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.
Baker WT, Frederick J, Giguere S, Lynch TM, Lehmkuhl HD, Slone DE.To evaluate the outcome in horses treated with a rolling technique or surgically for nephrosplenic entrapment of the large colon (NSE) and to examine the benefit of phenylephrine (PE) HCl on the efficacy of nonsurgical (rolling) management of NSE. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n = 211) diagnosed with NSE by rectal palpation with or without ultrasonography, or at the time of exploratory celiotomy or necropsy. Methods: Medical records (January 1, 2001-September 1, 2008) were collected from horses diagnosed with NSE at 2 referral centers. Records were used to obtain signalment, physical ...
Bischofberger AS, Dart CM, Perkins NR, Dart AJ.To determine the effect of manuka honey on second-intention healing of contaminated, full-thickness skin wounds in horses. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Adult Standardbred horses (n = 8). Methods: One wound was created on the dorsomedial aspect of the third metacarpus in both forelimbs, contaminated with feces, and bandaged for 24 hours. Bandages were removed and wounds rinsed with isotonic saline solution. Wounds on 1 limb had manuka honey applied daily (n = 8) whereas wounds on the contralateral limb received no treatment (n = 8). Bandages were replaced and changed daily for 12 days, after...
Meyers-Brown G, Bidstrup LA, Famula TR, Colgin M, Roser JF.The dynamics of ovarian follicular development depend on a timely interaction of gonadotropins and gonadal feedback in the mare. The development and efficacy of genetically cloned recombinant equine gonadotropins (reFSH and reLH) increase follicular activity and induce ovulation, respectively, but an optimum embryo recovery regimen in superovulated mares has not been established. The objective of this study was to determine if treatment with reFSH followed by reLH would increase the embryo per ovulation ratio and the number of embryos recovered after superovulation in mares. Sixteen estrous cy...
Baccarin RY, Machado TS, Lopes-Moraes AP, Vieira FA, Michelacci YM.Our objectives were to characterize the urinary excretion of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in horse osteoarthritis, and to investigate the effects of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and glucosamine (GlcN) upon the disease. Urinary GAGs were measured in 47 athletic horses, 20 healthy and 27 with osteoarthritis. The effects of CS and GlcN were investigated in mild osteoarthritis. In comparison to normal, urinary GAGs were increased in osteoarthritis, including mild osteoarthritis affecting only one joint. Treatment with CS+GlcN led to a long lasting increase in the urinary CS and keratan sulfate (KS), and ...
Stewart AJ, Behrend EN, Wright JC, Martin LG, Kemppainen RJ, Busch KA, Hanson RR.To determine the lowest ACTH dose that would induce a maximum increase in serum cortisol concentration in healthy adult horses and identify the time to peak cortisol concentration. Methods: Evaluation study. Methods: 8 healthy adult horses. Methods: Saline (0.9% NaCl) solution or 1 of 4 doses (0.02, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 μg/kg [0.009, 0.045, 0.114, and 0.227 μg/lb]) of cosyntropin (synthetic ACTH) were administered IV (5 treatments/horse). Serum cortisol concentrations were measured before and 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 minutes after injection of cosyntropin or saline solution; CBCs were per...
Venner M, Rödiger A, Laemmer M, Giguère S.Mass antimicrobial treatment of foals with small ultrasonographic pulmonary lesions is common on farms with endemic disease caused by Rhodococcus equi. The objectives of this study were to compare the relative efficacy of three antimicrobial protocols for the treatment of pulmonary abscesses on a farm with endemic infections caused by R. equi and to determine the frequency of spontaneous resolution of subclinical pulmonary lesions. Foals with ultrasonographic evidence of pulmonary abscesses ≥ 1.0 cm in diameter (n=128) were randomly allocated to one of four equal treatment groups. Animals wi...
Pollina GF, Zagotto G, Maritan P, Iacopetti I, Busetto R.Gallium (Ga), a metal in group IIIA of the periodic table, has shown a remarkable activity against bone resorption and could therefore possibly prove useful in the treatment of certain diseases in sport horses, for example navicular disease. The aim of this study was to gain more information concerning the kinetics of Ga after oral administration of gallium nitrate (GaN) in adult horses. Six horses received a single dose of 10 mg/kg of GaN mixed with the food ration. Absorption was slow (T(max) = 10 ± 3 h, T(½abs) = 2 ± 0.8 h), and a C(max) of 26 ± 11 μg/L was achieved. Excretion followed...
Dunkel B, Bolt DM, Smith RK, Cunningham FM.Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is increasingly used for treatment of orthopaedic injuries. However, the effects of different stimuli on the release pattern of regenerative and proinflammatory factors from equine platelets are largely unknown and an optimal treatment protocol remains to be established. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify a stimulus that enhanced release of histopromotive factors (platelet-derived growth factor BB [PDGF] and transforming growth factor 1β[TGF]) without causing concurrent release of a proinflammatory mediator (CCL5). Methods: Washed platelets were prepar...
Casella S, Giudice E, Giannetto C, Marafioti S, Piccione G.The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro the effects of hydrocortisone and aminophylline on adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation in horses. Blood samples from 30 healthy Thoroughbred horses were collected by via jugular venipuncture to assess platelet aggregation. Platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma were prepared from all samples by centrifugation and divided into three different aliquots. In the first aliquot, platelet aggregation was measured after platelet activation with 1 µM and 0.5 µM ADP (Group A). In the other two aliquots, the effect of a 10 min prei...
Hinz A, Fischer AT.To compare the accuracy of ultrasonographic and radiographic examination for evaluation of articular lesions in horses. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Horses (n = 137) with articular lesions. Methods: Radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations of the affected joint(s) were performed before diagnostic or therapeutic arthroscopic surgery. Findings were recorded and compared to lesions identified during arthroscopy. Results: In 254 joints, 432 lesions were identified by arthroscopy. The overall accuracy was 82.9% for ultrasonography and 62.2% for radiography (P < .0001) with a se...
Beccar-Varela AM, Epstein KL, White CL.To determine the effects of experimentally induced synovitis of the radiocarpal joint on the intra-articular pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of amikacin after intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP). Methods: Randomized crossover experimental design. Methods: Adult horses (n = 8). Methods: Horses were randomly assigned into 2 trials: synovitis and no-synovitis. Radiocarpal joint synovitis was induced with lipopolysaccharide 6 hours before IVRLP. IVRLP (5-mg/kg amikacin qs 60 mL) was performed with a pneumatic tourniquet under general anesthesia. Synovial fluid was obtained before and...
Seo JP, Son WG, Gang S, Lee I.This study was performed to evaluate the sedative and analgesic effects of xylazine (X) and tramadol (T) intravenously (IV) administered to horses. Six thoroughbred saddle horses each received X (1.0 mg/kg), T (2.0 mg/kg), and a combination of XT (1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg, respectively) IV. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), indirect arterial pressure (IAP), capillary refill time (CRT), sedation, and analgesia (using electrical stimulation and pinprick) were measured before and after drug administration. HR and RR significantly decreased from basal values with X and XT t...
Hainisch EK, Brandt S, Shafti-Keramat S, Van den Hoven R, Kirnbauer R.Infection with bovine papillomaviruses types 1 and 2 (BPV-1, BPV-2) can lead to the development of therapy-resistant skin tumours termed sarcoids and possibly other skin diseases in equids. Although sarcoids seriously compromise the welfare of affected animals and cause considerable economic losses, no prophylactic vaccine is available to prevent this common disease. In several animal species and man, immunisation with papillomavirus-like particles (VLP) has been shown to protect efficiently from papillomaviral infection. Objective: BPV-1 L1 VLPs may constitute a safe and highly immunogenic va...
Carlson ER, Bramlage LR, Stewart AA, Embertson RM, Ruggles AJ, Hopper SA.Surgical correction of carpal angular limb deformities by growth retardation is commonly undertaken with a screws and tension band wire loop technique (S&W) or a single transphyseal screw (STS). This study compares complications after S&W and STS bridging in the distal radius of Thoroughbred yearlings. Objective: To compare the prevalence of complications serious enough to require follow-up radiographs following either S&W or STS surgery for growth manipulation in the distal radius of Thoroughbred yearlings. Methods: Medical records and radiographs from Thoroughbred yearlings (age ...
van Eps AW, Leise BS, Watts M, Pollitt CC, Belknap JK.The pathophysiological events inhibited by prophylactic digital hypothermia that result in reduction of the severity of acute laminitis are unknown. Objective: To determine if digital hypothermia inhibits lamellar inflammatory signalling during development of oligofructose (OF) induced laminitis. Methods: Fourteen Standardbred horses were given 10 g/kg bwt OF by nasogastric tube with one forelimb (CRYO) continuously cooled by immersion in ice and water and one forelimb (NON-RX) at ambient temperature. Lamellae were harvested prior to the onset of lameness (24 h post OF administration, DEV ...
Preiss EE, Kenney DG, McGurrin MK, Physick-Sheard PW.To evaluate influence of electrode position on cardioversion energy (CE; energy delivered in the shock at which cardioversion was achieved) during transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) in horses with atrial fibrillation. Methods: 37 horses with atrial fibrillation (41 cardioversion events). Methods: Records were reviewed to identify horses that underwent TVEC for treatment of atrial fibrillation. Signalment and CE were recorded. Electrode positions in the right atrium and pulmonary artery were identified on intraoperative radiographs. An orthogonal coordinate space was created, and elect...
Baumwart CA, Doherty TJ, Schumacher J, Willis RS, Adair HS, Rohrbach BW.To determine the effectiveness of preinduction hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) in ameliorating signs of experimentally induced endotoxemia in horses. Methods: 18 healthy adult horses. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 equal-sized treatment groups to receive normobaric ambient air and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), HBOT and LPS, or HBOT and physiologic saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. Horses were physically examined, and blood was obtained for a CBC and to determine concentration or activity of plasma tissue necrosis factor-α, blood lactate, and blood glucose before the horses were tr...
Haggett EF, Magdesian KG, Kass PH.To determine whether high liver enzyme activities were negatively associated with outcome in sick neonatal foals as compared with foals that did not have high liver enzyme activities. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: 147 foals < 30 days old with high γ-glutamyltransferase activity, high sorbitol dehydrogenase activity, or both (case foals) and 263 foals < 30 days old with γ-glutamyltransferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities within reference limits (control foals). Methods: Medical records were reviewed for information on signalment, physical examination findin...
Castelijns G, Crawford A, Schaffer J, Ortolano GA, Beauregard T, Smith RK.Platelet preparations have become a treatment for soft tissue injuries in horses. This study evaluated a novel filter-based system to concentrate platelets and assesses its value in the treatment of suspensory ligament branch desmitis. Methods: Filtered platelet concentrate was prepared from 55 ml of venous blood obtained from 21 normal horses. Platelets and white blood cells in whole blood and filtered platelet concentrate were measured, as was platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) release. Eleven horses with 18 focal acute suspensory ligament br...
Waguespack RW, Hanson RR.Navicular syndrome is a chronic, progressive condition affecting the navicular bone and bursa, deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), and associated soft tissue structures composing the navicular apparatus. The treatment options for navicular syndrome are as varied as the proposed causes of the condition. The severity of clinical signs, intended use and workload of the horse, and owner compliance with therapy are important considerations in developing a treatment plan. Nonsurgical treatment of navicular syndrome consists of rest, hoof balance and corrective trimming/shoeing, and medical therapy, i...
Raes EV, Bergman EH, van der Veen H, Vanderperren K, Van der Vekens E, Saunders JH.To compare computed tomography (CT) images of equine tarsi with cross-sectional anatomic slices and evaluate the potential of CT for imaging pathological tarsal changes in horses. Methods: 6 anatomically normal equine cadaveric hind limbs and 4 tarsi with pathological changes. Methods: Precontrast CT was performed on 3 equine tarsi; sagittal and dorsal reconstructions were made. In all limbs, postcontrast CT was performed after intra-articular contrast medium injection of the tarsocrural, centrodistal, and tarsometatarsal joints. Images were matched with corresponding anatomic slices. Four tar...
Cayzer J, Hedderley D, Gray S.Lyophilised products from green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus[LPPC]) are used to orally treat horses with osteoarthritis (OA). However, no randomised, controlled or double-blinded studies on the efficacy of this treatment in horses have been reported to date. Objective: To investigate the effects of a unique LPPC (Biolane)(1) in improving clinical signs of OA in the fetlock. Methods: Data were analysed from 26 horses with primary fetlock lameness in a controlled, randomised and double-blinded, multi-centre clinical trial. The study design was a partial crossover with a washout period and co...
Epstein KL, Brainard BM.Accurate measurement of plasma fibrinogen concentrations is an important tool for assessment of horses with inflammatory diseases. Objective: To determine the precision and accuracy of a benchtop instrument using both fresh and frozen equine plasma by comparing the plasma fibrinogen concentration measured by a benchtop instrument to 2 separate laboratory standard methods (ACL 100 and STA Compact) for fibrinogen measurement. Methods: Accuracy and precision of the VSPro was evaluated using both human fibrinogen standards and samples from horses. Fifty frozen samples from horses with gastrointest...
Zhang J.Prion diseases (e.g. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), variant CJD (vCJD), Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS), Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI) and Kuru in humans, scrapie in sheep, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or 'mad-cow' disease) and chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cattles) are invariably fatal and highly infectious neurodegenerative diseases affecting humans and animals. However, by now there have not been some effective therapeutic approaches or medications to treat all these prion diseases. Rabbits, dogs, and horses are the only mammalian species reported to be resistant...
Sieber S, Gerber V, Jandova V, Rossano A, Evison JM, Perreten V.A total of 70 Staphylococcus aureus isolates from postoperative infections in hospitalized horses were isolated between January 2005 and January 2011. Among them, 12 isolates were methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), 18 were borderline-oxacillin-resistant S. aureus (BORSA), and 40 were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). During the same period, the equine clinic personnel were screened for nasal carriage of BORSA and MRSA. Genotyping revealed that BORSA ST1(MLST)-t2863(spa) isolates were responsible for most equine infections and were the main isolates found in colonized members of th...
Cheetham J, Regner A, Jarvis JC, Priest D, Sanders I, Soderholm LV, Mitchell LM, Ducharme NG.Bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVCP) is a life threatening condition and appears to be a good candidate for therapy using functional electrical stimulation (FES). Developing a working FES system has been technically difficult due to the inaccessible location and small size of the sole arytenoid abductor, the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle. A naturally-occurring disease in horses shares many functional and etiological features with BVCP. In this study, the feasibility of FES for equine vocal fold paralysis was explored by testing arytenoid abduction evoked by electrical stimulation of t...
Pierce RL, Fischer AT, Rohrbach BW, Klohnen A.To compare incidence of postoperative complications and survival of horses that had surgery for enterolithiasis of the ascending (AC) or descending (DC) colon. Methods: Case series Methods: Horses (n=236) that had celiotomy for AC (n=97) or DC (n=139) enterolithiasis. Methods: Medical records (1999-2005) were reviewed for signalment, presenting clinical signs, surgical findings, postoperative complications, and short-term survival until discharge. Information on performance and survival > or = 1 year was obtained by telephone or mailed questionnaire. Results: Number of postoperative complicati...
Gerhards H.Low dose calcium heparin was administered subcutaneously at 12 hourly intervals to six healthy horses at an initial dose of 150 iu of heparin/kg bodyweight (bwt) and at a maintenance dose of 120 iu/kg bwt. All injections were given at 0900 and 2100 h. Blood samples for monitoring plasma heparin concentrations were obtained prior to, at 2 hourly intervals for 84 h (treatment period), and at Hours 24, 32, 48 and 96 of the control period. Blood samples for monitoring red blood cell (RBC) mass, plasma antithrombin III activity (AT III), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and thrombin ti...
Muir WW, McGuirk SM.Hemodynamic measurements were obtained from 17 horses with atrial fibrillation or flutter. Eight horses had atrial fibrillation of unknown duration. In 7 horses, atrial fibrillation developed during anesthesia. Atrial flutter developed during recovery from anesthesia in 2 horses. Hemodynamic measurements were considered normal in 7 of 8 conscious horses with atrial fibrillation. Cardiac output was decreased and pulmonary arterial blood pressure and right atrial pressure were increased in 1 conscious horse which had signs of congestive heart failure. Arterial blood pressure decreased in 5 of 7 ...
Seabaugh KA, Barrett MF, Rao S, McIlwraith CW, Frisbie DD.Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common problem in horses. Several oral supplements have been proposed as treatments for horses with OA. The object of this study was to evaluate the use of the oil extract from the seeds of (BO) for the treatment of experimentally induced OA in horses. OA was induced in 16, 2-5 year old horses in one middle carpal joint on Day 0; the other limb underwent a sham operation. Once daily oral treatment with BO or placebo was initiated on Day 0 and continued to Day 70. All horses were exercised 5 days a week starting on Day 14 through Day 70. The horses were evaluated every...
Rashid A, Mubarak A, Hussain A.Equine babesiosis is a tick-borne haematological disease of equidae that can affect acutely, subacutely and chronically. The disease is manifested by intermittent fever, anaemia, icterus and haemoglobinuria. The authors describe the clinical, haematological and therapeutic aspects of babesiosis in equines at two units in Kotley and at two units in Jehlum of the Remount Veterinary and Farms Corps (RVFC). Animals on these units showed the signs of illness. On clinical examination, intermittent temperature, increased respiratory rate, anaemia, lacrimation, conjunctivitis and pale mucous membranes...
Magdesian KG.Measurements of physiologic parameters, such as blood pressure or lactate concentration, are useful to detect occult derangements, such as tissue hypoxia and dysoxia. These tools are also useful in determining the effects of therapy. Monitoring techniques are now widely available for the intensive management of critically ill horses and foals. A number of these have evolved into noninvasive or minimally invasive devices and procedures and provide information that can be used for earlier and more dynamic therapeutic intervention. The goal of increased monitoring is to improve the level of care ...
Mendoza L, Alfaro AA, Villalobos J.A 5-year-old, female saddle horse developed a tumoral mass anterolaterally on the metacarpal region of its right front leg. Histopathological study showed hyaline, aseptate, broad hyphae in the sequestered coral-like necrotic masses. Radiographs revealed an extensive osteomyelitis with disorganized bone proliferation of the metacarpal bones, as well as exostosis of the distal radius and the proximal and distal row of carpal bones. The etiologic agent was detected histologically, isolated in culture and identified as Pythium insidiosum. Serological tests were positive. Immunotherapy was applied...
Vachon AM, Fischer AT.Thirty-two thoracoscopies were performed in 28 horses. Sixteen horses were affected with pleuropneumonia whereas 12 were affected with various other thoracic conditions. The indications for thoracoscopy was diagnostic in 19 cases, therapeutic in 11 cases and both diagnostic and therapeutic in 2 cases. Twenty-six thoracoscopies were done standing whereas 6 were performed under general anaesthesia. The specific procedures performed during thoracoscopy were exploratory only (7), biopsy of the lung and lymph nodes (10), drain placement into pleural effusions (2) and abscesses (5), exploration prio...
Johnson CB, Young SS, Taylor PM.The electroencephalogram (EEG) has been used in human clinical anaesthesia as an indicator of cortical activity and as an indicator of the depth of anaesthesia. It would be useful if it provided a reliable indication of the depth of anaesthesia of horses. In this study anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone and maintained with halothane in nine ponies. The end tidal halothane concentration (PE-Hal) was monitored and 20 seconds of EEG were recorded at 0.8 per cent, 1.0 per cent and 1.2 per cent halothane, equivalent to the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC), 1.25 MAC and 1.5 MAC. Each 20 se...
Geburek F, Rötting AK, Stadler PM.To assess agreement between ultrasonography (transcutaneous and transrectal) and standing radiography in horses with fractures in the pelvic region and disorders of the coxofemoral joint. Methods: Case series. Methods: Warmblood horses (n=23) and 2 ponies. Methods: Medical records (1999-2008) of equids with pelvic or coxofemoral disorders that had pelvic radiography and ultrasonography were retrieved and results of both techniques compared. Results: Radiography and ultrasonography each identified equal numbers of fractures of the tuber coxa (n=4), ilial shaft (2), ischium (3), femoral neck (2)...
Glade MJ.Low molecular weight polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG) stimulated net collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis by normal and arthritic equine fetlock cartilage tissues in organ culture. Arthritic tissues were more sensitive to PSGAG stimulation. The rates of cartilage-specific type-II collagen and chondroitin sulfate-rich glycosaminoglycan synthesis by confluent chondrocyte cell cultures obtained from normal and arthritic equine cartilage tissues were increased by 25 and 50 mg of PSGAG/ml. Cells from arthritic cartilage were also more sensitive to the presence of PSGAG. In addition, conce...
Fischer B, Clark-Price S.Anesthetizing the neonatal foal presents significant challenges as a result of physiologic differences from the adult equine. This article gives the reader an overview of these differences and the impact they have on anesthetic drug selection, monitoring, and support of the equine neonate. Special emphasis is directed to the sick neonate and appropriate preparation and maintenance of anesthesia in the face of commonly presented disease conditions.
Pellegrini-Masini A, Poppenga RH, Sweeney RW.An injectable preparation of flunixin meglumine was administered orally and intravenously at a dose of 1.1 mg/kg to six healthy adult horses in a cross-over design. Flunixin meglumine was detected in plasma within 15 min of administration and peak plasma concentrations were observed 45-60 min after oral administration. Mean bioavailability of the oral drug was 71.9 +/- 26.0%, with an absorption half-life of 0.76 h. The apparent elimination half-life after oral administration was 2.4 h. The injectable preparation of flunixin meglumine is suitable for oral administration to horses.
Salter MM, Seeto WJ, DeWitt BB, Hashimi SA, Schwartz DD, Lipke EA, Wooldridge AA.To isolate and characterize endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs; a subtype of endothelial progenitor cells) from peripheral blood samples of horses. Methods: Jugular venous blood samples from 24 adult horses. Methods: Blood samples were cultured in endothelial cell growth medium. Isolated ECFCs were characterized by use of functional assays of fluorescence-labeled acetylated low-density lipoprotein (DiI-Ac-LDL) uptake and vascular tubule formation in vitro. Expression of endothelial (CD34, CD105, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, and von Willebrand factor) and hematopoietic (C...
Annear MJ, Wilkie DA, Gemensky-Metzler AJ.To evaluate the outcome of diode laser transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCP) for the treatment of glaucoma in horses. Methods: Medical records at The Ohio State University were reviewed. All horses that underwent diode laser TSCP between the years of 1995 and 2007 were included. Preoperative, procedural and clinical follow-up data were collected, and telephone follow-up was performed. Results: Forty-two eyes of 36 horses were included. Twenty-four hours prior to surgery mean intraocular pressure (IOP) was 37.17 + or - 13.48 mmHg (42 eyes). Forty-one of 42 eyes (98%) were sighted and 39 of ...
Allen KJ, Christley RM, Birchall MA, Franklin SH.There are numerous treatments for correction of dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). However, the efficacy of these treatments is controversial and there is little consensus on how best to treat this condition. The aims of this study were to systematically review the literature and to assess the evidence on the clinical effects of interventions for dynamic intermittent DDSP. A secondary objective was to assess whether factors relating to study quality affected reported success rates. Twenty-three studies were included, covering a wide number of interventions but also differing widely...
Bergin BJ, Pierce SW, Bramlage LR, Stromberg A.Hyaluronan (HA) has been used to treat joint disease via intra-articular, i.v. and oral administration. The efficacy of intra-articular and i.v. use has been evaluated but the oral route has yet to be examined. Objective: To determine the effect of oral hyaluronan gel on joint effusion following arthroscopic surgery for osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the tarsocrural joint of yearling Thoroughbreds. Methods: Forty-eight yearlings diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral osteochondritis dessicans (OCD) of the tarsus were arbitrarily chosen prior to arthroscopic surgery. The yearlings were incl...
Foster AP, Lees P, Andrews MJ, Cunningham FM.Platelet-activating factor (PAF) causes oedema and neutrophil accumulation when injected into the skin of normal horses. PAF is also known to induce aggregation of horse platelets in vitro. The selective PAF receptor antagonist WEB 2086 has now been used to determine whether these effects are mediated by PAF receptor activation. Addition of WEB 2086 to equine platelets in vitro inhibited PAF-induced aggregation in a competitive reversible manner (pA2 = 7.14). Inhibition of in vivo inflammatory responses to PAF occurred after local administration of WEB 2086: wheal formation induced by 0.1 micr...
Ahdy AM, Ahmed BM, Elgamal MA, Shaalan M, Farag IM, Mahfouz ER, Darwish HR, Sayed-Ahmed MZ, Shalaby MA, El-Sanousi AA.Equid alphaherpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) is an important virus causing pathological disorders in horses. This highly contagious pathogen causes persistent outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection, ocular affections, abortion, and neurological disorders with high mortality in Arabian horses in Egypt. The quick and accurate diagnosis is important to broaden our understanding about EHV-1 in the field, and to implicate stronger preventive, and control measures. Sixty-six Arabian horses from Cairo and Giza governorates were sampled from respiratory, abortigenic and neurological outbreaks over a perio...
Afonso AC, Sousa M, Pinto AR, Cotovio M, Simões M, Saavedra MJ.As in human medicine, in veterinary medicine, chronic wounds are often related to polymicrobial infections and the presence of a biofilm, which compromises the effectiveness of therapeutic approaches. In this study, a Lusitano mare presented a 21-day-old chronic wound that was only being treated with an antiseptic. A swab sample was collected, and three isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and one of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated. S. aureus did not show resistance to a panel of antibiotics. However, the P. aeruginosa isolate showed a resistance profile to carbapenems and fluoroquinolones, ...
Deaton CM, Marlin DJ, Smith NC, Harris PA, Roberts CA, Schroter RC, Kelly FJ.To determine the pulmonary epithelial lining fluid (ELF) concentrations and degree of oxidation of ascorbic acid in horses affected by recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in the presence and absence of neutrophilic airway inflammation. Methods: 6 RAO-affected horses and 8 healthy control horses. Methods: Nonenzymatic antioxidant concentrations were determined in RBC, plasma, and ELF samples of control horses and RAO-affected horses in the presence and absence of airway inflammation. Results: ELF ascorbic acid concentration was decreased in RAO-affected horses with airway inflammation (median, 0...
Fjordbakk CT, Arroyo LG, Hewson J.A retrospective study of 63 horses diagnosed with limb cellulitis between 1994 and 2005 was conducted. They all had an acute onset of painful, generalised limb swelling, and a clinical diagnosis of limb cellulitis was made by the attending clinician. None of the horses had more than one limb affected. Hindlimbs were significantly more often affected than the forelimbs (P<0.05). Thoroughbreds were significantly over-represented compared with the general distribution of breeds examined at the hospital. Blunt limb trauma, limb surgery and limb injections were associated with the cellulitis in mos...
Kirisawa R, Toishi Y, Hashimoto H, Tsunoda N.An equine foamy virus (EFV) was isolated for the first time in Japan from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a broodmare that showed wobbler syndrome after surgery for intestinal volvulus and the isolate was designated as EFVeca_LM. Complete nucleotide sequences of EFVeca_LM were determined. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the long terminal repeat (LTR) region, and genes revealed that EFVeca_LM and the EFV reference strain had 97.2% to 99.1% identities. For a sero-epidemiological survey, indirect immunofluorescent antibody tests were carried out using EFVeca_LM-infected cells as an antige...
Marzok MA, El-Khodery SA, Oheida AH.To evaluate the effect of intravenous administration of romifidine on the intraocular pressure (IOP) in horses. Methods: Twenty-four horses with no ocular abnormalities. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned into two equal groups (treatment and control). All horses in the treatment group received an intravenous (IV) injection of romifidine (40 μg/kg). The horses in the control group were administrated an intravenous injection of 0.9% saline (0.4 mL/100 kg). In both groups, the IOP values were measured immediately (T0 ) pre-administration and at 5 (T5 ), 15 (T15 ), 30 (T30 ), 45 (T45 ), 60 (T...
Gardner AK, Kelly CS, van Eps AW, Burns TA, Watts MR, Belknap JK.In sepsis models, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are reported to incite inflammatory injury to tissues and are purported to be a therapeutic target. Objective: To assess MAPK signalling in lamellae in sepsis-related laminitis (SRL) at different time points after induction of laminitis via carbohydrate overload, and to determine the effect of regional deep hypothermia (RDH) on MAPK signalling. Methods: In vitro study using archived tissue samples. Methods: Lamellar concentrations of MAPKs were assessed in archived lamellar samples from 2 studies: 1) the starch gruel model of SRL with...
Firth EC, Klein WR, Nouws JF, Wensing T.Single doses of sodium ampicillin (10 mg/kg) and kanamycin sulfate (5 mg/kg) were administered intramuscularly (i.m.) separately, and then together, to five pony mares. The plasma antibiotic concentration-time curves were constructed. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the antibiotics given separately were not altered by concurrent administration. Four of the five pony mares were then given the i.m. kanamycin/ampicillin combination 4 h after acute synovitis and fever had been induced by injection of lipopolysaccharide into the left intercarpal joint. The plasma concentration-time curves and the...
Rhoads WS, Barton MH, Parks AH.To characterize clinical findings and compare effects of treatment and outcome for horses treated medically or surgically for impaction of the small colon. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 84 horses with impaction of the small colon. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for history, physical examination findings, laboratory values, treatment, response to treatment, complications, out-come, and necropsy findings. Results: 47 horses were treated medically and 37 horses were treated surgically. Significant differences between groups were not identified for duration of clinical signs, phys...
Taylor SE, Barakzai SZ, Dixon P.To evaluate the effect ventriculocordectomy (VC) for treatment of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) on exercise performance and owner satisfaction in a mixed-breed population of horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Adult horses (n=92) with a history of abnormal respiratory noise and RLN. Methods: Retrospective analysis of horse that had unilateral VC (and contralateral ventriculectomy in 63 horses) for treatment of idiopathic RLN. Owners/trainers completed a questionnaire about complications and outcome at least 1 year after surgery. Performance index was determined using race rec...
Durket E, Gillen A, Kottwitz J, Munsterman A.To determine the efficacy of lidocaine at reducing incidence of postoperative reflux (POR) in horses by using quantitative statistical analysis. Methods: Systematic meta-analytical review. Methods: Studies on horses undergoing gastrointestinal surgery for small intestinal lesions, identified by systematic search between 2001 and 2017. Methods: A search with PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was performed, followed by secondary searches of veterinary trade journals and bibliographies of relevant articles. The primary outcome measure for this study was the effect of lidocaine th...
Ellerbrock RE, Canisso IF, Roady PJ, Rothrock LT, Zhong L, Wilkins P, Dirikolu L, Lima FS, Honoroto J.In selective cases, enrofloxacin may be an alternative antibacterial agent to treat unresponsive infections in pregnant mares. Supratherapeutic doses of enrofloxacin are toxic to adult horses and also to newborn foals, however, it is unknown if enrofloxacin crosses the equine placenta or if it is toxic to the fetus. Objective: To assess the diffusion of enrofloxacin and its metabolite to fetal fluids and its effects on fetal cartilage when administered to pregnant mares. Methods: In vivo and terminal controlled experiment. Methods: Healthy mares at 260 days of gestation were allocated into thr...
