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.
Frey LP, Kline KH, Foreman JH.Analysis of data collected at racetracks showed that temperature, the diuretic drug, frusemide, exercise, temperature/exercise interaction and sex/age had significant (P < 0.05) effects on pH and bicarbonate ion concentration (P < 0.01). Sodium concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) affected by temperature and frusemide. We suggest that the normal range limits for blood sodium, bicarbonate and pH used in prerace testing procedures should be adjusted for ambient temperature and for horses given frusemide and/or prerace exercise. These adjustments should improve the precision of ...
Bonnaire Y, Dehennin L, Plou P, Toutain PL.A pharmacological dose of a long-acting testosterone ester, testosterone hexahydrobenzoate, was administered intramuscularly to two mares. The time course for some characteristic metabolites in blood and urine was then studied using an analytical method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry associated with stable isotope dilution. Among the plasma analytes, testosterone glucuronide was found to be the most adequate indicator for the monitoring of exogenous testosterone up to 2 weeks postadministration if a threshold value of 200 ng/L was applied. In urine, the simultaneous measurement ...
Darien BJ, Stone WC, Dubielzig RR, Clayton MK.The morphologic changes following ascending colon volvulus result from the interaction of inflammatory and coagulation mediators. The objective of this study was to establish a quantifiable histopathologic scoring system to evaluate the serial pathomorphologic changes during ischemia and reperfusion. Such a scoring system could then be applied to subsequent studies designed to attenuate bowel lesions by regulating activity of individual mediators. Ten normal, healthy adult ponies were randomly divided into two equal groups. Following anesthesia and a 30-minute stabilization period, the colon o...
McClure SR, Taylor TS, Honnas CM, Schumacher J, Chaffin MK, Hoffman AG.Permanent tracheal stomas were created in seven sedated, standing horses with severe upper airway obstruction. After local anesthesia, a 3-cm by 6-cm rectangle of skin was removed from the ventral surface of the neck, 3 cm distal to the cricoid cartilage. The sternothyrohyoideus muscles were clamped proximally and distally, then transected to expose the tracheal rings. The ventral third of four tracheal rings was dissected from the tracheal mucosa that was then incised in a double "Y." Two layers of suture were used to achieve mucocutaneous closure. Stomas healed without serious complications;...
Kokkonen UM, Hackzell M, Räsänen LA.To study the exercise-induced changes in atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a hormone with cardiovascular and renal effects, an incremental submaximal exercise test on a high-speed treadmill was carried out with Standardbred and Finnhorse trotters, the former bred for speed and the latter originally for heavy work. Standardbreds performed the 2 min exercise intervals at speeds of 6, 7, 8, 9 m s-1 and Finnhorses, according to their training status, at 5, 6, 7, 8 m s-1, 4, 5, 6, 7 m s-1 or 5, 6, 7 m s-1. Steady-state heart rate (HR) was reached within each 2 min interval. The increase in HR was l...
Pérez MD, Calvo M.beta-Lactoglobulin is the major whey protein in the milk of ruminants and some nonruminants, such as pigs and horses. Although beta-lactoglobulin was first isolated 60 yr ago, no function has been definitely ascribed to beta-lactoglobulin. Recent x-ray crystallographic studies have advanced knowledge of the structure of beta-lactoglobulin, which is homologous with that of retinol-binding protein and lipocalycins; the function of these proteins seems to be participation in the transport of small hydrophobic substances. By analogy, this protein has been suggested as having a role as a transporte...
Skelton MS, Kremer DE, Smith EW, Gladden LB.Transport of lactate across the erythrocyte membrane proceeds by three distinct pathways: 1) nonionic diffusion of lactic acid, 2) inorganic anion exchange (band 3), and 3) a monocarboxylate-specific (MC) carrier mechanism. This study determined the contributions of these three pathways in the red blood cells (RBCs) of "athletic" and "nonathletic" species. Blood samples were obtained from four male animals of each species: 1) Canis familiaris (dogs), 2) Capra hircus (goats), 3) Equus caballus (horses), and 4) Bos taurus (cattle). Contribution of each pathway to total lactate influx was determi...
Schumacher J, Varner DD, Schmitz DG, Blanchard TL.A urethral defect, presumed to communicate with the corpus spongiosum penis, caused hematuria in seven geldings and hemospermia in three stallions. Hematuria in geldings occurred at the end of urination. Hematuria was not observed in stallions with hemospermia. A linear urethral defect was identified, by endoscopic examination, on the convex surface the urethra at the level of the ischial arch of each horse. Cause of the defect was not determined. Two stallions were successfully treated for hemospermia, one by temporary subischial urethrostomy combined with sexual rest for 10 weeks, and the ot...
Hinrichs K, Martin MG, Schmidt AL, Friedman PP.Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of follicular components on the maintenance of meiotic arrest in horse oocytes. In Expt 1, oocytes were incubated for 24 h with follicular fluid, or with granulosa cells suspended either in medium or in follicular fluid at 25 x 10(6) cells ml-1. None of the treatments resulted in significant maintenance of the germinal vesicle stage over that of non-suppressive control. Culture with follicular fluid plus granulosa cells resulted in a significantly higher proportion of oocytes at metaphase I compared with controls. In Expt 2, oocytes were di...
Epe C, Bienioschek S, Rehbein S, Schnieder T.Genomic DNA isolated from the four Dictyocaulus species D. viviparus, D. eckerti, D. filaria and D. arnfieldi was compared by random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD)-PCR to get additional information whether lungworms from fallow deer belong to a separate species (D. eckerti) or have to be regarded as an isolate of D. viviparus in wild ruminants. The resulting banding patterns of the electrophoresed PCR products were compared to assess the degree of genetic differences between the different lungworms. For the two D. viviparus isolates a similarity coefficient of 93.4%...
Rainger JE, Evans DL, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ.The distribution of lactate between red blood cells (RBC) and plasma was examined at rest, during exercise and 30 min after exercise in six Standardbred horses. Lactate and water concentrations were measured in blood and plasma samples collected prior to exercise, during the last 15 s of each step of an incremental exercise test and at 5 min intervals during the first 30 min after exercise. The mean ratio of RBC lactate concentration (RBCLa) to plasma lactate concentration (PLa) prior to exercise was 1.02 +/- 0.34. Haemoconcentration during exercise was associated with more rapid accumulation ...
Roberts CJ, Jackson LS.The development, validation, and application of an ELISA for dexamethasone in equine urine is described. The drug-protein conjugate was immobilised in microtitre plate wells and antiserum raised against the same drug-protein conjugate was allowed to compete with sample or standard drug and the immobilised drug-protein conjugate. The proportion of antiserum binding to the immobilised drug-protein conjugate was detected using a biotinylated protein G/extravidin-alkaline phosphatase complex in situ and measurement of the substrate product. The method was used to detect the presence of drug-derive...
Hartmann J, Lindau M.Exocytosis begins with formation of a small fusion pore which then expands allowing rapid release of granular contents. We studied the influence of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) on the conductance of the initial pore and on the dynamics of subsequent expansion in horse eosinophils using the patch clamp technique. The mean initial conductance is approximately 200 pS independent of [Ca2+]i. This value is close to that previously found in beige mouse mast cells. The pore subsequently expands by 18 nS/s at [Ca2+]i < 10 nM, by 40 nS/s at [Ca2+]i = 1.5 microM and by 90 nS/s at [Ca2+]i = 10 micr...
Wood JL, Chirnside ED, Mumford JA, Higgins AJ.Equine viral arteritis was diagnosed for the first time in the United Kingdom in 1993. The outbreak began on a non-thoroughbred stud in south Nottinghamshire and spread to five other premises through chilled semen used for artificial insemination and from acutely and subclinically infected mares returning home. The outbreak was contained on these six premises by means of voluntary movement restrictions. The most commonly observed clinical signs were typical: pyrexia with depression, and conjunctivitis with periorbital oedema; nasal discharge, and oedema of the distal limbs, prepuce and mammary...
Honnas CM, Crabill MR, Mackie JT, Yarbrough TB, Schumacher J.Six horses with septic navicular bursitis or distal sesamoid osteomyelitis were treated by means of surgical debridement and lavage, followed by packing of the wound created in the bottom of the foot with an autogenous cancellous bone graft. Two horses were euthanatized, one 18 months after surgery because of complications in the contralateral support limb, and one 68 days after surgery because of continuing severe lameness. Four horses were alive 9, 16, 21, and 42 months after surgery. One horse was used as a broodmare and did not have observable lameness. Two horses were being ridden. The re...
Holcombe SJ, Schneider RK, Bramlage LR, Gabel AA, Bertone AL, Beard WL.Medical records of 59 racehorses with noncomminuted midsagittal proximal phalanx fractures repaired by means of lag screw fixation between 1973 and 1991 were reviewed. Fractures were classified as short incomplete fractures (7), long incomplete fractures (32), complete fractures extending into the proximal interphalangeal joint (13), and complete fractures extending through the lateral cortex of the proximal phalanx (7). Time from fracture repair to first race following fracture repair, number of racing starts, and fastest race times before and after surgery were obtained from race records and...
Fan F, Plapp BV.The contributions of isoleucine residues 224 and 269 of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase to binding of the adenine moiety of NAD and to catalysis were studied by replacing Ile-224 with glycine (I224G) and Ile-269 with serine (I269S). The kinetic mechanisms of wild-type and both mutated liver enzymes were ordered. Affinities for several adenosine derivatives were decreased 5-50-fold by both substitutions. The I269S mutation differentially destabilized binding of the complete coenzyme, as affinities for NAD+ and NADH were decreased about 60-fold with the I224G enzyme and 350-fold for the I269S ...
Murray K, Selleck P, Hooper P, Hyatt A, Gould A, Gleeson L, Westbury H, Hiley L, Selvey L, Rodwell B.A morbillivirus has been isolated and added to an increasing list of emerging viral diseases. This virus caused an outbreak of fatal respiratory disease in horses and humans. Genetic analyses show it to be only distantly related to the classic morbilliviruses rinderpest, measles, and canine distemper. When seen by electron microscopy, viruses had 10- and 18-nanometer surface projections that gave them a "double-fringed" appearance. The virus induced syncytia that developed in the endothelium of blood vessels, particularly the lungs.
Galuppo LD, Snyder JR, Pascoe JR.Laparoscopy was performed on 6 horses (2 mares, 2 geldings, 2 stallions) to determine the normal laparoscopic anatomy of the equine abdomen. After withholding feed for 36 hours, horses were examined from the left and right paralumbar fossae, and the visceral anatomic structures were recorded by videotape and photography. One mare developed emphysema located subcutaneously at the primary laparoscopic portal; otherwise, there were no complications. The anatomic structures of diagnostic importance that were observed in the left half of the abdomen were the hepatic duct; left lateral and quadrate ...
von Engelhardt W, Rösel E, Rechkemmer G.Short circuit current (ISC) and transepithelial conductance (gt) across sheets of epithelia were measured in the caecum, the proximal and the distal colon of pig, sheep, pony, rat and guinea pig. The electrical parameters underline the basic segmental and species differences. The diversity of ISC demonstrates the different nature of electrogenic transport mechanisms, and data clearly show the heterogeneity with respect to transport mechanisms along the large intestine in the various species. The great differences in amiloride sensitive ISC indicate the variabilities in the electrogenic Na tran...
Woods PR.Skin lesions can be associated with many internal diseases. Most organ systems seem to have conditions in which skin lesions can develop. Treatment of the skin lesions in such a situation is palliative. The underlying internal disease must be addressed for resolution of the skin lesions to occur. It is important to view the skin as an integral communicating part of the body and not just as the skin.
Baba SS, Fagbami AH, Ojeh CK, Olaleye OD, Omilabu SA.Retrospective and prospective serological surveys to determine the prevalence of Wesslsbron (WSL) virus infections in animal populations were carried out in different vegetational zones in Nigeria. Sera from 1,492 animals comprising 292 camels, 81 horses, 4 donkeys, 320 cattle, 235 sheep, 260 goats, 114 pigs, 101 dogs and 85 domestic fowls were assayed by haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test for presence of antibodies to WSL virus and other flavivirus antigens: Yellow Fever (YF), Potiskum (POT), Banzi (BAN), Uganda S (UGS) and West Nile (WN) viruses. Four hundred and eighty one (32%) of the ...
Fadok VA.Scaling and/or crusting are common clinical findings associated with equine skin diseases. Scaling and crusting may be associated with pruritic or nonpruritic dermatoses. This article focuses on those conditions that are usually nonpruritic in horses. They include the infectious dermatoses, the keratinization/seborrheic disorders, photosensitization, and the immunologic/inflammatory disorders, including pemphigus foliaceus, equine exfoliative eosinophilic dermatitis and stomatitis, and equine histiocytic dermatitis (sarcoidosis). Clinical signs that help differentiate the various disorders are...
van der Kolk JH, Wensing T, Kalsbeek HC, Breukink HJ.Lipid metabolism was studied in 21 horses with hyperadrenocorticism. To be included in the study, horses had to have histologic evidence of a pars intermedia adenoma found at necropsy (n = 9), a baseline ACTH concentration greater than 400 pg/ml (n = 6), or a plasma cortisol concentration 2 hours after i.v. administration of 25 IU of ACTH greater than 413 nmol/L (n = 16). Mean +/- SD baseline plasma cortisol concentration was 338 +/- 261 nmol/L (n = 20), mean +/- SD plasma insulin concentration was 97 +/- 54 microU/ml (n = 15), mean +/- SD plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration was 1.8 +/- ...
Giri SN, Margolin SB.The effectiveness of pirfenidone ointment against thermoplasty-induced acute foreleg lameness in a double-blind study, and against acute and chronic lameness of musculoskeletal origin in an open multi-centered field trial was evaluated in this study. Thermoplasty was performed on both inner forelegs at designated locations of each horse under anesthetics. A 10% pirfenidone or placebo ointment was topically applied starting 24 hours after the thermoplasty three times daily for 7 days. For acute and chronic lameness of musculoskeletal origin, pirfenidone ointment was also applied one to three ti...
Kohn CW, Sams R, Kowalski JJ, Powers J, Wallace S.The disposition of rifampin in six healthy mares after single intravenous (i.v.) and oral (p.o.) doses and after seven oral doses of 10 mg/kg administered twice a day was investigated using a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. Pharmacokinetic variables for rifampin determined using the HPLC method were comparable to variables reported from earlier studies utilizing a microbiological assay. Desascetylrifampin, a major metabolite of the parent compound, could not be detected in the serum but was detected at low concentrations in urine. Mean trough concentrations of rifampin i...
Pycock JF, Allen WE.Streptococcal endometritis was induced experimentally in pony mares during oestrus. Uterine fluid was collected 30, 60, 120 or 240 minutes later and tested for its effect on the in vitro morphology and chemotaxis of equine neutrophils by two independent methods. The maximal response occurred between 30 and 60 minutes after infection and persisted until 240 minutes. The chemo-attractant contained both heat labile and heat stable components and the latter appeared to be active at low concentrations.
Bastos FZ, Barussi FCM, Santi TF, Vieira BP, Senegaglia AC, Cruz FF, Michelotto PV.There is no consensus on aspects of equine bone marrow collection and processing. The study aimed to describe the collection of large volumes of bone marrow from horses of advanced age, with emphasis on bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) recovery and viability after cryopreservation. Fourteen horses, aged 3-24 years, were divided into three experiments. E1 studied the feasibility of collecting 200 mL from the sternums of horses of advanced age; E2 examined the number of cells obtained from the first and last syringe of each puncture; and E3 investigated the influence of heparin concentrati...
de Paula VB, Canola PA, Rivera GG, Z Filho D, Amaral GPD, Ferraz GC, Ferraudo AS, Canola JC.To investigate effects of postural changes and bladder distention on intrabladder pressure whilst estimating intra-abdominal pressure in horses. Two-year cohort study. Patients admitted for elective surgical procedures unrelated to gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract. School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. 20 adult horses, 11 males (stallions and geldings) and 9 females; between 3.5 and 12 years, weighing 350 to 500 kg. Intra-abdominal pressure was directly-recorded through abdominocentesis at the ventral midline with a fluid-filled system. Intrabladder ...
Thompson JM, Kibler ML, Ivey JLZ.The novel COVID-19 virus caused a global pandemic disrupting lives, industries, and economies. The result was an impact on prices due to challenges with production and supply chain distribution. This study investigates the financial strain COVID-19 had on equine owners and leasers, what the market for equine care would bear if costs for care increased, and what factors contribute to their willingness to pay (WTP) for increasing cost of equine care. An online survey was distributed for 4 weeks to adult U.S. residents. Respondents reported their involvement in the equine industry, financial resp...
Chalhoub FLL, Horta MAP, Alcantara LCJ, Morales A, Dos Santos LMB, Guerra-Campos V, Rodrigues CDS, Santos CC, Mares-Guia MAM, Pauvolid-Corrêa A....Infections with arboviruses are reported worldwide. Saint Louis encephalitis (SLEV) and West Nile (WNV) viruses are closely related flaviviruses affecting humans and animals. SLEV has been sporadically detected in humans, and corresponding antibodies have been frequently detected in horses throughout Brazil. WNV was first reported in western Brazil over a decade ago, has been associated with neurological disorders in humans and equines and its prevalence is increasing nationwide. Herein, we investigated by molecular and serological methods the presence of SLEV and WNV in equines from Rio de Ja...
Liu Q, Wang XF, Du C, Lin YZ, Ma J, Wang YH, Zhou JH, Wang X.Integration is an important feature of retroviruses and retrovirus-based therapeutic transfection vectors. The non-primate lentivirus equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) primarily targets macrophages/monocytes . Investigation of the integration features of EIAV strains, which are adapted to donkey monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs), is of great interest. In this study, we analysed the integration features of EIAV in equine MDMs during infection. Our previously published integration sites (IS) for EIAV in fetal equine dermal (FED) cells were also analysed in parallel as references. Sequenc...
Drevemo S, Johnston C, Roepstorff L, Gustås P.Nerve blocks and intra-articular anaesthesia are used extensively as routine methods in lameness evaluation. The method is based on the assumption that the technique itself does not change the movement pattern. The aim of this study was to carry out a quantitative kinematic study to confirm or reject the hypothesis that high palmar digital nerve block (HPDN) and intra-articular fetlock joint anaesthesia (IAF) influence significantly the movement pattern of the horse. Seven Standardbred horses trotting at 4.5 m/s were recorded at 240 Hz on a treadmill before and after anaesthesia by use of a Pr...
Taylor CE, Rosenthal RO, Taylor-Robinson D.The presence of allugtinins to the causative organism of contagious equine metritis (C.E.M.) in human serum has been confirmed. Agglutinins were found in the serum of 84 (37.6%) of 223 patients with non-gonococcal urethritis (N.G.U.), and in 12.5% of these patients there was a four-fold or greater rise in titre during the course of their illness. There was no evidence that these agglutinins were the result of infection by chlamydiae or ureaplasmas. Certain patients with these agglutinins seemed to respond better to therapy with antibiotics to which the C.E.M. bacterium is susceptible in vitro ...
Hall JA, Hoyt D, Zuver C, Skinner MM, Schlipf JW.The criteria used to diagnose recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in affected horses include demonstration of reversible lower airway obstruction and greater than 25% neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Additional objective laboratory tests are needed to improve diagnostic accuracy and to monitor response to treatment. The goal of this study was to determine if neutrophil chemoattractant activity of BALF could be measured by using a previously described, rapid, multiwell colorimetric assay for chemotaxis. In this assay, neutrophils that have migrated through a membrane filter ar...
Kadic LIM, Rodgerson DH, Newsom LE, Spirito MA.Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia (DIRT) is commonly identified on either the lateral to medial (LM) or dorso45°medial-plantarolateral oblique (D45M-PLO) projection of the tarsus. This manuscript describes a retrospective case series out of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, for which medical records and radiographic projections of the tarsus were reviewed, consistent with Keeneland's repository requirements. This original investigation identified seven yearling Thoroughbred horses between 2008 and 2018 with radiographic signs of atypical osteochondr...
Glycogen in skeletal muscle is a major source of energy during exercise and an important determinant of endurance capacity, so that its measurement may provide a meaningful marker of athletes' preparation and a possible predictor of performance, both in humans and in equines. Gold standard of glycogen concentration measurement is the histochemical and biochemical analysis of biopsy-derived muscle tissue, an invasive and potentially injuring procedure. Recently, high-frequency ultrasound (US) technology is being exploited in human sports medicine to estimate muscle glycogen content. Therefore, ...
Santos VG, Bettencourt EM, Ginther OJ.Persistent CL (PCL; n = 10) in mares was studied daily from Day 20 (Day 0 = ovulation) to the ending ovulation. In addition, the 10 days before ovulation at the end of a PCL were compared with the end of an interovulatory interval (IOI; n = 28) during the same months. Concentration of P4, cross-sectional area of CL, and percentage of CL with Doppler signals of blood flow during PCLs remained constant from 64 to about 33 days before the end of luteolysis and then decreased linearly. Concentration of LH between Day 20 and beginning of the ovulatory LH surge increased linearly. A dominant follicl...
Kumar J, Chaudhury A, Yadav SC.Trypanosomosis (Surra) is an economically important disease caused by Trypanosoma evansi which is an extracellular parasite present in the plasma, tissues and other body fluids of a wide range of hosts including domesticated animals. Currently, serological reports are based on detection of antibodies by ELISA using whole cell lysate (WCL) antigen, which has a limitation of persistence of anti-trypanosomal antibodies after successful treatment of the disease. Moreover, it has some ethical issues also like requirement of mice for in vivo maintenance of parasite for preparing the antigen. Therefo...
Van de Water E, Oosterlinck M, Pille F.The effects of handler position and perineural anaesthesia in sound horses need investigation to facilitate interpretation of pressure plate analysis in lame horses. Objective: To evaluate the effect of handler position and perineural anaesthesia on limb loading and particularly hoof balance in sound horses. Methods: Nonrandomised crossover study. Methods: Six sound horses were walked and trotted over a pressure plate, with the handler on the left and subsequently on the right side, and finally after a bilateral low palmar digital nerve block. One week later this procedure was repeated before ...
Creel JA, Stover SM, Martin RB, Fyhrie DP, Hazelwood SJ, Gibeling JC.The compliance technique has been used to monitor crack length during fracture and fatigue testing of materials. Difficulties arise when this technique is applied to anisotropic biological materials such as bone. In this tutorial, two different methods of analyzing compliance calibration data are described: the standard ASTM method and a new approach developed by the authors specifically for anisotropic materials. An example is given showing how data from equine cortical bone can be analyzed. In this example, calibration tests were conducted on thirty-six three point bend specimens machined fr...
Gil L, Saura S, Echegaray A, Martinez F, de Blas I, Akourki A, Gonzalez N, Espinosa E, Josa A.The present study evaluated the effect of supplementing the medium used to mature equine oocytes in vitro with oestrous mare serum (EMS) or horse follicular fluid (HFF). To this end, 144 ovaries were obtained from mares aged 16-21 months and transported to the laboratory in Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline (D-PBS) at 30 degrees C. Oocytes were harvested from the ovaries by slicing, and then selected for in vitro maturation (IVM) according to the number of cumulus cell layers and the characteristics of the cytoplasm. The selected oocytes were washed three times in TCM199 medium plus HEPES (...
Kaneps AJ, O'Brien TR, Willits NH, Dykes JE, Stover SM.This study sought to determine if extensive trimming of the front hooves of foals results in a higher incidence of palmar process fractures compared to untrimmed foals, and to characterise the clinical course of foals with palmar process fractures with physical findings, hoof measurements and radiography. Twenty foals age 4-8 weeks of multiple breeds were examined every 2 weeks over a 12 week period. Ten foals had both front hooves extensively trimmed every 4 weeks, while 10 foals remained untrimmed. Palmar process fractures occurred in 4 trimmed and 3 untrimmed foals. Four foals with fracture...
Woods WE, Wang CJ, Houtz PK, Tai HH, Wood T, Weckman TJ, Yang JM, Chang SL, Blake JW, Tobin T.A one step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a particle concentration fluorescent immunoassay (PCFIA) test for furosemide were evaluated as part of a panel of pre- and post-race tests for illegal medication of racing horses. These tests are very sensitive to furosemide with an I-50 for furosemide of about 20 ng/ml. The test is also rapid; an average pre-race complement of 10 samples can be analyzed in 90 minutes or less. The ELISA test results can be read with an inexpensive spectrophotometer, or even by eye. Both the PCFIA test and the ELISA test readily detect the presence of fur...
Meagher DM, Aldrete AV.Lateral luxation of the superficial digital flexor tendon from the calcaneal tuber occurs in horses as a result of tearing or rupture of the medial retinaculum of the tendon. This report describes the repair of this condition in 2 Thoroughbred race horses, using a surgical technique in which 2 cancellous bone screws were placed in the calcaneus lateral to the tendon, along with suturing the medial retinaculum.
Pastoret V, Carstanjen B, Lejeune JP, Farnir F, Remy B, Reginster JY, Serteyn D, Gabriel A.The first aim of this study was to establish a profile of age-related normal serum concentrations of osteocalcin (OC) in Ardenner horses. For this first part, blood samples from 49 healthy Ardenner horses were collected. The second aim was to study two biochemical markers of bone metabolism, OC and a carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), in 30 young Ardenner horses during 1 year. Amongst them, 17 showed lesions of juvenile degenerative joint disease in the distal forelimbs. A specific radioimmunoassay for equine OC was used to measure the serum concentration of...
Derrick D, Gick B.During locomotion, humans switch gaits from walking to running, and horses from walking to trotting to cantering to galloping, as they increase their movement rate. It is unknown whether gait change leading to a wider movement rate range is limited to locomotive-type behaviours, or instead is a general property of any rate-varying motor system. The tongue during speech provides a motor system that can address this gap. In controlled speech experiments, using phrases containing complex tongue-movement sequences, we demonstrate distinct gaits in tongue movement at different speech rates. As spea...
