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Topic:Clinical Study
Clinical studies in equine research involve the systematic investigation of health and disease in horses through structured scientific methods. These studies aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of treatments, understand disease mechanisms, and improve veterinary care practices. Clinical studies can include randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and case-control studies. They may focus on various aspects such as pharmacokinetics, therapeutic interventions, and diagnostic techniques. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the design, implementation, and findings of clinical studies in equine medicine, providing insights into their impact on horse health and veterinary practices.
Vertical movement symmetry of the withers in horses with induced forelimb and hindlimb lameness at trot. The main criteria for lameness assessment in horses are head movement for forelimb lameness and pelvic movement for hindlimb lameness. However, compensatory head nod in horses with primary hindlimb lameness is a well-known phenomenon. This compensatory head nod movement can be easily misinterpreted as a sign of primary ipsilateral forelimb lameness. Therefore, discriminating compensatory asymmetries from primary directly pain-related movement asymmetries is a prerequisite for successful lameness assessment. Objective: To investigate the association between head, withers and pelvis movement asy...
Prophylactic therapy with omeprazole for prevention of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) in horses in active training: A meta-analysis. Guidelines regarding the impact and value of prophylaxis or maintenance therapy in equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) are not well-established or defined. The merits and the magnitude of effects of prophylaxis for spontaneous or recurrent squamous gastric ulceration in horses in training are uncertain. Objective: To pool data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to eliminate reporting bias and evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic omeprazole in the prevention of EGUS in training horses, and secondarily to compare prophylactic dosages of omeprazole. Methods: Meta-analysis. Methods: This m...
The development of hoof balance and landing preference in the post-natal period. Foals can follow the herd within hours of birth, but it has been shown that kinetic gait parameters and static balance still have to mature. However, development of dynamic balance has not been investigated. Objective: To objectively quantify landing and pressure pattern dynamics under the hoof during the first half year of life. Methods: Prospective, cohort study performed at a single stud farm. Methods: Pressure plate measurements at walk and trot from ten Dutch warmblood foals during the first 24 weeks of life were used to quantify toe-heel and medial-lateral hoof balance asymmetry indexes ...
Biochemical and biomechanical characterisation of equine cervical facet joint cartilage. The equine cervical facet joint is a site of significant pathology. Located bilaterally on the dorsal spine, these diarthrodial joints work in conjunction with the intervertebral disc to facilitate appropriate spinal motion. Despite the high prevalence of pathology in this joint, the facet joint is understudied and thus lacking in viable treatment options. Objective: The goal of this study was to characterise equine facet joint cartilage and provide a comprehensive database describing the morphological, histological, biochemical and biomechanical properties of this tissue. Methods: Descriptive...
Validity and application of immunoturbidimetric and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the measurement of adiponectin concentration in ponies. Circulating adiponectin concentrations were lower in ponies with a history of endocrinopathic laminitis and in nonlaminitic ponies that subsequently developed laminitis. The assays used in these studies have been discontinued or are no longer valid. Objective: (1) to determine the validity of immunoturbidimetric (IT) and enzyme linkedimmunosorbent (ELISA) assays for equine total and high molecular weight (HMW) [adiponectin] measurement and (2) to investigate the association between [adiponectin] measured using these assays and endocrinopathic laminitis. Methods: Method validation and cohort st...
Contracting for care – the construction of the farrier role in supporting horse owners to prevent laminitis. Emerging research highlights how, due to demographic changes in horse owner populations in Western societies, complex owner-horse relationships are leading to inappropriate horse care, including overnutrition, which in turn can lead to laminitis. Farriers, due to their regular visits, may be in a position to support owners in dealing with this problem. Objective: This study explored whether UK farriers have a role in working with horse owners to support horse welfare and prevent laminitis. Methods: Grounded theory analysis, a qualitative methodology. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were co...
Sequential bacterial sampling of the midline incision in horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy. There is limited information about bacterial isolates that are present on the equine midline incision during and following exploratory laparotomy. Objective: To investigate the bacterial species cultured from the ventral midline pre-, intra- and post- laparotomy, whether particular bacterial isolates are associated with the development of surgical site infections (SSIs) and to report the antimicrobial resistance phenotypes of these isolates. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Methods: The ventral midline of 31 horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy was sampled for bacterial culture at set ti...
Anti-Müllerian hormone as a biomarker for acute testicular degeneration caused by toxic insults to stallion testes. Recently, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) was validated as a reliable marker of testicular damage caused by various chemotherapy drugs in humans and in mice. In horses, the reference values of AMH concentrations in normal stallions, during different seasons of a year, have been recently reported. However, this hormone was not evaluated in subfertile or infertile stallions with testicular damage. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of experimentally induced testicular degeneration on the concentration of AMH in stallions. Severe but transient testicular degenerat...
Effect of urine contamination on stallion semen freezing ability. Urospermia is a common ejaculatory dysfunction of stallions. Current practice suggests that urine contaminated semen should not be used for cryopreservation. The aim of this study was to determine effects of urine contamination on semen freezing. Sixty-five ejaculates from eight stallions were divided into no urine (CONT), low (20% urine, LOW), and high (50% urine, HIGH) samples. Semen was extended with a commercial cooling extender, cushion-centrifuged, resuspended to 200 million/mL in a commercial egg-yolk based extender, and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. A subset of ejaculates (n = ...
Recent advances in conservative and surgical treatment options of common equine foot problems. Foot problems are very common causes of lameness in horses. With the recent diagnostic advances to evaluate and treat foot pathology as well as to monitor response to therapy, it is now possible to more accurately evaluate the effectiveness of many of these treatments. This review details some of the recent advances of the most common conservative and surgical treatment options for foot problems in horses, including an overview of evidence on the efficacy to support the use of these treatment options and on factors that may affect prognosis.
Coagulation parameters following equine herpesvirus type 1 infection in horses. Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is the cause of respiratory disease, abortion storms, and outbreaks of herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Infection of the spinal cord is characterised by multifocal regions of virally infected vascular endothelium, associated with vasculitis, thrombosis and haemorrhage that result in ischaemia and organ dysfunction. However, the mechanism of thrombosis in affected horses is unknown. Objective: To evaluate tissue factor (TF) procoagulant activity and thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) levels in horses following infection with EHV-1. Methods: In vitro and ...
Unilateral cervical plexus block for prosthetic laryngoplasty in the standing horse. Locoregional anaesthetic techniques can facilitate certain surgeries being performed under standing procedural sedation. The second and third spinal cervical nerves (C2, C3) are part of the cervical plexus and provide sensory innervation to the peri-laryngeal structures in people; block of these nerves might permit laryngeal lateralisation surgery in horses. Objective: To describe the anatomical basis for an ultrasound-guided cervical plexus block in horses. To compare this block with conventional local anaesthetic tissue infiltration in horses undergoing standing prosthetic laryngoplasty. Met...
Local mepivacaine before castration of horses under medetomidine isoflurane balanced anaesthesia is effective to reduce perioperative nociception and cytokine release. In horses castration with primary intention healing is usually performed under balanced inhalation anaesthesia. To optimise analgesia, the use of local anaesthesia was tested. Objective: To investigate the effect of local mepivacaine before castration with first intention healing under balanced medetomidine-isoflurane anaesthesia and flunixin meglumine, morphine analgesia on perioperative cytokine levels and pain in horses. Methods: Prospective blinded clinical study. Methods: Twenty stallions were randomly assigned to control or mepivacaine groups. Flunixin meglumine was administered before s...
Diagnostic accuracy of post-ACTH challenge salivary cortisol concentrations for identifying horses with equine glandular gastric disease. The aims of this study were to better characterize the adrenal response to i.v. adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in horses with and without gastric disease and to validate and simplify the ACTH stimulation test by determining the diagnostic accuracy of six consecutive sampling time points after ACTH administration for equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) and equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD). Twenty-six endurance and eventing horses without clinical disease [Sport Horse Population (SHP)] and an independent population of 62 horses [General Population (GP)] were grouped by gastroscopic...
Effects of a P-class CpG-ODN administered by intramuscular injection on plasma cytokines and on white blood cells of healthy horses. Cytosine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG-ODN) has been described as a potent immunostimulatory agent in different species. No study reported the effect of a P-class CpG when administered systemically in healthy horses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tolerance and the effect of an intramuscularly administered P-class CpG-ODN on hematology and on plasma cytokines (IFN-α, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ) in 8 healthy horses. Intra-muscular CpG-ODN or placebo (PBS) was administered twice at a 7 days-interval. Groups were inversed after 2 months of washout period. A physical examination, complete bloo...
Effect of two months whole body vibration on hoof growth rate in the horse: A pilot study. Hoof problems are commonly seen in veterinary practice and manipulation of hoof growth rate can be practical and beneficial for that matter. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effect of whole body vibration (WBV) on hoof growth rate of front feet in the horse. The study was an experimental, single subject, repeated measure design, with all horses serving as control and treatment. Ten horses were subject to WBV, 30 min, twice daily, five days a week, for 60 days in addition to their regular exercise routine. Hoof growth was measured from the reference hairline down to a horizo...
Conjugated equine estrogen and medroxyprogesterone acetate are associated with decreased risk of breast cancer relative to bioidentical hormone therapy and controls. By the 1990s it became popular for women to use hormone therapy (HT) to ease menopause symptoms. Bioidentical estrogen and progesterone are supplements whose molecular structures are identical to what is made in the human body, while synthetic supplements are ones whose structures are not. After the Women's Health Initiative found that the combined use of the synthetics conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) increased breast cancer risk, prescriptions for synthetic HT declined considerably. Since then there has been an increased interest in bioidentical HT; toda...
Marginal ancestral contributions to atrial fibrillation in the Standardbred racehorse: Comparison of cases and controls. Admissions of Standardbred racehorses (Std) to the Ontario Veterinary College Teaching Hospital (OVCTH) for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) began to increase in the early 1990s. The arrhythmia has been shown to have a modest heritability (h2 ≃ 0.15), with some stallions appearing as sires or sires of mares used in breeding (broodmares) of affected horses more frequently than others. The objective of this study was to determine the marginal genetic contributions of ancestors to cohorts of Std affected with AF and their contemporary control groups, and whether these ancestors contribute ...
Anti-Müllerian hormone profiling in prepubertal horses and its relationship with gonadal function. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has gained increasing interest as a biomarker for assessment of gonadal activity. The ability to predict the ovarian follicular reserve of prepubertal female horses (fillies) or to identify stallions with testicular pathologies already during their prepubertal life has not been analyzed so far. Both would help to select fertile horses and reduce costs associated with keeping animals. The objectives of the present study were to (1) assess AMH, LH, FSH, progesterone (females) and testosterone (males) dynamics in prepubertal horses from birth onwards and (2) determin...
Barley produced Culicoides allergens are suitable for monitoring the immune response of horses immunized with E. coli expressed allergens. Insect bite hypersensitivity is an allergic dermatitis of horses caused by bites of Culicoides midges. Sufficient amount of pure, endotoxin-free allergens is a prerequisite for development and monitoring of preventive and therapeutic allergen immunotherapy. Aims of the study were to compare the Culicoides nubeculosus (Cul n) allergens Cul n 3 and Cul n 4, produced in transgenic barley grains with the corresponding E. coli or insect cells expressed proteins for measuring antibody and cytokine responses. Allergen-specific IgG responses were measured by ELISA in sera from twelve horses not expose...
Evaluation of wet cupping therapy on the arterial and venous blood parameters in healthy Arabian horses. Recently, the complementary therapies such as cupping and acupuncture are being used in veterinary medicine. This research was carried out to determine the effects of wet cupping therapy (Hijama) on the hematological and the biochemical parameters in the healthy Arabian horses for the first time. Methods: In this study, seven clinically healthy Arabian horses were randomly selected. Four points on the animal body were selected to perform the cupping therapy. Two points were selected at the back just behind the scapula on the left and right sides; another two points were located in the rump. Cu...
Endocrine and metabolic profile of peripubertal Standardbred colts. The objectives of this study were to determine the concentrations of reproductive and metabolic hormones during the peripubertal period and to assess their relationship with testicular development and body fat deposition. Blood samples were collected from 23 healthy Standardbred colts every four weeks for twelve months. Colts were weighed monthly, and percent of body fat and testicular volume estimated by ultrasound. Onset of puberty was determined as the month when testosterone was two standard deviations above the previous mean. Plasma FSH, LH, leptin, estradiol-17β, androstenedione, IGF-1,...
AAV-mediated Overexpression of IL-10 Mitigates the Inflammatory Cascade in Stimulated Equine Chondrocyte Pellets. Following joint trauma, a posttraumatic inflammatory cascade drives degeneration of the joint. We aimed to assess whether transduction of chondrocytes with AAV5 overexpressing the immunomodulatory cytokine IL-10 would have protective effects in pellet cultures stimulated with IL-1β. Chondrocytes were isolated from 3 healthy horses and were transduced with AAV5-IL-10 at a dose of 1 x 105vg/cell. Chondrocyte pellets were formed by centrifugation and were stimulated with IL-1β starting 48 hours following transduction. After 2, 6 and 14 days in culture, supernatants were collected for cytokine a...
Risk factors for equine glandular and squamous gastric disease in show jumping Warmbloods. Prevalence of, and risk factors for, equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) are well established. Limited data exists on risk factors for equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD). Objective: To identify management factors associated with EGGD in show jumping Warmbloods in training. A secondary objective was to identify management factors associated with ESGD. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: Gastroscopies were performed in horses following a 12-16 h fast. Management questionnaires were collected for each horse. Risk factors were determined using multivariable logistic regression modelling. Re...
The FGF-23/klotho axis and its relationship with phosphorus, calcium, vitamin D, PTH, aldosterone, severity of disease, and outcome in hospitalised foals. Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) and klotho are key regulators of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) synthesis as well as phosphorus and calcium homeostasis; however, information on the FGF-23/klotho axis in healthy and hospitalised foals is lacking. Objective: The aims of this study were to measure serum FGF-23 and klotho concentrations and determine their association with serum phosphorus, total calcium (TCa), vitamin D metabolite [25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2 D], PTH, and aldosterone concentrations, disease severity, and mortality in hospitalised foals. Methods: Prospective, multicentre, cro...
Ultrasonographic variations are present in the distal sesamoidean impar ligament of clinically sound horses. Ultrasonography is an established diagnostic test for evaluating horses with foot pain due to suspected podotrochlear apparatus pathology. However, variations from the previously reported normal appearance of the distal sesamoidean impar ligament have not always coincided with lameness. The objective of this prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study was to characterize variations in the ultrasonographic appearance of the distal sesamoidean impar ligament in sound horses using the transcuneal approach. Transcuneal ultrasonography of the distal sesamoidean impar ligament was performed on s...
Effect of induced chronic atrial fibrillation on exercise performance in Standardbred trotters. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia affecting performance in horses. However, no previous studies have quantified the performance reduction in horses suffering from AF. Objective: To quantify the effect of AF on maximum velocity (Vmax ), maximum heart rate (HRmax ), heart rate recovery (T100 ), hematologic parameters and development of abnormal QRS complexes. Methods: Nine Standardbred trotters. Methods: Two-arm controlled trial. Six horses had AF induced by means of a pacemaker and 3 served as sham-operated controls. All horses were subjected to an exercise test to fatigue ...
Insulin dysregulation in horses with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Systemic inflammation is a cause of insulin dysregulation in many species, but the insulin and glucose dynamics in adult horses diagnosed with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) are poorly documented. Objective: In SIRS in horses, insulin and glucose dynamics will be altered and associated with survival. Methods: Adult horses diagnosed with SIRS admitted to a referral hospital. Methods: Prospective study enrolling horses diagnosed with SIRS in which serum insulin and glucose concentrations were measured. Horses were grouped by outcome (survival, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperglycemia)...
Osteoblast differentiation of equine induced pluripotent stem cells. Bone fractures occur in horses following traumatic and non-traumatic (bone overloading) events. They can be difficult to treat due to the need for the horse to bear weight on all legs during the healing period. Regenerative medicine to improve fracture union and recovery could significantly improve horse welfare. Equine induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have previously been derived. Here we show that equine iPSCs cultured for 21 days in osteogenic induction media on an OsteoAssay surface upregulate the expression of osteoblast associated genes and proteins, including , , , , and We al...
Changes in energy metabolism, and levels of stress-related hormones and electrolytes in horses after intravenous administration of romifidine and the peripheral α-2 adrenoceptor antagonist vatinoxan. Romifidine, an α-2 adrenoceptor agonist, is a widely-used sedative in equine medicine. Besides the desired sedative and analgesic actions, α-2 adrenoceptor agonists have side effects like alterations of plasma concentrations of glucose and certain stress-related hormones and metabolites in various species. Vatinoxan (previously known as MK-467), in turn, is an antagonist of α-2 adrenoceptors. Because vatinoxan does not cross the blood brain barrier in significant amounts, it has only minor effect on sedation induced by α-2 adrenoceptor agonists. Previously, vatinoxan is shown to prevent th...
