Contents Doppler ultrasonography is an important tool in the andrological evaluation in humans; however, this method is not so extensively used by equine andrologists. Spectral or pulse Doppler is a useful non‐invasive method for the early diagnosis of subfertility problems in the male, especially those triggered by vascular disturbance. The identification of any disturbance in the blood flow of the testis is crucial for a correct diagnosis of various testicular and scrotal disorders but also to monitor the therapeutic outcome following treatment. The aim of this review is to provide an update on the current use of colour and spectral Doppler ultrasound in stallion andrology, and to promote the use of this technique during the soundness reproductive examination of the stallion, as this particular branch of reproductive medicine is receiving increasing interest.

Horses (n=35) underwent orchidectomy in a single institution with a re-sterilised LSA as sole means of haemostasis. During the surgery, the gross quality of the seal, the stickiness of the forceps to the tissues, bleeding/oozing from the stump and the need for a subsequent application in already severed spermatic cord were assessed for haemostasis quality. After surgery, physical parameters (appearance of the mucous membranes, quality of the peripheral pulse, heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature and blood dripping from the incisions), haematology or packed cell volume and total protein were monitored to assess signs of bleeding or any other condition. For cleanliness and asepsis assessment, signs of surgical infection were recorded. Complications during surgery were mild degree of sticking of the LSA forceps to the tissues and dulling of the blade. There was no need to reapply LSA a second time except in one horse. This means a haemostasis complication rate of 2.85 per cent of the horses. No postoperative bleeding was detected. Only two horses with fever had associated signs of surgical site infection. This means an infection rate of 5.71 per cent of the horses.

Laparoscopic hernioplasty techniques have been developed in the recent years to avoid the recurrence of inguinal hernias and to spare the testicles for breeding purposes in stallions. However, there have been no previous comprehensive and systematic studies of the reproductive outcomes and prognoses for stallions after inguinal hernioplasty. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the possible effects of one of these techniques (standing laparoscopic peritoneal flap hernioplasty) on the sperm production and motility characteristics of six healthy stallions that received this procedure based on 1-year follow-ups. There were no significant differences in the measured sperm variables (assessments based on the DSO, MOT, PMOT, VSL, VCL and VAP) during 1-year follow-ups.

No abstract

Maxillary osteomyelitis due to Halicephalobus gingivalis and fatal dissemination in a horseOsteomielitis maxilar debido a Halicephalobus gingivalis y diseminación fatal en un caballo LA Gracia-Calvo, M Martín-Cuervo, ME Durán, V Vieítez, F Serrano, J Jiménez, LJ Ezquerra * Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain. RESUMENEn la presente comunicación se expone un caso de infestación parasitaria poco habitual causada por Halicephalobus gingivalis, cuya manifestación principal fue osteomielitis del hueso maxilar. El caballo mostraba inicialmente inflamación y dolor en la región de la cresta facial derecha. Las radiografías demostraron la presencia de osteolisis y ensanchamiento de la cresta facial. La biopsia del hueso mostraba inflamación granulomatosa y un gran número de larvas del nematodo. El caballo fue tratado con ivermectina. Inicialmente mejoraron los signos clínicos, pero dos meses y medio después el caballo desarrolló uveítis y fallo renal, por lo que fue eutanasiado. El estudio anatomopatológico mostró múltiples granulomas parasitarios en los riñones y en la úvea. La infección por Halicephalobus gingivalis es poco frecuente en caballos y personas aunque presenta una distribución mundial. De acuerdo con los autores esta es la primera vez que se describe dicha infestación en un équido en España. Palabras clave: Halicephalobus gingivalis, caballo. SUMMARYThis study reports a rare case of maxillary osteomyelitis in a horse caused by Halicephalobus gingivalis. The horse presented inflammation and pain in the region of the right facial crest and the radiographs detected osteolysis and widening of the facial crest. The biopsy revealed a granulomatous inflammation and a large amount of parasite larvae. The horse was treated with ivermectin but it developed uveitis and renal insufficiency 2.5 months later and was euthanised. The anatomopathological study found multiple parasitic granulomas in the kidneys and uveal tract. H. gingivalis is an infrequent infection in horses and people, and it has a worldwide distribution. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of H. gingivalis infection in an equid to be diagnosed in Spain.