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Topic:Animal Species
The topic "Animal Species and Horses" explores the interactions and relationships between horses and various other animal species. This includes understanding the ecological roles horses play within their environments, as well as their interactions with domestic and wild animals. Research in this area may cover aspects such as competition for resources, symbiotic relationships, and behavioral influences between horses and other species. Studies may also investigate the impact of horses on biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that examine these interspecies relationships, focusing on the ecological, behavioral, and environmental implications of horses interacting with other animals.
Morphological and Behavioural Predictors of Motor Laterality in Domestic Horses: A Cross-Sectional Field Study. Motor laterality in horses affects performance, training, and welfare. A simple morphological marker for laterality would help riders, trainers, and veterinarians identify likely locomotor asymmetries early. This study tested whether observable morphological and behavioural characteristics were associated with rider-perceived motor laterality in domestic horses, using a cross-sectional observational field study design conducted in the Blida and Algiers regions of Algeria. The study included 100 regularly ridden domestic horses. Mane orientation, facial whorl characteristics, standing curvature...
Cumulus cell DNA fragmentation as non-invasive biomarker of equine oocyte quality in in vitro embryo production. The efficiency of in vitro embryo production in animal species is constrained by the absence of practical, non-invasive biomarkers to assess oocyte quality. Cumulus cell DNA fragmentation index (CC-DFI) has been proposed as a biomarker in humans, but data in animals remain limited. Objective: This study investigated the association of CC-DFI with in vitro maturation (IVM) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes in horses, and its relationship with mare-related factors, autumnal transition period, cumulus cell viability, and cumulus expansion. Methods: Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC...
Comparative Susceptibility of Donkey and Horse Sperm to Liquid-Storage Temperature. Preservation protocols for donkey sperm are based on those developed for horses, despite potential interspecific differences in cooling tolerance. This study compared horse and donkey sperm during long-term storage at 5°C and 17°C. Ejaculates from four stallions and four jacks (n = 16) were centrifuged, resuspended in skimmed milk-based extender, and stored at both temperatures. Sperm motility, plasma and acrosome membrane integrity, and morphology were evaluated after 1, 2 and 7 days. Fresh semen parameters showed no interspecific differences (p > 0.05). At 5°C, donkey sperm show...
Equine viral arteritis in horses undergoing pre-export testing in Spain (2016-2023): Seroprevalence estimates and diagnostic performance of a commercial indirect ELISA. Equine viral arteritis (EVA) is a contagious disease that affects equine reproduction and international trade. Despite its importance, epidemiological data from Spain are limited. This study aimed to assess EVA seroprevalence and evaluate the diagnostic performance of a commercial ELISA in horses before export. Methods: From 2016 to 2023, 5000 serum samples from horses across 16 Spanish autonomous communities were tested using a commercial indirect ELISA. Samples with inconclusive results, or those submitted with specific requests, underwent virus neutralisation testing (VNT). Diagnostic perfo...
Multisystemic and cerebral infection associated with Halicephalobus gingivalis in Brazilian Criollo horses. Halicephalosis is a rare cosmopolitan disease affecting equids, cattle, and humans, manifesting as meningoencephalitis. This study reports the detection of Halicephalobus gingivalis infection in two adult horses with neurological clinical signs in Rio Grande do Sul state, in the Southern Brazil. It underscores the pathological main findings and phylogenetic analyses. In both cases, the horses exhibited severe neurological manifestations and were euthanized due to poor prognosis. Pathological findings revealed gross brain lesions, in addition, alterations in the kidneys and lymph nodes. Histopa...
First documented cases of equine leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis in France. In this study, we describe the first documented cases of equine cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis in France and provide clinical and parasitological data relevant for the recognition of this emerging infection in horses. Three horses presenting localized cutaneous lesions were diagnosed with L. martiniquensis infection in different regions of France without spatial or temporal clustering. Lesions were clinically nonspecific and initially compatible with common equine dermatological conditions, including sarcoid-like tumors. Histopathological examination rev...
Association Between Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) Immunohistochemical Expression and Clinicopathological Features in Equine Melanoma. Equine melanoma is one of the most important oncological diseases in horses and exhibits a distinct biological behavior compared with melanoma in other species. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been associated with tumor aggressiveness and metastasis in human and canine melanoma, but its expression in equine melanoma remains unknown. Objective: Evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-9 in equine melanomas and investigate its association with clinicopathological features. Methods: 68 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded equine melanomas from 48 gray horses were evaluated immunohis...
Retrospective investigation of equine parvovirus-hepatitis in Italy. Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) has recently been identified as the etiological agent of Theiler's disease, a major cause of acute hepatitis and liver failure in horses. While iatrogenic transmission of EqPV-H is well-documented, the natural horizontal transmission of the virus remains poorly understood. This study provides the first comprehensive epidemiological investigation and molecular characterization of EqPV-H in equine populations across Italy. A total of 1320 archival serum samples from northern and southern Italy were screened for the presence of EqPV-H DNA by qPCR. The overall ...
Association of submaximal exercise test variables with diagnosis of asthma in a mixed-breed cohort of leisure horses. Submaximal exercise tests (SET) are used to assess respiratory health in various contexts. The diagnostic value of SETs for the assessment of asthma in the field remains uncertain. Objective: A SET helps distinguish healthy horses and asthma phenotypes. Methods: Twenty-six privately owned mixed-breed leisure horses of a clinical cohort. Horses were healthy (8) or diagnosed with mild (miEA) (4), moderate (modEA) (7), or severe asthma (sEA) (7) according to history, clinical examination, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology. Methods: Cross-sectional study using clinical data and samp...
Alterations in the gut resistomes of endangered wild equids associated with anthropogenic activities: Insights for One Health surveillance. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are emerging environmental contaminants, but how human-associated management practices are associated with mobile resistomes in endangered wildlife remains poorly resolved. Here, we used fecal metagenomics to compare Przewalski's horses, Mongolian khulans, and domestic horses from Xinjiang, China, including Przewalski's horses from a protected area and a captive-breeding setting under human management. Across 47 fecal metagenomes, we identified 380 ARG subtypes, 23 metal resistance gene (MRG) types, and 26 mobile genetic element (MGE) subtypes. Przewalski's h...
[Determination of 33 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug residues in horse urine by QuEChERS-ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry]. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs （NSAIDs） are often used to treat horses' injuries and pain due to long-term training and competitions. In equestrian competitions， NSAIDs do not affect the upper limit of a horse's athletic ability， but they can enable the horse to perform close to its maximum capacity by reducing inflammation and pain. This not only affects the competition results， but also fails to ensure the health and welfare of the horses. Therefore， it has become crucial to effectively monitor and control NSAIDs residues during equestrian competition. In this study， a r...
Modified technique for resection of the alar folds to nasal paralysis in a mule: Case report. Equids are obligate nasal breathers. Therefore, conditions that obstruct or impair this respiratory route can compromise animal welfare by causing severe respiratory distress, while also impacting athletic potential. Nasal paralysis results from injury to the facial nerve and its branches and is characterized by the lack of movement of the alar cartilage, leading to nasal collapse. Its occurrence is uncommon in horses and has not been previously reported in mules. This report describes a 9-month-old mule presented with a history of facial trauma and compression caused by a halter. After unsucc...
Characterization of the Healthy Ocular Mycobiome of Purebred Lusitano Horses Using Oxford Nanopore Long-Read Sequencing. The ocular surface represents a unique microbial ecosystem continuously exposed to environmental microorganisms; however, the fungal component of the healthy equine ocular microbiome remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to characterize the ocular surface mycobiome of 12 clinically healthy Purebred Lusitano horses from three geographical regions in Portugal kept in two housing systems using Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing and conventional fungal culture. Sequencing revealed a highly diverse fungal community with marked inter-individual variability. The most abundant genera were ,...
Correction: Development of an indirect ELISA for the detection of venezuelan equine encephalitis virus specific antibodies in horses. [This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0338819.].
Equine alveolar echinococcosis: a focus on epidemiology, clinical and pathological features, and diagnostics. Here, we review equine alveolar echinococcosis (AE), focusing on its epidemiology, clinical and pathological features, and diagnostic challenges, through comparisons with AE in other host species. AE is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval form of the tapeworm. Horses are considered dead-end hosts, in which AE infection can be detected at slaughter, highlighting their potential as sentinel animals in endemic areas. Equine AE is typically asymptomatic and is generally only found incidentally during meat inspection or necropsy. Standard diagnosis involves histopathology and conventional poly...
Genome-wide exploration of coat color-associated loci in Hokkaido Native Horses, with a novel locus implicated in the roan phenotype. Genes and loci regulating horse coat color have been investigated in many breeds, but their associations with the 16 coat colors of the Hokkaido Native Horse (HKD) remain unknown. HKDs were classified according to coat-color groups based on pedigree-recorded coat color, and genome-wide association (GWA) analyses were performed. Except for gray and roan, a clear single signal corresponding to the known locus was obtained for each coat color, suggesting that the reported loci are the primary causes of these coat colors. Because gray and roan are difficult to distinguish visually and may therefor...
Musculoskeletal Assessment of Forelimbs and Hindlimbs in Mounted Police Horses using Infrared Thermography. Infrared thermography (IRT) has become established as a complementary tool in equine veterinary medicine, allowing for the early detection of thermal changes associated with musculoskeletal inflammatory processes. Objective: This study aimed to apply infrared thermography to characterize the surface thermal profile of the forelimbs and hindlimbs of mounted police horses, considering clinical classification, anatomical region, body side, and repeated evaluations over time. Methods: The research was conducted at the Military Police Cavalry in Manaus (AM), Brazil, involving 20 adult horses submit...
Oocyte and Embryo Vitrification in Horses. Vitrification has emerged as a decisive technique in assisted reproductive technology, offering superior cryopreservation outcomes for both oocytes and embryos compared with traditional slow freezing. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the vitrification of equine oocytes and embryos, emphasizing the influence of technical factors, including cryoprotectant selection, exposure time, temperature control, and device volume, on vitrification outcomes. Biological factors such as the oocyte maturation stage, the presence of cumulus cells, and embryo size are also explored, highlighting...
Exhaled breath condensate in horses: a first microbiological insight. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a non-invasive method for obtaining samples reflecting the airway lining fluid; however, its microbiological composition remains poorly characterized. Objective: To perform an exploratory microbiological comparison of EBC in clinically healthy horses maintained under different environmental conditions. Methods: An observational study included 30 mares equally distributed into two groups: horses housed in stalls (Racetrack group) and horses maintained under pasture conditions (Farm group). EBC samples were collected using a validated device developed by the re...
Evaluation of tilapia skin (Oreochromis niloticus) frozen, frog skin (Rana catesbeiana), and tilapia skin (Oreochromis niloticus) sterilized with gamma rays dressings, in equine skin wound healing. Skin wounds are common in horses due to species-specific behavioral responses. Equine skin morphology, vascularization, and inflammatory responses to wounds are comparable to those in humans, supporting the translational relevance of equine wound-healing studies. Investigating biomaterials such as tilapia and frog skin may improve wound management. This study demonstrated that sterilized tilapia and frog skin exhibit promising wound-healing properties. Unassigned: Macroscopic, microscopic, and thermographic aspects of second-intention wound healing were compared in six horses with surgically i...
Transcriptome Sequencing and Differential Expression Analysis of Ovaries from Kazakh Mares During Seasonal Quiescence and Estrus Activation. Kazakh horses are typical seasonal breeders, and ovarian activity is markedly reduced during the non-breeding period. Hormonal stimulation can induce ovarian functional responses during seasonal anestrus; however, the early ovarian transcriptional changes associated with this response remain incompletely understood. In this study, ovarian transcriptome sequencing was performed in 12 Kazakh mares examined during the seasonal anestrous period. The mares were classified into a non-hormonally stimulated seasonal quiescent group (DB, = 6) and a hormone-induced ovarian activation group (DY, = 6) f...
Fatal equine gas gangrene associated with Clostridium septicum in the Brazilian Amazon: clinicopathological and molecular characterization of a 20-case series. Clostridial gas gangrene is an acute necrotizing infection of skeletal muscle characterized by rapid tissue destruction and severe systemic toxemia in horses; however, systematically documented case series from tropical settings remain scarce. Here, we describe a clinicopathological and molecularly confirmed series of 20 fatal equine gas gangrene cases diagnosed in the eastern Brazilian Amazon (Pará State) between 2018 and 2026. Horses presented with abrupt onset of severe lameness, rapidly progressive swelling of a limb or muscle group, and palpable subcutaneous crepitus, frequently followin...
The Polish Konik Horse: A Multidisciplinary Review of Its Origin, Genetics, Ecology, Health, Behaviour and Reproductive Biology. The Polish Konik horse (PKH) is one of Europe's best-known native conservation breeds. Traditionally associated with the extinct Eurasian tarpan and conservation grazing, the breed has recently become the subject of multidisciplinary research encompassing genetics, ecology, health, behaviour and reproduction. This narrative review summarises current knowledge on the biological characteristics and contemporary scientific significance of the PKH. Literature published between 2005 and 2026 was identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar and narratively synthes...
Exercise-Induced Acid-Base, Electrolyte, and Metabolic Responses in Colombian Creole Horses Across Different Gait Modalities. Exercise physiology in Colombian Creole Horses remains poorly characterized despite the breed's extensive use in athletic activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate exercise-induced changes in blood biochemical and gas parameters and to determine whether these responses differed according to sex, geographic origin, or gait modality. An analytical observational study with repeated measures was conducted in 76 athletic CCHs. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein at rest and immediately after exercise to measure acid-base indicators (pH, carbon dioxide pressure, bicarbona...
Ortholog-specific Spatial Expression of Vanins in the Respiratory Tract of Horses. Equine asthma (EA) is the most prevalent chronic respiratory disease in horses, but molecules thought to be relevant in its pathogenesis are not yet fully understood. Recently, increased Vanin-1 (VNN1) levels were found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from horses with severe EA. Human VNN1 is known as a pantetheinase, which is associated with respiratory diseases such as asthma, but the equine vanins (eVNNs) are uncharacterized. We identified the domain architecture of eVNN in silico and analyzed its tissue expression in healthy horses using RT-PCR (=5) and in situ hybridization (=3). Recombin...
Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analysis of equine influenza in Colombia. In 2022, Colombia experienced an outbreak of equine influenza (EI) that primarily affected competition horses. Despite the epidemiological relevance of equine influenza virus (EIV) in the country, no previous phylogenetic or phylogeographic analyses based on complete genomes have been reported. Objective: To perform phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses of complete EIV genomes obtained from horses with clinical signs in two Colombian regions between 2020 and 2023. Methods: Molecular epidemiological study based on whole-genome sequencing and evolutionary analyses. Methods: Nasopharyngeal sa...
Selective oncolytic activity of newcastle disease virus in equine sarcoid primary cells: a preclinical investigation. Equine sarcoids are the most common skin tumors in horses and are characterized by local invasiveness, high recurrence rates, and inconsistent responses to current therapies. Oncolytic virotherapy represents a promising alternative approach that exploits defects in antiviral signaling pathways in tumor cells. Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an avian paramyxovirus that is nonpathogenic in mammals, has demonstrated tumor-selective activity in several species; however, its effects on equine sarcoids have not been previously investigated. In this study, primary cell cultures derived from equine sar...
Development and Evaluation of an Indirect ELISA for Strangles Based on an Untagged EQ8-SclF Fusion Protein. Strangles, caused by subsp. (), is a highly contagious respiratory disease that causes substantial economic losses to the horse industry worldwide. Serological diagnosis currently relies mainly on the imported IDvet dual-antigen sandwich ELISA kit, which shows good diagnostic performance but is expensive and lacks a domestic alternative in China, thereby limiting its routine use in primary veterinary settings. The aim of this study was to develop a domestic indirect ELISA based on novel antigen targets and an untagged antigen purification strategy. Using comparative bioinformatics analyses, ...
