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.
DRUDGE JH, LELAND SE, WYANT ZN, ELAM GW, HUTZLER LB.In five horses dosed with polymethylenepiperazine at dose levels of 21, 51 or 106 mg. per Ib. body-weight clearance of ascarids was obtained with all dosages. The effect against oxyurids was much less marked and large numbers of immature worms were found at autopsy four days after treatment. About 85% of small strongyles were removed at dosages of 21 mg. per Ib. and above and about 50% of Strongylus vulgaris were removed at dosages of 51 mg. per Ib. and above. The drug was inactive against S. edentatus, Trichostrongylus axei, Habronema muscae and Strongyloides westeri. In another eight horses ...
GAIDAMAKA MG, VAGANOV GP, DROMASHKO AS, SHVETSKAVA BD, FYADINA DD.The research examines an incident of upper respiratory tract disease in horses, marked by severe symptoms, which followed a human influenza epidemic in Kharkov in 1957, challenging previous notions that […]
VAN UDEN N, DO SOUSA LC, FARINHA M.From the caeca of 252 horses, 503 sheep, 250 goats and 250 swine, 486 yeast isolates belonging to 28 species and 1 variety were obtained. The distribution of the yeasts of any species and for Candida albicans respectively was: horses, 52·4%, 4·4%; sheep, 6·8%, 4·2%; goats, 6·4%, 08%; swine, 88·8%, 9·2%. The suitability of the sheep and goats as hosts for yeasts of any species seems very limited.
The most frequent occurrences for single species were: Candida slooffii in swine (48·4%), Trichosporon cutaneum in horses (21·8%) and Saccharomyces tellustris (Candida bovina) in swine (14%...
Fintl C, Wilkins PA.There are a number of unusual tumors in the horse. Gross tumor characteristics, anatomical location, and signalment may assist with identification. Clinical pathology is often unrewarding with non-specific findings, while fine needle aspirates may not obtain sufficient tissue material to confirm a diagnosis. Although regular staining of biopsy material may be sufficient, immunohistochemistry markers may be required, especially in less differentiated tumors. The prognosis is dependent on the type, location, tumor size as well as on metastatic spread. A selection of unusual and rare tumors that ...
Adam E, Scollay M, Howard B, Taormina J, Hartmann P, Knych H.Levamisole is a regulated substance sometimes administered to racehorses to treat equine protozoal myelitis. Metabolites include compound II, aminorex, and pemoline. Aminorex and pemoline are Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority-banned substances. Previous studies have examined single doses of the drug. This study examined the disposition of levamisole after 7 days of dosing. Methods: 6 healthy Thoroughbred geldings. Methods: Horses were treated with 500 mg (approx 0.91 to 1 mg/kg) of compounded levamisole hydrochloride paste PO every 12 hours for a total of 13 doses over 7 days. Serum a...
MacKechnie-Guire R, Williams JM, Fisher D, Nankervis K.The horse owner and the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) are responsible for safeguarding horse welfare by ensuring the equipment being used is correctly fitted. The aim of this study was to investigate how saddle fit is assessed, managed, and acted upon by equestrian professionals. Participants ( = 483) completed an online questionnaire, which was split into three major sections: (1) participant demographics; (2) saddle fit for the horse; and (3) saddle fit for the rider. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis, and univariable and multivariable analyses were performed ( < 0.05). Inductive con...
Bielińska K, Butkiewicz AF, Ziemak H, Zdun M.Due to the growing interest among veterinarians and the increasing market demands, the development of equine cardiology is necessary. Currently, veterinary medicine for companion animals needs to catch up to human medicine-equine medicine included. A common condition in older horses is aortic valve regurgitation resulting from fibrosis, while its more severe form occurs in younger horses or develops due to a bacterial infection. Mitral valve regurgitation, especially dangerous due to the possibility of sudden death, has a better prognosis if the horse has valve prolapse. Tricuspid valve regurg...
Knych HK, Blea J, Scollay M, Kass PH, McKemie DS.Ethanol, a central nervous system depressant and banned substance in horseracing, has reportedly been administered to horses prior to competition to "calm a horse's nerves." In this study, the pharmacokinetics of two metabolites of ethanol were studied to better understand the behavior of this compound in the horse and provide a scientific basis for regulation of its administration. Six horses received a single intravenous (30 mL; 1200 mg) and oral (90 mL; 3600 mg) administration of ethanol (vodka, 40% ABV) in a balanced cross-over design. Blood and urine samples were collected at vari...
Caure S, Dendauw P, Thesee L, Villedey E, Malinvaud A, Cousty M, Prie V, Horan K, Weller R.There is a paucity of scientific data on the effect of shoeing on equine neck and back kinematics during locomotion over commonly used sand training surfaces. A better appreciation of how alterations at hoof-ground interface influence equine upper body movements is relevant for improving horse's health and performance. Our objectives were to determine the effects of different shoeing conditions on equine neck and back kinematics at walk and trot in straight line over sand. Two-dimensional kinematic video analysis was performed under seven shoeing conditions: front feet shod with aluminum shoes...
Knych HK, Steinmetz SJ, Traynham ML, McKemie DS, Kass PH.Morphine is an effective analgesic in horses, however, IV administration at therapeutic doses has been shown to produce dose-dependent neuroexcitation and unwanted gastrointestinal effects. The analgesic effects of morphine have, at least in part, been attributed to the morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) metabolite. Oral administration to horses results in comparable M6G concentrations to that achieved following IV administration of a therapeutic dose without the adverse effects. The anti-nociceptive effects have not yet been reported. In the current study the thermal anti-nociceptive effects of sin...
Bulnes F, Argüelles D, Buzón A, García-Álamo K, Rodríguez-Gómez IM, Hernández E, Mozos E.This case report details a long-term follow-up of a hoof melanoma with dermo-epidermal activity (resembling Spreading Superficial Melanoma (SSM)) in a bay horse with a history of a right front hoof keratoma. Melanomas involving the horse's foot are seldom reported and usually diagnosed as anaplastic melanomas based on signalment and post-mortem examination. The clinical-pathological characteristics of the foot melanoma in this bay horse are consistent with SSM-like described in humans, which is considered an intermediate malignant tumour attending their biological behaviour. However, a definit...
Cole RC, DeGraves FJ, Schumacher J, Brown J.To determine the effect of 1.5 mL 2% mepivacaine, 0.75 mL 2% mepivacaine, and a combination of 0.75 mL 2% mepivacaine with epinephrine (1:200,000 solution) administered over each palmar digital nerve (PDN) to 6 horses with naturally occurring lameness caused by digital pain. Methods: In a crossover study design, 6 horses with forefoot-related lameness were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. Each group received, on different study days, a PDN block using 1.5 mL of 2% mepivacaine, 0.75 mL 2% mepivacaine, or 0.75 mL of a combination of 2% mepivacaine and epinephrine (1:200,000 solution) injected...
Van Mol B, Oosterlinck M, Janssens S, Buys N, Pille F.Various environmental and genetic risk factors are linked to the pathogenesis of equine osteochondrosis and osteochondral fragments in the fetlock joint. Therefore, a scoping review was conducted to describe current evidence linking genetic factors and environmental factors of these osteochondral disorders. This article constitutes the first part of this scoping review and focuses on environmental factors, with the second part addressing genetic factors. To identify potentially relevant papers online bibliographical databases PubMed and Web of Science were utilised, supplemented with articles ...
Stutsel M, Jordan L, Smith C, Lee WY, Symonds N, Bell R, Young A.Foot-related lameness is common in Standardbred and Thoroughbred racehorses. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides information on both the soft tissue and osseous structures of the distal extremity. The aim of this study was to determine whether abnormalities identified on distal limb MRI differed between these two racehorse populations. Methods: The records of Standardbred and Thoroughbred racehorse distal extremity MRI examinations conducted at Camden Equine Centre and Ballarat Veterinary Practice between 2013 and 2023 were retrieved. Horses were included if pain causing lameness had bee...
Bussiman F, Alves AAC, Richter J, Hidalgo J, Veroneze R, Oliveira T.Gait scores are widely used in the genetic evaluation of horses. However, the nature of such measurement may limit genetic progress since there is subjectivity in phenotypic information. This study aimed to assess the application of machine learning techniques in the prediction of breeding values for five visual gait scores in Campolina horses: dissociation, comfort, style, regularity, and development. The dataset contained over 5000 phenotypic records with 107,951 horses (14 generations) in the pedigree. A fixed model was used to estimate least-square solutions for fixed effects and adjusted ...
Neufang L, Ramos J, Eda S, Flatland B, Giori L.Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a neurodegenerative disease of senior horses. Loss of dopaminergic inhibition of the melanotropes of the pars intermedia leads to increased concentrations of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides. Diagnosis is challenging due to pre-analytical variables, such as sample storage, handling, and time to analysis. Our objective was to develop an ELISA for ACTH measurement, which could ultimately form the basis for a stall-side equine ACTH test. We selected 2 ACTH-specific monoclonal antibodies, CBL57 and EPR20361-248, based on the recognition o...
McDonald S, Harley JJ, Hockenhull J.Free-ranging native Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies have not only held strong cultural and environmental significance for thousands of years within their respective national parks, but their environmental benefits and naturally selected characteristics have also been acknowledged and harnessed for conservation grazing and rewilding programmes. Despite a wealth of literature regarding the welfare of sports, leisure and working horses, there is little information concerning the welfare of free-ranging and extensively grazing ponies. The present study compared the welfare of native Exmoor and Dartmoor...
Delcourt V, Garcia P, Chabot B, Aber N, Pescher M, Cacault M, Scholtes P, Loup B, Barnabé A, Popot MA, Bailly-Chouriberry L.Thymosin 4 (TB4) is a ubiquitous, highly conserved and abundant peptide among mammals with a critical role in cytoskeleton organization. In spite of its yet non-authorized use as a medicine and being forbidden by the IFHA, the FEI, and the WADA, intelligence and doping control laboratories reported numerous products available online claiming to contain a synthetic acetylated fragment of TB4 or TB4 itself, promoted as a growth factor with regenerative properties. In this article, the first estimation of the endogenous TB4 concentration in racing horses' blood samples was performed through a po...
Medina-Bolívar AL, Faleiros RR, Martínez-Aranzales JR.Limited information is available on gastric diseases in neonatal foals as compared with extensive studies in young, adult, and geriatric horses. Reports on fetuses are scarce. Objective: Assess at necropsy stomachs of horse, donkey and mule fetuses in the third trimester of gestation to characterize lesions present during intrauterine life. Methods: Forty-six fetal stomachs from both sexes (21 horses, 21 donkeys, and 4 mules) in the third trimester of gestation were collected from a processing plant immediately after slaughter. Methods: Measurements of longitudinal and transverse axes, weight ...
Martínez-Aranzales JR, Córdoba-Agudelo M, Pérez-Jaramillo JE.Crib-biting is a stereotyped oral behavior with poorly understood etiology and pathophysiology. The relationship between the gut microbiome and brain function has been described in behavioral disorders such as schizophrenia, depression and anxiety in humans. In horses, studies of behavioral problems and the microbiome are very limited. This study aimed to characterize the fecal microbiome and the predicted functional profile of horses with and without aerophagia. Fecal samples were collected from 12 Colombian Creole Horses of both sexes, divided into two groups: group 1, composed of six horses...
Caivano D, Cicogna M, Orvieto S, Spitale D, Porciello F.A 16-year-old horse, 400 kg, male, Quarter horse gelding was examined for a cardiac murmur that had not been previously heard. Physical examination revealed a regularly irregular pulse and a grade III/VI, decrescendo, diastolic murmur with a point of maximum intensity over the left heart base. Base-apex standard electrocardiographic examination at rest showed sinus rhythm with second-degree atrio-ventricular blocks. Echocardiography identified the presence of four aortic valve cusps, two equal larger and two unequal smaller cusps. Color flow Doppler examination showed a diastolic regurgitant j...
Derbala MK, Abu-Seida AM, El-Metwally AE, Asfour HAE.Embryo transfer (ET) is regarded as one of the reproductive methods for genetic improvement initiatives in the horse business. The current study aimed to increase the success rate of ET by re-flushing and re-transferring of embryos from contaminated recipient mares into second healthy recipients. The study involved 25 recipient mares that demonstrated embryonic vesicles inside intraluminal fluid (ILF) on ultrasound scanning 2 ± 0.5 days after ET. Seven recipient mares were left without re-flushing and re-transferring of embryos (control group) and 18 recipient mares (treated group) were subje...
Aguiar LH, Pinto CRF.Sperm capacitation is considered the main factor limiting conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) in horses. A recent scientific breakthrough in sperm processing for IVF in horses has resulted in embryos and foals being produced; however, various aspects of the IVF process remain to be fully elucidated. Lysine acetylation has been shown to play a role in sperm capacitation in several species and the objective of this study was to detect and evaluate this process in the horse. Ejaculates of two stallions were collected and incubated in different conditions with deacetylase inhibitors to induc...
Malsa J, Reigner F, Riou M, Gesbert A, Guégnard F, Perrot N, Serreau D, Fleurance G, Sallé G.The increasing emergence of anthelmintic-resistant parasitic isolates prompts us to reassess the management of intestinal strongylosis in horses. Additionally, societal demand is shifting toward reducing the use of chemical treatments, aligning with environmentally-friendly practices and the exploration of natural alternatives. In this context, we provide an initial view of the antiparasitic activity and the effect on immune circulating blood cells of three commercialized plant-based feed additives in ponies. Three treatments, based either on mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), echinacea (Echinacea ...
Vaughn SA, Berghaus LJ, Hart KA.Breed differences exist between horses and ponies in circulating concentrations of several hormones, notably ACTH and insulin. These hormones regulate stress and metabolic responses, but in other species, they also impact leukocyte oxidant responses. The effects of these hormones on equine leukocytes have not been evaluated to date. If equine leukocytes are similarly regulated, breed differences in increased plasma hormone concentrations or altered sensitivity to them at the leukocyte level could result in breed-related differences in oxidant responses or oxidative status. The objective of thi...
García Sánchez A, Zurita SG, Gil Molino M, Martin Cano FE, Barraso Gil C, Hermoso de Mendoza Salcedo J.The aim of this study is to describe an outbreak of dermatophilosis at an equestrian center in Castilla la Mancha (central Spain), which affected 16.6% (5/30) of the animals. Research was carried out to establish the mode of transmission and spread to other horses in the herd. Clinical features, diagnostic methods and treatment are also described. O objetivo deste estudo é descrever um surto de dermatofilose em um centro equestre em Castilla la Mancha (centro da Espanha), no qual 16,6% (5/30) dos animais foram afetados. Foi realizada uma pesquisa para estabelecer o modo de transmissão e a di...
Cassiers V, McNally T.Palatal dysfunction (PD), which encompasses palatal instability (PI) and intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate, is the most common performance-limiting upper respiratory tract obstruction in young Thoroughbred racehorses. Soft palate thermocautery (SPT) performed under general anaesthesia is a routinely performed procedure for PD in some countries, but the procedure for and outcome of SPT performed under standing sedation has not been published. (1) To describe a technique for SPT performed under standing sedation; and (2) to assess post-operative performance in horses compared t...
Faghihi H, Gharibi A, Ansari Mood M, Rajaei SM, Alavi SM.The aim of this study was to detect and describe ocular abnormalities in a population of Turkmen horses. Methods: A total of 55 Turkmen horses (33 mares and 22 stallions) from one herd were evaluated in this study. Methods: Demographic data (Age, Sex, Coat color) were recorded. All animals underwent complete ophthalmic examination. The Schirmer tear test -I (STT-I) was performed for all horses prior to other diagnostic tests. Neuro-ophthalmic examinations (menace response, dazzle reflex, pupillary light reflex, maze test, and visual tracking) were carried out in different lighting situations (...
Hoey S, Fogarty U, McAllister H, Puggioni A, Cloak B, Richard H, Skelly C, Laverty S.Articular cartilage can be directly imaged using ultrasonography. The fetlock is a common site of osteochondrosis, with the sagittal ridge of the third metacarpal bone most commonly affected. In osteochondrosis, cartilage thickening may be an initial finding. This postmortem study investigated the ability of ultrasonography to accurately measure the dorsodistal articular cartilage of the third metacarpal bone in young horses, compared to computed tomographic arthrography (CTA) and histological measurements. A total of 33 metacarpophalangeal joints from 18 horses between the ages of 12 days and...
de Melo UP, Ferreira C.This report describes five cases of urinary incontinence in Quarter Horse mares associated with the development of sabulous cystitis. The animals in this study had a history of persistent urinary incontinence for eight months, with clinical signs of continuous dribbling urine during rest and movement. The initial treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs was ineffective. Clinical examination revealed severe scalding in the perineal region and on the medial aspect of the hind limbs, along with neurological signs such as ataxia, hind limb paresis, and diminished perineal reflexes. T...
Loomes K, de Grauw J, Gozalo-Marcilla M, Redondo JI, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R.Equine post-operative morbidity represents a significant concern for both veterinary surgeons and horse owners. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of post-operative complications in horses after elective/non-abdominal surgery or colic surgery. Methods: Systematic review. Methods: A database search identified eligible studies which reported the prevalence of equine post-operative complications published as a full paper in English in a peer-reviewed journal between 2000 and 2023. Studies were evaluated using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Prevalence Studies and GRADE (Grading of Rec...
