Mechanical nociceptive assessment of the equine hoof after navicular bursa anesthetic infiltration validated by bursography.

The analgesic specificity of navicular bursa (NB) anesthetic infiltration is still questionable. The study aimed to determine the mechanical nociceptive threshold of non-specific analgesia in the dorsal lamellar stratum, as well as in the sole, coronary band, and heel bulbs of the hoof, after navicular bursa anesthetic infiltration. Six healthy horses with no clinical or radiographic changes of the digits and no communication between the NB and the distal interphalangeal joint, were used. After random selection, the NB of one of the forelimbs was infiltrated with 2% lidocaine and the contralateral one with lactated ringer's solution. Contrast was added to confirm radiographic infiltration. The mechanical nociceptive threshold was determined using a portable pressure dynamometer, before and at various times after the infiltration, in 10 points of the hoof. The effects of time and treatment were verified by ANOVA (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the values of the mechanical nociceptive threshold (P>0.05) in all regions evaluated. However, in one of the six hooves that receives lidocaine, complete absence of response to the painful stimulus (maximum force of 6 Kg over an area of 38.46 mm2, for a maximum of 4 seconds) was observed in the dorsal lamellae between 30 and 60 min after infiltration. In conclusion, lidocaine infiltration of NB did not promote significant increases in the nociceptive threshold of the sole, coronary band, bulbs of the heel and dorsal lamellae clinically healthy horses. However, the occurrence of analgesia in one of the six hooves subjected to NB anesthesia indicates that the technique may not be fully specific in few horses.

Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile-associated diarrhea in equine in Minas Gerais, Brazil: clinical and microbiological characterization of six cases / Diarreia por Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile em equinos em Minas Gerais, Brasil: caracterização clínica e microbiológica de seis casos

ABSTRACT: Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile is the main causative agent of antimicrobial-related diarrhea in humans and a major pathogen-associated enteric disorder in foals and adult horses. Moreover, studies have suggested that animals are a possible reservoir of toxigenic C. difficile strains for humans. Despite this known importance, the epidemiology of C. difficile infection (CDI) in equine is still largely unknown. Therefore, this study described six cases of equine CDI occurring in Minas Gerais, Brazil, including the characterization of the isolates. All but one equine included in this research developed CDI after antimicrobial therapy, three of which occurred during hospitalization. Coinfection with Salmonella Heidelberg and S. Infantis was detected in three cases, making the antimicrobial treatment challenging. All animals recovered after metronidazole administration. All C. difficile isolates were susceptible to metronidazole and vancomycin, while three were resistant to moxifloxacin and two were resistant to clindamycin. The isolates were classified as RT126 (n = 4), RT078 (n = 1), and RT014/020 (n = 1), all previously reported infecting humans and animals worldwide.

RESUMO: Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile é o principal agente envolvido em diarreias associadas ao uso de antimicrobianos em seres humanos e um enteropatógeno de grande relevância em quadros de diarreia em potros e equinos adultos. Em adição, estudos tem sugerido que animais são possíveis reservatórios de estirpes toxigênicas de C. difficile para humanos. Apesar da importância na saúde animal e humana, a epidemiologia da infecção por C. difficile (ICD) é ainda pouco conhecida. Dessa forma, o presente estudo tem como objetivo caracterizar seis casos de diarreia por C. difficile ocorridos em Minas Gerais, Brasil. Com exceção de um animal, todos os equinos incluídos no presente estudo desenvolveram ICD após antibioticoterapia, três dos quais durante a hospitalização. Coinfecção por Salmonella Heidelberg e S. Infantis foi detectada em três casos, tornando o tratamento antimicrobiano desafiador. Todos os animais recuperaram após administração de metronidazol. Os isolados obtidos no presente estudo foram sensíveis a metronidazol e vancomicina, porém três estirpes foram resistentes a moxifloxacina e duas a clindamicina. Os isolados foram classificados como ribotipos 126 (n=4), 078 (n=1) e 014/020 (n=1), todos previamente relatados em seres humanos com ICD no Brasil e em outros países.

Abscesso abdominal pós-castração em equino: relato de caso / Post-castration abdominal abscess in horses: case report

A castração é o procedimento cirúrgico mais realizado na prática da medicina equina, mesmo com os contínuos avanços ainda são comuns complicações no pós-operatório. A funiculite é um exemplo de complicação, embora infrequente é possível a ascensão do processo infeccioso do cordão espermático para o abdômen resultando em quadros de peritonite ou formação de abscessos. Descreve-se um caso de formação de abscesso abdominal após realização de orquiectomia a campo. O equino foi atendido com claudicação do membro pélvico direito e histórico de castração há oito meses. Ao exame físico, foi observado aumento de volume sobre o anel inguinal externo direito, á palpação transretal e avaliação ultrassonográfica foi notado a presença de massa firme de aproximadamente 15 centímetros de diâmetro sobre o anel inguinal interno direito. O animal foi medicado com antibiótico de amplo espectro, também foi instituída compressa com água morna e aplicação tópica de pomada rubefaciente. Após cinco dias de terapia, houve drenagem de conteúdo purulento espontâneo por fístula que foi ampliada manualmente para a realização de curativos diários com solução antisséptica. Após 30 dias do início da terapia houve completa regressão do aumento de volume abdominal e cicatrização da ferida. Dez meses após a alta, o animal não tinha qualquer sinal de claudicação ou aumento de volume na região inguinal e voltou às atividades físicas normais.

Tratamento de pitiose em égua gestante utilizando perfusão regional intravenosa com anfotericina b e dimetilsulfóxido / Treatment of phytiosis in gestation mare using intravenous regional perfusion of amphotericin b and dimethyl sulfoxide

Pitiose cutânea equina (PCE) é uma enfermidade descrita em todo território brasileiro, no entanto, são escassas as informações quanto ao tratamento e procedimento cirúrgico em éguas gestantes. Descreve-se um caso de PCE em uma égua com nove meses de gestação com histórico de trauma no membro pélvico esquerdo que evoluiu para lesão ulcerativa granulomatosa com presença de "kunkers". Foi realizada excisão cirúrgica, seguida da cauterização e perfusão regional intravenosa (PRI) com 50 mg de anfotericina B (10 ml) diluído em solução dimetilsulfóxido (DMSO) 10% (6 ml DMSO em 44 ml de Ringer com Lactato). Após 14 dias da intervenção cirúrgica, nova PRI foi realizada. O diagnóstico de PCE foi confirmado através da avaliação histopatológica e imuno-histoquímica. A égua pariu um potro saudável após dois meses da intervenção cirúrgica e recebeu alta após a completa epitelização da ferida.

Equine cutaneous pythiosis (ECP) is a disease described throughout the Brazilian territory, however there is little information regarding the medical treatment and surgery in pregnant mares. We describe a case of ECP in a mare with nine months of gestation with a history of trauma to the left pelvic limb that evolved into ulcerative granulomatous lesion with presence of "kunkers". Surgical excision was performed, followed by cauterization and intravenous regional perfusion (IRP) with 50 mg amphotericin B (10 mL) solution diluted in 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (6 mL DMSO in 44 ml of Ringer's lactate). 14 days after the surgery, a new IRP was performed. The diagnosis of ECP was confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation. The mare gave birth to a healthy foal two months after the surgery and was discharged after complete epithelization of the wound.

Equine tendonitis therapy using mesenchymal stem cells and platelet concentrates: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Tendon injury is a major cause of lameness and decreased performance in athletic equines. Various therapies for tendonitis have been described; however, none of these therapies results in complete tissue regeneration, and the injury recurrence rate is high even after long recovery periods involving rest and physiotherapy. METHODS: A lesion was induced with collagenase gel in the superficial digital flexor tendon in the center portion of the metacarpal region of eight equines of mixed breed. After two weeks, the lesions of the animals in the treated and control groups were treated through the intralesional administration of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue (adMSCs) suspended in platelet concentrate (PC) and with phosphate buffered saline (PBS), respectively. Serial ultrasound analyses were performed every two weeks. After 16 weeks of therapy, a biopsy was performed for histopathological, immunohistochemical and gene expression (type I collagen (COL1A1), type III collagen (COL3A1), tenascin-C (TNC), tenomodulin (TNMD), and scleraxis (SCX)) analyses. RESULTS: Differences in the ultrasound and histopathological analyses were observed between the groups. Improved results were reported in the group treated with adMSCs suspended in PC. There was no difference in the gene expression levels observed after the different treatments. The main results observed from the histopathological evaluation of the treated group were as follows: a prevention of the progression of the lesion, a greater organization of collagen fibers, and a decreased inflammatory infiltrate. A lack of progression of the lesion area and its percentage was observed in the ultrasound image, and increased blood flow was measured by Power Doppler. CONCLUSIONS: The use of adMSCs combined with PC for the therapy of experimentally induced tendonitis prevented the progression of the tendon lesion, as observed in the ultrasound examination, and resulted in a greater organization and decreased inflammation, as observed in the histopathological evaluation. These data demonstrate the therapeutic potential of this therapy for the treatment of equine tendonitis.