Survey of state animal health officials reveals lack of personnel and resources to manage equine infectious disease outbreaks.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess the challenges faced by state animal health officials (SAHOs) when managing equine disease outbreaks.

Methods: A survey was conducted to assess SAHOs' collaboration with horse owners and practicing veterinarians to provide biosecurity and infection disease control. It was sent to 180 email addresses listed in the Equine Disease Communication Center website database.

The Immediate Effect of Routine Hoof Trimming and Shoeing on Horses' Gait.

Evaluation of the effect of changes in the horses' feet after routine trimming and shoeing on gait at the trot is needed improve routine foot care. Evaluate changes in foot conformation and gait after routine farriery. Correlate alterations in a horse's gait before and after routine hoof trimming and shoe application.

Case-control study of risk factors for pasture-and endocrinopathy-associated laminitis in North American horses.

OBJECTIVE To investigate risk factors for the development of pasture- and endocrinopathy-associated laminitis (PEAL) in horses and ponies in North America. DESIGN Case-control study. ANIMALS 199 horses with incident cases of PEAL and 351 horses from 2 control populations (healthy horses [n = 198] and horses with lameness not caused by laminitis [153]) that were evaluated in North America between January 2012 and December 2015 by veterinarian members of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Treatment of Equine Distal Interphalangeal Joint Collateral Ligaments: 2009-2014.

Objectives: To determine the outcome of treating distal interphalangeal joint collateral ligament (DIJCL) desmopathy using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided ligament injection.

Methods: Medical records of 13 adult horses diagnosed with DIJCL desmopathy using low-field MRI and treated by MRI-guided ligament injection of mesenchymal stem cells and/or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) were reviewed. Information collected included signalment, MRI diagnosis, treatment type, time to resolution of lameness, and level of exercise after treatment.

Microangiographic Comparison of the Effects of 3 Loop Pulley and 6 Strand Savage Tenorrhaphy Techniques on Equine Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon.

Objective: The 6-strand Savage (SSS) tenorrhaphy pattern is biomechanically superior to the commonly employed 3-loop pulley (3LP); however, its effects on intrinsic tendon vasculature remain unknown. The objective of this study was to compare perfusion of intrinsic vasculature of the equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) after 3LP and SSS tenorrhaphies. We hypothesized that the SSS technique would significantly decrease vascular perfusion compared to the 3LP technique.

Effects of intrabursal administration of botulinum toxin type B on lameness in horses with degenerative injury to the podotrochlear apparatus.

Objective: To determine the safety and short-term efficacy of intrabursal administration of botulinum toxin type B (BTXB) to alleviate lameness in horses with degenerative injury to the podotrochlear apparatus (PA).

Animals: 10 Quarter Horses with degenerative injury to the PA.

Procedures: Degenerative injury to the PA was confirmed with diagnostic analgesia and imaging.

Accuracy of low-field magnetic resonance imaging versus radiography for guiding injection of equine distal interphalangeal joint collateral ligaments.

Desmopathy of the distal interphalangeal joint collateral ligament is a common cause of lameness in the horse and carries a variable prognosis for soundness. Intralesional treatment has been proposed for improving outcome; however, limited reports describe methods for injecting this ligament. The purpose of this study was to compare accuracy of low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) vs.

Evaluation of neutrophil apoptosis in horses with acute abdominal disease.

Objective: To quantify peripheral blood neutrophil apoptosis in equine patients with acute abdominal disease (ie, colic) caused by strangulating or nonstrangulating intestinal lesions and compare these values with values for horses undergoing elective arthroscopic surgery.

Animals: 20 client-owned adult horses.

Procedures: Peripheral blood was collected from horses immediately prior to and 24 hours after surgery for treatment of colic (n = 10) or elective arthroscopic surgery (10), and neutrophils were counted.

Standing low-field magnetic resonance imaging appearance of normal collateral ligaments of the equine distal interphalangeal joint.

High- and low-field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging systems are available for clinical diagnosis of collateral desmopathy of the equine distal interphalangeal joint (DIJ). Knowledge of the normal appearance, size, shape,and signal variation of these ligaments on high- and low-field MR images is essential when assessing desmopathy detected by MR imaging. However, there are no descriptions of the normal features of DIJ collateral ligaments on images obtained with a standing low-field MR system.

Prognosticating equine colic.

Prognosticating survival in horses with colic is challenging because of the number of diseases and pathophysiologic processes that can cause the behavior. Although the treatment of horses with colic has improved dramatically over the years, case fatality can still be high because of the delay in recognizing the problem, the time delay inherent in receiving veterinary care, and the lack of effective treatment for the more severe diseases. Intensive case management and surgery for these horses may be expensive and emotionally draining for owners; therefore, providing an accurate prognosis is key to decisions needed for case management.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings of desmopathy of the collateral ligaments of the equine distal interphalangeal joint.

We report the use of a low-field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system for the detection of desmopathy of the collateral ligament of the distal interphalangeal joint and the long-term outcome. Twenty horses were studied and their medical records and MR images were reviewed retrospectively. Long-term follow-up information was obtained by telephonic questionnaires of owners, trainers, or referring veterinarians.

Factors associated with outcome following treatment of horses with septic tenosynovitis: 51 cases (1986-2003).

Objective: To identify factors associated with outcome (ie, survival and return to function) following treatment of horses with septic tenosynovitis.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 51 horses with septic tenosynovitis.

Outcome of desmoplasty and fasciotomy for desmitis involving the origin of the suspensory ligament in horses: 27 cases (1995-2004).

Objective: To determine outcome of percutaneous ultrasound-guided desmoplasty with simultaneous fasciotomy for proximal suspensory desmitis (ie, desmitis of the origin of the suspensory ligament) in horses that have not responded to stall rest.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 27 horses.

Effects of Carolina rinse solution, dimethyl sulfoxide, and the 21-aminosteroid, U-74389G, on microvascular permeability and morphology of the equine jejunum after low-flow ischemia and reperfusion.

Objective: To evaluate effects of Carolina rinse solution, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and 21-aminosteroid, U-74389G, on microvascular permeability and morphology of the equine jejunum after low-flow ischemia and reperfusion.

Animals: 20 healthy adult horses.

Procedure: Under anesthesia, full-thickness biopsy specimens of a distal portion of the jejunum were obtained for baseline measurements.

Primary desmitis of the palmar and plantar annular ligaments in horses: 25 cases (1990-2003).

Objective: To determine clinical and ultrasonographic abnormalities in horses with primary desmitis of the palmar or plantar annular ligament (PAL) and the response to treatment.

Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: 25 horses.

Effects of enteral and intravenous fluid therapy, magnesium sulfate, and sodium sulfate on colonic contents and feces in horses.

Objective: To assess changes in systemic hydration, concentrations of electrolytes in plasma, hydration of colonic contents and feces, and gastrointestinal transit in horses treated with IV fluid therapy or enteral administration of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), sodium sulfate (NaSO4), water, or a balanced electrolyte solution.

Animals: 7 horses with fistulas in the right dorsal colon (RDC).

Procedure: In a crossover design, horses alternately received 1 of 6 treatments: no treatment (control); IV fluid therapy with lactated Ringer's solution; or enteral administration of MgSO4, Na2SO4, water, or a balanced electrolyte solution via nasogastric intubation.

Effects of feeding large amounts of grain on colonic contents and feces in horses.

Objective: To assess changes in systemic hydration, concentrations of plasma electrolytes, hydration and physical properties of colonic contents and feces, and gastrointestinal transit in horses with access to large amounts of grain.

Animals: 6 horses with right dorsal colon (RDC) fistulas.

Procedure: In a crossover design, horses were alternately fed 1 of 3 diets: orchard grass hay ad libitum after being adapted to this diet for at least 5 days, orchard grass hay ad libitum and 4.

Effects of injection of botulinum toxin type B into the external anal sphincter on anal pressure of horses.

Objective: To determine effects on anal pressure of horses after local injection of the external anal sphincter with Clostridium botulinum toxin type B.

Animals: 11 healthy adult horses.

Procedure: Peak and resting anal sphincter pressures were measured with a custom-made rectal probe that was connected to a pressure transducer.

Risk factors and prevalence of injuries in horses during various types of steeplechase races.

Objective: To identify the types of injuries sustained by horses that competed in steeplechase races and determine the prevalence of and risk factors for those injuries.

Design: Prospective study.

Animals: 2,680 horses that competed in various types of steeplechase races from 1996 through 2000.

Detection of apoptotic cells in intestines from horses with and without gastrointestinal tract disease.

Objective: To identify apoptosis in equine intestines and determine whether apoptosis is associated with gastrointestinal tract disease or a specific tissue layer of intestine.

Animals: 38 horses that underwent surgery or were euthanatized for small or large intestine obstruction, strangulation, or distension and 9 control horses euthanatized for reasons other than gastrointestinal tract disease or systemic disease.

Procedure: Specimens were collected at surgery from intestine involved in the primary lesion and distant to the primary lesion site or at necropsy from several sites including the primary lesion site.