Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Topic:Comparative Study
Comparative studies in equine research involve the systematic analysis of different horse breeds, management practices, or physiological responses to identify variations and similarities. These studies are instrumental in understanding how different factors influence health, performance, and behavior in horses. Common areas of comparison include genetic traits, nutritional requirements, disease resistance, and response to training. By evaluating these differences, researchers can develop targeted strategies for breeding, healthcare, and training. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that focus on the methodologies, findings, and implications of comparative studies in the context of equine science.
Konik and Hucul horses: a comparative study of exterior measurements. An exterior comparison was made between 2 primitive horse breeds: the Konik and the Hucul breeds. Each animal was characterized using 25 measurements and 24 indices. Statistical methods employed in this study were principal components analysis and the Student's t-test. It was found that in spite of both breeds being included in the group of horses with a primitive exterior, the Konik and the Hucul possess completely different metric properties of their body conformations. Although the mean height for the Hucul breed slightly exceeds that of the Konik, the latter has longer scapulae and metacar...
A review of allergen-specific immunotherapy in human and veterinary medicine. This article reviews allergen-specific immunotherapy in human and veterinary medicine. Current hypotheses of possible mechanisms of actions are outlined. Indications, success rates, adverse effects and factors influencing outcome of therapy are discussed in humans, dogs, cats and horses.
Variations of plasmatic concentrations of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I in post-pubescent horses affected with developmental osteochondral lesions. Developmental osteochondral lesions are often encountered in the equine population and are a major cause of lameness. Different growth factors that act systemically as well as locally regulate the growth of cartilage. Among them is Insulin-like Growth Factor I that has been demonstrated to promote chondrocyte growth and differentiation and that has been shown to influence cartilage repair. The aims of this study were to investigate differences in circulating plasma levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I in post-pubescent horses affected with developmental osteochondral lesions compared to unaf...
Comparison of radiography and ultrasonography to detect osteochondrosis lesions in the tarsocrural joint: a prospective study. Lesions located on the medial malleolus of the tarsocrural joint can be difficult to image radiographically. Ultrasonography allows evaluation of articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Objective: To compare dorso30 degrees lateral-plantaromedial-oblique (DL-PIMO) and dorso45 degrees views to detect lesions on the medial malleolus, to validate the use of ultrasonography to show lesions in the tarsocrural joint and to compare its sensitivity to radiography. Methods: Tarsocrural joints (n=111) with osteochondrosis were evaluated ultrasonographically and radiographically prior to arthroscopic l...
Sandwich ELISA system for cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in equine synovial fluid and serum. Measurement of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) in serum has potential for diagnosis of equine osteoarthritis (OA), but clinical use is currently limited by the lack of specificity of an inhibition ELISA as well as by baseline increases due to exercise. Improved methods for ELISA with increased antigen specificity and sensitivity are therefore required for reliable measurement. Objective: Measurement of the serum level of COMP by sandwich ELISA allows identification of horses with OA. Methods: New monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were elicited against equine cartilage COMP, their epitope...
Comparison of density gradient and single layer centrifugation of stallion spermatozoa: yield, motility and survival. A new, simpler, technique of colloidal centrifugation has recently been developed, designated single layer centrifugation (SLC). This technique requires evaluation by comparison with a density gradient for its ability to select the best quality spermatozoa and its practicality of use on studfarms. Objective: To compare the effect of 2 methods of colloidal centrifugation, density gradient centrifugation and single layer centrifugation, on stallion sperm motility, yield and survival, using freshly collected extended stallion semen. Methods: Aliquots of extended stallion semen from 10 stallions (...
Efficacy of thermal cautery for intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate as compared to conservatively treated horses: results from 78 treadmill diagnosed horses. Previously, objective comparisons of surgical procedures to relieve dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) have been limited by the presumptive basis of the diagnostic measures applied. Objective: To assess and compare the efficacy of thermal cautery surgery to conservatively treated controls in racehorses definitively diagnosed with idiopathic intermittent DDSP. Objective: Both conservative and surgical treatments have a beneficial result on racing performance in racehorses affected with DDSP. Methods: Race records were obtained for Thoroughbred racehorses definitively diagnosed with D...
Comparative assessment of human and farm animal faecal microbiota using real-time quantitative PCR. 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 ...
A mass spectrometric study on meloxicam metabolism in horses and the fungus Cunninghamella elegans, and the relevance of this microbial system as a model of drug metabolism in the horse. This paper describes a study where the metabolism of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam was investigated in six horses and in the filamentous fungus Cunninghamella elegans. The metabolites identified were compared between the species, and then the fungus was used to produce larger amounts of the metabolites for future use as reference material. C. elegans proved to be a good model of phase I meloxicam metabolism in horses since all four metabolites found were the same in both species. Apart from the two main metabolites, 5'-hydroxymethylmeloxicam and 5'-carboxymeloxicam, a seco...
P-glycoprotein in intestines, liver, kidney and lymphocytes in horse. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an important drug transporter, which is expressed in a variety of cells, such as the intestinal enterocytes, the hepatocytes, the renal tubular cells and the intestinal and peripheral blood lymphocytes. We have studied the localization and the gene and protein expression of P-gp in these cells in horse. In addition we have compared the protein sequence of P-gp in horse with the protein sequences of P-gp in several other species. Real time RT-PCR and Western blot showed gene and protein expression of horse P-gp in all parts of the intestines, but there was no strict cor...
Comparison of clinical, microbiologic, and clinicopathologic findings in horses positive and negative for Clostridium difficile infection. To compare clinical, microbiologic, and clinicopathologic findings among horses infected with Clostridium difficile that had toxin A in their feces, horses with evidence of C difficile infection that were negative for toxin A in their feces, and horses with diarrhea that were negative for C difficile infection. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: 292 horses and foals with diarrhea. Methods: Feces were submitted for microbial culture and tested for the C difficile antigen glutamate dehydrogenase and for toxin A with a commercial ELISA. Results: Horses with toxin A in their feces had higher...
Young foal and adult horse monocyte-derived dendritic cells differ by their degree of phenotypic maturity. Newborn foals are very susceptible to infections by opportunistic pathogens such as Rhodococcus equi. This susceptibility is thought to be due to the immaturity of their immune system, in particular their inability to produce interferon-gamma. This deficiency may result from an insufficiency in accessory signals. We therefore compared monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC) from foals and from adult horses. CD172, MHC-I and MHC-II were generally expressed on more than 90% MoDC from foals and adults. CD1w2(+)CD86(+) cells tended to be less represented in 2-3-week-old foals than in adults. This ...
Bilateral intraocular glandular choristomas in a Thoroughbred foal. Intraocular choristomas are rare anomalies in domestic animals and are often associated with multiple ocular malformations. A Thoroughbred foal presented for ocular abnormalities and was diagnosed with microphthalmia, corneal dermoids, severe anterior segment dysgenesis (including glandular choristomas), aphakia, retinal dysplasia, and optic nerve hypoplasia. Morphological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical comparisons were made between ocular choristomatous tissues from this foal and lacrimal gland, third eyelid gland, nasopharynx, trachea, and lacrimal sac/nasolacrimal duct from normal ...
Determination of cardiac output in anesthetized neonatal foals by use of two pulse wave analysis methods. To compare cardiac output (CO) measured by lithium arterial pressure waveform analysis (PULSECO) and CO measured by transpulmonary pulse contour analysis (PICCO) in anesthetized foals, with CO measured by use of lithium dilution (LIDCO) considered the criterion-referenced standard. Methods: 6 neonatal (1- to 4-day-old) foals that weighed 38 to 45 kg. Procedures-Foals were anesthetized and instrumented to measure direct blood pressure, heart rate, arterial blood gases, and CO. The CO was measured by use of PULSECO, PICCO, and LIDCO techniques. Measurements were converted to specific CO (sCO) va...
Poor horse traders: large mammals trade survival for reproduction during the process of feralization. We investigated density dependence on the demographic parameters of a population of Camargue horses (Equus caballus), individually monitored and unmanaged for eight years. We also analysed the contributions of individual demographic parameters to changes in the population growth rates. The decrease in resources caused a loss of body condition. Adult male survival was not affected, but the survival of foals and adult females decreased with increasing density. Prime-aged females maintained high reproductive performance at high density, and their survival decreased. The higher survival of adult m...
Use of kinetic gait analysis for detection, quantification, and differentiation of hind limb lameness and spinal ataxia in horses. To evaluate use of kinetic gait analysis for detection, quantification, and differentiation of hind limb lameness and spinal ataxia in horses. Methods: Prospective clinical study. Methods: 36 horses. Procedures-Kinetic gait analysis with a force plate was performed for 12 clinically normal horses, 12 horses with hind limb lameness, and 12 horses with spinal ataxia. Kinetic variables were compared among groups, correlated to subjective grading, and used to build predictive models to assess the accuracy of discrimination. Results: Subsets of kinetic variables were characteristically altered in a...
Effect of loading on the organization of the collagen fibril network in juvenile equine articular cartilage. We investigated the effects of exercise-induced loading on the collagen network of equine articular cartilage. Collagen fibril architecture at a site (1) subjected to intermittent high-intensity loading was compared with that of an adjacent site (2) sustaining continuous low-level load. From horses exposed to forced exercise (CONDEX group) or not (PASTEX group), the spatial parallelism of fibrils and the orientation angle between fibrils and the surface at depths 9 microm apart through cartilage from surface to tidemark were determined using polarized light microscopy, and expressed as paralle...
Magnetic resonance imaging of the initial active stage of equine laminitis at 4.7 T. Equine laminitis is a severely debilitating disease. There is a poor understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, and traditional imaging modalities have limited diagnostic capacity. High field strength magnetic resonance (MR) imaging allows direct visualization of the laminae, which other modalities do not. This would prove useful both in assessment of clinical patients and in further investigation into the pathophysiology of the disease. The objective of this study was to characterize the anatomic changes within the equine foot associated with the initial active stage of laminitis. Image...
Gene expression markers of tendon fibroblasts in normal and diseased tissue compared to monolayer and three dimensional culture systems. 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...
Thyreotropic effect of human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in mares at estrus. The beta-subunits of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) share a high homology, just like the ectodomains of their receptors, do. As a consequence, hCG was shown to exert a thyrotropic action in humans and hamsters. This study aimed to investigate whether hCG, used to induce ovulation, displays a thyrotropic effect in the equine species too. Forty mares at estrus were divided in two groups; 20 were intravenously treated with sterile saline solution (NaCl 0.9%) (group A); 20 were intravenously treated with 4000 I.U. of hCG (group B). All the mares were artif...
Equine cytochrome P450 2C92: cDNA cloning, expression and initial characterization. Substantial gaps exist in our knowledge of the metabolic clearance of therapeutic agents in horses. Accordingly, a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase in the 2C family was cloned from an equine liver, sequenced and expressed in a baculovirus expression system. Catalytic activities of the recombinant protein were measured with a number of substrates. The protein, assigned CYP2C92, displayed optimal catalytic activity with diclofenac using molar ratios of CYP2C92 to NADPH CYP450 reductase of 1:18. Addition of cytochrome b(5) to diclofenac incubations had no significant effect on metabolic turnover. CY...
[Comparison of proviral genomes between the Chinese EIAV donkey leukocyte-attenuated vaccine and its parental virulent strain]. The donkey leukocyte-attenuated vaccine of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) was the first lentiviral vaccine that induced solid protection from the infection of virulent strains. To elucidate the mechanism of increased immunogenicity and attenuated virulence of the vaccine, the proviral genomic DNA of an EIAV vaccine strain, EIAV(DLV121) was analyzed and compared with the genome of a parental virulent strain EIAV(DV117). Full length viral genomic DNAs were amplified as two segments by LA-PCR and were cloned. Because of the genomic diversity of retroviral quasispecies, 10 full-length seque...
Questionnaire assessment of airway disease symptoms in equine barn personnel. People working in cattle, swine and poultry barns have a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and decreased lung function. There is scant evidence regarding the respiratory health of humans working in horse barns, although it is well documented that stabled horses have a high prevalence of airway disease. Objective: To determine whether people spending time in horse barns have a higher prevalence of self-reported respiratory symptoms than non-exposed controls. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from May 2005 to January 2006 to investigate the prevalence of self-r...
Development of an intra-lamellar microdialysis method for laminitis investigations in horses. Microdialysis (MD) was used for continuous monitoring of the lamellar extracellular fluid (ECF) in six mature healthy Standardbred horses. MD probes were introduced into the lamellar tissue under local anaesthesia. Following intravenous injection of gentamicin (5mg/kg), MD and serum samples were collected for 24h and analysed using a sensitive ELISA test for gentamicin and fluorescence polarization immunoassay for urea concentrations. Calibration of probes was performed through in vivo urea recovery and in vitro gentamicin and urea recovery. Data obtained from different body compartments were ...
Identification of protein tyrosine phosphatases and dual-specificity phosphatases in mammalian spermatozoa and their role in sperm motility and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Protein tyrosine kinases have important roles in spermatozoa; however, little is known about the presence and regulation in these cells of their counterparts in signaling, namely, protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) and dual-specificity phosphatases (DSPs). The objectives of the present study were to identify PTPs and DSPs in boar, stallion, and dog spermatozoa; to characterize their subcellular distribution; and to investigate the roles of tyrosine phosphatases in maintenance of protein tyrosine phosphorylation level and in sperm motility. Using Western blotting with specific antibodies in b...
Parental genomes mix in mule and human cell nuclei. Whether chromosome sets inherited from father and mother occupy separate spaces in the cell nucleus is a question first asked over 110 years ago. Recently, the nuclear organization of the genome has come increasingly into focus as an important level of epigenetic regulation. In this context, it is indispensable to know whether or not parental genomes are spatially separated. Genome separation had been demonstrated for plant hybrids and for the early mammalian embryo. Conclusive studies for somatic mammalian cell nuclei are lacking because homologous chromosomes from the two parents cannot be d...
Calcium regulating hormones and serum calcium and magnesium concentrations in septic and critically ill foals and their association with survival. Disorders of calcium regulation are frequently found in humans with critical illness, yet limited information exists in foals with similar conditions including septicemia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether disorders of calcium exist in septic foals, and to determine any association with survival. Objective: Blood concentrations of ionized calcium (Ca(2+)) and magnesium (Mg(2+)) will be lower in septic foals with concomitant increases in parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin (CT), and parathyroid-related peptide (PTHrP) compared with healthy foals. The magnitude of these differ...
Early conception factor lateral flow assays for pregnancy in the mare. The ECF lateral flow assay test is marketed to detect non-pregnancy in mares. The objectives of the present study were to determine the accuracy of the ECF test, the accuracy of the electronic reader accompanying the ECF test, and agreement between two human readers and the electronic reader. Serum samples were collected from anestrus, cycling but not inseminated, and inseminated mares, and were evaluated with the ECF test (EDP Biotech Company, Knoxville, TN, USA) at The Ohio State University and at the EDP Biotech Laboratory. Specificity ranged from 0.07 to 0.16, the negative predictive value...
Thyroid function in anhidrotic horses. This study was performed to determine whether anhidrotic horses have altered thyroid function compared with horses that sweat normally. Objective: Anhidrotic horses have normal thyroid function. Methods: Ten client-owned horses with clinical signs of anhidrosis were paired with 10 horses living in the same environment that had normal sweat production. Methods: Horses were diagnosed as having normal sweat production or being anhidrotic based on responses to intradermal injections of terbutaline and physiologic responses to lunging exercise. Control horses were selected from the same environment...
Effects of previous control programmes on the proportion of horses shedding small numbers of strongyle-type eggs. Between 30 and 70 per cent of horses at 18 stables had their anthelmintic treatments withdrawn for a year. Three of the stables (group 1) had used no anthelmintics for many years, 10 (group 2) had treated their horses with anthelmintics approximately twice a year, and five (group 3) had used anthelmintics five to seven times a year. A total of 1068 samples of faeces were collected from the 267 untreated horses and faecal egg counts were carried out four times during the year. Overall 50.2 per cent of the samples contained less than 200 epg. When the four counts from individual horses were coll...
