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.
Merkies K, Trudel K.Horses employ a range of subtle to overt behaviours to communicate their current affective state. Humans who are more cognisant of their own bodily sensations may be more attuned to recognising affective states in horses () thereby promoting positive human-horse interactions. This study investigated human ability to categorise human-horse interactions depicted in media relative to equine behaviour experts and compared participant scores to their level of interoception. Using an online survey, participants (n = 534) categorised 31 photographs and videos as (overt) positive, likely (subtle) posi...
Uellendahl A, Schramel JP, Tichy A, Peham C.The aim of this study was to determine whether horses exhibiting unilateral hindlimb lameness unload (rest) the lame limb more than the contralateral limb. The resting/unloading of the hindlimbs and the time spent lying down were measured using accelerometers. Ten non-lame horses and 20 lame horses were recruited for participation and monitored for 11 h overnight with accelerometers (MSR145, sampling rate: 1 Hz, and measuring range: ±15 g) attached to the lateral metatarsal and metacarpal regions of each limb. Metatarsal and metacarpal orientation were used to determine whether the limb was u...
Hagenbach M, Bierau J, Cruz AM, Koch C, Manso-Díaz G, Büttner K, Staszyk C, Röcken M.In the diagnostics of orthopedic diseases in the horse, diagnostic imaging often plays a decisive role. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging is used in both human and small animal medicine and becoming increasingly popular. To see whether CBCT imaging can be useful in the diagnosis of orthopedic diseases of the carpal region of the horse and to explore possible limitations we compared CBCT images with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) images of the carpal region of equine cadaveric specimens. Unassigned: Twenty-eight forelimbs from fifteen horses, slaughtered for reasons unrelat...
Shimizu Y, Sugai-Bannai M, Saito K, Hirano-Kodaira M, Leung GN.Somapacitan, a long-acting growth hormone derivative, and recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) are protein-based drugs generally used to treat growth disorders and GH deficiency in humans. Due to their potential to enhance the horse performance, the use of these drugs is prohibited at-all-times by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities for horseracing and the Fédération Equestre Internationale for equestrian sports. In this study, we developed a test method for the identification and differentiation of somapacitan and rhGH in equine plasma by using liquid chromatography h...
Arroyo E, Whitelock LM, Stanton ME, Stevenson V, de Aguiar LH, Kelleman A.Hydropsical conditions in domestic animals are characterized by abnormal fluid accumulation. While their complete pathophysiology remains unclear, factors such as changes in chorioallantoic membranes, placentitis, or fetal abnormalities may contribute. Hydrops present as a medical emergency that can cause complications for the mare. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for the mare's prognosis, as fetal survival is often poor. This report describes a case of hydroallantois in a 9-year-old pregnant Quarter mare at 271 days of gestation, leading to dystocia of a non-viable foal with multipl...
Thomson P, Garrido D, Santibáñez R, Lara F.The gut microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining horse health, influencing digestion, immunity, and overall well-being. However, in certain conditions like colic, there is evidence of significant alterations in the microbial community. To analyze the composition of the fecal microbiome and the enriched predicted metabolic functions of horses with colic compared to a control group, 14 horses with colic and 14 control horses were recruited. From a stool sample, DNA extraction was carried out for subsequent 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis. The composition of the microbiome was analyzed from ...
Gabryś J, Pietras N, Kowal-Mierzwa W, Karnas E, Andronowska A, Nowak A, Kochan J, Bugno-Poniewierska M.The efficacy of in vitro embryo production (IVEP) in equines is relatively limited compared to other species due to the lack of a reliable superovulation technique, limited availability of cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs), low in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) and fertilization rates. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are nanoparticles involved in intercellular signaling in the ovarian environment, have shown potential as supplements to improve oocyte development during IVM. This study tested the hypothesis that EVs from small (< 20 mm) ovarian follicles could enhance fertilization rates in m...
Cheong SH, Franklin-Guild R, Goodman LB, Lago-Alvarez Y, Lee YL, de Aguiar LH, de Amorim MD, Altier C.Fungal and bacterial culture is currently the primary method for pathogen detection and identification. Next-generation sequencing is a powerful method for detecting and identifying the presence of microbial DNA in samples. We evaluated the correlation between fungal and bacterial culture with next-generation sequencing in equine uterine samples. Fungal cultures (n=63) were evaluated based on their culture results. In culture positive (n=16) samples, next-generation sequencing identified the same organism in 10 samples (62.5%), 5 samples did not identify fungal agents, and 1 sample identified ...
Sidwell AE, Duz M, Hill B, Freeman S, Hole SL.Dental disease is a common but often under-recognised condition in horses, possibly due to an inability to recognise clinical signs of oral discomfort. Some dental disorders are reportedly more painful than others, but there is no current metric by which dental pain can be objectively assessed. This study aimed to determine whether a facial expression-based pain scale offered an objective and reliable method for assessing dental pain in horses. It was hypothesised that dental disorders affecting the periodontium would produce high pain scores. Twelve horses with dental disease were evaluated f...
Barton CK, Hassel DM, Anders K, Weir TL.A major cause of morbidity and mortality in horses with large colon obstructive lesions is injury to the colonic mucosal barrier from ischemic injury. Since butyrate has been shown to play a critical role in the maintenance of a healthy mucosal barrier, it may play a role in the recovery process. This study's objective was to determine whether the differences in butyrate concentrations existed between horses with surgical large colon obstructive lesions and healthy horses both during and after surgery. Eleven horses presenting with surgical colic lesions were enrolled; colonic samples were acq...
Charles A, Peeters X, Verbrugghe C, Vandersmissen M, Evrard L, Busoni V.The Pivot Point (PP) method is commonly used in the radiographic assessment of carpal deformities in young foals, as the range of deviation may influence treatment choice. The aims of this study were to assess the intra- and interobserver reproducibility of the PP method and subjective radiographic evaluation without line drawing to establish the anatomical site responsible for carpal deviation in foals and to evaluate the agreement between these two techniques. Unassigned: Anonymized radiographs of foals presented for investigation of carpal deformity or prematurity were retrospectively and i...
Lensing R, Wirth C, Thünker F, Merle R, Barton AK.Gastric pH is a key factor in the development of equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD). Although acid injury is unlikely the primary cause of equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD), low pH may promote mucosal damage. Gastric pH is influenced by roughage uptake, as chewing increases the alkaline saliva production. The proton pump inhibitor omeprazole is currently recommended by the American/European College of Veterinary/Equine Internal Medicine (ACVIM/ECEIM) for ESGD and EGGD. We hypothesized that dental disorders decrease saliva production and gastric pH, predisposing horses to EGUS. Gastro...
Ohnuma K, Hirano-Kodaira M, Bannai M, Shimizu Y, Yamada M, Kinoshita K, Ngai-Wa Leung G, Ishii H.The abuse of prohibited peptide-based drugs with a broad spectrum of chemical characteristics poses a significant concern for the horseracing industry. Recently, there has been a notable increase in positive cases of small-peptide drugs reported in equine and canine sports. In addition to small peptides, large peptides (over 2 kDa) with structural diversity have also entered the market in increasing numbers as drugs for humans and livestock. However, the simultaneous analysis of both small- and large-peptide-based drugs is still challenging. In this study, a screening method was developed to c...
Nankervis K, Williams JM, Fisher D, MacKechnie-Guire R.To ensure the comfort of ridden horses, equipment including bridles and bits should be suitable and fit correctly. Horse owners employ a variety of equestrian professionals with varying degrees of responsibility regarding bridle and bit fit. This study aimed to compare the frequency and manner in which equestrian professionals within a multidisciplinary team (MDT) engage with clients on matters of bridle and bit fit, and to capture their perceptions of the key issues in bridle and bit fit. The participants completed an online questionnaire to obtain information regarding participant demographi...
Toft K, Honoré ML, Ripley NE, Nielsen MK, Fromm B, Mardahl M, Nielsen LN, Nejsum P, Thamsborg SM, Cirera S, Pihl TH.The equine bloodworm, Strongylus vulgaris, is a highly pathogenic parasite causing potentially fatal vascular and intestinal damage. Parasites express and release microRNAs (miRNAs) for internal regulation and to modulate host immunity. The complete set of miRNAs expressed by S. vulgaris (the S. vulgaris miRNAome) remains unannotated and the aim of this study was to annotate the miRNAome of L4 and L5 stages of S. vulgaris, and to examine differences in miRNA abundance between larval stages and sexes. Furthermore, we aimed to determine if miRNAs were detectable in excretory/secretory products (...
Scupham AJ, Tong C.In 2018, a new virus, named equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H), was discovered in a biologic product that had been administered to horses that subsequently developed clinical signs of equine serum hepatitis (Theiler disease). Further correlation of the virus with the disease sparked federal requirements that all equine biologics be free of EqPV-H. The initial quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) test for EqPV-H has proved to be sensitive to co-extracted PCR inhibitors in template nucleic acids, causing false-negative results. We investigated the use of digital PCR (dPCR) as a more robust test. ...
Guyo M, Tareke M, Tonamo A, Bediye D, Defar G.Morphometric traits discrepancies are associated with production, reproduction, adaptation and behaviours in horses. It also determines the design of harnessing implements, physical injury level and working performance of the native horses. Thus, the study was conducted to evaluate morphometric traits and body conformation indices of horse ecotypes reared across four districts of Bale Zone, Ethiopia. Methods: Data of croup height, croup length, hip height, mid-back height, wither height, hip width, thoracic depth, chest width, body length, sternum height, thorax perimeter and cannon perimeter ...
Munsterman AS, Rogers-Tirado JM, Kottwitz J.To evaluate the effect of hand walking exercise on myoelectrical activity and contractility in normal, healthy horses. Methods: Prospective experimental design. A convenience sample of 8 horses were randomized to a control or hand walking treatment group; each horse underwent both treatments. After a 30-minute baseline electrointestinography (EIG), horses were stall rested or hand walked for 15 minutes. Electrointestinography was repeated immediately and at 2 hours. Ultrasonography and auscultation monitored cecal and left ventral colon (LVC) contractions during EIG. Electrointestinography spe...
Farmer Long J, Duberstein J, Costin K, Callaway T, Abrams A, Wassel B, Toal K, Duberstein K.Pasture tracks are a modern equine housing trend often implemented as a weight control strategy due to the belief that they promote movement, though this is not proven experimentally. To test movement of horses housed in pasture tracks as compared to conventional pasture housing, two experiments were performed using a track (0.2ha, 3.5m in width, 561 m total distance) created around the perimeter of a 2.0 ha pasture. In experiment 1, eight horses were paired and rotated between three treatment locations: track (T), small 2 ha pasture housed within the track (SP), and a larger 20 ha pasture on ...
Yuen NKY, Harrison JJ, Wang ASW, McMahon IE, Habarugira G, Coyle MP, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H.An incursion and outbreak of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was reported in Australia in 2021 and 2022, respectively. There was speculation that JEV may have been circulating in Australia unknowingly prior to the detection. In this study, we determined sero-prevalence and transmission of West Nile virus (WNV), Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) and JEV, prior to and post JEV incursion in a sentinel equine population in south-east Queensland (SEQ), Australia, using blocking ELISAs (screening test) and virus neutralisation test (confirmatory). Serum samples collected between 2018 and 202...
Willette JA, Tsoi M, Frobish D, VanderBroek AR.The objectives of the study were to describe a standing percutaneous adhesion induction model in the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) of horses and to evaluate the effect of intrathecal administration of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril on tendon healing and adhesion formation. Methods: Randomized, blinded, controlled experimental study. Methods: Eight healthy horses. Methods: A collagenase-induced adhesion model was implemented in the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) of both forelimbs under standing ultrasonographic guidance. Daily intrathecal injections of 5 ...
Phetkarl T, Fungwithaya P, Lewchalermvong K, Sontigun N.The global prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) and blood parasite infections in horses is a significant concern due to their substantial impact on morbidity, mortality, and economic losses in the horse industry. In Thailand, limited research has been conducted on these parasites in horse populations, and data from southern Thailand are lacking. Consequently, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of GI and blood parasites in horses in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand. Unassigned: In total, 79 fecal and blood samples were collected from horses across 11 farms in Nakhon Si Thammarat p...
Ortiz-Rodriguez JM, Bucci D, Tovar-Pascual L, Granata S, Spinaci M, Nesci S.Sperm metabolism consists of a sophisticated network of biochemical reactions and varies between species, resulting in different metabolic strategies for ATP production to maintain sperm functionality. ATP can be produced through glycolysis or in the mitochondria by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Since OXPHOS is the predominant metabolic pathway in horses spermatozoa, various assessments of mitochondrial activity are used to evaluate fertility, utilizing techniques such as fluorescent probes analysed via microscopy or flow cytometry, and polarographic electrode assays to measure current f...
Broman A, Rawlinson JE, Bass L, Boscan P, Rao S.The use of proper sedative and regional anesthetic protocols is essential when performing equine dental surgical procedures under standing sedation. The efficacy of the rostral inferior alveolar nerve block via the mental foramen has not been previously studied. Aims of this study included determining the efficacy of the block, investigating whether any region (labial mucosa, alveolar mucosa, or teeth) was more reliably anesthetized, and if differences in efficacy existed between bilateral and unilateral blocks. In this blinded trial, 10 horses each were randomly assigned to receive a left uni...
Sousa LN, Winter IC, Varela DD, Luvison EZ, Guzmán JFC, Machado AMV, Figueiredo RDV, Pena GT, Dos Santos ACS, Faleiros RR, Carvalho AM.The present study involved seven horses in a randomized crossover clinical trial to evaluate the effect of lidocaine on horses with induced endotoxemia. Horses received intravenous lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg bolus, followed by 0.05 mg/kg bwt/min) or placebo (0.9% sodium chloride at the same manner) one hour before LPS administration (0.03 μg/kg, IV infusion over 30 min). We monitored clinic and hematologic parameters, abdominal auscultation, ultrasound, and pain over time. No relevant clinical differences existed between treatments regarding peristalsis, abdominal pain, or any other parameters befo...
Riley JW, Chance LM, Barshick MR, Johnson SE.Hyaluronic acid (HA), a glycosaminoglycan found in joint synovial fluid, is administered to horses as an anti-inflammatory with lubrication properties. This experiment examined the effects of HA administered before and shortly after an exercise test on metacarpophalangeal (MCP; fetlock) and tibiotarsal (hock) joint range of motion (ROM). Horses were injected intravenously (IV) with placebo (4 mL, saline) or HA (4 mL, 40 mg) 24 h before performing a standardized exercise test (SET) on a high-speed treadmill and again at 6-h post-SET. Passive fetlock flexion was measured at 4 and 24 h post-...
Martin-Pelaez S, Fuente A, Takahashi K, Perez IT, Orozco J, Okada CTC, Neto CR, Meyers S, Dini P.Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the current clinical practice for the in vitro production of equine embryos. The use of conventional fertilization methods such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), has historically been associated with poor success in horses. However, recent improvements have led to better outcomes with IVF, though only when using fresh semen, which limits its use in clinical practice. IVF remains in its infancy in equine reproduction, and several unknowns remain about the technique. One significant gap in knowledge concerns the morphokinetics of IVF embryos and how they...
Gagliardi R, Koch DW, Loeser R, Schnabel LV.Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating disease that impacts millions of individuals and has limited therapeutic options. A significant hindrance to therapeutic discovery is the lack of in vitro OA models that translate reliably to in vivo preclinical animal models. An alternative to traditional inflammatory cytokine models is the matrikine stimulation model, in which fragments of matrix proteins naturally found in OA tissues and synovial fluid, are used to stimulate cells of the joint. The objective of this study was to determine if matrikine stimulation of equine synovial fibroblasts and chond...
Massie S, Léguillette R, Bayly W, Sides R, Zuluaga-Cabrera AM.Workload associated with the high frequency Colombian Paso Fino gait has not been evaluated. Objective: To determine the oxygen consumption (V̇O), heart rate (HR), stride frequency: breathing ratio, and hematology associated with the Paso Fino gait, including whether exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) occurs. Methods: Eleven Paso Fino horses. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Horses performed a standardized Paso Fino gait test across a wooden sounding board, simulating competition. V̇O and ventilatory parameters (tidal volume [V]; peak inspiratory and expiratory airflows [PkV̇, P...
Dakin SG, Dudhia J, Werling NJ, Werling D, Abayasekara DR, Smith RK.The contribution of inflammation to the pathogenesis of tendinopathy and high prevalence of re-injury is not well established, although recent evidence suggests involvement of prostaglandins. We investigated the roles of prostaglandins and inflammation-resolving mediators in naturally occurring equine tendon injury with disease stage and age. Levels of prostaglandins E(2) (PGE(2)), F(2α) (PGF(2α)), lipoxin A(4) (LXA(4)) and its receptor FPR2/ALX were analysed in extracts of normal, sub-acute and chronic injured tendons. To assess whether potential changes were associated with altered PGE(2) ...
Argüelles D, Carmona JU, Pastor J, Iborra A, Viñals L, Martínez P, Bach E, Prades M.The aim of this study was to evaluate single and double centrifugation tube methods for concentrating equine platelets. Whole blood samples were collected from clinically normal horses and processed by use of single and double centrifugation tube methods to obtain four platelet concentrates (PCs): PC-A, PC-B, PC-C, and PC-D, which were analyzed using a flow cytometry hematology system for hemogram and additional platelet parameters (mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, mean platelet component concentration, mean platelet component distribution width). Concentrations of transformi...
Yi J, Heinecke J, Tan H, Ford PC, Richter-Addo GB.It is now well-established that mammalian heme proteins are reactive with various nitrogen oxide species and that these reactions may play significant roles in mammalian physiology. For example, the ferrous heme protein myoglobin (Mb) has been shown to reduce nitrite (NO(2)(-)) to nitric oxide (NO) under hypoxic conditions. We demonstrate here that the distal pocket histidine residue (His64) of horse heart metMb(III) (i.e., ferric Mb(III)) has marked effects on the mode of nitrite ion coordination to the iron center. X-ray crystal structures were determined for the mutant proteins metMb(III) H...
Bidwell LA, Bramlage LR, Rood WA.To determine the fatality rate of horses undergoing general anaesthesia at a private equine referral practice using a limited number of anaesthetic protocols. Methods: A retrospective analysis of records (n = 17 961) from all horses undergoing general anaesthesia for surgical procedures from 1997 to 2001 at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Results were reported as percentage of the population, and as crude mortality rates for each procedure (deaths per 1000). Results: The prevalence of equine fatalities directly related to anaesthesia was 0.12% (n = 21) and this rose ...
Loroño-Pino MA, Blitvich BJ, Farfán-Ale JA, Puerto FI, Blanco JM, Marlenee NL, Rosado-Paredes EP, García-Rejón JE, Gubler DJ, Calisher CH....Serum samples were obtained from 252 horses in the State of Yucatan, Mexico, from July to October 2002. Antibodies to West Nile virus were detected by epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in three (1.2%) horses and confirmed by plaque reduction neutralization test. We report the first West Nile virus activity in the State of Yucatan.
Lanning BA, Baier ME, Ivey-Hatz J, Krenek N, Tubbs JD.Quality of life assessments were used in this study to determine the behavioral changes of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who participated in equine assisted activities. Behavioral changes of children with ASD participating in 9 weeks of equines assisted activities (EAA) (N = 10) were compared to behavioral changes of children who participated in a non-equine intervention (N = 8). Parents noted significant improvements in their child's physical, emotional and social functioning following the first 6 weeks of EAA. The children participating in the non-equine program also...
Allen GP, Coogle LD.The molecular structure of the equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) gene encoding glycoprotein 13 (gp13) was analyzed. The gene is contained within a 1.8-kilobase AccI-EcoRI restriction fragment mapping at map coordinates 0.136 to 0.148 in the UL region of the EHV-1 genome and is transcribed from right to left. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of the DNA fragment revealed a complete transcriptional unit composed of typical regulatory promoter elements upstream to a long open reading frame (1,404 base pairs) that encoded a 468-amino-acid primary translation product of 51 kilodaltons. The p...
Pollock PJ, Prendergast M, Schumacher J, Bellenger CR.The serum concentrations of serum amyloid A, haptoglobin and fibrinogen were measured in a group of horses before and at intervals after elective and non-elective surgery, and in a control group of normal horses. There was a significant, rapid and repeatable increase in the concentration of serum amyloid A in response to both elective and non-elective surgery. In the control horses its serum concentration was within the normal range, from 0 to 0.2 microg/ml. Twenty-four hours after elective surgery its mean peak concentration was 16.4 microg/ml, and after non-elective surgery it was 27.3 micro...
Schwarz S, Roberts MC, Werckenthin C, Pang Y, Lange C.A total of 838 staphylococcal isolates representing 19 different species were obtained from cattle, cats, dogs, ducks, guinea pigs, horses, mink, pigeons, pigs, rabbits, and turkeys. From these 228 (27.2%) isolates were shown to be resistant to tetracycline and to carry one or two of the tetracycline resistance (tet) genes tet (K), tet (L), tet (M), or tet (O) with seven different distribution patterns. Additional resistances to one or more antibiotics were observed in 153 (67.1%) of the tetracycline resistant isolates. The tet (M) gene was found in 94.3% of the resistant S. intermedius isolat...
Lannergård J, Guss B.Streptococcus equi ssp. equi is the causative agent of strangles, a highly contagious and serious disease in the upper respiratory tract of horses. The present study describes the characterization of IdeE, a homolog of the secreted IgG-specific protease IdeS/Mac of Streptococcus pyogenes. The activity of IdeE is compared with the activity of IdeZ, the corresponding enzyme of the closely related S. equi ssp. zooepidemicus. A study of the proteolytic activity of recombinant IdeE and IdeZ on IgG from a selection of mammals shows that only antibodies containing the substrate site of IdeS/Mac are c...
Papas M, Arroyo L, Bassols A, Catalán J, Bonilla-Correal S, Gacem S, Yeste M, Miró J.This study compared the activities of four antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; glutathione peroxidase, GPX; and glutathione reductase, GSR) in the seminal plasma of stallions and jackasses. Eighteen stallion ejaculates and 24 jack ejaculates were collected through an artificial vagina. Seminal plasma was obtained by several centrifugations at 3000×g and 4 °C for 10 min, and activities of SOD, CAT, GPX and GSR were subsequently determined. We also evaluated whether the collecting season had any influence on the activities of these four enzymes in both stallions ...
McGahern A, Bower MA, Edwards CJ, Brophy PO, Sulimova G, Zakharov I, Vizuete-Forster M, Levine M, Li S, MacHugh DE, Hill EW.Equine mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) phylogeny reconstruction reveals a complex pattern of variation unlike that seen in other large domesticates. It is likely that this pattern reflects a process of multiple and repeated, although not necessarily independent, domestication events. Until now, no clear geographic affiliation of clades has been apparent. In this study, amova analyses have revealed a significant non-random distribution of the diversity among equine populations when seven newly sequenced Eurasian populations were examined in the context of previously published sequences. The associati...
Yondon M, Heil GL, Burks JP, Zayat B, Waltzek TB, Jamiyan BO, McKenzie PP, Krueger WS, Friary JA, Gray GC.Equine influenza virus (EIV) epizootics affect 2.1 million Mongolian horses approximately every 10 years and critically impact economy and nomadic livelihood of Mongolia. Objective: An active surveillance program was established in 2011 to monitor influenza viruses circulating among Mongolian horses. Methods: Nasal swabs were collected from horses in free-ranging horse herds in Töv, Khentii, and Dundgovi aimags (provinces) from January to September 2011. Real-time reversetranscriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) was used to determine the presence of influenza A virus. Influenza A-posi...
Kulikov E, Kropinski AM, Golomidova A, Lingohr E, Govorun V, Serebryakova M, Prokhorov N, Letarova M, Manykin A, Strotskaya A, Letarov A.Lytic coliphage vB_EcoP_G7C and several other highly related isolates were obtained repeatedly from the samples of horse feces held in the same stable thus representing a component of the normal indigenous intestinal communities in this population of animals. The genome of G7C consists of 71,759 bp with terminal repeats of about 1160 bp, yielding approximately 73 kbp packed DNA size. Seventy-eight potential open reading frames, most of them unique to N4-like viruses, were identified and annotated. The overall layout of functional gene groups was close to that of the original N4 phage, with som...
Hamada T, Watanabe G, Kokuho T, Taya K, Sasamoto S, Hasegawa Y, Miyamoto K, Igarashi M.A sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the determination of inhibin in peripheral plasma and tissue homogenates of different species has been developed using antisera to partially purified bovine follicular fluid (bFF) inhibin and 125I-labelled bFF 32 kDa inhibin. Antisera were produced by immunization of rabbits with partially purified bFF inhibin prepared by immunoaffinity chromatography. Increasing doses of a high titre antiserum could neutralize the suppressing effect of bFF, porcine follicular fluid and rat ovarian homogenate on FSH secretion from rat anterior pituitary cells in culture. ...
Pozor MA, McDonnell SM.The objectives of this study were to evaluate the potential use of color Doppler ultrasound to characterize blood flow to the stallion testis, and to establish reference values for Doppler measures of blood flow in the testicular artery of the stallion. Both testes from each of 52 horses were examined using a pulsed-wave color Doppler ultrasound with a sector array 5/7.5 MHz transducer with a 1mm gate setting. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) of the testicular artery were measured in each of two locations, the convolut...
Richt JA, Pfeuffer I, Christ M, Frese K, Bechter K, Herzog S.The geographic distribution and host range of Borna disease (BD), a fatal neurologic disease of horses and sheep, are larger than previously thought. The etiologic agent, Borna disease virus (BDV), has been identified as an enveloped nonsegmented negative-strand RNA virus with unique properties of replication. Data indicate a high degree of genetic stability of BDV in its natural host, the horse. Studies in the Lewis rat have shown that BDV replication does not directly influence vital functions; rather, the disease is caused by a virus-induced T-cell mediated immune reaction. Because antibodi...
Kern A, Perreten V.To determine the antibiotic resistance and fingerprint profiles of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) from animal infections among different practices and examine the history of antibiotic treatment. Methods: Isolates were identified by mass spectrometry and tested for antimicrobial resistance by broth dilution, microarrays and sequence analysis of the topoisomerases. Diversity was assessed by PFGE, icaA PCR and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) and multilocus sequence typing. Clinical records were examined re...
Kadlec K, Schwarz S.In the BfT-GermVet monitoring study, 417 Escherichia coli isolates collected during 2004-06 in Germany from various disease conditions of pigs (n = 87), horses (n = 102) or cats/dogs (n = 228) were investigated for their susceptibility to 24 antimicrobial agents. This study dealt with the identification of integron-associated resistance genes among these isolates. Methods: Class 1 and class 2 integrons were detected by PCR. The variable parts of the integrons were cloned and sequenced. Transformation and conjugation experiments were conducted to confirm a plasmid location of the integrons. Res...
Van de Walle GR, Peters ST, VanderVen BC, O'Callaghan DJ, Osterrieder N.Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) is a member of the Alphaherpesvirinae, and its broad tissue tropism suggests that EHV-1 may use multiple receptors to initiate virus entry. EHV-1 entry was thought to occur exclusively through fusion at the plasma membrane, but recently entry via the endocytic/phagocytic pathway was reported for Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1 cells). Here we show that cellular integrins, and more specifically those recognizing RGD motifs such as alphaVbeta5, are important during the early steps of EHV-1 entry via endocytosis in CHO-K1 cells. Moreover, mutational analysis revea...
Decourt C, Tillet Y, Caraty A, Franceschini I, Briant C.To determine if kisspeptin could be implicated in the control of reproduction in equine species, we studied the distribution of kisspeptin neurons and their anatomical interactions with GnRH neurons in the hypothalamus of pony mares. Brains were collected in three pony mares between 2 and 4h after ovulation. One major population of kisspeptin immunoreactive cell bodies was found in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), where they extended from the middle of the nucleus to the premammillary recess. Kisspeptin immunoreactive varicose fibers extended from the preoptic area to the mammillary nuclei, with imp...
Hauswirth R, Jude R, Haase B, Bellone RR, Archer S, Holl H, Brooks SA, Tozaki T, Penedo MC, Rieder S, Leeb T.Variants in the EDNRB, KIT, MITF, PAX3 and TRPM1 genes are known to cause white spotting phenotypes in horses, which can range from the common white markings up to completely white horses. In this study, we investigated these candidate genes in 169 horses with white spotting phenotypes not explained by the previously described variants. We identified a novel missense variant, PAX3:p.Pro32Arg, in Appaloosa horses with a splashed white phenotype in addition to their leopard complex spotting patterns. We also found three novel variants in the KIT gene. The splice site variant c.1346+1G>A occur...
Bigler WJ, Lassing EB, Buff EE, Prather EC, Beck EC, Hoff GL.Research and surveillance programs relating to the circulation of eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus in Florida between 1955 and 1974 are summarized. All available data suggest that EEE virus is 1) endemic in many Florida fresh water swamps and waterways, 2) active in a continuous cycle throughout the year with a peak between May and August, and 3) circulating in Culiseta melanura. It has been isolated also from eight other mosquito species.
Parry DA, Craig AS, Barnes GR.A study has been made of the ultrastructural organization of the collagen fibrils and elastic fibres in tendons and ligaments from horses of ages ranging from 2 months premature to 19 years. Diameter distributions of the collagen fibrils in the common digital extensor tendon, the superficial flexor tendon and the suspensory ligament are unimodal in the foetal tissue and at birth, and at these stages of development the three collagenous tissues are virtually indistinguishable. However, at maturity, the ligament and flexor tendon have bimodal distributions similar to that found for rat-tail tend...
Giannitti F, Diab S, Mete A, Stanton JB, Fielding L, Crossley B, Sverlow K, Fish S, Mapes S, Scott L, Pusterla N.Equine coronavirus (ECoV) is a Betacoronavirus recently associated clinically and epidemiologically with emerging outbreaks of pyrogenic, enteric, and/or neurologic disease in horses in the United States, Japan, and Europe. We describe the pathologic, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and molecular findings in 2 horses and 1 donkey that succumbed to natural infection with ECoV. One horse and the donkey (case Nos. 1, 3) had severe diffuse necrotizing enteritis with marked villous attenuation, epithelial cell necrosis at the tips of the villi, neutrophilic and fibrinous extravasation into th...
Depecker M, Richard EA, Pitel PH, Fortier G, Leleu C, Couroucé-Malblanc A.The aim of this study was to determine whether the lung side being sampled would significantly influence bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytological profiles and subsequent diagnosis in Standardbred racehorses. One hundred and thirty-eight French Trotters in active training and racing were included in a prospective observational study. BAL was performed using videoendoscopy in both right and left lungs during summer meetings in 2011 (64 horses) and 2012 (74 horses). Cytological data performed 24h later from right and left lungs were compared and specifically used to classify horses as affected wi...
Terzi A, Gallo N, Bettini S, Sibillano T, Altamura D, Madaghiele M, De Caro L, Valli L, Salvatore L, Sannino A, Giannini C.Collagen represents one of the most widely used biomaterial for scaffolds fabrication in tissue engineering as it represents the mechanical support of natural tissues. It also provides physical scaffolding for cells and it influences their attachment, growth, and tissue regeneration. Among all fibrillary collagens, type I is considered one of the gold standard for scaffolds fabrication, thanks to its high biocompatibility, biodegradability, and hemostatic properties. It can be extracted by chemical and enzymatic protocols from several collagen-rich tissues, such as tendon and skin, of differen...
Hdud IM, Mobasheri A, Loughna PT.The metabolic activity of articular chondrocytes is influenced by osmotic alterations that occur in articular cartilage secondary to mechanical load. The mechanisms that sense and transduce mechanical signals from cell swelling and initiate volume regulation are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the expression of two putative osmolyte channels [transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) and large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BKCa)] in chondrocytes is modulated in different osmotic conditions and to examine a potential role for MAPKs in this process...
Seltenhammer MH, Simhofer H, Scherzer S, Zechner R, Curik I, Sölkner J, Brandt SM, Jansen B, Pehamberger H, Eisenmenger E.Equine melanomas occur most commonly in grey horses at age 5 years or more. Generally, benign and malignant melanomas are distinguished by microscopy, but a more distinct classification would be helpful. Objective: The objectives of this study were to gain further evidence concerning the occurrence of melanotic tumours, and to evaluate the impact of heredity on melanoma development. Methods: A clinical study was conducted on a defined population of 296 grey horses of Lipizzaner breed. Individuals were classified according to their stage of disease using a 0-5 scale. Heritability was estimated ...
Whitton RC, Ayodele BA, Hitchens PL, Mackie EJ.Microdamage accumulation leads to subchondral bone injury and/or fracture in racehorses. An understanding of this process is essential for developing strategies for injury prevention. Objective: To quantify subchondral bone microdamage in the third metacarpal bone of Thoroughbred racehorses at different stages of the training cycle. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: Bone blocks from the palmar aspect of the medial condyles of third metacarpal bones from 46 racing Thoroughbred horses undergoing post-mortem were examined with micro computed tomography (microCT) to detect calcified microcracks, ...
