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.
Wilson PJ, Oertli EH, Hunt PR, Sidwa TJ.To determine whether postexposure rabies prophylaxis (PEP) in domestic animals, as mandated in Texas, has continued to be effective and to evaluate preexposure or postexposure vaccination failures from 2000 through 2009. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 1,014 unvaccinated domestic animals (769 dogs, 126 cats, 72 horses, 39 cattle, 3 sheep, 4 goats, and 1 llama) that received PEP and 12 vaccinated domestic animals (7 dogs and 5 cats) with possible failure of protection. Methods: Zoonotic incident reports from 2000 through 2009 were reviewed for information regarding unvaccinated dom...
Gardner RB, White GW, Ramsey DS, Boucher JF, Kilgore WR, Huhtinen MK.To determine whether sublingual detomidine gel administration to horses would be effective in providing an appropriate degree of sedation and restraint to facilitate completion of veterinary and husbandry procedures under field conditions. Methods: Multicenter, prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study. Methods: 270 client-owned horses known to require sedation or strong restraint to enable veterinary and husbandry procedures to be performed. Methods: Horses randomly received a single dose of detomidine gel (0.04 mg/kg [0.018 mg/lb]) or placebo gel administered sublin...
Monclin SJ, Farnir F, Grauwels M.There is a clinical impression that tetracaine hydrochloride (THCl) eyedrops is a suitable topical anaesthetic in horses. Objective: To determine the duration of corneal anaesthesia following instillation of multiple doses and 2 concentrations of THCl in 10 healthy horses. Methods: The corneal touch threshold (CTT) was determined, in both eyes, before (basal CTT) and after application of one drop of 0.5% THCl, 2 drops at a 1 min interval of 0.5% THCl or one drop of 1% THCl. CTT was measured in mm every 5 min until complete recovery of the basal CTT. Treatments were separated by an interval of ...
Viñuela-Fernandez I, Jones E, McKendrick IJ, Molony V.To evaluate quantitative sensory testing (QST) of the feet of laminitic horses using a power-assisted hoof tester. Objective: Hoof Compression Thresholds (HCTs) can be measured reliably and are consistently lower in horses with chronic laminitis than in normal horses. Methods: HCTs of chronic laminitic (n=7) and normal horses (n=7) were repeatedly measured using a hydraulically powered and feedback controlled hoof tester. Data from 2 tests, at 3 sites in both forefeet, during 3 sessions were collected and statistically analysed using linear mixed models. Results: The mean±s.e. HCT for the lam...
Desantis S, Zizza S, Accogli G, Acone F, Rossi R, Resta L.Morphometric, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations have displayed regional differences in the mare oviductal epithelium. The entire mucosa of the oviduct was lined with a pseudostratified epithelium, which consisted of two distinct cell types, ciliated and non-ciliated. Ciliated cells were predominant in the three different segments of the oviduct and their percentage increased from fimbriae to ampulla and significantly decreased in the isthmus. SEM revealed in the infundibulum finger-like mucosal folds, some of them interconnected, in th...
Driessen B, Zarucco L, Kalir B, Bertolotti L.Current use of acepromazine in the anaesthetic management of male horses and ponies and associated risks are largely unknown. Objective: To explore anaesthetic acepromazine use and related adverse effects in the male horse. Methods: Of 8533 anaesthetised horses and ponies medical records of male animals treated perianaesthetically with acepromazine were reviewed. Demographic data, time and dose of acepromazine administration, co-administered drugs, quality of induction and recovery from anaesthesia, arterial blood pressures, and occurrence of penile dysfunction were recorded. Practising ACVA a...
Craven JA, Schutz JK.An emergency department audit of horse-related injury presentations alerted researchers to a hitherto uninvestigated source of childhood harm: non-equine horses. A search for the term "horse" in the database of the South Australian Injury Surveillance and Control Unit was performed for presentations of horse-related injuries to a paediatric emergency department of an Australian tertiary teaching hospital over a 5-year period. After all equine-related episodes were extracted, the remaining presentations were herded together and conclusions were jumped to. When legitimate science and research te...
Faleiros RR, Nuovo GJ, Flechtner AD, Belknap JK.There is increasing evidence of involvement of inflammatory cells in acute laminitis. Objective: To immunolocalise monocytes/macrophages and B and T lymphocytes in the laminar tissue of normal horses and those with black walnut extract (BWE)-induced laminitis. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used in archived laminar tissue samples from 20 horses divided equally into 4 groups: control animals (CON), and those administered BWE at 1.5 h (1.5H DTP group), at the onset of leucopenia (3H DTP group) and at the onset of lameness (LAM group). Antibodies against CD3, CD20 and CD163 were used to recogn...
Wilsher S, Allen WR.The maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) signal in the mare has not been determined, although oestrogens have been proposed as a potential candidate. Objective: To determine effects of intrauterine administration of oestrogen and various oils on cyclic luteolysis in the mare. Objective: Intrauterine oestradiol or fatty acids may suppress luteolysis in the cycling mare when administered during late dioestrus. Methods: A single 1 ml dose of slow-release oestradiol (10 mg/ml) in fractionated coconut oil was infused into the uterine lumen of cycling mares on Days 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14 post ovulati...
Dicken M, Munday JS, Archer RM, Mayhew IG, Pandey SK.Equine cutaneous fungal granulomas have been previously referred to in New Zealand (Fairley 1998), and are described in the veterinary literature from around the world, including North America and Australia (Pascoe and Summers 1981; Genovese et al. 2001; Valentine et al. 2006), but no peer-reviewed reports appear published in the literature in New Zealand. Described here is a case of multiple cutaneous fungal granulomas caused by Alternaria spp. in a horse in New Zealand.
Müller J, Feige K, Wunderlin P, Hödl A, Meli ML, Seltenhammer M, Grest P, Nicolson L, Schelling C, Heinzerling LM.Melanoma is a disease with high incidence in gray horses and has limited therapeutic options in metastatic disease. Gene therapy has shown some success in animal models and human patients. A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to investigate 2 treatment options using cytokine-encoding plasmid DNA in horses with metastatic melanoma to induce immunologic antitumor effects. Adult gray horses with spontaneously occurring metastatic melanoma (n=26) were included in the study. Treatment of 26 gray horses with metastatic melanoma consisted of interleukin-18-encoding plasmi...
Witte SH, Witte TH, Harriss F, Kelly G, Pollock P.To determine the association between owner-reported noise and findings during dynamic respiratory endoscopy (DRE) in a large case series. Objective: The sensitivity of owner-reported noise for dynamic upper respiratory tract obstructions in horses is low, and the specificity is high. Methods: One hundred horses underwent DRE for the investigation of abnormal respiratory noise and/or poor performance. The association of abnormal noise with findings during DRE was evaluated. Results: Eighty-five horses underwent DRE for the investigation of abnormal respiratory noise. Of these, 82% were found to...
Davidson EJ, Martin BB, Boston RC, Parente EJ.Although well documented in racehorses, there is paucity in the literature regarding the prevalence of dynamic upper airway abnormalities in nonracing performance horses. Objective: To describe upper airway function of nonracing performance horses with abnormal respiratory noise and/or poor performance via exercising upper airway videoendoscopy. Methods: Medical records of nonracing performance horses admitted for exercising evaluation with a chief complaint of abnormal respiratory noise and/or poor performance were reviewed. All horses had video recordings of resting and exercising upper airw...
Marlin D, Kettlewell P, Parkin T, Kennedy M, Broom D, Wood J.Anecdotal evidence collected by a variety of organisations has highlighted poor welfare in horses transported long distances to slaughter within the European Union. Objective: To investigate welfare of horses being transported long distances within the EU to slaughter. Methods: Data on transported horses were recorded at 2 assembly centres in Romania and at 4 abattoirs in Italy over an 8 month period in 2008. Results: A total of 1519 horses in 64 separate shipments were observed in Romania prior to transport of which 212 horses were deemed unfit for transport and only 3 shipments (5%) complied...
Wnuk M, Oklejewicz B, Lewinska A, Zabek T, Bartosz G, Slota E, Bugno-Poniewierska M.The fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique is widely used in animal cytogenetics. Contrary to FISH procedure, primed in situ DNA synthesis (PRINS) does not require the DNA probe preparation (design, synthesis, gel purification of PCR products and labeling). The PRINS method with primers used as 'DNA probes' is both PCR-sensitive and allows for chromosomal localization of DNA sequences. Here, we show the application of PRINS reaction with one unlabeled oligonucleotide pair to identify 18S rDNA loci in three different animal species: domestic pig (Sus scrofa), red fox (Vulpes vulpes...
Waran N, Williams VM, Clarke N, Bridge IS.To explore attitudes towards and use of analgesia in horses by veterinarians in New Zealand. Methods: A postal questionnaire was sent out to 457 veterinarians identified as working with horses in New Zealand. Questions covered demographics and practice data; analgesic drugs available for use and used in practice; analgesic management of specific conditions including assessment of pain, drugs used, and frequency of cases; factors influencing the choice and use of analgesic agents; and attitudes and personal experience. Results: Ninety-seven questionnaires containing useable data were received, ...
Barakzai SZ, Dixon PM.To correlate resting and exercising endoscopic grades of laryngeal function in horses undergoing high-speed treadmill endoscopy (HSTE) using the Havemeyer grading system. To correlate dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) seen at rest with palatal function during exercise. Methods: Records of horses that underwent HSTE examination (1999-2009) were reviewed. Resting laryngeal function score and other abnormalities noted on resting endoscopy were recorded as were results of HSTE. Results of resting and exercising endoscopic findings were correlated. Results: 281 horses underwent HSTE. Th...
Monclin SJ, Farnir F, Grauwels M.Tetracaine hydrochloride (THCl) has been reported to cause irritation in dogs. In man, some topical anaesthetics have been shown to disrupt the tear film. Tear break-up time (TBUT) is a useful test allowing an assessment of the quality of the precorneal tear film. Only one TBUT value has been reported in horses with no information on the technique used. Objective: To provide a method for performing the TBUT in horses and to report any side effects of a single application of THCl in clinically normal horses, particularly on the stability of the tear film. Methods: In Study 1, one drop of 0.5 or...
Leise BS, Faleiros RR, Watts M, Johnson PJ, Black SJ, Belknap JK.There is a need to assess the laminar inflammatory response in a laminitis model that more closely resembles clinical cases of sepsis-related laminitis than the black walnut extract (BWE) model. Objective: To determine if a similar pattern of laminar inflammation, characterised by proinflammatory cytokine expression, occurs in the CHO model of laminitis as has been previously reported for the BWE model. Methods: Sixteen horses administered 17.6 g of starch (85% corn starch/15% wood flour)/kg bwt via nasogastric (NG) tube were anaesthetised either after developing a temperature>38.9°C (DEV ...
Hart SK, Sullins KE.Results of surgical treatment of sinonasal disease in horses have been reported previously; however, this paper describes the outcome of horses in which a specific post operative treatment protocol was used. Objective: The objectives of the study were to determine: 1) short- and long-term outcome; 2) complications; and 3) recurrence rates of different disease processes, when horses were treated with a specific treatment protocol. Methods: Medical records of horses presented for surgical treatment of sinonasal disease from 1996-2007 were reviewed. Results and duration of surgical exploration we...
Furr M, Howe D, Reed S, Yeargan M.Diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) remains a challenge for equine practitioners. Current utilized methods have inadequate sensitivity and specificity, because of a high number of false positive results. Objective: Evaluation of antibody indices to Sarcocystis neurona should provide high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of EPM. Methods: Archived samples from 29 clinical patients. Methods: Archived serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from clinical patients with either EPM (14) or cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy (CVM) (15) were examined and tested for...
Werpy NM, Ho CP, Pease AP, Kawcak CE.Six cadaver forelimbs were imaged in two high-field magnetic resonance (MR) systems and one low-field MR system following the creation of osteochondral defects on the palmar distal aspect of the third metacarpal bone. The following sequences were performed using all three systems: proton density (PD) turbo spin echo, T2* gradient echo (GRE), T2-weighted fast spin echo, and short tau inversion recovery. In addition, 3D T1 GRE sagittal standard and motion insensitive sequences were obtained using the low-field system. PD fat saturated and 3D T1-weighted spoiled GRE images with and without fat su...
Gerhauser I, Geburek F, Wohlsein P.Perosomus elumbis represents a rare congenital anomaly characterized by aplasia of the lumbosacral spinal cord and vertebrae. This anomaly is often associated with arthrogryposis and malformations of the urogenital and intestinal tract. This report describes the first case of perosomus elumbis in an aborted Thoroughbred foal associated with cerebral aplasia with meningocele, cranioschisis, spina bifida, a fused urogenital and intestinal tracts lined by a cutaneous mucosa without uterine glands, atresia ani, and arthrogryposis of the hind legs. Immunohistochemistry detected no abnormalities in ...
Singh RK, Kooreman KM, Babbs CF, Fessler JF, Salaris SC, Pham J.The scavenging of superoxide radicals by endogenous and therapeutically administered superoxide dismutases may prevent superoxide-mediated oxidative stress leading to lipid peroxidation, membrane lysis, and cell death in a wide variety of normal and pathologic states. Simple inorganic manganous salts such as MnCl2 also have superoxide dismutase-like activity and are extremely inexpensive, compared with enzymatic superoxide dismutase preparations. In this study, we explored the use of Mn salts as antioxidant drugs. We used the percentage of inhibition of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction by super...
Nieto JE, Rakestraw PC, Snyder JR, Vatistas NJ.To evaluate effects of erythromycin, lidocaine, and metoclopramide on smooth muscle of the pyloric antrum (PA), proximal portion of the duodenum (PD), and middle portion of the jejunum (MJ) of horses. Sample Population-Strips of smooth muscle from 7 horses. Methods: Isolated muscle strips were suspended in a bath and attached to isometric force transducers. Once stable spontaneous contractions were observed, agents were added. Isometric stress responses were compared with the amplitude of spontaneous contractions. Results: A single dose of erythromycin to the PA increased contractile amplitude...
Svala E, Thorfve AI, Ley C, Henriksson HK, Synnergren JM, Lindahl AH, Ekman S, Skiöldebrand ES.To determine the effects of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β stimulation on expression of growth differentiation factor (GDF)-5 and Wnt signaling pathway genes in equine chondrocytes. Methods: Macroscopically normal articular cartilage samples from 6 horses and osteochondral fragments (OCFs) from 3 horses. Methods: Chondrocyte pellets were prepared and cultured without stimulation or following stimulation with IL-6 or IL-1β for 1, 2, 12, and 48 hours; expression of GDF-5 was determined with a quantitative real-time PCR assay. Expression of genes in various signaling pathways was determined with ...
The Journal of physiologySeptember 1, 1975
Volume 250, Issue 3 633-649 doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1975.sp011074
Johnson KG.1. A technique for perfusion of skin has been used to investigate a possible neurochemical basis for the different patterns of sweating in domestic animals. Evaporative water loss was measured from excised trunk skin, ears or tails perfused with a nutrient Krebs solution, to which drugs were added as required. Perfused skin was observed to sweat in response to administration of sudorific drugs, and some features of the patterns of sweating were similar to those which could be induced by heating or by drugs in conscious animals. 2. In sheep and goat skin, injections of adrenaline, and to a less...
Sinovich M, Villarino NF, Singer E, Robinson CS, Rubio-Martínez LM.Serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations in blood and synovial fluid of horses with synovial sepsis have diagnostic value. Studies suggest serial blood SAA measurements could act as a prognostic indicator. This study evaluated the use of serial blood SAA concentrations for monitoring of horses with synovial sepsis. A prospective clinical trial was performed of horses referred to a single hospital with synovial sepsis that survived (n=17), synovial sepsis that were euthanised (n=5), non-septic intrasynovial pathologies (n=14) or extensive extrasynovial lacerations (n=5). SAA concentrations were det...
van Woensel PA, Goovaerts D, Markx D, Visser N.A mouse model was developed for testing the pathogenicity of equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1) strains. The model was validated with EHV-1 strains that are known to be of a low or high pathogenicity in horses. From all parameters tested, the safety index, which was calculated from the body weights of the mice after infection, proved to be the best predictive parameter. When this parameter was used, good and reliable correlations were found with the pathogenicity of the EHV-1 strains in horses. This method enabled the differentiation between the two experimental EHV-1 strains whose genetic backgrou...
Steffey EP, Johnson BH, Eger EI, Howland D.Breathing 79% nitrous oxide (N2O) in oxygen increased the rate of accumulation of bowel gas during intraluminal bowel segment infusions of hydrogen, methane (CH4), air, or carbon dioxide (CO2) in four pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs more than did breathing 100% oxygen. A N2O-associated increase in the volume of naturally produced intestinal gas in five halothane-anesthetized ponies corroborated the findings in the dog studies. In a second group of four dogs a bolus of CH4 or CO2 was injected into the bowel lumen. When the dogs breathed O2 the bowel gas volume decreased. Gas was virtually absen...
Bossut DF, Leshin LS, Stromberg MW, Malven PV.Electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment of horses to induce cutaneous analgesia also increased plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and cortisol. The magnitude of these increases did not relate consistently to the degree of EA-induced analgesia. Respiration and heart rates were also markedly increased during EA treatment. Intact female horses had higher packed cell volume and plasma beta-EP as well as lower plasma total protein than castrated male horses. Plasma cortisol, heart rate, and respiration rate did not differ significantly between sexes. None of the parameters measured before...
Galvão AM, Szóstek AZ, Skarzynski DJ, Ferreira-Dias GM.Normal reproductive function involves the expression of inflammatory mediators. Regarding the corpus luteum (CL), cytokines promote the cross-talk between immune, vascular and steroidogenic cells, among others. Moreover, TNF, IFNG and FASL were shown to regulate equine CL establishment and regression. We hypothesized that cytokines action on equine CL may be mediated by nitric oxide (NO), through the regulation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression. TNF increased eNOS mRNA level and NO metabolite (nitrite) production during CL growth. Cytokines combined action (TNF+IFNG+FASL) promoted e...
Geor RJ.Acute renal failure (ARF) in horses is usually prerenal or renal in origin and is most often caused by hemodynamic or nephrotoxic insults. The clinical management of patients that have ARF is largely supportive, including correction of fluid deficits and electrolyte and acid-base disturbances and treatment and reversal of the underlying cause. Use of dopamine and mannitol to promote renal blood flow and urine output is no longer recommended.
Papich MG, Van Camp SD, Cole JA, Whitacre MD.Enrofloxacin was administered i.v. to five adult mares at a dose of 5 mg/kg. After administration, blood and endometrial biopsy samples were collected at regular intervals for 24 h. The plasma and tissue samples were analyzed for enrofloxacin and the metabolite ciprofloxacin by high-pressure liquid chromatography. In plasma, enrofloxacin had a terminal half-life (t(1/2)), volume of distribution (area method), and systemic clearance of 6.7 +/- 2.9 h, 1.9 +/- 0.4 L/kg, and 3.7 +/- 1.4 mL/kg/min, respectively. Ciprofloxacin had a maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of 0.28 +/- 0.09 microg/mL. In ...
Orsini JA, Moate PJ, Kuersten K, Soma LR, Boston RC.The safety and pharmacokinetics of fentanyl, delivered transdermally at a dosage of 60-67 microg/kg, were investigated in six healthy adult horses. Three transdermal fentanyl patches (Duragesic), each containing 10 mg of fentanyl citrate, were applied to the mid-dorsal thorax of each horse and left in place for 72 h. Plasma fentanyl concentrations were periodically measured throughout this period and for 12 h after patch removal. After an initial delay of approximately 2 h, the plasma fentanyl concentration rose rapidly in a fairly linear fashion, reaching a peak at around 12 h; thereafter, it...
Meira CT, Curi RA, Farah MM, de Oliveira HN, Béltran NA, Silva JA, Mota MD.Selection of Quarter Horses for different purposes has led to the formation of lines, including racing and cutting horses. The objective of this study was to identify genomic regions divergently selected in racing line of Quarter Horses in relation to cutting line applying relative extended haplotype homozygosity (REHH) analysis, an extension of extended haplotype homozygosity (EHH) analysis, and the fixation index (F ST) statistic. A total of 188 horses of both sexes, born between 1985 and 2009 and registered at the Brazilian Association of Quarter Horse Breeders, including 120 of the racing ...
Harvey SP, Minter JM.In this study, the subspecies differentiation of 25 isolates of Burkholderia mallei was attempted based on their ribotype polymorphisms. The isolates were from human and equine infections that occurred at various times around the world. DNA samples from each isolate were digested separately with PstI and EcoRI enzymes and probed with an Escherichia coli-derived 18-mer rDNA sequence to identify diagnostic fragments. Seventeen distinct ribotypes were identified from the combined data obtained with the two restriction enzymes. The results demonstrate the general utility of ribotyping for the subs...
Bullock PM, Ames TR, Robinson RA, Greig B, Mellencamp MA, Dumler JS.Equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis (EGE) is caused by infection with Ehrlichia equi. EGE has been reported primarily in northern California, where E equi is transmitted by the tick Ixodes pacificus. Reports of EGE and the emergence of human granulocytic ehrlichia in Minnesota prompted a seroprevalence study of E equi in horses of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Tick (Ixodes scapularis) endemic areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin were compared to nonendemic regions of Minnesota. Indirect fluorescent antibody was used to detect the presence of serum antibodies to E equi. Serum samples from healthy horses, 3...
Burns TE, Clayton HM.The objectives were to compare the temporal characteristics of canter pirouette strides with collected canter strides in elite dressage horses, and to determine whether the stride kinematics of the canter pirouettes fulfilled the requirements specified in the Federation Equestre Internationale Rules for Dressage Events. Eleven horses were videotaped (60 fields/s) during the individual medal competition at the 1992 Olympic Games. Temporal variables were extracted from the videotapes using standard methods. Two strides were analysed on each of the left and right leads and these were pooled to gi...
Niroomandi E, Maleki S, Abdollahpour G, Zakian A, Ahmadvand H.Leptospirosis is one of the important zoonotic bacterial diseases with a worldwide distribution that is often subclinical. We aimed to investigate the oxidant/antioxidant balance and acute-phase response in naturally infected horses and cattle with Leptospira interrogans. A total of 600 serum samples from horses and cattle were examined for L. interrogans antibodies using the microscopic agglutination test to determine anti-Leptospira IgG antibodies against a panel of eight important Leptospira antigens in Iran. Then, serum total antioxidant capacity, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and malo...
Lebis C, Bourdeau P, Marzin-Keller F.Allergic diseases are often diagnosed clinically in the horse without performing diagnostic tests. The purpose of this work was to contribute to the validation of intradermal skin tests in the horse. Eighty-three horses, 14 showing skin or respiratory signs of supposed allergic origin, were subjected to an intradermal skin test using 6 different allergens, positive and negative controls. The tests were read for all animals after 20 min, and for 29 horses after 1 and 4 h. Additionally, 19 horses were tested a few months apart. The comparison after 20 min of the cutaneous reactions to allergens ...
Ferroglio E, Pregel P, Accossato A, Taricco I, Bollo E, Rossi L, Trisciuoglio A.Intradermal tests were carried out on 18 horses with clinical signs of Culicoides hypersensitivity (CHS) and 23 horses without clinical signs of CHS, and sera from these horses were analysed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting (W-B). Intradermal injections of 0.1 ml of 25 microg/microl sterile Culicoides extract, 0.1 ml of 1:10,000 histamine (positive control) and 0.1 ml of physiological saline (negative control) were made in the dermis of the middle region of the neck. Analysis of reactions indicated that a 1 cm wheal and a skinfold thickness >10% at 24 h represented a valid cut-off between h...
Rousseau K, Cardwell JM, Humphrey E, Newton R, Knight D, Clegg P, Thornton DJ.Mucus accumulation is a feature of inflammatory airway disease in the horse and has been associated with reduced performance in racehorses. In this study, we have analysed the two major airways gel-forming mucins Muc5b and Muc5ac in respect of their site of synthesis, their biochemical properties, and their amounts in mucus from healthy horses and from horses with signs of airway mucus accumulation. Polyclonal antisera directed against equine Muc5b and Muc5ac were raised and characterised. Immunohistochemical staining of normal equine trachea showed that Muc5ac and Muc5b are produced by cells ...
Siwinska N, Zak A, Slowikowska M, Szczepankiewicz B, Niedzwiedz A, Paslawska U.The aim of this study was to establish the value of the renal resistive index (RI) of intrarenal arteries in healthy warmblood non-racing horses of different ages to assess the influence of physiologic factors and repeatability of measurement. The kidney ultrasonography examination was performed in three age groups: 15 foals, 15 adults and 15 elderly horses. The procedure was performed in unsedated standing animals. RI values were measured using pulsed-wave Doppler at the medial part of each kidney in the intrarenal arteries. To evaluate repeatability, all measurements were repeated two hours ...
Oliveira CH, Vasconcelos AB, Souza FA, Martins-Filho OA, Silva MX, Varago FC, Lagares MA.Addition of cholesterol to sperm membranes improved equine sperm stability during semen cryopreservation; however, it also reduced in vivo fertility. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of adding cholesterol to stallion sperm prior to freezing, and subsequently removing it from frozen-thawed sperm. Semen from 12 stallions was subjected to four treatments: (T1) control, semen was diluted with Kenney extender, centrifuged, and resuspended to 100 x 10(6)spermatozoa/mL in INRA 82 freezing extender, packaged into 0.5-mL straws, cooled to 5 degrees C, and cryopreserved in...
Steinman A, Gips M, Lavy E, Sinay I, Soback S.Metronidazole pharmacokinetics in horses was studied after intravenous (i.v.), rectal (p.r.) and oral (p.o.) administration at 20 mg/kg using a triple crossover study design. Metronidazole mean+/-SD half-life was 196+/-39, 212+/-30 and 240+/-65 min after i.v., p.r. and p.o. administration, respectively. The metronidazole clearance was 2.8 (mL/min/kg) and the volume of distribution at steady state was 0.68 L/kg. The pharmacokinetic parameters calculated for metronidazole after administration of the drug by the various routes showed that bioavailability (74+/-18 vs. 30+/-9%) and maximum serum co...
Wattrang E, Berg M, Magnusson M.This study aimed to evaluate different nucleic acid preparations as cytokine inducers in equine cells. To induce cytokine production, bacterial plasmid DNA or short synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODN), with or without the transfection reagent lipofectin, were added to cultures of purified equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Cytokine activity was detected with bioassays in cell culture supernatants after 24h of induction and cytokine mRNA expression was detected using RT-PCR at 6h post induction. For IFN-alpha/beta it was found that both plasmid DNA and phosphodiester ODN, c...
Lopes MA, Pfeiffer CJ.The hindgut is the major site in the horse for nutrient digestion and absorption. Most of this activity occurs in the large intestinal compartments, i.e., cecum, right and left ventral colon and left and right dorsal colon. The colonic pelvic flexure is a short and narrow loop connecting the left ventral and left dorsal colon. It is not significant directly in digestive and absorptive processes but plays an important functional role in regulating colonic aboral and retropropulsive transit of digesta through its motility pacemaker activity. The pelvic flexure also contributes to the pathophysio...
