Blood Transfusion in Equids-A Practical Approach and Review.

Transfusion medicine is a crucial part of equine intensive and critical care. Blood transfusions can save lives in both acute and chronic cases of anemia, hemorrhage, and hemolysis. It is vital to have a comprehensive theoretical and practical understanding of the techniques, implications, risks, and complications. This review covers the physiology and pathophysiology of conditions requiring transfusion, as well as step by step guidance for practitioners of all experience levels. This review is designed to serve as a practical reference for those who are treating horses in either the field or hospital setting. It aims to provide both theoretical background and easy to locate formulae with guidance that is easy to refer to in a critical situation. When risks and benefits are well understood, these techniques can be confidently employed in critical situations to improve outcomes and save lives.

CD3+ T-Lymphocytic Coeliac-Mesenteric Ganglioneuritis Associated with Colonic Torsion and Inflammatory Bowel Disease in an Arabian Broodmare.

A 5-year-old Arabian broodmare with acute colic was diagnosed with lymphocytic ganglioneuritis of the coeliac-mesenteric ganglia and lymphocytic‒plasmacytic enterocolitis resembling inflammatory bowel disease. No significant pathogens were identified by aerobic culture or histopathological examination. The ganglia were multifocally infiltrated with small lymphocytes that were immunopositive for CD3 and negative for CD20 and CD79a antigens, indicating CD3+ T-lymphocyte-mediated coeliac-mesenteric ganglioneuritis. The findings suggest immune-mediated inflammatory bowel disease resulting in disturbance of the autonomic nervous system in the gastrointestinal tract, as in ulcerative colitis in humans. Histopathological features in this case differ from those of equine enteric dysautonomia and chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, which are characterized by neuronal degeneration and inflammation, respectively, and mostly affect the mural ganglion plexuses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of CD3+ T-lymphocytic extramural enteric ganglioneuritis in equine inflammatory bowel disease.

Normal reference intervals and the effects of sample handling on dynamic viscoelastic coagulometry (Sonoclot) in healthy adult horses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine reference intervals and the effect of sample agitation and rest time on Sonoclot analysis in healthy adult horses. DESIGN: Original prospective study. SETTING: University veterinary medical teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Sixty healthy adult horses. INTERVENTIONS: Blood was collected for assessment of complete blood count, serum biochemical analysis, and Sonoclot analysis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Horses were determined to be healthy based upon physical examination, CBC, and serum biochemistry analysis. Blood was analyzed in a glass bead-containing cuvette using the Sienco Sonoclot analyzer following 2 rest periods (30 mins and 240 min) and with 2 sample handling interventions (agitated and nonagitated), to obtain values for clot rate, time-to-peak, activated clotting time, and platelet function. This study failed to detect a significant difference when a rest time of 30 minutes was compared with 240 minutes, but based on wide limits of agreement the 2 rest times were not considered interchangeable. Agitation at both rest times significantly affected all Sonoclot analyses leading to changes indicative of hypercoagulability. CONCLUSIONS: Sample agitation and rest time should be taken into consideration when developing preanalytical guidelines for Sonoclot analysis in horses. Calculated reference intervals were relatively wide. Further research is needed to evaluate the clinical utility of Sonoclot analysis in horses.