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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.
Prognostic indicators for horses with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis. 75 horses (1985-1989). The medical records of 75 horses with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) were reviewed. Ages, physical parameters, laboratory values, and treatment data were compared between horses surviving DPJ and horses not surviving DPJ (Table 1). Fifty of 75 horses (66.6%) survived. Sixty-six horses (88.0%) were managed with medical treatment alone and nine horses (12.0%) were managed with medical treatment plus surgical intervention. Using a logistic regression model, the association of each of the 19 physical and laboratory parameters with death was evaluated retrospectively in the 75 horses. Three pa...
Equine herpesvirus 5: comparisons with EHV2 (equine cytomegalovirus), cloning, and mapping of a new equine herpesvirus with a novel genome structure. A new equine herpesvirus, provisionally designated equine herpesvirus 5 (EHV5; Browning and Studdert (1987) J. Gen. Virol. 68, 1441-1447), was examined for the degree of genomic difference from equine herpesvirus 2 (EHV2) by Southern hybridizations. EHV5 and EHV2 whole genomic DNA probes were highly specific for homologous DNA only, indicating that significant genomic difference exists between the two viruses. Restriction endonuclease analysis of EHV5 strain 2-141 (EHV5.2-141) revealed that the genome is 179 kb and exists as a single isomer. Clones representing 82% of the genome were obtained ...
Comparison of antibody and cell-mediated immune responses in horses following feeding of a novel dietary antigen, ovalbumin, and rotavirus. Adult ponies which were fed ovalbumin (OVA) daily for 2 weeks had significantly greater serum anti-OVA IgG (P = 0.001) and antigen specific lymphocyte responses (P = 0.031) after intramuscular injection with OVA given with saponin than control ponies which had not been fed the antigen. This suggests that, despite the lack of evidence of B- or T-cell activation in peripheral blood during the period of OVA feeding, the animals were primed for an active secondary immune response. Adult ponies were challenged with equine rotavirus, strain H-2, but no statistically significant differences were foun...
Open drainage, intra-articular and systemic antibiotics in the treatment of septic arthritis/tenosynovitis in horses. Open drainage was used to treat 26 horses with persistent or severe septic arthritis/tenosynovitis. Infected synovial structures were drained through a small (3 cm) arthrotomy incision that was left open and protected by a sterile bandage. Joint lavage was performed in all 26 horses. In addition to systemic antibiotics, 23 of these horses were also treated with intra-articular antibiotics; amikacin (17 horses), gentamycin (2 horses), cefazolin (2 horses), and 2 horses were injected at different times with gentamycin and amikacin. The infection was eliminated from the involved synovial structur...
[B-mode, M-mode and Doppler sonographic findings in mitral valve insufficiency of horses]. B- and M-mode echocardiography was performed on 38 horses. 34 patients had systolic heart murmur with the point of maximal intensity over mitral valve. Additionally, 17 of these patients were examined with the pulsed wave doppler echocardiography (Vingmed 200). In 26 patients with cardiac murmur and in 4 patients without cardiac murmur a mitral valve insufficiency was diagnosed by echocardiography. In 8 horses with a systolic murmur over mitral valve M- and B-mode evaluation could not reveal a haemodynamic importance of the murmur. The diagnosis of MVI was based on a dilation of left atrium wi...
Evaluation of progesterone treatment to create a model for equine endometritis. To investigate a model for equine endometritis, 12 mares with normal reproductive tracts were divided into 2 groups. All mares received progesterone in oil, 250 mg im, daily. At 5 days after initiation of progesterone administration, the uteri were inoculated with 10(6) colony forming units of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The day of inoculation was designated Day 0. On Day 6, endometrial swab samples yielded P. aeruginosa in 5 mares; samples from the other 7 mares yielded heavy growth of Escherichia coli, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter diversus, S...
Epiglottic augmentation by use of polytetrafluoroethylene to correct dorsal displacement of the soft palate in a standardbred horse. A 2-year-old 400-kg Standardbred colt with a history of exercise intolerance was determined to have dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). Standing endoscopy revealed a soft, flaccid, and hypoplastic epiglottis and arytenoid cartilages that moved symmetrically and abducted fully. Lateral laryngeal radiography was used to calculate a corrected thyroepiglottic length of 6.48 cm. Videoendoscopy during exercise on a high-speed treadmill at standardized treadmill speeds was performed weekly for 3 consecutive weeks. The soft palate dorsally displaced at each examination. A sternohyoideus/ste...
Characterization of equine zona pellucida glycoproteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunological techniques. This study was designed to explore the composition of the equine zona pellucida (EZP) by one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (1D- and 2D-PAGE), silver staining and immunoblotting techniques. Antral follicles palpable on frozen-thawed equine ovaries were aspirated with a needle and syringe, and the resultant follicular fluid, cellular material and oocytes were pooled. Oocytes were placed in Petri dishes, moved by narrow-bore pipette to droplets of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and mechanically cleaned of cumulus cells. The EZP from these collected oocytes was solubiliz...
Arthroscopic surgery for osteochondritis dissecans of the femoropatellar joint of the horse. Arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans was undertaken on 252 femoropatellar joints in 161 horses (82 Thoroughbreds, 39 Quarter Horses, 16 Arabians, 9 Warmbloods and 15 others of various breeds). There were 53 females and 108 males. Twenty-two horses were 1 year of age at the time of surgery, 68 were yearlings, 36 were 2-year-olds, 21 were 3-year-olds, and 14 were > or = 4 years old. Ninety-one had bilateral involvement and 70 had unilateral disease. Follow-up information was obtained on 134 horses, including 79 racehorses and 55 non-racehorses: 86 (64%) of these...
Ultrasonographic and quantitative histologic assessment of sequelae to testicular biopsy in stallions. A sample of testicular parenchymal tissue, approximately 2 x 7 x 7 mm, was aseptically removed from 1 testis in each of 9 stallions on day 0. Slight to moderate hemorrhage from the tunica albuginea was observed in 8 stallions, but bleeding from the parenchyma was detected in only 2 stallions. Stallions were castrated 27 days later. Normal development of granulation tissue was evident at the biopsy site, but hematomas were not observed. In situ measurement of the widths of the right and left testes, total scrotal width, and evaluation of testicular echogenicity during ultrasonography were varia...
Dose-response effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone on plasma concentrations of gonadotropins and testosterone in fertile and subfertile stallions. Five fertile and five subfertile stallions were treated with a single intravenous injection of saline the first week followed by a single intravenous injection of varying doses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (5, 10, 25, 100, 500 micrograms) given in a randomized fashion over the next 5 weeks during the nonbreeding season. Blood samples were collected periodically before and after treatment for analysis of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and testosterone content by radioimmunoassay. Before treatment, semen samples were collected every other day for 3 weeks for analysis of ...
Immunoblot analysis of the humoral immune response to Pythium insidiosum in horses with pythiosis. Reactions to Pythium insidiosum by sera from horses with active pythiosis were investigated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting. Five strains of P. insidiosum were grown in nutrient broth and then sonicated. After centrifugation, supernatant antigens were separated by SDS-PAGE. An exoantigen of Conidiobolus coronatus was also tested. Bands with molecular weights between 97,000 and 14,000 were identified by Coomassie blue and silver staining. After being transferred to nitrocellulose, the antigens were reacted against sera from six horses w...
Effects of hypoxia and azotaemia on the pharmacokinetics of amikacin in neonatal foals. The effects of hypoxia and azotaemia on the pharmacokinetics of amikacin were evaluated in 20 full-term neonatal critically ill foals which required 24-h supportive care, antibiotics and dextrose-supplemented polyionic fluids given intravenously, nasal insufflation with oxygen and nutritional supplementation. There was no association between sepsis score or survival and pharmacokinetic parameters. Concurrent hypoxia and azotaemia were associated with significantly decreased clearance and increased peak and trough serum concentrations of amikacin; however, peaks or troughs did not exceed toxic ...
Structural proteins of equine arteritis virus. We have recently shown that the genome of equine arteritis virus (EAV) contains seven open reading frames (ORFs). We now present data on the structural proteins of EAV and the assignment of their respective genes. Virions are composed of a 14-kDa nucleocapsid protein (N) and three membrane proteins designated M, GS, and GL. M is an unglycosylated protein of 16 kDa, and GS and GL are N-glycosylated proteins of 25 and 30 to 42 kDa, respectively. The broad size distribution of GL results from heterogeneous N-acetyllactosamine addition since it is susceptible to digestion by endo-beta-galactosidas...
Actions of isoflurane and halothane in pregnant mares. Eighteen healthy, pregnant mares scheduled for laparotomy and uterine manipulation were randomly allotted to 2 equal groups. After IV administration of xylazine hydrochloride and thiamylal sodium, general anesthesia was maintained with halothane (HALO) or isoflurane (ISO) in oxygen. Results of cardiovascular measurements were similar with both inhalant anesthetics; mean arterial blood pressure was 79 and 82 mm of Hg with HALO and ISO, respectively. Respiratory rate decreased most with ISO (mean frequency was 4 and 9 breaths/min with ISO and HALO, respectively). Partial pressure of arterial CO2...
A retrospective study of 192 horses affected with septic arthritis/tenosynovitis. The medical records of 192 horses with septic arthritis/tenosynovitis 1979-1989 were reviewed. Forty-three horses developed infection after an intra-articular injection, 46 following a penetrating wound, 25 following surgery, 66 were foals less than 6 months old, and 12 were adult horses without a known aetiology. Haematogenous infection of a joint occurs in adult horses and should be considered as a differential diagnosis in horses with an acute onset of severe lameness. The aetiology of the infection had a significant effect on the type of bacteria identified by culture. Staphylococcus was c...
Arterial-venous difference in atrial natriuretic peptide concentration during exercise in horses. Six nontrained mares were subjected to steady-state, submaximal treadmill exercise to examine the effect of exercise on the plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in arterial, compared with mixed venous, blood. Horses ran on a treadmill up a 6 degree grade for 20 minutes at a speed calculated to require a power equivalent to 80% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2MAX). Arterial and mixed venous blood samples were collected simultaneously from the carotid and pulmonary arteries of horses at rest and at 10 and 20 minutes of exercise. Plasma was stored at -80 C and was later thawed; A...
Mesothelioma in horses. Pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma with spread to the pleural cavity were diagnosed in 2 horses. Clinical signs included respiratory distress, depression and pleural pain. The affected body cavities contained copious, serous effusions containing very large neoplastic mesothelial cells with densely-staining cytoplasm, hyperchromic nuclei and prominent, often multiple, nucleoli. Ultrastructurally, the neoplastic cells appeared as solid aggregates, with profuse microvillous borders and neolumen formation. Cytological examination, together with confirmative ancillary diagnostic test...
Effects of high-intensity exercise on plasma catecholamines in the thoroughbred horse. In Study 1, a single speed test of 6 to 12 m/sec was performed for 2 mins at an incline of 5 degrees on a high-speed treadmill (single-step test). Only one speed was performed per session and blood samples were taken before and after the test. In Study 2 horses cantered for 1 min at increasing speeds of 6 to 13 m/sec on an incline of 3 degrees (multiple-step test). Blood samples were taken before exercise, throughout the test and during recovery. In the single-step test plasma concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline both increased at speeds of 9 m/sec, as did blood lactate. Mean concent...
Measurement of tracheal static pressure in exercising horses. A nasotracheal catheter for measuring tracheal static pressure in exercising horses was designed according to aerodynamic engineering principles. Small ports near the end of the catheter transmitted pressure fluctuations to the recording apparatus. Accuracy was determined by the size, number, and location of pressure sensing holes on the catheter, and by the position of the catheter in the trachea. The catheter had adequate frequency response to 33 Hz, was insensitive to movement artifacts, was easily introduced, was tolerated well by horses, and resulted in small ventilatory impairment at max...
Characterization of metabolites of xylazine produced in vivo and in vitro by LC/MS/MS and by GC/MS. The metabolic fate of xylazine, 2-(2,6-dimethylphenylamino)-5,6-dihydro-4H-1,3-thiazine, in horses is described. The major metabolites identified in the hydrolyzed horse urine were 2-(4'-hydroxy-2',6'-dimethylphenylamino)-5,6-dihydro-4H-1,3-thiazi ne, 2-(3'-hydroxy-2',6'-dimethylphenylamino)-5,6-dihydro-4H-1,3-thiazi ne, N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)thiourea, and 2-(2',6'-dimethylphenylamino)-4-oxo-5,6-dihydro-1,3-thiazine. These metabolites were also produced by incubating xylazine with rat liver microsomes. The major metabolite produced in vitro by rat liver preparations was found to be the ring op...
Treatment of coccidioidomycosis osteomyelitis with itraconazole in a horse. A brief report. Itraconazole, a tricyclic azole effective against a number of deep mycotic diseases, was used to treat a Quarter Horse filly with coccidioidomycosis. The horse was almost normal after 90 days of treatment. Five months after discontinuing itraconazole treatment, the filly had severe neck pain and neurologic signs from recurrence of coccidioidomycosis and was treated with itraconazole for an additional 6 months. Her clinical condition improved to almost normal and the filly has remained normal for 2 years. There was no evidence of drug toxicity.
Safety of ceftiofur sodium administered intramuscularly in horses. Ceftiofur sodium, a broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic, was evaluated for safe use in horses. Male or female horses were allotted to groups and were given either saline solution (control), or 2.2, 6.6, or 11 mg of an aqueous solution of ceftiofur sodium/kg of body weight/d, IM, for 30 or 31 days. These dosages are expressed in terms of the ceftiofur free acid, and represent 1 to 5 times the proposed therapeutic dosage (2.2 mg/kg/d) administered for 3 times the maximal recommended duration of 10 days. Some of the horses were euthanatized and necropsied on day 31 or 32. The other horses wer...
Effects of furosemide and pentoxifylline on blood flow properties in horses. The effects of furosemide and pentoxifylline on blood flow properties in horses were investigated. Hematologic and rheologic changes were examined in 4 horses before and 3 minutes after administration of epinephrine (1 mg, IV). The next day, hemorheologic changes were determined before and 3 hours after administration of furosemide (1 mg/kg of body weight, IM), and after administration of epinephrine at the sampling at 3 hours. Hematologic and rheologic changes were evaluated weekly in 3 horses given pentoxifylline (8.5 mg/kg, q 12 h, PO) for 28 days. In addition, hemorheologic responses to ep...
Effect of dietary biotin supplement on equine hoof horn growth rate and hardness. Over a 10-month period, 24 randomly selected riding horses were fed various amounts of biotin. Statistically significant improvements in growth rates and hardness of hooves were produced by biotin supplementation. Greater growth rates and hardness were achieved at a daily dose of 15 mg than at 7.5 mg. Increased hoof hardness was greatest in the hoof quarters and toe. No ring formation occurred in hooves of horses fed biotin intermittently.
Taurine content and distribution in equine skeletal muscle. Taurine (TAU) is found in large but variable amounts in the skeletal muscles of many species. It has been reported that slow twitch muscles in the rat exhibit higher TAU levels than fast twitch muscles. Variation in muscle taurine content may be attributable to differences in the fibre type composition of different muscles. TAU content (mmol kg-1 dry muscle) and percentage type-1, type-2A, and type-2B fibre section area (f.s.a.) were measured in muscle samples taken from up to six sites in the middle gluteal muscle of four horses and one pony at post mortem and in biopsy samples taken from twe...
