Equine diseases encompass a wide range of health conditions that can affect horses, including infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, and genetic conditions. These diseases can impact the overall health, performance, and well-being of horses. Common equine diseases include equine influenza, equine herpesvirus, laminitis, and equine metabolic syndrome. Diagnosis and management of these diseases often require a combination of clinical evaluation, laboratory testing, and appropriate treatment strategies. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment options for various equine diseases, providing valuable insights for veterinarians and researchers in the field.
von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, von Witzendorff C, Sievers G, Schnieder T.A survey on benzimidazole (BZ) resistance in small strongyles was performed on three farms in the tenth region in Chile. Samples from a total of 100 horses were tested using the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT), the egg hatch assay (EHA) and an allele-specific PCR for the detection of beta-tubulin isotype 1 genes coding for phenylalanine (phe) or tyrosine (tyr) at codon 200. In the past, BZ-type drugs have been used within anthelmintic campaigns on all the three farms. This has predictably led to a high degree of BZ resistance at the Valdivia and Riñihue farms and to a lesser degree at...
Battsetseg B, Lucero S, Xuan X, Claveria F, Byambaa B, Battur B, Boldbaatar D, Batsukh Z, Khaliunaa T, Battsetseg G, Igarashi I, Nagasawa H....Babesia equi (EMA-1) and Babesia caballi (BC48) gene fragments were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in blood samples, and partially fed-females and egg and larval progenies of Dermacentor nuttalli, collected from horses in Altanbulag, Tuv Province, Mongolia. While Babesia parasite DNA was detected in some horse blood samples during the first PCR, all positive cases in partially fed-female ticks, eggs and larvae were confirmed by nested PCR. Present study reinforces earlier similar findings in unfed D. nuttalli ticks collected from an open space vegetation in Bayanonjuul, Tuv Prov...
Pusterla N, Pusterla JB, Spier SJ, Puget B, Watson JL.The SNAP Foal IgG test (IDEXX) as evaluated for its accuracy and usefulness by measuring blood samples collected from 42 foals between 24 and 48 hours after birth. The results were compared with the single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) test as the reference method. The SNAP test was quick and easy to perform, and the results were similar to those obtained by SRID in 64 per cent of the samples. The best results were found with low ( 800 mg/dl) concentrations of immunoglobulin G, with an accuracy of 80 per cent and 89 per cent, respectively. The intermediate concentrations were usually lower whe...
Spirito F, Charlesworth A, Linder K, Ortonne JP, Baird J, Meneguzzi G.Recent achievements in the genetic correction of keratinocytes isolated from patients with junctional epidermolysis bullosa have paved the way to a gene therapy approach for the disease. Because gene therapy protocols require preclinical validation in animals, we have characterized spontaneous animal models of junctional epidermolysis bullosa. In this study we have elucidated the genetic basis of the hereditary junctional mechanobullous disease in the Belgian horse, a condition characterized by blistering of the skin and mouth epithelia, and exungulation (loss of the hoof). Immunofluorescence ...
Schelling C, Hagger C, Pieńkowska A, Siegfried JP, Stranzinger G.A population of Baudet du Poitou donkeys was genetically characterized using microsatellites. The results were used to verify the pedigrees and to estimate the genetic variability. It could be confirmed that a equine parentage test kit works well for donkeys and that by using 13 microsatellites more than 99% of wrong pedigree informations would be detected. The genetic variability was comparable to a representative group of Baudet du Poitou donkeys in France.
Faleiros RR, Macoris DG, Alessi AC, Saquetti CH, Rasera L.To determine the effect of experimental intraluminal distention on microvascular perfusion of the small colon in horses. Methods: 6 mixed-breed healthy horses (mean age [+/- SDI, 9.1 +/- 2 years). Methods: Under general anesthesia, the small colon was exposed by celiotomy and 3 segments were demarcated. In 1 of these segments, intraluminal obstruction was created by placement of a latex balloon inflated to a pressure of 40 mm Hg (obstructed segment). The other segments were the sham-operated segment and the control segment. Microvascular perfusion was evaluated in the mucosal, submucosal, musc...
Schembri MA, Major DA, Suttie JJ, Maxwell WM, Evans G.Chlortetracycline (CTC) fluorescence staining analysis was used to investigate cryopreservation-induced capacitation-like changes in equine spermatozoa. Freshly ejaculated spermatozoa were found to display a high proportion of F pattern cells (uncapacitated; 93.6%) and a lower proportion of B pattern (capacitated; 5.4%) and AR pattern (acrosome-reacted; 1%) cells. Following cryopreservation in modified Kenney's medium, capacitation-like changes were observed. There was a significant increase in the proportion of spermatozoa displaying the B pattern (64.8%; P<0.001) and AR pattern (32.8%; P&...
Olivier A, Wannenburg J, Gottschalk RD, van der Linde MJ, Groeneveld HT.A shoe was designed to combine the advantages of a reverse shoe and an adjustable heart bar shoe in the treatment of chronic laminitis. This reverse even frog pressure (REFP) shoe applies pressure uniformly over a large area of the frog solar surface. Pressure is applied vertically upward parallel to the solar surface of the frog and can be increased or decreased as required. Five clinically healthy horses were humanely euthanased and their dismembered forelimbs used in an in vitro study. Frog pressure was measured by strain gauges applied to the ground surface of the carrying tab portion of t...
European journal of immunologySeptember 11, 2002
Volume 32, Issue 9 2598-2606 doi: 10.1002/1521-4141(200209)32:93.0.CO;2-#
Deeg CA, Thurau SR, Gerhards H, Ehrenhofer M, Wildner G, Kaspers B.Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is an inflammatory eye disease with high similarity to uveitis in man. It is the only spontaneous animal model for uveitis and the most frequent eye disease in horses affecting up to 10% of the population. To further investigate the pathophysiology of ERU we now report the establishment of an inducible uveitis model in horses. An ERU-like disease was elicited in seven out of seven horses by injection of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) in complete Freund's adjuvant. Control horses did not develop uveitis. The disease model is characterized by a ...
Volkmann DH, Williams JH, Henton JH, Donahue JM, Williams NM.Since the late 1980s a distinct form of focally-extensive mucoid to mucopurulent uterine body chronic placentitis,caused by nocardioform organisms, hasbeen recognised in horses in the USA state of Kentucky and possibly in other areas. This disease has led to increasing numbers of foal losses from late abortions, still-births, prematurity, or early neonatal deaths. The foals are usually not infected, but may be small or emaciated. Modes of infection and transmission are as yet unknown. Nocardia spp. and related nocardioform bacteria as causes of equine infertility, endometritis and foal death a...
Vidrine M, Owen-Smith P, Faulkner P.In this day of high-tech, managed-care service delivery with an emphasis on medication and brief treatment, it is important for nurses to be aware of nontraditional treatment options that may be uniquely beneficial for some clients. Although it may still be considered a novelty, including animals in the healing milieu is not a new idea. Florence Nightingale herself suggested that "a small pet animal is often an excellent companion for the sick, for long chronic cases especially" (Nightingale, 1969, p. 102). Healing, according to one recent nursing article, can be seen as "a gradual awakening t...
McCue PM, Farquhar VJ, Carnevale EM, Squires EL.Deslorelin implants, approved for use in inducing ovulation in mares, have been associated with prolonged interovulatory intervals in some mares. Administration of prostaglandins in the diestrous period, following a deslorelin-induced ovulation, has been reported to increase the incidence of delayed ovulations. The goals of the present study were: (1) to determine the percentage of mares given deslorelin that experience delayed ovulations with or without subsequent prostaglandin treatment, and (2) to determine if removal of the implant 48 h after administration would effect the interval to sub...
Xuan X, Chahan B, Huang X, Yokoyama N, Makala LH, Igarashi I, Fujisaki K, Maruyama S, Sakai T, Mikami T.The prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in Xinjiang province, China, was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). A total of 70 serum samples were taken from horses pastured on three farms in western Xinjiang, and examined for diagnosis of equine Babesia equi (B. equi) infection and B. caballi infection by ELISAs using recombinant equi merozoite antigen 1 (EMA-1) and recombinant P48 antigen, respectively. Of the 70 samples, 28 (40.0%) and 17 (24.3%) samples were positive for B. equi infection and B. caballi infection, respectively. In addition, 11 (15.7%) samples were positive f...
Mateos-Trigos G, Evans RJ, Heath MF.Horses show susceptibility to platelet-related disorders. Equine platelets differ from human platelets in some of their responses, so information available about human platelets must be validated in the horse. Aggregation of platelets by ADP involves both P2Y(1) and P2Y(12) receptors on the platelet surface. We have compared the effect of the P2Y(12) antagonist, AR-C67085, on equine and human platelets in vitro using turbidimetric aggregometry to measure the rate and final extent of aggregation. Aggregation profiles, concentration-response curves and pA(2) values show that the rate of aggregat...
Guan F, Uboh CE, Soma LR, Luo Y, Li R, Birks EK, Teleis D, Rudy JA, Tsang DS.Clenbuterol (CBL) is a potent beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist used for the management of respiratory disorders in the horse. The detection and quantification of CBL can pose a problem due to its potency, the relatively low dose administered to the horse, its slow clearance and low plasma concentrations. Thus, a sensitive method for the quantification and confirmation of CBL in racehorses is required to study its distribution and elimination. A sensitive and fast method was developed for quantification and confirmation of the presence of CBL in equine plasma, urine and tissue samples. The method i...
Coles GC.It is suggested that the major factor in avoiding the development of anthelmintic resistance is the percentage of worms that do not encounter the anthelmintics (worms in refugia). This in turn is determined by the numbers of larvae on pasture, the percentage of animals treated and whether any stages in the host can avoid the action of anthelmintic. To maintain anthelmintic efficacy the percentage of worms in refugia must be sufficiently large. In cattle, this should involve treating only first-year animals and using a different pasture each year for calves. For sheep, only animals that have to...
Budras KD, Schiel C, Mülling CK, Patan B.The preparation of hard tissues such as the equine hoof horn for electron microscopic examination is very difficult. In particular the penetration of fixatives and chemicals used during fixation and embedding is a problem. The objective of this study was to find and implement an alternative method enabling the preparation of high-quality thin sections of hoof horn and other hard tissue, which maintains the hard tissue ultrastructure and can be used for immuno-labeling. Compared to commonly used fixation and embedding techniques, the preparation of thin sections from untreated material method s...
The Journal of parasitologyAugust 29, 2002
Volume 88, Issue 4 810-811 doi: 10.1645/0022-3395(2002)088[0810:GIACAR]2.0.CO;2
Labruna MB, Ribeiro AF, Cruz MV, Camargo LM, Camargo EP.During a survey of ticks on horses in November 2000, at the University of São Paulo farm in Pirassununga county, São Paulo, Brazil, 1 gynandromorph of Amblyomma cajennense was collected from a naturally infested horse. In another survey on dogs in March 2001, in the urban area of Monte Negro, Rondônia, Brazil, a gynandromorph of Rhipicephalus sanguineus was collected from a naturally infested dog. Both specimens are described and classified as perfect bipartite protogynanders.
The Journal of parasitologyAugust 29, 2002
Volume 88, Issue 4 678-683 doi: 10.1645/0022-3395(2002)088[0678:OSOPEF]2.0.CO;2
Chapman MR, French DD, Taylor HW, Klei TR.The development of acquired resistance to cyathostome challenge after 1 season's exposure to a cyathostome-contaminated pasture was investigated using 17 parasite-naive ponies, which were 2-3 yr of age. These were divided into 3 groups: 1 to graze a cyathostome-contaminated pasture for 4 mo (exposed ponies), 1 to graze a "clean" pasture not previously grazed by parasitized animals (nonexposed ponies), and 1 group to remain in the barn under helminth-free conditions (parasite-free ponies). After pasture exposure all ponies were housed in stalls in the barn dewormed with ivermectin (200 microgra...
Thway TM, Wolfe MW.Equids and primates are the only species known to express the placental hormone chorionic gonadotropin (CG). CG is a member of the heterodimeric glycoprotein family and is composed of an alpha subunit linked to a hormone-specific beta subunit. Previously, we have reported that epidermal growth factor (EGF) regulates the equine glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit promoter through a protein kinase C (PKC)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway in trophoblasts. The current study investigates the regulatory element/factors involved in the induction of equine glycoprotei...
Heldens JG, Weststrate MW, van den Hoven R.Using the area under the curve (AUC) concept as is commonly used in pharmaceutical bioequivalence studies, the bioequivalence of three equine influenza vaccines was demonstrated. A retrospective analysis was performed using this technique on data generated in three trials in which each of the three vaccines had been used. In total, data from 63 pony and horse foals were used. The AUC of the single radial hemolysis (SRH) titres against Influenza A/equi-1/Prague/56 (Pr/56), A/equi-2/Newmarket-1/93, and A/equi-2/Suffolk/89 (Suf/89) were calculated for each horse. It was concluded that calculation...
Shibahara T, Kuwano A, Ueno T, Anzai T, Kuwamoto Y, Sato H, Maeda T, Ishikawa Y, Kadota K.A 21-month-old Thoroughbred colt showed continuous diarrhea and developmental retardation for 7 months, and was thereafter subjected to euthanasia for necropsy and laboratory examinations. At necropsy, the cecal and colonic mucosae were diffusely rough and hyperemic. Histopathologically, the mucosa and submucosa were edematous and were infiltrated by numerous lymphocytes and macrophages. Meanwhile, three morphological types of Brachyspira antigen-containing spirochetes were found to be numerous in the crypts and in the mucus layer over the epithelium in the cecal and colonic lesions. They were...
Read EK, Read MR, Townsend HG, Clark CR, Pharr JW, Wilson DG.To evaluate the effect of hemi-circumferential periosteal transection and elevation (HCPTE) in foals with, experimentally induced angular limb deformities. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 10 healthy foals. Methods: When foals were 30 days old, transphyseal bridge implants were placed on the lateral aspects of both distal radial physes. At 90 days of age (or when 15 degrees of angulation had developed), implants were removed, and HCPTE was performed on 1 limb. Foals were confined in small pens after surgery; the front feet of the foals were rasped weekly to maintain medial-to-lateral hoof ...
Asano R, Suzuki K, Otsuka T, Otsuka M, Sakurai H.Concentrations of trace elements (As, Al, Pb, Cd, Hg, Se, Si, P, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Ni and Mn) in the mane hair obtained from 9 female and 15 male healthy racing Thoroughbred horses aged 2-5 years were analyzed by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) method. No significant differences between the female and male horses were observed in the mean concentrations of those minerals. Significantly positive correlations with age were observed in Cd (r=0.546, p<0.01) and Mo (r=0.733, p<0.001). Significantly negative correlations with age were observed i...
Feige K, Fürst A, Eser MW.In a random population of Swiss horses 54% suffered from a subclinical to moderate COPD. Cause of a COPD is a hypersensitivity of the respiratory tract to spores of fungi and thermophil actinomyces. Teeth problems are strongly associated with the type of diet and the feeding regime. Problems of the teeth belong to the most often treated equine diseases by large animal practitioners. Racehorses are the population of horses most often affected by gastric ulcers with an ulcer prevalence between 63 and 90%. In contrast, a much lower prevalence (37%) of stomach ulcers is seen in pleasure horses and...
Biggi M, Dyson S.The significance of distal border fragments of the navicular bone is not well understood. There are also no objective data about changes in thickness and proximal/distal extension of the palmar cortex of the navicular bone. Objective: To describe the distribution of distal border fragments and their association with other radiological abnormalities of the navicular bone and describe the shape of the navicular bone in sound horses and horses with foot-related lameness, including navicular pathology. Methods: Sound horses had radiographs acquired as part of a prepurchase examination. Lame horses...
Ginther OJ, Pierson RA.A linear-array ultrasound scanner with a 5-MHz transducer was evaluated for studying follicular and luteal status in mares, and the ultrasonic properties of equine ovaries were characterized. Follicular diameters were estimated in vivo and after removing and slicing six ovaries. Correlation coefficients between the two kinds of determinations were 0.91 for number of follicles >/=2 mm in diameter and 0.95 for diameter of largest follicle. The ovaries of five mares were examined daily until all mares had been examined from three days before an ovulation to three days after the next ovulation....
Tamekuni K, Toledo Rdos S, Silva Filho Mde F, Haydu VB, Pacheco RC, Cavicchioli JH, Labruna MB, Dumler JS, Vidotto O.Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is an emerging disease most likely caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. The objective of the present study was to estimate the seroprevalence of BSF rickettsia infections in equines from six horse farms located in Londrina County, Paraná, Southern Brazil. Six owners of horse farms situated in Cambé, Santa Fé, Guaraci and Londrina municipalities participated in the study. All farms were located in areas where BSF has not been reported. A total of 273 horses were sampled and their sera were tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using R. rickettsii and R. ...
Borkent D, Reardon R, Dixon PM.Infundibular caries (IC) is an important equine dental disorder that can cause premature wear, fractures and apical infection of affected maxillary cheek teeth. No accurate prevalence values for IC are available for UK horses. The feeding of high levels of concentrates is believed to increase its prevalence, but no objective information is available on such possible environmental risk factors. The aims of the study were to document the prevalence of IC in UK horses, assess its distribution and severity between infundibulae and teeth in affected horses and examine for potential risk factors for...
Silva A, Wagner B, McKenzie HC, Desrochers AM, Furr MO.The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the effects of equine soluble CD14 (sCD14) and monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to equine CD14 on lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) secretion from equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC); and to (2) determine serum concentrations of sCD14 in a population of horses with gastrointestinal diseases or other illnesses likely to result in endotoxemia. Equine PBMC isolated from 10 healthy horses were incubated with Escherichia coli LPS plus CD14 mAb or sCD14 and assayed for TNF-α activity. Pre-incubation with CD14 mAb d...
Johnson PJ, Messer NT, Ganjam VK, Thompson DL, Refsal KR, Loch WE, Ellersieck MR.There exists a need for better diagnostic tests to characterise thyroid disease in horses. Currently available diagnostic tests fail to differentiate between thyroid gland disorders and thyroid abnormalities resulting from pituitary or hypothalamic problems. Objective: To evaluate the effects of treatment with propylthiouracil (PTU) and bromocryptine (BROM) on serum concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), reverse T3 (rT3) and equine thyroid-stimulating hormone (e-TSH, thyrotrophin) in mature horses. Methods: Healthy mature horses were treated using either PTU or BROM for 28 da...
Williams JM, Lin YJ, Loftus JP, Faleiros RR, Peroni JF, Hubbell JA, Ravis WR, Belknap JK.Laminitis is a serious complication of horses suffering from sepsis/endotoxaemia-related events. Laminitis in horses and organ injury in human sepsis are both reported to involve inflammatory injury to the laminae/organs including early activation of endothelium and leucocytes leading to emigration of neutrophils into the tissue interstitium. In the black walnut extract (BWE) model, systemic inflammatory events coincide with marked increase in laminar mRNA concentrations of inflammatory genes including proinflammatory cytokines (i.e. IL-1beta, IL-6), COX-2, chemokines (i.e. IL-8) and endotheli...
Hawe C, Dixon PM, Mayhew IG.The electrodiagnostic measurement of the thoracolaryngeal reflex (TLR) ('slap test') latency was compared to 5 other diagnostic techniques used for evaluation of laryngeal function, namely laryngeal muscle palpation, resting and immediately postexercise endoscopic examinations, and palpable and endoscopic responses to the TLR. Compared to resting endoscopy, the electrodiagnostic measurement of TLR latency was not found to be an accurate test for the evaluation of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN), nor was laryngeal muscle palpation or the endoscopic response to the TLR. Twenty-five (71%) of...
Poss M, Young S.A 4-year-old horse was evaluated at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for rapidly progressing cerebellar disease. Euthanasia was elected and at postmortem examination a proliferative mass encompassing the right side of the cerebellum was discovered. The lesion was characterized by large, convoluted, vascular folia and absence of the core of central white matter. Histologically, there was a diminution or loss of the internal granule cell layer, cavitation of the central white matter, and absence of Purkinje cells. The molecular layer was thickened with myelinated axons ...
Widenhouse TV, Lester GD, Merritt AM.To determine the effect of pH with or without pepsin or taurocholic acid on the bioelectric properties of gastric squamous mucosa in horses. Methods: Gastric tissues obtained from 16 adult horses that did not have evidence of gastric disease. Methods: Bioelectric properties of squamous mucosa were determined, using modified Ussing chambers. Tissues then were exposed to mucosal pepsin (1 mg/ml) or taurocholic acid (2.5 mM) under neutral (pH 74) or acidic (pH 1.7) conditions. Results: Exposure of mucosal sheets to an acidic pH resulted in an immediate and sustained decrease in transmembrane pote...
Peyrou M, Bousquet-Melou A, Laroute V, Vrins A, Doucet MY.Enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin are two veterinary fluoroquinolones used to treat severe bacterial infections in horses. A repeated measures study has been designed to compare their pharmacokinetic parameters, to investigate their bioavailability and to estimate their absorbed fraction and first-pass effect by using plasma, urinary and metabolite data collected from five healthy mares. Clearance and V(d(ss)) were greater for enrofloxacin (mean +/- SD = 6.34 +/- 1.5 mL/min/kg and 2.32 +/- 0.32 L/kg, respectively) than for marbofloxacin (4.62 +/- 0.67 mL/min/kg and 1.6 +/- 0.25 L/kg, respectively...
To evaluate the effects of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) alone and PEEP preceded by lung recruitment manoeuvre (LRM) on lung volumes and respiratory system mechanics in healthy horses undergoing general anaesthesia. Methods: Controlled, prospective clinical study. Methods: A group of 15 horses undergoing arthroscopy. Methods: Following anaesthetic induction, initial ventilatory settings were: tidal volume 15 mL kg, inspiratory:expiratory ratio 1:2, respiratory rate to maintain end-tidal CO between 5.3-6.6 kPa (40-50 mmHg). The following settings were implemented sequentially: zero PE...
Lumsden GG, Quan-Taylor R, Smith SM, Washbrooke IM.Three anthelmintic pastes were compared in terms of their ability to suppress the output of parasite eggs in the faeces of 108 grazing horses at four sites in Britain; the horses were treated once with either ivermectin, fenbendazole or pyrantel. At each site, the horses grazed together throughout the trials which took place during the summers of 1985 and 1986. The median periods before parasite eggs reappeared in faeces were 70 days for ivermectin, 14 days for fenbendazole and 39 days for pyrantel embonate. Geometric mean faecal egg counts in the groups treated with ivermectin and pyrantel we...
Tually P, Currie G, Blache D, Meadows J, Gray C, Hemmings L, O'Callaghan P, Murphy D.The prevention of musculoskeletal injuries and their related welfare and economic impacts represent an immediate priority for the horse racing industry. This prospective pilot study aimed to evaluate a method to quantitatively analyze scintigraphic features of specific anatomical regions of the horse's appendicular skeleton in combination with secondary measures of musculoskeletal metabolism in blood. Twelve horses referred for scintigraphic assessment of lameness were enrolled. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to the administration of radiotracer. Serum concentrations associate...
Rahman A, Uzal FA, Hassebroek AM, Carvallo FR.Pneumonia is a significant disease of horses. Although pneumonia has traditionally been studied in racehorses, little information is available for non-racing horses. Non-racing horses that died with pulmonary lesions ( = 156) were available from cases submitted for autopsy from January 2015 to June 2020. Bronchopneumonia (35%), interstitial pneumonia (29%), embolic pneumonia (21%), granulomatous pneumonia (13%), and pleuritis (2%) were observed in the examined horses. Seventy-four horses died or were euthanized because of pulmonary diseases, and 82 horses died or were euthanized because of...
Rijkenhuizen AB, Németh F, Dik KJ, Goedegebuure SA.A macroscopical, arteriographical and histological study was made of the arterial supply of the navicular bones of horses with clinical and/or radiographic signs of navicular disease. Based on the clinical and radiological findings the navicular bones of 40 Warmblood horses are divided into four different groups. In the pattern of the arteriogram obvious changes are noticed: an imbalance and a distal to proximal shift between the distal and proximal arterial supply occur, indicating a reduction of the distal blood supply with a compensatory reaction of the proximal, medial and lateral supply. ...
Castagnetti C, Veronesi MC.In the foal, the most common neonatal diseases are responsible for an high non-survival rate. Since intensive care for neonatal foals is usually very expensive an early prognosis for survival at admission or during hospitalization is recommended, as well as a prognosis for future athletic potential. Therefore, prognostic factors for prematurity, septicaemia, other infectious diseases and hospitalized foals are revised and discussed on the base of literature and authors experiences. The advantages and limitations of retrospective and perspective prognostic factors is also presented, and the pos...
Langton CM, Riggs CM, Evans GP.The velocity of ultrasound waves through bone has been used widely as a non-invasive method for assessing bone quality. Accurate measurement of velocity depends on accurate assessment of the distance travelled by the sound wave. It has been argued that the sonic pathway is deflected around the marrow cavity and so does not follow a straight line through the bone; therefore, correction factors have been developed to account for the extra distance travelled. This hypothesis was examined in vitro using sections from the equine third metacarpal bone. Two 1 MHz transducers used with the transmittin...
Diaz FA, Gutierrez EJ, Cramer E, Paccamonti DL, Gentry GT, Bondioli KR.Satisfactory pregnancy rates can now be achieved following the cryopreservation of large equine embryos. Nonetheless, its wide application might be limited by the fact that the cryopreservation of large equine embryos requires a specialized micromanipulation equipment and micromanipulation/vitrification skills. Alternatives should be developed to increase its utilization and widespread application in the commercial equine industry. To determine if large equine embryos are able to remain viable during transport from farms to specialized centers for embryo cryopreservation, we evaluated pregnanc...
Fenwick BW, Schore CE, Osburn BI.Equine, caprine, ovine, canine and feline peripheral blood lymphocytes were evaluated in a short term dose-response study for their in vitro blastogenic responsiveness to human recombinant interleukin-2(125) (HrIL-2(125] alone or in combination with phytohemagglutinin-P, concanavalin-A, and pokeweed mitogen. HrIL-2(125) induced lymphocyte proliferation in all of the animals tested. The magnitude of the proliferative response varied among the species of animal tested. In all cases the proliferative response was dependent on the concentration of HrIL-2(125). HrIL-2(125) at a minimum concentratio...
Vergari C, Pourcelot P, Ravary-Plumioën B, Dupays AG, Jacquet S, Audigié F, Denoix JM, Laugier P, Mitton D, Crevier-Denoix N.Equine superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFT) are often injured, and they represent an excellent model for human sport tendinopathies. While lesions can be precisely diagnosed by clinical evaluation and ultrasonography, a prognosis is often difficult to establish; the knowledge of the injured tendon's mechanical properties would help in anticipating the outcome. The objectives of the present study were to compare the axial speed of sound (SOS) measured in vivo in normal and injured tendons and to investigate their relationship with the tendons' mechanical parameters, in order to assess the ...
Fultz L, Giguère S, Berghaus LJ, Davis JL.Current labelling for the use of ceftiofur crystalline free acid (CCFA) in horses states that 2 i.m. doses must be administered 4 days apart to provide 10 days of therapeutic coverage. A 10 day treatment regimen is not sufficient for the long-term treatment of horses with severe lung consolidation or pleuropneumonia. There are currently no data to guide an appropriate dosing interval when a longer treatment regimen is warranted. Objective: To determine steady-state plasma and pulmonary epithelial lining fluid (PELF) concentrations of desfuroylceftiofur acetamide (DCA) after weekly i.m. adminis...
Thane K, Uricchio C, Frank N.Diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) using the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test requires blood collection 10 minutes after TRH injection; it is unknown if small differences in timing affect test results. Objective: To determine whether early or late sampling results in a significant (≥10%) difference in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentration compared to standard 10-minute sampling. Methods: Twenty-four healthy adult horses with unknown PPID status. Methods: In this prospective study, subjects underwent a single TRH stimulation test, ...
Moiroud CH, Coudry V, Denoix JM. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of fracture location and horse sporting discipline as prognostic indicators after a pelvic fracture in a referral centre caseload. Methods: Data were collected for the short- and long-term follow-up of all cases with a diagnosis of pelvic fracture in a 7-year period. Information was obtained for 75 horses through a postal and internet survey. The proportion of horses returning to competition following fractures was compared between groups according to the competition discipline and the characteristics of the fracture. Results: Fort...
Schaer BD.The emergency clinician is frequently in the position of receiving, evaluating, and initiating treatment on horses with ophthalmic emergencies or orbital trauma. In the best of circumstances, an ophthalmologist is available to guide initial therapy and ultimately assume responsibility for the management of the patient during the remainder of its hospitalization, but this is not always the case. The information presented here is meant to provide the emergency clinician with basic guidelines for the initial assessment and management of horses sustaining ocular injuries or presented with an ophth...
Robinson P, Williams KJ, Sullins KE, Arnoczky SP, Stick JA, Robinson NE, de Feijter-Rupp H, Derksen FJ.Trans-endoscopic laser surgery, such as unilateral laser-assisted ventriculocordectomy (LVC), has gained popularity in the treatment of RLN because a laryngotomy incision or general anaesthesia are not required. However, removal of the vocal fold and ventricle takes considerable laser energy and could cause collateral tissue damage, including injury to the adjacent laryngeal cartilages. Objective: To document the histological effects of laser surgery on laryngeal tissues in horses that have undergone LVC for the treatment of laryngeal hemiplegia (LH). Methods: Six horses were used: 4 with expe...
Stasiak K, Dunowska M, Trewick S, Rola J.Equid herpesvirus 5 (EHV-5) is one of two γ-herpesviruses that commonly infect horses worldwide. The objective of the study was to estimate the genetic variability within EHV-5 viruses circulating among horses in Poland. Partial glycoprotein B (gB) sequences from 92 Polish horses from 13 studs throughout Poland were compared to each other and to three EHV-5 sequences from other countries. Despite the overall high level of conservation, considerable variability was observed around the putative furin cleavage site. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the viruses clustered within two major lineages ...
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.
Mason ME, Voris ND, Ortis HA, Geeding AA, Kaplan RM.To compare larvicidal regimens of fenbendazole and moxidectin for reduction and suppression of cyathostomin fecal egg counts (FEC) in a transient herd of embryo transfer-recipient mares. Methods: Randomized, complete block, clinical trial. Methods: 120 mares from 21 states, residing on 1 farm. Methods: An initial fecal sample was collected from each mare; mares with an FEC ≥ 200 eggs/g were assigned to treatment groups. Eighty-two horses received fenbendazole (10.0 mg/kg [4.5 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h for 5 days) or moxidectin (0.4 mg/kg [0.18 mg/lb], PO, once); FEC data were analyzed 14, 45, and 9...
de Barros AMC, Silva AFR, Zibordi M, Spagnolo JD, Corrêa RR, Belli CB, de Camargo MM.Scoring models are useful tools that guide the attending clinician in gauging the severity of disease evolution and in evaluating the efficacy of treatment. There are few tools available with this purpose for the non-human patient, including horses. We aimed (i) to adapt the simplified acute physiology score 3 (SAPS-3) model for the equine species, reaching a margin of accuracy greater than 75% in the calculation of the probability of survival/death and (ii) to build a decision tree that helps the attending veterinarian in assessment of the clinical evolution of the equine patient. Methods: Fr...
