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.
Nansen P, Riising HJ.The metabolism of immunoglobulin classes has been closely examined in several animal species. Although the horse has received much attention in experimental and applied immunology there seems to be little information available on immunoglobulin kinetics in this species. The present report describes the metabolism of equine IgG in 4 healthy, normoimmunoglobulinaemic horses, in 1 horse with hyperimmunoglobulinaemia and in 1 horse with relatively low immunoglobulin levels.
Scott GR.Twelve DNA viruses and forty‐three RNA viruses are known to infect horses. In addition, there are three unclassified viruses and, at least, three alleged viruses infecting horses. Differential diagnosis is difficult. At least twenty‐eight of the fifty‐eight viruses induce clinical disease but the range of syndromes is limited; eleven provoke respiratory symptoms and eleven cause encephalitis. Thirty‐four equine viruses with a limited geographical distribution are transmitted by arthropod vectors. Twenty viruses are spread by contact and their distribution, in general, is global. The ve...
Rouse BT, Ingram DG.Thirty-six samples of colostrum and milk were collected from ponies at various intervals after parturition. Levels of total protein and immunoglobulins IgG and IgG(T) were determined. In samples collected in the first 3 hours , the total protein concentration was approximately twice that of serum protein and the immunoglobulins IgG and IgG(T) accounted for 30 per cent and 10 per cent respectively of this protein. The ratio of IgG to IgG(T) was similar to that in serum. After suckling, a marked decline in both total protein and immunoglobulin concentration occurred. In addition, the relative co...
Park RD, Morgan JP, O'Brien T.The incidence of chip fractures in carpal bones and the distal end of the radius in the horse was determined. The radial carpal bone was involved 50% of the time, with the distal end of the radius and intermediate and 3rd carpal bones being involved less frequently. Nine locations were designated where chip fractures in the carpus occurred most often.
A higher incidence of fractures was noticed from the right carpus, with slab fractures of the 3rd carpal bone being noticed more frequently on the right front limb.
Saint-Dizier M, Foulon-Gauze F, Lecompte F, Combarnous Y, Chopineau M.In order to investigate the role of the unique seventh N23-glycosylation site of the equine LH/CG receptor (eLHCGR) in the cAMP pathway activation, COS-7 cells were transiently transfected with either the wild-type or the mutant eLHCGR(N23Q) cDNA and challenged with porcine LH and eCG for cAMP production. We showed that the N23-glycosylation site of the eLHCGR is not required for the functional coupling of the receptor with the cAMP pathway and is not responsible for the limited potency of eCG relative to pLH to activate this receptor.
Kempson SA, Campbell EH.The permeability barrier in the dorsal wall of the equine hoof capsule was studied by means of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in 0.9 N saline solution as a water soluble tracer. Section were treated with 3'3'-diaminobenzidine tetrachloride (DAB) and before dissection the quality of the horn of feet from 10 horses was assessed and given a subjective grade as either good or poor. Blocks of tissue from each horse were left in either an oven at 60 degrees C or in water for 2 weeks before treatment in HRP, sectioning and DAB solution. Regions observed were i) outer surface, ii) outermost layers of th...
Rantanen NW.Diagnostic ultrasound has allowed significant findings to be made in the investigation of cardiac disease in the horse. Because of the limited value of thoracic radiography in the adult horse with cardiac disease, ultrasound is the method of choice to document chamber enlargement, pericardial effusion, valvular abnormalities, and decreased contractility of the myocardium. The apparent changes in the flow characteristics and suspicion of abnormality in the right heart of racehorses need further investigation to fully document the etiopathogenesis of spontaneous contrast.
Takesue M, Osaka Y, Muranaka M, Katayama Y, Ikadai H.In the present study, the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of horses diagnosed with Setaria digitata cerebrospinal filariasis were analyzed by western blot. The results revealed S. digitata protein bands measuring 65, 34, 22, and 18 kDa in molecular weight. In particular, the 18 kDa band is a possible candidate for clinical immunodiagnosis on the basis of western blot findings.
Boudouard M, Giudicelli J, Sudaka P.A rapid method for preparation of brush border membrane vesicles from a large amount of horse kidney cortex is described. Self-orienting Percoll-gradient centrifugation minimized contamination by microsomal membranes. The characteristics of this preparation were checked by electron microscopy and measurement of L-alanine uptake.
Koupai-Abyazani MR, Yu N, Esaw B, Laviolette B.Urine and serum samples collected from four standard-bred mares after 30-mg intraarticular administrations of triamcinolone acetonide were analyzed using combined high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry. Maximum triamcinolone acetonide concentrations of 32.3, 14.8, 24.3, and 29.4 ng/mL in the urine and 2.7, 1.9, 2.3, and 2.5 ng/mL in the serum samples were observed. The peak concentrations of the drug were detected approximately 22 h (urine) and 12 h (serum) after administration. The drug elimination profiles for both urine and serum are present...
De Lorenzi L, Genualdo V, Perucatti A, Pia Di Meo G, Molteni L, Iannuzzi L, Parma P.R-spondins constitute a recently discovered small family of growth factors, and the evidence of their role in several developmental pathways is growing fast. In this work we describe the chromosomal location of the four RSPO genes in the donkey. Using horse BACs, we localized RSPO1 on EAS 5q23, RSPO2 on EAS 12q13, RSPO3 on EAS 24q26, and RSPO4 on EAS 15p13. Moreover, RSPO2, RSPO3, and RSPO4 are the first genes mapped on donkey chromosomes 12, 24, and 15, respectively.
Beaulieu A, Nykamp S, Phillips J, Arroyo LG, Koenig J, Zur Linden A.Intra-articular injections are routinely performed to alleviate pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in horses. Intra-articular injections require accurate needle placement to optimize clinical outcomes and minimize complications. This study's objectives were to develop and validate a three-dimensional (3D) printed model of an equine cervical articular process joint to teach ultrasound-guided injections. Five identical models of an equine cervical articular process joint were 3D printed and embedded in 10% ballistic gelatin. Experts' and novices' ability to successfully insert ...
Stefani M, Berti A, Camici G, Manao G, Cappugi G, Ramponi G.The use of sodium selenite as a catalyst in the presence of oxygen was a suitable technique to obtain in good yield an interchain S-S dimeric form of horse muscle acylphosphatase. The dimer so obtained possesses kinetic properties very similar to those of the native enzyme. On the other hand the dimer has shown a generally lower stability in respect of the thermal inactivation, particularly in the acidic environment, to the lyophilization and to the proteolytic attack. As regards the 8 M urea inactivation, the dimer is not able to completely regain its activity by dilution, showing a behaviour...
Parks AH, Stick JA, Arden WA, Chou CC, Hengemuhle SM.The influence of distention (high baseline intraluminal pressure) and neostigmine methylsulfate on intestinal vascular resistance, oxygen uptake, and intraluminal pressure changes (rhythmic contractions) was studied in terminal jejunal segments, which were perfused at a constant rate, in 16 anesthetized ponies. When baseline intraluminal pressure was increased to 10 mm of Hg, the intestinal vascular resistance and amplitude of rhythmic contractions were increased. Neostigmine induced cyclic increases in amplitude of rhythmic contractions whether intraluminal pressure was 0 or 10 mm of Hg. Neos...
Reinhard F.The conformation of a foal's limbs is of interest beginning in the first days of life. The hoof also must not be neglected. Management and hoof care necessary for normal hoof development are discussed. In addition, pathological hoof shapes and their appropriate treatments are outlined.
Lee S, Lee EB, Park KW, Jeong H, Shin KY, Kweon YP, Seo JP.The equine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has a complex anatomical structure that makes diagnosis of TMJ disorders difficult. Computed tomography (CT) is now available in equine medicine; hence, TMJ evaluation has become more convenient. Objective: The objectives of this study were to describe the CT features of the TMJ in Jeju horses and to compare these features with those of Thoroughbreds. Methods: In this report, the TMJs of 10 Jeju horses (mean age: 4.5 ± 1.9 yr; mean body weight: 282.6 ± 40.3 kg) and 6 Thoroughbreds (mean age: 7.3 ± 1.6 yr; mean body weight: 479.7 ± 44.0 kg) were exam...
Mundy LN, Lescun TB, Main RP, Hall Griffin T.To compare heat generation and mechanical bone damage achieved with 2 tapered and 1 cylindrical transfixation pin taps in third metacarpal bones from equine cadavers. Methods: 18 pairs (36 specimens) of third metacarpal bones from euthanized horses with no known metacarpal disease. Methods: In each bone, an investigator drilled 3 holes for placement of a 6.3-mm cylindrical transfixation pin, a 6.3-mm tapered pin using a prototype tapered tap, and a 6.3-mm tapered pin using a revised tapered tap. One bone of each pair was tapped by hand and the other with an electric drill. Temperatures of the ...
Aguilera R, Becchi M, Mateus L, Popot MA, Bonnaire Y, Casabianca H, Hatton CK.A gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry method for confirmation of hydrocortisone abuse in horseracing and equine sports is proposed. Urinary hydrocortisone was converted to a bismethylenedioxy derivative which presents good gas chromatographic properties and brings an extra carbon contribution of only two carbon atoms. Synthetic hydrocortisone has a different 13C abundance from that of natural urinary horse hydrocortisone and the difference is significant, therefore exogenous and endogenous hydrocortisone can be distinguished.
Olson CT, Keller WC, Gerken DF, Reed SM.Of 10 horses in a heavily overgrazed pasture, 4 died within 1 week. Clinical signs included muscle tremors, ataxia, reluctance to walk, heavy sweating, and myoglobinuria. Serum creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were high. Histopathologic findings were nonspecific. On the basis of clinical signs, clinicopathologic findings, nonspecific histopathologic findings, the condition of the pasture, the identification of numerous white snakeroot plants from which trematone was extracted, and evidence that these plants had been heavily browsed, it was believed t...
Watson ED.Incubation of equine neutrophils with povidone-iodine solutions of greater than or equal to 0.2 per cent resulted in total inhibition of migration under agarose. This was caused by the cytotoxic effects of the solutions as shown by pyknosis and cell lysis. Lower concentrations of povidone-iodine, however, did not adversely affect neutrophil viability or locomotion.
Gillis JP, Zardiackas LD, Gilbert JA, St John KR.Paired equine third metacarpal bones were drilled and tapped for 4.5 mm and 5.5 mm cortical screws. Tapping was done by hand or with an air-driven reversible orthopedic drill. Screws were inserted and subjected to extraction forces to failure of the osseous threads or the screws. There was no difference in holding power of either screw size between hand-tapped and power-tapped holes.
Gürelli G, Göçmen B.Blepharocorys curvigula Gassovsky, 1919 found in the intestine of domestic horses (Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758), living in the vicinity of Izmir was investigated. It was seen in nine of the thirteen horses examined (69%). This study reports the presence of Blepharocorys curvigula in the intestine of Equids for the first time in Turkey. Specimens were found to be similar to the original descriptions on the basis of morphological characters and biometric data.
Jose-Cunilleras E, Wijnberg ID.Reference values for quantitative electromyography (QEMG) in shoulder and hindlimb muscles of horses are limited. Objective: To determine normative data on QEMG analysis of supraspinatus (SS), infraspinatus (IS), deltoideus (DT) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles. Methods: Experimental observational study and retrospective case series. Methods: Seven adult healthy Royal Dutch sport horses underwent quantitative motor unit action potential analysis of each muscle using commercial electromyography equipment. Measurements were made according to published methods. One-way ANOVA was used to compare qu...
Steinman A, Kachtan I, Levi O, Shpigel NY.Clostridium botulinum type C is prevalent in Israel and outbreaks recorded in many species, other than horses. Association between levels of anti-BoNT/C antibodies and equine grass sickness (EGS) have been demonstrated but seroprevalence of anti-BoNT/C antibodies in horses has not been reported nor has EGS been reported in Israel. Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of specific anti-BoNT/C antibodies in horses in Israel and to determine whether age, breed and gender, or geographical region of farms are potential risk factors for exposure to BoNT/C. Objective: Anti-BoNT/C antibodies are ...
Gunson DE.Despite being a very widespread protein, collagen is an unusual molecule possessing a great tensile strength conferred by a rope-like structure and intermolecular crosslinks. Our current knowledge of the biosynthesis of collagen is providing some insights into certain diseases of connective tissue and is also helping us to understand the healing processes of wounds and diseased tissues.
Längerer L.Bernardino P, James K, Barnum S et al. What have we learned from 7 years of equine rhinitis B virus qPCR testing in nasal secretions from horses with respiratory signs. Vet Rec 2021; 188 (10): e26. DAS EQUINE RHINITIS-B-VIRUS (ERBV) HAT EINE HOHE INZIDENZ, IST IN SEINER BEDEUTUNG JEDOCH NUR WENIG ERFORSCHT. EINE INFEKTION MIT DEM ERBV äUßERT SICH IN SYMPTOMEN WIE FIEBER, ANOREXIE, LETHARGIE, NASENAUSFLUSS, HUSTEN, LYMPHADENOPATHIE UND ÖDEMEN DER DISTALEN GLIEDMAßEN. AUßERDEM TRETEN HäUFIG SUBKLINISCHE INFEKTIONEN AUF. DAS ZIEL DIESER STUDIE WAR, DIE HäUFIGKEIT DES NACHWEISES VON ERBV IM...
Pasquel SG, Agnew D, Nelson N, Kruger JM, Sonea I, Schott HC.Although the equine renal pelvis and terminal recesses have been described post mortem, little information exists about the endoscopic appearance of these structures in the living horse for guiding ureteropyeloscopy. Objective: To further document the anatomy of the upper urinary collecting system, specifically the renal pelvis and terminal recesses, of the horse. Methods: Descriptive study of cadaver material. Methods: Kidneys were harvested from 10 horses. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed after distension of the renal pelvis with an elastomer casting material, followed by visual insp...
Ochi A, Nishioka T, Kurimoto S, Kishi D, Ueno T, Nukada T.A 2-year-old male Thoroughbred horse presented with a mass in the maxilla. The focally ulcerated mass, approximately 8 cm in diameter, covered the upper left intermediate and corner incisor teeth (nos. 602 and 603 according to the modified Triadan system) and radiographic examination revealed displacement and lysis of the incisors. Histologically, the tumour was composed of a dense proliferation of spindle-shaped cells and neoplastic odontogenic epithelial cells arranged in island, follicular, plexiform or sheetlike patterns. The spindle-shaped cells were immunopositive for cytokeratins AE1/A...
Leid RW.The investigation of the mast cell-basophil products has progressed from studies directed solely at implicating histamine or serotonin in allergic diseases to molecular definitions of pathways to target cell activation and mediator release. In addition, within the last several years the detection and molecular characterization of the many other mediators of immediate hypersensitivity have begun. This area should continue to prove a fruitful arena in the future. Identification of the physiologic importance of these mediators in the heaves syndrome or other potential equine allergic syndromes ma...
Hoskinson JJ, Tucker RL, Lillich J, Bertone JJ.While many equine diagnostic imaging procedures can be done in field, some procedures require specialized facilities, equipment or expertise which are generally only available in referral or specialty practices. As client awareness of the availability and advantages of these diagnostic procedures increases, veterinarians are faced with the increasing opportunity to utilize these services to provide optimal patient care. A working knowledge of the value and limitations of these methods is required to help guide veterinarians and clients in the selection of additional, and sometimes costly, diag...
Polzer J, Slater MR.A case-control study was conducted at the Texas Veterinary Medical Center between January 1, 1986 and December 31, 1991. Logistic regression was used to assess age, breed, sex, and seasonality as risk factors for equine laminitis. There were 70 acute cases, 183 chronic cases, and 779 controls. No statistical association was found between age, breed, sex, or seasonality and the diagnosis of acute laminitis. For chronic cases, the estimated odds ratio was statistically significant for age (OR = 1.05, 95% CI (1.02, 1.08)) and for the diagnosis of laminitis in the third quarter of the year (OR = 2...
Bergman HJ, de Kruif A, van Dessel S.In this article different possible treatments for problem mares are discussed. The therapeutic possibilities vary and can be classified into anatomical correction, anti-infectious therapy, and treatment to enhance the uterine defence mechanisms. Anatomical correction and treatment with antibiotics are valuable therapies and have been used for many years. In recent years, stimulation of the mechanical defence mechanism of the uterus, by flushing it with physiological solution combined with parenteral oxytocin, has been shown to increase the chance of getting problem mares in foal.
Soliman GA.The pharmacokinetic behaviour of gentamicin sulphate (3.4 mg/kg bwt) was studied following its intramuscular injection to a group of horses and to another group of horses premedicated with sodium methyl arsinate (2 mg/kg bwt) or imidocarb dipropionate (4.8 mg/kg bwt). Considerable differences were observed in the pharmacokinetics of gentamicin in pre-medicated horses and in horses which had received the antibiotic alone. Peak serum concentration of gentamicin (9.85 +/- 0.05 and 11.15 +/- 0.15 micrograms/ml) were attained within 1.45 +/- 0.05 and 0.92 +/- 0.04 h in arsinate and imidocarb-medica...
Rückert C, Emmerich I, Hertzsch R, Vervuert I.Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are secondary plant metabolites with hepatotoxic effect in humans and several animal species. In recent studies, foods such as herbal teas and honey have been found to be contaminated with pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify and assess pyrrolizidine alkaloids in compound feeds manufactured for horses and containing either alfalfa or a blend of herbs. Methods: Forty-eight feed products for horses were included in the study. The feedstuffs were analysed for 28 selected pyrrolizidine alkaloids by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry...
