Pathology in horses involves the study of diseases and abnormalities affecting equine health, encompassing a range of conditions that can impact various systems within the horse's body. This field examines the causes, mechanisms, and effects of diseases, as well as the structural and functional changes they induce in equine tissues and organs. Common pathological conditions in horses include laminitis, colic, equine infectious anemia, and respiratory disorders. Understanding these diseases involves evaluating clinical signs, diagnostic methods, and treatment options. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical implications of pathological conditions in horses.
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...
Scott EA, Snyder SP, Schmotzer WB, Pool R.Probable cause of fracture in a Paint gelding was a congenital bone defect involving the extensor process area of the right and left forelimb distal phalanges. Radiographically and histologically, subchondral bone cysts at the fracture lines were suspected. These cysts were thought to have developed in association with abnormal ossification centers at the extensor process areas of the third phalanx. Partial avulsion of weak extensor processes would then occur from natural forces exerted on these weakened bony prominences via the common digital extensor tendon. Support for osteochondrosis as a ...
Mair TS, Hillyer MH, Taylor FG, Pearson GR.Specificity of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for the diagnosis of small intestinal malabsorption in the horse was assessed by comparing the results of OGTT with the results of a histopathological examination of the small intestine in 42 adult horses affected by chronic weight loss. The horses were assigned to three groups on the basis of the results of the test. Five horses were considered to have a normal OGTT absorption result (Group 1); all the horses had a histologically normal small intestine. Twenty-five horses had a partial malabsorption result (Group 2) seven of which had norm...
Dart AJ, Snyder JR, Julian D, Hinds DM.The microvascular circulation of the cecum was studied in 15 adult horses, using microangiography and light microscopy combined with gross studies and scanning electron microscopy of vascular replicas. After heparinization, the horses were euthanatized and the cecum was transected at the cecocolic junction. Blood was flushed free of the circulation with isotonic NaCl and the cecal lumen was slightly distended. In 6 horses, the vascular system was injected with a modified radiopaque medium and evaluated radiographically. Sections evaluated radiographically were also prepared for histologic exam...
Desjardins MR, Hurtig MB.The clinical, radiographic, arthrographic, arthroscopic, and pathological findings of three horses with femorotibial joint injuries are presented. Overall diagnostic accuracy is improved when clinical signs, arthrography, and arthroscopy are combined. Treatment of these injuries remains limited. One horse was euthanized, and two were treated by stall rest after diagnosis. Of the two surviving horses, one became a successful breeding animal, and the other was unable to perform as a pleasure horse.
Linke RP, Geisel O, Mann K.Amyloid deposits from equine cutaneous nodular amyloidosis associated with extramedullary plasmacytoma were classified immunohistochemically as equine immunoglobulin lambda-light chain-derived and designated eA lambda (HIP). For chemical identification, the amyloid fibril proteins were separated on Sephadex G-100 in 6M guanidine.HCl. Polypeptides of predominantly 24 kDa and 50 kDa were found by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. They have preponderance of immunoglobulin lambda-antigenic determinants as detected by immunodiffusion and immunoblotting. Since the N-terminus of the major proteins ...
Jaeschke G, Rudolph R.The literature contains about 500 cases of equine leucosis, though the reports are deposited in a great number of journals and vary considerably concerning particular topics. During the last years there has been a remarkable increase of publications about this syndrome in the equine. The clinical leucosis key recommended by us has been confirmed in principle considering the latest literature. In about 70 individual symptoms which can be clinically observed in equine with leucosis 11 can be considered as main symptoms because of their frequency; they are again classified in primary (lymph node ...
Röcken H, Wenz C.A unilateral malformation of the eye of a thoroughbred foal is described. The specific form of the tiny lens we named, "lenticulus". It is correlated with a maximal unchangeable mydriasis. The bulb shows physiological size. A brown-black pigmented mass inhibited (internal) inspection and examination of the middle and rear part of the eye. Special emphasis is laid on the insecure behaviour of the foal. A connection with an iridocyclochoroiditis, which was treated in the mare about a year ago, and the pathological changes in the eye of the foal is not evident.
Drudge JH, Lyons ET, Tolliver SC.Critical tests were completed on foals (n = 15) naturally infected with benzimidazole (BZ)-resistant population-B strongyles during the period between 1981 and 1987. Thiabendazole at a dosage of 44 mg/kg was tested in 8 foals, oxfendazole at 10 mg/kg was tested in 4 foals, and phenothiazine at 55 mg/kg, cambendazole at 20 mg/kg, and fenbendazole at 5 mg/kg were tested in 1 foal each. Efficacies of thiabendazole, cambendazole, and fenbendazole against the 5 species of BZ-resistant small strongyles (Cyathostomum catinatum, Cyathostomum coronatum, Cylicocylus nassatus, Cylicostephanus goldi, and ...
Alwan WH, Carter SD, Dixon JB, Bennett D, May SA, Edwards GB.Synovial fluid samples of horses with osteoarthritis were investigated to detect interleukin-1 (IL-1) activity which could contribute to the disease pathogenesis. Of the 32 samples tested, 12 (37.5 per cent) showed an augmented phytohaemagglutinin induced proliferation of C3H/HeJ mouse thymocytes. Positive results were also seen in horses with infected arthritis, osteochondritis, traumatic arthritis and undefined synovial effusions. Normal synovial fluid and sera from all groups failed to show any detectable IL-1 activity. Fractionation of synovial fluid showed that the IL-1 activity was in th...
Nyman G, Lindberg R, Weckner D, Björk M, Kvart C, Persson SG, Gustafsson H, Hedenstierna G.Eight horses (mean weight 438 kg) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were studied for clinical signs, ventilation/perfusion relationships (VA/Q) and lung morphology. Four horses were killed and necropsied after the study. In horses with COPD, minute ventilation was almost twice as high as normal, whereas PaO2 was significantly decreased. Cardiac output was normal, but pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance were significantly increased. The VA/Q distribution was abnormal with an increased scatter of VA/Q ratios. However, shunt (VA/Q = 0) was increased in one ...
Berry CR, O'Brien TR, Pool RR.Squamous cell carcinoma of the hoof wall, with resultant invasion of the right hind distal phalanx, was identified in a 15-year-old Thoroughbred stallion. The clinical features included a chronic grade 2/5 right hind limb lameness and a sessile dorsal hoof wall mass that was not sensitive to palpation. Radiography revealed a well-circumscribed circular lucency within the distal phalanx, beneath the clinically noticed hoof wall mass. These features were considered to be characteristic of a hoof wall keratoma. Surgical intervention was done 10 months later. The histologic diagnosis at the time o...
Welch RD, Watkins JP, DeBowes RM, Leipold HW.The effects of intra-articular administration of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on chemically induced synovitis in the middle carpal joint of 6 weanling horses were evaluated. Following aseptic collection of synovial fluid, the middle carpal joint of each forelimb was injected with 50 mg of Na-monoiodoacetate to induce synovitis. Eight days after injection, synovial fluid was obtained and the right middle carpal joints were injected with 2 ml of 40% DMSO in lactated Ringer solution. The corresponding joints of the left limb (control) were injected with 2 ml of lactated Ringer solution. Sampling and ...
Lange L, Marett S, Maree C, Gerdes T.Suspected molluscum contagiosum was diagnosed in 3 horses in the Chingola district of Zambia. The horses were found to be suffering from a slow progressive skin disease with lesions on the chest, shoulders, inner and lateral aspects of the fore- and hindlimbs, the face, fetlocks, pasterns and on the lateral surfaces of the body. The lesions varied from 4 to 20mm in diameter, were hairless but covered by soft keratin projections which, when removed, left a raw elevated base tightly adherent to the epidermis. These lesions bled profusely when the animals were groomed. Older lesions were well cir...
Young RL, Snyder JR, Pascoe JR, Olander HJ, Hinds DM.Six enterotomies 3 cm long, spaced at 3 cm intervals, were made in the antimesenteric border of the pelvic flexure of the ascending colon in five adult horses. Ten incisions each were sutured with a Utrecht pattern (single layer), a full-thickness simple continuous oversewn with a Cushing pattern (two layer), and a mucosal simple continuous with a seromuscular simple continuous oversewn with a Cushing pattern (three layer). In all horses, chromic gut and polyglactin 910 were each used once for each pattern. On day 6, the pelvic flexure was excised and the colonic vessels were injected with a r...
Pickar JG, Spier SJ, Snyder JR, Carlsen RC.A recently described disorder in certain registered Quarter horses bears many clinical similarities to the muscle disease identified as hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HPP) in humans. Pathological changes in membrane permeability or Na(+)-K+ pump activity have been proposed to produce the muscle depolarization and inexcitability that characterize the condition in humans. Biopsies of external intercostal muscle from normal and affected horses were used to determine whether alterations in either permeability and/or pump activity could be linked to the pathology in horses. Affected horse muscle ...
Dorman DC, Haschek WM.Toxicosis attributable to propylene glycol (1,2-propanediol) was suspected in an 8-year-old 450- to 500-kg male Quarter Horse. Clinical signs of toxicosis developed within 15 minutes of the accidental iatrogenic oral administration of 3.8 L of propylene glycol. Clinical signs of toxicosis included salivation, sweating, ataxia, and signs of pain. Additionally, at 24 hours after propylene glycol ingestion, the horse became increasingly atactic, had an abnormal breath odor, developed rapid shallow breathing, and was cyanotic. The horse died of apparent respiratory arrest 28 hours after the propyl...
Reeves MJ, Trotter GW, Kainer RA.The anatomical and functional communications of the synovial sacs of the equine stifle joint were evaluated in 50 stifle joints of 25 horses. Femoropatellar joint (FPJ) sacs were injected with 50 ml of gelatin-based dye and horses were then walked for 50 m. Horses were subsequently killed, the stifle joints dissected and the location of the dye recorded. Twenty-three horses (46 joints) had clinically normal stifle joints and in this group, anatomical communications of the stifle joints were bilaterally symmetrical in each horse. In 15 of these 23 horses (65 per cent), direct anatomical communi...
Weber A, Ligthelm AJ, Verstraete FJ.An 8-year-old Hannoverian horse developed a swelling of the maxilla caused by a tumour of the hard palate. On histological examination the tumour was diagnosed as a primary intra-osseous carcinoma of the maxilla, a rare odontogenic tumour not previously described in the horse.
Ricketts SW, Alonso S.Paired endometrial biopsy samples were taken from 530 subfertile mares, before and after treatment (where indicated) and a period of sexual rest. Prognoses were made after each biopsy (Categories 1A-4A before treatment and Categories 1B-4B after treatment), using histopathological criteria similar to those described by Kenney and Doig (1986). Eighty-seven per cent of the mares were assigned to first biopsy prognosis Category 3A. The second biopsy prognosis produced a more even population distribution (10, 47, 40 and 3 per cent respectively for Category 1B, 2B, 3B and 4B mares). First biopsy Ca...
Paradis MR, Breeze RG, Bayly WM, Counts DF, Laegreid WW.The hematologic and pathologic effects of orally administered L-tryptophan and indoleactic acid and of L-tryptophan administered IV were studied in ponies. Sixteen adult Shetland ponies were allotted into 4 experimental groups. Group 1 consisted of 5 ponies (1-5) given 0.6 g of tryptophan/kg of body weight in a water slurry via stomach tube. Group 2 included 4 ponies (6-9) given 0.35 g of tryptophan/kg orally. Group-3 ponies (10-13) were given 0.35 g of indoleacetic acid/kg orally. Group 4 consisted of 3 ponies (14-16) given a single 4-hour IV infusion of 0.1 g of tryptophan/kg. Restlessness, ...
Byars TD, Becht JL.The historical, clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of pleuropneumonia are reviewed with emphasis placed on aggressive treatment and ultrasound diagnosis. The common sequelae are described, and appropriate treatment recommendations are included. A favorable prognosis may be expected for horses receiving long-term treatment.
Hinchcliff KW, Byrne BA.Aspects of a detailed examination of the respiratory system of the horse with suspected respiratory system disease are described. This review includes discussions of the terminology of signs associated with respiratory system disease; radiographic examination of the upper and lower airways and thorax; nuclear scintigraphy; percutaneous and endoscopic tracheal aspiration; bronchoalveolar lavage; electromyography; blood gas analysis; and pleuroscopy and pleural fluid examination.
Dean PW.Abnormalities of the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, and trachea result in respiratory noise and exercise intolerance. Clinical features of common upper respiratory conditions of performance horses are reviewed with emphasis on diagnosis, treatment, and risk factors that affect the outcome of surgical treatment.
Sweeney CR, Maxson AD, Soma LR.The frequency of upper respiratory tract abnormalities was determined in a selected population of racing Thoroughbreds. The prevalence of pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia was 34.2%; left laryngeal hemiplegia was 1.8%; and epiglottic entrapment was 0.74%. Excluding pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia and tracheal exudate, 3.7% of the population examined had upper respiratory tract abnormalities.
Carrigan M, Cosgrove P, Kirkland P, Sabine M.Thirty-three of the 44 mares on a Thoroughbred stud in New South Wales aborted or lost foals within one day of birth. Gross pathological and histological changes were in keeping with Equid herpesvirus I (EHV-1) abortion. In the six foals that underwent virological examination, EHV was isolated and typed as EHV-1 by restriction endonuclease analysis. EHV-1 abortion had not occurred previously on this stud and the source of the infection was not identified.
Jann H, Henry G, Berry A, Cash L.Twenty cadaver limbs of adult horses were examined by arthrographic examination of the distal interphalangeal joint. The joint capsule and space is described. Comparison is made with existing descriptions.
Kimman TG, Binkhorst GJ, van den Ingh TS, Pol JM, Gielkens AL, Roelvink ME.Aujeszky's disease virus was isolated from the brain of a horse which had shown severe neurological signs, including excessive sweating, muscle tremors and periods of mania. Pathological examination revealed a non-suppurative meningoencephalitis. The virus was propagated in cell culture and inoculated into the conjunctiva and nostrils of two ponies. The ponies developed fever seven days after inoculation and subsequently started to behave abnormally, showing severe neurological signs on the ninth day after inoculation. One pony became excited and the other was depressed. One pony died on the n...
Rooney JR.Sacroiliac arthrosis is a major cause of "hiking" lameness (often, so-called "stifle lameness") in Standardbred horses. The cause of this arthrosis is found in the moment forces generated as horses negotiate unbanked and underbanked turns and in the forces generated on cambered racing surfaces. The prediction is that such lameness could be virtually eliminated if racetrack and training track turns were properly banked and camber held to a minimum.
Vanderperren K, Martens A, Haers H, Duchateau L, Saunders JH.Arthroscopy of the fetlock joints is a routine surgical procedure in the horse. It is unclear how much of the articular surface of the condyles of the metacarpal (MCIII)/metatarsal (MTIII) bone can be visualised using either the dorsal or palmar/plantar arthroscopic approach. Objective: To investigate which part of the articular surface of the MCIII/MTIII condyles of the fetlock joints can be evaluated arthroscopically using: 1) dorsal approach in combination with flexion; 2) standard palmar/plantar approach; or 3) additional portal at the base of the sesamoid bone with joint extension. Method...
Andrews FM, Hamlin RL, Stalnaker PS.Whole blood viscosity (WBV) was measured on six healthy horses and ten horses presented for colic surgery. A Wells-Brookfield cone-and-plate microviscometer at 6 rpm was used to determine WBV and WBV was adjusted for packed cell volume (PCV). The ten colic horses were divided into two groups: five horses that died or were euthanatized (group 1) and five horses that were discharged after surgery and medical therapy (group 2). The mean WBV for each group was compared using analysis of variance followed by Duncan multiple-range tests. Mean WBV of group 2 (5.81 +/- 1.48 centipoise [cp]) and normal...
Van Hoogmoed LM, Agnew DW, Whitcomb M, Hyde DW, MacDonald MH, Snyder JR.To describe the ultrasonographic and quantitative histologic effect of injecting 2% iodine in almond oil (IAO) and ethanolamine oleate (EO) in the medial and middle patellar ligaments of horses and to determine whether a difference in response exists between IAO and EO treatment. Methods: 10 healthy horses. Methods: In 5 horses, the medial and middle patellar ligaments of 1 limb were injected with EO, whereas IAO was injected in the medial and middle patellar ligaments of another 5 horses. Ultrasonographic evaluation was performed on the experimental and control limb before injection of IAO an...
Back W, Barneveld A, van Weeren PR, van den Bogert AJ.Gait analysis plays a major role in the clinical evaluation of equine lameness. It is generally accepted that the clinician expresses the grade of lameness as a subjective score. In this study lameness was objectively assessed using a standardized transient lameness model, in which lameness was induced by intra-articular injection of bacterial endotoxin into the radiocarpal joint of ponies. Lameness was scored by an experienced clinician, and locomotion was recorded simultaneously using a CODA-3 apparatus. The obtained kinematic gait parameters correlated well with the clinical lameness score ...
BMC research notesNovember 8, 2012
Volume 5 626 doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-5-626
Boudko SP, Ishikawa Y, Lerch TF, Nix J, Chapman MS, Bächinger HP.Hyperelastosis cutis is an inherited autosomal recessive connective tissue disorder. Affected horses are characterized by hyperextensible skin, scarring, and severe lesions along the back. The disorder is caused by a mutation in cyclophilin B. Results: The crystal structures of both wild-type and mutated (Gly6->Arg) horse cyclophilin B are presented. The mutation neither affects the overall fold of the enzyme nor impairs the catalytic site structure. Instead, it locally rearranges the flexible N-terminal end of the polypeptide chain and also makes it more rigid. Conclusions: Interactions of th...
Moore RM, Muir WW, Cawrse M, Bertone AL, Beard WL.Twenty-four horses were randomly allocated to 3 groups. Horses were anesthetized, subjected to a ventral midline celiotomy, and the large colon was exteriorized and instrumented. Group-1 horses served as sham-operated controls. Group-2 horses were subjected to 6 hours of low-flow colonic arterial ischemia, and group-3 horses were subjected to 3 hours of ischemia and 3 hours of reperfusion. Baseline (BL) samples were collected, then low-flow ischemia was induced by reducing ventral colonic arterial blood flow to 20% of BL. All horses were monitored for 6 hours after BL data were collected. Bloo...
Nixon AJ.An arthroscopic technique for examination and surgical treatment of conditions of the shoulder joint was evaluated in eight normal horses and two horses with osteochondrosis lesions. A single arthroscope entry point caudal to the infraspinatus tendon allowed inspection of the cranial, lateral, and caudal surfaces of the shoulder joint. With the humeral head and glenoid cavity distracted by a curved forceps, the entire cartilage surface of the shoulder could be examined. The caudomedial portion of the humeral head was seen better with a 70 degree angled arthroscope. Instruments for intra-articu...
Luethy D, Colmer S, Jodzio D, Bender S, Porter E, Hemmen Z, Fultz L, Craft W, Walker R, Johnson A, Holbrook T.Ultrasound-guided cervical centesis has gained popularity as a method for collecting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from standing horses. There are anecdotal reports of neck stiffness, regional swelling, sensitivity to palpation, and fever after the procedure. We report 2 horses with complications that occurred within days of C1-C2 centesis and ultimately resulted in euthanasia. Both C1-C2 centesis were performed routinely, with CSF cytologic analysis providing no evidence of blood contamination. Post-mortem examination revealed equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy as the primary disorder causin...
Kirisawa R, Hosoi Y, Yamaya R, Taniyama H, Okamoto M, Tsunoda N, Hagiwara K, Iwai H.We isolated a variant equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), strain 5089, from the lung of a dead neonatal foal in Japan and characterized the biological nature of the virus. The virus spread in cultured cells mainly by cell-to-cell infection, unlike wild-type EHV-1, which spreads efficiently as a cell-free virus. The virus titer in cultured supernatant and the intracellular virus titer were low compared to those of wild-type EHV-1. Heparin treatment of the virus had no effect on viral infectivity in cell culture. Glycoprotein C (gC) was not detected by Western blotting and fluorescent antibody tests i...
Hovda LR, Shaftoe S, Rose ML, Clemmons LH.A mediastinal squamous cell carcinoma and thyroid carcinoma were found in an aged horse. Clinical signs consisted of bilateral thyroid gland enlargement, chronic cough, and mild respiratory distress. The neoplasms were not treated. Squamous cell carcinoma is a common neoplasm in horses, but not in the cranial portion of the mediastinum. Thyroid carcinomas in horses are uncommon. This combination of neoplasms is rare and may have been associated with a defect in the immune system.
Zamora CS, Vitums A, Nyrop KA, Sande RD.The heart of a 6-week old Arabian filly with a history of poor health and exercise intolerance revealed at postmortem examination, multiple cardiac malformations which included atresia of the right atrioventricular orifice (tricuspid atresia, with associated atrial and ventricular septal defects), complete transposition of the great arteries, anomalous drainage of the venae cavae and coronary sinus into the left atrium, coarctation of the aorta, and a small but patent ductus arteriosus. The course of blood through the heart was suggested and discussed.
Teifke JP.From 932 equine skin lesions 421 were diagnosed as sarcoids (about 45%). The most common locations were the ventral body regions, head, neck and sites of thin skin. Most often the fibroblastic type, less frequently the mixed type and most infrequent the verrucous type of sarcoid were diagnosed. Detection of BPV-DNA was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using an oligonucleotide primer pair located in the E5-open reading frame. DNA of BPV 1 and BPV 2 could be differentiated by digestion with restriction endonucleases. In 97 out of 108 sarcoids BPV-DNA was detected by PCR. Most samples...
Moore PF, Hacker DV, Buyukmihci NC.Angiosarcomas arising in ocular tissues of four aging horses are described. Tumors were locally invasive and eventually metastasized via the mandibular and cervical lymph nodes. Pathologically, the tumors contained well-differentiated regions, in which vascular channels were lined by pleomorphic endothelial cells, as well as poorly-differentiated regions, in which vascular channels were either rudimentary or absent. Red blood cells were scare in vascular structures formed by the tumors. Factor VIII related antigen (VIII:RAg), a blood vascular endothelial marker, was demonstrated by immunohisto...
Wilson DA, Foreman JH, Boero MJ, Didier PJ, Lerner DJ.A large granulosa cell tumor was believed to be responsible for causing obstruction and subsequent rupture of the small colon in a 10-year-old Quarter Horse mare. Two months earlier, a mass, tentatively diagnosed as granulosa cell tumor of the left ovary, had been identified by means of rectal palpation and ultrasonography. The mare was evaluated for clinical signs of acute, severe, abdominal pain, increased heart rate, cyanotic mucous membranes, clinical dehydration, with high PCV, leukopenia, and extreme abdominal distension. A large soft tissue mass and taut band that constricted the lumen ...
Gonzales-Viera O, Fritz H, Mete A.A 7-month-old female mixed breed foal with a 2-day history of recumbency and inability to open its mouth convulsed acutely and died and was submitted for necropsy examination. The foal was thin and large patches of haemorrhage were present throughout the peritoneal wall, the diaphragmatic surfaces and the retroperitoneum. Numerous nematode larvae were visible on the serosal surfaces and penetrated and embedded into the subserosa associated with the haemorrhages. The dorsal portion of the abdominal diaphragm had a partial tear and large numbers of nematodes were within the muscle fibres. Histol...
Muylle S, Simoens P, Lauwers H.The distribution of intratubular (peritubular) dentine was studied by scanning electron microscopy in 12 equine incisor teeth. High levels of intratubular dentine were found in the peripheral regions of the dentine. In these areas, a marked asymmetry occurred, as intratubular dentine was predominantly deposited onto the side of the dentinal tubular walls nearest to the dentino-enamel junction. The quantity and asymmetry of intratubular dentine were reduced towards the centre of the tooth. The significance of these variations in the amount and distribution of intratubular dentine between the di...
Drudge JH, Lyons ET, Tolliver SC.Critical tests were completed on foals (n = 15) naturally infected with benzimidazole (BZ)-resistant population-B strongyles during the period between 1981 and 1987. Thiabendazole at a dosage of 44 mg/kg was tested in 8 foals, oxfendazole at 10 mg/kg was tested in 4 foals, and phenothiazine at 55 mg/kg, cambendazole at 20 mg/kg, and fenbendazole at 5 mg/kg were tested in 1 foal each. Efficacies of thiabendazole, cambendazole, and fenbendazole against the 5 species of BZ-resistant small strongyles (Cyathostomum catinatum, Cyathostomum coronatum, Cylicocylus nassatus, Cylicostephanus goldi, and ...
Conrado FO, Iapoce N, Batista-Linhares M, Lopez S, Matthews MH, McKinney CA, Rothacker C.An 18-year-old, grey, Thoroughbred Cross gelding was referred to the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University following a 3-week history of low-grade fever of unknown origin, distal limb swelling, and weight loss. Clinical examination identified a few black, round, smooth nodules along the ventral aspect of the proximal tail. Transabdominal ultrasound showed a markedly enlarged heterogenous spleen, hyperechoic liver nodules, and evidence of peritonitis with fibrin deposition. A mature neutrophilia was noted on complete blood count with variable numbers of phagocytized granule...
Robinson NE, Scott JB, Dabney JM, Jones GA.Digital vascular pressures, blood flow, and vascular resistances were measured in 11 control ponies and in 8 animals (7 ponies and 1 horse) affected with laminitis created by feeding a high starch ration. Animals with laminitis had increased digital blood flow, increased arterial, small vein, and large vein pressures, and decreased vascular resistances. Comparison of digital lymph flow rates and protein concentrations in animals with laminitis and control animals revealed no differences. Digital vascular responses of the 2 groups to acetylcholine, epinephrine, histamine, or serotonin also did ...
Crişan MI, Damian A, Gal A, Miclăuş V, Cernea CL, Denoix JM.The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed description of the vascular changes in the distal part of deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT). Eight isolated forelimbs were collected from 8 horses with DDF tendinopathy diagnosed post-mortem by ultrasound and gross anatomopathological examination. The samples were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, softened in 4% phenol and dehydrated with ethylic alcohol. Goldner's Trichrome staining method was used. The histopathological examination revealed vascular proliferation associated with structural disorders of blood vessels. Angiogenesis, fib...
Derksen FJ, Scott JS, Slocombe RF, Robinson NE.We assessed the effect of aerosol Micropolyspora faeni challenge in two groups of ponies by measuring lung function, airway reactivity to aerosol histamine, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology. One group of ponies was sensitized by subcutaneous injection of M. faeni in complete Freund's adjuvant, and the other group served as control. In both groups of ponies, measurements were made at base line and 5 h after aerosol administration of 30 ml of saline or 30 ml of 1% wt/vol particulate M. faeni antigen in saline. Saline challenge had no effect on any of the measured variables. M. faeni cha...
Swadzba ME, Hauck SM, Naim HY, Amann B, Deeg CA.Complete knowledge of autoantigen spectra is crucial for understanding pathomechanisms of autoimmune diseases like equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), a spontaneous model for human autoimmune uveitis. While several ERU autoantigens were identified previously, no membrane protein was found so far. As there is a great overlap between glycoproteins and membrane proteins, the aim of this study was to test whether pre-enrichment of retinal glycoproteins by ConA affinity is an effective tool to detect autoantigen candidates among membrane proteins. In 1D Western blots, the glycoprotein preparation allow...
Thompson DB, Studdert MJ, Beilharz RG, Littlejohns IR.A fatal syndrome of certain Arabian foals which begins at about 25 days of age (range 14 to 46 days) and which runs a course of about 23 days (range 13 to 42 days) is described. The syndrome, which affected 17 foals on a single farm is further characterised by pneumonia, in some instances by dermatitis (dermatophilosis) and other infections, together with a progressive decline in health till death at about 49 days of age (range 34 to 77 days), despite intensive therapy. Four of the foals, on histopathological evidence, had adenviral pneumonia, in 2 foals there was histopathological evidence of...
Carlson N, Eastman T, Winfield L.This study evaluated outcomes of surgical treatment of equine sialolithiasis, highlighting cases involving the proximal parotid salivary duct. Sialoliths in the proximal parotid duct were difficult to identify radiographically and more frequently associated with draining tracts and sialadenitis compared with sialoliths in the distal parotid duct. Ultrasonography confirmed the diagnosis of sialolithiasis in all cases in which there was no radiographic evidence of a sialolith. All cases of proximal parotid duct sialolithiasis required transcutaneous removal. A longer duration of illness was obse...
Geiser DR, Walker RD.The pathophysiology and histopathology of thermal burns in large animals is very similar to that in humans. Burns are classified as first degree, superficial and deep second degree, third degree, and fourth degree, depending upon the depth of thermal injury. Most severe burns will produce a local and a systemic response--both of which must be properly treated to increase the patient's chances for survival. The systemic response is mainly characterized by hypovolemia, fluid and electrolyte loss, protein loss, pulmonary edema, increased caloric requirements, and depressed immune responses. The l...
Tucker ML, Wilson DG, Bergstrom DJ, Carmalt JL.Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has proven useful in the planning of upper airway surgery in humans, where it is used to anticipate the influence of the surgical procedures on post-operative airflow. This technology has only been reported twice in an equine model, with a limited scope of airflow mechanics situations examined. The reported study sought to widen this application to the variety of procedures used to treat equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN). The first objective of this study was to generate a CFD model of an box model of ten different equine larynges replicating RLN a...
Lindsay DS, Dykstra CC, Williams A, Spencer JA, Lenz SD, Palma K, Dubey JP, Blagburn BL.Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a neurologic syndrome in horses from the Americas and is usually caused by infection with the apicomplexan parasite, Sarcocystis neurona. A horse model of EPM is needed to test the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents and potential vaccines. Five horses that were negative for antibodies to S. neurona in their serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were injected in the subarachnoid space with living merozoites of the SN2 isolate of S. neurona. None of the horses developed clinical disease or died over a 132-day observation period. All five horses develope...
Vera L, Muylle S, Van Steenkiste G, Segers P, Decloedt A, Chiers K, van Loon G.Arterial rupture is a well-recognized cause of sudden death in horses, which mainly affects older horses. The arterial wall is known to stiffen with age, although the underlying age-related histological and biomechanical changes remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aging by histological analysis of the arterial wall and examination of the arterial wall biomechanical properties using an inflation-extension test. Entire circular samples of the proximal and distal aorta, cranial and caudal common carotid, external iliac, femoral and median artery were collect...
Seide RK, Jacobs RM, Dobblestein TN, Kehoe JM.A novel myeloma paraprotein has been isolated from a horse with a lymphoid tumor. The protein was a euglobulin and consequently was readily isolated from serum in pure form and high yield by simple dilution in distilled water. The purified intact protein had a molecular weight of 150,000 and was composed of heavy and light chains, both of which had blocked amino-termini and were thus not susceptible to amino-terminal sequence analysis. The amino acid compositions of these respective chains corresponded to those of comparable chains from immunoglobulins of other species. Peptide maps of parapro...