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Topic:Animal Science
Animal Science and horses encompass the study of equine biology, physiology, and management practices aimed at understanding and improving horse health, welfare, and performance. This field integrates various scientific disciplines, including genetics, nutrition, reproduction, and behavior, to address the needs of horses in diverse contexts such as sports, work, and companionship. Research in this area often focuses on optimizing feeding strategies, enhancing breeding programs, and developing effective health management protocols. Additionally, studies explore the genetic factors influencing traits such as athleticism and disease resistance, as well as the impact of environmental and management conditions on horse behavior and welfare. This page gathers peer-reviewed research and scholarly articles that investigate the scientific principles underpinning equine science and their practical applications in horse care and management.
Cloning, production and characterization of antigen 5 like proteins from Simulium vittatum and Culicoides nubeculosus, the first cross-reactive allergen associated with equine insect bite hypersensitivity. Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an IgE-mediated seasonal dermatitis of the horses associated with bites of Simulium (black fly) and Culicoides (midge) species. Although cross-reactivity between Simulium and Culicoides salivary gland extracts has been demonstrated, the molecular nature of the allergens responsible for the observed cross-reactivity remains to be elucidated. In this report we demonstrate for the first time in veterinary medicine that a homologous allergen, present in the salivary glands of both insects, shows extended IgE cross-reactivity in vitro and in vivo. The cDNA sequ...
Seasonal variation of plasminogen activator activity in spermatozoa and seminal plasma of boar, buck, bull and stallion. Plasminogen activators (PA) are proteolytic enzymes present in the spermatozoa and seminal plasma of various species. They play a role in the binding of the spermatozoon and its penetration through the layers surrounding the oocyte. Plasminogen activator activity (PAA) is modulated by hormones that have a seasonal variation, such as testosterone and melatonin. The present study investigates the seasonal variation of PA activity in sperm extracts and seminal plasma of four farm animal species: boar, buck, bull and stallion. Semen samples were collected every second week during a 12-month period...
Determination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs residues in animal muscles by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A confirmatory method for the determination of residues of nine non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and one metabolite in animal muscles has been developed. After enzymatic hydrolysis samples were extracted with acetonitrile and cleaned up using alumina and C(18) SPE cartridges. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used for the separation and determination of analytes. The method was validated in bovine muscles, according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC criteria. Applicability of the method in the analysis of swine, horse and chicken muscles was checked by precision and ...
Severe anthrax outbreaks in Italy in 2004: considerations on factors involved in the spread of infection. Anthrax is a disease of humans and animals caused by the encapsulated, spore-forming Bacillus anthracis. In Italy, anthrax is normally a sporadic disease. During the summer 2004, anthrax broke out in the Basilicata, in southern Italy, a region with a low prevalence of anthrax in which vaccination had been suspended since 1998. The disease involved several animals in few weeks and in a large area. Over 41 days, 81 cattle died, as well as 15 sheep, 9 goats, 11 horses and 8 deer. The Multiple-locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeats Analysis (MLVA) showed that all the 53 isolates belonged to the Clus...
Sex, science and satisfaction: a heady brew. Genus-specific reproductive processes and strategies displayed by equids, camelids and elephantids are compared and contrasted to illustrate the amazing diversity of reproductive physiology between genera and the equally surprising conservation of reproductive processes across a genus in the face of other dramatic phenotypic modifications and adaptation to prosper in the prevailing environment. From intrauterine conceptus mobility and chorionic gonadotrophic secretion by specialised invasive trophoblast cells in equids, through induced ovulation, an asymmetrical uterus and an almost absurdly s...
[The influence of pH on cholinesterase hydrolysis of alpha-naphthylacetate in the presence of some cationic detergents]. The influence of some cationic detergents on the catalytic activity of the horse blood plasma cholinesterase in reaction of hydrolysis of alpha-naphthylacetate at different pH were investigated. It was shown, that in the absence of detergents in acid pH of the reaction medium the Km value increases, but V remain constant. In the range of pH from 8.5 to 5.0 in the presence of detergents the Km and V values are not practically changed. That is why the activation of cholinesterase hydrolysis of alpha-naphthylacetate in the presence of detergents is considerably higher than that of the neutral pH....
The complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of the Debao pony (Equus caballus). The Debao pony (Equus caballus) is the most important local variety of domestic horses, and is strictly protected by the Chinese government. Their average adult withers height is 94.42±3.76 cm for males and 98.35±4.55 cm for females, respectively. In the present study, the complete sequence of the Debao pony mitochondrial genome was determined (GenBank Accession No. EU939445), and was found to be similar to other equine mitochondrial genomes. However, there were 85 nucleotide substitutions in the 13 protein-coding genes; the percentage of substitution was 0.8±0.1. Polymorphisms of mtDNA con...
Stabling causes a significant increase in the pH of the equine airway. Regulation of pH homeostasis in the equine lung is poorly understood. Measurement of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) pH provided a simple, highly repeatable and noninvasive method for the longitudinal investigation of changes in airway pH in response to environmental changes. Stabling of horses was found to lead to a small (approximately 100-200 parts/billion) but significant (P < 0.001) increase in ambient ammonia concentration when compared to pasture. This increase in exposure to ambient ammonia concentration was associated with significant (P = 0.002) increases in EBC pH and exhaled amm...
Do horses suffer from irritable bowel syndrome? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in man is not a single entity but has several causes. One of the most common forms has similarities with colic and laminitis in horses. Undigested food residues may pass from the small intestine into the colon where bacterial fermentation produces chemicals that lead to disease. In horses the consequences may be disastrous, but in healthy humans such malabsorption may not be harmful. After events such as bacterial gastroenteritis or antibiotic treatment, an imbalance of the colonic microflora with overgrowth of facultative anaerobes may arise, leading to malferme...
Home care for horses with chronic laminitis. Home care for horses with chronic laminitis has been discussed rarely in the veterinary literature even though, at any given time, most of us have at least 1 chronic laminitis case in our care that is being managed at home by the owner. Almost all of our knowledge on this aspect of laminitis treatment has been gleaned through experience, by individually working through the medical, ethical, financial, and emotional challenges these cases can present. Much has already been presented on the medical management of the laminitic horse and on strategies for trimming and shoeing the laminitic foot. T...
Laminitis treatment: a personal memoir. The author has completed 40 years as a veterinarian treating horses with laminitis. The article is a recollection of his experiences with laminitis and the various treatment methods he came across while trying to treat the disease.
Galloping colts, fetal feelings, and reassuring regulations: putting animal-welfare science into practice. About a decade ago, concern was expressed that fetuses might suffer while dying in utero after the death of their dams. However, reference to already published literature provided compelling evidence that fetuses cannot consciously experience negative sensations or feelings, such as breathlessness and pain, and showed that, provided certain precautions are taken, they cannot suffer--their welfare is assured. In this article, I outline the major features of fetal and neonatal physiology that underlie this conclusion as it relates to fetuses that are neurologically exceptionally immature, modera...
Osteogenic comparison of expanded and uncultured adipose stromal cells. Adipose stromal cells (ASC) are a promising alternative to progenitor cells from other tissue compartments because of their multipotential and capacity to retrieve significantly more progenitor cells. Initial cell samples are heterogeneous, containing a collection of cells that may contribute to tissue repair, but the sample becomes more homogeneous with each passage. Therefore, we hypothesized that the osteogenic potential of culture-expanded ASC would differ from uncultured ASC. Methods: Adipose tissue was collected from a yearling colt, and ASC were isolated and expanded using standard prot...
In vitro predatory activity of nematophagous fungi and after passing through gastrointestinal tract of equine on infective larvae of Strongyloides westeri. Three isolates of predator fungi Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001), Monacrosporium thaumasium (NF34), and Arthrobotrys robusta (I-31) were assessed in in vitro test regarding the capacity of prey infective larvae (L(3)) Strongyloides westeri. Compared to control, without fungus, there was a significant decrease (P 0.01) in vitro test. Linear regression coefficients of treated and control groups were -0.21 for control, -0.32 for D. flagrans, -0.34 for M. thaumasium, and -0.22 for A. robusta. In the following, isolates AC001 and NF34 were assessed in vivo regarding the capacity of supporting the pa...
Check list of the helminths of equines in Turkey. Helminths of equines are one of the most important agents of parasitic diseases. Therefore, many studies have been conducted on helminths of equines in Turkey. In this article, a check list and prevalence rates of helminths of equines in Turkey have been given.
Aspartic acid racemization and collagen degradation markers reveal an accumulation of damage in tendon collagen that is enhanced with aging. Little is known about the rate at which protein turnover occurs in living tendon and whether the rate differs between tendons with different physiological roles. In this study, we have quantified the racemization of aspartic acid to calculate the age of the collagenous and non-collagenous components of the high strain injury-prone superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) and low strain rarely injured common digital extensor tendon (CDET) in a group of horses with a wide age range. In addition, the turnover of collagen was assessed indirectly by measuring the levels of collagen degradation mark...
[Progress on horse genome project]. There is unique genetic information belonging to various kinds of living beings. Understanding of the formation process of organisms and a variety of vital movement is associated with the achievements of genome study. As horse has a notable health condition and great record of the genealogy in the world, thus it becomes a valuable model animal for studying life science. Despite of a late start, the map of the horse genome has undergone unprecedented expansion during the last few years. The current progresses of the horse genome, including genetic map, physical map, comparative genomic map, and...
Multiple isotope forensics of nitrate in a wild horse poisoning incident. Multiple stable isotope analysis can be a powerful technique in forensic sciences. Oxygen and nitrogen isotopes were used to determine the source of nitrate that was responsible for the poisoning deaths of 71 wild horses in the Nevada desert. The nitrate was present in a water-filled hole known as 'the Main Lake depression.' Nitrate from the Main Lake depression had delta(18)O and delta(15)N values that were very positive (+32 per thousand, +37 per thousand), and Delta(17)O values of approximately +2 per thousand. The isotopic data suggested that the most probable source of the nitrate was nit...
Characterization of extracellular matrix macromolecules in primary cultures of equine keratinocytes. Most research to date involving laminins and extracellular matrix protein function in both normal and pathological conditions involves in vitro culture of keratinocytes. Few methods are established to allow for prolonged propagation of keratinocytes from equine tissues, including the hoof lamellae. In this study we modified cell isolation and culture techniques to allow for proliferation and sub-culturing of equine lamellar keratinocytes. Additionally, the production and processing of extracellular matrix molecules by skin and lamellar keratinocytes were studied. Results: Physical and proteoly...
Comparison of the morphology of the limbs of juvenile and adult horses (Equus caballus) and their implications on the locomotor biomechanics. We analyzed the morphology and the walk-trot and trot-gallop transition velocities of nine juvenile horses and compared them with their mothers. We also compared the relative stride length and the duty factor of the juveniles with respect to adults at three equivalent trotting speeds (Froude numbers 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0), to determine dynamic similarity. Juveniles had a negative allometry in their leg bones, mainly because of little size changes of the distal portions. The negative allometry of extremities allows juveniles to increase stride length without increasing step frequency, which can be...
Comparative analysis of vocalizations of thoroughbred mares (Equus caballus) between estrus and diestrus. We investigated the differences between vocalizations of mares in estrus and diestrus and determined the spectrographic parameters to discriminate estrus from diestrus. Thoroughbred brood mares (n=89) were exposed to a teasing procedure for 3 min, and we recorded all vocalizations emitted from them. Among the mares, 56.5% of estrus and 78.6% of diestrus mares emitted calls toward an approaching stallion, indicating that there was higher tendency in the occurrence rate of vocal responses in diestrus than estrus mares. We analyzed the spectrographic data of the mares (25 estrus and 22 diestrus m...
Probiotics in animal nutrition and health. The use of probiotics for farm animals has increased considerably over the last 15 years. Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms which can confer a health benefit for the host when administered in appropriate and regular quantities. Once ingested, the probiotic microorganisms can modulate the balance and activities of the gastrointestinal microbiota, whose role is fundamental to gut homeostasis. It has been demonstrated that numerous factors, such as dietary and management constraints, can strongly affect the structure and activities of the gut microbial communities, leading to impaired...
Influence of sward structure on daily intake and foraging behaviour by horses. The spatial heterogeneity of grasslands determines the abundance and quality of food resources for grazing animals. As plants mature, they increase in mass, which allows greater instantaneous intake rates, but the cell wall concentrations increase too, reducing diet quality. In ruminants, daily intake rates are often constrained by the time needed for the ingesta to pass through the rumen, which is influenced by the rate of digestion. It has been suggested that the digestive constraint should have much less effect on hindgut fermenters such as equids. Horses play an increasing role in the mana...
Comparative rheumatology: what can be learnt from naturally occurring musculoskeletal disorders in domestic animals? Examples of naturally occurring musculoskeletal disorders are extremely common in veterinary species and provide a valuable comparative research resource, which can provide compelling comparative data on the aetiopathogenesis and treatment of many common human musculoskeletal diseases. In particular, orthopaedic diseases are a common morbidity in both dogs and horses. In this review, we give an overview of the common musculoskeletal diseases encountered in these species: for instance, tendon and ligament injuries, arthropathies and stress fractures, as well as an insight into the basic biology...
