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.
Szalay F.The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the structural maturation of the horse brain in the critical period of development emergence of coordinated locomotion. Equine brains from 14 days before expected birth to adulthood were fixed in formaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. After taking the outer parameters of the brains, full series of large-area coronal sections were prepared on a special microtome and stained with Nissl's cresyl violet and Haidenhain's iron-haematoxylin. Microscopic images of sections were digitized and were subjected to computer-aided image analysis. The gross ...
Dehennin L, Bonnaire Y, Plou P.The dietary supplements 19-norandrostenedione and 19-norandrostenediol are potential metabolic precursors of nandrolone. They are considered by law in the United States as prohormones without proven therapeutic, curative or diagnostic properties, and therefore available as over-the-counter drugs. Oral dosages of 0.1-1 mg/kg body weight were readily absorbed in the equine intestinal tract and thereby led to urinary excretion of drastically increased 5alpha-estrane-3beta,17alpha-diol conjugates, which are known to be final metabolites of nandrolone. The actual rules for detection of illicit nand...
Steinbach F, Mauel S, Beier I.Interferons (IFNs) are important mediators of the immune system. Their antiviral activity is an integral part of the innate immune defence, but all IFNs have immune regulatory functions also. Besides rec.eq.IFN-beta detailed descriptions on other rec.IFNs were lacking and none of the proteins was available. To compare the equine IFNs and allow detailed studies on proteins and bioactivity, we performed the expression cloning of rec.eq.IFN-alpha, -beta and -gamma. To achieve maximal expression, a bacterial expression system was chosen. Additionally, rec.eq.IFN-beta and -gamma were expressed in m...
Morris LH, Allen WR.The findings of a retrospective survey of 1393 Thoroughbred mares visiting 22 studfarms in the Newmarket region of the UK during the 1998 mating season were compared with those of a similar study undertaken in 1983. The effects of mare age and status, stallion, month of mating, application of uterine treatments and other parameters on the rates of singleton and twin conception and subsequent pregnancy losses were analysed. Mare age and status significantly affected the per cycle pregnancy rate and the incidence of pregnancy loss. Overall, the mean number of matings per oestrus was 1.12 and the...
Breuhaus BA.The purpose of this study was to validate a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) assay in a model of equine hypothyroidism. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation tests were performed in 12 healthy adult mares and geldings, aged 4 to greater than 20 years. before and during administration of the antithyroid drug propylthiouracil (PTU) for 6 weeks. Serum concentrations of equine TSH, total and free thyroxine (T4), and total and free triiodothyronine (T3) were measured. Before PTU administration, mean +/- standard deviation baseline concentrations of TSH were 0.40 +/- 0.29 ng/mL. TSH incre...
Pérez W, Martin E.Thirteen fresh equine heads were dissected in an attempt to determine the cause of a groove frequently found on the dorsal border and medial side of the nasal process of the incisive bone. This groove appeared on both sides in 40 out of 44 equine skulls. The sulcus seems to be caused by the combined action of the lateralis nasi muscle and the medial accessory cartilage of the nose (cartilago nasalis accessoria medialis). Other sulci found on the nasal process of the bone may be explained as impressions caused by nerves.
Gough MR, Munroe GA, Mayhew G.This paper tests the hypothesis that serum and synovial urea concentrations are similar and that urea concentration can be used as an accurate marker for synovial fluid dilution in normal equine joints. Serum and synovial fluid urea concentrations were compared in 42 horses and were equivalent for individual horses (P<0.0001). Mean +/- s.e. serum concentration was 6.1+/-0.552 mmol/l and synovial concentration 6.0+/-0.459 mmol/l. The normal range for synovial urea concentration was determined as 2.5-7.7 mmol/l. The synovial urea concentration from different synovial structures in individual hor...
Marr KA, Lees P, Cunningham FM.Activation of circulating neutrophils has been observed following challenge of horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may facilitate the accumulation of these cells in the airways. In this study, no significant difference was observed between adherence to protein coated plastic of blood neutrophils from asymptomatic COPD-susceptible and normal horses stimulated by the mediators PAF, human recombinant (hr)IL-8 and hrC5a. Twenty-four hours after the start of a 7 h antigen challenge, adherence of unstimulated neutrophils from COPD-susceptible horses increased from 2.5 (0.5-4...
Dixon PM, McGorum BC, Railton DI, Hawe C, Tremaine WH, Pickles K, McCann J.Examination of the long-term histories and clinical findings was performed in 351 horses suffering from recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) to examine for possible evidence of progression of this disorder. Fifty-two out of 351 cases (15%) had evidence of progression of the degree of laryngeal dysfunction over a median period of 12 months (range 1.5-48 months) with the onset of progression occurring at median age 7 years. In 30 cases, there was both endoscopic (median deterioration of 3 endoscopic grades; range 1-5 grades) and clinical evidence, with 29 (97%) of these horses concurrently devel...
Hamm D, Willeford KO, White G, Reed SM, Hamm J.Suppurative lower airway disease is a common debilitating disease in performance horses and, while rarely fatal, is often recalcitrant to conventional therapy. A variety of treatments have been used to combat this condition and we conducted two types of studies to determine if caprine serum fraction--immunomodulator (CSFI), a nonspecific immunomodulator, improved recovery from lower respiratory disease. Two dose response studies were performed to ascertain the efficacy of CSFI. Horses were maintained daily on conventional antibiotic therapy. Respiratory tract exudate, nasal discharge, dyspnoea...
Bayly WM, Duvivier DH, Votion D, Vandenput S, Art T, Lekeux P.Six Warmblood horses suffering an acute exacerbation of COPD were tested to investigate whether inhalation of ipratropium bromide (IB) dry powder (2,400 microg) 30 min preexercise would improve their exercise capacity. A cross-over protocol with an inert powder placebo (P) was used. Mechanics of breathing and arterial blood gases were determined before treatment, after treatment but pre-exercise, and during an incremental exercise test. Oxygen consumption (VO2) was also measured before and during exercise, and the time to fatigue recorded. Inhalation of IB reduced total pulmonary resistance (R...
Valberg SJ, Ward TL, Rush B, Kinde H, Hiraragi H, Nahey D, Fyfe J, Mickelson JR.Seven related Quarter Horse foals that died by 7 weeks of age were examined for glycogen branching enzyme (GBE) deficiency. Clinical signs varied from stillbirth, transient flexural limb deformities, seizures, and respiratory or cardiac failure to persistent recumbency. Leukopenia (5 of 5 foals) as well as high serum creatine kinase (CK; 5 of 5), aspartate transaminase (AST; 4 of 4), and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT; 5 of 5) activities were present in most foals, and intermittent hypoglycemia was present in 2 foals. Gross postmortem lesions were minor, except for pulmonary edema in 2 foals....
van Loon G, Fonteyne W, Rottiers H, Tavernier R, Jordaens L, D'Hont L, Colpaert R, De Clercq T, Deprez P.The purpose of the present study was to develop a feasible and safe technique for dual-chamber pacemaker implantation in healthy horses. Implantation was performed in a standing, tranquilized horse and in ponies. Atrial and ventricular leads were transvenously inserted through the cephalic vein, and a subcutaneous pacemaker pocket was created between the lateral pectoral groove and the manubrium sterni in 6 equids. Positioning of each lead was guided by echocardiography and by measuring the electrical characteristics of the lead. The implantation procedure lasted about 4 hours in each animal a...
Gough MR, Mayhew G, Munroe GA.This paper tests the hypothesis that the local analgesic agent mepivacaine diffuses between adjacent equine synovial structures in the forelimb and with greater frequency than latex, gelatine dye or contrast media. We report the incidence of diffusion of mepivacaine between the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) and navicular bursa (NB) of the forelimbs and between the intercarpal (IC) and radiocarpal (RC) joints of 31 fresh equine cadavers. The DIPJ of one forelimb and the NB of the contra lateral forelimb and the RC joint of one forelimb and the IC joint of the contra lateral forelimb were ...
Gough MR, Munroe GA, Mayhew G.This paper tests the hypothesis that the local analgesic agent mepivacaine diffuses between adjacent equine synovial structures in the hindlimb and with greater frequency than latex, gelatine dye or contrast media. We report the incidence of diffusion of mepivacaine between the tarsometatarsal, centrodistal and tarsocrural joints, and the 3 synovial compartments of the stifle in 33 fresh equine cadavers. The tarsometatarsal joint and one synovial compartment of the stifle in the left limb and the centrodistal joint and a different synovial compartment of the stifle in the right limbs were inje...
Mungall BA, Pollitt CC.Cultured equine lamellar hoof explants secrete the pro-enzymes matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2, 72 kDa) and MMP-2 (92 kDa). Untreated explants remained intact when tested on a calibrated force transducer, but when treated with an MMP activator, developed "in-vitro laminitis", separating at the dermal-epidermal junction. Explants treated with the bacterial protease thermolysin separated dose-dependently; this was accompanied by activation of both MMP-2 and -9. Thermolysin-mediated MP activation did not occur in a cell-free system and was not inhibited by the addition of the MMP inhibitor and ...
Borges LM, Oliveira PR, Lisboa CL, Ribeiro MF.The objective of this study was to investigate some aspects of horse resistance to natural infestations of Anocentor nitens and Amblyomma cajennense over a 2-year period. Free-living stages of A. nitens were used to evaluate the influence of season of the year on horse resistance. Every 2 weeks, 10 selected engorged females, weighing 150-329 mg, were removed from naturally infested horses and were individually placed into glass tubes closed with a cotton stopper, and maintained in an incubator. The biological parameters evaluated varied according to the season of the year, i.e., reproductive e...
Ellison SP, Omara-Opyene AL, Yowell CA, Marsh AE, Dame JB.A gene encoding a major 29 kDa surface antigen from Sarcocystis neurona, the primary causative agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), was cloned, sequenced, and expressed as a recombinant protein. A cDNA library was prepared in the expression vector lambda ZAP from polyA+mRNA isolated from S. neurona merozoites cultivated in vitro. Random sequencing of 96 clones identified a clone of an abundant transcript having a translated amino acid sequence with 30% identity to the 31-kDa surface antigen of Sarcocystis muris cyst merozoites. Southern blot analysis indicated that the correspond...
Hatanaka H, Iourin O, Rao Z, Fry E, Kingsman A, Stuart DI.The Gag polyprotein is key to the budding of retroviruses from host cells and is cleaved upon virion maturation, the N-terminal membrane-binding domain forming the matrix protein (MA). The 2.8-A resolution crystal structure of MA of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), a lentivirus, reveals that, despite showing no sequence similarity, more than half of the molecule can be superimposed on the MAs of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). However, unlike the structures formed by HIV-1 and SIV MAs, the oligomerization state observed is not trimeric...
Machida N, Tanaka Y, Taya K, Nakamura T.A case of congenital ovarian interstitial cell hamartoma in a thoroughbred foal that died of apparent nutritional myopathy (white-muscle disease) 14 h after birth is described. An incidental finding at necropsy was a pale brown, mushroom-shaped, pedunculated mass (6 x 4 x 3 cm) attached to the left ovary. On the cut surface, the mass had a peripheral rim of dense parenchyma (3-5 mm wide), surrounding a pale gelatinous core. Histologically, the mass consisted of a peripheral zone of densely packed large cells that were quite similar, morphologically, to fetal ovarian interstitial cells, and a c...
Viitanen M, Bird J, Makela O, Schramme M, Smith R, Tulamo RM, May S.The purpose of this study was to investigate biochemical changes in synovial fluid in navicular disease, and to establish if synovial fluid from the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) could be used diagnostically to assess alterations in the synovial fluid of the navicular bursa. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), total glycosaminoglycans (GAG), hyaluronan (HA), metalloproteinases 2 and -9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and total protein (TP) levels were determined in synovial fluids obtained from 18 navicular bursae and 35 DIP -joints from animals suffering from navicular disease, and the same sy...
Smith KC, Borchers K.The polymerase chain reaction and DNA in-situ hybridization were used to study sections of uterine tissue collected from mares near the time of abortion due to equid herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection. These techniques revealed viral nucleic acids in endothelial cells of endometrial arterioles, in accordance with previously published immunohistological data. In addition, however, they revealed nucleic acids in cellular debris within endometrial glands and diffusing across the placenta at sites of microcotyledonary infarction. Perivascular leucocytes were generally negative for viral DNA, despite ...
Rols MP, Tamzali Y, Teissié J.Sarcoids are skin spontaneous tumours detected in horses. It can be cured by chemotherapy by using cisplatin. A multisequence treatment must be performed. Problems are present due to the poor diffusion of the hydrophilic product in the tumours. Electropulsation is known to drastically enhance the effect of antitumoral drugs in vivo. Taking into account the very successful results of the group in Ljubljana (Slovenia), we started a research clinical program where electropulsation was applied after local cisplatin injection. The size of sarcoids is large (several centimeters). A specially designe...
Meehan M, Kelly SM, Price NC, Owen P.The major cell wall-associated protein of the equine pathogen Streptococcus equi subsp. equi is a fibrinogen-binding protein (FgBP) which binds horse fibrinogen and equine IgG-Fc avidly through residues located in the N-terminal half and central regions of the molecule, respectively. The molecule is a major virulence factor for the organism and displays protective potential. In the present study, we use circular dichroism spectroscopy to investigate the secondary structure of the protein and show through the analysis of a panel of recombinant FgBP truncates that the C-terminal portion of FgBP ...
Smith RD.In this article, I have discussed the principles and methods of outbreak investigation, reinforcing important concepts with examples from the veterinary literature. The approach presented is applicable to outbreaks caused by any agent whether it is infectious versus noninfectious or contagious versus noncontagious. The solutions vary. The experience of others presented with similar situations may be especially helpful. Because of their nature, outbreaks are difficult to prepare for. When faced with a potential outbreak, the best strategy is to approach it scientifically, systematically, and wi...
Kollias-Baker C.Analytic chemistry laboratories responding to the concerns of the industry over drug use and abuse in performance horses should continue to develop more sensitive methods of drug detection. The unwanted result of this increase in sensitivity is the detection of therapeutic medications days to weeks after administration. The adoption of decision or threshold concentrations for residues of nonpermitted medications should allow laboratories to focus their efforts on drugs of abuse in the performance horse industries and permit veterinarians to provide appropriate medical care to these equine athl...
Jones ARE, Ragle CA.CASE DESCRIPTION 2 fillies, aged 3 months and 1 month, were examined because of urinary incontinence and urine scalding. CLINICAL FINDINGS In horse 1, ultrasonography did not reveal any structural abnormalities of the kidneys; however, unilateral ureteral ectopia was diagnosed cystoscopically. In horse 2, CT revealed bilateral nephropathy, bilateral distended ureters (up to 3.6 cm in diameter), and bilateral ureteral ectopia. Cystoscopy revealed intramural ureteral ectopia with abnormally caudally positioned ureteral ostia in both horses. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Ureteral ostioplasty was performe...
Ross DJ, Roberts JL.Equine calming products (ECPs) are often used by horse owners to alter or mitigate unwanted or dangerous behaviors in various situations. Little scientific research to date examines horse owners' knowledge surrounding these products. The objective of this pilot survey was to determine horse owners' use and perceptions of ECPs. For convenience, a survey was distributed to riding club members, livery yards, and riding instructors in the North of Scotland, UK, to ascertain the following information; the number of horse owners and caretakers who use an ECP, whether the product was considered to be...
Pisch C, Wensch-Dorendorf M, Schwarzenbolz U, Henle T, Greef JM, Zeyner A.Steaming hay is increasingly used to treat low-quality forage because it was proven to reduce inhalable allergens such as mould spores, bacteria, and airborne dust particles. Preliminary results have shown a substantial loss of precaecal (pc) digestibility (D) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA). For this purpose, six different batches of hay from central Germany were divided into four subsamples, and each one was individually steamed. Native hay and four replicates of each steamed subsample were analysed for CP, AA, neutral detergent insoluble crude protein (NDICP), neutral detergent s...
Hoque S, Derar RI, Osawa T, Taya K, Watanabe G, Miyake Y.A 21 year old thoroughbred mare with granulosa theca cell tumor (GTCT) in the right side and atrophic contralateral ovary was investigated in this study. After arrival at our laboratory on 10th December 1999, the clinical diagnosis of GTCT was examined by rectal palpation and ultrasonographic image of ovaries. Plasma from peripheral blood was collected in the breeding and non-breeding seasons for hormonal analysis. The results showed that the contralateral ovary regained normal activity without any treatment of the GTCT affected ovary and contained follicles showing different sizes 19 months l...
Garner HE, Hahn AW, Salem C, Coffman JR, Hutcheson DP, Johnson JH.Acute laminitis-hypertension was produced experimentally by carbohydrate overloading of the gastrointestinal tract in 8 horses, and the resulting hemodynamic changes were measured. Statistically significant (P less than 0.01) increases in cardiac output, left ventricular ejection rate, heart rate, and arterial pressure were related to statistically nonsignificant changes in peripheral resistance and a delayed (Obel grade 3 plus 24 hours) decrease in plasma volume. When compared with control values, the doubling of cardiac output and left ventricular ejection rate simultaneous with little or no...
Robinson JA, Naylor JM, Crichlow EC.The use of electromyography (EMG) as a diagnostic aid for equine hyperkalemic periodic paresis (EHPP) was investigated in seven affected and seven control horses. Affected horses were confirmed positive for EHPP either by elevated serum potassium concentration with clinical signs of myotonia, or by inducing hyperkalemia and clinical signs using oral potassium chloride challenge. All horses were asymptomatic at the time EMG was performed, using bipolar fine wire needle electrodes. The myopotentials were recorded on magnetic tape and displayed on paper charts for analysis. Insertional and restin...
Alonso JM, Rosa GDS, Santos B, Guerra S, Ribeiro M, Watanabe MJ, Alves A, Rodrigues C, Takahira RK, Hussni CA.Intraperitoneal administration of ceftriaxone maintains therapeutic abdominal concentrations for 24 hours in healthy horses. Therefore, it is a possible treatment for septic peritonitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ceftriaxone as an adjuvant treatment in horses with septic peritonitis. Methods: Twenty-six horses with clinical signs, sonography and/or laboratory findings of septic peritonitis were included. Peritoneal fluid was collected for microbiological culture and in vitro microbial sensitivity profile assessment. Daily intraperitoneal administration of ceftriax...
Mateos-Trigos G, Evans RJ, Heath MF.Horses show susceptibility to platelet-related disorders. Equine platelets differ from human platelets in some of their responses, so information available about human platelets must be validated in the horse. Aggregation of platelets by ADP involves both P2Y(1) and P2Y(12) receptors on the platelet surface. We have compared the effect of the P2Y(12) antagonist, AR-C67085, on equine and human platelets in vitro using turbidimetric aggregometry to measure the rate and final extent of aggregation. Aggregation profiles, concentration-response curves and pA(2) values show that the rate of aggregat...
Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Conturba B, Alberti E, Zucca E, Ferrucci F.Equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) may require prolonged treatments with acid suppressants; therefore, interest in nutraceutical supplements with anti-ulcerogenic properties has increased. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of Trophogast pellet for the treatment of ESGD in endurance horses. Methods: Fifteen endurance horses were included based on their gastroscopic examination and randomly assigned to a treatment group, receiving Trophogast pellet for 30 days together with management changes, or to a control group, only subjected to management modifications. At the end of treatmen...
Rossmanith W, Horvath E.After electrophoretic separation in SDS-PAGE structural proteins of the virus of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) were easily blotted by the semi-dry-blotting method onto nitrocellulose filters. Strips of these filters were used for antibody demonstration, and positive reactions thereof were intensified by a biotin-avidin-peroxidase system. Sensitivity of this system was so high as to allow readable interpretation of bands up to the dilution of 1:6,400 of a strongly positive serum. Frequently this procedure allowed to make a firm diagnostic Western-Blot diagnosis on far weaker equine sera. Inter...
Goel S, Schumacher J, Lenz SD, Kemppainen BW.Disruption in sphingolipid (SL) metabolism is a biomarker of exposure to fumonisins. The role of altered SL metabolism in the pathogenesis of fumonisin toxicoses is not understood. A 27-d feeding trial in horses compared the toxic effects of 3 strains of Fusarium moniliforme: RRC 415, cultured from corn in MS; AU 2/3, cultured from feed associated with clinical signs of duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) in horses in AL; and MRC 826, cultured from corn in South Africa and shown to cause equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM). These were cultured on corn and diluted with clean corn and grain mixe...
Wagner FC, Gerlach K, Geiger SM, Gittel C, Böttcher P, Mülling CKW.The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is the most frequently injured structure of the musculoskeletal system in sport horses and a common cause for early retirement. This project's aim was to visualize and measure the strain of the sound, injured, and healing SDFTs in a pony during walk and trot. For this purpose, biplanar high-speed fluoroscopic kinematography (FluoKin), as a high precision X-ray movement analysis tool, was used for the first time in vivo with equine tendons. The strain in the metacarpal region of the sound SDFT was 2.86% during walk and 6.78% during trot. When injured...
Lapointe JM, Vrins A, Lavoie JP.Bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) were performed for 6 healthy horses and 8 horses with lower airway diseases (LAD). Total cell and differential counts were performed before and after centrifugation and resuspension of the BAL cells in a small volume of fluid; there was no difference in the total cell counts, but mast cell percentages were significantly (P < 0.05) lower, after centrifugation, in the LAD group. The two specimen preparation techniques compared were cytocentrifugation and centrifugation on microscope glass covers. For both groups of horses, lymphocyte percentages were significantl...
Lee KH, Park C, Bang H, Ahn M, Moon C, Kim S, Shin T.The olfactory mucosae of the horse were examined by using histology and lectin histochemistry to characterize the carbohydrate sugar residues therein. Histological findings revealed that olfactory epithelium (OE) consisted of both olfactory marker protein (OMP)- and protein gene product (PGP) 9.5-positive receptor cells, supporting cells and basal cells with intervening secretory ducts from Bowman's glands. Mucus histochemistry showed that Bowman's gland acini contain periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reagent-positive neutral mucins and alcian blue pH 2.5-positive mucosubstances. Lectin histochemistr...
Dzierzęcka M, Charuta A.Proximal phalanges in horses are among bones that are most prone to injuries. So far, the detailed analysis of densitometric and geometric parameters of both front legs proximal phalanges in horses has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the densitometric and geometric parameters between proximal phalanges in equine both front legs with the use of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Methods: The study material comprised isolated both front legs proximal phalanges derived from 22 horses. The structure analysis of the proximal phalanges was conducted with ...
Mampe JR, Tatarniuk DM, Suarez-Fuentes DG, Kraus KH. The aim of this study was to to determine the comparative stiffness following repair of an axial sagittal fracture model in equine distal sesamoid bones using either a single 3.5-mm or 4.5-mm cortical bone screw placed in lag fashion. Methods: The present study was an biomechanical study. Results: The mean (±standard deviation) stiffness value for the 4.5-mm screw-bone construct (522.49 N/mm ± 168.21) was significantly greater than the 3.5-mm screw-bone construct (408.46 N/mm ± 131.13) ( = 0.047). This represents a 28% difference in mean stiffness. Conclusions: ...
Jayathilake WMNK, Furr M, Risco C, Lacombe VA.Similar to human diabetes, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) causes insulin dysregulation leading to debilitating sequela including laminitis. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying EMS and laminitis are not well known. Therefore, using an insulin-resistant equine model, we hypothesized that insulin dysregulation induces an increased expression of inflammatory proteins in a tissue specific manner. Two groups of horses (n = -5/group) were categorized as insulin-resistant (IR) or insulin-sensitive (IS), using a frequently sampled intra-venous glucose tolerance test. Biopsies from skeletal ...
Weijs W, Dingboom E, van Ginkel F.The contribution to total variance of different error sources in fibre type counts of equine gluteus medius muscle biopsies was determined to quantify and possibly improve the resolution of the method. Fibre types were defined on the basis of myosin heavy chain immunostaining. Errors were determined at levels: (1) positioning the insertion channel, (2) positioning the needle tip (3) biopsy heterogeneity (4) observer interpretation. Errors at levels 1 and 2 were considerable. Confidence intervals for individual observations were +/- 10-15%. In longitudinal studies a group size of 4 animals is n...
Müller-Schöttle F, Bogusz A, Grötzinger J, Herrler A, Krusche CA, Beier-Hellwig K, Beier HM.After its original description as a steroid-dependent protein in the rabbit uterus, uteroglobin became one of the best characterized proteins. However, detailed knowledge of its physiological role remains an enigma. In this study we investigate how its structure is phylogenetically conserved in the horse compared to other mammalian species. Northern blot analysis showed that in horses, the main expression of uteroglobin appears in lung, uterus, and prostate tissues. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the dimeric form of uteroglobin is found predominantly in biological compartments. Using ...
Desmettre P.The frequent transfers of horses, whether on a permanent or temporary basis, make strict control of infectious diseases essential. Such control needs a reliable and rapid means to accurately diagnose the relevant diseases. Indirect diagnosis based on antibody detection remains certainly the best method to secure the epidemiologic surveillance of the diseases at regional, national, or even world level, while direct diagnosis is the only way to diagnose a new outbreak. New diagnostic methods resulting from advances in biochemistry, molecular biology, and immunology are now available. As far as a...
Latorre R, Rodríguez MJ.The importance of correlating anatomical studies with diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in practice has long been recognised. Such studies in the horse have, until recently, lagged behind this discipline in human medicine and surgery. Clinical techniques by which this correlation is achieved include radiography, ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. This review presents published literature on the subject and, in addition, describes the part played by plastination, a recently developed technique for the preservation of biological specimens. In this, tissue fluids ...
Ruohoniemi M, Tervahartiala P.Computed tomography (CT) was performed on 12 Finnhorse cadaver forefeet with known radiographic changes in the navicular bone (poor corticomedullary junction, irregular appearance of the flexor central eminence, uneven or unequal thickness of the flexor cortex, and/or irregular outline of the proximal or distal flexor margin). The purpose was to confirm the radiographic findings and to investigate if further information of the flexor aspect of the bone could be gained with CT. In CT, the midsagittal outline as well as the internal structure of the bones varied greatly. Different combinations o...
Stevenson RA, Hartley CA, Huang JA, Studdert MJ, Crabb BS, Warner S.Equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV) is an important respiratory pathogen of horses and is of additional interest because of its close relationship and common classification with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). As is the case with FMDV, the VP1 capsid protein of ERAV has been shown to be a target of neutralizing antibodies. In FMDV VP1, such antibodies commonly recognize linear epitopes present in the betaG-betaH loop region. To map linear B cell epitopes in ERAV VP1, overlapping fragments spanning its length were expressed in Escherichia coli as glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins....
Peng S, Magdesian KG, Dowd J, Blea J, Carpenter R, Ho W, Finno CJ.Increases in serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity have been reported in Thoroughbred (TB) racehorses and associated with maladaptation to training but the underlying etiology remains unknown. Objective: Classify the etiology of high GGT syndrome in racing TBs by assessment of pancreatic enzymes, vitamin E concentrations, and both a candidate gene and whole genome association study. We hypothesized that a genetic variant resulting in antioxidant insufficiency or pancreatic dysfunction would be responsible for high GGT syndrome in TBs. Methods: A total of 138 California racing TBs. Amy...
Porzuczek A, Kiełbowicz Z, Haines G.In equine field practice, the diagnosis of small intestinal disorders is usually based on the presence of distended loops on rectal palpation and large volumes of reflux obtained after the passage of a nasogastric tube. Percutaneous abdominal ultrasound examination has been widely utilized in both human and small animal internal medicine in most cases of gastrointestinal discomfort. The purpose of this study was to identify which measurable parameters were important in reaching a diagnosis of small intestinal abnormality and determining treatment options. Horses of various age, sex and breed w...
Gharehaghajlou Y, Raidal SL, Freccero F, Padalino B.Transportation may lead to oxidative stress (OS) and gastric ulceration in horses, and optimal feed management before, or during, transportation is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of transportation after three different feeding strategies on OS and to explore possible associations between OS and equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS). Twenty-six mares were transported by truck for 12 hours without food or water. Horses were randomly divided into 3 groups; (1) fed 1 hour before departure (BD), (2) fed 6 hours BD, (3) fed 12 hours BD. Clinical examinations and blood collections w...
Barton MD, Embury DH.Pyogranulomatous pneumonia was induced in Thoroughbred foals by intranasal challenge with freeze-dried cultures of Rhodococcus equi (previously Corynebacterium equi). The incubation period was about 18 days and clinical signs were not seen for a further week. There were marked seasonal and individual foal differences in responses to infection. Elevations in serum caeruloplasmin oxidase activity and copper concentrations appeared to be sensitive indicators of infection. Serum zinc concentrations and serum alpha-mannosidase and alkaline phosphatase activities fell in the more severely infected f...
Edens LM, Morris DD, Prasse KW, Anver MR.Protein C is a vitamin K-dependent serine protease with anticoagulant and profibrinolytic activity which is synthesized in the liver. Decreased protein C activity was detected in a Thoroughbred colt with clinical and histopathologic evidence of recurrent venous thrombosis. Although protein C activity was reduced, protein C antigen concentration was normal. Consumptive coagulopathies produce a decrease in both the functional and antigenic concentrations of protein C, thus a defect in protein C synthesis was suspected. Inhibition of gamma-carboxylation secondary to vitamin K antagonism results i...
Minder HP, Merritt AM, Chalupa W.Feces from 13 healthy horses and 8 horses with chronic diarrhea were subjected to an in vetro fermentation procedure that had been developed for rumen fluid. Fermentations were conducted over 6 hours in a closed system, with and without an essential amino acid (EAA) mixture being added to the basic starch-buffer medium. The addition of EAA caused no significant difference in results of fermentation of feces from healthy horses. For diarrheic animals, there was a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in gas and total volatile fatty acids production whether EAA were present or not, and alpha-a...
Lindberg A, Robinson NE, Näsman-Glaser B, Jensen-Waern M, Lindgren JA.To determine the ex vivo leukotriene (LT) biosynthesis in peripheral blood neutrophils (PBNs) and inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained from horses affected with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Methods: 6 RAO-affected and 6 control horses. Methods: Before and 6, 24, and 48 hours after stabling, disease severity was determined subjectively by clinical and mucus scores and measurement of the maximal change in pleural pressure (deltaPpl(max)); PBNs were isolated and BALF samples were examined cytologically. The PBN and BALF cells were activated with a calcium iono...
