No abstract

THE use of laboratory tests as an aid to the diagnosis of clinical problems has become commonplace in equine practice, and should be considered an integral part of the total management of a case. The indications for blood sampling are many and varied, but it is important to realise the limitations of laboratory results - there is no substitute for a thorough clinical examination. Clinicians should therefore guard against relying too heavily on test results for a diagnosis and, rather, clinical pathology should be used as an ancillary aid. This article reviews the interpretation of basic haematological and blood biochemical tests which are available to the equine practitioner.

No abstract

SummaryA retrospective survey of the records of 210 postmortem examinations of aborted equine foeti and placentae, performed at the authors' practice laboratory, revealed that umbilical cord vascular compromise was the most common diagnosis made, accounting for almost 50% of cases. Abortions associated with twin pregnancy now account for a relatively small percentage (2.9%) of cases as compared to much higher incidences (22-29%) seen prior to the introduction of ultrasound scanning and multiple pregnancy reduction techniques in routine equine studfarm practice. Placental abnormalities accounted for 53 (25.2%) of the diagnoses. 14 (6.7%) were caused by Equid Herpesvirus-1 infections. The cause of the abortion was not established in 11 (5.2%) of the cases. Keywords:equine, abortion, diagnosis, review Eine retrospektive Untersuchung der Abortursachen bei UK-Stuten und die Diagnosemöglichkeiten, die in einer Pferdepraxis für Gestüte in Newmarket genutzt werdenIm Rahmen einer retrospektiven Untersuchung, die im Praxislabor des Autors durchgeführt wurde, konnte festgestellt werden, dass bei 210 abortierten Föten und Plazenten die komprimitierte Gefässversorgung der Frucht in 50% der Fälle die häufigste Diagnose war. Zwillingsaborte wurden mit 2,9% viel seltener als vor (22-29%) der Einführung der Ultraschalldiagnostik und der Entwicklung manueller Embryoreduktionsmethoden festgestellt. In 53 (25,2%) Fällen wurden Veränderungen der Plazenta festgestellt. 14 (6,7%) Aborte wurden durch das Equine Herpes Virus 1 ausgelöst. In 11 (5,2%) Fällen konnte keine Abortursache festgestellt werden.

We report 4 cases of equine rhinosporidiosis in the United Kingdom. These cases provide evidence of spread of infectious agents from rhinosporidiosis-endemic areas to nonendemic areas by increased international movement of livestock. Surveillance should continue for this infective agent of potential relevance for numerous species, including humans.