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Topic:Foals
"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.
Evaluation of the catabolic activity of cartilage by measurement of serum keratan sulfate concentration in foals. To determine keratan sulfate (KS) concentration in the serum of foals at the early stage of growing, and to evaluate the role of serum KS as a cartilage catabolic marker, comparing its values with the fluctuation of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity as a measurement of osteoblastic activity. Methods: 12 foals with normal growth and 3 foals with joint abnormalities within 18 months after birth. Methods: Measurement of KS concentration and ALP activity in serum and radiographic and physical examinations were done. Results: In all foals, serum KS concentration was high from 1 week after b...
Current concepts in management of abdominal adhesions. Adhesions are an important complication after abdominal surgery in horses and foals, especially after small intestinal resection and anastomosis. Prevention therapies used in horses have included nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, heparin, dimethyl sulfoxide, carboxymethylcellulose, and meticulous surgical technique; however, the ideal surgical technique and prevention therapy has not been determined. Further, treatment of abdominal adhesions has a poor prognosis, emphasizing the need for improvements in prevention methods.
Overwhelming strongyloidosis in a foal. A 6-month-old foal was evaluated because of weakness, weight loss, and inappetence of 3 weeks' duration. On initial examination, the foal was weak, poorly responsive, and emaciated. Clinicopathologic abnormalities included anemia and hypoproteinemia. Because of its severe debilitation, the foal was euthantized. Necropsy revealed marked infection of the small intestine with Strongyloides westeri and severe edema of the entire gastrointestinal tract. The foal had been orphaned when it was 6 hours old and raised in isolation from other horses. We believe that this foal developed overwhelming stro...
Sepsis of the common digital extensor tendon sheath secondary to hemicircumferential periosteal transection in a foal. A 4-month-old Quarter Horse was admitted for evaluation of infection that developed following bilateral hemicircumferential periosteal transection and elevation. Sepsis of the common digital extensor tendon sheath was diagnosed. Treatment included lavage of the tendon sheath, placement of an indwelling drain for lavage after surgery, establishment of drainage, and administration of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs. Three months after treatment, the foal was clinically normal.
Surgical treatment of progressive ethmoidal hematoma aided by computed tomography in a foal. A progressive ethmoidal hematoma (PEH) was treated successfully in a 4-week-old Belgian filly by surgical removal, using a frontonasal bone flap. The filly had respiratory stridor, epistaxis, and facial enlargement over the left paranasal sinuses, which had progressively increased in size since birth. Computed tomographic images of the head obtained with the foal under general anesthesia were useful in determining the extent and nature of the soft-tissue mass and planning surgical intervention. On the basis of the histologic appearance of the mass, a diagnosis of PEH was made. Twelve months af...
Abdominal surgery in foals. Foals are good candidates for abdominal surgery because their smaller size permits a more complete abdominal exploration and frequently definitive procedures in many cases. The use of rectal examination is replaced with alternative diagnostic modalities such as barium contrast radiography and ultrasonography. With the advancements in these technologies they can distinguish common gastrointestinal lesions and, in most cases, provide sufficient information to guide surgical intervention. The unique aspects of diagnosis and surgical management of gastrointestinal disorders of the foal are discuss...
Age-related changes in the pharmacokinetic disposition of diazepam in foals. To evaluate changes in the pharmacokinetic disposition of diazepam in foals from 4 to 84 days of age. Methods: 4 male and 2 female full-term mixed-breed foals. Methods: Diazepam terminal half-life, volume of distribution, clearance, free fraction, unbound volume of distribution, free clearance, peak desmethyldiazepam concentration, and area under the desmethyldiazepam concentration-time curve were determined after i.v. administration of 0.25 mg of diazepam/kg of body weight to foals at 4, 21, 42, and 84 days of age. Results: Disposition of diazepam was best described using a two-compartment mo...
Field study of the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of an inactivated equine rotavirus vaccine. To determine safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of an inactivated equine rotavirus vaccine. Methods: Prospective randomized controlled trial. Methods: 316 pregnant Thoroughbred mares during the first year of the study and 311 during the second year. Methods: During the first year, mares received 3 doses of vaccine or placebo, IM, at 8, 9, and 10 months of gestation. Serum neutralizing antibody titers were measured before vaccination and 1 and 35 days after foaling. Antibody titers were measured in foals 1, 7, 35, 60, 90, and 120 days after birth. During the second year, mares that had been v...
Nasal septoplasty for correction of septal deviation in a foal. This article reports an alternative to septal resection in nasal septal deviations involving the rostral 7 to 10 cm of the nasal septum. Methods: Case report. Methods: One client-owned foal. Methods: A nasal approach with mucosal elevation was used to gain access to the cartilaginous portion of the nasal septum. Once exposed, a series of parasagittal incisions in the cartilage allowed the septum to be repositioned while providing some intrinsic stabilization. Results: The nasal approach provided good access to the rostral 7 cm of the nasal septum. The technique resulted in minimal hemorrhage f...
Emergence of rifampin-resistant Rhodococcus equi in an infected foal. To investigate the emergence of rifampin resistance in Rhodococcus equi strains isolated from foals and their environment in Japan, we compared the in vitro antimicrobial susceptibilities to rifampin of 640 isolates from 64 infected foals and 98 soil isolates from their horse-breeding farms. As a control, 39 human isolates from patients with and without AIDS were also tested for susceptibility to rifampin. All of the isolates showed rifampin sensitivity, except isolates from one infected foal and two patients with AIDS that showed rifampin resistance. To investigate the emergence of rifampin-r...
Incomplete nasomaxillary dysplasia in a foal. Atresia of the nasal punctum is the most common congenital anomaly for the equine nasolacrimal system. Nasomaxillary dysplasia has not been previously documented in foals, is of unknown etiology, and appears to be a rare condition. Conjunctivomaxillary sinostomy was successful in resolving the epiphora.
A survey of reproductive performance in Thoroughbred mares and morbidity, mortality and athletic potential of their foals. A survey was performed to evaluate the reproductive performance of Thoroughbred mares, estimate risks of dystocia and of morbidity and mortality in foals during the first year post partum and their physical acceptability at age one year. The study population consisted of registered Thoroughbred mares and their foals owned by residents of 4 Western Canadian provinces. Owners were identified using information obtained from the North American Jockey Club, and questionnaires were mailed regarding mares bred in 1988 and their foals born in 1989. Eighty-three per cent of mares were reported to be pr...
Cell-mediated cytolysis of equine herpesvirus-infected cells by leukocytes from young vaccinated horses. The objective of this study was to determine whether the administration of modified-live equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) to young horses with residual maternal antibodies stimulated EHV-specific cytolytic responses, and whether these responses were crossreactive between EHV-1 and EHV-4. Eighteen clinically normal Belgian cross-foals were used in the study and were commingled in two adjacent pens. Skin biopsies were harvested from 16 foals within 24 h of birth and fibroblast cultures were established, expanded and cryopreserved. Beginning at approximately 10 weeks of age, 10 randomly chosen foals we...
Expression and cellular localization of inhibin alpha-subunit mRNA in equine fetal gonads. The expression of inhibin alpha-subunit mRNA in equine fetal gonads during pregnancy (Days 90 to 300) was examined by means of Northern blot analysis. In all samples examined, a single species of transcript was detected at the size of 1.5 kb. A digoxigenin-labeled antisense cRNA probe specific to equine inhibin alpha-subunit was synthesized and in situ hybridization analysis to locate the inhibin alpha-subunit mRNA positive cells was performed using frozen tissue sections of equine fetal ovary (day 150 of pregnancy) and equine fetal testis (day 180 of pregnancy). In the fetal ovary, positive c...
The association of erythromycin ethylsuccinate with acute colitis in horses in Sweden. In Sweden there are several reports of mares developing acute colitis while their foals were being treated orally for Rhodococcus equi pneumonia with the combination of erythromycin and rifampicin. In this study 6 adult horses were given low oral dosages of these antibiotics, singly or in combination. Within 3 days post administration of erythromycin, in one case in combination with rifampicin, 2 horses developed severe colitis (one fatal). Clostridium difficile was isolated from one of the horses, whereas no specific pathogens were isolated from the other. Both horses had typical changes in b...
Abdominal surgery in foals: a review of 119 cases (1977-1994). The case records of 119 young horses (all less than age one year) that underwent an exploratory celiotomy during a 17 year period were examined to determine the surgical findings, short- and long-term outcome, and prevalence of small intestinal disease compared to previous reports in the mature horse. Physical and laboratory values were compared for long-term survivors vs. nonsurvivors and the frequency of post operative intra-abdominal adhesions was determined. The most common cause for exploratory celiotomy was small intestinal strangulation, followed by enteritis and uroperitoneum. Six hors...
Clinical evaluation of the serodiagnostic value of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Rhodococcus equi infection in foals. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of serum IgG antibodies against Tween 20-extracted antigen of strain ATCC 6939 was applied in Hidaka, Japan to a total of 752 sick foals showing a variety of signs of infectious disease. An optical density (OD) value of more than 0.3 was tentatively fixed to be positive on the basis of readings made of healthy horse sera in previous studies. During a 2 year study, 138 of the 752 sick foals showed an OD value of 0.3 or higher and were designated as 'suspected of R. equi infection'. Age distribution during the initial medical examination...
Transmission of some species of internal parasites in horses born in 1993, 1994, and 1995 on the same pasture on a farm in central Kentucky. Data are presented on the last 3 years of a 7-year study (1989-1995) on transmission of natural infections of internal parasites in horse foals (n = 27) born in 1993, 1994, and 1995 on the same pasture on a farm in central Kentucky. The foals were in a closed breeding herd of horses. Research on the first 4 years (1989-1992) of the study was published earlier (Lyons et al., 1991, 1994). Thirty-five species of endoparasites were identified, including 24 species of small strongyles. Monthly, seasonal, and host-age transmission patterns were elucidated for the parasites. Comparison of data betwee...
Epidemiology of Rhodococcus equi infections: a review. An overview of epidemiology of R. equi infection in foals is presented, emphasizing the importance of the virulence-associated antigens and plasmids as epidemiological markers. The monoclonal antibody-based colony blot test has been developed to identify rapidly and accurately virulent R. equi. Epidemiological studies conducted during the recent 5 years have revealed that: (1) avirulent R. equi are widespread in the feces of horses and their environment on every farm; (2) the feces of horses and the environment of the horse farms having endemic R. equi infections demonstrated heavy contaminati...
Immunity to Rhodococcus equi. Rhodococcal pneumonia is an important, life threatening disease of foals and immunosuppressed humans. Increased knowledge of the mechanisms of protective immunity are required in order to develop an effective immunoprophylaxis strategy for horses and immunotherapeutic regiments for people. Both humoral and cellular components of the immune system may be involved in immune clearance of R. equi. The susceptibility of foals less than 4-6 months of age is postulated to reflect waning maternal antibody, and passive transfer of hyperimmune plasma can provide protection on endemic farms. However, eff...
Immunophenotypic analysis of foal bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocytes. The purpose of this study was to define the normal immunophenotype of equine lymphocytes present within the pulmonary air spaces, and to determine if this changes as foals age from one to ten weeks. Six pairs of mares and foals underwent sequential bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) between 1 and 10 weeks of age. Data were grouped according to foal age (1, 1-3, 3-6, or 6-10 weeks of age) and were compared to adult control values obtained from the mares. BAL cells were harvested and stained with antibodies to the equine homologues of CD5, CD4, CD8, CD44, MHC I, MHC II and to equine IgG. Data, includi...
Comparison of tracheal aspiration with other tests for diagnosis of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals. The diagnostic value of tracheal aspiration was evaluated through comparison with other diagnostic methods using an experimental model of Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) pneumonia in foals. Pneumonia was induced by spraying of the virulent R. equi strain ATCC 33701 into the trachea of foals. All foals developed fever from 11 to 16 days after bacterial inoculation. One foal was euthanized on day 26 due to its poor prognosis, and other foals euthanized on day 43. During the experiment, some tests for diagnosis of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia such as tracheal aspiration, radiography, serodiagnosis and f...
Pathogenicity and virulence of Rhodococcus equi in foals following intratracheal challenge. Twelve foals, between 27 and 83 days old, were infected with 2 strains of Rhodococcus equi by intratracheal administration. Ten of the 12 foals were inoculated with 10(4)-10(10) colony forming units (cfu) of ATCC 33701 strain. The other 2 foals were inoculated with 10(9) cfu of a plasmid-cured derivative of the ATCC 33701 strain (ATCC 33701P-). All of the 10 foals challenged with the ATCC 33701 strain showed clinical signs of pulmonary disease within 5-13 days, such as gross lesions associated with acute bronchopneumonia and microscopic lesions associated with granulomatous pneumonia. The two ...
Antigenic analysis of Rhodococcus equi preparations using different horse sera. An R. equi vaccine, prepared under conditions which induce the expression of many antigens, and which has given encouraging results in field trials, was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblots and compared with other R. equi preparations: a preparation made in with the same technique from a nonvirulent isolate (virulence associated protein negative, VapA-negative); a whole cell preparation of a VapA-positive R. equi, prepared as a standard bacterin; and a semipurified VapA preparation (APTX). The antigens in these preparations were analyzed using hyperimmune sera (from adult horses vaccinated wit...
Immunoprophylaxis of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals. An immunoprophylaxis program for R. equi infection of foals has been established on a number of thoroughbred breeding farms in Argentina over the past 4 years. Nearly 800 mares annually were immunized subcutaneously during the last 2 months of pregnancy with 2-3 doses of a vaccine containing soluble antigens of R. equi, including the virulence associated protein (VapA) and 'equi factors' exoenzymes. The mortality from R. equi pneumonia in the foals from vaccinated dams dropped from an average of 3% in the 5 years before the vaccination program was initiated to an average of 1.2% in the 4 years...
Opsonic effect of equine plasma from different donors. The ability of equine plasma from different donors to enhance phagocytic capacity was assessed in neutrophils obtained from seven foals, aged 7-8 days (Study A), and from seven adult horses (Study B). Neutrophils were allowed to phagocytize fluorescent yeast cells opsonized with plasma from one of three donors or with pooled serum, all previously frozen (-18 degrees C) and thawed. The results were analysed by flow cytometry. In study A, fresh autologous foal serum was also used for opsonization, and in study B, heat-inactivated plasma and pooled serum were used in addition to untreated samples...
Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Rhodococcus equi infections in foals. Since the 1986 Rhodococcus equi workshop, there have been major breakthroughs in understanding the epidemiology of, the virulence of, and the immune response to, this intriguing pathogen. However, with the exception of the use of hyperimmune plasma for the prevention of the disease (Martens et al., 1989; Madigan et al., 1991) the clinical aspects of R. equi infections have essentially remained unchanged. This article reviews the various clinical manifestations and summarizes recent advances in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of R. equi infections in foals.
Prevention of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia of foals using two different inactivated vaccines. Two different, inactivated, aluminium salt adsorbed vaccines, one containing a R. equi strain (serotype 1, 10(9) CFU/ml and equine herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) (1.5 x 10(7) PFU/ml) and another containing R. equi only were used on three studfarms to determine whether the disease can be prevented by vaccination of both pregnant mares and their foals. Pregnant mares received two 3 ml doses of vaccine intramuscularly 6 and 2 weeks before parturition and their foals were vaccinated on two or three occasions at 3, 5 or 7 weeks of age. The efficacy of the vaccines was evaluated on the basis of the clinical ...
