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.
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...
Grund CH, Lechman ER, Issel CJ, Montelaro RC, Rushlow KE.In this study we used immune sera from equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV)-infected horses which uniquely display broad reactivity with different lentivirus capsid proteins (CA) to characterize the cross-reactive determinants of lentivirus CA proteins. In particular, the role of the major homology region (MHR) of lentivirus CA proteins in this serological cross-reactivity was evaluated using both equine immune serum and murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against the MHR segment of different lentiviruses. The results of our studies indicate that about 80% of sera from long-term exp...
Baker SJ, Gerring EL.Water, saline and a saline/Intralipid mixture (lipid concentration 1.25 per cent) emptied very rapidly from the stomach in neonatal pony foals, and obeyed an apparently exponential pattern. Cisapride did not significantly modify the emptying of the saline/Intralipid mixture. Equine milk emptied more slowly. The data indicated that the lipid component of milk was not an important factor. Milk caused deviation from an exponential pattern in two of four foals: an initial lag phase appeared, which could represent a phase of intragastric processing. However, the rate was still rapid compared with r...
Hamlen HJ, Timoney JF, Bell RJ.A 2-phase study was performed to characterize the effects of Streptococcus equi infection in unexposed and previously exposed foals. In phase I, 22 weanling foals involved in a naturally occurring S equi epizootic were studied, along with a comparison group of 11 unexposed foals, matched for age, sex, and breed. Six months later (phase II), an epizootic was experimentally induced in previously exposed and unexposed foals from phase I. The prevalence and duration of clinical signs, the relative risk of developing disease, bacteriologic culture results, hematologic responses, and mucosal and ser...
Muylle S, Simoens P, Lauwers H.The evolution of the healing process of venous puncture wounds was studied macroscopically and light-microscopically in order to determine the time of venipuncture. Seven small equids of various ages, all in normal healthy condition, were experimentally injected in the external jugular vein with a physiological Hartmann solution at different times before euthanasia. Two types of needle diameters i.e. 16.5 G and 19 G, were used. A fairly good uniformity in the healing process was seen in the 7 animals. In most cases the lesions induced within 5 weeks before death were macroscopically visible, w...
Rojas G, Jiménez JM, Gutiérrez JM.A simple methodology for hyperimmune horse plasma fractionation, based on caprylic acid precipitation, is described. Optimal conditions for fractionation were studied; the method gives best results when concentrated caprylic acid was added to plasma, whose pH had been adjusted to 5.8, until a final caprylic acid concentration of 5% was reached. The mixture was vigorously stirred during caprylic acid addition and then for 60 min; afterwards the mixture was filtered. Non-immunoglobulin proteins precipitated in these conditions, whereas a highly enriched immunoglobulin preparation was obtained in...
Reid SW, Gettinby G, Fowler JN, Ikin P.An epidemiological study of equine sarcoid in a population of 4126 donkeys showed that the peak incidence of the disease was 15.2 cases per 100 animal-years and occurred in animals in their fourth year of life. The crude incidence of the disease was 0.6 cases per 100 animal-years. The disease occurred most frequently in younger, male animals during their first five years in the population. The lesions were observed most commonly in the paragenital region. Pre-entry quarantine procedures did not appear to play a significant role in the spread of the disease but there was an indication that clos...
Wang SZ, Rushlow KE, Issel CJ, Cook RF, Cook SJ, Raabe ML, Chong YH, Costa L, Montelaro RC.The potential for antibody-dependent enhancement of replication of macrophage/monocyte tropic viruses has posed a significant problem in the development of vaccines for several animal and human viruses and has raised significant concern in the design of potential AIDS vaccines. Using the previously described equine infectious anemia virus/Shetland pony system as a model for HIV-1 vaccine development, we have evaluated the efficacy of a recombinant subunit vaccine containing a baculovirus-expressed envelope surface glycoprotein (gp90) of EIAV. The results of these trials demonstrate not only th...
Gillis JP, Taylor TS, Puckett MJ.A 5-year-old Arabian stallion was treated medically 6 days for proximal enteritis. On the sixth day, exploratory celiotomy verified the diagnosis and ruled out other intraluminal and extraluminal gastrointestinal tract obstructions. A gastrojejunostomy was performed. The horse had trouble maintaining and gaining weight in the first year after surgery, but 8 years after surgery, the owner reported that the horse was doing well.
Dybdal NO, Hargreaves KM, Madigan JE, Gribble DH, Kennedy PC, Stabenfeldt GH.Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is a slowly progressive disorder that afflicts most breeds of horses. Because it shares features with human Cushing disease, it has been referred to as equine Cushing disease. A variety of tests of pituitary-adrenocortical function were performed on horses with evidence of pituitary pars intermediate dysfunction, and results were compared with those in healthy control horses. Diurnal variations in plasma cortisol concentration were not statistically different between control horses and those with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. An ACTH stimulation (...
Kotilainen T, Huhtinen M, Katila T.The objective of this study was to investigate the inflammatory reaction induced in the equine uterus by insemination with fresh and frozen semen. Eleven groups (6 to 8 mares per group) were studied during 2 breeding seasons. The mares were inseminated using raw semen, frozen semen, extended fresh and frozen semen, concentrated fresh semen, seminal plasma and seminal extenders only. One group was bred naturally. Six hours after insemination, the uteri were flushed with 50 ml of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Seventeen out of 104 samples (16%) exhibited slight bacterial growth. Neutrophil con...
Cothran EG, Long YG.A new D blood group phenogroup consisting of the specificities adeo was observed in a stallion family of Caspian ponies from Iran. An additional six undescribed genetic variants were seen in a total of 82 Iranian horses. This result suggests extensive new genetic variation may be present in domestic horses from geographic regions that have not yet received scientific attention.
Sugar O.Reports of pathologic investigations as to the cause of intermittent claudication in horses were made in France in October, 1831, by veterinarian Jean-François Bouley. Obstructive clots in the femoral arteries were found to be responsible for the muscular changes causing limping. Bouley's work in the horse was used by Charcot in 1858 to understand the mechanism of claudication in the case of a soldier with gunshot wound in whom a traumatic aneurysm, clotting, and ischemia of the legs developed. This was not, however, the first medically reported case of human claudication from vascular occlus...
Hoberg EP, Miller S, Brown MA.We report the first documented case of autochthonous echinococcosis in a horse of North American origin. Three fully mature and viable unilocular hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosus (Batsch, 1786) were an incidental finding at necropsy in the liver of a 14-yr-old gelding thoroughbred that had been foaled in Virginia and raised in Maryland. Protoscolices were armed with 2 rows of 28-37 rostellar hooks; small hooks measured 23-30 microns; large hooks measured 26-33 microns. Morphologically, these were compatible with rostellar armature considered typical for the equine strain of E. granulos...
Jang SS, Hirsh DC.During the years from 1984 through 1991, 1,067 specimens from canine, equine, exotic, feline, porcine, and ruminant animal sources were found to contain members of the genus Fusobacterium: The most common sites or conditions from which members of this genus were isolated were abscesses, the respiratory tract, and pleural and peritoneal cavities. Most specimens contained a single Fusobacterium species. The most commonly isolated species was Fusobacterium necrophorum. Almost all of the specimens contained other obligate anaerobes together with facultative and obligate aerobes. The identities of ...
McClure JR, Chapman MR, Klei TR.Since 1978, 20 surgical implantations of either Strongylus vulgaris or Strongylus edentatus have been performed in our laboratory for the purpose of obtaining single species cultures of these parasites. Following surgical implantation peak EPG values of 13-327 (S. vulgaris) and 363-1284 (S. edentatus) generally occurred during the first 3 weeks post-implantation. Duration of infections was as long as 5 years. Successful outcome of such surgeries appears to be related to the total number of parasites used (> or = 38) and the ratio of female to male worms implanted (1:1 or 2:1).
Hokke CH, Roosenboom MJ, Thomas-Oates JE, Kamerling JP, Vliegenthart JF.The disialylated poly-(N-acetyllactosamine)-containing O-linked oligosaccharide alditols, released by alkaline borohydride treatment of the enzymically N-deglycosylated beta-subunit of equine chorionic gonadotropin, were purified by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) on Mono Q and analysed by fast ion bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The identified oligosaccharide alditols have the following structure: [Formula: see text]
Katayama Y, Oikawa M, Kaneko M, Yoshihara T, Yoshikawa H, Yoshikawa T.Three monoclonal antibodies capable of individually recognizing chondrocytes, osteoblasts and osteocytes were prepared. EB-1 reacted with a 55-kDa antigen on the chondrocyte membrane, EB-2 with a 110-kDa antigen on the membrane of osteoblasts and/or partial osteocytes, and EB-3 with a 130-kDa antigen on the membrane of osteocytes. These monoclonal antibodies may be useful probes for studying the differentiation and maturation of osteogenic cells.
McD○ LA, Dart AJ, Schiffman P, Parrot JJ.Enterolithiasis, as a cause of colic, was diagnosed and treated during surgical intervention in 2 Grant's zebras (Equus burchelli bohmi). The zebras were part of a wild herd in a zoo in the western United States. The clinical signs of enterolithiasis in both zebras were similar to those reported for horses. Analysis of the enterolith from 1 zebra revealed a composition identical to enteroliths that have been analyzed from horses. Three other zebras from this herd had enteroliths at necropsy. Enterolithiasis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for zebras with low-grade obstructive ...
Singh G.The equine influenza virus, Ludhiana/5/87, isolated from the clinical material during the epidemic of equine influenza in India in 1987 was inhibited in haemagglutination-inhibition test by the antiserum against the prototype A/eq/Prague/1/56 (H7N7) virus and by post-epidemic horse sera. In haemagglutinin and neuraminidase analysis, the A/eq/Ludhiana/5/87 isolate appeared similar to the prototype A/eq/Prague/1/56 virus and was characterized as the H7N7 subtype.
Jaglan PS, Roof RD, Yein FS, Arnold TS, Brown SA, Gilbertson TJ.Ceftiofur sodium, a broad spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic approved for veterinary use, is metabolized to desfuroylceftiofur which is conjugated to micro as well as macromolecules. Twelve horses, weighting 442-618 kg, were injected intramuscularly with a single dose of 2.2 mg ceftiofur/kg (1.0 mg/lb) body weight. Blood was collected at various intervals over 24 h after treatment. Three groups of four horses each were euthanized and lungs were collected at 1, 12, and 24 h after treatment. The concentration of desfuroylceftiofur and desfuroylceftiofur conjugates in the plasma and lungs was dete...
Shams Eldin HE, Kirchhoff H.Tracheal swabs were taken from 25 horses with respiratory diseases and investigated for mycoplasmas using three different media. Mycoplasmas could be isolated from 5 horses. The isolates were characterized by serological and biochemical methods. Four isolates could be identified as Mycoplasma equirhinis. The fifth isolate could not be typed. It did not react with antisera against mycoplasmas found in the respiratory tract of horses and its biochemical characteristics were different from the mycoplasmas described so far. It may represent a new species.
Tavernor AS, Kydd JH, Bodian DL, Jones EY, Stuart DI, Davis SJ, Butcher GW.An equine CD2 cDNA has been isolated by monoclonal antibody screening of a T-lymphocyte cDNA library. The cDNA contained an open reading frame of 1041 bp encoding a translated product of 347 amino acids. Northern blotting analysis revealed a single mRNA species expressed in spleen, thymus and activated peripheral lymphocytes. The predicted amino acid sequence has 50-65% identity with the human, rat and mouse CD2 sequences with greatest similarity shared with the human homologue. Evolutionarily conserved structural and functional domains in CD2 were identified by comparing the sequences of the ...
Kuwamura M, Iwaki M, Yamate J, Kotani T, Sakuma S, Yamashita A.A 9-year-old male horse showed emaciation, weakness and trembling and was euthanatized. Histopathological examinations revealed loss, swelling and chromatolysis of motor neurons throughout the spinal ventral horns, axonal degeneration of the ventral spinal roots. Eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions were distributed in degenerated spinal ventral neurons. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions consisted of aggregations of granular dense material and a few vesicles. They reacted positively with polyclonal antibody against ubiquitin. The present case was diagnosed as equine motor neuron disease, which ...
Zientara S, Sailleau C, Moulay S, Cruciere C.A single tube reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method for detection of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) in splenic tissues from infected horses is described. Double stranded RNA was extracted from infected organs of horses and used to produce complementary DNA (cDNA) with the two primers selected for the PCR. The 1179 bp amplified product (the segment 7 which encodes for VP 7), detected by electrophoresis on agarose gel and ethidium bromide staining, was hydrolysed with eight restriction endonucleases for characterization of the AHSV. The sensitivity of this method i...
Ewing PJ, Burrows G, MacAllister C, Clarke C.The pharmacokinetic properties of four erythromycin formulations were compared in six adult horses after administration of single and multiple oral doses. Formulations of erythromycin administered were estolate and phosphate given 37.5 mg/kg every 12 h and 25 mg/kg every 8 h, and stearate and ethylsuccinate given 25 mg/kg every 8 h. Areas under the curve (AUC) and maximum plasma erythromycin concentrations (Cmax) were equal or greater (P > or = 0.05) following administration of erythromycin phosphate and stearate compared with those values following administration of erythromycin estolate or e...
Vatistas NJ, Wright IM, Dyson SJ.Forty-eight horses with osteochondritic lesions of the femoropatellar joint were treated, 23 of them by an arthrotomy and 25 by arthroscopy. Follow-up information was obtained from either the owner or the referring veterinarian by telephone inquiry. There were no statistical differences between the groups of horses undergoing the two procedures with regard to age, sex, breed, the involvement of one or both limbs, the size of the lesion, and the duration of either the surgery or anaesthesia. However, the horses treated by an arthrotomy spent 14.5 days in hospital after the operation whereas tho...
Kwak ML, Schubert J.Although forensic parasitology remains in its infancy compared with more developed fields like forensic entomology, parasites can be useful forensic indicators. We present the case of an individual who disobeyed animal health legislation and crossed animal quarantine boundaries and two state lines with a cattle tick (Rhipicephalus australis) infested horse. Following recognition of the infestation by animal health officers, the individual asserted that the infestation had occurred either during transport or upon arrival at the site of discovery, and that they had not contravened quarantine leg...
Weers JG, Maki AH.Triplet-singlet energy transfer has been studied in the complex formed between auramine O (AO) and horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase with optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) spectroscopy. The results show that Trp-15 and Tyr residues transfer triplet energy mainly by a trivial process, whereas Trp-314 transfers triplet energy by a Förster process with two observed lifetimes at 77 K of 170 and 50 ms. The different Förster energy-transfer lifetimes are ascribed either to quenching of the two Trp-314 residues of the dimer by a single asymmetrically bound AO or to two distinct conformat...
Paweska JT, Gerdes T, Van Heerden J.Rabbit hyperimmune serum prepared against a donkey alphaherpesvirus isolate (M7/91), and against EHV-1 and EHV-4 was used to characterise the antigenic relationship between these 3 viruses. Serum from immunised rabbits was always more specific for homologous virus and showed different cross reactivity for heterologous virus. It was concluded that the immunologic relationship between the M7/91 isolate and EHV-1, was closer than that between this isolate and EHV-4. A serological survey of donkeys (n = 116) and horses (n = 57) revealed evidence of the presence of neutralising antibody to M7/91 in...
Reimer G, Suarez A, Chui YC.A standardbred mare was dosed with 40 mg yohimbine intravenously. Serum and urine samples were collected and analyzed for yohimbine using solvent extraction and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. Maximum yohimbine concentrations of 45 and 18 ng/mL were observed in serum and urine samples, respectively. Elimination was rapid, with half-lives of approximately 20 and 53 min observed for serum and urine, respectively. The presence of yohimbine in these samples was confirmed by liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC/MS/MS).
Monos DS, Wolf B, Radka SF, Rifat S, Donawick WJ, Soma LR, Zmijewski CM, Kamoun M.Six mouse and 13 rat monoclonal antibodies (mAb) recognizing HLA-DR, DQ and DP antigens were used for the detection of cell surface class II MHC antigens of equine lymphocytes. The monoclonal antibodies were tested against peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from a panel of thoroughbred horses, using two-color fluorescence flow cytometry. Seven of these mAbs reacted with both surface immunoglobulin positive (sIg+) and surface immunoglobulin negative (sIg-) lymphocytes. sIg+ cells stained consistently brighter than sIg- cells. The fluorescence pattern did not vary from donor to donor for each of...
Reijerkerk EP, Veldhuis Kroeze EJ, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.Equine sarcoidosis is a rare disorder usually characterized by exfoliative dermatitis, moderate to severe wasting, and sarcoidal granulomatous inflammation of multiple organ systems. It has an unknown aetiopathogenesis. The condition is not related to equine sarcoid. This case report describes generalized cutaneous and systemic sarcoidosis in an 11-year-old Trakehner mare (case A) and in a 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (case B). Case A was presented with cutaneous sarcoidosis on the head and body and was diagnosed on the basis of histological examination of skin. Case B presented with mul...
Gough R, McGovern K, Bladon B, De Oliveira F.This report describes two cases of spontaneous small intestinal evisceration via normally inserted umbilical stumps, without abdominal wall trauma. Both cases occurred immediately following uneventful parturition. The authors believe that these represent cases of umbilical cord herniation. This is a well-recognised condition in humans, but has not been previously described in equines. One foal died before veterinary intervention. The second foal underwent a jejunal resection with end-to-end anastomosis and survived to successfully race. This report describes a previously unrecognised condition...
O'Niell FD, Issel CJ.Growth kinetics of equine influenza virus-A1, equine herpesvirus-1, and equine rhinovirus-1 were determined in susceptible cell monolayers and in organ cultures of equine fetal tracheal and nasal turbinate epithelium. Equine influenza virus-A1 was replicated in cell and organ cultures and was released more readily and for longer periods from nasal turbinate epithelium than from tracheal epithelium. Equine herpesvirus-1 was also replicated in cell and organ cultures. During the first 24 hours after inoculation, equine herpesvirus-1 was released more readily from tracheal epithelium than from na...
Kienzle E, Fritz J.Nutrition-induced laminitis is often caused by i) fermentation of large amounts of carbohydrates in the hindgut (usually fructans from grass or starch from cereals), which cause the release and absorption of microbial toxins and ii) insulin resistance induced by being overweight (equine metabolic syndrome). Both causes can act together. Overweight horses with a history of laminitis need to reduce body weight to prevent further incidences of laminitis. Weight reduction occurs normally on a diet of late-cut hay, a hay-straw mixture (maximally one third straw to prevent constipation) or grass see...
Marlin DJ, Roberts CA, Schroter RC, Lekeux P.The respiratory stimulant lobeline has been used in equine clinical practice to increase inspiratory and expiratory airflow rates at rest in order to facilitate investigation of both lower and upper airway function. Some of the responses to lobeline in the pony have been reported, but the detailed time course, effect of dose, possible side effects and reproducibility associated with lobeline administration have not been described in the horse. Respiratory airflow rates and oesophageal pressure were measured with a Fleisch No. 5 pneumotachometer and lightweight facemask and a microtip pressure ...
Kim W, Kawcak CE, McIlwraith CW, Firth EC, McArdle BH, Broom ND.To investigate the influence of early conditioning exercise on the development of gross cartilage defects and swelling behavior of cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) in the midcarpal joint of horses. Methods: 12 Thoroughbreds. Methods: 6 horses underwent early conditioning exercise from birth to 18 months of age (CONDEX group), and 6 horses were used as control animals (PASTEX group). The horses were euthanized at 18 months of age, and the midcarpal joints were harvested. Gross defects of the cartilage surface were classified and mapped. Opposing surfaces of the third and radial carpal bones...
Brosnahan MM, Silvela EJ, Crumb J, Miller DC, Erb HN, Antczak DF.Invasive trophoblast from Day 34 horse conceptuses survives in extrauterine sites in allogeneic recipients that are immunologically naive to donor major histocompatibility complex class I antigens. The ectopic trophoblast retains its in utero characteristics, including similar lifespan, physiologic effect of its secreted product (equine chorionic gonadotropin) upon the recipient's ovaries, and induction of host immune responses. Immunologic memory has not been considered previously in this experimental system. We hypothesized that primary exposure to ectopic trophoblast would affect the recipi...
Guglick MA, MacAllister CG, Chandra AM, Edwards WC, Qualls CW, Stephens DH.Mercury toxicosis by ingestion was diagnosed in a 3-year-old Quarter Horse mare with a history of anorexia and signs of abdominal discomfort. Ten and 9 days prior to admission, an inorganic mercuric blistering agent has been applied for topical treatment of dorsal metacarpal disease. At referral, signs of depression, dependent edema, pollakiuria, nonproductive cough, and oral ulceration were noticed. Laboratory data were consistent with renal dysfunction. Mercury content of blood and urine was high, confirming the diagnosis. The horse responded to intensive care, consisting primarily of IV flu...
Samuel CA, Ricketts SW, Rossdale PD, Steven DH, Thurley KW.Endometrial biopsies obtained from mares at different stages of the oestrous cycle, during anoestrus and in various abnormal conditions were examined with the scanning electron microscope. Preliminary observations suggest that the patterns of secretory and ciliary activity in the uterine epithelium are similar to those observed by electron microscopical techniques in laboratory and other large domestic animals. The response of the epithelial cells to hormonal variations and infections is compared with that of the endometrium as seen with the light microscope.
Rötting AK, Freeman DE, Eurell JA, Constable PD, Wallig M.To evaluate the in vitro protective effects of acetylcysteine and response of resident mucosal eosinophils in oxidant-induced injury to tissues of right dorsal colon of horses. Methods: 9 adult horses. Methods: Gastrointestinal mucosa was damaged in vitro with 3 mM hypochlorous acid (HOCl), with and without prior exposure to 6mM acetylcysteine. Control tissues were not exposed to HOCl or acetylcysteine. Control and damaged tissues were incubated in Krebs-Ringer-bicarbonate solution and tissue resistance measured during 240 minutes. Tissue permeability to radiolabeled mannitol was also used to ...
Vibe-Petersen G, Nielsen K.Over a period of approx. 3 years, electrocardiograms (ECG) were recorded from 138 horses referred as patients to the Medical Clinic. Of these, 22 horses (approx. 16 per cent) has ECG alterations. The 22 ECG's revealed a total of 29 ECG abnormalities. The most frequent ECG alteration was incomplete AV block, that was seen in 9 horses (31 per cent of the ECG abnormalities). Abnormal (i.e. broad, tent-like and, sometimes, inverted) T waves and deviations of the ST segment were seen each in 5 ECG's from 7 horses, 3 of which had both abnormalities which were associated with severe underlying diseas...
Hallamaa RE, Saario E, Tallberg T.Healing sarcoids were followed in 18 horses which had taken part in previous clinical studies on a total of 29 horses suffering from either primary or recurrent sarcoids, treated with bio-immunotherapy. In the present study, attention was paid to changes observed in these fibroblastic skin tumours during their regression. The tumours were surgically debulked leaving the base in the skin. The horses were immunized according to bio-immunotherapy at 2- to 4-week intervals with an autogenous vaccine made from the excised part of the tumour until the base had visibly regressed. Healing was followed...
Berhane Y, Bailey SR, Harris PA, Griffiths MJ, Elliott J.Elevated plasma homocysteine (HCy) concentration is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases associated with endothelial dysfunction, including the human digital ischaemic disease, Raynaud's phenomenon. Objective: HCy causes dysfunction of equine vascular endothelium and elevated plasma concentrations predispose to laminitis. Objective: To determine 1) the concentration of HCy in vitro, which inhibits equine vascular endothelial cell function and 2) any association between risk of laminitis and plasma HCy concentration. Methods: Endothelial function was studied by measuring endothelium-depend...
Serpa PB, Garbade P, Natalini CC, Pires AR, Tisotti TM.OBJECTIVE To develop a high-resolution melting (HRM) assay to detect the g.66493737C>T polymorphism in the myostatin gene (MSTN) and determine the frequency of 3 previously defined g.66493737 genotypes (T/T, T/C, and C/C) in warmblood horses. SAMPLES Blood samples from 23 horses. PROCEDURES From each blood sample, DNA was extracted and analyzed by standard PCR methods and an HRM assay to determine the MSTN genotype. Three protocols (standard protocol, protocol in which a high-salt solution was added to the reaction mixture before the first melting cycle, and protocol in which an unlabeled p...
Rodríguez-Pozo ML, Armengou L, Viu J, Ríos J, Jose-Cunilleras E.Peritoneal bile acids concentration (PBAC) has not been previously reported in horses. A case of liver lobe torsion in which increased PBAC was detected prompted us to study PBAC in horses. Objective: (a) To determine a reference range of PBAC in horses; (b) to compare PBAC from horses with either hepatic or gastrointestinal disease and healthy horses and (c) to assess the prognostic and diagnostic values of PBAC. Methods: Prospective case-control. Methods: Prospective observational clinical study. Bile acids concentrations were measured in both plasma and peritoneal fluid in selected clinical...
Carmalt JL, Delaney L, Wilson DG.To compare the biomechanical cyclic fatigue properties of 2 and 3 parallel transarticular 5.5 mm cortical screws used in arthrodesis of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. Methods: Randomized block design, for horse, fixation method (2 versus three 5.5 mm cortical screws), side (right, left) and end (front, hind) in cadaveric equine limbs. Methods: Cadaveric adult equine fore- and hindlimbs (n=5 pairs each). Methods: Two parallel 5.5 mm cortical screws were inserted in lag fashion, transarticularly through the PIP joint in 1 limb of a pair, and in the contralateral limb, three 5.5 mm cor...
Rothaug PG, Tulleners EP.To describe a technique of contact neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser-assisted excision of progressive ethmoid hematoma (PEH) in horses, to determine the recurrence rate of clinical signs of PEH in horses with follow-up time of a minimum of 12 months, and to compare this result with reported results achieved by using conventional techniques. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 21 horses with 26 PEH. Methods: Medical records of all horses with PEH treated by Nd:YAG laser excision from December 1986 through August 1996 were analyzed. Twenty-one horses underwent unilateral (18 su...
Kato H, Ohashi T, Nakamura N, Nishimura Y, Watari T, Goitsuka R, Tsujimoto H, Hasegawa A.Equine interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and IL-1 beta were molecularly cloned to establish a basis for research on inflammatory and immune responses in the horse. Equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and cDNA clones of equine IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta covering the whole coding sequences were isolated from them. These equine IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta clones contained open reading frames encoding 271 and 269 amino acids, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of equine IL-1 alpha showed 71.6% and 60.2% similarity with that of human ...
Kochová P, Witter K, Cimrman R, Mezerová J, Tonar Z.The relationship between mechanical behaviour and microscopic structure of the laminar junction of equine hooves under testing conditions requires elucidation. Objective: To determine mechanical parameters and 2D length density of profiles of secondary lamellae of the laminar junction in the dermal region and to assess possible correlations. Methods: Specimens (25 samples in total) of the laminar junction were taken from front, quarter and heel parts from 3 equine hooves and exposed to a uniaxial tensile test until rupture to obtain Young's moduli of elasticity, ultimate stress and strain. Nei...
Allen WR, Sanderson MW, Greenwood RE, Ellis DR, Crowhurst JS, Simpson DJ, Rossdale PD.A total of 18 experimental pony and 136 commercial maiden, barren and foaling Thoroughbred mares in seasonal or lactation-related anoestrus were injected subcutaneously with 1 or 2 slow-release D,L-lactide-glycolide co-polymer implants impregnated with 0.9 or 1.8 mg of the potent GnRH analogue, ICI 118 630, to give a daily release of, respectively, 30 or 60 micrograms analogue for 28 days; 32 of the Thoroughbred mares were also given a daily oral dose of 27.5 mg allyl trenbolone for 5 days after injection of the implant. Thirteen pony (76%) and 120 Thoroughbred (88%) mares ovulated 3-18 days a...
Jensen AM, Ahmed W, Elbrønd VS, Harrison AP.It has been proposed that manipulating proprioceptive signals of the equine distal limb as part of a rehabilitation process in cases of musculoskeletal pain or neurologic deficits can be used to correct postural control and restore normal motor programs. This trial has examined the effect of treatment with a light-weight and loose-fitting bell boot (82 g) on an imbalance of muscle gluteus superficialis function in horses as measured using acoustic myography (AMG). Eight horses were trained over a 60-minute period every 3 days for 6 weeks, a protocol based on preliminary findings. Acoustic my...
Skrabalak DS, Covey TR, Henion JD.Several important corticosteroids were qualitatively determined in the plasma and urine of horses by micro-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (micro-LC-MS). The sensitivity and specificity of micro-LC-MS are demonstrated as is the ability of micro-LC-MS to deal with endogenous interferences. In turn, the relative amount of dexamethasone and its major unconjugated metabolite were determined in equine urine by micro-LC-MS; the conclusions drawn are reported.
Simoens P, Van den Broeck W, Lauwers H.Vascular corrosion casts of 12 equine, 15 bovine and 50 porcine eyes were studied scanning electron microscopically for the presence of posterior ciliary veins. These veins drain a postequatorial segment of the choroid and emerge near the posterior bulbar pole. They complement the four vorticose veins that emerge near or at the equatorial zone of the eyeball and the slender choroidoretinal veins that drain the peridiscal area of the choroid. Posterior ciliary veins were observed in all equine and bovine eyes examined. In these species they presented a large variation in size, number and positi...
Nakashima M, Noda H, Hasegaea M, Ikai A.We studied the oxygenation of mammalian hemoglobins: mouse (Mus musculus molossinus), rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus), Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata), man (Homo sapiens), sheep (Ovis aries), llama (Lama glama), pig (Sus scrofa domesticus), cow (Bos taurus domesticus) and horse (Equus caballus), in the absence of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) and compared their oxygen affinity in relation to the body weight. The negative correlation between body weight and the oxygen affinity of the whole blood, observed by Schmidt-Nielsen and Larimer (1958), was not observed in the absence of DPG. O...