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.
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...
Tsujita H, Brennan AB, Plummer CE, Nakajima N, Hyon SH, Barrie KP, Sapp B, Jackson D, Brooks DE.Chemically defined bioadhesives (CDB) are "two-component reactive adhesives" made from antibiotic food additives. They contain no animal-derived ingredients and are characterized by a high level of self-degradability, low toxicity, and strong bonding properties. Amniotic membrane (AM) transplantation is used to repair severe ocular surface disease in humans and horses. AM requires meticulous suturing to the injured cornea. The purpose of this study is to determine whether CDB can facilitate the suture-less placement and adherence of equine AM to porcine cadaver cornea. Methods: Prospective stu...
Röcken M, Fürst A, Kummer M, Mosel G, Tschanz T, Lischer CJ.To report use of transendoscopic electrohydraulic shockwave lithotripsy for fragmentation of urinary calculi in horses. Methods: Case series. Methods: Male horses (n = 21). Methods: Fragmentation of cystic calculi (median, 6 cm diameter; range, 4-11 cm diameter) was achieved by transurethral endoscopy in standing sedated horses using an electrohydraulic shockwave fiber introduced through the biopsy channel of an endoscope. The fiber was advanced until it contacted the calculus. Repeated activation of the fiber was used to disrupt the calculus into fragments <1 cm diameter. Visibility within...
Ohmura H, Hobo S, Hiraga A, Jones JH.To determine the influence of transportation by road and air on heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) in horses. Animals-6 healthy horses. Methods: ECG recordings were obtained from horses before (quarantine with stall rest [Q]; 24 hours) and during a journey that included transportation by road (RT; 4.5 hours), waiting on the ground in an air stall (W; 5.5 hours), and transportation by air (AT; 11 hours); HR was determined, and HRV indices of autonomic nervous activity (low-frequency [LF; 0.01 to 0.07 Hz] and high-frequency [HF; 0.07 to 0.6 Hz] power) were calculated. Results: Mean ± SD H...
Sleutjens J, Smiet E, van Weeren R, van der Kolk J, Back W, Wijnberg ID.To evaluate the effect of various head and neck positions on intrathoracic pressure and arterial oxygenation during exercise in horses. Methods: 7 healthy Dutch Warmblood riding horses. Methods: The horses were evaluated with the head and neck in the following predefined positions: position 1, free and unrestrained; position 2, neck raised with the bridge of the nose aligned vertically; position 4, neck lowered and extremely flexed with the nose pointing toward the pectoral muscles; position 5, neck raised and extended with the bridge of the nose in front of a vertical line perpendicular to th...
Gürelli G, Göçmen B.The aim of this study was to determine the cytological features of 2 endocommensal ciliates, P. colpoidea and P. minuta belonging to genus Paraisotricha found in the hindgut of 15 Turk rahvan and 15 English and Arabic horses from Izmir, compare the morphological characters of species with their original descriptions and previous reports and discuss the similarities and differences. Methods: The cytological features of two endocommensal ciliates were investigated with the pyridinated silver carbonate impregnation and silver nitrate impregnation techniques at the level of light microscopy. Resul...
Marfe G, Rotta G, De Martino L, Tafani M, Fiorito F, Di Stefano C, Polettini M, Ranalli M, Russo MA, Gambacurta A.In this study, we present an innovative therapy using stem cells that were obtained from the peripheral blood of racehorses affected by uninduced superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries. Methods: Blood-derived stem cells (BDSCs) were generated from the blood samples of three horses in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). The racehorses received a single autologous BDSC treatment, which resulted in the successful repair of the tendons injuries. Results: The results demonstrated that the BDSCs injection into the damaged tendon stimulated the regeneration of nor...
Álvarez I, Fernández I, Lorenzo L, Payeras L, Cuervo M, Goyache F.Pedigree information and 179 mtDNA sequences from two endangered Spanish horse breeds, the Asturcón pony (143) and the Mallorquí horse (36), were analysed to asses: (i) the pedigree and molecular maternal genetic diversity of the two breeds; (ii) the concordance between the dam lines recorded in the corresponding studbooks and the mtDNA haplotypes identified; and (iii) to assess the losses of maternal genetic variability occurred from the foundation of the studbooks to present. Up to 50 Asturcón and 18 Mallorquí founder dam lines were identified in the studbooks analysed. Up to 315 Asturc...
Harris M, Nolen-Walston R, Ashton W, May M, Jackson K, Boston R.Blood samples banked for up to 1 month are typically used to perform pretransfusion testing in humans and small animals, but this has not been validated using blood from horses. Objective: Compatibility of equine blood samples is repeatable using fresh samples, and reproducible using donor blood samples stored for up to 4 weeks. Methods: Six healthy adult horses. Methods: Randomized, blinded experimental study. Immunologic compatibility of the blood of all horses was assessed using a major and minor saline agglutination and hemolysin crossmatch using blood samples refrigerated for 0-4 weeks an...
Govaere JL, De Schauwer C, Hoogewijs MK, Chiers K, Lefère L, Catry B, Roels K, van Heerden M, Broeckx S, de Kruif A.Hydrallantois in the mare is a very rare condition, and clinical reports help to gather information to elucidate its pathogenesis, treatment options and prognosis. Five different cases of hydrallantois in the mare are reported in this article, all with the involvement of placentitis. The five mares were presented because of acute distention of the abdomen, dyspnoea, stiff gait and a lack of appetite. After a gradual release of the excessive amount of allantoic fluid, an abortion was induced in all five mares. The foals were either born dead or euthanized. The mares recovered quickly. One mare ...
Harding PG, Smith RL, Barakzai SZ.To compare two approaches to performing the inferior alveolar nerve block in the horse and to evaluate the consistency of described topographical landmarks. Methods: Experimental cadaver model. Methods: Eleven cadaver heads were positioned to mimic a standing sedated horse and the position of the mandibular foramen approximated. The vertical approach to the approximate location of the mandibular foramen was undertaken and red dye was deposited. The angled approach was then undertaken and blue ink was used to identify it. The heads were then dissected to determine the location of the dye. Place...
Elliott CR, McCowan CI.Nigropallidal encephalomalacia was diagnosed in two horses in northern Victoria that had a history of long-term pasture access to a dense growth of Rhaponticum repens. The region in which the affected horses lived had received well above average rainfall for several months preceding the poisoning. Affected horses had sudden onset of subcutaneous oedema of the head, impaired prehension and mastication, dullness, lethargy and repeated chewing-like jaw movements. Diagnosis was confirmed at necropsy, with characteristic malacic lesions in the substantia nigra and globus pallidus of the brain. This...
Nielsen BL, Dybkjær L, Herskin MS.Transport of farm animals gives rise to concern about their welfare. Specific attention has been given to the duration of animal transport, and maximum journey durations are used in legislation that seek to minimise any negative impact of transport on animal welfare. This paper reviews the relatively few scientific investigations into effects of transport duration on animal welfare in cattle, sheep, horses, pigs and poultry. From the available literature, we attempt to distinguish between aspects, which will impair welfare on journeys of any duration, such as those associated with loading, and...
Bailly-Chouriberry L, Cormant F, Garcia P, Lönnberg M, Szwandt S, Bondesson U, Popot MA, Bonnaire Y.Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is a 30-34 kDa glycoprotein banned by the racing authorities. For some years this molecule has been detected in race horses in USA and in Europe, and even in racing camels. Although direct methods to differentiate horse endogenous EPO and rHuEPO have been developed either by LC-MS/MS or by isoelectric focusing (IEF) with double-blotting, the short confirmation time of such prohibited hormone in plasma remains a problem for horseracing doping control laboratories. In order to improve the rHuEPOs confirmation process in horse plasma or urine in terms of ...
van Galen G, Marcillaud Pitel C, Saegerman C, Patarin F, Amory H, Baily JD, Cassart D, Gerber V, Hahn C, Harris P, Keen JA, Kirschvink N, Lefere L....Improved understanding of the epidemiology of atypical myopathy (AM) will help to define the environmental factors that permit or support the causal agent(s) to exert toxicity. Objective: This European survey of AM aimed to describe spatiotemporal distribution, survival, clinical signs, circumstances in which AM develops and its different expressions between countries and over time. Methods: The spatiotemporal distribution, history and clinical features of AM cases reported to the Atypical Myopathy Alert Group from 2006 to 2009 were described. Comparisons of data from the most severely affecte...
Macpherson ML, Giguère S, Hatzel JN, Pozor M, Benson S, Diaw M, Sanchez LC, Vickroy TW, Tell L, Wetzlich S, Sims J.The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of CCFA in mares with placentitis and evaluate the disposition of the drug in fetal fluids, fetal membranes, colostrum, and serum of foals. A secondary objective was to obtain pilot data regarding the efficacy of CCFA for improving foal survival in mares with placentitis. Twelve pregnant pony mares were enrolled in the study, inoculated with Streptococcus zooepidemicus, intracervically and assigned to one of three groups: CEFT (n = 3; administered CCFA only; 6.6 mg/kg, i.m., q96h); COMBO (n = 6; administered combination therapy ...
Celaya R, Ferreira LM, García U, Rosa García R, Osoro K.As the number of horses is steadily increasing in Cantabrian less-favoured areas, mostly occupied by nutritionally poor heathland communities, the objective of this research was to study and compare diet selection and performance of crossbred horses and beef cattle (Asturiana de los Valles breed) grazing these areas during the summer. A total of 20 cows (seven lactating their calves and thirteen dry) and 20 mares (eight lactating their foals and twelve dry) were managed during 3 years on a heathland area from June to September and October. The proportion of grass (mostly Pseudarrhenatherum lon...
Hall SJ.An objective and accountable method is needed for deducing the number of registered animals in a breed from registration data. By following the principle that individual breeders register sufficient young females to be certain of having enough replacements for their current breeding stock, the ratios were calculated of the number of adult females in a breed to the number of female registrations, in a given year. Number of breeds considered were 8 cattle, 16 sheep, 8 pigs, 1 goat and 2 equines, all in the United Kingdom or Ireland. This yielded multipliers (4.4 for cattle, 3.3 for sheep, 3.1 fo...
Leisson K, Alev K, Kaasik P, Jaakma Ü, Seene T.This study investigates the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform composition in the gluteus medius muscle of the Akhal-Teke horses using SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). Fifteen horses aged between 1.5 and 23.5 years were used in this study and divided into three age groups: 1.5 to 4 (n = 6), 9 to 13 (n = 5) and 18.5 to 23.5 years (n = 4). The average content of the MyHC I isoform was 11.72 ± 1.07% (variation between individuals: 7.09% to 20.14%). The relative content of the MyHC IIa and IIx isoforms was subsequently 38.20 ± 1.46% (30.73% to 48.78%) and 50.0...
Virén T, Huang YP, Saarakkala S, Pulkkinen H, Tiitu V, Linjama A, Kiviranta I, Lammi MJ, Brünott A, Brommer H, Van Weeren R, Brama PA, Zheng YP....The aim of this study was to compare sensitivity of ultrasound and optical coherence tomography (OCT) techniques for the evaluation of the integrity of spontaneously repaired horse cartilage. Articular surfaces of horse intercarpal joints, featuring both intact tissue and spontaneously healed chondral or osteochondral defects, were imaged ex vivo with arthroscopic ultrasound and laboratory OCT devices. Quantitative ultrasound (integrated reflection coefficient (IRC), apparent integrated backscattering coefficient (AIB) and ultrasound roughness index (URI)) and optical parameters (optical refle...
Ault A, Zajac AM, Kong WP, Gorres JP, Royals M, Wei CJ, Bao S, Yang ZY, Reedy SE, Sturgill TL, Page AE, Donofrio-Newman J, Adams AA, Balasuriya UB....Equine influenza A (H3N8) virus infection is a leading cause of respiratory disease in horses, resulting in widespread morbidity and economic losses. As with influenza in other species, equine influenza strains continuously mutate, often requiring the development of new vaccines. Current inactivated (killed) vaccines, while efficacious, only offer limited protection against diverse subtypes and require frequent boosts. Research into new vaccine technologies, including gene-based vaccines, aims to increase the neutralization potency, breadth, and duration of protective immunity. Here, we demons...
Asadi F, Asadian P, Shahriari A, Pourkabir M, Kazemi A.Patterns of serum biochemical parameters vary among horse breeds. The objective of the present study was to compare serum lipoproteins of Iranian Caspian ponies with those of other horses (Arabs and Thoroughbreds) in the Iranian region. Serum lipoprotein values were determined by agar-agarose gel electrophoresis and measured by scan densitometry. Moreover, serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were determined and the results were analysed by one-way analysis of variance. Serum triglyceride and cholesterol values were 1.13 +/- 0.23 and 2.38 +/- 0.18 mmol/l in Caspian ponies, 1.96 +/...
Fritz KL, McCue ME, Valberg SJ, Rendahl AK, Mickelson JR.Recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis is a heritable disorder that results in painful skeletal muscle cramping with exercise in up to 10% of all Thoroughbred racehorses. Here, we report a genome-wide association study with 48 282 SNPs analyzed among 48 case and 37 control Thoroughbreds. The most significant SNPs spanned approximately 13 Mb on ECA16, and the P-value of the most significant SNP after correcting for population structure was 8.0 × 10(-6) . This region on ECA16 was further evaluated by genotyping 247 SNPs in both the initial population and a second population of 34 case and 98 contr...
De Marco M, Miraglia N, Peiretti PG, Bergero D.Several studies have reported data on comparisons between two methods: the total collection of feces and the internal markers method. The aim of this study was to assess the apparent digestibility of two concentrates and to compare the apparent digestion coefficients using the total collection of feces and acid-insoluble ash (AIA) as the internal marker method. In 2009, six adult geldings aged between 3 and 11 years, with an average weight per trial of 543, 540 and 542 kg, respectively, were used to determine the apparent digestibility by means of three in vivo digestibility trials on hay, hay...
Mori E, Borges AS, Delfiol DJ, Oliveira Filho JP, Gonçalves RC, Cagnini DQ, Lara MC, Cunha EM, Villalobos EM, Nassar AF, Castro AM, Brandao PE....This report describes the first detection of an equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) neuropathogenic variant (G2254/D752) in Brazil from a case of fatal equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in a mare. The results of nucleotide sequencing of the EHV-1 ORF30 gene showed that two other Brazilian EHV-1 isolates from EHM cases are representatives of the non-neuropathogenic variant (A2254/N752), suggesting that other unidentified factors are probably also involved in the neuropathogenicity of EHV-1 in horses. These findings will contribute to the epidemiological knowledge of EHV-1 infection in Brazi...
Prystupa JM, Juras R, Cothran EG, Buchanan FC, Plante Y.As part of the requirements of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Canada has been investigating the genetic diversity of its native equine and pony populations. Along with examining four indigenous Canadian equine populations (Canadian horse, Lac La Croix pony, Newfoundland pony and Sable Island population), another 10 Mountain and Moorland, three Nordic, four horse and two feral equine populations (thought to have influenced some pony breeds) were also investigated. In total, 821 individuals were genotyped at 38 microsatellite loci. Results of the analysis of molecular variance indicated...
de Andrade AF, Zaffalon FG, Celeghini EC, Nascimento J, Bressan FF, Martins SM, de Arruda RP.The objective was to verify the relationship between equine semen cryopreservation and changes related to increased lipid peroxidation. Also, addition of autologous or homologous seminal plasma from a stallion with a good freezing response to post-thawed sperm was tested to determine whether it would confer protection. Frozen-thawed sperm were evaluated and allocated into three groups: without plasma addition, and supplemented with either homologous or autologous seminal plasma. All groups were evaluated at 0, 60 and 120 min after incubation at 37 °C. Cryopreservation did not increase plasma ...
Moraveji M, Hosseini MH, Amrabadi O, Rahimian A, Namazi F, Namavari M.Neospora caninum, an apicomplexan protozoan parasite, is recognized as a major cause of abortion in cattle. However, limited information is presently available on the seroprevalence of Neospora antibodies in horses worldwide. The aim of the present study is to determine serological prevalence of Neospora infection in horses in Iran. Blood samples were obtained from 200 horses and tested for serum antibodies against Neospora spp. by the Neospora modified direct agglutination test (N-MAT). Antibodies were found in 64 (32%) horses being tested with titers of 1:80. This is the first serological su...
Knox J, Cowan RU, Doyle JS, Ligtermoet MK, Archer JS, Burrow JN, Tong SY, Currie BJ, Mackenzie JS, Smith DW, Catton M, Moran RJ, Aboltins CA....Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) is a mosquito-borne virus that is found across Australia, Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya. MVEV is endemic to northern Australia and causes occasional outbreaks across south-eastern Australia. 2011 saw a dramatic increase in MVEV activity in endemic regions and the re-emergence of MVEV in south-eastern Australia. This followed significant regional flooding and increased numbers of the main mosquito vector, Culex annulirostris, and was evident from the widespread seroconversion of sentinel chickens, fatalities among horses and several cases in humans, res...
Smith MA, Dyson SJ, Murray RC.To determine the reliability of 2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems for detection of cartilage and bone lesions of the equine fetlock. Objective: To test the hypotheses that lesions in cartilage, subchondral and trabecular bone of the equine fetlock verified using histopathology can be detected on high- and low-field MR images with a low incidence of false positive or negative results; that low-field images are less reliable than high-field images for detection of cartilage lesions; and that combining results of interpretation from different pulse sequences increases detection of cartil...
Chand N, Eyre P.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit the biosynthesis of kinins and prostaglandins and stabilize leukocyte lysosomal membranes. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs also weakly block the biosynthesis of histamine and serotonin, and pharmacologically antagonize kinins, prostaglandins and slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs effectively control both cardiovascular and respiratory manifestations of hypersensitivity in cattle and horses. This, coupled with the contrasting lack of effectiveness of "antiamine" drugs, suggests that bio-amines such as hi...
Desmaizieres LM, Serraud N, Plainfosse B, Michel A, Tamzali Y.High speed treadmill endoscopy provides a true assessment and diagnosis of the dynamic obstructions of the upper equine respiratory tract (DO-URT). However, treadmills do not always allow reproduction of the exact conditions of dynamic collapse of the URT. The availability of on-board endoscopes, which could be used without a treadmill, would make exercising endoscopy readily available to more equine practices. Objective: To develop and validate an innovative endoscope which could be used for the examination of the URT at exercise in ridden and harnessed sport horses performing in natural cond...
Beyer MJ, Freestone JF, Reimer JM, Bernard WV, Rueve ER.Five thoroughbred foals (4 fillies and 1 colt), all in good to excellent body condition, ranging in age from 4 days to 5 weeks at the time of onset of signs, were presented to 2 Kentucky equine hospitals from 1992 through 1996. All 5 foals presented with tachycardia, hyperhidrosis, diarrhea or a recent history of diarrhea, and muscle rigidity or stiff gait. Four of the 5 foals presented for recumbency, seizure-like activity with opisthotonos, or pronounced extensor muscle rigidity. All 5 foals were hypocalcemic. All foals either died or had euthanasia performed. None responded to oral calcium ...
Cilliers I, Williams J, Carstens A, Duncan NM.Four horses were presented to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital with histories of facial asymmetry, nasal discharge or obstruction of normal nasal passage airflow. Radiographic examination of the maxillary sinuses of 2 cases revealed well circumscribed, unilateral, mineralised masses; the other 2 cases showed less mineralisation. The masses were accessed for further investigation by surgically created frontonasal bone flaps or trephination of the maxillary sinuses. Diagnosis of osteoma was confirmed histopathologically in 3 of the cases and of ossifying fibroma in the 4th. Two hor...
Brilhante RSN, Bittencourt PV, de Souza Collares Castelo-Branco D, de Melo Guedes GM, de Oliveira JS, Alencar LP, de Aguiar Cordeiro R, Pinheiro M....This study aimed to assess the biofilm-forming ability of Candida spp. from the ocular conjunctiva of horses and to investigate the antifungal susceptibility of these biofilms. Methods: Initially, the biofilm-forming ability of 15 strains was assessed by crystal violet staining, which reveals the fungal biomass adhered to the polystyrene plates, and scanning electron microscopy. Then, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and caspofungin were initially determined against strains in planktonic form. Afterward, antifungal susceptibility of mat...
Bristol DG.The anion gap was calculated for each of 90 horses with signs of abdominal pain, using laboratory data obtained shortly after admission. The anion gap was defined as the difference between the sodium concentration (mEq/L) and the sum of the chloride and bicarbonate concentrations. To evaluate the use of the anion gap as a prognostic indicator, the survival rates were calculated for horses whose anion gap concentrations were within various ranges. It was found that the probability of survival decreased as the anion gap progressively increased about 20 mEq/L. The survival rates for increasing ra...
Tóth F, Schumacher J, Castro F, Perkins J.To describe and evaluate full-thickness skin grafting of equine wounds. Methods: Case series. Methods: Adult horses (n=6). Methods: A full-thickness graft was harvested from the pectoral region with the horse anesthetized or standing and sedated after local anesthetic infiltration. Grafts were attached to the cutaneous margin of the wound with staples and/or sutures if the horse was anesthetized or if the recipient site was desensitized. Cyanoacrylate glue was used to attach the grafts to the cutaneous margin of the wound of 3 horses. Medical records were reviewed for history, physical examina...
Viu J, Armengou L, Decloedt A, Jose-Cunilleras E.Two horses referred to the Unitat Equina, Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, for unrelated clinical problems, and with no previous history of cardiac disease exhibited an intermittent ventricular pre-excitation electrocardiographic pattern during hospitalization. Both animals showed decreased plasma total and ionized magnesium concentrations, but no other relevant electrolyte disturbances were detected. Altered interventricular septal motion associated with ventricular pre-excitation beats (VPBs) was detected on M-mode echocardiography in both horses. Th...
Sallé G, Cabaret J.In-depth knowledge of the use of anthelminthics in the field, especially by veterinarians, is required to design more sustainable parasite control strategies. Methods: An online survey was sent by e-mail to 940 equine veterinary practitioners to describe their equine practice, their awareness about parasites and the management strategies they apply. Results: Gastrointestinal parasites were generally considered (68%) as an issue of moderate importance. Drug efficacy failure was a minor or moderate issue for 47% and 48% of responders, respectively. Parasite management mostly relied on the use of...
Clarke AF.This paper reviews the environmental and host factors which interact to affect the incidence and severity of episodes of respiratory disease in stabled horses. The folly of accepting housing criteria and management practices for the horse, based on direct extrapolations from intensive housing of meat producing animals, is discussed. The factors which affect air hygiene and physical environment of stables are considered in terms of short-term athletic performance and long-term welfare.
Rabb MH, Thompson DL, Barry BE, Colborn DR, Garza F, Hehnke KE.Six lighthorse stallions with previous sexual experience were used to determine the short-term effects of sexual stimulation (SS; 5 min exposure to an estrous mare), SS plus ejaculation (SSE), and no stimulation (control) on serum concentrations of LH, FSH, testosterone, cortisol and prolactin. Stallions received one treatment per day on d 1, 4 and 7. Treatments were assigned such that each stallion 1) received each treatment once and 2) experienced a unique sequence of treatments. Neither SS nor SSE had any consistent effects on LH or FSH concentrations. Testosterone concentrations during con...
Hedia M, Ibrahim S, Mahmoud K, Ahmed Y, Ismail S, El-Belely M.Apparently healthy mares with conception failure or embryonic loss may have subclinical endometritis (SE). Our objective was to document evidence of systemic immune responses against SE in mares. In apparently healthy (control) mares as well as those with chronic endometritis (ChE) or subacute suppurative endometritis (SSE), both considered classes of SE, serum concentrations of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF), chemokines (IL-8), acute phase protein (SAA), and plasma concentrations of prostaglandins (PGF and PGE) were measured using validated enzyme linked immunoassays (EIA). Mixed-bre...
Aanes WA.The great variety of pathologic conditions associated with the peripartum period in the mare emphasizes the need for close observation and evaluation of the mare's condition during this period. The temperament and strength of the mare and violence of parturition undoubtedly produce extreme intraabdominal pressures that result in (or enhance preexisting) pathologic changes. Although the exact etiology of many of these disease processes is unknown, careful observation with properly timed medical and/or surgical intervention could reduce the losses associated with the peripartum period.
Gibson JS, Slater JD, Field HJ.The activity of the nucleotide analogue, (S)-1-[(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonyl methoxy) propyl] cytosine (HPMPC), against equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) was tested in cell culture, mice and foals. The ED50 for plaque reduction was found to be 0.07 and 0.03 microgram/ml in RK-13 and EEL cells respectively. In mice, a single administration of HPMPC (20 mg/kg, s.c.) was very effective at reducing clinical signs and virus replication if given on the day before intranasal inoculation with EHV-1. Treatment on the day of infection or day 1 p.i. was less effective, but still significantly reduced clinical sign...
Elshafie EI, Sani RA, Hassan L, Sharma R, Bashir A, Abubakar IA.A cross-sectional study was designed to assess the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Trypanosoma evansi infection among horses, using a total of 527 blood samples obtained from eight states in Peninsular Malaysia. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on risk factors associated with T. evansi seroprevalence. The overall seroprevalence detected by card agglutination test for T. evansi (CATT/T. evansi) was 13.90% (73/527, CI: 11.2-17.1%). Female and exogenous horses showed a higher risk in association with the disease seroprevalence compared to other groups. The major...
Wolc A, Bresińska A, Szwaczkowski T.Twinning is a serious problem in Thoroughbred horses, as most of the multiple pregnancies are miscarried and live foals present lower performance values. The aim of this study was to estimate the heritability and repeatability of twinning in Thoroughbred horses. A total of 12648 pregnancies of 2033 Thoroughbred mares born between 1929 and 1994 in 11 studs were included. The analysis was performed by the use of AI-REML algorithm under three threshold animal models. The first model included effects of stud, mare's birth period and interaction between them as fixed. The second model included the ...
Bachmann M, Glatter M, Bochnia M, Greef JM, Breves G, Zeyner A.For a period of 20 days, 12 horses either received a prebiotic supplementation with fructooligosaccharides and inulin via Jerusalem artichoke meal (JAM) or corncob meal without grains (CMG) as placebo. The horses were euthanized 1 hour postprandial, gastric digesta was sampled from pars nonglandularis (PNG) and pars glandularis (PG), and concentrations of starch, mono- and disaccharides, fructans, d- and l-lactic acid, and short chain fatty acids were analyzed. Concentrations of starch and simple sugars were widely the same in JAM supplemented and not supplemented meals. However, fructans were...
Barton AK, Heinemann H, Schenk I, Machnik M, Gehlen H.OBJECTIVE To evaluate the influence of respiratory tract disease (ie, recurrent airway obstruction [RAO]) and mode of inhalation on detectability of inhaled budesonide in equine plasma and urine samples. ANIMALS 16 horses (8 healthy control horses and 8 horses affected by RAO, as determined by results of clinical examination, blood gas analysis, bronchoscopy, and cytologic examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid). PROCEDURES 4 horses of each group inhaled budesonide (3 μg/kg) twice daily for 10 days while at rest, and the remaining 4 horses of each group inhaled budesonide during lunging ...
Melgaard DT, Korsgaard TS, Thoefner MS, Petersen MR, Pedersen HG.Unwanted behaviour in mares is a commonly presenting problem to the veterinarian. This behaviour may range from the mare being uncooperative or aggressive when handled on the ground, kicking, bucking or rearing when ridden or being aggressive towards other horses. This purpose of the study was to evaluate whether bilateral ovariectomy in mares with unwanted behaviour improved the mare's behaviour and/or rideability from the owner's perspective. The mares were grouped and compared statistically based on their histological classification as having either "normal" or neoplastic ovaries. This stud...
Bezerra PS, Driemeier D, Loretti AP, Riet-Correa F, Kamphues J, de Barros CS.Three outbreaks of monensin poisoning caused 12 deaths in 16 horses. The illnesses were associated with the ingestion of the same batch of a commercial ration labeled for feeder calves which contained 180 +/- 20 ppm sodium monensin. The morbidity rate was 100% and lethality was 60%, 75%, and 100%. Clinical signs were tachycardia and cardiac arrythmia, groaning, incoordination, sudoresis, recumbency, and paddling movements with the limbs before death. Two horses had dark discolored urine (myoglobinuria). Serum levels of creatine phosphokinase activity were increased. Main necropsy findings were...
Sherlock C, Lee W, Mueller PO, Eggleston R, Epstein K.Although single layer techniques are preferred in man and small animals for small intestinal end-to-end anastomoses, double layer techniques are more popular in equine surgery. This study was undertaken to evaluate the ex vivo characteristics of 2 single layer anastomoses in comparison to the traditionally performed double layer anastomosis in equine jejunum. Objective: To compare ex vivo: 1) construction time; 2) bursting pressure; and 3) lumen size reduction of 3 suture patterns (double layer simple continuous/Cushing pattern [2C]; single layer Lembert pattern [1L]; and single layer Cushing ...
Dyson S, Blunden T, Murray R.There is limited knowledge about both histological features in early navicular disease and what histological features are represented by increased signal intensity in fat-suppressed magnetic resonance (MR) images of the navicular bone. Objective: To characterise increased signal intensity in the spongiosa of the navicular bone in fat-suppressed MR images and to compare this with histopathology; and to compare objective grading of all aspects of the navicular bone on MR images with histological findings. Methods: One or both front feet of 22 horses with foot pain and a median lameness duration ...
Herd RP.The serious and widespread problem of drug resistance has forced a re-thinking of basic philosophy regarding control of equine parasites. It has illustrated the dangers of total reliance on chemical control and stimulated the use of alternate strategies. Two new approaches are described. Prophylactic treatments in the spring and summer provide effective strongyle and colic control with less selection pressure for drug resistance. A nonchemical approach of pasture cleaning twice a week offers the same advantages with the added bonus of a 50 per cent increase in grazing area.
Saetang T, Treamwattana N, Suttijitpaisal P, Ratanabanangkoon K.A quantitative comparison was made on the fractionation of pepsin-digested horse antivenoms by ammonium sulfate (AS) fractional precipitation and ion-exchange chromatography on Q-Sepharose. In the precipitation process, pepsin digested horse anti-Naja kaouthia serum was precipitated by 30% saturated AS followed by 50% saturated AS. The recovery of antibody activity [as measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against the cobra postsynaptic neurotoxin 3] from the 30-50% saturated AS precipitate was 53% with a 1.93-fold purification. For the chromatographic process, the behavior ...
Garber A, Hastie PM, Farci V, McGuinness D, Bulmer L, Alzahal O, Murray JMD.There is a need to develop feeding strategies to prevent the adverse effect of concentrate feeding in high-performance horses fed energy-dense diets aiming to maintain their health and welfare. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of a VistaEQ product containing 4% live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae), with activity 5 × 108 colony-forming unit/g and fed 2 g/pony per day, on faecal microbial populations when supplemented with high-starch and high-fibre diets using Illumina next generation sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The four tr...
Stiller L, Depczynski J, Fragar L, Franklin R.Child injury on farms is a significant public health problem. This article describes the evidence and consultation base for development of a national strategy for child safety on farms in Australia. Methods: A data profile describing farm child injury was compiled, with evidence for the effectiveness of solutions being defined and the strength of recommendations determined. Representative working groups played a key role in assessing the evidence and advising on the best ways to communicate prevention messages within the farming community. Results: The main risks identified were drowning; farm...
Burns RE, Pesavento PA, McElliott VR, Ortega J, Affolter VK.Three horses presented with variably painful, nonulcerated masses of the head or neck that were diagnosed as glomus tumours. Grossly, they were fleshy, pink to tan masses ranging from 0.4 to 9 cm in diameter, involving either the deep dermis and subcutis or the subcutis and underlying skeletal muscle. Microscopically, neoplastic epithelioid cells were arranged in sheets, cords and packets within lobules. The neoplastic cells frequently abutted and formed nodular bulges into large endothelium-lined vascular spaces, especially around the tumour periphery. Large nerve branches were associated wit...
