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.
Ushimi C, Henson JB, Gorham JR.Primary horse leukocyte cultures were inoculated with 2 or 10 50% tissue culture infective doses (TCID(50)) of equine infectious anemia (EIA) virus per cell, and the titer of cell-associated and fluid-phase virus was determined from 1 to 72 hr postinoculation (PI). Cover slips were collected from 4 to 72 hr PI and stained for EIA viral antigen by the indirect immunofluorescent (FA) technique. Viral replication was detected after a latent period of approximately 18 to 24 hr and reached peak titers of approximately 10(4.5) to 10(6) TCID(50)/0.5 ml from 48 to 72 hr PI. The fluid phase contained 1...
Klingeborn B, Dinter Z.The infectivity of equine abortion (herpes) virus (EAV) was inactivated by treatment with reduced dithiothreitol (DTT). According to their susceptibility to DTT, the EAV strains could be divided into three groups. The vaccine strain RAC-H (419) proved to be more resistant to DTT than all of the other 14 strains tested. The hemagglutinin of EAV was also inactivated by DTT; no strain differences were observed in this respect.
Ogbourne CP.Observations have been made on the development and survival of the free-living stages in faeces deposited out of doors at different times of year, and on the migration of infective larvae to the surrounding herbage. Laboratory experiments were performed to assist in the interpretation of the field observations. Studies were made on the rate of development to the infective stage in faeces kept at different temperatures. The rates at which eggs and larvae of Strongylus vulgaris, S edentatus, S. equinus and Trichonema nassatum developed on faecal-agar cultures at different temperatures were compa...
Vetterling JM, Thompson DE.Kidneys from 5 of 40 ponies (Equus caballus) and from 3 of 14 burrows (Equus asinus) were found infected with Klossiella equi. In addition to previously reported sporogonous stages in epithelial cells of Henle's loop, schizogonic stages in endothelial cells of Bowman's capsule and epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubules are described. The association of macro- and micro-gametocytes in syzygy is discounted, and a microgametocyte with 8 to 10 microgametes is characterized. Microgametes in the process of migrating to macro gametes are reported. A life cycle for this parasite is propos...
Little PB.A review of 6 cases of equine cerebrospinal nematodiasis diagnosed between 1958 and 1971 indicated that 2 major clinical syndromes occur—chronic incoordination and an acute progressive fatal encephalitic disease. The gross lesions of acute cases occur most commonly in the centrum ovale and the cerebellar roof nuclear region and appear as hemorrhagic serpentine tracks. The invariable existence of endocardial or proximal aortic verminous lesions caused by Strongylus vulgaris in horses with verminous encephalitis circumstantially incriminates S. vulgaris parasitic emboli as the most common caus...
Bertram CA, Dietert K, Pieper L, Erickson NA, Barton AK, Klopfleisch R.During bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) sample preparation in horses, several technical aspects can affect sample variability. To date, the effects of different fixatives on prepared equine BALF films have been insufficiently investigated. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of various on-slide fixation methods on cell quality, including spray fixation of wet films, and acetone and methanol fixation of air-dried samples in comparison with unfixed, air-dried films. Methods: Cytocentrifuged BALF samples from 5 horses were fixed in a wet state using a commercially available fix...
Nauwelaerts S, Kaiser L, Malinowski R, Clayton HM.The estimation of the position of the center of mass (CM) is essential in a wide range of biomechanical analyses. In horses, the majority of the body mass is contained in the trunk and in most studies, the trunk is assumed to be rigid. However, this rigidity assumption has not been tested. We quantified changes in the position of the trunk CM due to external shape changes by measuring the kinematics of a mesh encompassing the trunk. Using a frame of reference fixed to the horse's spine, we described the shape deformation of the trunk during walking. In addition, we tested for speed and individ...
Houck EL, Papich MG, Delk KW.Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) frequently develop painful conditions, such as traumatic injuries or osteoarthritis, necessitating the administration of pain-relieving medications. One of the preferred treatments is the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone because of the availability of oral formulations and the familiarity of its use in horses. For the main study, a single oral dose of phenylbutazone at 2 mg/kg was administered to healthy adult rhinoceros (n = 33) housed at six North American zoological institutions. Each rhinoceros had up to four blood ...
Smyth GB, Young DW, Schumacher J.Postprandial gastrin concentrations were assayed in serum samples from a group of six foals at one day, one week, one month and three months of age. Before sampling, each foal was prevented from feeding for 2 h and was then allowed to suck for 15 mins. Blood samples were taken at the start of the meal and at 30 min intervals for the next 3 h. Feeding increased serum gastrin concentrations at one day, one week and one month, with the greatest increases detected at one day. Mean pre-feeding gastrin concentrations were 25.2 +/- 2.3 pg/ml at one day, 22.8 +/- 3.9 pg/ml at one week, 15.2 +/- 2.3 pg...
Yordanov G, Zlatanovic N, Palova N, Mehandjyiski I, Neov B, Radoslavov G, Hristov P.The objective of our study was to investigate the genetic structure of yet uninvestigated populations of three closely related horse breeds - the Danubian Horse, the Hungarian Nonius and the Serbian Nonius - in order to clarify their origin and genetic diversity. A 640-bp-long fragment of the mtDNA D-loop region was amplified and sequenced. The results showed that the investigated breeds have different genetic profiles although they share some common characteristics. We identified nine of the 17 haplogroups described in modern horses. Most of the obtained sequences fall into the M, L, G, and O...
Atayde L, Rocha A.It is important to get mares pregnant as early as possible after vernal transition and thus, identification signs of impending 1st ovulation of the year are warranted. To identify clinical indicators of an approaching first ovulation of the year, mares were teased with a stallion for oestrous detection starting January 3 and subjected to ultrasonographic examination. Day of first appearance of uterus oedema, follicular wall invagination, intrafollicular echogenicity, double contour of the follicle wall, increase in granulosa thickness, follicular wall hyperechogenicity and appearance of pear-s...
Bertone AL.Initial management of injuries includes safely gaining control of the animal and assessing and treating systemic shock. If hemorrhage is life threatening, it must be controlled. If the limb is nonfunctional it should be stabilized. Any open orthopedic injury should be treated by cleaning the tissues, protecting the exposed tissues, and administering systemic antibiotics. A commercial splint is available (Equine Regular Leg Saver Splint, Kimzey Welding Works, Woodland, CA) that can immobilize and relieve weightbearing for cases of phalangeal fracture, flexor tendon rupture, fetlock breakdown, a...
Adeyefa CA, Durojaiye OA.Serum samples obtained from 107 Polo horses showing clinical signs of viral respiratory disease were tested for precipitating antibodies to adenovirus by agar gel precipitation test and counter-immunoelectrophoresis method. The results obtained demonstrate serological evidence of adenovirus infection in Polo horses in Nigeria. The counter-immunoelectrophoresis method was observed to be about 3 times more sensitive than the agar gel precipitation test with 19.3 vs 64.5%. It could thus be used to screen a large number of serum samples within a short period.
Tetens J, Bueno AC, Cornick-Seahorn JL, Hosgood G, Eades SC, Moore RM.To determine hemodynamic and metabolic effects of IV infusion of ATP-MgCl2 combination and maximal safe IV infusion rate in conscious horses. Methods: 6 adult female horses. Methods: All horses received an IV infusion of ATP-MgCl2 combination, beginning at a rate of 0.05 mg of ATP/kg of body weight/min, which was increased by 0.05 mg/kg/min increments at 10-minute intervals until a rate of 1.0 mg/kg/min was achieved. Data were collected prior to the start of the infusion, at the end of each infusion rate, and at 15-minute intervals for the next hour after discontinuation of the infusion. Measu...
Funkquist P, Demmers S, Hedenstierna G, Jensen Waern M, Nyman G.It is not known if pulmonary function and gas exchange during exercise are altered after pyogranulomatous pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi infection in the foal. The aim was to evaluate whether pulmonary gas exchange during high intensity exercise was altered in mature Standardbreds with a history of R. equi pneumonia as foals. In 7 foals, R. equi pneumonia was confirmed and treated. At age 3 years, when these horses were subjected to professional training, an inclined treadmill exercise test including 4 speeds was performed. Samples were collected when a steady state in VO2 was obtained. ...
Yasuda K, Scott DW, Erb HN, McDonough SP.Infiltrative lymphocytic mural folliculitis (ILMF) is a histopathological reaction pattern reported to occur in a small number of equine inflammatory dermatoses. However, the prevalence of ILMF in a variety of equine dermatoses has not been reported. Skin biopsy specimens from 250 horses with inflammatory dermatoses and from 27 horses with physically healthy skin were therefore evaluated. ILMF was present in 82% of the diseased skin specimens examined. ILMF was not seen in physically healthy skin. It appears that ILMF is frequently seen in a wide variety of equine inflammatory dermatoses and t...
Ball MA, Rebhun WC, Trepanier L, Gaarder J, Schwark WS.The objectives of this study were to determine the concentration of itraconazole achieved in corneal tissue and aqueous humour after topical application of a 1% itraconazole ointment: to determine the effect of including dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) in the ointment on achievable ocular tissue itraconazole concentrations; and to assess if any gross or histopathologic ocular toxicity results from the topical application of 1% itraconazole with or without the addition of DMSO. The experimental trial consisted of 6 horses considered to have normal eyes. Each horse had one eye treated with 0.3 mL of ...
