Omneity® Pellets
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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.
Improving Techniques to Study Equine Cervical Mucociliary Clearance. Postbreeding bacterial uterine infections inflict major losses on the equine industry. Microcurrents propelled by ciliated cells between the folds of the uterus and cervix have been proposed as a means by which contaminants are expelled. Previous data have shown possible ciliary microcurrents propelling carbon particles, occasionally rotating, through cervical folds. However, adherence to the epithelium may have interfered with movement of carbon in these studies. Therefore, we tested potentially nonadherent substances to reveal ciliary microcurrents on the equine cervix under high magnificati...
Effect of different doses of inhaled ciclesonide on lung function, clinical signs related to airflow limitation and serum cortisol levels in horses with experimentally induced mild to severe airway obstruction. Inhaled corticosteroids are effective for the treatment of equine asthma but they induce cortisol suppression with potential side effects. Objective: To study the efficacy of ciclesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid with an improved safety profile, on lung function, clinical signs related to airway obstruction, and serum cortisol levels in asthmatic horses exposed to a mouldy hay challenge. Methods: Cross-over placebo controlled, blinded, randomised experiment. Methods: Sixteen horses were enrolled in three subsequent dose-titration studies (8 horses/study) to investigate the effects of inhaled ...
Nanoparticles in Equine Nutrition: Mechanism of Action and Application as Feed Additives. Several concerns exist regarding horse rearing such as environmental pollution, antibiotics resistance, digestive disorders, mycotoxins contamination of animal feed, gut health management, and improvement of feed efficiency. Nanoparticles have the potential to address these issues and thus could be used as feed additive. Citrate reduces and stabilizes gold nanoparticles, alongside biosynthesized silver nanoparticles have the potential to prolong and improve digestive enzyme activity, which would enhance starch digestibility in the stomach. Zinc oxide and selenium nanoparticles could be used to...
The effect of insulin infusion on heart rate and systemic blood pressure in horses with equine metabolic syndrome. There is little evidence that horses with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) have higher resting blood pressures than horses with normal insulin sensitivity. However, there are indications that EMS horses have an altered dynamic response to the cardiovascular effects of insulin. Objective: To examine heart rate and the systemic blood pressure response in EMS and control horses during insulin infusion. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Horses were examined with an oral sugar test (OST) and a euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp (EHC). Based on the results from the OST, the horses were classi...
Using next-generation sequencing to determine diversity of horse intestinal worms: identifying the equine ‘nemabiome’. Next-generation sequencing of DNA from nematode eggs has been utilised to give the first account of the equine 'nemabiome'. In all equine faecal samples investigated, multiple species of Strongylidae were detected, ranging from 7.5 (SEM 0.79) with 99+% identity to sequences in the NCBI database to 13.3 (SEM 0.80) with 90+% identity. This range is typical of the number of species described previously in morphological studies using large quantities of digesta per animal. However, the current method is non-invasive; relies on DNA analysis, avoiding the need for specialist microscopy identificatio...
Zoonotic multidrug-resistant microorganisms among non-hospitalized horses from Germany. Colonization with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) belonging to the genus Staphylococcus and the order Enterobacterales poses a particular threat to populations at risk. While previous studies focused on MDRO carriage among livestock or companion animals, respective epidemiological data on the general equine population are limited. Here, carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) in non-hospitalized horses living on private farms in the rural area in Northwest Germany was assessed. Intran...
Living the ‘Best Life’ or ‘One Size Fits All’-Stakeholder Perceptions of Racehorse Welfare. The purpose of the study was to explore the perceptions held by British racing industry stakeholders of factors influencing racehorse welfare. Ten focus groups were held across the UK with a total of 42 stakeholders from a range of roles within racehorse care including trainers, stable staff and veterinarians. Participants took part in three exercises. Firstly, to describe the scenarios of a 'best life' and the minimum welfare standards a horse in training could be living under. Secondly, to identify the main challenges for racehorse welfare and thirdly, to recall any innovative or uncommon pr...
Are mule pregnancies really longer than equine pregnancies? Comparison between mule and equine pregnancies. In equine management, it is important to predict the approximate foaling date of mares to monitor parturition and allow early identification and intervention of problems during the perinatal period. There are no studies comparing accurate gestational length (GL) when mares are carrying mule foals and no controlled comparisons between GL of mares pregnant with equine or mule foals. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to compare GL of mares pregnant with equine or mule foals and establish normal reference values for GL of mares pregnant with male and female mules. Gestational length of ...
Epoxy-Pin External Skeletal Fixation for Management of Open Bone Fractures in Calves and Foals: A Review of 32 Cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate epoxy-pin external skeletal fixation technique for the treatment of open fractures in calves and foals. Methods: Twenty-eight calves and four foals (weighing 45-105 kg) with fractures distal to the stifle or elbow made the subject for the retrospective study. The pins (2.0-3.0-mm Kirschner wires, crossed at 60-90°) were fixed at least at two locations in both proximal and distal bone fragments as per the case situation. The pins in the same plane were bent (∼2 cm from the skin) towards the fracture site or joint and were joined using an adhesive t...
Molecular detection of Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma platys and Theileria equi in ticks collected from horses in Tayrona National Park, Colombia. Horses are among the domestic animals that closely interact with humans and are highly parasitized by ticks, which are the primary vectors of zoonoses. As horses in Tayrona National Natural Park (PNNT) are used as a means of transporting goods, luggage and people, they are in constant contact with wild animals, workers and tourists from different countries. These factors increase the transmission risk of hemoparasites. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of Rickettsia sp., Anaplasma sp., and Theileria sp., in horse ticks in this protected area using conventional PCR. We col...
Pharmacokinetics and selected pharmacodynamics of morphine and its active metabolites in horses after intravenous administration of four doses. The objective of the current study was to describe and characterize the pharmacokinetics and selected pharmacodynamic effects of morphine and its two major metabolites in horses following several doses of morphine. A total of ten horses were administered a single intravenous dose of morphine: 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.5 mg/kg, or saline control. Blood samples were collected up to 72 hr, analyzed for morphine, and metabolites by LC/MS/MS, and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. Step count, heart rate and rhythm, gastrointestinal borborygmi, fecal output, packed cell volume, and total prote...
First reports of nasal and traumatic myiasis infection in endangered Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii). Myiasis has great economic and medical importance. However, myiasis in wildlife that is caused by oestroid flies is relatively rarely recorded compared with that in humans and domestic animals. Recently, during our research on the conservation of Przewalski's horse (PH), we observed two new records of oestroid flies parasitizing wildlife in China. The first is the horse nasal bot fly, Rhinoestrus sp. (Diptera: Oestridae), found in a dead PH from Kalamaili Nature Reserve. One morphotype (R. purpureus-like) was identified. The second is the Wohlfahrt's wound myiasis fly, Wohlfahrtia magnifica (S...
Effects of Overcheck Use on Stress Parameters and Welfare Implications in Driving Horses. Three sequential studies were performed to evaluate the effects of tying horses while wearing overchecks (strap from the bridle to backpad). In an observational study, horses (n = 305) wore high (HC), low (LC), or no overchecks (NC) with frequencies of 29.2%, 51.8% and 19.0% respectively. Study 1 (Latin square, n = 6) consisted of a 90-min tie test (90TT) with treatments (HC, LC, NC) x periods (1-3). Horses wearing HC had higher plasma cortisol (P < 0.01) when compared to LC and NC. Muscle soreness (MSS) and tightness (MTS) were evaluated pre and 24 hr post 90TT and were higher (P <...
Lipid classes in adipose tissues and liver differ between Shetland ponies and Warmblood horses. Fatty acids, as key components of cellular membranes and complex lipids, may play a central role in endocrine signalling and the function of adipose tissue and liver. Thus, the lipid fatty acid composition may play a role in health status in the equine. This study aimed to investigate the fatty acid composition of different tissues and liver lipid classes by comparing Warmblood horses and Shetland ponies under defined conditions. We hypothesized that ponies show different lipid patterns than horses in adipose tissue, liver and plasma. Six Warmblood horses and six Shetland ponies were housed an...
Three-Dimensional Kinematic Motion Analysis of Shivers in Horses: A Pilot Study. Our aim was to assess three-dimensional kinematic motion analysis as an objective diagnostic tool for the characterization of the movement disorder of Shivers in horses. Kinematic parameters were measured in three horses with Shivers and were compared with a control group of four normal horses. Multiple parameter differences were found in the horses with Shivers at the walk, during backing, and when asked to pick up their hindlimbs. Most significant changes were a wider hindlimb stance of 0.39 ± 0.15 m and increased abduction angle of 48.7 ± 7.52° and hoof elevation (0.77 ± 0.08 m left a...
Potent inhibitors of equine steroid isomerase EcaGST A3-3. Equine glutathione transferase A3-3 (EcaGST A3-3) belongs to the superfamily of detoxication enzymes found in all higher organisms. However, it is also the most efficient steroid double-bond isomerase known in mammals. Equus ferus caballus shares the steroidogenic pathway with Homo sapiens, which makes the horse a suitable animal model for investigations of human steroidogenesis. Inhibition of the enzyme has potential for treatment of steroid-hormone-dependent disorders. Screening of a library of FDA-approved drugs identified 16 out of 1040 compounds, which at 10 μM concentration afforded at ...
Assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of Levucell SC (Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077) as a feed additive for lambs and horses. Levucell SC is the trade name for a feed additive based on viable cells of a strain . The product is currently authorised for use in feed for horses, lambs, dairy sheep and dairy goats, dairy cows and cattle for fattening. This opinion concerns the renewal of the authorisation of Levucell SC as a zootechnical additive for lambs and horses. is considered by EFSA to be suitable for the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach to establishing safety for the target species, consumers and the environment. The identity of the strain present in the additive was established. Accordingly, this s...
Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Response to Exercise, Twitching, Epinephrine Injection, Substance P Injection, and Prostaglandin-F2α Administration in Mares. Five experiments were performed to test the hypothesis that α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) is secreted in response to various stressors in horses similar to prolactin, growth hormone, and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). There was considerable variation in resting concentrations of MSH and in the degree of stimulation in responders; thus all data sets were tested for heterogeneity of variance and corrected for as needed before analysis. In experiment 1, 12 mares were used in a switchback design to test the effect of a 2-minute exercise bout on MSH secretion. Plasma MSH concentrations were ...
The health enhancer yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in two types of commercial products for animal nutrition. The health enhancer yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) is widely used in diets for different animals. Two main types of SC-based products are commercially available, one containing live yeasts and one containing SC fermentation by-products, which are supposedly not dependent on live yeasts for their physiological effects in vivo. Culture-based techniques were applied to study yeasts in two types of commercial products: a product containing live SC (LSC) and a SC fermentation product (SCFP). Three temperatures (25, 30 and 39°C) and two pH levels (4 and 7) were tested. The product with LSC co...
A model for the dynamics of the parasitic stages of equine cyathostomins. A model was developed to reproduce the dynamics of the parasitic stages of equine cyathostomins. Based on a detailed review of published literature, a deterministic simulation model was constructed using the escalator boxcar-train approach, which allows for fully-overlapping cohorts of worms and approximately normally distributed variations in age/size classes. Key biological features include a declining establishment of ingested infective stage larvae as horses age. Development rates are constant for all the parasitic stages except the encysted early third stage larvae, for which development ...
Toxoplasma gondii Seroprevalence in Horses from Ukraine: an Investigation Using Two Serological Methods. Horses are recognized as important hosts for the zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii, mainly because meat of infected horses can be a source of human T. gondii infections. However, the baseline knowledge on equine T. gondii infections is limited and lacking from many countries. This seroepidemiological study was set in Ukraine, a country where little is known about T. gondii prevalence in any host species. Methods: We investigated 78 serum samples from horses, collected from Kyiv and Lviv regions of Ukraine, using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a commercial modified...
Surveillance of equine strangles: a new initiative. from the Animal Health Trust introduces a new project to gather information on cases of strangles in horses throughout the UK.
An atypical presentation of multi-systemic B-cell lymphoma in a horse. This report describes an unusual presentation of multicentric B-cell lymphoma with central and peripheral nerve involvement in a horse that was presented with acute onset, severe, multiple limb lameness, and muscle atrophy. This case highlights the importance of including neoplasia in the differential list in horses presenting for severe limb lameness associated with muscle atrophy, muscle fasciculations, and weakness. Présentation atypique d’un lymphome à cellules B multisystémique chez un cheval. Ce rapport décrit la présentation inhabituelle d’un lymphome à cellules B multicentriq...
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in non-camelid domestic mammals. Dromedary camels are natural host of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). However, there are limited studies of MERS-CoV infection of other domestic mammals exposed to infected dromedaries. We expanded our surveillance among camels in Egypt, Tunisia, and Senegal to include other domestic mammalian species in contact with infected camels. A total of 820 sera and 823 nasal swabs from cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, buffaloes, mules, and horses were collected. Swabs were tested using RT-PCR and virus RNA-positive samples were genetically sequenced and phylogenetically analy...
An optimized TaqMan real-time PCR method for authentication of ASINI CORII COLLA (donkey-hide gelatin). In this study, probe/primers of high specificity and sensitivity were selected to analyze donkey-hide gelatin for donkey DNA and to look for horse, ox, and pig DNA as possible adulterants. The mitochondrial CO I genes in donkey, horse, and ox were selected as target sequences for design and synthesis of three pairs of specific probes and primers. In addition, eight pairs of probe/primers were obtained via literature search. Out of these eleven groups of probe/primers, those with the highest specificity and sensitivity were selected, which was fulfilled by the screening firstly with animal hide...
Peripheral blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells demonstrate immunomodulatory potential for therapeutic use in horses. Previously, we showed that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) can be mobilized into peripheral blood using electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoints, LI-4, LI-11, GV-14, and GV-20. The purpose of this study was to determine whether EA-mobilized MSC could be harvested and expanded in vitro to be used as an autologous cell therapy in horses. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from young and aged lame horses (n = 29) showed a marked enrichment for MSCs. MSC were expanded in vitro (n = 25) and administered intravenously at a dose of 50 x 106 (n = 24). Treatment resulted in significant improve...
First report of antibodies to Neospora spp. in horses from Portugal. Neospora spp. are intracellular protozoa with worldwide distribution and closely related to Toxoplasma gondii, which can infect a variety of mammals including horses. From September 2013 to June 2014, 185 horses from northern, central and southern parts of mainland Portugal were randomly sampled and tested for detection of immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies to Neospora spp. using an indirect multi-species enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) commercial test (ID Screen® Neospora caninum Indirect Multi-species; ID.vet Innovative Diagnostics, Grabels, France). Two horses (1.1%; CI: 0.1-3.8%),...
