Search

Serum biochemistry results and presence of fibrosis on liver biopsies are frequently used as prognostic indicators in horses with liver dysfunction. The objective of this retrospective multicenter study was to determine if the magnitude of abnormal liver specific biochemical tests such as bile acids (BA), direct bilirubin and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), or the presence of fibrosis reported on liver biopsies was associated with prognosis in horses with liver dysfunction. Eighty-two horses older than one year, examined at four referral hospitals in the eastern United States, with BA values greater than 30 µmol/L and having 6-months or more follow-up were included in the study. The association of the maximal BA, GGT and direct bilirubin values of each horse with survival was determined by logistic regression analysis. The presence or absence of fibrosis (non-quantitated) on a liver biopsy was compared between survivors and non-survivors by chi square test. The degree of increase in BA concentration and GGT activity was not related to outcome (OR 0.9999, 95% CI 0.9923 - 1.007, P = 0.97, and OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.9997 - 1.001, P = 0.31 respectively). Direct bilirubin concentration was positively associated with non-survival (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.34-3.19, P = 0.0023). The presence of fibrosis was not associated with outcome (P = 0.37). These findings suggest that the magnitude of GGT and BA values or the mere presence of fibrosis on liver histopathology should not be used as prognostic indicators. In this study, direct bilirubin values were a better predictor of outcome., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a rare condition in adult horses characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia and increased susceptibility to parasitic and bacterial infections, including recurrent respiratory diseases, septicemia, and meningitis. Lyme disease is often included as a differential diagnosis in CVID horses with signs of meningitis; however, the Borrelia burgdorferi organism has not been demonstrated previously within central nervous system tissues of CVID horses with neurologic disease, to our knowledge. We report herein a case of neuroborreliosis in a CVID horse, confirmed by combined immunologic testing, histopathology, real-time PCR assay, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemical staining. Implications of these findings include heightened monitoring of CVID horses for Lyme disease in endemic areas and appropriate therapy in the case of neurologic disease.

Donkeys (Equus asinus) are used as both companion and working animals throughout the world and in some countries, their meat and milk are used for human consumption. Here we report the first serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii in donkeys in the United States. Serum samples from 373 donkeys from eight farms in five states were tested for T. gondii antibodies by the modified agglutination test (MAT). Twenty-four of 373 (6.4%) of donkeys were seropositive, with MAT titers ranging from 25 to ≥ 200. All seropositive donkeys were Miniature breed. Seropositivity prevalence was 7.0% in female donkeys (20/282) and 4.1% in male donkeys (4/91). No donkeys less than 24 months of age (129) were seropositive, suggesting postnatal transmission of infection. Domestic cats were present on six of the eight farms. Three cats from one farm had MAT titers of 200. Viable T. gondii was isolated from the hearts of two cats, but not from brain tissues. Genotyping of isolate DNA extracted from culture-derived tachyzoites using 10 PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, PK1, L358 and Apico loci) revealed that both isolates were clonal Type II (ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype #1). This is the first serological survey for T. gondii in donkeys in the United States, and suggests that donkey milk and meat should be considered as a potential source for human infection. The role of barn cats in the transmission of T. gondii to donkeys on farms warrents further investigation., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

OBJECTIVE- To estimate the prevalence of fecal shedding of Salmonella spp among bovine patients at a veterinary teaching hospital, to identify risk factors for fecal shedding of Salmonella organisms, and to characterize the serotypes. DESIGN- Retrospective cohort study. SAMPLE POPULATION- 5,398 hospitalized cattle. PROCEDURES- Data were collected for all cattle admitted during an 11-year period. Fecal shedding of Salmonella spp was determined by means of standard bacteriologic culture. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify risk factors for shedding of Salmonella spp among patients. RESULTS- The prevalence of Salmonella shedding among clinical suspects was 6.5% (50/768), whereas that among nonsuspects tested through routine surveillance was 2.5% (50/2,020). Among clinical suspect calves, fecal shedding of Salmonella spp was more likely for those admitted in the fall (odds ratio [OR], 5.9), those with septicemia (OR, 3.3), or those with an umbilical hernia (OR, 8.6). Among clinical suspect adult cattle, those with enteritis (OR, 9.9) or metritis (OR, 5.2) were more likely to be shedding Salmonella spp. Among nonsuspect cattle, none of the variables were significant predictors of shedding status. Twenty-one serotypes were detected during the study period, with the most common being Salmonella enterica serotypes Typhimurium (33%), Newport (23%), and Agona (12%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE- Seasonal and disease risk factors for fecal shedding of Salmonella spp were evident among clinical suspect cattle admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital. In contrast, lack of significant associations among nonsuspect cattle would suggest that targeted screening within this population is not warranted.

Objective: To examine the regional variations in the distribution of equine motor neuron disease (EMND) in the United States and the factors that might explain those variations., Design: Cluster investigation and case-control study., Sample Population: The study population consisted of 97 horses with histopathologically confirmed EMND and 698 controls with diagnosis of other spinal cord disorders at 21 US veterinary teaching hospitals participating in the Veterinary Medical Data Base., Procedure: The total horse population of the United States was divided into 21 regions, and the regional incidence rates of EMND from January 1985 through January 1995 were estimated. Moran's index of spatial autocorrelation was calculated to test for spatial clustering of the disease. The 21 regions were then joined in broader areas according to the similarity of their EMND rates by means of the cluster analysis statistical technique. Finally, the role of potential confounding factors (age at diagnosis, month of diagnosis, breed, and sex) in the present distribution of EMND was assessed, using logistic regression analysis., Results: Differences in estimated rates across the 21 regions resulted in a strong pattern of spatial clustering of EMND in the United States. The geographic units were grouped into 5 risk regions, with the gradient of EMND incidence rates increasing from the western states (almost 0 cases/1,000,000 horse-years) toward New England (20.78 cases/1,000,000 horse-years). Reported risk factors of EMND (age, breed) and other extraneous factors (sex, month of diagnosis) could not explain the observed geographic variations of disease rates. Nevertheless, there is evidence of some confounding attributable to age and breed., Conclusions: Although the mechanism responsible for the clustering of EMND in northeastern states is still unexplained, it is not an epiphenomenon caused by regional differences in the distribution of the factors investigated.

Equine motor neuron disease (EMND) is a newly recognized neurodegenerative disorder of bulbospinal motor neurons in the horse. We conducted a case-control study to identify intrinsic factors associated with the risk of this disorder. Seventy-four cases and 160 controls were assembled. Controls included horses diagnosed with equine protozoal myelitis, equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy, and cervical stenotic myelopathy during the same time period as the cases. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association of each hypothesized factor while simultaneously controlling for the effect of other factors. Factors found to be significantly associated with the risk of the disease were breed and age of the horse. Quarterhorses are at a higher risk in comparison to other breeds of horse.

Equine motor neuron disease (EMND), a newly described neurodegenerative disease, bears a striking resemblance to progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) in humans. We present a comparison of the equine and human diseases and the results of a case-control study conducted to identify intrinsic factors associated with EMND. Cases included all horses with a confirmed diagnosis of EMND diagnosed in the United States since 1985 (32 cases). Controls included horses diagnosed with either cervical stenotic myelopathy, equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy, or protozoan myelitis at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University (153 controls). Logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with the risk of EMND. Risk factors considered were age, sex, and breed of the horse. Most cases of EMND (30 of 32) have been sporadic. There was a breed association with the risk of EMND. Quarter horses were at a high risk for developing EMND (odds ratio [OR] = 12.7; 95% confidence interval, 3.3 to 49.6); thoroughbred horses were at increased risk (OR = 2.9, 0.8 to 10.4). There was also an age association with the risk of EMND. The risk increased with age, peaked at 16 years, and then declined, a pattern similar to that for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in humans. There was no sex association with the disease. Despite the breed association, equine lymphocyte antigen studies have not revealed a systematic pattern, suggesting that genetic factors influencing susceptibility to EMND may be outside the major histocompatibility complex.