RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever e caracterizar as estruturas que compõem a articulação metacarpofalangena equina por meio de análise ultrassonográfica, anatômica e histológica. Membros torácicos equinos (=70), obtidos em instalações frigoríficas, foram submetidos a exame ultrassonográfico post mortem. Destes, 30 membros apresentaram imagens ultrassonográficas consideradas sem alterações. Posteriormente foi realizada a dissecação dos mesmos e o estudo anátomo-histológico. Critérios como tamanho, forma, arquitetura e ecogenicidade foram observados a fim de caracterizar as imagens ultrassonográficas, anatômicas e histológicas normais das estruturas ligamentares, tendíneas, capsulares e cartilaginosas da articulação metacarpofalangeana equina.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to describe and characterize the equine metacarpophalangeal joint structures through ultrasonographic, anatomical and histological analysis. Seventy forelimb specimens were obtained from a slaughterhouse and submitted to ultrasonographic evaluation. Thirty specimens without ultrasonographic detectable lesions were selected for dissection and subsequent anatomical and histological evaluation. Criteria such as size, shape, architecture and echogenicity were observed in order to characterize normal ligaments, tendons, joint capsule and articular cartilage of the metacarpophalangeal joint.

Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a prevalência das dermatopatias tumorais de equinos diagnosticadas no Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária (LPV) da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Rio Grande do Sul. Para isso, foram revisados os protocolos de biópsia de pele de equinos, arquivados no LPV-UFSM, entre janeiro de 1999 e dezembro de 2009. Em todos os casos, foram considerados os diagnósticos morfológicos que constavam nos protocolos. Durante esse período foram submetidas ao LPV-UFSM 139 amostras cutâneas de equinos. Dessas 139 amostras, 108 (77,6%) eram de tumores cutâneos, neoplásicos ou não; os outros 31 casos consistiam de dermatoses não tumorais. Dos 108 equinos, 53 (49,1%) eram fêmeas e 37 (34,2% %) eram machos, em 18 (16,7%) casos não estava descrito no protocolo o sexo. Quanto à raça, 66 (61,1%) eram de raça pura e 13 (12%) não tinham raça definida; em 29 (26,9%) protocolos não havia a descrição da raça. A raça mais prevalente foi a Crioula (44/108 [40,7%]), o restante dos 22 equinos de raça pura pertencia a outras sete raças diferentes. Quanto à idade, as categorias mais prevalentes em ordem decrescente foram a de 1-5 anos (47/108 [43,5%]) e a de 6-14 anos (21/108 [19,5%]), cavalos com 15 anos ou mais representaram 11,1% (12/108). Apenas um cavalo tinha menos de um ano de idade. Em 27 protocolos não constava a idade. Os tumores mais prevalentes incluíram: sarcoide (62/108 [57,4%]); carcinoma de células escamosas (11/108 [10,2%]); pitiose (9/108 [8,3%]); tecido de granulação (7/108 [6,5%]; e o granuloma eosinofílico (4/108 [3,8%]). Os outros tumores contaram com aproximadamente 14% dos casos.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the equine skin tumors diagnosed at the Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology (LPV) of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM). Cases of equine skin biopsies diagnosed between January 1999 and December 2009 and filed at the LPV-UFSM were reviewed. In all cases the morphological diagnosis considered was the one written in the filed biopsy report. During the period studied 139 equine skin biopsies were submitted to the LPV-UFSM. Out of those, 108 (77.6%) were skin tumors, neoplastic or otherwise and 31 cases were non-tumoral dermatosis. Fifty three of the 108 horses were females (49.1%), 37 (34.2% %) were males and in 18 cases (16.7%) the sex was not stated in the report. Sixty six affected horse (61.1%) were purebreds, 13 (12%) were crosses and in 29 instances (26.9%) the breed was not stated in the report. The Crioulo was the most prevalent breed (44/108 [40.7%]) and the remaining 22 purebreds horses were distribute among seven different breed. The most prevalent age categories affected in decreasing order were 1-5 year-old (47/108 [43.5%]) and 6-14 year-old (21/108 [19.5%]); 12 horses (11,1%) were 15 year-old or above .Only one horse was less than 1year-old. In 27 reports the age was not mentioned. More prevalent tumors included equine sarcoid (62/108 [57.4%]); squamous cell carcinomas (11/108 [10.2%]); pythiosis (9/108 [8.3%]); granulation tissue ("proud flesh") (7/108 [6.5%]) and eosinophilic granuloma (4/108 [3.8%]). The remaining tumors accounted for approximately 14% of the cases.

The protease inhibitor system (PI) was investigated to ascertain if it can be used as a marker of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in thoroughbred horses. Serum samples were taken from healthy thoroughbreds (n = 13) and those diagnosed as having COPD (n = 24) or inflammatory airway disease (IAD, n = 38) as well as from 3,600 undiagnosed thoroughbred horses. PI allelic and genotypic frequencies were estimated using protein electrophoresis on starch and polyacrylamide gels. The four groups of horses showed high genotypic similarity and none of the observed alleles or genotypes of the equine PI system were found to be associated with COPD.