Advanced multicentric lymphoma in a Belgian Draft Horse mare

A 15-year old draft horse mare was presented to the University Clinic for evaluation of lethargy, anorexia, ptyalism, weight loss and ventral oedema. Clinical examination and rectal palpation revealed generalised lymphadenopathy and numerous firm subcutaneous and abdominal masses of various sizes. Transcutaneous ultrasonography revealed significant bilateral pleural fluid accumulation and a single hypoechoic structure in the abdomen lateral to the liver. Blood analysis showed several abnormalities including a marked leucocytosis with an increased number of segmented neutrophils, atypical lymphocytes and monocytosis, suggestive of leukaemic lymphoma. A significant hyperproteinaemia with a hypoalbuminemia and a monoclonal gammopathy was identified. At necropsy myriad masses presented through the whole body. Histology confirmed the suspicion of lymphoma, which was classified as a T-cell rich B-cell multicentric lymphoma. This article describes the clinical and pathologic findings of this case of leukaemic lymphoma

Advanced multicentric lymphoma in a Belgian Draft Horse mare

A 15-year old draft horse mare was presented to the University Clinic for evaluation of lethargy, anorexia, ptyalism, weight loss and ventral oedema. Clinical examination and rectal palpation revealed generalised lymphadenopathy and numerous firm subcutaneous and abdominal masses of various sizes. Transcutaneous ultrasonography revealed significant bilateral pleural fluid accumulation and a single hypoechoic structure in the abdomen lateral to the liver. Blood analysis showed several abnormalities including a marked leucocytosis with an increased number of segmented neutrophils, atypical lymphocytes and monocytosis, suggestive of leukaemic lymphoma. A significant hyperproteinaemia with a hypoalbuminemia and a monoclonal gammopathy was identified. At necropsy myriad masses presented through the whole body. Histology confirmed the suspicion of lymphoma, which was classified as a T-cell rich B-cell multicentric lymphoma. This article describes the clinical and pathologic findings of this case of leukaemic lymphoma

Quantitative and qualitative aspects of standing-up behavior and the prevalence of osteochondrosis in Warmblood foals on different farms : Could there be a link?

Background: Osteochondrosis (OC) is a common, clinically important joint disorder in which endochondral ossification is focally disturbed. Reduced blood supply to growing cartilage is considered an important cause of the condition, which has both genetic and environmental origins. Housing conditions can influence cartilage injury through peak-pressure changes during limb sliding. Additionally, circulatory perturbation can cause the avascular necrosis of cartilage. In this study, we evaluated the type and frequency of limb sliding during standing up and the occurrence of OC in foals aged up to 12 months on different farms. Methods: Standing-up behavior was observed in 50 weaned, group-housed, Dutch Warmblood foals aged 6-9 months at five farms using black-and-white surveillance cameras, and their standing-up behavior was scored using a predetermined ethogram. OC was scored using a categorical scale between 6 and 12 months of age in 50 foals in the weanling period, and in 48 from the weanling to yearling periods because two foals died in this time. Results: At both 6 and 12 months of age, the total prevalence of OC differed between the farms: the lowest prevalence was observed on a farm with no sliding, and the highest prevalence was evident on a farm with a higher sliding frequency. The mean ratio of sliding versus normal standing-up behavior was 29% (range: 0-50%); i.e., foals experienced limb sliding during around 29% of standing-up maneuvres. The frequency of sliding instead of normal standing-up behavior differed significantly between the farms (range: 0-50%; P < 0.05), but significantly decreased when foals could better prepare themselves to stand, e.g., when there was an obvious provocation such as the announced approach of another foal (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Small but significant differences exist between farms in the sliding frequency and total OC incidence in Warmblood foals, but whether environmental factors are causally related to these differences requires further elucidation

Quantitative and qualitative aspects of standing-up behavior and the prevalence of osteochondrosis in Warmblood foals on different farms : Could there be a link?

Background: Osteochondrosis (OC) is a common, clinically important joint disorder in which endochondral ossification is focally disturbed. Reduced blood supply to growing cartilage is considered an important cause of the condition, which has both genetic and environmental origins. Housing conditions can influence cartilage injury through peak-pressure changes during limb sliding. Additionally, circulatory perturbation can cause the avascular necrosis of cartilage. In this study, we evaluated the type and frequency of limb sliding during standing up and the occurrence of OC in foals aged up to 12 months on different farms. Methods: Standing-up behavior was observed in 50 weaned, group-housed, Dutch Warmblood foals aged 6-9 months at five farms using black-and-white surveillance cameras, and their standing-up behavior was scored using a predetermined ethogram. OC was scored using a categorical scale between 6 and 12 months of age in 50 foals in the weanling period, and in 48 from the weanling to yearling periods because two foals died in this time. Results: At both 6 and 12 months of age, the total prevalence of OC differed between the farms: the lowest prevalence was observed on a farm with no sliding, and the highest prevalence was evident on a farm with a higher sliding frequency. The mean ratio of sliding versus normal standing-up behavior was 29% (range: 0-50%); i.e., foals experienced limb sliding during around 29% of standing-up maneuvres. The frequency of sliding instead of normal standing-up behavior differed significantly between the farms (range: 0-50%; P < 0.05), but significantly decreased when foals could better prepare themselves to stand, e.g., when there was an obvious provocation such as the announced approach of another foal (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Small but significant differences exist between farms in the sliding frequency and total OC incidence in Warmblood foals, but whether environmental factors are causally related to these differences requires further elucidation