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.
Johnson PJ, Moore LA, Mrad DR, Turk JR, Wilson DA.The sudden death of two horses was attributed to the rapid and acute development of pulmonary aspergillosis. One horse was making excellent postoperative progress after a jejunal resection and anastomosis for intestinal adhesions. The other horse was being treated routinely for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Signs of fever and an increased respiratory rate were detected shortly before death in the first horse, but no premonitory clinical signs characteristic of pulmonary infection were detected in the horse being treated for EPM. Both horses developed rapidly debilitating, acute pul...
Van Hoogmoed L, Rakestraw PC, Snyder JR, Harmon FA.To determine the in vitro effect of various prostaglandins (PG) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) on contractile activity of the large-colon taenia of horses. Methods: 14 healthy horses. Methods: The taenia was collected from the ventral colon, cut into strips (2 X 10 mm), and mounted in a tissue bath system (20-ml capacity) that contained oxygenated Krebs buffer solution warmed to 37.5+/-0.5 C. After equilibration, incremental doses of PGE2, PGF2alpha, PGl2, flunixin meglumine, carprofen, ketoprofen, and phenylbutazone were added to the baths, and contractile activity was recor...
Bueno AC, Seahorn TL, Cornick-Seahorn J, Horohov DW, Moore RM.To quantify plasma and urine nitric oxide (NO) concentrations before and after low-dose endotoxin infusion in horses. Methods: 11 healthy adult female horses. Procedure-Eight horses were given endotoxin (35 ng/kg of body weight,i.v.) over 30 minutes. Three sentinel horses received an equivalent volume of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution over the same time. Clinical signs of disease and hemodynamic variables were recorded, and urine and plasma samples were obtained to measure NO concentrations prior to endotoxin infusion (t = 0) and every hour until postinfusion hour (PIH) 6, then every 2 hours unti...
Hoffman AM, Couetil LL, Miller CJ.To describe the spectrum of nonspecific airway reactivity in a group of clinically normal foals. Methods: 12 clinically normal mixed-breed foals, 48 to 92 days old, without history of clinical lung disease. Methods: Nonspecific airway reactivity was determined by measuring the extent of changes in dynamic compliance during nebulization of incrementally increasing concentrations of histamine aerosol. Degree of airway reactivity was expressed as the dose of histamine that evoked a decrease in dynamic compliance (Cdyn) to 65% of the after saline nebulization value (PC65Cdyn) or increase in pulmon...
Ximenes MF, Souza MF, Castellón EG.The objective of the present study was to determine the association of sand flies with the presence of domestic and wild animals in the peridomiciliary area. The sand flies were collected using direct aspiration and CDC light traps placed in animal shelters. The results suggest that different sand flies species have different behavioral characteristics in an apparent preference for animal baits and that Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lu. evandroi were the most eclectic species regarding their biotope choice. Lu. longipalpis showed a distinct preference for horses and Lu. evandroi for armadillos.
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 ...
Olszewski MA, Zhang XY, Robinson NE.In addition to their direct contractile effects, histamine (Hist), serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)], and leukotriene (LT) D(4), in low concentrations, dramatically augment electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced smooth muscle contractions in equine airways. To determine the mechanism of their action, we studied, in trachealis strips, the effect of these mediators on both cholinergically induced tension and the release of ACh from cholinergic nerves. All three mediators synergistically augmented the contraction of the trachealis that was due to release of endogenous ACh, i.e., EFS-indu...
Allen AL.Postmortem radiography can be a valuable supplement to traditional necropsy. This article provides examples where postmortem radiographs have been useful in diagnosing and documenting lesions in animals, and have helped demonstrate important principles of the pathology and the pathogenesis of lesions identified at necropsy. This article also discusses additional circumstances where the application of postmortem radiography might be worthwhile.
Belloli C, Badino P, Carcano R, Odore R, Arioli F, Caloni F, Re G.The affinity and functional effects of isoxsuprine enantiomers were investigated to determine the enantiospecificity of the beta-agonistic and alpha-blocking effects. Functional assays on isolated smooth muscle preparations from equine common digital artery were performed to determine the apparent affinity (pD(2)) and intrinsic activity (alpha(E)) of (-)erythro-isoxsuprine (alphaS, betaR, gammaR) and (+)erythro-isoxsuprine (alphaR, betaS, gammaS). The affinity of two enantiomers for the different adrenoceptor types was studied by radioligand binding assays on membrane preparations from the sam...
Bashiruddin JB, Cammà C, Rebêlo E.Babesia equi and Babesia caballi are tick-borne haemoparasites that may cause babesiosis of Equidae. In southern Europe B. equi is enzootic and infections may occur asymptomatically and more frequently than those due to B. caballi. Complement fixation test (CFT) is the official serological test for the diagnosis of equine babesiosis, but it has low sensitivity during early and latent stages of the disease. With the aim of developing more sensitive and rapid direct diagnostic alternatives, PCR systems that amplified DNA targets of 664 or 659 bp regions of the 16S rRNA genes were designed and de...
Frazier K, Hullinger G, Hines M, Liggett A, Sangster L.A 10-y retrospective study of aldicarb intoxication in domestic animals from 1988 to 1998 is provided from animals submitted to the University of Georgia Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory. Within the period examined, 162 separate cases were confirmed and 18 additional cases were suspected based on bioassay but could not be confirmed. Some cases involving as many as 15 affected animals. Dogs were most often involved, but cats, horses, cattle and goats were also poisoned. Most intoxications appeared intentional or malicious. "Baits" including frankfurters, ham or ground beef w...
Mobarak MS, Ryan MF.Light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy were employed to provide further data on the putative origins of the immunogenic secretory-excretory product (ESP) of Strongylus vulgaris (Looss 1900). The sharply delineated but superficial attachment to the equine caecum by the mouth leaves behind an oval area devoid of epithelial cells. Attachment does not extend deeply enough to reach the muscularis mucosa layer of the equine intestine. The progressive digestion of the ingested plug of tissue (epithelial cells, blood cells and mucous) was visualized. The coelomocytes, floating cells and...
Hedrick PW, Parker KM, Miller EL, Miller PS.The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a fundamental part of the vertebrate immune system, and the high variability in many MHC genes is thought to play an essential role in recognition of parasites. The Przewalski's horse is extinct in the wild and all the living individuals descend from 13 founders, most of whom were captured around the turn of the century. One of the primary genetic concerns in endangered species is whether they have ample adaptive variation to respond to novel selective factors. In examining 14 Przewalski's horses that are broadly representative of the living animal...
Hallebeek JM, van 't Klooster AT, Beynen AC.In various situations it is desirable to evaluate the diet of horses. Such situations occur when nutrition is considered as the cause of disease or symptoms or and when a diet or diet change raises concern about whether the animal is receiving sufficient nutrients. Ration evaluation consists of translating feed ingredients into nutrients supplied and comparing this with nutrient requirements. The basics of ration evaluation are illustrated by means of four examples of horse diets.
Tunev SS, Ehrhart EJ, Jensen HE, Foreman JH, Richter RA, Messick JB.An 18-year-old Morgan mare was presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of Illinois, with a 10-day history of watery diarrhea, depression, and dysphagia. On admission, the animal was severely dehydrated, depressed, and unable to swallow and had no clinical signs of diarrhea. The respiratory and heart rate and body temperature were within normal limits. Following fluid therapy, the mare developed severe watery diarrhea and continued to be depressed, incoordinated, and dysphagic. The animal died on the fourth day after admission and was sent to the Laboratories of Veteri...
Hong CB, Van Meter PW, Latimer CL.A malignant rhabdoid tumour was diagnosed in the orbit of a 2-year-old Thoroughbred filly. The neoplasm, which was very aggressive, was present in nearly every part of the ocular and periocular structures and had spread to the lymph nodes of the head and neck, the salivary glands and the subcutaneous tissues around the eye. The neoplasm was composed of polygonal cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Many cells had a large, vesiculate, indented nucleus and contained a paranuclear globular inclusion. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions were seen to consist of whorls of intermediate filaments...
Bailey SR, Elliott J.Endotoxin has been implicated in the pathophysiology of acute laminitis. The aim of this study was to examine the direct effects of endotoxin on isolated equine digital blood vessels. Equine digital veins (EDV), incubated in Krebs-Henseleit solution containing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1 microg/ml) became hyporesponsive to 5-HT after 16 h. Cycloheximide and ibuprofen blocked this effect of LPS and increased the maximum response obtained to 5-HT when compared to control vessels. L-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) reversed the hyporesponsiveness caused by LPS. Vessels maintained in culture me...
Javsicas LH, Sanchez LC.Administration of omeprazole paste per os to healthy neonatal foals has been shown to effectively increase intragastric pH, but has not been evaluated in sick neonatal foals. Objective: To determine the effect of orally administered omeprazole paste on intragastric pH in clinically ill neonatal foals requiring nasogastric intubation. Methods: Intragastric pH was measured continuously for 24 h using an indwelling electrode and continuous data recording system in hospitalised neonatal foals age < or =2 days. Intragastric pH was measured for 12 h prior to (pretreatment period) and 12 h followi...
Lokhorst HM, Breukink HJ.Two cases of Auto-immune hemolytic anemia (AHA) in the horse are described. The pathogenesis of AHA in man is related to the findings in the horses. Besides from routine hematological and biochemical investigations specific data were obtained from the erythrocyte osmotic fragility test, the Coombs test, the serum haptoglobulin level and the cold agglutinin test. The first patient, a six month old Dutch standardbred colt, probably suffered from an acute attack of cold-induced hemoglobinuria with severe anemia and acronecrosis of the tops of both ears and of several parts of the skin that had be...
Gáspárdy A, Rieden S, Simonyi Z, Szemere B, Bodó I.The authors give a short orientation about the age related parameters of the incisors based on the literature. They examined the question of breed differences with respect to the age determination of horses in the different counties, especially in regard to the English Thoroughbred. In this context they present a new parameter as well as a new approach in data-processing. The cup depth and the yearly abrasion showed high breed-specificity. The relative abrasion indicated that the most intensive wear out is typical for the Thoroughbred. The cup depth and the yearly wear out were different accor...
Cesarini C, Macieira S, Girard C, Drolet R, d'Anjou MA, Jean D.The costochondral junction constitutes a potential site of infection in septic foals and it could be favored by thoracic trauma. Standard radiographs and ultrasonography are useful tools for diagnosis of this condition and ultrasound-guided needle aspiration could permit the definitive confirmation of infection. La jonction costochondrale constitue un site potentiel d’infection chez le poulain septicémique et le développement de l’infection pourrait être favorisée par un traumatisme costal. Les radiographies standards et l’échographie sont des aides diagnostiques et l’aspiration ...
Hawkins JF, Schumacher JS, McClure SR, Light GS.Small intestinal incarceration through the lateral ligament of the urinary bladder was diagnosed in a 14-year-old, 569-kg, castrated Quarter Horse. The incarceration was corrected by ventral midline celiotomy. Approximately 70 cm of the middle portion of the jejunum was resected and end-to-end, single-layer anastomosis was performed. After surgery, the horse developed signs of adynamic ileus and lameness in the right forelimb. The horse developed laminitis in all 4 feet within 24 hours of surgery. The horse was euthanatized because of poor prognosis for survival. At necropsy, a 4.5-cm rent was...
MacDonald MH, Honnas CM, Meagher DM.Medical records of 28 horses with osteomyelitis of the calcaneus were reviewed to evaluate signalment, history, diagnostic and treatment methods, outcome, and long-term follow-up information. Trauma was the most commonly reported cause (24). Physical examination revealed lameness in 27 horses, and 22 (79%) had a wound or draining tract over the plantar aspect of the calcaneus. Radiography of all horses was done prior to the initiation of treatment, and follow-up radiography was done on 20 horses. The most common radiographic findings were soft tissue swelling (25), bony lysis of the calcaneus ...
Scalco R, Aleman M, Nogueira CEW, Freitas NB, Curcio BR.To report red cell distribution width (RDW) values, to calculate RDW-to-platelet ratio (RPR), and to investigate a possible correlation of RDW and RPR index values in neonatal foals classified as healthy or at risk based on clinical information from a population of foals up to 24 hours of life. Methods: Retrospective study conducted from records and CBCs of foals born between June and November from 2018 to 2020 foaling seasons. Methods: Breeding farm. Methods: Three hundred and nine neonatal full-term Thoroughbred foals. Methods: None. Results: Foals were evaluated by a veterinarian within 15...
Breuhaus BA, DeGraves FJ.Plasma endotoxin concentrations were measured at 1 to 2 and 5 to 6 days of age in clinically normal foals and in potentially septic neonatal foals admitted to North Carolina State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital for a variety of conditions. In 1 to 2 and 5 to 6 day old normal foals, median plasma endotoxin concentrations were 2.17 (range, 1.61-2.54; n = 6) and 2.89 (range, 2.61-3.50; n = 7) endotoxin units/mL (EU/mL), respectively. Median plasma endotoxin concentration in potentially septic foals with negative blood cultures or gram positive isolates (n = 8) was 2.73 (range, 0.59-4.0...
Bailey E.The linkage group formed by the ELA and A blood group system in horses was studied in American Standardbred horses. The distance between the ELA locus and the A blood group locus was measured as 1.61 centimorgans, observing only the haplotypes contributed by the sires. Strong linkage disequilibrium was found in pacing Standardbred horses for ELA-W1 with Aa, ELA-W5 with Ab and ELA-W10 with Ab. Linkage disequilibrium was apparent at both the population and family level. Among trotting Standardbred horses, linkage disequilibrium was found for ELA-W1 with Aa and for ELA-W10 with Ab. It was not pos...
Corradini I, Armengou L, Viu J, Rodríguez-Pozo ML, Cesarini C, Jose-Cunilleras E.To determine if plasma iron concentration is different between horses with and without systemic inflammation (SI) and to assess the accuracy for the detection of SI by assaying plasma iron and fibrinogen concentrations, individually or combined. To assess the prognostic value of plasma iron concentration and to describe the progression of plasma iron and fibrinogen concentrations during hospital follow-up, and its relation to SI and survival. Methods: Prospective observational study evaluating plasma iron and fibrinogen. Methods: University veterinary teaching hospital. Methods: Equine patient...
Hoon-Hanks LL, Rout ED, Vap LM, Aboellail TA, Hassel DM, Nout-Lomas YS.A 20-year-old gelding was diagnosed with peritonitis and severe reactive mesothelial hyperplasia. Exploratory laparotomy findings were suggestive of a neoplastic etiology; however, additional diagnostics ruled this out and the horse made a full recovery. This report demonstrates the difficulty and value of differentiating between reactive and neoplastic mesothelial processes. Une péritonite et l’hyperplasie mésothéliale réactive grave ont été diagnostiquées chez un hongre âgé de 20 ans. Les résultats d’une laparatomie exploratoire ont suggéré une étiologie néoplasique. Cepen...
Wardle EN.Assessment of changes in activity of the reticuloendothelial system (RES), including the mesangial cells of the kidney, has been made by means of clearance studies of human aggregated gamma-globulin and of colloidal gold, during the course of horse serum sickness nephritis. RES blockade was found after protein loading and at the phase of circulating immune complexes. At other times RES activity was normal or increased. “Mesangial saturation” may have important implications for human nephritis.
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...
Rushton JO, Kolodziejek J, Tichy A, Nowotny N, Nell B.To date the influence of herpesviruses on the development of equine ocular diseases has not been clearly determined. Objective: The purpose of this study was to illustrate the course of equine ocular findings over a period of 18 months at 6 month intervals, in correlation with the results of herpesvirus detection. Methods: 266 Lipizzaners in 3 federal states of Austria underwent complete ophthalmologic examination 4 times. Blood samples, nasal- and conjunctival swabs were obtained at the same time and used for the detection of the equid gammaherpesviruses EHV-2 and EHV-5 using consensus herpes...
Li J, Zhao Y, Mi J, Yi Z, Holyoak GR, Wu R, Wang Z, Zhu Y, Zeng S.Endometritis is a common disease in donkeys that causes economic losses to donkey farms and the common cause is bacterial infection. Uterine flush fluid proteomics has been used to study protein biomarkers associated with endometritis in mares. As a convenient diagnostic tool, serum proteomics has not been studied yet in equine species with endometritis. This study is aiming to evaluate the serum proteomics in jennies with and without endometritis and identify potential proteins as biomarker for endometritis diagnosis. Nine donkeys recruited into this study were diagnosed of bacterial (Escheri...
Butler D, Upton L, Mullan S.In March 2020, the World Health Organisation called for countries to take urgent and aggressive action against a global pandemic caused by COVID-19. Restrictions were introduced in many countries to reduce transmission of COVID-19 and ultimately deaths. Such restrictions have been colloquially referred to as "lockdown". Anecdotal evidence of the beneficial practices that facilitated safe veterinary treatment and equine care had been reported together with an increase in the use of electronic communication and information technologies during the first "lockdown". Thus, the aim of this qualitati...
Fielding CL.With advances in technology and owner education, field management in equine veterinary medicine continues to evolve. Equine gastrointestinal disease is one of the most common types of emergencies evaluated by equine practitioners, and many of these patients can be effectively managed in the field. Although the equine veterinarian must make numerous decisions, fluid therapy, pain management, and antimicrobial use are 3 of the major choices that must be addressed when initiating field treatment of equine gastrointestinal disease. This article addresses the practical use of these 3 treatment cate...
Ireland JL, McGowan CM.Research demonstrating insulin's causal role in endocrinopathic laminitis has greatly advanced understanding of equine laminitis. However, the degree to which this knowledge has been translated into clinical practice has not been assessed. This two-part study aimed to investigate veterinary surgeons' current diagnostic approach to laminitis, whether this had changed over time, and the impact of diagnosing an endocrinopathy on laminitis case management and outcome. Two cross-sectional online surveys of equine veterinary surgeons working within the UK were undertaken. The first study population ...
Vaid RK, Shanmugasundaram K, Anand T, Bera BC, Tigga M, Dedar R, Riyesh T, Bardwaj S, Virmani N, Tripathi BN, Singh R. is a well-known Gram-negative bacterial pathogen causing a plethora of diseases in different animals. Although its infection has been reported from pigs and dogs in India, no report of B. bronchiseptica from horses is described. We report for the first time, isolation, identification and characterization of strains of B. bronchiseptica from respiratory infection in horses from different states in India. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed resistance to penicillins, ceftazidime, and chloramphanicol. The virulence capability of the strains was confirmed by sequencing genes such as a...
MacMillan AP, Baskerville A, Hambleton P, Corbel MJ.Five mares, one stallion and a colt foal were inoculated intraconjunctivally with Brucella abortus strain 544. No clinical signs of disease developed except mild pyrexia. Intermittent bacteraemia was detected in the mares but not in the stallion or foal. Antibodies to B abortus became detectable from the second week after inoculation. Titres in the serum agglutination and complement fixation tests declined substantially after six to eight weeks but reactions to the Coombs antiglobulin, 2-mercaptoethanol and immunodiffusion tests were maintained. No consistent changes in biochemical or haematol...
Ryan A, Gurney M, Steinbacher R.A 10-year-old 466 kg mustang gelding presented to an equine referral hospital for surgical repair of nasal, frontal and lacrimal bone fractures from an unknown trauma. Surgical repair was performed under general anaesthesia, including a right-sided maxillary regional anaesthetic block with mepivacaine hydrochloride. Progressive hyperkalaemia was documented perianaesthetically (T-3 mins; 134 mins after induction; potassium 6.4 mmol/L (ref 3.5-5.1 mmol/L). Perianaesthetic bradycardia was attributed to alpha -2 agonist infusion administration, and other characteristic ECG changes (flattened ...
Romo-Sáenz CI, Tamez-Guerra P, Olivas-Holguin A, Ramos-Zayas Y, Obregón-Macías N, González-Ochoa G, Zavala-Díaz de la Serna FJ....Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a highly infectious disease in members of the family, caused by equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). The disease severity ranges from subclinical to acute or chronic, and causes significant economic losses in the equine industry worldwide. Serologic tests for detection of EIAV infection have some concerns given the prolonged seroconversion time. Therefore, molecular methods are needed to improve surveillance programs for this disease. We attempted detection of EIAV in 6 clinical and 42 non-clinical horses in Nuevo Leon State, Mexico, using the agar gel immu...
Naylor RJ, Livesey L, Schumacher J, Henke N, Massey C, Brock KV, Fernandez-Fuente M, Piercy RJ.Equine type 1 polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM1), a common glycogenosis associated with an R309H founder mutation in the glycogen synthase 1 gene (GYS1), shares pathological features with several human myopathies. In common with related human disorders, the pathogenesis remains unclear in particular, the marked phenotypic variability between affected animals. Given that affected animals accumulate glycogen and alpha-crystalline polysaccharide within their muscles, it is possible that physical disruption associated with the presence of this material could exacerbate the phenotype. The aim ...
Simpson CF, Neal FC.Four splenectomized ponies were infected with Babesia equi. Two ponies were not treated, and two were treated with 5 mg of imidocarb/kg of body weight when 20% of their erythrocytes were parasitized. The nucleus of the parasite in erythrocytes from blood smears of nontreated ponies was roundish, deep red-staining, and usually composed two-thirds of the organism. The parasite in erythrocytes from blood smears of treated ponies was swollen and vacuolated except for an area just beneath the plasma membrane where the compressed nucleus was marginated, elongated, and clumpy. Parasites in erythrocyt...
Wilkes EJA, Woodgate RG, Raidal SL, Hughes KJ.This study investigated the impact of variability in Parascaris spp. and strongyle faecal egg counts (FEC) from foals on treatment decision-making and detection of a patent infection. A single faecal sample was collected once daily for three days from 53 foals and a FEC was performed on three separate portions of each sample (total of nine egg counts per foal). Differences in the decision to administer an anthelmintic using the results of a single count (C), the mean of three (X¯) or nine counts (X¯) and the upper 5% confidence limit of the gamma confidence interval (CI) of the estimate of t...
Kuhnert-Paul Y, Schmäschke R, Daugschies A.Results of parasitological examination of faecal aliquots may vary between diagnostic laboratories. To examine whether inhomogeneous distribution of worm eggs in faecal samples is responsible for this observation, horse faeces provided for routine diagnosis of helminth infection were examined. Distribution of worm eggs was assessed by examining aliquots taken from different locations of the faecal sample by a combined sedimentation-flotation method (KSFV). In addition, it was tested, whether the homogenization of a larger amount (minimum of 40 g) of faeces before performing KSFV improved repro...
Hudson LC, Weinstock D, Jordan T, Bold-Fletcher NO.Twelve naive and nine test-vaccinated horses which developed clinical signs of rabies as a result of the required protocol of a vaccine trial were prospectively observed. Nineteen of the 21 cases were confirmed positive for rabies infection of the brain by fluorescent antibody test. The two horses with negative results had ganglioneuritis of the trigeminal ganglion or lymphocytic perivascular cuffing in the brain stem in addition to clinical signs. Average incubation period was 12.3 days and average morbidity was 5.5 days. Naive animals had significantly shorter incubation and morbidity period...
Skipper L, Pusterla N.The purpose of this study was to establish if peak serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations can be used to determine an appropriate immune response to a vaccine containing West Nile Virus (WNV) antigen. A pilot study with 20 clinically healthy horses was performed to identify peak SAA concentration postvaccination with a commercial multivalent WNV vaccine. Blood was collected for SAA at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, 168 hours postvaccination. Serum for WNV serum neutralization antibody testing was obtained immediately prior to and 30 days postvaccination. An additional 40 horses underwent the study protocol,...
Murray MJ, Cavey DM, Feldman BF, Trostle SS, White NA.Sympathetic denervation in a 20-year-old, gray, Thoroughbred-Percheron gelding was manifested by cutaneous hyperthermia and sweating over the right side of the body, demarcated by a line from the withers to the elbow and extending cranially. There was cutaneous hyperthermia over the right side of the head, but other signs of Horner's syndrome (sweating, ptosis, miosis, enophthalmos) were not present. The pattern of cutaneous hyperthermia and sweating was consistent with sympathetic denervation localized to the cervicothoracic ganglion, and thoracic radiographs revealed increased density in the...
Coffman EA, Abd-Eldaim M, Craig LE.A pregnant 18-year-old Quarterhorse mare presented with fever, anorexia, tachycardia, tachypnea, and gastrointestinal hypermotility at day 68 of gestation. Potomac horse fever was diagnosed based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of whole blood and a high antibody titer to Neorickettsia risticii. The mare made a rapid clinical recovery following antibiotic therapy, but aborted 98 days later. Necropsy on the aborted fetus revealed lymphohistiocytic colitis, lymphadenitis, myocarditis, and hepatitis. The placenta was grossly and histologically normal. Formalin-fixed lymph node, thymus,...
