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.
Ouellette AL, Evans RJ, Heath MF.Endotoxaemia is the leading cause of death in horses. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIG), stimulated by induced monocyte proteins, is a prominent feature. Monocyte-platelet cellular interactions are central to the vascular dysfunction produced by circulating endotoxin and are implicated in many thrombotic diseases in the horse. This study reports that endotoxin (0.01-10 microg ml(-1)) and blood platelets (2.5 x 10(7) - 1 x 10(8) ml(-1)) are potent inducers of expression and activity of monocyte tissue factor (TF), the primary activator of the blood coagulation protease cascade. The c...
Johansson AM, Gardner SY, Jones SL, Fuquay LR, Reagan VH, Levine JF.This study was initiated to identify the signalment and clinical variables potentially associated with hypomagnesemia in horses evaluated at the North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine (NCSU-CVM) veterinary teaching hospital between January 1999 and May 2001. A nested case reference study (nested case-control study) was conducted to examine the potential relationship between hypomagnesemia and signalment, serum chemistry panel analyses, number of hospitalization days, discharge status, and diagnosis. A series of independent and multivariable logistic regression models w...
Westermann CM, Parlevliet JM, Meertens NM, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.Mares regularly have an enlarged ovary. The main causes are haematomas, anovulatory follicles, abscesses, and neoplasia. The granulosa-theca-cell tumour is by far the most common neoplasia of the ovary (about 97%) and accounts for 2.5% of all equine tumours. In this article the differential diagnosis of an enlarged ovary and the background of granulosa-theca cell tumours are reviewed. A case is described of a mare with a very large granulosa-theca cell tumour in the left ovary, which was discovered 1 month after delivery of a healthy foal. This case is special not only because the tumour was e...
Blazyczek I, Hamann H, Ohnesorge B, Deegen E, Distl O.The objective of the present study was to analyse the importance of the influences of the sex, inbreeding coefficient and the additive genetic contribution to the occurrence of guttural pouch tympany in Arabian foals. Horses affected by guttural pouch tympany were ascertained in the Clinic for Horses, School of Veterinary Medicine Hannover. The data comprised 27 Arabian purebred foals with guttural pouch tympany. Of these 27 animals 22 were patients of the Clinic for Horses between 1994 and 2001 and 5 Arabian foals were sampled on the studs. Information on the pedigrees of these patients allow...
Contreiras EC, Lenzi HL, Meirelles MN, Caputo LF, Calado TJ, Villa-Verde DM, Savino W.We characterized herein the microarchitecture of the equine thymus along with post-natal development (6 months-->18 years). Thymuses showed an involutional process, beginning before the puberty and defined by five histological grades, which consider the progressive cortical thymocyte depletion, shrinkage and rearrangement of the epithelial network and increase in extracellular matrix (ECM). A second feature of the equine thymus was the presence of eosinopoiesis, erythropoiesis, mastocytopoiesis and plasmacytogenesis. Additionally, lymphatic vessels, full of lymphocytes, were particularly pr...
Wieringa R, De Vries AA, Post SM, Rottier PJ.Equine arteritis virus (EAV) is an enveloped, positive-strand RNA virus belonging to the family Arteriviridae of the order NIDOVIRALES: EAV virions contain six different envelope proteins. The glycoprotein GP(5) (previously named G(L)) and the unglycosylated membrane protein M are the major envelope proteins, while the glycoproteins GP(2b) (previously named G(S)), GP(3), and GP(4) are minor structural proteins. The unglycosylated small hydrophobic envelope protein E is present in virus particles in intermediate molar amounts compared to the other transmembrane proteins. The GP(5) and M protein...
Oliveira PR, Borges LM, Leite RC, Freitas CM.The population dynamics of all stages of the Cayenne tick, Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius) (Acari: Ixodidae) on horses was evaluated over a period of 2 years in the district of Pedro Leopoldo, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Every 14 days, the left side of 20 horses was brushed for collection of immature stages; counts of adults were also undertaken. Infestation by larvae was detected from April to August, whereas nymphs were observed from June to October. Infestation by adults was detected throughout the year, and the highest population density occurred from September to March. The number of ...
Nielsen JV, Berg LC, Thoefnert MB, Thomsen PD.Intra-articular facet joint injection is an established diagnostic procedure in human medicine but there are no reports on its reliability in equine practice. Objective: To investigate the accuracy of ultrasound-guided intra-articular injections of the cervical facet joints and to estimate factors influencing the accuracy. Methods: Sixty injections with blue dye were performed on the facet joints between 2nd and 7th cervical vertebra (C2-C7) on horses subjected to euthanasia for nonorthopaedic reasons. The facet joints were subsequently dissected to verify accuracy of deposition. Results: Seve...
Desmaizières LM, Martinot S, Lepage OM, Bareiss E, Cadoré JL.To report our experience and complications associated with different cannula insertion techniques for laparoscopy in standing horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Forty horses that had laparoscopy for diagnostic or surgical purposes. Methods: After a physical examination, including rectal palpation, standing laparoscopy was performed in 40 sedated horses. Local anesthetic was injected at each site of cannula insertion in the left flank. Horses were divided into 5 groups: Pneumoperitoneum was induced before cannula insertion using a Verres needle (group 1, n = 3) or a 12-g catheter (g...
Sletten K, Johnson KH, Westermark P.The primary structure of amyloid fibril protein AA of a burro has been determined by Edman degradation. The 80 amino acid residue long protein shows strong resemblance to that of other mammalian AA-proteins and differs from equine protein AA at 5 positions: Burro/horse positions 20 (Q/N), 44 (R,Q, K/K,Q), 59 (G,L/G,A), 61 (Q/E) and 65 (N/R).
Sauer P, Andrew SE, Lassaline M, Gelatt KN, Denis HM.To document changes in antibiotic resistance of organisms in cases of equine bacterial ulcerative keratitis over a 10-year time period. Methods: A retrospective study. Methods: Medical records of equine patients with bacterial ulcerative keratitis seen at the University of Florida's VMTH for the years 1991-2000 were reviewed. Methods: All cases of equine bacterial ulcerative keratitis for the above mentioned years were examined. Bacterial isolates were identified and subjected to Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method sensitivity tests. Antibiotics used in the sensitivity tests included bacitracin,...
Jackson BF, Lonnell C, Verheyen K, Wood JL, Pfeiffert DU, Price JS.Injuries to the skeleton are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in racehorses and age, gender and season have all been shown to influence risk of injury. Objective: To use biochemical markers of bone cell activity to establish to whether cellular processes in bone underlie these described effects. Methods: Blood samples were collected monthly from 2-year-old horses in race training between November 1998 and September 1999. Mean age at the start of the study was 20 months (range 18-23 months), with no significant difference in average age between colts (n = 84) and fillies (n = 63). Three...
Davis JL, Stewart T, Brazik E, Gilger BC.The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of age, breed and gender on vertical pupil diameter (VPD) following a single dose of 1% atropine sulfate ophthalmic solution in the normal equine eye. Methods: Thirty-two horses of various ages, breeds and genders were included. The horses had no history or clinical signs of ophthalmic disease. All horses studied had darkly pigmented irides. Methods: Two milligrams of 1% atropine sulfate ophthalmic solution was topically administered as a single dose in the right eye of each horse on Day 0. The VPD (mm) was measured in both eyes using di...
Merritt AM, Sanchez LC, Burrow JA, Church M, Ludzia S.Ulceration of the squamous gastric mucosa is commonly associated with intensive training programmes in horses, but only one compound ('Gastrogard') has been subjected to controlled scrutiny as to therapeutic efficacy. Objective: To compare the gastric acid inhibitory efficacy of one manufactured ('GastroGard') and 3 generic pharmacy-compounded preparations of the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole (OME) in the mature horse. Objective: All OME preparations tested would induce a clinically acceptable effect. Methods: Six healthy mature gastrically cannulated horses of various breeds, 3 mares and 3...
Michau TM, Schwabenton B, Davidson MG, Gilger BC.To characterize superficial, nonhealing corneal ulcers in the horse and to assess the affect of age, breed, sex, inciting cause of the ulcer, and treatment on healing time of these ulcers. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Twenty-three horses with superficial, nonhealing corneal ulcerations. Methods: Medical records from 1989 to 2003 of horses diagnosed with superficial, nonhealing corneal ulcers were reviewed. Signalment, duration of clinical signs, ophthalmic abnormalities, treatment and response to treatment were recorded. Horses were treated, in addition to medical therapy, using debr...
Dabareiner RM, White NA, Donaldson L.Ileus and peritoneal adhesions are the most common complications following surgery for small intestinal obstruction. Carolina Rinse (CR) has been shown to decrease reperfusion injury in intestine and other organs. Objective: CR decreases intestinal inflammation and subsequent scarring associated with reperfusion injury. Methods: CR was infused intra-arterially and applied topically just prior to reperfusion in jejunum exposed to experimental ischemia. Vascular permeability, neutrophil accumulation and serosal scarring were compared in treated and untreated intestine. Results: CR maintained a n...
Edwards JG, Newtont JR, Ramzan PH, Pilsworth RC, Shepherd MC.Dantrolene sodium (Dantrium) has been used extensively for the treatment of myopathies in man and anecdotal evidence suggests it is of clinical benefit in the control of exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis (ER) in racehorses, although data to support this are currently lacking. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of oral dantrolene sodium in controlling ER in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving 77 Thoroughbred racehorses in Newmarket, UK. Methods: Horses were treated on 2 occasions 1 week apart, with treatment days coinciding with a return to exercise follow...
Le Jeune SS, Macdonald MH, Stover SM, Taylor KT, Gerdes M.Objective-To determine whether partial transection of the medial branch of the suspensory ligament (MBSL) alters equine third metacarpal bone (MC3) condylar surface strains and forelimb, distal joint angles in a manner consistent with promotion of lateral condylar fracture. Study Design-In vitro biomechanical experiment. Sample Population-Right forelimbs from 7 Thoroughbred horse cadavers. Methods-Lateral and medial MC3 condylar, dorsal and abaxial, bone surface strains and distal joint angles were measured both before and after partial transection of the MBSL during in vitro axial limb compre...
Berg LC, Nielsen JV, Thoefner MB, Thomsen PD.In equine patients, the cause of clinical signs possibly related to the cervical region is often difficult to diagnose. Ultrasonography allows quick and noninvasive visualisation, but reference material of the normal equine neck is needed. Objective: To describe and document the normal ultrasonographic appearance of transverse scans in the cervical region with emphasis on the synovial articular facet joints, cervical vertebrae and paravertebral structures; and further, to provide images of frozen cross-sections for anatomical reference. Methods: A study describing the normal ultrasonographic a...
Brommer H, van Weeren PR, Brama PA, Barneveld A.The equine fetlock joint has the largest number of traumatic and degenerative lesions of all joints of the appendicular skeleton. Objective: To gain insight into the distribution of cartilage degeneration across the articular surface in relation to age in order better to understand the dynamic nature and progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Objective: That there would be a specific age-related distribution pattern of cartilage degeneration in the equine metacarpophalangeal joint. Methods: The proximal articular cartilage surfaces of the first phalanges (P1) of 73 slaughter horses (age range 0.4...
Matsuda M, Moore JE.In the present review article, recent molecular advances relating to studies with Taylorella equigenitalis, as well as the recently described second species of the genus Taylorella, namely Taylorella asinigenitalis, have been described. Molecular genotyping of T. equigenitalis strains by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) after digestion with the suitable restriction enzyme(s) enabled the effective discrimination of strains, thus allowing the examination of the scientific mechanism(s) for its occurrence and transmission of contagious equine metritis (CEM). Alternatively, polymerase chain ...
Szeredi L, Hornyák A, Dénes B, Rusvai M.A 4-days-old foal died after a short course of respiratory syndrome and fever. Large areas of the alveoli, bronchioles and bronchi were partly or completely filled by hyaline membranes. Pronounced oedema and mild interstitial pneumonia were present and, in the small muscular arteries, fibrinoid necrosis and vasculitis or perivasculitis could be seen. Vasculitis was found in several other organs, and it was most severe in the thymus. The virus was detected in the lung, kidney and spleen using virus isolation and in the lung and spleen using polymerase chain reaction. The virus was also detected...
Muirhead T, McClure JT, Bourque A, Pack L.A lesion in the cervical region of a 14-month-old Belgian gelding with severe ataxia was suspected. Necropsy revealed symmetric focal cartilage defects compatible with osteochondrosis of the occipital condyles and atlanto-occipital dysplasia. To our knowledge this is the first equine report of symmetrical osteochondrosis of the occipital condyles causing neurologic signs.
Stockert JC, Trigoso CI, Tato A, Ferrer JM.The structure of specific granules from horse eosinophil leukocytes is still largely unknown. In this work, electron microscopical studies of horse eosinophils reveal that the large cytoplasmic granules contain an external membrane, a matrix of less density, and a dense (non crystalline) core. Round vacuolar inclusions of matrix materials were often observed within the cores. Horse eosinophil granules showed a considerable heterogeneity, and three morphological types could be identified according to structural features of the core and matrix.
Leduc L, Leclère M, Lavoie JP.Although horses with asthma share similar clinical signs, the heterogeneity of the disease in terms of severity, triggering factors, inflammatory profile, and pathological features has hindered our ability to define biologically distinct subgroups. The recognition of phenotypes and endotypes could enable the development of precision medicine, including personalized, targeted therapy, to benefit affected horses. While in its infancy in horses, this review outlines the phenotypes of equine asthma and discusses how knowledge gained from targeted therapy in human medicine can be applied to evaluat...
Pader K, Lescun TB, Freeman LJ.To develop and assess the feasibility of standing transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES®) ovariectomy in the mare. Methods: Descriptive study. Methods: Mares (n=10). Methods: The technique was developed in 6 mares and then evaluated in a short-term study in 4 mares. Abdominal access was developed using controlled access vaginal cannula placement under endoscopic guidance. With viewing provided by a flexible endoscope, hemostasis, and transection of ovarian pedicles was performed using a customized bipolar vessel-sealing device. The ovaries were retrieved and the ...
Consuegra C, Crespo F, Dorado J, Diaz-Jimenez M, Pereira B, Hidalgo M.Lipids and proteins can be used for sperm vitrification to preserve the integrity of sperm membranes or to increase the viscosity of the medium. This study evaluated the effect of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and milk serum proteins (Pronexcell) for stallion sperm vitrification. Hippex extender (Barex Biochemical Products, The Netherlands), plus 1% of bovine serum albumin and 100 mM of trehalose, was used as control for sperm vitrification. In experiment 1, different concentrations of LDL (L1 = 0.25, L2 = 0.5, L3 = 1%) and in experiment 2 of Pronexcell (P1 = 1, P2 = 5, P3 = 10%)...
Janeczek M, Chrószcz A, Onar V, Henklewski R, Skalec A.Animal remains that are unearthed during archaeological excavations often provide useful information about socio-cultural context, including human habits, beliefs, and ancestral relationships. In this report, we present pathologically altered equine first and second phalanges from an 11th century specimen that was excavated at Wrocław Cathedral Island, Poland. The results of gross examination, radiography, and computed tomography, indicate osteoarthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joint, with partial ankylosis. Based on comparison with living modern horses undergoing lameness examination...
Johns I, Bryan J.The diagnosis of neoplasia in the horse is both simple and extremely challenging, depending on the type of neoplasm and its location. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis of a neoplastic condition is key to formulating an appropriate treatment plan if possible or developing a palliative plan if curative treatment options do not exist. A combination of historical features, clinical examination findings, and diagnostic testing typically allow a working diagnosis of neoplasia to be made, with a definitive diagnosis requiring the identification of neoplastic cells in a sample or tissue.
Robinson NE, Derksen FJ, Olszewski M, Berney C, Boehler D, Matson C, Hakala J.In six COPD-affected horses, we analysed the factors responsible for the changes in pleural pressure (delta Pplmax) that occur during tidal breathing. Four-hundred-and-sixty-eight measurements of each parameter: pulmonary resistance (RL), dynamic elastance (Edyn), air flow rates, and the timing of breathing, were gathered during a trial of the bronchodilator pirbuterol. Data were placed into seven ranks, based on the magnitude of delta Pplmax; rank 1: 5-15; rank 2: 15-25; rank 3: 25-35; rank 4: 35-45; rank 5: 45-55; rank 6: 55-65; and rank 7 > 65 cm H2O. Up to rank 4 (45 cm H2O), the increa...
Pereira BC, Ortiz I, Dorado J, Consuegra C, Diaz-Jimenez M, Demyda-Peyras S, Gosalvez J, Hidalgo M.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...
Kumar P, Timoney JF.The tubal tonsil of the horse surrounds the pharyngeal opening of the eustachian tube and is lined by pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium interspersed with areas of follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) heavily infiltrated by lymphocytes but devoid of goblet and ciliated cells. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed microvillous cells and cells with features characteristic of M cells such as reduced microvilli or depressed bare surface, more numerous mitochondria, small vesicles and lysosomes, as well as vimentin filaments and epitopes specific for GS 1-B4 as previousl...
Hinchcliff KW, Kociba GJ, Mitten LA.Thrombocytopenia in horses may be idiopathic or secondary to chronic infectious or inflammatory diseases (eg, equine infectious anemia, lymphosarcoma), drug administration, bone marrow depression, myelophthisic disease, or disseminated intravascular coagulation. This report describes EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia in a horse. Platelet counts for blood containing EDTA were consistently less than reference range, but platelet counts of blood containing heparin were within reference range. When thrombocytopenia is diagnosed in horses without clinical evidence of a bleeding tendency, EDTA-d...
King JN, Gerring EL.Dopamine was infused intravenously (1, 5 and 10 micrograms/kg/min) for 60 min in three fasted ponies. A dose-dependent increase in heart rate occurred that was rapid in onset and termination at the start and end of the infusions, respectively. Dose-dependent changes in gastric and small intestinal motility were observed. An initial marked inhibition of gastric contraction amplitude was followed by a secondary prolonged period of activity. At the same time the small intestine showed a prolonged period of irregular activity (phase II) and a marked increase in the interval between successive phas...
Youngblood RC, Filipov NM, Rude BJ, Christiansen DL, Hopper RM, Gerard PD, Hill NS, Fitzgerald BP, Ryan PL.Consumption of wild-type (toxic) endophyte-infected tall fescue (E+) by horses during late gestation is known to adversely affect pregnancy outcome; however, little is known of the potential disruptive consequences of E+ consumption by mares during the critical phases of placentation and fetal development in early pregnancy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the detrimental effects of feeding E+ to mares during early gestation. Mares (n = 12) paired by stage of gestation (d 65 to 100) were assigned to diets (six per diet) consisting of endophyte-free (E-) or E+ tall fescue seed (50% ...
Meister U, Görig C, Murphy CJ, Haan H, Ohnesorge B, Boevé MH.Phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation during cataract surgery in horses occur with increasing frequency. To reduce the postoperative refractive error it is necessary to determine the proper IOL power. In the present study retinoscopy, keratometry and ultrasonographic biometry were performed on 98 healthy equine eyes from 49 horses. The refractive state, corneal curvature (keratometry) and the axial location of all optical interfaces (biometry) were measured. The influences of breed, height at the withers, gender and age on values obtained and the comparison between the le...
Kasper CA, Clayton HM, Wright AK, Skuba EV, Petrie L.Thirteen clinically normal Belgian-type foals were used to study the effects of high doses of oxytetracycline on metacarpophalangeal joint kinematics. Seven foals (treatment group) received 2 doses of oxytetracycline (3 g, IV). The first dose was given when foals were 4 days old; the second dose was given 24 hours later. Six foals (control group) received 2 doses of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (15 ml, IV) at equivalent time periods. All foals were videotaped at a walk twice: immediately prior to the first treatment and 24 hours after the second treatment. The tapes were digitized, and metacarp...
Verheyen T, Decloedt A, De Clercq D, Sys S, Van Loon G.In human medicine, oesophageal electrocardiography (ECG) is a well-established technique that magnifies P waves with respect to the QRS complex. Objective: To investigate the feasibility of oesophageal ECG recording in horses and its ability to produce larger P waves compared with base-apex and unipolar recordings. Methods: Bipolar and unipolar ECG were performed using oesophageal and surface electrodes. Oesophageal ECG was obtained from 6 different recording configurations at different oesophageal depths. Amplitudes of P, Q, R, S and T waves were measured from 3 different cardiac cycles for e...
Mathes RL, Reber AJ, Hurley DJ, Dietrich UM.To evaluate the effects of topical antifungal drugs and delivery vehicles on the morphology and proliferation rate of cultured equine keratocytes. Methods: 16 corneas obtained from 8 apparently ophthalmologically normal horses < 0.5 hours after euthanasia for reasons unrelated to the study. Methods: Primary cultures of equine keratocytes were obtained from corneal stroma and were exposed to several concentrations of 3 commonly used, topically applied antifungals: natamycin, itraconazole, and miconazole. In addition, effects of drug delivery vehicles DMSO, benzalkonium chloride, and carboxym...
Vitale V, Vezzosi T, Di Franco C, Briganti A, Tognetti R, Conte G, Bucchioni E, Sgorbini M.For the echocardiographic examination horses should not be sedated unless absolutely necessary because this alters cardiac dimensions and indices of function. However, some horses do not tolerate the echocardiographic procedure and require sedation to conduct the examination safely and obtain good quality images. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the concurrent infusion of dobutamine in horses sedated with romifidine counteracts the cardiovascular changes observed with sedation alone. Twelve healthy untrained Standardbred mares were used. Three echocardiographic examinations ...
Craig JM, Lloyd DH, Roger D Jones CP.Clinical status and plasma phospholipid fatty acids of 33 horses with seasonal pruritus were investigated following fatty acid supplementation. Principal areas affected by pruritus were mane, tail, head and rump. There were no significant differences in clinical status between horses receiving test and placebo capsules. Horses receiving the test preparation showed significant reduction (weeks 0-12) in linoleic acid (P < 0.05) and significant increases (weeks 0-24) in dihomogammalinolenic acid and alpha linolenic acid (P < 0.05). Placebo-treated horses showed significant reductions (wee...
Strain GM, Taylor DS, Graham MC, Kamerling SG.Cortical somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEP) were recorded from thoracic and pelvic limbs in 15 horses (13 Thoroughbreds and 2 Quarter Horses). Ulnar nerve SEP were evoked by electrical stimulation of the lateral palmar branch of the ulnar nerve at the level of the metacarpophalangeal joint. Recordings were taken between electrodes at 2 cm lateral to the vertex (contralateral to the stimulated limb) and the midpoint of the interorbital line. Four peaks were found in all recordings: N1, P1, N2, and P2. Latencies to the peaks were 39.0 +/- 2.7, 45.5 +/- 5.3, 50.4 +/- 5.2, and 62.3 +/- 3.7 ms (...
Takahashi T, Kasashima Y, Eto D, Mukai K, Hiraga A.One cause of overstrain injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in horses is the force loaded on the SDFT during repeated running. Therefore, decreasing this force may reduce SDFT injury. It has been reported that strain on the SDFT decreases with a toe-wedge shoe. Uphill courses are used for training of racehorses, and the angle of hoof-sole to the horizon during uphill running is similar to that of the toe-wedge shoe. Objective: To determine the effects of uphill exercise on the force on the SDFT during trotting and cantering. Methods: Arthroscopically implantable force probes...
Schwarz B, Klang A, Bezdekova B, Sárdi S, Kutasi O, Hoven R.Equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF), a progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease has been associated with gammaherpesviruses. This case series describes five horses with EMPF. Three of the horses (two in Hungary, one in the Czech Republic) were diagnosed with EMPF ante mortem. They presented with typical clinical signs of EMPF including dyspnoea and weight loss. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed hypoxaemia. Blood work showed signs of inflammation like neutrophilia and hyperfibrinogenaemia. An endoscopic examination of the respiratory tract including cytology and culture of t...
Wijnberg ID, Franssen H, Jansen GH, Back W, van der Kolk JH.Electromyographic needle examination (EMG), including the semiautomatic quantitative analysis of motor unit action potential (MUAP), is an important diagnostic tool for myopathy in humans. The diagnostic possibilities of this technique have not been fully explored in horses; however, recent studies have shown that MUAP analysis can be performed in conscious horses. To determine the diagnostic possibilities of EMG in horses, we compared the EMG results of the subclavian muscle, the triceps, and the lateral vastus muscle in 6 equine patients thought to have myogenic disorders with those in 7 nor...
Atwill ER, Mohammed HO, de la Rua-Domenech R.A total of 2,579 serum samples from horses in New York state during 1985-1986 were examined for seropositivity to Ehrlichia risticii using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique. Cluster analysis statistical technique was used to group counties according to their estimated EME-disease rate (seropositive proportion of sampled horses). Counties were clustered into 4 groups of different EME-disease rates, representing high (86% seropositive), medium (66% seropositive), medium-low (47% seropositive) and low (6% seropositive) risk regions. The logistic regression statistical technique was used...
Harris DB, Harris RC, Wilson AM, Goodship A.Muscle ATP loss with exercise has implications both to the causes of fatigue and muscle damage. To study this at the single muscle fibre level, five trained thoroughbred horses performed consecutive 90 second gallops on an inclined treadmill followed by a final gallop to fatigue. Biopsies of the m. gluteus medius were taken at rest, post-exercise and during 24 hour recovery. Blood lactate was 20.0 mmol litre-1 or more, and plasma NH3 300-800 mumol litre-1, following the final gallop. Minimal changes occurred in the plasma markers, CK and AST. ATP loss with exercise was 32.2 (SD 12.2) per cent....
Dahiya R, Salar RK, Mandal KD, Kumar R, Tripathi BN, Pal Y, Kumar S.Equine piroplasmosis is a haemoprtozoan disease of equines and enzootic in tropical and subtropical countries. A cross-sectional study on sero-prevalence of Theileria equi, the causative agent of EP, was performed in semi-arid and sub-humid ecological endemic zones of India including Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat states, in order to evaluate the enzootic status/level of exposure to equine population due to this infection and addressed associated risk factors. Serum samples were collected from a total of 1021 equids that comprised of 792 horses, 168 donkeys and 61 mules and evaluated for T. eq...
Satué K, Gardon JC, Muñoz A.Myeloid disorders are conditions being characterized by abnormal proliferation and development of myeloid lineage including granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils), monocytes, erythroids, and megakaryocytes precursor cells. Myeloid leukemia, based on clinical presentation and proliferative rate of neoplastic cells, is divided into acute (AML) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). The most commonly myeloid leukemia reported in horses are AML-M4 (myelomonocytic) and AML-M5 (monocytic). Isolated cases of AML-M6B (acute erythroid leukemia), and chronic granulocytic leukemia have al...
Kydd J, Miller J, Antczak DF, Allen WR.The maternal immunological response to the developing equine fetus was investigated in 69 pregnancies of various genotypes. In normal intraspecies horse pregnancy (N = 16), 94% of mares produced strong cytotoxic antibody responses to paternal histocompatibility antigens which were first detectable between 44 and 70 days after ovulation. In all other types of pregnancy examined (intraspecies donkey, N = 19; interspecies mule, N = 6; interspecies hinny, N = 2; extraspecies horse-in-donkey, N = 3; and extraspecies donkey-in-horse, N = 21), antibody production was observed less frequently, and som...
Colborne GR, Tang L, Adams BR, Gordon BI, McCabe BE, Riley CB.During transport, horses are subjected to acceleration in three dimensions, rapid braking, turning, noise, and other stressors. The animal's ability to make postural corrections may be insufficient to prevent injury or distress, and so knowledge of the compensatory motion patterns of the horse in the trailer is a necessary precondition for smart design of transport systems. A custom two-horse trailer was built for this project. It had a horse compartment 1.85 m wide by 3.95 m long, with adjustable bulkheads and a centre divider separating the horses. The floor was instrumented with 24 shearbea...
