SummaryReasons for performing study: Limited information exists about the muscle mitochondrial respiratory function changes that occur in horses during an endurance season. Objectives: To determine effects of training and racing on muscle oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and electron transport system (ETS) capacities in horses with high resolution respirometry (HRR). Methods: Mitochondrial respiration was measured in microbiopsies taken from the triceps brachii (tb) and gluteus medius (gm) muscles in 8 endurance horses (7 purebred Arabians and 1 crossbred Arabian) before training (T0), after two 10 week training periods (T1, T2) and after 2 CEI** endurance races (R1, R2

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SummaryReasons for performing study: Intense physical exercise can induce the degranulation of neutrophils leading to an increase in plasma concentration of the neutrophil marker enzymes myeloperoxidase (MPO) and elastase (ELT). These enzymes have pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory properties and may play a role in the exercised-induced muscular damage.

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Two adult sport horses were referred for respiratory noise, exercise intolerance, coughing and nasal discharge containing food material. An asymmetrical, mild to moderate defect of the soft palate was diagnosed and surgically treated by laryngeal tie-forward procedure (LTFP). The immediate postoperative endoscopic images were satisfactory; the epiglottis was in normal alignment, dorsal to the soft palate defect in both cases. When contacted respectively four months and three years after surgery, owners of both horses declared being satisfied with the outcome of surgery as initial clinical signs had reduced or disappeared. Follow-up endoscopy showed some retraction of the larynx in both horses but the reduction of the palatal defect was adequate. This report demonstrates that horses can reach adulthood with certain soft palate defects and that severity of clinical signs varies between individuals. The authors suggest considering LTFP as an option in adult horses with small-to-moderate cleft palates causing clinical signs.

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Objectives(1) Evaluate the occurrence and variables associated with incisional morbidities (IMs) after ventral median laparotomy when using interrupted vertical mattress sutures (IVMS) and (2) determine the occurrence of abdominal bandage-associated complications in horses.MethodsOccurrence of IM and bandage-associated complications were determined after single laparotomies (SL group; n=546 horses) and repeat laparotomies (RL group: multiple laparotomies within four weeks; n=30 horses) in horses that survived ≥7 days postoperatively. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed to evaluate variables associated with IM.ResultsThe IM rate was 9.52 per cent in the SL group and 33.33 per cent in the RL group. The actual infection rate was 5.31 per cent in the SL group and 26.67 per cent in the RL group. Overall, long-term clinically relevant wound complications was 1.68 per cent. After multivariate analysis, increased anaesthesia duration was associated with IM and performing an enterotomy and postoperative intravenous lidocaine administration were associated with incisional infection in the SL group; no parameter remained significant in the RL group. Bandage-related complications were recorded in 2.95 per cent of the cases.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the use of IVMS for closure of the linea alba is another viable option for closure and that an abdominal bandage does not appear to cause significant complications.