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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.
Future directions in treatment of joint disease in horses. Osteoarthritis is one of the most economically important diseases facing equine practitioners. The loss of use associated with joint disease is a leading problem in the equine industry. Although osteoarthritis in all species is believed to be a multifactorial disease that is not well understood, significant advances are being made. This article presents areas of research that are relatively well developed but have not made it to commercialization or routine clinical practice and looks at new applications being investigated for peo-ple that may have an equine application.
Arthrodesis techniques in horses. When medical therapy and surgical treatments of an injured joint fail to return the animal to athletic performance or comfortable use of the limb, arthrodes is is a final option for some joints. Arthrodesis refers to the surgical fusion of a joint, resulting in bony ankylosis. Successful arthrodesis requires debridement of the articular cartilage through the calcified cartilage layer, exposing the subchondral bone; alignment of the joint into a weight-bearing position; and stabilization. The methods by which these steps are accomplished are variable, depending on the individual joint. There ar...
Role of transcranial magnetic stimulation in differentiating motor nervous tract disorders from other causes of recumbency in four horses and one donkey. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and measurement of the magnetic motor-evoked potentials (MMEPs) in the thoracic and pelvic limbs of four recumbent horses and one recumbent donkey were used to assess the integrity of the descending motor pathways, in order to confirm or exclude a descending motor tract lesion as the cause of the recumbency. In two of the animals abnormal MMEPs were recorded; in one of the horses a lesion along the cervical spinal cord due to a fracture of the fifth cervical vertebra was diagnosed and confirmed by radiography and postmortem examination; in another horse, damag...
Detection of equine herpesvirus type 1 by real time PCR. A real-time PCR assay was developed for detection and quantitation of equid herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). The sensitivity of the assay was compared with an established nested-PCR (n-PCR). The real-time PCR detected 1 copy of target DNA, with a sensitivity 1 log higher than gel-based n-PCR. The assay was able to detect specifically EHV-1 DNA in equine tissue samples and there was no cross-amplification of other horse herpesviruses. Real-time PCR was applied to determine EHV-1 load in tissue samples from equine aborted fetuses. The high sensitivity and reproducibility of the EHV-1-specific fluorog...
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for treatment of osteoarthritis in the horse: clinical applications. Veterinarians have begun using extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) in horses, although relatively little information has been published about its efficacy or mechanism of action. As a clinician, it can be difficult to know if and when ESWT should be recommended. Case studies in which ESWT is used to treat advanced OA in horses are discussed. ESWTseems to be a valuable adjunct for management of equine OA. It is the purpose of this article to discuss indications and techniques as well as to share clinical experiences using ESWT in the treatment of OA in ...
The use of nutraceuticals for osteoarthritis in horses. In horses, lameness is often attributable to some degree of osteoarthritis (OA), a complex disease process that is highlighted by eventual degradation of articular cartilage. Conventional therapies for OA in horses are designed to relieve pain and discomfort and often include pharmacologic intervention with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or intra-articular steroids. Oral administration of nutraceutical products to the horse is common and easy and is perceived to be a benign treatment for OA in horses. The main goal for use of nutraceuticals is to use them in OA cases to attempt to lower ...
Radiographic anatomy of the soft tissue attachments of the equine stifle. Radiography is a very important aspect of equine stifle imaging. The precise radiographic anatomy of the soft tissue structures of the equine stifle has not been described previously. Objective: To describe the anatomical relationship between sites of attachment of soft tissue structures of the equine stifle and their locations on standard radiographic views. Methods: The sites of bony attachments of the tendons, ligaments and fibrous portion of the joint capsules of equine stifles were determined by gross dissection. These sites of attachment were transposed onto one set of bones deprived of ...
Equine rehabilitation therapy for joint disease. The principles of physical rehabilitation therapy can be applied to the horse to provide a reduction in discomfort and dysfunction associated with the various forms of joint disease. Physical agents,such as ice, heat, electricity, sound, light, magnetic fields, compression, and movement, can be used by the rehabilitation therapist to attempt to control pain, reduce swelling, and restore optimal movement and function in the affected joint. The equine therapist's attention is focused not only on the affected joint but on the body as a whole to manage secondary or compensatory problems.
Black walnut extract-induced laminitis in horses is associated with heterogeneous dysfunction of the laminar microvasculature. 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...
Systemic therapies for joint disease in horses. Systemic therapies for joint disease may be prescribed when a single joint is involved or when multiple sites are affected. The precise therapeutic regimen recommended depends on the duration,cause, and site(s) of injury and is often an adjunct to intra-articular or supportive therapies. If the clinical signs of joint disease are acute and moderate in severity, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often administered to alleviate pain and inflammation. When aiming for more of a generalized maintenance or chondro-protective regimen, an alternative medication, such as hyaluronan,polysulfated ...
High inspired oxygen concentrations increase intrapulmonary shunt in anaesthetized horses. To compare pulmonary function and gas exchange in anaesthetized horses during and after breathing either O2-rich gas mixtures or air. Methods: Six healthy standard bred trotters (age range 3-12 years; mass range 423-520 kg), four geldings and two mares. Study design Randomized, cross-over experimental study. Methods: Horses were anaesthetized on two occasions with tiletamine-zolazepam after pre-anaesthetic medication with acepromazine, romifidine and butorphanol. After endotracheal intubation and positioning in left lateral recumbency, animals were allowed to breathe spontaneously. One of two,...
Cytogenetic mapping of immunity-related genes in the domestic horse. Chromosomal locations of 19 horse immunity-related loci (CASP1, CD14, EIF5A, FCER1A, IFNG, IL12A, IL12B, IL12RB2, IL1A, IL23A, IL4, IL6, MMP7, MS4A2, MYD88, NOS2A, PTGS2, TFRC and TLR2) were determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization. For IFNG and PTGS2, this study is a confirmation of their previously reported position. In addition, microsatellite (HMBr1) was localized in the same region as IFNG. All genes were assigned to regions of conserved synteny and the data obtained in this study enhance the comparative human-horse map. Cytogenetic localization of IL6 to ECA4q14-q21.1 suggested a...
Scanning electron microscopy of the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle of the horse. The present study examined the ultrastructure of the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle of the horse. The material was fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 m sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.3, processed and analysed by scanning electron microscopy. The choroid plexus was characterized by regions with a predominance of villi, which resembled finger-like projections or bunches of grapes, and others where straight and uniform folds predominated. Epithelial cells projected into the ventricle and large amounts of cilia and microvilli were observed on their surface. The choroid glomus corresponded...
cDNA sequence of the horse (Equus caballus) LAMA3 gene and characterization of two intronic SNP markers. Laminins are large heterotrimeric basement membrane glycoproteins composed of alpha, beta and gamma chains. The Laminin 5 isoform has an alpha3beta3gamma2 composition and is essential for the adhesion of basal keratinocytes to the underlying epithelial basement membrane where it is mainly located. Mutations in the genes coding for the 3 chains have been associated with a severe skin blistering disease, Herlitz's junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB), observed in different species as man, dog, cat and horse. In this study, we report the sequence of the 5.2 kb horse laminin alpha 3 cDNA (LAMA3)...
Recovery of Swedish Equine arteritis viruses from semen by cell culture isolation and RNA transfection. Recovery of infectious Equine arteritis virus (EAV) from the semen of persistently infected Swedish stallions was attempted by classical cell culture isolation and by transfection of extracted total RNA. Whereas virus from semen samples stored for several months at -20 degrees C or from extended semen could only be recovered by transfection of extracted RNA, isolation in cell culture was achieved readily with fresh, unextended semen stored at -70 degrees C or directly used after sampling. In parallel, the viruses were examined in the variable region of the large glycoprotein GP5 by nested RT-P...
How to perform transvenous electrical cardioversion in horses with atrial fibrillation. Electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation is a well-established technique for restoration of sinus rhythm in humans. While transthoracic cardioversion is more commonly used, transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) has been reported as having higher efficacy at substantially lower energy levels. In horses, treatment of atrial fibrillation has essentially been limited to the administration of quinidine salts either orally or intravenously. TVEC provides an alternative to quinidine salts, especially for those animals in which quinidine is neither effective nor tolerated. The present rep...
Endocytosis and a low-pH step are required for productive entry of equine infectious anemia virus. Recently, it has become evident that entry of some retroviruses into host cells is dependent upon a vesicle-localized, low-pH step. The entry mechanism of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) has yet to be examined. Here, we demonstrate that wild-type strains of EIAV require a low-pH step for productive entry. Lysosomotropic agents that inhibit the acidification of internal vesicles inhibited productive entry of EIAV. The presence of ammonium chloride (30 mM), monensin (30 microM), or bafilomycin A (50 nM) in the medium dramatically decreased the number of EIAV antigen-positive cells. We foun...
Dynamic changes in circulating leukocytes during the induction of equine laminitis with black walnut extract. Administration of black walnut heartwood extract (BWHE) via nasogastric tube induces acute laminitis in horses. However, the processes responsible for the development of laminitis, including laminitis induced with BWHE, remain unclear. The results of recent studies indicate that administration of BWHE initiates an inflammatory response in the laminar tissues and that this response may be due to extravasation of activated leukocytes from the circulation. This study examines the effects of BWHE administration on the dynamics of circulating neutrophils and monocytes, and the capacity of blood leu...
The effect of enzyme treatment on the in vitro fermentation of lucerne incubated with equine faecal inocula. A series of experiments was conducted to determine the effects of a fibrolytic enzyme preparation (enzyme 1; E1) on the in vitro fermentation of lucerne incubated with equine faecal inocula. In experiment 1, high-temperature-dried (HT) lucerne was treated with five levels of E1 (0 to 2.4 ml/g DM) and incubated at 50 degrees C for 20 h. Samples then received a simulated foregut digestion (SFD) treatment before DM and NSP analysis. In experiment 2, HT lucerne was treated with the same enzyme levels used in experiment 1. Samples were then split into two groups; plus or minus an SFD treatment befo...
Association between subjective lameness grade and kinetic gait parameters in horses with experimentally induced forelimb lameness. To evaluate the association between subjective lameness grades and kinetic gait parameters and assess the variability in kinetic parameters in horses with experimentally induced forelimb lameness. Methods: 32 horses. Methods: Forelimb lameness was induced in each horse via injection of lipopolysaccharide into 1 metacarpophalangeal joint (40 experimental trials). Subjective lameness grading and 13 kinetic gait parameters (force plate analysis) were assessed before (baseline) and at 12, 18, and 24 hours after lipopolysaccharide injection. While horses were trotting, kinetic gait analysis was per...
Effects of radial shock waves on membrane permeability and viability of chondrocytes and structure of articular cartilage in equine cartilage explants. To investigate in vitro effects of radial shock waves on membrane permeability, viability, and structure of chondrocytes and articular cartilage. Methods: Cartilage explants obtained from the third metacarpal and metatarsal bones of 6 horses. Methods: Equine cartilage was subjected to radial shock waves and then maintained as explants in culture for 48 hours. Treatment groups consisted of a negative control group; application of 500, 2,000, and 4,000 impulses by use of a convex handpiece (group A); and application of 500, 2,000, and 4,000 impulses by use of a concave handpiece (group B). Effec...
Detection of testosterone, nandrolone and precursors in horse hair. Growing interest among several horse-breeder associations has initiated the development of a screening procedure to test for anabolic agents in hair, which has the advantage over blood and urine specimens of allowing long-term detection. An analytical method was established to monitor in tails or manes several anabolic substances available as veterinary medicines or as so-called nutritional supplements (clenbuterol, different esters or prohormones of nandrolone and testosterone). The analytical procedure to detect steroids in hair samples consists of the following steps: decontamination of the...
Equine herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) infection in thoroughbred horses in Argentina. Equine herpesvirus 2 is a gamma-herpesvirus that infects horses worldwide. Although EHV-2 has been implicated in immunosuppression in foals, upper respiratory tract disease, conjunctivitis, general malaise and poor performance, its precise role as a pathogen remains uncertain. The purpose of the present study was to analyse the incidence of EHV-2 in an Argentinean horse population and correlate it with age and clinical status of the animals. Results: A serological study on 153 thoroughbred racing horses confirmed the presence of EHV-2 in the Argentinean equine population. A virus neutralizatio...
