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.
Chaimbeul SF, Rodrigues NNP, Thurston DD, Scoggin KE, Janes J, Jacobs CA, MacLeod JN, Stone AV, Menarim BC.Synovitis resolution is critical for joint homeostasis and prevents the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Treatments like NSAIDs and intra-articular corticosteroids relieve symptoms by blocking pro-inflammatory mediators, but also impair the production of pro-resolving mediators, contributing to the likelihood of chronic synovitis. PPARγ signaling is an essential mechanism of synovitis resolution, which is decreased in OA tissues. To evaluate the potential of PPARγ agonists to promote pro-resolving pathways, equine macrophages cultured in autologous, normal, or inflamed synovial fluid ( = ...
Steensma MJ, Ducro BJ, Dibbits B, Doekes HP, van Schipstal JGC, Kalblfleisch T, Groenen MAM, Derks MFL.In horses, genetic diversity is predominantly observed between breeds, with little variation within breeds. The studbooks of the two largest horse populations in the Netherlands, the Dutch Warmblood horse and Friesian horse population, have ongoing conservation projects including collecting large-scale genotype and sequence data. The current reference genome, derived from a Thoroughbred horse can lead to bias in genetic analyses of other horse breeds. Therefore, the aim of this study was to create high-quality breed-specific reference genomes of Dutch Warmblood and Friesian horses. We performe...
Silva GLS, Curcio UA, Boufleur JA, Borges DGL, Nakatani MTM, Freitas MG, Borges FA, Faria FJC, Silva RHP, Franco GL.Anthelmintic resistance has led to the use of organic extracts as alternative methods of parasite control. Objective: The study aimed to assess the effects of Acacia mearnsii extract (tannin) on the control of cyathostomins in horses, both in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Thirty Pantaneiro horses naturally infected with cyathostomins were sourced from two distinct farms, designated as Farms A and B. At the start of the study, all third-stage larvae were cyathostomins, and an egg hatchability test (EHT) was performed using fecal samples from horses on both farms. Two randomized 28-day field studi...
Poochipakorn C, Sanigavatee K, Leelehapongsathon K, Wonghanchao T, Chanda M.The impact of climate conditions and stable design on horses housed in individual stalls plays a significant role in their well-being, especially in tropical climates. Limited information exists regarding their conditions during the monsoon season. Objective: This study focused on the stable microclimate and autonomic regulation of horses kept in different stable architectures during the monsoon in a tropical setting. Methods: Twenty-two horses were assigned to one of three stable designs, each offering unique microclimates, including relative humidity, air temperature, and various levels of n...
Furukawa R, Tozaki T, Mizukami K, Iwasaki Y, Kawate K, Kikuchi M, Ishige T, Momozawa Y, Fukui E, Kakoi H.Thoroughbreds have been maintained as a closed breed for over 300 years since the crossbreeding between Arabian stallions and English mares. Despite interest in germline de novo mutations across species, their frequency in horses, particularly in Thoroughbreds, remains largely unexplored. Objective: This study aimed to identify de novo mutations in Thoroughbreds and estimate their frequency within a genetically closed population. Methods: We performed deep whole-genome sequencing (≥230× depth, 150 bp paired-end reads) and Sanger validation in a Thoroughbred trio (sire, dam, and foal). Reads...
Bacon EK, Parnell D, Muscatello G, McElroy J, Velie BD.The ongoing discussion surrounding the well-being of retired racehorses underscores the importance of implementing effective rehoming strategies that prioritise animal welfare. A significant knowledge gap persists regarding whether a horse's success in racing can be used to reliably predict its performance in different equestrian sports upon retirement from racing. Objective: To examine the association between racehorse performance metrics and eventing metrics in off-the-track Thoroughbreds that compete in eventing within Australia. Methods: Racing metrics and eventing metrics for a sample of ...
Tommasa SD, Raspe S, Farí G, Imperante A, Brehm W.Tendon and ligament injuries in equine athletes pose significant challenges, often leading to prolonged recovery, reduced performance, and increased risk of reinjury. Current treatment strategies, including conservative and surgical approaches, have shown limited success in fully restoring tendon integrity. Autologous blood derivatives, such as autologous conditioned serum (ACS), have emerged as potential regenerative therapies. However, the clinical efficacy of ACS in the treatment of equine tendinopathies remains under investigation. Unassigned: This study aimed to compare the clinical outco...
Migliorisi A, Nottle B, Smanik LE, Nout-Lomas YS, Hassel DM.To (1) compare total nucleated cell count (TNCC) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) at admission between horses with medically managed, large intestinal (LI) and small intestinal (SI) surgical colic; (2) compare TNCC and NLR between survivors and nonsurvivors; and (3) investigate associations between TNCC, NLR, surgical intervention, and outcome. Methods: Case-control study. Methods: Single, academic institution. Methods: A total of 341 adult horses diagnosed with noninfectious medical or surgical colic. Results: Admission TNCC did not differ between the medical and combined surgical gro...
Valderrama-Martinez C, Packham A, Smith W, Mendoza-Flores JE, Zheng S, Chigerwe M, Plancarte M, Aleman M.Long-term freezing storage can alter the stability of proteins, thereby compromising accurate determination of indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) titers that support the diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. Objective: Assess the effect of long-term storage at -80°C on IFAT against S. neurona and N. hughesi in equine serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Methods: Paired serum and CSF (n = 46), and serum only (n = 25) samples. Methods: Prospective study of samples stored 6-12, 13-18, and 19-24 months. Comparing antibody titers across time points, McNemar and Wilcoxon...
Marlin D, Randell O, Mayhew E, Blake R.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of girth design and girth tension; six horses regularly ridden were used. Each horse underwent four experimental sessions in an unbalanced Latin-square design with two girth tensions (8 kg or 16 kg) and two girth designs (straight girth (S) or anatomical girth (A)). Pressure between the saddle and the horse was measured at 100 Hz with a pressure mat (0.5 sensels per cm). Notably, 2D limb kinematics were determined from anatomical markers placed on the fore and hindlimbs. Video was collected at 240 fps. There was no significant effect of girth...
Lacerenza MD, Arantes JA, Reginato GM, Finardi GLF, Marchi PH, Vendramini THA, Corrêa RR, Pereira PAM, Valadão CAA, Dória RGS.This study investigated the oral microbiome of horses maintained on a high soluble carbohydrate diet based on sugarcane, in comparison to those fed a pasture-based diet composed of spp., aiming to identify associations between dietary intake, the composition of oral microbial communities, and the occurrence of dental caries and diastemata. A total of 20 healthy horses, both male and female, with an average age of 9 ± 3 years and weight of 400 ± 100 kg, without a defined breed, were selected. They were divided into two groups: the High Soluble Carbohydrate Group (HSCCG), consisting of 10 hor...
Beshir A, Kemal J, Abraha B, Tola EH.Wounds on the skin are a common health issue affecting working equines. This study aimed to evaluate the in-vitro antibacterial properties of crude methanolic extracts from selected medicinal plants against pathogens isolated from equine skin wounds in Merti district. Agar well and disc diffusion tests were used to determine the mean zone of inhibition, while broth dilution methods were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs), further confirming the potent antibacterial effects of the selected medicinal plant extracts. One way anal...
de Chaisemartin C, Vandeweerd JM, Schramme M.Comminuted fractures of the proximal phalanx (CFPP) occur in adult horses. Various treatments have been described. It remains uncertain which is the best therapeutic option. Objective: This study aims to review systematically the existing literature on CFPP in horses, evaluate treatment modalities, synthesise outcomes to assess treatment efficacy and survival rates, and identify knowledge gaps for future research. Methods: Scoping review. Methods: A literature search was conducted using online databases. The bias quality of each article was evaluated. Chi-squared analysis was used to detect di...
Buckman PN, Brinker BA, Kapeller LE, Komáromy AM.To determine the accuracy of the EYEMATE-SC suprachoroidal tracer for telemetric tonometry in canine and equine globes. Methods: The EYEMATE-SC sensor (7.8 mm × 3.8 mm × 1 mm) was implanted in the suprachoroidal space of four freshly enucleated normal canine and two normal equine eyes. The anterior chambers were cannulated and connected to a reservoir of Plasma-Lyte A and a manometer. Starting at a manometric IOP of 5 mmHg, the pressure was progressively increased to 80 mmHg by raising the reservoir. At each setpoint (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 mmHg), t...
Burns JJ, Stull J, John E, Doyle A.For horses presenting for colic to a referral hospital in Atlantic Canada, we aimed to describe clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome for draft breeds; identify associations between clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome for draft compared to nondraft breeds; and identify the overall impact of draft breed on mortality. Unassigned: A retrospective review of equine colic cases presenting to the Atlantic Veterinary College (2004 to 2023). Logistic regression models were used to assess associations between parameters and draft breed and mortality. Unassigned: A total o...
Chwirot A, Niedźwiedź A, Stygar D, Siwińska N, Paszkowska M, Niżański W, Napierkowska S, Migdał P, Kublicka A, Marynowska M, Matczuk A....This study investigated the presence of antibodies to human adenovirus type 36 (HAdV-D36) in horses with different metabolic statuses, including normal, overweight, and those diagnosed with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). A total of 151 serum samples were tested, of which 47.6% were positive for anti-HAdV-D36 antibodies. Although the horses were confirmed to be susceptible to HAdV-D36 infection, there was no significant correlation between infection and blood glucose or cholesterol levels. However, the triglyceride levels showed significant differences-they were particularly elevated in the s...
Hacilarlioglu S, Bilgic HB, Karagenc T, Aydin HB, Toker H, Kanlioglu H, Pekagirbas M, Bakirci S.Equine piroplasmosis (EP), caused by and , is a tick-borne disease posing significant threats to equine health and the horse industry worldwide. Other vector-borne blood parasites, including , spp., and spp., can also infect horses; however, their prevalence remains poorly characterized in Türkiye. This study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence of , , , spp., and spp. in equids from the Western Aegean Region of Türkiye. Blood samples were collected from 388 clinically healthy equines across İzmir, Aydın, Denizli, and Muğla provinces. Species-specific PCR assays were performed...
Turcotte G, O'Sullivan TL, Rossi TM, Spence KL, Winder CB, Greer AL.Horses are frequently transported, creating opportunities for the spread of pathogens. Disease transmission models for equine infectious diseases face limitations on their generalizability due to challenges in describing equine movement and the structure of their contact networks beyond simplistic assumptions. This study aimed to combine a stochastic, agent-based, SEIR model for equine influenza disease dynamics with an observed Ontario, Canada equine contact network structure to quantify the potential magnitude of equine influenza outbreaks in Ontario competition horses under different condit...
Yang Y, Guo K, Xu L, Guo W, Dong M, Liu W, Li S, Zhang Z, Chu X, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Hu Z, Wang X.Equine influenza (EI), caused by the equine influenza virus (EIV), is an acute respiratory disease that has become enzootic worldwide, resulting in frequent outbreaks and substantial economic losses within the equine industry. In this study, we developed a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (NP-cELISA) for the detection of antibodies against the EIV nucleoprotein (NP). The assay was designed by coating plates with purified monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the NP protein, followed by simultaneous incubation of the test serum samples and HRP-NP antigen in a competitive binding rea...
Cormier KV, Fontenot RL, Eddy A, Williams ML, Wills RW, Jumper WI, Mochal-King CA.The objective of the study was to evaluate effects of intra-articular decellularized porcine amnion/chorion suspension (dPACLS) in horses. Methods: Controlled, randomized, prospective study. Methods: A total of 10 adult horses. Methods: One randomly selected radiocarpal joint (RCJ) was injected with a high dose (HD) of 50 mg (n = 5) or low dose (LD) of 5 mg of dPACLS (n = 5). The contralateral RCJ received saline as control. Systemic serum amyloid A (SAA), synovial fluid analysis (including SAA) and subjective lameness evaluation were performed prior to injection (time 0) and 24, 4...
Alves-Junior CDB, Ferreira TC, Nunes-Pinheiro DCS.This study evaluated the dynamics of blood immune-inflammatory biomarkers in response to exercise-induced changes in jumping horses. Methods: For this purpose, adult Brazilian Sport Horses (n = 9), aged 10.1 years, both sexes, underwent a specific training test consisting of warm-up, flatwork, and jumping exercises, and recovery on a 900 m sand track over 40 min. Clinical examinations and blood collections were performed at three time points: before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 1 h after (T2) the final exercise. Hematologic and biochemical parameters, such as total protein, gl...
Shimizu Y, Sugai-Bannai M, Tanabe H, Saito K, Ito H, Tokushige H, Kamiya K, Hirano-Kodaira M, Yamada M, Leung GN.Somapacitan is the second generation of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) medication that retains the pharmacological effects of rhGH but exhibits a longer duration of action due to its reversible albumin-binding in the body. In general, the use of all recombinant growth hormone (rGH) analogues is banned by the human and animal sports regulatory authorities due to their anabolic and lipolytic effects. However, little is known about the elimination kinetics and biological effects of the newly introduced long-acting rhGH, somapacitan, in horses. This paper describes the administration stud...
Khan A, Jose-Cunilleras E, Hyde E, Olajide E, Polo MC, Goehring LS.Equid alphaherpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) remains a major concern for the equine industry, with recent outbreaks at international equestrian events highlighting the need for improved surveillance during competitions. Objective: To investigate EHV-1 and -4 presence in shared airspaces and environmental surfaces in direct contact with horses at international equestrian events; and to evaluate air sampling as a surveillance alternative to individual horse testing. Methods: Cross-sectional field study. Methods: Air (37) and surface samples (205) were collected from temporary stabling facilities across six ...
Fain H, Hendrickson DA, Buesing MT, Griffenhagen G.Cryptorchidism is a common congenital disorder in male horses characterized by the failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum. This developmental anomaly has important clinical, surgical, and economic implications, particularly in breeding animals. This retrospective study investigates the prevalence and laterality of cryptorchidism in a large equine population presented to two veterinary referral hospitals-Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (CSU VTH, 1984-2014) and Oakridge Equine Hospital (OEH, 2008-2023). Medical records were reviewed to identify affected ...
Vitale V, Bindi F, Bertelloni F, Sala G, Cingottini D, Bonelli F, Sgorbini M.Bacterial contamination of intravenous catheters in hospitalized horses may pose risks for both patient care and public health due to potential antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic transmission. This prospective clinical study aimed to evaluate the incidence of catheter contamination in equine patients admitted to a Veterinary Teaching Hospital between 2020 and 2021. All horses requiring intravenous catheterization were included, and data were collected on patient signalment, clinical status, duration of catheterization, treatments, and outcomes. Two catheter types were used: 5 cm polytetrafl...
Duggan MJS, Kearney C, Baltrimaite M, Labberté MC, Gibney R, Brama PAJ.The aim of this study was to refine the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced synovitis model in normal carpal joints of Thoroughbred horses by comparing two low LPS doses. A further aim was to investigate the relationship between the induced synovitis and lameness. The study design consisted of two phases using nine horses with a unilateral crossover design and a within-animal saline control. Synoviocentesis was performed at post-injection hour (PIH) 0, 8, 24, 72 and 168, allowing for synovial fluid cytology and biomarker analysis. Objective gait and thermographic analysis were used to objectively...
Pereira EL, Pereira GR, Osório ML, Terra JLA, Gayger JB, Gularte JS, Demoliner M, Pereira VMAG, Filippi M, de Matos QS, Tessman A, Canal CW, Daudt C....Papillomaviruses (PV) are significant agents capable of inducing simple, multiple, and/or proliferative lesions in the dermis and epidermis of animals, known as cutaneous papillomatosis. These lesions can be benign or malignant and have been identified in various hosts, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish. PVs are strictly species- and tissue-specific, although some established and unusual cases of cross-infection, such as BPV in equine sarcoids, have been reported. Sarcoids are horses' most common skin tumors, which can be locally aggressive and cause significant clinical signs. It i...
Myers TJ, Sampson SN, Glass KP, Russell LA.Central tarsal bone (CTB) fractures are challenging to diagnose, and cross-sectional imaging is required for definitive characterization and surgical planning. This retrospective case series aims to provide the first description of high-field (3-T) MRI characteristics of CTB fractures, concurrent pathology, and clinical presentation in 8 performance horses. Unassigned: 8 horses (9 limbs) diagnosed with a CTB fracture on high-field MRI at one tertiary referral hospital between 2013 and 2023 were identified via electronic medical records search. Unassigned: Quarter Horses (6 of 8) used for Weste...
Arantes JA, Rabelo IP, Bermudes L, Lacerenza MD, Mendes RP, Corrêa RR, Yamada DI, Valadão CAA, Dória RGS.This study aimed to compare the sedation quality and cardiorespiratory and behavioral effects of detomidine administered intravenously, either in intermittent boluses or as a continuous rate infusion, with butorphanol in horses pre-medicated with acepromazine for odontoplasty procedures. Unassigned: A prospective clinical study was conducted with fifteen adult horses randomly assigned to two groups: Bolus group (BG, = 7) and Infusion group (IG, = 8). Both groups received acepromazine premedication, followed by detomidine administration (bolus or infusion). Butorphanol was administered either...
Ambruosi B, Uranio MF, Sardanelli AM, Pocar P, Martino NA, Paternoster MS, Amati F, Dell'Aquila ME.Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental contaminants because of their use in plastics and other common consumer products. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the most abundant phthalate and it impairs fertility by acting as an endocrine disruptor. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of in vitro acute exposure to DEHP on oocyte maturation, energy and oxidative status in the horse, a large animal model. Cumulus cell (CC) apoptosis and oxidative status were also investigated. Cumulus-oocyte complexes from the ovaries of slaughtered mares were cultured in vitro in presence of...
Melnick JL, Rennick V, Hampil B, Schmidt NJ, Ho HH.This paper describes the preparation of 8 dried pools (designated A to H) of sera. Each pool is composed of 10 or 11 of 42 individual enterovirus equine sera and contains 500 antibody units of each serum component per 0.1 ml. Procedures for using the antiserum pools are given, and guidance is provided for interpreting the results of serum neutralization tests in identifying field isolates.
Fortier LA, Nixon AJ, Williams J, Cable CS.To isolate mesenchymal stem cells from adult horses and determine specific monolayer culture conditions required to enhance biochemically and phenotypically defined chondrocytic differentiation. Methods: 2 adult horse bone marrow donors without skeletal or hematologic abnormalities. Methods: Bone marrow was aspirated from the sternebra, and mesenchymal stem cells were isolated by centrifugation and cultured in monolayers. Subcultures were established in 24-well plates on day 13. Culture medium was harvested every 2 days, and culture of 12 of the 24 wells was terminated on day 6 and of the rema...
Dennis SJ, Meyers AE, Hitzeroth II, Rybicki EP.African horse sickness is a devastating disease that causes great suffering and many fatalities amongst horses in sub-Saharan Africa. It is caused by nine different serotypes of the orbivirus African horse sickness virus (AHSV) and it is spread by Culicoid midges. The disease has significant economic consequences for the equine industry both in southern Africa and increasingly further afield as the geographic distribution of the midge vector broadens with global warming and climate change. Live attenuated vaccines (LAV) have been used with relative success for many decades but carry the risk o...
Henninger RW, Reed SM, Saville WJ, Allen GP, Hass GF, Kohn CW, Sofaly C.Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection causes neurologic disease in horses. However, risk factors for the disease and long-term prognosis are poorly characterized. Objective: There are identifiable risk factors for equine herpes-1 myeloencephalopathy. Methods: The entire population of 135 horses housed within the equestrian facility. Methods: A descriptive study investigated the clinical, serologic, virologic, and management aspects of an outbreak of EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy. Results: Out of 135 horses at the facility, 117 displayed signs of EHV-1 infection. Forty-six horses developed ne...
Perryman LE, O'Rourke KI, McGuire TC.Six normal and four immunodeficient horses were injected with a cloned variant of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). The six normal horses had detectable EIAV in their plasma by 7 days postinjection. During their primary viremic episode, which was accompanied by fever and anemia, maximum titers of EIAV in plasma ranged from 10(3.8) to 10(4.8) 50% tissue culture infective doses per ml. All six normal horses cleared detectable virus from their plasma by 21 to 35 days after injection. Horses with combined immunodeficiency became viremic by 9 days postinjection and also developed anemia. In co...
Muscatello G, Leadon DP, Klayt M, Ocampo-Sosa A, Lewis DA, Fogarty U, Buckley T, Gilkerson JR, Meijer WG, Vazquez-Boland JA.Infection with Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi is a well-recognised condition in foals that represents a consistent and serious risk worldwide. The condition manifests itself primarily as one of pulmonary abscessation and bronchitis, hence the terminology of 'rattles' derived from its most obvious clinical sign, frequently terminal when first identified. This review addresses the clinical manifestation, bacteriology and pathogenesis of the condition together with recent developments providing knowledge of the organism in terms of virulence, epidemiology, transmission and immune responses. E...
Shirato K, Kimura T, Mizutani T, Kariwa H, Takashima I.West Nile (WN) virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that can cause lethal encephalitis in humans and horses. The WN virus endemic in New York City (NY) in 1999 caused large-scale mortality of wild birds that was not evident in endemic areas in other parts of the world, and the pathogenesis of the WN virus strain isolated in NY (NY strain) appears to differ from that of previously isolated strains. However, the pathogenesis of NY strain infection remains unclear. This study examined CC (RANTES/CCL5, MIP-1 alpha/CCL3, MIP-1 beta/CCL4) and CXC (IP-10/CXCL10, B lymphocyte chemoattractant (BLC/CXCL...
Thorpe CT, Chaudhry S, Lei II, Varone A, Riley GP, Birch HL, Clegg PD, Screen HR.Tendon injury is thought to involve both damage accumulation within the matrix and an accompanying cell response. While several studies have characterized cell and matrix response in chronically injured tendons, few have assessed the initial response of tendon to overload-induced damage. In this study, we assessed cell response to cyclic loading. Fascicle bundles from the equine superficial digital flexor tendon were exposed to cyclic loading in vitro, designed to mimic a bout of high-intensity exercise. Changes in cell morphology and protein-level alterations in markers of matrix inflammation...
Brüning A.Two haemoprotozoan parasites, Babesia caballi and Babesia equi, can cause equine piroplasmosis. Due to the presence of potential tick vectors in areas so far unaffected by equine babesias, import and export regulations often require the serum testing of animals for evidence of infection. Although the complement fixation test (CFT) has been recommended for detecting the presence of antibodies to Babesia spp., it has been demonstrated to have several disadvantages, including false-positive results and low sensitivity for detecting latent infections. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) m...
Komar N, Dohm DJ, Turell MJ, Spielman A.To determine whether eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus infection in starlings may be more fulminant than in various native candidate reservoir birds, we compared their respective intensities and durations of viremia. Viremias are more intense and longer lasting in starlings than in robins and other birds. Starlings frequently die as their viremia begins to wane; other birds generally survive. Various Aedes as well as Culiseta melanura mosquitoes can acquire EEE viral infection from infected starlings under laboratory conditions. The reservoir competence of a bird is described as the prod...
Tkachuk-Saad O, Prescott J.Fifty-four strains of Rhodococcus equi from different clinical sources (mainly horses and pigs) were examined for their plasmid content by two screening methods. Plasmids were detected in 49 of 54 strains. A plasmid of approximately 80 kb was isolated from 21 of 22 isolates from horses and 20 of 28 isolates from pigs, and a 105-kb plasmid was isolated from 7 of 28 isolates from pigs. The 80-kb plasmid was significantly associated with strains of equine rather than porcine origin, and the 105-kb plasmid was significantly associated with strains of porcine origin. The type strain, ATCC 6939, con...
Daly JM, MacRae S, Newton JR, Wattrang E, Elton DM.This review discusses some of the challenges still faced in the control of equine influenza virus H3N8 infection. A widespread outbreak of equine influenza in the United Kingdom during 2003 in vaccinated Thoroughbred racehorses challenged the current dogma on vaccine strain selection. Furthermore, several new developments in the first decade of the 21st century, including transmission to and establishment in dogs, a presumed influenza-associated encephalopathy in horses and an outbreak of equine influenza in Australia, serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of influenza viruses. The a...
Whalley JM, Robertson GR, Davison AJ.The genome of an Australian isolate of equine herpesvirus type 1 (equine abortion virus) has been analysed using the restriction endonucleases EcoRI, BglII and BamHI, and a physical map constructed. Terminal fragments were identified by exonuclease treatments, and linkage of fragments was deduced by a combination of single- and double-digest experiments and cross-blot hybridizations. The genome has a mol. wt. of 100 x 10(6) and is comprised of a short unique region bounded by repetitive sequences, which is present in both orientations in approximately equal amounts in the DNA population, and a...
Belaunzaran X, Bessa RJ, Lavín P, Mantecón AR, Kramer JK, Aldai N.The consumption of horse-meat is currently not popular in most countries, but because of its availability and recognized nutritional value consumption is slowly increasing in several western European countries based on claims that it could be an alternative red meat. In this review, horse-meat production, trade and supply values have been summarized. In addition, the advantage of horse production is noted because of its lower methane emissions and increased uptake, particularly of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which is based on its digestive physiology. Of particular interest in thi...
Murray MJ, Schusser GF, Pipers FS, Gross SJ.Gastroscopic examinations were performed on 67 Thoroughbred horses in training at a race track and repeat examinations performed in 35 horses, 2 to 3 months later. Horses were age 2-9 years and included 16 two-year-olds, 32 three-year-olds and 19 horses > or = 4-years-old. Forty-two of the 67 horses had raced within the 2 months before the initial examination and the remaining 25 horses were in training. Sixty-two of the 67 horses (93%) had one or more lesions present in the gastric mucosa and lesions were present in all of the 42 horses that had raced. Thirty-two of the 35 horses, examined...
Herrera HM, Dávila AM, Norek A, Abreu UG, Souza SS, D'Andrea PS, Jansen AM.In order to better understand the enzootiology of trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma evansi in the Brazilian Pantanal we examined domestic and wild mammals by microhematocrit centrifuge technique (MHCT), immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). T. evansi infection was detected in all species sampled with exception of the sheep and the feral pig. High parasitemias were observed in capybaras (5/24), coatis (18/115), horses (31/321) and dogs (3/112). Among these species, only the capybaras did not develop anemia. Low parasitemias, only detected by PCR, were ...
da Silva Meirelles L, Sand TT, Harman RJ, Lennon DP, Caplan AI.Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that have the capacity to develop into different mature mesenchymal cell types. They were originally isolated from bone marrow, but MSC-like cells have also been isolated from other tissues. The common feature of all of these tissues is that they all house blood vessels. It is, thus, possible that MSCs are associated with perivascular locations. The objective of this work was to test the hypothesis that MSCs are associated with blood vessels by verifying if MSC frequency positively correlates with blood vessel density. To this end, samples fr...
Burton AJ, Giguère S, Sturgill TL, Berghaus LJ, Slovis NM, Whitman JL, Levering C, Kuskie KR, Cohen ND.Macrolide and rifampin resistance developed on a horse breeding farm after widespread use was instituted for treatment of subclinical pulmonary lesions in foals. Resistance occurred in 6 (24%) of 25 pretreatment and 8 (62%) of 13 (62%) posttreatment isolates from affected foals. Drug-resistant isolates formed 2 distinct genotypic clusters.
Lavoie JP, Maghni K, Desnoyers M, Taha R, Martin JG, Hamid QA.Heaves in horses shares many similarities with human asthma, including lower airway inflammation, reversible airway obstruction, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Extrinsic asthma is an allergic response to environmental allergens and a similar immunologic mechanism may be implicated in heaves. It is now recognized that a Th2 subset of CD4+ lymphocytes is associated with allergic diseases such as atopic asthma. The purpose of this study was to determine whether airway inflammation in heaves is associated with a pattern of expression of cytokine suggestive of a Th2 type response. The expressio...
Peeters M, Sulon J, Beckers JF, Ledoux D, Vandenheede M.In horses, serum cortisol concentration is considered to provide an indirect measurement of stress. However, it includes both free and bound fractions. The sampling method is also invasive and often stressful. This is not the case for salivary cortisol, which is collected using a more welfare-friendly method and represents a part of the free cortisol fraction, which is the biologically active form. Objective: To compare salivary and serum cortisol assays in horses, in a wide range of concentrations, using an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test, in order to validate salivary cor...
de Mattos Carvalho A, Alves AL, Golim MA, Moroz A, Hussni CA, de Oliveira PG, Deffune E.The purpose of this work was to isolate and cultivate mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) derived from equine adipose tissue and conduct cellular characterization with the following markers: CD90, CD44 and CD13. Adipose tissue collection was performed at the base of the horses' tails, followed by immediate isolation and cultivation of the MSC and posterior characterization by flow cytometry for the interspecies reaction test using mouse anti-rat CD90 monoclonal antibody (mAb), fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and tests with specific mAb mouse anti-horse CD13 and mouse anti-horse CD44. The technique...
Koerner J, Nesic D, Romero JD, Brehm W, Mainil-Varlet P, Grogan SP.Fibroblast-like cells isolated from peripheral blood of human, canine, guinea pig, and rat have been demonstrated to possess the capacity to differentiate into several mesenchymal lineages. The aim of this work was to investigate the possibility of isolating pluripotent precursor cells from equine peripheral blood and compare them with equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were used as a control for cell multipotency assessment. Venous blood (n = 33) and bone marrow (n = 5) were obtained from adult horses. Mononuclear cells were obtained by Fico...
Textor JA, Tablin F.To investigate and compare clinically relevant Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) activation methods. Methods: Experimental. Methods: PRP was prepared from 6 equine subjects. Activation of the PRP was performed by 4 methods (autologous thrombin, bovine thrombin, calcium chloride (CaCl(2) ), or freeze-thaw). The resultant PDGF-BB (where PDGF is platelet-derived growth factor) and TGFβ1 (where TGFβ is transforming growth factor beta) levels in PRP releasates were quantified by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared. Growth factor contents were also compared between platelet-rich clots ...
McGuigan MP, Wilson AM.A horse's legs are compressed during the stance phase, storing and then returning elastic strain energy in spring-like muscle-tendon units. The arrangement of the muscle-tendon units around the lever-like joints means that as the leg shortens the muscle-tendon units are stretched. The forelimb anatomy means that the leg can be conceptually divided into two springs: the proximal spring, from the scapula to the elbow, and the distal spring, from the elbow to the foot. In this paper we report the results of a series of experiments testing the hypothesis that there is minimal scope for muscle cont...
Richardson DW, Dodge GR.To assess the effects of glucocorticoids on the expression of multiple matrix-related genes in normal and cytokine-treated cultured equine articular chondrocytes in a phenotypically correct suspension culture. Methods: Articular cartilage harvested from the joints of 15 foals, 7 yearling horses, and 16 adult horses. Methods: Glucocorticoids (dexamethasone, prednisolone, triamcinolone) at 10(-10) to 10(-4) M. Methods: Equine articular chondrocytes maintained in suspension cultures were treated with glucocorticoids with and without human recombinant interleukin 1-beta (IL1-beta) and tumor necros...
Johnson BJ, Stover SM, Daft BM, Kinde H, Read DH, Barr BC, Anderson M, Moore J, Woods L, Stoltz J.Necropsies were performed on 496 horses that had a fatal injury or illness at a California racetrack during the period February 20th 1990 to March 1st 1992. The primary cause of death was categorised by breed, activity at time of injury or illness and organ system affected. Most of the submissions were Thoroughbred horses (432) and Quarter Horses (46). Most of the injuries occurred while racing (42%) and in training sessions (39%); with fewer non-exercise (12%) and accident (7%) related injuries or illnesses. Musculoskeletal injuries accounted for 83% of the Thoroughbred and 80% of the Quarter...
