Topic:Animal Studies
Animal studies involving horses encompass a range of research focused on understanding equine biology, behavior, and health. These studies often investigate various aspects of horse physiology, genetics, nutrition, and disease pathology. Researchers utilize animal studies to explore the effects of different treatments, management practices, and environmental factors on horse welfare and performance. The findings from such studies contribute to the development of improved care strategies and health interventions. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, findings, and implications of animal studies conducted on horses, providing insights into their application in advancing equine science.
Plasma concentration of dopamine varies depending on breed, sex, and the genotype of DRD4 in horses. Dopamine (DA) is known to be a key modulator of animal behaviors. Thus, the plasma concentration of DA might be used as a biomarker for the behavioral characteristics of horses. The behavioral characteristics of horses vary depending on the breed, age, and sex. Moreover, the DA receptor genotypes are also related to horse behaviors. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the DA concentration variations of horse plasma by breed, age, sex, or genotype of its receptor. The horses were divided by breed into Thoroughbred (n = 13), Pony (n = 9), Warmblood (n = 4), and Haflinger (n = 5). The ...
Effect of a GLP-1 mimetic on the insulin response to oral sugar testing in horses. Insulin dysregulation (ID) is the most important risk factor for the development of laminitis in horses and therapies to control it are needed. Objective: To assess the effects of a single dose of the synthetic GLP-1 analog exenatide on postprandial insulin dynamics. We hypothesized that exenatide would improve insulin sensitivity and lower postprandial blood insulin concentrations. Methods: Randomized, crossover, experimental study. Methods: Six horses (3 mares, 3 geldings; 2 with normal insulin regulation [NIR] and 4 with mild ID). Methods: Horses completed both study arms: subcutaneous admi...
The Effect of Capacitive-Resistive Electrical Therapy on Neck Pain and Dysfunction in Horses. Neck pain and stiffness are increasingly recognized in horses and often treated using multimodal pharmaceutical and rehabilitation approaches. In humans, deep tissue heating is reported to reduce neck pain and increase flexibility. The objective of this project was to determine the effects of capacitive-resistive electrical therapy on neck pain and stiffness in horses. A blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial with 10 horses assigned to active and 10 horses assigned to sham treatment groups. Neck pain, stiffness, and muscle hypertonicity were assessed by manual palpation. Forelimb postu...
Horse odor exploration behavior is influenced by pregnancy and age. In spite of a highly developed olfactory apparatus of horses, implying a high adaptive value, research on equine olfaction is sparse. Our limited knowledge on equine olfaction poses a risk that horse behavior does not match human expectations, as horses might react fearful when exposed to certain odors, which humans do not consider as frightening. The benefit of acquiring more knowledge of equine olfaction is therefore twofold; (1) it can aid the understanding of horse behavior and hence reduce the risk of dangerous situations, and (2) there may be unexplored potential of using odors in severa...
Analysis of the earliest complete mtDNA genome of a Caribbean colonial horse (Equus caballus) from 16th-century Haiti. Unlike other European domesticates introduced in the Americas after the European invasion, equids (Equidae) were previously in the Western Hemisphere but were extinct by the late Holocene era. The return of equids to the Americas through the introduction of the domestic horse (Equus caballus) is documented in the historical literature but is not explored fully either archaeologically or genetically. Historical documents suggest that the first domestic horses were brought from the Iberian Peninsula to the Caribbean in the late 15th century CE, but archaeological remains of these early introduct...
No size-dependent net particle retention in the hindgut of horses. Sieve analyses of hindgut contents of horses as well as observations in horses where plastic markers had been applied to a caecal cannula suggested that there may be a discrimination by particle size in the passage or retention of digesta. Here, we performed a similar experiment with five caecum-cannulated horses (562 ± 31 kg) fed a constant amount (6.81 kg dry matter/day) of grass hay. Passage markers representing the liquid (Co-EDTA) as well as the particulate digesta phase (Yb-undefined; Cr mordanted fibre 1-2 mm; Ce-mordanted fibre 8 mm) were given as a pulse-dose into the can...
ZOOMICS : comparative metabolomics of red blood cells from dogs, cows, horses and donkeys during refrigerated storage for up to 42 days. The use of omics technologies in human transfusion medicine has improved our understanding of the red blood cell (RBC) storage lesion(s). Despite significant progress towards understanding the storage lesion(s) of human RBCs, a comparison of basal and post-storage RBC metabolism across multiple species using omics technologies has not yet been reported, and is the focus of this study. Blood was collected in a standard bag system (CPD-SAG-Mannitol) from dogs (n=8), horses, bovines, and donkeys (n=6). All bags were stored at 4°C for up to 42 days (i.e., the end of the shelf life in Italian vete...
Structure and Strength of Bovine and Equine Amniotic Membrane. Thin, strong scaffold materials are needed for surgical applications. New materials are required, particularly those readily available, such as from non-human sources. Bovine amniotic membrane (antepartum) and equine amniotic membrane (postpartum) were characterized with tear and tensile tests. The structural arrangement of the collagen fibrils was determined by small-angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and ultrasonic imaging. Bovine amnion had a thickness-normalized tear strength of 12.6 (3.8) N/mm, while equine amnion was 14.8 (5.3) N/mm. SAXS analysis of the collagen fibri...
Does a high social status confer greater levels of trust from groupmates? An experimental study of leadership in domestic horses. In collective movements, specific individuals may emerge as leaders. In this study on the domestic horse (Equus ferus caballus), we conducted experiments to establish if an individual is successfully followed due to its social status (including hierarchical rank and centrality). We first informed one horse about a hidden food location and recorded by how many it was followed when going back to this location. In this context, all horses lead their groupmates successfully. In a second step, we tested whether group members would trust some leaders more than others by removing the food before the ...
Horses wait for more and better rewards in a delay of gratification paradigm. Self-control, defined as the ability to forgo immediate satisfaction in favor of better pay-offs in the future, has been extensively studied, revealing enormous variation between and within species. Horses are interesting in this regard because as a grazing species they are expected to show low self-control whereas its social complexity might be linked to high self-control abilities. Additionally, self-control may be a key factor in training and/or coping with potentially stressful husbandry conditions. We assessed horses' self-control abilities in a simplified delay of gratification test that...
Tool Use in Horses. Tool use has not yet been confirmed in horses, mules or donkeys. As this subject is difficult to research with conventional methods, we used a crowdsourcing approach to gather data. We contacted equid owners and carers and asked them to report and video examples of "unusual" behaviour via a dedicated website. We also searched YouTube and Facebook for videos of equids showing tool use. From 635 reports, including 1014 behaviours, we found 20 cases of tool use, 13 of which were unambiguous in that it was clear that the behaviour was not trained, caused by reduced welfare, incidental or accidenta...
An anatomical study of the skull, the dorsal and ventral nasal conchal bullae and paranasal sinuses in normal Noma horses: Computed tomographic anatomical and morphometric findings. Noma horses have the smallest body size among native Japanese horses and are classified as pony breeds by their size. Additionally, the Japanese horse breeds are classified into a single lineage, which includes Mongolian horses. Great intraspecific differences reportedly exist in the head shapes of domesticated horses, which have been investigated in various horse breeds. The present study aimed to evaluate the size of the nasal conchal bullae, and the paranasal sinuses of Noma horses in relation to the skull dimensions using computed tomography. Reconstructed images of the heads of five adult...
Effect of Weight Change on Markers of Bone Turnover and Phosphorus Excretion. There is little information about how weight change in horses impacts bone turnover and the metabolism of minerals associated with bone. This study evaluated weight change in mature horses as a factor that could alter bone turnover and fecal P output. Fifteen horses (555 ± 8 kg) were assigned to three treatments: weight loss (LO; n = 5), weight maintenance (MA; n = 5), and weight gain (GA; n = 5). Diets contained 75%, 100%, and 145% of maintenance digestible energy requirements for the three treatments, respectively, but contained similar amounts of protein and minerals. At the end of t...
Retrograde Flushing Followed by Slicing Float-Up as an Approach to Optimize Epididymal Sperm Recovery for the Purpose of Cryopreservation in Equids. This study aimed to assess the parameters of epididymal sperm harvested by retrograde flushing (RF) followed by slicing float-up (SF). Epididymides from donkeys (n = 18) and horses (n = 28) were subjected to RF with a freezing extender and then SF technique. The retrieved sperm after RF and SF was evaluated for volume, concentration, and total sperm and then cryopreserved separately. Post-thaw total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM) were evaluated with CASA. Sperm membrane integrity (SMI) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were assessed with flow cytometry. Sperm concentratio...
Evaluation of the practical clinical use of the Horse Grimace Scale translated into French. To assess the reliability of a French version of the Horse Grimace Scale (HGSfv). Methods: Prospective, randomized, clinical study. Methods: The operated (OP) group included 13 horses undergoing elective surgery. The positive (PC) and negative control (NC) groups included seven colicking horses and eight exercising sport horses, respectively. Methods: Photographs were extracted from videos of the horses' heads. Videos were taken before and immediately after surgery in OP, on arrival of the horse in PC, and at rest in their stalls in NC. Pictures were evaluated by three anaesthetists [Diplomate...
Tribulus terrestris can suppress the adverse effect of toluene on bovine and equine ovarian granulosa cells. Influence of oil-related product toluene and herbal remedy puncturevine Tribulus terrestris L. (TT) on female reproduction is known. Yet, mechanisms of their action on ovaries in different species and potential protective effect of TT against adverse toluene action remain to be established. We studied the effect of toluene, TT, and their combination on ovarian granulosa cells from two mammalian species (cows and horses). Viability, markers of proliferation (PCNA) and apoptosis (bax), steroid hormones, IGF-I, oxytocin, and prostaglandin F (PGF) release were analyzed by trypan blue exclusion tes...
An analysis of the annual mobility of Polish Konik horses depending on habitat, season, and time of the day. The aim of the present study was to analyse the mobility of Polish Konik horses in their natural environment. The study was conducted on a herd of 15 Polish Konik horses in 2018. The Global Positioning System (GPS) transmitter was used to track the horses' movements. Two habitats (forest and meadows), four seasons (autumn, winter, spring, and summer), and four times of the day (morning, midday, evening, and night) were distinguished. Season, habitat, and time of the day as well as the interaction among them significantly ( p < 0.0001 ) affected the mobility of Polish Konik horses. The use of ...
Runs of homozygosity in Sable Island feral horses reveal the genomic consequences of inbreeding and divergence from domestic breeds. Understanding inbreeding and its impact on fitness and evolutionary potential is fundamental to species conservation and agriculture. Long stretches of homozygous genotypes, known as runs of homozygosity (ROH), result from inbreeding and their number and length can provide useful population-level information on inbreeding characteristics and locations of signatures of selection. However, the utility of ROH for conservation is limited for natural populations where baseline data and genomic tools are lacking. Comparing ROH metrics in recently feral vs. domestic populations of well understood spe...
Viscum album L., a Therapeutic Option for Neoplastic Diseases in Companion Animals? A Systematic Review. Cancer is a common disease in humans and in companion animals and treatment is challenging. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and assess the potential use of Viscum album L. extracts (VAE) for treatment of neoplastic diseases in companion animals. Peer-reviewed animal, in vivo and in vitro studies were included, considering the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement and A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR). Overall, 6,148 references were identified. Following a predefined protocol, 114 full-text references were ...
Investigating the Relationship Between Cardiac Function and Insulin Sensitivity in Horses: A Pilot Study. Metabolic syndrome in humans is commonly associated with cardiovascular dysfunction, including atrial fibrillation and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Although many differences exist between human and equine metabolic syndrome, both of these conditions share some degree of insulin resistance. The aims of this pilot study were to investigate the relationship between insulin sensitivity and cardiac function. Seven horses (five mares, two geldings, aged 17.2 ± 4.2 years, weight 524 ± 73 kg) underwent insulin-modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance testing to determine ...
Ocular and facial porcupine quills in a miniature horse. A 22-year-old miniature horse gelding was brought to a veterinary clinic with multiple porcupine quills embedded in the face. One quill had perforated through the left caudoventral cornea but did not extend beyond the anterior chamber. The horse was referred to a specialist clinic for removal of the intraocular quill and subsequent primary surgical repair of the corneal wound. Following aggressive medical treatment, the horse retained vision. Piquants de porc-épic oculaires et faciaux chez un cheval miniature. Un cheval hongre miniature de 22 ans a été amené à une clinique vétérinaire a...
Relationships between the age and blood test results or body sizes in Noma horses. The objective of this study is to analyze the relationships between the age and blood test results or body sizes in Noma horses by using the results of periodical health examination. Out of 45 hematological or physical items examined, statistically significant, but loose correlations were observed in 14 items. Red blood cell count, activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and creatinine kinase, concentrations of calcium and inorganic phosphorus decreased with aging. Conversely, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, lipase activity, γ-globulin and chlorid...
No Morphological Integration of Dorsal Profiles in the Araucanian Horse (Colombia). The aim of this research was to determine if the division between the cervical, dorsal, and croup profiles (three regions commonly assessed for descriptive profile purposes) has a modular basis as well as a morphological integration. For this, a total of 135 digital photographs were obtained, in a lateral view, of adult horses (14 females and 121 geldings; age range: 2-20 years), of the Araucanian breed, an equine population typical of the flooded savannah of Arauca, NE Colombia. From each image, 25 reference points (semi-landmarks) were obtained at the dorsal level of the neck, back, and crou...
Development and validation of a horse reference panel for genotype imputation. Genotype imputation is a cost-effective method to generate sequence-level genotypes for a large number of animals. Its application can improve the power of genomic studies, provided that the accuracy of imputation is sufficiently high. The purpose of this study was to develop an optimal strategy for genotype imputation from genotyping array data to sequence level in German warmblood horses, and to investigate the effect of different factors on the accuracy of imputation. Publicly available whole-genome sequence data from 317 horses of 46 breeds was used to conduct the analyses. Results: Depend...
Anatomical features for an adequate choice of the experimental animal model in biomedicine: III. Ferret, goat, sheep, and horse. The anatomical characteristics of each of the many species today employed in biomedical research are very important when selecting the correct animal model(s), especially for conducting translational research. In previous papers, these features have been considered for fish (D'Angelo et al., 2016), the most common laboratory rodents, rabbits, and pigs (Lossi et al. 2016). I here follow this line of discussion by dealing with the importance of proper knowledge of ferrets, goats, sheep, and horses' main anatomical features in translational research.
Is each horse unique and unrepeatable? An explanation through morphometric and statistical analysis of the limb bones. Horses went through functional differentiation during their evolutionary and reproductive development, however, some body parts continued to improve their specificity for speed. Regarding this, we evaluated by morphometric analysis the relationship between limb section (LS) differences in the appendicular structures of horses. Two hundred and seven (n = 207) adult horses of different breeds and sex were selected. The limb section was measured by identification of topographic palpable skeleton landmarks with a measurement tape (centimetres). Quantitative variables (limb section) were analysed...
Modulation of Osteogenic Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells by Co-Treatment with 3, 4′-Dihydroxyflavone, U0126, and N-Acetyl Cysteine. Flavonoids form the largest group of plant phenols and have various biological and pharmacological activities. In this study, we investigated the effect of a flavonoid, 3, 4'-dihydroxyflavone (3, 4'-DHF) on osteogenic differentiation of equine adipose-derived stromal cells (eADSCs). Unassigned: Treatment of 3, 4'-DHF led to increased osteogenic differentiation of eADSCs by increasing phosphorylation of ERK and modulating Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation. Although PD98059, an ERK inhibitor, suppressed osteogenic differentiation, another ERK inhibitor, U0126, apparently increased osteoge...
Efficacy of Lidocaine Topical Solution in Reducing Discomfort Reaction of Horses to Intramuscular Vaccination. Vaccinations via intramuscular injection are a key component of preventative health care in horses. Development of problematic behavioral aversion to injections is quite common. Our clinical impression has been that topical anesthetic applied to injection sites can reduce the behavioral reaction; however, this has not been critically tested. To blindly evaluate efficacy, either 5% or 10% topical lidocaine solution or 0% control was applied to injection sites for 78 ponies two minutes before intramuscular vaccination. Mean reaction scores on a scale of 0-3 were 0.84 (se 0.18) for 5% lidocaine s...