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.

Endothelial glycocalyx degradation in critically ill foals.

Background: Endothelial glycocalyx (EG) degradation occurs in septic humans and EG products can be used as biomarkers of endothelial injury. Information about EG biomarkers and their association with disease severity is lacking in hospitalized foals.

Objectives: Measure serum syndecan-1 (SDC-1), heparan sulfate (HS), angiopoietin-2 (ANG-2), aldosterone (ALD), and plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentrations and to determine their association with disease severity and death in hospitalized foals.

Clostridial Diseases (Botulism and Tetanus).

Botulism and tetanus are the 2 primary manifestations of neurologic disease caused by clostridial toxins. Only a small dose of clostridial toxin is required to induce severe, and often fatal, disease. Consequently, definitive diagnosis of either disease is nearly impossible to achieve antemortem or postmortem; presumptive diagnosis is usually made based on physical and neurologic examination findings.

Identification of a Ruminant Origin Group B Rotavirus Associated with Diarrhea Outbreaks in Foals.

Equine rotavirus group A (ERVA) is one of the most common causes of foal diarrhea. Starting in February 2021, there was an increase in the frequency of severe watery to hemorrhagic diarrhea cases in neonatal foals in Central Kentucky. Diagnostic investigation of fecal samples failed to detect evidence of diarrhea-causing pathogens including ERVA.

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.