Clinical Director, Veterinary Specialist

Alastair K. Foote

MA, VetMB, PhD, FRCPath, MRCVS

RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Pathology (Equine)
Clinical Director responsible for Rossdales Laboratories

Alastair qualified from Cambridge Veterinary School in 2000 and worked in mixed small/equine practice briefly prior to undertaking a pathology-based PhD within the neurosciences unit at Cambridge. He subsequently completed a residency in veterinary pathology at Cambridge, gaining additional experience as part of the residency within the VLA and at the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket.

Alastair obtained his fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists in 2009 and joined Beaufort Cottage Laboratories (BCL) as a Veterinary Pathologist in 2008. He became Managing Partner of BCL in 2012 and was awarded RCVS Recognised Specialist status in 2015. In 2016, he oversaw the rebranding of BCL as Rossdales Laboratories, where he is currently Managing Clinical Director.

Alastair’s interests are in all aspects of equine diagnostic clinical pathology and anatomic pathology, comparative pathology and neuropathology. He provides regular clinical pathology and pathology-related CPD and presents at scientific meetings.

Publications

• Comparison of cone-beam and fan-beam computed tomography and low-field magnetic resonance imaging for detection of palmar/plantar osteochondral disease in Thoroughbred horses.

  Lin ST, Bolas NM, Peter VG, Pokora R, Patrick H, Foote AK, Sargan DR, Murray RC,

  2024 Sep Equine Vet. J. 56 (5) 999-1007 epub: 2023 Nov 6 doi: 10.1111/evj.14023 PubMed: 37931621

• Naturally occurring horse model of miscarriage reveals temporal relationship between chromosomal aberration type and point of lethality.

  Lawson JM, Salem SE, Miller D, Kahler A, van den Boer WJ, Shilton CA, Sever T, Mouncey RR, Ward J, Hampshire DJ, Foote AK, Bryan JS, Juras R, Pynn OD, Davis BW, Bellone RR, Raudsepp T, de Mestre AM

  2024 Aug 13 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 121 (33) epub: 2024 Aug 5 doi: 10.1073/pnas.2405636121 PubMed: 39102548

• The equine umbilical cord in clinically healthy pregnancies

  Lawson JM, Verheyen K, Smith KC, Bryan JS, Foote AK, de Mestre AM

  2024 Jul Equine Vet. J. 56 (4) 742-750 epub: 2024 Jan 14 PubMed: 38219774.

• Fetal rhabdomyoma in a Thoroughbred filly

  Rapezzano G, Foote A, Petrini F, Pereira R, Marcatili M

  2024 Jul Vet. Med Sci. 10 (4) e1534 doi: 10.1002/vms3.1534 PubMed: 38975617

• Histological and Histopathological Features of the Third Metacarpal/Tarsal Parasagittal Groove and Proximal Phalanx Sagittal Groove in Thoroughbred Horses with Racing History

  Lin ST, Foote AK, Bolas NM, Sargan DR, Murray RC,

  2024 Jun 30 Animals (Basel) 14 (13) 1942 doi: 10.3390/ani14131942 PubMed: 38998057

• Dermoid cysts formation is a complication of wound pinch grafting in a horse: A case report.

  Pressanto MC, Bombonato C, Foote AK, Coomer RPC

  2024 Aug Vet. Surg. 53 (6) 1130-1137 epub: 2024 May 27 doi: 10.1111/vsu.14114 PubMed: 38803094

• Comparison of cone-beam and fan-beam computed tomography and low-field magnetic resonance imaging for detection of proximal phalanx dorsoproximal osteochondral defects

  Lin ST, Bolas NM, Sargan DR, Restif O, Peter VG, Pokora R, Patrick H, Foote AK, Murray RC

  2024 Equine Vet J. 56 (3) 485-493 epub: 2023 Jul 24 doi: 10.1111/evj.13973 PubMed: 37488678.

• Extensive intraocular melanoma with secondary glaucoma in a 15-month-old Thoroughbred filly

  Pereira R, Gillespie S, Rapezzano G, Withers J, Duz M, Foote AK

  2024 May Vet. Med Sci. 10 (3) e1471 doi: 10.1002/vms3.1471 PubMed: 38739097

• Three-Dimensional Imaging and Histopathological Features of Third Metacarpal/Tarsal Parasagittal Groove and Proximal Phalanx Sagittal Groove Fissures in Thoroughbred Horses.

  Lin ST, Foote AK, Bolas NM, Peter VG, Pokora R, Patrick H, Sargan DR, Murray RC

  2023 Sep 14 Animals (Basel) 13 (18) 2912 doi: 10.3390/ani13182912 PubMed: 37760312

• Identification of Heterotopic Mineralization and Adjacent Pathology in the Equine Fetlock Region by Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cone-Beam and Fan-Beam Computed Tomography

  Lin T-S, Peter VG, Schiavo S, Pokora R, Patrick H, Bolas N, Foote AK, Sargan DR, Murray RC,

  2023 J Equine Vet Sci Feb 14 126 104252 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104252 PubMed: 36796738

• Incidence and causes of pregnancy loss after Day 70 of gestation in Thoroughbreds

  Roach JM, Foote AK, Smith KC, Verheyen KL, de Mestre AM

  2021 Sep; Equine Vet J. 53 (5) 996-1003 epub: Epub 2020 Dec 14. doi: 10.1111/evj.13386 PubMed: 33205445

• Retrospective analysis of post-mortem findings in Thoroughbreds aged from birth to 18 months presented to a UK pathology laboratory

  Mouncey R, Arango-Sabagal JC, de Mestre AM, Foote AK, Verheyen KL

  2022 Vet J. 281:105813 epub: Epub 2022 Mar 5. DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2022.105813 PubMed: 35259541

• First reported case of fragile foal syndrome type 1 in the Thoroughbred caused by PLOD1 c.2032G>A

  Grillos AS, Roach JR, de Mestre AM, Foote KA, Kingsley NB, Mienaltowski MJ, Bellone RR

  2022 Nov Equine Vet J. 54 (6) 1086-1093 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13547 PubMed: 34939209

• Surgical removal of intra-articular loose bodies from the cervical articular process joints in 5 horses

  Tucker R, Parker RA, Meredith LE, Hughes TK, Foote AK

  2022 Jan Vet Surg. 51 (1) 173-181 epub: Epub 2021 Nov 17 DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13744 PubMed: 34791668

• Multivariable analysis to determine risk factors associated with abortion in mares

  Roach JM, Arango-Sabagal JC, Smith KC, Foote AK, Verheyen KL, de Mestre AM

  2022 Reprod Fertil. Nov 1, (3) 4 301-312 epub: Online ahead of print DOI: 10.1530/RAF-22-0087 PubMed: 36374277

• Computed tomographic arthrography, gross anatomy and histology demonstrate a communication between synovial invaginations in the proximal aspect of the third interosseous muscle and the carpometacarpal joint in horses

  Gerdes C, Terry R, Foote A, Smith R

  2022 Front Vet Sci 9:958598 epub: eCollection 2022 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.958598 PubMed: 36118348

• Vascular air embolisation and expansile sphenopalatine sinus haematoma secondary to a fracture of the rostral skull in a horse

  Easton-Jones CA, Marr CM, Peter VG, Foote AK

  2021 Equine Vet. Ed. epub: 26 September 2021 https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.13569

• Cross-species genomic landscape comparison of human mucosal melanoma with canine oral and equine melanoma

  Wong K , van der Weyden L , Schott C, Foote A, Constantino-Casas F, Smith S, Dobson J, Murchison E, Wu H, Yeh I, Fullen D, Joseph N, Bastian B, Patel R, Martincorena I, Robles-Espinoza C, Iyer V, Arends M, Brenn T, Harms P, Wood G, Adams D, Kuijjer M

  2019 Nature Communications 10 (1) 353 doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-08081-1 PubMed: 30664638

• Association of neutrophil morphology with bacterial isolates in equine tracheal wash samples

  Jocelyn NA, Wylie CE, Lean M, Barrelet A, Foote AK

  2018 Equine Vet J. 50 6 752-758 epub: Epub 2018 Apr 17 doi: 10.1111/evj.12837 PubMed: 29603335

• Extradural spinal hydatid cyst causing hindlimb ataxia in a horse.

  Peter V, Marr C, Foote A, Auer H, Head M

  2018 Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd. 160 (11) 659-664 doi: 10.17236/sat00183 PubMed: 30379133

• Detection of equine coronavirus in horses in the United Kingdom

  Bryan J, Marr CM, Mackenzie CJ, Mair TS, Fletcher A, Cash R, Phillips M, Pusterla N, Mapes S, Foote AK

  2018 Vet Rec Dec 7 epub: [Epub ahead of print] doi: 10.1136/vr.105098 PubMed: 30530800

• Equine renal hemangiosarcoma: clinical presentation, pathologic features, and pSTAT3 expression

  Hughes K, Scott VHL, Blanck M, Barnett TP, Spanner Kristiansen J, Foote AK

  2017 J Vet Diagn Invest 30 (2) 268-274 epub: Epub 2017 Dec 3 doi: 10.1177/1040638717745575 PubMed: 29199537

• Surgical resection of an osteoma of two thoracic spinous processes in a horse

  Owen KR, Foote AK , Hinnigan GJ

  2017 Equine Vet Ed. 5 April doi: 10.1111/eve.12745

• Cross-species models of human melanoma

  van der Weyden L, Patton EE, Wood GA, Foote AK, Brenn T, Arends MJ, Adams DJ.

  2016 J Pathol. 238 2 152-65 10.1002/path.4632 PubMed: 26354726

• Serum bile acid concentrations, histopathological features, and short-, and long-term survival in horses with hepatic disease

  Dunkel B, Jones SA, Pinilla MJ, Foote AK

  2015 J Vet Intern Med. 29 2 644-50 10.1111/jvim.12551 PubMed: 25818219

• Estrogen Receptor and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 Expression in Equine Mammary Tumors

  Hughes K, Scase TJ, Foote AK

  2015 Vet Pathol. 52 4 631-4 10.1177/0300985814559400 PubMed: 25421423

• Serum cardiac troponin I concentrations decrease following treatment of primary immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia.

  Cartwright JA, Gow DJ, Gow AG, Handel I, Reed N, Brown AJ, Cash R, Foot A, Mackenzie D, Bell R, Mellanby RJ

  2015 Aug J Small Anim Pract. 56 (8) 516-520 epub: 2015 Jul 2 doi: 10.1111/jsap.12379 PubMed: 26134761

• Serum Cardiac Troponin I concentrations in cats with anaemia – a preliminary, single-centre observational study

  Lalor SM, Gunn-Moore DA, Cash R, Foote AK, Reed N, Mellanby RJ

  2014 J Small Anim Pract. 55 6 320-2 epub: Epub 2014 Mar 20 10.1111/jsap.12210 PubMed: 24645736

• Successful treatment of chronic grass sickness in a donkey

  Mellor NE, Bladon B, Foote AK, O'Meara B

  2013 Equine Vet Educ. 25 12 628-32 epub: 2013 Sep 10 10.1111/eve.12067

• Necrosis of the femoral condyles in a four-week-old foal: clinical, imaging and histopathological features

  Haggett EF, Foote AK, Head MJ, McGladdery AJ, Powell SE

  2012 Equine Vet J Suppl 44 41 91-5 PubMed: 22594034

• Imaging diagnosis: pituitary apoplexy in a cat

  Beltran E, Dennis R, Foote AK, De Risio L, Matiasek L

  2012 Vet Radiol Ultrasound 53 4 417-9 epub: 2012 May 1 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2012.01933.x PubMed: 22548279

• A racing start in life? The hurdles of equine feto-placental pathology

  Foote AK, Ricketts SW, Whitwell KE

  2012 Equine Vet J Suppl. Feb 41 120-9 PubMed: 22594040

• Experimental transmission of avian-like swine H1N1 influenza virus between immunologically naïve and vaccinated pig

  Lloyd LE, Jonczyk M, Jervis CM, Flack DJ, Lyall J, Foote AK, Mumford JA, Brown IH, Wood JL, Elton DM

  2011 Influenza Other Respir Viruses 5 5 357-64 epub: 2011 Mar 31 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2011.00233.x. PubMed: 21668691

• Mandibular lymphoma in a three-year-old thoroughbred filly

  Greet TRC, Smith SJB, Foote AK, Steven WN

  2011 Vet Rec. 168 3 80 epub: 2011 Jan 10 10.1136/vr.c6097 PubMed: 21257588

• Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium trxA mutants are protective against virulent challenge and induce less inflammation than the live-attenuated vaccine strain SL3261

  Peters SE, Paterson GK, Bandularatne ES, Northen HC, Pleasance S, Willers C, Wang J, Foote AK, Constantino-Casas F, Scase TJ, Blacklaws BA, Bryant CE, Mastroeni P, Charles IG, Maskell DJ

  2010 Infect Immun 78 1 236-36 PubMed: 19884329

• Equus caballus papillomavirus-2 (EcPV-2): an infectious cause for equine genital cancer

  Scase T, Brandt S, Kainzbauer C, Sykora S, Bijmholt S, Hughes K, Sharpe S, Foote AK

  2010 Equine Vet J. 42 8 738-45 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00311.x. PubMed: 21039805

• An investigation into the suitability of a commercial real-time PCR assay to screen for Taylorella equigenitalis in routine prebreeding equine genital swabs.

  Ousey JC, Palmer L, Cash RS, Grimes KJ, Fletcher AP, Barrelet A, Foote AK, Manning FM, Ricketts SW

  2009 Equine Vet J 41 9 878-82 PubMed: 20383985

• Pathology of Mycobacterium bovis infection in wild meerkats (Suricata suricatta)

  Drewe JA, Foote AK, Sutcliffe RL, Pearce GP

  2009 J Comp Pathol. 140 1 12-24 epub: 2008 Dec 13 10.1016/j.jcpa.2008.09.004 PubMed: 19070868

• Repopulation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cell depleted tissue in a model of chronic demyelination

  Foote AK, Blakemore WF

  2005 Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 31 2 105-14 PubMed: 15771704

• Inflammation stimulates remyelination in areas of chronic demyelination.

  Foote AK, Blakemore WF

  2005 Brain 128 528-39 PubMed: 15699059

• Repopulation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cell-depleted tissue in a model of chronic demyelination

  Foote AK, Blakemore WF

  2005 Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 31 3 374-83 PubMed: 16008821