Postmortem examination of equids >1-year-old with enterotyphlocolitis in Ontario: a retrospective descriptive study.

Equine enterotyphlocolitis is an inflammatory process of the intestinal tract of horses that is associated with multiple etiologic agents and risk factors. Most clinical cases do not have an etiologic diagnosis. We describe here the pathogens detected and the histologic lesions found in horses with enterotyphlocolitis in Ontario that were submitted for postmortem examination, 2007-2019. We reviewed the medical records of 208 horses that fulfilled inclusion criteria. Cultures were positive in 67 of 208 (32%) equids for Clostridium perfringens, in 16 of 208 (8%) for Clostridioides difficile, and in 14 of 208 (7%) for Salmonella spp.; 6 of 208 (3%) were positive for Neorickettsia risticii by PCR assay. One horse was positive in a Rhodococcus equi PCR assay. All horses tested by PCR assay for equine coronavirus and Lawsonia intracellularis were negative. The histologic lesions were characterized as follows: 6 of 208 (3%) enteritis, 5 of 208 (2%) typhlitis, 104 of 208 (50%) colitis, 37 of 208 (18%) enterocolitis, 45 of 208 (22%) typhlocolitis, and 11 of 208 (5%) enterotyphlocolitis. We strongly recommend standardized testing of diarrheic horses during and/or after postmortem examination, as well as standardized reporting of histologic lesions in enterotyphlocolitis cases.

Susceptibility of different animal species to experimental infection with SARS-CoV-2 (review)

The susceptibility of animal species to SARS-CoV-2, under experimental conditions, is a subject of great interest for the international scientific community. Compared to observational studies of natural disease outbreaks in different animal species, experimental studies based on in silico, in vitro and in vivo research, are important alternatives to evaluate the prediction of potential hosts for SARS-CoV-2 infection. In order to determine the susceptibility of a host species and the risk of acting as a potential animal reservoir, a large number of different animal species, domestic and wild, were experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2, which were classified as permissive or resistant. Experimental infections have proven to be crucial for clarifying aspects of the pathogenetic mechanism, viral persistence and elimination, immune response, antiviral sensitivity, vaccine production, immunotherapy and improving diagnostic methods. In this article, some experimental infections carried out in different animal species will be reviewed, according to the data from the literature.

Investigation of the role of healthy and sick equids in the COVID-19 pandemic through serological and molecular testing

Horses may act as incidental host and experience silent infection following spillover from humans with COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2-infected humans should avoid close contact with equids during the time of their illness.

Preparation of equine anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin special IgG and special F (ab')2

After immunizing healthy horses with SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles (VLPs) as immunogens, immunized horse serum was collected. The total IgG in the serum was separated by affinity chromatography, and then digested with pepsin to obtain immunoglobulin F(ab')2, the IgG and F(ab')2 using an immunochro-matographic column that binds to the RBD protein to obtain a highly specific horse Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and F(ab')2. It's concentration of IgG and F(ab')2 is 2.36 mg/mL and 1.05 mg/mL, whi le the recovery rates were 11% and 4.89%, and the purities of prepared IgG and F(ab')2 were 91% and 96%. Semi-inhibited concentrations of pseudovirus (IC50) were 1.406 g/mL and 0.862 g/mL. These results show that a high purity, specificity, activity of specific IgG and F(ab')2 against SARS-CoV-2 was prepared successfully, which laid a foundation for preparing safe and efficient anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic antibody drugs.

Longitudinal Training and Workload Assessment in Young Friesian Stallions in Relation to Fitness: Part 1.

Friesian stallions have to complete a 10-week studbook approval test (70-day test) consisting of dressage and driving training for acceptance as a breeding stallion. Training response of the horses to this approval program was evaluated. External workload (EW) of 16 stallions (3.2 ± 0.4 years old) was registered during the 9 weeks preceding the 70-day test (preparation period) and during 70-day test. Ridden indoor standardized exercise tests (SET), measuring heart rate (HR) and plasma lactate concentration (LA) at walk, trot and canter, were performed in week 1 (SET-I), 6 (SET-II) and 10 (SET-III) of the 70-day test. Linear mixed effect models were used to analyze HR and LA related to SETs and EW related to the phase of the study, using Akaike's information criterion for model reduction. EW was higher in the 70-day test compared to the preparation period, with longer duration of training sessions. Compared to SET-I, horses showed increased HR and LA after canter in SET-II and SET-III, indicating that they were more fatigued. The fact that the fitness of these Friesian stallions decreased during the 70-day test suggests overtraining. To optimize training effects and welfare of these horses, the workload of the training program needs to be adjusted.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in 1186 Equids Presented to a Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in California from 2020 to 2022.

While some companion animals have been shown to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, their role in the COVID-19 pandemic has remained poorly investigated. Equids are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 based on the similarity of the human ACE-2 receptor and reports of infection. Clinical disease and prevalence factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in equids have not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and selected prevalence factors in 1186 equids presented for various conditions to a Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital over a two-year period. Blood samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using an ELISA targeting the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Further, selected prevalence factors (season, age, breed, sex, presenting complaint) were retrieved from the medical records. No information was available on whether the horses had come into contact with COVID-19-positive individuals. Among the study animals, 42/1186 (3.5%) horses had detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Amongst the prevalence factors investigated, only seasonality (spring) was associated with a greater frequency of seropositivity to SARS-CoV-2. Horses with medical and surgical complaints were more likely to test seropositive to SARS-CoV-2 compared to horses presented for routine health care procedures, suggesting more frequent and/or longer interactions with individuals with COVID-19. While horses can become infected with SARS-CoV-2 via the occasional spillover from COVID-19 individuals, clinical disease expression remains subclinical, making horses an unlikely contributor to the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 and diffusion of rumors among Arab social media users: reasons and solutions

As the major source of information, social media has outpaced mainstream news channels. In these information overloaded days, differentiating rumors from facts is crucial and difficult. This study aims to explore the respondents' perception of the reasons for spreading rumors related to the Coronavirus on social media. Furthermore, it seeks to look at the respondents' perception of the ways of combating fake news related to the Coronavirus on social media. Lastly, the study attempts to know to what extent the respondents are satisfied with the performance of the media institutions in dealing with the Coronavirus. A cross-sectional survey design was used with a non-probability sample to explore the respondents' perceptions of the above-mentioned aims. A total of 1274 self-selected cases from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates were investigated. The study finds that all respondents agree with the reasons listed in the survey about spreading rumors related to the Coronavirus on social media, except for the reasons of lacking transparency on behalf of the Ministry of Health and other official bodies and lacking accurate information about the Coronavirus. Moreover, the study confirms the respondents' beliefs that all listed ways effectively combat fake news related to the Coronavirus on social media. Furthermore, the study finds that the respondents are satisfied with the performance of the media institutions in dealing with the Coronavirus in their countries. With these findings, the study significantly contributes to the literature. It may assist various parties, such as the government and media organizations, in making the proper decision to combat the spread of rumors via social media.

Equestrian world during the COVID pandemic

The paper examines the difference between the coronavirus disease in humans (COVID-19) and horses (ECoV). It provides a response to the issue of whether the horses are capable of transferring the contagion to a human and what role horses might have in finding out a medicine for the human coronavirus disease, based upon a study of the most recent scientific discoveries in this respect. Since both viral diseases are very contagious and primary symptomatic treatment, self-isolation, and quarantine of the confirmed cases is recommended up to a discovery of adequate vaccines to prevent their further expansion, the paper also quotes certain experiences and provides advice on how to do business self-sustainably and take care about the horses even in the challenging times of the pandemic.

Quarterly report of investigations of suspected exotic diseases: July to September 2021

Exotic pest and disease investigations are managed and reported by the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI's) Diagnostic and Surveillance Directorate. This article presents a summary of investigations of suspect exotic and emerging pests and diseases in New Zealand during the period from July to September 2021.

French animal sectors facing the COVID-19 pandemic

This article offers an analysis of the economic situation of several animal sectors (cow's milk, beef, pork, poultry meat and the equine sector) in France, two years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Starting from the latest statistical data available for the period 2020 to 2021 and while taking into account historical trajectories, it seeks to highlight how this crisis has had implications for production, prices, consumption, foreign trade and, in the case of the equine sector, the various activities (horse betting, equestrian centres, etc.). The production of agricultural goods was generally little impacted by the health crisis because farmers continued to produce, sometimes despite certain difficulties, such as the lack of labor, temporary loss of outlets, etc. Faced with a significant change in the structure of demand (increase in products purchased by households to the detriment of those favored in out-of-home catering), the sudden measures imposed by the State and the difficulties sometimes encountered in maintaining the number of employees, processors have been able to adapt quickly to provide consumers with the goods demanded. Trade flows were also disrupted in 2020, before picking up again in 2021, according to trends that were ultimately fairly consistent with those preceding the crisis. Under the influence, on the one hand, of the increase in the price of energy (even before the war in Ukraine which began on February 24, 2022) and, on the other hand, fluctuating imports from China into global animal product markets, producer prices increased in late 2021 and early 2022, but this increase is offset by a sharp increase in production costs. In the equine sector, turnover losses were temporarily significant due to the interaction of this sector with the public. After the shock of 2020, and subject to adaptation by the players in the sector, activities are gradually resuming.

Evolutionary analysis of mammalian ACE2 and the key residues involved in binding to the Spike protein revealed potential SARS-CoV-2 hosts

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV- 2) spilled over to humans via wild mammals, entering the host cell using angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as receptor through Spike (S) protein binding. While SARS-CoV-2 became fully adapted to humans and globally spread, some mammal species were infected back. The present study evaluated the potential risk of mammals becoming hosts for SARS-CoV-2 through bioinformatics prediction based on ACE2 receptors.

The effects of COVID-19 on equine welfare and the equine industry in 2020

A review on the economic, welfare, and health impacts in horses and the equine sector due to Covid-19 in 2020 was discussed.

Investigation of the Role of Healthy and Sick Equids in the COVID-19 Pandemic through Serological and Molecular Testing.

More and more studies are reporting on the natural transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between humans with COVID-19 and their companion animals (dogs and cats). While horses are apparently susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection based on the homology between the human and the equine ACE-2 receptor, no clinical or subclinical infection has yet been reported in the equine species. To investigate the possible clinical role of SARS-CoV-2 in equids, nasal secretions from 667 horses with acute onset of fever and respiratory signs were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 by qPCR. The samples were collected from January to December of 2020 and submitted to a commercial molecular diagnostic laboratory for the detection of common respiratory pathogens (equine influenza virus, equine herpesvirus-1/-4, equine rhinitis A and B virus, Streptococcus equi subspecies equi). An additional 633 serum samples were tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 using an ELISA targeting the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein. The serum samples were collected from a cohort of 587 healthy racing Thoroughbreds in California after track personnel tested qPCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2. While 241/667 (36%) equids with fever and respiratory signs tested qPCR-positive for at least one of the common respiratory pathogens, not a single horse tested qPCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2. Amongst the racing Thoroughbreds, 35/587 (5.9%) horses had detectable antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Similar to dogs and cats, horses do not seem to develop clinical SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, horses can act as incidental hosts and experience silent infection following spillover from humans with COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2-infected humans should avoid close contact with equids during the time of their illness.

REassessment Campaign On VEterinary Resuscitation: Has the time come for horses?

9 Hoehne, S.N., Hopper, K. and Epstein, S.E. (2019) Prospective evaluation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed in dogs and cats according to the RECOVER guidelines. Keywords: horse;cardiopulmonary arrest;CPR;international guidelines;RECOVER EN horse cardiopulmonary arrest CPR international guidelines RECOVER 117 119 3 02/09/22 20220301 NES 220301 It is disconcerting that equine anaesthetic-related fatalities for elective procedures are nearly 10- to 20-fold more frequent than their small animal counterparts, and between 100- and 1000-fold more likely than human anaesthesia-associated fatalities (Brodbelt I et al i . 2008;Li I et al i . 2009;Dugdale I et al i . 2016;Laurenza I et al i . 2019). The RECOVER guidelines, published in the summer of 2012, aimed to systematically review the body of literature on CPR from a veterinary standpoint and to generate practical consensus guidelines to be used in dogs and cats. Horse, CPR, RECOVER, cardiopulmonary arrest, international guidelines. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Equine Veterinary Education is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Effects of Knotweed-Enriched Feed on the Blood Characteristics and Fitness of Horses

The aboveground biomass of dry knotweed was administered daily to large groups of young (1- to 3-year-old) stallions of the Czech Warmblood, Czech-Moravian Coldblood and Silesian Norik breeds, fed individually for 4 and 6 months in two successive winter experiments. Their fitness was compared with control groups consisting of equally numerous subgroups comparable in age, breed, body mass and initial blood parameters. The effects of knotweed on the horses’ fitness were evaluated based on changes in blood characteristics. Even if administered in small amounts, 150 g per day, knotweed could (1) increase the thrombocyte numbers, (2) increase the globulin content (thus improving the horses’ immunity, which is desired in large groups of animals), (3) stimulate lipid metabolism in cold-blooded horses and (4) decrease the concentration of cholesterol. The long-lasting effect of knotweed on both the urea and triglyceride–cholesterol ratio presumably reflected, between the two experiments, the temporary protein starvation of horses on pastures with poor quality of grass in a dry summer.

Lateral patellar instability in Standardbred horses at the weanling age: Clinical and morphological features in four cases (2017–2019)

Summary: The objective of this study was to describe lateral patellar instability (LPI) in a population of weanling Standardbreds and characterise the prevalence, clinical features, imaging findings and long‐term follow‐up. A total of 222 weanling Standardbreds were examined between June 2017 and December 2019 for presales examination, and LPI was identified in four horses. Presumptive diagnosis was made on clinical and dynamic examination at walk and confirmed by radiography. One horse was subject to euthanasia for causes related to LPI (Case 3), and computed tomography (CT) of both hindlimbs was performed post‐mortem in order to better characterise the anatomical variations of the affected stifle. The intertrochlear groove angle (IGA), the angle of anteversion (AA) of the femoral neck, the anatomical lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA) and the degree of tibial torsion (TT) were measured. LPI prevalence in Standardbreds weanlings was 1.8%, and it carried a poor athletic prognosis. Radiographic abnormalities were observed in the shape of the patella, characterised by a rounder profile and a less pronounced sagittal crest. The abnormal limb also presented a wider IGA, an outward rotation of the proximal aspect of the tibia and varus deformity of the femorotibial joint compared with the contralateral limb. LPI seems to occur with a high prevalence in the Standardbred weanling population, and our findings suggest that LPI is related to a combination of epiphyseal dysplasia and rotational and angular abnormalities of the affected limb. No effective treatments have been reported. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Equine Veterinary Education is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

How was the corona pandemic perceived by the Romanian business environment?

The Covid crisis has hit all national economies, with some areas of activity being more severely affected than others. Trade credit/supplier credit mechanisms were very common on the market due to the weak capitalization of the economy. Many companies have faced serious financial difficulties, some of which have had to fundamentally restructure their business.

Analysis of cash flows registered by the Romanian commercial bank in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

This research is aimed at analyzing the cash flows, in structure and dynamics, registered by the Romanian Commercial Bank, in the period 2019-2020. Cash flows from operating activities, investment and financing activities are analyzed in evolution at the beginning and end of the reporting period. The macroeconomic impact and the estimated economic contraction, due to the Covid-19 crisis, influenced the bank's activity and financial indicators. The paper also highlights the impact that Romanian Commercial Bank has on the economy, as well as the cost of risk and the quality of the bank's assets. The Covid-19 pandemic put the Romanian banking system in front of unprecedented challenges.

Infectious disease surveillance of apparently healthy horses at a multi-day show using a novel nanoscale real-time PCR panel.

In the United States, horses are used for a variety of purposes including recreation, exhibition, and racing. As farm, performance, and companion animals, horses are a unique species from a zoonotic disease risk perspective, and the risks of subclinical infections spreading among horses can pose challenges. Using a nanoscale real-time PCR platform, we investigated the prevalence of 14 enteric pathogens, 11 Escherichia coli genes, and 9 respiratory pathogens in fecal samples from 97 apparently healthy horses at a multi-day horse event. In addition, sugar flotation test was performed for fecal parasites. E. coli f17 was commonly detected, prevalent in 59% of horses, followed closely by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (55%). Additional pathogens recognized included betacoronavirus, Campylobacter jejuni, Cryptosporidium sp., E. coli O157, equine adenovirus 1, equine rhinitis B virus, and others. The use of PCR data may overestimate the true prevalence of these pathogens but provides a sensitive overview of common pathogens present in healthy horses. Our results prompt the continued need for practical biosecurity measures at horse shows, both to protect individuals interacting with these horses and to minimize transmission among horses.