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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.
The epitheliogenesis imperfecta locus maps to equine chromosome 8 in American Saddlebred horses. Epitheliogenesis imperfecta (EI) is a hereditary junctional mechanobullous disease that occurs in newborn American Saddlebred foals. The pathological signs of epitheliogenesis imperfecta closely match a similar disease in humans known as Herlitz junctional epidermolysis bullosa, which is caused by a mutation in one of the genes (LAMA3, LAMB3 and LAMC2) coding for the subunits of the laminin 5 protein (laminin alpha3, laminin beta3 and laminin gamma2). The LAMA3 gene has been assigned to equine chromosome 8 and LAMB3 and LAMC2 have been mapped to equine chromosome 5. Linkage disequilibrium betw...
FISH analysis comparing genome organization in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) to that of the Mongolian wild horse (E. przewalskii). Przewalski's wild horse (E. przewalskii, EPR) has a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 66 while the domestic horse (E. caballus, ECA) has a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 64. Discussions about their phylogenetic relationship and taxonomic classification have hinged on comparisons of their skeletal morphology, protein and mitochondrial DNA similarities, their ability to produce fertile hybrid offspring, and on comparison of their chromosome morphology and banding patterns. Previous studies of GTG-banded karyotypes suggested that the chromosomes of both equids were homologous and the differenc...
Analysis of relationships between German heavy horse breeds based on pedigree information. We analysed the relationship coefficients (R) between the four German heavy horse breeds South German Coldblood, Rhenish German Draught Horse, Schleswig Draught Horse and Black Forest Draught Horse. The relationship coefficient makes it possible to ascertain crossbreeding between the breeds over time, or autonomous developments of the breeds, respectively. The investigation revealed that the relationship coefficients between the German draught horse breeds were very low. The mean relationship coefficients between the four German heavy horse breeds were largest between the South German Coldbloo...
[Analysis of the population structure of the South German coldblood in Bavaria, Germany]. Gene contributions of foreign populations as well as coefficients of inbreeding and relationship were calculated in 1918 South German Coldblood horses registered in Bavaria in 2003. Based on nearly complete 8-generation-pedigrees (index of pedigree completeness: 76%) the mean coefficient of inbreeding was 23%. After considering missing pedigree data, the mean coefficient of inbreeding was 3%. The rates of inbreeding per generation in the current population amount to about 0.43% over the last eight generations and to about 0.15% in the forthcoming generation. In the total current population, th...
Repair of extensive articular cartilage defects in horses by autologous chondrocyte transplantation. Damaged adult articular cartilage has very limited capacity to heal. Autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACT) has been used clinically and studied in experimental animals in an attempt to provide biologically based cartilage regeneration. This study evaluated cartilage repair following ACT in a large animal model over a period of 2 years. Articular cartilage defects (10 mm in diameter, full-thickness) were created in the minor load-bearing area on the lateral talus of tibiotarsal joints of eight adult horses. In each animal, the right joint was repaired using autologous chondrocytes inject...
Influence of different collagen species on physico-chemical properties of crosslinked collagen matrices. Collagen-based scaffolds are appealing products for the repair of cartilage defects using tissue engineering strategies. The present study investigated the species-related differences of collagen scaffolds with and without 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC)/N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)-crosslinking. Resistance against collagenase digestion, swelling ratio, amino acid sequence, shrinkage temperature, ultrastructural matrix morphology, crosslinking density and stress-strain characteristics were determined to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of equine- and bovine-collagen...
Effect of active immunization of pony mares against recombinant porcine inhibin alpha subunit on ovarian follicular development and plasma steroids and gonadotropins. Two pony mares were immunized against recombinant porcine inhibin alpha subunit three times with 39 day intervals. Clinical findings and endocrinological changes before immunization were taken as the control. The first significant rise in the anti-inhibin titre (P<0.05) in the circulation was found 27 days after the first injection. Maximum binding activity was reached by the 12th day after the second booster dose. The number of small, medium and large sized follicles had increased significantly compared to before immunization (11.75 +/- 4.30, 2.75 +/- 0.69 and 2.51 +/- 0.63 vs 6.50 +/- 1.4...
Noncoding sequences conserved in a limited number of mammals in the SIM2 interval are frequently functional. Cross-species DNA sequence comparison is a fundamental method for identifying biologically important elements, because functional sequences are evolutionarily conserved, wheres nonfunctional sequences drift. A recent genome-wide comparison of human and mouse DNA discovered over 200,000 conserved noncoding sequences with unknown function. Multispecies DNA comparison has been proposed as a method to prioritize these conserved noncoding sequences for functional analysis based on the hypothesis that elements present in many species are more likely to be functional than elements present in limited ...
Evaluation of viability and apoptosis in horse embryos stored under different conditions at 5 degrees C. The aim of this study was to evaluate the viability (percentage of dead cells) and the incidence of DNA fragmentation of horse embryos after storage in three different media at 5 degrees C for 6 and 24 h. Forty embryos were stored in Emcare Holding Solution for 6 and 24 h, in Hams'F10 or Vigro Holding Plus for 24 h at 5 degrees C (n = 9-10 per group) and 10 embryos were evaluated immediately after collection. First, embryos were stained, immediately after collection or following storage, to detect dead cells (DAPI) and, subsequently, DAPI-stained embryos were fixed and stained to detect DNA fr...
Transcranial magnetic stimulation: normal values of magnetic motor evoked potentials in 84 normal horses and influence of height, weight, age and sex. Cervical spinal cord dysfunction is a common problem in equine medicine and the currently available tests give no objective information about the functionality of the nervous tracts. Therefore, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was performed in 84 healthy horses of different height in order to have an objective measure for the integrity of the descending motor tracts in normal horses. Objective: To obtain reference values for onset latency and peak-to-peak amplitude of magnetic motor evoked potentials (MMEPs) and to evaluate the possible effect of height, age and gender on the neurophysi...
Ventilatory dynamics and control of blood gases after maximal exercise in the Thoroughbred horse. Despite enormous rates of minute ventilation (Ve) in the galloping Thoroughbred (TB) horse, the energetic demands of exercise conspire to raise arterial Pco(2) (i.e., induce hypercapnia). If locomotory-respiratory coupling (LRC) is an obligatory facilitator of high Ve in the horse such as those found during galloping (Bramble and Carrier. Science 219: 251-256, 1983), Ve should drop precipitously when LRC ceases at the galloptrot transition, thus exacerbating the hypercapnia. TB horses (n = 5) were run to volitional fatigue on a motor-driven treadmill (1 m/s increments; 14-15 m/s) to study the ...
Serum osteocalcin in donkeys as evaluated with an equine-specific radioimmunoassay. The purpose of this study was to validate an equine-specific osteocalcin (OC) radioimmunoassay (RIA) for use in donkeys and to establish age-related changes in serum OC concentrations in healthy donkeys. Serial dilutions of donkey serum showed parallelism with standard curves obtained with the equine-specific OC RIA. There was a tight linear regression between donkey serum OC values obtained with the equine specific OC RIA and a commercially available bovine-specific OC RIA. Serum OC levels of 27 healthy donkeys, analysed with the equine-specific OC RIA, showed a tight negative logarithmic reg...
Avian host preference by vectors of eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus. An important variable in the amplification and escape from the enzootic cycle of the arboviral encephalitides is the degree of contact between avian hosts and mosquito vectors. To analyze this interaction in detail, blood-fed mosquitoes that were confirmed vectors of eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus were collected in 2002 from an enzootic site in central Alabama during the time this virus was actively transmitted. Avian-derived blood meals were identified to the species level of the host, and the proportion derived from each species was compared with the overall composition of the ...
Thermal cautery of the cornea for treatment of spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects in dogs and horses. A thermal cautery technique was used to treat spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCEDs) in 9 eyes of 8 dogs and 2 eyes of 2 horses. Animals were sedated, and a topical anesthetic was applied. A handheld thermal cautery unit was then used to make multiple, small (< or = 1 mm in diameter), superficial burns throughout the affected area. The cautery unit was applied just until the slightest degree of contraction of the collagen fibrils was observed. After the stromal bed of the defect was treated, a rim of epithelium that extended approximately 1 mm around the denuded stroma was ...
Identification of putative homology between horse microsatellite flanking sequences and cross-species ESTs, mRNAs and genomic sequences. In this study the flanking sequences of 1534 horse microsatellites were used in a BLAST search to identify putative human-horse homologies. BLAST searches revealed 129 flanking sequences with significant blastn matches [alignment scores (S) > or = 60 and sum probability values (E) < or = 3.0E-6], also, 25 of these produced significant blastx matches. To provide a reference point in the human genome the flanking sequences with matches were subjected to a BLAT search of the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) human genome assembly (July 2003 freeze). Eighty-three of the flanking seq...
Turnover of carbon isotopes in tail hair and breath CO2 of horses fed an isotopically varied diet. Temporal stable isotope records derived from animal tissues are increasingly studied to determine dietary and climatic histories. Despite this, the turnover times governing rates of isotope equilibration in specific tissues following a dietary isotope change are poorly known. The dietary isotope changes recorded in the hair and blood bicarbonate of two adult horses in this study are found to be successfully described by a model having three exponential isotope pools. For horse tail hair, the carbon isotope response observed following a dietary change from a C3 to a C4 grass was consistent with...
Effects of injection of botulinum toxin type B into the external anal sphincter on anal pressure of horses. To determine effects on anal pressure of horses after local injection of the external anal sphincter with Clostridium botulinum toxin type B. Methods: 11 healthy adult horses. Methods: Peak and resting anal sphincter pressures were measured with a custom-made rectal probe that was connected to a pressure transducer. Pressures were measured before treatment and after injection with botulinum toxin type B (BTB) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution. Dose titration with 500, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,500 U of BTB was completed. Physical changes, behavior, and anal pressure were recorded for each horse. Result...
Interaction of fibronectin type II proteins with membranes: the stallion seminal plasma protein SP-1/2. Seminal plasma of mammalians contains, among others, proteins that are characterized by the fibronectin (Fn) type II module. Our knowledge about the structure and the physiological function of seminal Fn type II proteins mainly originates from studies on PDC-109, the bovine representative of this protein family. The present work focuses on the equine protein SP-1/2 (also named HSP-1/2) with particular emphasis on its interaction with lipid membranes by employing the intrinsic protein fluorescence and a number of spin-labeled and fluorescent lipid analogues. The results indicate that the intera...
Blastocyst formation rates in vivo and in vitro of in vitro-matured equine oocytes fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. This study was conducted to evaluate in vivo and in vitro development of in vitro-matured equine oocytes fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Oocytes were collected from slaughterhouse-derived ovaries, matured in vitro, and injected with frozen-thawed stallion sperm. In vivo development was assessed after transfer of injected oocytes to the oviducts of recipient mares. Mares were killed 7.5-8.5 days after transfer and the uterus and oviducts flushed for embryo recovery. Of 132 injected oocytes transferred, 69 (52%) were recovered; of these, 25 (36%) were blastocysts with a blastocoe...
Effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on bone. Extracorporeal shock waves have been used for 30 years to fragment uroliths for nonsurgical treatment for urolithiasis in humans. Applied to bone, shock waves delivered at the appropriate energy and pulse number, can stimulate osteogenesis. In Europe, shock waves are routinely used to treat nonunions in humans despite poor understanding of the mechanism of action. Shock wave therapy has also been used clinically in horses. Preliminary experimental studies indicate that shock wave therapy does not damage soft tissue in the distal aspect of the equine limb and can stimulate osteogenesis througho...
Experiential learning in the animal sciences: development of a multispecies large-animal management and production practicum. Students enrolled in an introductory animal science course (ASG 3003) at the University of Florida were surveyed (n = 788) over a 3-yr period to ascertain their current experience and career goals in animal agriculture. Sixty-one percent of the students indicated that they were from an urban background. Only 4% were raised on a farm or ranch where the majority of family income was attributed to production agriculture. Eighty-six percent of the students had minimal or no experience working with large domestic farm animals, but nearly 64% of the students wanted to pursue a career in veterinary m...
Evaluation of serum concentrations of biochemical markers of bone metabolism and insulin-like growth factor I associated with treadmill exercise in young horses. To evaluate changes in serum concentrations of biochemical markers of bone metabolism and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) associated with treadmill exercise in young horses. Methods: 12 two-year-old Thoroughbred mares. Methods: During a 20-week study period, 6 horses were exercised on a treadmill 3 times a week (exercise group) and 6 horses received walking exercise 6 days a week (controls). Serum concentrations or activity of biochemical markers and IGF-I were assessed biweekly. Bone mineral density and content of the first phalanx were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorbiometry (DEXA) ...
Effects of exercise and glucose administration on content of insulin-sensitive glucose transporter in equine skeletal muscle. To characterize insulin-sensitive glucose-transporter (GLUT-4) protein in equine tissues and determine effects of exercise and glucose administration on content of GLUT-4 protein in equine skeletal muscle. Methods: Tissue samples from 9 horses. Methods: Western blot analyses were performed on crude membrane preparations of equine tissues to characterize GLUT-4. In a crossover, randomized study, horses were strenuously exercised for 3 consecutive days and then administered 13.5% glucose or isotonic saline (0.9% NaCl; control) solution, i.v., at similar infusion rates for 12.1 hours. Samples wer...
Effect of high intensity training on anaerobic capacity of middle gluteal muscle in Thoroughbred horses. We hypothesize that high intensity training for Thoroughbred horses that have been subjected to conventional training could further improve the metabolic properties of the middle gluteal muscle. Nine well-trained horses were subjected to high intensity (80-100% Vdot;O(2)max, 5 minx2) training for 12 weeks. Biopsy samples were obtained from the muscle before and after 4 and 12 weeks of training. Three of the 9 horses did not complete the training programme. In the remaining 6 horses, activities of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), phosphofructokinase (PFK) and 3-hydroxy acyl CoA dehydrogenase (HAD)...
Sensory integration and therapeutic riding at summer camp: occupational performance outcomes. Occupational performance outcomes from a summer camp for children with sensory modulation disorder were examined. Sensory integration based programming was incorporated into a one week summer day camp that featured therapeutic riding. Using a modified interview format, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was administered to camp participants and their families two weeks prior to and one week after camp. Ten families participated in the study. Comparison of the families' ratings revealed a significant and positive change in the children's behaviors. The COPM was highly useful a...
Factors affecting plasma progesterone concentration and the retrospective determination of time of ovulation in cyclic mares. Factors influencing plasma progesterone concentration were investigated in seven mares. Two-phase logistic curves were fitted (r=0.98) to plasma progesterone concentrations of blood samples collected once daily. In addition to the effect of time (P<0.001), there were differences (P<0.01) among mares in the peak height of the progesterone plateau and in the (area under the curve) AUC. Plasma progesterone concentrations were higher (P<0.001) after a multiple versus single ovulation. There was an effect of season (P<0.001), but no significant effect of luteal morphology. The retrospec...
