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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.
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...
Physiological and nutritional adaptation of broodmares during the transition from late pregnancy to early lactation: Digestibility changes and the role of uNDF as an internal marker. Nutritional management of broodmares during late pregnancy and early lactation is essential for maternal health and foal well-being. This study evaluated a targeted dietary adaptation during the transition from late gestation to early lactation, monitored nutrient digestibility, and applied undigested neutral detergent fiber (uNDF) as an intrinsic digestibility marker. A prospective nutritional study was conducted on 11 clinically healthy Trotter broodmares (3 primiparous, 8 multiparous) monitored under standardized conditions. Mares received a forage-based diet with controlled starch intake a...
Evaluation and Management of the Horse with Head and Neck Disorders. Recognizing possible causes of equine head and neck problems requires a careful and systematic evaluation. While for some disorders reaching a diagnosis and treatment plan is relatively straightforward, for others this can be a complicated road requiring extensive diagnostic techniques, treatment trials, and management strategies. The ability to determine whether the patient is in a painful state, experiencing functional deficits, or in a combination of pain and dysfunction is critical to developing an effective treatment plan. Frequently, behavioral concerns often associated with pain must be...
Learning in the arena: healthcare students’ lived experience of interprofessional education in equine-assisted services. This qualitative study explored healthcare students' lived experiences during an interprofessional education (IPE) event incorporating equine-assisted services (EAS). Traditional IPE events often rely on classroom settings that may limit interprofessional engagement, collaboration, and application. Utilizing interpretive phenomenological analysis, researchers examined how the equine environment influenced interprofessional learning among fourteen graduate students from diverse healthcare disciplines at a western United States public university. Participants engaged in experiential demonstratio...
Diagnostic Threshold Identification for Equine Laminitis Using Smoothed Receiver Operating Characteristic Analysis. Radiographic measurement parameters play a key role in diagnosing acute and subacute laminitis in horses, with diagnostic thresholds typically derived from empirical receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. However, these methods often produce unstable results, particularly in small or noisy datasets. This study applies nonuniform rational B-spline (NURBS)-based ROC smoothing to radiographic data from laminitic and healthy horses to evaluate its effectiveness in refining diagnostic thresholds. Thresholds are determined using Youden's index based on NURBS-smoothed ROC curves and compar...
Objective gait analysis methods for assessing movement asymmetry in the equine patient. To demonstrate the uses, data interpretation, and limitations of objective gait analysis methods in equine practice. Unassigned: Teaching and client-owned horses. Unassigned: Informed owner consent was obtained for all animals used in the making of this technical tutorial video. Primary literature relevant to this video was reviewed from January 2016 to January 2026. Images and data were collected from teaching horses and client-owned horses. Unassigned: Objective gait analysis provides accurate and repeatable data on the locomotion of a horse; however, inaccuracies may occur, especially in ca...
Effect of season of collection and storage method on equine hair cortisol concentration. Serum cortisol concentration is one of the common physiological reference standards for evaluating stress in animals. However, it only evaluates acute stress at the moment of blood collection. Hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) could provide a method for assessing cortisol concentrations over extended periods of time, giving an estimate of chronic stress levels. In this case, high HCC results could help equine managers alter management practices to improve welfare. Objective: To evaluate the effect of the month of collection and the storage method on equine HCC. Methods: Tail hair was collecte...
Molecular typing, biofilm characteristics and biofilm-targeted inhibition strategies of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolated from donkey endometritis. Endometritis is a major cause of infertility in intensively farmed donkeys. Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ) is a predominant pathogen that readily forms biofilms in equine endometritis, conferring resistance to conventional treatments. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the biofilm dynamics of SEZ isolates obtained from donkeys and to evaluate potential anti-biofilm strategies with different drug combinations. Methods: Uterine lavage samples were collected from 30 Dezhou Black donkeys with clinical endometritis. Bacterial cultures were performed on blood agar and MacConk...
Radiation in Veterinary Practice: Paradigm Shift Toward Precision and Curative Approaches. Ionizing radiation therapy has undergone a clear paradigm shift in veterinary oncology and inflammatory disease management, moving from mainly palliative use toward structured, curative treatment programs. This review synthesizes current evidence on key modalities used in veterinary practice, including external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, systemic targeted radionuclide therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, radiosynoviorthesis, and low-dose radiotherapy. Each modality is discussed in relation to its physical and biological basis, major isotopes or beam types,...
Progressive structural and functional change in horses: a conceptual framework for systemic equine (patho-)physiology. A wide range of locomotor, postural, and behavioral pathophysiology in horses-often grouped under terms such as Topline Syndrome, Myofascial Dysfunction, or Poor Posture Syndrome-lack a coherent systemic explanation. These presentations share reduced performance, stability, and resilience, yet are commonly managed through isolated symptom-focused interventions. To address this gap, we propose progressive structural and functional change (PSF) as a systemic framework describing progressive reorganization processes within the equine body that link fragmented pathological domains into a coherent ...
Prevotella mikamonis sp. nov., isolated from equine clinical specimens. In this study, five strains of anaerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria were characterized phenotypically, biochemically and genotypically. These strains were clinically isolated from horse specimens in Japan. Phylogenetic trees constructed based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed distinct clustering of the five strains with the type strains of closely related species. The genomic DNA G+C content was 46.7 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids identified were C, 3-OH-C and 3-OH-iso-C. Whole-genome comparisons based on average nucleotide identity using blast (ANIb) and digital DNA...
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...
Case Report: Neurologic signs following rattlesnake envenomation. Rattlesnake envenomation is a common emergency in horses in California. Rattlesnakes belong to a group of venomous snakes: pit vipers. The Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (), a subspecies of the Western Rattlesnake, is the most widespread rattlesnake in California (1). A 5-year-old miniature horse mare presented for a presumed Western Rattlesnake bite. The owners found the horse the morning of presentation with severe facial swelling and the horse was housed in an area where rattlesnakes are commonly observed. The horse was reported to be normal the day prior to presentation. On blood examination...
Longitudinal assessment of hemostatic adaptations in pregnant mares: Evidence of a physiological hypercoagulable state. Pregnancy triggers intricate hemostatic adjustments that support placental maturation and prepare the maternal organism for delivery. We hypothesized that pregnant mares would progressively shift toward a procoagulant state throughout gestation, reflected in changes to coagulation and fibrinolytic markers. To test this hypothesis, 15 clinically healthy Spanish Purebred pregnant mares were monitored monthly from conception to term, alongside 15 non-pregnant controls of similar age and breed. A comprehensive hemostatic profile-including platelet (PLT) count, prothrombin time (PT), activated part...
Analytical Challenges and Emerging Detection Strategies of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Horse Doping Control. Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) were originally synthesized to advance the understanding of the endocannabinoid system, facilitate disease research, and support the development of novel therapeutic agents. Compared with tetrahydrocannabinol, these compounds exhibit substantially higher psychoactive potency and enhanced receptor-binding affinity. The rapid and continuous evolution of SC derivatives presents significant challenges for analytical laboratories and increases the risk of misuse. Furthermore, SCs may be exploited to alter performance in both human and animal sports. The scarcity of comp...
Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantify hepcidin in horse serum. Hepcidin (Hepc) is a peptide hormone primarily produced by hepatocytes and considered the master regulator of iron homeostasis, with Hepc controlling the release of iron within the circulation. Despite the renewed interest in iron-related research due to Hepc discovery, there is limited data on serum hepcidin in horses. The objective of the study was to develop and partially validate a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify serum hepcidin in horses. Precision was evaluated using horse serum samples representing low, medium and high Hepc concentrations, yielding intra...
Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus Exposure in Horses and Donkeys in Border Livestock Markets of Nigeria. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne zoonotic pathogen of major public health importance in Africa. Although CCHFV exposure has been reported in several livestock species in Nigeria, data on equids remain limited despite their extensive involvement in livestock movement and trade. This study assessed CCHFV seroprevalence in horses and donkeys in major international livestock markets in northern Nigeria and examined factors associated with exposure. Methods: From June 2023 to July 2024, a longitudinal sero-surveillance study was conducted in three high-volume livestock...
Seroprevalence of Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi in healthy horses from the province of Alberta, Canada. Literature on the seroprevalence of antibodies to the causative agents of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) in Canada is limited. Objective: To determine the prevalence of serum antibodies against Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi in apparently healthy horses without signs of neurologic disease which have always resided in Alberta, Canada, using commercially available immunodiagnostic tests. Methods: Samples from 116 healthy horses were obtained from a biobank containing horse serum collected across Alberta in 2021 and 2022. Samples were selected based on owner survey responses, ...
United States stakeholder insights on genetic testing for equine health and breeding. The S1094 United States Department of Agriculture Multistate Research Project is a collaborative effort utilizing equine genetics and genomics to improve horse health and well-being. It also provides educational resources and genetic testing tools to equine industry stakeholders. Objective: A survey assessed the knowledge, priorities, and information sources of U.S. horse owners and enthusiasts regarding equine genetic testing to inform future outreach and research efforts. Methods: An online survey was distributed from March to October 2024, targeting horse owners and enthusiasts across the U...
Polyphenol-Rich Feed Material increases Anaerostipes and reduces methanogenic archaea in the horse hindgut microbiome. The gastrointestinal microbiota plays a critical role in horse health and performance. While sugarcane-derived polyphenols have shown microbiota-modulating properties in other species, their effects in horses remain unexplored. Objective: This study investigated whether supplementation with a sugarcane-derived polyphenol feed material modulates the hindgut microbiota of healthy adult horses. Methods: An observational longitudinal study was conducted on six horses over 12 weeks. Faecal samples were collected at three time points: baseline (P1), during supplementation (P2), and post-supplementat...
Adult Equine Optic Nerve Head Measurements Using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography. To compare equine optic nerve head (ONH) measurements using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to detect clinically relevant ONH cupping. Methods: Forty-five eyes from 34 horses were categorized as CONTROL or CUPPED based on indirect ophthalmoscopy and were measured using SD-OCT: Bruch's membrane opening (BMO), optic cup width (OC), anterior laminar depth (ALD), prelaminar thickness (PLT), and cup-to-disk ratio (OC: BMO) at superior (sup.), central (ctr.), and inferior (inf.) ONH locations. Results: The OC:BMO was 0.61 ± 0.09 (sup.), 0.64 ± 0.09 (ctr.), and 0.55 ...
Fungal endometritis in broodmares: clinical presentation, prevalence in Ireland and diagnostic performance of cytology. Fungal endometritis is an uncommon uterine condition associated with poor fertility. Objective: This study aimed to 1) provide a descriptive summary of 11 cases of fungal endometritis, 2) assess prevalence trends of fungal endometritis over time, 3) assess fungal species distribution in diagnostic samples, and 4) evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of cytology. Methods: Study 1 reviewed records of 11 mares diagnosed with fungal endometritis for history, presentation, treatment, and outcome. Study 2 analysed 6,727 uterine samples (swabs and lavages; 2019-2024) for factors influencing fungal cultur...
Evaluation of episcleral silicone matrix cyclosporine implants for presumed equine immune-mediated keratitis: a retrospective study. Immune-mediated keratitis (IMMK) is a chronic inflammatory corneal disease in horses. Long-term topical therapy with cyclosporine is often impractical, highlighting the need for sustained-release alternatives. Objective: To assess clinical response, tolerability, and duration of effect of episcleral silicone matrix cyclosporine implants (ESMC) in horses with presumed IMMK. Methods: Medical records of 12 horses (14 eyes) treated between 2019 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. IMMK subtypes were classified as epithelial (n = 3 eyes), anterior stromal (n = 9), or mid-stromal (n =...
The transition from winter to spring has an impact on the airway metabolome profile of asthmatic horses. Equine asthma is a chronic, non-infectious inflammatory disease of the lower airways in horses, classified as mild to moderate (MEA) or severe (SEA). Its pathogenesis is not fully understood and is influenced by environmental and seasonal factors. In this cross-sectional study, seasonal effects on the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) metabolome were investigated in asthmatic and non-asthmatic horses. The metabolome of 230 BALF samples from horses across different seasons, classified as cytologically unremarkable (CUA), MEA, or SEA, was analyzed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectr...
Advanced Imaging of the Cranium and the Cervical Spine for Equine Neurologic Disease. Diagnostic imaging is essential for evaluating and managing neurologic disease in horses. Following clinical lesion, neurolocalization imaging modalities are often necessary to further characterize the disease process. However, which technology to use depends on various factors, including the patient's size, clinical signs, and the anatomic region. Current advances in imaging technology, in general, and the adaptation of different modalities for equine patients, in particular, have substantially improved our ability to evaluate the equine central nervous system. This article will summarize the...
Modified mucosal digestion procedure improves precision of encysted larval cyathostomin counts in horses. With rising anthelmintic resistance in adult cyathostomins, the most pervasive equine parasites, the need to assess larvicidal efficacy has increased, yet available methods remain limited. Encysted larvae are quantified using mucosal digestion, wherein a 5% subsample of intestinal mucosa is processed, and a 2% aliquot is counted for early third stage (EL3) and late third stage/mucosal fourth stage (LL3/L4) larvae. This method is imprecise and post-treatment larval differences are often not observed. The following study aimed to assess standard and modified protocol precision and sensitivity. I...
Perspectives of UK horse carers towards the use of artificial intelligence in equine healthcare. Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prevalent in the modern world, including in veterinary medicine. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate horse carers' attitudes towards using AI use in equine care. Methods: An online survey was distributed to UK horse owners/carers in 2025, covering participants' demographics and use of AI and their opinions of AI for equine care. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, categorisation of free-text responses and logistic regression to determine factors associated with opinions. Results: Ninety-seven resp...
Development and evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring antibodies against VP8∗ receptor binding domain of equine rotavirus A. Equine rotavirus A (ERVA) poses a significant threat to foal health, necessitating reliable serological tools for assessing protective immune responses. This study focused on the development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the measurement of antibodies against the VP8∗ receptor binding core domain of ERVA. Following the expression and purification of VP8∗ receptor binding domain from the bacterial expression system, the ELISA for detecting anti-ERVA VP8∗ antibodies with VP8∗ as a coating antigen was developed and its performance was validated by the comparative anal...
Ethological and clinical evaluation of the welfare of horses in draft competitions in Spain. Draft and pulling horses are used in a traditional equestrian sport in the Valencian Community (Spain), in which horses must pull a cart loaded with a weight equivalent to twice their body weight along a sand track. Although it constitutes cultural heritage, this practice raises questions about animal welfare since it involves working horses under demanding physical exertion. There are no studies evaluating the welfare of horses participating in these draft and pulling competitions using validated clinical, ethological, and physiological indicators, and the present work aims to fill this knowl...
