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.
Genome sequence of Equine Erythroparvovirus 1, identified in the United States. is a parvovirus that was identified in the blood of four horses in the United States. Here, we report one genome from a horse in New York State. This genome may represent a new species within the genus .
Administration Studies in Equine Antidoping Research: Designing Scientific Investigations to Effectively Direct Medication Control in Racehorses. Pharmacokinetics is the study of the movement of drug in the body and includes the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Pharmacodynamics is the pharmacologic effect of the drug on the body. The pharmacokinetics of a drug determines its pharmacologic effect. Pharmacokinetic studies describe drug concentrations while pharmacodynamics allow for assessment of drug effects. Combined pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies allow for integration of drug concentrations with pharmacologic effect. Data generated from pharmacokinetic studies can be especially useful in establ...
Association between fungal detection, airways inflammation and diagnosis of moderate to severe asthma in horses. Fungi are ubiquitous in horses' environment. Their contribution to the pathophysiology of severe asthma (SA) is acknowledged, while controversies remain for mild-moderate asthma (MA). Objective: We hypothesised that fungi are a risk factor for asthma. Our objective was to compare different combinations of analytical methods (cytology, culture) and sampling sites (tracheal wash (TW), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)) in relation to clinical status (control, MA, SA). Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study. Methods: The study population included asymptomatic racing horses in the field and ...
Use of full-thickness mesh grafts and full-thickness meek micrografts in five horses with ear skin defects caused by trauma or neoplasm resection. To report the management and outcomes of five horses with ear skin defects treated with the use of full-thickness mesh grafts and full-thickness Meek micrografts. Methods: Five horses with acute or granulating pinna skin wounds. Methods: Short case series. Methods: A full-thickness graft was harvested from the pectoral region under general anesthesia. The sheet graft was stretched on a sterile plastic board with the epidermal side facing down. The subcutaneous fat and fascia were removed by sharp dissection. The skin graft was then meshed by hand or using a block mesher, or manually cut into m...
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...
Nebulization of 2% lidocaine has no detectable impact on the healthy equine respiratory microbiota. Glucocorticosteroids remain the most common pharmaceutical approach for the treatment of equine asthma but can be associated with significant side effects, including respiratory microbiome alterations. The goal of the study was to assess the impact of 2% lidocaine nebulization, a projected alternative treatment of equine asthma, on the healthy equine respiratory microbiota. A prospective, randomized, controlled, blinded, 2-way crossover study was performed, to assess the effect of 1 mg/kg 2% lidocaine (7 treatments over 4 days) on the equine respiratory microbiota compared to control horses (s...
Oxidative stress in critically ill neonatal foals. Oxidative injury occurs in septic people, but the role of oxidative stress and antioxidants has rarely been evaluated in foals. Objective: To measure reactive oxygen species (ROS), biomarkers of oxidative injury, and antioxidants in neonatal foals. We hypothesized that ill foals would have higher blood concentrations of ROS and biomarkers of oxidative injury and lower concentrations of antioxidants compared to healthy foals. Methods: Seventy-two hospitalized and 21 healthy neonatal foals. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Reactive oxygen species (hydrogen peroxide [HO]), biomarkers of oxidati...
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...
From Pre-Foaling to Late Pregnancy: Cortisol, DHEA(S), Progesterone, 17-β-Estradiol, and Allopregnanolone Hair Concentration Profiles in Standardbred Mares. Pregnancy and parturition represent two important physiologic phases in female mammals, in which metabolic, behavioral, and endocrinologic changes should occur in perfect timing and interaction, leading to a normal course of gestation and the occurrence of parturition at term, allowing the birth of mature and viable offspring. The present study aimed to describe the hormonal changes recorded in the hair occurring in mares from pre-foaling to late pregnancy. The hair cortisol (C) concentrations did not show any significant variations throughout the study, while dehydroepiandrosterone (sulfate) ...
In vitro evaluation of anthelmintic activity of biocompatibile carbon quantum dot nanocomposite against egg and larval stages of equine strongyles. Strongyle nematodes pose a major challenge in veterinary parasitology, causing significant economic losses in livestock due to resistance to conventional treatments. Current anthelmintics, like Ivermectin, often encounter resistance issues. This study aims to address these gaps by synthesizing Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) and Copper-Doped CQDs (Cu@CQDs) using glucose extract, and evaluating their nematicidal properties against strongyles in vitro. We assessed the nematicidal effects of CQDs and Cu@CQDs through larval feeding inhibition of first-stage larvae (L1), egg hatch inhibition (EHI), and ...
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 ...
Investigating the potential immunomodulatory effects of commercial oral probiotic supplements on equine gastrointestinal tract barrier function. Oral probiotic dietary supplements are widely used in veterinary medicine, including in horses. It is hypothesized that the presence of probiotic strains can both modulate the intestinal microbiota and affect mucosal immunity parameters. Such a study has not yet been conducted in horses. Unassigned: This study involved 12 healthy horses, which were randomly divided into a control group and a group that received a commercial oral probiotic formula containing , or for 84 days. Fecal samples were collected from all horses on day 0 (D0), 28 days after starting the probiotic (D28), 56 days (D56),...
Ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block increases intestinal motility in normal horses. To describe a technique for ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block in horses and characterize its effect on intestinal motility in healthy horses. Methods: This study was conducted from January 2022 through June 2022. In phase 1 (dye study), an ultrasound-guided technique was optimized, and dye deposition around the celiac plexus branches was evaluated via postmortem dissection in 6 horses. In phase 2 (experimental study), 6 healthy horses were fasted and sedated with 0.6 mg/kg xylazine, IV (experiment 1). After a washout period, the ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block with lidocaine 1% (1.3 ...
Distal limb immersion in ice and water is the most effective means of cooling the equine hoof lamellae under clinically relevant conditions. To determine the relationship between hoof surface (HS), hoof wall (HW), and lamellar tissue (LAM) temperature during distal limb cooling and evaluate 4 cooling methods in ambulatory horses over extended periods using HW to estimate LAM temperature. Methods: 8 healthy, university-owned horses were enrolled. Temperature was measured over 4 hours at LAM, HS, and HW for 4 cooling methods: ice sleeve (SLEEVE), ice pack system (ICEPACK), low-volume ice water immersion (LV-IMMERSION), and high-volume ice water immersion (HV-IMMERSION). The relationship between HW, HS, and LAM was mathematically mode...
Anti-Müllerian hormone levels in relation to ovarian structures, season and age in Lipizzaner broodmares. The anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a granulosa cell-derived hormone that has been associated with female fertility and reflects the population of growing follicles. This study aimed to evaluate the average concentration of AMH in Lipizzaner mares, as well as to determine the relationship between AMH concentration and follicle number and size. We also investigated the relationship between the age of mares and their AMH levels. The possible effect of seasonality of AMH levels was also assessed. Twenty-three mares between 6 and 24 years of age were included in the experiment. Mares were divided...
A structured exercise regimen enhances autonomic function compared to unstructured physical activities in geriatric horses. Older horses often show reduced autonomic responses, affecting their well-being. While regular exercise can help maintain autonomic function, the impact of structured exercise on geriatric horses is not well understood. A study involving 27 geriatric horses examined their autonomic modulation over 12 weeks under different activity levels. Horses were divided into three groups: (1) sedentary (SEL), (2) those participating in unstructured activities (RAT), and (3) those following a structured exercise regimen (SER). Results showed that the minimum and average heart rates decreased in the structu...
Soybean oil supplement induces increased approaching behavior to humans and alters serotonin concentrations in horses. Enhancement of human-horse interaction is crucial for safety in equine management, as poor relationships between humans and horses can lead to accidents. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is highly related to social affinity in animals and several studies have been documented that supplementation of tryptophan, which is a precursor of serotonin, can increase calmness of horses. This study aimed to assess the effect of tryptophan through soybean oil supplementation on serotonin concentrations and the behavior of horses. Six horses participated and the horses were treated with or without soyb...
Exploring factors that influence the behavior response to novel object tests in young thoroughbred horses: investigating sex, test site and auction history. The novel object test is one of the three most common fear tests in veterinary science and employed in several different species. Although having been applied in several different studies in horses, it is surprising that there is no standardized test procedure available for these kinds of tests. Unassigned: This study investigated the performance of the novel object test on 42 young Thoroughbred horses to determine the effect of sex (mare or stallion), test sites (round pen or paddock) and whether the horses had previously participated in an auction or not on the behavior during the novel obje...
Comparing the effectiveness of four antihistamines with olopatadine in healthy Thoroughbred horses. We compared the antihistamine effect of four new antihistamines with olopatadine, which is used to treat equine allergic diseases. Six healthy Thoroughbred horses received oral doses of olopatadine (50 mg), levocetirizine (50 mg), bilastine (200 mg), rupatadine (100 mg), and desloratadine (50 mg) at >2-week intervals. The effects were investigated by measurement of the wheal area induced by histamine intradermal injection, and inhibition rate was compared with positive and negative controls. The maximum wheal inhibition rate (mean ± SD) of olopatadine (85.3% ± 7.7%) was significantly higher ...
Influence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 on the fecal pH, markers of gut permeability, fecal microbiota, and markers of systemic inflammation in sedentary horses fed a high-starch diet. Thirty mature Quarter Horse geldings were used in a completely randomized 32-d study to test the hypotheses that supplemental live Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 improves apparent digestion, stabilizes the fecal pH, reduces gut permeability, maintains microbial communities, and decreases inflammation in horses fed a high-starch diet. Horses were stratified by body weight, age, and body condition score (BCS) to one of two treatments: concentrate formulated with 2g starch • kg BW-1 • meal-1 (CON; n=15) or the same concentrate top-dressed with 25g/d Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 ...
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...
Detection of equine influenza virus gene in the air around infected horses. Equine influenza virus (EIV) can be transmitted by inhalation of aerosolized droplets, direct contact, and contaminated fomites. However, to our knowledge, there are no reports of the recovery of EIV from the air surrounding infected horses. Here, we evaluated whether EIV can be recovered from the air in the stalls of experimentally infected horses by using an air sampler. Furthermore, we examined whether rapid molecular test kits with reaction times of less than 30 min can detect EIV from air samples for potential field application. Two horses kept in individual stalls were experimentally i...
A genome-wide association study for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy in the Thoroughbred horse identifies a candidate gene that regulates myelin structure. Equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) is an economically important upper respiratory tract (URT) disease with a genetic contribution to risk, but genetic variants independent of height have not been identified for Thoroughbreds. The method of clinical assessment for RLN is critical to accurately phenotype groups for genetic studies. Objective: To identify genetic risk loci for RLN in Thoroughbreds in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) following high-resolution phenotyping. Methods: Case-control. Methods: Thoroughbred horses were characterised as RLN cases and controls using resting a...
Sperm vitrification in horses and donkeys. Sperm vitrification is an alternative freezing method, which includes high cooling rates and non-permeable cryoprotectants agents. The first attempt in equids was using the spheres technique by directly dropping small volumes of the sperm into liquid nitrogen. Later, vitrification was developed using 0.25 mL straws with outer covers, which resulted in similar progressive motility when compared to conventional freezing in donkeys (44.3 ± 15.0 % vs. 44.7 ± 18.2 %) or even higher in horses (48.2 ± 2.3 % vs. 37.3 ± 2.2 %). Subsequently, the vitrification of larger volumes of sperm in 0.5 mL st...
Bronchial vessel density is correlated with airway smooth muscle cell proliferation in horses with mild and moderate asthma. In severe equine asthma, structural remodeling of the airways ultimately leads to bronchial wall thickening and airflow obstruction. Increased bronchial vascularization has been described in horses affected by the severe form of the disease, but whether it contributes to bronchial remodeling in milder forms of asthma remains to be determined. In a blinded, retrospective case-control study, we evaluated the presence of bronchial angiogenesis in horses with mild and moderate equine asthma (MEA) and its correlation to airway smooth muscle remodeling. Methods: Endobronchial biopsies from the Equin...
Chronic oral dosing of cannabidiol and cannabidiolic acid full-spectrum hemp oil extracts has no adverse effects in horses: a pharmacokinetic and safety study. To compare the pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) in horses and to evaluate the safety of their chronic administration. Methods: CBD- and CBDA-rich oil (1 mg/kg) were administered orally twice daily to 7 adult horses over 6 weeks in a randomized, crossover design with a 2-week washout period. A 12-hour pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted on day 1 of each 6-week trial, followed by the measurement of peak and trough concentrations at weeks 1, 2, 4, and 6. The cannabinoids safety was assessed via daily physical examination, periodic bloodwork, and liver biopsy ...
Evaluation of equine perineural anesthesia simulators with integrated success control for veterinary education. The skills necessary to perform diagnostic perineural anesthesia in equids belongs to one of the Day One Competences of a veterinarian, so every veterinary graduate should be able to perform them correctly. For logistical, hygienic and ethical reasons, practical exercises on cadaver limbs are not accessible to all students. Two equine distal limb simulators were developed and evaluated as an additional instructional tool to train the required skills. Both simulators were designed and built with an integrated success control, with Simulator I (S1) designed to be a simplified anatomical model an...