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.
Anderson FL, Secombe CJ, Lester GD.A 9-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was presented for swelling over the left neck and inappetence. There was recent history of intramuscular administration of flunixin meglumine into the left neck. On examination, there was evidence of focal myositis, anaemia, haemolysis and pigmenturia. Culture of aspirated fluid from the left side of the neck produced a heavy growth of a Clostridium species. Complications of infection included haemolytic anaemia, hepatopathy, osteitis and transient hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Treatment included intravenous fluid therapy, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, ...
Ossedryver SM, Baldwin GI, Stone BM, McKenzie RA, van Eps AW, Murray S, Fletcher MT.Three ponies continuously grazed a pasture containing an estimated 24% Indigofera spicata (wet weight basis) for 4-6 weeks in April and May 2004. They developed ataxia, paresis, depression, muscle fasciculations, dysphagia, ptyalism and halitosis. Two also developed corneal opacity. One pony recovered with supportive treatment, but the other two were euthanased and necropsied. Neuropathology was not present in either case, but both livers had periacinar and periportal lymphocytic infiltrations and hydropic degeneration of mid-zonal hepatocytes, with mild to moderate periacinar necrosis also ev...
Yeo WM, Osterrieder N, Stokol T.The alphaherpesvirus, equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), is a highly prevalent cause of equine infectious abortion and encephalomyelopathy. These syndromes have been attributed to ischemic necrosis from thrombosis in placental and neural vessels, although the mechanisms underlying thrombosis are unknown. After inhalation, EHV-1 establishes a peripheral blood mononuclear cell-associated viremia, with monocytes being a target of infection. Monocytes are also the main source of tissue factor (TF) in diseased states. Since TF is the primary activator of coagulation, increased monocyte TF expressio...
Kuroda T, Nagata S, Takizawa Y, Tamura N, Kusano K, Mizobe F, Hariu K.The pharmacokinetics of d-chlorpheniramine (CPM), a histamine H1-receptor antagonist, and its ability to inhibit of histamine-induced cutaneous wheal formation, were studied in healthy Thoroughbred horses (n=5). Following an intravenous (IV) dose of 0.5mg/kg bodyweight (BW), plasma drug disposition was very rapid, with the mean terminal half-life and total body clearance calculated as 2.7h and 0.7 L/h/kg, respectively. The observed maximal inhibition of wheal formation following IV doses of 0.1 and 0.5mg/kg BW were 37.8% and 60.6% at 0.5h, respectively. Oral administration of CPM (0.5mg/kg BW)...
Douthit TL, Bormann JM, Kouba JM.The objective of this study was to retrospectively analyze demographic variables and academic preparation of students to determine how these factors relate to student performance in ASI 521 Horse Science, an upper-level course offered in the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI) at Kansas State University (KSU). Data were collected for 264 students enrolled in the course from 2008 to 2010. Students who took the course in 2008 received greater final percentages than those who took the course in subsequent years (P = 0.0016). Females tended to receive greater percentages than males (P...
Readford PK, Lester GD, Secombe CJ.Two cases of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) in young Australian horses are described. The pathogenesis of THO is yet to be fully elucidated, but current theories include extension of infection from otitis media or interna to the temporohyoid joint or a primary but non-infectious degenerative condition within the temporohyoid joint. The young age of the horses and the unilateral distribution suggested an infectious aetiology. Both horses partially responded to treatment with broad-spectrum antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs with concurrent management of ulcerative keratitis. The man...
Yoon JH, Kim B, Choi BS, Park SY, Kwag HS, Kim IA, Jeong JY.Here, we present a case of lung cancer in a 48-year-old male horse trainer. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such case report to include an exposure assessment of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) as a quartz. The trainer had no family history of lung cancer. Although he had a 15 pack/year cigarette-smoking history, he had stopped smoking 12 years prior to his diagnosis. For the past 23 years, he had performed longeing, and trained 7-12 horses per day on longeing arena surfaces covered by recycled sands, the same surfaces used in race tracks. We investigated his workplace RCS ...
Mantovani R, Sartori C, Pigozzi G.This study investigated some aspects of breeding management in the Italian Heavy Draught Horse breed, aiming at improving its efficiency at stud farm level. A first aim was to evaluate the risk of unsuccessful reproduction in mares after an early (3 years) or normal (4 years) age at first foaling, in interaction with different stud rearing systems. A second objective was the examination of the mean time length in which young 2-year-old stallions maintain a genetic superiority on older proven stallions, identifying a 'genetic lifespan' in which young stallions can be safely used for reducing th...
Hoffman CJ, Clark CK.Cervical vertebral malformation (CVM) is seen in young, rapidly growing horses, and is commonly associated with a poor prognosis for racing. Objective: To examine the records of a population of Thoroughbreds with a presumptive diagnosis of CVM and to determine which radiographic findings and neurologic exam findings have an effect on these horses achieving athletic function when managed conservatively. Methods: One hundred and three thoroughbreds presumptively diagnosed with CVM and treated conservatively between 2002 and 2010. Methods: Racing records were reviewed in this retrospective study ...
McGovern KF, Lascola KM, Smith SA, Clark-Price SC, Wilkins PA, Schaeffer DJ, Foreman JH.Hyperglycemia and endotoxemia have been associated with coagulation abnormalities in horses. Studies in humans suggest greater disturbances in coagulation with hyperglycemia and concurrent endotoxemia. Objective: To compare coagulation parameters in horses administered with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with and without concurrent hyperglycemia. Methods: Twelve healthy adult horses. Methods: Hyperglycemia (180-240 mg/dL) was maintained for 6 hours in 6 horses (GLU-LPS) using 140 mg/kg IV bolus of dextrose followed by a 20% dextrose constant rate infusion. A similar volume of saline was administe...
Gurel V, Lambert K, Page AE, Loynachan AT, Huges K, Timoney JF, Fettinger M, Horohov DW, McMichael J.The addition of streptolysin-O (SLO) to the standard antibiotics regimen was shown to be superior to antibiotics alone after experimental infection of foals with Rhodoccocus equi (R. equi). The objective of this study is to investigate this response by determining the site-specific expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) and inflammatory response genes in biopsy samples taken from three distinct lung regions of the infected foals. Twenty-four foals were challenged by intrabronchial instillation of R. equi and assigned to four treatment groups: SLO/antibiotics adjunct therapy, antibiotics-only...
Smith DF.The future of veterinary medicine is best understood in the context of history. What began as a profession rooted in urban centers in proximity to horses, physicians, and medical schools, was transformed into a land grant-based agricultural profession with the arrival of the internal combustion engine in the early twentieth century. Most of the United States' current veterinary colleges are still located in towns or small cities in the middle section of the country, outside the largest metropolitan areas where most veterinarians practice companion-animal medicine. Throughout veterinarian histo...
Peckle M, Pires MS, Dos Santos TM, Roier EC, da Silva CB, Vilela JA, Santos HA, Massard CL.The aim of this study was to detect Theileria equi (Laveran 1901) DNA in horses and ticks using real-time PCR and to list the factors associated with infection in animals located in the Seropedica and Petropolis municipalities of the state of Rio de Janeiro. We tested blood samples from 314 horses and samples from 300 ticks, including 191 Amblyomma cajennense, 104 Dermacentor nitens, and 5 Ixodida larvae. Factors inherent to the horse, the ownership, and animal management were obtained from an epidemiological questionnaire and were evaluated in association with the presence of T. equi DNA in t...
Jönsson L, Näsholm A, Roepstorff L, Egenvall A, Dalin G, Philipsson J.Soundness is important for welfare and utility of the riding horse. Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common causes of interruption in training and of culling. Despite great importance, heritability of a majority of health traits in horses has previously not been estimated. The objective was to perform genetic analyses of medical and orthopaedic health traits in young riding horses, including estimates of heritability and genetic correlations between health traits, and to reveal possibilities for genetic evaluation of stallions for progeny health. Results: The heritability of health trait...
Zozaya H, Gutierrez L, Bernad MJ, Sumano H.Doxycyline (Dox) is a semisynthetic antibacterial drug with pharmacological advantages over its parent drug (tetracycline) in the treatment of various bacterial diseases in horses. Yet, at present a horse-customized pharmaceutical formulation is not available. Based on its pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) ratio, Dox is considered a time-dependent antibacterial drug and ideally expected to achieve sustained plasma drug concentrations both at or slightly above the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) level for as long as possible between dosing intervals. Hence, the objective of this st...
Raabe O, Shell K, Goessl A, Crispens C, Delhasse Y, Eva A, Scheiner-Bobis G, Wenisch S, Arnhold S.Mesenchymal stem cells are regarded as common cellular precursors of the musculoskeletal tissue and are responsible for tissue regeneration in the course of musculoskeletal disorders. In equine veterinary medicine extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is used to optimize healing processes of bone, tendon and cartilage. Nevertheless, little is known about the effects of the shock waves on cells and tissues. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of focused ESWT on the viability, proliferation, and differentiation capacity of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells...
Van den Eede A, Hermans K, Van den Abeele A, Floré K, Dewulf J, Vanderhaeghen W, Némeghaire S, Butaye P, Gasthuys F, Haesebrouck F, Martens A.The increased incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in equine hospitals highlights the need for infection control protocols based on optimal patient screening. In horses, the deep ventral meatus of the nasal cavity is the principal site sampled to detect MRSA. However, in humans, the anterior nares are the preferred sampling site. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal sampling location in the nasal chambers for MRSA in horses by comparing the results obtained from three different locations (the vestibulum, diverticulum and ventral meatus) ...
Ijichi C, Collins LM, Creighton E, Elwood RW.Objective assessment of animal personality is typically time consuming, requiring the repeated measure of behavioural responses. By contrast, subjective assessment of personality allows information to be collected quickly by experienced caregivers. However, subjective assessment must predict behaviour to be valid. Comparisons of subjective assessments and behaviour have been made but often with methodological weaknesses and thus, limited success. Here we test the validity of a subjective assessment against a battery of behaviour tests in 146 horses (Equus caballus). Our first aim was to determ...
Guedes AG, Morisseau C, Sole A, Soares JH, Ulu A, Dong H, Hammock BD.A 4-year old, 500 kg Thoroughbred female horse diagnosed with bilateral forelimb laminitis and cellulitis on the left forelimb became severely painful and refractory to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy (flunixin meglumine on days 1, 2, 3 and 4; and phenylbutazone on days 5, 6 and 7) alone or in combination with gabapentin (days 6 and 7). Methods: Pain scores assessed independently by three individuals with a visual analog scale (VAS; 0 = no pain and 10 = worst possible pain) were 8.5 on day 6, and it increased to 9.5 on day 7. Non-invasive blood pressure monitoring revealed severe hyper...
Shikh Alsook MK, Antoine N, Piret J, Moula N, Busoni V, Denoix JM, Gabriel A.The third interosseous muscle (suspensory ligament, TIOM) is composed of connective tissue (CT) with a variable proportion of muscle (MT) and adipose tissue (AT). The aim of our study is to quantify the CT, MT and AT within the body and the branches of right thoracic and pelvic limbs TIOM in sound horses to determine whether there are differences in CT, MT and AT between age, sex, limbs and levels. Right limbs from 11 sound horses were collected. Samples from 6 levels of the TIOM were embedded in paraffin or in Tissue-Tek(®) . Most of the paraffin sections were shredded. Using the cryosection...
Moyo NA, Marchi E, Steinbach F.Dendritic cells (DC) are the main immune mediators inducing primary immune responses. DC generated from monocytes (MoDC) are a model system to study the biology of DC in vitro, as they represent inflammatory DC in vivo. Previous studies on the generation of MoDC in horses indicated that there was no distinct difference between immature and mature DC and that the expression profile was distinctly different from humans, where CD206 is expressed on immature MoDC whereas CD83 is expressed on mature MoDC. Here we describe the kinetics of equine MoDC differentiation and activation, analysing both ph...
Diaz-San Segundo F, Dias CC, Moraes MP, Weiss M, Perez-Martin E, Owens G, Custer M, Kamrud K, de los Santos T, Grubman MJ.We have previously shown that delivery of the porcine type I interferon gene (poIFN-α/β) with a replication-defective human adenovirus vector (adenovirus 5 [Ad5]) can sterilely protect swine challenged with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) 1 day later. However, the need of relatively high doses of Ad5 limits the applicability of such a control strategy in the livestock industry. Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) empty replicon particles (VRPs) can induce rapid protection of mice against either homologous or, in some cases, heterologous virus challenge. As an alternative approach ...
Firestone SM, Lewis FI, Schemann K, Ward MP, Toribio JA, Dhand NK.In a previous premises-level case-control study of the 2007 equine influenza outbreak in Australia, the protective effect of several variables representing on-farm biosecurity practices was identified. However, using logistic regression it was not possible to definitively identify individual effects and associations between each of the personal biosecurity measures implemented by horse premises owners and managers in the face of the outbreak. In this study we apply Bayesian network modelling to identify the complex web of associations between these variables, horse premises infection status an...
Yilmaz O, Wilson RT.Mules are known to have been used as carriage and riding animals in Mesopotamia and Anatolia as early as the beginning of the second millennium BC but may have been first bred in Anatolia in the Third Century BC. They have thus contributed to Turkey's cultural, social and economic heritage for more than 4,000 years and were an ancient component of its guild of domestic animals and overall biodiversity. Once bred country-wide most mules are now introduced "illegally" to the southeast and east from Iraq and Iran. Mules are now bred only in one small area in north-central Turkey close to the Blac...
Lorena SE, Luna SP, Lascelles BD, Corrente JE.The objective of this study was to assess the use of analgesics, describe the attitudes of Brazilian veterinarians towards pain relief in horses and cattle and evaluate the differences due to gender, year of graduation and type of practice. Methods: Prospective survey. Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 1000 large animal veterinarians by mail, internet and delivered in person during national meetings. The survey investigated the attitudes of Brazilian veterinarians to the recognition and treatment of pain in large animals and consisted of sections asking about demographic data, use of analge...
Moro FL, Spröwitz A, Tuleu A, Vespignani M, Tsagarakis NG, Ijspeert AJ, Caldwell DG.This manuscript proposes a method to directly transfer the features of horse walking, trotting, and galloping to a quadruped robot, with the aim of creating a much more natural (horse-like) locomotion profile. A principal component analysis on horse joint trajectories shows that walk, trot, and gallop can be described by a set of four kinematic Motion Primitives (kMPs). These kMPs are used to generate valid, stable gaits that are tested on a compliant quadruped robot. Tests on the effects of gait frequency scaling as follows: results indicate a speed optimal walking frequency around 3.4 Hz, an...
Winton CL, Hegarty MJ, McMahon R, Slavov GT, McEwan NR, Davies-Morel MC, Morgan CM, Powell W, Nash DM.The conservation of unique populations of animals is critical in order to preserve valuable genetic diversity and, where populations are free-living, maintain their irreplaceable influence upon habitat ecology. An accurate assessment of genetic diversity and structure within and between populations is crucial in order to design and implement conservation strategies in natural and domesticated species. Moreover, where it is possible to identify relic populations that are related to a structured breed an ideal opportunity presents itself to model processes that reveal historical factors that hav...
Brummer M, Hayes S, Dawson KA, Lawrence LM.Selenium plays a role in the antioxidant mechanism via the selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Change in Se status because of Se depletion or supplementation is associated with a change in GSH-Px activity and could potentially affect antioxidant status. This study evaluated the impact of change in Se status on measures of antioxidant status and oxidative stress in adult horses. Twenty-eight horses were blocked by age and gender and were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 dietary treatment groups: low Se (LS), adequate Se (AS), high organic Se (SP), and high inorganic Se (SS). For 196 d, LS...
Calisher CH, Emerson JK, Muth DJ, Lazuick JS, Monath TP.Sera from horses and human beings with clinically diagnosed western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus infections were tested for hemagglutination-inhibition (HI), complement-fixation (CF), and neutralizing (N) antibody to WEE virus. These tests confirmed infection in 43.8% (HI), 56.3% (CF), and 80.4% (N) of horses and 54.5% (HI), 59.1% (CF), and 77.3% (N) of human beings. Use of the N test as an adjunct to the HI and CF tests increased the likelihood of serologic confirmation to 91.7%. In both horses and human beings, N antibody increased steeply at the end of the 1st week after onset. The resul...
Van Hoogmoed LM, Snyder JR, Harmon F.To determine the in vitro effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), PGF2alpha, PGI2; and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID; ie, flunixin meglumine, ketoprofen, carprofen, and phenylbutazone) on contractile activity of the equine dorsal colon, ventral colon, and pelvic flexure circular and longitudinal smooth muscle. Methods: 26 healthy horses. Methods: Tissue collected from the ventral colon, dorsal colon, and pelvic flexure was cut into strips and mounted in a tissue bath system where contractile strength was determined. Incremental doses of PGE2, PGF2alpha,, PGI2, flunixin meglumine, carp...
Chhabra D, Bhatia T, Goutam U, Manuja A, Kumar B.Strangles, caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, is a highly infectious respiratory disease affecting horses and other equines. The disease is economically important and compromises the productivity of equine farm significantly. The disease is characterized by pyrexia, mucopurulent nasal discharge, and abscess formation in the lymph nodes of the head and neck of horses. The disease transmission occurs either directly by coming in contact with infectious exudates or indirectly via fomite transmission. Besides this, carrier animals are the primary and most problematic source of disease i...
Khusro A, Sahibzada MUK, Khan SU, Rajagopal R, Elghandour MMMY, Salem AZM, Kuppusamy P, Alcala-Canto Y, Tirado-González DN.Greenhouse gases emission from livestock is the major concern for the ecosystem. Despite the lower contribution of non-ruminants towards greenhouse gas emission as compared to the ruminants, the emission of methane (CH) gas from equines is expected to be increased in future due to its increasing population. Thus, it is essential to find or screen potential anti-methanogenic agent in a cost-effective and quicker manner. Considering this, the present investigation was aimed to analyze anti-methanogenic characteristic of bioactive compounds of safflower oil by targeting methanogenesis catalyzing ...
Bergmann W, de Mik-van Mourik M, Veraa S, van den Broek J, Wijnberg ID, Back W, Gröne A.In Warmblood horses, degenerative joint disease is involved in cervical malformation and malarticulation (CVM). The degree of contribution of articular process joint (APJ) osteochondrosis (OC) is not clear. Objective: (a) To explore the presence of predilection sites for APJ OC in cervical and cranial thoracic vertebral columns of Warmblood foals and (b) to examine the correlation of such a site with the predilection site of CVM. Methods: Case series. Methods: Seven hundred APJ facets of C2 to T2 of 29 foals (11 months gestation to 12 months [median age 7 days; range 365 days; 95% confiden...
Harris IT, Maddock C, Farnworth M, Nankervis K, Perrett J, Pyatt AZ, Blanchard RN.Adverse trends in reproductive function are a concern in humans, companion, livestock, and wildlife species. This study indicates that equine populations are at risk of a comparable decline in sperm progressive motility. There is increasing evidence reporting geographically sensitive adverse trends in human semen quality, with parallel trends observed in the dog sentinel. Despite significant economic and welfare complications associated with poor testicular function, trends in current equine populations are undetermined. Given the predictive value of sperm progressive motility (PMOT) in male f...
Elghandour MMMY, Maggiolino A, Vázquez-Mendoza P, Alvarado-Ramírez ER, Cedillo-Monroy J, De Palo P, Salem AZM.Studies have shown a wide variety of parasites that infect horses, causing major gastrointestinal damage that can lead to death, and although the main method of control has been synthetic anthelmintics, there are parasites that have developed resistance to these drugs. For generations, plants have been used throughout the world as a cure or treatment for countless diseases and their symptoms, as is the case of , a plant native to the western region. In all its organs, mainly in leaves, presents a diversity of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids, saponins, and vi...
Crafford JE, Guthrie AJ, Van Vuuren M, Mertens PP, Burroughs JN, Howell PG, Batten CA, Hamblin C.A polyclonal antibody-based, group-specific, competitive ELISA (C-ELISA) for the detection of antibodies to equine encephalosis virus (EEV) was developed. The assay measures the competition between a specific guinea pig antiserum and a test serum, for a pre-titrated EEV antigen. The C-ELISA detected antibodies to the seven known EEV serotypes. Reference antisera raised against other arboviruses did not cross react with EEV antigen. Negative sera from horses in the United Kingdom were used to establish the baseline for a negative population. Negative and positive populations of South African ho...
Sanz MG, Oliveira AF, Loynachan A, Page A, Svansson V, Giguère S, Horohov DW.Rhodococcus equi (Rhodococcus hoagii/Prescottella equi) is a common cause of foal pneumonia, but its diagnosis remains a challenge for equine veterinarians. While the VapA-specific (virulence-associated protein A) immunoglobulin G (IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has low sensitivity and specificity for detecting pneumonic foals, little is known about VapA-specific IgG subclasses. Objective: To evaluate the performance of VapA-specific ELISA for IgG and its subclasses IgGa, IgGb and IgG(T) in the early diagnosis of pneumonia caused by R. equi. Methods: Assay validation follow...
Li J, Huang X, He L, Li C, Jing H, Lin J, Ma C, Li X.This study aimed to investigate the effects of EA supplementation on body weight, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota, blood biochemical indices, and urolithin A metabolism in one-year-old Thoroughbred horses. A group of 18 one-year-old Thoroughbred horses, with an average weight of 339.00 ± 30.11 kg, were randomly allocated into three groups of six horses each (three males and three females). The control group (n=6) received only the basal diet, whereas test groups I (n=6) and II (n=6) were fed the basal diet supplemented with 15 mg/kg BW/d and 30 mg/kg BW/d of EA, respectively, for ...
Leach DH, Dyson S.The instant centres of rotation (ICRs) of each limb joint, other than the coxofemoral joint and those of the digits, were calculated for eight clinically sound horses from tracings of radiographs according to the method of Reuleaux (1963). The majority of ICR positions coincided with the attachment sites of the collateral ligaments. The ICR of the scapulohumeral joint, which does not have collateral ligaments, was caudodistal to the caudal part of the greater tubercle of the humerus. The ICR for the femorotibial joint was located just caudal to the femoral attachment of the collateral ligament...
Busoni V, Snaps F.Ten normal equine isolated limbs were imaged using a knee coil in a 1.5 Tesla magnetic field, with short echo time sequences (TE < 15 ms). Magnetic resonance imaging was performed on each isolated limb in different positions, with and without extension of the metacarpophalangeal joint. Deep digital flexor tendon orientation ranged from 20 to 60 degrees in relation to the static magnetic field. Increased intratendinous signal intensity was observed when the angle between the deep digital flexor tendon and the constant magnetic field approached 55 degrees ("magic angle"). The increa...
Pollitt CC, Molyneux GS.The microcirculation of the dermal laminae and papillae of the equine foot from seven clinically normal Australian ponies was studied using an improved microvascular casting corrosion technique and scanning electron microscopy. Casts of veins, arteries, capillaries and arteriovenous anastomoses (AVAs) were readily identified by their characteristic surface morphology. Arteries entered the laminar circulation axially, between pairs of axial veins, and were connected to each other by smaller calibre interconnecting arteries. Short abaxial branches of the axial interconnecting arteries gave rise ...
Pérez-Marín CC, Requena FD, Arando A, Ortiz-Villalón S, Requena F, Agüera EI.There has been a lack of research into equine sperm vitrification to date, but studies of other species suggest it may have significant potential. To evaluate the impact of various cryoprotectant agents (CPA) and vitrification on equine sperm quality, a controlled study was carried out. A total of 12 ejaculates were subjected to exposure to CPA and vitrification. Sperm was diluted in a range of CPA: fresh, control (BSA), sucrose (0.15M, 0.3M and 0.5M), trehalose (0.15M, 0.3M and 0.5M) and the combination of sucrose and trehalose (M1: 0.15M sucrose+0.5M trehalose; M2: 0.5M sucrose+0.15M trehalo...
Benarafa C, Cunningham FM, Hamblin AS, Horohov DW, Collins ME.We report the cloning of four equine CC chemokines, eotaxin, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, MCP-2 and MCP-4, which show high levels of identity with their respective homologous sequences in other species. Using a multiplex RT-PCR, we have studied the constitutive mRNA expression of these four CC chemokines in skin, lung, liver, spleen, jejunum, colon and kidney of normal adult horses and compared this data with the eosinophil counts in the same samples. We demonstrate that eotaxin mRNA is only expressed in jejunum and colon, where there are large numbers of eosinophils suggesting th...
Mair TS, Taylor FG, Pinsent PJ.Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a syndrome characterised by prolonged, unexplained fever associated with non-specific signs of illness such as lethargy, inappetence and weight loss. This paper reviews the details of 63 horses affected by FUO. The cause was found to be infection in 43 per cent of the cases, neoplasia in 22 per cent, immune-mediated diseases in 6.5 per cent and miscellaneous diseases in 19 per cent; the cause remained undiagnosed in 9.5 per cent.
Yi NY, Davis JL, Salmon JH, Gilger BC.To determine ocular distribution and toxicity of a single injection of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in normal horses. Methods: Six adult horses, donated to North Carolina State University. Methods: Six horses were injected intravitreally with either 10, 20, or 40 mg (n = 2 each) of TA. The opposite eye of each horse was injected with balanced salt solution (BSS). Ocular toxicity was assessed by biomicroscopy, tonometry, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and electroretinogram. Aqueous humor (AH), vitreous humor (VH), and plasma samples were collected. Horses were euthanized 7 or 21 days aft...
Mortensen CJ, Choi YH, Hinrichs K, Ing NH, Kraemer DC, Vogelsang SG, Vogelsang MM.The effect of exercise on mare reproductive efficiency was evaluated by comparing rates of embryo recovery from mares assigned to either an exercise regimen or a non-exercise (control) regimen. Exercised mares were worked daily for 30 min under average ambient conditions of >30 degrees C and >50% humidity. Mares were inseminated during estrus and subjected to uterine flush for embryo recovery on d 7 after ovulation for two consecutive cycles. After this, mares were allocated to the opposite group and allowed an estrous cycle without reproductive manipulation; then insemination and uterin...
Cohen ND, Kuskie KR, Smith JL, Slovis NM, Brown SE, Stepusin RS, Chaffin MK, Takai S, Carter CN.To determine whether the concentration of airborne virulent Rhodococcus equi varied by location (stall vs paddock) and month on horse farms. Methods: Air samples from stalls and paddocks used to house mares and foals on 30 horse breeding farms in central Kentucky. Methods: Air samples from 1 stall and 1 paddock were obtained monthly from each farm from January through June 2009. Concentrations of airborne virulent R equi were determined via a modified colony immunoblot assay. Random-effects logistic regression was used to determine the association of the presence of airborne virulent R equi wi...
Nemoto M, Matsumura T.This review briefly describes the virus classification, clinical signs, epidemiology, diagnosis, disinfection, and vaccines related equine group A rotavirus (RVA) infection. Equine RVA is one of the most important pathogens causing diarrhoea in foals. The main transmission route is faecal-oral, and the clinical signs are diarrhoea, fever, lethargy, and anorexia (decreased suckling). Some human RVA rapid antigen detection kits based on the principles of the immunochromatographic assay are useful for the diagnosis of equine RVA infection. The kits are used in daily clinical practice because of t...
Moore RE, Knottenbelt D, Matthews JB, Beynon RJ, Whitfield PD.Ingestion of the poisonous weed ragwort (Senecio jacobea) by horses leads to irreversible liver damage. The principal toxins of ragwort are the pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are rapidly metabolised to highly reactive and cytotoxic pyrroles, which can escape into the circulation and bind to proteins. In this study a non-invasive in vitro model system has been developed to investigate whether pyrrole toxins induce specific modifications of equine blood proteins that are detectable by proteomic methods. Results: One dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed a significant alteration in the equine pl...
Nelissen S, Miller AD.Granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) are common ovarian neoplasms in the mare and bitch that can be challenging to diagnose on histopathology. Inhibin has long been the standard immunohistochemical (IHC) marker for GCTs; however, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has not been evaluated widely as an IHC marker in the bitch and mare. We compared the efficacy of AMH and inhibin as IHC markers in canine and equine GCTs. We selected retrospectively 18 equine and 15 canine cases. All equine tumors were dominated by a cystic pattern; canine tumors often had solid patterns. Both inhibin and AMH had similar puncta...
Gerard MP, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ, Walsh WR.To determine whether recombinant equine growth hormone (rEGH) would alter the in vitro biomechanical properties of the forelimb superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in exercising young Standardbred horses. Methods: Randomized complete block design. Methods: Twelve Standardbred yearlings. Methods: Horses were trained for 12 weeks on a high-speed treadmill (10% positive incline). rEGH was administered intramuscularly (IM) daily (10 microg/kg during week 4; 20 microg/kg for weeks 5-9) to 6 horses (treated group), whereas 6 horses (control group) were administered an equivalent daily volume of...
Borba LA, Nogueira CEW, Bruhn FRP, da Silva GC, Feijó LS, Canisso IF, Curcio BDR.Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of neonatal death during the first-week postfoaling. Despite recent advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis in the newborn foal, the non-specific clinical signs and subtle nature of this disease may result in delayed diagnosis until severe progression of the disease; thus, early detection of sepsis remains critical for a favourable outcome. This study aimed to identify early blood markers as predictive of sepsis on foals. Thirty-five foals were allocated into three groups: healthy control foals (n=7) and foals born from mares with placentitis: s...
Weir J, Li H, Warren LK, Macon E, Wickens C.Evaluating impact of animal agriculture on air quality has been the focus of recent research. Ammonia (NH) volatilization occurs when undigested protein in feces and urea in urine is broken down by bacteria and enzymes. Information regarding NH emission from equine facilities is limited, and effects of CP intake on NH emissions have not been investigated. Nine mature geldings were used in a 3 × 3 replicated Latin square design study to determine effects of dietary CP on potential NH losses from feces and urine. We hypothesized feeding horses above the CP requirement would result in an increas...
Colborne GR, Lanovaz JL, Sprigings EJ, Schamhardt HC, Clayton HM.To calculate normative joint moments of force and power for the forelimb of walking horses as a benchmark against which to compare these mechanical variables in horses with specific lameness. Methods: 4 Dutch Warmblood horses with no recent history of lameness. Methods: Horses were walked by hand through the test area, and data from 5 walking trials were collected for each horse. Two camera views were combined with vertical and craniocaudal ground reaction forces to calculate net moments of force in the sagittal plane across the carpal, metacarpophalangeal (fetlock), and distal interphalangeal...
Hills BA, Ethell MT, Hodgson DR.This study was undertaken to determine whether glucocorticosteroids promote the secretion of lubricating surfactant, i.e. surface-active phospholipid (SAPL), into the joint. A standard clinical dose (100 mg) of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) in 2.5 ml of saline was injected into the load-bearing right radiocarpal joint of five horses and 2.5 ml of saline injected into each of the contralateral joints used as controls. Synovial fluid (SF) was aspirated from all 10 joints before injection and at intervals of 16 and 32 h after injection, and then analysed by standard methods. All test joints sh...
Yarnell K, Le Bon M, Turton N, Savova M, McGlennon A, Forsythe S.To compare the rate of growth of four microbial strains that cause disease in the horse, on four commonly used types of bedding. The moisture-holding capacity of each bedding type was also tested. Results: Microbial strains included Streptococcus equi, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Dichelobacter nodosus and Dermatophilus congolensis. The bedding types tested were Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine shavings), Pinus nigra (Corsican pine shavings), Picea sitchensis (Sitka spruce shavings), Cannabis sativa (hemp) and chopped wheat straw. A suspension of each microbial strain wa...
