infection | Horse Racing Free Tips

Horses Often Adept At Hiding Dental Pain

News — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:18:50 +0000

Though most horse owners and caretakers will investigate a horse's mouth for pain if he's refusing to eat his feed entirely, equines often offer other clues that their mouths may hurt, reports EQUUS magazine.

Scientists from the University of Helsinki surveyed the owners of 47 horses that had cheek teeth surgically removed because of root infections. Tooth root infections can be caused by several things, but most of these removals were the result of dental fractures.

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The survey asked 23 questions of these owners regarding horse behavior. Respondents noted that the behaviors that were eliminated after the surgical tooth extraction included dropping hay, eating slowly and adjusting hay in the mouth while chewing.

Before surgery, horses with dental pain often avoided the bit, raising their heads or getting “behind” the bit to avoid contact. Painful horses also behaved more antisocially toward people and horses. All of these behaviors dissipated when the painful tooth was removed.

Dr. Jaana Pehkonen, lead researcher, said that avoiding the bit was the most common indicator that something was amiss. She notes that this may be because this behavior is easiest to notice.

In half the study horses, tooth infections were not discovered until a routine dental exam took place, indicating that many owners miss behaviors that can be linked to dental pain. Only six of the 47 horses had obvious signs of tooth issues like external swellings or sinus drainage. Nearly all the owners said that their horses were more comfortable after the teeth were removed.

Pehkonen concluded that some equine behaviors, like self-mutilation, aggressive behavior or withdrawnness aren't regarded as pain behaviors by horse owners. However, once the pain is removed and the horse returns to acting “normal,” it's easier to see that the behaviors indicated discomfort. Pehkonen recommends horses have annual dental exams so that any problems can be identified.

Study: Horses And Chronic Hepatitis

News — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 15:27:18 +0000

The most common cause of acute viral hepatitis in horses is serum hepatitis, also called Theiler's disease, which causes liver atrophy and necrosis. Worldwide outbreaks have been reported in conjunction with the use of equine-derived blood products, including tetanus antitoxin, botulinum antitoxin, equine plasma, Streptococcus equi antiserum and pregnant mare's serum.

Between 1.4 and 18 percent of horses receiving an equine-derived product have reported a sudden or severe hepatitis infection. A novel parvovirus dubbed an equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPVH) has been identified as the cause of Thieler's disease in horse serum samples the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Italy, and Germany, indicating that the parvovirus occurs worldwide.

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Interestingly, EqPV-H has also been found in horses with Thieler's disease that did not receive biological equine serums.

Dr. Birthe Reinecke, postdoctoral fellow with the Institute of Experimental Virology, and a team of scientists created a study to determine if chronic EqPV-H infection is a possibility and if cross-species infection can occur. The team used 124 German horses for a five-year study as well as 318 human serum samples: 147 samples were from humans with no horse contact and 171 samples were from humans who had contact with horses for their work. They also used 494 donkey serum samples from Germany, Italy and Bulgaria, and archived samples from zebras.

Most horses used in the study were EqPV-H negative, but some has virus in their blood. The team determined that horses can be infected with the disease for up to five years, even if they show no clinical signs of the disease. About 1 percent of donkeys were positive for EqPV-H (5 of the 494 animals), meaning that the disease can also affect donkeys.

Read the full study here.

Joint Care: Provide Support After Wounds, Infection

News — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 15:46:51 +0000

Viscous and transparent, synovial fluid acts as a biological lubricant within musculoskeletal mechanisms. Penetrating wounds to joints and tendon sheaths cause most infections, though pathogens carried in the bloodstream, as with foals diagnosed with joint ill, have been implicated, as has contamination at the time of intraarticular injection or surgery. Veterinarians refer to infection that sets up in any structure containing synovial fluid, namely joints, tendons, and bursas, as synovial sepsis.

Prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment minimize damage to septic structures and often prevent career- and life-threatening consequences. To determine if infection is present, bacterial isolation through culture is the best diagnostic tool, yet low sensitivity and long laboratory turnaround time often preclude a definite diagnosis in the face of emergency situations and treatment decisions, which may include joint irrigation and surgery. Because of these limitations, researchers have sought alternative ways to quickly identify the presence of infection.

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Austrian researchers recently evaluated the presence of specific biomarkers, called antimicrobial proteins, in synovial fluid as a way to confirm infection.^* These proteins are activated by the immune system in response to a pathogenic challenge, so their existence in the fluid indicates sepsis. According to the researchers, “using enzyme activity as a biomarker of synovial sepsis enables the development of a point-of-care diagnostic test, which would allow veterinarians to perform, analyze, and act on test results stall-side, in a matter of minutes.”

In the study, researchers collected synovial fluid samples from three groups of horses: healthy controls, horses with aseptic synovitis (inflammation without infection), and horses with septic synovitis. Enzyme activity assays were compared with standard synovial fluid parameters and broad-range bacterial DNA extraction.

The researchers found enzyme activities were significantly different between septic synovial samples and aseptic and control samples, leading them to believe that measurement of enzyme activities would allow for reliable, rapid diagnosis of synovial sepsis and immediate therapeutic interventions.

Joint health depends largely on conscientious management of exercise, including frequency and intensity of athletic bouts, and the provision of high-quality nutritional supplements formulated specifically for joint support. While synovial sepsis typically develops from injuries that compromise the joint capsule, it can occur following routine intraarticular injection of hyaluronic acid and corticosteroids, though the incidence of infection is uncommon.^° The prophylactic use of joint supplements in high-performance horses and prospects can delay the need for joint injections, thus postponing any risk associated with invasive procedures.

^*Haralambus, R., A. Florczyk, E. Sigl, S. Gultekin, C. Vogl, S. Brandt, M. Schierer, C. Gamerith, and F. Jenner. 2021. Detection of synovial sepsis in horses using enzymes as biomarker. Equine Veterinary Journal. In press.

^°Steel, C.M., R.R. Pannirselvam, and G.A. Anderson. 2013. Risk of septic arthritis after intra-articular medication: A study of 16,624 injections in Thoroughbred racehorses. Australian Veterinary Journal 91(7):268-273.

Horse Owner Dilemma: To Bandage Or Not To Bandage?

News — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 12:57:57 +0000

It seems like horses injure themselves often but even with lots of practice, determining how to best care for their leg wounds can be difficult. That includes deciding whether a wound needs a bandage, or if a covering will impede the healing process.

According to EQUUS magazine, there are three main considerations when trying to decide whether to reach for the bandaging supplies:

Mobility: A wound that pulls open with every step a horse takes will heal more rapidly if it's wrapped. Though often more difficult to keep in place if over a joint like the knee or hock, a bandage is beneficial.

Depth: If the wound is so deep the underlying structures can be seen, infection is a real risk. Bandaging the wound is the best bet until granulation tissue can fill in the gap.

Proximity to the ground: A wound near the hoof on a pastern or coronet band is more likely to get dirt, manure and debris in and on it than one located higher up the leg. Additionally, if it's a hind leg injury on a gelding or stallion, there's a risk urine will splash on the cut and irritate the tissues. These wounds benefit from bandaging.

Wounds that can remain open do well when covered at least twice daily in a thick ointment to keep bacteria, dirt and insects out.

Bacterial Infection Linked To Abortions In Japanese Mares

News — Mon, 24 May 2021 21:37:31 +0000

Mycobacterial infections, which are generally uncommon in horses, have been linked to ten abortions in Japanese mares. The mares were housed on seven Thoroughbred farms in the Hidaka district of Hokkaido. There were no reports of direct contact between the horses.

Dr. Yuta Kinoshita studied the abortions, which took place from 2018 to 2019. Most of the placentas had a yellowish-white exudate on them and included considerable lesions. Lesions aren't common with pathogenic bacteria like Streptococcus zooepidemicus and Escherichia coli.

Researchers located Mycobacterial granulomas on the placenta and the fetal organs. Bacterial samples were taken from both of these areas, with the greatest number of bacteria found in the necrotic placental lesions. The bacteria were genetically tested and identified as Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis. The strains were all identical, suggesting that the horses had been infected by the same unknown contagious source.

Read the case report here.

Study: Massive Doses Of Antibiotics Many Not Be Needed Post-Surgery

News — Sat, 22 May 2021 14:43:22 +0000

Horses who undergo colic surgery are often given a five-day round of antibiotics to fight off possible infection after the surgery is complete. A new study has shown that a single antibiotic injection could provide the same amount of protection.

Dr. Sabita Diana Stöckle notes that many human and veterinary surgeries conclude with a round of short-term (24-hour) antibiotic treatment to reduce the risk of disease. For colic surgery, however, it's common for antibiotics to be administered for well over 24 hours.

Stöckle and her colleagues used 67 horses that had undergone colic surgery to compare the standard five-day course of antibiotics to a single-shot dose. Thirty of the horses received a single shot of penicillin and gentamicin once before the surgery. Some horses also received an additional shot during surgery if needed. The other 37 horses received the standard, five-day antibiotic protocol.

The study team found no significant differences in post-operative adverse issues between the two groups; there was minimal difference in the amount of colitis, hemolytic anemia or surgical site infections. They suggest that the single antibiotic dose may be an effective alternative to the common, five-day protocol, if proper hygiene and close patient monitoring also occurs.

Read the article here.

Two-Time Grade 1 Winner Bowies Hero Euthanized Due To Laminitis Complications

News — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 16:47:41 +0000

Trainer Phil D'Amato told the Daily Racing Form on Monday that two-time Grade 1 winner Bowies Hero had to be euthanized due to complications of laminitis. The 7-year-old son of Artie Schiller had undergone treatment for a right front leg infection at a local veterinary clinic, but his body stopped responding.

“It's a hard situation,” D'Amato said. “It's a tough loss for the entire barn, the owners. He will be greatly missed.”

Bowies Hero's biggest wins came in the G1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita in March of 2018 and the G1 Shadwell Mile at Keeneland in October of 2019. The gelding won a total of eight races from 28 starts to earn $1,592,720.

Diarrhea: Deadly Or Just A Drag?

News — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 20:02:58 +0000

Equine enthusiasts are taught early in their foray into horse ownership that any type of abnormal hgorse stool is a concern—whether that means the horse has diarrhea or is not passing manure at all. Though no passing of manure is of great concern, diarrhea can be as well.

Changes in diet are the No. 1 cause of diarrhea; they can also be hardest to identify—and rectify. If a horse's diarrhea is bad enough to call the vet, there are two main possibilities: that the horse has a chronic issue that will be very hard to find and treat or that the horse is very sick and could infect other horses in his barn or pasture.

Diarrhea occurs when the digestive tract is not working properly; in particular, when there is a disruption in the large intestine. The large intestine can absorb as much as 30 gallons of water a day; when it can't absorb the water, it is excreted in manure.

Diarrhea is a symptom, not a disease—it can occur when a horse eats too many carbohydrates or when he has ingested too much sand. Diarrhea can be a symptom of something minor to life-threatening. But how to tell which is which? Questions to help decide if the horse's health is at risk include:

Is he uncomfortable? If the horse is pawing or looking at his flanks and acting colicky, the situation may be serious.
Does the horse have a fever? This could indicate he has an infection, which is more serious.
How long has the horse had diarrhea? Acute-onset diarrhea is more concerning that a low-grade diarrhea that's been present for months.
Has he been around another horse that has diarrhea? This increases his risk of infection.
Does lab work show a low white cell count or a decrease in proteins? These are concerning.

If the vet doesn't feel that his condition is life threatening, she may suggest adjusting the horse's diet. Many vets believe horses are susceptible to orchard grass hay and suggest eliminating it from the horse's diet to see if the diarrhea clears up. Removing NSAIDs and antibiotics from a horse's management can also help (if possible).

Proper parasite control is key, and investigating the use of prebiotics or probiotics won't hurt. Additionally, protecting the tissue of the affiliated horse's intestinal tract is also important: Using products designed sooth tissues, like those that contain smectite clay or bismuth subsalicylate, are worth investigating to try to get his diarrhea under control.

Abdominal Surgery Poses Greatest Risk Of Surgical Site Infection

News — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 01:05:04 +0000

As with human surgery, there is always a potential for infection during equine surgery, Drs. Kelmer, Paz, Tatz, Dahan, Bdolah-abram and Oreff reviewed 198 post-operative complications related to surgery procedures on 167 horses at the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine in Israel over a 15-month period.

The study reviewed 40 percent abdominal surgeries, 30 percent orthopedic surgery and the rest were general surgeries that had a 9 to 20 percent chance of developing a surgical site infection. The incidence of infection was 16.7 percent during the study period.

The study team noted that post-operative surgical site infections created difficulties with recovery, increased the length of stay in the hospital, increased client coats sand delayed return to work. It addition, surgical site infections caused an increase in equine morbidity and mortality.

Of all the surgeries performed, abdominal procedures had the highest risk of infection with 28 percent. This may be because of the length of the incision or the weight of the intestines on the incisions.

The scientists identified the following as factors that increase the risk for a surgical site infection:

Type of surgery.
Having a repeat surgery in less than 6 months in the same area or in an area near the original incision. Abdominal procedures are particularly at risk.
Weight of the horse. Heavier horses have more weight resting on the incision line in their abdomen.
Gender. In the study, only 2.3 percent of stallions developed infections, compared to 16.1 percent of geldings and 24.3 percent of mares; 50 percent of pregnant mares had surgical site complications.
Recovery from anesthesia. A horse that has a hard time recovering from anesthesia may increase his risk of infection development by four times.

Abdominal procedure infection rate ranges from 7 to 37 percent; arthroscopic surgery infection rate was less than 1 percent. Overall infection frequency in orthopedic procedures was around 10 percent.

The team found that other factors may amplify infection risk. These include time of day and season when the surgery takes place; the surgeon; and a horse's breed and age. They also note that as this study looked at cases between 2011 and 2013, surgical techniques, bacterial resistance and bacterial populations have changes, so additional studies are needed.

Ancient Remedy Shows Promise As Antimicrobial

News — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 20:51:08 +0000

Antimicrobial resistance is of great concern to those involved in equine health; multidrug resistance is posing a massive challenge to managing microbial infections. Infections that cause biofilms are even harder to resolve; it's estimated that biofilms require 100 to 1,000 times higher antibiotic concentrations that non-biofilm-producing bacterial infections.

Drs. Jessica Furner-Pardoe, Blessing Anonye, Ricky Cain, John Moat, Catherine Ortori, Christina Lee, David Barrett, Christophe Corre and Freya Harrison investigated the efficacy of a 1,000-year-old herbal remedy found in a 10^th century Old English medical compendium. The remedy, called Bald's eye salve, consists of onion, garlic, dry white wine and bovine bile salts.

The team found that this topical remedy was useful against specific soft tissue wound pathogens. To create the salve, the scientists chopped and crushed the onions and garlic, and brewed them with wine and bile salts. They then stored the liquid in sterilized glass bottles at around 39 degrees Fahrenheit in the dark for nine days. The ingredients were then strained and centrifuged to obtain a liquid that was filtered and stored in the same sterilized glass bottles.

When tested against wounds that contained MRSA, Bald's eye salve obtained a 90 percent bacterial kill and was comparable to vancomycin. The medication didn't cause damage to either human cells in the laboratory or to mice.

The combination of all the ingredients is what makes it effective against biofilms. If any ingredient is left out, the preparation is not effective.

Read the full article here.