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.
Ley KD, Burger D, McGuire T, Henson JB.The role of interferon in the pathogenesis of per-
sistent or chronic viral diseases has not been elu-
cidated. However, interferon or inducers of inter-
feron may have a marked effect on the course of
certain chronic viral diseases [1-3]. Equine infec-
tious anemia (EIA) is a viral disease of horses
that may take an inapparent, acute, subacute, or
chronic course in the affected host [4]. Chronically
infected horses suffer from recurrent attacks of
fever that are accompanied by severe anemia.
After the infection has been established, infected
horses may carry the virus for the rest ...
Vandeplassche M, Podliachouk L, Beaud R.A study has been made of 44 cases of twin pregnancy in mares. The fetuses, foals, fetal membranes and blood groups of parents and foals were examined in order to determine the incidence of chorio-vascular anastomosis, blood chimaerism and freemartinism. All of the twins proved to be dizygotic and 33 of the 34 pregnancies were bicornual. Fusion of the chorion was seen in 14 of 22 placentas and macroscopic choriovascular bridges were observed in five of these, although blood chimaerism was diagnosed in 11 of 25 cases (44 per cent) examined. This would indicate a high incidence of microchoriovasc...
Kenney RM, Cummings MR, Teuscher C, Love CC.Testicular degeneration is a major cause of subfertility in stallions, although an aetiological diagnosis cannot be made in most cases. In the present study, autoimmune testicular degeneration was induced and evaluated in stallions by immunizing stallions with their own spermatozoa mixed with an adjuvant. The factors evaluated included changes in semen quality and testicular histology. A large decrease in sperm number and quality was observed in response to sperm autoantigens. An ELISA test specific for antisperm antibodies was developed which enabled antibody titres in serum, seminal plasma a...
Crosa AT, Katzman SA, Kelleher ME, Nieto JE, Kilcoyne I, Dechant JE.This study reports the prevalence of and risk factors for incisional complications in equids after ventral midline celiotomy for enterolithiasis. This study covered the years 2008 to 2015 and included 72 equids. Enteroliths were removed from the ascending or descending colon through 1 or more enterotomies. Complications were defined as surgical site infection and/or incisional hernia formation. Follow-up by telephone questionnaire or medical records determined that 10/72 (13.9%) equids experienced complications, with 6/72 (8.3%) developing a surgical site infection and 5/72 (6.9%) a hernia. Se...
Carlson A, Johnson PJ, Lei Z, Keegan KG.Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors are novel anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents that could improve pain management in horses. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-nociceptive effect of a single-dose intravenous administration of the sEH inhibitor trans-4-{4-[3-(4-trifluro-methoxy-phenyl)-ureido]-cyclohexyloxy}-benzoic acid (t-TUCB) using an adjustable heart bar shoe (a-HBS) model of lameness. We hypothesized that t-TUCB would improve objective and subjective lameness measures compared to the control. Methods: Reversible lameness was induced in 8 horses for 24...
Jalali GR, Rezai A, Underwood JL, Mowbray JF, Surridge SH, Allen WR, Matthias S.We have shown that most of the IgG present on term syncytiotrophoblast, membrane, microvesicles is bound to an 80 kDa protein antigen (R80K). Methods: Microvesicles were prepared from term human placenta, and the IgG eluted at pH3. Results: When IgG antibody was eluted at pH3 and reacted with acid-treated vesicles of other placentae, the alloantibody always bound to the preparation from which it was obtained, but only to about 10% of acid-treated preparations from other placentae. A similar polymorphic protein found in association with IgG antibody was found in term horse placentae. Cross-reac...
Archer RM, Schneider RK, Lindsay WA, Wilson JW.Perforated stainless steel cylinders filled with autogenous cancellous bone were implanted in the distal tarsal joints of four horses. Graft cell survival was poor two weeks after surgery in one horse. In two horses, at 10 months there was partial arthrodesis of the joints with incorporation of the implants into the osseous union. The implants were filled with vascularised woven bone. These two horses were sound nine months after surgery. One horse fractured its third tarsal bone and was still positive to a hock flexion test 12 months after surgery.
Igwe OJ, Blake JW.An analytical gas/liquid chromatographic (GLC) protocol is described for the quantitation of pemoline in biological fluids of the horse. Plasma samples containing known quantities of pemoline and its analog as an internal standard (IS) were deproteinized with 5-sulfosalicylic acid, heated at 80 degree C, and centrifuged. 5-Phenyl-2,4-oxazolidinedione, the hydrolytic product of pemoline in acid medium, was extracted with dichloromethane (DCM). The organic layer was in turn re-extracted with 1% NaHCO3. The aqueous layer was acidified with HCI, and re-extracted with DCM, which was evaporated to d...
Palmer AC, Rossdale PD.A neuropathological investigation was carried out on the brains of 18 foals suffering from the neonatal maladjustment syndrome and results were compared with those obtained from the brains of nine foals dying from other causes. Necrosis of the cerebral cortex of an ischaemic nature was found in nine of the neonatal maladjustment foals, frequently accompanied by local haemorrhage. In three of this group of foals there was also necrosis in the diencephalon and brain stem. In the brains of the nine other affected foals there was haemorrhage in the cerebrum and sometimes in the brain stem and cere...
Epstein KL, Bergren A, Nie B, Arnold RD, Brainard BM.A lower molecular weight and molar substitution formulation (130/0.4) of hydroxyethyl starch solution has been shown to have a more sustained effect on COP and similar hemodynamic effects as a higher molecular weight and molar substitution formulation (600/0.75) in healthy horses. In humans, these pharmacodynamic characteristics are coupled with more rapid clearance and decreased adverse coagulation effects and accumulation. The objective of this study was to determine and compare the pharmacokinetics of these two formulations in horses. Eight healthy horses were given a 10 mL/kg bolus of eac...
Klohnen A, Trostle SS, Stone WC, Johanningmeier D, Wilson DG, Hendrickson DA.A yearling horse was presented with a septic, transverse fracture in the frontal plane of the distal phalanx. The fracture fragment was surgically removed from the parent bone via the sole. The foot was managed by corrective farriery and the horse was able to be ridden for pleasure.
Lovett A, Vokes J, Loghides N, Johnstone L, Sykes B.Formalin intoxication via the gastrointestinal route has not been previously reported in the horse. Whereas ingestion of formalin in humans, although rare, is well documented. Majority of human cases are either accidental, suicidal or homicidal and often lead to fatality, with a reported lethal formaldehyde dose equating to 0.12 - 0.16 g/kg bwt. Objective: To describe a single case report of the clinical management of an adult horse referred to a veterinary teaching hospital following accidental administration of 10% formalin via nasogastric tube. Methods: A 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding or...
