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Reasons for performing study Injection of the median artery of horses leads to better distribution and persistence of mesenchymal stem cells than i.v. regional limb perfusion. Due to technical difficulties, intra-arterial injections thus far have only been performed under general anaesthesia. Objectives To assess the feasibility of injection of the median artery in standing sedated horses. Study design Experimental study. Methods Six horses were included in the study. After median and ulnar regional analgesia, radiographic contrast material was injected in the median artery of both front limbs, using a catheter in one limb and a direct needle injection in the other. Ultrasound guidance was used for catheter and needle placement. Radiographs were obtained for confirmation of successful injection. Post procedural ultrasound examination was performed to assess vascular compromise. Results Catheter placement was successful in all 6 limbs, but in one limb injection was not possible due to arterial spasm. Movement of the limbs after the initial injection resulted in loss of functionality of the catheter in 2 other horses. Direct needle injection was successful on all 6 limbs, with periarterial extravasation observed in 2 limbs. No clinical complications were observed. Conclusions Injection of the median artery can be performed in standing horses under sedation. Direct needle injection is a more practical technique than catheterisation, as it is easier to perform and less likely to induce arterial spasm. Periarterial extravasation remains a possible limitation of the technique. Intra-arterial injections may be useful for administration of therapeutic agents such as mesenchymal stem cells on standing sedated horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reasons for performing study Intra-arterial (i.a.) and intravenous (i.v.) regional limb perfusions ( RLP) through the median artery and cephalic vein, respectively, have been previously investigated for administration of mesenchymal stem cells ( MSCs) to the equine distal limb. Limitations due to thrombosis of the arteries after i.a. RLP and poor distribution of MSCs to the foot with i.v. RLP were observed. These techniques need to be modified for clinical use. Objectives Evaluate the distribution, uptake and persistence of radiolabelled MSCs after i.a. injection through the median artery without a tourniquet and after i.v. RLP through the lateral palmar digital vein. Study design In vivo experimental study. Methods 99mTc- HMPAO-labelled MSCs were injected through the median artery of one limb and the lateral palmar digital vein of the other limb of 6 horses under general anaesthesia. No tourniquet was used for the i.a. injection. A pneumatic tourniquet was placed on the metacarpus for i.v. injection. Scintigraphic images were obtained up to 24 h after injection. Results Intra-arterial injection resulted in MSCs retention within the limb despite the absence of a tourniquet and no thrombosis was observed. Both i.a. injection and i.v. RLP led to distribution of MSCs to the foot. The i.a. injection resulted in a more homogeneous distribution. The MSC uptake was higher with i.v. RLP at the initial timepoints, but no significant difference was present at 24 h. Conclusions Both i.a. injection through the median artery without a tourniquet and i.v. RLP performed through the lateral palmar digital vein under general anaesthesia are safe and reliable methods for administration of MSCs to the equine foot. The i.a. technique is preferred owing to the better distribution, but is technically more challenging. The feasibility of performing these techniques on standing horses remains to be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digitisation of the entomology resources of the Department of Zoology, University of Silesia DZUS (presently the Zoology Research Group, Katowice, Poland) allow presenting a substantial collection of aphids, adelgids and phylloxerids (Hemiptera: Aphidomorpha). The collection preserves more than 12 500 curated specimens stored as over 9 500 slides representing 683 taxa (645 identified to the species level and 38 identified only to the genus level), 160 genera, three families and 15 subfamilies. Thirty species represent type material. The geographical analysis of the Aphidomorpha collected shows mainly Eurasian areas, with particularly good representation from Central Europe (especially Poland). The highest diversity is represented by species of Aphididae (98.6%), with the richest in samples subfamily Aphidinae (65.2%). Four hundred twelve genera (972 taxa) of host plants from 99 families were identified among the slide-mounted specimens. A new nameAphis (Aphis) jaroslavholmani nom. nov. is proposed for Aphis (Aphis) holmani Kanturski Bezdk, 2019.

Leptospirosis is one of the most common zoonotic infections worldwide, including in most livestock, some companion animals, horses, wildlife, and humans. Epidemiological estimation of its prevalence in all species is difficult due to the variety of clinical presentations and challenges regarding laboratory diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to measure the seroprevalence of leptospiral infection in Arabian horses kept in the largest breeding farms in Poland, representing over 15% of the Polish Arabian horse population. Leptospira antibodies were detected by MAT (cut-off 1:100) in 33.2% of serum samples (204 of 615 animals) (CI 95%: 29.6-37.0%), most frequently reacting with the serovar Grippotyphosa, similar to previous reports in populations of randomly selected horses. These results indicated high Leptospira seropositivity, thus, although any form of clinical leptospirosis is rare, it may be postulated that the leptospiral exposure is widespread.