Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
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.
Cloning, comparative sequence analysis and mRNA expression of calcium-transporting genes in horses. Epithelial calcium transport occurs by paracellular and transcellular mechanisms. Transcellular transport in intestinal and renal epithelia involves several transport proteins, including transient receptor potential vanilloid member 5 (TRPV5), member 6 (TRPV6), calbindin D9k (CB9), calbindin D28k (CB28), sodium calcium exchanger 1 (NCX1), plasma membrane calcium ATPase 1 (PMCA1), and the vitamin D receptor (VDR). We are interested in the horse because of its unique calcium physiology (high blood calcium, high intestinal calcium absorption, high renal excretion of calcium, low vitamin D concent...
Long-term outcome after arthroscopic debridement of distal phalanx extensor process fragmentation in 13 horses. To report long-term outcome after arthroscopic removal of fragmentation of the extensor process of the distal phalanx in horses. Methods: Case series. Methods: Adult horses (n=13). Methods: Medical records (2003-2004) of horses that had arthroscopic debridement of fragmentation of the extensor process of the distal phalanx were reviewed. Inclusion criteria included: lameness localized to the foot, fragmentation of the extensor process of the distal phalanx debrided arthroscopically, and a follow-up period of > or = 4 years. Results: Of the 13 horses, lameness was resolved in 11 (85%) initia...
A technique for laser-facilitated equine pastern arthrodesis using parallel screws inserted in lag fashion. To report a technique for laser-facilitated, minimally invasive proximal interphalangeal joint (PIJ) arthrodesis in horses. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n=6); 5 thoracic and 2 pelvic limb PIJ. Methods: PIJ osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis was confirmed by radiography. A diode laser was used to apply 2000 J of energy to the joint followed by insertion of 3 parallel 5.5 mm screws in lag fashion through stab incisions to achieve PIJ arthrodesis. After anesthetic recovery, limbs were maintained in bandages (n=2) or bandage casts (5) for 3 weeks. Horses were allowed exercise or turnout by 3 ...
Oral infection of weanling foals with an equine isolate of Lawsonia intracellularis, agent of equine proliferative enteropathy. Equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) is an emerging disease of weanling foals. Objective: Describe clinical, hematologic, biochemical, serologic, molecular, and ultrasonographic findings in foals experimentally infected with Lawsonia intracellularis. Methods: Eight foals. Methods: Recently weaned foals were assigned to either the challenge (n = 3), the sentinel (n = 3), or the control (n = 2) group. Foals were experimentally challenged via intragastric inoculation of 3 x 10(10)L. intracellularis organisms grown in culture. Each experimentally infected foal was housed with a sentinel foal in ...
Evaluation of a veterinary glucometer for use in horses. Glucose assessment and regulation are important factors in the treatment of hospitalized horses and foals. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare glucose measurement by a veterinary glucometer, adjusted by code for use in horses and foals, to a reference chemistry analyzer. It was hypothesized that the veterinary glucometer and reference analyzer would yield similar results and that interpretation of glucose values obtained from a veterinary glucometer would result in clinically appropriate decisions. Methods: Fifty blood samples from adult horses and 50 blood samples from neonata...
Complex interactions between the major and minor envelope proteins of equine arteritis virus determine its tropism for equine CD3+ T lymphocytes and CD14+ monocytes. Extensive cell culture passage of the virulent Bucyrus (VB) strain of equine arteritis virus (EAV) to produce the modified live virus (MLV) vaccine strain has altered its tropism for equine CD3(+) T lymphocytes and CD14(+) monocytes. The VB strain primarily infects CD14(+) monocytes and a small subpopulation of CD3(+) T lymphocytes (predominantly CD4(+) T lymphocytes), as determined by dual-color flow cytometry. In contrast, the MLV vaccine strain has a significantly reduced ability to infect CD14(+) monocytes and has lost its capability to infect CD3(+) T lymphocytes. Using a panel of five re...
Comparison of surgical and medical treatment of 49 postpartum mares with presumptive or confirmed uterine tears. To determine outcome after medical or surgical treatment of postpartum mares with confirmed or presumptive uterine tears. Methods: Case series. Methods: Postpartum mares were included if foaling had occurred within 7 days and uterine tear was confirmed surgically or, in medically treated mares, by palpation or presumed based on peritonitis. Information (age, breed; physical examination, laboratory and abdominocentesis findings; treatment, survival rates, length of hospital stay, treatments costs, and breeding performance after discharge) was obtained from the medical records (1990-2007). The i...
Laparoscopic removal of a large abdominal testicular teratoma in a standing horse. To describe laparoscopic removal of a large testicular teratoma in a standing horse. Methods: Clinical report. Methods: Thoroughbred horse (11 months) with a testicular teratoma. Methods: A unilateral cryptorchid testicle could not be removed by an inguinal approach under general anesthesia because of it s large size. After recovery from general anesthesia, ultrasound evaluation revealed a 24 x 19 cm fluid-filled testicular mass. The mass was removed by paralumbar fossa laparoscopy with the horse in a standing position. After fluid aspiration of the mass, the mesorchium and ductus deferens wer...
Multiple osteochondral autografts for treatment of a medial trochlear ridge subchondral cystic lesion in the equine tarsus. To adapt the multiple osteochondral autograft technique for treatment of a subchondral cystic lesion (SCL) of the proximal medial trochlear ridge (MTR) of the equine talus and assess long term outcome. Methods: Case report. Methods: Quarter horse stallion with SCL of the proximal MTR of the talus. Methods: Osteochondral autograft techniques used in dogs and humans were adapted and optimized in equine cadavers. A horse with a SCL of the MTR of the talus was treated by osteochondral autografting. Three osteochondral autografts were harvested from the distal lateral trochlear ridge of the talus i...
Arthrodesis of the proximal interphalangeal joint in the horse: a cyclic biomechanical comparison of two and three parallel cortical screws inserted in lag fashion. To compare the biomechanical cyclic fatigue properties of 2 and 3 parallel transarticular 5.5 mm cortical screws used in arthrodesis of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. Methods: Randomized block design, for horse, fixation method (2 versus three 5.5 mm cortical screws), side (right, left) and end (front, hind) in cadaveric equine limbs. Methods: Cadaveric adult equine fore- and hindlimbs (n=5 pairs each). Methods: Two parallel 5.5 mm cortical screws were inserted in lag fashion, transarticularly through the PIP joint in 1 limb of a pair, and in the contralateral limb, three 5.5 mm cor...
Acquired jejunal pseudodiverticula in a yearling Arabian filly. To report a case of multiple acquired jejunal pseudodiverticula managed successfully by resection and jejunojejunostomy. Methods: Clinical report. Methods: Arabian filly. Methods: The filly was referred for signs of acute colic of several hours duration and had a 2-week history of inappetence and weight loss. Three meters of thickened, edematous, and dilated jejunum removed during exploratory celiotomy had an intussusception and numerous diverticula; jejunojejunostomy performed. The pathoanatomic diagnosis was proliferative enteropathy with pseudodiverticula formation and jejunal muscular hype...
Compressive forces achieved in simulated equine third metacarpal bone lateral condylar fractures of varying fragment thickness with Acutrak Plus screw and 4.5 mm AO cortical screws. To compare compression pressure (CP) of 6.5 mm Acutrak Plus (AP) and 4.5 mm AO cortical screws (AO) when inserted in simulated lateral condylar fractures of equine 3rd metacarpal (MC3) bones. Methods: Paired in vitro biomechanical testing. Methods: Cadaveric equine MC3 bones (n=12 pair). Methods: Complete lateral condylar osteotomies were created parallel to the midsagittal ridge at 20, 12, and 8 mm axial to the epicondylar fossa on different specimens grouped accordingly. Interfragmentary compression was measured using a pressure sensor placed in the fracture plane before screw placement for ...
The effect of platelet-rich plasma on the neovascularization of surgically created equine superficial digital flexor tendon lesions. The repair process of tendon injuries, which are common in both human and equine athletes, is slow and the quality of the repair tissue is often inferior to the original tendon tissue, which frequently leads to re-injury. The relatively poor vascularization of tendons is considered to be one of the reasons for their limited healing potential. Recently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous concentrate of platelets, rich in growth factors, has been shown to enhance the repair process of injured tendons. This effect has been ascribed to the high levels of growth factors in PRP, several of wh...
An in vitro biomechanical comparison of equine proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis techniques: an axial positioned dynamic compression plate and two abaxial transarticular cortical screws inserted in lag fashion versus three parallel transarticular cortical screws inserted in lag fashion. To compare in vitro monotonic biomechanical properties of an axial 3-hole, 4.5 mm narrow dynamic compression plate (DCP) using 5.5 mm cortical screws in conjunction with 2 abaxial transarticular 5.5 mm cortical screws inserted in lag fashion (DCP-TLS) with 3 parallel transarticular 5.5 mm cortical screws inserted in lag fashion (3-TLS) for the equine proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint arthrodesis. Methods: Paired in vitro biomechanical testing of 2 methods of stabilizing cadaveric adult equine forelimb PIP joints. Methods: Cadaveric adult equine forelimbs (n=15 pairs). Methods: For each fore...
A PCR study of piroplasms in 166 dogs and 111 horses in France (March 2006 to March 2008). Positive PCR results for piroplasms were obtained on EDTA blood samples from 166 dogs and 111 horses between March 2006 and March 2008. The organisms were initially identified using common primers, followed by restriction enzyme profiles to determine the species and types of Babesia/Theileria. In 27 dogs and eight horses with positive results, the size of the specimen was insufficient to separate species/types. We identified Babesia canis canis in 105 of the 166 dogs (63%) and Theileria equi in 89 of the 111 horses (80%). Babesia caballi was also present, but rare, in only two Babesia/Theileri...
Molecular and biological characterization of equine infectious anemia virus Rev. Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is one of the most divergent members of the lentivirus subfamily of retroviruses and is considered a useful comparative model for molecular studies of lentivirus replication. The Rev protein of EIAV is functionally homologous with other lentiviral Revs and facilitates export of incompletely spliced viral mRNAs through a Crm1-dependent pathway. The trans- and cis-acting elements that mediate EIAV Rev function are similar to, but distinct from, the well-characterized elements in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), the prototypical Rev protein. In addition,...
Virulence determinants of equine infectious anemia virus. Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is a macrophage-tropic lentivirus that rapidly Induces disease in experimentally infected horses. Because EIAV infection and replication is centered on the monocyte/macrophage and has a pronounced acute disease stage, it is a useful model system for understanding the contribution of monocyte/macrophages to other lentivirus-induced diseases. Genetic mapping studies utilizing chimeric proviruses in which parental viruses are acutely virulent or avirulent have allowed the identification of important regions that influence acute virulence. U3 regions in the vi...
Modified tenoscopic method for carpal flexor retinaculum release in a horse. To report the use of a proximolateral endoscopic portal with a distolateral instrument portal for carpal retinaculum release in a horse clinically affected with carpal canal syndrome. Methods: Clinical report. Methods: A 4-year-old Thoroughbred female. Methods: Carpal canal syndrome secondary to traumatic suppurative tenosynovitis was treated by accessory carpal bone debridement and carpal retinaculum release using a tenoscopic approach to the carpal flexor synovial sheath through a proximolateral endoscope portal and a distolateral instrument portal. Results: Resolution of carpal sheath effus...
Comparison of the morphology of the limbs of juvenile and adult horses (Equus caballus) and their implications on the locomotor biomechanics. We analyzed the morphology and the walk-trot and trot-gallop transition velocities of nine juvenile horses and compared them with their mothers. We also compared the relative stride length and the duty factor of the juveniles with respect to adults at three equivalent trotting speeds (Froude numbers 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0), to determine dynamic similarity. Juveniles had a negative allometry in their leg bones, mainly because of little size changes of the distal portions. The negative allometry of extremities allows juveniles to increase stride length without increasing step frequency, which can be...
Induration of the cricoid cartilage complicates prosthetic laryngoplasty in a horse. To report intraoperative complications during needle penetration and suture placement through the cricoid cartilage during a prosthetic laryngoplasty procedure. Methods: Case report. Methods: An 11-year-old American Paint gelding with grade IV left laryngeal hemiplegia underwent a terminal prosthetic laryngoplasty for teaching purposes. Passage of the needle through the cricoid cartilage was difficult and resulted in needle breakage before eventual success using a new needle. The larynx was examined postmortem. Results: Palpation of the larynx revealed hardening of the cricoid cartilage. Radio...
Changes in serum mineral concentrations, biochemical and hematological parameters in horses with pica. The aim of this study was to compare hematological, some biochemical parameters, and serum trace element concentrations in horses with or without pica. Fifteen horses with pica (group I) and another 15 healthy horses without pica (group II) were used. The hematological parameters were not changed between the two groups. In group I, hemoglobin values were lower than those of group II. However, the difference in hemoglobin values between the two groups was not significant (P > 0.05). Serum iron and copper concentrations and the copper/zinc ratio were lower in group I than those of group I...
Expression, purification and monoclonal antibodies preparation of recombinant equine mature interleukin-18. IL-18 is a cytokine originally discovered as an important modulator of immune responses and subsequently shown to be pleiotropic. In this report, we expressed the recombinant equine mature interleukin-18 (rEMIL-18) in E. coli and purified it by nickel affinity gel column chromatography. Purified rEMIL-18 had biological activity commensurate with recombinant human IL-18, as determined by its synergistic effect with recombinant human IL-12 (rhIL-12) on the induction of IFN-gamma gene expression in equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Following intraperitoneal (i.p.) immunization of ...
Selective anthelmintic therapy of horses in the Federal states of Bavaria (Germany) and Salzburg (Austria): an investigation into strongyle egg shedding consistency. For 9 consecutive months (March-November 2008), faecal samples were collected monthly from 129 horses residing within 40 km of Salzburg, Austria. Samples were analysed quantitatively using a modified McMaster egg counting technique. Whenever a faecal egg count (FEC) result exceeded 250 eggs per gram (EPG), the horse was treated with pyrantel, ivermectin or moxidectin. In 52 of 129 horses (40.3%), no strongyle eggs were ever detected over the course of 9 months. In 39 horses (30.2%), strongyle eggs were detected in at least 1 sample, but the egg count never exceeded 250 EPG. The remaining 38 (2...
Influence of different centrifugation protocols on equine semen preservation. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of centrifugation on cooled and frozen preservation of equine semen. A standard centrifugation protocol (600 x g for 10 min=CP1) was compared to four protocols with increasing g-force and decreased time period (600 x g, 1200 x g, 1800 x g and 2400 x g for 5 min for CP2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively) and to an uncentrifuged negative control. In experiment 1, the influence of the different CPs on sperm loss was evaluated by calculating the total number of sperm cells in 90% of the supernatant. Moreover, the effect on semen quality following ce...
Comparative study of the properties of tendinocytes derived from three different sites in the equine superficial digital flexor tendon. This aim of this study was to determine the characteristic differences in tendinocytes derived from three sites of the equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT)-proximally the myotendinous junction (MTJ), mid-metacarpal (mM) and osteotendinous junction (OTJ)-in morphology, proliferation, and ability for synthesis of collagen and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Little difference was observed in cell proliferation. Addition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha to the culture medium resulted in increased collagen synthesis by tendinocytes from all three sites. The amount of collagen synth...
Factors affecting the incidence of postpartum oestrus, ovarian activity and reproductive performance in Thoroughbred mares bred at foal heat under Indian subtropical conditions. Decreased reproductive performance due to summer stress is a well known phenomenon in farm livestock. Whether this occurs in the mare and specifically how this might affect postpartum reproductive activity and performance, especially at Foal Heat (FH), is unknown. This study, therefore, aims to investigate this and the factors that might affect postpartum reproductive activity. Reproductive records of 228 Thoroughbred mares (694 mare years) bred in subtropical north-western India were retrospectively analysed. Overt oestrous activity occurred within 21 d postpartum in 92.94% (645/694) of mares...
Veterinary medicines and competition animals: the question of medication versus doping control. In racing and other equine sports, it is possible to increase artificially both the physical capability and the presence of a competitive instinct, using drugs, such as anabolic steroids and agents stimulating the central nervous system. The word doping describes this illegitimate use of drugs and the primary motivation of an equine anti-doping policy is to prevent the use of these substances. However, an anti-doping policy must not impede the use of legitimate veterinary medications and most regulatory bodies in the world now distinguish the control of illicit substances (doping control) from...
Evaluation of PCR, DNA hybridization and immunomagnetic separation – PCR for detection of Burkholderia mallei in artificially inoculated environmental samples. Glanders is highly contagious disease of equines, caused by Burkholderia mallei. The disease though rare, can be transmitted to humans. Here, we report a strategy for rapid detection of B. mallei from environmental samples. Different bacteriological media were evaluated and brain heart infusion broth medium with selective supplements (BHIB-SS) of penicillin (200 U/ml) and crystal violet (1:10,00000) was found to support the maximum growth of B. mallei even in the presence of other bacteria like Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a DNA hybridizatio...
Comparative analysis of vocalizations of thoroughbred mares (Equus caballus) between estrus and diestrus. We investigated the differences between vocalizations of mares in estrus and diestrus and determined the spectrographic parameters to discriminate estrus from diestrus. Thoroughbred brood mares (n=89) were exposed to a teasing procedure for 3 min, and we recorded all vocalizations emitted from them. Among the mares, 56.5% of estrus and 78.6% of diestrus mares emitted calls toward an approaching stallion, indicating that there was higher tendency in the occurrence rate of vocal responses in diestrus than estrus mares. We analyzed the spectrographic data of the mares (25 estrus and 22 diestrus m...
