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.
Marsh GA, Wang LF.Henipavirus, including Hendra and Nipah viruses, is a group of emerging bat-borne paramyxoviruses which were responsible for severe disease outbreaks in humans, horses and pigs. The mortality rate of human infection varies between 50 and 100%, making them one of the most deadly viruses known to infect humans. Its use of highly conserved cell surface molecules (ephrin) as entry receptors and its highly effective replication and fusion strategies are believed to be important characteristics responsible for its high pathogenicity. Henipavirus also encodes multiple accessory proteins which play a ...
Hitchens PL, Blizzard CL, Jones G, Day LM, Fell J.Apprentice thoroughbred racing jockeys have a higher fall rate than their more experienced counterparts. The authors describe rates of occurrence and investigate risk factors for falls among less-experienced thoroughbred flat racing jockeys in Australia who commenced their race riding career between August 2002 and July 2009. Methods: Data on race-day falls were extracted from stewards' reports. Denominator data were provided by Racing Information Services Australia on races conducted in Australia. HRs were estimated using time-to-event (survival analysis) methods. Results: Factors found to be...
Creighton CM, Lemke KA, Lamont LA, Horney BS, Riley CB.To compare the effects of xylazine bolus versus medetomidine constant rate infusion (MCRI) on cardiopulmonary function and depth of anesthesia in dorsally recumbent, spontaneously breathing, isoflurane-anesthetized horses. Methods: Prospective, randomized crossover study. Methods: 10 healthy adult Standardbreds. Methods: Horses were premedicated with xylazine or medetomidine IV. Anesthesia was induced with diazepam and ketamine and maintained with isoflurane for 150 minutes. For the xylazine treatment, end-tidal isoflurane concentration was maintained at 1.7%, and xylazine (0.2 mg/kg [0.09 mg/...
Oldenhof H, Friedel K, Akhoondi M, Gojowsky M, Wolkers WF, Sieme H.Stallion sperm exhibits great male-to-male variability in survival after cryopreservation. In this study, we have investigated if differences in sperm freezability can be attributed to membrane phase and permeability properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to determine supra and subzero membrane phase transitions and characteristic subzero membrane hydraulic permeability parameters. Sperm was obtained from stallions that show differences in sperm viability after cryopreservation. Stallion sperm undergoes a broad and gradual phase transition at suprazero temperatures...
Boden LA, Parkin TD, Yates J, Mellor D, Kao RR.Robust demographic information is important to understanding the risk of introduction and spread of exotic diseases as well as the development of effective disease control strategies, but is often based on datasets collected for other purposes. Thus, it is important to validate, or at least cross-reference these datasets to other sources to assess whether they are being used appropriately. The aim of this study was to use horse location data collected from different contributing industry sectors ("Stakeholder horse data") to calibrate the spatial distribution of horses as indicated by owner lo...
Macías-García B, González-Fernández L, Gallardo-Bolaños JM, Peña FJ, Johannisson A, Morrell JM.The aim of this study was to elucidate if SLC after 24 h storage selects the subpopulation of spermatozoa that better withstands osmotic shock. To test this hypothesis, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and superoxide anion (O(2)(·-)) production of uncentrifuged (UC) and single layer centrifugation (SLC) - selected spermatozoa were analyzed following SLC after storage of the semen. An aliquot of the extended ejaculate (100×10(6) spermatozoa/mL) was centrifuged through a single layer of a silane-coated silica based colloid formulation optimized for equine spermatozoa (Androcol...
Aziz DM, Hiss-Pesch S, Mielenz B, Sauerwein H.The study was conducted to determine the baseline concentration of serum haptoglobin (Hp) in jennies during the breeding and nonbreeding season and to evaluate the effects of ovariectomy on serum Hp concentrations in jennies. Eighteen adult jennies were divided in three groups: nine jennies (OVA) were ovariectomized using laparoscopic surgery, six jennies (LAP) were exploratory examined by laparoscopic surgery, and three jennies were used as a control group. Blood samples were collected from the animals at Day -6, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 5, 8, 15, 22, 29 and 36 of surgery. Serum samples were analyzed...
Brosnahan MM, Miller DC, Adams M, Antczak DF.The invasive trophoblast cells of the equine placenta migrate into the endometrium to form endometrial cups, dense accumulations of trophoblast cells that produce equine chorionic gonadotropin between days 40 and 120 of normal pregnancy. The mechanisms by which the trophoblast cells invade the endometrium while evading maternal immune destruction are poorly defined. A gene expression microarray analysis performed on placental tissues obtained at day 34 of gestation revealed a >900-fold upregulation of mRNA encoding the cytokine IL-22 in chorionic girdle relative to noninvasive chorion. Quan...
Nagy A, Bodó G, Dyson SJ.There is limited information on potential diffusion of local anaesthetic solution after various diagnostic analgesic techniques of the proximal metacarpal region. Objective: To document potential distribution of local anaesthetic solution following 4 techniques used for diagnostic analgesia of the proximal metacarpal region. Methods: Radiodense contrast medium was injected around the lateral palmar or medial and lateral palmar metacarpal nerves in 8 mature horses, using 4 different techniques. Radiographs were obtained 0, 10 and 20 min after injection and were analysed subjectively. A mixture ...
Proops L, Burden F, Osthaus B.Donkeys and mules are frequently kept as companion animals for horses and ponies, with these different equids often being considered a homogenous group. However, the extent to which domestic equids form inter-specific bonds and display similar social behaviour when living in a mixed herd has not previously been studied. Here we compare the social organization of these three (sub)species when housed together, providing the first systematic analysis of how genetic hybridization is expressed in the social behaviour of mules. A group of 16 mules, donkeys and ponies was observed for 70h and preferr...
Schaffartzik A, Hamza E, Janda J, Crameri R, Marti E, Rhyner C.Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an allergic dermatitis of the horse caused by bites of insects of the genus Culicoides and is currently the best characterized allergic disease of horses. This article reviews knowledge of the immunopathogenesis of IBH, with a particular focus on the causative allergens. Whereas so far hardly any research has been done on the role of antigen presenting cells in the pathogenesis of IBH, recent studies suggest that IBH is characterized by an imbalance between a T helper 2 (Th2) and regulatory T cell (T(reg)) immune response, as shown both locally in the skin...
Hoffmann G, Bentke A, Rose-Meierhöfer S, Berg W, Mazetti P, Hardarson GH.Horses are often stabled in individual boxes, a method that does not meet their natural needs and may cause psychical and musculoskeletal diseases. This problem is particularly evident in Iceland, where horses often spend the long winter periods in cramped boxes. The aim of this study was to analyze the suitability of a group housing system in Iceland, but the results are also applicable to horses of other regions. Eight Icelandic horses were observed in an active stable system, and their behavior and time budget were recorded. Movement and lying behavior were studied with ALT (Activity, Lying...
Traversa D, Castagna G, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Meloni S, Bartolini R, Geurden T, Pearce MC, Woringer E, Besognet B, Milillo P, D'Espois M.This paper reports a survey conducted in France during 2011 to evaluate the efficacy of commonly used anthelmintics against horse cyathostomins. A total of 40 farms and 1089 horses were screened for the presence of cyathostomins. All farms but one were positive, with an overall animal infection rate of 53.7%, ranging from 9% to 83% on individual farms. On 445 horses from 30 of these farms, a faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was performed to evaluate the efficacy of oral formulations of fenbendazole (FBZ), pyrantel embonate (PYR), ivermectin (IVM) and moxidectin (MOX). Calculation of the...
Korosue K, Murase H, Sato F, Ishimaru M, Harada T, Watanabe G, Taya K, Nambo Y.The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that a barren parous Thoroughbred mare with lactation induced by hormonal treatment can be introduced to an orphan foal at the same farm and that the mare can become pregnant after the end of the hormonal treatment. An additional purpose was to investigate the changes in the plasma concentrations of prolactin, estradiol-17β, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone before, during, and after hormonal treatment. The difference in body weight between the adopted foal and the control foals, which were at the same farm and rai...
Leme DP, Papa FO, Roser JF.The objective of this study was to investigate reproductive characteristics of stallions at a tropical zone in the breeding and non-breeding seasons. The following parameters were assessed: testicular volume; semen quality; and serum concentrations of LH, FSH, and testosterone; in addition to the percentages of germ cells and proportions of germ cells/Sertoli cells by testicular cytology in stallions. Semen was collected from eight adult stallions twice a week during a 12-week period in both seasons (6 weeks before and 6 weeks after the summer and winter solstices). Jugular blood samples were ...
Atyabi N, Yasini SP, Jalali SM, Shaygan H.Nitrite intoxication occurs frequently in ruminants and equines. The most common treatment of this disorder is administration of 1% methylene blue, although the use of some antioxidant agents e.g. vitamins and complementary treatment may also be useful. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidative effects of some vitamins on methemoglobinemia induced by sodium nitrite. For this purpose the blood sample of a healthy dairy cattle was pre-incubated with three different concentrations (5, 10, 20 mmol L(-1)) of each vitamin (E, C, B1, A and a combination of vitamin E and vitamin...
Baus MR.The horse owner not only expects outstanding care for their horse; they also recognize and appreciate a well-run equine practice. They expect their veterinarian to show up on time for appointments; they expect to receive decipherable invoices and statements on a regular basis and they appreciate an assistant who enhances the services that their veterinarian provides. A well-managed ambulatory equine practice supports the ideals of both high standards of care and mobility. In fact, a poorly managed practice will ultimately impact the care that an equine veterinarian attempts to provide the hors...
Moreau P.A healthy group of loyal clients is of the utmost importance for a healthy practice.Knowing the clients’ expectations and making every effort to exceed them when clients meet with the veterinarian or visit the clinic will result in continued client satisfaction. Clients will show loyalty to a veterinarian when they perceive that the care provided to them suits them and their animal and exceeds their expectations.
Tallmadge RL, Such KA, Miller KC, Matychak MB, Felippe MJ.Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous disorder of B cell differentiation or function with inadequate antibody production. Our laboratory studies a natural form of CVID in horses characterized by late-onset B cell lymphopenia due to impaired B cell production in the bone marrow. This study was undertaken to assess the status of B cell differentiation in the bone marrow of CVID-affected horses by measuring the expression of genes essential for early B cell commitment and development. Standard RT-PCR revealed that most of the transcription factors and key signaling molecules ...
Cordes V, Gardemin M, Lüpke M, Seifert H, Borchers L, Staszyk C.Periodontal diseases occur frequently in equine dentistry and excessive strain in biological tissues is assumed to be a predisposing factor in their development. Finite element (FE) analysis enables strains and stresses occurring in the periodontium to be calculated and is a useful tool for testing this hypothesis. The current study aimed to establish reliable 3-D models from equine maxillary and mandibular cheek teeth for use in FE simulations, with particular attention to the detailed construction of the periodontal ligament (PDL). Age-related morphological aspects of the teeth and the perio...
Russell T, Pollock PJ.To report a technique for improving surgical access to the bladder for removal of cystic calculi in male horses. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Geldings (8) with cystic calculi. Methods: After catheterization of the bladder through the penis, 100 mL 2% lidocaine hydrochloride solution was instilled. After 10 minutes, the bladder was distended with sterile, warmed Hartmann's solution to a pressure of ≈ 40 cm H(2) O, using gravity feed. This was left in place until abdominal access was gained at surgery, then the fluid siphoned off via the catheter. Results: Calculi were 3-11 cm ...
Hubbell JA, Aarnes TK, Lerche P, Bednarski RM.To evaluate the use of midazolam, ketamine, and xylazine for total IV anesthesia (TIVA) in horses. Methods: 6 healthy Thoroughbred mares. Methods: Horses were sedated with xylazine (1.0 mg/kg, IV). Anesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.1 mg/kg, IV) followed by ketamine (2.2 mg/kg, IV) and was maintained with an IV infusion of midazolam (0.002 mg/kg/min), ketamine (0.03 mg/kg/min), and xylazine (0.016 mg/kg/min). Horses underwent surgical manipulation and injection of the palmar digital nerves; duration of the infusion was 60 minutes. Additional ketamine (0.2 to 0.4 mg/kg, IV) was administer...
Ohmura H, Boscan PL, Solano AM, Stanley SD, Jones JH.To determine whether withholding of food affects autonomic nervous system balance by analysis of heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV), and frequency of second-degree atrioventricular block in horses. Methods: 5 healthy Thoroughbreds. Methods: For two 24-hour periods in a crossover study, food was withheld from horses or horses were maintained on their regular feeding schedule (control conditions) in their stalls and Holter monitor ECG recordings were obtained. The ECGs were analyzed by use of fast-Fourier transformation, and power spectrum densities were calculated for low-frequency (0.01 to ...
Tiago G, Júlio C, António R.Pseudomonas aeruginosa may cause venereal disease and infertility in horses. A Pseudomonas aeruginosa - carrier stallion, often unresponsive to artificial vagina collection, was used to naturally breed mares. Semen collected from the same stallion was also used to perform artificial inseminations. Pregnancy rates, embryo quality and incidence of uterine infection were compared between inseminated or naturally-bred mares. Methods: P. aeruginosa was isolated from swabbing of the penis, prepuce and distal urethra of the stallion. Before being bred or inseminated, clitoral/vestibular samples were ...
Vervuert I, Brüssow N, Bochnia M, Cí·¯ord D, Coenen M.The aims of this study were to monitor electromyographic (EMG) activity of masseter muscle in healthy horses fed (i) different types of roughage and (ii) maize after different hay allocations. Four horses were offered the following three diets ad libitum: hay, haylage or straw/alfalfa chaff (SAC). In a second trial, four horses were fed cracked maize (CM) and hay in three different orders: (i) CM after a 12-h overnight fast; (ii) CM immediately after restricted hay intake (0.6 kg hay/100 kg BW); or 3) CM after hay intake ad libitum. The activity of the masseter muscle was determined by EMG...
Kim W, Kawcak CE, McIlwraith CW, Firth EC, Broom ND.To describe and measure histologic features of midcarpal joint cartilage defects in Thoroughbreds and evaluate the influence of early conditioning exercise on defect development. Methods: 24 midcarpal joints from twelve 18-month-old Thoroughbreds. Methods: Midcarpal joints from 12 horses (6 exercised spontaneously at pasture only and 6 given additional conditioning exercise beginning at a mean age of 3 weeks were evaluated. Gross cartilage defects were assessed histologically. Third and radial carpal bones were categorized with regard to the presence or absence of calcified cartilage (CC) abno...
Christoffersen M, Woodward E, Bojesen AM, Jacobsen S, Petersen MR, Troedsson MH, Lehn-Jensen H.The objective of the study was to evaluate the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, IL-1 receptor antagonist [ra] and serum amyloid A (SAA) in endometrial tissue and circulating leukocytes in response to uterine inoculation of 105 colony forming units (CFU) Escherichia coli in mares. Before inoculation, mares were classified as resistant or susceptible to persistent endometritis based on their uterine inflammatory response to infusion of 109 killed spermatozoa and histological assessment of the endometrial quality. ...
Mitchell JS.Lameness and performance evaluation can be one of the most rewarding aspects of equine veterinary practice. There is a misconception that it depends on new sophisticated and expensive diagnostic modalities, when the reality is that knowing where and when to use these modalities form the real art of equine lameness practice. The most expensive ultrasound machine in the world is not very diagnostic if applied to the wrong limb. The art of lameness practice is vested in knowledge of horsemanship, an understanding of anatomy and function, and inquiring senses to sort out what the horse and his han...
Hughes JP, Stabenfeldt GH, Evans JW.In eleven non-pregnant mares examined for 2 years, oestrous cycle length was 20-6 days (range 13 to 34) excluding any anoestrous periods. The duration of oestrus was 5-7 days (range 1 to 24); from February to May it was 7-6 days (range 2 to 24) and from May to November 4-8 days (range 1 to 10). The majority of ovulations occurred between 16.00 and 08.00 hours and 78% of the mares ovulated within 48 hr of the end of oestrus. Mean follicular diameter was 45 mm on the day of ovulation and there was a 25-5% incidence of multiple ovulations. It was uncommon for oestrus to occur without ovulation, w...
Kellon EM, Gustafson KM.Sodium-Glucose CoTransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, the -flozin group of drugs, which block glucose reuptake in the renal proximal tubule, are being increasingly used off-label to treat horses with refractory hyperinsulinemia. After 2 years of use by animals in our group, a horse on canagliflozin was incidentally noted to be hyperlipemic. We have been following a cohort of equines (n = 20) treated with SGLT2 inhibitors due to refractory hyperinsulinemia. The animals are owned by members of the Equine Cushing's and Insulin Resistance Group and treated by their attending veterinarians. The index ...
Wagner AL, Urschel KL, Betancourt A, Adams AA, Horohov DW.To determine the effects of advanced age on whole-body protein synthesis and activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in skeletal muscle of horses. Methods: Six 22- to 26-year-old (aged) and six 7- to 14-year-old (mature) horses. Methods: Whole-body protein synthesis was measured with a 2-hour primed constant infusion of (13)C sodium bicarbonate, followed by a 4-hour primed constant infusion of 1-(13)C phenylalanine. After the infusions, a biopsy specimen was obtained from a gluteus medius muscle and activation of protein kinase B (Akt), p70 riboprotein S6 kin...
Malinowski K, Kearns CF, Guirnalda PD, Roegner V, McKeever KH.Effects of longitudinal exercise training and acute intensive exercise (simulated race test) on immune function have not been reported in horses. Clenbuterol, a beta2-adrenergic agonist, is used to manage inflammatory airway disease in horses. This study investigated the interaction of 8 wk of exercise training with or without 12 wk of clenbuterol administration in horses. Twenty-three untrained standardbred mares (10 +/- 3 yr, Mean +/- SE) were used and divided into four experimental groups. Horses given clenbuterol plus exercise (CLENEX; n = 6) and clenbuterol alone (CLEN; n = 6) received 2....
DeBowes RM, Gaughan EM.Equine congenital dental deformities are not limited merely to those presented here; however, the examples discussed offer the reader an appreciation for the range of severity and complexity that may be found in affected horses. The veterinarian is obligated to provide the best possible care for the patient and to relieve animal suffering. The lack of definitive evidence for heritability of many of these defects can place the veterinarian in an untenable position, particularly when presented with literature that proclaims or suggests without evidence that a particular condition is inherited. I...
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 ...
Ohmura H, Hiraga A, Matsui A, Aida H, Inoue Y, Asai Y, Jones JH.Yearling horses are typically trained for more than a year before they begin racing; therefore, we questioned how relevant analyses of the initial responses to training are compared to physiological responses that occur over a year of training, and whether young horses with no history of training would respond the same as older horses that had been trained previously. We hypothesised that changes in O2 transport over the last months of a year of training would be different than at the beginning. We trained 5 yearling Thoroughbreds and evaluated metabolism, O2 transport and echocardiograms. Mea...
Licka T, Peham C, Zohmann E.The aim of this study was to establish basic reference data for evaluating 3-dimensional movement of the equine back at the trot. In 22 mature horses without any clinical signs of back pain, the movement of the back was measured during trotting on a treadmill with a system for motion analysis. The position of the markers placed on the head, hooves, skin above the spinous processes of T5, T10, T16, L3 and on 2 of the sacral spines was recorded. The results of all movements were expressed in percent of the horse's height at its withers. At the trot, the maximum lateral movement at the head was 1...
Visser MB, Pollitt CC.The timing of lamellar basement membrane (BM) changes occurring during laminitis development is incompletely understood. Objective: To determine the temporal progression of lamellar BM changes and whether laminin-332 (Ln-332) γ2 cleavage products are generated during laminitis development. Methods: Eight clinically normal Standardbred horses were allocated into treatment (n = 5) or sham (n = 3) groups. The treatment group received, via nasogastric intubation, an oligofructose (OF) bolus (10 g/kg bwt) while the sham group was given water. Laminitis induction proceeded for 48 h followed by euth...
Costa LR, Eades SC, Venugopal CS, Moore RM.Summer pasture-associated recurrent airway obstruction (SPA-RAO), a seasonal airway obstructive disease of horses, is characterized by clinical exacerbation after exposure to pasture during warm months of the year. Endothelin (ET)-1, potent bronchoconstrictor, mitogen, secretagogue, and proinflammatory mediator, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma and equine heaves. Objective: Immunoreactive ET-1 concentrations increase during clinical exacerbation and return to basal values during periods of disease remission. Methods: Twelve horses, 6 affected with SPA-RAO and 6 nonaffected. Me...
Marcilla MG, Schauvliege S, Duchateau L, Gasthuys F.To evaluate the cardiopulmonary effects of two different constant rate infusions (CRI) of dexmedetomidine (1 and 1.75 microg kg(-1 )hour(-1)) in experimental ponies. Methods: Six healthy ponies (mean 306 +/- SD 71 kg, 7.0 +/- 1.6 years). Methods: Prospective, randomized, experimental study. Methods: After premedication with intravenous (IV) dexmedetomidine (3.5 microg kg(-1)), anaesthesia was induced (T0) with ketamine (2.2 mg kg(-1) IV) and midazolam (0.06 mg kg(-1) IV) and maintained with isoflurane (Fe'ISO 1.50%) in 55% oxygen for 150 minutes. Normocapnia was maintained using artificial ven...
Siegers E, van Wijk E, van den Broek J, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan M, Munsters C.Friesian stallions have to complete a 10-week studbook approval test (70-day test) consisting of dressage and driving training for acceptance as a breeding stallion. Training response of the horses to this approval program was evaluated. External workload (EW) of 16 stallions (3.2 ± 0.4 years old) was registered during the 9 weeks preceding the 70-day test (preparation period) and during 70-day test. Ridden indoor standardized exercise tests (SET), measuring heart rate (HR) and plasma lactate concentration (LA) at walk, trot and canter, were performed in week 1 (SET-I), 6 (SET-II) and 10 (SET...
Vachon AM, McIlwraith CW, Trotter GW, Norrdin RW, Powers BE.The use of periosteal autografts to resurface osteochondral defects was investigated in 10 horses (2 to 3 years old), and the repair tissue was characterized morphologically. Middle carpal joint arthrotomies were made, and osteochondral defects were induced bilaterally on the distal articular surface of each radial carpal bone. Each defect measured approximately 1 cm2 and extended 3 mm into the subchondral bone plate. Residual subchondral bone plate of control and principal defects was perforated by drilling. A sterile fibrin adhesive was made by mixing a fibrinogen component and a thrombin co...
Gaughan EM.Early recognition and treatment of congenital and acquired flexural deformities of the carpi and fetlocks of foals can lead to conformation correction and an athletic future. Treatment is often based on rigid external coaptation assisted by systemic medical treatment. Foals that readily respond to treatment and correct conformation faults can have normal adult athletic expectations.
Gray AW, Davies ME, Jeffcott LB.Cathepsin K and cathepsin B were immunolocalised in equine osteoclasts (OC s) present in ex vivo cartilage/subchondral bone samples. Samples were obtained post mortem from the lateral trochlear ridge (LTR) of six horses and ponies aged between 303 days gestation to 8 months. Strong expression of cathepsin K was detected in OC s, particularly those located at the osteochondral junction, apparently involved in the resorption of calcified cartilage. Cathepsin K expression was also detected in hypertrophic chondrocytes and in the endothelial cells of some blood vessels penetrating the hypertrophic...
Olbrich VH, Mosing M.To evaluate and compare the effects of caudal epidural administration of methadone (METH) and lidocaine (LIDO) on tolerance to thermal stimulation over the dermatomes of the perineal, sacral, lumbar and thoracic regions in the horse. Methods: A blinded, randomized, prospective, experimental cross-over study. Methods: Seven healthy horses, 15.7 +/- 4.9 years (mean +/- SD) of age, weighing 536 +/- 37 kg. Methods: The horses were randomly assigned to receive two treatments (group M: METH, 0.1 mg kg-1 or group L: LIDO, 0.35 mg kg-1) at intervals of at least 28 days. An 18-gauge 80-mm Tuohy epidura...
Benmansour P, Husulak ML, Bracamonte JL, Beazley SG, Withnall E, Duke-Novakovski T.To examine the cardiopulmonary effects of infusions of remifentanil or morphine, and their influence on recovery of horses anesthetized with isoflurane and dexmedetomidine. Methods: Randomized crossover study with 7-day rest periods. Methods: Six adult horses (507 ± 61 kg). Methods: After the horses were sedated with xylazine, anaesthesia was induced with ketamine and diazepam, and maintained with isoflurane. After approximately 60 minutes, a dexmedetomidine infusion was started (0.25 μg kg(-1) then 1.0 μg(-1) kg(-1) hour(-1) ) in combination with either saline (group S), morphine (0.15 mg ...
Groth AM, May SA, Weaver MP, Weller R.Criteria for the radiographic evaluation of navicular bones in horses have been published to standardise classification of radiographic signs. However, intra- and interobserver agreement have not been established. Objective: To determine intra- and interobserver agreement in the evaluation of radiographic and computed tomographic (CT) navicular changes. It was hypothesised that: 1) intraobserver agreement would be better than interobserver agreement; 2) agreement would be better for CT than for radiography; and 3) pathological changes would be recognised with greater certainty with CT. Methods...
Ruohoniemi M, Tulamo RM, Hackzell M.Of 462 Finnhorses (age 1-20 years) evaluated and graded (scale 0-5) radiographically for ossification of the collateral cartilages of the 3rd phalanx of the front feet, 22.9% were totally free from sidebones (Grade 0), and 49.1% had minimal or mild ossification (Grade 1 or 2) at the base of 1 or more of the cartilages. Moderate ossification (Grade 3) was present in 10.2% of the horses, whereas ossification was advanced (Grade 4) or extensive (Grade 5) in 17.8%. In most horses > 1 cartilage was affected and 7.6% of the horses had separate centres of ossification in 1 or more of the cartilages. ...
Berlin S, Spieckermann L, Oswald S, Keiser M, Lumpe S, Ullrich A, Grube M, Hasan M, Venner M, Siegmund W.Drug interactions often result from multiple pharmacokinetic changes, such as after rifampicin (RIF) and clarithromycin (CLA) in the treatment of abscessing lung diseases. Comedication of RIF may interact with CLA disposition by either induction of presystemic elimination processes and/or inhibition of uptake mechanisms because it regulates gene transcription and modulates function of various CYP enzymes, multidrug efflux and uptake transporters for which CLA is a substrate. To distinguish the transcriptional changes from the modulating interaction components upon CLA absorption and pulmonary ...
Yeargan M, de Assis Rocha I, Morrow J, Graves A, Reed SM, Howe DK.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) based on the SnSAG surface antigens of Sarcocystis neurona provide reliable detection of infection by the parasite. Moreover, accurate serodiagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is achieved with the SnSAG ELISAs by measuring antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to reveal active infection in the central nervous system. Two independent ELISAs based on recombinant (r)SnSAG2 or a chimeric fusion of SnSAG3 and SnSAG4 (rSnSAG4/3) are currently used together for EPM serodiagnosis to overcome varied antibody responses in different...
Davis JL.In summary, peritonitis in the horse is a potentially life-threatening disease that must be treated promptly and aggressively. Therapy should be aimed at reducing systemic shock and hypovolemia, correction of the primary cause, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy, and abdominal drainage and lavage. The prognosis depends on the ability to diagnose and treat the underlying cause and prevent the development of complications. Mortality rates can be as high as 59.7%, with horses developing postoperative peritonitis having a 56% mortality rate. Long-term complications like adhesion formation or...
Tee SY, Dart AJ, MacDonald MH, Perkins NR, Horadagoda N, Jeffcott LB.To evaluate the effect of collecting serial tracheal aspirate (TA) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples on the cytological findings of subsequent fluid samples obtained from horses without clinical signs of respiratory disease. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Six healthy Standardbred horses. Methods: Endoscopically-guided TA samples, and BAL samples collected using the blind field technique were obtained from the six horses on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, and 17. On day 17, horses were sampled three times: at baseline and at 2.5 h and 4 h apart. The differential cytology of the fluid samples co...
Kendall A, Anagrius K, Gånheim A, Rosanowski SM, Bergström K.Recommendations for prophylactic vaccination against tetanus in horses vary greatly between countries and have scarce scientific support in the peer-reviewed literature. In human medicine, recommended booster vaccination intervals are also very variable, but are considerably longer than for horses. More information is needed about the duration of immunity induced by modern vaccines. Objective: To investigate if the duration of antibody titres previously determined to be protective against tetanus differ from what is indicated by recommended vaccination intervals for horses. Methods: Prospectiv...
Johnston C, Roepstorff L, Drevemo S, Kallings P.Fast trotting Standardbred horses were filmed along a straight on an oval dirt track. Five consecutive stance phases were analysed to describe the planar kinematics of the distal hindlimb. The rapid changes in the geometry of the distal hindlimb that occur during the early stance phase were studied. The hoof segment was initially braked vertically and moved in the direction of the horse. The hoof moved forward on the track surface for more than 20% of the stance time (ST). Two specific deviations in the otherwise smooth course of the fetlock joint angle appeared at 16 and 29% of ST. Tarsal ang...
Issel CJ, Adams WV, Foil LD.Progeny of a band of horses, positive by the agar-gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test for equine infectious anemia (EIA) antibody, were observed through their weaning over a 4-year period. Sentinels (AGID test-negative) were allowed to mingle with EIA-infected mares and their foals in pasture situations in an area with high populations of potential vectors. Of 27 adult sentinels, 8 (30%) seroconverted in annual rates ranging from 0% to 75%. In contrast, only 2 of 31 (6%) foals weaned became infected. Difference in infection rates between adult sentinels and foals was significant (chi 2, P less tha...
