Topic:Arabian Horses
Arabian horses are a distinct breed known for their endurance, intelligence, and distinctive physical characteristics, including a refined head shape and high tail carriage. Originating from the Arabian Peninsula, these horses have played a significant role in the development of various modern horse breeds. Their genetic makeup contributes to their unique attributes, which include a strong cardiovascular system and efficient energy metabolism, making them well-suited for long-distance riding and endurance competitions. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the genetics, physiology, and performance attributes of Arabian horses, as well as their influence on other horse breeds and their role in equine sports and breeding programs.
Equine severe combined immunodeficiency: a defect in V(D)J recombination and DNA-dependent protein kinase activity. V(D)J rearrangement is the molecular mechanism by which an almost infinite array of specific immune receptors are generated. Defects in this process result in profound immunodeficiency as is the case in the C.B-17 SCID mouse or in RAG-1 (recombination-activating gene 1) or RAG-2 deficient mice. It has recently become clear that the V(D)J recombinase most likely consists of both lymphoid-specific factors and ubiquitously expressed components of the DNA double-strand break repair pathway. The deficit in SCID mice is in a factor that is required for both of these pathways. In this report, we show...
Inhibition of pseudocholinesterase activity in a 20-year-old gelding. A 20-year-old Arab crossbred gelding was examined because it had apparently suffered an overstimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system for three hours. The clinical signs consisted of hypersalivation, profuse sweating, maximal miosis, fasciculation of the muscles and lateral recumbency in combination with continuous convulsions without diarrhoea. The horse's plasma pseudocholinesterase activity was approximately 10 per cent of normal. It responded well to 10 mg atropine and 50 mg diazepam administered intravenously.
Fracture of the distal sesamoid bone in horses: 17 cases (1982-1992). Medical records of 17 horses in which a distal sesamoid bone fracture was diagnosed between 1982 and 1992 were reviewed. There were 8 Standardbreds, 6 Quarter Horses, 2 Thoroughbreds, and 1 Arabian. Mean age was 4.7 years. A forelimb was affected in 15 horses, and a hind limb was affected in 2. All horses were lame, and most were grade III/V lame at the trot. In all horses, the diagnosis was confirmed by means of radiography. Five horses were treated with stall rest alone; 5 underwent neurectomy; 4 were treated with stall rest and corrective shoeing; and 1 was treated with stall rest and exter...
Evaluation of ventricular septal defects in horses using two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) were diagnosed in 27 horses; in 26 affected horses systolic murmurs were detected over both sides of the chest. Holodiastolic decrescendo murmurs were also detected in 5 horses. Standardbreds and Arabian horses were over-represented, while Thoroughbred horses were under-represented, when compared to the hospital population (P < 0.0001). Five horses had previously raced successfully, one 2-year-old was training successfully and close to racing, and 4 horses had competed successfully in other types of competition. Eleven horses had a history of exercise intolera...
Acid-base variables during incremental exercise in sprint-trained horses fed a high-fat diet. Seven Arabian horses performed a standard incremental exercise test on a high-speed treadmill at 6% slope then were randomly assigned to two diets, a control diet of ground hay and concentrates and a similar diet with 10% added fat (by weight). Horses were sprint-trained 4 d/wk, and two additional exercise tests were performed at 5-wk intervals. Heart rates and rectal temperatures were monitored and venous blood samples were collected at rest and at each speed increment. Whole blood was analyzed for glucose, lactate, and hemoglobin concentrations, and plasma was analyzed for pH, pCO2, albumin,...
Comparative hematological study of two breeds of foals (Andalusian and Arab) subjected to exercise of progressive intensity. Exercise-induced hematological alterations were studied in 20 four-year old foals, 11 Andalusian and 9 Arabian. They were subjected to a test exercise program consisting of 4 levels of gradually increasing intensity (15, 20, 25 and 30 km/hr) with a duration of 5 min each. Blood samples were taken during resting, after each exercise level and at 10 and 30 min of recovery from exercise. The following hematic parameters were analyzed: red blood count, hematocrit value, hemoglobin, volumetric indexes (MCV, MCH and MHCH) and total plasma proteins. The alterations as a result of the physical effort ...
Arthroscopic surgery for subchondral cystic lesions of the medial femoral condyle in horses: 41 cases (1988-1991). Clinical signs, radiographic and arthroscopic findings, and outcome for 41 horses with subchondral cystic lesions of the medial femoral condyle treated by arthroscopic surgery were reviewed. There were 17. Quarter Horses, 15 Arabians, 8 Thoroughbreds, and 1 Holsteiner, with 28 (68%) of the horses being 1 to 3 years old. For all horses, the owners' complaint was mild to moderate hind limb lameness or an altered gait. Bilateral radiographic abnormalities of the medial femoral condyle were detected in 27 horses. Nineteen of the 27 horses had lesions identified bilaterally at arthroscopic surgery....
Abnormal patterns of equine leucocyte differentiation antigen expression in severe combined immunodeficiency foals suggests the phenotype of normal equine natural killer cells. Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a fatal autosommal disease of Arabian horses that leads to failure of maturation of T- and B-lymphocyte populations, although natural killer (NK) cells are unaffected. Thymic and lymph node tissues from two foals suffering from SCID were examined in an immunohistological study using a panel of monoclonal antibodies recognising equine leucocyte differentiation antigens. In both foals, the majority of cells in lymphoid tissues had an EqCD3-EqCD4-EqCD8+ phenotype, although rare EqCD3+ cells were also detected. The EqCD3-EqCD4-EqCD8+ cells may represent a...
Influence of stochastic events on the phenotypic variation of common white leg markings in the Arabian horse: implications for various genetic disorders in humans. One method of assessing the influence of stochastic events on phenotypic variation is to study morphological differences in paired limbs of the same individual. These limbs have identical genotypes and similar intra-uterine environments and are analogous to monozygotic twins. Common white leg markings have a multifactorial mode of inheritance in the Arabian horse. Asymmetry occurs frequently for these markings. Using computerized registration records obtained from the Arabian Horse Registry of America, Inc., the types of markings were quantified in the left foreleg and left hind leg of bay and...
Effects of a 3 month endurance training programme on skeletal muscle histochemistry in Andalusian, Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. Twenty adult (5 to 14 years old) sedentary stallions of several breeds (8 Andalusians, 7 Arabians and 5 Anglo-Arabians) were endurance-trained for 3 months. Duplicate biopsies from 2 different depths (20 mm, superficial sampling site; 60 mm, deep sampling site) of the gluteus medius muscle were collected before and after training and after 3 months of detraining. Few significant changes in muscle fibre type composition were recorded in response to training. The percentage of type I fibres in the deep sampling site of the muscle in Andalusian horses and of type IIB oxidative fibres in the super...
Discrimination learning and concept formation in the Arabian horse. Discrimination learning and concept formation abilities were investigated in four mature Arabian horses. A series of two-choice discrimination problems were presented on stimulus panels that could open to allow access to food bowls. Selection of the correct stimulus resulted in food reinforcement, and an incorrect choice was not rewarded. The positions of the correct and incorrect stimuli were varied randomly during each test session, and the criterion for learning each problem was 85% correct for two consecutive sessions of 30 or 40 trials. Testing progressed through six discrimination proble...
A comparative study of aerobic capacity and fitness in three different horse breeds (Andalusian, Arabian and Anglo-Arabian). Aerobic capacity and fitness was studied in three different horse breeds (Andalusian, Arabian and Anglo-Arabian) using a four-level exercise test of gradually increasing intensity (15, 20, 25 and 30 km/h). The lactate concentration at the first three exercise levels was significantly lower for Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses relative to Andalusian horses, but similar for the three breeds at the last level. Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses reached a higher rate than Andalusian horses at plasma lactate concentration of 2 mmol/l (VLA2) and 4 mmol/l (VLA4). Andalusian horses exhibited a significa...
[Sporotrichosis in a horse]. A 9-year old male Arabian horse was referred to the Department of Large Animal Surgery of the University of Utrecht because of multiple nodules on the inner side of the right hind leg. The nodules seemed to follow a cutaneolymphatic pattern. Histopathology of a nodule showed a granulomatous inflammation with the presence of multinucleated giant cells. In PAS- and Grocott-stained sections, spheroid yeast-like organisms with some budding were found throughout the tissue. A preliminary diagnosis of sporotrichosis was made. A fresh nodule was cultured and the presence of Sporothrix c.f. schenckii ...
Comparison of thoroughbred and Arabian horses using RAPD markers. We compared pools of DNA from 10 Thoroughbred horses and 10 Arabian horses for the presence of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers which might be useful in distinguishing between the breeds. Using 212 decamer oligonucleotides and our polymerase chain reaction (PCR) conditions, 173 of the primers produced scoreable bands. The number of bands ranged from 0 to 9 with an average of 3.6. In family studies using 11 arbitrarily selected primers, five of the 11 primers produced polymorphic bands which exhibited Mendelian inheritance as dominant markers. When comparing the pooled DNA from...
Studies on the frequency and associations of equine leucocyte antigens in sarcoid and summer dermatitis. The equine leucocyte antigen (ELA) types and the clinical diagnosis for equine sarcoid and summer dermatitis were evaluated in 2026 horses representing five breeds. Data were analysed in unrelated animals and in family material. In the case of equine sarcoid, a strong association was observed between the ELA class II DW13 antigen and its effect on Swiss (cP < 0.001), French (cP < 0.0001) and Irish (cP < 0.01) Warmblood horses. The class I antigen A3 occurred more frequently in sarcoid-affected French horses (cP < 0.001). These results confirm our earlier findings (Gerber et al. 1988). Among Fr...
Skeletal muscle mitochondrial myopathy as a cause of exercise intolerance in a horse. Although exertional myopathies are commonly recognized in horses, specific etiologies have not been identified. This is the first report in the horse of a deficiency of Complex I respiratory chain enzyme associated with profound exercise intolerance. Physical examination, routine blood tests, endoscopy, and ultrasonograms of the heart and iliac arteries were unremarkable. With slow, incremental exercise (speeds 1.5-7 m/s), the Arabian mare showed a marked lactic acidosis, increased mixed venous PVO2, and little change in oxygen consumption. Muscle biopsies contained large accumulations of mito...
Gastrojejunostomy for management of acute proximal enteritis in a horse. A 5-year-old Arabian stallion was treated medically 6 days for proximal enteritis. On the sixth day, exploratory celiotomy verified the diagnosis and ruled out other intraluminal and extraluminal gastrointestinal tract obstructions. A gastrojejunostomy was performed. The horse had trouble maintaining and gaining weight in the first year after surgery, but 8 years after surgery, the owner reported that the horse was doing well.
Genetic blood markers in Arabian, Barb and Arab-Barb horses in Morocco. Gene frequencies at 16 blood group and protein polymorphism loci (A, C, D, K, P, Q, U, Al, Gc, Es, A1B, Tf, PGD, PGM, GPI and Pi) are given for three horse breeds in Morocco (Arabian, Arab-Barb and Barb). These data are used to calculate average heterozygosity (h), Nei's standard genetic distance (DN) and probability of exclusion (PE). Variability expressed as the average heterozygosity was lower in the Arabian (0.330 +/- 0.066), while it was higher and almost the same in the Arab-Barb (0.413 +/- 0.071) and the Barb (0.414 +/- 0.070). The shortest genetic distance was found between Barb and Ar...
Serum hypoxanthine and xanthine concentrations in horses heterozygous for combined immunodeficiency. A group of diseases termed combined immunodeficiency (CID) results in a severe form of immunodeficiency. While CID in humans has two genetics bases, in Arabian it is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Kettler et al. (1989) determined that uric acid was significantly (p 0.05) between carrier and non-carrier horse's serum levels of hypoxanthine or xanthine. These data, combined with our previous ones suggest that an enzymatic lesion in the purine salvage pathway may occur at the urate oxidase step. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Serum-Hypoxanthin- und -Xanthin-Spiegel in Pferden mit Heterozygotie fÃ...
Incarceration of the jejunum in the epiploic foramen of a four month old foal. A 4-month Arabian filly presented for abdominal pain of 30 hours duration was found to have tachycardia, tachypnea, congested mucous membranes and gross abdominal distension. Further examination disclosed gastric reflux and small intestinal distension. Dehydration, prerenal azotemia, electrolyte abnormalities and metabolic alkalemia were observed. There was a progressive nonresponse to analgesic medication and deterioration in the foal's physiologic condition consistent with a small intestinal strangulating obstruction. Surgical exploration was declined. Necropsy examination revealed incarcera...
[Cryopreservation trial with semen of purebred Arabian and Haflinger stallions in the Turkish national stud in Karacabey]. Within a German-Turkish university partnership deep freezing preservation of stallion semen was performed as a part project of the cooperation contract. In this study a modification of the introduced Makrotüb method was used for semen freezing. The investigated characteristics of fresh semen of the Arab stallions were in the normal range cited in the international literature. However, the semen data obtained from the Haflinger stallions were markedly and partially significantly in lower range than measured for the Arab stallions. This may reflect an incomplete adaptation process of the import...
[Estrus synchronization and insemination results in Arabian mares in the Eskisehir stud]. An Arab broodmare herd of 30 mares age ranging from 4 to 12 years was grouped into 3 groups (group A, B, C) with 10 mares each and exposed to three different methods of cycle synchronisation. Group A mares received two PGF2 alpha injections 14 days apart. Group B mares got additionally 2,500 IU of hCG 5 days after second prostaglandin application. Group C consisted of mares which had foaled in a synchrony of one week and got a PGF2 alpha injection 3 weeks after parturition. All the mares responding to synchronisation were inseminated closely to ovulation detected by serial rectal palpations wi...
Hepatic lobe torsion as a cause of colic in a horse. A 14-year-old Arabian gelding was examined for colic. An exploratory celiotomy was subsequently performed and the left lobe of the liver was found to be twisted. The lobe was resected using a TA-90 surgical stapling instrument. Histologic examination of the resected liver indicated portal vein and sinusoid dilation and congestion with blood. There were focal areas of necrosis and bacterial cocci and rods throughout the section. The histologic findings were consistent with hepatic lobe torsion. After surgery, the horse was treated with broad spectrum antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, hepari...
Use of a modified Roux-en-Y procedure for treatment of pyloroduodenal obstruction in a horse. A modification of the Roux-en-Y anastomosis procedure was used to bypass a pyloroduodenal mass in a 12-year-old Arabian stallion. Clinical signs had consisted of a 4-week progression of ventral and hind limb edema, hypoproteinemia, fecal occult blood, intermittent abdominal pain, weight loss, and gastric reflux. On exploratory celiotomy, an obstructive mass was found in the pylorus and proximal portion of the duodenum. Gastrojejunostomy and duodenojejunostomy were performed by use of stapled side-to-side anastomosis techniques. Inaccessibility of the obstructed pyloric region prevented resecti...
Maturation of insulin and glucose responses to normal feeding in foals. Postprandial insulin and glucose concentrations were measured in 3 Arabian and 3 Thoroughbred foals at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months of age. Prefeeding serum insulin concentrations were similar in foals at 1 day (25.9 +/- 5.1 pmol/L), 1 week (32.4 +/- 5.8 pmol/L), and 1 month (38.2 +/- 7.9 pmol/L), but had increased significantly to 131.0 +/- 20.2 pmol/L at 3 months of age (P < 0.05). There was significantly increased serum insulin secretion after a feed in foals at 3 months of age (P < 0.05) when compared with that at younger ages. Prefeeding serum glucose concentrations ranged fr...