Electroretinographic changes after intravenous lipid emulsion therapy in a dog and a foal with ivermectin toxicosis

This case report describes ivermectin‐induced blindness in a dog and a foal with normal ophthalmic fundic examinations and attenuated electroretinography (ERG). Subsequent recovery in ERG was noted following intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) therapy. A dog and a foal were evaluated for ivermectin‐induced blindness. Clinical signs included dull mentation, absent pupillary light reflexes (PLRs), and absent menace on presentation. The animals had normal fundoscopic examinations; however, in both cases ERG was consistent with neurosensory retinal dysfunction. Following ILE therapy for ivermectin toxicosis, return of menace, PLRs, and normal mentation were noted, as was improvement in ERG and serum ivermectin levels. These are the first documented cases of ivermectin‐induced blindness in a dog and a foal with normal fundic examinations and attenuated ERG. ERG improved in both animals after ILE therapy. ERG may assist in the diagnosis of ivermectin toxicosis in dogs and horses. ILE therapy may hasten recovery in treatment of ivermectin‐induced blindness.     

Intraosseous regional perfusion for treatment of septic physitis in a two-week-old foal

A 2-week-old Morgan filly examined because of lameness of 5 days' duration was found, on the basis of clinical and radiographic findings, to have septic physitis of the distal end of the radius. The foal was treated by means of intraosseous regional perfusion with penicillin and amikacin and systemic administration of antimicrobials. Intraosseous regional perfusion was performed 3 times. The foal was anesthetized for the first episode of intraosseous regional perfusion, but was only sedated for the subsequent 2 episodes. Antimicrobials were administered systemically for 22 days. Foals with septic physitis are typically considered to have a guarded to poor prognosis for recovery; however, this treatment regimen resulted in relatively fast and uncomplicated resolution of the infection in this foal.     

Transplacental infection of a foal with Anaplasma phagocytophilum

This is the first report to document transplacental transmission of Anaplasma phagocytophillum in the horse. A 4-year-old late-term pregnant mare presented for a recent onset of pyrexia due to equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA). She was hospitalised for treatment with oxytetracycline and monitoring of high-risk foaling due to significant thrombocytopenia. Parturition occurred overnight, and the foal was PCR positive for A. phagocytophilum at birth. The foal was slow to stand and nurse, with signs of neonatal encephalopathy and anaplasmosis (thrombocytopenia). Therapy with oxytetracycline resulted in complete clinical recovery of the mare and foal within 5 days. Congenital anaplasmosis should be considered in any foal delivered to a mare suffering from EGA during late-term pregnancy and guide appropriate antimicrobial therapy.     

Anaphylaxis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome induced by inadvertent intravenous administration of mare's milk in a neonatal foal

Objective – To describe the diagnostic procedures, therapeutic management and successful outcome of a case of anaphylaxis induced by the inadvertent intravenous (IV) administration of mare's milk to a neonatal foal. Case Summary – A 3‐day‐old Thoroughbred colt was presented for treatment of bilateral flexural limb deformities of the forelimbs. Because the foal was unable to ambulate initially, mare's milk was administered via nasoesophageal tube feedings during treatment of the musculoskeletal disorder. Anaphylaxis resulted after unintentional administration of a bolus of 150 mL of mare's milk through a jugular catheter. Aggressive therapy for anaphylaxis and careful monitoring resulted in the successful recovery of the foal after 9 days of intensive care. New or Unique Information Provided – This case is the first published report to describe the effects of accidental IV administration of mare's milk to a neonatal foal. Medical errors are commonly reported in pediatric medicine; the intent of this report is to raise awareness of medical errors and student education in equine medicine as well as describe the therapy and outcome of anaphylaxis induced by IV administration of mare's milk in a neonatal foal.     

An unusual cause of colic in a neonatal foal

A case of a neonatal foal with acute colic and respiratory distress is described. The foal presented with signs of acute colic and was treated medically. The foal did not respond to treatment and 2 h after admission the foal began to demonstrate signs of respiratory distress. Thoracic and abdominal radiographs were obtained and a diagnosis of a diaphragmatic hernia was made. Surgical repair of the hernia was recommended but the owner declined and the foal was subjected to euthanasia. Post mortem findings confirmed the diagnosis and revealed that the defect was of congenital origin. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is an unusual cause of colic in a neonatal foal.     

Successful surgical debridement of a cerebral Streptococcus equi equi abscess by parietal bone flap craniotomy in a 2-month-old Warmblood foal

Brain abscesses and intracranial masses have been regularly described in horses. Treatment often is difficult and unrewarding and mortality rate high. This case report describes the successful treatment of a cerebral abscess in a 2-month-old female Warmblood foal with severe neurological signs of acute onset. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a 3 × 4 × 4 cm cerebral mass in the left brain hemisphere with severe cerebral oedema. Craniotomy, using a parietal bone flap technique, allowed the abscess to be sampled, drained and lavaged. Immediately, post-surgery the foal showed significant clinical improvement. Sample culture confirmed Streptococcus equi equi infection. The foal was medically treated for 6 weeks, leading to complete clinical and radiographical recovery. Intracranial surgery in equine medicine is limited. Using a parietal bone flap instead of partial craniectomy to gain access to the cerebrum is a less invasive procedure leading to a better aesthetic result and should be considered for the treatment of cerebral masses in the horse.     

Fecal Isolation of Corynebacterium equi from a Foal with Chronic Diarrhea

Corynebacterium equi was isolated from the feces of a foal with chronic diarrhea. The foal had multiple walnut-sized masses associated with the intestine on rectal examination. These were thought to be enlarged lymph nodes and/or abscesses. The foal also had an elevated plasma fibrinogen. The diarrhea was controlled with antibiotics but recurred when the treatment was stopped.     

Successful medical management of lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse in a ferret

Thoracolumbar disc herniation was diagnosed in a two-year-old ferret using a myelogram followed by a computed tomography scan. The ferret was paraplegic with no control over urination and defecation. Conservative treatment that included cage rest and passive range of motion exercises for three weeks followed by extensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy resulted in full recovery two months after the onset of treatment. Although intervertebral disc disease has been reported previously in four ferrets, this is the first report in which a postmyelogram computed tomography was used to demonstrate the herniated disc, and physiotherapy was used as principal treatment modality.     

Treatment of tetanus in the horse by injections of tetanus antitoxin into the subarachnoid space.

In 40 horses with tetanus, large doses of tetanus antitoxin (TAT) were injected into the subarachnoid space. In all the horses that recovered, the disease stabilized immediately after the injection. The results (77.5% recovery) were much better than in a previous series of horses with tetanus (50% recovery), in which TAT was injected either intravenously, intramuscularly, or in the epidural space.     

Effect of adjunctive treatment with intravenously administered Propionibacterium acnes on reproductive performance in mares with persistent endometritis

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether treatment with a preparation of Propionibacterium acnes would improve pregnancy and live foal rates in mares with persistent endometritis. DESIGN: Randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS: 95 mares with a cytologic diagnosis of persistent endometritis. PROCEDURES: Mares were treated with P acnes or placebo (both administered IV) on days 0, 2, and 6. No attempt was made to alter additional treatments administered by attending veterinarians. Information on breeding history, physical examination findings, results of cytologic examination and microbial culture of uterine samples, additional treatments administered, breeding dates, results of pregnancy examinations, whether a live foal was produced, and reactions to treatment was recorded. RESULTS: In multivariate logistic regression models, mare age, year of entry into the study, and first breeding within 8 days after first treatment with P acnes or placebo were significantly associated with pregnancy. Fewer number of cycles bred and younger age were significantly associated with delivery of a live foal in a separate multivariate analysis. Results of multivariate logistic regression modeling indicated that mares treated with P acnes were more likely to become pregnant and to deliver a live foal, compared with placebo-treated controls. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: IV administration of P acnes as an adjunct to conventional treatments in mares with a cytologic diagnosis of persistent endometritis improved pregnancy and live foal rates. The optimal effect was detected in mares bred during the interval extending from 2 days before to 8 days after first treatment with P acnes.     

Computed tomography of nuchal ligament and semispinalis capitis tendon avulsions in a foal

Head trauma is a common injury in young horses. This case report describes a 10‐week‐old Thoroughbred foal with an open wound following trauma to the poll region, showing abnormal head carriage and depression. A computed tomography (CT) study was performed under general anaesthetic (GA). This identified a complete avulsion of the nuchal ligament (NL) and partial avulsions of the left and right semispinalis capitis (SS) tendons. Following diagnosis and conservative treatment the foal made a good recovery and 18 months later the filly had no detectable neurological or physical abnormalities. Computed tomography enabled an accurate and rapid diagnosis of a novel injury.     

Congenital branchial apparatus malformation in a Haflinger colt

Objective— To report the diagnosis and treatment of a branchial apparatus anomaly (BAA) associated with a mandibular malformation in a foal.
Design— Clinical report.
Animal— Haflinger foal.
Methods— A 6-day-old foal had a fluctuating cystic mass in the pharyngeal (throatlatch) region, which changed in appearance after ingestion of milk. Upper airway endoscopy and diagnostic imaging (ultrasonography, radiography, computed tomography) permitted identification of the anatomic location of a communicating tract between the lumen of the cystic mass and the pharynx. The mass was surgically removed and communication with the pharynx ligated. Histologic appearance of this mass was consistent with a branchial cyst or sinus. The mandibular malformation was managed conservatively.
Results— Surgical resection of a third branchial sinus resulted in an excellent functional and cosmetic outcome. There was no evidence of any mandibular deformity 2 years later.
Conclusion— BAA may induce secondary mandibular deformation in utero and may cause respiratory compromise postpartum. Careful surgical dissection and removal of BAA resulted in an excellent outcome.
Clinical Relevance— BAAs should be included in the differential diagnosis of a throatlatch region mass in equine neonates. Complete surgical excision is recommended and full recovery of any associated mandibular deformity may be anticipated without additional treatment in very young patients.     

Evaluation of IgG concentration and IgG subisotypes in foals with complete or partial failure of passive transfer after administration of intravenous serum or plasma.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of an equine plasma product i.v. and a concentrated serum product i.v. to deliver antibodies to 46 foals with failure of passive transfer (FPT). Treatment of FPT was as per manufacturers recommendations, using plasma (950 ml/unit) or a concentrated serum product (250 ml/unit). Significant variables affecting the 3 day post-transfusion serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration of foals included body weight, pretransfusion IgG concentration, number of product units transfused, foaling season and product administered. Plasma treatment had a greater increase in post-transfusion serum IgG concentrations compared to the serum product treatment mainly because plasma contained approximately twice the amount of IgG per unit as the serum product. The change in equine influenza virus and tetanus toxoid-specific IgGa, IgGb, and IgG(T) titres was measured in foals from pretransfusion to 3 days post-transfusion. For each gram of IgG transfused, the change in antigen-specific IgG subisotypes were similar for both treatment groups. The results of this study suggest that similar foal serum IgG concentrations can be achieved 3 days post-transfusion by administering 1 unit of plasma or 2-3 units of serum product.     

Successful induction of lactation in a barren thoroughbred mare: growth of a foal raised on induced lactation and the corresponding maternal hormone profiles

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that a barren parous Thoroughbred mare with lactation induced by hormonal treatment can be introduced to an orphan foal at the same farm and that the mare can become pregnant after the end of the hormonal treatment. An additional purpose was to investigate the changes in the plasma concentrations of prolactin, estradiol-17β, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone before, during, and after hormonal treatment. The difference in body weight between the adopted foal and the control foals, which were at the same farm and raised by their natural mothers, was 17 kg at 24 weeks old, when the foals were weaned. However, the adopted foal and the control foals had almost the same weight at 35 weeks old and later. The first ovulation after hormonal treatment was confirmed 10 days after the end of hormonal treatment and then the normal estrous cycle resumed. Furthermore, the changes in plasma progesterone, estradiol-17β, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone showed regular patterns after the first ovulation. Conception was confirmed in the fifth ovulation. Meanwhile, another study demonstrated that conception was confirmed in the first ovulation after hormonal treatment. The present study is the first to demonstrate the hormonal profiles during and after induction of lactation in a Thoroughbred mare. This approach is useful for solving the economic and epidemic problems of introducing a nurse mare to an orphan foal.     

Prevalence (treatment days) and severity of illness in hypogammaglobulinemic and normogammaglobulinemic foals

Serum samples for determination of IgG concentration were obtained between postpartum hours 18 and 48 from 132 Standardbred foals. Results of the IgG assay were not known to farm personnel. None of the foals was given plasma IV for treatment of hypogammaglobulinemia. Foal health records were examined retrospectively to determine prevalence of infectious-type illness (foal treatment days [FTD]), prevalence of life-threatening infectious illness (foal treatment days-serious condition [FTD-SC]), and number of diseases (NOD) per foal. Values for FTD, FTD-SC, and NOD per foal were compiled for the first 21 days of life and for the first 90 days of life. The FTD, FTD-SC, and NOD per foal values were compared for foals with less than 400 mg of IgG/dl and for foals with greater than or equal to 400 mg of IgG/dl; the same variables were compared for foals with less than 800 mg of IgG/dl and for foals with greater than or equal to 800 mg of IgG/dl. Statistical analysis indicated that IgG concentration was not associated with FTD, FTD-SC, or NOD in foals of any of the groups. Also, despite a large subpopulation of hypogammaglobulinemic foals (13.6% with less than 400 mg of IgG/dl and 44.7% with less than 800 mg of IgG/dl), the 21-day and 90-day overall survival rates were 100 and 99.2%, respectively. The data strongly suggest that serum IgG concentration was not related to prevalence or severity of illness or to survival rate in this population of foals.     

Surgical reconstruction of a ruptured medial collateral ligament in a foal

An avulsed carpal medial collateral ligament was diagnosed by clinical and radiographic examination in a 1-day-old foal that was unable to bear weight on the affected limb. The foal had a valgus deviation originating at the carpus and medial to lateral instability of the affected carpus. The ligament was reconstructed with screws and suture tape. Surgical reconstruction is a viable alternative to long-term casting or splinting for treatment of a ruptured carpal medial collateral ligament in a foal.     

Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in a neonatal foal

A 13-day-old foal with profound tachypnoea and respiratory distress was examined. Thoracic radiographs revealed a severe, diffuse miliary pattern, and the foal was markedly hypoxaemic. It failed to improve with empirical treatment, and was euthanased. Lesions associated with Coccidioides immitis infection were identified at postmortem examination, and were limited to the lower respiratory tract.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of Corynebacterium (Rhodococcus) equi infection in foals

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to diagnose Corynebacterium (Rhodococcus) equi infection in foals. In tests done with different antigen-extraction procedures (sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium deoxycholate, polyoxy-ethylene [9] p-tert-octylphenol, polyoxy-ethylene [9-10] p-tert-octylphenol, sonification, homogenization, and heat treatment at 121 C), Tween 20 was a satisfactory reactive antigen. Using hyperimmune rabbit sera or infected foal sera, we investigated the specificity and the sensitivity of the ELISA with the Tween 20 antigen of the different serotypes or of the isolates. Corynebacterium equi strain ATCC 6939 antigen had the best activity for detecting antibodies to C equi in foals. Sera from 218 healthy horses, 11 healthy foals, 17 healthy newborn foals, a foal with suspected C equi infection, and 5 infected foals were evaluated for antibodies to C equi, using ELISA. The optical density values of 206 healthy horses, 17 healthy newborn foals, and 9 healthy foals were less than 0.1. Infected foal sera, except from foal 3, and serum from a foal with suspected C equi infection had higher optical density values. Using ELISA, specific antibodies against C equi were detected in a naturally infected 6-week-old foal after the foal had a rapid increase in the number of bacteria in the feces and after the initial development of clinical signs of illness at 5 weeks of age. Therefore, ELISA was useful for the early diagnosis of C equi infection in foals.     

Tetanus in cats: 3 case descriptions

Three cats with spasticity on one leg or on all four limbs were presented between 1996 and 1998 at the Department of clinical veterinary medicine, Section of neurology, Vetsuisse-Faculty of Bern. The presumptive diagnosis was tetanus. A focal form was present in two cases and generalised tetanus in one cat. All cats had a history of injury at the affected legs respectively at the neck. The first clinical signs were seen between two days and three weeks after injury. The bacteriologic examination of serous fluid from the site of injury revealed an infection with Clostridium. EMG in one cat during anaesthesia showed motor united potentials (MUPs) on the spastic leg. All patients received antibiotics (Penicillin, respectively Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid and Metronidazol). Supportive aid were initially sedation, wound revision and in one cat nutrition through oesophageal sonde. In a second phase physiotherapy was performed. All three animals were significantly better after a couple of weeks, two cats were without symptoms after eight and five weeks respectively.     

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome in a postpartum mare concurrent with encephalopathy in the neonatal foal.

A postpartum mare and foal were presented for evaluation of fever and lethargy in the mare. The mare was diagnosed with endometritis and initially responded well to treatment. On the second day of hospitalization, the mare developed renal insufficiency characterized by oliguria, azotemia, hemolysis, and thrombocytopenia. Concurrently, the foal developed rapidly progressive central nervous system signs culminating in refractory seizures. Both animals failed to respond to treatment and were euthanized. Thrombotic microangiopathy involving glomeruli was evident on microscopic examination of the mare's kidneys. Microscopic evidence of brain edema was the principal postmortem finding in the foal. No specific etiology was confirmed in either case. Notably, Escherichia coli 0103:H2 was isolated from the mare's uterus and the gastrointestinal tracts of both animals. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report in which an organism implicated as a cause of hemolytic-uremic syndrome was isolated from an animal with clinical signs and postmortem findings consistent with the disease.