Veterinary medicine for horses encompasses the study and application of medical practices to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases in equine species. This field involves a comprehensive understanding of equine anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology. Veterinary practitioners employ a range of diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions to address health issues in horses, including lameness, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory conditions, and infectious diseases. Preventative care, such as vaccination and deworming programs, is also a significant aspect of equine veterinary medicine. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of veterinary medicine as it pertains to horses, including advancements in diagnostic techniques, treatment protocols, and preventive health strategies.
Apprich V, Spergser J, Rosengarten R, Hinterhofer C, Stanek C.Horn samples were taken from the hooves of eight horses with clinical signs of equine onychomycosis in at least one hoof capsule. None of the horses had a documented mycological history. The predominant alterations of the horn capsules were sand cracks, white line disease, brittleness (especially around the nail holes), parakeratosis and bruising. The horn samples were stored in sterile tubes for transportation and transferred onto Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and dermatophyte test agar for mycological examination within 6 h. Fungal cultures were incubated for 30 days at room temperature. Funga...
Dawson TRMY, Horohov DW, Meijer WG, Muscatello G.Rhodococcus equi is recognised to cause chronic purulent bronchopneumonia in foals of less than 6 months of age. Virulent strains of the bacteria possess a large 80-90 kb plasmid encoding several virulence-associated proteins, including virulence-associated protein A (VapA), which is associated with disease. R. equi pneumonia can represent significant costs and wastage to the equine breeding industry, especially on stud farms where the disease is endemic. This article reviews knowledge of the equine immune response, both in the immune adult and susceptible neonate, with respect to this pathoge...
Bruhn O, Paul S, Tetens J, Thaller G.Defensins represent an important class of antimicrobial peptides. These effector molecules of the innate immune system act as endogenous antibiotics to protect the organism against infections with pathogenic microorganisms. Mammalian defensins are classified into three distinct sub-families (alpha-, beta- and theta-defensins) according to their specific intramolecular disulfide-bond pattern. The peptides exhibit an antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi. Alpha-Defensins are primarily synthesised in neutrophils and intestinal Paneth cells....
Zoonoses and public healthDecember 23, 2009
Volume 57, Issue 3 211-219 doi: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2009.01303.x
Calistri P, Giovannini A, Savini G, Monaco F, Bonfanti L, Ceolin C, Terregino C, Tamba M, Cordioli P, Lelli R.After 10 years, West Nile virus (WNV) re-emerged in Italy in August 2008. As on 31 December 2008, the infection affected eight Provinces in three Regions (Emilia Romagna, Veneto, Lombardy), where a total of 794 cases of WNV infection in 251 equine stables were detected on the basis of the clinical signs and as a result of a serological screening in horses living in the area. Only 4.0% (32/794) of the serologically positive animals showed clinical signs, and the 32 clinical cases were reported in 18 different farms. The observed case-fatality rate was 15.6% (5/32). The confirmed clinical cases ...
Payne RJ, Lean MS, Greet TR.Between October 2000 and January 2007, 24 horses were presented with suspected squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the third eyelid. The hospital's medical records were analysed retrospectively to gain data about the cases, and telephone follow-up was obtained from the owners and referring veterinary surgeons. The resected third eyelid was submitted for histological examination in 21 cases; in the other three cases the tissue was not submitted at the owners' request, for economic reasons. SCC was confirmed in 16 of these 21 cases, three cases were diagnosed histologically as lymphoid hyperplasia,...
DeCarbo WT, Feldner BM, Hyer CF.Equine pericardium xenograft is now widely used to augment Achilles tendon repair. In this article, we describe the case of a postoperative complication in a healthy 37-year-old male who underwent primary repair, augmented with equine pericardium, of his acutely ruptured Achilles tendon. At 4 months postoperative, an indurated and fluctuant subcutaneous soft tissue reaction was noted at the repair site. Further questioning led the patient to recall having an allergy to horses, although it had been a very long time since he had experienced any symptoms related to the allergy and, as such, he fa...
Filipović N, Stojević Z, Prvanović N, Tucek Z.Pregnancy and lactation are periods of significant influence on bone metabolism that has not been investigated in equines. To examine the influence of late pregnancy and lactation on bone metabolism in mares, the changes in the blood serum/plasma total calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphates (Pi), pyridinoline (Pyd) and 17beta-estradiol (E2) concentration and the bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) activity were investigated. The samples were taken from 11 mares on 60+/-10 and 20+/-10 days before foaling, and 20+/-10 and 60+/-10 days after foaling. The concentration/activity of Ca, Pi, Pyd and BAP incr...
Acosta-Jamett G, Cleaveland S, Cunningham AA, Bronsvoort BM, Craig PS.Cyst echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most important zoonosis in Chile, where studies have focussed mainly in moist southern regions. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in livestock and humans in the semiarid Coquimbo region in north-central Chile. A review of all surgical cases of CE in humans reported in the Elqui, Limarí and Choapa provinces in Coquimbo region for the period comprising 1995-2006 was obtained. In addition, a retrospective study of CE covering condemnation records from slaughterhouses of these provinces from the same pe...
Belda E, Blissitt KJ, Duncan JC, Laredo FG, Escobar Gil de Montes M, Clutton RE.To record the bispectral index (BIS) when horses moved during either halothane or sevoflurane anaesthesia and when they made volitional movements during recovery from these anaesthetics. Methods: Randomized prospective clinical study. Methods: Twenty-five client-owned horses undergoing surgery aged 8.8 (+/- 5.3; 1-19) years (mean +/- SD; range). Methods: Baseline BIS values were recorded before pre-anaesthetic medication (BIS(B)) and during anaesthesia (BIS(A)) maintained with halothane (group H; n = 12) or sevoflurane (group S; n =13) at approximately 0.8-0.9 x minimum alveolar concentrations...
Panizzi L, Barber SM, Lang HM, Carmalt JL.To describe signalment, clinical, and radiographic changes associated with carpometacarpal osteoarthritis (CMC-OA) and to report long-term outcome. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n=33) with CMC-OA. Methods: Medical records (1992-2007) of horses diagnosed with CMC-OA were reviewed and signalment, clinical, and radiographic findings retrieved. Owners were contacted for information on the impact of lameness on intended use, response to treatment, progression of lameness, outcome, and owner satisfaction with response to treatment. Results: CMC-OA identified in 39 limbs, occurred predominan...
Munsterman AS, Hanson RR.To develop a direct method for measuring intra-abdominal pressures in the standing horse, identify a reference interval for direct intra-abdominal pressures, compare these pressures to indirect intra-abdominal pressures measured from the bladder, and determine the optimal bladder infusion volume for indirect pressure measurement. Methods: Prospective, experimental study. Methods: A university-based equine research facility. Methods: Ten healthy adult horses, 5 males and 5 females. Methods: Direct intra-abdominal pressures were measured through an intraperitoneal cannula and zeroed at the heigh...
Robinson E, Carmalt JL.To report inguinal herniation of the ascending colon in a Standardbred colt. Methods: Case report. Methods: A 6-month-old Standardbred colt. Methods: The colt underwent surgical exploration of the hernia with large colon resection and anastomosis. Results: A successful large colon resection and anastomosis was completed, however, the colt was euthanatized at the end of surgery upon owner request. Conclusions: Although uncommon, indirect inguinal herniation of the ascending colon can occur in young horses.
Houghton E, Maynard S.This chapter reviews drug and medication control in equestrian sports and addresses the rules of racing, the technological advances that have been made in drug detection and the importance of metabolism studies in the development of effective drug surveillance programmes. Typical approaches to screening and confirmatory analysis are discussed, as are the quality processes that underpin these procedures. The chapter also addresses four specific topics relevant to equestrian sports: substances controlled by threshold values, the approach adopted recently by European racing authorities to control...
Lang HM, Panizzi L, Allen AL, Woodbury MR, Barber SM.To evaluate 3 drilling techniques for arthrodesis of the equine carpometacarpal (CMC) joint. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Cadaveric equine forelimbs (n=15). Methods: Limbs were divided into 3 groups (5 limbs each) to evaluate 3 drilling techniques: (1) use of a 4.5 mm drill bit inserted into the joint through 4 entry points and moved in a fanning motion; (2) a 5.5 mm drill bit inserted through 2 entry points to create 3 nonfanned drill tracts (3 drill technique); and (3) a 4.5 mm drill bit used in a 3 drill technique. The CMC joint was disarticulated after drilling, and cartilage and ...
Barber SM, Panizzi L, Lang HM.To evaluate arthrodesis as a treatment for carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis (CMC-OA). Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n=12) with CMC-OA. Methods: Arthrodesis was facilitated by insertion and fanning of a drill bit into the CMC joint at several (3-5) locations in 15 limbs. Follow-up radiographs were obtained for 7 horses (9 limbs). Outcome was determined by telephone survey of owners based on postoperative pain, return to use, appearance of the limb, and success of treatment. Results: Postoperative pain was slight or moderate in 10 of 12 (83%) horses during the first 30 days, and 11 ...
Ludders JW, Palos HM, Erb HN, Lamb SV, Vincent SE, Gleed RD.To determine if horses before undergoing anesthesia for surgical correction of colic would have lower plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentrations than healthy horses undergoing anesthesia for arthroscopic surgery, and would not increase their plasma AVP concentrations in response to anesthesia and surgery. Methods: Prospective clinical study. Methods: University teaching hospital. Methods: Fourteen horses with colic and 8 healthy horses. Methods: Horses with colic underwent anesthesia and surgery for alleviation of colic, and healthy horses underwent anesthesia and surgery for arthroscopy...
Barakzai SZ, Boden LA, Dixon PM.To evaluate the effect of laryngoplasty (LP) on race performance in longer distance (National Hunt) Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: Case-control study. Methods: National Hunt Thoroughbred racehorses (n=71) and race-matched controls (n=126). Methods: Race records for National Hunt racehorses that had LP and ventriculocordectomy were analyzed and racing performance was compared with race-matched controls. Results: Sixty-three of 71 cases were matched with controls. Postoperatively, 78% of cases raced, 47% improved their individual performance and cases were as likely to start in 1 or 3 races a...
Theoret C.Horses are predisposed to traumatic wounds that can be labor intensive and expensive to manage. Skin has a considerable potential for efficient and functional repair however, while cutaneous repair is a regenerative process in the fetus, this capability declines in late gestation as inflammation and scarring alter the outcome of healing. The historical gold standard for replacement of lost skin is the autologous skin graft. However, the horse's lack of redundant donor skin limits the practicality of full-thickness grafting to smaller wounds; moreover, graft failure is relatively common in equi...
Iff I, Mosing M, Lechner T, Moens Y.To determine the usefulness of an acoustic device to confirm correct placement of extradural needles in horses. Methods: Prospective experimental study. Methods: Twelve adult healthy horses weighing between 434 and 640 kg. Methods: Horses were sedated, placed in stocks and subjected to caudal extradural anaesthesia using lidocaine 2%. For extradural puncture an 18 gauge Tuohy needle connected to an acoustic device via an electronic pressure transducer was used. This device allowed recording of the extradural pressure profile and the transformation of pressure changes into an audible signal. Ex...
Barakzai SZ, Boden LA, Dixon PM.To (1) assess the degree of arytenoid cartilage abduction lost after laryngoplasty (LP) in Thoroughbred National Hunt racehorses and (2) to correlate postoperative racing performance with degree of arytenoid abduction after LP. Methods: Case series. Methods: National Hunt Thoroughbred racehorses (n=68). Methods: Grade of postoperative arytenoid abduction for National Hunt racehorses that had LP with ventriculocordectomy was assessed at 1 day, 6 days, and 6 weeks after LP. Race records were analyzed to ascertain if there was correlation between the degree of arytenoid cartilage abduction and va...
Schramme M, Kerekes Z, Hunter S, Nagy K, Pease A.Fibrocartilage degeneration is the earliest pathologic finding in navicular disease but remains difficult to detect, even with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. We hypothesized that injection of the navicular bursa with saline would improve accuracy of MR imaging evaluation of palmar fibrocartilage. Thoracic limbs were collected from 11 horses within 6 h of death. Imaging was performed with a 1.5 T magnet using sagittal 2D proton density and transverse 3D FLASH sequences with fat saturation. For the purpose of determining sensitivity and specificity of the MR images, fibrocartilage was classifi...
Smith AJ, Felstead CW, Lawson JS, Weller R.Radiography is the most commonly applied imaging modality in equine practice and forms an essential part of the diagnostic work-up of lame horses. Radiographic signs of musculoskeletal pathology are frequently localized at sites of soft tissue attachment, which are often not clearly visible on radiographs. Different lesions carry different prognoses and require a variety of treatments, and a good knowledge of the position of the synovial structures in the distal limb of the horse is essential for practitioners in the interpretation of radiographs. This study describes a new technique for creat...
Nagy A, Dyson S.While low-field magnetic resonance (MR) images can provide useful information in the investigation of proximal metacarpal region pain, an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and comparison with more detailed high-field images are essential to understand the meaning of different signal intensities within tissues. This anatomic description is based on low-field and high-field MR examination of 30 cadaver metacarpal regions of mature horses with no history of carpal or proximal metacarpal pain. Normal MR anatomy is described and is illustrated by high-field and low-field MR images in transverse, sagitt...
Van Soom A, Wrathall AE, Herrler A, Nauwynck HJ.Although the transfer of embryos is much less likely to result in disease transmission than the transport of live animals, the sanitary risks associated with embryo transfer continue to be the subject of both scientific investigations and adaptations of national and international legislation. Therefore, the implications are important for veterinary practitioners and livestock breeders. In vivo-derived and in vitro-produced embryos are widely used in cattle and embryos from other species, such as sheep, goats, pigs and horses, are also currently being transferred in fairly significant numbers. ...
Moorman VJ, Marshall JF, Devine DV, Payton M, Jann HW, Bahr R.Radiographic diagnosis of equine bone disease using digital radiography is prevalent in veterinary practice. However, the diagnostic quality of digital vs. conventional radiography has not been compared systematically. We hypothesized that digital radiography would be superior to film-screen radiography for detection of subtle lesions of the equine third metacarpal bone. Twenty-four third metacarpal bones were collected from horses euthanized for reasons other than orthopedic disease. Bones were dissected free of soft tissue and computed tomography was performed to ensure that no osseous abnor...
Brink P, Dolvik NI, Tverdal A.The presence and degree of tarsocrural joint effusion and lameness, and the result of a hindlimb flexion test were scored subjectively in 79 horses before, and six weeks to 20 months after, arthroscopic surgery to remove osteochondritis dissecans fragments. The scores of all three variables improved significantly after surgery. The score reductions for the right and left hindlimbs, respectively, were 82 per cent and 95 per cent for lameness, 48 per cent and 41 per cent for joint effusion, and 89 per cent and 84 per cent for reaction to flexion (P < or = 0.01). The oldest horses reacted more fa...
Colahan PT, Jackson CA, Rice B, Szabo N, Jones JH.Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor vasodilator, increases cGMP concentrations by inhibiting enzymatic degradation. Marketed to treat erectile dysfunction in men, it also reduces pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP). Because it reduces PAP, sildenafil may enhance performance and/or prevent exercise induced-pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). Objective: To determine if sildenafil citrate administration altered commonly measured indices of performance or reduced EIPH in exercised horses. Methods: Thirteen athletically conditioned Thoroughbred horses (2 mares and 11 geldings, age 3-12 years) were ...
Gardner RB, Nydam DV, Luna JA, Bicalho ML, Matychak MB, Flaminio MJ.Phagocytic activity of neonatal foals has been reported to be similar to that of adult horses, but serum opsonization capacity develops with age and may be further altered when opsonins are consumed during infection. Objective: Phagocytosis, oxidative burst activity, and serum opsonization capacity in neonatal foals admitted to an intensive care unit are reduced in comparison with control foals. Methods: Blood samples were collected from hospitalized neonatal foals and from control foals. Hospitalized foals were characterized as sick or septic on the basis of a sepsis score and received intrav...
Di Francesco A, Donati M, Mattioli L, Naldi M, Salvatore D, Poglayen G, Cevenini R, Baldelli R.We tested 731 sera from apparently healthy light horses against Chlamydophila pneumoniae, by a microimmuno-fluorescence (MIF) test. To verify cross-reactions with other species of chlamvdiae, all sera with an antibody titre > or = 32 to C. pneumoniae were tested against both C. psittaci and C. abortus. Antibodies to C. pneumoniae were detected in 194 out of 731 (26.5%) samples tested, with antibody titres ranging from 32 to 1024. No antibody titre > or = 32 was detected in sera to C. abortus. Only few sera with a high antibody titre to C. pneumoniae reacted weakly with C. psittaci at the dilut...
García-López JM.Angular limb deformities are seen in young foals and are defined as lateral or medial deviations of the limb in the frontal plane distal to a particular joint. Several factors can contribute to the development of an angular limb deformity. Early assessment of the level of ossification of the cuboidal bones is critical to avoid complications long term. Although most deviations self-correct with minimal intervention other than modifications in exercise and hoof trimming, some require surgical intervention in the form of growth acceleration or retardation. This article focuses on growth augmentat...
Mayhew IG, Washbourne JR.The Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential (BAEP) is a recording of the electrical activity of the brainstem following an acoustic stimulation. Up to seven peaks may be identified within 10 ms, and are labelled I to VII. The first five of these peaks are of most clinical importance, and in normal horses, peaks I, III and V are always present at stimulus intensities of 70-100 dB. Repeated sampling of clinically normal subjects at different stimulus intensities has enabled mean latency values to be determined for the ipsilateral and contralateral peaks I, III and V, and also for the interpeak laten...
Greiner EC, Mays MB, Smart GC, Weisbrode SE.Verminous mastitis was the reason for euthanasia of a 22-yr-old Paso Fino mare from Miami, Florida. The etiologic agent was a species of Cephalobus (Rhabditida: Cephalobidae), a genus of soil-inhabiting nematodes that were obviously multiplying in the mammary gland. Only females and larvae were detected in the tissues by histologic section or by teasing the tissue to liberate the worms. At least 12,900 individuals were present per gram of tissue. This is the first case of Cephalobus infecting horses and it indicates that not all histiotropic infections of horses by rhabditoid nematodes are by ...
Hagler WM, Behlow RF.An outbreak of salivary syndrome in horses in North Carolina was investigated. Rhizoctonia leguminicola was the predominant fungus isolated from toxic red clover hay. The fungus was less prevalent in the hay after 10 months of storage, and the hay had also decreased in biological activity after 10 months. Toxic hay caused extreme salivation, piloerection, respiratory distress, and increased frequency of defecation when fed to guinea pigs, and purified extracts of toxic hay and pure slaframine elicited these same responses when injected intraperitoneally into guinea pigs. The freshly acquired h...
Pascoe RR.The effect on the fertility of mares during two outbreaks of equine coital exanthema have been described. Conception was not prevented, nor was pregnancy terminated in mares showing active lesions of coital exanthema. Normal pregnancy rates occurred in mares served during active infection of the stallions. Origin of the disease was not determined.
Mendonça MFF, Pimentel LA, Leal PV, Oliveira Filho JC, Caymmi LG, Silva AWO, Jesus RS, Peixoto TC.This study aimed to describe the first reports of outbreaks of hepatogenous photosensitization in cattle, sheep, and horses caused by spontaneous ingestion of Chamaecrista serpens, as well as to reproduce poisoning in sheep experimentally. Eleven photodermatitis outbreaks of unknown cause occurred in cattle, sheep and horses on nine farms in the semiarid region of Bahia, northeastern Brazil, between July 2017 and July 2020. Cutaneous lesions of photosensitization initiated until one week after the animals were introduced in paddocks invaded by the plant at the beginning of the rainy season. Th...
Yu M, Wang Z, Robinson NE.To determine the presence and function of alpha 2-adrenoceptors on cholinergic nerves innervating horse airway smooth muscle, the effects of some alpha 2-adrenoceptor agents on contractions of and acetylcholine (ACh) release from equine airway smooth muscle preparations were studied. Muscle contractions were elicited by either electrical field stimulation (EFS) or exogenous ACh. ACh release was induced by EFS and measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists clonidine (10(-7) to 10(-5) M) and UK-14,304 (10(-8) to 10(-6) M) conc...
Yazici Z, Albayrak H, Ozan E, Gumusova S.West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne disease that can cause fatal infection in mammals including humans, dogs, horses, birds and reptiles. Although West Nile Virus is an asymptomatic infection, especially it can cause neurologic disorders in humans and horses. The aim of this study was to the investigate virological presence of WNV in horses in the Black Sea Region of Turkey using real time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR). Methods: Totally, 120 horse sera were collected equally from 4 provinces in Middle Black Sea Region of Turkey and investigated for WNV presence by Taqman based rRT-PCR. Results: WNV n...
Langlois B, Blouin C, Chaffaux S.The files for ultrasound diagnosis of gestating mares belonging to the French equine herd recorded for 3 consecutive years were joined with the files for foal birth of these same mares, allowing the statistical analysis of factors of pregnancy loss. For 28 872 positive diagnoses of gestation, 2898 losses were recorded, that is, a global rate of gestation interruption of 9.12%. The etiology of these interruptions is mainly extrinsic: the year and month of insemination, as well as region for climatic reasons. The intrinsic causes that are implicated are breed of the father (heavy breeds except t...
Sipma KD, Cornillie P, Saulez MN, Stout TA, Voorhout G, Back W.Hydrocephalus is uncommon in horses. However, in recent years, it has become clear that the prevalence of hydrocephalus is greater in Friesian horses than in other breeds probably due to their limited gene pool. Before identification of candidate genes that predispose to the development of hydrocephalus in Friesian horses can be pursued, an in-depth, phenotypic, pathological description of the condition in Friesians would be of great benefit. Our study aimed to characterize the morphology of hydrocephalus in Friesian horses, to support further investigation of the genetic background of this co...
Morris CF, Robertson JL, Mann PC, Clark S, Divers TJ.A syndrome characterized clinically by oliguria, progressive severe azotemia, and edema of the abdomen and groin was seen in 2 horses. Treatment with fluids, diuretics, and corticosteroids administered intravenously was ineffective, and the horses were euthanatized. Microscopically, there was severe necrotizing angiopathy with profuse fibrin deposition in renal glomeruli and sinusoids of peripheral lymph nodes. The signs observed in the horses resembled hemolytic-uremic syndrome in human beings.
Gleed FD, Ducharme NG, Hackett RP, Hakim TS, Erb HN, Mitchell LM, Soderholm LV.We hypothesised that frusemide would decrease pulmonary capillary pressure in horses during strenuous exercise. Seven horses were tested after receiving saline or frusemide (2 mg/kg bwt) in random order with an interval of at least one week. Measurements were made with the horses standing, exercising at 75, 90 and 100% HRmax (maximal heart rate), and then walking 2 min after cessation of 100% HRmax. The exercise tests lasted for approximately 3 min with an interval of walking between them. Pulmonary artery and oesophageal pressures were recorded continuously and subsequent analysis of the pulm...
Rossetti RB, Gaido Cortopassi SR, Intelizano T, de Lima Machado TS, Ferreira da Cruz RS.To compare the quality of induction and recovery, degree of muscle relaxation, clinically apparent potency and cardiopulmonary effects of racemic ketamine or S(+)-ketamine when used for total intravenous anesthesia in horses. Methods: Prospective randomized clinical trial Methods: Sixteen healthy stallions (323 +/- 99 kg), with a mean age of 6.2 years, undergoing castration. Methods: Horses were pre-medicated with romifidine IV, 15 minutes before induction of anesthesia. Each animal was then randomly allocated to receive either diazepam and ketamine (DK) or diazepam and S(+)-ketamine (DKS) at ...
Barton MH, Morris DD, Crowe N, Collatos C, Prasse KW.Hemostatic indices were determined in 45 healthy light breed foals, from birth to 1 month of age, and in 20 healthy adult (> 2 years of age) light breed horses. Blood samples were obtained from each foal at 4 ages: 1) < 24 hours, 2) 4-7 days, 3) 10-14 days, and 4) 25-30 days. The following hemostatic indices were determined: platelet count; prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times; activity concentrations of protein C, antithrombin III, plasminogen, alpha-2 antiplasmin, tissue plasminogen activator, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; plasma protein C antigen and fibrino...
Manneveau G, Lecallard J, Thorin C, Pamela H, Tessier C.To compare the topographic modifications and tactile sensitivity of the pharynx and larynx after administration of four sedative and analgesic protocols in standing horses. Methods: Experimental, observer-blinded, crossover study. Methods: Eight healthy mares. Methods: Five protocols were evaluated: 1) xylazine and butorphanol administered intravenously (IV); 2) detomidine and butorphanol administered IV; 3) xylazine administered IV and lidocaine topically; 4) detomidine administered IV and lidocaine topically and 5) no analgesia or sedation (control). Quality of sedation, head height and sudd...
Haussler KK, Behre TH, Hill AE.'Soring' is the term used to describe the application of an irritant to the distal forelimbs of gaited horses with the sole intent of inflicting pain and inducing altered gait, illegally practiced in Tennessee Walking Horses. Objective methods for the detection of limb pain due to this practice are, however, lacking. Objective: To assess whether Tennessee Walking Horses respond to manual pressures<or=10 kg/cm2 and to establish reference mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) within the pastern region. Methods: In 25 mature Tennessee Walking Horses in which no irritant had been applied, MN...
Sykes BW, Underwood C, Greer R, McGowan CM, Mills PC.Omeprazole is widely used in the treatment of equine gastric ulcer syndrome. To date, little is known about the relative pharmacokinetics of the different formulations making comparisons between products difficult. The objectives of the study were to investigate the relative pharmacokinetics of five commercially available formulations of omeprazole in the horse and to test for bioequivalence of four of the formulations using one of the formulations as a reference standard. Twelve mature Thoroughbred horses were fasted for 16 h then administered 2 g of each formulation in a cross-over design. S...
Hobo S, Niwa H, Oku K.Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) constitutes a potentially valuable diagnostic tool for rapid diagnosis of contagious diseases. In this study, we developed a novel LAMP method (seM-LAMP) to detect the seM gene of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi), the causative agent of strangles in equids. The seM-LAMP successfully amplified the target sequence of the seM gene at 63°C within 60 min. The sensitivity of the seM-LAMP was slightly lower than the 2nd reaction of the seM semi-nested PCR. To evaluate the species specificity of the seM-LAMP, we tested 100 S. equi and 189 non-S. e...
Gacem S, Bompart D, Valverde A, Catalán J, Miró J, Soler C.This study was conducted to determine optimum image capture frame rates (FRO) when there was evaluation of different types of counting chambers used for CASA-Mot determinations of stallion sperm motility. Sperm VCL was determined at frame rates of 25-250 f/s in: 1) Spermtrack® (Spk) 10 and 20 chambers (drop displacement-type chambers 10 and 20 μm-deep respectively; and 2) ISAS®D4C10, ISAS®D4C20 (10 and 20 μm-deep respectively) and ISAS®D4C20 L (20 μm-deep) capillary loaded chambers. Values for different sperm kinematic variables were determined using each chamber at 250 f/s, whi...
Wong DM, Ruby RE, Eatroff A, Yaeger MJ.A newborn foal was presented because it was unresponsive and in cardiopulmonary arrest. Aggressive cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation was administered to the foal, which revived the foal; however, acute renal failure developed. Fluid retention and azotemia occurred although the foal was alert and able to suckle. A 6-hour renal replacement therapy session using hemodiafiltration and a continuous renal replacement therapy machine was administered to the foal at 3 days of age which lowered the foal's azotemia and facilitated removal of some of the excess body fluid. Despite therapy, the foal ...
George LW, Divers TJ, Mahaffey EA, Suarez MJ.Ponies given dried red maple (Acer rubrum L.) leaves at a dose of 3.0 gm/kg body weight became ill and died one to five days after administration of the leaves. Two clinical patterns of disease were seen. Ponies given dried leaves collected after September 15 died by 18 hours, while ponies given dried leaves collected before September 15 became ill with a hemolytic syndrome and died by three to five days. Freshly harvested leaves administered immediately after collection did not produce disease in ponies, but when dried, they became toxic and remained so for at least 30 days. Overnight freezin...
Dabareiner RM, Watkins JP, Carter GK, Honnas CM, Eastman T.To determine clinical, radiographic, and scintigraphic abnormalities in and outcome of horses with septic or nonseptic osteitis of the axial border of the proximal sesamoid bones. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 8 horses. Methods: Data collected from medical records included signalment; history; horse use; severity and duration of lameness; results of perineural anesthesia, radiography, ultrasonography, and scintigraphy; and outcome following surgery. Results: Five horses did not have any evidence of sepsis; the other 3 had sepsis of the metacarpophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal joint ...
Rodgerson DH, Spirito MA, Thorpe PE, Hanson RR.Two surgical techniques were used to evert the bladder into the vagina for observation and repair of bladder tears that were associated with parturition. One technique involved an incision through the vaginal floor into the peritoneal cavity just caudal to the cervix, and prolapse of the bladder into the vagina. The second technique involved a 3-cm incision through the urethra, 5 cm cranial to the urethral orifice, and digital exploration of the tear and finger traction to evert the bladder through the urethral incision. In both mares, the bladder defects were repaired in two layers, with use ...
