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.
Merritt AM, Cimprich RE, Beech J.Granulomatous enteritis was diagnosed in 9 horses between 1 and 11 years of age. The complaint in all cases was persistent weight loss. Four of the horses had chronic diarrhea. Two consistent diagnostic features were hypoalbuminemia and decreased phagocytic activity of mesothelial cells in the peritoneal fluid. In 2 cases the diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy of the rectal mucosa. Remaining cases were definitively diagnosed by exploratory laparotomy and biopsy or at necropsy.
Rankin JS, Diesem CD.The hindlimbs of 3 ponies and 3 horses were dissected. The hip joint capsule was found to receive articular nerve fibers from the femoral, obturator, cranial gluteal, and sciatic nerves. The nerve fibers were distributed to the fibrous joint capsule and associated capsular ligaments. The stifle joint capsule was found to receive articular branches from the femoral, saphenous, obturator, common peroneal, and tibial nerves. The fibers terminated in the joint capsule, fat pad, patellar and collateral ligaments, and the internally situated meniscal and cruciate ligaments.
Cannon JH, Grant BD, Sande RD.Development of cysts in the equine paranasal sinuses is probably a congenital disease; however, signs may not appear for several years. In 4 cases, clinical signs were observed when fluid accumulation within the cysts resulted in nasal discharge or facial swelling, or when secondary infection occurred. Treatment required surgical removal of the lining membrane and other involved tissues. Postoperative care included lavage of the sinuses and systemic antibiotic therapy.
Wilbur DJ, Allerhand A.The titration behavior of individual tyrosine residues of myoglobins has been studied by observing the pH dependence of the chemical shifts of Czeta and Cgamma of these residues in natural abundance of 13C Fourier transform NMR spectra (at 15.18 MHz, in 20-mm sample tubes, at 37 degrees) of cyanoferrimyoglobins from sperm whale, horse, and red kangaroo. A comparison of the pH dependence of the spectra of the three proteins yielded specific assignments for the resonance of Tyr-151 (sperm whale) and Tyr-103 (sperm whale and horse). Selective proton decoupling yielded specific assignments for Cze...
Glöckner WM, Newman RA, Dahr W, Uhlenbruck G.Phenol extraction of horse, sheep, cow, pig and human erythrocyte membranes and human milk fat globule membranes gave glycoprotein fractions, all of which were shown by gas chromatography to contain the reduced disaccharide beta-D-galactosyl (1-3)-N-acetyl-D-galactosaminital after treatment with alkaline borohydride. Cow and pig erythrocyte membrane glycoproteins were found however to contain much lower amounts than the erythrocyte membrane glycoproteins of the other species tested. After gel filtration, a tetrasaccharide was isolated from horse and sheep glycoproteins containing the disacchar...
Reitnour CM, Salsbury RL.Protein digestion, nitrogen retention, plasma protein, plasma urea, and plasma-free amino acids were determined for ponies fed 3 different protein supplements. Substitution of casein, corn gluten meal, or corn gluten meal plus lysine for a portion of the cornstarch in a low-protein basal ration increased apparent digestion of protein. Substitution with either casein or corn gluten meal plus lysine produced a significant increase (P less than 0.05) in nitrogen retention, whereas the corn gluten meal substitution did not. Nitrogen retention, expressed as percentage of nitrogen absorbed, was incr...
Ogbourne CP.A total of 21 species of Cyathostominae was found in the lumen of the large intestine of 86 mature horses of various ages and breeds killed in south-west England during 1972-1974. Cylicostephanus longibursatus, C. goldi, C. calicatus, Cyathostomum catinatum, C. coronatum and Cylicocyclus nassatus were found in over 80% of the horses, while 12 of the remaining species were detected in less than 30%. Quantitative studies on 55 horses showed the adult cyathostome burdens to rise to a sharp peak (average over 400,000/horse) in April-June and a lower one in November-December. Parallel fluctuations ...
Breaud TP, Steelman CD, Roth EE, Adams WV.A tissue culture of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say ovarian cells appeared to support the growth of equine infectious anemia (EIA) virus. Shetland ponies inoculated with 2nd, 7th, 9th, and 11th passages of mediums harvested from infected tissue culture had clinical signs of the disease and became EIA positive on 11, 19, 23, and 43 days after inoculation, respectively.
Charman HP, Bladen S, Gilden RV, Coggins L.Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) has a density of 1.154 g/cm3 in sucrose a high-molecular-weight RNA similar in size to Rauscher murine leukemia virus, and an internal virion reverse transcriptase that utilizes the synthetic RNA template poly(rA) but not the synthetic DNA template poly(dA), both with (dT)12 as primer. Although capable of utilizing manganese at low concentrations (approximately 0.1 mM), EIAV reverse transcriptase showed highest activity in the presence of 9 mM magnesium. The major protein of EIAV has a slightly lower molecular weight than the comparable protein of type C v...
Tobin T, Blake JW, Tai CY, Arnett S.Rapid intravenous injection of 1 g of procaine hydrochloride in Thoroughbred mares produced variable signs of central nervous system excitation for as long as 4 minutes. Plasma concentrations of procaine were similarly variable and transient, decreasing with a half-life of approximately 25 minutes. In vitro, plasma from freshly collected equine blood hydrolyzed procaine with a half-life of approximately 7.5 minutes. This hydrolysis was apparently due to plasma esterases. Penicillin, when added free or complexed as procaine-penicillin, did not protect procaine against hydrolysis by these plasma...
Pfaff G.In South Africa 2,41% of horses bleed in a race. If all raced until they were 7 years old probably another 2,12% would bleed. Many others bleed after the race or during exercise or at rest. The incidence of epistaxis is significantly greater in geldings than in females and uncastrated males (P less than 0,001). There is an age distribution of bleeding which is highest at 4 years and lowest at 2 years of age (P less than 0,001).
Anderson BH, Ethell MT.A number of methods for the local delivery of drugs to musculoskeletal tissues in the horse are now available. Further research is required to document the disposition of drugs delivered by such methods and to correlate this information with efficacy. Perhaps the greatest potential area for the methods discussed is the treatment of synovial and bone infections. To be able to provide high and sustained therapeutic concentrations of antimicrobials to the site of infection should increase the chances of success in such cases. These methods of drug delivery need to be used in conjunction with othe...
Lamarque D, Haessler C, Champion R, Granga D, Bendina , Steinmetz P, Guelina A, Maurice Y.An epidemic of human and animal anthrax raged in Chad mainly in the Department of Chari Baguirmi from September to December 1988, infesting more than 50% of donkeys and horses. 716 human cases have been reported, with 88 deaths. Thanks to a geographical distribution of animal and human prevalence, one sees immediately the interdependency between sanitary state of live-stock and public health. An unusual means of transmission from donkey to donkey by insects as the vector is suggested to explain the intensity of animal epidemics. Two strains of B. anthracis were isolated and described. Systemat...
Schneider RK, Ratzlaff MC, White KK, Hopper SA.To determine effect of 3 half-limb casts on bone strains recorded from the proximal phalanx (P-1) and third metacarpal bone (MCIII) of equine cadaver limbs, using a mechanical testing machine. Methods: 12 equine cadaver limbs and 4 live horses. Methods: Bone strains were recorded at middorsal P-1 and the dorsal cortical aspect of the distal third of MCIII while limbs were variably loaded with 100 to 1,000 lb of force. To determine ability of the cast to protect the distal portion of the limb from weight-bearing loads, strains were recorded with the limb in 1 of the 3 casts and with it unsuppor...
Burrows GE, MacAllister CG, Tripp P, Black J.The potential for interactions between chloramphenicol, phenylbutazone, acepromazine and thiamylal and chloramphenicol, rifampin, and phenylbutazone were evaluated in two groups of experiments. In the first, five horses were given thiamylal intravenously (iv) (6.6 mg/kg) after pretreatment with acepromazine, and the time of recumbency was determined. Administration of chloramphenicol iv (25 mg/kg) 1 h prior to anaesthesia significantly lengthened the recumbency time from 21.8 +/- 4.8 mins to 36.0 +/- 8.3 mins. There was an apparent but not statistically significant decrease in recumbency time ...
Peeters MWJ, Thursby JJ, Watson HE, Berner D.Palmaroproximal-palmarodistal oblique (PaPr-PaDiO) radiographs are regularly obtained for a full evaluation of the navicular bone (NB). Despite their routine use, different acquisition techniques are described. Objective: To determine optimal foot placement and beam angle for obtaining PaPr-PaDiO views. Methods: In vitro experiment. Methods: A convenience sample of 26 disarticulated forelimbs were placed in six different positions using a leg press to mimic the weight-bearing position. In each position, navicular PaPr-PaDiO images were obtained with eight different beam angles. The resulting 1...
Wille KH, Zahner M.The vascular system of the large intestine of 12 horses was examined by means of vascular corrosion casts, histology and transmission electron microscopy providing the following results. The Aa. et Vv. breves et longae leave the mesenteric vessels, respectively the subserously on the teniae lying cecal vessels to reach the tela subserosa at the mesenteric margin. The short vessels enter the deeper layers of the wall instantly, whereas the Aa. et Vv. longae move towards the submucosa by penetrating the muscular layers after a variable subserous course. The tela submucosa contains an arterial an...
Körber HD.Radiographic examination is a valuable means for the identification of ossified lateral cartilage. The extent and stages of development of the ossification can be determined. The active stage of development of ossified lateral cartilage, which by itself can provoke lameness, can be defined. By means of the X-ray it is tried to differentiate the three kinds of ossification: the enchondral, the peri- and parachondral ossification of the lateral cartilage. Centres of ossification and fractures of the ossified lateral cartilage are described.
Shrauner B, Blikslager A, Davis J, Campbell N, Law M, Lustgarten M, Prange T.The large size of the adult horse prevents the use of advanced imaging modalities in most areas of the axial skeleton, including the lumbosacral vertebral column. Traditional imaging techniques are frequently unable to pinpoint the underlying pathology in horses with caudal back pain. In man, lumbosacral epiduroscopy is used to diagnose and treat subjects with chronic back and leg pain. This technique may close the diagnostic gap in horses with similar clinical signs. Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of lumbosacral epiduroscopy in the standing adult horse. Methods: Descriptive...
Sarazan RD, Krause GF, Franklin D, Garner HE, Griggs DM.Coronary reactive hyperemia duration (RHD) and coronary blood flow debt repayment (BFDR) were compared in conscious dogs and ponies instrumented with coronary artery Doppler flow probes and pneumatic occluders. Additional ponies were instrumented with pacing electrodes. With the use of a Latin square design, eight animals of each species were subjected to a randomized series of nine coronary occlusions ranging from 5 s to 2 min in duration. In both species, postocclusion blood flow velocity rose rapidly and plateaued at similar peak levels relative to control, but in ponies this plateau lasted...
Powell DG, Whitwell K.Following an outbreak of CEM in England during 1977 a Code of Practice was introduced to control the disease in 1978. The Code recommended a bacteriological screening programme for Thoroughbred mares and stallions and improved standards of hygiene on the stud farm. As a result of the implementation of the Code a number of asymptomatic carrier mares was detected. Stallions which had transmitted CEM in 2977 and were treated did not transmit the disease during 1978. Two small outbreaks of CEM were reported during the 1978 breeding season.
Calixto-Vega LC, Martínez-Aranzales JR.The existing literature does not contain information about the prevalence of gastric ulcers in mules, and on the potential associations between the presence of ulcers and work load, work type, diet, sex, age and body condition score (BCS). Objective: To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with mule gastric ulcer syndrome (MGUS) and evaluate its distribution in both mule squamous gastric disease (MSGD) and mule glandular gastric disease (MGGD) mucosa in a population of mules in Colombia. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional. Methods: A total of 97 clinically healthy mules of diffe...
Iqbal J, Purewal AS, Edington N.The aim of this study was to investigate the role of immediate early gene (gene63) in the pathogenesis of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) acute and latent infections in equine and murine models. EHV-1 gene63 mutant virus (g63mut) along with EHV-1 (Ab4) was used for intracerebral and intranasal infection of 3 and 17-day-old mice. Both viruses were recovered at the same frequency from tissues after infection. Two Welsh ponies were infected via the intranasal route with each of the viruses. Acute infection was monitored by virus isolation from nasal swabs and peripheral blood leukocytes. Six weeks p...
Mastellar SL, Barnes T, Cybulak K, Urschel KL.This study determined splanchnic extraction of phenylalanine at two intakes of threonine. Six Thoroughbred mares were supplemented with isonitrogenous amounts of either threonine or glutamate. Dietary threonine intakes were 119 (+Thr) and 58 (Basal) mg/kg/day, respectively. Each horse received each diet twice and each was studied once with an oral and once with an intravenous (IV) infusion of [1-(13)C]phenylalanine. A 2-h primed, constant IV infusion of [(13)C]sodium bicarbonate and a 4-h primed, constant infusion of [1-(13)C]phenylalanine, either orally or IV, were used to measure isotopic en...
Sugimoto M, Kuwano A, Ikeda S, Kume S, Yoshihara E, Wada S.To examine the distribution of water in hoof wall specimens of horses via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) microscopy and determine changes in water distribution during hydration. Methods: 4 hoof wall specimens (2 obtained from the dorsum and 1 each obtained from the lateral quarter and lateral heel regions) of the stratum medium of healthy hooves of 1 horse. Methods: Equine hoof wall specimens were examined via NMR microscopy. Proton density-weighted 3-D images were acquired. Changes during water absorption were assessed on sequential images. Results: The inner zone of the stratum medium had ...
