Equine diseases encompass a wide range of health conditions that can affect horses, including infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, and genetic conditions. These diseases can impact the overall health, performance, and well-being of horses. Common equine diseases include equine influenza, equine herpesvirus, laminitis, and equine metabolic syndrome. Diagnosis and management of these diseases often require a combination of clinical evaluation, laboratory testing, and appropriate treatment strategies. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment options for various equine diseases, providing valuable insights for veterinarians and researchers in the field.
Semik-Gurgul E, Ząbek T, Fornal A, Wnuk M, Pawlina-Tyszko K, Gurgul A, Klukowska-Rötzler J, Koch C, Mählmann K, Bugno-Poniewierska M.Genetic and epigenetic alterations in the equine sarcoid, a locally invasive skin tumour of equids, are still poorly characterized. Numerous studies have provided reliable evidence for the relationship between the development of cancer and the loss of function of a number of tumour suppressor genes. In the present study, we assessed methylation levels in the promoter region of SFN, S100A14 and POU2F3 genes in sarcoid samples to clarify whether DNA methylation may be associated with previously identified changes in the expression level of these genes during the course of tumour progression. Usi...
Domanska-Kruppa N, Venner M, Bienert-Zeit A.Overjet is defined as the projection of the maxillary incisors labial to their antagonists in a horizontal direction. This malocclusion in horses can lead to incorrect dental wear and is aesthetically undesirable. Whether lengthening of the maxilla or shortening of the mandible causes the condition has not yet been determined. Therefore, a measurement technique was developed to investigate the correlations between skull bone measurements in overjet-affected individuals. The position of the incisors in 650 Warmblood foals born in a private German stud was examined at two weeks of age, revealing...
Sampaio BFB, Nogueira BG, Souza MIL, Silva EVDCE, Zúccari CESN.The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of adding ascorbic acid 2-glucoside (AA2G), a water-soluble antioxidant and stable derivative of ascorbate, to the semen extender and compare it to the addition of vitamin C (Vit. C) and the fat-soluble antioxidant α-tocopherol (α-Toh), both individually and in combination, on the seminal variables of equine sperm submitted to cooling for 72 h. We used two ejaculates from 10 stallions and evaluated them for motility, membrane integrity, chromatin fragmentation, mitochondrial activity and lipid peroxidation. In the analysis of lipid pero...
Díaz-Sánchez AA, Pires MS, Estrada CY, Cañizares EV, Del Castillo Domínguez SL, Cabezas-Cruz A, Rivero EL, da Fonseca AH, Massard CL....Equine piroplasmosis is a disease of Equidae, including horses, donkeys, mules, and zebras, caused by either Theileria equi or Babesia caballi. This disease represents a serious problem for the horse industry and its control is critical for the international trade of horses. The objective of the present study was to detect B. caballi and T. equi infections in horses reared in western Cuba. Blood samples from 100 horses were tested for the presence of piroplasms by using Giemsa-stained blood smears and nested PCR (nPCR) assays targeting merozoite antigen genes of B. caballi (bc48) and T. equi (...
Bell C, Hnenny L, Torske K.A 5-year-old Hannovarian warmblood gelding was presented for recurrent headshaking exacerbated with exercise. The horse displayed clinical signs of repetitive vertical head movements, face rubbing on the forelimbs and on the ground, repetitive sneezing, and striking the muzzle with his forelimbs. The clinical signs resulted in a horse that could not be ridden and was dangerous. Clinical signs were most persistent in direct sunlight, but occurred with excitement, exercise, or bridling indoors. A diagnosis of equine trigeminal mediated headshaking syndrome was made. Surgical treatment was perfor...
Badenhorst M, Tegtmeyer B, Todt D, Guthrie A, Feige K, Campe A, Steinmann E, Cavalleri JMV.Since the discovery of equine hepacivirus (EqHV) in 2011, the virus has been detected in horse populations from more than twelve countries across five continents. EqHV seroprevalence has been reported to be as high as 61.8% and EqHV ribonucleic acid (RNA) prevalence to range between 0.9% and 34.1%. Molecular and serological indications of EqHV infection have never been reported in equids on the African continent. Therefore, investigation of EqHV prevalence in South African horses and subsequent viral genetic characterization contribute to a better understanding of the global epidemiology of th...
Passantino G, Scaglione FE, Zizzo N, Leone R, Guarda F.In this study we examined macroscopic and microscopic lesions in the mitral valves of 50 regularly slaughtered horses in Italy. Macroscopically the results were minor. Microscopic lesions to the valve were found in both young and elderly subjects, confirming that there is no correlation between age and onset of lesions. We set out to evaluate whether the lesions correspond to valve disorder during the life of the animal.
Varasano V, Marruchella G, Petrizzi L.The healing of wounds located on the equine distal limbs can often be impaired, which can result in exuberant granulation tissue and its associated aesthetic alteration and functional failures. Although a number of therapies have been developed and assessed, the treatment of these wounds still presents challenges. This report describes the treatment of exuberant granulation tissue in a horse using an intra-lesional injection of 4% formaldehyde solution. The successful outcome of this treatment suggests that further investigations are required in order to better evaluate its efficacy, as well a...
Annandale A, Stroehle RM, Schulman ML, Sibeko-Matjila KP, Fosgate GT, Handler J, Vemming DC, Clift SJ.Persistent breeding-induced endometritis (PBIE) or delayed uterine clearance (DUC) are major causes of mare subfertility. Oxytocin and its receptor are thought to play significant roles in the pathogenesis of DUC but the specific roles of oxytocin receptor (OR) distribution and gene expression remain undefined. In this study both OR distribution and gene expression in the endometrium, myometrium and cervix during both luteal and non-luteal phases in non-pregnant mares (n = 27) of differing age (young: 2-9 years, n = 17; old: > 10 years, n = 10) and endometrial biopsy score were ...
Ahrberg AB, Horstmeier C, Berner D, Brehm W, Gittel C, Hillmann A, Josten C, Rossi G, Schubert S, Winter K, Burk J.Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have shown promising results in the treatment of tendinopathy in equine medicine, making this therapeutic approach seem favorable for translation to human medicine. Having demonstrated that MSC engraft within the tendon lesions after local injection in an equine model, we hypothesized that they would improve tendon healing superior to serum injection alone. Methods: Quadrilateral tendon lesions were induced in six horses by mechanical tissue disruption combined with collagenase application 3 weeks before treatment. Adipose-derived MSC suspended in serum or seru...
Liénard E, Nabuco A, Vandenabeele S, Losson B, Tosi I, Bouhsira É, Prévot F, Sharif S, Franc M, Vanvinckenroye C, Caron Y.Besnoitiosis is caused by different species of intracellular protozoan parasites belonging to the family Sarcocystidae and affecting multiple host species worldwide. Including B. besnoiti, ten species are described infecting animals. Among ungulates, Besnoitia bennetti infects horses, donkeys and zebras and was described in Africa and in the USA where donkey besnoitiosis is considered as an emerging disease. Methods: A two-year-old male donkey was purchased in May 2016 in poor body condition (cachexia, alopetic areas and pruritus mainly on neck and head) by the present owner in Le Roeulx (Belg...
Byström A, Roepstorff L, Rhodin M, Serra Bragança F, Engell MT, Hernlund E, Persson-Sjödin E, van Weeren R, Weishaupt MA, Egenvall A.Saddle slip, defined as a progressive lateral displacement of the saddle during ridden exercise, has recently been given attention in the scientific press as a potential sign of lameness. The aim of this study was to objectively quantify the normal lateral movement (oscillations) of the saddle relative to the horse in non-lame horses, and associate this movement to the movements of the horse and rider. Data from seven Warmblood dressage horses competing at Grand Prix (n = 6) or FEI Intermediate (n = 1) level, ridden by their usual riders, were used. Simultaneous kinetic, kinematic and saddle p...
Bedenice D, Johnson AL.EPM, CVSM, and EDM are currently recognized as the 3 most common neurologic diseases in US horses, with the latter 2 conditions being most prevalent in young animals. Moreover, horses competing at shows and performance events are at greater risk for exposure to highly contagious, neurologic EHV-1 outbreaks. A clinical diagnosis of any neurologic disease should be based on a careful history, complete neurologic examination, and appropriate diagnostic testing and interpretation. However, mild or early neurologic signs can often mimic or be mistaken for an orthopedic condition when horses present...
Bras RJ, Redden R.Foot-related lameness is one of the most frequently encountered problems in the equine industry. Therapeutic shoeing is a frequently used preventative discipline for the treatment of many causes of lameness. The primary goal for therapeutic applications is to offset the mechanical limitations and enhance the healing environment. Equine podiatry is a blend of the 2 highly respected professions each contributing to the task at hand, but neither formally educated and trained as collaborative team members with a common thread of podiatry principles.
Chope KB.Cardiac murmurs are not uncommonly detected in the equine athlete. Although most are benign in nature, differentiation and quantification of murmurs due to valvular regurgitation are important for prognosis and recommendations. Arrhythmias can be associated with structural disease or occur independently and may range in severity from minimal clinical effect to poor performance to presenting a safety risk to rider and horse. This article discusses commonly encountered cardiac conditions in the sport horse. Physical examination, diagnostic approach, valvular disease, and arrhythmias with an impa...
Barrachina L, Romero A, Zaragoza P, Rodellar C, Vázquez FJ.Since the clinical use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treating musculoskeletal injuries is gaining popularity, practitioners should be aware of the factors that may affect MSCs from tissue harvesting for MSC isolation to cell delivery into the injury site. This review provides equine practitioners with up-to-date, practical knowledge for the treatment of equine patients using MSCs. A brief overview of laboratory procedures affecting MSCs is provided, but the main focus is on shipping conditions, routes of administration, injection methods, and which commonly used products can be combined...
Davidson EJ.Lameness examination is commonly performed in the athletic horse. A skilled lameness diagnostician must have keen clinical and observational skills. Evaluation starts with a detailed history and thorough physical examination. Next, gait evaluation in the moving horse is performed. Lame horses have asymmetrical body movement due to unconscious shift of body weight. Recognition of the resultant head nod and pelvic hike is the basis for lameness diagnosis. Lameness identification is enhanced by circling, limb flexions, and riding. Most lame horses do not exhibit pathognomonic gait characteristics...
Mazan MR.The airways are the first part of the pathway in the oxygen transport chain that is critical to excellent athletic performance, and the lower airways are considered the final gatekeeper before oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide exits. Horses are blessed with large airways and lungs that allow them to be superb athletes, but the down side of this largesse on the part of evolution is that unless they are truly elite athletes they may withstand noninfectious disease of the lower respiratory tract for months to years before the owner or trainer notices. The two conditions of the lower resp...
Salas-Romero J, Gómez-Cabrera KA, Salas JE, Vázquez R, Arenal A, Nielsen MK.Anthelmintic resistance in equine cyathostomins has been described worldwide, with resistance to the benzimidazole class being particularly widespread. The status of anthelmintic efficacy in Cuba has been virtually unknown due to the lack of equine labelled products. One recent report documented suboptimal efficacy levels of extra-label albendazole products against cyathostomins, but it remains unknown to which extent benzimidazole resistance exists in the population. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of two benzimidazole products labelled for equines, fenb...
Anne-Archard N, Martel G, Fogarty U, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Laverty S.The aetiology of equine metacarpal condylar fractures is not completely understood and a developmental cause has been postulated. Objective: To investigate the subchondral bone trabecular microarchitecture of the lateral parasagittal groove and condyle in equine neonates and its adaptation with maturation and athletic activity. Methods: Ex vivo observational study. Methods: Distal metacarpi of neonates, yearlings and adult racehorses (n = 24) were harvested. Dorsal and palmar frontal histological sections, containing the lateral parasagittal groove and condyle, were studied. The sections were ...
Wright L, Puchalski SM, Kristoffersen M, Lindegaard C.To develop arthroscopic approaches to the atlanto-occipital (A-O) and describe associated arthroscopic anatomy. Methods: Experimental ex vivo study and clinical case report. Methods: Ten equine cadaver joints and 1 clinical case. Methods: CT arthrograms of 8 A-O joints were performed to determine the placement of an arthroscopic portal. Arthroscopy was performed via dorsal and/or ventral approaches (dorsal or ventral to the longissimus capitis tendon) in 10 cadaveric A-O joints and the A-O joint of a 2-week-old foal with septic arthritis. Accessible cartilage was debrided in 3 cadaver joints. ...
Singer-Berk M, Knickelbein KE, Vig S, Liu J, Bentley E, Nunnery C, Reilly C, Dwyer A, Drögemüller C, Unger L, Gerber V, Lassaline M, Bellone RR.Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common cancer affecting the equine eye, with a higher incidence documented in Haflinger horses. Recently, a missense variant in the gene damage specific DNA binding protein 2 (DDB2, p.Thr338Met) on ECA12 was identified as a risk factor for the development of limbal SCC in Haflinger horses. SCC also occurs on the nictitating membrane; therefore, investigating the role of this missense variant in nictitating membrane SCC is warranted. In this study, a common ancestor was identified among Haflinger horses affected with limbal SCC or with nictitating membr...
Marycz K, Kornicka K, Irwin-Houston JM, Weiss C.Endocrine disorders have become more and more frequently diagnosed in humans and animals. In horses, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is characterized by insulin resistance, hyperleptinemia, hyperinsulinemia, inflammation and usually by pathological obesity. Due to an increased inflammatory response in the adipose tissue, cytophysiological properties of adipose derived stem cells (ASC) have been impaired, which strongly limits their therapeutic potential. Excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species, mitochondria deterioration and accelerated ageing of those cells affect their multipotency...
Hinton S, Schroeder O, Aceto HW, Berkowitz S, Levine D.Castration is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the horse. Complication rate and types of complications associated with use of the Henderson equine castrating instrument have not been determined. Objective: To determine the complication rate and type of complications encountered when using the Henderson equine castrating instrument in equine ambulatory practice. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Medical records of horses undergoing routine castration using the Henderson drill were identified and evaluated for the occurrence of complications. The relationship be...
Hoikhman R, Kudlackova H, Babak V, Faldyna M, Jahn P.Rheumatoid factor (RF) is used in human and veterinary medicine in the form of IgM RF traditionally to support the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the latest diagnostic criteria, presence of anti - citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) was added to the grading system for the diagnosis of RA in humans. A change which is not integrated or routinely used in veterinary medicine. The criteria changed partly because of RF's diagnostic shortcomings, which include its increased titer detection in humans with non-rheumatoid diseases, inability to predict the disease and increased titers ov...
Estell K, Spriet M, Phillips KL, Aleman M, Finno CJ.Previously published myelographic studies do not report findings at the junction between the seventh cervical (C7) and first thoracic vertebrae (T1). Modern digital radiographic equipment allows improved visualization of C7-T1. Based on clinical experience, we hypothesized that 50% reduction of the dorsal myelographic column or 20% reduction of the dural diameter, criteria commonly used as a supportive finding for spinal cord compression in the cervical vertebral column, do not apply at C7-T1. A myelographic study was performed on 12 healthy, neurologically normal horses. Our hypothesis was co...
Stasiak K, Dunowska M, Rola J.Equid herpesviruses (EHVs) are widespread in equine populations worldwide. While the infection with equine α-herpesviruses (EHV-1 and EHV-4) has been linked to several clinical outcomes, the pathogenic potential for equine γ-herpesviruses (EHV-2 and EHV-5) is still unclear. The objective of the current study was to determine the prevalence of infection with EHVs among Polish horses, to investigate factors associated with EHV infections among horses sampled, and to determine genetic variability within Polish EHV-2 isolates. Virus-specific real-time PCR assays were used for detection of EHV-1,...
Nielsen MK, Branan MA, Wiedenheft AM, Digianantonio R, Scare JA, Bellaw JL, Garber LP, Kopral CA, Phillippi-Taylor AM, Traub-Dargatz JL.Equine strongyle parasites are ubiquitous in grazing equids across the world. Anthelmintic resistance is widely developed in cyathostomin populations, but very few surveys have evaluated anthelmintic efficacy in equine populations in the United States, and most of these are over 15 years old. The present study was carried out as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring Systems (NAHMS) Equine 2015-2016 study. The aims were to investigate anthelmintic treatment efficacy by means of the fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) and identify parameters associated with decreased efficacy. Data we...
Tsuzuki N, Otsuka K, Seo J, Yamada K, Haneda S, Furuoka H, Tabata Y, Sasaki N.This study evaluated the therapeutic effects of a gelatin-β-TCP sponge (sponge) incorporating BMP-2 (BMP-2/sponge) on bone regeneration in equines. Six bone defects were created in third metacarpals of five thoroughbred horses, and a total of six treatments were applied in a randomized manner. The treatments were BMP-2/sponge, BMP-2/gelatin hydrogel sheet (sheet), free BMP-2, bFGF/sheet, plain sponge, and plain sheet. The defects were monitored for 16 weeks by radiography and then examined by histological analysis. Radiographic evaluation scores of bone regeneration revealed significantly gre...
Romero-Aguirregomezcorta J, Sugrue E, Martínez-Fresneda L, Newport D, Fair S.The journey of spermatozoa through the female genital tract is facilitated by rheotaxis, or the cell's preference to swim against a flow, as well as thigmotaxis, the wall tracking behaviour, which guides them to the site of fertilisation. The aim of this study was to characterise the rheotactic and thigmotactic response of stallion sperm within a microfluidic channel. Stallion sperm rheotaxis was assessed within the microfluidic channel with regard to: (i) A range of flow velocities, (ii) Varying media viscosity and (iii) Sperm hyperactivation. Sperm distribution across the microfluidic channe...
Desjardin C, Chat S, Gilles M, Legendre R, Riviere J, Mata X, Balliau T, Esquerré D, Cribiu EP, Betch JM, Schibler L.Osteochondrosis (OC) is a developmental bone disorder affecting several mammalian species including the horse. Equine OC is described as a focal disruption of endochondral ossification, leading to osteochondral lesions (osteochondritis dissecans, OCD) that may release free bodies within the joint. OCD lesions trigger joint swelling, stiffness and lameness and affects about 30% of the equine population. OCD is considered as multifactorial but its physiopathology is still poorly understood and genes involved in genetic predisposition are still unknown. Our study compared two healthy and two OC-a...
Haussler KK, Martin CE, Hill AE.Spinal mobilisation and spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) are being applied to horses; however, there are limited objective measures of their effects on spinal mobility or stiffness in actively ridden horses. Objective: To quantify passive spinal movements induced during dorsoventral mobilisation of the trunk and to identify any potential effects of SMT on measures of spinal mobility within the thoracolumbar region in standing horses. We hypothesise that displacement amplitudes will be significantly increased across vertebral levels after SMT, compared to spinal mobilisation only within the co...
Muranaka M, Yamanaka T, Katayama Y, Niwa H, Oku K, Matsumura T, Oyamada T.To investigate the pathology of equine influenza, necropsy of 7 horses experimentally infected with equine influenza A virus (EIV) subtype H3N8 was conducted on post-infection days (PID) 2, 3, 7, and 14. Histopathologically, rhinitis or tracheitis including epithelial degeneration or necrosis with loss of ciliated epithelia and a reduction in goblet cell numbers, was observed in the respiratory tracts on PIDs 2 and 3. Epithelial hyperplasia or squamous metaplasia and suppurative bronchopneumonia with proliferation of type II pneumocytes were observed on PIDs 7 and 14. Viral antigen was detecte...
Laseca N, Molina A, Valera M, Antonini A, Demyda-Peyrás S.Copy number variations (CNVs) are a new-fangled source of genetic variation that can explain changes in the phenotypes in complex traits and diseases. In recent years, their study has increased in many livestock populations. However, the study and characterization of CNVs in equines is still very limited. Our study aimed to investigate the distribution pattern of CNVs, characterize CNV regions (CNVRs), and identify the biological pathways affected by CNVRs in the Pura Raza Española (PRE) breed. To achieve this, we analyzed high-density SNP genotyping data (670,804 markers) from a large cohort...
van der Kolk JH, Wensing T, Kalsbeek HC, Breukink HJ.The objective of the study was to determine the sensitivity with which an adenoma of the pars intermedia of the pituitary gland can be predicted in horses by measuring the basal concentrations of glucose, cortisol, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), and insulin, the urinary concentration of corticoids, the urinary corticoid:creatinine ratio, and the plasma cortisol concentration after the administration of 25 IU of ACTH intravenously. The records of 24 cases of histologically confirmed equine pituitary pars intermedia adenomas were used. An adenoma of the pars intermedia of the pituitary gland in hor...
Lepage OM, Perron MF, Cadoré JL.Advances in the understanding of guttural pouch physiology and novel therapeutic approaches to mycotic infections in the horse are reviewed. It is suggested that the guttural pouches may contribute to the regulation of arterial blood temperature, cooling the circulation to the brain to below body temperature. Aspergillus spp. is the major organism found in a guttural pouch affected with mycosis but it is unclear why this agent becomes aggressive. Conventional therapy aims to prevent fatal haemorrhage and to treat any neurological lesions but it is desirable to try to prevent the disease. A tec...
Dinter Z, Klingeborn B.Six cases of paresis occurred in a Swedish stud with 48 mares and a stallion. Complement-fixation tests revealed a recent infection with EHV-1 in most horses of the stud. Serumneutralisation tests showed rapid antibody-titre increases during the course of the disease. This type of antibody response was interpreted as induced by reinfection or, possibly, recurrent infection. Two diseased mares were sacrificed. No virus could be isolated from their central nervous system (CNS), liver or spleen, but there is a presumptive evidence for the presence of an antigen specific to EHV-1 in the CNS and li...
Aleman M, Pickles KJ, Simonek G, Madigan JE.Trigeminal neuralgia or neuropathic pain has been regarded as a putative cause of idiopathic headshaking in horses. Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection and resultant postherpetic pain have been suggested as a possible cause of such neuropathic pain. Objective: To determine the presence of EHV-1 in the trigeminal ganglia of horses with idiopathic headshaking. Methods: Nineteen horses: control (n = 11, 9 geldings, 2 mares, median age 11 years) and headshaking (n = 8, all geldings, median age 11.5 years) horses were sourced from the equine research herd and caseload at the Veterinary Medical T...
Monahan CM, Chapman MR, Taylor HW, French DD, Klei TR.Three groups of foals were raised under different management programs in this study: Group 1 (n = 6) and Group 2 (n = 6) were raised with their dams on pasture; Group 3 foals (n = 5) were raised under parasite-free conditions. Mares and foals of Group 1 received daily pyrantel tartrate (PT) treatment with their pelleted feed ration, whereas mares and foals of Groups 2 and 3 received only the pelleted ration. Pasture-reared foals were weaned and moved to a heavily contaminated pasture for 5 weeks. Group 1 foals continued to receive daily PT treatment whereas Group 2 foals received only the pell...
Al-Kass Z, Eriksson E, Bagge E, Wallgren M, Morrell JM.Stallion semen is known to contain environmental bacteria and normal commensals, and in some cases may contain opportunistic pathogens. These bacteria may negatively influence sperm quality during storage before artificial insemination. The bacteria isolated depend on the culture conditions and method of identification; therefore, the aim of this study was to identify as many of the bacteria present in stallion semen as possible by culturing aliquots of semen under a variety of conditions. Eleven semen samples were available: five extended semen samples from one stud together with a sample of ...
Ashrafi GH, Piuko K, Burden F, Yuan Z, Gault EA, Müller M, Trawford A, Reid SWJ, Nasir L, Campo MS.Equine sarcoids are fibroblastic skin tumours affecting equids worldwide. While the pathogenesis is not entirely understood, infection with bovine papillomavirus (BPV) type 1 (and less commonly type 2) has been implicated as a major factor in the disease process. Sarcoids very seldom regress and in fact often recrudesce following therapy. Nothing is known about the immune response of the equine host to BPV. Given that the viral genes are expressed in sarcoids, it is reasonable to assume that vaccination of animals against the expressed viral proteins would lead to the induction of an immune re...
Olave C, Morales N, Uberti B, Henriquez C, Sarmiento J, Ortloff A, Folch H, Moran G.Macrophages and neutrophils are important cellular components in the process of acute inflammation and its subsequent resolution, and evidence increasingly suggests that they play important functions during the resolution of chronic, adaptive inflammatory processes. Exacerbated neutrophil activity can be harmful to surrounding tissues; this is important in a range of diseases, including allergic asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in humans, and equine asthma (also known as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Tamoxifen (TX) is a non-steroidal estrogen receptor modulator with effec...
Alvarez I, Gutierrez G, Vissani A, Rodriguez S, Barrandeguy M, Trono K.We developed and validated an agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID) test for the diagnosis of equine infectious anemia (EIA) using as antigen the p26 protein of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) produced in the Escherichia coli expression system. The developed rp26-AGID test showed an excellent diagnostic relative sensitivity (100%) and specificity (100%) compared to a commercial AGID assay when 1855 field serum samples were analyzed. In addition, the rp26-AGID demonstrated to be a precise assay with excellent repeatability and reproducibility. In the analytical sensitivity trial, positive ...
Tallmadge RL, Tseng CT, King RA, Felippe MJ.Humoral immunity is a critical component of the immune system that is established during fetal life and expands upon exposure to pathogens. The extensive humoral immune response repertoire is generated in large part via immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain variable region diversity. The horse is a useful model to study the development of humoral diversity because the placenta does not transfer maternal antibodies; therefore, Igs detected in the fetus and pre-suckle neonate were generated in utero. The goal of this study was to compare the equine fetal Ig VDJ repertoire to that of neonatal, foal, an...
Chappell DE, Barnett DC, James K, Craig B, Bain F, Gaughan E, Schneider C, Vaala W, Barnum SM, Pusterla N.A voluntary upper respiratory biosurveillance program in the USA received 9740 nasal swab submissions during the years 2008-2021 from 333 veterinarians and veterinary clinics. The nasal swabs were submitted for qPCR testing for six common upper respiratory pathogens:equine influenza virus (EIV), equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), equine herpesvirus-4 (EHV-4), subspecies (), equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV), and equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV). Additional testing was performed for equine gamma herpesvirus-2 (EHV-2) and equine gamma herpesvirus-5 (EHV-5) and the results are reported. Basic frequency s...
Bardell D, Iff I, Mosing M.Anaesthesia of the maxillary nerve of the horse has been described using several approaches, but sparse data exist to evaluate the accuracy of these methods. Objective: This study compared 2 previously described approaches to the maxillary nerve to assess their relative accuracies. Methods: Thirty severed heads from horse cadavers were arranged to approximate the position of a live horse. Methylene blue (0.25 or 0.1 ml) was injected using a 19 gauge 90 mm spinal needle by one of 2 approaches, the method used being randomly allocated in each instance. Method ANG: angulated needle insertion on t...
Slack J, Durandot MM, Belcher CN, Collins N, Palmer L, Ousey J, Birks EK, Marr CM.The repeatability of various echocardiographic measurements is unknown. Objective: To determine the intraoperator, intraobserver and interoperator variability of echocardiographic measures in healthy foals. Methods: Echocardiographic examinations were carried out on 6 healthy foals by 3 experienced echocardiographers. Intraoperator variability was determined by having a single echocardiographer obtain and measure images from 6 foals scanned on 3 consecutive days. Interoperator and intraobserver variability were determined by having 3 echocardiographers each obtain images from an additional 6 s...
Arai K, Misumi K, Carter SD, Shinbara S, Fujiki M, Sakamoto H.Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is abundant within cartilage; its turnover and/or degradation have been investigated in various equine joint diseases and it has been suggested that COMP fragmentation might be useful for monitoring such conditions. Objective: To determine whether COMP metabolism is compromised in equine osteoarthritis (OA) and whether COMP degradation is a useful joint marker representing cartilage destruction. Objective: A monoclonal antibody (mAb) with a higher affinity for degraded COMP allows discrimination of diseased joints by quantifying COMP levels and fragme...
Redding WR, O'Grady SE.This article addresses nonseptic diseases associated with the hoof complex, namely keratoma, white line disease, canker, and neoplasia. Keratoma is an uncommon cause of lameness, which may be surgically removed. White line disease, a keratolytic process on the solar surface of the hoof, is treated with therapeutic farriery and resection of the hoof wall when appropriate. Equine canker is an infectious process that results in development of a chronic hypertrophy of the horn-producing tissues. Neoplasia involving the equine foot is rare, and melanoma is the most common type of neoplasm reported....
Taylor PM.Information on equine stress responses to anaesthesia and surgery is sparse. Six ponies were anaesthetized for 2 h with halothane and no surgery was performed. Plasma concentrations of glucose, lactate, non-esterified fatty acids, cortisol, insulin, catecholamines and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were measured. The results were compared with those obtained in the same group of ponies over the same time period on a different day with the animals conscious. Anaesthesia induced an increase in plasma concentrations of glucose, lactate, cortisol and ACTH and a decrease in plasma concentration...
Lloyd KC, Stover SM, Pascoe JR, Baggot JD, Kurpershoek C, Hietala S.The concentration of gentamicin in plasma and synovial fluid of normal adult horses was measured periodically for 24 hours after IV (2.2 mg/kg of body weight), intra-articular (IA; 150 mg), and simultaneous IV and IA administrations. Gentamicin also was buffered with sodium bicarbonate (3 mEq) and then was administered IA and simultaneously IV and IA. Synovial fluid specimens were obtained via an indwelling catheter placed into the antebrachiocarpal joint. The peak mean plasma gentamicin concentration (8.30 micrograms/ml) after IV administration was significantly (P less than 0.05) greater tha...
Baldacchino F, Cadier J, Porciani A, Buatois B, Dormont L, Jay-Robert P.Urine volatiles from different ungulates (cows, horses and sheep) were tested as bait for tabanids in southeastern France using Nzi traps during the early summer of 2011. Tabanus bromius Linnaeus, 1758 and Atylotus quadrifarius (Loew, 1874) (both: Diptera: Tabanidae) were the most captured species, respectively representing 57% and 41% of all tabanids collected (all of which were female). Horse urine significantly increased catches of T. bromius (1.6-fold) and A. quadrifarius (3.5-fold), and sheep urine significantly increased catches of A. quadrifarius (2.5-fold). In parallel, an electroanten...
Parente EJ, Martin BB, Tulleners EP, Ross MW.To evaluate the occurrence of dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) during high-speed treadmill (HSTM) exercise in racehorses, and determine treatment efficacy relative to the endoscopic findings observed during resting and HSTM endoscopic examination. Methods: Retrospective study. Animals-Ninety-two racehorses (74 Thoroughbreds, 18 Standardbreds). Methods: The signalment, history (clinical and race), treatments, and video recordings made during resting and HSTM endoscopy were reviewed in 92 racehorses that developed DDSP during HSTM exercise. Only horses that completed 3 starts before...
French KR, Pollitt CC.The key lesion of laminitis is separation at the hoof lamellar dermal-epidermal interface. For this to happen the structural and adhesion proteins of the basement membrane zone must be altered. Which proteins and how damage to them leads to the lamellar separation of laminitis is unknown. Objective: To investigate lamellar hemidesmosome and cytoskeleton damage and basement membrane dysadhesion using light microscopy (LM) and immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM). Methods: Cryostat sections of lamellar tissues from 2 control and 6 Standardbred horses with oligofructose induced laminitis were stud...
Ortolani F, Scilimati N, Gialletti R, Menchetti L, Nannarone S.The purpose of this study was to describe the development and preliminary validation of a composite pain scale, called the Equine Ophthalmic Pain Scale (EOPS), to assess ocular pain in horses. Indicators associated with ocular pain were selected and classified as behavioural, physiological or ocular expressions. Eight horses diagnosed with ocular or adnexa diseases that required medical or surgical treatment were enrolled in the study (group P). The developed EOPS was applied at the baseline (T0) and 1 week later (T7). Moreover, the EOPS was applied twice, 1 week apart, to 15 healthy control h...
Ohta C, Hoshi A, Goto H, Tsunoda N, Tagami M, Akita H.Epizootiological and virological studies were conducted on foal diarrhea occurring in 3 foal-raising locations in a light horse farm from March to July, 1987. At the first location, although 27 (75%) of 36 foals had developed diarrhea, the isolation rate of rotavirus (RV) was low (5/14 feces, 36%). Many of the foals had the disease as early as 23 days after birth. At the second and third locations, 21 (27%) of 78 foals and 41 (76%) of 54 foals were affected with diarrhea. Isolation rates of RV were 90% (20/22 feces) and 100% (26/26 feces), respectively. The diseased cases were observed through...
Brault LS, Famula TR, Penedo MC.To determine the mode of inheritance for cerebellar abiotrophy (CA), a neurologic disease in Arabians. Methods: 804 Arabians, including 29 horses (15 males and 14 females) with CA. Methods: Most horses (n = 755) belonged to 1 of 4 paternal families. Among the 29 CA-affected horses, all had clinical signs consistent with the disease; the disease was confirmed histologically following euthanasia in 8 horses. From the pedigree information, inbreeding coefficients were calculated for 16 affected horses and compared with coefficients for a subgroup of 16 unaffected horses. Complex segregation analy...
Maestre AM, Garzón A, Rodríguez D.Toroviruses are gastroenteritis causing agents that infect different animal species and humans. To date, very little is known about how toroviruses cause disease. Here, we describe for the first time that the prototype member of this genus, the equine torovirus Berne virus (BEV), induces apoptosis in infected cells at late times postinfection. Observation of BEV infected cells by electron microscopy revealed that by 24 hours postinfection some cells exhibited morphological characteristics of apoptotic cells. Based on this finding, we analyzed several apoptotic markers, and observed protein syn...
