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.
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.
Corring D, Lundberg E, Rudnick A.One form of psychiatric leisure rehabilitation which has only recently been explored for individuals with schizophrenia is Therapeutic Horseback Riding (THBR). This study is the first to examine THBR for Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) patients with schizophrenia. A sample of 6 ACT patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who reside in the community and 6 mental health care staff participated in 10 weeks of weekly horseback riding sessions with an experienced THBR instructor. Participating patients, staff and the THBR instructor were qualitatively interviewed at the start, ...
Tennent-Brown B.Although a range of plasma-based products (e.g., cryoprecipitate, albumin, platelet-rich plasma, individual coagulation factors) are available to human physicians, equine veterinarians are largely restricted to using whole blood, frozen plasma, and fresh frozen plasma for transfusions. The indications for frozen or fresh frozen plasma in human medicine are relatively limited, and there is little evidence supporting the efficacy of these products in many cases. Furthermore, many human physicians have concerns regarding disease transmission and anaphylactic reactions after administration of any ...
Scrivani PV.Neuroimaging underwent a dramatic revolution during the past few decades due to the development of new technologies that produce exquisite images of patient morphology and function, new technologies that store and distribute information more efficiently, and research that has improved understanding of pathogenesis and effective clinical use of new imaging methods. Advanced equine neuroimaging is a specialized field with unique challenges associated with patient size, availability of equipment, using equipment designed for humans, small sample size for various diseases, and issues associated wi...
Benbarek H, Ayad A, Deby-Dupont G, Boukraa L, Serteyn D.The purpose of this study was to explore the potential modulation of equine neutrophil oxidative burst by a series of classical NSAIDs which was subsequently monitored by the luminol or lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) technique. A significant dose-dependent inhibition of the luminol CL was observed with the majority of investigated drugs. This inhibition was very significant for phenylbutazone and Indomethacin; while for aspirin, a higher concentration is required. The action of Ketoprofen was significant during the first 5 min and only when the concentration was above 1 mM. Indometh...
Allen JL, Begg AP, Browning GF.Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that has been recognized as a cause of endometritis in mares. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis was used to characterize and compare isolates of P. aeruginosa from an outbreak of endometritis and unrelated isolates collected at the same time as the outbreak. The restriction endonuclease digestion patterns and antimicrobial resistance profiles of all outbreak isolates were identical. Therefore, a single strain of P. aeruginosa was responsible for the cases of endometritis. The unrelated isolates could be distinguished from the outbreak strain u...
Nevins M, Nevins ML, Karimbux N, Kim SW, Schupbach P, Kim DM.The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential for periodontal regeneration of a critical-sized defect with the application of recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor (rhPDGF-BB) combined with either a particulate equine or a β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) matrix. Methods: Critical-sized intrabony 2-wall defects were created bilaterally on the distal surface of the second premolar and the mesial surface of the first molar in nine hounds. Twelve defects received rhPDGF-BB/equine treatment, 12 defects received rhPDGF-BB/β-TCP treatment, and the remaining 12 sites served as ...
Fox-Clipsham LY, Brown EE, Carter SD, Swinburne JE.The Fell and Dales are UK pony breeds that have small populations and may be at risk from in-breeding and inherited diseases. Foal immunodeficiency syndrome (FIS) is a lethal inherited disease caused by the recessive mutation of a single gene, which affects both Fell and Dales ponies and potentially other breeds that have interbred with either of these. FIS, previously known as Fell pony syndrome, is characterised by progressive anaemia and severe B lymphocyte deficiency. The identification of the causal mutation for this disease led to the recent development of a DNA-based carrier test. In th...
Abdunnabi AH, Ahmed YA, Philip CJ, Davies HM.There is scant morphological data for equine carpal bones despite the frequent pathology in Thoroughbreds (TB). This study aimed to identify morphological and morphometrical variations and similarities in carpal bones between and within TB and Ponies (Po). Carpal bones from nine TB and 13 Po were prepared by boiling and drying. Lateromedial width, dorsopalmar depth, proximodistal height, relative density and volume of each bone were measured. Normalized measurements of the radial (Cr) and third (C3) carpal bones were significantly different in all dimensions, and there were significant variati...
Hill EW, Fonseca RG, McGivney BA, Gu J, MacHugh DE, Katz LM.Sequence variation at the equine myostatin gene (MSTN) locus has previously been shown to have a singular genomic influence on optimum race distance in Thoroughbred racehorses. Myostatin, encoded by the MSTN gene, is a member of the TGF-β superfamily that regulates skeletal muscle development in a range of mammalian species including the horse. In the Thoroughbred, the C-allele at the g.66493737C/T SNP has been found at significantly higher frequency in subgroups of the population that are suited to fast, short distance, sprint races and also influences body composition phenotypes. We investi...
Mediannikov O, Davoust B, Cabre O, Rolain JM, Raoult D.Bartonellae are gram-negative facultative intracellular alpha-proteobacteria from the family Bartonellaceae. The natural history of bartonellae consists of a reservoir/host, which is a vertebrate with chronic intravascular infection with sustained bacteremia, and a vector (usually an arthropod) that transfers the bacteria from the reservoir to a susceptible yet uninfected host. In order to reveal the sources and reservoirs of Bartonella infection in animals and vectors in New Caledonia, we collected the blood samples of 64 dogs, 8 cats, 30 bovines, 25 horses and 29 wild deer Cervus timorensis ...
Cauchard S, Bermúdez-Humarán LG, Blugeon S, Laugier C, Langella P, Cauchard J.Rhodococcus equi causes severe pneumonia in foals and has recently gained attention as a significant opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised humans. However, no effective vaccine to prevent rhodococcosis is currently available. In this study, we have engineered the food-grade bacterium Lactococcus lactis to secrete the virulence-associated protein A from R. equi (LL-VapA). The immunogenic potential of LL-VapA strain was then evaluated after either intragastric or intranasal immunization in mice either alone or in combination with LL-Lep, a recombinant strain of L. lactis secreting biologic...
Mykkänen AK, Hyytiäinen HK, McGowan CM.A 2-week-old Estonian Draft foal presented with signs of severe generalised tetanus, recumbency and inability to drink. The suspected source of infection was the umbilicus. Medical treatment was administered, including tetanus antitoxin, antimicrobial therapy and phenobarbital to control tetanic spasms. In addition, an intensive physiotherapy program was carried out during the recovery period. Techniques designed for syndromes involving upper motor neuron spasticity in humans were applied. Exercises aimed at weight-bearing and mobility were executed with the help of a walking-frame. The foal m...
Muscatello G.Rhodococcus equi pneumonia is a worldwide infectious disease of major concern to the equine breeding industry. The disease typically manifests in foals as pyogranulomatous bronchopneumonia, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Inhalation of aerosolised virulent R. equi from the environment and intracellular replication within alveolar macrophages are essential components of the pathogenesis of R. equi pneumonia in the foal. Recently documented evidence of airborne transmission between foals indicates the potential for an alternative contagious route of disease transmission. In the...
Bleetman D.The Great Western Ambulance Service Air Support Unit (ASU) was established in July 2007. The helicopter carries a doctor, providing a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) model of care. Equestrian sport-related injuries account for 6.8% of the unit's total attended case load. Horse riding has a higher rate of severe injury than motorcycle racing and 45% of patients admitted with equestrian injuries require surgical intervention. Orthopaedic injuries to the extremities are commonest, superseding head injuries since the introduction of protective headwear. The majority of equestrian sport...
von Samson-Himmelstjerna G.During the past two decades anthelmintic resistance in equine parasites has been found in the group of small strongyle species (cyathostomins) and in the ascarid species Parascaris equorum. The ubiquitous nature and possible severe consequences of disease with these nematodes make them the prime targets of current worm control programmes. Traditional control strategies mainly rely on the strategic application of anthelmintics, currently represented by three major drug classes: benzimidazoles (BZ), the tetrahydropyrimidine pyrantel (PYR) and macrocyclic lactones (ML). Following decades of routi...
Vidyashankar AN, Hanlon BM, Kaplan RM.Anthelmintic resistance (AR) is a serious problem for the control of equine gastrointestinal nematodes, particularly in the cyathostomins. The fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) is the most common method for diagnosing AR and serves as the practical gold standard. However, accurate quantification of resistance and especially accurate diagnosis of emerging resistance to avermectin/milbemycin (A/M) drugs, is hampered by a lack of accepted standards for study design, data analysis, and data interpretation. In order to develop rational evidence-based standards for diagnosis of resistance, one ...
Aharonson-Raz K, Steinman A, Bumbarov V, Maan S, Maan NS, Nomikou K, Batten C, Potgieter C, Gottlieb Y, Mertens P, Klement E.During 2008-2009 in Israel, equine encephalosis virus (EEV) caused febrile outbreaks in horses. Phylogenetic analysis of segment 10 of the virus strains showed that they form a new cluster; analysis of segment 2 showed ≈92% sequence identity to EEV-3, the reference isolate. Thus, the source of this emerging EEV remains uncertain.
Nielsen MK.Clinically important equine parasites are ubiquitous in managed horse populations. The traditional approach to parasite control is frequent administration of anthelmintics to all horses on a farm. However, increasing levels of anthelmintic resistance is forcing horse owners and veterinarians to shift this control paradigm. Treatment regimens involving routine deworming of all horses throughout the year are now being replaced by more sustainable approaches, which take in to account the importance of maintaining adequate parasite refugia. The selective therapy principle has been recommended for ...
Kuzmina TA.Analysis of the influence of horse-keeping conditions by contamination of the environment (pastures, paddocks, and stalls) by the strongylid infective larvae (L(3)) was carried out at various types of horse farms, hippodromes, and riding clubs in Ukraine. A total of 1,237 horses from three types of horse-keeping conditions were examined. Epidemiological studies of stall and grazing area (pasture and paddocks) contamination by L(3) were performed at hippodrome (stalled horse-keeping) and horse farms with stall/paddock-keeping and stall/pasture-keeping conditions. Grass and stall litter samples ...
Reinemeyer CR.Since 2002, selected populations of Parascaris equorum in several countries have been reported to survive treatment with macrocyclic lactone (M/L) anthelmintics. Clinical treatment failures are characterized by negligible fecal egg count reduction, but M/L resistance has been confirmed in ascarids by controlled efficacy testing. Resistance was selected by current parasite control practices for foals, which often include exclusive and excessively frequent use of M/L dewormers, thereby minimizing refugia within the host and in the environment. Chemical control of M/L-resistant isolates can be ac...
Matthews JB, McArthur C, Robinson A, Jackson F.Cyathostomins are the primary parasitic pathogens of equids. For over 40 years, these nematodes have been controlled using broad spectrum anthelmintics. Three classes of anthelmintic are currently available for this use but, unfortunately, resistance to each of these has now been recorded in cyathostomin populations. As part of an optimal strategy to control cyathostomin infections in the field, it will be important to identify drug-resistant worms at as early a stage as possible. This objective needs to be supported by methodologies that will allow the accurate comparison of anthelmintic resi...
Marsh CA, Schneider RK, Sampson SN, Roberts GD.To determine treatment outcome on the basis of pathological changes identified on MRI and lameness duration in horses with navicular syndrome that underwent injection of corticosteroid and hyaluronan into the navicular bursa. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 101 horses with navicular syndrome. Methods: Medical records of horses with signs of navicular syndrome evaluated between January 2000 and December 2008 were reviewed. Data on signalment, use of the horse, history, affected limbs, duration of lameness, findings on lameness examination, radiographic findings, MRI findings, treat...
Stein FJ, Geller SC, Carter JC.To determine whether microchips used for identification migrate after implantation in horses, donkeys, and mules. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 53 horses, donkeys, and mules. Methods: Twenty horses that had had microchips implanted in the nuchal ligament at a veterinary teaching hospital from 1996 through early 2000 were included (group 1), and the poll-to-withers distance and location of the microchip were determined, measured, and recorded. Additionally, the poll-to-withers distance was measured in 16 horses, 12 donkeys, and 5 mules (group 2), and microchips were implanted in the nuch...
Morello SL, Ducharme NG, Hackett RP, Warnick LD, Mitchell LM, Soderholm LV.To determine the phase and quantitate the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the genioglossus, geniohyoideus, hyoepiglotticus, omohyoideus, sternohyoideus, sternothyroideus, and thyrohyoideus muscles of clinically normal horses during strenuous exercise. Methods: 7 clinically normal adult horses (2 Thoroughbreds and 5 Standardbreds). Methods: Bipolar electrodes were surgically implanted in the aforementioned muscles, and horses were subjected to an incremental exercise test on a high-speed treadmill. The EMG, heart rate, respiratory rate, and static pharyngeal airway pressures were measured d...
Pfau T, Starke SD, Tröster S, Roepstorff L.Pelvic movement is altered in hind limb lame horses. A simple method using one inertial measurement unit (IMU) attached to the sacrum, which objectively measures 'hip hike', will help detecting hind limb lameness in large scale studies. In this study, IMUs over the sacrum and the left and right tuber coxae (TC) quantified vertical movement symmetry (MS) in 10 clinically lame horses. A simple geometrical model was used to estimate TC movement from the sacrum IMU. The differences between measured and estimated MS values (mean±SD) and MS changes during different exercise conditions (straight, ci...
Gold JR, Grubb TL, Green S, Cox S, Villarino NF.In humans, gabapentin an analgesic, undergoes non-proportional pharmacokinetics which can alter efficacy. No information exists on the pharmacokinetics of dosages >20 mg/kg, escalating dosages or dose proportionality of gabapentin in horses. Objective: Gabapentin exposure in plasma would not increase proportionally relative to the dose in horses receiving dosages ≥20 mg/kg. To assess the plasma pharmacokinetics of gabapentin after nasogastric administration of gabapentin at dosages of 10 to 160 mg/kg in adult horses. Methods: Nine clinically healthy adult Arabian and Quarter Horses....
Ellenberger MA, Kaeberle ML, Roth JA.A procedure was developed for isolating large numbers of purified polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) from the peripheral blood of horses. Equine PMN function was evaluated by three procedures: 1) Staphylococcus aureus ingestion, 2) nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, and 3) iodination. Four preparations of R. equi were added to polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in each test system. Live bacteria, heat-killed bacteria, the washed pellet from heat-killed bacteria, and the supernatant fluid from heat-killed bacteria were evaluated for effects on equine PMN function. None of the R. equi preparatio...
Suann CJ, Livesey MA.An abnormal mesocolic attachment which resulted in a stellate malformation of the left colon adjacent to the pelvic flexure was suspected to be the cause of intermittent episodes of colic in a horse. Resection and side-to-side anastomosis of the large colon at the level of the sternal and diaphragmatic flexures was performed and the horse made an uneventful recovery from surgery. Only minor serum biochemical changes were observed in the initial postoperative period. The abnormal mesocolic attachment was probably a congenital anomaly.
Watney GC, Norman WM, Schumacher JP, Beck E.The accuracy of a reflectance pulse oximeter was determined in 22 anesthetized horses. Oximetric blood oxygen saturation was measured with the pulse oximeter probe attached to the mucosa of the mandible. Arterial blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) was calculated from arterial blood gas values and the equine blood oxygen dissociation curve. The mean +/- SD difference between oximetric blood oxygen saturation and SaO2 was -1.3 +/- 3.1% for values of SaO2 ranging from 80 to 100%. The difference between oximetric blood oxygen saturation and SaO2 was influenced by SaO2, the mean arterial blood pressure...
Grimm P, Laroche N, Julliand S, Sorci G.It is increasingly difficult to control equine strongyles with synthetic drugs, as resistance is commonly observed. Here, we investigated the possible anthelmintic effect of sainfoin (), a polyphenol-rich legume, in naturally infected horses. On Day 0 (D0), 17 horses were allocated to three different homogenous groups in terms of fecal egg count (FEC): the control group (CONT) received a diet composed on a DM basis of 83% hay and 17% wheat bran, while in the sainfoin 1 (SF1) and sainfoin 2 (SF2) groups, half or all wheat bran, respectively, was replaced by dehydrated sainfoin pellets. The infe...
Ghosh S, Das PJ, Avila F, Thwaits BK, Chowdhary BP, Raudsepp T.Balanced autosomal translocations are a known cause for repeated early embryonic loss (REEL) in horses. In most cases, carriers of such translocations are phenotypically normal, but the chromosomal aberration negatively affects gametogenesis giving rise to both genetically balanced and unbalanced gametes. The latter, if involved in fertilization, result in REEL, whereas gametes with the balanced form of translocation will pass the defect into next generation. Therefore, in order to reduce the incidence of REEL, identification of translocation carriers is critical. Here, we report about a pheno...
Dini P, Norris J, Ali HE, Loux SC, Carossino M, Esteller-Vico A, Bailey E, Kalbfleisch T, Daels P, Ball BA.Increasing evidence suggests that overlapping genes are much more common in eukaryotic genomes than previously thought. These different-strand overlapping genes are potential sense-antisense (SAS) pairs, which might have regulatory effects on each other. In the present study, we identified the SAS loci in the equine genome using previously generated stranded, paired-end RNA sequencing data from the equine chorioallantois. We identified a total of 1261 overlapping loci. The ratio of the number of overlapping regions to chromosomal length was numerically higher on chromosome 11 followed by chrom...
Malone ED, Brown DR, Trent AM, Turner TA.To characterize the response of equine jejunal smooth muscle to adrenergic and cholinergic mediators. Methods: Evaluation of myogenic responses, using an in vitro model. Methods: Intestinal tissues were obtained from horses without gastrointestinal tract disorders or systemic disease. Methods: Baseline myogenic tone and amplitude and frequency of contraction were determined for suspended jejunal muscle strips. The level of adrenergic and cholinergic regulation was assessed, using atropine and adrenoceptor antagonists. The response of the muscles to norepinephrine was characterized, using adren...
Cutler TJ, MacKay RJ, Ginn PE, Greiner EC, Porter R, Yowell CA, Dame JB.Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a debilitating neurologic disease of the horse. The causative agent. Sarcocystis neurona, has been suggested to be synonymous with Sarcocystis falcatula, implying a role for birds as intermediate hosts. To test this hypothesis, opossums (Didelphis virginiana) were fed muscles containing S. falcatula sarcocysts from naturally infected brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater). Ten horses were tested extensively to ensure no previous exposure to S. neurona and were quarantined for 14 days, and then 5 of the horses were each administered 10(6) S. falcatula...
Lindinger MI, Waller AP.What is the central question of this study? What are the mechanisms by which equine sweat glands transport sodium, potassium and water into sweat? What is the main finding and its importance? The flux of sodium into sweat does not have an active transport component, the flux of potassium into sweat is partially dependent on an active transport mechanism, and there is no evidence for paracellular transport. In two series of experiments, this study used radioactive sodium (Na ) and potassium (K ) to trace the net flux, and calculate the unidirectional fluxes, of these ions from extracellular flu...
Keen JA, McLaren M, Chandler KJ, McGorum BC.The mechanisms underlying the increased risk of laminitis in horses with equine Cushing's disease (ECD) are poorly understood. Objective: That abnormalities in glucose homeostasis, similar to those which cause microvascular dysfunction in human diabetics, contribute to development of laminitis in horses with ECD. Methods: Thirty-one aged horses were divided into 3 groups based on clinical signs and dexamethasone suppression testing (DST). Group 1 (n = 12) had clinical ECD as evidenced by hirsutism. Group 2 (n = 10) had a positive DST but no hirsutism. Group 3 (n = 9) were controls without ECD,...
Heuzenroeder MW, Barton MD, Vanniasinkam T, Phumoonna T.The aim of this chapter is to provide a strategy for mapping linear antibody epitopes of protein antigens in order to discover candidates for vaccines or diagnostic tests. A set of overlapping peptides was designed and synthesised based upon a known amino acid sequence of the target protein, virulence-associated protein A (VapA) of the bacterium Rhodococcus equi, an important pulmonary pathogen in foals.The peptides were biotinylated and used in an ELISA to screen immune sera from foals. These biotinylated peptides were coated directly onto micro titre plates that had been pre-coated with Neut...
Taylor AH, Seymour CJ.Horses may become hypoxaemic during anaesthesia despite a high inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2). A lower FiO2 is used commonly in human beings to minimise atelectasis and to improve lung function, and previously has been shown to be of potential benefit in horses in experimental conditions. Other studies suggest no benefit to using a FiO2 of 0.5 during clinically relevant conditions; however, low FiO2 (0.65) is commonly used in practice and in a large number of studies. The present study was performed to compare the effect of a commonly used FiO2 of 0.65 versus 0.90 on calculated respiratory in...
Steffey EP, Pascoe PJ.To quantitate the dose- and time-related magnitude of the anesthetic sparing effect of, and selected physiological responses to detomidine during isoflurane anesthesia in horses. Methods: Randomized cross-over study. Methods: Three, healthy, young adult horses weighing 485 ± 14 kg. Methods: Horses were anesthetized on two occasions to determine the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in O and then to measure the anesthetic sparing effect (time-related MAC reduction) following IV detomidine (0.03 and 0.06 mg kg). Selected common measures of cardiopulmonary function, blood glucos...
Rushton JO, Kolodziejek J, Nell B, Weissenböck H, Nowotny N.The role of equid γ-herpesviruses on ocular surface diseases has been disputed, because the diagnosis is usually based on clinical symptoms and detection of viral DNA from samples obtained from live animals. Objective: To describe the clinical course, results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, in situ hybridisation, cell culture and pathohistological findings of select cases in a presumed outbreak of herpesvirus infection in a group of 15 Icelandic horses. Methods: Case series. Methods: Pooled ocular and nasal swabs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of horses diagnosed clinica...
Li L, Lu Z, Han O.From 1975 to 1989, a total of 73 strains of P. pseudomallei was isolated from the water samples and the pathological samples of human and domestic animals in 13 counties and cities located different latitude from four provinces Qiong, Yue, Gui and Xiang in China. Serological investigation demonstrated that the geographical distribution of the organism had a significant correlation with the positive rate of antibodies against P. pseudomallei and the native foci of the organisms distributed over the southern subtropical zone and the edge of tropical zone in Qiong, Yue and Gui. In endemic areas, ...
Morens DM, Taubenberger JK.Influenza A viruses are globally enzootic in swine populations. Swine influenza has been recognised only since 1918, but an anecdotal report suggests that a swine-influenza epizootic might have occurred in England in 1892, at the same time as an explosive epidemic (or pandemic recurrence) of human influenza. This outbreak suggests that the ecobiological association between human and swine influenza could extend to before 1918. By contrast with the recent documentation of swine influenza, influenza in horses has been well documented for hundreds of years, and was often linked temporally and geo...
Jaussaud P, Guieu D, Bellon C, Barbier B, Lhopital MC, Sechet R, Courtot D, Toutain PL.The pharmacokinetics of tolfenamic acid were studied in five ponies after an intravenous (iv) administration (2 mg/kg bodyweight [bwt]) and in four horses after an oral administration (30 mg/kg bwt) of tolfenamic acid. The plasma levels were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). For the iv administration, a three-compartment model was used to represent the plasma concentration-time curve of the drug. The elimination half-life of the compound was 6.1 +/- 1.5 h, the total body clearance was 72.4 +/- 16.7 ml/kg bwt/h and the ste...
Bowker RM, Van Wulfen KK, Springer SE, Linder KE.To examine macro- and microscopic characteristics of cartilage of the distal phalanx (ungual cartilage [UC]) and digital cushion in the equine foot and to relate them to the foot's function of energy dissipation. Methods: 85 horses and 5 foals of various breeds and ages. Methods: Feet, obtained at necropsy, were perfused with India ink (n = 30), latex (5), or polymer plastic (10). Select feet were examined histologically for tissue architecture and to identify elastic fibers. Immunochemistry to identify substance P peptides in nerves (feet from foals) and gold chloride impregnation of axons (n...
Pelletier N, Robinson NE, Kaiser L, Derksen FJ.We investigated regional differences of in vitro responses of pulmonary arteries (6-mm OD) from the dorsocaudal (top) and cranioventral (bottom) lung regions to endothelium-dependent vasodilators (methacholine, bradykinin, and calcium ionophore A-23187). Methacholine relaxed endothelium-intact top vessels; however, in bottom vessels, a small relaxation preceded a profound contraction. In top vessels, removal of endothelial cells converted relaxation to contraction, and in bottom vessels it abolished relaxation and enhanced contraction. Bradykinin and A-23187 were more potent and caused greater...
Bade D, Portis E, Keane C, Hallberg J, Bryson L, Sweeney M, Boner P.In vitro activity of ceftiofur and six other antimicrobial agents was evaluated against 79 Streptococcus equi subsp zooepidemicus isolates collected from horses with respiratory disease in Europe during 2007 and 2008. In addition, the in vitro activity of ceftiofur and other antimicrobial drugs was assessed against 59 S. equi subsp zooepidemicus and 49 S. equi subsp equi isolates collected by veterinary diagnostic laboratories in Europe from 2002 to 2006. The lowest concentration of ceftiofur that inhibited the growth of 90% of the isolates (MIC90) was 0.12 microg/ml, with the Clinical Laborat...
Novello G, Podico G, Segabinazzi LGTM, Lima FS, Canisso IF.The objective of this study was to compare semen parameters and embryo recovery rates of cooled stallion semen extended with INRA 96 or BotuSemen Gold. In experiment 1, 45 ejaculates from nine mature stallions were collected, assessed, and equally split between both extenders and then extended to 50 million sperm/mL. Then, the extended semen was stored in three passive cooling containers (Equitainer, Equine Express II, and BotuFlex) for 48 hours. In experiment 2, the same ejaculates extended in experiment 1 were cushion-centrifuged, the supernatant was discarded, and the pellets were resuspend...
Bush JM, Fredrickson RL, Ehrhart EJ.In horses, osteosarcoma is a rare tumor, with the majority of reported cases occurring in the head, and, more specifically, in the mandible of young horses. The following report documents 8 cases of equine osteosarcoma, the majority occurring in male horses aged 7 years or older with a lack of metastasis identified in any horse. Six arose in the maxilla or mandible and one in the proximal tibia. The predominant subtype was fibroblastic osteosarcoma with fewer osteoblastic type tumors. All had osteoid and most had a chondromucinous matrix. Surgical excision was attempted in the majority of case...
Feary DJ, Abraham S, Woolford L, Trott DJ.A 6-year-old Arabian mare had a 4-week history of a subcutaneous mass (15 × 15 cm) at the base of the neck, cranial and distal to the prescapular lymph node on the right side. The mass was solid and painful on deep palpation. Ultrasonographic examination showed a soft-tissue abscess. Purulent aspirate was submitted for bacterial culture, which showed a moderate growth of an Actinomyces species. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed for definitive identification. Gene sequencing demonstrated close nucleotide homology with A. denticolens. Prolonged therapeutic management resulted in resolu...
Payette F, Charlebois A, Fairbrother JH, Beauchamp G, Leclere M.Nicoletella semolina was identified in the airways of horses and its low prevalence could be because of its difficult differentiation from other Pasteurellaceae. Objective: To develop a molecular method for the identification of N. semolina and to evaluate its prevalence in the mouth and the airways of healthy and severe asthmatic horses. Methods: Six healthy and 6 severely asthmatic horses in phase I, 10 severely asthmatic horses in phase II, and 10 healthy horses in phase III. Methods: Cohort (phases I and II) and cross-sectional (phase III) studies. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction pr...
