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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.
Validation of a novel instrumented hoof boot with pressure sensors using force plate gait kinetics in horses at walk and trot. Force plates (FP) are considered the gold standard for quantitative equine gait evaluation but are limited to experimental use. An instrumented hoof boot (IHB) with pressure sensors and an inertial measurement unit would allow clinicians to objectively assess kinetic parameters and gait symmetry. Objective: To validate the IHB by comparing kinetic parameters with obtained FP data. Methods: In vivo experiments. Methods: Twenty-seven horses were measured with IHBs on FPs at walk and trot. Mean value kinetic parameters recorded were: (1) peak vertical force (PVF) [N/kg]/peak vertical pressure (PV...
The effect of ertugliflozin on serum insulin and glucose in healthy horses receiving dexamethasone. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) can be used to manage insulin dysregulation (ID). Their effect on corticosteroid-induced ID is unknown. Objective: Evaluate effects of ertugliflozin on serum insulin and glucose concentrations in horses receiving dexamethasone (DEX). We hypothesized that DEX would induce ID and ertugliflozin coadministration would mitigate that effect. Methods: Seven healthy horses. Methods: Randomized crossover design; horses received DEX (0.06 mg/kg IV q48h; DEX)or ertugliflozin (0.05 mg/kg PO q24h) plus DEX (SGLT-2i group) for seven days. Oral sugar (OST...
Characterisation of microbial metabolite profiles across the gastrointestinal tract of horses fed on pasture, hay or oat-supplemented rations. Dietary composition substantially influences the intensity and site of microbial metabolite production in the gastrointestinal tract. These metabolites have numerous beneficial effects on equine health, but may also be involved in the development of gastrointestinal disorders. It remains unclear whether different feeding strategies, including starch supplementation, can alter microbial metabolite profiles along the gastrointestinal tract. This study aimed to compare the metabolite profiles of the microbial communities in the gastrointestinal tract of horses fed on pasture 24 h/day (PST; n =...
Ursodeoxycholic Acid Oral Pharmacokinetics and Plasma Bile Acid Profile Changes in a Population of Healthy Neonatal Foals. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a secondary bile acid used in humans for the treatment of some cholestatic diseases. Interest in its potential use in equine patients with liver conditions has increased. Pharmacokinetic parameters in adult horses have recently been reported; however, they are not available for foals. The objective of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics of UDCA following a single oral dose of 15 mg/kg in six healthy neonatal foals and evaluate associated changes in bile acids (BA) profile. UDCA concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass...
Oral Mosapride Attenuates Gastrointestinal Dysmotility During Experimental Endotoxemia in Horses: A Randomized, Blinded Crossover Study. Endotoxemia is a major contributor to gastrointestinal hypomotility and postoperative ileus in horses. This study investigated whether oral mosapride retained prokinetic activity during acute lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia. Seven healthy adult horses were enrolled in a randomized, blinded, three-period crossover trial and received LPS alone, mosapride alone (MOSA), or LPS plus mosapride (LPS + MOSA), with a 14-day washout interval between periods. Mosapride was administered orally at 2 mg/kg, whereas endotoxemia was induced by an intravenous infusion of O55:B5 LPS (0.03 µg/kg) ...
The Impact of Track Incline on Musculoskeletal Injuries in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Training: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Fractures on Flat and Uphill Woodchip Surfaces. While race-day musculoskeletal injuries are well-documented, a considerable gap exists regarding fractures sustained during training, where Thoroughbred racehorses accumulate the majority of their high-speed exercise. In Japan, compliant woodchip tracks are frequently used, and uphill track geometries are a foundational element of conditioning. Objective: To quantify and describe the incidence and anatomical distribution of fractures occurring during training on flat versus uphill woodchip tracks over a 15-year period (2008-2022). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using centr...
Weigh tape more accurately estimates equine body weight than morphometric formula: a controlled technical assessment. Accurate body weight (BW) estimation in horses is essential for clinical and nutritional management; however, calibrated scales are often unavailable under field conditions. Objective: To compare the longitudinal accuracy and consistency of a commercial weigh tape and the Carroll and Huntington morphometric formula against calibrated digital scale measurements in adult horses. Methods: In a prospective longitudinal experimental study, six clinically healthy adult crossbred horses (mean real body weight [Rbw] 355.5 ± 21.2 kg) were monitored weekly for 63 days under controlled management condit...
Correction: First-time description of MHC diversity in Straight Egyptian Arabian horses using immune-linked microsatellite markers. [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1859977.].
Effects of constant rate infusion of a fixed-dose combination of medetomidine and vatinoxan on sedation, cardiorespiratory variables, and gastrointestinal activity in standing Thoroughbred horses. A fixed-dose combination of medetomidine (MED) and vatinoxan (VTX), a peripherally selective α2-adrenoceptor antagonist, is commercially available, but its constant rate infusion (CRI) has not been evaluated. Objective: To compare the sedative effects, cardiorespiratory variables, and gastrointestinal activity of MED-VTX and MED-atipamezole (ATIP) with MED alone in Thoroughbred horses. Methods: Six healthy Thoroughbreds underwent a blinded three-treatment, three-period crossover study. Horses received MED (7 μg/kg IV; 5 μg/kg/h CRI for 60 min) alone (gM), with VTX (140 μg/kg IV; 100 μg/kg...
Effect of conditioned medium from equine Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem/stromal cells on cool-stored stallion semen. Artificial insemination in horses largely relies on cooled transported semen, but stallion spermatozoa are highly sensitive to cold stress, limiting storage duration. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell-derived conditioned medium (CM) has shown protective effects on sperm in other species, yet its impact on equine semen remains unexplored. This study investigated the effects of equine Wharton's jelly-derived MSC-CM (eWJ-MSC-CM), on the quality of cooled stallion semen. Semen from five stallions of proven fertility was extended in INRA96 supplemented with 0, 5, or 15% eWJ-MSC-CM at 5 °C for 0, 24 a...
Distal limb wraps produce gait- and material-dependent post-exercise changes in stride timing and limb kinematics in horses. Distal limb wraps are widely used during equine exercise, but their effects on post-exercise kinematics and movement symmetry remain poorly defined. Objective: To determine whether elastic and fleece distal limb wraps alter temporal stride variables, distal limb kinematics, and axial movement symmetry after standardised round-pen exercise. Methods: Six adult horses completed a prospective crossover study with three conditions: no wraps, elastic wraps, and fleece wraps. Wraps were applied bilaterally to all distal limbs at an initial pressure of 20 mmHg. After 20 minutes of free round-pen exerc...
Comparison of blind end closure techniques in equine ileum. To determine the difference in bursting pressure (BP), bursting wall tension (BWT), and closure speed between commonly utilized methods of ileal stump closure. Methods: Randomized experimental study. Methods: A total of 71 ileal segments from 18 healthy horses. Methods: Ileum was collected postmortem from 18 horses and divided into four segments. One end of each segment was closed using one of three techniques: Parker-Kerr (PK), gastrointestinal staples (ST), or gastrointestinal staples with a Lembert staple oversew (SO). Closure time was recorded. Control (C) segments were not altered. Segmen...
Residual contamination in nebulization medication cups after corticosteroid administration: an in vitro assessment with implications for equine doping control. Nebulization is increasingly used to administer respiratory medications in horses. However, the potential for residual contamination in medication cups after administering regulated substances raises concerns about inadvertent doping. Objective: To evaluate whether medication cups used for nebulization of corticosteroids can subsequently be used for administration of non-regulated substances without detectable carryover. Methods: In vitro experimental study. Methods: Three corticosteroids (budesonide, dexamethasone, fluticasone propionate) were nebulized using Flexineb™ medication cups. Foll...
[Determination of 33 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug residues in horse urine by QuEChERS-ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry]. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs （NSAIDs） are often used to treat horses' injuries and pain due to long-term training and competitions. In equestrian competitions， NSAIDs do not affect the upper limit of a horse's athletic ability， but they can enable the horse to perform close to its maximum capacity by reducing inflammation and pain. This not only affects the competition results， but also fails to ensure the health and welfare of the horses. Therefore， it has become crucial to effectively monitor and control NSAIDs residues during equestrian competition. In this study， a r...
Warmed intravenous fluid administration attenuated a reduction in body temperature in anaesthetised horses. Peri-anaesthetic hypothermia is a well-documented complication of general anaesthesia and is associated with prolonged recovery, impaired wound healing, and delayed coagulation. Fluid warmers can be used to mitigate heat loss, but there is little evidence supporting their effectiveness in equine anaesthesia. Objective: To determine whether administration of warmed intravenous fluids attenuates heat loss during general anaesthesia in horses. Methods: Prospective, randomised, crossover in vivo experiment. Methods: Six healthy adult horses were anaesthetised twice and administered intravenous flu...
Karyotype evolution and phylogenetic conflict in Eurasian wild asses illuminated by a chromosome-level genome assembly of the Mongolian wild ass (Equus hemionus hemionus). The evolutionary history and taxonomy of the Eurasian wild ass (Equus hemionus) remain contentious due to limited genomic resources and conflicting phylogenetic signals. Here, we present the first chromosome-level genome assembly of the Mongolian wild ass (E. h. hemionus). The assembly reveals a diploid number of 2n = 52 and identifies a lineage-specific chromosomal fusion homologous to horse chromosomes 8q and 15, which is uniquely shared with E. kiang. By integrating autosomal, mitochondrial, and Y-chromosomal data with paleogenomes, we resolved a well-supported phylogeny identifying four ...
Simplified ultrasound-guided technique improves accuracy of median nerve perineural injection compared to “blind” techniques in equine ex vivo specimens. To assess the feasibility of a simplified ultrasound-guided technique (SUGT) for perineural injection of the median nerve ex vivo, to determine and compare the accuracy of 3 techniques for perineural injection of the median nerve (SUGT, "blind" proximal, and "blind" distal), and to evaluate and compare the dye distribution following perineural injection of the median nerve following each technique. Unassigned: This was an ex vivo experimental study performed on thoracic limbs (from April through October 2025). Simplified ultrasound-guided technique and blind proximal were performed in paired l...
Characterization of the Healthy Ocular Mycobiome of Purebred Lusitano Horses Using Oxford Nanopore Long-Read Sequencing. The ocular surface represents a unique microbial ecosystem continuously exposed to environmental microorganisms; however, the fungal component of the healthy equine ocular microbiome remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to characterize the ocular surface mycobiome of 12 clinically healthy Purebred Lusitano horses from three geographical regions in Portugal kept in two housing systems using Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing and conventional fungal culture. Sequencing revealed a highly diverse fungal community with marked inter-individual variability. The most abundant genera were ,...
Correction: Sleep architecture and lying behavior in horses across age groups and two housing systems: an overnight non-invasive EEG study. [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1898580.].
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...
Mutual wellbeing in an equine-assisted intervention: experimental evidence for the two-way hypothesis and the importance of interaction method. Rising rates of mental health disorders have increased demand for scalable, non-pharmacological interventions. Interactions with animals can improve emotional wellbeing across diverse populations, yet the mechanisms responsible for these benefits remain poorly understood. Most research focuses on human outcomes while treating the animal as a passive component of the interaction, despite human-animal interactions being inherently reciprocal. We therefore propose the Two-Way Hypothesis, which predicts that human behavior shapes animal behavior, which in turn contributes to variation in human emo...
Effects of sympathomimetic agents on heart rate variability during general anesthesia in Thoroughbred horses. Heart rate variability (HRV) is widely used as a noninvasive index of autonomic nervous system activity. The objective of this study was to determine whether the administration of sympathomimetic agents alters HRV indices during general anesthesia in Thoroughbred horses. Five healthy Thoroughbred horses were anesthetized with sevoflurane in oxygen. During 2-5 hr of general anesthesia, five treatments were administered to each horse in a randomized order. Two doses (µg·kg·min) of epinephrine (0.1 and 0.5), norepinephrine (0.5 and 1), dobutamine (1 and 5), dopamine (5 and 15), and saline (as ...
Functional and biochemical inflammatory responses to a 75 ng intra-articular recombinant equine interleukin-1β (reIL-1β) synovitis model. Recently, a synovitis model using 75 ng intra-articular recombinant equine interleukin-1 (reIL 1β), showed promise for inducing a mild, self-limiting inflammatory response without overtly altering upper-body movement asymmetry in = 3 horses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of this 75 ng reIL-1β model on gait biomechanics and synovial fluid (SF) inflammatory, pro-resolution, and cartilage turnover biomarkers in a larger equine sample. SF samples were collected from the left intercarpal joint of = 11 horses at baseline and at 6- and 12-hours following 75 ng reIL-1β injection and...
Pelvic Flexure Enterotomy in Horses: Scoping Review and Synthesis of the Literature (1996-2026). This scoping review maps the available literature aimed at identifying the most appropriate technique for suturing pelvic flexure enterotomies in horses. A comprehensive search of Web of Science, Google Scholar, and the National Center for Biotechnology Information was conducted for studies published between January 1996 and February 2026, using terms related to pelvic flexure enterotomy and equine patients. From 22,146 records, only five ex vivo studies on healthy equine colon specimens met the inclusion criteria. The studies compared variables such as suturing time, suture pattern, material,...
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...
Influence of Manual Double-Spin Preparation Protocols on the Cellular and Growth Factor Composition of Equine Platelet-Rich Plasma. This prospective, randomised, ex vivo study investigated the effects of manual double-spin centrifugation protocols on the cellular and growth factor composition of equine platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Blood from 20 healthy horses was evaluated in two phases. In Phase A (n = 10), nine first-spin protocols were compared, and two were selected based on platelet enrichment and leukocyte reduction. In Phase B (n = 10), these were combined with nine second-spin conditions, generating 18 PRP preparations. Platelet (PLT), leukocyte (WBC) and erythrocyte (RBC) concentrations and PDGF-BB and TGF-β conce...
Evaluation of tilapia skin (Oreochromis niloticus) frozen, frog skin (Rana catesbeiana), and tilapia skin (Oreochromis niloticus) sterilized with gamma rays dressings, in equine skin wound healing. Skin wounds are common in horses due to species-specific behavioral responses. Equine skin morphology, vascularization, and inflammatory responses to wounds are comparable to those in humans, supporting the translational relevance of equine wound-healing studies. Investigating biomaterials such as tilapia and frog skin may improve wound management. This study demonstrated that sterilized tilapia and frog skin exhibit promising wound-healing properties. Unassigned: Macroscopic, microscopic, and thermographic aspects of second-intention wound healing were compared in six horses with surgically i...
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...
