• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 2015

There is no reliable indicator available for the diagnosis of horse laminitis, although the disease is common and costly. This study was performed to develop a specific diagnostic biomarker for laminitis. We have identified 33 differentially expressed proteins in plasma of a horse suffering laminitis that is experimentally induced by an overdose of oligofructose, in comparison with normal horse plasma. Among the proteins, myosin-9 mRNA was found in RNA sequencing analysis to be expressed specifically in laminitis tissues compared to other horse tissues. It is thus suggested that expression of plasma myosin-9 may be used for the diagnosis of equine laminitis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2021

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), often referred to as equine Cushing's disease, is a common endocrine disorder often diagnosed in older horses. A 13-year-old 460 kg Warmblood gelding showed clinical signs suggestive of PPID, including hypertrichosis, fat redistribution, polyuria and polydipsia (PU/PD), and weight loss. Physical examination, complete blood cell count, and serum chemistry results were normal. However, dexamethasone suppression and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level tests confirmed PPID. Three months after the confirmed diagnosis, the horse was referred again with symptoms of laminitis. Radiography and venography were performed to evaluate the laminitis severity level. However, the foot condition continued to worsen, and the horse was eventually euthanized. The purpose of this case report is to describe clinical signs and diagnosis of PPID with laminitis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2013

Laminitis is a common horse disease that causes pain and disability. One of the major causes of laminitis is carbohydrate overload, which leads to the overgrowth of gram-positive bacteria and subsequent toxemia. This study was performed to establish an experimental model of acute phase laminitis. A horse was fed with a bolus dose of oligofructose, examined for clinical signs and blood parameters, and euthanized for necropsy and histopathology. After administration, the horse exhibited clinical signs including watery feces, inappetence, severe lameness, pyrexia and tachycardia. Complete blood count showed increased hematocrit, lymphocytosis and neutropenia. Serum chemistry revealed hyperglycemia, hyperproteinemia, high level of glutamic oxalate transaminase, creatinine, uric acid and mild hyponatremia. Histologically, the lamina tissue was edematous with mild infiltration of inflammatory cells. These findings indicate that oligofructose-induced laminitis in horse is an appropriate model for studying pathogenesis of acute phase laminitis.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.33.1-33.7
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• 2023

Background: Laminitis is a complex and debilitating disease of horses. Numerous predisposing factors contribute to laminitis development, however the exact pathogenesis remains undetermined. Serum T4, cortisol, and histamine are components of the innate stress response and could play a causative or contributory role. Stress hormone concentrations in laminitis are largely unknown. Objective: To evaluate parameters associated with stress response in horses with laminitis, and compare these to healthy horses and horses with gastrointestinal (GI) disease. Methods: Thirty-eight adult horses presenting for non-medical conditions, GI abnormalities, or clinical laminitis were prospectively enrolled. Horses were assigned to the appropriate disease group (healthy, GI disease, and laminitis) and had blood drawn on presentation to the hospital. Samples were analyzed for plasma endogenous adrenocorticotrophic hormone (eACTH), serum cortisol, serum thyroid hormone, and plasma histamine. Results: Stress hormone concentrations were significantly different between horses in the laminitis and GI disease groups. Plasma histamine levels were highest in horses with laminitis, compared with GI disease and controls. Both horses with laminitis and GI disease had increased plasma eACTH when compared to healthy horses. Horses with GI disease had higher serum cortisol concentrations than horses with laminitis or controls. Serum T4 was lower in horses with GI disease than in horses with laminitis and controls. Conclusions: Horses with laminitis had relative increases in both plasma histamine and eACTH concentrations. Serum T4 and cortisol concentrations of horses with laminitis did not differ significantly when compared to healthy horses. The role of stress hormones in equine disease warrants further investigation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.6-8
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• 2006

One male Arabian horse, 13-year-old reared in Galway, Ireland, was diagnosed as laminitis. Hemo-acupuncture at TH01, SI01 and ST45 was used. Injection acupuncture with dexamethasone was also applied at the same acupoints after homo-acupuncture twice a week. Bee-venom was injected into GV01 at session 2. After session 3, the patient showed almost normal walking.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 2014

This study was conducted to analyze the results of inhalation anesthesia performed at the equine hospital of Korea Racing Authority (KRA) and to find out the influencing factors on mortality during and/or after inhalation anesthesia. Among 585 cases of anesthesia, orthopedic surgery (410) was performed the most frequently, followed by colic surgery (85) and upper airway surgery (45). Twenty out of 585 horses were either euthanized or died during and/or after anesthesia. Among those twenty horses, fourteen horses received colic surgery, three received orthopedic surgery, and three others received upper airway surgery. The major causes of mortality were rupture of intestine in colic surgery and airway obstruction during recovery in upper airway surgery. Myopathy, refracture, laminitis were the causes of mortality in orthopedic surgery. Consequently, the horses that received colic and upper airway surgeries showed significantly high mortality rate rather than horses that received orthopedic surgery (p < 0.01). According to the results, horses that received colic surgery showed the highest mortality rate from euthanasia due to poor and grave prognosis. To reduce the perioperative mortality of horses, it is recommended to perform perioperative intensive care for colic surgery and careful monitoring for upper airway surgery during recovery.