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Dallmeyer, M. D., Turner, R. M., McDonnell, S. M., Sertich, P. L., Dolente, B. A., Parente, E. J., et al. (2006). Theriogenology question of the month. Behavior problems in a stallion caused by a nephrolith. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 229(4), 511–513.
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Dargatz, D. A., & Traub-Dargatz, J. L. (2004). Multidrug-resistant Salmonella and nosocomial infections. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 20(3), 587–600.
Abstract: Nosocomial infections are a serious threat to optimum patient care. In addition, nosocomial infections can have far-reaching consequences for the hospital personnel and the financial aspects of the hospital. Nosocomial infections with Salmonella spp have been described among hospitalized equine populations more frequently than any other agent. Salmonella spp associated with hospitalized equids often possess more antimicrobial resistance determinants than do Salmonella spp isolated from healthy horses in the general population. There is little evidence to suggest that resistant salmonellae are more virulent than nonresistant forms. MDR forms of Salmonella complicate the selection of appropriate antimicrobials when they are indicated, however. Furthermore, the use of some antimicrobials may apply selection pressure toward enhanced ability of MDR Salmonella to colonize equine patients. Further research should help to elucidate the risky uses of antimicrobials in the hospital setting and define the role of disinfectants and treatments such as NSAIDs in the ecology of MDR forms of nosocomial infections, including Salmonella. In the meantime, thoughtful selection of when and how to use antimicrobials in equine patients, together with deliberate selection of which antimicrobials to use based on monitoring data and other factors, such as safety and spectrum, is advised.
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Dart, A. J., Snyder, J. R., Pascoe, J. R., Meagher, D. M., & Wilson, W. D. (1992). Prepurchase evaluation of horses: 134 cases (1988-1990). J Am Vet Med Assoc, 201(7), 1061–1067.
Abstract: To quantify some components of prepurchase evaluations in horses, records from 134 evaluations performed during a 2-year period were reviewed and the outcome was determined via telephone follow-up interview. Sixty-two percent of the prepurchase evaluations had been performed at the clinic and 38% had been performed in the field by the ambulatory service. All evaluations included physical and lameness examinations, whereas radiography (49%), endoscopy (15%), nerve blocking (5%), transrectal palpation (3%), hematologic analysis (2%), electrocardiography (2%), drug testing for analgesic agents (2%), and ultrasonography of the flexor tendons (1%) were not always performed. Fifty-nine percent of horses evaluated at the clinic were radiographed, compared with 33% of horses evaluated in the field (P less than 0.05). Thirty-seven percent of horses evaluated were judged serviceable for their intended use. Thirty-five percent of horses evaluated at the clinic were assessed to be serviceable, compared with 41% of those evaluated in the field (P less than 0.05). Horses used for pleasure riding (48%) tended to be considered serviceable more often than horses used for more athletic endeavors (3-day eventing, 33%; hunter/jumper, 24%; show, 31%; dressage, 30%). The most common basis for finding a horse unserviceable was lameness (88%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Dowdle, W. R., & Schild, G. C. (1976). Influenza: its antigenic variation and ecology. Bull Pan Am Health Organ, 10(3), 193–195.
Abstract: Influenza viruses have two surface antigens, the glycoprotein structures hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Antibodies to each of these are associated with immunity, but the structures themselves are antigenically variable. When an antigenic change is gradual over time it is referred to as a drift, while a sudden complete or major change in either or both antigens is termed a shift. The mechanism of antigenic drift is usually attributed to selection of preexisting mutants by pressure from increasing immunity in the human population. The mechanism of antigenic shift is less clear, but one tentative hypothesis is that shifts arise from mammalian or avian reservoirs, or through genetic recombination of human and animal influenza strains.
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Dyson, S., & Murray, R. (2003). Pain associated with the sacroiliac joint region: a clinical study of 74 horses. Equine Vet J, 35(3), 240–245.
Abstract: REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: There has been no large study of horses with suspected sacroiliac (SI) joint region pain in which the clinical diagnosis has been supported by either abnormal radiopharmaceutical activity in the SI joint region or by periarticular infiltration of local anaesthetic solution. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical features of horses with SI joint region pain, to document the age, breed, sex, discipline, size and conformation of affected horses and to compare these with the author's (SD) normal case population and to document the results of infiltration of local anaesthetic solution around the SI joint region. METHODS: Horses were selected for inclusion in the study based upon the exclusion of other causes of lameness or poor performance, together with clinical signs suggestive of SI joint pain and abnormal radiopharmaceutical activity in the SI joint region and/or a positive response to periarticular infiltration of local anaesthetic solution. RESULTS: Sacroiliac joint region disease was identified in 74 horses between November 1997 and March 2002. Dressage and showjumping horses appeared to be at particular risk (P < 0.001). Affected horses were generally slightly older than the normal clinic population (P < 0.0001), taller at the withers (P < 0.0001) and of greater bodyweight (P < 0.01). There was a significant effect of breed (P < 0.001), with a substantially higher proportion of Warmblood horses (51%) in the SI pain group compared to the normal clinic population (29%). There was no correlation between conformation and the presence of SI joint region pain. The tubera sacrale appeared grossly symmetrical in most (95%) horses. Poor development of the epaxial muscles in the thoracolumbar region and asymmetry of the hindquarter musculature were common. Twenty-six horses (35%) showed restricted flexibility of the thoracolumbar region and 10 (16%) had an exaggerated response to pressure applied over the tubera sacrale. Fourteen horses (19%) were reluctant to stand on one hindlimb for prolonged periods. The majority of horses (75%) had a straight hindlimb flight and only 18% moved closely behind or plaited. In all horses restricted hindlimb impulsion was the predominant feature; invariably this was most obvious when the horse was ridden. Stiffness, unwillingness to work on the bit and poor quality canter were common. Sacroiliac joint region pain was seen alone (47%), or in conjunction with thoracolumbar pain (16%), hindlimb lameness (20%), forelimb lameness (7%) or a combination of problems (10%). Seventy-three horses (99%) had abnormalities of the SI joint region identified using nuclear scintigraphy. Infiltration of local anaesthetic solution around the SI joint region produced profound improvement in gait in all 34 horses in which it was performed. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Careful clinical examination combined with scintigraphic evaluation of the SI joint region and local analgesia can enable a more definitive diagnosis of SI joint region pain than has previously been possible.
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Faber, M. J., van Weeren, P. R., Schepers, M., & Barneveld, A. (2003). Long-term follow-up of manipulative treatment in a horse with back problems. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med, 50(5), 241–245.
Abstract: In order to objectively quantify the effect of manipulation on back-related locomotion anomalies in the horse, a recently developed kinematic measuring technique for the objective quantification of thoracolumbar motion in the horse was applied in a dressage horse that was suffering from a back problem. In this horse, clinically, a right-convex bending (scoliosis) from the 10th thoracic vertebra to the second lumbar vertebra was diagnosed. As a result, there was a marked asymmetric movement of the thoracolumbar spine. Functionally, there was severe loss of performance. Thoracolumbar motion was measured in terms of ventrodorsal flexion, lateral flexion, and axial rotation using an automated gait analysis system. Measurements were repeated before and 2 days after treatment, before the second treatment 3 weeks later, and at 4 weeks and 8 months after the second treatment to assess long-term effect. At the same time, performance of the horse was assessed subjectively by the trainer as well. Symmetry of movement improved dramatically after the first treatment. After this, there was a slight decrease in symmetry, but 8 months after the last treatment the symmetry indexes for the various joints were still considerably better than during the first (pre-treatment) measuring session. Subjectively, the trainer did not notice improvement until after measurement session 4. Between sessions 4 and 5 (at 4 weeks and 8 months after the second treatment) there was a change of trainer. The new trainer did not report any back problem, and succeeded in bringing the horse back to its former level in competition. It is concluded that manipulation had a measurable influence on the kinematics of the thoracolumbar spine. However, it is recognized that an improvement in symmetry of motion is not equivalent to clinical improvement and that other measures, such as changes in management, may be more decisive.
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Forbes, A. B. (1993). A review of regional and temporal use of avermectins in cattle and horses worldwide. Vet Parasitol, 48(1-4), 19–28.
Abstract: Ivermectin and abamectin are two members of the group of parasiticides known as the avermectins; ivermectin was first registered as an injectable treatment for cattle in 1981. Since then, abamectin has been registered for cattle and ivermectin for horses. The relative popularity of the avermectins amongst farmers and veterinarians can be attributed to their spectrum of activity, convenience, wide margin of safety and the improved health and performance of stock following their use. Patterns of use in grazing animals apply equally to the avermectins as to other antiparasitics, particularly anthelmintics; these are based on a knowledge of epidemiology integrated with practical management considerations. For cattle, programs are commonly aimed at control of abomasal nematodes of the genera Ostertagia and Haemonchus. Use of avermectins is largely strategic in cattle, treatments being favored at the end of the period of transmission of these parasites; this frequently coincides with housing, entry into a feedlot or movement to another pasture. Simultaneous control of important ectoparasites at this time is an added benefit. Prophylactic use of avermectins at pasture is primarily targeted at the young first season grazing animal. In horses, a bimonthly treatment schedule during the period of risk has proved effective in helping prevent adverse effects of the main target parasites, including large and small strongyles and stomach bots. These patterns of use can be applied to the evaluation of the potential for avermectin residues in feces to have impact on pasture ecology. The evidence presented suggests that any effects are temporally and spatially limited. After more than a decade of practical use, there is no indication that avermectins have had a significant impact on pasture ecology and the environment.
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Francis-Smith, K., & Wood-Gush, D. G. M. (1977). Copropgagia as seen in thoroughbred foals. Equine Vet J, 9(3), 155–157.
Abstract: Four Thoroughbred foals were seen to quickly eat part of the faeces deposited by their own dams on some 40 per cent of the mare-defaecating occasions observed between the second and fifth week after birth. They did not do it before or after this period. This behaviour was thought to be a feeding pattern which formed a normal part of the foal's development.
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Fulhorst, C. F., Hardy, J. L., Eldridge, B. F., Chiles, R. E., & Reeves, W. C. (1996). Ecology of Jamestown Canyon virus (Bunyaviridae: California serogroup) in coastal California. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 55(2), 185–189.
Abstract: This paper reports the first isolation of Jamestown Canyon (JC) virus from coastal California and the results of tests for antibody to JC virus in mammals living in coastal California. The virus isolation was made from a pool of 50 Aedes dorsalis females collected as adults from Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo County, California. The virus isolate was identified by two-way plaque reduction-serum dilution neutralization tests done in Vero cell cultures. Sera from the mammals were tested for antibody to JC virus by a plaque-reduction serum dilution neutralization method. A high prevalence of JC virus-specific antibody was found in horses and cattle sampled from Morro Bay. This finding is additional evidence for the presence of a virus antigenically identical or closely related to JC virus in Morro Bay and indicates that the vectors of the virus in Morro Bay feed on large mammals. A high prevalence of virus-specific antibody was also found in horses sampled from Marin and San Diego counties. This finding suggests that viruses antigenically identical or closely related to JC virus are geographically widespread in coastal California.
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Gerber, V., Robinson, N. E., Luethi, S., Marti, E., Wampfler, B., & Straub, R. (2003). Airway inflammation and mucus in two age groups of asymptomatic well-performing sport horses. Equine Vet J, 35(5), 491–495.
Abstract: REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Horses housed in conventional stable environments are exposed to high dust loads. Long-term exposure to inhaled dust may lead to subclinical airway disease. HYPOTHESES: Airway inflammation and mucus accumulation are 1) common in asymptomatic well-performing sport horses, 2) increased in older compared to younger individuals and 3) correlated. METHODS: Mucus quantity and quality (endoscopic scoring) and BALF differential cytology were assessed in 13 younger horses (mean age 5 years) and 13 older horses (mean age 15 years), which had no historical or clinical evidence of lower airway disease, were performing well and were housed permanently in a conventional stable environment. RESULTS: 1) Airway inflammation and/or mucus accumulation were very common. All sport horses showed evidence of subclinical inflammatory airway disease (IAD). 2) Older horses, having been exposed for 10 more years to a conventional stable environment, did not show increased subclinical airway inflammation or mucus accumulation. The only differences between the age groups were increased BALF total and lymphocyte cell counts in the younger horses. 3) Mucus quantity and quality scores were not significantly correlated with each other or with BALF neutrophil percentages and absolute numbers. CONCLUSIONS: Although clinically healthy and performing well, all of the examined horses housed in a conventional stable environment showed evidence of IAD. The degree of IAD was not increased in older horses that had not developed clinical signs. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The effect of subclinical degrees of IAD on performance in dressage and show jumping should be investigated further to better understand the clinical significance of IAD in sport horses.
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