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.
Tappenbeck K, Hoppe S, Hopster K, Kietzmann M, Feige K, Huber K.Postoperative ileus (POI) is a severe complication following small intestinal surgery in horses. It was hypothesised that prokinetic effects of lidocaine, the most commonly chosen drug for treatment of POI, resulted from drug integration into smooth muscle (SM) cell membranes, thereby modulating cell membrane properties. This would probably depend on the structural and lipophilic characteristics of lidocaine. To assess the influence of molecular structure and lipophilicity on prokinetic effects in vitro, the current study compared the effects of lidocaine with four structure-related drugs, nam...
Reed SR, Jackson BF, Wood JL, Price JS, Verheyen KL.The aim of this study was to identify exercise-related risk factors for carpal and metacarpo- and metatarso-phalangeal (MCP/MTP) joint injury occurrence in young Thoroughbreds in flat race training. In a 2-year prospective cohort study, daily exercise and joint injury data were collected from horses in 13 training yards in England. Four injury categories were defined: (1) localised to a carpal or MCP/MTP joint based on clinical examination and/or use of diagnostic analgesia with no diagnostic imaging performed; (2) localised to a carpal or MCP/MTP joint with no abnormalities detected on diagno...
Canever RJ, Braga PR, Boeckh A, Grycajuck M, Bier D, Molento MB.The increase of anthelmintic resistance in the last years in the nematode population of veterinary importance has become a major concern. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of the main anthelmintic drugs available in the market against small strongyles of horses in Brazil. A total of 498 horses from 11 horse farms, located in the states of Paraná, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, in Brazil, were treated with ivermectin, moxidectin, pyrantel and fenbendazole, orally at their recommended doses. The fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was used to deter...
Keith L, Ball BA, Scoggin K, Esteller-Vico A, Woodward EM, Troedsson MH, Squires EL.The objectives were to: (1) evaluate the efficacy of varying intervals of oxytocin administration in preventing luteolysis in mares; (2) examine PGF(2α) release in mares experiencing prolonged diestrus secondary to oxytocin treatment; and (3) evaluate the endometrial expression of oxytocin receptor, estrogen receptor α, and prostaglandin synthesis enzymes after oxytocin administration. In experiment I, mares received oxytocin (60 IU, im) daily on Days 8 to 10, 8 to 12, or 8 to 14 postovulation, and control mares received sterile saline. Prolongation of diestrus was defined by elevation of se...
Raudsepp T, McCue ME, Das PJ, Dobson L, Vishnoi M, Fritz KL, Schaefer R, Rendahl AK, Derr JN, Love CC, Varner DD, Chowdhary BP.Impaired acrosomal reaction (IAR) of sperm causes male subfertility in humans and animals. Despite compelling evidence about the genetic control over acrosome biogenesis and function, the genomics of IAR is as yet poorly understood, providing no molecular tools for diagnostics. Here we conducted Equine SNP50 Beadchip genotyping and GWAS using 7 IAR-affected and 37 control Thoroughbred stallions. A significant (PA and g.11040379C>A (p.166H>N) in exon 4 that were significantly associated with the IAR phenotype both in the GWAS cohort (n = 44) and in a large multi-breed cohort of 265 ho...
Hughes J, Allen RC, Baguelin M, Hampson K, Baillie GJ, Elton D, Newton JR, Kellam P, Wood JL, Holmes EC, Murcia PR.The ability of influenza A viruses (IAVs) to cross species barriers and evade host immunity is a major public health concern. Studies on the phylodynamics of IAVs across different scales - from the individual to the population - are essential for devising effective measures to predict, prevent or contain influenza emergence. Understanding how IAVs spread and evolve during outbreaks is critical for the management of epidemics. Reconstructing the transmission network during a single outbreak by sampling viral genetic data in time and space can generate insights about these processes. Here, we ob...
Roche SE, Wicks R, Garner MG, East IJ, Paskin R, Moloney BJ, Carr M, Kirkland P.To provide an overview and descriptive analysis of the 2011 arboviral disease epidemic in horses that involved three important Australian mosquito-borne viruses: Murray Valley encephalitis virus, West Nile virus (Kunjin strain) and Ross River virus. Methods: Data from states affected between January and June 2011 were collated and comprised reports of horses showing signs of neuromuscular disease and the associated laboratory findings. A summary of the data is presented, together with a spatiotemporal analysis of cases and preliminary assessment of rainfall patterns and case distribution. Resu...
Cust AR, Anderson GA, Whitton RC, Davies HM.To investigate associations between race performance and hoof-ground angle (HG), pastern-hoof angle (PH) and mediolateral hoof angle (ML) of the left forelimb. Methods: A total of 1570 starts were recorded from 636 horses, and meetings were equally divided between sand and turf tracks. HG, PH and ML were measured on each starter in a race, over a 3-month period, using a Finnegan hoof gauge (Tallahesse Asia Holdings Ltd, Hong Kong) and digital photographic images. Race performance was recorded as win or place (1st-3rd). Results: There was no association between the probability of winning or pla...
Hinrichs K.This paper reviews current equine assisted reproduction techniques. Embryo transfer is the most common equine ART, but is still limited by the inability to superovulate mares effectively. Immature oocytes may be recovered by transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration of immature follicles, or from ovaries postmortem, and can be effectively matured in vitro. Notably, the in vivo-matured oocyte may be easily recovered from the stimulated preovulatory follicle. Standard IVF is still not repeatable in the horse; however, embryos and foals can be produced by surgical transfer of mature oocytes to th...
Rogers CW, Bolwell CF, Gee EK.Across many equestrian disciplines the median competition career of a horse is relatively short. One of the major reasons for short career length is musculoskeletal injury and a consistent variable is the trainer effect. There are significant opportunities within equestrian sport for a holistic approach to horse health to attenuate musculoskeletal injury. Proactive integration of care by health professionals could provide a mechanism to attenuate injury risk and the trainer effect. However, the limited data available on current exercise regimens for sport horses restricts interpretation of how...
Mosing M, Rysnik M, Bardell D, Cripps PJ, MacFarlane P.Hypoxaemia is a common problem during equine anaesthesia. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a ventilation mode routinely employed in man to overcome hypoxaemia but has not been objectively assessed in horses. Objective: To test the effects of CPAP on oxygenation and its indices in anaesthetised horses in a clinical setting. Methods: Twenty-four healthy horses requiring anaesthesia in dorsal recumbency were anaesthetised using a standard protocol. Following orotracheal intubation and connection to an anaesthetic machine capable of applying CPAP, horses were randomly allocated to ven...
Caston S, McClure S, Beug J, Kersh K, Reinertson E, Wang C.While surgical arthrodesis is the treatment of choice for osteoarthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joint, some clients are unable to pursue surgery due to costs. A more economical technique was sought using intra-articular ethyl alcohol injections to facilitate ankylosis. Objective: To describe the technique and outcome of intra-articular ethyl alcohol injections for facilitated ankylosis of proximal interphalangeal joints with osteoarthritis. Methods: As a retrospective case series, the medical records (2006-2012) of clinical cases diagnosed with proximal interphalangeal joint osteoarth...
Côté O, Lillie BN, Hayes MA, Clark ME, van den Bosch L, Katavolos P, Viel L, Bienzle D.Secretoglobin 1A1 (SCGB 1A1), also called Clara cell secretory protein, is the most abundantly secreted protein of the airway. The SCGB1A1 gene has been characterized in mammals as a single copy in the genome. However, analysis of the equine genome suggested that horses might have multiple SCGB1A1 gene copies. Non-ciliated lung epithelial cells produce SCGB 1A1 during inhalation of noxious substances to counter airway inflammation. Airway fluid and lung tissue of horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), a chronic inflammatory lung disease affecting mature horses similar to environmental...
Munsters CC, Visser EK, van den Broek J, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.Mounted police horses have to cope with challenging, unpredictable situations when on duty and it is essential to gain insight into how these horses handle stress to warrant their welfare. The aim of the study was to evaluate physiological and behavioral responses of 12 (six experienced and six inexperienced) police horses during police training. Horses were evaluated during four test settings at three time points over a 7-week period: outdoor track test, street track test, indoor arena test and smoke machine test. Heart rate (HR; beats/min), HR variability (HRV; root means square of successiv...
Arndt JL, Pfau T, Day P, Pardoe C, Bolt DM, Weller R.Hoof testers are commonly used in equine practice. In this study, we determined the intraoperator and interoperator reliability of force application with hoof testers for different groups: experienced veterinarians, novices and farriers. For this purpose, we have developed and validated an instrumented hoof tester. Forces varied significantly between the different regions of the foot for experienced operators applying the highest forces to the heels, then the frog, then the toe, and the lowest forces to the quarters. Novices applied significantly more force to the toe versus the frog. Intraope...
Janicek JC, McClure SR, Lescun TB, Witte S, Schultz L, Whittal CR, Whitfield-Cargile C.To determine the frequency of and risk factors for complications associated with casts in horses. Methods: Multicenter retrospective case series. Methods: 398 horses with a half-limb or full-limb cast treated at 1 of 4 hospitals. Methods: Data collected from medical records included age, breed, sex, injury, limb affected, time from injury to hospital admission, surgical procedure performed, type of cast (bandage cast [BC; fiberglass tape applied over a bandage] or traditional cast [TC; fiberglass tape applied over polyurethane resin-impregnated foam]), limb position in cast (flexed, neutral, o...
Jeske JM, Spier SJ, Whitcomb MB, Pusterla N, Gardner IA.To estimate likelihood ratios (LRs) of correctly identifying internal Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in horses by measurement of antibody titers via serum synergistic hemolysis inhibition (SHI) testing. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: 170 horses (171 records; 92 cases of C pseudotuberculosis infection and 79 controls). Methods: Medical records were reviewed, and horses were grouped on the basis of evidence of internal or external C pseudotuberculosis infection. The LRs and 95% confidence intervals for identification of internal C pseudotuberculosis infection b...
Arens AM, Puchalski SM, Whitcomb MB, Bell R, Gardner IA, Stover SM.To define scintigraphic, physical examination, and scapular ultrasonographic findings consistent with bone fragility syndrome (BFS) in horses; develop indices of BFS severity; and assess accuracy of physical examination, scapular ultrasonography, and serum biomarkers for BFS diagnosis. Methods: Prospective case-control study. Methods: 48 horses (20 horses with BFS and 28 control horses). Methods: Horses underwent forelimb scintigraphic evaluation, physical examination, scapular ultrasonography, and serum collection. Scintigraphy was used as a reference standard to which physical examination, s...
Kelmer G, Martin-Jimenez T, Saxton AM, Catasus C, Elliot SB, Lakritz J.There are no reported studies evaluating the use of erythromycin for regional limb perfusion (RLP) in horses. Our hypothesis was that using the cephalic and saphenous veins for RLP will enable delivery of therapeutic concentrations of erythromycin to the distal limb. Nineteen healthy horses participated in the study. The cephalic, saphenous or palmar digital (PD) vein was used to perfuse the limb with erythromycin. Synovial samples were collected from the metacarpo/metatarso-phalangeal (MCP/MTP) joint and blood samples were collected from the jugular vein. Maximum concentration (C(max)) of ery...
Schaffer PA, Wobeser B, Martin LE, Dennis MM, Duncan CG.To identify epidemiological trends in cutaneous neoplasms affecting equids in central North America and compare them with previously reported trends. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 3,351 cutaneous biopsy specimens from 3,272 equids with a neoplastic diagnosis. Methods: Diagnostic reports from 2 diagnostic laboratories (Colorado State University and Prairie Diagnostic Services Inc) were reviewed for frequency of specific lesions and epidemiological trends. Variables included in analyses (if known) were age, sex, breed, geographic location, date of diagnosis, location of neoplasm o...
de Araújo Silva DO, Matis GK, Costa LF, Kitamura MA, de Carvalho Junior EV, de Moura Silva M, Barbosa BJ, Pereira CU, da Silva JC, Birbilis TA....To present the accumulated experience from treating chronic subdural hematomas (CSDH) in a local hospital of a third world country. Methods: One hundred and twenty-five consecutive patients with CSDH who were surgically treated in the Neurosurgical Department of the Hospital da Restauração, Recife-PE, Brazil, between January 2006 and May 2008, were retrospectively studied. Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was employed to define outcome at 6 months as good (GOS 4 and 5) or poor (GOS ≤ 3). Age, admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), location of hematomas (unilateral/bilateral), drainage system place...
Gebhardt S, Merkl M, Herbach N, Wanke R, Handler J, Bauersachs S.The equine endometrium exhibits characteristic morphological and functional changes during the estrous cycle controlled by the interplay of progesterone and estradiol. A microarray analysis of endometrial tissue samples derived from five time points of the estrous cycle (Day [D] 0, D3, D8, D12, and D16) was performed to study the dynamics of equine endometrial gene expression. Statistical analysis revealed 4996 genes differentially expressed during the estrous cycle. Clustering of similar expression profiles was performed to find groups of coregulated genes. This revealed eight major profiles:...
UpRichard K, Elce YA, Piat P, Beauchamp G, Laverty S.To determine the short- and long-term outcome for sport horses after arthroscopic treatment of osteochondrosis of the lateral trochlear ridge of the femur. Methods: A retrospective study was performed using the medical records of horses intended for use as English sport horses. Outcome was obtained through telephone questionnaire. Results: Thirty-seven horses, mainly Warmbloods, underwent arthroscopic surgery for treatment of lateral femoral trochlear ridge osteochondrosis. Short-term outcome revealed that 27 of 37 horses had no complications. Seven horses had postoperative lameness and effusi...
Antczak DF, de Mestre AM, Wilsher S, Allen WR.A remarkable feature of equine pregnancy is the development of the invasive trophoblast of the chorionic girdle and its formation of the gonadotrophin-secreting endometrial cup cells in early gestation. The details of this process have been revealed only slowly over the past century, since the first description of the endometrial cups in 1912. This centennial presents an opportunity to review the characteristics of the cells and molecules involved in this early, critical phase of placentation in the mare. The invasiveness of the chorionic girdle trophoblast appears to represent an atavistic at...
Pollitt CC, Bell K.A method of horizontal thin layer polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at acid pH has been developed for the separation of the prealbumins in equine plasma. Using this method, it has been possible to split the S allele into two, S1 and S2, bringing the total number of prealbumin alleles in Thoroughbred horses to eight. The gene frequencies of these eight alleles in Australian Thoroughbreds are presented. All eight prealbumin types exhibit antiprotease activity and therefore, it is suggested that the name prealbumin (Pr) should be abandoned in favour of protease inhibitor (Pi) although at this st...
Slater J.Josh Slater looks back at the past 125 years of developments in equine infectious disease, including landmark discoveries in microbiology and genomics, and considers what the future may hold.
TOMCSIK J, SCHWARZWEISS H.1. From beef stroma pretreated at room temperature with acetone and alcohol, a fraction was isolated with boiling 100% alcohol which, in a dilution of 1:500,000, combines with the sheep blood agglutinin of human serum produced during serum sickness. Using the terminology of Schiff, this fraction corresponds to the heterogenetic serum sickness antigen; it could be separated to a large extent from the heterogenetic mononucleosis antigen which also occurs in beef stroma.
2. The so-called serum sickness antigen also occurs heterogenetically in guinea pig kidney and it could also be isolated from ...
Tennent-Brown B.Although a range of plasma-based products (e.g., cryoprecipitate, albumin, platelet-rich plasma, individual coagulation factors) are available to human physicians, equine veterinarians are largely restricted to using whole blood, frozen plasma, and fresh frozen plasma for transfusions. The indications for frozen or fresh frozen plasma in human medicine are relatively limited, and there is little evidence supporting the efficacy of these products in many cases. Furthermore, many human physicians have concerns regarding disease transmission and anaphylactic reactions after administration of any ...
Maylin G, Fenger C, Machin J, Kudrimoti S, Eisenberg R, Green J, Tobin T.Aminorex, (RS)-5- Phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-amine, is an amphetamine-like anorectic and in the United States a Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA] Schedule 1 controlled substance. Aminorex in horse urine is usually present as a metabolite of Levamisole, an equine anthelmintic and immune stimulant. Recently, Aminorex identifications have been reported in horse urine with no history or evidence of Levamisole administration. Analysis of the urine samples suggested a botanical source, directing attention to the Brassicaceae plant family, with their contained GlucoBarbarin and Barbarin as p...
Urie NJ, Lombard JE, Marshall KL, Digianantonio R, Pelzel-McCluskey AM, McCluskey BJ, Traub-Dargatz JL, Kopral CA, Swenson SL, Schiltz JJ.Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is caused by a contagious rhabdovirus that affects horses, cattle, and swine. Clinical signs of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection in pigs and cattle are indistinguishable from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a foreign animal disease and reportable disease in the United States (Rodriguez et al., 2000). A VS epidemic occurred in the Rocky Mountain region in 2014-15. A study was conducted in Colorado to evaluate horse- and management-level factors associated with VS. For a horse to be considered a clinical VS horse, there were two requirements. First, clinical VS ...
Messer NT, Johnson PJ.The evidence-based literature pertaining to thyroid dysfunction and Cushing's syndrome is discussed in this article. Summaries of and recommendations for the treatment of these conditions are made. There is a need for reliable diagnostic tests for these conditions in horses.
Casagrande Proietti P, Bietta A, Coppola G, Felicetti M, Cook RF, Coletti M, Marenzoni ML, Passamonti F.The objective of this manuscript was to validate published PCR-based methods for detection of β-haemolytic Streptococci by comparison with established bacteriological techniques using 85 clinical isolates recovered from uterine swabs of mares with clinical signs of endometritis and to determine the distribution of SeeL/SeeM and SzeL/SzeM superantigens in isolates of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus). The conventional bacteriological techniques showed the vast majority of these isolates (78) were S. zooepidemicus with just 5 Streptococ...
Nagy A, Dyson S.Detailed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological appearances of the proximal aspect of the suspensory ligament (PSL) in the forelimb of nonlame horses have not been previously documented. Objective: 1) to describe detailed anatomy of the PSL, 2) describe high- and low-field MRI and histological appearances of the PSL and surrounding structures in the forelimb of horses with no carpal or proximal metacarpal pain, 3) assess the relationship between age, breed, gender, height, bodyweight and MRI findings and 4) describe the histological appearance of the PSL and compare this with MRI fi...
Ginther OJ, Utt MD, Beg MA.The temporal relationships between follicle deviation and systemic hormone concentrations were studied in mares. Blood samples were obtained at 01:00, 07:00, 13:00, and 19:00 h from nine mares throughout an interovulatory interval. Diurnal variation in progesterone occurred on Days 4-12 and in LH on Days 4 and 5; the lowest concentration for both hormones was at 13:00 h. Ultrasonically observed deviation in the ovulatory follicular wave began on Day 15.7+/-0.5 (ovulation=Day 0). An increase (P<0.002) in LH began on Day 14 before the beginning of deviation, and an increase (P<0.05) in est...
Krista KM, Kuebelbeck KL.To determine how survival rates in geriatric horses (>or= 20 years old) undergoing abdominal exploratory surgery for colic compare with survival rates for younger (nongeriatric) horses. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: 56 geriatric horses and 487 nongeriatric horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy for colic. Methods: Medical records of all horses undergoing emergency abdominal exploratory surgery for primary gastrointestinal tract lesions over a 10-year period were reviewed. Data retrieved included signalment, primary gastrointestinal tract lesion, whether the horse was ...
Clarke AF, Madelin TM, Allpress RG.The relationship between air hygiene within two types of identically managed horse housing and the incidence of covert respiratory disease (as revealed by endoscopic examination) of their inhabitants was assessed. The horses were all under the supervision of the same trainer. In one yard the design ensured the boxes were well ventilated in still air conditions. In the other yard the boxes were insulated and there was little provision for natural ventilation in still air conditions. There was heavy fungal and actinomycete contamination of wood shavings in the heavily insulated, poorly ventilate...
Auclair-Ronzaud J, Benoist S, Dubois C, Frejaville M, Jousset T, Jaffrézic F, Wimel L, Chavatte-Palmer P.In clinics, temperature is used as an indicator of health. Mostly rectal temperature is recorded, requiring handling and time. Temperature-sensitive identification microchips could be an alternative. Foals (26 males and 17 females), 4-12 months old, were housed in stalls over two winters (December-February). They were equipped with an identification and temperature sensor microchip implanted in the neckline. Temperature was recorded using an antenna located near the drinking trough. Animals were fed concentrated feed and forage twice daily, with free access to water. Rectal temperatures (79 m...
Read AJ, Finlaison DS, Gu X, Hick PM, Moloney BJ, Wright T, Kirkland PD.Between February and June 2011, more than 300 horses with unexplained neurological disease were observed in New South Wales, Australia. A virulent strain of West Nile virus (WNV ), of Australian origin, was shown to be the cause of many of these cases. Methods: We reviewed the clinical descriptions provided by veterinary practitioners and the associated laboratory results. Although there was a range of clinical signs described, ataxia was the only sign that was consistently described in laboratory-confirmed cases. Results: WNV was detected in brain samples by real-time reverse transcription PC...
Wijnberg ID, Hardeman LC, van der Meij BR, Veraa S, Back W, van der Kolk JH.Therapeutic reduction of the activity of the deep digital flexor (DDF) muscle may play a role in treatment of laminitic horses. Clostridium botulinum toxin type A induces reduced muscle activity and has a spasmolytic effect in horses. In this study, the effectiveness of 200 IU C. botulinum toxin type A on reduction of DDF muscle activity was measured in seven healthy, sound, adult Royal Dutch sport horses. C. botulinum toxin type A was injected using ultrasound and electromyographic (EMG) guidance. The effectiveness was assessed by interference pattern analysis (IPA) and motor unit action pote...
Southwood LL, Stashak TS, Kainer RA, Wrigley RH.To describe a tenoscopic approach to the carpal sheath for desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the superficial digital flexor tendon. Methods: The surgical procedure was developed with use of normal forelimbs from equine cadavers and experimental horses. Methods: Twelve equine cadaveric forelimbs, 4 forelimbs from 2 horses anesthetized for terminal surgical laboratories, and 10 forelimbs from five experimental horses were used. Methods: The limbs were positioned lateral side up with the carpus slightly flexed. After distention of the carpal sheath, a portal was made approximately 2 cm proxi...
Taylor PM, Kirby JJ, Shrimpton DJ, Johnson CB.Sixteen colts were premedicated with acepromazine and anaesthesia was induced with detomidine and ketamine. Ponies were randomly allocated to receive halothane (HAL) or infusion of detomidine, ketamine and guaiphenesin (DKG) to maintain anaesthesia. Heart and respiratory rate, ECG, mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), cardiac index (CI), blood gases and plasma cortisol, ketamine and guaiphenesin were measured. Surgical castration took place between 45 and 75 min and anaesthesia lasted 90 min. MABP with DKG was significantly higher than with HAL, and, with HAL, MABP increased from pre-surgery (...
Boy MG, Sweeney CR.To characterize pneumothorax in horses and to describe clinical signs, diagnostic testing, and clinical outcome of horses with pneumothorax. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 40 horses. Methods: Medical records of horses with pneumothorax were reviewed to obtain information on signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic testing, treatment, and clinical outcome. Results: Horses developed pneumothorax secondary to pleuropneumonia (17 horses), open wounds of the thorax (9), closed trauma to the thorax (7), surgery on the upper portion of the respiratory tract (3), and surgery involving t...
Luedke LK, Ilevbare P, Noordwijk KJ, Palomino PM, McDonough SP, Palmer SE, Basran PS, Donnelly E, Reesink HL.To determine whether proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) microdamage and fracture toughness differ between Thoroughbred racehorses sustaining PSB fracture and controls. Methods: Cadaveric case-control. Methods: Twenty-four Thoroughbred racehorses (n = 12 PSB fracture, n = 12 control). Methods: Proximal sesamoid bones were dissected, and gross pathological changes and morphological measurements were documented. High-speed exercise history data were evaluated. Microdamage was assessed in fracture, fracture-contralateral limb (FXCL) and control PSBs using whole bone lead uranyl acetate (LUA) stainin...
Himsworth CG, Argue CK.Clinical signs and carcass traits observed during the 2006 Saskatchewan anthrax outbreak were largely consistent with those previously published, except for cutaneous anthrax and anthrax mastitis in cows, and subcutaneous edema in bulls and horses. Failure of blood to clot was the most reliable indicator of anthrax in carcasses. Impressions cliniques de l’anthrax lors de l’éclosion de 2006 en Saskatchewan. Les signes cliniques et les caractéristiques des carcasses observés durant l’éclosion d’anthrax en Saskatchewan en 2006 étaient généralement similaires à ceux déjà publiés...
von Rechenberg B, McIlwraith CW, Akens MK, Frisbie DD, Leutenegger C, Auer JA.Nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and the activity of neutral metalloproteinases (NMPs) were measured in conditioned media of equine synovial membrane and articular cartilage explant cultures from horses with normal joints (n = 7) and from horses affected with moderate (n = 7) or severe osteoarthritis (n = 14) as judged by macroscopic appearance. Normal articular cartilage appeared glossy and bluish-white, was of normal thickness and showed no evidence of discolouration, fibrillation or other cartilage discontinuity. Slight discolouration and fibrillation or minor clefts of the carti...
Banse HE, Whitehead AE, McFarlane D, Chelikani PK.Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a common endocrine disorder of aged horses, with muscle atrophy as one of the clinical signs. We sought to compare muscle mass and regulation of skeletal muscle proteolysis between horses with PPID and muscle atrophy to older horses without PPID, and to assess the impact of treatment with pergolide (dopaminergic agonist) on PPID horses. We hypothesized that PPID-associated muscle atrophy is a result of increased proteolysis, and that markers of muscle atrophy and proteolysis would improve over time with pergolide treatment. Markers of muscle atro...
Reef VB, Collatos C.The umbilical arteries, urachus, and umbilical vein were scanned ultrasonographically in 13 clinically normal foals that ranged in age from 6 hours to 4 weeks. Sonograms were obtained using a 7.5-MHz sector scanner transducer placed across the midline of the ventral portion of the foal's abdominal wall. The umbilical vein was scanned from the umbilical stalk to its entrance into the hepatic parenchyma. The mean (+/- SD) diameter of the umbilical vein was 0.61 +/- 0.20 cm immediately cranial to the umbilical stalk, 0.52 +/- 0.19 cm midway between the umbilicus and liver, and 0.6 +/- 0.19 cm at ...
Hjertner B, Olofsson KM, Lindberg R, Fuxler L, Fossum C.There is accumulating evidence for the involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with a T helper 17 response in intestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in humans. The involvement of interleukin (IL)-17 or IL-23 in equine IBD has not been studied and most gene expression studies in the equine intestine have been limited to the use of a single non-validated reference gene. In this study, expression of the reference gene candidates β2 microglobulin (β2M), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), histone H2A type 1, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltra...
Owen RA, Fullerton J, Barnum DA.Seventeen ponies were infected with Salmonella typhimurium and then 15 were variously stressed by transportation and/or surgery and 9 were given oxytetracycline. Indications of Salmonella reactivation occurred in all the stressed ponies. Diarrhea due to a reactivation of the Salmonella infection did not develop until greater than 3 days after stress, although maximal shedding of organisms occurred within 24 hours. A neutropenia generally occurred within 24 hours after stress and lasted about 5 days. A rectal temperature greater than 39 C usually did not occur. An increase in serologic titer wa...
Mukaratirwa S, Munjere IF, Takawira M, Chingwena G.Gastrodiscosis outbreaks due to Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus were recorded in horses in the vicinity of Harare, Zimbabwe, in the absence of Bulinus forskalii, B. senegalensis and Cleopatra sp. which are considered to be the only intermediate host snails. This suggested the possibility of other snail species acting as intermediate hosts in the life cycle of the trematode. A study was carried out to determine the susceptibility of 7 freshwater snail species to infection with G. aegyptiacus. First generation (F-1) of 5 freshwater pulmonate snail species, Bulinus tropicus, Bulinus globosus, Biomphalar...
