"Foals" encompasses a stage in the lifecycle of equines with distinct physiological and developmental characteristics. Foals are young horses, typically under one year of age, undergoing rapid growth and development. They require specific nutritional, health, and management practices to support their transition to adulthood. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the growth, development, health challenges, and management practices associated with foals and horses, providing insights into their care and welfare across different life stages.
Patterson-Kane JC, Harrison LR.A 5-month-old male Thoroughbred foal with a history of chronic septic arthritis of the tibiotarsal joint and recent respiratory distress was euthanized and a postmortem examination performed. A giant diverticulum communicating with the lateral aspect of the right atrial cavity of the heart was observed. Histologically, the wall was comprised of myocardial tissue containing cavernous vascular spaces. There was gross and histologic evidence of right-sided heart failure. Congenital right atrial diverticula are rare anomalies in humans and have not previously been reported in foals.
Stewart AJ, Hinchcliff KW, Saville WJ, Jose-Cunilleras E, Hardy J, Kohn CW, Reed SM, Kowalski JJ.Medical records of 101 blood culture-confirmed bacteremic foals were reviewed to determine whether foals with Actinobacillus sp. bacteremia are affected at an earlier age, have more severe signs of disease, and have a worse prognosis than do foals with bacteremia of other causes. Thirty percent (30/101) of bacteremic foals had Actinobacillus sp. cultured, and these were 2 times more likely to die (crude odds ratio [OR(CR)] 0.8, 4; P = .14), with a survival rate of 43% (13/30) compared to the overall survival rate of 55% (56/101). When compared to other bacteremic foals, foals with actinobacill...
Khan SA, Kuster DA, Hansen SR.Moxidectin is a macrolide endectocide available as a 2% equine oral gel in the US. This report presents clinical signs of moxidectin toxicosis and its treatment in equines as reported to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) from January 1998 to December 2000. Nine cases of moxidectin overdose in equines occurred: 5 had signs of toxicosis such as coma, dyspnea, depression, ataxia, tremors, seizures, or weakness. The approximate dose of moxidectin at which these signs were observed ranged from 1.0 to 5.1 mg/kg. The 4 equines that ingested moxidectin between 0.9 mg/kg to 1.7 mg/kg did no...
Hirayama K, Okamoto M, Sako T, Kihara K, Okai K, Taharaguchi S, Yoshino T, Taniyama H.Histopathologic and immunohistochemical examinations were performed to determine the origin of host cells parasitized by Eimeria in the small intestines collected from five foals. Eimeria organisms at various stages (mainly microgametes and macrogametes) were frequently found in the cytoplasm of hypertrophied host cells in the lamina propria at the tips of villi of the jejunum and ileum. The cytoplasm of the host cell was immunohistochemically positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and cytokeratin 13 and was negative for vimentin, desmin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, chromogranin A, neuron-specific en...
Little D, Keene BW, Bruton C, Smith LJ, Powell S, Jones SL.A 49-kg (107.8-lb) sexually intact male Arabian foal was evaluated at 3 days of age because of profuse watery diarrhea, anorexia, and signs of abdominal pain. Physical examination findings were unremarkable except for evidence of diarrhea. A catheter was placed in the right jugular vein for administration of antimicrobials and lactated Ringer's solution. The foal was discharged with instructions to the owner to continue antimicrobial administration and fluid therapy; at home, the owner inadvertently cut the catheter at the level of the hub during attempted removal, and the catheter fragment mi...
Cook AG, Maxwell VB, Donaldson LL, Parker NA, Ward DL, Morrow JK.To determine whether antibodies against Sarcocystis neurona could be detected in CSF from clinically normal neonatal (2 to 7 days old) and young (2 to 3 months old) foals. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 15 clinically normal neonatal Thoroughbred foals. Methods: Serum and CSF samples were obtained from foals at 2 to 7 days of age and tested for antibodies against S. neurona by means of western blotting. Serum samples from the mares were also tested for antibodies against S. neurona. Additional CSF and blood samples were obtained from 5 foals between 13 and 41 days after birth and between ...
Foote CE, Love DN, Gilkerson JR, Whalley JM.Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) is a major cause of respiratory disease and abortion in horses worldwide. Although some vaccines have been shown experimentally to reduce disease, there are few reports of the responses to vaccination in the field. This study measured antibody responses to vaccination of 159 mares (aged 4-17 years) and 101 foals (aged 3-6 months) on a large stud farm with a killed whole virus EHV-1/4 vaccine used as per the manufacturer's recommendations. Using an EHV glycoprotein D (gD)-specific ELISA and a type-specific glycoprotein G (gG) ELISA, respectively 13.8 and 28.9% of ma...
Brama PA, TeKoppele JM, Bank RA, Barneveld A, van Weeren PR.The objective of this study was to document the development of biochemical heterogeneity from birth to maturity in equine articular cartilage, and to test the hypothesis that the amount of exercise during early life may influence this process. Neonatal foals showed no biochemical heterogeneity whatsoever, in contrast to a clear biochemical heterogeneity in mature horses. The process of formation of site differences was almost completed in exercised foals age 5 months, but was delayed in those deprived of exercise. For some collagen-related parameters, this delay was not compensated for after a...
Uhl EW, Giguère S, Jack TJ, Hodge T.Previous studies revealed that foals inoculated with virulent Rhodococcus equi had significantly higher pulmonary levels of interleukin-1beta, interleukin-12 p40, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA compared to foals inoculated with an avirulent plasmid-cured derivative. The purpose of this study was to determine if the increases in cytokine expression were associated with increased pulmonary activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays were performed on pulmonary nuclear protein extracted from foals treated with phosphate-buffered s...
Lakritz J, Wilson WD, Marsh AE, Mihalyi JE.Plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetics of erythromycin and related compounds were determined after administration of erythromycin ethylsuccinate to six healthy male foals 3 to 5 months of age. Hay was withheld from the foals overnight and erythromycin ethylsuccinate (25 mg/kg of body weight) was administered intragastrically. Plasma erythromycin concentrations were determined at specific times after drug administration by high-performance liquid chromatography assay. Maximum peak plasma concentrations, time to maximum concentrations, area under plasma concentration versus time curves, elim...
van de Lest CH, Brama PA, Van Weeren PR.An overview is given of the direct and long-term effects of exercise on the biochemical characteristics of cartilage and subchondral bone, and on the metabolic activity of chondrocytes in the juvenile horse. In the experimental setup 43 foals were reared until weaning at 5 months of age under similar conditions, except for the type and amount of exercise. Fifteen foals remained at pasture (Pasture group and also control group), 14 foals were kept in box stalls (Box group), and 14 foals were kept in the same box stalls but were subjected daily to an increasing number of gallop sprints (Training...
Allen AL, Myers SL, Searcy GP, Fretz PB.The Hematologic values of 19 equine fetuses between 202 and 238 days gestation were compared with those of their dams. The red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were significantly lower in fetal blood, while the mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and red cell distribution width were significantly higher. Mares had a significantly higher nucleated blood cell count than fetuses, and all nucleated cells were leukocytes (WBC). Most WBC in mare blood were segmented neutrophils and lymphocytes. In contrast, ...
Dixon JB, Savage M, Wattret A, Taylor P, Ross G, Carter SD, Kelly DF, Haywood S, Phythian C, Macintyre AR, Bell SC, Knottenbelt DC, Green JR.A condition resembling acquired immunodeficiency with anemia has been described in British Fell pony foals. The pathogenesis is unknown. The present study involved 322 foals of which 164 were of Fell breed and 12 were affected. Discriminant and multiple regression analyses were used to test the results of all clinical pathology parameters from these foals for statistical association with (1) breed origin and (2) presence of disease. Only hematocrit associated significantly with presence of disease. However, significant associations were found with Fell breed origin, including serum albumin con...
Cebulj-Kadunc N, Bozic M, Kosec M, Cestnik V.Haematological parameters [red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration, mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)] in resting Lipizzan horses were determined for 143 stallions, 104 mares and 25 foals. The mean RBC and WBC values in Lipizzans were in the lower part of the normal range for warm-blooded horses. The mean PCV, MCV and MCH values were higher, but the mean haemoglobin concentration and MCHC values were lower than reported for other warm-blooded horses. In foals, ...
Nordengrahn A, Merza M, Ros C, Lindholmc A, Palfl V, Hannant D, Belák S.Equineherpesvirustypes 2 and 5 (EHV-2andEHV-5)have a rather unclearpathogenicity and distribution within the equid population. In order to gain more information on the prevalence of these two viruses, type-specific PCR assays were developed to detect viral DNA in nasal specimens and in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) of adult horses and foals from various regions of Europe, i.e. Sweden, Hungary and the United Kingdom. In adult horses, the prevalence of EHV-2 in PBLs was up to 68% in Sweden and 71% in the United Kingdom. EHV-2 DNA was detected in the PBLs from all the foals tested in all cou...
Kirkham LE, Vasey JR.An Anglo-Arab foal with bilateral postprandial nasal discharge was diagnosed as having a full-length defect of the soft palate. Surgical repair was attempted using a combination of two surgical approaches. Initially a mandibular symphysiotomy approach was used. The posterior portion of the defect did not heal adequately, so a ventral laryngotomy, bisecting the body of the thyroid cartilage and extending to a pharyngotomy approach, was performed 5 months later. The foal has since matured fully despite a slight unilateral nasal discharge. This case report demonstrates that these two surgical app...
Bentley AP, Barton MH, Lee MD, Norton NA, Moore JN.To determine which antimicrobials that are used to treat neonatal foals with septicemia attributable to Escherichia coli will minimize endotoxin release from bacteria and subsequent activity of inflammatory mediators while maintaining bactericidal efficacy. Methods: Blood samples from 10 healthy foals. Methods: Escherichia coli isolates A and B were isolated from 2 septicemic foals, and minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined for 9 antimicrobials. Five of these antimicrobials were tested in vitro at 2 and 20 times their respective MIC. Whole blood or mononuclear cells grown in ...
Spiro I.A 16-hour-old foal was referred for evaluation of hematuria. A pansystolic heart murmur and left thoracic thrill were detected; laboratory diagnostics and ultrasonography identified a complex congenital heart defect. The diagnosis was confirmed at postmortem.
Davis JL, Gardner SY, Jones SL, Schwabenton BA, Papich MG.The properties of azithromycin suggest that it may be an alternative to erythromycin for treatment of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals. To investigate this possibility, the disposition of azithromycin in plasma, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), and alveolar cells was examined after a single administration in foals. Azithromycin suspension was administered orally (p.o.) at a dose of 10 mg/kg to five healthy 2-3-month-old foals. Two weeks later, azithromycin for injection was administered by intravenous (i.v.) infusion at a dose of 5 mg/kg to the same foals. Plasma samples were collected a...
Sevinga M, Barkema HW, Hesselink JW.The purpose of the present study was to compare serum calcium and magnesium concentrations in mares with or without a retained placenta (RP) and to evaluate treatment of mares with RP with oxytocin versus oxytocin combined with Ca-Mg-borogluconate solution. Blood samples were obtained within 12 h of foaling from Friesian mares with and without an RP (n = 90 and 65, respectively). Serum Ca and Mg concentrations were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In total, we treated 112 cases of RP in 101 Friesian mares by infusion of either oxytocin dissolved in saline solution or oxytocin d...
Sevinga M, Hesselink JW, Barkema HW.Because the incidence of retained placenta in Friesian mares is estimated to be high, and no reports have been published on the reproductive performance of Friesian mares after retained placenta, we studied postpartum reproductive performance in Friesian brood mares with (n = 54) and without (n = 50) retained placenta. We defined a retained placenta as the failure to expel all fetal membranes within 3 h after the delivery of a foal. We subdivided the group of mares with retained placenta into mares in which the placenta had been removed manually (n = 30) and mares in which it had not (n = 24)....
Lemazurier E, Toquet MP, Fortier G, Séralini GE.We used radioimmunoassay (RIA) to measure monthly serum levels of unconjugated and conjugated sex steroids (testosterone T, androstenedione A, estradiol E(2), and estrone E(1)) in 4 male and 4 female foals during their first year of life. Maximal production of sex steroids was detected from April to August with hormonal peaks, corresponding to the natural breeding season in adults. In males, only A levels were more steady. Total estrogens (unconjugated plus conjugated E(2) and E(1)) were the major steroids in immature males in contrast to adults. Estrogens generally peaked in young females bef...
Smallwood JE, Wood BC, Taylor WE, Tate LP.The purpose of this study was to produce an anatomic reference for computed tomography (CT) of the head of the foal for use by radiologists, clinicians, and veterinary students. The head from each of 2 foals, euthanized for reasons unrelated to head pathology, was removed and prepared for CT scanning. Using a third-generation CT scanner, 5-mm contiguous transverse images were acquired. The heads were then frozen and sectioned using a band saw, with the cuts matched as closely as possible to the CT slices. The anatomic sections were photographed and radiographed. The radiographs and anatomic ph...
Patterson-Kane JC, Donahue JM, Harrison LR.Rhodococcus equi is a rare cause of equine abortion. This report describes pyogranulomatous placentitis and fetal pneumonia in a case of abortion from a Thoroughbred mare. Numerous Gram-positive coccobacilli were noted histologically within macrophages in placental and pulmonary lesions. Rhodococcus equi was isolated in pure culture from the placenta, lung, liver, kidney, and stomach content. This is the first description of placentitis due to Rhodococcus equi infection in a horse.
Smith R, Chaffin MK, Cohen ND, Martens RJ.To characterize changes in lymphocyte subsets over time in foals from birth to 18 weeks of age, accounting for differences among individuals, and to determine the effect of overnight storage of blood samples on foal lymphocyte subset concentrations. Methods: 8 healthy Quarter Horse foals from birth to 18 weeks of age. Methods: Blood samples were collected longitudinally from birth to 18 weeks of age and a CBC performed on each sample. The samples were stained for lymphocyte markers, either immediately or after overnight storage and analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: Total leukocytes, total l...
Curtis S, Martin J, Hobbs S.A circumferential ring in the hoof horn of foals occurs at birth and grows down to the distal border as the fetal hoof is replaced. Horn growth and complete hoof capsule renewal have not been measured in Thoroughbred foals but the determination of time of hoof renewal may allow accurate predictions of healing time to be made in cases of hoof lesions. The objective of this study was to measure the time taken for the fetal hoof of newborn foals to grow to the distal border and be replaced by hoof grown since birth. The age of the foal in days on the day that routine hoof trimming removed the hoo...
Orsini JA, Kreuder C.Musculoskeletal disorders in newborn foals are complex, multifactorial, and associated with prematurity, dysmaturity, and twinning. They include incomplete ossification of cuboidal bones, tendon laxity, congenital angular limb deformities, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and septicemia. Other deformities associated with nutrition, large size, and rapid growth include osteochondrosis, physitis, ruptured tendons, acquired flexural deformities, and postnatal angular limb deformities. Optimal management of the complexly interrelated musculoskeletal disorders of the neonate also is discussed.
Munroe G.A survey of 169 neonatal thoroughbred foals revealed that 8.3 per cent had subconjunctival haemorrhages, but there was no indication of a relationship between retinal and subconjunctival haemorrhages. The haemorrhages were not related to any abnormality of the foals and there was no sex or eye predisposition. In most cases the haemorrhages were fresh and red, occurred mainly dorsally or dorsonasally and extended up to the limbus; they resolved completely within four to 10 days, depending on their initial severity and extent. They had no effect on the foals' vision in the short or long term. Th...
Maggi R, De Paolis L, De Santis D, Vellone VG, De Ciucis CG, Fruscione F, Mazzocco K, Ghelardi A, Marruchella G, Razzuoli E.Papillomas are benign epithelial lesions protruding on the epithelial surfaces as finger-like or warty projections. These lesions are often caused by papillomavirus (PV) infection. Congenital papillomas have been reported in foals. However, to date, no evidence of PV infection has been provided. In the present paper, we describe the main clinical-pathological features of a congenital papilloma observed in a foal. In addition, biomolecular tests demonstrated BPV1 infection in the case under study. Such data stimulate further investigations, even on archived samples, aiming to clarifying the eti...
Tischner M, Niezgoda J.The aim of this study was to determine the effect of transportation on the behaviour and stress responses of the sympatho-adrenal and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal systems in mares and their foals by measuring the peripheral plasma concentrations of adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol. Control blood samples were taken from mares and their foals (n=5 pairs) on day 8 after parturition to establish whether blood sampling caused any changes in adrenaline, noradrenaline or cortisol concentrations in blood plasma. The experiment was conducted during foal oestrus (on day 9 after parturition). Adre...
Thomas GW, Bell SC, Phythian C, Taylor P, Knottenbelt DC, Carter SD.Fell pony foals are affected by a congenital fatal immunodeficiency that commonly leads to anaemia and lymphopenia. Previous work has shown that the foals' circulating subpopulations of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes are unaffected. In this study it was shown that the mean population of B lymphocytes in 10 affected foals was less than 10 per cent of that in normal foals.
Ellero N, Freccero F, Lanci A, Morini M, Castagnetti C, Mariella J.Oxytetracycline (OTC) administration has become a frequent practice in equine neonatology for the treatment of flexural limb deformity. The cause of this condition remains unclear but clinical studies revealed that following IV administration of OTC a relaxation of the metacarpophalangeal joint occurs in foals affected by flexural deformity. Studies concluded that OTC administration in neonatal foals did not adversely affect the kidneys. Other adverse effects of OTC have never been reported. This report presents two cases with different outcomes of 3-day-old foals which presented acute collaps...
Bell JU, Lopez JM, Bartos KD.1. Serum samples were collected from ten foals at predetermined times during the first 12 months following birth and zinc and copper concentrations and ceruloplasmin activity were evaluated. 2. Serum zinc concentrations were found to be quite variable with respect to age (range = 67-95 micrograms/dl). 3. Serum copper concentrations increased in a linear fashion from day 0 to day 28 before levelling off at 190-247 micrograms/dl. 4. Ceruloplasmin activity was found to correlate with the concentration of serum copper (r = 0.92) and reached a plateau at an activity of 30-38 IU by day 28.
Bernard WV, Reimer JM.Recent advances in veterinary diagnostics have improved our ability to diagnose and treat foal diseases. However, these advances do not replace the physical examination as the most valuable diagnostic aid available to the equine practitioner. The basic physical examination provides the majority of information needed to make a presumptive diagnosis, provide a direction for ancillary tests, and formulate a plan for emergency therapy if needed.
Cymbaluk NF, Bristol FM, Christensen DA.Plasma ceruloplasmin activities and plasma Cu and Zn concentrations were determined in 215 clinically normal equids of various ages and breeds. Newborn foals, regardless of breed, were hypocupremic, compared with adolescent and mature horses. The mean plasma Cu concentration of newborn Standardbred-Thoroughbred (STD-TB) foals was 2.9 mumol/L, which was about one-sixth of plasma Cu concentrations of mature horses. Newborn draft-cross foals had higher (4.6 mumol/L) plasma Cu concentrations than did newborn STD-TB foals, but plasma Cu content was only one-fifth of the dams' concentrations. Draft-...
Purdy CW, Porter RC, Ford SJ.Immunogenicity and safety of an equine herpesvirus 1 (ehv-1) vaccine were studied in 111 foals varying in age from 1 to 122 days. Each of 88 principals was given 1 im injection of vaccine. Five of the 88 foals were revaccinated; 69 of the vaccinated principals and 23 nonvaccinated foals (serving as controls) were challenge exposed intranasally with virulent ehv-1.
The vaccine failed to cause adverse local or systemic reaction in 88 principals with serunirneutralization (sn) titers against ehv-1 varying between 0 to 1:256 at time of vaccination. After vaccination, the foals' body temperature...
Ueda Y, Sanai Y, Homma JY.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for detection of immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG antibodies against a serologically common antigen (original endotoxin protein), protease, and elastase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The P aeruginosa antibody in horse sera was measured, using ELISA. Horseradish peroxidase-labeled rabbit anti-horse IgM and IgG antibodies were used for enzyme-labeled antibody conjugate. 5-Aminosalicylic acid and H2O2 were used for substrate. Sera collected from a vaccinated horse, a newborn foal, and 72 healthy racehorses were investigated for antibodies against P aer...
Hinton M, Jones DR, Lewis IM, Thomson PE.A multiple clotting defect in a 3 month old Arab colt foal associated with a deficiency in Factors VIII, IX, and XI is described. No abnormalities in clotting factors were detected in the colt's sire, dam, half-sister and half-brother.
Caprile KA, Short CR.Rational drug therapy in the foal requires a sound knowledge of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of various drugs as well as a thorough understanding of the physiologic differences that exist between the neonate and the adult and that may serve to alter drug disposition and, therefore, drug response. A summary of these physiologic factors with emphasis on the foal is presented and is followed by recommendations regarding the applied therapeutics of various antimicrobial agents.
Krüger MU, Wünschmann A, Ward C, Stauthammer CD.Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, rudimentary tricuspid valve, hypoplastic right ventricle, and right-to-left atrial shunting were identified in a four-day-old, male Arabian foal with clinical signs of cyanotic heart disease. Pulmonary blood flow was apparently derived from a ductus arteriosus. Echocardiographic evaluation revealed the majority of cardiac abnormalities and also findings compatible with right-sided congestive heart failure. Congenital cardiac defects have a high incidence in this breed, and this is the first description of this combination of congenital cardiac ...
Richards AJ, Kelly DF, Knottenbelt DC, Cheeseman MT, Dixon JB.This report summarises clinical and pathological observations on Fell pony foals with a range of signs that included ill thrift, anaemia, respiratory infection, glossal hyperkeratosis and diarrhoea. Some of the foals had normochromic, normocytic anaemia and some had low levels of plasma proteins, including immunoglobulin G. Antibiotic and supportive treatment was ineffective and all affected foals died or were killed on humane grounds. Postmortem examination of 12 foals and tissues from 2 other foals revealed a range of lesions that included glossal hyperkeratosis, typhlocolitis, intestinal cr...
Davis HA, Munsterman A.A 4-month-old Arabian filly was treated by surgical correction of an ileal impaction. The impaction was resolved through a distal jejunal enterotomy. One-year follow-up showed no post-operative complications secondary to the enterotomy. Jejunal enterotomy may be a surgical option for resolution of an ileal impaction. Une pouliche Arabe âgée de 4 mois a été traitée par la correction chirurgicale d’une surcharge iléale. La surcharge a été résolue par une entérotomie jéjunale distale. Un suivi d’un an n’a pas montré de complications postopératoires suite à l’entérotomie. L...
Sigurdsson SF, Olstad K, Ley CJ, Björnsdóttir S, Griffiths DJ, Fjordbakk CT.Osteochondrosis occurs due to failure of the blood supply to growth cartilage. Osteochondrosis lesions have been identified in small tarsal bones and suggested to cause distal tarsal osteoarthritis; however, it has not been determined whether distal tarsal osteochondrosis lesions were the result of vascular failure. Objective: To perform post-mortem arterial perfusion and micro-computed tomography (CT) of the central (CTB) and third tarsal bones (TIII) of fetuses and foals up to 5 months old, to describe tarsal development and any lesions detected. Methods: Descriptive, nonconsecutive case se...
Cuteri V, Takai S, Moscati L, Battistacci L, Pieramati C, Valente C.A serological survey of Rhodococcus equi infection was carried out on 602 blood samples collected from foals in central Italy. The assay was performed with an ELISA test using two different antigens prepared with reference strains of R. equi, ATCC 33071 and ATCC 6939. A positive reaction was obtained on 81 serum samples (13.45%) (OD > or = 0.3) using antigen ATCC 33071, and on 73 serum samples (12.12%) using antigen ATCC 6939. Although the frequency of the disease was not high, the serological positivity was about 13%. There was no statistically significant difference between males and fema...
Secor EJ, Matychak MB, Felippe MJ.This study aimed to determine whether TNF-α is transferred to equine neonates via colostrum and the relationship between TNF-α and IgG concentrations in the equine neonate. Colostrum, presuckle and postsuckle foal serum samples were collected from healthy mares and their foals. Equine TNF-α ELISA and IgG SRID kits were used to determine the concentrations of TNF-α and IgG, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using the Spearman rank correlation. TNF-α concentrations in all presuckle foal serum were below the limit of detection in 15/16 foals and increased in postsuckle foal se...
Sockett DC, Traub-Dargatz J, Weiser MG.A one-month-old Quarter Horse filly had unilateral epistaxis, hyphema, icterus, petechial hemorrhages in the oral, nasal, conjunctival, and vulvar mucous membranes, anemia, thrombocytopenia, negative antinuclear test result, and a positive direct Coombs' test result. Megakaryocytes or cell-associated IgG (fluorescent antibody and immunoperoxidase stains) were not found in bone marrow biopsy specimens. Treatment consisted of glucocorticoids, antibiotics, and a single whole blood transfusion. The foal responded well to treatment, did not develop relapses of the disease, and was clinically normal...
Kirkham LE, Vasey JR.An Anglo-Arab foal with bilateral postprandial nasal discharge was diagnosed as having a full-length defect of the soft palate. Surgical repair was attempted using a combination of two surgical approaches. Initially a mandibular symphysiotomy approach was used. The posterior portion of the defect did not heal adequately, so a ventral laryngotomy, bisecting the body of the thyroid cartilage and extending to a pharyngotomy approach, was performed 5 months later. The foal has since matured fully despite a slight unilateral nasal discharge. This case report demonstrates that these two surgical app...
Baintner K, Csapó J.Mare's colostrum was collected and examined for the presence of trypsin inhibitors. It was found to contain a low level of trypsin inhibitor which could be denatured by 2.5% trichloroacetic acid and, therefore, it clearly differs from the acid-resistant colostral inhibitor of Artiodactyla and Carnivora. This finding is exceptional for a species that concentrates IgG in the colostrum and whose newborn absorbs colostral proteins non-selectively by the gut. It appears that the presence of colostral trypsin inhibitor is not essential for the transmission of maternal immunity via the colostrum and ...
Boakari YL, Alonso MA, Riccio AV, Fernandes CB.In equine management, it is important to predict the approximate foaling date of mares to monitor parturition and allow early identification and intervention of problems during the perinatal period. There are no studies comparing accurate gestational length (GL) when mares are carrying mule foals and no controlled comparisons between GL of mares pregnant with equine or mule foals. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to compare GL of mares pregnant with equine or mule foals and establish normal reference values for GL of mares pregnant with male and female mules. Gestational length of ...
Tel OY, Arserim NB, Keskin O.In order to assess the level of Rhodococcus equi infection in southeast Turkey, 679 sera from healthy foals and adult horses and 78 sera from donkeys were tested by indirect ELISA using a R. equi reference strain (ATCC 33701) as antigen. Eighty (11.7%) sera from horses and 9 (11.5%) sera from donkeys with titres >0.85 were positive. The prevalence of seropositive horses in Sanliurfa Province was higher than in Diyarbakir Province; 56 (13.9%) horses in Sanliurfa Province and 24 (8.7%) horses in Diyarbakir Province were defined as seropositive. In Sanliurfa Province 14.5% of female (n=343) an...
Pinn TL, Divers TJ, Southard T, De Bernardis NP, Wakshlag JJ, Valberg S.A 12-hours-old Paint filly was examined because of weakness and dull mentation after birth. Despite IV administered dextrose, the foal remained persistently hypoglycemic with increase in serum activity of muscle and liver enzymes. A postmortem diagnosis of lipid myopathy most similar to multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) was confirmed by findings of myofiber lipid accumulation, elevated urine organic acids, and serum free acylcarnitines with respect to control foals. This report details a case of equine neonatal lipid storage myopathy with many biochemical characteristics of MAD...
Gough RL, McGovern KF.Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is widely used in other species as a marker of renal dysfunction and is considered a more sensitive indicator of glomerular filtration rate than creatinine. Reference ranges are established in healthy adult horses (≤14 μg/dL) and concentrations are increased in horses with acute kidney injury (median 32 μg/dL; range 15-92). Objective: To establish the normal range of SDMA concentrations in neonatal Thoroughbreds. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: Blood samples were collected from Thoroughbred foals <36 h old deemed healthy by physical examination. E...
Morris DD, Gaulin G, Strzemienski PJ, Spencer P.Comparison of neutrophil function was made between 8 clinically normal pony foals (3 to 7 days of age), and their dams. Random migration, stimulated migration to zymosan-activated serum, bacterial phagocytosis and bactericidal capacity of neutrophils were determined in vitro. Random migration was greater (P less than 0.01) and stimulated migration was less (P less than 0.01) in foals than in their dams. Bacterial phagocytosis and bactericidal capacity of neutrophils were not different (P greater than 0.05) between foals and mares. Results of this study suggested that neonatal foals have altere...
Fintl C, Pearson GT, Ricketts SW, Mayhew IG, Hudson NP.This study set out to determine the pattern of development and distribution of the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the intestinal tract of the equine fetus and neonate. Intestinal tissue samples from 12 naturally aborted equine fetuses and three euthanized neonates were collected and fixed in formalin prior to applying standard immunohistochemical labelling techniques targeting the c-Kit protein of the ICC. At 6 months of gestation, a network of ICC was present in the myenteric plexus region of both the small and the large intestine. ICC were also present within the circular muscle layer....
Hartley WJ, Dixon RJ.Twenty-nine cases of EHV1 infection occurred on a property, mainly in full term foals. Some foals were stillborn, some were born alive but weak and soon died and others were healthy at birth, became ill and died within 3 days of birth. Apart from voluminous, oedematous and atelectic lungs there were no gross lesions. Microscopically the lungs showed oedema, pneumonitis and bronchiolitis with intranuclear inclusions and, in many of the foals that survived over 6 hours, there was also hyaline membrane formation. Microscopic lesions were also seen in the liver, adrenal, thymus and spleen of some ...
