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Antecedentes: el hemangiosarcoma es un tumor maligno de origen endotelial raramente descrito en el tracto reproductivo de los equinos‚ en Colombia no existen reportes. Objetivo: describir un hemangiosarcoma en el tracto reproductivo de una yegua. Anamnesis: una yegua de 41 meses de edad de raza caballo Criollo colombiano‚ procedente de Chía‚ Colombia‚ remitida a la Clínica de Grandes Animales de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia - UNAL por hemorragia vaginal persistente con histórico de intervención quirúrgica por hemorragia posterior a lavado uterino‚ lesión cerca del meato urinario. Hallazgos clínicos: en la vaginoscopia se observaron dos masas‚ una de ellas aproximadamente a 5 cm craneal del orificio uretral externo‚ y la otra en el techo de la misma zona‚ ambas de aspecto trabeculado con coágulos en la superficie‚ la yegua fue remitida para cirugía. Abordaje quirúrgico: bajo neurolepto analgesia en tasa de infusión constante‚ anestesia epidural y local‚ se realiza la extracción quirúrgica de las masas de la vagina dejando un margen de tejido sano de 1cm aproximadamente. La incisión quirúrgica fue suturada con vicryl 0 en patrón simple continuo. Las muestras fueron fijadas en formol neutro bufferado y enviadas para diagnóstico histopatológico al Laboratorio de Patología Veterinaria. Histopatología: en vagina se observa un crecimiento neoplásico de células endoteliales que forma canales bien diferenciados de diferente tamaño con patrón de crecimiento capilar y cavernoso‚ pleomorfismo celular leve‚ anisocitosis moderada‚ escasas células binucleadas o multinucleadas. Núcleos: redondos‚ ovoides‚ fusiformes‚ grandes‚ anisocariosis moderada‚ pleomorfismo moderado‚ megalocariosis moderada‚ cromatina en granular difusa‚ uno o dos nucleolos medianos o uno grande; Se observaron tres mitosis en 10 campos de 400 x (2‚37 mm²); se observa invasión de la túnica muscular. Inmunohistoquímica: inmunomarcación positiva para factor VIII severa y CD31 leve. Conclusión: se describe un hemangiosarcoma bien diferenciado en el tracto reproductivo‚ puntualmente en la vagina, de una yegua Criolla colombiana‚ un diagnóstico diferencial clínico a considerar en hemorragia vaginal recurrente. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: pituitary gland tumors are common in geriatric horses and adenomas of the Pars Intermedia are the most frequent. Active adenomas secrete excessive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) causing equine Cushing’s disease. This neoplasia has not been described in horses in Colombia. Objective: to describe a pituitary adenoma of the Pars Intermedia in a horse. Anamnesis: a 32-year-old neutered male equine of the Silla Argentina breed located in Bogotá‚ Colombia was reported in distress‚ weak condition and pathological decubitus without response to stimulation. The animal was euthanized and sent for veterinary diagnosis. Necropsy findings: severe hirsutism‚ bilateral hyperplasia of the adrenal glands‚ and an enlarged pituitary gland that measured 2.0 × 2.8 × 3.0 cm in size and protruded into the sella turcica. The body of the pituitary gland was flattened when the base of the brain was subjected to tactile pressure. The cut surface of the pituitary gland was yellow and black in color with a nodule of 0.3 × 0.6 × 0.7 cm. Tissue samples from the pituitary and adrenal glands and the skin were collected. Histopathology: an adenoma originated in the Pars Intermedia of the pituitary gland was observed. Skin hormonal dermatosis was also observed. In addition‚ the adrenal glands showed bilateral diffuse hyperplasia of cortical cells arranged in nodules. Immunohistochemistry: ACTH‚ prolactin‚ neural specific enolase (NSE) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were made on pituitary sections. ACTH was prominently detected and appeared as diffuse intracytoplasmic immunostaining in cells of the Pars intermedia. Prolactin‚ NSE and GFAP were negative. Electron microscopy: the adenoma was composed of round or polyhedral cells with intermediate filaments in moderate quantity. There were also reduced number of identifiable secretory granules and moderate accumulation of mitochondria with variable density. The ultrastructure identified adenoma cells with reduced granularity and secretory functions. Conclusion: a pituitary Pars Intermedia adenoma with associated clinical signs is described in a neutered horse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

la esporotricosis es una enfermedad micótica subcutánea causada por especies del complejo Sporothrix schenkii‚ afecta a los mamíferos y se considera zoonosis de importancia clínica. Existen tres formas de presentación: localizada‚ diseminada y linfática. Los signos clínicos incluyen lesiones nodulares‚ algunas ulceradas y supurativas con inflamación de la cadena linfática adyacente a la lesión‚ en algunos casos hay compromiso sistémico con signos generales como fiebre‚ depresión y anorexia. Anamnesis: se describe el caso de un equino macho entero adulto Cuarto de Milla‚ con aparición de nódulos de consistencia firme‚ algunos ulcerados en la base del pabellón auricular y cervical del lado izquierdo‚ hasta la región escapulo humeral‚ sin prurito ni dolor a la palpación‚ tres semanas de evolución sin respuesta a tratamiento previo (infiltraciones locales con triamcinolona). Hallazgos clínicos: depresión‚ evidencia de nódulos cutáneos algunos ulcerados con secreción de aspecto purulento. Diagnósticos diferenciales: esporotricosis‚ linfangitis‚ botriomicosis. Ayudas diagnósticas: citología punción con aguja fina e impronta de nodulaciones‚ evidencia de severa reacción inflamatoria mediada por neutrófilos‚ presencia de estructuras tipo hifas y formas levaduriformes. Cultivo micológico con resultado negativo. Histopatología tinción hematoxilina-eosina con resultado inicial de infiltrados inflamatorios granulomatosos (nodulaciones) con células plasmáticas‚ células gigantes e histiocitos y zona central necrótica. Se realiza tinción diferencial Plata Metenamina de Grocott Gomori‚ donde se observan estructuras fúngicas‚ confirmando el diagnóstico de esporotricosis. Tratamiento y resultados: terapia sistémica con yoduro de potasio a dosis de 38 mg/kg vía intramuscular cada 24 horas por 5 días e Itraconazol a dosis de 5 mg/kg vía oral cada 24 horas por 30 días‚ se observó respuesta favorable con disminución de tamaño de nódulos‚ sin secreciones‚ ni evidencia de nuevas lesiones. Conclusiones: la patología diagnosticada es una entidad de baja presentación en equinos‚ sobre la cual no existen otros reportes en Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antecedentes: la criopreservación de semen causa un gran daño físico y químico a la estructura de los espermatozoides, el cual les trae como consecuencia envejecimiento prematuro, reducción de la viabilidad y disminución de la fertilidad. Las adiciones de antioxidantes a los diluyentes de congelación pueden reducir el daño oxidativo causado por la generación excesiva de especies reactivas de oxígeno, y también el envejecimiento prematuro se puede reducir adicionando un inhibidor enzimático que prevenga una capacitación espermática anticipada. Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto in vitro sobre la cinemática espermática, de la adición de quercetina (Q), L-ergotioneína (E) y H89 al diluyente de congelación de espermatozoides equinos sujetos a criopreservación. Métodos: se establecieron seis grupos experimentales: control, Q (100 µM), E (150 µM), H89 (20 µM‚) H89 + Q y H89 + E. Se analizó la movilidad y cinética espermática mediante un sistema de análisis espermático asistido por computador (CASA). Resultados: la Q incrementó la BCF con respecto al control (2,29 vs 2,18 µm/s), mientras H89 + Q redujo la motilidad total (24,43 vs 35,77 µm/s), motilidad progresiva (17,39 vs 25,27 µm/s), y espermatozoides con signos de hiperactivación (2,12 vs 2,42 µm/s). Por otro lado, H89, H89 + Q y H89 + E disminuyeron la VCL (77,76, 79,95 y 78,93 vs 83,44 µm/s) y ALH (2,78, 2,84 y 2,79 vs 2,95 µm) (p < 0‚05). No se observaron diferencias estadísticas significativas entre tratamientos para otros patrones cinemáticos. Conclusiones: los resultados muestran que H89 disminuye signos de capacitación prematura en espermatozoides equinos criopreservados, y que Q, E y la combinación de ambas moléculas con H89 reducen los patrones cinemáticos importantes para la fertilización. Probablemente haya un efecto nocivo de las concentraciones de las moléculas evaluadas. Se necesitarán evaluaciones posteriores de rangos de dosis para corroborar esta hipótesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tarsus hyperflexion alters locomotion biomechanics in horses. This alteration is of frequent presentation in the Colombian creole horse (CCH). Objective: To determine the echographic alterations of lateral digital extensor (LDE) muscle, tendon, and synovial sheath in CCH with clinical signs of tarsus hyperflexion. Methods: Thirty horses were divided into two groups: 15 healthy horses with no history of locomotion defects (Group 1; control), and 15 horses with clinical signs of tarsus hyperflexion (Group 2). A cross-sectional and a longitudinal echocardiographic examination of the LDE muscle and tendon was performed in all horses, and a histopathological study was performed only to Group 2. Results: 86.7% of the horses showed echographic alterations, with 53.4% showing signs of adhesions in the LDE muscle and tendon in the lateral surface of the hock, where it crosses the tarsus. 33.3% presented increased tendon synovial sheath fluid. 13.3% showed no echographic alterations and 53.3% presented histopathological alterations. Conclusion: These findings may be related to the presentation of tarsus hyperflexion that could characterize the classic stringhalt in CCH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assessing breeding soundness is important to predict the potential fertility of stallions. Objective: To investigate the association of testis traits, total number of spermatozoa, and testosterone with fertility of Mangalarga Marchador breed stallions. Methods: The traits measured were testicular length, width and height, right and left testicular volume and total testicular volume. We also evaluated the total number of spermatozoa (TNS), serum testosterone concentration and fertility of stallions (by embryo recovery from donor mares) in the breeding and non-breeding seasons during 1 year. Analysis of variance was performed to verify the effects of age category (AC; young/adult) and reproductive season on the traits. Correlations and repeatability of the traits were also calculated. Results: The AC did not influence testis traits (p>0.05). Reproduction season affected left testicular length, left testicular height, right testicular width and height (p<0.05). The AC and season affected testis volume (p<0.05). There were no effects of AC and season on TNS and testosterone (p>0.05). We observed strong correlations between all testicular measurements and testicular volume (0.53 to 0.75), medium correlation between TNS and testis volume (0.32), and low correlation between testosterone and testis traits (0.20). Repeatability of the characteristics of left and right testis was medium to high (0.22 to 0.78). Embryo recovery rate was 60% and its correlation with TNS was 0.44. Conclusion: Testis size evaluation is recommended over the evaluation of serum testosterone concentration to predict sperm output. Sperm output (TNS) is a good predictor of stallion fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abnormal and stereotypic behaviors in horses have been widely studied around the world and different epidemiological situations have been described for behavioral disturbances. Objective: To determine the frequency of abnormal and stereotypic behaviors in a population of police patrolling horses. Additionally, to establish chronic stress levels in the population of interest. Methods: Twenty police horses were evaluated. The animals went through 48 hours of continuous observation to record the frequency of normal, abnormal, and stereotypic behaviors. Cortisol index (CI) was calculated for all the subjects. Results: A 65% of the horses expressed behavioral disturbances, with 55% corresponding to stereotypies. The abnormal behaviors consisted on wood chewing, pawing, and bed eating. Stereotypic behaviors were weaving, stall walking, and aerophagia (crib-biting or wind sucking). According to the CI, 13 horses were under chronic stress (CI<0.30). Conclusion: High level of chronic stress, expressed as abnormal and stereotypic behaviors, was observed in the horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Background: equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) has a high and variable occurrence in horses of different ages and activity levels. Objective: the aim of this study was to determine the presence and severity of ulcers in Brasileiro de Hipismo (BH) horses owned by the military police. Methods: a group of 80 horses (38 males and 42 females, aged between 3.3 and 29.2 years) performing different activities underwent clinical and gastroscopic evaluation. Descriptive statistics for the presence of ulcers and chi-square (X²) analysis with Fisher exact test were conducted to determine a possible association between EGUS and type of activity, sex or age. Results: occurrence of at least one ulcer was detected in 45% of the horses, and most of them (40%) were located in the squamous mucosa of the Margo plicatus. No significant association (p>0.05) was observed between any of the factors evaluated and the presence of EGUS. Conclusion: the BH horses owned by cavalry's military have low incidence of EGUS despite being subjected to stress, which confirms a multifactorial nature of gastric lesions in this subpopulation.

Background: Cortisol is indicative of adaptation to physiological factors, disease and environmental stress in equines. Cortisol recently gained attention for its prognostic value in critical disease and as an indicator of fitness and athletic performance. Objective: To determine baseline serum cortisol (SC) morning concentrations in the Colombian creole horse (CCH). Methods: Blood serum was taken from 62 CCH of both genders with and average age of 8.8 years (± 5.3), which were clinically healthy and had diff erent performance levels. Results: The overall SC average determined by sandwich ELISA was 13.3 ± 7.4 mg/dL. No significant diff erences were attributed to gender, age or performance. Conclusion: This concentration can be used as a reference value for CCH maintained in low physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: omeprazole suppresses gastric acid secretion and increases gastric juice pH by blocking the H+, K+ ATPase in the secretory membrane of parietal cells. Gastric juice pH below 4, long periods of no feed intake and stress are factors predisposing to gastric ulcers in horses. Objective: to determine the effect of 1 and 2 mg/Kg intravenous (IV) omeprazole on the gastric juice pH of Colombian Creole horses. Methods: seven horses were treated with two IV levels of omeprazole (1, and 2 mg/Kg body weight (BW)) in a crossover design. The omeprazole dose for each animal was reconstituted with 100 ml 0.9% NaCl. Gastric pH was measured using a portable pH-meter in stomach samples collected at time 0 (just before treatment), and 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 24 hours post-treatment. Results: the gastric pH at time 0 fluctuated from 1.6 to 3.2 in all horses. Both omeprazole doses (1 and 2 mg/Kg) significantly increased the gastric pH (pH>4.6) from 1 to 11 hours after the treatment. At 24 hours post-treatment, pH of the group treated with 1.0 mg/Kg significantly decreased to 2.8 ± 0.3, but remained elevated at 5.7 ± 0.87 for the group treated with 2 mg/Kg. Conclusion: the study demonstrated that a single IV omeprazole dose of 2 mg/Kg, but not 1 mg/Kg, maintained gastric pH above 4 during 24 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anamnesis: eight Silla Argentina breed horses imported from Argentina presented with an abnormal gait and skin lesions. Clinical and laboratory findings: all cases showed different degrees of hind limb hyperflexion, atrophy of the lateral digital muscles, skin lesions, and poor body condition. They underwent several clinical and laboratory examinations, including endoscopy of the upper respiratory tract, skin and liver biopsy, blood count, biochemical profile, and electromyography that showed evidence of a neuropathy and dermatitis. Treatment approach: the horses were treated with phenylbutazone and thiamine. The response was patient dependent with different degrees of recovery resulting. Conclusion: this is the first report of an outbreak of bilateral Australian Stringhalt in Colombia and the first associated to skin lesions according to the veterinary medicine scientific literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: eight mules with angular limb deformity (ALD) type carpus varus and carpus valgus were studied. Objective: to evaluate a biopsy technique of the distal growth plate of the radius using a Jamshidi needle. Methods: thirteen limbs with ALD were biopsied immediately before undergoing corrective surgery. The site of biopsy depended on the severity of ALD and surgical technique. The samples were preserved and processed for histopathological study. Results: of all biopsies evaluated, only three were successfully obtained. Conclusions: the biopsy technique used was not efficient (23% success rate), however it allowed us to describe the physeal dysplasia in mules with ALD. Our findings agree with those previously described in horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) has a high and variable occurrence in horses of different ages and activity levels. Objective: the aim of this study was to determine the presence and severity of ulcers in Brasileiro de Hipismo (BH) horses owned by the military police. Methods: a group of 80 horses (38 males and 42 females, aged between 3.3 and 29.2 years) performing different activities underwent clinical and gastroscopic evaluation. Descriptive statistics for the presence of ulcers and chi-square (X2) analysis with Fisher exact test were conducted to determine a possible association between EGUS and type of activity, sex or age. Results: occurrence of at least one ulcer was detected in 45% of the horses, and most of them (40%) were located in the squamous mucosa of the Margo plicatus. No significant association (p>0.05) was observed between any of the factors evaluated and the presence of EGUS. Conclusion: the BH horses owned by cavalry's military have low incidence of EGUS despite being subjected to stress, which confirms a multifactorial nature of gastric lesions in this subpopulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background: Cortisol is indicative of adaptation to physiological factors, disease and environmental stress in equines. Cortisol recently gained attention for its prognostic value in critical disease and as an indicator of fitness and athletic performance. Objective: To determine baseline serum cortisol (SC) morning concentrations in the Colombian creole horse (CCH). Methods: Blood serum was taken from 62 CCH of both genders with and average age of 8.8 years (± 5.3), which were clinically healthy and had different performance levels. Results: The overall SC average determined by sandwich ELISA was 13.3 ± 7.4 mg/dL. No significant differences were attributed to gender, age, or performance. Conclusion: This concentration can be used as a reference value for CCH maintained in low physical activity.