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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI.
Publisher:
Molecular Diversity Preservation International,
Frequency: Quarterly
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Start Year:2010 -
ISSN:
2076-2615 (Electronic)
2076-2615 (Linking)
2076-2615 (Linking)
Impact Factor
4.2
2022
| NLM ID: | 101635614 |
| (OCoLC): | 667255765 |
| LCCN: | 2012254619 |
Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Genetic Loci Associated with Body Measurement Traits in Yanqi Horses. Body measurement traits are a direct production indicator reflecting growth status and guiding genetic selection. Identifying molecular markers associated with body measurement traits could accelerate animal breeding programs. The Yanqi horse, an important indigenous breed in Xinjiang, is primarily distributed in the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture. However, molecular markers linked to body measurement traits in Yanqi horses remain uncharacterized. In the present study, whole-genome resequencing was performed on 183 Yanqi horses, yielding 13,366,672 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP...
Effects of Dietary Zinc Cysteamine Supplementation on Growth Performance, Physiological Responses, and Fecal Microbiota in Weaned Foals. Zn-CS chelate has shown beneficial effects on gut health and growth in piglets, but its impact on weaned foals remains largely unknown. This study evaluated the effects of dietary Zn-CS supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, physiological status, and fecal microbiota in weaned Ili foals. Thirty-two six-month-old foals were randomly assigned to four treatment groups receiving 0, 2, 4, or 6 mg Zn-CS/kg body weight per day for 90 days. Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, plasma biochemical parameters, liver function enzymes, serum hormones, antioxidant indices, fec...
Accuracy of Computed Tomography in Diagnosing Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis Relative to Histopathological Findings-An Ex Vivo Study of 41 Horses. Computed tomography (CT) is used to support the diagnosis of equine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease; however, its diagnostic accuracy remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between CT findings and histopathological manifestations of osteoarthritis (OA) in equine TMJs. A total of 82 TMJs were CT-imaged, sampled, grouped into age-related and OA-related groups, and analyzed for frequency distributions, correlations, and CT-based TMJ OA diagnosis. CT findings were observed in 79% of joints, including 'CT anatomical variations' considering to reflect age-related remode...
Genomics in Equine MEED: Whole-Genome Sequencing and Target Mutation Identification. Multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease (MEED) is a rare and severe equine disorder characterized by chronic eosinophilic inflammation, epithelial disruption, and multi-organ involvement, with an undefined genetic basis. We performed the high-depth (~40×) whole-genome sequencing of an affected horse and compared it to 40 control genomes. Over 6.3 million variants were identified, with moderate- and high-impact variants enriched in low-frequency categories, including rare and private variants absent from the controls. The affected horse was dominated by missense mutations, with rela...
Farm Atmosphere: Calm Attention and Mobility Characterise Positive Horse Welfare. On-farm welfare assessment of equines is a challenge given the large diversity of management practices, especially in terms of housing and activities. In our study, we tested time budget measures as a complementary tool to more conventional welfare indicators (e.g., stereotypic behaviours, ear position while foraging, neck shape). We observed 174 horses living in eight facilities (in their home environment) for which data on management practices and welfare were available. Time budget was assessed using the scan sampling method (1 min scan sampling over 30 min; 33 scans), while welfare assessm...
Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analysis of the Skeletal Muscle Revealed the Effects and Mechanism of Mulberry Leaf Flavonoids on Alleviating Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Mongolian Horses. The scientific evidence regarding the use of plant-derived extracts to alleviate exercise-induced muscle damage in horses remains limited. Mulberry leaf flavonoids (MLFs) are the primary bioactive constituents of a traditional medicinal plant and are potent antioxidants. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of MLFs against exercise-induced muscle damage. In this study, twelve Mongolian horses were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square design to investigate the protective effects of MLFs. Our results showed that high-intensity exercise negatively impacted the immune status, m...
Clinical Outcomes Following Intra-Articular Administration of Autologous Muscle-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Horses with Chronic Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Open-Label Study. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are increasingly investigated as intra-articular therapies for equine osteoarthritis (OA), although most studies have focused on allogeneic or combination-based approaches. Evidence supporting the use of autologous MSCs as a stand-alone treatment remains limited. The present study evaluated the safety and clinical evolution following intra-articular administration of autologous muscle-derived MSCs (mdMSCs) in horses with naturally occurring chronic OA. Thirteen horses with confirmed clinical disease were included. Each affected joint received a single inje...
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Seven Lipizzan Populations Based on Microsatellite Genotyping. Lipizzan horses, bred for over four centuries, represent a unique genetic, cultural and historic resource. This study assessed genetic diversity and population structure across seven European Lipizzan populations, with emphasis on the Bosnia and Herzegovina population. A total of 547 Lipizzan horses were genotyped using 12 microsatellite markers. The parameters of genetic variability, admixture level and migration rate were calculated. The mean number of alleles, effective number of alleles and Shannon's information index were 5.78, 3.24 and 1.31, respectively. The average fixation indices wer...
A Comparison of the Performance of Horses from the International WBFSH Rankings in Dressage, Jumping and Eventing Based on Their Sex, Age, Proportion of Thoroughbred Genes and Affiliation to the Studbook. The aim of the research was to assess how the selected factors could influence the performance of the best horses in dressage, jumping and eventing competitions. The research was based on the Studbook Rankings published by the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses from 2019 to 2024. Our analysis shows a statistically significant effect of each of the observed factors in at least one discipline. The leading factor in all disciplines was studbook affiliation. The Belgian warmblood, German Sport Horse, Hanoverian, Royal Dutch Sport Horse, Oldenburg and Westphalian studbooks are represented a...
From Concept to Perception: Equestrian Definitions of Harmony and Visual Attention in Horse-Rider Evaluation. In equestrian circles, horse-rider harmony is understood intuitively, yet clear criteria are lacking. This study examined how different equestrians conceptualized and visually assessed harmony and how this influenced scoring. Qualitative interviews were combined with eye tracking technology. Thirty equestrians assessed five videos of horse-rider combinations performing in dressage, showjumping, eventing, working equitation and Icelandic riding, with eye movements being recorded using a mounted eye tracker. Verbal definitions were analyzed using thematic analysis, revealing three overarching th...
Owner-Reported Cohort Study of Causes, Management and Outcome of Traumatic Wounds in 219 Horses. Current evidence on traumatic equine wounds are predominantly from expert opinion reviews or referral hospital studies. This study aimed to describe the owner-reported causes, management and outcome of equine wounds. An owner-reported cohort approach was used. Owners of horses with recent traumatic wounds were recruited through snowball sampling. Data were collected from initial injury to final healing and outcome, including horse demographics, wound cause and location, owner- and veterinary-administered treatment, and outcome. Descriptive statistics included frequency percentages (%, x/y) and...
Long-Read Sequencing for Species-Level Resolution of the Equine Gut Microbiota Reveals the Need for Improved Databases. Differences in gut microbiota composition related to diet have been reported in horses, but characterization of specific microbial taxa remains limited, particularly at the species level. The objective of this study was to use long-read sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to provide additional taxonomic insight into the intestinal microbiota in horses. Fecal samples were collected from 12 horses on pasture and from 6 of them after switching to a hay diet. Sequencing yielded low read counts per sample, and the analysis failed to detect statistical differences in alpha- and beta-diversity among diet...
Welfare Assessment in Equine-Assisted Service (EAS) Horses. Equine-Assisted Service (EAS) horses can be exposed to stressors that affect their behavior and welfare. Previous studies investigated behavioral and physiological indicators (PI) only during therapy sessions. This study evaluated the frequency of stress and pain behaviors (FSPB) in horses with different riders, while assessing welfare through housing, management, and PI. Ten horses were observed during EAS sessions with three rider groups: able-bodied, clients with significant physical impairment, and clients with no significant physical impairment, totaling twenty-six riders. Behavioral data...
Edema and Structural Remodeling in Equine Suspensory Ligament Injury: A Severity Gradient Associated with Microvascular Dysfunction. Suspensory ligament injury is a major cause of lameness in sport horses, yet its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to characterize histopathological alterations of the equine suspensory ligament and to evaluate their association with imaging features. A comparative descriptive study was performed on sport horses with forelimb lameness, combining clinical evaluation, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathological analysis. Ligament samples were collected post-mortem from anatomically defined regions selected based on imaging find...
Race and Final-600 m Speed Response to Distance and Track Condition in Thoroughbred Flat Racing. The temporal and spatial distribution of speed varies with race distance and track condition, influencing where mechanical demand peaks within a race. This study aimed to describe variation in race-day speed with race distance and track condition. Race-day data from 18 flat racing seasons on turf and synthetic surfaces (2007/8-2024/25, = 200,601 starts in 3389 races) were used to examine initial speed (from barriers until the final 600 m), final-600 m speed, race distance (m), turf track condition score (TCS, 1-10), horse rating and carried weight (kg) using a general linear model. The patter...
The Equine Reproductive Microbiota: Composition, Dynamics, Dysbiosis, and Implications for Fertility in Mares and Stallions. The equine reproductive microbiota has emerged as an important factor influencing reproductive health and fertility in both mares and stallions. Traditionally, the equine uterus was considered sterile, and microbial presence was interpreted primarily in the context of infection. However, sequencing-based studies have demonstrated that the reproductive tract, including the uterus and semen, contains detectable microbial communities or microbial DNA signatures, challenging this traditional paradigm. In mares, the vaginal microbiota is consistently dominated by , , , and , whereas the uterine env...
Clinical and Biochemical Effects of Intra-Articular Autologous Conditioned Serum and Triamcinolone in an Equine Model of Synovitis. Synovitis is a key contributor to the development of OA, and early modulation of the synovial environment may help limit downstream cartilage damage. This study compared the clinical and biochemical effects of intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and autologous conditioned serum (ACS) in an equine model of IL-1β-induced synovitis. Six healthy adult horses were used in a crossover design involving five groups: PBS (negative control), IL-1β (positive control), IL-1β + ACS, IL-1β + TA, and an exploratory ACS-alone group administered post hoc to isolate its effects without IL-1β inter...
Machine Learning-Based Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Genetic Loci Associated with Body Measurement Traits in Yili Horses. Body measurement traits are key indicators for evaluating growth performance, production potential, and breeding value in Yili horses. However, studies investigating the association between body measurement traits and mutation loci in Yili horses remain limited. In this study, 255 adult Yili mares were used as the study population, including 152 speed-type and 103 meat-type individuals. Whole-genome resequencing was performed, and four phenotypic traits and body weight were measured. A mixed linear model (MLM)-based genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using GEMMA (v 0.98.5), inc...
Measuring Chuckwagon Racehorse Movement Asymmetry Before and After Racing Using Wearable GNSS-IMUs: A Preliminary Study. In Chuckwagon racing, teams of four Thoroughbred horses pull wagons at high speeds. Movement symmetry is a key locomotion metric linked to force production, racing direction, and lameness. Racehorse symmetry in trot during on-track warmups and cooldowns was assessed. Over 10 days, 60 horses (average 8 per day) were fitted with Global Navigation Satellite Systems combined with Inertial Measurement Unit (GNSS-IMU) sensors. Weight-bearing asymmetry was quantified using the minimum difference (MnD) in vertical trunk displacement between diagonal limb pairs, and push-off asymmetry was quantified us...
Case Report: Physiological Stress Responses to Repeated, Standardized Short-Distance Transport in a Transport-Experienced Horse. Transport is a fundamental component of equestrian training and competition. However, even horses with extensive transport experience may exhibit physiological stress responses during routine travel. This case report describes physiological stress responses in a transport-experienced 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding subjected to repeated, standardized short-distance transport. The horse was transported on 17 occasions along a fixed route to a riding school for dressage training using the same vehicle, handler, and protocol to minimize environmental variability. Physiological stress marker...
Audio-Based Characterization of Gait Parameters in Mangalarga Marchador, Campolina, and Piquira Horses Using Deep Learning. The evaluation of biomechanical parameters in four-beat gaited horses remains limited by the subjectiveness and complexity of current standard methods. Through a deep learning approach, we aimed to infer dissociation % using only acoustic signals. A total of 268 audio samples were extracted from publicly available videos featuring three Brazilian horse breeds (Mangalarga Marchador, Campolina, and Piquira) performing marcha batida and marcha picada. Acoustic features, including root mean square energy (RMS), zero-crossing rate (ZCR), and 13 Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs), were extr...
Efficacy of an Oral Chondroprotective Joint Supplement on Stride Length and Gait Symmetry in Aged Geldings with Chronic Lameness. Oral joint supplements (OJSs), specifically those containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, are some of the most popular feed additives fed by horse owners. However, evidence of the efficacy of these nutraceuticals in vivo is lacking. To investigate the impacts of an OJS on equine lameness, 40 geldings (18 ± 7 yr) with chronic lameness and AAEP lameness grades between 2 and 4 (as scored by a veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist) were enrolled in the study. Horses were stratified by lameness grade, BCS, and weight, and then randomly assigned to receive a placebo powde...
Transcriptome Sequencing and Differential Analysis of Testes in One- and Two-Year-Old Kazakh Horses. This study systematically elucidated the developmental characteristics and molecular regulatory mechanisms of the testis during the critical period of sexual maturation in Kazakh horses by combining histological observation of one- and two-year-old testicular tissues with transcriptomic sequencing. In the testes of one-year-old horses, no obvious lumen was observed, and the interior is mainly comprising supporting cells and spermatogonia on the basement membrane; in contrast, in the testes of two-year-old horses, the tubular lumen was complete with spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatozoa...
Age-Associated Differences in Paddock Locomotor Activity Among Senior Horses: A Pilot Observational Study. Turnout locomotor activity is a potentially informative indicator of health and welfare in older horses, yet objective field data in seniors remain limited. We examined whether a brief turnout recording could detect cross-sectional associations between chronological age and locomotor activity in senior horses in this study setting. In this single-site observational study, 28 senior Selle Français horses (17-35 years) contributed 122 paddock sessions (2 h each), with total distance and mean speed quantified using a Polar Team Pro sensor. Associations with age were assessed using linear mixed-e...
Morphometric Characterization and Preliminary Heritability Estimates of Body Measurements in the Polish Konik Populations. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the morphometric diversity of 172 Polish Koniks from the largest Polish breeding centers and to assess their genetic diversity by estimating the effective population size () and heritabilities () of the studied traits. The animals were bred under a stable housing system. Horses of both sexes aged 3 to 24 years were analyzed. Each horse was characterized with 40 metric traits. Multifactorial analyses (PCA, DA) and the REML method were applied to reveal the exterior differentiation and the development of distinct morphometric types. The findings esta...
Standing NanoNeedle Arthroscopy of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint for Removal of Osteochondral Fragments of Distal P2 and the Extensor Process in a Horse. In horses, standing arthroscopy offers a valuable alternative to general anesthesia for the reduction of anesthetic-associated risks, and provides improved visualization in joints where access is facilitated by weightbearing. These techniques are particularly advantageous for patients with increased anesthetic risk or financial limitations. To the authors' knowledge, the removal of osteochondral fragments from the distal interphalangeal joint in a standing, sedated horse using small-diameter arthroscopic equipment has not been previously reported. Methods: A 7-year-old American Quarter Horse-T...
Pedigree Investigation of Polish Sport Horses in Show Jumping: Insights for Global Breeding. The aim of this study was to characterise the pedigree and genetic structure of Polish Sport Horses competing in Grand Prix show jumping events and to assess the implications for international sport horse breeding. Pedigrees of 513 horses were analysed, encompassing a total of 18,836 individuals over a maximum of 16 generations. The completeness and depth of the pedigrees allowed for a reliable estimation of inbreeding coefficients and genetic diversity. The mean inbreeding coefficient was low (0.645%), yet 82% of the horses exhibited some degree of inbreeding. The greatest loss of genetic var...
Unraveling the Molecular Mechanism of Bider Marking Formation in Dun Mongolian Horses Through Transcriptome Sequencing. (1) Background: The "Bider" marking refers to the symmetrical black stripes distributed on the shoulder blades of Dun Mongolian horses, representing an ancestral trait of significant genetic value. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its formation remain unclear. This study aims to elucidate the molecular basis of these markings by comparing transcriptomic differences in skin tissues from variously pigmented areas of Mongolian horses' "Bider" patterns. (2) Methods: Using three Dun Mongolian horses as subjects, skin tissue samples were collected from their shoulders (dark-marked and li...
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Thyroxine Concentrations in Young Healthy Equids: Species Differences and Seasonal Variations. Due to growing interest in endocrine diseases, more studies aim to interpret the baseline concentrations and reference intervals of hormone values like adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and thyroxine (T4) in horses. Most studies available in the literature focus on evaluating ACTH and thyroid hormone values in adult and geriatric horses, with only a few considering younger donkeys and ponies. This study aimed to measure ACTH and T4 in autumn and spring in younger equids. The study included 42 young equids, which were divided into three groups: horses, ponies, and donkeys. The concentration of...
Priorities and Recommendations for Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Improve Equid Health and Welfare. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being increasingly used for equid health and welfare. This study aimed to establish consensus on where and how AI should be developed to achieve maximum benefit in this field. A workshop involving 41 stakeholders generated statements about current welfare concerns, areas for AI development, and barriers and solutions to AI use. Statements were circulated through Delphi surveys (acceptance set at 75% agreement). One-hundred-and-six statements reached agreement. Ethological needs not being met and poor equid management practices were key welfare concerns. Particip...
