Postanesthetic rhabdomyolysis in 7 warmblood horses.

Objective: To describe the clinical findings, outcomes, and muscle histopathology in warmblood horses that developed severe rhabdomyolysis in the perianesthetic period despite remaining stable while under general anesthesia.

Animals: 7 warmblood horses, 6 geldings and 1 mare, with a median age of 9 years (range, 4 to 18 years) and median weight of 615 kg (range, 550 to 703 kg). Records from the Valberg Neuromuscular Diagnostic Laboratory and Michigan State University were reviewed (2016 to 2023) to identify warmbloods with postanesthetic myopathy (PAM).

Investigation of Extracted Plasma Cell-Free DNA as a Biomarker in Foals with Sepsis.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is fragmented extracellular DNA that is released from cells into various body fluids. Previously published data from adult horses supports cfDNA as a potential disease biomarker, but also shows that direct measurement in plasma is inaccurate due to matrix effect. It is currently unknown whether a similar matrix effect exists in foal plasma.

An updated description of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses and factors associated with death.

Background: Available descriptive studies on equine pneumonia are outdated or focus on specific horse or bacterial populations.

Objectives: To describe the clinical presentation and bacterial isolates of adult horses with bacterial pneumonia and identify factors associated with death.

Animals: One hundred sixteen horses >2 years old with bacterial pneumonia.

Systemic absorption of triamcinolone acetonide is increased from intrasynovial versus extrasynovial sites and induces hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Steroid-associated laminitis remains a major concern with use of corticosteroids in horses. Individual case factors such as joint pathology, pre-existing endocrinopathies, or corticosteroid type, dose, and timing influencing steroid-induced laminitis risk have not been investigated. This study aimed to determine if systemic absorption of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) varies between intrasynovial (antebrachiocarpal) and extrasynovial (sacroiliac) injection sites, and to determine the effects of TA absorption on glucose, insulin, cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

A systems science leverage point analysis of climate change advocacy.

Failure of governments across the world to address climate change has fuelled social movements focused on climate-related policy and action. Research analysing these movements has focused mainly on the types of strategies employed including blockades and occupations, marches and petitions, divestment, boycotts and litigation as well as how groups are framing climate change as a problem. What has been largely missed are the ways these groups are framing the change they want to see, that is their demands to governments.

Longitudinal effects of oral administration of antimicrobial drugs on fecal microbiota of horses.

Background: Antimicrobial drug-associated diarrhea (AAD) is the most common adverse effect in horses receiving antimicrobials. Little information on how oral administration of antimicrobials alters intestinal microbiota in horses is available.

Objective: Investigate changes of the fecal microbiota in response to oral administration of antimicrobials.

Assessment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis function using a vasopressin stimulation test in neonatal foals.

Background: Bacterial sepsis is the leading cause of death in foals and is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPAA) dysfunction. HPAA function can be evaluated by an arginine-vasopressin (AVP) stimulation test.

Hypotheses/objectives: Administration of AVP will stimulate a dose-dependent rise in systemic adrenocorticotropin-releasing hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in neonatal foals.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to ovine corticotropin-releasing-hormone stimulation tests in healthy and hospitalized foals.

Background: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPAA) response to sepsis can be impaired in critical illness. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation test might assess HPAA function in foals.

Objective: To evaluate plasma cortisol, ACTH, arginine vasopressin (AVP), and endogenous CRH (eCRH) response to different doses of ovine CRH (oCRH).

The fecal bacterial microbiota of healthy and sick newborn foals.

Background: The fecal bacterial microbiota of normal foals and foals with enterocolitis has been characterized using next-generation sequencing technology; however, there are no reports investigating the gut microbiota in foals hospitalized for other perinatal diseases.

Objective: To describe and compare the fecal bacterial microbiota in healthy and sick foals using next-generation sequencing techniques.

Animals: Hospitalized (17) and healthy foals (21).

Comparison of thoracic ultrasonography and thoracic radiography between healthy adult horses and horses with bacterial pneumonia using a novel, objective ultrasonographic scoring system.

Background: Thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) is widely used in equine practice but comparison to radiography is limited in horses.

Objectives: To validate a novel, objective scoring system for TUS in adult horses and to compare ultrasonographic and radiographic findings.

Animals: 13 healthy horses and 9 with confirmed bacterial pneumonia.

Longitudinal assessment of adrenocortical steroid and steroid precursor response to illness in hospitalized foals.

Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonatal foals. Relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI), defined as an inadequate cortisol response to stress, has been associated with sepsis, prematurity, and poor outcome in newborn foals. In addition to cortisol, the adrenal gland synthesizes several biologically important steroids and steroid precursors, including aldosterone, androgens, and progestogens.

Influence of Process Parameters on the Resistivity of 3D Printed Electrically Conductive Structures.

With recent developments in conductive composites, new possibilities emerged for 3D printed conductive structures. Complementary to a vast number of publications on materials properties, here we investigate the influence of printing parameters on the resistance of 3D printed structures. The influence of printing temperature on the resistance is significant, with too low value (210 °C) leading to nozzle clogging, while increasing the temperature by 20 °C above the recommended printing settings decreases resistivity by 15%, but causing degradation of the polymer matrix.

Comparison of Fluid Analysis and Cytologic Findings of Cerebrospinal Fluid Between Three Collection Sites in Adult Equids With Neurological Disease.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is routinely collected from three sites in the horse, the atlanto-occipital (AO), atlantoaxial (AA), and lumbosacral (LS) space. A comparison between fluid analysis parameters [total protein, total nucleated cell count (TNCC), red blood cell (RBC) count, and morphologic analysis] from samples obtained at each of the three sites has not previously been performed. A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate the differences in fluid analysis of CSF between the AO, AA, and LS sites in equids presented to a referral service for evaluation of suspected neurological disease.

Comparison of two glucose-monitoring systems for use in horses.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of 2 interstitial glucose-monitoring systems (GMSs) for use in horses compared with a point-of-care (POC) glucometer and standard laboratory enzymatic chemistry method (CHEM).

Animals: 8 clinically normal adult horses.

Procedures: One of each GMS device (Dexcom G6 and Freestyle Libre 14-day) was placed on each horse, and blood glucose concentration was measured via POC and CHEM at 33 time points and compared with simultaneous GMS readings.

Development of a Colic Scoring System to Predict Outcome in Horses.

Acute abdominal pain in the horse is a common emergency presenting to equine practices. The wide variety of etiologies makes prognosticating survival a challenge. A retrospective, multi-institutional clinical study was performed to determine clinical parameters associated with survival of horses with colic, and to use them to develop a colic survival scoring system.

Evaluation of a continuous glucose monitoring system in neonatal foals.

Background: Monitoring blood glucose concentrations is common in critically ill neonatal foals, especially septic foals and those receiving naso-esophageal feedings or IV parenteral nutrition. Glucose typically is measured using a point-of-care (POC) glucometer but requires repeated restraint and blood collections, which may cause irritation at venipuncture sites and increased demands on nursing staff. Continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) may provide an accurate alternative for monitoring blood glucose concentration.

Blood thiamine (vitamin B ), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and cortisol concentrations in healthy and ill neonatal foals.

Background: Sepsis is common in foals and several treatments are used to facilitate recovery. Evidence in people suggests an association between low blood concentrations of thiamine, ascorbic acid, and cortisol and sepsis, with further evidence suggesting that administration of hydrocortisone, thiamine, and ascorbic acid may improve outcome. No information is available with regard to these treatments in foals.

Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Levels of Pantoprazole in Neonatal Calves After Intravenous Administration.

Neonatal calves are at risk of developing abomasal ulceration, but there is a lack of pharmacokinetic data for potential anti-ulcerative therapies, such as pantoprazole, in ruminant species. The study objectives were to estimate plasma pharmacokinetic parameters for pantoprazole in neonatal dairy calves after intravenous (IV) administration. A secondary objective was to quantify the concentrations of pantoprazole in edible tissues after IV dosing.

Dynamics of androgens in healthy and hospitalized newborn foals.

Background: Information on steroids derived from the adrenal glands, gonads, or fetoplacental unit is minimal in newborn foals.

Objective: To measure androgen concentrations in serum and determine their association with disease severity and outcome in hospitalized foals.

Animals: Hospitalized (n = 145) and healthy (n = 80) foals.

Evaluation of Locally Injected Mycobacterium Cell Wall Fraction in Horses with Sarcoids.

A reformulation of Mycobacterium cell wall fraction immunotherapeutic can be used to successfully treat sarcoids in horses. Sarcoids are reported to be the most common equine skin tumors with tumor type and location influencing the choice of treatment. Wide surgical excision is curative for many tumors, but may not always be feasible.

C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone in healthy and hospitalized foals.

Hypocalcemia is a common finding in critically ill equine patients. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) helps to maintain calcium homeostasis in hypocalcemic patients by promoting renal calcium reabsorption and bone resorption. Increased serum PTH concentrations have been reported in critically ill people and animals, including horses and foals.

Serum cortisol and thyroid hormone concentrations and survival in foals born from mares with experimentally induced ascending placentitis.

Background: There are few publications on occurrence of nonthyroidal illness syndrome in foals and on the prognostic value of cortisol and thyroid hormone (TH) concentrations in newborn foals.

Objectives: To determine serum cortisol and TH concentrations (total and free thyroxine: T and T ; total and free triiodothyronine: T and T ) in foals born from mares with placentitis, to determine their association with survival, and their use as prognostic markers.

Animals: A cohort of 29 newborn foals comprising 5 Control, 14 Low-risk, and 10 Sick foals were evaluated over the first week of life.

Multiple adrenocortical steroid response to administration of exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone to hospitalized foals.

Background: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulates the response to sepsis-associated stress. Relative adrenal insufficiency or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH):cortisol imbalance, defined as a poor cortisol response to administration of ACTH, is common and associated with death in hospitalized foals. However, information on other adrenal steroid response to ACTH stimulation in sick foals is minimal.

Influence of plate type and placement on the immobilization of bilateral equine mandibular osteotomies: Ex vivo study.

Objective: To determine the influence of plate fixation (locking or dynamic compression) and the site of application (ventral [V] or ventrolateral [VL]) on the resistance to bending of transverse mandibular fractures.

Study Design: Ex vivo, simple randomized study.

Sample Population: Mandibles harvested from adult equine cadavers (n = 18).