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.
Willingham-Lane JM, Berghaus LJ, Berghaus RD, Hart KA, Giguère S.The soil-dwelling, saprophytic actinomycete is a facultative intracellular pathogen of macrophages and causes severe bronchopneumonia when inhaled by susceptible foals. Standard treatment for disease is dual-antimicrobial therapy with a macrolide and rifampin. Thoracic ultrasonography and early treatment with antimicrobials prior to the development of clinical signs are used as means of controlling endemic infection on many farms. Concurrently with the increased use of macrolides and rifampin for chemoprophylaxis and the treatment of subclinically affected foals, a significant increase in t...
Yazdansetad S, Mosavari N, Tadayon K, Mehregan I.Burkholderia mallei is the leading cause of glanders, a highly transmittable and an OIE-notifiable disease of equidae. Despite the importance of B. mallei, little is known about serodiagnosis of glanders. The present study aimed to develop an immunoblotting assay based on whole-cell proteome of B. mallei to enable accurate serodiagnosis of glanders. Methods: Three farm horses were subcutaneously immunized with a crude suspension (106 cfu/ml) of heat-inactivated B. mallei formulated with incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) to achieve a hyperimmune sera panel. The immunization was done for 1, 14 ...
Needles RK, Dubois MS.This case report documents an unusual case of persistent colic in a horse caused by an anomalous vascularized band of tissue running between the visceral surface of the liver and the mesentery of the large colon at the level of the sternal/diaphragmatic flexures. The horse was presented with a history of exhibiting signs of mild persistent colic that were suspected to be caused by displacement of the large colon. Volvulus of the large colon was identified during exploratory celiotomy. The band of tissue was transected, and the displacement corrected. The horse made an uneventful recovery. Trai...
Dennis SJ, Meyers AE, Hitzeroth II, Rybicki EP.African horse sickness is a devastating disease that causes great suffering and many fatalities amongst horses in sub-Saharan Africa. It is caused by nine different serotypes of the orbivirus African horse sickness virus (AHSV) and it is spread by Culicoid midges. The disease has significant economic consequences for the equine industry both in southern Africa and increasingly further afield as the geographic distribution of the midge vector broadens with global warming and climate change. Live attenuated vaccines (LAV) have been used with relative success for many decades but carry the risk o...
Koskinen MJ, Virtala AK, McNally T.To assess racing performance of National Hunt thoroughbred (NH) racehorses with a definite diagnosis of palatal dysfunction treated with a laryngeal tie-forward procedure (LTF) and soft palate cautery (SPC) with or without transendoscopic laser excision of the aryepiglottic folds (TLEAF) and to determine correlation between performance measures. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: National Hunt racehorses treated with LTF, SPC ± TLEAF (n = 44) and nonaffected controls (n = 88). Methods: Performance was evaluated by using Racing Post ratings (RPR), race earnings (RE), and perform...
Tyrrell JD, Qurollo BA, Tornquist SJ, Schlaich KG, Kelsey J, Chandrashekar R, Breitschwerdt EB.Certain vector-borne organisms serve as etiological agents of equine disease. After previously identifying a new Ehrlichia species in horses from Mérida, we aimed to determine the infection frequency and screen for a wide range of vector-borne organisms from 93 tick-exposed, Ehrlichia seropositive horses in this region. PCR assays were performed to identify infection by organisms within the following genera: Anaplasma, Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Leishmania, Mycoplasma, Neorickettsia, Rickettsia and Theileria. Overall, 90/93 horses (96.8%) were infected with one or more vector-borne organ...
Gill GS, Singh BB, Dhand NK, Aulakh RS, Sandhu BS, Ward MP, Brookes VJ.Rabies is a devastating zoonotic disease of mammals that causes encephalitis and death. It is endemic in India, with an estimated annual 20,000 human deaths (one-third of the global rabies burden). The magnitude of animal rabies incidence is unknown. In four sub-districts of Punjab, India, we monitored canine and livestock populations from August 15, 2016 to August 14, 2017. Demographic, clinical and rabies diagnostic laboratory (RDL) data were collected from suspected cases of rabies. The annual incidence rate / 10,000 animal years at risk (95% CI) in each sub-district was estimated for each ...
Poelaert KCK, Van Cleemput J, Laval K, Xie J, Favoreel HW, Nauwynck HJ.The ancestral equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV1), closely related to human herpes viruses, exploits leukocytes to reach its target organs, accordingly evading the immune surveillance system. Circulating EHV1 strains can be divided into abortigenic/neurovirulent, causing reproductive/neurological disorders. Neurovirulent EHV1 more efficiently recruits monocytic CD172a cells to the upper respiratory tract (URT), while abortigenic EHV1 tempers monocyte migration. Whether similar results could be expected for T lymphocytes is not known. Therefore, we questioned whether differences in T cell recruitment c...
Ellerbrock RE, Canisso IF, Podico G, Roady PJ, Uhl E, Lima FS, Li Z.While recent work demonstrated that enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin reach the fetoplacental unit without causing obvious lesions in the 9-month-old equine fetus or resulting foal, many practitioners still hesitate to prescribe a fluoroquinolone during pregnancy. Since early gestation is a critical time for fetal skeletal development, if fluoroquinolones are chondrotoxic to the fetus at any point during gestation, this period would be important. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of 2 weeks' exposure to enrofloxacin on the equine fetus between 46 and 60 days gestation. Twelve pregna...
Börjesson S, Greko C, Myrenås M, Landén A, Nilsson O, Pedersen K.The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of the newly described transferable colistin resistance gene mcr-9 in extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolates from horses in Sweden. A total of 56 whole-genome sequenced ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates from horses were subjected to in silico detection of antimicrobial resistance genes and identification of plasmid replicons types. The colistin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for mcr-positive isolates was determined by broth microdilution. Relatedness between Enterobacteriaceae...
Vianna AM, Santos AC, Cunha RC, de Souza Stori de Lara AP, Weege GB, Leivas Leite FP.Equine theileriosis is a severe equine disease caused by the protozoan Theileria equi, which is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas. In this study, a recombinant equi merozoite antigen-2 (rEMA-2) of T. equi was used as an immunogen. Two groups of 10 mice each were divided into control and vaccinated groups. Sixty mares seronegative for theileriosis were divided in two groups, one vaccinated and another group as a control animal. Mice and mares of the vaccinated groups were inoculated with 150 μL of the vaccine containing 50 μg of rEMA-2 and 2 mL of the vaccine containing 200 ...
Long AE, Javsicas LH, Stokol T, Felippe MJB, Frimberger AE.A 17-year-old Friesian gelding was examined at a referral hospital because of a 1-month history of mild exercise intolerance and marked lymphocytosis. Physical examination revealed no peripheral lymphadenopathy or other abnormalities. Results of an abdominal palpation examination per rectum and thoracic and abdominal ultrasonographic examinations were unremarkable. B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was diagnosed on the basis of severe lymphocytosis and positive expression of the B-cell marker CD20 by lymphocytes in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. Treatment with prednisolone (2 mg...
Trager LR, Funk RA, Clapp KS, Dahlgren LA, Werre SR, Hodgson DR, Pleasant RS.Although extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a common treatment for horses with back pain, effects on mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) and multifidus muscle cross sectional area (CSA) in the spine are unknown. Objective: To evaluate effects of ESWT on spinal MNT and multifidus muscle CSA in horses with thoracolumbar pain. Methods: Non-randomised trial. Methods: Thoracolumbar spines of 12 horses with thoracolumbar pain were radiographed to document existing pathology. Each horse received three ESWT treatments, 2 weeks apart (days 0, 14, 28). Palpation scores were documented (days ...
Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Arieli O, Mazuz ML, King R, Horowitz I, Steinman A.Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an important tick-borne disease of equids, caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. It is endemic in most parts of the world, including Israel, and has clinical and economic consequences. This study was set to evaluate the presence of EP parasites in domestic donkeys and in wild equids in Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). To assess subclinical EP infection in 98 domestic donkeys (Equus africanus asinus), 9 Asiatic wild donkeys (Equus hemionus), 8 zebras (Equus quagga), 7 African wild donkeys (Equus africanus) and 5 mules, were tested using PCR and qPC...
Selmi R, Dhibi M, Ben Said M, Ben Yahia H, Abdelaali H, Ameur H, Baccouche S, Gritli A, Mhadhbi M.Livestock constitute habitual hosts and carriers for several infectious pathogens which may represent a serious public health concern affecting the readiness of military forces and lead to wide economic losses. The present report aimed to investigate the prevalence of some haemopathogens infecting military livestock, particularly, dromedaries, sheep and horses using Giemsa-stained blood smears. A total of 300 animals (100 from each species) were selected, clinically examined and sampled. Trypanosoma spp. (22.0%), Anaplasma spp. (17.0%) and Babesia spp. (1.0%) were identified in camels' blood. ...
Rusnak JM, Glass PJ, Weaver SC, Sabourin CL, Glenn AM, Klimstra W, Badorrek CS, Nasar F, Ward LA.Licensure of a vaccine to protect against aerosolized Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) requires use of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Animal Rule to assess vaccine efficacy as human studies are not feasible or ethical. An approach to selecting VEEV challenge strains for use under the Animal Rule was developed, taking into account Department of Defense (DOD) vaccine requirements, FDA Animal Rule guidelines, strain availability, and lessons learned from the generation of filovirus challenge agents within the Filovirus Animal Nonclinical Group (FANG). Initial down-selectio...
Murphy RJT, Ramsay JP, Lee YT, Pang S, O'Dea MA, Pearson JC, Axon JE, Raby E, Abdulgader SM, Whitelaw A, Coombs GW.Staphylococcus aureus is a serious human and animal pathogen. Multilocus sequence type 612 (ST612) is the dominant methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) clone in certain South African hospitals and is sporadically isolated from horses and horse-associated veterinarians in Australia. Colonisation and infection by ST612-MRSA is increasing in Western Australia. Whole-genome sequencing was performed for 51 isolates of ST612-MRSA from Western Australian patients and healthcare workers, South African hospital patients, Australian veterinarians and New South Wales horses. Core genome phylogenies sug...
Racine J, O'Brien T, Bladon BM, Cruz AM, Stoffel MH, Haenssgen K, Rodgerson DH, Livesey MA, Koch C.To investigate the feasibility and complications associated with ceratohyoidectomy (CHE) in standing sedated horses unaffected (experimental horses) and standing sedated horses affected (clinical cases) with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO). Methods: Case series. Methods: Six experimental horses and four clinical cases. Methods: Standing CHE was performed in six experimental horses euthanized 30 minutes (n = 3) and 7 days (n = 3) postoperatively. The four clinical cases were presented because of central facial nerve paralysis (n = 3), vestibular ataxia (n = 3), auricular hemorrhage (n =...
Skov Hansen S, Tóth T.To report the frequency of radiocarpal joint (RCJ) perforation during two proximolateral carpal sheath (CS) approaches and to investigate whether the presence or absence of a natural communication between the RCJ and CS. Methods: Experimental, randomized, controlled study. Methods: Twelve adult horses and 12 cadaver front limbs. Methods: Proximolateral CS tenoscopy was performed on both carpi of 12 horses under general anaesthesia. Limbs were randomly assigned into two groups. In group 1, the instrument portal was centered at the level of the distal radial physeal remnant (PR). In group 2, the...
Silva ESM, Leite RO, Maciel LFS, Francia CCDA, Padovani CR, Oliveira-Filho JP, Meira C.Aiming to investigate the effects of different hormonal protocols on the endometrium morphometry of anestrous mares, 26 animals were assigned to four different treatment groups: (1) EB2.5LAP4: single dose of 2.5 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB); (2) EB5LAP4: 5 mg of EB in 2 consecutive days; (3) EB10LAP4: 10 mg of EB in three consecutive days, considering that all EB-treated groups received a single dose of 1,500 mg of long-acting progesterone (LA P4) after the single/last EB dose; and (4) LAP4: only 1,500 mg of LA P4. Results were also compared with those found in cyclic mares (control grou...
Leathwick DM, Sauermann CW, Nielsen MK.Selective anthelmintic therapy has been recommended as a sustainable strategy for cyathostomin control in horse populations for several decades. The traditional approach has been to determine strongyle fecal egg counts (FEC) for all horses, with treatment only recommended for those exceeding a predetermined threshold. The aims are to achieve a reduction of overall egg shedding, while leaving a proportion of the herd untreated, which lowers anthelmintic treatment intensity and reduces selection pressure for development of anthelmintic resistance. This study made use of the cyathostomin model to...
Bezdekova B, Wohlsein P, Venner M.The clinical findings and outcome associated with chronic severe equine pyloric lesions have not been well described previously. Objective: To describe the history, clinical signs, endoscopic and ultrasound results, laboratory data, treatment, pathological findings and survival of horses with chronic severe pyloric lesions. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Medical records from horses treated at clinics in Czech Republic and Germany in which chronic severe pyloric lesions were confirmed endoscopically and/or on post-mortem examination were reviewed. Results: Forty-seven horses were ...
Moyer CT, Bramlage LR, Werre SR, Ruggles A, Embertson R, Hopper S.To describe the presence of fragments in the dorsal proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint and to report flat racing performance after surgical treatment. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Thirty-nine affected thoroughbred flat racehorses and 169 age- and sex-matched maternal siblings. Methods: Medical records from 2000 to 2015 were reviewed for thoroughbred horses that underwent arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments in the dorsal aspect of the PIP joint. The horses' 2-year-old year, 3-year-old year, and career athletic performances were compared with their matched siblings. Resul...
Moorman VJ, Bass L, King MR.To determine the effects of 3 α2-adrenergic receptor agonists (α2-ARAs), alone or in combination with butorphanol tartrate, on objective measurements of lameness in horses. Methods: 17 adult polo horses with naturally occurring forelimb or hind limb lameness (or both). Methods: In a crossover design, each horse received each protocol (saline [0.09% NaCl] solution [2 mL, IV] or xylazine hydrochloride [0.33 mg/kg, IV], detomidine hydrochloride [0.007 mg/kg, IV], or romifidine hydrochloride [0.033 mg/kg, IV] alone or in combination with butorphanol [0.007 mg/kg, IV]) in random order, with a was...
Iglesias-García M, Roquet I, Jiménez J, Martín-Cuervo M, Fuentes-Romero B, Ezquerra-Calvo LJ.To describe the history, clinical signs, and management of six horses in which subtendinous bursitis of the long digital extensor tendon (LDET) in the hind limb fetlock had been diagnosed. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Six privately owned horses. Methods: The medical records of horses presented at the hospital with similar sypmtoms were evaluated and collected. Finally 6 horses met the inclusion criteria and the relevant data were compiled and analysed. In three of the six cases a surgical treatment was carried out. Results: All horses had similar clinical signs, mainly distenti...
Paim WP, Weber MN, Cibulski SP, da Silva MS, Puhl DE, Budaszewski RF, Varela APM, Mayer FQ, Canal CW.Horses are often used as blood donors for commercial horse serum (HS) production and to manufacture biologicals. HS is an alternative for fetal bovine serum (FBS) used as a supplement for cell culture and vaccine production. Furthermore, HS is also frequently obtained in order to produce antisera toxins and pathogens. The advent of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) has promoted changes in virus detection, since previous knowledge of targets is not required. Thus, the present study aimed to describe the virome of five different batches of commercial HS from New Zealand (three batches) and Brazil...
Munsterman AS, Dias Moreira AS, Marqués FJ.Wei Le San (WLS) is a Chinese herbal formula comprised of 9 herbs selected for their putative anti-inflammatory effects. Objective: To evaluate the effects of WLS administration in horses with nonglandular gastric ulcers. Methods: Ten mixed breed mares (aged 7-21 years, 401-567 kg body weight). Methods: Experimental design was a blinded, prospective, 2-period crossover study. All horses received a placebo (25 mL dextrose-based syrup; n = 10) and the treatment (WLS, 5 g in 25 mL dextrose-based syrup; n = 10), administered twice daily. Horses underwent a 1-week, alternating feed-depriv...
Shnaiderman-Torban A, Paitan Y, Arielly H, Kondratyeva K, Tirosh-Levy S, Abells-Sutton G, Navon-Venezia S, Steinman A.Extended-spectrum β-lactamase Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) have been investigated in adult horses, but not in foals. We aimed to determine shedding and infection in neonatal foals and mares. Rectal swabs were sampled from mare and foal pairs on admission and on the 3rd day of hospitalization; enriched, plated, and bacteria were verified for ESBL production. Identification and antibiotic susceptibility profiles were determined (Vitek2). Genotyping was performed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Genes were identified by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Medical data were analyzed for risk factors (...
Miller JE, Mann S, Fettelschoss-Gabriel A, Wagner B.Culicoides hypersensitivity (CH), an intensely pruritic and seasonal allergic dermatitis, is a common allergic disease affecting horses worldwide. Currently, there is no validated clinical scoring system for the quantification of clinical signs associated with CH. Objective: To (i) determine the best cut-off point of three scoring systems, (ii) test the accuracy of each system when compared to the clinical diagnosis of an experienced veterinarian and (iii) assess agreement between systems. Methods: Icelandic horses (n = 20); eight with CH and 12 unaffected, from a research herd receiving no ...
Coleman M, Kuskie K, Liu M, Chaffin K, Libal M, Giguère S, Bernstein L, Cohen N.The objective of this study was to determine the in vitro antimicrobial activity of gallium maltolate (GaM) against Rhodococcus equi. A total of 98 virulent bacterial isolates from equine clinical cases were examined, of which 19 isolates were known to be resistant to macrolides and rifampin. Isolates were cultured with various concentrations of GaM and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined after 24 and 48 h. Both the MIC(50) and the MIC(90) after 24h of growth were 558 ng/mL (8 μM) and after 48 h of growth were 2230 ng/mL (32 μM). There were no apparent differences b...
Thiemann AK, Poore LA.This article provides a review of hoof anatomy and care in donkeys and mules. Hoof disease is a major cause of poor welfare and mortality globally. Problems associated with hoof disease are discussed in the context of behavior, diet, treatment, and prevention. The most common conditions encountered are discussed, including laminitis, the overgrown unbalanced hoof, white line disease, flexural deformities, and other significant issues. Differences between donkey and horse hoof anatomy are described.
Burrows R, Denyer M, Goodridge D, Hamilton F.Experimental ponies developed signs of disease four days after the intranasal instillation of A/England 1/79 equine influenza virus and virus was recovered from the nasopharynx from the second to the ninth day. No significant antigenic difference was found between the virus and the prototype A/Miami 1/63 virus, using post infection ferret and chicken sera and post vaccination pony sera. No antigenic differences were found between four viruses isolated between January and July 1979, although some differences were found in their ability to detect haemagglutination inhibiting antibody in convales...
Edwards RB, Lu Y, Cole BJ, Muir P, Markel MD.To compare a radiofrequency energy (RFE) prototype probe to mechanical debridement (MD) and a commercially available RFE system used for chondroplasty in the treatment of an experimentally created partial thickness cartilage lesion in horses. The study design was experimental, randomized complete block, n=8, using fifteen mature ponies. Methods: Grade 2 to 3 cartilage lesions were prepared in both patellae. After 10 months duration, the injuries were used to study the effects of MD, a commercially available bipolar RFE device (CoVac 50; ArthroCare Corporation) and a prototype monopolar RFE dev...
Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Arieli O, Mazuz ML, King R, Horowitz I, Steinman A.Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an important tick-borne disease of equids, caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. It is endemic in most parts of the world, including Israel, and has clinical and economic consequences. This study was set to evaluate the presence of EP parasites in domestic donkeys and in wild equids in Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). To assess subclinical EP infection in 98 domestic donkeys (Equus africanus asinus), 9 Asiatic wild donkeys (Equus hemionus), 8 zebras (Equus quagga), 7 African wild donkeys (Equus africanus) and 5 mules, were tested using PCR and qPC...
Saxena A, Pal V, Tripathi NK, Goel AK.Burkholderia mallei, a potential biothreat agent is the aetiological agent of glanders, a zoonotic disease primarily affecting equines. B. mallei shares close genetic proximity with B. pseudomallei, the aetiological agent of melioidosis. Hence, molecular detection of B. mallei and its differentiation from B. pseudomallei has always been challenging. Early diagnosis of glanders is critical for timely treatment in humans and disease containment in animals. In this study a recombinase polymerase amplification-lateral flow (RPA-LF) assay has been developed for early and accurate detection of B. ma...
Johnson ACB, Biddle AS.Cyathostomins are a multispecies parasite ubiquitous in Equids. Cyathostomins have developed resistance to all but one class of anthelmintics, but species-level sensitivity to anthelmintics has not been shown. This study measured reinfection rates of cyathostomin species following the administration of three commercial dewormers. Nine treated horses were compared with 90 untreated controls during June-September 2017-2019. Ivermectin (IVM) (n = 6), Moxidectin (MOX) (n = 8) or Pyrantel (PYR) (n = 8) were orally administered. Fecal samples were collected every 14 d for 98 d. Fecal egg count reduc...
Dern K, van Eps A, Wittum T, Watts M, Pollitt C, Belknap J.Although continuous digital hypothermia (CDH) protects lamellae from injury in the oligofructose (OF) model of sepsis-related laminitis (SRL), conflicting results exist from these studies regarding effects of CDH on lamellar inflammatory events. Objective: To determine the effect of CDH on lamellar inflammatory events in normal and OF-treated horses when instituted at a clinically relevant time point (onset of clinical signs of sepsis in this model). Methods: Standardbred geldings (n = 15) aged 3-11 years were used. Methods: In a randomized, controlled discovery study, animals were administ...
Messick JB, Rikihisa Y.The effects of equine antiserum, immunoglobulin G (IgG) specific for Ehrlichia risticii, and its Fab fragment on E. risticii binding to, internalization into, and proliferation in P388D1 cells were studied by immunofluorescence flow cytometry. Anti-E. risticii equine serum or IgG inhibited E. risticii at a stage beyond binding and internalization. In contrast, monovalent anti-E. risticii equine Fab fragments inhibited E. risticii binding and internalization into P388D1 cells. In the presence of control equine serum, IgG, or its Fab fragment, E. risticii cells were bound, were internalized and ...
Westermann CM, de Sain-van der Velden MG, van der Kolk JH, Berger R, Wijnberg ID, Koeman JP, Wanders RJ, Lenstra JA, Testerink N, Vaandrager AB....Two horses (a 7-year-old Groninger warmblood gelding and a six-month-old Trakehner mare) with pathologically confirmed rhabdomyolysis were diagnosed as suffering from multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD). This disorder has not been recognised in animals before. Clinical signs of both horses were a stiff, insecure gait, myoglobinuria, and finally recumbency. Urine, plasma, and muscle tissues were investigated. Analysis of plasma showed hyperglycemia, lactic acidemia, increased activity of muscle enzymes (ASAT, LDH, CK), and impaired kidney function (increased urea and creatinine). ...
Carroll CSE, Andrew ER, Malik L, Elliott KF, Brennan M, Meyer J, Hintze A, Almonte AA, Lappin C, MacPherson P, Schulte KM, Dahlstrom JE, Tamhane R....We describe intratumoral injection of a slow-release emulsion of killed mycobacteria (complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)) in three preclinical species and in human cancer patients. Efficacy and safety were tested in mammary tumors in mice, in mastocytomas in mice and dogs, and in equine melanomas. In mice, survival, tumor growth, and tumor infiltration by six immune cell subsets (by flow cytometry) were investigated and analyzed using Cox proportional hazards, a random slopes model, and a full factorial model, respectively. Tumor growth and histology were investigated in dogs and horses, as well...
Veronesi F, Moretta I, Moretti A, Fioretti DP, Genchi C.A study was carried out to assess the field efficacy of ivermectin (IVM) and pyrantel pamoate (PYR) against Parascaris equorum. Seventy-three foals (3-18 months old) from 5 stud farms, not treated with anthelmintics in the previous 10 weeks and with individual faecal egg counts (FEC) >200, were included in the study. For each stud farm, 5-7 foals were included in the IVM-treatment group (IVM 0.2%, 200 mcg/kg body weight) or in the PYR-treatment group (PYR 38%, 13.2mg/kg body weight) and 3 were untreated as controls. For each foal, FECs were carried out before treatment (Day 0) and on Days 7 an...
Egberink H, Horzinek MC.Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) has morphological, physical and biochemical characteristics similar to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the cause of AIDS in man. However, it is antigenically and genetically distinct from HIV; an antigenic relatedness with equine infectious anaemia virus has been demonstrated. FIV has been molecularly cloned and sequenced. Diagnostic tests are commercially available and attempts at preparing inactivated, subunit and molecularly engineered vaccines are being made in different laboratories. During FIV infection a transient primary illness can be recognized...
Pyörälä S, Taponen J, Katila T.Use of antimicrobials for veterinary indications related to reproduction in cattle and horses is reviewed. Antimicrobial compounds are widely used to treat and prevent infections of reproductive organs. Total amounts of antimicrobials for such purposes, estimated by weight, are low compared with major uses in food animals. The most common reproduction-related indication in cattle is mastitis. The number of intramammary products available for treatment of mastitis in the European Union is high. Metritis and endometritis also require antimicrobial treatment of cattle and specific products for in...
Zielińska P, Soroko M, Howell K, Godlewska M, Hildebrand W, Dudek K.The aim of the study was to assess differences in the influence of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on the skin surface temperature and vein diameter of the lateral fetlock joint region in a group of racehorses with pigmented and non-pigmented skin in the treatment area. Twenty Thoroughbreds were divided into two equal groups: pigmented and non-pigmented skin groups. Each horse received the same HILT treatment. Just before and immediately after HILT, thermographic examination was performed to measure the skin surface temperature and ultrasonographic examination assessed the lateral digital ...
Stratton-Phelps M, Wilson WD, Gardner IA.To determine whether foals with pneumonia that were treated with erythromycin, alone or in combination with rifampin or gentamicin, had a higher risk of developing adverse effects, compared with foals treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMS), penicillin G procaine (PGP), or a combination of TMS and PGP (control foals). Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 143 foals < 240 days old. Methods: Information on age, sex, breed, primary drug treatment, total days of treatment with the primary drug, and whether the foal developed diarrhea, hyperthermia, or respiratory distress was obtained...
Gokbulut C, Cirak VY, Senlik B, Aksit D, Durmaz M, McKellar QA.Pour-on formulations of endectocides decrease the risk of injury for both user and animal, and are particularly convenient for animal owners who can apply the product. This study was designed to investigate the plasma disposition and efficacy of ivermectin (IVM) following pour-on, per os and intravenous administrations. Eighteen female horses weighing 510-610 kg were used in this study. The animals were allocated into three groups (per os, pour-on and intravenous groups). The equine paste, bovine pour-on and bovine injectable formulations of IVM were administered orally, topically and intraven...
Monzon CM, Mancebo OA, Russo AM.An ELISA test was used to determine the persistence of antibody levels in horses following treatment for Trypanosoma evansi. In 17 horses with T. evansi from two farms treated and cured with quinapyramine sulphate, ELISA antibody levels fell progressively post-treatment, but remained with positive results for 22.6 months in one horse, 12.8 months in a second, 4.1 months in another four and 2.3 months in three, whilst the rest became negative at 2.3 months. In two horses that suffered a post-treatment infection relapse the decrease in ELISA levels was only temporary, and a new increase in antib...
Immonen IA, Karikoski N, Mykkänen A, Niemelä T, Junnila J, Tulamo RM.Surgical treatment of colic is expensive and complications may occur. Information on the prognosis and the use of the horse after surgery for colic is important for surgeons and owners. Current literature on return to athletic function after celiotomy is limited. The present study reviewed surgical cases of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Helsinki, Finland for 2006-2012. The aim was to follow the population of horses of different breeds for surgical findings, postsurgical complications, long-term recovery and prognosis. The findings and their influence on survival, return to previous or inte...
Dunkel B, Johns IC.To discuss controversies surrounding antimicrobial use in critically ill horses. Methods: PubMed searches from 1970-present for terms including, but not limited to: "horse," "foal," "antimicrobial," "prophylaxis," "infection," "surgery," "sepsis," and "antimicrobial resistance." Results: Increasing bacterial antimicrobial resistance has changed first-line antimicrobial choices and prompted shortening of the duration of prophylactic and therapeutic treatment. The need to decrease bacterial resistance development to critically important antimicrobials has been highlighted. Results: Veterinary me...
Handing KB, Shabalin IG, Szlachta K, Majorek KA, Minor W.Serum albumin (SA) is the main transporter of drugs in mammalian blood plasma. Here, we report the first crystal structure of equine serum albumin (ESA) in complex with antihistamine drug cetirizine at a resolution of 2.1Å. Cetirizine is bound in two sites--a novel drug binding site (CBS1) and the fatty acid binding site 6 (CBS2). Both sites differ from those that have been proposed in multiple reports based on equilibrium dialysis and fluorescence studies for mammalian albumins as cetirizine binding sites. We show that the residues forming the binding pockets in ESA are highly conserved in h...
Tozaki T, Ohnuma A, Iwai S, Kikuchi M, Ishige T, Kakoi H, Hirota K, Kusano K, Nagata S.Gene doping is banned in human sports, horseracing, and equestrian sports. One possible form of gene doping is to administer exogenous genes, called transgenes. Several transgene detection methods based on quantitative PCR have been developed. In this study, we investigated the robustness of digital PCR and real-time PCR in transgene detection using primers and probes that matched (P-true) or incompletely matched (P-false) the template DNA. Fluorescence intensity was significantly reduced when substituted probes were used compared to that using the matched probe in both digital and real-time P...
Jiang CG, Gao X, Ma J, Lin YZ, Wang XF, Zhao LP, Hua YP, Liu D, Zhou JH.Preliminary studies revealed that the gene of the gp45 transmembrane protein (TM) of the attenuated equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) vaccine strain EIAV(FDDV13) had a high frequency of a premature stop codon at position 261W, which generated a 154-residue truncation at the C-terminus. EIAV(FDDV-TM36), a recombinant virus with the TM truncated at the intracytoplasmic (CT) domain due to the presence of a stop codon, was constructed based on EIAV(FDDV)3-8, which is a proviral derivative of the vaccine. EIAV(FDDV-TM36) had a significantly reduced replication capability compared to EIAV(FDDV)3...
Taylor MA, Hunt KR.The term 'anthelmintic drug resistance' describes the heritable ability of some nematode parasites to survive treatment with anthelmintic drugs at the recommended therapeutic dose levels. Genes for resistance appear to be present in many of the important pathogenic nematodes of ruminants and horses. Under intensive management systems, where heavy reliance is placed on anthelmintic drugs for worm control, the selection of resistant genotypes may result in increased reports of the drugs failing to control the nematode populations against which they are aimed. Anthelmintic resistance has been rep...
Barrio E, Rickards KJ, Thiemann AK.Clinical evaluation and preventative care in donkeys should follow similar guidelines as for horses. There are species-specific differences due to the desert-adapted physiology of the donkey. Donkeys are mainly used as pack animals, companions and for production of meat or milk - they may be kept well into old age. Diseases often present late or may go unrecognized leading to poor welfare and quality of life. Basic knowledge of nutrition, blood values, pharmacology and common disease recognition will help veterinarians improve the health and welfare of donkeys.
Cruz AM, Rubio-Martinez L, Dowling T.The local delivery of antimicrobials is a valuable therapeutic tool with a low morbidity, is practical to use, and is well tolerated by horses. Clinically, its use has allowed equine practitioners to achieve better results when treating musculoskeletal infections, and it represents an extremely useful tool in the practitioner's armamentarium against these types of infections. The technique is indicated to combat orthopedic infections involving bones, joints, physes, tendon sheaths, and foot tissues. Optimal treatment must include other approaches, such as systemic antimicrobial therapy and sur...
Mitchell KJ.Analyzing electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings, making a diagnosis and assessment of any arrhythmias present, is an important part of the workup of many equine cases. Accurate analysis requires a good-quality recording, free of as many artifacts as possible, with clear P-QRS-T complex morphology. For sustained arrhythmias, short-term recordings are sufficient to make the appropriate diagnosis before instigating treatment. Longer-term recordings are essential for arrhythmias that are paroxysmal, intermittent, or occurring infrequently, while exercising ECGs are required for arrhythmias associa...
De Clercq D, van Loon G, Schauvliege S, Tavernier R, Baert K, Croubels S, De Backer P, Deprez P.Pharmacological conversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm in horses can be difficult. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of transvenous electrical cardioversion with custom made catheters in eight horses, of which three had failed cardioversion using quinidine sulfate. Two cardioversion catheters and one pacing/sensing electrode were inserted via the right jugular vein and placed using ultrasound guidance into the left pulmonary artery, the right atrium and the right ventricle, respectively. Because immediate recurrence of AF was encountered in the seco...
Boyle AG, Magdesian KG, Durando MM, Gallop R, Sigdel S.Saccharomyces boulardii has been successfully used in the prevention and treatment of antimicrobial-associated diarrhoea in humans. We hypothesised that a viable, dried lyophilised preparation of S boulardii would survive in the gastrointestinal tract of horses with antimicrobial-associated enterocolitis, and significantly decrease the duration of diarrhoea. Twenty-one horses, over one year of age, with antimicrobial-associated diarrhoea of up to 72 hours duration, were consecutively randomised in a controlled prospective study. The treatment group received S boulardii (25 g, orally, every 12 ...
