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.
Hewitt-Dedman CL, Kershaw LE, Schwarz T, Del-Pozo J, Duncan J, Daniel CR, Cillán-García E, Pressanto MC, Taylor SE.Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been used to investigate metabolic changes within human bone. It may be possible to use MRS to investigate bone metabolism and fracture risk in the distal third metacarpal/tarsal bone (MC/MTIII) in racehorses. Objective: To determine the feasibility of using MRS as a quantitative imaging technique in equine bone by using the H spectra for the MC/MTIII to calculate fat content (FC). Methods: Observational cross-sectional study. Methods: Limbs from Thoroughbred racehorses were collected from horses that died or were subjected to euthanasia on racecourses...
Leduc L, Leclère M, Lavoie JP.Although horses with asthma share similar clinical signs, the heterogeneity of the disease in terms of severity, triggering factors, inflammatory profile, and pathological features has hindered our ability to define biologically distinct subgroups. The recognition of phenotypes and endotypes could enable the development of precision medicine, including personalized, targeted therapy, to benefit affected horses. While in its infancy in horses, this review outlines the phenotypes of equine asthma and discusses how knowledge gained from targeted therapy in human medicine can be applied to evaluat...
Stahl LT, Müller A, Krohn J, Büttner K, Wehrend A.An adequate supply of trace elements is very important for equine neonates, as deficiencies can lead to health problems and even death. Unassigned: This study investigated serum concentrations of selenium (Se), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in neonatal foals up to the 8th day of life. The influences of disease, age, and failure of passive transfer (FPT) on these concentrations were analyzed. Unassigned: Serum concentrations of Se, Cu, and Zn were determined from blood samples of 93 foals by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The foals were divided into 2 groups based on health...
Sielhorst J, Koether K, Volkmann N, Blanco M, Vicioso R, Baade S, Kemper N, de Mestre AM, Sieme H.Little is known about the incidence and outcome of high-risk pregnancies in equine practice and clinical studies on spontaneous occurring placentitis cases and treatments are missing. Therefore, the aims of this retrospective field study were to (1) describe the incidence and severity of ultrasonographic assessed placental abnormalities (UPA) in 4,192 pregnancies on a large commercial warmblood stud farm in 2017 - 2019 and (2) characterize these UPA cases and their pregnancy outcome. UPA severity (Placental abnormality score (PSc) 1-3; low to high), nine treatment regimens (TM1-9) used in UPA ...
Torres Borda L, Roth P, Lumetzberger J, Auer U, Jenner F.Sociopositive interactions with conspecifics are essential for equine welfare and quality of life. This study aimed to validate the use of wearable ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to quantify the spatial relationships and dynamics of social behaviour in horses by continuous (1/s) measurement of interindividual distances. After testing the UWB devices' spatiotemporal accuracy in a static environment, the UWB measurement validity, feasibility and utility under dynamic field conditions was assessed in a group of 8 horses. Comparison of the proximity measurements with video surveillance data estab...
May A, Gerhards H, Wollanke B.During hospitalization horses may develop gastrointestinal conditions triggered by a stress-associated weak local immune system. The prospective, clinical trial was conducted to find out whether fecal immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations could be determined in hospitalized horses and how they changed during hospitalization and in response to various stressors. Samples were obtained from 110 horses and a control group (n = 14). At arrival in the hospital, horses were categorized into pain grades (1-5), and elective versus strenuous surgery (> 2 hours, traumatic and emergency procedures). Feces...
Kwak YB, Yoon J, Yoo HH.SR9009, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) agonist, is known for its potential benefits in energy homeostasis. It failed to receive the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approval and its illegal distribution has raised concerns. As a result, it has been classified as a prohibited substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). This study emphasizes the application of the in-silico molecular networking technology to analyze phase I drug metabolites in horses, distinguishing it from conventional ...
Guedes JRB, Vendruscolo CP, Tokawa PKA, Carvalho AM, Johnson PJ, Faleiros RR.Postural adaptation is a prominent feature in horses affected by laminitis. Laminitis induces intense pain, especially in the forelimbs, prompting affected horses to assume a caudally displaced trunk posture, resulting in the hyperflexion of the thoracolumbar spine. This study assessed the nature and prevalence of thoracolumbar injuries in horses with chronic laminitis compared to horses without it. Sixty horses were used (thirty laminitic and thirty non-laminitic) of different athletic purposes and ages (2-20 years). The experimental protocol entailed a single assessment of horses' thoracolum...
Straticò P, Guerri G, Bandera L, Celani G, Di Nunzio L, Petrizzi L, Varasano V.(1) The main goals of general anesthesia include pain management and a safe anesthetic protocol for smooth recovery. In this retrospective study, we compared two anesthetic protocols for general anesthesia with isoflurane during emergency laparotomy: sedation with xylazine and the intraoperative infusion of lidocaine (X group) versus medetomidine as a preoperative sedation and intraoperative infusion (M group). (2) The medical records of horses who underwent emergency laparotomies between 2016 and 2023 were reviewed. According to the anesthetic protocol, patients were allocated to the X or M g...
Esterl-Byrne LL, Huseman CJ, Haynes C, Kinman LA, Jones TN.The welfare of unwanted horses presents a significant concern for the equine industry. However, there is a lack of research on how unwanted horses are affected by major crises. The drastic changes that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic presented ample opportunity to investigate how unwanted horses are impacted by challenging circumstances. Study objectives were to evaluate the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the unwanted horse population and determine the current perceptions of horses in-transition. A 23-question online survey designed using Qualtrics was administered electronically to adults ...
Altay K, Erol U, Sahin OF, Ulucesme MC, Aytmirzakizi A, Aktas M.Tick-borne pathogens (TBP) are an important group of organisms that can affect animals and humans all over the world. Equine piroplasmosis (EP), caused by and , is considered one of the most important tick-borne diseases and can cause significant clinical symptoms and mortality in horses. Moreover, EP plays a restrictive role in international horse traditions and transportation. Although these species can cause similar symptoms, there are different 18S rRNA genotypes of (five genotypes) and (three genotypes). Besides piroplasma species, and hemotropic mycoplasmas (HM) are known as other im...
Wood A, Shapter FM, Stewart AJ.Auscultation of heart sounds is an important veterinary skill requiring an understanding of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and pattern recognition. This cross-sectional study was developed to evaluate a targeted, audio-visual training resource for veterinary students to improve their understanding and auscultation of common heart conditions in horses. Fourth- and fifth-year 2021 and 2022 Bachelor of Veterinary Science students at the University of Queensland (UQ) were provided the learning resource and surveyed via online pre- and post-intervention surveys. Results were quantitatively an...
Gisler J, Chiavaccini L, Blum S, Montavon S, Spadavecchia C.Osteoarthritis is a prevalent degenerative joint disease initiating chronic pain and lameness in horses. While several objective gait analysis systems have been developed and validated to quantify lameness severity in horses, methods to evaluate whether peripheral sensitization contributes to the pain experienced are missing. Unassigned: To evaluate whether periarticular pressure pain mapping could be proposed as an auxiliary assessment tool in horses. Specific aims were to evaluate the feasibility and intra- and inter-rater reliability of pressure pain thresholds (PPT) determination at sites ...
Chen L, Li S, Li W, Yu Y, Sun Q, Chen W, Zhou H, Wang C, Li L, Xu M, Khan MZ, Li Y, Wang T.The Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway has been extensively studied for its role in regulating antioxidant and antiviral responses. The Equid herpesvirus type 8 (EqHV-8) poses a significant threat to the equine industry, primarily manifesting as respiratory disease, abortions, and neurological disorders in horses and donkeys. Oxidative stress is considered a key factor associated with pathogenesis of EqHV-8 infection. Unfortunately, there is currently a dearth of therapeutic interventions available for the effective control of EqHV-8. R...
Schöpper H, Egerbacher M.The vascularization pattern of the equine stifle joint is insufficiently described in the literature, even though there is a growing need for knowledge of the exact blood supply, as (i) arthroscopy and endoscopic surgery techniques are increasingly performed in horses and (ii) ex vivo models of menisci need nutrient supply that mimic the in vivo situation. The aim of this study was to describe the vessels involved in the stifle joint supply and the exact branching pattern of the popliteal artery. Colored latex was injected into the arteries of nine pelvic limbs of equine cadavers (n = 6) to ev...
Maurício LS, Leme DP, Hötzel MJ.Inadequate management conditions can impair the welfare of captive-bred horses. Understanding individuals' viewpoints and the factors influencing their decisions about adopting or avoiding certain practices may provide insights into their motivations and decision-making processes. This is particularly relevant in the equestrian community, where equine practitioners and enthusiasts often engage in harmful practices. We explored the beliefs, knowledge, and attitudes of equine practitioners and enthusiasts about horse welfare and the barriers that prevent them from employing better management pra...
Nieforth LO, Kaufman S.Given the nature of horse-human interactions in equine-assisted services (EAS), death of a horse may have significant impacts. In this study, an online survey was distributed to EAS practitioners. The goal of the study was to explore the experiences of practitioners and identify the socioemotional processes that occur upon the death of an equine within an EAS program. Open-ended responses ( = 84) were analyzed qualitatively using a grounded theory and constant-comparative approach. Responses are situated into two themes (1) Processing the death of an equine and (2) Practical implications. Expe...
Liu Y, Du M, Li X, Zhang L, Zhao B, Wang N, Dugarjaviin M.This study aimed to investigate differences in testicular tissue morphology, gene expression, and marker genes between sexually immature (1-year-old) and sexually mature (10-year-old) Mongolian horses. The purposes of our research were to provide insights into the reproductive physiology of male Mongolian horses and to identify potential markers for sexual maturity. The methods we applied included the transcriptomic profiling of testicular cells using single-cell sequencing techniques. Our results revealed significant differences in tissue morphology and gene expression patterns between the tw...
Vaske A, Gautier C, Winter J, Aurich C.We followed the hypothesis that equine neonates with reduced transfer of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) are at increased risk of neonatal infection. We investigated TNFα concentrations in colostrum of healthy mares and blood of their neonates in a non-hospitalized population of Warmblood mares where delivery, neonatal adaptation and health was closely monitored by veterinarians. Concentration of TNFα and IgG was determined in colostrum respective milk and in neonatal blood collected immediately after delivery and 18 h thereafter in 97 foals that were assigned to groups failure of passive ...
Verhaar N, Grages AM, Sauer FJ, Geiger T, Reineking W, Hewicker-Trautwein M, Geburek F, Kästner SBR.To assess the histological injury and intestinal microperfusion measured by laser Doppler flowmetry and spectrophotometry (LDFS) of the small intestine orad to a strangulation during colic surgery. Methods: Horses with naturally occurring small intestinal strangulations undergoing colic surgery were included. Methods: In this prospective clinical trial, intestinal tissue oxygen saturation (tSO2) and tissue blood flow (tBF) were measured by LDFS orad to the strangulation following release of the strangulation (n = 18). The number of horses with postoperative reflux (POR) and the cases that surv...
Molento MB, Pires LSA, Dall'Anese J, Yoshitani UY, Almeida T.Understanding gastrointestinal parasite distribution is crucial for effective control programs in horses. This study reports the prevalence of helminth infections in horses and selected risk factors (i.e., breed, age, climate, season) by analyzing 19,276 fecal samples from the Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Parasitology, in Curitiba, Southern Brazil. The analyses were carried out from 2008 to 2019, coming from 153 stud farms located in 60 municipalities of nine Brazilian states. The parasite prevalence was 73.3%, with 72.1% present in the adult population and 80.6% in young horses. Strongyl...
Wolframm IA, Heric L, Allen AM.At a time of mounting ecological crises and biodiversity loss, there is an urgent need for nature-based solutions. Equestrian properties cover a considerable proportion of the European rural and peri-urban landscape and provide much potential for integrating ecosystem services, such as the inclusion of small landscape features. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and quality of landscape features (LF) to help determine how the equine sector can contribute to the agro-ecological transition. Using a citizen science approach, 87 commercial and 420 private yard owners reported th...
Linnegar B, Kerlin DH, Eby P, Kemsley P, McCallum H, Peel AJ.To identify the size and distribution of the horse population in the Northern Rivers Region of NSW, including changes from 2007 to 2021, to better understand populations at risk of Hendra virus transmission. Methods: Census data from the 2007 Equine Influenza (EI) outbreak were compared with data collected annually by New South Wales Local Land Services (LLS) (2011-2021), and with field observations via road line transects (2021). Results: The horse populations reported to LLS in 2011 (3000 horses; 0.77 horses/km) was 145% larger than that reported during the EI outbreak in 2007 (1225 horses; ...
Chagoya-Fuentes JL, Gaona-López J, Hernández-Carbajal GR, Torres-Guerrero H, Lammoglia-Villagómez MA, Huerta-Peña J, Pérez-Brígido CD....A clinical case of an adult horse with invasive, ulcerative, proliferative, pyogranulomatous disease of the skin (tumor) in the shoulder region is presented. The mass had a granulomatous and crater-shaped appearance, with serosanguinous discharge and the presence of fistulas with caseous material. The tumor was removed by surgery and sent to the laboratory for diagnosis. Histopathology was performed using Grocott-Gomori methenamine silver stain. The presence of necrotic material, fibrosis, infiltrated cells, and brown-colored hyphae, characteristic of members of the genus Pythium, were observe...
Ho HSM, Ho ENM, Wong WT.Estra-4,9-diene-3,17-dione (dienedione) is an anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) sold as a bodybuilding supplement. It is prohibited in both human and equine sports. With no report of 4,9-diene configuration in endogenous steroids, dienedione has long been considered a synthetic AAS. Nevertheless, the reoccurring detection of dienedione in colt (entire male horse) urine samples lead to the investigation of its possible endogenous nature in horses. This paper describes (i) the detection of naturally occurring dienedione in colts, (ii) the conjugation study of dienedione and (iii) the population ...
Vázquez Bringas FJ, Porcar LB, Franco SF, Martinez CM, Lasheras AR, Moraiz AV.Transrectal palpation (TP) is a basic skill in equine practice. Traditional TP learning methods include instructor-assisted TP in live animals, but this approach presents animal welfare concerns, especially when it needs to be used with large numbers of students. The main objective of this study is to compare two learning methods of TP: traditional methodology with live horses (LH) and alternative methodology using a cadaver with its flanks dissected (CDV). Twenty students with no previous equine TP experience were randomly assigned to two groups: LH ( = 10) and CDV ( = 10). Both groups receiv...
Merridale-Punter MS, Elias B, Wodajo AL, El-Hage CM, Zewdu H, Tesfaye R, Hailegebreal G, Sori T, Wiethoelter AK, Hitchens PL.Millions of working equids provide socio-economic support for many low-income communities worldwide. With the prevalence of harness-related wounds reported as higher than 60%, this study aims to describe the equipment used by working equids in three locations of the Ethiopian national regional state of Oromia (Fiche, Bishoftu and Shashamene), and the attitudes and practices of equid owners, users and harness makers regarding work equipment. This mixed-methods study consists of cross-sectional surveying of working equids used for taxi or transport of goods or water, as well as cart-driver quest...
Pryor AJE, Ameen C, Liddiard R, Baker G, Kanne KS, Milton JA, Standish CD, Hambach B, Orlando L, Chauvey L, Schiavinato S, Calvière-Tonasso L....This paper reports a high-resolution isotopic study of medieval horse mobility, revealing their origins and in-life mobility both regionally and internationally. The animals were found in an unusual horse cemetery site found within the City of Westminster, London, England. Enamel strontium, oxygen, and carbon isotope analysis of 15 individuals provides information about likely place of birth, diet, and mobility during the first approximately 5 years of life. Results show that at least seven horses originated outside of Britain in relatively cold climates, potentially in Scandinavia or the West...
Rankins EM, McKeever KH, Malinowski K.Little literature exists on horses in adaptive horsemanship (AH) despite concerns about their well-being. The study objective was to evaluate behavioral and physiological responses of horses to ground-based AH lessons for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Lessons were expected to alter horses' hormone concentrations, behavior, and muscle activity. Geldings were assigned to AH (n=6; 20.3 ± 1.9 yrs., mean ± SE) or control (CON; stall in arena, n=6; 13.8 ± 1.7 yrs.) conditions for 8-week sessions based on current occupation (AH = equine-assisted services; CON = recreational ...
Soares SC, Trost E, Ramos RT, Carneiro AR, Santos AR, Pinto AC, Barbosa E, Aburjaile F, Ali A, Diniz CA, Hassan SS, Fiaux K, Guimarães LC....Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the causative agent of several veterinary diseases in a broad range of economically important hosts, which can vary from caseous lymphadenitis in sheep and goats (biovar ovis) to ulcerative lymphangitis in cattle and horses (biovar equi). Existing vaccines against C. pseudotuberculosis are mainly intended for small ruminants and, even in these hosts, they still present remarkable limitations. In this study, we present the complete genome sequence of C. pseudotuberculosis biovar equi strain 258, isolated from a horse with ulcerative lymphangitis. The genome...
Gildea S, Fitzpatrick DA, Cullinane A.Outbreaks of equine influenza (EI) in endemic populations cause disruption and economic loss. Objective: To identify (i) factors involved in the spread of EI (ii) virus strains responsible for outbreaks (iii) single radial haemolysis (SRH) antibody levels correlating with protection against current virus strains (iv) evidence of vaccination breakdown. Methods: RT-PCR, virus isolation and SRH were carried out on nasopharyngeal swabs and blood samples collected from horses, ponies and donkeys on affected premises. Data relating to 629 samples from 135 equidae were analysed. Conclusions: Outbreak...
Suire S, Stewart F, Beauchamp J, Kennedy MW.The equine conceptus is surrounded by a fibrous capsule that persists until about day 20 of pregnancy, whereupon the capsule is lost, the conceptus attaches to the endometrium and placentation proceeds. Before attachment, the endometrium secretes in abundance a protein of the lipocalin family, uterocalin. The cessation of secretion coincides with the end of the period during which the conceptus is enclosed in its capsule, suggesting that uterocalin is essential for the support of the embryo before direct contact between maternal and foetal tissues is established. Using recombinant protein and ...
Bogaert L, Martens A, Van Poucke M, Ducatelle R, De Cock H, Dewulf J, De Baere C, Peelman L, Gasthuys F.Bovine papillomavirus (BPV), the causative agent of papillomas in cattle, has been shown to play a major role in the pathogenesis of equine sarcoids in horses. BPV has also been detected occasionally in normal equine skin. In this study, presence and activity of BPV in normal skin and peripheral blood of 4 groups of horses were evaluated: sarcoid-affected horses, horses living in contact with sarcoid-affected horses, horses living in contact with papilloma-affected cattle and control horses. From each horse, 3 samples on 4 locations were collected: a swab of the intact skin surface and both a ...
Fetene E, Leta S, Regassa F, Büscher P.Trypanosomosis caused by Trypanosoma vivax is one of the diseases threatening the health and productivity of livestock in Africa and Latin America. Trypanosoma vivax is mainly transmitted by tsetse flies; however, the parasite has also acquired the ability to be transmitted mechanically by hematophagous dipterans. Understanding its distribution, host range and prevalence is a key step in local and global efforts to control the disease. Methods: The study was conducted according to the methodological recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRIS...
Couëtil LL, Denicola DB.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology, arterial blood gases and plasma lactate concentration during a standardised treadmill test (STT) in racehorses with small-airway inflammation (SAI), or exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). Sixteen Thoroughbred and 20 Standardbred actively racing racehorses, were divided into a control group (n = 10), EIPH group (n = 13) and SAI group (n = 13). Each STT consisted of a 2 min trot at 4 m/s followed by 5 x 1 min, incremental speed steps (6, 8, 10, 11 and 12 m/s) at 10% incline for Th...
Suagee JK, Corl BA, Crisman MV, Pleasant RS, Thatcher CD, Geor RJ.Obesity and hyperinsulinemia increase the risk of laminitis in horses and ponies. In mares, obesity also has been associated with increased circulating concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The association of other proinflammatory cytokines with body condition score (BCS) and insulin requires further determination. Objective: Plasma concentrations of TNF, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and serum amyloid A (SAA) will positively correlate with BCS or insulin or both in horses. Furthermore, inflammatory protein concentrations will correlate with age and vari...
Otto IA, Levato R, Webb WR, Khan IM, Breugem CC, Malda J.Paramount for the generation of auricular structures of clinically-relevant size is the acquisition of a large number of cells maintaining an elastic cartilage phenotype, which is the key in producing a tissue capable of withstanding forces subjected to the auricle. Current regenerative medicine strategies utilize chondrocytes from various locations or mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). However, the quality of neo-tissues resulting from these cell types is inadequate due to inefficient chondrogenic differentiation and endochondral ossification, respectively. Recently, a subpopulation of stem/pr...
Castagnetti C, Pirrone A, Mariella J, Mari G.The use of blood lactate concentration as an indicator of prognosis and disease severity has become a common practice in equine medicine, especially with the validation of handheld analyzers. However, few authors described lactate concentration in critically ill foals, and there are no published studies about the use of handheld analyzers in neonatal foals. In this study, for the first time in the equine neonate, we validated the Lactate Scout analyzer, both in healthy and in critically ill foals. The study also describes the normal range for blood lactate in 26 healthy neonatal foals during t...
Anestis MD, Anestis JC, Zawilinski LL, Hopkins TA, Lilienfeld SO.Equine-related treatments (ERT) for mental disorders are becoming increasingly popular for a variety of diagnoses; however, they have been subjected only to limited systematic investigation. Objective: To examine the quality of and results from peer-reviewed research on ERT for mental disorders and related outcomes. Methods: Peer-reviewed studies (k = 14) examining treatments for mental disorders or closely related outcomes were identified from databases and article reference sections. Results: All studies were compromised by a substantial number of threats to validity, calling into question t...
Cook RF, Cook SJ, Li FL, Montelaro RC, Issel CJ.A single-tube reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using a fluorogenic real-time PCR detection method is described for the quantitation of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) RNA in the plasma of equids. To compensate for variations inherent in sample preparation a multiplex real-time RT-PCR system was developed that permitted the simultaneous calculation of the nucleic acid recovery rate along with the copy number of viral RNA molecules. Detection of EIAV RNA was linear from 10(9) to 10(1) molecules with intra- and inter-assay variability of less than 1% at 10(8), 10(6),...
Jacks SS, Giguère S, Nguyen A.The objective of this study was to determine in vitro activities of azithromycin (AZM), clarithromycin (CLR), and 20 other antimicrobial agents against Rhodococcus equi and other common equine bacterial pathogens. A total of 201 bacterial isolates from various equine clinical samples were examined. CLR was more active than AZM against R. equi, with MICs at which 90% of the isolates were inhibited of 0.12 and 1.0 micro g/ml, respectively. Other antimicrobial agents highly active against at least 90% of R. equi isolates in vitro included rifampin, gentamicin, and imipenem. Both AZM and CLR showe...
Salat J, Ruzek D.Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a disease caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), represents a serious neural infection of humans in Europe and Asia. The main reservoir hosts of TBEV are ticks, rodents and insectivores, but domestic animals may also be infected with the virus. This review summarizes what is known about TBE in domestic species (e.g., dogs, horses), in which infection may manifest with clinical signs similar to those seen in severe human cases. We also focus on TBE in ruminants where TBE infections are typically asymptomatic and do not cause health problems in the infecte...
Luna D, Vásquez RA, Rojas M, Tadich TA.Appropriate interventions to improve working equine welfare should be proposed according to scientific evidence that arises from different geo-cultural contexts. This study aims to assess and compare the welfare status of working horses in two administrative regions of Chile and to determine how owners perceive their horses. Horses' welfare status was assessed through direct indicators (direct observation and clinical examination) and indirect indicators (an interview with the owner). Owners' perceptions of their horses were determined through a discourse analysis of their statements. In total...
Bingham AM, Burkett-Cadena ND, Hassan HK, McClure CJ, Unnasch TR.Studies investigating winter transmission of Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) were conducted in Hillsborough County, Florida. The virus was detected in Culiseta melanura and Anopheles quadrimaculatus in February 2012 and 2013, respectively. During the winter months, herons were the most important avian hosts for all mosquito species encountered. In collections carried out in the summer of 2011, blood meals taken from herons were still common, but less frequently encountered than in winter, with an increased frequency of mammalian- and reptile-derived meals observed in the summer. Four ...
Tozaki T, Sato F, Hill EW, Miyake T, Endo Y, Kakoi H, Gawahara H, Hirota K, Nakano Y, Nambo Y, Kurosawa M.Myostatin is a member of the transforming growth factor-β family with a key role in inhibition of muscle growth by negative regulation of both myoblast proliferation and differentiation. Recently, a genomic region on ECA18, which includes the MSTN gene, was identified as a candidate region influencing racing performance in Thoroughbreds. In this study, four SNPs on ECA18, g.65809482T>C, g.65868604G>T, g.66493737C>T, and g.66539967A>G, were genotyped in 91 Thoroughbred horses-in-training to evaluate the association between genotype and body composition traits, including body weight...
Wang X, Miller DC, Clark AG, Antczak DF.In eutherian mammals, dosage compensation of X-linked genes is achieved by X chromosome inactivation. X inactivation is random in embryonic and adult tissues, but imprinted X inactivation (paternal X silencing) has been identified in the extra-embryonic membranes of the mouse, rat, and cow. Few other species have been studied for this trait, and the data from studies of the human placenta have been discordant or inconclusive. Here, we quantify X inactivation using RNA sequencing of placental tissue from reciprocal hybrids of horse and donkey (mule and hinny). In placental tissue from the equid...
Kuntz R, Kubalek C, Ruf T, Tataruch F, Arnold W.Large ruminants respond to changing plant phenology during winter by decreasing voluntary food intake, increasing gut passage time and utilizing body fat reserves. It is uncertain, however, how other large mammals with a non-ruminant digestive physiology cope with winter forage conditions. Therefore, we investigated seasonality of energy intake in a large herbivorous wild mammal, the Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii). Throughout all seasons we used the n-alkane method to measure daily dry matter intake (DMI), diet composition and digestion, and determined an index of gut passage time ...
Valdez-Miramontes CE, De Haro-Acosta J, Aréchiga-Flores CF, Verdiguel-Fernández L, Rivas-Santiago B.Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are molecules with a broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. These peptides are widely distributed in insects, amphibians and mammals. Indeed, they are key molecules of the innate immune system with remarkable antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity. Besides, these peptides have also shown regulatory activity for gut microbiota and have been considered inductors of growth performance. The current review describes the updated findings of antimicrobial peptides in domestic animals, such as bovines, goats, sheep, pigs, horses, cani...
Wallis N, Raffan E.Obesity is one of the most prevalent health conditions in humans and companion animals globally. It is associated with premature mortality, metabolic dysfunction, and multiple health conditions across species. Obesity is, therefore, of importance in the fields of medicine and veterinary medicine. The regulation of adiposity is a homeostatic process vulnerable to disruption by a multitude of genetic and environmental factors. It is well established that the heritability of obesity is high in humans and laboratory animals, with ample evidence that the same is true in companion animals. In this r...
Grause JF, Ueti MW, Nelson JT, Knowles DP, Kappmeyer LS, Bunn TO.Theileria equi, one of the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis, is endemic in many regions of the world but is considered a 'foreign' animal disease in the USA. In an effort to prevent the importation of T. equi, stringent serological screening of horses is practiced prior to entry to the USA. Current regulatory options available where horses are found to be infected include permanent quarantine with or without chemotherapy, repatriation, or euthanasia. Chemotherapeutics that eliminate infection and subsequently transmission risk are critical in the management of infected horses. In this ...
Field HE, Smith CS, de Jong CE, Melville D, Broos A, Kung N, Thompson J, Dechmann DK.Hendra virus causes sporadic fatal disease in horses and humans in eastern Australia. Pteropid bats (flying-foxes) are the natural host of the virus. The mode of flying-fox to horse transmission remains unclear, but oro-nasal contact with flying-fox urine, faeces or saliva is the most plausible. We used GPS data logger technology to explore the landscape utilisation of black flying-foxes and horses to gain new insight into equine exposure risk. Flying-fox foraging was repetitious, with individuals returning night after night to the same location. There was a preference for fragmented arboreal ...
Lin YZ, Sun LK, Zhu DT, Hu Z, Wang XF, Du C, Wang YH, Wang XJ, Zhou JH.Human schlafen11 is a novel restriction factor for HIV-1 based on bias regarding relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU). Here, we report the cloning of equine schlafen11 (eSLFN11) and the characteristics of its role in restricting the production of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), a retrovirus similar to HIV-1. Overexpression of eSLFN11 inhibited EIAV replication, whereas knockdown of endogenous eSLFN11 by siRNA enhanced the release of EIAV from its principal target cell. Notably, although eSLFN11 significantly suppressed expression of viral Gag protein and EIAV release into the culture ...
Kinoshita Y, Niwa H, Uchida-Fujii E, Nukada T.Microbial communities are commonly studied by using amplicon sequencing of part of the 16S rRNA gene. Sequencing of the full-length 16S rRNA gene can provide higher taxonomic resolution and accuracy. To obtain even higher taxonomic resolution, with as few false-positives as possible, we assessed a method using long amplicon sequencing targeting the rRNA operon combined with a CCMetagen pipeline. Taxonomic assignment had > 90% accuracy at the species level in a mock sample and at the family level in equine fecal samples, generating similar taxonomic composition as shotgun sequencing. The...
Kummer M, Geyer H, Imboden I, Auer J, Lischer C.The understanding of the normal position of the third phalanx (P3) and the distal sesamoid bone in relation to the size and shape of the hoof capsule in sound horses is helpful in the diagnosis of equine foot lameness. Some measurements on radiographs used to define the position of the pedal bone within the hoof capsule are significantly influenced by hoof trimming and the height of the withers. In this study, the front hooves of 40 Warmblood horses were radiographed twice, eight weeks apart, both before and after their hooves were trimmed by an experienced farrier. Using the software programm...
Durham AC, Pillitteri CA, San Myint M, Valli VE.Lymphoma is the most common malignant neoplasm in the horse. Single case reports and small retrospective studies of equine lymphomas are reported infrequently in the literature. A wide range of clinical presentations, tumor subtypes, and outcomes have been described, and the diversity of the results demonstrates the need to better define lymphomas in horses. As part of an initiative of the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group, 203 cases of equine lymphoma have been gathered from 8 institutions. Hematoxylin and eosin slides from each case were reviewed and 187 cases were immunophenotyped and c...
Qi T, Guo W, Huang W, Dai L, Zhao L, Li H, Li X, Zhang X, Wang Y, Yan Y, He N, Xiang W.During the 2007 outbreak of equine influenza (EIV) in China, an influenza virus designated A/donkey/Xinjiang/5/2007 (donkey/Xinjiang/2007) was isolated from a symptomatic donkey in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. To analyze the genetic evolution of the new isolate, the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of donkey/Xinjiang/2007 was amplified and sequenced. Sequence alignment, prediction of glycosylation sites and phylogenetic analysis of the HA1 protein of donkey/Xinjiang/2007 showed most similarity to the Florida sublineage clade 2 of the American lineage of equine influenza viruses. The HA1 seq...
Roberts MM, Oroszlan S.Capsids of equine infectious anemia virus have been isolated as cone-shaped particles 60 x 120 nm in size. Detergent treatment of whole virus followed by two cycles of rate-zonal centrifugation in Ficoll produces these capsids in a yield of approximately 10%. The major protein components are the gag-encoded p11 nucleocapsid protein and p26 capsid protein, which are present in equimolar amounts. Substantial cleavage of p11 to p6 and p4 can be observed under conditions where the viral protease packaged in the capsid is enzymatically active.
Medina-Torres CE, Weese JS, Staempfli HR.Fecal samples were collected to establish the apparent prevalence of Clostridium difficile shedding in Standardbred and Thoroughbred racehorses housed at 4 racetracks and 2 breeding facilities, and in horses admitted to a referral large animal clinic. Forty-one (7.59%) of 540 racetrack horses, seven (5.83%) of 120 breeding farm horses, and four (4.88%) out of 82 horses admitted to the referral clinic were culture-positive for C. difficile. An overall fecal culture prevalence of 7.01% for C. difficile was identified in 742 fecal samples. PCR-ribotyping and toxin gene identification was performe...
