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Topic:Animal Study
Animal studies involving horses encompass a wide range of research activities aimed at understanding various aspects of equine biology, behavior, health, and management. These studies can include investigations into equine physiology, nutrition, reproduction, and disease processes. Research often involves controlled experiments or observational studies to gather data on how horses respond to different interventions, environments, or management practices. This topic includes peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore methodologies, findings, and implications of animal studies in equine science, contributing to the broader understanding of horse welfare and management.
Use of a caudal intercostal block in horses undergoing surgery for colic. In humans and companion animals, regional anaesthesia is used in multimodal analgesic protocols for abdominal wall surgery. Benefits include earlier patient mobilisation and improved pain scores. Regional anaesthetic techniques for horses undergoing abdominal surgery could provide similar benefits and warrant investigation. Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a caudal intercostal block for abdominal surgery (CIBAS) in horses undergoing surgery for colic. Methods: Blinded, randomised clinical trial. Methods: Horses (n = 22) undergoing exploratory celiotomy for colic were rando...
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...
Use of Sildenafil Citrate for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction in Stallions: First Case Reports. Pharmacological aids can be useful alternatives to enhance penile erection and/or improve ejaculatory function, thereby prolonging the reproductive life of stallions with ejaculatory disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sildenafil citrate in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and on semen quality in two aged stallions, a Quarter Horse (18 years) and a Mangalarga Marchador (25 years), presented to the Veterinary Hospital of FMVZ-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. The treatment consisted of oral administration of sildenafil citrate at 0.2 mg/kg. Thirty minutes after administ...
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...
Randomized study of the effects of testosterone administration on severity of asthma in horses. Low testosterone concentrations are associated with poor lung function in human asthmatics, and androgen administration improves airway obstruction in women with asthma. Objective: Testosterone improves clinical scores, lung function, airway neutrophilia, and airway remodeling in horses with severe asthma. Methods: Ten horses affected by severe asthma from a research herd. Methods: In a randomized, blinded, crossover study, horses received dexamethasone (0.06 mg/kg PO q24h for 10 days) or a single intramuscular injection of testosterone cypionate (0.35 mg/kg), with a 2-week washout period. ...
Evaluation of mosquito transmission of equine hepacivirus in laboratory and field studies. Equine hepacivirus (EqHV) is a hepatotropic virus, closely related to human hepatitis C virus (HCV), that can cause acute or chronic infection in horses. As with HCV, transmission is thought to occur primarily through parenteral, particularly blood-borne, routes. Vertical transmission from mare to foal has been reported but appears to be uncommon. The high seroprevalence in horse populations and the occurrence of infection in isolated horses indicate efficient horizontal transmission routes exist. One such possibility is biological or mechanical transmission by arthropods, such as mosquitoes, ...
Blood pressure, electrolyte and fluid balance in horses with insulin dysregulation after short-term treatment with canagliflozin. Short-term treatment with SGLT-2 inhibitors decreases blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes. The aim was to investigate the impact of a 3-week treatment with canagliflozin on blood pressure in insulin dysregulated (ID) horses and to study effects on fluid balance. This was a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design study. The primary study evaluated glucose and insulin responses during an oral sugar test, and these results have been published previously. Here we report the effect of canagliflozin treatment on blood pressure, PCV, serum proteins and e...
Population Pharmacokinetics and Detection Times of Betamethasone After Intravenous, Intramuscular, and Intranasal Jet Administration of Betamethasone Sodium Phosphate in Horses. Betamethasone sodium phosphate (BETP) is a glucocorticosteroid used in humans. The primary objective was to estimate irrelevant plasma (IPC) and urine (IUC) concentrations using a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic approach based on systemic clearance estimated from intravenous (IV) pharmacokinetic data. As a secondary objective, detection times (DTs) following IV, intramuscular (IM), and intranasal jet (INJ) administration were estimated for medication control. Plasma and urine concentrations were obtained from a total of 20 horses in Japan and Germany, with some horses contributing to more than...
Effects of two different fluid rates on tissue oxygenation and haemodynamic stability in anaesthetised horses. Perianaesthetic fluid therapy can influence oxygen delivery and tissue oxygenation, yet the optimal fluid rate in horses remains undefined. Objective: To compare two fluid strategies on peripheral tissue oxygenation (StO) and cardiorespiratory variables in isoflurane-anaesthetised horses. Methods: Randomised, controlled, experimental design with two independent groups. Methods: Sixteen euvolemic adult horses undergoing coeliotomy were anaesthetised with xylazine, ketamine, and midazolam, maintained on isoflurane with lidocaine infusion, and randomised to lactated Ringer's solution at 2.5 mL/...
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...
hCG promotes secondary ovulation and supplementary corpus luteum formation during early pregnancy in mares. This study evaluated whether the administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) during early pregnancy accelerates ovulatory dynamics and alters serum progesterone concentrations in mares with dominant follicles. Thirty pregnant embryo-recipient mares with follicles ≥35 mm during early gestation were randomly assigned to receive either 1500 IU hCG IV (hCG group; n = 17) or saline solution IV (control group; n = 13). Mares were monitored by serial ultrasonography to determine the ovulatory response and the interval to secondary ovulation. Serum progesterone concentrations were...
Airway Lipid Mediators in Horses: Baseline Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Profiles and Effects of EPA and DHA-rich Microalgae Oil Supplementation. We investigated how dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) affect airway inflammation, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) lipid mediators and red blood cell fatty acids in horses. Increased BALF neutrophils are a hallmark of airway inflammation, commonly associated with equine asthma. The long-chain n-3 PUFAs EPA and DHA are essential nutrients and precursors of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) that regulate inflammatory responses. In this prospective field trial, we assigned horses to three diets, including...
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...
Association between cytology and endoscopy of guttural pouches: a prospective study on 173 horses. Guttural pouch (GP) disorders are clinically important in horses, yet the relationship between endoscopic findings and GP cytology remains poorly defined. Objective: To establish reference cytological values for GP lavage fluid in horses and to investigate associations between inflammatory cytology and endoscopic findings. Methods: Asymptomatic racing horses sampled in the field and horses referred for investigation of respiratory disorders. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study. Horses underwent clinical examination, upper airway endoscopy, and bilateral transendoscopic GP lavage. A GP i...
Limb position, not exercise or sedation, affects power Doppler neovascularization detection in equine superficial digital flexor tendon core lesions. To determine the effect of limb position, exercise, and sedation on neovascularization detectability with the use of power Doppler ultrasonography (PDU) in superficial digital flexor tendon core lesions of the equine forelimb. Unassigned: 9 Thoroughbred horses with superficial digital flexor tendon core tendinopathies were assessed with PDU before lesion induction (week 0) and 12 weeks after lesion induction, with 5 horses in the study period ranging from January to April 2024 and 4 horses from January to April 2025. During weeks 0 and 12, ultrasound examinations were performed 24 hours apart,...
Walking prior to contrast tenogram radiograph acquisition improves radiological identification of equine digital flexor tendon sheath pathology. the protocol for mobilization of the fetlock region prior to acquiring a contrast tenogram radiograph is not clearly defined. Objective: to determine if walking exercise improves identification of DFTS pathology on contrast tenography. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Nineteen horses that underwent contrast tenography and subsequent surgical tenoscopy were included. A tenogram protocol was developed to enable comparison of diagnostic accuracy after increasing mobilization of the affected limb post-injection. Following contrast injection three tenogram radiographs were taken, (1) immediately ...
Intraoperative Mechanical Power and Post-Anesthetic Respiratory Outcomes in Horses: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Mechanical power (MP) represents the ventilatory-delivered energy to the respiratory system, integrating multiple variables into a single parameter. It has been linked to ventilator-induced lung injury and post-ventilation complications in human medicine, while clinical relevance in equine anesthesia remains insufficient. Objective: To evaluate the association between intraoperative mechanical power and postoperative respiratory outcomes in horses undergoing inhalant anesthesia. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed anesthesia records from 843 adult horses anesthetized between 2023...
Comparative genomics of Standardbred horses reveals candidate regions under selection for harness racing performance. Harness racing performance in horses is a complex polygenic trait influenced by genetic background, breeding history, training, and environment. Understanding genomic patterns shaped by long-term artificial selection provides insights into performance-related traits and breed-specific genomic variation. Objective: This study aimed to characterize genomic differentiation, population structure, and candidate genomic regions potentially influenced by historical selection in Standardbred horses using comparative whole-genome sequencing involving diverse horse breeds. Methods: Whole-genome sequenci...
Effect of sample storage on pH-value in equine faeces. Measurements of pH-value in equine faeces are often performed in studies on nutrition and health in horses, but a standard protocol for it is lacking despite the knowledge that different sample handling may affect the pH-value. Sample handling prior to pH-measurement is often determined by practical settings and has been reported to vary in published studies within the area. The purpose of the current study was therefore to investigate the influence of different combinations of storage time and temperature on the pH-value in equine faecal samples in comparison to immediate pH-measurement at de...
Analgesic use, safety and pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen in equids: A structured scoping review. Despite its frequent use in equine clinical practice, scientific data on the use of acetaminophen in horses remain limited. Objective: To map and critically appraise the available evidence on the analgesic use, safety and pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen in horses. Methods: Structured scoping review. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews using the terms '(paracetamol OR acetaminophen) AND (pain OR safety OR toxicosis OR pharmacokinetics) AND (horse OR pony OR donkey OR mule)' across Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed from dat...
Intraoperative monitoring and anaesthetic complications in horses: A secondary analysis of the CEPEF4 multicentre cohort. CEPEF4 provides the most comprehensive contemporary dataset on perianaesthetic risk in horses. Intraoperative complications, monitoring and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)-stratified associations with death remain incompletely described. Objective: To describe monitoring and complication incidence, assess associations with ASA physical status, and compare ASA-stratified mortality by complication status. Methods: Secondary analysis of a prospective, multicentre cohort study. Methods: Data from 47,371 equine general anaesthetics were analysed. Monitoring was described overall and by ...
Equine Blood and Salivary Cortisol Levels While Exercising on a Water Treadmill with an Artificial River System. A water treadmill (WT) is used in equine rehabilitation and training. This study aimed to investigate whether varying water depths and using an active artificial river (AR) system during water treadmill exercise would affect physiological stress responses in leisure horses. Thirteen leisure horses participated in five 20 min WT sessions, including those with a treadmill with dry belt, fetlock-depth WT (with/without AR), and carpal-depth WT (with/without AR) at a walking speed of 1.25 m/s. Blood and salivary cortisol levels were measured before, immediately after, and 30 min after exercise. Blo...
Allele frequencies of 7 inherited disorders in performance and random cohorts of American Quarter Horses (2020-2024). To estimate allele frequencies for genetic diseases in the American Quarter Horse (QH), including hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP), type 1 polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM1), malignant hyperthermia (MH), myosin-heavy chain myopathy (MYHM), glycogen branching enzyme deficiency (GBED), hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA), and equine juvenile spinocerebellar ataxia (EJSCA), and to compare these frequencies over time among elite performance subgroups and a random cohort of registered horses. Unassigned: In this prospective genetic survey, DNA was extracted from 300 elite ...
Multi-Detector Helical Computer Tomography, Transrectal Ultrasonography and Histology of the Lumbosacral Area: A Comparative Study in Warmblood Horse Cadavers. Pain arising from the lumbosacral region is a recognized cause of poor performance and impaired welfare in horses. However, structural changes in the intertransverse joints (ITJs), lumbar articular process joints (APJs), and lumbosacral intervertebral discs (LSDs) may also occur in asymptomatic horses, complicating interpretation of imaging findings.This study evaluated these structures in 14 middle-aged Warmblood cadavers that were not lame according to the owners prior the onset of the problem that resulted in euthanasia or slaughter and correlated ultrasonographic (US) and computed tomograp...
Relationship Between Feed Olfactory Exploration and Consumption in Horses. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between horses' behaviour during olfactory exploration and following consumption of the same food containing herbs, either previously exposed to the herb odour or not. Twenty horses' responses to 14 herbs were compared in a smelling test, when the horses sniffed a herb, and after 20 min a consumption test, when they consumed oats mixed with the same herb. Before the tests, the horses were exposed to the scent of seven herbs, whereas the remaining seven herbs were non-pre-exposed. The results show that horses consumed oats with herbal additi...
Mesenchymal stem cells in veterinary clinical practice: Evidence from naturally occurring diseases. Over the past two decades, the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in veterinary medicine has expanded rapidly, although the clinical evidence remains in its early stages. This review discusses clinical studies involving client-owned animals with naturally occurring diseases in which MSCs or MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) were used as treatments. It covers musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis, tendon and ligament injuries, and bone diseases; soft-tissue and oral mucosal conditions; neurological disorders; ophthalmic diseases; and internal medicine disorders, such as i...
Effects of pulsed electromagnetic therapy on the major hematological and biochemical parameters in horses. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, a commonly used supplementary treatment in the horse industry, shows promise in enhancing circulation, reducing inflammation, and supporting cellular repair; however, its effects on equine physiology remain unclear. Limited research and inconsistent protocols create uncertainty about its efficacy and safety in horses. Our study evaluates the short-term effects of PEMF on hematological and biochemical parameters in horses. Five active sport horses underwent PEMF therapy for five consecutive days using a full-body blanket at specific frequencies. Bloo...
A color-coded atlas of the cortical surface anatomy of the equine brain. The horse has a highly gyrencephalic cerebrum; however, detailed references of equine cortical surface anatomy remain limited, and terminology inconsistencies continue to complicate comparative, clinical, and educational applications. This research focused on creating a standardized, high-resolution, color-coded atlas of equine brain sulci and gyri, based on the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria (NAV). Unassigned: Brains from ten neurologically normal horses were examined. Following fixation and dissection, the sulci and gyri of the lateral, dorsal, rostral, and medial surfaces were documented, col...
Genetic variants of EcPV2 E6 and E7 in equine genital and oronasal squamous cell carcinoma. Since its discovery in 2008, equine papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2) has been detected in up to 100% of equine genital and up to 40% of equine oronasal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Preliminary sequence data point to the existence of EcPV2 E6 and E7 oncogene variants compared to the British reference sequence from 2008. Objective: To Identify E6 and E7 sequence variations in EcPV2-positive tumours of horses from Continental Europe and Iceland. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: EcPV2 E6 and E7 were amplified from DNA of 60 EcPV2-positive SCCs/SCC precursor lesions. Amplicons were gel-pur...
Horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction have an altered fecal short-chain fatty acid profile. Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a prevalent endocrine disease in older horses sharing pathogenetic features with Parkinson disease, including dopaminergic neurodegeneration and α-synuclein aggregation. This study was conducted to determine whether horses with PPID exhibit changes in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles as described in Parkinson disease, providing further evidence for involvement of a microbiota-gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis of PPID. Unassigned: Prospective case-control study including 22 horses > 12 years of age. Diagnosis of PPID was based on clinical ...
