Marta Cercone

Quantification of Equid herpesvirus 5 DNA in clinical and necropsy specimens collected from a horse with equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis

A 15-year-old Belgian gelding was referred for fever, depression, and respiratory distress. Lung biopsy revealed interstitial fibrosis consistent with chronic interstitial pneumonia. Equid herpesvirus 5 (EHV-5) DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in bronchoalveolar lavage and biopsy specimens. A presumptive diagnosis of equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF) was made, and the horse was administered a systemic treatment with corticosteroids and antiviral drugs. Despite initial clinical improvement, 4 weeks later, the condition of the horse rapidly deteriorated, and the animal was euthanized. Postmortem examination confirmed the presumptive diagnosis of EMPF. The EHV-5 DNA load in different tissues was estimated using a quantitative real-time PCR. Lung had a remarkable viral load, higher than in other organs, especially within the pulmonary fibrotic nodules, and a linkage between high viral burden and the most severely affected tissues was observed. The results suggest that the quantitative real-time PCR is a useful tool to quantify the EHV-5 load in different organs and to understand the relationship between EHV-5 and EMPF. The bronchoalveolar lavage was determined to be a good clinical sample to estimate the EHV-5 load in lung.

Effects of Functional Electrical Stimulation on Denervated Laryngeal Muscle in a Large Animal Model.

Bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVCP) is a life-threatening condition that follows injury to the Recurrent Laryngeal nerve (RLn) and denervation of the intrinsic laryngeal musculature. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) enables restoration and control of a wide variety of motor functions impaired by lower motor neuron lesions. Here we evaluate the effects of FES on the sole arytenoid abductor, the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle in a large animal model of RLn injury. Ten horses were instrumented with two quadripolar intramuscular electrodes in the left PCA muscle. Following a 12-week denervation period, the PCA was stimulated using a once-daily training session for 8 weeks in seven animals. Three animals were used as unstimulated controls. Denervation produced a significant increase in rheobase (P < 0.001). Electrical stimulation produced a 30% increase in fiber diameter in comparison with the unstimulated control group (33.9 ± 2.6 µm FES+, 23.6 ± 4.2 µm FES-, P = 0.04). A trend toward a decrease in the proportion of type 1 (slow) fibers and an increase in type 2a (fast) fibers was also observed. Despite these changes, improvement in PCA function at rest was not observed. These data suggest that electrical stimulation using a relatively conservative set of stimulation parameters can reverse the muscle fiber atrophy produced by complete denervation while avoiding a shift to a slow (type 1) fiber type.

Experimental electrical field distribution measurements in a perfused ex vivo model

Motivation of these experimental measurements was to evaluate the electrical field distribution of implanted electrodes in three dimensions inside the tissue. Measurements were performed in a perfused ex vivo equine larynx to achieve results of physiologically intact tissue. Objectives of the measurements are the practical evaluation of the measurement system. Especially the reproducibility of the measurements, evaluation of the perfusion setup influences on field distribution and further investigation of the tissue changing effects of the measuring needle and the scanning process. A system to measure the electric field distribution inside the tissue has been developed, which contains a 3D linear motor system for the positioning of a measuring needle inside the tissue. At each discrete point electrical potential is measured and according to an interpolation the 3D electrical field distribution is calculated and visualized. We measured variations of scanning grids at same electrode configuration and electrode position to evaluate measurement reproducibility. The experiments were performed on perfused CAD muscle (Musculus cricoarytaenoideus dorsalis) of two horses. This enables an intact physiological state of the muscle for up to 6-8 hours. The perfusion setup shows no significant influences on the measurement system. The measuring needle causes a morphologically change in tissue (tissue shift) and thus a displacement of the field distribution measurements. In consideration of the reproducibility the different measurements, with the same electrode configuration and position, similar field distribution results are obtained. The experimental results show, that ex vivo measurements of the 3D electrical field distribution can be performed with this measurement setup. In future field distribution displacement will be reduced by an additional 3D force measurement and control system to evaluate the tissue shifts while inserting the needle. Further planned investigations are the optimization of electrode configuration and placement, to achieve a more selective stimulation and better therapeutic effects.

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS - USE OF MULTIPHASE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC UROGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF URETERAL TEAR IN A 6-DAY-OLD FOAL.

A 6-day-old foal was evaluated for depression and inappetence. After initial stabilization, the filly developed a hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis and persistent hypercreatinemia. Abdominal ultrasound revealed fluid accumulation around the left kidney and a well-defined rounded fluid filled structure dorsal to the urinary bladder. Computed tomography revealed a partial tear of the left ureter with distension of the retroperitoneal membrane. Exploratory celiotomy was performed to allow left kidney nephrectomy. At 6 months follow-up, the filly was growing normally without complications. Ultrasound and CT imaging in this case provided an accurate diagnosis and a presurgical aid to select the appropriate therapeutic approach.

Evaluation of transabdominal ultrasound as a tool for predicting the success of abdominocentesis in horses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the transabdominal ultrasonography as a tool for predicting the success of abdominocentesis in horses. Patients were included in the study if a complete transabdominal ultrasonography examination and abdominocentesis were performed as part of the clinical work-up. Ultrasonographically, the amount of peritoneal fluid was assessed using a 4-point grading system, as well as the amount of peritoneal fluid collected. A χ2 or Fischer exact test was performed to test for an association between the ultrasonography findings and fluid retrieved, and between the two grading scales. Interobserver and intraobserver agreement values were calculated using k statistics. Values of P<0.05 were considered significant; 109 horses met the inclusion criteria. Peritoneal fluid was identified ultrasonographically in 72 per cent of horses, and it was collected from 93 per cent of these cases. In horses with no peritoneal fluid identified at ultrasonography (28 per cent), fluid was collected in 70 per cent of cases. There is a significant association between transabdominal ultrasonography detection of peritoneal fluid and the likelihood to obtain a diagnostic amount of peritoneal fluid at abdominocentesis; however, even when peritoneal fluid is not detected during abdominal ultrasonography examination, an amount of peritoneal fluid useful for gross, clinicopathological and cytological evaluation can frequently be obtained.

Umbilical infections in foals: microbiological investigation and management

This study aims to investigate the bacteria involved in equine omphalitis and their susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs, and consequently to provide guidelines concerning the most suitable treatment protocol in accordance with the clinical, ultrasound and laboratory findings. Forty foals aged between one and 30 days were evaluated in the course of this investigation. An ultrasound examination of all umbilical remnants was carried out carefully in all foals; umbilical swabs were collected for bacteriological examination, and blood samples were collected for blood culture from 19 foals with fever and abnormal blood values. Bacterial omphalitis was observed in 95 per cent of foals and bacterial septicaemia was diagnosed in 11 cases. Enterobacteria and coccoid Gram-positive bacteria were isolated more frequently than Serratia marcescens, Pantoea agglomerans and Trueperella pyogenes. Omphalectomy was performed in 77.5 per cent of the foals examined; the remainder were treated only medically with antimicrobial drugs as recommended by antibiotic susceptibility testing performed for all bacteria isolated. Antibiotic therapy was successful in all foals that only received medical treatment; nevertheless, omphalectomy was performed in most cases particularly in situations of clinical decline despite antibiotic therapy and when involvement of umbilical vein, fever and joint disorders were observed.

Uterine carcinosarcoma (malignant mixed Müllerian tumor): case report in a goat and literature review

Carcinosarcomas are biphasic malignant tumors composed of 2 distinct neoplastic cell populations, epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells. A 13-y-old, female, mixed-breed goat was presented with a 1-wk history of anuria and lethargy. Transabdominal ultrasonography showed an irregular and heterogeneous structure in the region of the bladder and uterus and changes in the echogenicity of both kidneys. Given the poor prognosis, euthanasia was elected. Autopsy revealed a large mass within the uterine cervix and confirmed the changes in the urinary tract. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed a mixed, anti-cytokeratin AE1/AE3–positive epithelial, and vimentin-positive mesenchymal neoplasm consistent with a homologous carcinosarcoma, also called malignant mixed Müllerian tumor, with areas of double-labeling. We highlight the complexity of the diagnosis of uterine neoplasms in domestic animals and in goats in particular.

Ultrasonographic Technique and Appearance of Adrenal Gland in Neonatal Foals: A Pilot Study

Abstract Abnormal adrenal activity is involved in several neonatal diseases. Objectives of this pilot study were to assess the feasibility to investigate the adrenal gland in neonatal foals using the sonographic technique and to describe the ultrasonographic appearance. Eighteen neonatal foals less than 10 days of age were included in this study. Adrenal gland ultrasound was performed with a transcutaneous abdominal approach; anatomic localization, shape, and appearance were recorded. The right and left adrenal glands were located medial and cranial to kidneys hilus, between kidney and the caudal vena cava and ventral to the aorta, respectively. The right had a peanut shape in the majority; the left varied from crescent to oval‐elliptic shapes. Ultrasonographically, the cortex (hypoechogenic) was well differentiated from the medulla (echogenic), except in three foals. Adrenal glands can be assessed consistently using abdominal ultrasonography in foals. HighlightsUltrasound technique of adrenal glands in neonatal foals is described.The inner medulla is echogenic.The outer cortex is hypoechogenic.Increased echogenicity of the cortex was detected in three critical‐ill foals.