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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.
Sustained, Low-Intensity Exercise Achieved by a Dynamic Feeding System Decreases Body Fat in Ponies. Obesity in horses is increasing in prevalence and can be associated with insulin insensitivity and laminitis. Current treatment strategies for obesity include dietary restriction and exercise. However, whether exercise alone is effective for decreasing body fat is uncertain. Objective: Our hypothesis was that twice daily use of a dynamic feeding system for 3 months would induce sustained, low-intensity exercise thereby decreasing adiposity and improving insulin sensitivity (SI). Methods: Eight, university-owned, mixed-breed, adult ponies with body condition scores (BCS) ≥5/9 were used. Metho...
Combined use of platelet rich plasma & micro-fat in sport and race horses with degenerative joint disease: preliminary clinical study in eight horses. To assess the safety and potential efficacy of a standardized technique consisting of intra-articular injection of 10 cc of a homogeneous mixed product using autologous micro-fat and platelet rich plasma (PRP) (ratio 1:1) in the carpus or the fetlock joint of sport horses presenting degenerative joint disease (DJD). Methods: Eight sport horses with DJD confirmed by radiography and ultrasonography and causing lameness and the impossibility to compete were treated. PRP was prepared after a double centrifugation whereas micro-fat was harvested and purified using a closed system. The two products ...
A case study utilizing myofascial release, acupressure and trigger point therapy to treat bilateral “Stringhalt” in a 12 year old Akhal-Teke horse. "Stringhalt" is a horse condition that causes one or both hind legs to spasm when walking, trotting or backing. The condition is thought to be related to a neurological cause from either plant toxicity or peripheral nerve injury. The prognosis is poor and the horse's performance and quality of life can be affected. Treatment has included surgically cutting the digital extensors with varied results. The objective of the study is to utilize soft tissue release via acupressure, trigger point and myofascial release to decrease symptoms of stringhalt. The case study is a 12 year old Akhal-Teke hors...
An Ecotype of Neorickettsia risticii Causing Potomac Horse Fever in Canada. Neorickettsia (formerly Ehrlichia) risticii is an obligatory intracellular bacterium of digenetic trematodes. When a horse accidentally ingests aquatic insects containing encysted trematodes infected with N. risticii, the bacterium is transmitted from trematodes to horse cells and causes an acute and often fatal disease called Potomac horse fever (PHF). Since the discovery of N. risticii in the United States in 1984, using immunofluorescence and PCR assays, PHF has been increasingly recognized throughout North America and South America. However, so far, there exist only a few stable N. ristici...
Evaluation and Comparison of Vitamin D Responsive Gene Expression in Ovine, Canine and Equine Kidney. The aim of this study was to determine the relative abundance and relationship of vitamin D responsive and calcium transporting transcripts (TRPV5, TRPV6, calD9k, calD28k, PMCA, NCX1, CYP27B1, CYP24A1, and VDR) in ovine, canine and, equine kidney using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), and then perform a comparison between the three species. Renal tissue samples were harvested post-mortem from 10 horses, 10 sheep, and five dogs. Primers were designed for each gene. For each sample total RNA was extracted, cDNA synthesised, and RT-qPCR was performed. RT-qPCR data were normalised and statist...
A Novel Model for Acute Peripheral Nerve Injury in the Horse and Evaluation of the Effect of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Applied In Situ on Nerve Regeneration: A Preliminary Study. Transplantation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to sites of experimentally created nerve injury in laboratory animals has shown promising results in restoring nerve function. This approach for nerve regeneration has not been reported in horses. In this study, we first evaluated the ability of equine bone marrow-derived MSCs (EBM-MSCs) to trans-differentiate into Schwann-like cells and subsequently tested the MSCs for their potential to regenerate a transected nerve after implantation. The EBM-MSCs from three equine donors were differentiated into SCLs for 7 days, , in the presence of s...
A Serological Protein Microarray for Detection of Multiple Cross-Reactive Flavivirus Infections in Horses for Veterinary and Public Health Surveillance. The genus Flavivirus in the family Flaviviridae includes some of the most important examples of emerging zoonotic arboviruses that are rapidly spreading across the globe. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), West Nile virus (WNV), St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are mosquito-borne members of the JEV serological group. Although most infections in humans are asymptomatic or present with mild flu-like symptoms, clinical manifestations of JEV, WNV, SLEV, USUV and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) can include severe neurological disease and death. In horses, infection wi...
Equine metabolic syndrome impairs adipose stem cells osteogenic differentiation by predominance of autophagy over selective mitophagy. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASC) hold great promise in the treatment of many disorders including musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular and/or endocrine diseases. However, the cytophysiological condition of cells, used for engraftment seems to be fundamental factor that might determine the effectiveness of clinical therapy. In this study we investigated growth kinetics, senescence, accumulation of oxidative stress factors, mitochondrial biogenesis, autophagy and osteogenic differentiation potential of ASC isolated from horses suffered from equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). We demons...
Heat-shock protein 70 expression in the equine cornea. Expression of the 70-kDa heat-shock protein (HSP70) has been demonstrated in normal canine corneal epithelium, and inducible expression has been suggested to facilitate wound resolution through organized migration, proliferation, and adhesion of the corneal epithelial cells. Diminished expression of HSP70 may therefore contribute to prolonged healing in the pathologic cornea of other companion animal species, including the horse. Methods: Normal and pathologic equine cornea was evaluated to determine whether the expression of HSP70 is correlated with appropriate corneal epithelial wound healin...
Experimental infection of horses with Rickettsia rickettsii. Rickettsia rickettsii is vectored by ticks, and some vertebrate hosts can be sources of infection to ticks during bacteremic periods. In Brazil, the main vector for R. rickettsii is the tick Amblyomma sculptum, a member of the A. cajennense complex. Horses, in turn, are one of the major hosts for A. sculptum. In this study, horses experimentally infected with R. rickettsii were assessed for clinical changes and their capability to transmit the infection to A. sculptum ticks. Four horses were infected with R. rickettsii through either intraperitoneal injection or infestation with R. rickettsii-...
Techniques and Indications for Intraoperative Ultrasound in Horses. To describe our experience using intraoperative ultrasound for various conditions in horses. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Horses (n=113). Methods: Medical records including surgical reports at 2 equine hospitals (2007-2013) were reviewed to identify ultrasound-assisted surgeries. The diagnosis, reasons for using intraoperative ultrasound, the technique employed, and the surgical procedure performed (e.g., synovial endoscopy, cut-down, resection, dissection, curettage, and implant placement/removal) were recorded for each surgery. Intraoperative ultrasound was used to mark the o...
Laparoscopic Closure of the Nephrosplenic Space in Horses with Nephrosplenic Colonic Entrapment: Factors Associated with Survival and Colic Recurrence. 1) To identify factors associated with short-term survival and time to death after hospital discharge in horses with nephrosplenic entrapment (NSE). 2) To compare the frequency of recurrent colic episodes in horses with and without laparoscopic closure of the nephrosplenic space. Methods: Historical cohort with a nested case control. Methods: Client-owned horses. Methods: Medical records of horses treated for NSE from January 1, 2002 to June 1, 2014 were reviewed. Data collected included signalment, physical examination parameters, laboratory results, diagnostic findings, and treatments. Facto...
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics of xylazine administered to exercised thoroughbred horses. There is limited data describing xylazine serum concentrations in the horse and no reports of concentrations beyond 24 hours. The primary goal of the study reported here was to update the pharmacokinetics of xylazine following intravenous (IV) administration in order to assess the applicability of current regulatory recommendations. Pharmacodynamic parameters were determined using PK-PD modeling. Sixteen exercised adult Thoroughbred horses received a single IV dose of 200 mg of xylazine. Blood and urine samples were collected at time 0 and at various times for up to 96 hours and analyzed...
Identification of SP110 in horse (Equus caballus): Isolation of novel splice variants and evidence of activation effects on macrophages. SP110 has previously shown to be a genetic determinant of host resistance to the intracellular pathogen infection in mouse and human. However, its relevant biological information in large non-primate animals still remains unknown. Here we report the novel discovery and characterization of three transcript variants of horse SP110. The transcript variant 1 (Tv1) of horse SP110 with the longest open reading frame has four domains (Sp100, SAND, PHD and Bromo domain). Tv2 and Tv3 share the same N-terminal sequence as Tv1, which contains Sp100 and SAND. We show that Tv2 is generated from alternative...
Detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in equine coat color genes using SNaPshotTM multiplex kit or pluronic F-108 tri-block copolymer and capillary electrophoresis. Molecular methods for the detection of mammalian coat color phenotypes have expanded greatly within the past decade. Many phenotypes are associated with a single nucleotide polymorphism mutation in the genetic sequence. Traditionally, these mutations are detected through sequencing, hybridization assays or mini-sequencing. However, these techniques can be expensive and tedious. Previously, CE-SSCP using the F-108 polymer was able to distinguish SNPs for the melanocortin-1 receptor (mc1r) coat color gene in horses (Equus caballus) that differed by one nucleotide substitution. The objective of t...
Species determination using the red blood cells morphometry in domestic animals. This investigation is placed in the context of continuity of a preliminary study already published; it was conducted in cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and dogs; the main aim is to reveal and develop criteria for the animal species determination based on the morphometric parameters of red blood cells. Methods: Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein; and the smears were confectioned on slides immediately after the blood collection and stained according to the May-Gründwald Giemsa method. For the morphometric study, three parameters were considered which are: The diameter, the circumferen...
Monty Roberts’ Public Demonstrations: Preliminary Report on the Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability of Horses Undergoing Training during Live Audience Events. Effective training of horses relies on the trainer's awareness of learning theory and equine ethology, and should be undertaken with skill and time. Some trainers, such as Monty Roberts, share their methods through the medium of public demonstrations. This paper describes the opportunistic analysis of beat-to-beat (RR) intervals and heart rate variability (HRV) of ten horses being used in Monty Roberts' public demonstrations within the United Kingdom. RR and HRV was measured in the stable before training and during training. The HRV variables standard deviation of the RR interval (SDRR), root ...
Development and evaluation of a new lateral flow assay for simultaneous detection of antibodies against African Horse Sickness and Equine Infectious Anemia viruses. African horse sickness (AHS) and equine infectious anemia (EIA) are both notifiable equid specific diseases that may present similar clinical signs. Considering the increased global movement of horses and equine products over the past decades, together with the socio-economic impact of previous AHS and EIA outbreaks, there is a clear demand for an early discrimination and a strict control of their transmission between enzootic and AHS/EIA-free regions. Currently, the individual control and prevention of AHS or EIA relies on a series of measures, including the restriction of animal movements, v...
Presumptive Iatrogenic Microcystin-Associated Liver Failure and Encephalopathy in a Holsteiner Gelding. An 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding was presented for evaluation of anorexia, obtundation, icterus, and mild colic signs of 48 hours duration. History, physical examination, and initial diagnostics were suggestive of hepatic disease and encephalopathy. Microcystin toxicosis was suspected based on historical administration of a cyanobacteria supplement, associated serum biochemistry abnormalities, and characteristic histopathological changes. Microcystin contamination was confirmed in both supplement containers fed to the horse. Fulminant hepatic failure and encephalopathy progressed resulting in ...
Comparison of three different methods for the quantification of equine insulin. Exact analysis of equine insulin in blood samples is the key element for assessing insulin resistance or insulin dysregulation in horses. However, previous studies indicated marked differences in insulin concentrations obtained from sample analyses with different immunoassays. Most assays used in veterinary medicine are originally designed for use in human diagnostics and are based on antibodies directed against human insulin, although amino acid sequences between equine and human insulin differ. Species-specific assays are being used more frequently and seem to provide advantages compared to ...
Secretory immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G in horse saliva. This study aimed to increase the knowledge on salivary antibodies in the horse since these constitute an important part of the immune defence of the oral cavity. For that purpose assays to detect horse immunoglobulin A (IgA) including secretory IgA (SIgA) were set up and the molecular weights of different components of the horse IgA system were estimated. Moreover, samples from 51 clinically healthy horses were tested for total SIgA and IgG amounts in saliva and relative IgG3/5 (IgG(T)) and IgG4/7 (IgGb) content were tested in serum and saliva. Results showed a mean concentration of 74μg SIgA...
Endometrial prostaglandin synthases, ovarian steroids, and oxytocin receptors in mares with oxytocin-induced luteal maintenance. Oxytocin (OXT) has been used to prolong the luteal phase in mares, but its mechanism of action is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chronic exogenous OXT administration to mid-luteal phase mares on luteal maintenance. Also, endometrial expression of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), prostaglandin Fα, E and I synthases (AKR1C3, PTGES, and PTGIS), oxytocin receptor (OXTR), progesterone receptor (PGR), and estrogen receptors 1 (ESR1) and 2 (ESR2) were assessed in mares experiencing luteal maintenance 2 weeks after chronic exogenous OXT administration. Con...
An Intronic MBTPS2 Variant Results in a Splicing Defect in Horses with Brindle Coat Texture. We investigated a family of horses exhibiting irregular vertical stripes in their hair coat texture along the neck, back, hindquarters, and upper legs. This phenotype is termed "brindle" by horse breeders. We propose the term "brindle 1 (BR1)" for this specific form of brindle. In some BR1 horses, the stripes were also differentially pigmented. Pedigree analyses were suggestive of a monogenic X-chromosomal semidominant mode of inheritance. Haplotype analyses identified a 5 Mb candidate region on chromosome X. Whole genome sequencing of four BR1 and 60 nonbrindle horses identified 61 private v...
Actinomyces denticolens colonisation identified in equine tonsillar crypts. Recently, submandibular abscesses associated with Actinomyces denticolens have been reported in horses. The actinomycotic clumps have been observed in the tonsillar crypts. The aim of this study was to demonstrate colonisation of A denticolens in equine tonsils. Twelve equine tonsils obtained from a slaughterhouse were divided into two parts for histopathological examination and for isolation of A denticolens. When actinomycotic clumps were found in these tonsillar crypts, immunohistochemistry using hyperimmune serum against A denticolens (DMS 20671) was performed on the serial sections. To de...
Effect of intralesional platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment on clinical and ultrasonographic parameters in equine naturally occurring superficial digital flexor tendinopathies – a randomized prospective controlled clinical trial. Regenerative and anti-inflammatory effects on tendinopathies have been attributed to blood-derived biologicals. To date the evidence for the efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment of naturally occurring equine tendinopathies is limited. The purpose of this placebo-controlled clinical trial was to describe the effect of a single treatment of equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) disease with PRP on clinical and ultrasonographic parameters. Twenty horses with naturally occurring tendinopathies of forelimb SDFTs were randomly assigned to the PRP-treated group (n =...
The usefulness of uterine lavage and acute phase protein levels as a diagnostic tool for subclinical endometritis in Icelandic mares. Endometritis is a common problem in a broodmare practice, often leading to infertility. The diagnosis is based on several methods such as cytology, bacteriology and histopathology; however the outcome of these methods may be inconclusive even when used together. The objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate the usefulness of acute phase proteins as an additional diagnostic tool for diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in mares and (2) to evaluate the association between macroscopic changes in uterine flushes and inflammation of the uterus. Materials were collected from 53 Icelandic ma...
Retrospective Evaluation of Hemithyroidectomy in 14 Horses. To describe the presentation, presurgical diagnostic findings, treatment, and outcome of horses with histologically confirmed, unilateral thyroid neoplasia. The complications, particularly laryngeal hemiplegia, were investigated. Retrospective case series. Client-owned horses (n=14). Medical records of horses presenting with a unilateral thyroid mass due to neoplasia from 2003-2015 were reviewed. Horses must have undergone preoperative clinical evaluations that included ultrasound examination of the mass and upper airway endoscopy. Short-term follow-up at 2 weeks after surgery and owner questi...
Assessment of method reliability and determination of reference intervals for rotational thromboelastometry in horses. To assess the measurement reliability of rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) measurements in horses, establish reference intervals for healthy horses, and evaluate the relationship between ROTEM variables, hematologic variables, and standard coagulation tests. Methods: Prospective observational study. Methods: University teaching hospital. Methods: Fifty healthy and 10 diseased adult horses. Methods: None. Results: Blood was sampled from 10 healthy and 10 diseased horses and samples were repeatedly analyzed to evaluate measurement reliability of various ROTEM variables. Four different ROTEM ...
Use of the oral sugar test in ponies when performed with or without prior fasting. It is recommended that the oral sugar test (OST) for insulin dysregulation (ID) be performed after an overnight fast, but fasting is impractical in ponies kept solely at pasture. There are few data on OST repeatability and reliability in ponies. Objective: To report 1) whether OST results obtained in the morning after an overnight fast or without fasting in the afternoon (FASTING/FED) can be used interchangeably, 2) time of highest insulin concentration T [insulin], repeatability and reliability of insulin response to the OST when FASTING or FED and 3) dichotomous agreement (ID/normal) within ...
