The study of diseases in horses encompasses a wide range of conditions affecting equine health, including infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, and genetic abnormalities. These diseases can impact various systems within the horse, such as respiratory, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems, and can lead to significant health challenges. Research in this area focuses on understanding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of equine diseases. Common diseases studied include equine influenza, equine herpesvirus, and laminitis. This page provides access to peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the etiology, clinical presentation, and management strategies of diseases in horses, contributing to the advancement of equine veterinary medicine.
Lake SL, Matthews JB, Kaplan RM, Hodgkinson JE.Genetic resistance against benzimidazole (BZ) anthelmintics is widespread in cyathostomins, the commonest group of intestinal parasitic nematodes of horses. Studies of BZ-resistant nematodes of sheep, particularly Haemonchus contortus, have indicated that an anthelmintic resistance-conferring T/A polymorphism, encoding an F (phenylalanine) to Y (tyrosine) substitution, in beta-tubulin isotype 1 is present at two loci, codons 167 and 200 (F167Y, F200Y). Recent studies using complementary (c) DNA derived from BZ-susceptible and -resistant cyathostomins identified statistical differences in the f...
Dantas-Torres F.The objective of this article was to discuss some aspects of ticks associated with domestic animals in the State of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, based on a literature review and present new data obtained from recent tick collections carried out in this northeastern Brazilian state. From August 2007 to June 2008, 1,405 ticks were collected and five species were identified: Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787), Amblyomma ovale Koch, 1844, Dermacentor nitens Neumann, 1897, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1887), and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806). Dogs from urban...
Schaffartzik A, Weichel M, Crameri R, Björnsdóttir TS, Prisi C, Rhyner C, Torsteinsdóttir S, Marti E.Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an allergic dermatitis of horses caused by bites of Culicoides and sometimes Simulium spp. The aim of this investigation was to identify Simulium allergens associated with IBH. A phage surface display cDNA library expressing recombinant Simulium vittatum salivary gland proteins was screened using sera of IBH-affected horses sensitized to S. vittatum salivary gland proteins as shown in immunoblot, resulting in the identification of seven cDNAs encoding IgE-binding proteins. The deduced amino acid sequences of these proteins showed sequence similarities to a...
Woldehiwet Z.Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the recently designated name replacing three species of granulocytic bacteria, Ehrlichia phagocytophila, Ehrlichia equi and the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, after the recent reorganization of the families Rickettsiaceae and Anaplasmataceae in the order Rickettsiales. Tick-borne fever (TBF), which is caused by the prototype of A. phagocytophilum, was first described in 1932 in Scotland. A similar disease caused by a related granulocytic agent was first described in horses in the USA in 1969; this was followed by the description of two distinct granulocy...
Swinburne JE, Bogle H, Klukowska-Rötzler J, Drögemüller M, Leeb T, Temperton E, Dolf G, Gerber V.Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), or heaves, is a naturally occurring asthma-like disease that is related to sensitisation and exposure to mouldy hay and has a familial basis with a complex mode of inheritance. A genome-wide scanning approach using two half-sibling families was taken in order to locate the chromosome regions that contribute to the inherited component of this condition in these families. Initially, a panel of 250 microsatellite markers, which were chosen as a well-spaced, polymorphic selection covering the 31 equine autosomes, was used to genotype the two half-sibling familie...
Fortier G, van Erck E, Pronost S, Lekeux P, Thiry E.Equine gammaherpesviruses (γEHV) have been widely studied over the past 45 years and many isolates have been characterised. Despite this, the diagnosis of γEHV infection remains difficult to establish as its clinical manifestations lack specificity, ranging from mild respiratory signs in a small number of animals to outbreaks in large groups of young horses. This review focuses on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and diagnosis of equine herpesvirus (EHV)-2 and -5 infections, as well as on the genetic variation of these viruses. Study of these variations has resulted in...
Delgado MA, Monreal L, Armengou L, Segura D, Ríos J.Peritoneal D-Dimer concentration can be determined to assess peritoneal fibrinolysis activity in horses with gastrointestinal disorders. However, blood contamination of peritoneal fluid may occur during collection and could alter peritoneal D-Dimer concentration. Objective: Blood contamination in peritoneal fluid does not affect interpretation of peritoneal D-Dimer concentration in horses with colic. Methods: Thirty-four horses with colic and 4 healthy horses. Methods: Peritoneal fluid and blood samples were simultaneously collected upon admission. Then, peritoneal fluid was serially contamina...
Panzani S, Villani M, McGladdery A, Magri M, Kindahl H, Galeati G, Martino PA, Veronesi MC.Information regarding the plasma hormone profiles of prostaglandins (PGs), cortisol (C), and progesterone (P4) during pathologic processes in newborn foals is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the plasma concentrations of these hormones in diseased foals (n=40) and healthy at-term foals (n=24) (Equus caballus) during the first 2 weeks of life. Blood samples were collected daily, before any treatment with nonsteroidal drugs in diseased foals, and plasma was analyzed by radioimmunoassay. 15-Ketodihydro-PGF(2alpha) (PGM) was consistently higher in diseased foals than in healthy foals...
Barakzai SZ, Finnegan C, Dixon PM, Hillyer MH, Boden LA.The prevalence of the use of tongue ties, calculated from 60 randomly selected race meetings held in the UK during 2001 to 2003, was 5.0 per cent. After its first use on an individual horse a tongue tie was used in an average of 77 per cent of its races during the first 12 months, but after this time period, in only 55 per cent of its races. Thirty-nine per cent of horses that underwent surgery for dorsal displacement of the soft palate raced with a tongue tie preoperatively, and 41 per cent of these surgical cases raced with a tongue tie postoperatively.
Moorman VJ, Jann HW.A 2-day-old Thoroughbred intact female was presented for a large subcutaneous swelling in the right inguinal region. Surgical repair was performed using a double layer polypropylene mesh. To the authors' knowledge, there have been no previous reports of surgical repair of congenital body wall hernias with polypropylene mesh in foals. Une femelle pur sang intacte âgée de deux jours est présentée pour de l’enflure sous-cutanée importante dans la région inguinale droite. Une réparation chirurgicale est réalisée en utilisant une double couche de maille de polypropylène. À la connaiss...
Niwa H, Anzai T, Izumiya H, Morita-Ishihara T, Watanabe H, Uchida I, Tozaki T, Hobo S.In this study, we examined the antimicrobial susceptibility of 16 Salmonella Typhimurium isolates obtained from horses, and applied several genetic methods, namely polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detecting class 1 integrons, multiplex PCR for detecting multidrug resistant S. Typhimurium definitive phage type 104 (MR-DT104), and fluorescent amplified-fragment length polymorphism (FAFLP). Seven isolates with an ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfonamide, and tetracycline (ACSSuT) type resistance pattern, harbored two class 1 integrons with sizes of 1.2 and 1.0 kb, and were identi...
Lampe V, Dierks C, Distl O.Osteochondrosis (OC) is an inherited developmental disease in young horses most frequently observed in thoroughbreds, trotters, warmblood and coldblood horses. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for equine OC have been identified in Hanoverian warmblood horses employing a whole genome scan with microsatellites. A QTL on ECA16 reached the genome-wide significance level for hock osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD). The aim of this study was to refine this QTL on ECA16 using an extended marker set of 34 newly developed microsatellites and 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We used the same 14 pate...
Sprague LD, Zachariah R, Neubauer H, Wernery R, Joseph M, Scholz HC, Wernery U.The internationally mandatory complement fixation test (CFT) for testing of equine sera for the absence of glanders has repeatedly led to discrepant results. Not only do "false positive" sera pose a problem for the diagnostician and the animal health authorities but they can also result in significant financial losses for the animal owners.Due to the very low prevalence of glanders in the horse population it is of major importance to use tests with a high specificity to overcome unreliable predictive values. We have compared formalin-fixed B. mallei whole cell antigen and a well characterised ...
Singh BR.Vancomycin resistant and multi-drug-resistant enterococci are the major emerging pathogens in surgical, neonatal, and tertiary care units. Methods: In this study, 267 enterococci from different clinical and non-clinical samples of equine origin were tested for their antimicrobial drug sensitivity against 19 antimicrobials using disc diffusion method. Results: A total of 80.2% enterococci tested were resistant to vancomycin and 99.6% to multiple-drugs. There was a significant association between haemolytic potential and vancomycin resistance (chi(2), 0.00). Enterococci isolates from healthy equ...
Tatarniuk DM, Bell C, Carmalt JL.Disease of the paranasal sinuses of the horse is common and treatment often involves lavage and sometimes surgery. The development of minimally-invasive, sinus-specific treatments, such as balloon sinuplasty, requires a thorough understanding of this complex anatomical region. To improve this understanding, 10 heads from dead horses of various ages were grossly dissected. The heads were transected sagittally and each half was dissected to expose the left and right nasomaxillary apertures and associated structures which were then photographed and measured. Entrances from the rostral and caudal ...
Sampson SN, Schneider RK, Gavin PR, Ho CP, Tucker RL, Charles EM.Seventy-two horses with recent onset of navicular syndrome and normal radiographs were assessed. Horses underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of both front feet. All abnormalities were characterized and the most severe abnormality identified, if possible. Abnormal signal intensity in the navicular bone was the most severe abnormality in 24 (33%) horses. Pathologic change in the deep digital flexor tendon was the most severe abnormality in 13 (18%) horses. Pathologic change in the collateral sesamoidean ligament was the most severe abnormality in 11 (15%) horses. Pathologic change in the di...
Satué K, Hernández A, Lorente C, O'Connor JE.Assessment of lymphocyte subsets is an effective method for characterizing disorders such as leukemia, lymphomas, autoimmune and infectious diseases. In order to clinically interpret these parameters, normal reference values should be set, estimating age- and gender-related variations. This research aimed to: (1) characterize lymphocyte subpopulations in Andalusian horse, and (2) evaluate age and gender-related variations of lymphocyte subsets. Jugular blood samples were obtained from 159 animals, 77 males and 82 females, belonging to four age groups-1: 1-2 years (N=39; 21 males and 18 females...
McWilliam HE, Nisbet AJ, Dowdall SM, Hodgkinson JE, Matthews JB.Parasitic nematodes of the group Cyathostominae are an important cause of disease in horses. This group consists of approximately 50 species, all of which have similar life cycles that involve encystment of larval stages in the large intestinal wall. Encysted larvae can persist for months to years and, occasionally, large numbers can accumulate and emerge synchronously to cause severe pathology, resulting in diarrhoea, weight loss, colic and/or oedema. This syndrome, known as larval cyathostominosis, can be fatal in up to 50% of cases, despite treatment. There is no diagnostic method that enab...
Dallap Schaer BL, Bentz AI, Boston RC, Palmer JE, Wilkins PA.To determine if changes in viscoelastic variables are associated with abnormalities observed in the standard coagulation profile and patient outcome in foals with suspected septicemia. Methods: Prospective clinical trial during 2003 and 2004 foal season. Methods: Neonatal intensive care unit at a veterinary teaching hospital. Methods: Thirty critically ill foals <72-hour-old admitted sequentially meeting criteria for systemic inflammatory response associated with infection. Methods: Hemostatic evaluation, using standard coagulation testing and viscoelastic analysis, was performed at admissi...
Brosnahan MM, Holbrook TC, Gilliam LL, Ritchey JW, Confer AW.To describe the clinical and pathological findings in 2 adult horses with documented increases in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), and to describe the direct puncture technique used to measure this pressure. Methods: Two adult horses developed increases in IAP secondary to large-volume abdominal effusion. A 9-year-old Quarter Horse cross gelding was presented for evaluation of urinary and neurologic signs. Abdominal ultrasonographic examination showed a hepatic abscess along with abdominal effusion. A 4-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was presented for evaluation of castration complications. A c...
de la Rebière de Pouyade G, Grulke S, Detilleux J, Salciccia A, Verwilghen DR, Caudron I, Gangl M, Serteyn DD.The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of postoperative laminitis in colic cases and to determine if low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is effective in preventing this complication. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: Client-owned horses. Interventions- SC administration of enoxaparin during the postoperative period. Results: Medical records of 360 horses undergoing surgery for colic and surviving at least 3 days were evaluated. Fifty-six horses admitted before 1995 did not receive LMWH (control group) and 304 admitted after 1995 received LMWH as a prophylaxis for lam...
Tompkins D, Hudgens E, Horohov D, Baldwin CL.This report describes the initial cloning and characterization of the equine interleukin-17 (IL-17) expressed gene sequence from mRNA obtained from equine intestinal tissue and interleukin-23 (IL-23) expressed gene sequence from mRNA obtained from equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Equine IL-17 has 462 nucleotides in the translated region, determined by homology with known human and mouse sequences, and shares 84% and 75% identity, respectively. For the deduced amino acid sequences, the identity with human and mouse is 76% and 70%. Equine IL-23 has 579 nucleotides in the translated reg...
Shields E, Seiden-Long I, Massie S, Passante S, Leguillette R.Cardiac troponin-I assays have been validated in horses.'High-sensitivity' cardiac troponin assays are now the standard in human cardiology. Objective: Appropriately validate the'high-sensitivity' cardiac Troponin-T (hscTnT) assay for clinical use in horses, establish reference intervals, determine the biological variation, and demonstrate assay utility in selected clinical cases. Methods: Analytical validation of the Roche hscTnT assay included within- and between-run precision, linear dose response, limit of quantitation (LoQ), stability, and comparison with cTn-I (iSTAT). Reference interval...
Rodríguez-Bertos A, Corchero J, Castaño M, Peña L, Luzón M, Gómez-Bautista M, Meana A.The pathological alterations caused by Anoplocephala perfoliata in the ileocaecal junction of 28 equids slaughtered in an abattoir in Madrid (Central Spain) are described. The lesions were scored in grades based on the intensity of the damage and were related to the tapeworm number observed. The first grade (grade I) of alterations consisted of a slight enteritis associated with focal erosions observed in 43% of parasitized animals with low parasitic burden (1-26 tapeworms). The second grade (grade II) was a focal pseudomembranous enteritis, present in the ileocaecal junctions of 36% infected ...
Reed SM, Hegreberg GA, Bayly WM, Brown CM, Paradis MR, Clemmons RM.A severe and progressive neuromuscular disorder accompanied by clinical, electrophysiological, and pathological features resembling human dystrophia myotonica was observed in three foals. This disorder was apparent as early as 1 month of age and involved progressive skeletal muscle dysfunction, initially characterized by proximal muscle hypertrophy and hypertonicity with subsequent muscle stiffness, weakness, and atrophy. Multisystem involvement was manifested in one case by testicular hypoplasia, early cataract formation, and borderline glucose intolerance. Prolonged dimpling of these large r...
Goodrich LR.Much has been learned in the past decade about osteomyelitis. The inhibitory mechanisms of the "biofilm slime" layer that is formed by bacterial extracapsular exopolysaccharides and binds to bone, joints, and implants are now better understood than in the past. The surface colonization of bacteria that occurs within these biofilms is a biologic phenomenon that is somewhat unique to orthopedic infections. This survival strategy of bacteria is effective, and it is important for veterinarians who treat osteomyelitis to be aware of current diagnostic and therapeutic treatment modalities. The pract...
Tallon RE, Whitt B, Bladon BM.Monitoring antibiotic usage is an important part of tackling antimicrobial resistance. The use of computerised records for monitoring has been previously described in the equine sector but there is currently no consensus on metrics used to report usage. Objective: To document antibiotic use in equine practices in the United Kingdom over a 10-year period using commercially available practice management software. Methods: Retrospective survey. Methods: A custom antibiotic usage report was created using Eclipse® practice management software. Participating practices were given instructions on how...
Gehlen H, Wulke N, Ertelt A, Nielsen MK, Morelli S, Traversa D, Merle R, Wilson D, Samson-Himmelstjerna GV.All around the world, intestinal helminths constitute one of the most prevalent life-long occurring infections and re-infections affecting all horse age groups. A range of parasite species among strongyles, ascarids, and tapeworms is known to have the potential to cause colic in horses. However, there is a lack of current scientific evidence on the actual relevance of helminth infection levels in the context of colic in horses kept during prevailing epidemiological conditions. Thus, a prospective case-control study on the occurrence of intestinal helminths in a total of 620 mainly adult equine...
Long MT, Mines MT, Knowles DP, Tanhauser SM, Dame JB, Cutler TJ, MacKay RJ, Sellon DC.Sarcocystis neurona was isolated from the blood of a 5-month-old Arabian foal with severe combined immunodeficiency. The foal had been inoculated approximately 3 weeks previously with 5 x 10(5) sporocysts that were isolated from the intestines of an opossum and identified by restriction enzyme analysis of PCR products as S. neurona. The isolate obtained from the blood of this foal was characterized by genetic, serologic, and morphologic methods and identified as S. neurona (WSU1). This represents the first time that S. neurona has been isolated from any tissue after experimental infection of a...
Pitel PH, Lindsay DS, Caure S, Romand S, Pronost S, Gargala G, Mitchell SM, Hary C, Thulliez P, Fortier G, Ballet JJ.Sarcocystis neurona is considered a leading cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a common infectious neurological disease in horses in the Americas. EPM-like cases associated with S. neurona peptide reactive antibodies in Western blots were recently described in Normandy, France. In this report, antibodies reacting with S. neurona merozoites were detected using an agglutination assay at titers ranging from 50 to 500 in sera from 18/50 healthy horses from two farms with a previous EPM-like case. Higher values were found in older animals. Four out of six horses which traveled or st...
Gussmann K, Czech C, Hermann M, Schaarschmidt-Kiener D, von Loewenich FD.A 22-year old mare from Switzerland was admitted to an equine clinic in May 2011. She presented with fever, lethargy, icteric mucous membranes, reduced alertness, an unsteady gait and ataxia. An Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection was confirmed by blood smear and PCR. The mare was treated with oxytetracylin and recovered rapidly, but she still suffered from a slight atactic gait disturbance at 3 weeks post infection. Eine 22 Jahre alte Stute aus der Schweiz wurde im Mai 2011 in eine Pferdeklinik aufgenommen. Die klinischen Symptome bestanden in Fieber, Abgeschlagenheit, ikterischen Schleimhäu...
Platt R, Sponseller BA, Chiang YW, Roth JA.The cell-mediated immune (CMI) response of foals to virulent equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection was evaluated by multi-parameter flow cytometry (FCM). Ten 7-8-month-old EHV-1 seronegative foals were infected intranasally with virulent EHV-1 and 10 foals served as uninfected controls. Blood samples were collected 6 and 7 weeks after infection to test for specific CMI responses to live heterologous EHV-1 recall antigen. The activation markers included major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II), intracellular interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin 4 (IL-4). The results from both...
Stokes SM, Belknap JK, Engiles JB, Stefanovski D, Bertin FR, Medina-Torres CE, Horn R, van Eps AW.Continuous digital hypothermia can prevent the development and progression of laminitis associated with sepsis but its effects on laminitis due to hyperinsulinaemia are unknown. Objective: To determine the effects of continuous digital hypothermia on laminitis development in the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp model. Methods: Randomised, controlled (within subject), blinded, experiment. Methods: Eight clinically normal Standardbred horses underwent laminitis induction using the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp model (EHC). At initiation of the EHC, one forelimb was continuously cooled (...
De Lorenzi L, Genualdo V, Iannuzzi A, Di Meo GP, Perucatti A, Mancuso R, Russo M, Di Berardino D, Parma P, Iannuzzi L.A 4-year-old male horse of Friesian breed with normal body conformation, development and libido, and showing an evident ventral penis deviation with hypospadias, underwent both cytogenetic and genetic investigation. Although the karyotype showed normal male arrangement (2n = 64,XY), one telomere of horse (ECA) chromosome 1 was shorter than both the other one and those of a normal horse (control), as revealed by CBA- and RBA-banding, and by Ag-NOR and FISH-mapping techniques using telomere PNA probes. Genetic investigation of the SRY and MAMLD1 coding sequences revealed a normal SRY sequence an...
Marañón G, Manley W, Cayado P, García C, de la Muela MS, Vara E.Colic could be accompanied by changes in the morphology and physiology of organs and tissues, such as the intestine. This process might be, at least in part, due to the accumulation of oxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), secondary to intestinal ischemia. Glutathione (GSH), being the major intracellular thiol, provides protection against oxidative injury. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ischemia-induced intestinal injury could be related with alterations in GSH metabolism. Results: Ischemia induced a significant increase in lip...
Ellenberger MA, Kaeberle ML, Roth JA.A lymphocyte blastogenic assay was developed to serve as an in vitro correlate of cell-mediated immunity to Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi (R equi) in the equine species. Lymphocytes obtained from a group of experimental ponies showed no response in cell culture to R equi heat extract or lysozyme extract antigens. Ponies were assigned to groups for experimental inoculation. Three ponies were inoculated subcutaneously with live R equi, 3 were given live R equi by intranasal and intratracheal routes, and 4 ponies were left untreated. Lymphocytes from all inoculated ponies had a mitogenic res...
Zhou T, Yuan XF, Hou SH, Tu YB, Peng JM, Wen JX, Qiu HJ, Wu DL, Chen HC, Wang XJ, Tong GZ.In the early 1970s, the Chinese Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV) vaccine, EIAV(DLA), was developed through successive passages of a wild-type virulent virus (EIAV(L)) in donkeys in vivo and then in donkey macrophages in vitro. EIAV attenuation and cell tropism adaptation are associated with changes in both envelope and long terminal repeat (LTR). However, specific LTR changes during Chinese EIAV attenuation have not been demonstrated. In this study, we compared LTR sequences from both virulent and attenuated EIAV strains and documented the diversities of LTR sequence from in vivo and in v...
Suagee JK, Corl BA, Swyers KL, Smith TL, Flinn CD, Geor RJ.High glycaemic feeds are associated with the development of insulin resistance in horses. However, studies that evaluated the effect of high glycaemic feeds used horses that either ranged in body condition from lean to obese or were fed to increase body condition over a period of months; thus, the ability of high glycaemic feeds to induce insulin resistance in lean horses has not been determined. This study evaluated the insulin sensitivity of 18 lean horses fed a 10% (LO; n = 6), 20% (MED; n = 6) or 60% (HI; n = 6) non-structural carbohydrate complementary feed for 90 days. Alth...
Rotchanapreeda T, Sae-Chew P, Lohnoo T, Yingyong W, Rujirawat T, Kumsang Y, Payattikul P, Jaturapaktrarak C, Intaramat A, Pathomsakulwong W....Pythiosis, a life-threatening disease caused by , has been increasingly diagnosed worldwide. A recently developed immunochromatographic test (ICT) enables the rapid diagnosis of pythiosis. During the 3-year clinical implementation of ICT in Thailand, we collected the laboratory reports of 38 animals with suspected pythiosis and detected ICT false-positive results in three horses and a dog with basidiobolomycosis. and cause infections with indistinguishable clinical and microscopic features. This study investigated cross-reactive antibodies by probing and crude extracts and cell-free synthe...
Starik E, Ginter A, Coppe P.A monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against the equine arteritis virus (EAV) nucleocapsid (N) protein was used for indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) using viral antigen from different sources. The same mAb was labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate for direct immunofluorescence tests (DIFTs). The N-specific mAb appeared to be suitable for the detection in both ELISA and DIFT of different EAV strains and field isolates from semen and tissue samples after passage in lines of RK-13, Vero and fetal equine kidney cells. The ELISA described is an easy and fast method which can ...
Leadon D, O'Toole D, Duggan VE.The Irish Horse Industry expanded during the Celtic Tiger boom years, then contracted in the current economic recession. High value horses were traditionally controlled through sale at public auction, private sales and sales to dealers; these are now also being reduced by decreases in production (> 40%), and increases in retirement, re-homing, euthanasia and disposal through Category 2 plants and abattoirs. The absence or banning of horse abattoirs has been shown to have very significant welfare social and economic consequences in the USA. This study described the currently available data o...
Rossdale PD.This review summarises comparative aspects of equine pregnancy and birth. The allantochorion covers the entire endometrial surface of the mare's uterus and the placenta is microcotyledonary and epitheliochorial in structure. The foetus has, therefore, to pass through the allantochorion at birth. The umbilical cord has amniotic and allantoic portions and remains intact after delivery, enabling an arterial venous circulation to be maintained for several minutes. Maternal IgG does not cross the placental barrier and passive transfer post-natally is essential for immune status. Gestation in Thorou...
Welsh CE, Parkin TDH, Marshall JF.As antimicrobial resistant bacterial strains continue to emerge and spread in human and animal populations, understanding prescription practices is key in benchmarking current performance and setting goals. Antimicrobial prescription (AP) in companion veterinary species is widespread, but is neither monitored nor restricted in the USA and Canada. The veterinary use of certain antimicrobial classes is discouraged in some countries, in the hope of preserving efficacy for serious human infections. Objective: The aim of this study was to ascertain the rate of prescription of a number of 'reserved'...
Matthews JB, McArthur C, Robinson A, Jackson F.Cyathostomins are the primary parasitic pathogens of equids. For over 40 years, these nematodes have been controlled using broad spectrum anthelmintics. Three classes of anthelmintic are currently available for this use but, unfortunately, resistance to each of these has now been recorded in cyathostomin populations. As part of an optimal strategy to control cyathostomin infections in the field, it will be important to identify drug-resistant worms at as early a stage as possible. This objective needs to be supported by methodologies that will allow the accurate comparison of anthelmintic resi...
Wilson JW.Creatine phosphokinase activity was determined in cerebrospinal fluid samples submitted for analysis from 126 animals suspected of having central nervous system disease. Values less than 1 sigma unit/ml were obtained on 32 samples and values less than or equal to 1 sigma unit/ml were obtained on 94 samples. The creatine phosphokinase values were increased in all cases of feline toxoplasmosis and feline infectious peritonitis. From other cases, especially seizure disorders and suspected poisonings, and apparent aid in prognosis for future cases was identified.
Le Vine H, Cuatrecasas P.A cytosolic, macromolecular factor required for the cholera toxin-dependent activation of pigeon erythrocyte adenylate cyclase and cholera toxin-dependent ADP-ribosylation of a membrane-bound 43,000 dalton polypeptide has been purified 1100-fold from horse erythrocyte cytosol using organic solvent precipitation and heat treatment. This factor, 13,000 daltons, does not absorb to anionic or cationic exchange resins, is sensitive to trypsin or 10% trichloroacetic acid and is not extractable by diethyl ether. Activation of adenylate cyclase by cholera toxin requires the simultaneous presence of AT...
Mimoun L, Steinman A, Kliachko Y, Tirosh-Levy S, Schvartz G, Blinder E, Baneth G, Mazuz ML.Equine Neospora infection has been linked to neurological disorders and infertility in horses. This study looked into the risk factors for infection and the exposure to Neospora spp. in horses. The study was performed in two independent populations in Israel. The first consisted of apparently healthy horses, and the second consisted of mares examined during pregnancy and after parturition. Sera samples collected from horses and mares were tested for Neospora exposure by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The study revealed seroprevalence of 24% in apparently healthy horses and 66.4...
Salinas-Mélendez JA, Galván de la Garza S, Riojas-Valdés VM, Wong González A, Avalos-Ramírez R.The aim of the present study was to determine the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in horses from the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo León, México. Blood serum was obtained from a total of 100 horses residing at different counties in the area. From each animal data was obtained on age, sex, county of residence, presence of ectoparasites and clinical signs. All sera samples were analyzed by indirect immunofluoresence and the sera that resulted positive to this test was analyzed by Western blot. The serological test yielded 34 positive sera at 1:64 dilution, and from them 6 we...
Grobbel M, Lübke-Becker A, Alesík E, Schwarz S, Wallmann J, Werckenthin C, Wieler LH.A total of 120 isolates of Klebsiella spp. and Proteus spp. collected from horses and small animals (dogs and cats) were screened for their susceptibility to 24 different antimicrobial agents. Klebsiella spp. were included from infections of the genital tract (GT) of horses (36 isolates) and the urinary/genital tract (UGT) from dogs and cats (17 isolates), while Proteus spp. were from small animal (dogs and cats) infections of the UGT (37 strains) and the skin (incl. ear/mouth) (30 isolates). In Klebsiella spp. resistance appeared most frequently to ampicillin (53-67%), sulfamethoxazole (19-29...
Skalka B.The occurrence of equi-factor antibodies in sera of mares and their foals was studied on two horse breeding farms, one of which (Farm A) had a positive and the other (farm B) a negative history of R. equi infection of foals. The equi-factor neutralization (EFN) and the reverse Elek-Ouchterlony (REO) precipitation were used as assays. On Farm A, 25 mares positive in both tests (EFN+ REO+) and 25 mares negative in both tests (EFN- REO-) was chosen. On Farm B, a group of 25 EFN- REO+ mares and a group of 25 EFN- REO- mares were studied. The first serum samplings in mares were 1 week ante partum a...
Cornick JL, Seahorn TL.During a 3 1/2-year period, cardiac arrhythmias were identified in 6 of 67 horses diagnosed with duodenitis/proximal jejunitis (DPJ). Arrhythmias were detected by auscultation of irregular cardiac rhythm and subsequently were characterized by electrocardiographic evaluation. Arrhythmias included frequent second-degree atrioventricular block, ventricular ectopic depolarizations, and atrioventricular conduction disturbance. In 4 horses, arrhythmias resolved with recovery from the primary problem. One horse died suddenly 66 hours after admission, and another was euthanatized at 72 hours after adm...
Blunden AS, Mackintosh ME.A series of 31 thoroughbreds and 18 non-thoroughbreds was examined post mortem to assess what bacteria might be present in the lower respiratory tract, and to assess their significance by correlating the bacteriological findings with histological changes in the lung. The distal trachea and seven representative lung sites were swabbed in each case. Sixty-six per cent of the sites were sterile with remaining sites producing scanty growths of mainly coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp., E. coli, Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Anaerobes, mainly Clostridium perfringens, Bacteroides fragilis a...
