How to perform the diagnosis in a case with anemia ?

peer reviewe

Diagnostic differentiel du syndrome "piro-like" chez les équidés

peer reviewe

Clinical evaluation of cardiac effects of experimental doxycycline overdosing in healthy calves

Background Cardiac morphologic and functional changes consistent with cardiomyopathy have been reported in field cases of calves with accidental doxycycline overdosing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinically the cardiac effects of an experimentally-induced doxycycline overdosing in healthy calves. Twelve 2 months-old healthy Belgian Blue calves were studied. Six of them (group 1) received the normal dose (5 mg/kg, BID) and the six others (group 2) received five times the normal dose (25 mg/kg, BID) of oral doxycycline for five consecutive days (D1 to D5). Each calf was clinically examined daily. Measurement of serum AST, CK, Iso-CKs and LDH activities and an echocardiographic examination were performed before (D0) and one day after (D6) the last doxycycline administration. An ECG tracing was recorded at D0, D4, and D6. Results In both groups, no clinical, blood, echocardiographic or electrocardiographic changes suggestive of a cardiomyopathy were observed. Only a decreased appetite was observed in the calves of the group 2 between D3 and D6. Conclusions This trial failed to reproduce cardiac changes reported in accidental doxycycline-poisoning in calves, suggesting that high doses of doxycycline may not be the only etiologic factor of the cardiomyopathy reported in the field cases.Mise en place d’un laboratoire cardiovasculaire chez les grands animaux pour le développement de modèles chroniques de pathologies cardiaques

Speed of sound measurements in the evaluation of bone properties in Holstein

peer reviewe

Comparison of fecal microbiota of horses suffering from atypical myopathy and healthy co-grazers

Equine atypical myopathy (AM) is caused by hypoglycin A (HGA) and methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG) intoxication resulting from the ingestion of seeds or seedlings of some Acer tree species. Interestingly, not all horses pasturing in the same toxic environment develop signs of the disease. In other species, it has been shown that the intestinal microbiota has an impact on digestion, metabolism, immune stimulation and protection from disease. The objective of this study was to characterize and compare fecal microbiota of horses suffering from AM and healthy co-grazers. Furthermore, potential differences in fecal microbiota regarding the outcome of diseased animals were assessed. This prospective observational study included 59 horses with AM (29 survivors and 30 non-survivors) referred to three Belgian equine hospitals and 26 clinically healthy co-grazers simultaneously sharing contaminated pastures during spring and autumn outbreak periods. Fresh fecal samples (rectal or within 30min of defecation) were obtained from all horses and bacterial taxonomy profiling obtained by 16S amplicon sequencing was used to identify differentially distributed bacterial taxa between AM-affected horses and healthy co-grazers. Fecal microbial diversity and evenness were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in AM-affected horses as compared with their non-affected co-grazers. The relative abundance of families Ruminococcaceae, Christensenellaceae and Akkermansiaceae were higher (p ≤ 0.001) whereas those of the Lachnospiraceae (p = 0.0053), Bacteroidales (p < 0.0001) and Clostridiales (p = 0.0402) were lower in horses with AM, especially in those with a poor prognosis. While significant shifts were observed, it is still unclear whether they result from the disease or might be involved in the onset of disease pathogenesis

Reversible congenital bilateral laryngeal paralysis (grade IV) in a foal

editorial reviewe

Acylcarnitines profile best predicts survival in horses with atypical myopathy

Equine atypical myopathy (AM) is caused by hypoglycin A intoxication and is characterized by a high fatality rate. Predictive estimation of survival in AM horses is necessary to prevent unnecessary suffering of animals that are unlikely to survive and to focus supportive therapy on horses with a possible favourable prognosis of survival. We hypothesized that outcome may be predicted early in the course of disease based on the assumption that the acylcarnitine profile reflects the derangement of muscle energetics. We developed a statistical model to prognosticate the risk of death of diseased animals and found that estimation of outcome may be drawn from three acylcarnitines (C2, C10:2 and C18 -carnitines) with a high sensitivity and specificity. The calculation of the prognosis of survival makes it possible to distinguish the horses that will survive from those that will die despite severe signs of acute rhabdomyolysis in both groups

Vegetative endocarditis in equids (1994--2006).

peer reviewedBACKGROUND: Endocarditis is a rare heart condition with variable clinical expressions in equids. Risk factors for this disease are incompletely understood. OBJECTIVE: Describe risk factors for endocarditis in equids. ANIMALS: One hundred and fifty-three equids admitted to Liège University, 9 diagnosed with endocarditis and 144 free from endocarditis but admitted to the hospital with a differential diagnosis including this disease. METHODS: Retrospective case-control study. RESULTS: Equids with endocarditis were significantly younger (mean age = 4.84 +/- 5.74 years) than control equids (mean age = 10.8 +/- 7.73 years) (P = .01). No sex or breed predisposition was observed. Animals with hyperthermia (odds ratio [OR] = 24.4; confidence interval [CI] = 1.40-428), synovial distension (OR = 13.4; CI = 3.00-59.8), lameness (OR = 6.52; CI = 1.63-26.1), hyperglobulinemia (OR = 26.4; CI = 3.03-229), hypoalbuminemia (OR = 11.4; CI = 1.34-96.8), hyperfibrinogenemia (OR = 9.81; CI = 1.16-82.7), or leukocytosis (OR = 7.12; CI = 1.40-36.4) presented a significantly higher risk of having endocarditis than control horses. The presence of two of the clinical signs mentioned above significantly increased the probability of a diagnosis of endocarditis (P< or = .05). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Age is associated with equine endocarditis. The diagnostic value of certain clinical signs and abnormalities in blood parameters in this disease are described

Quelle importance accorder à une arythmie lors d'une visite d'achat ?

peer reviewedLes arythmies cardiaques sont fréquentes dans l'espèce équine. Cependant, dans la plupart des cas ces arythmies sont physiologiques. Lors d’une visite d’achat, toute la difficulté à laquelle le vétérinaire sera confronté consistera à différentier de telles arythmies physiologiques d'arythmies pathologiques, qui pourraient avoir un impact sur la carrière future du cheval. Si dans ce cadre l'examen clinique constitue la première étape à réaliser, une électrocardiographie de repos constitue l’étape incontournable pour poser le diagnostic. Dans de nombreux cas, une électrocardiographie d’effort ou sur une durée prolongée (Holter) peut cependant aussi s’avérer nécessaire pour différentier une arythmie physiologique d’une arythmie pathologique