An 8 year old male Pinto horse (Equus caballus) had a history of chronic exudative nodular balanopostitis complicated by secondary bacterial infection dating back to 4 years. Severe chronic wasting, oliguria, stranguria, polydipsia and lymphoadenomegaly of bubos femurales and pre-scapular areas were noted. Euthanasia was performed. Later necropsy was performed systematically by the techniques described for horses. Tissue sections were taken for histopathological examination and were processed by conventional methods. Fecal samples were taken for parasitological studies. Gross examination revealed severe chronic wasting, and exudative balanoposthitis with severe chronic secondary bacterial infection. Evidenced hydroperitoneum lymphoadenomegaly of mesenteric nodes were also observed. Histological sections showed severe chronic balanoposthitis, with focal cell proliferation of squamous cell...

Multiple resistance to antibiotics was determined in bacterial isolates from Thoroughbred horses at the National Race Track «La Rinconada», Caracas, Venezuela. From a population of 128 horses in 2009, 12 did not respond to antibacterial treatment despite being treated for 7 days with gentamicin (6 mg/kg), penicillin (22,000 IU/kg) and ceftiofur (4 mg/kg). Necropsy was conducted and tissue samples were collected from abscesses in septic arthritis (4), abscess in endocardium (1), suppurative esophagitis (2), laryngeal granuloma (1), pneumonia (2), pyelonephritis (1) and dermatitis (1). Samples were placed in Stuart transport medium and cultured. The bacterial isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility. E. coli was isolated in 12 cases (75%), Proteus mirabilis in 2 (12.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 1 (6.25%), and Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus in 1 (6.25%). The bacte...

The aim of this study was to describe gastric, hepatic, and renal lesions inThoroughbred Racing horses associated to the equine gastric ulcer syndrome. Thirtyhorses with a history of gastric ulcer syndrome and recurrent colic during 2006 to 2007 atthe Race Track «La Rinconada», Caracas, Venezuela were evaluated. Horses were euthanized and the necropsy was conducted. Tissue samples were collected from stomach,liver and kidney, and processed by conventional histological methods. In the stomach,the mucosa was intact but areas of hyperaemia and hyperkeratosis were observed in 6cases, multifocal small erosions or ulcers in 6 cases, multifocal large ulcers with areas ofextensive erosion in 12 cases and extensive areas of ulceration with exposure of thesubmucosa in 6 cases. The macroscopic evaluation of the liver showed evidenthepatomegaly in 22 cases and lobular pattern in 18 cases. The kidn...

A clinical and pathological study was conducted on musculoskeletal catastrophic lesions of the locomotive apparatus occurred in 78 Thoroughbred horses in the racetrack «La Rinconada», Caracas, Venezuela, during 2000 to 2007. Blood samples were collected for hematological, biochemical and parathormone analysis in blood. Also, urine samples for phosphate levels. All animals were euthanized due to severe lesions, and bone, tendons, stomach, kidney and liver samples were taken for by histopathology evaluation. Clinical exams revealed lameness grade IV-V in all animals. Losses of bone continuity (fracture) occurred in all cases, and exposition of bone structures, joint damage, rupture of tendons and ligaments and vascular destruction were observed in 60% of them. The types of fractures were comminuted (60%), oblique (25%) and spiral (15%). Blood and urine values were affected. Necropsy show...

Se determinó la resistencia múltiple a los antibióticos en aislados bacteriales de caballos Pura Sangre en el Hipódromo «La Rinconada», Caracas, Venezuela durante el 2009. Se trabajó con una población de 128 caballos, donde 12 no respondieron al tratamiento contra infecciones adquiridas, pese a ser tratados durante 7 días con gentamicina (6 mg/kg), penicilina (22.000 UI/kg) y ceftiofur sódico (4 mg/kg). Se practicó la necropsia y se tomaron muestras de tejido de abscesos en artritis séptica (4), endocarditis con abscesos (1), esofagitis supurada (2), granuloma laríngeo (1), neumonía (2), pielonefritis (1) y dermatitis (1). Las muestras se colocaron en medio de transporte Stuart y fueron cultivadas. Los aislados fueron sometidos a una prueba de susceptibilidad antibacterial. La bacteria E. coli fue aislada en 12 casos (75%), Proteus mirabilis en 2 (12.5%), Pseudomonas aerugi...

The aim of this study was to describe gastric, hepatic, and renal lesions inThoroughbred Racing horses associated to the equine gastric ulcer syndrome. Thirtyhorses with a history of gastric ulcer syndrome and recurrent colic during 2006 to 2007 atthe Race Track «La Rinconada», Caracas, Venezuela were evaluated. Horses were euthanized and the necropsy was conducted. Tissue samples were collected from stomach,liver and kidney, and processed by conventional histological methods. In the stomach,the mucosa was intact but areas of hyperaemia and hyperkeratosis were observed in 6cases, multifocal small erosions or ulcers in 6 cases, multifocal large ulcers with areas ofextensive erosion in 12 cases and extensive areas of ulceration with exposure of thesubmucosa in 6 cases. The macroscopic evaluation of the liver showed evidenthepatomegaly in 22 cases and lobular pattern in 18 cases. The kidn...

Se hizo un estudio clínico-patológico de las lesiones músculo-esqueléticas catastróficas ocurridas en pruebas públicas en el Hipódromo “La Rinconada”, Caracas, Venezuela, entre el 2000 al 2007. Se trabajó con 78 equinos Pura Sangre de Carrera con lesiones del aparato locomotor. Se colectó muestras de sangre para estudio hematológico, bioquímico y hormonal (paratohormona), así como muestras de orina para determinar niveles de fosfatos. Se les practicó la eutanasia debido a la severidad de las lesiones y se realizó la necropsia. Se tomó secciones de tejido óseo para determinación de calcio y fósforo, y de tejido muscular, tendinoso, gástrico, renal y hepático para estudio histológico. Los exámenes clínicos revelaron claudicación grado IV-V en todos los animales. La pérdida de continuidad ósea (fracturas) ocurrió en todos los casos, y exposición de estructura...

Eight hundred and ninety four 2-year old thorough bred race horses (Equus caballus), 400 males and 494 females from breeding centers in the central region of Venezuela were studied for intestinal parasites. Stool specimens were examined using McMaster flotation technique (Willis-Molloy) during the quarantine period in 2011 at the Racetrack "La Rinconada" Caracas, Venezuela. Strongyle eggs were found in 553 horses, Parascaris equorum eggs in 69 specimens, and Oxyurus equi in 8. A total of 264 specimens were negative. The highest percentage of parasites observed was 62% Strongyles, 8% P. equorum, Oxyurus equi 1% and 30% were negative for the presence of parasite eggs. The presence of equine infected with strongyles remained within the range of 600-1900 HPG, while in P. equorum, HPG was 350-800 and O. equi had a mean of 400 HPG. These results suggest flaws in the health plan specifically to...

650 horses (Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758), race Thoroughbred Race, 300 male and 350 female were studied, all of two years old, from breeding centers in the central region of Venezuela by stool by McMaster flotation technique (Willis-Molloy) during the quarantine period 2010 at the Racetrack "La Rinconada" Caracas, Venezuela. Parasitological study revealed the presence of Strongyle eggs in 477 horses (73%), Parascaris equorum (Goeze, 1782) eggs in 23 (4%) and 150 (23%) were negative. The presence of strongylos remained within the range of 550-1850 HPG (Eggs per g of stool), while P. equorum was 250-600 HPG. These results suggestive an inadequate health plan and specifically to control parasites. It is possible the parasite resistance to conventional use, but this may be associated with climate changes that alter the life cycle of these parasites. In conclusion, we reported the presence o...

A thoroughbred race horses, of 2 years old and male was remited. With history of severe emaciation, rough hair and sporadic chronic diarrhea. Previous stool examinations showed HPG 1850 (eggs per g of feces) of Strongylus spp. The employee was treated with Ivermectin 0.2 mg. kg-1 single dose orally. Necropsy was performed and tissue samples were taken for histopathological study, the same as those processed by conventional methods. Additionally, intestinal contents were sampled for parasitological studies. Macroscopic findings were severe emaciation, rough hair and pale mucous membranes. It was noticed gastric ulcer syndrome, hemorrhagic enteritis in the small intestine with chronic focal presence of parasitic forms of 3-5 cm and type cysts, and hemomelasma ilei. The histological sections showed proliferative enteritis by a lymphocytic infiltrate and few eosinophils. Parasitic cysts were...

Three donkeys (Equus asinus Linnaeus, 1758), two males and a female sex, between 5-8 years of old, inathletic shape, in Choroni, Aragua, Venezuela were examined. Clinical examination evidenced hirsute hair and moderate body condition. Nodular dermatitis like skin lesions showed crusted erythematous to chronic ulcerated center with edges of reepithelialization complicated. Tissue sections were taken from skin in affected area described above, by excision biopsy technique. The samples were fixed in 10% formalin and processed by conventional histological processing and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Additional special stains used included PAS, Giemsa and Grocott. The histological section showed nodular erosive ulcerative crusting dermatitis. Perivascular dermatitis type I and inflammatory infiltrate were observed. Mononuclear lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophilic plasmocytorio...