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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.
The Level of Thiol-Oxidised Plasma Albumin Is Elevated Following a Race in Australian Thoroughbred Horses. The extent to which muscle strain or tears are affecting race performance in horses is unknown because it is difficult to objectively identify muscle damage. One approach includes the use of physiological markers in blood. Recently, we linked the level of plasma thiol-oxidised albumin, an oxidative stress biomarker, to muscle damage in humans. Objective: This aim of this work was to investigate whether the level of plasma thiol-oxidised albumin was elevated in the days following a thoroughbred horse race. Methods: 'In vivo' experiments. Methods: Blood collection was performed by each trainer a...
Fasciolosis in Algerian livestock: Epidemiological trends and economic consequences. Fasciolosis, a parasitic disease of ruminants, poses significant economic and animal-health challenges in Algeria. This study aimed to assess spatial, temporal, and species-specific patterns of fasciolosis prevalence across diverse agro-climatic zones and to estimate associated economic losses. Between 2013 and 2023, eight wilayas El-Tarf, Skikda, Jijel (Region I), Blida, Mila (Region II), and M'Sila, Medea, Laghouat (Region III) were surveyed. Systematic postmortem inspections of 1,569,392 animals (349,176 cattle; 982,669 sheep; 235,639 goats; 1,882 camels; 26 horses) were performed by qualif...
West Nile Virus Antibody Prevalence in Horses During the 2023 Outbreak in Tunisia, North Africa. A total of 20 horses belonging to the Pasteur Institute of Tunis used for the production of therapeutic serum antiscorpion venom were tested for the presence of antibodies anti-West Nile virus (WNV) during the 2023 outbreak of West Nile disease that affected humans and horses in Tunisia. Of the 20 samples tested in November 2023 by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA), five were positive, leading to a seroprevalence of 25%. Since the number of horses is not substantial, all samples were tested also by virus microneutralization test (MNT) using the Tunisian strain of WNV lineage 1 isolate...
The first mitogenome of Petrovinema skrjabini from Equus ferus przewalskii: a phylogenetic analysis within the Strongylidae family. Petrovinema skrjabini (Nematoda: Strongylidae, Cyathostominae) is a parasitic nematode colonizing the cecum and colon of equids. Like other cyathostomins, its larvae (L3) invade the intestinal mucosa, forming encysted nodules that may remain dormant for years. Mass larval emergence triggers larval cyathostominosis-a severe syndrome characterized by hemorrhagic typhlocolitis and diarrhea, with mortality rates exceeding 50%. However, owing to the morphological indistinguishability of cyathostomin and frequent mixed infections in natural settings, species-specific contributions to pathogenesis re...
True Prevalence and Seroprevalence of Piroplasmosis in Horses in Southwestern Europe. Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an endemic parasitic disease in southern European countries, such as Spain. Andalusia, the most southwestern region of Europe, is the community with the highest number of registered horses and farms in Spain and one of the main international exporters of Andalusian (Spanish Purebred) horses worldwide. Considering the current expansion of this disease and the possible effect of climate change on its prevalence, studying the EP prevalence in this region is compelling. Molecular (PCR) and serological methods (cELISA and IFAT) were used to study the true and apparent p...
An epidemiological survey of equine piroplasmosis in donkeys and horses in Malawi. Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease caused by Theileria equi, Theileria haneyi, and Babesia caballi in equids, such as horses, donkeys, mules, and zebras. A comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology of T. equi and B. caballi is vital for EP management. The present study surveyed T. equi and B. caballi infections in donkeys and horses in Malawi. Blood samples were collected from 185 equines, including 178 donkeys in Lilongwe (n = 136) and Dedza (n = 42) districts, and seven horses in Lilongwe district. The blood samples were used to measure hematocrit values and prepare ...
Exploring the roles of snoRNA-induced ribosome heterogeneity in equine osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that greatly contributes to equine morbidity and poor welfare. Changes in cellular protein expression programs fuel the development and progression of OA. Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of OA (patho)biology. SnoRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that guide post-transcriptional modifications (PTMs) of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) nucleotides, which impact ribosome function and thus cellular protein expression programs. There is only very limited data on snoRNAs in equine OA. Unassigned: In this study, we induced OA in ...
Gray-Horse Melanoma-A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. Malignant melanoma (MM) affects not only humans but also animals, with gray horses being particularly predisposed to acquiring the disease. Multiomics have greatly advanced the understanding of human MM. In contrasty little is known regarding the pathogenesis of gray-horse melanoma and the unique phenomenon of melanoma "dormancy" in some animals. To help close this gap in knowledge, melanoma tissue and intact skin collected from gray horses were subjected to transcriptome analysis using RNAseq. In the next step, cultured primary tumor cells and normal skin fibroblasts were established from gra...
Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Staphylococcus aureus Cultured from the Healthy Horses’ Nostrils Sampled in Distant Regions of Brazil. () is a major cause of opportunistic infections in humans and animals, leading to severe systemic diseases. The rise of MDR strains associated with animal carriage poses significant health challenges, underscoring the need to investigate animal-derived . Objective: This study examined the genotypic relatedness and phenotypic profiles of antimicrobial resistance in . , previously sampled from nostril swabs of healthy horses from two geographically distant Brazilian states (Northeast and South), separated by over 3700 km. The study also sought to confirm the presence of methicillin-resistant (M...
Mixed infection of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in a mare (Equus ferus caballus) from Minas Gerais State, Southeastern Brazil. Equine leishmaniasis is a widespread disease in Brazil, mainly caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, with occasional cases involving Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum. This study reports a mixed infection in a 6-year-old mare from rural Itabirito, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The mare exhibited nodular cutaneous lesions on all limbs but had no other health issues. Skin and bone marrow samples were collected and analyzed using parasitological and molecular methods targeting the hsp70 gene and ITS1 region. Both L. (V.) braziliensis and L. (L.) infantum were identified, confirming a mixed infectio...
Objective diagnosis of alar fold collapse in active Standardbred trotting racehorses using nasopharyngeal airway pressure measurements. Clinical evaluation of alar fold (AF) collapse is presently based upon subjective evaluation of improvement in breathing and respiratory noise after suturing the AFs dorsally. Objective: To evaluate use of nasopharyngeal airway pressure (NAP) as an objective method of assessing for the presence of AF collapse during exercise. NAPs should also potentially provide a precise means to grade the degree of airway obstruction present and response to surgical treatment. Methods: Prospective clinical study of actively racing Standardbred horses. Methods: Standardbreds undergoing this test were outfitte...
High seroprevalence of Francisella tularensis with low titers in Oklahoma equids from 2021-2023 suggests widespread exposure in the state’s equine population. To determine the seroprevalence of Francisella tularensis in horses in Oklahoma and to describe factors associated with seropositivity. Unassigned: In this observational study, 238 frozen equine serum samples were tested for F tularensis by microagglutination assay (MAT). Samples were collected from 36 of 77 Oklahoma counties from 2021 through 2023. Exclusion criteria included insufficient sample quantity, cross-reactivity to Brucella abortus, and county outside of Oklahoma. The Fisher exact test was used to compare the proportion of positive tests by year, river basin, and topographic region....
Plant trait responses to herbivore type managed as domestic or as wild. The urgency of restoring ecosystems over vast areas has placed rewilding using wild herbivores at the forefront. However, few scientific studies address its effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning compared to more traditional conservation interventions with domestic herbivores. Equus ferus przewalskii horses introduced 30 years ago in the National Park of Cévennes, France - as a step of a conservation program of the species for its reintroduction in Mongolia - now occur as a semi-wild horse population, socially natural (i.e., management is based on natural selection). This introduct...
Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics analysis of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection after intravenous and per os administration in Thoroughbred horses. A pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) approach was used to determine the dosage regimens of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections after intravenous (IV) and per os (PO) administration in horses. Methods: Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole plasma concentrations were measured in six horses after a single IV administration of 15 mg/kg (2.5 mg/kg trimethoprim and 12.5 mg/kg sulfamethoxazole) and PO administration of 30 mg/kg (5.0 mg/kg trimethoprim and 25.0 mg/kg sulfamethoxazole). The data were modeled using a nonlinear mixed-effects mode...
Obesity-Associated Metabolomic and Functional Reprogramming in Neutrophils from Horses with Asthma. Equine asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterised by neutrophilic inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, and impaired pulmonary function. Obesity, increasingly prevalent among domestic horses, has been identified as a potential risk factor for exacerbating inflammatory conditions. This study aimed to explore whether obesity modifies neutrophil metabolism and inflammatory responses in horses affected by asthma. Six asthmatic horses in clinical remission were categorised into two groups: obese and non-obese, based on body condition score. Serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) an...
Orthoflavivirus nilense surveillance in the State of Piauí, northeastern Brazil. The cycle of the Orthoflavivirus nilense (West Nile virus - WNV) involves birds and mosquitoes, while humans and equids serve as terminal hosts. In 2014, the first human case in Brazil was confirmed in Piauí State. Objective: To investigate the presence of WNV in birds, mosquitoes, and equids in municipalities of Piauí. Methods: Collections were carried out following recommendations from the Ministry of Health of Brazil, in 11 municipalities (all with human cases or bird mortality), where biological samples were collected from birds, mosquitoes, and equids. The Viral RNA extraction was perfo...
Epidemiological Patterns of Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections in Equine Populations from Urumqi and Ili, Xinjiang, China. Gastrointestinal parasitic diseases pose significant health risks to equine populations. This study investigated the epidemiological patterns of equine gastrointestinal parasites in Xinjiang by analyzing 83 fecal samples collected from Ili ( = 62) and Urumqi ( = 21) between August and November 2024. The modified McMaster technique was employed to quantify fecal egg counts (EPG) and was complemented by morphological identification to assess infection dynamics related to geography, breed specificity, and management practices. The results demonstrated an overall infection prevalence of 66.3% (55/...
Short- and long-term survival, complications, return to racing, and racing performance of 150 racehorses with medial condylar fractures of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone treated by internal fixation (2000-2020). To report the rate of survival, rate of return to racing, and quality of racing performance following surgical fixation of medial condylar fractures. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: A total of 150 Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses surgically treated for medial condylar fracture (100 lag screw fixation, 50 plate fixation). Methods: Medical records, radiographs, and racing databases (2000-2020) were reviewed to collect signalment, fracture characteristics, fixation methods, survival rate, and complication rate. Change in racing performance was assessed using Wilcoxon rank sum tests...
Comprehensive Integrated Analyses of Proteins and Metabolites in Equine Seminal Plasma (Horses and Donkeys). The reproductive ability of equine species is a critical component of equine breeding programs, with sperm quality serving as a primary determinant of reproductive success. In this study, we perform an integrative analysis of proteomics and metabolomics in seminal plasma to identify proteins and metabolites associated with sperm quality and reproductive ability in equine species. Methods: We utilized the CEROS instrument to assess the morphology and motility of sperm samples from three horses and three donkeys. Additionally, we statistically analyzed the mating frequency and pregnancy rates in...
Targeting the Risk of Diptera-Borne Zoonoses by a Sentinel Equestrian Centers Program. Diptera-borne diseases pose a major threat to global health, and their distribution is constantly changing due to climate change, globalization, and environmental changes. To improve the knowledge of dipteran species and their distribution in equine facilities, CDC-UV and oviposition traps were placed, and the dipping technique was performed in 16 equestrian centers of Northwest (NW) Spain (Galicia and Castilla y León Autonomous Communities) between July and November 2023. A questionnaire was distributed among the horse owners to obtain additional information. Four genera of culicids, (51.8%...
Equine Parvovirus-Hepatitis Population Dynamics in a Single Horse over 16 Years. Many viruses mutate rapidly to adapt to host defenses, and for some of these viruses, the result is long-term infection in individual hosts. The work described here examines the infection and long-term maintenance of a newly identified virus, equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H), in an individual horse. This description is possible because of a hypervariable region in the capsid gene; sequence variants were tracked by high-throughput sequencing of serum samples taken over a 16-year period. The data support the hypothesis that EqPV-H infection resulted in a sequence variant bottleneck. The cont...
Emergence of ciprofloxacin- and tigecycline-resistant extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Salmonella enterica serovar Kentucky ST198 from horse, China. Salmonella enterica serovar Kentucky ST198 has been increasingly reported in diverse sources worldwide, emerging as a globally epidemic clone. In this study, we aim to characterise the first isolated S. Kentucky ST198 strain from a horse in China. Methods: Twelve faecal samples were collected from horses at a farm in Shihezi, Xinjiang Province, China, and investigated for the presence of Salmonella. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of 15 antimicrobial agents were determined using the broth microdilution method. The whole genome of Sal140 was sequenced using the Illumina Hiseq platform and...
The reemergence of the New World screwworm and its potential distribution in North America. The reemergence of the New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) poses a significant threat to animal and public health with minimal regulatory oversight. This study analyzes the potential distribution and reemergence of this pest, which is endemic to South America but was previously eradicated in North America. We first developed bioclimatic suitability models, and then incorporated these findings along with reemergence records and inspection point data to simulate possible dispersal routes into Mexico and the United States. Our results document the historical distribution of C. hominivor...
Serum and mucosal antibody testing to detect viral exposure in contact horses during an equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy outbreak. To apply equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) antibody testing in nasal swabs and serum in nonclinical horses during a naturally occurring outbreak of (EHV-1). Previous experimental EHV-1 challenge studies showed stable serum anti-EHV-1 antibody concentrations paired with rapidly increasing nasal mucosal antibodies (mucAbs) prevent EHV-1 infection, viral shedding, and cell-associated viremia. From this, we hypothesized that EHV-1 antibody testing can confirm exposure in non-clinical horses during an outbreak. Unassigned: 2 horses with neurological signs from 1 farm were admitted to an equine hosp...
Equine skin grafting using the punch graft technique. This tutorial aims to illustrate and instruct on the technique of punch skin grafting in the horse. Unassigned: A 10-year-old paint gelding with a 9 X 6-cm chronic granulating wound to the left forelimb was utilized for this tutorial. Unassigned: The chronic wound was debrided with sharp dissection, and the limb was pressure bandaged overnight. Twenty-four hours later, the horse was sedated for punch skin grafting. The ventral pectoral region was aseptically prepared for skin harvest and locally anesthetized. An 8-mm biopsy punch was used to harvest the grafts. The subcutaneous tissue was then...
Quantitative proteomics unveils potential plasma biomarkers and provides insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying equine metabolic syndrome. Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a multifactorial endocrine disorder characterized by obesity, insulin dysregulation (ID), and an increase in the risk of laminitis, a painful condition that can lead to euthanasia in severe cases. Diagnosing EMS is challenging and often relies on clinical history including obesity, difficulty in losing weight, and recurring episodes of laminitis. The gold standard for laboratory support of an EMS diagnosis is the identification of ID, with basal insulin being the simplest and most accessible method, especially in a field setting. However, various factors such...
Analysis of dental dust and aerosol emissions during odontoplasty: assessing potential respiratory health risks. Equine dental disorders, such as sharp enamel points and focal overgrowths, are common in horses and are often treated with motorized dental grinding tools. These tools, while effective, produce dust and aerosols that may pose health risks to veterinarians and nearby individuals. This study aimed to assess the health risks associated with dental dust and aerosols generated during equine odontoplasty. Using a realistic setup, air concentrations of inhalable and respirable dust, crystalline silica, and airborne microorganisms and endotoxins were measured in 12 groups of horses undergoing odontop...
Evaluation of Subjective Assessment of Right Heart Size and Function Using Standard 2D-Echocardiographic Recordings in Horses With and Without Pulmonary Hypertension. Echocardiographic evaluation of right heart (RH) size and function in horses is challenging and relies on subjective assessment. Objective: Evaluate inter- and intra-rater agreement of subjective assessment of RH size, RH function, and the presence of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) in horses. Assess subjective RH changes with and without PHT and the influence of observer experience. Methods: Healthy horses (n = 30) and horses with Doppler measurements suggesting the presence or absence of PHT (n = 30 each). Methods: Nine standard echocardiographic recordings were analyzed by experienced ...
Reproductive success in Thoroughbred broodmares post large colon resection or colopexy. To describe reproductive performance in Thoroughbred broodmares post-large colon resection and to compare to performance post-colopexy. Methods: A single-institution retrospective study. Methods: A total of 29 client-owned horses: post-large colon resection (LCR) n = 19, post-colopexy: n = 10. Methods: Thoroughbred broodmares that survived until discharge following LCR (Group R) or colopexy (Group P) between 2006 and 2023 were included. Clinical data were collected from clinical records. Breeding and foaling data were collected from the Australian and New Zealand Studbooks. Statistical...
