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.
Dzierzęcka M, Charuta A.Proximal phalanges in horses are among bones that are most prone to injuries. So far, the detailed analysis of densitometric and geometric parameters of both front legs proximal phalanges in horses has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the densitometric and geometric parameters between proximal phalanges in equine both front legs with the use of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Methods: The study material comprised isolated both front legs proximal phalanges derived from 22 horses. The structure analysis of the proximal phalanges was conducted with ...
Russold E, Ambrisko TD, Schramel JP, Auer U, Van Den Hoven R, Moens YP.To compare tidal volume estimations obtained from Respiratory Ultrasonic Plethysmography (RUP) with simultaneous spirometric measurements in anaesthetized, mechanically ventilated horses. Methods: Prospective randomized experimental study. Methods: Five experimental horses. Methods: Five horses were anaesthetized twice (1 week apart) in random order in lateral and in dorsal recumbency. Nine ventilation modes (treatments) were scheduled in random order (each lasting 4 minutes) applying combinations of different tidal volumes (8, 10, 12 mL kg(-1)) and positive end-expiratory pressures (PEEP) (0,...
Murata D, Misumi K, Fujiki M.We hypothesized that semi-quantitative determinations of changeable blood flows in granulation and scar tissues during tendon healing could be helpful for differentiation between the acute phase rich in blood vessels and the remodeling phase with fewer vessels. Ten Thoroughbreds with injured superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in a forelimb were used for evaluation of blood flows in the injured tendons of racehorses using color Doppler (CD) ultrasonography. Using longitudinal CD images, features of maximum color activities were defined. These were rhythmically blinking, tiny to small sign...
McDï¿® LA, Pack L, Lores M, Wright GM, Esparza-Gonzalez B, Masaoud E.To compare the efficacy of osteoprogenitors in fibrin glue to fibrin glue alone in bone healing of surgically induced ostectomies of the fourth metacarpal bones in an equine model. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Adult horses (n = 10). Methods: Segmental ostectomies of the 4th metacarpal bone (MC4) were performed bilaterally in 10 horses. There was 1 treatment and 1 control limb in each horse. Bone defects were randomly injected with either fibrin glue and osteoprogenitor cells or fibrin glue alone. Radiography was performed every week until the study endpoint at 12 weeks. After euthanasia, bo...
Lindahl J, Dalin AM, Stuhtmann G, Morrell JM.One of the challenges faced by equine breeders is ensuring delivery of good quality semen doses for artificial insemination when the mare is due to ovulate. Single Layer Centrifugation (SLC) has been shown to select morphologically normal spermatozoa with intact chromatin and good progressive motility from the rest of the ejaculate, and to prolong the life of these selected spermatozoa in vitro. The objective of the present study was a proof of concept, to determine whether fertilizing ability was retained in SLC-selected spermatozoa during prolonged storage. Results: Sixteen mares were insemi...
Oliveira-Filho JP, Cagnini DQ, Badial PR, Pessoa MA, Del Piero F, Borges AS.Cassia occidentalis is a bush from the Leguminosae family, subfamily Caesalpinoideae, and is a toxic plant of veterinary interest due to the occasional contamination of animal rations. This report describes the clinical and histopathological findings of an outbreak of C. occidentalis poisoning in horses. Twenty mares were poisoned after consuming ground corn contaminated with 8% of C. occidentalis seeds. Of the 20 animals affected, 12 died: 8 mares were found dead, 2 died 6 h after the onset of clinical signs compatible with hepatic encephalopathy and the 2 other animals were subjected to euth...
Townsend WM, Wasserman N, Jacobi S.Intraocular lenses (IOLs) have been implanted in adult equine eyes after cataract surgery. Foals and weanlings comprise a large proportion of those horses undergoing cataract surgery. Due to potential differences in the size and corneal curvature of the juvenile eye, it is not currently known whether implantation of adult IOLs is appropriate in foals and weanlings. The objective of the study was to measure the anterior chamber depth (ACD), central lens thickness (CLT), vitreous chamber depth (VCD), axial globe length (AGL) and corneal curvature of horses less than one year of age. The axial di...
Zauscher JM, Estrada R, Edinger J, Lischer CJ.To evaluate intra- and interobserver variability in ultrasonographic measurements of the proximal aspect of the suspensory ligament (PSL) in the horse. Objective: A minimum difference of ≥20% is required to differentiate reliably between physiological and pathological alterations related to dimensions. Methods: Two operators examined the PSL in all 4 limbs of 14 horses twice using different techniques and different probes with and without standoff pads. Measurements were taken from the longitudinal and transverse images. Inter- and intraoperator variability was evaluated using agreement indi...
Tee SY, Horadagoda N, Mogg TD.Flaviviruses, including Kunjin virus, are arboviruses that cause encephalomyelitis in humans and horses. This case report describes an Arabian gelding exhibiting neurological signs of flavivirus encephalomyelitis, the diagnostic investigation and confirmation of an unreported case of Kunjin virus equine encephalomyelitis in Australia.
Ball BA, Almeida J, Conley AJ.Endocrinological assays are important for evaluation of mares with granulosa-cell tumours (GCTs), and our research in mares indicates that anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) may be a good biomarker for this type of ovarian tumour. Objective: To evaluate the use of serum AMH concentrations for endocrine diagnosis of GCTs in mares. Methods: Archived serum samples (n = 403) previously assayed for determination of serum inhibin, testosterone and progesterone concentrations (GCT panel) were assayed for serum AMH concentrations using a heterologous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay previously validated b...
Kol A, Walker NJ, Galuppo LD, Clark KC, Buerchler S, Bernanke A, Borjesson DL.Autologous cellular therapy products including adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF), bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNs), cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMNs) and platelet rich plasma are options for treatment of acute orthopaedic lesions while mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are culture expanded. These products may contribute to healing by secreting matrix proteins or growth factors, but they may also act on endogenous MSCs to facilitate healing. Objective: To determine the effects of cell therapy products on MSCs function in vitro. The hypothesis was that cell therapy products pro...
Barr BS, Waldridge BM, Morresey PR, Reed SM, Clark C, Belgrave R, Donecker JM, Weigel DJ.Although antimicrobial-associated diarrhoea (AAD) is the most frequently observed adverse effect of antimicrobial therapy in horses, few multicentred studies on the prevalence of AAD have been performed. Objective: To determine the prevalence of AAD in horses that developed diarrhoea after antimicrobial treatment for nondiarrhoeic conditions and identify the antimicrobials used. Methods: The 2009 database of 3 referral hospitals was searched to identify nonhospitalised horses (weanling age or older) treated with antimicrobials for nongastrointestinal conditions. Horses with these criteria that...
Püschel V, Michaelsen U, Giensch M, Lockemann U, Meenen NM, Hessler C.To reduce the number of equine-related injuries, knowledge about causes of accidents is of great importance. In the present study the causes of equine-related accidents were evaluated by a questionnaire survey. Based on our results options for prevention of equine-related accidents were formulated. Methods: The working-group "safer riding, Hamburg" and the "German riding association (FN)" created a questionnaire to evaluate causes of equine-related accidents. This questionnaire was published in the print media "Cavallo" and "St. Georg" as well as on the online portal www.hamburger-ag-reitersic...
Dimock AN, Hoffman KD, Puchalski SM, Stover SM.Veterinarians have observed a putative change in the location of humeral stress remodelling in Thoroughbred racehorses with change from dirt to synthetic racetrack surfaces. Objective: To determine whether the location and severity of humeral stress remodelling differs between Thoroughbred racehorses exercising on dirt and synthetic racetrack surfaces, the potential significance of different locations of stress remodelling, and the potential usefulness of scintigraphy for prevention of complete humeral fracture. Methods: Scintigraphic images of humeri from 841 Thoroughbred racehorses at 3 race...
Cordes V, Lüpke M, Gardemin M, Seifert H, Staszyk C.In equine dentistry periodontal diseases, especially periapical inflammation, are frequently occurring problems. Anachoresis is believed to be the most common cause for the development of such disorders. Nevertheless, there is still no substantiated explanation why settlement of pathogen microorganisms occurs in equine periodontal tissues. It is expected that excessive strains and stresses occurring in the periodontal ligament (PDL) during the horse's chewing cycle might be a predisposing factor. In this study this assumption was examined by finite element (FE) analyses on virtual 3-D models o...
Patterson-Kane JC, Becker DL, Rich T.The equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is a frequently injured structure that is functionally and clinically equivalent to the human Achilles tendon (AT). Both act as critical energy-storage systems during high-speed locomotion and can accumulate exercise- and age-related microdamage that predisposes to rupture during normal activity. Significant advances in understanding of the biology and pathology of exercise-induced tendon injury have occurred through comparative studies of equine digital tendons with varying functions and injury susceptibilities. Due to the limitations of in-...
Makvandi-Nejad S, Hoffman GE, Allen JJ, Chu E, Gu E, Chandler AM, Loredo AI, Bellone RR, Mezey JG, Brooks SA, Sutter NB.Horse body size varies greatly due to intense selection within each breed. American Miniatures are less than one meter tall at the withers while Shires and Percherons can exceed two meters. The genetic basis for this variation is not known. We hypothesize that the breed population structure of the horse should simplify efforts to identify genes controlling size. In support of this, here we show with genome-wide association scans (GWAS) that genetic variation at just four loci can explain the great majority of horse size variation. Unlike humans, which are naturally reproducing and possess many...
Atta EH, de Sousa AM, Schirmer MR, Bouzas LF, Nucci M, Abdelhay E.The standard regimen for HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplant (BMT) in severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is cyclophosphamide (Cy) and horse antithymocyte globulin (ATG). Horse ATG has been replaced by rabbit ATG in many countries due to the unavailability of the former product. This study was designed to assess if these ATG preparations are interchangeable in the preparative regimen for matched related BMT in SAA. Forty consecutive BMTs were retrospectively analyzed: 20 received Cy plus horse ATG and 20 received Cy plus rabbit ATG as the preparative regimen. Conditioning with rabbit ATG was...
Suontama M, van der Werf JH, Juga J, Ojala M.Heritability and repeatability and genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated for trotting race records with linear and generalized linear models using 510,519 records on 17,792 Finnhorses and 513,161 records on 25,536 Standardbred trotters. Heritability and repeatability were estimated for single racing time and earnings traits with linear models, and logarithmic scale was used for racing time and fourth-root scale for earnings to correct for nonnormality. Generalized linear models with a gamma distribution were applied for single racing time and with a multinomial distribution for si...
Mawyer JD, Cavinder CA, Vogelsang MM, Sigler DH, Love CC, Brinsko SP, Blanchard TL, Varner DD, Arnold CE, Teague S, Gordon RK.Stallions (n = 8) were implanted with a thermal sensory device in the muscle of the neck and the subcutaneous tissue of the scrotum and then assigned to either a nonexercise (Non-EX; n = 4) or exercise (EX; n = 4) group. A motorized equine exerciser was used to work EX stallions 30 min/d for 4 d/wk during a 12-wk period from July through October 2010. Temperatures (subcutaneous scrotal, intramuscular neck, and rectal) were recorded at 0, 22, and 30 min after the start of exercise, as well as 60 and 120 min post-exercise. Hourly ambient temperature and relative humidity data were also obtained....
Brophy PM, MacKintosh N, Morphew RM.Anthelmintics are the cornerstone of parasitic helminth control. Surprisingly, understanding of the biochemical pathways used by parasitic helminths to detoxify anthelmintics is fragmented, despite the increasing global threat of anthelmintic resistance within the ruminant and equine industries. Reductionist biochemistry has likely over-estimated the enzymatic role of glutathione transferases in anthelmintic metabolism and neglected the potential role of the cytochrome P-450 superfamily (CYPs). Proteomic technologies offers the opportunity to support genomics, reverse genetics and pharmacokine...
Matsuura A, Irimajiri M, Matsuzaki K, Hiraguri Y, Nakanowatari T, Yamazaki A, Hodate K.The aim of this study was to establish a method for estimating loading capacity for Japanese native horses by gait analysis using an accelerometer. Six mares of Japanese native horses were used. The acceleration of each horse was recorded during walking and trotting along a straight course at a sampling frequency of 200 Hz. Each horse performed 12 tests: one test with a loaded weight of 80 kg (First 80 kg) followed by 10 tests with random loaded weights between 85 kg and 130 kg and a final test with a loaded weight of 80 kg again. The time series of acceleration was subjected to fa...
de Vries A, Taylor PM, Troughton G, Liu B, Fowden AL, Sear JW.This study examined the pharmacokinetics of propofol by infusion in ponies using an analyser for the rapid measurement of propofol concentrations. The analyser (Pelorus 1000; Sphere Medical Ltd., Cambridge, UK) has a measurement cycle of approximately five minutes. Ten Welsh-cross ponies (weighing 135-300 kg) undergoing minor procedures were studied after premedication with acepromazine 0.03 mg/kg and detomidine 0.015 mg/kg. Anaesthesia was induced with ketamine 2 mg/kg and diazepam 0.03 mg/kg, and maintained with an infusion of propofol at an initial rate of 0.16 mg/kg/min for the first thirt...
Schreiber CM, Stewart AJ, Kwessi E, Behrend EN, Wright JC, Kemppainen RJ, Busch KA.To determine whether seasonal variations exist in endogenous plasma ACTH, plasma α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), serum cortisol, and serum insulin concentrations and in the results of a dexamethasone suppression test for older, clinically normal geldings in Alabama. Methods: Cohort study. Methods: 15 healthy mixed-breed geldings (median age, 14 years). Methods: Sample collection was repeated monthly for 12 months. Dexamethasone (0.04 mg/kg [0.02 mg/lb], IM) was administered and cortisol concentrations were determined at 15 and 19 hours. Radioimmunoassays were used to measure ACTH, ...
McConaghy FF, Davis RE, Reppas GP, Rawlinson R J, McClintock SA, Hutchins DR, Hodgson DR.Treatment options for equine sarcoids are briefly reviewed and the results of a retrospective study of 63 cases of equine sarcoid (66 lesions) treated by clinicians from the Rural Veterinary Centre, Camden, Australia from 1975 to 1993 presented. Five different treatments were employed in the management of these 66 lesions, including surgical excision alone or in combination with cryotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and tumour transfer to a subcutaneous site on the neck. The majority of cases were treated with surgical excision alone (18/66), excision followed by cryotherapy (31/66) and imm...
Olver CS, Webb TL, Long LJ, Scherman H, Prenni JE.Disease-specific biomarkers hold diagnostic promise in both human and veterinary medicine, but serum biomarkers in low concentrations may be masked by the presence of abundant proteins, mostly albumin and IgG. Methods to deplete albumin and IgG exist, but efficacy of these methods for depleting equine serum of these proteins has not been established. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if albumin and IgG could be depleted from equine serum using several commercially available kits and procedures. Methods: One-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by densitometry was used to de...
Farkas R, Hall MJ.Veterinarians in Hungary were asked to complete a questionnaire on traumatic myiasis; of the 664 veterinarians contacted, 247 replied (37.2 per cent) and of these 209 (84.6 per cent) reported myiasis to be a problem among the livestock they treated. Infestation levels of > 10 per cent of animals were reported in sheep, cattle and horses. The myiasis season lasted from March to November with most cases reported in July and August. Significantly more respondents reported that fly larvae were present deep in wounds rather than superficially, consistent with infestations due to the obligate parasi...
Foil LD, Klei TR, Miller RI, Church GE, Foil CS, French DD, Smith JN.Seasonal changes in density and spatial distribution of Onchocerca cervicalis microfilariae were studied in ventral-midline skin of 15 infected pony mares in southern Louisiana. Triple running mean analysis of data over a 13-mo period indicated that a distinct pattern exists in total microfilariae population density and in microfilariae occurrence in different levels of the dermis. Microfilariae density reaches peak levels in the spring followed by a 58% decrease in the summer, a 19% increase in the fall, and a decrease to the lowest numbers in the winter. Microfilariae were found in all level...
Yancik SA, McIlwraith CW, Wagner AE, Trotter GW.Creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) enzyme activities and isoenzymes were determined for synovial fluid, synovial membrane, and articular cartilage from 24 clinically normal equine tarsocrural (tibiotarsal) and femoropatellar joints. All 3 tissues contained LD isoenzymes LD1 to LD5, and CK isoenzymes BB and MM. The CK isoenzyme MB was not found. The similarities in isoenzyme composition of these 3 tissues made differentiation of the source of LD and CK impossible by isoenzyme pattern alone. Reference values for the total enzyme activities of specific joint tissues also had wide...
de Kock SS, Rodgers JP, Swanepoel BC.Previous studies have shown that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a promising marker for the detection of growth hormone (GH) abuse in the horse. The significant increases observed with GH administration in comparison to natural levels imply the possibility of setting a threshold level for IGF-1 that would be indicative of GH abuse. Although an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) has been identified as a reliable screening method, a more specific IGF-1 quantification method needs to be developed for the prosecution of GH abuse by horseracing authorities. This study describes such an HPLC ele...
Priskin K, Szabó K, Tömöry G, Bogácsi-Szabó E, Csányi B, Eördögh R, Downes CS, Raskó I.Movements of human populations leave their traces in the genetic makeup of the areas affected; the same applies to the horses that move with their owners This study is concerned with the mitochondrial control region genotypes of 31 archaeological horse remains, excavated from pre-conquest Avar and post-conquest Hungarian burial sites in the Carpathian Basin dating from the sixth to the tenth century. To investigate relationships to other ancient and recent breeds, modern Hucul and Akhal Teke samples were also collected, and mtDNA control region (CR) sequences from 76 breeds representing 921 in...
Del Prete C, Freccero F, Lanci A, Hallowell GD, Bullone C, Castagnetti C, Pasolini MP.Ultrasonographic measurement of the vena cava and aorta (Ao) diameters and their ratios have been suggested to be a reliable way of quantifying hypovolemia. To evaluate the feasibility and reliability of an ultrasonographic technique for measurement of Ao and caudal vena cava (CVC) and derived ratios using three different acoustic windows in a population of healthy neonatal foals. Correlation between Ao and CVC measurements and ratios and foals' age or bodyweight were also investigated. In 14 healthy foals aged less than 7Â days, the diameters of the Ao and of the CVC in long and short axis we...
Dunkel B, Chaney KP, Dallap-Schaer BL, Pellegrini-Masini A, Mair TS, Boston R.Intestinal hyperammonaemia (HA) has been infrequently reported in individual horses; however, there have been no studies describing clinical and laboratory data as well as short- and long-term outcome in a larger number of cases. Objective: To describe clinical and laboratory data and short- and long-term outcome in a large group of horses with intestinal HA. Methods: Multi-centred, retrospective study; case records of horses with HA were reviewed and any horse with a clinical or post mortem diagnosis of intestinal HA was included. Hyperammonaemia was defined as a blood ammonium (NH(4) (+)) co...
Egenvall A, Lönnell C, Johnston C, Roepstorff L.Orthopaedic injury is the most common reason for lameness and wastage in sport and leisure horses. Studies on racehorses have shown differences in injury risk between trainers and training strategies. The aim was to study between riding school variation in orthopaedic health status by clinical examination and horses age, and control for change of examiner, in schools with previous high (n = 4) and low (n = 4) insurance utilisation. Methods: Horses (n = 99) at 8 riding schools were examined for conformation, movement in all gaits, standing flexion tests and palpation by two veterinary surgeons ...
Katila T, Sankari S, Mäkelä O.A scintigraphic method was developed to study sperm migration in the reproductive tracts of mares. Mares (n=5) and stallions (n=2) were used to test various steps of the procedure and three other mares and a stallion were used to study sperm transportation. A radiolabelling solution was prepared from 99mTc (Technetium-99m) and hexamethyl propylene amine oxime. The highest labelling of spermatozoa (57-72%) was obtained by incubation of the spermatozoa with the radiolabelling solution for 20 min at 20 degrees C. Radioactivity outside the spermatozoa was removed by centrifugation and by two subse...
Perryman LE, Wyatt CR, Magnuson NS, Mason PH.Monoclonal antibodies specific for equine T lymphocyte subpopulations were produced and procedures for the continuous culture of equine lymphocytes were developed. These reagents and procedures were used to analyse the appearance, maturation and functions of T lymphocytes in normal horses and in T lymphocyte deficient horses with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). T lymphocytes appeared as early as the 75th day of fetal development and were normally distributed prior to birth of normal foals. Analysis of thymic T lymphocyte differentiation in SCID foals revealed the presence of both prot...
McCann JS, Caudle AB, Thompson FN, Stuedemann JA, Heusner GL, Thompson DL.Thirty mares in late gestation were used in a 3-yr study to assess effects of the tall fescue endophyte Acremonium coenophialum on serum prolactin (PRL) and progesterone. Two paddocks of each treatment, 0 or 100% infected 'Kentucky 31' tall fescue, were grazed by the mares for 21 d. Blood was collected three times per week until parturition. At 7-d intervals, mares were challenged with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) while grazing and blood was collected postinjection. Mares grazing 100% infected tall fescue (E+) had decreased serum PRL compared with mares grazing the 0% infected tall fesc...
Polley L.In an abattoir survey of 383 horses from the four western provinces of Canada and 240 horses from Washington, Montana and North Dakota prevalences of Onchocerca sp of 11.8% and 25.8% respectively have been demonstrated by umbilical skin specimen examinations. The results of this survey are discussed in relation to the parasite's natural history and its clinical significance in western Canada.
Gozalo-Marcilla M, Luna SPL, Gasthuys F, Schauvliege S.To perform a literature review of the thermal and mechanical antinociceptive devices used in pharmacological studies in standing horses published after 2011 (2012-2019). To complete a full literature review about electrical stimulation used for evaluation in similar studies. Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science. Conclusions: A high level of standardization has been reached in antinociceptive studies in standing horses using thermal and mechanical stimuli in most recent years. Commercially available testing devices to deliver thermal, mechanical and electrical stimuli, with observ...
Parillo F, Arias MP, Supplizi AV.Histochemical characterization of the equine guttural pouches was performed using lectins combined with sialidase digestion and deglycosylation pre-treatments. The goblet cells contained O- and N-linked oligosaccharides with alpha-Fuc, GlcNAc moieties whereas beta-GalNAc, beta-Gal-(1-3)-GalNAc, beta-Gal-(1-4)-GlcNAc and alpha-Gal residues belonged only to O-linked glycoproteins. The acinar and ductal cells expressed alpha-Man/alpha-Glc in N-linked oligosaccharides, GlcNAc in both O- and N-glycoproteins and beta-GalNAc, beta-Gal-(1-3)-GalNAc, beta-Gal-(1-4)-GlcNAc and alpha-Gal residues include...
Delling U, Howard RD, Pleasant RS, Lanz OI.To develop a minimally invasive, hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy (HALS-OHE) technique in the mare and to evaluate safety and any associated complications. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Eight, 11-24-year-old mares with anatomically normal urogenital tracts. Methods: The surgical technique was developed in 2 non-survival mares and subsequently evaluated in 6 survival procedures. Food was withheld for 48 hours, then mares were anesthetized and positioned in dorsal recumbency for laparoscopic surgery. A hand access device (Omniport) was placed followed by 4 laparoscopic porta...
Tozaki T, Swinburne J, Hirota K, Hasegawa T, Ishida N, Tobe T.Genetic maps are extremely important tools for tracing the genes that govern economically significant traits, and microsatellites are a significant component of these. In this study, we isolated 2346 novel horse microsatellites as resources for the construction of high-density horse genetic maps. Of these 2346 markers, 339 (14.5%) horse sequences showed sequence homology to DNA sequences in the human genome, demonstrating that microsatellites as type II markers are valuable resources for developing linkage maps and that they have a potential equal to that of type I markers for developing compa...
McTaggart C, Penhale J, Raidala SL.To evaluate the effect of plasma transfusion on phagocytosis and oxidative burst activity of peripheral blood neutrophils from healthy and septic equine neonates with sub-optimal passive transfer of maternal immunity. Methods: Nine healthy and seven septic foals with suboptimal passive transfer of maternal immunity (serum IgG or = 8 g/L. Methods: Foals with serum IgG concentrations or = 11. All foals received between 1 and 3 L of plasma to boost circulating IgG concentrations to > or = 8 g/L. Serum IgG concentrations were determined before and following transfusion by glutaraldehyde coagu...
Lew AM, Thomas LM, Huntington PJ.Sera of sixteen horses with clinical signs of EIA from six different outbreaks and sera of 100 uninfected horses were used to validate an ELISA for EIA diagnosis. The antigen used was a recombinant protein derived from the amino-terminal portion of the transmembrane envelope protein of EIA (gp45). Reactivity between positive and negative sera could be clearly distinguished. Comparison with the traditional agar gel immunodiffusion test (commonly called the Coggins test) showed that the ELISA was superior in sensitivity. Comparison of this ELISA with the FAST-ELISA system showed that the latter ...
Garrett KS.MRI and CT have enhanced our diagnostic abilities for equine lameness beyond what is available using radiography and ultrasonography. This has allowed veterinarians to better prognosticate and treat lameness conditions, improving patient outcomes. This article discusses the basic principles behind MRI and CT, their advantages and disadvantages, the different types of equipment available for clinical use in horses, the typical diagnostic workup prior to pursuing advanced imaging, and common regions where MRI and CT are used clinically. The companion Currents in One Health by Spriet, AJVR, July ...
Levine DG, Aitken MR.Physeal fractures are common musculoskeletal injuries in foals and should be included as a differential diagnosis for the lame or nonweightbearing foal. Careful evaluation of the patient, including precise radiographic assessment, is paramount in determining the options for treatment. Prognosis mostly depends on the patient's age, weight, and fracture location and configuration.
Cooper C, Sears W, Bienzle D.Availability of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) has facilitated use to enhance red blood cell production, and therefore aerobic performance, in human and equine athletes. Recombinant human EPO promotes growth and differentiation of equine erythroid precursor cells, but in some horses repeat administration induces immune interference with endogenous EPO resulting in fatal anemia. Although blood reticulocyte parameters acquire unique changes in humans treated with EPO, with manual enumeration methods, horses were not considered to release reticulocytes from the bone marrow into circulatio...
Matthews NS, Taylor TS, Skrobarcek CL, Williams JD.Three combinations of injectable anaesthetic agents were compared in nine adult mules. The combinations were xylazine/ketamine (X/K), xylazine/butorphanol/ketamine (X/B/K), and xylazine/tiletamine-zolazepam (X/T). Measured variables were heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, arterial blood pH, PCO2 and PO2, recumbency time and number of attempts to stand. Quality of induction and recovery, muscle relaxation and response to stimulus were evaluated subjectively. Recumbency time was significantly (P < 0.05) longer with X/B/K and X/T than with X/K. Mules required significantly mor...
Yeargan MR, Howe DK.Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a common neurologic disease of horses that is caused by the apicomplexan pathogen Sarcocystis neurona. To help improve serologic diagnosis of S. neurona infection, we have modified existing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) based on the immunogenic parasite surface antigens SnSAG2, SnSAG3, and SnSAG4 to make the assays polyvalent, thereby circumventing difficulties associated with parasite antigenic variants and diversity in equine immune responses. Two approaches were utilized to achieve polyvalence: (1) mixtures of the individual recombin...
