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Topic:Equine Health
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.
Virulent African horse sickness virus serotype 4 interferes with the innate immune response in horse peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro. African horse sickness (AHS) is caused by African horse sickness virus (AHSV), a double stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus of the genus Orbivirus, family Reoviridae. For the development of new generation AHS vaccines or antiviral treatments, it is crucial to understand the host immune response against the virus and the immune evasion strategies the virus employs. To achieve this, the current study used transcriptome analysis of RNA sequences to characterize and compare the innate immune responses activated during the attenuated AHSV serotype 4 (attAHSV4) (in vivo) and the virulent AHSV4 (virAHSV4) (in...
Relationship between oxytocin and serotonin and the fearfulness, dominance, and trainability of horses. Oxytocin (OXT) and serotonin (5-HT) are essential neurotransmitters associated with the behavior of animals. Recently, we found that the plasma concentration of OXT is positively correlated with horse docility and friendliness toward humans. However, the relationships between the neurotransmitters and other temperaments such as fearfulness, dominance, and trainability are unknown. This study aimed to identify whether the plasma concentration of OXT or 5-HT is correlated with fearfulness, dominance, and trainability of horses. Blood samples of 34 horses were collected at the Horse Industry Comp...
Pharmacokinetics and effects on arachidonic acid metabolism of low doses of cannabidiol following oral administration to horses. The increasing availability of cannabidiol (CBD) and anecdotal reports of its anti-inflammatory effects has garnered it much interest in the equine industry. The objectives of the current study were to (1) describe the pharmacokinetics of oral CBD in exercising thoroughbreds, (2) characterize select behavioral and physiologic effects, and (3) evaluate effects on biomarkers of inflammation using an ex vivo model. This study was conducted in a randomized balanced 3-way crossover design with a two-week washout period between doses. Horses received a single oral dose (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg) of CBD...
Efficacy and safety of suprachoroidal triamcinolone injection in horses with poorly responsive equine recurrent uveitis. Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), a chronic, immune-mediated intraocular inflammatory disease, is a common cause of blindness in horses. The severity and recurrent nature of ERU makes it difficult to treat with current therapeutics leading to a poor visual prognosis. The suprachoroidal space (SCS), a potential space between the choroid and sclera surrounding the ocular posterior segment, offers a promising alternative site for drug application to the eye. Corticosteroid administration within this space is hypothesized to be safe and effective at controlling intraocular inflammation, especially i...
Bit-Related Lesions in Event Horses After a Cross-Country Test. Bit-related oral lesions are common and may impair horse welfare. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of oral lesions and their risk factors in a sample of Finnish event horses. The rostral part of the oral cavity (the bit area) of 208 event horses (127 warmbloods, 52 coldbloods, and 29 ponies) was examined in a voluntary inspection after the last competition phase, i.e., the cross-country test. Acute lesions were observed in 52% (109/208) of the horses. The lesion status was graded as no acute lesions for 48% (99/208), mild for 22% (45/208), moderate for 26% (55/208) and s...
Tissue Microarrays to Visualize Influenza D Attachment to Host Receptors in the Respiratory Tract of Farm Animals. The trimeric hemagglutinin-esterase fusion protein (HEF) of influenza D virus (IDV) binds 9-O-acetylated sialic acid receptors, which are expressed in various host species. While cattle are the main reservoir for IDV, the viral genome has also been detected in domestic pigs. In addition, antibodies against IDV have been detected in other farm animals such as sheep, goats, and horses, and even in farmers working with IDV positive animals. Viruses belonging to various IDV clades circulate, but little is known about their differences in host and tissue tropism. Here we used recombinantly produced...
Coenzyme Q-10 improves preservation of mitochondrial functionality and actin structure of cryopreserved stallion sperm. Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10) is a cofactor for mitochondrial electron transport chain and may be an alternative to improve sperm quality of cryopreserved equine semen. This work aimed to improve stallion semen quality after freezing by adding CoQ-10 to the cryopreservation protocol. Seven saddle stallions were utilized. Each animal was submitted to five semen collections and freezing procedures. For cryopreservation, each ejaculate was divided in three treatments: 1) Botucrio® diluent (control); 2) 50 μmol CoQ-10 added to Botucrio® diluent; 3) 1 mmol CoQ-10 added to Botucrio® diluent. Semen batc...
A Critical Overview of the Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Equine Medicine Over the Last Decade. In the 1990s, the role of platelets in inflammation and tissue healing was finally recognized. Since then, the clinical use of platelet-derived products (hemocomponents), such as, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), markedly increased. The promise of a more economical option of a disease-modifying treatment led to the intensive and continuous research of PRP products and to its widespread clinical use. A number of protocols and commercial kits have been developed with the intention of creating a more practical and reliable option for clinical use in equine patients. Still, the direct comparison betwee...
Serological evidence of Eastern equine encephalitis circulation in equids in Pará state, Brazil. Serum samples from 89 equids were analyzed (75 horses, 9 donkeys, and 5 mules) from the municipality of Viseu, Pará state, Brazil. Samples were collected in November 2014 and August 2015. The antibody prevalence against the following alphaviruses was estimated: Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Western equine encephalitis virus, Mucambo virus, and Mayaro virus. Seroprevalence was determined by the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) technique. Sera that exhibited HI antibodies with heterotypic reactions for the analyzed viruses were subjected to the 90% plaque reduction neutralization test (PRN...
Mechanical Effect of Performance Pressure Boots on Cadaveric Equine Hindlimb Fetlock Biomechanics. Pressure boots are applied to hind limbs of showjumping horses with the intent to enhance jumping form. Manufacturers claim acupressure points enhance proprioception of hind limbs. With this increased awareness, horses are expected to retract their hind limbs to clear jump rails. This research aimed to investigate a more direct, mechanical effect of pressure boots on hind limb biomechanics. Cadaveric hind limbs ( = 6) were mechanically loaded in axial compression (3 cycles at 0.25 Hz, displacement control ~3300 N) with (2 trials) and without (2 trials) a pressure boot applied. During mechanica...
In vitro efficacy of a 0.2% polyhexamethylene biguanide-impregnated gauze dressing against pathogenic bacterial isolates found in horses. To determine the ability of 0.2% polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)-impregnated gauze to inhibit the growth of bacteria isolated from equine infected sites. Methods: In vitro study. Methods: Nine bacterial isolates were obtained from cultures submitted from equine patients presenting with penetrating injuries of the hoof (n = 4), septic osteitis (n = 1), synovial sepsis (n = 1), wounds (n = 2), and incisional infection following laparotomy (n = 1). Two standardized strains were also included. A standard inoculum of each isolate was placed on 12 Muller-Hinton agar plates. Squares (2.5 cm ×...
Polymorphisms at Myostatin Gene (MSTN) and the Associations with Sport Performances in Anglo-Arabian Racehorses. One hundred and eighty Anglo-Arabian horses running 1239 races were sampled for the present study. DNA was extracted from the blood and myostatin gene, MSTN, was genotyped. Moreover, prizes won and places were achieved for the 1239 races to perform association analyses between the different genotypes and sport traits. Two SNPs already reported in previous studies regarding the Thoroughbred breed, rs69472472 and rs397152648, were revealed as polymorphic. The linkage disequilibrium analysis investigating the haplotype structure of MSTN did not evidence any association block. Polymorphism at SNP ...
Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR FT-IR) Spectroscopy for the Quantitative Analysis of Deuterium in Plasma: Application to Total Body Water Determination in Humans and Other Animals. Conventional methods for measuring the concentration of deuterium in body fluids are by either isotope ratio mass spectrometry or Fourier transform infrared transmission (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The latter method is often preferred as it is less expensive and time consuming; however, having a lower sensitivity means a larger sample volume is required. This study investigated an alternative FT-IR spectroscopic method, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR), which has the potential to provide shorter analysis times while requiring smaller sample volumes. Deu...
Use of nanopore sequencing to characterize african horse sickness virus (AHSV) from the African horse sickness outbreak in thailand in 2020. African horse sickness (AHS) is a highly infectious and deadly disease despite availability of vaccines. Molecular characterization of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) detected from the March 2020 Thailand outbreak was carried out by whole-genome sequencing using Nanopore with a Sequence-Independent Single Primer Amplification (SISPA) approach. Nucleotide sequence of the whole genome was compared with closest matching AHSV strains using phylogenetic analyses and the AHSV-1 virus shared high sequence identity with isolates from the same outbreak. Substitution analysis revealed non-synonymous...
Allogenic mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium does not affect sperm parameters and mitigates early endometrial inflammatory responses in mares. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium (MSC-CM) on sperm parameters, intrauterine polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), intrauterine fluid accumulation (IUF), and fertility in mares. In experiment 1, two ejaculates from ten stallions were extended to 50 million sperm/mL using a milk-based extender. Thereafter, 20 mL of extended semen was added of MSC-CM as follows: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mL. Sperm kinetics and plasma membrane integrity were evaluated immediately after dilution (T0) and 2 h post-incubation at 37 °C (T2). In experiment 2, mares cha...
Use of Omics Data in Fracture Prediction; a Scoping and Systematic Review in Horses and Humans. Despite many recent advances in imaging and epidemiological data analysis, musculoskeletal injuries continue to be a welfare issue in racehorses. Peptide biomarker studies have failed to consistently predict bone injury. Molecular profiling studies provide an opportunity to study equine musculoskeletal disease. A systematic review of the literature was performed using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines to assess the use of miRNA profiling studies in equine and human musculoskeletal injuries. Data were extracted from 40 papers betw...
Description of a novel ultrasound guided peribulbar block in horses: a cadaveric study. Standing surgery in horses combining intravenous sedatives, analgesics and local anaesthesia is becoming more popular. Ultrasound guided (USG) peribulbar nerve block (PB) has been described in dogs and humans for facial and ocular surgery, reducing the risk of complications versus retrobulbar nerve block (RB). Objective: To describe a technique for USG PB in horse cadavers. Methods: Landmarks and PB technique were described in two equine cadaver heads (Phase 1), with computed tomography (CT) imaging confirming contrast location and spread. In Phase 2, ten equine cadaver heads were randomised t...
Current Concepts in Fluid Therapy in Horses. Despite the frequent inclusion of fluid therapy in the treatment of many conditions in horses, there are limited studies available to provide evidenced-based, species-specific recommendations. Thus, equine fluid therapy is based on the application of physiology and extrapolation from evidence in other veterinary species and human medicine. The physiologic principles that underly the use of fluids in medicine are, at first glance, straightforward and simple to understand. However, in the past 20 years, multiple studies in human medicine have shown that creating recommendations based on theory i...
Effects of Spermine and Spermidine supplemented extenders on post-thaw Spermatological Parameters in Stallion Semen Cryopreservation. In this study, the effects of polyamines, Spermine and Spermidine, on long-term preservation and post-thaw spermatological parameters were evaluated. Moreover, determination of the most suitable polyamine and its dose that can be added to standard extenders were aimed. Four adult Arabian stallions were used in the study. Five ejaculates were collected from each of four stallions via artificial vagina two days interval. Each ejaculate was divided into 13 aliquots. INRA96 (95,5%), egg yolk (2%), and glycerol (2,5%) were used as a control extender. Extenders of experimental groups were prepared w...
Setaria digitata was the main cause of equine neurological ataxia in Korea: 50 cases (2015-2016). This study was performed to examine and clarify the cause of hindlimb ataxia and neuropathy seen in the South Korean horse population. Fifty horses diagnosed with hindlimb ataxia and neuropathy were referred for this study. Neurological examination was performed on 47 horses while necropsy was performed in all 50 animals. The occurrence of neurological diseases increased rapidly in the summer and 47 out of 50 horses were referred after the end of July. The incidence of neurological diseases started from the southern part of Korea in July and proceeded northward in August and September. Althoug...
Active equine parvovirus-hepatitis infection is most frequently detected in Austrian horses of advanced age. Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) research is in its infancy. Information regarding prevalence, geographical distribution, genetic diversity, pathogenesis and risk factors enhances understanding of this potentially fatal infection. Objective: Determining the prevalence of EqPV-H in Austrian equids. Investigating factors increasing probability of infection, liver-associated biochemistry parameters, concurrent equine hepacivirus (EqHV) infection and phylogenetic analysis of Austrian EqPV-H variants. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Sera from 259 horses and 13 donkeys in Austria were a...
Economic assessment of African horse sickness vaccine impact. African horse sickness (AHS) is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa posing a threat to equine populations in non-endemic regions. Available vaccine technologies have limitations, creating barriers to horse movement, AHS control and, in non-endemic areas or countries, rapid elimination of virus after incursion. The literature lacks an economic assessment of the benefits of bringing a new, more effective AHS vaccine to market. Objective: The study assesses the economic impact of AHS and tests the hypothesis that investment in a safer, more effective AHS vaccine would give an economic return. Methods: ...
Modified Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Arthrodesis in a Yearling Filly with an Osseous Cyst-Like Lesion in the Proximal Phalanx. After the medial femoral condyle (MFC), the phalanges are the second most common site for osseous cyst-like lesions (OCLLs). Conservative treatment of phalangeal cysts on the convex surface of proximal phalanx presents a technical problem with access to the stoma of the cyst. Surgical therapy options usually aim to avoid cyst enlargement through drilling or screw placement or to encourage lesion filling with osteoconductive material. This paper describes a case of treatment of the OCLL in a yearling Czech warmblood filly with surgical arthrodesis, together with the packing of the OCLL with cal...
First Molecular Confirmation of Equine Ocular Setaria digitata in China. A 5-year-old Mongolian mare (Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758) was observed to have corneal opacity and excessive ocular discharge. An ophthalmic examination revealed a moving thread-like cylindrical worm in the anterior chamber of the right eye. The parasite was successfully removed surgically. The worm was observed under light microscopy and confirmed as Setaria digitata by 12S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated similarity with Setaria digitata in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) GenBank database isolated from other Asian countries...
Estimation of Liveweight from Body Measurements through Best Fitted Regression Model in Dezhou Donkey Breed. Dezhou donkey is an excellent local hide, meat and milk breed in Shandong Province. To accelerate the speed of breeding, reproduction and conversation, correlation and multiple regression analysis between body weight (BW) and body size of Dezhou donkey rearing under intensive farms was made by SAS 9.4 software (Statistical Analysis for Windows). A total of 162 donkeys of both gender of age 2 ~ 10 years old were used to investigate the relationships between BW and body dimensional traits (cm) including height of withers, body length; thoracic depth, thoracic girth (TG), thoracic width (TW), cir...
Meropenem Administered via Intravenous Regional Limb Perfusion for Orthopedic Sepsis in Horses: A Clinical Retrospective Study. Septic synovitis is a critical orthopedic condition in horses. Early intervention is key, with antibiotic therapy typically initiated prior to culture and susceptibility reports becoming available. The pharmacokinetics of several antibiotics have been studied in horses for use in intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) for septic synovitis, including the carbapenem antibiotic, meropenem. For a variety of factors, some veterinary clinicians may select IVRLP meropenem as therapy for these cases. Meropenem is a vital antibiotic in human medicine, making veterinary use divisive. However, verif...
Detection of Equine Hoof Motion by Using a Hoof-Mounted Inertial Measurement Unit Sensor in Comparison to Examinations with an Optoelectronic Technique – A Pilot Study. This study aimed to determine whether a hoof-mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU) system would provide similar timing characteristics and step lengths, in walk and trot on different grounds, compared to those of an established optoelectronic motion system. The right hoof of one horse was equipped with an IMU sensor with an optical reference marker on top. Fifteen steps on firm ground, and five on penetrable ground, were performed at walk and trot. Level of agreement between the two measurement systems was determined by assessing the concordance correlation coefficients, accuracy, and precis...
Effect of recombinant equine interleukin-1β on function of equine endothelial colony-forming cells in vitro. To investigate the effects of recombinant equine IL-1β on function of equine endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) in vitro. Methods: ECFCs derived from peripheral blood samples of 3 healthy adult geldings. Methods: Function testing was performed to assess in vitro wound healing, tubule formation, cell adhesion, and uptake of 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3' tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate-labeled acetylated low-density lipoprotein (DiI-Ac-LDL) by cultured ECFCs. Cell proliferation was determined by 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide assay. Effects o...
An inactivated bacterium (paraprobiotic) expressing Bacillus thuringiensis Cry5B as a therapeutic for Ascaris and Parascaris spp. infections in large animals. and are important parasites in the family Ascarididae, large, ubiquitous intestinal-dwelling nematodes infecting all classes of vertebrates. Parasitic nematode drug resistance in veterinary medicine and drug recalcitrance in human medicine are increasing worldwide, with few if any new therapeutic classes on the horizon. Some of these parasites are zoonotic, , is passed from humans to pigs and . The development of new therapies against this family of parasites would have major implications for both human and livestock health. Here we tested the therapeutic ability of a paraprobiotic or dead ...
