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.
Canisso IF, Ball BA, Scoggin KE, Squires EL, Williams NM, Troedsson MH.The objectives of this study were to: (i) determine alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations in fetal fluids (FF), and (ii) compare plasma concentrations of AFP in mares with placentitis (n=17) and gestationally age-matched control mares (n=17). Fetal fluid sampling (FFS, n=7/group) was performed at 0, 5 and 12 days post inoculation (DPI) or until abortion. Plasma was harvested daily for 12 days or until abortion. Placentitis was induced via intracervical inoculation of Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus. Proteins present in the FF were resolved by 1D-SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotting was used to ...
Robinson B, Gummow B.A disease outbreak investigation was conducted in western Queensland to investigate a rare suspected outbreak of pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) toxicosis in horses. Thirty five of 132 horses depastured on five properties on the Mitchell grass plains of western Queensland died in the first six months of 2010. Clinical-pathological findings were consistent with PA toxicosis. A local variety of Crotalaria medicaginea was the only hepatotoxic plant found growing on affected properties. Pathology reports and departure and arrival dates of two brood mares provided evidence of a pre wet season exposure ...
Gerding JC, Gilger BC, Montgomery SA, Clode AB.A 7-year-old, 153.0-kg American Miniature mare presented for evaluation of keratoconjunctivitis of the right eye (OD). A superior palpebral conjunctival mass and stromal keratitis were diagnosed. The incisional biopsy diagnosis was a presumptive corneal hemangiosarcoma. Transpalpebral enucleation was performed, and histopathologic evaluation confirmed angiosarcoma of the conjunctiva, cornea, and extraocular muscles. The horse developed progressive epistaxis and orbital swelling following surgery. A systemic workup was performed 3 months after enucleation, revealing regrowth within the orbit an...
Scoles GA, Ueti MW.Equine piroplasmosis is a disease of Equidae, including horses, donkeys, mules, and zebras, caused by either of two protozoan parasites, Theileria equi or Babesia caballi. These parasites are biologically transmitted between hosts via tick vectors, and although they have inherent differences they are categorized together because they cause similar pathology and have similar morphologies, life cycles, and vector relationships. To complete their life cycle, these parasites must undergo a complex series of developmental events, including sexual-stage development in their tick vectors. Consequentl...
Shepard MK, Lee WL, Eggleston RB.A 21-year-old Thoroughbred gelding with a history of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) presented with priapism of 2 days' duration. The horse received a caudal morphine epidural and then underwent corpus cavernosum lavage and phallectomy under general anesthesia. The patient's recovery featured multiple unsuccessful attempts to stand and his respiratory distress persisted for several hours until he acutely developed severe colic and was euthanized. Necropsy findings revealed a pituitary adenoma of the pars intermedia, bilateral adrenal cortical hyperplasia, and diaphragmatic ...
Jorgensen JS, Genovese RL, Döpfer D, Stewart MC.Equine carpal sheath effusion has multiple etiologies. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the prevalence of distinct musculoskeletal lesions lameness in a sample of horses with a clinical diagnosis of carpal sheath effusion. A total of 121 horses met inclusion criteria. Seventy-four percent (89/121) of horses were lame at presentation; middle-aged (9-18 years, 80%) and older (> 18 years, 85%) horses were lame more frequently than young horses (< 9 years, 44%). Ninety-three percent (113/121) were diagnosed with osseous and/or soft tissue abnormalities. Of these 113 ho...
Gilday R, Lewis D, Lohmann KL.Neonatal mastitis is a rare occurrence in the horse. This report documents a case of mastitis caused by an organism within the Streptococcus dysgalactiae group in a 1-week-old Paint filly. Un cas de mastite chez une pouliche nouveau-née. La mastite est une maladie rare chez les pouliches nouveau-nées. Ce rapport documente un cas de la mastite causé par un organisme du groupe Streptococcus dysgalactiae qui se présente dans une pouliche Paint á l’âge de sept jours et discute la litérature pertinente au sujet de la mastite des nouveau-nés.(Traduit par les auteurs).
Parkes R, Newton R, Dyson S.Previous descriptions of the clinical features of navicular disease occurred before the widespread use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allowed a more definitive diagnosis of foot pain. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical features of horses with lesions of the podotrochlear apparatus with those with other causes of foot pain. It was hypothesised that primary navicular bone disease would be associated with more advanced radiological findings than other diagnoses. A retrospective study was performed of all horses examined at a referral centre with a definitive diagnosis of...
Nixon AJ, Rickey E, Butler TJ, Scimeca MS, Moran N, Matthews GL.Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) has improved outcome in long-term studies of joint repair in man. However, ACI requires sutured periosteal flaps to secure the cells, which precludes minimally-invasive implantation, and introduces complications with arthrofibrosis and graft hypertrophy. This study evaluated ACI on a collagen type I/III scaffold (matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation; MACI(®)) in critical sized defects in the equine model. Methods: Chondrocytes were isolated from horses, expanded and seeded onto a collagen I/III membrane (ACI-Maix™) and implanted into o...
Hofberger S, Gauff F, Licka T.In older horses, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) and suspensory ligament (SL) degeneration are common. The aim of the present study was to identify histopathological changes in the SL in horses with PPID. SLs of four horses with clinical signs of PPID (17-26 years of age) were compared with SLs from four old horses (18-31 years of age) and three young horses (4-9 years of age). In horses with PPID, there was reduced longitudinal arrangement of collagen fibres in SLs, along with inclusions of cartilage, extracellular matrix and haemorrhage, as well as significant proteoglycan accum...
Perkins GA, Wagner B.The development of equine immunity from the fetus to adulthood is complex. The foal's immune response and the immune mechanisms that they are equipped with, along with changes over the first months of life until the immune system becomes adult-like, are only partially understood. While several innate immune responses seem to be fully functional from birth, the onset of adaptive immune response is delayed. For some adaptive immune parameters, such as immunoglobin (Ig)G1, IgG3, IgG5 and IgA antibodies, the immune response starts before or at birth and matures within 3 months of life. Other antib...
Van Hecke LL, De Mil TA, Haspeslagh M, Chiers K, Martens AM.The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy, precision, inter- and intra-operator reliability of a new laser beam (LB) wound camera and a digital photoplanimetry-based (DPB) method for measuring the dimensions of equine wounds. Forty-one wounds were created on equine cadavers. The area, circumference, maximum depth and volume of each wound were measured four times with both techniques by two operators. A silicone cast was made of each wound and served as the reference standard to measure the wound dimensions. The DPB method had a higher accuracy and precision in determining the wound vol...
Roscher KA, Failing K, Moritz A.This study aimed to validate a loading and maintenance clopidogrel dosing scheme for the inhibition of platelet function, measured by whole blood impedance aggregometry in healthy adult horses. Ten Warmblood horses received oral clopidogrel once daily. Doses were based on 50 kg weight categories and resulted in one loading dose of 6-6.5 mg/kg bodyweight and maintenance doses of 1.2-1.4 mg/kg over the next 4 days. Platelet function was measured via whole blood multiple electrode impedance aggregometry prior to (T0) and at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 144, 192 and 240 h following the loading d...
Hansson A, Knych H, Stanley S, Thevis M, Bondesson U, Hedeland M.Selective androgen receptor modulators, SARMs, constitute a class of compounds with anabolic properties but with few androgenic side-effects. This makes them possible substances of abuse and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has banned the entire class of substances. There have been several cases of illicit use of aryl propionamide SARMs in human sports and in 2013, 13 cases were reported. These substances have been found to be extensively metabolized in humans, making detection of metabolites necessary for doping control. SARMs are also of great interest to equine doping control, but the in...
Zielinski J, Mevissen M.Testosterone hydroxylation was investigated in human, canine and equine liver microsomes and in human and canine single CYPs. The contribution of the CYP families 1, 2 and 3 was studied using chemical inhibitors. Testosterone metabolites were analyzed by HPLC. The metabolites androstenedione, 6β- and 11β-hydroxytestosterone were found in microsomes of all species, but the pattern of metabolites varied within species. Androstenedione was more prominent in the animal species, and an increase over time was seen in equines. Testosterone hydroxylation was predominantly catalyzed by the CYP3A subf...
Gornik KR, Pirie CG, Beamer GL.A 2-year-old Morgan mare was evaluated because of a corneal ulceration. Results: An irregular, deep stromal corneal ulcer in an area of malacia was noted in the left eye. Hypopyon was present in the ventral portion of the anterior chamber with moderate aqueous flare. The nictitating membrane of the left eye had hairs originating from its leading edge that contacted the corneal surface. Results: General anesthesia was induced, and a bulbar pedicle conjunctival graft was performed. The conjunctiva at the leading edge of the nictitating membrane, including the aberrant hair follicles, was excised...
Botelho JH, Pessoa GO, Rocha LG, Yeste M.The present research sought to determine whether the administration of estradiol benzoate and long-acting progesterone to anovulatory recipient mares could maintain the pregnancy after embryo transfer during the autumn transitional phase. Recipient mares (n = 40) received the hormonal supplementation (treated group) whereas the other 36 served as a control. The control group consisted of mares having typical estrous cycles with ovulations, development of a viable corpus luteum and received one transferred embryo 5 days after ovulation. Hormonal administrations in the treated group started 8 da...
Kwok WH, Kwok KY, Leung DK, Leung GN, Wong CH, Wong JK, Wan TS.The positive findings of norbolethone in 2002 and tetrahydrogestrinone in 2003 in human athlete samples confirmed that designer steroids were indeed being abused in human sports. In 2005, an addition to the family of designer steroids called 'Madol' [also known as desoxy-methyltestosterone (DMT)] was seized by government officials at the US-Canadian border. Two years later, a positive finding of DMT was reported in a mixed martial arts athlete's sample. It is not uncommon that doping agents used in human sports would likewise be abused in equine sports. Designer steroids would, therefore, pose...
Cernea M, Cristina RT, Stefanut LC, Madeira de Carvalho LM, Taulescu MA, Cozma V.Resistance to anthelmintic medication of equid strongyles is a worldwide phenomenon and for this reason systematic investigations of resistant parasite populations are necessary. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the presence and distribution of equid strongyles resistant to the anthelmintics used in Romania, as well as the pre-treatment and post-treatment prevalence of species of strongylid nematodes. The Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test was performed between 2010 and 2013 on a total number of 588 horses and 23 donkeys from 26 locations (subgroups). Animals of the first group...
Listoni AJ, Arruda I, Maia L, Barberini DJ, Martins I, Vasconcellos FC, Landim-Alvarenga FC.Nanotechnology techniques have a prominent role in the current technical and scientific scene. The layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition allows obtaining nanostructures with sophisticated multilayer, using a simple, but versatile technique. This procedure, which is used to coat and functionalize surfaces with nanometer- thick films, has applications in bioengineering, medicine, chemistry, materials and chemical engineering among other areas. Chitosan is a biomaterial, coming from the chitin, a very abundant polymer in nature, which has been recently tested as scaffolds. In this experiment we test th...
Zia M, Mirhendi H, Toghyani M.The present study aimed at detection and species-level identification of the Malassezia yeasts in domestic animals and aquatic birds by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Samples were collected using tape strips and swabs from 471 animals including 97 horses, 102 cattle, 105 sheep, 20 camels, 60 dogs, 30 cats, 1 hamster, 1 squirrel, 50 aquatic birds and 5 turkeys. Tape-strip samples were examined by direct microscopy. All samples were inoculated on modified Leeming and Notman agar medium. DNA extracted from the yeast colonies was amplified by PCR usi...
Ninu AR, Saxena AC, Sivanarayanan TB, Remya V, Binsila BK, Maiti SK, Zama MM.A nulliparous non-descript mare was presented with a complaint of dystocia. The mare was recumbent and physical examination revealed that the animal was in shock. There was no straining and foetal forelimbs were visible outside the vulva. The foetus was dead as there was no pedal reflex. Vaginal examination revealed anterior presentation with dorso-sacral position and rigid lateral head deviation. Pre-operatively, the mare was given 5 ml Tetanus toxoid and 3 g Ceftriaxone as intramuscular injection, and 5 ml Dexamethasone in 15 L of 5% Dextrose Normal Saline (DNS) as intravenous (i/v) infusion...
Souza CE, Pinter A, Donalisio MR.Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is a disease transmitted by ticks for which the etiological agent is Rickettsia rickettsii. The present essay evaluates the risk factors associated with the transmission of cases of BSF in the time period between 2003 and 2013 in the Piracicaba river basin, state of São Paulo. Methods: This essay presents a retrospective study to identify the factors associated with the transmission of cases of BSF among all suspected cases identified by the System for Epidemiological Surveillance of São Paulo (CVE). After the description of temporal distribution (onset of sympt...
Li H, Dong GD, Liu JM, Gao JX, Shi YJ, Zhang YG, Jin YM, Lu K, Cheng GF, Lin JJ.Schistosomiasis japonica is a major public health problem in China. Domestic animals play a major role in the transmission of Schistosoma japonicum to humans. To better understand the epidemiology of schistosomiasis japonica in domestic animals in the mountainous areas of China, we performed a 5-year longitudinal study of schistosomiasis in cattle and horses in Yunnan Province from 2009 to 2013. We also performed a concurrent drug-based intervention study in three settlement groups in Yunnan Province aimed at developing an effective means of controlling transmission in this region. The prevale...
Davis EG, Bello NM, Bryan AJ, Hankins K, Wilkerson M.Protection from infectious disease requires antigen-specific immunity. In foals, most vaccine protocols are delayed until 6 months to avoid maternal antibody interference. Susceptibility to disease may exist prior to administration of vaccination at age 4-6 months. Objective: The aim of this investigation was to characterise immune activation among healthy foals in response to a multivalent vaccine protocol and compare immune responses when foals were vaccinated at age either 90 or 180 days. Methods: Randomised block design. Methods: Twelve healthy foals with colostral transfer were blocked fo...
Thorpe CT, Chaudhry S, Lei II, Varone A, Riley GP, Birch HL, Clegg PD, Screen HR.Tendon injury is thought to involve both damage accumulation within the matrix and an accompanying cell response. While several studies have characterized cell and matrix response in chronically injured tendons, few have assessed the initial response of tendon to overload-induced damage. In this study, we assessed cell response to cyclic loading. Fascicle bundles from the equine superficial digital flexor tendon were exposed to cyclic loading in vitro, designed to mimic a bout of high-intensity exercise. Changes in cell morphology and protein-level alterations in markers of matrix inflammation...
Becero M, Saitua A, Argüelles D, Sánchez de Medina AL, Castejón-Riber C, Riber C, Muñoz A.Capacitive resistive electric transfer (CRET), a radiofrequency at 448 kHz, resulted in increased superficial and deep temperature and hemoglobin saturation, faster elimination of metabolic and inflammatory products and enhanced sport performance in humans. This research aims to investigate whether the application of CRET affects the locomotor pattern in horses and to assess whether an accumulative effect appears when two CRET sessions are applied two consecutive days. Methods: Nine horses were subjected to two CRET sessions applied in both right and left sides of neck, shoulder, back and cr...
Güiris AD, Rojas HN, Berovides AV, Sosa PJ, Pérez EM, Cruz AE, Chávez HC, Moguel AJ, Jimenez-Coello M, Ortega-Pacheco A.A cross sectional survey was performed to identify gastrointestinal helminths and protozoans in naturally infected horses from the biosphere reserve known as "La Sierra Madre de Chiapas", Mexico (El Triunfo and La Sepultura). During a three-year survey, fecal samples from 90 horses and parasites from 2 necropsied animals were collected. Five families from the Nematoda class: Ascaridae, Kathlanidae, Oxyuridae, Strongylidae and Trichostrongylidae were found, whereas, only one family from the class Cestoda, was observed: Anoplocephalidae. One family from the class Insecta, was observed: Gasteroph...
Morgan RF, Nichter LS, Friedman HI, McCue FC.Three men with thumb injuries sustained during rodeo roping competition have been treated recently. Two of the thumbs were amputated, and the third was partially avulsed. The mechanism of injury was identical in all three cases. The thumbs were entwined between the rope and saddle horn while reducing the slack in the rope and then subjected to shearing and crushing forces as tension was placed on the rope. These injuries emphasize the importance of keeping the thumb upward and clear of the rope to avoid entrapment between the rope and saddle horn.
Murayama JI, Tomita M, Hamada A.The complete amino acid sequence of the major sialoglycoproteins of horse erythrocyte membranes, glycophorin HA, was determined by manual sequencing methods, using tryptic, chymotryptic, and cyanogen bromide fragments. Glycophorin HA is a polypeptide chain of 120 amino acid residues and contains 10 oligosaccharide units attached to the amino-terminal side of the molecule. Its amino terminus is pyroglutamic acid. All of the oligosaccharides are linked O-glycosidically to threonine or serine residues. The amino acid sequence is consistent with the transmembrane orientation of glycophorins. There...
Wagner B, Hillegas JM, Flaminio MJ, Wattrang E.Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is a type I interferon that is secreted during the early stages of the innate immune response and is often induced upon infection with viral pathogens. IFN-alpha production affects multiple downstream events influencing both innate and adaptive immune responses. Here, we describe the expression of an equine rIFN-alpha/IgG4 fusion protein in mammalian cells. The anti-viral activity of rIFN-alpha/IgG4 was found to be 70-fold higher than that of a previously described IFN-gamma/IgG1 as tested by bioassay. The purified rIFN-alpha was subsequently used for the generatio...
Ostblom L, Lund C, Melsen F.A histological investigation of navicular bones from 8 horses with navicular disease was carried out to investigate the aetiology of the radiological findings. Two of the horses were double labelled with tetracycline before slaughter in order to assess the vitality of the diseased navicular bone. The examinations revealed no evidence of loss of vitality in the diseased bone areas or in surrounding tissues. A very high rate of remodelling indicated by resorption and formation of bone was present in all cases. This was shown microscopically by the high number of osteoclasts and osteoblasts prese...
Savage CJ.Nomenclature regarding neoplasia of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues in the horse is confusing. This article will clarify terminology, and discuss the individual lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative disorders recognized in the horse. Diagnostic techniques that are useful in cases in which hematopoietic or lymphoid tissue neoplasia are suspected include histochemical staining profiles, bone marrow aspiration, and bone marrow biopsy.
Wong KS, Cheung HW, Szeto CWL, Tsang CYN, Wan TSM, Ho ENM.Illicit administration of transgene into horses is a form of gene doping that has been a key concern in equine sports. The large number of potential performance-enhancing transgenes has demanded a cost-effective and reliable detection method. Multiplex qPCR is a relevant technique, but the cross-talking between fluorophores and high background noise limits the method sensitivity and specificity. This study reports a simpler multiplexing approach by using the same fluorophore for four hydrolysis probes each targeting one of the four transgenes: human growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor 1...
McGuire TC, Poppie MJ, Banks KL.Measurement of serum immunoglobulins in 46 foals less than 2 weeks old revealed 9 foals with hypogammaglobulinemia. The hypogammaglobulinemia was attributed to failure in transfer of immunoglobulins from dam to foal via colostrum. Three of the affected foals did not nurse at all, or only slightly, and 2 of these died of infections within a few days after birth, whereas the 3rd foal did not grow as well as normal foals. Six of the affected foals nursed in an apparently normal manner, and 5 of these had nonfatal respiratory infections between 2 and 5 weeks of age. Analysis of serum samples from ...
Lee EJ, Raudsepp T, Kata SR, Adelson D, Womack JE, Skow LC, Chowdhary BP.Comparative genomics has served as a backbone for the rapid development of gene maps in domesticated animals. The integration of this approach with radiation hybrid (RH) analysis provides one of the most direct ways to obtain physically ordered comparative maps across evolutionarily diverged species. We herein report the development of a detailed RH and comparative map for horse chromosome 17 (ECA17). With markers distributed at an average interval of every 1.4 Mb, the map is currently the most informative among the equine chromosomes. It comprises 75 markers (56 genes and 19 microsatellites),...
Watts AE, Fubini SL, Vernier-Singer M, Golkowski C, Shin S, Todhunter RJ.To determine the effect of nonthermal plasma on Staphylococcus aureus, fibroblasts in monolayer culture, and clean and contaminated skin explants. Methods: Normal skin from euthanized horses. Methods: S aureus organisms were plated and treated with nonthermal plasma followed by bacterial culture to assess viability. Fibroblasts in monolayer culture and the epidermal and dermal surfaces of clean and S aureus-contaminated skin explants were treated. The effects of distance and duration on the response to treatment were compared. Results: Compared with controls, treatment with nonthermal plasma r...
Roberts SM.Vision is a marvelous sense, critical to the well-being and functional use of horses. Anatomic, optical, and visual acuity generalities are presented. The constituents of unsoundness due to equine ocular disease are discussed, and recommendations are made.
Hothersall B, Gale EV, Harris P, Nicol CJ.Discrimination learning studies suggest that horses learn more easily using spatial than visible object-specific (OS) cues. However, spatial cues have generally confounded intra-array, distal and/or egocentric spatial information. It is also unclear whether conflicting cues compete for association or are redundantly encoded, and furthermore, the influence of prior experiences or training has not been quantified so far. We examined the effect of cue modality on unweaned foals' performance in a discrimination learning task. After a pilot study confirmed that horses could perform the required OS ...
Xiao L, Herd RP.Diarrhoea is one of the most important diseases of foals and
7040% are affected within the first 6 months of life (Palmer
1985). Although the cause is multifactorial and changes in the
physiology and nutrition of foals are sometimes responsible,
diarrhoea is frequently the result of infection by enteropathogens
such as bacteria, viruses and nematodes (Palmer 1985; Tzipori
1985). There is increasing evidence that Cryptosporidium
infection can also cause diarrhoea in foals (Austin et a/. 1990;
Kim 1990).
Cryptosporidiosis in horses is caused by Cryptosporidium
parvum, a coccidial paras...
Baptiste KE, Naylor JM, Bailey J, Barber EM, Post K, Thornhill J.Athletic animals must keep their brains cool during exertion because this organ can be damaged irreversibly by hyperthermia. But how horses do this has remained a mystery, as they don't appear to have thermoregulatory dervices like those found in other animals. They do, however, have a unique anatomical arrangement of their internal carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain: these are enveloped by a pair of air-filled guttural pouches. Here we show that horses use their guttural pouches to cool these important arteries during exercise, keeping the brain from overheating.
Selim SA, Soliman R, Osman K, Padhye AA, Ajello L.Isolation of Histoplasma farciminosum from five horses, showing typical signs of histoplasmosis farciminosi (epizootic lymphangitis) was successfully attempted. The mycelial form of H. farciminosum was isolated on Sabouraud dextrose agar enriched with 2.5% glycerol, brain heart infusion (BHI) agar enriched with 10% horse blood and PPLO dextrose glycerol agar. The last medium proved to be the most effective, both for primary isolation and subculturing of the fungus. It was found that on primary isolation, the lag phase of the mycelial form of the fungus was relatively long, involving 4-8 weeks ...
Liu G, Xu CQ, Cao Q, Zimmermann W, Songer M, Zhao SS, Li K, Hu DF.Przewalski's horses have been imported from the western zoos to China since 1985. Yet the genetic diversity in China's populations has not been studied, thus lacking of such knowledge inevitably affects this population's management. The aim of this study was to assess genetic diversity in Chinese population of Przewalski's horses via mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region and pedigree analysis. Methods: Two captive and one reintroduced populations were examined based on mitochondrial DNA control region variation via fecal sampling from 2010 to 2012, together with pedigree analysis. Results: ...
Bogers SH, Rogers CW, Bolwell CF, Roe WD, Gee EK, McIlwraith CW.The aim of the study was to use spatial and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) to describe and compare the regional proportion and spatial pattern of volumetric bone mineral density (BMDv) values within loaded regions of the plantar metatarsal epiphysis of young horses in race training. A single 2 mm transverse peripheral quantitative computed tomography 'slice', 10 mm proximal from the distal limit of the sagittal ridge of the distal metatarsal epiphysis was obtained from 14 2-year-old Thoroughbred fillies (7 exercised and 7 controls). Six regions of interest were generated and examin...
Swanson CR, Muir WW, Bednarski RM, Skarda RT, Hubbell JA.The hemodynamic changes induced by constant infusions of dopamine or dobutamine (each 3, 5, and 10 micrograms/kg/min) were observed in halothane-anesthetized horses. Left ventricular dp/dt and cardiac output were increased in horses given dobutamine at dosage of 3 micrograms/kg/min and in those given either of the drugs at dosages of 5 and 10 micrograms/kg/min. Concomitant increases in systemic arterial blood pressure occurred at lower infusion dosage rates of dobutamine than those of dopamine and were modulated by dosage-related changes in peripheral vascular resistance that were different be...
Herholz C, Straub R, Braendlin C, Imhof A, Lüthi S, Busato A.Tidal breathing flow-volume loop (TBFVL) indices in healthy horses and in horses suffering from mild and moderate to severe recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) were measured. In addition, the ability of these indices to differentiate healthy controls from horses with mild RAO by separating the horses according to their usage was investigated. The horses were assigned to three sporting categories: 1 Leisure horses; 2 Horses competing at events with a duration of more than five minutes (eventing, coaching and endurance); and 3 Horses competing at events with a duration of less than five minutes (...
Beccati F, Chalmers HJ, Dante S, Lotto E, Pepe M.Osteochondrosis lesions commonly occur on the femoral trochlear ridges in horses and radiography and ultrasonography are routinely used to diagnose these lesions. However, poor correlation has been found between radiographic and arthroscopic findings of affected trochlear ridges. Interobserver agreement for ultrasonographic diagnoses and correlation between ultrasonographic and arthroscopic findings have not been previously described. Objectives of this study were to describe diagnostic sensitivity and interobserver agreement of radiography and ultrasonography for detecting and grading osteoch...
Cabasso VJ, Nieman R, Schroeder DD, Hok KA, Louie RE, Mozen MM.A horse has been immunized with Australia antigen (Au/SH) purified 20-fold by a procedure employing gel filtration of Cohn fraction IV derived from an Au/SH-positive human plasma pool. Hyperimmunization was initiated by the intramuscular injection of 20 ml of a mixture of equal parts of purified Au/SH and complete Freund's adjuvant. The 20-ml volume was divided into four 5-ml doses, two of which were administered on each side of the horse's neck. Booster doses of antigen alone were given as follows: 10 ml intravenously 30 days later and 5 ml intramuscularly on each of days 77 and 205. Au/SH an...
Intemann S, Reckels B, Schubert D, Wolf P, Kamphues J, Visscher C.The hygienic quality of forage for horses is discussed as a potential health hazard, especially regarding respiratory diseases, colic, and hepatopathies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relations between microbiological counts, as well as endotoxin levels and disease symptoms. Data from microbiological examination reports were analyzed retrospectively, including the results of sensory examination, microbiological counts, and lipopolysaccharide contents. Sensory analysis gave an indication of deficiencies in microbiological analysis, but both methods did not...
Maurice MN, Kazeem HM, Kwanashie CN, Maurice NA, Ngbede EO, Adamu HN, Mshelia WP, Edeh RE.This study was designed to determine the occurrence and species distribution of dermatophyte from cutaneous skin lesions of horses in Kaduna State, Nigeria. A total of 102 skin scrapings were collected from 102 horses with skin lesions. Mycological studies were carried out using conventional techniques. Dermatophytes were isolated from 18 (17.6%) of the 102 samples collected. The 18 dermatophytes were distributed into 10 different species belonging to Microsporum (n = 5) and Trichophyton (n = 5) genera. T. verrucosum (n = 4) was the most predominant species isolated followed by M. equinum (n =...
Salonen JS, Vähä-Vahe T, Vainio O, Vakkuri O.The pharmacokinetics of detomidine, a novel analgesic sedative, was studied in the major target species after high (80 micrograms/kg) i.v. and i.m. doses. In addition, drug residues in some organs were determined. Concentrations were measured using a sensitive, detomidine-specific radio-immunoassay method. Rapid absorption following i.m. dosing occurred. Absorption half-lives were 0.15 h (horse) and 0.08 h (cattle). The mean peak concentration in the horse (51.3 ng/ml) was achieved in 0.5 h and in the cow (65.8 ng/ml) in 0.26 h. The areas under the concentration curve after i.m. dosing were 66...
To compare ocular structures of Quarter Horses homozygous for hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA) with those of Quarter Horses not affected by HERDA (control horses) and to determine the frequency of new corneal ulcers for horses with and without HERDA during a 4-year period. Methods: Cohort study of ocular structures and retrospective case series of horses with and without HERDA. Methods: The cohort portion of the study involved 10 Quarter Horses with HERDA and 10 Quarter Horses without HERDA; the retrospective case series involved 28 horses with HERDA and 291 horses without HE...
Spissu N, Panichi G, Montisci A, Fiore F.West Nile Virus (WNV) is an enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus belonging to the genus Flavivirus, antigenically related to the Japanese encephalitis complex in the family Flaviviridae. The principal vectors are mosquitoes, in particular Culex spp, and virus amplification seems to occur in susceptible birds that are the principal vertebrate reservoir hosts, whereas humans, horses and other vertebrates are considered incidental or dead-end hosts. The first Italian equine outbreak was reported in late summer of 1998 in Tuscany, in the area surrounding the Fucecchio marshes, where 14 clinical cas...
Bastos HBA, Martinez MN, Camozzato GC, Estradé MJ, Barros E, Vital CE, Vidigal PMP, Meikle A, Jobim MIM, Gregory RM, Mattos RC.There is a complex cascade involving proteins during early embryo development and maternal recognition, which is very important for maintenance of a conceptus. The aim of this study was to compare proteomic profile of uterine fluid after ovulation in pregnant and cyclic mares. In the first cycle, samples of uterine fluid of 30 cyclic mares were collected on days 7 (n = 10), 10 (n = 10) and 13 (n = 10) post ovulation and constituted the Cyclic group. In the second cycle, the same mares were bred to a fertile stallion. At days 7, 10 and 13 uterine fluid samples were collected. Immedi...
