Isolated orbital mucoceles in the absence of obstructive sinus disease

Orbital surgeons are quite familiar with the diagnosis and management of paranasal sinus mucoceles due their frequent involvement of the orbit. These benign masses form and expand following sinus outflow obstruction secondary to various causes including trauma, inflammation and malignancy, amongst others. The authors present two cases of isolated orbital mucoceles without associated sinus outflow obstruction. There were notably no connections between the paranasal sinuses and the lesions. The mucoceles were diagnosed following orbitotomies and excisional biopsies with confirmatory histopathology. These rare orbital lesions should be considered when evaluating cystic orbital lesions, and the orbital surgeon should be familiar with the proposed pathophysiology and treatment recommendations.

'High-health, high-performance' horses: risk mitigation strategies for OIE-listed diseases

The 'high-health, high-performance' (HHP) horse concept has been developed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) together with the F6ddration Equestre Internationale and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. This concept is outlined in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Chapter 4.16). It aims to address impediments to the international movement of competition horses through a harmonised, practically feasible, globally applicable framework based on simplified certification requirements for the temporary importation of HHP horses and for their return to their country of usual residence. Based on the principle of compartmentalisation, the high health status of these horses would be established by the application, at all times, of stringent health management practices and biosecurity measures to create and maintain a functional separation between horses within the defined compartment and all other equids. These provisions are intended to mitigate the risk of disease spread for most OIE-listed diseases. For six OIE-listed diseases (African horse sickness, equine influenza, equine infectious anaemia, equine piroplasmosis, glanders and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis), the OIE recommends disease-specific mitigation measures, which have been included in a model HHP Veterinary Certificate, to provide additional guarantees to mitigate the risk of disease spread. This article presents the HH P disease risk mitigation strategy. It demonstrates how continuous observance of the HHP biosecurity measures and health management practices provides a scientific rationale for limiting the list of diseases for which HHP horses should be screened with respect to their temporary importation for competition purposes.

Equine disease events resulting from international horse movements: Systematic review and lessons learned

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY

An analysis of the factors leading to equine disease events was used to support the development of international recommendations for mitigating the risk of disease dissemination through sport horse movements (high health, high performance - 'HHP' horses).

OBJECTIVES

A review was undertaken to identify the factors resulting in equine disease events following international movement of horses to draw lessons in support of the development of international recommendations for the safe movements of a specific subpopulation of horses: the HHP sport horses.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review carried out in accordance with the PRISMA statement.

METHODS

The review covered disease events that occurred from 1995 to 2014, identified from the databases of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and international surveillance reports.

RESULTS

Overall, 54 disease events were identified, of which 7 were contained in post arrival quarantine and the others resulted in the introduction of pathogens into importing countries. For 81% of the introductions, the OIE recommendations applicable to the diseases involved had not been complied with. Subclinical infections are a challenge for international trade: 88% of the regulated movements that resulted in introductions involved infected horses that showed no clinical signs at the time of import. Biosecurity and management practices in resident equine populations were identified as important mitigating factors in preventing disease spread to the local horse population.

CONCLUSIONS

The global increase in international horse movements, if not appropriately regulated and supervised by competent veterinary authorities and respective equine industry partners, could potentially lead to increased global spread of infectious equine diseases. Appropriate mitigation measures and compliance with OIE import recommendations for specific diseases can significantly reduce this risk. The recommendations proposed under the HHP approach take into account the mitigation measures identified by this review as important factors in preventing pathogen introduction and spread.

Evaluation of mass spectrometric methods for detection of the anti-protozoal drug imidocarb

Imidocarb [N,N'-bis[3-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenyl]urea, C(19)H(20)N(6)O(1), m.w. 348.41] is a symmetrical carbanilide derivative used to treat disease caused by protozoans of the Babesia genus. Imidocarb, however, is also considered capable of suppressing Babesia-specific immune responses, allowing Babesia-positive horses to pass a complement fixation test (CFT) without eliminating the infection. This scenario could enable Babesia-infected horses to pass CFT-based importation tests. It is imperative to unequivocally identify and quantify equine tissue residues of imidocarb by mass spectrometry to address this issue. As a pretext to development of sensitive tissue assays, we have investigated possibilities of mass spectrometric (MS) detection of imidocarb. Our analyses disclosed that an unequivocal mass spectral analysis of imidocarb is challenging because of its rapid fragmentation under standard gas chromatography (GC)-MS conditions. In contrast, solution chemistry of imidocarb is more stable but involves distribution into mono- and dicationic species, m/z 349 and 175, respectively, in acid owing to the compound's inherent symmetrical nature. Dicationic imidocarb was the preferred complex as viewed by either direct infusion-electrospray-MS or by liquid chromatography (LC)-MS. Dicationic imidocarb multiple reaction monitoring (MRM: m/z 175 → 162, 145, and 188) therefore offer the greatest opportunities for sensitive detection and LC-MS is more likely than GC-MS to yield a useful quantitative forensic analytical method for detecting imidocarb in horses.