This report describes a case of nodular posthitis caused by Halicephalobus gingivalis in a 24-year-old warmblood horse. Macroscopic examination revealed a multinodular, partially ulcerated mass on the external lamina of the prepuce. Nematode migration from unfixed biopsy material in phosphate-buffered saline revealed adult nematodes with the typical morphological features of H. gingivalis: distinctive rhabditiform oesophagus with corpus, isthmus and bulb and the dorsoflexed ovary. The main histopathological features consisted of submucosal confluent granulomatous foci containing cross- and tangential sections of larval and adult nematodes surrounded by cellular debris, epitheloid macrophages, multinucleated giant cells, lymphocytes and plasma cells. Therapy including oral administration of moxidectin and local application of an ointment containing prednisolone and moxidectin was initiated but clinical response was poor. Five months later, the nodular mass was still present and histologically, the same lesions with numerous intact nematodes were identified. In the present case, a localized infection with granuloma formation in the area of the prepuce was observed. Clinically, it cannot be distinguished from other nematode infections or even from a squamous cell carcinoma. An accurate clinical examination followed by histopathological and parasitological examinations was necessary to establish the final diagnosis. This case is unusual in that the lesions were locally very extensive (10 cm), but they remained confined to the preputium and the nematodes did not spread haematogenously to other internal organs.

Before surgery, an indwelling intravenous catheter was placed in the left jugular vein and the horse was given potassium penicillin (Penicillin Natrium; G. Streuli) at 30,000 U/ kg bodyweight, intravenously, every six hours and gentamicin (Vetagent; Veterinaria) at 6·6 mg/kg bodyweight, intravenously, every 24 hours. Phenylbutazone (Equipalazone Paste E-PP; Arnolds Veterinary Products) was given orally at a dose of 1 g, every 12 hours. The horse was sedated using romifidine (Sedivet; Boehringer Ingelheim) at 0·04 mg/kg bodyweight intravenously, and I-methadone (L-Polamivet; Veterinaria) at 0·05 mg/kg bodyweight intravenously. General anaesthesia was induced with intravenous guaifenesin (Myolaxin; Vétoquinol) using 15 g of a 7·5 per cent solution, plus ketamine hydrochloride (Narketan; Vétoquinol) at 1·4 mg/kg bodyweight and thiopental (Pentothal; Abbott) at 1·4 mg/ kg bodyweight.Following tracheal intubation, anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane (Attane; Minrad) and double drip (ketamine hydrochloride, 6 per cent and guaifenesin, 15 per cent). The stallion was positioned in dorsal recumbency with the hindlimbs secured to an overhead crossbar and hoist. Following routine aseptic preparation of the surgical field, the left hindlimb was positioned with the stifle flexed approximately 60°.A cranial approach (Peroni and Stick 2002) to the stifle joints was used as follows: the medial compartment of the femorotibial joint was distended with 20 ml sterile polyionic fluids (Ringerlaktat-Lösung; Dr G. Bichsel), 10 ml lidocaine (Lidocain 2 per cent; G. Streuli) and 10 ml bupivacaine (Bupivacain; Sintetica) by means of an 18 G, 1·5 inch needle. A 1 cm skin incision and transection of the superficial and deep fascia were made 2 cm medial to the middle patellar ligament and 3 cm distal to the palpable distal end of the patella. Without previous joint distension an arthroscopic cannula containing a blunt trocar was introduced through the incision into the femoropatellar joint in a caudal and distal direction. The trocar was replaced by a 30° arthroscope (Karl Storz) and sterile polyionic fluids were infused into the femoropatellar joint through the cannula. A systematic examination of the femoropatellar joint was performed and revealed no abnormalities.The synovial membrane between the medial compartment of the femorotibial joint and the femoropatellar joint was identified. An instrument portal was developed into the femoropatellar joint lateral to the middle patellar ligament by using similar landmarks as described for the arthroscope portal. An arthroscopic hook scissor was placed in the femoropatellar joint through this second portal. The synovial membrane between the femoropatellar and medial femorotibial joints was incised and the arthroscope advanced into

Pferde aufgrund von Koliksymptomen in der Pferdeklinik der Universität Bern vorgestellt und behandelt. Von 282 laparotomierten und geheilt entlassen Pferden konnten 212 Patienten in einer Langzeitstudie für die Betrachtung der Leistungsbereitschaft von kolikoperierten Pferden herangezogen werden. Das Durchschnittsalter der operierten Kolikpatienten betrug 10 Jahre mit einer Standardabweichung von ±6 Jahren. Eine Abhängigkeit zwischen dem Alter und der Leistungsbereitschaft konnte statistisch nicht beobachtet werden. Bei der subjektiven Betrachtung der Leistungsfähigkeit durch die Besitzer wurden rund 83% der Patienten mit einer gleichbleibenden oder einer besseren Leistung angegeben. Beim Vergleich der subjektiven Beurteilung mit der Gewinnsumme in einem definierten Zeitraum (objektive Beurteilung) von 33 Sportpferden konnte nur in einem Drittel der Fälle eine Übereinstim-mung zwischen der objektiven und subjektiven Leistungsfähigkeit festgestellt werden. Dickdarmerkrankungen konnten bei 64% der Patienten festgestellt werden, wobei Dünndarmerkrankungen mit 36% diagnostiziert wurden. Die Diagnose hatte keinen Einfluss auf die spätere Leistung der Pferde. Bei der Betrachtung der postoperativen Komplikationen standen die Daten von nur 45 Pferden zur Verfügung, wobei keinerlei Zusammenhang mit der Leistungsbereitschaft, dem Alter oder der Diagnose beobachtet werden konnte. Vom Tierspital Bern wird eine Rekonvaleszenzzeit von 2 bis 3 Monaten vorgeschlagen, die von den meisten Besitzern auch eingehalten bzw. sogar deutlich verlän-gert wurde. Die durch die Besitzer festgelegte Rekonvaleszenzzeit hatte keinen wesentlichen Einfluss auf die spätere Nutzung oder Leistungsbereitschaft der Tiere. Zusammenfassend können wir festhalten, dass die Laparotomie in der vorliegenden Untersuchung keinen signifikanten Einfluss auf die spätere Leistungsbereitschaft der Pferde hatte.Schlüsselwörter: Kolik, Pferd, Laparotomie, Diagnose, Langzeitbetrachtung, Leistungsbereitschaft Long-term follow up in horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic: Influence on pre-and post operative performance after laparotomy Between 2002Between and 2008Between , 1916 horses with signs of colic were examinated and treated at the Equine Clinic of the University of Berne. 282 horses underwent an exploratory laparotomy and were discharged. The case records of 212 horses could be reviewed for a long-term follow up focussing on pre-and post operative performance. Mean age of the 212 horses was 10±6 years. There was no significant association between the age and the performance of the horses. 83% of the owners observed a constant, respectively an improved performance after the laparotomy. The earnings of 33 sport horses were investigated over an 18 months period as an objective measure of performance. Only one third of the sport horses showed an association between the subjective and objective performance. The most common diagnosis in this study was a large intestinal lesion (64%). In 36% of the horses a small intestine problem was recorded. There was no ...