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.
Development of an equine endometrial histology scoring system to complement the Kenney-Doig scale. Kenney-Doig scale is considered the international standard method for classifying uterine biopsies in mares; however, its objectivity has been questioned by various studies. In the present study, we analysed the degree of agreement between two pathologists when assessing the same set of 201 uterine biopsies, obtaining a slight to moderate level of agreement (κ = .34/κ = .57). Subsequently, we developed a numerical scale based on the evaluation of histological parameters, including inflammation, fibrosis, glandular density and lymphatic lacunae. Partial scores were summed to obtain a ...
Assessing muscle function and oxidative profile in criollo horses participating in long loop rodeo before and after exercise. Criollo breed is quite popular in Brazil, mainly in the Southern Region, and the long loop rodeo is one of the main sports modality adapted to this breed. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in the muscle and oxidative functions caused by exercises practiced in this sports modality. Data such as exercising frequency, covered distance, mean duration time and number of runs, and blood samples at the following times: before the tournament, on the final day of the event, and 18-24 h after the end of the tournament were collected. Were assessed lactate and the enzymes aspartate aminotra...
Isolated and multiple causes of equine dystocia. Dystocia is rare in horses, but is life-threatening for mares and foals. Therefore, veterinary research depends on up-to-date data to optimise equine dystocia management. In addition, knowledge of the prognosis of equine dystocia is necessary to advise animal owners. This retrospective study of equine dystocia aimed to enrich existing datasets with up-to-date information. For the first time, the focus was on the causes of dystocia that occurred alone or in combination. Over a period of 10 years, 72 cases of dystocia were analysed using a standardised, predetermined diagnosis code. Results: Of ...
Evaluation of Two Commercial ELISA Kits for Measuring Equine Serum Gastrin Compared to Radioimmunoassay. Gastrin is an important hormone involved in gastric acid secretion. Despite its importance, validated methods other than radioimmunoassay (RIA) to assess serum gastrin concentrations in horses are lacking. This study aims to determine the agreement between ELISA and RIA in quantifying equine serum gastrin concentrations. Serum gastrin concentrations were quantified using two ELISA kits and RIA. Samples (196) from 14 horses at different time points were analyzed using one ELISA kit and RIA, selected samples (7) were analyzed using a second ELISA kit, and the correlation between methods was calc...
DNA barcoding of Anoplocephala perfoliata derived from a draft horse (Ban’ei horse) in Hokkaido, Japan. A two-year-old male Japanese draft horse (known as a "Ban'ei horse") excreted eight cestodes. Based on their morphological features, they were identified as Anoplocephala perfoliata. The partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) sequences of the worms were nearly identical to A. perfoliata isolated from horses in Europe. The results of phylogenetic analyses of COI revealed that our samples and the European isolates formed the same clade, which was separate from Chinese and Australian isolates. Ban'ei horses were developed by crossbreeding draft horses imported from European co...
Equine exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage: the role of high left-heart pressures secondary to exercise-induced hypervolemia, and high inspiratory pressures. Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) is common in racehorses. Stress failure of the blood-gas barrier causes EIPH when the transmural pulmonary capillary (Pcap)-alveolar pressure difference (Ptm) exceeds the barrier's stress failure threshold. Why Pcap increases is incompletely understood. We hypothesized that alterations in blood volume (BV) could affect left ventricular (LV) and pulmonary arterial wedge (PAW) pressures and Pcap, and correspondingly affect EIPH severity. Six thoroughbreds with EIPH exercised at the same treadmill speed (≈11.9 m/s [11.1, 12.2]; median [IQR]) before (...
Protein profile of extracellular vesicles derived from adult Parascaris spp. Parascaris spp. represent a significant threat to equine health worldwide, particularly in foals. The long-term survival of parasites in the host necessitates persistent modulation of the host immune response. Intercellular communication achieved through the exchange of molecules via extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from the parasite could be a crucial factor in this regard. This study aimed to isolate and characterize EVs released by adult male and female Parascaris worms and conduct a proteomic analysis to identify sex-specific proteins and potential immunomodulatory factors. Methods: L...
The mammary glands of cows abundantly display receptors for circulating avian H5 viruses. Influenza A viruses (IAVs) from the H5N1 2.3.4.4b clade are circulating in dairy farms in the USA.; ruminants were presumed not to be hosts for IAVs. Previously, IAV-positive mammalian species were hunters and scavengers, possibly getting infected while feeding on infected birds. It is now recognized that H5N1 viruses that circulate in US dairy cattle transmit through a mammary gland route, in contrast to transmission by aerosols via the respiratory tract. The sialome in the cow mammary and respiratory tract is so far solely defined using plant lectins. Here, we used recombinant HA proteins re...
Outbreak of Western Equine Encephalitis Virus Infection Associated with Neurological Disease in Horses Following a Nearly 40-Year Intermission Period in Argentina. Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV) is a mosquito-borne arbovirus (genus , family ) that has re-emerged in South America in late 2023, causing severe disease in both horses and humans after a nearly 40-year intermission period. We here describe the virological, serological, pathological, and molecular features of WEEV infection in horses during the 2023-2024 outbreak in Argentina. WEEV-infected horses developed neurological signs with mild to severe encephalitis associated with minimal to abundant WEEV-infected cells, as demonstrated by WEEV-specific in situ hybridization. The distributio...
Pedigree tracing to determine the origins of the modern Palomino Horse Breeders of America stock-type horse. Registration numbers for the Palomino Horse Breeders of America (PHBA) have risen with the assistance of new registration guidelines. These changes in guidelines allowed for registration of any horse with a palomino body color, including those with unknown pedigrees. While this promoted registry growth, documenting the breed's orgins from those known pedigrees making up the breed's foundation is important with the introduction of unknown pedigrees. This can be accomplished using pedigree tracing, which is of particular value for color registries as the study of coat color patterns is plagued w...
Reimagining stallion sperm conservation: Combating carbotoxicity through pyruvate-induced Warburg effect to enhance sperm longevity and function. Although stallion spermatozoa are now recognized as highly dependent on oxidative phosphorylation for ATP production in the mitochondria, most extenders in use contain supraphysiological concentrations of glucose as the main energy source. While the toxicity of cryoprotectants has been well documented in the literature, the potential toxicity of excessive glucose in extenders is largely ignored. However, the toxicity of excess glucose, known as "carbotoxicity", is well-established in many areas of medicine. In this paper, we review the basic aspects of stallion spermatozoa metabolism, focusing...
Comparison of Citrated Whole Blood to Native Whole Blood for Coagulation Testing Using the Viscoelastic Coagulation Monitor (VCM Vet™) in Horses. Viscoelastic monitoring of horse coagulation is increasing due to its advantages over traditional coagulation testing. The use of a point-of-care viscoelastic coagulation monitor (VCM Vet™) has been validated for use in horses using native whole blood (NWB) but has not been assessed using citrated whole blood (CWB), a technique that might have advantages in practicality and precision. Blood was collected from 70 horses, tested in duplicate immediately using NWB (T0), and stored at room temperature as CWB for testing in duplicate at 1 (T1) and 4 (T4) hours after venipuncture for comparison to...
Enhancement of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with guanidine hydrochloride for the detection of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (Strangles). subspecies , commonly referred to as "strangles", poses a significant biosecurity challenge across equine farms worldwide. The continuous prevalence and highly transmissibility of strangles necessitates a rapid and accurate diagnostic procedure. However, current "gold-standard" techniques, such as cultures and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), are unreliable or inaccessible, and require lengthy periods between sample collection and results. Moreover, the lack of a standardized detection protocol can lead to variations in results. This study aimed to develop a reproducible and fie...
A Review of Epithelial Ion Transporters and Their Roles in Equine Infectious Colitis. Equine colitis is a devastating disease with a high mortality rate. Infectious pathogens associated with colitis in the adult horse include Clostridioides difficile, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella spp., Neorickettsia risticii/findlaynesis, and equine coronavirus. Antimicrobial-associated colitis can be associated with the presence of infectious pathogens. Colitis can also be due to non-infectious causes, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration, sand ingestion, and infiltrative bowel disease. Current treatments focus on symptomatic treatment (restoring fluid and elect...
Competition and stereotypic behavior in Thoroughbred horses: The value of saliva as a diagnostic marker of stress. Many horses exhibit stereotypies, especially when living in human controlled environments that may prevent horses from satisfying natural needs in terms of feeding, drinking, moving, and socializing. In human medicine, obsessive compulsive disorder and other severe psychiatric disturbances are associated with stereotypic behaviors; salivary biomarkers evaluation is considered a reliable tool for diagnosis of common mental health disorders because saliva collection easy to obtain and noninvasive. In this study, we hypothesized that salivary cortisol concentrations, in addition to alpha-amylase ...
Use of prototype bi-nasal prongs for noninvasive ventilation in foals. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) provides effective respiratory support in foals, but face masks are poorly tolerated and associated with hypercapnia. Bi-nasal prongs might be a more effective device interface in foals. Objective: To compare bi-nasal prongs and masks for NIV in foals with pharmacologically induced respiratory insufficiency. Methods: Six healthy foals. Methods: In a randomized cross-over study, sedated foals received NIV delivered by mask or bi-nasal prongs, with the treatment repeated using the alternative device interface after a 3-day rest period. After periods of spontaneous v...
Increased freedom of head movement mitigates stress and bacterial load in the airways of horses during transport. Protection of horse welfare during transport is crucial. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of head and neck restraint on behavior and airway bacteria. Unassigned: In a randomized crossover study, six healthy Thoroughbreds were transported by road for 22 h in an individual bay with tight head restraint (50 cm short-rope) or loose head restraint (95 cm long-rope). Behavioral parameters relating to head position, eating, and stress were monitored during transportation. Tracheal wash samples were obtained 6 days before and immediately after transport for bacterial culture a...
Predominance of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli among ESBL/plasmid-mediated AmpC-producing strains isolated from diarrheic foals: a public health concern. The upsurge of diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes carrying extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)/plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamase (pAmpC) among animals constitutes an emerging threat for humans and animals. This study investigated the burden of ESBL-/pAmpC-producing diarrheagenic E. coli among diarrheic foals and its potential public health implications. Rectal swabs were collected from 80 diarrheic foals. These swabs were processed to isolate and identify ESBL/pAmpC-producing E. coli using a selective culture medium, biochemical tests, phenotypic identification, and molecular identificati...
Evaluation of agreement for radiographic lesions and risk for racing in thoroughbred yearling sale repository radiographs. The veterinary yearling pre-sale repository radiographs have the potential to impact both vendor and prospective purchaser. The primary aim of this study was to determine inter-observer agreement for orthopaedic lesions identified in thoroughbred yearling repository radiographs. A secondary goal was to determine agreement when using a pre-defined risk rating classification. Unassigned: Three experienced specialist equine surgeons (2 ACVS & 1 FANZCVS) interpreted thirty repository radiographs once each for radiographic abnormalities. Each radiographic abnormality was given an associated ris...
Analyses of whole-genome sequences from 185 North American Thoroughbred horses, spanning 5 generations. Whole genome sequences (WGS) of 185 North American Thoroughbred horses were compared to quantify the number and frequency of variants, diversity of mitotypes, and autosomal runs of homozygosity (ROH). Of the samples, 82 horses were born between 1965 and 1986 (Group 1); the remaining 103, selected to maximize pedigree diversity, were born between 2000 and 2020 (Group 2). Over 14.3 million autosomal variants were identified with 4.5-5.0 million found per horse. Mitochondrial sequences associated the North American Thoroughbreds with 9 of 17 clades previously identified among diverse breeds. Indi...
Hyperflexing the horse’s neck: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The article reports a meta-analysis of 58 peer-reviewed studies investigating on dorsoventral hyperflexion of the neck in horses, a practice under substantial public and scientific scrutiny for the past two decades. The following databases were last searched on 28.05.2023: CAB, Google Scholar, Web of Science, NAL/Agricola, PubMed and ScienceDirect. After evaluating the conclusions of each study, we performed statistical analyses to establish a consensus on welfare and performance (performance marks, kinematics and musculoskeletal) outcomes in horses performing with a hyperflexed head and neck ...
Overexpression of the key metabolic protein Carnitine Palmitoyl Transferase 1A (CPT1A) in equine sarcoid. The equine sarcoid is the most common skin neoplasia of fibroblastic origin in horses, characterized by an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix produced by sarcoid fibroblasts under hypoxic condition. Neoplastic cells can adapt to hypoxia by using alternative energy sources, particularly those that arise from fatty acid oxidation (FAO). The Carnitine Palmitoyl Transferase 1A (CPT1A) belongs to Carnitine System (CS) and promotes the entrance of fatty acids into the mitochondria for β-oxidation. In this study, CPT1A expression was comparatively addressed in 25 equine sarcoids and 5 no...
Long-term survival and complications following small intestinal resection and partially stapled, functional end-to-end anastomosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term survival and postoperative complications in horses that had undergone small intestinal resection and a modified anastomosis technique using a partially stapled, functional end-to-end anastomosis. Methods: Observational retrospective case series. Methods: A total of 25 horses underwent small intestinal resection and a partially stapled, functional end-to-end anastomosis. Methods: A modified technique to create a partially stapled, functional end-to-end anastomosis is described. The clinical case records of all horses that fulfilled t...
Bovine papillomavirus gene expression and inflammatory pathway activation vary between equine sarcoid tumour subtypes. Equine sarcoids are common non-metastasising skin tumours in horses, associated with bovine papillomavirus (BPV) infection. Six subtypes are recognised (occult, verrucose, nodular, fibroblastic, mixed and malevolent lesions), with variable clinical behaviour. The pathophysiology underlying varying tumour phenotype is poorly understood, and previous data on associations with viral load have been conflicting. To better understand this clinical variation, we investigated associations between tumour subtype and viral load, viral early protein gene expression, and expression of 10 host genes by qua...
Validation of a Commercial ELISA Kit for Non-Invasive Measurement of Biologically Relevant Changes in Equine Cortisol Concentrations. The measurement of fecal cortisol/corticosterone metabolites (FCMs) is often used to quantify the stress response. The sampling method is relatively non-invasive, reduces concern for elevation of cortisol from the sampling method, and has been shown to measure cortisol more consistently without the daily diurnal rhythm observed in blood. Commercial ELISA (enzyme-linked immunoassay) kits offer benefits over previously validated immunoassay methods but lack validation. The objective of this study was to evaluate a commercial ELISA kit (Arbor Assays DetectX Cortisol ELISA kit, K003-H1, Ann Arbor,...
