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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.
Clinical and pathological studies in horses with hepatic disease. In horses with hepatic necrosis, lipidosis, neoplasia and cirrhosis, progression of the disease was studied by serial measurements of total serum bile acid concentrations and of plasma glutamate dehydrogenase (GD) and gamma glutamyl transferase (gamma GT) and by liver biopsy. Plasma ammonia concentrations were significantly elevated compared to clinically normal horses, but such changes were not always accompanied by a decline in plasma urea concentration. A fall in plasma glucose concentration carried a guarded prognosis. These were all invaluable aids in early diagnosis and throughout the di...
Computed tomographic evaluation of head diseases in the horse: 15 cases. The rapid development of software and technology now allows a large amount of diagnostic information to be obtained from a computed tomographic examination. This imaging technique can also be usefully applied to the horse, given appropriate premises and a custom built table for accurate positioning. Computed tomography of the skull has considerable advantages over other techniques, as structures are viewed without superimposition. Fifteen cases are used to demonstrate how through high image quality (precise detail, reduction in artefacts) and objective measurement of density, various pathologi...
The zygomatic branch of the auriculopalpebral nerve: can it be normally palpated in the live horse? A detailed description is given of the methods to locate and palpate a subcutaneous part of the zygomatic branch of the auriculopalpebral nerve in 9 out of 10 adult horses examined. This permits the exact placing of local anaesthetic along the nerve branch at the described site, resulting in the akinesis of the m orbicularis oculi and the elimination of the blink reflex. This facilitates ophthalmologic examination and possible treatment of some eye conditions.
Tendon strain in the forelimbs as a function of gait and ground characteristics and in vitro limb loading in ponies. Strains in the tendons of the m. flexor digitalis superficialis (superficial digital flexor, SDFT) and m. flexor digitalis profundus (deep digital flexor, DDFT) tendons, the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor muscle (inferior check ligament, ICL) and the m. interosseus medius (suspensory ligament, SL) of 5 ponies were recorded at the walk and trot using mercury-in-silastic strain gauges (MISS), on a hard surface (brick pavement) and on sand. The horses were shod with normal, flat shoes. On pavement, strain in the SDFT, DDFT and SL increased significantly from the walk (2.19%, 1.15% ...
Histologic and immunohistochemical characterization of hemangiomas in the skin of seven young horses. The histologic and immunochemical characteristics of benign vascular tumors excised from the skin of seven young horses were evaluated. The patients were male horses of various breeds and were 16 months of age or younger at the time of presentation. Six tumors occurred on the extremities, and one was removed from the lip. Histologically, most tumors consisted of cellular nodules of varying compactness with few to many blood-filled lumina. Nodular growth separated preexisting adnexa and subcutaneous collagen. Some tumors contained or consisted predominantly of loosely packed arrays of ramifying...
Surgical treatment for colic in the foal (67 cases): 1980-1992. Sixty-seven foals age < 150 days underwent a ventral celiotomy for colic. Of the 67 foals, 51 foals (82%) recovered from anaesthesia and 42 (63%) were subsequently released from the hospital. Three (6%) of the 51 foals were subjected to a repeat celiotomy. Long term follow-up was available on 36 foals. Twenty-nine (57%) of the 51 foals recovered from anaesthesia, were alive at least 2 years following surgery. Adhesions were identified in 8 (17%) of the foals which recovered from general anaesthesia but were subsequently subjected to euthanasia due to recurrent colic. Strangulating lesions were...
Colonic luminal pressure in horses with strangulating and nonstrangulating obstruction of the large colon. Colonic luminal pressure (median, range) measured during ventral midline celiotomy in 69 horses with strangulating obstruction (SO) of the large colon (SO; > or = 270 degrees large colon volvulus; 27 cm H2O: 2 to 80 cm H2O) was greater (P = .0023) than that measured in 37 horses with nonstrangulating obstruction (NSO) of the large colon (NSO; < or = 180 degrees volvulus or a nonstrangulating displacement; 18 cm H2O; 6 to 46 cm H2O). Sixty-five percent (45 of 69) of horses with SO and all horses with NSO survived. Survival analysis was restricted to 59 horses with large-colon SO that survived t...
Repair and function of synovium after arthroscopic synovectomy of the dorsal compartment of the equine antebrachiocarpal joint. The reparative ability of equine synovium was determined by gross, histological, and ultrastructural examination. The functional potential of the synovium was estimated by examination of synovial cell organelles with transmission electron microscopy. Results from rested and exercised horses were compared to determine the effect of exercise on synovial healing. The response of synovectomized joint to exercise was evaluated with a standardized lameness examination and by gross, histological, and histochemical observations of the articular cartilage. A 7-mm diameter motorized synovial resector wa...
Effect of a warm-up on energy supply during high intensity exercise in horses. The VO2(max) in racehorses is approximately double that of elite human athletes and the rate of increase in VO2 at the onset of high intensity exercise is much greater than in man. The kinetics of gas exchange are affected by a warm-up prior to exercise in humans, there being a greater aerobic contribution to high intensity exercise after warm-up. Our hypothesis was that a warm-up would increase aerobic energy delivery in racehorses during high intensity exercise. Thirteen fit Standardbred racehorses ran to fatigue at 115% of VO2(max) on a treadmill at 10% slope. Prior to acceleration, horses ...
Effect of a mask and pneumotachograph on tracheal and nasopharyngeal pressures, respiratory frequency, and ventilation in horses. To investigate the effect of a mask and pneumotachograph on ventilation, respiratory frequency, and tracheal and nasopharyngeal pressures in horses running on a treadmill. Methods: Six horses ran at 50, 75, and 100% of the speed that resulted in maximum oxygen consumption, with and without a mask and pneumotachograph. Tracheal and pharyngeal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, respiratory frequency, and arterial blood gases were measured. Methods: Six Standardbred horses. Methods: Oxygen consumption was measured during an incremental exercise test to determine the speed that resulted in maxi...
Effects of inhalation anesthetic agents on response of horses to three hours of hypoxemia. To study the effects of inhalation anesthetic agents on the response of horses to 3 hours of hypoxemia. Methods: Controlled crossover study. Methods: Five healthy adult horses. Methods: Horses were anesthetized twice: once with halothane, and once with isoflurane in O2. Anesthetized horses were positioned in left lateral recumbency. Constant conditions for the study began at 2 hours of anesthesia. A constant agent dose of 1.2 minimum alveolar concentration, PaO2 of 50 +/- 5 mm of Hg, and PaCO2 of 45 +/- 5 mm of Hg were maintained for 3 hours. Circulatory measurements were made at 0.5, 1, 2, an...
Anomalous inheritance of a paternally derived trophoblast antigen. Recurrent spontaneous abortion occurs in 1 in 500 random matings and usually results in abortion of all pregnancies. If absence of antibody to a paternally derived antigen caused abortion, the woman would be expected to make antibody to the other paternal antigen and abort only half her pregnancies. Methods: Microvesicles were prepared from equine placentae. Acid-eluted IgG antibody was eluted from the polymorphic R80K antigen and used to type the residual R80K antigen on vesicles or on peripheral blood leucocytes. Results: In several equine sibships all the half-sibs had the same paternal R80...
Quantitative determination of H2-utilizing acetogenic and sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogenic archaea from digestive tract of different mammals. Total number of bacteria, cellulolytic bacteria, and H2-utilizing microbial populations (methanogenic archaea, acetogenic and sulfate-reducing bacteria) were enumerated in fresh rumen samples from sheep, cattle, buffaloes, deer, llamas, and caecal samples from horses. Methanogens and sulfate reducers were found in all samples, whereas acetogenes were not detected in some samples of each animal. Archaea methanogens were the largest H2-utilizing populations in all animals, and a correlation was observed between the numbers of methanogens and those of cellulolytic microorganisms. Higher counts of...
Influence of shoeing on ground reaction forces and tendon strains in the forelimbs of ponies. Strains in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor muscle (inferior check ligament [ICL]) and the interosseus medius muscle (suspensory ligament [SL]) in the right forelimb of 5 ponies were measured using mercury-in-silastic strain gauges a few hours after implantation. Tendon strains were recorded at the walk with normal flat shoes, egg-bar shoes, a 7 degrees increased hoof angle accomplished by application of a heel-wedge and a 7 degrees decreased hoof angle using a toe-wedge, consecutively. Ground reactio...
A morphometric study of bone marrow megakaryocytes in foals infected with equine infectious anemia virus. Morphometric evaluation of bone marrow core biopsies was used to determine megakaryocyte (MK) numbers and MK size in nine foals with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV)-induced thrombocytopenia. Both immunocompetent normal foals and foals with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) were used. Platelet counts were made three times weekly following viral infection. Bone marrow core biopsies were taken from the ilium of each foal prior to experimental infection, immediately after the onset of thrombocytopenia, and at necropsy. All foals developed thrombocytopenia by 23 days postinfection. The ...
Total blood volume in the normally performing Standardbred trotter: age and sex variations. The purposes of this study were to elucidate the influences of age and sex on the mass specific blood volume parameters: total blood volume (TBV/BW, ml/kg), plasma volume (PV/ BW, ml/kg), total red cell volume (CV/BW, ml/kg) and maximal packed cell volume (PCV, l/l, i.e. after total mobilisation of the splenic red cell reservoir) and to establish reference values for these in normally performing Standardbred trotting race horses. In total 205 horses were studied. They were all, according to their owners and/or trainers, performing satisfactorily in racing or training for shortly impending raci...
Platelet-activating factor and not thromboxane A2 is an important mediator of endotoxin-induced platelet aggregation in equine heparinised whole blood in vitro. Endotoxin has previously been shown to induce platelet aggregation in equine heparinised whole blood. This study aimed to determine whether platelet-activating factor or products of cyclo-oxygenase metabolism (thromboxane A2 or prostaglandins) were important in mediating the response of platelets to endotoxin. The effects of the following drugs on endotoxin-induced aggregation were investigated: aspirin, flunixin meglumine and carprofen (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs); CV-3988 and WEB2086 (platelet-activating factor receptor antagonists); quinacrine (phospholipase A2 inhibitor). The ef...
Familial basis of exertional rhabdomyolysis in quarter horse-related breeds. To trace pedigrees from affected horses, identify likely contributing founder horses, and determine the conditional probability of founder genotypes. Methods: Muscle biopsy records from the Neuromuscular Disease Laboratory at the University of California-Davis and the University of Minnesota were searched to identify horses with a polysaccharide storage myopathy and exercise intolerance/rhabdomyolysis. Pedigrees containing 5 to 6 generations were obtained where possible. Methods: 13 Quarter Horses, 4 American Paint Horses, 3 Appaloosas, and 3 Quarter Horse crossbreds (16 mares, 4 geldings, and...
Effects of sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride on the elimination of etorphine in equine urine. The combination of large doses of sodium bicarbonate and the potent narcotic, etorphine, has reportedly been given to racehorses in attempts to improve their performance and also to "mask" the presence of etorphine in urine samples. The increased urinary output and pH associated with sodium bicarbonate (approximately 500 g) administration may reduce the urinary concentration of etorphine, making it more difficult to detect. Our experiment was designed to examine the effects of this combination. Six Thoroughbred horses were used in a latin-square design with three horse pairs and three treatmen...
Lymphocyte subsets in the endometrium of genitally normal mares and mares susceptible to endometritis. The density and distribution of MHC Class II positive cells and subpopulations of lymphocytes were studied in the endometrium of genitally normal mares and mares susceptible to endometritis. In genitally normal mares, more MHC Class II positive cells were present in the epithelium and stratum compactum during oestrus than dioestrus. Significantly more CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes were present in the stratum compactum than in the stratum spongiosum. CD4+ lymphocytes were present in greater numbers than CD8+ lymphocytes in the stratum compactum but approximately equal numbers were present in the st...
Equine piroplasmosis an update on diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Two haemoprotozoan parasites, Babesia caballi and Babesia equi, can cause equine piroplasmosis. Due to the presence of potential tick vectors in areas so far unaffected by equine babesias, import and export regulations often require the serum testing of animals for evidence of infection. Although the complement fixation test (CFT) has been recommended for detecting the presence of antibodies to Babesia spp., it has been demonstrated to have several disadvantages, including false-positive results and low sensitivity for detecting latent infections. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) m...
Risk factors for history of previous colic and for chronic, intermittent colic in a population of horses. To identify risk factors for recurrent colic and chronic, intermittent colic in horses. Methods: Case control study. Methods: The population included 768 horses examined by veterinarians for emergencies other than colic (control group). Methods: Horses with colic that had history of colic (n = 232) were compared with those without such history (n = 536), using logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors for history of previous colic and to determine odds ratios (OR) for these associations. Among the 232 horses in the history of colic group, 58 horses that had chronic, intermittent co...
Accidents with horses: what has changed in 20 years? Horse riding is a dangerous pastime with more accidents occurring per hour than during motor-cycling. Since a prospective survey of horse-related injuries conducted at a major centre in 1971-1972, equestrian groups and the medical profession have encouraged improvements in training and protective riding wear. By conducting a similar study at the same centre 20 years later we hoped to assess the effects of these measures on the pattern of injuries resulting from contact with horses. Patient and injury details were recorded prospectively for all those presenting to the Accident Service at Oxford...
The role of the gene 71 product in the life cycle of equine herpesvirus 1. Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) gene 71 encodes a heavily O-glycosylated 192 kDa protein with no identified herpesvirus homologue. Isolation of a deletion mutant in gene 71 (ED71) demonstrated that its protein product is not essential in vitro. To investigate the role of the gene 71 protein in the virus life cycle, ED71 has been characterized in vitro in terms of cellular adsorption, penetration, egress and transmission compared to wild-type and revertant virus. ED71 virions adsorbed to cells less efficiently than wild-type and revertant virus with a consequential effect on virus penetration...
Isolation of the equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis agent, Ehrlichia equi, in tick cell culture. The equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis agent, Ehrlichia equi, is closely related or identical to the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent. Both are suspected of being transmitted by ticks. We have successfully isolated E. equi in a cell line, IDE8, derived from a putative vector, the tick Ixodes scapularis. Peripheral blood leukocytes from an experimentally infected horse were inoculated onto IDE8 monolayers. Cultures were incubated in a candle jar at 34 degrees C in tick cell culture medium with NaHCO3 and an organic buffer [3-(N-morpholino)-propanesulfonic acid] (MOPS). Within 2 weeks, ...
The effects of irradiation dose on the stiffness of cartilage grafts. Various centers report irradiated cartilage graft absorption rates that differ quite widely. We postulated that a major factor governing this phenomenon might be irradiation dose. Irradiation produces collagen cross-binding and increased resistance to absorption of such material when implanted. Since cross-binding produces stiffening of collagen, cartilage grafts were exposed to increasing doses of irradiation and their elastic modulus was measured. The postulate was that increasing radiation doses will produce grafts of increasing stiffness. Sternal cartilage, harvested from horses, was cut i...
