Genomic hybrid capture assay to detect Borrelia burgdorferi: an application to diagnose neuroborreliosis in horses.

Antemortem diagnosis of neuroborreliosis in horses has been hindered by both the low sensitivity of PCR testing for Borrelia burgdorferi in CSF and the low specificity of serum:CSF ELISA ratios used to determine intrathecal antibody production against the bacterium. PCR testing of the CSF of an adult horse with acute neurologic disease for the B. burgdorferi flagellin gene was negative. However, we enriched B. burgdorferi DNA through nucleic acid hybrid capture, followed by next-generation sequencing, and identified B. burgdorferi in the CSF of the horse, confirming a diagnosis of neuroborreliosis.

Retrospective evaluation of clinical outcome after chemotherapy for lymphoma in 15 equids (1991-2017).

BACKGROUND: Prognosis associated with lymphoma in horses is poorly characterized, and treatment is often palliative. Long-term outcome after chemotherapy for horses with lymphoma is not well documented. OBJECTIVE: To report long-term outcome of horses with lymphoma treated with chemotherapy. ANIMALS: Fifteen equids. METHODS: Retrospective case series. Medical record search and call for cases on the ACVIM listserv for horses treated with chemotherapy for lymphoma. RESULTS: Fifteen cases with adequate data were identified. Complete remission was achieved in 5 horses (33.3%), partial response was achieved in 9 equids (60%), and stable disease was achieved in 1 horse. Overall response rate was 93.3% (14/15). Overall median survival time was 8 months (range, 1-46 months). Nine horses experienced a total of 14 adverse effects attributable to chemotherapy. Adverse effects were graded according to the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group common terminology criteria for adverse events grading system (grade 1 alopecia, n = 2; grade 1 neutropenia, n = 2; grade 1 lymphopenia, n = 3; grade 1 lethargy, n = 1; grade 2 neurotoxicity, n = 1; grade 2 colic, n = 1; grade 1 hypersensitivity, n = 1; grade 2 hypersensitivity, n = 2; grade 5 hypersensitivity, n = 1). Higher grade adverse effects most commonly were associated with doxorubicin administration (n = 4), including 1 horse that died 18 hours post-administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Chemotherapy can be used successfully for treatment of horses with lymphoma. Adverse effects, most commonly mild, occurred in approximately two-thirds of treated horses.

Evaluation and management of the recumbent adult horse.

Evaluation and management of recumbent horses are challenging. Familiarity with disorders that can result in recumbency will facilitate more rapid diagnosis and more appropriate formulation of a prognosis. With rapid and appropriate diagnosis, appropriate treatment can be pursued and, with good nursing care, can result in a favorable outcome.

Efficacy of sublingual administration of detomidine gel for sedation of horses undergoing veterinary and husbandry procedures under field conditions.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether sublingual detomidine gel administration to horses would be effective in providing an appropriate degree of sedation and restraint to facilitate completion of veterinary and husbandry procedures under field conditions. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study. ANIMALS: 270 client-owned horses known to require sedation or strong restraint to enable veterinary and husbandry procedures to be performed. PROCEDURES: Horses randomly received a single dose of detomidine gel (0.04 mg/kg [0.018 mg/lb]) or placebo gel administered sublingually. Horses were sedated to facilitate cleaning the prepuce, cutting of hair with electric clippers, hoof trimming or application of shoes, manual dental floating (ie, rasping or filing of the teeth to remove irregularities), nasogastric passage of a stomach tube or endoscope, and radiography. The primary determinant of efficacy was an assessment by a veterinarian on the ability or inability to successfully conduct the procedure. RESULTS: 171 horses met all the study protocol criteria. One hundred twenty-nine horses were treated with detomidine. The procedure was completed successfully for 76% (98/129) of the detomidine-treated horses, while the procedure was completed successfully for only 7% (3/42) of the placebo-treated horses. The percentage of horses in which the procedure was successfully completed was significantly different between detomidine-treated horses and placebo-treated horses. No serious adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Detomidine gel administered to horses sublingually at a dose of 0.04 mg/kg provided an appropriate degree of sedation and restraint to facilitate completion of veterinary and husbandry procedures in horses known to require sedation for such procedures.

Serum opsonization capacity, phagocytosis, and oxidative burst activity in neonatal foals in the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Phagocytic activity of neonatal foals has been reported to be similar to that of adult horses, but serum opsonization capacity develops with age and may be further altered when opsonins are consumed during infection. HYPOTHESIS: Phagocytosis, oxidative burst activity, and serum opsonization capacity in neonatal foals admitted to an intensive care unit are reduced in comparison with control foals. ANIMALS: Blood samples were collected from hospitalized neonatal foals and from control foals. Hospitalized foals were characterized as sick or septic on the basis of a sepsis score and received intravenous plasma transfusion. METHODS: Phagocytosis, oxidative burst activity, and serum opsonization capacity were tested with flow cytometric analysis. Serum immunoglobulin and complement component 3 concentrations were determined with radial immunodiffusion. Serum amyloid A concentration was assayed with a commercially available solid-phase Sandwich ELISA Kit. Data were analyzed with nonparametric and regression methods. Alpha was set at P = .05. RESULTS: Phagocytic functions of septic and sick foals were lower than control foals in the initial phase of the study (P = .01). Opsonization capacity was significantly higher when bacteria were opsonized with serum from septic (P = .029) and sick (P = .006) foals than from control foals on day 1. Opsonization capacity in septic foals was comparable with control foals on days 2 and 5. This effect was not accompanied by an increase in serum complement C3 or immunoglobulin G concentrations independently. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Our results suggest that phagocytic function could be decreased in hospitalized foals. The synergistic effect of opsonic elements provided by plasma transfusion may sustain opsonization capacity during sepsis.

Serum gamma glutamyl transferase activity in horses with right or left dorsal displacements of the large colon.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that horses with right dorsal displacement of the large colon (RDDLC) have elevations in serum gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity when compared with horses with left dorsal displacement of the large colon (LDDLC). Medical records from 37 horses with RDDLC and 48 horses with LDDLC were reviewed. Horses were included for study if the RDDLC or LDDLC was confirmed by exploratory laparotomy or postmortem examination and if a serum GGT measurement was obtained within 24 hours before surgery. The proportion of horses with GGT activity within or above the reference range was determined. Of 37 horses, 18 (49%; exact binomial 95% confidence interval, 32-66%) with RDDLC and, of 48 horses, 1 (2%; 95% CI, 0-11%) with LDDLC had GGT above the reference range. Horses with RDDLC had higher serum GGT than did horses with LDDLC. Of 37 horses, 36 (97%) with RDDLC were discharged with a good prognosis and none returned as a result of hepatic disease. Evaluation of surgical and postmortem examinations revealed that positioning of the colon in horses with RDDLC results in compression of the bile duct, which can cause extrahepatic bile duct obstruction and a subsequent elevation in serum GGT activity.