bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultrasonographic anatomy and biometric analysis of the thoracic and abdominal organs in healthy foals from birth to age 6 months
Authors: ALEMAN M. , GILLIS C. L. , NIETO J. E. , RENAUDIN C. D. , BEA J. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryKnowledge of normal renal parameters, as documented in mature horses, is essential for the accurate evaluation of abnormal kidneys. Although the ultrasonographic appearance and location of the abdominal organs in foals and the renal dimensions in neonates have been reported, there is currently no information available for the assessment of normal organ growth in foals. The objectives of the study were to describe the ultrasonographic characteristics, location and variations of the thoracic and abdominal organs with relation to age, height and weight; and provide a growth table for comparison with diseased foals. The thoracic and abdominal cavities of 10 healthy foals were evaluated at ages 1, 7, 14 and 21 days and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months. The equipment used was an Ausonics Opus Plus ultrasound. For every evaluation, weight and height were obtained, the foals were sedated and the area of study was clipped and cleaned. The ultrasonographic location, appearance and measurements of the different organs were recorded for each examination. The study revealed that foals age >1 month resemble the mature ultrasonographic pattern. Continual growth of the organs was observed from Day 1 to age 6 months, being faster in the first month. Organ growth was closely correlated with age, but not with sex, height or weight in healthy foals up to age 6 months. Our study has provided measurements of longitudinal organ growth in healthy foals, presented in a simple form for easy comparison with diseased individuals.
Hysteroscopic insemination of mares with low numbers of nonsorted or flow sorted spermatozoa
Authors: LINDSEY A. C. , MORRIS L. H. A. , ALLEN W. R. , SCHENK J. L. , SQUIRES E. L. , BRUEMMER J. E. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryThe objectives of this study were 1) to compare pregnancy rates resulting from 2 methods of insemination using low sperm numbers and 2) to compare pregnancy rates resulting from hysteroscopic insemination of 5 × 106 nonsorted and 5 × 106 spermatozoa sorted for X‐ and Y‐chromosome‐bearing populations (flow sorted). Semen was collected with an artificial vagina from 2 stallions of known acceptable fertility. Oestrus was synchronised (June to July) in 40 mares, age 3–10 years, by administering 10 ml altrenogest orally for 10 consecutive days, followed by 250 μg cloprostenol i.m. on Day 11. All mares were given 3000 iu hCG i.v. at the time of insemination to induce ovulation. Mares were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatment groups: mares in Treatment 1 (n = 10) were inseminated with 5 × 106 spermatozoa deposited deep into the uterine horn with the aid of ultrasonography. Mares in Treatment 2 (n = 10) were inseminated with 5 × 106 spermatozoa deposited onto the uterotubal junction papilla via hysteroscopic insemination. Mares in Treatment 3 (n = 20) were inseminated using the hysteroscopic technique with 5 × 106 flow sorted spermatozoa. Spermatozoa were stained with Hoechst 33342 and sorted into X‐ and Y‐chromosome‐bearing populations based on DNA content using an SX MoFlo sperm sorter. Pregnancy was determined ultrasonographically at 16 days postovulation. Hysteroscopic insemination resulted in more pregnancies (5/10 = 50%) than did the ultrasound‐guided technique (0/10 = 0%; P<0.05) when nonsorted sperm were inseminated. Pregnancy rates were not significantly lower (P>0.05) when hysteroscopic insemination was used for sorted (5/20 = 25%) and nonsorted spermatozoa (5/10 = 50%). Therefore, hysteroscopic insemination of low numbers of flow sorted stallion spermatozoa resulted in reasonable pregnancy rates.
Subjective and quantitative scintigraphic assessment of the equine foot and its relationship with foot pain
Authors: DYSON S. J. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryIt was hypothesised that in solar bone images of the front feet of clinically normal horses, or horses with lameness unrelated to the front feet, there would be less than a 10% difference in the ratio of uptake of radiopharmaceutical in either the region of the navicular bone, or the region of insertion of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), compared to the peripheral regions of the distal phalanx. Nuclear scintigraphic examination of the front feet of 15 Grand Prix show jumping horses, all of which were free from detectable lameness, was performed using dorsal, lateral and solar images. The results were compared with the examinations of 53 horses with primary foot pain, 21 with foot pain accompanying another more severe cause of lameness and 49 with lameness or poor performance unrelated to foot pain. None of the horses with foot pain had radiological changes compatible with navicular disease. All the images were evaluated subjectively. The solar views were assessed quantitatively using regions of interest around the navicular bone, the region of insertion of the deep digital flexor tendon and the toe, medial and lateral aspects of the distal phalanx. In 97% of the feet of normal showjumpers, there was <10% variance of uptake of the radiopharmaceutical in the navicular bone, the region of insertion of the DDFT and the peripheral regions of the distal phalanx. There was a significant difference in uptake of radiopharmaceutical in the region of the navicular bone in horses with foot pain compared to normal horses. There was a large incidence of false positive results related to the region of insertion of the DDFT. Lateral pool phase images appeared more sensitive in identifying potentially important DDFT lesions. There was a good correlation between a positive response to intra‐articular analgesia of the distal interphalangeal joint and intrathecal analgesia of the navicular bursa and increased uptake of radiopharmaceutical in the region of the navicular bone in the horses with primary foot pain. It is concluded that quantitative scintigraphic assessment of bone phase images of the foot, in combination with local analgesic techniques, can be helpful in the identification of the potential source of pain causing lameness related to the foot, but false positive results can occur, especially in horses with low heel conformation.
A comparison of three horseshoeing styles on the kinetics of breakover in sound horses
Authors: ELIASHAR E. , McGUIGAN M. P. , ROGERS K. A. , WILSON A. M. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryA variety of horseshoe designs are believed to ‘ease’ breakover, or the unloading of the foot once the heels leave the ground. In this study, conventional toe‐clip shoes, quarter‐clip shoes, fitted to the white line at the toe, and Natural Balance horseshoes were fitted to the front feet of 9 sound Irish Draught‐cross type horses. Forceplate and video motion analyses were undertaken during trot locomotion to determine the moment arm of the ground reaction force on the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint, the peak DIP joint moment and the peak compressive force on the navicular bone. DIP joint moment arm during breakover was reduced with both Natural Balance (mean ± s.d. 77 ± 7 mm) and quarter‐clip shoes (78 ± 9 mm) compared to the toe‐clip shoes (86 ± 6 mm) (P<0.01). Peak DIP joint moment was not significantly different (175 ± 37, 171 ± 38 and 175 ± 31 Nmm/kg, in Natural Balance, quarter‐clip and toe‐clip shoes, respectively) and neither was peak force on the navicular bone (5.52 ± 1.52, 5.79 ± 1.53 and 6.14 ± 1.47 N/kg, respectively). Breakover duration (heel off to toe off) was not significantly reduced by the Natural Balance shoes (39 ± 6 ms) or the quarter‐clip shoes (40 ± 6 ms) compared to toe‐clip shoes (42 ± 9 ms). This study has demonstrated that the use of Natural Balance shoes reduces the moment arm of the ground reaction force (GRF) during breakover but does not reduce the peak DIP joint moment or the force on the navicular bone.
Hysteroscopic insemination of low numbers of flow sorted fresh and frozen/thawed stallion spermatozoa
Authors: LINDSEY A. C. , SCHENK J. L. , GRAHAM J. K. , BRUEMMER J. E. , SQUIRES E. L. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryThe objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of flow cytometric sorting and freezing on stallion sperm fertility. A 2 × 2 factorial design was used to delineate effects of flow sorting and freezing spermatozoa. Oestrus was synchronised (July‐August) in 41 mares by administering 10 ml altrenogest (2.2 mg/ml) per os for 10 consecutive days, followed by 250 μg cloprostenol i.m. on Day 11. Ovulation was induced by administering 3000 iu hCG i.v. either 6 h (fresh spermatozoa) or 30 h (frozen/thawed spermatozoa) prior to insemination. Mares were assigned randomly to one of 4 sperm treatment groups. Semen was collected from 2 stallions with an artificial vagina and processed for each treatment. Treatment 1 (n = 10 mare cycles) consisted of fresh, nonsorted spermatozoa and Treatment 2 (n = 16 mare cycles) of fresh, flow sorted spermatozoa. Spermatozoa to be sorted were stained with Hoechst 33342 and sorted into X‐ and Y‐chromosome‐bearing populations based on DNA content using an SX MoFlo sperm sorter. Treatment 3 (n = 16 mare cycles) consisted of frozen/thawed nonsorted spermatozoa (frozen at 33.5 × 106 sperm/ml in 0.25 ml straws) and Treatment 4 (n = 15 mare cycles) of flow sorted frozen/thawed spermatozoa (frozen at 64.4 × 106 sperm/ml). Concentrations of sperm in both cryopreserved treatments were adjusted, based on predetermined average post‐thaw motilities, so that each insemination contained approximately 5 × 106 motile spermatozoa. Hysteroscopic insemination of 5 × 106 motile spermatozoa in a volume of 230 μl was used for all treatments. Pregnancy was determined ultrasonographically 16 days postovulation.No differences were found (P>0.1) in the pregnancy rates for mares inseminated with fresh nonsorted (4/10 = 40.0%), fresh flow sorted (6/16 = 37.5%), frozen/thawed nonsorted (6/16 = 37.5%) and flow sorted frozen/thawed spermatozoa (2/15 = 13.3%). Pregnancy rates tended (P = 0.12) to be lower following insemination of frozen/thawed flow sorted spermatozoa. Further studies are needed with a larger number of mares to determine if fertility of flow sorted frozen/thawed spermatozoa can be improved.
An evaluation of diagnostic data in comparison to the results of liver biopsies in mature horses
Authors: DURHAM A. E. , SMITH K. C. , NEWTON J. R. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryReasons for performing study: The diagnostic value of several investigative procedures commonly used during the evaluation of suspected equine hepatopathy cases has not been specifically quantified in previous studies.Hypothesis: No noninvasive procedures would clearly discriminate between horses with and without significant liver disease.Methods: Histopathology of biopsy samples was used as the ‘gold standard’ technique for definitive diagnosis of the presence or absence of significant liver disease. Clinical, ultrasonographic and clinicopathological data obtained during the investigation of 82 suspected cases of hepatopathy in mature horses were compared with the results of subsequent biopsy in order to quantify the diagnostic value of each test.Results: Of the 82 cases, 61 were confirmed to have significant liver disease and 21 were not. Only serum concentrations of gamma‐glutamyltransferase (γGT), globulins and alkaline phosphatase (AP) were found to be significantly different between the 2 groups of horses. Clinical and ultrasonographic abnormalities were found, when present, to be good indicators of the presence of liver disease. Certain single serum biochemical tests and combinations thereof were found to have high values for sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV) and/or negative predictive value (NPV), but none showed high values for all 4 parameters leading to important limitations in their practical diagnostic application. Of all serum biochemical tests studied, the PPVs of only γGT and globulins could be clearly improved by considering especially high positive results.Conclusions: The single positive test results of greatest diagnostic value were presence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), increased γGT, hyperglobulinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, increased AP, increased total bile acids (TBA) and increased total bilirubin (TBil). Increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and increased glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) were also of good diagnostic value, but only when used in combination with the above tests. However, no single, combination or sequential test was able to discriminate fully between horses with and without biopsyconfirmed liver disease and reliance on the use of noninvasive tests for the prediction of the presence or absence of significant liver disease may lead to frequent diagnostic errors. Although certain positive results did reliably predict the presence of liver disease, negative test results were invariably poor predictors of the absence of liver disease.Potential relevance: Application of the findings in this study may not be directly applicable to other case populations. However, the results may help clinicians with their selection and interpretation of appropriate test results in cases of suspected liver disease.
Endoscopic surgery in the treatment of contaminated and infected synovial cavities
Authors: WRIGHT I. M. , SMITH M. R. W. , HUMPHREY D. J. , EATON‐EVANS T. C. J. , HILLYER M. H. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryReasons for performing study: Contamination and infection of synovial cavities are a common occurrence in clinical practice and, if inadequately treated, may have career or life threatening consequences for affected horses.Hypothesis: The objectives in treating contamination and infection of joints, tendon sheaths and bursae are most effectively met by endoscopic surgery.Methods: Over a 6 year period, cases of synovial contamination and infection admitted to a referral clinic were evaluated and treated endoscopically. The horses received local and systemic antimicrobial drugs with minimal nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory medication but no other medical or surgical treatment. All arthroscope and instrument portals and, when ever possible, all traumatic wounds were closed. Diagnostic information, endoscopic observations and results of treatment were evaluated retrospectively.Results: A total of 140 affected animals were referred and 121 cases were treated endoscopically. These involved 70 joints, 29 tendon sheaths, 10 bursae and in 12 cases a combination of synovial cavities. The most common aetiologies were open wounds (n = 54) and self‐sealing punctures (n = 41). Foreign material was identified endoscopically in 41 but predicted prior to surgery in only 6 cases. Osteochondral lesions were evident at surgery in 51 and recognised before surgery in 25 cases; 32 horses had intrathecal tendon or ligament defects.Follow‐up information was obtained for 118 animals; 106 (90%) survived and 96 (81%) returned to their preoperative level of performance. The presence of osteitis/osteomyelitis, other osteochondral lesions and marked deposits of pannus were associated with nonsurvival. For those animals which survived, non‐Thoroughbred horses, a combination of synovial structure involvement and regional i.v. antimicrobial administration were associated with reduced post operative performance. Marked pannus, regional i.v. antimicrobial administration and duration of systemic antimicrobial administration were associated with a group combining nonsurviving animals and those with reduced post operative performance.Conclusions: Endoscopic surgery makes a valuable contribution to the management of synovial contamination and infection.Potential relevance: The information obtained from and therapeutic options offered by endoscopy justify its early use in cases of synovial contamination and infection.
Differences in polymorphonucleocyte function and local inflammatory response between horses and ponies
Authors: WILMINK J. M. , VEENMAN J. N. , van den BOOM R. , RUTTEN V. P. M. G. , NIEWOLD T. A. , BROEKHUISEN‐DAVIES J. M. , LEES P. , ARMSTRONG S. , van WEEREN P. R. , BARNEVELD A. 
Published: April 2007

Summary Reasons for performing study: Wound healing proceeds faster in ponies than in horses and complications during healing, such as wound infection, occur less frequently in ponies. Earlier studies suggested that this difference might be related to differences in the initial post traumatic inflammatory response. Hypothesis: That polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) function and profiles of humoral factors in local inflammatory processes are different in horses and ponies. Methods: PMNs were isolated from venous blood of horses and ponies. Chemotaxis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was determined. Tissue cages were implanted in limbs and necks of horses and ponies and injected with carrageenan and, 3 weeks later, with LPS. In sequential samples of inflammatory exudate, the numbers of macrophages and PMNs and the production of PGE2, TNFα, IL‐1, IL‐6 and chemoattractants were determined. Results: In vitro ROS production of PMNs was significantly higher in ponies than in horses, whereas in vitro PMN chemotaxis was significantly lower in ponies. In the tissue cages for both stimuli, the production of IL‐1 and chemoattractants was significantly higher in ponies than in horses and remained so towards the end of the observation period in ponies. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a higher production of various inflammatory mediators by pony leucocytes. Despite the lower in vitro chemotaxis of pony PMNs, this higher in vivo production resulted in a stronger initial inflammatory response in ponies, as has been reported in studies on wound healing, through the attraction of leucocytes and triggering of the production of other cytokines. A stronger initial inflammation may promote healing by more rapid elemination of contaminants and earlier transition to repair. Potential relevance: Modulation of the initial inflammatory response might therefore be a valid option for therapeutic intervention in cases of problematic wound healing. Further, the intraspecies differences in leucocyte function may have an impact on many fields in equine medicine.
Ovarian function and morphology in the mare after multiple follicular punctures
Authors: BØGH I. B. , BRINK P. , JENSEN H. E. , LEHN‐JENSEN H. , GREVE T. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryReasons for performing study: In the mare, ultrasound‐guided transvaginal oocyte recovery and transfer might offer away to circumvent the demanding procedures ofin vitroembryo production. Before clinical application, the possible consequences for subsequent fertility have to be considered.Objectives: To examine ovarian function and morphology in mares after repeated follicular punctures.Methods: A total of 14–26 follicular puncture sessions were conducted on each of 4 Norwegian pony mares overa period of 8 years. The ovaries of these mares were recovered by bilateral ovariectomy or atpost mortemand subjected to macroscopic inspection and histology. For comparison, ovaries were collected from 7 nonaspirated control mares and processed for histology.Results: In all experimental mares, ovarian function, defined as the ability regularly to ovulate preovulatory follicles and developcorpora lutea, remained normal during their last breeding season. Gross examination and histology showed that normal follicular andcorpus luteumdevelopment was accompanied by the formation of condensed repa rative fibrosis and normal local haemosiderosis of the ovarian stroma in all experimental mares. In one mare, an ovary contained several foci of chronic apostematous oophoritis, while a cystic structure lined with a single layer of epithelial‐like cells and surrounded by a cartilaginous capsule was present in the other ovary.Conclusions and potential relevance: Repeated follicular aspirations do not hamper future folliculogenesis, ovulation andcorpus luteumformation. However, ovarian puncture induces reparative fibrosis in the ovarian stroma and involves a risk of inducing abscess formation within the ovarian tissue which may impair fertility.
Changes in nasal mucosal innervation in horses with grass sickness
Authors: PRINCE D. , CORCORAN B. M. , MAYHEW I. G. 
Published: April 2007

Summary Reasons for performing study: Equine grass sickness is a dysautonomia characterised by widespread destruction of autonomic ganglia, resulting in the clinical signs of dysphagia, constipation, profuse sweating, tachycardia, rhinitis sicca and high mortality rate. Rhinitis sicca is a common finding in horses with the chronic form and we have postulated that alterations in autonomic innervation of the nasal mucosa might underlie this clinical presentation. Objectives: In this study, the expression and distribution of nerve fibres immunoreactive for calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), the general neuronal marker protein gene‐product 9.5 (PGP 9.5; ubiquitin) and the intermediate neurofilaments (PAN‐N; neurofilaments L, M and H) in the nasal mucosa of normal horses (n = 10) and horses with EGS (n = 18; acute n = 8, subacute n = 3, chronic n = 7) was assessed. Methods: Innervation density and distribution was investigated in the different groups using standard immunohistochemical techniques. Results: Significant differences were noted when comparing the density and distribution of nerve fibres immunoreactive for PGP 9.5 and PAN‐N, with PGP 9.5 consistently giving better staining in all groups and at all sites in the nasal mucosa. An apparent increase in the density of innervation was noted for acute vs. normal cases. A significant reduction in the density of innervation was noted only with PAN‐N when comparing normal horses and acute cases with the chronic group (P<0.05). CGRP and SP immunoreactive nerve fibres were typically most abundant in the epithelial and subepithelial layers, but the quality of staining and nerve fibre density was greater for SP, achieving significant difference in several comparisons. The density of innervation for SP was significantly reduced in the chronic group compared to the normal and acute groups (P<0.01). A significant decrease was noted for CGRP only for the acute and chronic groups (P<0.05). Conclusions: These results demonstrate a reduction in the expression of the sensory neuropeptides in nasal mucosal innervation as a consequence of equine dysautonomia, and may underlie the clinical presentation of rhinitis sicca noted with this disease. Potential relevance: Nasal biopsy may be of use in antemortem diagnosis of grass sickness and identification of mucosal denervation; and might also be useful in the treatment of rhinitis in EGS cases.