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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.
Quantitative measurement of equine cytokine mRNA expression by polymerase chain reaction using target-specific standard curves. Quantification of cytokine mRNA using reverse transcription coupled with the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has become a corner stone of the study of cytokine regulation. Quantitative competitive RT-PCR (QCRT-PCR) is commonly accepted as a reliable method for quantifying differences in mRNA levels but is both labor- and reagent-intensive. A noncompetitive polymerase chain reaction method that utilizes cytokine-specific, plasmid-derived, standard curves was developed for the quantification of equine cytokine mRNA. The assay can be performed on minute samples of cellular material, utilizes s...
Differences in second-intention wound healing between horses and ponies: macroscopic aspects. Second-intention healing of deep wounds was studied in 5 horses and 5 ponies. Standardised wounds were created on the distal limbs and hind quarters. Wounds on the metatarsi extended onto the metatarsal bone; the depth of the wounds in the femoral biceps muscle was 18 mm. The wound margins were marked by tattoos. Photographs were taken at weekly intervals to determine the wound area. The relative contribution of contraction and epithelialisation to wound closure was quantified by means of the tattoos. Swelling of the limbs was measured; and regularity and aspect of the granulation tissue were ...
Tubule density of the stratum medium of horse hoof. The number of tubules/mm2 (tubule density) of horse hoof horn was quantified in samples taken from the left forefeet of 8 randomly selected slaughterhouse horses in order to establish the normal tubule density characteristics at the midline dead centre (MDC) for the stratum medium of horse hoof. In the past the measurement of tubule distribution within the hoof has lacked objectivity. The horse hoof tubule density results are compared to a recent objective study carried out on pony hoof. A similar 4 zone pattern of tubule density was observed, although the precise zonal boundaries and tubule d...
Effect of rider and riding style on deformation of the front hoof wall in warmblood horses. A rider modifies the weight distribution and dynamic balance of the horse. But what effect does a rider have on the mechanical behaviour of the hoof during each stance phase? Does riding style have any effect on this behaviour? We attempted to answer these questions using strains recorded from 5 rosette strain gauges glued to the surface of the front hooves of 4 Warmblood horses. Comparisons were made between strains with and without a rider, and when the rider was sitting, rising at a trot, or in a forward seated position. The change in strains from trot to lead or nonlead at a canter, and th...
Variation in surface strain on the equine hoof wall at the midstep with shoeing, gait, substrate, direction of travel, and hoof shape. Objectives were to examine the deformation of the healthy equine front hoof during locomotion, by recording strains on its outer surface, and to test whether its mechanical behaviour is significantly altered under different locomotory conditions and variation in hoof shape. Strains were recorded in vivo from 5 rosette gauges around the circumference of the right forehooves of 12 horses. The magnitudes and orientations of principal strains at the midstep were compared statistically for different conditions of shoeing (shod vs. unshod), gait (walk vs. trot), substrate (treadmill vs. ground), and...
Effect of hoof trimming on the occurrence of distal phalangeal palmar process fractures in foals. This study sought to determine if extensive trimming of the front hooves of foals results in a higher incidence of palmar process fractures compared to untrimmed foals, and to characterise the clinical course of foals with palmar process fractures with physical findings, hoof measurements and radiography. Twenty foals age 4-8 weeks of multiple breeds were examined every 2 weeks over a 12 week period. Ten foals had both front hooves extensively trimmed every 4 weeks, while 10 foals remained untrimmed. Palmar process fractures occurred in 4 trimmed and 3 untrimmed foals. Four foals with fracture...
Cytokeratins of the equine hoof wall, chestnut and skin: bio- and immunohisto-chemistry. The equine skin and its appendages (chestnut, hoof capsule, ergot, sebaceous glands, sweat glands and hair) consist mainly of keratinocytes. The intermediate filament cytoskeleton of these cells in involved in specialised functions, such as mechanical co-ordination of the cytoskeleton of the cell or tissue. In this study, 7 monoclonal antibodies, one polyclonal antibody and immunoblot analysis were used to characterise cytokeratins (separated by 1- and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis) from the hoof wall and chestnut. The tissue distribution of these cytokeratins was studied by immunohistoche...
The development of microcracking and failure in bone depends on the loading mode to which it is adapted. During locomotion, the anterior cortex of the equine radius is loaded predominantly in tension, the posterior predominantly in compression. The anterior cortex is relatively strong in tension, the posterior in compression. We investigated the pattern of failure of specimens from the two cortices using laser scanning confocal microscopy. All specimens were loaded in four-point bending to increasingly higher loads. We quantified the amount of diffuse microcracking on the tensile side of these specimens by observing the amount of light emitted under laser illumination. The amount of light emitted...
Matrix metalloproteinase activity in equine synovial fluid: influence of age, osteoarthritis, and osteochondrosis. To investigate the influence of age, osteoarthritis (OA), and osteochondrosis (OC) on the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in the synovial fluid (SF) of equine joints. Methods: SF was collected from normal and osteoarthritic metacarpophalangeal joints (normal: 14 adult, 28 juvenile; OA: 22 adult). And from normal and osteochondrotic tarsocrural joints (5 months: 11 normal, 8 OC; 11 months: 7 normal, 6 OC). Subsequently, overall MMP activity was measured. Results: The level of active MMPs was almost twofold higher in SF from juvenile horses (age up to 11 months) than in SF from mature an...
Variability of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) in different animal species. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) was measured both in whole (ORAC-T) and deproteinized (ORAC-AS) plasma samples of human, pig, cow, rabbit, dog, cat, sheep, horse, dolphin, turkey, guinea-hen and chicken. In the 12 species, ORAC-T data, expressed as micromoles of peroxyl radicals trapped by 11 of sample, were found scattered between 8,600 and 23,000 micromol/l. The species with the highest ORAC-T values were cat among mammals and chicken among avies. ORAC-AS values ranged between 600 and 2000 micromol/l, with the highest values found in dolphin and sheep among mammals, while chick...
Two SINE families associated with equine microsatellite loci. BLAST searches of 61 equine microsatellite sequences revealed two related families of retroposons. The first family included seven markers, all of which showed significant homology to the Equine Repetitive Element-1 (ERE-1) Short Interspersed Nucleotide Element (SINE) sequence. Length of homology ranged from 76 to 171 bases with identities to the ERE-1 consensus sequence ranging from 71% to 83%. The second family referred to as Equine Repetitive Element-2 (ERE-2) has a consensus sequence that showed homology to ERE-1 over approximately 60 bases. These 60 bases comprised subunit I. Sequence com...
Studies on equine lipid metabolism. 1. A fluorometric method for the measurement of lipolytic activity in isolated adipocytes of rats and horses. A simple and sensitive method for direct and continuous monitoring of free fatty acid (FFA) release, by measuring the pH-sensitive change in relative fluorescence intensity of seminaphthofluorescein (SNAFL-1) is described. The method was designed to use a small number of adipocytes isolated from fat pads of rats and biopsy specimens of horses for the detection of decreasing pH in fat cell suspensions caused by released FFA into the incubation medium. Species specific differences of lipolysis were demonstrated when adipocytes of rats and horses are incubated with stimulators or inhibitors of li...
Instability-induced osteoarthritis in the metacarpophalangeal joint of horses. To establish an instability model of osteoarthritis (OA) that mimics the early changes of naturally acquired OA. Methods: 6 mature radiographically normal horses. Procedure-The collateral and lateral collateral sesamoidean ligaments were transected in a metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint in each horse. Lameness examinations were performed every 7 days after surgery for 8 weeks. Radiographs were taken immediately before and after desmotomy and 8 weeks after surgery. Eight weeks after surgery, bilateral MCP joints were grossly evaluated, specimens of articular cartilage were harvested for histologi...
Metoclopramide ameliorates the effects of endotoxin on gastric emptying of acetaminophen in horses. The effect of metoclopramide on gastric emptying of a liquid marker in horses was evaluated by measuring serum concentrations of acetaminophen. Gastric emptying was determined in normal, fasted horses (n = 7), horses given endotoxin intravenously (n = 7), and horses given intravenous metoclopramide plus endotoxin (n = 6). The mean time to reach maximum serum acetaminophen concentration (Tmax), the maximum serum concentration (Cmax), and the area under the serum acetaminophen concentration vs time curve (AUC) were compared among treatment groups. Endotoxin caused a profound delay in gastric emp...
Improved hepatic and pancreatic localisation of the equine alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor family of serpins using an antigen enhancement technique and a monoclonal antibody. Equine alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (API) consists of three, occasionally four, serum glycoproteins. This study investigated the immunohistochemical localisation of equine API in paraformaldehyde fixed, paraffin embedded equine tissue samples of liver, lung, stomach, pancreas, jejunum and colon in five horses using affinity purified sheep polyclonal and protein A purified mouse monoclonal antibodies, whose specificities were verified by Western blotting. Exposing tissue sections to boiling citrate buffer greatly enhanced antigen recovery and improved immunostaining with both antibodies, result...
A comparison of porosity, fabric and fractal dimension as predictors of the Young’s modulus of equine cancellous bone. The purpose of this study was to compare the structural parameters of fabric and fractal dimension as predictors of the Young's modulus of equine cancellous bone. Eight 15 mm cubes of cancellous bone were obtained from three equine third metacarpal bones. Young's modulus was determined for the three orthogonal directions. The fabric and fractal dimension were calculated for each of the six exposed faces of each cube. Fractal dimension plus porosity provided a higher explanatory power for Young's modulus (R2 = 78.7%. P < 0.0001) than fabric plus porosity (R2 = 69.2%, P < 0.0001). Fractal ...
Asthma and allergy in New Zealand farmers. To examine the prevalence of symptoms of asthma and allergy in different farming groups in New Zealand. Methods: A postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 2,500 farmers throughout New Zealand. Results: The response rate was 77% (1,706 of 2,203 eligibles). The 12-month period prevalence of current asthma was 11.8% overall, compared with 15% in the general population. Asthma prevalence was higher for horse breeders/groomers (16.5%), pig farmers (18.2%), poultry farmers (17.4%), and those working with oats (17.4%). Asthma was also significantly elevated among those working with cleani...
Mitochondrial control region and 12S rRNA variation in Przewalski’s horse (Equus przewalskii). Variation in the control region and the 12S rRNA gene of all surviving mitochondrial lineages of Przewalski's horse was investigated. Variation is low despite the present day population being descended from 13 individuals probably representing animals from three different regions of its range. Phylogenetic comparison of these sequences, with sequences for the domestic horse, does not resolve the ancestral status of either horse.
[The intraspecific differentiation of Przhewalski’s horse and the domestic horse by 5 molecular genetic markers]. Analysis of albumin, transferrin, receptor to vitamin D, esterase, alpha 1-beta glycoprotein polymorphisms in Przhewalski's horse, Orlov's and Russian trotters, Guzul and Yakutian domestic horse breeds was carried out. The data about similarity of intraspecies differentiation of Przewalski's horse's populations and interbreed distinctions were obtained. Locus-specific particularities of genetic structures of investigated animal groups were revealed.
Organisation of the equine immunoglobulin constant heavy chain genes. II. Equine cgamma genes. The number of immunoglobulin G constant heavy chain genes (cgamma genes) varies broadly among mammalian species, reflecting structural and functional differences between expressed immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotypes and allotypes. Up to now equine IgG isotypes have been defined only at the biochemical and serological level. It is still not clear how many IgG isotypes exist in horses and whether there are any allotypes. Here, we describe the isolation and characterisation of equine cgamma genes. An equine genomic lambda phage library was screened with a human cgamma4 probe. Cross-hybridising equine...
Comparative efficacy evaluation of moxidectin gel and ivermectin paste against internal parasites of equines in Brazil. A total of 24 male and female equines of mixed breed, 10-20 months of age and naturally infected with internal parasites was utilized in a controlled test to evaluate the efficacy of a moxidectin 2% gel formulation at the dosage of 0.4 mg moxidectin per kg of live weight and an ivermectin 1.87% commercial paste formulation at the dosage 0.2 mg ivermectin per kg applied orally. Animals were allocated into three groups of eight horses each based on pre-treatment eggs per gram (EPG) counts and treatments were randomized among the groups. One group was kept as untreated controls. One animal in the...
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of anti-Trypanosoma evansi equine antibodies. The standardization of ELISA for the detection of anti-Trypanosoma evansi antibodies in naturally and experimentally infected horses is described. Bayesian analysis was used to establish the cutoff between positive and negative sera. In order to determine the assessment of the ELISA test, the results obtained were compared with those from an IFA. A relative sensibility of 98.39%, a specificity of 95.12% and a predictive value of 96.83% were determined. The standardized technique was used to evaluate the antibody production against trypanosome in an experimentally infected equine, in which the ...
Developments in equine nutrition: comparing the beginning and end of this century. In the first part of this century, there was little advancement in horse nutrition and little research was undertaken. However, in the last few years, there has been a great increase in interest in this whole area. This review surveys some of the more recent developments and how they have influenced feeding practices and also compares these with those feeding practices found at the start of this century. The review concentrates on the nutrition of the adult horse in work, exploring in particular what they are fed and how the nutrient value of these feeds is evaluated.
Responses of guinea-pig lung parenchymal strips to tracheobronchial lavage fluid from horses affected with summer pasture-associated obstructive pulmonary disease. The response of parenchymal strips from guinea-pig lungs to tracheobronchial lavage fluid (TBLF) collected from 8 normal horses and from 8 affected with summer pasture-associated obstructive pulmonary disease (SPAOPD) was determined. TBLF was collected during the summer (July) and winter (February) seasons. The serum/TBLF urea nitrogen ratio was used to standardize the mediator concentration in the TBLF. Four strips were used from each guinea-pig. The first strip did not receive any antagonist and served as the control. The second, third and fourth strips received antagonists of PGE2, LTD4 and...
[Evaluation of the portable blood analyser i-STAT]. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of horse blood examinations on a portable blood analysis system, i-STAT SDI, with conventional laboratory equipment and to verify the accuracy and precision. The precision within run was high and the coefficients of variation ranged from 0 to 3.85%. The comparative analysis of patient samples with routine methods showed a very strong positive correlation with correlation coefficients above 0.96 for blood gases, pH, glucose, urea, hemoglobin, hematocrit, sodium and potassium, with the exception of chloride where it was 0.867. The i-STAT syste...
Endometrial oxytocin receptor and uterine prostaglandin secretion in mares during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. Circulating concentrations of 13,14-dihydro-15-ketoprostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM) were measured before and after administration of oxytocin and after endometrial biopsy, with or without uterine flushing performed per vaginam, on days 10, 14 and 18 after ovulation in nine pregnant and nine cyclic mares. Concentrations of oxytocin receptor were measured in endometrial biopsy samples. Neither pregnancy status nor time after ovulation affected basal PGFM concentrations. PGFM concentrations were increased after oxytocin administration on each of the days studied in cyclic mares; on day 14 the mean r...
