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Topic:Equine Health
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.
Effects of inactivated parapoxvirus ovis on the cumulative incidence of pneumonia and cytokine secretion in foals on a farm with endemic infections caused by Rhodococcus equi. The objectives of the present study were to determine if administration of inactivated parapoxvirus ovis (IPPVO) can decrease the cumulative incidence of pneumonia and increase the number of IFN-γ- and IL-4-secreting cells among foals. Fifty-nine foals were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups (IPPVO or placebo) prior to birth. At 24-48 h of age, foals received 2 ml of either IPPVO or a placebo by intramuscular injection. Injections were repeated 24h and 8 days later. The number of IFN-γ- and IL-4-secreting cells was measured using a validated ELISPOT assay on blood mononuclear cells coll...
Establishing reference genes for use in real-time quantitative PCR analysis of early equine embryos. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) is invaluable for investigating changes in gene expression during early development, since it can be performed on the limited quantities of mRNA contained in individual embryos. However, the reliability of this method depends on the use of validated stably expressed reference genes for accurate data normalisation. The aim of the present study was to identify and validate a set of reference genes suitable for studying gene expression during equine embryo development. The stable expression of four carefully selected reference genes and one developmentally regula...
Longitudinal study of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system in purebred Spanish broodmares during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the coordinated interaction of the components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a vital role in accommodating the cardiovascular, haemodynamic and haematological needs imposed by foetal development and the placenta. This significantly influences the birth weight of the neonate and foetal viability. Although the evolution of each of the components of this system has been widely described in various species, it has not yet been clarified in the mare. Thus, the objectives of the present research were: 1) to establish reference values for renin (REN), angio...
In vivo-derived horse blastocysts show transcriptional upregulation of developmentally important genes compared with in vitro-produced horse blastocysts. In vitro-produced (IVP) equine blastocysts can give rise to successful pregnancies, but their morphology and developmental rate differ from those of in vivo-derived equine blastocysts. The aim of the present study was to evaluate this difference at the genetic level. Suppression subtractive hybridisation (SSH) was used to construct a cDNA library enriched for transcripts preferentially expressed in in vivo-derived equine blastocysts compared with IVP blastocysts. Of the 62 different genes identified in this way, six genes involved in embryonic development (BEX2, FABP3, HSP90AA1, MOBKL3, MCM7 a...
Dynamics of activities of matrix metalloproteinases-9 and -2, and the tissue inhibitors of MMPs in fetal fluid compartments during gestation and at parturition in the mare. During late gestation in the mare, rapid fetal growth is accompanied by considerable placental growth and further invasion of the endometrium by microvilli. This growth requires extensive remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In early pregnancy, we know that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and -2 are involved in the endometrial invasion during endometrial cup formation. The present study investigated whether MMPs are found in fetal fluids later in gestation and during parturition, and if there was a difference in their activities between normal and preterm delivery. Amniotic fluids we...
Morphological data indicate a stress response at the oral border of strangulated small intestine in horses. Strangulation colic often leads to surgery. We aimed to document the molecular response in the non-resected intestine in these horses using quantitative Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1α) was investigated together with two molecular pathways initiated after protein destruction: proteasome degradation via ubiquitin chain formation and protein restoration via molecular chaperones such as inducible heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). In addition, the expression of c-fos and c-jun could indicate an early proinflammatory response....
Reduced activity of moxidectin and ivermectin on small strongyles in young horses on a farm (BC) in Central Kentucky in two field tests with notes on variable counts of eggs per gram of feces (EPGs). Two field tests (A and B) were conducted in Thoroughbred weanlings born in 2008 and 2009 on a farm (BC) in Central Kentucky. The purpose was to determine the current efficacy of moxidectin (MOX) and ivermectin (IVM) on small strongyles by pre- and posttreatment counts of eggs per gram of feces (EPGs) in this geographical area. In previous parasite studies in horses on this farm and in horses on numerous other farms in this area, cultures of feces indicated the strongyle larvae were all small strongyles. Therefore, the strongyle eggs in the EPG counts are considered small strongyles. Designatio...
Effects of isoflurane anesthesia on cerebrovascular autoregulation in horses. To test a hypothesis predicting that isoflurane would interfere with cerebrovascular autoregulation in horses and to evaluate whether increased mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) would increase cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure (ICP) during isoflurane anesthesia. Methods: 6 healthy adult horses. Methods: Horses were anesthetized with isoflurane at a constant end-tidal concentration sufficient to maintain MAP at 60 mm Hg. The facial, carotid, and dorsal metatarsal arteries were catheterized for blood sample collection and pressure measurements. A sub-arachnoid transducer was used to...
Aqueous humor and plasma concentrations of a compounded 0.2% solution of terbinafine following topical ocular administration to normal equine eyes. To determine the transcorneal penetration and systemic absorption of a compounded 0.2% terbinafine solution following repeated topical administration to normal equine eyes. Sample population Six healthy adult horses with normal ocular examinations. Methods: One eye of each horse received 0.2 mL of a compounded 0.2% terbinafine solution every 4 h for seven doses. During the 1 h following administration of the final dose, multiple peripheral blood samples were obtained, and a single aqueous humor (AH) sample was collected at the end of the hour. AH and plasma concentrations of terbinafine wer...
Infection by spotted fever rickettsiae in people, dogs, horses and ticks in Londrina, Parana State, Brazil. Spotted fever is a disease caused by bacteria from the genus Rickettsia of the spotted fever group (SFG). Rickettsia rickettsii is likely the main agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF). With the objective of gathering information on the circulation of SFG rickettsiae in Londrina, Parana state, ticks from dogs and horses and also blood from dogs, horses and humans were collected in a neighbourhood of the city which presented potential for circulation of rickettsiae between hosts and vectors. Amblyomma cajennense, Dermacentor nitens, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks were subjected to Polymera...
Histopathologic features of distal tarsal joint cartilage and subchondral bone in ridden and pasture-exercised horses. To determine whether histopathologic characteristics of the osteochondral units of equine distal tarsal joints were associated with exercise history in horses without lameness. Methods: 30 cadaver tarsi from horses without lameness and with known exercise history were separated into 3 groups: nonridden, pasture exercise (group P); low-intensity, ridden exercise (group L); and high-intensity, elite competition exercise (group E). Methods: Standardized sites from the centrodistal and tarsometatarsal joints under went histologic preparation. A grading system was adapted to describe location, dept...
Evaluation of equine peripheral blood apheresis product, bone marrow, and adipose tissue as sources of mesenchymal stem cells and their differentation potential. To evaluate effects of apheresis on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and compare those MSCs with MSCs obtained from adipose tissue or bone marrow (BM). Methods: Samples obtained from 6 adult horses. Methods: Samples of blood from a peripheral vein, adipose tissue, and BM aspirate were obtained from each horse. Samples were processed via apheresis of blood and techniques reported elsewhere for adipose tissue and BM. Cultures were maintained until adherence and subsequently were subjected to differentiation protocols to evaluate adipogenic, osteoblastogenic, and chondrogenic potential. Results: Aph...
Surveillance of equine respiratory viruses in Ontario. The objective of this project was to develop and implement an active surveillance program for the early and rapid detection of equine influenza viruses in Ontario. For this purpose, from October 2003 to October 2005, nasopharyngeal swabs and acute and convalescent serum samples were collected from 115 client-owned horses in 23 outbreaks of respiratory disease in Ontario. Sera were paired and tested for antibody to equine influenza 1 (AE1-H7N7), equine influenza 2 (AE2-H3N8), equine herpesvirus 1 and 4 (EHV1 and EHV4), and equine rhinitis A and B (ERAV and ERBV). Overall, the cause-specific mor...
Sensory nerve conduction and nociception in the equine lower forelimb during perineural bupivacaine infusion along the palmar nerves. The purpose of this investigation was to study lateral palmar nerve (LPN) and medial palmar nerve (MPN) morphology and determine nociception and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) following placement of continuous peripheral nerve block (CPNB) catheters along LPN and MPN with subsequent bupivacaine (BUP) infusion. Myelinated nerve fiber distribution in LPN and MPN was examined after harvesting nerve specimens in 3 anesthetized horses and processing them for morphometric analysis. In 5 sedated horses, CPNB catheters were placed along each PN in both forelimbs. Horses then received in one ...
Trophoblast stem cell marker gene expression in inner cell mass-derived cells from parthenogenetic equine embryos. Although putative horse embryonic stem (ES)-like cell lines have been obtained recently from in vivo-derived embryos, it is currently not known whether it is possible to obtain ES cell (ESC) lines from somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and parthenogenetic (PA) embryos. Our aim is to establish culture conditions for the derivation of autologous ESC lines for cell therapy studies in an equine model. Our results indicate that both the use of early-stage blastocysts with a clearly visible inner cell mass (ICM) and the use of pronase to dissect the ICM allow the derivation of a higher proportion...
In vivo confocal microscopy of equine fungal keratitis. To describe in vivo corneal confocal microscopy of horses with fungal keratitis and correlate findings with clinical, histopathological, and microbiological evaluations of clinical cases and an ex vivo experimental equine fungal keratitis model. Methods: A total of 12 horses with naturally-acquired fungal keratitis and ex vivo equine corneas experimentally infected with clinical fungal isolates. Methods: Horses with naturally-acquired fungal keratitis were examined with a modified Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II and Rostock Cornea Module. Confocal microscopy images of clinical isolates of Asper...
A case of facial deformity due to bilateral developmental maxillary cheek teeth displacement in an adult horse. A 7-year-old mare presented with facial deformities associated with oral discomfort and weight loss was found to have bilateral, palatal, developmental displacements of the maxillary 08s, with secondary diastema. Following repulsion of both displaced teeth, the horse regained weight and resumed training. Bony deformities remained visible 9 mo after discharge. Une jument de 7 ans présentée avec des déformations faciales associées à de l’inconfort oral et à une perte de poids a montré, après examen, des déplacements développementaux, bilatéraux, du coté palatal des 4 prémolaires ...
Infrared spectroscopy reveals both qualitative and quantitative differences in equine subchondral bone during maturation. The collagen phase in bone is known to undergo major changes during growth and maturation. The objective of this study is to clarify whether Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy, coupled with cluster analysis, can detect quantitative and qualitative changes in the collagen matrix of subchondral bone in horses during maturation and growth. Equine subchondral bone samples (n = 29) from the proximal joint surface of the first phalanx are prepared from two sites subjected to different loading conditions. Three age groups are studied: newborn (0 days old), immature (5 to 11 months ol...
Effects of location for collection of air samples on a farm and time of day of sample collection on airborne concentrations of virulent Rhodococcus equi at two horse breeding farms. To determine whether airborne concentrations of virulent Rhodococcus equi at 2 horse breeding farms varied on the basis of location, time of day, and month. Methods: 2 farms in central Kentucky with recurrent R equi-induced pneumonia in foals. Methods: From February through July 2008, air samples were collected hourly for a 24-hour period each month from stalls and paddocks used to house mares and their foals. Concentrations of airborne virulent R equi were determined via a modified colony immunoblot technique. Differences were compared by use of zero-inflated negative binomial methods to dete...
Transcriptional profiling of equine conceptuses reveals new aspects of embryo-maternal communication in the horse. Establishment and maintenance of pregnancy are critically dependent on embryo-maternal communication during the preimplantation period. The horse is one of the few domestic species in which the conceptus-derived pregnancy recognition signal has not been identified. To gain new insights into the factors released by the equine conceptus, transcriptional profiling analyses of conceptuses retrieved 8, 10, 12, and 14 days after ovulation were performed using a whole-genome microarray. Selected array data were confirmed using quantitative PCR, and the expression of proteins of interest was confirmed...
Primary lacrimal gland adenocarcinoma of the third eyelid in a horse. A 5-year-old Draft Horse gelding presented for evaluation of a large, fleshy, ulcerated third eyelid mass OD of 3 weeks duration. Complete ophthalmic examination, ocular ultrasound and skull radiographs revealed a large soft-tissue mass involving the entire third eyelid OD and extending into the ventral right orbit to the level of the globe equator. No other abnormalities were noted on physical or ophthalmic examination. Surgical removal via exenteration was performed 3 months after initial presentation. A lacrimal adenocarcinoma of the third eyelid was diagnosed based on histopathology. Concu...
A randomized triple blind trial to assess the effect of an anthelmintic programme for working equids in Morocco. Gastro-intestinal parasitism has been identified as a significant cause of disease in working equids in many countries. This randomized triple-blind trial was designed to assess the impact of an anthelmintic treatment programme (using oral ivermectin and fenbendazole) comparing treated and placebo control populations of working donkeys, mules and horses in field conditions in Morocco. In particular, we assessed animal body weight and condition score, together with a questionnaire-based owner evaluation of number of subjective animal health parameters. Faecal worm egg count was also measured. R...
Unilateral orbital lacrimal gland abscess in a horse. A 20-year-old Thoroughbred gelding presented for evaluation of a periorbital dorsal swelling of the left eye that had been intermittently present for 3 months. Upon ocular examination, a firm, non-painful swelling was identified under the upper eyelid in the region of the orbital lacrimal gland, and was noted to extend anteriorly from underneath the dorsal orbital rim. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a mixed echogenic mass along the dorsal orbital rim that followed the contour of the globe. CT scan showed a moderately contrast enhancing mass that was contiguous with the eyelid. Different...
Mediolateral hoof balance in relation to the handedness of apprentice farriers. Horses that had been trimmed and shod by apprentice farriers were sourced from the Royal School of Military Engineering, Melton Mowbray (37 horses) and from the Household Cavalry, Knightsbridge (54 horses). The lateral and medial hoof wall angles of both forelimbs were measured using a Ruidoso hoof gauge by the same operator. The difference between the lateral and medial hoof wall angles for each horse was calculated and the results were compared between right-handed and left-handed farriers using the Mann-Whitney U test (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the mediolateral hoof bal...
Treatment of epiglottic entrapment by transnasal axial division in standing sedated horses using a shielded hook bistoury. To report use of a shielded hook bistoury developed for correction of epiglottic fold entrapment in standing sedated horses. Methods: Prospective clinical study. Methods: Standardbreds (n=8), 3-19 years of age. Methods: Epiglottic fold entrapment was corrected during standing sedation using a shielded hook bistoury passed nasally into the pharynx. Owners, trainers, and referring veterinarians were contacted by telephone to establish outcome. Results: Axial division of the entrapping epiglottic fold was successful in all horses. No short- or long-term complications occurred. Axial transection o...
Core decompression of the equine navicular bone: an in vitro biomechanical study. To determine the effect of core decompression surgery and bone mineral density (BMD) on the mechanical properties of equine navicular bones. Methods: Experimental, in vitro study. Methods: Fore limb navicular bones (n=36 pairs) from sound 2-5-year-old horses with no radiographic abnormalities of the distal aspect of the forelimbs. Methods: Navicular BMD was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. One randomly assigned navicular bone from each pair served as control. The contralateral test specimen was allocated to 1 of 6 treatment groups defined by drill bit size (3.2 versus 2.5 mm di...
A modified laryngoplasty approach promoting ankylosis of the cricoarytenoid joint. To perform a modification to the standard laryngoplasty procedure in vivo that would result in ankylosis of the cricoarytenoid (CA) joint, and determine the stability provided to the abducted arytenoid in vitro. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Horses (n=8). Methods: Horses were assigned to either control laryngoplasty (n=3) or modified laryngoplasty (5) procedure. Endoscopic upper airway evaluations were used to measure right:left quotients 1 day and 3 months postoperatively to assess maintenance of abduction. Horses were euthanatized 3 months after surgery and larynges collected for mea...
Understanding the equine cecum-colon ecosystem: current knowledge and future perspectives. Having evolved as a grazing animal, a horse's digestive physiology is characterized by rapid gastric transit, a rapid but intense enzymatic digestion along the small intestine, and a long and intense microbial fermentation in the large intestine. The process of understanding and describing feed degradation mechanisms in the equine digestive system in general, and in the hindgut ecosystem in particular, is essential. Regardless of its importance for the nutritional status of the host, the significance of the cecum-colon ecosystem has not yet been fully understood, and few reports have focused d...
Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity and ATP concentration in horses of the Wielkopolski breed in relation to age. This study aimed at determining relationships between the age of the Wielkopolski horses, ATP in whole blood and in the erythrocytes, and between erythrocyte Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity, and serum concentrations of mineral components. ATP was measured in whole blood and in erythrocytes by HPLC method. Serum concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+ were measured spectrophotometrically, while Na+ and K+ by flame photometry. In horses aged from 4 to 48 months, a dynamic decrease in ATP activity was found. Erythrocyte Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity decreased proportionally with the decrease in ATP activity. The r...
