A retrospective study of causes for mortality of Thoroughbred horses in Caracas, Venezuela (2008-2012) / Estudo retrospectivo sobre causas de mortalidade em cavalos de Puro Sangue em Caracas, Venezuela (2008-2012)

The aim of this study was to describe the causes of death in Thoroughbred horses at the Racetrack "La Rinconada", in Caracas (Venezuela) during 2008-2012. This study was conducted in a cohort of all Thoroughbred horses that died or were subjected to euthanasia. Data was collected retrospectively. Only horses for which a full necropsy report was available were included in the study. The carcass and all internal organs of each horse were examined and representative samples of tissues with abnormalities were collected in 10% neutral buffered formalin and processed for histopathological examination. Samples were collected for bacteriological or virological examination when indicated in gross examination. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed. A total of 532 Thoroughbred horses were examined post-mortem. Of these horses, 44% were females and 56% males. In general musculoskeletal injuries and dilaceration occurred specifically at higher frequency. The total year and horses dead for descriptive statistical analysis was to mean 106.4 and median 125; Standard Deviation: 47.82573; variation (Standard Deviation): 2287.3, population (Standard Deviation): 42.77663 and variance (Standard Deviation): 18229.84. In conclusion we identify and describe the causes of death in Thoroughbred Race Horses in Caracas, Venezuela. In order of importance the causes of death were principally skeletal muscle injuries resulting in fractures euthanasia, abdominal crisis were mostly bowel twists and gastric rupture andrespiratory pathologies such as the pneumonia, pleuritis presented a significant number of cases of pulmonary hemorrhage induced by exercise. Finally the multisystem pathologies were presented in low cases.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever as causas de morte em cavalos de raça Puro Sangue no rasto "La Rinconada", em Caracas, Venezuela, durante 2008-2012. Este estudo foi conduzido com cavalos Puro Sangue que morreram ou foram submetidos à eutanásia. Os dados foram escolhidos retroativamente. Somente cavalos com relatório de necropsia disponível foram incluídos neste estudo. Foram examinados o cadáver e todos os órgãos internos de cada cavalo e as amostras representativas de tecidos com anormalidades foram coletadas em 10% de formol neutro e processadas para exame histopatológico. As amostras foram apanhadas para o exame bacteriológico ou virológico somente quando indicadas em exame macroscópico. Uma análise estatística descritiva foi feita e um total de 532 cavalos Puro Sangue foi examinado através de necropsia. Destes cavalos, 44% eram fêmeas e 56% machos. Em geral, rompimentos musculares esqueléticos ocorreram mais frequentemente. O ano total e cavalos de mortos para análise estatística descritiva foi em média 106.4, mediana 125; Padrão de Divergência: 47.82573; variação (padrão de Divergência): 2287.3, população (Padrão de Divergência): 42.77663 e discrepância (Padrão de Divergência): 18229.84. Para concluir, identificamos e descrevemos as causas de morte em Cavalos Raça de Puro Sangue em Caracas, Venezuela. As causas de norte, por ordem da importância, foram lesões do músculo esquelético que causaram fraturas e eutanásia, crises abdominais principalmente por distorção e a ruptura gástrica e patologias viventes como a pneumonia e a pleurisia apresentaram um número significante dos casos de hemorragia pulmonar induzida pelo exercício. Finalmente, as patologias multi-sistêmicas foram apresentadas em poucos casos.(AU)

Development and Evaluation of Indirect ELISA for Detection of Antibodies to Getah Virus in Horse Serum

Getah virus (GETV) is a member of the genus Alphavirus in the family Togaviridae. GETV infection can occur in a wide range of vertebrate species, and the virus has been known for a pathogen of horses and pigs. To rapidly and accurately diagnose GETV infection of a racehorse, an indirect ELISA (I-ELISA) was developed in the present study for detection of antibodies to GETV in serum samples. To evaluate the developed I-ELISA, a total of 240 serum samples from Thoroughbred racehorses raised in Korea were screened in parallel by a serum neutralization (SN) test. The developed I-ELISA exhibited an efficacy comparable to that of the SN test in terms of a high diagnostic sensitivity (86.3%) and specificity (94.5%) at a cut-off absorbance value of 0.25. In addition, our results showed that the developed I-ELISA had a significant correlation with the SN test (r = 0.91; p < 0.05). Taken together, our findings suggest that the I-ELISA developed in this study is a valuable diagnostic tool for the screening of horses suspected to be infected with GETV.

Rate of return to race after arthroscopic surgeries in Thoroughbred racehorses (2005~2010) / 대한수의학회지

The racehorses that under arthroscopic surgery due to be injured his limbs were studied during exercise or training at Busan Race Park from 2005 to 2010. Rate of arthroscopic surgical treatments was 1.4% (63/4,642). Affected bones were radius, radial carpal bone, third carpal bone, proximal phalanx, third metacarpal bone, femur, tibia, proximal sesamoid bone and intermediate carpal bone. The lesions were fracture, chip fracture, slap fracture, osteochonrosis, and osteochondrotitis dissencans. Number of patients under arthroscopic surgery were 63. Success horses of returned to racetrack or tried to return to racetrack were 58, and 5 horses were in training or resting at the time of publication. Success horses of returned to their previous use in the patients were 49 horses (84.4%) and no returned to the racetrack were 9 horses (15.6%) in 58 horses.

Serosurveillance for Japanese encephalitis, Akabane, and Aino viruses for Thoroughbred horses in Korea

Recent global warming trends may have a significant impact on vector-borne viral diseases, possibly affecting vector population dynamics and disease transmission. This study measured levels of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and neutralizing antibodies against Akabane virus (AKAV) and Aino virus (AINV) for Thoroughbred horses in Korea. Blood samples were collected from 989 racehorses in several provinces, between October 2005 and March 2007. Sera were tested using either an HI assay or a virus neutralization test. Approximately half (49.7%; 492/989) of the horses tested were antibody-positive for JEV. The HI titer against JEV was significantly correlated with racehorse age (p < 0.05). Horses with an HI antibody titer of 1: 160 or higher accounted for 3.9% of the animals tested, indicating that vectors transmitting arthropod- borne viruses bit relatively few horses. In contrast, 3.8% (19/497) and 19.5% (97/497) of horse sera collected in March 2007 were positive against AKAV and AINV, respectively. The presence of antibodies against AKAV and AINV may indicate the multiplication of AKAV and AINV in these horses.