Richard L. Asquith

Effect of exogenous gonadal steroids and pregnancy on uterine luminal prostaglandin F in mares.

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of exogenous hormone treatment on uterine luminal prostaglandin F (PGF). In the first experiment ovariectomized pony mares received either corn oil (21 days, n = 3), estradiol valerate (21 days, n = 3), progesterone (21 days, n = 3) or estradiol valerate (7 days) followed by progesterone (14 days, n = 4). Progesterone treated mares had higher (P less than .01) uterine luminal PGF compared with all other groups, and no differences were detected between other treatment comparisons. In Experiment II, uterine fluid was collected from 4 ovariectomized horse mares before and after treatment with estradiol valerate (7 days) followed by progesterone (50 days). Pretreatment uterine luminal PGF levels were lower (P less than .001) than post-treatment levels (.03 vs 76.80 ng/ml). In a third experiment PGF was measured in uterine fluid of pony mares on days 8, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 of the estrous cycle and pregnancy. In nonpregnant mares a day effect (P less than .03) was observed in which uterine fluid PGF increased during the late luteal phase and declined thereafter. In contrast, no day effect was observed in pregnant animals and uterine luminal PGF was lower (P less than .001) than in cycling animals. These studies indicate that exogenous progesterone administration results in a large increase in uterine luminal PGF, whereas, pregnancy results in suppression. Taken collectively with previous work from our laboratory, these results suggest that while the endometrium of pregnant mares is capable of producing large amounts of PGF, the presence of a conceptus impedes its synthesis and/or release which allows for luteal maintenance.

A REVIEW OF THE USE OF ACUPUNCTURE FOR TREATMENT OF EQUINE BACK PAIN

Summary Poor performance due to back pain is a commonproblem in the horse industry. Alternative modalities using herbal medicine and acupuncture are useful and effective for this condition. Eleven acupuncture techniques for the treatment of equine back pain are summarized in this paper. Acupuncture treatment for back muscular atrophy and acupuncture mechanism of pain relief are also discussed.

A comparison of two programs (pyrantel tartrate administered daily and 3X pyrantel pamoate adminitered at 8-week intervals) for the reduction of tapeworm EPG in the horse

Summary A 26-week study was conducted with 24 horses to compare the effectiveness of two different treatment regimens in reducing the number of tapeworm eggs per gram (EPG) of feces. Ten horses were treated daily with 2.6 mg/kg of pyrantel tartrate (approved normal dosage for nematodes). Eleven horses received pyrantel pamoate at 8-week intervals at 19.8 mg/kg (3X the normal use for nematodes). Three horses served as controls and received ivermectin at 8-week intervals. Levels of tapeworm EPG were monitored at 2-week intervals for the duration of the 26-week period of study. Prior to administration of the first treatment, all 24 horses had positive EPG counts. Following the second week of treatment, no tapeworm eggs were detected in fecal samples of the 10 horses treated with pyrantel tartrate. Of the 11 horses treated with 3X pyrantel pamoate at 8-week intervals, one to two at each sample collection date had positive tapeworm EPG counts through the tenth week following the initial treatment, that is, through two weeks following the second 3X pyrantel pamoate treatment. Of the three control horses treated only with invermectin, at least one, and sometimes all three, had positive EPG counts at each collection date, indicating continuous tapeworm infection.

Hematologic development in foals receiving intravenous iron supplementation

Summary Seventeen healthy Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse foals were divided into control (n=8) and treated (n=9) groups and studied from birth until 4 months of age. Foals in the treated group were intravenously injected with an experimental drug containing 0.4 g of iron in the form of a polynuclear complex of carbohydrate and ferric hydroxide on days 7, 14, 21 and 28, for a total dosage of 1.6 g of iron. Foals had access to Bermuda grass hay and Bahia pasture. A creep feed formulated with no trace mineral supplement was provided after two months of age. Hemoglobin concentration, hematecrit, erythrocyte counts, mean cell volume, microcyte numbers, plasma protein, fibrinogen, total leucocyte count, serum iron, total iron binding capacity and serum ferritin values were determined at 8 different ages. On the basis of analysis of variance at P

The 18th Annual International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS)

Hurricane Iniki had her way with the island of Kauai and the leeward side of Oahu, but the great god Peld and the demigod Maui were benevolent and receptive to a last minute change of venue. From Friday, when the devastating storm struck and caused major damage to the Coco Palms Resort onKauai, until the following Wednesday an intrepid group oforganizers moved the site ofthe WAS congress to the Stoeffer Hotel on Wailea Beach on Maui for a very successful meeting. The IVAS does not reject other allied health systems and the program presented several opinions of animal health care including vetefimiy chiropractic, herbology, nutrition and the combination of these modalities on several species of animals. Dr. Allen Schoen, a well-known veterinary practitioner and lecturer from Sherman, CT delivered several lectures during the congress and initiated the program with a discussion regarding the philosophy of acupuncture and the physiology. He described the principles of this type of health care, reminding the new members of the group that it is still a major form of medical treatment for nearly one quarter of the worlds population, originating in the Orient over 4000 years ago. Only recently has Western medicine recognized this treatment as a

Serum lipoprotein, biochemical and hematologic analyses in equine infectious anemia sero-positive ponies*

Summary Blood samples were analyzed from a group of 24 ponies, 19 of which had tested sero-positive for equine infectious anemia at three consecutive intervals. The five ponies which had tested negative on all occasions served as a control group. Physical examination of the animals including temperature, pulse, respiration, qualitative assessment of conjunctival icterus and depression revealed no significant abnormalities. Sera were analyzed for alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyl transferase activities, triglyceride, cholesterol, total and direct bilirubin, and iron concentrations and iron binding capacities. Serum lipoproteins were separated into alpha and beta fractions by agarose gel electrophoresis. Serum haptoglocin and complete blood profiles were also determined. The packed cell volume, serum haptoglobin concentrations and gamma glutamyl transferase activities were significantly decreased and a slight monocytosis was noted in the EIA positive group. No differences in serum alpha and beta lipoproteins or alpha/beta ratio were seen. Complete blood counts including differential white cell quantitation were also unaffected. The animals were mildly anemic with some signs of liver involvement. Alterations of serum lipoproteins, however, were not observed. It is concluded that previously reported lipoprotein alterations in animals with equine infectious anemia were most likely due to anorexia of advanced disease secondary to the clinical illness and not a primary effect of virus infection.