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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.
Keratin expression in equine normal epidermis and cutaneous papillomas using monoclonal antibodies. Keratin expressions in normal equine epidermis and experimentally induced equine papillomas were studied by immunohistochemical methods with three different human cytokeratin monoclonal antibodies, 34 beta B4 (directed against component 1), 34 beta E12 (directed against components 1, 5, 10, 11) and 35 beta H11 (directed against component 8). Staining patterns with 34 beta B4 and 34 beta E12 in the normal equine epidermis did not differ from those in the normal human epidermis. In the early developing papilloma, keratinocytes showed an abnormal suprabasal staining pattern and expressed an addit...
Histopathological development of equine cutaneous papillomas. The histopathological development of equine cutaneous papillomas was studied in 78 warts naturally occurring in 50 one to 3-year-old Thoroughbred or Arab horses and in 54 warts experimentally induced in three 2-year-old Thoroughbreds. Lesions in the natural cases were categorized into three phases, growth, development and regression. Main lesions of the growing phase were marked hyperplasia of the basal cells and mild to moderate acanthosis, hyper- and parakeratosis with a few intranuclear inclusion bodies (IIB) which were positive with anti-bovine papillomavirus serum. In the developing phase...
[Cryptorchism in the horse]. Three different forms of cryptorchidism are differentiated in stallions: inguinal, incomplete and complete abdominal cryptorchidism. Following a description of the anatomy of these various conditions, the diagnostic procedure and subsequent surgical treatment are discussed in detail. Both examination and castration of the cryptorchid stallion should be carried out carefully at all times.
Longitudinal growth analysis of horses following limited and ad libitum feeding. Eighteen colts were assigned to one of two groups: limit or ad libitum feeding. Three periods were evaluated: 1) six to 12 months, 2) 12 to 18 months and 3) 18 to 24 months of age. At 24 months of age, ad libitum fed horses weighed 13 per cent (51 kg) more and were 3.6 per cent (5.2 cm) taller than those fed limited amounts. Total, fore and hind body mass increased quadratically irrespective of dietary treatment. Fore body mass comprised 57 per cent of total body mass for both groups and this did not change with age or dietary treatment. Heart girth was directly related (R2 = 0.96) to total bo...
Diaphragmatic perfusion heterogeneity during exercise with inspiratory resistive breathing. Regional distribution of diaphragmatic blood flow (Q; 15-microns-diam radionuclide-labeled microspheres) was studied in normal (n = 7) and laryngeal hemiplegic (LH; n = 7) ponies to determine whether the added stress of inspiratory resistive breathing during maximal exercise may cause 1) redistribution of diaphragmatic Q and 2) crural diaphragmatic Q to exceed that in maximally exercising normal ponies. LH-induced augmentation of already high exertional work of breathing resulted in diminished locomotor exercise capacity so that maximal exercise in LH ponies occurred at 25 km/h compared with 3...
The effect of dietary selenium on humoral immunocompetence of ponies. Fifteen Shetland ponies were used in a 7-wk trial to study the effect of supplemental Se on humoral antibody production. Four 3-yr-old, five 2-yr-old and six yearling ponies were depleted of Se before being assigned randomly to either a low Se (.02 ppm) or higher Se (.22 ppm) diet. Each pony was challenged antigenically with 2 ml of sheep packed red blood cells upon receiving its respective diet and again 2 wk post-treatment. Blood samples were drawn weekly and assayed for glutathione peroxidase activity, Se and immunoglobulin concentration and antibody titers. Compared with those ponies recei...
Effect of clenbuterol on arterial oxygen tension in the anaesthetised horse. In horses in dorsal recumbency, spontaneously breathing oxygen, with halothane at a constant end-tidal concentration, the arterial oxygen tension (PO2) increased from 9.9 +/- 0.3 SEM kPa to 21.7 +/- 4.0 kPa with 0.8 micrograms kg-1 clenbuterol and to 29.1 +/- 3.8 kPa with 2.4 micrograms kg-1 clenbuterol. In horses initially in dorsal recumbency then turned to sternal recumbency the PaO2 rose to 54.0 +/- 3.0 kPa, but this rise was unaffected by clenbuterol administration. The response in dorsal recumbency was consistent with clenbuterol counteracting the factor postulated to direct the pulmonar...
Effects of exercise on serum amino-transferase activity and pyridoxal phosphate saturation in Thoroughbred racehorses. Aminotransferase activities were measured in the serum of two- to three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies and colts during a four week period of peak training for flat racing. Aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT, EC 2.6.1.1), mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (m-AspAT) and alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT, EC 2.6.1.2) activities in serum were measured and the relative proportions of apoenzyme and holoenzyme were determined. The aminotransferase activities were increased only slightly immediately following exercise. This small and immediate post exercise increase in activity did not vary greatl...
Tracheobronchial perfusion during exercise in ponies. Tracheobronchial circulation during exercise has previously not been examined. Therefore blood flow to the trachea and bronchi (up to 7th generation of branching) was studied in seven healthy adult ponies at rest and during the 3rd and 10th min of exercise performed at a treadmill speed setting of 25 km/h. The ambient air temperature varied from 19 to 20 degrees C and humidity from 35 to 45%. To determine blood flow radionuclide-labeled 15-microns-diameter microspheres were injected into the left ventricle via a catheter advanced from the left carotid artery (exposed using local anesthesia), a...
Pulse oximetry in horses. The clinical usefulness of two pulse oximeters was evaluated at two probe sites in nine anesthetized horses. The hemoglobin saturation determined by the pulse oximeters (SaOx) was compared with the hemoglobin saturation calculated from the measured arterial oxygen tension (SaO2). The mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated from the differences in saturation measurements, over the saturation range of 80% to 100%, for each oximeter used at the tongue probe site and for one oximeter used at the ear. The oximeter results tended to underestimate the SaO2 with mean differences of -3.7% on t...
Comparison between six parasitological methods for diagnosis of Trypanosoma evansi in the subtropical area of Argentina. In a total of 165 blood samples from horses in the Province of Formosa (Argentina), the diagnosis for equine trypanosomiasis (T. evansi) was made using Giemsa-stained smears (GSS), wet blood films (WBF), Strout's concentration method (SCM), haematocrit centrifuge technique (HCT), buffy coat method (BCM) and mouse inoculation of blood (MBI). Trypanosoma evansi was demonstrated in 52 samples. Mouse inoculation gave a sensitivity of 88.2%; HCT 71.1%; BCM 63.4%; WBF 53.8%; SCM 46.1% and GSS 45.6%. No single method alone was totally effective. The haematocrit centrifuge technique, mouse inoculation...
Influence of furosemide on the detection of flunixin meglumine in horse urine samples. The possibility of false negative results from TLC when a diuretic is administered concomitantly with flunixin was studied. Samples were subjected to solvent extraction from acidic aqueous solutions; duplicate samples were also subjected to alkaline hydrolysis at pH 12.5. The internal standard was flufenamic acid. The quantification of flunixin was performed by HPLC and the results confirmed by GC/MS. The data show that furosemide influences the urinary concentration of flunixin.
Influence of Rhodococcus equi on the respiratory burst of resident alveolar macrophages from adult horses. Opsonized Rhodococcus equi activated the respiratory burst of resident alveolar macrophages (AM) from adult horses in a logarithmic-linear, mass-related manner. The effect of R equi was not significantly different from that of equal masses of opsonized zymosan A. Therefore, R equi does not appear to attenuate the respiratory burst of equine AM. The stimulatory effect of R equi was not reflected by increased production of superoxide anion (O2-), but increased activity of the hexose monophosphate shunt was observed. These results suggest a similarity between the respiratory burst of AM from hors...
Equine herpesvirus type 1: detection of viral DNA sequences in aborted fetuses with the polymerase chain reaction. Primers and probes were selected from the gene encoding glycoprotein 13 (gp 13) of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was run on infected and noninfected cultured cells and on 63 specimens from 29 aborted equine fetuses. The results were evaluated by electrophoresis and dot-blot hybridization using an oligonucleotide probe labeled with biotin. In the infected samples electrophoresis showed a PCR product of about 280 base pairs. The dot-blot hybridization confirmed that this product contained EHV-1 DNA sequences. PCR took 4 h and hybridization another 14 h; the re...
Determination of concentration of hyaluronate in equine serum. Concentration of hyaluronate (HA) in equine serum was determined by a recently developed specific radioassay. The mean +/- SD HA concentration in equine serum was 288 +/- 145 micrograms/L, was age dependent, and varied widely between horses (range, 190 to 760 micrograms/L). Light or moderate exercise increased serum HA concentration from baseline values by 1.5- to 3-fold. In all horses, serum HA concentration returned to or below the original resting values 1 and 2 hours after exercise.
Clinical use of epidural xylazine in the horse. Xylazine was administered into the epidural space of nine horses to facilitate various perineal manipulations (ie rectovaginal laceration repair, replacement of prolapsed rectum and urethral extension). The resulting caudal analgesia was sufficient for all procedures. The duration of analgesia from a single injection of epidural xylazine (0.17 to 0.22 mg/kg bodyweight) was at least 3.5 h. No horses were ataxic during or after the treatment. This trial demonstrates that xylazine given into the epidural space of horses provides prolonged regional analgesia which is sufficient for clinical use.
Prolonged luteal activity in mares–a semantic quagmire. Prolonged luteal activity is one of the most formidable terminology challenges in mare reproductive biology. Prolonged luteal activity can be a result of persistence of an individual corpus luteum or the sequential development of luteal glands, each of which may have a normal life span. Luteal tissue can originate from an unovulated follicle or from an ovulation occurring during either follicular or luteal dominance. These complexities, together with ambiguous and inconsistent terminology, have resulted in confusion regarding those conditions which can be grouped broadly under the term prolong...
A comparative study in twelve mammalian species of volume densities, volumes, and numerical densities of selected testis components, emphasizing those related to the Sertoli cell. Morphometric studies were performed on 12 mammalian species (degu, dog, guinea pig, hamster, human, monkey, mouse, opossum, rabbit, rat, stallion, and woodchuck) to determine volume density percentage (Vv%), volume (V), and numerical density (Nv) of seminiferous tubule components, especially those related to the Sertoli cell, and to make species comparisons. For most species, measurements were taken both from stages where elongate spermatids were deeply embedded within the Sertoli cell and from stages near sperm release where elongate spermatids were in shallow crypts within the Sertoli cell. ...
Observer variation in equine abdominal auscultation. The reliability of abdominal auscultation was investigated via an observer variation study. Clinicians listened to a variety of minute-long equine gut sound recordings. They evaluated the amount of gut sounds as 'absent', 'decreased', 'normal', or 'increased'. They subsequently evaluated the same recordings replayed in a different order. Intra- and inter-observer agreement was measured by the statistic kappa. There was significant intra-observer (kappa 0.57) agreement, but less agreement between observers (kappa 0.37). The best agreement was on the classification of sound tracks as 'absent' (i...
Unusual polydactylism in a foal. A case report. A 2 month old quarter horse colt had multiple skeletal abnormalities of the left fore limb, including two supernumerary metacarpal bones, two supernumerary carpal bones, abnormal carpal bone development, and a valgus deformity originating at the carpal joint. The largest supernumerary metacarpal bone was removed completely, a portion of the smaller supernumerary metacarpal bone was removed, and the leg was placed in a tube cast. Surgical treatment improved the clinical appearance and prevented further injury to the limb. The carpal joint width remained increased but the carpal valgus deformity...
Fractures of the accessory carpal bone in the horse. The clinical signs and radiographic appearance of 19 cases of fracture of the accessory carpal bone of horses are described. In 17 cases the fractures were in the frontal plane and occurred palmar to the groove on the lateral aspect of the bone. In six cases radiographs taken six months to three years after the fracture occurred showed no evidence of bony union; nevertheless, these and five other horses for which follow-up information was available for up to seven years all became sound, and seven of them returned to competitive activity.
Potential of alfalfa as a source of calcium for calcium deficient horses. The potential of short-cutting cycle, high temperature-dried alfalfa as a source of calcium for horses was determined by means of a 4 x 4 Latin square digestibility trial using four thoroughbred horses (mean liveweight 531 kg). The four dietary treatments were timothy hay alone, 33 per cent alfalfa and 67 per cent timothy hay, 67 per cent alfalfa and 33 per cent timothy hay, and alfalfa alone. Significantly more calcium and magnesium were absorbed from the alfalfa than from the hay. Phosphorus absorption appeared to be unaffected by treatment. Alfalfa calcium was more available than timothy ha...
Decreased erythrocyte potassium concentration associated with exercise-related myopathy in horses. To investigate the possibility that a disorder of potassium balance may have a role in the development of equine rhabdomyolysis, the potassium concentration within erythrocytes (RBC [K+]) and plasma (P [K+]) was measured in 3 groups of horses: group 1, eight 2-year-old fillies that had postexercise muscle soreness within 48 hours of sample collection; group 2, ten 2-year-old fillies subjected to identical management and training conditions (as fillies of group 1) and that did not have signs of myopathy; and group 3, 32 yearlings of both sexes on the farm of origin of groups 1 and 2 that were p...
Serologic survey for Borrelia burgdorferi antibody in horses referred to a mid-Atlantic veterinary teaching hospital. Blood samples obtained from 13 of 100 (13%) and 6 of 91 (7%) horses at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals in the months of June and October, respectively, had antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi as determined by ELISA. Horses from the states of New York, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania were seropositive for B burgdorferi. The frequency of antibody response in horses from New Jersey was greater (P less than 0.05) than the frequency of antibody response in horses from Pennsylvania or that of horses from the other states combined. Statistically significant difference w...
