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Equine medicine represents a relevant field of veterinary science and the horse industry generates a significant economic impact. Horses can be involved in different sport disciplines, meat production, work and recreational purposes. Horses are also important for human health as they can be used as animal models for studying human diseases and in equine-assisted therapy. This review summarizes the data related to body fluids such as plasma/serum, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, saliva, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and peritoneal fluid obtained using proteomic analysis. Horse body fluid proteome analysis under various physiological and pathological conditions is a useful method for identifying new biomarkers for horse diseases which are still difficult to diagnose, but with serious consequences on equine health and welfare. The findings reported here reveal that further proteomic studies on equine body fluids collected from diseased animals are required. SIGNIFICANCE: Body fluids are sources of potential protein biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutic target identification. Indeed, they contain proteins that play a crucial role in cell functions and whose presence or relative abundance are indicative of the health status of tissues/organs. The review reports the data on the equine body fluids obtained using proteomic analysis, including those which are commonly used to obtain a correct diagnosis and prognosis of horse diseases which still pose a significant challenge. For equine medicine, new biomarkers are needed to formulate early diagnosis and to distinguish among diseases with similar clinical signs.

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OBJECTIVE: To determine the nature of serological responses in Australian horses using a commercial duplex indirect ELISA (iELISA) following vaccination against strangles. DESIGN: A group (n = 19) of client-owned horses from five properties were recruited to receive a primary course of a Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) extract vaccine. Serological responses were determined by duplex iELISA incorporating S. equi-specific fragments of two cell wall proteins, SEQ2190 and SeM (antigens (Ag) A and C, respectively). METHODS: The horses were administered a primary strangles vaccination course. Blood was collected immediately prior to each of the three vaccinations at 2-week intervals and additionally at 28 and 56 days following the 3rd vaccination (V3). RESULTS: Significant increases in mean antibody levels of horses following vaccination were limited only to AgC, which was significantly increased at T2/V3, 14 days following V2 (ratio of geometric means = 3.7; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6, 8.4; P = 0.003). There was no increase in mean antibody to Ag A (ratio of geometric means = 1.4; 95% CI: 0.6, 3.2; P = 0.39). Four horses (22%) exceeded the test cut-off for AgC following vaccination. CONCLUSION: Vaccination of Australian horses is unlikely to interfere greatly with detection of strangles using the duplex iELISA. No responses would be anticipated to AgA following vaccination with Equivac© S/Equivac© 2in1 and only a minority are likely to respond to AgC. We conclude that the results of this study validate the usefulness of the duplex iELISA to assist control measures for strangles outbreaks in Australian horse populations.

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Confirmation of glanders has not been possible in suspected cases submitted by field veterinarians, mainly due to the lack of diagnostic tools in Nepal. In view, however, of the re-emergence of glanders in India and the unrestricted migration of equines from there in to Nepal, an outbreak of Glanders in the short term is a distinct possibility. Such an event would affect the rural, marginalized community, and brick kiln industries. Therefore, due attention on the national epidemiological study and strengthened animal quarantine system with holding yards and laboratory backups are highly requested. Besides, the government's timely action on disease prevalence, monitoring, and disease reporting is utmost important besides widespread public awareness to prevent the entry and control the disease.

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ABSTRACT: This report described clinical, epidemiological, and pathological aspects of ischemic myelopathy caused by fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) in a 10-year-old, mixed breed gelding. Clinically, the horse presented acute hind limbs paralysis, with a clinical course of approximately 24 hours. At necropsy, no gross lesions were observed. Cross-sections of the spinal cord revealed focally extensive areas of malacia from the T10 to L4 segments. Focally extensive areas of liquefactive necrosis involving the gray matter and adjacent white matter were observed on histologic sections. The lumen of multiple blood vessels in the periphery of the necrotic areas was occluded by fibrocartilaginous emboli that strongly stained with alcian blue. Clinical signs, gross necropsy, and histological findings observed in this case were identical to those described in the literature for ischemic myelopathy caused by FCE in the horse and other species.

RESUMO: Este relato descreve os aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos e anatomopatológicos de um caso de mielopatia isquêmica por embolismo fibrocartilaginoso (FCE) em um equino, macho castrado, sem raça definida, com 10 anos de idade. Clinicamente, o equino apresentou paralisia aguda dos membros pélvicos com evolução de aproximadamente 24 horas. Na necropsia não foram observadas alterações. Após serem realizados vários cortes transversais na medula espinhal, observou-se área focalmente extensa de malacia entre o segmento T10 até L4. Histologicamente haviam áreas focalmente extensas de necrose de liquefação envolvendo a substância cinzenta e a substância branca adjacente. Múltiplos vasos sanguíneos da periferia das áreas de necrose estavam ocluídos por êmbolos fibrocartilaginosos, que reagiram fortemente pela técnica de azul alciano. Os sinais clínicos, as lesões macroscópicas e os achados histológicos observados neste caso, são idênticos aos descritos na literatura para FCE em equinos e nas demais espécies.

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BACKGROUND: The number of Standardbred racehorses admitted to the Ontario Veterinary College Teaching Hospital (Guelph, Canada) for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been on the rise since the early 1990s. A small number of sires have been contributing to a large proportion of cases, indicating there may be a genetic predisposition to the arrhythmia in this breed. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the heritability of AF in Standardbred horses and whether heritability of the arrhythmia differs across gaits and/or sexes. STUDY DESIGN: Heritability study based on retrospective review of clinical records and publicly available pedigree and racing records. METHODS: Standardbred horses admitted to hospital for treatment of AF that were born between 1978 and 2007 comprised the affected case population (n = 204). Five randomly selected racing contemporaries for each case, assumed to not suffer from the arrhythmia, comprised the control population (n = 1017). Racing contemporaries were identified by examining the race records of affected horses within the 6 months prior to their admission, and randomly selecting sex- and gait-matched horses from these races. Heritability was estimated from the sampled horses as a whole (n = 1221), as well as for both sexes and gaits, using a generalised linear mixed model. RESULTS: Heritability of AF on the underlying liability scale was estimated to be (±s.e.) 0.30±0.04 in the entire data set; 0.30±0.06 in males; 0.24±0.08 in females; and 0.32±0.05 in pacers. After conversion to the observed scale, heritability estimates were 0.14, 0.15, 0.09 and 0.15, respectively. MAIN LIMITATIONS: There were insufficient data to estimate heritability of AF for trotters. CONCLUSIONS: Modest heritability estimates were found for AF in the Standardbred horse, particularly in males and pacers, which support the hypothesis that there is a genetic contribution to the arrhythmia in this breed. The Summary is available in Chinese - See Supporting Information.

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Intoxicações por plantas do gênero Senecio representam uma importante causa de morte em animais de produção, sendo Senecio brasiliensis a espécie mais envolvida nos casos de intoxicação espontânea. Nesse trabalho, são descritos os aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos e anatomopatológicos de um surto de intoxicação natural por Senecio brasiliensis em equinos. Dois equinos, de um total de dezoito, foram afetados. Os casos ocorreram em uma propriedade rural no município de São Martinho da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Grande quantidade de exemplares de Senecio brasiliensis em estágio de brotação foi encontrada na área onde os equinos estavam. Os animais eram da raça Crioula, sendo uma égua com quatro anos e um potro com cinco meses. A égua apresentou evolução aguda da doença com duração de três dias e o potro evolução crônica de dois meses. As principais manifestações clínicas observadas em ambos os equinos incluíam apatia, anorexia, emagrecimento, desidratação e sinais neurológicos. Além disso, havia moderado edema subcutâneo na região ventral do abdômen e marcada icterícia nas mucosas ocular, oral e vulvar da égua e palidez das mucosas no potro. Na avaliação bioquímica do potro, havia acentuado aumento da atividade sérica da gamaglutamil transferase (119 U/L), aumento da fosfatase alcalina (434 U/L) e hipoalbuminemia (2,1g/dL). No hemograma do mesmo, observou-se leve anemia normocítica e normocrômica (30% de hematócrito; VCM: 39,5 fL; HCM: 15,3pg). As alterações presentes em ambas as necropsias foram observadas principalmente no fígado, que estava difusamente aumentado de tamanho, escuro e firme. Na superfície de corte, observaram-se acentuação do padrão lobular e hemorragia. Histologicamente, no fígado dos equinos, havia graus variados de necrose coagulativa, hemorragia, fibrose, proliferação de ductos biliares, hepatomegalocitose e bilestase. Nas diferentes seções analisadas do encéfalo, havia alterações astrocitárias restritas à substância cinzenta, predominantemente, no córtex telencefálico. Os astrócitos degenerados eram similares aos astrócitos de Alzheimer tipo II. O diagnóstico da intoxicação nesses casos foi baseado na epidemiologia, no quadro clínico, nas lesões de necropsia e nos achados histopatológicos. Cabe ressaltar que a necrose de coagulação e a discreta fibrose e proliferação de ductos biliares observados na égua, constituiu uma apresentação subaguda da intoxicação, enquanto que a fibrose, mais predominante no potro, caracterizou uma hepatopatia crônica.(AU)

Poisoning due to plants of the genus Senecio is considered an important cause of death in livestock. Senecio brasiliensis is the most common species involved in spontaneous cases. This paper describes the epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects of a natural outbreak of intoxication with Senecio brasiliensis affecting two out of eighteen horses in a farm. The cases occurred in the municipality of Sao Martinho da Serra, Rio Grande do Sul State, Southern Brazil. A large amount of Senecio brasiliensis in its sprouting stage was found in the fields where the horses used to be kept. A four-year-old, Crioulo mare and a five-month-old, male, Crioulo foal were affected. The clinical course was acute in the mare, comprising three days and chronic in the foal, lasting for two months. The main clinical signs in both animals included apathy, anorexia, weight loss, dehydration and neurological signs. Moreover, subcutaneous edema was noted in the ventral abdomen and the mucous membranes were icteric in the mare and pale in the foal. The serum biochemistry in the foal showed hypoalbuminemia (2.1g/dL), increased activity of the serum alkaline phosphatase (434 U/L) and gamma glutamyl transferase (119 U/L). In the hemogram, a mild normocytic normochromic anemia was noted in the foal (Hct: 30%; MCV: 39.5 fL; MCH: 15.3pg). Necropsy findings observed in both horses included an enlarged, dark red and firm liver with extensive areas of hemorrhage and enhanced lobular pattern on cut surface. Histologically, the liver showed variable degrees of fibrosis, coagulative necrosis, biliary ducts hyperplasia, megalocytosis and cholestasis. In the brain, the astrocytes in the cerebrum were degenerated and similar to Alzheimer type II astrocytes. The diagnosis in this outbreak was established based on the epidemiology, clinical picture, gross and histologic findings. It is noteworthy that the coagulative necrosis, minimal fibrosis, and biliary duct hyperplasia observed in the mare are characteristic of a subacute presentation. On the other hand, the fibrosis that was more prominent in the foal characterizes a chronic hepatopathy.(AU)

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West Nile virus (WNV) infection is a non-contagious disease mainly transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitoes from the genus Culex. The virus is maintained in a mosquito-bird-mosquito cycle, and can accidentally be transmitted to mammalian hosts. Among mammalian hosts, equines and humans are the most sensitive to WNV infection and can develop severe meningoencephalitis. As WNV infections are zoonotic and can be severe in humans and equines, West Nile fever is considered to be a public and animal health concern. After a silent period of almost ten years, WNV re-emerged in France at the periphery of the Camargue area during the summer of 2015, underlining the fact that the Camargue area creates favourable conditions for WNV emergence and amplification in France. The French Network for Epidemiological Surveillance of Equine Diseases (Réseau d'Épidémio-Surveillance en Pathologie Équine [RESPE]) facilitated the early detection of WNV cases in horses. In total, 49 horses were found to be infected; among them, 44 presented clinical signs, 41 with meningoencephalitis and three with hyperthermia only. Six horses among the 41 with nervous symptoms died from the disease or were euthanised (a case fatality rate of 14.6%). The authors describe the characteristics of the 2015 WNV epizootics, the early detection of the first WNV equine cases via the RESPE network and the coordination of WNV surveillance in France.

L'infection par le virus de West Nile est une maladie non contagieuse essentiellement transmise lors de piqûres de moustiques infectés appartenant au genre Culex ; le virus se maintient dans la nature au moyen d'un cycle moustique­ oiseau­moustique ; la transmission à des hôtes mammifères a lieu de manière accidentelle. Parmi les mammifères hôtes, les plus sensibles à l'infection par le virus de West Nile sont les équidés et l'homme, chez qui l'infection peut se manifester sous forme d'une méningo-encéphalite sévère. Les infections par le virus de West Nile étant des zoonoses potentiellement graves chez l'homme et chez les équidés, la fièvre de West Nile doit être considérée comme une priorité de santé publique et animale. Resté silencieux pendant plus d'une décennie, le virus de West Nile est réapparu en France à l'été 2015 en bordure de la Camargue, confirmant que les conditions de cette région sont favorables à l'émergence et à l'amplification du virus. Le réseau français d'épidémiosurveillance en pathologie équine (RESPE) a contribué à la détection précoce du virus de West Nile chez les chevaux. Au total, 49 chevaux étaient infectés, parmi lesquels 44 présentaient des signes cliniques, correspondant à une méningo-encéphalite pour 41 d'entre eux et à une hyperthermie seule pour les trois autres. Six chevaux parmi les 41 qui présentaient des signes neurologiques ont succombé à la maladie ou ont été euthanasiés (taux de létalité de 14,6 %). Les auteurs de cet article décrivent les principales caractéristiques de l'épizootie de 2015 due au virus de West Nile ainsi que la détection précoce des premiers cas équins grâce au réseau RESPE et la coordination des activités de surveillance du virus en France.

La infección por el virus West Nile es una enfermedad no contagiosa que se transmite básicamente por la picadura de mosquitos infectados del género Culex. El virus, que se instala en un ciclo mosquito­ave­mosquito, también puede transmitirse accidentalmente a mamíferos, de entre los cuales los más sensibles a la infección son los equinos y el ser humano, que pueden contraer graves meningoencefalitis. Puesto que las infecciones por este virus son zoonóticas y pueden revestir gravedad en personas y equinos, se considera que la fiebre West Nile es una enfermedad de importancia sanitaria y zoosanitaria. En Francia, tras un periodo silente de más de diez años, el virus reapareció en verano de 2015 en la periferia de la zona de la Camarga, poniendo así de manifiesto que esta zona genera condiciones propicias al surgimiento y la amplificación del virus en el país. La red francesa de vigilancia epidemiológica de patologías equinas (Réseau d'Épidémio-Surveillance en Pathologie Équine: RESPE]) facilitó la rápida detección de caballos infectados por el virus West Nile. Se detectaron en total 49 animales infectados, entre ellos 44 con signos clínicos, de los que 41 sufrían meningoencefalitis y tres solo presentaban hipertermia. Seis de los 41 caballos que mostraban signos neurológicos murieron a causa de la enfermedad o fueron sacrificados con métodos de eutanasia (lo que supone una tasa de letalidad del 14,6%). Los autores describen las principales características de la epizootia causada por el virus West Nile en 2015, la pronta detección de los primeros casos de caballos infectados gracias a la red RESPE y la coordinación de las labores de vigilancia del virus en Francia.

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Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against horse IgG were produced by immunizing Balb/c mice with purified horse IgG and were characterized in indirect ELISA versus purified immunoglobulins from donkey, cow, buffalo, sheep, pig, and chicken. Three MAbs (1B10B6C9, 1B10B6C10, 1B10B6E9) reacted only with horse and donkey IgG and IgM and, in western blotting, were specific for the Fc fragment of equine IgG. MAb 1B10B6E9 was used in chemiluminescent immunoblotting assay for the diagnosis of dourine and in indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for the diagnosis of African horse sickness and dourine.

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As doenças que acometem a pele e anexos de equídeos no semiárido nordestino foram analisadas mediante um estudo retrospectivo dos registros de atendimento na Clínica de Grandes Animais do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, de janeiro de 2002 a dezembro de 2012. Dos 2.054 atendimentos 1.786 eram equinos, 200 eram asininos e 58 eram muares. Os diagnósticos de dermatopatias totalizaram 535 casos (26,05%) dos quais 447 foram em equinos, 68 em asininos e 20 em muares. Nos equinos as dermatopatias mais frequentes foram a pitiose (24,38%), as feridas traumáticas (23,04%), os abscessos (12,75%), o tecido de granulação (8,5%) e a habronemose (7,38%). Juntas essas enfermidades totalizaram 76,05% dos diagnósticos de dermatopatias para essa espécie. Em asininos as doenças mais frequentes foram feridas traumáticas (47,5%), sarcoide (19,11%) e abscessos (13,23%). Estas enfermidades juntas representaram 79,84% das doenças de pele nesta espécie. Os muares apresentaram feridas traumáticas em 30% dos casos e carcinoma de células escamosas e habronemose em 15% cada. As três enfermidades representaram 60% dos diagnósticos de doenças de pele nesta espécie. Conclui-se que as doenças de pele são uma das principais causas de atendimento clínico em equídeos na região semiárida do nordeste do Brasil e os conhecimentos gerados neste estudo são importantes para o reconhecimento, diagnóstico e tratamento das mesmas...

Diseases that affect the skin and appendages of equidae in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil were analyzed through a retrospective study of records of the Large Animal Clinic of the Veterinary Hospital at the Federal University of Campina Grande, from January 2002 to December 2012. At all, 2054 equidae entered the hospital being 1786 horses, 200 donkeys, and 58 mules. A total of 535 (26.05%) were affected by skin diseases, 447 horses, 68 donkeys and 20 mules. In horses the more prevalent skin diseases were pythiosis (24.38%), traumatic injuries (23.04%), abscesses (12.75%), granulation tissue (8.5%), and habronemiasis (7.38%); together, these diseases represented 76% of dermatological problems observed in this species. In donkeys the more frequent diseases, representing 79.84% of the skin diseases, were traumatic wounds (47.5%), sarcoid (19.11%), and abscesses (13.23%). In mules the most frequent disease was traumatic wounds (30%) and habronemiasis and squamous cell carcinoma (15% each), which together accounted for 60% of the skin diseases in this species. It is concluded that skin diseases are important in equidae in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil and the knowledge generated in this work is important for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases...

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This study evaluated two different surgical techniques for the treatment of palmar annular ligament desmitis (PAL) in horses. The group 1 (G1) consisted of 11 Thoroughbred submitted to desmotomy, and G2 of 22 horses that underwent PAL desmectomy. There was no statistically significant difference between mean palmar annular ligament thickness in both groups evaluated (p = 0.800). In this study, the horses of G1 had 12 times more chance to return to physical activity, when compared to animals of G2 (p = 0.033; O.R. = 12.0; C.I.95% = 1,142 - 126,122). Desmectomy was more efficient in promoting the resolution of the injury and the return to sports activity.

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Descreve-se um caso de melanoma maligno anaplásico em uma égua Crioula, tordilha, com 10 anos de idade, com histórico clínico de apatia, perda de peso progressiva, febre, anorexia e dispnéia. Múltiplas massas pigmentadas e não-pigmentadas, bem delimitadas ou infiltrativas, foram observadas no tecido subcutâneo e em vários órgãos. Histologicamente o neoplasma era composto de populações de células fusiformes, redondas ou poliédricas e, menos freqüentemente, de células multinucleadas e "células em anel de sinete". O diagnóstico foi realizado com base nos achados clinicopatológicos e confirmado pela microscopia eletrônica de transmissão.

A case of anaplastic malignant melanoma in a 10-year-old gray mare is described. Clinical signs included depression, progressive weight loss, fever, anorexia, and dyspnea. Multiple circumscribed or infiltrative, pigmented, and non-pigmented tumors were observed in subcutaneous tissue and in several organs. Histological examination revealed a marked variation in neoplastic cell population, which was composed by spindle, round, polyhedrical, and less frequently, multinucleated or signet ring cells. The diagnostic was based up on clinical and pathological findings, and confirmed by transmission electronic microscopy.

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A non-lactating 17-year-old grey barren Mangalarga Marchador mare was referred to the Large Animal Veterinary Hospital of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), presenting enlargement of the mammary gland. The owner reported that the animal had a lesion in the mammary gland for at least two years, diagnosed and treated as chronic mastitis. Initially only the right gland was involved, presenting ulceration and exudation on the cutaneous surface. After 20 months, the left gland also became affected. The diagnosis of tubulo-papillary adenocarcinoma was based on the typical microscopic lesions. This work shows the importance of the histopathological examination in the differential diagnosis between the neoplasms and the chronic inflammation in the mammary gland of mares, as well as, to show that the cytological examination cannot detect the tumor, in case the puncture is made in areas of secondary infection.

Uma égua tordilha, Mangalarga Marchador, de 17 anos, não-lactante e não-prenhe, foi encaminhada ao Hospital de Grandes Animais da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, com histórico de mastite crônica há dois anos. No início da lesão, apenas a glândula mamária direita estava muito aumentada, com exsudação sero-hemorrágica e ulcerada. Após 20 meses, a mama esquerda também estava comprometida. A égua foi tratada para mastite crônica, porém o exame histopatológico revelou tratar-se de um adenocarcinoma túbulo-papilar. Este trabalho evidencia a importância do exame histopatológico no diagnóstico diferencial entre neoplasias e inflamação crônica da mama de éguas, uma vez que o exame citopatológico pode não detectar o tumor, quando a punção é feita em áreas de infecção secundária.

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