Preliminary Investigation of Side Effects of Polymyxin B Administration in Hospitalized Horses.

Neuro- and nephrotoxicity of polymyxins are known but clinical studies in horses are lacking. The aim of this study was to describe neurogenic and nephrogenic side effects of hospitalized horses receiving Polymyxin B (PolyB) as part of their treatment plan. Twenty horses diagnosed with surgical colic ( = 11), peritonitis ( = 5), typhlocolitis ( = 2), pneumonia, and pyometra (each = 1) were included.

Adverse effects of polymyxin B administration to healthy horses.

Background: Polymyxin B (PolyB) is used to treat endotoxemia in horses; neurologic and nephrogenic adverse effects occur in humans.

Objectives: To describe PolyB adverse effects in horses.

Animals: Five healthy horses (ataxia 0/5), 1 horse with cervical osteoarthritis (ataxia 1/5).

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.

Vascular hamartoma in the central nervous system of a foal.

Vascular hamartomas are non-neoplastic developmental anomalies of vessels. Cases of cerebral vascular hamartomas have been previously reported in dogs and cats. A 4-week-old Freiberger foal had shown persistent problems with breathing and swallowing since birth, and bilateral laryngeal paralysis was diagnosed.

Increased adenosine concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of horses with lower airway inflammation.

Several reports have suggested a role for adenosine in the pathogenesis of chronic airway conditions and this has led to new therapeutic strategies to limit airway inflammation. In this study, detectable levels of adenosine in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from 11 horses with non-infectious lower-airway inflammation and 14 healthy controls are reported, with significantly higher values in horses with airway inflammation. Although these increased levels did not correlate with changes in neutrophil percentage in BAL, a positive association between adenosine levels and signs of lower airway inflammation (clinical score) was observed.