Post mortem examination in horses involves the systematic investigation of a deceased horse to determine the cause of death and evaluate any underlying health conditions. This process, also known as necropsy, is conducted by veterinary pathologists and involves a thorough external and internal examination of the horse's body. During a post mortem, tissues and organs are inspected for abnormalities, and samples may be collected for further histopathological, microbiological, or toxicological analysis. The findings from a post mortem can provide valuable insights into disease processes, inform management practices, and contribute to broader veterinary research. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore methodologies, findings, and implications of post mortem examinations in equine veterinary practice.
Verdegaal EJ, Kroeze EJ, Dik KJ, van Oijen LA, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.A 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare was presented with a history of abnormal behaviour and acute facial nerve paralysis on the left side. Clinical examination revealed a slight head tilt and a corneal ulcer of the left eye. The base of the left ear was warm and painful. Endoscopic examination of the left guttural pouch showed thickening of the proximal part of the stylohyoid bone. Computer tomography revealed a left-sided prominent bony enlargement of the middle and proximal part of the stylohyoid bone and the tympanic bulla, fusion of the temporrhoid joint, and osseous proliferation of the pars...
Muirhead T, McClure JT, Bourque A, Pack L.A lesion in the cervical region of a 14-month-old Belgian gelding with severe ataxia was suspected. Necropsy revealed symmetric focal cartilage defects compatible with osteochondrosis of the occipital condyles and atlanto-occipital dysplasia. To our knowledge this is the first equine report of symmetrical osteochondrosis of the occipital condyles causing neurologic signs.
Monreal L, Sabaté D, Segura D, Mayós I, Homedes J.The objective was to compare the gastrointestinal and general toxicity of suxibuzone (SBZ) to that of phenylbutazone (PBZ) when administered orally in horses. Fifteen healthy horses were allocated to three treatment groups. One group received a high dose of PBZ for two weeks; the second group was given an equimolecular dosage of SBZ; and a third group received placebo. Horses were daily monitored, and blood samples were collected before and during the study. On day 18, complete post-mortem examinations were performed. One horse treated with PBZ showed clinical signs of NSAID toxicosis. Small o...
Pusterla N, Pesavento PA, Smith P, Durando MM, Magdesian KG, Wilson WD.The history, clinical signs and pathological findings in seven adult horses with histologically confirmed idiopathic granulomatous disease, primarily of the lungs, are reviewed. They ranged in age from eight to 21 years, five were geldings and two were females, they belonged to five breeds and there were no seasonal or geographical associations. The primary clinical signs were chronic weight loss, exercise intolerance and respiratory distress which did not respond to conventional treatment. The most consistent physical findings were depression, anorexia, tachycardia, tachypnoea and adventitiou...
Choi YK, Kang MS, Yoo HS, Lee DY, Lee HC, Kim DY.Acute hemorrhagic myonecrosis accompanied by severe inter- and intrafascicular edema and hemorrhage of the right gluteal area was diagnosed in a 13-year-old male thoroughbred horse. Once the muscular and fascicular changes were subsided, the horse then developed acute respiratory problem. Histologically, the lung had diffuse severe hemorrhage with mild neutrophilic infiltration. The cause of death was acute respiratory failure that is believed to occur secondary to toxaemic event. Alpha and beta2 toxin secreting Clostiridum perfringens type A was isolated from the muscle and lung. The diagnosi...
Davis JL, Blikslager AT, Catto K, Jones SL.The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that horses with proximal enteritis (PE) are predisposed to hepatic injury. We also determined whether the presence of liver injury in horses with PE was associated with other clinicopathologic abnormalities or affected outcome. The medical records of all horses admitted for evaluation of colic and gastric reflux between 1984 and 2002 were reviewed. Horses were considered to have PE if the diagnosis was made at surgery or postmortem examination or if they had clinical findings consistent with PE. Horses with a small intestinal strangulating ...
Berg LC, Nielsen JV, Thoefner MB, Thomsen PD.In equine patients, the cause of clinical signs possibly related to the cervical region is often difficult to diagnose. Ultrasonography allows quick and noninvasive visualisation, but reference material of the normal equine neck is needed. Objective: To describe and document the normal ultrasonographic appearance of transverse scans in the cervical region with emphasis on the synovial articular facet joints, cervical vertebrae and paravertebral structures; and further, to provide images of frozen cross-sections for anatomical reference. Methods: A study describing the normal ultrasonographic a...
McKlveen TL, Jones JC, Sponenberg DP, Scarratt K, Ward DL, Aardema CH.To describe the anatomic features of the pituitary gland region in horses via computed tomography (CT) and determine the accuracy of CT for estimating normal equine pituitary gland dimensions. Methods: 25 adult horses with no clinical signs of pituitary disease. Methods: Transverse CT images and gross transverse tissue sections were compared in 2 horses. Contrast-enhanced CT of the pituitary gland region was performed postmortem in 23 horses with 4 slice thickness and interval settings (10-mm contiguous or overlapping slices and 4-mm contiguous or overlapping slices). Gross and CT estimates of...
de Blaauw JA, Rijkenhuizen AB, van Nieuwstadt RA, Grinwis GC, Back W.Two grey mares, a 12-year-old Arabian and a 13-year-old Lippizaner cross, were referred for chronic pelvic limb lameness and abduction of the limb during the non supporting phase of the stride. The clinical examination revealed melanomas under the tail and on the perineum, and oedema of the proximal lame limb. A mass in the pelvic area was detected on rectal palpation. Laparoscopy was performed and the provisional diagnosis of malignant melanoma was made. Histological examination of the biopsy taken under laparoscopic control from the mass in the pelvis confirmed the diagnosis of malignant mel...
Weijs W, Dingboom E, van Ginkel F.The contribution to total variance of different error sources in fibre type counts of equine gluteus medius muscle biopsies was determined to quantify and possibly improve the resolution of the method. Fibre types were defined on the basis of myosin heavy chain immunostaining. Errors were determined at levels: (1) positioning the insertion channel, (2) positioning the needle tip (3) biopsy heterogeneity (4) observer interpretation. Errors at levels 1 and 2 were considerable. Confidence intervals for individual observations were +/- 10-15%. In longitudinal studies a group size of 4 animals is n...
Welland LM.A 6-year-old, primiparous standardbred mare was presented with a history of intestinal protrusion from the rectum shortly after parturition. A subacute grade IV rectal tear was diagnosed. The unusual nature of the tear led to speculation of a possible owner palpation accident. A grave prognosis was given and the mare was euthanized.
Buote M.A 2-month-old foal was presented with clinical signs of colic. Gastroduodenal ulceration was suspected. A poor response to medical treatment and signs of gastroduodenal obstruction led to celiotomy and an attempted bypass procedure. The foal was euthanized and postmortem examination revealed gastric ulceration, segmental duodenal stenosis, and severe chronic cholangiohepatitis and pancreatitis.
Kempson SA, Davidson ME, Dacre IT.Two hand rasps (tungsten chip blade, solid carbide blade) and an electrically-driven solid carbide axial bur were used to treat the cheek teeth of 2 horses immediately postmortem. All teeth were normal and were rasped to a standard considered satisfactory in practice. Six teeth from each horse served as untreated controls. Following treatment, the teeth were extracted and the clinical crown removed and prepared for scanning electron microscopy. Teeth were also extracted and examined from a horse that had excessive dental treatment previously. Dental debris created by the procedures was collect...
Porter MB, Long MT, Getman LM, Giguère S, MacKay RJ, Lester GD, Alleman AR, Wamsley HL, Franklin RP, Jacks S, Buergelt CD, Detrisac CJ.To determine signalment, clinical findings, results of diagnostic testing, outcome, and postmortem findings in horses with West Nile virus (WNV) encephalomyelitis. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 46 horses with WNV encephalomyelitis. Methods: Clinical data were extracted from medical records of affected horses. Results: On the basis of clinical signs and results of serologic testing, WNV encephalomyelitis was diagnosed in 46 of 56 horses with CNS signs. Significantly more males than females were affected. Increased rectal temperature, weakness or ataxia, and muscle fasciculations were t...
Peters M, Graf G, Pohlenz J.A 14-year-old standardbred mare with clinically suspected acute bronchitis was killed because of rapidly progressing central nervous disturbances. Necropsy revealed systemic granulomatous inflammation and vasculitis involving the lungs, thoracic lymph nodes, ribs, and liver. In the cerebrum there was a severe subacute bilateral encephalitis and malacia predominately affecting the white matter, and vasculitis with perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes, macrophages, and giant cells. A causative infectious agent could not be detected by Ziehl-Neelsen, Grocott, or Giemsa stains, by periodic aci...
Patterson-Kane JC, Caplazi P, Rurangirwa F, Tramontin RR, Wolfsdorf K.Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microsporidial parasite, which has rarely been reported to cause placentitis in animals. A late-term aborted fetus and placenta from a Quarterhorse were presented to the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center, University of Kentucky, for diagnostic examination. There was a necrotizing placentitis, with distension of many chorionic epithelial cells by intracytoplasmic vacuoles containing 1-2-microm-diameter, elongated, gram-positive organisms. The organisms were identified as E. cuniculi by electron microscopy and by polymerase chain reaction using primers to microspo...
Frye MA, Bright JM, Dargatz DA, Fettman MJ, Frisbie DD, Baker DC, Traub-Dargatz JL.This study was done to determine whether administration of dobutamine would produce echocardiographic and electrocardiographic alterations comparable to those induced by treadmill exercise in healthy horses. Fourteen horses received maximal treadmill exercise and, separately, intravenous dobutamine infusion up to a maximum rate of 50 microg/kg/min. Ten of the 14 horses were euthanized, and the myocardial tissues were examined grossly and histopathologically. No significant differences were found in the chronotropic effects of dobutamine and exercise (P = .905). Dobutamine induced greater inter...
Schambourg MA, Laverty S, Mullim S, Fogarty UM, Halley J.Thoracic trauma occurs in newborn foals and may cause associated clinical signs; this condition remains poorly documented. Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the pathological features of thoracic trauma in newborn foals presented for necropsy examination between 1990 and 2000. Methods: Necropsy reports of foals with thoracic trauma from 1990-2000 were reviewed. Subject details, clinical signs, thoracic and abdominal lesions were noted and analysed statistically. Results: Sixty-seven (9%) of 760 necropsied foals had thoracic trauma. In 19 foals, fractured ribs were considered ...
van de Lest CH, Brama PA, van Weeren PR.This study aimed at the determination of the influence of exercise on the levels of a number of bone morphogenic enzymes in subchondral bone and at the comparison of these data with other (subchondral) bone-related parameters that have been investigated in the same experimental population.Forty-three foals were reared until weaning at 5 months of age under similar conditions, except for the type and amount of exercise. Fifteen foals remained at pasture (Pasture group and also control group), 14 foals were kept in box stalls (Box group) and 14 foals were kept in the same box stalls but were sub...
Taouji S, Collobert C, Gicquel B, Sailleau C, Brisseau N, Moussu C, Breuil MF, Pronost S, Borchers K, Zientara S.Equine herpesviruses type 1 and 4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4) are ubiquitous in the equine population. One of their main properties is their ability to establish life-long latent infections in their hosts even in those with natural or vaccine-induced immunity. However, effect of vaccination status on prevalence and tissue tropism was not established. In this study, EHV-1 and EHV-4 were detected by polymerase chain reaction and by classical virus isolation from neural, epithelial and lymphoid tissues collected from unvaccinated (33) or vaccinated (23) horses. The percentage of EHV-1- and EHV-4-positive h...
Collobert-Laugier C, Hoste H, Sevin C, Dorchies P.Forty-two horses from Normandy (France) were examined post-mortem for small strongyle infections from October to March. In the positive horses, total worm numbers ranged from 234 to 90,247 (mean 11,297). Encysted larvae represented the major part of the total cyathostome burdens with a high percentage (83%) being early third stage larvae. They were mostly recovered from the caecum (48%) and ventral colon (40%) and were less present in the dorsal colon (12%). Adult cyathostomes were mainly located in the ventral colon (64%) and less frequently in the dorsal colon (27%) and caecum (9%). Twenty s...
Maleski K, Magdesian KG, LaFranco-Scheuch L, Pappagianis D, Carlson GP.A 13-day-old foal with profound tachypnoea and respiratory distress was examined. Thoracic radiographs revealed a severe, diffuse miliary pattern, and the foal was markedly hypoxaemic. It failed to improve with empirical treatment, and was euthanased. Lesions associated with Coccidioides immitis infection were identified at postmortem examination, and were limited to the lower respiratory tract.
Daft BM, Barr BC, Gardner IA, Read D, Bell W, Peyser KG, Ardans A, Kinde H, Morrow JK.To determine sensitivity and specificity of western blot testing (WBT) of CSF and serum for diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) in horses with and without neurologic abnormalities. Methods: Prospective investigation. Methods: 65 horses with and 169 horses without neurologic abnormalities. Methods: CSF and serum from horses submitted for necropsy were tested for Sarcocystis neurona-specific antibody with a WBT. Results of postmortem examination were used as the gold standard against which results of the WBT were compared. Results: Sensitivity of WBT of CSF was 87% for horses w...
Proudman CJ, Smith JE, Edwards GB, French NP.Postoperative complications and mortality can occur many weeks or months after colic surgery. We are interested in the long-term outcome of these cases. This study documents patterns of mortality and morbidity among 341 horses that recovered from colic surgery March 1998-August 2000. The progress of each horse was rigorously followed by periodic telephone and postal questionnaires. Event time data were recorded for each animal and a total of 321 horse years of survival, together with death from all causes, colic-related death and various postoperative complications. Postoperative survival (of ...
Patterson-Kane JC, Harrison LR.A 5-month-old male Thoroughbred foal with a history of chronic septic arthritis of the tibiotarsal joint and recent respiratory distress was euthanized and a postmortem examination performed. A giant diverticulum communicating with the lateral aspect of the right atrial cavity of the heart was observed. Histologically, the wall was comprised of myocardial tissue containing cavernous vascular spaces. There was gross and histologic evidence of right-sided heart failure. Congenital right atrial diverticula are rare anomalies in humans and have not previously been reported in foals.
Spiro I.A 16-hour-old foal was referred for evaluation of hematuria. A pansystolic heart murmur and left thoracic thrill were detected; laboratory diagnostics and ultrasonography identified a complex congenital heart defect. The diagnosis was confirmed at postmortem.
Smith GW, Constable PD, Foreman JH, Eppley RM, Waggoner AL, Tumbleson ME, Haschek WM.To determine whether cardiovascular dysfunction is evident in horses with leukoencephalomalacia experimentally induced by administration of fumonisin B1. Methods: 11 healthy horses of various breeds (body weight, 252 to 367 kg). Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to 3 groups and administered fumonisin B1 daily. Horses received IV injections of 0 (control horses; n = 4), 0.01 (3), or 0.20 mg (4) of fumonisin B1/kg for 7 to 28 days. Horses were examined daily for evidence of neurologic disease. When neurologic signs consistent with leukoencephalomalacia were evident, horses were anesthetized...
Stierstorfer B, Eichhorn W, Schmahl W, Brandmüller C, Kaaden OR, Neubauer A.An outbreak of neurological disease occurred in a well-managed riding school. Ataxia and paresis were observed in several horses, five of which became recumbent and were euthanized. Post-mortem analysis revealed scattered haemorrhages along the spinal cord, that were reflected by multiple haemorrhagic foci on formalin-fixed sections, with the thoracic and lumbar segments being the most affected. Pathohistologically, perivascular mononuclear cuffing and axonal swelling, especially in the white matter, were evident. Parallel to the course of disease, alterations in myelin sheets and activation o...
Larsdotter S, Ley C, Pringle J.An 8-month-old Arabian-warmblood cross colt was evaluated for overt hematuria. The horse was severely anemic on presentation. A unilateral intrarenal vascular anomaly with unilateral pyelonephritis was diagnosed. Nephrectomy was attempted but was unsuccessful, and postmortem examination demonstrated the presence of an intrarenal pseudoaneurysm. Un poulain arabe de race croisée âgé de 8 mois a été évalué pour une hématurie patente. Le cheval était gravement anémique à la présentation. Une anomalie vasculaire unilatérale intrarénale avec une pyélonéphrite unilatérale a été di...
Silva SR, Payan-Carreira R, Guedes CM, Coelho S, Santos AS.Obesity and emaciation in horses have major detrimental effects on health and morbidity, reproductive failure, work performance or carcass quality. Scoring is a current management tool used to assess and monitor equine body condition due to its simplicity and low cost. However, accurate assessment of obesity remains a challenge, even though a number of approaches have been tested, particularly for research purposes on adiposity. Their merit is usually validated by comparison with standard scoring methods. The overall aim of this study was to establish the correlation between post-mortem nape f...
Weijs W, Dingboom E, van Ginkel F.The contribution to total variance of different error sources in fibre type counts of equine gluteus medius muscle biopsies was determined to quantify and possibly improve the resolution of the method. Fibre types were defined on the basis of myosin heavy chain immunostaining. Errors were determined at levels: (1) positioning the insertion channel, (2) positioning the needle tip (3) biopsy heterogeneity (4) observer interpretation. Errors at levels 1 and 2 were considerable. Confidence intervals for individual observations were +/- 10-15%. In longitudinal studies a group size of 4 animals is n...
Bengtsdotter EA, Ekman S, Andersen PH.Inguinal pain, unexplained hind limb lameness, back pain or behavioural problems in geldings could be attributable to painful neuromas that develop as a consequence of crushing and severing the testicular nerves during castration. The presence of neuroma in this anatomical location has never been reported, hence the knowledge of possible clinical relevance is limited. The aim of this study was to histologically investigate the testicular nerves at the castration site in geldings for the presence of neuromas. Proximal spermatic cord remnants were collected from 20 geldings admitted to routine p...
Yarbrough TB, Langer DL, Snyder JR, Gardner IA, O'Brien TR.Medical records of 245 horses that had been evaluated by use of abdominal radiography between January 1990 and December 1992 were reviewed. One hundred forty-one horses subsequently had a postmortem examination or surgical exploration performed for definitive lesion diagnosis. The signalment, diagnosis, site, and number of enteroliths were obtained from the medical records. Radiographs were evaluated individually by 3 reviewers for the presence of enteroliths, preferred diagnostic view, evidence of large colon tympany, and film quality. Of the 141 cases reviewed, 66.7% (94/141) had confirmed e...
Fuerst AE, Oswald S, Jäggin S, Piskoty G, Michel S, Auer JA.The objective of this postmortem study was to determine the fracture configurations of the equine radius and tibia after a simulated kick. Fracture configurations of 35 radii and 36 tibiae from 19 adult horses were evaluated after a simulated kick in an experimental ex-vivo study. The bones were dissected, the proximal and distal ends were embedded in resin, fixed horizontally and preloaded in compression, and a steel impactor, designed to simulate a shod equine hoof, was dropped from a height of three to six metres onto the diaphysis. The experiments were filmed with a high-speed camera (30,0...
Epstein KL, Parente EJ.To report a laparoscopic technique for insertion of polypropylene mesh in the nephrosplenic space in horses and evaluate outcome. Methods: Descriptive experimental study. Methods: Five healthy mature horses. Methods: One laparoscope and 2 instrument portals were made on the left side of the horse. The nephrosplenic space was measured and appropriately sized polypropylene mesh was inserted and attached to the dorsolateral splenic capsule and perirenal fascia using helical titanium coils. All horses had repeat laparoscopy 4 weeks later and were necropsied at intervals 4-14 weeks after mesh place...
Du Toit N, Gallagher J, Burden FA, Dixon PM.Dental disorders have recently been recognised as having major clinical and welfare implications in donkeys. However, no investigation appears to have examined the association of dental disorders with managemental factors and any intercurrent illness. Objective: To determine the association of dental disorders observed in a post mortem study with age group, body condition score, time since last dental treatment, feeding and the illness that necessitated euthanasia or caused death. Methods: A prospective study documented the type and prevalence of dental disorders in 349 mainly aged donkeys (me...
Frye MA, Bright JM, Dargatz DA, Fettman MJ, Frisbie DD, Baker DC, Traub-Dargatz JL.This study was done to determine whether administration of dobutamine would produce echocardiographic and electrocardiographic alterations comparable to those induced by treadmill exercise in healthy horses. Fourteen horses received maximal treadmill exercise and, separately, intravenous dobutamine infusion up to a maximum rate of 50 microg/kg/min. Ten of the 14 horses were euthanized, and the myocardial tissues were examined grossly and histopathologically. No significant differences were found in the chronotropic effects of dobutamine and exercise (P = .905). Dobutamine induced greater inter...
Archer RM, Knight CG, Bishop WJ.Six horses from several geographical locations in New Zealand presented with signs of guttural pouch mycosis. All horses had experienced epistaxis within 14 days of presentation. Results: In five horses with epistaxis, a diagnosis of guttural pouch mycosis was made on endoscopic observation of fungal plaques in the affected guttural pouches. One of these cases died before surgery was attempted. The remaining four cases underwent ligation and balloon catheter occlusion of the internal carotid artery of the affected pouch. Three of these horses survived and were reported to be healthy 1 year aft...
Quéré E, Bourzac C, Farfan M, Losada A, Volmer C, Mespoulhès-Rivière C.An 18-year-old French Trotter mare was presented to the Clinique Equine, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, for exploration of a 3-month-duration vaginal bleeding. A transrectal ultrasound examination identified a mass within the right uterine horn wall, which had been suspected during transrectal palpation. It was described as a firm heterogeneous intramural mass (7 × 12 cm) in the right uterine horn, located few centimeters cranially to the bifurcation. Hysteroscopy confirmed the ulcerated and irregular shape of the mass. A standing hand-assisted flank laparoscopy was performed to ca...
McKlveen TL, Jones JC, Sponenberg DP, Scarratt K, Ward DL, Aardema CH.To describe the anatomic features of the pituitary gland region in horses via computed tomography (CT) and determine the accuracy of CT for estimating normal equine pituitary gland dimensions. Methods: 25 adult horses with no clinical signs of pituitary disease. Methods: Transverse CT images and gross transverse tissue sections were compared in 2 horses. Contrast-enhanced CT of the pituitary gland region was performed postmortem in 23 horses with 4 slice thickness and interval settings (10-mm contiguous or overlapping slices and 4-mm contiguous or overlapping slices). Gross and CT estimates of...
de Vries C, Vanhaesebrouck E, Govaere J, Hoogewijs M, Bosseler L, Chiers K, Ducatelle R.A premature dead equine fetus with excessive fluctuating distension of the abdomen was delivered by extraction. Post-mortem examination revealed ascites and a solitary, irregular, bulging, multinodular, firm, yellow mass of 25 cm in diameter in the right liver lobe. Extensive peritoneal implantation metastases were present. The masses were composed of polygonal embryonal cells arranged in sheets and nests. Based on the immunohistochemical expression of Ki67, low molecular weight cytokeratin and alpha-1 fetoprotein, a diagnosis of hepatoblastoma with peritoneal implantation metastases was made....
Pillai VV, Mudd LJ, Sola MF.A 19-y-old American Saddlebred gelding was evaluated for epiphora of the right eye and generalized cachexia. Initial examination revealed anterior uveitis without ulceration, for which treatment was initiated. Despite the initial response to treatment, the signs progressively worsened to blindness. Histologic examination of the enucleated eye revealed granulomatous panuveitis and optic neuritis with intralesional nematode larvae identified as . Over time and despite anthelmintic treatment, blindness developed in the left eye along with neurologic signs, and the horse was euthanized. Disseminat...
Al-Mokaddem AK, Ahmed KA, Doghaim RE.Donkeys (Equus africanus asinus) are important working animals, particularly in countries where the majority of the population lives below the poverty line. Gastric ulceration has been shown to be common in British donkeys but donkeys from other parts of the world have not been as extensively researched. Objective: This study was performed as a preliminary overview of the severity and distribution of gastric lesions in mature donkeys and to document which parasites were present. Methods: Descriptive study of pathological findings. Methods: Stomachs of 35 mature draught donkeys were examined gr...
Cushing TL.A 4-year-old crossbred Quarterhorse mare was submitted to the Clemson Veterinary Diagnostic Center for necropsy examination with a chronic history of inappetence, weight loss and lethargy. Prior to death the horse had developed mild diarrhoea and began showing evidence of colic. Necropsy examination revealed a markedly enlarged heart due predominantly to marked dilation of the right atrium, tortuous congested mesenteric blood vessels, marked ascites, pleural effusion and pulmonary oedema. Further examination of the heart showed the endocardium of the left side of the heart, including the mitra...
Garrett KS, Woodie JB, Cook JL, Williams NM.A foal was examined for abnormal upper airway noise. Endoscopically, there were narrowed nasal passages and an extralumenal mass of the cranial trachea. Using ultrasonography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the larynx and cranial cervical trachea, irregular margins of the laryngeal cartilages and first tracheal ring containing areas consistent with fluid were identified. In MR images, a widened nasal septum was seen that contained material consistent with fluid. Postmortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of nasal septal, laryngeal, and cranial cervical tracheal cyst-like lesions. Th...
Dyson S, Blunden T, Murray R.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used with increasing frequency to diagnose injuries of the collateral ligaments (CLs) of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint, but the results have not been verified by histology and the mechanism of injury is poorly understood. Objective: Abnormal signal intensity and tissue contour represents change in tissue structure detected on histology. Objective: To compare results in horses free from and those with chronic lameness and to describe possible progression of lesions. Methods: One or both feet of horses free from lameness (Group N: n = 12) and with foo...
Estepa JC, Aguilera-Tejero E, Zafra R, Mayer-Valor R, Rodríguez M, Perez J.An atypical case of severe soft-tissue mineralization in a 3-week-old foal from a herd of Andalusian horses is described. The herd clinical history and the laboratory findings were compatible with a diagnosis of secondary hyperparathyroidism due to a mineral imbalance in the diet (low calcium and high phosphorus intake). Mares showed a marked increase in serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) approximately 10 times normal levels. Serum PTH was marginally elevated in foals. Clinical signs (unthriftiness, painful joints, lameness in one or more limbs, and stiff gait) were more pronounced in foals than ...
McGorum BC, Pirie RS, Shaw D, Macintyre N, Cox A.Diagnosis of equine grass sickness (EGS) can be challenging. We hypothesised that subgemmal plexus neurons are chromatolytic in EGS. If correct, histopathological examination of gustatory papillae biopsies could aid premortem diagnosis of EGS, and EGS could represent a spontaneous model of subgemmal neuronal chromatolysis to facilitate study of the pathology of structures involved in taste. Objective: To compare subgemmal plexi and gustatory papillae in EGS and control horses. Methods: Observational study. Methods: Conventional histology and immunohistochemistry were used to compare subgemmal ...
Hestvik G, Ekman S, Lindberg R.A novel case where onchocercosis was identified as a cause of cervical myelopathy in the horse is described. A 15-year-old Connemara mare was euthanized due to progressive locomotion disturbance. Postmortem examination revealed soft-tissue swelling in the intervertebral joint capsule of C6-7 with narrowing of the vertebral canal. On light microscopy, axonopathy was pronounced in the corresponding segment of the spinal cord. Fibrous tissue and eosinophilic granulomas were found in the joint capsule, together with parasites identified histologically as Onchocerca sp.
Ruby RE, Janes JG.The variety of neurologic diseases which affect horses makes pathologic examination of the nervous system a complex and lengthy process. An understanding of the common causes of neurologic disease, antemortem neurolocalization, and supplementation of the necropsy examination with ancillary testing will help to diagnose a large number of causes of neurologic disease. A general understanding of neuropathology and collaborative relationship with your local pathologists will aid in the definitive diagnosis of neurologic diseases.
Edwards GB, Kelly DF, Proudman CJ.Twenty-two horses with colic, referred to the University of Liverpool Equine Hospital (1992-1998), were found at laparotomy to have a partial obstruction of the large colon caused by a segmental mural lesion located in the left dorsal colon. The decision to take the horses to surgery was based on rectal examination findings of secondary impaction and mural oedema of the large colon and turbid peritoneal fluid containing large numbers of neutrophils obtained by paracentesis. The affected segment of colon showed oedema and serosal changes varying from erythema to well-defined necrosis. These pat...
Enriquez CK, Morrow JK, Graves A, Johnson A.Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) caused by Sarcocystis neurona remains an antemortem diagnostic challenge in some horses. Recent work suggested the use of real-time PCR (rtPCR) on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a promising diagnostic tool. Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of S. neurona rtPCR on CSF for EPM diagnosis using horses with EPM and S. neurona-seropositive horses with other neurologic conditions. Methods: Ninety-nine horses with neurologic disease that underwent complete neurologic examination, CSF collection, and, if euthanized, necropsy including the cent...
Murray A, Cottrell DF, Woodman MP.Equine grass sickness (EGS) is a pan-dysautonomia of horses that involves central and peripheral neuronal degeneration and ultimately depletion. This is the first reported functional study on the motility of equine intestine taken immediately post mortem from horses with EGS. Strips of smooth muscle from the small intestine of healthy and EGS-affected horses were suspended in an organ bath and their motility was measured isometrically. The activity of the cholinergic system was studied. Physostigmine enhanced the motility of all muscle strips. Tissues taken from horses suffering from acute gra...
Sala-Ayala L, Pytel AT, Stychno K, Cuervo-Arango J.Ovum pick-up (OPU) by transvaginal ultrasound guided follicle aspiration in mares is a common assisted reproductive technique used for oocyte recovery and in vitro production of horse embryos. There has been relatively little research into the factors influencing oocyte recovery in OPU from live mares. The objective of this study was to compare oocyte recovery and morphology of ultrasound-guided follicle puncture and aspiration in live mares and in postmortem excised ovaries, in order to validate an experimental model for research purposes of the efficiency of OPU in mares. Data from OPU perfo...
Charles LN.A 3-year-old Quarter Horse mare presented with an approximate 1-month history of progressive weight loss, anorexia and lethargy that abruptly worsened 48 h before death. Post-mortem examination revealed free flocculent fluid and a large mass within the ventral abdomen that dorsally displaced the caecum and large intestine. An ovarian teratocarcinoma with metastasis to regional lymph nodes was diagnosed histologically. Although benign teratomas are the second most common ovarian neoplasm in equids, reports of malignant teratomas in horses are rare. This report documents an unusual presentation...
Benders NA, Veldhuis Kroeze EJ, van der Kolk JH.To present the first report of a case series concerning equine idiopathic muscular hypertrophy of the oesophagus (IMHO). Objective: To investigate the clinical and pathological features of the disorder. Methods: The medical records of 31 horses suffering from the disorder were reviewed retrospectively. In all these animals the diagnosis was confirmed at post mortem examination. Results: The median age of the affected horses was 12.5 +/- 5.6 years (range 1-26) without sex or breed predilection. Only 2 out of 31 horses showed clinical signs associated with oesophageal dysfunction, indicating tha...
