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.
Buening GM, Perryman LE, McGuire TC.Serum concentrations of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) can be determined in the horse with a satisfactory degree of accuracy, using commercially available reagents. Selected lots of anti-human IgM can be used in precipitation tests to detect and quantitate equine IgM. Commercially available anti-equine IgG tended to overestimate the amount of IgG in single radial immunodiffusion tests. Even with these limitations, commercial reagents can be used to differentiate immunodeficiency disorders of foals, including combined immunodeficiency and failure of passive transfer of colost...
O'Sullivan BM, Goodwin JA.On 6 properties in south-western Queensland an outbreak of nervous disease occurred horses due to ingestion of Swainsonia (Darling pea). Loss of condition, depression, hyperaesthesia and hyperexcitability were seen in affected horses. At autopsy of 2 horses generalised c ytoplasmic vacuolation was seen in the neurones of the central nervous system and in the liver, adrenal and thyroid. The clinical and pathological features were similar to those described in horses suffering from Swainsona poisoning in Australia and Astragalus and Oxytropis in North America.
Mirck MH.Patent S. westeri infection is particularly common in unweaned foals (61.2 per cent). It is much less common in foals which have been weaned (15.4 per cent). Examination of the faeces of ten artificially reared foals (free from worms) did not supply any evidence of possible prenatal (intra-uterine) helminth infection. In one Shetland pony mare, larvae of S. westeri were found to be present in the milk on the tenth, twenty-fourth and thirty-second day after parturition. Larvae were not detected in the milk of the other mares but all foals showed patent S. westeri infection within from thirteen ...
Dixon PM, Brown R.Equine blood containing different levels of methaemoglobin was stored under varying conditions and the methaemoglobin content was monitored during the storage period. Only under aerobic storage at 4 degrees C did the methaemoglobin content of all samples appear to remain stable.
Hillidge CJ, Lees P.The effects of thiopentone-halothane and thiopentone-ether anaesthesia on left ventricular isotonic function were assessed in Welsh Mountain ponies from measurements of left ventricular stroke work, minute work, stroke power, mean ejection rate and tension-time index.
All of these variables were affected similarly during anaesthesia, an initial marked reduction being followed by a progressive return towards control levels in the later stages of anaesthesia. Quantitative differences between the effects of each agent were evident, the depression which occurred during halothane anaesthesia bei...
Leegaard J, Roth A.Case history, skin tests and RAST were compared in a group (n = 40) of children with a history suggesting allergy to horses and in a group (n = 43) in whom there was no suspicion of hypersensitivity to horses. There was an agreement of 91% between case history and prick test. The same magnitude of agreement was found between case history and RAST (89%), and the agreement between RAST and prick test was 90%. The results of this investigation are clearly in contrast to earlier earlier reports, in that there was a very good correlation between prick test, RAST and case history. The results sugges...
Parkes RD, Blackmore DJ.Equine placental extracts show phosphatase activity with a pH optimum between 4.5 and 6. The enzyme shows heat stability to 45 degrees C and electrophoresis on cellulose acetate demonstrates the presence of two bands of activity. Histochemistry confirms the presence of phosphatase activity in the placental villi. Assay of plasma samples from pregnant mares showed no increase in phosphatase activity through pregnancy under conditions of test.
Blackmore DJ, Palmer A.Examination of tissues obtained from thoroughbred horses showed that the 'intestinal' phosphatase activity could be differentiated from other phosphatases by analysis at a pH of 9-5 and inhibition with 15 mM L-phenylalanine. A simple method for the measurement of 'intestinal' phosphatase in heparinised plasma or serum is described. Application of the technique to serum or plasma from normal and diseased horses indicates that the increase in the activity of 'intestinal' phosphatase is associated with cases showing clinical, biochemical and haematological evidence of intestinal damage.
Jahrling PB, Beall JL.Hydroxylapatite column chromatography methods were developed to characterize selected alphavirus populations. Different conditions of pH and phosphate molarity were required to obtain satisfactory elution profiles and separations for Western equine encephalomyelitis virus strains, compared with Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus and Semliki Forest virus strains. Raising the pH of the buffers effected earlier elutions of all viruses. Selection of phosphate gradients with more gentle slopes and adjustment to the proper pH effected better separations of virus subpopulations. Elution profiles ...
Taylor HW, Vandevelde M, Firth EC.A horse that suddenly became recumbent had a focal ischemic infarct of the spinal cord between C6 and C7. The infarct was attributed to multiple fibrocartilaginous emboli. Adherence of fibrocartilaginous debris to the outer surface of the dura was interpreted as evidence that intervertebral disc degeneration and displacement of the nucleus pulposus had occurred and that the emboli arose from the disc.
Hallauer C.1. Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is an immunologically-medicated disease. Immune complexes formed in blood and tissues are responsible for most symptoms and lesions (anemia, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, glomerulonephritis, etc.). In addition, a state of cellular hypersensitivity of the delayed type is involved in the pathogenesis. 2. Periodical attacks of pyrexia and clinical illness in the presence of immunity are caused by antigenically-modified variants of virus. By means of immunosuppressive treatments similar relapses of fever associated with the appearance of new virus variants can be...
Verma BB, Biberstein EL, Meyer ME.A serologic survey was made of the prevalence of common leptospiral infections in horses in California. A total of 465 serums were tested, using the microscopic agglutination method, against 5 leptospiral serotypes: Leptospira pomona, Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae, Leptospira canicola, Leptospira grippotyphosa, and Leptospira hardjo. Of the serums tested, 127 (27.30%) were positive against 1 or more of the leptospires, with percentage distribution among the reactors as follows: L pomona, 12.47%; L icterohaemorrhagiae, 10.32%; L canicola, 3.22%; L grippotyphosa, 0.86%; and L hardjo, 0.43%. The...
Bras GE, Kersjes AW.Comparative studies were done on healing of the wound following laparotomy through the ventral wall of the abdomen (paramedian incision or in the linea alba) in seventy horses and following surgical treatment of umbilical hernia in eighty-five (young) horses, in which perlon, (chromic) catgut, stainless steel wire and polyglycollic acid were used as suture material. Though with some reserve, as the study was concerned with the comparison of findings in clinical cases in which a number of conditions may vary, it is concluded that steel wire and polyglycollic acid are preferable to perlon and (c...
Hoffer RE, Barber SM, Kallfelz FA, Petro SP.Esophageal patch grafting, using the sternocephalicus muscle, was used for treatment of cervical esophageal stricture in a mare. The mare was maintained during the initial healing phase by total parenteral nutrition.
Owen RR, Moore JN, Hopkins JB, Arthur D.Five horses with histories of colic developed signs of myocardial failure and skeletal muscle disease. Necropsy revealed pale areas in the cervical, pectoral, pelvic, and cardiac musculature; histologically, the lesions were indicative of dystrophic myodegeneration. Serum vitamin E concentrations were normal in 2 of the horses but serum selenium concentrations were normal in 2 of the horses, but serum selenium concentrations were low when compared with values obtained from clinically normal horses.
Fogarty U, Leadon DP.Blood neutrophils from 10 Thoroughbred and 2 Pony foals were evaluated using in-vitro cellular function tests of chemotaxis, chemiluminescence, phagocytosis and intracellular killing. A comparison of the functional capacities of these cells before and 2-4 days after the ingestion of colostrum indicated an improvement in blood neutrophil chemotaxis and chemiluminescence. Bronchopulmonary lavage was carried out on 9 Thoroughbred and 2 Pony 36-h-old foals. The technique used did not require sedation or anaesthesia. Pulmonary alveolar macrophages were the predominant cell type recovered. When comp...
Beccati F, Nannarone S, Gialletti R, Lotto E, Cercone M, Dante S, Bazzica C, Pepe M.The aim of this study was to evaluate the transabdominal ultrasonography as a tool for predicting the success of abdominocentesis in horses. Patients were included in the study if a complete transabdominal ultrasonography examination and abdominocentesis were performed as part of the clinical work-up. Ultrasonographically, the amount of peritoneal fluid was assessed using a 4-point grading system, as well as the amount of peritoneal fluid collected. A χ(2) or Fischer exact test was performed to test for an association between the ultrasonography findings and fluid retrieved, and between the t...
McCarthy PH.The subcutaneous part of the masseteric ramus of the external carotid artery can be used as a proposed site of pulse-taking in most Thoroughbreds. It is located on the lateral surface of the masseter muscle, and its contour may be visible in association with a summer coat.
Maurer P.The first part of this paper gives a short historical survey of veterinary medicine in India starting from vedic times. The knowledge about hippiatry was highly valued since horses played an important role in warfare. The review of authors and publications on Indian hippiatry and hippology is followed by a synopsis on these traditions in Europe. The second part of this article includes further references and research on the Aśvaśăstra of Nakula and a translation of chapter 4 describing the anatomy of the horse.
van der Kolk JH, Klein WR, van der Putten SW, Mol JA.A thirteen-year-old Dutch warmblooded mare was referred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine because of a sinusitis. She was thin with a potbellied appearance. Her coat was dull with long wavy hair. Unilateral (left) purulent nasal discharge was evident. A cbc revealed leucopenia (3.9 G.L.-1) and plasma biochemical analysis revealed a plasma glucose concentration of 10.1 mmol.L-1. Thermostable alkaline phosphatase (at 65 degrees C during 2 minutes) could not be demonstrated. Basal plasma cortisol concentration was lowered (114 nmol.L-1) and basal plasma ACTH concentration was highly elevated ...
Scarratt WK, Furr MO, Robertson JL.A pregnant, miniature horse mare had clinical signs of hepatoencephalopathy and concurrent hypocalcemia. The signs included dullness, inappetence, blindness, head pressing, weakness, muscle fasiculations, uveitis, and urinary incontinence. Hepatic dysfunction and hypocalcemia were confirmed by serum biochemical analysis. The mare was treated successfully with a continuous infusion of Ringer solution, calcium gluconate, dextrose, B-complex vitamins, sodium ampicillin, and flunixin meglumine; topical administration of ophthalmic ointments; and decompression of the urinary bladder. Histologic exa...
Shank BR, Ofner CM.Pergolide mesylate (proprietary name Permax) is used to treat equine Cushing's syndrome. Since pergolide mesylate has been removed from the market, the tablets are no longer available. Therefore, pergolide mesylate preparations have to be compounded for veterinary use. Compounded oral liquid formulations have been given arbitrary beyond-use dates of 14 days (aqueous) to 90 days (oil based). The goal of this study was to determine the stability of a 0.2 mg/mL pergolide oral liquid prepared according to a previousy published formulation and stored at room temperature. The sample preparation and ...
Doyle-Jones PS, Sullins KE, Saunders GK.To compare synovial regeneration in the equine carpus after mechanical or CO(2) laser synovectomy. Methods: Arthroscopic partial synovectomy was performed in the radiocarpal and intercarpal joints. Methods: Twelve horses, 3 to 6 years of age, were randomly divided into 3 groups. Methods: The antebrachiocarpal and intercarpal joints in each horse were randomly assigned a treatment such that each horse had one joint treated as a control (arthroscopic lavage), one in which a mechanical or CO(2) laser partial dorsal carpal synovectomy was performed, and one in which a combination of the mechanical...
Katz J, Geer P.An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the serodiagnosis of contagious equine metritis (CEM), a sexually transmitted disease caused by Taylorella equigenitalis. Antigen preparation was simple, and antigens derived from both classical and atypical forms of T. equigenitalis enabled detection of antibody responses elicted in horses experimentally exposed to either form of the bacterium. Sera serially obtained from these horses from 0 to 63 days postexposure were tested by the traditional complement fixation test (CFT) for CEM and with the ELISA, using both antigens separat...
Rutten DR, Chaffaux S, Valon M, Deletang F, De Haas V.In two studies in Holland and France a total of 41 mares found either to be in anoestrus or showing continuous oestrous behaviour during the early part of the covering season were treated with a progesterone releasing intravaginal device. Of the 32 mares in the first study, 24 ovulated after treatment and 11 became pregnant to a covering at the induced oestrus. In the second study all but one of the nine mares showed oestrus, seven ovulated and six became pregnant at the post treatment oestrus. By the end of the covering season 15 of the 21 mares treated for anoestrus and seven of the 11 mares...
Rose RJ.Three of the standard radiographic views of the navicular bone were assessed in normal horses and horses with navicular disease to determine the most effective radiographic positioning. Using the upright pedal view, a pastern angulation of 20 degrees from the vertical produced the optimum result when radiographs were taken using a grid. The best result using the high coronary view was obtained with an anode-film distance of 1 1000 mm, and a tube-head angle of 50 degrees from the vertical. When the special navicular view described by Morgan was examined, the most satisfactory projection was obt...