Background: Regenerative medicine has become one of the most promising therapies of equine osteoarthritis. Platelet lysate (PL) is rich in bioactive proteins and growth factors that play a crucial role in tissue healing. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of intra-articularly injected autologous PL in equine athletes with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. Animals and methods: Fifteen warmblood geldings aged 8À19 years with osteoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint were included in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups; 10 horses received intra-articular injections of PL and 5 of normal saline (controls). Before treatment, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) levels in basal plasma and prepared PL were estimated. Each joint was injected twice within a three-week period. Lameness was evaluated using the American Association of Equine Practitioners grading system, before treatment and 10 days after each intra-articular injection. Horses were examined fortnightly for one year. Radiographic examination was performed six months post-treatment. The generalized estimating equation test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Acceptable levels of PDGF were detected in PLs (mean § SD: 258.0 § 52.3 pg/ml). The majority of horses (9/10) responded positively to PL treatment presenting lower lameness grades (p < 0.0005) compared to controls 10 days after the second injection, and returned to normal athletic activity. Radiographs revealed no changes in osteoarthritis lesions six months after treatment. One year post-injections, however, all horses relapsed to their initial degree of lameness. Conclusion: Intra-articularly injected autologous PL is an efficient method for temporarily managing osteoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint in athletic horses.

During the summer of 2010, an outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) infections attributed to a lineage 2 WNV strain was reported among humans and horses in Central Macedonia, Northern Greece. Here, the clinical and laboratory investigation of horses that showed severe neurological signs due to WNV infection is being described. Specifically, between August and September 2010, 17 horses with neurological signs were detected. WNV infection was confirmed in all 17 clinical cases by applying laboratory testing. The duration of WNV-specific IgM antibodies in sera obtained from seven of the clinically affected horses was relatively short (10-60 days; mean 44 days). In the regional unit of Thessaloniki, (i) seroprevalence of WNV and fatality rate in horses were high (33% and 30%, respectively), and (ii) the ratio of neurological manifestations-to-infections for this virus strain was high (19%). These observations indicate that the strain responsible for the massive human epidemic of 2010 in Greece was also highly pathogenic for horses. This is the first time that WNV infection has been documented in horses with clinical manifestations in Greece. WNV infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of horses with encephalitis in Greece.

Although experimental data regarding cross-protection of horse West Nile virus (WNV) vaccines against lineage 2 infections exist, the cross-protective efficacy of these vaccines under field conditions has not been demonstrated. This study was conducted to evaluate the capability of an inactivated lineage 1 vaccine (Equip WNV) to protect against natural infections from the Nea Santa-Greece-2010 lineage 2 strain. In total, 185 WNV-seronegative horses in Thessaloniki, Greece, were selected during 2 consecutive years (2011 and 2012); 140 were immunized, and 45 were used as controls. Horses were examined for signs compatible with WNV infection. Neutralizing antibody titers against the Greek strain and the PaAn001/France lineage 1 strain were determined in immunized horses. WNV circulation was detected during both years in the study area. It was estimated that 37% and 27% of the horses were infected during 2011 and 2012, respectively. Three control animals developed clinical signs, and the WNV diagnosis was confirmed. Signs related to WNV infection were not observed in the vaccinated animals. The nonvaccinated animals had a 7.58% ؎ 1.82% higher chance of exhibiting signs than immunized animals (P < 0.05). Neutralizing antibodies raised against both strains in all immunized horses were detectable 1 month after the initial vaccination course. The cross-protective capacity of the lowest titer (1:40) was evident in 19 animals which were subsequently infected and did not exhibit signs. Neutralizing antibodies were detectable until the annual booster, when strong anamnestic responses were observed (geometrical mean titer ratio [GMTR] for lineage 1 of 30.2; GMTR for lineage 2 of 27.5). The results indicate that Equip WNV is capable of inducing cross-protection against natural infections from a virulent lineage 2 WNV strain in horses. West Nile virus (WNV) is a single-stranded RNA virus within the Japanese encephalitis virus serocomplex, which belongs to the genus Flavivirus (family Flaviviridae) (1). WNV is maintained in nature by enzootic transmission cycles between certain bird species and ornithophilic mosquitoes (2). Mosquitoes mainly belonging to the genus Culex can also act as bridge vectors, transmitting the virus to other animal species, including incidental hosts (3-6). Humans and horses are regarded as incidental (deadend) hosts, as the virus titer developed in their blood is generally too low to infect mosquitoes (7). Nevertheless, WNV infection in susceptible hosts may eventually cause neurological disease (8). Regarding horses, the reported clinical signs may vary, and these include fever, paraparesis or tetraparesis, and ataxia, recumbency, and behavioral changes, while in many clinically affected horses muscle fasciculation and tremors are also present. It is expected that deaths will occur in a small percentage of the affected animals (9-13).Phylogenetic analyses of WNV strains isolated worldwide have resulted in the identification of 8 genetic lineages of the virus so far (14). Until 2004, only viral strains...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether differences existed in the viscoelastic properties of synovial fluid samples from the metacarpophalangeal, intercarpal, and distal interphalangeal joints of orthopedically normal athletic horses. ANIMALS 45 warmblood horses and 30 Thoroughbreds (age range, 4 to 16 years). PROCEDURES Synovial fluid samples were aseptically obtained via arthrocentesis from 1 metacarpophalangeal, intercarpal, and distal interphalangeal joint of each horse, and nucleated cell counts were performed. A commercial ELISA was used to measure sample hyaluronic acid concentrations, and full rheological characterization of samples was performed to measure the elastic or storage modulus G' and viscous or loss modulus G“ at 37.5°C (representing the body temperature of horses). Findings were compared among joints and between breed groups by means of ANOVA. RESULTS Significant differences in synovial fluid G' and G“ values were identified between Thoroughbreds and warmblood horses for the metacarpophalangeal joint, between the metacarpophalangeal and intercarpal joints of Thoroughbreds, and between the metacarpophalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints and intercarpal and distal interphalangeal joints of warmblood horses. No significant differences were identified between breed groups or among joints in synovial fluid hyaluronic concentrations or nucleated cell counts. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Viscoelastic properties of the forelimb joints of orthopedically normal Thoroughbreds and warmblood horses differed within and between these 2 groups, mainly as a function of the evaluated joint. To the authors' knowledge, this was the first study of its kind, and additional research is warranted to better understand the viscoelastic properties of synovial fluid in horses to optimize their locomotive function.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the possible correlation between relative humidity/temperature change and equine colic in a specific region of Northern Greece. A study population of 823 adult horses stabled in a 40-km-radius around Thessaloniki, Northern Greece were included in this study; a total of 245 horses, suffering from several types of colic between January 2010 and December 2012 were selected. Metereological data, including temperature (oC) and relative humidity (%) were obtained as 3-hour periodic measurements by the Hellenic National Metereological Service. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman correlation coefficients in order to assess the relationship between temperature changes, relative humidity changes and equine colic. A positive correlation between temperature change and equine colic was detected during March for the whole 3-year period, while positive correlation was presented during several months of late spring and late fall in specific years. No correlation between changes in relative humidity values and colic was shown. Moreover, a negative correlation between relative humidity and temperature, for temperatures >10°C (rho=-0.568, p<0.01) was found, while, a positive correlation (rho=0.650, p<0.01) between daily temperature difference (ΔT) and relative humidity difference was detected. In this study, abrupt temperature change was proven as a significant risk factor in the development of colic during late spring and fall, in Northern Greece, requiring more vigilant horse owners and equine practitioners. These results suggest that in the future it may be possible to modulate management taking into consideration the current weather conditions, in order to prevent colic episodes.