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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.
An unusual pattern of Na+ and K+ movements across the horse erythrocyte membrane. Marked differences in the activities of three monovalent cation transport systems in horse versus human erythrocytes are reported. Whereas horse erythrocytes exhibit a 6-fold higher sodium-lithium countertransport, the unidirectional flux of potassium through the sodium pump is 3-4 times slower and the sodium-potassium cotransport system cannot be detected. In spite of this, horse and human cells are able to maintain similar Na+ and K+ gradients.
Problems associated with the interpretation of the results of regional and intra-articular anaesthesia in the horse. The difficulties associated with the interpretation of the results of regional and intra-articular anaesthesia are discussed with reference to eight lame horses. The clinical and radiographic features of each horse are described, together with the results of anaesthesia. One horse had clinical and radiographic signs consistent with navicular disease but it was not possible to relieve the lameness. Two horses had fractures of bones within the foot but lameness was not improved by palmar (abaxial sesamoid) nerve blocks. One horse had more than one cause of lameness. Four horses had joint patholo...
Serum concentrations of prolactin, thyroxine and triiodothyronine relative to season and the estrous cycle in the mare. Studies were conducted to characterize circulating concentrations of prolactin, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) relative to season and the estrous cycle, and to evaluate the ability of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) to induce prolactin secretion in the horse mare. The increase in serum prolactin following the iv injection of 0, 5, 50 and 500 micrograms TRH was dose-related, while all three doses of TRH induced a significant and comparable increase in serum T4. Seasonal variations in serum prolactin were directly correlated (P less than .001) with changes in photoperiod (r = .80) ...
Diagnostic ultrasonography of equine limbs. In our 3 years of clinical experience, we have found that diagnostic ultrasound provides the veterinarian with a valuable diagnostic tool. It allows the clinician to quantify morphologic change that has occurred as a result of soft-tissue injuries, even when the clinical findings are ambiguous or insufficient. In cases in which aggressive postinjury therapy has been instituted prior to presentation, diagnostic ultrasound is often the only noninvasive method that can ascertain the extent of the horse's injury. Diagnostic ultrasound provides the technology to detect injuries before they become p...
Lung sounds in cattle, horses, sheep and goats. The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the importance of pulmonary auscultation for the clinician. It suggests a clarification and simplification of the terminology to be used which would be helpful to veterinary students and allow better communications between veterinarians. The interpretation of these sounds and the relationships to conditions and diseases of the lungs in cattle, horses, sheep and goats are discussed.
Diseases of the heart. Diagnostic ultrasound has allowed significant findings to be made in the investigation of cardiac disease in the horse. Because of the limited value of thoracic radiography in the adult horse with cardiac disease, ultrasound is the method of choice to document chamber enlargement, pericardial effusion, valvular abnormalities, and decreased contractility of the myocardium. The apparent changes in the flow characteristics and suspicion of abnormality in the right heart of racehorses need further investigation to fully document the etiopathogenesis of spontaneous contrast.
In vitro interference between equine herpesvirus types 1 and 2. Interference between equine herpesvirus types 1 (EHV-1) and 2 (EHV-2) was studied in equine dermis (ED) monolayer cell cultures and equine lymphocyte cultures. Cell cultures were infected with EHV-2, and after a short incubation period, the cultures were superinfected with EHV-1. At various intervals, different measurements of EHV-1 expression in dually infected cultures, compared with those in cultures infected with EHV-1 alone, were studied. In dually infected ED cell cultures, the EHV-1 cytopathic effect, EHV-1 titer, and EHV-1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay antigen titer were maximally ...
Embryo transfers from mares in athletic competition. The objective of this project was to produce multiple pregnant recipient mares during one year from each of four mares which were in athletic training and competition. Twenty-six embryos were recovered from the four mares in 38 collection attempts. Each embryo was surgically transferred to one of 20 recipient mares. Nine of 10 recipient mares which were transferred to on one occasion were detected pregnant at the one week post transfer pregnancy examination and six of eight mares which were transferred to on two occasions were detected pregnant at one of the one-week post transfer pregnancy ex...
Pharmacokinetics and body fluid and endometrial concentrations of cephapirin in mares. Six healthy adult horse mares were each given a single injection of sodium cephapirin (20 mg/kg of body weight, IV), and serum cephapirin concentrations were measured serially over a 6-hour period. The mean elimination rate constant was 0.78 hour-1 and the elimination half-life was 0.92 hours. The apparent volume of distribution (at steady state) and the clearance of the drug were estimated at 0.17 L/kg and 598 ml/hour/kg, respectively. Each mare was then given 4 consecutive IM injections of sodium cephapirin (400 mg/ml) at a dosage level of 20 mg/kg. Cephapirin concentrations in serum, synovi...
Genomic and antigenic comparison of an equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV 1) isolate from the 1983 Lippizan abortion storm with EHV 1 reference strains. An EHV 1 isolate from the Lippizan Stud at Piber, which caused the abortion and paresis outbreak in 1983, was investigated using 3 known subtype 1 and 2 subtype 2 strains for comparison. Broad-scale restriction enzyme analysis as well as cross-neutralization with hyperimmune sera produced in rabbits were performed, and SDS-PAGE of infected cell proteins was conducted on a limited scale. The Piber isolate was clearly classified as a subtype 1 strain of EHV 1, and showed closest resemblance in its restriction patterns with a British EHV 1 strain, which originated from an outbreak with paretic sy...
Equine thyroid function assessment with the thyrotropin-releasing hormone response test. The effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on equine thyroid function was determined by quantifying serum thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) before and after TRH administration. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone was administered IV to adult horses (n = 5) and ponies (n = 6) at a dose of 1 mg or 0.5 mg, respectively. Serum T4 and T3 concentrations were determined before and 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours after TRH administration. Serum T4 increased from a basal concentration of 24.4 +/- 8.7 ng/ml (mean +/- SD) to a maximum value of 48.2 +/- 10.2 by 4 hours after TRH ...
Ultrasound-guided renal and hepatic biopsy techniques. Diagnostic ultrasound is an easy, accurate method of locating both kidneys and liver in the horse. Good contact between the transducer and body wall is essential for clear, precise images. The greatest limitation to ultrasonic organ localization and biopsy guidance is the inability of ultrasound to transmit through gas-filled structures and bone. These structures act as barriers to sound-beam penetration and prevent visualization of soft-tissue structures deep to them. Organ parenchyma can be evaluated with ultrasonography. Focal and/or diffuse lesions can alter the normal parenchymal pattern ...
Onchocerca spp: frequency in Thoroughbreds at necropsy in Kentucky. Examination of the ligamentum nuchae for Onchocerca spp was completed in 523 Thoroughbreds (1 to 29 years old) at necropsy in Kentucky during a 13-month period (1984 to 1985). Onchocerca spp were found in 306 (59%) of the horses. Frequencies of this parasite were 3%, 17%, 40%, 43%, and 42% in 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old horses, respectively. For 6- to 29-year-old horses, frequency varied from 71% to 100%, except for 26-year-old horses (50%); 87% of the 304 horses examined in the 6- to 29-year-old age groups was infected. The suspensory ligaments and flexor tendons from fetlocks (thoracic li...
Near circumferential retroperitoneal rectal tear in a pony. A 13-year-old, 370-kg, Appaloosa gelding with mild colic of 4 days' duration was found to have a near circumferential retroperitoneal rectal tear. Accumulation of feces at the site of the repair had created a large perirectal cavity. Removal of feces and cleansing of the perirectal cavity were performed daily. Sutures were placed to stabilize, but not reappose, the torn ends of the rectum. The perirectal cavity filled with granulation tissue, and the rectal tear healed.
Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction by neutrophils of newborn foals, adult horses, and a foal infected with Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi. Equine neutrophil function was studied in 24 newborn foals, 10 adult horses, and a foal infected with R. equi by the quantitative nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test. There was no difference between results in newborn foals and adult horses. A foal naturally infected with R. equi showed normal values of NBT reduction test at birth, and after the initial clinical signs, the spontaneous reduction of NBT by neutrophils was found to be remarkably increased until a week before death
Anti-strongyle activity of a propylene glycol-glycerol formal formulation of ivermectin in horses (mares). Four groups of 10 horses (mares) each were treated with a 1% solution of ivermectin (200 micrograms/kg of body weight) in a propylene glycol-glycerol formal base orally, a 1% solution of ivermectin (200 micrograms/kg) in a propylene glycol-glycerol formal base via nasogastric tube, a 1.87% paste of ivermectin (200 micrograms/kg) orally, or a 22.7% paste of oxibendazole (10 mg/kg) orally. Fecal examinations were done before treatment and on posttreatment days (PTD) 14, 28, 42, 56, and 70. Strongyle egg per gram counts and sugar flotation fecal examinations were performed. Results of fecal exami...
Diseases of the abdomen. Because the abdomen of the adult horse is too thick to obtain good-quality radiographs, diagnostic ultrasound is a particularly valuable imaging modality in the diagnosis of abdominal disease. The size, shape, position, and texture of the liver, spleen, kidneys, urinary bladder, gravid uterus, and gut wall can be determined by scanning the abdominal surface. The presence or absence of abdominal fluid can be determined efficiently. Gut motility as well as ileus secondary to peritonitis or obstruction can be assessed. Suspected adhesions of the bowel can often be documented, and primary or secon...
Diseases of the thorax. Diagnostic ultrasound is an important adjunct to existing methods in the diagnosis of thoracic disease in the horse. This article discusses scanning techniques, anatomy of the thoracic cavity, and how diagnosis of pleural effusion, pulmonary abscessation, pneumothorax, and vegetative endocarditis may be facilitated by ultrasound.
Antithrombin III activity in horses with large colon torsion. A chromogenic peptide substrate assay was used to determine serially plasma antithrombin III (AT III) activity in 4 groups of horses. Group I consisted of healthy, mature horses in which AT III activity was determined twice daily for 7 consecutive days. Groups 2 and 3 contained healthy horses in which AT III activity was monitored for 7 days after controlled, but varying, conditions of general anesthesia and surgery (median celiotomy). Group 4 was made up of patients with a presurgical diagnosis of colonic torsion. In healthy awake horses (group I), there was no difference in AT III values ove...
Ultrasonographic appearance and correlative anatomy of the soft tissues of the distal extremities in the horse. The diagnostician should be familiar with the normal ultrasound appearance (size, shape, position, and textural quality) of each structure examined. With these factors as reference points, one can describe lesions in the structure involved, the precise location and extent of the lesions, and the degree of structural compromise that is manifested. Documentation of lesions of tendons and ligaments enables one to make an accurate diagnosis and a more precise prognosis. Serial examination during the healing phases allows for a more accurate prediction as to when the structure in question can withs...
J.B. Wolffe memorial lecture. Is the lung built for exercise? In summary, we have shown that the design of the pulmonary system from the architectural capacities of the lung parenchyma and respiratory muscles to the remarkable, multi-level neural integration of breathing pattern and respiratory muscle recruitment is clearly intended for the exercising state. Furthermore, the system shows remarkable capability for true adaptation, both phylogenetically and even within only a few generations within a species, when preservation of the organism's ability to survive and function is at stake. At the same time there are limits to the system's homeostatic capabi...
Composition of milk from pony mares fed various levels of digestible energy. Twenty-two pony mares were fed one of three diets that provided 93.0, 74.8 or 57.2 kcal of digestible energy (DE) per kg body weight per day. Milk samples were taken at 14 day intervals. A total of five samples were taken from each mare. The samples were analyzed for total solids, crude protein, lactose, total lipids, ash, calcium and phosphorus. Gross energy was calculated from composition data. Increases in energy intake decreased the concentration of total solids, protein, fat and gross energy of mare's milk. Energy intake had a greater influence on the mare's body condition than on milk en...
Viruses associated with respiratory disease of horses in New Zealand: an update. Viruses causing or associated with respiratory disease in horses worldwide are reviewed. Results are presented from a serological survey of 121 New Zealand foals and horses that had been affected by respiratory disease, determining the prevalence of antibodies in this country to the major viruses associated with similar disease overseas. To date there is no evidence of equine influenza virus in New Zealand. Both equine herpesvirus type 1 and 2 have been frequently isolated and show high serological prevalences. Serological evidence of equine rhinovirus type 1 and type 2 is presented with a pre...
