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.
Abutarbush SM, Alqawasmeh DM, Mukbel RM, Al-Majali AM.The purposes of this study were to estimate the seroprevalence and distribution of horse piroplasmosis, to evaluate risk factors associated with the occurrence of the disease and to compare the different diagnostic methods used for this disease. A total of 253 clinically normal horses were sampled, and a collection form was completed for each horse from five of six different climatic zones of Jordan. The sixth zone was not sampled because it did not include horse population. Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) revealed 37 horses (14.6%) positive for Theileria equi, and none ...
Parker RA, Yeates JW.Assessing patients' quality of life (QOL) is a core part of clinical decision making. Various methodologies for assessing patients' QOL have been developed in human medicine and small animal veterinary disciplines. In contrast, the lack of aids for QOL assessment in equine veterinary practice leaves practitioners reliant on subjective assessments of QOL, which may be prone to avoidable errors. Objective: This paper suggests pragmatic ways in which QOL may be enhanced, while remaining appropriate for the time, financial and owner-based constraints within equine practice. Methods: Through interd...
Bountouri M, Fragkiadaki E, Ntafis V, Kanellos T, Xylouri E.For first time in Greece equine influenza virus infection was confirmed, by isolation and molecular analysis, as the cause of clinical respiratory disease among unvaccinated horses during 2003 and 2007 outbreaks. Methods: Equine influenza virus (EIV) H3N8 was isolated in MDCK cells from 30 nasal swabs from horses with acute respiratory disease, which were tested positive by Directigen Flu A. Isolation was confirmed by haemagglutination assay and RT-PCR assay of the M, HA and NA gene. Results: HA sequences of the Greek isolates appeared to be more closely related to viruses isolated in early 19...
Lin YZ, Cao XZ, Li L, Li L, Jiang CG, Wang XF, Ma J, Zhou JH.The attenuated equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) vaccine was the first attenuated lentivirus vaccine to be used in a large-scale application and has been used to successfully control the spread of equine infectious anemia (EIA) in China. To better understand the potential role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of EIAV infection and resulting immune response, we used branched DNA technology to compare the mRNA expression levels of 12 cytokines and chemokines, including IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IP-10, IL-8, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, MCP-1, and MCP-2, in equine monocyte-derived mac...
Wu W, Blythe DC, Loyd H, Mealey RH, Tallmadge RL, Dorman KS, Carpenter S.Two variants of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) that differed in sensitivity to broadly neutralizing antibody were tested in direct competition assays. No differences were observed in the growth curves and relative fitness scores of EIAVs of principal neutralizing domain variants of groups 1 (EIAV(PND-1)) and 5 (EIAV(PND-5)), respectively; however, the neutralization-resistant EIAV(PND-5) variant was less infectious in single-round replication assays. Infectious center assays indicated similar rates of cell-to-cell spread, which was approximately 1,000-fold more efficient than cell-free ...
Kumar S, Malik P, Verma SK, Pal V, Gautam V, Mukhopadhyay C, Rai GP.Glanders, caused by the Gram-negative, nonmotile bacterium Burkholderia mallei, is a contagious and highly fatal disease of equines. During the last decade, the number of glanders outbreaks has increased steadily. The disease also has high zoonotic significance and B. mallei is listed biological warfare agent. The complement fixation test (CFT) is a routinely used and internationally recognized test to screen equine sera for the glanders. However, discrepant results have been observed using the CFT. The low sensitivity and specificity of the CFT and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ha...
de Almeida GL, Santurio JM, Filho JO, Zanette RA, Camillo G, Flores AG, da Silva JH, de la Rue ML.Biological control is an alternative method to reduce the population of parasites through natural predators. A promising option of biological control in the reduction of infective larvae on pasture is the use of nematophagous fungi. In this study, the efficacy of the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans in controlling gastrointestinal nematode parasites in field-raised horses was tested. Ten foals with an average age of 12 months were divided in two groups: five males constituted the treated group and five females constituted the control group. Each group was introduced in a field of mix...
Pitzer JB, Kaufman PE, Hogsette JA, Geden CJ, Tenbroeck SH.Beginning in November 2007 and continuing until December 2009, weekly stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), surveillance was conducted at four equine facilities near Ocala, FL, by using alsynite sticky traps for adults and by searching immature developmental sites for pupae. Adult stable fly trap captures were highly variable throughout the year, ranging from 0 to 1,400 flies per trap per farm. The greatest adult stable fly activity was observed during the spring months of March and April, with weekly three-trap means of 121 and 136 flies per farm, respectively. The importance of cultural cont...
Dhand NK, Sergeant ES.During the 2007 equine influenza (EI) outbreak in Australia, there was no objective information about the possible under-reporting of cases by horse owners either so that they would avoid movement restrictions or because of their inability to detect infection. This investigation aimed to estimate the proportion of under-reporting during the outbreak based on the results of surveillance undertaken in conjunction with vaccination. The results provided improved estimates of morbidity during the outbreak and indicated the level of under-reporting likely to occur in future outbreaks of other infect...
Wilson G, Cooper K, Williams J, Eastwood S, Peake C.The 2007 equine influenza (EI) outbreak in New South Wales (NSW) consisted of a central infected area that extended south from the lower New England Tableland, across the Hunter Valley, Central Coast and the Sydney basin, and a series of isolated clusters outside this area across rural NSW. The central area was assigned the status of a Purple Zone (Special Restricted Area, SRA) approximately 1 month after the outbreak commenced. Within this SRA, the eradication program's focus was to increase the proportion of horses immune to EI via vaccination, thus reducing the susceptible proportion to a l...
Webster WR.This section outlines the most important issues addressed in the management of the response in the two infected states, New South Wales and Queensland. There were differences in the management of the response between the states for logistic, geographic and organisation structural reasons. Issues included the use of control centres, information centres, the problems associated with the lack of trained staff to undertake all the roles, legislative issues, controls of horse movements, the availability of resources for adequate surveillance, the challenges of communication between disparate groups...
Sergeant ES, Wilson G.To quantify the probability of freedom from equine influenza (EI) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, based on analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Methods: Testing in the infected areas of NSW during the period 1 January to 30 April 2008. Results: Data from the random survey were collated and analysed to provide estimates of the probability of detecting EI if it was present at a prevalence ranging from 0.01% to 0.5%. The sensitivity estimates were then combined with a prior estimate of the probability of freedom in a simulation model, to estimate the posterior probability of ...
Diallo I, Read AJ, Kirkland PD.A real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) test for the matrix gene of type A influenza viruses was used during the 2007 Australian equine influenza (EI) outbreak in order to confirm diagnosis and, later, eradication of the virus. During the EI outbreak, horses being exported required vaccination and individual proof of freedom from EI. At the end of the outbreak, positive results were obtained from four horses destined for export, because of contamination of the samples with the vaccine. This report highlights the need for EI testing and vaccination to occur on sepa...
Kirkland PD, Delbridge G.An important consideration in the selection of a vaccine during the Australian equine influenza (EI) outbreak in 2007 was the ability to differentiate between infected and vaccinated animals (DIVA). A blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA) targeted for the nucleoprotein of influenza A viruses was developed to differentiate between naturally infected horses and horses vaccinated with the ProteqFlu® vaccine, which only induces a response to viral haemagglutinin. This bELISA assay met the DIVA requirements and was used extensively during the EI control and eradication programs and '...
Myers J.At the outbreak of equine influenza (EI) we chose to close our horse-based business, as we did not want to risk our horses contracting the disease and the demand for our services ceased. We report our experiences of the outbreak.
Ryan D.Outbreaks of equine influenza (EI) cause major disruption to the racing industry, resulting in cessation of racing until affected horses have recovered from the disease. The introduction of EI to a large population of Thoroughbred horses stabled at a Sydney racecourse provided the opportunity to observe clinical signs and monitor the spread of EI in this predominantly naïve population and to assist in determining an endpoint to infection spread to allow resumption of racing events.
Faehrmann P, Riddell K, Read AJ.We describe the clinical signs and disease course during an outbreak of equine influenza (EI) in naïve horses in a police stables in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Kung N, Mackenzie S, Pitt D, Robinson B, Perkins NR.An outbreak of equine influenza (EI) caused by influenza A H3N8 subtype virus occurred in the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales in August 2007. Infection in the Australian horse population was associated with the introduction of infection by horses from overseas. The first case of EI in Queensland was detected on 25 August 2007 at an equestrian sporting event. Infection subsequently spread locally and to other clusters through horse movements prior to the implementation of an official standstill. There were five main clusters of infected properties during this outbreak and se...
Franci P, Bertamini A, Bertamini O, Pilla T, Busetto R.A new volatile anaesthetic agent delivery system was tested in 15 horses undergoing scheduled surgical procedures. The delivery system consisted of a laptop computer (with dedicated software), a computer-controlled syringe driver (loaded with liquid isoflurane) connected to the inspiratory arm of a large-animal circle breathing system and a respiratory gas monitor, providing isoflurane end-tidal concentrations (ET(measured)) every 20 s to the computer. Following induction and connection to the breathing system, mechanical ventilation was started. The bodyweight (BW), fresh gas flow, breathing ...
Moloney BJ.This overview of the equine influenza (EI) epidemic as it occurred in two Australian states, New South Wales and Queensland, in 2007 describes the functions and activities of the epidemiology teams that were engaged during the outbreak and also identifies key features of the epidemiology of EI during the outbreak.
Paskin R.The equine influenza outbreak detected in August 2007 in New South Wales and Queensland did not enter Victoria, which was, however, considered at risk because of its sizable border with New South Wales. Accordingly, Victoria implemented a response plan to prevent disease entry and enable early detection of any disease. Horse movement restrictions, surveillance strategies and public awareness formed a large part of this response.
Scott-Orr H.The challenges faced in demonstrating Australia's freedom from equine influenza following the outbreak in 2007-08 and the responding strategy developed by the Proof of Freedom Working Group are presented.
Glanville RJ, Christie B.The equine influenza (EI) outbreak presented many challenges that required high-level coordination and decision making, as well as the development of new approaches for satisfactory and consistent resolution. This paper outlines the elements of the national coordination arrangements, preparatory arrangements in place prior to the outbreak that facilitated national coordination, and some of the issues faced and resolved in the response.
Watson J, Halpin K, Selleck P, Axell A, Bruce K, Hansson E, Hammond J, Daniels P, Jeggo M.Before 2007, equine influenza had never been diagnosed in Australia. On 22 August 2007, infection was confirmed in horses at Eastern Creek Animal Quarantine Station near Sydney. The virus subsequently isolated (A/equine/Sydney/2888-8/2007) was confirmed by sequence analysis of the haemagglutinin (HA) gene as an H3 virus of the variant American Florida lineage that is now referred to as Clade 1. The HA sequence of the virus was identical to that of a virus isolated from a contemporaneous outbreak in Japan and showed high homology to viruses circulating in North America.
Wong D.The clinical signs of horses diagnosed with equine influenza (EI) at Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre (CPEC) and the events surrounding their diagnosis are described. This was the site of the first case of EI diagnosed outside of the Eastern Creek Animal Quarantine Station. The clinical data demonstrate the rapid spread of the disease after a sufficient viral load had developed from the initial cases within CPEC.
Hoare R.The equine influenza (EI) outbreak occurred at the worst time of the year as far as the horse industry was concerned. All horse sports and horse breeds had events planned in the spring, including those relating to qualification for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. These were all disrupted and many were cancelled. The social and industry impacts were extensive, and included difficulties related to communication, animal welfare, vaccination, movement restrictions, economics, as well as the psychological stresses experienced by those involved, especially those for whom their primary source of inco...
Erichsen DF, Aviad AD, Schultz RH, Kennedy TJ.A field study of 239 horses was conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of clenbuterol HCl, a beta 2-adrenergic bronchodilator, when administered incrementally to effect in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The severity of COPD (heaves) and response to treatment was determined by clinical evaluation; an overall 'heaveiness rating' (OHR) was assigned at each observation. The horses were treated orally b.i.d. with clenbuterol (as Ventipulmin Syrup), beginning with the lowest dosage of 0.8 micrograms/kg. On day 10 of treatment at the effective dose (0.8, 1.6, 2...
Ryan C, Giguère S, Hagen J, Hartnett C, Kalyuzhny AE.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from 6 foals <1 week of age, 6 foals between 3 and 4 months of age, and 10 adult horses. PBMCs were stimulated with concanavalin A (ConA) or calcium ionomycin-phorbol myristate acetate (CaI-PMA) and the frequency of interferon IFN-gamma and IL-4 secreting cells was measured using an equine-specific ELISPOT assay. The number of IFN-gamma secreting cells was significantly lower in both groups of foals than in adult horses regardless of the mitogen used for stimulation. The number of IFN-gamma secreting cells was significantly higher in ...
Cirak VY, Kar S, Girişgin O.This survey was carried out on a horse farm in order to acquire recent data on macrocyclic lactone-resistant Parascaris equorum which had been previously detected on this farm and to determine efficacies of ivermectin and pyrantel against strongyles in order to determine whether a resistance problem also exists in these parasites. In the first part of the study, abamectin was given to horses infected with P. equorum. In 11 out of 12 horses, zero efficacy (0%) was seen against P. equorum. Subsequently, horses which were Parascaris-positive after abamectin treatment received pyrantel pamoate and...
Hegreberg GA, Reed SM.A progressive neuromuscular disorder in young horses, clinically apparent as early as 1 month of age, is characterized by generalized myotonia, muscle stiffness, muscle weakness and atrophy. Myotonia is identified by percussion dimpling and myotonic EMG discharges. Changes in one case included testicular hypoplasia, cataract formation, and glucose intolerance, indicating a systemic involvement. Pathologic changes in skeletal muscles from three affected foals were examined. Sarcoplasmic masses, ringed fibers, internal positioning of sarcolemmal nuclei, and nuclear rowing were among the primary ...
Christensen BW, Troedsson MH, Murchie TA, Pozor MA, Macpherson ML, Estrada AH, Carrillo NA, Mackay RJ, Roberts GD, Langlois J.A 19-year-old Thoroughbred mare was evaluated at 265 days of gestation with a markedly distended abdomen and edema of the ventral portion of the abdomen. Results: The uterus was distended over the pelvic rim, making transrectal palpation of the fetus impossible. Transabdominal ultrasonography revealed excessive amounts of fetal fluid. Results of analysis of fluid obtained via amnio- and allantocentesis confirmed that the amniotic cavity was large. Results: The mare was monitored for signs of weakness of the prepubic tendon and abdominal wall. The fetus and placenta were monitored for signs of ...
Carrozzo U, Toniato M, Harrison A.Therapeutic ultrasound is a noninvasive technique, which is well tolerated by horses, does not need sedation, and can easily be performed in a routine clinical setting. Twenty-three client-owned sport horses were recruited at Clinica Equina San Biagio and included in this case study. Treatment of the injured suspensory ligament apparatus was administered using an EQ Pro, low-frequency therapeutic unit (38 kHz). The noninvasive treatment consisted of massaging the injured area in combination with a traditional ultrasound gel while maintaining the head of the device in direct contact with the i...
Schneider RK, Milne DW, Gabel AA, Groom JJ, Bramlage LR.Rosette strain gauges were applied to the equine radius and tibia. Three sites were examined on each bone on separate occasions (proximal metaphysis, middiaphysis, and distal metaphysis). At each site, 4 rosette gauges were applied around the bone (ie, cranial, caudal, medial, and lateral). Strain recordings were made while walking the horse with and without a full-limb plaster cast. The principal axis of tensile strain was on the craniolateral aspect of the radius. Distally, on the radius, the largest strains were torsional. The cast changed the principal axis of tensile strain on the radius ...
Waguespack RW, Hanson RR.Navicular syndrome is a chronic, progressive condition affecting the navicular bone and bursa, deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), and associated soft tissue structures composing the navicular apparatus. The treatment options for navicular syndrome are as varied as the proposed causes of the condition. The severity of clinical signs, intended use and workload of the horse, and owner compliance with therapy are important considerations in developing a treatment plan. Nonsurgical treatment of navicular syndrome consists of rest, hoof balance and corrective trimming/shoeing, and medical therapy, i...
Cotuțiu VD, Ionică AM, Lefkaditis M, Cazan CD, Hașaș AD, Mihalca AD.Equine thelaziosis is a neglected vector-borne parasitic disease in modern veterinary medicine, lacking recent reports. It is transmitted by Musca autumnalis, and potentially other Muscidae species, by ingesting the lachrymal secretions of its equine host. The distribution of both Thelazia lacrymalis and its intermediate hosts remains largely unknown throughout Europe, with most studies dating back 20 years. The aim of this study was to assess the presence, prevalence and distribution of T. lacrymalis in horses from Romania. Methods: The eyes of 273 horses, slaughtered at two abattoirs from t...
Treiber KH, Hess TM, Kronfeld DS, Boston RC, Geor RJ, Friere M, Silva AM, Harris PA.Glucose regulation is critical for health and exercise performance. Objective: To quantify the effects of exercise and diet on insulin sensitivity (SI), glucose effectiveness (Sg), acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg) and disposition index (DI) in horses. Methods: This study applied the minimal model of glucose and insulin dynamics to exercise-trained Arabian geldings during rest or constant moderate-intensity exercise after 8 weeks adaptation to feeds high in sugar and starch (SS, n = 6) or fat and fibre (FF, n = 6). Horses underwent 2 frequently sampled i.v. glucose tolerance tests (FSIG...
Robin CA, Lo Iacono G, Gubbins S, Wood JL, Newton JR.The National Equine Database (NED) contains information on the size and distribution of the horse population, but the data quality remains unknown. These data could assist with surveillance, research and contingency planning for equine infectious disease outbreaks. Objective: 1) To assess the extent of obsolete and missing data from NED, 2) evaluate the extent of spatial separation between horse and owner location and 3) identify relationships between spatial separation and land use. Methods: Two questionnaires were used to assess data accuracy in NED utilising local authority passport inspect...
Platt H.A retrospective study was made of 20 horses with severe and extensive chronic disease of the small intestine. Many of the animals had clinical evidence of malabsorption, with progressive loss of weight, hypoalbuminaemia and sometimes anaemia. All but two of the horses were Thoroughbreds. The pathology was diverse. Nine of the cases were alimentary lymphomas (Platt, 1986) and five had lymphocytic and eosinophilic infiltrations in the bowel wall which were considered to be probable reactions to parasitic invasion. One had acute thrombosis associated with partial occlusion of the anterior mesente...
Auer DE, Wilson RG, Groenendyk S.The prevalence of pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia in Thoroughbred racehorses in training was investigated using a fibre optic endoscope. Of the 70 horses examined, all but 8 showed evidence of pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia and the severity of the pharyngeal changes decreased with age. Two-year old horses had greater pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia (p less than 0.05) when compared to all other age groups. More horses (p less than 0.05) with Grade 3 or Grade 4 pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia experienced recent mild respiratory disease than did horses with Grade 2 or less pharyngeal lymphoid hy...
Simhofer H, Stoian C, Zetner K.The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of apicoectomy and retrograde endodontic treatment in 12 horses with apical cheek teeth infections. The affected apices were removed using a diamond bur mounted on a dental drill, and after pulp removal the root canals were filed with Hedstrøm files and then alternately flushed with sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide and alcohol. The pulp canals were dried and filled with endodontic cement and gutta-percha points. An undercut was made in the apical aspect of the root canals that were then sealed with self-curing glass ionomer cem...
Klei TR, Chapman MR, Torbert BJ, McClure JR.An indirect fluorescent antibody assay (IFA) was developed using Strongylus vulgaris third stage larvae (L3) as antigens. Observations using the IFA indicate that a species-specific antibody response to S. vulgaris L3 develops in S. vulgaris-infected ponies and that some surface L3 antigens are shared by adult worms. Sequential antibody levels against S. vulgaris were measured in strongyle-naive and in immune ponies following initial and challenge infections using the IFA and an indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA). Antibody levels measured by IFA increased faster following initial infections...
Lentz LR, Valberg SJ, Mickelson JR, Gallant EM.To determine whether increased sensitivity to pharmacologic agents was a general property of equine exertional myopathies, including polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) in Quarter Horses. Methods: 5 adult Quarter Horses with exertional rhabdomyolysis and abnormal polysaccharide accumulation in skeletal muscle and 4 clinically normal adult Quarter or Quarter-type horses. Methods: Twitch time course measurements and contracture responses to various concentrations of caffeine and halothane for small bundles of intact external intercostal muscle fibers were measured in all horses. Results: Caff...
Peroni JF, Harrison WE, Moore JN, Graves JE, Lewis SJ, Krunkosky TM, Robertson TP.Equine laminitis purportedly involves haemodynamic dysfunction at the level of the laminar vasculature. However, to date, no studies have been performed characterising the function of laminar arteries and veins during the prodromal stages of equine laminitis. Objective: That the prodromal stages of laminitis are associated with contractile dysfunction of the equine laminar vasculature. Objective: To assess contractile function of laminar arteries and veins to phenylephrine (PE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Methods: Horses were administered black walnut heartwood extract (BWHE) or water (con...
Caballeros JE, Camacho C, Cazales N, Estradé MJ, Fiala-Rechsteiner S, Jobim MIM, Mattos RC.Rapid endometrial adaptations occur with the embryo entering the uterus to create a receptive uterine environment, which is essential for the conceptus' development. The aim of this study was to demonstrate ultrastructural and histological changes of the endometrium at day 5 after ovulation in cyclic and inseminated mares. Mares were daily examined by transrectal palpation and ultrasonographic examination of the reproductive tract until ovulation was detected. In the first cycle, endometrial biopsies from 10 cyclic mares (Cyclic group) were collected on day 5 post-ovulation. In the second cycl...
Underwood C, Collins SN, van Eps AW, Allavena RE, Medina-Torres CE, Pollitt CC.There are no experimentally validated pharmacological means of preventing laminitis; however, locally acting pharmaceutical agents with the potential to prevent laminitis have been identified. Demonstrating therapeutic drug concentrations in lamellar tissue is essential for evaluating the efficacy of these agents. The aim of this study was to develop an experimental technique for repeatedly sampling lamellar interstitial fluid. A technique for placing ultrafiltration probes was developed in vitro using 15 cadaver limbs. Subsequently, lamellar ultrafiltration probes were placed in one forelimb ...
Riis RC, Jackson C, Rebhun W, Katz ML, Loew E, Summers B, Cummings J, de Lahunta A, Divers T, Mohammed H.The characteristics of the ocular manifestations of equine motor neuron disease (EMND) are described. Forty-two horses with histories, clinical signs and necropsies compatible with EMND were the subjects of this study. Ophthalmoscopic lesions that varied in severity were found in 40 of 42 horses and appeared as a distinct pigmented reticulated pattern at the tapetal-nontapetal junction or throughout the fundus, depending upon severity. The pattern colours ranged from yellow brown to black. Areas of hyperreflectivity formed mosaic patterns in the tapetal fundus. ERG B-wave amplitudes were usual...
Hu Z, Wu X, Ge J, Wang X.Type I interferons (IFNs) play important roles in the defense of host cells against viral infection by inducing the expression of a diverse range of antiviral factors. IFNs from different animals likely share similar features with human IFNs, and some of them have cross-species activities. Equine IFN-α was proved effective in both equine and human cells. However, the previous studies mostly focused on the inhibition of virus induced cytopathic effects. In this study, we used virus-specific assays to demonstrate the antiviral activities of equine IFN-α1 in both equine and human cells. Equine ...
Witonsky SG, Ellison S, Yang J, Gogal RM, Lawler H, Suzuki Y, Sriranganathan N, Andrews F, Ward D, Lindsay DS.Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) due to Sarcocystis neurona infection is 1 of the most common neurologic diseases in horses in the United States. The mechanisms by which most horses resist disease, as well as the possible mechanisms by which the immune system may be suppressed in horses that develop EPM, are not known. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine whether horses experimentally infected with S. neurona developed suppressed immune responses. Thirteen horses that were negative for S. neurona antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were randomly assig...
Wong DM, Moore RM, Brockus CW.Oxygen is essential to aerobic life, but it is also associated with the production of highly reactive compounds that can pose danger to physiologic systems when the oxygen concentration is excessive. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are required for normal physiologic processes, but when produced in excess, they can overwhelm endogenous antioxidants, resulting in significant cellular damage and, eventually, cell death. Ischemic events can initiate numerous pathophysiologic mechanisms leading to increased production of ROS, loss of cellular energy production, and lipid peroxidation. Although reper...
Hostetter JM, Uzal FA.Evaluation of gastrointestinal (GI) biopsies is a multistep process that includes reviewing an appropriate history, determining sample quality, and evaluating histologic sections. Selected diagnostic parameters that, in combination with intestinal histopathology, can be useful to localize disease to the intestinal tract in the horse include hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia, ultrasound evidence of increased thickness of the small intestinal wall, and alterations in glucose or D-xylose absorption tests. Biopsies may be acquired either endoscopically, or via laparoscopy or standing flank incis...
Yadav SC, Kumar R, Kumar V, Jaideep , Kumar R, Gupta AK, Bera BC, Tatu U.Trypanosoma evansi is the most extensively distributed trypanosome responsible for disease called surra in livestock in many countries including frequent outbreaks in India. The prevalence of this disease is most commonly reported by standard parasitological detection methods (SPDM); however, antibody ELISA is being in practice by locally produced whole cell lysate (WCL) antigens in many countries. In the present investigation, we attempted to identify and purify immuno dominant, infection specific trypanosome antigens from T. evansi proteome using experimentally infected equine serum by immun...
Jaglan PS, Roof RD, Yein FS, Arnold TS, Brown SA, Gilbertson TJ.Ceftiofur sodium, a broad spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic approved for veterinary use, is metabolized to desfuroylceftiofur which is conjugated to micro as well as macromolecules. Twelve horses, weighting 442-618 kg, were injected intramuscularly with a single dose of 2.2 mg ceftiofur/kg (1.0 mg/lb) body weight. Blood was collected at various intervals over 24 h after treatment. Three groups of four horses each were euthanized and lungs were collected at 1, 12, and 24 h after treatment. The concentration of desfuroylceftiofur and desfuroylceftiofur conjugates in the plasma and lungs was dete...
Zinkl JG, Brown PD.Horse polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) isolated from horse blood by sedimentation and isotonic lysis and having about 25% accompanying lymphocytes were as effective at chemotaxis as nearly pure PMN isolated by density gradient techniques. N-Formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (FMLP), used as a representative of the formylmethionyl peptides (produced by prokaryocytic organisms), was effective as a chemoattractant only at the high concentration of 10(-4) M. When serum was preincubated with FMLP at concentrations as low as 10(-8) M, the serum attracted horse PMN. This activity was not g...
Korolainen R, Ruohoniemi M.In order to investigate the reliability of ultrasonography in revealing intestinal sand accumulations, the cranioventral parts of the abdomen of 32 horses (age 3-20 years) with signs suggestive of gastrointestinal sand were examined radiographically and ultrasonographically. The amount of sand and its localisation, relative to the ventral abdominal wall, were evaluated radiographically and graded (scale 0-4). Motility of the intestine and whether it was lying against the ventral abdominal wall were evaluated ultrasonographically and the findings summed and graded (scale 0-3) to express the lik...
Du Toit N, Burden FA, Baedt LG, Shaw DJ, Dixon PM.Equine cheek teeth (CT) diastemata often cause deep periodontal food pocketing and are therefore regarded as a painful dental disorder of equidae. However there appears to be no information available on the size or shape of these diastemata. This post mortem study examined 16 donkey skulls (mean age = 32-years) containing 45 CT diastemata to define the anatomical shape and dimensions of these diastemata, and of the associated periodontal food pockets that occur with this disorder. Diastemata were found to more commonly involve mandibular (56.0%) compared with maxillary CT (44.0%), and 71.0% of...
Weiss DJ, Evanson OA.To evaluate the activation status of neutrophils in blood samples obtained from horses with naturally occurring colic associated with strangulating obstruction, nonstrangulating obstruction, or inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: 30 horses with naturally occurring colic and 30 healthy control horses. Methods: Activation status of neutrophils was determined by assessing the number of neutrophils that could pass through filters with 5-microm pores, cell-surface CD11-CD18 expression, and alterations in size and granularity of neutrophils. Results: Horses with impaction or gas colic did not have ...
