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.
Fukunaga Y, Kumanomido T, Kamada M.Getah virus is a member of the genus Alphavirus in the family Togaviridae and has been frequently isolated from mosquitoes. Seroepizootiologic studies indicate that the virus is mosquito-borne and widespread, ranging from Eurasia to southeast and far eastern Asia, the Pacific islands, and Australasia. The natural host animal of the virus was not known until the first recognized occurrence of Getah virus infection among racehorses in two training centers in Japan in 1978. Outbreaks of clinical disease due to Getah virus infection occur infrequently, and only one outbreak has been reported outsi...
Schusser GF, Scheidemann W, Huskamp B.In this study, the hypothesis that caecal smooth muscle layers would be thinner and the linear neuron density of myenteric plexus greater was tested in normal horses compared to those with chronic recurrent caecal impaction. Four normal horses and 18 horses with chronic recurrent caecal impaction were subjected to euthanasia and 7 tissue samples were collected from each horse at different regions of the caecum (apex, dorsal body, cranial base, dorsal base, caudal base, caudal body, ventral body). Twelve horses with chronic recurrent caecal impaction were treated surgically. Only one tissue sam...
Huskamp B, Scheidemann W.Ninety-six horses with chronic recurrent caecal impaction associated with hypertrophy of muscle layers in the caecal base or in the whole caecum were examined from 1990 to 1996. Enlargement of the caecocolic orifice was completed surgically in 58 horses. Of those horses having surgery, 50 were discharged from the hospital while 8 were subjected to euthanasia at the hospital due to complications. Twenty-seven of the 50 horses discharged were normal at follow-up while 23 died or were subjected to euthanasia due to acute or recurrent colic, recurrent impaction in the ascending or descending colon...
Axelsson M, Björnsdottir S, Eksell P, Häggström J, Sigurdsson H, Carlsten J.The aim of this study was to evaluate potential risk factors associated with hindlimb lameness and radiographic signs of degenerative joint disease (DJD) in the distal tarsus in Icelandic horses. The material consisted of riding horses (n = 420) age 6-12 years sired by 17 selected sires representing all major breeding lines, and of riding horses (n = 194) in the same age range sired by other sires. The examination protocol included the following: interview with owners/trainers, assessment of conformation, motion evaluation and radiographic examination. At the interview, data related to factors...
Westbury HA.The author provides an account of the discovery of a previously undescribed disease of horses and a description of the studies involved in determining the aetiology of the disease. The causative virus, now named Hendra virus (HeV), is the reference virus for a proposed new genus within the virus family Paramyxoviridae. The virus is a lethal zoonotic agent able to cause natural disease in humans and horses and experimentally induced disease in cats, guinea-pigs and mice. The virus also naturally infects species of the family Megachiroptera, mainly subclinically, and such animals are the natural...
Timoney PJ.Expansion in international trade in equids and equine semen has been especially notable over the past 10-15 years among those countries historically identified as having significant breeding and performance horse industries. The continuing trend towards globalization of the horse industry received additional impetus in January, 1995, following establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO), whose primary goal is to promote freer economic exchange between member countries through the reduction or elimination of protectionist barriers to trade. Continued growth in international trade, close...
Paget S, Ducos A, Mignotte F, Raymond I, Pinton A, Séguéla A, Berland HM, Brun-Baronnat C, Darré A, Darré R, Tamzali Y, Bergonier D, Berthelot X.No abstract available
Slovis NM, McEntee MC, Fairley RA, Galuppo LD, Théon AP.Basal cell tumors are rare benign tumors in horses. Over a 15-year period, 6 horses were diagnosed with basal cell tumors. The tumors were well-circumscribed. freely moveable, firm, raised papules, nodules, or masses that ranged from 0.6 to 5 cm in diameter. Five of the 6 tumors were ulcerated. Based on gross appearance, the tumors were diagnosed as sarcoids, and 1 was diagnosed as a melanoma. The range of age of affected horses was 6-26 years. The tumors were identified clinically 1 week to 3 years before excision. In 4 horses for which information was available, complete surgical excision wa...
Raudsepp T, Christensen K, Chowdhar BP.With the expansion of comparative genome analysis across different mammals, there is an increasing need to have well-defined banded karyotypes for the species chosen for investigation. In this context, the steadily growing gene mapping data in the donkey urgently require a framework whereby alignment/comparison of genetic information can be readily made with equids and other mammalian species. Hence a GTG-banded karyotype of the donkey (Equus asinus; EAS) is presented, along with schematic drawings and nomenclature of the banded chromosomes. In addition, the most characteristic features of ind...
Dik KJ, van den Belt AJ, Enzerink E, van Weeren PR.The aim of this study was to monitor the postnatal radiographic development of the proximal and distal double contours and the modelling of the shape of the proximal articular border. In mature horses, the proximal and distal contours of the navicular bone on dorsopalmar dorsoproximal-palmarodistal oblique (upright pedal) radiographs are commonly visualised as 2 lines, one being the articular border and the second representing the border of the cortex facing the deep digital flexor tendon (flexor border). The shape of the proximal articular border may be concave, undulating, straight or convex...
Davenport CL, Boston RC, Richardson DW.To investigate the effects of enrofloxacin and magnesium deficiency on explants of equine articular cartilage. Methods: Articular cartilage explants and cultured chondrocytes obtained from adult and neonatal horses. Methods: Full-thickness explants and cultured chondrocytes were incubated in complete or magnesium-deficient media containing enrofloxacin at concentrations of 0, 1, 5, 25, 100, and 500 microg/ml. Incorporation and release of sulfate 35S over 24 hours were used to assess glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis and degradation. An assay that measured binding of dimethylmethylene blue dye ...
Richt JA, Grabner A, Herzog S.Borna disease is a sporadically occurring, progressive viral polioencephalomyelitis that primarily affects horses and sheep. The etiological agent, Borna disease virus (BDV), is an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus that has been classified in the new virus family Bornaviridae within the order Mononegavirales. Serological evidence of BDV infection has been found in an increasing number of countries throughout the world. After an incubation period lasting a few weeks to several months, BDV infection can cause locomotor and sensory dysfunction followed by paralysis and death. Borna disease is ...
Komar N.West Nile virus (WNV) has emerged in recent years in temperate regions of Europe and North America, presenting a threat to both public and animal health. The most serious manifestation of infection is fatal encephalitis in humans and horses, as well as mortality in certain domestic and wild birds. A recent development in the epizootiology of this mosquito-borne flavivirus was the occurrence of a severe outbreak in New York City and surrounding areas. During this outbreak, mortality was observed in humans, horses, a cat and numerous species of wild birds, particularly members of the family Corv...
Pickersgill CH, Marr CM, Reid SW.A quantitative investigation of the variation that can occur during the course of ultrasonography of the equine superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFT) was undertaken. The aim of this investigation was to use an objective measure, namely the measurement of CSA, to quantify the variability occurring during the course of the ultrasonographic assessment of the equine SDFT. The effects of 3 variables on the CSA measurements were determined. 1) Image acquisition operator (IAc): two different operators undertaking the ultrasonographic examination; 2) image analysis operator (IAn): two different op...
van Dyk E, Neser S.The possible spread by horse faeces of plants that may become weeds in sensitive areas was investigated. It was found that the period 24-48 hours after ingestion of seeds included in rations was the retention time for seeds passing through the digestive system of the horse. The ability of seeds to germinate was not influenced by exposure to digestive fluids or sea-water. A feeding regime of compound feeds is suggested.
Clayton HM, Hodson E, Lanovaz JL, Colborne GR.The objective of the study was to describe net joint moments and joint powers in the equine hindlimb during walking. The subjects were 5 sound horses. Kinematic and force data were collected synchronously and combined with morphometric information to determine net joint moments at each hindlimb joint throughout stance and swing. The results showed that the net joint moment was on the caudal/plantar side of all hindlimb joints at the start of stance when the limb was being actively retracted. It moved to the cranial/dorsal side around 24% stride at the hip and stifle and in terminal stance at t...
Weller R, Livesey L, Maierl J, Nuss K, Bowen IM, Cauvin ER, Weaver M, Schumacher J, May SA.Scintigraphy, with 99mTechnetium methylenediphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) and 99mTc-labelled leucocytes, was compared to radiography in the diagnosis of dental disease in the horse in a prospective case-controlled study, comprising 30 horses with clinical signs of dental disease and 30 control horses. In each case, right and left lateral, ventral and dorsal soft tissue and bone phase scintigraphic images were obtained after i.v. injection of 1 GBq/100 kg bwt 99mTc-MDP, using a gamma camera. The same views were acquired in 10 horses with clinical signs of dental disease and 12 control horses after in...
Elliott M.Forty-one cases of Cushing's Disease affecting both equine and canine patients were treated with an identical mixture of two homeopathically prepared remedies (ACTH 30c and Quercus robur 30c), and the clinical improvements seen in the cases assessed. Homeopathy has been described as a medicine that can only be prescribed on the basis of individual symptoms shown, fitting the remedy to the patient, not the disease. The aim of this study was to define whether a standardised approach, using homeopathically prepared remedies, was a valid system of therapy for this disease, and if so, whether resul...
Santschi EM, Vrotsos PD, Purdy AK, Mickelson JR.To determine incidence of the Ile118Lys endothelin receptor B (EDNRB) mutation responsible for overo lethal white syndrome (OLWS) and its association with specific types of white patterning. Methods: 945 horses of white-patterned bloodlines and 55 solid-colored horses of other breeds. Methods: Horses were genotyped by use of allele-specific polymerase chain reaction to determine incidence of the Ile118Lys EDNRB mutation. Results: Genotypes detected were homozygous Ile118, homozygous Lys118, and heterozygous. All foals with OLWS were homozygous for the Ile118Lys EDNRB mutation, and adults that ...
Fukuda T, Kikuchi M, Kurotaki T, Oyamada T, Yoshikawa H, Yoshikawa T.Atrophy of seminiferous tubules and interstitial fibrosis are frequently observed in aged horses. Samples from 8 male Thoroughbreds, age 4-24 years, were subjected to histological, electron microscopical and immunohistochemical examination and statistical analysis. There were statistically significant increases in collagen fibres in the lamina propria of seminiferous tubules and testicular interstitium in 3 horses age 23 and 24 years compared with 5 horses age 4-20 years (P<0.001). Lamina propria surrounding atrophic tubules was thickened by an increase in collagen type IV and elastic fibre...
Dabareiner RM, White NA, Donaldson LL.To determine whether intraluminal distention and subsequent decompression of the equine jejunum affects intestinal blood flow, hemodynamics, and microvascular permeability. Methods: 5 healthy adu t horses. Methods: Horses were anesthestized and underwent exploratory laparotomy. Two jejunal segments were identified as sham-operated or instrumented segments. After baseline values were obtained, intraluminal distention was created in the experimental segment to induce an ntraluminal pressure of 18 cm H2O. After 120 minutes of distention, the intestine was decompressed for 120 minutes. Mesenteric ...
Hardy J, Minton M, Robertson JT, Beard WL, Beard LA.The clinical findings and outcome of 161 horses diagnosed with 174 episodes of nephrosplenic entrapment (NSE) were reviewed retrospectively. The median age at presentation was 5 years (9 months to 24 years), and duration of colic was 2-92 h. Nasogastric reflux was present in 49 of 113 horses (43.4%) and was significant (> or = 21) in 32 (28.3%) horses. The recurrence rate was 13/161 (8.1%). Thirteen horses (13/174, 7.5%) had other lesions including small intestinal obstruction (4), 360 degrees large colon torsion (5), gastric rupture (2), thromboembolic colic (1) and small colon infarction (1)...
Brianceau P, Divers TJ.A hypercoagulable condition and poor perfusion to distal extremities might occur during equine endotoxaemic or septic shock, which could cause thrombosis of limb arteries. In our review, thrombosis occurred in neonatal foals in association with gram-negative bacteraemia. In 3 older foals and adults, thrombosis was associated with inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhoea and toxaemia. All patients had been treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and i.v. crystalloid solutions. Two horses received i.v. hyperimmune plasma. A generalised coagulopathy was not suspe...
Roberts CT, Slone DE.Surgical management of caecal impactions has included several different procedures suggested over the years. Complete bypass of the caecum through an ileocolic or jejunocolic anastomosis has become common practice for first time caecal impaction management, especially when dysfunction is suspected. In our practice, however, caecal impactions have been managed surgically by typhlotomy alone and of the 10 cases (July 1988-June 1998), 9 underwent surgery for first time caecal impactions, received a typhlotomy, and had survived an average of 43 months at time of case review. At the time of surgery...
Bush JA, Freeman DE, Kline KH, Merchen NR, Fahey GC.Addition of fat to the diet of the equine is a popular method of increasing energy density of the diet while reducing feed intake. Reducing feed intake is of interest to race horse trainers because additional feed is seen as additional weight and, therefore, a hindrance to performance. Limited information is available regarding the interactions of fat with other dietary components, particularly fiber, in the equine digestive system. The effect of dietary fat on in vitro nutrient disappearance in equine cecal fluid was studied in Exp. 1 using a split-plot design within a 2 x 2 Latin square. Two...
Hoffman RM, Wilson JA, Kronfeld DS, Cooper WL, Lawrence LA, Sklan D, Harris PA.Carbohydrates may be hydrolyzed or fermented in the digestive tract, and this distinction is important for the evaluation of the diet of herbivores. Both hydrolyzable and fermentable carbohydrates are included in the nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) fraction as estimated by difference using proximate analysis. Our objectives were to measure hydrolyzable carbohydrates in forages and concentrates, to compare these values with nonstructural carbohydrate, to test for prediction of hydrolyzable carbohydrate concentration in forages from its near-infrared spectrum, and to examine seasonal variation ...
Venugopal CS, Holmes EP, Koch CE, Curtis LA, Holm AS, Moore RM.To evaluate the effectiveness of 2 potential endothelin (ET)-1 antagonists in blocking the contractile responses of equine colonic vessels to increasing concentrations of ET-1. Methods: Mesenteric vessels from 6 clinically healthy horses. Methods: Colonic vessels (arterial and venous rings) were placed in organ baths with oxygenated Tyrode solution at 37 C. Each was attached to a force transducer interfaced with a polygraph, and 2 g of tension was applied and equilibrated for 45 minutes. Then, B-1 (PD 142893) and B-2 (PD 145065) ET-1 antagonists were tested. One ring from each vessel type was ...
Silvestri R.A macromethod and a semimicromethod were developed to measure erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity in cattle, sheep, goats, horses, dogs, and swine, and to measure plasma cholinesterase activity in horses, dogs, and swine. Comparison of the 2 methods with erythrocytes of sheep, cattle, goats, and horses indicated both methods gave similar results. They can be done in a shorter time and are more sensitive than Michel's method. Normal deltapH values per minutes, with standard deviations for blood cholinesterase activity of animals of different ages, sexes, breeds, and species, were: 0.76 +/...
Seybert DW, Moffat K, Gibson QH, Chang CK.Horse globin has been recombined with 2,4-dimethyldeuteroheme and 2,4-dibromodeuteroheme to yield the corresponding reconstituted hemoglobins, and the ligand binding reactions of these reconstituted hemoglobins have been examined in detail. Both hemoglobins exhibit relatively high n values, but 2,4-dimethyldeuterohemoglobin displays a consistently higher oxygen affinity than native hemoglobin, whereas the oxygen affinity of 2,4-dibromodeuterohemoglobin is consistently lower than that of native hemoglobin. The rate constants l’, and 1’4 for the binding of the first and fourth molecules of C...
Jirgensons B, de Haas GH.Conformation of porcine, bovine, and equine pancreatic phospholipases A2 (EC 3.1.1.4) and their zymogens was studied by the circular dichroism (CD) probe in the far and near ultraviolet spectral zones.
All these phospholipases and their zymogens displayed CD curves suggesting the presence of moderate amounts of α-helical conformation. However, on the basis of known primary structure and recent X-ray structural analysis of prophospholipase A2 crystals (Drenth, J., Enzing, C.M., Kalk, K.H. and Vessies, J.C.A. (1976) Nature 264, 373–377), it has to be concluded that the positive CD band cen...
Jones RH, Hayes RO, Potter HW, Francy DB.A survey of biting flies in the southwestern United States resulted in the recovery of 34 species as they attacked equines. The geographic distribution of each species at 15 sites and the abundance of attacking flies were used to determine that 22 species commonly attack equines. Culicoides variipennis (Coquillett) was the most common species collected; it was recovered at 12 sites and comprised the highest percentage (29.8%) of the total survey catch for all species collected. The next 2 most common species were Psorophora columbiae (Dyar & Knab) and Aedes vexans (Meigen). C. variipennis was ...
Berti A, Stefani M, Camici G, Manao G, Ramponi G.The thermal stability of horse muscle acylphosphatase was investigated by measuring the inactivation constants at various pH and temperature values, and by differential spectra technique. This enzyme has high thermal stability in an acidic environment but is inactivated in an alkaline medium. It was found that the enzyme can be protected against such inactivation at pH 8.0 by increasing its concentration and the ionic strength of the solution. The effect of high urea concentrations on stability was also measured. It was found that spectral changes at 230 nm are related to urea inactivation of ...
Smyth GB.An abnormal cryptorchid testicle removed from the abdominal cavity of a 4 year old Thoroughbred stallion is described. The abnormal organ conforms to the requirements of Willis (1960) for a teratoma. The difference between these tumours in man and horses is discussed.
Hanna CJ, Eyre P.Trimetaquinol [TMQ: 1-(3’,4‘,5’-trimethoxybenzyl)6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride] a potential p-sympathomimetic bronchodilator (Iwasawa & Kiyomoto 1967), has been shown to be an effective tracheal smooth muscle relaxant in guineapigs (Iwasawa & Kiyomoto 1967; Brittain 1972; Brittain et a1 1970, 1976) and an inhibitor of experimental bronchospasm in guinea-pigs and cats (Brittain et a1 1970; Brittain 1972). In addition, clinical studies with TMQ indicated that the drug was an effective bronchodilator in mild to moderate asthma (Yamamura & Kishimoto 1968). It may...
Benson GJ, Hartsfield SM, Smetzer DL, Thurmon JC.Succinylcholine chloride, administered to horses anesthetized with halothane in oxygen and mechanically ventilated, caused slight but significant (P less than 0.01) increases in heart rate. Significant alteration in mean arterial blood pressure did not occur, and there were clinically insignificant increases in serum K+ and C1- concentration. Cardiac dysrhythmia and myoglobinuria did not occur. Thus, effects of halothane anesthesia and mechanical ventilation prevented cardiac dysrhythmia and hypertension and greatly reduced the tachycardia generally associated with siccinylcholine administrati...
Scott EA, Riebold TW, Lamar AM, Wolz GS, Sandler GA, Thompson LR.With 120 minutes of pneumatic tourniquet application to the distal extremity in the horse, the following effects were noted in the tourniqueted limb vein (TLV): (i) local venous acidemia, (ii) increase in serum K+ concentrations, (iii) minimal changes in plasma total solids, Na+, or osmolality, and (iv) apparent reduction in hematocrit values when compared with the same measurements in the control leg. Tourniquet release after 120 minutes produced a prompt return to base line for PCV and PO2 in the TLV; however, pH, PCO2 and K+ values in the TLV required 10 to 15 minutes to reach base line (TL...
Graham EF, Crabo BG, Pace MM.From the studies cited it was concluded that short and long term preservation of stallion semen has encountered major obstacles. Fertilizing capacity of extended or extended and cooled spermatozoa has been impaired. With the hydrogen ion extenders, the fertility was depressed either with or without glycerol when the semen was inseminated immediately after extension. With the cream-gel extender, fertility was not impaired when inseminated immediately after extension, but was impaired after storage at 5 C for 24 hr or in the presence of glycerol. The fertilizing capacity of extended frozen sperm...
Levitt NH, Miller HV, Pedersen CE, Eddy GA.The development of a new diagnostic procedure for the identification of Venezvelan, eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis (VEE, EEE, WEE) viruses is described. The procedure utilizes virus precipitation with reference fluorescein-conjugated gamma globulin, followed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Clinical specimens containing varying concentrations of virus yielded, in primary duck embryo cell culture, sufficient virus for detection within 22 to 44 hours. Identification of VEE, EEE and WEE virus in specimens was accomplished by microprecipitation within this time. In contrast to c...
Barban PS, Minaeva VM, Pantiukhina AN, Startseva MG.A comparative study was made of the serological properties and virus-neutralizing activity of antiencephalitis gamma-globulin and Fab-fragments isolated from it by gel-filtration. Horse immunoglobulins against the autumno-summer tick-borne encephalitis virus could be disintegrated with the aid of papaine to monovalent Fab-fragments which (according to the complement fixation reaction, the test of suppression of the complement fixation, and the HAIT) retained the serological activity whose level was compared with that of the serological activity of gamma-globulin. Fab-fragments possessed a mark...
Glazier DB, Farrelly BT, O'Connor J.A congenital heart defect characterised by persistent patency (open-ness) of the ventricular septum, permitting flow of blood directly between ventricles, bypassing the pulmonary circulation and resulting in various degrees of cyanosis (blue discolouration of the skin) due to oxygen deficiency. Clinical signs include systolic murmur and a palpable thrill on both sides of the chest, dyspnoea and poor tolerance of exercise.
Dott HM, Foster GC.Semen from boar, bull, ram, rabbit, reindeer and stallion was diluted in formol citrate or formol saline and stained with eosinnigrosin. The proportion of eosinophilic spermatozoa did not differ from that in fresh semen after storage for 48 hr in the formol diluent at temperatures ranging from 4 degrees C to 40 degrees C. Some samples were kept for periods up to 3 weeks with very little increase in the proportion of eosinophilic spermatozoa.
Poskus E, Zakin MM, Fernámdez HN, Paladini AC.Peptide fragments, obtained from equine growth hormone by cyanogen bromide cleavage and further chemical treatment, were isolated and identified. Their immunological reactivities were tested by hemagglutination and complement fixation methods using rabbit antisera against native hormone. Antigenic determinants were detected in the fragments comprising amino acid sequences 5-72 and 73-123, this last one being predominant. Fragment 124-178 had very low reactivity. Nitration of peptide 73-123 did not modify its immunological properties,but oxidation diminished them. Comparison of the antigenicity...
Charles LN.A 3-year-old Quarter Horse mare presented with an approximate 1-month history of progressive weight loss, anorexia and lethargy that abruptly worsened 48 h before death. Post-mortem examination revealed free flocculent fluid and a large mass within the ventral abdomen that dorsally displaced the caecum and large intestine. An ovarian teratocarcinoma with metastasis to regional lymph nodes was diagnosed histologically. Although benign teratomas are the second most common ovarian neoplasm in equids, reports of malignant teratomas in horses are rare. This report documents an unusual presentation...
Duvivier DH, Votion D, Vandenput S, Art T, Lekeux P.To determine the effects of the dry powder inhalation (DPI) of ipratropium bromide (ipratropium) on the airways of health horses and the dose-response curve in horses suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by means of pulmonary function tests, five healthy horses were first studied. Ipratropium (2400 micrograms ipratropium horse-1) was contained in gelatine capsules and administered using a dry powder device connected to an adapted face mask. Pulmonary function tests were recorded before inhalation and 15 and 60 min after inhalation. No modification of pulmonary function w...
Kronfeld DS.The current estimate of LD50, 21.5 mg/kg BW, for lasalocid in horses is based on an analysis of 8 data from 4 horses that died at dose levels of 15, 21, 22 and 26 mg/kg. This analysis neglected 14 data from another 6 horses that survived at dose levels of 5, 10,14, 18, 19, 25, 29 and 50 mg/kg, and so was biased by selection of data. An examination of all the data indicates they are insufficient to determine the LD50. In contrast, the whole data set suggests a lowest toxic dose of 15 mg/kg, although this estimate was based on only 1 affected animal in 8 tests from 5 to 15 mg/kg in an unbalanced...
Mirck MH.A form of strongyle infection in young horses and ponies, observed during the period from November to May, is described. Large numbers of larvae of Cyathostominae in the fourth or early fifth stage of development are found to be present in the (often watery) faeces. This excretion of larvae is not affected by treatment with anthelmintics. A large number of these patients die from the sequelae of verminous enteritis.
Mahaffey EA, Moore JN.In vitro erythrocyte agglutination developed in 3 hospitalized horses receiving heparin treatment. The agglutination caused artifactual decreases in erythrocyte counts and increases in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values. Treatment of cell suspensions with trypsin eliminated the agglutination and the changes in erythrocyte count and MCV. Similar abnormalities in erythrocyte counts and MCV have been reported in healthy horses treated with heparin and have been cited as evidence of hemolysis and regenerative anemia.
Chaney KP.Congenital anomalies of the urinary tract in horses may be difficult to diagnose and treat. Presenting complaints are variable and include weight loss, depression, dysuria, hematuria, and mild colic. Although the most severe abnormalities are diagnosed in the neonate, some diseases, such as ectopic ureter(s), may be identified in older horses. In human medicine, the fetus is examined in the prenatal period for evidence of urinary tract dysfunction, but this is not yet common practice in equine medicine. As a result, urinary tract anomalies are diagnosed after birth using a wide variety of diag...
Ryan CA, Giguère S, Morresey PR.A plasma biomarker such as ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL-1) to distinguish neonatal encephalopathy (NE) from other disorders and provide prognostic information would be useful for equine practitioners. In this prospective study, plasma UCHL-1 was measured in 331 hospitalized foals ≤4 days of age. Clinical diagnoses of neonatal encephalopathy only (NE group, n = 77), sepsis only (Sepsis group, n = 34), concurrent sepsis and NE (NE+Sepsis group, n = 85), or neither sepsis nor NE (Other group, n = 101) were made by the attending veterinarian. Plasma UCHL-1 concentration...
Labens R, Khairuddin NH, Murray M, Jermyn K, Ahmad RS.To assess fracture gap reduction and stability of linear vs triangular 4.5-mm lag screw repair of experimental, uniarticular, and complete forelimb proximal phalanx (P1) fractures. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Fourteen equine cadaver limbs/horses. Methods: Simulated fractures were repaired with 2 lag screws under 4-Nm insertion torque (linear repair). Computed tomography (CT) imaging was performed with the leg unloaded and loaded to forces generated while walking. The fracture repair was revised to include 3 lag screws placed with the same insertion torque (triangular repair) prior to CT. T...
Voss JL, Squires EL, Pickett BW, Shideler RK, Eikenberry DJ.Data from 257 normally cyclic mares used in trials over a 10-year period were examined to establish the relationship between the number of inseminations per cycle, duration of oestrus and pregnancy rate. Mares that became pregnant were inseminated more (P less than 0.05) frequently per cycle than mares that did not become pregnant (3.4 versus 2.8). First-cycle pregnancy rates of 22.2, 34.0, 38.6, 52.5, 58.3 and 52.2% were attained when mares were inseminated 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 or more times per cycle, respectively. The duration of oestrus in mares that became pregnancy was longer (P less than ...
Blickwede M, Dolz G, Herrero MV, Tomlinson SM, Salman M.Serum samples were collected from domestic horses in 4 different regions of Costa Rica to detect antibodies against vesicular stomatitis viruses, serotypes New Jersey (VSV-NJ) and Indiana (VSV-IN). A total of 214 samples were tested by the virus neutralization test. The sampling regions were identified as low North Pacific dry area (1), low Middle Atlantic humid area (2), low South Pacific humid area (3), and the highlands (4). In region 1, 97.1% of horses were positive for VSV-NJ and 16.5% were positive for VSV-IN. The mean antibody titer and its standard deviation after logarithmic transform...
Raulo SM, Sorsa T, Maisi P.To evaluate inhibitory effects of synthetic matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors in vitro on gelatinolytic and collagenolytic activities in tracheal epithelial lining fluid (TELF) of horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Methods: 10 horses with RAO and 5 healthy control horses. Methods: Substrate-based functional assays, collagen I and gelatin degradation, were used to measure endogenous collagenolytic and gelatinolytic activities in TELF. In vitro inhibition of MMP activity in TELF with 2 chemically modified tetracyclines (CMTs; CMT-3 and CMT-8) and 2 bisphosphonates (BPs; zole...
Cozzi B, Ferrandi B.The horse pineal gland has been investigated by morphological and histochemical methods. Particular care has been given to the cellular types, to the eventual presence of neurosecretory activity and to the nature of the pigments. Even in the horse pineal, it is possible to distinguish two populations of pinealocytes, morphologically but not histochemically distinct. A great number of pinealocytes are positive for the Masson- Hamperl reaction, and for Gomori- Bargmann 's chromic haematoxylin-phloxine and Gomori's paraldehyde-fuchsin. Along the connective septa, many brown- blackish pigmented ce...
Chiesa OA, Cuenca R, Mayayo E, Guarro J, Santamaria J, Stchigel AM.To evaluate the cytological and microbiological contents of guttural pouch washes of ten randomly selected horses restrained so as to prevent them lowering their heads, and to assess the possible effects on the guttural pouch environment in these horses. Methods: Cytological and microbiological studies were performed on guttural pouch washes of ten clinically normal horses restrained in a standing position so as to prevent them from lowering their heads below normal, as would happen during transportation on long journeys. They were restrained for 12 or 24 h and cytological, bacteriological and...
