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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.
Rethinking Equine Cystitis: Evidence from Four Atypical Clinical Presentations. In this case series, four equines were diagnosed with cystitis, resulting in divergent clinical outcomes. Three animals achieved complete clinical resolution without recurrence, whereas one required euthanasia due to progressive clinical deterioration. All diagnoses were established through a dual-modality investigative protocol comprising cystoscopic evaluation and histopathological examination of bladder mucosal biopsies. The cohort exhibited considerable etiological heterogeneity. One case was classified as chronic idiopathic cystitis, while another was attributed to an opportunistic bacter...
Advanced 3D Horse Reconstruction: Integrating Image-to-3D Modelling and Non-Rigid Registration for On-Barn Body Measurements. Precision livestock farming (PLF) relies on high-precision three-dimensional (3D) horse reconstruction and automatic body measurement to support refined breeding management and health surveillance. However, data collection is restricted by building environment noise and hardware layout constraints; complex equine body shapes and large individual variations induce local geometric distortions in reconstructed models, limiting field deployment. Drawing on generative 3D reconstruction, this study develops the first image-to-3D pipeline that leverages three consumer depth cameras to reconstruct hig...
Health assessment of Tokara horses on Nakanoshima island: potential chronic hepatic dysfunction induced by Leopard plant (Farfugium japonicum) ingestion. We investigated the health of Tokara horses (n=34) on Nakanoshima as part of conservation efforts for this breed. Although the horses were clinically healthy, elevated white blood cell count, neutrophil count and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were observed, leading to suspicion of chronic hepatic dysfunction and infectious disease. A survey revealed that the caretakers had been feeding the horses Leopard plant, which contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). The abnormal GGT levels observed in these horses may suggest the possibility of chronic PA poisoning resulting from the con...
Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Aerosol Treatment of Equine Antibiotic-Resistant Wound Infection: A Preliminary Case Series. Wound infections are common sequelae of wound treatment in horses. Secondary bacterial colonization with antimicrobial resistant microorganisms is of particular concern and is of crucial importance regarding the "One Health Concept". Due to frequent antimicrobial resistance (AMR), conventional treatments often involve determining resistance and sensitivity using time-consuming antibiograms. Infections with multi-resistant pathogens are especially challenging. This case series presents studies of four horses evaluating the efficacy of Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Aerosol (CAP-A) as a standalone trea...
Comparison of xylazine-ketamine-guaifenesin and xylazine-tiletamine-zolazepam protocols for constant rate infusion anesthesia in horses undergoing field castration. The common use of "triple drip" (xylazine, ketamine, and guaifenesin; XKG) is a popular protocol for constant rate infusion (CRI) in equine practice. However, due to restrictions on ketamine and guaifenesin in many countries, tiletamine-zolazepam (TZ) could serve as an alternative. To date, there have been limited studies evaluating the use of xylazine in combination with TZ (XTZ) administered via CRI to maintain surgical anesthesia in equine field practice. Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety of XTZ infusion with the classical XKG protocol for field anesthesia. Methods: Twelve ...
Core decompression augmented with bone marrow aspirate concentrate for refractory distal sesamoid bone pathology in horses: A retrospective clinical study. To determine short- and long-term outcomes of core decompression combined with autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) in treating moderate-to-severe refractory distal sesamoid bone (DSB) trabecular pathology in horses. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Methods: A total of 21 client-owned Warmblood horses with DSB pathology unresponsive to conservative management. Methods: Preoperative diagnosis included lameness localization by diagnostic analgesia and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmation of DSB trabecular pathology. Horses underwent arthroscopic core decompressi...
First Molecular Survey of Equine Adenovirus Type 1 Infection Among Horses in Poland. Equine adenovirus type 1 (EAdV-1) infection has been recognised among horses worldwide. The virus predominantly targets respiratory tract but has also been recovered from other body systems. The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of EAdV-1 infection among selected horse populations in Poland and to estimate genetic variability within the viruses obtained. A quantitative PCR assay targeting a partial gene was used to screen 1150 nasal swabs collected from 1145 horses from 19 horse studs throughout Poland. The samples were collected opportunistically between 2012 and 2025. A ...
Body Condition, Metabolic Parameters and Semen Traits in Purebred Spanish Horses. The growing relevance of the Purebred Spanish horse has driven the extensive use of assisted reproductive technologies to preserve elite stallion genetics. Optimal reproductive performance is intrinsically linked to systemic health and high semen quality. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of body condition on the stallion's metabolic and endocrine profiles and their seminal parameters. Semen and blood samples were collected from 26 stallions (February-May in 2024-2025) whose body condition score (BCS) was assessed using the Henneke scale. They were classified into two groups, low BCS wit...
Seasonal modulation of platelet indices in mares. Platelet indices provide valuable information on platelet activation, heterogeneity, and production kinetics, yet their physiological variability remains poorly characterized in horses. Although seasonal changes in platelet count have been described, the seasonal modulation of derived platelet indices in mares remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seasonal variation of platelet count and derived platelet indices in clinically healthy mares from the Valencia region (Spain), and to assess their interrelationships. Forty clinically healthy Spanish Purebred mares (6-...
Intrauterine ozone therapy reduces bacterial load in mares with mixed bacterial endometritis: a longitudinal study. Mixed bacterial endometritis poses a therapeutic challenge in mares due to the coexistence of multiple pathogens with divergent antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. This study evaluated the effects of intrauterine ozone insufflation on uterine bacterial load and endometrial inflammatory response in mares with naturally acquired mixed bacterial endometritis. Fifteen mares with mixed bacterial infection were allocated to two treatment groups: a pathological control group receiving pure medical oxygen insufflation (PC; n = 6) and an ozone-treated group receiving 42 µg/mL ozone for three c...
Hepatic encephalopathy associated with extensive hepatic diaphragmatic herniation in an adult horse. Diaphragmatic hernia in horses is a rare condition, most commonly presenting with signs of colic and, less frequently, respiratory compromise. Hepatic herniation through a diaphragmatic defect with secondary hepatic failure and encephalopathy has rarely been documented in horses. Methods: A 5-year-old Mangalarga Marchador stallion was evaluated for progressive neurological deterioration, including obtundation, head pressing, ataxia, and circling. Serum biochemistry revealed severe hepatobiliary dysfunction, characterised by increased gamma-glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase activiti...
Technical note on cervical epidural catheterization in two adult horses: Injectate distribution and epidural space effects. To determine the caudalmost extent of diffusion of contrast media administered through a cervical epidural catheter (CEC) and to describe pathologic changes associated with maintaining an indwelling CEC for up to 17 days. Methods: Pilot study. Methods: Two mature horses. Methods: CECs were placed under ultrasound guidance in two horses. Both horses were injected with 5 mL 50% Iohexol contrast solution, followed by radiographs of catheter insertion site to confirm placement. A total volume of 15 mL contrast solution was injected in 5 mL aliquots up to 25 min post-initial injection. La...
Approaches to Thoroughbred Horse Identification in Diverse Sample Types Using Multiplexed SNP-PCR Sequencing Panels. The ability to determine the identity of equine samples would be highly advantageous in cases of ambiguous sample source, as individual-specific controls for gene editing detection, or forensic examination of suspect biological materials in potential doping cases. To this end, a SNP-PCR sequencing-based panel comprising 93 markers in one reaction was designed and investigated for use in Thoroughbred horses. Marker amplification performance and discriminating power were calculated against a population survey of 264 Thoroughbred whole blood samples from routine doping testing. The sensitivity of...
Favorable survival of horses with guttural pouch mycosis following hospital-based treatment. To report the clinical outcomes and survival time in horses undergoing treatment of guttural pouch mycosis. Unassigned: Client-owned horses with guttural pouch mycosis admitted between 2005 and 2024 for evaluation and treatment were identified by medical record search. Signalment, disease history, and surgical and treatment details were recorded. Owners were contacted for follow-up information. Unassigned: 41 horses with guttural pouch mycosis were identified, of which 28 had epistaxis or a history of epistaxis on presentation. Thirty-five horses underwent surgical treatment, and the procedure...
The in vitro application of high-intensity laser therapy on equine platelet-rich plasma and autologous protein solution does not alter select cytokine and growth factor concentrations. To quantify the effects of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on the concentration of key immunomodulatory cytokines and growth factors in equine platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and autologous protein solution (APS). We hypothesized that HILT treatment of PRP and APS in vitro would increase the concentration of cytokines and growth factors compared to untreated controls. Unassigned: Whole blood was collected from 6 adult horses housed at the University of Pennsylvania in March 2025 and processed into PRP or APS using commercially available systems (Zoetis). Platelet-rich plasma and APS samples wer...
A postmortem grading system for articular cartilage loss of the dorsoproximal aspect of the proximal phalanx of Thoroughbred racehorses. The metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints in Thoroughbred racehorses are common injury sites, given their high range of motion and compression during galloping. In New Zealand, the proximal phalanx (P1) is a common site for race-day fracture, but the lesions of this bone have not been described. Therefore, we created a scoring system to describe cartilage on the dorsoproximal aspect of P1 in New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorses. We collected 102 P1s from racehorses submitted for postmortem examination. Horses were categorized into 2 cohorts: 1) fracture (18 horses euthanized becaus...
Effect of neonatal rib fracture repair on racing and sales performance in Thoroughbreds. The racing outcome of horses that have undergone surgical repair of neonatal rib fractures is not well documented. Objective: To evaluate the impact of surgical repair of neonatal rib fractures on subsequent sales and racing performance in Thoroughbreds. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Medical records of neonatal Thoroughbreds that underwent surgical repair of rib fractures at a referral hospital between 2014 and 2025 were reviewed. Sales and racing data were obtained from publicly available databases. Outcomes assessed included sale price at weanling and yearling sales, total ca...
Oxidative Stress and Immunomarkers in Equine Dermal Melanomatosis: Single-Case Comparison with Healthy Individual. Dermal melanomatosis is a common tumor in grey horses, characterized by cutaneous/subcutaneous lesions with metastatic potential. While clinically well-described, oxidative stress involvement remains poorly understood. This case report compared oxidative stress markers and antioxidant enzymes' activities in total protein extracts from melanomatosis lesions (grey horse) versus healthy control skin (black horse), alongside histopathology and immunohistochemistry, to correlate oxidative imbalance and tumor behavior. Melanomatosis tissue exhibited decreased antioxidant defenses confirmed by catala...
Somatic cell nuclear transfer as a complementary tool for genetic conservation of the Peruvian Paso horse. The Peruvian Paso horse, a breed of national significance in Peru known for its unique gait, has been selectively bred for nearly 500 years and now faces potential risks due to reduced genetic diversity. To investigate the potential of somatic cell nuclear transfer to enhance genetic conservation strategies, a program was initiated to produce cloned Peruvian Paso foals. Skin biopsies from a highly awarded stallion with exceptional breed-defining traits were used as the source of donor somatic cells. Of the 15 cloned embryos reconstructed, seven blastocysts were produced, and five were transfer...
Combined effects of pre-freeze cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin and post-thaw pentoxifylline on the functional longevity of cryopreserved stallion sperm. Cryopreservation causes structural and metabolic damage to stallion spermatozoa, impairing post-thaw functional competence. Objective: This study evaluated whether cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) supplementation before freezing, combined with pentoxifylline (PTX) after thawing, improves the functional quality, oxidative status, mitochondrial activity, and preliminary fertility outcomes of cryopreserved stallion semen. Methods: Semen from twelve stallions was assigned to four CLC concentrations (0, 1, 1.5, and 2 mg), frozen, thawed, and divided into subgroups with or without PTX supplemen...
Differences between horses (Equus caballus) displaying oral and locomotor stereotypies in their responses to a stable mirror. Recent cross-species analyses suggest that the different forms of stereotypic behaviour have heterogeneous causal mechanisms. In ungulates, there are indications that some forms of locomotor stereotypy may be linked to social factors. Using the domestic horse as a model species within this clade, we investigated whether individuals displaying the locomotor stereotypy box-walking (n=6) demonstrated greater responses to a stable mirror, intended to mimic presence of a conspecific, than horses displaying the oral stereotypy crib-biting (n=5) and non-stereotypic horses (n=5). After a 24hr baseline...
Risk factors for horse falls in British jump racing (2010-2023). Horse falls are an important safety and welfare concern in jump racing, as they are associated with an increased risk of equine fatality and injury, as well as jockey injury. Objective: To identify risk factors for horse falls in British jump racing. Methods: Retrospective cohort. Methods: All jump race starts made on British racecourses between January 2010 and April 2023 were considered. Available horse, race, racecourse, trainer and jockey data were collated and combined with faller data recorded in official databases. Horses that were 'brought down' by another horse were not considered a f...
Perineural dexamethasone does not prolong bupivacaine sensory blockade in equine palmar digital nerve blocks: a randomized crossover trial. To determine whether dexamethasone sodium phosphate (dexamethasone SP) prolongs the sensory blockade produced by perineural bupivacaine during medial and lateral palmar digital nerve blocks in horses. Unassigned: 8 healthy adult horses were enrolled in a blinded, randomized 4 X 4 crossover trial. Each horse received 1 of 4 perineural treatments over the palmar digital nerves of the left forelimb: bupivacaine, bupivacaine + dexamethasone SP, dexamethasone SP alone, or saline. A minimum 7-day washout was used between treatments. Mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) was measured at baseline and...
A Global Structural Variation Map Reveals Novel Variants for Body Conformation and Racing Ability in Horses. The selection of horses has been instrumental in shaping long-range mobility, advancing warfare strategies, and diversifying equine phenotypes. However, the structural variants (SVs) favored by this process remain largely unexplored. Utilizing high-fidelity Pacific Biosciences sequencing, we assembled three high-quality horse genomes, incorporating 237 Mb (9.48%) of novel sequences relative to the existing reference genome. These assemblies achieved an average Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs completeness of 95.1%. By employing a graph-based approach, we genotyped 23,163 high-con...
Efficiency of transvaginal oocyte aspiration (TVA), post-mortem ovary harvest (OH), and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) in a Quarter Horse mare population in North America. In a clinical setting, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)-derived equine blastocysts can be obtained either by transvaginal oocyte aspiration (TVA) or post-mortem ovary harvest (OH). Most peer-reviewed retrospective reports have described the suitability of these techniques for obtaining blastocysts, pregnancies, and live foals, particularly in Warmblood horse populations in Europe. In this study, retrospective data from Quarter Horse client-owned mares subjected to TVA-ICSI (n = 105; 151 cycles) or OH-ICSI (n = 42) at an academic institution in North America between 2023 and 2025...
Bacteremia in horses undergoing routine dental prophylaxis: Before, during, and after the procedure. Transient bacteremia after dental procedures is well-documented in the literature, but the prevalence and clinical significance in horses remains largely unexplored. Objective: To assess whether routine dental prophylaxis in clinically healthy horses is associated with detection of bacteria in blood, using culture and 16S rDNA sequencing. Our central hypothesis is that a percentage of horses would demonstrate detectable but transient bacteremia in the immediate post-procedural period following dental prophylaxis. Methods: Prospective, observational study. Methods: Venous blood samples from 20 ...
Plasma Homocysteine Concentrations in Horses with Left-Sided Valvular Heart Disease. In human medicine, homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, is used as a biomarker reflecting endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, thrombogenesis, oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease. An automated enzyme-cycling assay for homocysteine, established for humans, has been validated and reference ranges have been created for horses. In this study the homocysteine assay was further evaluated by assessing short-term stability (whole blood and plasma samples stored at 4 °C and room temperature for 24 h), long-term stability (two years), the effect of different anticoagulants (lithium h...
Environmental and genetic effects on measured hock bone proportions in young Polish Warmblood horses undergoing performance test training for breeding horses. The hock bone proportions in young Polish Warmblood horses (69) were studied based on x-ray image measurements done during official breeding horse performance testing. Six measurements were used to identify 4 width and length proportion indices. The radiological examinations were done before and after horse training, which consists of work with or without the rider at walk, trot and canter (40-50min) with some light class (< 100cm) jumping (<12 jumps) 6 days a week. The training effect was investigated using analysis of variance (procedure MIXED, Statistical Analysis System). The statist...
Effects of TECAR Therapy on Body Surface Temperature and Longissimus Dorsi Muscle Tone in Thoroughbred Racehorses: A Pilot Study. Capacitive and resistive electric transfer (TECAR) therapy is increasingly used in equine physiotherapy; however, objective evidence regarding its immediate effects on equine back muscles remains limited. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effects of TECAR therapy on body surface temperature and muscle tone of the longissimus dorsi muscle in Thoroughbred racehorses. A randomized, single-blinded experimental study was conducted in 20 clinically healthy Thoroughbred racehorses aged 2-3 years. Horses were randomly assigned to either a TECAR treatment group ( = 10) or a sham-treatment control ...
Three-year evaluation of anthelmintic treatment efficacy against equine strongyles in France using FECRT. Reduced anthelmintic efficacy against strongyles in equids is a widespread concern, but up-to-date field data are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate, over a three-year period, the efficacy of the anthelmintic (AH) molecules available in France (fenbendazole, pyrantel, ivermectin and moxidectin) against strongyles in equids using faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRTs). A total of 104 complete FECRTs (i.e., required sample size reached) were conducted in 98 groups, involving 749 equids kept in 70 facilities. Fenbendazole-resistant populations were detected in 8/9 groups (89%) from ...
