Publications 2008-2010

Calcium regulating hormones and serum calcium and magnesium concentrations in septic and critically ill foals and their association with survival. 

Hurcombe SD, Toribio RE, Slovis NM, Saville WJ, Mudge MC, Macgillivray K, Frazer ML. J Vet Intern Med;(2009);23;2:335‑343.  

BACKGROUND: Disorders of calcium regulation are frequently found in humans with critical illness, yet limited information exists in foals with similar conditions including septicemia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether disorders of calcium exist in septic foals, and to determine any association with survival. Hypothesis: Blood concentrations of ionized calcium (Ca(2+)) and magnesium (Mg(2+)) will be lower in septic foals with concomitant increases in parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin (CT), and parathyroid‑related peptide (PTHrP) compared with healthy foals.  

Hypothalamic‑pituitary‑adrenal axis dysfunction in hospitalized neonatal foals.

Hart KA, Slovis NM, Barton MH.                                                                                   J Vet Intern Med;(2009);23;4:901‑912.

Background: Transient hypothalamic‑pituitary‑adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction occurs frequently in critically ill humans and impacts survival. The prevalence and impact of HPA axis dysfunction in critically ill neonatal foals are not well characterized. Hypotheses: (1) HPA axis dysfunction occurs in hospitalized neonatal foals, and is characterized by inappropriately low basal serum cortisol concentration or inadequate cortisol response to exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH); (2) hospitalized foals with HPA axis dysfunction have more severe disease and are less likely to survive than hospitalized foals with normal HPA axis function. Animals: Seventy‑two hospitalized foals and 23 healthy age‑matched foals. Methods: Basal ACTH and cortisol concentrations were measured and a paired low‑dose (10 mug)/high‑dose (100 mug) cosyntropin stimulation test was performed at admission in hospitalized foals. HPA axis dysfunction was defined as (1) an inappropriately low basal cortisol concentration or (2) an inadequate increase in cortisol concentration (delta cortisol) after administration of cosyntropin, with cut‑off values for appropriate basal and delta cortisol concentrations determined from results obtained in healthy age‑matched foals. Results: Forty‑six percent of hospitalized foals had an inappropriately low basal cortisol concentration and 52% had an inadequate delta cortisol concentration after administration of the 100 mug dose of cosyntropin. An inadequate delta cortisol response to the high (100 mug) dose of cosyntropin was significantly correlated with shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in hospitalized foals, and with decreased survival in a subgroup of septic foals. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: HPA axis dysfunction occurs frequently in hospitalized neonatal foals, and negatively impacts disease severity and survival.    

Seizures in a 2‑Hour‑Old Thoroughbred Colt                                                        Balazs Toth and Katherine C. MacGillivray                                                              Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet Equine Edition;(2009);4;2:60‑60

Feature: Pleuropneumonia Kim A. Sprayberry Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet Equine Edition;(2009);4;4:166‑166   Learn what you need to know about the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and prognosis of this important lung disease.     Calcium regulating hormones and serum calcium and magnesium concentrations in septic and critically ill foals and their association with survival. Hurcombe SD, Toribio RE, Slovis NM, Saville WJ, Mudge MC, Macgillivray K, Frazer ML. J Vet Intern Med;(2009);23;2:335‑343.   BACKGROUND: Disorders of calcium regulation are frequently found in humans with critical illness, yet limited information exists in foals with similar conditions including septicemia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether disorders of calcium exist in septic foals, and to determine any association with survival. Hypothesis: Blood concentrations of ionized calcium (Ca(2+)) and magnesium (Mg(2+)) will be lower in septic foals with concomitant increases in parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin (CT), and parathyroid‑related peptide   Tachycardia and Tachypnea in a 2‑Day‑Old Thoroughbred Nora Nogradi and Michele Frazer Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet Equine Edition;(2009);4;1:40‑40     Lawsonia intracellularis infection in horses: 2005‑2007. Frazer ML. J Vet Intern Med;(2008);22;5:1243‑1248.   BACKGROUND: Lawsonia intracellularis is an emerging equine pathogen that is a cause of equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE). OBJECTIVE: To describe the signalment, month of presentation, common clinical signs, clinicopathologic values, diagnostic tests used, antimicrobial use, and survival status in horses affected with EPE; to evaluate how affected horses sold at public auction as yearlings; and to determine results of fecal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) andserum immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA) results in age matched, clinically normal herdmates.   Hypothalamic‑pituitary‑adrenal axis dysfunction in hospitalized neonatal foals. Hart KA, Slovis NM, Barton MH. J Vet Intern Med;(2009);23;4:901‑912.   Background: Transient hypothalamic‑pituitary‑adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction occurs frequently in critically ill humans and impacts survival. The prevalence and impact of HPA axis dysfunction in critically ill neonatal foals are not well characterized. Hypotheses: (1) HPA axis dysfunction occurs in hospitalized neonatal foals, and is characterized by inappropriately low basal serum cortisol concentration or inadequate cortisol response to exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH); (2) hospitalized foals with HPA axis dysfunction have more severe disease and are less likely to survive than hospitalized foals with normal HPA axis function.     Periparturient hemorrhage in mares: 73 cases (1998‑2005). Arnold CE, Payne M, Thompson JA, Slovis NM, Bain FT. J Am Vet Med Assoc;(2008);232;9:1345‑1351   OBJECTIVE: To determine signalment, physical examination and clinicopathologic abnormalities, outcome, and subsequent fertility of mares with periparturient hemorrhage (PPH) and identify factors associated with outcome (ie, survival vs death).     Poorly differentiated leiomyosarcoma of the urogenital tract in a horse. Hurcombe SD, Slovis NM, Kohn CW, Oglesbee M. J Am Vet Med Assoc;(2008);233;12:1908‑1912.   CASE DESCRIPTION: A 2‑year‑old Thoroughbred filly was evaluated because of hemorrhage from the vulva and suspected hematuria of 5 days' duration.     Blood Arginine Vasopressin, Adrenocorticotropin Hormone, and Cortisol Concentrations at Admission in Septic and Critically Ill Foals and their Association with Survival. Hurcombe SD, Toribio RE, Slovis N, Kohn CW, Refsal K, Saville W, Mudge MC. J Vet Intern Med;(2008);22;3:639‑647   Background: Sepsis is an important cause for neonatal foal mortality. The hypothalamic‑pituitary‑adrenal axis (HPAA) responses to sepsis are well documented in critically ill humans, but limited data exist in foals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the HPAA response to sepsis in foals, and to associate these endocrine changes with survival. Hypothesis: Blood concentrations of arginine vasopressin (AVP), adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), and cortisol will be higher in septic foals as compared with sick nonseptic and healthy foals. The magnitude of increase in hormone concentration will be negatively associated with survival. Y:2008 J:162 S:60   Actinomyces species as a cause of abscesses in nine horses. Fielding CL, Magdesian KG, Morgan RA, Ruby RE, Sprayberry KA. Vet Rec;(2008);162;1:18‑20   The characteristics, history, clinical signs, treatment and outcome of nine horses with abscesses caused by Actinomyces species were reviewed. dna sequencing was used to determine the species of one of the isolates. The horses were one to 11 years of age, and the abscesses were most commonly located in the submandibular and retropharyngeal regions. The bacterium was usually cultured as the sole isolate and the horses were most often affected in the autumn. Most of the abscesses were treated with antimicrobials and drainage, but some of them recurred. The horses with submandibular abscesses had residual scar tissue that in some cases did not resolve.   Equine Laminitis: Practical Clinical Considerations Robert J. Hunt, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS Proc Annu Conv Am Assoc Equine Pract;(2008);54;0:347   In‑Depth: Laminitis For The Practitioner section.     Traumatic Ventral Herniation in Foals as a Complication of Dystocia Stefan Witte, DVM, DACVS, Dwayne Rodgerson,DVM,MS,DACVS, Robert Hunt, Dm MS, DACVS, Michael Spirito, DVM Compendium of Contin Educ Pract Vet Equine Edition;(2008);3;3:137‑137   ABSTRACT: Traumatic failure of the abdominal wall (ventral herniation) may occur in foals as a complication of assisted or controlled vaginal delivery. A diagnosis can be readily made based on clinical signs (abdominal discomfort, subcutaneously located intestine, a palpable defect in the abdominal wall). If surgical intervention will be pursued, it should take place immediately. The primary goal of surgery is to reinstate the integrity of the abdominal wall. Equal attention should be given to maximizing the strength of the repair and minimizing the likelihood of intraabdominal adhesion formation, Extensive defects may be repaired successfully, allowing athletic ability in affected horses. Four cases of traumatic ventral herniation in foals are described.     Surgical technique to repair grade IV rectal tears in post‑parturient mares. Kay AT, Spirito MA, Rodgerson DH, Brown SE 2nd. Vet Surg;(2008);37;4:345‑349   OBJECTIVE: To describe a surgical technique for repair of grade IV rectal tears after parturition in mares and to report outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical report.     How to Repair Cranial Vaginal and Caudal Uterine Tears in Mares Jorge H. Gomez, MVZ, MS, Diplomate ACVS Proc Annu Conv Am Assoc Equine Pract;(2008);54;0:295   Theriogenology (Mare) section.     Case Report: Splenic rupture and splenectomy in a foal F. GARCIA‑SEEBER, S. B. MCAULIFFE, F. MCGOVERN AND J. DEFEO Equine Vet Educ;(2008);20;7:367‑370   Summary: A 45‑day‑old foal was presented for abdominal pain. Examination revealed the presence of haemoabdomen. An exploratory celiotomy was performed that revealed a large tear on the visceral surface of the spleen. A splenectomy was performed without rib resection. An abdominal wall hernia and leucocytosis had developed by 6 weeks post surgery. A second celiotomy to repair the hernia and explore the cause of the leucocytosis was performed 10 weeks after the first surgery. A portion of the caecum and colon had become adhered to the body wall at the site of the hernia; these areas were resected and the hernia repaired with a polypropylene mesh. The filly made a good recovery and is currently in training. Splenic rupture should be considered in any horse showing signs of abdominal pain with ultrasonographic findings consistent with haemoabdomen.     Effect of paddock vs. stall housing on 24 hour gastric pH within the proximal and ventral equine stomach. Husted L, Sanchez LC, Olsen SN, Baptiste KE, Merritt AM. Equine Vet J;(2008);40;4:337‑341.   To investigate the effect of 3 environmental situations (grass paddock, stall alone or stall with adjacent companion) on pH in the proximal and the ventral stomach.