VN June 2021

Vetnews | June 2021 39 This retrospective case series by Alex Hawkins and co‐workers at The Royal Veterinary College, UK, analysed oblique and straight distal sesamoidean ligament desmitis. This study included 51 horses with a primary diagnosis of oblique (ODSL) or straight (SDSL) distal sesamoidean ligament injury confirmed with a combination of diagnostic analgesia and detection of a lesion on imaging (ultrasonographic ± advanced imaging). Straight distal sesamoidean ligament injuries were more common in the forelimb (13/21, 62%), while ODSL injuries had equal frequency in fore‐ (15/30, 50%) and hindlimbs (15/30, 50%). ODSL injuries were more likely than SDSL injuries to affect the proximal third of the ligament and often presented with periligamentar swelling and focal pain. Lesions were frequently detected using ultrasonography and sMRI examination. Only 27/49 cases (55%) returned to soundness, with only 15/49 (31%) returning to intended use. There were no significant associations between outcome and clinical features or treatment. In contrast to previous studies, ODSL and SDSL injuries were readily identified ultrasonographically using appropriate views, and with sMRI. Given the limited availability, cost and general anaesthetic risks associated with high‐field MRI, more focus should be placed on optimising the ultrasonographic examination. Owners of affected horses should be informed of the guarded prognosis for return to full use. v Distal sesamoidean ligament desmitis This retrospective study by Stefanie Arndt and co‐workers at the University of California‐Davis, USA, investigated clinical and diagnostic findings, treatment, and short‐ and long‐termsurvival in 72 horses with peritonitis. Medical records were reviewed for horses diagnosed with peritonitis. The essential inclusion criterion was a peritoneal nucleated cell count of ≥25,000 cells/μL. Gastrointestinal rupture and cases in which peritonitis occurred after abdominal surgery or castration were excluded..Information retrieved included signalment, history, clinicopathological and peritoneal fluid variables, diagnostic imaging findings, inciting cause, treatment, and short‐ and long‐term survival. Colic was themost common presenting complaint (34/72, 48%). A definitive diagnosis could be made in 44/72 (61%) cases. The most common cause of peritonitis was infectious agents (31/72), followed by trauma (8/72), gastrointestinal thickening (3/72), and eosinophilic peritonitis (2/72). Idiopathic peritonitis was identified in 28/72 (39%) cases. Sixty (83%) horses survived to hospital discharge. Long‐term follow‐up was available for 49 horses, with 43 (88%) horses alive 1 year after discharge. Significant differences between nonsurvivors and survivors were history of colic, positive peritoneal fluid culture, and several haematological/peritoneal fluid variables. Peritoneal fluid analysiswas essential for adefinitivediagnosis of peritonitis, andcertain variables were useful for predicting outcome. v Survival in horses with peritonitis In this study Laura Nath and co‐workers in Australia and Hong Kong investigated the outcomes after episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF) identified post‐race and determined whether affected horses are at increased risk of further episodes. Race records for Thoroughbred horses racing in Hong Kong (2007– 2017) were reviewed. Horses that performed below expectation were examined by cardiac auscultation and ECG. Incidence and recurrence of AF were compared between horses with and without a history of AF and between horses with paroxysmal and persistent episodes. There were 96,135 race starts during the study. Atrial fibrillationwas identified in4.9%of horses (4684horses), withanoverall incidenceof 2.7episodes per 1000 starts.The incidence of AF inhorses after any previous episode (12.8/1000 starts) was higher than for horses with no previous episode (2.4/1000 starts). Recurrence was seen in 64% of horses previously treated for persistent AF, which was higher than recurrence in horses withparoxysmal AF (23%). Mediandurationbetween episodeswas 343 days. Thoroughbreds are at increased risk of recurrent AF after both paroxysmal and persistent episodes, but the duration of time between episodes varies widely. v Post‐race atrial fibrillation in Thoroughbreds This prospective, multicentre, placebo‐controlled, randomised, double‐ blinded study by Scott Pirie, based at the University of Edinburgh, and co‐workers in Germany was designed to assess the effectiveness and safety of inhaled ciclesonide for the treatment of severe equine asthma. This study included 220 horses with severe equine asthma from 24 clinics in Germany, France and Switzerland. Horses were randomised to receive ciclesonide inhalation solution or placebo inhalation. No environmental modifications were implemented. Treatments were administered with a Soft Mist inhaler for horses at doses of eight actuations twice daily for 5 days and 12 actuations once daily for the following 5 days. The ciclesonide group had a responder rate of 73% compared with 43% for the placebo group. The mean weighted clinical score reduction after 10 days of treatment was 7.2±4.8 in the ciclesonide treatedgroup, comparedwith3.8±4.5 in theplacebogroup. Horses with more severe clinical signs showed a greater improvement compared to those withmild/moderate clinical signs. Owners perceived an improved quality of life after 5 and 10 days of treatment in 60.2% and 69.3% of ciclesonide treated horses, compared with 32.7% and 43.4%of placebo treated horses. Inhaled ciclesonide resulted in a clinical improvement and improved quality of life in horses with severe equine asthma after 10 days of treatment. v (Source: Equine Veterinary Education ) Inhaled ciclesonide for equine asthma