Necropsy, also known as an autopsy, is a systematic examination of a horse's body after death to determine the cause of death and evaluate any disease or injury. This procedure involves a thorough assessment of the horse's organs and tissues, often including histopathological analysis to identify abnormalities at the microscopic level. Necropsy can provide valuable insights into equine health issues, contributing to a better understanding of disease processes, management practices, and potential preventive measures. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, findings, and implications of necropsy in equine veterinary science.
Mitchell CW, Nykamp SG, Foster R, Cruz R, Montieth G.To determine the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing cervical stenotic myelopathy in horses, 39 horses with spinal ataxia and 20 control horses underwent clinical and neurologic examinations, cervical radiographs, euthanasia, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the cervical spine and necropsy. Twenty-four horses were diagnosed with cervical stenotic myelopathy, 5 with cervical vertebral stenosis, 7 with idiopathic ataxia, 3 horses had other causes of ataxia, and 20 were controls. The MR images were assessed for spinal cord intensity changes, presence of spinal cord compression...
Ostrowski SR, Kubiski SV, Palmero J, Reilly CM, Higgins JK, Cook-Cronin S, Tawde SN, Crossley BM, Yant P, Cazarez R, Uzal FA.In September 2010, an outbreak of type A botulism involved 4 horses in northern California that were fed grass clippings obtained from a nearby park. All 4 animals developed a progressive flaccid paralysis syndrome clinically consistent with exposure to preformed Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). Within 48 hr of consuming the grass clippings, all 4 horses showed marked cervical weakness (inability to raise their heads to a normal position) and died or were euthanized within 96 hr. One horse was submitted for diagnostic examination and subsequent necropsy. At necropsy, extensive edema wa...
Warner SL, Boggs J, Lee JK, Reddy S, Banes M, Cooley J.Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from the blood, lungs, and liver of a 5-week-old American Quarter Horse filly that presented with a 2-day history of fever, lethargy, ataxia, and seizure activity. The foal was born on a well-managed breeding facility to a multiparous mare with no periparturient complications. At 8 hr of age, the foal had an adequate passive transfer of immunity (immunoglobulin G > 2,000 mg/dl). Since the time of birth, the foal reportedly had mild, intermittent diarrhea that responded to gastrointestinal protectants and probiotics. Despite prompt and aggressive treatment af...
Decloedt A, Verheyen T, De Clercq D, Sys S, Vercauteren G, Ducatelle R, Delahaut P, van Loon G.Horses are extremely susceptible to ionophore intoxication. Although numerous reports are available regarding monensin, little is known about lasalocid toxicity. Objective: To describe accidental lasalocid poisoning on a farm in Belgium. Methods: Eighty-one horses, of which 14 demonstrated clinical signs from day 0-21 after being fed a new concentrate batch. One horse died on day 20 and another on day 27. Methods: The most severe cases (n = 7), admitted to the clinic on day 29-46, underwent cardiac examination and blood biochemical analysis, including determination of plasma cardiac troponin...
Elliott CR, McCowan CI.Nigropallidal encephalomalacia was diagnosed in two horses in northern Victoria that had a history of long-term pasture access to a dense growth of Rhaponticum repens. The region in which the affected horses lived had received well above average rainfall for several months preceding the poisoning. Affected horses had sudden onset of subcutaneous oedema of the head, impaired prehension and mastication, dullness, lethargy and repeated chewing-like jaw movements. Diagnosis was confirmed at necropsy, with characteristic malacic lesions in the substantia nigra and globus pallidus of the brain. This...
Pusterla N, Mapes S, David Wilson W.The objective of this study was to detect and characterize latent equine herpes virus (EHV)-1 and -4 from the submandibular (SMLN) and bronchial lymph (BLN) nodes, as well as from the trigeminal ganglia (TG) of 70 racing Thoroughbred horses submitted for necropsy following sustaining serious musculoskeletal injuries while racing. A combination of nucleic acid precipitation and pre-amplification steps was used to increase analytical sensitivity. Tissues were deemed positive for latent EHV-1 and/or -4 infection when found PCR positive for the corresponding glycoprotein B (gB) gene in the absence...
Turan N, Yildirim F, Altan E, Sennazli G, Gurel A, Diallo I, Yilmaz H.The aim of the present study was to investigate abortion storms that occurred in the Marmara region of Turkey in 2008-2009 using a real-time PCR. Two aborted foetuses were necropsied and histo-pathological findings reported herein. Ten lungs, 3 brains and one nasal swab from 10 aborted foetuses, 6 nasal swabs and 3 vaginal swabs from aborting mares were included in this study. EHV-1 was isolated from the lung, liver and brain of 1 aborted foetus. EHV-1 DNA was detected in the lungs, livers and spleens of 2 necropsied foetuses and in 3 lungs from 10 foetuses submitted for diagnosis. A brain fro...
Toth B, Aleman M, Nogradi N, Madigan JE.To describe clinical and clinicopathologic findings and outcome of horses with meningitis and meningoencephalomyelitis. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 28 horses. Methods: Medical records of horses admitted to the hospital during a 25-year period were reviewed. Horses with a definitive diagnosis of meningitis or meningoencephalomyelitis were included in this study. Information extracted from the medical records included signalment, history, reason for admission, clinical signs, results of clinicopathologic testing and diagnostic procedures, treatment, outcome, and necropsy finding...
Kondo H, Wickins SC, Conway JA, Mallicote MF, Sanchez LC, Agnew DW, Farina LL, Abbott JR.A 23-year-old Anglo-Arabian mare was presented with tachypnea, dyspnea, and pitting edema of the ventral thoracic subcutis. On necropsy, a tan to red, friable, irregularly shaped mass (23 × 20 × 18 cm) occupied the cranial mediastinum. Histologically, the mass was classified as a liposarcoma and was composed of short interlacing bundles of spindle-shaped to irregularly rounded cells with discrete, variably sized, clear cytoplasmic vacuoles, which were stained with oil red O in frozen sections of formalin-fixed tissue.
Corapi WV, Snowden KF, Rodrigues A, Porter BF, Buote MA, Birch SM, Jackson ND, Eden KB, Whitley DB, Mansell J, Edwards JF, Hardy J, Chaffin MK.The schistosome Heterobilharzia americana infects dogs, raccoons, and other mammals in the southeastern United States. Migration of eggs into the liver results in parasitic granulomas with varying degrees of fibrosis and inflammation. Recently, hepatic parasitic granulomas in horses were shown to be caused by H. americana infection. In the present study, samples of liver from 11 of 12 horses with hepatic granulomas identified at necropsy (n = 11) or surgical biopsy (n = 1) were used for DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing using primers specific for a portion ...
Uzal FA, Diab SS, Blanchard P, Moore J, Anthenill L, Shahriar F, Garcia JP, Songer JG.Clostridium perfringens type C is one of the most important agents of enteric disease in newborn foals. Clostridium difficile is now recognized as an important cause of enterocolitis in horses of all ages. While infections by C. perfringens type C or C. difficile are frequently seen, we are not aware of any report describing combined infection by these two microorganisms in foals. We present here five cases of foal enterocolitis associated with C. difficile and C. perfringens type C infection. Five foals between one and seven days of age were submitted for necropsy examination to the Californi...
Leon A, Richard E, Fortier C, Laugier C, Fortier G, Pronost S.Abortion, stillbirth and neonatal death are major causes of equine mortality and cause severe economic loss to the equine industry. The present study was based on a complete necropsy protocol associated with classical microbiological examinations and molecular biology on 407 cases of abortion, stillbirths and neonate death. Based on this retrospective survey, "less common" abortive infectious agents were characterised by molecular tools in nine independent cases of abortion or neonate mortality. Among others, Chlamydophila abortus (1 case), Coxiella burnetii (6 cases) and Neospora caninum (3 c...
Finno CJ, Higgins RJ, Aleman M, Ofri R, Hollingsworth SR, Bannasch DL, Reilly CM, Madigan JE.Equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM) is a neurodegenerative disorder that has been previously associated with low vitamin E concentrations. Objective: To describe the clinical, electrophysiologic, and pathologic features of EDM in a group of related Lusitano horses. Methods: Fifteen Lusitano horses. Methods: Neurologic examinations were conducted, and serum vitamin E concentrations were measured. Three neurologically abnormal horses were further evaluated by ophthalmologic examination, electroretinography, electroencephalography, muscle and nerve biopsies, and post-mortem examination....
Corapi WV, Birch SM, Carlson KL, Chaffin MK, Snowden KF.CASE DESCRIPTION-A 22-year-old American Paint Horse gelding from the Gulf Coast region of Texas was evaluated for regrowth of a perirectal squamous cell carcinoma that had been surgically removed 11 months previously. CLINICAL FINDINGS-A necrotic and ulcerated mass was present below the anus. The horse had paraphimosis and was having difficulty with urination. Histologic examination of the mass revealed that it was squamous cell carcinoma, and the horse was euthanized because of the unlikelihood that the mass could be adequately resected and its close proximity to the urethra. OUTCOME-At necro...
Vallance SA, Case JT, Entwistle RC, Kinde H, Barr BC, Moore J, Anderson ML, Arthur RM, Stover SM.To determine if scapular fractures occur in racehorses with distinctive characteristics. Objective: To test the hypothesis that Thoroughbred (TB) and Quarter Horse (QH) racehorses with a scapular fracture have similar characteristics that are different from those of their respective racetrack populations. Methods: Necropsy findings, case details, last race information and career earnings for TB and QH racehorses that had a scapular fracture in California between 1990 and 2008 were retrospectively compared between breeds. Horse signalment, career earnings, career starts and race characteristics...
Aleman M, Finno CJ, Higgins RJ, Puschner B, Gericota B, Gohil K, LeCouteur RA, Madigan JE.To describe epidemiological, clinical, and pathological features of neuroaxonal dystrophy in Quarter Horses (QHs) on a single farm. Methods: Prospective case series. Animals-148 horses. Methods: Neurologic, pathological, and toxicological evaluations were completed in selected neurologically affected horses over a 2-year period. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results: 87 QHs and 1 QH-crossbred horse were affected. Most (50/88 [56.8%]) affected horses were 1 to 2 years old (median age, 2 years [range, 2 months to 34 years]). Neurologic deficits included obtundation (53/88 [60%]...
Pilo C, Altea A, Pirino S, Nicolussi P, Varcasia A, Genchi M, Scala A.A post-mortem survey was carried out on 46 Sardinian horses to evaluate the presence of Strongylus vulgaris and associated pathology. Horses were from local farms and had been treated with broad-spectrum anthelmintics at least 3 times a year. Examination of the cranial mesenteric arterial system (CMAS) showed parasite-induced lesions in all horses. S. vulgaris larvae were found in 39% of examined arteries, while their detection rate in coprocultures was 4%. Histology, carried out on 26 horses, showed mainly chronic and chronic-active lesions. Histometry showed a significant increase in thickne...
Desta B, Maldonado G, Reid H, Puschner B, Maxwell J, Agasan A, Humphreys L, Holt T.Just prior to an international polo event, 21 horses from one team exhibited clinical signs of central nervous system disturbance, hyperexcitability, sweating, ataxia, tachycardia, dyspnea, pyrexia, and rapid death. The suspected cause of this peracute onset of illness and death included intentional contamination of feed or iatrogenic administration of performance-enhancing drugs resulting in a severe adverse reaction. Six horses were submitted to the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for necropsy and toxicological examination. The clinical signs and sudden death, the similarity to ...
Dobromylskyj MJ, Copas V, Durham A, Hughes TK, Patterson-Kane JC.A 9-year-old Haflinger mare presented to the Liphook Equine Hospital with a history of weight loss, azotemia, and repeated episodes of ascites over a period of 10 days. The horse was euthanized after exploratory laparotomy revealed large numbers of variably sized masses distributed throughout the peritoneal cavity. Macroscopically, some masses were papillary, while others were nodular. Histologically, the masses were comprised of large to giant, variably shaped, and occasionally multinucleated neoplastic cells with marked anisokaryosis and anisocytosis and a high mitotic rate. Small to moderat...
Pader K, Lescun TB, Freeman LJ.To develop and assess the feasibility of standing transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES®) ovariectomy in the mare. Methods: Descriptive study. Methods: Mares (n=10). Methods: The technique was developed in 6 mares and then evaluated in a short-term study in 4 mares. Abdominal access was developed using controlled access vaginal cannula placement under endoscopic guidance. With viewing provided by a flexible endoscope, hemostasis, and transection of ovarian pedicles was performed using a customized bipolar vessel-sealing device. The ovaries were retrieved and the ...
Pease AP, Schott HC, Howey EB, Patterson JS.Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is the most common endocrinologic disorder of aged horses. Objective: Pituitary glands of PPID-affected horses are larger than those of aged horses without signs of PPID, and the size difference can be detected using computed tomography (CT) imaging. Methods: Eight horses with clinical signs of PPID and supportive endocrinologic test results and 3 aged control (PPID-negative) horses. Methods: Computed tomography examination of the brain and pituitary gland was performed twice in 10 of the 11 horses, approximately 6 months apart. Six PPID-affected ho...
Cawdell-Smith AJ, Todhunter KH, Anderson ST, Perkins NR, Bryden WL.In Australia, there have been recent reports of unusual abortions in mid- to late-gestation mares. These were clinically distinct from other recognised causes of pregnancy loss and the term 'equine amnionitis and fetal loss' (EAFL) was adopted to describe this syndrome. Initial investigations concluded that possible causal factors included the presence on affected stud farms of Processionary caterpillars (Ochrogaster lunifer). Objective: To determine if exposure of pregnant mares to Processionary caterpillars or their shed exoskeletons can induce EAFL. Methods: Processionary caterpillars and t...
Mair TS, Pearson GR, Scase TJ.Three mature horses presented with progressive weight loss, inappetence, ventral abdominal oedema and lethargy. Two of the animals had intermittent signs of low grade abdominal pain. At presentation, all 3 had hypoalbuminaemia; 2 had hyperfibrinogenaemia and the other had neutrophilia. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed in 2 cases, both of which demonstrated impaired glucose absorption. One pony treated with corticosteroids failed to improve and developed peritonitis and was subjected to euthanasia after 2 weeks. One pony had small intestinal biopsies obtained via a standing flank la...
Quist EM, Dougherty JJ, Chaffin MK, Porter BF.A 1.5-year-old Quarter Horse gelding with a history of chronic nasal discharge and leukocytosis presented with signs of increased lethargy and muscular pain. The horse quickly became recumbent and unable to rise and was euthanized due to a poor prognosis. At necropsy, severe bilateral guttural pouch empyema was observed, as well as numerous well-demarcated areas of pallor within the skeletal muscles of all major muscle groups. Polymerase chain reaction testing of the guttural pouch exudate confirmed an infection with Streptococcus equi subsp. equi, and an S. equi-associated immune-mediated rha...
Dujardin CL.A Belgian draft horse stallion presented with classical signs of purpura haemorrhagica: oedema of the distal limbs, ventral abdomen and head, ecchymotic haemorrhage of mucous membranes, epistaxis, fever, lethargy, reluctance to move, and anorexia. Serum chemistry revealed a highly elevated gamma-globulin fraction. Streptococcal lymphadenitis (strangles) had been present on a neighbouring farm in the past few months. After an initial positive response to therapy with benzylpenicillin, flunixin and dexamethasone, the horse's condition deteriorated suddenly on day 4 of hospitalization, with signs...
Stubbs NC, Riggs CM, Hodges PW, Jeffcott LB, Hodgson DR, Clayton HM, McGowan CM.The multifidus muscle plays a key role in spinal stabilisation. Multifidus atrophy ipsilateral to the side of osseous pathology has been demonstrated in man and pigs but has not been investigated in horses. Objective: To measure cross-sectional area (CSA) left/ right symmetry of equine multifidus ultrasonographically and relate asymmetry of multifidus with osseous spinal pathology in Thoroughbred racehorses. We hypothesised that ipsilateral multifidus CSA would be reduced when osseous pathological changes are present leading to left/right asymmetry in CSA. Methods: Twenty-two racehorses presen...
Lyons ET, Kuzmina TA, Tolliver SC, Collins SS.Early development and maturation of species of small strongyles have not been studied extensively. Most information is on the first appearance of strongyle eggs in feces of foals. However, species cannot be determined in this manner because of similarity of the morphological features of the eggs. To determine more definitive knowledge on development and species composition of natural infections of small strongyles, eight equid foals were necropsied and examined at various ages (31 to 92 days of age). The entire contents of the large intestine were examined, and all worms (6,671) recovered were...
Brown JS, Johnson MC, Sims WP, Boone LH, Swor TM, Weeks BR.A 4-year-old Quarter Horse mare was presented to the Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for evaluation of a rectal tear. On initial evaluation, rectal palpation and colonoscopy revealed a grade IIIb rectal tear. Analysis of peritoneal fluid revealed a modified transudate. Preliminary supportive care included fluid therapy and mineral oil administration via nasogastric tube. Approximately 48 hours after presentation, a second abdominocentesis was performed, and cytologic examination of the fluid revealed a marked suppurative exudate. Round clear nonrefractile material obs...
Engeli E, Haussler KK, Erb HN.Sacroiliac joint osteoarthritis has been recognised as a significant cause of poor performance in competition and racehorses. Reliable diagnostic tools are currently lacking. The diagnosis has been based typically on exclusion of other possible causes of poor performance, back pain and hindlimb lameness. Objective: To develop a safe, reliable and minimally invasive periarticular or intra-articular injection technique of potential use for diagnosis and therapy of sacroiliac joint disease in horses. Methods: Twenty-six horses were used to develop and assess a medial approach to the sacroiliac jo...
Pintore MD, Cerutti F, D'Angelo A, Corona C, Gazzuola P, Masoero L, Colombo C, Bona R, Cantile C, Peletto S, Casalone C, Iulini B.A fatal case of meningoencephalitis was reported in a 13-year-old Koninklijk Warmbloed Paard Nederland stallion, suspected of West Nile virus (WNV) infection, in the Piedmont region of Italy. Clinical signs included right head tilt and circling, depression alternated with excitability, fever and lateral strabismus. Combined treatment consisting of dimethylsulfoxide, dexamethasone, sulphonamides and sedative was administered, but because of the poor conditions the horse was euthanatized and submitted for necropsy. At post-mortem examination no skin lesions were observed, all organs appeared nor...
Higuchi T, Hashikura S, Gojo C, Inui T, Satoh S, Yoshida M, Ishiyama T, Yamada H, Takai S.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...
Kimble KM, Gomez G, Szule JA, Dubey JP, Buchanan B, Porter BF.An adult American Quarter Horse gelding with a history of weight loss presented with an acute onset of colic, fever, soft faeces and elevated liver enzymes. At necropsy, there were gastric mucosal masses and evidence of caecal necrosis. Histologically, the masses were lymph nodes with granulomatous inflammation and areas of liquefactive necrosis. Within and surrounding necrotic areas were free and intrahistiocytic clusters of protozoal tachyzoites. Similar but milder inflammation was evident in the spleen, lungs and liver. Necrotizing typhlitis was also evident. Immunolabelling for Toxoplasma ...
Thomasy SM, Moeller BC, Stanley SD.To compare the density and binding characteristics of opioid receptor subtypes in horse, rat, and guinea pig cerebral cortex and cerebellum. Methods: Prospective receptor binding study. Methods: Whole brains were obtained from four neurologically normal adult horses during necropsy. Rat and guinea pig brains were obtained commercially. Methods: The cerebellum and cerebral cortex were dissected from each brain, and tissue homogenates prepared. A radioligand binding technique with the highly selective ligands [(3)H]-DAMGO, [(3)H]-U69593, and [(3)H]-DPDPE was used to identify the mu- (mu), kappa-...
Hartzel DK, Arnoczky SP, Kilfoyle SJ, Stick JA.To demonstrate myofibroblasts in the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (ie, distal check ligament) and deep digital flexor tendon of clinically normal foals. Methods: Tissue specimens from 25 foals that were necropsied for reasons unrelated to this study and unrelated to musculoskeletal disease. Methods: The distal check ligament and deep digital flexor tendon of both forelimbs were examined histologically. Myofibroblasts were identified by immunohistochemical staining specific for alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA). Results: Most of the cells in the distal check ligament...
Power HT, Watrous BJ, de Lahunta A.In 6 horses, clinical signs of illness implicated a lesion involving the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves. One horse had signs of otitis externa. Five horses had radiographic changes primarily involving periosteal bony proliferation of the stylohyoid bone at its articulation with the temporal bone. Five horses improved with antibiotic therapy. Otitis media-interna was found at necropsy of one horse.
Hales EN, Aleman M, Marquardt SA, Katzman SA, Woolard KD, Miller AD, Finno CJ.To determine period prevalences of postmortem diagnoses for spinal cord or vertebral column lesions as underlying causes of ataxia (spinal ataxia) in horses. Methods: 2,861 client-owned horses (316 with ataxia [ataxic group] and 2,545 without ataxia [control group]). Methods: The medical records database of the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital was searched to identify horses necropsied between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2017. Results were compared between the ataxic and control groups and between various groups of horses in the ataxic group. Period pre...
Roccabianca P, Paltrinieri S, Gallo E, Giuliani A.A 21-year-old Dutch crossbred mare was presented with a 1-month history of weight loss and weakness. Clinical evaluation revealed severe anemia and thrombocytopenia with evidence of hepatic disease and muscular damage. Necropsy findings included diaphragmatic rupture with an extensive retroperitoneal hematoma and severe hepatosplenomegaly. Microscopic findings were characterized by hepatic sinusoidal and splenic red pulp infiltration by atypical CD3-positive lymphocytes. No other nodal or extranodal sites were affected. Hepatosplenic lymphoma with a probable T-cell origin was diagnosed based o...
KornaÅ› S, Skalska M, Nowosad B, Gawor J, Kharchenko V, Cabaret J.Three parts of the large intestine, i.e. the dorsal and ventral colon, and caecum in 41 working horses from small farms in southern Poland were examined. Five species of large strongyles (3 migratory species from genus Strongylus and 2 non-migratory from genus Triodontophorus) and as well as 17 species of cyathostomes were revealed. The prevalence of large strongyles was observed, accordingly: Strongylus vulgaris--80.5%, S. equinus--9.8%, S. edentatus--4.9%, Triodontophorus serratus--19.5% and T. brevicauda--7.3%. Among cyathostomes, 5 most prevalent species were Cyathostomum catinatum--31.7%,...
Ryu SH, Kim JG, Bak UB, Lee CW, Lee YL.A 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was admitted to Equine Hospital, Korea Racing Association for evaluation and treatment of colic. Based on the size and duration of the large colonic and cecal impaction, a routine ventral midline celiotomy and large colon enterotomy were performed to relieve the impaction. Six days following surgery the gelding exhibited signs of lethargy, fever, inappetence and diarrhea. Eleven days following surgery, the jugular veins showed a marked thrombophlebitis. On the sixteenth day of hospitalization the gelding died suddenly. Upon physical examination, the horse was ...
Baxter GM.Clinical data from 12 cases of equine laminitis characterized by distal displacement of the distal phalanx (P3) were reviewed. Clinical features of horses that survived the syndrome were compared with the nonsurvivors to obtain prognostic indicators. Animals affected included 8 Quarter Horses, 2 Welsh ponies, 1 Thoroughbred, and 1 Arabian. Eight of the animals were females (67%), 2 were stallions, and 2 were geldings. The mean age of affected animals was 8.6 years (2 to 14 years), and the mean body weight was 442 kg. The survivors weighed less than the nonsurvivors (384 kg vs 473 kg, respectiv...
van Rensburg IB, Volkmann DH, Soley JT, Stewart CG.A stud Clydesdale foal was still-born near full term. Macroscopic examination revealed a normal placenta, pulmonary atelectasis and faint white mottling of the kidneys. Microscopically there was severe lymphoplasmacytic interstitial nephritis. Numerous organisms resembling Encephalitozoon cuniculi were present in the affected kidneys. The organisms occurred in the areas of inflammation as well as in the renal glomeruli and intracellular cysts in the renal tubular epithelial cells and exhibited Gram positive staining. Ultrastructurally the organisms possessed a polar vacuole and a spiral filame...
Scholes SF, Holliman A, May PD, Holmes MA.Fell pony foals developed a syndrome of anaemia, immunodeficiency and peripheral ganglionopathy. They became ill in the second or third week, and died in the second or third month of life. Clinical and pathological investigations revealed severe anaemia associated with small numbers of late erythroid precursors in bone marrow, small thymi, an absence of secondary lymphoid follicles, a lack of plasma cells and neuronal chromatolysis involving trigeminal, cranial mesenteric and dorsal root ganglia. Some of the foals had cryptosporidial enteritis and adenoviral bronchopneumonia and pancreatitis. ...
Malan FS, Reinecke RK, Scialdo RC.The tongue, pharynx, oesophagus and gums are examined for larvae of gasterophilus spp., and the nose and sinuses for oestrid larvae. The gastro-intestinal tract is divided into separate specimens-stomach, small intestine, caecum, ventral colon, dorsal colon, descending colon and rectum- and each is examined separately. Aliquots of ingesta of 1/4 by mass of the stomach and 1/10 by mass of the small intestine, caecum, ventral colon and dorsal colon are collected for microscopic examination. Each part of the wall of the caecum, ventral and dorsal colon is washed and specimens are collected for su...
Sweeney RW, Hamir AN, Fisher RR.A 9-year-old Thoroughbred mare was examined because of pollakiuria, hematuria, and weight loss of 3 weeks' duration. Physical examination revealed a regular cardiac rhythm with occasional premature contractions, and a soft tissue mass in the pelvic canal palpable per rectum. Microscopic examination of urine sediment revealed numerous RBC and a large population of lymphocytes and lymphoblasts with characteristics of neoplasia. Similar cells were found in peritoneal fluid obtained by abdominocentesis. The horse was euthanatized without treatment. Necropsy revealed a soft tissue mass infiltrating...
Cornelisse CJ, Schott HC, Olivier NB, Mullaney TP, Koller A, Wilson DV, Derksen FJ.An 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was evaluated because of sudden onset of ventricular tachycardia and signs of colic. Three years earlier, a diastolic decrescendo murmur, consistent with aortic regurgitation, had been detected, but the horse continued to perform well and compete successfully. Cardiac ultrasonographic examination revealed a defect in the interventricular septum below the aortic root, and serum concentrations of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were higher than those measured in clinically normal horses. Repeated development of tachyarrhythmia during hospitalization prompted a decis...
Patrick DJ, Kiupel M, Gerber V, Carr EA.A 2-year-old female Miniature Horse that presented with a history of progressive weight loss, depression, and diarrhea was diagnosed at necropsy with a highly malignant abdominal neoplasm involving the left ovary, kidneys, adrenal glands, intestines, and various abdominal and thoracic lymph nodes. Microscopic examination of these masses revealed large pleomorphic cells that stained positive for vimentin and inhibin and negative for epithelial membrane antigen and placental alkaline phosphatase. Ultrastructural examination of the cells revealed a high nucleocytoplasmic ratio and indented euchro...
Hoberg EP, Miller S, Brown MA.We report the first documented case of autochthonous echinococcosis in a horse of North American origin. Three fully mature and viable unilocular hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosus (Batsch, 1786) were an incidental finding at necropsy in the liver of a 14-yr-old gelding thoroughbred that had been foaled in Virginia and raised in Maryland. Protoscolices were armed with 2 rows of 28-37 rostellar hooks; small hooks measured 23-30 microns; large hooks measured 26-33 microns. Morphologically, these were compatible with rostellar armature considered typical for the equine strain of E. granulos...
Yamada K, Sato F, Horiuchi N, Higuchi T, Kobayashi Y, Sasaki N, Nambo Y.Autopsy imaging (Ai), postmortem imaging before necropsy, is used in human forensic medicine. Ai was performed using computed tomography (CT) for a 1-month-old Thoroughbred foal cadaver found in a pasture. CT revealed pericardial effusion, collapse of the aorta, bleeding in the lung lobe, gas in the ventricles and liver parenchyma, and distension of the digestive tract. Rupture in the left auricle was confirmed by necropsy; however, it was not depicted on CT. Therefore, Ai and conventional necropsy are considered to complement each other. The cause of death was determined to be traumatic cardi...
Kondo H, Wickins SC, Conway JA, Mallicote MF, Sanchez LC, Agnew DW, Farina LL, Abbott JR.A 23-year-old Anglo-Arabian mare was presented with tachypnea, dyspnea, and pitting edema of the ventral thoracic subcutis. On necropsy, a tan to red, friable, irregularly shaped mass (23 × 20 × 18 cm) occupied the cranial mediastinum. Histologically, the mass was classified as a liposarcoma and was composed of short interlacing bundles of spindle-shaped to irregularly rounded cells with discrete, variably sized, clear cytoplasmic vacuoles, which were stained with oil red O in frozen sections of formalin-fixed tissue.
Stephen JO, Baptiste KE, Townsend HG.To describe clinical signs and clinicopathologic findings in donkeys with hypothermia. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 10 hypothermic donkeys. Methods: Information on signalment, history, physical examination findings, results of diagnostic tests, treatments, and necropsy findings was extracted from medical records of all donkeys with hypothermia between 1988 and 1998 and compared with information from medical records of all normothermic donkeys and hypothermic horses admitted to the hospital during the same period. Results: Donkeys were more likely to be hypothermic than horses. The me...
Bolton JR, Merritt AM, Cimprich RE, Ramberg CF, Streett W.The D-xylose absorption test was applied to clinically normal horses and to horses with signs of gastrointestinal disease. A dosage of 0.5 grams of xylose per kilogram of bodyweight was useful in detecting horses that absorbed the pentose abnormally. The clinical findings were correlated with gross and microscopic findings by biopsy and at necropsy. Gastrointestinal lesions associated with abnormal xylose absorption were classified as: 1) villous atrophy; 2) edema of the lamina propria or 3) necrosis of the lamina propria.
Singh K, Holbrook TC, Gilliam LL, Cruz RJ, Duffy J, Confer AW.Multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease was diagnosed histologically in a 17-year-old Quarter Horse intact mare that was presented with a chronic history of respiratory distress. At necropsy, the lungs were poorly collapsed and the pulmonary parenchyma contained innumerable, discrete, spherical nodules in a miliary pattern. A few similar nodules were scattered in the liver and the renal lymph nodes. Histologically, these nodules consisted of fibrosing eosinophilic granulomas. Based on histologic findings and the absence of an etiologic agent, a diagnosis of multisystemic eosinophili...
Baker JR, Ellis CE.The causes of death recorded in 480 consecutive post mortem examinations of horses performed at the department of pathology, Veterinary Field Station, University of Liverpool, between February 1958 and February 1980, are reported. The alimentary, locomotor and nervous systems were those most frequently diseased. The most common specific entities were those associated with grass sickness, fractures and endoparasitism.
Mayhew IG, Lichtenfels JR, Greiner EC, MacKay RJ, Enloe CW.A pregnant 10-year-old Paint mare was examined because of an acute neurologic disturbance. Physical examination revealed signs consistent with extensive, asymmetric brain stem disease. The hemogram, serum chemical panel, and results of lumbosacral spinal fluid analysis were within normal limits. A primary diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis was considered, and the mare was placed on treatment with trimethoprim-sulfadiazine. After 5 weeks of steady improvement, an acute exacerbation of neurologic signs necessitated euthanasia of the mare. At necropsy, large, malacic tracts were foun...
