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.
Two closed horse herds (Old Lot 4 and Field 24), infected since 1966 with Population B small strongyles resistant to thiabendazole (TBZ) and phenothiazine (PTZ), were terminated in February, March, and May, 2005. At necropsy, only the large endoparasites were identified and counted. The number of horses on pasture was 14 (239 days of age to 23 years old) for Old Lot 4 and two (3 to 20 years old) for Field 24. The time of the last antiparasitic treatment, relative to the year (2005) of necropsy, was 26 years for Old Lot 4 and 9 years for Field 24 horses. Gasterophilus intestinalis third instars...
This study was designed to investigate whether horses with clinical signs of back pain due to suspected soft tissue injuries were affected by polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM). Diagnosis of PSSM in muscle biopsies obtained from the M. longissimus lumborum of 5 showjumpers and 4 dressage horses with a history of back pain is reported. M. longissimus lumborum biopsies of these horses were characterised histopathologically and in 3/9 cases also by electron microscopy. Observations were compared with M. gluteus biopsies of the same horses, and with M. gluteus biopsies obtained from 6 Standard...
Unlike in Warmblood horses, aortic rupture is quite common in Friesian horses, in which a hereditary trait is suspected. The aortic connective tissue in affected Friesians shows histological changes such as medial necrosis, elastic fibre fragmentation, mucoid material accumulation and fibrosis with aberrant collagen morphology. However, ultrastructural examination of the collagen fibres of the mid-thoracic aorta has been inconclusive in further elucidating the pathogenesis of the disease. Objective: To assess several extracellular matrix (ECM) components biochemically in order to explore a pos...
is one of the most pathogenic nematodes affecting equids. Larval migration through the cranial mesenteric artery (CMA) with attendant arteritis and thromboembolism can result in fatal non-strangulating intestinal infarction. Once considered a historical disease, recent studies have described the reemergence of this pathogen in several European countries; however, little is known of the current prevalence of in the Canadian horse population. Unassigned: To determine the prevalence of active cranial mesenteric arteritis in horses submitted for postmortem examination to the Diagnostic Services...
Caceres AM, Sperandio LMS, Alvarenga NACA, Borges AS, Oliveira-Filho JP.Bull-catching (vaquejada) accounting for approximately 13% of sport horses in Brazil. Genetic screening has enabled strategies to reduce the spread of inherited disorders, including Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia (HERDA), a major skin disease included in the Six Panel required for registration by the Brazilian Quarter Horse Breeders Association. Although the HERDA-associated variant has been extensively studied in other disciplines, it had not been evaluated in Bull-catching Quarter Horses (QH). Objective: The present study aimed to determine the allele frequency of the pathogenic ...
Maharana BR, Ganguly A, Malik R, Kumar A, Khanna S, Kumar B, Potliya S, Singh H, Dash A, Sahu S.Equine piroplasmosis, caused by Theileria equi, has been widely studied globally, but genetic diversity research in India remains limited. Analysis of 306 horse blood samples revealed T. equi infection in 10.78% by microscopy and 21.24% by PCR. Universal primers targeting 18S rRNA of T. equi and Babesia caballi were used, followed by species-specific primers generating 435 bp amplicons. Sequenced PCR-positive samples revealed high homology (99.52-100% in India, 95.89-100% globally), with all Indian isolates classified as genotype A. The EMA-1 gene phylogenetic analysis confirmed the insights f...
Seeger MG, Correa DC, Barcelos RAD, Werle J, Masuda EK, Bordin AI, Cohen ND, Vogel FSF, Cargnelutti JF.Strangles is a common infectious disease caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) that primarily affects the upper respiratory system. To date, 271 alleles of the M protein (seM) have been identified that may be related to antigenic differences of isolates. This study evaluated the virulence of S. equi isolates from different alleles of the M protein in an experimental mouse model. Thirty-six Swiss mice were allocated into 12 groups (G1-G12) and each infected group received a different isolate of S. equi recovered from horses with strangles: G1: seM-117; G2: seM-61; G3: seM-123; ...
Vanderbiest L, Rousseau L, Renaville B, Aleman M, Finno C, Milan A, Vinardell T.Occipitoatlantoaxial malformations (OAAM) are developmental disorders occurring at the occiput, atlas and axis. OAAM type 1 is a familial disorder affecting Arabian horses. Currently, a single genetic mutation in the HOXD3 gene region can be tested to confirm the diagnosis. This case describes a 3-year-old Arabian gelding affected with OAAM. Clinical examination revealed a proximal cervical deformation on the right side and severe stiffness of the neck in the sagittal plane without associated pain. Neurological examination demonstrated a generalized proprioceptive ataxia. Radiographs revealed ...