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.
de Favare GM, de Almeida Cipriano I, do Carmo TA, Mena MO, Guelpa GJ, do Amarante AFT, de Soutello RVG.The indiscriminate use of drugs to control gastrointestinal helminths in horses can lead to serious consequences for the animals, which represents a growing problem for health, animal welfare and productivity. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of ivermectin in naturally infected horses in the western region of the state of São Paulo. From May 2021 to April 2022, 123 naturally infected adult horses in 12 equine breeding farms (7 to 14 animals per farm) were evaluated with the fecal egg count reduction test. The horses had not been treated with anthelminti...
Jindra C, Hainisch EK, Brandt S.Horses and other equid species are frequently affected by bovine papillomavirus type 1 and/or 2 (BPV1, BPV2)-induced skin tumors termed sarcoids. Although sarcoids do not metastasize, they constitute a serious health problem due to their BPV1/2-mediated resistance to treatment and propensity to recrudesce in a more severe, multiple form following accidental or iatrogenic trauma. This review provides an overview on BPV1/2 infection and associated immune escape in the equid host and presents early and recent immunotherapeutic approaches in sarcoid management.
Blangy-Letheule A, Vergnaud A, Dupas T, Rozec B, Lauzier B, Leroux AA.Sepsis is a life-threatening disease defined as an organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to an infection. Early diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis are necessary for specific and timely treatment. However, no predictive biomarkers or therapeutic targets are available yet, mainly due to the lack of a pertinent model. A better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with sepsis will allow for earlier and more appropriate management. For this purpose, experimental models of sepsis have been set up to decipher the progression and pathophysiology of human seps...
Bernardino PN, Pusterla N, Conrad PA, Packham AE, Tamez-Trevino E, Aleman M, James K, Smith WA.Among the recognized neurologic diseases in horses, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) has been reported around the world and still presents challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Horses can present with clinical neurologic signs consistent with EPM while testing negative for the two main causative agents, Sarcocystis neurona or Neospora hughesi, and may still be clinically responsive to anti-parasitic drug therapy. This context led to our hypothesis that another protozoal parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, which is known to cause toxoplasmosis in other mammalian species, is a potential pathog...
Hunt J, Rice M, Henry T.A retrospective cohort study to describe a novel use of a mechanically retained, rigid obturator (RO) to manage maxillary and mandibular persistent pathologic oral communications (PPOCs). This study included 22 horses with PPOC with at least 6 months of follow-up after treatment with a RO. The RO was made with a flowable, bis-acryl-based composite resin. Medical records were analyzed, including case details, obtained imaging, surgical reports, and follow-up information. There were 10 horses that had follow-up examinations by the authors and 8 horses by the referring veterinarian; in 4 horses, ...
Scarlet D, Malama E, Fischer S, Knutti B, Bollwein H.Persistent breeding-induced endometritis (PBIE) is a major cause of subfertility in horses and the susceptibility is increased by several factors. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of clinical uterine findings and PBIE therapies, respectively, on pregnancy rate in mares. The analysis included records from 220 mares (390 cycles) inseminated at an artificial insemination (AI) center in Switzerland. Gynecological examinations were performed repeatedly before and after AI to determine cervical tone, uterine edema, and intrauterine fluid accumulation. Pregnancy rate was lower (p < ...
Bevevino KE, Cohen ND, Gordon SG, Navas de Solis C.A point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) protocol for evaluation of the cardiac and respiratory systems in horses does not exist. Objective: (a) Describe the windows of a POCUS protocol for cardiorespiratory assessment of horses (CRASH); (b) Estimate the number of acoustic windows that can be acquired by a sonographer-in-training; (c) Estimate the time required to complete the protocol for specific groups of horses; (d) Describe the sonographic abnormalities detected in horses presented with cardiovascular, respiratory, or systemic disease. Methods: Twenty-seven healthy horses, 14 horses competing i...
Colla S, Seabaugh KA, Zanotto GM, Selberg K.Techniques for local anesthesia of the tibial (TN) and superficial and deep fibular nerves (FNs) in horses are well established. Ultrasound-guided perineural blocks can identify the nerve location, reduce the anesthetic volume needed and avoid needle misplacement. The aim of this research was to compare the success of blind perineural injection technique (BLIND) to ultrasound-guided technique (USG). Fifteen equine cadaver hindlimbs were divided into two groups. Perineural injection of the TN and FNs was performed using a mixed solution of radiopaque contrast, saline and food dye. BLIND (n = ...
Sundra T, Kelty E, Rendle D.An extended-release injectable omeprazole formulation (ERIO) has become a popular treatment for equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) and equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) where it is available; however, published data are limited and optimal treatment regimens have not been determined. Objective: To compare effects of treatment on ESGD and EGGD when an ERIO formulation is administered at either 5- or 7-day intervals. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: Case records and gastroscopy images of horses with ESGD or EGGD treated with ERIO were reviewed. Images were anonymised and...
Tyrnenopoulou P, Fthenakis GC.Antibiotic administration is a standard therapeutic practice for the treatment of reproductive disorders of equids. This might lead to undesirable microbial imbalance and could favour the acquisition of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, it is imperative for clinicians to understand patterns of antibiotic resistance when considering and developing treatment regimes. Continued engagement of clinicians with novel alternative approaches to treat reproductive infections would be essential in order to address this rising threat within the One Health perspective. The objectives of the present review ...
Hansen S, Otten ND, Spang-Hanssen L, Bendorff C, Jacobsen S.Studies in people have found neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) concentrations are increased in asthma and can be used to distinguish between asthma subtypes. NGAL has not yet been investigated in equine asthma (EA). Objective: To investigate the ability of NGAL concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and serum to distinguish between control horses, horses with mild-moderate EA (MEA) and horses with severe EA (SEA). Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods: Details of endoscopic examination including tracheal mucus score (TMS, scale 0-5) and BAL cytolog...
Eichenberger EM, Dent A, Hayes T, Woc-Colburn L.Streptococcus equi is an opportunistic pathogen in horses that has rarely been transmitted to humans. Here we present a zoonotic S. equi meningitis case in a kidney transplant recipient with exposure to infected horses. We discuss the patient's risk factors, clinical presentation, and management in the context of the limited literature on S. equi meningitis.
Yu YY, Xu MS, Liang H, Wang HY, Yu CQ, Liu Q.Despite over 40 years of research on the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine, we still lack a considerable progress. Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is a lentivirus in the Retroviridae family, akin to HIV-1 in genome structure and antigenicity. EIA is an important infectious disease in equids, characterized by anemia, persistent infection, and repeated fevers. The EIAV attenuated vaccine in China is the only lentiviral vaccine used on a large scale. Elucidating the mechanism of waning and induction of protective immunity from this attenuated vaccine strain will provide a ...
Portela DA, Di Franco C, Chiavaccini L, Araos J, Romano M, Otero PE, Biedrzycki AH, Schramel JP.To evaluate the impact of a 30% end-inspiratory pause (EIP) on alveolar tidal volume (V), airway (V) and physiological (V) dead spaces in mechanically ventilated horses using volumetric capnography, and to evaluate the effect of EIP on carbon dioxide (CO) elimination per breath (Vcobr), PaCO and the ratio of PaO-to-fractional inspired oxygen (PaO:FiO). Methods: Prospective research study. Methods: A group of eight healthy research horses undergoing laparotomy. Methods: Anesthetized horses were mechanically ventilated as follows: 6 breaths minute, tidal volume (V) 13 mL kg, inspiratory-to-expir...
Kellon EM, Gustafson KM.Sodium-Glucose CoTransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, the -flozin group of drugs, which block glucose reuptake in the renal proximal tubule, are being increasingly used off-label to treat horses with refractory hyperinsulinemia. After 2 years of use by animals in our group, a horse on canagliflozin was incidentally noted to be hyperlipemic. We have been following a cohort of equines (n = 20) treated with SGLT2 inhibitors due to refractory hyperinsulinemia. The animals are owned by members of the Equine Cushing's and Insulin Resistance Group and treated by their attending veterinarians. The index ...
Spadari A, Gialletti R, Gandini M, Valle E, Cerullo A, Cavallini D, Bertoletti A, Rinnovati R, Forni G, Scilimati N, Giusto G.The occurrence of colic could be influenced by the characteristics of a population, geographical area, and feeding management. The aim of this study was to report the short-term postoperative complications and survival rates and to identify factors that might affect the outcome of horses that underwent colic surgery in three Italian surgical referral centres. Data of horses subjected to colic surgery in three referral centres (2018-2021) were analysed. Comparisons of the outcomes were performed using a Mann-Whitney or a Chi square test. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) c...
Bourebaba L, Serwotka-Suszczak A, Pielok A, Sikora M, Mularczyk M, Marycz K.Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a multifactorial pathology gathering insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation and past or chronic laminitis. Among the several molecular mechanisms underlying EMS pathogenesis, increased negative insulin signalling regulation mediated by protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 B (PTP1B) has emerged as a critical axis in the development of liver insulin resistance and general metabolic distress associated to increased ER stress, inflammation and disrupted autophagy. Thus, the use of PTP1B selective inhibitors such as MSI-1436 might be considered as a golden therapeut...
Padjasek M, Cisło-Sankowska A, Lis-Bartos A, Qasem B, Marycz K.The purpose of this study was to describe the use of PLDLA/TPU matrix enriched with cyclosporine A (CsA) as a therapeutic platform in horses with immune-mediated keratitis (IMMK) with an in vitro evaluation CsA release and degradation of the blend as well as determination of the safety and efficacy of that platform used in the animal model. The kinetics of the CsA release from matrices constructed of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) polymer and a copolymer of L-lactide with DL-lactide (PLDLA) (80:20) in the TPU (10%) and a PLDL (90%) polymer blend were studied. Moreover, we used the STF (Simul...
Gerber V, Kaiser-Thom S, Oesch S.Equine pastern dermatitis (EPD) is a nonspecific cutaneous reaction pattern on the distal extremities, typically in the palmar/plantar area of the pastern. Although EPD is commonly seen in equine practice and can be a debilitating condition, peer-reviewed original studies on many aspects of this multifactorial syndrome are still scarce. This narrative review aims to give an overview of the clinical presentation (forms of EPD and clinical scores and differential diagnoses), risk factors, and therapeutic approaches. The emphasis is on intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors as most of the original ...
Albanese V, Mereu M.Pelvic abscesses occur in horses of all ages and breeds. Although conservative management may be successful, surgical drainage may be necessary for larger abscesses or in case of secondary intestinal obstruction. The purpose of this report is to describe two cases of pelvic abscesses that were successfully drained using indwelling chest tubes, repeated lavages and targeted antibiotic treatment.
Donnelly CG, Johnson AL, Reed S, Finno CJ.Cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy (CVCM) and equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/degenerative myeloencephalopathy (eNAD/EDM) are leading causes of spinal ataxia in horses. The conditions can be difficult to differentiate, and there is currently no diagnostic modality that offers a definitive antemortem diagnosis. Objective: Evaluate novel proteomic techniques and machine learning algorithms to predict biomarkers that can aid in the antemortem diagnosis of noninfectious spinal ataxia in horses. Methods: Banked serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from necropsy-confirmed adult eNAD/EDM (...
Lauková A, Styková E, Focková V, Maďar M.Nowadays, developed more precisious identification techniques have allowed to validate newer enterococcal species. Among them, the species Enterococcus moraviensis was also validated, at first from surface waters. However, in this study, characteristics and potential to bacteriocin production by the strain E. moraviensis EMo 1-1Nik isolated from buccal mucosa of Slovak warm-blood horse breed has been studied. BLASTn analysis allotted this strain to the species E. moraviensis with percentage identity BLASTn 16S rRNA sequence in the strain up to 100% (99.93% similarity with E. moraviensis NR1139...
Goldkuhl JEC, Zablotski Y, Sill V, Jahn W, Lorenz I, Brunk J, Gerlach K, Troillet A.Osteochondral fragment removal is commonly performed but there are little scientific data supporting this procedure in the absence of clinical signs. More information is needed to facilitate clinical decision-making regarding fragment removal of the metacarpo-/metatarsophalangeal joint. Objective: To assess prevalence of cartilage injury in the equine metacarpo-/metatarsophalangeal joint and its association to fragment size, location, age and lameness. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Methods: Clinical records, including radiographs of 823 metacarpo-/metatarsophalangeal joints (640 ...
Gandini M, Cerullo A, Gallo L, Iussich S, Minoli L, Giusto G.To describe a technique for a side-to-side jejunocecal anastomosis in horses using radiofrequency thermofusion (TF) of the intestines supported by a Cushing oversew and to compare this anastomosis to handsewn and stapled techniques. Methods: Ex vivo study. Methods: Intestinal tracts from 24 slaughtered horses. Methods: A radiofrequency device was used to perform a jejunocecal anastomosis (Group RFA). The construction time and bursting pressure of this construct were compared with those of a hand-sewn double layer (Group HS) and stapled anastomoses (Group ST) without oversew of the staple line....
Brock BA, Greer HR, Honnas CM, Gilleland BE, Barrett MF, Moore JN, Cohen ND.Podotrochlear syndrome is a common cause of lameness in Quarter Horses involving both soft tissue and bony structures within the heel region. Current surgical treatment of podotrochlear syndrome addresses pathological changes affecting the soft tissue structures of the navicular region but does not address either edema or cyst-like lesions of the navicular bone. Unassigned: The objective of this randomized, self-controlled case series was to determine whether core osteostixis improved lameness in Quarter Horses with podotrochlear syndrome characterized by bilateral magnetic resonance imaging (...
Offer KS, Dixon CE, Sutton DGM.The sarcoid is the most common equine cutaneous neoplasm. Evidence-based treatment of this condition is often lacking, and selection of treatment modality based on clinical experience or anecdotal evidence. Objective: To assess the quality of the currently available best evidence regarding the treatment of the equine sarcoid. Methods: Systematic review. Methods: In compliance with PRISMA guidelines, literature searches were performed in PUBMED, Web of Science, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE (Ovid) and Scopus in April 2021. Included papers were required to describe an interventional study examining sarc...
Onzere CK, Hulbert M, Sears KP, Williams LBA, Fry LM.Equine theileriosis, caused by and , leads to anemia, exercise intolerance, and occasionally, death. Theileriosis-free countries prohibit the importation of infected horses, resulting in significant costs for the equine industry. Imidocarb dipropionate is the only treatment for in the United States, but lacks efficacy against . The goal of this study was to assess the in vivo efficacy of tulathromycin and diclazuril against . Fourteen -infected horses were utilized. Six were treated with eight weekly 2.5 mg/kg doses of tulathromycin. Three were treated daily for eight weeks with 2.5 mg/kg di...
Elliott J, Bailey SR.Equine laminitis has both fascinated and frustrated veterinary researchers and clinicians for many years. The recognition that many ponies suffering from pasture-associated laminitis have an insulin-dysregulated phenotype (endocrinopathic laminitis, EL) and that prolonged insulin and glucose infusions can experimentally induce laminar pathology and functional failure are seminal discoveries in this field. Researchers have studied the molecular basis for disease pathogenesis in models of EL, sepsis-related laminitis and supporting limb laminitis and generated much data over the last 15 years....
Gandini M, Giusto G.Accurate reporting of postoperative complications is paramount to understanding procedural outcomes, comparing procedures and assuring quality improvement. Standardising definitions of complications in equine surgeries will improve the evidence of their outcomes. To this end, we proposed a classification for postoperative complications and applied it to a cohort of 190 horses undergoing emergency laparotomy. Methods: A classification system for postoperative complications in equine surgery was developed. Medical records of horses that underwent equine emergency laparotomy and recovered from an...
Westermann CM, Dorland L, Votion DM, de Sain-van der Velden MG, Wijnberg ID, Wanders RJ, Spliet WG, Testerink N, Berger R, Ruiter JP, van der Kolk JH.The aim of the current study was to assess lipid metabolism in horses with atypical myopathy. Urine samples from 10 cases were subjected to analysis of organic acids, glycine conjugates, and acylcarnitines revealing increased mean excretion of lactic acid, ethylmalonic acid, 2-methylsuccinic acid, butyrylglycine, (iso)valerylglycine, hexanoylglycine, free carnitine, C2-, C3-, C4-, C5-, C6-, C8-, C8:1-, C10:1-, and C10:2-carnitine as compared with 15 control horses (12 healthy and three with acute myopathy due to other causes). Analysis of plasma revealed similar results for these predominantly...
Reinemeyer CR, Smith SA, Gabel AA, Herd RP.Fifty-five adult horses were necropsied over a 15-month period, and their worm burdens counted and speciated. Twenty-one species of Cyathostominae were recovered. Ten species: Cyathostomum catinatum, Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cylicostephanus longibursatus, Cyathostomum coronatum, Cylicostephanus goldi, C. calicatus, C. minutus, Cylicocyclus leptostomus, C. insigne and Cyathostomum pateratum, comprised 98.9% of the total cyathostome burdens. These same 10 species also demonstrated high prevalences in 4 previous surveys. Eight of these 10 species have been shown to be resistant to benzimidazole ant...
Weaver SC, Powers AM, Brault AC, Barrett AD.Recent studies using molecular genetic approaches have made important contributions to our understanding of the epidemiology of veterinary arboviral encephalitides. Viruses utilizing avian enzootic hosts, such as Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV) and North American Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), evolve as relatively few, highly conserved genotypes that extend over wide geographic regions; viruses utilizing mammalian hosts with more limited dispersal evolve within multiple genotypes, each geographically restricted. Similar findings have been reported for Australian alphaviruse...
Boere J, Malda J, van de Lest CHA, van Weeren PR, Wauben MHM.The use of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a potential therapy is currently explored for different disease areas. When it comes to the treatment of joint diseases this approach is still in its infancy. As in joint diseases both inflammation and the associated articular tissue destruction are important factors, both the immune-suppressive and the regenerative properties of EVs are potentially advantageous characteristics for future therapy. There is, however, only limited knowledge on the basic features, such as numerical profile and function, of EVs in joint articular tissues in general and th...
Chotwiwatthanakun C, Pratanaphon R, Akesowan S, Sriprapat S, Ratanabanangkoon K.The purpose of this study was to prepare a potent polyvalent antivenom against three elapids namely, the Thai cobra (Naja kaouthia, NK), the King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah, OH) and the banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus, BF). Two groups of horses were immunized. Group 1, comprising five horses, was immunized twice with a mixture of postsynaptic neurotoxins followed by an additional six immunizations with a mixture of crude venoms of the three elapids. Group 2, comprising four horses, was immunized with a mixture of crude venoms throughout the course. For the first immunization, the immunogens we...
Divers TJ, Gardner RB, Madigan JE, Witonsky SG, Bertone JJ, Swinebroad EL, Schutzer SE, Johnson AL.Borrelia burgdorferi infection is common in horses living in Lyme endemic areas and the geographic range for exposure is increasing. Morbidity after B. burgdorferi infection in horses is unknown. Documented, naturally occurring syndromes attributed to B. burgdorferi infection in horses include neuroborreliosis, uveitis, and cutaneous pseudolymphoma. Although other clinical signs such as lameness and stiffness are reported in horses, these are often not well documented. Diagnosis of Lyme disease is based on exposure to B. burgdorferi, cytology or histopathology of infected fluid or tissue and a...
Jenkins C, Jelocnik M, Micallef ML, Galea F, Taylor-Brown A, Bogema DR, Liu M, O'Rourke B, Chicken C, Carrick J, Polkinghorne A.Chlamydia psittaci is an avian pathogen capable of spill-over infections to humans. A parrot C. psittaci strain was recently detected in an equine reproductive loss case associated with a subsequent cluster of human C. psittaci infections. In this study, we screened for C. psittaci in cases of equine reproductive loss reported in regional New South Wales, Australia during the 2016 foaling season. C. psittaci specific-PCR screening of foetal and placental tissue samples from cases of equine abortion (n = 161) and foals with compromised health status (n = 38) revealed C. psittaci positiv...
Desancé M, Contentin R, Bertoni L, Gomez-Leduc T, Branly T, Jacquet S, Betsch JM, Batho A, Legendre F, Audigié F, Galéra P, Demoor M.Cartilage engineering is a new strategy for the treatment of cartilage damage due to osteoarthritis or trauma in humans. Racehorses are exposed to the same type of cartilage damage and the anatomical, cellular, and biochemical properties of their cartilage are comparable to those of human cartilage, making the horse an excellent model for the development of cartilage engineering. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiated into chondrocytes with chondrogenic factors in a biomaterial appears to be a promising therapeutic approach for direct implantation and cartilage repair. Here, we cha...
MacDonald ES, Barrett JG.One hallmark of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is the ability to differentiate into multiple tissue types which assists in tissue regeneration. Another hallmark of MSCs is their potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties and the potential to treat inflammatory, immune-mediated, and ischemic conditions. In equine practice, MSCs have shown efficacy in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders such as tendinopathy, meniscal tears and cartilage injury. However, there are many equine disease processes and conditions that may benefit from the immunomodulatory properties of MSCs. Exampl...
Divers TJ, Chang YF, Irby NL, Smith JL, Carter CN.North American horses are commonly exposed to Leptospira organisms. Leptospira Bratislava is the most common infecting serovar but this serovar has not been confirmed to cause clinical disease in North American horses. Leptospira Pomona type kennewicki is responsible for most of the clinical diseases (leptospirosis) in North American horses. Leptospirosis is most commonly associated with diseases of the placenta and fetus, the kidneys and the eyes in horses. In-utero infections in pregnant mares may result in abortion, neonatal illness or birth of an antibody positive healthy foal. Acute renal...
During August-September 2005, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services reported seven cases of human eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) disease, the first laboratory-confirmed, locally acquired cases of human EEEV disease reported from New Hampshire in 41 years of national surveillance. Also during August--September 2005, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported four cases of human EEEV disease, five times the annual average of 0.8 cases reported from Massachusetts during the preceding 10 years. Four of the 11 patients from New Hampshire and Massachusetts d...
Lange-Consiglio A, Tassan S, Corradetti B, Meucci A, Perego R, Bizzaro D, Cremonesi F.This is the first study to compare the treatment of horse tendon and ligament injuries with the use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) obtained from two different sources: amniotic membrane (AMSCs) and bone marrow (BM-MSCs). The objective was to prove the ability of AMSCs to exert beneficial effects in vivo. Methods: Five million allogeneic frozen-thawed AMSCs or autologous fresh BM-MSCs were injected intralesionally in horses belonging to group A (51 horses) and group B (44 horses). The interval lesion/implantation was of 6-15 days for the AMSCs and 16-35 days for the BM-MSCs. Healing was as...
Cohen ND, Woods AM.To characterize horses with acute diarrhea and determine risk factors for failure to survive. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 122 adult horses admitted for acute diarrhea at the teaching hospital between Jan 1, 1990 and Dec 31, 1996. Methods: Medical records of horses with acute diarrhea were reviewed to abstract information regarding signalment, history, physical examination, clinicopathologic testing, treatment, and outcome. Results: 91 of 122 (74.6%) horses lived and were discharged from the hospital. Horses with history of administration of antimicrobials for a problem preceding dia...
Kunz IGZ, Reed KJ, Metcalf JL, Hassel DM, Coleman RJ, Hess TM, Coleman SJ.The gastrointestinal microbiota (GIM) plays an essential role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis with disruptions having profound effects on the wellbeing of the host animal. Parasitic infection is a long-standing issue for the equine industry, and the use of anthelmintic drugs for parasite control has long been standard practice. The impact of anthelmintic treatment on the GIM in healthy horses is not well known. This study evaluated the hypothesis that anthelmintic administration will alter the equine fecal microbiota in horses without an observed helminth infection. Ten horses were treat...
Henson FM, Bowe EA, Davies ME.To identify the effect of fibroblastic growth factor-2 (FGF-2) on the intrinsic damage-repair response in articular cartilage in vitro. Methods: Articular equine cartilage explants, without subchondral bone, had a single impact load of 500 g applied from a height of 2.5 cm. Explants were then cultured in 0, 12, 25, 50 or 100 ng/ml FGF-2 for up to 28 days. Unimpacted discs served as controls for each time-point. Histological and immunohistochemical techniques were used to quantify and characterise the response of putative chondrocyte progenitor cells (CPC) to damage and FGF-2 treatment. Results...
Reuss SM, Chaffin MK, Cohen ND.To describe frequency, types, and clinical outcomes of extrapulmonary disorders (EPDs) in foals in which Rhodococcus equi infection was diagnosed, and to identify factors determined at the time of admission that differentiated foals that developed EPDs from foals with R equi infection identified only in the lungs. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 150 foals aged 3 weeks to 6 months with a diagnosis of R equi infection. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for information on date of admission, signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic testing, treatment, duration of hospitali...
Zerbe H, Schuberth HJ, Engelke F, Frank J, Klug E, Leibold W.In order to investigate pathogenic mechanisms of acute endometritis in cows and mares, we established an in vivo model in both species. Based on the results of an in vitro transmigration system, human recombinant interleukin-8 (rhIL-8; 1.25 microg per mare and 5 microg per cow in 50 ml phosphate-buffered saline) was used to attract polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes (PMNs) into the uteri. Peak numbers of uterine neutrophils were attracted after 6h, in both cows and mares. On average, mares responded more sensitively than cows, with 15 times higher numbers of rhIL-8-attracted uterine neu...
Morrison AC, Ferro C, Tesh RB.Blood meals from 579 Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera:Psychodidae), collected in an endemic focus of American visceral leishmaniasis in Colombia, were identified by precipitin test. Sand fly collections were made during a 16-month period from the inside walls of two houses, a pigpen, and rock crevices in a small community (El Callejon) within the endemic area. Feeding patterns of the sand flies varied with locality and date of collection. Overall, bovine feedings predominated, but feedings were also recorded on pigs, equines, humans, dogs, opossums, birds, and reptiles. Calculation of the forage...
Kawcak CE, McIlwraith CW, Norrdin RW, Park RD, James SP.Subchondral bone plays a role in the pathogenesis of osteochondral damage and osteoarthritis in horses and humans. Osteochondral fragmentation and fracture, subchondral bone necrosis and osteoarthritis are common diseases in athletic horses, and subchondral bone is now thought to play an integral role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. There have been numerous research efforts focused on articular cartilage damage and its pathogenesis, yet comparatively little effort focused on subchondral bone pathology or the coordinated disease states of the osteochondral tissues. The purpose of this re...
Salazar P, Traub-Dargatz JL, Morley PS, Wilmot DD, Steffen DJ, Cunningham WE, Salman MD.To determine outcome of equids in the western United States with clinical signs of West Nile virus (WNV) infection and identify factors associated with risk of death in infected equids. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: 484 equids in Nebraska and Colorado. Methods: Owners of 484 equids with laboratory-confirmed West Nile virus infection in Nebraska and Colorado were contacted by telephone, and a questionnaire was used to obtain information on signalment, management, clinical signs, date of disease onset, duration of disease, WNV vaccination status, and health status at the time of the i...
Rosanowski SM, Chang YM, Stirk AJ, Verheyen KL.To date, no large scale studies have reported race-day events requiring veterinary attention in British Thoroughbreds racing on the flat. Quantifying and describing common injuries and health conditions affecting racehorses will enable targeted risk factor analysis aimed at reducing their occurrence. Objective: To describe the type and incidence of race-day veterinary events experienced by Thoroughbred racehorses participating in flat racing in the UK. Methods: Retrospective cohort study (2000 to 2013). Methods: Veterinary events recorded by race-day veterinarians were retrieved and linked to ...
Pusterla N, Hussey GS.Equine myeloencephalopathy (EHM), an uncommon manifestation of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) infection, can cause devastating losses on individual farms, boarding stables, veterinary hospitals, and show and racing venues. An improved understanding of EHM has emerged from experimental studies and from data collected during field outbreaks at riding schools, racetracks, horse shows, and veterinary hospitals throughout North America and Europe. These outbreaks have highlighted the contagious nature of EHV-1 and have prompted a reevaluation of diagnostic procedures, treatment modalities, preventati...
Raza A, Qamar AG, Hayat K, Ashraf S, Williams AR.Control of equine nematodes has relied on benzimidazoles (BZs), tetrahydropyrimidines and macrocyclic lactones. The intensive use of anthelmintics has led to the development of anthelmintic resistance (AR) in equine cyathostomins and Parascaris equorum. Field studies indicate that BZ and pyrantel resistance is widespread in cyathostomins and there are also increasing reports of resistance to macrocyclic lactones in cyathostomins and P. equorum. The unavailability of reliable laboratory-based techniques for detecting resistance further augments the problem of nematode control in horses. The onl...
Taylor S.Sepsis is defined as an exaggerated, systemic inflammatory response to infection and is a common condition in horses. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) associated with bacterial infection is a hallmark of sepsis. Sepsis in neonatal foals is a common sequela of failure of passive transfer and, in addition to development of SIRS, may be characterised by bacteraemia, pneumonia, enterocolitis, omphalophlebitis, meningoencephalitis or arthritis. Sepsis in mature horses is most commonly observed secondary to gastrointestinal lesions that result in disrupted mucosa and bacterial transloc...
Gerber V, Lindberg A, Berney C, Robinson NE.Mucus accumulation and neutrophilic inflammation in the airways are hallmarks of heaves. Endoscopically visible mucus accumulations, however, have not been studied during exposure to dusty hay and allergens (ie, environmental challenge). We hypothesized that (1) heaves-affected horses have increased mucus accumulation compared with controls, (2) mucus accumulations increase in heaves-affected horses during environmental challenge, and (3) environmental challenge also induces neutrophilic inflammation and mucus accumulation in control horses. Mucus accumulation was graded endoscopically (mucus ...
Bullone M, Vargas A, Elce Y, Martin JG, Lavoie JP.Asthmatic airways are inflamed and undergo remodelling. Inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2-agonist combinations are more effective than inhaled corticosteroid monotherapy in controlling disease exacerbations, but their effect on airway remodelling and inflammation remains ill-defined. This study evaluates the contribution of inhaled fluticasone and salmeterol, alone or combined, to the reversal of bronchial remodelling and inflammation. Severely asthmatic horses (6 horses/group) were treated with fluticasone, salmeterol, fluticasone/salmeterol, or with antigen avoidance for 12 weeks. ...
McDade JE.Ehrlichiae are one of several kinds of obligate intracellular bacteria. Taxonomically, they are grouped with rickettsiae, but they can be distinguished by their unique tropism for circulating leukocytes. Ehrlichia canis causes a pancytopenia in dogs that becomes chronic if untreated. Certain breeds develop severe infections, characterized by fever, anorexia, dramatic weight loss, marked pancytopenia, anemia, peripheral edema, and hemorrhage. Ehrlichia risticii, a recently discovered species, is the cause of a serious diarrheal disease of horses. Other species of ehrlichiae have been documented...
Papp H, Matthijnssens J, Martella V, Ciarlet M, Bányai K.Group A rotavirus (RVA) is a major cause of diarrhea and diarrhea-related mortality in foals in parts of the world. In addition to careful horse farm management, vaccination is the only known alternative to reduce the RVA associated disease burden on horse farms. The precise evaluation of vaccine effectiveness against circulating strains needs enhanced surveillance of equine RVAs in areas where vaccine is already available or vaccine introduction is anticipated. Therefore, we undertook the overview of relevant information on epidemiology of equine RVA strains through systematic search of publi...
Oyarzun-Ampuero F, Vidal A, Concha M, Morales J, Orellana S, Moreno-Villoslada I.The treatment of skin wounds represents an important research area due to the important physiological and aesthetic role of this tissue. During the last years, nanoparticles have emerged as important platforms to treat skin wounds. Silver, gold, and copper nanoparticles, as well as titanium and zinc oxide nanoparticles, have shown potential therapeutic effects on wound healing. Due to their specific characteristics, nanoparticles such as nanocapsules, polymersomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, and polymeric nanocomplexes are ideal vehicles to improve the effect of drugs (antibiotics, growth fact...
Allen GP, Breathnach CC.Neurological disease in horses caused by infection with certain 'paralytic' strains of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is a potentially devastating condition the pathogenesis of which is poorly understood. Preliminary observations in both experimentally induced and naturally occurring cases of the central nervous system disease have revealed a more robust cell-associated viraemia in horses infected with paralytic isolates of EHV-1, relative to horses infected with abortigenic isolates. To investigate further this pathogenesis-relevant question, the present study was performed using a greater numb...
