European College of Equine Internal Medicine

Science Newsletter Nº3 January 2025

The January edition of the third ECEIM Science newsletter is now available. We hope you find the contents of this new issue interesting.

Summary

This edition highlights advancements in equine cardiology, infectious disease research, and the use of salivary markers in stress assessment. Recent cardiology studies explore innovative diagnostic techniques, including improved ECG methodologies and ultrasound-guided interventions for arrhythmia characterisation. Infectious disease research provides new insights into conditions like Equine Grass Sickness, EMPF, EHV-1, and leptospirosis, enhancing understanding of their pathology, prognosis, and management. Finally, a study on salivary cortisol underscores its potential as an objective measure of stress in racehorses during early training.

In this edition’s "Do you know…" we get to know Fernando Malalana.

Cardiology

Recent advancements in equine cardiology focus on improving diagnostic accuracy for arrhythmias. Dr. van Loon's team introduced a new triangular ECG configuration, the “Delta configuration,” that enhances data consistency and diagnostic potential for equine cardiology. Additionally, studies investigated ultrasound-guided catheter placement for minimally invasive arrhythmia diagnosis and validated the safety of transseptal puncture for left atrial access, expanding options for arrhythmia management.

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Infectious Diseases

Research into equine infectious diseases has provided key insights into conditions such as Equine Grass Sickness, EMPF, EHV-1, and leptospirosis. Findings reveal unique neuromuscular abnormalities in EGS cases, poor prognosis factors in EMPF, and limited efficacy of pharmacological interventions for EHV-1. Studies also highlight the risks of EqPV-H transmission in hospitalized horses and emphasize the importance of diagnostic testing for leptospirosis in cases of multi-organ inflammation.

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Salivary Markers

A study on Thoroughbred racehorses evaluated salivary cortisol as an indicator of stress during training milestones. Cortisol levels rose significantly after novel training events, such as first backing and galloping under saddle, reflecting individual variability in stress responses. These findings suggest salivary cortisol could be a reliable, non-invasive tool for assessing stress and supporting tailored training programs.

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Do you know...Fernando Malalana?

In this edition’s "Do you know…" we get to know Fernando Malalana.

Read the interview