Dermatitis and systemic mycosis in lined seahorses Hippocampus erectus associated with a marine-adapted Fusarium solani species complex pathogen.

During a 4 mo epizootic, 100% of 152 lined seahorses Hippocampus erectus in 3 separate groups died while in quarantine following shipment to a public aquarium. Twelve animals with skin depigmentation and ulceration were received by the Aquatic Pathology Service, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA, for diagnostic evaluation. Microscopically, lesions in 11 seahorses included multifocal epithelial necrosis and ulceration associated with 2 to 7 µm diameter, branching, septate fungal hyphae, typically accompanied by deeper infiltration into underlying skeletal muscle.

Tissue expression of steroid hormone receptors is associated with differential immune responsiveness.

Glucocorticoids have been used as treatments against a number of diseases, especially autoimmune/inflammatory conditions in which the immune system is overactive. These treatments have varying degrees of responsiveness among individuals and in different tissues (including brain); therefore, it is important to determine what could account for these differences. In this study, we evaluated expression of stress hormone receptors in immune cells from lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues (including brain) as a possible explanation.

Expression of genes associated with inflammation induced by ex vivo exposure to lipopolysaccharide in peripheral blood leukocytes from horses with gastrointestinal disease.

Objective: To investigate the effect of ex vivo exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the expression of inflammatory genes in leukocytes from horses with gastrointestinal (Gl) disease and determine whether the pattern or magnitude of the response to LPS correlated with the type of disease and outcome.

Animals: 49 horses with Gl disease and 10 healthy horses

Procedures: Leukocytes were isolated from blood samples and submitted to 3 protocols: immediate freezing, freezing after 4-hour incubation in medium, and freezing after 4-hour incubation in medium containing LPS. Expression of 14 genes associated with inflammation was assessed via PCR assay.

Differential induction of Toll-like receptor gene expression in equine monocytes activated by Toll-like receptor ligands or TNF-α.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) function as sentinels for the innate immune system, detecting microbial ligands during infection and inflammation. Previous studies indicate that activation of these receptors on equine monocytes leads to discrete pro- and anti-inflammatory responses that are mediated through the induction of specific cytokine genes. However, less is known regarding the regulation of TLR gene expression in these cells.

Expression of inflammation-associated genes in circulating leukocytes collected from horses with gastrointestinal tract disease.

Objective: To investigate whether expression of inflammation-associated genes in leukocytes from horses with gastrointestinal tract (GIT) diseases correlated with the type of disease and outcome.

Animals: 10 healthy horses and 50 horses with GIT disease.

Procedures: A blood sample was collected from each healthy horse or horse with GIT disease (during admission to the hospital).

A comparison of equine and bovine sera as sources of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein activity in equine monocytes incubated with lipopolysaccharide.

Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) is an acute phase protein that binds the lipid A moiety of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and transfers LPS monomers to soluble CD14 in plasma or membrane bound CD14 on mononuclear phagocytes. The result of these interactions is activation of the TLR4 receptor complex, and the synthesis and release of inflammatory mediators. Inclusion of LBP in cellular assays increases the sensitivity of cells expressing CD14 to LPS.