Biomarkers in horses are measurable indicators of biological processes, states, or conditions that can be used to assess health and disease. These biomarkers can be identified in various biological samples such as blood, urine, or tissue. They provide valuable information for diagnosing diseases, monitoring health status, and evaluating treatment responses in equine medicine. Common biomarkers in horses include enzymes, hormones, and metabolites, which may change in response to physiological or pathological conditions. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the identification, quantification, and application of biomarkers in equine health and disease management.
Paris DB, Stout TA.Cartilage and tendon injuries are a significant source of animal wastage and financial loss within the horse-racing industry. Moreover, both cartilage and tendon have limited intrinsic capacity for self-repair, and the functionally inferior tissue produced within a lesion may reduce performance and increase the risk of reinjury. Stem cells offer tremendous potential for accelerating and improving tissue healing, and adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are already used to treat cartilage and tendon injuries in horses. However, MSCs are scarce in the bone marrow isolates used, have limited poten...
Cleary OB, Trumble TN, Merritt KA, Brown MP.To investigate the effects of exercise and osteochondral injury on concentrations of carboxy-terminal telopeptide fragments of type II collagen (CTX-II) in synovial fluid (SF) and serum of Thoroughbred racehorses and to compare findings with radiographic and arthroscopic scores of joint injury severity. Methods: 78 Thoroughbreds with (n = 38) and without (40) osteochondral injury. Methods: Serum and metacarpophalangeal or carpal joint SF samples were collected from noninjured horses before and at the end of 5 to 6 months of race training (pre- and postexercise samples, respectively) and from h...
Villasante A, Araneda OF, Behn C, Galleguillos M, Adarmes H.In order to determine oxidative stress in equine joints with degenerative processes, we analyzed synovial fluid (SF) antioxidant capacity and the concentration of oxidative damage biomarkers in healthy and chronically damaged metacarpophalangeal joints. SF samples were collected from joints of thirty 2-5 year-old crossbreed male equine, macroscopically classified at post mortem inspection and later histologically confirmed. The antioxidant capacity was determined measuring uric acid and the concentration of sulfhydryl groups and the total radical trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP). The oxid...
Nash DM, Sheldon IM, Herath S, Lane EA.Reproductive efficiency in mares is low and persistent mating-induced endometritis (PMIE) is an important cause of subfertility. Mating-induced endometritis (MIE) an obligate precursor to PMIE, is a ubiquitous, transient inflammatory response to the presence of sperm, seminal components and pathogens. However, the specific inflammatory pathways that derive from MIE and that may also be precursors to PMIE are not clear. The ability to identify and measure robust, repeatable markers of inflammation integral to MIE may be key to understanding the progression to PMIE. The aim of the study was to (...
Bergero D, Préfontaine C, Miraglia N, Peiretti PG.The digestibility of horse feeds and rations can be determined using different techniques such as calculations based on the chemical composition, in vivo or in vitro methods. The marker methods overcome difficulties like discomfort for the animals and longer experimental times encountered using the ingesta/egesta method. In field conditions, a natural indigestible marker like acid-insoluble ash (AIA), with no changes in the normal ration, could be a very useful tool for digestibility trials. A group of six standardbred horses was used in a set of seven apparent digestibility trials. The diets ...
de Grauw JC, van de Lest CH, Brama PA, Rambags BP, van Weeren PR.Meloxicam is a commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug in equine practice, but little is known about its in vivo effects on joint inflammation and cartilage turnover. Objective: To study the effects of meloxicam on biomarkers of inflammation, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, and cartilage biomarkers in joints with experimental synovitis. Methods: In a 2-period cross-over study, synovitis was induced at T = 0 h in the L or R intercarpal joint of 6 horses by intraarticular injection of 0.5 ng lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Horses received once daily meloxicam (0.6 mg/kg bwt per os) ...
Bouwman FG, van Ginneken MM, Noben JP, Royackers E, de Graaf-Roelfsema E, Wijnberg ID, van der Kolk JH, Mariman EC, van Breda E.The major aim of the present study was to investigate the proteome of standardbred horses at different stages of training and intensified training. We searched for biomarkers using small skeletal muscle biopsies of live animals. 2D gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were successfully applied to investigate training-induced differential expression of equine muscle biopsy proteins. Despite the poor resolution of the equine genome and proteome, we were able to identify the proteins of 20 differential spots representing 16 different proteins. Evaluation of those proteins complies with adapt...
Brown MP, Trumble TN, Merritt KA.To investigate effects of osteochondral injury on high-mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB-1) concentrations in synovial fluid (SF) from Thoroughbreds and to compare these results with radiographic and arthroscopic scores of severity of joint injury. Methods: 40 clinically normal rested Thoroughbreds (group 1) and 45 Thoroughbreds with osteochondral injury as a result of racing. Methods: SF was obtained from the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints, middle carpal joints, and radiocarpal joints. For group 2, radiographic and arthroscopic scores were dete...
Vasconcelos AB, Santos AM, Oliveira JS, Lagares Mde A, Santoro MM.The aims of the study were: 1/ to isolate and identify equine seminal plasma proteinase inhibitors, 2/ to evaluate their inhibitory potential, and 3/ to test a correlation between protein concentration in seminal plasma supernatant (obtained after precipitation with 36% ammonium sulfate) and stallion sexual maturity. Seminal plasma proteins obtained from six stallions were chromatographed in a Superose 12 (FPLC system) column followed by C(18) HPLC reverse-phase. Inhibition of trypsin amidase activity was evaluated in the collected fractions. Active proteins with a molecular mass of 6.3-7.0 KD...
Delgado MA, Monreal L, Armengou L, Ríos J, Segura D.Plasma D-dimer concentration is a useful marker to assess systemic coagulation and fibrinolytic activities in humans, dogs, and horses. Peritoneal fibrinolytic activity increases in horses with colic, especially in horses with endotoxin in the peritoneal fluid. Objective: Peritoneal D-dimer concentration can be used to assess peritoneal fibrinolytic activity in horses with severe gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and altered peritoneal fluid. Methods: Two hundred and twenty-one colic horses and 15 control horses. Methods: Prospective observational clinical study. Blood and peritoneal fluid were ...
Jackson BF, Dyson PK, Lonnell C, Verheyen KL, Pfeiffer DU, Price JS.The aim of this study was to determine whether bone biomarkers (osteocalcin, PICP, ICTP and CTX-I) could be used to identify 2- and 3-year-olds at increased risk of fracture in the subsequent flat racing season. It was concluded that these bone biomarkers cannot be used to identify 2- and 3-year-olds that sustain a fracture. Whether bone biomarkers have better predictive value in older horses or when measured serially in the same animal remains to be determined.
Barton C, Beck P, Kay R, Teale P, Roberts J.The development of protein biomarkers for the indirect detection of doping in horse is a potential solution to doping threats such as gene and protein doping. A method for biomarker candidate discovery in horse plasma is presented using targeted analysis of proteotypic peptides from horse proteins. These peptides were first identified in a novel list of the abundant proteins in horse plasma. To monitor these peptides, an LC-MS/MS method using multiple reaction monitoring was developed to study the quantity of 49 proteins in horse plasma in a single run. The method was optimised and validated, ...
Elfman L, Riihimäki M, Pringle J, Wålinder R.Many people spend considerable amount of time each day in equine stable environments either as employees in the care and training of horses or in leisure activity. However, there are few studies available on how the stable environment affects human airways. This study examined in one horse stable qualitative differences in indoor air during winter and late summer conditions and assessed whether air quality was associated with clinically detectable respiratory signs or alterations to selected biomarkers of inflammation and lung function in stable personnel. Methods: The horse stable environment...
Ryan PL, Christiansen DL, Hopper RM, Bagnell CA, Vaala WE, Leblanc MM.Placental insufficiency is regarded as the primary factor contributing to late-term abortion and perinatal death of foals. Often when problems associated with late-term pregnancy in the horse are manifest the condition is well-advanced and therapeutic intervention may not be effective in rescuing the pregnancy. If a compromised pregnancy due to placental insufficiency could be identified early, the pregnancy might be sustained through medical intervention. Because the placenta is the sole source of circulating relaxin in the mare, we hypothesized that systemic relaxin may serve as a biomarker ...
Duz M, Whittaker AG, Love S, Parkin TD, Hughes KJ.Measurement of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) concentration and pH in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is useful for detection and monitoring of asthma in humans. In contrast, limited information on the use of these parameters for the investigation of lower airway inflammation (LAI) is available for horses. Aims of the current study were to investigate the intra- and inter-day variations of EBC H(2)O(2) concentration and pH in horses and establish any relationship(s) with LAI. Both intra- and inter-day variability of EBC H(2)O(2) concentration were large, while those of pH were small. No signific...
Radin MJ, Sharkey LC, Holycross BJ.In addition to its role as an energy storage depot, adipose tissue is now recognized as a complex endocrine organ. Adipose tissue releases a variety of factors, termed adipokines, that regulate energy metabolism, cardiovascular function, reproductive status, and immune function. Some of the better-studied adipokines include leptin, adiponectin, and components of the renin-angiotensin system such as angiotensinogen. The function of more recently discovered adipokines such as resistin are under intense scrutiny. Abnormal production or regulation of adipokines occurs in obese individuals and is i...
Gazzeri R, Neroni M, Alfieri A, Galarza M, Faiola A, Esposito S, Giordano M.Numerous materials have been used to replace defects in the dura mater as result of neurosurgical and spinal procedures. Tissudura is a biomatrix made of cross-linked equine collagen fibrils, mainly of the interstitial type I. The specially engineered dura-like layered structure provides a non porous primary water tight structure, is transparent and allows verification of the efficacy of cerebral hemostasis. Methods: A consecutive series of patients between 18 years and 75 years of age were prospectively enrolled from three separate European institutions between May 2007 and February 2008. All...
Dunkel B, Rickards KJ, Werling D, Page CP, Cunningham FM.Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in mature horses is characterized by reversible airway obstruction and neutrophilic inflammation; there is also functional activation of circulating platelets and neutrophils. This study was undertaken to determine if changes in activation marker expression and heterotypic aggregate formation can be used as an indicator of this increased functional responsiveness. In vitro conditions for flow cytometric measurement of CD13, CD41/61 and CD62P expression on activated cells and heterotypic aggregate formation were established. Values were then compared before an...
Furet JP, Firmesse O, Gourmelon M, Bridonneau C, Tap J, Mondot S, Doré J, Corthier G.Pollution of the environment by human and animal faecal pollution affects the safety of shellfish, drinking water and recreational beaches. To pinpoint the origin of contaminations, it is essential to define the differences between human microbiota and that of farm animals. A strategy based on real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays was therefore developed and applied to compare the composition of intestinal microbiota of these two groups. Primers were designed to quantify the 16S rRNA gene from dominant and subdominant bacterial groups. TaqMan probes were defined for the qPCR technique used ...
Verwilghen D, Busoni V, Gangl M, Franck T, Lejeune JP, Vanderheyden L, Detilleux J, Grulke S, Deberg M, Henrotin Y, Serteyn D.Establishing the osteoarticular status of the horse is often performed by means of radiological screening of the animals. Widespread blood sampling could reveal to be an interesting alternative to this procedure which is time consuming and sometimes technically difficult. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the radiological status of the horses and the levels of biochemical markers of cartilage degradation and synovial inflammation. A specific radiological scoring and classification system was therefore developed and applied on 63 stallions presented for studbook ...
de Grauw JC, van de Lest CH, van Weeren PR.Inflammation is an important feature of many joint diseases, and levels of cartilage biomarkers measured in synovial fluid may be influenced by local inflammatory status. Little is known about the magnitude and time course of inflammation-induced changes in cartilage tissue turnover as measured in vivo by synovial fluid markers. We aimed to study temporal changes in concentrations of inflammatory mediators, matrix metalloproteinase activity and cartilage biomarkers over 1 week in joints with experimentally induced inflammation. Methods: Localized inflammation was induced in the intercarpal joi...
Taylor SE, Vaughan-Thomas A, Clements DN, Pinchbeck G, Macrory LC, Smith RK, Clegg PD.There is a paucity of data regarding molecular markers that identify the phenotype of the tendon cell. This study aims to quantify gene expression markers that distinguish between tendon fibroblasts and other mesenchymal cells which may be used to investigate tenogenesis. Methods: Expression levels for 12 genes representative of musculoskeletal tissues, including the proposed tendon progenitor marker scleraxis, relative to validated reference genes, were evaluated in matched samples of equine tendon (harvested from the superficial digital flexor tendon), cartilage and bone using quantitative P...
Inoue Y, Matsui A, Asai Y, Aoki F, Yoshimoto K, Matsui T, Yano H.We studied the response of biochemical markers of bone metabolism to exercise intensity in horses. Four horses were walked on a mechanical walker for one week (pre-exercise). Then they performed low-speed exercise on a high-speed treadmill in the first week and medium-speed exercise in the second week and high-speed exercise in the third week of training. We measured two indices of bone resorption, serum hydroxyproline concentration and the urinary deoxypyridinoline/creatinine ratio, and serum osteocalcin (OC) concentration as an index of bone formation. Both indices of bone resorption gradual...
Lode A, Bernhardt A, Kroonen K, Springer M, Briest A, Gelinsky M.The application of bone graft substitutes with osteoinductive properties is of high importance for the repair of large bone defects. COLLOSS E, a protein lyophilizate extracted from equine long bones, exhibits an osteoinductive potential which has been proven in several studies. In this work, a mechanically stable, but biodegradable support for COLLOSS E has been developed aiming at a bone graft substitute that retains shape and size when coming in contact with body fluids. Mineralization of collagen type I, isolated from horse tendon, resulted in a stable collagen hydroxyapatite nanocomposite...
Nostell K, Häggström J.To determine normal resting values for cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in healthy Standardbred, Thoroughbred and Warmblood horses and investigate if racing has an influence on cTnI concentrations. Background: Measuring cTnI concentrations in plasma is the gold standard for detecting myocardial injury in humans. Cardiac troponin I is highly conserved between species and has gained interest as a marker for cardiac injury in horses. Increased levels of cTnI have been reported in association with endurance and short-term strenuous exercise on a treadmill in horses. However, the effect of true racing con...
Schleining JA, McClure SR, Evans RB, Hyde WG, Wulf LW, Kind AJ.Lameness as a result of joint disease is a major source of decreased athletic performance in the horse. Most treatment protocols include the administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Phenylbutazone, alone or in combination with other treatments, is the most commonly and widely used NSAID, however it has the potential for serious side effects. The introduction of the liposome-based formulation of the NSAID diclofenac has shown promising effect as a safe and convenient treatment for lameness associated with osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effe...
Marañón G, Muñoz-Escassi B, Manley W, García C, Cayado P, de la Muela MS, Olábarri B, León R, Vara E.Exercise induces changes in several organs and tissues, and this process might be due to oxidative damage caused by free radicals and inflammatory mediators. Methyl Sulphonyl Methane, better known as MSM, is a naturally occurring sulphur compound with well-known antioxidant properties. On the other hand, Vitamin C is important in limiting free radical damage in the aqueous phase of the cell, and cellular vitamin C status may be linked to the mechanisms involved in quenching cellular reactive oxygen species. The aim of this study was to determine if supplementation with MSM and vitamin C could ...
Treiber K, Carter R, Gay L, Williams C, Geor R.Inflammatory and redox signals could render lamellar tissue susceptible to damage and contribute to higher risk for laminitis in obese or insulin resistant ponies just as these factors contribute to health risks in humans with metabolic syndrome. This study evaluated circulating markers of inflammatory and redox status in ponies that had a history of recurrent bouts of pasture-associated laminitis (PL, n = 42) or had never developed clinical laminitis (NL, n = 34) under the current management conditions. There were no differences (P > 0.05) between PL and NL ponies for markers of antioxidan...
Trumble TN, Scarbrough AB, Brown MP.To investigate the effects of exercise and osteochondral (OC) injury on type II collagen degradation products (collagenase cleavage neoepitope commercially known as C2C) in synovial fluid (SF) from Thoroughbred (TB) racehorses and to compare these results with radiographic and arthroscopic scores of severity of joint injury. Methods: Metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) and carpal SF was obtained from (1) 20 normal rested horses, (2) the same horses after 5 to 6 months of race training, and (3) 27 horses with OC injury from racing. For group 3, radiographic and arthroscopic scores...
Jacobsen S, Kjelgaard-Hansen M.The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of an immunoturbidometric assay for measuring the acute phase protein serum amyloid A (SAA) in horses in clinical practice. The assay was compared to a previously validated assay, and overlap performance was assessed by measuring the concentration of SAA in clinically healthy horses and horses with inflammatory and non-inflammatory diseases. In pools of serum with low and high SAA concentrations the assay's intra-assay coefficients of variation were 11.7 per cent and 4.6 per cent, and its interassay coefficients of variation were 9.1 per...
Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O, Malin K, Dąbrowska I, Grzędzicka J, Ostaszewski P, Carter C.Domestic horses routinely participate in vigorous and various athletic activities. This enables the horse to serve as a model for studying athletic physiology and immunology in other species, including humans. For instance, as a model of physical efforts, such as endurance rides (long-distance running/aerobic exercise) and races (anaerobic exercise), the horse can be useful in evaluating post-exercise response. Currently, there has been significant interest in finding biomarkers, which characterize the advancement of training and adaptation to physical exercise in the horse. The parallels in c...
Deniz Ö, Ekinci G, Onmaz AC, Derelli FM, Fazio F, Aragona F, Hoven RVD.Rhodococcus equi (R. equi), a gram-positive facultative intracellular pathogen, is a common cause of pneumonia in foals and represents a major cause of disease and death. The aim of the present study was to investigate the time-depended changes in White Blood Cells (WBC), basophils (Baso), neutrophils (Neu), lymphocytes (Lymf), monocytes (Mon), eosinophils (Eos), platelet (PLT) counts, fibrinogen (Fbg) concentration, interferon (IFN-α, IFN-γ) and interleukins (IL-2 and IL-10) in foals with clinical R. equi pneumonia. The main treatment was with azithromycin-rifampicin for 14 days. Blood was ...
Peña FJ, Martín-Cano FE, Becerro-Rey L, Ortega-Ferrusola C, Gaitskell-Phillips G, da Silva-Álvarez E, Gil MC.The mammalian ejaculate is very well suited to proteomics studies. As such, research concerning sperm proteomics is offering a huge amount of new information on the biology of spermatozoa. Among domestic animals, horses represent a species of special interest, in which reproductive technologies and a sizeable market of genetic material have grown exponentially in the last decade. Studies using proteomic approaches have been conducted in recent years, showing that proteomics is a potent tool to dig into the biology of the stallion spermatozoa. The aim of this review is to present an overview of...
Pardié M, Kalpokas I, Freccero F, Castagnetti C, Meikle A.The aim of this study was to determine the effect of body condition score (BCS) on metabolic and endocrine parameters in pregnant Criollo mares (n=41), which were categorized according to their BCS as obese (7 to 9 BCS, n=26) or normal (5 to 7, n=15). Blood samples were taken during gestation in 3 periods: between 3.5 and 5 months (I), 8 and 9 months (II) and in the last month of gestation (III). The data was analyzed in the statistical model by mixed procedures, including BCS, gestational period and their interaction as fixed effects. BCS was only different in period I, as normal mares increa...
Collins EN, Barr EM, Westermeyer H, Gilger BC, Oh A.To determine the predictive value of corneal ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) findings for the outcome of equine corneal disease. Methods: 46 horses with a clinical diagnosis of either infectious ulcerative keratitis or stromal abscess. Methods: Corneal UBM (VevoMD; UHF70; VisualSonics) of horses with infectious corneal disease presenting to the North Carolina State University Equine Ophthalmology Service from 2019 to 2023 were evaluated. Size and depth of lesion, presence of Descemet membrane disruption (DMD), corneal thickness, and aqueous humor cell counts (AHCC) were assessed. Comparisons of...
Miglio A, Falcinelli E, Mezzasoma AM, Busechian S, Rueca F, Gresele P, Antognoni MT.Physical exercise has an activating effect on platelet function that differs between trained and untrained subjects, depending on the type of exercise and training status. In humans, soluble P-selectin (sP-sel) and platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (PEVs) are considered reliable markers of platelet activation during exercise. In untrained humans, they increase after transient physical exercise, whereas long-term training induces a decrease in their resting levels due to an improved ability to adapt to hemodynamic changes. The aim of this study was to assess whether circulating levels of...
Huangsaksri O, Wonghanchao T, Sanigavatee K, Poochipakorn C, Chanda M.Heart rate variability (HRV) is a frequently used indicator of autonomic responses to various stimuli in horses. This study aimed to investigate HRV variables in horses undergoing cold (n = 25) or hot (n = 26) shoeing. Multiple HRV variables were measured and compared between horses undergoing cold and hot shoeing, including the time domain, frequency domain, and nonlinear variables pre-shoeing, during shoeing, and at 30-minute intervals for 120 minutes post-shoeing. The shoeing method interacted with time to change the HRV variables standard deviation of RR intervals (SDNN), root mean square ...
Yokomori T, Tozaki T, Ohnuma A, Ishimaru M, Sato F, Hori Y, Segawa T, Itou T.Retraining retired racehorses for various purposes can help correct behavioral issues. However, ensuring efficiency and preventing accidents present global challenges. Based on the hypothesis that a simple personality assessment could help address these challenges, the present study aimed to identify genetic markers associated with personality. Eight genes were selected from 18 personality-related candidate genes that are orthologs of human personality genes, and their association with personality was verified based on actual behavior. A total of 169 Thoroughbred horses were assessed for their...
Tamura N, Yoshihara E, Seki K, Mae N, Kodaira K, Iimori M, Yamazaki Y, Mita H, Urayama S, Kuroda T, Ohta M, Kasashima Y.The potential value of hypervascularity detected with power Doppler ultrasonography (PDU) within equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) as a prognostic factor of SDFT injury is not clear. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that hypervascularity within SDFT is one of the risk factors for subsequent severe SDFT injury and to evaluate the prognostic value. A prospective cohort study of 97 Thoroughbred racehorses without any clinical signs of SDFT injury was conducted. Six variables of age, body weight, sex, the cross-sectional area of SDFT, PDU signal within SDFT and ex...
Asahi Y, Arai T, Tanaka Y.In older horses, basal metabolic rate decreases, and plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations related to energy metabolism change. The occurrence of age-related diseases, which increases in old animals, may enhance inflammatory reactivity (inflammaging). Finding the appropriate treatment for inflammaging at an early stage may prevent various age-related diseases. Changes in metabolite and hormone concentrations and enzyme activities involved in energy metabolism in the plasma of clinically healthy riding horses of various ages were measured to identify biomarkers of inflammaging (persisten...
Renaudin C, Wensley F, Morgan J, Cassano J, Spriet M.Fetal age in Quarter Horses can be predicted within 2 weeks from 100- to 200- days of gestation using femur length, biparietal diameter (cranium diameter) and eye approximated volume. However, as pregnancy advances, the femur and cranium become too large to be imaged in their entirety using ultrasound and the corresponding biometric parameters can no longer be measured. In this longitudinal study, the proximal phalanx (P1) was evaluated as a novel biometric parameter for late gestation to predict fetal age and bone maturation. Transrectal ultrasound was performed in ten pregnant mares with kno...
Amiri Roudbar M, Rosengren MK, Mousavi SF, Fegraeus K, Naboulsi R, Meadows JRS, Lindgren G.Elite performing exercise requires an intricate modulation of the blood pressure to support the working muscles with oxygen. We have previously identified a genomic regulatory module that associates with differences in blood pressures of importance for elite performance in racehorses. This study aimed to determine the effect of the regulatory module on the protein repertoire. We sampled plasma from 12 Coldblooded trotters divided into two endothelial regulatory module haplotype groups, a sub-elite performing haplotype (SPH) and an elite performing haplotype (EPH), each at rest and exercise. Th...
Liu Y, Du M, Zhang L, Wang N, He Q, Cao J, Zhao B, Li X, Li B, Bou G, Zhao Y, Dugarjaviin M.Testicular development and spermatogenesis are tightly regulated by both coding and non-coding genes, with mRNA and lncRNA playing crucial roles in post-transcriptional gene expression regulation. However, there are significant differences in regulatory mechanisms before and after sexual maturity. Nevertheless, the mRNAs and lncRNAs in the testes of Mongolian horses have not been systematically identified. In this study, we first identified the testicular tissues of sexually immature and sexually mature Mongolian horses at the tissue and protein levels, and comprehensively analyzed the express...
Safaee Firouzabadi MS, Paidar Ardakani A.Many studies have shown a strong correlation between Hindgut Acidosis (HGA) and the occurrence of laminitis in horses; therefore, the early diagnosis of HGA is essential. In this study, we investigated changes in the plasma concentrations of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) as inflammatory markers in horses with laminitis. Sixteen healthy male Arabian horses that had cecal cannulation without visible laminitis or general symptoms were randomly divided into two groups. The horses were fed two different diets in a forage-to-concentrate ratio. Blood samples were ...
Muñoz-Prieto A, Llamas-Amor E, Cerón JJ, Hansen S.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a prevalent condition in horses, affecting up to 93% of racehorses. Comprising the equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) and the equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD), EGUS poses significant health challenges. Saliva, a non-invasive and easily obtainable sample, is increasingly recognized for its potential as a source of biomarkers in horses. This study investigates changes in saliva analytes using automated assays before and after EGUS treatment, aiming to identify biomarkers indicative of treatment success or failure. A total of 28 horses diagnosed ...
Ewelina SG, Anna Z, Rafał P, Maciej W.Sarcoids are the most frequently diagnosed dermatological tumour in horses. It is a disease that can affect various species of equids, such as donkeys, mules and zebras. This type of tumour can develop in all horse breeds, regardless of age and gender. Treatment options depend on many factors, such as the type of lesion, location, extent, owner preference and financial considerations. In the present study, we investigated the TRIM29 expression, the methylation status of its first exon and its involvement in the formation of equine sarcoids. Bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) was used to determine ...
Bishop RC, Graham SM, Connolly SL, Wilkins PA, McCoy AM.To optimize and evaluate methods for the detection of the inflammatory biomarkers myeloperoxidase (MPO) and calprotectin (CP) in equine feces by ELISA. Methods: Healthy horses (n = 28) and horses with intestinal inflammation (n = 10). Methods: Feces were suspended in buffer to create fecal supernatant. Serum and fecal supernatant were analyzed using ELISA kits validated for the detection of MPO and CP in equine serum. Assay validation steps included intra- and interassay variability (coefficient of variation [CV]), dilution linearity, spike recovery, and sample type correlation. Variations in ...
Consistent information and standardization procedures regarding the time of storage for frozen samples and the effects of storage time on enzyme activity are still missing in the literature. Thus, we evaluated the effects of different storage temperatures (-20 °C and - 80 °C), three repetitive freeze/thaw cycles, and 24-h mimic transportation on the activities of PON1 (paraoxonase and arylesterase), enzymes involved in the protection and detoxification processes of reactive molecules. PON1 enzymes' activity was validated on serum and heparinized plasma in horses. The results revealed tha...
Ing NH, Konganti K, Ghaffar N, Johnson CD, Forrest DW, Love CC, Varner DD.Males of some species, from horses to humans, require medical help for subfertility problems. There is an urgent need for novel molecular assays that reflect spermatozoal function. In the last 25 years, studies examined RNAs in spermatozoa as a window into gene expression during their development and, more recently, for their functions in early embryo development. In clinics, more dense spermatozoa are isolated by density gradient centrifugation before use in artificial insemination to increase pregnancy rates. The objectives of the current study were to discover and quantify the microRNAs i...
Babasyan S, Rollins A, Wagner B.Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is one of the key mediators of inflammation during innate immune responses. Mature bioactive IL-1β mediates essential host defense mechanisms but also has a mechanistic role in several autoinflammatory and degenerative diseases. In horses, specific and sensitive assays for IL-1β are crucial for immunological research on inflammatory processes and diseases. In this article, we describe the development of four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against equine IL-1β. The specificity of the new IL-1β mAbs was confirmed using a panel of equine recombinant cytokines and chemok...
Renaud B, Kruse CJ, François AC, Cesarini C, van Loon G, Palmers K, Boemer F, Luis G, Gustin P, Votion DM.Equine atypical myopathy (AM) is a severe rhabdomyolysis syndrome primarily caused by hypoglycin A (HGA) and methylenecyclopropylglycine protoxins. This study aimed to refine diagnostic and prognostic criteria for AM while exploring apparently healthy cograzers. Blood samples from 263 horses, including AM cases (n= 95), cograzers (n= 73), colic horses (n= 19), and controls (n= 76), were analyzed for HGA, its toxic metabolite, and acylcarnitines profile. Diseased horses exhibited alterations in acylcarnitines that strongly distinguished them from controls and colic horses. Regression analyses i...
Winther MF, Johnsson J, Madsen PK, Pihl TH, Paltrinieri S, Cerón JJ, Scavone D, Pardo-Marin L, Jacobsen S.Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) has been suggested as a marker of inflammation and oxidative stress in horses and could potentially be used for prognostication in horses with colitis. Objective: Assessment of PON-1 in horses with colitis and comparison of two methods. Methods: Serum PON-1 was measured by two methods (paraoxon and p-nitrophenyl acetate) in 161 horses with colitis and 57 controls. Follow-up samples obtained during hospitalization were available from 106 horses with colitis. The two methods were compared. Results: Serum PON-1 was significantly lower in horses with colitis than in healthy h...
Pimenta J, Prada J, Pires I, Cotovio M.Sarcoids and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are the most concerning equine oncological diseases. Both tumors are challenging to manage due to their invasive behavior and high prevalence of recurrences. Furthermore, SCCs have a propensity to metastasize. Programed cell-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) has been one of the main therapeutic targets for immunotherapy in various human tumors. PD-L1 research in equine tumors is scarce and more efforts are necessary to understand the potential of this biomarker as a therapeutical target. Unassigned: Evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1 in equin...
Koziy RV, Bracamonte JL, Katselis GS, Udenze D, Hayat S, Hammond SA, Simko E.Septic arthritis (SA) in horses has long-term health implications. The success of its resolution hinges on the implementation of early, aggressive treatment, which is often sustained over a prolonged period. Common diagnostic methods do not allow for the reliable detection of the eradication of joint infection. A potential alternative is the discovery and characterization of mRNA biomarkers. The purpose of this study was to identify potential mRNA biomarkers for the eradication of joint infection in equine SA and to compare their expression with our previously published proteomics data. In add...
Fedorka CE, Scoggin KE, El-Sheikh Ali H, Troedsson MHT.The interleukin (IL)-6 family of cytokines is grouped by a common receptor subunit (gp130), but functions in distinct but overlapping physiological activities, including regulation of acute phase reaction and the balance between effector and regulatory T cell populations-both of which play a role in successful pregnancy maturation. Methods: Here, we aim to assess the expression profiles of members of the IL-6 cytokine family throughout equine gestation. To do so, RNA Sequencing was performed on chorioallantois and endometrium of mares at 120, 180, 300, and 330 days of gestation (n = 4/stage), ...
Jebbawi F, Chemnitzer A, Dietrich M, Pantelyushin S, Lam J, Rhiner T, Keller G, Waldern N, Canonica F, Fettelschoss-Gabriel A.Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is the most frequent skin allergy of horses and is highly debilitating, especially in the chronic phase. IBH is caused by IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions to culicoides midge bites and an imbalanced immune response that reduces the welfare of affected horses. Unassigned: In the present study, we investigated the pathological mechanisms of IBH, aiming to understand the immune cell modulation in acute allergic skin lesions of IBH horses with the goal of finding possible biomarkers for a diagnostic approach to monitor treatment success. Unassigned: By qPC...
Feijo LS, Wolfsdorf KE, Canisso IF, Parry S, Felippe MJB.Placental infection is an important cause of late-term pregnancy loss and neonatal diseases in horses. Detection of changes in blood parameters especially during early placentitis could improve the diagnostic accuracy, treatment decision, and potential outcomes. The objectives of this 2-part study were to identify differences in circulating immunological, inflammatory, and hormonal parameters between mares with natural ascending placentitis and control mares; evaluate each and combination of parameters as predictors of placentitis; and determine how these parameters indicate severity of placen...
Leite RO, Albertino LG, Sperandio LMS, Campos F, Campos R, Borges AS, Oliveira-Filho JP.Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) in athletic horses is characterized by the presence of blood from the lungs in the tracheobronchial tree after intense exercise. Despite the high prevalence of EIPH in horses, the primary aetiology remains unknown. Variants in the genes encoding CD39 and CD39L1 (ENTPD1 and ENTPD2, respectively) were previously reported as potential genetic causes involved in EIPH pathogenesis. However, the role of these variants in haemostatic functions is unknown. Results: To investigate the association between EIPH and missense variants in the ENTPD1 (rs115229627...
Bertuglia A, Pallante M, Pagliara E, Valle D, Bergamini L, Bollo E, Bullone M, Riccio B.Tarsocrural osteochondrosis (OCD) is a developmental orthopedic disease commonly affecting young Standardbreds, with different fragment localization and size. Clinically, it is characterized by variable synovial effusion in the absence of lameness, whose determinants are ill-defined. We hypothesized that localization and physical characteristics of the osteochondral fragments like dimensions, multifragmentation, and instability influence joint effusion and correlate with synovial markers of cartilage degradation and inflammation. Clinical data, synovial fluid and intact osteochondral fragments...
