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.
Egerbacher M, Wolfesberger B, Gabler C.Quinolones and magnesium deficiency cause similar lesions in joint cartilage of young animals. Chondrocytes cultivated in the presence of quinolones and in Mg-free medium show severe alterations in cytoskeleton and decreased ability to adhere to the culture dish. We investigated whether Mg2+ supplementation can prevent quinolone-mediated effects on chondrocytes in vitro. Chondrocytes cultivated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium/HAM's F-12 medium were treated with ciprofloxacin (80 and 160 microg/ml) and enrofloxacin (100 and 150 microg/ml). Mg2+ was added at a concentration of 0.0612 mg/ml...
Rees CA.Urticaria secondary to atopy may be a familial problem in some horses. Immunotherapy using a vaccine containing antigens selected on the basis of history and results of intradermal testing can be an effective method of managing atopy in horses; a response to therapy may be seen within 2 months.
Herraez P, Berridge B, Marsh P, Weeks B, Ramiro-Ibañez F.A 12-year-old Appaloosa gelding was referred to the Texas Veterinary Medical Center with a history of chronic diarrhea and weight loss. At necropsy, numerous oval, craterlike ulcers were observed throughout the small intestine. Histologically, these lesions were composed of a neoplastic proliferation of round cells with intracytoplasmic phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin-positive granules. The tumor cells stained positively for the CD3 antigen and negatively for a B-cell marker. A diagnosis of large granular lymphoma was based on the morphologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of the neo...
Farquhar VJ, McCue PM, Nett TM, Squires EL.To evaluate gonadotropin secretion and ovarian function after administration of deslorelin acetate to induce ovulation in mares. Methods: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: 16 healthy mares with normal estrous cycles. Methods: 8 control mares were allowed to ovulate spontaneously, whereas 8 study mares received deslorelin to induce ovulation when an ovarian follicle > 35 mm in diameter was detected. Follicle development and serum concentrations of gonadotropins were monitored daily during 1 estrous cycle. Pituitary responsiveness to administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)...
Ozaki H, Shimizu-Nei A, Sugita S, Sugiura T, Imagawa H, Kida H.To provide information on the antigenic variation of the hemagglutinins (HA) among equine H 3 influenza viruses, 26 strains isolated from horses in different areas in the world during the 1963-1996 period were analyzed using a panel of monoclonal antibodies recognizing at least 7 distinct epitopes on the H 3 HA molecule of the prototype strain A/equine/Miami/1/63 (H 3 N 8). The reactivity patterns of the virus strains with the panel indicate that antigenic drift of the HA has occurred with the year of isolation, but less extensively than that of human H 3 N 2 influenza virus isolates, and diff...
Bairden K, Brown SR, McGoldrick J, Parker LD, Talty PJ.The efficacy of moxidectin 2 per cent equine gel against naturally acquired strongyle infections was assessed in 18 ponies which had grazed on contaminated pasture before being housed for eight weeks. Twenty-four hours before the treatment, two randomly selected ponies were euthanased and their worm burdens were determined. Eight of the remaining 16 ponies were treated with moxidectin 2 per cent gel while the other eight were given a placebo gel. Eight weeks later the 16 animals were necropsied and their worm burdens established. A 100 per cent efficacy was recorded against adult and lumenal L...
von Rechenberg B, Leutenegger C, Zlinsky K, McIlwraith CW, Akens MK, Auer JA.This study investigated the potential association of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in subchondral cystic lesions (SCL) in horses. With the technique of in situ hybridisation in paraffin sections of fibrous tissue of SCL and quantitative real-time PCR in fresh frozen fibrous tissue and undecalcified bone sections of SCL embedded in acrylic resin, upregulation of mRNA of both cytokines could be demonstrated. mRNA of IL-1beta was upregulated at the periphery of the cystic lesion adjacent to normal bone, whereas IL-6 mRNA was upregulated within the fibrous tissue found with...
Kawcak CE, McIlwraith CW, Norrdin RW, Park RD, James SP.Subchondral bone plays a role in the pathogenesis of osteochondral damage and osteoarthritis in horses and humans. Osteochondral fragmentation and fracture, subchondral bone necrosis and osteoarthritis are common diseases in athletic horses, and subchondral bone is now thought to play an integral role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. There have been numerous research efforts focused on articular cartilage damage and its pathogenesis, yet comparatively little effort focused on subchondral bone pathology or the coordinated disease states of the osteochondral tissues. The purpose of this re...
McGuigan MP, Wilson AM.Horses with navicular disease have an increased load on the navicular bone in early stance. This has been suggested to be a response to pain in the heel region. Seven horses with clinical, radiographic and scintigraphic signs of navicular disease underwent forceplate and kinematic analysis before and after desensitisation of the heel region with a bilateral palmar digital nerve block. The compressive force exerted on the navicular bone during stance, and stride kinematics, were determined in each state. After regional analgesia of the palmar digital nerves (PDNB) the compressive force on the n...
Belsito KA, Fischer AT.Fifty-three cases of equine mandibular fractures were managed surgically from 1988-1998, of which 16 (30%) were repaired by external skeletal fixation (ESF). Three surgical methods were utilised: transmandibular 4.76 or 6.35 mm Steinmann pins incorporated into fibreglass casting material or nonsterile dental acrylic (methyl methacrylate - MMA) bars reinforced with steel; transmandibular 9.6 mm self-tapping threaded pins +/- 4.76 or 6.35 mm Steinmann pins incorporated into MMA bars reinforced with steel; and 4.5 mm or 5.5 mm ASIF cortical bone screws incorporated into MMA bars reinforced with s...
Takai S, Ogawa K, Fukunaga N, Sasaki Y, Kakuda T, Tsubaki S, Anzai T.R. equi was isolated from soil samples obtained from the environment of seven native Japanese horse breeds (Hokkaido, Kiso, Noma, Misaki, Tokara, Miyako and Yonaguni) and from fecal samples collected from three native horse breeds (Hokkaido, Kiso and Misaki). Virulent R. equi at various levels (ranging from 0.5 to 12.9%) was isolated from the feces or soil environment of Hokkaido, Kiso and Misaki horses. Isolates were investigated both for the presence of 15- to 17-kDa antigens (virulence-associated protein antigens; VapA) by colony blotting, using the monoclonal antibody 10G5, and the gene of...
Katz J, Geer P.An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the serodiagnosis of contagious equine metritis (CEM), a sexually transmitted disease caused by Taylorella equigenitalis. Antigen preparation was simple, and antigens derived from both classical and atypical forms of T. equigenitalis enabled detection of antibody responses elicted in horses experimentally exposed to either form of the bacterium. Sera serially obtained from these horses from 0 to 63 days postexposure were tested by the traditional complement fixation test (CFT) for CEM and with the ELISA, using both antigens separat...
Trostle SS, Peavey CL, King DS, Hartmann FA.A 27-month-old Rocky Mountain Horse was examined because of a fracture of the proximal portion of the ulna and luxation of the humeroradial joint (Monteggia fracture). Open reduction was performed, using a mechanical distractor, and the ulnar fracture was stabilized by application of a bone plate and screws. After surgery, the horse developed an infection of the surgical site, and bacterial culture of fluid from the surgical site yielded a pure growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis susceptible to oxytetracycline, erythromycin, rifampin, and vancomycin. Treatment with oxyte...
Farnsworth KD, White NA, Robertson J.To determine the effect of intra-articular gentamicin-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads inserted in the equine tarsocrural joint on the synovial fluid, synovial lining, and cartilage, and to determine the peak and sustainable gentamicin concentrations in synovial fluid and plasma. Methods: Pharmacokinetic, cytologic, and histologic study of the effect of gentamicin-impregnated PMMA on normal equine tarsocrural joints. Methods: Five healthy adult horses. Methods: Gentamicin-impregnated PMMA bead strands (3 strands each of 40 beads, with each strand containing 100 mg gentamicin) we...
King DS, Tulleners E, Martin BB, Parente EJ, Boston R.To describe the clinical findings in 52 racehorses with axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds (ADAF) and to report outcome in 33 of these horses after either rest or transendoscopic laser excision of aryepiglottic fold tissue. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Racehorses admitted for high-speed treadmill (HST) evaluation of poor performance. Methods: Medical records and videotapes of resting and exercising videoendoscopic examinations were reviewed. Racing performance records and owner or trainer interviews, at least 1 year after HST examination, were used to compare results after ei...
Malone ED, Farnsworth K, Lennox T, Tomlinson J, Sage AM.To describe the surgical treatment of a dorsal diaphragmatic hernia in an adult horse using thoracic rib resection aided by thoracoscopy and a flank incision. Methods: Case report. Methods: One client-owned horse. Results: A six-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding was admitted for colic-associated colonic incarceration in a diaphragmatic hernia. Seven weeks after the initial colic surgery, the gelding underwent surgery to repair the defect. Thoracoscopy and a flank incision were used to identify the location of the hernia and the subsequent site of rib resection. The stomach was adhered to the ed...
Orsini JA, Spencer PA.A dose-response study was undertaken of the effects of a newly developed histamine type 2 receptor antagonist, BMY-26539-01, on gastric acid secretion in 4 fasted horses. Doses of 0.1 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, or placebo were administered in a randomly assigned treatment sequence. Hydrogen ion concentration and pH were variable during baseline measurements in all 4 animals; however, following BMY-26539-01 administration, mean pH increased and hydrogen ion concentration decreased in a dose-related pattern. At the 0.3 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg dose levels, pH remained elevated for > 4 h and >...
Adkins AR, Yovich JV, Steel CM.To evaluate the outcome of 17 horses that underwent surgical arthrodesis of the tarsometatarsal and distal intertarsal joints for treatment of lameness due to osteoarthritis. Methods: Retrospective clinical study using client-owned animals. Methods: Horses with hindlimb lameness were diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the distal tarsal joints following relief of lameness after intra-articular anaesthesia or intra-articular corticosteroid injection. Surgery to stimulate ankylosis was performed on 27 hocks by placing 3 diverging 3.2 mm drill holes approximately 3 cm through the tarsometatarsal and...
Dubey JP, Lindsay DS, Saville WJ, Reed SM, Granstrom DE, Speer CA.Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a serious neurological disease of horses in the Americas. The protozoan most commonly associated with EPM is Sarcocystis neurona. The complete life cycle of S. neurona is unknown, including its natural intermediate host that harbors its sarcocyst. Opossums (Didelphis virginiana, Didelphis albiventris) are its definitive hosts. Horses are considered its aberrant hosts because only schizonts and merozoites (no sarcocysts) are found in horses. EPM-like disease occurs in a variety of mammals including cats, mink, raccoons, skunks, Pacific harbor seals, p...
Howe DK.To accelerate genetic and molecular characterization of Sarcocystis neurona, the primary causative agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a sequencing project has been initiated that will generate approximately 7000-8000 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from this apicomplexan parasite. Poly(A)(+) RNA was isolated from culture-derived S. neurona merozoites, and a cDNA library was constructed in a unidirectional lambda phage cloning vector. Sixty phage clones were randomly picked from the library, and the cDNA inserts were amplified from these clones using the T3 and T7 primers that fl...
Marsh AE, Mullins AL, Lakritz J.Parasite-specific incorporation of (3)H-uracil was used to assess the replication of Sarcocystis neurona, a protozoal parasite associated with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Anti-protozoal drugs, pyrimethamine (0.01, 0.1 and 1.0microg/ml PYR), sulfadiazine (5microg/ml; SDZ), sulfamethoxazole (5microg/ml; SMZ), diclazuril (100ng/ml; DCZ), atovaquone (0.04ng/ml; ATQ), tetracycline (5microg/ml; TET) and the herbicide glyphosate (1.5 and 4.5mM; GLY) were studied with varying S. neurona parasite densities (2x10(1)-1.2x10(6)merozoites/well). A microtiter plate format was used to test thes...
MacKay RJ, Daniels CA, Bleyaert HF, Bailey JE, Gillis KD, Merritt AM, Katz TL, Johnson JC, Thompson KC.Ten horses were used in a crossover study to evaluate the effectiveness of eltenac against endotoxaemia. Eltenac (0.5 mg/kg bwt) or saline control was given i.v. then 15 min later, intravenous infusion of endotoxin was begun and continued for 120 min (total dose 100 ng/kg bwt). Horses were monitored for heart and respiratory rates, pulmonary and carotid arterial pressure and core body temperature. Blood was sampled at intervals for measurement of haematological variables and plasma concentrations of lactate, prostanoid metabolites, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and stress hormones. In compariso...
Roberts CT, Slone DE.Surgical management of caecal impactions has included several different procedures suggested over the years. Complete bypass of the caecum through an ileocolic or jejunocolic anastomosis has become common practice for first time caecal impaction management, especially when dysfunction is suspected. In our practice, however, caecal impactions have been managed surgically by typhlotomy alone and of the 10 cases (July 1988-June 1998), 9 underwent surgery for first time caecal impactions, received a typhlotomy, and had survived an average of 43 months at time of case review. At the time of surgery...
Slovis NM, McEntee MC, Fairley RA, Galuppo LD, Théon AP.Basal cell tumors are rare benign tumors in horses. Over a 15-year period, 6 horses were diagnosed with basal cell tumors. The tumors were well-circumscribed. freely moveable, firm, raised papules, nodules, or masses that ranged from 0.6 to 5 cm in diameter. Five of the 6 tumors were ulcerated. Based on gross appearance, the tumors were diagnosed as sarcoids, and 1 was diagnosed as a melanoma. The range of age of affected horses was 6-26 years. The tumors were identified clinically 1 week to 3 years before excision. In 4 horses for which information was available, complete surgical excision wa...
Hawkins JF, Frank N, Sojka JE, Levy M.Two horses with chronic empyema of the auditory tube diverticulum (guttural pouch) were refractory to medical treatment; empyema was bilateral in 1 horse and unilateral in the other. Both horses were treated by fistulation of the cartilage of the pharyngeal orifice by use of a neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser in a noncontact manner. To maintain patency of the fistulae, indwelling catheters were placed into the openings created by the laser. For both horses, long-term follow-up did not reveal complications, and both owners were satisfied with results of the procedure. The authors recomme...
Ruohoniemi M, Kaikkonen R, Raekallio M, Luukkanen L.This retrospective study consisted of 14 horses (age 6 weeks-12 years) with radiographically evident sand accumulations cranioventrally in the abdomen and clinical signs suggestive of sand enteropathy. The horses were treated medically and resolution of sand was monitored radiographically. Routine treatment consisted of psyllium mucilloid, combined with magnesium sulphate and/or mineral oilif needed. Initially, the number, size and shape of the sand accumulations showed large variation and the response to therapy was not predictable based on the initial appearance of the accumulation. In 2 foa...
Phaneuf LP, Grivel ML, Ruckebusch Y.The electrical potentials were recorded from the antrum, the duodenum, the ileum and the first part of the colon of ponies under (a) normal resting conditions, (b) during nonpainful colic and (c) after intravenous morphine administration. The normal pony, at rest, had five contractions of the antrum per minute. On the small intestine, the basal electrical activity decreased from the duodenum (14-15/min) to the ileum (10-11/min). The small bowel also had three types of motility: peristaltic waves, rhythmic segmentations and random contractions. On the colon, bursts of potentials indicating inte...
Shull RM.Hemolytic or blood loss anemia was induce in six ponies and red blood cell concentrations of creatine, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were measured during the ensuing regenerative period. Creatine and G-6-PD levels correlated well and increased concentration of either was good indication of increased erythrogenesis. Erythrocyte LDH levels were of value in assessing the response to hemolytic anemia but not to blood loss anemia. The difference may be, at least in part, the result of differing degrees of regenerative effor...
Tafese A, Jibat T, Aklilu N, Zewdu H, Kumsa B.A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and species composition of lice infesting horses in three agroecological zones in seven different districts in central Oromia from November 2011 to April 2012. For this purpose, a total of 420 horses were thoroughly examined for presence of lice. Collected lice were identified to species level under a microscope. The study showed an overall prevalence of 28.8 % (121/420) lice infestation on horses. We identified two spp. of lice on horses namely, Bovicola (Werneckiella) equi and Haematopinus asini with an overall prevalence of ...
Robson K, Cripps P, Bardell D.The aim of this retrospective study was to determine if there was an association between the lowest arterial blood oxygen tensions (PaO2) measured during anaesthesia and post-operative incisional complications in horses. Clinical records of 278 horses undergoing ventral midline coeliotomy from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2013 were examined. The frequency of incisional complications was 32.0% (n = 89). In a multivariable model, intra-operative arterial blood oxygen tensions (PaO2) were not significantly associated with development of an incisional complication (P = 0.351). Using hyper...
Rucker A.In the chronic-laminitic foot, severe soft-tissue compression and compromised circulation can result in osteitis and sepsis at the margin of the distal phalanx. Resultant inflammation and sepsis may cause the coronary corium to swell, drain, or separate from the hoof capsule, usually within 8 weeks of laminitis onset. Slow-onset cases of soft-tissue impingement can develop secondary to distal phalanx displacement due to lack of wall attachment. With either presentation, partial upper wall resection is required to reverse compression and vascular impingement by the hoof capsule. If the patholog...
Hort I.In this study the treatment of a mandibular fracture in a 26 year old Arab horse, the history during the subsequent 4 years and the anatomical post-mortem findings are presented and described.
Gerhards H, Kietzmann M.Pharmacokinetic parameters for subcutaneous low dose heparin in horses have been determined. Four groups of five and one group of eleven mature, healthy horses of various breeds were given single subcutaneous injections of 60, 80, 100, 125, and 150 units of calcium heparin/kg of body weight (U/kg) in the pectoral region. Jugular blood samples were collected prior to, and at hourly intervals for 12 h after injection. Heparin plasma concentrations were measured using a commercially available amidolytic assay. Peak concentrations 4 h after administration were 0.021 +/- 0.016 (mean +/- SD) units o...
Hedderson EJ, Newton JR.Their is both historical and modern scientific evidence to support the hypothesis that equine grass sickness (EC'S) is caused by a toxico-infectious form of botulism involving a Clostridium botulism type C toxin 1114 is produced locally within the gastrointestinal tract of affected horses (Toc her et al. 1923: Tneher 1924: Hunter a aL 1999: Hunter and anion 2001: McCarthy 2002: McCarthy a aL 201)4a1. This report concerns a meeting convened to review the current state of knowledge and possible strategies for vaccination against EGS. including historical. clinical and pathological aspects of the...
Wagner B, Radbruch A, Richards C, Leibold W.In order to define equine immunoglobulins (Igs) and to produce monoclonal reference Igs we fused equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells with X63-Ag8.653 non Ig producing murine myeloma cells. A total of 29 equine Ig producing equi-murine heterohybridomas were obtained, of which ten expressed equine Ig for more than 3 months. One of these heterohybridoma lines produced monoclonal IgM, an equine isotype which has not been available in monoclonal form before. Four lines secreted equine IgG of two distinct Ig heavy chain types as assessed by the molecular weight (MW), while the remaining five l...
Bitsch V.A venereal disease usually designated equine coital exanthema (ECE) has been observed in horses all over the world. In a very few oases a virus, claimed to be the causative agent of the disease, has been isolated.
Scherrer NM, Lassaline M, Miller WW.To describe the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of four horses with severe corneal edema caused by suspected endothelial disease treated with a superficial keratectomy and Gundersen inlay flap and to determine whether this procedure (i) reduces corneal edema, (ii) reduces ocular pain, (iii) eliminates recurrent corneal ulceration, and (iv) improves vision in these horses. Methods: Four horses met inclusion criterion of (i) diagnosis with endothelial disease by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and (ii) surgical treatment with a superficial keratectomy and Gundersen inl...
Wyn-Jones G, Jones RS, Church S.One of the major obstacles to successful intranasal surgery in the horse is haemorrhage, even minor interferences causing profuse bleeding. Conventional techniques for haemostasis are ineffective or inhibit the progress of the surgery. Temporary bilateral occlusion of the common carotid artery resulted in a substantial reduction in haemorrhage during intranasal surgery in five horses, with much improved visibility and facility of operation. The large contribution to the circle of Willis by the ventral spinal artery is believed to prevent cerebral ischaemia during this procedure. This paper des...
Lansdowne JL, Bouré LP, Pearce SG, Kerr CL, Caswell JL.To compare laparoscopic dissection with-laparoscopic dissection combined with abdominal instillation of ferric hyaluronate gel for the treatment of experimentally induced adhesions in pony foals. Methods: 12 healthy pony foals. Methods: A serosal abrasion method was used to create adhesions at 4 sites on the jejunum (day 0). At day 7 laparoscopy was performed and the adhesions observed in each foal were recorded. In group-1 foals (n = 6), the adhesions were separated laparoscopically (treatment 1). In group-2 foals (n = 6), 300 mL of 0.5% ferric hyaluronate gel was infused into the abdomen aft...
Tranquilli WJ, Manohar M, Thurmon JC, Benson GJ, Shawley RV, Feller DL.A technique was developed for the implantation of an electromagnetic flow probe and vascular occluder onto the right and left coronary arteries in the calf and pony. Surgical manipulation was well tolerated in the animals. The subcutaneous housing on the peripheral ends of these devices of the lateral thoracic wall served as a maintenance-free technique for chronic exteriorization of these devices. Implantation onto the coronary arteries required a surgical technique which accomplished the prerequisites for proper flow probe function. A reactive hyperemic response was elicited in each animal b...
Easley JR.The erythrogram (erythrocyte histogram) and red cell distribution width (RDW) were evaluated in 5 purebred horses and 1 pony of mixed breeding with experimentally induced anemia. Four horses were studied for 6 weeks after 20% of their estimated blood volume was removed on each of 2 consecutive days (40% total blood loss; acute blood-loss group). Two horses were given acetylphenyl hydrazine IV daily, until acute Heinz body hemolytic anemia was induced; the 2 horses were then evaluated for 6 weeks. One horse and the pony had 20% of their estimated blood volume removed via phlebotomy once each we...