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.
Lloyd JW, Kaneene JB.A study was developed to describe direct expenses, labor use, and performance days lost associated with health management in the Michigan equine industry. A prospective design with stratified, random sampling, was employed involving 77 operations from February 1992 through January 1993, and 61 different operations from May 1993 through April 1994. Data on the cost of health management were collected during monthly visits, and included monetary expenditures, death losses, days lost, and labor use. Median health care costs (when they were incurred) were $4.84 per horse per month for monetary exp...
Geelen SN, Bernadina WE, Grinwis GC, Kalsbeek HC.A 15-year-old Dutch warmblood mare was presented because of lethargy, which had been present for several weeks, and severe anaemia. Total protein was high and serum electrophoresis revealed a monoclonal peak in the alpha-2 region. Monoclonal immunoglobulin, IgG(T), was detected by immuno-electrophoresis in serum and urine. Postmortem examination revealed a relatively large number of plasmacytoid cells in the bone marrow and a monotonous population of plasmacytoid cells in the spleen. These findings are suggestive of a plasma cell myeloma.
Frazer GS, Perkins NR, Blanchard TL, Orsini J, Threlfall WR.A retrospective investigation was performed to determine the population characteristics of horses presented for dystocia at 2 equine referral hospitals and the types of fetal maldispositions among these horses. The study population consisted of a similar number of Thoroughbreds (25%), Standardbreds (24%) and draft horses (22%). Most of the current literature pertaining to equine obstetrics is based on a predominately draft horse population (63%). The latter population appeared to have more transverse presentations (P = 0.06), possibly because of the higher number of draft mares. In our study, ...
Hilbe M, Meier D, Feige K.This article describes an eleven year old mare with apathy, fever, enlarged mandibular lymph nodes, skin lesions on the upper lip and edematous, grey-red mucous membranes in the nose, mouth and vulva. Histopathology revealed infiltrates with atypical lymphocytes forming Pautrier's microabscesses. The neoplastic cells had large, often indented nuclei. Immunohistology showed that some cells were CD3-positive (Pan T-cell-marker). The diagnosis of cutaneous epitheliotropic malignant lymphoma (Mycosis fungoides) was made. The etiology in the horse is unknown.
Basher AW, Severin GA, Chavkin MJ, Frank AA.Three horses were examined because of exophthalmos and others signs indicative of a space-occupying orbital mass. In 2 horses, exenteration was used to remove the orbital mass. In a third horse, an orbital tumor and lung metastases were found at necropsy. Routine histologic and Grimelius' histochemical staining were used on fixed tissues; immunohistochemical staining for chromogranin and electron microscopy also were performed. Masses were orbital neuroendocrine tumors. Horses that underwent exenteration were alive 19 and 24 months after surgery. Hypotension was encountered at surgery in both ...
Mazan MR.A 30-year-old Morgan-Quarter Horse gelding with hyperadrenocorticism was referred for treatment of a full-thickness tear of the retroperitoneal portion of the rectum. In older horses, the caudal end of the peritoneal space may be farther cranial than is commonly thought. Thus, there is a greater chance that full-thickness rectal tears will involve the retroperitoneal, rather than the peritoneal, portion of the rectum. This horse had a quick recovery and good outcome, despite underlying hyperadrenocorticism that would be expected to impair healing. Although relatively little is known about mana...
Schlichtherle C.This paper describes the importance of fumonisins for human beings and animals and shows data for the occurence in food. Corn-based food samples (n = 299) purchased in the area of munich were analyzed for fumonisin content using an enzyme immunoassay.Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced byFusarium species, especially byFusarium moniliforme andFusarium proliferatum. Occurrence of fumonisins in corn and in cornbased foods and feeds has been reported from almost all over the world. In several animal species different diseases are traced back to fumonisin toxicosis. Fumonisin levels of 5-10 ppm inho...
Aguilera-Tejero E, Pascoe JR, Smith BL, Woliner MJ.To investigate the influence of increased respiratory frequency on respiratory mechanics in the horse, measurements were made in two groups of seven tracheostomized horses before and after the administration of doxapram. The horses in group I had normal base line values for respiratory mechanics, whereas the horses in group II had significantly lower values of dynamic compliance (Cdyn), higher respiratory resistance (R), and a higher total change in pleural pressure (delta P). The administration of 0.3 mg kg-1 doxapram intravenously resulted in a significant increase in respiratory frequency (...
Ousey JC, McArthur AJ, Rossdale PD.Metabolic rate, rectal temperature Tr and respiratory quotient (RQ) were determined in 16 sick foals, aged 0-182 h. The foals were categorized into three groups: premature, dysmature or those suffering from neonatal maladjustment syndrome. The mean metabolic rate of the premature foals was 71 watts per unit area of body surface (W m(-2)), significantly lower than that of the other two groups. The overall mean metabolic rate for the sick foals was 82 W m(-2), about 25% below that of healthy foals of similar age. Air temperature (Ta) was 9.5-26.3 degrees C, and several foals shivered despite the...
Zweygarth E, Just MC, De Waal DT.By means of an in vitro culture technique, 75 samples of horse blood were examined for Babesia equi, a causative agent of equine piroplasmosis. At the time of culture initiation, 15 samples were microscopically positive for B. equi, and this was subsequently confirmed by culture diagnosis. Sixty samples showed no parasites in Giemsa-stained thin blood smears. However, after the culturing process, parasites were found in blood smears of 36 of these samples. The sensitivity of the in vitro culture method was such that 2.5 microliters (1/40 of the usual volume used for the above-mentioned samples...
Todhunter RJ, Fubini SL, Freeman KP, Lust G.To determine whether keratan sulfate concentrations in plasma or synovial fluid from clinically normal horses were different from concentrations in horses with joint disease and whether concentrations varied with type of joint disease. Methods: Case-control study. Methods: 67 clinically normal horses, 10 clinically normal foals, and 160 horses with joint disease. Methods: ELISA was used to measure keratan sulfate concentrations. Results: Mean plasma keratan sulfate concentration (mean +/- SEM, 580 +/- 124 ng/ml) in foals peaked at 10 weeks of age. Mean plasma keratan sulfate concentration in c...
Escande F, Vallee E, Aubart F.The isolation of Pasteurella caballi from an horse-bite wound in a 56-year-old man is reported. Biochemical characteristics are described and compared with the other species representing the genus Pasteurella. This strain probably represents the first human isolate of P. caballi in France.
Watt BC, Beck BE.Diagnosis and removal of a nasal polyp in a horse using standing chemical restraint and readily available equipment are described. Histopathology of the polyp and differential diagnoses are discussed.
Kaneene JB, Ross WA, Miller R.A prospective study was designed to document the frequencies of equine health problems in the state of Michigan, USA. A total of 2469 horses from a random sample of 138 equine operations were monitored in the study in two 12-month periods: 1992-1993 and 1993-1994. All the major breeds of horses in the state were proportionately represented in the sample. Using weighted annual incidence densities as measures of disease frequencies, the 10 most frequently observed groups of health problems were (from most to least frequent) leg lameness, dermatological problems, respiratory problems, hoof and fo...
Martínez-Torrecuadrada JL, Díaz-Laviada M, Roy P, Sánchez C, Vela C, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM, Casal JI.Fifteen horses were experimentally infected with African horse sickness virus (AHSV) serotype 4. To learn more about the time course of production and specificity of AHSV-specific antibodies, sera were analyzed by immunoblot analysis. Only animals that survived for more than 9 days were able to develop a humoral immune response detectable by immunoblotting. The earliest serological markers corresponded mainly to VP5, VP6, and NS2 and to a lesser extent to VP3, NS1, and NS3. Neutralizing antibodies to VP2 were not detected by immunoblotting, suggesting that they are mostly conformation dependen...
Parker JE, Rakestraw PC.A 5-year-old Quarter Horse stallion was admitted for cryptorchidectomy. Abnormalities were not found on physical examination, except for an undescended left testis. Cryptorchidectomy was performed, using an inguinal approach. The tail of the epididymis was in the inguinal canal, and the testis was adjacent to the internal inguinal ring. The testis was dark reddish purple to black, resulting from torsion at the level of the body of the epididymis. On histologic examination, the left testis was necrotic, except for the tunica albuginea and tunica vaginalis visceralis covering the testis. Intra-a...
Fukushi H, Tomita T, Taniguchi A, Ochiai Y, Kirisawa R, Matsumura T, Yanai T, Masegi T, Yamaguchi T, Hirai K.A herpesvirus was isolated from Thomson's gazelle (Gazella thomsoni) kept at a zoological garden in Japan during an outbreak of epizootic acute encephalitis. The virus, gazelle herpesvirus 1 (GHV-1), was serologically related to equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1). However, DNA fingerprints of GHV-1 were different from those of EHV-1 and other equine herpesviruses. Southern hybridization with probes of cloned BamHI fragments derived from UL and US segments of EHV-1 revealed differences in the DNA restriction profiles throughout the entire genome. Nucleotide sequences were determined for a conserved r...
Lacitignola L, Luca P, Santovito R, Comite MSD, Crovace A.Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSH) is uncommon in horses. Aim of this report is evaluate an alternative therapeutic approach and provide more information on the diagnostic procedures, through detailed microscopic findings of the bone lesions pony with NSH. Administration of tiludronate along with a balanced diet can be used in a treatment protocol for ponies with NSH. This case report suggests that tiludronate can be used to ameliorate the clinical signs of NSH.
Berthoud H, Frey J, Sternberg S, Straub R, Kuhnert P.Actinobacillus equuli is found in the normal oral flora of horses, but has been associated with several diseases, and particularly with the usually fatal septicaemia in neonatal foals which is thought to be associated with a failure of the passive transfer of immunoglobulins via the colostrum. The Aqx protein of A equuli, belonging to the RTX family of pore-forming toxins, is also cytotoxic to horse lymphocytes. The presence of antibodies to Aqx was investigated in sera from individual horses from different regions; the sera from adult horses and foals 24 hours after birth reacted with Aqx, an...
Wilson ME.Pathologic conditions of the urinary tract may produce specific clinical signs, but they are more than likely to be nonspecific clinical signs, which often occur with chronic renal disease in addition to countless other diseases. Further, clinical signs that may seem to be directly related to the urinary tract may be the result of other systemic diseases. Thus, before embarking on diagnostics, it is important to obtain a thorough history and physical examination.
ADAMS KM.The ciliate population of the large intestine of the horse shows large, daily variations. The ventral colon is the site where the ciliate fauna varies most. Two species, Cycloposthium edentatum and C. dentiferum, became established in the large intestine after passage through the stomach and small intestine. The introduction of new species into the ventral colon caused significant changes in the fauna of that part of the gut.
Lyons ET, Drudge JH, Tolliver SC.Activity of 15 compounds, given alone or in mixtures [butamisole, cambendazole, caviphos, febantel (alone or with trichlorfon), fenbendazole, ivermectin, levamisole-piperazine, oxfendazole, oxibendazole, pyrantel pamoate (alone or with piperazine-carbon disulfide complex), thiabendazole (alone or with piperazine or with trichlorfon), tioxidazole, and trichlorfon], against Thelazia lacrymalis was evaluated in 102 equids. Determination of activity was based on comparison of infection rate in treated animals examined at necropsy with infection rate of dead equids in our contemporary surveys. None...
Finney S, Collins JA, Duggan V.The number of abandoned or otherwise neglected donkeys has significantly increased in Ireland in the recent past. The real or perceived capacity of the donkey to act as a reservoir of equine infectious disease, and thus pose an increased risk of disease transmission to horses and ponies, may be a factor in this increased abandonment and neglect. The authors here report on a field study exploring the infectious disease transmission threat the donkey poses to the general equine industry in Ireland through an examination of biosecurity standards and the views of horse and donkey exhibitors at nin...
Pigott J.The anatomy of the equine paranasal sinuses is critical to understand to assess the extent of the disease process, the optimal surgical approach, and the ability to drain through the normal nasomaxillary pathway. By following established anatomic landmarks, direct sinus access can be used to further explore the sinus compartments, remove compromised cheek teeth, remove any purulent debris or feed contamination, and establish drainage. Many complications can be avoided or minimized by thoroughly evaluating all sinus compartments and critically assessing the ability of the sinus to drain.