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.
KAPLAN MM, PAYNE AM.In 1957 the World Health Organization arranged a survey of horse and swine sera in a number of countries in order to gain information on the role and importance of animals in the epidemiology of influenza. The veterinary services of the countries concerned were requested to obtain blood specimens from these animals, if possible both before and after the human pandemic of Asian influenza. This paper reports on the results of haemagglutination-inhibition and complement-fixation tests performed on these sera in WHO Influenza Centres and other collaborating laboratories.It is apparent from these r...
Hall NP, Ragle CA, Farnsworth KD, Caffey SR, Sanclemente JL.To describe a technique for basihyoid-ceratohyoid disarticulation (BCD) in standing sedated horses affected by temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) and report outcomes for horses that underwent the procedure. Methods: 6 client-owned horses. Methods: Electronic medical records of a veterinary teaching hospital were searched to identify horses that underwent BCD for treatment of THO from 2018 to 2019. Signalment, clinical data, use of the horse, and complications were recorded. Follow-up data obtained by telephone interview with owners included the clinical outcome and time to improvement after s...
Salinger A, Mochal-King C, Clinton K, Priddy LB, Elder S, Fontenot R, Eddy A, Wills R, Jaffe M.Frontal plane slab fractures account for the majority of third carpal bone (C3) fractures in racing and performance horses. Recommended treatment is stabilization with a lagged AO cortical screw. Associated complications are fragment splitting, fragment spinning, and irritation of dorsal soft tissue structures. A novel, headless, cannulated screw with interlocking threads the Headless Compression Screw Fastener (HCSF) has been developed to resist multidirectional forces and bending moments; however, it has not been applied in the horse. Simulated C3 frontal plane slab fractures were created in...
Karasu GK, Krabbenborg R, Einspanier A, Vervuert I.This study aimed to investigate the effect of a second meal of a fibre- or starch-enriched compound feed on glycaemic and insulinaemic responses in healthy horses. In a cross-over design, horses were fed either a starch-enriched compound feed (SCF) or a fibre-enriched compound feed (FCF). On days of blood collection, test diets were fed in the morning (0800 h, first meal) and a second meal was fed 510 min after the first meal was finished (second meal). Significantly higher glycaemic and insulinaemic responses were associated with SCF compared with FCF. Feeding FCF for the second meal yiel...
Hardee GE, Tshabalala MA, Moore JN, Gokhales RD.Separate high performance liquid chromatographic methods were developed for thiabendazole (TBZ) and 5-hydroxy thiabendazole (5-OH-TBZ) determination in horse plasma using 1-methyl-2-phenyl benzimidazole (MPBZ) as an internal standard. In both methods TBZ and 5-OH-TBZ were extracted from plasma using organic solvents, injected on to a C-18 column, and eluents monitored by a fluorescence detector. However, mobile phase composition, extraction solvent as well as detector wavelength differed in the two methods. The linear range for TBZ was 0.02 to 0.77 microgram ml-1 while that for 5-OH-TBZ was 0....
Reed SA, Streff LN.The field of equine sports medicine and rehabilitation provides a career opportunity for students interested in remaining in the horse industry but not focused on a career as a veterinarian. However, throughout the United States, there are limited educational opportunities for undergraduate students to prepare for this career. The objective of this work was to determine what skills and theoretical knowledge professionals in the equine rehabilitation industry deemed most useful for employment in the equine rehabilitation industry, and, using that information, develop a curriculum to meet these ...
Gandini M, Giusto G.In jejunocaecal anastomosis leaving a necrotic ileal stump has been implicated in complications and poor outcomes. Elective inversion of the necrotic stump using a nasogastric tube has been previously described, although this procedure can be cumbersome and can cause caecocolic orifice occlusion. Objective: To describe the use of a new device for elective inversion of necrotic ileal stumps. Methods: Case report. Methods: Details of the four horses that underwent intestinal resection and anastomosis with elective inversion of the ileal stump were retrieved from their medical records. For each c...
Martin KH, Redding LE, Boyle AG.Although equine strangles is reportable in all states, synchronous reporting of this disease does not occur across the country. States have variable regulations on reporting (actionable, notifiable, and monitored) and no mandatory comprehensive databases exist for tracking prevalence. In this study, which is a companion to our recent publication on veterinarians' opinions on this topic, we solicited equine affiliates' (including horse owners, horse business owners/trainers, breeders, and barn managers) opinions on reporting of strangles and factors influencing their opinion. A total of 518 equ...
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...
Schneider N, Heimann M, Lejeune JP, Verwilghen DR, Deby-Dupont GP, Serteyn DA.In the human and equine species, different kinds of free floating intra-articular particles are related to certain disorders. Osteochondral fragments formed during osteochondrosis dissecans are the most common finding in the equine species, whereas in humans rice bodies due to rheumatoid arthritis are more frequent. Herein we report a third type of floating body inside the stifle of an adult draught horse stallion, in macroscopic appearance similar to articular rice bodies known in humans. As revealed by histologic examination, the two particles consist of polypoid degenerated structures deriv...
Kowalski KA, McConnell LA, Sadoff DA, Leid RW.Equine platelets, when treated with the anthelmintic drug diethylcarbamazine (DEC), gave a dose-dependent release of radiolabeled serotonin without concomitant aggregation. At levels of the drug that gave only minimal release of radiolabel, marked dose-dependent inhibition of platelet aggregation to three of four platelet agonists tested--adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen, and arachidonic acid--was observed. With ADP, inhibition was observed to be reversed by removal of DEC prior to agonist challenge. However, with collagen, inhibition was only partially reduced by prior removal of DEC; wh...
Hamada M, Oyamada T, Yoshikawa H, Yoshikawa T, Itakura C.Keratin expressions in normal equine epidermis and experimentally induced equine papillomas were studied by immunohistochemical methods with three different human cytokeratin monoclonal antibodies, 34 beta B4 (directed against component 1), 34 beta E12 (directed against components 1, 5, 10, 11) and 35 beta H11 (directed against component 8). Staining patterns with 34 beta B4 and 34 beta E12 in the normal equine epidermis did not differ from those in the normal human epidermis. In the early developing papilloma, keratinocytes showed an abnormal suprabasal staining pattern and expressed an addit...
Serag RM, Abu-Seida AM, Abdelrahman HA, Samir A, Ibrahim IM, AbdElkader NA.Orodental disorders are common in equidae and can lead to serious clinical complications. This study determines the prevalence rate (PR) of orodental disorders in working donkeys in Egypt and their potential risk factors. During 4 years, 3,791 donkeys were examined in six Egyptian governorates. Full case history and thorough clinical and oral examinations were performed. Radiography and oroendoscopy were undertaken whenever possible. All data were statistically analyzed using Poisson generalized linear models to compare PR among governorates, sex, years, body condition score, and age groups an...
Mathes RL, Dietrich UM, Krunkosky TM, Hurley DJ, Reber AJ.To establish a reproducible method for the culture of primary equine corneal epithelial cells, keratocytes, and endothelial cells and to describe each cell's morphologic characteristics, immunocytochemical staining properties and conditions required for cryopreservation. Methods: Corneas from eight horses recently euthanized for reasons unrelated to this study were collected aseptically and enzymatically separated into three individual layers for cell isolation. The cells were plated, grown in culture, and continued for several passages. Each cell type was characterized by morphology and immun...
Ledbetter EC, Irby NL, Teixeira LBC.To describe the in vivo confocal microscopy features of horses with epithelial and subepithelial nonulcerative keratomycosis. Methods: Four horses with a clinical diagnosis of epithelial or subepithelial keratomycosis. Methods: Horses were examined on one or more occasions by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy of the cornea. Confocal microscopic examination characteristics were correlated with clinical, cytological, and histopathological findings for the horses. Results: All horses had an irregular corneal epithelial surface during slit-lamp biomicroscopy examination. Epithelial or s...
Wang CC, Hartmann-Fischbach P, Krueger TR, Wells TL, Simonson A, Compton JC.Due to opiorphin's analgesic and antidepressant functions, its illicit use is rumored in some racing jurisdictions. Opiorphin is very difficult to detect due to its hydrophilic nature and rapid degradation in plasma and urine samples. METHODOLOGY & RESULTS: We have developed a sensitive, reliable method for opiorphin detection and confirmation in equine samples, using EDTA to inhibit analyte degradation between the time of collection and analysis. Opiorphin was extracted by weak cation exchange followed by analysis using HILIC-MS/MS. The method was validated and the LOD was determined to b...
Hinchcliff KW, Macdonald DR, Lindsay WA.The relationship between pedicle flap width and viable length was characterised for skin flaps of the flank in ponies. Four dorsally based, pedicle type skin flaps of 20 cm in length and 3, 6, 9 or 12 cm in width were created in a random sequence on one flank in each of 10 ponies. Flap survival length was assessed by skin texture and appearance, depilation of hair and wound healing at 14 days after surgery. There was considerable variation between animals in the viable length of flaps of the same width; however, a significant difference in the viable length of flaps of different widths was det...
Ogorevc J, Poklukar K, Dovč P.Skin-derived tissue cultures are a useful model to study molecular mechanisms of skin renewal and pathogenesis of dermal diseases. Horses often suffer from skin diseases, skin trauma and problems with proper wound healing, which could be improved by in vitro grown keratinocyte grafts. Herein we describe establishment and characterization of equine skin-derived primary cell cultures, using enzymatic and explant methods. The established cell lines of primary equine keratinocytes (peK) maintained high proliferative capacity for over five passages and expressed different epithelial/keratinocyte-s...
Webel SK, Squires EL.The clinical effectiveness of the synthetic progestagen, altrenogest, was evaluated in field trials with 449 mares during the 1980 breeding season. An oral dose of 27 mg altrenogest was administered daily for 15 days. In the first trial treated mares were compared with controls, and in the second trial the effectiveness of treatment for prolonged or erratic spring oestrus was evaluated. Oestrus was suppressed in 94% of the treated mares in the first trial. The post-treatment response was related to the stage during the transition from winter anoestrus to the spring breeding season and degree o...
Grulke S, Gangl M, Deby-Dupont G, Caudron I, Deby C, Serteyn D.Gastrointestinal disorders in horses leading to endotoxic shock could have further consequences on other splanchnic organs such as the pancreas, as can be seen in humans suffering from septic shock. In this study, the range of enzymatically active trypsin (EAT) in healthy horses was established and is similar to the range observed in healthy humans. EAT values were determined in horses with acute abdominal crises on admission as well as during anaesthesia and in the postoperative phase. A significant increase in plasma EAT was found in 59% of the horses with surgical colic when compared to our...
Hunt S, Kuo J, Aristizabal FA, Brown M, Patwardhan A, Hedman T.The mechanical properties of the soft palate can be associated with breathing abnormalities. Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) is a naturally occurring equine soft palate disorder caused by displacement of the caudal edge of the soft palate. Snoring and a more serious, sometimes life-threatening, condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are forms of sleep-related breathing disorders in humans which may involve the soft palate. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of injecting the protein crosslinker genipin into the soft palate to modify its mechanical propert...
Mendoza L, Franck T, Lejeune JP, Caudron I, Detilleux J, Deliège B, Serteyn D.Osteochondrosis (OC) disease appears to be multifactorial in origin, including skeletal growth rates, nutrition, endocrinological factors, exercise, biomechanics, and other environmental factors. Endocrinological and metabolic factors seem to have an important role in the pathogeny of OC like the Wnt signaling pathway. One of the regulators in the Wnt signaling pathway is the sclerostin glycoprotein. The aim of this study was to investigate the sclerostin blood concentration according to the evolution of the disease, the environment, and the age but also its use as a possible biomarker for OC ...
Turner AS, Trotter GW, Powers BE.Bilateral palmar and plantar digital neurectomies were completed in 10 horses (a total of 80 neurectomies) using one of three methods: (1) simple transection (guillotine method); (2) epineural capping; (3) n-butyl cyanoacrylate injected into the epineural sheath to act as a nerve sealant. Horses were regularly evaluated clinically for tenderness in and around the surgical site, as well as skin sensation at the coronary band in the heel region, during the 12-week course of the study. None of the surgical sites exhibited any signs of drainage or infection. Horses were then euthanatized, the nerv...
Devick IF, Hendrickson DA.There is risk of dropping an amputated ovary within the abdomen during standing laparoscopic ovariectomies in mares. If the ovary can no longer be directly visualized with the laparoscope, the procedure is then converted to a flank laparotomy for manual retrieval of the ovary which negates the minimally invasive nature of the laparoscopic procedure. The objective was to identify if ovaries left in the abdomen after amputation would atrophy or if they re-vascularize. Standing bilateral ovariectomies were performed in mature mares, but after transection of the ovarian pedicle, the ovaries were i...
Schott HC, Estrada-Coates A, Alva-Trujillo M, Petersen AD, Kinsley MA, Esser MM, Casillas J, Garcia-Seco E, Madariaga-Najera M, Fernando Martínez JA....There is great need for veterinary care for working equids worldwide. Addressing this need provides an opportunity for veterinary students to gain primary care experience. An annual two week collaborative outreach and educational program with Michigan State University (MSU), the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and the Universidad Veracruzana (UV) was developed to provide care for working equids in rural Mexican communities. From 2017 to 2019 24 US veterinary students and 25 Mexican veterinary students, interns and residents examined, vaccinated and dewormed more than 2200 equi...
Taylor SD, Kritchevsky JE, Huang P, Olave C, Waxman SJ, Miller MA.To report history, clinical examination findings, clinicopathologic findings, diagnostic test results, treatment, and outcome in horses with a novel idiopathic hepatitis syndrome. 13 client-owned horses. Medical records of horses that were presented with fever and increased blood liver enzyme activity over a 16-month period were reviewed (December 1, 2020, to April 1, 2022). Collected data included signalment, history, clinical and clinicopathologic findings, diagnostic test results, treatment, clinical progression, and short-term outcome. Affected horses were presented between December and Ap...
Wheat JD, Pascoe JR.Problems involving the management of acute traumatic rupture of the equine suspensory apparatus include loss of blood flow to the foot, proper immobilization, and pressure sores from casts. A technique utilizing a board splinting device attached to the affected limb at the toe and subsequent corrective shoe support provides immobilization, prevents dropping of the fetlock, can be applied to the standing animal, and allows frequent changing of the bandages, if necessary.
Lyons ET, Drudge JH, Tolliver SC.Two controlled tests (experiments D and E) were done to evaluate a fenbendazole (FBZ) paste dosage regimen (10 mg/kg once a day for 5 days) for activity against naturally occurring infections of migrating Strongylus vulgaris and S edentatus in the mesenteric arteries and ventral abdominal wall, respectively. Data were also obtained on other internal parasites of the gastrointestinal tract and eyes in experiment E. Eight pony yearlings were used in experiment D (4 treated and 4 nontreated) and 6 horse weanlings were used in experiment E (3 treated and 3 nontreated). Intervals, expressed as days...
Galloway SS, Earley ET.Oral extraction has become the most popular extraction technique owing to its high rate of success with minimal major complication. Repulsion continues to produce unacceptably high iatrogenic complication rates. To avoid tooth repulsion, veterinary dentists have introduced procedures to facilitate difficult intraoral extractions and surgical extraction techniques. Minimizing complications is best achieved preoperatively. A comprehensive preoperative evaluation and treatment plan allows the dentist to predict intraoperative complication and prepare for procedures to produce the best outcome. Wi...
Graves MT, Anderson DE, DeNovo RC.Large animal teaching hospitals often struggle to maintain consistent teaching caseloads, which are affected by seasonal variations, economic pressures, increased abilities of local large animal practices to hospitalize large animals, and client intolerance for the operational needs of an academic mission. Non-academic large animal practices enjoy a more consistent caseload but suffer from a lack of emergency relief and a limited ability to share emergency duties, which may have adverse effects on work-life balance. An academic, on-farm, large animal emergency relief service can combine multip...
Hinrichs K.A research study is a product of not only a question and its pursuit but also the people, places, and facilities available at the time. My work in equine assisted reproduction has progressed from embryo transfer to oocyte maturation, oocyte transfer, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo biopsy, embryo vitrification, and cloning, as a result of collaborations with an array of remarkable people. This is a summary of some of the stories behind the studies.