Treatment approaches to horses with acute diarrhea admitted to referral institutions: A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: This study aimed to describe and compare therapeutic approaches for horses with acute diarrhea in different geographic regions worldwide.

Methods: Clinical information was retrospectively collected from diarrheic horses presented to participating institutions between 2016 and 2020, including fluid therapy on admission, antimicrobial drugs, probiotics, anti-endotoxic medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, gastroprotectants, digital cryotherapy, and toxin-binding agents. Seasonal and geographic differences were investigated.

Phenotypic Shift of an Inflammatory Eosinophil Subset into a Steady-State Resident Phenotype after 2 Years of Vaccination against IL-5 in Equine Insect Bite Hypersensitivity.

Eosinophils play a key role in allergic diseases such as insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH). Together with Th2 cells, they shape the course of inflammation in associated type I/IVb allergies. Therefore, a virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccine targeting equine interleukin-5 (eIL-5), eIL-5-CuMV-TT, was developed to interfere with the IL-5 dependency of eosinophils by inducing the production of anti-self-IL-5 antibodies and alleviating clinical signs in IBH-affected horses.

Effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on trigeminal-mediated headshaking in 17 horses.

Background: Trigeminal-mediated headshaking is a neuropathic facial pain condition in horses. No treatment has been entirely successful. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is used in human medicine as a treatment for various neuropathic pain conditions, and good results have been achieved in cases of trigeminal neuralgia.

Clinical findings and outcome predictors for multinodular pulmonary fibrosis in horses: 46 cases (2009-2019).

Background: Prognostic indicators for equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF), an interstitial fibrosing lung disease, are poorly described.

Hypothesis/objectives: Describe diagnostic findings and outcome predictors for EMPF.

Animals: Forty-six adult horses with EMPF.

Serological and Molecular Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in Horses and Cattle in Switzerland from 2020 to 2022.

Horses and cattle have shown low susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2, and there is no evidence of experimental intraspecies transmission. Nonetheless, seropositive horses in the US and seropositive cattle in Germany and Italy have been reported. The current study investigated the prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in horses and cattle in Switzerland.

Acidification is required for calcium and magnesium concentration measurements in equine urine.

Background: Acidification of equine urine to promote dissociation of ion complexes is a common practice for urine ion concentration measurements. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of acidification and storage after acidification on calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and phosphate (P) concentrations and on fractional excretion (FE) of these electrolytes. Thirty-two fresh equine urine samples were analysed between December 2016 and July 2020.

Survival rates and factors associated with survival and laminitis of horses with acute diarrhoea admitted to referral institutions.

Background: Clinicopathological findings and their association with the outcome and development of laminitis in horses with acute diarrhoea has not been investigated in a multicentre study across different geographic regions.

Objectives: Describe and compare clinicopathologic findings of diarrhoeic horses between different geographic regions, survival rates and factors associated with non-survival and laminitis.

Study Design: Multicentre retrospective case series.

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.

[Survey on the use of antibiotics among Swiss equine veterinarians].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the current use of antibiotics by Swiss equine veterinarians and to compare the results with a similar study from 2013 before the introduction of the web tool Antibiotic Scout. The survey was sent to equine veterinarians according to the member database of the Swiss Veterinary Association (GST, SVS). The demographic data of the respondents and their antibiotics usage were collected.

Targeting eosinophils by active vaccination against interleukin-5 reduces basophil counts in horses with insect bite hypersensitivity in the 2nd year of vaccination.

Previously, virus-like particle (VLP)-based self-vaccinations targeting interleukin (IL)-5 or IL-31 have been suggested to treat equine insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), a seasonal recurrent allergic dermatitis in horses. The IL-5-targeting equine vaccine significantly reduced blood eosinophil counts in horses, similar to human monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-5 or the IL-5 receptor alpha (IL-5Rα). Previous studies in humans have also reported an additional effect on reduction of basophil counts.

Neurological disease suspected to be caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus infection in 6 horses in Switzerland.

Background: Reports on acute tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infections with signs of neurologic disease in horses are limited.

Objectives: To describe the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory findings of suspected acute TBEV infections in 6 horses.

Animals: Six horses originating from TBEV endemic regions of Switzerland were presented to equine hospitals with acute onset of neurologic disease between 2011 and 2019.

Thoracic Electrical Impedance Tomography-The 2022 Veterinary Consensus Statement.

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a non-invasive real-time non-ionising imaging modality that has many applications. Since the first recorded use in 1978, the technology has become more widely used especially in human adult and neonatal critical care monitoring. Recently, there has been an increase in research on thoracic EIT in veterinary medicine.

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).

Outbreak of equine coronavirus disease in adult horses, Switzerland 2021.

Coronaviruses are causing severe respiratory and enteric diseases in humans and animals. Here, we report an outbreak of equine coronavirus disease in adult horses, detected by a voluntary syndromic surveillance scheme for equine diseases in Switzerland. This scheme allowed a rapid concerted action to diagnose and contain the disease.

Diagnosis of atypical myopathy based on organic acid and acylcarnitine profiles and evolution of biomarkers in surviving horses.

Background: Atypical myopathy (AM), an acquired multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) in horses, induce changes in mitochondrial metabolism. Only few veterinary laboratories offer diagnostic testing for this disease. Inborn and acquired MADD exist in humans, therefore determination of organic acids (OA) in urine and acylcarnitines (AC) in blood by assays available in medical laboratories can serve as AM diagnostics.

Prevalence of Nasal Shedding of Equid Gammaherpesviruses in Healthy Swiss Horses.

Equid Gamma herpesvirus (eGHV) infections have been reported worldwide and may be correlated with clinical signs, e.g., affecting the respiratory tract in young horses.

Exercise-induced airflow changes in horses with asthma measured by electrical impedance tomography.

Background: Equine asthma (EA) causes airflow impairment, which increases in severity with exercise. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is an imaging technique that can detect airflow changes in standing healthy horses during a histamine provocation test.

Objectives: To explore EIT-calculated flow variables before and after exercise in healthy horses and horses with mild-to-moderate (MEA) and severe equine asthma (SEA).

Gentamicin plasma concentrations in hospitalized horses and retrospective minimal inhibitory concentrations of gram-negative equine pathogens.

Objectives: The optimal dosage regimen of gentamicin in horses is still under investigation. The objectives of this study were to determine gentamicin plasma concentrations in hospitalized horses treated with 10 mg/kg gentamicin (IV, q 24 h) and to determine whether a plasma concentration to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratio of 10:1 is reached for equine pathogens using this dose.

Design: Prospective clinical observational study; retrospective study on MICs of 131 gram-negative bacteria isolated from horses (2012-2015).

Outcome and complications following transrectal and transabdominal large intestinal trocarization in equids with colic: 228 cases (2004-2015).

Objective: To describe outcome and complications after large intestinal trocarization in equids with colic and identify factors associated with nonsurvival and clinically relevant peritonitis (CRP).

Animals: 228 (198 horses, 24 ponies, and 6 donkeys and mules) equids with colic that underwent large intestinal trocarization.

Procedures: Medical records from 2004 through 2015 were reviewed for equids with colic that underwent large intestinal trocarization.

Dysbiosis is not present in horses with fecal water syndrome when compared to controls in spring and autumn.

Background: Fecal water syndrome (FWS) is long-standing and common in horses, particularly in central Europe. No large epidemiological data sets exist, and the cause remains elusive. Dysbiosis could play a role in pathogenesis.