The study of diseases in horses encompasses a wide range of conditions affecting equine health, including infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, and genetic abnormalities. These diseases can impact various systems within the horse, such as respiratory, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems, and can lead to significant health challenges. Research in this area focuses on understanding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of equine diseases. Common diseases studied include equine influenza, equine herpesvirus, and laminitis. This page provides access to peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the etiology, clinical presentation, and management strategies of diseases in horses, contributing to the advancement of equine veterinary medicine.
Demeulenaere D, Vercruysse J, Dorny P, Claerebout E.The control of naturally acquired cyathostome infections in horses by treatments with ivermectin and moxidectin was evaluated in three field studies. In a first study the efficacy of both drugs was assessed in a faecal egg count reduction test. Both ivermectin and moxidectin demonstrated efficacies greater than 99 per cent for up to 60 days after treatment. In a second study, the period required for strongyle eggs to reappear was estimated in horses treated either with ivermectin or moxidectin. For the horses treated with ivermectin the period varied between 10 and approximately 13 weeks, and ...
Shimizu A, Kawano J, Yamamoto C, Kakutani O, Anzai T, Kamada M.Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to determine genetic relationships among 15 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from mares with metritis and from a stallion with dermatitis in Hokkaido. All the 15 isolates showed phage pattern 6/47/54/75, coagulase type IV, and enterotoxin type A. The restriction endonuclease SmaI cut their genomic DNAs into 15 or 16 fragments ranging in size from 8 to 630 kb. Fourteen of the 15 isolates showed the same PFGE pattern, whereas the remaining one appeared to be closely related. The 9 human MRSA isolates showing the same phe...
Kubota T, Inaba Y, Uwatoko K, Akashi H, Fukunaga Y.Equine arteritis virus (EAV) grown on RK13 cell cultures was tested for hemagglutination (HA) with erythrocytes from a variety of species at 4 degrees C, room temperature and 37 degrees C. HA was observed at all temperatures with erythrocytes from mouse and chicken but not with those of cattle, horse, rabbit, guinea pig, mongolian gerbil, goose or chick embryo. Chickens showed an individual variation in agglutinability of their erythrocytes, requiring selection of birds to obtain erythrocytes for HA. The HA activity was enhanced by treatment of virus materials with Tween 80 followed by treatme...
Ousey JC, Prandi S, Zimmer J, Holdstock N, Rossdale PD.To determine the effect of diet on energy intake, loss, and metabolism in foals 2 to 7 days old. Methods: 14 pony foals. Methods: Group-A foals suckled their dams, group-B foals were fed milk replacer, and group-C foals were fed by total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Energy balance studies were performed over 8-hour periods on postpartum days 2, 4, and 7. Results: Mean gross energy (GE) intake of group-A foals increased between days 2 and 7. Approximately 3% of GE was excreted in urine and feces, and energy expenditure remained constant. These foals were in positive energy balance, and mean body...
Duckett WM, Matthews HK.Paraneoplastic eosinophilia is reported in dogs, cats, and humans. Hypereosinophilia (an eosinophil count greater than 1.5 x 10(9) L) is often associated with metastasis and a poor prognosis. This report describes a case of paraneoplastic hypereosinophilia in a pony. Neoplasia should be included in the differential diagnoses in a horse with eosinophilia.
Lunn P, Vagnoni KE, Ginther OJ.Out of all the areas of comparative immunological study in the horse, the field of reproductive immunology has proven to be one of the most fertile and exciting. Maternal immunological interactions with the fetus involve a set of events which prevent maternal rejection of trophoblastic tissue invading the uterus, and at the same time control this invasion to regulate growth and prevent damage to maternal tissues. Unique features of equine placentation make it exceptionally well-suited to studying these immunological interactions.
Benbarek H, Deby-Dupont G, Caudron I, Deby C, Lamy M, Serteyn D.Divergent results have been reported on the effects of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on the activation of equine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). We therefore attempted to determine whether LPS alone can stimulate equine PMN or whether plasma factors are necessary. PMN were isolated from citrated blood on a discontinuous density gradient of Percoll. The luminol (10(-3) mol/L)-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) of 1.25 x 10(6) cells was measured after addition of Escherichia coli LPS (0.001-10 micrograms/ml) alone or after incubation in autologous plasma (1 h, 37 degrees C). After direct stimulatio...
Shingleton WD, Mackie EJ, Cawston TE, Jeffcott LB.Cartilage canals have been described in most mammals and contain the vascular elements necessary for the maintenance of epiphyseal growth cartilage. The presence and longevity of cartilage canals in developing articular/epiphyseal cartilage of horses is described for the first time. Growth cartilages from 30 normal horses (from 130 days gestation to age 2 years) and 6 cases of dyschondroplasia (age 6 months. Cartilage canals were associated with retained cartilage of dyschondroplastic lesions found in animals age < 15 months. The presence of cartilage canals in association with dyschondrop...
Russell KE, Perkins PC, Grindem CB, Walker KM, Sellon DC.To evaluate a method for detecting thiazole orange-positive (TO+, reticulated) platelets in equine blood, using flow cytometry. Methods: 16 healthy, equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV)-negative horses and ponies; 9 thrombocytopenic, EIAV-positive horses and ponies; and 2 thrombocytopenic, EIAV-negative horses. Methods: Blood from healthy and thrombocytopenic horses was collected by jugular venipuncture. Appropriate sample requirement and incubation time for the assay were evaluated, using blood anticoagulated with EDTA or sodium citrate, or platelet-rich plasma in sodium citrate. The sample ...
McConnico RS, Copedge K, Bischoff KL.Increased popularity during the past decade of brodifacoum, an anticoagulant rodenticide, has led to an increase in cases of accidental poisoning in nontarget species, including pets and farm animals. Pharmacokinetics of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides such as brodifacoum are substantially different from those of first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides such as warfarin. This difference dramatically influences management of exposure in terms of duration and cost of treatment and may affect outcome. The National Poison Control Center reports that approximately 50 cases of brodif...
Christensen RA, Malinowski K, Scanes CG, Hafs HD.Our goal was to establish a time of day and(or) interval from feeding that would avoid the refractory period after a somatotropin (ST) surge and optimize the responsiveness of horses to ST secretagogues. Two experiments were conducted with eight geldings conditioned to consume grain at 0800 and 1600 daily. In Exp. 1, during a 24-h period, these geldings averaged 3.2 +/- .3 pulses of ST with peak amplitude of 4.2 +/- .4 ng/mL, pulse duration of 55 +/- 6 min, and interpeak interval of 400 +/- 57 min. No ST peaks occurred within 2 h after either grain feeding. In Exp. 2, eight geldings were given...
Pratanaphon R, Akesowan S, Khow O, Sriprapat S, Ratanabanangkoon K.Naja kaouthia (NK) causes the highest fatality due to snake venom poisoning in Thailand. The specific antivenom produced is of low potency and in short supply. The aim of this study was to improve the antivenom potency. Bentonite and complete Freund's adjuvants (CFA) and various immunogens were compared. Six groups of three to five horses were immunized as follows: Group 1, NK venom adsorbed on bentonite; Group 2, NK venom in CFA; Group 3, NK venom in CFA in multi-emulsion formulation; Group 4, NK venom in 25% CFA; Group 5, NK neurotoxin 3 (NK3) conjugated with tetanus toxoid (NK3-TT) in CFA; ...
Asanovich KM, Bakken JS, Madigan JE, Aguero-Rosenfeld M, Wormser GP, Dumler JS.The agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), Ehrlichia phagocytophila, and Ehrlichia equi are very similar. HGE is of variable severity. Genetic and antigenic differences among 3 human isolates (Webster, Spooner, and NY-8) and 1 horse isolate (MRK) were evaluated. The 16S rRNA gene sequences were identical in all human isolates. By use of 5 homologous antisera from these 3 humans and 1 horse and an additional 5 antisera in heterologous reactions, the immunodominant antigens of each isolate were noted to differ in molecular size: 43 kDa in the Webster (Wisconsin) isolate, 46 kDa in the S...
Tornquist SJ, Crawford TB.Foals infected with equine infectious anemia virus become thrombocytopenic 7 to 20 days after virus inoculation, and within a few days following the onset of detectable viremia. The thrombocytopenia is associated with suppression of platelet production. Possible mediators of suppression of thrombopoiesis include tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), cytokines that are released during inflammation. To assess effects of plasma or serum from infected foals on megakaryocyte (MK) growth and maturation in vitro, equine low-density bone marrow cells w...
Harkins JD, Carney JM, Meier M, Leak SC, Tobin T.Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or endotoxin, is a component of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria and is toxic to humans and animals. The GI tract of horses contains large numbers of endotoxins which may cause disease if gut wall integrity is compromised. The objective of this study was to develop a unique therapeutic approach to the treatment of endotoxemia with a sulfonyl analog of the alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butyl-nitrone (PBN) spin-trap molecule which may prevent the LPS-induced cytokine cascade. Following challenge with 55 mg/kg LPS, the survivability of ICR Swiss mice was significantly impro...
Fitzmaurice T, Walker C, Kukreja A, Sun Y, Brown SM, Field HJ.A series of mutants of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) which contain deletions in non-essential genes was previously characterized in a murine intranasal infection model. One mutant, ED71 which was shown to be attenuated in the model, was further characterized by inoculation into pregnant mice. Despite the attenuation previously reported, intranasal inoculation of pregnant mice resulted in premature parturition and the birth of dead or dying foetuses. Furthermore, mice inoculated before pregnancy with the same mutant, and subsequently challenged 14 days after conception with wild-type virus, were...
Hartmann FA, Trostle SS, Klohnen AA.Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was isolated from a postoperative wound infection in a horse. Methicillin-resistant S aureus infections in animals have been reported. In human beings, MRSA is an important cause of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections. Infections caused by MRSA respond poorly to beta-lactam treatment, and resistance of MRSA to multiple antimicrobials, including aminoglycosides, macrolides, clindamycin, and tetracyclines, is common. Identification of MRSA by routine susceptibility testing may be difficult; therefore, techniques for MRSA detection should b...
Nie GJ, Pope KC.Prolonged penile prolapse in horses has been reported in association with administration of phenothiazine tranquilizers, trauma, neuropathies, severe general debilitation or exhaustion, starvation, rabies, herpes myeloencephalitis, equine infectious anemia, and purpura hemorrhagica. A 5-year-old gelding was admitted for treatment of prolonged penile prolapse of 12 days' duration that developed after acepromazine maleate was administered to allow examination of a laceration that had resulted in severe blood loss. The horse was sedated, and the penis was replaced in the preputial cavity by use o...
Thomas HL, Livesey MA, Caswell JL.Multiple aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are previously unreported in horses. An ABC was diagnosed in the left 3rd metacarpal of a Thoroughbred foal, which partially resolved following surgical curettage. A 2nd ABC developed in the left tibia, 7 wk postoperatively, and the foal was euthanized.
Card CE, Haas SD.Clinical, echographic, and histopathological features of an unusual enlarging scrotal mass in a 5-year-old gelding are described. Echography of the scrotal mass in this case provided valuable information concerning the nature of the tissue present, and assisted in narrowing the differential diagnosis.
Furr M, Chickering WR, Robertson J.To determine normal CSF electrophoresis patterns in horses, and to determine whether the electrophoretic scans from horses with cervical compression differ from those of neurologically normal horses. Methods: 32 horses assigned to 1 of 2 groups: neurologically normal (n = 18) or cervical compression (n = 14). Methods: CSF was collected from 18 neurologically normal horses referred to the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, and protein electrophoresis was performed to describe the normal equine CSF electrophoretogram. Results of CSF electrophoresis from 14 horses with cervical compressio...
Ousey JC, Prandi S, Zimmer J, Holdstock N, Rossdale PD.To determine the effect of diet on energy intake, loss, and metabolism in foals 2 to 7 days old. Methods: 14 pony foals. Methods: Group-A foals suckled their dams, group-B foals were fed milk replacer, and group-C foals were fed by total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Energy balance studies were performed over 8-hour periods on postpartum days 2, 4, and 7. Results: Mean gross energy (GE) intake of group-A foals increased between days 2 and 7. Approximately 3% of GE was excreted in urine and feces, and energy expenditure remained constant. These foals were in positive energy balance, and mean body...
Hans A, Gaudaire D, Manuguerra JC, Leon A, Gessain A, Laugier C, Berthet N, Zientara S.This study shows that an unbiased amplification method applied to equine arteritis virus RNA significantly improves the sensitivity of the real-time reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health. Twelve viral RNAs amplified using this method were hybridized on a high-density resequencing microarray for effective viral characterization.
Onishi JC, Park JW, Häggblom MM, Fennell MJ, Fugaro MN.A common sequella of chronic laminitis in horses is repeated abscesses with variable lameness and drainage. It is unclear whether the exudate represents the debridement phase of a non-septic inflammatory process involving clearance of laminar tissue damaged during the acute episode of laminitis, or a response to a microbial infection developed by ascent of microbes from the environment to the tissue via the white line. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility that an undiagnosed microbial infection in laminar tissue is present in laminar tissue collected from chronically lam...
Drumm NJ, Embertson RM, Woodie JB, Ruggles AJ, Hopper SA, Fimmers R, Handler J.Clinical experience has suggested that foaling rates following colic surgery in the pregnant mare are influenced by days of gestation. This premise has not been supported in previous studies. We also aimed to determine the effects of other potential influencing factors. Objective: To determine the influence of age of gestation on foaling rates in pregnant mares following colic surgery and evaluate the relationships between other factors and foaling rates. Methods: Medical records of Thoroughbred mares, which had colic surgery performed from 1993 to 2007 at the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, ...
Müntener CR, Bruckner L, Gassner B, Stürer A, Demuth DC, Althaus FR, Zwahlen R.We received 190 reports of suspected adverse events (SARs) following the use of veterinary drugs for the year 2006: 118 declarations for veterinary drugs and 72 declarations following the application of immunolgical medicinal products. Most of the 118 declarations relate to the use of antiparasitic drugs (48%) and every second declaration to drug use in dogs. Other drug classes concerned were, in decreasing order, antiinfectives (20%) and drugs used off-label (12%; other target species or other indication). For the vaccines, most of the reactions occurred in dogs (62%) followed by horses (11%)...
Edwards GB, Kelly DF, Proudman CJ.Twenty-two horses with colic, referred to the University of Liverpool Equine Hospital (1992-1998), were found at laparotomy to have a partial obstruction of the large colon caused by a segmental mural lesion located in the left dorsal colon. The decision to take the horses to surgery was based on rectal examination findings of secondary impaction and mural oedema of the large colon and turbid peritoneal fluid containing large numbers of neutrophils obtained by paracentesis. The affected segment of colon showed oedema and serosal changes varying from erythema to well-defined necrosis. These pat...
Coleman MC, Walzem RL, Kieffer AJ, Minamoto T, Suchodolski J, Cohen ND.Lipoproteins are water-miscible macromolecules enabling the transport of lipids in blood. In humans, altered proportions of lipoproteins are used to detect and classify metabolic diseases. Obesity and obesity-related comorbidities are common in horses. The pathophysiology of obesity is poorly understood and likely multifactorial. Development of new diagnostic tests to identify horses at risk of developing obesity to implement preventative measures is critical; however, a necessary first step to accomplish this goal is to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of disease. Thus, the ob...
Fontes KFLP, Silva-Júnior LC, Nascimento SA, Chaves DP, Pinheiro-Júnior JW, Freitas AC, Castro RS, Jesus ALS.A codon-optimized equine infectious anemia virus p26 gene was fused to a maltose-binding protein (MBP) and expressed in Escherichia coli for use as an antigen in agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for diagnosis of equine infectious anemia. An analysis of analytical sensitivity and specificity showed that the antigen MBP-p26rec reacted positively with a reference World Organization for Animal Health serum and demonstrated no cross-reaction against sera from vaccinated animals in either test. The diagnostic characteristics were evaluated and presented e...
Farrar RG, Klei TR.Strongylus edentatus was successfully cultured in vitro to the fourth larval stage (L4). Some growth continued for periods of 40-50 days at which time reductions in viability were observed in some of the culture systems tested. Various combinations of media, sera, buffers and organ explant cultures were tested. All cultures were incubated at 37 C in an atmosphere of 95% air and 5% CO2. Larvae underwent growth and differentiation to the L4 in all medium-serum combinations with and without organ explant cultures. Development and growth did occur but viability was reduced to insignificant levels ...
Stewart RC, Nelson BB, Kawcak CE, Freedman JD, Snyder BD, Goodrich LR, Grinstaff MW.Early detection of osteoarthritis (OA) remains a diagnostic challenge owing to insensitive diagnostic techniques currently available. Herein a new semiquantitative scoring system, based upon contrast-enhanced computed tomographic (CECT) imaging, is described for further refinement of early OA disease staging. Trochlear ridge cartilage defects were surgically created in the femoropatellar joint of an adult horse (ACUC approved protocols). Seven weeks post-surgery, CECT imaging was performed on a clinical scanner after intra-articular injection of a cationic iodinated contrast agent, CA4+, into ...
Geiger T, Gerhards H, Bjelica B, Mackenthun E, Wollanke B.In the equine clinic of the LMU in Munich, therapeutic vitrectomies have been routinely performed in horses for three decades. The vitreous samples obtained during vitrectomies were usually tested for anti-Leptospira antibodies and for more than 20 years also by PCR for leptospiral DNA. If the indication for surgery was ophthalmologically inconclusive, an aqueous humor was collected preoperatively and examined for evidence of leptospiral infection. In this study, medical records from 2002 to 2017 were analyzed. Records for 1387 eyes affected by equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) and 237 eyes affec...
Taira T, Fujinaga T, Tamura K, Izumi M, Itoh H, Tsunoda N, Yamashita K, Okumura M, Mizuno S.Equine alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1AG) was isolated from equine serum by successive ammonium precipitation, anion- and cation-exchange chromatographies, and gel filtration. Purified equine alpha 1AG had a molecular weight of 46,000 +/- 1,000, and contained 31.4% carbohydrate. Gel isoelectric focusing revealed an isoelectric point range of 2.8 to 3.7. With immunoelectrophoresis, it was found that alpha 1AG migrated to the alpha 1-globulin region. Single radial immunodiffusion was used for quantitative measurement of alpha 1AG in equine serum. In clinically normal foals, serum alpha 1AG wa...
Archambault D, Laganière G, Carman S, St-Laurent G.The genetic variation in equine arteritis virus (EAV) protein-encoding open reading frames (ORFs) 3 and 4 genes was investigated. Nucleic and deduced amino acid sequences from seven different EAV isolates (one European, one American and five Canadian isolates) and the Arvac vaccine strain were compared with those of Bucyrus reference strain. ORF 3 nucleotide and amino acid sequence identities between these isolates (including the Arvac vaccine strain) and the Bucyrus reference strain ranged from 85.6 to 98.8%, and 85.3 to 98.2%, respectively, whereas ORF 4 nucleotide and amino acid sequence id...
Gerber V.Genetic factors influence the development of guttural pouch tympany, recurrent laryngeal neuropathy, severe equine asthma, exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, and possibly also some malformations and infectious diseases of the respiratory tract. The current data suggest that most of these diseases are complex, resulting from the interaction between several genes and environmental factors. To date, no specific genes or causative mutations have been identified that would allow the development of practical genetic tests. In the future, genetic profiling panels, based on multiple genetic marker...
Vivrette SL, Reimers TJ, Krook L.Hypothyroidism was diagnosed in a 5-month-old Thorough-bred colt by clinical and clinico-pathology examinations, thyroid stimulating hormone response test and by microscopic evaluation of the thyroid gland. Skeletal lesions included delayed appearance of ossification centers and delayed development of bone in cartilage models, delayed closure of epiphyseal plates, transverse trabeculation in metaphyses, osteochondrosis dissecans and subchondral cysts.
Hosteller DE, Sprecher DJ, Yamini B, Ames NK.Transrectal palpation of an 18-mo-old, anestrous Holstein nulligravida revealed an enlarged left ovary. Ultrasonographically, the mass resembled known equine granulosa cell tumor (GCT) images. Slowly, virilism developed. Fifty-five days after initial diagnosis, unilateral ovariectomy was performed The presurgical serum concentration of testosterone was equal to that of a mature bull. During the 3 mo period following surgery, estrus expression resumed, the serum testosterone concentration returned to baseline, and the heifer was diagnosed pregnant following AI. A low grade, malignant GCT was th...
Specht TE, Nixon AJ, Colahan PT, Moore BG, Brown MP.Four horses with subchondral cyst-like lesions in the medial radial facet of the distal portion of the radius were examined. Joint effusion and signs of pain from flexion of the antebrachiocarpal joint were not observed, but lameness was observed in 3 of the 4 horses. Regional nerve blocks and intra-articular anesthesia were used to localize the lesions, and conservative treatment resulted in soundness for performance.
Singha H, Goyal SK, Malik P, Singh RK.Thermostabilizing effect of heavy water (D2O) or deuterium oxide has been demonstrated previously on several enzymes and vaccines like oral poliovirus vaccine and influenza virus vaccine. In view of the above observations, effect of heavy water on in situ thermostabilization of recombinant p26 protein on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serodiagnosis of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) infection was investigated in the present study. The carbonate-bicarbonate coating buffer was prepared in 60% and 80% D2O for coating the p26 protein in 96-well ELISA plate and thermal stabilit...
Hartmann FA, West SE.Phenotypic and molecular techniques, including antimicrobial susceptibility testing, plasmid analysis, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were used to characterize 15 isolates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella anatum cultured during a 16 mo period from horses and a veterinary clinic environment. The isolates were resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents and could be placed into 4 groups based on their antimicrobial resistance patterns. The isolates contained multiple plasmids ranging in size from 2 to > 100 kb that could be grouped into 3 different plasmid profile patterns;...
Faramarzi B, McMicking H, Halland S, Kaneps A, Dobson H.Recent studies indicate a high prevalence of fractures of the palmar processes (PP) of the distal phalanx in foals. However, information on the prevalence of such fractures in different breeds and the effect of predisposing factors, such as hoof conformation, is limited. Objective: To examine the prevalence of distal phalanx PP fractures in foals and report the relationship of distal limb and hoof conformation with the prevalence of fracture. Methods: Longitudinal study. Methods: Front hooves of 19 Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse and Arabian foals were examined. Digital radiographic and photograph...
Furness MC, Setlakwe E, Sallaway J, Wood D, Fromstein J, Arroyo LG.A 3-year-old Standardbred gelding with a history of pyrexia, persistent hemorrhage from the oral cavity, and a large, soft swelling at the junction of the caudal aspect of the mandibular rami and proximal neck was evaluated. The horse had neutropenia and anemia, with atypical granulated cells in a blood smear. Additional tests confirmed acute myeloid leukemia with basophilic differentiation, which has been reported in humans, cats, dogs, and cattle but not horses. Nous avons évalué un hongre Standardbred âgé de 3 ans avec une anamnèse de pyrexie, d’hémorragie persistante de la cavité...
Vendrig JC, Coffeng LE, Fink-Gremmels J.In the first phase of life, in which the immune system is primed and the bacterial colonization of epithelial surfaces takes place, foals are highly susceptible to bacterial infections. Next to strategies to optimize maternally acquired immunity in individual foals, current research explores other options to modulate immune responses in foals. During the past decades, oligosaccharide supplements were developed to mimic beneficial properties of the oligosaccharides, which are present in colostrum and milk. In human infants and laboratory animal species, dietary supplementation with galacto-olig...
Brommer H, Rijkenhuizen AB, Brama PA, Barneveld A, van Weeren PR.There are many noninvasive diagnostic methods used for evaluating chronic progressive joint disease, but each has severe limitations in the detection of early articular cartilage damage. Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of arthroscopy as a diagnostic method for the assessment of the severity of cartilage surface damage on the proximal articular margin of the equine first phalanx (P1). Objective: That arthroscopic assessment of the visible cartilage provides 1) a good indication of the integrity of the cartilage surface and 2) a good estimation of the status of the cartilage surface of the e...
Jacobson CC, Sertich PL, Mc Donnell SM.To investigate effects of a 5-day oral misoprostol regimen recommended for use in horses as a gastrointestinal mucosal cytoprotectant during colic on mid-gestation pregnancies. Objective: To monitor cervical tone, ultrasonographic characteristics of the uterus, cervix and conceptus, as well as serum progesterone and oestrone sulphate concentrations, and observations of general health, behaviour and comfort of mid-gestation mares given a 5-day course of misoprostol or control treatment. Methods: Eleven light horse and pony mares with known breeding dates were administered 5 µg/kg bwt misoprost...
Murray A, Cottrell DF, Woodman MP.Equine grass sickness (EGS) is a pan-dysautonomia of horses that involves central and peripheral neuronal degeneration and ultimately depletion. This is the first reported functional study on the motility of equine intestine taken immediately post mortem from horses with EGS. Strips of smooth muscle from the small intestine of healthy and EGS-affected horses were suspended in an organ bath and their motility was measured isometrically. The activity of the cholinergic system was studied. Physostigmine enhanced the motility of all muscle strips. Tissues taken from horses suffering from acute gra...
Archambault D, St-Louis MC, Martin S.The genome of equine arteritis virus (EAV) produces a 3' coterminal-nested set of six subgenomic (sg) viral RNAs during virus replication cycle, and each set possesses a common leader sequence of 206 nucleotides (nt) in length derived from the 5' end of the viral genome. Given the presence of the leader region within both genomic and sg mRNAs, it is likely to contain cis-acting signals that may interact with cellular or viral proteins for RNA synthesis. Gel mobility shift assays indicated that proteins in Vero cell cytoplasmic extracts formed complexes with the positive (+) and negative (-) st...
Pedersen CE, Eddy GA.Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic examination of viruses selected from the Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) complex revealed distinct strain to strain differences in profiles of the two virion envelope proteins. The core protein was identical in all viruses tested. We detected five electrophoretic patterns into which the virus strains could be classified and these were designated alpha (alpha), beta (beta), gamma (gamma), delta (delta), and episolon (episolon). Isolates representing variant E of subtype I exhibited a profile characterized by only one apparent envelope band. The epizo...
Vincze B, Varga M, Kutasi O, Zenke P, Szenci O, Baska F, Bartels A, Spisák S, Cseh S, Solymosi N.Equine grass sickness (also known as dysautonomia) is a life-threatening polyneuropathic disease affecting horses with approx. 80% mortality. Since its first description over a century ago, several factors, such as the phenotype, intestinal microbiome, environment, management and climate, have been supposed to be associated with the increased risk of dysautonomia. In this retrospective study, we examined the possible involvement of genetic factors. Medical and pedigree datasets regarding 1,233 horses with 49 affected animals born during a 23-year period were used in the analysis. Among the des...
Koenig JB, Rodriguez A, Colquhoun JK, Stämpfli H.During exploratory laparotomy of a foal with colic, a congenital abnormally developed large colon was identified incidentally. Long-term follow-up showed that the colt was more prone to gas-colic with diet and exercise changes than were other horses, due possibly to the short colon. Malformation congénitale du côlon (côlon court) chez un poulain Standardbred âgé de 4 mois. Au cours d’une laparotomie exploratrice chez un poulain atteint de colique, une malformation congénitale du gros côlon a été identifiée de façon fortuite. Un suivi à long terme a montré que le poulain était d...
Zakia LS, Albertino LG, Andrade DGA, Amorim RM, Takahira RR, Oliveira-Filho JP, Borges AS.This study aimed to characterize the findings in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) analysis of horses, cattle, and sheep diagnosed with rabies. The study included 62 animals (horses, cattle, and sheep) diagnosed with rabies at a referral hospital. This was a retrospective study using medical records from large animals with neurological signs and confirmed positive direct immunofluorescence test for rabies from 2003 to 2020. The results of CSF analysis are presented descriptively. Cerebral spinal fluid samples (N = 67) from 62 animals (31 horses, 24 cattle, and 7 sheep) were retrospectively evaluated...
