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.
König L, Klopfleisch R, Kershaw O, Gruber AD.The formation of biofilms on surgical implants is thought to play a major role in chronic infection and wound-healing disorders and has been rarely described in veterinary medicine. Due to poor and unreliable results from bacterial culturing, histology may be an economic tool for the detection of biofilms. In this study, the prevalence of biofilms on surgical suture materials and swabs with chronic wound-healing complications in dogs, cats, and horses was assessed by histologic examination using hematoxylin and eosin, Gram, and Giemsa stains, as well as periodic acid-Schiff reaction. Of the 91...
Jellyman JK, Valenzuela OA, Allen VL, Forhead AJ, Holdstock NB, Fowden AL.The present study tested the hypothesis that overexposure to endogenous glucocorticoids in neonatal life alters the reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in ponies at 1 and 2 yr of age. Newborn foals received saline (0.9% NaCl, n = 8, control) or long-acting adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH1-24) (Depot Synacthen 0.125 mg intramuscularly twice daily, n = 9) for 5 d after birth to raise cortisol concentrations 5- to 6-fold. At 1 and 2 yr of age, HPA axis function was assessed by bolus administration of short-acting ACTH1-24 (1 μg/kg intravenous) and insulin (0.5 U/kg...
Casseb Ado R, Nunes MR, Rodrigues SG, Travassos da Rosa ES, Casseb LM, Casseb SM, da Silva SP, Rodrigues ED, Vasconcelos PF.The Amazon as a whole is the largest reservoir of arboviruses worldwide, while the Brazilian Amazon hosts the largest variety of arboviruses isolated to date. In this study, the results of an indirect sandwich IgG ELISA, standardized for 19 arbovirustypes circulating among horses in Brazilian Amazon, were compared to results of the hemagglutination inhibition test. A screening test assessed the conditional probability distribution and a Pearson linear correlation test determined the correlation strength among the absorbance values recorded for viruses from the same family. Results: Sensitivity...
Nannarone S, Cenani A, Gialletti R, Pepe M.To compare, in horses undergoing laparotomy for colic, the effects of administering or not administering a loading intravenous (IV) bolus of lidocaine prior to its constant rate infusion (CRI). Effects investigated during isoflurane anaesthesia were end-tidal isoflurane concentration (Fe'ISO), cardiovascular function, anaesthetic stability and the quality of recovery. Methods: Prospective, randomized clinical study. Methods: Thirty-six client-owned horses. Methods: Horses were assigned randomly to receive lidocaine as a CRI (50 μg kg(-1) minute(-1) ) either preceded (LB) or not preceded (L...
Mazan MR, Lascola K, Bruns SJ, Hoffman AM.Inflammatory airway disease (IAD) is very common in stabled horses. Short-acting beta agonist (SABA) drugs are often used to relieve clinical signs, although long-term exposure to these drugs may result in rebound bronchoconstriction. The purpose of this study was twofold: i) to describe the deposition of radiolabeled drugs using a novel one-nostril design mask-spacer combination with a breath-activated inhaler (BAI), and ii) to determine whether treatment for 10 d with inhaled albuterol using this device would impair the ability of albuterol to prevent bronchospasm during a histamine challeng...
Álvarez C, Gil L, González N, Olaciregui M, Luño V.The rise of assisted reproduction techniques in equine medicine has fostered investigations that seek to optimize methods to increase fertility rates. Since cryopreservation continues to give low values of viability in stallions, the handling and preservation of the sperm is of vital importance. This reduction of fertility makes it essential for farmers to find new options that ensure reliability in the use of these techniques. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of INRA 96® (manufactured commercial extender for cooling of Equine semen) as an extender for cryopreservatio...
Damiani AM, de Vries M, Reimers G, Winkler S, Osterrieder N.A particularly severe equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) abortion outbreak occurred at a breeding farm in northern Germany. Sixteen of 25 pregnant mares that had received regular vaccination using an inactivated vaccine aborted and two gave birth to weak non-viable foals in a span of three months, with 89% of cases occurring within 40 days after the initial abortion case. Virological examinations revealed the presence of EHV-1 in all cases of abortion and serological follow-up in mares confirmed recent infection. Molecular studies identified a neuropathogenic variant (Pol/ORF30 A2254 to G2254) ...
Gozalo-Marcilla M, Gasthuys F, Schauvliege S.To review the literature with regard to the use of different intravenous agents as supplements to inhalational anaesthesia in horses. The Part 2 of this review will focus in the use of opioids and α2 -agonists. Methods: Pubmed and Web of Science. Search terms: horse, inhalant anaesthesia, balanced anaesthesia, partial intravenous anaesthesia, opioids, morphine, pethidine, butorphanol, methadone, fentanyl, alfentanil, remifentanil, sufentanil, xylazine, romifidine, detomidine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine. Conclusions: Different drugs and their combinations can be administered systemically...
Uhl PB, Szober CM, Amann B, Alge-Priglinger C, Ueffing M, Hauck SM, Deeg CA.Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) builds the outer blood-retinal barrier of the eye and plays an important role in pathogenesis of the sight threatening disease equine recurrent uveitis (ERU). ERU is a spontaneous autoimmune mediated inflammatory disease characterised by the breakdown of the outer blood-retinal barrier and an influx of autoaggressive T-cells into the inner eye. Therefore, identification of molecular mechanisms contributing to changed function of blood-retinal barrier in ERU is important for the understanding of pathophysiology. Cell surface proteins of RPE collected from health...
Wilford S, Woodward E, Dunkel B.A retrospective questionnaire-based survey was used to determine the perceived efficacy of Newmarket bloodroot ointment in treating equine sarcoids. In 49 horses with 74 sarcoids, 64 sarcoids responded either completely (n = 49) or partially (n = 15) while 10 did not respond or worsened. Sarcoids < 2 cm responded better to treatment (P < 0.001) than did larger sarcoids. Un sondage rétrospectif réalisé par questionnaire a été utilisé pour déterminer l’efficacité perçue de l’onguent à la sanguinaire de Newmarket pour traiter les sarcoïdes équines. Chez 49 chevaux atteints ...
Kowalczyk L, Steblaj B, Schauvliege S, Schramel JP, Pavlidou K, Savvas I, Duchateau L, Gasthuys F, Moens Y.To compare breathing patterns and transdiaphragmatic pressure during total intravenous (TIVA) and isoflurane anaesthesia in ponies. Methods: Experimental, cross-over study. Methods: Six healthy ponies weighing 286 (233-388) ± 61 kg, age 13 (9-16) ± 3 years. Methods: Following premedication with romifidine [80 μg kg(-1) intravenously (IV)], general anaesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.06 mg kg(-1) IV) and ketamine (2.5 mg kg(-1) IV) and maintained with either isoflurane (Fe'Iso = 1.1%) (T-ISO) or an IV combination of romifidine (120 μg kg(-1) per hour), midazolam (0.09 mg kg(-1) hour(-...
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...
Galera PD, Ribeiro CR, Sapp HL, Coleman J, Fontes W, Brooks DE.Human amniotic membrane (AM) has been used as a biomaterial for surgical wound skin and ocular surface reconstruction for several years. Currently, equine AM has been used for corneal reconstruction in several animal species, and appears to have the same properties as human AM. Despite the observed positive healing abilities of this tissue in horses with ulcerative keratitis the proteins of equine AM have not been described. Objective: To identify proteins known to be associated with corneal healing from frozen equine AM. Methods: Placentas were acquired from healthy live foal births from a lo...
Michlik KM, Biazik AK, Henklewski RZ, Szmigielska MA, Nicpoń JM, Pasławska U.Quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) and ventricular septal defect (VSD) are congenital heart defects and have been described in both human and veterinary medical literature. Methods: A 5-year-old half-bred bay stallion was referred for surgical castration. Cardiac murmurs were heard on the presurgical clinical examination and the cardiac examination revealed subcutaneous oedema, tachycardia with a precodrial thrill and a grade 5/6 pansystolic murmur, which was heard on auscultation of the right and left side of the chest. Examination of the B-mode echocardiograms revealed the presence of a QAV (on...
Balasuriya UB, Lee PY, Tiwari A, Skillman A, Nam B, Chambers TM, Tsai YL, Ma LJ, Yang PC, Chang HF, Wang HT.Equine influenza (EI) is an acute, highly contagious viral respiratory disease of equids. Currently, equine influenza virus (EIV) subtype H3N8 continues to be the most important respiratory pathogen of horses in many countries around the world. The need to achieve a rapid diagnosis and to implement effective quarantine and movement restrictions is critical in controlling the spread of EIV. In this study, a novel, inexpensive and user-friendly assay based on an insulated isothermal RT-PCR (iiRT-PCR) method on the POCKIT™, a field-deployable device, was described and validated for point-of-nee...
Marsella R, Johnson C, Ahrens K.Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin disease that affects humans and animals. Skin impairment has been described in human and canine AD. Equine AD is recognized in practice but little is known about its pathogenesis. As remarkable similarities exist across species in terms of cutaneous manifestations of AD, it was speculated that skin abnormalities may also exist in atopic horses. This case report describes the ultrastructure of the stratum corneum of two normal and two atopic horses. Biopsies were taken from sites predisposed to AD and examined using electron microscopy. Stratum corneum in...
Gussmann K, Czech C, Hermann M, Schaarschmidt-Kiener D, von Loewenich FD.A 22-year old mare from Switzerland was admitted to an equine clinic in May 2011. She presented with fever, lethargy, icteric mucous membranes, reduced alertness, an unsteady gait and ataxia. An Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection was confirmed by blood smear and PCR. The mare was treated with oxytetracylin and recovered rapidly, but she still suffered from a slight atactic gait disturbance at 3 weeks post infection. Eine 22 Jahre alte Stute aus der Schweiz wurde im Mai 2011 in eine Pferdeklinik aufgenommen. Die klinischen Symptome bestanden in Fieber, Abgeschlagenheit, ikterischen Schleimhäu...
Pieńkowska-Schelling A, Becker D, Bracher V, Pineroli B, Schelling C.Numerical and structural aberrations of chromosomes may cause malformations, embryonal losses and reduced or missing fertility. In male horses the fertility is rather well controlled through their semen evaluation. For mares there are no mandatory regulations which specify their use in a breeding programme. Therefore, mares with chromosomal aberrations, which exclude reproduction success may be chosen for breeding. The present case describes a horse, offically registered as a female, which was presented for a breeding exam. On this occasion, small and inactive ovaries were diagnosed. Although ...
Guo PF, Chen TT, Tsaihong JC, Ho GD, Cheng PC, Tseng YC, Peng SY.Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium. A total of 436 horse fecal samples were collected from 19 farms, and acid-fast staining method was used for primary screening. Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 161 samples, among which 33 positive sample were selected for nested PCR, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing of 18 S rDNA, showing 31 samples to be bovine C. parvum and 2 C. felis. The methods employed in this study should be useful as tools to identify cryptosporidiosis genotypes and species of livestock.
Knight PK, Hamilton NA.To compare handedness of whip use by Australian jockeys in Melbourne (where racing is counterclockwise) and Sydney (where racing is clockwise). Methods: Photographs of finishes of Thoroughbred horse races in Melbourne and Sydney were examined. Where whip use was clearly visible, the venue, the hand in which the whip was held and the names of the jockey and the horse were determined. Comparisons of whip hand use between cities were made using the Chi-squared test. Results: A total of 771 identifications were made, 328 from Melbourne and 443 from Sydney, representing 78 jockeys and 506 horses. R...
Vairo S, Saey V, Bombardi C, Ducatelle R, Nauwynck H.In the last two decades, outbreaks of equine viral arteritis (EVA) have been reported in Europe, but little is known about these European isolates of equine arteritis virus (EAV). EAV European strain (08P178, EU-1 clade) isolated from one of these recent outbreaks is able to cause clinical signs on experimental infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the microscopical lesions induced by this isolate after experimental infection of ponies. Animals were killed at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days post infection (dpi). At 3 dpi, lesions were essentially restricted to the respiratory tract a...
Soma LR, Uboh CE, Luo Y, Guan F, Moate PJ, Boston RC.To determine the pharmacokinetics of methylprednisolone (MP) and develop a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model of the related changes in plasma concentrations of endogenous hydrocortisone (HYD) and cortisone (COR) following intra-articular administration of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) in horses. Methods: 6 Thoroughbreds. Methods: In each horse, 200 mg of MPA was injected intrasynovially into a carpal joint, and plasma MP, HYD, and COR concentrations were determined via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: A 5-compartment pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model was used to des...
Bourzac C, Alexander K, Rossier Y, Laverty S.Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions of the femoropatellar (FP) joint are diagnosed routinely by radiography, but lesions located in the trochlear groove or without accompanying subchondral bone changes can be difficult to visualise. Ultrasonography allows evaluation of articular cartilage and subchondral bone in the FPjoint. Objective: To document the radiographic and ultrasonographic appearance of OCD lesions in the equine FP joint, grade ultrasonographic lesions and compare their accuracy in the diagnosis of these lesions. Methods: The medical records of all horses diagnosed with FP OCD ...
Vitoria A, Romero A, Fuente S, Barrachina L, Vazquez FJ.This report describes a technique for standing laparoscopic vasectomy in stallions through a prospective descriptive study. A preliminary study was carried out with two experimental intact male horses and subsequently the procedure was performed in two clinical cases. These horse owners want to keep their animals in the most possible natural way, preserving its stallion behaviour in a herd without generating offspring. The horses were sedated and restrained in stocks and laparoscopic vasectomy was performed using three portal sites in both paralumbar fossae recording surgical times. A 4-cm seg...
Suganuma K, Acosta TJ, Valinotti MFR, Sanchez AR, Mossaad E, Elata A, Inoue N.Despite the epidemic situation of animal trypanosomosis caused by Trypanosoma evansi, Trypanosoma equiperdum and Trypanosoma vivax in South American countries, there are no reports for the prevalence of animal trypanosomes in Paraguay. In this study, 408 blood samples were obtained from apparently healthy horses from sixteen departments of Paraguay, for routine medical check-up from August to September 2019, and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based cross-sectional study was carried out to identify trypanosome prevalence. The prevalence of Trypanozoon (T. evansi and T. equiperdum) and T. viv...
Mateu-Sánchez S, Newcombe JR, Garcés-Narro C, Cuervo-Arango J.The interval from both spontaneous and prostaglandin (PGF)-induced luteolysis to ovulation is greatly variable in mares. Several reports have shown a positive association between the length of the interval from PGF treatment to ovulation (ITO) and the subsequent pregnancy rate (PR). However, it is not known whether this association also occurs in estrous cycles with spontaneous luteolysis. The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of the duration of estrus-like echotexture of the uterus during the follicular phase on the subsequent PR in both spontaneous and PGF-induced cycl...
Ségard EM, Depecker MC, Lang J, Gemperli A, Cadoré JL.(1) To describe the ultrasonographic appearance of multiple congenital ocular anomalies (MCOA) in the eyes of horses with the PMEL17 (Silver) mutant gene. (2) To compare the accuracy of B-mode ocular ultrasound to conventional direct ophthalmoscopy. Methods: Sixty-seven Comtois and 18 Rocky Mountain horses were included in the study. Methods: Horses were classified as being carriers or noncarriers of the PMEL17 mutant allele based on coat color or genetic testing. Direct ophthalmoscopy followed by standardized ultrasonographic examination was performed in all horses. Results: Seventy-five of 8...
Kelen PV, Downs JA, Unnasch T, Stark L.A GIS-based risk index model was developed to quantify EEEV transmission risk to horses in the State of Florida. EEEV is a highly pathogenic arbovirus that is endemic along the east coast of the United States, and it is generally fatal to both horses and humans. The model evaluates EEEV transmission risk at individual raster cells in map on a continuous scale of 0 to 1. The risk index is derived based on local habitat features and the composition and configuration of surrounding land cover types associated with EEEV transmission. The model was verified and validated using the locations of docu...
Eckert JV, Myer RO, Warren LK, Brendemuhl JH.Mature horses were used to determine apparent DM, OM, NDF, and CP digestibility values of 2 bermudagrass (BG; Cynodon dactylon) hays, Coastal (CB) and Tifton 85 (T85), and Florigraze perennial peanut (PP; Arachis glabrata) hay. In addition, N, Ca, and P balances were determined in horses fed those hays. Five mature Thoroughbred geldings and 1 Quarter Horse gelding (mean initial BW = 542 +/- 37 kg) were used (5 horses for the last period) in a 3 x 3 repeated Latin square design, with 2 horses per hay and 3 adjustment and collection periods. Horses were randomly assigned to pairs and the initial...
Reardon RJ, Boden L, Stirk AJ, Parkin TD.Accurate diagnosis of racing injuries can be difficult. The objectives of this study were to describe the postmortem (PM) defined distribution of fatal distal limb fractures (DLF) affecting Thoroughbreds racing in Great Britain between February 1999 and August 2005 and then assess the accuracy of veterinary racecourse diagnoses and examine whether these improved following introduction of a computerised recording system. PM examinations were performed on limbs distal to radius or tibia from all cases of fatal DLF occurring on British racecourses during the study period. Results of these examina...
Marshall K, Marsella R.Increased antimicrobial resistance highlights the need for alternatives to antibiotics. Bacteriophages, which are benign viruses that kill bacteria, are promising. We studied the efficacy of topical bacteriophages for treating equine staphylococcal superficial pyodermas. Eight isolates were tested against a bacteriophage bank, and a cocktail consisting of two bacteriophages was prepared. Twenty horses with clinical and cytological evidence of superficial pyoderma and confirmed infection based on swabbed culture were enrolled in the study. Each horse received both the bacteriophage cocktail a...
Jensen RB, Rockhold LL, Tauson AH.The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the accuracy of different body weight formulas for estimating body weight of Icelandic and Warmblood horses, as well as to assess the associations between the variables cresty neck score, body condition score, and plasma concentrations of leptin, insulin and cortisol. A total of 81 adult (≥ 4 years of age) horses (43 Icelandic and 38 Warmblood horses) was included in this study. The following morphological measurements were collected by two examiners simultaneously; body weight; height at withers; neck length; 0.5 neck length; neck circum...
Liu Y, Bailey KE, Dyall-Smith M, Marenda MS, Hardefeldt LY, Browning GF, Gilkerson JR, Billman-Jacobe H.The human and domestic animal faecal microbiota can carry various antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), especially if they have been exposed to antimicrobials. However, little is known about the ARG profile of the faecal microbiota of healthy foals. A high-throughput qPCR array was used to detect ARGs in the faecal microbiota of healthy foals. Objective: To characterise the faecal microbiota and ARG profiles in healthy Australian foals aged less than 1 month. Methods: Observational study. Methods: The faecal microbiota and ARG profiles of 37 Thoroughbred foals with no known gastrointestinal ...
Kwasnik M, Gora IM, Rola J, Zmudzinski JF, Rozek W.The phylogenetic analysis of influenza virus is based mainly on the variable hemagglutinin or neuraminidase genes. However, some discrete evolutionary trends might be revealed when more conservative genes are considered. We compared all available in GenBank database full length NS sequences of equine influenza virus including Polish isolates. Four nucleotides at positions A202, A237, T672 and A714 and three amino acids at positions H59, K71 and S216 which are also present in A/eq/Pulawy/2006 and A/eq/Pulawy/2008 may be discriminating for the Florida sublineage. Threonine at position 83 seems t...
Wall GV, Wright IM, Barnardo C, Erasmus BJ, van Staden V, Potgieter AC.African horse sickness virus (AHSV) non-structural protein NS4 is a nucleocytoplasmic protein that is expressed in the heart, lung, and spleen of infected horses, binds dsDNA, and colocalizes with promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies (PML-NBs). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of AHSV NS4 in viral replication, virulence and the host immune response. Using a reverse genetics-derived virulent strain of AHSV-5 and NS4 deletion mutants, we showed that knockdown of NS4 expression has no impact in cell culture, but results in virus attenuation in infected horses. RNA sequencing (RN...
Sugiura T, Nakamura H.The zinc content in platelets from rabbits, humans and horses was determined, and the levels of zinc were found to be significantly higher (3 micrograms/10(10) cells) than those in other peripheral blood cells. About 70% of the zinc in the supernatants of platelet lysates could be detected. From the results of gel filtration analysis, the zinc in platelet lysates was found to be bound with a low-molecular-weight protein (MW 6,000-8,000) detected as metallothionein (MT) on the basis of antigenic properties determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay and immunoblotting analysis using monoclonal anti...
Röcken M, Mosel G, Stehle C, Rass J, Litzke LF.To describe a technique for, and outcome after, left- or right-sided laparoscopic-assisted nephrectomy in standing horses with unilateral renal disease. Methods: Clinical report. Methods: Horses (n=3) with unilateral renal disease. Methods: Horses were sedated with detomidine (0.01 mg/kg intravenously [IV]) and levomethadone (0.05 mg/kg IV). Paravertebral anesthesia and infiltration-anesthesia with 2% lidocaine were used to create a surgical field incorporating the 17th intercostal space and paralumbar fossa. Two separate, ipsilateral portals and a mini-laparotomy were used. The perirenal peri...
Rucker A.The digital venogram uses contrast radiography to evaluate the soft tissues and vasculature of the foot, thus identifying pathology attributable to laminitis. Pathology can be detected before changes appear on plain-film radiographs. When used in conjunction with clinical and radiographic findings, information gained from a venographic study informs and directs treatment. Serial venograms assess the response to treatment and help determine prognosis early in the course of therapy. If the venographic contrast pattern does not improve, either the treatment needs to be altered, or the damage is s...
Pozor MA, Sheppard B, Hinrichs K, Kelleman AA, Macpherson ML, Runcan E, Choi YH, Diaw M, Mathews PM.Placental changes associated with SCNT have been described in several species, but little information is available in this area in the horse. We evaluated the ultrasonographic, gross, and histopathological characteristics of placentas from three successful and five unsuccessful equine SCNT pregnancies, established using cells from a single donor horse. Starting at approximately 6-month gestation, the pregnancies were monitored periodically using transrectal (TR) and transabdominal (TA) ultrasonography (US) to examine the placentas, fetal fluids, and fetuses. Of the five mares that aborted, one...
Rubio-Martínez LM, Cruz AM, Gordon K, Hurtig MB.To characterize the microstructure of subchondral bone (SCB) plate and trabecular bone (TBB) of the distopalmar aspect of the condyles of third metacarpal bones (MC3s) from Thoroughbred racehorses at 2 different stages of SCB disease via micro-computed tomography (CT). Methods: 12 pairs of MC3s from Thoroughbred racehorses euthanized for various reasons. Methods: MC3s were collected from horses with mild (n = 6) or severe (6) SCB disease, as determined via micro-CT. Cubic (6 x 6 x 6-cm) specimens of SCB plate and TBB were cut from the palmar aspect of condyles and sagittal ridges and examined ...
Sokół R, Michalski MM.The presence of Hippobosca equina strongly influences the behaviour and health status of horses. The aim of the study was to analyse the invasion dynamics of the forest fly in Polish primitive horses (Equus caballus gmelini) in the Popielno Forest Reserve (northeastern Poland). Observations were carried out from May to September, every two weeks for two consecutive years (2012 and 2013) in five study groups: in 11-12-year-old mares with foals, 6-7-year-old leading stallions, 1.5-year-old fillies, 1.5-year-old colts and 9-10-year-old working geldings. Adult H. equina were counted in the preferr...
Gleed RD, Dobson A.Observations were made on horses spontaneously breathing oxygen, with halothane at a constant end tidal concentration. The horses were positioned in dorsal recumbency for the first 45 minutes of each anaesthetic episode during which the arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) was found to peak and then decline. The remaining 60 minutes of each anaesthesia was used to test the effect of various manoeuvres on PaO2. The PaO2 of horses decreased further both when remaining in dorsal recumbency and when repositioned in right or left recumbency. In contrast, placing the horses in sternal recumbency for these...
Lundström TS, Dahlén GG, Wattle OS.Swedish equine dental practices have empirically found that the prevalence of infundibular caries as a primary disorder in the first permanent premolar teeth (P2) of the horse upper jaw has increased during the last 10 years. A previously unknown bacterial species, Streptococcus devriesei (CCUG 47155T), which is related to Streptococcus mutans, has recently been isolated from these carious lesions. To understand the aetiology of caries in horses, it is essential to elucidate the relationship between S. devriesei and P2 infundibular caries. Methods: The anterior infundibulum of maxillary P2, or...
Griffin RA, Swegen A, Baker MA, Ogle RA, Smith N, Aitken RJ, Skerrett-Byrne DA, Fair S, Gibb Z.Stallions experience transient fluctuations in fertility throughout the breeding season. Considering pregnancy diagnoses cannot be ascertained until ~14 days postbreeding, the timely detection of decreases in stallion fertility would enhance industry economic and welfare outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the proteomic signatures reflective of short-term fertility fluctuations and to determine the biological mechanisms governing such differences. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we compared the proteomic profile of semen samples collected from commercia...
Diyes GCP, Rajakaruna RS.Otobius megnini infests mainly domesticated and wild animals and occasionally humans. It has been identified as an agent of human and horse otoacariasis in Sri Lanka. The number of nymphal stages in the life cycle of O. megnini varies from one to three in different geographic regions. The present study determined the life cycle of O. megnini infesting the racehorses in Nuwara Eliya. A tick colony was initiated from fully engorged nymphs collected from horses and maintained at 10°C, 22°C and 28°C. Immature stages were reared on New Zealand rabbits. Only the larvae weighing more than 0.9mg (8...
Church ML, Norman JC.The main objective was to record electroretinogram (ERG) parameters of normal thoroughbred mares using the HMsERG, a mini-Ganzfeld electroretinographic unit, and a contact lens electrode. The second objective was to determine whether IV detomidine hydrochloride at 0.015 mg/kg is consistently an effective choice for sedation of horses undergoing this ERG protocol. Methods: The study population consisted of 30 normal thoroughbred mares. ERG data were harvested using a protocol that included three different light intensities (10, 3000, and 10,000 mcd s/m(2)) and a 30-Hz flicker at 3000 mcd s/m(2)...
Becvarova I, Pleasant RS, Thatcher CD.Veterinarians are a primary source of nutritional information and advice for horse owners. This article reviews methods for clinical assessment of nutritional status and feeding programs that can be applied to an individual horse or group of horses. Physical examination, including measurement of body weight and evaluation of body condition score, estimation of nutrient requirements and the nutrient content of the horse's diet, and evaluation of the feeding method are important components of the assessment. Ongoing clinical assessment of health and body condition will gauge the need for reasses...
Bischofberger AS, Tsang AS, Horadagoda N, Dart CM, Perkins NR, Jeffcott LB, Jackson CJ, Dart AJ.To investigate the effect of activated protein C (APC) on second intention healing of distal limb wounds in horses. Methods: In this experimental study of eight Standardbred geldings, six full-thickness skin wounds (2 × 1.5 cm) were created on one metacarpus (biopsy limb) and five similar wounds were created on the contralateral metacarpus (photographed limb). Three wounds on the biopsy limb were treated topically with 190 µg APC on days 1, 3, 6 and 9, while the remaining three wounds were untreated (control). One treated and one control wound were biopsied on days 4, 7 and 11 for hi...
