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.
Goff L, Van Weeren PR, Jeffcott L, Condie P, McGowan C.Information regarding movement at the ilium and sacrum in nonlame horses during normal gait may assist in understanding the biomechanics of the equine sacroiliac joint. Objective: To determine the amount and direction of motion at the ilium and sacrum using 3D orientation sensors during walk and trot in sound Thoroughbreds. To compare results from sensors fixed to the skin with results from sensors fixed to bone-implanted pins. Methods: Three 3D wireless orientation sensors were mounted to the skin over the tuber sacrale (TS) and sacrum of 6 horses and motion at the ilium and sacrum was record...
Ramseyer A, Sides R, Slinker B, Evans D, Bayly W.The ability to obtain breath-by-breath measures of ventilatory mechanics for the entirety of an exercise test, regardless of speed(s) or duration enables evaluations of equine ventilation during exercise that are necessary for assessments of performance. Objective: Evaluation of a new ergospirometer (Quadflow; QF) system's accuracy and repeatability for measuring pulmonary variables in contrast to the established pneumotachometer-based system (control) and assessment of its effects, if any, on exercise capacity at high speeds. Methods: Five Thoroughbred horses each performed 10 incremental exe...
Gu J, MacHugh DE, McGivney BA, Park SD, Katz LM, Hill EW.The wild progenitors of the domestic horse were subject to natural selection for speed and stamina for millennia. Uniquely, this process has been augmented in Thoroughbreds, which have undergone at least 3 centuries of intense artificial selection for athletic phenotypes. While the phenotypic adaptations to exercise are well described, only a small number of the underlying genetic variants contributing to these phenotypes have been reported. Objective: A panel of candidate performance-related genes was examined for DNA sequence variation in Thoroughbreds and the association with racecourse per...
Hill C, Crook T.Massage is widely used in physiotherapy, but there has been little previous research examining its effectiveness in increasing equine soft tissue length. Objective: To determine the effect of massage on equine hindlimb protraction. We hypothesised that massage to the caudal muscles of the equine hindlimb, specifically the superficial gluteal, semitendinosus, biceps femoris and semimembranosus muscles, can increase passive and active hindlimb protraction. Methods: The study used a crossover design in which 8 horses were randomly assigned to 2 groups of 4, A and B. Group A received massage for 3...
Holbrook TC, McFarlane D, Schott HC.The inflammatory and neuroendocrine response to endurance exercise and relationship of these parameters to performance is not well documented in horses. HYPOTHESES OR OBJECTIVES: Evidence of systemic inflammation is associated with poor performance in horses competing in endurance events. Methods: Blood was collected prior to and at the finish or elimination point from horses competing in both the 80 and 160 km American Endurance Ride National Championship competitions in 2006. Immunoreactive alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were quantifie...
Mykkänen AK, Pösö AR, McGowan CM, McKane SA.In exercising horses, up to 50% of blood lactate is taken up into red blood cells (RBCs). Lactate transporter proteins MCT1, MCT2 and CD147 (an ancillary protein for MCT1) are expressed in the equine RBC membrane. In Standardbreds (SB), lactate transport activity is bimodally distributed and correlates with the amount of MCT1 and CD147. About 75% of SB studied have high lactate transport activity in RBCs. In other breeds, the distribution of lactate transport activity is unknown. Objective: To study whether similar bimodal distribution of MCT1 and CD147 is present also in the racing Finnhorse ...
Viu J, Jose-Cunilleras E, Armengou L, Cesarini C, Tarancón I, Rios J, Monreal L.Acid-base disturbances are traditionally assessed using the Henderson-Hasselbach equation. The simplified strong ion approach describes more accurately the complex acid-base and electrolyte abnormalities present in endurance horses. Objective: To describe acid-base and electrolytes changes in fit horses competing in a FEI*** 120 km endurance race and to compare the traditional vs. strong ion approaches. Methods: Thirty horses were initially enrolled in the study. Venous blood samples were obtained before the race (n = 25), at the second (n = 29; 65.4 km) and third vet-gates (n = 23, 97.4 km) a...
Latif SN, Von Peinen K, Wiestner T, Bitschnau C, Renk B, Weishaupt MA.To a large extent the success of a racehorse depends on effective and health preserving training methods. An important issue is the prevention of back pain. The influence of different types of training saddles (normal tree: S(A), treeless: S(B), flexible tree: S(C)) on the saddle pressure patterns in racehorses have not previously been investigated. It is commonly assumed that S(A) limits the motion of the back especially in the lower thoracic region during gallop. Objective: S(A) produces higher pressures in the caudal part of the saddle at trot (rising trot), canter and gallop (both in a joc...
Lawson SE, Marlin DJ.The function of the forelimb is fundamental to understanding both sound and pathological locomotion. The precise movements of the equine shoulder are hidden by layers of skin and muscle and hence the shoulder is normally modelled as a simple pivot during locomotion which assumes that any translational motion is negligible. Objective: To record and quantify the sliding motion of the scapula during locomotion, using a novel imaging technique. Methods: Scapula motion during locomotion in the horse was calculated by tracking the ripple of the shoulder blade's movement under an array of markers pla...
de Cocq P, Mooren M, Dortmans A, van Weeren PR, Timmerman M, Muller M, Van Leeuwen JL.In the equestrian world it is assumed that riders use changes in weight distribution and leg forces as important instruments to give horses directions about speed and direction of movement. However, the changes of these forces have never been quantified. Objective: To investigate the distribution of normal forces (perpendicular to surface) underneath the saddle and of normal forces exerted by the rider's legs during lateral movements. Methods: Eleven riders performed 3 different exercises: riding straight ahead, shoulder-in and travers at trot. Three saddle force systems were used simultaneous...
von Peinen K, Wiestner T, von Rechenberg B, Weishaupt MA.Similar to human decubitus ulcers, local high pressure points from ill-fitting saddles induce perfusion disturbances of different degrees resulting in tissue hypoxia and alteration in sweat production. Objective: To relate the different clinical manifestations of saddle sores to the magnitude of saddle pressures at the location of the withers. Methods: Sixteen horses with dry spots after exercise (Group A) and 7 cases presented with acute clinical signs of saddle pressure in the withers area (Group B) were compared with a control group of 16 sound horses with well fitting saddles (Group C). Al...
Leahy ER, Burk AO, Greene EA, Williams CA.The main goal of feeding elite 3-day event horses is to deliver nutrients in optimal amounts to allow the horse to maximize its health and performance. However, improper nutritional management and/or physiological stressors related to intense training and competition may increase the risk of nutrition-associated disorders in these horses. An understanding of the nutrition-associated problems contributing to poor performance is critical to the health and welfare of the horse. Objective: To characterize the nutrition-associated problems affecting top level 3-day event horses during 2008. Methods...
Unt VE, Evans J, Reed SR, Pfau T, Weller R.Conformation in horses is often considered an indicator of athletic ability, performance and resistance to orthopaedic disease. Evaluation is performed in the standing horse and repeatability influenced by stance. Ground reaction forces increase in the moving horse as speed increases. Objective: To determine the effect of locomotion on equine carpus, tarsus, metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints in the frontal plane. Objective: Valgus/varus angulation will change when moving. Methods: Kinematic data were collected standing, walking and trotting for 2 groups of horses. ...
Rumpler B, Riha A, Licka T, Kotschwar A, Peham C.Weight boots are commonly used for Icelandic horses to increase the height of the flight arc of the forelimbs in toelt. Objective: To show the influence of weights and toelting speed on the height of the swing phase. Methods: Eight Icelandic horses (mean ± s.d. 12 ± 3 years old, 369 ± 46 kg) were used. Reflecting makers were placed on the dorsal side of each hoof. The motion was collected with a kinematic system (10 cameras, 120 Hz sample rate, 1.3 Mpixels resolution). The horses were ridden in toelt by 2 experienced riders on a treadmill at 2 different speeds (2.96 m/s ± 0.30 and 4.10 m/s...
Robert C, Goachet AG, Fraipont A, Votion DM, Van Erck E, Leclerc JL.Limited information exists about the physiological training-induced changes in electrolyte balance of horses competing in long distance endurance races. Objective: To determine the effects of endurance training and racing on hydration and electrolyte balance in horses. Methods: Blood and urine were sampled at rest in 8 endurance horses before training and after two 11 week training periods (T1 and T2). Each training was followed by a 120 km endurance ride and horses were sampled before, during and 2 h after the rides. Blood was analysed for packed cell volume (PCV), total protein (TP), urea, c...
Zsoldos RR, Kotschwar AB, Kotschwar A, Groesel M, Licka T, Peham C.Skeletal muscle activity can be concentric or eccentric, anisometric or isometric and correlation of the equine splenius muscle activity with the movement of its effector joints at walk and trot has not yet been fully characterised. Objective: Investigating activity of the splenius muscle together with kinematics of head and cranial neck at walk and trot. Methods: Kinematics and surface electromyography were measured in 6 horses (8-20-years-old, 450-700 kg) without signs of neck pain. Markers were placed on left and right crista facialis, and on left and right cervical vertebrae 1 and 3. Head ...
Cravana C, Medica P, Prestopino M, Fazio E, Ferlazzo A.Limited knowledge exists about the differentiated effects of competitive and noncompetitive showjumping on thyroid function and relationships with hypothalamic-hypophysis-corticoadrenal hormones. Objective: To obtain preliminary data about differentiated effects of competitive and noncompetitive showjumping on total and free iodothyronines, β-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol of horses. Methods: Five trained healthy jumper horses were studied during competitive and noncompetitive showjumping, performed in the same circuit design over 10 fences of 1.10 m. Hormone levels before, 5 and 30 min post ex...
Yoshihara E, Takahashi T, Otsuka N, Isayama T, Tomiyama T, Hiraga A, Wada S.It has been suggested that the heel of the horse's hoof expands in the stance phase and this reduces the concussion at impact and helps pump blood into the hoof. Therefore, farriers usually leave a gap in the heel region when using the traditional nailed shoe. Recently glued shoes which are attached firmly to the heel have been developed and these could restrict heel movement. Objective: To compare the degree of mediolateral heel movement between glued and nailed shoes. Methods: Seven Thoroughbreds were used. Either their fore- or hind hooves were shod with plain aluminium shoes, attached firs...
Noël PG, Couëtil L, Constable PD.Plastic heparinised vacutainer tubes are used for blood gas analysis in horses. This collection method may not be ideal because influx of atmospheric O(2) through the permeable plastic wall of the vacutainer tube and loss of CO(2) into the gas phase above the blood sample should increase blood PO(2) and decrease PCO(2), respectively. Objective: To determine the effects of collecting blood into plastic vacutainer tubes and storage conditions on blood gas analysis values. Methods: Blood was obtained from 6 healthy horses and tonometered at 37 °C with 12% O(2) and 5% CO(2). Three ml aliquots of ...
Ferlazzo A, Medica P, Cravana C, Fazio E.Involvement of thyroid function on performance warrants further investigation as limited data exists on the effects of showjumping on the dynamics of total and free iodothyronines. Objective: To investigate the response of circulating total and free iodothyronines in horses to experimental showjumping sessions and compare with the effects normally induced by competition and determine if fence height has any effect. Methods: Using a randomised crossover study design 6 trained horses were studied during experimental showjumping sessions over 10 fences of different height: 1.00 m (Session 1), 1.1...
Ferraz GC, Soares OA, Foz NS, Pereira MC, Queiroz-Neto A.This study was designed to consider the complexity of the physical effort inherent to horses in polo competitions and the absence of reports in the literature on the effort, intensity and electrolyte changes resulting from a collective team training session aimed at preparing for a polo championship. Objective: To determine the effort and ion changes caused by an outdoor polo training match for a 25 goal handicap (elite) based on physiological variables including acid-base status (venous pH, PCO(2) and HCO(3)(-)), packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), lactate, glucose, sodium, chloride a...
Addis PR, Lawson SE.The flexor tendons support the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints during stance phase and since tendon stiffness and strain changes with age, it is likely that kinematics are also age-dependent. Objective: Maximum MCP and DIP angles decrease in the young horse, plateau in the mature horse and increase towards senescence. Methods: The distal limbs of 57 walking horses age 3-212 months were filmed and digitised with an automated tracking system. Maximum MCP and DIP angles during stance phase were used to calculate strain in the superficial and deep digital flexor t...
Waller AP, Pearson W, Lindinger MI.Standardbred and Thoroughbred racehorses around the world are tested for performance enhancing substances. Among these are blood alkalising substances that raise plasma pH and total carbon dioxide (TCO(2)) concentration. However, many horses have an elevated TCO(2) due to dietary, environmental and health concerns without having been administered an alkalising substance. Objective: The purposes of this study were to determine the acid-base profile of a cross section of Standardbred horses in racing/race training in Ontario and the main independent variables that contributed to acid-base state....
De Graaf-Roelfsema E, Keizer HA, Wijnberg ID, Van Der Kolk JH.Gastric ulceration can be caused by different pathophysiological mechanisms including dietary factors, psychological stress and exercise. Overtraining is a medical syndrome in performance horses associated with altered hormone levels, altered feed intake, altered behaviour and decreased performance. These components might lead to a higher incidence of gastric ulceration in overtrained horses. Objective: To investigate whether the incidence of gastric ulceration is increased in overtrained compared to control horses. Methods: A longitudinal training study with twelve 1.5 years old Standardbred ...
Thorpe CT, Stark RJ, Goodship AE, Birch HL.Damage to the flexor tendons, particularly the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries sustained by horses competing in all disciplines. Our previous work has shown that SDFTs from different individuals show a wide variation in mechanical strengths; this is important clinically as it may relate to predisposition to injury. The high mechanical strength of tendon relies on the correct orientation of collagen molecules within fibrils and stabilisation by the formation of chemical cross-links between collagen molecules. It is not known whether t...
Byström A, Stalfelt A, Egenvall A, Von Peinen K, Morgan K, Roepstorff L.Saddle fit is well recognised as an important factor for the health and performance of riding horses. However, only few studies have addressed general effects of different saddle construction details within a group of horses. Objective: To assess the influence of girth strap placement, traditional vs. v-system, and panel flocking material, wool vs. synthetic foam, on the saddle pressure pattern during riding. Methods: Six horses were ridden by 3 riders in sitting and rising trot and sitting canter. Saddle pressure was measured with 3 different saddle variants: 1) wool flocked panels and tradit...
Jansson A, Johannisson A, Kvart C.Horses in training lose large amounts of sodium but little is known about the cardiovascular response to low sodium intake. Objective: To investigate the effect of low sodium intake on plasma aldosterone (pAldo) concentrations and the cardiovascular system of athletic horses, and to identify markers of low sodium intake. Methods: Seven Standardbred geldings in training (trained twice a week) were randomly offered a standardised diet supplemented (NaS, 58 mg Na/kg bwt) and not supplemented (NaN, 3 mg Na/kg bwt) with NaCl for 5 weeks in a changeover design. Blood samples were taken once a week a...
Spooner HS, Nielsen BD, Schott HC, Harris PA.Excessive sweat loss during endurance exercise may lead to electrolyte disturbances and previous research suggests dietary factors may affect hydration status. While investigating the effect of dietary fibre type on hydration status, sweat samples were collected which allowed for the evaluation of sweat composition in horses consuming forage-based, low sodium (Na) rations. Objective: To investigate sweat composition in Arabian horses performing endurance type exercise while fed forage-based, rations low in Na. Methods: Six 2-year-old Arabian horses were fed, according to a replicated 3 × 3 La...
Lejeune JP, Sandersen C, Votion D, Caudron I, Vander Heyden L, Franck T, Ceusters J, Mouithys-Mickalad A, Niesten A, De La Rebière de Pouyade G....Intensive exercise induces a systemic inflammatory response characterised by an increase of blood neutrophil count and myeloperoxidase (MPO) release. Neutrophil elastase (NE) could also contribute to tissues lesions by its proteinase activities. Objective: To compare plasmatic NE concentrations before and after different forms of intensive exercise. Methods: EDTA blood samples were taken from 51 eventing horses (EvH) and 32 endurance horses (EndH) were sampled before the race (T0). Blood sampling was performed 2 h (T1) after completing either phase D of a one or 2 star eventing competition (n ...
Trachsel DS, Bitschnau C, Waldern N, Weishaupt MA, Schwarzwald CC.Frequent supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias during and after exercise are considered pathological in horses. Prevalence of arrhythmias seen in apparently healthy horses is still a matter of debate and may depend on breed, athletic condition and exercise intensity. Objective: To determine intra- and interobserver agreement for detection of arrhythmias at rest, during and after exercise using a telemetric electrocardiography device. Methods: The electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings of 10 healthy Warmblood horses (5 of which had an intracardiac catheter in place) undergoing a standardised ...
Allegro AR, Barhoumi R, Bordin AI, Bray JM, Cohen ND.Rhodococcus equi is a soil saprophytic bacterium and intracellular pathogen that causes pneumonia in foals. Strains of R. equi that are virulent in foals contain a plasmid that encodes a virulence-associated protein A (VapA) necessary for replication in macrophages. Because other intracellular pathogens survive and replicate inside amoebae, we postulated that the VapA-bearing plasmid (pVAPA) confers a survival advantage for R. equi against environmental predators like amoebae. To test this hypothesis, we compared phagocytosis by and survival in Acanthamoeba castellanii of isogenic strains of p...
Ellse L, Burden F, Wall R.Equine pediculosis is a significant health and welfare issue, particularly in elderly and chronically debilitated animals. Currently infestation is controlled predominantly using topically applied pyrethroid insecticides, allowing limited scope for the rotation of drugs and increasing the risk of selection for resistance. Here the insecticidal efficacies of two pyrethroid-based products against the louse Bovicola (Werneckiella) ocellatus collected from donkeys were examined in vitro. The products were cypermethrin (Deosect™, Pfizer Ltd., 5% (w/v) cypermethrin, cutaneous spray) and permethrin...
Honnens A, Weisser S, Welter H, Einspanier R, Bollwein H.The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between uterine perfusion and estrogen, progesterone and the uterine nitric oxide synthase (NOS) system in five trotter mares during the estrous cycle. Color Doppler sonography for measurement of uterine blood flow and collection of blood for determination of plasma estrogen and progesterone concentrations were performed on days 0 (= ovulation), 1, 5, 11 and 15 and daily during estrus (days -1 to -4) of one estrous cycle; endometrial biopsy collection for mRNA expression analysis of NOS and estrogen receptors was performed on day...
Christmann U, Hite RD, Witonsky SG, Elvinger F, Werre SR, Thatcher CD, Tan RH, Buechner-Maxwell VA.Surfactant alterations are described in horses after exercise, anesthesia, and prolonged transport, in horses with recurrent airway obstruction, and in neonatal foals. The effect of horse age or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) sample characteristics on surfactant is unknown. Objective: To evaluate surfactant phospholipid composition and function in healthy horses, and to investigate the influence of age and BALF sample characteristics on surfactant. Methods: Seventeen healthy horses 6-25 years of age maintained on pasture year-round. Methods: BALF was collected by standard procedures and w...
Greene CE, Tsang VC, Prestwood AK, Meriwether EA.Optimal reaction conditions for the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), 1-stage prothrombin time (PT), and Russell's viper venom time were studied for pooled plasmas of horses, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, dogs, cats, and persons. Changes in CaCl2 and NaCl concentrations had significant effects on the APTT and PT reactions. The APTT was more sensitive than the PT to changes in CaCl2 concentration. The CaCl2 concentration recommended by the manufacturer for the APTT was suboptimal for some of plasmas of domesticated animals in ths study. Infusorial earth (Celite, activator) concentrat...
Schmitz A, Thormann W, Moessner L, Theurillat R, Helmja K, Mevissen M.Ketamine, an injectable anesthetic and analgesic consisting of a racemic mixture of S-and R-ketamine, is routinely used in veterinary and human medicine. Nevertheless, metabolism and pharmacokinetics of ketamine have not been characterized sufficiently in most animal species. An enantioselective CE assay for ketamine and its metabolites in microsomal preparations is described. Racemic ketamine was incubated with pooled microsomes from humans, horses and dogs over a 3 h time interval with frequent sample collection. CE data revealed that ketamine is metabolized enantioselectively to norketamine...
Kawai S, Igarashi I, Abgaandorjiin A, Ikadai H, Omata Y, Saito A, Nagasawa H, Toyoda Y, Suzuki N, Matsuda H.In-vitro-propagated Babesia caballi parasites were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Many small pores were observed over the entire surface of infected erythrocytes on scanning electron microscopy, and on transmission electron microscopy these small pores were found to be openings of tubular structures. By the examination of a number of infected cells the tubular structures were found to be connected with the parasite, and this observation might indicate that the tubular structures arose the edge of the parasite and terminated at an Invagination on the surface of the e...
Gupta S, Vohra S, Sethi K, Gupta S, Bera BC, Kumar S, Kumar R.High cytotoxicity and increasing resistance reports of existing chemotherapeutic agents against T. evansi have raised the demand for novel, potent, and high therapeutic index molecules for the treatment of surra in animals. In this regard, repurposing approach of drug discovery has provided an opportunity to explore the therapeutic potential of existing drugs against new organism. With this objective, the macrocyclic lactone representative, ivermectin, has been investigated for the efficacy against T. evansi in the axenic culture medium. To elucidate the potential target of ivermectin in T. ev...
Zaha C, Schuszler L, Dascalu R, Nistor P, Florea T, Imre K, Rujescu C, Sicoe B, Igna C.Horses with palmar foot pain do not show a typical increase in temperature in the palmar aspect of the hoof and heel due to low blood flow. The objectives of the current study were to determine the changes and differences in the thermographic pattern of the sole surface in horses with unilateral palmar foot pain and non-lame horses before and after training. We hypothesized that the thermal pattern and the local temperature of the frog area and toe area would be similar, with an increased local temperature after training in both lame and non-lame horses. A pilot study was conducted to investig...
Figueredo LA, Cafarchia C, Otranto D.Fungi of the genus Geotrichum are commonly found in the environment and, in some circumstances, they may cause diseases in humans and animals. Although these fungi have been isolated from skin lesions of some animal species, their pathogenic role in horses remains uncertain. With the aim to investigate the role of Geotrichum candidum as etiological agent of dermatomycoses, a retrospective study of 64 horses presenting skin lesions and suspected to have fungal infections was carried out. For each animal, anamnestic data were recorded and fungal culture were performed using hair. Out of 64 cases...
Robinson JA, Allen GK, Green EM, Fales WH, Loch WE, Wilkerson CG.Fourteen mares and their foals were attended at parturition. After mare-foal bonding, 8 colostrum-deprived (CD) foals were removed from their dams, deprived of colostrum, and provided with an alternative milk source for the first 24 h of life. The mares were milked out every 2-4 h during this period to remove colostrum, after which the CD foals were returned to their mares and allowed to nurse. Six colostrum-fed (CF) foals were allowed to suck colostrum in the normal manner. Foal serum IgG concentration was determined by single radial immunodiffusion (means, CD = 0 mg/dl; CF = 1,508 mg/dl). Ac...
Schellenbacher C, Shafti-Keramat S, Huber B, Fink D, Brandt S, Kirnbauer R.The consistent and specific presence of Equus caballus papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2) DNA and mRNA in equine genital squamous cell carcinoma (gSCC) is suggestive of an etiological role in tumor development. To further validate this concept, EcPV2-neutralizing serum antibody titers were determined by an EcPV2 pseudovirion (PsV) neutralization assay. Furthermore, an EcPV2 L1 virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccine was generated and its prophylactic efficacy evaluated in vivo. All 6/6 gSCC-affected, but only 3/20 tumor-free age-matched animals revealed EcPV2-neutralizing serum antibody titers by P...
Roberts HA, Hurcombe SD, Hillier A, Lorch G.House dust mite (HDM) and storage mite (SM) stable fauna and their associated equine intradermal test (IDT) threshold concentrations (TCs) for the midwestern region of the USA are unknown. Objective: To determine IDT TCs and serum IgE concentrations for two HDM and three SM species in clinically normal horses over two seasons, and to identify the mite taxa and habitats in a stable. Methods: Thirty-eight clinically normal horses. Methods: Threshold concentrations for HDMs and SMs were determined using IDT subjective measurements and a statistical model. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was ...
Wang JL, Zhou DH, Chen J, Liu GX, Pu WB, Liu TY, Qin SY, Yin MY, Zhu XQ.Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which can infect warm-blooded animals and humans. The present study was performed to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii in horses in Xinjiang, northwestern China. A total of 637 blood samples were collected from seven regions in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang in 2011 and assayed for T. gondiiantibodies using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Risk factors (age, gender, and region) related to seroprevalence were determined by a multivariate logistic regression analysis. A total of 200 horses (31.4%, 95%...
Vivrette SL, Sellon DC, Gibbons DS.Diagnosis of pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi can be made more rapidly by use of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay than by use of conventional bacteriologic culture techniques. Use of a PCR assay aids in the differentiation between virulent and avirulent strains of R equi, and the assay may be used to identify R equi in feces and soil of breeding farms.
Yun J, Oyungerel B, Kong HS.This study aimed to identify the genetic diversity and population structure of Mongolian horse populations according to the province of residence (Khentii, KTP; Uvs, USP; Omnogovi and Dundgovi, GOP; Khovsgol, KGP) using 14 microsatellite (MS) markers. Methods: A total of 269 whole blood samples were obtained from the four populations (KTP, USP, GOP, KGP) geographically distinct provinces. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted using 14 MS markers (AHT4, ASB2, ASB17, ASB23, CA425, HMS1, HMS2, HMS3, HMS6, HMS7, HTG4, HTG6, HTG7, and VHL20), as recommended by the International So...
Rubio-Martínez L, López-Sanromán J, Cruz AM, Santos M, San Román F.To study the pharmacokinetics of vancomycin in plasma obtained from the medullary sinusoids of the proximal phalanx (P1) after intravenous (IV) and intraosseous (IO) regional limb perfusion (RLP). Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Twelve horses. Methods: IV and IO RLP were performed in 2 groups (n = 6) of horses. Vancomycin hydrochloride (300 mg in 60 mL 0.9% NaCl) was randomly infused in 1 front limb, with the contralateral limb as control (60 mL 0.9% NaCl). A hole was drilled in the lateral cortex of P1, and blood samples from the medullary sinusoids of P1 were collected before infusion,...
Li Y, Yao J, Chang M, Nikolic D, Yu L, Yager JD, Mesecar AD, van Breemen RB, Bolton JL.Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) plays an important role in the inactivation of biologically active and toxic catechols. It has been shown that COMT is genetically polymorphic with a wild-type and variant form where a valine has been substituted with a methionine. Several, but not all, epidemiological studies have shown that women, homozygous with the variant form, have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Previously, we showed that 4-hydroxyequilenin (4-OHEN), a cytotoxic/genotoxic equine catechol estrogen metabolite, is both a substrate of COMT and an irreversible inhibitor of t...
Kannegieter NJ, Alley MR.A 20-month-old, Standard-bred colt was presented with an acute onset of hindlimb ataxia. Clinical and radiographic examination identified a compressive lesion affecting the spinal cord at the level of the 17th to 18th thoracic vertebrae. After euthanasia, post-mortem examination revealed a tumour in the epidural space, diagnosed histologically as a lymphosarcoma. Neoplastic lymphoid cells were also present in the abdominal lymph nodes and brain. Because of the disseminated nature of lymphosarcoma in the horse, involvement of the central nervous system is likely to be more common than is presen...
Vernemmen I, De Clercq D, Decloedt A, Schauvliege S, Taeymans Y, De Wolf D, van Loon G.This report describes a rare case of an aorto-cardiac fistula in a six-year-old French Warmblood mare presented with atrial fibrillation, decreased performance, ventral oedema, bounding arterial pulsation and pathological jugular venous pulse. A 2.7-cm-diameter fistula connected the right aortic sinus of Valsalva to the right atrium. Atrial fibrillation was likely due to volume overload of the right heart due to left-to-right shunting. The horse was treated by percutaneous transcatheter closure of the fistula delivered under general anaesthesia using a transarterial approach. The operation was...
Woodie B, Johnson AL, Grant B.Cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy is a common cause of ataxia in horses secondary to spinal cord compression. Early articles describing this problem indicate genetic predisposition as a known risk factor. Further studies have shown the problem is a developmental abnormality which might have genetic predisposition and environmental influences.
Gottlieb M, Essén-Gustavsson B, Lindholm A, Persson SG.Circulatory and muscle metabolic responses were studied in 10 horses which all performed incremental draught work at a low trotting speed on a treadmill (D-test) and also exercise with gradually increasing velocities (S-test). Exercise was continued until the horses could no longer maintain the weights above the floor or maintain speed trotting without changing gait to a gallop. Muscle biopsies were taken from the gluteus and the semitendinosus muscles before, and immediately after, exercise. The heart rate (HR) increased linearly with both increasing draught resistance and velocity and reache...
Dixon PM, Railton DI, McGorum BC.Three-hundred adult horses, referred from 1990 to 1993 inclusively, for pulmonary examination were assessed using standardised history taking and clinical, intrapleural pressure, arterial blood gases and pH, bronchoscopic and tracheal and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytological examinations. Two-hundred and thirty-five cases were referred with overt signs of pulmonary disease and the remaining 65 cases were referred for pulmonary examination because of reduced exercise (usually racing) performance or prolonged dyspnoea after racing. No pulmonary disease was detected in 30 cases. The 2...
Alexander CS, Keller H.Over 130 cases of equine periodic ophthalmia (p.o.), which were treated as in-patients at the Equine Clinic of the Free University of Berlin in the last 35 years, were examined statistically in relation to the age and gender of the animals involved as well as to the development of the illness and the season in which it arose. As regards aetiology, the extraction of 71 affected Trotters was investigated. Antibodies to toxoplasmosis, leptospirosis and intestinal parasites were found only in some of the patients. Younger animals, aged between one and four years, and male animals (63.6%) were pred...
Manao G, Camici G, Stefani M, Berti A, Cappugi G, Liguri G, Nassi P, Ramponi G.Acylphosphatase was purified from horse muscle by a new procedure involving an affinity chromatography step and subsequent ion-exchange chromatography. This procedure was considerably milder than the preceding one, gave an overall yield of about 60% of activity and permitted isolation of three molecular forms with acylphosphatase activity. All these enzymatic forms are tightly bound to Sepharose 4B-linked anti-horse muscle acylphosphatase antibodies. Two of these forms (Ho1 and Ho3) are present in larger amounts: Ho1 corresponds to the enzyme purified according to the older procedure; this enz...
Lindner A, Signorini R, Brero L, Arn E, Mancini R, Enrique A.There is limited published work on the effect of training using intensive and short intervals of exercise to condition horses for racing. Objective: To examine the effect of conditioning horses 1, 2 or 3 x a week using 2 short fast exercise intervals on blood lactate (LA), plasma ammonia (NH3) and urea (urea) as well as creatine kinase (CK) activity. Methods: Thoroughbreds (age 4-5 years) were conditioned at near maximal speed (12-14 m/sec) over 100 m, on 2 occasions separated by a 10 min period at walk, on dirt track (conditioning exercise; CE) during a 6 week conditioning period (CP). The CE...
Arrighi S, Romanello MG, Domeneghini C.The epithelium that lines the ductuli efferentes in the horse, donkey and mule has been examined by electron microscopy. The epithelium consists of columnar ciliated and non-ciliated cells. Lymphocytes and macrophages are also present, together with cells that are rich in lipofuscin. These 'lipofuscin-rich' cells are a peculiar feature of the excurrent ducts of Equidae and are characterized by a large number of highly heterogeneous residual bodies. The general morphology of the epithelium and, in particular, of the non-ciliated cells implies that the epithelium is involved in the absorption an...
Ward MP.Using reports of clinical West Nile virus (WNV) encephalomyelitis in Texas equids during 2002, the distribution of disease was analyzed using cluster statistics and spatial modeling to develop hypotheses of disease spread during the first year of its detection. Significant (P < 0.05) clusters of cases reported early during the outbreak were identified in east, northcentral, and north Texas, and significant (P < 0.05) clusters late during the outbreak were detected in central, south, and west Texas. Two counties on the south Texas coast first reported disease significantly (P < 0.05) e...
Lamglait B, Vandenbunder-Beltrame M, Trunet E, Lemberger K.Gastric ulcers are common in domestic horses and foals, affecting at least 90% of unmedicated racehorses in active training. Despite these high prevalences in domestic horses, literature about this condition in wild equids is almost nonexistent. The presence of gastric ulcers was evaluated at necropsy in six species of wild equids that died at the Réserve Africane de Sigean, a safari park in the south of France from 2010 to 2016. Among the 55 individuals that died during that period, a description of the gastric mucosa was available in 82% (45/55) of cases. Considering the cases for which a d...
