Equine health encompasses the study and management of diseases, disorders, and overall well-being of horses. It involves understanding various physiological systems, preventive care, and treatment strategies to maintain optimal health in equine populations. Common areas of focus include nutrition, infectious diseases, orthopedic conditions, and reproductive health. Research in equine health aims to advance knowledge on diagnostic methods, therapeutic interventions, and management practices that improve horse welfare and performance. This page collects peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the diverse aspects of equine health, offering insights into current findings and advancements in the field.
Hornyák A, Dénes B, Szeredi L, Dencsö L, Rusvai M.Two monoclonal antibodies against the Bucyrus strain of equine arteritis virus (EAV) were produced, and according to immunoperoxidase reaction following Western blot of electrophoresed EAV structural proteins, they recognized the nucleocapsid (N) protein antigen (14-kDa protein). Besides reacting with the blotted polypeptide, the antibodies of the two clones (designated 1H1 and 4G6) selected from 576 have shown high affinity and specificity to intracellular virus antigen as well. Both antibodies reacted with the representatives of the different subtypes of equine arteritis virus providing a su...
Gustafson-Seabury A, Raudsepp T, Goh G, Kata SR, Wagner ML, Tozaki T, Mickelson JR, Womack JE, Skow LC, Chowdhary BP.High-resolution gene maps of individual equine chromosomes are essential to identify genes governing traits of economic importance in the horse. In pursuit of this goal we herein report the generation of a dense map of horse chromosome 22 (ECA22) comprising 83 markers, of which 52 represent specific genes and 31 are microsatellites. The map spans 831 cR over an estimated 64 Mb of physical length of the chromosome, thus providing markers at approximately 770 kb or 10 cR intervals. Overall, the resolution of the map is to date the densest in the horse and is the highest for any of the domesticat...
Hodgkinson JE, Freeman KL, Lichtenfels JR, Palfreman S, Love S, Matthews JB.The efficacy of five daily fenbendazole (FBZ) treatments was tested against benzimidazole-resistant cyathostomins in naturally infected horses (n=13). Horses were treated with pyrantel embonate (PYR) to remove adult strongyles followed, 7 days later, by a 5-day course of FBZ. The PYR treatment produced an average faecal egg count reduction of 98%. All samples were negative by faecal egg count 7 days after the start of the FBZ treatment. Positive egg counts were observed from 28 days after the start of FBZ treatment and all horses displayed positive faecal egg counts by 77 days after treatment....
Abbott Y, O'Mahony R, Leonard N, Quinn PJ, van der Reijden T, Dijkshoorn L, Fanning S.A complete gene cassette contained in a class 1 integron from a multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolate of Acinetobacter baumannii cultured from a horse was characterized by molecular methods. Methods: Template genomic DNA purified from the A. baumannii isolate was investigated by PCR. A gene cassette-associated amplicon was detected and completely characterized. Results: A 2.6 kbp DNA fragment containing four gene cassettes was amplified from the MDR A. baumannii isolate. Sequence analysis showed it was similar to sequences recently reported in Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens and an Esch...
Xu J, Lasry JB, Svaren J, Wagner B, Darien BJ.P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1, CD162) is a dimeric, mucin-like, transmembrane glycoprotein constitutively expressed on leukocytes. A high baseline level of P-selectin expression in circulating equine platelets suggests a primed state toward inflammation and thrombosis via P-selectin/PSGL-1 adhesion. To investigate the potential role of equine P-selectin in these events, we first identified the cDNA sequence of equine PSGL-1 (ePSGL-1) using degenerate PCR and RACE-PCR and then compared the predicted sequence with that of human PSGL-1 (hPSGL-1). ePSGL-1 protein subunit is predicted to...
Lai SW, Lin JH, Lai SS, Wu YL.The characteristic ingredients of Ganoderma lucidum, such as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, nucleic acids and small proteins, have been found and proved to have many special pharmacological properties. Mice and rats have been extensively used to investigate the effects of G. lucidum. Experiments with horses as an animal model for investigating the effects of G. lucidum have never been reported. The purpose of this investigation was to understand the influence of G. lucidum feeding on blood biochemistry and immunocompetence in horses. Complete blood count (CBC) and blood biochemistry were surv...
Gibson VA, Stover SM, Gibeling JC, Hazelwood SJ, Martin RB.We hypothesized that recently formed, incompletely mineralized, and thus, relatively deformable osteons in the equine third metacarpus enhance in vitro load-controlled fatigue life in two ways. Macroscopically, there is a compliance effect, because reduced tissue elastic modulus diminishes the stress required to reach a given strain. Microscopically, there is a cement line effect, in which new osteons and their cement lines more effectively serve as barriers to crack propagation. We studied 18 4 x 10 x 100 mm beams from the medial, lateral, and dorsal cortices of metacarpal bones from 6 thorou...
Weems CW, Weems YS, Randel RD.Prostaglandins impact on ovarian, uterine, placental, and pituitary function to regulate reproduction in female livestock. They play important roles in ovulation, luteal function, maternal recognition of pregnancy, implantation, maintenance of gestation, microbial-induced abortion, parturition, postpartum uterine and ovarian infections, and resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity. Prostaglandins have both positive and negative effects on reproduction; they are used to synchronize oestrus, terminate pseudopregnancy in mares, induce parturition, and treat retained placenta, luteinized cysts, ...
Price J, Eager RA, Welsh EM, Waran NK.This study aimed to characterise current practice relating to equine castration in the UK. A questionnaire was posted to all 655 veterinary practices specified to provide veterinary care for horses, or classified as specialist equine practices. Respondents were asked to cite the number of equine castrations performed annually by the practice, describe techniques used for castration, outline anaesthetic/sedative/analgesic drug protocols used and provide details of post-operative medication. There was a 43% response rate to the questionnaire. Considerable variation in techniques and analgesia pr...
Stoiber B, Zach C, Izay B, Windberger U.In situations where capillary perfusion in skeletal muscles is limited, changes in blood flow play an important role. Especially alterations in intrinsic erythrocyte factors like red cell aggregation and deformability would increase blood flow resistance. In our study we investigated whether whole blood and plasma viscosity influence exercise tolerance during submaximal training and whether a difference can be realized between trained and untrained standardbred trotters. Venous blood from 42 healthy adult trotters (20 horses at the beginning of their training and 22 well trained horses) was in...
Estrada-Franco JG, Navarro-Lopez R, Freier JE, Cordova D, Clements T, Moncayo A, Kang W, Gomez-Hernandez C, Rodriguez-Dominguez G, Ludwig GV....Equine epizootics of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) occurred in the southern Mexican states of Chiapas in 1993 and Oaxaca in 1996. To assess the impact of continuing circulation of VEE virus (VEEV) on human and animal populations, serologic and viral isolation studies were conducted in 2000 to 2001 in Chiapas State. Human serosurveys and risk analyses indicated that long-term endemic transmission of VEEV occurred among villages with seroprevalence levels of 18% to 75% and that medical personnel had a high risk for VEEV exposure. Seroprevalence in wild animals suggested cotton rats as pos...
Corletto F, Raisis AA, Brearley JC.The aim of this study was to compare two different alpha2 agonist-opioid combinations in ponies undergoing field castration. Methods: Prospective double-blind randomized clinical trial. Methods: Fifty-four ponies undergoing field castration. Methods: The ponies were randomly allocated to receive one of three different pre-anaesthetic medications [intravenous (IV) romifidine 100 microg kg(-1) and butorphanol 50 micro kg(-1); romifidine 100 microg kg(-1) and morphine 0.1 mg kg(-1) IV, or romifidine 100 microg kg(-1) and saline IV] before induction of anaesthesia with ketamine 2.2 mg kg(-1) IV. F...
Touzot-Jourde G, Stedman NL, Trim CM.To investigate the effect of endotracheal tube cuff inflation pressure on the occurrence of liquid aspiration and tracheal wall damage. Methods: Prospective, randomized experimental study. Methods: Ten healthy horses, weighing 535 +/- 55 kg. Methods: Horses were anesthetized, orotracheally intubated, placed in dorsal recumbency, and maintained on isoflurane in oxygen with controlled ventilation for 175 +/- 15 minutes. The horses were randomly assigned to an endotracheal cuff pressure of 80-100 or 120 cm H2O. The cuff pressure was continuously monitored and maintained at a constant pressure. Me...
Clark L, Clutton RE, Blissitt KJ, Chase-Topping ME.To study the effects of morphine on haemodynamic variables, blood gas values and the requirement for additional anaesthetic drugs in horses undergoing surgery. Methods: Prospective randomized study. Methods: Thirty-eight client-owned horses, ASA(American Society of Anesthesiologists) category I or II, undergoing elective surgical procedures, were studied. Horses were divided between two groups, and were paired according to operation, anaesthetist, body position during surgery, mass and breed. Group M+ received morphine by intravenous (IV) injection (0.15 mg kg(-1)) before induction of anaesthe...
Gutmann S, Zawatzky R, Müller M.Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is a key cytokine in cell-mediated immunity. To measure IFN-gamma production of equine lymphocytes (eqIFN-gamma), we developed a quantitative ELISA. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were produced against bacterially derived eqIFN-gamma. The mAbs recognised recombinant and lymphocyte-derived eqIFN-gamma in ELISA, Western blotting, as well as flow cytometric and microscopic analysis. In contrast to bacterially derived material, mammalian and insect cell-derived eqIFN-gamma was biologically active but could be neutralised by one of the monoclonal antibodies. Unexpectedly, ...
Sansom J, Featherstone H, Barnett KC.Six horses with keratomycosis were examined and three different clinical expressions of the disease were recognised. The diagnostic work-up and response to treatment is described.
Johnson NL, Galuppo LD, Stover SM, Taylor KT.To compare screw insertion variables and pullout mechanical properties between AO 6.5-mm cancellous and 7.3-mm cannulated bone screws in foal femoral bone. Methods: A paired, in vitro mechanical study. Methods: Seven pairs of femora from immature (1-7 months) foals. Methods: The 6.5 cancellous and 7.3-mm cannulated screws were inserted at standardized proximal and distal metaphyseal, and mid-diaphyseal locations. Insertion torque, force, and time to drill, tap (6.5-mm cancellous), guide wire insertion (7.3-mm cannulated), and screw insertion were measured. Screw pullout properties (yield and f...
Greene SK.The reintroduction and development of safe motorized instruments, the increased availability of continuing education, and the understanding and implementation of appropriate procedures allow practitioners to provide better dental care. Veterinarians realize that sedation, analgesia, a full-mouth speculum, and proper instrumentation are necessary to provide these services. Continued instrument design, future research, and new treatment and prophylactic protocols should have a positive impact on the future of equine dental health. New and rediscovered procedures for equilibrating equine occlusio...
Kolodziejek J, Dürrwald R, Herzog S, Ehrensperger F, Lussy H, Nowotny N.The aim of this study was to gain more detailed insights into the genetic evolution and variability of Borna disease virus (BDV). Phylogenetic analyses were performed on field viruses originating from naturally infected animals, the BDV vaccine strain 'Dessau', four widely used laboratory strains and the novel BDV subtype No/98. Four regions of the BDV genome were analysed: the complete p40, p10 and p24 genes and the 5'-untranslated region of the X/P transcript. BDV isolates from the same geographical area exhibited a clearly higher degree of identity to each other than to BDV isolates from ot...
Bodo G, Hangody L, Modis L, Hurtig M.To describe treatment of equine subchondral bone cysts (SBCs) by reconstruction of the articular surface with osteochondral grafts. Methods: Case series of horses with SBCs unresponsive to conservative therapy. Methods: Eleven horses (1-12 years). Methods: SBCs were identified in 4 locations: medial femoral condyle (5 horses), lateral femoral condyle (1), distal epiphysis of the metacarpus (4), or metatarsus (1). Osteochondral autograft transplantation (mosaic arthroplasty) was performed, taking grafts from the abaxial border of the medial femoral trochlea of the unaffected limb. Graft implant...
Bass A.Practice management software benefits the equine practitioner in many ways. Ready access to patient records, rapid entry and lookup of clinical findings, easy invoicing and monitoring of revenues, inventory management, rapid search and sorting of data, reminder and recall maintenance, and integrated word processing are just some of the software functions that assist the successful practitioner. Computer use in veterinary practice may have seemed to many to be a gimmick at one time. Now that computers have become a part of our everyday life, it is clear that they can be an essential component o...
Lim WS, Payne SL, Edwards JF, Kim I, Ball JM.Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) causes rapid development of acute disease followed by recurring episodes of fever, thrombocytopenia, and viremia. Most infected equid eventually bring the virus under immunological control. We recently reported the development of an equine-specific ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) to quantitate mRNA levels of 10 cytokines. Using this newly developed RPA, we now show significant differences in cytokine induction in equine monocyte-derived macrophages (EMDM) exposed to virulent and avirulent EIAV. Virulent EIAV17 induced significant increases in interleuk...
Tozaki T, Hirota K, Hasegawa T, Tomita M, Kurosawa M.Linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping is often used in searches for genes governing economically significant traits and diseases. The D' coefficient is a commonly used measure of the extent of LD between all possible pairs of alleles at two markers. This study aimed to test the utility of the D' coefficient for LD mapping of a trait in a thoroughbred population. Microsatellite genotype data and grey coat colour as a trait model in a thoroughbred population were used to assess the extent of LD. We demonstrated that LD mapping was a reasonable approach for initial genome-wide scans in a thoroughbr...
Pollock RV.Advances in digital technology have vastly increased the speed and content of information transfer. Equine practitioners of the future should be in contact with their office and other information resources at all times through an array of digital networks. Patients and practitioners alike should benefit from better information access.
Fenger CK.Technology promises to improve the lifestyle and life quality of humankind. As a rule, wherever human medicine goes, veterinary medicine is sure to follow. Nevertheless, the promise of technologic advances does not shine as bright for veterinarians as for human physicians. This trend is echoed in the business of animal health as pharmaceutic company after pharmaceutic company spins off or otherwise eliminates their animal health division. Instead, a small group of strictly animal health-oriented companies compete for the animal health dollar, promising that fewer and fewer expensive technologi...
Frisbie DD, McIlwraith CW.The field of equine veterinary practice is in an ever-evolving state, requiring current technologies to be constantly evaluated for new applications. The specific use of gene therapy in the horse is a novel application. The authors want to help familiarize the equine practitioner with the concept of gene therapy, and introduce its use and potential future benefits for the equine industry in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Martinelli M.Digitization of clinical data is becoming increasingly important in veterinary medicine. Current veterinary applications range from digital cameras to computed radiography. The opportunity for increased productivity and diagnostic capabilities makes the computerization of veterinary medicine especially exciting. Future trends seem to indicate that more veterinarians should have better technology available in their practices and more veterinarians should be connected to experts, clients, and each other.
Hoffman AM.Respiratory diagnostic instruments previously available only to referral centers should be converted into miniature, portable, wireless medical devices for use in practice. Internet and wireless connections of these instruments should expedite the process of seeking second opinions and in general information sharing. We are moving into a world of greater objectivity that should free us from speculation in some areas, yet open new avenues for research and innovation in others.
Nixon AJ, Stashak TS, Smith FW, Norrdin RW.Carbon fibre-polylactic acid composites and monofilament non-absorbable suture material were compared for the repair of surgically transected superficial digital flexor tendons in 10 horses. All surgical wounds healed by first intention. The repaired tendons were enlarged, the carbon implanted tendons being larger than those sutured. The horses were killed at six, eight, 12,20 or 24 weeks. Greater fibrous thickening occurred in tendons repaired with carbon fibre, especially at 12 weeks postoperatively. Carbon fibre incited a greater histological response with macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma c...
Pailhoux E, Cribiu EP, Parma P, Cotinot C.In this study, cytogenetic analysis of an infertile mare revealed a 64, XY karyotype. The XY sex-reversed animal had a female phenotype with gonadal dysgenesis. Using Southern blot analysis, we tested for the presence of two Y-specific genes SRY and ZFY by using DNA isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes. The results showed that at least the DNA-binding domain of the SRY gene was deleted from the Y chromosome of the XY mare but that the ZFY gene was present on this chromosome.
Chiaradia E, Gaiti A, Scaringi L, Cornacchione P, Marconi P, Avellini L.To better define the species-specific antioxidant systems and to ascertain the influence of the intracellular redox status on the immune system of different animal species, we determined lymphocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity, plasmatic glutathione levels (GSH) and the effect of H2O2 on the responsiveness of lymphocytes to proliferative stimuli. Among the three species considered, sheep presented the lowest plasmatic GSH and the highest lymphocyte GSHPx activity. On the contrary, dogs showed an inverted pattern (high GSH - low GSHPx). Horses displayed intermediate values for both p...
James FM, Parente EJ, Palmer JE.A 1-day-old Standardbred foal with a history of extreme respiratory distress after birth consistent with upper airway obstruction was evaluated. A temporary tracheostomy tube was placed by the referring veterinarian. Results: On initial examination, there was evidence of hypoxic-ischemic syndrome, secondary to perinatal asphyxia. Endoscopy revealed obstruction of both nares at the level of the choanae; a diagnosis of bilateral choanal atresia was made. Results: The foal was anesthetized and underwent transendoscopic laser fenestration of the buccopharyngeal membranes. Three weeks after surgery...
Abdalla MA, Taleb ZA, Ebid MH.An outbreak of infectious influenza was recognized in Menofeia governorate in October 1989. Eight naturally influenza infected as well as 8 healthy control horses, mules and donkeys were selected for collection of blood and sera separation to estimate four lysosomal enzymatic activities and to describe the clinical findings, which were fever, congested nasal, conjunctival membranes and cough. Bronchopneumonia followed later with bilateral purulent nasal discharge as a complication in 2 donkeys. Thereafter laboured breathing occurred. Therefore a therapeutic penicillin-streptomycin dose was inj...
Lawless SP, Werner LA, Baker WT, Hunt RJ, Cohen ND.To describe short-term and long-term survival of horses with duodenojejunal mesenteric rents, and to examine the association of selected preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors with survival or colic after discharge, in horses with duodenojejunal mesenteric rents. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Horses undergoing surgery for correction of small intestinal lesions secondary to duodenojejunal mesenteric rents (n = 38). Methods: Medical records (2006-2014) of horses admitted to a referral hospital in Kentucky were reviewed. Data for preoperative and intraoperative...
Leitzen E, Stumpf S, Zimmermann C, Bienert-Zeit A, Hellige M, Baumgärtner W, Puff C.A fast growing, circumscribed, unilateral swelling of the right mandible of a juvenile horse was observed. Within few weeks, the continuously growing mass reached dimensions ranging from 7 to 10 cm in diameter and resulted in loss of the first deciduous premolar of the affected side. The animal was euthanized due to lesion progression. Histologically the mandibular swelling consisted of numerous variably sized vascular structures, partly filled with erythrocytes and embedded in a loosely arranged fibrous stroma within the medullary cavity of the mandible. Juvenile mandibular angiomatosis was d...
Matthews GL, Keegan KG, Graham HL.To determine effects of tendon grip technique on in vitro surface strain measurements of equine deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) when loaded in tension. Methods: 12 hind limb DDFT from 8 adult horses (mean age, 9.8 years [range, 4.5 to 17 years]; mean body weight, 472 kg [range, 450 to 509 kg]), with no clinical evidence of hind limb lameness. Methods: After calibration, liquid mercury strain gauges were sutured to plantar surfaces of the tendons at distal (position 1), middle (position 2), and proximal (position 3) metatarsal regions. Each tendon was affixed to a materials testing machine (d...
Lem MF, Vincent KP, Pone JW, Joseph T.It is important to understand the biology and health impact of parasites affecting horses in the Western highlands of Cameroon. Objective: to evaluate the prevalence and intensity of infection of gastrointestinal helminths in these animals. Methods: A total of 894 horses (367 males and 527 females), and aged ≤1 to ≥7 years old were examined. A parasitological investigation of faeces was carried out using two techniques: concentration method of Full Born Willis (flotation in saturated solution of sodium chloride) and Mc Master Technique. Conclusions: From the results the overall prevalence ...
Li J, López Adán E, de la Rubia Riaza A.China competed in equestrian sports for the first time at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. China's modern equine business has developed significantly over the past decade, and the lessons from the expansion between 2015 and 2020 are important considerations as China implements further legislation to aid in the development of its modern equestrian sports. Equestrian sports can propel the Chinese horse industry forward, and the horse industry is a unique business in that it integrates one, two, and three industries, with much growth potential. This paper assesses the development of equestrianism in Ch...
Pass MA, Mogg TD.Amitraz and its active metabolite BTS27271 were given intravenously to ponies and sheep at equimolar doses of 1 mg/kg and 0.68 mg/kg, respectively, and the plasma concentrations of amitraz and BTS27271 estimated at various times thereafter. Amitraz was hydrolysed to BTS27271 in both species. Amitraz was undetectable in sheep plasma after approximately 5 min but persisted in the plasma of ponies for at least 90 min. The persistence of unmetabolized amitraz in ponies may have implications for the toxicity of amitraz in that species. The primary and secondary disposition half-lives of amitraz in ...
Rohlf CM, Garcia TC, Fyhrie DP, le Jeune SS, Peterson ML, Stover SM.Shear forces at the surface-hoof interface affect hoof slide, surface grip, forces transferred to the limb, and injury risk. However, the variation in shear forces among surfaces with different compositions have not been quantified. Shear ground reaction forces were measured on five dirt and seven synthetic arena surfaces. Cohesion/adhesion and angle of internal friction/coefficient of friction were calculated. Surface composition, surface temperature, cushion depth, and moisture content were also measured. The effects of surface material (dirt/synthetic) on shear properties were assessed usin...
Pan LG, Forster HV, Bisgard GE, Lowry TF, Murphy CL.Our purpose was to assess compensatory breathing responses to airway resistance unloading in ponies. We hypothesized that the carotid bodies and hilar nerve afferents, respectively, sense chemical and mechanical changes caused by unloading, hence carotid body-denervated (CBD) and hilar nerve-denervated ponies (HND) might demonstrate greater ventilatory responses when decreasing resistance. At rest and during treadmill exercise, resistance was transiently reduced approximately 40% in five normal, seven CBD, and five HND ponies by breathing gas of 79% He-21% O2 (He-O2). In all groups at rest, He...
Di Meo GP, Neglia G, Perucatti A, Genualdo V, Iannuzzi A, Crocco D, Incarnato D, Romano G, Parma P, Iannuzzi L.Gonadal dysgenesis and heterosexual conditions are often associated with sex chromosome abnormalities. In this study we report on 2 cases of abnormal sex development involving numerical sex chromosome aberrations in both horse and sheep. A 17-month-old Standardbred filly was sent to an equine fertility centre as an embryo donor due to its reduced size, being much smaller than a racehorse filly of the same age, which excluded it from an athletic career. External genitalia were clinically normal but manual palpation of the reproductive tract showed the presence of a small underdeveloped uterus a...
Hébert L, Touzain F, de Boisséson C, Breuil MF, Duquesne F, Laugier C, Blanchard Y, Petry S.Taylorella equigenitalis is the causative agent of contagious equine metritis (CEM), a sexually transmitted infection of horses. We herein report the genome sequence of T. equigenitalis strain MCE529, isolated in 2009 from the urethral fossa of a 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood horse in France.
de Melo UP, Ferreira C.Back pain and diseases of the spine are considered significant problems in equine sports and veterinary medicine. This article reports a multimodal approach to the treatment of equine back pain using ozonized platelet rich plasma (PRP), dynamic mobilization exercises, and therapeutic shoeing in 15 horses involved in the vaquejada discipline. Fifteen American Quarter Horses of both sexes engaged in vaquejada in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, with a mean age of 8.61 ? 1.73 years were examined at a training center for lower performance diagnostics or back pain. A complete clinical exam...
Bellone RR.Advances in equine genetics and genomics resources have enabled the understanding of some inherited ocular disorders and ocular manifestations. These ocular disorders include congenital stationary night blindness, equine recurrent uveitis, multiple congenital ocular anomalies, and squamous cell carcinoma. Genetic testing can identify horses with or at risk for disease and thus can assist in clinical management. In addition, genetic testing can identify horses that are carriers and thus can inform breeding decisions. Use of genetic tests in management and breeding decisions should aid in reduci...
Hilton H, Aleman M, Madigan J, Nieto J.To describe the indications for, complications arising from, and outcome of horses that had standing lateral thoracotomy for pleural or pericardial disease. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n=16). Methods: Medical records (January 1990-December 2008) of sedated standing horses that had lateral thoracotomy were reviewed. Clinical and surgical findings, perioperative and short-term complications were recorded. Long-term (>6 months) outcome was determined through telephone conversations with owners and veterinarians. Results: Mean (±SD) horse age was 6.6±5.3 years (range, 1-15 years). ...
Benninger MI, Deiss E, Ueltschi G.We describe the clinical findings and radiographic abnormalities of a horse with a bipartite distal phalanx and a bipartite navicular bone of the right forelimb. Associated findings including suspected keratoma and degenerative joint disease of the distal interphalangeal joint are described and possible etiologies are discussed.
Doreau M, Boulot S, Barlet JP, Patureau-Mirand P.The yields and composition of milk from nursing mares were studied during the first two months of lactation in 11 mares of heavy breeds (784 kg). Daily yield increased from 21.7 to 24.6 kg between weeks 1 and 8 of lactation. Fat, protein, gross energy and Ca concentrations significantly decreased when lactose content increased during this period. Individual variations were higher for yield than for composition. Casein, whey protein and non-protein N (56, 34 and 10% of crude protein, respectively) and amino acid composition did not vary between weeks 1 and 8 of lactation.
van den Hoogen BM, van de Lest CH, van Weeren PR, van Golde LM, Barneveld A.In osteochondrosis (OC) the process of endochondral ossification is impaired. Proteoglycans form one of the major components of the extracellular matrix of cartilage and are able to bind calcium. For this reason, proteoglycans are thought to play an important role early in the mineralisation process and may, therefore, be important in the pathogenesis of OC. To investigate possible differences in proteoglycan metabolism, normal and osteochondrotic articular-epiphyseal cartilage was harvested from the hock and stifle joints of 43 foals age 5 and 11 months. The samples were cultured as explants ...
Peña-Cadahia C, Manso-Díaz G, Santiago-Llorente I, Villalba-Orero M.A 2-day-old filly was referred to the hospital with abdominal pain and constipation. The foal presented tachycardia, tachypnea, hypoxemia, hyperlactatemia, and abdominal distension. Meconium impaction was diagnosed, and the filly underwent abdominal surgery. Diazepam and butorphanol were administered for anesthesia premedication, but sedative effects were mild. Xylazine was used to enhance sedation and ketamine was subsequently administered for induction. The foal showed swallow reflex and head movement when intubation was attempted. Consequently, isoflurane on oxygen was provided via an anest...
Stanley RL, Maile C, Piercy RJ.Muscle biopsy is increasingly used in equine veterinary practice for investigating exertional, inflammatory or immune mediated myopathies and unexplained muscle atrophy. Although formalin-fixed samples are often used, for complete evaluation, fresh-frozen tissue is required. Freezing muscle in veterinary practice is impractical: samples sent to specialist laboratories for processing are therefore susceptible to delays, potentially leading to artefact and compromising histological interpretation. Objective: Altered temperature, duration and hydration status influence the severity of storage-ind...
Rendle DI, Hughes KJ, Farish C, Kessell A.A 6-year-old Standardbred mare that presented with bilateral palpebral swelling and a left corneal ulcer was diagnosed with a multicentric T-cell lymphoma. Other clinical findings included submandibular lymphadenopathy and oedema, pharyngeal oedema and rhinitis. Prior to euthanasia the horse developed keratomalacia, the onset of which was coincidental with the use of high doses of topical and systemic corticosteroids. Although an unusual presentation, palpebral swelling should be considered as a clinical sign of lymphoma.
Allen BV, Blackmore DJ.The relationship between paired plasma and serum viscosity measurements and plasma proteins, including fibrinogen, were compared in 106 horses with both normal and abnormal serum protein levels. There is a highly significant positive correlation between serum viscosity and total serum proteins and total globulin levels. The difference between plasma and serum viscosity correlated well with clottable fibrinogen concentration. Albumin levels showed a negative correlation with plasma and serum viscosity, globulins and fibrinogen. Simultaneous estimation of serum and plasma viscosity improves the ...
MacAllister CG, Sangiah S.Thirty young ponies were examined endoscopically for evidence of gastric ulceration. Seven ponies had noninduced gastric ulcers present at the initial examination and were eliminated from the study. In an attempt to induce gastric ulcers experimentally, flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg of body weight, IM, q 8 h) was administered for 7 days to the 23 ponies with endoscopically normal gastric mucosa. During the 7 days of flunixin administration, 11 ponies developed gastric ulcers that were appropriate for study. The 11 ponies were randomly allotted to 2 groups. Group-A (n = 5) and group-B (n = 6) p...
Deichsel K, Hoppen HO, Bruckmaier R, Kolm G, Aurich C.Lactation in the mare is associated with changes in the release of metabolic as well as reproductive hormones. Plasma glucose concentration is constantly reduced in lactating compared with non-lactating mares. Several metabolic signals have been proposed to link nutrition and somatic metabolism with reproductive function. The following experiment was performed to study the effect of acute hypoglycaemia on the release of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in cyclic mares. Different doses of insulin (0.1 and 0.2 IU/kg body weight) were given to induce a decrease in...
