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.

Risk factors associated with development of colitis in horses post-exploratory laparotomy.

Background: Diagnosis of colitis has been shown to impact morbidity and mortality in hospitalised horses. There are no studies to date that describe the incidence of infectious colitis after exploratory laparotomy.

Objectives: To investigate risk factors associated with the development of colitis and infectious colitis post-exploratory laparotomy.

Use of Biologics and Stem Cells in the Treatment of Other Inflammatory Diseases in the Horse.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are powerful immunomodulatory cells that act via multiple mechanisms to coordinate, inhibit, and control the cells of the immune system. MSCs act as rescuers for various damaged or degenerated cells of the body via (1) cytokines, growth factors, and signaling molecules; (2) extracellular vesicle (exosome) signaling; and (3) direct donation of mitochondria. Several studies evaluating the efficacy of MSCs have used MSCs grown using xenogeneic media, which may reduce or eliminate efficacy.

Utility of serum amyloid A in monitoring clinical response to antimicrobial treatment in horses with bacterial pneumonia.

Background: Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a major acute phase protein in horses which could be a useful tool for assessing clinical response to treatment of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses.

Objectives: To monitor SAA concentration in response to treatment and identify associations among SAA concentration, WBC and neutrophil counts, and fibrinogen in bacterial pneumonia in adult horses.

Animals: Eighteen adult horses with bacterial pneumonia.

Pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and safety of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in adult horses with naturally occurring chronic lameness.

Background: Acetaminophen is used clinically in horses with musculoskeletal pain; however, no studies have been performed in horses with chronic lameness.

Objectives: To determine the pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy of chronic dosing of acetaminophen in horses with naturally occurring chronic lameness.

Study Design: Longitudinal.

Equine sinusitis aetiology is linked to sinus microbiome by amplicon sequencing.

Background: Information regarding the microbiome in sinusitis using genetic sequencing is lacking and more-in-depth understanding of the microbiome could improve antimicrobial selection and treatment outcomes for cases of primary sinusitis.

Objectives: To describe sinus microbiota in samples from horses with sinusitis and compare microbiota and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes between primary, dental-related and other secondary causes of sinusitis.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Single-incision drilling technique to achieve hemiepiphysiodesis of the distal metacarpus - complications and outcome in 207 foals with metacarpophalangeal varus deformities.

Objective: To report the outcome of foals treated for metacarpophalangeal varus deformity with a single-incision drilling technique for hemiepiphysiodesis of the distal lateral metacarpal physis.

Study Design: Retrospective case-control cohort study.

Animals: Thoroughbred foals (n = 207), 171 age- and sex-matched maternal siblings.

Clinical, Diagnostic and Histological Findings Involving Cheek Teeth Hypercementosis in Nine Horses.

Hypercementosis is infrequently reported to affect the cheek teeth of horses and presents as mineral deposits either attached (peripheral) or solitary ovoid (nodular) structures in the tooth bearing region. There is overlap between radiological and histological appearance of hypercementosis, cementoma, and equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH). The clinical presentation, imaging features, surgical management, and histological findings of nine horses that presented for dental lesions and associated hypercementosis of cheek teeth are reported.

Three-Dimensional Culture of Equine Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhances Anti-Inflammatory Properties in a Donor-Dependent Manner.

Three-dimensional (3D) culture of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as spheroids enhances the production of important regulators of inflammation: prostaglandin E2 (PGE), interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor-inducible gene 6 (TSG-6). The horse is a model species and suffers from musculoskeletal, ocular, and systemic inflammatory disease. It is unknown if 3D culture promotes enhanced production of immunomodulatory cytokines and regulators in equine MSCs and if there is variation between individual cell donors.

Horses affected by EPM have increased sCD14 compared to healthy horses.

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a debilitating neurologic disease affecting horses across the Americas. Gaps in understanding the inflammatory immune response in EPM-affected horses create difficulties with diagnosis and treatment, subsequently negatively impacting the prognosis of affected horses. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate circulating levels of the inflammatory immune marker soluble CD14 (sCD14), in horses with EPM (n = 7) and determine if they differed from healthy neurologically normal horses (n = 6).

Acute Central Nervous System Trauma in the Field.

Acute central nervous system (CNS) trauma in the field is best approached by a systematic and thorough physical and neurologic examination that allows the practitioner to localize the brain or spinal cord injury. The skull and vertebral canal are complex 3-dimensional structures, and orthogonal radiographic views are necessary for an accurate diagnosis. Therapeutics aimed at decreasing pain, inflammation, and edema or increased intracranial pressure in the case of traumatic brain injury should be administered.

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.

Evaluation of a continuous glucose monitoring system in neonatal foals.

Background: Monitoring blood glucose concentrations is common in critically ill neonatal foals, especially septic foals and those receiving naso-esophageal feedings or IV parenteral nutrition. Glucose typically is measured using a point-of-care (POC) glucometer but requires repeated restraint and blood collections, which may cause irritation at venipuncture sites and increased demands on nursing staff. Continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) may provide an accurate alternative for monitoring blood glucose concentration.

Standing trans-nasal endoscopic guided CO laser fenestration of the palatine bone to access the sphenopalatine sinus in a horse.

Objective: To describe a novel standing trans-nasal endoscopic guided CO laser fenestration approach to access the sphenopalatine sinus (SPS) in the horse.

Study Design: Case report.

Animals: Cadaver study and client-owned 20-year-old Warmblood gelding.

Pharmacokinetics and pulmonary distribution of Draxxin (tulathromycin) in healthy adult horses.

The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of tulathromycin (Draxxin ; 2.5 mg/kg once) after intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC), and slow intravenous (IV) administration to six adult horses. A three-phase design and 4-week washout period were used.

Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia in 25 adult equids: 1997-2016.

Background: Information concerning clinical presentation, conditions associated with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA) and thrombocytopenia (IMTP) and outcome in equids is lacking. Previous case reports suggest that immune-mediated disease and neoplasia are associated.

Objectives: Characterise the clinical presentation, clinicopathologic data, underlying conditions, treatment and outcome of IMHA and IMTP cases in equids.

Incisional complications after skin closure with n-butyl cyanoacrylate or stainless-steel skin staples in horses undergoing colic surgery.

Objective: To compare the prevalence of incisional complications after skin closure with n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBC) or stainless-steel skin staples (SS) after ventral midline celiotomy for colic surgery in the horse.

Study Design: Retrospective study (2014-2018).

Animals: Two hundred eighteen horses.

Incidence of incisional complications after exploratory celiotomy in equids affected with enterolithiasis.

This study reports the prevalence of and risk factors for incisional complications in equids after ventral midline celiotomy for enterolithiasis. This study covered the years 2008 to 2015 and included 72 equids. Enteroliths were removed from the ascending or descending colon through 1 or more enterotomies.

A brief history of tendon and ligament bioreactors: Impact and future prospects.

Bioreactors are powerful tools with the potential to model tissue development and disease in vitro. For nearly four decades, bioreactors have been used to create tendon and ligament tissue-engineered constructs in order to define basic mechanisms of cell function, extracellular matrix deposition, tissue organization, injury, and tissue remodeling. This review provides a historical perspective of tendon and ligament bioreactors and their contributions to this advancing field.

Single-incision percutaneous drilling technique to achieve hemiepiphysiodesis of the distal metacarpus in foals with metacarpophalangeal varus deformities.

Objective: To describe a drilling technique for hemiepiphysiodesis of the distal lateral metacarpal physis and report the outcome of treated foals.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Sample Population: Eleven thoroughbred foals.

Multi-differentiation potential is necessary for optimal tenogenesis of tendon stem cells.

Background: Tendon injury is a significant clinical problem due to poor healing and a high reinjury rate; successful treatment is limited by our poor understanding of endogenous tendon stem cells. Recent evidence suggests that adult stem cells are phenotypically diverse, even when comparing stem cells isolated from the same tissue from the same individual, and may in fact exist on a spectrum of proliferation and differentiation capacities. Additionally, the relationships between and clinical relevance of this phenotypic variation are poorly understood.

The Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Treat Systemic Inflammation in Horses.

One hallmark of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is the ability to differentiate into multiple tissue types which assists in tissue regeneration. Another hallmark of MSCs is their potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties and the potential to treat inflammatory, immune-mediated, and ischemic conditions. In equine practice, MSCs have shown efficacy in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders such as tendinopathy, meniscal tears and cartilage injury.

Osteochondral fragments of the pastern joint at the origin of the collateral ligament of the distal sesamoid bone: performance after arthroscopic removal (2000-2015).

Objective: To describe the presence of fragments in the dorsal proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint and to report flat racing performance after surgical treatment.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Sample Population: Thirty-nine affected thoroughbred flat racehorses and 169 age- and sex-matched maternal siblings.

Optimizing growth factor induction of tenogenesis in three-dimensional culture of mesenchymal stem cells.

Adult tissue stem cells have shown promise for the treatment of debilitating tendon injuries. However, few comparisons of stem cells from different tissue sources have been made to determine the optimum stem cell source for treating tendon. Moreover, it is likely that the application of tenogenic growth factors will improve tendon stem cell treatments further, and a comprehensive comparison of a number of growth factors is needed.