Growing evidences are indicating that mesenchimal stem cells may promote tendon repair via paracrine-acting molecules targeting inflammatory and trophic processes. To test this hypothesis we have studied the therapeutic potential of conditioned medium secreted by equine amniotic derived cells (AMCs-CM) in sixteen spontaneous different tendon and ligament injuries. Careful monitoring has proved the safety of these implants. Clinical outcomes were favorable and the significantly lower rate (12.5%) of re-injuries observed, compared to horses treated with bone marrow MSC, suggests that treatment with AMCs-CM has a proven efficacy. In conclusion, this study identifies AMCs-CM as a novel therapeutic biological cell-free product in the treatment of horse tendon and ligament diseases.
In this paper a case of pemphigus foliaceus (PF) in an Arabian thoroughbred horse is reported. The animal showed crusty generalized dermatitis as a result of dehydration of non-follicular pustules. Cytological examination of the crusts showed purulent exudate composed of segmented neutrophils and acantholytic keratinocytes without bacteria while histopathology confirmed the presence of crusts of acantholytic pustules. The patient was treated with an immune-suppressive corticosteroid therapy (prednisone 3 mg/Kg sid) with good results; however because of the cost of the management and poor prognosis of the disease, the owner opted for euthanasia.
Rib fractures occur most commonly in foals born after dystocia, secondary to natural or iatrogenic trauma, especially in primiparous mares. The cause of thoracic trauma may be focal pressure on the thorax during passage of the foal through the pelvic canal. The surgical treatment for rib fracture repair has been considered by few papers.The purpose of this study was to describe a method, easy to perform and as useful as other techniques, that can provide a stable fixation of fractured ribs, using a tension device that counteracts tension and bending forces.
The study was conducted from July to October 2011 to determine the prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in Bauchi state, North-eastern Nigeria. Four hundred horses were randomly sampled from the three ecological areas of the state which include Sahel Savanna, Sudan Savanna and Guinea Savanna. Blood samples were analysed using thin blood smear and Giemsa stain and ticks samples were identified visually. The overall piroplasmosis prevalence was 18% with B. caballi accounting for 83.3%, T. equi 11.1% whereas mix infection was detected in 5.6% of the animals. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the prevalence among the horses in the three ecological areas as well as between piroplasma infection and Paked-cell volume. The mean Paked-cell volume of the uninfected (37.67 +/- 0.56) and B. caballi infected horses (34.82 +/- 0.56) were within the normal range, while values for T. equi infected (30.87 +/- 1.44) and horses with mix infection (26.50 +/- 2.02) were below the normal range and significantly lower than those of the first two groups (P<0.05). The tick species found feeding on the horses include; Rhipicephalus evertsi (89.2%), Amblyomma variegatum (9.2%) and Boophilus decoloratus (1.5%). Rhipicephalus evertsi was the only species distributed in all the ecological areas, on the other hand, the A. variegatum and the B. decoloratus were found to be restricted to the Sahel and Sudan Savanna areas respectively. For the first time, the study has revealed the existence of equine piroplasmosis in Bauchi state and the three identified tick species are the potential vectors of the disease in the area. However, further studies using more sensitive diagnostic tests are recommended.
Different species of helminths cause intestinal infections which may potentially compromise health and welfare of horses. The most prevalent are nematodes belonging to the Strongylinae and Cyathostominae subfamilies and Parascaris equorum, and the tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata. Hence, knowledge of the diffusion of these parasites is crucial in horse operations for reliable worm control programs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of common horse endoparasites in the Military Riding Operation of Montelibretti and the Army's Veterinary Operation of Grosseto, throughout three different copromicroscopic techniques. Faecal samples from 238 horses were examined and animal details were registered in a questionnaire. The results showed a high presence of Strongylid infections (55%), while other parasites were found with lower prevalence (P. equorum, 2.5%; A. perfoliata, 10.5%). These results demonstrated that all major horse helminthes were present in the examined stables, thus potentially causing relevant diseases. Also, it was showed that the occurrence of different horse parasites should be evaluated with suitable copromicroscopic methods. In fact, a reliable knowledge on the helminth prevalence would allow appropriate effective worm control programs. Such an approach, along with pasture managements, would improve health, welfare and performances of horses kept in these important Military Operations and in horse stables in general.
Equine herpes virus -1 (EHV-1) is an important viral pathogen that induces major economic diseases: abortion in pregnant mares, early neonatal death in foals, respiratory disease in young and myeloncephalopathy. Recurrent occurrence of nervous manifestations in different horse breeding farms were reported in Egypt causing great economical loss, That may end with death of infected horses. This work was to isolate and identify EHV-1 as a possible cause of this major problem. Nasal swabs and blood samples (buffy coat and paired serum samples) were collected from sick horses (n=21) with respiratory and/or nervous manifestation and contact horses. Organs from dead horses were processed for histopathology and electron microscopy. Paired sera were tested by compliment fixation test to detect rising titers (sero-conversion). EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy were isolated from 9 horses (7 with respiratory manifestations and 2 from organs of horses died after nervous manifestations). Seroconversion (four fold rise in titer) was detected in paired serum for all horses showed respiratory manifestations. Vasculitis was the major lesion detected in brain tissues, while intra-nuclear inclusion bodies were detected in kidney, liver, lung and brain cells. EHV-1 particles were detected in the nucleus of brain cells with a measured diameter of 160 nm.In conclusion EHV-1 myeloncephalopathy should be considered as causative agent of respiratory and /or nervous manifestations in horses in Egypt.
The Amiata donkeys we have examined present, in terms of morphology, a significant sexual dimorphism. Males are higher, with larger skeletal framework and stronger indices of bone formation and body composition. The female is lighter, with longer and thin head and with a good pelvis structure, such as to better predict udder system development improvable by an appropriate selection and then a good availability to reproductive and productive career. The comparison between younger and more mature adults suggests that the Amiata donkey somatic development can not be defined fully completed within five years, especially with regard to some transverse diameter as the chest circumference and the width of the basin. The metabolic profile does not highlight significant differences as to sexes except for aspartate aminotransferase level, potassium blood content and leukocytes number. Between older subjects we noted a decreasing hemoglobin content and blood phosphorus, blood creatinine and chlorine increase.
Aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of inhaled amikacin, compared with systemic administration, on tracheal wash (TW) cytology and bacteriology and on clinical scoring in racehorses with presumptive Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD). Thoroughbred racehorses (n=16) with history of poor performance and positive results of TW bacteriology and amikacin sensitivity test were selected. The horses were then randomly divided in 2 groups: 8 horses (group A) were treated with 3,3 mg/kg of inhaled amikacin q24h for 10 days, 8 horses (group B) received 10 mg/kg of amikacin intravenously q24h for 10 days. Values of clinical score, TW neutrophils differential count and colony forming units/ml (CFU/ml) before and post-treatment (PT) in both groups were compared by Student-T test. Rate of recurrence of bacterial isolation PT between the groups was compared with Chi-squared test. In group A, a significant decrease in clinical score (p < 0,01), TW neutrophils differential count (p < 0,05) and CFU/ml (p < 0,01) was found. In group B a significant decrease in clinical score (p < 0,05) and CFU/ml (p < 0,01) was observed. No difference in bacterial isolation PT was found between groups. In conclusion, inhaled amikacin at a dosage of 3,3 mg/kg q24h for 10 days appeared to be effective in the reduction of clinical score, TW neutrophils percentage and bacterial CFU/ml. The absence of a significant difference between the two groups in the isolation of bacteria PT suggested the effectiveness of inhaled amikacin.
Aim - The purpose of this study was to determine ultrasonographic measures of the depth of the dorsal subarachnoid space in healthy foals of different breeds in order to: 1) obtain a range of values to be used as reference; 2) verify sub-arachnoid space (SA) depth increase during the first week of life; 3) verify the presence of differences related to gender.Material and methods - The depth of the dorsal sub-arachnoid space was recorded in 64 foals of different breeds at 1 day (T1), 4 (T4) days and 7 (T7) days of life, measuring the distance between the dura mater and the dorsal portion of the pia mater in a cross-sectional view just cranial to the wings of atlas. The probe was then rotated and the longitudinal scan was visualized, then measurements were taken just caudal to the occipital bone at the level of the cisterna magna. Mean and standard deviation were calculated. Skewness-Kurtosis test was applied to verify data distribution. Time-dependent changes were recorded using the analysis of variance and gender-related differences were recorded using the t-test for unpaired data.Results - Differences related to time were recorded in Thoroughbred foals, while no differences were obtained in show jumping and Quarter Horse foals. Differences related to gender were observed in all the breeds examined.Discussion and conclusions - A correlation between cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) pressure and ultrasound measurements at the SA has been recently reported in the foal. In the present study, measures of dorsal SA during the first week of life were reported for foals of different breeds. The present findings show that the dorsal SA measurements might be a safe, reliable and a not invasive method to evaluate foals with neurologic signs in the perinatal period and to assess indirectly the increase of CSF pressure.
Longitudinal tears (LTs) of the digital flexor tendons are one of the most important causes of the aseptic tenosynovitis of the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS). The long-term prognosis for future athletic performances after medical and/or surgical treatment is guarded. In this study medical records of 33 horses with aseptic tenosynovitis of the DFTS undergoing tenoscopic surgery were evaluated; a minimum follow-up of 9 months after surgery was considered. Thirty-four DFTS were examined, and LTs were diagnosed in the 79.4% of the cases (27/34); deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) was more frequently affected (25/27 cases - 92.5%). Preoperative ultrasonographic examination revealed LTs in 59.2% of the cases (16/27). Follow-up was available for 29 horses (30 DFTS). Even if the literature suggests a poor outcome, the surgical protocol adopted for DFTS complex tenosynovitis treatment permitted return to athletic performance in 58.6% of the horses (17/29). Twelve/21 horses (57.1%) with LTs of the DDFT performed to an equal or higher level of work after surgery, and 1/21 horse was sound and in ascending controlled exercise program at the time of reporting.
Three tissue culture inactivated equine herpesvirus-1(EHV-1) vaccines formulae were successfully prepared using different adjuvants (Montanide ISA - 206, Mineral oil and saponin with two concentrations). Virus was inactivated by binary ethyleneimine and residual virus infectivity was carried out on VERO cells and chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated chicken eggs. The vaccines proved to be safe and potent in both pregnant mice and mares. Challenge was applied only to inoculated mice to detect the role of vaccine in reduction of virus excretion. Cell mediated immune response in horse by lymphocyte blastogenesis revealed that there was an increase in the cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) at the 5th day post-vaccination and declined at 10th day then begins to increase at 10th day post boostering till 30 days. Also, the result showed that Montanide vaccine is better than mineral oil and horses vaccinated with saponin adjuvanted vaccine with 4 mg/ml induced more CTL than 2 mg/ml after vaccination but were nearly of the same value after boostering. Assessment of the vaccine immunogenicity in horses by ELISA and complement fixation tests (CFT) revealed that saponin adjuvanted vaccine was the best one and 2 mg & 4 mg/ml saponin produced the same immune potentiation effect.
The aim of the present paper was to describe a case of Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy (EDM) in a female yearling trotter horse with locomotory and postural deficits on the four limbs. Cranial nerve assessment was normal and the horse was bright and alert. On neurological examination, wide-based stance, grade 4/5 symmetrical ataxia, grade 2/5 paresis in thoracic limbs and 3/5 in pelvic limbs were detected. Mental status, cranial nerves and perineal reflex were normal, while cervico-facial reflex was absent. Neuroanatomical localization suggested a cervico-thoracic spinal cord lesion. Plasmatic vitamin E concentration was low, plain lateral radiography and myelography of the caudal skull and cervical vertebrae was unremarkable. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was clear and colourless. Total protein concentration and total nucleated cell count were within normal references. On the basis of the clinical and diagnostic findings, EDM was considered most likely. Vitamin E was administered per os at the dose of 6000 IU/foal with mild improvement. The filly was euthanized six months later. No macroscopic lesions were observed in the brain and spinal cord. At different levels of the spinal cord, histological lesions were characterized by astrogliosis, loss of myelinated fibres, and accumulation of lipofuscin granules.
