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.
Ek N. Acta vet. scand. 1979, , 180–190. — Selected equine Pr phenotypes from a total of 55 horses of mixed breeds were investigated. The horse sera were subjected to acid starch gel electrophoresis at pH 4.8, followed by right angle electrophoresis in agarose gels containing rabbit-produced anti-Pr protein. This technique gives peaks in the agarose gels corresponding to the Pr zones in acid gels. The investigation revealed patterns of the Pr protein which were more complex than those seen when using ordinary acid starch gel electrophoresis. The phenotypes FF, II and LL showed a total of eight p...
Persson SG, Ullberg LE.The rate of disappearance of Evans blue dye from the blood after an intravenous injection was studied in young foals, between 4 and 105 days of age. This was found to be age dependant, especially during the first month, the initial dye disappearance being much faster than in the adult horse. This would mean an overestimation of plasma volume, using the single sampling technique, of about 5% during the first day of life, i.e. negligible from a practical point of view considering the standard error of estimation. The effect of exercise on the venous haematocrit was studied, too, in foals less th...
Kenney RM, Condon W, Ganjam VK, Channing C.The histological features and hormonal content of follicular fluid of antral follicles during oestrus were correlated. As a result it was possible to characterize several categories of viable and atretic follicles. A seemingly important stage in maturation appeared to be at 3 cm in diameter since follicular oestrogens and androgens underwent a 3-fold increase in concentration at that size. Evidence was obtained to suggest that oestrogens are anti-atretogenic. However, a drop in oestrogens was not the cause of atresia since degeneration commenced when levels were high. Contrary to the concept t...
Brook D, Schmidt GR.A case of pre-renal azotaemia is described in a 12 year old pony resulting from oesophageal obstruction of 8 days duration. Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, calcium, inorganic phosphate, sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate concentrations were monitored throughout the recovery period. After relief of the obstruction normal blood concentrations were quickly restored.
Vivrette SL, Irvine CH.Acyclic mare given oestradiol for 3 days to simulate the preovulatory plasma oestradiol surge showed a non-significant 37% decrease in plasma LH during treatment. When GnRH analogue injections were given with oestradiol on Days 1--3, oestradiol had no effect on each GnRH-induced LH increase, but LH increases were more prolonged following subsequent GnRH injections on Days 4--7 when oestradiol was no longer being given. A much greater prolongation of LH release occurred when the course of GnRH injections was commenced after oestradiol treatment ceased; the LH response was almost identical to th...
Merkt H, Jacobs KO, Klug E, Aukes E.An evaluation of the foaling rate achieved in the Hannoverian breed in Germany between 1815 and 1973 showed that during this period no improvement of the reproductive rate was achieved. The decennial foaling percentage remained within 50--60% except for those decades which included the two World Wars and their aftermaths. The annual foaling percentage remained maximal until the number of mares covered/stallion rose above 80 and it also remained high throughout the reproductive life of the stallion. Only in the oldest stallion (32 years) was there a significant lowering of fertility.
Mia AS, Koger HD.Serum concentrations of arginase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) in dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep and pigs were determined before and after oral administration of CCl(4) at doses known to cause hepatic necrosis. Following CCl(4) administration, serum concentration of arginase and SGOT increased to a level of diagnostic significance in all animals. SGPT increased markedly in dogs and cats and marginally in 1 of 3 cattle and 2 of 3 pigs. In the surviving animals, the serum concentration of arginase returned to normal range much earlier than ...
Günzel AR, Merkt H.Of 383 mares showing clinical evidence of suspected early fetal resorption between 20 and 60 days after mating, 217 were treated with a single injection of 200 mg CAP (a synthetic progestagen); the remaining 166 mares served as untreated controls. Treatment had neither a beneficial nor a detrimental effect on the continuation of pregnancy. Conception rates following loss of the conceptus were higher in lactating than in non-lactating mares. No increase in number of twin or deformed foals was evident in the treated animals.
Garcia MC, Freedman LJ, Ginther OJ.A working hypothesis for the regulation of LH secretion in the mare is postulated which involves the following two components: (1) a primary central nervous system (CNS)-pituitary component which is responsible for a basal circannual LH rhythm, entrained to an environmental 'Zeitgeber' (most probably photoperiod) and independent of ovarian influences, and (2) a secondary ovarian (steroidal) component which modifies the primary rhythm during the ovulatory season. This hypothesis does not seem to apply in its entirety to FSH secretion; the CNS-pituitary component is demonstrable within the first...
Hyland JH, Bristol F.Oestrus was synchronized in 116 mares by means of an i.m. injection of prostaglandin F-2 alpha (Day 0) and of fluprostenol (a PG analogue) on Day 16. Mares were then randomly divided into three groups. Group A mares (N = 30) were given 2500 i.u. hCG I.M. ON Day 20 and artificially inseminated on Day 21 without detection of oestrus. Group B mares (N = 32) were given 2500 i.u. hCG i.m. on Day 20 and inseminated on Days 21 and 23, also without oestrus detection. Group C mares (N = 54) were teased on Days 18, 19, 21, 23 and 25 and inseminated on Days 19, 21, 23 and 25 while they were in oestrus. S...
Yamamoto M, Tanaka Y, Sugano M.1. Changes in lipid components of lipoproteins during incubation of horse serum at 37 degrees C were investigated. In non-incubated serum, cholesterol and lecithin existed predominantly in alpha-lipoprotein or in high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Lysolecithin was mainly associated with the fraction with density above 1.21. 2. When serum was separated into alpha- and beta-lipoproteins by the heparin precipitation method after 1 hr incubation, the decrease in alpha-lipoprotein free cholesterol and lecithin was about four times that in beta-lipoprotein counterparts. 3. When serum lipoproteins were ...
Webb AI, Weaver BM.Seventeen horses were dissected and their organs and tissues weighed. The results of these dissections are presented together with comparisons of the data with that already available in the literature. Predictive equations for organs and tissue weights are also given which were derived by comparison of linear and allometric regression models using 4 different body weight indices.
Yamamoto M, Tanaka Y, Sugano M.1. The lipid composition of serum and liver and some properties of serum lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase of the horse were investigated. 2. Phospholipids and cholesterol were the major components of serum lipids and the concentration of triglyceride was considerably low. The concentration of liver lipids was comparable with that of other mammals. 3. Fatty acid composition of serum cholesterol ester resembled that of the 2-position of lecithin, except palmitic acid. 4. The activity of serum cholesterol esterifying enzyme was found to be 0.03-0.09 mumol/hr per ml. There was an equimolar de...
Rose RJ, Ilkiw JE, Martin IC.The effects of prolonged strenuous exercise on arterial and venous oxygen tension, carbon dioxide tension, pH, bicarbonate, standard bicarbonate, base excess, haemoglobin, packed cell volume and total plasma protein were studied in 36 horses during a 100 km endurance ride. There were significant changes in many parameters when pre-ride values were compared with both mid-ride and end of ride values. The prominent changes were the development of dehydration and a metabolic alkalosis. At the mid-ride sampling time those horses with higher heart rates had a greater degree of metabolic alkalosis th...
Sharp DC, Vernon MW, Zavy MT.Oestrous behaviour, ovarian follicular development, ovulation and changes in hair coat were observed in Pony mares which were unoperated, sham-ganglionectomized control or bilaterally superior cervical ganglionectomized. Surgery was performed during the winter anoestrus (1975--1976). Reproductive patterns in all groups were similar during the first breeding season (1976) after operation but in ganglionectomized mares the onset of the next breeding season (date of first ovulation in 1977), the pattern of follicular development, date of first oestrus and pattern of hair coat changes were all sig...
Evans MJ, Irvine CH.Deeply acyclic (seasonally anovulatory) mares were treated with GnRH or a GnRH analogue to induce follicular development and ovulation. Courses of GnRH (3--4) were administered at approximately 10-day intervals to reproduce the gonadotrophin surges which precede ovulation in the normal cycle. Exogenous progesterone was administered in an attempt to reproduce the luteal phase pattern. Induced serum FSH concentrations were comparable to those causing follicular development in the normal cycle, but induced LH levels were lower and of shorter duration than those of the periovulatory surge. Three o...
Matthews AG.Evidence is presented to suggest that the acidic prealbumin esterases in horse serum represent a protease-inhibitory protein. The esterase activity may arise from residual enzymic activity of the bound protease.
Zavy JT, Mayer R, Vernon MW, Bazer FW, Sharp DC.Uterine flushings were collected from 30 non-pregnant Pony mares on Days 8, 12, 14, 16, 18 or 20 after oculation. Mares were allowed a recovery period of one oestrous cycle and were mated at the next oestrus. They were then ovario-hysterectomized on days which corresponded to the day of the oestrous cycle to which they were assigned. Uterine flushings were analysed for total recoverable protein and acid phosphatase activity. Least squares analysis indicated a status X day interaction for total protein (P less than 0.10) and acid phosphatase activity (P less than 0.005) in which the latter was ...
Evans JW, Hughes JP, Neely DP, Stabenfeldt GH, Winger CM.Jugular blood samples were obtained from 8 mares at 5- and/or 20-min intervals for 2 to 5 days during various phases of the oestrous cycle for plasma LH determination. An episodic release pattern was observed in 1 of 3 mares sampled during the ovulatory period. One mare had one secretory burst and the other mare had several periods of fluctuating plasma LH concentration. During dioestrus, episodic secretions were observed in 2 mares sampled 11 to 13 days before and, in 1 mare, 9 days after ovulation. During the 2 to 5-day period before ovulation, episodic secretion was not observed (3 mares) b...
Jann HW, Cook WR.Monopolar electrosurgical cutting was used to correct epiglottal entrapment in 5 horses. The operations were carried out in the conscious animal, using topical anesthesia. The procedure required the use of a coagulation electrode designed specifically for electrosurgery, introduced through the instrument channel of a fiberoptic endoscope. The results were satisfactory and serious complications were not encountered. In 2 horses, excessive submucosal swelling developed at the site of the surgical wound, and the tumefaction took several weeks to subside in one of these horses. In both horses, the...
Charnock LN, Davidson MG, Keys DA, Gilger BC, McMullen RJ.To evaluate the normal refractive state in horses in NCSU and ECMR and determine the prevalence of naturally occurring refractive errors and their association with breed, age, coat color, iris color, sex, and geographic location. Methods: Horses from NCSU (January 2009-November 2012) and ECMR (January 2013-September 2016) underwent ophthalmic examination and streak retinoscopy. Location, color, breed, sex, and iris color were recorded. Gross and net refractive values for each meridian (horizontal and vertical), spherical refraction, astigmatism for both eyes, and anisometry were recorded, and ...
Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Drudge JH, Swerczek TW, Crowe MW.A total of 89 Thoroughbreds, 14 to 333 days old (born in 1982), were examined at necropsy for certain internal parasites during a 1-year-period, Mar 1, 1982, to Feb 28, 1983. The eyes of 73 of the horses and the cranial mesenteric arteries of 71 were examined. Specific interest was on prevalence of parasites according to month of the year and age of the horses at necropsy. Parasites recovered (first month-last month infected horse found) were as follows: Thelazia lacrymalis (eyes) immature and mature (June - February); Habronema/Draschia (lungs) immature (May - September); Habronema muscae (st...
Fielding CL, Magdesian KG.To evaluate changes in electrolyte concentrations and hydration status that take place in endurance horses prior to the start of a competition and determine whether these changes would be associated with elimination. Methods: 19 horses entered in the 2016 Tevis Cup 100-Miles (160 km) One-Day Western States Trail Ride. Methods: Heparinized blood samples were collected at 5 time points: prior to transport to the ride (T0), during check-in the day before the ride (T1), 1 to 2 hours before the start of the ride (T2), at the 15-km mark (T3), and at the 55-km mark (T4). Packed cell volume and plasma...
Stadtbäumer G.Pleural effusion in the horse can be caused by diseases such as pneumonia, trauma, pulmonary abscesses and thoracic neoplasms. Besides clinical (auscultation, percussion) and radiographic diagnostic procedures, the ultrasonic examination represents a method that supplies detailed information on quantity and location of fluid in the pleural space. By means of ultrasonic examination the most favourable position for a thoracentesis can be determined. Control of thoracentesis' efficiency as well as exact supervision of the disease's course are made feasible by repeated sonographic examinations.