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.
Olsen HF, Meuwissen T, Klemetsdal G.The aim of this study was to examine how to apply optimal contribution selection (OCS) in the Norwegian and the North-Swedish cold-blooded trotter and give practical recommendations for the future. OCS was implemented using the software Gencont with overlapping generations and selected a few, but young sires, as these turn over the generations faster and thus is less related to the mare candidates. In addition, a number of Swedish sires were selected as they were less related to the selection candidates. We concluded that implementing OCS is feasible to select sires (there is no selection on m...
Kim DS, Kim DW, Kim MY, Nam SH, Choi SH, Kim RN, Kang A, Kim A, Park HS.A conjoined gene is defined as one formed at the time of transcription by combining at least part of one exon from each of two or more distinct genes that lie on the same chromosome, in the same or opposite orientation, which translate independently into different proteins. We comparatively studied the extent of conjoined genes in thirteen genomes by analyzing the public databases of expressed sequence tags and mRNA sequences using a set of computational tools designed to identify conjoined genes on the same DNA strand or opposite DNA strands of the same genomic locus. The CACG database, avail...
Berlin D, Nasereddin A, Azmi K, Ereqat S, Abdeen Z, Eyal O, Baneth G.Trypanosoma evansi is the cause of surra in horses, camels and other domestic animals. Following the first outbreak of surra in horses and camels in Israel in 2006, a survey of the prevalence of the parasite in the Israeli horse population was conducted using serology, PCR followed by the reverse dot blot (RDB) technique and blood smear microscopy. In total, 614 horses from 7 regions were sampled. The CATT/T. evansi kit was used for serology for all the horses. Horses from the Arava and Dead Sea region, where the first outbreak occurred, were sampled again one year later and both samples were ...
Lizarraga I, Beths T.To compare the effects of xylazine on mechanical nociceptive thresholds in donkeys and horses. Methods: Randomized, controlled, crossover, Latin-square, operator-blinded design. Methods: Six 3.1 ± 0.89 year old standard donkeys weighing 145.0 ± 30.5 kg and six 9.6 ± 4.4 year old Thoroughbred horses weighing 456.0 ± 69.0 kg. Methods: Each animal received one of four doses of xylazine (0.5, 0.7, 0.9, and 1.1 mg kg(-1) ), or acepromazine (0.05 mg kg(-1) ) or saline solution (0.9%) intravenously and mechanical nociceptive thresholds were assessed over 90 minutes. The areas under the threshold ...
Lindinger MI, Ecker GL.Horses lose considerably more electrolytes through sweating during prolonged exercise than can be readily replaced through feeds. The present study tested an oral electrolyte supplement (ES) designed to replace sweat electrolyte losses. We measured gastric emptying of 3 litres of ES (using gamma imaging of (99)Tc-sulfide colloid), the absorption of Na(+) and K(+) from the gastrointestinal tract using (24)Na(+) and (42)K(+), and the distribution of these ions in the body by measuring radioactivity within plasma and sweat during exercise. Three litres of ES emptied from the stomach as fast as wa...
Vidament M, Magistrini M, Le Foll Y, Levillain N, Yvon JM, Duchamp G, Blesbois E.This study tested whether variable temperatures (from -0.5 to 15 °C) and air exposure could be used under laboratory and under field conditions to store stallion sperm diluted in extender INRA96 without loss of fertility. Experiment 1 (laboratory conditions) measured the effects of two 72 h storage conditions (5 °C with air vs. 15 °C without air). Experiment 2 (fixed field conditions) measured the effects of 22 h of storage without air in disposable containers maintained at four ambient temperatures (7 °C, 17 °C, 27 °C, 39 °C with semen at -0.5 °C to 3 °C, 4 °C to 7 °C, 8 °C to 10 ...
Szóstek AZ, Siemieniuch MJ, Lukasik K, Galvão AM, Ferreira-Dias GM, Skarzynski DJ.Accurate regulation of the reproductive cycle and successful implantation depend on proper functioning of the endometrium. The aim of this study was to determine whether mRNA transcription of specific enzymes responsible for prostaglandin (PG) synthesis (prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase, PTGS-2; prostaglandin F(2α) synthase, PGFS; and prostaglandin E(2) synthases, PGES) and PG concentrations in endometrial extracts would change in moderate (Kenney's Category II) and severe phases of fibrosis (Kenney's Category III; endometrosis), compared with healthy endometrium (Kenney's Category I), dur...
Brosnan RJ, Steffey EP, Escobar A.To test the hypothesis that hypercapnic hyperpnea produced using endotracheal insufflation with 5-10% CO(2) in oxygen could be used to shorten anesthetic recovery time in horses, and that recovery from sevoflurane would be faster than from isoflurane. Methods: Randomized crossover study design. Methods: Eight healthy adult horses. Methods: After 2 hours' administration of constant 1.2 times MAC isoflurane or sevoflurane, horses were disconnected from the anesthetic circuit and administered 0, 5, or 10% CO(2) in balance O(2) via endotracheal tube insufflation. End-tidal gas samples were collect...
González-Fernández L, Morrell JM, Peña FJ, Macías-García B.The present study aimed to elucidate the effects that osmotic shock exerts on equine spermatozoa. To achieve this goal, a retrospective study of the cellular volume of 40 equine ejaculates subjected to osmolarities ranging from 75 to 900 mOsm in Biggers-Whitten-Whittingham (BWW) media was performed using a Multisizer3 Coulter Counter®. The 300 mOsm BWW solution was used as control. The sperm volume ranged between 37.93±0.6 (mean±Standard Error of the Mean (SEM)) in 75 mOsm BWW to 21.61±0.27 (mean±SEM) for 900 mOsm BWW. Thus the spermatozoa behaved as linear osmometers when adjusted to the...
Sahmi F, Nicola E, Price CA.The objective was to establish a cell line-based bioassay for FSH in horse serum for screening samples with high eCG bioactivity. A cell line (HEK293) was transiently cotransfected with an FSH reporter expression plasmid and a cAMP-responsive β-galactosidase reporter plasmid. Cells were bulk frozen, and thawed for assay purposes. This assay was specific for FSH, with no cross-reaction with LH or insulin-like growth factor-1. Standard curves (eCG) and serum samples from pregnant mares passed parallel line bioassay validity tests (linearity and parallelism). Estimates of bioactivity with this b...
Alrtib AM, Philip CJ, Abdunnabi AH, Davies HM.There are many reports describing fractures in the bony elements of the equine fetlock joint and a few of these discuss possible relationships of these fractures to the mechanical loading of these bones. The likelihood of fracture must be related to the size and shape of bones involved, but information concerning the normal range in size and shape of these bones in horses is lacking. This study aimed to identify morphometrical variations of these bones within different groups of horses. Right and left metacarpal, proximal phalangeal and proximal sesamoid bones were collected from 10 Thoroughbr...
Dugdale AH, Grove-White D, Curtis GC, Harris PA, Argo CM.Body condition scoring systems were originally developed to quantify flesh cover in food animals and are commonly used to evaluate body fat in Equidae. The relationship between concurrent estimates of body fat content (eTBF%, deuterium oxide dilution; range, 2.7-35.6%) and subjective appraisals of body 'fatness' (body condition score, BCS; range, 1.25-9/9), was investigated in 77 mature horses and ponies. Univariate (UVM, r(2)=0.79) and multivariable (MVM, r(2)=0.86) linear regression models described the association, where BCS and eTBF% were explanatory and outcome variables, respectively. Ot...
Barbić L, Listeš E, Katić S, Stevanović V, Madić J, Starešina V, Labrović A, Di Gennaro A, Savini G.West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen with rapid global expansion. The virus circulation is confirmed in many countries of Mediterranean Basin and Southern and Central Europe. In our study detection of specific WNV antibodies was performed in horses and cattle sera samples collected from October 2010 to April 2011. Serum samples were randomly taken from different parts of Croatia and tested by IgG and IgM ELISA. Positive serological results were confirmed by virus neutralization assay (VN-assay) and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Results showed that WNV antibodie...
Levi O, Affolter VK, Benak J, Kass PH, Le Jeune SS.To (1) determine if histologic scores of pelvic flexure biopsies can predict short-term survival in horses with large colon volvulus (LCV) and (2) identify clinical variables predictive of short-term survival. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n = 28) with LCV (≥ 360°). Methods: Medical records (January 2000-February 2008) of 28 horses were reviewed and clinical data recorded. Pelvic flexure biopsies were reviewed by 2 board-certified veterinary pathologists, unaware of clinical history and outcome, using 2 scoring systems. Exact logistic regression analysis was used to determine the r...
Nielsen MK, Vidyashankar AN, Olsen SN, Monrad J, Thamsborg SM.Nematodes belonging to the order Strongylida are ubiquitous in grazing horses, and the large strongyle Strongylus vulgaris is considered the most pathogenic. This parasite was originally described widely prevalent in equine establishments, but decades of frequent anthelmintic treatment appears to have reduced the prevalence dramatically. Increasing levels of anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomin parasites have led to implementation of selective therapy to reduce further development of resistance. It has been hypothesized that S. vulgaris could reoccur under these less intensive treatment cir...
Peloso JG, Cohen ND.To determine the value of serial measurements of peritoneal fluid lactate concentration (PFL) for detecting strangulating intestinal lesions (SLs) in referred horses with signs of colic. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: 94 horses with signs of colic. Methods: Medical records of horses evaluated between September 2006 and February 2010 because of signs of colic were reviewed. All included horses had ≥ 2 peritoneal fluid samples collected, including one at admission and another within 1 to 6 hours after admission. Of the 94 horses, 26 were assigned to the SL group on the basis of ...
McLellan J, Plevin S, Taylor E.3 horses were evaluated because of lameness and swelling of the stifle joint subsequent to trauma. Results: All horses had characteristic clinical signs of stifle joint pain and effusion. A medial patellar fracture and lateral collateral ligament avulsion fracture were visible ultrasonographically in each. Radiography, including standard as well as flexed lateromedial, cranioproximal-craniodistal oblique (skyline patellar), and laterally stressed caudocranial views, revealed similar findings. Results: Arthroscopic surgery to remove the patellar fracture was attempted in 1 horse with severe des...
Iacono E, Merlo B, Pirrone A, Antonelli C, Brunori L, Romagnoli N, Castagnetti C.This paper documents the treatment of severe decubitus ulcers with amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells and platelets rich plasma (PRP) gel in a septic neonatal foal. The colt needed 25 days of hospitalization: during this period ulcers were treated for 15 days with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) plus PRP, PRP gel alone, or aloe gel. Healing was faster using MSCs+PRP, and at 7 months an ulcer treated with aloe gel was still not completely healed.
Toscan G, Cezar AS, Pereira RC, Silva GB, Sangioni LA, Oliveira LS, Vogel FS.Several formulations of macrocyclic lactones (abamectin, ivermectin, moxidectin), including ivermectin combined with pyrantel (tetrahydropyrimidine) and ivermectin combined with praziquantel (pyrazinoisoquinolin derivative), were tested regarding their efficacy to control gastrointestinal nematodes of horses on a stud farm in southern Brazil. In addition, we tested a pharmaceutically produced generic paste containing ivermectin 4%. Similar formulations of avermectins had different efficacies measured by reduction of EPG. Levels of efficacy of the tested drugs varied against Strongylus edentatu...
Bresgen C, Lämmer M, Wagner B, Osterrieder N, Damiani AM.Equine herpesvirus type 1 and type 4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4) cause infections of horses worldwide. While both EHV-1 and EHV-4 cause respiratory disease, abortion and myeloencephalopathy are observed after infection with EHV-1 in the vast majority of cases. Disease control is achieved by hygiene measures that include immunization with either inactivated or modified live virus (MLV) vaccine preparations. We here compared the efficacy of commercially available vaccines, an EHV-1/EHV-4 inactivated combination and an MLV vaccine, with respect to induction of humoral responses and protection of clinical d...
Tate LP, Fogle CA, Bailey CS, Tate KB, Davis JW.To describe a technique for ovariectomy through a colpotomy using a chain écraseur with laparoscopic guidance and report outcome in 4 mares. Methods: Case series. Methods: After insertion of a laparoscope into the abdomen through the left flank, colpotomy was performed to allow introduction of an écraseur into the caudal aspect of the abdomen. Grasping and removal of the ovary and evaluation of the pedicle was observed via the laparoscope. The laparoscope was then inserted in the right flank for right ovariectomy. The colpotomy was closed in a continuous suture pattern using laparoscopic or ...
Starke SD, Willems E, Head M, May SA, Pfau T.Flexion tests are a common tool during the prepurchase and clinical lameness examination, yet studies quantifying the effect of flexion, apart from distal forelimb flexion in sound horses, are sparse. Objective: To investigate the effect of proximal hindlimb flexion on perceivable and measurable changes in movement symmetry in horses with objective movement symmetry falling within the margins of 'sound'. Methods: Thirteen horses, selected based on objective movement symmetry, were instrumented with inertial sensors on left and right tuber coxae and over the os sacrum. Vertical movement symmetr...
McCracken MJ, Kramer J, Keegan KG, Lopes M, Wilson DA, Reed SK, LaCarrubba A, Rasch M.Subjective evaluation of mild lameness has been shown to have poor interobserver reliability. Traditional methods of objective lameness evaluation require specialised conditions and equipment. Wireless inertial sensor systems have been developed to allow for simple, rapid, objective lameness detection in horses trotted over ground. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivities of an inertial sensor system and subjective evaluation performed by experienced equine practitioners at detecting lameness in horses. We hypothesised that the inertial sensor system would identify...
Schumacher J, Taintor J, Schumacher J, Degraves F, Schramme M, Wilhite R.The role of the communicating branch between the medial and lateral palmar nerves of horses (i.e. the ramus communicans) in conveying sensory impulses proximally should be determined to avoid errors in interpreting diagnostic anaesthesia of the palmar nerves. Objective: Sensory nerve fibres in the ramus communicans of horses pass proximally from the lateral palmar nerve to merge with the medial palmar nerve, but not vice versa. Objective: To determine the direction of sensory impulses through the ramus communicans between lateral and medial palmar nerves. Methods: Pain in a thoracic foot was c...
Fiske-Jackson AR, Barker WH, Eliashar E, Foy K, Smith RK.The sensitivity of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of manica flexoria (MF) tears within the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) is lower than for diagnosis of marginal tears of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT). Additional diagnostic tools would assist in appropriate decision making for either conservative or surgical management. Objective: To evaluate the improvement in lameness of horses with MF or DDFT tears following intrathecal analgesia and to assess the sensitivity and specificity of contrast radiography for the diagnosis of these tears. Methods: The case records of horses present...
Mc Gowan TW, Pinchbeck GP, Mc Gowan CM.The sensitivity and specificity of basal plasma α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) for the diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) has not been evaluated in a population-based study. Objective: To evaluate basal plasma α-MSH and ACTH concentrations for the diagnosis of PPID in a population of horses aged ≥ 15 years. Methods: Owner-reported data were obtained using a postal questionnaire distributed to an equestrian group. A subgroup of surveyed owners was visited and veterinary examination performed on horses aged ≥ 15 year...
Dzięgiel B, Adaszek L, Winiarczyk M, García-Bocanegra I, Carbonero A, Dębiak P, Winiarczyk S.The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene fragment nucleotide sequences for Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains detected in the blood of horses from various parts of Europe. The study comprised 234 horses that had had contact with ticks. Using PCR, the genetic material of A. phagocytophilum was identified in the blood of 42 animals. The sequences of the 16S RNA gene amplicons that were obtained from our A. phagocytophilum isolates had 100 % similarity with each other and 96.4-100 % similarity with Anaplasma spp. sequences selected from those available i...
Perrocheau M, Boutreux V, Chadi S, Mata X, Decaunes P, Raudsepp T, Durkin K, Incarnato D, Iannuzzi L, Lear TL, Hirota K, Hasegawa T, Zhu B, de Jong P....A medium-density map of the horse genome (Equus caballus) was constructed using genes evenly distributed over the human genome. Three hundred and twenty-three exonic primer pairs were used to screen the INRA and the CHORI-241 equine BAC libraries by polymerase chain reaction and by filter hybridization respectively. Two hundred and thirty-seven BACs containing equine gene orthologues, confirmed by sequencing, were isolated. The BACs were localized to horse chromosomes by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Overall, 165 genes were assigned to the equine genomic map by radiation hybrid (RH...
Mifune H, Suzuki S, Noda Y, Mohri S, Mochizuki K.In the pig, cattle and horse, the right and left atria and ventricles were examined by immunohistochemistry, and the right atrial and auricular cardiocytes were studied by transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, ANP-granules in the cardiocytes were analyzed by ultrastructural morphometry. Immunohistochemically, the most intensely ANP-reacted cardiocytes were localized in the right auricle, particularly more prominent in the pig and cattle than in the horse. Ultrastructurally, ANP-granules were located principally in the perinuclear region associated with the Golgi apparatus and throughout ...
Bosch G, Klein WR.To determine the usefulness and clinical outcome of a combined procedure of superficial keratectomy and cryosurgery as a treatment for limbal neoplasms in horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Thirteen horses with 14 limbal tumors. Methods: Medical records of all patients with limbal tumors, referred to the Department of Equine Sciences of Utrecht University between 1995 and 2002, were retrieved. Patient data were analyzed with respect to signalment, tumor surface area and histologic diagnosis. Surgery, performed under general anesthesia, included surgical debulking of the tumor follo...
Russell JW, Russell TM, Vasey JR, Hall MS.To evaluate a treatment protocol whereby superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendonitis in Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses was treated with autologous bone marrow aspirate (ABMA) obtained from the sternebrae. This treatment was combined with desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the SDF tendon (DAL-SDFT) in selected cases. Medical records of 105 horses treated using the reported protocol were reviewed. Signalment, history and details of treatment were recorded. Racing records were reviewed and performance recorded. Of Thoroughbreds, 82 per cent had one or more starts within the follow-u...
Dyson S, Murray R, Branch M, Harding E.Sacroiliac (SI) joint disease is difficult to diagnose definitively on clinical grounds. Objective: Lameness not attributable to SI joint pain may result in asymmetrical uptake of radiopharmaceutical in the tubera sacrale and SI joints; and that horses with clinical signs suggestive of sacroiliac joint disease would have differences in the ratios of radiopharmaceutical uptake between the fifth lumbar vertebra (L5) and either the tubera sacrale or SI joints compared with normal horses. Objective: To determine whether differences in radiopharmaceutical activity could identify individuals with pr...
Wichert B, Nater S, Wittenbrink MM, Wolf P, Meyer K, Wanner M.In 46 horse farms all over Switzerland, the hygienic quality of the roughage (including silages) was investigated. Therefore, a macroscopic examination as well as the microbial counts (bacteria, yeasts and moulds) was carried out. Further, the contents of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and the contamination with deoxynivalenol (DON) were determined. In all roughages, the dry matter (DM) content was measured and in silages additionally the pH was measured. Predominantly, the straw showed a lower hygienic quality than hay and silages. The LPS contents were significantly higher in straw than those in ...
Hellander Edman A, Ström L, Ekesten B.Compare CXL treatment with medical treatment alone in horses with stromal, ulcerative keratitis. Methods: 24 horses (24 eyes) with stromal, ulcerative keratitis were included. Methods: 12 horses were initially treated with CXL, and 12 horses were given conventional medical treatment. Topical medical treatment was added to horses in the CXL group if necessary. Parameters including cytology, microbial growth, time to fluorescein negativity, and time to inhibition of stromal melting were evaluated. Results: After the first day of treatments, a decrease in inflammatory signs and pain from the eye ...
Rice MK.Regional nerve blocks are necessary to facilitate equine oral surgery in the standing sedated patient. Step-by-step instruction on how to perform common regional nerve blocks are discussed, including infraorbital, maxillary, middle mental, and inferior alveolar nerve blocks. Regional nerve blocks are critical when performing dental procedures in the standing horse. The infraorbital and maxillary nerve blocks provide anesthesia of the infraorbital nerve, which is a branch of the maxillary nerve. Both nerve blocks provide adequate anesthesia for all maxillary dental procedures. When the infraorb...
Hart KA, Kitchings KM, Kimura S, Norton NA, Myrna KE.OBJECTIVE To compare tear cortisol concentrations between horses and ponies with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) and healthy nonaged (≤ 15 years old) and aged (≥ 20 years old) horses and to determine whether serum and tear cortisol concentrations were correlated. ANIMALS 11 horses and ponies with PPID and 20 healthy control horses and ponies (11 nonaged and 9 aged). PROCEDURES Paired tear and serum samples were obtained from PPID and control animals. All animals were free of active ocular disease. Tear and serum cortisol concentrations were measured with an ELISA and chemilumi...
Kȩdzierski W, Pluta M.Every year a new group of young Polish Konik colts are separated from the forest herds to be trained in the stable breeding system. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the young Polish Konik horses who had been born in a forest reserve adapt to and tolerate draft work. Two groups of 6 horses each were studied: (a) 3- to 4-year-old colts and (b) 7- to 13-year-old stallions. An effort response was estimated by heart rate (HR) registration and biochemical analysis of hematocrit; blood lactic acid (LA) level; and plasma concentration of glucose, triacylglycerols, uric acid, total protein, an...
Belknap JK, Nickels FA.Third-degree perineal lacerations or rectovestibular fistulae in 17 mares were repaired surgically by a one-stage method. Primary healing occurred in 14 mares; there were one complete dehiscence and two partial dehiscences with fistula formation. Twelve of 13 mares that were bred became pregnant; nine carried foals to term and two are still pregnant. Two mares have each produced one unthrifty foal. One mare repeatedly aborts in the first trimester. Four mares have produced several healthy foals with no further problems. One mare suffered further perineal trauma while foaling.
Stewart AA, Goodrich LR, Byron CR, Evans RB, Stewart MC.To present the technique for intra-articular catheter placement and report the clinical outcomes of 38 cases of equine synovial trauma and/or infection treated with broad-spectrum antimicrobials administered via an intrasynovial catheter (ISC). Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Medical records of 38 horses treated for synovial trauma and sepsis with frequent antimicrobial administration through an ISC from 1995 to 2008 were reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained via clinical re-evaluation or telephone contact with the owners. Results: The majority of horses (84%) received amikacin a...
Andrade FS, Facó LL, Ida KK, Silva LC, Fantoni DT, Ambrósio AM.To compare static compliance (C) and alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference [P(a-a)O] between positive end-expiratory pressures (PEEP) of 7, 12 and 17 cmHO applied after an alveolar recruitment maneuver (RM) in isoflurane-anesthetized horses. Methods: Prospective, randomized, clinical study. Methods: A group of 30 healthy adult horses undergoing arthroscopic surgery. Methods: Animals in dorsal recumbency and mechanically ventilated with a tidal volume of 14 mL kg and 7 cmHO PEEP (control; n = 6) were subjected to an RM by increasing PEEP from 7 to 22 cmHO in 5 cmHO increments at 5 minute...
Hattel AL, Drake TR, Anderholm BJ, McAllister ES.Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis was detected at postmortem examination of an 8-year-old Quarter Horse mare that had a history of diarrhea, laminitis, and bilateral nasal discharge. A diagnosis of Ehrlichia risticii infection was made on the basis of clinical signs of diarrhea and pyrexia, high serum antibody titer to E risticii (1:2,560), and multiple Salmonella-negative cultures obtained from fecal and colonic specimens. Possible pathogenic mechanisms contributing to the development of pulmonary aspergillosis secondary to enteric disease include mycotic invasion of the intestinal tract or im...
Kearney CM, Korthagen NM, Plomp SGM, Labberté MC, de Grauw JC, van Weeren PR, Brama PAJ.Intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide is a widely used treatment for joint inflammation despite limited scientific evidence of its efficacy. Objective: To investigate if intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide has sustained anti-inflammatory effects using an equine model of repeated joint inflammation. Methods: Randomised controlled experimental study. Methods: For three consecutive cycles 2 weeks apart, inflammation was induced in both middle carpal joints of eight horses by injecting 0.25 ng lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After the first LPS injection only, treatment with 12 mg triamcinolone...
Targowski SP.Treatment of ponies with a single dose of prednisolone markedly reduced the number of blood lymphocytes. A decrease of the number of eosinophils was also observed. In contrast, the number of neutrophils significantly increased. These profound changes were temporary and returned to the pretreatment level within 48 h. The number of monocytes did not show any of the significant changes post-prednisolone treatment. The reactivity of the blood lymphocytes of these ponies, in vitro, to stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or streptokinase-strepto-dornase (SK-SD) was measured by incorporation of...
Kutasi O, Fehér O, Sárdi S, Balogh N, Nagy A, Moravszki L, Bódai E, Szenci O.West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic arbovirus transmitted by mosquitoes between wild birds (natural hosts) and other vertebrates. Horses and humans are incidental, dead-end hosts, but can develop severe neurological disorders. Owing to the close contact of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with the extracellular fluid of the brain, the analysis of CSF composition can reflect central nervous system (CNS) impairments enabling the diagnosis and understanding of various neurodegenerative CNS disorders. Our objective was to compare the findings from the CSF samples of horses with neuroinvasive WNV infectio...
Mungall BA, Pollitt CC.Cultured equine lamellar hoof explants secrete the pro-enzymes matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2, 72 kDa) and MMP-2 (92 kDa). Untreated explants remained intact when tested on a calibrated force transducer, but when treated with an MMP activator, developed "in-vitro laminitis", separating at the dermal-epidermal junction. Explants treated with the bacterial protease thermolysin separated dose-dependently; this was accompanied by activation of both MMP-2 and -9. Thermolysin-mediated MP activation did not occur in a cell-free system and was not inhibited by the addition of the MMP inhibitor and ...
Pippi NL, Lumb WV.An equine model, subjected to three kinds of pain (superficial, deep, and visceral) was used to test effects of analgesic drugs. Two groups of ponies were used. In the first group of six ponies, six drugs (fentanyl, meperidine, methadone, oxymorphone, pentazocine, and xylazine) were given according to a Latin square experimental design, and tests were made at 30-minute intervals for 4 hours. Mean values (control) for the three kinds of pain were obtained before and after the tests and were compared with the mean values (drugs) obtained over 2- and 4-hour intervals (four and eight measurements ...
Lescun TB, McClure SR, Ward MP, Downs C, Wilson DA, Adams SB, Hawkins JF, Reinertson EL.To evaluate clinical findings, complications, and outcome of horses and foals with third metacarpal, third metatarsal, or phalangeal fractures that were treated with transfixation casting. Methods: Retrospective case series. Animals-29 adult horses and 8 foals with fractures of the third metacarpal or metatarsal bone or the proximal or middle phalanx. Methods: Medical records were reviewed, and follow-up information was obtained. Data were analyzed by use of logistic regression models for survival, fracture healing, return to intended use, pin loosening, pin hole lysis, and complications assoc...
Kalpokas I, Mattos RC, Cavestany D, Martínez MN, Perdigón F, Meikle A.The effect of side of corpus luteum on uterine gene expression and protein localization of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR) in healthy cyclic and pregnant mares 13 days after ovulation (day 0) was investigated. Transcervical biopsies were performed to collect endometrium ipsilateral and contralateral regarding the side of corpus luteum on day 13 post-ovulation in cyclic (n = 6) and pregnant (n = 6) mares. Blood samples were collected daily from day 0 until the day of biopsy for 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) determinations. Receptor expression was d...
Bourges-Abella N, Raymond-Letron I, Diquelou A, Guillot E, Regnier A, Trumel C.To describe the cells observed in conjunctival brush cytology (CBC) from normal horses and compare these findings with conjunctival structural histology so as to understand which cells are recovered from CBC. Methods: This study was divided into three parts. (1) Conjunctival brush smears were collected from 20 healthy horses on both eyes and a differential count on 300 cells was carried out on May Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG) smears. (2) A similar protocol was used for whole eyes from five horses obtained rapidly after death from a slaughterhouse. The eyes were then assessed for conjunctival histolo...
Harrison JM, Quanstrom LM, Robinson AR, Wobeser B, Anderson SL, Singh B.Sepsis causes significant mortality in neonatal foals; however, there is little data describing the cellular and molecular pathways of lung inflammation in septic foals. This study was conducted to characterize lung inflammation in septic foals. Lung tissue sections from control (n = 6) and septic (n = 17) foals were compared using histology and immunohistology. Blinded pathologic scoring of hematoxylin and eosin stained samples revealed increased features of lung inflammation such as thickened alveolar septa and sequestered inflammatory cells in septic foals. Septic foal lungs showed increase...
Dik B, Ceylan O, Ceylan C, Tekindal MA, Semassel A, Sönmez G, Derinbay Ekici Ö.Approximately 250 feral horses [ (Linnaeus, 1758)] living on Karadağ Mountain near Karaman City were caught by Kazakh horse herdsmen with permission of the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and brought to a farm in Karkın village in Konya Province, 70 km from Karadağ, in November, 2017. This study was carried out to determine the presence of ectoparasites infesting a subsample of 36 feral horses. The horses were visually inspected, and then their bodies were checked by hand for ectoparasites. Thirty-five (97.2%) were infested with at least one of five species of ectoparasites: ...
Rourke KM, Kohn CW, Levine AL, Rosol TJ, Toribio RE.Calcium has important physiological functions, and disorders of calcium homeostasis are frequent in horses. We have made important progress understanding equine calcium homeostasis; however, limited information on equine calcitonin (CT) is available, in part because of the lack of validated CT assays. To determine the CT response to high ionized calcium (Ca(2+)) concentrations in healthy horses, we induced hypercalcemia in 10 healthy horses using a calcium gluconate 23% solution (5mg/kg; 120 mL/500 kg horse) infused over 4 min. Four horses were infused with 120 mL of 0.9% NaCl and used as cont...
Faramarzi B, Lee D, May K, Dong F.There is a need for evidence-based scientific research to address the question of the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving clinical signs of laminitis in horses. The objective of this study was to compare lameness levels before and after 2 acupuncture treatments in horses with chronic laminitis. Twelve adult horses with chronic laminitis received 2 acupuncture treatments 1 week apart. The points were treated using dry needling, hemo-acupuncture, and aqua-acupuncture. Lameness level was objectively evaluated using an inertial sensor-based lameness evaluation system (Lameness Locator), as w...
