Carbohydrate digestion in the stomach of horses grazed on pasture, fed hay or hay and oats.

Concentrations of starch, mono- and disaccharides, fructans, hemicellulose and cellulose were analysed in feed and gastric digesta of horses in relation to acid insoluble ash as a marker indigestible in the stomach. Twenty-four horses were allocated to pasture 24 h/d (PST; n = 4), hay ad libitum (HAY; n = 8), hay ad lib. and oats at 1 g starch/kg body weight (BWT)/meal (OS1; n = 6) and hay ad lib.

[Brainstem auditory evoked responses in horses with hearing loss and during general anesthesia].

The brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) is a diagnostic approach to examine the hearing system of horses objectively. The aim of this BAER examination was the diagnosis of conductive or sensorineural hearing loss or deafness in horses with external otitis, head trauma, headshaking, tinnitus or skittish horses with eye disease. Brainstem dysfunction is induced by intracranial hypotension.

Efficient preparation of microtip arrays for atom probe tomography using fs-laser processing.

Microtip arrays, also called microtip coupons, are routinely used in atom probe tomography (APT) as specimen carriers. They are commercially available consumables, usually made of Si with high electrical conductivity, produced via dedicated shaping techniques. Their purpose is to act as a specimen mount after focused ion beam (FIB) based lift-out procedures.

[Glyphosate detection in the duodenal fluid of horses with gastric ulcer syndrome].

The hay producing plants, concentrate, straw and meadows could be contaminated by the aerosols of glyphosate based herbicide during spraying process of crops and pre-harvest desiccation treatment of cereals. The aim of this study is to investigate the concentration of glyphosate in the duodenal fluid of horses with gastric ulcer syndrome. The stomach and duodenum of referred untreated horse patients (n=92) with colic, weight loss, diarrhoea, anemia or performance intolerance were endoscopically examined right after the admission.

Laser-based sample preparation for high-resolution X-ray-computed tomography of glasses and glass ceramics.

X-ray-computed tomography with sub-micron resolution (nano-CT) is one of the most useful techniques to examine the 3D microstructure of materials down to voxel sizes 10 nm. However, since size and shape of samples have considerable influence on acquisition time and data quality, adapted and universally applicable workflows are needed. Three novel workflows for sample preparation using ultra-short pulsed lasers are presented which allow for reproducible fabrication, safe extraction and mounting of samples.

[Detection of leptospira by culture of vitreous humor and detection of antibodies against leptospira in vitreous humor and serum of 225 horses with equine recurrent uveitis].

In the ongoing discussion regarding the aetiopathogenesis of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) it was the aim of the present study to elucidate the relationship of leptospira infection and ERU. In a population of 225 horses leptospira were examined in vitreous humor by culture and leptospira antibody were detected in vitreous humor and serum samples. Preoperative serum samples were collected from 221/225 ERU patients of different age, gender and breed.

[Occurrance of antibodies against Leptospira in horses in Middle Germany].

Aim of the study was to detect antibodies and potential risk factors for an infec- tion with Leptospira in horses in Middle Germany. Serum samples of 314 horses were examined retrospectively by microscopic agglutination test for the presence of antibodies against eight Leptospira serovars. In total, 17.

Release kinetics of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in the equine whole blood.

Background: Horses are much predisposed and susceptible to excessive and acute inflammatory responses that cause the recruitment and stimulation of polymorphnuclear granulocytes (PMN) together with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the release of cytokines. The aim of the study is to develop easy, quick, cheap and reproducible methods for measuring tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in the equine whole blood cultures ex-vivo time- and concentration-dependently.

Results: Horse whole blood diluted to 10, 20 and 50 % was stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), PCPwL (a combination of phytohemagglutinin E, concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen) or equine recombinant TNF-α (erTNF-α).

[Pituitary syndrome caused by neoplasia in a 17-month-old Holstein Friesian heifer].

A 17-month-old Holstein Friesian heifer was presented after one day with dysphagia, slight paralysis of the tongue and swelling of the eyelids. Clinical examination of the animal revealed an extended posture of the head and neck, severely increased salivation, reduced lingual tone and mandibular paralysis with complete absence of the swallowing reflex. The right eye showed a drooping eyelid, mucopurulent discharge, exposure keratitis, corneal opacity and miosis.

[Reference ranges of insulin, insulin like growth factor-1 and adrenocorticotropic hormone in ponies].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate a chemiluminescence immunometric assay using the IMMULITE 2000® for the determination of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) from which reference ranges were calculated for ponies.

Material And Methods: Blood samples of 130 ponies aged 3-32 years were collected in the afternoon. The reference ranges were calculated according to the Guideline EP28-A3C of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) from 2010.

[Evaluation of an immunochromatographic dipstick test for the assessment of tetanus immunity in horses].

Knowledge of tetanus immunity in equine patients is crucial in cases of injuries, elective surgeries, or when effective vaccination protocols are to be designed. The Fassisi® TetaCheck is a stall-side rapid test which was developed to address these issues. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate its performance parameters.

Impact of diet on 24-hour intragastric pH profile in healthy horses.

An electrode incorporated into a polyethylene hose was introduced under endoscopic control into the stomach of six fasting adult horses for long-lasting pH measurements. The intragastric pH was recorded every four seconds for a period of 24 hours. The Warmblood horses were assigned randomly to receive hay ad libitum (H group); 1.

Hypoglycin A Content in Blood and Urine Discriminates Horses with Atypical Myopathy from Clinically Normal Horses Grazing on the Same Pasture.

Hypoglycin A (HGA) in seeds of Acer spp. is suspected to cause seasonal pasture myopathy in North America and equine atypical myopathy (AM) in Europe, fatal diseases in horses on pasture. In previous studies, this suspicion was substantiated by the correlation of seed HGA content with the concentrations of toxic metabolites in urine and serum (MCPA-conjugates) of affected horses.

Histological study of the external, middle and inner ear of horses.

Clinical, anatomical and histological aspects of the equine acoustic organ have been poorly investigated and illustrated in literature so far. It is understood that an intact acoustic organ and hearing function are of vital importance for the well-being of flight animals like horses. The knowledge of the acoustic organ is usually transferred analogously from other mammals to horses.

Influence of laxatives on gastric emptying in healthy warmblood horses evaluated with the acetaminophen absorption test.

The use of laxatives is crucial in the treatment of horses with caecal or large colon impaction.To reach the large intestinal contents and resolve the impaction, laxatives must leave the stomach and pass through the small intestine.The aim of this study was to prove whether isotonic solutions of saline cathartics do not affect gastric emptying rate in contrast to hypertonic solutions.

Endoscopic findings of the external ear canal in a group of clinically normal horses and horses with head shaking or vestibular disease.

Since there is a lack of information about the normal appearance or pathological findings of the equine external ear canal (EEEC) and tympanic membrane (TM), we aimed to find a practical way to perform the otoscopic examination in standing, sedated horses. Therefore, we worked with common veterinary video endoscopes, which are normally used for gastroscopy or bronchoscopy. Both ears each of 38 randomly selected, chemically restrained horses were otoscopically examined.

Dysphagia caused by focal guttural pouch mycosis: mononeuropathy of the pharyngeal ramus of the vagal nerve in a 20-year-old pony mare.

A 20-year-old pony mare was presented to the equine hospital with a ten-day history of dysphagia, regurgitation and coughing. An obstruction of the oesophagus was excluded via endoscopy, but the proximal oesophagus appeared to be distended and circular contractions were missing. A guttural pouch endoscopy revealed a single, black-mottled plaque on the pharyngeal ramus of the vagus nerve in the left guttural pouch, causing a local swelling of this nerve.

Influence of laxatives on gastric emptying in healthy Warmblood horses evaluated with the D-xylose absorption test.

The use of laxatives is crucial in the treatment of horses with large colon impaction. To reach the impacted mass, the laxative must leave the stomach and pass through the small intestine. The aim of this study was to determine whether the most frequently used saline and lubricant laxatives influence gastric emptying.

[Diagnostic assessment of peritoneal fluid cytology in horses with abdominal neoplasia].

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of peritoneal fluid (PF) cytology for clinical diagnosis of abdominal neoplasia in horses.

Material And Methods: Ten horses with histopathologically confirmed abdominal neoplasia, in which a PF analysis was performed, were included in this retrospective study. PF was analyzed for total protein concentration and a nucleated cell count was performed.

Anatomy and anaesthesia of the equine external ear canal.

Anaesthesia of the external ear canal (external acoustic meatus) is usually performed by blocking both the great and internal auricular nerves by regional infiltration. However, exact landmarks for blocking the internal auricular nerve to accomplish effective anaesthesia have not been described yet. In this study, detailed anatomical dissection of the equine external ear canal and its nerve supply was carried out on fifteen cadaver heads.

A follow up study on antibodies against Lawsonia intracellularis in mares and foals from two breeding farms in Germany.

Equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) caused by Lawsonia (L.) intracellularis is an emerging disease in foals, particularly in North America. Since a case report in Germany exists, the objective of this study was to examine the incidence of L.

Effect of Buscopan compositum on the motility of the duodenum, cecum and left ventral colon in healthy conscious horses.

Seven adult, healthy, conscious warmblood horses were used in a crossover study. They were fed twice a day on 1 kg hay/100 kg BW and 0.5 kg concentrates with unlimited access to water.

Differentiation of viable, apoptotic and necrotic cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of normal horses and horses with recurrent airway obstruction.

Proinflammatoric cytokines are released extracellularly during necrosis. These lead to inflammation and destruction of surrounding tissues. The aim of this study was to compare the number of viable, apoptotic and necrotic cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of normal horses and horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) and to determine if fluorescence microscopy is a reliable method for this examination.

Serum thyroid hormone, insulin, glucose, triglycerides and protein concentrations in normal horses: association with topical dexamethasone usage.

The aim of this study was to determine if topical application of dexamethasone affected the serum concentrations of thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine T(3) and thyroxine T(4)), glucose, triglycerides, total protein and insulin in normal horses. Ten horses were treated twice daily for 10 days with 50 g dexamethasone using an ointment formulation. Thyroid hormones and insulin were assayed using standard radioimmunoassay methods, while glucose, triglycerides and total protein were determined using a standard enzymatic method and the Biuret reaction, respectively.

Effects of dermal dexamethasone application on ACTH and both basal and ACTH-stimulated cortisol concentration in normal horses.

There are no data available regarding the systemic (adverse) effects which might be induced by topical/dermal glucocorticoids (GCs) application in the horse. Besides their widespread use for the treatment of a variety of peripheral inflammatory disorders such as atopic dermatitis, eczemas or arthritis in the horse, their surreptitious application has become a concern in doping cases in competition/performance horses. Assessing both basal and ACTH-stimulated plasma cortisol as well as basal ACTH concentrations following application of dexamethsone-containing dermal ointment is necessary to determine influences on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.