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.
In vitro characterization of radiofrequency ablation lesions in equine and swine myocardial tissue. Radiofrequency ablation is a promising technique for arrhythmia treatment in horses. Due to the thicker myocardial wall and higher blood flow in horses, it is unknown if conventional radiofrequency settings used in human medicine can be extrapolated to horses. The study aim is to describe the effect of ablation settings on lesion dimensions in equine myocardium. To study species dependent effects, results were compared to swine myocardium. Right ventricular and right and left atrial equine myocardium and right ventricular swine myocardium were suspended in a bath with circulating isotonic sali...
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...
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...
Isolation-protocol, characterization, and in-vitro performance of equine umbilical vein endothelial cells. Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in various physiological and pathological conditions. However, research in equine angiogenesis is relative limited, necessitating the development of suitable models. To effectively analyze angiogenesis in-vitro, it is essential to target the specific cells responsible for this process, namely endothelial cells. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are one of the most used models for studying angiogenesis in humans. Serving as an equivalent to HUVECs, we present a comprehensive isolation protocol for equine umbilical vein endothelial cells (EqUVECs...
A Comprehensive Analysis of the Genomic and Expressed Repertoire of the T-Cell Receptor Beta Chain in Equus caballus. In this paper, we report a comprehensive and consistent annotation of the locus encoding the β-chain of the equine T-cell receptor (TRB), as inferred from recent genome assembly using bioinformatics tools. The horse TRB locus spans approximately 1 Mb, making it the largest locus among the mammalian species studied to date, with a significantly higher number of genes related to extensive duplicative events. In the region, 136 TRBV (belonging to 29 subgroups), 2 TRBD, 13 TRBJ, and 2 TRBC genes, were identified. The general genomic organization resembles that of other mammals, with a V cluster o...
Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) identified as a new intermediate host for Sarcocystis neurona. The protozoan Sarcocystis neurona can cause severe disease in horses, marine mammals, and several other animal species in North America. The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is its definitive host, and the raccoon (Procyon lotor) has been considered its primary intermediate host in the USA. Although canids have not previously been identified as important intermediate hosts for this parasite, we here report several natural cases in the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). We identified muscular infections in 11 (23.9 %) of 46 gray foxes from Pennsylvania, USA. In hematoxylin and eosin ...
Molecular characterization of Fasciola hepatica obtained from cattle and horse in Central Chile. Liver fluke infection, caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica, is a parasitic zoonotic disease affecting various mammals, including humans, and has significant implications for public, animal, and ecosystem health. This study provides the first genetic characterization of F. hepatica in Chile, focusing on the complete mitochondrial gene cox1. Samples were collected from two different host species: cattle and horses. Our findings revealed that 70 % of detected haplotypes were found in either cattle or horses, which coincides with their geographical origin. Interestingly, the use of full-len...
A Meta-Analysis on Quantitative Calcium, Phosphorus and Magnesium Metabolism in Horses and Ponies. The aims of the present meta-analysis were (i) to re-evaluate the factorially calculated Ca, P and Mg requirements to replace endogenous faecal losses, taking new data into account, (ii) to identify potential differences between horses and ponies regarding requirements, apparent digestibility, serum levels and renal excretion of Ca, P and Mg and (iii) to investigate the influence of mineral sources, i.e., "inorganic" sources from added mineral salts and "organic" sources from feed plants. For P, the water solubility of "inorganic" sources was taken into consideration. Data on the aforementione...
Endoparasitism and risk factors in horses from ethnic communities in Andean areas of southern Chile. Parasitic infections are among the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in horses worldwide. In the Andean mountainous regions of Chile, horses are a highly valued specie, playing a key role as working animals also providing support in cattle transhumance grazing into high mountainous areas during dry season. The breeding and maintenance of horses in the mountainous region of La Araucanía in Chile is a key issue allowing to the subsistence economy of communities with a strong ethnic component represented by Mapuche-Pehuenche origin families. However, the health status of these ani...
Supervised Machine Learning Techniques for Breeding Value Prediction in Horses: An Example Using Gait Visual Scores. Gait scores are widely used in the genetic evaluation of horses. However, the nature of such measurement may limit genetic progress since there is subjectivity in phenotypic information. This study aimed to assess the application of machine learning techniques in the prediction of breeding values for five visual gait scores in Campolina horses: dissociation, comfort, style, regularity, and development. The dataset contained over 5000 phenotypic records with 107,951 horses (14 generations) in the pedigree. A fixed model was used to estimate least-square solutions for fixed effects and adjusted ...
Radiation exposure during simulated equine head and limb fan beam standing computed tomography appears safe for personnel using lead shielding. To evaluate the radiation dose to personnel locations during simulated head and limb scans with a novel equine standing CT (sCT) system. Methods: Measurements were made with the use of a helical fan beam sCT system (Equina; Asto CT Inc). Scatter radiation was measured in different positions in the sCT room to mimic the location of the control operator, horse handler, and lead rope handler during simulated equine head and limb imaging. Operator/handler dose was quantified at each location using entrance air kerma measured with a spherical ionization chamber and electrometer. Results: Radiation ...
RNA Sequencing of Sperm from Healthy Cattle and Horses Reveals the Presence of a Large Bacterial Population. RNA molecules within ejaculated sperm can be characterized through whole-transcriptome sequencing, enabling the identification of pivotal transcripts that may influence reproductive success. However, the profiling of sperm transcriptomes through next-generation sequencing has several limitations impairing the identification of functional transcripts. In this study, we explored the nature of the RNA sequences present in the sperm transcriptome of two livestock species, cattle and horses, using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology. Through processing of transcriptomic data derived from bovine and...
RNA-Seq analysis reveals the different mechanisms triggered by bovine and equine after infection with FMDV. Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is an important pathogen of the MicroRNA virus family. Infection of livestock can cause physical weakness, weight loss, reduced milk production, and a significant reduction in productivity for an extended period. It also causes a high mortality rate in young animals, seriously affecting livestock production. The host range of FMDV is mainly limited to cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle and sheep, while odd-toed ungulates such as horses and donkeys have natural resistance to FMDV. The mechanism underlying this resistance in odd-toed ungulates remains unclea...
Yawning in sync: implications for social cohesion in horses. The increasing interest in the study of spontaneous (SY) and contagious yawning (CY) was so far focused on several taxa, especially primates. Here, we focused on SY and CY in horses, a suitable species due to their complex social dynamics that has been largely overlooked in research on these phenomena. By analyzing videos of 48 horses on pasture, we identified 2 yawning morphologies: Covered ( ) and Uncovered Teeth ( ). Using EquiFACS, we quantitatively demonstrated that and differ in terms of muscle recruitment. Moreover, we provide the first evidence for the presence of CY by comparing 2...
Rewilded horses in European nature conservation – a genetics, ethics, and welfare perspective. In recent decades, the integration of horses (Equus ferus) in European rewilding initiatives has gained widespread popularity due to their potential for regulating vegetation and restoring natural ecosystems. However, employing horses in conservation efforts presents important challenges, which we here explore and discuss. These challenges encompass the lack of consensus on key terms inherent to conservation and rewilding, the entrenched culture and strong emotions associated with horses, low genetic diversity and high susceptibility to hereditary diseases in animals under human selection, as ...
In vitro evaluation of the automated hematology analyzer XN-31 for rapid diagnosis of equine piroplasmosis. Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a protozoal disease affecting equids, caused by and . EP is conventionally diagnosed using microscopic, molecular, and/or serological methods, which are time-consuming. Consequently, there is a need for faster testing methods. In this study, we evaluated the application of the Sysmex XN-31 automated hematology analyzer, originally a rapid test for detecting malaria in humans, for the diagnosis of EP. The cultured parasites were measured using the XN-31 that had been customized for horse blood samples (XN-31m). The following parameters were evaluated: limit of dete...
Prevalence, risk factors, and characterisation of extended-spectrum β-lactamase -producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) in horses entering an equine hospital and description of longitudinal excretion. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase -producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) are important zoonotic pathogens that can cause serious clinical infections, also in horses. Preventing the spread of ESBL-E, especially in the equine hospital environment, is key to reducing the number of difficult-to-treat infections. Estimating the local prevalence of ESBL-E in horses is crucial to establish targeted infection control programs at equine hospitals. We conducted a prevalence and risk factor study in equine patients on admission to an equine teaching hospital in Finland through a rectal ESBL-E screening specim...
2022 Equine Community Needs Assessment Survey. To stay up-to-date with the demographics, interests, and needs of the equine community, equine extension programs commonly conduct so called "needs assessment surveys". The main goals of the 2022 Rutgers Equine Science Center (ESC) needs assessment survey were to: 1) characterize the equine community, 2) identify information sources used by the equine community, 3) assess the usefulness of selected equine-related services and programs, and 4) determine the perceived importance of selected equine-related issues. An anonymous online survey was distributed through the Rutgers ESC's email list, a ...
Gene doping in horse racing and equine sports: Current landscape and future perspectives. Gene doping, the use of gene therapy or genetic manipulation to enhance athletic performance, has emerged as a potential threat to the integrity and welfare of equine sports, such as horse racing and equestrian sports. This review aims to provide an overview of gene doping in horses, including the underlying technologies, potential applications, detection methods, ethical concerns and future perspectives. By understanding the current landscape of gene doping in horses, stakeholders can work together to develop strategies to safeguard the integrity of equine sports.
Assessing Fecal Microbial Diversity and Hormone Levels as Indicators of Gastrointestinal Health in Reintroduced Przewalski’s Horses (Equus ferus przewalskii). Diarrhea serves as a vital health indicator for assessing wildlife populations post-reintroduction. Upon release into the wild, wild animals undergo adaptation to diverse habitats and dietary patterns. While such changes prompt adaptive responses in the fecal microbiota, they also render these animals susceptible to gastrointestinal diseases, particularly diarrhea. This study investigates variations in fecal microorganisms and hormone levels between diarrhea-afflicted and healthy Przewalski's horses. The results demonstrate a significant reduction in the alpha diversity of the fecal bacterial ...
Outbreak of dermatophilosis in horses possibly transmitted by sharing riding equipment. The aim of this study is to describe an outbreak of dermatophilosis at an equestrian center in Castilla la Mancha (central Spain), which affected 16.6% (5/30) of the animals. Research was carried out to establish the mode of transmission and spread to other horses in the herd. Clinical features, diagnostic methods and treatment are also described. O objetivo deste estudo é descrever um surto de dermatofilose em um centro equestre em Castilla la Mancha (centro da Espanha), no qual 16,6% (5/30) dos animais foram afetados. Foi realizada uma pesquisa para estabelecer o modo de transmissão e a di...
The Use of Genomic Screening for the Detection of Chromosomal Abnormalities in the Domestic Horse: Five New Cases of 65,XXY Syndrome in the Pura Raza Español Breed. Sex chromosomal abnormalities are a well-established cause of reproductive failure in domestic horses. Because of its difficult diagnosis, the Pura Raza Español breeding program established a routine screening for chromosomal abnormalities in all the horses prior to enrolling in the studbook. This genomic procedure combines an initial assessment based on the results from Short Tandem Repeat (STR) parentage testing followed by a Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) based copy number aberration (CNA) confirmative analysis in positive cases. Using this methodology, we identified five new individ...
Anatomy of the Right and Left Ventricular Subvalvular Apparatus of the Horse (Equus caballus). Due to the growing interest among veterinarians and the increasing market demands, the development of equine cardiology is necessary. Currently, veterinary medicine for companion animals needs to catch up to human medicine-equine medicine included. A common condition in older horses is aortic valve regurgitation resulting from fibrosis, while its more severe form occurs in younger horses or develops due to a bacterial infection. Mitral valve regurgitation, especially dangerous due to the possibility of sudden death, has a better prognosis if the horse has valve prolapse. Tricuspid valve regurg...
Theileria orientalis Ikeda infection detected in red deer but not dogs or horses in New Zealand. To determine whether evidence for infection with (Ikeda) could be identified in samples of commercial red deer , horses, and working farm dogs in New Zealand. Unassigned: Blood samples were collected during October and November 2019 from a convenience sample of red deer (n = 57) at slaughter. Equine blood samples (n = 50) were convenience-sampled from those submitted to a veterinary pathology laboratory for routine testing in January 2020. Blood samples, collected for a previous study from a convenience sample of Huntaway dogs (n = 115) from rural regions throughout the North and ...
The circulation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus between humans, horses and the environment at the equine clinic. We performed a retrospective analysis of MRSA isolates collected at the university equine clinic including clinical isolates from 2008 to 2021 and screening environmental, equine and personnel isolates from 2016. Screening and clinical samples were cultured on Brilliance MRSA 2 and Columbia agar (Oxoid), respectively, with enrichment for environmental samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed by disc diffusion. All the isolates were characterized by spa typing. Eighteen selected isolates were subjected to WGS with subsequent wgMLST clonal analysis. Among 75 MRSA isolates, five spa typ...
Unveiling directional physiological coupling in human-horse interactions. This research investigates the human-horse bond, aiming to unveil the physiological mechanisms regulating interspecies interactions. We hypothesized observing a physiological synchronization in human-horse dynamics, akin to human interactions. Through time-frequency Granger causality analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) and behavioral data, this study reveals the establishment of bidirectional synchronization in HRV between humans and horses. The coupling directionality is influenced by behavior and familiarity. In exploration scenarios led by horses, bidirectional interactions occur, part...
Molecular analysis of feces reveals gastrointestinal nematodes in reintroduced wild asses of the Negev desert. Reintroduced animals face disease risks, potentially impacting both the reintroduced and the local wildlife/domestic populations. This study focuses on the Asiatic wild asses () reintroduced to the Negev desert in southern Israel. Despite potential threats of disease spill-over to and from domesticated donkeys and horses in the area, there are no records of the gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) of the wild ass population. We used DNA metabarcoding on fecal samples of wild asses collected across seasons and habitats, near water sources that they frequently use. Ten GIN species were detected in t...
Reproductive Disorders in Donkeys: Current Evidence and Update. Reproductive disorders in donkeys present a significant challenge to their health and welfare, impacting their roles in agriculture, conservation, and companionship. With the development of large-scale donkey farming in recent years, reproductive disorders have become a limiting factor for the expansion of the donkey population. In general, donkeys suffer from a similar array of diseases like horses, but little is known about the specificities of donkey reproductive disorders. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the pathogenesis, distribution, presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and p...