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.
Pope DC, Heslop CH.An outbreak of myoglobinuria under unusual circumstances in a group of four horses, together with the events leading up to the diagnosis, is described, and a brief mention of two previously recorded similar cases is made.
HETRICK FM, YANCEY FS, HANSEN PA, BYRNE RJ. Four horses inoculated with EEE virus remained asymptomatic following injection but did develop measurable HI and neutralizing antibodies as a result of infection. HI antibodies were detectable earlier than neutralizing antibodies but the levels tended to drop more rapidly. 2. Of 14 horses and ponies having significant levels of neutralizing antibody, 5 to 9 had measurable HI antibody depending on number of units of antigen employed in the test. 3. Sera from 3 clinical cases of EEE were positive on the HI test while only one of these animals had a significant neutralizing antibody level.
History of psychiatryFebruary 18, 2006
Volume 16, Issue Pt 4 (no 64) 467-471 doi: 10.1177/0957154X05051459
Papakostas YG, Daras MD, Liappas IA, Markianos M.Anthropophagic horses have been described in classical mythology. From a current perspective, two such instances are worth mentioning and describing: Glaucus of Potniae, King of Efyra, and Diomedes, King of Thrace, who were both devoured by their horses. In both cases, the horses' extreme aggression and their subsequent anthropophagic behaviour were attributed to their madness (hippomania) induced by the custom of feeding them with flesh. The current problem of 'mad cow' disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) is apparently related to a similar feed pattern. Aggressive behaviour in horses c...
Ohmuro K, Okada K, Satoh A, Murakami K, Satake S, Asahina M, Numakunai S, Ohshima K.A thoroughbred horse, gelding, gray color, aged 19 years old had cutaneous melanomas from the root to the middle of the tail, and throughout the connective tissues of the whole body. Histologically, the tumors were diagnosed as mature melanotic melanomas characteristically deposited with abundant melanin pigment. Examined with an electron microscope, melanosomes were electron opaque without internal structure (stage IV), or as mature granular and lamellar types. Most of them were fused with each other, and formed compound melanosomes, which was similar to internal melanin aggregates in shape. ...
Groschup M, Müller HP, Weiss R, Schliesser T.For the determination of a species-specific antigen of Streptococcus (S.) equi, acid extracts of group C streptococcal strains from horses (S. equi, S. zooepidemicus, S. equisimilis) were investigated using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the immunoblotting technique. Using sera of horses suffering from strangles as well as sera from horses with respiratory infection of unknown etiology, Western blotting yielded more or less multiple banding reactions with bands in the 70, 54, 42, 40, and 31-28 kd molecular weight ranges against extracts of all of the 3 different bacterial species. Howe...
Holzhausen L, Nowak M, Junginger J, Puff C.A 15-year-old gelding presented with a progressive lameness of the left forelimb of 2.5 months duration. Clinically, a dilation of the deep flexor tendon sheath with a firm elastic consistency and a pronounced tenderness was noted. Ultrasonically, a marked swelling of the flexor tendon sheath with an irregular density of the mesotendineum was observed. The white, firm material forming a nodular distension of the flexor tendon sheath with a diameter of approximately 1 cm was excised and sent for histopathological examination. Biopsies of the deep flexor tendon and corresponding tendon sheath we...
Marcum JA, Highsmith RF, Kline DL.Complete activation of purified horse plasminogen to plasmin was obtained with a 1:10 molar ratio of streptokinase to plasminogen after 5 min of incubation at 37 degrees C. At a 1:1 molar ratio, maximal activity did not appear until 15-30 min, while at a ratio of 6:1 complete activation was delayed for 120-180 min. Gel filtration studies of isotopically labeled streptokinase and horse plasminogen suggest that the delay was due to impaired formation of a streptokinase-plasminogen complex. The predominant streptokinase moiety within the streptokinase-plasmin complex which forms from the streptok...
Maher MA, Ahmad IM.The current study was performed on ten adult Egyptian donkeys of both sexes for anatomical and radiographic studies in addition to six other donkeys for enzymatic, biochemical and statistical analysis. The aim was to illustrate the normal hepatic arterial and biliary distribution using different anatomic techniques and radiographic imaging besides, establishing an accurate laboratory profile specific for donkeys that used as standard indicators for hepatobiliary dysfunction. The right branch of the hepatic artery in donkey forms a curved arch erupting five branches, unlike the left branch that...
Sergeant ES, Cowled BD, Bingham P.This observational study was undertaken in order to evaluate the diagnostic specificity of the blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA) for serum antibodies to influenza A virus nucleoprotein during the equine influenza (EI) outbreak response in New South Wales, Australia, in 2007. Using data collected during the outbreak response, bELISA testing data were collated for assumed uninfected horses from areas where EI infection was never recorded. Diagnostic specificity of the bELISA used during the EI response was high, but varied significantly between some regions, although the reason...
Otcenásek M, Mátl J, Vítovec J, Vladík P, Wohlman J.A case of maduromycotic mycetoma (eumycetoma) in seven years old draught horse is described. The disease was localized in anal region and healed after surgical treatment. Attention is drawn to the necessity of distinguishing three types of mycosis in horses, characterized by the origin of tumor lesions - mycetomas, hyphomycosis and entomophthoromycosis - and information was gathered on their etiology and geographical occurrence. On the basis of the morphology of fungal elements traced in inflammated changed tissues and with regard to the existing findings on the origin of eumycetoma in animals...
Popović N, Djuricić B, Valcić M.A study of literature concerning Lyme borreliosis related to animals was done. In the research work the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of horses, cattle and dogs affected with Lyme borreliosis have been discussed. The clinical signs of Lyme borreliosis in horses are: chronic weight loss, sporadic lameness, laminitis, low grade fever, swollen joints, muscle tenderness and anterior uvetitis. In addition to these clinical sings, neurological sings such as depression, behavioral changes, dysphagia and encephalitis can be seen in chronic cases. Cattle affected with acute Lyme b...
Respiratory diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the horses of all ages including foals. There is limited understanding of the expression of immune molecules such as tetraspanins and surfactant proteins (SP) and the regulation of the immune responses in the lungs of the foals. Therefore, the expression of CD9, SP-A and SP-D in foal lungs was examined. Results: Lungs from one day old (n = 6) and 30 days old (n = 5) foals were examined for the expression of CD9, SP-A, and SP-D with immunohistology and Western blots. Western blot data showed significant increase in the...
Furness JB, Poole DP.The functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is under the control of the most extensive system of peripheral neurons in the body, the enteric nervous system, and the largest endocrine system of the body, the GEP endocrine system. The enteric nervous system in large mammals contains 500 million neurons, and the GEP endocrine system produces more than 30 hormones. Numerous enteric neuropathies affecting both humans and animals have been described and digestive disorders affect commercially important species, such as horses and cattle. The most severe enteric neuropathies (e.g., lethal white syn...
Gürelli G, Lyons ET, Kesbiç FI.Species composition and distribution of hindgut ciliates were investigated in the feces of 20 thoroughbred mares in Kentucky, USA. Thirty-three species and six morphotypes belonging to 21 genera were identified. The average density of hindgut ciliates in mares was 13.5 ± 13.7 × 104 cells ml-1, whereas mean number of ciliate species per host was 14.4 ± 5.3. Bundleia nana, B. elongata, B. piriformis, Blepharoconus hemiciliatus, Holophryoides ovalis, H. macrotricha, Blepharoprosthium polytrichum, Prorodonopsis coli, Paraisotrichopsis composita, Blepharocorys microcorys, and Ochoterenaia append...
Strzemienski PJ, Benson CE, Acland HM, Kenney RM.Two groups of 3 mares were inoculated with Haemophilus equigenitalis or Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the 1st day of estrus. Uterine flushing samples were recovered on day 3 of estrus and day 8 after ovulation for each cycle. Mares were killed 22, 25, and 30 days after inoculation with P aeruginosa and 45, 46, and 49 days after inoculation with H equigenitalis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered from the uterus of 2 mares 48 hours after inoculation. Although the initial flushing sample of 1 of these 2 mares had an increased total protein concentration, there appeared to be little difference betw...
Zientara S, Sailleau C.The authors briefly review the clinical forms of equine rhinopneumonitis and indicate changes in the nomenclature of equine herpesviral infections. The value of restriction profiles for epidemiological studies is described, taking as an example the strains of virus isolated in France. A technique is given for preparing molecular probes, as well as the application of these probes in direct diagnosis from biological specimens.
van Niekerk HP, Couvaras S.The possibility of including sodium hydroxide-treated lucerne hay as a constituent in rations for horses was investigated by measuring its effect on the performance and certain bloodcomponents of growing foals. As no adverse effects were found it is concluded that further investigation is necessary to see whether the inclusion of low grade-treated roughages in the ration of horses would be of economic significance.
Fuentealba NA, Sguazza GH, Eöry ML, Valera AR, Pecoraro MR, Galosi CM.Equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) infection has a significant economic impact on equine production, causing abortion, respiratory disease, neonatal death and neurological disorders. The identification of specific EHV-1 genes related to virulence and pathogenicity has been the aim of several research groups. The purpose of the present study was to analyze different genomic regions of Argentinean EHV-1 strains and to determine their possible relationship with virulence or clinical signs. Twenty-five EHV-1 Argentinean isolates recovered from different clinical cases between 1979 and 2007 and two refere...
Mia AS, Koger HD.Serum concentrations of arginase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) in dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep and pigs were determined before and after oral administration of CCl(4) at doses known to cause hepatic necrosis. Following CCl(4) administration, serum concentration of arginase and SGOT increased to a level of diagnostic significance in all animals. SGPT increased markedly in dogs and cats and marginally in 1 of 3 cattle and 2 of 3 pigs. In the surviving animals, the serum concentration of arginase returned to normal range much earlier than ...
Bowman SG, Marshall JF, Blikslager AT.To determine demographic characteristics of horses donated to the North Carolina State University Equine Health Center (EHC) between 1996 and 2008. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: 122 horses donated to the EHC between January 1996 and December 2008, and 246 horses offered for donation to the EHC between January 2007 and December 2008. Methods: Telephone and medical records were examined. Data were collected in 5 categories: age, sex, breed, reason for donation, and use prior to donation. Results: From January 1996 through December 2008, 122 horses were donated to the EHC (median,...
Madison JB, Ziemer EL.Purified streptococcal M protein was injected into one intercarpal joint in three horses hyperimmunised with Streptococcus equi M protein vaccine. The contralateral joints were injected with pH adjusted polyionic solution. All antigen-injected joints developed a severe suppurative synovitis (mean synovial fluid nucleated cell count = 102,200 x 10(6) cells litre-1). Eosinophils were found in the synovial fluid and in synovial membrane biopsy specimens of two of the horses. Immune complexes were not demonstrated in the synovial membrane. Two horses are described that developed synovial fluid eos...
Gelberg HB, McEntee K.Interstitial cell tumors from nine stallions were described. In all but one horse the tumors were found in undescended testes. Five animals had bilateral tumors. Two animals showed increased aggression. Tumors contained two cell types. The first type were large distinctly bordered eosinophilic cells interpreted to be hyperplastic and hypertrophic interstitial cells. They blended with pleomorphic often spindloid neoplastic cells which had fibrillar, vacuolated cytoplasm and indistinct cell borders. This latter cell population was arranged in nodules or broad sheets as endocrine-like packets or ...
Rogerson BA, Condron RJ, Baker J, Craven JA.Inoculation of Haemophilus equigenitalis into the uterus of 7 mares caused a disease clinically indistinguishable from contagious equine metritis. The duration of clinical signs varied from 4 to 11 days. The causative organism persisted for a relatively short time (2 to 10 weeks) in 5 mares, but in 2 others it established a carrier status and persisted until they were killed 6 and 10 months after infection. H. equigenitalis was recovered from the vestibule of the vagina and from a combined swab of the clitoral fossa and sinuses throughout the course of the infection. In some mares there were e...
Koterba AM, Drummond WH.Provision of adequate nutritional support to the sick neonatal foal is a vital part of intensive care; frequently, however, it is very difficult to accomplish. In this article, current recommendations concerning both enteral and parenteral nutrition are discussed.
Powell RJ, du Toit N, Burden FA, Dixon PM.There is limited information on the gross tracheal morphology of donkeys with or without tracheal abnormalities. Objective: To: 1) examine the morphology of tracheas of donkeys with and without clinical and/or post mortem evidence of tracheal obstruction; 2) record the cross-sectional dimensions and shapes of tracheal rings at fixed sites; and 3) document prevalence, sites and characteristics of detected tracheal abnormalities. Methods: The tracheas of 75, predominantly aged (median age 30 years, range 7-48 years) donkeys that died or were subjected to euthanasia on humane grounds were examine...
Bester RC, Coetzer JA.A case of granulomatous enteritis in a 2 year-old Thoroughbred colt is reported. Clinically the horse showed chronic wasting and subcutaneous oedema of the ventral parts of the body and legs. Grossly the wall of the jejunum and ileum was uniformly thickened. Microscopically the lamina propria, submucosa and the tunica muscalaris of the small intestine were infiltrated with lymphocytes, plasma cells, epithelioid cells and occasional multinucleated giant cells. The granulomatous reaction was most marked in the muscular layers of the gut wall.
Jackson RK.The structural differences in the spine of the horse and man are compared. These, together with the different uses to which the spine is put, explain the different patterns of disease. Impingement of the spinous processes is discussed in detail including surgical treatment. Comments are also made on sacroiliac strain and manipulation of the spine.
Antal A, Szabó I, Vajda G, Antal VD, Polner A, Totth B, Szollár I, Stipkovits L.Clinical, microbiological, haematological, and immunological investigations were carried out in mares and their foals of 2 studs. A considerable number of foals fell ill with pneumonia, the mortality rate was high. Mycoplasmas were mostly isolated from nasal swabs and from the lungs. The isolation rate of bacteria was lower. Serum IgG concentration was reduced in the diseased or dead foals compared to that of healthy animals, the data stress in importance of IgG in the development of respiratory diseases also in foals.
Winder NC, von Fellenberg R.Pulmonary parenchymal tissues from 6 healthy horses and from 9 horses with chronic bronchiolitis were evaluated by use of an indirect immunofluorescent technique. In horses of both groups, the diffuse interstitial immunofluorescence was most intense for immunoglobulin (Ig)G, moderate for IgA, and minimal for IgM. Intensity of fluorescence was increased markedly in diseased lungs exposed to anti-IgA and anti-IgG. Around small bronchi and large bronchioles of healthy horses, IgA-containing cells generally were more numerous than were IgG-Fc fragment (Fc)-containing cells; in small bronchioles, h...
Carlsten J, Kvart C, Jeffcott LB.A practical and safe method of angiocardiography for the horse is described. The technique involved the rapid injection of 50 to 150 ml contrast agent via catheters in the right and left heart, pulmonary artery and aorta. The examination was carried out with the horse in the standing position or under general anaesthesia. Angiocardiograms were performed on 10 normal horses and satisfactory pictures of the right and left ventricles, pulmonary arteries, aorta and coronary circulation were obtained. The technique was also used in a foal with severe congenital heart disease. The most practical met...
Hermeyer K, Seehusen F, Gehlen H, Peters M, Wohlsein P.Cutaneous malignant lymphomas are rare in horses and comprise predominantly T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas. They are characterized by multiple tumour nodules affecting predominantly female horses with a survival rate of months to years. At the final stage, metastases to regional lymph nodes occur, whereas widespread organ involvement is rarely reported. In this case report, a cutaneous T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma in a 7-year-old standardbred gelding with metastases is described. Clinically, multiple cutaneous and subcutaneous nodules, enlarged superficial lymph nodes, rapid weight loss, and vent...
Cramp P, Derksen FJ, Stick JA, de Feijter-Rupp H, Elvin NG, Hauptman J, Robinson NE.The nerve-muscle pedicle graft technique is a treatment for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN), but the optimal placement of the pedicles within the cricoarytenoideus dorsalis (CAD) muscle is unknown. Objective: The magnitude and direction of force placed on the muscular process of the left arytenoid cartilage affects the magnitude of laryngeal abduction. Methods: Five larynges were harvested from cadavers. Using increments of 0.98 N, a dead-weight force generator applied a force of 0-14.7 N for 1 min each to the left muscular process at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 degrees angles. The r...
