Nutritional muscular dystrophy in a four-day-old Connemara foal

This report describes a four-day-old, full-term Connemara colt, presented for the evaluation of a progressive inability to rise unassisted. A diagnosis of nutritional muscular dystrophy was made based on muscular weakness, elevated muscle enzymes and low vitamin E, selenium and glutathione peroxidase activity. The foal was treated with intramuscular vitamin E-selenium and made a full recovery.     

Case report. Phenprocoumon (Marcumar,Falithrom) as an unusual reason for coumarin poisoning in a dog

Coumarin poisoning in dogs is not unusual and is in most cases caused by warfarin, a coumarin derivative which is used as a rodenticide. Competitive inhibition of vitamin K with an incomplete synthesis of the coagulation factors II, VII, IX and X can lead to a significant bleeding tendency. We observed a 3-year old male West Highland White Terrier with a reduced general condition and dyspnoea together with a massive haemothorax. Administration of vitamin K1 (3 mg/kg) led to a rapid improvement of the condition. Coagulation analysis revealed a prolonged activated recalcification time (ARCT), prothrombin time (PT) and aPTT with uncharacteristic thrombin time (TT); factor II, VII and X activities were reduced while factor V activity was normal, all of which are characteristic for coumarin poisoning. HPLC did not reveal the presence of warfarin but of phenoprocoumon, a drug used for thromboembolic prophylaxis in humans. This observation has not been described for dogs to date.     

Fell Pony syndrome in a pony in North America

A 5-week-old Fell Pony colt was examined for fever, lethargy, and anemia. The colt had been lethargic for 1 week before examination, had continued to nurse, had a temperature of 104°F (40°C), and was treated with ceftiofur (5 mg/kg IM q12h). Approximately 36 hours before examination, the colt developed watery diarrhea. Blood work performed by the referring veterinarian on the day of admission revealed a PCV of 10%.     

Autosomic 27 Trisomy in a Standardbred Colt

A 19-month-old Standardbred colt was donated to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine with a suspicion of intersexuality. The anal−genital distance and penis were normal, and there was no evidence of intersexuality, but the colt was bilaterally cryptorchid. Several aspects of the colt's behavior appeared unusual, including general temperament and behavior described as sympathetically dull and affable. With herd mates, the colt appeared slow to perceive or to learn the usual intraspecies social cues. An atypical gait characterized by intermittent unnatural shuffle of the hind limbs, sliding them along in short rhythmic strides for 3 to 10 seconds at a time was noted at times when a horse might normally transition from a slow walk to a fast walk or a slow trot. Occasionally the colt exhibited slight protrusion of the tongue through the teeth and lips with jaw movements and smacking of the tongue against the teeth as if struggling to retract the tongue to the normal position. Evaluation of the karyotype combined with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed an abnormal male karyotype showing trisomy of chromosome 27 (65, XY + 27). The colt was euthanized at 24 months of age, and a necropsy revealed no significant abnormalities. This case of trisomy was not associated with developmental abnormalities described in other rare reports of trisomy in horses; however, some features were strikingly similar to that of humans with trisomy 21. FISH was demonstrated to be an excellent method for correct identification of equine chromosomes.     

Abnormal coagulation factor VIII transcript in a Tennessee Walking Horse colt with hemophilia A

Hemophilia A is an X‐chromosome‐linked disorder caused by a deficiency in factor VIII (FVIII). Although foals have been diagnosed with hemophilia A based on deficiency in FVIII activity, causative gene mutations have not been identified. The genomic DNA and cDNA encoding FVIII of a Tennesee Walking Horse colt affected with hemophilia A and the genomic DNA of his dam and a normal unrelated horse were analyzed with no splice site or coding sequence abnormalities identified in any of the horses. Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were then performed on hepatic cDNA from the affected colt and an unrelated normal horse, and no product was obtained for the sequence between and including exon 1 and exon 2 in the affected colt. Based on these results, suspected mutations were identified in the noncoding region of FVIII (intron 1), and genomic sequencing of intron 1 in the dam and the affected colt suggested maternal inheritance.     

Surgical treatment of phimosis due to preputial stenosis in a Thoroughbred colt

A 6-month-old Thoroughbred colt was referred to Rossdales Equine Hospital with a recent history of discomfort and inability to protrude the penis whilst urinating, resulting in accumulation of urine within the prepuce. Careful examination and manual palpation revealed a constrictive ring of fibrous tissue at the level of the preputial orifice. With no evidence of trauma or a persistent penile frenulum, a tentative diagnosis of phimosis due to congenital preputial stenosis was made. Exploratory surgery confirmed the diagnosis and surgical transection and release of the fibromuscular ring at three sites allowed the colt to protrude the penis and urinate normally immediately post-operatively. At follow-up examination 11 months later, the colt continued to be able to extrude the penis and urinate conventionally. A slight excess of skin was present at the end of the prepuce but this was only of minor cosmetic concern.     

Pleuropneumonia as a sequela of myelography and general anaesthesia in a Thoroughbred colt

A 3-year-old Thoroughbred colt was presented to the University Veterinary Centre Camden for evaluation of ataxia. The horse was anaesthetised to facilitate cervical radiography and myelographic examination of the spinal cord. Recovery from anaesthesia was uneventful. Five days after general anaesthesia the horse re-presented with pleuropneumonia. It was euthanased 24 hours after presentation on humane grounds. Necropsy revealed severe tracheal erosion over the middle third of the ventral surface of the trachea, pleuropneumonia and narrowing of the cervical cord between C4 and C6. It is postulated that extension and flexion of the neck during myelography resulted in movement of the endotracheal tube cuff, causing the tracheal lesion and predisposing the colt to pleuropneumonia. Severe tracheal lesions and pleuropneumonia have not been reported as sequela of equine myelography, and should be considered as possible complications following repeated cervical manipulation during myelography in the horse.     

Otitis media‐interna and secondary meningitis associated with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in a horse

A one‐year‐old Thoroughbred colt was evaluated because of facial nerve paralysis, ataxia and fever. Neurological evaluation found the colt to be obtunded and grade 3/5 ataxic in all 4 limbs. Right‐sided facial nerve paralysis was present and a large, deep corneal ulcer noted in the right eye. Signs of vestibular disease were also present, including circling towards the right and horizontal nystagmus. A complete blood count showed mild leucocytosis, neutrophilia and hyperfibrinogenaemia. A computed tomography (CT) examination of the skull was performed under general anaesthesia and a diagnosis of right sided otitis media‐interna was made. Culture of fluid taken from the middle ear and cerebrospinal fluid collected from the atlanto‐occipital site yielded pure growth of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Initial therapy consisted of antimicrobial treatment with cefotaxime and anti‐inflammatory treatment with flunixin meglumine. Six days after initiating treatment, the colt developed Clostridium difficile associated colitis. The colitis resolved with supportive care and the colt was discharged from the hospital receiving chloramphenicol. Eight months later, the colt continued to be mildly ataxic (grade 1/5), with a slight head tilt and facial nerve paralysis. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of otitis media‐interna due to C. pseudotuberculosis in the horse.     

Septic periorchitis in a horse

A 2-month-old Standard-bred colt with signs of abdominal pain and large scrotum was found to have septic periorchitis involving the right testis. Surgical exploration of the abdomen and scrotum was performed; the colt was then castrated. Actinobacillus equuli was isolated from specimens obtained at surgery. The colt was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and flunixin meglumine after surgery, and fully recovered. The clinical signs of periorchitis in the colt were similar to an inguinal/scrotal hernia.     

饲料维生素C含量对圆斑星鲽幼鱼抗氨氮胁迫能力的影响

氨氮污染是水产养殖中重要的污染物,因此提高鱼体抗污染应激能力至关重要。本试验采用不同维生素C含量的饲料饲喂圆斑星鲽幼鱼,探究饲料维生素C含量对圆斑星鲽幼鱼抗氨氮胁迫能力的影响。试验在(12.5±1.5)℃的水温下进行,选择体重为(38.0±0.8)g的健康圆斑星鲽幼鱼,随机分为7组(每组3个重复,每个重复30尾),分别投喂维生素C含量为10.2(对照)、249.1、402.8、616.2、769.5、909.4和1 177.8 mg/kg的试验饲料8周。投喂试验结束后,从每个重复取10尾鱼,用20 mg/L的氨氮胁迫24 h。结果表明:无论是氨氮胁迫前还是氨氮胁迫后,在饲料维生素C含量达到769.5 mg/kg时,肝脏和肌肉中维生素C积累达到饱和,再继续升高饲料维生素C含量,肝脏、肌肉中维生素C含量不再显著升高(P0.05)。除1 177.8 mg/kg维生素C组外,无论是氨氮胁迫前还是氨氮胁迫后,各维生素C添加组圆斑星鲽幼鱼血清中过氧化氢酶(CAT)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性均显著高于对照组(P0.05)。除616.2 mg/kg维生素C组血清中CAT活性无显著变化(P0.05)外,氨氮胁迫使各组血清中CAT和SOD活性显著降低(P0.05),但添加维生素C可以减少降低的幅度。无论是氨氮胁迫前还是氨氮胁迫后,各维生素C添加组鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶活性均显著高于对照组(P0.05)。氨氮胁迫使对照组及909.4和1 177.8 mg/kg维生素C组鳃丝Na+/K+-ATP酶活性显著降低(P0.05),其他组则无显著变化(P0.05)。氨氮胁迫使各组血清中葡萄糖和乳酸含量显著升高(P0.05),对照组血清中皮质醇含量显著升高(P0.05)。此外,氨氮胁迫使各组血清中总铁结合力显著降低(P0.05)。综合各项测定指标,圆斑星鲽幼鱼饲料中维生素C含量在402.8~616.2 mg/kg时可有效提高机体抗氨氮胁迫能力。     

Esophageal dysfunction in a weanling thoroughbred

A 6-month-old Thoroughbred colt was examined because of persistent dysphagia noted since birth. Moderately severe regurgitation occurred when the colt ate semi-solid food or drank. Complete esophageal impaction developed when the colt ate solid material. Endoscopic examination revealed ulceration, dilatation and lack of peristalsis in the area of the previous impaction. Barium esophagram demonstrated the dilatation in the area of the previous impaction. Esophageal manometry revealed prolonged simultaneous contractions throughout the esophagus suggesting the presence of a motor abnormality. The colt was maintained on a slurry of complete pelleted feed, but the esophageal dysfunction persisted until euthanasia at 17 months of age. Gross post mortem and histologic examinations showed no abnormalities in the muscularis mucosa, myenteric plexus, vagus nerve, or brain stem. The history, signs, and manometric findings suggested esophageal dysfunction in this colt. Motor disorders of the esophagus should be considered in horses with persistent dysphagia or recurrent episodes of choke and esophageal manometry can help characterize these disorders.     

Hemophilia A in two related quarter horse colts

Severe hemorrhagic diathesis caused by hemophilia A (factor VIII:C deficiency) was diagnosed in 2 related Quarter Horse colts. Clinical signs consisted of dyspnea and dysphagia attributable to cranial cervical hematoma in one colt and to intra-abdominal hemorrhage resulting in death of the second colt. Factor VIII:C deficiency, a defect of the intrinsic coagulation pathway, is suggested by results of coagulation studies--prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, normal prothrombin time, and normal primary bleeding time. The diagnosis was confirmed by results of factor VIII:C assays. Hemophilia A is inherited as an X chromosome-linked trait.     

Truncated gamma-glutamyl carboxylase in rambouillet sheep

A flock of Rambouillet sheep was examined because of increased lamb mortality due to ineffective hemostasis at parturition. Decreased activities of coagulation factors II, VII, IX, and X, and severely reduced hepatic gamma-glutamyl carboxylase activity with adequate vitamin K 2,3 epoxide reductase activity was determined.(1,)(21) Parenteral vitamin K(1) supplementation did not improve vitamin K-dependent coagulation factor activities in 3 affected lambs. Affected lamb gamma-glutamyl carboxylase deoxyribonucleic acid was sequenced, and 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs 2-5) of the gamma-glutamyl carboxylase gene were identified. Single nucleotide polymorphism-4 results in an arginine to stop codon (UGA) substitution, which prematurely terminates the peptide at residue 686 (R686Stop). This genotype (GATT/GATT) has a strong association with the coagulopathy observed in clinically affected lambs, P < 0.001. The frequency of SNP-3 in exon 11 (R486H) within the MARC 1.1 database is high in the US sheep population overall. Gamma-glutamyl carboxylase activity in hepatic microsomes from a SNP-3 homozygous lamb lacking the SNP-4 mutation (GACC/GACC) was similar to control sheep homozygous for arginine at 486 and also lacking SNP-4 (TGCC/TGCC), indicating that the R486H does not measurably impact gamma-glutamyl carboxylase activity. The remaining two SNPs (2 and 5) are located within non-coding intron sequences. These 4 SNPs allowed for determining the genotype associated with the observed fatal coagulopathy. Screening for the premature truncation (SNP-4) based on the presence of a Bbv I restriction site in clinically normal lambs but not in the homozygous affected lambs allows for detection of the heterozygous state (GATT/GACC), because carrier animals are clinically normal.     

Leucine‐induced promotion of post‐absorptive EAA utilization and hepatic gluconeogenesis contributes to protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of dairy calves

The high rate of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of dairy calves can benefit their first lactation even lifetime milk yield. Since the rate of protein synthesis is relatively low in the post‐absorptive state, the aim of this research was to determine whether leucine supplementation could increase the post‐absorptive essential amino acid (EAA) utilization and protein synthesis in the skeletal muscle. Ten male neonatal dairy calves (38 ± 3 kg) were randomly assigned to either the control (CON, no leucine supplementation, n = 5) or supplementation with 1.435 g leucine/L milk (LEU, n = 5). Results showed that leucine significantly increased the length and protein concentration in longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle, whereas it decreased creatinine concentration and glutamic‐oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) activity. Compared to the control group, leucine supplementation also reduced the glutamic‐pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activity. Supplementation of leucine improved the phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), eukaryotic initiation factor 4E‐binding protein 1 (4EBP1) and substrates ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (p70S6K). Supplementation of leucine resulted in increased concentrations of glucose, methionine, threonine, histidine and EAAs and decreased concentration of arginine in serum. Liver glucose concentration was higher and pyranic acid was lower in LEU compared to CON. In conclusion, leucine supplementation can promote post‐absorptive EAA utilization and hepatic gluconeogenesis, which contributes to protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of dairy calves.     

Inguinal Herniation of the Ascending Colon in a 6‐month‐old Standardbred Colt

Objective— To report inguinal herniation of the ascending colon in a Standardbred colt. Study Design— Case report. Animals— A 6‐month‐old Standardbred colt. Methods— The colt underwent surgical exploration of the hernia with large colon resection and anastomosis. Results— A successful large colon resection and anastomosis was completed, however, the colt was euthanatized at the end of surgery upon owner request. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance— Although uncommon, indirect inguinal herniation of the ascending colon can occur in young horses.     

A mixed infection of babesia equi and babesia caballiin a racing colt: A report from iran

Babesiosis was diagnosed in a three-year-old racingThoroughbred colt with recurrent, intermittent fever, poor performance, malaise, and one occasion of diarrhea. Other signs included congestion of mucous membranes and petechial hemorrhages of conjunctival mucous membranes. Babesia caballi and B. equi were identified on blood smear, when the colt had fever. The colt was treated with Imidocarb (4 mg/kg four times at 72 intervals) and returned to regular exercise and competition four months after treatment. The colt and two other horses which showed babesial infection had been transported from Turkmen district to Mashhad city.     

Therapy resistant septic enteritis due to a jejunal malformation in a 5-day-old Thoroughbred colt

A 5-day-old Thoroughbred colt was presented with profuse watery diarrhea, hypovolemic shock, and a patent urachus. Despite intensive medical therapy, the colt was euthanized 15 d later due to poor clinical response. Necropsy revealed a small intestinal structural abnormality that formed a closed jejunal ring. Although rare, intestinal malformations should be considered in neonatal foals with clinical signs resembling enteritis.     

Effect of Intestinal Resection on Two Juvenile Horses With Granulomatous Enteritis

Two horses were presented with lethargy, weight loss, anorexia, and swelling of the limbs and ventral body wall. One horse, a 12-month-old American Paso Fino colt, also had acute abdominal pain. The other horse, a seven-month-old Tennessee Walking Horse (TWH) filly passed diarrheic stools during the initial examination. Each horse had low serum protein, neutropenia, and a normal packed cell volume (3.2 g/dl, 1300 cells/ul, and 38%, respectively, for the colt, and 2.4 g/dl, 696 cells/ul, and 44%, respectively for the filly). After intravenously administering plasma, the colt's PCV dropped to 23%, and the filly's dropped to 30%. During exploratory surgery, 3.5 and 2.0 meters of thickened terminal small intestine were removed from the colt and filly respectively, and a jejunocecostomy performed. The results of histologic examination of resected intestine were consistent with a diagnosis of equine granulomatous enteritis (EGE). Both horses showed clinical improvement within two days after surgery. The colt developed a neutrophilia (20,500 cells/ul) within 24 hours of surgery. Serum protein concentrations remained stable and gradually elevated to normal or near normal values of 7.0 g/dl (colt) and 5.8 g/dl (filly) by two weeks. The colt was killed four months after surgery because of signs of abdominal pain. Postmortem examination revealed a small intestinal volvulus associated with an adhesion. The TWH filly remains clinically normal 13 months after surgery.     

RADIATION THERAPY COMMUNICATION: EQUINE HEMANGIOMA

A 13-month-old Standardbred Colt had a recurrent hemangioma at the level of the coronary band. Multiple excisions had led to a nonhealing skin and hoof defect. Using 14 MV electrons, a total dose of 36 Gy was administered, given as six fractions of 6 Gy twice a week. Wound healing by second intention was achieved over the next 4 months and the colt began race training 6 months after the end of therapy. Twenty months later the colt is sound and there is no evidence of tumor recurrence.     

Determination of prothrombin in feline plasma

Determination of the major common pathway protein prothrombin, a vitamin K-dependent protein synthesized in the liver, may be useful for identifying coagulopathies in cats with liver disease or vitamin K antagonism. In people with liver disease, prothrombin is more commonly and more severely decreased than other procoagulant proteins. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a commercial chromogenic assay(DiaPharma Group, West Chester, Ohio, USA) for the determination of prothrombin activity in plasma from healthy cats. The method involves the cleavage of prothrombin by Ecarin, a nonphysiologic enzyme activator that cleaves prothrombin to meizothrombin, which then interacts with a chromogenic substrate. Citrated (n = 20) and EDTA (n = 37) plasma samples from clinically healthy cats were tested using 100-fold and on occasion 200-fold dilutions. The assay was run according to manufacturer's specifications and the relative percentage prothrombin activity was calculated using standard curves generated from a feline citrated plasma pool and human reference plasma. Slope and regression values (r =.998) were similar for feline and human samples, suggesting that Ecarin cleaves prothrombin in both feline and human plasma in an analogous manner. The correlation between results obtained using feline vs human reference plasma was high for both citrated (r =.910) and EDTA samples (r =.998). When prothrombin was determined using human reference plasma, results from citrated feline plasma samples were 75.7% +/- 9.0% of normal compared to 91.6% +/- 7.0% of normal when the feline standard curve was used. Similar results were obtained using EDTA plasma. Our results indicate that the prothrombin chromogenic assay may be useful for evaluating one component of the hemostatic pathway in feline plasma. The prothrombin chromogenic assay utilizes routine instrumentation, requires small sample volume (5 microliter/assay), and may be used on EDTA plasma. To optimize sensitivity, the assay should be run using a standard curve generated with a feline plasma pool.