Polioencephalomalacia as a result of sulphur excess is a growing problem in cattle and sheep, mainly in young, growing animals. It is common in different regions of the world. The disease develops favoured by certain conditions such as sustained provision of feed and water with high sulphur content, use of dietary supplements containing sulphur, and a habitat with high hydrogen sulphide concentration. Pathogenesis of the disease is complex, but very important are oxidative-antioxidative imbalance, dysfunction of vessels, and secondary cerebral cortex ischaemia as a result of direct and/or indirect action of sulphur metabolites, namely hydrogen sulphide, sulphides, and sulphites. Clinical signs and changes in the cerebral cortex in the form of degenerative necrotic lesions are similar to those observed in polioencephalomalacia caused by vitamin B 1 deficiency, and lead and salt intoxication. Highly increased sulphur content (more than 0.3-0.4 of dry matter) in the diet is the basis for differential diagnosis, as well the high concentration of hydrogen sulphide in gas and sulphides in rumen fluid. In prophylaxis and treatment the most important measure is to limit sulphur intake and in acute cases to neutralise low pH in rumen and administer vitamin B 1 injections.
The coagulation system, which is responsible for maintaining an organism’s hemostasis, is present in all mammals; nevertheless, there are differences in the dynamics of processes of coagulation activation and fibrinolysis in individual species. In horses, the development of hemostasis processes is different at all stages in comparison to humans. Primary hemostasis is maintained at a relatively low number of thrombocytes with coexisting differences in the structure and morphology of blood platelets. For many years, primary hemostasis has been determined solely on the basis of coagulation time; currently, lumiagregometry or impedance aggregation is used. New techniques and technologies allow an ever broader view of the pathogenesis of many diseases in terms of the coagulation system’s abnormalities, which either stand for an etiologic factor or only accompany the disease (they are its result). In the course of horse colic, especially in acute and recurrent forms, there are several changes in the parameters of the hemostatic system. It is believed that DIC is the most common coagulopathy. However, there is are no definite life-extending criteria as well as postmortem diagnosis of this syndrome. Changes in blood rheology after exercise are primarily due to an increase in hematocrit. The impact of exercise on the coagulation system in horses was analyzed, and showed a tendency in EPIH horses for the occurrence of hypercoagulability with the prolongation of blood coagulation parameters. The role and the contribution of the coagulation system in the etiopathogenesis of equine laminitis is not clear; in the case of carbohydrate overdosage microtrombosis, reduced platelet survival and their over-aggregation have been reported. Clinical studies in sick animals show that coagulopathy such as DIC and antithrombin deficiency are not primary factors in the etiopathogenesis of laminitis..
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