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.
Jiang B, Rugh KS, Hatfield DG, Jiang D, Hahn AW.We report on a nonlinear algorithm which identifies R-wave peaks on the surface electrocardiogram, consistent reference points on the left ventricular pressure waveform and the initiation of the QRS complex on the epicardial electrogram. The algorithm has been used to evaluate data from horses, ponies, dogs and humans at rest and during exercise. It permits rapid, accurate evaluation of data on a beat-by-beat basis even with noisy signals and varying waveform configurations. The algorithm facilitates the acquisition of detailed information previously difficult or impossible to obtain by more c...
Alexander SL, Irvine CH.Mean plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and their pulse frequencies and the size of the largest ovarian follicle increased during spring in 12 mares studied twice monthly from deep anoestrus to the occurrence of the first ovulation of the breeding season. Mean FSH levels were reduced significantly in deep anoestrus and when a pre-ovulatory follicle was present, whereas mean LH levels were highest close to ovulation. Five of these 12 research mares and 20 of 40 maiden or barren Standardbred mares at a commercial studfarm were given daily intramuscular ...
Panciera RJ, Slusher SA, Hayes KE.Simultaneous and successive occurrence of ovarian teratoma and granulosa cell tumor is reported in 2 mares. Simultaneous occurrence of the tumors may obscure clinical diagnosis. Whereas size, unilaterality, and the cystic nature of each may be similar, differentiating features include the potentially palpable presence of bone, cartilage, or teeth in teratoma, and the hormone-induced behavioral and reproductive effects of granulosa cell tumors. Thorough examination of surgical specimens may reveal the existence of a neoplastic process, previously obscured by the more obvious presence of another...
LeBlanc M, Ward L, Tran T, Widders P.A direct ELISA was used to measure immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes G, Gt, A, and M recognizing Streptococcus zooepidemicus epitopes in uterine lavage fluids collected during the early post ovulatory period. A S. zooepidemicus isolate, used as the plate antigen in this assay, was inoculated into the uteri of 8 mares (3 resistant and 5 susceptible to endometritis) at oestrus prior to ovulation during Oestrous Cycles 1, 3 and 5. Resistant mares aged 2-5 years were nulliparous, with clinically normal reproductive tracts as determined by physical examination, bacteriological culture of the uterus, and...
Kowalski J, Roberts A, Williams J, Hintz HF, Daniluk P, Schryver HF.Three pony geldings were given sodium bicarbonate orally in order to study the effect on blood pH and bicarbonate and to determine if frequency of dosing influences the response. In a preliminary study, it appeared that a carry-over effect might occur if the interval between dosing was only 2 days. The ponies received 2 doses of sodium bicarbonate (400 mg/kg) 7 days apart in trial one and then in trial two they received 2 doses of sodium bicarbonate 4 days apart. The sodium bicarbonate was mixed with 2 liters of warm water and given through a nasogastric tube on each trial day. Blood samples w...
Freestone JF, Gossett K, Carlson GP, Church G.Six thoroughbreds were used in each of three trials to examine the effect of potassium depletion on exercise-associated muscle damage. Horses were exercised after a control period (Treatment 1), a 72-hour fast (Treatment 2), and furosemide and sodium bicarbonate (Treatment 3). During the preexercise period, feed withdrawal for 72 hours caused decreases in body weight, plasma sodium, chloride, and serum calcium. There were no changes in plasma potassium, erythrocyte potassium, or serum creatine phosphokinase (CK) activity. Furosemide and sodium bicarbonate administration resulted in a decrease ...
Gerhards H.Low dose calcium heparin was administered subcutaneously at 12 hourly intervals to six healthy horses at an initial dose of 150 iu of heparin/kg bodyweight (bwt) and at a maintenance dose of 120 iu/kg bwt. All injections were given at 0900 and 2100 h. Blood samples for monitoring plasma heparin concentrations were obtained prior to, at 2 hourly intervals for 84 h (treatment period), and at Hours 24, 32, 48 and 96 of the control period. Blood samples for monitoring red blood cell (RBC) mass, plasma antithrombin III activity (AT III), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and thrombin ti...
Bagy MM, Abdel-Mallek AY.Nine thermophilic genera and 17 species in addition to one variety of Aspergillus flavus, Malbranchea pulchella and Humicola grisea were collected from hair samples in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at 45 degrees C. Fifty-one hair specimens of rabbit, sheep, camel and horse were examined for the presence of thermophilic fungi. The most frequent species were Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Thermoascus aurantiacus and Malbranchea pulchella var. sulfurea. In low frequency, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus quadrilineatus, Paecilomyces variotii, Paecilomyces aerugineus, Mucor pusillus and Rhizopus s...
Byars TD, Dainis CM, Seltzer KL, Rantanen NW.The formation of cranial thoracic masses (CTM) as a sequel to infectious pleuropneumonia is described. Using ultrasound, masses were diagnosed subjectively as abscesses or loculations. Eight of 99 cases with pleuropneumonia had CTM. Clinical signs associated with the presence of a CTM included increased heart rate, jugular distention, forelimb 'pointing' and caudal displacement of the heart. Techniques used for diagnostic ultrasonographic examination of the cranial thorax are described. Five of the eight horses with CTM responded to conservative medical management; the other three required per...
Koskinen E, Katila T.The luteal activity in mares was studied in the Equine Research Station (ERS) and in trotting stables (TS) in South-Finland. The mares were Standardbreeds in the TS and mainly Finnhorses in the ERS. Between January and June blood was collected once a week for serum progesterone determinations. The mares in the ERS were distributed in 1 of 3 groups: three-years old not yet in training (N = 38), brood mares (N = 21) and mares in training (N = 47). A 4th group was the mares in training in the trotting stables (N = 73). Every 5th mare in the ERS and every 4th mare in the trotting stables were cycl...
Stewart F, Maher JK.The number of genes encoding the common alpha-subunit and hormone-specific beta-subunits of the equine gonadotrophins (FSH, LH and CG) were investigated in the horse (Equus caballus), donkey (E. asinus) and 2 horse x donkey hybrids (the mule and hinny). The Southern technique, involving restriction enzyme digestion, blotting and DNA hybridization to 32P-labelled DNA probes was used to estimate the copy number for each gene and to assess the extent to which equids resemble primates, the only other animals that secrete a CG during pregnancy. These methods indicated that, in common with mammals, ...
Trim CM, Moore JN, Hardee MM, Hardee GE, Slade EA.Horses with colic may be endotoxaemic and subsequently develop hypotension during anaesthesia for surgical operation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of dopamine as a means to improve cardiovascular function in anaesthetised endotoxaemic horses. Nine horses (five in group 1 and four in group 2) were anaesthetised with thiopentone and guaifenesin and anaesthesia was maintained with halothane. After approximately one hour, facial artery pressure, heart rate, pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac output, temperature, pHa, PaCO2, PaO2, base excess, packed cell volume, plasma protei...
Penhallow RC, Mason AB, Woodworth RC.1. Human, bovine and equine transferrins have been characterized with respect to mol. wt, and behavior on urea-polyacrylamide gels, and isoelectric focussing gels. 2. As shown by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis human transferrin has one major polypeptide whereas both bovine and equine transferrins have two polypeptides. 3. The transferrins show multiple banded patterns on urea-polyacrylamide and isoelectric focussing gels, particularly when iron saturated. The various forms are not resolved by neuraminidase treatment.
Kydd JH, Butcher GW, Antczak DF, Allen WR.The expression of class I Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules by early trophoblast of intraspecific horse and donkey, interspecific mule and extraspecific donkey-in-horse conceptuses was determined using a rat monoclonal antibody (MAC 291) in a peroxidase anti-peroxidase immunohistochemical technique. Most non-invasive allantochorion of horse, donkey and mule conceptuses did not express class I MHC molecules at any stage of gestation except in small isolated patches of pseudostratified trophoblast lying adjacent to the openings of endometrial glands. In contrast, MHC class I molec...
Seither RL, Brown OR, Babu BV.Rat, cow and foal lung extracts contained an inhibitor for the liver NAD biosynthetic-pathway enzyme, nicotinatemononucleotide pyrophosphorylase (carboxylating) [EC 2.4.2.19]. The inhibitor was not dialyzable, was labile at 100 degrees C, was retained by a 30,000 dalton pore size Amicon membrane and, when partially purified by precipitation at 40-100% ammonium sulfate, inhibited the enzyme stoichiometrically. Lung reportedly does not contain nicotinate-mononucleotide pyrophosphorylase or make NAD de novo. However, the inhibitor would mask detection of the enzyme in lung extracts. We detected a...
Alwan WH, Carter SD, Bennett D, Edwards GB.Horse articular cartilage glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were measured in synovial fluids from 48 joints affected with osteoarthritis (OA), 22 normal joints, four joints with osteochondritis, three joints with traumatic arthritis and seven joints infected with bacteria. Serum and urine from individual horses were also examined for the presence of GAGs. High levels of GAGs were found in synovial fluids (SF) from horses with OA. In each case, the level was higher in the synovial fluid than in the serum or urine from the same horse. Horses with OA showed high GAG levels in SF, serum and urine compared...
Ferlazzo AM, Vinci R, Panzera M, Ferlazzo A, Calatroni A.1. The measured values of acid glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentration in plasma or in serum show significant differences between trained and untrained horses and among sedentary horses and other animal species (cattle, rabbit, sheep). 2. Diurnal variations in serum GAG levels are reported (cattle), and changes in plasma GAG concentrations after road transport (horses) and in late pregnancy (mares, cows), while sex, age and breed do not affect them.
Jones DM, Fielden ED, Carr DH.Two intact and 2 ovariectomized mares aged 3-16 years had bipolar electrodes implanted in the myometrium to measure electromyographic (emg) activity during normal and exogenously simulated (with oestrogen and progesterone) cyclical activity (anoestrus, transition, oestrus and dioestrus). Oxytocin, cloprostenol, propantheline bromide and clenbuterol were administered during each cycle stage. In 1 mare, emg activity was recorded during natural breeding (4 times) and through the first 20 days of pregnancy. Simultaneous intrauterine pressure recordings (IUP) using an open tipped catheter system we...
Patterson SD, Bell K, Shaw DC.1. The donkey postalbumin protein has been shown to be the equivalent of human alpha 1 B-glycoprotein by protein immunoblotting and N-terminal amino acid sequence. 2. The horse A1B system (already identified as the homologue of human alpha 1 B-glycoprotein) and the donkey alpha 1 B-glycoprotein were characterized further for terminal sialic acid content, isoelectric point, amino acid composition and affinity for the dye-ligand, Cibacron Blue F3GA (known to bind human alpha 1 B-glycoprotein). 3. Two new alleles in the horse A1B system were found, bringing the total number of alleles to five. No...
Ball BA, Altschul M, McDowell KJ, Ignotz G, Currie WB.Research has indicated that trophoblastic vesicles (TV) formed from Day-14 equine conceptuses would prolong luteal maintenance in mares after surgical transfer to the uterus at Day 10 after ovulation. The current study assesses TV as a further model for maternal recognition of pregnancy in mares. The objectives of the study were to determine the ability of TV to prolong luteal maintenance in mares, their effect on endometrial production of prostaglandin F (PGF) in vitro, and their ability to secrete polypeptides in vitro. In contrast to our previous study (Ball et al., 1989b), transfer of TV f...
Uboh CE, Rudy JA, Soma LR, Fennell M, May L, Sams R, Railing FA, Shellenberger J, Kahler M.The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) to develop a simple and sensitive screening procedure for identifying and confirming bromhexine and ambroxol and, (2) to determine the effect of furosemide on the detection of bromhexine, ambroxol, or their metabolites in urine. Female horses (450-550 kg) treated with bromhexine or ambroxol (1 g, p.o.) were used. Urine samples were collected up to 48 h post-drug administration and analysed. Blind samples were used in evaluating the sensitivity of these methods and reproducibility of the results. Bromhexine and ambroxol were extensively metabolized in...
Irvine CH, Alexander SL.In an experiment conducted late in the physiological breeding season, 5 stallions were fitted with indwelling pituitary venous cannulae that permitted unobtrusive collection of blood coming from the pituitary and the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal vessels. The next day, blood samples were collected at 5 min intervals for several hours while the stallions were resting. Pulses of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) occurred approximately once per hour. After this, an oestrous mare was brought into contact with each stallion for ...
Freidman R, Scott M, Heath SE, Hughes JP, Daels PF, Tran TQ.Stallions can experience an increase in testicular temperature from bouts of fever or from injury to the testes. In species other than the horse, increased temperature models have been used to study testicular degeneration. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of increased testicular temperature on spermatogenesis in the stallion as measured by semen evaluation. The results of this investigation demonstrate that increased testicular temperature is associated with significant transitory alterations in the routine semen evaluation of the stallion. The duration of increased testicular...
Schwarzenberger F, Möstl E, Bamberg E, Pammer J, Schmehlik O.Faecal samples were collected at weekly intervals from pregnant Lipizzan mares during Weeks 7-16 following mating and from Lipizzan, Trotter and Thoroughbred mares during the last 3 months of gestation. After parturition, samples were taken daily from the Thoroughbred mares for another 6 days. Non-pregnant mares served as controls. The concentrations of unconjugated oestrogens (Eg), 20 alpha-OH-progestagens (20 alpha-G) and 20 beta-OH-progestagens (20 beta-G) were measured by enzyme immunoassay. In the faeces of Lipizzan mares, immunoreactive progestagens were significantly (P less than 0.01) ...
Fernandes I, Takehara HA, Mota I.Horse immunoglobulins were obtained from normal serum defatted with dextran sulfate and precipitated with ammonium sulfate. Eight mg of this preparation was submitted to affinity chromatography with protein A-Sepharose CL-4B. Low temperature (4 degrees C) and a starting buffer at pH 8.0 were conditions required for all IgG subclasses to bind to protein A, even those with low affinity. The IgGs bound to protein A were eluted with glycine buffer at pH 2.8. The yield was about 90%. It is suggested that isolated IgG, instead of whole Igs, be used in serum therapy, reducing the amount of Igs and di...
Troedsson MH, Liu IK.The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical ability of the mare's uterus to eliminate non-antigenic 51Cr microspheres during an infectious challenge. Mares both potentially susceptible and resistant to chronic uterine infections were used in this study. The procedure described serves as a model of the uterine capacity to clear physically infectious agents and inflammatory products during the acute phase of an infection. Based on the results from intra-uterine bacterial challenges, reproductive history, examination per rectum and endometrial biopsies, mares were classified as pote...
Barolin GS, Samborski R.Physiotherapy on the back of the moved horse has two important dimensions: 1) The somatotropic effect regards mainly spasticity, ataxia, the vertebral column, the basis of the pelvis and the skin. 2) A general psychotherapeutic and psychohygienic effect is created by joy, change and new impetus in rehabilitation and by the emotional contact with the "comrade animal". Or unit was the first to introduce hippotherapy with adults in Austria. There is specially good experience with the spastic atactic component in multiple sclerosis. However other diagnosis as well showed good profit, such as strok...
Legg KA, Cochrane DJ, Gee EK, Rogers CW.To identify descriptors associated with success in apprentice jockeys and to determine optimum numbers of jockeys for safer race riding. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Incidence-rates for jockey falls and success (wins per 1,000 race-starts), time and number of races spent at different apprentice levels were calculated for 807 apprentice and professional jockeys over 19 years of Thoroughbred flat racing in New Zealand (n = 524,551 race-starts). Survival analysis was used to compare career progression for jockeys that fell and those that did not, and individual seasonal fal...
Dyroff AI, López-Valiñas Á, Magalhaes HB, Podico G, Canisso IF, Almiñana C, Bauersachs S.Studies in humans and large animals indicate a relationship between the uterine microbiome composition and endometrial receptivity. Despite many studies have been performed, the analysis of the uterine microbiome remains challenging due to the very low microbial biomass. Studies in other biological systems showed that RNA-based microbiome analysis complements DNA-based results and provides information about active bacteria in a sample. Thus, the aim of this study was to establish a highly sensitive and specific 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 amplicon PCR from equine uterine cytobrush samples and to compa...
Ekawati N, Mutiara I, Hertati A, Kusdianawati , Mustopa AZ, Fatimah , Manguntungi B, Elviantari A.The microbial composition of Sumbawa Horse Milk is influenced by various factors, including environmental elements that encompass geographical location, climate, and conditions specific to Sumbawa. This study aimed to determine the biodiversity and genetic diversity of the microbiome of Sumbawa Horse Milk, with an emphasis on yeast. Methods: The diversity and group of yeast isolates were evaluated by the sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) method using ME2F-EM15R (1) and ME2F-EM12R (2) primers. Molecular identification using 18 S rRNA primers was then carried out on nine selected i...
Jiang X, Ma X, Su L, Zhang B, He Z, Su Y.Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) causes strangles, one of the most prevalent and highly contagious equine infectious diseases with significant welfare and economic impacts. Alpha 2-macroglobulin and immunoglobulin G binding protein (EAG) has been identified as a key antigen and plays a crucial role in the immune evasion of S. equi. In this study, we aimed to investigate the genetic polymorphism of EAG and to determine the effects of genetic variation on its function and immunogenicity. Methods: Phylogenetic analysis indicated these EAG mutants belong to two clades, respectively. Th...
Kędzierski W, Chałabis-Mazurek A, Bełkot Z, Janczarek I, Kowalik S.Microelement deficiencies are a current problem in horse breeding, causing infertility and fetal development disorders. The aim of the study was to control the concentration of zinc, copper and selenium in the blood serum of pregnant herd mares. The study included 154 mares in the second half of pregnancy, kept in five regions of south-eastern Poland: Łęczyńsko-Włodawska Plain, Chełmskie Hills, Łukowska Plain, Beskid Niski and Działy Grabowieckie. The concentration of zinc, copper and selenium in the obtained blood serum was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The seru...
Yuen NKY, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Coyle MP, Henning J.Ross River virus (RRV), the most medically and economically important arbovirus in Australia, has been the most prevalent arbovirus infections in humans for many years. Infected humans and horses often suffer similar clinical symptoms. We conducted a prospective longitudinal study over a 3.5-year period to investigate the exposure dynamics of RRV in three foal cohorts (n = 32) born in a subtropical region of South East Queensland, Australia, between 2020 and 2022. RRV-specific seroconversion was detected in 56% (n = 18) of foals with a median time to seroconversion, after waning of materna...
Agerholm JS, Christoffersen M, Secher JB, Normann A, Pedersen HG.Professor Gerhard Sand (1861-1921) was the first professor of veterinary obstetrics at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark. He began teaching the theory and practice of obstetrics to veterinary students in 1887 and spent the following years until his death in 1921 developing the veterinary obstetrics teaching program. During this period, veterinary obstetrics was established as an independent discipline at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University. Professor Sand's teaching had a major impact on the field of veterinary obstetrics in Scandinavia. He was ...
Mól M, Garrett K, Ruby R, Janes J, Reed S.A 3-year-old American Saddlebred gelding presented for progressive tetraparesis, ataxia, and cervical hyperaesthesia. Radiographic myelography identified spinal cord compression at C6-7 in neutral, extended, and flexed positions and at C4-5 in the flexed position. CT myelography and postmortem MRI identified severe vertebral canal stenosis/compression at C6-7. MRI further identified severe intervertebral disc herniation at C6-7 with intramedullary changes. Disc protrusion was confirmed macroscopically at postmortem. Lesions consistent with compressive myelopathy were confirmed microscopically ...
Aldridge-Dean BE, Lescun TB, Radcliffe JS.Horses are often subjected to short-term feed withdrawal (FW) pre- or post-surgery to reduce anesthetic complications. However, removing nutrients from the intestinal lumen may negatively impact intestinal health. Thirteen horses were used to determine the effects of a 24 h FW on gut barrier function, active nutrient transport, transporter gene expression, and intestinal morphology. Following 0 or 24 h FW (0FW or 24FW, respectively), horses were euthanized via overdose of sodium pentobarbital and sodium phenytoin, and segments of proximal jejunum (PJ), mid jejunum (MJ), ileum (Il), and right...
Minaldi MP, Fidler LE, Betbeze CM, Wills R, Fontenot RL, Telle MR.To evaluate corneal sensitivity and acute side effects following application of ropivacaine hydrochloride 0.5% and lidocaine hydrochloride 2% on the healthy equine cornea. Ropivacaine and lidocaine similarly decreased corneal sensitivity when applied topically without clinically evident short-term ocular side effects. Lidocaine may be preferable in clinical settings due to its large, multi-use vials and similar effects to ropivacaine.
van den Wollenberg L, van Maanen C, Buter R, Janszen P, Rey F, van Engelen E.Abscessation of equine head lymph nodes can be caused by various bacteria, but Streptococcus equi subsp. equi is mainly involved. At our laboratory, samples of three unrelated horses with submandibular abscesses were found negative for S. equi, and further testing proved the presence of another genus. This raised the question for the exact identity of this pathogen and whether these isolates were epidemiologically related and it warranted further characterization with regards of virulence and resistance factors.
Loubière C, Moreau P, Marine R, Hélie P, Jean D.The objectives of this study were to quantify lymphocytes and eosinophils in the mucosa of the duodenum and rectum in asthmatic horses. Asthmatic horses were evaluated in a symptomatic (after 6 weeks of exposure to moldy hay) and asymptomatic status (3 and 7 months after being fed alfalfa pellets [n = 4] or treated with inhaled fluticasone [6]). Duodenal and rectal biopsies were endoscopically (n = 4 to 6) taken in each horse. Eosinophils were counted on slides stained with hematoxylin, eosin, phloxine, and saffron, and immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate T and B lymphocytes using CD3 an...
Marchand WR, Smith J, Nazarenko E, Joubert K, Black H, Osborne M, Andersen S, Bell K, Baldwin S, Klinger W, Connelly H, Sheppard S, Hoopes K.Veterans have high rates of substance use disorders and other mental health conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder. Effective treatments for these conditions exist; however, high attrition rates and residual symptoms after completing treatment are common. Complementary treatment approaches could enhance treatment engagement and/or response among this population. We previously reported a study of one such intervention, an equine-assisted learning, and psychotherapy incorporating horses intervention provided to veterans admitted to a Veterans Health Care Administration residential s...
Jondeau C, Guyonnet A, Losada A, Laloy E, Reyes-Gomez E, Le Dudal M, Chahory S.To describe a case of lipogranulomatous conjunctivitis in a horse. Methods: A client-owned 12-year-old Standardbred gelding presenting with chronic conjunctivitis and palpebral masses. Methods: Complete ophthalmic examination, surgical excision, histopathology, and bacterial culture of biopsy samples were performed. Results: Upper and lower eyelids of both eyes were affected, with multiple yellow-to-white nodules on the palpebral conjunctiva, adjacent to the eyelid margin. Nodule removal was achieved via partial tarsal plate excision. Histopathological examination revealed granulomatous inflam...
Okolo CC, Emejuo NT, Udeagbala NG, Emeto UE, Ezema AS, Omeje OV, Nweze NE.Sample processing methods and storage time affect the outcome of biochemical analysis. Objectives: We aimed to assess the effects of dipotassium-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (K2-EDTA) and lithium-heparin treatments and storage times on selected analytes in equine synovial fluid (SF). Conclusions: The analytes-except for TP-became unstable within a few hours postcollection. Lithium-heparin and K2-EDTA treatments significantly altered ALP, LDH, TNCCs, and pH but not the TP concentrations of equine SF. Studies establishing reference intervals for these analytes based on the anticoagulant used ...
Cassady KR, Minter LJ, Gruber EJ.Field veterinarians and researchers studying wild species, such as the southern white rhinoceros, often work in remote areas with limited access to standard laboratory equipment, hindering the ability to measure serum analytes.
Objectives: The first objective was to produce an inexpensive, manually operated centrifuge that could accept standard laboratory tubes by modifying a consumer-grade salad spinner with low-cost materials. The second objective was to compare biochemistry analysis results obtained from equine and southern white rhinoceros serum separated by traditional laboratory and m...
Luff J, Weingart S, May S, Murphy B.The aetiology of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in horses is unknown, but papillomavirus infection as well as chronic periodontal disease are suspected to play a pathogenic role. In humans, some oropharyngeal cancers develop in association with human papillomaviruses. Equus caballus papillomavirus 2 (EcPV2) is suspected to play a causal role in the development of equine genital SCC. Given that association, we hypothesized that EcPV2 is associated with the development of oral SCC in horses. We performed standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in-situ hybridization (ISH) for EcPV2 on 31...
Oliver A, Wulster K, Stefanovski D, Spriet M, Ciamillo S, Ford M, Kulp J, van Eps A.Measure 18F-FDG uptake in digital tissues of healthy horses subjected to different ambulatory conditions between the time of injection and positron emission tomography (PET) scan acquisition. Methods: 8 healthy adult horses. Methods: Horses were walked (AMB) or tied in stalls (NONAMB) immediately after injection with ∼1.5 MBq/kg 18F-FDG until scan acquisition using a randomized crossover design. Steps were quantified using accelerometers. Standardized uptake values (SUV; mean and maximum) in digital tissues including the dorsal lamellae (proximal, middle, and distal), quarter lamellae (media...
Faivre C, Wong DM, Villarino NF, Court M, Gold JR.To determine the pharmacokinetics and clinical safety of acetaminophen after oral administration of 40 mg/kg q 12 hours or 60 mg/kg q 24 hours for 14 days. Methods: 12 healthy light-breed neonatal foals. Methods: 6 foals received acetaminophen at 40 mg/kg q 12 hours and 6 foals received 60 mg/kg q 24 hours for 14 days. The study dates were January 31 to April 15, 2023. Physical examinations were performed daily. Plasma disposition of acetaminophen was determined after the first, mid-point drug administration. Hematology and biochemistry analysis was performed before the study, day 7, and the l...
Boyle AG, O'Shea K, Stefanovski D, Rankin SC.There is debate around the clinical significance of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi detection in low numbers using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Propidium monoazide (PMA) qPCR has been used to differentiate DNA from viable and nonviable bacterial cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of PMA eqbE SEQ2190 triplex qPCR to differentiate DNA from viable and nonviable S. equi in positive and suspect positive clinical specimens. Fifty-seven stored (frozen and refrigerated) positive (36) or suspect positive (21) clinical specimens (determined via SeeI qPCR as the gold standard) ...
Elliott SM, Giancola SC, Moorman V.To determine if targeted blocking of frontal and infratrochlear nerves provided anesthesia for the approach to a frontonasal sinusotomy. Methods: Two part study: Part 1 randomized crossover design; Part 2 proof of concept. Methods: N = 12; six each in Parts 1 and 2. Methods: Part 1: Each horse had either frontal and infratrochlear nerve blocks or a line block performed with 2% mepivacaine hydrochloride. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNT) were obtained at five sites along a proposed frontonasal sinusotomy prior to injection, and at 10, 60, and 120 min after blocking. After a 4 day ...
Horne CR, Tufts S.Continual advancements in diagnostic imaging have allowed for more accurate and complete diagnoses of injuries in the performance horse. The use of several different imaging tools has further allowed the equine sports medicine clinician to more carefully direct treatment options, monitor response to therapy and guide rehabilitation recommendations. The advancements in diagnostic imaging and novel treatment options have led to the improvement in the overall prognosis of many injuries that affect the horse and their performance. The purpose of this section is to review the advancements made in d...
Gold JR, Grubb T, Court MH, Villarino NF.Acetaminophen is utilized in human infants for pain management and fever. Neonatal foals might benefit from administration of acetaminophen but effective and safe dosage regimens for neonatal foals remains to be determined. Unassigned: The objective was to determine the plasma pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen following oral administration of a single dose of 20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg to neonatal foals. A secondary objective was to evaluate any changes in hematology and biochemistry profiles. Unassigned: Randomized study. Unassigned: Eight clinically healthy 7-9-day old Quarter Horse foals (3 c...
Sullivan JJ, Pickett BW.Approximately 1 week was required to stabilize the extragonadal sperm reserves in stallions ejaculated daily for 10 weeks. The true daily sperm output of a stallion was equal to the mean daily sperm output of seven ejaculates +/- 1-35 X 10(9) spermatozoa. Mean concentrations of spermatozoa/ml and number of spermatozoa/ejaculate were higher (P less than 0-01) for X1 and X3/week ejaculation frequencies than for a X6/week frequency. Sperm output/week was nearly identical for a X6/week frequency. Sperm output/week was nearly identical for the X3 and X6 frequencies and higher (P less than 0-01) tha...
Ordonez JV, Scherer WF, Dickerman RW.During the wet seasons of 1972 and possibly 1971, sentinel horses became infected by Venezuelan encephalitis (VE) virus in a temporally and geographically progressive manner inland from an enzootic marsh focus of virus on the Pacific couast of southeastern Guatemala. During the wet seasons of 1972 and 1973, VE virus was detected by sentinel horses (and a sentinel hamster in 1972) in a small woods 10 km north of the marsh, but virus was undetectable there during the dry seasons of 1973 and 1974 and the wet season of 1974. Culex (Melanoconion) mosquitoes were found in this woods and at the marsh...
McCarthy MB, Duesterdieck-Zellmer KF, Larson MK.To determine whether Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) ameliorates the effects of interleukin 1 (IL-1) on equine articular cartilage, or exerts negative effects on normal equine articular cartilage homeostasis in vitro. Methods: Articular cartilage explants from 6 healthy femoropatellar joints of 3 adult horses. Methods: Explants were allocated to the IL-1 challenged or unchallenged group, then exposed to 1 of 6 concentrations of BoNT-A (0, 1, 10, 50, 100, or 500 pg/mL) for 96 hours. To assess BoNT-A's effects on inflammation, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was measured in media via ELISA. Matrix ...
Zahradnik E, Sander I, Lotz A, Liebers V, Thullner I, Tacke S, Raulf M.The study aimed to determine the allergen, endotoxin and β-(1,3)-glucan concentrations at various areas on a university campus of veterinary medicine. Methods: Dust samples were collected four times a year for three years using electrostatic dust collectors (EDC) at 25 different locations on a campus of veterinary medicine and in laboratories of inorganic chemistry as a control area representing animal-free environment. Major animal allergens from dog, cat, horse, cattle and mouse, domestic mite (DM) allergens, and β-(1,3)-glucan were measured using enzyme immunoassays and endotoxin using th...
