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.
Assessment of tree-associated atypical myopathy risk factors in Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore) seeds and leaves. Sycamore tree-derived hypoglycin A (HGA) toxin causes atypical myopathy (AM), an acute, equine pasture-associated rhabdomyolysis but incidence fluctuates. Objective: Investigate whether tree or environmental factors influence HGA concentration in sycamore material and are associated with AM relative risk. Methods: Retrospective and experimental prospective study. Methods: UK sycamore population, seed production and AM incidence data were obtained. HGA concentration was measured in seeds from trees from 10 different central UK locations. The effect of tar spot infection, seed maturity, tree tru...
Insect-specific Alphamesonivirus-1 (Mesoniviridae) in lymph node and lung tissues from two horses with acute respiratory syndrome. Members of the RNA virus order infect hosts ranging from marine invertebrates to terrestrial mammals. As such, understanding the determinants of host range in this group of viruses, as well as their patterns of emergence and disease potential, is of clear importance. The are a recently documented family within the . To date, mesoniviruses have only been associated with the infection of arthropod species, particularly mosquitoes, and hence are regarded as insect-specific viruses (ISVs). Herein, we report the first detection of a mesonivirus-Alphamesonivirus-1 -in mammals. Specifically, we uti...
Estimating Total-Tract Digestibility of Nutrients and Their Contribution to Digestible Energy Supplies in Equine Diets. Our objectives were to use a quantitative literature review to explore dietary and feed factors influencing apparent total-tract digestibility of dry matter (DMD), crude protein (CPD), neutral detergent fiber (NDFD), ether extract (EED), non-structural carbohydrates (NSCD), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFCD), and residual organic matter (rOMD) in equine diets, and to assess their contributions to digestible energy (DE) supplies. Data from 54 studies were modeled using linear mixed-effect regressions, with publication as a random effect to account for study variability. For each nutrient, five mode...
Pulse oximetry at two sensor placement sites in conscious foals. Pulse oximetry has not been thoroughly evaluated for assessment of oxygenation in conscious foals. Compared with invasive arterial blood sampling, it is a painless and non-invasive method for real-time monitoring of blood oxygen saturation. The aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the usability, validity, and reliability of pulse oximetry at two measuring sites (lip and caudal abdominal skin fold) for blood oxygen saturation measurement in conscious foals with and without respiratory compromise. Thirty-two foals under one month of age were used. Nineteen foals had normal resp...
Fecal microbiota changes associated with pathogenic and non-pathogenic diarrheas in foals. Diarrhea is a common disease that could threaten the welfare of newborn foals. While there are several forms of foal diarrhea, the etiologies can be considered known pathogenic or non-pathogenic in nature. Moreover, there are likely differences in the composition of microbial populations in the gastrointestinal tracts of foals depending upon the etiology of diarrhea. Our study aims to examine the microbial population in the feces of foals with both pathogenic and non-pathogenic diarrheas to discern differences in their microbial compositions. Results: Foal diarrhea samples tested positive or n...
Unraveling the distinctive gut microbiome of khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus) in comparison to their drinking water and closely related equids. The microbial composition of host-associated microbiomes is influenced by co-evolutionary interactions, host genetics, domestication, and the environment. This study investigates the contribution of environmental microbiota from freshwater bodies to the gastrointestinal microbiomes of wild khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus, n = 21) and compares them with those of captive khulans (n = 12) and other equids-Przewalski's horse (n = 82) and domestic horse (n = 26). Using PacBio technology and the LotuS pipeline for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyze microbial diversity and conduct ...
Rhythmic categories in horse gait kinematics. Anecdotally, horses' gaits sound rhythmic. Are they really? In this study, we quantified the motor rhythmicity of horses across three different gaits (walk, trot, and canter). For the first time, we adopted quantitative tools from bioacoustics and music cognition to quantify locomotor rhythmicity. Specifically, we tested whether kinematics data contained rhythmic categories; these occur when adjacent temporal intervals are categorically, rather than randomly, distributed. We extracted the motion cycle duration (t) of two ipsilateral hooves from motion data of 13 ridden horses and calculated th...
Description and Analysis of Horse Swimming Strategies in a U-Shaped Pool. Aquatic training has been integrated into equine rehabilitation and training programs for several decades. While the cardiovascular effects of this training have been explored in previous studies, limited research exists on the locomotor patterns exhibited during the swimming cycle. This study aimed to analyze three distinct swimming strategies, identified by veterinarians, based on the propulsion phases of each limb: (S1) two-beat cycle with lateral overlap, (S2) two-beat cycle with diagonal overlap, and (S3) four-beat cycle. 125 underwater videos from eleven horses accustomed to swimming wer...
Remediating Cambridge: Human and Horse Co-Relationality in a Culture of Mis-Re-Presentation. This case study aims to problematise concepts of equine and human co-relational agency in the context of 'mis-re-presentations' in the Australian media of harms experienced by the Anglo Arab stallion, Cambridge, following his development of laminitis and his consequent confinement at a leading national Equestrian centre. Autoethnographic narrative is used to retrospectively and selectively narrate the evolving relationship between Cambridge and his owners, farrier, and treating veterinarians within the dominant housing and veterinary practices and welfare paradigms in equestrian culture of 199...
Genome wide landscaping of copy number variations for horse inter-breed variability. Copy number variations (CNVs) have become widely acknowledged as a significant source of genomic variability and phenotypic variance. To understand the genetic variants in horses, CNVs from six Indian horse breeds, namely, Manipuri, Zanskari, Bhutia, Spiti, Kathiawari and Marwari were discovered using Axiom™ Equine Genotyping Array. These breeds differed in agro-climatic adaptation with distinct phenotypic characters. A total of 2668 autosomal CNVs and 381 CNV regions (CNVRs) were identified with PennCNV tool. DeepCNV was employed to re-validate to get 883 autosomal CNVs, of which 9.06% were...
Companion animal and equine clinical research: a Nordic perspective. The societal value of cats, dogs and horses is high, and the companion and sport animal health care sector is growing. Clinical research concerning cats, dogs and horses is crucial for the development of evidence-based medical care that benefits animals and their owners, and has implications for human and environmental health from a One Health perspective. Basic information on companion animal and equine research enables more directed measures to improve conditions for research within the area. The aim of the present study was to describe Nordic companion animal and equine clinical research fr...
Ultrasensitive detection and quantification of bovine Deltapapillomavirus in the semen of healthy horses. BPV1, BPV2, BPV13, and BPV14 are all genotypes of bovine delta papillomaviruses (δPV), of which the first three cause infections in horses and are associated with equine sarcoids. However, BPV14 infection has never been reported in equine species. In this study, we examined 58 fresh and thawed commercial semen samples from healthy stallions. In 34 (58.6%), bovine δPV DNA was detected and quantified using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). Real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) was able to identify bovine δPV DNA in 5 samples (8.6%). Of the BPV-infected semen samples, 15 were posi...
Molecular Characterization of Bovine Deltapapillomavirus in Equine Sarcoids in Egypt. Bovine papillomaviruses (BPVs) commonly cause sarcoids in equines worldwide. Equine sarcoids (ESs) reduce the working ability of draft animals and produce untoward cosmetic changes in racing and dancing equine. In this study, nine horses and 16 donkeys with sarcoids were presented to Zagazig University Veterinary Clinic, Zagazig, Egypt. Of these, eight horses and six donkeys were found to be infected with BPV. On sequencing, all 14 viruses were found to be BPV1, which were distributed in two clades without specific differentiation among papillomaviruses (PVs) of donkeys, horses, and cattle. Co...
Ethylene glycol toxicosis in 39 sport horses following ingestion of contaminated water: A case report. Ethylene glycol toxicosis is a common occurrence in dogs and cats but has been reported in other species as well. Up to date, only one case of ethylene glycol toxicosis has been described in horses, and specific guidelines for treating ethylene glycol intoxication in this species are not available. Here we describe the case of 39 sport horses that ingested water contaminated with ethylene glycol. The main clinical sign was apathy, but more severely affected individuals also developed abdominal pain and laminitis. Treatment was initiated around 24 h after the exposure, using ethanol as an antid...
In vitro assessment of horse-isolated strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Ligilactobacillus equi species for fecal microbiota modulation in horses. Horses are hindgut fermenters that harbor a complex intestinal microbiota (IM) which provides key enzymes aiding in the breakdown of complex carbohydrates present in their herbivorous diet. Therefore, these animals are deeply dependent on their IM for digestion and nutrition. Consequently, IM imbalances may result in alteration of fermentation patterns with impact on the animal health and the risk of disease. In this context, strategies for assisting the maintenance of a healthy IM in horses are of interest. However, there is limited research concerning the use of probiotics to improve hindgut...
The rhythm of horse gaits. What makes animal gaits so audibly rhythmic? To answer this question, we recorded the footfall sound of 19 horses and quantified the rhythmic differences in the temporal structure of three natural gaits: walk, trot, and canter. Our analyses show that each gait displays a strikingly specific rhythmic pattern and that all gaits are organized according to small-integer ratios, those found when adjacent temporal intervals are related by a mathematically simple relationship of integer numbers. Walk and trot exhibit an isochronous structure (1:1)-similar to a ticking clock-while canter is characteri...
Prevalence, Associated Risk Factors, and Identification of the Genera of Equine Strongyles in Horses and Donkeys in and Around Bishoftu, Ethiopia. Equines play a significant role in the economy of the country. Besides their importance, equines face several challenges mainly helminth infections. Of these strongyle parasites are the most common, particularly in the study area. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2022 to July 2022 to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors and to identify the genera of equine strongyle parasites in and around Bishoftu. A total of 364 equines were randomly selected from five different areas and subjected to coprological examination using the floatation technique to detect s...
Social Relationships of Captive Bachelor Przewalski’s Horses and Their Effect on Daily Activity and Space Use. Understanding social relationships in at-risk species held in captivity is vital for their welfare and potential reintroduction. In social species like the Przewalski's horse (), daily time allocation and space use may be influenced by social structure and, in turn, reflect welfare. Here, we identify social relationships, time budgets, and spatial distribution of a group of nine older (aged 6-21 years) male Przewalski's horses living in a non-breeding (bachelor) group. We conducted our work at the Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve, over 65 h of observation in summer, 2015. Horses formed stronger ...
Genomic-Inbreeding Landscape and Selection Signatures in the Polo Argentino Horse Breed. Analyzing genetic variability and inbreeding trends is essential for effective breed management in animal populations. To this, the characterization of runs of homozygosity (ROH) provides a good genomic approach to study the phenomena. The Polo Argentino (PA) breed, globally recognized as the best adapted to playing polo, is known for its strong influence of Thoroughbreds, intense selective breeding, and extensive use of reproductive biotechnologies. This study investigates the PA's genomic variability, by characterizing the ROH landscape and identifying ROH islands (ROHi) as potential genomic...
Gasterophilus in horses from Romania: diversity, prevalence, seasonal dynamics, and distribution. This is the first study that targets the epidemiology of Gasterophilus spp. in slaughtered horses from Romania. Previously to our research, there were five recorded species: Gasterophilus haemorrhoidalis, Gasterophilus inermis, Gasterophilus intestinalis, Gasterophilus nasalis, and Gasterophilus pecorum with a dispersed distribution throughout the country, the data being recorded more than 73 years ago. The collection of Gasterophilus larvae was carried out from the digestive system (stomach, duodenum, and rectum) of horses in three abattoirs, monthly between January 2023 and December 2023. Fo...
A Genetic Make Up of Italian Lipizzan Horse Through Uniparental Markers to Preserve Historical Pedigrees. Lipizzan is a famous horse breed dating back to 1580 when the original stud of Lipica was established by the Hasburg Archduke Charles II. Currently, the Italian State Stud of Lipizzan Horses (ASCAL) is a conservation nucleus managed through strict mating rules where mitochondrial DNA sequences are used to verify the correct assignment of mares to a historical pedigree maternal lineage. Here, we analyzed the D-loop sequences of Lipizzan horses from the ASCAL in Monterotondo (Rome, Italy) in order to confirm their pedigree assignment to known female founder families. The concurrent investigation...
A Prioritized List of Veterinary Clinical Presentations in Dogs, Cats, and Horses to Guide Curricular Content, Design, and Assessment. The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges competency-based veterinary education (CBVE) framework can be used to guide curriculum and assessment design and is intended to prepare veterinary graduates for Day One of clinical practice. However, while the framework defines curricular outcomes in terms of demonstrable competencies, it does not define the specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to achieve those outcomes. In some human medical curricula, prioritized lists of clinical presentations guide curricular content, design, and assessment. These lists are based, in par...
Endurance Effort Affected Expression of Actinin 3 and Klotho Different Isoforms Basing on the Arabian Horses Model. Among numerous genes that have been a focus of equine genetic research, the (Klotho) and (Alpha-actinin-3) genes stand out due to their significant roles in muscle function and overall health, as well as performance ability. Previous studies on Arabian horses and other mammalians have shown that both and occur in different isoforms that seem to have different roles in metabolism. The main purpose of this present study was to describe different isoforms (, , , , , ) expression levels affected by the endurance effort in Arabian horses. Methods: Blood samples were taken from a group of = 10 ...
Genetic Composition of Polish Hucul Mare Families: mtDNA Diversity. The Hucul horse breed formed in the region of the Eastern Carpathians, likely through the natural crossbreeding of oriental horses. After World War II, their population significantly decreased, leading to the breeding being based on only 14 female lines, whose founders often had unknown origins. To preserve the breed's unique characteristics, it is now part of a Genetic Resources Conservation Program, which prioritizes the maintenance of genetic diversity. This study aims to clarify the maternal relatedness of founder mares and assess genetic diversity using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The hy...
Electrochemotherapy with bleomycin for bilateral ocular squamous cell carcinoma in a horse. To describe the procedure and outcome of electrochemotherapy (ECT) with bleomycin as a first-line treatment for bilateral ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) in the eye of a horse. Methods: A client-owned 5-year-old Haflinger gelding with limbal-conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: During general and local anesthesia, injection of bleomycin in the ocular tumor was followed by electroporation, applied with a 15 mm needle electrode, needles held parallel to the ocular surface. Results: Treatment with ECT resulted in therapeutic electric pulses and complete tumor response with no...
Rising trends of inbreeding in Japanese Thoroughbred horses. We investigated the changes in inbreeding levels in Japanese Thoroughbred horses over the past 46 years. Our results show a significant increase in inbreeding over the past 30 years, primarily due to the influence of two sires, Northern Dancer and Sunday Silence. Northern Dancer's bloodline spread gradually through descendants like Northern Taste, leading to a slower increase in the inbreeding coefficient. In contrast, Sunday Silence was directly imported and became a leading sire, causing a rapid increase in his blood proportion and inbreeding coefficient. Our findings suggest that monitoring...
Assessment of horse behavior using an activity monitoring device used for cats and dogs. Including Internet of Things (IoT) technology in horse-rearing management can potentially mitigate problems such as human resource shortages and time limitations in performing daily behavior monitoring. In this study, a small and inexpensive activity meter used to monitor dogs and cats (PLUS CYCLE, JARMeC, Kanagawa, Japan) was used to monitor the daily behavior of horses. A study was performed to examine the suitability of the PLUS CYCLE device for monitoring horses and to determine whether it could estimate horse behavior. The device was equipped with an accelerometer and was used to monitor ...
Mixed strongyle parasite infections vary across host age and space in a population of feral horses. Identifying factors that drive among-individual variation in mixed parasitic infections is fundamental to understanding the ecology and evolution of host–parasite interactions. However, a lack of non-invasive diagnostic tools to quantify mixed infections has restricted their investigation for host populations in the wild. This study applied DNA metabarcoding on parasite larvae cultured from faecal samples to characterize mixed strongyle infections of 320 feral horses on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 2014 to test for the influence of host (age, sex and reproductive/social status) and ...
Pilot study characterizing a single pooled preparation of equine platelet lysate for nebulization in the horse. Platelet lysate (PL) demonstrates antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties offering potential for treatment of bacterial pneumonia in horses. It remains unknown whether nebulization is suitable for PL administration in horses. This pilot study characterized particle size and flow rate of pooled equine PL (single preparation) nebulized using an equine-specific nebulizer (Flexivent®). Unassigned: Protein composition and antimicrobial activity were compared before and after nebulization. Protein composition was evaluated according to growth factor, antimicrobial peptide and cytokine concen...
Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus: The Importance of Metabolism and Aging. Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus that, among humans, can cause a severe and often fatal illness. The zoonotic EEEV enzootic cycle involves a cycle of transmission between and avian hosts, frequently resulting in spillover to dead-end vertebrate hosts such as humans and horses. Interestingly, it has been described that the W132G mutation of the very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), the receptor of EEEV, significantly enhanced the VLDLR-mediated cell attachment of EEEV. The patient's metabolism plays a pivotal role in shaping the complex lan...