Topic:Animal Health
Animal Health encompasses a broad range of topics focused on maintaining and improving the well-being of equine species. This field addresses various aspects of horse care, including disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of health conditions. Key areas of interest include equine nutrition, vaccination protocols, parasite control, dental care, and the management of chronic conditions such as laminitis and colic. Additionally, animal health research in horses investigates the impact of exercise and training on physical health, the role of genetics in disease susceptibility, and the development of new therapeutic approaches. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the latest advancements, challenges, and best practices in preserving and enhancing the health of horses.
Comparative Efficacy of Topical Pyrethroids and Benzoyl Peroxide for Treating Chorioptic Mange in Spanish-Breton Horses. Chorioptic mange is a challenging condition to treat due to the superficial locations of the nonhematophagous mite , and while topical acaricides are recommended, the clinical feature relapses are frequent. In a double-blinded clinical trial, three randomized groups of Spanish-Breton horses ( = 32) naturally infected with on their legs were evaluated over a period of 70 days. All treatments were applied once every 14 days for three treatments. Before treatment and on Day (D)10, D25, D37, D56, and D70, each leg per animal was scored according to equine pastern dermatitis clinical presentat...
Pilot Study: Simultaneous Daily Recording of Total Locomotor Activity and Heart Rate in Horses for Application in Precision Livestock Farming. Among physiological parameters, total locomotor activity (TLA) and heart rate (HR) are used as physiological indicators in animal welfare evaluations. The present study aimed to simultaneously record for 24 h the TLA and HR of ten clinically healthy horses housed in conventional individual boxes subjected to a natural photoperiod and temperature. An actigraphy-based data logger was placed on the headstall, and an equine HR monitor was placed around the chest to monitor TLA and HR, respectively. Activity was monitored with 5 min sampling intervals and HR with 5 s intervals. To make the data poi...
‘It’s only a flesh wound’ – Understanding the safety culture in equine, production animal and mixed veterinary practices. The veterinary industry has some of the highest rates of non-fatal work-related injuries, yet safety culture remains unexplored. Utilising a survey distributed to all UK employees of a consolidated group of veterinary practices, this study aimed to describe the prevalence of work-related injuries in equine, production animal, and mixed veterinary practices, and to understand the behaviours of injured persons. There were 144 respondents. Over 90 % of clinicians experienced injury during their careers, versus a third of non-clinical staff. Injuries to equine veterinarians were predominately ki...
Assessing the inflammatory response in horses undergoing gastric ulceration using salivary ADA and S100A12 as biomarkers. The inflammatory status in horses with gastric ulcers was monitored by two inflammatory biomarkers, S100A12 and adenosine deaminase (ADA), using saliva samples from healthy and horses with gastric ulcers. Two trials were developed: an experimental trial, in which gastric ulceration was induced in 8 horses by feed deprivation, and a clinical trial, in which 20 horses without any symptomatology and 37 with symptoms compatible with gastric ulcers were used. S100A12 and ADA levels were measured in the saliva samples of all horses using previously validated assays. In both trials, horses with gastr...
Welfare assessment of racehorses provides a baseline for continued monitoring. Racehorse welfare continues to be a focus of stakeholders both within and outside of the industry, and there is a need for evidence-based animal welfare data. Objective: To gather data on racehorse welfare through a combination of animal-based observations and information about management practices, and to ascertain the feasibility of trained industry assessors carrying out a racehorse welfare assessment. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: Sixteen trained industry assessors conducted individual observations of 737 racehorses in 21 Flat racing (F), 27 National Hunt (NH) and 26 Dual-purpose (D) ...
Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of the novel equine parasite Theileria haneyi in China. Equine piroplasmosis (EP), caused by Theileria equi (T. equi) and Babesia caballi (B. caballi), is a tick-borne disease with significant economic impacts on the equine industry. Theileria haneyi (T. haneyi), a newly identified pathogen of EP, is globally distributed but has not been reported in China, where its epidemiological patterns remain undefined. Objective: To develop diagnostic techniques for T. haneyi and to assess its prevalence and risk factors in China. Methods: Assay development and cross sectional survey. Methods: A nested PCR (nPCR) nucleic acid diagnostic technique targeting th...
Motor pathway evaluation by transcranial magnetic stimulation in Swedish horses with acquired equine polyneuropathy. Acquired equine polyneuropathy in Nordic horses (AEP) is the most prevalent equine polyneuropathy in Norway, Sweden, and Finland and is characterised by pelvic limb knuckling due to metatarsophalangeal extension dysfunction. Objective: To evaluate the function of descending motor pathways in AEP using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Methods: An analytical, observational cohort design. Methods: Clinical findings and TMS results of 20 horses from an AEP outbreak in Sweden were evaluated at 5-month intervals. Latency time (LT) in milliseconds (ms) between coil discharge and onset of musc...
Agreement between subjective gait assessment and markerless video gait-analysis in endurance horses. Subjective evaluation of gait by official endurance veterinarians (OEVs) is used to determine 'fitness-to-compete' in horses participating in endurance competitions. Objective gait analysis systems could aid in quick and verifiable judgements. Objective: To assess the agreement between objective analysis of head and pelvis vertical movement asymmetry performed with a markerless artificial intelligence motion tracking system (AI-MTS) and subjective lameness assessment performed by an accredited FEI OEV to judge horse gaits. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: During three endurance competitions,...
Effects of pasture consumption and obesity on insulin dysregulation and adiponectin concentrations in UK native-breed ponies. Insulin dysregulation (ID) and hypoadiponectinaemia (total [adiponectin] <7.9 μg/mL) are risk factors for laminitis. They are sometimes, but not always, associated with obesity. Objective: To investigate the effects of pasture consumption and obesity on ID and circulating total [adiponectin] in ponies. Methods: Longitudinal. Methods: Seven native-breed ponies with normal basal and post-oral sugar test (OST) [insulin] and body condition score (BCS) 4.3-5.5/9 were allowed to graze until they reached BCS 7/9. Ponies were then maintained at BCS 7/9 until completion of the study (week 22). Morph...
Evaluation of the Effects of Detomidine on Equine Myoelectrical Activity Using Electrointestinography. To evaluate the effects of detomidine on equine intestinal slow-wave activity and frequency distribution measured by electrointestinography (EIG). Methods: Prospective, experimental study. Methods: University teaching hospital. Methods: A convenience sample of twelve 7- to 21-year-old clinically normal horses. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to saline control (four horses) or detomidine treatment (eight). After obtaining a 30-min baseline EIG, a saline or detomidine bolus was administered, followed by a constant rate infusion, and another EIG was recorded. Ultrasonographic examinations ...
Circadian Oscillation of Leukocyte Subpopulations and Inflammatory Cytokines over a 24-H Period in Horses. The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of daily rhythms on the immune and inflammatory systems in horses, considering white blood cell count (WBCs), leukocyte subpopulations (neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes), CD4+, and CD8+ lymphocyte populations, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Ten Italian Saddle horses (7-12 years old, body weight 480 ± 30 kg) underwent blood sampling every 4 h over a 24-h period. The COSINOR method was used to identify rhythms and their parameters. A one-way ...
Histological and morphometric changes in cardiac conduction fibers after spontaneous myocardial infarction in horses and dogs. Arrhythmic sudden cardiac death in dogs and horses often results from ventricular arrhythmia secondary to myocardial damage. Despite this, limited data exist on the histomorphometric changes in cardiac conduction fibers (CCFs) and cardiac conduction cells (CCCs) following spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI). This study aimed to characterize morphometric and histological alterations in conduction fibers and their junctions with cardiomyocytes in infarcted hearts of horses and dogs. Unassigned: Ten hearts from horses and 10 from dogs that had died suddenly were examined. Histological and immu...
Minimal disruption of equine gut microbiota by intravenous cephalothin treatment. In horses, the gut microbiota plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and overall health, but antimicrobial administration can disrupt its balance, resulting in dysbiosis, which can cause antibiotic-associated diarrhea. This study assessed the impact of intravenous cephalothin sodium administration on the equine gut microbiota by using microbial amplicon sequencing targeting the 16S-ITS-23S rRNA operon. Fecal samples from 39 clinically normal horses, 16 antibiotic-treated horses (cephalothin, n=5; minocycline, n=5; metronidazole, n=6, each administered for 5 days), and seve...
Intra- and Post-Operative Bacteriological Surveys of Surgical Site in Horses: A Single-Centre Study. Bacterial contamination of the surgical site in horses is a major risk factor for the development of surgical site infections (SSIs), which increase morbidity, mortality, the hospitalisation period, antibiotic use, and management costs. While contamination is a prerequisite for infection, its progression to clinical infection depends on additional factors that compromise host defences. The present study, conducted at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Perugia over an 11-month period, investigated bacterial contamination in 70 surgeries (53 clean and 17 clean-contaminated) at...
Performance of a non-contact veterinary infrared thermometer and reference intervals of equine temperature at different body sites. Evaluating the body temperature of horses () is essential for monitoring their health. Rectal thermometry is the most common method for determining the temperatures of adult horses and foals. However, this method requires restraining the animals for several seconds, and it poses potential risks to both horses and humans. This study compared infrared and rectal thermometry in 126 horses, evaluating age and measurement site influences on body temperature. Horses were divided into three groups: foals (4-12 months), Shetland ponies (8-12 months), and adult horses (2-30 years). Rectal, ocular...
Differences between facilities in horse welfare profiles: slight differences in management/working conditions may be enough. Many studies focus on animal welfare in terms of specific, either behavioural or physiological, indicators or on the impact of a particular management factor. However, an animal's welfare state results from the individual's perception of its general environment, which has consequences at both behavioural and physiological levels. Previous research on horses has shown that different riding schools could be characterised by different emotional/cognitive profiles of horses, in relation sometimes with one single management factor. In the present study, we aimed at determining if such facility-spec...
[New drugs for horses and production animals in 2024]. In 2024, there was no release of a novel pharmaceutical agent for horses and food-producing animals or an extension of existing active ingredients to other animal species on the German veterinary medicinal products market. Formic acid is now available for a new form of treatment, the short-term treatment of honeybees, and clenbuterol is available in a new dosage form, as an oral solution for horses. In the field of immunological veterinary medicinal products, three new vaccines were launched on the German veterinary medicinal products market. For the first time, a vaccine against in cattle, a...
Computed tomographic measurements in 110 front hooves of non-lame Thoroughbred racehorses and Warmblood showjumpers. There are no published reference ranges on computed tomographic (CT) hoof wall and sole measurements. Objective: To establish reference ranges for CT measurements of the hoof wall and sole in non-lame horses, and to investigate associations between measurements and signalment, laterality, and medial or lateral sides. Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Methods: Soft tissue reconstructions of fan-beam CT studies of 110 front feet of 56 non-lame horses (30 Thoroughbred racehorses, 26 Warmblood showjumpers), performed in non- to semi-weightbearing positions, were analysed. Hoof wall th...
What is the “train track” in the retained equine testis? A 3-year-old Quarter horse stallion with unilateral left cryptorchidism was referred for the absence of the left testis in the scrotal bursa and an enlarged right testis. The ultrasonographic examination revealed the presence of the left testis at the abdominal level. Two small hyperechogenic lines were observed running parallel and resembling a cylindrical cavitary foreign body, within a non-homogeneous area with blurred margins. The testis was removed by laparoscopy and macroscopically, the testis's cut section revealed the presence of two live adult nematodes emerging from 2 mm blood-filled...
Immunoaffinity chromatography for the preparation of equine tetanus immunoglobulin F(ab’)2 for enhanced safety and efficacy. Typically, the antigen-specific antibodies constitute a small fraction-often estimated to be around 2-10 %-of the total IgG in the serum after immunization. This low percentage necessitates the use of purification techniques to enrich the antigen-specific antibodies for therapeutic or research purposes. This study introduces an affinity chromatography column using NHS-activated Sepharose as a matrix and the tetanus toxin subunit C, TeNT-Hc-C869A, as a ligand, enabling the purification of polyclonal antibodies with high specificity. This process improves antitoxin purity to over 95 %, effecti...
A profiling of faecal parasites in horses in Mauritius and resistance to Fenbendazole at one horse-riding stable. Mauritius hosts a population of approximately 900 equids, but no investigations have delved into issues such as the prevalence of equine helminths, anthelmintic usage, and resistance emergence. This study aimed to devise a qualitative and quantitative profile of common helminthic intestinal parasites in equines at eight out of twenty-eight stables (272 horses, 29 % of local population) and to determine whether helminthic intestinal parasites in equines at one stable have developed resistance to Fenbendazole by quantitatively assessing pre-treatment faecal egg counts, post-treatment faecal egg...
Effects of different grain types on nutrient apparent digestibility, glycemic responses, and fecal VFA content in weaned foals. China's equine industry has shifted from traditional rough grazing to modern intensive farming, expanding the roles of horses into eventing, leisure, tourism, and meat and dairy production. Concurrently, equine nutrition has evolved from a forage-based diet to a more diverse regimen incorporating grain supplements to meet the heightened energy demands of intensive farming. However, nutrient digestibility and glycemic response vary considerably based on grain type, starch content, composition, and structural properties. Optimal grain selection is therefore essential for energy supplementation a...
Distribution of Alprazolam Into the Milk of Lactating Mares and Subsequent Absorption by Nursing Foals. Alprazolam is used to facilitate mare-foal bonding in aggressive or anxious postpartum mares. In humans, alprazolam crosses the blood-milk barrier, but the amount transferred into milk is minor and compatible with breastfeeding as the relative infant dose is < 10%. Similar data are not available for horses. The aim of this study was to measure alprazolam in serum and milk of mares (milk: serum ratio) administered alprazolam, and to determine alprazolam serum concentrations in nursing foals to estimate the extent of absorption. This was a prospective observational study involving 7 healthy...
Assessing Cadmium Levels in Horses Imported from the European Union and Slaughtered in Italy. The aim of this study was to evaluate cadmium (Cd) concentrations in horses imported from various European Union countries and slaughtered in Italy. In addition, we assessed the potential correlation between Cd levels in tissues and organs, and Cd-related gross and histological lesions. The animals were divided into six groups based on age and geographical origin. Among the 430 animals examined, gross renal lesions were observed in only two kidney samples from Polish horses, which also had the highest Cd concentrations: 9.1 mg/kg w/w and 8.23 mg/kg w/w, respectively. Further histological a...
Wild horses: Tartar warfare and the history of civilization. In 1644, the Manchus, a Tungusic population from northeast Asia, conquered Ming China, establishing the Qing Empire. Four years later, Crimean Tartar horsemen joined a major uprising against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, gravely destabilizing one of Europe's largest states. These near-simultaneous incursions by ostensibly nomadic, horse-riding 'Tartars' into firearm-defended sedentary states generated extensive historiographical reflection on the role of nomads and their warhorse-centred armies in shaping human history. This article explores how the Jesuit Martino Martini drew on these T...
Exploring the genetic influences on equine analgesic efficacy through genome-wide association analysis of ranked pain responses. Multimodal analgesic administration is a promising strategy for mitigating side effects typically associated with analgesia; nevertheless, variation in analgesic effectiveness still poses a considerable safety concern for both horses and veterinarians. Pharmacogenomic studies have started delving into genetic influences on varying drug effectiveness and related side effects. However, current findings have narrow implications and are limited in their ability to individualize analgesic dosages in horses. Hydromorphone and detomidine were administered to a cohort of 48 horses at standardized time...
Exploring equine behavior: Wearable sensors data and explainable AI for enhanced classification. Understanding equine behavior through advanced monitoring technologies is crucial for improving animal welfare, optimizing training strategies, and enabling early detection of health or stress-related issues. This study integrates wearable sensor data with Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) techniques, particularly SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations), to enhance interpretability in equine behavior classification. The data used in this study were sourced from an open-source dataset, ensuring transparency and reproducibility. Orginally, data were collected from 18 horses using sensor dev...
Sperm Vitrification in Horse and Donkey. Sperm vitrification is a novel-assisted reproductive technique that is increasingly gaining relevance in the last years. This technique allows to cryopreserve sperm from valuable stallions and donkeys without the exposure to permeable cryoprotectants, particularly toxic for the gametes of these species.This chapter aims to describe the current range of methodologies available that are key to ensure sperm quality after vitrification and warming of stallion and donkey sperm.