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Topic:Age Factors
Age factors in horses encompass a range of physiological and developmental changes that occur as horses mature from foals to adults and eventually into their senior years. These factors include variations in metabolic rate, immune function, and musculoskeletal development, which can influence a horse's health, performance, and nutritional needs. Age-related changes can also affect how horses respond to medications, recover from injuries, and maintain overall vitality. Researchers study these aspects to understand better how age impacts equine health and management. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the effects of age on equine physiology, health management, and disease susceptibility.
Movement asymmetry in working polo horses. The high, repetitive demands imposed on polo horses in training and competition may predispose them to musculoskeletal injuries and lameness. Objective: To quantify movement symmetry and lameness in a population of polo horses, and to investigate the existence of a relationship with age. Methods: Convenience sampled cross-sectional study. Methods: Sixty polo horses were equipped with inertial measurement units (IMUs) attached to the poll, and between the tubera sacrale. Six movement symmetry measures were calculated for vertical head and pelvic displacement during in-hand trot and compared wit...
Real-time characterization of the uterine blood flow in mares before and after artificial insemination. The present experiment was divided into two studies to investigate the effect of age and endometrial degeneration on uterine blood flow of mares throughout the immediate post-breeding period. In study 1, uterine blood flow was characterized in mares (n = 7 mares/group) with minimal, moderate or severe endometrial degenerative changes (GI, GII and GIII, respectively). In study 2, the effect of age was investigated using young (≤ 6 years) and old (≥ 15 years) mares (n = 7 mares/group). Uterine vascular perfusion and mesometrial pulsatility index (PI) were evaluated every hour from H0 (moment...
Equine immunoglobulins and organization of immunoglobulin genes. Our understanding of how equine immunoglobulin genes are organized has increased significantly in recent years. For equine heavy chains, 52 IGHV, 40 IGHD, 8 IGHJ and 11 IGHC are present. Seven of these IGHCs are gamma chain genes. Sequence diversity is increasing between fetal, neonatal, foal and adult age. The kappa light chain contains 60 IGKV, 5 IGKJ and 1 IGKC, whereas there are 144 IGLV, 7 IGLJ, and 7 IGLC for the lambda light chain, which is expressed predominantly in horses. Significant transcriptional differences for IGLV and IGLC are identified in different breeds. Allotypic and allel...
Analysis of the equine ovarian structure during the first twelve months of life by three-dimensional internal structure microscopy. A three-dimensional internal structure microscopy (3D-ISM) can clarify the anatomical arrangement of internal structures of equine ovaries. In this study, morphological changes of the equine ovary over the first 12 months of life were investigated by 3D-ISM in 59 fillies and by histological analysis in 2 fillies. The weight and volume of the paired ovaries initially decreased from 0 to 1 months to 2 to 3 months of age and then significantly increased at 8 to 12 months of age. The ovulation fossa was first observed around the 3rd month and became evident after the 6th month. The number of folli...
Transport induced inflammatory responses in horses. Deleterious response to road transport is an important problem in equine practice. It determines different physiological, immunological and metabolic changes which lead to increased susceptibility to several disorders such as pneumonia, diarrhea, colics, laminitis, injuries and rhabdomyolisis. The aim of our study was to look for possible relationships between transportation of female young and older horses over a long and short distance and an inflammatory state reflected by an increase of acute phase protein concentration, oxidative stress and muscle injury. The study was conducted on 24 col...
Risk factors associated with uterine fluid after breeding caused by Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Infectious endometritis is a major cause of infertility in the mare and inflicts major losses on the equine breeding industry. The ability of the mare to eliminate uterine infections has been studied intensively for decades; however, despite identification of several factors contributing to the multifactorial pathogenesis and improved treatment, infectious endometritis remains a significant problem in a subpopulation of broodmares. Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) is one of the most commonly isolated pathogens from the uterus of mares, suffering from infectious endom...
Sex ratio of equine offspring is affected by the ages of the mare and stallion. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of parental age on the sex ratio of offspring in horses. Two trials were performed. In the first trial, the data from a randomly obtained population with a 1:1 sex ratio of 59,950 Mangalarga Marchador horses born in Brazil from 1990 to 2011 were analyzed. The sex ratios of the offspring were compared among groups according to the mare and the stallion ages (from 3 to 25 years). In the first step of the analysis, the mares and stallions were grouped according to age in 5-year intervals. In the second step, the groups were based on the parenta...
Effect of stallion age on the expression of LH and FSH receptors and aromatase P450 in equine male reproductive tissues. The aim of the present study was to characterise receptors for LH and FSH (LHR and FSHR, respectively) and aromatase in epididymal and testicular tissue from stallions of different ages (prepubertal, young, mature and old). Gene and protein expression were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time qPCR), immunohistochemistry and multiple immunofluorescence labelling. There were no differences in LHR mRNA expression in epididymal and testicular parenchyma in stallions of different age. In contrast, expression of FSHR and CYP19A1 in caput, corpus and cauda epididymi...
Effect of age and endometrial degenerative changes on uterine blood flow during early gestation in mares. The present experiment was divided into three studies to investigate the effect of age and endometrial degeneration on uterine blood flow of mares. In study 1, the influence of semen infusion and conception was evaluated using noninseminated (non-AI), inseminated nonpregnant (AI-NP), and inseminated pregnant (AI-P) mares (n = 7 mares/group). In study 2, the effect of age was investigated using young (≤6 years), adult (from 8 to 12 years), and old (≥15 years) pregnant mares (n = 7 mares/group). In study 3, uterine blood flow was also characterized in pregnant mares (n = 7 mares/group) with ...
Twenty years later: a single-centre, repeat retrospective analysis of equine perioperative mortality and investigation of recovery quality. To determine the mortality rates associated with equine anaesthesia for elective and emergency (colic and non-colic) cases in one equine, university teaching hospital and to investigate the effect of several horse- and anaesthetic-related variables on anaesthetic recovery quality. Methods: Retrospective data analysis. Unassigned: In total, 1416 horses undergoing anaesthesia between May 2010 and December 2013. Methods: Patient information and details of the anaesthetic, recovery period and immediate complications were extracted from an archiving database. Statistical evaluation of factors affec...
Telomerase Activity in Articular Chondrocytes Is Lost after Puberty. Telomere length and telomerase activity are important indicators of cellular senescence and replicative ability. Loss of telomerase is associated with ageing and the development of osteoarthritis. Implantation of telomerase-positive cells, chondrocytes, or stem cells expressing a normal chondrocyte phenotype is desired for cartilage repair procedures. The objective of this study was to identify at what age chondrocytes and at what passage bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) become senescent based on telomerase activity. The effect of osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) or interleukin-1α...
Ageing does not result in a decline in cell synthetic activity in an injury prone tendon. Advancing age is a well-known risk factor for tendon disease. Energy-storing tendons [e.g., human Achilles, equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT)] are particularly vulnerable and it is thought that injury occurs following an accumulation of micro-damage in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Several authors suggest that age-related micro-damage accumulates due to a failure of the aging cell population to maintain the ECM or an imbalance between anabolic and catabolic pathways. We hypothesized that ageing results in a decreased ability of tendon cells to synthesize matrix components and m...
Lamellar pathology in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Hoof lamellar pathology in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) has not been described previously. Objective: To describe the histomorphometry and pathological lesions in hoof lamellar tissue of animals that had PPID with or without concurrent laminitis, with reference to age-matched controls. We hypothesised that lamellar lesions consistent with laminitis would be associated with PPID, even in animals without current or historical laminitis. Methods: Prospective case-control study. Methods: Mid-dorsal hoof histological sections were obtained post mortem from the forelimbs ...
A field survey for the seroprevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in donkeys from Nuu Division, Kenya. Equine piroplasmosis is one of the most significant tick-borne disease of equids. The prevalence of this disease in donkeys of semi-arid Kenya remains largely unexplored. The primary objective of this study was to demonstrate the extent to which donkeys in Nuu division, Kenya have been exposed to the haemoprotozoans Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis. The study also assessed the effect of age and sex on seroprevalence. A stratified sampling approach was used and three hundred and fourteen donkeys were sampled across nine sub-locations in Nuu divisi...
An abattoir survey of equine dental abnormalities in Queensland, Australia. A cadaver study to estimate the prevalence of dental disorders in horses presented at an abattoir in Queensland, Australia. Methods: Cadaver heads at a Queensland abattoir were examined for the presence of dental abnormalities and categorised into age groups. The prevalence of abnormalities was analysed by binomial observation of observed proportion, Pearson's Chi-square test or Fisher's exact correlation test. Strength of association was evaluated using Cramer's V test. Results: Heads from horses (n=400) estimated to be between 1 and 30 years of age were placed into four age groups. The most ...
Expression profiles of select genes in cumulus-oocyte complexes from young and aged mares. There is compelling evidence that oocytes from mares >18 years of age have a high incidence of inherent defects that result in early embryonic loss. In women, an age-related decrease in oocyte quality is associated with an increased incidence of aneuploidy and it has recently been determined that the gene expression profile of human oocytes is altered with advancing age. We hypothesised that similar age-related aberrations in gene expression occur in equine oocytes. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare gene expression profiles of individual oocytes and cumulus cells from y...
Effects of age on follicular fluid exosomal microRNAs and granulosa cell transforming growth factor-β signalling during follicle development in the mare. Age-related decline in fertility is a consequence of low oocyte number and/or low oocyte competence resulting in pregnancy failure. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signalling is a well-studied pathway involved in follicular development and ovulation. Recently, small non-coding RNAs, namely microRNAs (miRNAs), have been demonstrated to regulate several members of this pathway; miRNAs are secreted inside small cell-secreted vesicles called exosomes. The overall goal of the present study was to determine whether altered exosome miRNA content in follicular fluid from old mares is associated wi...
Dominance rank is associated with body condition in outdoor-living domestic horses (Equus caballus). The aim of our study was to explore the association between dominance rank and body condition in outdoor group-living domestic horses, . Social interactions were recorded using a video camera during a feeding test, applied to 203 horses in 42 herds. Dominance rank was assigned to 194 individuals. The outcome variable body condition score (BCS) was recorded using a 9-point scale. The variables age and height were recorded and considered as potential confounders or effect modifiers. Results were analysed using multivariable linear and logistic regression techniques, controlling for herd group as...
Retrospective survey of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology in Western Australian horses presented for evaluation of the respiratory tract: effect of season on relative cell percentages. To characterise the cytological changes in equine bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples over multiple years to determine if the prevalence of a relative mast cell response was influenced by season. Methods: Medical records of 228 horses with clinical signs consistent with non-infectious respiratory disease or poor performance where a BAL was performed were reviewed retrospectively. BAL fluid cytology and categorised clinical variables were analysed using a Chi-square test to determine associations. Results: The predominant signalment was a racing horse between 2 and 6 years of age, and poor ath...
Potential role of maternal lineage in the thoroughbred breeding strategy. Many studies have focused on identifying the genes or single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the athletic ability of thoroughbreds, but few have considered differences in maternal and paternal heritability of athletic ability. Herein, we report on our association study of career race performances of 675 Australian thoroughbreds with their pedigrees. Racing performance data (prize money per start) were collected from the Bloodhound database. The performance of all horses was categorised as either poor or elite athletic achievement. Then, 675 foals were divided by their parents' perform...
The effect of mare’s age on multiple ovulation rate, embryo recovery, post-transfer pregnancy rate, and interovulatory interval in a commercial embryo transfer program in Argentina. Advanced maternal age is an important predisposing factor on the reduction of reproductive efficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of donor's age on several reproductive parameters in a commercial equine embryo transfer program. Donors were classified into 3 age groups: Group 1=fillies (3 and 4 years old), Group 2=middle age mares (aged 5-10) and Group 3=old mares (aged 13-25). Embryo recovery, multiple ovulation and pregnancy rates and interovulatory intervals were compared amongst age groups. Group 1 (171/244, 70.1%) and Group 2 (774/1081, 71.6%) had a higher (P<0.005...
Neutrophil function in healthy aged horses and horses with pituitary dysfunction. Immunosuppression leading to opportunist bacterial infection is a well-recognized sequela of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). The mechanisms responsible for immune dysfunction in PPID however, are as of yet poorly characterized. Horses with PPID have high concentrations of hormones known to impact immune function including α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and insulin. α-MSH and related melanocortins have been shown in rodents and people to impair neutrophil function by decreasing superoxide production (known as oxidative burst activity), migration and adhesion. T...
Effect of a probiotic on prevention of diarrhea and Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens shedding in foals. Up to 60% of foals develop diarrhea within 6 months after birth. Preventive measures are limited but potentially probiotics could be used. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a newly designed probiotic on the incidence of foal diarrhea in a randomized field trial. Methods: Seventy-two healthy neonatal foals. Methods: Randomized, placebo-controlled field trial. Foals were administered a placebo or probiotic for 3 weeks and monitored for an additional week. A total of 3 fecal samples were taken from each foal at biweekly intervals. Statistical modeling was applied for comparison of incidence an...
Maternal age and in vitro culture affect mitochondrial number and function in equine oocytes and embryos. Advanced maternal age and in vitro embryo production (IVP) predispose to pregnancy loss in horses. We investigated whether mare age and IVP were associated with alterations in mitochondrial (mt) DNA copy number or function that could compromise oocyte and embryo development. Effects of mare age (<12 vs ≥12 years) on mtDNA copy number, ATP content and expression of genes involved in mitochondrial replication (mitochondrial transcription factor (TFAM), mtDNA polymerase γ subunit B (mtPOLB) and mitochondrial single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB)), energy production (ATP synthase-couplin...
Clinical treatment and prognosis of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis. Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis is an infrequent and underdiagnosed form of severe dental disease in horses that can affect quality of life. The study was performed to compare the clinical, radiographic, histological and prognostic findings specific to equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis in horses. Removal of affected teeth is currently the best treatment. Objective: The goals are to report salient clinical and histological features of the disease and its management in a case series describing an under-reported syndrome in horses and the long-ter...
Prevalence of equine viral arteritis in Algeria. In order to determine the prevalence of equine viral arteritis in Algeria, 268 sera from non-vaccinated horses were collected from the western and eastern regions. Serological analysis of the sera, which were collected from 2009 to 2011, was performed using the virus neutralisation test, as described by the World Organisation for Animal Health. Overall, 20 sera (7.46%) were seropositive, 152 (56.71%) were negative and 96 sera (35.82%) were cytotoxic. Equine arteritis virus (EAV) seroprevalence was significantly higher in the western region (Tiaret) than in the eastern region (Barika and El-Eul...
Prevalence of dental disorders in an abattoir population of horses in South Africa by oral examination of intact and bisected heads. Dental care is an integral part of equine veterinary practice. The objectives of this cross sectional study were to describe the prevalence of dental disorders in an abattoir population of horses, and to compare oral examination of intact and bisected heads. Heads from 40 horses, 19 males and 21 females, were examined and divided into immature, adult or older horses based on dental age. Older horses had a significantly higher prevalence of infundibular caries (91.7%), diastemata (66.7%) and fractures (58.3%), whereas dental wear disorders affected all age groups. Gasterophilus spp. larvae were...
Age-dependent expression of osteochondrosis-related genes in equine leukocytes. Osteochondrosis (OC) is a developmental disease in horses which has a significant impact on the horse's welfare and performance. The early disturbance in the process of endochondral ossification progresses to inflammatory and repair processes in older horses. Previously, differentially expressed genes in leukocytes of OC-affected horses have been identified. The aim of the present study is to detect age-related changes in these differentially expressed genes. Methods: The expression of OC-related genes was analysed by real-time PCR and subsequent statistical analysis (ΔΔCT) in the leukocytes...
Cytoskeletal alterations associated with donor age and culture interval for equine oocytes and potential zygotes that failed to cleave after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an established method to fertilise equine oocytes, but not all oocytes cleave after ICSI. The aims of the present study were to examine cytoskeleton patterns in oocytes after aging in vitro for 0, 24 or 48h (Experiment 1) and in potential zygotes that failed to cleave after ICSI of oocytes from donors of different ages (Experiment 2). Cytoplasmic multiasters were observed after oocyte aging for 48h (P<0.01). A similar increase in multiasters was observed with an increased interval after ICSI for young mares (9-13 years) but not old (20-25 years) ma...
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. Infections in Arab Horses, Southwest of Iran. Because of the economic importance of the Arab race horses and also the role of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. in abortion and reproductive failure of these animals, we decided to perform this study. Objective: We designed this study to investigate the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora spp. antibodies in Arab horses from 12 cities of Khuzestan province in southwest of Iran. Methods: From October 2009 to March 2011, a total of 235 blood samples were collected from jugular veins of Arab horses of different ages and genders from 12 cities of Khuzestan province. All t...
