Veterinary care in horses encompasses the medical and preventive measures taken to maintain and improve the health and well-being of equine patients. It includes a wide range of practices such as routine health examinations, vaccinations, dental care, parasite control, and management of injuries and diseases. Veterinary care also involves diagnostic procedures, surgical interventions, and therapeutic treatments tailored to the specific needs of horses. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of equine veterinary care, including advancements in diagnostic techniques, treatment protocols, and health management strategies to support the well-being and performance of horses.
Kwok WH, Ho EN, Lau MY, Leung GN, Wong AS, Wan TS.In recent years, there has been an ongoing focus for both human and equine doping control laboratories on developing detection methods to control the misuse of peptide therapeutics. Immunoaffinity purification is a common extraction method to isolate peptides from biological matrices and obtain sufficient detectability in subsequent instrumental analysis. However, monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies for immunoaffinity purification may not be commercially available, and even if available, such antibodies are usually very costly. In our study, a simple mixed-mode anion exchange solid-phase extra...
Hessler C, Eckert V, Meiners J, Jürgens C, Reicke B, Matthes G, Ekkernkamp A, Püschel K.Horse riding is associated with a high rate of injuries. The possibilities of prevention are limited because of deficient knowledge about the causes and mechanisms of equine-related accidents. In the present study 198 equine-related accidents were analyzed and based on these data risk groups were identified and guidelines to improve safety in horse riding were formulated. Methods: In this 2-center study the accidents of 169 riders over a period of 12 months were analyzed. Data on equine-related patterns of injury and the resulting treatment were collated from the clinical records. Additionally...
Hallowell GD, Bowen M.The objectives were to determine and assess the reliability of criteria for identification of aortic valve prolapse (AVP) using echocardiography in the horse. Results: Opinion of equine cardiologists indicated that a long-axis view of the aortic valve (AoV) was most commonly used for identification of AVP (46%; n=13). There was consensus that AVP could be mimicked by ultrasound probe malignment. This was confirmed in 7 healthy horses, where the appearance of AVP could be induced by malalignment. In a study of a further 8 healthy horses (5 with AVP) examined daily for 5 days, by two echocardiog...
Reed SA, Johnson SE.Recovery from tendon injury is based on long periods of rest, which results in sub-optimal repair, often replacing tendon with fibrocartilage scar tissue. Recently, the use of stem cells in equine tendon repair has been attempted with variable success. The objective of this work was to determine the expression of scleraxis (scx) and tenascin C (TnC), two markers of tenocytes, in adipose (AdMSC) and umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem cells during culture on various substrata and in response to fibroblast growth factor (FGF) treatment. Equine UCB and AdMSC were cultured on gelatin-coated plasticwar...
Smith SE, Devine DV.To determine the feasibility of hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariectomy via colpotomy for bilateral ovariectomy in standing mares. Methods: Case series. Methods: Mares (n = 21) aged 2-21 years, weighing 312-582 kg. Methods: After a pilot study in 6 mares, the technique was used in 15 mares. Ovaries were identified and manipulated using 2 laparoscopic portals in the left paralumbar fossa. Transection and hemostasis of the ovarian pedicle was achieved using a LigaSure Atlas™ or chain écraseur. Ovaries were removed through a colpotomy by an assistant. Results: In 19 mares, both ovaries were suc...
Almeida J, Conley AJ, Ball BA.Cryptorchidism affects 2-8% of male horses and the affected testis undergoes a disruption of normal spermatogenesis. The underlying molecular changes are poorly understood in the cryptorchid equine testis. Objective: Compare the expression of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), anti-Müllerian hormone receptor (AMHR2), androgen receptor (AR), cyclin kinase inhibitor (CDKN1B), connexin 43 (Cx43), 3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ(5) -Δ(4) - isomerase (3βHSD), P450c17 hydroxylase/lyase (P450c17) and cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) in the undescended testis of cryptorchid stallions with that ...
Tnibar A, Grubbe Lin K, Thurøe Nielsen K, Christophersen MT, Lindegaard C, Martinussen T, Ekstrøm CT.Incisional infections are common in horses after colic surgery. There is a clinical impression that the use of a stent bandage reduces the prevalence of such infections. Objective: To determine the effect of a stent bandage on the likelihood of incisional infection after ventral midline exploratory coeliotomy. It was hypothesised that the use of a stent bandage would reduce the likelihood of incisional infection. Methods: Medical records of horses that underwent exploratory coeliotomy for colic between January 2005 and September 2011 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were animals that had one ...
Robin CA, Lo Iacono G, Gubbins S, Wood JL, Newton JR.The National Equine Database (NED) contains information on the size and distribution of the horse population, but the data quality remains unknown. These data could assist with surveillance, research and contingency planning for equine infectious disease outbreaks. Objective: 1) To assess the extent of obsolete and missing data from NED, 2) evaluate the extent of spatial separation between horse and owner location and 3) identify relationships between spatial separation and land use. Methods: Two questionnaires were used to assess data accuracy in NED utilising local authority passport inspect...
Allen K, Franklin S.Two forms of dynamic upper respiratory tract obstruction affecting racehorses that involve the soft palate have been described: palatal instability (PI) and dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). Observation of DDSP is straightforward in that it is an all or nothing event, whereas observation of PI is subjective and interpretation may vary between clinicians. Objective: The aim of this study was to attempt to characterise PI and to investigate endoscopic features that precede DDSP. Methods: A retrospective study on the endoscopic observations of Thoroughbred racehorses referred for hig...
Fonseca RG, Kenny DA, Hill EW, Katz LM.Few noninvasive measures associated with performance assessment are available for racehorse trainers. Evaluation of body composition of superior human sprinters has revealed a lower fat mass (FM), percentage (%) fat and greater fat-free mass (FFM), but to date there have been few studies evaluating this in racehorses. Objective: To determine the effects of age, gender and training on body composition and the relationship between body composition, physiological measurements and performance in Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: At 2, 5 and 8 months of training, rump fat thickness (RFT) was ultras...
Buhl R, Andersen LO, Karlshøj M, Kanters JK.The objective of this prospective field study was to investigate whether commonly used criteria for clinical death occurred at the same time as cardiac death, as determined by electrocardiography. Specific ECG changes during euthanasia were also studied. Twenty-nine horses were euthanized with pentobarbital at two different dose rates and 15 of the 29 horses also received detomidine hydrochloride for sedation. ECG was recorded prior to and during euthanasia. Time to collapse, cessation of reflexes, heart sounds and asystole were recorded. ECG recordings were used to calculate RR intervals, PQ ...
Yondon M, Heil GL, Burks JP, Zayat B, Waltzek TB, Jamiyan BO, McKenzie PP, Krueger WS, Friary JA, Gray GC.Equine influenza virus (EIV) epizootics affect 2.1 million Mongolian horses approximately every 10 years and critically impact economy and nomadic livelihood of Mongolia. Objective: An active surveillance program was established in 2011 to monitor influenza viruses circulating among Mongolian horses. Methods: Nasal swabs were collected from horses in free-ranging horse herds in Töv, Khentii, and Dundgovi aimags (provinces) from January to September 2011. Real-time reversetranscriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) was used to determine the presence of influenza A virus. Influenza A-posi...
Korosue K, Murase H, Sato F, Ishimaru M, Kotoyori Y, Tsujimura K, Nambo Y.To test the usefulness of measuring pH and refractometry index, compared with measuring calcium carbonate concentration, of preparturient mammary gland secretions for predicting parturition in mares. Methods: Evaluation study. Methods: 27 pregnant Thoroughbred mares. Methods: Preparturient mammary gland secretion samples were obtained once or twice daily 10 days prior to foaling until parturition. The samples were analyzed for calcium carbonate concentration with a water hardness kit (151 samples), pH with pH test paper (222 samples), and refractometry index with a Brix refractometer (214 samp...
Ragle CA, Yiannikouris S, Tibary AA, Fransson BA.A 4-year-old castrated Arabian horse was evaluated for a history of a right-sided nonstrangulating inguinal hernia that was manually reducable. Results: Physical examination revealed a right-sided hydrocele and bilateral enlargement of the inguinal rings detectable by both external digital and rectal palpation. Results: Biportal laparoscopic internal inguinal ring closure was performed with a continuous suture line of unidirectional barbed suture applied with a mechanical suturing instrument. The barbed suture contributed to a secure closure with the added benefit of not requiring knots to be ...
Earley ET, Rawlinson JE, Baratt RM.Common indications for cheek tooth extraction in the horse include dental fracture, periodontal disease, severe decay/ caries, mandibular fracture with alveolar/tooth involvement, and periapical abscess. Complications secondary to extraction of cheek teeth are prevalent. Typical complications may include retained root tip(s), collateral damage of neighboring teeth and alveolar bone, mandibular fracture non-union or delayed union, cemental ankylosis, dilacerated root(s), oroantral/oronasal fistula, palatal deviation of cheek teeth, bone sequestration, sinus involvement, alveolar plug failure, a...
Ségard EM, Depecker MC, Lang J, Gemperli A, Cadoré JL.(1) To describe the ultrasonographic appearance of multiple congenital ocular anomalies (MCOA) in the eyes of horses with the PMEL17 (Silver) mutant gene. (2) To compare the accuracy of B-mode ocular ultrasound to conventional direct ophthalmoscopy. Methods: Sixty-seven Comtois and 18 Rocky Mountain horses were included in the study. Methods: Horses were classified as being carriers or noncarriers of the PMEL17 mutant allele based on coat color or genetic testing. Direct ophthalmoscopy followed by standardized ultrasonographic examination was performed in all horses. Results: Seventy-five of 8...
Jaskólska M, Adamiak Z, Zhalniarovich Y, Holak P, Przyborowska P.Magnetic resonance is a great diagnostic tool in equine lameness examination. Its value is most significantly visible in evaluating distal extremities. Problems with podotrochlear apparatus, laminitis or distal interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis are the most common disorders diagnosed in equine patients. Without using magnetic resonance it was impossible to clearly assess which structures are involved in each of these diseases. One of the most important things in MRI is the choice of sequence. Most commonly used are T1 GE, T2 FSE, STIR and T2* GE, in sagittal, transverse and dorsal planes. T...
Ferris RA, Dern K, Veir JK, Hawley JR, Lappin MR, McCue PM.To develop a broad-range 28S ribosomal DNA quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for detection of fungal DNA in equine endometrial samples. Methods: 12 fungal samples from a clinical diagnostic laboratory and 29 samples obtained from 17 mares. Methods: The qPCR assay was optimized with commercially acquired fungal organisms and validated with samples obtained from the clinical diagnostic laboratory. Subsequently, 29 samples from 17 mares suspected of having fungal endometritis were evaluated via the qPCR assay and via traditional fungal culture and endometrial cytology. Amplicons from the qPCR assay w...
Cohen ND, Chaffin MK, Kuskie KR, Syndergaard MK, Blodgett GP, Takai S.To determine whether the concentrations of airborne virulent Rhodococcus equi in stalls housing foals during the first 2 weeks after birth are associated with subsequent development of R equi pneumonia in those foals. Methods: Air samples collected from foaling stalls and holding pens in which foals were housed during the first 2 weeks after birth. Methods: At a breeding farm in Texas, air samples (500 L each) were collected (January through May 2011) from stalls and pens in which 121 foals were housed on day 1 and on days 4, 7, and 14 after birth. For each sample, the concentration of airborn...
Schemann K, Gillespie JA, Toribio JA, Ward MP, Dhand NK.Rapid, evidence-based decision-making is critical during a disease outbreak response; however, compliance by stakeholders is necessary to ensure that such decisions are effective - especially if the response depends on voluntary action. This mixed method study evaluated technical policy decision-making processes during the 2007 outbreak of equine influenza in Australia by identifying and analysing the stakeholder network involved and the factors driving policy decision-making. The study started with a review of the outbreak literature and published policy documents. This identified six policy ...
Litterio ML, Arazi S, Hernández C, Lopardo H.Horse bite infections are very rarely reported in the medical literature. Here we present a case of a severe facial infection in a 2-year-old boy after a horse bite, from which Serratia rubidaea and Enterobacter cloacae were isolated. Some pieces of grass were found inside the wound and were removed before performing a surgical toilet. The presence of these two gram-negative bacteria associated with a horse bite infection, as well as other organisms such as anaerobes, Pseudomonas, gram-positive cocci, Actinobacillus spp., previously described in other works, should be taken into account when s...
Tavela Ade O, de Araújo JV, Braga FR, da Silveira WF, Dornelas e Silva VH, Carretta Júnior M, Borges LA, Araujo JM, Benjamin Ldos A, Carvalho GR....The predatory nematophagous fungi have been used as an alternative control of gastrointestinal nematodes of domestic animals in natural and laboratory conditions. However, it is unclear if the association of some of these species could bring some kind of advantage, from a biological standpoint. In this context, this study consisted of two tests in vitro: in assay A, the assessment of the viability of the association of pellets in sodium alginate matrix containing the fungus Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001) and Monacrosporium thaumasium (NF34) and its predatory activity on infective larvae (L3) of...
Carstens A, Kirberger RM, Dahlberg LE, Prozesky L, Fletcher L, Lammentausta E.The purpose of this study was to determine whether delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) and T2 mapping are accurate techniques for measuring cartilage thickness in the metacarpus3/metatarsus3 (Mc3/Mt3) of Thoroughbred racehorses. Twenty-four Mc3/Mt3 cadaver specimens were acquired from six healthy racehorses. Cartilage thickness was measured from postintra-articular Gd-DTPA(2-) images acquired using short tau inversion recovery (STIR), and proton density weighted (PDw) sequences, and compared with cartilage thickness measured from corresponding histolog...
Bidwell LA.Equine anesthesia is complicated regardless of the procedure being performed. Anesthesia for the mare experiencing dystocia is complicated by the size of the fetus, positioning of the mare for the procedure, and concern over drug effect on the fetus through the neonatal period. Anesthesia of the neonate is complicated by multiple factors, specifically, sensitivity to the drugs administered. Ventilatory support, minimizing drugs administered, and minimizing anesthesia time are essential for a positive outcome.
Lerche P.Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) is the mainstay of short-term (up to 60 minutes) and field anesthesia in horses. This article discusses the pros and cons of TIVA, commonly used TIVA protocols, and their use, monitoring during, and recovery from, TIVA.
Senior JM.General anesthesia in horses carries an increased risk of morbidity and mortality compared with other species. In recent years the number and complexity of epidemiologic studies in equine anesthesia has increased. The ability to interpret such studies and understand epidemiologic terminology is vital for veterinarians for them to make potential improvements to their anesthetic practice and to allow them to communicate effectively the findings of such studies to colleagues and owners. This article provides the equine clinician with a basic understanding of the methodologies that can be used in ...
Valverde A.Balanced anesthetic techniques are commonly used in equine patients, and include the combination of a volatile anesthetic with at least one injectable anesthetic throughout the maintenance period. Injectable anesthetics used in balanced anesthesia include the α2-agonists, lidocaine, ketamine, and opioids, and those with muscle-relaxant properties such as benzodiazepines and guaifenesin. Administration of these injectable anesthetics is best using constant-rate infusions based on the pharmacokinetics of the drug, which allows steady-state concentrations and predictable pharmacodynamic actions....
Tappenbeck K, Hoppe S, Hopster K, Kietzmann M, Feige K, Huber K.Postoperative ileus (POI) is a severe complication following small intestinal surgery in horses. It was hypothesised that prokinetic effects of lidocaine, the most commonly chosen drug for treatment of POI, resulted from drug integration into smooth muscle (SM) cell membranes, thereby modulating cell membrane properties. This would probably depend on the structural and lipophilic characteristics of lidocaine. To assess the influence of molecular structure and lipophilicity on prokinetic effects in vitro, the current study compared the effects of lidocaine with four structure-related drugs, nam...
de Graaf-Roelfsema E.One of the principal components of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is hyperinsulinaemia combined with insulin resistance. It has long been known that hyperinsulinaemia occurs after the development of insulin resistance. But it is also known that hyperinsulinaemia itself can induce insulin resistance and obesity and might play a key role in the development of metabolic syndrome. This review focuses on the physiology of glucose and insulin metabolism and the pathophysiological mechanisms in glucose homeostasis in the horse (compared with what is already known in humans) in order to gain insight ...
Hwang JM, Seo MJ, Yeh JY.Proliferative enteropathy is a global enteric disease of particular importance in pigs. The causative bacterium, Lawsonia intracellularis, has a wide range of susceptible host species. Recently, L. intracellularis has been recognized as an etiologic agent of an emerging enteric disease in foals called equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE). The presence of L. intracellularis in nonruminant wildlife has raised questions regarding the role of these species in EPE transmission. Results: This study investigated exposure to L. intracellularis in wild rodents and feral cats from eight farms with con...
Shaw DJ, Dacre IT, Dixon PM.Measurements of primary, regular and irregular secondary dentine and pulp dimensions were made on transverse, sub-occlusal and mid-tooth sections, of 40 maxillary and 42 mandibular control equine cheek teeth (CT) of different ages. Maxillary and mandibular CT primary dentine in different age groups had a mean thickness of 922-1,065 microm and 1099-1,179 microm, respectively, on the lateral aspects, and 1,574-2,035 microm and 1155-1,330 microm, respectively, on the medial aspects of pulp horns. Surprisingly, some increase in thickness was found in some mandibular CT primary enamel in the first ...
Colgan SA, Hecker AT, Kirker-Head CA, Hayes WC.To determine risk of failure of the Synthes 4.5-mm cannulated screw system instrumentation in equine bone and to compare its application with the Synthes 4.5-mm standard cortex screw system. Methods: The maximum insertion torque of the cannulated and standard cortex screw systems were compared with the ultimate torsional strengths of the equipment. Pullout strength and ultimate tensile load of cannulated and standard cortex screws were also determined. Methods: Paired equine cadaver third metacarpal and third carpal bones. Methods: Maximum insertion torque and ultimate torsional strengths were...
Snyder JR, Pascoe JR, Olander HJ, Hinds DM, Young R, Tyler WS.Ten horses were euthanatized before, during, or after surgery to correct severe volvulus of the large colon. At surgery, the colonic serosa changed from blue-gray, blue or purple toward a more normal pink in seven horses after the volvulus was corrected. The mucosa consistently remained black or dark red. Results of postmortem colonic microangiography revealed perfusion of the serosa and the circular and longitudinal muscle layers, but mucosal perfusion was limited by thrombosis in the muscularis mucosae and submucosa. There was evidence of thrombosis of the mesenteric colic vessels in six hor...
Cardona GA, Uribe A, Ortved K.The economic relevance, populational importance and expansion of the Colombian Paso Horse to other latitudes calls for a growth in studies based on this type of horse. Lack of written reports about the relationship of the distal phalanx (DP) within the hoof in this gaited horse makes it important to establish a baseline to determine hoof health and possible alterations. The purpose of this study was to report, for the first time, the positional parameters of the distal phalanx, and its relationship within the hoof in sound Colombian Paso Horses. A latero-medial radiographic image of each dig...
Pozor M.Although ultrasound evaluation of the reproductive tract of stallions was introduced to veterinary practice long ago, this examination is not always conducted during routine breeding soundness evaluation. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of routine ultrasound evaluation of the stallion's reproductive tract. Breeding soundness evaluation of 113 stallions was performed, including ultrasonography of external and internal genitalia. Various pathological conditions were detected using this technique, with the most frequent being varicocele, thickened vaginal tun...
Dick L, Yule M, Green J, Young J.Horse riding carries risk of injury which can result in fatality. The majority of published literature describes major trauma centre experience. We aimed to characterise injury patterns following equine trauma at a Scottish district general hospital. Methods: A retrospective review of admissions following equine trauma was undertaken from 2014 to 2019. Mechanism and nature of injuries were noted. Patient management and outcomes were recorded and analysed to determine correlation. Results: Of the 162 patients identified, 121 (74.7 per cent) were female. The commonest mechanism and injury sustai...
Afshar A, Shakarchi NH, Dulac GC.Two competitive (C) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed for the detection of antibodies to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in animal sera. The assays are based upon the availability of polyclonal antibodies (PAbs) from mouse ascitic fluids prepared against the New Jersey (NJ) and the Indiana (IN) VSV serotypes. The assays were performed by the immobilization of VSV-NJ and VSV-IN antigens on a solid phase (microtiter plate). Appropriately diluted test serum mixed with an equal volume of serotype-specific PAb was allowed to incubate in the presence of the relevant VSV ant...
Saulez MN, Schlipf JW, Cebra CK, McDonough SP, Bird KE.A 4-year-old Oldenburg mare was evaluated because of signs of lower airway disease and subsequently developed bilateral pleural effusion. Neoplastic cells were not identified in the fluid sample obtained via the initial thoracocentesis. A thoracic mass was detected radiographically, but its location prevented collection of a tissue sample. A diagnosis of lymphoma was made on the basis of results of immunophenotyping of pleural fluid specimens. Treatment of thoracic lymphoma in horses has been attempted, but there are limited data regarding chemotherapeutic-induced remission. In this horse, rem...
Kitaoka Y, Endo Y, Mukai K, Aida H, Hiraga A, Takemasa T, Hatta H.To evaluate the effects of a single incremental exercise test (IET) on mRNA expression and protein content of monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 1 and MCT4 in the gluteus medius muscle of Thoroughbreds. Methods: 12 Thoroughbreds (6 males and 6 females; age, 3 to 4 years). Methods: Horses underwent an IET before and after 18 weeks of high-intensity exercise training (HIT). Horses were exercised at 90% of maximal oxygen consumption for 3 minutes during the initial 10 weeks of HIT and 110% of maximal oxygen consumption for 3 minutes during the last 8 weeks of HIT. Gluteus medius muscle biopsy spec...
Egenvall A, Bonnett B, Wattle O, Emanuelson U.Our objective was to determine the amount, type and cost of veterinary care during a 5-year follow-up period, in Swedish warmblooded riding horses with and without locomotor problems as recorded in 1997. The study population comprised horses with complete insurance both for veterinary care and life during 1997. The horses were followed from the beginning of January 1998 to the end of December 2002. The exposed cohort was composed of 1558 horses that had experienced >or=1 veterinary-care event because of locomotor problems in 1997 (LP-cohort). The exposure-negative (LN) cohort was composed of 1...
Blokhuis MZ, Aronsson A, Hartmann E, Van Reenen CG, Keeling L.A correct seat and position are the basis for a good performance in horseback riding. This study aimed to measure deviations from the correct seat, test a seat improvement program (dismounted exercises), and investigate whether horse behavior was affected by the rider's seat. Five experienced trainers defined 16 seat deviations and scored the occurrence in 20 riders in a dressage test. Half the riders then carried out an individual training program; after 9 weeks, riders were again scored. The study took no video or heart-rate recordings of horses and riders. Panel members did not agree on the...
Seo JP, Tsuzuki N, Haneda S, Yamada K, Furuoka H, Tabata Y, Sasaki N.A three dimensional scaffold is essential in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) delivery in cell-based therapy for facilitating cell adherence, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the possibility of β-tricalcium phosphate incorporated gelatin sponges (Gelatin/β-TCP sponge) as scaffolds for equine MSCs and to examine the effects of seeding density and seeding method on the proliferation of equine MSCs in the Gelatin/β-TCP sponges. Mononuclear cells and MSCs isolated from bone marrow were seeded into Gelatin/β-TCP sponges at different densi...
Crump AL, Davis W, Antczak DF.A cell surface molecule of equine T lymphocytes was identified and characterized using a mouse monoclonal antibody, HT23A. The molecule was detected on all T cells but not on other cells in peripheral blood, with the possible exception of a small subpopulation (about 5%) of B cells, as assessed by indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. HT23A labelled T cell areas of horse lymph nodes and spleen when used in an indirect immunoperoxidase assay on frozen sections. Macrophages and neutrophils were not labelled by the antibody nor were frozen sections of horse liver, kidney, or brain. HT23...
Higgins SN, Howden KJ, James CR, Epp T, Lohmann KL.This retrospective study was undertaken to estimate i) the surveillance coverage for equine infectious anemia (EIA) based on owner-requested testing, and ii) the incidence of case detection from this surveillance activity to inform a review of Canada's national disease control strategy. Based on sample submissions by accredited veterinarians to laboratories CFIA-approved for EIA testing between 2009 and 2012, the estimated national surveillance coverage was 14% for all years, and 72 cases of EIA were detected. The annual national incidence of EIA detection ranged from 0.03 to 0.08 cases/1000 h...
Petzinger E.Pyrrolizidine alkaloids belong to a class of phytotoxins which are present in more than 6000 plant species. The disease seneciosis in farm animals represents the severe poisoning by pyrrolizidine alkaloids from plants of the genus Senecio. This form of poisoning has been known since the end of the 19th century in Germany, the USA, Canada and New Zealand, and is mainly caused by Senecio jacobaea and related Senecio spp. in farm animals, including poultry. Animal poisoning by pyrrolizidine alkaloids is of worldwide importance. In Germany poisoning of horses and cattle by Senecio jacobaea, which ...
Crijns CP, Martens A, Bergman HJ, van der Veen H, Duchateau L, van Bree HJ, Gielen IM.Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly accessible in equine referral hospitals. Objective: To document the level of agreement within and between radiography and CT in characterising equine distal limb fractures. Methods: Retrospective descriptive study. Methods: Images from horses that underwent radiographic and CT evaluation for suspected distal limb fractures were reviewed, including 27 horses and 3 negative controls. Using Cohen's kappa and weighted kappa analysis, the level of agreement among 4 observers for a predefined set of diagnostic characteristics for radiography and CT separately...
Scheurer L, Bachofen C, Herteman N, Hilbe M, Wolfer N, Schoster A.This case series describes three cases of equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF) diagnosed at the Clinic for Equine Internal Medicine at the University of Zurich between 2012 and 2017. Current information on etiology and treatment options are presented. Two horses showed mild signs of chronic lower respiratory tract disease and one horse was presented with acute signs of disease including recurrent fever spikes and tachypnea. Diagnosis was achieved by physical examination, radiographic findings, and PCR testing for equine herpesviruses (EHV) of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid or lung...
Bellei MH, Kerr C, McGurrin MK, Kenney DG, Physick-Sheard P.To describe management of anesthesia for transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) in horses and report perianesthetic complications. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 62 horses with atrial fibrillation and without underlying cardiac disease and 60 horses without atrial fibrillation. Methods: Medical records of horses with atrial fibrillation anesthetized for TVEC were reviewed, as were records of horses without atrial fibrillation anesthetized for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The TVEC group horses were compared with MRI group horses for incidence of intraoperative bradycardi...
Ellse L, Burden F, Wall R.Equine pediculosis is a significant health and welfare issue, particularly in elderly and chronically debilitated animals. Currently infestation is controlled predominantly using topically applied pyrethroid insecticides, allowing limited scope for the rotation of drugs and increasing the risk of selection for resistance. Here the insecticidal efficacies of two pyrethroid-based products against the louse Bovicola (Werneckiella) ocellatus collected from donkeys were examined in vitro. The products were cypermethrin (Deosect™, Pfizer Ltd., 5% (w/v) cypermethrin, cutaneous spray) and permethrin...
Figueredo LA, Cafarchia C, Otranto D.Fungi of the genus Geotrichum are commonly found in the environment and, in some circumstances, they may cause diseases in humans and animals. Although these fungi have been isolated from skin lesions of some animal species, their pathogenic role in horses remains uncertain. With the aim to investigate the role of Geotrichum candidum as etiological agent of dermatomycoses, a retrospective study of 64 horses presenting skin lesions and suspected to have fungal infections was carried out. For each animal, anamnestic data were recorded and fungal culture were performed using hair. Out of 64 cases...
Robinson JA, Allen GK, Green EM, Fales WH, Loch WE, Wilkerson CG.Fourteen mares and their foals were attended at parturition. After mare-foal bonding, 8 colostrum-deprived (CD) foals were removed from their dams, deprived of colostrum, and provided with an alternative milk source for the first 24 h of life. The mares were milked out every 2-4 h during this period to remove colostrum, after which the CD foals were returned to their mares and allowed to nurse. Six colostrum-fed (CF) foals were allowed to suck colostrum in the normal manner. Foal serum IgG concentration was determined by single radial immunodiffusion (means, CD = 0 mg/dl; CF = 1,508 mg/dl). Ac...
Roberts HA, Hurcombe SD, Hillier A, Lorch G.House dust mite (HDM) and storage mite (SM) stable fauna and their associated equine intradermal test (IDT) threshold concentrations (TCs) for the midwestern region of the USA are unknown. Objective: To determine IDT TCs and serum IgE concentrations for two HDM and three SM species in clinically normal horses over two seasons, and to identify the mite taxa and habitats in a stable. Methods: Thirty-eight clinically normal horses. Methods: Threshold concentrations for HDMs and SMs were determined using IDT subjective measurements and a statistical model. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was ...
Alexander CS, Keller H.Over 130 cases of equine periodic ophthalmia (p.o.), which were treated as in-patients at the Equine Clinic of the Free University of Berlin in the last 35 years, were examined statistically in relation to the age and gender of the animals involved as well as to the development of the illness and the season in which it arose. As regards aetiology, the extraction of 71 affected Trotters was investigated. Antibodies to toxoplasmosis, leptospirosis and intestinal parasites were found only in some of the patients. Younger animals, aged between one and four years, and male animals (63.6%) were pred...
Arrighi S, Romanello MG, Domeneghini C.The epithelium that lines the ductuli efferentes in the horse, donkey and mule has been examined by electron microscopy. The epithelium consists of columnar ciliated and non-ciliated cells. Lymphocytes and macrophages are also present, together with cells that are rich in lipofuscin. These 'lipofuscin-rich' cells are a peculiar feature of the excurrent ducts of Equidae and are characterized by a large number of highly heterogeneous residual bodies. The general morphology of the epithelium and, in particular, of the non-ciliated cells implies that the epithelium is involved in the absorption an...
Brasch J, Fölster-Holst R, Christophers E.We report on the first human infection with Trichophyton equinum in Germany, which was transmitted from an infected pony to a 12-year old girl. Trichophyton equinum was identified by its morphology, dependency on nicotinic acid, hair perforation, and enzyme production. A noteworthy new observation was the development of white pleomorphic tufts on the surface of thalli grown on potatoe-dextrose agar. The girl's tinea was non-inflammatory and responded promptly to topical treatment, whereas the pony's strongly inflammatory lesions persisted for months. In supernatants of cultures supplemented wi...
Kos VK, Kramaric P, Brloznik M.The objective of this prospective case-control study of 125 horses with gastrointestinal tract-induced colic was to determine whether heart rate (HR) and packed cell volume (PCV) can predict surgical medical treatment and its short-term survival (time of discharge of the patient). Sixty-four horses were treated medically and 61 surgically (29 small intestinal and 32 large intestinal cases). At admission, both PCV and HR were higher in horses treated surgically than in horses treated medically; however, with longer duration of colic before presentation, the PCV was higher in the small intestin...
Gerding JC, Gilger BC, Montgomery SA, Clode AB.A 7-year-old, 153.0-kg American Miniature mare presented for evaluation of keratoconjunctivitis of the right eye (OD). A superior palpebral conjunctival mass and stromal keratitis were diagnosed. The incisional biopsy diagnosis was a presumptive corneal hemangiosarcoma. Transpalpebral enucleation was performed, and histopathologic evaluation confirmed angiosarcoma of the conjunctiva, cornea, and extraocular muscles. The horse developed progressive epistaxis and orbital swelling following surgery. A systemic workup was performed 3 months after enucleation, revealing regrowth within the orbit an...
Liska DA, Akucewich LH, Marsella R, Maxwell LK, Barbara JE, Cole CA.To determine serum pharmacokinetics of pentoxifylline and its 5-hydroxyhexyl metabolite in horses after administration of a single IV dose and after single and multiple oral doses. Methods: 8 healthy adult horses. Methods: A crossover study design was used with a washout period of 6 days between treatments. Treatments were IV administration of a single dose of pentoxifylline (8.5 mg/kg) and oral administration of generic sustained-release pentoxifylline (10 mg/kg, q 12 h, for 8 days). Blood samples were collected 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 hours after IV a...
