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.
Bernard WV, Cohen D, Bosler E, Zamos D.Blood samples obtained from 13 of 100 (13%) and 6 of 91 (7%) horses at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals in the months of June and October, respectively, had antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi as determined by ELISA. Horses from the states of New York, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania were seropositive for B burgdorferi. The frequency of antibody response in horses from New Jersey was greater (P less than 0.05) than the frequency of antibody response in horses from Pennsylvania or that of horses from the other states combined. Statistically significant difference w...
Bain FT, Merritt AM.To investigate the possibility that a disorder of potassium balance may have a role in the development of equine rhabdomyolysis, the potassium concentration within erythrocytes (RBC [K+]) and plasma (P [K+]) was measured in 3 groups of horses: group 1, eight 2-year-old fillies that had postexercise muscle soreness within 48 hours of sample collection; group 2, ten 2-year-old fillies subjected to identical management and training conditions (as fillies of group 1) and that did not have signs of myopathy; and group 3, 32 yearlings of both sexes on the farm of origin of groups 1 and 2 that were p...
Mason DK, Watkins KL, McNie JT, Luk CM.In late November 1988 large numbers of thoroughbred horses in training in Hong Kong developed a transient pyrexia with, in some cases, the clinical signs of viral respiratory disease. Serial blood samples for haematological examination were taken from 10 of the horses which were stabled in six different blocks. They had developed a high temperature within three days of each other and subsequently seroconverted to equine herpes virus 1 (EHV1). The absolute monocyte count was more than 0.5 x 10(9)/litre in all 10 within the first five days, and nine of them had a high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio...
Robertson JT, Copelan RW.The authors discuss the surgical treatment of selected diseases of the upper airway of the racehorse. Although most of these conditions occur commonly and are easily diagnosed, their surgical management is often less straight-forward and may be surprisingly controversial. The authors' intent is to provide an overview of these problems and give some information regarding current treatment options.
Williamson LH, Farrell RL.A case of intracranial schwannoma is described in a young horse. Clinical signs developed slowly and were suggestive of a lesion involving the left cerebrum. The filly exhibited a change in mentation, and circled to the left. Visual impairment and decreased facial sensation were noted on the right side. A solitary schwannoma which compressed the left cerebrum was found at necropsy.
Ross MW, Cullen KK, Rutkowski JA.Myoelectric activity of the ileum, cecum, and right ventral colon (RVC) was studied in 4 mature ponies. Eight Ag-AgCl bipolar recording electrodes were sutured to the seromuscular layer of the ileum (2 electrodes), cecum (4 electrodes), and RVC (2 electrodes). Myoelectric activity was studied beginning 10 days after surgery. Eight, 60-minute recording sessions were performed in each pony during the interdigestive period, which was the period 3 to 7 hours after the morning feeding. On separate days, food was withheld for 24 hours, and 90-minute recordings were obtained during the nonfeeding per...
Pool RR, Meagher DM.Many lesions of the musculoskeletal system of racing horses are either acute traumatic lesions or are chronic biomechanically induced lesions that become suddenly unstable and provoke acute clinical signs. The latter lesions along with those of DJD are much more common and are of much greater overall economic importance to the racing industry than are the acute traumatic injuries. Chronic biomechanical lesions occur at predictable sites and are the result of an imbalance between repetitive microtrauma sustained in athletic performance and adaptive repair mechanisms of skeletal tissues. The dis...
Hunt RJ, Moore JN, Allen D.In 6 adult horses anesthetized with pentobarbital, the hemodynamic responses of the equine digit to infusion of dopamine were evaluated by use of an isolated extra corporeal pump perfused digital preparation. Digital blood flow was maintained at a constant rate that was independent of systemic hemodynamic changes. Three sequential experiments were performed on each horse. In the first experiment (n = 6), dopamine was infused IV at rates of 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 micrograms/kg/min. For the second experiment (n = 5), dopamine (400 micrograms/ml) was infused into the digital artery at the rates of 0.0...
Blevins WE, Widmer WR.This article focuses on the principles involved in making radiographs of equine limbs; understanding radiographic anatomy, including normal variations; and principles of radiographic interpretation. The influence of pathogenesis of disease on the radiographic image is considered. Diseases associated with racing as well as the developing racehorse are discussed.
Hildebrand SV, Arpin D, Cardinet G.Biopsy specimens of the cutaneous omobrachialis muscle were obtained from 10 horses with a problem of myositis from mild exercise. One horse had been evaluated previously and malignant hyperthermia-like contractures developed in its muscle biopsy specimen during the contracture test. In this study, the halothane-caffeine contracture test and histologic and histochemical evaluations were performed on muscle biopsy specimens. In the contracture test, no muscle biopsy specimen developed contracture in the presence of 2 or 4% halothane alone. The mean (+/- SEM) caffeine-specific concentration in t...
Puigdemont A, Riu JL, Guitart R, Arboix M.The propafenone kinetics after intravenous (i.v.) administration have been studied in the horse by a comparative analysis of compartmental and noncompartmental models. The pharmacokinetic parameters showed a large distribution (Vdss = 1021 +/- 211 L) and a high clearance (CI = 7019 +/- 1746 mL/min) of the drug. The plasma concentrations were very low, under 1 microgram/mL, in most cases; after 30 min these concentrations can be considered as nonefficient for the treatment of arrhythmia. There were no significant differences between pharmacokinetic parameters found with the use of compartmental...
Hood DM, Amoss MS, Grosenbaugh DA.Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and equine laminitis in the horse are medical enigmas. Clinical and scientific data were compared to evaluate the degree of similarity that exists between these two peripheral vascular diseases. Data indicate that certain pathologic and pharmacologic aspects seem to have common features. Some of the correlations maybe due simply to both diseases having ischemia of the distal digits as a pathologic component. The exact etiology of the ischemia is not known for either disease. The results of this study suggest the hypothesis that RP and laminitis are the same disease in...
Hohenhaus MU, Lehmann B.Ultrasonography is a good means of monitoring follicular development in the mare and allows objective observation and measurement of follicular growth as well as identification of corpora lutea and hematoma in the ovary. The significance of ultrasonography in this field lies in the specific anatomical structure of the mare's ovary and the different phenomena preceding and accompanying ovulation, which are described in this paper. The last part deals with the handling and use of ultrasonography.
Berg M, Desselberger U, Abusugra IA, Klingeborn B, Linné T.Comparative analysis by RNA oligonucleotide fingerprints of total genomic RNA as well as the individual RNA segments of equine 2 influenza A virus strains from 1963, 1968, 1979, 1984, 1987 and 1988 revealed genetic diversity. Strains from the epizootic outbreak during 1978-1979 showed minor differences among their genomes. The Swedish isolates from 1979 up to 1988 showed increasing genomic heterogeneity indicating genetic drift.
Galey FD, Twardock AR, Goetz TE, Schaeffer DJ, Hall JO, Beasley VR.Twelve horses, with acute laminitis (primarily in the forefeet) at 12 hours after intragastric dosing with an aqueous extract of black walnut (Juglans nigra) heart-wood, were studied. The distribution of perfusion of blood to the foot and to outlined regions within the foot was quantified, using gamma scintigraphy of regionally infused 99mTc-labeled macroaggregated albumin, before and 12 hours after extract administration. Horses 1 to 3 were not studied further. Perfusion was quantified again for horses 4 to 12 at 84 hours after extract administration. At the onset of acute laminitis, horses 7...
Dewes HF, Townsend KG.Two horses repeatedly underwent episodes of frenzy characterised by extreme discomfort and hyperactivity. Within 2 days of an attack the lower extremities of both hind legs of one subject were uniformly swollen, while on the second subject skin lesions erupted 3-4 days after an attack and swelling persisted for 2-3 weeks. Filariform larvae of Strongyloides westeri were cultured from soil and sawdust where the subjects were kept. Larvae were cultured from soil of low pH (4.5-5.8) but were absent from neutral or alkaline soils. Larvae were found in sawdust with a wide pH range. It is thought tha...
Cornick J, Martens J, Martens R, Crandell R, McConnell S, Kit S.A drug induced equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) mutant lacking thymidine kinase inducing activity was developed and evaluated as a vaccine. The safety and effectiveness of the vaccine to protect against experimentally induced EHV-1 respiratory disease were evaluated in weanling horses free of EHV-1 neutralizing antibody. The vaccine was safe when administered either intramuscularly or intravenously, and EHV-1 was not shed intranasally during the 12 days following administration. Intranasal challenge with virulent EHV-1 was used to evaluate vaccine efficacy. Following challenge, there was a signifi...
Seeherman HJ, Morris E, O'Callaghan MW.Discovering the cause of poor performance in racehorses can often represent a considerable challenge eluding the more common diagnostic techniques available at the racetrack. Application of sports medicine techniques to these problem cases can aid in the diagnosis of poor performance. Central to the development of this capability has been the use of highspeed treadmills, allowing the racehorse to be evaluated in the controlled laboratory setting, at exercise intensities equivalent to those of racing. Video and cinematographic gait analysis can be used in the diagnosis of subtle lameness condit...
Holmes RA, Klei TR, McClure JR, Turk MA, Watters JW, Chapman MR.Semiselective mesenteric arteriography was performed at regular intervals (inoculation weeks [IW] 0, 11, 18, and 24) in 9 of 10 pony foals raised to be free of parasites. Fifty infective larvae (L3) of Strongylus vulgaris were administered weekly for 4 weeks, then every 2 weeks through the 20th week. Three ponies were given ivermectin (oral paste, 0.2 mg/kg of body weight) treatment at IW 8, 16 and 24. Four ponies were inoculated, but did not receive ivermectin, and a third group of 2 ponies acted as uninoculated controls. Control ponies did not have gross or arteriographic lesions, whereas th...
Kline KH, Bechtel PJ.The purpose of this study was to investigate metabolic changes in equine muscle from birth to 1 yr of age. Duplicate biopsies from the middle portion of the gluteus medius were obtained from a depth of 2 cm beneath the superficial fascia at 1 day, 7 days, 1 mo, 3 mo, 6 mo, and 1 yr of age in 11 quarter horses and at 1 day, 3 mo, 6 mo, and 1 yr of age in 5 Standardbreds. Muscle enzyme activities determined were citrate synthase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, phosphorylase, and lactate dehydrogenase. Percent fast-twitch, fast-twitch high oxidative, and slow-twitch oxidative fiber types were d...
Noiman S, Yaniv A, Sherman L, Tronick SR, Gazit A.The pattern of expression of the equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) genome in a persistently infected canine cell line was determined. Five EIAV-specific transcripts (8.2, 5.0, 4.0, 2, and 1.8 kilobases [kb]) were detected by using subgenomic restriction enzyme fragments of EIAV DNA and EIAV-specific oligonucleotides as probes. The 8.2-kb mRNA could be shown to represent viral genomic RNA, whereas the smaller transcripts were generated by splicing events. Evidence was obtained that indicated that each subgenomic RNA species shared a common 5'-splice donor. The 5.0-kb mRNA was found to be ex...
Goodman NL, Baker BK.Lameness problems constitute a major part of racing Quarter Horse practice. This article considers the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of the frequently encountered lamenesses. The main conditions included are synovitis, intra-articular fractures, osteochondritis dissecans, and degenerative joint disease as they relate to the coffin, fetlock, carpal, and tarsal joints. Intra-articular injection techniques and medications are discussed because of the frequency of joint disease. Bucked shins and stress fractures are also reviewed.
Mair TS, Lane JG.The clinical signs associated with intramural tracheal obstructions in two horses and a donkey were respiratory distress and coughing, which were aggravated by exercise and excitement. The obstructions were at the level of the thoracic inlet and consisted either of flattening of the cartilage rings in the dorsoventral plane or of cartilage rings having a scroll-like conformation. They appeared to be developmental in origin and to have been present for a considerable time before the onset of clinical signs. Endoscopy and radiography were helpful in the diagnosis of the condition.
Kotzé SH.The arteries supplying the ileocaecal junctions of 7 horses were injected with latex via the A. ileocolica and dissected macroscopically. The same basic pattern emerged whereby a single papillary artery arising from the R. ilei mesenterialis, supplied all aspects of the ileocaecal papilla. In one instance, the papillary artery arose directly from the ileocolic artery. No collateral arterial supply to the ileocaecal junction was present in any of the specimens dissected.
Papa FO, Alvarenga MA, Lopes MD, Campos Filho EP.THE immunogenicity of mammalian sperm has been recognised since the beginning of this century. In 1909, Adler induced autoantibodies in the serum of guinea pigs by injecting them with their own spermatozoa. Nowadays, the concept of
immunologically privileged sites is well understood and any disruption which allows antigenic contact with the immune system may give rise to an immune response. For example, failure
of the blood/testes barrier following infection, trauma or surgery can lead to the production of antisperm antibodies as a result of spermatozoa coming in contact with the immune syst...
Yamaga T, Tagami M, Takeyama A, Kato F, Suzuki T, Tagami M, Tsuzuki N.Computed tomography (CT) offers high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging, making it particularly valuable for assessing complex structures, such as the head, especially when conventional radiography and endoscopy are insufficient for a definitive diagnosis. Herein, we present two cases of equine cranial disorders resulting from congenital malformations. In case 1, which had a dentigerous cyst, CT images confirmed the location of the ectopic tooth within the skull and a detailed fistula tube. In case 2, which had temporohyoid osteoarthropathy, CT examination revealed that the stylohyoid bone ...
Prudhomme J, Bardet C, Rakotoarivony I, Garros C, Bouhsira É, Lienard E.Insect bite hypersensitivity in horses ("sweet itch") is a common pruritic, chronic, seasonal, and recurrent dermatitis affecting approximately 10% of horses in France and is a major concern for the horse industry and private owners. This dermatitis results from an allergic reaction to the saliva of specific biting flies (Diptera: Nematocera), primarily from the Culicoides genus. Given the frequent occurrence of this health problem and the limited investigation in France, we conducted a field survey in the vicinity of a riding stable in southwestern France with a reported chronic case of recur...
Fikri F, Purnomo A, Maslamama ST, Purnama MTE.In the past 20 years, acupuncture has been utilized as an alternative therapy for equine laminitis despite a lack of clinical evidence to support its effectiveness. Information from previous studies needs to be evaluated holistically to verify the effectiveness of acupuncture. This meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for laminitis in horses. Unassigned: A total of 7 studies out of 145 were selected in the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest databases using the keywords "equine laminitis," "acupuncture," "horses," and "la...
Yu Y, Wang J, Ruan L, Chen L, Khan MZ, You A, Wang C, Li L, Ren H, Wang T, Liu W.Equid alphaherpesvirus type 8 (EHV-8) is a contagious pathogen that causes reproductive disorders, respiratory diseases, and viral encephalitis in equids, resulting in significant economic losses for the global horse and donkey industries. Currently, there are no approved antiviral drugs or vaccines available for EHV-8 control. In this study, we investigated the antiviral efficacy of celastrol against EHV-8 both in vitro and in vivo. Our results demonstrated that celastrol significantly inhibited EHV-8 infection in Rabbit kidney (RK-13) and equine dermal cells (NBL-6) in a dose-dependent manne...
Cullinane A, Nelly M, Dayot L, Lukaseviciute G, Garvey M, Healy J, Gallagher R.This study describes a comparison of the detection of rotavirus in clinical samples from foals using two commercially available rapid antigen detection (RAD) kits, with the detection of rotavirus nucleic acid via a laboratory-based, in-house, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. One hundred and forty freeze-thawed samples (70 that were RT-PCR-positive and 70 that were RT-PCR-negative on original tests) submitted to the diagnostic laboratory over a seven-year period were tested in addition to 123 fresh samples (15 RT-PCR-positive and 108 RT-PCR-negative) sub...
Gravey F, Sévin C, Langlois B, Maillard K, Foucher N, Duquesne F, Léon A, Le Hello S, Petry S.Misidentifications as Klebsiella pneumoniae were observed during a French retrospective study of a necropsy-associated K. pneumoniae bacterial collection from horses. Accordingly, the present study aimed to further characterise the 12 Raoultella spp. and Klebsiella spp. strains involved in these misidentifications. The strains were identified and characterised using the Api 20E system, K. pneumoniae PCR detection, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectroscopy and whole-genome sequencing. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested by the disc diffusion method with...
Ryu SH, An SJ, Forbes E, Kim BS, Choe S.Equine strongyle infections are prevalent among grazing horses worldwide, yet research on anthelmintic efficacy and parasite management strategies in South Korea remains limited. This study investigated the infection dynamics and parasite burden in horses managed under different systems (pasture vs. stable) over a one-year period in Jeju, South Korea, assessing the impact of management practices on parasite burden and the effectiveness of current deworming regimens. Thirty-two horses were administered ivermectin/praziquantel in June 2022 and assigned to either pasture (n = 16) or stable (n...
Sinovich M, Monné Rodriguez J, Pieńkowska-Schelling A, Schelling C, Kelly PG.Introduction Monorchidism is a rarely described condition in the horse and is not to be confused with cryptorchidism. The diagnosis is challenging and confirmed by surgery and histology in combination with hormonal assays. This report describes, to the best of the author's knowledge, the first case of monorchidism and abdominal cryptorchidism of the developed testicle in a horse. Methods An Irish Cob underwent laparoscopic castration for removal of bilateral cryptorchid testicles. At surgery the horse was diagnosed as a monorchid with the testicle retained intra-abdominally. Histopathological,...
Abdul-Latif SAK, Yousif AA.Strangles is a highly contagious equine respiratory disease caused by . It is a globally significant pathogen and one of the most common infectious agents in horses. In Iraq, no sequencing data on this pathogen are available, and only two molecular studies have been published to date. This study provides preliminary insights into strain diversity and provides a foundation for future large-scale investigations. Unassigned: This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics, identify gene alleles, and perform a phylogenetic analysis of isolates from horses in Baghdad, Iraq. Unassign...
Hardy L, Martin M, Barré C, Tanquerel L.Equine gastric ulceration syndrome (EGUS) is a common condition, affecting both glandular (EGGD) and squamous (ESGD) mucosa of the stomach. It has a high prevalence, particularly in racehorses and sport horses, causing clinical signs from poor performance to colic. Gastroscopy, the reference standard diagnostic method, is expensive, prompting the search for alternative tests. Previous studies noted changes in blood markers, including elevated gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity in ulcerated horses. This study aimed to report the prevalence of EGUS in sport horses and evaluate the asso...
Yang G, Chen Y, Chen K, Hu Z, Li J, Wang J, Guo W, Wang X, Du C.Equine piroplasmosis (EP), caused by Theileria equi (T. equi) and Babesia caballi (B. caballi), is a tick-borne disease with significant economic impacts on the equine industry. Theileria haneyi (T. haneyi), a newly identified pathogen of EP, is globally distributed but has not been reported in China, where its epidemiological patterns remain undefined. Objective: To develop diagnostic techniques for T. haneyi and to assess its prevalence and risk factors in China. Methods: Assay development and cross sectional survey. Methods: A nested PCR (nPCR) nucleic acid diagnostic technique targeting th...
May A, Hanche-Olsen S, Goehring LS, Matiasek K, Jäderlund KH, Zablotski Y, Gröndahl G.Acquired equine polyneuropathy in Nordic horses (AEP) is the most prevalent equine polyneuropathy in Norway, Sweden, and Finland and is characterised by pelvic limb knuckling due to metatarsophalangeal extension dysfunction. Objective: To evaluate the function of descending motor pathways in AEP using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Methods: An analytical, observational cohort design. Methods: Clinical findings and TMS results of 20 horses from an AEP outbreak in Sweden were evaluated at 5-month intervals. Latency time (LT) in milliseconds (ms) between coil discharge and onset of musc...
Dash RF, Perkins JD, Chang YM, Morgan RE.Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) is characterised by bone proliferation and cartilage ossification caused by infectious and degenerative conditions, amongst others. Objective: To describe the variable appearance of the temporohyoid joint (THJ) on computed tomography (CT) and investigate associations between CT changes and potential risk factors. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Head CT examinations were assessed. A grading system was developed for osseous proliferation (grade 0 [normal] to 3 [severe]) and tympanohyoid cartilage change (grade 0 [normal] to 3 [complete ossification])....
Haegeman L, Foucaud M, Joostens Z, Declercq J, Vinardell T, Kadic D, Mariën T.To describe surgical treatment and outcome for horses with extensive perianal melanomas. Unassigned: Gray horses treated surgically for extensive perianal melanoma between July 1, 2020, and July 31, 2023, were eligible. Horses without the entire perianal skin covered with coalescing or ulcerating melanomas were excluded. Unassigned: 59 horses (30 mares, 27 geldings, and 2 stallions) met the inclusion criteria. Median age was 16 years (range, 7 to 28 years). Clinical signs included tenesmus (n = 53), weight loss (3), and hind limb lameness (1). Six horses presented with no complaints; in these ...
Bhoora RV, Mbaba TV, Troskie M, Ackermann RE, Collins NE.Theileria haneyi is an apicomplexan parasite closely related to Theileria equi, a known causative agent of equine piroplasmosis. The molecular distinction between these parasites relies on a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, which has been reported to be unreliable. A recently reported indirect ELISA based on equi merozoite antigen 11 (Thema-11) of T. haneyi can detect geographically diverse T. haneyi strains. Since the ema-11 gene is exclusive to T. haneyi, it was chosen as the target for developing a TaqMan minor groove binder (MGB™) quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Published...
Ballados-González GG, Cruz-Romero A, Martínez-Hernández JM, Aguilar-Domínguez M, Vieira RFC, Grostieta E, Becker I, Sánchez-Montes S.Hemotropic mycoplasmas (HM) are emerging pathogens known to infect a wide range of mammals, including ungulates like horses. These infections can lead to severe haematological conditions, posing a threat to animal health and welfare. Recent studies have begun shedding light on the prevalence and impact of HM on horse populations worldwide. For instance, in Germany, Iran, Nigeria, and Brazil, at least three species of HM have been identified in horses, with a lack in knowledge in Latin American countries like Mexico. Our research aims to fill a crucial knowledge gap regarding the presence of HM...
Kuhn KG, Shelton K, Sanchez G, Zamor R, Bohanan K, Nichols M, Morris L, Robert J, Austin A, Dart B, Bolding B, Maytubby P, Vogel J, Stevenson B.West Nile Virus (WNV) is the most widespread and frequently reported mosquito-borne disease in the US, with a high risk of outbreaks. Accurate surveillance of WNV is complicated by many mild or asymptomatic infections, resulting in human cases being under-reported and disease distribution and transmission not being well understood. In this study, we investigated how wastewater surveillance can be used for monitoring WNV in Oklahoma. We analyzed samples collected from wastewater treatment facilities in 16 counties during July 1 to September 31, 2023, for the presence of WNV genetic material and...
Maloney SM, Shaw TM, Nennig KM, Larsen MS, Shah A, Kumar A, Marcotrigiano J, Grove J, Snijder EJ, Kirchdoerfer RN, Bailey AL.Arteriviruses are a family of single-stranded, positive-sense RNA (+ssRNA) viruses that infect diverse animal hosts. Many arteriviruses are macrophage-tropic, consistent with their utilization of the macrophage-specific molecule CD163 as a receptor. However, the horse arterivirus (equine arteritis virus, EAV), which infects additional cell types beyond macrophages, does not utilize CD163 in its entry mechanism. Here, we use a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen to identify alternative receptors that could explain this discrepancy in arterivirus receptor utilization and tropism, identifying the ...
Franco JJ, Gonzálvez M, Cano-Terriza D, Barbero-Moyano J, Jose-Cunilleras E, Alguacil E, García J, García-Bocanegra I.Equine viral arteritis is a notifiable infectious disease with sanitary and economic implications at a global scale. A cross-sectional serosurvey was performed to determine the exposure of equids to the Alphaarterivirus equid [Equine Arteritis Virus (EAV)] in three regions in western Europe. Serum samples from 1425 equids (1196 horses, 104 donkeys, and 125 mules/hinnies) from Catalonia (northeastern Spain), Andalusia (southern Spain) and southeastern United Kingdom (UK) were collected during the period 2011-2023. The overall EAV seroprevalence in EAV-unvaccinated equids was 9.7 % (138/1425; 9...
Punyadarsaniya D, Taesuji M, Rattanamas K, Ruenphet S.Standard serological tests post-vaccination, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), complement fixation, and virus neutralization, are crucial for monitoring African horse sickness (AHS). However, the availability of commercial test kits such as blocking ELISA varies by regions; while they are commonly used in Africa and Europe, their limited availability and high cost in Thailand present significant challenges. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate an alternative approach using an in-house indirect ELISA based on cell-based monovalent and polyvalent strains of live attenuated AH...
Herkenhoff ME.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are molecules that regulate gene expression by targeting the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of mRNAs. They are essential in numerous biological processes like growth, metabolism, and muscle development. miRNA research has become crucial in livestock breeding, offering solutions for improving animal health and productivity. This review focuses on miRNAs' roles in equine performance, reproduction, and disease, highlighting key findings and future applications in these areas. It discusses the use of circulating miRNAs (ci-miRNA) as biomarkers for athletic performance, particularl...
Lloyd-Edwards RA, Mulders E, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Veraa S. Headshaking is a common condition in horses, most cases are presumed idiopathic/trigeminal-nerve mediated. Diagnostic work-up of a headshaking horse may involve computed tomography (CT) of the head to exclude causative structural pathology. The relevance of the presence and severity of hyoid apparatus findings at CT to headshaking is unknown. A retrospective analysis of CT changes in the hyoid apparatus in horses was carried out. Comparisons were performed between horses with signs of headshaking and a control population and a subgroup of horses with signs of headshaking and no other 'likely...
Firdausy LW, Fikri F, Wicaksono AP, Çalışkan H, Purnama MTE.Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a lentiviral disease affecting members of the Equidae family, with global distribution and significant implications for animal health and biosecurity. Despite numerous individual reports, a comprehensive synthesis of its global prevalence and risk factors remains lacking. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the global prevalence of EIA, identify diagnostic trends, and evaluate factors associated with heterogeneity across studies. Unassigned: A systematic search was conducted in six major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web ...
Drespling J, Berwanger L, Kühn H, Schwarz B, Doherr M, Mundhenk L.Mucus parameters are hallmark diagnostic features of equine asthma (EA). Objective: To investigate the relationship between mucus quantity score and mucus viscosity score with signalment, history, clinical findings and cytological parameters. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods: Mucus quantity and viscosity scores, signalment, history and clinical findings recorded for diagnostic purposes from up to 1599 samples, and cytological values of the corresponding bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and tracheobronchial secretions were analysed. The cut-off value of a mucus quantity ...
Chabronova A, Walters M, Regårdh S, Jacobsen S, Bundgaard L, Anderson JR, Peffers MJ.Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that greatly contributes to equine morbidity and poor welfare. Changes in cellular protein expression programs fuel the development and progression of OA. Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of OA (patho)biology. SnoRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that guide post-transcriptional modifications (PTMs) of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) nucleotides, which impact ribosome function and thus cellular protein expression programs. There is only very limited data on snoRNAs in equine OA. Unassigned: In this study, we induced OA in ...
Iduu NV, Raiford D, Cohen ND, Landrock KK, Wang C.We developed a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based real-time PCR (qPCR) assay coupled with high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis to differentiate subsp. (SEE) from subsp. (SEZ), two closely related equine pathogens with distinct clinical implications. The assay targets a region of the 23S rRNA gene containing single-nucleotide polymorphisms that differentiate the subspecies. By combining subspecies-specific probes with melting temperature () analysis, the assay accurately distinguished SEE, SEZ, and mixed infections without the need for post-PCR processing. The entire work...
Kurras S, Knottenbelt D, Schmelz U, Schaal T, Tischendorf T, Fuchs R, Schorling T, Koene MHW.Dermatophytosis is a common fungal skin infection in horses, particularly affecting young and immunocompromised animals. Traditional treatments often involve antifungal medications with potential side effects. Here, we present a case report that evaluated the efficacy of cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol (CAP-A) as a standalone treatment for equine dermatophytosis. Unassigned: A 2-year-old Westphalian warmblood stallion presented with confirmed dermatophyte lesions restricted to the left side of the mouth which were treated with CAP-A. Treatment was administered 2 times daily for 12 consecutive ...
Fiske-Jackson A.Equine neoplasia poses challenges in surgical management owing to their diverse locations and potential for aggressive behavior. Surgical interventions aim for complete excision while minimizing cosmetic and functional impairments. Techniques such as laser ablation and electrochemotherapy offer minimally invasive options for accessible tumors. For deeper or larger masses, surgical excision with adequate margins remains the gold standard. Preoperative biopsy and imaging guides surgical planning, ensuring complete tumor removal while preserving vital structures. Close adherence to a strict surgi...
Eertink LG, Swope M, Uprety T, Sreenivasan C, Page AE, Adam EN, Wang D, Li F.Equine rotavirus A (ERVA) can cause foal diarrhoea and the most common ERVA genotypes are G3P[12] and G14P[12]. Since the introduction of a monovalent killed G3P[12] vaccine, infection in neonates has decreased. We aimed to determine the dynamics and longevity of maternally derived anti-G3P[12] neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in foals and what, if any, cross-reactivity exists between maternally derived NAbs against G14P[12]. Serum samples were collected from 50 mare-foal pairs before each vaccination and up to 6 months post-foaling for mares and up to 7 months of age for foals. These samples we...
Marchio SP, El-Sheikh Ali H, Scott MA, Barbosa Fernandes C, Scoggin KE, Troedsson M, Boakari Y.Despite its critical role in protecting the fetus, the amniotic membrane remains poorly understood in the context of disease response. The equine amniotic membrane is an important physical barrier to the amniotic compartment, and there is evidence that it may contribute to surfactant synthesis. Surfactants are essential for normal fetal lung development, and disruptions in its availability may be linked to future neonatal complications. Therefore, understanding the molecular changes that occur in fetal-maternal tissues during placentitis would clarify how this condition leads to abortion, pret...
