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.
Sato F, Yamashita S, Kugo T, Hasegawa T, Mitsui I, Kijima-Suda I.To determine the full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) sequence of equine erythropoietin (EPO) and to develop region-specific antibodies to differentiate equine EPO (eEPO) and human EPO (hEPO). Methods: RNA and lysate extracted from renal tissues of an adult Thoroughbred. Methods: Full-length cDNA was determined by use of a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay and a rapid amplification of cDNA ends method. The deduced amino acid sequence was compared with sequences of EPO reported for other species. Furthermore, 4 synthetic peptides were designed in 2 distinctive parts of the e...
Carstanjen B, Hoyle NR, Gabriel A, Hars O, Sandersen C, Amory H, Remy B.To evaluate a human assay for quantification of carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), assess the influence of age on plasma CTX-I concentration, investigate the relationship between plasma CTX-I and serum osteocalcin concentrations, and determine whether concentrations of plasma CTX-I or serum osteocalcin fluctuate in circadian manner in horses. HORSES: 75 clinically normal horses. Methods: Cross-reactivity between equine serum CTX-I and CTX-I antibodies in an automated electrochemiluminescent sandwich antibody assay (ECLIA) was evaluated via a specificity test...
Brown KA, Boerboom D, Bouchard N, Doré M, Lussier JG, Sirois J.17Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 4 (17betaHSD4) has a unique multidomain structure, with one domain involved in 17beta-estradiol inactivation. The objective of the study was to investigate the regulation of 17betaHSD4 during human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-induced ovulation/luteinization. The equine 17betaHSD4 cDNA was cloned and was shown to encode a 735-amino acid protein that is highly conserved (81-87% identity) compared with other mammalian orthologs. RT-PCR/Southern blot analyses were performed to study the regulation of 17betaHSD4 transcripts in equine preovulatory follicles ...
Ginther OJ, Gastal EL, Gastal MO, Beg MA.The role of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in the deviation in growth rates among follicles (follicle selection) was studied in mares using an IGF binding protein (BP) to reduce the follicular-fluid concentrations of IGFs. The future dominant follicle (F1) was treated by intrafollicular injection at the expected beginning of deviation (F1 > or = 20 mm; Day 0). The experimental groups were control (no injection, n = 8), vehicle (injection of vehicle; n = 6), and BP (injection of 250 microg of recombinant human IGFBP-3; n = 6). A sample of follicular fluid was taken from F1 on Da...
Greube A, Müller K, Töpfer-Petersen E, Herrmann A, Müller P.Seminal plasma of mammalians contains, among others, proteins that are characterized by the fibronectin (Fn) type II module. Our knowledge about the structure and the physiological function of seminal Fn type II proteins mainly originates from studies on PDC-109, the bovine representative of this protein family. The present work focuses on the equine protein SP-1/2 (also named HSP-1/2) with particular emphasis on its interaction with lipid membranes by employing the intrinsic protein fluorescence and a number of spin-labeled and fluorescent lipid analogues. The results indicate that the intera...
Elsinghorst TA.In this fourth article of a series of papers listing first case reports of animal diseases published since 2000, the following six cases of horse diseases are discussed: Disseminated metastatic intramedullary melanoma. Lipoma of the extensor tendon sheaths. Meningoencephalomyelitis in a neonatal foal due to Salmonella agona infection. Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Placentitis due to Rhodococcus equi infection. Right atrial diverticulum in a foal. After a short introduction, the bibliographical data, the abstract of the author(s), and some additional information derived from the article are g...
Tamaki Y, Hirata H, Takabatake N, Bork S, Yokoyama N, Xuan X, Fujisaki K, Igarashi I.A Babesia caballi gene encoding the 134-kDa (BC134) protein was immunoscreened with B. caballi-infected horse serum. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using recombinant BC134 protein could effectively differentiate B. caballi-infected horse sera from Babesia equi-infected or noninfected control horse sera. These results suggest that the recombinant BC134 protein is a potential diagnostic antigen in the detection of B. caballi infection.
Huang X, Xuan X, Xu L, Zhang S, Yokoyama N, Suzuki N, Igarashi I.An immunochromatographic test (BeICT) for the rapid detection of antibodies against Babesia equi was developed. It clearly differentiated B. equi-infected horses from B. caballi-infected and uninfected horses. The agreement with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results was 96.7% in the detection of field sera. The results suggest that BeICT is rapid, simple, reliable, and suitable for use to detect B. equi infection in the field.
Davenport-Goodall CL, Ross MW.To identify scintigraphic abnormalities in the pelvic region of horses examined because of hind limb lameness or poor performance and determine the clinical relevance of areas of abnormal radiopharmaceutical uptake (ARU) in these horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 128 horses. Methods: Medical records were reviewed, and information on signalment, history, admitting complaints, physical examination findings, and results of lameness examinations was recorded. Clinical relevance of areas of ARU was determined by comparison with results of other diagnostic tests. For horses with clinica...
Dowdall SM, Proudman CJ, Klei TR, Mair T, Matthews JB.Cyathostomins are the most common parasitic nematodes of horses. Larval stages, which inhabit the intestinal wall, are particularly pathogenic and can cause severe colitis and colic. Despite their clinical importance, diagnostic techniques for the prepatent stages do not exist. A method that could estimate mucosal infection intensity would have a major impact on the control and diagnosis of cyathostominosis. Here, serum IgG(T) responses to two larval antigen complexes of 25 and 20 kDa were quantified in horses with experimental infections, natural infections and in horses that presented with c...
McGurrin MK, Arroyo LG, Bienzle D.Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMT) is a sporadic cause of thrombocytopenia in horses for which it is difficult to establish a definitive diagnosis. In this report, we describe 3 horses with severe thrombocytopenia in which flow cytometric analysis of platelets for surface-bound IgG was used in an attempt to substantiate a provisional diagnosis of IMT. A distinct proportion (4.28%, 5.04%, and 7.95%) of platelets with surface-bound IgG was detected in the 3 thrombocytopenic horses, but not in 6 healthy horses (0.03% to 0.15%) or 6 horses with colic (0.00% to 1.21%). These results, in conjunc...
Verdegaal EJ, Kroeze EJ, Dik KJ, van Oijen LA, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.A 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare was presented with a history of abnormal behaviour and acute facial nerve paralysis on the left side. Clinical examination revealed a slight head tilt and a corneal ulcer of the left eye. The base of the left ear was warm and painful. Endoscopic examination of the left guttural pouch showed thickening of the proximal part of the stylohyoid bone. Computer tomography revealed a left-sided prominent bony enlargement of the middle and proximal part of the stylohyoid bone and the tympanic bulla, fusion of the temporrhoid joint, and osseous proliferation of the pars...
Capik I, Ledecky V, Mihály M.Abnormalities of dental development such as hypoplasia of cementum, oligodontia, polydontia, enamel hypoplasia, brachygnathia, and prognathia are quite common in the horse. Abnormalities of eruption are less common and often associated with trauma. This case report describes the diagnosis and therapy for pre-eruption displacement of the maxillary left third and fourth premolar teeth resulting from previous facial trauma in a 1.5-year-old filly.
Lee EJ, Raudsepp T, Kata SR, Adelson D, Womack JE, Skow LC, Chowdhary BP.Comparative genomics has served as a backbone for the rapid development of gene maps in domesticated animals. The integration of this approach with radiation hybrid (RH) analysis provides one of the most direct ways to obtain physically ordered comparative maps across evolutionarily diverged species. We herein report the development of a detailed RH and comparative map for horse chromosome 17 (ECA17). With markers distributed at an average interval of every 1.4 Mb, the map is currently the most informative among the equine chromosomes. It comprises 75 markers (56 genes and 19 microsatellites),...
Murray RC, Dyson SJ, Schramme MC, Branch M, Woods S.Chronic laminitis is a severe disease affecting the equine digit. It was hypothesized that magnetic resonance (MR) imaging would improve visualization of structures within the foot and pathology associated with chronic laminitis. This study aimed to describe the MR imaging findings in chronic laminitis, compare different pulse sequences for visualization of pathology, and to compare MR imaging with standard radiography. Twenty (10 forelimb, 10 hindlimb) cadaver limbs from 10 horses clinically diagnosed with chronic laminitis (group L) and 10 limbs without laminitis (group N) were used. Laterom...
Moure A, Reichmann P, Gamba HR.The application of the dual photon absorptiometry (DPA) technique, using gadolinium-153 as the photon source, to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) of the third metacarpal bone of horses is presented. The radiation detector was implemented with a NaI(TI) scintillator coupled to a 14 stage photomultiplier. A modular mechanical system allows the position of the prototype to be adjusted in relation to the animal. A moveable carrier makes it possible to scan the third metacarpal with a velocity adjustable between 1 and 12 mm s(-1), in steps of 1 mm s(-1), for a total distance of 250 mm. The p...
Peyrou M, Higgins R, Lavoie JP.Evolution of bacterial resistance to certain antibacterial agents in horses in a veterinary hospital. A total of 255 antibiograms, conducted according to the Kirby-Bauer method from bacterial isolates collected from horses at the Hôpital Vétérinaire d'Enseignement at the Université de Montréal between 1996 and 1998 were compared with the results obtained about 10 years ago with corresponding bacterial species. A significant increase in the percentage of strains resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SXT), penicilline, tetracycline, and to gentamicin was observed. The percentages ...
Yadernuk LM.A 13-year-old broodmare was referred for weight loss and left facial nerve paralysis. Bilateral temporohyoid osteoarthropathy was diagnosed based on proliferation of the temporohyoid joints and stylohyoid bones on radiographs and guttural pouch endoscopy. The left side was more severely affected. Treatment resulted in little or no improvement.
Erichsen C, Eksell P, Widström C, Berger M, Holm KR, Johnston C.The sacroiliac region in 33 clinically normal riding horses was examined with scintigraphy to determine the normal scintigraphic appearance, to evaluate a semiquantitative method used to calculate a sacroiliac joint (SI joint) ratio, and to identify factors that affect the scintigraphic appearance of the pelvis. The scintigraphic examination included dorsal views of each SI joint region and one lateral view of the urinary bladder. Two predefined areas (the SI joint and the area between the tuber sacrale and the SI joint) were evaluated subjectively by comparing the intensity in each area to th...
Muirhead T, McClure JT, Bourque A, Pack L.A lesion in the cervical region of a 14-month-old Belgian gelding with severe ataxia was suspected. Necropsy revealed symmetric focal cartilage defects compatible with osteochondrosis of the occipital condyles and atlanto-occipital dysplasia. To our knowledge this is the first equine report of symmetrical osteochondrosis of the occipital condyles causing neurologic signs.
Cordeau ME, Joubert P, Dewachi O, Hamid Q, Lavoie JP.Heaves is a common condition of horses of cold climate that is characterized by small airway inflammation and obstruction following exposure of susceptible horses to moldy hay and straw. It has been shown that helper T lymphocytes (Th) orchestrate the inflammatory response in asthma and in various animal models of allergic lung diseases by the release of Th2-type cytokines. Results of previous studies indicate that a predominant expression of Th2-type response by airway cells may also be present in heaves. To evaluate the temporal mRNA expression of Th1 (IFN-gamma) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5) type cy...
Werners AH, Bull S, Fink-Gremmels J, Bryant CE.Macrophages play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of many diseases by mediating the host immune response to infections and intoxications. The species-specific activation of macrophages and the differential response in cytokine production impedes the extrapolation of results between species. Therefore, the aim of this study was to isolate and immortalise macrophages from equine bone marrow (BM) cells in order to study equine-specific signalling pathways. The isolated BM-derived macrophages (referred to as e-CAS cells) showed proliferation kinetics similar to that of standardised cell lines...
Garcia T, Hornof WJ, Insana MF.The strong dependence of tendon echogenicity on insonation angle is explored by analyzing echo spectra. Combining echo spectra with high-resolution images from several modalities reveals that fluid spaces surrounding fascicles and bundles are likely sources of ultrasonic scatter. Mathematical models of tendon structure are proposed to explain how the anisotropic microstructure of tendon gives rise to angle-dependent echogenicity. Echo spectra from spontaneously damaged equine tendon samples were compared with normal equine tendon and found to exhibit a dramatic decrease in anisotropic properti...
Sieme H, Katila T, Klug E.This study analyzed effects of different methods and intervals of semen collection on the quantity and quality of fresh, cool-stored, and frozen-thawed sperm and fertility of AI stallions. In Experiment 1, ejaculates were obtained from six stallions (72 ejaculates per stallion) using fractionated versus non-fractionated semen collection techniques. Initial sperm quality of the first three jets of the ejaculate was not different from that of total ejaculates. Centrifugation of sperm-rich fractions before freezing improved post-thaw motility and sperm membrane integrity when compared to non-cent...
López-Sanromán FJ, Cruz JM, Santos M, Mazzini RA, Tabanera A, Tendillo FJ.To evaluate the local analgesic effect of ketamine in a palmar digital nerve block at the base of the proximal sesamoid (abaxial sesamoid block) in horses. Methods: 36 mature healthy Andalusian horses. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 9 horses each and received an abaxial sesamoid block in a randomly chosen forelimb with 1 of the following: saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, 1% ketamine solution, 2% ketamine solution, or 3% ketamine solution. To determine analgesia, the radiant heat lamp-hoof withdrawal model was used as a noxious thermal stimulus. Before each nerve block, basel...
Tulleners E, Mann P, Raker CW.Epiglottic augmentation with injectable bovine collagen or an autogenous or allogenous auricular cartilage graft was performed in 12 horses with endoscopically and radiographically normal epiglottises. The grafting procedures were easy to perform and did not cause apparent discomfort. Cartilage graft extrusion or resorption may have occurred, but was not seen by endoscopy and lateral laryngeal radiography. Only collagen implants remained evident endoscopically, as smooth round submucosal bulges ventral to the epiglottic cartilage. Two horses with collagen implants, and all horses with cartilag...
Sweeney RW, Sweeney CR.Horner's syndrome developed in 2 horses after routine jugular venipuncture. Signs included unilateral sweating of the face in both horses and ptosis in 1 horse. The signs resolved within 14 hours. Signs of a perivascular injection did not develop in either horse. Although Horner's syndrome has been reported after perivascular jugular injections these cases illustrate that the syndrome may develop following routine intravenous injections.
Vaid RK, Shanmugasundaram K, Anand T, Bera BC, Tigga M, Dedar R, Riyesh T, Bardwaj S, Virmani N, Tripathi BN, Singh R. is a well-known Gram-negative bacterial pathogen causing a plethora of diseases in different animals. Although its infection has been reported from pigs and dogs in India, no report of B. bronchiseptica from horses is described. We report for the first time, isolation, identification and characterization of strains of B. bronchiseptica from respiratory infection in horses from different states in India. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed resistance to penicillins, ceftazidime, and chloramphanicol. The virulence capability of the strains was confirmed by sequencing genes such as a...
Fortier LA.Systemic therapies for joint disease may be prescribed when a single joint is involved or when multiple sites are affected. The precise therapeutic regimen recommended depends on the duration,cause, and site(s) of injury and is often an adjunct to intra-articular or supportive therapies. If the clinical signs of joint disease are acute and moderate in severity, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often administered to alleviate pain and inflammation. When aiming for more of a generalized maintenance or chondro-protective regimen, an alternative medication, such as hyaluronan,polysulfated ...
Sinclair M, Valverde A.Lidocaine single boluses and/or constant rate infusions are commonly administered intraoperatively during inhalant anaesthesia to lower inhalant concentrations, promote or maintain gastrointestinal motility, and potentially supplement analgesia. The benefits of using lidocaine with injectable anaesthesia for field surgeries has not been fully explored to determine advantages and disadvantages of lidocaine as an anaesthetic and analgesic adjunct in these conditions and impact on recovery quality. Objective: To evaluate the use of systemic lidocaine with a standard field injectable anaesthetic p...
Diallo I, Read AJ, Kirkland PD.A real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) test for the matrix gene of type A influenza viruses was used during the 2007 Australian equine influenza (EI) outbreak in order to confirm diagnosis and, later, eradication of the virus. During the EI outbreak, horses being exported required vaccination and individual proof of freedom from EI. At the end of the outbreak, positive results were obtained from four horses destined for export, because of contamination of the samples with the vaccine. This report highlights the need for EI testing and vaccination to occur on sepa...
Lavoie JP, Carlson GP, George L.Hypertrophic osteopathy was diagnosed in 3 horses and in a pony, ranging in age from 8 to 21 years. There were 2 females, 1 sexually intact male, and 1 gelding. In 3 animals, hypertrophic osteopathy was associated with pulmonary abscesses, bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma, and ovarian granulosa-cell tumor, respectively, and resulted in death or euthanasia. Duration of the condition ranged from 1 to 4 months. In 1 horse, hypertrophic osteopathy was believed to be secondary to pregnancy, and resolved following uncomplicated delivery of a live foal.
Whitton DL, Trim CM.Heart block is a relatively common arrhythmia in the adult horse. It may be a normal physiologic phenomenon or it may have pathologic implication. Four foals in which advanced heart block developed during anesthesia were unresponsive to atropine sulfate and supportive treatment alone. Resolution of the heart blocks was achieved after the addition of dopamine hydrochloride to the therapeutic regimen.
Rijkenhuizen AB, van Swieten HA.A surgical technique is described in which a saphenous vein graft is used to reconstruct the jugular vein in horses with facial oedema due to post thrombophlebitic stenosis of the jugular vein. The saphenous vein was harvested from the contralateral limb and implanted in the occluded vein by 2 side-to-end anastomoses. Intra- and post operatively anticoagulative medication was administered. In 2 out of 3 patients the reconstruction resulted in a permanent patent graft and resolution of the facial oedema. In one patient the graft thrombosed.
MacMillan AP, Baskerville A, Hambleton P, Corbel MJ.Five mares, one stallion and a colt foal were inoculated intraconjunctivally with Brucella abortus strain 544. No clinical signs of disease developed except mild pyrexia. Intermittent bacteraemia was detected in the mares but not in the stallion or foal. Antibodies to B abortus became detectable from the second week after inoculation. Titres in the serum agglutination and complement fixation tests declined substantially after six to eight weeks but reactions to the Coombs antiglobulin, 2-mercaptoethanol and immunodiffusion tests were maintained. No consistent changes in biochemical or haematol...
Kreider JL, Ogg WL, Turner JW.Six mature stallions were used to test the effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha ) on sperm production and seminal characteristics. Semen was collected from each stallion twice weekly 1 hr following a 10 mg intramuscular injection of PGF2 alpha or a sham injection. A switchback design was used so that three stallions received PGF2 alpha and three served as controls during the first 9 weeks (period 1). Treatment regimens were reversed during the second 9 weeks (period 2). Treatment of stallions with PGF2 alpha resulted in an increase (P less than .05) in gel free seminal volume and a dec...
Laut JE, Houpt KA, Hintz HF, Houpt TR.In order to determine if horses will increase their intake in response to caloric dilution, four pony geldings were fed ad lib a mixed grain diet either undiluted (3.4 Mcal/kg of digestible energy) or diluted (wt/wt) with 25% sawdust (2.6 Mcal/kg) or with 50% sawdust (1.7 Mcal/kg). The mean daily caloric intake was 17,457 kcal (3.4 Mcal diet), 17,546 kcal (2.6 Mcal diet) and 12,844 kcal (1.7 Mcal). The mean time spent eating was 246 (3.4 Mcal), 351 (2.6 Mcal), and 408 (1.7 Mcal) minutes/day. Meal size increased and meal frequency decreased with increasing dilution. The median long survivorship...
Jung T, Park H, Kwon JY, Sohn S.Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Avian Influenza (AI) frequently occur in South Korea, resulting in high levels of occupational stress among quarantine workers forced to partake in massive livestock killings. This study explored the usefulness of Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) in improving these workers' psychological and emotional functioning. A total of 51 FMD/AI control workers participated in 16 sessions of an EAL program facilitated by therapeutic riding professionals and trained horses. Results showed significant changes in their stress level, coping style, and overall quality of life-re...
Beg MA, Gastal EL, Gastal MO, Ji S, Wiltbank MC, Ginther OJ.Transvaginal ultrasound-guided luteal biopsy was used to evaluate the effects of prostaglandin (PG)F2alpha on steady-state concentrations of mRNA for specific genes that may be involved in regression of the corpus luteum (CL). Eight days after ovulation (Hour 0), mares (n=8/group) were randomized into three groups: control (no treatment or biopsy), saline+biopsy (saline treatment at Hour 0 and luteal biopsy at Hour 12), or PGF2alpha+biopsy (5mg PGF2alpha at Hour 0 and luteal biopsy at Hour 12). The effects of biopsy on CL were compared between the controls (no biopsy) and saline+biopsy group. ...
Carakostas MC, Moore WE, Smith JE.Intravascular granulocyte kinetics in 4 healthy horses were determined with chromium-51 as the cell label. The disappearance rate of labeled granulocytes was an exponential function. Mean total blood granulocyte pool (+/- 1 SD) was 5.65 +/- 1.514 X 10(8) granulocytes/kg of body weight, of which 2.71 +/- 0.715 X 10(8) granulocytes/kg were circulating and 2.94 +/- 0.876 X 10(8) granulocytes/kg were marginated along blood vessel walls. The mean disappearance half-life (T1/2) was 10.5 +/- 1.33 hours and the mean granulocyte turnover rate was 8.84 +/- 1.495 X 10(8) granulocytes/kg/day. A granulokin...
Yasui T, Tsukise A, Miura T, Fukui K, Meyer W.Cytochemistry of glycoconjugates in the apocrine glands in the scrotal skin of the horse was studied using cytochemical methods for electron microscopy, particularly lectin cytochemistry. The secretory cells possessed a variable number of secretory vesicles, a well-developed Golgi apparatus, and abundant cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Additionally, the basolateral plasma membrane formed numerous interdigitating folds. Glycoconjugates with vicinal diol groupings were present predominantly in the secretory vesicles, the Golgi apparatus, the surface coat of the plasma membrane, and...
Lindberg A, Näsman-Glaser B, Lindgren JA, Robinson NE.To evaluate leukotriene (LT) biosynthetic capacity in lung tissue from healthy horses and horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Methods: Lung parenchyma and airway specimens from 8 RAO-affected and 5 healthy horses. Methods: Horses were stabled for > or = 72 hours. Blood was drawn before euthanasia, after which lung specimens were collected. Tissue strips from small airways and parenchyma were incubated in organ baths with the precursor LTA4 or stimulated with calcium ionophore A23187 or the tripeptide N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), with or without exogenous arachidonic acid, in the...
Huthmann S, Gasse H, Jacob HG, Rohn K, Staszyk C.The equine cheek tooth battery is part of a very dynamic system. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the curvature and position of the teeth are also involved in such dynamical processes. The alveolar crest was labelled with a radiodense marker (48 cadaver heads, 15 skulls) and laterolateral radiographs were taken. Then a geometrical method was elaborated to determine a cheek tooth's curvature and its position by means of specific angles. This method respects the remarkable changes of the equine dentition throughout life by considering two items: (1) the alveolar crest was taken a...
Miesner T, Wilkie D, Gemensky-Metzler A, Weisbrode S, Colitz C.At The Ohio State University from 1994-2006 six of seven horses evaluated for primary orbital disease were diagnosed with extra-adrenal paraganglioma (EAPG). The horses ranged in age from 14 to 24 years, with a mean of 16.8 years. Duration of clinical signs was 1.5 years to 5 years, with a mean of 2.8 years. Clinical signs varied, but all six had non-painful exophthalmus of the right eye. Five horses had complete ocular exams reported; three of five had decreased to absent vision, two of five had pale optic nerves, and in three of five, difficulty of retropulsion of the globe was noted. Diagno...
Leisinger CA, Klein C, Markle ML, Premanandan C, Sones JL, Pinto CRF, Paccamonti DL.Aluteal cycles were induced in the mare to evaluate the effects of progesterone deprivation on the gene expression of embryos and endometrium collected eight days after ovulation. We hypothesized that the transcript expression would be altered during induced aluteal (AL) cycles (low progesterone <1 ng/mL) when compared with control cycles during diestrus (high progesterone; > 4 ng/mL) for 1) the embryonic expression of progesterone-mediated transcripts and those related to normal embryo growth and development and 2) the endometrial expression of progesterone-mediated transcripts and those ...
Barnes AJ, Slone DE, Lynch TM.To examine the effect of partial arytenoidectomy without mucosal closure on postoperative racing performance and long-term complications in Thoroughbred racehorses treated for laryngeal hemiplegia, arytenoid chondropathy, or failed laryngoplasty. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Twenty-seven Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: Medical records of Thoroughbred racehorses that had partial arytenoidectomy without mucosal closure between 1992 and 2002 were reviewed. Horses were divided into groups: horses that had not raced (Group 1) and those that had raced (Group 2) before surgery. Lifetime r...
Papapetrou MA, Arroyo LG, Meister TL, Baird JD, Steinmann E, Lillie BN.Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) was first reported from the serum and liver tissue of a horse diagnosed with Theiler's disease in the United States in 2018. Theiler's disease, also known as equine serum hepatitis, is a severe hepatitis with fulminant hepatic necrosis. The disease has most frequently been reported following the administration of equine-origin biological products; however, it has also been reported in in-contact horses with no prior biologic administration. EqPV-H has been detected in clinically healthy horses in North America (USA, Canada), Europe (Germany, Austria, Sloven...
Coutinho da Silva MA, Seidel GE, Squires EL, Graham JK, Carnevale EM.The effects of semen extender components on the ability of stallion sperm to bind to the zona pellucida (ZP) and the suitability of using bovine ZP for a ZP-binding assay for stallion sperm were investigated in a series of experiments. In Experiment I, binding of stallion sperm to both bovine and equine ZP was significantly increased when a skim milk-based extender (EZM) was used. In Experiment II, a threefold increase in sperm binding to ZP was observed when sperm were diluted in EZM compared with diluents, which contained no milk (TALP, LAC, and EmCare). In Experiment III, centrifuging the s...
Squires EL.Equine oocytes obtained either by transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration or from slaughterhouse ovaries can be matured in vitro. This generally requires culture in TCM-199 containing serum and hormones for 30 to 36 hours. With this protocol, approximately 50% to 60% of the oocytes are at metaphase-II at the end of the culture period. At least some of these oocytes appear viable based on production of fertilized eggs either through in vitro fertilization or fertilization in vivo of a recipient mare. The success of producing equine embryos in vitro is still extremely low. More than...
Fletcher DJ, Brainard BM, Epstein K, Radcliffe R, Divers T.Antifibrinolytic drugs such as epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA) and tranexamic acid (TEA) are used to treat various bleeding disorders in horses. Although horses are hypofibrinolytic compared to humans, dosing schemes have been derived from pharmacokinetic studies targeting plasma concentrations in humans. Objective: We hypothesized therapeutic plasma concentrations of antifibrinolytic drugs in horses would be significantly lower than in humans. Our objective was to use thromboleastography (TEG) and an in vitro model of hyperfibrinolysis to predict therapeutic concentrations of EACA and TEA in...
