This study shows that arthroscopic examination of the APJs of equine cervical vertebra is feasible and can be performed in mature horses. Arthroscopy of the APJs may provide additional diagnostic information compared to conventional diagnostic techniques.

Laminitis, a highly debilitating disease of the foot in ungulates, is characterized by pathological changes of the complex lamellar structures that maintain the appendicular skeleton within the hoof. Laminitis is a multifactorial disease that involves perturbation of the vascular, hematological, and inflammatory homeostasis of the foot. Interestingly, the pathogenesis of the disease resembles what is observed in metabolic syndromes and sepsis-induced organ failure in humans and animals. We hypothesized that local administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) might contribute to establishing an anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic environment, and could stimulate the injured tissue in order to restore its functional integrity. According to this assumption, an experimental protocol based on the local intravenous administration of adipose tissue-derived MSCs (aMSCs) in combination with PRP was developed for the treatment of horses affected by chronic laminitis. Nine horses with severely compromised venograms (showing grade III and IV laminitis) that had been unsuccessfully treated with conventional therapies were enrolled. aMSCs and PRP (15 × 106 cells resuspended in 15 mL of PRP) were injected into the lateral or medial digital vein three times, at one-month intervals. The first administration was performed with allogeneic aMSCs, while for the following administrations, autologous aMSCs were used. There was no adverse short-term reaction to the intravenous injection of aMSCs. In the long term, venograms outlined, in all subjects, a progressive amelioration of the vascularization of the foot. An improvement in the structure and function of the hoof was also observed. No adverse events were reported during the follow-up, and the horses returned to a comfortable quality of life. Although the number of animals enrolled in the study is limited, both clinical observations and venography demonstrated an enhancement in the condition of all horses, suggesting that the regenerative therapies in chronic laminitis could be useful, and are worthy of further investigation.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most frequent tumors of skin and muco-cutaneous junctions in the horse. Equine papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2) has been detected in equine SCC of the oral tract and genitals, and recently also in the larynx. As human squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (SCCL), it is strongly etiologically associated with high-risk papillomavirus (h-HPV) infection. This study focuses on tumor cells behavior in a naturally occurring tumor that can undergo the so-called epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). A SCCL in a horse was investigated by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against E-cadherin, pan-cytokeratin AE3/AE1, β-catenin, N-cadherin, vimentin, ZEB-1, TWIST, and HIF-1α. EcPV2 DNA detection and expression of oncogenes in SCC were investigated. A cadherin switch and an intermediate filaments rearrangement within primary site tumor cells together with the expression of the EMT-related transcription factors TWIST-1, ZEB-1, and HIF-1α were observed. DNA obtained from the tumor showed EcPV2 positivity, with E2 gene disruption and E6 gene dysregulation. The results suggest that equine SCCL might be a valuable model for studying EMT and the potential interactions between EcPV2 oncoproteins and the EMT process in SCCL.

A cross-sectional study was carried out in Bardigiano horses in the Province of Parma, Northern Italy, to assess the seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. and to investigate risk factors associated with the infection. A representative sample of 134 horses from 43 farms was selected by stratified systematic randomization. Blood sera were examined by MAT for the presence of antibodies against seven Leptospira serovars. Ninety animals (67.2%; 95% Confidence Interval 63.2–71.1) and 41 farms (95.3%; 95% CI 92.2–98.5%) were found positive to at least one of the serovars. The most frequently detected reactions were against serovar Bratislava (41.8%), followed by Canicola (36.6%), Tarassovi (28.4%), Copenhageni (17.9%), Pomona (10.4%) and Hardjo (2.2%). None of the sera reacted against serovar Grippothyphosa. Forty-eight horses (53.3% of the seropositives) were positive for more than one serovar and 21 (15.7% of the seropositives) had serum titres ≥ 1000. Bratislava was the serovar providing the highest antibody titres. Prevalence was significantly higher between adult horses and in farms lacking rodent control (p = 0.006 and p = 0.025, respectively). No significant gender or housing-related difference in seroprevalence was found. The anamnestic data suggest that the infection in Bardigiano horses is subclinical in most of the cases. The high seroprevalence indicates that Bardigiano horses living in the investigated area are at high risk of exposure and infection by Leptospira spp.

Sedation facilitates the ocular examination in horses. Alpha2adrenoceptor agonists are commonly used in equine practice. If the eye is painful, the combination of an a2adrenoceptor agonist and butorphanol provides a greater analgesic effect. Unfortunately, little is known about the effects of a2-adrenoceptor agonists on equine Schirmer tear test I (STT I) values. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of intravenous romifidine, detomidine, detomidine combined with butorphanol, and xylazine on the STT I values in horses. Forty healthy client-owned Italian saddle horses were enrolled. Horses received 0.04 mg/kg bwt of romifidine or 15 lg/kg bwt of detomidine or 10 lg/kg bwt of detomidine combined with 10 lg/kg bwt of butorphanol or 0.7 mg/kg bwt of xylazine intravenously. The Schirmer tear test strip was inserted into the lateral third side of the inferior conjunctival fornix for 1 min in each eye. The STT I measurements were performed before sedation and at 5, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after the administration of sedation. The data were analysed by ANOVA. Romifidine did not affect the STT I values. Detomidine significantly reduced the STT I values at 15 min (18.17 AE 0.97 mm/min). The combination of detomidine and butorphanol significantly reduced the STT I values at 30 and 60 min (17.44 AE 0.99, 15.81 AE 0.99 mm/min). Xylazine significantly increased the STT I values at 5, 15 and 30 min (25.17 AE 0.99, 26.72 AE 0.99, 28.07 AE 0.99 mm/min). The STT I values at 180 min were similar to those before sedation. These results suggest that the administration of xylazine or detomidine alone or combined with butorphanol is associated with significant changes in aqueous tear production, whereas romifidine does not affect the STT I values. Romifidine is therefore suitable for chemical restraint to measure tear production in horses.

No abstract

No abstract

Simple SummaryIn recent years, the sensitivity and interest of veterinary practitioners and owners both for elderly pets and for those suffering from chronic or degenerative diseases, has increased considerably. As for the horse, both the progression of age, or an intense sport activity, are accompanied by the onset of chronic arthritic forms that affect the animal welfare and significantly limit its movements. To date, the available drugs cannot eradicate the causes of these diseases, whose symptoms are usually treated with anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs, although extremely effective, due to the side effects, can only be used for short periods of time. As an alternative to these treatments, we investigated here the use of a natural product, the extract of Indian celery seeds, that in humans is employed as a supplement with anti-inflammatory properties, for long lasting treatments of chronic osteo-arthropathies. The improvements obtained and the lack of side effects for prolonged treatments, suggest that also in the equine species the Indian celery seed extract can be successfully administered to ameliorate both well-being and quality of life of subjects suffering from chronic joint diseases.AbstractThe extract of the seeds from Indian celery, Apium greaveolens (CSE), tested in experimental animals (rodents), and in humans affected by chronic osteoarthritic diseases, exhibits anti-inflammatory effects that can be compared, to some degree, to those of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). In view of a potential use of CSE in the equine species, it was tested on horses affected by chronic articular pathologies. The trial was performed on 20 horses divided into three different groups, orally treated with 0 (controls), 7.0 or 30 g of CSE BID. Basic orthopedic examinations were conducted, vital signs were observed, and blood samples collected. Improvement was observed at the highest dosage tested (30 g of CSE BID), as reflected in the score values of three clinical parameters, (i) amplitude and (ii) sensitivity to passive flexion and (iii) flexion test. Since the improvement of these parameters can be correlated with a lower perception of the pain, the present data suggest that the CSE treatment can have an analgesic effect in horses affected by chronic osteoarthritic diseases.