BackgroundTreatment for horses with pythiosis of a limb is challenging. This study aims to evaluate the effects of administering amphotericin B in a 10 % solution of dimethylsulfoxide by intravenous regional limb perfusion (IRLP) to treat horses for cutaneous pythiosis of a limb.ResultsAll 15 of the horses treated had complete resolutions of their lesion between 6 to 9 weeks after a single IRLP treatment. No complications were observed at the site of venipuncture for IRLP. Before initiation of treatment, there was anemia and marked leucocytosis which resolved following treatment. Serum biochemistry showed no significant changes.ConclusionsIRLP administration of amphotericin B in a 10 % DMSO solution was easily performed, relatively inexpensive and an effective treatment for treating horses for pythiosis of a limb and resolved the infection with no complications.

It is unlikely that mature horses will develop signs of respiratory difficulty as a result of the development of passive pneumoperitoneum during standing laparoscopy.

Our results suggest that the indirect method used in human patients for estimating IAP by P(ga) is not applicable for horses.

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Four experimental groups of equines were used in order to study morphological abnormalities and apoptosis in lamellar tissue. Group Cg (control) was composed of animals without any surgical procedure; group Ig (instrumented), animals that underwent enterotomy; group Tg (treated), animals that were subjected to intestinal obstruction and were treated with hydrocortisone; and group Ug (untreated), animals that were subjected to intestinal obstruction without treatment. The lamellar tissue was analyzed regarding the presence of tissue abnormalities and apoptosis. No morphological abnormalities were observed in animals of surgical groups, and no difference in apoptosis was observed between groups. It was concluded that intestinal obstruction allowed laminitis to develop, probably by systemic activation, and that the maneuvers performed in the enterotomy aggravated the process. Hydrocortisone did not aggravate the lesions of the lamellar tissue.Keywords: equine, laminitis, apoptosis, intestinal obstruction, morphological abnormalities RESUMO Foram utilizados quatro grupos de equinos para estudar alterações morfológicas e apoptose no tecido lamelar. O grupo CG (controle) foi composto por animais sem o procedimento cirúrgico; o grupo

Cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), also known as cervical ataxia or wobbler syndrome, is caused by the narrowing of the medullary canal due to a malformation of the cervical vertebrae, resulting in compression of the spinal cord and neurological alterations such as ataxia, hypermetria, weakness, and abnormal stance. The treatment options can be conservative or surgical, with varied effectiveness. The most appropriate surgical technique in the majority of cases is arthrodesis, providing quick and efficient decompression of the spinal cord. The goal of this case report is to present an equine patient with CVSM that was surgically treated using a new modified cage model. The diagnosis was based on history, clinical signs and radiographic evidence of spinal cord compression between the C3 and C4 vertebrae, after ruling out possible infectious agents. The surgical procedure for the decompression and stabilization of the point of stenosis was performed using a modified Cloward's technique and a new cage model fixed with two screws. Evidence of fusion was obtained by periodic radiographs over six months of postoperative care. The new cage model used in this surgery proved to be efficient for the decompression and stabilization of the vertebrae, allowing arthrodesis development and remission of the clinical signs. Fixation of the cage with screws reduces the risk of migration of the implant. Key words: Horse, medullary compression, spine surgery, steel cage, wobbler ResumoA mielopatia estenótica cervical (MEC), também conhecida com ataxia cervical ou síndrome de Wobbler, é causada por um estreitamento do canal vertebral devido à malformação das vertebrais cervicais, resultando em uma compressão da medula espinhal e alterações neurológicas como ataxia, fraqueza e postura anormal. As opções de tratamento podem ser conservador ou cirúrgico, sendo que ambos apresentam eficácia variável. A técnica cirúrgica mais apropriada para a maioria dos casos é a artrodese, promovendo rápida e eficiente descompressão da medula espinhal. O objetivo deste trabalho é relatar o caso de um equino com MEC que foi tratado cirurgicamente aplicando-se uma técnica modificada com um novo tipo de cesto metálico. O diagnóstico foi realizado por meio do histórico, sinais clínicos e evidências radiográficas de compressão medular entre as vértebras C3 e C4, após descartar possíveis agentes infecciosos. O procedimento cirúrgico para descompressão e estabilização do ponto de estenose foi realizado utilizando-se a técnica modificada de Cloward e um novo modelo de

Tissue damage caused by oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases in animals and man, and is believed to play a role in the development of laminitis in horses. The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidative stress associated with laminar lesions in horses with lethal gastrointestinal disorders. Laminar tissue samples of the hoof of 30 horses were used. Tissue samples were divided as follows: six healthy horses (control group-CG), and 24 horses that died after complications of gastrointestinal diseases (group suffering from gastrointestinal disorders-GDG). Superoxide dismutase (SOD2) and nitrotyrosine immunostaining and the severity of laminar lesions were evaluated. Presence of laminar lesions and immunostaining for nitrotyrosine and SOD2 were only evident in horses from the GDG group. Thus, oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of laminar lesions secondary to gastrointestinal disorders.

The occurrence and distribution of antibodies against Sarcocystis neurona, Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii was investigated in horses, dogs and cats from Curitiba, Paraná state, Brazil. Serum samples were selected from 100 horses, 100 dogs and 100 cats from the routine of the Veterinary Clinical Pathology Laboratory in the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Paraná (UFPR). The 100 dog samples were divided into two groups: 35 samples from dogs with neurological sign (convulsion) and 65 samples from dogs without neurological signs. The animals were adults of different breeds, males and females. Samples were analyzed by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for protozoa S. neurona, N. caninum andT. gondii at the following cut-off dilutions: horses: 1:50, 1:50 and 1:16; dogs: 1:50, 1:50 and 1:16; cats: 1:50, 1:50 and 1:50, respectively. The obtained results were 42% of horses, 7% of dogs and 5% of cats seropositive for S. neurona; 58% of horses, 68% of dogs and 42% of cats seropositive to N. caninum, and 36% of horses, 20% of dogs and 21% of cats seropositive for T. gondii. Among the dogs with neurological signs, 8.6%, 68.6% and 25.7% were seropositive for S. neurona, N. caninum and T. gondii, respectively. Among the dogs without neurological signs, 6.2% 67.7% and 16.9% were seropositive for S. neurona, N. caninum and T. gondii, respectively. No statistical difference was found between groups of seropositive dogs for the three protozoa with neurological signs and without neurological signs. Co-infection and high antibody titers were detected. The antibodies against Sarcocystis neurona, Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii were found widely distributed among horses, dogs and cats in the region of Curitiba, state of Paraná, Brazil.