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.
Bell RJ, Textor JA.To establish the prevalence of intussusceptions involving the caecum in a population of horses admitted to a university hospital for colic. Methods: Retrospective clinical study Methods: Medical records of all horses admitted to the Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital between 1991 and 2004 were examined for information of those horses diagnosed with an intussusception involving the caecum. Results: A total of 135 horses were admitted for colic surgery during the study period and 61 horses had a diagnosis of ileocaecal (37), caecocaecal (5) or caecocolic intussusception (19) made eit...
Beeler-Marfisi J, Gallastegui Menoyo A, Beck A, König J, Hewson J, Bienzle D.Gelatinous marrow transformation, or serous atrophy of bone marrow fat, has been noted in livestock, laboratory animals, and wildlife in association with an inadequate plane of nutrition, inanition, or intoxication. This is a report of gelatinous marrow transformation and hematopoietic marrow atrophy in a 5-year-old miniature horse stallion. The horse had oral malformations leading to poor food assimilation and emaciation. A bone marrow biopsy obtained to investigate persistent anemia and leukopenia showed hematopoietic atrophy and replacement of fat with a granular extracellular substance, wh...
Woolford L, Staniek G, Blunden AS.Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare biphasic tumor of children formed by mixed epithelial-and-mesenchymal elements. In this article, the authors report a pulmonary mass in an equine fetus with characteristics of PPB. A soft multicystic broad-based pleural mass was identified in the right caudal lung lobe. The mass comprised solid areas of loose mesenchyme, fenestrated by small ducts or large cystic areas lined by cuboidal epithelium. Mesenchymal elements had moderate anisocytosis, anisokaryosis, and cellular pleomorphism and were immunoreactive for vimentin. Epithelial cells lining ducts ...
Knych HK, McKemie DS, Stanley SD.The use of performance-enhancing drugs in the horse racing industry combined with the need for more rational approaches in the use of therapeutic agents in equids necessitates additional studies on the spectrum, content, and catalytic activities of hepatic cytochrome P450 monooxygenases in this species. In this study, three cytochrome P450 (P450) monooxygenases in the 3A family were cloned from, sequenced, and expressed in a baculovirus expression system. The proteins were designated CYP3A89, CYP3A96, and CYP3A97. Expression studies produced various results among the three proteins. CYP3A89 ap...
Jalim SL, McIlwraith CW, Goodman NL, Anderson GA.The effectiveness and best method to manage dorsal cortical stress fractures is not clear. This study was performed to evaluate the success of lag screw fixation of such fractures in a population of Thoroughbred racehorses. Objective: Lag screw fixation of dorsal cortical stress fractures is an effective surgical procedure allowing racehorses to return to their preoperative level of performance. Methods: The records of 116 racehorses (103 Thoroughbreds) admitted to Equine Medical Centre, California between 1986 and 2008 were assessed. Information obtained from medical records included subject ...
Matsuo E, Celma CC, Roy P.African horse sickness virus (AHSV), a member of the orbivirus genus of the family Reoviridae, is an insect-vectored pathogen of horses of concern to the equine industry. Studies on AHSV replication and pathogenesis have been hampered by the lack of reverse genetics allowing targeted mutation of viral genomes. We demonstrate that AHSV single-stranded RNA synthesized in vitro (core transcripts) is infectious and that there are distinct primary and secondary stages of the replication cycle. Transfection with a mixture of core transcripts from two different serotypes or a mixture of core transcri...
Albrizio M, Lacalandra GM, Micera E, Guaricci AC, Nicassio M, Zarrilli A.Opioid receptors and endogenous opioid peptides act not only in the control of nociceptive pathways, indeed several reports demonstrate the effects of opiates on sperm cell motility and morphology suggesting the importance of these receptors in the modulation of reproduction in mammals. In this study we investigated the expression of delta opioid receptors on equine spermatozoa by western blot/indirect immunofluorescence and its relationship with sperm cell physiology. Methods: We analyzed viability, motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction and mitochondrial activity in the presence of naltri...
Abraham G, Shibeshi W, Ungemach FR.Responses and functions of airway epithelial cells are stimulated by β₂-agonists via the β₂-adrenergic receptors (β₂-ARs)-G(s)-protein-cAMP-system, thus, affecting airway inflammation such as in asthma and equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Though horses can be used as large animal model for human asthma, evaluation of the expression and functions of the β-AR system in primary equine airway epithelial cells has not been yet carried out. Thus, for the first time, we determined the β-AR density and subtype distribution by [¹²⁵I]-iodocyanopindolol (ICYP) binding, examined ...
Staniar WB, Bussard JR, Repard NM, Hall MH, Burk AO.The objective of this study was to evaluate nutrient composition, voluntary DMI, and apparent DM digestibility of teff hay cut at 3 different stages of maturity to evaluate its potential as a preserved forage for horses. Six mature Quarter Horse mares (12 +/- 3 yr; 553 +/- 39 kg of BW) were used in a replicated balanced Latin square design with 3 periods and 3 maturities of teff hay. Eragrostis tef ('Tiffany' teff) was planted in May and harvested at the boot, early-heading, or late-heading stage of maturity through the summer. Horses were acclimated to a mixture of maturities of teff hay for ...
Upjohn MM, Shipton K, Lerotholi T, Attwood G, Verheyen KL.This study aimed to (1) estimate infection prevalence of strongyle, Oxyuris equi and Parascaris equorum species and the intensity of infection with strongyles in working horses in lowland Lesotho and (2) investigate associations between infection and horse age, sex and owner-reported use of anthelmintics. In a cross-sectional survey, fresh faecal samples were obtained from 305 randomly selected horses and worm egg counts performed using a validated field laboratory kit. Details of anthelmintic use were collected using a standardised face-to-face owner questionnaire. Infection prevalence estima...
Physick-Sheard PW, McGurrin MK.A lack of information on normal heart rhythm at maximal effort hampers investigation of poor performance and sudden death in Standardbred racing. Objective: To characterize rhythm variations during scheduled racing in clinically normal Standardbred horses. Methods: Two hundred and eighty-eight Standardbred horses competing in 40 scheduled races at a Southern Ontario racetrack. Methods: Observational study, convenience sampling: Heart rhythm was monitored by ECG from harnessing to postrace recovery and assessed visually and by examining heart rate intervals. Rhythm variations were used as respo...
Phoutrides E, Jusino-Mendez T, Perez-Medina T, Seda-Lozada R, Garcia-Negron M, Davila-Toro F, Hunsperger E.After the isolation of West Nile virus (WNV) from humans, mosquitoes, and chickens in 2007, an analysis of animal surveillance involving multiple species (horses, monkeys, sheep, dogs, and birds) used to track WNV transmission from 2006 to 2008 was performed. During this period 13.4% of all the animal samples collected were seropositive by blocking ELISA for WNV. The most complete island-wide sampling was obtained from horses of which 22% were serologically positive and 96% were confirmed as WNV infections by plaque-reduction neutralization test. Our conclusion from this 3-year study is that a...
Goehring LS, Landolt GA, Morley PS.Because of the serious disease sequelae associated with equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infections, awareness and control measures used to control outbreaks are important issues for all horse populations. Objective: Describe the occurrence and management of an outbreak of EHV-1 infection at a veterinary hospital. Methods: Horses hospitalized at a referral veterinary hospital. Methods: A horse with myeloencephalopathy associated with EHV-1 infection (EHM) was admitted for diagnostic evaluation and treatment under strict infection control procedures. We describe the occurrence and management o...
Pusterla N, Hussey SB, Mapes S, Johnson C, Collier JR, Hill J, Lunn DP, Wilson WD.Recrudescence of latent equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) with subsequent viral shedding via nasal secretions is a potential source of infection for susceptible horses and has been implicated in outbreaks occurring in closed populations. Objective: To describe the viral kinetics of reactivated EHV-1 in blood and nasal secretions from latently infected horses after administration of corticosteroids, and to study the infectious nature of reactivated EHV-1 to sentinel horses. Methods: Eight healthy horses. Methods: Four horses infected 4 months previously with EHV-1 received dexamethasone on 5 consecu...
Schmidt A, Aurich J, Möstl E, Müller J, Aurich C.Based on cortisol release, a variety of situations to which domestic horses are exposed have been classified as stressors but studies on the stress during equestrian training are limited. In the present study, Warmblood stallions (n=9) and mares (n=7) were followed through a 9 respective 12-week initial training program in order to determine potentially stressful training steps. Salivary cortisol concentrations, beat-to-beat (RR) interval and heart rate variability (HRV) were determined. The HRV variables standard deviation of the RR interval (SDRR), RMSSD (root mean square of successive RR di...
Kędzierski W, Kusy R, Kowalik S.The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma leptin and lipid levels in breeding mares and their newborn foals. The study was conducted on 17 Polish cold-blood mares and their newborn foals. The mares were divided into two groups, according to the course of delivery. These groups were seven mares which had a normal delivery and 10 mares which had required veterinary intervention during their delivery. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of both the mares and their foals. The blood samples were taken within 30 min after delivery, as well as on four successive...
McGivney BA, McGettigan PA, Browne JA, Evans AC, Fonseca RG, Loftus BJ, Lohan A, MacHugh DE, Murphy BA, Katz LM, Hill EW.Digital gene expression profiling was used to characterize the assembly of genes expressed in equine skeletal muscle and to identify the subset of genes that were differentially expressed following a ten-month period of exercise training. The study cohort comprised seven Thoroughbred racehorses from a single training yard. Skeletal muscle biopsies were collected at rest from the gluteus medius at two time points: T(1) - untrained, (9 +/- 0.5 months old) and T(2) - trained (20 +/- 0.7 months old). Results: The most abundant mRNA transcripts in the muscle transcriptome were those involved in mus...
Lopes Ede P, Siqueira JB, Pinho RO, Guimarães JD, Rocha AN, de Carvalho GR, Torres CA.The objective of this study is to evaluate the reproductive efficiency in donors and recipient Mangalarga Marchador mares in commercial programmes of embryo transfer (ET) and the effects of some reproductive characteristics and ET methodology on conception rates in the recipient mares. A total of 1140 flushing procedures were performed and 830 embryos (72.8%) were recovered. There were no differences between the rates of embryonic recovery in the different breeding seasons (p > 0.05) and 92.8% of the recovered embryos were 8-9 days old. There was no difference in the embryonic recovery regardi...
Hitchens PL, Blizzard CL, Jones G, Day L, Fell J.Riding thoroughbred racehorses is a hazardous occupation. In this study, we investigated risk factors associated with falls by licensed thoroughbred racing jockeys participating in flat races conducted in Australia. Methods: Data on race-day falls were extracted from stewards' reports. Denominator data were provided by Racing Information Services Australia on races conducted in Australia from August 2002 until July 2006. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated using Poisson regression. Analyses were stratified by race grade (maiden, class, open/restricted). Results: In multivariable analys...
Furness MC, Bienzle D, Caswell JL, Delay J, Viel L.Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in the horse is a disease characterized by reversible bronchoconstriction and by mucus and neutrophil accumulation in the airways. It has been hypothesized that in horses with RAO, remodeling changes occur that are similar to those described in humans with asthma. Although collagen fibrils are present surrounding normal airways, they are a prominent feature of airway remodeling in human asthma with evidence of enhanced collagen III and I fibril deposition. An immunolabeling method was developed to identify collagen I and III in equine lung and to describe the...
Schramme M, Hunter S, Campbell N, Blikslager A, Smith R.Tendon injuries are common in all athletic activities in both humans and horses. Research of treatment modalities for this disease has typically been performed on a model of collagenase-induced tendonitis. This model has several disadvantages. Our hypothesis was that a reproducible core lesion could be created surgically in superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFT), which could then be evaluated consistently using ultrasonography. Methods: Four horses free of forelimb lameness were used in this study. Each horse underwent general anaesthesia and a synovial resector was used to create a core le...
Opałka M, Kamińska B, Jaworski Z.Blood and feces samples were collected from Polish Konik stallions kept under conventional stable conditions and in the forest reserve during a 1-year study period. Levels of testosterone (T) and androstenedione (A(4)) were measured using radioimmunoassay. Positive correlation between fecal and plasma concentrations of androgens was observed. Fecal T concentrations increased in April and May reaching peak value mid-April in the stallions from the reserve group and 2 weeks later in the stallions from the stable group. Comparatively, concentrations of T were higher in the stable group. Levels of...
González C, Moreno L, Fumuso E, García J, Rivulgo M, Confalonieri A, Sparo M, Sánchez Bruni S.Enrofloxacin (EFX) is often used empirically to prevent uterine infections in mares in order to improve efficiency on Commercial Embryo Transfer Farms. This study investigated the uterine distribution of EFX and its metabolite ciprofloxacin (CFX) in mares and assessed the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of EFX against various common pathogens as a basis for establishing a rational dosing schedule. Plasma and uterine pharmacokinetic (PK) studies were performed in two groups (n = 5) of healthy mares following intravenous (i.v.) administration of EFX at either 2.5 and at 5 mg/kg bodyweigh...
Briston L, Dudhia J, Lees P.Time- and concentration-related actions of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the synthesis of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) were investigated in cartilage explants and synoviocytes harvested from 3 age groups of horses, all with clinically normal joint function: group A 20 years. Cartilage explants from group A horses were least and those from group C were most sensitive to LPS. Significant increases in PGE(2) concentration (P <or= 0.01) were obtained in group C horses in response to LPS concentrations of 1.0 microg/mL (and higher) after exposure for 24, 36 and 48 h, whereas explants from group A h...
Kouam MK, Kantzoura V, Masuoka PM, Gajadhar AA, Theodoropoulos G.Equine piroplasms in Greece were studied using the reverse line blot hybridization (RLB) assay. Three genotypes consisting of two Theileria (T. equi and T. equi-like) and one Babesia (B. caballi-like) were identified. Of 787 samples tested, 371 (47.14%) hybridised to catchall probe (probe specifically designed to capture any piroplasm species present in a sample), 346 (43.96%) to T. equi probe, 364 (46.25%) to T. equi-like probe, 0 (0%) to B. caballi probe and 3 (0.38%) to B. caballi-like probe. Seven samples gave faint signals with the catchall probe only, indicating the presence of known or ...
Martinez M, Modric S.In veterinary medicine, the characterization of a drug's pharmacokinetic (PK) properties is generally based upon data that are derived from studies that employ small groups of young healthy animals, often of a single breed. These are also the data from which population predictions are often generated to forecast drug exposure characteristics in the target population under clinical conditions of use. In veterinary medicine, it is rare to find information on the covariates that can influence drug exposure characteristics. Therefore, it is important to recognize some of the factors that can alter...
Schefer KD, Bitschnau C, Weishaupt MA, Schwarzwald CC.Stress echocardiography is used to diagnose myocardial dysfunction in horses, but current methods are not well standardized. The influence of heart rate (HR) on measurements is largely unknown. Objective: To investigate the use of 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), anatomical M-mode (AMM), tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), and 2D speckle tracking (2DST) at rest and after exercise for quantification of regional and global left-ventricular (LV) function. Methods: Five athletic Warmblood horses; 11.6+/-3.6 years; 529+/-48 kg. Methods: Prospective study. Three separate echocardiographic examination...
Brianza S, Brighenti V, Boure L, Sprenger V, Pearce S, Schwieger K.To evaluate the efficacy of a novel pin-sleeve cast (PSC) system for external fixation of distal limb fractures in horses and to compare it with the transfixation pin cast (TPC) system. Methods: Experimental. Methods: One bone substitute each was used for the TPC and PSC systems. The PSC was tested in 4 configurations characterized by different pin preloads. Methods: Specimens were loaded in axial compression in the elastic range. Variables compared statistically were: bone substitute axial displacement and axial strain measured above implants with strain gauges. Pin preload was correlated wit...
Fulton RE, Doane FW, Macpherson LW.Combined light and electron microscopy were used to follow the sequence of virus development in equine papillomas. The deepest layer in which virus was observed was the stratum spinosum of the epidermis. In this layer virus was scattered throughout the nuclei and was occasionally found in association with the nucleolus. In the stratum granulosum virus particles were more numerous, often forming isolated nuclear aggregates. Virus inclusions observed in the stratum granulosum by electron microscopy were correlated with nuclear inclusions seen by light microscopy. In the stratum corneum closely p...
Gehlen H, Klein KS, Merle R, Lübke-Becker A, Stoeckle SD.Evaluation of the role of indicator pathogens in equine surgical site infection (SSI) and other infection-promoting factors. Cross-sectional study. Horses presenting with an open injury or surgical colic during 1.5 years. A nasal swab and a faecal sample were collected from every patient upon admission. Furthermore, a wound swab was collected from wounds of injured horses. Details on the wounds and procedures were documented. Laparotomy incisions and injuries were monitored for signs suggesting infection. In total, 156 horses presented because of a surgical colic (n = 48) or open injuries (n...
Popot MA, Garcia P, Hubert C, Bolopion A, Bailly-Chouriberry L, Bonnaire Y, Thibaud D, Guyonnet J.Tiludronate is a non-nitrogen-containing biphosphonate drug approved in equine veterinary medicine for the treatment of navicular disease and bone sparvin in horse. Its hydrophilic properties and its strong affinity for the bone have made the control of its use quite difficult. After an initial step of method development in plasma and urine, due to a strong matrix effect and erratic detection in urine, the final method development was conducted in plasma. After addition of (3-trifluoromethylphenyl) thiomethylene biphosphonic acid as internal standard, automated sample preparation consisted of ...
Irby LR, Norland JE, Westfall JA, Sullivan MA.We developed a forage allocation model using a deterministic, linear optimization module in a commercially available spreadsheet package to help resource managers in Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP), North Dakota determine optimum numbers of four ungulate species, bison (Bison bison), elk (Cervus elaphus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and feral horses, in the Park. TRNP staff actively managed bison, elk, and feral horse numbers within bounds suggested by our model from 1983 to 1996. During this period, we measured vegetation at 8 grassland and 12 wooded sites at 1-3 year intervals t...
Banks KL, Greenlee A.Various cell populations of equine mononuclear leukocytes were identified and isolated. Mononuclear leukocytes were concentrated by isopyknic centrifugation, using a solution of Ficoll and Hypaque. Three additional techniques were explored to separate monocytes from lymphocytes, and 3 methods were used to separate lymphocyte types. Cytochemical techniques for the detection of nonspecific esterase readily distinguished equine monocytes from lymphocytes. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were separated into at least 2 populations. One population had surface traits identical to thymocytes [ie, they re...
Anderson JA, Alves DA, Cerqueira-Cézar CK, da Silva AF, Murata FHA, Norris JK, Howe DK, Dubey JP.Neosporosis is a common cause of abortion in cattle worldwide but is rare in horses. Here, the first case of histologically, ultrastructurally, immunohistochemically, and molecularly confirmed equine abortion caused by neosporosis is reported. Samples of lung, heart, liver, skeletal muscle, tongue, brain, and the placenta from a female fetus aborted at 280 days of gestation were fixed in formalin and submitted for diagnosis. Histologically, there was disseminated neosporosis with severe lesions in lungs, liver and the heart. Protozoal tachyzoites in all tissues reacted with polyclonal anti-Neo...
Khosravi M, Kavosh F, Taghavi-Moghadam A, Ghaem-Maghami S, Pirali-Kheirabadi K, Rahimi-Feyli P, Navid-Pour S, Amin-Pour A, Arbabi F.No abstract available
Gray PR, Derksen FJ, Broadstone RV, Robinson NE, Peters-Golden M.Heaves is a respiratory disorder of horses and ponies characterized by bouts of acute airway obstruction and airway hyperresponsiveness. We measured prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) production in vitro in tracheal epithelium obtained from six affected horses at the time of acute airway obstruction as compared with six matched control horses. Strips of epithelium and subepithelial tissue were prepared and stimulated with A23187, histamine, and bradykinin. The PGE2 and 15-HETE in media from strips was quantitated by radioimmunoassay. 15-HETE above the limits ...
Eurell TE, Wilson DA, Baker GJ.Serum haptoglobin concentration was used as an indicator of the acute phase response in ponies undergoing exploratory laparotomy. Preoperative, 1 h intraoperative, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h postoperative blood samples and 48 h postoperative peritoneal fluid samples were obtained for haptoglobin analysis. A spectrophotometric assay based on cyanmethemoglobin binding capacity (CyanBC) was used to determine haptoglobin concentrations. The preoperative reference range for serum haptoglobin concentrations in these ponies was 25-60 mg CyanBC/dL. Intraoperative and 3 h postoperative blood samples had d...
Sabeur K, Ball BA.Carbohydrate-binding proteins are thought to be involved in a myriad of sperm functions including sperm-oviductal and sperm-zona interactions. Recent studies in our laboratory have characterized galactose-binding proteins on equine spermatozoa as possible candidate molecules for sperm adhesion to oviduct epithelial cells. In the current study, equine sperm membrane proteins were subjected to galactose-affinity chromatography, and bound proteins were eluted with excess galactose in a calcium-free buffer. The eluted fraction recovered after galactose-affinity chromatography was used for generati...
Turner TA, Adams SB, White NA.Fifteen horses were referred to Purdue University or to the University of Georgia because of colic. Each of these horses had small intestine incarcerated through the epiploic foramen. However, signs of pain, gastric reflux, and small intestine distention were not consistent signs, as would have been expected with small intestine strangulation/obstruction. In 10 of the 15 cases, abdominal fluid analysis provided the decisive information needed for surgical intervention. Surgery was performed in 14 cases. The small intestine was incarcerated through the epiploic foramen in a right-to-left direct...
Campbell EH.Equine conditioning programmes are rarely driven by science. Indeed, the scientific literature on conditioning responses often refers to conventional technique rather than physiological driving parameters. This, alongside poor classification of conditioning protocols, has reduced the possibility of comparative data analysis. Recent interest into lactate-driven conditioning programmes has driven this review which provides a summary of equine protocols used to date and their responses. Key areas identified for further standardisation and/or investigation include (1) the treadmill acclimation pro...
Li X, Morris LH, Allen WR.The effects of four reagents on the activation and subsequent fertilization of equine oocytes, and the development of these after intracytoplasmic sperm injection, were investigated. Cumulus-oocyte complexes collected from equine ovaries obtained from an abattoir were matured in vitro for 40-44 h in TCM199 medium before being injected, when in metaphase II, with an immobilized stallion spermatozoon. The cumulus-oocyte complexes were then subjected to one of five activation treatments: (a) 10 micromol ionomycin l(-1) for 10 min; (b) 7% (v/v) ethanol for 10 min; (c) 100 micromol thimerosal l(-1)...
Ray AC, Tamulinas SH, Reagor JC.Experimental animals (rabbit, rat, goat, sheep, and pony) were given cantharidin or dried preparations of blister beetles (Epicauta lemniscata) to stimulate naturally occurring toxicosis in which beetles were ingested with alfalfa hay. A sensitive high-pressure liquid chromatographic method, involving derivatization of cantharidin with p-nitrobenzyloxyamine, was developed to detect the toxin extracts of ingesta, fluids, and tissues from these severely poisoned animals. Urine and ingesta from the upper portion of the gastrointestinal tract, containing from 1 to 20 ppm of cantharidin, were the m...
Akai M, Hobo S, Wada S.To assess the effect of human interferon-alpha (IFNα) on shipping fever of Thoroughbred racehorses subjected to long-distance transportation, an IFNα preparation was orally administered to 48 horses three times (once daily, 3 successive days) before transportation (IFNα group). In the control group (25 horses), maltose was administered in the same way. These treatments induced no abnormal findings in Thoroughbred racehorses before transportation. Immediately after transportation, significant increases in rectal temperature were observed in both treatment groups, whereas the rectal temperatu...
Al-Kass Z, Brown A, Johannisson A, Ntallaris T, Morrell JM.Although single layer centrifugation (SLC) selects robust spermatozoa from stallion semen, the effect of individual variation has not been studied in detail. The objective of this study was to determine the variation among stallions in the effects of SLC on sperm quality during cooled storage for up to 48 hr. Semen samples from seven stallions (18 ejaculates) were split, with one portion being used for SLC and the other serving as a control (CON). Sperm quality (kinematics, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, membrane integrity (MI) and chromatin integrity) were analysed at 0, 24 and 48...
Riley CB, Rogers CW, Thompson KR, Guiver D, Padalino B.Negative outcomes associated with the road transport of horses are a significant welfare issue. This study aimed to describe the injuries sustained by horses during road transport in New Zealand and factors associated with trauma while in transit. New Zealand horse industry participants were surveyed on their horse transport experiences and equine industry involvement. Participants were solicited through horse organisations. The data were tabulated, and a logistic regression was performed to identify significant ( < 0.05) factors associated with transport-related injury. In total, 201/1133 ...
Zaugg I, Ottiger HP.The aim of the vigilance system in Switzerland is the evaluation and classification of reported suspected adverse reactions of immunological veterinary medicines (IVMP), including suspected lack of expected efficacy. The Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) is the competent authority for marketing authorizations of immunological veterinary medicinal products in Switzerland and responsible for the vaccinovigilance system. In 2020, 130 adverse reaction reports were received (5% less compared to 2019). The reports mainly concerned dogs (41%) and cats (25%) followed by cattle (18%) and horse...
Platt H, Whitwell KE.A form of generalized fat necrosis and steatitis occurs in pony and donkey foals. The clinical and pathological features of this disorder are described and its possible relationship to a similar condition in the Thoroughbred foal, and to yellow Fat Disease in other species, is discussed.
Carstens A, Kirberger RM, Grimbeek RJ, Donnellan CM, Saulez MN.Radiographic measurement of tracheal dimensions in the horse may be useful in evaluating upper and lower respiratory tract conditions due to the gradient of pressure changes between these areas. Lateral radiographs of the trachea of 15 normal sedated Thoroughbred horses were made at inspiration and expiration and magnification-corrected mean airway heights measured were, respectively: larynx: 5.89 and 5.86 cm; trachea at the third cervical vertebra (C3): 4.17 and 4.04cm; at the fifth cervical vertebra (C5): 3.62 and 3.59 cm; at the first thoracic vertebra (T1): 3.4 and 3.23cm; and carina: 3.85...
Rizk A, Mosbah E, Karrouf G, Abou Alsoud M.Penile and preputial neoplasia in horses occurs infrequently and represents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The present study was carried out on a total number of 21 equids (14 stallions and 7 donkeys) suffered from different penile and preputial neoplasia. Diagnosis of neoplasms was based up on history of the case, clinical examination as well as histopathological evaluation. Animals with penile and preputial neoplasms were underwent local excision and partial phallectomy with a slightly modified version of the techniques described by William's. The diagnosed neoplasms were penile and ...
Koskinen E, Katila T.The luteal activity in mares was studied in the Equine Research Station (ERS) and in trotting stables (TS) in South-Finland. The mares were Standardbreeds in the TS and mainly Finnhorses in the ERS. Between January and June blood was collected once a week for serum progesterone determinations. The mares in the ERS were distributed in 1 of 3 groups: three-years old not yet in training (N = 38), brood mares (N = 21) and mares in training (N = 47). A 4th group was the mares in training in the trotting stables (N = 73). Every 5th mare in the ERS and every 4th mare in the trotting stables were cycl...
Giusto G, Cerullo A, Labate F, Gandini M.Incomplete ileocecal bypass can be performed in cases in which an ileal disfunction is suspected but resection of the diseased ileum is not necessary. Objective: To describe the clinical findings, the surgical technique, and the outcome of 21 cases of colic with ileal pathologies that underwent an incomplete ileocecal bypass. Methods: Historical, clinical, and surgical features of cases diagnosed with pathologies involving the ileum or the ileocecal valve that underwent ileocecal anastomosis without ileal resection were retrieved. Clinical (heart rate, duration of symptoms, presence of reflux,...
Sosa León LA, Hodgson DR, Carlson GP, Rose RJ.To test effectiveness of an electrolyte paste in correcting fluid, electrolyte and acid base alterations in response to furosemide administration. Methods: 6 Standardbreds. Methods: Horses received electrolyte paste or water only (control). The paste was given orally 3 hours after furosemide administration (1 mg/kg of body weight, IM). Water was given ad libitum soon after the paste and 3 hours after furosemide administration to treated and control groups, respectively. Paste Na+, K+, and Cl- composition was approximately 2,220, 620, and 2,840 mmol, respectively. The PCV and plasma concentrati...
Cathcart MP, Love S, Sutton DG, Reardon RJ, Hughes KJ.Analyses of exhaled breath (EB) and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) are non-invasive modalities for assessing the lower airways but these methods have not been applied to Thoroughbred racehorses in training. The aims of this study were to determine whether EB and EBC could be obtained from Thoroughbred racehorses in the field and to investigate the effects of exercise per se and during different ambient temperatures and humidity on exhaled concentrations of nitric oxide (eNO), carbon monoxide (eCO) and EBC pH. EB and EBC samples were obtained from 28 Thoroughbred racehorses pre- and post-exerc...
Kindig CA, McDonough P, Finley MR, Behnke BJ, Richardson TE, Marlin DJ, Erickson HH, Poole DC.In horses, the exercise-induced elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) is thought to play a deterministic role in exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), and thus treatment designed to lower Ppa might reasonably be expected to reduce EIPH. Five Thoroughbred horses were run on a treadmill to volitional fatigue (incremental step test) under nitric oxide (NO; inhaled 80 ppm) and control (N(2), same flow rate as per NO run) conditions (2 wk between trials; order randomized) to test the hypothesis that NO inhalation would reduce maximal Ppa but that this reduction may not necessarily ...
O'Callaghan MW, Hornof WJ, Fisher PE, Pascoe JR.Detailed post mortem examination of the lungs of horses with exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) has demonstrated significant small airway disease and intense bronchial arterial proliferation in the dorsocaudal lungfields. The purpose of this study was to investigate ventilation and perfusion distribution in the lungs of a similar group of horses to compare changes in the live animal with the previously reported post mortem findings. Thoracic radiography and ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scintigraphy were performed on five racing Thoroughbreds with recent histories of EIPH. Parametric ...