Infections in horses encompass a range of diseases caused by various pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. These infections can affect different systems within the horse, such as the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and integumentary systems, leading to a variety of clinical signs depending on the pathogen and the severity of the infection. Common infectious diseases in horses include equine influenza, strangles, and equine herpesvirus. Diagnosis often involves clinical examination, laboratory testing, and sometimes imaging, to identify the causative agent and assess the extent of the disease. Treatment strategies may include antimicrobial therapy, supportive care, and preventive measures such as vaccination and biosecurity practices. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases in equine populations.
French DD, Klei TR, Taylor HW, Chapman MR.Twenty-one mixed-breed pony foals, reared and maintained under parasite-free conditions, were used to test the efficacy of ivermectin in oral drench and paste formulations (200 micrograms/kg) against 11-day-old migrating larvae of Parascaris equorum. Three replicates of 4 foals and 3 replicates of 3 foals were formed on the basis of age. Foals in replicates of 4 were randomly allocated to be indicators, or to receive vehicle (control) or ivermectin paste or ivermectin liquid. Foals in replicates of 3 were randomly allocated to receive vehicle or ivermectin paste or ivermectin liquid. The recov...
Kohn CW, Knight D, Hueston W, Jacobs R, Reed SM.Immunoglobulin G, IgM, and IgA concentrations were measured in serum collected from 36 Standardbred mares within 12 hours of foaling, in colostrum collected within 6 hours of foaling, and in serum collected from foals 24 to 48 hours after birth. In serum collected from mares after parturition, mean concentrations of IgG, IgM, and IgA were 2,463.9 +/- 1,337.3 mg/dl, 136.4 +/- 218 mg/dl, and 305.2 +/- 237.5 mg/dl, respectively. In serum from foals, mean concentrations of IgG, IgM, and IgA were 1,953.3 +/- 1,635 mg/dl, 33.8 +/- 30.4 mg/dl, and 58.4 +/- 42.2 mg/dl, respectively. In colostrum, mean...
Van Camp SD, Mahler J, Roberts MC, Tate LP, Whitacre MD.An ovarian adenocarcinoma with teratomatous elements was removed from a 9-year-old mare. Although no other lesions were detected at ovariectomy, multifocal metastatic masses led to cachexia and euthanasia 2 months later. This case reaffirms the need to exercise caution when removing ovarian masses to prevent seeding of the abdomen. This report includes discussion of the WHO system of classification of ovarian tumors.
Wilson DG, Mays MB, Colahan PT.Seven horses with canker had radical surgical debridement and various irritant substances applied to the wounds. Four of the horses were clinically normal in (mean) 3.6 months, 1 mare was lame, and 2 horses were euthanatized because of complications of their treatments. Seven horses that had minor surgical debridement and antimicrobial agents used systemically and topically were clinically normal in (mean) 1.4 months. Seemingly, canker in horses should be managed using minor surgical debridement and appropriate antimicrobial therapy.
Clabough DL, Conboy HS, Roberts MC.Using radial immunodiffusion as a standard, 4 screening techniques for detection of failure of passive transfer in equine neonates were compared for sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, efficiency, and cost. The techniques compared were latex agglutination test, membrane filter ELISA, dipstick ELISA, and glutaraldehyde coagulation (GC) test. Test results of 50 serum samples from foals 24 to 60 hours old revealed consistently highest accuracy in the GC test at IgG concentrations of 400 and 800 mg/dl, and lowest cost per test, using the GC test. Two hundred fifty-th...
Baird AN, Taylor TS, Watkins JP.Grade 3 rectal tears were created in 14 horses. Epidural anaesthesia was maintained in all horses for 8 h post injury. In seven horses with cotton filled stockinette packing the rectum, neither gross faecal contamination nor progression of the rectal tear occurred. Seven horses without rectal packing developed faecal contamination of the rectal tear with formation of a faeces filled serosal or mesorectal diverticulum.
Lester GD, Bolton JR, Cambridge H, Thurgate S.The myoelectrical activity of the ileum, caecum and large colon was monitored from Ag-AgCl bipolar recording electrodes in four conscious 'parasite-naive' weanling foals. All foals were inoculated with 1000 infective 3rd-stage Strongylus vulgaris larvae and alterations to the myoelectrical activity observed. The frequencies of caecal and colonic spike bursts increased significantly in all post infection periods coinciding with assumed larval penetration into the intestinal mucosa and migration through the vasculature. Peaks in caecal and colonic activity occurred at Days 1 to 5 post infection....
Cambridge H, Reynoldson JA, Dunsmore JD.Plasma thromboxane B2 (TXB2) the stable inactive metabolite of thromboxane A2 (TXA2), was measured daily by specific radioimmunoassay in three groups of animals before and after experimental infection with Strongylus vulgaris. Infection of four 'parasite naive' foals produced a typical acute syndrome with intermittent but statistically insignificant rises in TXB2 levels. Interpretation of results was complicated by the presence of a non-septic peritonitis associated with implantation of the foals with electrodes for recording myoelectrical activity. In two foals of similar age, with some natur...
Morris DD, Moore JN.Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) titres to core lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were determined in 102 horses admitted to a university referral hospital during a 12-month period for evaluation of colic. Serum samples were collected again 10-14 days later from 84 of the horses. Titres to core LPS were quantitated by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), utilising the J-5 mutant of Escherichia coli 0111:B4 as the solid-phase antigen. All horses had natural antibodies to core LPS at the time of admission and the titre was not affected significantly by age, sex or type of gastrointestinal disor...
LeBlanc MM, Asbury AC, Lyle SK.Uterine response to inoculation with Streptococcus zooepidemicus organisms, 51Cr-labeled 15-microns microspheres, and charcoal was evaluated in 9 mares (4 resistant and 5 susceptible to endometritis) to determine mechanical and cellular clearance rates during the early postovulatory period. Mares were inoculated at estrus prior to ovulation during estrous cycles 1, 3, and 5. Uterine swab specimens for aerobic and anaerobic bacteriologic culture and serum for progesterone determination were obtained on postovulation day 3 during estrous cycle 1, on the day of ovulation during estrous cycle 3, a...
Archambault D, Wang ZM, Lacal JC, Gazit A, Yaniv A, Dahlberg JE, Tronick SR.To provide more sensitive and convenient methods for the detection of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) employing the EIAV gag precursor (Pr55gag) produced by using recombinant DNA techniques. The antigenic reactivity of the recombinant EIAV Pr55gag was found to be equivalent to that of the virion p24gag and elicited high-titered antiserum in rabbits. When a large number of horse sera were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to EIAV by this ELISA, a radioimmunoassay for EIAV p15gag, or the standard agar gel immunodiffusion test...
Klei TR, French DD, Chapman MR, McClure JR, Dennis VA, Taylor HW, Hutchinson GW.The long-term efficacy of an irradiation attenuated larval (L3) vaccine against Strongylus vulgaris was tested in ponies which were reared on pasture. Prior to foaling, mares were divided into two groups. One group of mares and foals received regular (eight weekly) treatment with ivermectin and the second group remained untreated. Half the foals in each pasture group were vaccinated at eight to ten weeks of age. Foals were weaned at three to four months of age and maintained on separate pastures. At eight to ten months of age, ponies were placed in box stalls and half of each treatment group w...
Roberts MC, Clarke LL, Johnson CM.A reproducible, reversible model of colitis induced in ponies by administering castor oil (2.5 ml/kg bodyweight [bwt] per os) was characterised by abdominal pain, fever, watery diarrhoea, dehydration, hypovolaemia, toxaemia, leucopenia, decreased serum Cl, Na and K levels and metabolic acidosis. The signs were most severe between 24 and 48 h post induction, stabilisation was frequently observed after 72 h, although diarrhoea could persist beyond 96 h. Morphological and in vitro transport studies (right ventral colon) were conducted on tissues from animals destroyed at 24, 48 and 72 h. In the c...
Orsini JA, Benson CE, Spencer PA, Van Miller E.Resistance of gram-negative bacteria to gentamicin has become an increasingly common problem among clinical isolates from human beings. Susceptibility of isolates from horses to gentamicin and amikacin was evaluated for the period from July, 1983 to June, 1985. All isolates of Escherichia coli, and species of Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus, and Pseudomonas examined were susceptible to amikacin, except 2 of the 46 Pseudomonas isolates. In contrast, 13 to 50% of isolates were resistant to gentamicin. Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella, Proteus, and Enterobacter species isolates were highly sign...
Palmer JE, Benson CE, Lotz GW.Ten healthy, mature ponies were orally infected with Ehrlichia risticii using Ehrlichia-infected P388D1 mouse monocyte tissue culture cells. Seven developed signs of equine ehrlichial colitis including fever, depression, anorexia, reduced borborygmi, increased abdominal hyperresonance, and diarrhoea. Three remained clinically normal apart from early fever in one. Indirect fluorescent antibody titres were detected in the clinically affected ponies by Days 12 to 17 post infection and increased rapidly to high levels (1:640 to 1:5120) which were maintained until the end of the observation period ...
Mason DK, Watkins KL, Luk CM.An outbreak of respiratory disease among thoroughbred horses in training in Hong Kong was caused by equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) subtype 1 (abortion strain). Two of the horses affected by EHV-1 were serially blood sampled over a period of several weeks and their haematological values measured. There was an increase in monocyte count in the first few days which steadily decreased in one horse, but the other had a second monocyte peak after a period of exercise, thus demonstrating the importance of not working animals in the early stages of the disease.
Eysker M, Boersema JH, Kooyman FN.Overwintering of horse cyathostomes as inhibited third stage larvae (L3) and the effect of repeated oxfendazole (OFZ) treatment on strongyle infections were studied in an experiment with two groups of three Shetland ponies. Both groups were grazed together from May 28 to November 11, 1986 and subsequently housed. Treatments with 10 mg OFZ kg-1 were given on May 26, July 1 and July 28 and again one week before each group was necropsied in December and April, respectively. Worm populations of both groups were dominated by inhibited early L3. The proportion of fourth stage larvae (L4) was signifi...
Homburg-van den Broek FT, Rutgers LJ.It was found that wound infections may be considerably reduced when castration is carried out under strictly aseptic conditions. In this clinical review, healing of the wound following castration with and without closure of the scrotal wounds is compared. All castrations were performed under similar aseptic conditions, general anaesthesia having been produced in the recumbent stallion. The results do not show that there is a significant difference in the appearance of wound infections in scrotal wounds which are closed and those which are left completely open. On the basis of both papers and t...
Zaugg JL, Lane VM.We evaluated the efficacy of buparvaquone in eliminating Babesia equi of European origin in carrier horses and in experimentally infected splenectomized ponies. When administered at the rate of 2.5 mg/kg of body weight, IM, 4 times at 96-hour intervals, buparvaquone was effective in eliminating B equi carrier infection in 1 horse. Such results could not be repeated at the same dosage or at 3.5 or 5 mg/kg, IM. Buparvaquone given at the rate of 4 to 6 mg/kg IV and/or IM was therapeutically effective in 4 of 5 acute B equi infections in splenectomized ponies. The treated ponies became carriers.
Principato M.Comparative data collected over 4 years show the most frequent species of Gasterophilus infesting free-ranging horses in Umbria (Central Italy) to be G. intestinalis (93.8%), G. nasalis (76.5%) and G. inermis (71%). G. pecorum and G. haemorrhoidalis were less frequent and appeared in 39.3 and 10.8% of the animals, respectively. For each of the 5 species, the duration of gastric and enteric lesions, the average numbers of larvae isolated throughout the year and the probable duration of oral lesions were discussed.
Mair TS, Lane JG.Case records are reviewed of 51 adult horses in which a diagnosis of pneumonia, pulmonary abscess or pleuritis had been made. Forty-five horses were afflicted with pneumonia and/or pulmonary abscesses; in 11 of these the infection was primary, whereas in 34 it was secondary to another disease process (inhalation of food or saliva, thoracic trauma, generalised infection, airway disease, neoplasia or thromboembolism). Of the 11 horses with primary pulmonary infections, 10 appeared to be associated with a previous episode of stress; this took the form of long distance travel in eight cases. There...
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 ...
Sweeney CR, Benson CE, Whitlock RH, Meirs DA, Barningham SO, Whitehead SC, Cohen D.The age-specific attack rates of Streptococcus equi infections of the upper respiratory tract and lymph nodes (strangles) in horses for the different age groups were 17.6% for broodmares, 47.5% for 1-year-old horses, and 37.5% for foals. Streptococcus equi was isolated from nasal, pharyngeal, or lymph node specimens in 31 (60.8%) of 51 sick horses. A male 1-year-old horse, shipped from Kentucky to farm A, was considered to be the index case. Six (19.4%) of 31 horses with strangles remained as shedders of S equi after clinical signs of the disease had ended. Shedders of S equi were not identifi...
Watkins JP, Taylor TS, Schumacher J, Taylor JR, Gillis JP.The records of 35 horses with Grade 3 or 4 rectal tears, presented to the Veterinary Medical Center at Texas A & M University over a five year period, were reviewed. Grade 3 tears were sub-classified according to whether the remaining tissue was serosa (Grade 3a) or mesorectum (Grade 3b). Five horses were destroyed on presentation and 30 were treated by primary suture closure (8 horses), faecal diversion alone (9 horses) or in combination with suture closure (11 horses) and packing of the tear with medicated gauze sponges (two horses). Faecal diversion was achieved with a temporary indwell...
Orsini JA, Nunamaker DN.A 4-year-old Standardbred stallion sustained a severely comminuted fracture involving the second, third, and fourth metacarpal bones. The fracture was repaired using two 14-hole broad dynamic compression plates positioned at 90 degrees to one another, allowing one plate to protect the other in the bending mode. An autologous cancellous bone graft obtained from the tuber coxae was added at the site of the defect in the mid- to upper third of the third metacarpal bone. Complications associated with the fixation included a Staphylococcus aureus infection 5 months after surgery, laminitis that dev...
Obi TU, Taylor WP.Serum samples collected from 1,197 goats, 586 sheep, 254, cattle, 55 dogs and 44 horses were examined for antibodies to adenovirus by the agar-gel precipitation test. Results show that 17.7% of the goats, 18.4% of the sheep, 4.3% of the cattle, and 4.5% of the horses had precipitating antibodies. None of the dog sera examined was positive. The results seem to indicate a moderate level of previous exposure to adenovirus infection especially among goats and sheep in Nigeria.
Perillo A, Passantino G, Passantino L, Cianciotta A, Mastrosimini AM, Lacovazzi P, Venezia P, Jirillo E, Troncone A.Among 622 slaughtered horses from eastern Europe, 156 thyroid glands were selected on the basis of macroscopic alterations (e.g., determination of volume and weight). In the 80% of these thyroids, microscopic alterations consistent with a diagnosis of Hashimoto thyroiditis-like disease were found. In particular, a subverted architecture of the thyroid gland with colloid rarefaction, lymphocytic infiltration, and fibrosis was noted. The confirmation of the histopathological diagnosis of an equine Hashimoto thyroiditis-like disease was provided by the increased serum concentration of thyroglobul...
Gilliam LL, Ownby CL, McFarlane D, Canida A, Holbrook TC, Payton ME, Krehbiel CR.Rattlesnake bites in horses are not uncommon and the clinical outcomes are widely variable. Treatment of horses with anti-venom is often cost prohibitive and could have negative consequences; therefore, the development of a quantitative test to determine if anti-venom therapy is indicated would be valuable. The objective of this study was to develop an ELISA to detect rattlesnake venom in biological samples from clinically bitten horses. Nineteen horses were enrolled in the study. Urine was available from 19 horses and bite site samples were available from 9 horses. A double sandwich fluoresce...
English AW.The seasonal changes in longevity on herbage of the infective larvae of strongylid nematodes of the horse were studied. During the summer months, 1% of the larvae survived on herbage for 2-3 weeks, with 0.2% still viable for a further 2-3 weeks. Equivalent survival periods in winter were 7-11 weeks and over 11 weeks respectively. During spring and autumn, larvae survived for periods varying from 3-8 weeks. On Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) growing vigorously in the summer of 1976, the majority of larvae remained in the lowest layers of the pasture, within 10 cm of the soil surface. Very few rea...
Bolin DC, Donahue JM, Vickers ML, Harrison L, Sells S, Giles RC, Hong CB, Poonacha KB, Roberts J, Sebastian MM, Swerczek TW, Tramontin R, Williams NM.During the spring and summer of 2001 and in association with the mare reproductive loss syndrome, 22 terminal and 12 clinical cases of equine pericarditis were diagnosed in central Kentucky. Actinobacillus species were the principal isolates from 8 of 10 nontreated, terminally affected and 3 of 10 clinically affected horses. Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus zooepidemicus were cultured from the remaining 2 nontreated terminal cases. No viruses were isolated in tissue culture. Nucleic acid of equine herpesvirus-2 was detected in pericardial and tracheal wash fluids of 3 and 1 individuals,...
Ragle CA, de Mira MC, Pearson LK, Coelho JC.A 2-year-old Quarter Horse was evaluated because of a progressive left-sided facial deformity and unilateral nasal and ocular discharge. Results: Physical examination revealed convexity of the left frontonasal region, left-sided nasal and ocular discharge, and decreased air flow through the left nares. Radiography and computed tomography revealed an extensively mineralized mass occupying most of the left paranasal sinuses. Results: The mass was surgically debulked, but complete removal was precluded because the mass was tightly adhered to the frontal and maxillary bones. Results of histologic ...
Neill SD, O'Brien JJ, McMurray CH, Blanchflower WJ.Cellular fatty acid compositions of contagious equine metritis isolates and three reference Haemophilus equigenitalis cultures were determined by gas chromatography. The chromatographic data were standardised and normalised fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles were produced. The profiles were compared visually and similarity indices were determined using a computer peak matching method. There was little difference between the profiles of the three reference strains, each strain being characterised by three major fatty acids; C 18:1, C 16:0 and 30H-C 14:0. Variations in cultural conditions h...
Minato E, Aoshima K, Kobayashi A, Ohnishi N, Sasaki N, Kimura T.Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) uses equine major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC class I) as an entry receptor. Exogenous expression of equine MHC class I genes in murine cell lines confers susceptibility to EHV-1 infection. To examine the in vivo role of equine MHC class I as an entry receptor for EHV-1, we generated transgenic (Tg) mice expressing equine MHC class I under the control of the CAG promoter. Equine MHC class I protein was expressed in the liver, spleen, lung, and brain of Tg mice, which was confirmed by Western blot. However, equine MHC class I antigen was only detected in...
Voermans M, Butler CM, van der Velden MA, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.Umbilical hernias are common in foals. This article provides a review of the literature and presents a case of an 1.5-year-old Friesian mare with an incarcerated umbilical hernia. After reposition of the incarcerated intestine (with a lot of effort), the practising veterinarian referred the mare to the Department of Equine Sciences. Preperforative peritonitis was diagnosed, presumed to be caused by necrotic bowel. After laparotomy, this tentative diagnosis was confirmed. The necrotic part of the small intestine was resected and intensive medical treatment was started. Initially, the mare recov...
Ernst NS, Freeman DE, Mackay RJ.A 6-year-old Appaloosa mare was examined because of inappetance, difficulty eating, and swelling and mucopurulent discharge in the right eye. Results: Results of a CBC and serum bio-chemical analysis revealed no important findings. Ophthalmologic examination revealed scarring and ulceration of the superficial layers of the cornea. Endoscopic examination of the upper portion of the respiratory tract and auditory tube diverticula (guttural pouches) revealed abnormal thickness of the right stylohyoid bone and a plaque suggestive of mycotic growth on the left internal carotid artery. Radiographic ...
Estrada R, Gutiérrez JM, Alvarado J, Robles A, Avila C, González N.The development of antibody response against phospholipase A2 activity of Bothrops asper venom was studied in a group of adult and healthy horses used in the production of the polyvalent antivenom at the Instituto Clodomiro Picado. Simultaneously, the general condition of the animals during the immunization schedule was also studied. There was a great individual variability in the immune response, although most of the horses studied reached the highest neutralizing titer after injection of doses of venom of 30 mg and 50 mg. On the other hand, in horses that had been previously immunized and we...
Sauer FJ, Verhaar N, Geburek F.To describe the treatment and outcome of a foal with a fresh allogenic cancellous bone graft after surgical debridement of a traumatic septic osteitis. Methods: A neonatal Quarter Horse foal. Methods: Case report. Methods: The foal sustained a traumatic laceration exposing the proximal third metatarsal bone. One week after surgical debridement and closure, radiographic signs of septic osteitis were noted along the physeal scar. The lesion was debrided, and antimicrobial therapy was implemented. The infection resolved but left a large defect in the metaphysis and epiphysis. Grafting was indic...
Grewar JD, Sergeant ES, Weyer CT, van Helden LS, Parker BJ, Anthony T, Thompson PN.An African horse sickness (AHS) outbreak occurred in South Africa's AHS controlled area in autumn 2016. A freedom from disease survey was performed to establish the likelihood of ongoing circulation of the associated virus during the same period the following year. A single-stage surveillance strategy was employed with a population-level design prevalence of 1% to establish a survey population sensitivity of 95% (probability that one or more positive horses would be detected if AHS was present at a prevalence greater than or equal to the design prevalence). In March 2017, a total of 262 random...
Anderson C, Baha H, Boghdeh N, Barrera M, Alem F, Narayanan A.Zoonotic pathogens that are vector-transmitted have and continue to contribute to several emerging infections globally. In recent years, spillover events of such zoonotic pathogens have increased in frequency as a result of direct contact with livestock, wildlife, and urbanization, forcing animals from their natural habitats. Equines serve as reservoir hosts for vector-transmitted zoonotic viruses that are also capable of infecting humans and causing disease. From a One Health perspective, equine viruses, therefore, pose major concerns for periodic outbreaks globally. Several equine viruses ha...
Eysker M, Boersema JH, Grinwis GC, Kooyman FN, Poot J.The efficacy of a 2% moxidectin equine gel at a dosage rate of 0.4 mg kg-1 was evaluated in a controlled trial at Utrecht University. Twelve yearling castrated male Shetland ponies grazed a pasture of 2 ha from May 1994 until housing in November. Six ponies were treated with moxidectin, whereas the others served as non-treated controls. Necropsy was carried out 35 days after treatment. Greater than 99% efficacy of moxidectin was observed on faecal egg output. No effect of moxidectin was observed on mucosal inhibited early cyathostome L3 (EL3) or on the total numbers of mucosal developing stage...
Sugimoto C, Isayama Y, Kashiwazaki M, Mitani K.The minimal inhibitory concentrations of 31 antimicrobial agents were determined for 99 isolates of Haemophilus equigenitalis by the agar dilution method. All the isolates showed good susceptibility to 26 antimicrobial agents tests, minimal inhibitory concentrations of which were less than 3.13 micrograms/ml for more than 90% of the isolates. Of these agents, 4 macrolides (erythromycin, oleandomycin, kitasamycin, tylosin), 3 tetracyclines (tetracycline, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline), 1 peptide (colistin), 1 penicillin (ampicillin) and 1 pleuromutilin (tiamulin) were the most active agent...
Henson FM, Schofield PN, Jeffcott LB.This study describes the distribution pattern of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) mRNA and protein in normal pre- and post natal growth cartilage and alterations present in lesions of dyschondroplasia (osteochondrosis). TGF-beta 1 expression and immunoreactivity have been investigated by in situ hybridisation and immunolocalisation in the articular/epiphyseal growth cartilage of the lateral trochlear ridge of the distal femur. Cartilage was obtained from 19 normal Thoroughbred horses (5 prenatal and 14 post natal horses) and 15 post natal horses with dyschondroplasia (DCP). TGF-b...
Tortschanoff M, Aurich C, Rosengarten R, Spergser J.Mycoplasma equigenitalium and Mycoplasma subdolum have been associated with infertility, endometritis, vulvitis and abortions in mares, and with reduced fertility and balanoposthitis in stallions. Despite their role in equine genital disorder, determinants of virulence and pathogenesis as well as factors provoking specific host immune responses have not been identified, so far. To establish the major immunogenic components of Mycoplasma (M.) equigenitalium and M. subdolum, antigen profiles of their type strains as well as 30 clinical isolates were compared by SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analysis u...
Robert MP, Stemmet GP, Smit Y.Bilateral paranasal sinus diseases are rarely reported in horses. Treatment using a bilateral frontonasal bone flap on a standing, regular-sized adult horse has not been described previously. A 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was evaluated for bilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge. Radiographic, endoscopic and computed tomographic examinations revealed bilateral sinus pathological changes consistent with an ethmoid haematoma involving the maxillary and frontal sinuses. A bilateral frontonasal bone flap was created under standing sedation and local anaesthesia. A tracheotomy was performed ini...
Wallace KD, Selcer BA, Tyler DE, Brown J.Transrectal ultrasonography was performed on the cranial mesenteric artery and its major branches in 23 conscious adult horses. Ultrasonographically, 25 arterial segments were classified as either normal or abnormal. These ultrasonographic classifications were later compared with the gross and histologic evaluations of each artery following necropsy of each horse. In this study, transrectal ultrasonography as a diagnostic test for verminous arteritis had a 90% sensitivity for detecting normal arteries and an 86% specificity for detecting abnormal arteries, suggesting that ultrasonography may b...
Slocombe JO, Rendano VT, Owen RR, Pennock PW, McCraw BM.Radiographs of the aorta and abdominal arteries were obtained from a normal anesthetized pony following catheterization of a femoral artery for nonselective, semiselective or selective arteriography. The arteries had smooth borders and regular diameters and the branches of the cranial mesenteric artery could be followed distally on the angiogram through to the smaller branches proximal to the bowel wall. Following arteriography, the pony walked normally and there were minimal alterations of the levels of serum muscle enzymes and blood lactate. The procedures for arteriography were repeated in ...
Hay AN, Potter A, Kasmark L, Zhu J, Leeth CM.Varying susceptibility exists among mammalian species to the development of potentially fatal endotoxemia due to gram-negative bacteria molecular component, lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is responsible for LPS-associated immune response and is expressed on numerous immune cells including B lymphocytes. TLR4 is expressed in a functional form on mouse B lymphocytes, a species much less susceptible to endotoxemia compared with humans who are highly sensitive to endotoxin. Humans possess B lymphocytes that are not responsive to LPS. Likewise, horses are highly susceptible t...
Kuroda T, Nagata SI, Tamura N, Kinoshita Y, Niwa H, Mita H, Minami T, Fukuda K, Hobo S, Kuwano A.To determine plasma pharmacokinetics of metronidazole and imipenem following administration of a single dose PO (metronidazole, 15 mg/kg) or IV (imipenem, 10 mg/kg) in healthy Thoroughbreds and simulate pleural fluid concentrations following multiple dose administration every 8 hours. Methods: 4 healthy Thoroughbreds. Methods: Metronidazole and imipenem were administered, and samples of plasma and pleural fluid were collected at predetermined time points. Minimum concentrations of metronidazole and imipenem that inhibited growth of 90% of isolates (MIC90), including 22 clinical Bacteroides iso...
Marley LK, Soffler C, Hackett ES.OBJECTIVE To describe clinical features, diagnostic methods, treatments, and outcomes associated with ingested wire foreign bodies in the abdomen of horses. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 16 client-owned horses with ingested wire in their abdomens that were evaluated at a veterinary teaching hospital between April 2002 and February 2013. PROCEDURES Data for each case were collected from medical records and owners and then reviewed. Differences in clinicopathologic variables between horses that did (survivors) or did not (nonsurvivors) survive to discharge from the hospital were asse...
Kilcoyne I, Nieto JE.For the equine veterinarian, orthopedic emergencies are a common occurrence in clinical practice, with traumatic wounds of the distal limb and penetrating injuries of the hoof being some of the most common medical conditions to affect horses. Intravenous regional limb perfusion is a technique widely used for the treatment of orthopedic infections in horses. The objectives of this review are to discuss some of the clinical applications for this treatment modality in the field and to review the technique for the practitioner.
Buening GM, Perryman LE, McGuire TC.Nasal washings and tears were collected from seven Arabian foals with combined immunodeficiency and nine normal foals. The major immunoglobulin in the external secretions of normal foals over 2 months of age was secretory immunoglobulin A, whereas foals with combined immunodeficiency lacked this immunoglobulin. The external secretions of both normal and immunodeficient foals contained free secretory component at birth.
Dennis VA, Klei TR, Chapman MR, Jeffers GW.Eosinophils and neutrophils from ponies with Strongylus vulgaris-induced eosinophilia (eosinophilic ponies; activated eosinophils and neutrophils) were assayed in vitro for chemotactic and chemokinetic responses to zymosan-activated serum (ZAS) using the filter system in Boyden chambers, for Fc and complement (C) receptors using the EA and EAC-rosette assays, respectively, and for phagocytic and bactericidal activities using opsonized Escherichia coli and the acridine orange method. The responses of activated eosinophils and neutrophils in the above assays were compared with those of eosinophi...
Brown JE, Corstvet RE, Stratton LG.Two experiments incorporating 13 mares were conducted for the purpose of producing and monitoring intrauterine infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae. In the pilot study, the infection was produced with strains of K pneumoniae type 68 and type 10 isolated from the genital tract of stallions with a history of breeding problems. In the principal study, K pneumoniae type 68 was used to produce the infection. Tampons and guarded culture swabs were used to obtain uterine samples in the pilot study. In comparing the efficacies of isolation of K pneumoniae with the tampons and isolation with standard g...
Friedman DS, Schoster JV, Pickett JP, Dubielzig RR, Czuprynski C, Knoll JS, Wolfgram LJ.The fungal organism Pseudallescheria boydii was isolated from the cornea of a Quarter Horse with ulcerative keratitis. Despite aggressive hourly medication through a subpalpebral lavage system, with drugs including miconazole and natamycin, the cornea developed a stromal abscess. Orbital exenteration was performed after 3 weeks. The fungal isolate was later determined to be resistant to all 8 antifungal drugs tested. Microscopic examination of the cornea revealed fungal hyphae throughout the corneal stroma and penetrating the Descemet membrane. Pseudallescheria boydii has not been implicated p...
