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.
Lilly ML, Gonçalves Arruda A, Proudfoot KL, Herron ME.To survey first-year veterinary students' knowledge of companion animal (dog, cat, and horse) behavior and popular-culture (ie, pop-culture) behavior myths related to animal body language, motivations, and learning prior to participation in an introductory animal behavior course; evaluate potential associations between sources of prior behavior knowledge and knowledge on the preclass survey; and determine whether postclass scores on the same survey were predictive of final examination score for the behavior class. Methods: 156 first-year veterinary students. Methods: Students were invited to p...
Solé M, Lindgren G, Bongcam-Rudloff E, Jansson A.There is a lack of research on the benefits and risks of shoeing conditions in harness racing. Thus, our objectives were to: (a) investigate whether velocity times (VT; s/km) are affected by racing unshod (N = 76,932 records on 5,247 horses); (b) determine the potential risks of galloping, being penalized, and disqualification when competing unshod (N = 111,755 records on 6,423 horses); and (c) identify additional environmental factors that affect VT and risks. VT was found to be significantly influenced by shoeing condition (e.g., unshod, shod front, shod hind, or fully shod), but also by...
Mullen KR, Rivera BN, Tidwell LG, Ivanek R, Anderson KA, Ainsworth DM.Studies of neonatal health risks of unconventional natural gas development (UNGD) have not included comprehensive assessments of environmental chemical exposures. We investigated a clustering of dysphagic cases in neonatal foals born between 2014 and 2016 in an area of active UNGD in Pennsylvania (PA),USA. We evaluated equine biological data and environmental exposures on the affected PA farm and an unaffected New York (NY) farm owned by the same proprietor. Dams either spent their entire gestation on one farm or moved to the other farm in late gestation. Over the 21-month study period, physic...
Brankston G, Greer AL, Marshall Q, Lang B, Moore K, Hodgins D, Hennessey JTG, Beeler-Marfisi J.Ambient pollution is associated with the development and exacerbation of human asthma, but whether air pollution exposure is associated with lower airway inflammation in horses has not been fully evaluated. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is an online tool used by asthmatic Ontarians to modify their outdoor activity when ambient pollution is high. A single AQHI value, falling on a scale from 1 to 10, is calculated from measurements of fine particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO), and ozone (O). Increased AQHI values predict an increased risk for presenting to a health care provider ...
Huber L, Giguère S, Slovis NM, Álvarez-Narváez S, Hart KA, Greiter M, Morris ERA, Cohen ND.The use of mass antimicrobial treatment has been linked to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in human and animal pathogens. Using whole-genome single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing, we characterized genomic variability of multidrug-resistant Rhodococcus equi isolated from soil samples from 100 farms endemic for R. equi infections in Kentucky. We discovered the novel erm(51)-encoding resistance to MLS in R. equi isolates from soil of horse-breeding farms. Erm(51) is inserted in a transposon (TnErm51) that is associated with a putative conjugative plasmid (pRErm51), a mobilizable p...
Fintl C, Krontveit R, Risberg Å, Hanche-Olsen S, Slack J.The Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotter (NSCT) is an important breed in Norwegian and Swedish harness racing. In spite of this, little is known about its cardiac measurements and factors that may influence these. The aims of this study were to establish reference intervals (RI) for a series of conventional echocardiographic variables, primarily of the left heart, in NSCTs in race training and to evaluate any effects age, gender, estimated body weight (EBW), number of starts and racing performance may have on these. Methods: Sixty-three apparently healthy NSCTs in race training. Methods: Obse...
Eberhardt C, Mitchell KJ, Schwarzwald CC.The mechanical function of the left atrium (LA) plays a pivotal role in modulation of left ventricular filling. Assessment of LA function might be a clinically useful prognostic tool for horses with mitral regurgitation or atrial fibrillation. However, the most accurate, reliable, and clinically useful methods to assess LA myocardial function are yet to be determined. The objective of this study was to describe the methods for quantification of LA wall motion using two-dimensional speckle tracking (2DST) echocardiography in healthy Warmblood horses to quantify measurement variability, to calcu...
Dosi MCM, Kirton R, Hallsworth S, Keen JA, Morgan RA.Obesity is a growing problem in UK equine population. Achieving weight loss in obese horses and ponies at risk of laminitis is an important but often challenging objective. Methods: We hypothesised that supplementing poor winter pasture with a mix of barley straw and hay (50:50) rather than hay alone (group B) would lead to weight loss in grazing equids over winter. For this purpose, a group of 40 horses were fed either the straw mix (group A) or hay alone (group B) over winter. Results: Over the study period, all animals in group A (n=25) lost weight with a mean weight change of -27±17 kg,...
Ramos CP, Lopes EO, Oliveira Júnior CA, Diniz AN, Lobato FCF, Silva ROS.Considering the lack of studies evaluating the performance of commercially available methods for diagnosis of Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) in animals, the present study aimed to assess an immunochromatographic test for detection of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and A/B toxins of C. difficile, also evaluated by an ELISA kit, in foals and neonatal piglets. Intestinal contents of 47 piglets and feces of 35 foals were tested to GDH antigen and A/B toxins in a lateral flow method (Ecodiagnostica, Brazil). Also, these samples were submitted to A/B toxin detection by an ELIS...
Song R, Ma Y, Hu Z, Li Y, Li M, Wu L, Li C, Dao E, Fan X, Hao Y, Bayin C.Dermacentor marginatus Sulkzer is a common tick species found in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China, and is a vector for a variety of pathogens. To determine the potential distribution of this tick species in Xinjiang, a metadata containing 84 D. marginatus presence records combined with four localities from field collection were used for MaxEnt modeling to predict potential distribution of this tick species. Identification of tick samples showed 756 of 988 (76%) were D. marginatus. MaxEnt modeling results indicated that the potential distribution of this tick species was mai...
Salco R, Bowers J, Hernandez V, Barnum S, Pusterla N.This study aimed to determine if the administration of a modified live equine influenza virus vaccine (FluAvert) to foals would positively impact their health and reduce colonization of their upper airways with equine herpesviruses (EHV) during the weaning period. A single dose of FluAvert was given to 20 healthy foals 7 days prior to being weaned; 20 healthy foals served as unvaccinated controls. Nasal secretions and blood were collected before vaccination, the day of weaning, and weekly thereafter for 3 weeks. Nasal secretions were tested by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for ...
Wong ASY, Choi TLS, Kwok KY, Wong JKY, Wan TSM, Ho ENM.Antipsychotics are banned substances and considered by the Fédération Equestrian Internationale (FEI) to have no legitimate use in equine medicine and/or have a high potential for abuse. These substances are also prohibited in horseracing according to Article 6 of the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering (published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities). Over the years, antipsychotics have been abused or misused in equestrian sports and horseracing. A recent review of literature shows that there is yet a comprehensive screening method for antipsychoti...
Pascoletti G, Pressanto MC, Putame G, Terzini M, Audenino AL, Zanetti EM.A number of surgical practices are aimed to compensate for tissue relaxation or weakened/atrophied muscles by means of suture prostheses/thread lifts. The success rate of these procedures is often very good in the short term, while it is quite variable among subjects and techniques in the middle-long term. Middle-long term failures are mostly related to suture distraction, loosening or wear, coming from repeated loading cycles. In this work, an experimental device to perform ex vivo tests on prosthetic sutures has been set up. An equine laryngoplasty has been used as a benchmark, being represe...
Sotelo EDP, Vendruscolo CP, Fülber J, Seidel SRT, Jaramillo FM, Agreste FR, Silva LCLCD, Baccarin RYA.Several studies in human and equine medicine have produced controversial results regarding the role of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as a therapeutic agent. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of joint lavage with different DMSO concentrations on biomarkers of synovial fluid inflammation and cartilage degradation in joints with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced synovitis. Twenty-six tibiotarsal joints of 13 horses were randomly distributed into four groups (lactated Ringer's solution; 5% DMSO in lactated Ringer's; 10% DMSO in lactated Ringer's; and sham). All animals were evaluated for the prese...
Kim HJ, Yong TS, Shin MH, Lee KJ, Park GM, Suvonkulov U, Kovalenko D, Yu HS.Echinococcosis occurs mainly in areas with heavy livestock farming, such as Central Asia, America, and Australia. Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) infection causes echinococcosis in intermediate hosts, such as sheep, cattle, goats, camels, and horses. Numerous cases of echinococcosis occur in Uzbekistan as stock farming is a primary industry. Epidemiological and genetic studies of E. granulosus s.l. are very important for mitigating its impact on public health and the economy; however, there are no such studies on E. granulosus s.l. in Uzbekistan. In the present study, to determine wh...
Data in briefApril 30, 2020
Volume 30 105644 doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.105644
Pascoletti G, Pressanto MC, Putame G, Terzini M, Franceschini G, Zanetti EM.A number of applications in the surgical practice are based on tensile sutures aimed to keep soft tissues in place and compensate the exit of neuropathies, prolapses or general tissue relaxation. Long-term behaviour of these constructs need to be carefully examined in order to define tensile forces to be applied and to compare different suture anchors. Data here reported refer to equine laryngoplasties, where a suitable loading system has been designed in order to be able to test sutures in-sito, applying known forces ("On-site testing of sutured organs: an experimental set up to cyclically ti...
Dai F, Leach M, MacRae AM, Minero M, Costa ED.The Horse Grimace Scale (HGS) is a facial-expression-based pain coding system that enables a range of acute painful conditions in horses to be effectively identified. Using valid assessment methods to identify pain in horses is of a clear importance; however, the reliability of the assessment is highly dependent on the assessors' ability to use it. Training of new assessors plays a critical role in underpinning reliability. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether a 30-minute standardised training program on HGS is effective at improving the agreement between observers with no horse experi...
Bampidis V, Azimonti G, de Lourdes Bastos M, Christensen H, Dusemund B, Kos Durjava M, Kouba M, López-Alonso M, López Puente S, Marcon F, Mayo B....Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of propyl gallate as feed additive for all animal species. Propyl gallate is neither genotoxic nor carcinogenic. Propyl gallate a is safe for veal calves, cattle for fattening, dairy cows, sheep, goats, sows, horses and salmonids at the proposed maximum use level of 40 mg/kg and for ornamental fish at the proposed maximum use level of 100 mg/kg. The following concentrations (mg/kg complete feed) ...
McCoy AM, Lopp CT, Kooy S, Migliorisi AC, Austin SM, Wilkins PA.Diseases affecting the internal umbilical remnant are common in foals. Ultrasound is used to diagnose abnormalities of these structures, and to monitor treatment. However, little is known about the progression of normal internal umbilical remnant regression. Objective: To document normal regression of the umbilical remnant in foals over the first 6 weeks of life. Methods: Prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Methods: Weekly ultrasound examinations were performed beginning at 1 day of age in 34 healthy Standardbred foals. The umbilical vein was measured in cross section just cranial to the...
Voelter K, Vial Z, Pot SA, Spiess BM.To evaluate leptospiral antibody prevalence in 65 horses with ERU and compare outcome in 36 surgically treated eyes (2010-2015). Methods: Retrospective data analysis of horses with ERU (n = 65). C-value calculation with microagglutination assay titer (MAT) results for Leptospira spp. Evaluation of follow-up data after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV, n = 21 eyes) and suprachoroidal cyclosporine device implantation (SCDI, n = 15 eyes). Differences between groups were statistically analyzed using Fishers exact test, significance set at P < .05. Results: Positive leptospiral titers were found ...
Schnepf A, Bienert-Zeit A, Ertugrul H, Wagels R, Werner N, Hartmann M, Feige K, Kreienbrock L.The usage of antimicrobial drugs (AMs) leads to an increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Although different antimicrobial usage (AMU) monitoring programs exist for livestock animals in Germany, there is no such system for horses. However, with the increasing usage of electronic practice management software (EPMS), it is possible to analyze electronic field data generated for routine purposes. The aim of this study was to generate AMU data for German horses with data from the Clinic for Horses (CfH), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo), and in addition to show that different...
Fagan MM, Harris P, Adams A, Pazdro R, Krotky A, Call J, Duberstein KJ.Vitamin E is an essential antioxidant that may benefit athletes by reducing oxidative stress and influencing cytokine expression. Supplements can be derived from natural or manufactured synthetic sources. This study aimed to determine (1) if supplemental vitamin E is beneficial to exercising horses and (2) if there is a benefit of natural versus synthetic vitamin E. After 2 weeks on the control diet (vitamin E-deficient grain and hay), 18 horses were divided into three groups and fed the control diet plus (1) 1000 IU/d synthetic α-tocopherol (SYN-L), (2) 4000 IU/d synthetic α-tocopherol (SYN...
Apprich V, Licka T, Freiler S, Gabriel C.Impaired keratinocyte differentiation has recently been suggested as a key event in equine hoof canker development. Koilocytotic appearance of keratinocytes, one of the most characteristic morphological alterations in hoof canker tissue, is also a common marker for papillomavirus (PV) infection, and bovine PV-1 and/or -2 (BPV-1/2) has previously been detected in equine canker patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to correlate the frequency and severity of koilocytotic keratinocytes with BPV detection in hoof canker samples. Hoof tissue of 5/18 canker-affected horses and 2/6 control hors...
Schumacher J, Cole RC, DeGraves FJ, Cofield LG.To compare the speed of onset and analgesic effect of mepivacaine deposited within or immediately outside the neurovascular bundle at the base of the proximal sesamoid bones in horses. Methods: 6 horses with naturally occurring forefoot-related lameness. Methods: In a crossover study design, horses were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 2 treatments first, with the second treatment administered 3 to 7 days later. Trotting gait was analyzed with an inertial sensor-based motion analysis system immediately before treatment to determine degree of lameness. Afterward, ultrasound guidance was used t...
Paulino PG, Almosny N, Oliveira R, Viscardi V, Müller A, Guimarães A, Baldani C, da Silva C, Peckle M, Massard C, Santos H.This study aims to report the presence of Neorickettsia risticii DNA in blood samples from naturally infected horses in Rio de Janeiro, provide clinicopathological findings related to the infection, and report the phylogenetic diversity of the 16S rDNA of N. risticii in order to evaluate its heterogeneity. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed to investigate the presence of N. risticii in samples collected from horses (n = 187). Five positive samples were found in the molecular screening. Hypoalbuminemia and high levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydro...
König KS, Verhaar N, Hopster K, Pfarrer C, Neudeck S, Rohn K, Kästner SBR.Small intestinal strangulation associated with ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is common in horses. In laboratory animals IRI can be ameliorated by ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) and pharmacological preconditioning (PPC) with dexmedetomidine. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of PPC with dexmedetomidine or IPC in an equine model of small intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion (IR). In a randomized controlled experimental trial, 15 horses were assigned to three groups: control (C), IPC, and PPC with dexmedetomidine (DEX). All horses were placed under general anaesthesia and 90% je...
Seo MG, Kwon OD, Kwak D.Lyme borreliosis is one of the most prevalent tick-borne infectious zoonotic diseases caused by spirochetes of the sensu lato group. The present study assessed the risk factors and prevalence of Lyme borreliosis in ticks parasitizing domestic and wild animals. A total of 589 ticks (329 tick pools) collected from animals were identified as , (85.7%), (10.0%), and (4.3%) using morphological and molecular methods in South Korea. In this study, the 5S-23S gene sequences of (6/329, 1.8%) were detected in ticks taken from mammals, including ticks from horses (2/147 pools, 1.4%), wild boar (1/19 ...
McCracken MJ, Schumacher J, Doherty TJ, Sun X, Nichols CL, Olivarez J.To determine the efficacy and duration of effect for liposomal bupivacaine following perineural administration to the medial and lateral palmar digital nerves of horses. Methods: 9 nonlame mares. Methods: For each horse, 2 mL of liposomal bupivacaine (13.3 mg/mL; total dose, 53.2 mg or approx 0.11 mg/kg) or sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) solution was injected adjacent to the medial and lateral palmar digital nerves at the level of the distal aspect of the proximal sesamoid bones of a randomly selected forelimb. Twenty-one days later, the opposite treatment was administered in the contralateral for...
Casillas JM, Jacobs CC, Manfredi JM.To identify radiographic locations of soft tissue attachments in the tarsal region of horses and describe any variability in the gross anatomy of those attachments. Methods: 15 cadaveric limbs from 8 adult horses. Methods: 8 limbs were used for dissection and radiography of soft tissue structures, with metallic markers used to identify radiographic locations of soft tissue attachments. The remaining 7 limbs were used to evaluate anatomic variations in the insertion of the tendon of the fibularis tertius muscle. A consensus list of preferred radiographic views for evaluating each soft tissue at...
Gardner AK, Santschi EM, Mudge MC, Belknap JK, Metzler AG.To describe the repair of unstable facial fractures by using Foley catheter balloons as intrasinus bolsters. Methods: Case report ANIMALS: Two weanling foals with unilateral fractures of the sinus and orbit secondary to kick injuries. Preoperative imaging that included positive contrast dacrocystorhinography and computed tomography confirmed severe comminution of facial fractures and nasolacrimal duct disruption in both foals. Methods: Small bone fragments were surgically removed, and large fragments were retained even when denuded of periosteum. Repair procedures included nasolacrimal canalic...
Macaire C, Hanne-Poujade S, De Azevedo E, Denoix JM, Coudry V, Jacquet S, Bertoni L, Tallaj A, Audigié F, Hatrisse C, Hébert C, Martin P, Marin F....Defining whether a gait asymmetry should be considered as lameness is challenging. Gait analysis systems now provide relatively accurate objective data, but their interpretation remains complex. Thresholds for discriminating between horses that are visually assessed as being lame or sound, as well as thresholds for locating the lame limb with precise sensitivity and specificity are essential for accurate interpretation of asymmetry measures. The goal of this study was to establish the thresholds of asymmetry indices having the best sensitivity and specificity to represent the visual single-lim...
van Eps AW, Orsini JA.Digital hypothermia may be effective for laminitis prophylaxis and therapy, but the efficacy of cooling methods used in clinical practice requires evaluation. Objective: To use hoof wall surface temperature (HWST) to compare several cooling methods used in clinical practice. Methods: Experimental crossover design with a minimum washout period of 72 h. Methods: Seven cooling methods (commercially available ice packs, wraps and boots) and one prototypical dry-sleeve device were applied to a single forelimb in 4 horses for 8 h, during which HWST of the cooled forelimb and the uncooled (contro...
Squires EL, Keith SL, Graham JK.Although use of cryopreserved stallion spermatozoa is currently accepted by many breed registries, utilization of this technique remains limited due to poor fertility for some stallions. One reason for these results is osmotic stress that spermatozoa experiences when the cryoprotectant (glycerol) is added to the cells prior to freezing and removal from the cells after thawing. In an effort to minimize osmotic damage, alternative cryoprotectants, having lower molecular weights and greater membrane permeability than glycerol, were evaluated to determine their effectiveness for cryopreserving sta...
Grzędzicka J, Dąbrowska I, Malin K, Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O.Increased training loads in both human and equine athletes are generally implemented to improve their physical performance. These loads are tolerated only within appropriate training periodization with regard to recovery time. Otherwise, training overload causes failure in the systemic adaptation, which at first leads to overreaching, and progressively to overtraining syndrome (OTS). Exercise endocrinology, and anabolic/catabolic balance as an indicator of athlete performance status and OTS has continued to attract attention. In human medicine, changes in testosterone and cortisol levels, as w...
Kroekenstoel AM, van Heel MC, van Weeren PR, Back W.Distal limb conformation is generally accepted to be an important item with respect to performance and soundness in mature horses, but little is known about the developmental aspects. Objective: To gain insight into the development of distal limb conformation and to assess the possible consequences of uneven feet in foals. Methods: Conformation of the distal front limbs of 23 Warmblood foals was scored visually and measured using radiographs, at ages 27 and 55 weeks. At the same ages, pressure measurements were made under both front feet. Results: At both ages the hoof-pastern axis was broken-...
Haga HA, Dolvik NI.To determine whether the bispectral index (BIS) can be used as an indicator of degree of CNS depression in isoflurane-anesthetized horses. Methods: 10 Standardbred and 6 Norwegian cold-blooded trotter stallions admitted for routine castration. Methods: A 2-channel referential electrode configuration was used to record EEG for calculation of BIS by the EEG monitor. The BIS was calculated before (awake) and after (sedated) administration of detomidine (0.01 mg/kg of body weight, IV) and butorphanol (0.01 mg/kg, IV). Anesthesia was induced with ketamine hydrochloride (2.5 mg/kg, IV) and diazepam ...
Allen WR, Wilsher S.Over the past 50 years, per season pregnancy rate in Thoroughbred mares have risen from 70 to >90% and foaling rates from 55 to >80%. Some of the significant pharmacological treatments and diagnostic methods which have driven this marked improvement in breeding efficiency are reviewed. They include the application of artificial lighting to hasten the onset of ovulatory oestrous cyclicity in early Spring, rapid steroid hormone assays to aid in determining the stage and normality of the mare's cycle, prostaglandin analogues, synthetic progestagens and Gonadotrophin-releasing Hormone (GnRH) anal...
Starke SD, Robilliard JJ, Weller R, Wilson AM, Pfau T.Walking and running are two mechanisms for minimizing energy expenditure during terrestrial locomotion. Duty factor, dimensionless speed, existence of an aerial phase, percentage recovery (PR) or phase shift of mechanical energy and shape of the vertical ground reaction force profile have been used to discriminate between walking and running. Although these criteria work well for the classification of most quadrupedal gaits, they result in conflicting evidence for some gaits, such as the tölt (a symmetrical, four-beat gait used by Icelandic horses). We use established pattern recognition meth...
Garcia T, Hornof WJ, Insana MF.The strong dependence of tendon echogenicity on insonation angle is explored by analyzing echo spectra. Combining echo spectra with high-resolution images from several modalities reveals that fluid spaces surrounding fascicles and bundles are likely sources of ultrasonic scatter. Mathematical models of tendon structure are proposed to explain how the anisotropic microstructure of tendon gives rise to angle-dependent echogenicity. Echo spectra from spontaneously damaged equine tendon samples were compared with normal equine tendon and found to exhibit a dramatic decrease in anisotropic properti...
Rosas CT, Tischer BK, Perkins GA, Wagner B, Goodman LB, Osterrieder N.The immunogenicity in horses of a recombinant equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) vaccine expressing West Nile virus (WNV) prM and E proteins was studied. To construct the recombinant EHV-1, two-step en passant mutagenesis was employed for manipulation of a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) of vaccine strain RacH. Recombinant EHV-1 stably expressed the WNV prM and E proteins as demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence and Western blotting. In addition, growth properties in vitro of the EHV-1/WNV recombinant were found to not be significantly different from those of the parental virus. To ...
Jiang Z, Uboh CE, Chen J, Soma LR.Gene expression studies in equine research involve the use of whole blood samples as a vital source of RNA. To determine the optimal method for RNA isolation from equine whole blood, we compared three RNA isolation strategies using different commercially available kits to evaluate the yield and quality of equine RNA. All 3 methods produced RNA with high quality. Though it did not produce the highest yield, combining the quality, yield and the need for the downstream application in our project, LeukoLOCK™ total RNA isolation system was the best RNA extraction method.
Dyson S, Murray R, Schramme M, Branch M.The differential diagnosis of foot pain has long proved difficult and the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers the opportunity to further the clinical understanding of the subject. Objective: To determine the incidence of deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) injuries in a series of 75 horses with lameness associated with pain localised to the digit, with no significant detectable radiographic or ultrasonographic abnormalities, using MRI; and to describe a variety of lesion types and relate DDF tendonitis with anamnesis, clinical features, response to local analgesic techniques and nucle...
Kelmer G, Bell GC, Martin-Jimenez T, Saxton AM, Catasus C, Elliot SB, Meibohm B.Previous studies have shown that regional limb perfusion (RLP) using the palmar digital (PD) vein delivers therapeutic concentration of amikacin to the distal limb. Our hypothesis was that using the cephalic and saphenous veins for RLP will enable delivery of therapeutic concentrations of amikacin to the distal limb. Nineteen healthy horses participated in the study. The cephalic, saphenous, or PD vein was used to perfuse the limb with amikacin. Two grams of amikacin was used for RLP using the saphenous and the cephalic veins, and one gram was used in the PD vein. Synovial samples were collect...
Ujvari S, Schwarzwald CC, Fouché N, Howard J, Schoster A.Point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests with good sensitivity and specificity are needed for diagnosing failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) in foals. Turbidimetric immunoassays (TIA) have these characteristics and provide quantitative results. A commercially available TIA-based POC test (POC-TIA) has not been validated in horses. Objective: To validate a POC-TIA and compare results of POC-TIA, a POC-ELISA, and radial immunodiffusion (RID). Methods: Heparinized blood samples (n = 127) from 48 hospitalized foals (<12 hour to 48 days). Methods: Prospective validation study. IgG concentrat...
Górniak W, Cholewińska P, Szeligowska N, Wołoszyńska M, Soroko M, Czyż K.Exercise significantly affects the body of both animals and humans, including the composition of the digestive microbiome. This study aimed to determine the changes in the composition of the most numerous bacterial phyla (Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, as well as the level of the family) in the digestive system of horses under the influence of physical effort. The study included a group of 17 Thoroughbred racehorses at the age of 3 years, fed the same forage, from whom feces samples were collected individually before and 48 h after physical effort. The obtained samples were subjected to DNA is...
Georgescu SE, Manea MA, Dudu A, Costache M.The existence of the Hucul horse on Romanian territory has been documented from the very distant past; today Hucul is a unique breed that is part of the FAO Program for the Preservation of Animal Genetic Resources. We compared Hucul with several primitive European and Asiatic breeds in order to elucidate the origin of these horses. We analyzed a 683-bp mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop fragment in a population of Hucul horses and compared the polymorphic sites with sequences from other primitive breeds, including Exmoor, Icelandic Pony, Sorraia, Przewalski Horse, Mongolian Wild Horse, Konik, an...
Villagómez DA, Lear TL, Chenier T, Lee S, McGee RB, Cahill J, Foster RA, Reyes E, St John E, King WA.We described the clinical, cytogenetic and molecular findings of 17 clinical equine cases presented for abnormal sexual development and infertility. Six horses with an enlarged clitoris had an XX, SRY-negative genotype, which displayed male-like behavior (adult individuals). Bilateral ovotestes were noted in 2 of those cases, while another case showed increased levels of circulating testosterone. Six horses with a female phenotype, including normal external genitalia, had an XY, SRY-negative genotype. These individuals had small gonads and an underdeveloped internal reproductive tract. Four ho...
Longland AC, Barfoot C, Harris PA.The aim of this study was to determine the amounts of water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC), WSC constituents and protein leached from a range of U.K. hays soaked according to common practice. Initial hay WSC content ranged from 123 to 230 g/kg dry matter (DM). Soaking the hays for up to 16 hours in water at a mean temperature of 8°C resulted in a mean loss of 27 per cent (range 6 to 54 per cent) of hay WSC. The mean percentage losses of WSC constituents were 24 per cent (range 14 to 31) for fructan, 41 per cent (range 21 to 70) for fructose, 45 per cent (range 28 to 100) for sucrose and 56 per ce...
Karabatsos N, Lewis AL, Calisher CH, Hunt AR, Roehrig JT.A virus, strain 64A-1519, isolated from the brain of a horse dying of encephalitis in Florida in 1964, was identified as western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) virus. Recently, we used polyclonal and monoclonal immune reagents to identify this isolate by comparing it to 2 strains of WEE virus and to Highlands J (HJ) virus in hemagglutination-inhibition, immunofluorescent antibody, and plaque-reduction neutralization tests. These tests demonstrate that strain 64A-1519 is a strain of HJ virus distinct from WEE virus.
Li D, Mattoo P, Keller JE.Hyperimmune monovalent antitoxins to botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A and B have been produced by immunizing horses with newly developed formalin toxoids. After primary immunization, horses developed acceptable prophylactic antibody titers (1-5 IU/mL). Three horses received additional toxoid booster injections to induce hyperimmune antibody titers with antitoxin-A and antitoxin-B titers reaching peaks of approximately 2000 IU/mL and 150-625 IU/mL, respectively. Titers were quantified throughout the process by antigen-capture ELISA and by in-vivo neutralization. ELISA titers and neutralization ...
Yildirim A, Okur M, Uslug S, Onder Z, Yetismis G, Duzlu O, Ciloglu A, Simsek E, Inci A.Horses might play an important role as reservoir hosts in the epidemiology of Enterocytozoon bieneusi, which is one of the most important zoonotic microsporidian pathogens, with a wide range of hosts. Nevertheless, limited information is available on the infection rates and genotypes of E. bieneusi in horses, and no data are available on the occurrence and molecular characteristics of E. bieneusi in horses in Turkey. We determined the prevalence of E. bieneusi among horses raised on farms from two provinces of Central Anatolia Region, by amplification of the partial small subunit ribosomal RNA...
Cucchi T, Mohaseb A, Peigné S, Debue K, Orlando L, Mashkour M.The Plio-Pleistocene evolution of and the subsequent domestication of horses and donkeys remains poorly understood, due to the lack of phenotypic markers capable of tracing this evolutionary process in the palaeontological/archaeological record. Using images from 345 specimens, encompassing 15 extant taxa of equids, we quantified the occlusal enamel folding pattern in four mandibular cheek teeth with a single geometric morphometric protocol. We initially investigated the protocol accuracy by assigning each tooth to its correct anatomical position and taxonomic group. We then contrasted the ph...
David F, Levingstone TJ, Schneeweiss W, de Swarte M, Jahns H, Gleeson JP, O'Brien FJ.An unmet need remains for a bone graft substitute material that is biocompatible, biodegradable and capable of promoting osteogenesis safely in vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of a novel collagen-hydroxyapatite (CHA) bone graft substitute in the clinical treatment of a mandibular bone cyst in a young horse and to assess its potential to enhance repair of the affected bone. A 2 year-old thoroughbred filly, presenting with a multilobulated aneurysmal bone cyst, was treated using the CHA scaffold. Post-operative clinical follow-up was carried out at 2 weeks and 3, 6 and...
McFarlane D.Despite there being only 2 common endocrine diseases in horses, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), diagnosis is still confusing. Failing to consider horse factors and treating based on laboratory results only have caused many animals to receive lifelong drug treatment unnecessarily. Increased plasma ACTH, baseline or TRH stimulated, supports a diagnosis of PPID; however, breed, age, thriftiness, illness, coat color, geography, diet, and season also affect ACTH concentration. Insulin dysregulation, the hallmark of EMS, can result from insulin resis...
Sayasith K, Sirois J.The interaction between stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF1) and chemokine CXC motif receptor 4 (CXCR4) has been implicated in leukocyte attraction, tissue remodeling and angiogenesis. The objective of the present study was to characterize the expression and regulation of SDF1 and CXCR4 in equine follicles during the ovulatory process. Equine preovulatory follicles were isolated during estrus 0-39h after hCG treatment. Follicle wall preparations (theca interna with attached granulosa cells) and isolated preparations of granulosa cells and theca interna were obtained, and total RNA extracts wer...
More SJ.To develop a profile of the racing careers of Thoroughbred horses in south-eastern Queensland, and to examine factors that affect racing during the first years of racing. Methods: A longitudinal study using the racing records of a defined cohort of Thoroughbred horses that were born on or within 12 months following 1 August 1991. Data collection commenced in 1996 and will continue until all horses cease racing. In this paper two measures of performance were examined: race earnings during the first year of racing and cumulative proportion of horses still racing up to 2 years after their first s...
Emenius G, Larsson PH, Wickman M, Härfast B.The objective was to establish an ELISA to detect horse allergen in ambient air and settled dust. Methods: Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were produced against extracts of horse antigen. Two mAbs were selected and used in a sandwich ELISA. By the aid of portable pumps, air samples were collected in one stable and in the ambient air surrounding this stable. Furthermore, settled dust was collected by wiping spots with pieces of fabric, at sites within 500 m of the stable. Results: Extracts of horsehair could be extensively diluted and still be positive. Extracts of cat and dog allergen failed to b...
Schvartz G, Edery N, Moss L, Hadad R, Steinman A, Karniely S.We report the isolation of Equid herpesvirus 8 from a rescued donkey that suffered severe postcastration complications. Despite intensive treatment, the donkey deteriorated and was euthanized. Postmortem virologic analysis revealed the isolation of a herpesvirus that is closely related to herpesviruses reported from donkeys and horses in Australia, China, and Ireland, causing respiratory disease in donkeys and abortion in mares. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this equid herpesvirus in Israel. The potential significance of this herpesvirus to the equid population in Israel needs ...
Plevin S, McLellan J.Limited information exists regarding the prognosis for juvenile racehorses sustaining injury to the suspensory ligament branch insertion (JISBI). Objective: To investigate the effect of JISBI on racing performance; and to assess whether the severity of JISBI is prognostically important. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Records were reviewed for 896 juvenile Thoroughbreds in training, to identify horses with JISBI limited to one branch (cases). The ability of cases to start a race was compared to their cohorts. Race records of maternal siblings were compared to cases. Results: The ...
