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Topic:Equine Health
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.
Characterization of the horse (Equus caballus) IGHA gene. Nucleotide sequences of the immunoglobulin constant heavy chain genes of the horse have been described for IGHM, IGHG and IGHE genes, but not for IGHA. Here, we provide the nucleotide sequence of the genomic IGHA gene of the horse ( Equus caballus), including its secretion region and the transmembrane exon. The equine IGHA gene shows the typical structure of a mammalian IGHA gene, with only three exons, separated by two introns of similar size. The hinge exon is located at the 5' end of the CH2 exon and encodes a hinge region of 11 amino acids, which contains five proline residues. The coding ...
Expression of key prostaglandin synthases in equine endometrium during late diestrus and early pregnancy. Luteolysis in domestic species is mediated by the release of luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha) by the uterus at the end of diestrus, which must be suppressed by the conceptus to permit maternal recognition of pregnancy. In many species, including the horse, both the conceptus and the endometrium also synthesize PGE(2), which may antagonize PGF(2alpha) by playing a luteotropic and/or antiluteolytic role. While the release of PGE(2) and PGF(2alpha) by the equine endometrium in late diestrus and early pregnancy has been previously studied, the underlying prostaglandin synthase gen...
Immunohistochemical study of equine endometrial extracellular matrix during the oestrous cycle. This study was designed to identify the distribution of type IV collagen, laminin, and fibronectin with an avidin-biotin method in sections of equine endometrial samples, fixed in Bouin's solution and embedded in paraffin wax. Thirty endometrial biopsies were collected at three different stages of the oestrous cycle. The basement membrane of luminal epithelium reacted positively with antibody against type IV collagen. Both type IV collagen and laminin were found in the basement membranes of endometrial glands, and fibronectin occurred diffusely in the interstitial tissue. Blood vessels express...
Characterization of experimental equine glanders. Considerable advances in understanding of the disease caused by Burkholderia mallei have been made employing a combination of tools including genetic techniques and animal infection models. The development of small animal models has allowed us to assess the role of a number of putative virulence determinants in the pathogenesis of disease due to B. mallei. Due to the difficulties in performing active immunization studies in small animals, and due to the fact that the horse is the target mammalian species for glanders, we have initiated experimental studies on glanders in horses. Intratracheal ...
Multicentric leiomyosarcoma in a young male horse. A 2-year-old male Thoroughbred was evaluated for multiple firm, raised nodules of the maxilla and mandible that had been present since 6 months of age. The horse was evaluated as a yearling with a final histologic diagnosis of fibrosarcoma. As a 2-year-old, the colt made a loud upper airway sound and was agitated after strenuous exercise. Results of upper airway endoscopy indicated severe narrowing of the nasal passages and pharynx with normal resting function. Radiography revealed multiple circular bony lesions in the mandible, maxilla, multiple long bones, and cervical vertebrae. Biopsy spec...
Virulent and avirulent strains of equine arteritis virus induce different quantities of TNF-alpha and other proinflammatory cytokines in alveolar and blood-derived equine macrophages. Equine arteritis virus (EAV) infects endothelial cells (ECs) and macrophages in horses, and many of the clinical manifestations of equine viral arteritis (EVA) reflect vascular injury. To further evaluate the potential role of EAV-induced, macrophage-derived cytokines in the pathogenesis of EVA, we infected cultured equine alveolar macrophages (AMphi), blood monocyte-derived macrophages (BMphi), and pulmonary artery ECs with either a virulent (KY84) or an avirulent (CA95) strain of EAV. EAV infection of equine AMphi, BMphi, and ECs resulted in their activation with increased transcription of g...
Abnormal synaptic protein expression in two Arabian horses with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy. Numerous swollen neurons and multiple dystrophic axons were observed in the gracillis and cuneatus nuclei of two male Arabian horses, aged six and 12 months of age, with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy. Swollen neurons and dystrophic axons showed synaptophysin, synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa, syntaxin-1 and alpha-synuclein immunoreactivity. Moreover, dystrophic axons were strongly immunopositive against the ubiquitin protein and against the anti-phosphorylated 200 kDa neurofilament protein. Abnormal expression of integral synaptic vesicle, synaptic vesicle-associated presyna...
Standardization of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the horse. The influence of coil position on the peak-to-peak amplitude and onset latency of transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials (MMEPs) in the extensor carpi radialis and cranial tibial muscles of horses was evaluated. Seven different stimulating coil positions were obtained by constructing a frame on the forehead. Two stimulation intensities (80% and 100% of maximal stimulator output) and two different coil currents (clockwise and counter-clockwise) were tested. For both recording sites MMEPs with the shortest onset latency and the largest peak-to-peak amplitude were detected when the coil wa...
Evaluation of stress during transport. Domestic animals are transported for a variety of reasons including breeding, biomedical purposes, slaughter and, in the case of sporting horses, for competitions, pleasure activities or ceremonial proceedings. Studies to determine the amount of stress on farm animals during transport often have highly variable results and are difficult to interpret. The reaction of animals to stressors depends on the duration and intensity of the stressors, the animal's previous experience, its physiological status and the immediate environmental restraints. Behavioural, haematological, haematochemical, physi...
Variations in some electrocardiographic parameters in the trotter during racing and training. In the athletic horse, the efficiency of physical exercise during activity is strictly
connected to several organic–functional characteristics. Among these, cardiovascular
function takes a primary role in determining the quality of performance. The morphological and functional changes occurring in the cardiovascular system during physical
exercise are due to the increasing demand required to deal with intense muscular
activity. Thus, the cardiovascular physiological response to physical exercise is characterized both by transitory modifications and adjustments that are similar in both
t...
Evaluations of testicular biopsy by tru-cut in the stallion. Testicular biopsy is one of the supplementary examinations performed in the course
of andrological testing. In veterinary medicine, it is seldom used in low-fertility or
sterility testing, or in the investigation of suspected cancer. Biopsies are discouraged
in horses in particular, since they may result in testicular sclerosis and atrophy
(Galina, 1971; Smith, 1974; Marusi and Corradi, 1989; Varner, 1991; Del Vento et al.,
1992; Threlfall and Lopate, 1993; Roser, 2000). In humans (Foresta and Varotto,
1992; Foresta et al., 1992; Kessaris et al., 1995; Harrington et al., 1996) good resul...
Multiple cutaneous leiomyomas in the perineum of a horse. Multiple cutaneous masses developed in the perineum of a 14-year-old Saddlebred stallion over a period of approximately 5 years. Clinically, the masses ranged in size from 3- to 9-mm diameter and were not ulcerated, painful, or pruritic. Three of the masses were surgically excised and submitted for microscopic evaluation. The masses were dome shaped to nodular, located in the superficial dermis, and composed of haphazardly arranged bundles of plump spindle-shaped cells. The tumor cells immunoreacted with monoclonal antibodies directed against desmin, muscle-specific actin, and smooth muscle ac...
Prevalence of antibodies to Neospora caninum, Sarcocystis neurona, and Toxoplasma gondii in wild horses from central Wyoming. Sarcocystis neurona, Neospora caninum, N. hughesi, and Toxoplasma gondii are 4 related coccidians considered to be associated with encephalomyelitis in horses. The source of infection for N. hughesi is unknown, whereas opossums, dogs, and cats are the definitive hosts for S. neurona, N. caninum, and T. gondii, respectively. Seroprevalence of these coccidians in 276 wild horses from central Wyoming outside the known range of the opossum (Didelphis virginiana) was determined. Antibodies to T. gondii were found only in 1 of 276 horses tested with the modified agglutination test using 1:25, 1:50, ...
Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid findings in the atelectatic regions of anesthetized horses. To evaluate the effects of compression atelectasis on the composition of pulmonary secretions in anesthetized horses, cytological and biochemical examinations were performed on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids obtained from both dependent and independent lung regions. Six horses were anesthetized with isoflurane and oxygen for 120 min, and were positioned in right lateral recumbency. Percentage of neutrophils and total protein concentration in BAL fluids significantly increased at the end of anesthesia, and total phosphorous concentration significantly decreased at 72 hr after anesthesia in...
Seroepidemiologic studies on Babesia equi and Babesia caballi infections in horses in Jilin province of China. The prevalence of equine piroplasmosis caused by Babesia equi and Babesia caballi in northeast China has remained unknown, although the People's Republic of China is recognized as an endemic country for the diseases. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in Jilin province, a part of northeast China. A total of 111 serum samples were taken from horses in eastern Jilin, and examined for diagnosis of B. equi and B. caballi infections by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with recombinant antigens, equi merozoite antigen-1 and P48, respectively. Of the 11...
Mechanical ventilation in foals with botulism: 9 cases (1989-2002). "Shaker foal" disease, toxicoinfectious botulism of foals, was 1st described as a clinical entity in 1967. The reported mortality rate was 90%, with death occurring within 24-72 hours of the onset of the characteristic clinical signs. The mortality rate decreased when equine-origin botulism antitoxin became available; however, a certain percentage of foals continued to die of respiratory failure. Mechanical ventilation is an important part of the treatment of infant botulism and is essential to the survival of many affected infants. We report a retrospective study of 9 foals with toxicoinfecti...
Botulism in foals less than 6 months of age: 30 cases (1989-2002). Botulism has been recognized as a clinical entity in foals since the 1960s. Also known as "Shaker foal" disease, the toxicoinfectious form of botulism affects foals, with the highest incidence in the United States seen in Kentucky and the mid-Atlantic region. The disease is characterized by progressive muscular weakness caused by the action of botulism neurotoxin at cholinergic neuromuscular junctions. Increased number of episodes and duration of recumbency, muscular trembling, and dysphagia are seen in affected foals. Left untreated, the disease can be rapidly fatal, with death occuring secon...
M-mode echocardiographic ratio indices in normal dogs, cats, and horses: a novel quantitative method. A novel method for quantitative echocardiographic interpretations is introduced based on the calculation of ratio indices in which each raw M-mode measurement is divided by the aortic root dimension (Ao). "Aorta-based" indices were calculated with the animal's measured aortic root dimension (Ao(m)) as the length standard. Conversely, "weight-based" indices employed an idealized estimate of aortic dimension (Ao(w)) with a weighted least squares linear regression against the cube root of body weight (Ao(w) = kW(1/3)). Use of these indices circumvented undesirable statistical characteristics inhe...
