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Topic:Disease
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.
Plants Causing Toxic Myopathies. Boxelder and sycamore maple contain hypoglycin A (HGA), the toxic metabolite of which, MCPA-CoA, inhibits fatty acid β-oxidation, causing seasonal pasture myopathy (SPM) or atypical myopathy (AM), respectively. White snakeroot and rayless goldenrod contain multiple benzofuran ketones (BFKs). The identity/toxicity of BFKs appear variable, possibly involving interactions between toxins/toxic metabolites, but ultimately inhibit cellular energy metabolism. Unthrifty horses grazing sparse pastures during the fall appear predisposed to these plant-associated, frequently fatal, toxic myopathies. Tox...
Procalcitonin and carbonylated protein concentrations in equine synovial fluid. Early diagnosis of joint diseases is fundamental for prompt and appropriate management, particularly in septic arthritis. Procalcitonin (PCT) and protein carbonylated content (PCC) have been investigated in both human and veterinary medicine. An increase in PCT has been shown in infectious bacterial diseases, while higher levels of PCC have been shown in inflammatory pathologies characterized by oxidative damage. This study evaluated PCT and PCC in plasma and synovial fluid (SF), in healthy and pathological equine joints, affected by different types of arthropathy. Twenty-nine joints were eval...
Follow-Up Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Sagittal Groove Disease of the Equine Proximal Phalanx Using a Classification System in 29 Non-Racing Sports Horses. Evolution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in horses with sagittal groove disease (SGD) of the proximal phalanx is relatively sparsely described. This retrospective, descriptive, longitudinal study describes the findings of sequential low-field MRI fetlock examinations in horses with SGD of the proximal phalanx using a classification system. Twenty-nine horses were included, predominantly warmbloods used for show jumping (79%). For 29 limbs re-examined during the initial rehabilitation period, classification remained constant (n = 18), increased (n = 2), decreased (n = 7), and fluc...
Equine dermatitis outbreak associated with parapoxvirus. Parapoxviruses (PPV) cause skin and mucous membrane lesions in several animal species, and of the five recognized PPVs, at least three are zoonotic. Equine PPV (EqPPV) is the sixth one initially described in humans in the United States and later in a severely sick horse in Finland in 2013-2015. In 2021-2022, a large-scale pustulo-vesicular pastern dermatitis outbreak occurred in horses all over Finland. This study aimed at analysing the outbreak, identifying and describing the causative agent, describing clinical signs, and searching for risk factors. EqPPV was identified as a probable causati...
Unveiling Differential Responses of Granulocytes to Distinct Immunostimulants with Implications in Autoimmune Uveitis. The perception of circulating granulocytes as cells with a predetermined immune response mainly triggered by pathogens is evolving, recognizing their functional heterogeneity and adaptability, particularly within the neutrophil subset. The involvement of these cells in the pathophysiology of autoimmune uveitis has become increasingly clear, yet their exact role remains elusive. We used an equine model for autoimmune-mediated recurrent pan-uveitis to investigate early responses of granulocytes in different inflammatory environments. For this purpose, we performed differential proteomics on gran...
A diverse microbial community and common core microbiota associated with the gonad of female Parascaris spp. The microbiome plays an important role in health, where changes in microbiota composition can have significant downstream effects within the host, and host-microbiota relationships can be exploited to affect health outcomes. Parasitic helminths affect animals globally, but an exploration of their microbiota has been limited, despite the development of anti-Wolbachia drugs to help control infections with some filarial nematodes. The equine ascarids, Parascaris spp., are considered the most pathogenic nematodes affecting juvenile horses and are also the only ascarid parasite to have developed wi...
Decision Making in Severe Equine Asthma-Diagnosis and Monitoring. Decision making consists of gathering quality data in order to correctly assess a situation and determine the best course of action. This process is a fundamental part of medicine and is what enables practitioners to accurately diagnose diseases and select appropriate treatment protocols. Despite severe equine asthma (SEA) being a highly prevalent lower respiratory disease amongst equids, clinicians still struggle with the optimization of routine diagnostic procedures. The use of several ancillary diagnostic tests has been reported for disease identification and monitoring, but many are only s...
First Swedish case of fatal equine parasitic encephalitis by Halicephalobus gingivalis. Halicephalobus gingivalis is a nematode with zoonotic potential which can cause fatal opportunistic infections in various mammals. The parasite has never been diagnosed in Sweden, in any species, prior to the presented case. Methods: An imported 21-year-old Icelandic mare developed severe neurological signs. The horse was eventually euthanized and submitted for post-mortem examination where severe lesions in the kidneys were noted. Histopathology revealed the presence of H. gingivalis in both kidneys and the brain. Phylogenetic analysis of the parasite determined it to belong to Lineage 1. Con...
Changes in the saliva proteome analysed by gel-proteomics in horses diagnosed with equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) at diagnosis and after successful treatment. Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is currently one of the more frequent diseases in horses. We aimed to identify changes in the salivary proteome in horses with EGUS at diagnosis and after successful treatment by using gel proteomics. Saliva samples were collected from nine horses with EGUS before and after treatment and nine matched healthy controls. SDS-PAGE (1DE) and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) were performed, and significantly different protein bands and spots were identified by mass spectrometry. Horses with EGUS had increases in proteins such as adenosine deaminase (ADA)...
Clinical and histopathological features in horses with neuroaxonal degeneration: 100 cases (2017-2021). Adult horses with proprioceptive ataxia and behavior changes that have histologic lesions consistent with neurodegenerative disease have been increasingly recognized. Objective: Describe the history, clinical findings and histopathologic features of horses presented to a referral institution with neuroaxonal degeneration. Methods: One hundred horses with a necropsy diagnosis of neuroaxonal degeneration compatible with neuroaxonal dystrophy/degenerative myeloencephalopathy (eNAD/EDM). Methods: Retrospective study of horses presented to the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, between ...
Preliminary evaluation of safety and migration of immune activated mesenchymal stromal cells administered by subconjunctival injection for equine recurrent uveitis. Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), an immune mediated disease characterized by repeated episodes of intra-ocular inflammation, affects 25% of horses in the USA and is the most common cause of glaucoma, cataracts, and blindness. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory properties, which are upregulated by preconditioning with toll-like receptor agonists. The objective was to evaluate safety and migration of TLR-3 agonist polyinosinic, polycytidylic acid (pIC)-activated MSCs injected subconjunctivally in healthy horses prior to clinical application in horses with ERU. We hypothesized ...
Dynamic nasopharyngeal collapse in horses: What we know so far. Dynamic nasopharyngeal collapse (NPC) is an obstructive upper airway disease that affects mainly the inspiratory phase of respiration in horses undergoing strenuous exercise. It occurs when the neuromuscular activity of the nasopharynx is overwhelmed by the intense negative pressures generated during exercise. This leads to collapse of at least one of the four components of the nasopharynx which is comprised of the two lateral walls, the dorsal roof and the ventral soft palate. As a result, the airway diameter and thus airflow become compromised. Even small changes in the airway diameter produ...
Microarray molecular mapping of horses with severe asthma. Severe asthma (SA) in horses, resembling human asthma, is a prevalent, debilitating allergic respiratory condition marked by elevated allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) against environmental proteins; however, research exploring the exposome's influence on IgE profiles is currently limited but holds paramount significance for diagnostic and therapeutic developments. Methods: Thirty-five sports horses were analyzed, consisting of environmentally matched samples from France (5 SA; 6 control), the United States (6 SA; 6 control), and Canada (6 SEA; 6 control). Methods: This intentional cros...
Viremia and nasal shedding for the diagnosis of equine herpesvirus-1 infection in domesticated horses. Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection is associated with upper respiratory disease, EHM, abortions, and neonatal death. Objective: Are nasal secretions a more sensitive biological sample compared to blood for the detection of EHV-1 infection? How long is EHV-1 detectable after primary infection by PCR? Methods: MedLine and Web of Science searches identified original peer-reviewed reports evaluating nasal shedding and viremia using virus isolation methods or PCR published in English before October 9, 2023. Results: Sixty experimental and 20 observational studies met inclusion criteria. EH...
Relationship between equine herpesvirus-1 viremia and abortion or equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy in domesticated horses: A systematic review. Equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1) infection in horses is associated with upper respiratory disease, neurological disease, abortions, and neonatal death. Objective: To determine if there is an association between the level and duration of EHV-1 viremia and either abortion or equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in domesticated horses? Methods: A systematic review was performed searching numerous databases to identify peer reviewed reports that evaluated viremia and EHM, or viremia and abortion published before January 19, 2021. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies wer...
Advanced platelet-rich fibrin promotes healing of induced corneal ulcer in donkeys (Equus asinus). Ulcerative keratitis is a common disease in horses which may cause blindness. To prevent secondary bacterial and fungal infections and promote quick re-growth of the epithelial layer, different treatment approaches have been employed. This study aimed to examine the effects of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) gel on the healing process of experimentally induced corneal ulcers in donkeys. Nine healthy adult donkeys were used for the study. The donkeys were divided into two groups: the control group, where no medication was applied to the corneal ulcer, and the A-PRF gel group, where A-PRF ...
Evaluation of substance P as a biomarker for pain in equine colic. Equine colic is an important condition associated with acute abdominal pain and one of the leading causes of death in horses. As such, objectively evaluating pain is of interest for attending veterinarians. Pain scales for assessment are present, but no single pain-specific biomarker has been reported. The aim of this study was to determine if substance P (SP) could be a reliable biomarker to reflect pain and serve as a parameter to predict outcome in equine colic. The hypothesis was that horses displaying severe colic signs present with higher values of SP in contrast to those with mild colic...
Do Poisonous Plants in Pastures Communicate Their Toxicity? Meta-Study and Evaluation of Poisoning Cases in Central Europe. One of the possible roles of secondary plant metabolites, including toxins, is facilitating plant-animal communication. Lethal cases of pasture poisoning show that the message is not always successfully conveyed. As the focus of poisoning lies in the clinical aspects, the external circumstances of pasture poisoning are widely unknown. To document poisoning conditions in cattle, sheep, goats, and horses on pastures and to compile a checklist of plants involved in either poisoning or co-existence (zero poisoning), published case reports were evaluated as primary sources. The number of affected a...
Geometric morphometrics of face profile across horse breeds and within Arabian horses: Horse face geometric morphometrics. Horse traits under selection are largely quantitative and affected by multiple genes. Horse face shape is an example of a continuous trait, which due to the reliance on observational assessments, is classified into; "dished", "straight", and "roman-nosed". This categorization is often inadequate to convey the full spectrum of the face shape variation especially for genetic studies. The first objective of the current study was to use geometric morphometric methods to quantitatively phenotype face shapes and examine its variation across horse breeds. The second objective was to analyze the face ...
Field study examining the mucosal microbiome in equine glandular gastric disease. Equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) is a common disease among athletic horses that can negatively impact health and performance. The pathophysiology of this EGGD remains poorly understood. Previous studies using controlled populations of horses identified differences in the gastric glandular mucosal microbiome associated with disease. The objective of this study was to compare the gastric microbiome in horses with EGGD and those without across multiple barns and differing management practices. We hypothesized that alterations in the microbiome of the gastric glandular mucosa are associated...
Serum and Urinary Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Concentrations in Dehydrated Horses. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 is increased in renal tissue in human kidney disease, but its role as a biomarker for kidney disease has not been fully evaluated yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum MMP-9 (sMMP-9) and urinary MMP-9 (uMMP-9) concentrations in dehydrated horses. Dehydrated horses were prospectively included. Blood and urinary samples were taken at admission, and after 12, 24, and 48 h (t0, t12, t24, t48), an anti-equine MMP-9 sandwich ELISA was used. Four healthy horses served as the controls. Serum creatinine, urea, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), urine-specific gravi...
Toxic Garden and Landscaping Plants. Many popular ornamental shrubs are not only beautiful but also toxic when ingested in sufficient quantities. Common toxic landscaping shrubs in North America include yew (Taxus spp), oleander (Nerium oleander), and rhododendrons and azaleas (Rhododendron spp). Horses are often exposed when plant trimmings are placed within reach or discarded in pastures. Occasionally clippings or fallen leaves contaminate hay. Some plants are unpalatable unless dried and mixed with hay or lawn clippings but others are ingested more readily. In many cases, disease can be severe and treatment unrewarding; theref...
Severe asthma in horsed is associated with increased airway innervation. Altered innervation structure and function contribute to airway hyperresponsiveness in human asthma, yet the role of innervation in airflow limitation in asthma in horses remains unknown. Objective: To characterize peribronchial innervation in horses with asthma. We hypothesized that airway innervation increases in horses with asthma compared with controls. Methods: Formalin-fixed lung samples from 8 horses with severe asthma and 8 healthy horses from the Equine Respiratory Tissue Biobank. Ante-mortem lung function was recorded. Methods: Blinded case-control study. Immunohistochemistry was per...
Dynamics analysis of strangles with asymptomatic infected horses and long-term subclinical carriers. Strangles is one of the most prevalent horse diseases globally. The infected horses may be asymptomatic and can still carry the infectious pathogen after it recovers, which are named asymptomatic infected horses and long-term subclinical carriers, respectively. Based on these horses, this paper establishes a dynamical model to screen, measure, and model the spread of strangles. The basic reproduction number $ mathcal{R}_0 $ is computed through a next generation matrix method. By constructing Lyapunov functions, we concluded that the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if...
Comparative investigations into the growth details of Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum on four different agar media. Epizootic equine lymphangitis (EEL) is a chronic fungal disease that affects equids. The causative agent is a dimorphic fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum var farciminosum. H. capsulatum var farciminosum field strain 7 (D 2878/2023) isolated from the eye socket of an EEL Ethiopian horse was sub-cultured on 4 different solid media and incubated at 26°C and 37°C for 6 weeks. Details of growth morphology were recorded and shown in images during 6 weeks of incubation. H. capsulatum var farciminosum grew best at 26°C on all 4 agars, but only on sheep blood agar at 37°C as small, white dry col...
Macrodendritic ulcerative keratitis and conjunctival lymphoid hyperplasia in horses with equine herpesvirus-2 and equine herpesvirus-5 infections. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, confocal microscopic, histologic, and virologic features of horses with macrodendritic ulcerative keratitis and conjunctival lymphoid hyperplasia associated with equine herpesvirus-2 and equine herpesvirus-5 infection. Methods: Four foals with bilateral ocular disease. Methods: Complete ophthalmic examination was performed for each horse, and corneal samples were collected for cytology and microbiologic evaluation, including virus isolation and molecular diagnostics for the equine herpesviruses. In vivo confocal microscopy examination of the...
Diagnosis of Potomac horse fever (syn. equine neorickettsiosis) in 2 foals in southwestern Ontario. Potomac horse fever (PHF) is characterized by fever, depression, anorexia, ileus, diarrhea, and occasionally, laminitis. The disease is caused by infection with and/or . Equids of all ages may be affected; however, the condition has not been well-characterized in foals. This report describes clinical signs, laboratory findings, and treatment of 2 foals diagnosed with PHF in southwestern Ontario. Feces submitted for an equine PCR panel tested positive for spp. and were subsequently confirmed to be (Case 1) and (Case 2). Both foals recovered following hospitalization and intensive care. Key ...
Epidemiology of horse pythiosis in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso: Exploring the host-parasite-vector relationship. Horse pythiosis is considered an endemic disease in the Brazilian Pantanal region, causing devastating health and economic losses. This study aimed to enhance the understanding of pythiosis epidemiology, map the distribution of horse body lesions, and investigate the correlation between these lesions and warm body surface areas, potentially implicating hematophagous vectors in the disease's transmission. A prospective study was conducted on equids in the Pantanal Mato-grossense and adjacent areas from 2012 to 2022, with 112 horses and three mules diagnosed with pythiosis. Clinical and epidemio...
Hematological profile of healthy Thoroughbred foals from birth to one month of age in Trinidad, West Indies. This study aimed to develop a sound database for the hematological reference intervals of thoroughbred foals in Trinidad, West Indies from birth to 1 month of age. Methods: 89 foals. Methods: Whole blood samples were taken from 89 foals throughout Trinidad at approximately 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month of age. These foals were examined to be classified as healthy or free from disease. Complete blood count (CBC), microscopic analysis of blood smears, and conventional PCR for Theileria equi and Babesia caballi were performed. Results: Of the 89 foals, 67 were deemed healthy and suitable for establi...
