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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 Nebulized Alpha-2 Macroglobulin in Horses with Lower Airway Inflammation. Equine asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease with limited safe long-term treatments. Alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), a natural anti-inflammatory protease inhibitor, may provide a novel non-steroidal therapeutic option for horses with lower respiratory tract inflammation. Objective: To characterize the impact of nebulization with alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) on clinical signs, bronchoalveolar lavage cytology, and local and systemic cytokine response in horses with lower respiratory tract inflammation. Methods: Thirteen university-owned horses with lower airway inflammation were randomized...
Mammary neuroendocrine tumor in a mare. A 10-y-old American Paint Horse mare was presented to the Equine Field Services at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (Blacksburg, VA, USA) for evaluation of mastitis and a possible abscess in the right mamma. Histologic evaluation of a mammary biopsy revealed a densely cellular, infiltrative neoplasm with cells arranged in packets supported by thin stroma. In a neuroendocrine immunohistochemistry panel, the neoplastic cells did not immunolabel for neuron-specific enolase or synaptophysin, positively immunolabeled for chromogranin A, and had moderate scattered immunolabeling for ...
Repeatability and test-retest reliability of thermal and pressure pain threshold testing in healthy thoroughbred horses. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) has been used in horses to assess nociceptive responsiveness but its broader clinical application is limited by variability across anatomical sites, environmental conditions, operator technique, and behavioral endpoints. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, within-session repeatability, and test-retest reliability of thermal threshold (TT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) testing in healthy Thoroughbred horses. Unassigned: Eleven adult Thoroughbred horses (4 mares, 7 geldings; median [IQR] age 6 [5-6] years; body weight 558 ± 47 kg) underwent...
Interleukin 12 on extracellular matrix-related factors and functional characteristics of equine endometrial fibroblasts. Tissue fibrosis is described as the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. This process is associated with inflammation, and the interaction between fibroblasts and immune cells plays a key role, driving the progression of fibrosis. Results of recent study suggest that interleukin (IL)-12 may play a role in the processes associated with the development of fibrosis. This proinflammatory cytokine is synthesized and released by macrophages, dendritic cells, and B cells. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine: (i) the expression of IL-12 and its receptor ...
Effects of flow-controlled expiration on oxygenation and early recovery in horses undergoing general anaesthesia. FLow-controlled EXpiration (FLEX) has been shown to significantly enhance oxygenation in horses under clinical and experimental conditions. Objective: To compare pulmonary gas exchange during early recovery following general anaesthesia in horses ventilated with FLEX compared with conventional intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) and to assess recovery characteristics between ventilation modes. Methods: Randomised, crossover in vivo experiments. Methods: Six adult horses underwent two 2-h anaesthetic episodes in a randomised crossover design (FLEX vs. IPPV), separated by a two-wee...
Spatiotemporal dynamics of equine group formation reveal the gradual emergence of social cohesion. Stable social relationships are essential for horse welfare, yet domestic management often involves regrouping unfamiliar individuals, potentially causing social stress. Fine-scale dynamics of social integration remain poorly quantified due to limitations of observational sampling. Using ultra-wideband real-time positioning, we tracked the development of spatial and social relationships in two newly formed equine groups (n = 19) over 2-12 months. Inter-individual distances decreased significantly, with time spent within 3 m of conspecifics increasing from 1.2 to 27.3% within two months, d...
Improving Inclusivity in the Curriculum via the Introduction of an Equine Industry-Specific Language eGlossary. The equine veterinary profession is frequently considered inaccessible to veterinary students who have had limited exposure to the equine industry. One of the perceived reasons for this inaccessibility is the use of what is often coined "horsey" language within the industry. If a student has limited experience of the equine industry, there is a potential language barrier to teaching, which may result in poor engagement with equine teaching and placements. The aim of this Teaching Tip is to describe the development and evaluation of a new teaching resource designed to demystify equine industry-...
Straight sesamoidean ligament desmopathy commonly occurs with proximal interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis. Proximal interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis (PIPJ OA) is a common cause of poor performance in the equine athlete; however, the supporting soft tissue structures surrounding the joint are seldom evaluated. Straight sesamoidean ligament injuries have been previously hypothesised to be concomitant with PIPJ OA; however, the frequency of these lesions coinciding with PIPJ OA has not been fully investigated. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of straight sesamoidean ligament desmopathy (SSLD) in horses presenting with PIPJ OA. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: Horses presenti...
A point-based laminitis risk scoring system and machine learning framework for prediction of laminitis in horses. Laminitis is a painful and potentially life-threatening inflammatory condition of the equine hoof, and its detection remains a major challenge in veterinary practice. Although several risk factors have been reported, the prediction of the onset of laminitis in a subclinical stage using routine clinical data is still limited. This study aims to address this gap by developing an interpretable machine learning (ML) framework for the prediction of the risk of laminitis in horses. A point-based risk scoring system was first constructed using multivariate logistic regression to quantify the contribu...
Determining optimal practices for foal weaning – A protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Weaning is a stressful time in a foal's (Equus caballus) life. As humans artificially manage weaning in domestic horses, it provides an opportunity to safeguard horse welfare early in life, with potential long-term benefits. While numerous studies have examined the effects of different weaning and management interventions on foal stress, optimal weaning practices have yet to be identified. Overall purpose of the study: To identify which weaning interventions and management practices have the greatest potential to improve foal welfare based on physiological and behavioural outcomes. Research qu...
Using a wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) patch adapted for 7-day monitoring in the horse. Arrhythmias can cause poor performance and sudden death in horses. Long-term (>24 h) electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring has been used to identify arrhythmias in humans and is superior to short-term monitoring for transient arrhythmia detection. Televet is the current equine gold-standard ECG device. The Cardea SOLO™ (CS) is a single-use monitor with automated ECG analysis software allowing ECG monitoring for 7 days. Objective: Our objective was to validate the performance of the CS compared to the Televet. Methods: Method validation. Methods: ECGs were performed on 12 healthy horses s...
Correction: Phenylbutazone concentrations in synovial fluid following administration via intravenous regional limb perfusion in the forelimbs of six adult horses. [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1810077.].
Vietnam’s Horse Sector: A Comprehensive Review of History, Production Systems, Health Challenges, and Research Priorities. Horses in Vietnam have a long historical presence and continue to hold economic, socio-cultural, and medicinal importance across diverse regions. Despite these roles, comprehensive scientific information on equine development, including health and disease patterns, reproductive performance, genetic resources, and biomedical applications, remains limited and fragmented. In this review, we summarize existing knowledge on equine populations, production systems, and their development in Vietnam, as well as their roles in cultural practices, livelihoods, and traditional medicine. We then identify m...
Diagnosis of bacteraemia in neonatal foals using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Sepsis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in foals. Early diagnosis can improve outcome but is complicated by non-specific clinical signs and delayed confirmation of infection via blood culture. Molecular assays represent a rapid and more sensitive alternative. Objective: To evaluate and compare bacterial load and composition in blood and blood culture media (BCM) of sick and healthy foals using molecular assays and to compare results with traditional bacterial culture. Methods: Cross-sectional observational clinical study. Methods: Thirteen septic foals, 10 sick non-septic and 8...
Orchiectomy in horses: closed technique and primary closure of the incision. To provide a video tutorial on how to perform equine castrations using the closed technique and primary closure of the skin. Unassigned: Intact male horses presented to equine veterinary hospitals for castration. Unassigned: The closed castration technique was performed with incisions over the inguinal rings and primary closure. Unassigned: This technique is associated with minimal complications, decreased edema, less pain, lower infection rates, and faster healing. Unassigned: The technique presented in this video tutorial provides a quick and safe method for removing descended as well as non...
Prevalence of Clostridioides difficile in hospitalized neonatal mare-foal pairs from Alberta and direct comparison of fecal culture with toxin gene detection. is an important pathogen in the feces of adult horses and foals. It can be clinically diagnosed using several testing methods, including culture isolation and, more commonly, direct toxin gene detection from feces using molecular methods. The importance of monitoring shedding in foals or dams during hospitalization remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of fecal shedding in mare-foal pairs and to compare detection using isolation and a commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for toxin A and B genes in feces. Foals and their mares admitte...
Genetic Diversity in Domestic Horses: Temporal Patterns, the Influence of Assisted Reproductive Technologies, and Implications for the American Quarter Horse. Genetic diversity is the heritable variation within and among populations and is essential for the long-term health and selection potential of domestic horses. Previous studies show diversity across breeds is shaped by effective population size, founder events, artificial selection, and levels of inbreeding. While some closed-studbook breeds retain moderate genetic diversity, others have experienced rapid losses due to popular-sire effects and recent and extensive inbreeding. Even so, mare lines continue to help maintain genetic diversity within these populations. Assisted Reproductive Technol...
Detection of equine parapoxvirus in the stable environment during pastern dermatitis outbreak in Finland. Equine parapoxvirus (EqPPV) has emerged as a cause of recurring pastern dermatitis outbreaks in horses in Finland. First detected in 2013, EqPPV has since been associated with potentially hundreds of clinical cases and suspected zoonotic transmission. Based on serological data and field reports, EqPPV causes pastern dermatitis outbreaks in Finland every few years. This study aimed to investigate the environmental presence and plausible transmission dynamics of the virus to prepare for future outbreaks and give targeted guidelines to stable staff and veterinarians. Results: After a large-scale ...
Could snort production reflect comfort in horses kept outdoors? A first study. The welfare of free-roaming, captive wild or domestic animals housed outdoors is often questioned. How subjects perceive climatic conditions is not always well detected as it is highly subjective, depending on species, age and experience. Hence, decisions on housing rely mostly on human anthropomorphic perception. In particular, indicators of comfort and positive emotions remain poorly documented. Acoustic signals, however, offer a promising window into animals' internal states. In the present study, we hypothesized that acoustic signals could be used to identify positive or negative perceptio...
Dental disorders are associated with minimal synovial changes in the temporomandibular joint in horses. Dental disorders have been proposed as factors contributing to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort in horses, but objective evidence linking these conditions to synovial fluid alterations remains limited. This study evaluated whether the severity of dental abnormalities influences the physicochemical and cytological characteristics of TMJ synovial fluid and whether occlusal adjustment induces measurable synovial changes over time. Unassigned: Thirty-three horses were assigned to mild, moderate, or severe dental abnormality groups. Synovial fluid was collected bilaterally from the discotem...
Comparative clinical and thermographic responses to dexamethasone and saline solution mesotherapy in horses with spinal disorders. Back pain and spinal dysfunction in horses are multifactorial conditions frequently associated with musculoskeletal alterations that may impair mobility, performance, and welfare. Mesotherapy has emerged as a minimally invasive adjunctive approach for managing musculoskeletal disorders; however, comparative clinical responses to different intradermal protocols in equine spinal conditions remain insufficiently investigated. The present study aims to compare the clinical and thermographic responses of two mesotherapy protocols in horses diagnosed with cervical or thoracolumbar spinal disorders. ...
Inertial measurement units are comparable to motion capture for measuring intersegmental spinal angular velocities in horses. To compare inertial measurement unit (IMU)-derived intersegmental spinal motion data with measurements obtained from a marker-based motion-capture system. Unassigned: 4 horses were instrumented with custom marker clusters incorporating a 3-D-printed base designed to secure the IMU, ensuring both systems recorded data from the same anatomical location and orientation. A total of 3,737 paired time points across 37 gait cycles were analyzed. Agreement in intersegmental angular velocities across 3 planes of motion was evaluated using Bland-Altman analysis and intraclass correlation coefficients. U...
Fecal microbiota of weaned equine and mule foals grazing bermudagrass pastures. Weaning is a critical period in the lives of foals. After weaning, forage consumption represents a major challenge for both equine or mule foals. Objective: This study evaluated the fecal bacterial concentration, composition, diversity and differential abundance in weaned equine and mule foals under rotational grazing on Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) pasture. Methods: A randomized design was used with equine and mule foals grazing two rotations on three Bermudagrass cultivars (Coastcross, Florakirk, and Tifton-85). Pasture rotation occurred every 20 days. The first rotation was evaluated at 20, ...
Diagnostic criteria for equine thoracolumbar myofascial pain syndrome: A foundational study. Diagnostic criteria for myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) are well established in humans but remain underexplored in horses. This study aimed to identify which MPS clinical signs were present in the equine thoracolumbar region, assess internal coherence among clinical indicators, and explore the diagnostic relevance of owner-reported behavioural, signalment, management, and clinical variables. A population of 120 horses underwent a static physical assessment of the thoracolumbar region. Owner-reported horse behaviours were collected through a questionnaire. Taut band, hypersensitive spot, local t...
Physiological Evaluation of Quarter Horses Undergoing Five-Month Taming Focused on Hippotherapy. Preparing horses for hippotherapy programs requires management approaches that prioritize animal welfare and facilitate adaptation to novel stimuli. This study monitored physiological responses during the implementation of a progressive taming protocol for Quarter Horses intended for hippotherapy. Seven animals were monitored over a five-month period, including an acclimation phase and three taming stages. Continuous heart rate, plasma cortisol concentration, and ocular infrared thermography were assessed before and after exercise. Baseline ( = 0.0466) and minimum ( = 0.0095) heart rate values...
Dendritic-cell diversity in equine blood revealed by single-cell transcriptomics. Detailed classification of equine dendritic cells (DC) is necessary to address various research questions, such as the role of DC subsets in immune-mediated diseases of horses. Unassigned: We applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on DC enriched from the blood of two horses. Unassigned: All main DC subsets were detected by key gene expression, including conventional DC type 1 (cDC1; ) and type 2 (cDC2; , ), as well as plasmacytoid DC (pDC; ). In addition, we detected a small cluster of hematopoietic progenitors, as well as transitional DC (tDC; , ) and putative DC type 3 (DC3; , ). Our...
Jejunocecostomy in horses-a review of its unique complexities. Jejunocecostomy (JC), or jejunocecal anastomosis, is arguably the most controversial surgical procedure in equine small intestinal surgery. It is also the only option for resection and anastomosis for a third of small intestinal strangulating lesions in horses. Critics of the procedure identify its low survival and high complication rates as reasons to avoid its use. This review is intended to highlight findings of recent research and clinical studies that validate use of the JC, and to provide some insights into technical aspects of the procedure that might improve its survival rates. Jejunoc...
Screening Equine Skin and Mucous Membranes for Carriage of Coagulase-Positive Staphylococci. Commensal populations of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus spp. (CoPS) in healthy horses are not well-defined. Objective: To determine the point prevalence, anatomical distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility and genomic characteristics of CoPS in healthy horses. Methods: One-hundred and fifty privately owned, systemically healthy horses from seven facilities were enrolled in this study. Methods: Horses were sampled from the nares, buccal mucosa and three skin sites. Isolates were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and antimicrobial...
Validation of a smart textile electrocardiographic monitoring device in racehorses during high-speed exercise. Exercise-associated cardiac arrhythmias may contribute to poor performance and sudden cardiac death in horses. Widespread monitoring is limited by device availability and suitability for field use. Objective: To (1) compare electrocardiographic (ECG) quality from a smart textile system (Myant Skiin Equine) with a reference device (Televet II) during exercise, and (2) evaluate whether arrhythmia detection with Myant Skiin Equine is comparable to the Televet II. Methods: Prospective blinded clinical study. Methods: Fifty racehorses (25 Thoroughbreds, 25 Standardbreds) underwent up to three high-...
