Background With the hypothesis that equine dorsal lamellar tissue can be desensitized by anesthesia injection into distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ), the objective was to assess the mechanical nociceptive threshold of hoof dorsal lamellae following intra-articular (IA) administration of lidocaine into this joint. Methods The DIPJ of the forelimbs of six adult healthy horses were injected with either 5 mL of lidocaine, or 5 mL of lactated Ringer’s solution. Treatments were randomly distributed, with each forelimb undergoing a single treatment. The hooves were evaluated pre- and post-injection at pre-selected times over 4 h, using a pressure algometry model. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) were recorded for the sole (dorsal, palmarolateral, and palmaromedial regions), coronary band (medial, lateral, and dorsal regions), heel bulbs (medial and lateral), and dorsal lamellar region (2 cm and 4 cm distal to the coronary band). The MNT means were compared over time using the Friedman test and between treatments using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with values of P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results There were no differences between treatments for any region of the hoof during the evaluation period. However, MNT values indicating analgesia were recorded in the dorsal lamellar region in 50% of hooves following adminstration of lidocaine into the DIPJ. Conclusion The administration of 5 mL of lidocaine into the DIPJ does not significantly increase the mechanical nociceptive threshold of the equine hoof.

No abstract

Background: In the Rio Grande do Norte state, Northeastern Brazil, several outbreaks of poisoning affecting horses, cattle and sheep have been attributed by a number farmers to the consumption of the leaves of Blutaparon portulacoides, a plant from family Amaranthaceae, known as “pirrixiu”, “bredo-de-praia” and “capotiraguá”. However, the spontaneous poisoning was reported in the literature exclusively in sheep. Thus, the present study aims to report the clinical signs found in a spontaneous poisoning by B. portulacoides in a horse.Case: A 8-year-old mixed-breed mare, weighing 268 kg, was referred to veterinary care showing loss of appetite and diarrhea. The clinical evolution was reported by the owner as for six days. During the physical examination, the animal presented slight apathy, pale mucous membranes, tachypnea, dehydration, intestinal hypermobility, and watery diarrhea. The predominant plant in the paddock where the mare was maintained was B. portulacoides. According to the owner, the poisoning by this plant is common in the neighborhood of the farm and has already occurred in other species (cattle and sheep). After the origin of poisoning was identified, the access to the plant was restricted and it was established fluid therapy to treat the dehydration. After three days, the animal returned to eat normally and the diarrhea ceased.Discussion: The exclusive feeding of sheep with B. portulacoides is responsible for disorders in the digestive tract, characterized by softening of feces and intestinal epithelial lesions (intestinal villi epithelium detachment, goblet cell hyperplasia, submucosal inflammatory cells infiltrate and infiltration of the lamina propria by mononuclear cells). Given the similarity of the frame displayed by the horse, described in the present report, it is believed that the sensitivity to poisoning by B. portulacoides is not exclusive to sheep, but also occurs in horses. Taking into account that B. portulacoides is found widespread through the Atlantic coast of Brazil, it is feasible to speculate that several other cases of poisoning might occur without accurate diagnosis. A plant that promotes similar poisoning is Portulaca elatior Mart. (family Portulacaceae), described in the literature affecting goats, sheep, and cattle. However, the poisoning by P. elatior is typically acute, showing clinical evolution within 48 hours after ingestion of the plant, whereas B. portulacoides poisoning occurs after a few days of consumption. Phytochemical analysis of B. portulacoides leaves revealed the occurrence of a number compounds, including three steroids, one flavone, one isoflavone and two flavonoids. However, the toxic principle of the plant is still unknown. The possible mechanism of poisoning is the osmotic imbalance in the digestive tract promoted by scarcity of sodium and excess of magnesium, potassium and calcium in the plant. Future studies are desirable to determine the toxic principle present in B. portulacoides and the exact mechanism of poisoning. In conclusion, the clinical presentation of the referred mare is similar to that described in sheep that ingested Blutaparon portulacoides, thus this plant can be considered as responsible for toxic effects in the digestive system of horses.

O carcinoma de células escamosas ou epidermoide (CCE) é um uma neoplasia maligna, multifatorial, de origem epidérmica, comum em equinos e responsável por 20% dos tumores dessa espécie.  Nesse contexto, o 5-fluorouracil atua na síntese de DNA e RNA por inibição enzimática, interferindo na replicação celular, sendo indicado nos casos em que há lesões pequenas. Pode ser administrado por via parenteral, tópica ou por injeção intratumoral. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo registrar a ocorrência de um caso de CCE em um equino com lesão ulcerativa extensa apresentando secreção sanguinolenta e purulenta, na região torácica, bem como a evolução do tratamento com o 5-fluorouracil, quimioterapia antineoplásica neoadjuvante, para a remissão da lesão e reduzir a área a ser extirpada com margem de segurança.

No abstract