F Pille

Publications (16)16.02 Total impact

• Source

  Available from: Thierry Franck

  Article: Equine myeloperoxidase: A novel biomarker in synovial fluid for the diagnosis of infection.

  J Wauters, F Pille, A Martens, T Franck, D Serteyn, F Gasthuys, E Meyer
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  ABSTRACT: REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Equine joint infection is a life-threatening disorder, and confirmation of the diagnosis can be difficult. Synovial fluid biomarkers may assist the discrimination between infectious and noninfectious joint disease. OBJECTIVES: This study investigates whether the immunological detection of total and enzymatically active myeloperoxidase (MPO) assists the diagnosis of joint infection in horses. METHODS: The following 4 sample groups were included: healthy; osteochondritis dissecans (OCD); traumatic synovitis; and culture-confirmed infected joints. Synovial fluid was analysed for total MPO by a horse-specific sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and for active MPO using the specific immunological extraction followed by enzymatic detection (SIEFED) technique. Western blot analysis was performed to confirm the antibody specificity. RESULTS: Synovial fluid from infected joints contained significantly more total and active MPO than samples from healthy joints, joints affected by OCD and joints with traumatic synovitis. Cut-off values were set at 5000 and 350 ng/ml for total and active MPO, respectively, with fair sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and likelihood ratios for infection. Correlation coefficients were reported between the total as well as the active MPO levels and the routine synovial fluid parameters, i.e. the white blood cell count, the neutrophil count and the total protein level. No correlation was observed between MPO and either the age of the horse or the joint affected. Western blotting confirmed the antibody specificity for equine MPO. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Synovial fluid MPO was identified as a very promising biomarker to augment the discrimination of infectious vs. noninfectious joint disease in horses. Both ELISA and SIEFED techniques can be used for its specific and rapid detection. The analysis of synovial fluid MPO can be used as a complementary test to aid in the discrimination between infectious and noninfectious joint disease, especially when the white blood cell counts and the total protein level are inconclusive.
  Equine Veterinary Journal 09/2012; · 1.46 Impact Factor
• Article: Comparison of four techniques for synoviocentesis of the equine digital flexor tendon sheath: a cadaveric study.

  M Jordana, M Oosterlinck, F Pille, A Valère, A Martens
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  ABSTRACT: To compare four different techniques for synoviocentesis of the equine digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS). Fifteen inexperienced operators performed each of the following injection techniques on two cadaveric limbs: Proximal (at the proximal recess of the DFTS), Axial (axial to the proximal sesamoid bone), Base (at the base of the proximal sesamoid bone), and Distal (at the pastern). The number of attempts needed before the needle was assumed to be correctly positioned into the DFTS was recorded and 10 ml of methylene blue was injected. The limbs were dissected to determine the presence of methylene blue in the DFTS, the distance between the needle entrance point and the lateral palmar or plantar (digital) nerve, the degree of subcutaneous leakage and the distance between the border of the leakage zone and the lateral digital nerve. The Axial (29/30) and Distal (25/30) approaches had the highest numbers of successful injections. The median number of attempts was highest for the Axial approach. The distances from the injection point and from the border of the leakage zone to the lateral digital nerve were longer for Distal and Axial approaches. In the hands of inexperienced operators, the Axial approach was the most successful technique for injection of the equine DFTS. Sparse subcutaneous leakage and larger distance to the nerve when using this technique might decrease the risk of in-advertent palmar or plantar digital nerve desensitisation when performing DFTS analgesia.
  Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology 02/2012; 25(3):178-83. · 0.81 Impact Factor
• Article: Use of a pressure plate to analyse the toe-heel load redistribution underneath a normal shoe and a shoe with a wide toe in sound warmblood horses at the walk and trot.

  A M Oomen, M Oosterlinck, F Pille, D C Sonneveld, F Gasthuys, W Back
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  ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to use a pressure plate to quantify the toe-heel load redistribution in the forelimbs of sound warmblood horses with normal shoes and shoes with a wide toe and narrow branches, used empirically in the treatment of superficial digital flexor tendon or suspensory ligament injuries. In a crossover-design study, six horses, randomly shod with normal shoes and shoes with a wide toe, were led over a dynamically calibrated pressure plate to record data from both forelimbs. There were no significant differences between both shoes in the toe-heel index of stance time, peak vertical force and vertical impulse. For the adapted shoe, the peak vertical pressure was slightly lower and was exerted slightly earlier in the stance phase, albeit not significantly. However, the significantly larger toe contact area of the adapted shoe resulted in a significantly lower total vertical pressure in the toe region. Hence, the pressure plate adequately visualised the individual loading of the toe and heel region, and clearly demonstrated the altered pressure distribution underneath the shoe with a wide toe. Although further research on a deformable surface is needed to confirm this hypothesis, the pressure redistribution from the toe to the heels could promote sinking of the heels in arena footing, thereby mimicking the biomechanical effects of a toe wedge and providing a rationale for its application in the treatment of SDFT or SL injuries. The pressure measuring equipment used in this study can offer to the clinician a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of the load distribution underneath the equine hoof and for the fine-tuning of corrective shoeing.
  Research in Veterinary Science 02/2012; 93(2):1026-31. · 1.65 Impact Factor
• Article: Association between navicular bone fragmentation and shape in Belgian Warmblood horses.

  S Claerhoudt, F Pille, K Vanderperren, S Hauspie, L Duchateau, E Van der Vekens, J H Saunders
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  ABSTRACT: To investigate whether in navicular bones (NB) from warmbloods, distal border fragmentation is associated with the shape of the proximal articular border or other radiological findings. Radiographs of the front feet of 325 normal, subadult horses presented for admission as breeding stallions were reviewed. The proximal articular border of the total of 650 NB was classified as straight (n = 278), convex (n = 184), undulating (n = 147) or concave (n = 41). Distal border fragments were present in 57 NB (8.8%). They were significantly more prevalent in NB with a concave (9/41; 22%) or undulating (19/147; 13%) proximal articular border compared to NB with a straight (17/278; 6%) or convex shape (12/184; 7%). No other significant associations were found. Hypothetically, since a shape-fragment association was found and the distribution of biomechanical forces exerted on the navicular bone are assumed to be shape dependent, distal border fragments may be a result of unfavourable loading of the navicular region.
  Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology 01/2011; 24(2):132-6. · 0.81 Impact Factor
• Article: A pressure plate study on fore and hindlimb loading and the association with hoof contact area in sound ponies at the walk and trot.

  M Oosterlinck, F Pille, W Back, J Dewulf, F Gasthuys
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  ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between fore- and hind-hoof contact area and limb loading. Data from a previous study on forelimb loading and symmetry were compared with data on hindlimb kinetics, and the fore- and hind-hoof contact area at the walk and trot was evaluated. Five sound ponies, selected for symmetrical feet, were walked and trotted over a pressure plate embedded in a custom-made runway. The hindlimb peak vertical force (PVF) and vertical impulse (VI) were found to be significantly lower than in the forelimb, whereas their high symmetry ratios (>95%) did not show a significant difference from forelimb data. Hindlimb PVF in ponies was found to be slightly higher when compared to data reported for horses even though the ponies moved at a similar or lower relative velocity. The contact area had low intra-individual variability and was significantly smaller in the hind- than in the fore-hooves. A larger contact area was significantly associated with lower peak vertical pressure (PVP) but higher PVF and VI. No significant differences between left and right sides were found for contact area or loading variables. Pressure plate measurements demonstrated a significant association between hoof contact area and limb loading, in addition to intrinsic differences between fore and hindlimb locomotor function. The pressure plate provides the clinician with a tool to quantify simultaneously contralateral differences in hoof contact area and limb loading.
  The Veterinary Journal 09/2010; 190(1):71-6. · 2.24 Impact Factor
• Article: Use of blood culture medium enrichment for synovial fluid culture in horses: a comparison of different culture methods.

  M Dumoulin, F Pille, A-M van den Abeele, F Boyen, B Boussauw, M Oosterlinck, F Pasmans, F Gasthuys, A Martens
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  ABSTRACT: Standard methods for culturing equine synovial fluid (SF) are often unrewarding. Evidence-based information on the relative efficiency of different systems used for optimisation of isolation of microorganisms from equine SF is lacking. To compare the results of different culture systems performed in parallel on SF samples from horses clinically diagnosed with synovial sepsis. Synovial fluid specimens were collected between February 2007 and October 2008 from all horses admitted to a referral hospital that were clinically diagnosed with synovial sepsis and from control horses. Synovial fluid samples were cultured in parallel by: 1) direct agar culture (DA); agar culture after: 2) lysis-centrifugation pretreatment (LC); 3) conventional enrichment (CE); 4) combined LC/CE; or 5) blood culture medium enrichment using an automated system (BACTEC 9050). Ninety SF samples from 82 horses were included, together with 40 control samples. Seventy-one of 90 samples (79%) were culture-positive by using blood culture medium enrichment (BACTEC), which was significantly higher compared to all other methods. BACTEC enrichment was never negative while any of the other methods was positive. Although agar culture following LC and/or CE resulted in a slightly higher number of positive samples compared to DA, this difference was not significant. All control samples were culture negative by the 5 different techniques. Although the majority of samples containing isolates recovered without enrichment, culture results after BACTEC enrichment were available on the same day as for agar culture with or without LC (19/23 samples), while CE postponed recovery by at least one day in 20/23 samples. Blood culture medium enrichment is superior to other techniques for isolation of bacteria from SF of horses. The use of an automated system allows enrichment without substantially postponing recovery of microorganisms. The efficient and fast isolation of microorganisms from infected SF by the BACTEC system allows for rapid susceptibility testing and a more appropriate antibiotic treatment.
  Equine Veterinary Journal 09/2010; 42(6):541-6. · 1.46 Impact Factor
• Article: Use of a stand-alone pressure plate for evaluation of forelimb symmetry in sound ponies.

  M. Oosterlinck, F Pille, W. Back, J Dewulf, F Gasthuys
  The Veterinary record 03/2010; 166(13):403. · 1.25 Impact Factor
• Article: Spontaneous bilateral ankylosis of the carpometacarpal joint in a Paint Horse

  M. Oosterlinck, F. Pille, F. Gasthuys, J. H. Saunders
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  ABSTRACT: An 8-year-old Paint Horse gelding was evaluated for a persistent left forelimb lameness (grade 4/5), with a hard swelling at the dorsomedial aspect of the carpometacarpal joint, due to osteoarthritis. Previous systemic and local anti-inflammatory therapy had only a temporary effect. Partial carpal arthrodesis was suggested, but the owner elected for conservative treatment. The horse was confined to a small paddock and received phytotherapeutic supplementation with Harpagophytum procumbens. The lameness gradually resolved but a similar hard swelling developed on the right carpus. Radiographic follow-up 1.5 years later revealed a spontaneous bilateral ankylosis of the carpometacarpal joint.
  Equine Veterinary Education. 01/2010; 21(9):452 - 454.
• Article: Cardiorespiratory effects of enoximone in anaesthetised colic horses.

  S Schauvliege, M Gozalo Marcilla, M Gonzalo Marcilla, L Duchateau, A Martens, L Vlaminck, F Pille, J Declercq, T Levet, F Gasthuys
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  ABSTRACT: No studies have been reported on the effects of enoximone in anaesthetised colic horses. To examine whether enoximone improves cardiovascular function and reduces dobutamine requirement in anaesthetised colic horses. Forty-eight mature colic horses were enrolled in this prospective, randomised clinical trial. After sedation (xylazine 0.7 mg/kg bwt) and induction (midazolam 0.06 mg/kg bwt, ketamine 2.2 mg/kg bwt), anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen and a lidocaine constant rate infusion (15 mg/kg bwt, 2 mg/kg/h). Horses were ventilated (PaCO2 < 8.00 kPa). If hypotension occurred, dobutamine and/or colloids were administered. Ten minutes after skin incision, horses randomly received an i.v. bolus of enoximone (0.5 mg/kg bwt) or saline. Monitoring included respiratory and arterial blood gases, heart rate (HR), arterial pressure and cardiac index (CI). Systemic vascular resistance (SVR), stroke index (SI) and oxygen delivery index (DO2I) were calculated. For each variable, changes between baseline and T10 within each treatment group and/or colic type (small intestines, large intestines or mixed) were analysed and compared between treatments in a fixed effects model. Differences between treatments until T30 were investigated using a mixed model (a = 0.05). Ten minutes after enoximone treatment, CI (P = 0.0010), HR (P = 0.0033) and DO2I (P = 0.0007) were higher and SVR lower (P = 0.0043) than at baseline. The changes in CI, HR and SVR were significantly different from those after saline treatment. During the first 30 min after enoximone treatment, DO2I (P = 0.0224) and HR (P = 0.0003) were higher than after saline administration. Because the difference in HR between treatments was much clearer in large intestine colic cases, an interaction was detected between treatment and colic type in both analyses (P = 0.0076 and 0.0038, respectively). Enoximone produced significant, but short lasting, cardiovascular effects in colic horses. Potential relevance: Enoximone's cardiovascular effects in colic horses were of shorter duration than in healthy ponies.
  Equine Veterinary Journal 11/2009; 41(8):778-85. · 1.46 Impact Factor
• Article: Evaluation of the in vivo behaviour of gentamicin sulphate ocular mini-tablets in ponies.

  F Gasthuys, K Pockelé, C Vervaet, W Weyenberg, K De Prijck, F Pille, L Vlaminck, H Nelis, J P Remon
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  ABSTRACT: The in vivo behaviour of 5% gentamicin sulphate ocular mini-tablets (2-mm diameter, 6.525 mg weight) was compared with gentamicin eye drops in six ponies. Two mini-tablets were inserted on the bulbar conjunctiva of the right eye while a similar dose of gentamicin was administered via eye drops in the left eye. Irritation induced by the mini-tablets and the eye drops was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (0-10). Tears were sampled with ophthalmologic absorption triangles for 1 min for the determination of the concentration of gentamicin sulphate using a microbiological plate diffusion method. Irritation induced by the tablets was minor and clinically acceptable (overall median score of 1.7 +/- 1.4). Eye drops induced a sharp increase in gentamicin sulphate concentration (364.4 microg/mL after 5 min) followed by a fast decline (10.8 microg/mL after 60 min). The increase in concentration induced by the ocular mini-tablets was less pronounced (up to 56.2 microg/mL after 30 min) and followed by a gradual decrease; the concentration remained above 15 microg/mL for 8 h. Ocular 5% gentamicin sulphate mini-tablets are clinically well-tolerated in ponies, assuring a constant concentration in the tears for at least 8 h.
  Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics 11/2007; 30(5):470-6. · 1.18 Impact Factor
• Article: Upward fixation of the patella in the horse. A retrospective study.

  M Dumoulin, F Pille, P Desmet, J Dewulf, M Steenhaut, F Gasthuys, A Martens
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  ABSTRACT: The objective of the present study was to assess the incidence of upward fixation of the patella (UFP) in different types of patients and to evaluate the outcome of conservative and surgical treatment for correcting this condition. A particular attempt was made to find out whether corrective trimming and/or shoeing (CTS) is efficient in the conservative treatment of UFP, and whether a longer postoperative resting period reduces the risk of complications after medial patellar desmotomy (MPD). Medical records of 78 horses with intermittent or permanent UFP were analyzed retrospectively. Young animals and ponies were mostly affected, mainly during winter (P < 0.05). Seventy-six horses with UFP were treated conservatively, with follow-up being possible in 64 of them. This treatment, in which CTS seemed the most important aspect, was fully successful in 51.6% of these patients; 20.3% of them improved partially. In case of no response to conservative treatment, or in case of a permanent fixation, MPD was performed in 20 horses, which corrected UFP completely in 17 of the 18 followed-up patients. However, gait abnormalities were seen in seven of those 17 horses postsurgically, but with the incidence being lower in horses that had rested for at least three months (25%) compared to horses that had only rested for less than one month (66.6%). Results indicate that conservative treatment, with special attention for CTS, is worth trying before performing more radical procedures to correct UFP, and that a longer convalescence period after MPD is desirable.
  Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology 02/2007; 20(2):119-25. · 0.81 Impact Factor
• Article: Detection of bacterial DNA in synovial fluid from horses with infectious synovitis.

  F Pille, A Martens, L M Schouls, L Peelman, F Gasthuys, C S Schot, C De Baere, P Desmet, F Vandenberghe
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  ABSTRACT: Standard culturing techniques are often unrewarding in confirming diagnosis of synovial infection in the equine patient. Several human studies report the use of sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for the detection of bacterial involvement in acute synovitis. However, successful extraction of bacterial DNA directly from clinical samples from horses without prior culture has not been reported yet. The goal of this study was to develop a sensitive and reliable method for molecular detection and identification of bacterial species in synovial fluid from horses with infectious synovitis. Synovial fluid samples from 6 horses with culture confirmed synovial infection were used for broad range 16S rRNA gene PCR. Synovial aspirates of 2 healthy horses were used as negative controls. Following extraction and purification of synovial fluid DNA, all samples were processed by touchdown PCR. Amplicons were detected by reverse line blot hybridisation and visualised with chemiluminescence. Pathogen-specific detection of 16S rRNA gene sequences was successful in all 6 synovial fluid samples. No bacterial DNA was detected in the aspirates from the negative control horses using touchdown PCR followed by 25 additional cycles of amplification. The identity of the pathogens was confirmed by DNA sequencing of the amplicons. It can be concluded that broad range 16S rRNA gene PCR followed by reverse line blot hybridisation is a promising technique for detection of bacterial DNA in synovial fluid samples. Further research should aim at the detection of bacterial DNA in synovial fluid samples suspected of infection but having negative culture results. When the 16S PCR proves to be reliable and more sensitive than standard culturing techniques, it may become a powerful tool in the diagnosis of synovial infection.
  Research in Veterinary Science 01/2005; 77(3):189-95. · 1.65 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Lieven E M Vlaminck

  Article: Evaluation of excision, cryosurgery and local BCG vaccination for the treatment of equine sarcoids.

  A Martens, A De Moor, L Vlaminck, F Pille, M Steenhaut
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  ABSTRACT: Ninety-five horses with sarcoids were subjected to three types of treatment: surgical excision (conventional or carbon dioxide laser), cryotherapy or local BCG vaccination. The type of treatment was selected on the basis of the size, location and clinical appearance of the tumours. The choice between conventional and laser excision was empirical. A successful outcome was obtained in 11 of 14 (79 per cent) of the horses treated by cryosurgery, 18 of 27 (67 per cent) treated by BCG vaccination, 18 of 22 (82 per cent) treated by conventional excision, and 20 of 28 (71 per cent) treated with a carbon dioxide laser. For both excision methods, rigorous measures were taken to avoid autoinoculation and to ensure a wide margin of normal skin. The probability of local recurrence after excision was significantly higher for large sarcoids and sarcoids which had previously failed to respond to treatment. In 10 of the 31 horses with remaining sarcoids, some or all of the untreated sarcoids were observed to regress spontaneously.
  The Veterinary record 01/2002; 149(22):665-9. · 1.25 Impact Factor
• Article: How accurate is the pressure plate as a clinical tool to quantify equine gait symmetry.

  M. Oosterlinck, F Pille, T. Huppes, F Gasthuys, W. Back
• Article: Does a difference in hoof conformation affect fore and hind limb loading in sound ponies at walk and trot?

  M. Oosterlinck, F Pille, W. Back, J Dewulf, F Gasthuys
• Article: How accurate is a pressure plate as a clinical tool to quantify equine gait symmetry ?

  M. Oosterlinck, F Pille, T. Huppes, F Gasthuys, W. Back