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Topic:Equids
Equids are members of the family Equidae, which includes modern horses, donkeys, and zebras, as well as extinct species. Equids are characterized by their long limbs, single-toed hooves, and herbivorous diet, which is primarily composed of grasses. Horses, specifically, have been domesticated for thousands of years and have played significant roles in agriculture, transportation, and sport. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of equids and horses, including their evolution, physiology, behavior, and interactions with humans. The collected works provide insights into the genetic diversity, adaptive traits, and conservation efforts related to equid species.
Vaccination and Control Methods of West Nile Virus Infection in Equids and Humans. West Nile virus (WNV) is capable of causing severe neurologic disease in both humans and equines, making it a disease of importance in both human medicine and veterinary medicine. No targeted treatments exist for WNV infection in either humans or equines. Infection is treated symptomatically through management of symptoms like fever and seizures. As treatment for WNV is purely supportive, the response to WNV has focused primarily on methods of disease prevention. To this end, research efforts have yielded several effective vaccines for equine use as well as numerous conventional mosquito contr...
The Detection of Thoracolumbar Spine Injuries in Horses with Chronic Laminitis Using a Novel Clinical-Assessment Protocol and Ultrasonographic Examination. Postural adaptation is a prominent feature in horses affected by laminitis. Laminitis induces intense pain, especially in the forelimbs, prompting affected horses to assume a caudally displaced trunk posture, resulting in the hyperflexion of the thoracolumbar spine. This study assessed the nature and prevalence of thoracolumbar injuries in horses with chronic laminitis compared to horses without it. Sixty horses were used (thirty laminitic and thirty non-laminitic) of different athletic purposes and ages (2-20 years). The experimental protocol entailed a single assessment of horses' thoracolum...
Equine Infectious Anaemia: The Active Surveillance of an Entire Equid Population Reduces the Occurrence of the Infection. Equine infectious anaemia (EIA) is a life-long viral infection affecting equids, transmitted mechanically by biting flies and iatrogenic means. Despite its global distribution, active surveillance is limited, with passive clinical surveillance or control of specific equine sectors prevailing. In Italy, a national surveillance plan in horse, donkey, and mule populations has been established and includes mandatory passive and active surveillance through annual serological tests. During 2007-2010, the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test served as both screening and confirmatory tests. Since 2011...
Assessment of a Teaching Module for Cardiac Auscultation of Horses by Veterinary Students. Auscultation of heart sounds is an important veterinary skill requiring an understanding of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and pattern recognition. This cross-sectional study was developed to evaluate a targeted, audio-visual training resource for veterinary students to improve their understanding and auscultation of common heart conditions in horses. Fourth- and fifth-year 2021 and 2022 Bachelor of Veterinary Science students at the University of Queensland (UQ) were provided the learning resource and surveyed via online pre- and post-intervention surveys. Results were quantitatively an...
Survey of tick-borne pathogens in grazing horses in Kyrgyzstan: phylogenetic analysis, genetic diversity, and prevalence of Theileria equi. Tick-borne pathogens (TBP) are an important group of organisms that can affect animals and humans all over the world. Equine piroplasmosis (EP), caused by and , is considered one of the most important tick-borne diseases and can cause significant clinical symptoms and mortality in horses. Moreover, EP plays a restrictive role in international horse traditions and transportation. Although these species can cause similar symptoms, there are different 18S rRNA genotypes of (five genotypes) and (three genotypes). Besides piroplasma species, and hemotropic mycoplasmas (HM) are known as other im...
Molecular detection and characterization of prevailing Theileria equi genotype in equine from northern India. Equine piroplasmosis caused by Theileria equi is a febrile, tick-borne disease of equids. However, there is limited literature about the genotyping of T. equi in India. Blood samples were collected from 202 horses and subjected to microscopy and PCR to detect T. equi. Initially, a universal screening primer pair targeting 18S ribosomal RNA genes common for Babesia caballi and T. equi was employed to amplify the DNA of both parasites. Thereafter additional primers were employed for species-specific detection resulting in amplification of approximately 435 bp specific for T. equi. T.equi was de...
Rutin prevents EqHV-8 induced infection and oxidative stress via Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. The Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway has been extensively studied for its role in regulating antioxidant and antiviral responses. The Equid herpesvirus type 8 (EqHV-8) poses a significant threat to the equine industry, primarily manifesting as respiratory disease, abortions, and neurological disorders in horses and donkeys. Oxidative stress is considered a key factor associated with pathogenesis of EqHV-8 infection. Unfortunately, there is currently a dearth of therapeutic interventions available for the effective control of EqHV-8. R...
Arterial Blood Supply of the Stifle Joint in Horses. The vascularization pattern of the equine stifle joint is insufficiently described in the literature, even though there is a growing need for knowledge of the exact blood supply, as (i) arthroscopy and endoscopic surgery techniques are increasingly performed in horses and (ii) ex vivo models of menisci need nutrient supply that mimic the in vivo situation. The aim of this study was to describe the vessels involved in the stifle joint supply and the exact branching pattern of the popliteal artery. Colored latex was injected into the arteries of nine pelvic limbs of equine cadavers (n = 6) to ev...
Presence of Gastric Ulcers in Horses Used for Historical Races in Italy. Equine Gastric Ulcers Syndrome (EGUS) is a worldwide disease present in equids of different breeds, activity levels, and age groups. It is divided into two different illnesses: Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) affecting the squamous mucosa and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD) affecting the glandular mucosa. The historical horserace is a traditional competition that is common in Italy. They can be divided into two different types: speed races and jousting tournaments. Anglo-Arabians and Thoroughbreds are used for the two competitions with training and management systems similar to ...
Prevalence and risk factors of gastrointestinal helminths infection in Brazilian horses: A retrospective study of a 12-year (2008-2019) diagnostic data. Understanding gastrointestinal parasite distribution is crucial for effective control programs in horses. This study reports the prevalence of helminth infections in horses and selected risk factors (i.e., breed, age, climate, season) by analyzing 19,276 fecal samples from the Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Parasitology, in Curitiba, Southern Brazil. The analyses were carried out from 2008 to 2019, coming from 153 stud farms located in 60 municipalities of nine Brazilian states. The parasite prevalence was 73.3%, with 72.1% present in the adult population and 80.6% in young horses. Strongyl...
First National Prevalence in Italian Horse Population and Phylogenesis Highlight a Fourth Sub-Type Candidate of Equine Hepacivirus. Equine hepacivirus (EqHV, Flaviviridae, hepacivirus) is a small, enveloped RNA virus generally causing sub-clinical hepatitis with occasional fatalities. EqHV is reported in equids worldwide, but for Italy data are limited. To address this, a survey study was set up to estimate prevalence at a national level and among different production categories (equestrian; competition; work and meat; reproduction) and national macro-regions (North, Central, South, and Islands). Data obtained testing 1801 horse serum samples by Real-Time RT PCR were compared within the categories and regions. The NS3 frag...
Long-term performance of show-jumping horses and relationship with severity of ataxia and complications associated with myeloencephalopathy caused by equine herpes virus-1. Equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) has severe impact on the sport horse population. Objective: Study the influence of EHM on the likelihood of affected horses to return to their previous performance and investigate the association of clinical variables with prognosis. Methods: Twenty-six horses positive for equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) were admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital (VTH) during a natural EHM outbreak at an international jumping event. Methods: Data collected from the VTH, the International Equestrian Federation, and surveys completed by the riders and horse own...
Horse populations are severely underestimated in a region at risk of Hendra virus spillover. To identify the size and distribution of the horse population in the Northern Rivers Region of NSW, including changes from 2007 to 2021, to better understand populations at risk of Hendra virus transmission. Methods: Census data from the 2007 Equine Influenza (EI) outbreak were compared with data collected annually by New South Wales Local Land Services (LLS) (2011-2021), and with field observations via road line transects (2021). Results: The horse populations reported to LLS in 2011 (3000 horses; 0.77 horses/km) was 145% larger than that reported during the EI outbreak in 2007 (1225 horses; ...
The interaction between seminal plasma, sperm, and endometrium in inter- and intra-species breeding in equids. Anecdotal experience suggests horse mares have less post-breeding inflammation and better fertility when bred with donkeys. This study aimed to compare the post-breeding inflammatory response of mares exposed to donkey and horse semen and seminal plasma and evaluate the proteome and metabolome of donkey and horse sperm and seminal plasma. Uterine edema, intrauterine fluid accumulation, PMNs on cytology, and concentrations of progesterone, and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL1, IL1, IL4, IL6, CXCL8, IL10) concentrations were assessed pre-and post-infusion of semen and seminal plas...
Insular dwarfism in horses from the Aegean Sea and the Japanese archipelago. The horse () varieties from Skyros and Rhodes islands (Greece) in the Aegean archipelago are extremely small, reaching shoulder heights of only about 1 m. Furthermore, the Japanese archipelago is home to eight small, native horse breeds. We investigated the evolutionary morphology and provided a review of historical documentations of these horses of cultural interest in Greece and Japan, thus providing a comparison of the independent evolution of small size in islands. We integrate cranial data from historical literature with data from newly gathered and curated skulls and analyse a measureme...
First confirmed case of equine pythiosis in Northern Veracruz, Mexico. A clinical case of an adult horse with invasive, ulcerative, proliferative, pyogranulomatous disease of the skin (tumor) in the shoulder region is presented. The mass had a granulomatous and crater-shaped appearance, with serosanguinous discharge and the presence of fistulas with caseous material. The tumor was removed by surgery and sent to the laboratory for diagnosis. Histopathology was performed using Grocott-Gomori methenamine silver stain. The presence of necrotic material, fibrosis, infiltrated cells, and brown-colored hyphae, characteristic of members of the genus Pythium, were observe...
A randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded study comparing oral and subcutaneous administration of mistletoe extract for the treatment of equine sarcoid disease. Equine sarcoids (ES) are the most common cutaneous tumors in equids. Systemic treatment options are sparse. Subcutaneous (SC) injections of Viscum album extract (VAE) demonstrate efficacy as a systemic treatment directed against ES. Objective: To critically assess the therapeutic efficacy of orally administered VAE. Methods: Forty-five ES-affected, privately owned, 3-12 year-old horses. Methods: A 3-armed randomized placebo-controlled, double-blinded study was conducted in a double-dummy design. Horses were subjected to oral administration and SC injections of either VAE or placebo (VAE oral...
Endogenous nature of estra-4,9-diene-3,17-dione in entire male horses. Estra-4,9-diene-3,17-dione (dienedione) is an anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) sold as a bodybuilding supplement. It is prohibited in both human and equine sports. With no report of 4,9-diene configuration in endogenous steroids, dienedione has long been considered a synthetic AAS. Nevertheless, the reoccurring detection of dienedione in colt (entire male horse) urine samples lead to the investigation of its possible endogenous nature in horses. This paper describes (i) the detection of naturally occurring dienedione in colts, (ii) the conjugation study of dienedione and (iii) the population ...
Training of Veterinary Students in Trans Rectal Palpation of Equids: A Comparison of Live Versus Cadaver Models. Transrectal palpation (TP) is a basic skill in equine practice. Traditional TP learning methods include instructor-assisted TP in live animals, but this approach presents animal welfare concerns, especially when it needs to be used with large numbers of students. The main objective of this study is to compare two learning methods of TP: traditional methodology with live horses (LH) and alternative methodology using a cadaver with its flanks dissected (CDV). Twenty students with no previous equine TP experience were randomly assigned to two groups: LH ( = 10) and CDV ( = 10). Both groups receiv...
Adaptive forgetting of place/object memory for dung in the domestic horse (Equus ferus caballus): Memory for a day. The domestic horse (Equus ferus caballus) makes dung deposits to form "stud-piles" and compulsively examines dung droppings, suggesting that dung contains species-relevant information. The present study investigates horses' use of location (place), odor (object) and memory for dung sniff encounters. Horses were video recorded in 2 indoor and 4 outdoor riding arenas as they were taken at different time intervals to experimenter-determined objects or dung deposits that they could sniff. Frame-by-frame video analysis measured approaches, sniff duration, nostril use, ear position and blinking asso...
Putting the cart before the horse: mixed-methods participatory investigation of working equid harnessing practices in three selected towns of the Oromia national regional state in Ethiopia. Millions of working equids provide socio-economic support for many low-income communities worldwide. With the prevalence of harness-related wounds reported as higher than 60%, this study aims to describe the equipment used by working equids in three locations of the Ethiopian national regional state of Oromia (Fiche, Bishoftu and Shashamene), and the attitudes and practices of equid owners, users and harness makers regarding work equipment. This mixed-methods study consists of cross-sectional surveying of working equids used for taxi or transport of goods or water, as well as cart-driver quest...
Population, distribution, biomass, and economic value of Equids in Ethiopia. Equids play a crucial role in the Ethiopian economy, transporting agricultural inputs and outputs in the dominant subsistence agricultural systems and the critical link for value chains throughout the country. However, these species are often neglected in policies and interventions, which reflects the data and information gaps, particularly the contribution of working equids to Ethiopia. Objective: To assess population dynamics, distribution, biomass, and economic value of equids in Ethiopia. Methods: Equine population data were obtained from the Ethiopian Central Statistics Agency (CSA) annua...
Isotopic biographies reveal horse rearing and trading networks in medieval London. This paper reports a high-resolution isotopic study of medieval horse mobility, revealing their origins and in-life mobility both regionally and internationally. The animals were found in an unusual horse cemetery site found within the City of Westminster, London, England. Enamel strontium, oxygen, and carbon isotope analysis of 15 individuals provides information about likely place of birth, diet, and mobility during the first approximately 5 years of life. Results show that at least seven horses originated outside of Britain in relatively cold climates, potentially in Scandinavia or the West...
Molecular species determination of cyathostomins from horses in Ireland. Cyathostomins are globally important equine parasites, responsible for both chronic and acute pathogenic effects. The occurrence of mixed infections with numerous cyathostomin species hinders our understanding of parasite epidemiology, host-parasite dynamics, and species pathogenicity. There have been few studies of cyathostomin species occurring in horses in Ireland, where temperate climatic conditions with year-round rainfall provide suitable conditions for infection of grazing animals with bursate nematodes. Here, we amplified and sequenced the ITS-2 region of adult worms harvested at post-...
Analysis of Trypanosoma equiperdum Recombinant Proteins for the Serological Diagnosis of Dourine. The significance of as the causative agent of dourine cannot be understated, especially given its high mortality rate among equids. International movement of equids should be subject to thorough health checks and screenings to ensure that animals are not infected with . This involves the implementation of quarantine protocols, testing procedures, and the issuance of health certificates to certify the health status of the animals. Three proteins, the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (A0A1G4I8N3), the GrpE protein homolog (A0A1G4I464) and the transport protein particle (TRAPP) component, put...
Detection of Chlamydia psittaci in the Genital Tract of Horses and in Environmental Samples: A Pilot Study in Sardinia. The members of the family are important pathogens that infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including humans. Among them, , historically considered as an avian agent, has recently been identified in livestock, primarily sheep and cattle, but also in horses, with the infection being linked to reproductive disorders, such as abortion, absorption of embryos, stillbirth, and the birth of weak foals. Much less is known about chlamydial infections in the Sardinian equine population. This study aimed to identify the chlamydial diversity in genital samples from asymptomatic Sardinian horses. Howe...
Evaluation of remote assistance for point-of-care ultrasonography in a large animal hospital: a controlled randomized trial. To assess whether remote assistance is beneficial to the accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) examinations during equine emergency evaluations. Methods: Adult horses presenting to a tertiary care large animal emergency service for respiratory or gastrointestinal clinical signs. Methods: Prospective, randomized, controlled, clinical study. Cases were assigned to receive POCUS with remote assistance ("POCUS-R" group) or POCUS with no assistance ("POCUS" group). Accuracy of diagnosis, duration of sonograms and survival to discharge were the objective outcomes compared between groups. Perc...
A Retrospective Study on the Status of Working Equids Admitted to an Equine Clinic in Cairo: Disease Prevalence and Associations between Physical Parameters and Outcome. Working equids are often used to exhaustion, living and dying in conditions below minimal welfare standards. Due to their poor welfare status, euthanasia should be considered in certain conditions. The study aimed to describe the population and the disease frequency of the working equids admitted at an equine clinic in Cairo (i.e., Egypt Equine Aid (EEA)) from 2019 to 2022 and identify possible associations between physical parameters at admission and the outcome. Records of 1360 equids admitted at EEA were reviewed. The majority of the admitted equids were horses (65.6%), followed by donkeys ...
Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of equine herpesvirus type-1/-4 in selected districts of Northwest Amhara, Ethiopia. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, determine the distribution, and identify the epidemiological risk factors of EHV-1/-4 infections in selected districts of Northwest Amhara Region. 460 serum samples were collected from equines using multistage cluster sampling technique, and a competitive Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) was performed. Various risk factors for the occurrence of EHV-1/-4 were considered. Statistical analysis was performed using R version 4.3.1. 65.9% (303) equids were tested positive for antibodies against EHV-1/-4. Based on district, the highest prevalence...
