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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.
Quantification of surface EMG signals to monitor the effect of a Botox treatment in six healthy ponies and two horses with stringhalt: preliminary study. Therapeutic options for stringhalt in horses are limited, whereas medical experiences with botulinum toxin type A (Botox) have been positive. To evaluate its effectiveness in horses, surface electromyography (sEMG) signals before and after injection need to be quantified. Objective: Treatment of healthy ponies and cases with Botox should reduce muscle activity in injected muscles and reduce spastic movements without adverse side effects. Methods: Unilaterally, the extensor digitorum longus, extensor digitorum lateralis and lateral vastus muscles of 6 healthy mature Shetland ponies and 2 talent...
Influence of different exercise regimes on the proximal hoof circumference in young Thoroughbred horses. Most lameness in horses relates to foot problems and may be associated with changes in hoof shape, but there is a lack of information on the influence of normal exercise on hoof shape. Objective: To investigate the effect of training on proximal hoof circumference in young Thoroughbred racehorses being prepared for racing. Methods: Thirty-seven young Thoroughbred racehorses were included in this study. Front hoof circumference immediately below the coronary band was measured weekly with a measuring tape in all horses present at the stable. Most horses accomplished a minimum of 2 training perio...
Relationship between the forces acting on the horse’s back and the movements of rider and horse while walking on a treadmill. The exact relationship between the saddle pressure pattern during one stride cycle and the movements of horse and rider at the walk are poorly understood and have never been investigated in detail. Objective: The movements of rider and horse account for the force distribution pattern under the saddle. Methods: Vertical ground reaction forces (GRF), kinematics of horse and rider as well as saddle forces (FS) were measured synchronously in 7 high level dressage horses while being ridden on an instrumented treadmill at walk. Discrete values of the total saddle forces (FStot) were determined for e...
Deformation of the equine pelvis in response to in vitro 3D sacroiliac joint loading. Sacroiliac joint injuries can cause poor performance; however, the interaction between pelvic mechanics and the sacroiliac joint is poorly understood. Objective: To measure pelvic displacement during 3D sacroiliac joint loading. Methods: Nine reflective triads were attached rigidly to bony prominences in sacropelvic specimens harvested from 14 horses for stereophotogrammetric analysis of triad displacements and joint kinematics. The sacrum was coupled to a load cell and mounted vertically within a material testing system (MTS). A pneumatic actuator was used to apply 90 Nm moments to the ischia...
Ex vivo calibration and validation of in vivo equine bone strain measures. Data are required to confirm that strain gauges recording high bone strains in Thoroughbred racehorses provide an accurate record of bone strain. Objective: To test the accuracy and reliability of very high in vivo strain recordings made during fast exercise in Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: Strains were recorded during exercise from rosette gauges implanted onto the mid-shaft dorsal cortex of each third metacarpal bone (MC3) in 6 yearling and 6 mature Thoroughbreds in a previous experiment. Bulk elastic modulus (E(US)) was calculated from ultrasound speed and single photon absorptiometry m...
Isolation, growth and differentiation of equine mesenchymal stem cells: effect of donor, source, amount of tissue and supplementation with basic fibroblast growth factor. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are increasingly used as therapeutical aid for the orthopaedic injuries in the horse. MSC populate different tissues but the most commonly used for clinical purposes are isolated from bone marrow or adipose tissue. The first objective of this study was to investigate if the donor animal, the tissue of origin and the technique of isolation could influence the number of MSC available for transplantation after a short-term expansion. The second aim was to devise a culture system capable of increasing MSC lifespan and we tested the effect of basic fibroblast growth fac...
Sub-clinical diseases affecting performance in Standardbred trotters: diagnostic methods and predictive parameters. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of sub-clinical diseases in poorly-performing Standardbred horses, compare their physiological response to exercise with control horses, and identify predictive parameters of poor-performance. Fifty horses underwent thorough clinical and ancillary examinations, including haematological and biochemical evaluation, Doppler echocardiography, standardised exercise tests (SETs) on both treadmill and racetrack, treadmill video-endoscopy and collection of respiratory fluids. Most of the poorly-performing horses exhibited many concomitant d...
Replication of equine herpesvirus type 1 in equine dermal cells transfected with Bam HI[G] restriction fragment of EHV-2 genome. In previous experiments, we have demonstrated that the presence of equine herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) enhanced plaque formation in cell cultures infected with equine herpesvirus type 1. To determine whether a specific region of the EHV-2 genome is responsible for this effect, we have constructed a library of Bam HI fragments of the EHV-2 genome ligated into pcDNA plasmid. Equine dermal (ED) cell cultures were subsequently transfected with the constructs, passaged 5 times, tested for the presence of the plasmids and infected with EHV-1 at MOI = 0.01. Only in cultures transfected with the pcDNA/Bam HI...
The role of land use patterns in limiting the spread of equine influenza in Queensland during the 2007 epidemic. In 2007, an epizootic of equine influenza (EI) occurred in Australia, involving parts of the states of Queensland and New South Wales. Following an extensive control program, the disease was eradicated within 4 months, after infecting more than 75,000 horses on over 10,000 properties. In Queensland, examination of land use patterns revealed that the majority of infected premises (89.5%) were located in one of three land use classes viz. rural residential, residential-unspecified or grazing natural vegetation. All nine clusters of infection in Queensland were surrounded to some degree by parcel...
A single-nucleotide polymorphism in a herpesvirus DNA polymerase is sufficient to cause lethal neurological disease. Epidemiological studies have shown that a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the equid herpesvirus type 1 DNA polymerase gene is associated with outbreaks of highly lethal neurological disease in horses. Reverse genetics experiments further demonstrated that a G(2254) A(2254) nucleotide mutation introduced in neurovirulent strain Ab4, which resulted in an asparagine for aspartic acid substitution (D(752) N(752)), rendered the virus nonneurovirulent in the equine. Here, we report that the nonneurovirulent strain equid herpesvirus type 1 strain NY03 caused lethal neurological disease in horses af...
Reproductive efficiency of Thoroughbred mares under Indian subtropical conditions: A retrospective survey over 7 years. Service records of 253 mares (1181 mare-years) spanning over 7 consecutive years, from nine organized Thoroughbred stud farms, situated in the subtropical northwestern India were retrospectively analyzed to assess their reproductive performance. The overall per cycle pregnancy rate at Day 16 and overall foaling rates were 50.30% and 68.95%, respectively, and were significantly higher in mares aged 3-7 years than > or =18 years old mares. The late embryonic losses (9.86%) that occurred between Days 16 and 39 post-ovulation contributed more than 50% of the overall detected pregnancy losses (1...
Assessment of the anti-Naja haje antibodies elicited in a low dose multi-site immunization protocol. The horse antibodies to Naja haje (Nh) elicited in a low dose multi-site immunization protocol were investigated from binding perspective in the context of antivenom maturation. We found that, this protocol evoked the production of lethality neutralizing avid antibodies in the first round of immunization which increases over the successive immunization rounds. The changes and the relative changes in the antibody parameters of each horse were taken as a measure for the efficacy of its immune system to respond by gaining and magnifying the antivenom parameters. While the avidity increases over t...
Restriction of equine infectious anemia virus by equine APOBEC3 cytidine deaminases. The mammalian APOBEC3 (A3) proteins comprise a multigene family of cytidine deaminases that act as potent inhibitors of retroviruses and retrotransposons. The A3 locus on the chromosome 28 of the horse genome contains multiple A3 genes: two copies of A3Z1, five copies of A3Z2, and a single copy of A3Z3, indicating a complex evolution of multiple gene duplications. We have cloned and analyzed for expression the different equine A3 genes and examined as well the subcellular distribution of the corresponding proteins. Additionally, we have tested the functional antiretroviral activity of the equi...
Rupture of the lateral lobe of the biceps brachii tendon in an Arabian horse. Rupture of the lateral lobe of the proximal tendon of the biceps brachii muscle was diagnosed in an Arabian horse. To the authors' knowledge, this is the only report of this condition in horses. Although clinical signs were helpful in the identification of the location of disease, ultrasonographic examination was a more definitive and non- invasive means of diagnosing the pathological condition. Bursoscopic examination of the intertubercular bursa was also useful in obtaining confirmation of the diagnosis, and for debridement and lavage of the bursa.
Randomised controlled trial of the treatment of pastern dermatitis with a formulation containing kunzea oil. The efficacy of an ointment containing kunzea oil for the treatment of horses with localised acute or chronic pastern dermatitis was assessed. Thirty-seven horses were randomly allocated to treatment with an ointment containing either 20 per cent kunzea oil (test) or 2 per cent ketoconazole (control). Only 21 of the horses completed the study. The severity of the lesions was assessed before and after seven days of treatment. The kunzea oil formulation resulted in a significant decrease in the median total area of the lesions from 40 cm(2) (range 3 to 252 cm(2)) to 0 cm(2) (range 0 to 34 cm(2))...
Cholinergic stimulation attenuates the IL-4 induced expression of E-selectin and vascular endothelial growth factor by equine pulmonary artery endothelial cells. The endothelium plays a critical role in regulating leukocyte recruitment and migration during inflammation. Recent studies provide evidence that acetylcholine (ACh) and other cholinergic mediators block endothelial cells activation and leukocyte recruitment during inflammation. We thus postulated that the non-neuronal cholinergic system might modulate the recruitment of neutrophils during allergic pulmonary inflammation. In the present study, we examined the effects of cholinergic stimulation on the expression of neutrophil chemokines and adhesion molecules by endothelial cells stimulated by ...
Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 concentrations in normal and septic neonatal foals. Previously it was reported that compared to surviving septic foals, non-surviving foals had a 35-fold increase in interleukin-10 (IL-10) and 15-fold increase in IL-6 gene expression in their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). As gene expression profiles can be time-consuming, we sought to determine if serum IL-6 and IL-10 in foals would aid in the diagnosis and prognosis of septicemia. A prospective study of septic neonatal foals admitted to the Cornell University Equine Hospital during 2007 and 2008 was performed. Septicemia was confirmed in 15 foals using blood culture results and se...
Bilateral sinus cysts in a filly treated by endoscopic sinus surgery. Bilateral cysts in the frontal and caudal maxillary sinuses in a filly treated by endoscopic sinus surgery (sinoscopy) and triangulation technique are described. Sinoscopy has the advantage of being a minimally invasive technique and permits a complete inspection of the frontal and maxillary sinuses, which is not possible through flap sinusotomy. Des kystes bilatéraux dans les sinus maxillaires frontal et caudal chez une pouliche traitée par une chirurgie endoscopique des sinus (sinoscopie) et une technique de triangulation sont décrits. La sinoscopie possède l’avantage d’être une te...
Equine herpesvirus-1, non-neurogenic pathotype, in a 9-year-old American Saddlebred with neurological signs. Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) causes rhinopneumonitis, abortion, and rarely, myeloencephalopathy. The neurovirulence of this virus is due to a point mutation in the DNA polymerase gene. Diagnosis by virus isolation has been replaced by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays that can detect strains, viral loads, and states; this may aid in control and management of the disease. L’herpèsvirus équin de type-1 (EHV-1) cause la rhinopneumonie, l’avortement et rarement la myéloencéphalopathie. La neurovirulence de ce virus est attribuable à une mutation ponctuelle à l’intér...
Evidence of the development of ‘domain-restricted’ expertise in the recognition of asymmetric motion characteristics of hindlimb lameness in the horse. Visual assessment of horses' movements is subjective, affected by bias and dependent on the level of experience of the assessor. However, to date there are no data available on the ability of the human visual system to recognise (a)symmetry in moving objects. Objective: To investigate, using visual lameness assessment, the limits of human perception and the ability of experienced and nonexperienced individuals to detect asymmetry in 2 moving objects simulating hindlimb lameness in the horse. Methods: Twelve experienced individuals (equine and small animal clinicians), and 24 nonexperienced ind...
Prediction of incipient pasture-associated laminitis from hyperinsulinaemia, hyperleptinaemia and generalised and localised obesity in a cohort of ponies. The ability to predict ponies at increased risk of laminitic episodes, when exposed to nutrient dense pasture, would facilitate management to avoid disease. Objective: To identify variables and clinically useful cut-off values with reproducible diagnostic accuracy for the prediction of ponies that subsequently developed laminitis when exposed to nutrient dense pasture. Methods: A cohort of predominantly Welsh and Dartmoor ponies from a closed herd was evaluated in March 2006 (n = 74) and March 2007 (n = 57). Ponies were categorised as never laminitic or previously laminitic according to report...
Oral endoscopy as an aid to diagnosis of equine cheek tooth infections in the absence of gross oral pathological changes: 17 cases. Removal of cheek teeth in all but the aged horse or pony is a serious undertaking with potentially deleterious sequellae. Rigid endoscopy permits detailed examination of the oral cavity and erupted dental tissues and has the potential to assist in the correct identification of the diseased tooth. Objective: To document oral endoscopic findings associated with infected equine cheek teeth in cases without gross oral pathological changes and thereby determine the usefulness of rigid oral endoscopy as an aid to diagnosis of such infections. Methods: Records of all cases of equine cheek tooth remov...
Localization of the equine IgG-binding domain in the fibrinogen-binding protein (FgBP) of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. Fibrinogen-binding protein (FgBP, also termed SeM) is a cell-wall-associated anti-phagocytic M-like protein of the equine pathogen Streptococcus equi subsp. equi, and binds fibrinogen (Fg) and IgG. FgBP binds Fg avidly through residues located at the extreme N terminus of the molecule, whereas the IgG-binding site is more centrally located between the A and B repeats. FgBP binds equine IgG4 and IgG7 subclasses through interaction with the CH2-CH3 interdomain region of IgG-Fc, and possesses overlapping Fc-binding sites with protein A and protein G. In this study, FgBP truncates containing defin...
Evaluation of systemic relaxin blood profiles in horses as a means of assessing placental function in high-risk pregnancies and responsiveness to therapeutic strategies. Placental insufficiency is regarded as the primary factor contributing to late-term abortion and perinatal death of foals. Often when problems associated with late-term pregnancy in the horse are manifest the condition is well-advanced and therapeutic intervention may not be effective in rescuing the pregnancy. If a compromised pregnancy due to placental insufficiency could be identified early, the pregnancy might be sustained through medical intervention. Because the placenta is the sole source of circulating relaxin in the mare, we hypothesized that systemic relaxin may serve as a biomarker ...
