Equine Gastrointestinal Tract Research Articles

Adhesion of Lactobacillus reuteri strain Lr1 to equine epithelial cells and competitive exclusion of Clostridium difficile from the gastro-intestinal tract of horses

Lactobacillus reuteri Lr1, isolated from healthy horses, remained viable after 2 h at pH 2.0 and in the presence of 1.5 % (w/v) bile. Strain Lr1 survived passage through the equine gastro-intestinal tract (GIT). However, no viable cells of L. reuteri Lr1 were detected on the third day after administration, suggesting that the strain did not colonise the GIT for longer than two days. Strain Lr1 adhered to non-viable, but not to viable, buccal epithelial cells in vitro. Adherence of strain Lr1 to buccal epithelial cells increased 25 % after treatment of the bacterial cells with pepsin. Treatment with pronase prevented the adhesion to epithelial cells. This suggested that specific proteins on the cell surface of L. reuteri Lr1 are involved in adhesion to epithelial cells. Strain Lr1 aggregated with Clostridium difficile C6, isolated from the GIT of a horse that died from severe colic. Adherence of C. difficile C6 to epithelial cells declined from 60 % to 3 % when challenged with L. reuteri Lr1 and the number of viable clostridia decreased tenfold during dosage. Red blood cell, haemoglobin and haemocrit levels were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower after dosage with L. reuteri Lr1. Cholesterol and glucose levels were mildly elevated for one day during dosage, but decreased significantly thereafter to levels similar than before dosage. Genes encoding adhesion to collagen, production of aggregation substances, cytolysin and β hemolysin III, resistance to vancomycin A, B and C, and gelatinase activity were not detected, suggesting that L. reuteri Lr1 is a potential probiotic that may be used to control C. difficile cell numbers in the GIT.

Comparison of intestinal contents from different regions of the equine gastrointestinal tract as inocula for use in an in vitro gas production technique

The aim of the experiment reported here was to compare equine faeces with inocula obtained from equine caecum, ventral colon and dorsal colon for use in the in vitro gas production technique. Freeze-dried grass (FDG), high-temperature dried grass (HDG) and unmolassed sugar beet pulp (BP) were incubated with either caecal fluid (C), dosal colonic fluid (D), ventral colonic fluid (V) or faeces (F) as the source of inoculum. Substrate/inocula combinations were fermented using an in vitro gas production (GP) technique. Mathematical analysis of cumulative gas production curves revealed an interaction (P<0.001) between inocula and substrate for all of the in vitro parameters measured. However, similar extents of gas production were seen for inocula obtained from caecal fluid and faeces across all substrates, with lower values obtained from bottles incubated with colonic fluid. Thus, results indicate that faeces are a suitable alternative to caecal fluid; however, it would appear that they are less effective in modelling fermentation in the colon. Consequently, further work is required to determine the use of faeces as an alternative to caecal and colonic fluid and to further investigate inocula/substrate interactions.

Current feeding and exercise practices the day of the race in French Standardbred trotters

s / Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 33 (2013) 321-399 348 subsequently omitted from analysis. Reads were analyzed utilizing BLASTn 2.2.23+ and MEGAN (Altschul et al., 1990; Huson et al., 2007) for identification and classification. To detect significant differences in microbial taxa abundance among the samples collected during the different states, we adopted a randomization approach and applied a Bonferroni correction. Of the 319 known taxa that were identified, 19 were unique to the colic state, and 10 were unique to the post-colic state. There were 21 ubiquitous microbes identified. The unique taxa identified in the colic samples included representatives of the phyla Firmicutes (5), Bacteroidetes (3), Proteobacteria (1) and Fusobacteria (1). The unique taxa found in the post-colic samplesincluded microbes from the phyla Firmicutes (11), Proteobacteria (6), Bacteroidetes (1), and Lentisphaerae (1). When the two samples were numerically compared, seventeen microorganisms had significantly greater numbers of reads in the post-colic sample (P < 0.05), while four had significantly greater numbers of reads in the colic sample (P < 0.05). All samples collected during the colic state had greater reads of Clostridium phytofermentans, an uncultured clostridiales bacterium, and Bacteroidetes, as well as an uncultured bacteroidetes bacterium. These data are the first to elucidate specific changes within the microbiome of the equine gastrointestinal tract during a colic episode. Further research is needed to elucidate the role of microbiome changes in the occurrence of and recovery from colic. Current feeding and exercise practices the day of the race in French Standardbred trotters J. Fortier , V. Julliand , P.A. Harris , and A.G. Goachet 1 1 URANIE-USC Nutrition du Cheval Athlete, AgroSup Dijon, France, WALTHAM Center for Pet Nutrition Trainers’ expertise and experience form the foundation for managing trotting horses. Although there are some studies on general feeding and training practices of French trotters [1,2,3] no data is available for the race-day itself. Therefore during theMeeting of Paris-Vincennes 2012, 20 trainers from the Grosbois training center were surveyed from the night before until the day after a race. When in training, horses were all routinely fedmorning,midday and eveningmeals of a concentrate (mainlypellets). 70%of trainersprovidedhay in themorning and eveningwith 20% also giving hayatmidday. When racing, horses arrived at the racetrack two to three hours before the start of the race (usually early afternoon). Before transportation to the racetrack, most trainers (95%) modified themidday concentrate meal either by eliminating (15%), decreasing (20%), feeding earlier (5%), feeding less earlier (15%), giving later (w 1 hour before race: 15%) or varied according to race time and location (25%). Only two of the four trainers who fed hay at midday maintained such apracticeon thedayof the race.During transportation,60%of trainers did not offer hay. On arrival at the racetrack, horses were housed individually on straw with no automatic waterer. Grazing muzzles were immediately fitted or horses were restrained in order to prevent straw ingestion. Just before warming-up 25% of the trainers gave direct oral supplementation e.g. glycerine, salt, honey or alleged antigastric-ulcer products. Warm up consisted of either two 10 min runs or “heats” (56% of trainers) at approximately 5.8 m.s-1 to8.3m.s-1undertakenat90and45minbefore the race start, or one 15 min “heat” at 5.8 m.s-1 (44% of trainers) undertaken 60 min before the start. 45% of trainers did not offer water between warm-up and race start whereas 50% provided a small amount just to « soak the lips », and 5% offered water ad-libitum. After the race, recovery was typically conducted at a slow trot (w 5.6 m.s-1) on the racetrack for 5-10 min until the horses returned to the truck or stall, where they were hand walked until their resting respiratory rate was reached. Typically the evening concentrate meal after a race was replaced by a cerealbran mash (75% of trainers)which often included electrolytes (55%of cases) and sometimes additional selenium (10%). The day after the race, the hay and concentrate rations provided were similar to a non-racing, exercise day in 95% of barns, although the horses were not being exercised. Some of these feeding and exercise practices could impact performance and require further investigation.

The relationship of coprophagy to fecal microbial species richness in neonatal foals

It is commonly accepted that neonates are born with sterile gastrointestinal (GI) tracts and that the normal GI bacteria are established at some point after birth. In horses, the consumption of maternal feces by the neonatal foal has been suggested as an important mechanism for establishing the resident GI bacterial flora. The aim of this study was to determine if coprophagy plays a role in the colonization of commensal bacteria species in the neonatal equine GI tract. Thoroughbred mare-foal pairs (n ¼ 5) were monitored starting immediately post-foaling for 4 d via surveillance cameras. Cameras were positioned in stalls or day-pens to allow continual observation of mares and foals. Recordings were downloaded to a computer and watched to observe the frequency of coprophagy by foals. Fecal samples were collected from the mare and foal by rectal palpation starting with the passing of the foal’s meconium and at approximately 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 d after foaling. Samples were frozen at -20 � C and later processed. Microbial DNA was extracted and the small ribosomal subunit (16s rRNA gene) was amplified then subjected to PCRdenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) using a 40-60% gradient. Comparisons between banding patterns in fecal samples of a mare and her foal were made using Dice 0 s index and UPGMA. Data are reported as percent similarity between mare and foal at 0, 0.5,1, and 4 d. When PCR-DGGE was performed on the meconium of foals, no bands were observed (% similarity ¼ 0). By 0.5 d, only 3 of 5 foals had developed banding on gels, resulting in a simi

Lactobacillus equigenerosi Strain Le1 Invades Equine Epithelial Cells

Lactobacillus equigenerosi strain Le1, a natural inhabitant of the equine gastrointestinal tract, survived pH 3.0 and incubation in the presence of 1.5% (wt/vol) bile salts for at least 2 h. Strain Le1 showed 8% cell surface hydrophobicity, 60% auto-aggregation, and 47% coaggregation with Clostridium difficile C6. Only 1% of the cells adhered to viable buccal epithelial cells and invaded the cells within 20 min after contact. Preincubation of strain Le1 in a buffer containing pronase prevented adhesion to viable epithelial cells. Preincubation in a pepsin buffer delayed invasion from 20 min to 1 h. Strain Le1 did not adhere to nonviable epithelial cells. Administration of L. equigenerosi Le1 (1 × 10(9) CFU per 50 kg body weight) to healthy horses did not increase white blood cell numbers. Differential white blood cell counts and aspartate aminotransferase levels remained constant. Glucose, lactate, cholesterol, and urea levels remained constant during administration with L. equigenerosi Le1 but decreased during the week after administration.

Motility of the equine gastrointestinal tract: Physiology and pharmacotherapy

SummaryNormal gastrointestinal (GI) motility patterns are necessary to maintain transit of ingesta and to facilitate digestion and absorption of nutrients. Disorders of the equine GI tract are frequently encountered by the equine practitioner and these disorders are often associated with an interruption in normal intestinal motility patterns, thus complicating treatment of the primary disease. Consequently, numerous treatments have been investigated in horses to facilitate the return of normal intestinal motility. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief review of the anatomy and physiology of the GI tract in the horse and review medications available to the equine veterinarian that may potentially promote intestinal motility.

The interstitial cells of Cajal of the equine gastrointestinal tract: What we know so far

Gastrointestinal motility disorders are a serious problem in both veterinary and human medicine and may represent a dysfunction of the neural, muscular or pacemaker components (interstitial cells of Cajal) of bowel control. The interstitial cells of Cajal are considered to be the pacemakers and mediators of certain forms of neurotransmission in the gastrointestinal tract. These cells have been implicated, either primarily or secondarily, in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal disease processes in which there is a prominent element of disturbance to intestinal motility. In the horse, their involvement has been implicated in large intestinal obstructive colic and grass sickness (equine dysautonomia). This review highlights the properties of the interstitial cells of Cajal and the role these cells play in orchestrating gastrointestinal motility patterns. In addition, it examines their role in intestinal motility disorders and summarises our current understanding of their importance in the equine gastrointestinal tract.

In vitro predatory activity of nematophagous fungi and after passing through gastrointestinal tract of equine on infective larvae of Strongyloides westeri

Three isolates of predator fungi Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001), Monacrosporium thaumasium (NF34), and Arthrobotrys robusta (I-31) were assessed in in vitro test regarding the capacity of prey infective larvae (L(3)) Strongyloides westeri. Compared to control, without fungus, there was a significant decrease (P < 0.01) of 80.4%, 67.9%, and 72.8% in means of infective larvae S. westeri recovered from treatments with isolates AC001, NF34, and I-31, respectively. All tested isolates were efficient in the capture of S. westeri (P > 0.01) in vitro test. Linear regression coefficients of treated and control groups were -0.21 for control, -0.32 for D. flagrans, -0.34 for M. thaumasium, and -0.22 for A. robusta. In the following, isolates AC001 and NF34 were assessed in vivo regarding the capacity of supporting the passage through equine gastrointestinal tract without loss of ability of preying infective larvae S. westeri. Fungal isolates survived the passage and were efficient in preying L(3) since the first 12 h of collection (P < 0.01) in relation to the control group (without fungus). Compared to control, there was a significant decrease (P < 0.01) of 76.4% and 76.7% (12 h), 86.4% and 85.9% (24 h), 88.3% and 87.7% (48 h), and 89.9% and 87.2% (72 h) in means of infective larvae S. westeri recovered from treatments with isolates AC001 and NF34, respectively. Linear regression coefficients of L(3) of recovered S. westeri regarding the collections due to time were 1.93 for control, -3.52 for AC001, and -2.64 for NF34. Fungi D. flagrans and M. thaumasium (NF34) have demonstrated to be promising for use in the biological control of equine parasite S. westeri.

Digestion of cereals in the equine gastrointestinal tract measured by the mobile bag technique on caecally cannulated horses

The mobile bags procedure was used to measure the disappearance of starch and proteins in the precaecal as well as in the total intestinal tract of four caecally cannulated horses. Experimental grains were oats, barley and maize, each in four different forms: ground, pelleted, extruded and micronized. The horses had 16 to 20 mobile nylon bags containing one of the experimental cereals intubated through a nasogastric tube together with the morning meal. Some of the bags were captured with a magnet through the caecal cannula and analysed for contents of starch and protein. The remaining bags were captured from the faeces and underwent the same analysis, and the digestibilities in the different parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract were calculated. Oats had a high degree of starch digestibility (0.949 precaecally and 0.990 totally), considerably higher ( P<0.05) than barley (0.705 precaecally and 0.960 totally) and maize (0.663 precaecally and 0.910 totally). However, oats had a higher precaecal digestibility of protein ( P<0.10), but a lower total tract digestibility than the other grains ( P<0.01). The high-temperature treated cereals (extruded and micronized) had a higher total tract digestibility of protein than the untreated cereals ( P<0.01). The pelleted and micronized cereals had the highest precaecal digestibility of protein. Differences in digestibility should be considered when formulating rations for the athletic horse.

Molecular insights into dietary induced colic in the horse

Equine colic, a disorder manifested in abdominal pain, is the most frequent cause of emergency treatment and death in horses. Colic often requires intestinal surgery, subsequent hospitalisation and post operative care, with a strong risk of complications arising from surgery. Therefore strategies that explore approaches for preventing the condition are essential. To this end, a better understanding of the factors and mechanisms that lead to the development of colic and related intestinal diseases in the horse allows the design of preventive procedures. Colic is a multifactorial disorder that appears to be induced by environmental factors and possibly a genetic predisposition. One factor that seems to influence the risk of developing colic is the excessive consumption of diets containing high levels of carbohydrates. Therefore, major efforts have been made by various laboratories and institutions across the world to study the type and digestibility of various feed in order to formulate accurate and safe feed components and proportions. However, relatively little work has been carried out to characterise, in detail, the carbohydrate digestive and absorptive capacity and mechanisms underlying the potential adaptive response of equine gut epithelium to a changing diet. This review focuses on advances made towards understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in digestion and absorption of dietary carbohydrates in the equine gastrointestinal tract and the implication of these processes for the whole body physiology. It addresses the underlying mechanisms that may govern the adaptive response of equine small intestine to increased dietary hydrolysable carbohydrates. Furthermore, it describes changes that occur in the equine large intestinal microbiology and host tissue biology brought about by alterations in diet and in colic. It is hoped that a better understanding of the molecular and cellular processes that play important roles in the physiology and pathology of the equine gastrointestinal tract will assist the development of effective strategies to prevent equine colic.

Foal-Heat Diarrhea Is Not Caused by the Presence of Yeasts in Gastrointestinal Tract of Foals

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a normal yeast flora is present in the intestine of healthy foals and whether establishing yeast flora or yeast overgrowth might be associated with foal-heat diarrhea. Among the sampled foals, 49% showed foal-heat diarrhea and 28.3% were positive for yeasts. Candida famata was isolated 9 times; Geotrichum sp., 6; Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 5; Cryptococcus laurentii, 4; Rhodotorula sp., 3; Zygosaccharomyces sp., 2; and Candida colliculosa, Candida globosa, and Candida pelliculosa 1 time, respectively. The colony-forming unit ranged from 1 to 10 in all positive cultures. Fifteen of 92 (16.3%) foals with heat diarrhea and 11 of 92 (11.9%) asymptomatic animals yielded positive samples for yeasts. None of the animals shed the same yeast more than 2 times consecutively, and yeasts were found in pure or mixed culture. Equine gastrointestinal tract did not appear to be colonized by yeasts during the first 15 days of life, and yeasts are not involved in foal-heat diarrhea.

Acute in vivo interactions of Helicobacter equorum with its equine host

A novel urease-negative Helicobacter species has been isolated from faecal samples of clinically healthy horses, but no information is available about the main sites of colonisation in the equine gastrointestinal tract nor is the pathogenic potential of this microorganism known. An experimental infection in horses was therefore carried out. Four horses were infected with H. equorum strain CCUG 52199T and subjected to euthanasia at 10 (n = 2) and 30 days (n = 2) post inoculation. A fifth animal was inoculated with phosphate buffered saline and used as control. Gastrointestinal samples were examined histologically and bacteriologically. These samples, as well as faecal material collected at regular intervals, were also subjected to PCR analysis. All horses remained clinically healthy and no specific macroscopic lesions were identified, nor were there any microscopic changes. H. equorum-DNA was detected in the faeces during the whole experiment in all infected animals but not in the negative control. Sites of colonisation were caecum, colon and rectum. H. equorum is able to colonise the equine lower bowel and is excreted in faeces without apparent pathology. No association between the presence of the organism and gastrointestinal disease was demonstrated.

Models for estimating digesta passage kinetics in the gastrointestinal tract of the horse

Fecal samples were collected to evaluate mathematical models to describe the kinetics of digesta passage in the segments of the equine gastrointestinal tract and to compare the passage kinetics of hay and oats. Four Norwegian Cold-blooded trotters (cecally cannulated, approximately 500 kg of BW) were fed Cr-mordanted hay and Yb-marked oats with their morning meal. The meal consisted of 2 kg of hay and 1 kg of oats processed as ground, pelleted, extruded, or micronized. Each horse was fed each type of oats on different days of collection, after a 5-d adaptation period, in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Fecal samples were collected 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 48, and 52 h after administration of the marker dose. The samples were analyzed for Cr and Yb, and values were plotted using 1- and 2-compartment nonlinear passage models and an algebraic model. The 1-compartment G4 model and the 2-compartment G4G1 model showed an equally good fit to the observed excretion curves, based on low mean square error and SE. The excretion curves for hay (Cr) and oats (Yb) showed a striking similarity, and there seemed to be no difference in retention time between hay and oats in the horse. The mixing compartments in the horse are believed to be the cecum or both the cecum and the right ventral and dorsal segments of the colon, but further research in this area is needed to make a final conclusion.

The genetic diversity of lactic acid producing bacteria in the equine gastrointestinal tract

Seventy-two lactic acid producing bacterial isolates (excluding streptococci) were cultured from the gastrointestinal tract of six horses. Two of the horses were orally dosed with raftilose to induce lactic acidosis and laminitis while the remaining four were maintained on a roughage diet. Near complete 16S rDNA was amplified by PCR from the genomic DNA of each isolate. Following RFLP analysis with the restriction enzymes MboI, HhaI and HinfI, the PCR products from the 18 isolates that produced l- and/or d-lactate were subsequently cloned and sequenced. DNA sequence analysis indicated that the majority of the isolates were closely related to species within the genus Lactobacillus, including Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus mucosae and Lactobacillus delbrueckii. Four isolates were closely related to Mitsuokella jalaludinii. Lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB) from the equine gastrointestinal tract was dominated by representatives from the genus Lactobacillus, but also included d-lactate-producing bacteria closely related to M. jalaludinii. Identification and characterization of LAB from the equine gastrointestinal tract should contribute to our understanding and management of fermentative acidosis, ulceration of the stomach and laminitis.

Congenital abnormalities of the equine gastrointestinal tract

Congenital abnormalities of the equine gastrointestinal tract

Immunohistochemical localization of Clostridium perfringens beta2-toxin in the gastrointestinal tract of horses.

Clostridia-associated intestinal disease in horses was generally reported to be due to infection with Clostridium perfringens type A, which harbors the cpa-encoded alpha-toxin. A recent study demonstrated a high incidence of beta2-toxigenic C. perfringens in horses suffering or dying from typhlocolitis, suggesting that this novel type of C. perfringens might play an important role in typhlocolitis and possibly other equine intestinal diseases. A retrospective study was conducted to assess the presence of the beta2-toxin in tissues of the equine gastrointestinal tract. Monospecific polyclonal antibodies against recombinant beta2-toxin were produced in rabbits and used to demonstrate the beta2-toxin in sections of the gastrointestinal tract by immunohistochemical methods. Sections from 69 horses were stained and beta2-toxin was observed immunohistochemically in 40 animals. Sections from the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine were positive. Immunopositivity for beta2-toxin was significantly associated with presence of beta2-toxigenic bacteria. This investigation demonstrates local production of beta2-toxin and suggests that immunohistochemistry using antitoxin antibodies represents a useful diagnostic method in those cases where isolation of bacteria and polymerase chain reaction typing is not feasible. Although the association between the presence of beta2-toxin and development of gastrointestinal disease in horses remains uncertain, the findings of this study indicate that the potential causal relationship warrants further investigation.

Expression of the ether-a-go-go (ERG) potassium channel in smooth muscle of the equine gastrointestinal tract and influence on activity of jejunal smooth muscle

To determine whether ether-a-go-go (ERG) potassium channels are expressed in equine gastrointestinal smooth muscle, whether ERG channel antagonists affect jejunal muscle contraction in vitro, and whether plasma cisapride concentrations in horses administered treatment for postoperative ileus (POI) are consistent with ERG channels as drug targets. Samples of intestinal smooth muscle obtained from 8 horses free of gastrointestinal tract disease and plasma samples obtained from 3 horses administered cisapride for treatment of POI. Membranes were prepared from the seromuscular layer of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, large colon, and small colon. Immunoblotting was used to identify the ERG channel protein. Isolated jejunal muscle strips were used for isometric stress response to ERG channel blockers that included E-4031, MK-499, clofilium, and cisapride. Plasma concentrations of cisapride were determined in 3 horses administered cisapride for treatment of POI after small intestinal surgery. Immunoblotting identified ERG protein in all analyzed segments of the intestinal tract in all horses. The selective ERG antagonist E-4031 caused a concentration-dependent increase in jejunal contraction. Clofilium, MK-499, and cisapride also increased jejunal contraction at concentrations consistent with ERG channel block; effects of E-4031 and cisapride were not additive. Peak plasma cisapride concentrations in treated horses were consistent with ERG block as a mechanism of drug action. The ERG potassium channels modulate motility of intestinal muscles in horses and may be a target for drugs. This finding may influence development of new prokinetic agents and impact treatment of horses with POI.

Binding of radiolabeled porcine motilin and erythromycin lactobionate to smooth muscle membranes in various segments of the equine gastrointestinal tract.

To identify and characterize motilin receptors in equine duodenum, jejunum, cecum, and large colon and to determine whether erythromycin lactobionate competes with porcine motilin for binding to these receptors. Specimens of various segments of the intestinal tracts of 4 adult horses euthanatized for reasons unrelated to gastrointestinal tract disease. Cellular membranes were prepared from smooth muscle tissues of the duodenum, jejunum, pelvic flexure, and cecum. Affinity and distribution of motilin binding on membrane preparations were determined by use of 125I-labeled synthetic porcine motilin. Displacement studies were used to investigate competition between 125I-labeled synthetic porcine motilin and erythromycin lactobionate for binding to motilin receptors in various segments of bowel. Affinity of 125I-labeled synthetic porcine motilin for the equine motilin receptor was estimated to be 6.1nM. A significantly higher number of motilin receptors was found in the duodenum than in the pelvic flexure and cecum. The jejunum had a significantly higher number of motilin receptors than the cecum. Erythromycin lactobionate displacement of 125I-labeled porcine motilin from the equine motilin receptor did not differ significantly among various segments of bowel. Motilin receptors were found in the duodenum, jejunum, pelvic flexure, and cecum of horses. The highest number of motilin receptors was in the duodenum, and it decreased in more distal segments of bowel. Erythromycin lactobionate competed with motilin binding in the equine gastrointestinal tract. This suggests that 1 of the prokinetic actions of erythromycin in horses is likely to be secondary to binding on motilin receptors.

Abdominal Neoplasia (Excluding Urogenital Tract)

Neoplasia of the equine gastrointestinal tract and abdominal organs occurs predominantly in geriatric horses, although lymphoma and hepatocellular carcinoma and a few other neoplasms can be found in young horses. This article discusses diagnostics that can be used in weight-loss situations, suspicious of neoplasia, as well as tumors themselves including clinical signs, diagnostic tools, histopathologic appearance, and management.

155 Referral Hospital Uterine Torsions

Although uterine torsion has been reported in all of the domestic species, it is a condition that is more likely to be encountered by bovine practitioners. The anatomical features of the gravid bovine uterus undoubtedly play a major role, just as the anatomy of the equine gastro-intestinal tract predisposes the horse to colic. Literature on the topic is sparse and the etiology of the condition is open to speculation.