bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Repeatability of diagnostic ultrasonography in the assessment of the equine superficial digital flexor tendon
Authors: PICKERSGILL C. H. , MARR C. M. , REID S. W. J. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryA quantitative investigation of the variation that can occur during the course of ultrasonography of the equine superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFT) was undertaken. The aim of this investigation was to use an objective measure, namely the measurement of CSA, to quantify the variability occurring during the course of the ultrasonographic assessment of the equine SDFT. The effects of 3 variables on the CSA measurements were determined. 1) Image acquisition operator (IAc): two different operators undertaking the ultrasonographic examination; 2) image analysis operator (IAn): two different operators undertaking the calculation of CSA values from previously stored images; and 3) analytical equipment (used during CSA measurement) (IEq): the use of 2 different sets of equipment during calculation of CSAvalues.Tendon cross‐sectional area (CSA) measurements were used as the comparative variable of 3 potential sources: interoperator, during image acquisition; interoperator, during CSA measurement; and intraoperator, when using different analytical equipment.Two operators obtained transverse ultrasonographic images from the forelimb SDFTs of 16 National Hunt (NH) Thoroughbred (TB) racehorses, each undertaking analysis of their own and the other operator's images. One operator undertook analysis of theirimages using 2 sets of equipment.There was no statistically significant difference in the results obtained when different operators undertook image acquisition (P>0.05). At all but the most distal level, there was no significant difference when different equipment was used during analysis (P>0.05). A significant difference (P<0.01) was reported when different operators undertook image analysis, one operator consistently returning larger measurements.Different operators undertaking different stages of an examination can result in significant variability. To reduce confounding during ultrasonographic investigations involving multiple persons, one operator should undertake image analysis, although different operators may undertake image acquisition.
Spectrophotometric assessment of peritoneal fluid haemoglobin in colic horses: an aid to selecting medical vs. surgical treatment
Authors: WEIMANN C. D. , THOEFNER M. B. , JENSEN A. L. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryIn a case‐control study in colic horses the ability of spectrophotometric measurement of the haemoglobin concentration in the peritoneal fluid supernatant and visual assessment of the colour of peritoneal fluid supernatant to differentiate between surgical and medical treatment of colic was assessed. Based on previous studies, which have found and a association between peritoneal fluid colour and the kind of treatment required, our hypothesis was that the peritoneal fluid haemoglobin concentration would be higher in horses requiring surgical intervention than in horses amenable to medical treatment.Seventy‐four horses admitted to a teaching hospital were included. Thirty‐five horses were classified as requiring surgery and 39 medical treatment. Logistic regression revealed a significant (P<0.0001) association between the haemoglobin concentration measured with the spectrophotometer and the need for surgical treatment. Odds ratio for an increase in haemoglobin concentration of 0.01 mmol/l was 6.4, which means that the odds for ‘need for surgical treatment’ increased when peritoneal fluid haemoglobin concentration increased.When used as a diagnostic test with a threshold of 0.01 mmol/l haemoglobin for selecting surgical vs. medical treatment, sensitivity was 80% and specificity 82%, whereas simple visual assessment had a sensitivity of only 51% and a specificity of 95%.
Treatment of ischaemic jejunum with topical and intraluminal Carolina Rinse
Authors: YOUNG B. L. , WHITE N. A. , DONALDSON L. L. , DABAREINER R. M. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryCarolina Rinse Solution (CRS) was applied topically and intraluminally to ischaemic (Group 1; n = 5) and distended equine jejunum (Group 2; n = 5). Mesenteric blood flow, ORC (osmotic reflection coefficient), wet weight to dry weight ratios (WW/DW), serosal thickness, and neutrophil accumulation in the serosa were measured. After 60 min ischaemia followed by reperfusion (Group 1), mesenteric blood flow remained greater than baseline values. The mean ORC was similar to that previously reported in normal bowel or ischaemic intestine treated with CRS by arterial perfusion. The ORC after distention and decompression (Group 2) increased and was similar to that previously reported in a comparable untreated experimental model. The WW/DW after both ischaemia and distention increased compared to specimens collected from noninstrumented jejunum proximal to the experimental segments in the same horses. There was no difference in neutrophil numbers in the serosa of either ischaemic or distended intestine compared to the noninstrumented proximal jejunum. CRS‐treated ischaemic intestine maintained microvascular permeability similar to that reported for normal intestine whereas treated distended intestine did not. Combined topical and intraluminal application of CRS to ischaemic intestine may reduce complications due to acute inflammation during reperfusion.
Ureteral ligation prevents the haemodynamic effect of frusemide in pentobarbitol anaesthetised horses
Authors: HUBBELL J. A. E. , HINCHCLIFF K. W. , GROSENBAUGH D. A. , BEARD W. L. , BEARD L. A. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryFrusemide reduces pulmonary vascular pressures in resting horses and attenuates exercise‐induced increases in these pressures in exercising horses. The mechanism underlying these effects of frusemide is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that the haemodynamic effects of frusemide are dependent on diuresis by examining the effect of frusemide in anaesthetised horses in which diuresis was prevented by ligation of ureters. Twenty four horses were assigned randomly to one of 4 treatments: 1) frusemide (1 mg/kg bwt i.v.) and intact ureters; 2) frusemide and ligated ureters; 3) saline placebo and ligated ureters; and 4) frusemide and phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg bwt i.v. 12 h and 15 min before frusemide) and ligated ureters. Frusemide administration to anaesthetised horses with intact ureters increased plasma total protein concentration and reduced mean right atrial, pulmonary artery and aortic pressures. There was no significant effect of frusemide administration on haemodynamic variables or plasma total protein concentration in horses with ligated ureters. The combination of frusemide and phenylbutazone increased mean right atrial, pulmonary artery and aortic pressures in horses with ligated ureters. This study demonstrates that, in anaesthetised horses, the haemodynamic effect of frusemide is dependent upon diuresis. We interpret these results as providing further evidence that the haemodynamic effect of frusemide in horses is attributable to a reduction in plasma and blood volume.
Effects of cross‐tying horses during 24 h of road transport
Authors: STULL C. L. , RODIEK A. V. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryTransportation stress has been implicated as a predisposing factor to respiratory disease in horses. Cross‐tying horses individually in stalls is common practice for transporting show and racehorses, but horses also travel in small groups or individually without being restricted by tying. The objective of this study was to compare physiological responses of horses travelling cross‐tied or loose during 24 h of road transport. Ten horses were used in a cross‐over design consisting of two 4 day trials. In the first trial, 6 horses were cross‐tied, while 2 pairs of horses were loose in enclosed compartments. Treatments were reversed in the second trial. Baseline samples were collected on Day 1, horses transported on Day 2, and recovery data collected on Days 3 and 4. Blood samples were collected daily at 0800, 1100 and 2000 h. The mean responses in all horses of serum cortisol, lactate, glucose, α1‐acid glycoprotein, and total protein concentrations, packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell (WBC) counts and aminotransferase and creatine kinase were was elevated significantly from baseline during the 4 day study. The response of white blood cell counts, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios and glucose and cortisol concentrations was significantly elevated in the cross‐tied compared to the loose group during transport and recovery. This study supports the recommendation of allowing horses during long‐term transportation to travel loose in small compartments, without elevating their head by cross‐tying.
Factors influencing the development of stereotypic and redirected behaviours in young horses: findings of a four year prospective epidemiological study
Authors: WATERS A. J. , NICOL C. J. , FRENCH N. P. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryStereotypies are invariant and repetitive behaviour patterns that seemingly have no function, which tend to develop in captive animals faced with insoluble problems and may be indicative of reduced welfare. A 4 year prospective study of the factors influencing the development of stereotypic and redirected behaviours (abnormal behaviour) in a population of 225 young Thoroughbred and part‐Thoroughbred horses was conducted between 1995 and 1999. Abnormal behaviour affected 34.7% of the population. Multivariable analysis showed that foals of low‐ or middle‐ranking mares were less likely to develop abnormal behaviour than foals of dominant mares (rate ratio (RR) 0.23, P<0.01; RR 0.48, P<0.01, respectively). Weaning by confinement in a stable or barn was associated with an increased rate of development of abnormal behaviour, compared with paddock‐weaning (RR 2.19, P<0.05), and housing in barns, rather than at grass after weaning, was associated with a further increase (RR 2.54, P<0.01). Specific stereotypic and redirected behaviours were then considered as separate outcomes. Cribbiting was initiated by 10.5% of horses at median age 20 weeks, weaving by 4.6% of horses at median age 60 weeks, box‐walking by 2.3% of horses at median age 64 weeks and wood‐chewing by 30.3% of horses at median age 30 weeks. Wood‐chewing developed at a lower rate in horses born to subordinate or mid‐ranking mares than in horses born to dominant mares (RR 0.29, P<0.01; RR 0.41, P<0.01, respectively), and at a higher rate in horses kept in barns or stables rather than at grass after weaning (RR 4.49, P<0.001; RR 1.46, P<0.001, respectively). Feeding concentrates after weaning was associated with a 4‐fold increase in the rate of development of crib‐biting (RR 4.12, P = 0.02). The results of this study support the idea that simple changes in feeding, housing and weaning practices could substantially lower the incidence of abnormal behaviour in young horses.
Comparison of lithium dilution and thermodilution cardiac output measurements in anaesthetised neonatal foals
Authors: CORLEY K. T. T. , DONALDSON L. L. , FURR M. O. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryKnowledge of cardiac output is expected to help guide the treatment of hypotension associated with critical illness and/or anaesthesia in neonatal foals. However, a practical and safe method of measuring cardiac output has not been described for the foal. Lithum dilution, a new method of cardiac output determination not requiring cardiac catheterisation, has recently been reported in mature horses. We compared this method to thermodilution in isoflurane‐anaesthetised foals age 30–42 h and found good agreement between the 2 methods in a range of cardiac outputs 5.4–20.41/min. The lithium dilution technique is a practical and reliable method of measuring cardiac output in anaesthetised neonatal foals, and warrants investigation in critically ill conscious foals.
Caprine serum fraction immunomodulator as supplemental treatment of lower respiratory disease in the horse
Authors: HAMM D. , WILLEFORD K. O. , WHITE G. , REED S. M. , HAMM J. 
Published: April 2007

SummarySuppurative lower airway disease is a common debilitating disease in performance horses and, while rarely fatal, is often recalcitrant to conventional therapy. A variety of treatments have been used to combat this condition and we conducted two types of studies to determine if caprine serum fraction ‐ immunomodulator (CSFI), a nonspecific immunomodulator, improved recovery from lower respiratory disease. Two dose response studies were performed to ascertain the efficacy of CSFI. Horses were maintained daily on conventional antibiotic therapy. Respiratory tract exudate, nasal discharge, dyspnoea, chest auscultation and cough frequency were monitored weekly. One hundred percent of the horses treated with 2 i.m. injections of either 60 or 120 mg CSFI one week apart showed significant improvement with each weekly evaluation and were fully recovered by week 3. Horses treated with 15 or 30 mg CSFI did not differ significantly from the control group. Only 10% of the control horses responded to conventional antibiotic therapy.An expanded field trial utilising 80 horses diagnosed with lower respiratory disease and housed at 4 equine clinics was conducted. Thirty‐five percent of the 40 control horses, treated solely by conventional antibiotic therapies, recovered while 75% of the horses treated with a supplemental administration of 60 mg CSFI as described above recovered. The combined data from these studies showed that CSFI was able to promote an overall recovery from lower respiratory disease of 86%.
Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic approach to assess irrelevant plasma or urine drug concentrations in postcompetition samples for drug control in the horse
Authors: TOUTAIN P. L. , LASSOURD V. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryThe current performance of analytical techniques used for drug control in horses lead the Regulatory Authorities to decide whether trace levels of drugs legitimately used for therapeutic medication should or should not be reported. Here, we propose a well‐ordered and nonexperimental pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic approach for the determination of irrelevant drug plasma (IPC) and urine concentrations (IUC). The published plasma clearance is used to transform an effective (marketed) dose into an effective concentration (EPC). EPC is transformed into an IPC by applying a safety factor (SF). This method is based on several assumptions (e.g. drug effects reversibly driven by plasma concentration, linearity of drug disposition). The suitability of the computed IPC and IUC can be checked by calculating the residual amount of drug at IPC and computing a minimal drug withdrawal time. It is concluded that controlling the drug effect (using drug or any analyte concentration as a marker) rather than the drug exposure will be more demanding and also makes urine a less than ideal matrix.
Parenteral nutrition for horses with gastrointestinal disease: a retrospective study of 79 cases
Authors: LOPES M. A. F. , II N. A. WHITE 
Published: April 2007

SummaryParenteral nutrition is advocated for sick foals and horses, although there is no report which has critically evaluated its benefits in this species. Therefore, the hypothesis that parenteral nutrition (PN) is beneficial for horses with severe gastrointestinal disease was investigated in a retrospective study. Records from 79 treatment courses in horses with gastrointestinal disease were reviewed for the years 1992–2000. The fatality rate (48.1%) was attributed to the severity of the primary disease. Complications due to PN were recorded and hyperglycaemia was the most common complication associated with PN. The number of laparatomies, proportion of horses that received lipid emulsion and the daily cost were higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors. The length of PN course was longer in survivors, although glucose peak was observed later in nonsurvivors after initiation of PN. The content of vitamins in PN solution and plasma protein at the beginning of PN were higher for survivors, while the volume of plasma administered was significantly larger in nonsurvivors. In horses with inflammatory diseases, the rate of glucose infusion and the amount of vitamins administered were higher than in horses with nonstrangulated obstruction. The proportion of horses that received lipid emulsion was higher among those with nonstrangulated and strangulated obstruction than in the group with inflammatory conditions. Because of the diverse group of diseases and the variability in the clinical signs, evaluating the effect of PN on disease outcome was not possible. A prospective study to compare horses with similar clinical conditions treated and not treated with PN is needed to evaluate fully the benefits of PN, and to establish guidelines for patients election for PN.
Density and binding characteristics of beta‐adrenoceptors in the normal and failing equine myocardium
Authors: HORN J. , BAILEY S. , BERHANE Y. , MARR C. M. , ELLIOTT J. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryBeta‐adrenoceptors are important regulators of cardiac function and their characteristics are known to chagne in human and canine diseased myocardium. This study aimed to determine the density and subtypes of beta‐adrenoceptors in the normal and failing equine ventricular myocardium. Membrane preparations of the left papillary muscles were incubated with increasing concentrations of the nonselective beta‐adrenoceptor antagonist [3H]‐CGP12177. Saturable and reversible binding of [3H]‐CGP12177 to myocardial membranes was demonstrated with Kd values (± s.d.) of 0.49 ± 0.40 and 0.43 ± 0.22 nmol/l and Bmax values of 93.4 ± 20.5 and 110.0 ± 21.2 and fmol/mg protein for normal (n = 19) and heart failure (n = 10) tissues, respectively. Heart failure had no significant effect on the density of ventricular beta‐adrenoceptors.The cardiac beta‐adrenoceptors were further characterised by studying displacement of [3H]‐CGP12177 (0.6 nmol/l) with the beta1‐selective antagonists CGP20712A and the beta2‐selective antagonist ICI118.551. In normal ventricular muscle, CGP20712A was 26 times more potent than ICI118.551 (Ki values 30.4 ± 24.8 and 814.1 ± 485.2 nmol/l, respectively). In heart failure cases, CGP 20712A curves were monophasic with a Ki value of 45.6 ± 39.7 nmol/l. ICI 118.551 curves were biphasic in 5 horses where 11–31% of the cardiac beta‐adrenoceptors had a high affinity for ICI 118.551.These data suggest that the normal equine ventricular myocardium possesses predominately beta1‐adrenoceptors, with no evidence for co‐existence of a significant population of beta2‐adrenoceptors. The density of beta‐adrenoceptors did not appear to change in heart failure, but the appearance of receptors with a high affinity for ICI118.551 may suggest that, in some cases, heart failure increases the expression of beta2‐adrenoceptors in equine ventricular myocardium.This study provides an insight into the role of the adrenergic system in heart disease in the horse. Further studies in this area are warranted.
Intradermal skin testing in Icelandic horses in Austria
Authors: KOLM‐STARK G. , WAGNER R. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryIcelandic horses in Austria are commonly affected by an allergic inflammatory skin disease recurring during the summer seasons, which shares characteristic features withCulicoideshypersensitivity. However, the causative agents have not yet been identified. Therefore, intradermal skin testing (IDST) with a standardised extract ofCulicoides variipennisand 21 other allergens relevant within Austria was performed in 81 Icelandic horses. All horses included into the study were treated regularly with ivermectin and had no history of administration of anti‐inflammatory drugs. Forty‐three of these horses were affected by summer seasonal recurrent dermatitis (SSRD). No history or signs of any other disease were evident in any horse. Pruritic dermatitis due to ectoparasites, bacteria and dermatophytes were ruled out by means of fungal culture, skin scraping and biopsy.Culicoides variipennisantigens evoked a positive cutaneous reaction in 1 of 38 normal and 3 of 43 SSRD horses at the proposed dilution of 1:50,000 or 1:25,000, and in 24 of 38 normal and 13 of 43 SSRD horses at a dilution of 1:10,000. Furthermore, no significant differences in onset or intensity of skin reactions to the 21 other allergens, including pollens, moulds, mites and insects, except deerfly and horsefly, were obvious between the 2 groups. Efficiency (percentage of correct results) for the used antigens in the skin test was 0.47–0.60. Maximal sensitivity was 0.51. Altogether, 38 of 43 SSRD horses and 28 of 38 normal horses were positive 4 h after allergen administration. The divergence between IDST results and manifestation of clinical signs found in this study underlines the difficulties associated with establishing a skin test protocol in horses within a geographic area. Whether the outcome of this study would have been influenced significantly by usingCulicoidesspp. present in Austria has to be clarified in future research.
Effect of nutritional antioxidant supplementation on systemic and pulmonary antioxidant status, airway inflammation and lung function in heaves‐affected horses
Authors: KIRSCHVINK N. , FIÉVEZ L. , BOUGNET V. , ART T. , DEGAND G. , SMITH N. , MARLIN D. , ROBERTS C. , HARRIS P. , LEKEUX P. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryAn oxidant/antioxidant imbalance in favour of oxidants has been identified as playing a decisive role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory airway diseases. Nutritional antioxidant supplementation might reduce oxidative damage by enhancement of the antioxidant defence, thereby modulating inflammatory processes. In a placebo‐controlled, blind study, it was tested whether a dietary antioxidant supplement administered for 4 weeks would improve lung function and reduce airway inflammation in heaves‐affected horses. Eight horses in clinical remission of heaves were investigated at rest and after a standardised exercise test before and after treatment with an antioxidant supplement (consisting of a mixture of natural antioxidants including vitamins E and C and selenium from a variety of sources) or placebo (oatfeed pellets without additive). Pulmonary function and exercise tolerance were monitored; systemic and pulmonary lining fluid uric acid, glutathione and 8‐epi‐PGF2αwere analysed, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology and inflammatory scoring of the airways were performed. The antioxidant treatment significantly improved exercise tolerance and significantly reduced endoscopic inflammatory score. Plasma uric acid concentrations were significantly reduced, suggesting down regulation of the xanthine‐dehydrogenase and xanthine‐oxydase pathway. Haemolysate glutathione showed a nonsignificant trend to increase, while plasma 8‐epi‐PGF2αremained unchanged. Pulmonary markers and BAL cytology were not significantly affected by antioxidant supplementation. The present study suggests that the antioxidant supplement tested modulated oxidant/antioxidant balance and airway inflammation of heaves‐affected horses.