Equinevet sept2014 final2

Vol 4 Issue 9 2014www.modernequinevet.comEquine Vet

The Modern

Need a new body part? Try printing itFactors that lead to respiratory diseaseNew grading system for colic

His facepain? it's in

2 Issue 9/2014 | ModernEquineVet.com

Table oF CoNTeNTs

ColICNew grading system for colic .............................................................................................. 3

RespIRaToRy dIseaseWhat are factors that lead to respiratory illness? .....................................................10

oRThopedICsNeed a new body part? Trying printing it ....................................................................13

BehaVIoRWho's in the saddle? It doesn't matter .........................................................................14

Game on! Video technology assesses riders ................................................................16

NeWs

New law is historic triumph for Vets ........................................12Ceva-sogeval animal health merger finished .....................18eIa found in south Carolina ........................................................18Wisconsin horses test positive for ehV-1 ...............................19Neglect often tied to hay prices ................................................19

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pain? It's in his face

CoVeR sToRy: 4

Cover photo courtesy of Dr. Gleerup

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art director: Jennifer Barlow • [email protected]

coPY editor: patty Wall

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Equine VetThe Modern

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PO Box 935 • Morrisville, PA 19067Marie Rosenthal and Jennifer Barlow, Publishers

ColiC

New grading system could help improve survival in some horses with colic

A novel approach to managing horses with strangu-lated small intestine, a challenging colic, could be a cost-effective way to save the lives of many horses, according to researchers at the University of Florida college of Vet-erinary Medicine.

The approach, developed by David freeman, MVb, phD, a professor of large animal surgery at the unviersity and his team, relies heavily on a surgeon’s judgment to assess the viability of strangulated small intestine, an ob-struction that impedes blood flow.

If the affected tissue shows improvements in intestinal color and muscle activity after corrective surgical mea-sures, the organ has an excellent chance of recovering function, and costly removal of the intestinal obstruction is avoided, according to the researchers. “In general, the treatment for small intestinal strangulation isn’t as suc-cessful as for many other forms of colic,” said Dr. Free-man, adding that surgeons are always asking, “Do we need to remove this piece of intestine?”

Dr. Freeman and his colleagues concluded that if cer-tain criteria are met, in many cases, the answer would be no, according to research presented at the 11th annual Equine colic research Symposium in Dublin.

The findings are based on a review of data from 35 colic cases treated at two university hospitals between 1996 and 2011. The horses underwent surgery for small intestinal strangulation. However, instead of resection, the two surgeons used the clinical grading system to as-sess the viability of the intestine.

All horses in the study were discharged after recov-ery, with only a few developing serious—but manage-able—complications. Survival to discharge was 100%, and many horses survived more than10 years; some up to15 years.

postoperative complications developed in 11 horses (31%). Three horses (8.6%) required repeat coeliotomy because of persistent pain with or without reflux. They responded favorably to decompression of distended in-testine. Ten horses died after discharge, and 12 were still alive at follow-up from 20 to 192 months later. Informa-tion was available on 13 horses after discharge, but these were eventually lost to follow-up.

“These long-term survival data are very encouraging and might exceed what have been reported previously for this type of colic,” said Freeman, who also is the direc-

tor of the college’s Island Whirl Equine colic Laboratory. “This study shows that in many cases, these horses can do very well with the affected intestine left in place.”

“I was very interested in this issue, so in each case, I recorded the severity of the small intestinal changes,” Dr. Freeman said. “I started off with a grading system, which was tweaked and modified along the way.”

Gradually, the team came up with the system UF is using today in equine clinical cases.

“once we have established the degree of intestinal in-jury, we can now say: "This is the cutoff. If it’s worse than this, we will have to remove that part of the intestine, but if it’s better, we can leave it in place,'” Dr. Freeman said.

This subjective method of assessing small intestinal viability in a strangulated small intestine could reduce the need for resection and anastomosis, which would also reduce treatment costs and possibly, some economic euthanasia.

The good postoperative response provides strong evi-dence that early referral could avoid the need for resec-tion and improve survival, according to the study. MeV

ModernEquineVet.com | Issue 9/2014 3

Freeman DE, Schaeffer DJ, Cleary OB. Long-term survival in horses with strangulating obstruction of the small intestine managed without resection. Equine Vet. J. 2013 Nov. 18. Epub ahead of print. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24237247

For more information:

Judgement call: if the affected tissue shows improvements in intestinal color and muscle activity after corrective surgery, the organ has an excellent chance of recovering function and the horse can avoid removal of the intestinal obstruction. Photos courtesy of David E. Freeman, MVB, PhD, Dipl. ACVS


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CoVer sTory

Danish research identifies a pain face to help veterinarians diagnose the problem.

PaiN? It’s in his face

Not many veterinarians or vet-erinary technicians would have trouble spotting a horse with se-vere acute pain, but teasing out low-level or intense chronic pain that the horse has learned to live with can be a bit trickier.

Karina B. Gleerup, DVM, phD student, of the Department of Large Animal Sciences, Uni-versity of copenhagen in Den-mark, and her colleagues have identified an equine pain face that might help.

“Human studies have demon-strated that pain faces are very difficult to conceal,” Dr. Gleerup explained, which is one reason pain face scales were developed for infants and others to help physicians diagnose pain in pa-tients that cannot tell them how


much it hurts. Similar pain face scales could be valuable to evalu-ate pain in animals, according to Dr. Gleerup, if only we could learn how to tell what the animal is communicating.

low-level painDr. Gleerup’s findings seem

particularly good at detecting low-levels of pain, which could make it a useful tool for vet-erinarians, technicians and even owners and trainers.

“The equine pain face seems to be very sensitive to low-de-gree pain. My ongoing project is aimed at deciding how effective it is for different pain types. I think the most interesting area is low-degree pain, as veterinarians and horse owners are often not in

doubt when a horse is experienc-ing intense pain,” she said.

The pain face was investigated by applying two types of pain-ful stimuli, a tourniquet (pres-sure cuff) on the antebrachium and topical capsaicin (made from hot peppers) and catalog-

ing the horse’s response to each. Six healthy horses, five mares and one gelding, received each pain-ful stimulus twice, once with an observer present and once where the horse did not know it was be-ing observed.

Each horse participated in six trials. They were involved in two control trials where they did not receive any noxious stimuli and four pain trials where they re-ceived a noxious stimulus. The pain was delivered with the horse standing in a narrow, rectangular area of the stable. The length of the stimulus was the same for all hors-es. Two horses received a painful stimulus for four consecutive days, and four received a non-treatment day between trials.

Facial expressions were altered in all of the study

horses when they felt pain.

When in pain, a horse's facial expressions change in response to the stimuli. the ears are low and/or asymmetrical, the eyes are angled, and it grimaces. the horse also seeks out a familiar person.Photos courtesy of Dr. Gleerup

continued on page 8

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CoVer sTory

ChangesThey found that the horses’

facial expressions changed in response to the painful stimuli. When a horse is experienc-ing pain the ears are low and/or asymmetrical, the eyes are angled, and its stare is withdrawn and/or tense. The nostrils are me-diolaterally dilated, and the horse tenses lips, chin and certain facial muscles. In addition, the behavior changes when a person is present. The horses increased its contact-seeking behavior, according to the study which appeared in the journal Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, 2014.

surprising resultThe change in behavior sur-

prised Dr. Gleerup a bit, because researchers have always thought that horses would withdrawal or become aggressive when they are in pain, which makes sense on an evolutionary level, since the horse

is a prey animal. “They often stay in the far corner of the box, and try to guard the wounded area,” she said.

“From my study, I discovered bonus information: that horses experiencing acute, low to mod-erate pain may be inclined to seek contact with a familiar person. This is something that some own-ers may also recognize. So it is a contradiction to what we know,

although this is probably con-nected to the degree and type of pain; animals with chronic pain may react with aggressiveness or indifference,” Dr. Gleerup ex-plained.

She reminded caregivers that horses do not change behavior without a reason. “If horse own-ers complain about some behav-ior, ask about changes in their close environment that could be stressful to the horse, such as new neighbors, and then look for pain,” she recommended.

“Although a physical examina-tion is obviously very important, an evaluation of behavior is use-ful but often forgotten in the very busy clinic or practice. Even if it is only observing what the horse is doing in the stall before disturb-ing it and how it reacts when hu-mans approach, this will add very useful information to the overall evaluation of a patient, especially to their pain status,” she said.

becoming familiar with the pain face would make this evaluation

a. Facial expression of a pain free, relaxed and attentive horse. B. Facial expression of a horse in pain, comprising all features of the pain face including asymmetrical ears. c. Facial expression of a horse in pain, comprising all features of the pain face including low ears.Illustations by Andrea Klintbjer

A. B.

Horses experiencing acute, low to

moderate pain may be inclined to seek contact with a familiar person.

continued from page 5


Gleerup KB, Forkman B, Lindegaard C, Andersen PH. An equine pain face. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 2014. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25082060


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even more useful, according to Dr. Gleerup. “obviously, it is important that people learn to recognize the pain face as some of the features of the pain face may appear in other situations within social communi-cation,” she explained

Learning the distinctive fea-tures of the pain face might take a little practice to understand the nuances, she added, but facial ex-pressions were altered in all of the study horses when they experi-enced the painful stimulus. MeV

the development of the pain face.

Features of the equine Pain Face1. aSYmmetrical/loW earS Both ears move in different directions or are placed in asymmetrical positions with neither of the ears facing directly forward or back. They may be lowered with the opening of the ears facing the sides or slightly back. The ears may be both asymmetrical and low.

2. aNgled eYe The levator anguli oculi mediali, the muscles that control the corner of the eye, show signs of tension.

3. WithdraWN aNd teNSe Stare The horse’s look changes to become withdrawn and tense, a grimace.

4. NoStrilS The nostrils are dilated mediolaterally; especially the medial wing of the nostril may be tense. This is most obvious during inspiration.

5. muzzle There is increased tonus of the lips and tension of the chin resulting in an edged shape of the muzzle.

6. mimic muScleS The facial and muscles become very tense and taunt.

Adapted from Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (2014 doi:10.1111/vaa.12212)

http://youtu.be/OagPWNZ8IQA

Equine respiratory diseases appear to have a complex relation-ship among genetics, individual confirmation traits and the envi-ronment.

Genes seem to be an impor-tant component to many upper and lower respiratory diseases, but they are not the only important fac-tor, according to Vinzenz Gerber, phD, DEcEIM, DAcVIM, who is a professor at the Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine at the University of berne, Switzerland. Dr. Gerber and his colleagues wrote a paper in the Equine Veterinary Journal that reviewed the status of research in the genetics of upper and lower airway disease today—and how far researchers still have to go.

Examples of known factors that affect respiratory disease are confirmation traits, including the height of the horse and length of its neck, which are themselves also genetically influenced, affecting the expression of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (rLN). Environmental factors, including infectious agents, allergens and airway irritants, have long been associated with lower re-spiratory tract diseases. These fac-tors can work together to deprive a horse of oxygen and stamina.

This multifactorial nature makes it difficult to pinpoint the genes

causing these problems. Also, the genetic effects are probably poly-genic, meaning due to several genes, according to Dr. Gerber. For some of these conditions, the ge-netic basis is clear; for others, sus-pected, he explained.

breed and gender may play a role in the development of gut-

tural pouch tympany. Arabians and paints appear to be more likely to be born with guttural pouch tympany, a defect characterized by the abnor-mal distention of one or more of the guttural pouches, but it has also been described in Warmbloods and Quarter horses. Females appear 2 to 4 times more likely than males to develop this condition that pre-vents air from leaving the guttural

pouch. A sex-linked genetic basis is suspected strongly and some re-gions on the equine genome have been shown to be associated with guttural pouch tympany.

because it causes inspiratory strider and exercise intolerance, rLN is of particular concern, espe-cially in performance and racing. Although there are many etiologies, including infections and trauma, about 94% of cases are idiopathic. There appears to be a genetic pre-disposition, but age, size and con-firmation also appear to affect this condition. For instance, draught horses have a higher prevalence, but the rate is not the same across all draught breeds: the rate among belgians is about 42%, among per-chons 31% and among clydesdales it is only 17%.

The genetic pathogenesis to ex-ercise-induced pulmonary hem-or-rhage (EIpH), another respiratory disease of concern in race horses, is not clearly defined. However a study of more than 1,200 South Af-rican Thoroughbreds found heri-table liabilities in 55.4% in first-de-gree relatives, 41.3% in second and 30.4% in third-degree relatives, but another review of more than 2000 cases in Australia showed a weak genetic link to epistaxis after racing. This is definitely one of those cases

What factors lead to

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where environment, co-morbidities and other factors also play a role.

Seven percent to 20% of adults in the Northern Hemisphere suffer from recurrent airway obstruction (roA), and it is another disease that appears to have a strong ge-netic component. The chances of Warmbloods and Lipizzans having offspring with rAo increase con-siderably if the parents have the condition, but other factors, such as stable environment and allergy, also appear to play a role, Gerber said.

Even a horse’s response to an in-fection might be genetically predis-posed, and the influence of genes on infectious diseases is particularly in-triguing. Why does one animal ex-posed to Rhodococcus equii develop pneumonia, but not another? Why is the vaccination response better in one animal over another? And how can one use this information to prevent the spread of these condi-tions? researchers have already de-termined that the mutations in the gene for transferrin, a bacteriostatic iron-binding protein in the blood, is associated with susceptibility to bacteria and disease severity.

This information has no practi-cal clinical use at the moment, he said, but it might someday help in the development of susceptibility tests, vaccines or treatments.

Finding the genetic markers that would pinpoint a disease suscepti-bility or cause is important work be-cause respiratory disease can result in severe economic losses, or even death, to performance animals.

“considerable efforts have been made to unravel their genetic basis to better understand the underlying causes and pathophysiology, and ul-timately, to identify individuals with an increased genetic risk. There is now strong evidence that genetic predispositions exist for guttural pouch tympany, rLN and rAo. There are also data to suggest that exercise-induced pulmonary hem-orrhage and infectious diseases of


the lower respiratory tract are influ-enced by genetics,” Dr. Gerber and his colleagues wrote.

“Most respiratory conditions are genetically ‘tough to figure out,’ meaning they are very complex. This is why currently no genetic tests are available,” Dr. Gerber told The Modern Equine Vet.

Until genetic tests and treat-ments are developed, controlling the environment and responsible

breeding appear to be the best ways to mitigate the signs of these condi-tions.

A full understanding of equine genetics and disease is far away and unlikely to reveal “miracle cures,” Dr. Gerber said. “However, it may help guide therapies and potential vaccination protocols in the future.”

In the meantime, control what you can. Make sure the environ-ment is properly managed, vac-

cinate and deworm according to recommendations, manage the symptoms, isolated infected horses and don’t breed animals that are passing these conditions to their offspring, Dr. Gerber said.

“Advise horse owners and breed-ers about the best possible prevention (including avoiding risky matings in the case of genetic predispositions) and treatment of equine airway dis-eases,” he said. MeV

Gerber V, Tessier C, Marti E. Genetics of upper and lower airway diseases in the horse. Equine Vet J. 2014 Apr 28. doi: 10.1111/evj.12289. [Epub ahead of print]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24773614


president Barack Obama signed into law a crucial bill that makes it legal for veterinarians to provide complete medical care to their patients beyond their clinics and across state lines. The Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act (H.r. 1528) amends a restric-tive provision within the controlled Substances Act, which pre-viously barred veterinarians from carrying and using controlled substances—necessary for pain management, anesthesia and euthanasia—beyond their registered locations, often their clin-ics, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, which supported the bill. The American Association of Equine practitioners also supported the bill.

“by passing and signing this legislation, the president and our legislators recognize the critical role veterinarians play in treating sick animals and relieving their pain and suffering. The health and welfare of our nation’s wildlife, food animals, and even our companion animals depend on veterinarians being allowed to do their jobs wherever the need arises,” said ted cohn, DVM, president of the AVMA. “As veterinarians, we promise to use our medical expertise for the protection of animal health and welfare

and the prevention and relief of animal suffering.” For more than two years, the AVMA worked with the Drug

Enforcement Administration and congress in search of a statu-tory clarification to the controlled Substances Act, so that vet-erinarians would not be subject to repercussions should they transport, administer or dispense controlled substances while providing care outside of the locations where those substances are registered. closing the loophole has been particularly impor-tant for veterinarians, who provide care in rural areas, respond to emergencies in the field, provide house calls for their clients, remove dangerous wild animals or rescue them from traps, con-duct research and disease control efforts in the field, and provide routine medical care across state lines when they live on a state’s border. AVMA’s advocacy efforts led to more than 27,000 letters sent to congress supporting the bill. More than 130 veterinary medical and other organizations endorsed it.

The Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act (H.r. 1528) was spon-sored by the only two veterinarians serving in congress— reps. Kurt schrader (D-ore.) and ted Yoho (r-Fla.). MeV

New law is a historic triumph for veterinarians, animal care

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Veterinarians performed two unique surgical procedures at the cornell University Hospi-tal for Animals; one of them in-volved printing the needed body parts on a 3D printer.

performed on horses and oth-er large animals, these procedures promise to revolutionize the ways surgeons repair cartilage and me-niscus tears in human joints.

In the first set of procedures, the surgeons and researchers tried a new method for cartilage repair on horses. Another team performed a meniscus repair pro-cedure on sheep. The meniscus repair involved custom-designed and individualized replacement parts. With information from an MrI scan of the patient’s joint, the researchers used a 3-D printer to assemble an artificial meniscus fit-ted to the patient’s body.

The surgeons and researchers taking part in these groundbreak-ing preclinical trials included staff from cornell’s college of Veteri-nary Medicine, the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)—a sec-tion of the Newyork-presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill cornell Medical college in New york city—and the New york Giants football team.

“The goal is to make these technologies available for people,” said Lisa a. fortier, DVM, phD, DAcVS, professor of large animal surgery at cornell’s college of Veterinary Medicine. but the vet-erinarian admitted she would like to be able to use the procedures

on her own patients, too.The first procedures involved

one-hour surgeries on five hors-es to practice a new procedure and use a cartilage repair device developed by suzanne Maher, phD, a biomechanical engineer at HSS and a member of the re-search team. She designed an off-the-shelf biocompatible scaf-folding that can be surgically in-serted into damaged cartilage for repair and to prevent the onset of arthritis.

cartilage defects occur due to overuse or from such traumatic episodes as a crucial ligament tear or rupture, for example.

“We know that any of those types of cartilage defects can lead to arthritis,” which the procedure

aims to prevent, Dr. Fortier said. once cartilage is torn, there is cur-rently no viable repair nor does it heal on its own, she added.

Team members included For-tier, an equine surgeon, and Russ Warren, MD, former surgeon-in-chief at HSS and a specialist for the New york Giants football team.

The second procedure involved a preclinical meniscal transplant on sheep, which is part of a multi–year National Institutes of Health grant. When torn or deteriorated, the meniscus does not heal on its own. So far, the gold standard for replacement comes from cadav-ers, tissue that is hard to match and obtain and may transmit diseases, Dr. Fortier said. Artificial scaffolds have also been ineffective. MeV

Need a new body part?

cornell veterinary surgeon lisa Fortier, right, and surgeon russ Warren, former surgeon-in-chief at the hospital for Special Surgery and a specialist for the New York giants football team, try a new cartilage repair procedure on a horse at the cornell university hospital for animals.

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it doesn'tScientists have analyzed how horses are affected by the gender of their riders. Various param-eters of stress were determined in horses and their riders when they covered an obstacle course. The results were surprising: the level of stress on a horse is independent of whether a man or a woman is in the saddle.

Furthermore, the stress re-sponses of male and female riders are essentially the same, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Comparative Exercise Physiology.

For centuries, horse riding was restricted largely to males, which is in stark contrast to to-day, when nearly 80% of riders are women, explained natascha ille, MagMedVet, of the Univer-sity of Veterinary Medicine, Vi-ena (Vetmeduni Vienna). Modern day equestrian sports are unique in that men and women compete directly against one another at all levels, from beginners to champi-ons. but do horses care?

“For this reason it is interesting to consider whether a theory of riding that was developed exclu-sively for men can be applied to women,” said Dr. Ille.

Horses don't seem to be affected by rider' s gender

beHaVior

matterWho's in the saddle?


“It is often assumed that wom-en are more sensitive toward their horses than men. If this is so, male and female riders should elicit dif-ferent types of responses from their horses,” she explained.

Dr. Ille, professor christine aurich, DVM, and colleagues from the Vetmeduni Vienna´s Graf Lehndorff Institute examined eight horses and 16 riders (eight men and eight women). Each horse had to jump a standard course of ob-stacles twice, ridden once by a man and once by a woman with similar equestrian experience. The scien-tists monitored the levels of stress in the horses and their riders, checking the amounts of cortisol in the saliva and their heart rates.

The results were unexpected. The horses’ cortisol levels increased during the test but it was not affect-ed by the gender of the rider. The horses’ heart rates also increased as a result of taking the course but the increase was irrespective of the hu-man partner in the saddle. The tests on the riders gave similar results. Again, cortisol levels increased but there was no difference between men and women. The riders' pulses sped up when the horses switched from a walk to a canter and accel-erated further during the jumping course, but the heart rate curves for male and female riders were nearly identical.

saddle pressure In a second experiment, Dr.

Ille and her colleagues studied the pressure exerted on a horse's back via the saddle. “Depending on the rider's posture and position, the pattern of pressure on the horse's back may change dramatically,”

she explained.A special pad placed directly

under the saddle was used to analyze saddle pressure in walk, trot and canter. because female riders are generally lighter than males, the saddle pressure was lower when horses were ridden by females. However, the distri-bution of pressure did not differ,

and there was no evidence of dif-ferences in the riding posture be-tween males and females.

Fair chance for allSo what does all this mean for

modern equestrian sports? Dr. Aurich was keen to reassure po-tential competitors that horses are truly gender-neutral.

“Assuming that there is no dif-ference in riding ability, from the horse’s point of view, it does not seem to matter whether the hu-man partner is male or female. our results make it extremely unlikely that horses have a prefer-ence for riders of one sex over the other. And when male and female riders compete against one an-other in equestrian sports, all of them have similar chances of do-ing well.” MeV

Ille N, Aurich C, Erber R, et al. Physiological stress responses and horse rider interactions in horses ridden by male and female riders. Journal of Comparative Exercise Physiology. 2014;10:131. DOI: 10.3920/CEP14300


horses seem to be truly gender-neutral. it doesn't matter to them if their human partner is female or male.

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beHaVior

Horse riders’ balance, sym-metry and poor posture could be improved thanks to an innovative body suit that works with motion sensors, commonly used by mov-ie makers and the video game in-dustry, according to a new study in Sports Technology.

elizabeth Gandy, MSc, a se-nior lecturer in the University of Sunderland's Department of com-puting, Engineering and Technol-ogy, used inertial motion sensors worn in the Xsens MVN body suit to assess rider asymmetry, lower back pain and injury risk.

“Lower back pain affects around one-third of the UK adult population and studies have re-ported that some of the high-est injury rates are to be found

in equestrian sports, Ms. Gandy said. “Despite this, limited scien-tific research has been carried out into the effects of asymmetry and poor posture on rider health.

“The incorporation of in-ertial motion sensors into a body-worn suit is an emerging technology, which provides a non-constraining alternative to video capture for motion analy-sis. Examples include medical research and applications within the video game and film indus-tries,” Ms. Gandy said

To evaluate the potential of this technology for rider assess-ment, Ms. Gandy and her col-leagues, with research associates from the Saddle research Trust, carried out a postural analysis of

12 riders wearing the Xsens MVN inertial motion capture suit. Hip angle rotation was measured and software developed to customize the analysis of the data for rider analysis.

results revealed the presence of asymmetry in all of the 12 riders with up to 27° difference between left and right hips, 83% with greater external rotation of the right hip.

“This preliminary study has demonstrated that the use of the inertial motion sensor suit pro-vides an efficient and practical method of assessing riders during a range of movements," explained Ms. Gandy.

The MNV biomech is a 3D hu-man kinematic, camera-less mea-

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Balance, symmetry and poor posture could be improved with technique

video technologyaids horse rider assessment


surement system, with integrated small tracking sensors placed on the joints, which can communi-cate wirelessly with a computer to capture every twist and turn οf the body, which is displayed as an avatar and a 3D set of data on screen.

biomechanics, sports science, nurse training, rehabilitation and ergonomics are just some of the areas the University of Sunder-land's researchers and students are now exploring since investing in the hi-tech suit in 2011, devel-oped by Dutch company Xsens.

previously used to create the animated alien in the science fic-

tion movie “paul,” the suit works with sensors and can be used in most environments, both inter-nal and external. previous tech-nology at the university meant any 3D motion capture data had to be recorded via fixed cameras in a lab.

The full results of the study will be presented at the second Saddle research Trust Interna-tional conference, Nov. 29 at Anglia ruskin University, cam-bridge, UK. The research was supported by funding from the University's Faculty of Applied Sciences Digital Innovation re-search beacon. MeV

horse riders' balance, symmetry and poor posture could be improved thanks to an innovative body suit that works with motion sensors, commonly used by movie makers and the video games industry.

Elizabeth Gandy et al. A preliminary investigation of the use of inertial sensing technology for the measurement of hip rotation asymmetry in horse riders. Sports Technology, April 2014 DOI: 10.1080/19346182.2014.905949


The inertial motion sensor suit provided an efficient and practical way to assess riders' technique.

ceva Animal Health’s integration of Sogeval Labo-ratories should strengthen the company’s ability to provide total animal health solutions to veterinarians

and their clients. ceva’s strength in parasiticides and

behavior combined with Sogeval’s leadership in dermatology, pain, mo-bility, and gastrointestinal health brings strong value to the industry. “With more depth and breadth of products, and more value solutions

to help address our partners’ business needs, our entire value proposition is

magnified,” said Dr. Karen padgett, chief operating officer, ceva Animal Health. “We want

to be the veterinarian’s go-to source for innovative, trusted products and business solutions that enhance the health of patients and the practice.

ceva animal health aquires Sogeval animal health

The first case of equine infectious anemia (EIA) in more than a decade was reported in a South carolina mule. Testing done at the clemson University Vet-erinary Diagnostic center in columbia and National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, con-firmed the initial results, according to S.c. State Vet-erinarian Boyd parr, DVM.

South carolina was the only state in the Southeast that did not record a new positive EIA case between 2003–2013.

The affected mule did not show any outward signs of EIA infection before the positive coggin’s test. State officials are investigating to determine if other equids were exposed that require additional quaran-tine and testing. The mule was euthanized.

No vaccine or treatment exists for this infectious and potentially fatal viral disease. clinical signs in-clude fever, weight loss, icterus, anemia, edema and weakness.

In similar news, two equids died from eastern equine encephalitis, a horse in Darlington county and a miniature donkey in Horry county. This is a reportable disease in the state, and South carolina had the most cases last year. Almost all of the con-firmed cases—48 of 49—died. MeV

eia diagnosed in South carolina; first case in more than 10 years

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“This has been a transformative year for ceva. The acquisition of Sogeval, the launch of our first FDA ap-proved product Meloxydil, and the formation of our Equine business Unit are part of the strategic growth plan that will allow us to provide a wider array of so-lutions for veterinarians and their staff,” Dr. padgett said. The combined operations of ceva and Sogeval will move forward under the ceva name with a fully integrated sales and marketing plan.

“ceva offers veterinary practices the power of more than 100 products, bringing veterinarians more solutions for improved pet and practice health. our dedicated team of knowledgeable, caring profession-als comes to work every day with a shared purpose to help you and your clients provide the best pet care possible,” Dr. padgett said.

In addition to their expanded portfolio of brand-ed products, ceva also offers important business so-lutions for their veterinary and distributor partners, including private label and custom label operations (previously known as Animal Health branded Solu-tions.) ceva business solutions are delivered by an experienced and dedicated sales team. MeV

News NoTes


Three horses from an equine boarding and train-ing facility in Dane county, Wisconsin, have tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), said Wisconsin’s State Veterinarian paul McGraw, DVM. EHV-1 is a highly contagious virus that causes respi-ratory disease, abortion and intermittent outbreaks of neurologic disease in horses.

one horse became ill in late August showing neurologic signs and was euthanized. The other two horses became ill over the Labor Day weekend and are being treated by a veterinarian. All three horses were vaccinated in spring for rhinopneumonitis, which is caused by an equine herpesvirus. currently licensed vaccines are not indicated to prevent the neurologic form of EHV-1.

McGraw asked veterinarians to be watchful for horses showing acute neurological signs with a re-minder that confirmed positive test results for EHV-1 must be reported to the Division of Animal Health at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade

and consumer protection within 10 days.Talk to owners about practicing infection con-

trol precautions and the importance of hand wash-ing to avoid spreading the virus, as well as educating them about the signs that should alert them to possibility of neurologic infection including fever, weakness and incoordination, and urinary inconti-nence. Horses with these symptoms should be ex-amined immediately. Suspect horses should be iso-lated from healthy horses and tested.

“Horses with a fever and symptoms of contagious respiratory infection should be kept at home," Dr. McGraw said. Horse owners should be made aware that transportation of horses to competitions, shows and clinics may increase the risk of exposure to infec-tious organisms.

Information resources and situational updates are available on its website at datcp.wi.gov/animals/ani-mal_diseases and on Facebook and on Twitter. MeV

three dane county horses test positive for ehv-1

Paul herendeen appointed evP and ceo Paul herendeen was

appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer of Zoetis, completing a leadership transition that began in April. Herendeen will oversee the company’s finance and information technology (IT) organizations and be part of the Zoetis executive team, reporting

to CEO Juan ramón alaix. He will have responsibility for the financial management, planning and operations for the company’s $4.6 billion enterprise.

Herendeen brings more than 30 years of broad financial experience and leadership to his role at Zoetis, including 16 years as CFO of Warner Chilcott and MedPointe. MeV

A new report finds that neglect is often tied to the economy with hay prices being a predominant factor, according to the Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA) and the Animal Law coalition.

“The findings are grim for the horse industry,” said EWA's John Holland, “We found that the de-cline in new registrations which began in 2005 con-tinued into 2013, with some breeds reporting regis-trations down as much as 75%.”

The report details the price of hay in every state over the past decade with increases in many states of more than 100%, and some showing increases as much as 220%. Worst hit were the western and southwestern states, which were plagued by persis-tent drought.

The report, however, offers a glimmer of hope in recent increases in the amount of land allocated to hay production following the removal of corn ethanol subsidies that congress terminated in 2011. This marks the first upturn in more than a decade.

An earlier EWA study found that the price of hay was the dominant factor in determining the likely rate of neglect, with the rate of unemployment com-ing in a distant second.

The report also contains a detailed record of legal and legislative battles that have raged over the past few years, especially as concerns horse slaughter. The report found the export of horses to slaughter declined in 2013, down from an almost two decade high in 2012.

Neglect often tied to hay pricesFinally, the report provided an update in the

abuse and neglect rates in the five states where these records are kept at the state level. only colorado showed an increased rate of neglect, but it was the only state that reports such data within the drought-plagued regions.

“When the price of hay increases dramatically, you can be sure that the neglect rate will follow the same trajectory,” explained Holland. MeV

http://www.datcp.wi.gov/animals/animal_diseases

reach your veterinarians wherever they are, whenever they want.

FoR adVeRTIsING RaTes aNd INFoRMaTIoN, eMaIlrobin gellar

Equine VetThe Modern

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