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.
Fierheller EE, Wilson DG.To determine failure strength, stiffness, and failure mode of 4 suture materials in equine linea alba. Methods: Randomized complete block design. Methods: Linea albas collected from 12 adult horses (mean weight, 475 kg; mean age, 10 years). Methods: The ventral abdominal fascia, including the linea alba, was collected and bisected along the linea alba into right and left halves. Each half was divided into four, 5-cm sections extending from the umbilicus cranially, and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 suture materials: 2 polydioxanone (2 PD), 3 polyglactin 910 (3 PG), 6 polyglactin 910 (6 PG), and 7...
Grosenbaugh DA, Backus CS, Karaca K, Minke JM, Nordgren RM.A new recombinant West Nile virus (WNV) vaccine has been licensed for use in horses. Prior to the availability of the recombinant vaccine in 2004, the only equine WNV vaccine available on the market had been an inactivated vaccine. Since the recombinant vaccine only expresses selected viral genes, the question could be posed as to whether a single dose of the recombinant vaccine would be effective in producing an anamnestic serologic response in horses previously vaccinated with an inactivated WNV vaccine. In this study we demonstrate that vaccination of horses with a canarypox-vectored recomb...
Desantis S, Acone F, Corriero A, Deflorio M, Zubani D, Ventriglia G, Palmieri G, De Metrio G.The distribution of sialic acid residues as well as other glycosidic sugars has been investigated in the horse oviductal isthmus during anoestrus, oestrus and pregnancy by means of lectin and pre-lectin methods. Ciliated cells and non-ciliated (secretory) cells exhibited different lectin binding profiles that were found to change during the investigated stages. Ciliated cells did not show any reactivity in the basal cytoplasm, while the supra-nuclear cytoplasm displayed a few of oligosaccharides with terminal and internal alphamannose (Man) and/or alphaglucose (Glc) during oestrus and pregnanc...
Sánchez A, Couëtil LL, Ward MP, Clark SP.Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD), exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), and upper airway obstruction (UAO) are common respiratory tract diseases that can decrease performance. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology and arterial blood gas analysis during a treadmill test by poorly performing racehorses presented to Purdue University. One hundred thirty-two horses with a history of poor performance were included in this study. Ten horses with no history or diagnosis of EIPH, IAD, or UAO served as controls. Horses were evaluated by rh...
Matthee S, Krecek RC, McGeoch MA.The intestinal helminth communities of 8 horses, 12 donkeys, 21 Hartmann's mountain zebras, and 44 Burchell's zebras were compared using the original data from 6 studies in South Africa and Namibia. Necropsy and worm recovery techniques were comparable between the studies. Sixty helminth species (58 nematode, 1 cestode, and 1 trematode species) were recorded. There were significant differences in the helminth community structures of the 4 Equus species. The helminth communities of the 2 closely related zebra subspecies were most similar, and they jointly shared 7 helminth species with donkeys ...
Saville WJ, Sofaly CD, Reed SM, Dubey JP, Oglesbee MJ, Lacombe VA, Keene RO, Gugisberg KM, Swensen SW, Shipley RD, Chiang YW, Chu HJ, Ng T.Previous challenge studies performed at Ohio State University involved a transport-stress model where the study animals were dosed with Sarcocystis neurona sporocysts on the day of arrival. This study was to test a second transportation of horses after oral inoculation with S. neurona sporocysts. Horses were assigned randomly to groups: group 1, transported 4 days after inoculation (DAI); group 2, at 11 DAI; group 3, at 18 DAI; and group 4, horses were not transported a second time (controls). An overall neurologic score was determined on the basis of a standard numbering system used by veteri...
Aleman M, Nieto JE, Carr EA, Carlson GP.This report describes 4 fatal cases of serum hepatitis associated with the administration of commercial plasma in the horse. Serum hepatitis in the horse is characterized by acute hepatic central lobular necrosis, and it has been associated with the administration of biological products of equine origin. None of these horses had a recent history of equine biologic-origin vaccination; however, they had received 1.5-5 L of commercial plasma, and in I horse, an additional 8 L of fresh blood. Acute, severe colic unresponsive to medical therapy, lethargy, or sudden death developed in these 4 horses...
Saville WJ, Dubey JP, Oglesbee MJ, Sofaly CD, Marsh AE, Elitsur E, Vianna MC, Lindsay DS, Reed SM.Sarcocystis neurona and Sarcocystis fayeri infections are common in horses in the Americas. Their antemortem diagnosis is important because the former causes a neurological disorder in horses, whereas the latter is considered nonpathogenic. There is a concern that equine antibodies to S. fayeri might react with S. neurona antigens in diagnostic tests. In this study, 4 ponies without demonstrable serum antibodies to S. neurona by Western immunoblot were used. Three ponies were fed 1 x 10(5) to 1 x 10(7) sporocysts of S. fayeri obtained from dogs that were fed naturally infected horse muscles. A...
Davis DG, Schaefer DM, Hinchcliff KW, Wellman ML, Willet VE, Fletcher JM.Hypogammaglobulinemia as a result of failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) is an important risk factor for infectious disease in neonatal foals. The current gold standard for determining serum immunoglobulin concentrations is radial immunodiffusion (RID). The purpose of this study was to compare immunoglobulin concentrations measured by RID with those determined by an automated turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA), which has a much shorter turnaround time. Immunoglobulin concentrations were measured by both RID and TIA in serum collected from 84 neonatal foals. Sixty-seven foals had result...
Vanniasinkam T, Barton MD, Heuzenroeder MW.Rhodococcus equi is a significant pathogen in foals predominantly causing a pyogranulomatous bronchopneumonia. Many vaccine candidates have been tested for the prevention of R. equi disease in foals. However, none of these have been developed for widespread commercial use. Previous studies have shown that a Th1 immune response is imperative for the protection of foals against R. equi disease. In this study a DNA and a protein vaccine based upon the well-characterised R. equi virulence-associated protein VapA were developed. The vaccines were tested in the BALB/c murine model and the results sh...
Luo Y, Uboh CE, Soma LR, Guan F, Rudy JA, Tsang DS.This method describes the simultaneous separation, identification, quantification and confirmation of betamethasone (BTM) and dexamethasone (DXM) in equine plasma by liquid chromatography (LC) integrated with multidimensional tandem mass spectrometry. Analytes were directly extracted from equine plasma by methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). The residues were reconstituted with sample solvent. LC separation of the analytes was performed on a Hypercarb column using acetonitrile/water/formic acid (95:5:0.5, v/v/v) as the mobile phase. Sample screening, quantification and confirmation were performed i...
Davidson AH, Traub-Dargatz JL, Rodeheaver RM, Ostlund EN, Pedersen DD, Moorhead RG, Stricklin JB, Dewell RD, Roach SD, Long RE, Albers SJ, Callan RJ....To compare neutralizing antibody response between horses vaccinated against West Nile virus (WNV) and horses that survived naturally occurring infection. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study. Methods: 187 horses vaccinated with a killed WNV vaccine and 37 horses with confirmed clinical WNV infection. Methods: Serum was collected from vaccinated horses prior to and 4 to 6 weeks after completion of an initial vaccination series (2 doses) and 5 to 7 months later. Serum was collected from affected horses 4 to 6 weeks after laboratory diagnosis of infection and 5 to 7 months after the first...
Saulez MN, Cebra CK, Heidel JR, Walker RD, Singh R, Bird KE.A 17-year-old gelding was evaluated because of dysuria, inappetence, and weight loss. Cystoscopy revealed severe mucosal ecchymoses with luminal hemorrhage and accumulations of crystalloid sludge. Analysis of a urine sample revealed isosthenuria, an alkaline pH, pyuria, hematuria, bacteriuria, and numerous calcium carbonate crystals. Histologic examination of bladder mucosa biopsy specimens revealed severe neutrophilic infiltration with mineralization. A diagnosis of encrusted cystitis exacerbated by sabulous urolithiasis was made. A Corynebacterium sp susceptible to penicillin, sulfonamide, a...
Flaminio MJ, Antczak DF.At days 36-38 of gestation, the equine invasive trophoblast cells migrate into the endometrium of the pregnant mare to form the endometrial cups. During their migration, they become surrounded by maternal CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, and stimulate a cytotoxic antibody response to the paternal major histocompatibility complex class I antigens that they express. Nevertheless, endometrial cup cells remain viable at the site of uterine invasion up to days 80-100 of gestation, suggesting the participation of immunomodulatory mechanisms to the maternal cellular immune response. To determine the effe...
Albrecht RA, Kim SK, O'Callaghan DJ.The equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) EICP27 protein cooperates with either the immediate-early (IE) or the EICP0 protein to synergistically trans-activate viral promoters. GST-pulldown and co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed that the EICP27 protein's cooperation with the IE or the EICP0 protein involves its physical interaction with these viral proteins. In the case of the IE-EICP27 protein interaction, IE residues 424 to 826 and EICP27 residues 41 to 206 harbor the interactive domains. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) suggested that the EICP27 protein is not a sequence-specific DNA...
Craigo JK, Li F, Steckbeck JD, Durkin S, Howe L, Cook SJ, Issel C, Montelaro RC.Among the diverse experimental vaccines evaluated in various animal lentivirus models, live attenuated vaccines have proven to be the most effective, thus providing an important model for examining critical immune correlates of protective vaccine immunity. We previously reported that an experimental live attenuated vaccine for equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), based on mutation of the viral S2 accessory gene, elicited protection from detectable infection by virulent virus challenge (F. Li et al., J. Virol. 77:7244-7253, 2003). To better understand the critical components of EIAV vaccine e...
Bradbury LA, Archer DC, Dugdale AH, Senior JM, Edwards GB.A horse which had had a caecal impaction for 10 days was treated by means of an ileocolostomy [corrected] but failed to respond satisfactorily. Before a second laparotomy was performed it was observed to have dislodged the extension set from a jugular catheter and air was heard being sucked into the vein. It became very agitated but was anaesthetised again and the impaction was removed through an incision in the apex of the colon [corrected] After recovering from the anaesthesia it developed severe signs of pruritus which subsided only after 12 hours. These signs were considered most likely to...
Glaser A.Before the introduction of the West Nile virus (WNV) into the United States of America (USA) in 1999, conditions in North America were ideal for an arboviral epidemic. Such factors as the large, susceptible and non-immune animal and human populations, the presence of competent vectors, increasing international travel and commerce, existing methods for rapid dissemination and an ill-prepared animal and public health infrastructure all combined to create the essential elements for a severe animal and public health crisis--the 'perfect microbial storm'. The introduction of WNV into New York City ...
Hu HH, MacAllister CG, Payton ME, Erkert RS.To compare analgesic effects of phenylbutazone administered at a dosage of 4.4 mg/kg/d (2 mg/lb/d) or 8.8 mg/kg/d (4 mg/lb/d) in horses with chronic lameness. Methods: Controlled crossover study. Animals-9 horses with chronic forelimb lameness. Methods: Horses were treated i.v. with phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg/d or 8.8 mg/kg/d) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution once daily for 4 days. All horses received all 3 treatments with a minimum of 14 days between treatments. Mean peak vertical force (mPVF) was measured and clinical lameness scores were assigned before initiation of each treatment and 6, 12, ...
Janicek JC, Dabareiner RM, Honnas CM, Crabill MA.To determine clinical history, structures involved, treatment, and outcome of lacerations of the heel bulb and proximal phalangeal region (pastern) in horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 101 horses. Methods: Medical records of horses with lacerations of the heel bulb and pastern were reviewed, and follow-up information was obtained. Results: 75 horses were Quarter Horses. Most horses were not treated with antimicrobial drugs prior to referral. Mean +/- SD time from injury to referral was 24 +/- 45 hours (range, 1 to 168 hours). Lacerations were most frequently caused by contact with...
Magnarelli L, Fikrig E.Blood samples were collected from 98 horses suspected of having borreliosis or granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Connecticut and New York State, USA during 1985, 1995, and 1996. Serum antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), based on whole-cell and recombinant antigens, in 82 (84%) horses. Of the 181 sera tested, 59% were positive, using whole-cell antigens, compared to 48% with protein (p)37 and 35% with VlsE antigens. An ELISA containing either of these fusion proteins can be used as an adjunct to general screening by an ELISA or immunoblot...
Derar R, Haramaki S, Hoque S, Hashizume T, Osawa T, Taya K, Watanabe G, Miyake Y.To elucidate the physiological role of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) during early pregnancy in mares, number of ovarian follicles was monitored ultrasonically during different stages of the first trimester of pregnancy in 36 thoroughbred mares. From 9 of 36 mares, blood samples were collected weekly from the mating day till the end of the first trimester of pregnancy and plasma IGF-I profiles were examined with other hormones, like follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), ir-inhibin, progesterone and estradiol-17beta. Plasma IGF-I level fluctuated throughout the stu...
Liu IK, Turner JW, Van Leeuwen EM, Flanagan DR, Hedrick JL, Murata K, Lane VM, Morales-Levy MP.In this study of equids, we investigated the antibody response and the effect on the estrous cycle following a single inoculation of porcine zonae pellucidae (pZP) employing controlled-release methodology. We also investigated the use of two different water-soluble adjuvants as an alternative to oil-based adjuvants. Twenty-seven domestic mares were inoculated with various formulations of pZP and adjuvant. We showed that the anti-pZP antibodies generated as a result of the inoculations persisted for at least 43 weeks (length of the study). Of the various formulations used in the study, pZP and ...
Harland MM, Fedele C, Berens v Rautenfeld D.Horses are highly susceptible to lymphedema. Knowledge of the morphological components of lymphatic collectors is therefore essential to understanding the function of the lymphatic system. A better knowledge of the lymphatic system allows the development of more effective treatments against lymphedema. The composition of hypodermal and deep lymphatic collectors was investigated with immunohistochemical staining, using antibodies against proteins of the collector walls from the skin in the hind limbs of 10 healthy horses. Lymphatic collectors can be subdivided into passive (elastic fibers) and ...
Benninger MI, Deiss E, Ueltschi G.We describe the clinical findings and radiographic abnormalities of a horse with a bipartite distal phalanx and a bipartite navicular bone of the right forelimb. Associated findings including suspected keratoma and degenerative joint disease of the distal interphalangeal joint are described and possible etiologies are discussed.
Seco Diaz O, Desrochers A, Hoffmann V, Reef VB.An 8-day-old Arabian-Morgan cross colt underwent cardiac evaluation. The foal was tachycardic, tachypneic, exercise intolerant and had a loud right-sided heart murmur and cyanotic mucous membranes. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection was diagnosed with echocardiography and confirmed at postmortem examination. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection is a very rare congenital cardiac abnormality that has not been reported before in the horse.
Taddei L, Benoit M, Sukta A, Peterson J, Gaensslen RE, Negrusz A.In order to protect the integrity of horse racing in Illinois, a complex testing of urine and blood specimens collected post-race from winning and special designation horses is continuously conducted. The initial screening by immunoassays was followed by the confirmation on presumptive positive samples. Instrumental screening was also conducted. Perimortem and postmortem specimens and special exhibits (syringes, needles, etc.) were also analyzed. The administration of alkalinizing agents was detected by measuring the total plasma carbon dioxide concentration. The laboratory analyzed specimens ...
Wong D.The clinical signs of horses diagnosed with equine influenza (EI) at Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre (CPEC) and the events surrounding their diagnosis are described. This was the site of the first case of EI diagnosed outside of the Eastern Creek Animal Quarantine Station. The clinical data demonstrate the rapid spread of the disease after a sufficient viral load had developed from the initial cases within CPEC.
Thomas GW, Bell SC, Carter SD.Fell pony foals are affected by a congenital fatal disease that leads to profound anaemia and immunodeficiency. Previous studies comparing healthy and affected foals have shown normal T-cell populations, but a severe B-lymphopenia. Objective: To measure the levels of individual immunoglobulin subisotypes in normal and affected Fell ponies and correlate these levels with the number of peripheral B-lymphocytes. Methods: Serum levels of individual immunoglobulin subisotypes were measured by ELISA and correlated with the number of peripheral B-lymphocytes (measured by flow cytometry). Results: Aff...
Yapklç O, Yavru S, Kale M, Bulut O, Simşek A, Sahna KC.In this study, 162 horses, 80 donkeys and 51 mule serum samples were collected in Konya city. Additionally, 64 horse serum samples from Ankara and 49 samples from Kayseri city were included in the study. A total of 406 serum samples were examined by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibody to equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) and no positive result was detected.
Davis JL, Gardner SY, Jones SL, Schwabenton BA, Papich MG.The properties of azithromycin suggest that it may be an alternative to erythromycin for treatment of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals. To investigate this possibility, the disposition of azithromycin in plasma, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), and alveolar cells was examined after a single administration in foals. Azithromycin suspension was administered orally (p.o.) at a dose of 10 mg/kg to five healthy 2-3-month-old foals. Two weeks later, azithromycin for injection was administered by intravenous (i.v.) infusion at a dose of 5 mg/kg to the same foals. Plasma samples were collected a...
Murphy JR, McPherson EA, Lawson GH.80 mg sodium cromoglycate (SCG) was administered by inhalation to two COPD-affected animals known to have respiratory hypersensitivity to Micropolyspora faeni. SCG treatment 20-30 minutes prior to inhalation challenge with M. faeni prevented exacerbation of respiratory disease, usually seen 4-8 hours after challenge. duration of protection against antigen challenge after a single SCG treatment was 4-5 days. The duration of protection was not prolonged by reducing the frequency of antigen challenge. Multiple antigen challenge, using M. faeni and Aspergillus fumigatus, shortened the protective p...
Harvey-Micay J.An 8-year-old, Thoroughbred-cross mare presented with recurrent colic. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a large mass near the right dorsal colon; white, raised foci on the liver; and enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. Cytological examination of biopsies revealed neoplastic cells. The diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was confirmed by histological examination.
Franklin H, Burnt JF, Allen KJ.Dynamic collapse of the upper respiratory tract (URT) is a common cause of poor performance in horses. These conditions occur predominantly during strenuous exercise when the URT is unable to maintain dilation in the face of high inspiratory pressures. In most cases, these disorders cannot be accurately diagnosed during a resting endoscopic examination. To date, a definitive diagnosis of dynamic URT obstructions has been possible only by performing an endoscopic examination during high-speed treadmill exercise. However, recent technological advances now enable URT endoscopy to be performed whi...
Park SC, Yun HI.The pharmacokinetic properties of norfloxacin-glycine acetate (NFLXGA) were determined in six horses following a single intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) dose of 4 mgkg(-1) body weight. Following i.v. and i.m. administration, the plasma drug concentrations were best fitted by an open two-compartment model with a rapid distribution phase. After i.v. NFLXGA administration, the distribution (t(1/2alpha)) and elimination half-life (t(1/2beta)) were 0.42 (0.05) and 5.44 (1.36)h. The volume of distribution of NFLXGA at steady state (Vd(ss)) was 2.19 (0.53) Lkg(-1). After NFLXGA i.m. admini...
Sprackman L, Dakin SG, May SA, Weller R.Osteoarthritis (OA) of the low motion joints of the tarsus, commonly termed 'bone spavin', is common in horses. Whilst the aetiology of this condition is multifactorial, it has been suggested that dorsal wedging of the central tarsal bone (CTB) and third tarsal bone (TTB) may predispose to the development of this disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between tarsal bone conformation and osteoarthritis of the proximal intertarsal (PIT), distal intertarsal (DIT) and tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints. It was hypothesised that wedging of the CTB and TTB would be associated ...
Bogdan I, Nechifor A, Băşea I, Hruban E.In the Rumanian traditional medicine a transcutaneous implantation of the root of Helleborus purpurascens is used to provoke leucocytosis and neutrophils with the aim to activate chronic diseases for better healing. The skin is perforated with a thick needle (in cattle and horses in the area of the thorax, in sheep and pigs in the ear flap), the transplant is introduced and after 24 hours removed. Though the method is more than 100 years old, it is not reported in the literature. The way of action is unknown. The investigation are performed to show the efficacy of this method of Helleborus-imp...
Moore RM, Muir WW, Bertone AL, Beard WL.Effects of low-flow ischemia and reperfusion of the large colon on systemic and colonic hemodynamic and metabolic variables were determined in horses. Twenty-four adult horses were randomly allocated to 3 groups: sham-operated (n = 6), 6 hours of ischemia (n = 9), and 3 hours of ischemia and 3 hours of reperfusion (n = 9). Low-flow ischemia was induced in groups 2 and 3 by reducing colonic arterial blood flow to 20% of baseline. Heart rate, arterial blood pressures, cardiac index, pulmonary artery pressure, right atrial pressure, and colonic blood flow were monitored. Arterial, mixed-venous, a...
Punzón E, García-Castillo M, Rico MA, Padilla L, Pradera A.Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent cells with a wide range of therapeutic applications, including, among others, tissue regeneration. This work aims to test the safety (EUC-MSC) of intra-articular administration of equine umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in young healthy dogs under field conditions following single and repeated administration. This was compared with the safety profile of allogenic canine adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (CAD-MSC) and placebo in order to define the safety of xenogeneic use of mesenchymal stem cells when administered intra-articular. Twenty-four p...
James S, Daffy J, Cook J, Samiric T.Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are associated with increased risk of tendinopathy and tendon rupture, which can occur well after cessation of treatment. We have previously reported that the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin (CPX) reduced proteoglycan synthesis in equine tendon explants. This study aimed to determine the effects of CPX on proteoglycan catabolism and whether any observed effects are reversible. Equine superficial digital flexor tendon explant cultures were treated for 4 days with 1, 10, 100 or 300 µg/mL CPX followed by 8 days without CPX. The loss of [S]-labelled proteoglycans and che...
Welch RD, Dean PW, Miller MW.Pulsed spectral Doppler ultrasonography was used to characterize the vascular involvement and anatomic boundaries of a peripheral arteriovenous fistula on the hemithorax of a horse. This information facilitated surgical removal of the fistula. Pulsed spectral Doppler evaluation of suspected peripheral vascular anomalies should be considered for the diagnosis of similar lesions, in which contrast angiography is not possible.
Barclay WP, Foerner JJ, Phillips TN.Axial sesamoid injuries were found in 4 of 18 horses with lateral condylar fractures of the metacarpus or metatarsus. The injuries appeared as axial sesamoid fractures or progressive demineralization of the axial border of one of the sesamoids. None of the horses with axial sesamoid injuries returned to performance soundness. Axial sesamoid injury appeared to be an indication of severe fetlock trauma due to condylar fracture. Such injuries appeared to indicate a poor prognosis for return to performance soundness.
Carlson GP, O'Brien MA.Anaerobic bacterial pneumonia with septicemia was diagnosed in 2 Thoroughbred racehorses referred with respiratory tract disease that had failed to respond to initial treatment with various antibiotics including penicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Multiple anaerobic organisms, including Bacteroides spp and Fusobacterium spp, were isolated from blood and transtracheal aspirates obtained from both horses and from aspirates of cutaneous nodules obtained from 1 horse. The latter horse responded to metronidazole treatment followed by procaine penicillin G administration and regained its h...
Amaral A, Fernandes C, Szóstek-Mioduchowska A, Lukasik K, Rebordão MR, Pinto-Bravo P, Skarzynski DJ, Ferreira-Dias G.Cathepsin G (CAT) is a protease released by neutrophils when forming neutrophil extracellular traps that was already associated with inducing type I collagen (COL1) in equine endometrium in vitro. Endometrosis is a fibrotic condition mainly characterized by COL1 deposition in the equine endometrium. The objective was to evaluate if noscapine (an alkaloid for cough treatment with anti-neoplastic and anti-fibrotic properties) would reduce transcription (evaluated by qPCR) and COL1 protein relative abundance (evaluated by western blot) induced by CAT in equine endometrial explants from follicula...
Vullo V, Mastroianni CM, Lichtner M, Mengoni F, Chiappini E, D'Agostino C, Delia S.Thirty healthy blood donors, 15 workers from horse-breeding farms, 69 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative persons at risk for HIV infection, 125 HIV-infected subjects without Rhodococcus equi infection, and nine HIV-infected patients with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia were evaluated in order to detect serum antibodies to Rhodococcus equi precipitate-soluble antigen by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Whereas EIA values for healthy donors, horse farm workers, individuals at risk for HIV infection, and HIV-positive subjects without Rhodococcus equi infection were comparable, HIV-infected patien...
Greiwe-Crandell KM, Kronfeld DS, Gay LS, Sklan D, Tiegs W, Harris PA.Forty-five Thoroughbred mares used in an 8-mo depletion study were kept for an additional 20 mo on the same three forage diets (15 mares each): 2-yr-old orchardgrass hay and vitamin A-free concentrate on a drylot (HC); pasture, orchardgrass/alfalfa hay, and vitamin A-free concentrate (PHC); or pasture and orchardgrass/alfalfa hay only (PH). Each diet group was divided into three subgroups, and mares (n = 5) in each group were given either retinyl palmitate (A) at twice the NRC (1989) recommended daily intake, the equivalent amount of vitamin A in the form of water-dispersible beta-carotene (B)...
Björnsdóttir S, Agustsdóttir E, Blomström AL, Oström IL, Berndtsson LT, Svansson V, Wensman JJ.In a stable of eight horses in Northern Iceland, six horses presented with clinical signs, such as ataxia and reduced appetite, leading to euthanasia of one severely affected horse. Serological investigations revealed no evidence of active equine herpes virus type 1 infection, a common source of central nervous system disease in horses, nor equine arteritis virus and West Nile virus. Another neurotropic virus, Borna disease virus, was therefore included in the differential diagnosis list. Results: Serological investigations revealed antibodies against Borna disease virus in four of five horses...
Diel de Amorim M, Chenier TS, Card C, Back B, McClure JT, Hanna P.Hydropsical conditions are exceedingly rare in the horse. However, when they occur, they are true emergencies due to the severe enlargement of the pregnant uterus, which can result in clinical signs, such as an enlarged round abdomen, dyspnea, reluctance to walk, and colic, and may lead to the development of abdominal wall disease. The pathogenesis of hydropsical conditions is not fully elucidated, but they have been associated with placentitis and fetal abnormalities. This report describes six cases of hydropsical conditions in mares with or without concurrent abdominal wall disease. Five out...
Cotovio M, Monreal L, Navarro M, Segura D, Prada J, Alves A.Histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques have been used to detect fibrin deposits in different tissues in humans and experimental animal models with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Fibrin deposits also have been observed in horses with severe ischemic and inflammatory disorders by histochemical stainings (phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin [PTAH]). Objective: Immunohistochemical (IHC) methods can be used to accurately detect fibrin deposits in horses at risk of DIC. Methods: Tissue-organ samples collected on postmortem examination from 87 horses with severe inflammatory and...
Breuhaus BA, DeGraves FJ, Honore EK, Papich MG.To determine pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen in healthy foals and to determine clinical effects after oral administration for 6 days. Methods: 7 healthy 5- to 10-week-old foals. Methods: Serum concentrations of ibuprofen were measured after IV and oral (nasogastric tube) administration at dosages of 10 and 25 mg/kg of body weight. Foals were given ibuprofen (25 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h) as a paste for 6 days. Serum and urine were obtained before and after the 6-day period. Results: Half-life of elimination (Kel t1/2) of IV-administered ibuprofen (ie, 10 and 25 mg/kg), was 79 and 108 minutes, maximal ser...
Harman J, Ward M.Equine Cushing's syndrome, a relatively common and complex condition, is difficult to treat with conventional medicine. Cushing's syndrome involves a hyperplasia or adenoma of the anterior pituitary gland. Biochemical alterations include increased endogenous cortisol, insulin resistance, elevated adrenocorticotrophic hormone, and decreased thyroid hormone levels. Symptoms include hirsutism with no loss of the winter coat in summer, refractory laminitis, weight problems (over- or underweight), polyuria/polydipsia (Pu/Pd), frequent infections, lowered immunity to intestinal parasites, decreased ...
Steffey EP, Woliner MJ, Puschner B, Galey FD.To quantitate the effects of desflurane and mode of ventilation on cardiovascular and respiratory functions and identify changes in selected clinicopathologic variables and serum fluoride values associated with desflurane anesthesia in horses. Methods: 6 healthy adult horses. Methods: Horses were anesthetized on 2 occasions: first, to determine the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of desflurane in O2 and second, to characterize cardiopulmonary and clinicopathologic responses to 1X, 1.5X, and 1.75X desflurane MAC during both controlled and spontaneous ventilation. Results: Mean +/- SEM MAC ...
Teubner A, Müller K, Bartmann CP, Sieme H, Klug E, Zingrebe B, Schoon HA.The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the anabolic steroid testosterone on the testicular vascularization, angiogenesis and expression of angiogenic factors, and their receptors in testes of peripubertal stallions. Seven peripubertal stallions were treated with Durateston and castrated either 4 (treatment group 1 [TG1]) or 12 weeks (TG2) after the last injection. The castration of seven untreated control stallions (control group [CG]) took place within the same time. In the testicular specimens, volume density (VD), numerical density (ND), and area of vessels were determined mor...
