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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.
Combined treatment with valacyclovir and heparin reduced the incidence of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy and improved survival in naturally occurring equine herpesvirus-1 outbreaks. Describe the effects and outcomes of valacyclovir and heparin administration in equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1)-exposed horses. Unassigned: A multicenter retrospective study identified 111 horses naturally exposed to EHV-1 from August 2017 to March 2018. Equine herpesvirus-1 infection was confirmed via blood or nasal secretion PCR. Horses that developed neurologic signs were diagnosed with equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Clinical signs, treatment, and survival were reported. A subset of horses was treated with valacyclovir and heparin. Prophylactic medication administration was perf...
Development of lateral flow assays for the rapid diagnosis of glanders in equids. Glanders is a contagious zoonotic disease caused by that primarily affects horses, donkeys, and mules. It remains endemic in parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America, where increasing case reports highlight the need for accessible diagnostic tools. Conventional diagnostic methods are limited by high costs and specialized laboratory requirements, whereas lateral flow assays (LFAs) offer practical, user-friendly, and rapid alternatives. In this study, we developed three LFAs targeting antibodies against the antigens Hcp1, GroEL, and whole-cell lysate (WCL), previously identifi...
Diagnostic Ultrasound of the Equine Liver. Ultrasound is readily available to most practitioners and can be used in a straightforward manner to assess the liver. The liver can be assessed for size, shape, echogenicity, and architecture. Findings such as masses, cysts, granulomas, and biliary distention can be relatively specific as to suspected disease process. Other findings may be nonspecific but are useful to confirm concerns and aid in refining differential diagnosis. Findings should be interpreted considering the clinicopathologic picture and sampling performed when appropriate. Ultrasound can and should be used to identify optima...
Reply to Henshall et al. Commentary on “MacKechnie-Guire et al. Measuring Noseband Tightness on the Lateral Aspect of the Horse’s Face. Animals 2025, 15, 537”. In a paper published in 2017, Doherty et al [...].
Maxillary and mandibular fracture repair using a modified bis-acryl reinforced interdental wiring technique: Description of the technique and report of 11 cases. Repair options for maxillary and mandibular fractures in horses are dictated by the proximity of dentition, fracture configuration, and implant design. Jaw fractures can be repaired by minimising tension forces via intraoral splint constructs when dentition is present on either side of the fracture line. This repair option reduces iatrogenic damage to dentition while achieving reduction and stability until appliance removal. Objective: To first report a modified technique for jaw fracture repair in horses with cadaveric example images. Second, to report the clinical outcome of maxillary and ma...
Surveillance on African Horse Sickness Virus in China’s Southern Border Regions. African horse sickness (AHS) is a vector-borne and noncontagious disease caused by African horse sickness virus (AHSV) that poses a severe threat to the global equine industry. As a country historically free from AHS, China faces elevated risks due to recent outbreaks in Southeast Asia in 2020 and its ecological suitability of its border regions for AHSV vectors. Therefore, we conducted consecutive molecular and serological surveillance for AHSV in high-risk border regions from 2020 to 2024. A total of 3203 equine serum samples, 2909 whole-blood samples, and 1037 collections of blood-sucking...
Seroprevalence and risk factors of African horse sickness in equines in central Gondar, Ethiopia. African horse sickness is a severe vector-borne viral disease of equines, associated with high mortality and substantial economic losses. In Ethiopia, where equines are essential for transport and agriculture, the disease remains endemic, yet epidemiological data are limited in many areas. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) and describe variation in seropositivity across selected factors in equines in the Central Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2024 to August 2025, during which 384 serum samples were...
Activity type, sex, season, and number of prior starts are associated with proximal sesamoid bone fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses in South Korea. To identify risk factors associated with proximal sesamoid bone fractures in Thoroughbreds in South Korea. Unassigned: A retrospective case-control design with multivariable logistic regression was used. This study included 138 Thoroughbreds diagnosed with proximal sesamoid bone fractures following racetrack activity between 2020 and 2025. Additionally, 580 healthy Thoroughbreds (635 observations) with at least 1 racetrack activity during the same period were included as controls. Unassigned: A total of 7 risk factors were identified. Races or trials had markedly higher fracture risk than race...
Influence of collection site on cerebrospinal fluid test results in horses with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is a critical component in the diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Test results obtained may differ based on different collection sites. Objective: Compare results of EPM-specific diagnostic tests obtained from different collections sites in EPM-affected and non-EPM affected horses. Methods: Twenty control and 7 EPM-affected horses. Methods: Prospective observational study. CSF was collected from the lumbosacral (LS) and cranial sites (atlantooccipital or C1-2) in 27 horses and EPM-specific diagnostic tests were performed. Data were summari...
Platelet indices’ dynamic in broodmares: Effects of parity and lactation. Lactation and parity are physiological factors influencing platelet (PLT) indices, yet their combined effects in mares remain poorly characterized. As a dynamic process, lactation involves metabolic and endocrine changes that may influence thrombopoiesis; therefore, reproductive history and lactation stage may modulate PLT indices. Objective: To characterize longitudinal platelet (PLT) indices during early lactation in mares and evaluate the influence of parity on thrombopoietic responses. Methods: Fifty-five clinically healthy Spanish Purebred mares were included (20 primiparous and 25 multip...
Agreement of a veterinary-specific oscillometric noninvasive arterial blood pressure monitor (SunTech Vet30) with invasive arterial blood pressure in anaesthetised horses. To evaluate agreement between a veterinary-specific oscillometric noninvasive arterial blood pressure monitor and invasive arterial blood pressure (IBP) measurements in anaesthetised horses. Methods: Prospective clinical method-comparison study. Methods: A group of 46 horses undergoing general anaesthesia in dorsal recumbency. Methods: Paired invasive and oscillometric blood pressure measurements were recorded at 15-minute intervals. IBP was measured via a facial artery catheter, and systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP), and mean arterial pressures (MAP) were recorded. Oscillometric measurements we...
When genes meet money: Genotype-by-prize interaction in Quarter Horses. Barrel racing performance reflects a complex interplay among genetic merit, rider ability, training strategies, and competition-specific conditions. In practice, events differ substantially in their economic scale, and prize money can serve as a proxy for management intensity, rider expertise, and selection pressure. Objective: This study investigated whether economic stratification, represented by total prize money per event, is associated with changes in (co)variance components for barrel racing time in Brazilian Quarter Horses. Methods: A reaction-norm model was implemented using 349,262 ra...
Genes Associated With Fracture Risk in Thoroughbred Horses Have Novel Roles in Osteogenesis. Bone fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses are a major welfare problem. Genetic factors contribute to fracture risk. Cell models have previously identified 112 differentially expressed genes in bone-forming osteoblasts derived from horses at high and low genetic risk of fracture. However, 42 of these genes have no published role in bone. In this study, we identified novel roles for a subset of these genes in bone formation. Twenty-six of the 42 genes were expressed in Saos2 cells during basal culture and/or after 21 days of osteogenic culture. Five of these genes (ADSSL1, CABP1, ENO2, SPARCL1...
Validation of an improved insect bite hypersensitivity severity score for allergic equine insect bite hypersensitivity in horses. Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is the most common allergic skin disease in horses, but existing clinical scoring systems lack extensive validation, limiting standardized disease monitoring and therapeutic evaluation. Objective: Develop and validate a standardized, sensitive, and reproducible clinical scoring system for IBH in horses. Methods: Forty-four privately-owned horses with clinically diagnosed IBH examined under field conditions in Switzerland. Methods: In this prospective field validation study, the equine IBH severity score (EqIS) integrates a lesion severity score and an area sc...
Horses without ocular disease maintain similar electroretinographic responses and peripapillary retinal thicknesses across age groups. To determine the impact of age on equine electroretinography (ERG) parameters and retinal thickness in horses with healthy eyes. We hypothesized that ERG b-wave amplitudes would be significantly lower in older horses and that total retinal thickness would not vary significantly with age. Unassigned: Horses with clinically normal eyes comprising 3 age groups (≤ 10, 11 to 20, and ≥ 21 years) underwent scotopic and photopic ERGs, high-resolution fundus photography, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Electroretinography results were compared between age groups using mean implici...
An Investigation of the Role of Ridden Exercise, Including Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram, in Pre-Purchase Examinations of Sports Horses. Many horses undergo a pre-purchase examination (PPE) prior to acquisition by a new owner; however, despite evidence that lameness and canter dysfunction may only be apparent during ridden exercise, ridden exercises assessing gait quality is not a routine part of PPEs. The objectives were to determine the influence of the results of ridden exercise on decision-making concerning risk assessment for purchase and to establish the long-term performance of horses. Twenty-five sports horses underwent PPEs including ridden exercises to assess gait quality and to apply the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (R...
A Comprehensive Review of the Equine Gut Microbiome in Health and Disease. Molecular microbiology has revolutionized our understanding of the complex host-associated microbiomes required for normative development and physiology. Horses and other members of the family are particularly reliant on the early maturation and lifelong maintenance of an unusually rich hindgut microbiome for optimal digestion and overall health and performance. Research on the equine gut microbiome has accelerated in the past several years, necessitating a renewed appraisal of the field. The present work is a comprehensive and critical review of the literature regarding the bacterial gastroi...
Genomic diversity and historical legacy of Baroque horses: a living cultural heritage. Baroque horses represent a distinctive group of breeds that emerged mainly between the 16th and 18th centuries, shaped by the demands of European royalty and their courts. Although recognised as separate breeds, they share common ancestry, breeding goals, and historical gene flow. This study aimed to evaluate their genomic diversity, population structure, and admixture patterns. We analysed 1 160 individuals from eight breeds - Lipizzan, Old Kladruby Horse, Pura Raza Española, Lusitano, Friesian, Criollo, Peruvian Paso, and Puerto Rican Paso Fino - using 34 026 single-nucleotide polymorphis...
Testicular seminoma: clinical, imaging, and histologic features in nine horses. Testicular seminomas in horses are infrequently reported in the veterinary literature and long-term survival and metastatic potential are not well documented. Objective: Describe the clinical, imaging, and histologic features in 9 horses with testicular seminoma. Methods: Medical records of 9 horses diagnosed with testicular seminoma at a referral hospital between 2000 and 2024 were reviewed. Methods: Horses were included if seminoma was confirmed on histopathology from biopsy or necropsy. Information retrieved included signalment, history, clinical pathology, ultrasonographic findings, treatm...
Prevalence and radiographic features of cyst-like lesions in German Warmblood horses presented for pre-purchase examination. Cyst-like lesions (CLLs) are frequently detected during radiographic examinations of equine limbs. They may represent a potential risk factor during pre-purchase examination (PPE) and are of considerable clinical and economic importance, as they may lead to negative purchase decisions. While affected horses may develop lameness, incidental findings have also been reported. The goal of the study was to describe the prevalence, location and radiographic characteristics of CLLs in a group of sound German Warmblood horses. Unassigned: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 3863 German Warmb...
Antibiofilm action of ozonated sunflower oil against bacteria isolated from the uterus of mares susceptible to endometritis. This study aimed to characterize the antibiofilm action of ozone-enriched sunflower oil (O) against pathogens associated with endometritis in mares. Initially, samples from 41 mares with a history of subfertility were stored in BHI broth and 0.9% NaCl solution. The samples underwent microbial culture, identification, and sensitivity testing at LABRAPE-UFRPE, Brazil. Biofilm production was evaluated by the crystal violet method. Subsequently, biofilm-forming bacteria were subjected to the action of different concentrations of ozonated sunflower oil. Of the 21 isolates tested for biofilm produc...
USE OF GUAIFENESIN-KETAMINE-XYLAZINE INFUSION FOR MAINTENANCE OF ANESTHESIA IN CAPTIVE PREZEWALSKI HORSES (EQUUS FERUS PRZEWALSKI ): A CASE SERIES. This case series documents the use of triple drip, a combination of IV guaifenesin, ketamine, and xylazine (GKX) to extend the length of anesthesia in zoo-owned Przewalski horses (). In three separate procedures involving two different animals, GKX was used to prolong and deepen the plane of anesthesia for 90 to 120 min beyond an initial induction dart containing ketamine, butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine. The depth of anesthesia was sufficient to permit surgical excision of SC abscesses and other procedures. Throughout the anesthetic events, the horses breathed spontaneously and maint...
Rapid bacterial community profiling of equine faecal, skin, milk and saliva samples using Oxford Nanopore long-read 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The composition of the equine gut microbiome is associated with many aspects of gastrointestinal, respiratory and musculoskeletal health that have been reported in the horse. Scientific studies exploring the microbiome non-intestinal ecological niches in or on horses are lacking. The clinical use of bacterial community profiling in horses is currently limited by cost and by slow analytical workflows. Most equine microbiome studies have relied on 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of bacterial DNA, using high-throughput short-read sequencing technologies. This is often provided by an external servic...
Systematic establishment of approaches to the detection of equine macrophage polarization and their application in pathogenic infection. Macrophage phenotypic adaptation critically regulates inflammatory balance during infection; however, progress in equine immunology has been limited by a lack of specific tools for standardized identification. To address this gap, we established a reliable, antibody-based detection method for characterizing equine macrophage M1-like and M2-like marker profiles. After initially validating canonical marker genes via qPCR, we developed specific monoclonal antibodies targeting the differentially expressed surface proteins CD80 (M1-like) and CD163 (M2-like). These novel antibodies enabled the creat...
Anti-Inflammatory and Metabolic Effects of Fresh Versus Freeze-Dried Platelet-Rich Plasma on Equine Osteoarthritis in an Ex Vivo Cartilage-Synovium Explant Co-Culture System: A Pilot Study. Equine osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of lameness and economic loss in horses. While platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has clinical potential, the biological effects of fresh PRP (F-PRP) and freeze-dried PRP (FD-PRP) remain insufficiently defined. This pilot study compared 25% and 50% F-PRP and FD-PRP in an interleukin-1β-induced equine cartilage-synovium explant co-culture model. PRP treatments reduced inflammatory responses, with significant downregulation of COX-2 and PGE2 expression, and 25% F-PRP showed the most consistent inhibition of nitric oxide production. PRP also significantly redu...
Administration Study of Bedinvetmab, an Antinerve Growth Factor Monoclonal Antibody, in Horses for Doping Control Purposes. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting nerve growth factor (NGF) represent a novel therapeutic approach for managing acute and chronic pain in humans and animals. However, their potential misuse as pain-masking agents in competitive equine sports raises significant welfare and integrity concerns. To enhance understanding of the elimination profile of anti-NGF mAb if misused in horses, this study describes the first administration of bedinvetmab (a canine anti-NGF mAb) in three geldings, establishing its plasma elimination profile following subcutaneous administration. Bedinvetmab plasma concen...
Tick-borne bacterial and protozoal pathogens in horses in Austria – A cross-sectional study on current and past infections and potential risk factors. Tick-borne bacterial and protozoal pathogens are a major threat to equine health worldwide. In Austria, studies on pathogens such as piroplasms, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia spp. in horses are scarce and do not cover the countrywide horse population. To address this, blood samples from horses without prior record of infection with tick-borne pathogens (n = 588) were tested for the presence of Theileria equi, Babesia caballi or A. phagocytophilum DNA by PCR and for specific antibodies against these pathogens and Borrelia burgdorferi with commercially available assays. While no DNA of ...
Cryo-EM structure of African horse sickness virus VP2 receptor-binding protein enables nanoparticle vaccine design. African horse sickness virus (AHSV) is a lethal equine pathogen with no licensed vaccine other than vaccines containing attenuated virus, which pose safety risks. Endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, AHSV has caused epizootics in Spain and Portugal, Cyprus, Morocco, the Middle East, India and Pakistan and, most recently, Thailand. Here, we resolve the 3.11 Å cryo-EM structure of full-length VP2 from AHSV serotype 4, adopting its native triskelion architecture and shedding light on an α-helical domain anchoring the triskelion core, which is absent in other structurally characterized orbiviruses. ...
