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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.
Effects of Exercise on Ocular Parameters and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Saliva and Tear Fluid of Horses. Physical exercise is a physiological stressor in horses and may induce oxidative stress through increased production of reactive oxygen species. Saliva and tear fluid are accessible non-invasive matrices that may reflect oxidative balance, while ocular parameters including intraocular pressure (IOP), tear secretion (TS) and central corneal thickness (CCT) are key components of ocular homeostasis. Objective: To evaluate the effects of a standardised submaximal exercise session on IOP, TS and CCT, and on oxidative stress biomarkers (CAT, SOD, GSH, MDA, IMA) measured in saliva and tear fluid. Met...
Infrared Thermographic Assessment of Exercise-Induced Changes in Local Surface Temperature in Horses Following Treadmill Training: Preliminary Findings. Physical exercise induces physiological adaptations associated with increased muscular activity, metabolic heat production, and changes in body surface temperature. Infrared thermography has emerged as a non-invasive technique for assessing these thermal responses in horses. The present study aimed to evaluate the ability of infrared thermography to detect changes in mean local surface temperature and to qualitatively assess alterations in thermal distribution patterns following treadmill exercise. Methods: Three clinically healthy Warmblood horses were monitored over 10 consecutive training s...
The effects of clomiphene citrate on reproductive parameters in the mare. Clomiphene citrate (CC) is a longstanding human fertility drug that has yet to be investigated in horses. The objective was to evaluate effects of CC on mare reproduction. After follicle ablation on Day 0, treatment mares (n=5) received 2 grams of CC intravenously on Days 1-5 while control mares (n=4) received no treatment. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed on Days 1-5 and 8, and transvaginal oocyte aspiration occurred on Day 8. Hormones were analyzed on Days 0-5, 8, 11, and 15. Mares receiving CC exhibited higher uterine edema grades compared to control mares (P=0.009). Antral follicl...
Supplementation of IVM media with equine follicular fluid of large follicles increases blastocyst yield in equine ICSI programs. Despite advances in the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for the in vitro production of equine embryos, oocyte maturation and competence to sustain pre-implantation embryo development remain significant challenges. This study evaluated the supplementation of the in vitro maturation (IVM) medium with equine follicular fluid (eFF), obtained from young mares (2-15 years old) with oocyte-to-blastocyst conversion rates >22%, as a strategy to improve oocyte developmental competence. In the first experiment, IVM medium was supplemented with 10% eFF collected from ovarian follicles of di...
Pelvic axial rotation in hindlimb lame horses changes after diagnostic analgesia. Visual assessment of mild to moderate hindlimb lameness has low sensitivity and specificity, potentially leading to flawed diagnostic procedures. Pelvic axial rotation (roll) makes the assessment more complex but is also a potential source of information. Objective: To describe pelvic roll patterns in horses with unilateral hindlimb lameness before and after diagnostic analgesia. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Optical motion capture data from 20 horses with unilateral hindlimb lameness before and after successful local analgesia (assessed visually and objectively) were retrospectively ...
Comparison of Fogarty and Vollmar thrombectomy for chronic jugular thrombosis in horses. Chronic jugular vein thrombosis may result in persistent venous obstruction and impaired head drainage. Although surgical thrombectomy is performed in selected cases, experimental comparisons between mechanical techniques for chronic thrombus removal in horses are lacking. Objective: To compare Fogarty catheter thrombectomy alone with a combined Vollmar ring-Fogarty technique for restoration and maintenance of luminal patency in experimentally induced chronic jugular thrombosis. Methods: Randomised in vivo study. Methods: Chronic right jugular thrombosis was induced in 10 healthy adult horses....
Antibody kinetics against tetanus toxoid before and after primary vaccination of foals. Vaccination recommendations for foals against Clostridium tetani vary. Available studies assessing foal immune responses, maternal antibody interference, or individual variation often used small foal numbers. Objective: To quantify antibody responses after tetanus vaccination in foals and explore associations with passively transferred tetanus antibodies. Methods: Longitudinal cohort study. Methods: Sixty-two Warmblood foals from a single stud farm were followed from birth to 360 days of age. Foals received tetanus vaccinations at day 180 (d180) and d220 of life. Serum samples were collected...
Whole-genome characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Equine Rotavirus A isolated from Jeju Island, Korea. Equine Rotavirus A (ERVA) is a major cause of acute diarrhea in neonatal foals, leading to significant economic losses. Genetic variation and global transmission complicate disease control efforts. Objective: To analyze the complete genome of an ERVA strain from Jeju Island, Korea, and assess its genetic and phylogenetic relationships with global ERVA strains. Methods: Twenty-five fecal and swab samples were collected from diarrheic horses in Jeju during spring and summer 2025. Samples were screened using antigen testing and RT-PCR. One PCR-positive, antigen-test-positive sample was selected f...
The effect of intravenous fluids administered prior to competition: A randomized clinical. Administration of intravenous fluids prior to competition is common at major equestrian competitions, yet few studies have evaluated the benefits of this practice. Objective: The hypothesis was that pre-ride intravenous fluid therapy would be associated with a lower heart rate and improved laboratory hydration parameters during or after the ride. Methods: 14 client owned horses entered in a 45 km ride in extreme heat and terrain were randomly assigned to receive IV fluids (IVF) or no IV fluids (NIV) the day before the ride. Blood samples and physical examination findings were collected at 6 ti...
Detection of Cyclosporine in Horse Hair After Ocular Implant Administration. This study describes the detection and temporal distribution of cyclosporine in equine hair following ocular implant administration in a Thoroughbred gelding. Mane hair samples were collected at 172- and 217-day post-implantation and analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) after alkaline hydrolysis and liquid-liquid extraction. The method achieved an estimated limit of detection of 0.1 pg/mg. Cyclosporine was detected in hair at both sampling time points, with segmental analysis revealing distribution patterns consistent with systemic exposure and incorporation ...
Monitoring Estra-4,9-Diene-3,17-Dione Exposure in Equine Hair. This study investigated the incorporation of estra-4,9-diene-3,17-dione (dienedione) and its metabolites into equine hair following exogenous administration and evaluates the potential application of hair analysis for long-term doping surveillance. Mane hair samples were collected from three Thoroughbred castrated horses before and after oral administration of dienedione and from untreated colts for comparison. Dienedione was detected in post-administration hair from all treated horses but was absent in corresponding pre-administration samples. Segmental distribution patterns indicated contrib...
Effects of quercetin supplementation in cooling extender on sperm quality of stallions. Oxidative stress from excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) during cooling impairs equine sperm quality. Quercetin, a flavonoid with antioxidant properties, has been proposed to reduce oxidative damage in cooled semen. Objective: This study aimed to identify a suitable quercetin concentration among those tested for cooled equine semen and evaluate its effects on sperm kinematics, membrane integrity, and oxidative stress parameters. Methods: Four experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 (n = 8 ejaculates, 4 stallions) evaluated quercetin at 0, 20, 30, or 45 µg/mL at 5°C for 24 h. Experiment...
Cord blood mesenchymal stromal cells combined with hyaluronic acid show symptom-modifying and potential disease-modifying effects in an equine osteoarthritis fetlock chip model. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of lameness in horses, and current therapies largely address clinical signs rather than disease progression. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown promise as disease-modifying biologics, but their effects on joint structure and immunologic phenotype remain incompletely characterized. Unassigned: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of pooled cryopreserved equine umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (eCB-MSCs) combined with hyaluronic acid (HA) for surgically induced fetlock OA in horses, using integrated clinical, imaging, and synovial biomarker outcomes....
Eight Weeks of 448 kHz Radiofrequency Therapy Increases Multifidus Muscle Cross-Sectional Area and Modulates Thoracolumbar Range of Motion in Horses with Chronic Back Pain. We aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week 448 kHz radiofrequency (RF) on multifidus cross-sectional area (CSA) and thoracolumbar differential range of motion (ROM). Eight Thoroughbred horseball horses received four RF treatments (T9-L6) at 2-week intervals. Multifidus CSA (T10-L5) and differential spinal ROM between the withers (W), T13, T18, L3 and sacrum (S) were measured before treatment, immediately after the first session, 24 h after the first session, and at 8 weeks (15 days after the last session). Linear mixed models with Tukey post hoc comparisons were used. Significant effects...
Four Haylages, One Metabonome: Defining Diet Driven Metabolic Shifts in Ponies. Haylage is widely fed to all categories of stabled horses across Europe and New Zealand. Haylage can vary from high energy nutrient dense forage to low energy highly fibrous fodder, yet little is known about the impact different haylages have on metabolism in horses. This study provides the first direct comparison of feeding four different haylages: early cut (Lolium multiflorum), later cut (Lolium perenne) rye grass (R1 and R2); early and late cut meadow grass (M1 and M2), on urinary and faecal metabonomics, in ponies at maintenance. Using replicated Latin Square design, eight individually ho...
Neosaxitoxin Downregulates Inflammation in an Equine In Vivo Model of Osteoarthritis. Chronic synovial inflammation is a hallmark of osteoarthritis progression and is tightly regulated by synovial macrophages. Recently, voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) have emerged as potent modulators of macrophage-driven inflammation, positioning them as novel therapeutic targets. Among selective NaV channel blockers, neosaxitoxin exerts remarkable anesthetic and immunomodulatory effects; however, its effects on joint inflammation upon intra-articular delivery remain unexplored. Using an equine model of bilateral carpal osteoarthritis, this study evaluated the immunomodulatory and tissue-p...
Clinical outcomes of a novel flowable calcium silicate cement in equine endodontic treatment. Orthograde endodontic treatment of equine cheek teeth is performed infrequently with variable success rates of obturation with calcium hydroxide paste (CHP). A novel flowable calcium silicate cement (eCSC) formulated for use as an obturation material in equine teeth has demonstrated acceptable canal filling volumes and evidence of dentinal tubule penetration. However, clinical outcomes of eCSC-obturated equine teeth have not been reported. Objective: To report the clinical outcomes of orthograde endodontic treatment using eCSC. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Horses that underwent...
Short-term effects of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on subjective flexion-associated lameness responses and circulating cytokines in horses with distal tarsal osteoarthritis. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is commonly used in equine sports medicine for its proposed anti-inflammatory effects; however, limited controlled studies have evaluated its physiologic effects in horses. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of PEMF therapy on flexion-induced lameness and circulating cytokines in horses with radiographic evidence of distal tarsal osteoarthritis. Methods: Six mares were enrolled in a repeated-measures crossover design in which each horse served as its own control. Horses were evaluated at baseline (sham PEMF) and at ...
Evaluation of Serum Specific IgE Sensitization Profiles in a Korean Domestic Horse Population Using a Multiplex Allergen Line-blot Assay: A Cross-Sectional Screening Study. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical applicability of a multiplex serum specific Immunoglobulin E (sIgE) test kit 'ANITIA Equine IgE' for identifying the causes of allergic diseases in horses raised in Korea, and to determine the major sensitization antigen profiles in the domestic horse population. Serum or plasma samples were collected from a total of 140 horses, classified by management system (Group A, n=108) and purpose (Group B, n=32). IgE concentrations for 120 environmental and dietary allergens were measured using a multiplex line-blot assay based on an indirect immu...
Nucleic acid detection and molecular traceability of equine herpesvirus 1 in imported horses. Equid alphaherpesvirus 1 is a major pathogen threatening the global equine industry, causing respiratory disease, abortion, and neurological disease. Unassigned: In April 2024, during routine pathogen screening of a batch of imported quarantine horses from the Netherlands, four out of 20 nasal swab samples tested positive for EHV-1 nucleic acid. Unassigned: The affected horses exhibited only mild respiratory signs. ORF30 SNP typing at nucleotide position 2254 and Sanger sequencing confirmed that all positive samples belonged to the N752 non-neuropathogenic genotype. As virus isolation was unsu...
MicroRNA signatures of equine asthma phenotypes in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Equine asthma (EA) is a highly prevalent, chronic, inflammatory disease of the lower airways ranging from mild-to-moderate to severe clinical presentations. Diagnosis currently relies on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology, an invasive method associated with interobserver variability, which highlights the need for more reproducible approaches. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs involved in gene regulation. They are stable and readily detectable in body fluids and have shown promising results as biomarkers in human asthma. The aim of this pilot study was to characterize miRNA ...
Antimicrobial effects of equine regenerative medicine products: A systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies. Equine regenerative medicine products involving platelet-rich plasma (PRP), mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), and their derivatives are increasingly explored for antimicrobial and therapeutic roles, but their efficacy and between-study variability remain unclear. Objective: To systematically review and meta-analyse in vitro and in vivo evidence on antimicrobial effects of equine regenerative medicine products and to evaluate their efficacy against key pathogens. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis: METHODS: We followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses...
Body Condition, Metabolic Parameters and Semen Traits in Purebred Spanish Horses. The growing relevance of the Purebred Spanish horse has driven the extensive use of assisted reproductive technologies to preserve elite stallion genetics. Optimal reproductive performance is intrinsically linked to systemic health and high semen quality. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of body condition on the stallion's metabolic and endocrine profiles and their seminal parameters. Semen and blood samples were collected from 26 stallions (February-May in 2024-2025) whose body condition score (BCS) was assessed using the Henneke scale. They were classified into two groups, low BCS wit...
Intrauterine ozone therapy reduces bacterial load in mares with mixed bacterial endometritis: a longitudinal study. Mixed bacterial endometritis poses a therapeutic challenge in mares due to the coexistence of multiple pathogens with divergent antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. This study evaluated the effects of intrauterine ozone insufflation on uterine bacterial load and endometrial inflammatory response in mares with naturally acquired mixed bacterial endometritis. Fifteen mares with mixed bacterial infection were allocated to two treatment groups: a pathological control group receiving pure medical oxygen insufflation (PC; n = 6) and an ozone-treated group receiving 42 µg/mL ozone for three c...
Evaluation of Microvascular Flow Imaging and Power Doppler Ultrasonography in an Equine Model of Induced Superficial Digital Flexor Tendonitis. Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries are common in athletic horses and are associated with prolonged healing and high reinjury rates. Conventional ultrasonography provides structural information but limited physiologic assessment. This study compared microvascular imaging (MVI) and Power Doppler (PD) for evaluating vascular changes in a collagenase-induced equine SDFT injury model and assessed the effect of scanning technique on vascular signal detection. Eight adult Thoroughbred horses underwent bilateral collagenase-induced SDFT injury, with one forelimb randomly assigned to int...
The in vitro application of high-intensity laser therapy on equine platelet-rich plasma and autologous protein solution does not alter select cytokine and growth factor concentrations. To quantify the effects of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on the concentration of key immunomodulatory cytokines and growth factors in equine platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and autologous protein solution (APS). We hypothesized that HILT treatment of PRP and APS in vitro would increase the concentration of cytokines and growth factors compared to untreated controls. Unassigned: Whole blood was collected from 6 adult horses housed at the University of Pennsylvania in March 2025 and processed into PRP or APS using commercially available systems (Zoetis). Platelet-rich plasma and APS samples wer...
Differences between horses (Equus caballus) displaying oral and locomotor stereotypies in their responses to a stable mirror. Recent cross-species analyses suggest that the different forms of stereotypic behaviour have heterogeneous causal mechanisms. In ungulates, there are indications that some forms of locomotor stereotypy may be linked to social factors. Using the domestic horse as a model species within this clade, we investigated whether individuals displaying the locomotor stereotypy box-walking (n=6) demonstrated greater responses to a stable mirror, intended to mimic presence of a conspecific, than horses displaying the oral stereotypy crib-biting (n=5) and non-stereotypic horses (n=5). After a 24hr baseline...
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response and glucose homeostasis during exercise to fatigue before and after training in old and young adult Standardbred mares. While reduced cortisol responses to exercise have been described in older horses, the effects of aging and training on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) and downstream metabolic signaling are currently unknown. Unassigned: This study tested the hypothesis that age and exercise training alter the response of the HPA axis, insulin, and glucose during an acute exercise challenge to fatigue. Methods: Six old (22.0±0.7 years) and six young adult (7.3±0.6 years) unfit Standardbred mares were tested. Mares ran a graded exercise test before (GXT1) and after (GXT2) 8 weeks of trainin...
Somatic cell nuclear transfer as a complementary tool for genetic conservation of the Peruvian Paso horse. The Peruvian Paso horse, a breed of national significance in Peru known for its unique gait, has been selectively bred for nearly 500 years and now faces potential risks due to reduced genetic diversity. To investigate the potential of somatic cell nuclear transfer to enhance genetic conservation strategies, a program was initiated to produce cloned Peruvian Paso foals. Skin biopsies from a highly awarded stallion with exceptional breed-defining traits were used as the source of donor somatic cells. Of the 15 cloned embryos reconstructed, seven blastocysts were produced, and five were transfer...
Species-Specific Mechanisms of Sperm Transport: Predominant Roles of Motility in Ewes and Uterine Contractility in Mares. The factors controlling sperm transport within the female genital tract vary among species. The aim of this study was to quantify the respective roles of sperm motility and uterine contractions in passage of sperm within the reproductive tract of the mare and ewe. Sperm imaging was performed in vivo within the female genital tract of mares and ewes using probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) after intrauterine insemination during two stages of the cycle characterized by high (oestrus) or low (luteal phase) uterine contractility. Fluorescent microbeads (2 µm in diameter) were insemi...
