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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.
Omental fibrosarcoma in a horse. A 13-year-old Thoroughbred mare had a 2-week history of weight loss and intermittent fever. Examination of abdominal and pleural fluid revealed peritonitis and pleuritis. Ultrasonography of the ventral abdominal midline revealed an intra-abdominal mass. Exploratory celiotomy was performed, but the mass was not surgically excisable. The mare was euthanatized and necropsied. Histologically, the mass was determined to be a fibrosarcoma of omental origin.
Cerebellar abiotrophy. Cerebellar abiotrophy is a degenerative condition of Arabian horses that produces signs of head tremors and ataxia. Affected foals demonstrate clinical signs between the time of birth and 6 months of age. The condition is untreatable, although some animals have reportedly improved to varying degrees. The disease is believed to be inherited; however, definitive evidence is lacking at this time.
Humoral immune response of foals to experimental infection with Rhodococcus equi. Humoral immune response to Rhodococcus equi in experimentally infected foals was studied with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Class-specific antibodies were measured by ELISA in the sera of foals after intratracheal or oral inoculation with R. equi ATCC 6939 or T 48 and in the lung washings of a foal after intratracheal inoculation or of normal horses. After intratracheal or oral inoculation with R. equi, serum antibodies were first detected in immunoglobulin G (IgG) followed by IgM and IgA classes, but significant levels of IgM and IgA developed only in the foal infected...
The distribution of ventilation-perfusion ratios in the lungs of newborn foals. The distributions of ventilation-perfusion ratios, and the effects of 100% oxygen administration on the distributions, were studied in 3 foals from 4h to 9 days of age, using the multiple inert gas elimination technique. The distributions were calculated from the pulmonary clearance of 6 inert gases following infusion into a peripheral vein of a solution containing the inert gases. The results from a total of 8 studies showed several consistent features. The major findings were (i) the absence of low ventilation-perfusion ratios, i.e. regions where blood flow was greatly in excess of ventilati...
Two cases of equine primary gastric impaction. The clinical details of two cases of equine primary gastric impaction are described and the syndromes of gastric impaction and dilatation are discussed. Both cases of gastric impaction were successfully treated by gastrotomy and evacuation of the gastric contents.
Convulsive and allied syndromes of the neonatal foal. This article discusses the clinical signs, etiology, management, and prognosis for the neonatal foal afflicted with a convulsive or allied syndrome.
Equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy. This article discusses the history and signalment, clinical signs, differential diagnosis, pathology, etiology and pathogenesis, and treatment and prevention of equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy.
Electron microscopic investigation of intracellular events after ingestion of Rhodococcus equi by foal alveolar macrophages. It has been suggested that R. equi causes pulmonary disease in foals by persisting within the lung as a facultative intracellular parasite of alveolar macrophages. This paper describes an ultrastructural study of the intracellular events after ingestion of R. equi by foal alveolar macrophages, in an attempt to determine the mechanism of intracellular survival of R. equi. Secondary lysosomes of alveolar macrophages recovered from foals by bronchoalveolar lavage were labelled with electron-dense ferritin, and the cells were challenged with either viable or formalin-killed R. equi. After 0-, 3-, ...
Selective mechanical ventilation of dependent lung regions in the anaesthetized horse in dorsal recumbency. The effect of selective mechanical ventilation of dependent lung regions were studied in anaesthetized horses (mean weight 486 kg) in dorsal recumbency. Blood-gas measurements were performed with the horse in the lateral position during spontaneous breathing (before selective intubation) and in dorsal recumbency during spontaneous breathing, general mechanical ventilation, and spontaneous breathing + selective mechanical ventilation. Arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) was 32.3 kPa in the lateral position during spontaneous breathing with a high inspired oxygen fraction (FlO2 greater than 92%). In ...
Seasonal occurrence and distribution of Gasterophilus intestinalis and Gasterophilus nasalis in the stomachs of equids in Texas. Stomachs of 271 horses and ponies from 2 sources were evaluated for the presence of Gasterophilus intestinalis and G nasalis larvae, through 2 overlapping 12-month periods of bot fly activity in southern Texas. Equids (n = 140) from one source had nearly 96% of their stomachs infected, whereas equids (n = 131) from another source had 44% of their stomachs infected by Gasterophilus spp. Seasonal dynamics of the bot infection indicated the highest average number of bot larvae per infected stomach occurred in the winter and spring. The smallest average number of bots per infected stomach occurred...
Neurologic examination of the horse. Methodology for the neurologic examination in the equine species is described. Information is organized to assist the reader in defining neurologic deficits and in localizing lesions to the major subdivisions within the central or peripheral nervous system. Numerous examples of deficits are presented to assist the reader in recognition of common neurologic disease states.
Dynamics of equi-factor antibodies in sera of foals kept on farms with differing histories of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. The occurrence of equi-factor antibodies in sera of mares and their foals was studied on two horse breeding farms, one of which (Farm A) had a positive and the other (farm B) a negative history of R. equi infection of foals. The equi-factor neutralization (EFN) and the reverse Elek-Ouchterlony (REO) precipitation were used as assays. On Farm A, 25 mares positive in both tests (EFN+ REO+) and 25 mares negative in both tests (EFN- REO-) was chosen. On Farm B, a group of 25 EFN- REO+ mares and a group of 25 EFN- REO- mares were studied. The first serum samplings in mares were 1 week ante partum a...
The immunological response of foals to Rhodococcus equi: a review. Normal horses of all ages regularly show evidence of having responded immunologically to R. equi, thus adding serological support to epidemiological evidence that this organism is a normal intestinal inhabitant. More animals from "diseased" farms show a stronger antibody response when compared with foals from "healthy" farms. Various serological tests have been used to detect evidence of infection and to relate antibody level to severity of disease. Anti-R. equi IgG antibody levels, as measured by ELISA, are raised significantly during natural infection. Clinical severity of pneumonia can be c...
A review of the pharmacology and clinical uses of ivermectin. The avermectins were introduced in 1981 and constitute a potent new class of anthelmintic agents. They are naturally-derived products of microbial action displaying an exceptionally wide range of antiparasitic efficacy against internal and external parasites of domestic animals. This paper reviews their isolation and chemistry, mechanism of action, chemical efficacy and safety in cattle, sheep, swine, horses and dogs.
Head tilt in horses. Head tilt in the horse is commonly a sign of either central or peripheral vestibular disease. The confirmation of vestibular disease is based on physical findings, including results of cranial-nerve function evaluation and observation of stance, posture, and gait. Further localization is made by ancillary tests such as cerebral spinal fluid analysis, electrodiagnostic testing, and radiography. The normal anatomy and physiology of the vestibular system, the abnormal clinical signs demonstrated during physical examination, and the various etiologies are discussed.
Use of an external skeletal fixation device and bone graft for arthrodesis of the metacarpophalangeal joint in horses. Arthrodesis of the metacarpophalangeal joint was attempted in 9 adult horses, using a new external skeletal fixation device and autogenous cancellous bone graft. Four horses had excellent results, 2 horses had fair results, arthrodesis failed in 2 horses, and 1 horse fractured the third metacarpal bone. The advantages of the technique included minimal surgical trauma to the area of injury, immediate rigid fixation of the metacarpophalangeal joint, and access for treatment of soft-tissue lesions at the site of injury. Although pin loosening and pin-track infection were complications when the de...
Medical management of spinal cord disease. In spinal cord disease of horses, a complete history, neurologic examination, and adjunctive diagnostic procedures are very helpful in establishing a tentative diagnosis; however, a definitive diagnosis may be difficult or impossible to establish antemortem. Medical management should be initiated with full consideration of possible etiologies and knowledge of the effects and consequences of medical therapies. This article discusses the drugs commonly used in the management of spinal cord disease and the rationale for their use.
Ovarian disorders in domestic animals. The histologic appearance of the ovaries and persistence of corpora lutea vary considerably among domestic animals, particularly between spontaneous and induced ovulators. The seasonally polyestrous mare has a variety of unique characteristics in ovarian structure and general reproductive function. Among the anomalies of ovarian development is the bovine freemartin with gonads containing a mixture of male and female elements. A variety of ovarian cysts occur in domestic animals, and persistent corpora lutea with associated reproductive perturbations occur in several species. Ovarian tumors are...
The meiotic stage of preovulatory oocytes in mares. Confusion exists as to whether the oocytes of the domestic horse are ovulated at the first meiotic metaphase (MI) or the second (MII). In this study eight oocytes were collected from the preovulatory follicles of 16 mares 36 h after human chorionic gonadotropin CG treatment. Six of the eight oocytes were judged to be at MII by the presence of the first polar body and this judgement was confirmed by semithin sectioning in one. Of the two that had no polar body, one was found to be at MII after fixation for chromosomal analysis and the meiotic stage of the other remained undetermined. Since all ...
Evaluation of granulocyte transfusion in healthy neonatal pony foals. Granulocyte transfusions (GT), 0.98 X 10(9) neutrophils/kg of body weight, were performed on 7 healthy pony foals between 2 and 7 days old. The mean neutrophil count of the foals was significantly (P less than 0.05) greater than base line (4,830 +/- 1,260/microliter) 1 hour after GT (8,870 +/- 3,350/microliter) and was similar to base line by 15 to 18 hours after GT (6,550 +/- 2,310/microliter). Leukocyte concentrates (LC) used for GT were harvested from clinically normal adult horses by continuous-flow centrifugation leukapheresis (CL), 3 to 6 hours after hydrocortisone sodium succinate was a...
Rhodococcus equi: equine neutrophil chemiluminescent and bactericidal responses to opsonizing antibody. The opsonic capacity of serum containing R. equi-specific antibody was compared with antibody-deficient sera using luminol-dependent chemilumenscence (LDCL) and bactericidal assays. These assays incorporated peripheral blood polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes (PMNL) exposed to R. equi opsonized with neonatal equine pre-colostral serum (control) or serum from foals with R. equi infections (principal). All sera were complement inactivated at 56 degrees C for 30 min. Bacteria were obtained from the lung of a foal with R. equi pneumonia. Neutrophils were obtained from one adult horse for LD...
Epidemiology of Rhodococcus equi infection in horses. Current understanding of the epidemiology of Rhodococcus equi infection on horse farms is reviewed. Infection is widespread in herbivores and their environment, because herbivore manure supplies the simple organic acid substrates on which the organism thrives. There is a progressive development of infection in the soil on horse farms with prolonged use, because: (1) there is a continual supply of nutrients; (2) the organism multiplies progressively as temperatures rise; (3) the bacterium has a robust nature. While this aerobic organism fails to multiply in the largely anaerobic intestine of th...
Indication and use of electrodiagnostic aids in neurologic disease. Electrodiagnostic aids, electromyography, auditory brainstem response testing, and electroencephalography are extensions of the neurologic examination and provide valuable information about the nervous system. This article discusses the use and interpretation of electrodiagnostic aids in equine neurology as well as the equipment that is employed. It is hoped that with a better understanding of the available electrodiagnostic aids, they will come into greater use.
Mitral valvular insufficiency associated with ruptured chordae tendineae in three foals. Mitral valvular insufficiency associated with ruptured chordae tendineae was diagnosed in 3 foals with signs of congestive heart failure, which were believed to be secondary to the development of pulmonary hypertension associated with the valvular insufficiency. The septal leaflet of the mitral valve was affected in all 3 foals, and foal 2 also had ruptured chordae tendineae associated with the caudal mitral valve leaflet. Bacterial endocarditis and myocardial necrosis were associated with the ruptured chordae tendineae in foals 3 and 2, respectively. Idiopathic rupture was considered in foal ...
