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.
Steiner JV, Rendano VT.An aneurysmal bone cyst was diagnosed in the distal metaphysis of Mt3 in a 9-month-old-Quarter Horse colt. The lesion developed between the fifth and ninth month of life and clinically appeared as a non-painful swelling which did not cause a lameness. Radiographs of the lesion showed expansion of the cortex and incomplete septa of new bone extending from the cortex into surrounding soft tissue. Surgical intervention revealed a blood filled cavity. The animal died during the immediate post-surgical period. Histopathologic evaluation of the lesion was performed.
Saltiel A, Calderon A, Garcia N, Hurley DP.Ovarian activity, as measured by the presence of small (10-15 mm diam.), medium (15-30 mm) and large (greater than 30 mm) follicles, corpora haemorrhagica and corpora lutea (CL), was determined in a total of 3584 ovaries during 1 year using post-mortem specimens. There were significant correlations of the incidence of ovulated follicles (ovulations), large and medium follicles (P less than 0 . 001) and of the mean number of small follicles (P less than 0 . 05) per mare with respect to season. The yearly averages of ovulated, large and medium follicles were 30 . 1, 13 . 9 and 73 . 9%, respectiv...
Dixon PM, Nicholls JR, McPherson EA, Lawson GH, Thomson JR, Pirie HW, Breeze RG.An abattoir survey on horses diagnosed as suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on clinical grounds showed that the right ventricular wall thickness was not significantly different from that of normal horses. However, the weight ratio between the left and right ventricles was found to be significantly (P less than 0.001) different in COPD affected, compared with control, horses in a study of 17 physiologically and pathologically confirmed COPD cases, using ventricular weight measurements. No clinical evidence of right heart failure nor post mortem evidence of right heart ...
Clayton HM, Duncan JL.From June to October 1978 four pony mares and foals and two donkey mares and foals grazed a paddock contaminated with Dictyocaulus arnfieldi larvae. No signs of respiratory disease were seen in the foals but within 11 weeks of exposure to the paddock all six developed patent lungworm infections. In October 1978 one donkey and two pony foals were killed. At post mortem examination parasites in various stages of development and measuring up to 8 cm in length were found in the lungs. At this time the three surviving foals were stabled for the remainder of the experiment. Two of these ceased passi...
Smith BP, Robinson RC.Five out of 6 foals between 2 and 4 months old, on a ranch in northern California, developed pneumonia within a 3 week period in June and July 1978. Corynebacterium equi was recovered from each of the 5 foals by transtracheal aspiration. Clinical signs were variable but included increased respiratory rate, fever, cough, nasal discharge, harsh airway sounds over middle sized airways and wheezing over small airways. Cyanosis was present in the most severely affected foal. Radiographic findings included diffusely increased interstitial and peribronchial densities, areas of consolidation and, in 3...
Raphel CF, Gunson DE.Percutaneous lung biopsies with a cutting needle (Vim Tru Cut) were obtained from 20 horses. The procedure was performed in standing horses under a local anesthesia without sedation. All lung tissue specimens were suitable for histologic examinations and contained both pulmonary parenchyma and large airways. The only complication was hemoptysis in 2 (10%) horses which required no therapy. All horses were subsequently killed, and no gross abnormalities were present at the biopsy site.
Malan FS, Reinecke RK, Scialdo RC.The entire gastro-intestinal tract and viscera of the abdomen and thorax, including the heart, aorta and its branches to the viscera, are removed from the carcass. All the branches of the aorta, with the exception of the A. gastrica sinistra, are dissected from the intestinal tract, and subsequently each branch is isolated from the mesentery, fat, pancreas, kidneys, etc. Usually, the A. ileocolica is grossly enlarged due to chronic arteritis with thrombus formation caused by 4th stage larvae, 4th moult and 5th stage Strongylus vulgaris. Descriptions of methods to examine the subperitoneal tiss...
Malan FS, Reinecke RK, Scialdo RC.The tongue, pharynx, oesophagus and gums are examined for larvae of gasterophilus spp., and the nose and sinuses for oestrid larvae. The gastro-intestinal tract is divided into separate specimens-stomach, small intestine, caecum, ventral colon, dorsal colon, descending colon and rectum- and each is examined separately. Aliquots of ingesta of 1/4 by mass of the stomach and 1/10 by mass of the small intestine, caecum, ventral colon and dorsal colon are collected for microscopic examination. Each part of the wall of the caecum, ventral and dorsal colon is washed and specimens are collected for su...
Sack WO, Orsini PG.One hundred three equine hocks, obtained from the postmortem room, were used to study the communication and injection of material into the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints. Excluding the hocks with fused central and 3rd tarsal bones, in 8.3% of hocks injected with low (clinical) pressure and in 23.8% injected with high pressure, the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints communicated by dissection of the material through 2 internal spaces: the tarsal canal and the space between the combined tarsal bones 1 and 2 tarsal bone 3. A "pop" sometimes felt when high pressure was us...
van der Gaag I, van Bruinessen-Kapsenberg EG, Dik KJ, Kroneman J.A two-month-old female foal with duodenal stenosis is described. The foal was in poor condition and showed an abnormal stable behaviour. She stood preferably with her head stretched out and reposing on the mare's back or on the stable ridge. Salivation was an important symptom. Clinical and radiological examination of the oral cavity, the pharynx, and the oesophagus showed no abnormalities, except for the antiperistaltic wave along the oesophagus. Because of her bad condition the filly was euthanized. At post mortem examination, apart from leukoplakia, an erosive ulcerative inflammation was fo...
Brownlow MA, Hutchins DR, Johnston KG.Twenty horses, aged one to 17 years (mean age 6 years), presented for elective destruction and subsequently found at autopsy to have no significant peritoneal alterations, were used to determine a variety of reference values for peritoneal fluid. Samples were collected ante mortem or within 1 h post mortem. Each cavity contained 100 to 300 ml of usually clear, pale yellow fluid which in a clinical refractometer showed a mean specific gravity 1.010 (range 1.0081-1.0116) and mean (+/- standard deviation) total protein 7.7 +/- 3.6 g/litre. The mean total nucleated cell count (+/- sd) was 4.33 +/-...
Simpson CF, Buergelt CD.The alveoli of the lungs of 2 aborted foals contained elongated, dense bodies when examined histologically and by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. By light microscopy, the bodies (10 to 40 micrometers in size) stained intensely with the Gram stain, and up to 10 were present within an alveolus. Electron microscopy determined that such bodies were not cellular in origin but appeared to be a congealed fluid product composed of layers of fibrillar-like material. From the human literature, it was concluded that these intraalveolar bodies were probably congealed amniotic fluid.
Franken P, van den Hoven R, Sasse HH, Koeman JP, Goedegebuure SD.The case of a three-year-old mare is reported, in which clinical examination revealed the presence of haemorrhagic diathesis as a result of disseminated intravascular coagulation. The animal also showed severe lameness which was due to involvement of the long bones. The diagnosis was only established after death.
Roorda G, van der Kamp JS.A rare case of colic in an eleven-year-old New Forrest mare is reported. As treatment was ineffective, the animal had to be slaughtered. Post mortem examination showed that the colic was due to bilateral haemorrhagic corpus luteum, from which blood (appr. 20 liter) entered the abdominal cavity.
Baker JR, Ellis CE.The causes of death recorded in 480 consecutive post mortem examinations of horses performed at the department of pathology, Veterinary Field Station, University of Liverpool, between February 1958 and February 1980, are reported. The alimentary, locomotor and nervous systems were those most frequently diseased. The most common specific entities were those associated with grass sickness, fractures and endoparasitism.
Baker JR, Ellis CE.Disease processes not directly related to the cause of death recorded in 480 consecutive post mortem examinations of horses performed at the department of pathology, Veterinary Field Station, University of Liverpool, between February 1958 and February 1980 are reported. The alimentary, cardiovascular, respiratory and locomotor systems were those most frequently diseased. The most common specific entities were those associated with endoparasitism and its associated vascular lesions, pneumonia and fractures.
Conner ME, Darlington RW.Fecal samples from 86 foals with diarrhea were examined by electron microscopy during a 2.5 year period. Of these, 26 (30%) were positive for rotavirus. All of the cases were found in epizootic areas. The disease was produced in an experimental foal by inoculation via stomach tube of a bacteria-free fecal filtrate containing rotavirus. Examination of postmortem tissues from the duodenum and jejunum of 2 naturally infected foals and an experimentally infected foal revealed replicating virus in the intestinal epithelial cells. A limited survey of complement-fixing antibody to rotavirus in horses...
Deem DA, Harrington DD.A 15 month-old Quarter Horse colt developed severe bacterial pneumonia and effusive pleuritis. A beta-hemolytic streptococcus was isolated from a tracheal wash specimen but the colt died despite conventional therapy. The gross post mortem and histologic lesions were characteristic of pulmonary nocardiosis. Nocardia brasiliensis was isolated from the lung and bronchial lymph node.
Jeffcott LB, Dalin G.The functional anatomy of the thoracolumbar (TL) spine is considered in relation to the horse's ability to perform at speed and to jump. The morphological features quite clearly show the relative inflexibility of the equine back and this was confirmed by some experimental studies. Fresh post mortem specimens from 5 Thoroughbreds were used to estimate the limits of dorsoventral movement of the TL spine from mid-thoracic to the cranial lumbar (T10-L2). The individual spinous processes could be moved a mean 1.1-6.0 mm on maximum ventroflexion and 0.8-3.8 mm on dorsiflexion. The overall flexibilit...
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 ...
Swerczek TW.Toxicoinfectious botulism was proved to be the cause of a neuromuscular paralytic syndrome in foals and adult horses. In eight successive cases, Clostridium botulinum type B was isolated at necropsy. Foals were either found dead without premonitory signs of illness or, most often, they had signs of progressive and symmetric motor paralysis. Stilted gait, muscular tremors, and the inability to stand longer than 4 to 5 minutes were the salient clinical signs. Other clinical manifestations included dysphagia, constipation, mydriasis, and frequent urination. As the disease progressed, dyspnea with...
Freeman DE, Koch DB, Boles CL.Volvulus of the jejunum and ileum in three horses was associated with intestinal strangulation in a mesenteric rent. The rent was in the jejunal mesentery at its point of attachment with an anomaly that was classified as a mesodiverticular band. The band also was attached to the dorsolateral surface of the jejunum, thus forming one side of a triangular hernial sac that was completed on the other side by the adjacent jejunal mesentery. Incarceration of a loop of small intestine in the hernial sac preceded rupture of the jejunal mesentery and subsequent intestinal strangulation. Surgical correct...
Kelly DF, Pinsent PJ.A 10-month-old thoroughbred colt developed sudden complete blindness; no other neurological abnormality was detected. At necropsy 3.5 months later lesions were confined to both optic pathways in which there was extensive degeneration of axons and myelin and gliosis. The cause of the optic lesion was not determined but the lesion may be a toxic neuropathy.
Hartley WJ, Dixon RJ.Twenty-nine cases of EHV1 infection occurred on a property, mainly in full term foals. Some foals were stillborn, some were born alive but weak and soon died and others were healthy at birth, became ill and died within 3 days of birth. Apart from voluminous, oedematous and atelectic lungs there were no gross lesions. Microscopically the lungs showed oedema, pneumonitis and bronchiolitis with intranuclear inclusions and, in many of the foals that survived over 6 hours, there was also hyaline membrane formation. Microscopic lesions were also seen in the liver, adrenal, thymus and spleen of some ...
Wyn-Jones G, Baker JR.The presenting signs exhibited by a pony with a large diaphragmatic defect of probable developmental origin are described. The results of clinical examination, laparotomy and post mortem examination are presented.
Menard L, Marcoux M, Halle G.A case of unilateral front leg lameness with bone changes in the pedal bone suggestive of osteodystrophia fibrosa cystica is reported in an eight year old crossbred gelding. The changes were diagnosed at postmortem examination. The known possible causes are briefly reviewed.
Gerlach K, Mader D, Delling U, Theuß T, Müller K, Offhaus J, Berner D.The aim of the present study was to verify the diagnostic validity of low-field magnetic-resonance-imaging (MRI) findings in septic diseases of the foot region following penetrating sole injuries caused by nails. Methods: MRI examinations were performed in 10 horses with injuries in the foot region. The diagnostic findings were validated by conventional methods (clinical, surgical, radiological, sonographic, and computed tomographic findings and/or post-mortem histological examination). Results: Navicular bone involvement was revealed most accurately, with a high degree of predictability, and ...
Abalaka SE, Audu Z, Kolawole VO, Adeyemo BT, Idoko IS, Okafor ROS, Oyelowo-Abdulraheem FO, Tags SZ, Ogbe AO, Sanni S, Jegede OC, Sani NA, Tenuche OZ....Schistosomiasis is a worldwide snail-borne parasitic infestation of man and animals with acute or chronic phases having devastating sequelae. The present case report focused on post-mortem examination of a cachexic Dongola stallion ( Linnaeus, 1758) in Abuja, Nigeria, that failed to respond to treatment. Typical dense collagenous granulomatous lesions with marked inflammatory responses and fibrosis occurred in the liver and several visceral organs of the horse along with other lesions indicative of systemic collapse. Special Ziehl-Neelsen and Periodic Acid-Schiff staining as well as microbial ...
Baum B, Hewicker-Trautwein M, Wohlsein P.A 10-year-old Knabstrupper stallion was euthanatized because of severe dyspnea and exercise intolerance. Postmortem examination revealed diffuse severe alveolar emphysema and chronic fibrosing pleuritis of the caudal lung. Parts of both caudal lung lobes were covered with multiple raised firm gray to yellow plaques. Histologically, these areas consisted of circumscribed pleural fibroses and cysts of metaplastic keratinizing squamous epithelium. Immunohistochemistry revealed intense labeling for cytokeratins 5/6 and 10. In addition, caudal lung lobes were severely affected by a chronic partiall...
Martin-Pelaez S, Rabow Z, de la Fuente A, Draheim P, Loynachan A, Fiehn O, Meyers S, Lyman C, Dini P.Postmortem and pre-euthanasia oocyte retrieval provides the last opportunity to preserve the genetic material in mares. Pentobarbital (PB) is the most common euthanasia agent; however, its effect on the developmental competence of oocytes has not been determined. Here, we evaluated the concentration of PB in equine follicular fluid (FF) and investigated its effect on the developmental competence of oocytes using a bovine IVF model to overcome the low availability of equine oocytes. The concentration of PB was measured by gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry in FF collected from mare ovaries im...
Cullimore AM, Lester GD, Secombe CJ, Campbell K.A 7-year-old Clydesdale gelding was referred with a history of progressive lethargy and ventral oedema. The horse developed diarrhoea after treatment with antibiotics by the referring veterinarian. History, clinical signs, imaging and laboratory findings were consistent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy complicated by antibiotic-associated colitis. Progression of clinical signs prompted euthanasia and the antemortem diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was confirmed at postmortem examination. Conclusions: Primary HCM is reported as rare in horses, but specific descriptions are lacking. The ...
Szeredi L, Makrai L, Dénes B.The first objective of this study was to develop an immunohistochemical procedure for rapid detection of Rhodococcus equi in impression smears from affected organs of foals on postmortem examination. The second aim was to demonstrate whether R. equi can be detected in smears of tracheal exudates collected from the same foals using an immunohistochemical method. Impression smears and cryostat and paraffin-embedded sections were made from the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes of three foals (A, B and C) that had died of respiratory disease caused by R. equi, and also from the caudal mesenteric l...
Polikepahad S, Haque M, Francis J, Moore RM, Venugopal CS.The purpose of the study was to determine and compare the expression of endothelin (ET) receptors in the peripheral lungs of healthy horses and those affected with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time PCR, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemical techniques. Two groups of horses (7 healthy and 7 RAO-affected) were selected from a pool of horses destined for euthanasia. The grouping of horses was based on the history, clinical scoring, and pulmonary function testing. After euthanasia, gross postmortem evaluation of th...
Milne EM, Pogson DM, Else RW, Rowland AC.One case of caecocaecal intussusception (case 1) and one case of caecocolic intussusception (case 2) in ponies are described. Case 1 showed mild abdominal discomfort for seven days followed by sudden death whereas case 2 showed continuous moderate pain for three weeks. At post mortem examination, case 1 showed intussusception of the base of the caecum into the body whereas in case 2, the entire caecum had invaginated into the right ventral colon. Histopathological examination showed that the lesions in both animals had been present for a long time.
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...
Strzemienski PJ, Benson CE, Acland HM, Kenney RM.Two groups of 3 mares were inoculated with Haemophilus equigenitalis or Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the 1st day of estrus. Uterine flushing samples were recovered on day 3 of estrus and day 8 after ovulation for each cycle. Mares were killed 22, 25, and 30 days after inoculation with P aeruginosa and 45, 46, and 49 days after inoculation with H equigenitalis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered from the uterus of 2 mares 48 hours after inoculation. Although the initial flushing sample of 1 of these 2 mares had an increased total protein concentration, there appeared to be little difference betw...
Powell RJ, du Toit N, Burden FA, Dixon PM.There is limited information on the gross tracheal morphology of donkeys with or without tracheal abnormalities. Objective: To: 1) examine the morphology of tracheas of donkeys with and without clinical and/or post mortem evidence of tracheal obstruction; 2) record the cross-sectional dimensions and shapes of tracheal rings at fixed sites; and 3) document prevalence, sites and characteristics of detected tracheal abnormalities. Methods: The tracheas of 75, predominantly aged (median age 30 years, range 7-48 years) donkeys that died or were subjected to euthanasia on humane grounds were examine...
Mouncey R, Arango-Sabogal JC, de Mestre AM, Foote AK, Verheyen KL.Enhanced understanding of reasons for, and timings of, mortality in Thoroughbreds prior to entering race training is warranted to provide insight into this population's health status. The aims of this study were to describe pathologies diagnosed at post-mortem (PM) examination in Thoroughbreds aged from birth to 18 months and investigate associations between age and pathology. Reports from a pathology laboratory in Newmarket, UK, were used to identify eligible cases examined between January 2006 and December 2020. Reported pathologies were extracted and categorised where appropriate. Comorbidi...
Boswinkel M, Neyens IJ, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.A 5-year old Tinker gelding was referred to the Department of Equine Sciences with a left eye uveitis and fever. At presentation the horse showed a mild lethargy, fever and decreased vision of the left eye. Rectal examination revealed an enlarged left kidney, with a hard and an irregular surface. The cranial mesentery artery had an enlarged and irregular aspect. Blood analysis showed anaemia, leucocytosis, increased blood urea nitrogen and creatinine and a hyperproteinemia. Urine analysis repeatedly showed a marked proteinuria and an increased gammaGT/creatinine ratio. The amount of abdominal ...
Engiles JB, Uzal FA, Navarro MA, Reef VB, Bender SJ.Phlegmonous gastritis was diagnosed in 2 yearling fillies that were presented with a 1-wk history of fever, lethargy, and hypoproteinemia, associated with a previous diagnosis of equine proliferative enteropathy based on clinical signs and PCR assay detection of Lawsonia intracellularis in fecal samples. Abdominal ultrasound revealed enlargement of the stomach and expansion of its submucosal layer with hypoechoic fluid, as well as thickened hypomotile small intestinal segments. Given the poor prognosis and poor response to treatment, both horses were euthanized, one on the day of presentation ...
Klei TR, French DD, Chapman MR, McClure JR, Dennis VA, Taylor HW, Hutchinson GW.The long-term efficacy of an irradiation attenuated larval (L3) vaccine against Strongylus vulgaris was tested in ponies which were reared on pasture. Prior to foaling, mares were divided into two groups. One group of mares and foals received regular (eight weekly) treatment with ivermectin and the second group remained untreated. Half the foals in each pasture group were vaccinated at eight to ten weeks of age. Foals were weaned at three to four months of age and maintained on separate pastures. At eight to ten months of age, ponies were placed in box stalls and half of each treatment group w...
Lawn K.During training, a 6-year-old standardbred gelding collapsed, exhibiting severe epistaxis and agonal breathing and was euthanized. The horse had a recent history of poor performance, lethargy, and unilateral eyelid swelling with serous ocular discharge. Postmortem and histopathologic examination findings revealed thoracic lymphosarcoma and concurrent exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Résumé — Mort subite d’un cheval de course de race standardbred causée par un lymphome thoracique. En cours d’entraînement, un standardbred hongre âgé de 6 ans s’est effondré, présentant des s...
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...
Vitale V, Van Galen G, Laurberg M, Young B, Mciver V, Wereszka M, Gimeno M.Congenital heart disease is relatively uncommon in horses. Only three reports exist that describe a tetralogy of Fallot in adult horses. Whereas in humans the presence of congenital heart disease constitutes a risk factor for developing aortic aneurysms, their association has never been reported in horses. Here, we present a case with a large ascending aortic aneurysm as a complication of a tetralogy of Fallot in an adult mare. The mare was referred with sustained tachycardia and a 5 days history of mild intermittent colic, depression, inappetence and weight loss. Echocardiography was used to...
Shoemaker RW, Allen AL, Richardson CE, Wilson DG.To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-articular administration of ethyl alcohol for arthrodesis of tarsometatarsal joints in horses. Methods: 8 healthy female horses without lameness or radiographic evidence of tarsal joint osteoarthritis. Methods: In each horse, 1 tarsometatarsal joint was treated with 4 mL of 70% ethyl alcohol and the opposite joint was treated with 4 mL of 95% ethyl alcohol. Lameness examinations were performed daily for 2 weeks, followed by monthly evaluations for the duration of the 12-month study. Radiographic evaluations of both tarsi were performed 1 month after...
Graubner C, Gerber V, Imhasly A, Gorgas D, Koch C.Three horses (age 17 - 23 years) were referred to the equine clinic of the University of Berne due to colic, fever, tachycardia and tachypnea. All horses showed pleural effusion. Clinical findings in 2 of the horses were highly suggestive of an intra-thoracic esophageal perforation. Severe septic pleuropneumonia without suspicion of an esophageal lesion was diagnosed in the 3rd horse. In addition, an 11 year old stallion was referred to the equine clinic for treatment of a presumptive large colon impaction. The horse was given laxatives after nasogastric intubation. Subsequent dramatic clinica...
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...
Nation PN, Klavano GG.This account describes two neonatal foals affected with osteopetrosis. One of these foals, a full term Peruvian Paso, was born alive, was bright and alert but was unable to stand and was euthanized at two days of age. The second foal, an Appaloosa, was also born alive at full term and was blind, weak, uncoordinated and unable to stand. Postmortem examination of both foals revealed generalized osteopetrosis and brachygnathia inferior. The osteopetrosis was characterized by failure of bone remodelling resulting in spicules of mineralized and nonmineralized cartilage covered by osteoid occupying ...
Rodriguez JY, Finneburgh BM, Lewis BC, Flanagan J, Snowden KF.Heterobilharzia americana is a trematode parasite (family: Schistosomatidae) of mammalian wildlife that occasionally infects domestic dogs and horses in the southeastern United States. This report presents the first case of H. americana infection in a Grant's zebra (Equus burchelli boehmi). The parasite was diagnosed post mortem as an incidental finding by histopathologic identification of H. americana eggs in the liver parenchyma after the zebra succumbed in an accidental traumatic death. Molecular analysis of a portion of the parasite small subunit ribosomal RNA gene demonstrated 100% identi...
Peel AJ, Bouts T, Flach E, Rivers S, Routh A.Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), also known as Equine Cushing's disease, is most often diagnosed in older horses and ponies. To the authors' knowledge, there have been no reports of its diagnosis in captive nondomestic equids. A 13-yr old onager (Equus hemionus onager) at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Whipsnade Zoo showed clinical signs suggestive of PPID, including hirsutism, fat redistribution, weight loss, laminitis, and chronic infections. A dexamethasone suppression test was performed to confirm PPID. Subsequently, adenomatous hyperplasia and microadenoma of the pars...
van der Kolk JH, Klein WR, van der Putten SW, Mol JA.A thirteen-year-old Dutch warmblooded mare was referred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine because of a sinusitis. She was thin with a potbellied appearance. Her coat was dull with long wavy hair. Unilateral (left) purulent nasal discharge was evident. A cbc revealed leucopenia (3.9 G.L.-1) and plasma biochemical analysis revealed a plasma glucose concentration of 10.1 mmol.L-1. Thermostable alkaline phosphatase (at 65 degrees C during 2 minutes) could not be demonstrated. Basal plasma cortisol concentration was lowered (114 nmol.L-1) and basal plasma ACTH concentration was highly elevated ...
Arighi M, Ducharme NG, Horney FD, Livesey MA.Extensive resection (50-75%) of the large colon was performed in 12 horses. Indications for resection were: loss of viability due to large colon volvulus (seven), thromboembolic episode (three), impairment of flow of ingesta due to adhesions (one), or congenital abnormalities (one). The time required to correct the primary cause of abdominal pain and complete the resection ranged from 2.5 to 4.75 hours. Three horses had severe musculoskeletal problems postoperatively and were euthanized in the recovery stall. Four other horses were euthanized early in the postoperative period because of: furth...
Beccati F, Pepe M, Antinori L, Pascucci L, Chiaradia E, Mandara MT.The aim of this study was to delineate the pattern of sympathetic innervation in the suprasesamoidean region of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) in horses with tendinopathy by immunohistochemical labelling for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and α-1 adrenergic receptor (α1-AR). Twelve forelimbs were obtained from 10 horses with DDFT tendinopathy and six feet obtained from six horses were used as healthy controls. Post-mortem radiographic, ultrasonographic and gross examinations were performed on the suprasesamoidean area of the DDFT to assess the presence of tendinopathy. Longitudinal section...
Meurice A, Pujol R, De Fourmestraux C, Coquillon M, Tessier C.Surgical approaches to the equine rectum and perirectal area are described in the literature. However, surgeries in this region can be challenging. Objective: To describe the surgical anatomy of the presacral space and to evaluate its access using a retroperitoneoscopic approach. Methods: Ex vivo experiment. Methods: Preliminary dissections were performed in two cadavers to define the boundaries of the presacral space and to determine portal locations for the surgical approach. After that, nine cadavers were used for experimental presacral retroperitoneoscopic procedure in a standing position....
Shrauner B, Blikslager A, Davis J, Campbell N, Law M, Lustgarten M, Prange T.The large size of the adult horse prevents the use of advanced imaging modalities in most areas of the axial skeleton, including the lumbosacral vertebral column. Traditional imaging techniques are frequently unable to pinpoint the underlying pathology in horses with caudal back pain. In man, lumbosacral epiduroscopy is used to diagnose and treat subjects with chronic back and leg pain. This technique may close the diagnostic gap in horses with similar clinical signs. Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of lumbosacral epiduroscopy in the standing adult horse. Methods: Descriptive...
