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.
Tetens J, Tulleners EP, Ross MW, Orsini PG, Martin BB.Tympany of the auditory tube diverticulum was treated in 2 Standardbred foals by fenestrating the median septum, using an endoscopically placed Nd:YAG laser. Recurrence in 1 foal was treated by enlarging the fenestration, using a modified Whitehouse approach, and the pharyngeal opening of the auditory tube. Use of the Nd:YAG laser eliminates the risk of inadvertent cranial nerve damage associated with incisions into the auditory tube diverticulum. The procedure can be performed with the horse sedated or anesthetized. Clinical signs can recur in the fenestration heals closed or if the condition...
Jimenez MM, Kirker-Head CA, Jakowski RM, O'Callaghan MW.Hypoplasia affecting both hind limbs was observed in a neonatal foal. Scintigraphy aided in establishing diagnosis and prognosis. Radiography revealed an abnormally shaped middle phalanx and lack of the distal phalanx and navicular bone in the right hind limb, with an abnormally shaped distal phalanx and navicular bone in the left hind limb. Scintigraphic findings were closely correlated with the radiographic findings. Radiographic and scintigraphic findings were confirmed at postmortem examination.
Rosol TJ, Nagode LA, Robertson JT, Leeth BD, Steinmeyer CL, Allen CM.Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy was evident in a horse that had a locally invasive ameloblastoma of the left hemimandible. Surgical removal of the neoplasm resulted in prompt return of serum calcium and parathyroid hormone concentrations to within reference limits. The tumor contained parathyroid hormone-related protein, as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. It is likely that production of this protein by the neoplasm was important in the pathogenesis of the hypercalcemia. The case represented a sporadic form of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy attributable ...
Messer NT, Johnson PJ.Acute hepatic disease was diagnosed in 16 horses during the study period. Twelve of those cases were characterized as idiopathic acute hepatic disease (IAHD). In 9 of the 12 (75%) cases of IAHD, the horses were female, and 7 of the 9 females were lactating and had been treated with tetanus antitoxin at parturition. Diagnosis of IAHD was based on anamnesis, clinical signs, and results of serum biochemical analyses, hepatic biopsy, and postmortem examination. Within 1 year of the illness, 75% (9/12) of the horses had died or had been euthanatized. Not all horses had the typical fulminant signs a...
Science (New York, N.Y.)June 10, 1994
Volume 264, Issue 5165 1584-1587 doi: 10.1126/science.7515512
Willbold D, Rosin-Arbesfeld R, Sticht H, Frank R, Rösch P.Trans-activator (Tat) proteins regulate the transcription of lentiviral DNA in the host cell genome. These RNA binding proteins participate in the life cycle of all known lentiviruses, such as the human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) or the equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). The consensus RNA binding motifs [the trans-activation responsive element (TAR)] of HIV-1 as well as EIAV Tat proteins are well characterized. The structure of the 75-amino acid EIAV Tat protein in solution was determined by two- and three-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance methods and molecular dynamics calculatio...
Ascacio-Martínez JA, Barrera-Saldaña HA.A cDNA encoding horse growth hormone (ecGH) was isolated and sequenced. The coding sequence resembles a typical mammalian GH pre-protein and contains a 3' untranslated region of 101 nucleotides carrying two contiguous polyadenylation signals.
Bell K.Transferrin, albumin, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and vitamin D-binding protein polymorphisms were detected in 242 feral and domesticated Australian donkeys by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, starch gel electrophoresis, autoradiography, immunoblotting with specific antisera and activity staining. All four TF and two ALB variants were donkey specific while only one of the PGD variants was donkey specific. The two GC variants were electrophoretically identical to the Equus caballus F and S proteins. Available evidence suggested that the TF, ALB, PGD and GC systems are controlled by co-d...
Korducki MJ, Forster HV, Lowry TF, Forster MM.To determine the effect of hypoxia on metabolic rate (VO2) of ponies, on 2 days we studied ponies that were breathing room air for 1 h followed by 5 h of either hypoxic hypoxia (fractional concn of inspired O2 = 0.126) or 5 h of CO hypoxia. Control arterial PO2 was 103 +/- 1.2 Torr, and at 5 min and 5 h of hypoxic hypoxia, arterial PO2 was 53.1 +/- 1.8 and 41.0 +/- 1.8 Torr, respectively. There was a time-dependent hypocapnia and alkalosis during hypoxic hypoxia. During CO hypoxia, carboxyhemoglobin increased to 25% after 30 min and remained constant thereafter. With increased carboxyhemoglobi...
Lazary S, Marti E, Szalai G, Gaillard C, Gerber H.The equine leucocyte antigen (ELA) types and the clinical diagnosis for equine sarcoid and summer dermatitis were evaluated in 2026 horses representing five breeds. Data were analysed in unrelated animals and in family material. In the case of equine sarcoid, a strong association was observed between the ELA class II DW13 antigen and its effect on Swiss (cP < 0.001), French (cP < 0.0001) and Irish (cP < 0.01) Warmblood horses. The class I antigen A3 occurred more frequently in sarcoid-affected French horses (cP < 0.001). These results confirm our earlier findings (Gerber et al. 1988). Among Fr...
Stewart F, Power CA, Lennard SN, Allen WR, Amet L, Edwards RM.The PCR technique and highly degenerate oligonucleotide primers were used to amplify a 282 bp fragment of the horse (Equus caballus) epidermal growth factor (EGF) cDNA. The clone corresponded to 94 amino acids of the EGF precursor molecule. The deduced amino acid sequence of the 53 residue EGF mitogenic peptide within the precursor sequence showed 60-70% identity with five other published EGF sequences. The PCR cDNA fragment hybridized to a 4.9 kb transcript in horse kidney and endometrial RNA which was of a similar size to the mature EGF transcript found in other mammalian species. The horse ...
Young SS, Tesarowski D.Respiratory mechanics were compared using conventional and forced oscillation techniques in six conscious horses and a mechanical model of the equine respiratory system. The parameters calculated from conventional airflow and esophageal pressure measurements were pulmonary resistance and dynamic compliance. The impedance of the respiratory system was measured at 1, 2, and 3 Hz with the forced oscillation technique, and respiratory system resistance, compliance, inertance, and resonant frequency were calculated. Pulmonary resistance was 1.0 +/- 0.3 cmH2O.l-1.s, and pulmonary dynamic compliance ...
Zicker SC, Lonnerdal B.Separation of whey protein from casein in equine milk was achieved by adjustment of pH to 4.3 without addition of calcium, and by ultracentrifugation at 189,000 g for 1 hr. True protein, whey protein, and casein decreased significantly during the first 28 days of lactation with the magnitude of decrease being greatest for whey protein. The proportion of nitrogen in whey protein:casein decreased from 85:15 to 54:46 during the 28 day time period. The concentration of non-protein nitrogen remained relatively constant at 500 mg nitrogen/l but increased in proportion from 2 to 13% of the total nitr...
Geor RJ, Weiss DJ, Smith CM.Hemorheologic alterations induced by incremental treadmill exercise were examined in 5 Thoroughbreds. Blood viscosity; PCV; RBC filterability, density gradient profile, and shape; serum and RBC electrolyte concentrations; and plasma total solids and lactate concentrations were measured before exercise, at treadmill speeds of 9 and 13 m/s, and 10 minutes after exercise. Exercise was associated with significant (P < 0.05) increases in PCV, blood viscosity, and plasma total solids concentration. After adjustment of PCV to 40% by adding or removing each horse's own plasma, blood viscosity ...
Siles-Lucas M, Felleisen R, Cuesta-Bandera C, Gottstein B, Eckert J.Swiss and Spanish isolates of Echinococcus granulosus were compared using different molecular biological techniques: Genomic DNAs isolated from parasites originating from various intermediate hosts were subjected to Southern hybridization with different probes, the same source of DNA was used for DNA amplification using the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. With both methods the various isolates (metacestodes) of E. granulosus exhibited characteristic banding patterns which allowed us to assign them to the following groups of homologous profiles: (a) isolates of horse and donk...
Isa P, Snodgrass DR.A series of viral reassortants was prepared between equine rotaviruses H1 (G5), H2 (G3), and L338 (G13) and human rotavirus ST3 (G4). All contained the VP4 cognate gene segment 4 from the equine parental virus and the VP7 cognate gene segment 9 from ST3. Using these viruses and antisera prepared to them, it was shown that each of the three equine viruses possessed a serologically distinct VP4 or P serotype with a > or = 16-fold difference in reciprocal cross-neutralization titers. H1 VP4 was closely related to that of porcine virus OSU, i.e., P7. L338 gene 4 was sequenced, and the sequence and...
DePew CL, Thompson DL, Fernandez JM, Sticker LS, Burleigh DW.Experiment 1 was conducted to characterize the concentrations of prolactin, growth hormone (GH), cortisol, insulin, glucagon, glucose, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), urea N, and 10 indispensable amino acids in the plasma of mares (n = 8) and stallions (n = 8) during the last 4 h of a 19-h period of feed deprivation and for 8 h after a noon meal. Experiment 2 was similar to Exp. 1 except that only stallions (n = 8) were used, and they were either fed (n = 4) or not fed (n = 4) at noon in a 2 x 2 Latin square design conducted over two sampling days 7 d apart. In Exp. 1, increases (P < .01)...
Snyder JR, Pascoe JR, Meagher DM, Thurmond MC.Surface oximetry was used to evaluate viability of the ascending colon in 60 horses with naturally occurring colonic volvulus or displacement. Tissue surface oxygen tension (PsO2) was measured on the serosal surface of the pelvic flexure after anatomic correction of the colonic obstruction. Horses with PsO2 > 20 mm of Hg were predicted to have viable colon; whereas, horses with PsO2 < or = 20 mm of Hg were predicted to have nonviable colon. Results of surface oximetry were compared with final outcome. For surface oximetry, sensitivity (ability to accurately identify colon that was nonvia...
Chen J, Gollnick PD.Horses were subjected to treadmill running at 65% (submaximal) or 100% (maximal) VO2,max to examine the effects of exercise on subcellular distribution of hexokinase (HK) and on mitochondrial respiration. It is hypothesized that the fraction of HK bound to mitochondria will be reduced due to an elevation of glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) concentration in the exercising muscle and that such release of HK from mitochondria will depress oxidative phosphorylation. Changes in muscle G-6-P concentration, pH, subcellular HK distribution, mitochondrial respiration and other metabolites were determined in...
Jaspers U, Thiele D, Krauss H.A competitive ELISA system for the detection of antibodies against Coxiella (C.) burnetii in cattle, sheep, goats, horses and humans is described. The ELISA is based on a biotinylated monoclonal antibody with specificity for C. burnetii lipopolysaccharide in combination with streptavidin peroxidase. For evaluation and statistical analysis, 413 sera from cattle, sheep, goats, horses and humans were tested in parallel in the indirect immunofluorescence test (IFT). Furthermore, a total of 448 bovine and human sera were also tested with an indirect ELISA and 47 sheep sera were investigated using t...
Paweska JT, Gerdes T, Van Heerden J.Rabbit hyperimmune serum prepared against a donkey alphaherpesvirus isolate (M7/91), and against EHV-1 and EHV-4 was used to characterise the antigenic relationship between these 3 viruses. Serum from immunised rabbits was always more specific for homologous virus and showed different cross reactivity for heterologous virus. It was concluded that the immunologic relationship between the M7/91 isolate and EHV-1, was closer than that between this isolate and EHV-4. A serological survey of donkeys (n = 116) and horses (n = 57) revealed evidence of the presence of neutralising antibody to M7/91 in...
Hanson CM, Kline KH, Foreman JH.Heart scores (the arithmetic mean of the QRS durations of the three bipolar limb leads for 10 cycles) and heart weights were determined from five draft type horses and five racing type horses, and evaluated for relationships between heart score and heart size within and between the two different types of horses. Horses were killed using a captive bolt gun, and actual heart weights were recorded using an electronic digital scale. The linear regression equation for heart weight versus heart score had a significant (P < 0.05) negative slope for racing types. The regression coefficients for heart ...
Andrews FM, Geiser DR, Sommardahl CS, Green EM, Provenza M.Total protein (TP), albumin, and IgG concentrations were measured in CSF from the atlanto-occipital (AO) and lumbosacral (LS) sites and in serum of 15 clinically normal neonatal foals < or = 10 days old (mean, 7.0 days). The albumin quotient (AQ; CSF albumin/serum albumin x 100) and IgG index ([CSF IgG/serum IgG] x [serum albumin/CSF albumin]), indicators of blood-brain barrier permeability and intrathecal IgG production, respectively, were then calculated. Mean +/- SD values obtained from the foals of this study were: serum albumin, 2,900 +/- 240 mg/dl; serum IgG, 1,325 +/- 686 mg/dl; AO CSF ...
Bowling AT.The genetic make-up of Great Basin wild (feral) horses was investigated by blood typing studies. Blood samples of 975 feral horses from seven trap sites in Nevada and Oregon were tested by serological and electrophoretic techniques for genetic markers at 19 polymorphic loci. The average number of variants for the seven feral populations [72.1 +/- 3.2 (SEM), range 62-85] was not significantly different from that of 16 domestic breeds (75.0 +/- 11.5, range 58-105). The expected average frequency of heterozygotes per locus (average heterozygosity) for the feral populations (0.402 +/- 0.009, range...
Engeli E, Yeager AE, Erb HN, Haussler KK.The purpose of this study was to establish the normal percutaneous ultrasonographic appearance of anatomic structures within the equine sacroiliac region. Percutaneous ultrasonography was performed in a cranial-to-caudal direction in 10 normal adult live horses. The following structures were examined in detail: supraspinous ligament, lumbar and sacral spinous processes, thoracolumbar fascia and its caudal extension, tubera sacralia, ilial wings, dorsal and lateral portions of the dorsal sacroiliac ligaments, lateral part of the sacrum, and the lateral sacral crest. After ultrasonography, all a...
Alexander SL, Irvine CH, Turner JE.FSH was measured in the pituitary, and in pituitary venous and jugular blood collected at frequent intervals from mares in various reproductive states, using 3 validated and highly specific radioimmunoassay systems based on different antibodies, 'o', 'h' and 'e'. In the pituitary, 4 forms of FSH were found which differed in isoelectric point and relative potency in the 3 assays. In jugular blood, mean FSH concentrations and short-term patterns depended on the assay used and the reproductive state of the mare. In pituitary venous blood, although FSH concentrations were greatly elevated above ju...
Parks CM, Manohar M.In recent years, increasing attention has been focused on the physiological responses of the horse to maximal exercise. Cardiovascular response in near maximally exercised galloping ponies (heart rate 225 +/- 7 beats/min; whole body oxygen consumption 122 +/- 12 ml/min/kg) comprised a marked increase in blood flow to the cerebellum, myocardium, diaphragm and the working muscles, while renal blood flow decreased precipitously. Cerebral and brainstem perfusion did not vary from resting values. Transmural homogeneity of myocardial blood flow persisted during near maximal exercise. It was reported...
van den Wollenberg L, Pellicaan CH, Müller K.Two horses were accidentally administered propylene glycol instead of mineral oil. After discovery of the mistake intensive medical therapy with intravenous fluids, etc. was started, and both animals recovered fully from their clinical symptoms. Veterinarians use propylene glycol as well as paraffin routinely for the treatment of their patients. Mistakes are likely to be made because both medicines and sometimes their packing have a similar appearance. Several incidents have been reported in other countries. A large amount of propylene glycol given to a horse, but also to other animals, can be...
MacLeay JM, Wilson JH.A 14-year-old Arabian mare was admitted for lethargy, anorexia, and low fecal output. On the basis of laboratory, physical examination, and electrocardiographic findings, diagnoses of type-II renal tubular acidosis (RTA), impaction of the large colon, and ventricular tachycardia were made. Diagnosis of type-II RTA was based on measurement of a low fractional excretion value for potassium and fractional excretion value for sodium within the reference range. In contrast, horses with type-I RTA have high fractional excretion values for sodium and fractional excretion values for potassium within r...
Hoffman AM.Respiratory diagnostic instruments previously available only to referral centers should be converted into miniature, portable, wireless medical devices for use in practice. Internet and wireless connections of these instruments should expedite the process of seeking second opinions and in general information sharing. We are moving into a world of greater objectivity that should free us from speculation in some areas, yet open new avenues for research and innovation in others.
Button C, Gross DR, Johnston JT, Yakatan GJ.The pharmacokinetics of IV administered digoxin and the bioavailability of intragastrically administered powdered digoxin tables suspended in water were investigated in 6 clinically normal adult horses by 125I radioimmunoassay. The effect of 3 to 5 sequential IV doses of 5 micrograms of digoxin/kg of body weight at 2-hour intervals on a left ventricular index of contractility (Vmax) was assessed in 5 clinically normal horses. Standard pharmacokinetic equations and mean pharmacokinetic variables were used to derive parenteral and oral (loading and maintenance) doses for digoxin in horses. The c...
Jellyman JK, Allen VL, Holdstock NB, Fowden AL.Studies in humans and animals have linked abnormal programming of adult tissue function to excess glucocorticoids during perinatal development. The current study investigated the hypothesis that physiological variations in glucocorticoid concentrations during early neonatal life of the foal alter the secretory responses of the pancreatic β cells 2 and 12 wk after treatment. Spontaneously delivered foals received either saline or long-acting ACTH for 5 d from 1 d after birth to maintain an endogenous rise in cortisol concentrations. Starting at d 10, pancreatic β cell function was studied usi...
Littlejohn A, Snow DH.These studies investigated circulatory, respiratory and metabolic responses in four Thoroughbred geldings during the first 400 metres of galloping (mean speed 14.4 +/- 0.38 m.s-1), cantering (mean speed 10.0 +/- 0.61 m.s-1) and walking (mean speed 1.58 +/- 0.05 m.s-1) from a standing start. A radio-controlled device which collected blood samples anaerobically during each 100 m section of the exercise track allowed analyses of changes in and functional relationships of the variables measured. During the 400 m gallop, the mean heart rate (HR) increased from 125 to 201 beats.min-1 and the haemato...
Gillis C, Sharkey N, Stover SM, Pool RR, Meagher DM, Willits N.Ultrasonographic cross sectional area (CSA) measurements of equine superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon were obtained to determine the feasibility of ultrasonography for CSA measurement of tendon in vivo and in vitro. Ultrasonographic measurements were compared with a more traditional CSA measurement method, ink-blot analysis. In addition, values for ultrasonographic SDF tendon mean echogenicity were obtained in vivo and in vitro. The left forelimb SDF tendons of 23 horses were evaluated ultrasonographically. Cross sectional images were acquired at 4-cm intervals distal to the base of the a...
Bass LD, Denniston DJ, Maclellan LJ, McCue PM, Seidel GE, Squires EL.Equine embryos (n=43) were recovered nonsurgically 7-8 days after ovulation and randomly assigned to be cryopreserved in one of two cryoprotectants: 48% (15M) methanol (n=22) or 10% (136 M) glycerol (n=21). Embryos (300-1000 microm) were measured at five intervals after exposure to glycerol (0, 2, 5, 10 and 15 min) or methanol (0, 15, 35, 75 and 10 min) to determine changes (%) in diameter over time (+/-S.D.). Embryos were loaded into 0.25-ml plastic straws, sealed, placed in a programmable cell freezer and cooled from room temperature (22 degrees C) to -6 degrees C. Straws were then seeded, h...
Smith JM, Meyers KM, Barbee DD, Schott H, Bayly WM.To determine whether plasma von Willebrand factor (vWf) concentration changes in horses during and after treadmill exercise. Methods: 5 mature, fit Thoroughbreds. Methods: A blood sampling catheter was placed in the right jugular vein. A warm-up period was followed by a 3-minute rest period. Horses were galloped at racing pace until fatigued (about 2 minutes). Blood samples were collected prior to warm-up, during the postwarm-up rest period, 1 minute into the run, at cessation of the run, and 5 to 120 minutes after cessation of the run. vWf activity was measured by ELISA and corrected for plas...
Stocker H, Kaser-Hotz B, Lischer C, Zahn I, Ehrensperger F.A three-week-old foal was submitted to the clinic because of a minor traumatic injury at the lower jaw. At admission the foal exhibited diarrhea, a distended abdomen and reduced general condition. These findings could not be associated with the injury. On abdominal radiography decreased abdominal detail and a dorsocaudal displacement of the intestine was present. Ultrasonographically multiple fluid-filled cystic structures of several centimeters in diameter were identified. These cystic structures appeared to be associated with the liver. At laparotomy and at necropsy the liver was markedly en...
Borgia LA, Valberg SJ, McCue ME, Pagan JD, Roe CR.To evaluate effects of fats with odd and even numbers of carbon atoms on muscle metabolism in exercising horses with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM). Methods: 8 horses with PSSM (6 females and 2 males; mean +/- SD age, 6.3 +/- 3.9 years). Methods: Isocaloric diets (grain, triheptanoin, corn oil, and high-fat, low-starch [HFLS] feed) were fed for 3 weeks each; horses performed daily treadmill exercise. Grain was fed to establish an exercise target, and HFLS feed was fed as a negative control diet. Daily plasma samples were obtained. For each diet, a 15-minute exercise test was performed,...
Wensing T, van Gent DM, Schotman AJ, Kroneman J.(I) The lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in sera of 4 healthy and 9 hyperlipaemic patients were determined. From the results of the analyses, it is suggested that three types of hyperlipoproteinaemia can be distinguished in ponies: (a) Type 1, characterised by a very pronounced increase in only the very low density lipoproteins (VLDL); (b) Type 2, in which there is a pronounced increase in the chylomicrons (Chylo) and the very low density lipoproteins (VLDL); (c) Type 3, which can be the result of fasting and is characterised by a moderate increase in the concentration of chylomicrons and ...
Knych HK, McKemie DS, Kass PH, Stanley SD, Blea J.Ketoprofen is an anti-inflammatory drug that is commonly administered to racehorses for the alleviation of musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. This study represents a comprehensive examination of the metabolism (in vivo and in vitro), pharmacokinetics and ex vivo pharmacodynamics, of ketoprofen in horses. The in vitro metabolism as well as specific enzymes responsible for metabolism was determined by incubating liver microsomes and recombinant CYP450 and UGT enzymes with ketoprofen. For the in vivo portion, 15 horses were administered a single intravenous dose of 2.2-mg/kg ketoprofen. Blood...
McGreevy PD, Richardson JD, Nicol CJ, Lane JG.There is confusion in the veterinary literature concerning the definition of oral based stereotypies in the horse. This study reports the use of fluoroscopy and endoscopy during cribbiting/wind-sucking in afflicted horses. This permitted observations of movements of the pharyngeal and oesophageal tissues and of the air column within during the stereotypic behaviour. The findings reported show that the sequence of events during crib-biting/wind-sucking is not related to deglutition and that air is not swallowed to the stomach. Transient dilation of the upper oesophagus was recorded and the char...
Crabill MR, Watkins JP, Morris EL, Helman RG, Schmitz DG.A diagnosis of degenerative joint disease secondary to an intra-articular metallic foreign body in the right metacarpophalangeal joint was made in a Quarter Horse gelding. Arthroscopy, performed to evaluate the joint and remove the foreign body, revealed yellow discoloration of the articular cartilage and synovium, and blunting and proliferation of the synovium. The foreign body was identified as a lead sphere. Microscopic examination of synovium revealed chronic synovitis, with accumulation of hemosiderin and multifocal, mild mineralization. Another pigment was evident extracellularly in the ...
Kohn CW, Jacobs RM, Knight D, Hueston W, Gabel AA, Reed SM.At birth, 24 Standardbred foals were assigned at random to 1 of 2 groups and were given a placebo supplement (group 1) or an iron supplement (248 mg of iron/treatment; group 2). Foals were given iron supplement or placebo 4 times during the second and third weeks after birth. Hematologic variables and general health were monitored until foals were 4 months old. Mean PCV in foals of both groups decreased during the first 2 weeks after birth, but values remained within adult horse reference ranges. During the first 6 weeks after birth, foal erythrocytes were smaller than adult horse erythrocytes...
Barton MH, Hurley D, Norton N, Heusner G, Costa L, Jones S, Byars D, Watanabe K.Lactoferrin is a colostral glycoprotein with antimicrobial properties. Objective: (1) Serum lactoferrin and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations are correlated and increase in healthy foals after ingestion of colostrum; (2) compared to healthy foals, ill foals will have lower lactoferrin concentrations that correlate with their IgG concentration, neutrophil count, the diagnosis of sepsis, and survival; and (3) plasma concentrations of lactoferrin will be less than serum concentrations. Methods: Healthy foals (n = 16), mature horses (n = 10), and ill foals 1-4 days old (n = 111) that were exam...
Pál Z, Bodó G.Allograft arthroplasty is a promising cartilage-resurfacing technique. A 14-year-old horse was diagnosed with a medial femoral condyle subchondral bone cyst. Allografts were harvested from a young donor animal and implanted to fill the cyst cavity. A visual assessment of the surgical site was possible during follow-up arthroscopy. In addition to a desirable gliding surface and a good adaptation of the grafts, fibrillation of the cranial ligament of the medial meniscus was noted and debrided. The recipient horse became sound four months after follow-up surgery with a high level of owner satisfa...
Frontiers in allergyNovember 26, 2021
Volume 2 762026 doi: 10.3389/falgy.2021.762026
Ben Hamouda S, Miglino MA, de Sá Schiavo Matias G, Beauchamp G, Lavoie JP.Asthma is associated with increased deposition and altered phenotype of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. However, little is known about the processes responsible for these changes. It has been suggested that alterations of the extracellular matrix (ECM) contribute to the remodeling of ASM cells in asthma. Three-dimensional matrices allow the study of complex cellular responses to different stimuli in a close-to-natural environment. Thus, we investigated the ultrastructural and genic variations of ASM cells cultured on acellular asthmatic and control bronchial matrices. We studied horses, as ...