NB, Fowden AL.Synthetic glucocorticoids are used to treat inflammatory conditions in horses. In other pregnant animals, glucocorticoids are given to stimulate fetal maturation with long-term metabolic consequences for the offspring if given preterm. However, their metabolic effects during equine pregnancy remain unknown. Objective: Thus, this study investigated the metabolic effects of dexamethasone administration on pregnant pony mares and their foals after birth. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: A total of 3 doses of dexamethasone (200 μg/kg bwt i.m.) were given to 6 pony mares at 48 h intervals beg...
Jordan VJ, Ireland JL, Rendle DI.It is accepted among equine practitioners that glucocorticoid treatment is a risk factor for the development of laminitis. However, there is little published evidence of a link between glucocorticoids and laminitis. Objective: To determine whether horses receiving oral prednisolone are at increased risk of laminitis. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: Clinical records of horses registered with the ambulatory service at Liphook Equine Hospital between January 2001 and November 2014 were reviewed retrospectively to identify horses that had received treatment with oral prednisolo...
Cokelaere S, Malda J, van Weeren R.Chondral and osteochondral lesions due to injury or other pathology are highly prevalent conditions in horses (and humans) and commonly result in the development of osteoarthritis and progression of joint deterioration. Regenerative medicine of articular cartilage is an emerging clinical treatment option for patients with articular cartilage injury or disease. Functional articular cartilage restoration, however, remains a major challenge, but the field is progressing rapidly and there is an increasing body of supportive clinical and scientific evidence. This review gives an overview of the est...
Piché CA.An outbreak of strangles, which occurred during the spring, summer and fall of 1980 on a Standardbred stud farm in eastern Alberta is described. The infective organism, Streptococcus equi, may have been introduced by an outside mare that was brought to the stud for breeding. All of the groups of horses on the farm were affected. For the most part, the disease was allowed to run its natural course. Only severely affected individuals were treated. During the outbreak, the foals were prophylactically treated with penicillin to prevent them from contracting the disease. Ten horses died of complica...
Schneider RK, Milne DW, Kohn CW.Twenty-seven cases of acquired inguinal hernia in the horse were reviewed. The history, clinical signs, treatment, and complications were summarized. Mortality was 25.9%. Only 13 or the 27 cases were diagnosed prior to admission. With early diagnosis and treatment, mortality should approach zero. In 24 of these cases, the hernia was strangulated. In each case, the signs were colic, a firm slightly enlarged testicle in the scrotum, and small intestine displacement through the inguinal ring, as determined via rectal palpation. In was concluded that palpation of the scrotum and inguinal rings sho...
von Segesser L, Jornod N, Faidutti B.The risk of repeat sternotomy is higher than that of the initial sternotomy, especially if the pericardial sac was left open at the first intervention. In 200 consecutive patients with a pericardial defect after open heart operations, the pericardium was closed with a glutaraldehyde-preserved equine pericardial patch. Precardiac adhesions at reoperation were assessed in four groups of patients on a scale of 6, ranging from 0 (no adhesions) to 5 (calcified or ossified adhesions). Group I comprised 13 patients in whom the pericardium was left open at the first operation and an equine pericardial...
Mund SJK, MacPhee DJ, Campbell J, Honaramooz A, Wobeser B, Barber SM.Limb wounds are common in horses and often develop complications. Intravenous multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy is promising but has risks associated with intravenous administration and unknown potential to improve cutaneous wound healing. The objectives were to determine the clinical safety of administering large numbers of allogeneic cord blood-derived MSCs intravenously, and if therapy causes clinically adverse reactions, accelerates wound closure, improves histologic healing, and alters mRNA expression of common wound cytokines. Wounds were created on the metacarpus of 12 ...
Wolf CA, Maslchitzky E, Gregory RM, Jobim MI, Mattos RC.The objective was to determine the effects of corticotherapy, in the presence and absence of uterine inflammation, on proteomics of endometrial fluid from mares susceptible to endometritis. In 11 mares, estrus was induced seven times with 5 mg PGF(2α) given at 14-day intervals. The first estrus was a control (no treatment). During the third estrus, mares received glucocorticoid (GC) treatment (20 mg isoflupredone acetate) every 12 h, for three consecutive days. The fifth estrus was the Infected treatment (intrauterine infusion of 1 × 10(9) colony-forming unit/mL Streptococcus equi subspecies...
Cargile JL, Burrow JA, Kim I, Cohen ND, Merritt AM.The effect of corn oil (approximately 60% [wt/vol] linoleic acid) dietary supplementation on various components of equine gastric secretion was studied by use of a repeated-measures experimental design. Four healthy adult ponies were surgically fitted with gastric cannulas. The ponies were then fed a free-choice hay diet for 5 weeks, which was followed by 5 weeks of the same diet supplemented with 45 mL of corn oil daily. Gastric contents were analyzed under basal and pentagastrin-stimulated conditions once weekly during the latter 2 weeks on each diet. Gastric contents were collected at 30-mi...
Colbath AC, Hackett ES, Lesser CS, Hendrickson DA.To develop a novel technique for left paralumbar laparoscopic bilateral ovariectomy in standing, sedated mares. Methods: Prospective descriptive clinical study. Methods: Twelve client-owned mares. Methods: Healthy mares with normal ovarian palpation and ultrasonographic appearance were enrolled. Horses were restrained in standing stocks and administered a variable rate infusion of sedation. A left paralumbar bilateral ovariectomy was performed with 1 laparoscopic and 3 instrument portals. Access to the right ovary was facilitated by retracting the descending colon and associated mesentery with...
Beeler-Marfisi J, Arroyo L, Caswell JL, Delay J, Bienzle D.Hepatoblastoma (HB) is an uncommon pediatric liver tumor in humans and horses. In humans, HB is most frequently diagnosed in fetuses, neonates, and young children, whereas hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) affects juvenile and adult humans. Hepatoblastoma in the horse is rare, with only 9 reported cases. Affected horses ranged in age from late-term aborted fetuses to 3 years. The current study describes 3 new cases of primary liver tumors in horses and reviews findings in relation to other reports on this condition. Tumors classified as HB were identified in a male Standardbred aborted fetus and ...
Henry T, Pusterla N, Guedes AG, Verstraete FJ.Local anaesthesia is often required to facilitate invasive procedures in equine dental patients under standing sedation. Objective: To show that an intraoral approach can be used to desensitise the inferior alveolar nerve in horses and report complications seen with this technique. Methods: The distance of the mandibular foramen from the distal (caudal) edge of the mandibular third molar tooth, rostral edge of the mandibular ramus and ventral margin of the mandible were measured in 26 adult equine skulls of various ages and breeds. Computed tomography (CT) was used to verify the placement of t...
Brown KE, Nickels FA, Caron JP, Mullineaux DR, Clayton HM.To measure the acute analgesic properties of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in horses with navicular disease using objective ground reaction forces (GRF). Methods: Prospective study. Methods: Nine client-owned horses with unilateral forelimb lameness caused by navicular disease. Methods: Horses were trotted at 3 m/s over a force plate to record pre-treatment GRF of the lame and contra-lateral forelimbs. After ESWT of the lame limb, applied with a radial unit to each of the frog and heel bulb areas with 1500 pulses at 4 bar and 10 Hz, GRF measurements were repeated at 15 minutes and 2...
Suganuma K, Yamasaki S, Molefe NI, Musinguzi PS, Davaasuren B, Mossaad E, Narantsatsral S, Battur B, Battsetseg B, Inoue N.Dourine is caused by Trypanosoma equiperdum via coitus with an infected horse. Although dourine is distributed in Equidae worldwide and is listed as an internationally important animal disease by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), no effective treatment strategies have been established. In addition, there are no reports on drug discovery, because no drug screening system exists for this parasite. A new T. equiperdum strain was recently isolated from the genital organ of a stallion that showed typical symptoms of dourine. In the present study, we adapted T. equiperdum IVM-t1 from...
Magee AA, Ragle CA, Howlett MR.A 6-year-old Quarter Horse gelding with acute onset of a grade-4/5 lameness of the left forelimb 21 days after an encounter with a porcupine was examined. Quills had been removed by the referring veterinarian, and the horse had been treated with antibiotics and hydrotherapy for 14 days. The horse was pyretic and had effusion in the digital synovial sheath. Signs of pain were elicited on palpation of the area. A tentative diagnosis of septic tenosynovitis caused by a porcupine quill was made. Exploratory tenoscopy revealed large amounts of fibrin in the sheath and a 1.2-cm quill. Bacteriologic ...
Adam EN, Southwood LL.Surgical site infections (SSIs) and traumatic wound management remain challenging clinical scenarios. The prevention of SSIs involves meticulous surgical technique and aftercare. Traumatic wounds require thorough evaluation to assess the involvement of synovial structures and radiographs to check for fractures. Chronic wounds can require a biopsy and histologic evaluation to obtain a diagnosis, because many underlying pathologic processes grossly appear similar but different treatment regimens are required. Early recognition and diagnosis of cellulitis and myositis enable the rapid aggressive ...
Platt H, Atherton JG, Simpson DJ.Four pony mares were readily infected with the organism of contagious equine metritis by intracervical inoculation and one by coitus with an infected stallion. Infected mares developed an acute endometritis with local destruction of the endometrial epithelium. In 2 experimentally infected mares, infection appeared to have been spontaneously eliminated from the genital tract within 3 to 4 weeks. A third mare however remained persistently infected in the clitoral fossa over a long period and was a symptomless carrier. Four pony stallions were readily infected in the urethral fossa and the organi...
Stewart HL, Engiles JB, Stefanovski D, Southwood L.OBJECTIVE To describe gastrointestinal histologic findings for horses with recurrent colic and evaluate possible associations between initial clinical signs, biopsy method, histologic diagnosis, and outcome 1 year after hospital discharge. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 66 horses with a history of recurrent colic for which gastrointestinal specimens had been submitted for histologic examination. PROCEDURES Histologic diagnosis was categorized as inflammatory, neoplastic, ischemic, other, and undiagnosed. Relationships among initial clinical features, biopsy method, histologic diagno...
Bauquier JR, Boston RC, Sweeney RW, Wilkins PA, Nolen-Walston RD.Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antimicrobial commonly used in horses at 6.6 mg/kg IV once daily. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) can confirm desired peak concentration is reached for common bacterial isolates, and detect toxicosis associated with high trough values. Objective: Determine the relationship between gentamicin dose and plasma concentration in hospitalized horses, and identify a starting dose range to achieve peaks > 32 μg/mL. Methods: Sixty-five horses (2002-2010) receiving once-daily gentamicin with TDM performed (N = 99 sets). Methods: Retrospective study. Data from hospit...
Vissani MA, Thiry E, Dal Pozzo F, Barrandeguy M.Equid herpesvirus infections cause respiratory, neurological and reproductive syndromes. Despite preventive and control measures and the availability of vaccines and immunostimulants, herpesvirus infections still constitute a major threat to equine health and for the equine industry worldwide. Antiviral drugs, particularly nucleoside analogues and foscarnet, are successfully used for the treatment of human alphaherpesvirus infections. In equine medicine, the use of antiviral medications in alphaherpesvirus infections would decrease the excretion of virus and diminish the risk of contagion and ...
Hesselkilde E, Linz D, Saljic A, Carstensen H, Kutieleh R, Jespersen T, Sanders P, Buhl R.Three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping is of potential interest in equine cardiology to identify arrhythmia mechanisms, characterise electroanatomical substrates and guide ablation strategies. Objective: To describe three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping in standing horses. Methods: Research methodology, proof of concept study. Methods: Four Standardbred horses (2 geldings, 2 mares, median age 4.5 [4-9] years, mean bodyweight 485 [440-550] kg) were sedated and placed in stocks. Via the jugular vein, a high-density multipolar grid catheter (Advisor™ HD Grid Mapping Catheter with E...
Mason LV, Moroney JR, Mason RJ.Guidelines regarding the impact and value of prophylaxis or maintenance therapy in equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) are not well-established or defined. The merits and the magnitude of effects of prophylaxis for spontaneous or recurrent squamous gastric ulceration in horses in training are uncertain. Objective: To pool data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to eliminate reporting bias and evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic omeprazole in the prevention of EGUS in training horses, and secondarily to compare prophylactic dosages of omeprazole. Methods: Meta-analysis. Methods: This m...
Albera R, Dagna F, Lacilla M, Canale A.Many different grafting materials have been proposed in myringoplasty. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results obtained in transmeatal underlay myringoplasty using bovine and equine pericardium. The results were compared with those obtained by using autologous temporalis fascia. Methods: The study group consisted of 52 patients with tympanic perforation. Twenty-nine patients were randomly selected for treatment with bovine pericardium and 23 for equine pericardium. A group of 14 patients was treated with autologous temporalis fascia. Results: Closure of the perforation was achieved i...
Jelocnik M, Nyari S, Anstey S, Playford N, Fraser TA, Mitchell K, Blishen A, Pollak NM, Carrick J, Chicken C, Jenkins C.C. psittaci has recently emerged as an equine abortigenic pathogen causing significant losses to the Australian Thoroughbred industry, while Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is a well-recognized abortigenic agent. Diagnosis of these agents is based on molecular assays in diagnostic laboratories. In this study, we validated C. psittaci and newly developed EHV-1 Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) assays performed in a real-time fluorometer (rtLAMP) against the reference diagnostic assays. We also evaluated isothermal amplification using commercially available colorimetric mix (cLAMP), and...
Donaldson LL.Dobutamine was infused (1.7 micrograms/kg/minute) into 200 anesthetized horses as treatment for hypotension. The horses had been premedicated with xylazine, and anesthesia was induced with guaifenesin and ketamine and maintained with halothane. One hundred fifty-seven horses (79%) responded with an average increase in systolic blood pressure of at least 10 mm Hg within 10 minutes. A cardiac arrhythmia developed in 56 horses (28%) after dobutamine administration: 34 with sinus bradycardia, 18 with atrioventricular block, 2 with premature atrial contractions, and 2 with atrioventricular dissocia...
Mählmann K, Feige K, Juhls C, Endmann A, Schuberth HJ, Oswald D, Hellige M, Doherr M, Cavalleri JM.Equine melanoma has a high incidence in grey horses. Xenogenic DNA vaccination may represent a promising therapeutic approach against equine melanoma as it successfully induced an immunological response in other species suffering from melanoma and in healthy horses. In a clinical study, twenty-seven, grey, melanoma-bearing, horses were assigned to three groups (n = 9) and vaccinated on days 1, 22, and 78 with DNA vectors encoding for equine (eq) IL-12 and IL-18 alone or in combination with either human glycoprotein (hgp) 100 or human tyrosinase (htyr). Horses were vaccinated intramuscularl...
Tinworth KD, Harris PA, Sillence MN, Noble GK.Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia increase the risk of laminitis and horse owners and veterinarians should attempt to enhance insulin sensitivity in at-risk groups. In obese animals this may be achieved, in part, by promoting weight loss and increasing exercise, but such intervention may not be appropriate in non-obese insulin-resistant animals, or where exercise is contra-indicated for clinical reasons. An alternative approach to controlling insulin sensitivity in obese and non-obese horses may be the use of certain herbal compounds that have shown promise in humans and laboratory anim...
Moretti A, Boncio L, Pasquali P, Fioretti DP.Ringworm infections in the principal domestic animals are a major public and veterinary health problem. The aetiology, epidemiology and symptomatology of these mycoses are quite heterogeneous and complex. In this context, the AA carried out an epidemiological study to investigate the prevalence of dermatophytes in two different animal species, horses (n = 200) belonging to 10 private stables and cattle (n = 1900) belonging to farms with different breeding purposes and management. With regard to horses the results showed a positive level of 9% and Trichophyton equinum was the major organism iso...
Kinde H, Bettey RL, Ardans A, Galey FD, Daft BM, Walker RL, Eklund MW, Byrd JW.An episode of nervous system dysfunction was observed in horses on 17 premises in 4 counties of southern California. Thirty-eight horses were affected, and 31 of those died. The common clinical signs of disease in the affected horses were: increased appetite; anxious attitude; rythmic, intermittent muscle tremors in the area of the tricep muscles; decreased palpebral tone; mydriasis; small hard fecal balls; and tendency to become sternally recumbent with the neck extended. The temporal distribution of cases on all 17 premises suggested a relationship between exposure to a common batch of alfal...
Dumoulin M, Pille F, van den Abeele AM, Boyen F, Boussauw B, Oosterlinck M, Pasmans F, Gasthuys F, Martens A.Standard methods for culturing equine synovial fluid (SF) are often unrewarding. Evidence-based information on the relative efficiency of different systems used for optimisation of isolation of microorganisms from equine SF is lacking. Objective: To compare the results of different culture systems performed in parallel on SF samples from horses clinically diagnosed with synovial sepsis. Methods: Synovial fluid specimens were collected between February 2007 and October 2008 from all horses admitted to a referral hospital that were clinically diagnosed with synovial sepsis and from control horse...
Lopes MA, White NA.Parenteral nutrition is advocated for sick foals and horses, although there is no report which has critically evaluated its benefits in this species. Therefore, the hypothesis that parenteral nutrition (PN) is beneficial for horses with severe gastrointestinal disease was investigated in a retrospective study. Records from 79 treatment courses in horses with gastrointestinal disease were reviewed for the years 1992-2000. The fatality rate (48.1%) was attributed to the severity of the primary disease. Complications due to PN were recorded and hyperglycaemia was the most common complication asso...
Beltaire KA, Cheong SH, Coutinho da Silva MA.Knowledge of commonly encountered fungi infecting the mare's reproductive tract and their respective drug susceptibilities should improve treatment efficacy in mares with fungal endometritis. This is particularly important when practitioners need to start empiric treatment before culture results are complete. Objective: To report the spectrum of fungal isolates from uterine samples from mares with reproductive problems and their respective antifungal susceptibilities. Methods: Equine uterine samples submitted to the Cornell University Animal Health Diagnostic Centre for fungal culture between ...
Brooks DE.This article discusses the diagnosis and medical treatment of stromal keratomalacia or "melting ulcers," stromal abscesses, eosinophilic keratitis (EK), and calcific band keratopathy. These are common and important inflammatory keratopathies of the equine corneal stroma. Keratomalacia and stromal abscesses are associated with infection, leukocytic invasion of the stroma, and loss of tissue and tear film proteinase homeostasis. Eosinophils infiltrate the stroma in response to unknown stimuli in EK. Calcium is deposited in the stroma and epithelium secondary to chronic equine recurrent uveitis i...
