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Topic:Equine Diseases
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.
West Nile virus associated with equid encephalitis in Brazil, 2018. Mosquito-borne arboviruses are a major public health concern worldwide and are responsible for emerging and re-emerging diseases. Taken together, the arboviruses have a strong impact on public health and are the most common causes of equine encephalitis. In-depth diagnostic investigation of equine viral encephalitis is of utmost importance for the epidemiological surveillance and control of this disease. Regarding neurological disorders in equids, in April-May 2018, at least 12 cases of equid mortality with acute neurological signs were reported in six farms from Espirito Santo state, Brazil. ...
The “speed gene” effect of myostatin arises in Thoroughbred horses due to a promoter proximal SINE insertion. Thoroughbred horses are finely-tuned athletes with a high aerobic capacity relative to skeletal muscle mass, attributable to centuries of genetic selection for speed and stamina. Polymorphisms in the myostatin gene (MSTN), a pronounced inhibitor of skeletal muscle growth, have been shown to almost singularly account for gene-based race distance aptitude in racehorses. In Thoroughbreds, two MSTN polymorphisms, a single nucleotide variation in the first intron (SNP g.66493737C>T) and a non-coding transposable element within the promoter region (a 227 bp SINE insertion) are of particular inter...
Transplacental transmission of Theileria equi in mules: Should we worry? Equine piroplasmosis, disease globally responsible for significant economic losses, is caused by the transmission of the hemoprotozoa Theileria equi and Babesia caballi by ticks. Transplacental transmission has been reported previously in horses, which is not the case for mules´ foals. The present study investigated, by Real Time-PCR (RT-PCR), the presence of both Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in newborn mules before the ingestion of colostrum. Blood samples of 18 mares and their respective mules´ foals were collected and analyzed by RT-PCR. Only one mare was positive for B. caballi. In...
Regional and disease-related differences in properties of the equine temporomandibular joint disc. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders affect up to 12% of the human population, and naturally occurring TMJ diseases are increasingly recognized in animals. The TMJ disc plays a major role in TMJ disorders in people, but little is known about its role in TMJ pathology in animals. This study characterizes differences in properties of equine TMJ discs associated with age, disc region, and presence of TMJ osteoarthritis (OA). Discs were dissected from both TMJ's of sixteen horses euthanized for reasons unrelated to this study. Each joint was grossly evaluated and scored as normal, mild OA, or s...
Can heart rate variability parameters derived by a heart rate monitor differentiate between atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm? Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, and especially RMSSD (root mean squared successive differences in RR interval), could distinguish atrial fibrillation (AF) from sinus rhythm(SR) in horses, as was demonstrated in a previous study. If heart rate monitors (HRM) automatically calculating RMSSD could also distinguish AF from SR, they would be useful for the monitoring of AF recurrence. The objective of the study was to assess whether RMSSD values obtained from a HRM can differentiate AF from SR in horses. Furthermore, the impact of artifact correction algorithms, integrated in the analyses ...
Equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Properties, Sources, Characterization, and Potential Therapeutic Applications. Properties like sustained multiplication and self-renewal, and homing and multilineage differentiation to undertake repair of the damaged tissues make stem cells the lifeline for any living system. Therefore, stem cell therapy is regarded to carry immense therapeutic potential. Though the dearth of understanding about the basic biological properties and pathways involved in therapeutic benefits currently limit the application of stem cells in humans as well as animals, there are innumerable reports that suggest clinical benefits of stem cell therapy in equine. Among various stem cell sources, ...
Investigation of an experimental infection model of equine coronavirus in adult horses. Equine coronavirus (ECoV) is a recently reported enteric disease of adult horses. Natural infection by ECoV has been reported in adult horses worldwide, whereas experimental infection has only been reported in juvenile horses. An experimental infection model is needed to study the clinical presentation, laboratory abnormalities, and pathophysiological changes associated with ECoV. Objective: To investigate the clinical, hematologic, molecular, and serological features of adult horses experimentally infected with ECoV. Methods: Eight adult horses. Methods: Four horses were intragastrically infe...
Factors affecting the likelihood of pregnancy and embryonic loss after transfer of cryopreserved in vitro produced equine embryos. In vitro embryo production (IVEP) is increasingly popular but data assessing the outcome of transferred embryos are scarce. Objective: To determine the likelihood of pregnancy and embryonic loss after transfer of frozen-thawed IVP embryos and identify factors influencing success. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: Blastocysts (n = 261) were produced from immature oocytes of Warmblood mares (n = 116) by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and in vitro culture, and cryopreserved. Thawed IVP embryos were transferred into recipient mares on day 4, 5 or 6 after ovulation. The ...
SNP-based heritability and genetic architecture of tarsal osteochondrosis in North American Standardbred horses. Osteochondrosis is a common developmental orthopedic disease characterized by a failure of endochondral ossification. Standardbred horses are recognized as being predisposed to tarsal osteochondrosis. Prior heritability estimates for tarsal osteochondrosis in European Standardbreds and related trotting breeds have been based on pedigree data and range from 17-29%. Here, we report on genetic architecture and heritability based on high-density genotyping data in a cohort of North American Standardbreds (n = 479) stringently phenotyped for tarsal osteochondrosis. Whole-genome array genotyping d...
Evaluation of apoptosis markers in different cell lines infected with equine arteritis virus. Equine arteritis virus (EAV) induces apoptosis in infected cells. Cell death caused by EAV has been studied mainly using three cell lines, BHK-21, RK-13 and Vero cells. The mechanism of apoptosis varies among cell lines and results cannot be correlated owing to differences in EAV strains used. We evaluated different markers for apoptosis in BHK-21, RK-13 and Vero cell lines using the Bucyrus EAV reference strain. Acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining revealed morphological changes in infected cells, while flow cytometry indicated the extent of apoptosis. We also observed DNA fragmentation,...
Ultrasonography guidance for total splenectomy in donkeys. There are varieties of surgical approaches reported for equine splenectomy and all of them were dealing with the most reachable situation of splenic hilus and easy handling of the spleen. The aim of this work was to establish the normal ultrasound parameters of spleen in donkeys (normal echogenicity, hilus situation, topographic location and correlation with neighboring organs) as a guide to select the best approach for total splenectomy in donkeys. Splenic ultrasound was carried out on six normal donkeys before experimental total splenectomy in the standing position. The splenic topographic l...
Pharmacokinetics and ex vivo anti-inflammatory effects of oral misoprostol in horses. Misoprostol is an E prostanoid (EP) 2, 3 and 4 receptor agonist that is anecdotally used to treat and prevent NSAID-induced GI injury in horses. Misoprostol elicits anti-inflammatory effects in vivo in men and rodents, and inhibits TNFα production in equine leucocytes in vitro. Objective: Define the pharmacokinetic parameters of oral misoprostol in horses, and determine the inhibitory effect of oral misoprostol administration on equine leucocyte TNFα production in an ex vivo inflammation model. Methods: Pharmacokinetic study, ex vivo experimental study. Methods: Six healthy adult horses ...
Tamoxifen inhibits chemokinesis in equine neutrophils. Neutrophils are terminally differentiated innate effector cells at the first line of host defense. Neutrophil migration within tissues is complex and involves several steps, during which these cells must be able to interpret a variety of chemical and physical signals. Exacerbated neutrophil activity can be harmful to surrounding tissues; this is important in a range of diseases, including equine asthma. Tamoxifen (TX) is a non-steroidal estrogen receptor modulator with effects on cell growth and survival. Previous studies showed that TX treatment in horses with induced acute pulmonary inflamma...
The adjuvant G3 promotes a Th1 polarizing innate immune response in equine PBMC. The immunomodulatory effect of a new particulate adjuvant, G3, alone or in combination with agonists to TLR2/1 or TLR5 was evaluated in cultures of equine PBMC. Exposure to the G3 adjuvant up-regulated genes encoding IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p40 and IL-23p19 in the majority of the horses tested, indicating that the G3 adjuvant induced a pro-inflammatory and Th1 dominated profile. In accordance, genes encoding IL-13, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β remained unaffected and genes encoding IFN-α, IL-17A and TNF-α were only occasionally and weakly induced. The two TLR agonists Pam3CSK4 (TLR2/1) an...
Tamoxifen induces apoptosis and inhibits respiratory burst in equine neutrophils independently of estrogen receptors. Neutrophils play an important role in the exacerbation and maintenance of severe equine asthma; persistent neutrophil activity and delayed apoptosis can be harmful to surrounding tissues. Tamoxifen (TX) is a nonsteroidal estrogen receptor modulator with immunomodulatory effects and induces early apoptosis of blood and bronchoalveolar lavage neutrophils from horses with acute lung inflammation. This study investigated if the in vitro effects of tamoxifen are produced by its action on nuclear (α and β) and membrane (GPR30) estrogen receptors in healthy equine neutrophils. Results showed that T...
Molecular Detection of Equus caballus Papillomavirus Type 2 in Genital Swabs From Healthy Horses in the Republic of Korea. Equus caballus papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV-2) is implicated in genital neoplasms in horses, including equine penile papillomas, penile intraepithelial neoplasia, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This virus seldom regresses spontaneously and can result in the development of SCC, which may result in significant clinical damage and economic cost. However, the prevalence of this virus is unknown in clinically unaffected horses. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of EcPV-2 DNA in genital swabs from healthy horses in the Republic of Korea and to investigate genetic variability w...
Evaluation of DNA Damage of Mare Granulosa Cells Before and After Cryopreservation Using a Chromatin Dispersion Test. DNA fragmentation of granulosa cells might be related to developmental competence of the equine oocyte. Granulosa cells are commonly stored before DNA fragmentation assessment, but the effect of preservation methods on this parameter remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not cryopreservation of granulosa cells affects the DNA damage. Equine oocytes were recovered from postmortem ovaries of five mares. Granulosa cells were washed by centrifugation and then analyzed (control) or stored in cryovials following four different protocols: P1 = directly plunged in liqui...
Equine Wound Management: Bandages, Casts, and External Support. Successful management of equine wounds relies on knowledge of the stages of wound healing, factors that can alter those stages, how healing stages can be manipulated, and adherence to the principles of wound healing. Challenges that complicate wound management include the inability to immobilize and/or confine equine patients, and maintain a clean environment during the critical initial stages of healing. Because of these challenges, the equine practitioner relies heavily on bandaging and external coaptation techniques to successfully treat and manage wounds. The type of bandage used is dictat...
Choosing the Best Approach to Wound Management and Closure. This article aims to help the practitioner by providing the tools to decide which type of closure or healing is best in a given situation. An overview of the main criteria and the different approaches to wound closure is presented. Each wound must be considered as a unique problem that requires a clinician to take into account all of its characteristics and limits to determine the best management approach.
Species distribution and seasonal dynamics of equine tick infestation in two Mediterranean climate niches in Israel. Ticks are important ectoparasites of horses that can affect animal welfare and vector several infectious, including zoonotic, diseases. In order to investigate the species distribution, epidemiology and seasonal dynamics of ticks infesting horses in Israel, 3267 ticks were collected from 396 horses in 24 farms across the country from July 2014 to June 2015. Results: Ticks were found on 50% of the farms and on 25% of the horses, with Hyalomma being the most prevalent genus (70% of ticks). Pasture was the most prominent risk factor for tick infestation (99% of ticks, P < 0.001), and is repres...
A survey of Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (Nematoda) infections in equids in Urmia region, Iran. Dictyocaulus arnfieldi is a lungworm commonly found in equids; however, relatively little is known about it. The aim of the present study was to establish the prevalence of equine lungworms in naturally-infected working and sporting horses, donkeys and mules in rural areas of Urmia, northwest Iran. The fecal samples were collected from 299 working horses, 57 sporting horses, 66 donkeys and 37 mules during the period March 2014 to June 2016. The collected fecal samples were processed within 48 hours following rectal sampling. The larval count/g (LPG) of feces was determined using the Baermann t...
Comparison of Metzenbaum scissors and Y-shaped fasciotome for deep metatarsal fasciotomy for the treatment of proximal suspensory ligament desmopathy in horses. To quantitate the iatrogenic injury associated with deep plantar metatarsal fasciotomy performed with Metzenbaum scissors compared with a Y-shaped fasciotome. Methods: Experimental ex vivo surgical study. Methods: Cadaveric hind limbs (n = 20) from 10 sound thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: A plantar metatarsal fasciotomy was performed, extending from the proximal extent of the deep metatarsal fascia, distally. Hind limbs were randomly assigned to 2 groups, undergoing fasciotomy with straight Metzenbaum scissors (n = 10) or a Y-shaped fasciotome (n = 10). Magnetic resonance imaging...
Improvement of recombinant-truncated Burkholderia motility protein A (BimA)-based indirect ELISA for equine glanders. Glanders is a contagious and highly fatal disease of equines with zoonotic potential. It is caused by a Gram-negative, nonmotile bacterium Burkholderia mallei. Complement fixation test (CFT) is one of the most commonly used tests for diagnosis of glanders; however, it has some limitations. A recombinant-truncated Burkholderia intracellular motility A (BimA) protein-based indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) was previously reported by us for glanders diagnosis, which has been re-optimized in this study using a panel of glanders positive (n = 75) and glanders negative (n = 227...
Generation of an equine biobank to be used for Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes project. The Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes (FAANG) project aims to identify genomic regulatory elements in both sexes across multiple stages of development in domesticated animals. This study represents the first stage of the FAANG project for the horse, Equus caballus. A biobank of 80 tissue samples, two cell lines and six body fluids was created from two adult Thoroughbred mares. Ante-mortem assessments included full physical examinations, lameness, ophthalmologic and neurologic evaluations. Complete blood counts and serum biochemistries were also performed. At necropsy, in addition to tiss...
Sequence variant analysis of RNA sequences in severe equine asthma. Severe equine asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lung in horses similar to low-Th2 late-onset asthma in humans. This study aimed to determine the utility of RNA-Seq to call gene sequence variants, and to identify sequence variants of potential relevance to the pathogenesis of asthma. Methods: RNA-Seq data were generated from endobronchial biopsies collected from six asthmatic and seven non-asthmatic horses before and after challenge (26 samples total). Sequences were aligned to the equine genome with Spliced Transcripts Alignment to Reference software. Read preparation for sequenc...
Safety and immunogenicity of plant-produced African horse sickness virus-like particles in horses. African horse sickness (AHS) is caused by multiple serotypes of the dsRNA AHSV and is a major scourge of domestic equids in Africa. While there are well established commercial live attenuated vaccines produced in South Africa, risks associated with these have encouraged attempts to develop new and safer recombinant vaccines. Previously, we reported on the immunogenicity of a plant-produced AHS serotype 5 virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine, which stimulated high titres of AHS serotype 5-specific neutralizing antibodies in guinea pigs. Here, we report a similar response to the vaccine in horses. ...
