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Topic:Disease Management

Disease management in horses encompasses the strategies and practices employed to prevent, control, and treat diseases affecting equine populations. This field involves understanding the etiology, transmission, and clinical presentation of various equine diseases, as well as implementing biosecurity measures and therapeutic interventions. Common diseases in horses include equine influenza, strangles, and equine herpesvirus. Effective disease management relies on accurate diagnosis, vaccination protocols, and the use of antimicrobials and other treatments. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, challenges, and advancements in managing diseases in equine health.
Proteomic profiling of equine airway mucus reveals compositional changes in asthmatic phenotypes.
Scientific reports    February 10, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 1 5880 doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-38766-3
Bartenschlager F, Kuropka B, Schmitz P, Dumke F, Landmann K, Gruber AD, Weise C, Schnabel CL, Gehlen H, Mundhenk L.Mucus hypersecretion and accumulation are hallmark features of equine asthma (EA), a meaningful respiratory disorder in horses occurring in mild to moderate (MEA) and severe (SEA) forms. Changes of the proteomic composition of airway mucus in EA are poorly understood. Using label-free quantitative liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we analyzed airway mucus from SEA (n = 10), MEA (n = 6), and healthy (n = 8) horses. We identified and quantified 2,275 proteins including gel-forming mucins MUC5AC and MUC5B and membrane-bound mucins MUC1 and MUC4. Compared with healthy controls, ...
Successful Treatment of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus in a Horse With Tacrolimus Ointment.
Veterinary dermatology    January 28, 2026   doi: 10.1111/vde.70051
Dropsy H, Husson JC, Degorce-Rubiales F, Cochet-Faivre N.A 9-year-old gelding Quarter Horse with a lesion on the right upper eyelid was diagnosed with cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Clinical resolution and control of UV-induced flares were achieved with topical tacrolimus and a UV-blocking mask without adverse effects over the following 3 years.
Occurrence, antibiotic susceptibility and genetic variation of Streptococcus zooepidemicus in Finnish weanling horses with and without respiratory infection.
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica    January 27, 2026   Volume 68, Issue 1 7 doi: 10.1186/s13028-025-00839-0
Junkkari R, Mykkänen A, Sulku P, Rantala M, Pohjanvirta T, Eklund M, Pelkonen S, Grönthal T. subsp. (), an opportunistic pathogen often found in the stable environment and upper respiratory tract of young horses, can cause severe pneumonias in Equidae. In this study we investigated the occurrence, genetic variation and antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates from 63 weanling horses kept in loose housing or conventional stables. The bacterial isolates were typed by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). The possible associating factors (stable type, age, breed and clinical signs) for positive finding were analysed using logistic regre...
Pharmacokinetics of Intragastric Ursodeoxycholic Acid and Its Impact on Bile Acid Profiles in Horses.
Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics    January 26, 2026   doi: 10.1111/jvp.70048
Macias A, Delvescovo B, Donaldson SF, Divers TJ, Donnelly CG.Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a secondary bile acid (BA) with therapeutic applications, is standard therapy for cholestatic hepatopathies in humans. In recent years, its use has been increasingly explored in equine medicine for similar indications. Pharmacokinetic data for UDCA in horses are currently lacking. This study aimed to describe the pharmacokinetic parameters following a single intragastric administration of 15 mg/kg in nine healthy, fasted horses and to characterize the changes in their BA profiles. Plasma concentrations of UDCA were measured at specific time points using liquid ch...
Three-dimensional anatomical description of the microarchitecture of the distal sesamoid bone in healthy and navicular syndrome-affected horses by computed microtomography.
Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007)    January 20, 2026   doi: 10.1002/ar.70143
Salinas P, Vergara MA, Tapia D.Navicular syndrome (NS) is a chronic, degenerative condition of the equine thoracic limb that compromises the distal sesamoid bone (DSB) and associated structures responsible for stabilization and load absorption during locomotion. Although historically attributed to vascular alterations, its etiology is now recognized as biomechanical, characterized by chronic overload of the deep digital flexor tendon. Conventional diagnostic techniques-radiography, scintigraphy, and ultrasonography-lack the sensitivity and precision required to detect early microarchitectural alterations. This study aimed t...
Evaluation of long-term postoperative morbidity and survival after equine colic surgery using a complication severity classification.
The Veterinary record    January 17, 2026   doi: 10.1002/vetr.70174
Gandini M, Giusto G.Most studies on colic surgery outcome focus on short-term survival and complications. Long-term outcomes, particularly post-discharge morbidity, are poorly characterised despite their relevance. No standardised system has previously integrated both short- and long-term postoperative complications with survival outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate long-term survival and morbidity in horses after colic surgery using the equine postoperative complication score (EPOCS), and to assess the association between complications and survival. Methods: The medical records of horses undergoing ...
What Is Your Diagnosis? Multiple Subcutaneous Lumps in a Horse.
Veterinary clinical pathology    January 16, 2026   doi: 10.1111/vcp.70069
Meistro F, Ralletti MV, Rinnovati R, Spadari A, Morini M.No abstract available
Generalized steatitis in a miniature horse filly with laminitis and a positive outcome at 18-month follow-up.
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne    December 1, 2025   Volume 66, Issue 12 1292-1296 
Johnson A, Karam B, Schroeder O, McKaig L, Loesch K.A 12-month-old miniature horse filly was presented because of laminitis, suspected lymphangitis, and pyrexia. Although the filly's initial physical examination and diagnostic tests suggested an infectious etiology, ultrasonographic findings were suspicious for generalized steatitis. This was confirmed histopathology. The filly experienced full recovery with continued resolution of clinical signs at 18 mo after presentation. This case included aspects similar to those of previously reported clinical presentations, as well as long-term follow-up in a breed that is not overrepresented, providing...
Photodynamic therapy in the treatment of cutaneous habronemosis in a horse: Case report.
Journal of equine veterinary science    August 13, 2025   Volume 153 105674 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105674
Ferreira I, Pinto JG, Oliveira EGL, Azevedo MCBS, Marcolino LMC, Ferreira-Strixino J.Habronema muscae is a parasitic nematode that causes habronemiasis in horses, leading to chronic skin lesions. The parasite is transmitted via flies, and larvae deposited in wounds result in difficult-to-heal "summer sores". This case study involved treating a 9-year-old gelding male horse with recurrent habronemiasis using photodynamic therapy (PDT) concurrent with conventional treatments. The horse presented with ulcerated, exudative wounds on its limbs and face, unresponsive to traditional treatments. PDT was applied over six months, using methylene blue (MB) as a photosensitizer, combined ...
Emergence of a new alveolar dental element after extraction of a molar tooth in a horse.
Journal of equine veterinary science    August 11, 2025   Volume 153 105673 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105673
Oliveira LLV, Caldas MCAR, Marval LME, Marval CA, Carvalho JGS, Matos JJRT, Malacarne BD, Paz CFR.A 2-year-old mixed-breed mare was examined at the property due to swelling and fistula on the right mandible. Oral examination and radiographs revealed the presence of an apical abscess involving the 410 tooth. The tooth was extracted entirely and confirmed radiographically. One year later, the owner reported a reoccurrence of clinical signs. A new radiographic evaluation revealed a radiopaque area in the alveolar socket of the 410 tooth filled with spongy-looking bone. An extraoral approach to the alveolar socket was performed, and the content removed had the appearance of a dental element.
Probing Wnt pathway and functional signal in equine melanocytic neoplasms through quantitative proteomics and immunohistochemistry.
BMC veterinary research    August 7, 2025   Volume 21, Issue 1 509 doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04956-w
Tesena P, Vinijkumthorn R, Kingkaw A, Yanyongsirikarn P, Phasuk K, Ploypetch S, Phaonakrop N, Roytrakul S, Vongsangnak W, Prapaiwan N.Equine melanocytic neoplasm (EMN) is a skin tumor commonly observed in grey horses. Limited research has yet to investigate proteomic profiles of EMN, particularly in the early stages and their expression patterns. This study, therefore, aimed to identify signature proteins from tissue biopsies to distinguish early EMN, severe EMN, and normal groups. Results: Using proteomic analysis of 19 tissue samples (normal: n = 6, early EMN: n = 7, severe EMN: n = 6) through LC-MS/MS, 12,310 proteins were identified. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and functional interaction analysi...
Science-in-brief: Report on the 2nd Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation workshop on acute colitis of the adult horse.
Equine veterinary journal    August 6, 2025   doi: 10.1111/evj.14554
Arroyo LG, Whitehead AE, Uzal F.No abstract available
LMF1 frameshift deletion in Franches-Montagnes horses with hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis.
Scientific reports    August 6, 2025   Volume 15, Issue 1 28667 doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-13954-9
Drögemüller M, Fouché N, Wyler M, Gurtner C, Meister SL, Neuditschko M, Jagannathan V, Gerber V, Leeb T.Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) may be inherited and caused by variants in genes encoding enzymes of lipid metabolism. This study was prompted by the observation of eight Franches-Montagnes (FM) foals showing elevated plasma triglyceride levels and episodes of fatal acute pancreatitis. We termed this phenotype hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis (HIP). The affected foals were distantly related and inbred to a prominent stallion suggesting autosomal recessive inheritance. Whole genome sequencing of an affected foal identified a homozygous loss of function variant in LMF1 encoding lipase matura...
Horse owners needed for equine herpesvirus survey.
The Veterinary record    August 1, 2025   Volume 197, Issue 3 110 doi: 10.1002/vetr.5849
Talbot W.No abstract available
Assessment of Salivary Biomarkers of Gastric Ulcer in Horses from a Clinical Perspective.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    July 31, 2025   Volume 15, Issue 15 2251 doi: 10.3390/ani15152251
This study arises from the search for non-invasive diagnostic alternatives for equine gastric ulceration (EGUS), which is prevalent, clinically variable and only confirmed by gastroscopy. The aim is to quantify five salivary biomarkers (IL1-F5, PIP, CA VI, serotransferrin, albumin) under clinical conditions by validated assays and analyse their diagnostic value. Horses were grouped in No EGUS (neither clinical signs of EGUS nor gastric lesions), EGUS non-clinical (apparently no clinical signs of EGUS but with gastric lesions), and EGUS clinical (obvious clinical signs of EGUS and with gastric ...
Cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol treatment of equine dermatophytosis: a novel therapeutic approach.
Frontiers in veterinary science    July 28, 2025   Volume 12 1651946 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1651946
Kurras S, Knottenbelt D, Schmelz U, Schaal T, Tischendorf T, Fuchs R, Schorling T, Koene MHW.Dermatophytosis is a common fungal skin infection in horses, particularly affecting young and immunocompromised animals. Traditional treatments often involve antifungal medications with potential side effects. Here, we present a case report that evaluated the efficacy of cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol (CAP-A) as a standalone treatment for equine dermatophytosis. Unassigned: A 2-year-old Westphalian warmblood stallion presented with confirmed dermatophyte lesions restricted to the left side of the mouth which were treated with CAP-A. Treatment was administered 2 times daily for 12 consecutive ...
Drivers of decision making in pain diagnosis and treatment: Findings from an ethnographic study of veterinary practice.
Equine veterinary journal    July 27, 2025   doi: 10.1111/evj.14562
Smith R, Perkins E, Pinchbeck G, Ireland J.Poor pain management in horses is a welfare concern. The 'diagnosis' of pain cannot be separated from the broader set of interactions through which it emerges. The interactions that take place during veterinary consultations shape the ways in which, or whether, pain management is discussed. Objective: To understand owners' and veterinarians' decision making in relation to chronic pain and its management. Methods: Qualitative ethnographic study. Methods: Data were collected from four veterinary practices in Great Britain between May 2023 and April 2024. Around 200 h of ethnographic observatio...
Clinical Updates on Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon Injuries: Insights on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Advancements.
The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice    July 25, 2025   Volume 41, Issue 2 279-298 doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2025.04.003
Smith RKW, Schramme MC.Superficial digital flexor tendinopathy is one of the most common orthopedic soft tissue injuries in horses. The veterinary challenge for this condition is less related to identifying the presence of the injury (as it is usually readily evident clinically) but more related to improving the healing process so that the healed tendon is more like normal tendon in biology and function in order to reduce reinjury, which is the key adverse consequence of the injury. Diagnostic imaging has improved in recent years to aid with treatment choices and monitoring the healing process.
Horse owners seeking online health information: a mixed-methods study.
Frontiers in veterinary science    July 23, 2025   Volume 12 1628421 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1628421
Haase L, Winter J, Grummt S, Sedlmayr M, Sedlmayr B.Many people seek health-related information online, not only for themselves but also on behalf of others who cannot articulate their symptoms. This proxy information-seeking behavior is particularly relevant for animal owners, who must interpret their animals' symptoms without direct verbal feedback. While online health information-seeking in the context of one's own health is well-studied, the specific challenges of searching by proxy, especially for animal health information, remain largely unexplored. Unassigned: This study aimed to determine the specific information needs and search behavi...
Plasma C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 concentrations in foals during health and respiratory disease.
Equine veterinary journal    July 20, 2025   doi: 10.1111/evj.70000
Hildebrandt D, Venner M, Hart KA, Berghaus L.Early and specific diagnosis of bronchopneumonia in foals is important to prevent severe disease. In human medicine, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are important diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in neonatal pneumonia in other species. Evaluation of these markers in foals with naturally occurring respiratory diseases is lacking. Objective: To determine if CRP and IL-6 were useful predictors of respiratory disease in foals from birth to weaning. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Methods: Periodic blood samples from 200 initially healthy foals were collected from birth to ...
The magnitude of hyperchloremia in horses is associated with diarrhea and renal function.
American journal of veterinary research    July 16, 2025   1-7 doi: 10.2460/ajvr.25.02.0071
Fielding CL.To describe the signalment, diagnosis, treatment, and laboratory characteristics of horses with hyperchloremia and identify factors associated with the magnitude of the increased chloride concentration. Unassigned: Horses with a chloride concentration greater than 108 mEq/L were included in this retrospective study. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis were used to identify associations between diagnosis, treatment, and laboratory variables and the magnitude of hyperchloremia. Unassigned: 134 horses met the inclusion criteria for this study. Creatinine was a significa...
Performance outcomes are not reduced following colic surgery in warmblood jumping horses.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association    July 16, 2025   1-7 doi: 10.2460/javma.25.04.0244
Chanutin SS, Elliott CRB, Fielding AS, Brown PM, McCreary CA, Bennet ED, Davis W.To provide performance data of warmblood jumping horses following colic surgery. Unassigned: This retrospective case series reviewed clinical records of 5 equine hospitals with the inclusion criteria of warmblood horses undergoing colic surgery between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2021, surviving to discharge, and being registered as a hunter or jumper with the US Equestrian Federation. Clinical data included age, sex, and lesion type. Performance data included discipline, jump height, number of starts, number of wins, and number of placings. Pre- and postoperative data were analyzed sepa...
Possible association of short-term complications and antimicrobial use in standing equine cheek tooth extractions 2018-2022.
Equine veterinary journal    July 13, 2025   doi: 10.1111/evj.14563
Schnierer M, Nekouei O, Huber LC, Jehle M, Biermann N.Despite growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance, prophylactic antimicrobials continue to be routinely administered in many procedures, including dental extractions. Further evidence-based research is needed on whether their use influences post-operative complication rates. Objective: To identify risk factors for short-term complications, associations between complications and antimicrobial use as well as factors leading to antimicrobial use in equine (standing) cheek tooth extractions. Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical records. Methods: Data were extracted from records of hor...
Crusting pastern dermatitis in a 15-year-old warmblood gelding.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association    July 11, 2025   1-3 doi: 10.2460/javma.25.05.0315
McKeever JM, Linn-Peirano SC.No abstract available
The first mitogenome of Petrovinema skrjabini from Equus ferus przewalskii: a phylogenetic analysis within the Strongylidae family.
Parasites & vectors    July 11, 2025   Volume 18, Issue 1 278 doi: 10.1186/s13071-025-06851-7
Jia H, Tang L, Fu Y, Xiong Y, Yan L, Shao C, Li K, Zhang D, Hu D.Petrovinema skrjabini (Nematoda: Strongylidae, Cyathostominae) is a parasitic nematode colonizing the cecum and colon of equids. Like other cyathostomins, its larvae (L3) invade the intestinal mucosa, forming encysted nodules that may remain dormant for years. Mass larval emergence triggers larval cyathostominosis-a severe syndrome characterized by hemorrhagic typhlocolitis and diarrhea, with mortality rates exceeding 50%. However, owing to the morphological indistinguishability of cyathostomin and frequent mixed infections in natural settings, species-specific contributions to pathogenesis re...
An epidemiological survey of equine piroplasmosis in donkeys and horses in Malawi.
Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports    July 11, 2025   Volume 63 101315 doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101315
Chatanga E, Ahedor B, Atabek B, Kainga H, Kapalamula T, Razemba T, Nakao R, Nonaka N, Sivakumar T, Yokoyama N.Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease caused by Theileria equi, Theileria haneyi, and Babesia caballi in equids, such as horses, donkeys, mules, and zebras. A comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology of T. equi and B. caballi is vital for EP management. The present study surveyed T. equi and B. caballi infections in donkeys and horses in Malawi. Blood samples were collected from 185 equines, including 178 donkeys in Lilongwe (n = 136) and Dedza (n = 42) districts, and seven horses in Lilongwe district. The blood samples were used to measure hematocrit values and prepare ...
Gray-Horse Melanoma-A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.
International journal of molecular sciences    July 10, 2025   Volume 26, Issue 14 6620 doi: 10.3390/ijms26146620
Brodesser DM, Schlangen K, Rodríguez-Rojas A, Kuropka B, Doulidis PG, Brandt S, Pratscher B.Malignant melanoma (MM) affects not only humans but also animals, with gray horses being particularly predisposed to acquiring the disease. Multiomics have greatly advanced the understanding of human MM. In contrasty little is known regarding the pathogenesis of gray-horse melanoma and the unique phenomenon of melanoma "dormancy" in some animals. To help close this gap in knowledge, melanoma tissue and intact skin collected from gray horses were subjected to transcriptome analysis using RNAseq. In the next step, cultured primary tumor cells and normal skin fibroblasts were established from gra...
Influence of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction on reproductive performance in Thoroughbred mares.
Journal of equine veterinary science    July 9, 2025   Volume 152 105651 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105651
Murase H, Wachi S, Matsuyama R, Makita K, Sato F.Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is an age-related disease considered to have a negative impact on fertility. To understand the true impact of PPID on fertility, the influence of age must be considered. Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of PPID on fertility while accounting for the effect of aging. Methods: A total of 332 Thoroughbred mares aged 10-20 years and managed across 137 private farms in Hidaka, Hokkaido, Japan were classified as PPID, equivocal, or non-PPID based on plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentration in 2019 and 2020. The prevalence of PPID an...
Obesity-Associated Metabolomic and Functional Reprogramming in Neutrophils from Horses with Asthma.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    July 7, 2025   Volume 15, Issue 13 1992 doi: 10.3390/ani15131992
Albornoz A, Morales B, Fernandez VB, Henriquez C, Quiroga J, Alarcón P, Moran G, Burgos RA.Equine asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterised by neutrophilic inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, and impaired pulmonary function. Obesity, increasingly prevalent among domestic horses, has been identified as a potential risk factor for exacerbating inflammatory conditions. This study aimed to explore whether obesity modifies neutrophil metabolism and inflammatory responses in horses affected by asthma. Six asthmatic horses in clinical remission were categorised into two groups: obese and non-obese, based on body condition score. Serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) an...
Serum and mucosal antibody testing to detect viral exposure in contact horses during an equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy outbreak.
American journal of veterinary research    July 2, 2025   1-9 doi: 10.2460/ajvr.25.03.0106
Perkins GA, Wagner B, Rollins A, Sfraga H, Pearson E, Cercone M.To apply equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) antibody testing in nasal swabs and serum in nonclinical horses during a naturally occurring outbreak of (EHV-1). Previous experimental EHV-1 challenge studies showed stable serum anti-EHV-1 antibody concentrations paired with rapidly increasing nasal mucosal antibodies (mucAbs) prevent EHV-1 infection, viral shedding, and cell-associated viremia. From this, we hypothesized that EHV-1 antibody testing can confirm exposure in non-clinical horses during an outbreak. Unassigned: 2 horses with neurological signs from 1 farm were admitted to an equine hosp...
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