The mechanism of action of non-specific immunostimulation is induction of macrophages to produce proinflammatory cytokines that drive a T-1-based (helper cells) immune system response. Immunostimulation therapy may not be effective in patients with acute, fulminating (suddenly occurring) infections, because the immune response is (already) maximally stimulated by the pathogen.

In horses with HC, the skin separates between the deep and superficial dermis. There is no cure. A DNA test for carrier identification is not yet available, and therefore, managed breeding strategy is currently the only option for reducing the incidence of HC.

Aleman reported on a genetic problem called equine malignant hyperthermia (EMH) that can make simple anesthesia deadly for some horses. Malignant hyperthermia-like episodes in the horse have been associated with drugs such as halothane, isoflurane, succinylcholine, and caffeine.

Rhodococcus equi is the most common cause of severe pneumonia in foals. However, despite intensive research, the reasons some foals get this pneumonia and some don’t are not known.

Septicemia is loosely defined as bacteria or bacterial components in the bloodstream. In foals, septicemia is the most common cause of death in the first week of life, noted Simon Peek, BVSc, MRCVS, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, clinical associate professor of large animal internal medicine, theriogenology, and infectious diseases at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Veterinary Medicine, at the 50th

This disease has nothing to do with birds; it got its name from the inflammation seen in the chest region of some affected horses that makes them look like they have a puffed-out pigeon’s breast. Also known as dryland distemper, the disease is caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Research at the University of California, Davis, has indicated that insect vectors play a significant

When a horse has to be on an antibiotics for long periods, the oral route of administration is preferable. However, the choices available to horse owners are limited. Cornelia D. Nieuwoudt, PharmD, director of the pharmacy at Texas A&M University and formerly with Johns Hopkins University, discussed using a gel formulation of the antibiotic enrofloxacin in horses at the 50th annual American

James Kenney, DVM, of New Jersey, and Mary Bell, VMD, of Canada, chaired an open session to discuss therapeutic options to a room packed with 60-70 practitioners at the 50th annual American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Denver, Colo., Dec. 4-8, 2004. Through a show of hands, the majority of folks in the room used therapeutic options themselves or were

Stashak says many of the newer dressings are designed to create a moist wound healing environment, which allows the wound fluids to remain in contact with wound. A moist wound that is free of infection provides an environment rich in white blood cells, enzymes, and growth factors beneficial to wound healing.

A few dollars vs. thousands of dollars, or total loss? Do you sometimes wonder if horse owners should be made to act more like car owners? For cars, it’s mandated that you must have insurance to protect you, and the people around you. Bad things happen. You aren’t always in control. The same is true for your horses. Except in the case of horses, your insurance often comes from a bottle

The creation of the long fiberoptic flexible endoscope opened a new world to equine veterinarians and researchers who for the first time were able to view a living horse’s stomach. What they found was that horses get gastric ulcers frequently associated with exercise and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use.

It is known in humans that long-term use of NSAIDs can cause small

Touted as the 2005 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale Prayer Breakfast, the Blue Grass Farms Chaplaincy (a division of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America) held a well-attended meeting at Keeneland the morning of Jan. 13 to give insight into its programs and encourage participation and support from the industry. The needs range from as simple as sponsoring a Bible to large financial

Wet weather is known to give rise to increases in some equine diseases, including botulism, Potomac horse fever, and mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, and Eastern, Western, and Venezuelean equine encephalitis. One veterinarian at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute (HEMI) in Lexington, Ky., noted that the hospital has seen a higher incidence of adult botulism cases in the

The amazing part of the problem for our horses is that while stress is a known cause for ulcers, it can take only a matter of days for ulcers to start. And besides GastroGard, the only approved treatment is to take horses out of training and put them out to pasture. So, it looks like gastric ulcer syndrome in horses is often a man-made disease, and we should be aware of it and help our horses.

The Dec. 5 open forum discussion of pre-purchase exams at sales covered several topics critical to consignors, buyers, and veterinarians at the 50th anniversary meeting of the American Association of Equine Practitioners in Denver, Colo. A task force headed by Dr. Criag VanBalen has created a video of endoscopic exams of throats showing what has been agreed upon as grades 1-4 relating to

On Dec. 1, we received additional information from the Hunter Valley Equine Research Centre (HVERC), a research facility adjacent to Scone racetrack in the heart of the Australian breeding area, on a problem that is causing sporadic abortions throughout the area in mid- to late-term pregnancies. This disease has been termed equine amnionitis and fetal loss (EAFL). Some researchers and