Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile is the main causative agent of antimicrobial-related diarrhea in humans and a major pathogen-associated enteric disorder in foals and adult horses. Moreover, studies have suggested that animals are a possible reservoir of toxigenic C. difficile strains for humans. Despite this known importance, the epidemiology of C. difficile infection (CDI) in equine is still largely unknown. Therefore, this study described six cases of equine CDI occurring in Minas Gerais, Brazil, including the characterization of the isolates. All but one equine included in this research developed CDI after antimicrobial therapy, three of which occurred during hospitalization. Coinfection with Salmonella Heidelberg and S. Infantis was detected in three cases, making the antimicrobial treatment challenging. All animals recovered after metronidazole administration. All C. difficile isolates were susceptible to metronidazole and vancomycin, while three were resistant to moxifloxacin and two were resistant to clindamycin. The isolates were classified as RT126 (n = 4), RT078 (n = 1), and RT014/020 (n = 1), all previously reported infecting humans and animals worldwide.

The objective of this study was to determine pH and the concentrations of Calcium (Ca2+), Magnesium (Mg2+), Chloride (Cl-), Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+) and Calcium (Ca2+) in the mammary gland secretion in pre-foaling Mangalarga Marchador (MM) mares to determine the best method to predict parturition in the breed. Forty-two pregnant MM mares were evaluated once daily from 310 days of gestation until parturition. Mammary gland secretion pH, measured by pH meter and pH paper strip, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Cl- levels significantly changed during the last 10 days prior to parturition (p<0.05). The lowest pH mean value (pH meter=6.67±0.42; pH strip=6.23±0.53) and significantly higher mean concentrations of Ca2+ (12.6±5.8mmol/L) and Mg2+ (10.93±3.66mmol/L) were obtained 24 hours prior to foaling (p<0.0001). Chloride levels reduced significantly 8 days prior to parturition (p<0.0001) but remained unchanged until the due date. Mammary gland pH secretion, measured by pH meter and pH paper strip, was effective to predict parturition. Quantitative pH values obtained with the pH meter had a greater accuracy in comparison to pH paper strips, but a strong correlation was found between both methods. Calcium and magnesium were the only electrolytes that changed in concentration immediately prior to parturition and are better indicators of when not to expect foaling.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has been demonstrated in various animal species; those recognized as potential zoonotic reservoirs pose a considerable risk to public health. In Brazil, HEV-3 is the only genotype identified in humans and swine nationwide, in a colony-breeding cynomolgus monkey and, recently, in bovines and capybara. There is no information regarding HEV exposure in the equine population in Brazil. This study aimed to investigate anti-HEV antibodies and viral RNA in serum samples from horses slaughtered for meat export and those bred for sport/reproduction purposes. We used a commercially available ELISA kit modified to detect species-specific anti-HEV, using an anti-horse IgG-peroxidase conjugate and evaluating different cutoff formulas and assay precision. Serum samples (n = 257) were tested for anti-HEV IgG and HEV RNA by nested RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. The overall anti-HEV seroprevalence was 26.5% (68/257) without the detection of HEV RNA. Most municipalities (53.3%) and farms (58.8%) had positive horses. Animals slaughtered for human consumption had higher risk of HEV exposure (45.5%) than those bred for sports or reproduction (6.4%) (p < 0.0001). The statistical analysis revealed sex and breeding system as possible risk-associated factors. The first serological evidence of HEV circulation in Brazilian equines reinforces the need for the surveillance of HEV host expansion in a one-health approach.

A sedação para o exame odontológico, em estação, nos equinos é essencial para facilitar o manejo e garantir um exame de excelência. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar se o diazepam associado à detomidina potencializaria a sedação do agonista α2 (detomidina), principalmente pela redução do movimento da língua e mastigação sem excessiva desestabilização. Foram examinados 12 equinos adultos de diferentes idades, raças e sexos submetidos a correção dos arcos dentários e distribuídos aleatoriamente entre dois tratamentos: detomidina (20 µg.kg-1, IV) e diazepam (20 µg.kg-1, IV) (DD; n=6) ou detomidina (20 µg.kg-1, IV) e solução salina de NaCl 0,9% (DS; n=6). Foram avaliados o relaxamento e a exposição da língua, frequência cardíaca, intervalo PR, frequência respiratória, pressão arterial sistólica, temperatura retal, bloqueios atrioventriculares de segundo grau, grau de ataxia, movimento da cabeça, em nove momentos. E a distância da cabeça ao solo (HHAG) foram avaliadas em três momentos. Sempre que houve necessidade de aumentar a sedação, foi administrado um bolus de detomidina adicional (5µg.kg-1, IV). Todos os tratamentos proporcionaram sedação e relaxamento muscular. Foram observadas diferenças entre os momentos para o relaxamento da língua (língua VAS mm) e isto foi melhor observado em T7 para o tratamento DD e T5 para o tratamento DS e manteve-se significativamente inferior à linha de base durante todo o tempo avaliado. O presente estudo sugere que a detomidina forneceu sedação adequada em cavalos submetidos ao exame odontológico mas não há necessidade de utilizar o diazepam da forma proposta porque não foi encontrada qualquer diferença entre tratamentos para qualquer variável estudada. A adição de diazepam não melhorou a sedação e nem diminuiu o movimento da língua.

Anais do Simpósio Internacional do Cavalo Atleta (SIMCAV) (978-65-5941-211-2) - Afecções Odontológicas Em Equídeos Geriatras: Estudo Retrospectivo