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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.
Effect of different doses of inhaled ciclesonide on lung function, clinical signs related to airflow limitation and serum cortisol levels in horses with experimentally induced mild to severe airway obstruction. Inhaled corticosteroids are effective for the treatment of equine asthma but they induce cortisol suppression with potential side effects. Objective: To study the efficacy of ciclesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid with an improved safety profile, on lung function, clinical signs related to airway obstruction, and serum cortisol levels in asthmatic horses exposed to a mouldy hay challenge. Methods: Cross-over placebo controlled, blinded, randomised experiment. Methods: Sixteen horses were enrolled in three subsequent dose-titration studies (8 horses/study) to investigate the effects of inhaled ...
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based determination of ergocristine, ergocryptine, ergotamine, ergovaline, hypoglycin A, lolitrem B, methylene cyclopropyl acetic acid carnitine, N-acetylloline, N-formylloline, paxilline, and peramine in equine hair. Ingestion of hypoglycin A (HGA) in maple seeds or alkaloids produced by symbiotic fungi in pasture grasses is thought to be associated with various syndromes in grazing animals. This article describes analytical methods for monitoring long-term exposure to HGA, its metabolite MCPA-carnitine, as well as ergocristine, ergocryptine, ergotamine, ergovaline, lolitrem B, N-acetylloline, N-formylloline, peramine, and paxilline in equine hair. After extraction of hair samples separation was achieved using two ultra high performance liquid chromatographic systems (HILIC or RP-C18, ammonium formate:acet...
Influence of plate type and placement on the immobilization of bilateral equine mandibular osteotomies: Ex vivo study. To determine the influence of plate fixation (locking or dynamic compression) and the site of application (ventral [V] or ventrolateral [VL]) on the resistance to bending of transverse mandibular fractures. Methods: Ex vivo, simple randomized study. Methods: Mandibles harvested from adult equine cadavers (n = 18). Methods: Bilateral osteotomies were created 1 cm caudal to the mental foramen and perpendicular to the long axis of each mandible. Mandibles were fixed with 1 of 3 methods: (1) VL dynamic compression plate (DCP), (2) V-DCP, or (3) VL locking compression plating (LCP). Construct...
Nanoparticles in Equine Nutrition: Mechanism of Action and Application as Feed Additives. Several concerns exist regarding horse rearing such as environmental pollution, antibiotics resistance, digestive disorders, mycotoxins contamination of animal feed, gut health management, and improvement of feed efficiency. Nanoparticles have the potential to address these issues and thus could be used as feed additive. Citrate reduces and stabilizes gold nanoparticles, alongside biosynthesized silver nanoparticles have the potential to prolong and improve digestive enzyme activity, which would enhance starch digestibility in the stomach. Zinc oxide and selenium nanoparticles could be used to...
The effect of insulin infusion on heart rate and systemic blood pressure in horses with equine metabolic syndrome. There is little evidence that horses with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) have higher resting blood pressures than horses with normal insulin sensitivity. However, there are indications that EMS horses have an altered dynamic response to the cardiovascular effects of insulin. Objective: To examine heart rate and the systemic blood pressure response in EMS and control horses during insulin infusion. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Horses were examined with an oral sugar test (OST) and a euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp (EHC). Based on the results from the OST, the horses were classi...
Hypoxia and mesenchymal stromal cells as key drivers of initial fracture healing in an equine in vitro fracture hematoma model. Fractures in horses-whether simple fractures with just one clean break, or incomplete greenstick with stress fractures, or complications such as shattered bones can all be either minimal or even catastrophic. Thus, improvement in fracture healing is a hallmark in equine orthopedics. The fracture healing process implements a complex sequence of events including the initial inflammatory phase removing damaged tissue, re-establishment of vessels and mesenchymal stromal cells, a soft and hard callus phase closing the fracture gap as well as the remodeling phase shaping the bone to a scar-free tiss...
Effects of Diet Versus Exercise on Morphometric Measurements, Blood Hormone Concentrations, and Oral Sugar Test Response in Obese Horses. Weight loss plans in horses typically use dietary restriction, but exercise may have additional benefits. This study aimed to compare the effects of a diet or exercise protocol resulting in comparable caloric restriction in obese horses. Ten obese horses were paired according to sex, age, and breed or breed type. One horse from each pair was randomly assigned to either diet (DIET)-intake restricted to approximately 85% of digestible energy requirements or exercise (EX)-exercised to expend approximately 15% of digestible energy requirements, resulting in 85% of requirements available, for 4 we...
Equine Idiopathic Hemorrhagic Cystitis: Is It Idiopathic or More Likely to Be Exercise-Associated? Recently, a syndrome called "equine idiopathic hemorrhagic cystitis" was described and clinical features compared with bladder neoplasia. In this case report, we describe a case of hemorrhagic cystitis with a favorable outcome in a high-performance dressage horse, in which exercise intensity might be the etiologic factor for the development of bladder-wall hyperplasia and hematuria. A 14-year-old Warmblood gelding was presented with a history of hematuria of 2-day duration. The high-level dressage horse had performed on the previous 3 weekends and was trained at least three times a week at per...
Evaluation of a Novel System for Linear Conformation, Gait, and Personality Trait Scoring and Automatic Ranking of Horses at Breed Shows: A Pilot Study in American Quarter Horses. The study compared results of the traditional horse judging system (T) using subjective grades with those of a novel system of linear scoring (LS) using an application ("Breed Show App"). The horse's quality in relation to the total breeding aim was evaluated based on weighting factors for 57 individual traits commonly regarded in T, thus allowing immediate ranking of the horses. Results were stated as total grade in percent for both systems. One thousand nine hundred nine American Quarter horses were judged at regular breed shows with either T (n = 883), LS (n = 1,026), or both systems (n ...
Acute Endometritis due to Taylorella equigenitalis Transmission by Insemination of Cryopreserved Stallion Semen. Taylorella equigenitalis can be transmitted during artificial insemination. This report describes clinical T. equigenitalis transmission by cryopreserved stallion semen. T. equigenitalis isolates from a mare's vaginal discharge and semen from the same batch of the cryopreserved semen used for the insemination gave identical API ZYM, antibiotic susceptibility, and multilocus sequence typing results (ST-46); furthermore, the multilocus sequence typing lineage ST-46 is known to circulate in the country of semen collection. These results support the need for strict contagious equine metritis scre...
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Glanders in Brazil. In Brazil, glanders remains a serious problem, with the obligatory sacrifice of disease-positive animals without compensation. Each year, glanders cases are reported in several regions of the country, causing severe economic losses and trade restrictions. The present study describes and discusses the occurrence of glanders foci in Brazil during a 12-year period from 2005 to 2016. The highest frequency of reported affected holdings during the study period was in the northeast region. Moreover, during this period, the disease incidence in Brazil showed an overall increasing tendency. The number ...
Influence of Functional Rider and Horse Asymmetries on Saddle Force Distribution During Stance and in Sitting Trot. Asymmetric forces exerted on the horse's back during riding are assumed to have a negative effect on rider-horse interaction, athletic performance, and health of the horse. Visualized on a saddle pressure mat, they are initially blamed on a nonfitting saddle. The contribution of horse and rider to an asymmetric loading pattern, however, is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of horse and rider asymmetries during stance and in sitting trot on the force distribution on the horse's back using a saddle pressure mat and motion capture analysis simultaneously. D...
Theriogenology Question of the Month. This study involves the case of a young Thoroughbred filly who exhibited symptoms like reluctance to stand and vulva hemorrhagic discharge. The physical examination revealed normal physiological parameters, but an [...]
Using next-generation sequencing to determine diversity of horse intestinal worms: identifying the equine ‘nemabiome’. Next-generation sequencing of DNA from nematode eggs has been utilised to give the first account of the equine 'nemabiome'. In all equine faecal samples investigated, multiple species of Strongylidae were detected, ranging from 7.5 (SEM 0.79) with 99+% identity to sequences in the NCBI database to 13.3 (SEM 0.80) with 90+% identity. This range is typical of the number of species described previously in morphological studies using large quantities of digesta per animal. However, the current method is non-invasive; relies on DNA analysis, avoiding the need for specialist microscopy identificatio...
A Thoroughbred racehorse with a unicortical palmar lateral condylar fracture returned to training 14 days after surgery: a hypothesis on the role of a single bone screw on crack propagation. A 2-year-old Thoroughbred racehorse had LF lameness that began post high-speed exercise and persisted for two days before the horse once again became sound. Diagnostic analgesia localized the lameness to the LF distal metacarpus, and a standing MRI identified a unicortical condylar fracture. A single 5.5 mm cortical screw was placed in lag fashion. The horse began hand walking at 14 days, racetrack jogging at 30 days, and racing at 5 months after the day of surgery. Placement of a single lag screw ahead of the tip of the crack in unicortical condylar fracture may be useful for reducing the rec...
A longitudinal study of the faecal microbiome and metabolome of periparturient mares. Periparturient mares are at increased risk of colic including large colon volvulus, which has a high mortality rate. Alterations in colonic microbiota related to either physiological or management changes, or both, that occur at this time have been suggested as potential causes for increased colic risk in this population of horses. Although the effect of management changes on the horse faecal microbiota has been investigated, limited work has been conducted to investigate changes in faecal microbiota structure and function in the periparturient period. The objectives of the current study were ...
Reduction of Trypanosoma equiperdum from equine semen by single layer centrifugation. Trypanosoma equiperdum (T. equiperdum) causes dourine, a venereally transmitted infection in horses. Purification of semen by single layer centrifugation (SLC) has been proven to be successful in reducing venereally transmitted diseases when dealing with other pathogens. The objective of this study was to evaluate the purification of T. equiperdum spiked semen by SLC. Semen was spiked using cryopreserved T. equiperdum stabilates (Dodola strain isolate 943). In total, 6 concentrations, varying from 10 to >5 × 10 trypanosomes, were added to semen samples. Subsequently, SLC was performed ...
Markers for oxidative stress in the synovial fluid of Thoroughbred horses with carpal bone fracture. Arthritis is thought to cause oxidative stress in synovial fluid in humans, but there have been few reports in horses. To evaluate oxidative stress in synovial fluid in horses, this study used 19 horses with unilateral fracture of the carpal joint bone. Synovial fluid was collected from the carpal joint on the fracture (arthritis group) and contralateral (control group) sides. Diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) were then measured, and the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. d-ROMs and OSI of the arthritis group were significantly hi...
A natural energy absorbent polymer composite: The equine hoof wall. The equine hoof has been considered as an efficient energy absorption layer that protects the skeletal elements from impact when galloping. In the present study, the hierarchical structure of a fresh equine hoof wall and the energy absorption mechanisms are investigated. Tubules are found embedded in the intertubular matrix forming the hoof wall at the microscale. Both tubules and intertubular areas consist of keratin cells, in which keratin crystalline intermediate filaments (IFs) and amorphous keratin fill the cytoskeletons. Cell sizes, shapes and IF fractions are different between tubular a...
Evaluation of the bacterial ocular surface microbiome in clinically normal horses before and after treatment with topical neomycin-polymyxin-bacitracin. Next generation sequencing (NGS) studies have demonstrated a rich and diverse ocular surface-associated microbiota in people that was previously undetected by traditional culture-based methods. The ocular surface microbiome of horses has yet to be investigated using NGS techniques. This study aimed to determine the bacterial composition of the ocular surface microbiome in healthy horses, and to identify whether there are microbial community changes over time and following topical antibiotic use. One eye of 12 horses was treated 3 times daily for 1 week with neomycin-polymyxin-bacitracin ophtha...
Recombinant horse interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 induced a mixed inflammatory cytokine response in horse peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 activate plethora of immune cells and induce the humoral immune response. However, recombinant version of horse IL-4 and IL-10 has not been investigated to understand their immunomodulating activities. This study aimed to produce recombinant horse mature IL-4 and IL-10 in . Immune-modulating activities of recombinant horse IL-4 and IL-10 were investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Methods: Equine PBMCs were stimulated with recombinant IL-4 and IL-10. A proliferation of PBMCs was measured by XTT assay and cytokines induction was measured by enzy...
Whole genome sequencing analysis of horse populations inhabiting the Korean Peninsula and Przewalski’s horse. The Jeju horse is an indigenous horse breed in Korea. However, there is a severe lack of genomic studies on Korean horse breeds. The objective of this study was to report genomic characteristics of domestic horse populations that inhabit South Korea (Jeju, Jeju crossbred, and Thoroughbred) and a wild horse breed (Przewalski's horse). Using the equine reference genome assembly (EquCab 2.0), more than ~ 6.5 billion sequence reads were successfully mapped, which generated an average of 40.87-fold coverage throughout the genome. Using these data, we detected a total of 12.88 million SNPs, of w...
Simultaneous quantitation of 9 anabolic and natural steroidal hormones in equine urine by UHPLC-MS/MS triple quadrupole. A new fast and easy analytical procedure for the simultaneous detection and quantification of 9 anabolic steroids (deslorelin, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, stanozolol, boldenone, nandrolone, dexamethasone isonicotinate and altrenogest) in horse urine for doping control have been developed by using the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry technique (UHPLC-MS/MS). A total amount of 400 μl of sample was evaporated, restored and injected in the UHPLC-MS/MS. The proposed method was fully validated showing a recove...
Elucidation of the biosynthetic pathways of boldenone in the equine testis. Boldenone is an anabolic-androgenic steroid that is prohibited in equine sports. Urine from the uncastrated male horse contains boldenone that is thought to be of endogenous origin and thus a threshold ('cut-off') concentration has been adopted internationally for free and conjugated boldenone to help distinguish cases of doping from its natural production. The testis is likely to be a source of boldenone. Qualitative analysis was performed on extracts of equine testicular homogenates (n = 3 horses) incubated non-spiked and in the presence of its potential precursors using liquid chromatog...
Diagnostic value of noninvasive pulse pressure measurements in Warmblood horses with aortic regurgitation. Noninvasive blood pressures (NIBP) and pulse pressures (PP) have not been published in horses with aortic and mitral regurgitation (AR or MR). Objective: To investigate NIBP and PP in healthy Warmblood horses and horses with AR and MR and propose PP cutoffs to identify and stage AR severity. Methods: Seventy-three Warmblood horses (healthy, 10; AR, 31; MR, 32). Methods: Retrospective study. All horses had NIBP and an echocardiogram recorded. Cases were categorized based on severity of regurgitation. Pulse pressures were compared among healthy, MR, and AR groups and among AR severity groups. Cu...
Anti-Influenza A Virus Activities of Type I/III Interferons-Induced Mx1 GTPases from Different Mammalian Species. Type I/III interferons provide powerful and universal innate intracellular defense mechanisms against viruses. Among the antiviral effectors induced, Mx proteins of some species appear as key components of defense against influenza A viruses. It is expected that such an antiviral protein must display a platform dedicated to the recognition of said viruses. In an attempt to identify such platform in human MxA, an evolution-guided approach capitalizing on the antagonistic arms race between MxA and its viral targets and the genomic signature it left on primate genomes revealed that the surface-ex...
Zoonotic multidrug-resistant microorganisms among non-hospitalized horses from Germany. Colonization with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) belonging to the genus Staphylococcus and the order Enterobacterales poses a particular threat to populations at risk. While previous studies focused on MDRO carriage among livestock or companion animals, respective epidemiological data on the general equine population are limited. Here, carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) in non-hospitalized horses living on private farms in the rural area in Northwest Germany was assessed. Intran...
Soft Palate Modification Using a Collagen Crosslinking Reagent for Equine Dorsal Displacement of the Soft Palate and Other Upper Airway Breathing Disorders. The mechanical properties of the soft palate can be associated with breathing abnormalities. Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) is a naturally occurring equine soft palate disorder caused by displacement of the caudal edge of the soft palate. Snoring and a more serious, sometimes life-threatening, condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are forms of sleep-related breathing disorders in humans which may involve the soft palate. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of injecting the protein crosslinker genipin into the soft palate to modify its mechanical propert...
Body Composition and Visceral Adipose Tissue in Female Collegiate Equestrian Athletes. To examine measures of total and regional body composition using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in NCAA Division I collegiate equestrian athletes, 31 female collegiate equestrian athletes were matched to a population of normal controls by age and body mass index. Total and regional fat tissue mass (FM), lean tissue mass (LM), bone mineral density (BMD), and abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were measured by DXA. Equestrian athletes had a significantly (p=0.03) lower total body fat percentage (%fat) than controls. There were no significant differences in total LM and VAT between equestri...
Neuroanatomy of the equine brain as revealed by high-field (3Tesla) magnetic-resonance-imaging. In this study, the morphology of the horse brain (Equus caballus) is decribed in detail using high field MRI. The study includes sagittal, dorsal, and transverse T2-weighted images at 0.25 mm resolution at 3 Tesla and 3D models of the brain presenting the external morphology of the brain. Representative gallocyanin stained histological slides of the same brain are presented. The images represent a useful tool for MR image interpretation in horses and may serve as a starting point for further research aiming at in vivo analysis in this species.
