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.
BRUCE LW, SHORLAND FB.IN the liver lipids of animals which have so far been examined it has been found1 that the phospholipids, as compared with the glycerides, contain less hexadecenoic acid but more stearic and highly unsaturated C20 and C22 acids, the latter being derived from dietary linoleic and linolenic acids2. Phospholipids, moreover, are generally regarded as selecting the more highly unsaturated acids from the diet3.
ALEXANDER F, BENZIE D.1. The disposition and surface relations of the alimentary tract of the foal have been studied radiographically.
2. The rate of progress of a barium meal through the digestive tract was determined. The barium traversed the stomach and ileum of the weaned foal faster than that of the suckling foal, but was longer retained in the cæcum and ventral colon of the weaned foal.
Morris JM, Lassaline ME, Nunnery CM, Teixeira LBC, Martins BC, Moore BA, Knickelbein KE, Scherrer NM, Plummer CE.Little information describing the biologic behaviour and therapies for corneal lymphoma exist. Objective: To characterise histologically confirmed equine corneal lymphoma considering breed, age or sex predisposition, histologic and immunologic features, therapies and outcomes. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: A multicentre retrospective medical record review was used to identify horses that presented with corneal disease confirmed morphologically as corneal lymphoma from 2012 to 2022. Results: Mean age at diagnosis was 10.5 years. Males represented 18/26 cases. Warmblood (14) and...
Smith R, Pinchbeck G, McGowan C, Ireland J, Perkins E.In Great Britain, owners are keeping their horses into increasingly older age, reflecting societal changes in human-animal relationships. The uptake of routine veterinary services is reported to reduce as horses age. Horse owners seek information regarding their animal's health from alternative sources before and/or following veterinary involvement. Information regarding the experiences and behaviours of veterinarians toward older horse health care provision is limited. Objective: This study sought to explore how veterinary care for the ageing horse is conceptualised and approached by veterina...
Bindi F, Bozzola C, Vezzosi T, Zucca E, Caivano D, Freccero F, Sala G, Sgorbini M.Smartphone-based technology is increasingly used in veterinary medicine as a complementary tool for cardiac auscultation and ECG recording. This prospective observational study evaluates a digital stethoscope (DS) that consists of simultaneous phonocardiographic and one-lead ECG recording (dECG) in adult horses, comparing it with auscultation using a conventional stethoscope (CS) and reference base-apex ECG (rECG). A total of 104 horses underwent cardiac auscultation using CSs and DSs to detect arrhythmias and murmurs. Audio and dECG were acquired using the DS. The rECG tracings were also reco...
Uellendahl A, Schramel JP, Tichy A, Peham C.The aim of this study was to determine whether horses exhibiting unilateral hindlimb lameness unload (rest) the lame limb more than the contralateral limb. The resting/unloading of the hindlimbs and the time spent lying down were measured using accelerometers. Ten non-lame horses and 20 lame horses were recruited for participation and monitored for 11 h overnight with accelerometers (MSR145, sampling rate: 1 Hz, and measuring range: ±15 g) attached to the lateral metatarsal and metacarpal regions of each limb. Metatarsal and metacarpal orientation were used to determine whether the limb was u...
Resende AM, Miranda BA, Silva LB, Oliveira AB, Castro MB, Macêdo IL, Dallago BSL, Barud HS, Borges MAC, Ribeiro CA, Dias DS, Campebell RC.Background/Objectives: Skin injuries are common in the equine clinical practice, requiring effective treatment to support natural healing. Bacuri butter is gaining attention for its potential in wound healing and its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Natural polymers such as onion (Allium cepa) bioplastics have been investigated for their potential as occlusive dressings and for tissue regeneration. Methods: This study evaluated the healing process of experimentally induced skin wounds on horses treated with bacuri butter, washed onion film, and unwashed onion film....
Ostermeier S, Palme R, Vervuert I, Glomm B, Feige K, Macho-Maschler S, König von Borstel U, Venner M.In this study, gastroscopy was performed twice in 31 two-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses in training. Salivary cortisol (SC) and fecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) concentrations were determined to measure the stress impact. One gastroscopy was performed at the beginning and one six months later at the end of the horses' first training season. According to the Wilcoxon signed rank test, a mild but significant increase of SC (1st gastroscopy: = 0.0045, 2nd gastroscopy: < 0.0001) and FCM (1st gastroscopy: < 0.0001, 2nd gastroscopy: = 0.0006) values after gastroscopy compared to basal val...
Medina-Bautista F, Morgaz J, Domínguez JM, Navarrete-Calvo R, Sánchez de Medina A, Quirós-Carmona S, Granados MDM.Recovery from general anaesthesia is risky in horses. Alpha-agonist administration after anaesthesia enhances the quality of recovery but may prolong this phase. Recovery time and quality were investigated after medetomidine administration at the end of general anaesthesia in a prospective, randomised, masked and clinical study. Horses underwent medetomidine-isoflurane partial intravenous anaesthesia. Medetomidine (0.5 or 1 µg/kg) IV was administered just after isoflurane was discontinued. The duration of different recovery phases and the number of attempts were recorded. A composite scale (f...
Thomson P, Garrido D, Santibáñez R, Lara F.The gut microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining horse health, influencing digestion, immunity, and overall well-being. However, in certain conditions like colic, there is evidence of significant alterations in the microbial community. To analyze the composition of the fecal microbiome and the enriched predicted metabolic functions of horses with colic compared to a control group, 14 horses with colic and 14 control horses were recruited. From a stool sample, DNA extraction was carried out for subsequent 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis. The composition of the microbiome was analyzed from ...
Barton CK, Hassel DM, Anders K, Weir TL.A major cause of morbidity and mortality in horses with large colon obstructive lesions is injury to the colonic mucosal barrier from ischemic injury. Since butyrate has been shown to play a critical role in the maintenance of a healthy mucosal barrier, it may play a role in the recovery process. This study's objective was to determine whether the differences in butyrate concentrations existed between horses with surgical large colon obstructive lesions and healthy horses both during and after surgery. Eleven horses presenting with surgical colic lesions were enrolled; colonic samples were acq...
Lensing R, Wirth C, Thünker F, Merle R, Barton AK.Gastric pH is a key factor in the development of equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD). Although acid injury is unlikely the primary cause of equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD), low pH may promote mucosal damage. Gastric pH is influenced by roughage uptake, as chewing increases the alkaline saliva production. The proton pump inhibitor omeprazole is currently recommended by the American/European College of Veterinary/Equine Internal Medicine (ACVIM/ECEIM) for ESGD and EGGD. We hypothesized that dental disorders decrease saliva production and gastric pH, predisposing horses to EGUS. Gastro...
Nankervis K, Williams JM, Fisher D, MacKechnie-Guire R.To ensure the comfort of ridden horses, equipment including bridles and bits should be suitable and fit correctly. Horse owners employ a variety of equestrian professionals with varying degrees of responsibility regarding bridle and bit fit. This study aimed to compare the frequency and manner in which equestrian professionals within a multidisciplinary team (MDT) engage with clients on matters of bridle and bit fit, and to capture their perceptions of the key issues in bridle and bit fit. The participants completed an online questionnaire to obtain information regarding participant demographi...
Karagianni AE, Richard EA, Toquet MP, Hue ES, Courouce-Malblanc A, McGorum B, Kurian D, Aguilar J, Mazeri S, Wishart TM, Pirie RS.A state-of-the-art multi-omics approach was applied to improve our understanding of the aetio-pathogenesis of a highly prevalent, performance-limiting disorder of racehorses: mild-to-moderate equine asthma (MMEA). This is a prerequisite to improving prophylactic, management, and therapeutic options for this condition. Although a number of risk factors have been identified, options for intervention are limited. This study applied a multi-omic approach to reveal key inflammatory pathways involved in inflammatory cell recruitment to the lower airways and highlight distinct MMEA inflammatory profi...
Cash CM, de Laat MA.The melanocortin 2 receptor (MC2R) has relevance to equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), as it is the primary binding site for ACTH, which circulates at elevated concentrations in animals affected by PPID. Despite this, little is known about MC2R in equine species. The overall aim of this investigation was to determine MC2R mRNA expression in tissues relevant to PPID in healthy horses and to examine the MC2R gene sequence in a cohort of horses and ponies with and without PPID. The study found that the MC2R gene was expressed in both adrenal and pituitary gland tissues as report...
Hagenbach M, Bierau J, Cruz AM, Koch C, Manso-Díaz G, Büttner K, Staszyk C, Röcken M.In the diagnostics of orthopedic diseases in the horse, diagnostic imaging often plays a decisive role. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging is used in both human and small animal medicine and becoming increasingly popular. To see whether CBCT imaging can be useful in the diagnosis of orthopedic diseases of the carpal region of the horse and to explore possible limitations we compared CBCT images with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) images of the carpal region of equine cadaveric specimens. Unassigned: Twenty-eight forelimbs from fifteen horses, slaughtered for reasons unrelat...
Hagenbach M, Bierau J, Cruz AM, Koch C, Manso-Díaz G, Büttner K, Staszyk C, Röcken M.In the diagnostics of orthopedic diseases in the horse, diagnostic imaging often plays a decisive role. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging is used in both human and small animal medicine and becoming increasingly popular. To see whether CBCT imaging can be useful in the diagnosis of orthopedic diseases of the carpal region of the horse and to explore possible limitations we compared CBCT images with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) images of the carpal region of equine cadaveric specimens. Unassigned: Twenty-eight forelimbs from fifteen horses, slaughtered for reasons unrelat...
Kwok KY, Kwok WH, Wan TSM, Brooks L, Popot MA, Jaubert M, Bailly-Chouriberry L, Heffron BT, Choo CK, Tso J, Tso R, McKenzie B, Selvadurai N, Batty D....The use of alkalinising agents prior to racing for manipulating performance in the horse has been identified since the 1990s. To mitigate the risk, an international threshold for available carbon dioxide in equine plasma based on analyses using the Beckman Synchron EL-ISE analyser was adopted in 1994 by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and revised from 37 to 36 mM in 2004. In 2009, the technical support for the above instrument was discontinued by its manufacturer. Based on the same measurement principle (i.e., ion selective electrode), the Beckman DxC600 analys...
de Lima AE, Mendes RP, Piñeros DDV, Alibrando BB, de Zoppa ALV, da Silva LCLC, de Freitas SH, Corrêa RR.Sinusitis is common in horses. Sinoscopy is used for visualization of sinus cavities and can be used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In this surgical procedure, a larger chamber is created and communication with other sinus compartments facilitated. To compare the applicability of different surgical approaches and rigid endoscopy systems for sinus inspection and fenestration of the maxillary septal bulla, and to examine the impact of different lens angles on the effectiveness of the procedure. Six chemically preserved cadaveric equine heads were used. Frontal and caudal maxillary port...
Kuzmina TA, Königová A, Antipov A, Kuzmin Y, Kharchenko V, Syrota Y.The aim of this study was to assess the changes in strongylid communities of domestic horses after two decades of regular anthelmintic treatments; the changes in prevalence and relative abundance of individual strongylid species and their contribution to the observed alterations were estimated. The study was conducted in 2023; data collected in 2004 were used for comparison; 39 horses from two farms in Ukraine (22 horses in 2004 and 17 in 2023) were examined. In total, 18,999 strongylid specimens were collected by in vivo diagnostic deworming method before (in 2004, 9119 specimens) and after (...
Arifianto D, Esfandiari A, Wibawan IWT, Amrozi A, Maharani M, Darsono D, Setiadi H, Setiyono A.Horses used for antisera production are repeatedly hyperimmunized to produce high levels of specific antibodies. This prolonged process can lead to various health issues, including amyloidosis, which involves the accumulation of amyloid proteins in organs and tissues, potentially causing organ dysfunction and failure. These horses are often retired when they no longer produce adequate antibody levels. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of prolonged antisera production on the health of retired horses by examining their blood biochemistry and serum amyloid A (SAA) levels, which are indicato...
Scupham AJ, Tong C.In 2018, a new virus, named equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H), was discovered in a biologic product that had been administered to horses that subsequently developed clinical signs of equine serum hepatitis (Theiler disease). Further correlation of the virus with the disease sparked federal requirements that all equine biologics be free of EqPV-H. The initial quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) test for EqPV-H has proved to be sensitive to co-extracted PCR inhibitors in template nucleic acids, causing false-negative results. We investigated the use of digital PCR (dPCR) as a more robust test. ...
Martin-Pelaez S, Fuente A, Takahashi K, Perez IT, Orozco J, Okada CTC, Neto CR, Meyers S, Dini P.Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the current clinical practice for the in vitro production of equine embryos. The use of conventional fertilization methods such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), has historically been associated with poor success in horses. However, recent improvements have led to better outcomes with IVF, though only when using fresh semen, which limits its use in clinical practice. IVF remains in its infancy in equine reproduction, and several unknowns remain about the technique. One significant gap in knowledge concerns the morphokinetics of IVF embryos and how they...
Munsterman AS, Rogers-Tirado JM, Kottwitz J.To evaluate the effect of hand walking exercise on myoelectrical activity and contractility in normal, healthy horses. Methods: Prospective experimental design. A convenience sample of 8 horses were randomized to a control or hand walking treatment group; each horse underwent both treatments. After a 30-minute baseline electrointestinography (EIG), horses were stall rested or hand walked for 15 minutes. Electrointestinography was repeated immediately and at 2 hours. Ultrasonography and auscultation monitored cecal and left ventral colon (LVC) contractions during EIG. Electrointestinography spe...
Ohnuma K, Hirano-Kodaira M, Bannai M, Shimizu Y, Yamada M, Kinoshita K, Ngai-Wa Leung G, Ishii H.The abuse of prohibited peptide-based drugs with a broad spectrum of chemical characteristics poses a significant concern for the horseracing industry. Recently, there has been a notable increase in positive cases of small-peptide drugs reported in equine and canine sports. In addition to small peptides, large peptides (over 2 kDa) with structural diversity have also entered the market in increasing numbers as drugs for humans and livestock. However, the simultaneous analysis of both small- and large-peptide-based drugs is still challenging. In this study, a screening method was developed to c...
Stewart AS, Kopper JJ, McKinney-Aguirre C, Veerasamy B, Sahoo DK, Freund JM, Gonzalez LM.Gastrointestinal disease is a leading cause of death in mature horses. A lack of in vitro modeling has impeded the development of novel therapeutics. The objectives of this study were to develop and further characterize a small intestinal monolayer cell culture derived from equine jejunum including establishing normal measurements of intestinal permeability and restitution. Three-dimensional enteroids, derived from postmortem sampling of equine jejunum, were utilized to develop confluent epithelial monolayers. The presence of differentiated intestinal epithelial cell types and tight junctions ...
Guyo M, Tareke M, Tonamo A, Bediye D, Defar G.Morphometric traits discrepancies are associated with production, reproduction, adaptation and behaviours in horses. It also determines the design of harnessing implements, physical injury level and working performance of the native horses. Thus, the study was conducted to evaluate morphometric traits and body conformation indices of horse ecotypes reared across four districts of Bale Zone, Ethiopia. Methods: Data of croup height, croup length, hip height, mid-back height, wither height, hip width, thoracic depth, chest width, body length, sternum height, thorax perimeter and cannon perimeter ...
Willette JA, Tsoi M, Frobish D, VanderBroek AR.The objectives of the study were to describe a standing percutaneous adhesion induction model in the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) of horses and to evaluate the effect of intrathecal administration of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril on tendon healing and adhesion formation. Methods: Randomized, blinded, controlled experimental study. Methods: Eight healthy horses. Methods: A collagenase-induced adhesion model was implemented in the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) of both forelimbs under standing ultrasonographic guidance. Daily intrathecal injections of 5 ...
Mustefa A, Engdawork A, Sinke S.Ethiopian horses are multipurpose horses that have socioeconomic significance for smallholder farmers. However, studies regarding their husbandry practices have received little attention. Thus, the current study was conducted to assess the horse husbandry practices in the southwest Ethiopia. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires from a total of 196 randomly selected respondents. The general linear model and frequency procedures of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS 9.0) were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data, while indices were calculated using Micros...
Broman A, Rawlinson JE, Bass L, Boscan P, Rao S.The use of proper sedative and regional anesthetic protocols is essential when performing equine dental surgical procedures under standing sedation. The efficacy of the rostral inferior alveolar nerve block via the mental foramen has not been previously studied. Aims of this study included determining the efficacy of the block, investigating whether any region (labial mucosa, alveolar mucosa, or teeth) was more reliably anesthetized, and if differences in efficacy existed between bilateral and unilateral blocks. In this blinded trial, 10 horses each were randomly assigned to receive a left uni...
