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.
Thomson M.Three thoroughbred foals were treated with anti-endotoxin hyperimmune serum. The serum was injected into the affected joint spaces. Two of the foals made a complete recovery.
Debarbat F, Mollaret HH, Mailloux M.Bovine leptospirosis is a typical form in the island of Reunion. It appears during the second part of the rain season. The clinical picture of equine leptospirosis is acute hepatonephritis. About 10 serogroups are found in bovines, with greater frequency for Sejroë and Hebdomadis. In horses, the prevailing serogroups are Autumnalis, Ballum, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Australis, Grippotyphosa.
Slocombe JO, McCraw BM, Pennock PW, Baird JD.Twelve pony foals (reared worm-free) were inoculated with Strongylus vulgaris. Approximately 8 weeks later, 4 of the foals were given fenbendazole (10% suspension) at a dosage rate of 10 mg/kg of body weight daily for 5 days and 4 foals were given the suspension at a dosage rate of 50 mg/kg daily for 3 days; the remaining foals were given a placebo. All treatments were administered by stomach tube. Fenbendazole was 99.6 and 97.9% effective in the 2 treatment groups, respectively, in eliminating later 4th-stage S vulgaris larvae located near the origin of major intestinal arteries. On microscop...
Aganga AO, Kwanashie GG, Belino ED.A serological survey of Toxoplasma antibodies was carried out amongst horses used for polo game in Nigeria using the indirect haemagglutination test (IHA). A total of 70 horses from Kaduna, Kano and Jos that were assembled in Zaria for the annual national tournament were sampled. 26 (37.1%) of these were seropositive to T. gondii with the highest serological titre at 1:256. Out of the 52 local breeds, 20 (38.5%) were seropositive while of the 18 Argentine breeds, 6 (33.0%) were seropositive. No significant difference was found amongst the breeds. With the increasing interest in the game of pol...
Bewley TA, Li CH.The conformations of human, equine, and porcine pituitary prolactins, as evidenced by various optical properties, have been compared. The alpha-helix contents of all three proteins are essentially identical to each other (60 +/- 5%), as well as to prolactins isolated from other mammalian species. Direct absorption (zero and second-order), difference absorption, fluorescence emission, and circular dichroism spectra suggest that the majority of tyrosine and tryptophan side chains in these three proteins exist in very similar microenvironments within the folded forms of the hormones. Thus, the ge...
Märki U, Osterhoff DR.A method using methotrexate for horse lymphocyte cell synchronization and thymidine for incorporation into DNA replication is described. This method provides a powerful technique for the study of chromosomal abnormalities and detailed analysis of chromosomal replication patterns. The determination of horse karyotypes with many similar chromosomes needs a special method which reveals the numerous and informative stages of the cell cycle. Horse lymphocyte cell cultures treated with colcemid (20 min) and harvested 6 hours after the release of the 17 hour-block with methotrexate show the best resu...
Alitalo I, Kärkkäinen M.Ataxia caused by a focal compression of the cervical spinal cord was diagnosed in four young standardbred trotting horses. Diagnosis was verified by myelography. Changes in the cervical vertebral column were studied using microradiographic and histologic methods. In the vertebrae involved, there was irregularity of the cartilaginous growth zone, cracks with a loose fragment and disturbance in the enchondral ossification. These changes resemble osteochondrosis. Porous appearance in lateral and ventral funiculi as well as mural calcified plaques in the small vessels of the white matter were foun...
Zarrilli A, Lacalandra GM, Minoia P.In mare, sheep and bitch the action of PGF2 alpha have been studied in the early pregnancy. Prostin F2 alpha (Upjohn) and Gabbrostim (Vetem ) are commercial names of PGF2 alpha used at doses which are luteolytic in the non pregnant female. Seric progesterone showed a temporaneous decrease but after four or five days the initial values were restored and none of the experimental females aborted. In the opinion of authors, embryo per se and/or with its adnexa might have interacted blocking the mechanism of luteolysis induced by the administration of PGF2 alpha.
Colles CM, Cook WR.Carotid and cerebral angiography has been found to be a relatively simple technique to carry out in the horse. At most it involves a cutdown approach to the carotid artery, followed by catheterisation of the artery and selective catheterisation, if necessary, of one of its three branches. The technique can be carried out with standard equipment normally available within equine hospital facilities. The authors have employed angiography as a routine aid to diagnosis over the past nine years, without encountering any serious complications or adverse reactions. Carotid angiography has been especia...
Power HT, Watrous BJ, de Lahunta A.In 6 horses, clinical signs of illness implicated a lesion involving the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves. One horse had signs of otitis externa. Five horses had radiographic changes primarily involving periosteal bony proliferation of the stylohyoid bone at its articulation with the temporal bone. Five horses improved with antibiotic therapy. Otitis media-interna was found at necropsy of one horse.
Morris DD, Beech J.Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was diagnosed as a secondary disease in 6 horses. Four horses had localized and/or systemic sepsis, one horse had disseminated neoplasia, and one had idiopathic ulcerative enteropathy. The diagnosis of DIC was based on the finding of at least 3 of 4 abnormalities: thrombocytopenia, prolonged prothrombin time, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, and a high concentration of fibrinolytic degradation products. The most common clinical signs other than those attributable to the primary disease process were abnormal hemorrhage (4 hours) and v...
Asa CS, Robinson JA, Ginther OJ.Daily blood samples from four mares were assayed for cortisol through a total of eight ovulatory cycles. Mean cortisol concentrations on days -14, -13, -10, -9 and -8 before ovulation (dioestrus) were greater than on days -5 to -1 (oestrus). The highest mean (+/- S.E.M) value of cortisol occurred on day -10 (260 +/-28 nmol/l) and the lowest on day -2 (142 +/- 14 nmol/l). A single episode on a day in late dioestrus characterized the maximum cortisol value per cycle for five of eight cycles. Extraction of plasma samples with petroleum ether or chromatography before assay, to eliminate interferen...
Thompson DL, Reville-Moroz SI, Derrick DJ, Walker MP.Sixteen intact cyclic mares were treated on the fourth day of estrus and then every other day for a total of six injections with 1) testosterone propionate, 2) dihydrotestosterone (DHT) benzoate, 3) estradiol (E2) benzoate or 4) safflower oil. Mares were given gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) on Day 3 of estrus (pretreatment) and again 24 h after the last steroid or oil injection. Treatment with testosterone propionate resulted in a greater (P less than 0.05) follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) response to the second injection of GnRH compared with all other treatments. Treatment with DHT ...
Pablo LS, Purohit RC, Teer PA, Newton JC, Hammond LS.Total strangulation obstruction of the caudal part of the jejunum was induced in 3 groups (each of 3 ponies) for 2, 4, and 6 hours. Coagulation tests which included blood platelet counts, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, activated coagulation time, plasma fibrinogen level, and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products assay were performed at specified time intervals for 1 week or until death of the experimental ponies. Another 3 ponies (sham-operated) were similarly treated, except that intestinal strangulation obstruction (ISO) was not induced. Necropsy was done on ponies...
Leach DH, Zoerb GC.The mechanical properties of pigmented equine hoof wall tissue were determined for samples taken from the inner and outer portions of the stratum medium of the toe. Two properties, the modulus of elasticity and proportional limit, which are measures of the rigidity and yield point, respectively, of the tissue, were studied for samples compressed in 3 orthogonal directions. All samples tested were anisotropic. Inner wall samples were less rigid and had a lower yield point than outer wall samples.
The importance of the horse industry to the economy of the United States and the impact of parasitic infections on the industry are well documented. However, contemporary research activity on internal parasites of horses has not kept pace with growth of the horse population. Parasitic infections are a major facet of enteritis and colic in horses. Parasites are also associated with poor growth and development, respiratory tract disease, dermatitis, and CNS lesions. Babesia infections remain a threat to horses imported from some regions of the world. Most research activity has dealt with the dev...
Rose RJ, Backhouse JW, Ilkiw JE.The electrocardiograms of 22 horses competing in a 3-day event were recorded before and after the event. In addition, blood samples were taken for determination of packed cell volume and total plasma protein before, during and after the speed and endurance phases (Day 2). The electrocardiograms of 13 horses showed various abnormalities before the event, most of which were T wave changes. As a result of competition in the event, there was a significant increase in the number of leads showing T wave abnormalities when the electrocardiograms taken before and after the event were compared. At all ...
Sod GA, Riggs LM, Mitchell CF, Martin GS, Gill MS.To compare number of cycles to failure for palmarodorsal 4-point bending of a modified 5.5 mm broad locking compression plate (M5.5-LCP) fixation with a 5.5 mm broad LCP (5.5-LCP) fixation used to repair osteotomized equine third metacarpal (MC3) bones. Methods: In vitro biomechanical testing. Methods: Adult equine cadaveric MC3 bones (n=6 pairs). Methods: An 8-hole, M5.5-LCP, obtained by having a 1.0 mm thickness removed from the bone contact portion of the 5.5-LCP, was applied to the dorsal surface of 1 randomly selected MC3 from each pair, and an 8-hole, 5.5-LCP was applied dorsally to the ...
Tekin N, Yurdaydin N, Klug E, Daskin A, Keskin O, Kücük H.Within a German-Turkish university partnership deep freezing preservation of stallion semen was performed as a part project of the cooperation contract. In this study a modification of the introduced Makrotüb method was used for semen freezing. The investigated characteristics of fresh semen of the Arab stallions were in the normal range cited in the international literature. However, the semen data obtained from the Haflinger stallions were markedly and partially significantly in lower range than measured for the Arab stallions. This may reflect an incomplete adaptation process of the import...
Dyson S.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...
Flores AR, Azinhaga A, Pais E, Faria F, Nunes F, Gartner F, Amorim I.This report describes an ocular mast cell tumor in a 13-year-old female sport horse. Clinical examination revealed a solitary firm mass located in the ocular mucosa, protruding from behind the left lower eyelid. The lesion was surgically removed and submitted to histopathology. Microscopically, the mass was composed of sheets of well-differentiated neoplastic round cells circumscribed by delicate connective tissue. Positive Giemsa and Toluidine Blue staining confirmed the presence of cytoplasmic granules. Neoplastic cells showed strong membranous and mild diffuse cytoplasmic immunoreactivity f...
van den Hoven R.Venous lactate concentrations were determined in standard-bred trotters following exercise of varying intensity to obtain a useful parameter in determining the working capacity of horses. After standard exercise, well-trained horses produced less lactate than did inadequately trained horses. During the post-exercise resting period, lactate disappeared faster from the blood in well-trained horses and young lightly trained horses than it did in poorly trained horses. Steady-state training resulted in lower lactate levels than those recorded after racing, whereas interval training resulted in the...
Oliver L, Hartree AS.The cystine-containing peptides of horse growth hormone were isolated and their amino acid sequences determined. Four unique half-cystine residues occur in two peptides, one containing 11 and the other, at the C-terminus of the protein, 15 amino acids. These sequences are compared with published data on growth hormones from other species.
Orsolini MF, Meyers SA, Dini P.As the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and in vitro embryo production (IVP) expand in the equine industry, it has become necessary to further our understanding of available semen selection techniques. This segment of our two-section review will focus on the selection of spermatozoa based on quality and sex for equine intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), as well as current and future developments in sperm sorting technologies. Ultimately, novel methods of semen selection will be assessed based on their efficacy in other species and their relevance and future application towa...
Engelking LR, Mariner JC.The effect of large-dose heparin therapy on erythrocyte mass depletion in ponies was investigated to determine whether stimulation of reticuloendothelial cell activity and catabolic function would be evidenced by enhanced catabolism of heme to bilirubin. Ponies with chronic external biliary fistula were used to examine biliary excretion of bilirubin both before and after heparin loading (107 U/kg, IV, plus 320 U/kg, subcutaneously) and at maintenance dosages of 320 U/kg given (subcutaneously) at 12 and 24 hours after initial loading with heparin. Results indicated that by 48 hours after ponies...
Blikslager AT, Tate LP.There are clearly a number of applications for which flexible endoscopic laser surgery has become the state of the art in equine surgery, and the Nd:YAG laser seems to be the most versatile instrument for this type of surgery. Nevertheless, it is critical to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each laser technique. For example, the Nd:YAG laser used in a noncontact fashion seems to be superior when ablation of tissue is required such as treatment of upper airway masses. Conversely, contact Nd:YAG laser techniques have proven themselves to be superior when more precise cutting is adv...
Jarosinski SK, Simon BT, Hatfield R, Matthews NS, Arnold CE.The purpose of this prospective, blinded, randomized clinical trial was to compare the effects of low dose detomidine to xylazine on recovery quality and duration in a castration procedure. Horses were administered either detomidine [0.015 mg/kg body weight (BW)] or xylazine (1.1 mg/kg BW) intravenously (IV) before IV induction with ketamine (2.2 mg/kg BW) and diazepam (0.05 mg/kg BW). Two anesthesiologists who were unaware of treatment allocation scored the recoveries using a simple descriptive scale (with a low number representing the most desirable recovery) and recoveries were timed. Horse...
Moorman VJ, Marshall JF, Jann HW.A 7-year-old sexually intact male Thoroughbred racehorse was evaluated because of exercise intolerance, respiratory tract noise, and coughing when eating. Results: A persistent dorsal displacement of the soft palate was identified during endoscopic examination of the upper portions of the respiratory tract. Radiography of the pharyngeal and laryngeal regions revealed a hypoplastic epiglottis that was ventral to, and not in contact with, the soft palate. The horse was anesthetized, and an oral endoscopic examination revealed a subepiglottic frenulum that had resulted in the dorsal displacement ...
Rohner K, Demuth D.We report cases of adverse reactions, some of which serious, of four frequently used therapeutic substances in several animal species. In order to avoid similar cases we discuss special measures or alternative therapies.
McDonnell SM, Pozor MA, Beech J, Sweeney RW.A 9-year-old atactic breeding stallion was trained to ejaculate, with only manual stimulation, while standing on the ground. Ejaculates obtained yielded fertile semen with morphologic and motility characteristics within the range for normal stallions. This method extended the breeding life of a stallion unable to mount a live or dummy mare or to ejaculate into an artificial vagina while standing on the ground.
