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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.
Do Muscle Activities of M. Splenius and M. Brachiocephalicus Decrease Because of Exercise-Induced Fatigue in Thoroughbred Horses? Muscle activities of the major hindlimb muscles have been reported to decrease with fatigue in horses. However, those in other muscles have been scarcely reported. We aimed to quantify fatigue-induced electromyographic changes in head and neck muscles and muscles around the shoulder joints in horses. Surface electromyographic recording of the splenius, brachiocephalicus, infraspinatus, and deltoid muscles was performed on a total of nine healthy Thoroughbred horses. Horses galloped on a treadmill inclined to 3% at a constant speed (12.7-14.6 m/second) to make them fatigued after approximately...
Viral Equine Encephalitis, a Growing Threat to the Horse Population in Europe? Neurological disorders represent an important sanitary and economic threat for the equine industry worldwide. Among nervous diseases, viral encephalitis is of growing concern, due to the emergence of arboviruses and to the high contagiosity of herpesvirus-infected horses. The nature, severity and duration of the clinical signs could be different depending on the etiological agent and its virulence. However, definite diagnosis generally requires the implementation of combinations of direct and/or indirect screening assays in specialized laboratories. The equine practitioner, involved in a missi...
Feeding Grass Hay Before Concentrate Mitigates the Effect of Grain-Based Concentrates on Postprandial Plasma Interleukin-1β. When fed to horses, high-starch diets elevate plasma concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) as soon as 1 hour posteating. This increase in IL-β is possibly because of changes in intestinal pH that result from rapid bacterial fermentation of starches and sugars in the digestive tract. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of feeding 0.9 kg of grass hay 30 minutes before feeding a concentrate meal on the postprandial rise in IL-1β, compared with control horses receiving the same concentrate without hay first. Six mature geldings were used in a switchback design. Hor...
Effects of in vivo fatigue-induced subchondral bone microdamage on the mechanical response of cartilage-bone under a single impact compression. Subchondral bone (SCB) microdamage is prevalent in the joints of human athletes and animals subjected to high rate and magnitude cyclic loading of the articular surface. Quantifying the effect of such focal in vivo fatigue-induced microdamage on the mechanical response of the tissue is critical for the understanding of joint surface injury and the development of osteoarthritis. Thus, we aimed to quantify the mechanical properties of cartilage-bone from equine third metacarpal (MC3) condyles, which is a common area of accumulated microdamage due to repetitive impact loading. We chose a non-dest...
Effect of Timing of Postovulatory Insemination Relative to Human Chorionic Gonadotropin/Buserelin Treatment With 1 Straw of Frozen-Thawed Semen on Mare Fertility. The reproductive management of mares for frozen semen artificial insemination (AI) can be costly and labor intensive. Predicting the exact time of ovulation can be challenging even when ovulation-inducing drugs are used. The main objective of this retrospective study was to determine whether there was an effect of interval between examinations to detect ovulation on likelihood of pregnancy and early embryonic loss in mares after postovulatory breeding with a single straw of frozen/thawed semen. The second objective was to determine the efficacy of two different drugs (human chorionic gonadotro...
Emergence of West Nile virus lineage 2 in Europe: Characteristics of the first seven cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease in horses in Austria. We report details of the first seven equine cases of confirmed West Nile neuroinvasive disease in Austria. The cases presented during summer and autumn of 2016 (n = 2), 2017 (n = 3) and 2018 (n = 2). All horses showed gait abnormalities and 6 of 7 horses exhibited fasciculations and/or tremors, and we provide video recordings of these. Three horses also showed cranial nerve involvement. Following rapid improvement, three horses were discharged. Four horses were euthanized due to the severity of clinical signs and subjected to neuropathological examination. West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2...
Triiodothyronine Has No Enhancement Effect on the Osteogenic or Chondrogenic Differentiation of Equine Adipose Tissue Stem Cells. The effects of two concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3; 0.01 and 1,000 nM) on the osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation abilities of equine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) were evaluated. The osteogenic study evaluated the effect of T3 using alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) assay; cell viability and density; and formation of mineralized nodules at Days 7, 14, and 21 in culture. The chondrogenic study tested the effect of T3 through ALP assay, mitochondrial metabolism, cell density, and periodic acid-Schiff-positive (PAS+) matrix percentage at Days 7 and 14. In bot...
Correcting Campylorrhinus Lateralis in a Foal by Bone Distraction: A Case Report. Campylorrhinus lateralis, also known as "wry nose," is a congenital malformation that mainly affects Thoroughbreds. These horses have a unilateral deviation of the maxillae that may be to one side or the other side, and it causes airway obstruction and dental malocclusion. The choice of treatment is not necessarily operation; however, the treatment of choice, which aims to repair the maxillae deviation, is surgical to improve the horse's respiratory condition and correct the dental occlusion. There are currently no reports describing the first surgical technique for such deformity described by...
Seasonal changes in ROS concentrations and sperm quality in unfrozen and frozen-thawed stallion semen. Oxidative stress is regarded as an important cause of sperm damage during cryopreservation. However, seasonal changes in oxidative status in unfrozen and frozen-thawed stallion sperm have not been well established. We tested the hypothesis that sperm ROS concentrations and lipid peroxidation change between breeding and non-breeding seasons and influence quality of unfrozen and frozen-thawed sperm. Eighteen ejaculates from six Warmblood stallions (8-21 y) known to be fertile, were collected in winter and summer and processed for freezing. After 90 min at +4 °C, some straws from each ejacu...
Multimodal Imaging to Identify and Characterize a P3 Cystic Lesion and Pathologic Fracture. Lameness remains a common cause of retirement in the equine athlete and among hobby enthusiasts. The distal limb is one of the most frequently imaged areas, and recent advances in diagnostic imaging capabilities help practicing veterinarians differentiate normal variants from informative pathology. Although acute, non-weight-bearing lameness is commonly associated with etiologies, such as fractures, abscesses, and laminitis, other uncommon differentials such as cystic lesions and neoplasia might also be considered. This report describes the characterization of a large, cystic lesion in the thi...
Prevalence and severity of ultrasonographic pulmonary findings in horses with asthma – a preliminary study. Asthma is one of the most common non-infectious respiratory diseases in horses. Ultrasound examination is a widely available non-invasive additional diagnostic tool. To date, there are no studies focusing on ultrasonographic findings in horses with asthma. The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence and severity of ultrasound lesions in lung tissue in horses with asthma. Lung ultrasonography was carried out on six healthy horses (controls) and 12 horses with asthma (six with mild and six with severe asthma). The sonographic changes in three lung sections were assessed using a scoring s...
The occurrence of hemotropic Mycoplasma ovis-like species in horses. Hemotropic mycoplasmas (haemoplasmas) are wall-less bacteria, which may lead to anemia and, even, mortality in mammals. The present study was aimed to characterize the causative agent(s) of haemoplasma infection in blood samples taken from horses (n = 133) in south of Iran. Microscopic examination of blood smears and PCR assay were performed for the detection of hemotropic Mycoplasma and equine piroplasma (Babesia caballi and Theileria equi). For the purpose of molecular characterization, 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA markers were used for hemotropic Mycoplasma and piroplasma pathogens, respective...
Road Transport of Late-Pregnant Mares Advances the Onset of Foaling. Cortisol is involved in the initiation of parturition and we hypothesized that increased maternal cortisol release advances the onset of foaling. Transport is a stressor for horses and induces an increase in cortisol release. To determine stress effects on the time of foaling, late-pregnant mares were transported by road for 3 hours (n = 12) or remained in their stable as controls (n = 4). Starting on day 325 of gestation, saliva and blood samples were taken for cortisol and progestin analysis, respectively. Fetomaternal electrocardiograms were recorded repeatedly. Mares were checked for im...
Endoscopic Laser Ablation of a Midline Cyst of the Colliculus Seminalis as a Treatment for Anejaculation in a Stallion. An 18-year-old Appaloosa stallion presented with a history of ejaculatory dysfunction, which had recently progressed to an inability to ejaculate (anejaculation). Transrectal ultrasound evaluation revealed the presence of a prominent midline cyst of the colliculus seminalis, which was compressing the most terminal parts of the deferent ducts. Both ducts were enlarged and filled with hyperechoic content. The stallion was diagnosed with a complete occlusion of the deferent ducts because of the compression from the midline cyst of the colliculus seminalis. To date, there are no established treatm...
Aminorex identified in horse urine following consumption of Barbarea vulgaris; a preliminary report. Aminorex, (RS)-5- Phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-amine, is an amphetamine-like anorectic and in the United States a Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA] Schedule 1 controlled substance. Aminorex in horse urine is usually present as a metabolite of Levamisole, an equine anthelmintic and immune stimulant. Recently, Aminorex identifications have been reported in horse urine with no history or evidence of Levamisole administration. Analysis of the urine samples suggested a botanical source, directing attention to the Brassicaceae plant family, with their contained GlucoBarbarin and Barbarin as p...
Screening and Identification of Novel cGAS Homologues Using a Combination of in Vitro and In Vivo Protein Synthesis. The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) catalyzes the synthesis of the multifunctional second messenger, cGAMP, in metazoans. Although numerous cGAS homologues are predicted in protein databases, the catalytic activity towards cGAMP synthesis has been proven for only four of them. Therefore, we selected five novel and yet uncharacterized cGAS homologues, which cover a broad range in the field of vertebrates. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) was used for a pre-screening to investigate if the cGAS genes originating from higher organisms can be efficiently expressed in a bacterial expression system....
Acute changes in the colonic microbiota are associated with large intestinal forms of surgical colic. Horses that undergo surgery for treatment of primary large colon disease have been reported to be at increased risk of developing recurrent colic episodes postoperatively. The reasons for this are currently unknown. The aim of the current study was to characterise the faecal microbiota of horses with colic signs associated with primary large colon lesions treated surgically and to compare the composition of their faecal microbiota to that of a control group of horses undergoing emergency orthopaedic treatment. Faecal samples were collected from horses in both groups on admission to hospital, d...
Different expression of Defensin-B gene in the endometrium of mares of different age during the breeding season. Despite being one of the major causes of infertility in mares, the mechanisms responsible for equine endometrosis are still unclear and controversial. In the last few years, many investigations focused on local immune response modulation. Since it is generally accepted that endometrial fibrosis increases with age, we hypothesize that older mares could show altered local immune modulation, initiating a pro-inflammatory and tissue remodeling cascade of events that could lead to endometrosis. The aim of this study, indeed, is to evaluate and describe the local gene expression of genes involved in...
The Occurrence and Characterization of Extended-Spectrum-Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Clinical Diagnostic Specimens of Equine Origin. isolates were recovered from clinical specimens of equine patients admitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital over a five-year period. Ceftiofur resistance was used as a marker for potential extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-activity, and of the 48 ceftiofur-resistant isolates, 27.08% ( = 13) were phenotypically ESBL-positive. Conventional PCR analysis followed by the Finder multiplex PCR detected the ESBL genes, CTX-M-1 and SHV, in seven out of the 13 isolates. Moreover, beta-lactamase genes of TEM-1-type, BER-type (AmpC), and OXA-type were also identified. S...
Leptospira Seroprevalence in Bardigiano Horses in Northern Italy. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Bardigiano horses in the Province of Parma, Northern Italy, to assess the seroprevalence of spp. and to investigate risk factors associated with the infection. A representative sample of 134 horses from 43 farms was selected by stratified systematic randomization. Blood sera were examined by MAT for the presence of antibodies against seven serovars. Ninety animals (67.2%; 95% Confidence Interval 63.2-71.1) and 41 farms (95.3%; 95% CI 92.2-98.5%) were found positive to at least one of the serovars. The most frequently detected reactions were against ...
Optimising the Efficacy of Equine Welfare Communications: Do Equine Stakeholders Differ in Their Information-Seeking Behaviour and Communication Preferences? Information on the management of animals within domestic environments is freely available to animal owners and caregivers either online, or in paper form by request. However, awareness is growing within the animal welfare sector that simply providing written guidelines or educational material is not enough to affect a positive change in owners in relation to animal welfare. In the quest to improve equine welfare, understanding the way that owners and other stakeholders seek information and their communication preferences is key to effective dissemination of up to date equine welfare informatio...
Seroepidemiological study of the exposure to Toxoplasma gondii among horses in Algeria and analysis of risk factors. The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of the in horses in different parts of Algeria and to determine risk factors for the infection. Methods: A total of 736 blood samples were collected from horses of various breeds, gender, coat colors, and ages. All horses came from various farms, racecourses, and equestrian centers. The seroprevalence was investigated by three different methods: Indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) as reference method, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and latex agglutination test (LAT). Results: Out of the 736 sera, 178 (24.18%) were positi...
Validation of an equine serum amyloid A assay with an unusually broad working range. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a major equine acute phase protein and of great value in detection and monitoring of inflammation. A new immunoturbidometric assay based on monoclonal antibodies (VET-SAA, Eiken Chemical Co., Japan) may be useful for SAA measurements in routine diagnostic laboratories. The aim of the study was to validate the VET-SAA immunoturbidometric assay and use it to measure serum SAA concentrations in a variety of clinical cases. Precision was assessed by intra- and interassay coefficients of variation of repeated measurements of serum pools (low, intermediate, high concentratio...
Assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of Yea-Sacc® (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) for horses. Yea-Sacc is an additive based on a live preparation of a strain of intended for use as a zootechnical additive (digestibility enhancer). The current assessment is performed in the context of the renewal of the authorisation of the feed additive; however, the applicant proposed also to lower (6.5 × 10 colony forming unit (CFU)/kg of complete feedingstuff) the minimum dose of the additive when used in feed for horses. The additive is produced in a powder (Yea-Sacc) and in a prills (Yea-Sacc_TS) forms. The Panel considered that the additive currently on the market complies with the existing ...
Brazilian Sport Horse: genetic parameters for approval of Brasileiro de Hipismo stallions. The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic parameters for subjective scores given at the Brazilian Sport Horse (BSH) Stallion Approval by estimating heritability (h) for morphological, gait, and jumping traits and genetic correlations (γ) among the functional ones and by verifying selection feasibility. The analysis included 1179 complete evaluations from 294 horses, by 4.26 ± 0.96 judges. Each trait was evaluated using mixed models in SAS® v9.2, considering the individual as a random effect. Variance components and genetic parameters were obtained by single and two-trait animal mode...
Convergent genomic signatures of high-altitude adaptation among domestic mammals. Abundant and diverse domestic mammals living on the Tibetan Plateau provide useful materials for investigating adaptive evolution and genetic convergence. Here, we used 327 genomes from horses, sheep, goats, cattle, pigs and dogs living at both high and low altitudes, including 73 genomes generated for this study, to disentangle the genetic mechanisms underlying local adaptation of domestic mammals. Although molecular convergence is comparatively rare at the DNA sequence level, we found convergent signature of positive selection at the gene level, particularly the gene in these Tibetan domest...
Measuring V̇O2 in hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions using dynamic gas mixing with a flow-through indirect calorimeter. Measurements of gas exchange while breathing gases of different O concentrations are useful in respiratory and exercise physiology. High bias flows required in flow-through indirect calorimetry systems for large animals like exercising horses necessitate the use of inconveniently large reservoirs of mixed gases for making such measurements and can limit the amount of equilibration time that is adequate for steady-state measurements. We obviated the need to use a pre-mixed reservoir of gas in a semi-open flow-through indirect calorimeter by dynamically mixing gases and verified the theoretical ...
Sustained Interleukin-10 Transgene Expression Following Intra-Articular AAV5-IL-10 Administration to Horses. Joint trauma leads to post-traumatic inflammation with upregulation of inflammatory cytokines and degradative enzymes. If severe enough, this response can lead to irreversible post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Interleukin-10 (IL-10), a cytokine with potent anti-inflammatory effects, has been shown to have chondroprotective effects. A gene therapy approach using a vector to overexpress IL-10 in the joint represents a feasible method of delivering sustained high doses of IL-10 to post-traumatic joints. We hypothesized that an AAV5 vector overexpressing IL-10 would result in rapid and sustained IL-1...
Assessment of the effect and safety of salacinol in horses. We report a study that examined the effect and safety of salacinol from Salacia reticulata extract (SRE) for the intestinal microbiota of horses. We administered SRE to healthy horses and evaluated their intestinal microbiota before and after the test period for changes in composition. Horses that received the SRE showed notable differences in intestinal microbiota composition between before and after administration, with a substantial increase in bacteria of the order Lactobacillales at the end of the test period. Moreover, the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio was elevated. Salacinol was adm...
