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.
Peters M, Grafen J, Kuhnen C, Wohlsein P.A 13-year-old Icelandic crossbred horse was presented with headshaking and progressive impairment of chewing. A slowly growing mass was identified in the anterior maxilla. This was associated with lysis of the alveolar bone and the roots of the incisors and there were nodular proliferations affecting the nasal septum and conchae. There was no response to chemotherapy and so the horse was humanely destroyed. Based on morphological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings the mass was classified as a malignant glomus tumour with multifocal vascular spaces and additional neuroendocrine d...
Díez de Castro E, Zafra R, Acevedo LM, Pérez J, Acosta I, Rivero JL, Aguilera-Tejero E.Equine motor neuron disease (EMND) is a neuromuscular disorder that affects adult horses. Although EMND has been linked to vitamin E deficiency, its etiopathogenesis is poorly understood. Objective: To describe clinical features, laboratory results, and postmortem findings in a series of young horses with motor neuron disease (MND). Methods: A herd of 15 young Andalusian horses with weakness, weight loss, muscle atrophy, and muscle fasciculations related to restricted intake of green forage. Methods: A case series is presented in which horses were subjected to a clinical examination and plasma...
Swerczek TW.Unexplained clinical signs of weight loss and emaciation were reported in a herd of Thoroughbred horses grazing spring pastures on a central Kentucky farm, even though supplemental grain and hay were provided. Results: A buttercup plant, Ranunculus bulbosus L, was abundantly present in all pastures and paddocks on the farm. All horses, especially lactating mares and their foals, had mild to severe weight loss as assessed by body condition. Seven mares on the farm had been confirmed pregnant between 30 and 45 days of gestation, but were later found to have aborted. Two 2-year-old fillies develo...
Leitenbacher J, Herbach N.The aim of this study was to characterize the age-related morphological changes in the equine pituitary and to identify features that allow distinction between pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID)-associated and non-functional/age-associated pars intermedia (PI) adenoma. Pituitary glands of all horses submitted for necropsy examination at the Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, between 2008 and 2012 were examined. The pituitary glands of 124 horses were weighed, cut into ∼2 mm slices and examined histologically. A slightly modified grading scheme...
Liu SH, Li K, Hu DF.A survey was conducted on the detection of the larval Gasterophilus species in 90 equines via necropsy or after administering oral ivermectin in Xinjian, China, from 2008 to 2013. All 90 (100%) equines were infested by larval Gasterophilus, and 3723second instar larvae (L2) and 63,778 third instar larvae (L3) were collected from faecal samples and the digestive tract, a ratio of L2:L3=1:17. Over 84.45% of the animals contained ≤1500 larvae and 7.78% had >2000 larvae. The highest totals of L2 and L 3 larvae in any one animal were 1208 in Mongolian wild ass (Equus hemionus hemionus), 2491 in P...
Tăbăran AF, Nagy AL, Cătoi C, Morar I, Tăbăran A, Mihaiu M, Bolfa P.In veterinary medicine congenital abnormalities of the diaphragm and pericardium are rare, idiopathic malformations, being reported mainly in dogs. This report documents an unusual case of developmental defects in a foal consisting of diaphragmatic hernia concurrent with pericardial aplasia. Methods: Following a normal delivery, a full term, female Friesian stillborn foal with the placenta was presented for necropsy. External morphological examination indicated a normally developed foal. At necropsy, a large oval defect (approximately 20 × 15 cm in size) was observed in the left-dorsal si...
Luethy D, Habecker P, Murphy B, Nolen-Walston R.Pheochromocytoma is the most common adrenal medullary neoplasm of domestic animals, but it is rare in horses. Antemortem diagnosis in horses is difficult, with clinical signs often being vague or non-specific. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the clinical, laboratory, and pathologic findings of pheochromocytoma in horses. Methods: Thirty-seven horses diagnosed with pheochromocytoma based on postmortem examination from 2007 to 2014. Methods: Retrospective case series. Results: Pheochromocytoma was identified in 37/4094 horses during postmortem examination. Clinical signs c...
Cesarini C, Cotovio M, Ríos J, Armengou L, Jose-Cunilleras E.Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is frequent in horses with severe gastrointestinal disorders. Postmortem studies have found fibrin microthrombi in tissues of these horses, but studies relating these histopathological findings with antemortem hemostatic data are lacking. Objective: Antemortem classification of coagulopathy is related to the presence and severity of fibrin deposits observed postmortem in horses with severe gastrointestinal disorders. Methods: Antemortem hemostatic profile data and postmortem tissue samples (kidney, lung, liver) from 48 horses with colic. Methods: Ti...
Reinemeyer CR, Prado JC, Nielsen MK.Despite widespread acknowledgement of cyathostomin resistance to adult icidal dosages of benzimidazole (BZD) anthelmintics, many strongyle control programs continue to feature regularly scheduled larvicidal treatment with fenbendazole (FBZ). However, no studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of larvicidal regimens against encysted cyathostomins in a BZD-resistant (BZD-R) population. A masked, randomized, controlled clinical study was conducted with 18 juvenile horses harboring populations of cyathostomins that were considered BZD-R on the basis of fecal egg count reduction (FECR)...
Nielsen MK, Loynachan AT, Jacobsen S, Stewart JC, Reinemeyer CR, Horohov DW.Encysted cyathostomin larvae are ubiquitous in grazing horses. Arrested development occurs in this population and can lead to an accumulation of encysted larvae. Large numbers of tissue larvae place the horse at risk for developing larval cyathostominosis. This disease complex is caused by mass emergence of these larvae and is characterized by a generalized acute typhlocolitis and manifests itself as a profuse protein-losing watery diarrhea with a reported case-fatality rate of about 50%. Two anthelmintic formulations have a label claim for larvicidal therapy of these encysted stages; moxidect...
Rushton JO, Kolodziejek J, Nell B, Weissenböck H, Nowotny N.The role of equid γ-herpesviruses on ocular surface diseases has been disputed, because the diagnosis is usually based on clinical symptoms and detection of viral DNA from samples obtained from live animals. Objective: To describe the clinical course, results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, in situ hybridisation, cell culture and pathohistological findings of select cases in a presumed outbreak of herpesvirus infection in a group of 15 Icelandic horses. Methods: Case series. Methods: Pooled ocular and nasal swabs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of horses diagnosed clinica...
Felippelli G, Cruz BC, Gomes LV, Lopes WD, Teixeira WF, Maciel WG, Buzzulini C, Bichuette MA, Campos GP, Soares VE, Bergamasco PL, de Oliveira GP....By means of parasitological necropsies, the present study aimed to evaluate, in six experiments, the degree of susceptibility or resistance of different helminth species which naturally infect horses to ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg, abamectin 0.2 mg/kg, moxidectin 0.4 mg/kg, trichlorfon 35 mg/kg, ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg+praziquantel 2.5 mg/kg, abamectin 0.2 mg/kg+praziquantel 2.5 mg/kg and ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg+6.6 mg/kg pyrantel. At experimental day zero, the horses were allocated to treatment groups based on average counts of strongylid eggs per gram of feces (EPG) obtained on days -3, -2 and -1. Oxyuri...
Żuraw A, Dietert K, Kühnel S, Sander J, Klopfleisch R.Evidence suggest there is a link between equine atypical myopathy (EAM) and ingestion of sycamore maple tree seeds. Objective: To further evaluate the hypothesis that the ingestion of hypoglycin A (HGA) containing sycamore maple tree seeds causes acquired multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency and might be associated with the clinical and pathological signs of EAM. Methods: Case report. Methods: Necropsy and histopathology, using hematoxylin and eosin and Sudan III stains, were performed on a 2.5-year-old mare that died following the development of clinical signs of progressive muscle stif...
Scacchia M, Molini U, Marruchella G, Maseke A, Bortone G, Cosseddu GM, Monacoo F, Savini G, Pini A.African horse sickness (AHS) is a vector‑borne viral disease of equids, endemic in Sub‑Saharan Africa. This article reports the clinic‑pathological and laboratory findings observed in the framework of passive surveillance during the AHS outbreaks which occurred in Namibia between 2006 and 2013. This study was conducted in the framework of the collaboration among the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise (Teramo, Italy), the Namibian Ministry of Agriculture Water and Forestry, and the Namibian National Veterinary Association. A total of 92 horses were investigate...
Leipig M, Abenthum K, Wollanke B, Czupalla I, Esposito I, Steiger K, Hermanns W, Herbach N.A 16-year-old Friesian gelding with relapsing colic was humanely destroyed during diagnostic laparotomy due to suspected abdominal neoplasia. On post-mortem examination, the pancreas appeared as a firm mass (20 × 8 × 8 cm). The cut surface had a lobular structure with multiple cavities. Histological examination revealed severe chronic fibrosing pancreatitis with acinar-ductal metaplasia and duct dysplasia, which was considered to be the cause of the recurrent colic. Formation of tubular complexes within a background of acinar-ductal metaplasia is similar to the regressive lesions detect...
Gibson TJ, Bedford EM, Chancellor NM, Limon G.Forty-six equines were observed during routine commercial slaughter in an abattoir. The animals were shot once with a .22 calibre long rifle with hollow point rounds. Indicators of sensibility/insensibility were evaluated immediately after the shot (prior to exsanguination) and the resulting pathophysiology of free-bullet injury was assessed. All animals were rendered immediately insensible, with only one pony showing signs of a shallow depth of concussion, with an intermittently positive palpebral reflex but no other signs of brainstem function. All animals (100%) had some degree of damage to...
Al-Dissi A.A wide variety of toxins cause diseases in the horse and are investigated routinely by veterinarians and veterinary pathologists to identify the cause of illness and death. A complete investigation involves performing a thorough necropsy and requires macroscopic and microscopic examination of lesions and a variety of laboratory testing to obtain an accurate diagnosis. The identification of gross lesions by equine practitioners is often the first step in formulating a diagnostic plan. This article provides a description of selected common toxins producing detectable gross lesions in horses in N...
Frank C, Madden DJ, Duncan C.Being able to conduct an equine field necropsy in a safe and proficient manner is a helpful skill for the equine practitioner. Use of a systematic process enables the practitioner to develop a familiarity with normal anatomic positioning and tissue appearance such that abnormalities are quickly identified. This article outlines a systematic necropsy protocol that can be used to investigate mortality events and clinical questions.
Mastrorilli C, Cesar F, Joiner K, Wooldridge AA, Christopherson PW.A 22-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse mare was presented to the Auburn University Large Animal Teaching Hospital with a 3-day history of lethargy, anorexia, and mild signs of colic. The mare had a several-month history of weight loss and refractory cough. Physical examination revealed an increased respiratory rate, and crackles and wheezes were heard on thoracic auscultation. Thoracic ultrasonographic examination showed disseminated, minor, bilateral comet tail-like lesions on the parietal pleural surfaces. Abdominal ultrasonographic examination was unremarkable. Trans-rectal palpation reveale...
van Bergen T, Wiemer P, Bosseler L, Ugahary F, Martens A.Epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE) is, based on the number of reports in the literature, a relatively important life-threatening cause of colic in horses that could be prevented by closing the epiploic foramen (EF) in horses at risk of developing EFE. Objective: To describe the laparoscopic foramen epiploicum mesh closure (FEMC) technique and its outcome. Methods: Descriptive experimental study. Methods: The EF of 6 horses was closed with the FEMC technique. A diabolo-shaped constructed mesh was introduced into the omental vestibule through the EF under laparoscopic visualisation in the standin...
Wobeser BK.During a widespread anthrax outbreak in Canada, miniature horses were vaccinated using a live spore anthrax vaccine. Several of these horses died from an apparent immune-mediated vasculitis temporally associated with this vaccination. During the course of the outbreak, other miniature horses from different regions with a similar vaccination history, clinical signs, and necropsy findings were found. Vaccin contre l’anthrax associé à la mort de chevaux miniatures. Durant une vaste éclosion d’anthrax au Canada, des chevaux miniatures ont été vaccinés en utilisant un vaccin à base de sp...
Vemming DC, Steenkamp G, Carstens A, Olorunju SA, Stroehle RM, Page PC.Dental care is an integral part of equine veterinary practice. The objectives of this cross sectional study were to describe the prevalence of dental disorders in an abattoir population of horses, and to compare oral examination of intact and bisected heads. Heads from 40 horses, 19 males and 21 females, were examined and divided into immature, adult or older horses based on dental age. Older horses had a significantly higher prevalence of infundibular caries (91.7%), diastemata (66.7%) and fractures (58.3%), whereas dental wear disorders affected all age groups. Gasterophilus spp. larvae were...
Pintore MD, Cantile C.A full-term male foal born in a farm holidays in Maremma (Tuscany, Italy) was euthanized shortly after birth due to the presence of several malformations. The rostral maxilla and the nasal septum were deviated to the right (wry nose), and a severe cervico-thoracic scoliosis and anus atresia were evident. Necropsy revealed ileum atresia and agenesis of the right kidney. The brain showed an incomplete separation of the hemispheres of the rostral third of the forebrain and the olfactory bulbs and tracts were absent (olfactory aplasia). A diagnosis of semilobar holoprosencephaly (HPE) was achieved...
Barton AJ, Prow NA, Hall RA, Kidd L, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H.This report summarises the findings from a case of naturally-occurring Murray Valley encephalitis in a 2-year-old filly presenting with acute onset of depression and weakness. Serum samples tested at the onset of clinical signs were negative for Hendra and Kunjin virus antibodies, but positive for Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) using IgM-capture ELISA (1 : 300 dilution). A virus neutralisation assay performed 4 weeks later confirmed a titre of 1 : 160. Sera collected in the weeks preceding neurological signs returned a negative titre for MVEV 2 weeks prior followed by a titre ...
Borji H, Moosavi Z, Ahmadi F.Arteritis due to Strongylus vulgaris is a well-known cause of colic in horses and donkeys. The current report describes a fatal incidence of arterial obstruction in cranial mesenteric artery caused by S. vulgaris infection in an adult donkey in which anthelmintic treatment was not regularly administered. Necropsy findings of the abdominal cavity revealed a complete cranial mesenteric arterial obstruction due to larvae of S. vulgaris, causing severe colic. To the authors' knowledge, a complete cranial mesenteric arterial obstruction due to verminous arteritis has rarely been described in horses...
Holbrook TC, Gilliam LL, Stein FP, Morgan SE, Avery AL, Confer AW, Panciera RJ.Caley Pea (Lathyrus hirsutus) is potentially toxic to horses, but large case series are not reported. Objective: To describe the clinical signs of horses intoxicated with Lathyrus hirsutus and speculate on the neuroanatomical lesion localization and pathogenesis based upon the observed clinical signs. Methods: Twenty-two of 25 horses ranging in age from 6 to 34 months were affected. Five affected horses were presented to the OSUCHVS for evaluation and treatment after having been attended at the ranch by a local veterinarian (ALA). An additional horse that had been euthanized was also presented...
Gerding JC, Gilger BC, Montgomery SA, Clode AB.A 7-year-old, 153.0-kg American Miniature mare presented for evaluation of keratoconjunctivitis of the right eye (OD). A superior palpebral conjunctival mass and stromal keratitis were diagnosed. The incisional biopsy diagnosis was a presumptive corneal hemangiosarcoma. Transpalpebral enucleation was performed, and histopathologic evaluation confirmed angiosarcoma of the conjunctiva, cornea, and extraocular muscles. The horse developed progressive epistaxis and orbital swelling following surgery. A systemic workup was performed 3 months after enucleation, revealing regrowth within the orbit an...
Shepard MK, Lee WL, Eggleston RB.A 21-year-old Thoroughbred gelding with a history of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) presented with priapism of 2 days' duration. The horse received a caudal morphine epidural and then underwent corpus cavernosum lavage and phallectomy under general anesthesia. The patient's recovery featured multiple unsuccessful attempts to stand and his respiratory distress persisted for several hours until he acutely developed severe colic and was euthanized. Necropsy findings revealed a pituitary adenoma of the pars intermedia, bilateral adrenal cortical hyperplasia, and diaphragmatic ...
Nixon AJ, Rickey E, Butler TJ, Scimeca MS, Moran N, Matthews GL.Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) has improved outcome in long-term studies of joint repair in man. However, ACI requires sutured periosteal flaps to secure the cells, which precludes minimally-invasive implantation, and introduces complications with arthrofibrosis and graft hypertrophy. This study evaluated ACI on a collagen type I/III scaffold (matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation; MACI(®)) in critical sized defects in the equine model. Methods: Chondrocytes were isolated from horses, expanded and seeded onto a collagen I/III membrane (ACI-Maix™) and implanted into o...
Freel KM, Morrison LR, Thompson H, Else RW.Postmortem and histological examination of the hearts from two horses, a five-year-old Clydesdale gelding and a 15-year-old cob gelding, revealed changes characteristic of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. In both cases, on gross examination, the right ventricular endocardium and interventricular septum were almost entirely replaced with a gelatinous yellow fibroareolar tissue. This tissue was histologically a combination of fibrous and adipose tissue that had replaced the normal myofibres and disrupted the Purkinje fibres.
Bianchi MV, Mello LS, Wentz MF, Panziera W, Soares JF, Sonne L, Driemeier D, Pavarini SP.Diseases related to the alimentary system are the main cause of death in horses. This retrospective study aimed to describe the pathological findings of fatal parasite-induced enteritis and typhlocolitis caused by cyathostominae, Eimeria leuckarti, Balantidium coli, and Strongyloides westeri in horses. The records of parasite-induced intestinal lesions in horses necropsied in Southern Brazil between 2005 and 2017 were reviewed. Ten horses had fatal parasitic enteritis and/or typhlocolitis, and the main causes were: cyathostominae typhlocolitis (6/10), E. leuckarti enteritis (1/10), S. westeri ...
Reinemeyer CR, Prado JC, Nielsen MK.Despite widespread acknowledgement of cyathostomin resistance to adult icidal dosages of benzimidazole (BZD) anthelmintics, many strongyle control programs continue to feature regularly scheduled larvicidal treatment with fenbendazole (FBZ). However, no studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of larvicidal regimens against encysted cyathostomins in a BZD-resistant (BZD-R) population. A masked, randomized, controlled clinical study was conducted with 18 juvenile horses harboring populations of cyathostomins that were considered BZD-R on the basis of fecal egg count reduction (FECR)...
Dyson S, Pinilla MJ, Bolas N, Murray R.There have been no previous studies correlating high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings with gross and histological post-mortem examination in horses with hindlimb proximal suspensory desmopathy (PSD). Objective: To determine if adhesions between the suspensory ligament (SL) and adjacent tissues could be detected using high-field MRI and if collagen, adipose tissue and muscle pathology could be differentiated. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Nineteen horses with hindlimb PSD were humanely destroyed; 12 limbs of 11 horses with PSD underwent high-field MRI. All lame limbs wer...
Helman RG, Edwards WC.To document clinical signs and gross pathologic changes associated with naturally acquired cantharidiasis (blister beetle poisoning) in equids. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 70 equids with laboratory-confirmed blister beetle poisoning. Methods: Medical records were reviewed to obtain history, physical examination findings, feeding practices, and diagnostic test and necropsy results. Results: 32 horses and 2 donkeys died from exposure to cantharidin, whereas 36 horses survived. Diet content varied, but alfalfa hay was the common component. Onset of signs of disease was rapid. Most equi...
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 ...
McCraw BM, Slocombe JO.The development and pathological effects of Strongylus equinus were studied in 17 pony foals and one horse foal raised in isolation and examined at necropsy from seven days to 40 wk postinfection (PI). Following inoculation of 15000 +/- 6% or 16000 +/- 6% infective larvae by stomach tube foals were monitored for clinical signs and selected blood changes. Larvae penetrated the wall of the ileum, cecum and colon. The molt to the fourth stage occurred mostly in the wall of the ventral colon before 2 wk PI and larvae attained the liver mainly via the peritoneal cavity as early as eight days PI and...
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...
Bassuino DM, Konradt G, Cruz RA, Silva GS, Gomes DC, Pavarini SP, Driemeier D.Twenty-six cattle and 7 horses were diagnosed with rabies. Samples of brain and spinal cord were processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC). In addition, refrigerated fragments of brain and spinal cord were tested by direct fluorescent antibody test and intracerebral inoculation in mice. Statistical analyses and Fisher exact test were performed by commercial software. Histologic lesions were observed in the spinal cord in all of the cattle and horses. Inflammatory lesions in horses were moderate at the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral levels, and marked at the lumb...
Tiwary AK, Puschner B, Kinde H, Tor ER.A 2-year-old bay Thoroughbred colt was found dead overnight in its stall without a known history of any illness, existing disease, or toxicant exposure. No information on the clinical signs before this animal's death was reported. A full necropsy was performed the next morning and revealed a mild to moderate degree of endocardial hemorrhages in both ventricles. Microscopic examination of the heart showed an acute mild multifocal necrosis of papillary muscles and ventricles. The stomach content contained approximately 2% Taxus alkaloids as determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In ...
Léon A, Pronost S, Tapprest J, Foucher N, Blanchard B, André-Fontaine G, Laugier C, Fortier G, Leclercq R.Studies were carried out to determine the cause of death in a prematurely born Thoroughbred foal that died 24 hours after birth. Necropsy revealed gross lesions suggestive of septicemia. A commercial Leptospira polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay designed to specifically amplify the hemolysis-associated protein 1 (hap1) gene present only in pathogenic Leptospira strains detected the presence of Leptospira DNA in various tissues of the foal. Histologic examination of lung, liver, kidney, and myocardium revealed numerous spirochetes in Warthin-Starry-stained tissue sections. Results of PCR ana...
Stewart MC, Hodgson JL, Kim H, Hutchins DR, Hodgson DR.Eighty-six horses presented for examination at the Rural Veterinary Centre between January 1986 to December 1991 with acute diarrhoea. The average age of affected horses was 3.2 +/- 0.2 years (mean +/- SE), with 69% three years or younger. Sixty-one horses were male (36 stallions, 25 geldings) and 83 horses were Thoroughbreds (47) or Standardbreds (36). Sixty-six horses were undergoing routine training at the time of onset of diarrhoea. Eight horses were afflicted with a non-specific illness within one to five days before the onset of diarrhoea, whereas eight horses developed diarrhoea during ...
Buergelt CD.The few data collections that evaluate the involvement of organ systems in horse diseases are in agreement that the locomotor, gastrointestinal and nervous systems are the sites of primary disease in the vast majority of sick horses. When compared with diseases of these organ systems, equine cardiovascular diseases occur infrequently. The most detailed and comprehensive survey of equine cardiac pathology was reported in 1972 by Else and Holmes, who summarized the gross and microscopic cardiac findings from 1500 abattoir horses. This paper reviews the pathology of the cardiovascular diseases ty...
Blunden AS, Smith KC, Whitwell KE, Dunn KA.A severe multi-systemic form of equid herpesvirus-1 infection is described in an adult zebra stallion. There was multifocal necrotizing rhinitis, marked hydrothorax and pulmonary oedema, with viral antigen expression in degenerating epithelial cells, local endothelial cells and intravascular leucocytes of the nasal mucosa and lung. Specific localization of EHV-1 infection was seen in the testes and epididymides, including infection of Leydig cells and germinal epithelium, which would have facilitated venereal shedding of virus in life. The case provided a unique opportunity to study hitherto u...
Platt H, Singh H, Whitwell KE.A description is given of the pathological changes present in 8 mares which died or were euthanased in the course of an outbreak of paralysis on a Thoroughbred studfarm. In all cases the principal changes were in the central nervous system (CNS) and consisted of a severe and widespread vaculitis in the brain, cord, sheaths of nerves, capsules of ganglia and occasionally elsewhere in the body. Associated with the damage to vessel walls there was haemorrhage and exudation of plasma into the perivascular tissues. Involvement of neurones was minimal and no neuronophagia was present. Six cases had ...
Altan E, Hui A, Li Y, Pesavento P, Asín J, Crossley B, Deng X, Uzal FA, Delwart E.Six foals with interstitial pneumonia of undetermined etiology from Southern California were analyzed by viral metagenomics. Spleen, lung, and colon content samples obtained during necropsy from each animal were pooled, and nucleic acids from virus-like particles enriched for deep sequencing. The recently described equine copiparvovirus named eqcopivirus, as well as three previously uncharacterized viruses, were identified. The complete ORFs genomes of two closely related protoparvoviruses, and of a bocaparvovirus, plus the partial genome of a picornavirus were assembled. The parvoviruses were...
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...
Ralston SL, Nockels CF, Squires EL.Hematologic data and results of diagnostic tests were compared between aged (greater than or equal to 20 years old) and young (less than or equal to 5 years old) horses to identify hematologic and metabolic changes associated with aging. Initial data were obtained from 8 aged and 6 young mares (group 1). Similar data were collected from a second group of aged (3 mares and 3 geldings) and young (1 mare and 5 geldings) horses (group 2). Dexamethasone suppression tests (DST) and necropsies were performed on 6 additional mares and mare 8 from group 1 (group 3). Complete blood counts and serum bioc...
Morris DD, Bloom JC, Roby KA, Woods K, Tablin F.An eosinophilic myeloproliferative disorder resulted in edema and hemorrhagic diathesis in a 10-month-old Standardbred colt. Laboratory abnormalities included severe thrombocytopenia, anemia, mild hypoproteinemia, and marked eosinophilia. Circulating eosinophils were immature or atypical with variation in granule size, disproportionate nuclear to cytoplasmic maturation, and abnormal nuclear size and shape. Bone marrow aspirate had mainly atypical eosinophil precursors, few erythroid precursors, and no megakaryocytes. A blood transfusion and dexamethasone therapy resulted in some improvement; h...
Ciaputa R, Gach J, Baranowski K, Dzimira S, Janus I, Kandefer-Gola M, Żebrowski K, Nowak M.An analysis of samples originating from domestic and exotic animals from Lower Silesia but also from other parts of Poland was carried out based on research conducted in 2014-2017. Unassigned: The materials used for the study were 11,338 tumour samples taken in vivo during surgery and as biopsies and posthumously during necropsies. They were sent to the Department of Pathology at Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences for histopathological diagnosis. Unassigned: The largest group were canine tumours, of which there were 9,745 (85.95%), followed by feline tumours, totalling 1,39...
McCraw BM, Slocombe JO.Pony foals inoculated with infective Strongylus edentatus larvae were examined at necropsy from ten to 72 weeks postinfection. At ten weeks postinfection larvae were visible retroperitoneally in the liver and flanks and were recovered from the ligaments of the liver. The fourth molt was detected at 16 weeks postinfection and larvae were also recovered from the wall of the cecum at this time. By 40 weeks adult S. edentatus containing eggs were found in the contents of the cecum and colon. While many larvae migrate to remote parts of the body, it is likely that only those that attain the base of...
Monahan CM, Chapman MR, French DD, Taylor HW, Klei TR.Moxidectin was tested as an oral gel formulation during a controlled test performed to evaluate dosages against equine gastrointestinal parasites. Four groups of ten ponies were used. Ponies ranged from 1 to 20 years of age and were naturally infected in southern Louisiana or Mississippi. Fecal exams and fecal cultures were performed on all ponies to determine the strongyle egg counts and the percent distributions of large and small strongyles. Following these determinations, ponies were allocated to replicates of four ponies to provide an even distribution of strongyle infection, age, weight ...
Mair TS, Brown PJ.Thirty-eight horses with confirmed thoracic neoplasia included 28 (37.7%) with lymphosarcoma, 4 (10.5%) with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, 2 (5.3%) with primary lung carcinoma, 2 (5.3%) with secondary squamous cell carcinoma from the stomach, 1 (2.6%) with pleural mesothelioma, and 1 (2.6%) with malignant melanoma. The major clinical features included weight loss, inappetence, dyspnoea and coughing, but in cases of lung metastases, they related more to the primary site of tumour formation. Haematological and serum biochemical abnormalities were non-specific. Specific pre-mortem diagnosis wa...
Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Stamper S, Drudge JH, Granstrom DE, Collins SS.Studies were conducted on transmission of natural infections of several species of internal parasites in horses born and kept on the same pasture on a farm in central Kentucky. Data for the first year (1989) of a 4 year study on this farm have been published recently. The present research represents the second (1990), third (1991), and fourth (1992) years of the investigation. The number of animals (n = 28) examined varied from eight born in 1990 to ten each born in 1991 and 1992. For each year, examination was made of one horse per month, beginning in June of the year of birth and extending t...
Yamate J, Izawa T, Ogata K, Kobayashi O, Okajima R, Kuwamura M, Kotani T, Aoki M.An 11-year-old thoroughbred gelding was euthanatized because of right nasal cavity tumor. The tumor consisted of round to oval cells with a scanty cytoplasm and hyperchromatic nuclei. Homer-Wright rosettes and pseudorosettes, as well as microcysts were seen. Neoplastic cells were immunoreactive to vimentin, S-100 protein, and neuron-specific enolase, glial fibrillary acidic protein and microtube-associated protein in varying degrees, indicating neurogenic nature. Based on these findings, this tumor was diagnosed as an olfactory neuroblastoma. Since this type is an uncommon tumor showing histol...
Tan JY, Valberg SJ, Sebastian MM, Davis GD, Kelly JR, Goehring LS, Harland MM, Kuebelbeck KL, Waldridge BM, Newton JC, Reimer JM.Five horses were presented with signs of myopathy along with systemic malaise, hyperfibrinogenemia, hyperphosphatemia, and an elevated calcium phosphorus product (Ca*P). Postmortem findings were consistent with systemic calcinosis, a syndrome of calcium deposition in the tissue of organs including lungs, kidneys, muscle, and heart that has not been previously described in horses. Cinq chevaux ont été présentés avec des signes de myopathie et un malaise systémique, d’hyperfibrinogénémie, d’hyperphosphatémie et d’un produit de phosphore de calcium élevé (Ca*P). Les constatations...
Kim DY, Taylor HW, Eades SC, Cho DY.AL amyloidosis is the most common type of systemic amyloidosis in humans, and it is frequently associated with multiple myeloma. But, AL amyloidosis is very rare in domestic animals. A 16-year-old Quarter horse gelding was diagnosed with systemic AL amyloidosis associated with multiple myeloma. Clinical problems were rapid weight loss, muscle atrophy, soft unformed stool, and ventral edema. Grossly, diffuse gastrointestinal hemorrhage, markedly thickened jejunal mucosa, and splenomegaly were present. Microscopically, diffuse severe amyloid deposits were present in the lamina propria of glandul...
Güiris AD, Rojas HN, Berovides AV, Sosa PJ, Pérez EM, Cruz AE, Chávez HC, Moguel AJ, Jimenez-Coello M, Ortega-Pacheco A.A cross sectional survey was performed to identify gastrointestinal helminths and protozoans in naturally infected horses from the biosphere reserve known as "La Sierra Madre de Chiapas", Mexico (El Triunfo and La Sepultura). During a three-year survey, fecal samples from 90 horses and parasites from 2 necropsied animals were collected. Five families from the Nematoda class: Ascaridae, Kathlanidae, Oxyuridae, Strongylidae and Trichostrongylidae were found, whereas, only one family from the class Cestoda, was observed: Anoplocephalidae. One family from the class Insecta, was observed: Gasteroph...
