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.
Booth TM, Abbot J, Clements A, Singer ER, Clegg PD.To describe and evaluate a technique for radical resection of the entire intrathecal component of the common digital extensor tendon (CDET) in horses. Methods: Prospective clinical study. Methods: Seven client-owned horses. Methods: Seven horses with wounds that resulted in septic tenosynovitis of the CDET sheath were treated by complete surgical resection of the affected tendon and ablation of the tendon sheath; 5 had previous surgery that was unsuccessful. Time from initial injury to complete resection was 1-22 weeks. In 6 horses, the wound was closed primarily using a closed suction (4 hors...
Cruz AM, Kerr CL, Bouré LP, Sears WC.To determine the cardiovascular effects of 60 minutes of abdominal insufflation with CO2 to an intra-abdominal pressure of 15 mm Hg in standing horses receiving a constant rate infusion of detomidine. Methods: 5 horses. Methods: Horses were randomly allocated into treatment or control groups. A washout period of a minimum of 7 days separated the 2 experimental periods of the crossover study. Catheters were placed into the right atrium, pulmonary artery, jugular vein, and right transverse facial artery after lidocaine infiltration. All horses were sedated with detomidine (8.54 microg/kg/h, i.v....
Ryu SH, Bak UB, Lee CW, Lee YL.A 13-year-old Thoroughbred mare, retired from race, was admitted to Equine Hospital, Korea Racing Association with signs of colic. One and a half months following the previous treatment (second time) and 11 days following her previous discharge (third time), the mare repeatedly exhibited signs of colic and finally along with icteric eyes. Routine medical treatment with intravenous fluids, analgesics resulted in resolution of signs of colic in the first and second admission. The condition of the mare did not improve in the third admission despite over one month supportive treatment and she was ...
Mattson S, Bouré L, Pearce S, Hurtig M, Burger J, Black W.To report tissue gentamicin concentrations after intraosseous (IO) perfusion in standing horses. Methods: In vivo study. Methods: Twelve horses. Methods: Sedated horses had a cannulated cortical bone screw inserted into the dorsolateral aspect of the treated metacarpus and a tourniquet applied proximally. Gentamicin (2.2 mg/kg) diluted in sterile saline solution (0.1 mL/kg) was infused through the screw. Two horses were euthanatized at each time interval: 0, 2, 6, 12, 24, and 36 hours. Synovial fluid and bone samples were collected distal to the screw from both forelimbs. Gentamicin concentrat...
Caldwell FJ, Mueller PO, Lynn RC, Budsberg SC.To determine whether 1% diclofenac liposomal suspension (DLS) ointment would be absorbed transdermally and attenuate experimentally induced subcutaneous inflammation in horses. Methods: 7 healthy adult horses. Methods: Inflammation was produced by injecting 1% sterile carrageenan into subcutaneously implanted tissue cages 8 hours before (time -8) and at the time of application of test ointment. A crossover design was used. Horses received 1 of 2 treatments (topically administered control or DLS ointments) during 48 hours of carrageenan-induced subcutaneous inflammation. A single application of...
Engelen M, Besche B, Lefay MP, Hare J, Vlaminck K.The objective of this multicentre, randomized, controlled field study was to determine the efficacy of ketanserin gel in preventing exuberant granulation tissue formation (hypergranulation) and infection in equine lower limb wounds. Horses and ponies (n = 481) with naturally occurring wounds were randomized to either topical treatment with ketanserin gel (n = 242) or a positive control (Belgium, Germany: ethacridin lactate solution, n = 120; France, United Kingdom: malic, benzoic, and salicylic acid [MBS] cream, n = 119). Treatment continued until the wound healed (success), formed hypergranul...
Bell AJ.A 10-year-old Thoroughbred mare was presented with a 2.5-week history of headshaking. Based on a thorough physical examination, blood analysis, and a fine needle aspirate of an enlarged thyroid gland, a tentative diagnosis of seasonal idiopathic headshaking was made. Treatment with cyproheptadine was attempted. Une jument Thoroughbred âgée de 10 ans a été présentée pour un problème d’encensement qui durait depuis 2.5 semaines. Suite à un examen physique méticuleux, à une analyse de sang et à un prélèvement par aspiration à l’aiguille de la glande thyroïde hypertrophiée, un...
Webb BA, Barney WE, Dahlman DL, DeBorde SN, Weer C, Williams NM, Donahue JM, McDowell KJ.A new equine abortigenic disease, mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), was recognized and significantly impacted the Ohio Valley in the springs of 2001 and 2002. MRLS caused approximately 330 million US dollars in losses in 2001. An epidemiological investigation of MRLS associated occurrence of the disease with exposure to eastern tent caterpillars (M. americanum). This work investigates the epidemiological association between M. americanum and MRLS to determine if this association was correlative or causative. A pilot study and simulated exposure to M. americanum and their excreta on pastu...
Hines R, Sorensen BR, Shea MA, Maury W.Binding of the transcription factor PU.1 to its DNA binding motif regulates the expression of a number of B-cell- and myeloid-specific genes. The long terminal repeat (LTR) of macrophage-tropic strains of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) contains three PU.1 binding sites, namely an invariant promoter-proximal site as well as two upstream sites. We have previously shown that these sites are important for EIAV LTR activity in primary macrophages (W. Maury, J. Virol. 68:6270-6279, 1994). Since the sequences present in these three binding motifs are not identical, we sought to determine the r...
Zablotskij VT, Georgiu C, de Waal T, Clausen PH, Claes F, Touratier L.During its 20th annual meeting in Paris in May 1999, the OIE (World organisation for animal health) Ad Hoc Group on Non-Tsetse Transmitted Animal Trypanosomoses expressed the following concerns about dourine: the discrepancies in some of the results of the complement fixation test (CFT), which is the only international diagnostic test officially recognised by the International Organisation for the Transportation of Equidae; the persistence of suspected cases of dourine in some Asian, European and African countries; the impossibility of differentiating Trypanosoma equiperdum from Trypanosoma ev...
Taouji S, Nomura I, Giguère S, Tomomitsu S, Kakuda T, Ganne V, Takaï S.Amino acid 65-78 of membrane protein VapA of the facultative intracellular Rhodococcus equi contained an immunodominant N-terminal B-cell epitope (N15Y peptide). Safety and immunogenecity of a synthetic peptide consisting of the amino acid 65-78 of VapA (peptide N15Y) were evaluated first in mice and in healthy adult horses. A single dose of a peptide-VapA vaccine induced and only in presence of adjuvant, specific IgG antibodies in sera of mice. After challenge with virulent R. equi 3 weeks after immunization, tissue clearance was more delayed in immunized mice than in control mice. An antibod...
Saulez MN, Schlipf JW, Cebra CK, McDonough SP, Bird KE.A 4-year-old Oldenburg mare was evaluated because of signs of lower airway disease and subsequently developed bilateral pleural effusion. Neoplastic cells were not identified in the fluid sample obtained via the initial thoracocentesis. A thoracic mass was detected radiographically, but its location prevented collection of a tissue sample. A diagnosis of lymphoma was made on the basis of results of immunophenotyping of pleural fluid specimens. Treatment of thoracic lymphoma in horses has been attempted, but there are limited data regarding chemotherapeutic-induced remission. In this horse, rem...
DeRossi R, Sampaio BF, Varela JV, Junqueira AL.Epidural administration of bupivacaine and meperidine produces analgesia in several animal species and in humans. A prospective randomized study was conducted in 18 healthy horses to compare the effect of these 2 drugs administered by the epidural route. Animals were divided into 3 treatment groups of 6 animals each. All drugs were injected by the epidural route in all animals between the 1st and 2nd coccygeal vertebrae. Treatment 1 (BUP)--0.06 mg/kg of body weight of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine; treatment 2 (MEP)--0.6 mg/kg of body weight of 5% meperidine; treatment 3 (SS)--0.9% saline soluti...
Archer DC, Freeman DE, Doyle AJ, Proudman CJ, Edwards GB.To determine whether there was an association between a history of cribbing and epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE) of the small intestine in horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 68 horses examined at the University of Illinois or the University of Liverpool veterinary teaching hospitals. Methods: For horses examined at the University of Illinois that underwent surgery because of strangulating small intestine lesions, information about cribbing was obtained through telephone calls with owners. For horses examined at the University of Liverpool that underwent surgery for colic for any r...
Bosken JM, Lehner AF, Hughes CG, Woods WE, Camargo FC, Harkins JD, Boyles J, Tobin T.Isoxsuprine is used to treat navicular disease and other lower-limb problems in the horse. Isoxsuprine is regulated as a class 4 compound by the Association of Racing Commissioners, International (ARCI) and, thus, requires regulatory monitoring. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method utilizing electron impact ionization was developed and validated for the quantitation of isoxsuprine in equine plasma or equine urine. The method utilized robotic solid-phase extraction and tri-methyl silyl ether products of derivatization. Products were bis-trimethylsilyl (TMS) isoxsuprine and tris-TMS rit...
Trostle S.A working knowledge of normal endoscopic anatomy and the effects of positioning must be mastered to take advantage of endoscopic procedures involving the gastrointestinal system. Endoscopic procedures involving the gastrointestinal system offer advantages over conventional surgery in that they are less invasive and provide direct visualization. Laparoscopy can be used to evaluate horses with abdominal pain before and after surgery. It can be used to evaluate and biopsy abdominal masses and parenchymal organs such as the spleen, liver, and kidney. Endoscopic gastrointestinal surgical procedures...
Hendrickson DA.Equine surgery continues to benefit from advances in endoscopic surgical techniques. Much of what we have learned in equine endoscopy comes from techniques used in humans. Descriptions of the normal anatomy of the standing horse and advances in instrumentation have improved our ability to perform laparoscopic surgery in standing and dorsally recumbent horses. This article describes the history of laparoscopy and available instrumentation.
Shettko DL.As laparoscopic surgery gains popularity, it becomes crucial to understand complications associated with the procedure. The potential complications of laparoscopy include those related to laparoscopy and those related to the surgical procedure. As new applications for laparoscopic surgery emerge, it is important for the surgeon to become familiar with potential complications.
Ragle CA.The ventral abdominal approach for laparoscopy is versatile. Reported techniques using a ventral approach in the mare include bilateral ovariectomy and granulosa cell tumor removal. Laparoscopic ovariectomy is performed by way of four instrument portals in the caudoventral aspect of the insufflated abdomen. The procedure has several advantages over the traditional approaches of colpotomy and celiotomy, including tension-free closure of all incisions and minimal invasiveness.
Dechant JE, Hendrickson DA.Standing female urogenital endoscopic surgery is facilitated by the more dorsal location of the organs of the female reproduction tract. The most common reason for laparoscopic surgery on the female urogenital system is ovariectomy; however, the technique has been used to diagnose periparturient or reproductive diseases and to perform surgical embryo transfer. Standing surgical approaches avoid the risk and expense of general anesthesia, but these techniques are limited by the temperament and size of the patient and the availability of facilities for restraint. Owner acceptance of laparoscopic...
Klohnen A, Peroni JF.With the recent development of video-assisted thoracic surgery, visual inspection of the thoracic cavity has been used to provide a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis of thoracic diseases and to better manage these diseases. Equipment, techniques, and complications for standing thoracoscopy in horses are described.
Blikslager AT, Tate LP.There are clearly a number of applications for which flexible endoscopic laser surgery has become the state of the art in equine surgery, and the Nd:YAG laser seems to be the most versatile instrument for this type of surgery. Nevertheless, it is critical to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each laser technique. For example, the Nd:YAG laser used in a noncontact fashion seems to be superior when ablation of tissue is required such as treatment of upper airway masses. Conversely, contact Nd:YAG laser techniques have proven themselves to be superior when more precise cutting is adv...
Ragle CA.Laparoscopic cystotomy is the method of choice for treatment of a cystic calculus in the horse. The main advantage of this procedure over others is the excellent ability to view and gain operative access to the urinary bladder. This article describes the procedure, including techniques, instrumentation, preoperative and postoperative care, and complications.
Trumble TN, Hendrickson DA.Standing laparoscopy in the horse was used initially as a diagnostic tool to assist in the diagnosis of a cryptorchid testicle. Now, this technique is also used for treatment of cryptorchid testicles. The focus of this article is the standing laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy, the most common laparoscopic procedure performed on the male equine urogenital tract. Advantages, disadvantages, instrumentation, and general procedure are discussed.
Wilson DG.Possibly no other development has revolutionized general surgery more dramatically than laparoscopic surgery in human patients. The development of instrumentation suitable for use in horses has allowed the veterinary surgeon to begin to introduce minimally invasive procedures. Clearly, in people, one of the greatest benefits is reduced patient morbidity and earlier return to function. The author's experience with laparoscopic procedures in the horse would tend to reinforce those observations. The most significant obstacle to widespread acceptance of minimally invasive surgery in the horse is p...
Gomez JH, Schumacher J, Lauten SD, Sartin EA, Hathcock TL, Swaim SF.Three biologic dressings [split-thickness allogeneic skin (STS)], allogeneic peritoneum (P), and xenogenic porcine small intestinal submucosa (PSIS)] were studied to determine their effects on bacterial proliferation, inflammatory reaction, vascularization, and overall healing and to compare the effects of these dressings with the effects of a nonbiologic dressing, a nonadherent synthetic pad (NASP). A medial wound (3 cm in diameter) and 2 lateral wounds (2 cm in diameter) were created at the junction of the proximal and middle thirds of each metacarpus and metatarsus in 5 horses. Each medial ...
Scotty NC, Cutler TJ, Brooks DE, Ferrell E.To define the indications for equine ocular ultrasonography and to provide representative ultrasonographic images of lens and posterior segment diseases. Methods: Retrospective study. Equine medical records dating from January 1983 to March 2001 were reviewed. All cases that: (1) had a lens and/or posterior segment abnormality; and (2) received a complete ophthalmic examination and ocular ultrasonography were included. Results: Forty-three cases (n = 64 eyes) out of 112 total cases of equine lens and/or posterior segment abnormalities qualified. The following conditions were identified ultraso...
Billinghurst RC, Brama PA, van Weeren PR, Knowlton MS, McIlwraith CW.To determine whether serum concentrations of biomarkers of skeletal metabolism can, in conjunction with radiographic evaluation, indicate severity of osteochondrosis in developing horses. Methods: 43 Dutch Warmblood foals with varying severity of osteochondrosis. Methods: 24 foals were monitored for 5 months and 19 foals were monitored for 11 months. Monthly radiographs of femoropatellar-femorotibial and tibio-tarsal joints were graded for osteochondral abnormalities. Serial blood samples were assayed for 8 cartilage and bone biomarkers. At the end of the monitoring period, foals were examined...
Piccot-Crézollet C, Cauvin ER, Lepage OM.To compare accuracy of 2 methods for injection of the podotrochlear bursa in horses. Methods: Observational study. Methods: 17 French Standardbreds. Methods: In each horse, contrast medium was injected into the podotrochlear bursa of 1 foot by use of a distal palmar approach with the needle inserted parallel to the sole (DPPS) and into the podotrochlear bursa of the other foot by use of a distal palmar approach to the navicular position (DPNP). Podotrochlear bursa injection was evaluated by means of radiographic examination in all horses and postmortem examination in 6. Results: Contrast mediu...
Johnson JP, Peckham RK, Rowan C, Wolfe A, O'Leary JM.Blinded techniques to desensitize the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) include intraoral, angled, and vertical extraoral approaches with reported success rates of 100%, 73%, and 59%, respectively. It has not been determined whether an ultrasound-guided extraoral approach is feasible. Further, the fascicular nature of the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves of the horse has not been described. The objectives of this study were to describe a low-volume ultrasound-guided vertical extraoral inferior alveolar nerve block technique and to describe the fascicular nature of these nerves. An ultrasound-g...
Moagabo KT, Monyame KB, Baipoledi EK, Letshwenyo M, Mapitse N, Hyera JM.A longitudinal study of animal and human rabies covering 18 years from 1989 to 2006 was retrospectively conducted in order to highlight the epidemiological features and trends of the disease in Botswana. Over the 18-year period, a total of 4 306 brain specimens collected from various species of animals including human beings with clinical signs consistent with rabies were submitted to the National Veterinary Laboratory in Gaborone for confirmatory diagnosis. Of the samples submitted, 2419 cases were found to be positive for lyssavirus antigen; this presents an overall prevalence rate of 56.18 ...
Janicek J, Lopes MA, Wilson DA, Reed S, Keegan KG.Fibrotic myopathy can cause incapacitating gait abnormalities. Transection of the fibrotic mass followed by early post operative exercise is the best treatment for fibrotic myopathy. A laser may be used to transect the fibrotic mass. Assessment of the effectiveness of therapies for fibrotic myopathy has been limited to subjective evaluation. Objective: To objectively assess gait abnormalities associated with fibrotic myopathy before and after laser fibrotomy followed by early post operative exercise. Methods: Kinematic evaluation of horses with fibrotic myopathy walking and trotting on a tread...
Almeida BFM, Amatti LZ, de Souza GG, Garcia LV, Montechiesi DF, Ignácio FS, de Oliveira PL, Costa LR, Floriano BP, Bosculo MRM, Joaquim JGF, Rubio CP.With the purpose of assessing the effects of uterine ozone therapy and anticoagulant sampling on oxidative stress (OS) parameters in mares, ten mares underwent three consecutive days of uterine ozone therapy by flushing the uterus with ozonated lactated Ringer's solution followed by insufflation with ozone‑oxygen gas. Serum samples were obtained at baseline and days 3, 6, 10 and 17 to determine the effect of ozone therapy on OS markers. Plasma obtained with anticoagulants citrate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and heparin were at baseline and 6 days following therapy to determine t...
Meschter CL, Craig D, Hackett R.This investigation examines the histological and ultrastructural lesions of the colonic mucosa during terminal experimental infarction and subsequent reperfusion. Four ponies were anaesthetised and subjected to surgical torsion of the colon. Biopsies were collected at hourly intervals for 3 h, at which point the torsions were corrected. Circulation was re-established for 2 h and the bowel was re-biopsied at hourly intervals. The ponies were killed while under anaesthesia. During the 3 h experimental infarction, the bowel became macroscopically thickened and dark purple. Histologically, the muc...
Moreno CR, Santschi EM, Younkin JT, Larson RL, Litsky AS.To determine the failure method of simulated equine medial femoral condyle (MFC) subchondral bone defects under compression and the influence of screw placement on failure resistance. Methods: In vitro study. Methods: Composite disks (CD) simulating the moduli of yearling bone in the MFC. Methods: Four CD conditions were tested, all with a 12.7 mm void (n = 6 per condition): intact (no void), void only, void with a 4.5 mm screw placed in neutral fashion, and void with a 4.5 mm screw placed in lag fashion. Composite disks of each condition were tested under monotonic compression to 6000...
Simhofer H, Niederl M, Anen C, Rijkenhuizen A, Peham C.The objective of this study was to compare masticatory movements before and after dental treatment using kinematic analysis. The masticatory movements of 15 adult Warmblood horses with mild dental pathology chewing standardised hay were recorded on three consecutive days before and three times after (days 7, 21, 28) dental correction. The results of the leading mandibular tracking marker, located at the caudal edge of the inter-mandibular suture, were compared statistically. Reproducibility of measurements prior to dental treatment was excellent (P<0.05). Rostrocaudal mandibular motion was ...
Sharkey LC, DeWitt S, Stockman C.A 23-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was referred for the evaluation of acute onset of ataxia and depression, and a 2-day history of fever. On physical examination, the gelding was profoundly depressed and 10-12% dehydrated. The horse appeared very unstable, with a wide-based stance in the hind limbs, severe symmetric ataxia in all 4 limbs, and proprioceptive deficits in both hind limbs. Nasogastric intubation produced 4 L of brown, fetid reflux, and rectal examination revealed mild small intestinal and cecal distention. Hematologic abnormalities included neutropenia with toxic change, compatibl...
Calisher CH, Mahmud MI, el-Kafrawi AO, Emerson JK, Muth DJ.Paired sera from 28 nonvaccinated horses with serologically confirmed western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus infections were evaluated for immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG directed against WEE virus, by use of enzyme immunoassay. Twenty-one of the horses developed greater than or equal to 4-fold increases or decreases in serum IgM titers in paired serum samples, confirming the diagnosis of WEE in these horses. Of the remaining 7 horses, 1 had stable IgM titers, 1 had a 2-fold increase in IgM titer between paired sera, 2 had 2-fold decreases in IgM titer, and for 3 horses adequate volumes were not...
Stover SM, Brown MP, Kelly RH, Farver TB, Knight HD.Six adult mares were given a single dose of aqueous suspension procaine penicillin G (300,000 IU/ml) IM at a dosage of 22,000 IU/kg of body weight (15.4 mg of penicillin G/kg). Serum, synovial fluid, peritoneal fluid, and urine penicillin concentrations were measured serially over a 48-hour period. The mean peak serum penicillin concentration was 1.42 microgram/ml at 3 hours. Penicillin was detected in synovial fluid and peritoneal fluid, which obtained mean peak penicillin concentrations of 0.62 microgram/ml and 0.58 microgram/ml, at 4 hours and 3 hours, respectively. These concentrations ste...
Dart AJ, Snyder JR, Pascoe JR, Farver TB, Galuppo LD.The signalment, clinical and laboratory findings of surgical conditions, treatment, and outcome of 102 cases of descending colon disease in horses were reviewed. Abnormal conditions were categorized as enteroliths, impactions, strangulating lipomas, fecaliths, foreign body obstruction, volvulus, nephrosplenic entrapment, and other conditions. Eleven breed categories of horses were seen during this period. Arabians, ponies, and American miniature horses were more predisposed to descending colon disease than other breeds (P less than 0.05). Female horses and animals greater than 15 years old wer...
Weiss DJ, Evanson OA, McClenahan D, Fagliari JJ, Dunnwiddie CT, Wells RE.To determining whether inhibition of platelet aggregation prevents development of carbohydrate overload-induced alimentary laminitis. Methods: 22 healthy adult ponies. Methods: Acute laminitis was induced by oral administration of corn starch/wood flour to 16 ponies, 8 of which were treated with a synthetic analogue of the platelet fibrinogen receptor antagonist peptide (RPR) RGDS (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-serine) 110885; 6 ponies served as negative controls. Blood was collected before and at 4, 8, 12, 24, 28, and 32 hours after administration of carbohydrate overload, and PCV, total pla...
Lumsden JM, Derksen FJ, Stick JA, Robinson NE.Flow-volume loops generated from 6 Standardbreds at rest and during treadmill exercise were evaluated for their use in detecting upper airway obstruction. Tidal breathing flow-volume loops (TBFVL) were obtained from horses at rest and exercising at speeds corresponding to 75% of maximal heart rate and at maximal heart rate. The TBFVL were evaluated, using a pulmonary function computer; calculated indices describing airflow rate and expiratory-to-inspiratory airflow ratio for individual loops were determined. In addition to TBFVL indices, standard variables of upper airway function also were me...
Heaton K, Farnsworth KD, Souza CRS, Jones ARE. This report describes the use of a minimally invasive standing pastern arthrodesis technique for the treatment of osteoarthritis in horses and documents its clinical outcome in 12 horses. Methods: Medical records and radiographs of horses diagnosed with proximal interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis that underwent standing pastern arthrodesis using transarticular screws were reviewed. Follow-up information for determination of outcome was obtained via phone interview with the owners. Results: Twelve horses (15 limbs) were included in the study. Radiographical findings revealed severe o...
Freeman DE, Donawick WJ.A procedure developed to occlude the internal carotid artery of horses with guttural pouch mycosis was modified was modified and evaluated in nine clinically normal horses. The left internal carotid artery was ligated at its origin and occluded distally with an intraluminal balloon catheter. In four horses, the balloon-tipped catheters were left in place until these horses were euthanatized at 4 to 244 days after surgery. In the remaining horses, the catheters were removed after 10 to 14 days by a cutdown procedure, and these horses were euthanatized 1 to 60 days after catheter removal. In bot...
Virgin JE, Holcombe SJ, Caron JP, Cheetham J, Kurtz KA, Roessner HA, Ducharme NG, Hauptman JG, Nelson NC.Pharyngeal dysphagia is a debilitating, sometimes fatal condition in horses, with multiple aetiologies. The pathophysiology is complex and not fully understood. Treatment is largely supportive. Laryngeal advancement surgery may diminish symptoms of dysphagia and improve swallowing in affected horses. Objective: 1) to induce reversible moderate and marked pharyngeal dysphagia by regional anaesthesia of branches of the glossopharyngeal (IX), vagus (X) and hypoglossal (XII) nerves; 2) to characterise the dysphagia produced by each model; and 3) to determine whether laryngeal advancement surgery i...
Gerber V, Straub R, Frey J.In Switzerland, the incidence of equine botulism and acute pasture myodystrophy have remarkably increased in the last five years. Equine fodder-borne botulism in Europe is most likely caused by Clostridium botulinum types C and D that produce the toxins BoNT/C and BoNT/D. Horses showing signs suggestive of botulism (muscle weakness and tremors, reduced tongue tone, slow chewing, salivation and difficulties swallowing, drooping eyelids, mydriasis), especially patients that have fed on suspect fodder (mostly haylage), must be treated with anti-serum as soon as possible. They also need intensive ...
Putnam JR, Holmes LM, Green MJ, Freeman SL.Lameness is a common problem in the horse. Despite this, information on the incidence of lameness in horses in the UK is restricted to studies of lameness in performance horses, racehorses or referral hospital populations. Objective: To determine the overall incidence and common causes of lameness in a working horse population and incidence, duration and outcome of conditions observed. Methods: Prospective questionnaire study. Methods: Questionnaires were used to record lameness episodes in 294 horses in an equine military establishment. Information recorded included age, years of service, typ...
Rosenstein DS, Bowker RM, Bartlett PC.To describe the vascular anatomy of the palmar digital artery and its major branches in the equine foot and to quantify the diameter of these vessels by use of digital angiograms. Sample Population-6 thoracic limbs obtained from 6 horses. Methods: Distal portions of each limb were perfused with aerated Krebs-Henseleit solution. Digital angiograms were acquired in standing and lateral recumbent positions, following an intra-arterial injection of iopamidol. Select vessels were measured on radiographic views, and values were corrected for magnification. Results: The palmar digital artery tapered ...
Kumar R, Yadav SC, Kumar S, Dilbaghi N.A rapid flow-through immunoassay using protein A labeled gold nanoparticles (GNPs) for the qualitative detection of trypanosomosis in equine serum samples was developed. The flow-through device consisted of antigen-coated nitrocellulose membrane fixed on absorbent pads. The GNPs based detection probe was used as the colored marker. The assay can be employed for the detection of specific antibodies at 14 days post-infection in the infected pooled serum samples of equines. The assay can be conducted in < 5 min. The results of the flow-through assay were comparable with the methods like E...
Blackall PJ, Bisgaard M, McKenzie RA.The objective of this work was to perform a comprehensive phenotypic characterisation of 16 isolates of bacteria previously identified as Actinobacillus equuli. Methods: The 16 isolates that had been obtained from Australian animals--15 from horses and one from a rabbit--were compared with reference strains of A equuli, A capsulatus, Pasteurella caballi and Bisgaard Taxa 9 and 11. Results: The characterisation study demonstrated that only nine of the isolates were A equuli. The other isolates were identified as A capsulatus (the isolate from rabbit), P caballi (one isolate), Bisgaard Taxon 11 ...
Levionnois OL, Spadavecchia C, Kronen PW, Schatzmann U.To determine the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in Shetland ponies using a sequence of three different supramaximal noxious stimulations at each tested concentration of isoflurane rather than a single stimulation. Methods: Prospective, experimental trial. Methods: Seven 4-year-old, gelding Shetland ponies. Methods: The MAC of isoflurane was determined for each pony. Three different modes of electrical stimulation were applied consecutively (2 minute intervals): two using constant voltage (90 V) on the gingiva via needle- (CVneedle) or surface-electrodes (CVsurface) and one ...
Turk JR, Gallina AM, Liu IM, Nickels F, Grossman B.A 6-month-old Morgan colt was examined because of preputial edema and multiple nodular masses in the left inguinal region. A tentative diagnosis of lymphatic hamartoma was made on the basis of initial biopsy findings. The prognosis for surgical excision was poor due to the progressive expansile growth of the tumor. Secondary infectious complications developed, and the colt was euthanatized at the owner's request. An abdominal and retroperitoneal mass was seen at postmortem examination. The mass was adherent to the left lumbar musculature, the craniodorsal aspect of the pelvic inlet, the midjej...
Banfield J, Lisak R, Omar A, Domingos W, Fiaschitello A, Morales-Gomez A, Divers TJ, Mohammed HO.We carried out an investigation to identify the factors that predispose to the risk of equine motor neuron disease (EMND) and evaluated the long-term impact of an intervention. Data on several biomarkers, including antioxidants (α-tocopherols, β-carotenes, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx)), and superoxide dismutase (SOD1), neurofilaments, and other putative risk factors hypothesized to associate with the likelihood of EMND were collected. The data were analyzed for their significance of association with the condition. The EMND outbreak started in 1991 and continued until 1998. A total of 69 EM...
Smith FL, Magdesian KG, Michel AO, Vaughan B, Reilly CM.A new syndrome of hematuria in horses has been documented. Objective: Hemorrhagic cystitis is a novel cause of stranguria and hematuria in horses. This syndrome may be difficult to differentiate from bladder neoplasia because they share several clinical features. Methods: Eleven horses with idiopathic hemorrhagic cystitis and 7 horses with bladder neoplasia. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Results: Hemorrhagic cystitis was detected on cystoscopy of affected horses, with hemorrhagic and thickened apical bladder mucosa. Clinical signs and endoscopic appearance of the bladder resolved within...
Vaala WE.Other therapeutic agents used in foals for specific diseases are discussed elsewhere. The marked effect of species, age, and degree of maturity on drug metabolism in the neonate reinforces the danger of interspecies extrapolation of pharmacology, the need for information specific for the foal, and the necessity for monitoring drug levels in the individual. Suggested antimicrobial doses are listed in Tables 3, 4, and 6. Recommended doses of anticonvulsants and sedatives are listed in Table 8 and in the article "Intensive Care of the Neonatal Foal." The following are recommendations for drug the...
Morgan D.Although there is no recognized transmission of human arboviral infections in the UK, concerns about the possible spread of West Nile virus (WNV) have precipitated coordinated activities around both surveillance and response. The Department of Health has chaired a UK WNV task force since the end of 2000. This is a multidisciplinary group of senior representatives from Agencies and Government Departments involved in human and animal health, entomology and academic departments. Activities include surveillance for WNV infections in humans, and in dead birds, mosquitoes and horses. All have been n...
Hermans H, Ensink JM.Distichiasis is very uncommon in horses and treatment options and outcome remain unknown. Objective: To describe treatment and long-term follow-up of distichiasis in the horse. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: Case records of horses admitted for diagnosis and treatment of uni- or bilateral distichiasis between 2003 and 2012 were reviewed. Long-term (>6 months after last treatment) follow-up was by telephone conversation with the owner or referring veterinarian. Data were analysed using a Chi-squared test. Results: Eighteen cases were identified, of which 17 were Friesians. All h...
Fey K, Schmid P.Using a broth microdilution technique, the in vitro susceptibility of bacterial isolates from the equine respiratory tract to trimethoprim, sulfadoxine, sulfadimethoxine, and combinations of these compounds was determined. The bacterial strains (n = 88) isolated recently from horses with respiratory symptoms belonged to the following species: Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (n = 34), Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (n = 22), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 9), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 7), Rhodococcus equi (n = 4), Pseudomonas spp. (n = 3) and Escherichia coli (n = 3). In addition, two isol...
