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.
Fretz PB, McIlwraith CW.Five young horses with fetlock varus deformities of 8 degrees or greater were treated by means of wedge osteotomy of the distal end of the 3rd metacarpal or metatarsal bone. Three patients were admitted to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and 2 to Colorado State University. Their selection as surgical patients was based on the following criteria: (1) an angular limb deformity of 8 degrees or greater, (2) patient older than 120 days, (3) no evidence of lameness, and (4) no evidence of degenerative joint disease. The surgery was successful in all cases.
Guerrero J, Michael BF, Rohovsky MW, Campbell BP.Eighteen pony foals were experimentally infected with 500 third stage larvae of Strongylus vulgaris at 2 weeks, and at 2, 4, 6 and 8 months after birth. For the duration of the study, all foals were kept in the same pasture with their mothers to allow natural infection with other parasites by exposure to a contaminated environment. Twelve of the foals were utilized in groups of 3 and treated orally five times at two month intervals starting at one month of age with closantel at doses of 5, 10, 20 or 40 mg kg-1. Ten months after birth the foals were necropsied to determine the parasitic burdens...
Townsend HG, Tabel H, Bristol FM.Parturition was induced in 11 mares, using a synthetic prostaglandin. Eight mares, not treated, were used as controls. There was no significant difference between the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations of the treated and control mares. The concentration of IgG in the colostrum of treated mares compared favorably with that reported for naturally foaling mares. Four foals from treated mares died or were euthanatized because of weakness during the 1st 24 hours after birth. The mean IgG concentration in the surviving foals from treated mares at 24 to 36 hours of age was 1,561 mg/100 ml, w...
Nilsson O, Klingborn B.The effect of oxfendazole (Synanthic vet. Syntex) on the strongyle egg output of naturally infected horses was evaluated. It was demonstrated that the compound, administered orally as an 18,5% paste or as 6,48% pellets mixed in feed (46.3 grams per 300 kg bodyweight) at a dose-rate of 10 mg per kg bodyweight, markedly reduced the strongyle egg output over a 10 week period. As this period to egg reappearance is considerably longer than for most other anthelmintics at recommended dose levels, oxfendazole may be considered a valuable compound for the control of strongylosis in horses.
Ribbeck R, Heide H, Schicht W, Hiepe T.Observations were carried out from May 1977 to May 1980 on occurrence, fauna, and seasonal dynamics of Gasterophilus spp. in 2,539 horses for butchering from all districts of the German Democratic Republic and also in 79 horses after control against gasterophilosis. 99.98% of the 13,742 second and third instar larvae of horses for butchering were Gasterophilus intestinalis, only 0.02% Gasterophilus nasalis. Out of 7,765 larvae passed after control measures Gasterophilus intestinalis dominated with more than 96%. Only in four districts of the German Democratic Republic Gasterophilus nasalis was...
Billah MM, Lapetina EG.Stimulation of horse platelets with platelet-activating factor (PAF) induces a rapid degradation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2]. Addition of 0.1 microM PAF for 5 sec to platelets prelabeled with 32P induces a 50% loss of [32P]PtdIns(4,5)P2. 32P-Labeled phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate (PtdIns4P) and [32P]phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) also are decreased, albeit at a slower rate. Loss of 32P radioactivity correlates with a net loss of fatty acids from both polyphosphoinositides. Stimulation of platelets with PAF also produces formation of [32P]phosphatidic acid and ...
Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Drudge JH.Seven critical tests in equids were conducted with single doses of fenbendazole (5 mg kg-1) alone (Panacur--American Hoechst, Somerville, NJ); (2 tests with paste and 1 with suspension formulation) or in combination with piperazine (American Hoechst); (40 mg base kg-1); (4 tests with paste formulation). The main purpose of the tests was evaluation of activity against benzimidazole-resistant small strongyles (Cyathostomum catinatum, Cyathostomum coronatum, Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cylicostephanus goldi, and Cylicostephanus longibursatus). Natural infections of 2 populations of benzimidazole-resis...
Turk MA, Breeze RG, Gallina AM.The pathologic features of bronchiolitis were studied in horses and ponies from 30 minutes to 27 days after an oral dose of 3-methylindole (3MI). From 30 minutes to 3 hours, lesions were limited to nonciliated bronchiolar epithelial (Clara) cells, which lost apical caps and cytoplasmic granules and had dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). At 12 hours, necrotic Clara cells were exfoliated; degeneration and necrosis were evident, in bronchiolar ciliated cells. Rare epithelial cells with hyperplastic SER appeared on the denuded basal lamina at 24 hours. Inflammatory cells, epithelia, fibro...
Camp CJ, Leid HW.Extracts of Onchocerca cervicalis, an equine parasite, were incubated with radiolabeled equine neutrophils and neutrophil migration was assessed for factors derived from the parasite itself or for host-derived factors after incubation of these same parasite extracts with equine serum. No stimulus for cell migration was observed in saline extracts of adult worms, uterine microfilariae, or skin microfilariae at any dosage tested. However, after incubation of saline extracts with fresh normal equine sera a marked stimulus for neutrophil migration was observed. Ablation of this biologic activity w...
Wiebe ME, Scherer WF, Peick WJ.Ninety-four strains of Venezuelan encephalitis (VE) virus isolated from sentinel hamsters exposed in the Middle American countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras were examined for the presence of virions with marker characteristics of strains that cause large epidemics and equine epizootics. Thirty-four strains came from before and 60 strains came from after the Middle American epidemics and equine epizootics of 1966 and 1969-1972. Twenty-three virion clones that resembled epizootic strains by hydroxylapatite chromatography and Vero monkey kidney cell plaque size determinations wer...
Moltmann UG, Mehlhorn H, Schein E, Rehbein G, Voigt WP, Zweygarth E.The development of Babesia equi (Piroplasmia) in the vertebrate host was studied by electron microscopy. The tick-borne sporozoites initiated an exoerythrocytic schizogony in lymphocytes in vivo and in vitro. In lymphocyte cultures the schizonts of B. equi lay as fissured bodies directly within the host cell forming numerous cytomeres. These cytomeres were bordered by a single membrane and contained polymorphous nuclei. Merozoite differentiation was initiated at several places by protrusions appearing at the periphery of the cytomeres. The cytoplasm of the schizont merged progressively into th...
Gasa S, Makita A, Kinoshita Y.The chemical structure of an equine hematoside, which contained an ester group and comprised 72% of the total erythrocyte gangliosides, was determined by means of nondestructive and destructive procedures. A 400-MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of the ganglioside in perdeuterodimethyl sulfoxide demonstrated three protons due to a methyl group of an acetyl moiety, as well as amide and anomeric protons which were compatible with those of the ordinary hematoside. The spin decoupling difference spectroscopy of the ganglioside revealed the presence of the following structures. [formula: see ...
Miller RI.Although 'phycomycosis' is a common disease of horses in northern Australia little is known about the causative fungi. In this paper the laboratory methods for diagnosis are described. These revealed 38 cases caused by Pythium sp. (Hyphomyces destruens), 6 cases caused by Basidiobolus haptosporus and 2 caused by Conidiobolus coronatus. Laboratory studies on the chemotatic behaviour of zoospores of Pythium sp. showed that they were strongly attracted to both animal hairs and plant tissue. Because of this behaviour a simple baiting method using human hair was used to trap the fungus from water s...
Morris DD, Whitlock RH.TEIROMBOCYTOPENIA can be caused by failure of production or increased destruction of platelets, resulting in a bleeding diathesis, characterised by mucosal petechiac and haemorrhage into various organs. In humans, some drugs (cg, phenylbutazone and chloramphenicol) cause idiosyncratic marrow suppression and subsequent thrombocytopenia. Bone marrow suppression is also well documented in humans and small animals receiving cytotoxic drugs (Calabresi 1979; MacEwen 1980). Decreased megakaryocytic proliferation is rarely recognised in large animals. The most prevalent causes of thrombocytopenia are ...
Enbergs H.Measuring serum or plasma levels of progesterone can be used to determine if conception has occurred in horses. If the mare's progesterone level is below 2 ng/ml 18 days after mating has occurred, conception has not taken place. This method can be used as an addunct to genital examination, and it can be used to determine if hormonal irregularities are present in mares who have not been able to conceive.
Clegg PD.A mature thoroughbred-cross gelding developed chronic severe hindlimb lameness. Despite intensive clinical investigation, the diagnosis of infective arthritis of the coxofemoral joint was difficult, and a definitive diagnosis was reached only after synoviocentesis of the joint. The horse was euthanased and examined thoroughly post mortem but no definitive aetiology for the condition was discovered.
This year's Association of Veterinary Students' congress was held at the University of Liverpool, and included a varied programme, with subjects ranging from the role of large-scale production systems in dairy farming and fertility practices in horses to the importance of recognising and talking about mental health problems within the veterinary profession. Jordan Sinclair, editor of the Journal of the Association of Veterinary Students, reports.
Jiang B, Rugh KS, Hatfield DG, Jiang D, Hahn AW.We report on a nonlinear algorithm which identifies R-wave peaks on the surface electrocardiogram, consistent reference points on the left ventricular pressure waveform and the initiation of the QRS complex on the epicardial electrogram. The algorithm has been used to evaluate data from horses, ponies, dogs and humans at rest and during exercise. It permits rapid, accurate evaluation of data on a beat-by-beat basis even with noisy signals and varying waveform configurations. The algorithm facilitates the acquisition of detailed information previously difficult or impossible to obtain by more c...
O'Brien RT, Biller DS.This article addresses the current status and clinical opportunities for portable radiography and ultrasonography. Radiology is indicated for imaging the nasal cavity, larynx, pharynx and thin portions of the neck. In young foals, adequate radiographs of the entire respiratory tract may be possible. Ultrasonography is indicated in superficial parts of the head and neck, the pleural space and diseased parts of the lungfields.
Moorman GH, van Noort JH, Németh F, Breukink HJ, Gootjes P, Verzijlenberg F.A method for detection of neurectomy by electrical stimulation of the skin, distal to the neurectomy site, was tested for accuracy and feasibility. An electrical stimulation device was designed and tested to find the minimum peak voltage that would elicit a response in normal horses. Twenty seven horses were then tested at regular intervals following neurectomy and their responses recorded. Immediately following neurectomy there was an area of insensitivity with sharply defined borders extending in an arc from the back of the pastern down towards the bulbs of the heels. In the months following...
Gross TL, LeBlanc MM.The effect of seasonal morphologic variation of equine endometrium on histologic interpretation of periglandular fibrosis was investigated in 5 mares. Endometrial tissue was procured monthly and examined microscopically for the degree of periglandular fibrosis. A prognostic category for each mare was based on the mean number of fibrotic foci per linear field of 5.5 mm. It was found that seasonal changes reflected in endometrial glands and stroma influenced quantitative assessment of fibrosis. This occasionally resulted in a change in the assigned prognostic category. Marked nonseasonal variati...