Clinical diagnostic keys and special manifestations in equine leukosis

The literature contains about 500 cases of equine leucosis, though the reports are deposited in a great number of journals and vary considerably concerning particular topics. During the last years there has been a remarkable increase of publications about this syndrome in the equine. The clinical leucosis key recommended by us has been confirmed in principle considering the latest literature. In about 70 individual symptoms which can be clinically observed in equine with leucosis 11 can be considered as main symptoms because of their frequency; they are again classified in primary (lymph node tumours including splenomegaly--loss of condition, weakness--cachexia, weight loss, periphery oedema), secondary (anorexia, inappetence--fever--paleness of mucous membrane--anaemia--tachycardia) and accessory (incoordination--tachypnoea, dyspnoea--apathy, lethargy) main symptoms. Furthermore in future it will be necessary to take into more consideration the symptoms "recurrent colic" and "hydrothorax" within differential diagnosis. The main symptom "incoordination" (ataxia, asynergy, paresis, paralysis) is used by us more precisely only in case of impairment of nervous system by neoplastic infiltrations and does not signify as possible symptoms of general physical weakness, for example faltering, staggering, tumbling or lameness. The morphological classification follows further on our previous recommendation. There exist generalized forms with tumour infiltrations in abdominal and in thoracic cavity as well as especially in peripheral lymph nodes. On the other hand there are characteristic manifestations in certain regions of the body, which establish distinctly the clinical symptomatology. They are marked as regional multicentric forms with the main localizations "mediastinal", "splenic", "mesenteric" or "intestinal".(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Diagnosis of equine stifle joint disorders: three cases

The clinical, radiographic, arthrographic, arthroscopic, and pathological findings of three horses with femorotibial joint injuries are presented. Overall diagnostic accuracy is improved when clinical signs, arthrography, and arthroscopy are combined. Treatment of these injuries remains limited. One horse was euthanized, and two were treated by stall rest after diagnosis. Of the two surviving horses, one became a successful breeding animal, and the other was unable to perform as a pleasure horse.     

Efficacy of parenteral antibiotics for disease prophylaxis in feedlot calves

Trimethoprim-sulfadoxine (TMPSDX) and two formulations of oxytetracycline (OTC) were examined for their prophylactic efficacy in feedlot calves when given by intramuscular injection on arrival at a large commercial feedlot. The study included 2,112 high-risk feeder calves that developed disease early in the feeding period. Both formulations of OTC reduced bovine respiratory disease morbidity during the first two weeks on feed and for the entire feeding period by 15-19% (p<0.05), and they also reduced all fatal fibrinous pneumonia by 67% and 84% (p<0.05). All three drugs significantly reduced all fatal disease in animals first treated during the second week on feed, but not for the overall feeding period. Oxytetracycline with 2-pyrrolidone reduced the incidence of all fatal disease by 44% (p<0.05) during the entire feeding period. The case fatality risk for calves first treated during the second week on feed was lower (p<0.05) in the TMPSDX group and in the OTC with polyvinyl-pyrrolidone group.