Correction: The performance of a lateral flow SARS-CoV-2 antibody assay and semi-autonomous SARS-CoV-2 antisense and sense RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization assay in a prospective cohort pilot study within a Dutch military population.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

The performance of a lateral flow SARS-CoV-2 antibody assay and semi-autonomous SARS-CoV-2 antisense and sense RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization assay in a prospective cohort pilot study within a Dutch military population.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, diagnostic testing was not accessible for mildly ill or asymptomatic individuals. Military operational circumstances exclude the usage of reference laboratory tests. For that reason, at the beginning of the pandemic alternative test methods were needed in order to gain insight into the SARS-CoV-2 status of military personnel.

Intervertebral disc degeneration in warmblood horses: Histological and biochemical characterization.

Gross morphology of healthy and degenerated intervertebral discs (IVDs) is largely similar in horses as in dogs and humans. For further comparison, the biochemical composition and the histological and biochemical changes with age and degeneration were analyzed in 41 warmblood horses. From 33 horses, 139 discs and 2 fetal vertebral columns were evaluated and scored histologically.

Direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 antisense and sense genomic RNA in human saliva by semi-autonomous fluorescence in situ hybridization: A proxy for contagiousness?

Saliva is a matrix which may act as a vector for pathogen transmission and may serve as a possible proxy for SARS-CoV-2 contagiousness. Therefore, the possibility of detection of intracellular SARS-CoV-2 in saliva by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization is tested, utilizing probes targeting the antisense or sense genomic RNA of SARS-CoV-2. This method was applied in a pilot study with saliva samples collected from healthy persons and those presenting with mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms.

Effect of a long-term high-energy diet on cardiovascular parameters in Shetland pony mares.

Background: Changes in cardiovascular parameters, including blood pressure (BP) and cardiac anatomical dimensions, are an inconsistent feature of the equine metabolic syndrome. The order in which these changes arise is unknown.

Objectives: Determine the order in which EMS-associated changes in cardiovascular parameters arise.

Cervical articular process joint osteochondrosis in Warmblood foals.

Background: In Warmblood horses, degenerative joint disease is involved in cervical malformation and malarticulation (CVM). The degree of contribution of articular process joint (APJ) osteochondrosis (OC) is not clear.

Objectives: (a) To explore the presence of predilection sites for APJ OC in cervical and cranial thoracic vertebral columns of Warmblood foals and (b) to examine the correlation of such a site with the predilection site of CVM.

Equine cervical intervertebral disc degeneration is associated with location and MRI features.

Morphology of the equine cervical intervertebral disc is different from that in humans and small companion animals and published imaging data are scarcely available. The objectives of this exploratory, methods comparison study were (a) to describe MRI features of macroscopically nondegenerated and degenerated intervertebral discs (b) to test associations between spinal location and macroscopic degeneration or MRI-detected annular protrusion and between MRI-detected annular protrusion and macroscopic degeneration, and (c) to define MRI sequences for characterizing equine cervical intervertebral disc degeneration. Ex vivo MRI of intervertebral discs was performed in 11 horses with clinical signs related to the cervical region prior to macroscopic assessment.

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Warmblood Horses: Morphology, Grading, and Distribution of Lesions.

Equine intervertebral disc degeneration is thought to be rare and of limited clinical relevance, although research is lacking. To objectively assess pathological changes of the equine intervertebral disc and their clinical relevance, description of the normal morphology and a practical, biologically credible grading scheme are needed. The objectives of this study are to describe the gross and histological appearance of the equine intervertebral discs and to propose a grading scheme for macroscopic degeneration.

The potential and limitations of quantitative electromyography in equine medicine.

This review discusses the scope of using (quantitative) electromyography (EMG) in diagnosing myopathies and neuropathies in equine patients. In human medicine, many EMG methods are available for the diagnosis, pathophysiological description and evaluation, monitoring, or rehabilitation of patients, and some of these techniques have also been applied to horses. EMG results are usually combined with other neurophysiological data, ultrasound, histochemistry, biochemistry of muscle biopsies, and clinical signs in order to provide a complete picture of the condition and its clinical course.

The effect of Clostridium botulinum toxin type A injections on motor unit activity of the deep digital flexor muscle in healthy sound Royal Dutch sport horses.

Therapeutic reduction of the activity of the deep digital flexor (DDF) muscle may play a role in treatment of laminitic horses. Clostridium botulinum toxin type A induces reduced muscle activity and has a spasmolytic effect in horses. In this study, the effectiveness of 200 IU C.

Effect of Clostridium botulinum toxin type A injections into the deep digital flexor muscle on the range of motion of the metacarpus and carpus, and the force distribution underneath the hooves, of sound horses at the walk.

In the treatment of laminitis, reducing deep digital flexor muscle (DDFM) activity might diminish its pull on the distal phalanx, thereby preventing displacement and providing pain relief. Injection of Clostridium botulinum toxin type A into the DDFM of horses is potentially therapeutic. However, the effects of C.

Skeletal muscle transcriptome profiles related to different training intensities and detraining in Standardbred horses: a search for overtraining biomarkers.

Training horses improves athletic capabilities by inducing skeletal muscle-specific and systemic adaptations. However, rest is required to recover from exercise or else overtraining may occur and affect performance and welfare. Biomarkers would be useful to identify early chronic overtraining in animals.

Effects of intensified training and subsequent reduced training on glucose metabolism rate and peripheral insulin sensitivity in Standardbreds.

Objective: To determine the influence of intensified training and subsequent reduced training on glucose metabolism rate and peripheral insulin sensitivity in horses and identify potential markers indicative of early overtraining.

Animals: 12 Standardbred geldings.

Procedures: Horses underwent 4 phases of treadmill-based training.

Copper-associated hepatic cirrhosis in a Friesian horse.

A 6-year-old Friesian stallion was examined because of signs of exercise intolerance, stiff gait and symmetrical hind weakness, and increased serum liver enzymes. On presentation, the horse showed muscle atrophy of the hindquarters. Neurological investigation showed no abnormalities.

Effect of head and neck position on intrathoracic pressure and arterial blood gas values in Dutch Warmblood riding horses during moderate exercise.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of various head and neck positions on intrathoracic pressure and arterial oxygenation during exercise in horses.

Animals: 7 healthy Dutch Warmblood riding horses.

Procedures: The horses were evaluated with the head and neck in the following predefined positions: position 1, free and unrestrained; position 2, neck raised with the bridge of the nose aligned vertically; position 4, neck lowered and extremely flexed with the nose pointing toward the pectoral muscles; position 5, neck raised and extended with the bridge of the nose in front of a vertical line perpendicular to the ground surface; and position 7, neck lowered and flexed with the nose pointing towards the carpus.

A missense mutation in the skeletal muscle chloride channel 1 (CLCN1) as candidate causal mutation for congenital myotonia in a New Forest pony.

A 7-month-old New Forest foal presented for episodes of recumbency and stiffness with myotonic discharges on electromyography. The observed phenotype resembled congenital myotonia caused by CLCN1 mutations in goats and humans. Mutation of the CLCN1 gene was considered as possible cause and mutation analysis was performed.

Assessment of endogenous growth hormone pulsatility in gelded yearling horses using deconvolution analysis.

Hypothesis/objectives: Defining normal Growth Hormone (GH) secretory dynamics in the horse is necessary to understand altered GH dynamics related to issues like welfare and disease.

Animals And Methods: Twelve healthy yearlings and two mature Standardbreds were used to quantify GH secretion. Endogenous GH half-life was determined after administration of 1.

Effects of acute exercise and long-term exercise on total Na+,K+ -ATPase content and Na+,K+ -ATPase isoform expression profile in equine muscle.

Objective: To investigate the effects of acute exercise and long-term training on Na(+),K(+)-ATPase content, mRNA isoforms, and protein concentration in equine muscle.

Animals: 6 Standardbreds.

Procedures: Horses performed a bout of exercise on a treadmill before and after 18 weeks of combined interval and endurance training.

Plasma acylcarnitine and fatty acid profiles during exercise and training in Standardbreds.

Objective: To evaluate alterations in skeletal muscle carnitine metabolism during exercise and training by measuring changes in plasma acylcarnitine concentrations in Standardbreds.

Animals: 10 Standardbred geldings with a mean +/- SD age of 20 +/- 2 months and weight of 384 +/- 42 kg.

Procedures: In a 32-week longitudinal study, training on a treadmill was divided into 4 phases as follows: phase 1, acclimatization for 4 weeks; phase 2, 18 weeks with alternating endurance and high-intensity exercise training; phase 3, increased training volume and intensity for another 6 weeks; and phase 4, deconditioning for 4 weeks.

(Over)training effects on quantitative electromyography and muscle enzyme activities in standardbred horses.

Too intensive training may lead to overreaching or overtraining. To study whether quantitative needle electromyography (QEMG) is more sensitive to detect training (mal)adaptation than muscle enzyme activities, 12 standardbred geldings trained for 32 wk in age-, breed-, and sex-matched fixed pairs. After a habituation and normal training (NT) phase (phases 1 and 2, 4 and 18 wk, respectively), with increasing intensity and duration and frequency of training sessions, an intensified training (IT) group (phase 3, 6 wk) and a control group (which continued training as in the last week of phase 2) were formed.

Effect of exercise on activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase, and heat shock protein 27 in equine skeletal muscle.

Objective: To investigate the effects of exercise on activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling proteins in horses.

Animals: 6 young trained Standardbred geldings.

Procedure: Horses performed a 20-minute bout of exercise on a treadmill at 80% of maximal heart rate.

Effects of short- and long-term recombinant equine growth hormone and short-term hydrocortisone administration on tissue sensitivity to insulin in horses.

Objective: To determine the effects of short-term IV administration of hydrocortisone or equine growth hormone (eGH) or long-term IM administration of eGH to horses on tissue sensitivity to exogenous insulin.

Animals: 5 Standardbreds and 4 Dutch Warmblood horses.

Procedure: The euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp technique was used to examine sensitivity of peripheral tissues to exogenous insulin 24 hours after administration of a single dose of hydrocortisone (0.

Evaluation of glucose metabolism in three horses with lower motor neuron degeneration.

Objectives: To determine whether increased glucose metabolism is the potential cause of the decreased plasma glucose curve determined after oral glucose tolerance testing in horses with lower motor neuron degeneration.

Animals: 3 horses with signs suggestive of lower motor neuron degeneration, 1 horse with malignant melanoma with multiple metastases, and an obese but otherwise healthy horse. Procedures-Glucose metabolism was assessed by use of the hyperglycemic clamp and euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp techniques.