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.
Barstow LE, Young RS, Yakali E, Sharp JJ, O'Brien JC, Berman PW, Harbury HA.Horse heart cytochrome c can be split with cyanogen bromide into a heme peptide (residues 1-65) and a nonheme peptide (residues 66-104). In a process involving (i) complex formation between the two fragments and (ii) restoration of the severed peptide linkage, a fully active cytochrome c preparation can be re-formed. Use has been made of this process to couple the heme peptide to peptide 66-104 synthesized by the Merrifield solid-phase procedure. The semisynthetic product formed in this manner is indistinguishable from reconstituted cytochrome c prepared with nonsynthetic peptide 66-104.
O'Callaghan MW.The problem of transitory cardiac arrhythmias in equidae is discussed particularly with regard to the referral of suspect cases to specialist institutions for second opinion. Recently developed electro-stimulation techniques designed to uncover problem arrythmias, are briefly described and their potential in the analysis of cardiac electrical function under varying conditions is reviewed. The author cautions on the too rapid evaluation of the techniques for this purpose while remaining optimistic of the potential of electro-stimulation in the objective analysis of cardiac electric parameters.
McQueary CA, Worley DE, Catlin JE.Of 22 foals from 4 localities in southwestern Montana, 59% were found to be infected with Eimeria leuckarti. Oocysts collected from feces of 4 positive horses were sporulated and subsequently administered to a 5- to 6-month-old foal. The prepatent period was 31 days and the patent period was between 5 and 10 days.
Dutta SK, Campbell DL.Blastic transformation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum neutralization antibody levels for equine herpesivurs type 1 were measured in 19 mares from three farms at the time of termination of their pregnancy by normal foaling or viral abortion. The stimulation indexes of lymphocytes obtained from the mares from two farms (Farm 1 and 2) which had virus abortions, ranged from 2.1 to 10.8. But there was no significant difference in stimulation index levels between the aborting and normal foaling mares on these two farms. Equine herpesvirus type 1 was isolated from the mononuclear cel...
Scott EA, Snoy P, Prasse KW, Hoffman PE, Thrall DE.A yearling Quarter Horse colt was examined because of intermittent esophageal obstruction. A soft tissue mass was palpated in the cervical portion of the esophagus. Plain and contrast radiography and esophagoscopy were utilized to confirm the location of the lesion in the esophageal wall. Surgical exploration and removal of the mass was performed through a ventral midline cervical incision. Histologically, the mass was a keratinizing squamous epithelial inclusion cyst.
Grelck H, Hörchner F, Wöhrl H.Ten pony foals were infected with Fasciola hepatica; five animals received up to 1000 metacercariae orally, the remaining animals received up to 80 specimens of 24 hours old adulescariae intraperitoneally. The rate of development of the parasites varied in a wide range between 0,2 and 41%. Most of the liverflukes were found in animals severely infected with strongyles in the same time. Only 22 weeks after oral infection, the flukes had reached a length of 20 mm and sexual maturity. Fasciola-eggs could not be detected in the feces.
Littlewort MC.This paper outlines the major problems in evaluating and assessing prognosis in horses with minor cardiac abnormalities. It emphasises that progress will only be made if adequate data on the "natural history" of equine cardiac disease can be collected. This will necessitate a long-term study of suitable cases and will require the collaboration of specialist institutions and general practitioners if it is to be successful.
Snow DH, Mackenzie G.The effects of prolonged cantering before and after a 10 week training programme were studied in 6 horses. Determinations were carried on on venous blood for packed cell volume, glucose, glycerol, free fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate, 11-hydroxycorticosteroids, pH and pCO2. Exercise caused a slight increase in glucose, lactate and pH, a moderate rise in PCV, glycerol and free fatty acids, and a marked rise in 11-hydroxycorticosteroids. A decrease in venous pCO2 occurred and a slight but not significant decrease in beta-hydroxybutyrate. Training was found to cause no significant difference in...
Jeffcott LB, Rossdale PD.The efficacy and safety of oxytocin, dexamethasone and prostaglandin, used alone or in combination as inducing agents, are discussed. It is contended that insufficient evidence exists to support the routine application of any of these methods in practice. Oxytocin has been the most widely used and it is claimed by some to be free from side effects. However, the synthetic prostaglandin analogue, fluprostenol, seems to pose the least risk to the foetus and dexamethasone appears to be either ineffective, or too dangerous to use at all. The main indications for induced foaling are managerial conve...
Glendinning SA.The author considers some of the difficulties the clinician may be faced with when giving an opinion on a horse with a cardiac abnormality. The 3 types of cardiological cases presented to the practitioner are described. The first 2 categories both exhibit a reduction in performance either with loss of bodily conduction or without it. The third group, which is the most troublesome for the clinician, involves the horse which shows a cardiological abnormality but is otherwise apparently normal.
Cho DY, Leipold HW.The report describes a case of myelodysplasia involing spinal cord segments C7 to T8 of a 5 month old part-Thoroughbred foal. There was a single extensive syringomyelic and hydromyelic cavity which extended from the seventh cervical segment (C7), to the seventh thoracic segment (T7), abnormal size and shape of central canal, and disorderly differentiation of the grey and white matter. The cause of the defect is unknown.
Dusek J.Various sets of horses were examined in view of the necessity of widening the range of biochemical substances for diagnostic purposes in the field of veterinary medicine. The aim of the investigations was to obtain basic information on fibrinogen level and its variability. The average value stated was 280 mg% s = 89, sx = 12, V% = 32). The fibrinogen level in horses of the pronounced oxidation type was lower than in those with reduced metabolism, the difference being connected with the speed of sedimentation of erythrocytes. Repeated examination of a part of the set of horses (n = 10) on three...
Bennett D, Campbell JR, Rawlinson JR.Two cases of coxofemoral luxation complicated by upward fixation of the patella are described in the pony. Clinical signs included outward rotation of the stifle and foot and inward rotation of the hock with the stifle and hock joints fixed in extension. One case was treated by performing a medial patellar desmotomy with a resultant significant improvement in locomotion. Other cases of hip luxation reported in the literature, some complicated by upward patellar fixation, are reviewed. Hip luxation is principally seen in ponies and it is suggested that upward fixation of the patella occurring i...
Mason TA.Seven cases of chronic tenosynovitis affecting the extensor carpi radialis or lateral digital extensor tendon and their sheaths are described. All cases were chronic and in 4 of the cases previous treatment by drainage and local corticosteroid injection had been ineffective. Surgical exploration of 6 cases demonstrated a distinct lesion and specific surgical treatment was carried out.
Yoxall AT.The principles of radiological protection are summarised and consideration is then given to problems, which may confront the equine practitioner, in the fulfillment of these principles during diagnostic radiography of the limbs, head, and spine of the horse. The place of anaesthesia in such procedures is discussed and the special problems associated with therapeutic radiography of the horse are considered.
Dixon PM, McPherson EA, Muir A.A trotter mare with a history of poor performance was found to have methaemoglobinaemia and haemolytic anaemia associated with decreased erythrocyte glutathione reductase and glutathione levels. The mare's dam, which also had a history of poor performance, was subsequently found to be similarly affected.
Drudge JH, Lyons ET.The critical test is the primary method used for the efficacy evaluation of drugs against the major internal parasites (bots, ascarids, large strongyles, small strongyles, and pinworms) of the horse. The critical test determines: (1) spectrum of activity, (2) effectiveness of removal, (3) pattern of discharge, and (4) physical condition of each species of these parasites. General characteristics of the major parasitisms of the horse are discussed briefly. Criteria of the critical test also are considered including: (1) number of tests, (2) strain variation and drug resistance, (3) selection of...
Goto H, Shimizu K.The first outbreak of equine influenza (EI) infection in Japan was recognized during the period December 1971 to January 1972 [1, 6]. No evidence of the disease had been found before then [2,6]. The etiological agent of this epizootic was identified by hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and neutralization tests with chicken or ferret antiserum as the subtype 2 of EI virus (6, 7). However, the isolate, A/equine/Tokyo/71 (Tokyo) strain, was not completely identical to the prototypic A/equine/Miami /63 (Miami) strain of the subtype 2, since antibody responses of convalescent horses were 2 to 16 tim...
Mason TA, Maclean AA.Two cases of osteochondrosis dissecans of the head of the humerus in foals are described. The lesions were gross compared with those seen in dogs. Arthrotomy and curettage of the affected area resulted in marked clinical improvement.
Strömberg B, Tufvesson G.Four autologous tendon grafting techniques, bipedicle, pedicle and free grafts of the deep digital flexor tendon and free grafts from the lateral digital extensor tendon were described. The vascularization and remodelling of the transplant and the reactions in the donor, as well as the recipient tendon, were studied by means of microangiographic and histochemical methods. The results indicated that regardless of the technique used the grafts were revascularized and replaced by a highly orientated and organized tendon. The use of free grafts may therefore be worthwhile in treatment of severe te...
Smith JS, Mayhew IG.The sympathetic nervous innervation of the head was surgically transected in the horse, cow, sheep and goat. The site of transection was preganglionic in all 4 species and ganglionic-postganglionic in 2 additional horses. The Horner's syndrome, manifested as a result of the iatrogenic lesion, varied with the species. Ptosis was the most constant sign in all species. Unilateral sweating over the face and proximal neck, particularly at the base of the ear, was the most prominent feature in the horse. The cow revealed distension of vasculature and cutaneous heat of the pinna, and a reduced produc...
Duncan ID, Baker GJ, Heffron CJ, Griffiths IR.The larynges of 6 horses were examined endoscopically and the findings correlated with the gross and histological appearance of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles and their nerve supply. In all cases it appeared that the balance between abductor and adductor muscle groups had been lost due to preferential atrophy of individual muscles or groups of muscles. The laryngeal abnormalities recorded were asymmetry of the larynx with asynchronous left sided abduction and fluttering or trembling of the left vocal cord and arytenoid cartilage. It is suggested that these changes represent the early signs of...
Zakin MM, Peña C, Poskus E, Stewart JM, Paladini AC.The immunological properties of a synthetic human growth hormone fragment comprising the amino acids 73 through 128 and of the homologous natural horse growth fragment formed by amino acids 73 through 123, have been comparatively studied. Antisera obtained in rabbits inoculated with the native human hormone or with the fragments, were used. By hemagglutination experiments both fragments have the same reactivity toward the anti-human growth hormone serum, but complement fixation curves detect the existence of at least two populations of antibodies presumably originated against the sequence 73-1...
Myers J.At the outbreak of equine influenza (EI) we chose to close our horse-based business, as we did not want to risk our horses contracting the disease and the demand for our services ceased. We report our experiences of the outbreak.
Webb PD, Steven DH.The adrenal cortex from twelve fetal foals (gestational ages from 61 to 300 days) was examined by light and electron microscopy. Adrenal glands from three newborn foals were also examined by light microscopy. Between 61 and 100 days of gestation the adrenal cortex became organised into two distinct regions, the zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata, which grew steadily in thickness until the 300th day. Between 300 days and birth there was a dramatic increase in the width of the zona fasciculata. From 200 days a narrow band of compact cells marked the cortico-medullary border. Though these cell...
Brown MP, Kelly RH, Gronwall RR, Stover SM.Six healthy adult mares were given a single IV dose (25 mg/kg of body weight) of chloramphenicol sodium succinate. Chloramphenicol concentrations in serum, synovial fluid, peritoneal fluid, and urine were measured serially over a 48-hour period. The highest measured serum chloramphenicol concentration was 6.21 micrograms/ml at 0.5 hour. Chloramphenicol was detected in synovial and peritoneal fluids, with mean peak concentrations of 3.89 micrograms/ml and 3.50 micrograms/ml, respectively, at 0.5 hour. Serum and synovial concentrations declined rapidly and were not measurable at 3 hours. Chloram...
Adland-Davenport P, Brown MP, Robinson JD, Derendorf HC.Fourteen foals less than four days of age were treated with the aminoglycoside, amikacin sulphate, and either penicillin or ampicillin for septicaemia, pneumonia, and/or failure of passive immunoglobulin transfer. Serum amikacin concentrations were determined at three times during an 8 or 12 h dosing interval. A 7.0 mg/kg bodyweight dose of amikacin every 8 h was appropriate. Prematurity did not influence mortality. All seven premature foals survived, whereas four of the seven full term foals died. Uraemia in three foals was caused by urinary bladder rupture; amikacin-induced nephrotoxicity wa...
Cerullo M, Driessen B, Douglas H, Hopster K. In anesthetized adult horses, changes in recumbency can influence the cardiovascular system but how arterial blood pressures and oxygen tension change in isoflurane anesthetized animals as a direct result of hoisting has not been investigated. To evaluate effects of hoisting on hemodynamic function and pulmonary gas exchange in isoflurane-anesthetized horses. Prospective, experimental study. Six adult horses were anesthetized three times using isoflurane in pure oxygen (inspired fraction 0.9-1.0), and allowed breathing spontaneously in lateral recumbency. After 45 min horses were hoisted u...
Hyland JH, Langsford DA.Foetal death was induced in 10 Standardbred mares at day 45 of gestation by injecting 20 to 45 ml of hypertonic (24% W/V) saline into the conceptus at surgery. Ten mares underwent sham treatment and acted as controls. Blood and urine samples were collected every other day between days 30 and 45 post ovulation and at 0, 3 and 6 h relative to the infusion of saline in the treated mares, or sham treatment in control mares. Blood and urine samples were then collected daily between days 46 and 55 post ovulation. Urine oestrone sulphate (E1S) concentrations, measured by radioimmunoassay, increased b...
Sievert M, Schuler G, Wehrend A.Due to the time-limited intestinal uptake of colostral immunoglobulins, the suggested treatment of hypogammaglobulinemia in new-born foals is usually plasma transfusion. The aims of this study were twofold: firstly, to investigate the course of serum IgG concentration after plasma transfusion in newborn foals; and secondly, to determine the amount of transfusion required for a significant increase in serum IgG concentration. For this purpose, the IgG concentration was measured in 23 foals at three different points in time: before transfusion, 1 hour after transfusion, and 24 hours after transf...
Weiss DJ, Evanson OA, McClenahan D, Fagliari J, Walcheck B.To determine whether platelets become activated and form platelet-platelet or platelet-neutrophil aggregates, or both, when subjected to shear. Methods: Blood obtained from 3 Thoroughbreds. Methods: Blood, with PCV adjusted to 32 (low hematocrit) or 60 (high hematocrit)%, was subjected to shear rates of 11.25, 22.5, 45, 90, 225, and 750/s for 3 minutes by use of a cone-plate viscometer. Flow cytometric techniques were used to identify activated platelets, platelet-platelet aggregates, and platelet-neutrophil aggregates. Results: Shear resulted in decreased platelet count, increased mean platel...
Drudge JH, Lyons ET, Tolliver SC.The basic-dose confirmation tests of tioxidazole for removal of susceptible populations of gastrointestinal parasites of the horse were made in 10 naturally infected horses, using the critical test method (experiment A). A single dose of toxidazole, given at the rate of 11 mg/kg of body weight, was administered to 5 horses by stomach tube and to 5 horses by mixing the drug with the daily grain ration. In the 5 horses given the drug by stomach tube, aggregate average removals were 90% or more for 5 horses infected with Stronglyus vulgaris, 5 infected with S edentatus, 5 infected with small stro...
Claerhoudt S, Pille F, Vanderperren K, Hauspie S, Duchateau L, Van der Vekens E, Saunders JH.To investigate whether in navicular bones (NB) from warmbloods, distal border fragmentation is associated with the shape of the proximal articular border or other radiological findings. Methods: Radiographs of the front feet of 325 normal, subadult horses presented for admission as breeding stallions were reviewed. Results: The proximal articular border of the total of 650 NB was classified as straight (n = 278), convex (n = 184), undulating (n = 147) or concave (n = 41). Distal border fragments were present in 57 NB (8.8%). They were significantly more prevalent in NB with a concave (9/41; 22...
Tamin A, Rota PA.Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV) are the causative agents of emerging transboundary animal disease in pigs and horses. They also cause fatal disease in humans. NiV has a case fatality rate of 40 - 100%. In the initial NiV outbreak in Malaysia in 1999, about 1.1 million pigs had to be culled. The economic impact was estimated to be approximately US$450 million. Worldwide, HeV has caused more than 60 deaths in horses with 7 human cases and 4 deaths. Since the initial outbreak, HeV spillovers from Pteropus bats to horses and humans continue. This article presents a brief review on the cur...
Gallagher K, Stowe HD.Blood samples were obtained from 45 racing Standardbred horses immediately before and immediately after a training jog at a commercial race track to establish reference values for serum selenium and related values of the peroxide reduction system of racing horses. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum selenium increased significantly (P < 0.001), whereas RBC-reduced glutathione decreased significantly (P < 0.01) immediately after exercise. Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were not altered by exercise. Serum copper and magnesium were significantly increased (P < 0.01) after exercise...
Tulleners EP, Becht JL, Richardson DW, Divers TJ.Obstructive choledocholithiasis in a 12-year-old mare was corrected surgically by choledocholithotripsy. The mare had a history of chronic weight loss, intermittent fever, partial anorexia, jaundice, recurrent abdominal pain, and an abdominal mass palpable per rectum. Values for alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transferase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, and bromsulpthalein half-life were increased and bilirubinuria was evident before surgery. Two liver biopsies revealed periportal and portal fibrosis, bile duct proliferation, cholestasis, and variable amounts of hepatocellular necrosi...
Beroza GA.In horses, ventral laryngotomies are typically allowed to heal by second intention. Partial closure of the laryngotomy incision, however, was associated wtih less exudate, less aftercare, shorter hospitalization, and better cosmetic results, compared with the traditional technique. The partial closure technique did not result in complications in the 3 horses in which it was attempted.
Mason TA.A case of bicipital bursitis in a six-year-old mare is described. The horse was presented with acute lameness, pyrexia and hot swelling over the right shoulder region. Although antibiotic treatment relieved these signs, a firm cold swelling remained which had to be removed by surgical resection and drainage.
Timofeev BA, Bolotin IM, Stepanova LP, Bogdanov AA, Georgiu Kh, Malyshev SN, Petrovskiĭ , Klibanov AL, Torchilin VP.The cultures of Nuttalia eque mainly develop in the reticuloendothelial organs and so in treatment of nuttaliosis in horses and the Nuttalia carriers diamidine, an analog of imidocarb or imidozoline, was used encapsulated in liposomes. The liposomes were prepared with a modification of the phase inversion method (the lipids were dissolved in a mixture of freon-11 and chloroform). The content of the organic solvents in the preparation, as evidenced by gas liquid chromatography, was less than 0.2 per cent. The main fraction consisted of particles 1.5 to 2.5 microns in diameter. The tests on anim...