Disease treatment in horses encompasses a range of medical interventions and management strategies aimed at addressing various health conditions affecting equine species. These treatments can include pharmacological approaches, such as the administration of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antiparasitic medications, as well as non-pharmacological methods like physical therapy, dietary adjustments, and surgical procedures. The selection of appropriate treatments depends on the specific disease, its severity, and the individual needs of the horse. This topic brings together peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the efficacy, safety, and advancements in therapeutic options for equine diseases, providing insights into best practices and emerging trends in equine veterinary medicine.
Studzińska M, Klockiewicz M, Szczepaniak K, Demkowska-Kutrzepa M, Roczeń-Karczmarz M, Tomczuk K.The resistance of strongyles to pyrantel pamoate has been reported in publications worldwide. There is no data on its efficacy in horses in Poland. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pyrantel pamoate to control strongyle invasions in young horses. The study involved horses of both sexes, aged 1 to 2 years, and was conducted in two seasons (spring and the end of summer). Feces were collected 24 hours before and 14 days after deworming, and they were then examined using McMaster's and combined sedimentation-flotation methods. Results revealed that in spring, th...
Muderspach ND, Daucke R, Nielsen MW, Scoggin KE, Fedorka CE, Miller LMJ, May MG, Troedsson MHT, Ferreira-Dias G, Agerholm JS, Schoof EM....Endometrial fibrosis leads to subfertility when periglandular fibrosis impairs endometrial gland function. Identifying distinct protein expressions in mares suffering from this condition is essential for understanding the pathogenesis and developing treatments to delay fibrotic progression. To gain a better understanding of protein dynamics underlying this condition, Data-Independent Acquisition Mass Spectrometry was utilized to comprehensively characterize and compare the equine endometrial and plasma proteome from mares with different severities of endometrial fibrosis. Mares in diestrus wer...
Morgan JM, Gentille SR, Goyette FD, Lehman ML, Boss AL, Cassano JM, Knych HK, White SD.To determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of a single dose of the oral ectoparasiticide fluralaner at 10 and 25 mg/kg in healthy horses. Unassigned: 12 clinically healthy university-owned horses, 9 to 17 years of age, were administered a single oral dose of fluralaner at 10 or 25 mg/kg. Physical examinations, neurological examinations, plasma samples, hematology and biochemistry panels, and skin biopsies were collected throughout the 84-day trial period. Fluralaner concentrations were measured in plasma and skin by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and pharmacokinetics were ev...
Šarkūnas M, Schwahn A, Suleimanova K.The aim of present study was to examine the potency of moxidectin solution (Cydectin 1 %; Zoetis) and commercially available oral moxidectin gel (Equest®; Zoetis) to suppress the excretion of strongyle eggs in horses over a 6-week period. The horses naturally infected with strongyle nematodes (>500 eggs/g of feces) were divided into two comparable groups according age, sex and weight. On day 0 of the study, horses in Group OT (oral treatment; N=5) were dewormed with moxidectin gel (Equest®; Zoetis; 0.4 mg/kg of b.w.) according to the manufacturer's instructions, and horses in Group IT (intra...
Jeong S, Bond S, Bayly W, Sole-Guitart A.To quantify the impact of experimentally induced dorsal nasopharyngeal collapse (NPC) on respiratory performance parameters and assess the efficacy of laser fenestration of the dorsal pharyngeal recess as a treatment option for experimentally induced NPC. Methods: Experimental interventional study. Methods: Six adult Standardbreds (one with naturally occurring disease). Methods: After an 8 week conditioning program, baseline parameters (V̇Omax, pharyngeal pressure, peak airflows, upper airway resistance) and dynamic endoscopy videos were collected in a high-speed treadmill test (T1). Dorsal N...
du Preez S, Lynch B, Lindsay S, Simon O, Ferlini Agne G.To describe the case details of an equine corneal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising from the central scar of a previous conjunctival pedicle graft. Methods: An 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, showing a progressive increase in diameter, depth, opacity, and pigmentation of a conjunctival pedicle graft scar of the left eye, 34 months after surgery. Methods: Complete ophthalmic examination, standard histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation of an incisional biopsy to formulate a definitive diagnosis. Carbon dioxide (CO) laser photoablation combined with topical mitomycin C treatment. R...
Vasconcelos AB, França DA, Prado ACD, Yamauchi DH, Silva ACAD, Barros IO, Valença SRFA, Lucheis SB, Bosco SMG.Pythiosis is an underestimated and neglected disease in Brazil, both in horse breeders and in horses. The molecular detection of in horses in the Brazilian Northeast represents a milestone in the epidemiology of equine pythiosis in the country. This study reports novel cases of equine pythiosis, diagnosed by molecular methods, in five states of Northeastern Brazil. Clinical samples were submitted to microbiological culture, DNA extraction, and nested-PCR for molecular detection of . The nested-PCR successfully detected in four out of five equine lesion samples, demonstrating higher sensitivi...
Wang T, Yang X, Wang C, Wang J, Meng J, Yao X, Zeng Y, Ren W.Studying the genetic characteristics and molecular mechanisms of immune regulation in horses is of great significance for protecting their genetic resources, improving breeding strategies, and enhancing their disease resistance, thereby ensuring their healthy performance in both sports and production. Objective: This study investigates the genetic characteristics and molecular mechanisms underlying immune regulation in Yili horses, comparing them with Thoroughbreds and Kazakh horses. Methods: Blood samples from each breed were analyzed for physiological, biochemical, and immune indices alongsi...
Monteiro MM, de Castro ELA, Pereira AJM, Thiesen R, Thiesen RMC, Salvarani FM.Equine sarcoids are the most common dermatological neoplasm in horses worldwide, associated with bovine papillomavirus (BPV) infection and characterized by high recurrence rates after conventional therapies. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy has historically been used for sarcoid treatment, yet its role in contemporary veterinary oncology remains debated. This narrative review critically examines the immunological mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and limitations of BCG in equine sarcoid therapy, while integrating insights from comparative oncology and One Health perspectives. A syste...
Warren P, Mc Crudden D, O'Reilly S, Mc Eleney C.Macroalgae have been used in supplements and feedstuffs for equines and other animals for many years. Health-related attributes of macroalgal bioactive compounds, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anthelmintic effects, have been largely reported in non-equine species to date. Given the prevalence of resistance to antimicrobial and anthelmintic drugs, sourcing naturally occurring alternatives is of high priority in the current One Health strategy. Nutritionally, seaweed contains a broad range of macro and micro nutrients. These nutrients, combined with the bioactive compounds such as...
Guillot M, Mespoulhes-Rivière C, Bousquet-Mélou A, Lacroix MZ, Roques BB, Lallemand EA.Intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) of antibiotics is a therapeutic method used to treat distal limb infections in horses. The objectives of this study were to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters and tolerance of sodium benzylpenicillin (NaBP) administered via IVRLP; to compare the feasibility, tolerance, and efficacy of performing IVRLP on a flexed limb versus a weightbearing limb; and to predict the efficacy of IVRLP using gentamicin or NaBP. A prospective crossover study was conducted with six horses, each undergoing four phases of antibiotic infusion (gentamicin at 2.2 mg/kg ...
Rhodes AD, McCoy AM, Stewart MC, Gutierrez-Nibeyro SD.To evaluate postoperative racing performance of a population of Standardbred racehorses following arthroscopic removal of an osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) lesion of the femoropatellar joint. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: A total of 45 client-owned Standardbred racehorses. Methods: OCD lesions were measured and graded using the length of the subchondral bone defect from preoperative radiographs. Postoperative racing results were obtained from the United States Trotting Association, and follow-up owner surveys were conducted. A control group of contemporaneous paternal siblings free o...
Khan MZ, Ji Y, Fan X, Liu Y, Liu W, Wang C.Equine herpesvirus (EHV) infections represent a significant global veterinary and economic challenge affecting both horses and donkeys across all inhabited continents. This narrative review comprehensively examines the nine distinct EHV species (EHV-1 through EHV-9), their taxonomic classification within Alphaherpesvirinae and Gammaherpesvirinae subfamilies, and their diverse host tropism patterns. The complex molecular pathogenesis involves sophisticated viral glycoproteins (gK, gB, gC, gH, gM, gL, gG, gD, gI, gE) that orchestrate cellular invasion, immune evasion, and intercellular transmiss...
Schank N, Cottone A, Wulf M, Seiter K, Thomas B, Miller LMJ, Anderson SL, Sahyoun A, Abidi AH, Kassan M, Verma A.Equine colic remains a prevalent and potentially life-threatening condition with multifactorial origins, including dietary imbalances, stress, and microbial dysbiosis. Central to equine gut health is the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), primarily acetate, propionate, and butyrate, generated through microbial fermentation of dietary fibers in the hindgut. These metabolites not only serve as vital energy sources but also play crucial roles in maintaining intestinal barrier integrity, modulating motility, and suppressing inflammation. This review explores the role of SCFAs in equine...
da Silva Rocha MB, Avelar BR, Martins Dos Santos GC, Ferreira TP, de Sousa Vieira T, de Oliveira GF, Gomes BT, Klafke GM, Correia TR, Cid YP, Scott FB.The objective of this study was to standardize a stall-trial methodology for horses in order to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of a 1 % fipronil pour-on formulation against Dermacentor nitens. Brazilian pony breed horses were housed in individual stalls within a covered barn and artificially infested with D. nitens larvae on alternate days from day -31 to -1 before treatment. The animals were treated on day 0 with a fipronil 1 % pour-on at a dose of 1 mg/Kg body weight. To determine the therapeutic efficacy, the number of engorged females naturally detached from control and t...
Hiblu MA, Ahmed MO.This case report documents the first identified Brucella infection in a 6-year-old male Thoroughbred horse in Libya. The horse exhibited muscle and joint pain, inflammation over the shoulders with a pulpy texture (fistulous withers), stress, fatigue, and potential systemic infection. Its diagnosis was confirmed through serological testing, with agglutination titers of 1/80 for B. melitensis and 1/160 for B. abortus, and a blood culture revealing Gram-negative coccobacilli. After 3 weeks of combination therapy with rifampicin and doxycycline, the inflammation resolved, systemic signs disappeare...
Raftery AG, Gummery L, Garcia K, Mohite D, Capewell P, Sutton D.Equine trypanosomiasis is a neglected protozoal disease. Objective: To answer the study question: In equines what are the effects of disease management of trypanosomiasis on disease severity (individual level) and disease prevalence (population level) compared to no intervention? Methods: Systematic review. Methods: Studies were identified that described management of naturally occurring equine trypanosomiasis in any country following 'Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses' using eight international databases (1980-2022). Risk of bias was assessed using ROBINS-I. D...
Palmisano MG, Tukdarian CR, Hopster K, Nolen-Walston RD.This report describes an 8-day-old foal diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) successfully managed using a novel approach of intratracheal oxygen delivery. Methods: An 8-day-old Standardbred filly presented for an acute onset of respiratory distress. Given the acute onset, known risk factors, bilateral diffuse infiltrate on thoracic radiographs, and low PaO:FiO ratio of 170.5, the foal was diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Initial treatment consisted of antimicrobial therapy (minocycline and metronidazole), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (flunixin meglum...
Rossi GAM, Sellera FP, Ferraz CM, Carvalho RS, Oliveira APL, Marques CA, Fávaro EBR, Rosa RDS, Silva LAM, Cardozo MV, Stehling EG, Furlan JPR. Infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are difficult to treat and increase the risk of death in animals. This report describes a fatal case of diarrhea in a horse that, despite intensive treatment including surgery and broad-spectrum antimicrobials (ceftiofur and amikacin), experienced a worsening of its condition and subsequent death. A fecal swab sample was subjected to microbiological culture for the identification of bacteria and assessment of their phenotypical antimicrobial susceptibility profiles using the disk-diffusion and broth microdilution methods. The double-disk ...
Singer J, Chow L, Ammons D, Sabino I, Impastato R, Dow S, Pezzanite LM.Osteoarthritis (OA) is a aging-associated degenerative joint disease. The objective was to determine relative senescence gene expression in joints and leukocytes of OA horses toward considering senotherapeutics to manage OA. Unassigned: To define local (joint) and systemic (peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs]) senescence burden, synovial fluid cell single-cell RNA sequencing and PBMC mRNA sequencing datasets (n = 65 samples) were examined. Differential analyses were conducted using limma to compare OA versus control. A custom 3,043-gene senescence set curated from published metadata was...
Qiu Z, Wang J, Zhang Y, Liu X, Wei C, Ma T.Musculoskeletal injuries represent a primary cause of suboptimal performance and early retirement in equine athletes. To address this challenge, the veterinary community has long endeavored to develop safer and more effective therapeutic strategies. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), as a treatment for equine musculoskeletal injuries, has garnered substantial attention among equine veterinarians. Focused on the theme ESWT Therapy for Equine Musculoskeletal Disorders: From biological mechanisms to clinical applications, this article systematically reviews existing literature on the biolo...
Goetz M, Cremoux M, Lassalle L, Douet JY.To assess the efficacy and safety of Rose Bengal and green light corneal cross-linking (RGX) as an adjunctive treatment for complicated corneal ulcers and stromal abscesses in horses. Methods: A retrospective analysis included 81 horses (82 eyes) treated with RGX between 2018 and 2024. Cases involved complicated corneal diseases such as melting keratitis, fungal keratitis, deep stromal defects, and stromal abscesses. Treatment consisted of topical or iontophoretic administration of 1% Rose Bengal followed by green light irradiation (550 nm; 150 J/cm) for 10 min. Most procedures (76.8%) w...
Souza LL, Lima AS, Martins AS, Silva TA, Borsanelli AC, Dutra IS, Pupin RC, Gomes DC, Lemos RA.An outbreak of botulism occurred in March 2024 among horses at a Quarter Horse stud farm in Central-West Brazil. After ingesting baleage, 22 of 26 (85%) horses housed in stables and fed baleage became ill. The affected horses had dysphagia, muscular weakness, fasciculations, and progressive recumbency; 13 of 22 (59%) died within a few days. The diagnosis of type C botulism was established based on clinical and epidemiologic findings and confirmed by mouse bioassays, which indicated botulinum toxin type C in liver samples and intestinal contents. Furthermore, PCR testing identified toxigenic i...
Conrad NL, Mazzoleni I, Abreu MC, Costa AV, Di Giácomo CP, Zorzi VSG, Leite FPL.Equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE), caused by Lawsonia intracellularis induces intestinal epithelial hyperplasia, resulting in malabsorption, weight loss, colic, and diarrhea. Despite its clinical and economic importance, no equine-specific vaccine is commercially available. Recombinant subunit vaccines are a safe and scalable alternative; however, their immunogenicity often requires improvement. Probiotic supplementation with Bacillus toyonensis may act as an immunomodulatory strategy to potentiate vaccine efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity of a recombinant protein ...
Rudeekiatthamrong A, Nguyen GT, Kamyingkird K. infection (Surra) remains a major constraint to equine health and productivity in Thailand. The only available trypanocidal drug, diminazene aceturate (DA), has limited efficacy, poor blood-brain barrier penetration, and toxicity in horses. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of commonly used equine antibiotics, gentamicin (GMC), ceftiofur (CTF), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TS), against (Thai strain isolated from dairy cattle number 953; TEDC 953) to identify potential therapeutic alternatives or adjuncts for equine trypanosomosis. Unassigned: An growth inhibition...
Li Z, Yu T, Ge L, Lv S, Fu Q, Shi H.Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is a major veterinary pathogen causing significant economic losses in the livestock industry. Despite its impact, effective vaccines and targeted antiviral strategies remain limited, largely due to an incomplete understanding of host factors regulating viral replication and pathogenesis. Unassigned: To systematically identify host genes essential for EHV-1 infection, we established a BHK-21 cell line stably expressing Cas9 and performed a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screen using a pooled lentiviral single-guide RNA library. Significantly enriched candidat...
Zanacchi A, Fruscione F, Grasselli S, Razzuoli E, Pastorino L, Di Lisa D.Developing advanced preclinical in vitro cancer models is essential for understanding tumor biology, improving drug discovery, and enhancing the clinical translation of new therapies. Papillomaviruses (PVs) cause diverse lesions in humans and animals; notably, bovine papillomavirus (BPV) is the main cause of equine sarcoid, the most common skin tumor in horses. Its pathogenesis involves viral infection, fibroblast transformation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. These processes highlight the limitations of conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture systems, which fail to replicate the...
Uprety T, Shaffer CL, Loynachan A, Janes J, Cassone L, Kennedy L, Bryant U, Ruby R, Swan M, Sponseller BT, Adam E, Lubbers B, Erol E.Salmonellosis is a highly contagious, zoonotic disease affecting both animal and human health. Early characterization of emerging Salmonella serotypes and associated antimicrobial resistance patterns are essential for outbreak controls in animals and humans. Between 2018 and 2025, 245 Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica were isolated from both ante-mortem and post-mortem equine cases. The predominant Salmonella serotypes were Typhimurium (83), Newport (28), 1,4,[5],12:i:- (26), Saintpaul (25), Hartford (15), and Mbandaka (12). S. Saintpaul, previously rare in horses, was detected in 21 cases i...
Lowndes CR, Boyle AG, Kulp J, Stefanovski D, Davis JL, van Eps A.To characterize the effects of pioglitazone (2 mg/kg, PO, either q 24 h [PIO-SID] or q 12 h [PIO-BID]) in equids with severe hyperinsulinemia. Unassigned: 17 client-owned equids with severe resting hyperinsulinemia (> 100 µIU/mL) were assigned to PIO-SID or PIO-BID in a prospective cohort study with rolling enrollment over an 11-month study period (December 13, 2022, to November 17, 2023). Basal insulin, total and high-molecular-weight adiponectin concentrations, and plasma pioglitazone concentrations were measured over 70 days. Oral sugar tests (OSTs) were performed on days 0 and 28. Results...
Cardillo NN, Villarino NF, Kappmeyer LS, Chung CJ, Suarez CE, Bastos RG.Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease of equids caused by the intraerythrocytic apicomplexan parasites Theileria equi, Babesia caballi and the recently identified Theileria haneyi. Acute cases can be severe, with anemia, jaundice, abortion or sudden death. Survivors remain lifelong carriers, serving as reservoirs for tick-borne and iatrogenic transmission. No vaccines are currently available, and control strategies rely heavily on accurate diagnostics and chemotherapeutic intervention. Imidocarb dipropionate (ID) is the current standard of care for both acute treatment and radical ...
