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.
Tenbroeck C, Hurst EW, Traub E.Equine encephalomyelitis of the eastern type is a disease of the late summer and fall and cases are found in greatest numbers near salt marshes. The epidemiological findings are against its transmission by contact and favor the view that it is insect borne. Although virus can be demonstrated in the blood of infected horses it is present for a relatively short time, and the possibility that the disease is not primarily an infection of horses but that it is transmitted to them from another host is considered.
Puccetti M, Beccati F, Pilati N.Femoral nerve neuropathy causes lameness, a condition clinically characterized by stifle's lack of extension with subsequent diminished lower limb function. This case report describes the ultrasonographic diagnosis of femoral neuropathy secondary to compression caused by myopathy of the iliopsoas muscle of an endurance horse during a competition. Transrectal ultrasonography played a pivotal role in diagnosis of the injury by assessment of the involved structures and monitoring of the healing process throughout the recovery period. The horse achieved complete recovery and successfully returned ...
McCoy AM, Lopp-Schurter CT, Bishop RC, Narotsky A, Grogger K, Kemper AM.To determine the natural progression of tarsal osteochondrosis (OC) in a cohort of Standardbred foals and assess the impact of gait preference (trotting vs. pacing). Methods: Longitudinal observational cohort study. Methods: Client-owned Standardbred foals (n = 148). Methods: Tarsal radiographs were taken every 2 months from 2 to 12 months of age and foals were video monitored to document time spent pacing or trotting. Differences between groups were assessed using χ analysis. Survival analysis was used to determine if lesion healing differed between groups over time. Results: Of 148 ...
Klass LG, Krücken J, Mbedi S, Sparmann S, Schenk T, Andreotti S, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G.Mixed strongyle infections represent the most prevalent equine parasitosis and can result in life-threatening disease, especially in young horses. Species involvement and pathogenesis of this parasitosis are poorly understood, and data on foals and broodmares are notably lacking. Methods: In a longitudinal study undertaken in 2022 in Germany, individual faecal samples (n = 497) and metadata were collected for naturally infected foals and broodmares (n = 48) kept under conventional husbandry conditions. Nematode infections were detected coproscopically via the Mini-FLOTAC method. In a s...
Hansen T, Kendall A, Finne R, Law E, Ringdahl A, Nostell K.Abdominal ultrasound is widely used to evaluate the intestinal tract of horses. Despite being a routine examination, there is limited data on the reliability of this diagnostic procedure. Objective: To investigate intra- and inter-rater reliability of ultrasonographic intestinal wall thickness measurements in healthy horses. A second aim was to assess variance within repeated measurements to determine threshold values that distinguish whether differences between repeated examinations are true findings versus solely due to measurement variation. Methods: In vivo reliability study. Methods: Eigh...
Qiu Z, Wang J, Zhang Y, Liu X, Wei C, Ma T.Musculoskeletal injuries represent a primary cause of suboptimal performance and early retirement in equine athletes. To address this challenge, the veterinary community has long endeavored to develop safer and more effective therapeutic strategies. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), as a treatment for equine musculoskeletal injuries, has garnered substantial attention among equine veterinarians. Focused on the theme ESWT Therapy for Equine Musculoskeletal Disorders: From biological mechanisms to clinical applications, this article systematically reviews existing literature on the biolo...
Ramos Serrano B, Ávalos Rodríguez A, Edward Kjelland M, Ernesto Hernández Pichardo J.Semen is a complex fluid that, in addition to spermatozoa, contains other cell populations, including immune cells, immature male germ cells, epithelial cells, and fibroblasts. These cells share the diploid condition, making them suitable candidates as nuclear donors for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) cloning. The generation of viable embryos and offspring has been demonstrated using these cells. Effective methods for isolating them from semen include centrifugation and osmotic gradient techniques; however, prolonged in vitro culture periods are necessary to establish primary cultures fr...
Jones CJP, Aplin JD, Wilsher S.There is little information on non-ciliated secretory cell numbers in the equine oviduct isthmus over the course of the estrous cycle and the effect, if any, of insemination. Lectin histochemistry was used on a series of 13 oviducts taken at different stages of the estrous cycle, with and without insemination, to monitor glycosylation changes and the distribution of secretory cells characterised by a prominent cytoplasmic accumulation of glycoconjugates. There appeared to be an increase in secretory cells expressing a wide range of glycans in all specimens at estrus. One day after ovulation, o...
Riquelme LF, de Araújo VO, da Silva TKF, de Sousa MS, da Silva MA, da Silva WDQ, Lucena RB.Malachra fasciata Jacq. (Malvaceae) is an invasive plant widely found in Northeastern Brazil and has been experimentally demonstrated to cause severe dermatitis in sheep. However, its toxic effects in horses have not previously been documented. This report describes primary photosensitization in four Quarter Horses grazing on a pasture heavily infested with M. fasciata in Paraíba, Brazil. Affected animals developed alopecic, erythematous, crusted, and ulcerated lesions on sun-exposed areas, accompanied by severe pruritus and behavioral signs of distress. Histopathology revealed epidermal ulce...
Goetz M, Cremoux M, Lassalle L, Douet JY.To assess the efficacy and safety of Rose Bengal and green light corneal cross-linking (RGX) as an adjunctive treatment for complicated corneal ulcers and stromal abscesses in horses. Methods: A retrospective analysis included 81 horses (82 eyes) treated with RGX between 2018 and 2024. Cases involved complicated corneal diseases such as melting keratitis, fungal keratitis, deep stromal defects, and stromal abscesses. Treatment consisted of topical or iontophoretic administration of 1% Rose Bengal followed by green light irradiation (550 nm; 150 J/cm) for 10 min. Most procedures (76.8%) w...
D'el Rey Dantas FT, Forni G, Hallowell G, Castagnetti C, Menchetti L, Romito G, Lanci A, Mariella J, Freccero F.Bodyweight, age and breed influence the echocardiographic assessment of foals. There are no echocardiographic studies in Standardbred neonatal foals. Objective: To describe echocardiographic values for selected variables, evaluate intra- and inter-observer variability and assess cardiac changes in the first 5 days of life in healthy Standardbred neonatal foals. Methods: Prospective observational study. Methods: Fifty-six healthy Standardbred neonatal foals were examined by transthoracic echocardiography using standard right parasternal and subcostal views at three time points: in the first 4...
Hämäläinen MJ, Brotherus IL, Wigren HM, Kaimio TE, Suomala H, Olbricht AM, Hänninen LT, Mykkänen AK.Reduced rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep is associated with impaired learning in many species. We developed a reversal learning test (RLT) suitable for field conditions to explore this association in 16 healthy horses. Nocturnal REM-like sleep behavior was recorded five times for 48 h over a six-week period. The horses performed a target training task followed by an RLT using two objects. When the horses reached a predefined frequency of touching the object, the spatial location was reversed. Mean test parameters were statistically analysed using GENLIN models, longitudinal continuous variables...
Khalil WA, Sharf MI, Derbala MK, Alfattah MA, Hassan MAE, Alhujaili W, El-Harairy MA, Abdelnour SA.Oxidative stress is a major contributor to male infertility. Therefore, fortifying assisted reproductive technology with nanotechnology could enhance sperm preservation. Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of myo-inositol nano-emulsion (MINE) supplementation in semen extender on sperm quality, redox balance, semen bacteriology, apoptosis, ultrastructure, and acrosome status of chilled stallion semen. Methods: Semen samples were collected and preserved with 0 (MINE0), 1 (MINE1), and 2 (MINE2) mg of MINE/mL of extender. Results: Results revealed that extender fortified with 1 or 2 ...
Valente TC, Mendes RP, Miguel EL, Rafael LA, Ribeiro GSN, Souza AF, Fonteque JH.Regional intravenous limb perfusion (RILP) is widely used in equine practice for achieving high local antimicrobial concentrations while minimizing systemic exposure. However, certain drugs, including enrofloxacin, have been associated with vascular irritation and thrombosis, and their thrombogenic potential remains poorly characterized. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the thrombogenic potential of enrofloxacin administered via RILP in the cephalic vein of clinically healthy horses. Methods: Ten adult horses underwent RILP in both forelimbs: the right limb received 10 % enrofloxacin (1...
Ramsaran LN, Byron M, Parry S, Lection J, Back B, Grenier J, Cheong SH, Diel de Amorim M.Real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a technique that allows for the semi-quantification of mRNA transcripts present within a tissue of interest. Differences in the relative abundance of mRNA between samples detected by RT-qPCR require normalization with a reference gene or genes whose transcript abundance is stable within the tissue of interest independent of experimental conditions. In the field of equine reproductive studies, ACTB, GAPDH and B2M genes are the most widely used as reference genes for the normalization of RT-qPCR results. However,...
Rychtarova J, Fulka H, Loi P, Fulka J.In the mouse, spermatozoa are highly resistant to DNA damage, even when frozen without cryoprotectants, and can produce offspring when subsequently used for ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection). It is not known whether the same applies to other mammals as well. For example, in the horse, even conventional sperm freezing is still very problematic and frequently leads to sperm immobility. It has, however, never been tested whether sperm immobility also mirrors sperm head DNA damage, and if so, to what extent. In our study, we evaluated the damage to DNA in horse frozen and thawed motile and i...
DiBello D, Cassel N, Granacka V, Beard L, Rosado SC, Hill-Thimmesch K, Avellar H.Equine sarcoidosis is an uncommon disease characterized by granulomatous inflammation presenting in a spectrum of body system involvement and severity. Musculoskeletal manifestations are sporadically reported but without correlation between imaging and pathologic findings. In a mature Quarter Horse mare eventually diagnosed with a progressive form of sarcoidosis, phalangeal osteolysis discovered on radiography prompted further evaluation, revealing diffuse, discrete osteolysis throughout the axial skeleton. Due to disease progression, humane euthanasia was elected, and computed tomography and ...
de Chaisemartin C, Belluco S, Nottrott K.Dental masses such as odontogenic masses, heterotopic polydontia, or ectopic supernumerary teeth have been documented in the equine head. This is the first case report of a large maxillary sinus mass with 3 ectopic teeth in an adult horse. A 14-year-old warmblood gelding was presented for evaluation of chronic right-sided nasal discharge. After imaging exploration, surgery was performed on the standing horse with a conchofrontal sinus trephination and a large maxillary bone (MB) sinusotomy. The examinations revealed a sinusal mass in the right maxillary sinus covered by sinusal mucosa and surr...
Ledeck J, Dubrowski T, Schoumacher M, Peeters S, Le Goff C, Egyptien S, Deleuze S, Cavalier E, Ponthier J.Refined profiling of conjugated estrogens and androgens during equine pregnancy using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) could provide accurate fetal-sex determination. Current methods for fetal-sex prediction remain limited by timing, accuracy, and operator expertise. This study investigated sex-specific differences in maternal conjugated steroid profiles to develop a reliable, non-invasive predictive method. Samples were collected from 141 mares of various breeds starting at sixteen weeks of pregnancy. The samples were pooled according to gestational stage, divided int...
Moroni R, Fanelli D, Maltinti S, Orefice M, Rota A, Camillo F, Melanie P, Cantile C, Miragliotta V, Pirone A, Lazzarini G, Passamonti F, Marmorini P....Equine persistent breeding-induced endometritis can lead to chronic uterine inflammation and fibrosis, reducing fertility. Intrauterine ozone (O₃) has recently been proposed as a potential treatment for mares unresponsive to conventional therapies. This case series describes O₃ treatment in eleven mares barren for at least one year despite multiple inseminations attempts. During the first oestrous cycle, low-volume uterine lavage and endometrial biopsy were performed, followed by 3 consecutive days of intrauterine O₂-O₃ gas insufflation. In the subsequent cycle, both procedures were re...
Latorre N, Gómez-Cuétara C, Cañizares E, Crespo F, Pérez-Aguilera V, Cuerda MI, Laborda-Gomariz JA, Soler AJ, Roldan ERS, Sanchez-Rodriguez A.Evaluating semen quality in Purebred Spanish Horses is essential to determine reproductive potential and optimize assisted reproductive techniques. Objective: This study compared several sperm analysis methods in Purebred Spanish Horses to standardize protocols suitable for both laboratory and field conditions. Methods: Fifteen stallions were evaluated through three ejaculates, analyzing sperm parameters using different techniques. Sperm kinematics was assessed by Sperm Computer Analyzer (SCA-CASA) or iSperm mCASA. Viability was analyzed by eosin-nigrosin-Giemsa (ENG) staining or Hoechst 33258...
Loosley H, Rehbein LS, Lima EMM, Blake R.Elevated pressures beneath training rollers during the Pessoa training aid (PTA) use have been reported, particularly over the thoracic region, which may contribute to back discomfort. Objective: To investigate the effect of different pads on pressures and forces beneath a training roller during lunging with a PTA. Methods: Six clinically sound horses (13.8 ± 5.2 years) were lunged on a 16-m circle in trot and canter using a randomised crossover design under three conditions: no padding (Pad 1), a folded cotton saddle cloth (Pad 2), and a purpose-made roller foam pad (Pad 3). Kinetic data wer...
Danese T, Asti V, Ablondi M, Raspa F, Cavallini D, Valle E.Colic represents one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in equine medicine, with nutritional management recognized as a key modifiable factor influencing postoperative recovery. However, guiding principles for nutritional enteral support in horses after colic remain limited, and current practices are largely empirical. Objective: This scoping review aimed to (1) examine enteral nutritional support protocols reported in literature through a scoping review to map the available evidence on equine clinical nutrition in the context of colic, and (2) propose a physiology-based interpre...
Wickizer LF, Burk SV, Lehman JS.Red maple toxicosis arises when horses consume wilted maple leaves, resulting in methemoglobinemia and hemolytic anemia due to oxidative damage to erythrocytes. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine how maple species (red versus Freeman maple) and horse characteristics, management, and barn site contributed to in vitro methemoglobin production and hemolysis. Methods: Horse information was obtained through an owner questionnaire. Extracts from red and Freeman maple leaves were separately incubated with washed erythrocytes from each horse (n=120). The in vitro percentage methem...
Mackowski M, Kajdasz A, Laskowska K, Cieslak J.Although serological and genetic studies of equine blood group systems have been conducted for many years, the molecular basis of erythrocyte antigens' variability has remained largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the genetic basis of serological variation within equine blood group K. Using mRNA extracted from peripheral blood samples (n = 100) collected from horses with known serological blood types (Ka or K-), we performed a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS), which revealed a significantly associated region on equine chromosome 2 (ECA2). A detailed analysis ...
Rinnovati R, Meistro F, Ralletti MV, D'Angelo P, Spadari A, Zingariello E, Pollera C, Stancampiano L.In horses, surgical site infections (SSIs) are multifactorial complications influenced by patient-related, procedural, and environmental factors. While perioperative contamination has been extensively studied in the operating theater, the anesthetic induction and recovery environment has received limited attention. The aim of this study was to characterize bacterial contamination within an equine anesthetic induction and recovery stall and to evaluate its spatial and temporal distribution. Environmental samples were collected from four predefined locations within the stall at three time points...
So YM, Kwok WH, Yuen SMS, Wong COL, Ho ENM.Despite the recent success in introducing supramolecular solvents (SUPRAS)-based extraction to drug analysis, its application and robustness in day-to-day regular urine testing have yet to be demonstrated. Moreover, the applicability of SUPRAS in equine doping control testing remains unexplored. In this work, we have successfully developed for the first time a simple, rapid, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly SUPRAS extraction method for analyzing 76 prohibited substances of different classes (selective androgen receptor modulators, hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors...
Veit M, Matczuk AK.Equine arteritis virus (EAV) is a positive-stranded RNA virus of the Arteriviridae family. Its GP5/M dimer, the principal component of the viral envelope, mediates virus budding and serves as a key target for neutralizing antibodies. Using AlphaFold3, we predicted the 3D structure of the EAV GP5/M dimer and compared it to its homolog in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Both complexes share a conserved architecture comprising a short ectodomain, three helical transmembrane regions, and a β-sheet-rich endodomain. EAV GP5 features a longer ectodomain with four α-heli...
Aliani C, Lorenzetto Bologna C, Francia P, Bocchi L.Standing equine computed tomography (CT) acquisitions are susceptible to residual postural sway, which can introduce view-inconsistent motion and degrade image quality. External optical tracking based on ChArUco fiducials is a promising, low-cost strategy to enable projection-wise motion compensation, yet quantitative guidance on how camera-marker geometry affects pose-estimation performance remains limited. This CT-motivated benchtop study characterizes how the relative camera-ChArUco configuration influences both the accuracy (bias with respect to ground truth) and the precision (repeatabili...
