Relationship between the Cycle Threshold Value (Ct) of a spp. qPCR Performed on Feces and Clinical Signs and Outcome in Horses.

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical significance of fecal quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results when taking the cycle threshold values (Ct) into account. The study included 120 qPCR-positive fecal samples obtained from 88 hospitalized horses over a 2-year period. The mean Ct of the qPCR test was evaluated in regard to (1) clinical outcome and (2) systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) status (no SIRS, moderate SIRS, or severe SIRS) of the sampled horses.

Evaluation of Bacterial Composition and Viability of Equine Feces after Processing for Transplantation.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been used empirically for decades in equine medicine to treat intestinal dysbiosis but evidence-based information is scarce. This in vitro study aimed at assessing the effect of a commonly used pre-FMT processing method on the bacterial composition and viability of the fecal filtrate. Three samples of fresh equine manure (T) were processed identically: the initial manure was mixed with 1 L of lukewarm water and chopped using an immersion blender to obtain a mixture (T), which was left uncovered during 30 min (T) and percolated through a sieve to obtain a fecal filtrate (T).

Comparison of Fecal Microbiota of Horses Suffering from Atypical Myopathy and Healthy Co-Grazers.

Equine atypical myopathy (AM) is caused by hypoglycin A (HGA) and methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG) intoxication resulting from the ingestion of seeds or seedlings of some tree species. Interestingly, not all horses pasturing in the same toxic environment develop signs of the disease. In other species, it has been shown that the intestinal microbiota has an impact on digestion, metabolism, immune stimulation and protection from disease.

High Seroprevalence Against Lawsonia intracellularis Among Adult Horses in Belgium.

Lawsonia intracellularis (LI) is an obligate intracellular gram-negative rod causing equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE). Occasional cases of EPE have been reported in foals living in Belgium, but the seroprevalence of equine LI in this country is unknown. The target population included clinically healthy adult horses, whose blood samples were collected and analyzed for specific IgG antibodies against LI using a blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test.

Effect of oral administration of omeprazole on the microbiota of the gastric glandular mucosa and feces of healthy horses.

Background: Omeprazole administration is associated with changes in gastric and fecal microbiota and increased incidence of Clostridioides difficile enterocolitis in humans and dogs.

Hypothesis/objectives: Study purpose was to assess the effect of omeprazole on gastric glandular and fecal microbiota in healthy adult horses.

Animals: Eight healthy horses stabled on straw and fed 100% haylage.

Partial atrioventricular septal defect in an adult sport horse.

A partial atrioventricular septal defect, represented as a large ostium primum atrial septal defect and common (bridging) atrioventricular valve leaflets with cleft septal leaflet of the mitral valve, was diagnosed incidentally in a nine-year-old warmblood gelding used for show jumping. Initial examination findings and a three-year follow-up are documented in this report. The horse was first presented for the evaluation of chronic coughing.

Modelling the probability and impact of false-positive serology for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato: A case study.

Background: Serological screening tests for Lyme borreliosis have poor specificity, with potential for misdiagnosis and unnecessary antimicrobial treatment.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of Lyme borreliosis seroprevalence and serologic test characteristics on the probability of obtaining a false-positive result and impact on antimicrobial use.

Study Design: Cross-sectional serological survey and modelling.

Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in goats: repeatability, variability, and validation of the technique using an exercise test and an experimentally induced acute ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Two-dimensional speckle tracking (2DST) technique has been validated in numerous animal species, but neither studies of repeatability nor measurements after exercise or in animals with cardiac disease have been reported in goats. Goats are an attractive candidate for animal models in human cardiology because they are easy to handle and have a body and heart size comparable to that of humans. Therefore, the aim of this study was to validate this technique in goats for further clinical and experimental applications in this species.

Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in calves: feasibility and repeatability study.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility and repeatability of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography for the evaluation of left ventricular function in healthy calves.

Animals: 12 Holstein calves, 62 ± 11.6 days old; 75.

Reference values of two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiographic measurements as a function of body size in various equine breeds and in ponies.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to establish echocardiographic reference values for the equine species using allometric regression equations based on body weight (BW) and thoracic circumference (TC).

Animals: A total of 239 horses or ponies were studied, including 65 warmbloods, 33 Standardbreds, 41 Thoroughbreds, 32 Arabian horses, 28 draft horses, and 40 ponies aged from 1 day to 30 years, weighing from 18 to 890 kg, with no evidence of cardiac disease.

Methods: For each horse or pony, a two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography was performed.

Retrospective evaluation of 155 adult equids and 21 foals with tetanus from Western, Northern, and Central Europe (2000-2014). Part 2: Prognostic assessment.

Objective: To identify prognostic variables for adult equids and foals with tetanus.

Design: Multicenter retrospective study (2000-2014).

Setting: Twenty Western, Northern, and Central European university teaching hospitals and private referral centers.

Retrospective evaluation of 155 adult equids and 21 foals with tetanus in Western, Northern, and Central Europe (2000-2014). Part 1: Description of history and clinical evolution.

Objective: To describe clinical data of hospitalized adult equids and foals with tetanus.

Design: Multicenter retrospective study (2000-2014).

Setting: Twenty Western, Northern, and Central European university teaching hospitals and private referral centers.

Acylcarnitines profile best predicts survival in horses with atypical myopathy.

Equine atypical myopathy (AM) is caused by hypoglycin A intoxication and is characterized by a high fatality rate. Predictive estimation of survival in AM horses is necessary to prevent unnecessary suffering of animals that are unlikely to survive and to focus supportive therapy on horses with a possible favourable prognosis of survival. We hypothesized that outcome may be predicted early in the course of disease based on the assumption that the acylcarnitine profile reflects the derangement of muscle energetics.

Mitochondrial function is altered in horse atypical myopathy.

Equine atypical myopathy in Europe is a fatal rhabdomyolysis syndrome that results from the ingestion of hypoglycin A contained in seeds and seedlings of Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore maple). Acylcarnitine concentrations in serum and muscle OXPHOS capacity were determined in 15 atypical myopathy cases. All but one acylcarnitine were out of reference range and mitochondrial respiratory capacity was severely decreased up to 49% as compared to 10 healthy controls.

Faecal microbiota characterisation of horses using 16 rdna barcoded pyrosequencing, and carriage rate of clostridium difficile at hospital admission.

Background: The equine faecal microbiota is very complex and remains largely unknown, while interspecies interactions have an important contribution to animal health. Clostridium difficile has been identified as an important cause of diarrhoea in horses. This study provides further information on the nature of the bacterial communities present in horses developing an episode of diarrhoea.

Samaras and seedlings of Acer pseudoplatanus are potential sources of hypoglycin A intoxication in atypical myopathy without necessarily inducing clinical signs.

Reasons For Performing Study: Ingestion of sycamore seeds (Acer pseudoplatanus) is the likely source of hypoglycin A in atypical myopathy (AM) but ingestion of seedlings in spring might also contribute to intoxication.

Objectives: To test for hypoglycin A in seeds and seedlings collected on pastures where AM cases were reported and compare its concentration in serum of affected and healthy horses.

Study Design: Field investigation of clinical cases.

Quantification of hypoglycin A in serum using aTRAQ(®) assay.

Background: Hypoglycin A has been recently identified has the causal agent of atypical myopathy (AM) in horses. Its identification and quantification in equine's biological fluids is thus a major concern to confirm maple poisoning and to provide insight into the poorly understood mechanism of hypoglycin A intoxication.

Methods: Quantification of hypoglycin A has been achieved with the aTRAQ kit for amino acid analysis of physiological fluids (AB Sciex).

Carriage and acquisition rates of Clostridium difficile in hospitalized horses, including molecular characterization, multilocus sequence typing and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates.

Clostridium difficile has been identified as a significant agent of diarrhoea and enterocolitis in both foals and adult horses. Hospitalization, antibiotic therapy or changes in diet may contribute to the development of C. difficile infection.

Prognostic value of echocardiographic and Doppler parameters in horses admitted for colic complicated by systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

Objective: To assess the prognostic value of echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular (LV) function in horses with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Veterinary teaching hospital.

Prevalence and risk factors for cardiac diseases in a hospital-based population of 3,434 horses (1994-2011).

Background: Risk factors for cardiac diseases in horses have not been explored in a large population of animals.

Objectives: To describe risk factors for various cardiac diseases in a hospital-based population of horses.

Animals: Files of 3,434 horses admitted at the Internal Medicine Department of the Liege Equine Teaching Hospital between 1994 and 2011 were reviewed and of those, 284 were categorized as having moderate-to-severe cardiac disease.

Evaluation of acepromazine-induced hemodynamic alterations and reversal with norepinephrine infusion in standing horses.

The effects of norepinephrine (NOR) infusion on hemodynamic alterations induced with sedative doses of acepromazine (ACP) were evaluated. Infusion of NOR at 1 μg/kg body weight (BW)/minute for 15 min was administered to 5 standing horses 45 min (T45) after intravenous injection of ACP at 0.1 mg/kg BW.

Effect of breed, sex, age and body weight on echocardiographic measurements in the equine species.

Little is known about the effect of various animal's signalment variables on echocardiographic reference values in the equine species. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of sex, breed, age and body weight (BW) on echocardiographic measurements in the equine species. Echocardiography was performed on 212 ponies or horses of various breeds, aged from 1 day to 37 years old (mean±SD: 7.

Traditional and quantitative assessment of acid-base and shock variables in horses with atypical myopathy.

Background: Descriptions of acid-base disturbances in atypical myopathy (AM) are limited.

Objectives: Describe and compare traditional and quantitative acid-base abnormalities and cardiovascular shock status in horses with AM at admission.

Animals: 34 horses with AM, 15 healthy controls.

Repeatability, variability and reference values of pulsed wave Doppler echocardiographic measurements in healthy Saanen goats.

Background: Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler echocardiography has become a routine non invasive cardiac diagnostic tool in most species. However, evaluation of intracardiac blood flow requires reference values, which are poorly documented in goats. The aim of this study was to test the repeatability, the variability, and to establish the reference values of PW measurements in healthy adult Saanen goats.