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.
Russo D, Castellani G, Chiocchetti R.Spinal ganglion (SG) neurons are subdivided, on the basis of their cytoplasmic aspect at light and electron microscopy, into dark (D) and light (L) neurons. Numerous efforts have been made to find specific markers able to identify D and L neuronal cytotypes. The isolectin B4 (IB4), utilized to identify nonpeptidergic D neurons in mice, unfortunately, has not proved as effective in other species. The 200-kDa neurofilament protein (NF200) is considered as a typical marker of L neurons in the rat, cat, and chick. The aim of this study was to analyze the histological, morphometric, and neurochemic...
Klinkhamer K, Menheere PP, van der Kolk JH.Glucocorticoids are suggested to precipitate laminitis and induce insulin resistance in horses. Objective: To assess insulin sensitivity and the basal amount of glucose metabolized in equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Methods: The euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp (EHC) technique was performed in seven horses with a diagnosis of PPID based on the presence of hypertrichosis and positive dexamethasone suppression-test results comprising one gelding and six mares with a mean age of 21.1 ± 5.8 (SD; range 15-34) years. Results were compared with those from five negative (h...
Muscatello G.Various challenges face clinicians and farm managers in diagnosing, treating and preventing Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. The use of ultrasound imaging has aided in the early diagnosis of the disease, reducing treatment duration and improving therapeutic outcomes. Antimicrobial resistance in R. equi is an emerging issue that necessitates prudent antimicrobial therapy of diseased foals. Alternative methods of disease transmission, such as contagious foal-to-foal aerosol transmission, may need to be addressed to complement dust reduction environmental strategies and to minimise the overall risk of...
Mealey RH, Kappmeyer LS, Ueti MW, Wagner B, Knowles DP.Theileria equi immune plasma was infused into young horses (foals) with severe combined immunodeficiency. Although all foals became infected following intravenous challenge with homologous T. equi merozoite stabilate, delayed time to peak parasitemia occurred. Protective effects were associated with a predominance of passively transferred merozoite-specific IgG3.
Dujardin CL, van Loon JP.This survey investigated the attitudes of equine veterinarians in The Netherlands and the Flemish region of Belgium towards pain management in the horse. Questionnaires were sent out to 771 equine veterinarians, all members of the Dutch or Flemish equine practitioners society. The return rate of completed questionnaires was 16.6%. The survey provided information about the use of analgesic drugs, factors influencing their prescription, pain scoring, analgesic therapy for specific clinical conditions, use of epidural analgesia, and appraisal of personal knowledge of pain management. The pain sco...
Rush BR, Biller DS, Davis EG, Higginbotham ML, Klocke E, Miesner MD, Rankin DC.Kansas State University implemented a Web-based program to assess students' competency to perform technical skills during clinical rotations throughout the fourth year of the veterinary curriculum. The classes of 2009 and 2010 recorded a minimum number of procedures (104 and 103, respectively) from a menu of more than 220 recommended procedures. Procedures were categorized by species (small animal, equine, food animal) and disciplines (imaging, anesthesia, diagnostic medicine/necropsy). Ophthalmology was added as a fourth discipline for the class of 2010. Students recorded procedures into the ...
Curtis GC, Barfoot CF, Dugdale AH, Harris PA, Argo CM.Dietary restriction for the weight-loss management of obese horses limits the natural trickle-feeding behaviour. During feed restriction, wood shavings are often advised as bedding to prevent dietary supplementation from non-feed sources. Data from twelve overweight/obese horses and ponies of mixed breed and sex, bedded on wood shavings during 16 weeks of feed restriction, were retrospectively evaluated. DM intake (DMI) was restricted to 1.25 % of body mass (BM) daily. Animals were randomly assigned to one of two diets (hay/chaff, n 6; hay/balancer meal, n 6). BM was recorded weekly. Feeding b...
Watts AE, Fubini SL, Todhunter RJ, Brooks MB.To identify hemostatic imbalances indicative of an increased risk of intra-abdominal adhesion formation in foals versus adult horses. Methods: Horses with colic undergoing exploratory laparotomy or abdominocentesis as part of a clinical examination (n = 16 foals ≤ 6 months of age and 19 adults ≥ 5 years of age) and horses without colic undergoing herniorrhaphy (15 foals) or euthanasia for noninflammatory and nongastrointestinal disease (10 foals and 20 adults). Methods: Paired abdominal fluid and blood samples were collected from each horse into buffered sodium citrate and centrifuged imme...
Guschlbauer M, Feige K, Geburek F, Hoppe S, Hopster K, Pröpsting MJ, Huber K.To determine whether administration of lidocaine during ischemia and reperfusion in horses results in concentrations in smooth muscle sufficient to protect against the negative consequences of ischemia-reperfusion injury on smooth muscle motility. Methods: 12 horses. Methods: Artificial ischemia and reperfusion injury of jejunal segments was induced in vivo in conjunction with lidocaine treatment during ischemia (IRL) or without lidocaine treatment (IR). Isometric force performance was measured in vitro in IRL and IR smooth muscle preparations with and without additional in vitro application o...
Mössner LD, Schmitz A, Theurillat R, Thormann W, Mevissen M.To identify and characterize cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) responsible for the metabolism of racemic ketamine in 3 mammalian species in vitro by use of chemical inhibitors and antibodies. Methods: Human, canine, and equine liver microsomes and human single CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 and their canine orthologs. Methods: Chemical inhibitors selective for human CYP enzymes and anti-CYP antibodies were incubated with racemic ketamine and liver microsomes or specific CYPs. Ketamine N-demethylation to norketamine was determined via enantioselective capillary electrophoresis. Results: The general CYP inhibit...
Henze A, Aumer F, Grabner A, Raila J, Schweigert FJ.Although horses and donkeys belong to the same genus, their genetic characteristics probably result in specific proteomes and post-translational modifications (PTM) of proteins. Since PTM can alter protein properties, specific PTM may contribute to species-specific characteristics. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyse differences in serum protein profiles of horses and donkeys as well as mules, which combine the genetic backgrounds of both species. Additionally, changes in PTM of the protein transthyretin (TTR) were analysed. Serum protein profiles of each species (five anima...
Sears KP, Divers TJ, Neff RT, Miller WH, McDonough SP.This case report describes a 10-year-old horse that developed multiple dermal papules over the right masseter area following removal of a tick from the same site 3 months earlier. Histological examination of a biopsy from a papule was suggestive of either a T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma or cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia, a form of pseudolymphoma sometimes associated with a tick bite. Positive serological testing and PCR of the biopsy sample for Borrelia in conjunction with immunohistochemical testing of the skin biopsy, the clinical history and response to treatment with doxycycline strongly sup...
Yu MH, Kasem S, Yoshizaki N, Pagamjav O, Yamaguchi T, Ohya K, Fukushi H.EUL47 is a major component of the tegument of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1). To determine its function, we used Red/ET cloning to delete its gene (gene 13) from EHV-1 strain Ab4p inserted into a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC), yielding Ab4pattBΔ13. We also examined the reverted virus (Ab4pattB13R). Ab4pattBΔ13 replicated in rabbit kidney (RK)-13 cells, indicating that ORF13 is dispensable for virus replication in cell culture. Its intracellular and extracellular titers were about 10- and 100-fold lower than those of the revertant and parent strains, respectively. In addition, the plaqu...
Clayton HM, Lavagnino M, Kaiser LJ, Stubbs NC.To compare effects of 4 types of stimulation devices attached to the hind feet on hoof flight, joint angles, and net joint powers of trotting horses. Methods: 8 clinically normal horses. Methods: Horses were evaluated under 5 conditions in random order: no stimulators, loose straps (10 g), lightweight tactile stimulators (55 g), limb weights (700 g), and limb weights with tactile stimulators (700 g). Reflective markers on the hind limbs were tracked during the swing phase of 6 trotting trials performed at consistent speed to determine peak hoof heights and flexion angles of the hip, stifle, ta...
Röcken M, Mosel G, Seyrek-Intas K, Seyrek-Intas D, Litzke F, Verver J, Rijkenhuizen AB.To evaluate surgical techniques, perioperative complications and outcome of laparoscopic surgery for unilateral and bilateral ovariectomy in mares. Methods: Retrospective multicenter case series. Methods: Mares (n = 157). Methods: Indications for surgery were neutering, fertility problems, elimination of hormone-related abnormal behavior, ovarian tumors as well as nonregressive ovarian hematomas or cysts. Ovariectomy (n = 206) were performed by a standard laparoscopic procedure in 157 standing sedated mares. Dissection and hemostasis were achieved by using either (1) a linear stapling device, ...
Dawson DR, Nydam DV, Price CT, Graham JE, Cynamon MH, Divers TJ, Felippe MJ.To investigate the effect of opsonization of Rhodococcus equi with R. equi-specific antibodies in plasma on bacterial viability and phagocyte activation in a cell culture model of infection. Methods: Neutrophils and monocyte-derived macrophages from 6 healthy 1-week-old foals and 1 adult horse. Methods: Foal and adult horse phagocytes were incubated with either opsonized or nonopsonized bacteria. Opsonization was achieved by use of plasma containing high or low concentrations of R. equi-specific antibodies. Phagocyte oxidative burst activity was measured by use of flow cytometry, and macrophag...
Beccati F, Pepe M, Di Meo A, Davanzo S, Moriconi F.To evaluate changes in the cortical bone of the proximal phalanx of the fore-limbs of Thoroughbreds in response to training. Methods: Twenty-seven 2-year-old Thoroughbreds (20 females, 2 males, and 5 geldings). Methods: Horses were principally in training for races in a straight line and in a clockwise direction. Lateromedial and dorsopalmar radiographic views of each metacarpophalangeal joint were obtained before the horses started training and 1 year after starting exercise and racing. Width of the dorsal, palmar, lateral, and medial cortex and the width and thickness of the medulla were mea...
Guan F, Uboh CE, Soma LR, You Y, Li X, McDonnell S.19-Norandrostenedione (NAED) and nandrolone are anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs). Nandrolone was regarded solely as a synthetic AAS until the 1980s when trace concentrations of apparently endogenous nandrolone were detected in urine samples obtained from intact male horses (stallions). Since then, its endogenous origin has been reported in boars and bulls; endogenous NAED and nandrolone have been identified in plasma and urine samples collected from stallions. More recently, however, it was suggested that NAED and nandrolone detected in urine samples from stallions are primarily artifacts d...
Ohta M, Nemoto M, Tsujimura K, Kondo T, Matsumura T.A PCR assay for the diagnosis of respiratory disease induced by equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) was performed at the clinical laboratory in the Racehorse Clinic of the Ritto Training Center of the Japan Racing Association from December 2007 to March 2008. The assay was performed without the trouble of contamination throughout the study and its turnaround time was approximately 6 hr. The PCR detection rates of EHV-1 among seroconverted horses were 22.2% for nasal swabs and 33.3% for blood samples. However, EHV-1 DNA was also detected in horses without seroconversion at a low rate. These resul...
Wearn JG, Suagee JK, Crisman MV, Corl BA, Hulver MW, Hodgson DR, Geor RJ, McCutcheon LJ.Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a condition of obese horses characterized by insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, and an increased risk of laminitis. The pathogenesis of EMS is thought, in part, to be due to inflammatory proteins produced by adipose tissue. Reducing inflammation may decrease the incidence of laminitis in horses with EMS. Pioglitazone hydrochloride, a thiazolidinedione, has efficacy to reduce obesity associated inflammation in humans. Eight normal, adult, horses were administered 1mg/kg pioglitazone for 14 days, and eight horses served as controls. Physical examination...
Kihara R, Kasashima Y, Arai K, Miyamoto Y.Injury initiates a repair process characterized by influx of fibroblasts and the rapid formation of fibrous scar tissue and subsequent tissue contraction. The response to injury and behavior of the different tendon fibroblast populations, however, has been poorly characterized. We hypothesized that the fibroblasts recovered from tendon with acute injury would exhibit different cell properties relating to adhesion, migration and tensegrity. To test this hypothesis we evaluated the ability of fibroblasts recovered from normal and injured equine superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs). The inj...
Secor EJ, Matychak MB, Felippe MJ.This study aimed to determine whether TNF-α is transferred to equine neonates via colostrum and the relationship between TNF-α and IgG concentrations in the equine neonate. Colostrum, presuckle and postsuckle foal serum samples were collected from healthy mares and their foals. Equine TNF-α ELISA and IgG SRID kits were used to determine the concentrations of TNF-α and IgG, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using the Spearman rank correlation. TNF-α concentrations in all presuckle foal serum were below the limit of detection in 15/16 foals and increased in postsuckle foal se...
Klein C, Troedsson M.During the second and third week of pregnancy, the equine conceptus is covered by an acellular glycoprotein capsule. This capsule contains glycoproteins resembling those of the mucin family with sialic acid making up a high proportion of the carbohydrate. Coinciding with conceptus fixation, a marked decline in sialic acid content of the capsule occurs, which has been proposed to contribute to cessation of conceptus mobility. Herein, we describe the expression of neuraminidase 2 (NEU2) by pre-implantation stages of equine conceptus development. NEU2 transcript abundance was examined in conceptu...
Vergari C, Pourcelot P, Ravary-Plumioën B, Dupays AG, Jacquet S, Audigié F, Denoix JM, Laugier P, Mitton D, Crevier-Denoix N.Equine superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFT) are often injured, and they represent an excellent model for human sport tendinopathies. While lesions can be precisely diagnosed by clinical evaluation and ultrasonography, a prognosis is often difficult to establish; the knowledge of the injured tendon's mechanical properties would help in anticipating the outcome. The objectives of the present study were to compare the axial speed of sound (SOS) measured in vivo in normal and injured tendons and to investigate their relationship with the tendons' mechanical parameters, in order to assess the ...
Zwirglmaier S, Remler HP, Senckenberg E, Fritz J, Stelzer P, Kienzle E.In nine adult Warmblood horses with mild to moderate dental findings (no signs of discomfort during chewing), voluntary hay intake before and after dental correction was examined. In a second experiment, digestibility of feed and faecal particle size were determined (3 days of total faecal collection) before and after dental correction. During both digestion trials including a 3-day adaptation period, the amount of hay and concentrate (mixture of oats, barley and maize) was kept constant in each individual horse before and after dental correction. Voluntary hay intake in individual horses ra...
de Laat MA, Pollitt CC, Walsh DM, McGowan CM, Sillence MN.Persistent digital hyperthermia, presumably due to vasodilation, occurs during the developmental and acute stages of insulin-induced laminitis. The objectives of this study were to determine if persistent digital hyperthermia is the principal pathogenic mechanism responsible for the development of laminitis. The potent vasodilator, ATP-MgCl(2) was infused continuously into the distal phalanx of the left forefoot of six Standardbred racehorses for 48 h via intra-osseous infusion to promote persistent digital hyperthermia. The right forefoot was infused with saline solution and acted as an inter...
Ciotola F, Albarella S, Pasolini MP, Auletta L, Esposito L, Iannuzzi L, Peretti V.An 18-month-old Arabian foal characterized by a stallion-like appearance was submitted for cytogenetic and molecular genetics examinations due to abnormalities of external genitalia and the presence of ovotestis-like structures in the abdominal cavity. By RB-banding the animal showed the normal female equine karyotype (2n = 64,XX). Molecular analysis revealed the absence of the SRY and ZFY genes and the presence of ZFX, a typical female equine condition. The entire RSPO1 coding region was examined to exclude its involvement. Although a SNP was found in exon 3, it was not responsible for an ami...
Sprekeler N, Müller T, Kowalewski MP, Liesegang A, Boos A.In many species, the small intestine is the major site of calcium (Ca(2+)) absorption. The horse differs considerably from most other species with regard to the physiology of its Ca(2+) metabolism and digestion. Thus, this study was performed to get more information about the transcellular Ca(2+) absorption in the horse.Two mechanisms of intestinal Ca(2+) absorption are described: the passive paracellular pathway and the active, vitamin D-dependent transcellular pathway. The latter involves the following elements: vitamin D receptors (VDR), transient receptor potential vanilloid channel member...
Hara S, Diesterbeck US, König S, Czerny CP.The present study analyzed equine λ-light chain genes (IGLV and IGLC) transcribed in the horse breeds Rhenish-German Coldblood (RGC) and Hanoverian Warmblood (HW). Primers were generated for the major expressed IGLV subgroup 8. The significant majority of the sequences represented IGLC6/7. In RGC, IGLC1 and IGLC5 were observed in significant higher frequencies than IGLC4. In HW, significant differences were obtained for the transcription of IGLC1 and IGLC5. IGLC4 was not determined in this breed. Five allotypic IGLC1 variants, four allotypic IGLC5 variants, and three allelic as well as two al...
Licka TF.The differentiation of ataxia and orthopedic disease can be facilitated by the use of several additional tests, not commonly part of either neurologic or orthopedic examination protocols. However, a full neurologic and orthopedic examination and suitable diagnostic imaging will of course also be necessary in such cases. The common association of orthopedic and neurologic disease makes it even more necessary to correctly attribute movement or posture abnormalities to potentially treatable structures.
Ramery E, Closset R, Art T, Bureau F, Lekeux P.Microarrays have become an important research tool for life science researchers. Expression microarrays are capable of profiling the gene expression pattern of tens of thousands of genes in a single experiment. It appears to be the platform of choice for parallel gene expression profiling. Various equine-specific gene expression microarrays have been generated and used. However, homologous microarrays are not yet commercially available for the horse. An alternative is the use of heterologous microarrays, mainly microarrays specific for mice or humans. Although the use of microarrays in equine ...
Begg AP, Todhunter K, Donahoe SL, Krockenberger M, Slapeta J.A case of amoebic placentitis in a mare from eastern Australia was diagnosed postpartum by histopathological examination of the placenta. The identity of the etiological agent was confirmed as Acanthamoeba hatchetti by use of diversity profiling based on a next-generation sequencing approach.
Kolm-Stark G, Wagner R.Icelandic horses in Austria are commonly affected by an allergic inflammatory skin disease recurring during the summer seasons, which shares characteristic features with Culicoides hypersensitivity. However, the causative agents have not yet been identified. Therefore, intradermal skin testing (IDST) with a standardised extract of Culicoides variipennis and 21 other allergens relevant within Austria was performed in 81 Icelandic horses. All horses included into the study were treated regularly with ivermectin and had no history of administration of anti-inflammatory drugs. Forty-three of these...
Barton AK, Pelli A, Rieger M, Gehlen H.Procalcitonin (PCT), a precursor protein of the hormone calcitonin, is a sensitive inflammatory marker in human medicine, which is primarily used for diagnosis of bacterial sepsis, but is also useful in diagnosis of exacerbation of asthma and COPD. In this study, PCT was evaluated as a potential biomarker for different chronic pneumopathies in the horse using an equine specific ELISA in comparison to established clinical markers and different interleukins. Sixty-four horses were classified as free of respiratory disease, recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), inflammatory airway disease (IAD) or ...
Rice MK, Henry TJ.Diseased cheek teeth in horses often require invasive extraction techniques that carry a high rate of complications. Techniques and instrumentation were developed to perform partial crown removal to aid standing intraoral extraction of diseased cheek teeth in horses. Objective: To analyse success rates and post-surgical complications in horses undergoing cheek teeth extraction assisted by partial crown removal. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: This study included 165 horses with 194 diseased cheek teeth that were extracted orally assisted by partial crown removal between 2010 and ...
Waller AP, Lindinger MI.Exercise results in rapid and large extracellular to intracellular fluid shifts, as well as significant sweating losses of water and ions. It is unknown whether ions within oral electrolyte supplements are taken up by muscle (and other soft tissues) and whether oral supplementation can effectively offset sweating losses. Pre-loading with 8 L of a balanced hypotonic electrolyte supplement attenuated extracellular fluid losses, increased exercise duration and increased sweating fluid and ion losses during submaximal exercise. Supplemented electrolytes appear in skeletal muscle within 1 h after...
Ball MC, Dewberry TD, Freeman PG, Kemsley PD, Poe I.Between 2006 and 2012, there were 11 horses diagnosed with Hendra virus (HeV) on 9 independent premises in New South Wales (NSW). We defined a case of HeV as premises where one or more horses were confirmed to be infected with HeV by PCR. All the cases occurred in the north-eastern region of NSW. In 8 of the 9 cases, infection occurred within 2 months over the winter of 2011. With no exception, the affected horses were kept at pasture on properties visited by flying foxes. Of the 11 horses testing positive for HeV, 5 had an association with a fence, with the horses dead or dying on a fence l...
MacKay RJ.Brain injury after impact to the head is due to both immediate mechanical effects and delayed responses of neural tissues. In horses, traumatic brain injury occurs in three main settings: (1) poll impact in horses that flip over backwards; (2) frontal/parietal impact in horses that run into a fixed object, and (3) injury to the vestibular apparatus secondary to temporohyoid osteoarthropathy. Distinct forebrain, vestibular, midbrain, hindbrain, or multifocal syndromes may be encountered in horses with traumatic brain injury. The most important components of treatment are those consistent with p...
Clark-Price SC, Cox JH, Bartoe JT, Davis EG.A 6-month-old male Quarter Horse was evaluated for chronic respiratory tract disease. Diagnostic investigations revealed pulmonary inflammation; Pneumocystis carinii was detected within macrophages. Lymphocyte subpopulation phenotyping and immunoglobulin concentration analysis were performed and results suggested immune suppression. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole administration was initiated; the colt was discharged but was reexamined 8 days later because of profuse diarrhea and endotoxemia. Bacterial culture of feces recovered Salmonella spp resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and a di...
Schulman ML, Nurton JP, Guthrie AJ.The most useful diagnostic methods in the initial evaluation of horses with colic assess the morphological and functional status of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular status. This evaluation is best achieved using a combination of clinical and laboratory data. Blood lactate concentration (BL) is one of these variables. BL rises mainly due to poor tissue perfusion and anaerobic glycolysis associated with shock, providing an indicator of both the severity of disease and its prognosis. A hand-held lactate meter, Accusport, provides a rapid (60 seconds), inexpensive dry-chemical-based d...
Lowman ME, Tipton CD, Labordère AL, Brown JA.Information regarding the microbiome in sinusitis using genetic sequencing is lacking and more-in-depth understanding of the microbiome could improve antimicrobial selection and treatment outcomes for cases of primary sinusitis. Objective: To describe sinus microbiota in samples from horses with sinusitis and compare microbiota and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes between primary, dental-related and other secondary causes of sinusitis. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Records of equine sinusitis from 2017 to 2021 were reviewed and historical microbial amplicon sequenc...
Haralambus R, Florczyk A, Sigl E, Gültekin S, Vogl C, Brandt S, Schnierer M, Gamerith C, Jenner F.Synovial sepsis is a commonly occurring, potentially career-ending or even life-threatening orthopaedic emergency. Diagnosis of synovial sepsis is currently primarily based on synovial fluid analysis, which often leaves diagnostic ambiguity due to overlap of clinicopathological parameters between septic and aseptic inflammatory synovitis. Objective: To evaluate the reliability of lysozyme (LYS), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and elastase (ELT) as biomarkers for synovial sepsis in horses using a photometric assay to measure increased enzyme activity. Methods: Prospective, single-blinded, analytical, cl...
Morgante O, Vance HN, Shemanchuk JA, Windsor R.The epizootic of equine encephalomyelitis in 1965 in Alberta was proved to be due to Western Encephalomyelitis virus infection by serological findings and virus isolations.Sixty-three horses of 88 tested, showed a diagnostic rise of CF antibodies to Western Encephalomyelitis virus. Western Encephalomyelitis virus was isolated from 5 brains of horses. Homologous antibodies were shown in 3 of these animals, the only ones from which blood specimens were received. For the first time virological evidence is given that Western Encephalomyelitis virus infection in horses is found in more areas of Alb...
Decurnex V, Anderson GA, Davies HM.Most lameness in horses relates to foot problems and may be associated with changes in hoof shape, but there is a lack of information on the influence of normal exercise on hoof shape. Objective: To investigate the effect of training on proximal hoof circumference in young Thoroughbred racehorses being prepared for racing. Methods: Thirty-seven young Thoroughbred racehorses were included in this study. Front hoof circumference immediately below the coronary band was measured weekly with a measuring tape in all horses present at the stable. Most horses accomplished a minimum of 2 training perio...
Boyle AG, Martin BB, Davidson EJ, Durando MM, Birks EK.Dynamic pharyngeal collapse (PC) is a condition seen in racehorses that can be career-ending. Objective: To characterise and grade PC and describe the effects of PC on athletic performance. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for 828 horses, of which 49 (6%) records were identified as horses with a primary diagnosis of PC. Tapes of video-endoscopy of the pharynx during exercise were reviewed. Each video recording was assigned a grade (0-4) reflecting the degree of PC and a classification for severity of upper airway obstruction. Earnings per race prior to diagnosis of PC were compared to ea...
Morrison PK, Bing C, Harris PA, Maltin CA, Grove-White D, Argo CM.Obesity, a major concern for equine welfare, is highly prevalent in the leisure horse population. Skeletal-muscle and adipose tissues are important determinants of maintenance energy requirements. The myostatin and perilipin pathways play key roles in the regulation of muscle mass and lipolysis respectively and have both been associated with obesity predisposition in other mammalian species. High quality samples, suitable for molecular biology, are an essential prerequisite for detailed investigations of gene and protein expression. Hence, this study has evaluated a) the post-mortem stability ...
al-Massad FK, Kadir FH, Moore GR.The origin of the 440 nm fluorescence of horse spleen ferritin and of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Azotobacter vinelandii bacterioferritin has been investigated using a Nitro Blue Tetrazolium/glycinate colorimetric test specific for quiones [Paz, Flückiger, Boak, Kagan & Gallop (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 689-692]. The results of the analysis indicate that ferritin and bacterioferritins contain quinones. A possible functional role of these quinones in iron uptake and release is described, as is the possibility that the presence of quinones in these proteins results from oxidative damage.
Wright IM.The clinical features are reported from 118 horses (mean age 9.2 years) which were diagnosed as suffering from navicular disease using predetermined criteria. The animals were used for a variety of purposes and had been lame for periods between 1 and 72 months. The majority of cases (84.7%) had been treated using various techniques before evaluation. The severity of lameness was related to the duration of clinical signs: 78% of horses were bilaterally affected but there was no left:right limb predominance. Broken foot/pastern axes were recorded in 75% of horses while 45% also exhibited mediola...
Kjellberg L, Morgan K.Interest in the use of open barns on Swedish horse farms is increasing as an alternative to keeping horses in box stalls and as a 2007 law requires phasing out of tie stalls. To provide adequate forage to satisfy welfare requirements for nutrition, gut health and behavioural needs, the use of automated feeding is also increasing. Studies on forage intake rate report wide variation but provide little information on how to introduce horses to an automatic forage station and on how forage intake rate varies in individual horses fed using an automatic forage station. This study documented the proc...
Allen K, Franklin S.Two forms of dynamic upper respiratory tract obstruction affecting racehorses that involve the soft palate have been described: palatal instability (PI) and dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). Observation of DDSP is straightforward in that it is an all or nothing event, whereas observation of PI is subjective and interpretation may vary between clinicians. Objective: The aim of this study was to attempt to characterise PI and to investigate endoscopic features that precede DDSP. Methods: A retrospective study on the endoscopic observations of Thoroughbred racehorses referred for hig...
Kang H, Zsoldos RR, Skinner JE, Gaughan JB, Mellor VA, Sole-Guitart A.The frequent monitoring of a horse’s body temperature post strenuous exercise is critical to prevent or alleviate exertional heat illness (EHI) from occurring. Percutaneous thermal sensing microchip (PTSM) technology has the potential to be used as a means of monitoring a horse’s body temperature during and post-exercise. However, the accuracy of the temperature readings obtained, and their relationship to core body temperature are dependent on where they are implanted. This study aimed to document the relationship between core body temperature, and temperature readings obtained using PTSM...
Karanth S, Pope C.The organophosphorus insecticide tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP) is commonly used as a feed-through larvicide in many livestock species, including cattle and horses. Cholinesterase (ChE) activity in blood (generally plasma or whole blood) is often employed to assess organophosphorus insecticide intoxication in animals as well as humans. In many species, including horse and man, plasma contains predominantly butyrylcholinesterase whereas red blood cells in all species express exclusively acetylcholinesterase. To evalulate the comparative interaction of TCVP with blood ChEs in different species, we com...
Mucha V, Hollý J, Varečková E, Kostolanský F.Avian influenza A viruses (IAVs) are able to overcome the interspecies barrier and adapt to the new non-avian host. The process of adaptation requires the adaptive changes of IAV genome resulting in amino acid substitutions. The aim of this work was the description of amino acid substitutions in avian influenza A viruses (IAVs) occurring during their adaptation to equine host. Today, viruses of the equine influenza H3N8 subtype, first isolated in 1963, represent a single genetic lineage of IAV causing a respiratory disease in horses. We compared the amino acid sequences of the conserve...
Kohn CW, Hinchcliff KW, McKeever KH.Six healthy Thoroughbred mares were trained to run on a high-speed treadmill and were conditioned for approximately 5 weeks. Each horse performed 6 identical standardised exercise tests (SET) 5 to 7 days apart. Each SET was performed under different ambient laboratory conditions: low temperature/low humidity (LL) 20.2 degrees +/- 0.6 degree C, 53.6 +/- 4.1%; low temperature/high humidity (LH) 19.7 +/- 0.6 degrees C, 86.7 +/- 4.2%; medium temperature/low humidity (ML) 24.6 +/- 0.2 degrees C, 58.7 +/- 3.7%; medium temperature/high humidity (MH) 24.7 +/- 0.3 degrees C, 87.5 +/- 1.4%; high tempera...
Zhao Y, Chang J, Zhang B, Tong P, Wang C, Ran D, Su Y.Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) induces serious respiratory infections, viral abortion, neurological signs, and neonatal mortality in horses. Despite the use of vaccines, EHV-1 infection also causes a high annual economic burden to the equine industry. The poor immunogenicity of and protection conferred by EHV-1 vaccines are the major factors responsible for the spread of EHV-1 infection. The present study examined the immunogenicity of a novel DNA vaccine co-expressing FliC, a flagellin protein, in Salmonella abortus equi and the gD protein of EHV-1. Mice and horses were immunized intramuscularl...
Hodgson DR, Rose RJ, DiMauro J, Allen JR.The effects of training on skeletal muscle composition were studied in four Standardbred geldings given a seven week submaximal treadmill training programme. Before the start of training, muscle biopsies were collected from the left middle gluteal muscle for the determination of muscle fibre types, oxidative capacity and capillary numbers using histochemical techniques. The concentrations of citrate synthase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HAD), lactate dehydrogenase and total muscle glycogen were measured using fluorometric methods. Muscle biopsy samples were repeated after one, three, five...
Meagher DM, Bromberek JL, Meagher DT, Gardner IA, Puchalski SM, Stover SM.To estimate the prevalence of radiographic abnormalities (lesions) in Thoroughbred racehorses at 2-year-old in-training sales and determine whether these lesions and 1-furlong presale workout times were associated with subsequent racing performance. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: 953 Thoroughbreds. Methods: Repository radiographs of carpal, metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal (fetlock), stifle, and tarsal (hock) joints were examined. Horses with lesions were classified by lesion type and location. Race performance variables were compared between horses with and without l...
Hellander JC, Samper JC, Crabo BG.At the beginning of the breeding season an eight-year-old standardbred stallion had semen with virtually zero sperm motility and an approximately 90 per cent incidence of midpiece and tail defects. The motility of the sperm improved to 7 per cent when semen was collected daily but its morphology did not improve. Electron microscopy revealed that the defects consisted mainly of a loss of microtubules in the axoneme and of disorganised midpieces. A pregnancy rate of 24 per cent per cycle and 44 per cent for the season was achieved in 32 mares after the insemination of whole ejaculates collected ...
