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.
Werner LA, Hardy J, Bertone AL.To compare intra-articular (IA) and bone gentamicin concentrations achieved after intra-articular administration or regional intravenous perfusion (RIP). Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Twelve healthy adult horses. Methods: Horses were assigned to 2 treatment groups (n = 6/group): Group 1, 1 g gentamicin administered simultaneously in both left and right metacarpophalangeal joints and group 2, 1 g gentamicin administered simultaneously in both left and right lateral palmar veins. Serum, synovial fluid, and bone biopsy specimens were collected. Gentamicin concentrations were determined by...
Sletten K, Johnson KH, Westermark P.The primary structure of amyloid fibril protein AA of a burro has been determined by Edman degradation. The 80 amino acid residue long protein shows strong resemblance to that of other mammalian AA-proteins and differs from equine protein AA at 5 positions: Burro/horse positions 20 (Q/N), 44 (R,Q, K/K,Q), 59 (G,L/G,A), 61 (Q/E) and 65 (N/R).
Post EM, Singer ER, Clegg PD, Smith RK, Cripps PJ.Wounds to the plantar aspect of the tarsus present a diagnostic and treatment challenge. This study was undertaken to describe specific features of traumatic wounds involving the calcaneal bursa, with a view to determining which clinical examination findings and diagnostic tests results could provide reliable indicators of prognosis. Objective: To report clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, treatment and outcome of 24 cases of septic calcaneal bursitis; and to determine the importance of the involvement of specific anatomical structures in relation to the prognosis for survival and retu...
Dias Fde O, Lorosa ES, Rebêlo JM.A precipitin test was employed to study the alimentary tract content of Lutzomyia longipalpis in the intra- and peridomiciliary environments in the municipality of Raposa, Maranh o State, a transmission area for visceral leishmaniasis or kala azar. Out of 2,240 female sandflies captured, 547 (24.4%) had fed on vertebrate blood, with the following proportions: avian (87.9%); rodent (47.2%); human (42.4%); canine (27.6%); opossum (26.6%); and equine (22.5%). Based on a survey of 120 human dwellings, chickens were found to be the most common domestic animals in the peridomicile (28.3%), followed ...
Ollivier FJ, Brooks DE, Schultz GS, Blalock TD, Andrew SE, Komaromy AM, Cutler TJ, Lassaline ME, Kallberg ME, Van Setten GB.Healing of corneal ulcers in horses is often associated with profound corneal stromal fibrosis and scar formation resulting in visual impairment. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a fibrogenic cytokine involved in wound healing and scarring. The purpose of this study was to determine whether CTGF was present in the tear fluid of normal horse eyes and the eyes of horses with corneal ulcers in order to evaluate the role of CTGF in corneal wound healing and corneal scar formation. Methods: Tear fluid samples were collected from 65 eyes of 44 horses; 32 samples from normal eyes, 21 samples...
Ikeda T.Ivermectin is an oral semi-synthetic lactone anthelmintic agent derived from avermectins isolated from fermentation products of Streptomyces avermitilis. Ivermectin showed a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on motility of a free-living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). There exist specific binding sites having a high affinity for ivermectin in the membrane fraction of C. elegans, and a strong positive correlation was detected between the affinity for these binding sites and the suppressive effect on motility of C. elegans in several ivermectin-related substances. These re...
Castagnolli KC, de Figueiredo LB, Santana DA, de Castro MB, Romano MA, Szabó MP.Acquired immunity of horses to larvae, nymphs and adults of the Amblyomma cajennense tick was evaluated through three consecutive experimental infestations of tick-bite naïve hosts. Data from these infestations were compared to those from field-sensitized horses and donkeys. It was observed that tick-bite naïve horses developed a low level of resistance after two infestations as shown by a significant decrease in larval yield and a tendency for lower engorged weight of nymphs during third infestation. Ticks fed on field-sensitized horses had a similar biological performance to that observed ...
Matsuda M, Moore JE.In the present review article, recent molecular advances relating to studies with Taylorella equigenitalis, as well as the recently described second species of the genus Taylorella, namely Taylorella asinigenitalis, have been described. Molecular genotyping of T. equigenitalis strains by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) after digestion with the suitable restriction enzyme(s) enabled the effective discrimination of strains, thus allowing the examination of the scientific mechanism(s) for its occurrence and transmission of contagious equine metritis (CEM). Alternatively, polymerase chain ...
Gaffar FR, Franssen FF, de Vries E.Babesia bovis infections have only been observed in bovine species in contrast to Babesia divergens that also can infect humans, sheep and rodents. Using an in vitro assay that assesses invasion of erythrocytes by free merozoites after a 1-h incubation period, it was shown that specificity is not determined by host-specific interactions associated with invasion. Human erythrocytes were invaded more efficiently than bovine erythrocytes whereas erythrocytes of sheep, pigs and horses were invaded only slightly less efficiently. In contrast, goat erythrocytes were refractory to efficient invasion....
Abu-Zidan FM, Rao S.Horse riding and handling are uniquely dangerous. Knowledge of the risk factors of horse-related injuries is essential to prevent them. We aimed to define the factors that affect the severity of horse-related injuries and the length of hospital stay. A number of 231 patients (136 females and 95 males) with horse-related injuries were studied. A generalized linear model was used to test the effect of age, sex, cause of injury, complexity of the mechanism of injury, year, place of injury and profession of the injured, on the injury severity score (ISS) and the hospital stay. Fall from a horse wa...
Taveiros AW, Oliveira MA, Lima PF, Tenório Filho F, Bartolomeu CC, Santos MH, Oliveira LR, Iunes-Souza TC, Freitas JC.Ten pluriparous mares were used as donors to supply embryos which were transferred into 103 recipients, 31 of which were nulliparous, 34 were pluriparous and lactating, and 38 were pluriparous and non-lactating. The embryos were recovered eight days after ovulation and pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasound six days after the transfer; the length of the embryos was measured ultrasonographically on days 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25 and 30 after the embryo transfer. One hundred and fifteen of 200 flushes provided embryos, 12 being degenerate and 103 being viable embryos. From the 103 embryo transfers c...
Dabareiner RM, Carter GK, Honnas CM.To determine history, clinical and radiographic abnormalities, and outcome in horses with signs of navicular area pain unresponsive to corrective shoeing and systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration that were treated with an injection of corticosteroids, sodium hyaluronate, and amikacin into the navicular bursa. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 25 horses. Methods: Data collected from the medical records included signalment, history, horse use, severity and duration of lameness, shoeing regimen, results of diagnostic anesthesia, radiographic abnormalities, and outcome. ...
Toscano WA, Toscano JS, Toscano DG, Gross MK.The soluble calmodulin-sensitive isoform of adenylyl cyclase isolated from equine sperm is unique because it requires Mn(2+) rather than Mg(2+) for activity. To gain insight into the molecular action of metals on sperm adenylyl cyclase, the kinetics of Mn(2+) and ATP effect was examined. A biphasic response to increases in ATP concentration was observed when metal was held constant. When [Mn(2+)] exceeded [ATP], however, greatly enhanced enzyme activity was observed. The kinetic profiles were consistent with allosteric activation of adenylyl cyclase by Mn(2+). Linear transformation of the data...
Szeredi L, Hornyák A, Dénes B, Rusvai M.A 4-days-old foal died after a short course of respiratory syndrome and fever. Large areas of the alveoli, bronchioles and bronchi were partly or completely filled by hyaline membranes. Pronounced oedema and mild interstitial pneumonia were present and, in the small muscular arteries, fibrinoid necrosis and vasculitis or perivasculitis could be seen. Vasculitis was found in several other organs, and it was most severe in the thymus. The virus was detected in the lung, kidney and spleen using virus isolation and in the lung and spleen using polymerase chain reaction. The virus was also detected...
Katz LM, Marr CM, Elliott J.Substance P (SP), a potent vasodilator, has been detected in equine digital sensory-motor nerves. The aim of the study was to characterise the functional responses of equine digital blood vessels to exogenous SP. Pre-constricted equine digital arteries (EDA) and veins (EDV) vasodilated in a biphasic, endothelium- and concentration-dependent manner to SP. A nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME; 300 microm) inhibited both phases of the relaxation response curve of EDAs to SP by >70%. In EDVs, the first relaxant phase to SP was largely...
Pusterla N, Johnson EM, Chae JS, Madigan JE.Neorickettsia (formerly Ehrlichia) risticii, the agent of Potomac horse fever (PHF), has been recently detected in trematode stages found in the secretions of freshwater snails and in aquatic insects. Insectivores, such as bats and birds, may serve as the definitive host of the trematode vector. To determine the definitive helminth vector, five bats (Myotis yumanensis) and three swallows (Hirundo rustica, Tachycineta bicolor) were collected from a PHF endemic location in northern California. Bats and swallows were dissected and their major organs examined for trematodes and for N. risticii DNA...
Suwannachot P, Verkleij CB, Van Weeren PR, Everts ME.We studied the effects of exercise without or with a subsequent period on pasture on Ca2+ ATPase concentration in foal skeletal muscle, and compared the results with those previously reported on Na+, K+ ATPase. Ca2+ ATPase was measured in homogenates as Ca2+-dependent steady-state phosphorylation from [gamma-32P]ATP. From day 7 after birth, 24 foals were divided into three groups: (i) staying in a box stall (Box); (ii) staying in a box stall with an exercise programme of an increasing number of sprints per day (Exercise); and (iii) staying on pasture (Pasture). Half of the foals (12 with four ...
McKlveen TL, Jones JC, Sponenberg DP, Scarratt K, Ward DL, Aardema CH.To describe the anatomic features of the pituitary gland region in horses via computed tomography (CT) and determine the accuracy of CT for estimating normal equine pituitary gland dimensions. Methods: 25 adult horses with no clinical signs of pituitary disease. Methods: Transverse CT images and gross transverse tissue sections were compared in 2 horses. Contrast-enhanced CT of the pituitary gland region was performed postmortem in 23 horses with 4 slice thickness and interval settings (10-mm contiguous or overlapping slices and 4-mm contiguous or overlapping slices). Gross and CT estimates of...
Brosnan RJ, Steffey EP, LeCouteur RA, Farver TB, Imai A.To test the hypothesis that isoflurane-anesthetized horses during controlled ventilation and spontaneous ventilation exhibit temporal changes in cerebral hemodynamics, as measured by intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure, that reflect temporal changes in systemic arterial pressure. Methods: 6 healthy adult horses. Methods: Horses were anesthetized in left lateral recumbency with 1.57% isoflurane in O2 for 5 hours in 2 experiments by use of either controlled ventilation (with normocapnia) or spontaneous ventilation (with hypercapnia) in a randomized crossover design. Intracrania...
Kaminsky R.The purpose of this review is to illustrate where drug resistance in parasitic nematodes has become a major problem. The mechanisms underlying anthelmintic resistance, the possible reasons for the development of anthelmintic resistance, and recommendations to minimize the further development of anthelmintic resistance in humans will be addressed. Results: Resistance has developed to all drugs of the few anthelmintic classes currently available. Drug resistance has become a major threat to sheep production in Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and South Africa. In addition, the treatment of ...
Nout YS, Hinchcliff KW, Jose-Cunilleras E, Dearth LR, Sivko GS, DeWille JW.To determine the effect of a single bout of exercise and increased substrate availability after exercise on gene expression and content of the glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) protein in equine skeletal muscle. Methods: 6 healthy adult Thoroughbreds. Methods: The study was designed in a balanced, randomized, 3-way crossover fashion. During 2 trials, horses were exercised at 45% of their maximal rate of oxygen consumption for 60 minutes after which 1 group received water (10 mL/kg), and the other group received glucose (2 g/kg, 20% solution) by nasogastric intubation. During 1 trial, horses stood...
Fritz CL, Kjemtrup AM.Despite more than 25 years' experience with Lyme borreliosis, much remains to be learned about this complex zoonosis. Practicing veterinarians, particularly those in the northeastern and upper midwestern states, where Lyme borreliosis is highly endemic, should be familiar with the ecologic features and typical clinical signs of Lyme borreliosis. Interpretation of signs and serologic test results should be made with consideration of the regional prevalence of Lyme borreliosis and the animal's opportunity for exposure to infected Ixodes spp. The availability of recently marketed topical acaracid...
Nollet H, Van Ham L, Verschooten F, Vanderstraeten G, Deprez P.To determine the usefulness of magnetic motor-evoked potentials (MMEPs) for assessing the integrity of the cervical, thoracic, and thoracolumbar spinal cord in horses with bilateral hind limb ataxia. Methods: 9 horses and 1 donkey with bilateral hind limb ataxia of various degrees. Methods: The motor cortex was stimulated magnetically, and MMEPs were recorded bilaterally from the extensor carpi radialis and cranial tibial muscles. Results: In 5 horses and 1 donkey, MMEPs with normal onset latencies and peak-to-peak amplitude were recorded from the extensor carpi radialis muscles, whereas abnor...
Widenhouse TV, Lester GD, Merritt AM.To determine the effect of pH with or without pepsin or taurocholic acid on the bioelectric properties of gastric squamous mucosa in horses. Methods: Gastric tissues obtained from 16 adult horses that did not have evidence of gastric disease. Methods: Bioelectric properties of squamous mucosa were determined, using modified Ussing chambers. Tissues then were exposed to mucosal pepsin (1 mg/ml) or taurocholic acid (2.5 mM) under neutral (pH 74) or acidic (pH 1.7) conditions. Results: Exposure of mucosal sheets to an acidic pH resulted in an immediate and sustained decrease in transmembrane pote...
Cissell JM, Milton SC, Dahlgren LA.To evaluate the effects of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) treatment on the metabolism of equine tendon fibroblasts in vitro to aid in investigating the response of tendon fibroblasts to injury and novel therapeutics. Methods: Superficial digital flexor tendon fibroblasts isolated via collagenase digestion from six young adult horses were grown in monolayer in four concentrations of PGE₂ (0, 10, 50, 100 ng/ml) for 48 hours. Cells and medium were harvested for gene expression (collagen types I and III, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein [COMP], decorin, and matrix metalloproteinase-1, -3, and -1...
Peyrou M, Bousquet-Melou A, Laroute V, Vrins A, Doucet MY.Enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin are two veterinary fluoroquinolones used to treat severe bacterial infections in horses. A repeated measures study has been designed to compare their pharmacokinetic parameters, to investigate their bioavailability and to estimate their absorbed fraction and first-pass effect by using plasma, urinary and metabolite data collected from five healthy mares. Clearance and V(d(ss)) were greater for enrofloxacin (mean +/- SD = 6.34 +/- 1.5 mL/min/kg and 2.32 +/- 0.32 L/kg, respectively) than for marbofloxacin (4.62 +/- 0.67 mL/min/kg and 1.6 +/- 0.25 L/kg, respectively...
Venugopalan CS, Moore RM, Holmes EP, Sedrish SA, Koch CE.1. The role of endothelium in modulating equine colonic vessel responses to histamine (HST), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), bradykinin (BK) and acetylcholine (ACh) was evaluated in vitro. 2. Segments of mesenteric arteries and veins were collected from the left ventral colon of six adult horses destined for euthanasia for reasons unrelated to cardiovascular or gastrointestinal systems. Vessels were gently cleansed and cut into 4 mm wide rings. 3. Three vessel conditions namely endothelium intact, endothelium removed and N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-treated were used for both art...
To evaluate the effects of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) alone and PEEP preceded by lung recruitment manoeuvre (LRM) on lung volumes and respiratory system mechanics in healthy horses undergoing general anaesthesia. Methods: Controlled, prospective clinical study. Methods: A group of 15 horses undergoing arthroscopy. Methods: Following anaesthetic induction, initial ventilatory settings were: tidal volume 15 mL kg, inspiratory:expiratory ratio 1:2, respiratory rate to maintain end-tidal CO between 5.3-6.6 kPa (40-50 mmHg). The following settings were implemented sequentially: zero PE...
Lumsden GG, Quan-Taylor R, Smith SM, Washbrooke IM.Three anthelmintic pastes were compared in terms of their ability to suppress the output of parasite eggs in the faeces of 108 grazing horses at four sites in Britain; the horses were treated once with either ivermectin, fenbendazole or pyrantel. At each site, the horses grazed together throughout the trials which took place during the summers of 1985 and 1986. The median periods before parasite eggs reappeared in faeces were 70 days for ivermectin, 14 days for fenbendazole and 39 days for pyrantel embonate. Geometric mean faecal egg counts in the groups treated with ivermectin and pyrantel we...
Aurich C, Kaps M.The behaviour of mares is often detrimental to their performance resulting in frequent demand for methods to suppress gonadal function. In addition, prevention of unintended reproduction especially in feral horse populations may require methods for suppression of gonadal function. Surgical ovariectomy is a safe method but not an acceptable approach in feral mares and undesired in mares where future breeding is considered. There are different approaches for artificial prolongation of the luteal phase resulting in transient inhibition of oestrus and ovulation. Among those, treatment with natural...
Ogden NKE, Jukic CC, Zedler ST.To describe a surgical technique for rostral mandibulectomy and reconstruction of the mandibular symphysis. Methods: Case report. Methods: One 5-month-old warmblood cross filly. Methods: A preoperative diagnosis of a juvenile ossifying fibroma was made on the basis of clinical appearance and was later confirmed via histology. The tumor was large, rapidly growing and extending to the caudal aspect of the mandibular symphysis. Computed tomography was performed for surgical planning. The tumor was excised by performing a mandibulectomy caudal to the symphysis. The mandibular symphysis was reconst...
Neto da Silva AC, Costa AL, Teixeira A, Alpoim-Moreira J, Fernandes C, Fradinho MJ, Rebordão MR, Silva E, Ferreira da Silva J, Bliebernicht M....In older mares, increasing collagen fibers (fibrosis) in the endometrium and oviduct predisposes to sub-fertility and infertility. In this study, (i) gene transcription of collagen (qPCR: COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1); (ii) total collagen protein (hydroxyproline); (iii) collagen distribution (Picrosirius red staining; polarized light microscopy); and (iv) microvascular density (Periodic acid-Schiff staining), were evaluated in mares' placenta, and related to mares age, and placenta and neonate weights. Samples were collected from the gravid horn, non-gravid horn, and body of the placenta fro...
Gerstenberg C, Allen WR.Branched tubular endometrial glands are key features of the uterine lining in mares. The epithelium in the neck regions of the glands is similar to that lining the lumen of the uterus, whereas the epithelium in the deeper, coiled portions of the glands secretes protein rich histotrophe or 'uterine milk' during dioestrus and pregnancy. The present study was performed to characterize endometrial histology in perinatal and peripubertal fillies and to investigate the influences of specific steroid treatments on endometrial gland development in the prepubertal period. Uteri obtained from equine fet...
Eysker M, Boersema JH, Kooyman FN.The effect of three albendazole treatments at 5-week intervals, beginning at turnout in April, on cyathostome infections in Shetland ponies was compared with the effect of sequential treatments with albendazole, oxfendazole and oxibendazole. The results showed a substantial reduction in faecal egg output after the first albendazole treatment. Since faecal egg counts remained very low, no estimation of the effect of the second treatment was possible. The third treatment with albendazole and oxibendazole was followed by an increase in faecal egg counts to values of greater than 100 eggs g-1 with...
Wilson DV, Nickels FA, Williams MA.Benztropine mesylate was used successfully to treat priapism that developed during anesthesia in 2 horses. After IV injection, there was a rapid resolution of signs in both horses, and no side effects were observed. The choice of an effective method to treat priapism is challenging because precise causes in most patients have not been well-defined. Benztropine mesylate is a synthetic compound resulting from the combination of the active portions of atropine and diphenhydramine, and is believed effective because of its central acetyl-choline-antagonizing properties.
Tually P, Currie G, Blache D, Meadows J, Gray C, Hemmings L, O'Callaghan P, Murphy D.The prevention of musculoskeletal injuries and their related welfare and economic impacts represent an immediate priority for the horse racing industry. This prospective pilot study aimed to evaluate a method to quantitatively analyze scintigraphic features of specific anatomical regions of the horse's appendicular skeleton in combination with secondary measures of musculoskeletal metabolism in blood. Twelve horses referred for scintigraphic assessment of lameness were enrolled. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to the administration of radiotracer. Serum concentrations associate...
Rankins EM, Malinowski K.The New Jersey horse racing industry has declined over the last 5 years as indicated by decreases in the number of racing days, stallions standing, mares bred, and foals registered. These changes were hypothesized to have potential negative consequences for veterinary practices. The objective of the survey was to investigate changes in veterinary practice revenue and staff over a five-year period. Members of the New Jersey Association of Equine Practitioners completed a survey detailing their involvement in the horse racing industry and breeding of racehorses. A response rate of 49% was achiev...
Rahman A, Uzal FA, Hassebroek AM, Carvallo FR.Pneumonia is a significant disease of horses. Although pneumonia has traditionally been studied in racehorses, little information is available for non-racing horses. Non-racing horses that died with pulmonary lesions ( = 156) were available from cases submitted for autopsy from January 2015 to June 2020. Bronchopneumonia (35%), interstitial pneumonia (29%), embolic pneumonia (21%), granulomatous pneumonia (13%), and pleuritis (2%) were observed in the examined horses. Seventy-four horses died or were euthanized because of pulmonary diseases, and 82 horses died or were euthanized because of...
Rijkenhuizen AB, Németh F, Dik KJ, Goedegebuure SA.A macroscopical, arteriographical and histological study was made of the arterial supply of the navicular bones of horses with clinical and/or radiographic signs of navicular disease. Based on the clinical and radiological findings the navicular bones of 40 Warmblood horses are divided into four different groups. In the pattern of the arteriogram obvious changes are noticed: an imbalance and a distal to proximal shift between the distal and proximal arterial supply occur, indicating a reduction of the distal blood supply with a compensatory reaction of the proximal, medial and lateral supply. ...
Collinder E, Lindholm A, Midtvedt T, Norin E.The aim of this study was to investigate 6 microflora-associated characteristics (MACs) in faecal samples from horses and to compare the results with baselines previously established in other mammals. A MAC is defined as any anatomical structure, physiological, biochemical or immunological characteristic in a host, which has been acted on by microorganisms. When the active microbes are absent, as in germ-free animals and healthy newborn organisms, the corresponding characteristic is defined as germ-free animal characteristic (GAC). The MACs studied were degradation of mucin, conversion of chol...
Herdrich MRA, Arrieta SE, Nelson BB, Frisbie DD, Moorman VJ.OBJECTIVE To determine accuracy for a technique of needle redirection at a single craniolateral site for injection of 3 compartments of the equine stifle joint, describe the external needle position, and identify the location of the needle tip within each joint compartment. SAMPLE 24 equine cadaver stifle joints. PROCEDURES Stifle joints were placed in a customized stand. After the needle was placed, external needle position was measured and recorded. Each joint compartment (medial and lateral compartments of the femorotibial joint and the femoropatellar joint) was injected with a solution con...
Vrins A, Carlson G, Feldman B.Warfarin or dicoumarol prevents the production of functional clotting factors II, VII, IX and X. Navicular disease and thrombophlebitis are examples of equine thrombotic diseases in which warfarin has been used therapeutically. The initiation of anticoagulant therapy is relatively simple but attending veterinarians must be aware of the potential risks in order to minimize them. These risks include epistaxis, bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract and at the venipuncture site, and increased susceptibility to hematoma formation following local trauma. Vitamin K, especially vitamin K(1) is a sw...
Contreras-Mendez LA, Medrano A.There are many protocols for horse sperm cryopreservation, but results are inconsistent; sperm survival after freeze-thawing is usually poor; in consequence, fertility is low. The objective of this work was to see whether slow cooling before freezing to minus 3 °C instead of +5 °C, the traditional target temperature, could improve horse sperm cryosurvival, capability to carry out capacitation and the acrosome reaction induced by progesterone. Spermatozoa from five stallions were packaged in straws and slowly cooled to +5 °C. Half of the straws were frozen directly and the other half was ...
Castagnetti C, Veronesi MC.In the foal, the most common neonatal diseases are responsible for an high non-survival rate. Since intensive care for neonatal foals is usually very expensive an early prognosis for survival at admission or during hospitalization is recommended, as well as a prognosis for future athletic potential. Therefore, prognostic factors for prematurity, septicaemia, other infectious diseases and hospitalized foals are revised and discussed on the base of literature and authors experiences. The advantages and limitations of retrospective and perspective prognostic factors is also presented, and the pos...
Dabareiner RM, Sullins KE, White NA.The clinical and radiographic progression, and arthroscopic findings for nine young horses (< 1 year of age) with femoropatellar osteochondrosis (OCD) are presented. Horses had a 2 to 12 week history of bilateral (8 horses) or unilateral (1 horse) hindlimb lameness. The most consistent clinical signs included femoropatellar joint distention and bilateral hindlimb lameness. At the onset of clinical signs, radiographic lesions were not present (4 horses) or subtle (5 horses), but were easily identified on radiographs taken 4 to 24 weeks later. Arthroscopic surgery was delayed until radiograph...
Chesnel MA, Clutton RE.Previous studies indicated that perioperative morphine improves recovery quality after general anaesthesia in horses. This clinical trial investigated whether this effect was dose-dependant. Twenty-six horses anaesthetised for surgery were block-randomised to receive one of two intraoperative morphine treatments: Treatment M1 consisted of a constant rate infusion (CRI) of morphine at 0.1mg/kg/h, begun after a loading dose (LD) of 0.15 mg/kg. Treatment M2 was a CRI of 0.2mg/kg/h preceded by an LD of 0.3mg/kg. During recovery, times at the first attempt and at achieving sternal recumbency and st...
Lucas Castillo JA, Gozalo-Marcilla M, Werneck Fonseca M, Possebon FS, da Rosa AC, de Araujo Aguiar AJ.Information on appropriate protocols for sedation of Nordestino donkeys is scarce. Objective: To evaluate the sedative and cardiorespiratory effects of low doses of intravenous (i.v.) xylazine with and without acepromazine in 'Nordestino' donkeys. Methods: Seven healthy female Nordestino donkeys (150 ± 18 kg) were included in this blinded, randomised, crossover experiment. Methods: Four treatments were administered, consisting of two i.v. injections, at baseline (T0, 1st injection) and 15 min later (T15, 2nd injection). Treatments included acepromazine 0.05 mg/kg bwt + saline (AS), saline + x...
Diel de Amorim M, Bramer SA, Rajamanickam GD, Klein C, Card C.Our objectives were to examine changes in endometrial and luteal gene expression during estrus, diestrus, pregnancy and treatments to induce luteolysis and putatively induce luteostasis. Groups were: Diestrus (DIEST), Estrus (ESTR), Pregnant (PREG), Oxytocin (OXY), Carbetocin (CARB), and Meclofenamic acid (MFA). Blood was obtained from day (D)12 to D15 for measurement of oxytocinase, also referred to as leucyl-cysteinyl aminopeptidase (LNPEP) and progesterone. Luteal biopsies were obtained on D12 and D15 and an endometrial biopsy on D15. Real-time RT-PCR was performed for the following genes: ...
Hidaka S, Kobayashi M, Ando K, Fujii Y.Lomefloxacin is a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic used for the treatment of bacterial extraocular disease. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of lomefloxacin eye drops for bacterial extraocular disease in horses. Lomefloxacin ophthalmic solution (0.3%) was instilled three times daily for 2-5 days in 65 horses diagnosed with bacterial extraocular disease based on clinical findings. Clinical observations and bacteriological examinations were performed at the start of treatment, 2 and 5 days after the start of treatment, and at the discontinuation or termination of treatmen...
Stadler P, Deegen E, Kroker K.Echocardiographic evaluation of 45 horses (43 warm-blooded horses, one Thoroughbred and one Standardbred) with atrial fibrillation was performed, using M-mode, B-mode and pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography. Seventeen (38%) of these horses had a history of poor performance. An increase of left ventricular shortening fraction was found in 25 horses (56%). Atrial dilatation was seen in 37 horses (82%). Eight horses (18%) had normal atrial dimensions. In nine horses only left atrium and in six horses only right atrium was enlarged. In the other 22 horses both atria were dilated. Correlation was ...
