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.
Nógrádi N, Tóth B, Macgillivray KC.Factors associated with the outcome of peritonitis in horses are seldom described. The objectives of this study were to determine the common clinical signs and clinicopathologic findings and to reveal prognostic factors associated with the outcome of peritonitis in equine patients. Data were examined in a retrospective manner in 55 horses diagnosed with and treated for peritonitis. The most common clinical and clinicopathologic findings were tachycardia (94%), increased amount of peritoneal fluid on ultrasound (84%), altered mucous membranes (82%), bacteria noted on the direct smear (67%), hyp...
Sudarshan MK, Ashwath Narayana DH, Ravish HS.Rabies immunoglobulins are life-saving in patients with severe exposure to rabies. Despite the high degree of purification of equine rabies immunoglobulin (ERIG), the product inserts still recommend a skin sensitivity test before administration of this heterologous serum. A recent WHO recommendation states that there are no scientific grounds for performing a skin test before administering ERIG because testing does not predict reactions and it should be given irrespective of the result of the test. In this conflicting situation, we assessed the use of the skin sensitivity test in predicting ad...
Söderlund R, Bölske G, Holst BS, Aspán A.Infection by Mycoplasma felis is associated with ocular and respiratory disease in cats and respiratory disease in horses. A correct diagnosis is beneficial since the use of specific antimycoplasmal treatment can lead to resolution. The objective of the present study was to develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method based on dual-labeled fluorogenic probe technology, targeting the gene encoding elongation factor Tu (tuf ), for the fast and specific detection of M. felis. Specificity was achieved by basing the assay design on partial sequencing of the tuf gene in strains and cli...
Ferris DJ, Frisbie DD, McIlwraith CW, Kawcak CE.Medications are frequently employed to treat intra-articular (IA) problems in the performance horse. Actual usage of the different IA medications in horses is not available. Objective: To determine the most common usage of these medications, members of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) were surveyed. Methods: An email link to an online survey was electronically sent to 6305 AAEP members and the responses tabulated and analysed with a logistic regression model. Results: A total of 831 survey responses were submitted and tabulated. Eighty per cent of the respondents indicat...
Minshall GJ, Wright IM.To describe the presentation, clinical, ultrasonographic and endoscopic features associated with a defect in the tarsal sheath wall, to define the cavity created and to describe a method of treatment. Objective: So called 'false thoroughpins' can be caused by defects in the tarsal sheath wall creating a one way valve effect, removal of which could be therapeutic. Methods: Case records and diagnostic images of horses with synoviocoeles associated with the tarsal sheath were reviewed retrospectively and follow-up information obtained. Results: Synoviocoeles were diagnosed in 15 horses. All were ...
Clegg PD, Pinchbeck GL.Evidence-based medicine (EBM) refers to the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence from research for the care of an individual patient. Central to the adoption of EBM is both producing and identifying the best possible evidence for a particular intervention or therapy. This article identifies and reviews the approaches to producing and identifying the best possible evidence that is necessary for the full acceptance of stem cell therapies in the horse and reviews the approaches that will allow future clinical studies in stem cell therapies to provide the best eviden...
Savini G, Afonso A, Mellor P, Aradaib I, Yadin H, Sanaa M, Wilson W, Monaco F, Domingo M.Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) is an infectious non-contagious viral disease transmitted by insects of the genus Culicoides which affects wild and domestic ruminants. The causative agent, the epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), belongs to the family Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus and shares many morphological and structural characteristics with the other members of the genus such as bluetongue, African horse sickness and equine encephalosis viruses. In recent years EHD outbreaks have been reported in countries bordering the European Union. They caused disease in cattle and severe r...
Wylie CE, Proudman CJ, McGorum BC, Newton JR.Equine grass sickness (EGS) remains a frequently fatal disease of equids in Great Britain (GB). The first nationwide surveillance scheme for EGS was developed to obtain information on the occurrence of EGS and to help facilitate future proposed intervention studies, such as vaccine trials. Objective: To collect both retrospective and prospective data on cases of EGS occurring in GB since 2000 and to assess potential risk factors for categories of EGS and survival after chronic EGS. Methods: Prospective data were collected using a nationwide surveillance scheme for EGS that was developed and in...
Sparks HD, Nixon AJ, Fortier LA, Mohammed HO.Long-term efficacy of arthroscopic cartilage reattachment for the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions in the equine femoropatellar joint is unknown. Objective: To evaluate radiographic outcome and long-term performance of horses undergoing OCD reattachment. Objective: Separated OCD cartilage flaps may be reincorporated into the joint surface by reattachment rather than flap removal. Methods: Polydioxanone pins were utilised arthroscopically to reattach OCD lesions in 40 of 44 joints from 27 horses. Cartilage was reattached when it had persisting perimeter continuity, the surfa...
Abraham G, Zizzadoro C, Kacza J, Ellenberger C, Abs V, Franke J, Schoon HA, Seeger J, Tesfaigzi Y, Ungemach FR.Horses develop recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) that resembles human bronchial asthma. Differentiated primary equine bronchial epithelial cells (EBEC) in culture that closely mimic the airway cells in vivo would be useful to investigate the contribution of bronchial epithelium in inflammation of airway diseases. However, because isolation and characterization of EBEC cultures has been limited, we modified and optimized techniques of generating and culturing EBECs from healthy horses to mimic in vivo conditions. Results: Large numbers of EBEC were obtained by trypsin digestion and successfull...
Smith KC.Respiratory disease is an important cause of wastage in the Thoroughbred industry and is a cause of welfare problems in all types of horse. This review concerns developments in our understanding of equine respiratory disease since 1998 and illustrates how strategic funding from the Horserace Betting Levy Board has contributed to this understanding.
Roberts H, Lopez M, Hartley M.African swine fever in the Caucasus and Leningrad regions of Russia. Equine infectious anaemia in several EU member states. Foot-and-mouth disease in Bulgaria--the first in an EU member state since 2007. Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in the Far East. West Nile virus in southern Europe. These are among matters discussed in the international disease monitoring report for October to December 2010, prepared by Defra's Food and Farming Group, Veterinary Science Team.
Hubbell JA, Aarnes TK, Bednarski RM, Lerche P, Muir WW.The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 0.5 fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂) and >0.95 FiO₂ on pulmonary gas exchange, shunt fraction and oxygen delivery (DO₂) in dorsally recumbent horses during inhalant anesthesia. The use of 0.5 FiO₂ has the potential to reduce absorption atelectasis (compared to maximal FiO₂) and augment alveolar oxygen (O₂) tensions (compared to ambient air) thereby improving gas exchange and DO₂. Our hypothesis was that 0.5 FiO₂ would reduce ventilation-perfusion mismatching and increase the fraction of pulmonary blood flow that is ox...
Collins SN, Dyson SJ, Murray RC, Burden F, Trawford A.Anatomical change within a laminitic foot is of diagnostic and prognostic importance. A lateromedial radiograph represents the current 'gold standard' by which these changes are identified. Detection of anatomical change is dependent upon a priori knowledge of normality and subjective assessment alone may not identify modest change. Normal baseline data is, therefore, needed against which objective comparisons can be made. There is little information regarding the radiological anatomy of the donkey foot, hence an equine model has been widely adopted. However, descriptive accounts suggest funda...
Kawcak CE, Frisbie DD, McIlwraith CW.To evaluate effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and polysulfated glycosaminoglycan treatment (PSGAGT) on subchondral bone (SCB), serum biomarkers, and synovial fluid biomarkers in horses with induced osteoarthritis. Methods: 24 healthy 2- to 3-year-old horses. Methods: An osteochondral fragment was created on the distal aspect of the radial carpal bone in 1 middle carpal joint of each horse. Horses were randomly allocated to receive local application of ESWT (days 14 and 28; n = 8), PSGAGT (IM, q 4 d for 28 days; 8), or a sham ESWT probe (placebo; days 14 and 28; 8). Serum biom...
Downs C, Rodgerson D.Commercially available nylon cable ties were used as a method of internal fixation for displaced rib fractures in 8 equine neonates. The procedure was effective, well-tolerated, rapid, and inexpensive. The use of nylon cable ties as internal fixation for displaced rib fractures in foals is an effective surgical procedure. Des attaches en nylon disponibles dans le commerce ont été utilisées comme méthode de fixation interne pour des fractures de côtes déplacées chez 8 nouveau-nés équins. L’intervention a été efficace, bien tolérée, rapide et peu dispendieuse. L’usage d’attac...
Menendez MI, Clark DJ, Carlton M, Flanigan DC, Jia G, Sammet S, Weisbrode SE, Knopp MV, Bertone AL.To evaluate healing of surgically created large osteochondral defects in a weight-bearing femoral condyle in response to delayed percutaneous direct injection of adenoviral (Ad) vectors containing coding regions for either human bone morphogenetic proteins 2 (BMP-2) or -6. Methods: Four 13mm diameter and 7mm depth circular osteochondral defects were drilled, 1/femoral condyle (n=20 defects in five ponies). At 2 weeks, Ad-BMP-2, Ad-BMP-6, Ad-green fluorescent protein (GFP), or saline was percutaneously injected into the central drill hole of the defect. Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (...
Barbey C, Cauchard S, Cauchard J, Laugier C, Hartke A, Petry S.Rhodococcus equi remains a significant pathogen, causing severe pneumonia in foals. The development of vaccines and serologic diagnosis could be greatly facilitated by studying the humoral immune response to this equine pathogen. In this study, a crude extract of R. equi ATCC 33701-secreted proteins combined with the Montanide® ISA70 adjuvant was found to be highly immunogenic in mice with the highest titer of 99,000 on day 42 after the first subcutaneous immunization. This immune response was dependent on the quantity of proteins injected and the presence of adjuvant. By dot-blotting, eight ...
Jönsson L, Dalin G, Egenvall A, Näsholm A, Roepstorff L, Philipsson J.Disturbances in skeletal development, primarily osteochondrosis (OC) and palmar/plantar osseous fragments (POF), have been commonly reported as problems in young horses. However, there are few reports of such findings for epidemiological analyses or breeding purposes. Objective: To evaluate equine hospital data as a possible source of information for genetic evaluations by estimating prevalence and heritability of OC in the stifle, hock and fetlock joints and of POF in the fetlock. Methods: Data on Swedish Warmblood (SWB) horses were obtained from a large equine hospital in south Sweden. Preva...
Silver IA, Jeffcott LB, Rossdale PD.The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) was established in 1961 and launched the Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) in 1968. This review outlines some of the major advances in equine science and practice that have occurred in that time and the role played by the Journal in facilitating those developments.
Minshall GJ, Wright IM.Tears of the radial head of the deep digital flexor (DDF) have not previously been documented. Objective: To describe the presentation, clinical, ultrasonographic and tenoscopic features associated with tears of the radial head of the DDF and to report the results of treatment. Objective: Tears of the radial head of the DDF cause lameness and distension of the carpal sheath of the digital flexor tendons. Removal of disrupted tissue that is extruded into the sheath can result in clinical resolution and restoration of function. Methods: Case records and diagnostic images of horses in which teari...
Buchholz BM, Murdock A, Bayly WM, Sides RH.The antifibrinolytic, 6-aminohexanoic acid, also named aminocaproic acid (ACA), has been used empirically as a treatment for exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) on the unsubstantiated basis that transient coagulation dysfunction may contribute to its development. Objective: To assess the effect of ACA on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) erythrocyte counts in horses performing treadmill exercise at an intensity greater than that needed to reach maximal oxygen consumption. Methods: Eight Thoroughbreds were exercised to fatigue 3 times on a 10% inclined treadmill at a speed for which...
Barnes A, Kingston J, Beetson S, Kuiper C.This study investigated the physiology of endurance horses competing in warm weather over technical terrain, a situation where horses may become metabolically compromised. Objective: There will be changes in physiological, haematological and biochemical variables as horses progress through the 160 km ride and horses detected clinically at the veterinary inspections as metabolically compromised will have significant differences in measured laboratory variables compared to horses that complete the ride successfully. Methods: Forty-eight horses competing in the Australian Tom Quilty 160 km endura...
McKenzie EC, Garrett RL, Payton ME, Riehl JH, Firshman AM, Valberg SJ.Dantrolene sodium is used to prevent exertional rhabdomyolysis in predisposed horses. Food intake might negatively impact dantrolene bioavailability in horses; however, prolonged feed restriction might be detrimental to performance. Objective: To determine a minimum duration of feed restriction that would optimise plasma dantrolene concentrations in horses after nasogastric administration. It was hypothesised that feed restriction for 4, 8 or 12 h before dantrolene administration would result in higher plasma dantrolene concentrations than achieved with no feed restriction before treatment. Me...
Clayton HM, Kaiser LJ, Lavagnino M, Stubbs NC.Based upon human data, it is probable that many conditions associated with neck pain in horses may benefit from performing mobilisation exercises as part of the rehabilitation protocol. Objective: To compare sagittal plane intervertebral angulations in a neutral standing position with the angulations at end range of motion in 3 dynamic mobility exercises performed in cervical flexion. Methods: Sagittal plane motion of the head, neck and back were measured in 8 sound horses standing in a neutral position and in 3 end-of-range neck flexion positions: chin-to-chest, chin-between-carpi, and chin-b...
Barrey E.Equine breeding selection has been developed by applying quantitative genetic methods for calculating the heritability of the complex traits such as performance in racing or sport competitions. With the great development of biotechnologies, equine molecular genetics has come of age. The recent sequencing of the equine genome by an international consortium was a major advance that will impact equine genomics in the near future. With the rapid progress in equine genetics, new applications in early performance evaluation and the detection of disease markers become available. Many new biomolecular...
Barrey E, Bonnamy B, Barrey EJ, Mata X, Chaffaux S, Guerin G.MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small endogenous noncoding interfering RNA molecules (18-25 nucleotides) regarded as major regulators in eukaryotic gene expression. They play a role in developmental timing, cellular differentiation, signalling and apoptosis pathways. Because of the central function of miRNAs in the proliferation and differentiation of the myoblasts demonstrated in mouse and man, it is assumed that they could be present in equine muscles and their expression profile may be related to the muscle status. Objective: To identify miRNA candidates in the muscles of control and affected horses ...
Liu X, Liu Q, Feng X, Tang Q, Wang Z, Li S, Feng Z, Zhu J, Guan X.Due to the disadvantages of human and equine rabies immunoglobulin, it is necessary to develop a substitute for HRIG and ERIG, especially for those people living in the developing countries. Because of higher affinity and lower immunogenicity of rabbit's immunoglobulins, anti-rabies immunoglobulins specific to rabies virus were produced in rabbits as a bioreactor, and had been characterized by ELISA, affinity assay, immunofluorescence assay (IFA), immunocytochemistry, rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). ELISA, affinity assay and IFA showed that rabbit RIG (RRIG) bound specifically...
Credille BC, Giguère S, Berghaus LJ, Burton AJ, Sturgill TL, Grover GS, Donecker JM, Brown SA.The objectives of this study were to determine the plasma and pulmonary disposition of ceftiofur crystalline free acid (CCFA) in weanling foals and to compare the plasma pharmacokinetic profile of weanling foals to that of adult horses. A single dose of CCFA was administered intramuscularly to six weanling foals and six adult horses at a dose of 6.6 mg/kg of body weight. Concentrations of desfuroylceftiofur acetamide (DCA) were determined in the plasma of all animals, and in pulmonary epithelial lining fluid (PELF) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells of foals. After intramuscular (IM) admin...
Eby G.Arthritis is inflammation in a joint often with joint damage, usually accompanied by pain, swelling and stiffness, resulting from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances, autoimmune or other causes. It occurs in various forms, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, bacterial arthritis and gout. Gallium III can inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1beta, produced by macrophage-like cells in vitro. A dose-dependent inhibition of IL-1beta and TPA stimulated MMP activity by gallium nitrate at increasing concentrations occurs, demonstrating t...
Breuhaus BA, Refsal KR, Beyerlein SL.The purpose of the study reported here was to validate measurement of free thyroxine (fT4) concentration in equine serum by equilibrium dialysis (fT4D), and to compare values with fT4 concentration measured directly and with total T4 (TT4) concentration. The fT4D, fT4, and TT4 concentrations were measured over a range of values in euthyroid horses and horses made hypothyroid by administration of propylthiouracil (PTU). Concentrations of fT4D (<1.8-83 pmol/L) were consistently higher than those of fT4 (<1-40 pmol/L). There was a significant (P < .001) regression of fT4D on fT4 in 503 s...
Harry P, de Haro L, Asfar P, David JM.To assess early clinical and biological prognosis factors in viper envenomings, and assess efficacy of Viperfav immunotherapy. Viperfav contains purified F(ab')2 fragments of equine antibodies. Methods: A retrospective case review study of viper envenomings collected by two poison centers in France, treated or not treated by Viperfav, was conducted. Two hundred seven cases of viper bites including 119 moderate or severe envenomings (Grade II and III, recorded in adults and children and collected from 1992 to 1997 were included. Before treatment, clinical gradation and early biological severity...
Meyers K, Reed S, Keck M, Clem M, Bayly W.Twenty-three horses with clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease were evaluated once or serially during the course of the disease for the presence or absence of circulating endotoxin-like substances (ET+ or ET-) and whether the horses were negative, positive, or very positive for serum fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP-, FDP+, or FDP++). In addition, platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and 1-stage prothrombin time (OSPT) were measured. When examined initially, 5 horses were ET-/FDP-, 8 were ET-/FDP+, 7 were ET+/FDP-, 3 were ET+/FDP+, and none was ET+/FDP+...
Manfredi JM, Stapley ED, Nadeau JA, Nash D.High insulin concentrations are a common clinical feature of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and insulin dysregulation. Hyperinsulinemia can induce laminitis, so reduction of insulin concentrations in response to an oral challenge should decrease risk. In human studies, diets containing a polyphenol (resveratrol) led to improvements in insulin sensitivity. In rodents, the addition of leucine to a resveratrol supplement caused a decrease in the amount of resveratrol needed to achieve a clinical effect. We hypothesize a supplementation with a low dose of a synergistic polyphenol and amino acid b...
Podico G, Gray SM, Wang L, Canisso IF.An 8-y-old jenny was presented because of anorexia and mild depression. The jenny had weaned her colt 10 d before the admission. Upon arrival at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, the heart rate was elevated, and the right udder was painful and swollen on palpation. Milk stripping of the affected side revealed purulent content; the contralateral udder had normal-appearing milk. Cytology of mammary gland secretions from the affected side revealed a large number of hypersegmented reactive neutrophils with phagocytized bacteria. Complete blood count, serum chemistry, and f...
Bettiol N, Dixon PM.Cheek teeth (CT) diastemata are a major equine dental disorder that can be treated by mechanically widening the diastemata. There is limited anatomical knowledge of the spatial relationships of the individual pulps to the adjacent interproximal surfaces; on the risks of exposing the 6th pulp horn when performing the clinically unproven 'bit seating' procedure on Triadan 06s. Objective: To describe the anatomical relationships between the occlusal and interproximal surfaces of CT and the adjacent pulp horns; and between the 6th pulp horn and the occlusal and rostral surfaces of Triadan 06s. Met...
Maciel JF, Gressler LT, da Silveira BP, Dotto E, Balzan C, Matter LB, Siqueira FM, de Vargas APC.Data about phylogenetic classification of Escherichia coli colonizing calves, lambs and foals are routinely neglected and restricted to outdated methodologies, even in the context of antimicrobial susceptibility (AS) testing. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the phylogenetic diversity and the AS profile of E. coli colony-forming units (CFUs) from faecal samples of healthy animals. Five CFUs of E. coli were randomly selected from each faecal culture of calves (n = 13), foals (n = 13) and lambs (n = 13), totalizing 195 CFUs phylo-typed by quadruplex PCR. The AS profile of five ...
Slocombe JO, Cote JF.Thirteen Standardbred horses, two to five years of age, were treated with ivermectin paste per os at 200 mug/kg of body weight and 13 were untreated. Two weeks after treatment, previously untreated horses were given the paste. Fecal samples were collected from all horses at the time of treatment and periodically thereafter up to 14 weeks and were examined for nematode eggs using the Cornell-McMaster dilution and the Cornell-Wisconsin double centrifugation procedures.All horses consumed the paste readily and had no signs of toxicosis. Strongyle eggs were found in the feces of all horses before ...
Caston SS, Sponseller BA, Dembek KA, Hostetter JM.A reformulation of Mycobacterium cell wall fraction immunotherapeutic can be used to successfully treat sarcoids in horses. Sarcoids are reported to be the most common equine skin tumors with tumor type and location influencing the choice of treatment. Wide surgical excision is curative for many tumors, but may not always be feasible. Previous studies have reported sarcoid regression after injection with mycobacterial cell wall immunotherapeutics. A new formulation of the Mycobacterium phlei cell wall fraction immunostimulant (Immunocidin Equine) was used to treat cutaneous tumors in horses. E...
Hassel DM, Smith PA, Nieto JE, Beldomenico P, Spier SJ.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a commercially available di-tri-octahedral (DTO) smectite product on clinical signs and prevalence of post-operative diarrhea in horses with colic associated with disease of the large intestine. Sixty-seven horses with surgical disease of the large intestine were randomly assigned to be treated with DTO smectite (n=37; 0.5 kg via nasogastric intubation every 24 h for 3 days post-operatively) or a placebo (n=30). The effect of treatment on fecal scores and clinical and hematological parameters, including heart rate, mucous membrane color, tem...
Bannai H, Tsujimura K, Nemoto M, Ohta M, Yamanaka T, Kokado H, Matsumura T.Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection is a major cause of pyrexias in winter among Japanese racehorses. In 2014-2015, the Japan Racing Association (JRA) changed the EHV-1 vaccine from an inactivated vaccine to a live vaccine (both produced by Nisseiken). To evaluate the effect of changing the vaccines, the capacities of these vaccines to induce virus-neutralizing (VN) antibodies were compared, and an epizootiological investigation of EHV-1 was performed at the JRA Ritto Training Center during epizootic periods from 2010-2011 to 2016-2017. Results: Three-year-old horses that received the ...
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...
Ehrhardt EE, Lowe JE.The reliability of abdominal auscultation was investigated via an observer variation study. Clinicians listened to a variety of minute-long equine gut sound recordings. They evaluated the amount of gut sounds as 'absent', 'decreased', 'normal', or 'increased'. They subsequently evaluated the same recordings replayed in a different order. Intra- and inter-observer agreement was measured by the statistic kappa. There was significant intra-observer (kappa 0.57) agreement, but less agreement between observers (kappa 0.37). The best agreement was on the classification of sound tracks as 'absent' (i...
The objective of this study was to compare effects of butorphanol (BUT) or buprenorphine (BUP), in combination with detomidine and diazepam, on the sedation quality, surgical conditions, and postoperative pain control after cheek tooth extraction in horses, randomly allocated to 2 treatment groups (BUT: = 20; BUP: = 20). A bolus of detomidine (15 μg/kg, IV) was followed by either BUP (7.5 μg/kg, IV) or BUT (0.05 mg/kg, IV). After 20 min, diazepam (0.01 mg/kg, IV) was administered and sedation was maintained with a detomidine IV infusion (20 μg/kg/h), with rate adjusted based on scores to ...
Haines GR, Brown MP, Gronwall RR, Merritt KA, Baltzley LK.Pharmacokinetics and distribution of orbifloxacin into body fluids and endometrium was studied in 6 mares after intragastric (IG) administration at a single dose rate of 7.5 mg/kg body weight. Orbifloxacin concentrations were serially measured in serum, synovial fluid, peritoneal fluid, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and endometrial tissues over 24 hours. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of orbifloxacin were determined for 120 equine pathogens over an 11-month period. The mean peak serum concentration (Cmax) was 2.41+/-0.30 microg/mL at 1.5 hours after administration and decreased to 0.17+/-0.01...
McGuire TC, Fraser DG, Mealey RH.Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are associated with virus control in horses infected with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). Early in infection, control of the initial viremia coincides with the appearance of CTL and occurs before the appearance of neutralizing antibody. In carrier horses, treatment with immunosuppressive drugs results in viremia before a change in serum neutralizing antibody occurs. Clearance of initial viremia caused by other lentiviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus-1 and simian immunodeficiency virus, is also associated with CTL and not neutralizing antibody. ...
Huppes T, Hermans H, Ensink JM.Implants are often used to improve the cosmetic appearance of horses after enucleation of the eye. When surgical site infection (SSI) occurs, the implant will almost always be lost. The aim of this study is to collect data on the risk factors for SSIs and report long-term follow-up (cosmetic results and return to work) after transpalpebral enucleations. In this retrospective study, records of horses undergoing transpalpebral enucleation were reviewed (2007-2014) and telephone interviews were used to obtain long term follow-up. The potential risk factors for SSIs (indication for enucleation, us...
Norris JK, Slusarewicz P, Nielsen MK.The efficacy of anthelmintic treatments against populations of endoparasites infecting livestock throughout the world is decreasing. To mitigate this, the use of fecal egg counts is recommended to determine both the necessity, and to ensure the appropriate choice, of anthelmintic treatment. Traditionally, and in order to facilitate easier identification and/or enumeration, samples are analysed after separating eggs from other fecal particulates by exposing them to a solution with a density higher than that of the eggs, but lower than the remaining fecal contents. While many parasite egg flotat...
Sterkenburgh T, Schulz-Kornas E, Nowak M, Staszyk C.Equine mastication, as well as dental wear patterns, is highly important for the development of treatments in equine dentistry. During the last decades, the stress and strain distributions of equine teeth have been successfully simulated using finite element analysis. Yet, to date, there is no simulation available for dental tooth wear in equines. In this study, we developed a simplified two-dimensional computer simulation of dental wear. It provides a first tentative explanation for the development of the marked physiological inclination of the occlusal surface and for pathological conditions...
Hanson RR.Suitable use of prophylactic antimicrobial drugs for wounds depends on the accurate selection of appropriate antibiotics, dosing regimen, and duration of use. Regional intravenous delivery and intraosseous infusion of antibiotics are pivotal to a successful outcome for deep-rooted infections, inadequately perfused tissue, and infected wounds containing biofilm. Antibiotic-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate beads are predominantly helpful for wounds that have a poor blood supply and for those containing surgical implants that must remain in place.
Whyard JM, Brounts SH.This study compared post-operative complications and survival in horses with right dorsal displacement of the large colon (RDD) and horses with other non-strangulating large colon (NSLC) lesions. Data were obtained from medical records of horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy from 2000 to 2016 and from owner questionnaire. Of 137 horses that fitted the inclusion criteria, 67 (49%) had RDD and 70 (51%) had NSLC lesions. Twenty-eight horses with RDD (42%) and 27 horses with NSLC (39%) experienced ≥ 1 complication after surgery. The RDD group showed more severe complications than the NSLC gr...
Murray MJ, Grodinsky C.Gastric fluid pH was measured in five adult horses following nasogastric administration of famotidine, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg bodyweight (bwt); ranitidine, 4.4 and 6.6 mg/kg bwt and an antacid containing magnesium hydroxide (40 mg/ml) and aluminium hydroxide (45 mg/ml), 120 and 180 ml. Fluid was aspirated through a 16 French nasogastric feeding tube at 15 min intervals, and pH was measured using a pH meter. Basal gastric fluid pH was measured at 20 min intervals for 6 h in each horse and, with the exception of two measurements of 4.66 and 4.17, ranged from 1.42 to 2.41, with a mean pH of 1.88...
Vezzosi T, Vitale V, Sgorbini M, Tognetti R, Bonelli F.Continuous electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring is the gold standard for diagnosing arrhythmias that occur intermittently or under exercise. The aim of this study was to compare two different methods for 24-hour Holter monitoring in horses, a 7-electrode system (7-ES) versus a 4-electrode system (4-ES), assessing the recording performance at rest and during exercise. Six standardbred horses were included in the present prospective study. Two different methods for 24-hour Holter monitoring were used in each horse with a washout period of one week between each recording method. In the first 15 ...
Sano H, Martin-Flores M, Santos LC, Cheetham J, Araos JD, Gleed RD.To evaluate the effect of epidural morphine on gastrointestinal (GI) motility in horses. Methods: Randomly ordered crossover design. Methods: Six healthy adult horses weighing 585± 48 kg (mean±SD). Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to receive either 0.2 mg kg(-1) morphine or an equal volume (0.04 mL kg(-1)) of saline epidurally (the first inter coccygeal space) with 2 weeks between treatments. The horses were stabled, fed a standardized diet and allowed water ad libitum throughout the duration of the study. Radiopaque spheres were administered by stomach tube. Xylazine 0.2 mg kg(-1) int...
Yang Q, Lopez MJ.The equine hoof capsule, composed of modified epidermis and dermis, is vital for protecting the third phalanx from forces of locomotion. There are descriptions of laminitis, defined as inflammation of sensitive hoof tissues but recognized as pathologic changes with or without inflammatory mediators, in the earliest records of domesticated horses. Laminitis can range from mild to serious, and signs can be acute, chronic, or transition from acute, severe inflammation to permanently abnormal tissue. Damage within the intricate dermal and epidermal connections of the primary and secondary lamellae...
Norvall A, Cota JG, Pusterla N, Cissell D.Equine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) diseases are increasingly recognized as a problem for the well-being and performance of horses. Diagnosis is confounded by overlap of clinical signs associated with pathology of the oral cavity, poll, and cervical vertebrae. Arthrocentesis for intra-articular analgesia, sampling of synovial fluid, and medication is needed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Ultrasound features of the normal TMJ and a blind arthrocentesis technique have been described, but a systematic approach to ultrasound-guided (USG) arthrocentesis has not been reported. Ultrasound ...
Airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) are pivotal characteristics of equine asthma. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) may have a central role in modulating airway inflammation and dysfunction. Therefore, the aim of this study was to match the inflammatory and contractile profile in LPS-challenged equine isolated bronchi to identify molecular targets potentially suitable to counteract AHR in asthmatic horses. Equine isolated bronchi were incubated overnight with LPS (0.1-100 ng/ml). The contractile response to electrical field stimulation (EFS) and the levels of cytokines, chemokines...
Panzer RB.The traditional Chinese (TC) and transpositional (TP) methods of animal acupoint location result in different acupoint charts. Representative TC and TP equine zangfu organ shu-association acupoint charts are compared to each other and to a human chart. Despite their differences, practitioners of both methods appear to achieve equally effective therapeutic results--a phenomenon termed "traditional Chinese/transpositional equal efficacy" (TTEE). Common veterinary acupuncture practices, traditional Chinese medical theory, spinal cord anatomy, and a preliminary equine "association segment" chart a...
Ciupe SM, Schwartz EJ.We develop a mathematical model for the interaction between two competing equine infectious anemia virus strains and neutralizing antibodies. We predict that elimination of one or both virus strains depends on the initial antibody levels, the strength of antibody mediated neutralization, and the persistence of antibody over time. We further show that the ability of a subdominant, neutralization resistant virus to dominate the infection transiently or permanently is dependent on the antibody-mediated neutralization effect. Finally, we determine conditions for persistence of both virus strains. ...
