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.
Gokbulut C, Cirak VY, Senlik B, Aksit D, Durmaz M, McKellar QA.Pour-on formulations of endectocides decrease the risk of injury for both user and animal, and are particularly convenient for animal owners who can apply the product. This study was designed to investigate the plasma disposition and efficacy of ivermectin (IVM) following pour-on, per os and intravenous administrations. Eighteen female horses weighing 510-610 kg were used in this study. The animals were allocated into three groups (per os, pour-on and intravenous groups). The equine paste, bovine pour-on and bovine injectable formulations of IVM were administered orally, topically and intraven...
Fuglbjerg V, Nielsen JV, Thomsen PD, Berg LC.Arthrosis of the articular process joints (APJs) in the caudal thoracolumbar region of horses may cause back pain and subsequent reduced performance or lameness. Ultrasound-guided injections of the APJs of the equine back have been described only briefly in the literature. Objective: To evaluate factors affecting the accuracy of intra-articular injections of the APJs in the caudal thoracolumbar region. Methods: One-hundred-and-fifty-four injections with blue dye were performed on APJs including the T14-L6 region in 12 horses subjected to euthanasia for reasons unrelated to back problems. The b...
Haridy FM, Shoukry NM, Hassan AA, Morsy TA.Toxoplasma gondii is one of the important zoonotic parasites of worldwide. In this paper the seroprevalence of T. gondii in draught horses (3-15 years) including 90 males and 10 females in the first half of the year 2009 was studied. The result showed that the overall ELISA-T. gondii antibodies were 25% of the horses in Greater Cairo, 50% (females) and 22.2% (males).
Fritzen B, Rohn K, Schnieder T, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G.Increasing prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in equine nematodes calls for a reexamination of current parasite control programmes to identify factors influencing control efficacy and development of resistance. Objective: To investigate if associations occur between prevalence of parasitic nematodes and management practices. Methods: German horse farms (n = 76) were investigated in 2003 and 2004. Information on farm and pasture management with respect to endoparasite control measures obtained using a questionnaire survey. Faecal examinations were performed in parallel. Results: Horses (n = ...
Ortved KF, Cheetham J, Mitchell LM, Ducharme NG.Caudal descent of the larynx has been proposed to be associated with intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) as it leads to a loss of the seal between the epiglottis and soft palate but further investigation of this theory is required. Objective: To evaluate laryngohyoid position of horses with persistent DDSP in comparison to horses with intermittent DDSP and evaluate the outcome of treatment. Objective: Horses with persistent DDSP have a different laryngohyoid position compared to those with intermittent DDSP. Horses with persistent DDSP can be returned successfully to rac...
Pérez R, Godoy C, Palma C, Muñoz L, Arboix M, Alvinerie M.A study was done to compare plasma disposition kinetics and the fecal elimination profile of doramectin (DRM) after oral or intramuscular (IM) administration in horses. Ten clinically healthy horses, 328-502 kg body weight (bw), were assigned to 2 experimental groups of 5 horses each. Group 1 was treated with an oral dose of 0.2 mg DRM/kg bw, while Group 2 was treated with 0.2 mg DRM/kg bw by IM route. Blood and fecal samples were collected at different times between 0.5h and 60 days post-treatment. After plasma and fecal drug extraction and derivatization, samples were analysed by high perfor...
Powell SE, Ramzan PH, Head MJ, Shepherd MC, Baldwin GI, Steven WN.The proximal metacarpal region is a common site of origin of lameness in the performance horse. A number of disease entities are recognised as causes of proximal metacarpal lameness but a definitive diagnosis is often elusive. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is hypothesised to offer advantages over traditional imaging modalities in the investigation of proximal metacarpal pain. Objective: To describe clinical and imaging features of cases of lameness in racehorses arising from the proximal metacarpal region in which standing MRI identified 'bone marrow oedema-type' (BMO-type) signal patterns....
Frisbie DD, Smith RK.Stem cells have received much attention in recent times because of their potential to improve healing of othropaedic problems. This manuscript presents the genesis, issues and current state of stem cell treatment in equine medicine. Current literature supports the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treatment of orthopaedic problems.
Pitel PH, Pronost S, Scrive T, Léon A, Richard E, Fortier G.Equine piroplasmosis is a tick-borne disease, the aetiological agents of which are either Theileria equi or Babesia caballi parasites. Piroplasmosis is commonly encountered in acute or sub-acute clinical forms although clinically recovered horses may remain asymptomatic but infected for several years. The clinical detection of such apparently healthy carrier horses (that serve as a host for subsequent infecting ticks), remains a worldwide challenge for controlling the spread of the disease. The aim of the present paper is to report on the detection of both T. equi and B. caballi by PCR in the ...
Hackett ES, Traub-Dargatz JL, Knowles JE, Tarr SF, Dargatz DA.Arterial blood gas analysis is widely accepted as a diagnostic tool to assess respiratory function in neonates. To the authors' knowledge, there are no published reports of arterial blood gas parameters in normal neonatal foals at altitude. Objective: To provide information on arterial blood gas parameters of normal foals born at 1500 m elevation (Fort Collins, Colorado) in the first 48 h post partum. Objective: Foals born at 1500 m will have lower PaO2 and PaCO2 than foals born at sea level due to low inspired oxygen and compensatory hyperventilation occurring at altitude. Methods: Sixteen fo...
Smith LJ, Mair TS.It is a clinical impression that horses diagnosed with a right dorsal displacement (RDD) of the large colon, are more likely to suffer from recurrent episodes of colic post operatively, compared to other forms of nonstrangulating large colon displacement. Objective: To investigate whether the type of nonstrangulating large colon displacement identified at exploratory laparotomy would influence long-term outcome. Objective: Horses identified with a RDD of the large colon at exploratory laparotomy would be more likely to experience recurrent episodes of post operative colic than other types of d...
Guschlbauer M, Hoppe S, Geburek F, Feige K, Huber K.Post operative ileus (POI) in horses is a severe complication after colic surgery. A commonly used prokinetic drug is lidocaine, which has been shown to have stimulatory effects on intestinal motility. The cellular mechanisms through which lidocaine affects smooth muscle activity are not yet known. Objective: To examine the effects of lidocaine on smooth muscle in vitro and identify mechanisms by which it may affect the contractility of intestinal smooth muscle. Objective: Ischaemia and reperfusion associated with intestinal strangulation can cause smooth muscle injury. Consequently, muscle ce...
Hodder AD, Coyne CP, Madigan JE.An 11-year-old American Buckskin mare gave birth to live triplets unattended at approximately 300 days gestation. All foals were small and dysmature, requiring intensive care. The smallest foal died 4 days after admission, the second was subjected to euthanasia 24 days after admission due to poor healing of a third metatarsal fracture. The remaining foal survived to discharge and was considered small but otherwise normal at age one year.
Chung TH, Park GB, Lim CY, Park HM, Choi GC, Youn HY, Chae JS, Hwang CY.Identification of the species and strain of dermatophyte can play an effective role in control of disease outbreaks by establishing the source of infection. Current methods of identification are based on cultural and microscopic methods, often involving weeks before a positive identification are made. A rapid molecular diagnostic method would therefore be an important laboratory technique, but requires confirmation in equine clinical practice. Objective: To test the sensitivity and specificity of molecular diagnostic methods applied to a racehorse herd from the Korean Racehorse Authority (KRA)...
Fitzgibbon CM, Du Toit N, Dixon PM.Although clinical disorders of equine maxillary cheek teeth (CT) infundibula are common, anatomical knowledge of these structures is poor. Objective: Anatomical examinations of sectioned CT infundibula will better define their shapes and sizes and allow identification of infundibular cemental variations and changes. Methods: Cheek teeth were extracted post mortem from 33 horses, aged 3-30 years, without a clinical history of dental disease. The CT were sectioned longitudinally in the bucco-palatal plane through the widest aspects of both infundibula. The infundibular surfaces were then assesse...
Sheats MK, Cook VL, Jones SL, Blikslager AT, Pease AP.The post operative response of the large colon wall after a surgically corrected large colon volvulus (LCV) has not been investigated. Objective: To use transabdominal ultrasound to monitor the post operative change in large colon wall thickness following surgical correction of LCV. Objective: A prolonged period to colon wall involution is correlated with an increased rate of post operative morbidity and mortality. Methods: A prospective clinical study including horses that presented to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for colic between September 2006 and March,...
Casey MB, Tremaine WH.With the advent of detailed oral examination in horses using dental mirrors and rigid endoscopy, secondary dentinal lesions are observed more frequently. More information regarding the association of secondary dentinal defects with apical dental disease would improve the sensitivity of oral examination as a diagnostic aid for pulpitis. Objective: To assess prevalence and severity of secondary dentinal defects observed on examination of occlusal surfaces of cheek teeth (CT) from horses showing clinical signs of pulpitis compared to asymptomatic controls. Methods: Records from all cases of equin...
Hirota K, Kakoi H, Gawahara H, Hasegawa T, Tozaki T.We characterized the SNP 53 JPN System for parentage verification during horse registry. The SNP 53 JPN System was constructed using 53 highly polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which were amplified and genotyped with 2 multiplex assays. The SNP 53 JPN System showed good resolution for 95 unrelated thoroughbreds, and the exclusion probability (PE01) for each SNP ranged from 11.5 to 23.0%, resulting in a total PE01 value of 99.996%. These results indicate that the SNP 53 JPN System is useful for parentage testing of thoroughbreds. Of the 53 SNPs, 8 SNPs could be used to exclude...
Lobigs M, Pavy M, Hall RA, Lobigs P, Cooper P, Komiya T, Toriniwa H, Petrovsky N.Advax is a polysaccharide-based adjuvant that potently stimulates vaccine immunogenicity without the increased reactogenicity seen with other adjuvants. This study investigated the immunogenicity of a novel Advax-adjuvanted Vero cell culture candidate vaccine against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in mice and horses. The results showed that, in mice, a two-immunization, low-dose (50 ng JEV antigen) regimen with adjuvanted vaccine produced solid neutralizing immunity comparable to that elicited with live ChimeriVax-JE immunization and superior to that elicited with tenfold higher doses of a ...
Saenz RA, Quinlivan M, Elton D, Macrae S, Blunden AS, Mumford JA, Daly JM, Digard P, Cullinane A, Grenfell BT, McCauley JW, Wood JL, Gog JR.A key question in pandemic influenza is the relative roles of innate immunity and target cell depletion in limiting primary infection and modulating pathology. Here, we model these interactions using detailed data from equine influenza virus infection, combining viral and immune (type I interferon) kinetics with estimates of cell depletion. The resulting dynamics indicate a powerful role for innate immunity in controlling the rapid peak in virus shedding. As a corollary, cells are much less depleted than suggested by a model of human influenza based only on virus-shedding data. We then explore...
Horváth G, Blahó M, Kriska G, Hegedüs R, Gerics B, Farkas R, Akesson S.White horses frequently suffer from malign skin cancer and visual deficiencies owing to their high sensitivity to the ultraviolet solar radiation. Furthermore, in the wild, white horses suffer a larger predation risk than dark individuals because they can more easily be detected. In spite of their greater vulnerability, white horses have been highly appreciated for centuries owing to their natural rarity. Here, we show that blood-sucking tabanid flies, known to transmit disease agents to mammals, are less attracted to white than dark horses. We also demonstrate that tabanids use reflected pola...
Reid N.A round mass 4 cm in diameter was present on the proximal rostro-lateral border of the right pinna of a 10-year-old, gelded, Paint horse. A preliminary histopathological diagnosis of a potential squamous cell carcinoma and peripheral nerve sheath tumor was made, and the lesion was resected at the base of the lateral edge of the ear. Une masse ronde de 4 cm de diamètre était présente sur le bord rostrolatéral proximal du pavillon de l’oreille droite d’un Paint horse castré âgé de 10 ans. Un diagnostic histopathologique préliminaire d’un carcinome squameux et d’une tumeur de la ...
Silveira A, Koenig JB, Arroyo LG, Trout D, Moens NM, LaMarre J, Brooks A.To determine effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on healing of wounds in the distal portion of the forelimb in horses. Methods: 6 horses. Methods: Five 6.25-cm2 superficial wounds were created over both third metacarpi of 6 horses. Forelimbs were randomly assigned to treatment (ESWT and bandage) or control (bandage only) groups. In treated limbs, each wound was treated with 625 shock wave pulses from an unfocused electrohydraulic shock wave generator. In control limbs, each wound received sham treatment. Wound appearance was recorded weekly as inflamed or healthy and scored for...
Boyce M, Malone ED, Anderson LB, Park S, Godden SM, Jenner F, Trumble TN.To determine whether triamcinolone acetonide diffuses from the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) to the navicular bursa, diffusion is direct or systemic, and addition of sodium hyaluronan has an effect on diffusion in horses. Methods: 11 adult horses without forelimb lameness. Methods: 1 randomly chosen forelimb DIPJ of each horse received an injection of 10 mg of triamcinolone acetonide plus 20 mg of sodium hyaluronan (group 1), and the contralateral forelimb DIPJ received an injection of 10 mg of triamcinolone acetonide plus 2 mL of lactated Ringer's solution (group 2). Synovial fluid samp...
Wotman KL, Utter ME.To assess the effect of treatment with a topical ophthalmic preparation of 1.2% nalbuphine solution on corneal sensitivity in clinically normal horses. Methods: 8 horses. Methods: Baseline corneal touch threshold (CTT) was measured (defined as the mean filament length [mm] at which a consistent blink response was elicited) for both eyes of each horse by use of a Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer. Subsequently, 0.2 mL of 1.2% nalbuphine solution was instilled in 1 randomly selected eye of each horse, and 0.2 mL of artificial tears solution was instilled in the contralateral eye (control treatment). ...
Noschka E, Moore JN, Peroni JF, Lewis TH, Lewis SJ, Robertson TP.To provide insights into the role of prostaglandin F(2 alpha) (PGF(2 alpha)) in the developmental stages of laminitis induced in horses by ingestion of black walnut heartwood extract (BWHE). Methods: 10 adult mixed-breed horses. Methods: Horses were separated into 2 groups and were euthanatized at 12 hours after placebo (water) administration (control horses) or after BWHE administration and development of Obel grade 1 laminitis. Blood samples were obtained to determine plasma PGF(2 alpha) concentrations hourly for the first 4 hours and subsequently every 2 hours after substance administration...
McFarlane D, Hale GM, Johnson EM, Maxwell LK.To determine effects of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (Cushing's disease) and age on fecal egg count and time to egg reappearance after anthelmintic treatment in horses residing in similar environments. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: 29 healthy horses (4 to 35 years old) and 13 horses with PPID (13 to 33 years old). Methods: Fecal egg counts were performed by use of a modified Wisconsin flotation method at 2-week intervals before and after ivermectin treatment. Results: Horses with PPID had higher fecal egg counts before and 8, 10, and 12 weeks after ivermectin treatment, com...
Lester GD, Alleman AR, Raskin RE, Meyer JC.Pancytopenia was observed in two 3-year-old geldings and one 11-year-old mare. All horses had a brief history (2 days to 4 weeks) of fever, anorexia, and depression. One of the three horses had blast cells present on a peripheral blood smear. Examination of the bone marrow showed substantial infiltration with neoplastic lymphoid cells. At necropsy, neoplastic cells were restricted to the bone marrow in one horse, present in bone marrow, liver, and spleen in the second horse, and reported in multiple tissues in the third horse, including bone marrow, kidneys, lung, myocardium and lymph nodes. T...
Rocha CC, Kawai GKV, de Agostini Losano JD, Angrimani DSR, Rui BR, de Cássia Bicudo L, da Silva BDCS, Alonso MA, Mendes CM....Semen biotechniques may impair sperm quality due to excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, products of the oxidative reaction, especially involving lipids (e.g., malondialdehyde - MDA), may be even more harmful to sperm. Carnosine, previously reported to be present in seminal plasma of several species, may be a key factor on sperm tolerance to biotechniques by counterattacking the deleterious influence of MDA. Therefore, the aim of this study was to measure the levels of carnosine present in equine seminal plasma and relate these findings with sperm function and o...
Durham AE.Five ponies and one donkey with hyperlipaemia that occurred secondarily to a variety of primary clinical conditions were treated with lipid-free partial parenteral nutrition comprising equal volumes of 50 per cent glucose and 15 per cent amino acids. The infusion supplied energy and protein at rates of 2.6 kJ/kg per hour and 34.3 mg/kg per hour, respectively. In all six cases there was a prompt and sustained decrease in serum concentrations of triglyceride. In four of the six cases a good response to treatment of the primary condition was also seen and the subjects were discharged successfully...
Mori A, De Benedictis P, Marciano S, Zecchin B, Zuin A, Zecchin B, Capua I, Cattoli G.Equine rhinitis A and B viruses (ERAV and ERBV) are respiratory viruses of horses belonging to the family Picornaviridae. Although these viruses are considered to cause respiratory disease in horses and are potentially infectious for humans, little is known about their prevalence and pathogenesis. Virus isolation is often unsuccessful due to their inefficient growth and lack of cytopathic effect in cell cultures. Therefore, molecular assays should be considered as the method of choice to detect infection in symptomatic or apparently healthy horses. In the present study, a novel real-time duple...
McIlwraith CW.This paper reviews the current status of diagnostic and surgical arthroscopy in the horse. Arthroscopy has been used as a diagnostic aid since 1974 and is useful for evaluation of abnormalities in synovial membrane and articular cartilage. Surgical arthroscopy is a more recent advance that has replaced conventional arthrotomy in 90 per cent of the author's cases. Clinical conditions currently being treated using arthroscopic techniques rather than arthrotomy include all chip fractures in the carpus, chip fractures of the first phalanx, chronic proliferative synovitis in the fetlock and osteoch...
Jann HW, Hart JC, Stein LE, Ritchey J, Blaik M, Payton M, Fackelman GE, Rezabek GB, Mann BK.To assess the effects of a crosslinked, modified hyaluronic acid (xCMHA-S) gel on equine tendon healing using an in vivo surgical model. Methods: In vivo experimental study. Methods: Adult horses (n = 5). Methods: Full thickness bilateral forelimb window tenectomies were surgically created in both forelimb superficial digital flexor tendons and xCMHA-S gel was implanted intraoperatively into the right forelimb lesion of each horse whereas the left forelimb served as the untreated control. Healing was monitored by serial ultrasound examinations every 14 days over the course of the 84 day st...
Collodel G, Rinaldi S, Moretti E, Fontani V, Castagna A, Iacoponi F, Terzuoli G, C뻝u F, Careddu GM, Cossu I, Passino ES.The Radio Electric Asymmetric Conveyer (REAC) has been mostly applied to treat symptoms related to psychological stress. In the study, we demonstrated the effect of REAC-Veterinary Neuro Psycho Physical Optimization (VNPPO) treatment protocol on sperm parameters of subfertile (n=11) and fertile (n=4) stallions. Subfertile stallions showed a reduced sperm concentration, progressive motility and normal morphology compared to fertile stallions. An increase in progressive sperm motility and quality of sperm morphology was found in subfertile stallions after the REAC-VNPPO treatment. The positive e...
Hess T, Braun S, Herkelman K.Exercise stimulates the release of inflammatory cytokines and supplementation with n-3 fatty acids reduces inflammation. The effects of different doses of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on inflammation in polo horses submitted to field lactate threshold tests (LT) were analyzed. We hypothesized that higher doses of DHA would reduce postexercise inflammation. Twenty polo horses were assigned to different treatments: control group fed (n = 5) grain and hay, 3 treatment groups (n = 5) fed 10, 20, or 50 g/day of DHA with grain and free choice hay during 60 days. Horses underwent LT tests before st...
Colombo I, Mislei B, Mari G, Iacono E, Merlo B.Many mares are susceptible to persistent mating-induced endometritis (PMIE), an important cause of reduced fertility. Platelet lysate (PL) derives from freeze-thawing platelets after concentration, so that growth factors are released from the platelets. Among the advantages of PL compared to platelet-rich plasma (PRP), it can be frozen stored and allogenic use for PL might also be conceivable. Platelet-rich plasma beneficially reduced inflammatory response in PMIE mares when administered 24 h pre- or 4 h post-AI. The aim of this study was to test the effect of PL on inflammatory uterine resp...
Gamboa S, Machado-Faria M, Ramalho-Santos J.The Puro Sangue Lusitano (PSL) is the major national breed of horse in Portugal, but no studies exist on its seminal characteristics, or on the possibility of conserving semen for future use. The aim of this study was to evaluate semen parameters, fertility and the aptness to semen preservation in Lusitano Stallions. In order to compare characteristics defined by a single or by multiple semen collections per stallion 152 ejaculates obtained from 152 Lusitano stallions presented at an annual breeding soundness examination as well as data related to 371 ejaculates obtained from 9 PSL were analyz...
Taouji S, Nomura I, Giguère S, Tomomitsu S, Kakuda T, Ganne V, Takaï S.Amino acid 65-78 of membrane protein VapA of the facultative intracellular Rhodococcus equi contained an immunodominant N-terminal B-cell epitope (N15Y peptide). Safety and immunogenecity of a synthetic peptide consisting of the amino acid 65-78 of VapA (peptide N15Y) were evaluated first in mice and in healthy adult horses. A single dose of a peptide-VapA vaccine induced and only in presence of adjuvant, specific IgG antibodies in sera of mice. After challenge with virulent R. equi 3 weeks after immunization, tissue clearance was more delayed in immunized mice than in control mice. An antibod...
Ellendorff F, Schams D.The neuroendocrine reflex theory of milk ejection was investigated in the horse under natural suckling conditions. To this end 12 lactating mares were provided with acute jugular catheters and with intramammary pressure (IMP) recording catheters. The foal had free access to the contralateral mammary complex. Intramammary pressure could thus be recorded while blood was drawn simultaneously for oxytocin analysis from the undisturbed animal. Suckling periods associated with a characteristic increase in IMP lasted significantly longer than unsuccessful nursing attempts. Elements of successful suck...
Meade BJ, Timoney PJ, Donahue JM, Branscum AJ, Ford R, Rowe R.In 1998, a newly identified bacterium Taylorella asinigenitalis was isolated from the external genitalia and reproductive tracts of nurse mares, a stallion and donkey jacks in Kentucky. An extensive regulatory effort was implemented to contain the outbreak including the tracing and testing of 232 horses and donkeys on 58 premises. T. asinigenitalis was isolated from the reproductive tract of 10 adult equids, including two donkey jacks, one Paint Quarter-horse stallion and seven draft-type breeding mares. None of the infected horses had clinical signs of reproductive tract disease. The odds of ...
Turlo AJ, McDermott BT, Barr ED, Riggs CM, Boyde A, Pinchbeck GL, Clegg PD.Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease of the entire joint but the relationship between pathological events in various joint tissues is poorly understood. We examined concurrent changes in bone, cartilage, and synovium in a naturally occurring equine model of joint degeneration. Joints (n = 64) were grossly assessed for palmar/plantar osteochondral disease (POD) in racehorses that required euthanasia for unrelated reasons and assigned a grade of 0 (n = 34), 1 (n = 17), 2 or 3 (n = 13) using a recognized grading scheme. Synovium, cartilage, and subchondral bone were collected for hist...
Vervuert I, Brüssow N, Bochnia M, Cí·¯ord D, Coenen M.The aims of this study were to monitor electromyographic (EMG) activity of masseter muscle in healthy horses fed (i) different types of roughage and (ii) maize after different hay allocations. Four horses were offered the following three diets ad libitum: hay, haylage or straw/alfalfa chaff (SAC). In a second trial, four horses were fed cracked maize (CM) and hay in three different orders: (i) CM after a 12-h overnight fast; (ii) CM immediately after restricted hay intake (0.6 kg hay/100 kg BW); or 3) CM after hay intake ad libitum. The activity of the masseter muscle was determined by EMG...
Monreal L, Villatoro AJ, Monreal M, Espada Y, Anglés AM, Ruiz-Gopegui R.Thirty healthy male horses were allotted to 3 groups and treated blindly during 4 days. Group-1 horses received unfractioned calcium heparin (100 IU/kg of body weight, SC, q 12 h). Group-2 horses received a single dose of a low-molecular-weight heparin (50 anti-Xa IU/kg, SC) every morning, and a similar volume of saline solution every evening. Group-3 horses received the vehicle (saline solution), SC, every 12 hours. Citrated and EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples were collected before starting the medication (T-0) and once daily 3 hours after each morning injection (T-3, T-27, T-51, and T-75)....
O'Callaghan MW, Hornof WJ, Fisher PE, Rabbe OG.This study describes the development of a radioaerosol technique for horses using 99mtechnetium-DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentacetate). In 24 normal, adult horses, very satisfactory ventilation images were obtained with the technique. Four-minute administrations of the aerosol resulted in a mean uptake of radioactivity in the lung fields of 3.02 mCi, with mean maximum counts (+/- sd) of 159,800 +/- 75,000 per camera field. The mean clearance half-time for the 99mtechnetium-DTPA from the lung fields was 55.6 +/- 14.2 mins which is very similar to figures obtained for normal human and dog lungs. T...
Gentry LR, Thompson DL, Gentry GT, Davis KA, Godke RA.Mares that had previously been fed to attain body condition scores (BCS) of 7.5 to 8.5 (high) or 3.0 to 3.5 (low) were used to determine the interaction of BCS with the responses to 1) administration of equine somatotropin (eST) daily for 14 d beginning January 20 followed by administration of GnRH analog (GnRHa) daily for 21 d and 2) 4-d treatment with dexamethasone later in the spring when mares in low BCS had begun to ovulate. The majority of mares with high BCS continued to cycle throughout the winter, as evidenced by larger ovaries (P < 0.002), more corpora lutea (P < 0.05), greater proge...
Nixon J.Equine consultant, Jane Nixon, attended the first equine biosecurity course at the British Racing School in November last year, organised by Whorl Publishing. Here, she reports on some of the issues covered.
Escartin-Peña M, Bautista-Garfias CR.Sera from 41 horses and 159 donkeys, from twelve States of México, were tested to ascertain anti-Gasterophilus circulating antibodies by double immunodiffusion (DD), counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), indirect haemagglutination (IH), thin layer immunoassay (TIA) and diffusion-in-gel ELISA (DIG-ELISA) methods using crude somatic antigen from third instar larvae of G. intestinalis (DeGeer). At necropsy, 33/41 horses and 24/159 donkeys were found to be parasitized by G. intestinalis and/or G. nasalis (L.). Gasterophilus intestinalis was the species most commonly found in the equines. Analysis o...
Palacios H, Hibarren I, Olalla MJ, Cala V.The diagnosis of lead poisoning in horses living on farmland in the vicinity of a battery recycling plant was based on clinical signs as well as on laboratory findings. Chemical analysis of six surface soils (0-15 cm) and herbage samples taken at different distances to the recycling plant showed very high total lead levels in the closest sites to the facility and a clear decrease with distance. Total lead levels in soil samples ranged from 127 to 5657 mg kg(-1), with more than 70% of lead extractable by EDTA in the most polluted soils. Lead levels in the aerial part of herbage samples were in ...
Honnas CM, Spensley MS, Laverty S, Blanchard PC.An 18-year-old mare, 285 days pregnant, was evaluated for apparent abdominal pain of 8 hours' duration. A large volume of sanguinous fluid was obtained on abdominocentesis, and digital vaginal examination revealed a dilated cervix and blood in the uterus. Abdominal palpation per rectum revealed the uterus to be large and distended with fluid. Ultrasonography revealed a dead fetus on the floor of the cranial portion of the abdomen. The mare was euthanatized, and necropsy confirmed that the uterus had ruptured, and that the fetus, within its chorioallantois, was in the abdomen. The amniotic sac ...
Kailaanmäki A, Kinnunen T, Kwok WW, Rytkönen-Nissinen M, Randell J, Virtanen T.The responses of allergen-specific CD4(+) T cells of allergic and healthy individuals are still incompletely understood. Our objective was to investigate the functional and phenotypic properties of CD4(+) T cells of horse-allergic and healthy subjects specific to the immunodominant epitope region of the major horse allergen Equ c 1. Specific T-cell lines (TCLs) and clones were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells with Equ c 1(143-160), the peptide containing the immunodominant epitope region of Equ c 1. The frequency, proliferative response, cytokine production and HLA restriction...
Fischer BL, Ludders JW, Asakawa M, Fortier LA, Fubini SL, Nixon AJ, Radcliffe RM, Erb HN.To compare the analgesic efficacy of buprenorphine plus detomidine with that of morphine plus detomidine when administered epidurally in horses undergoing bilateral stifle arthroscopy. Methods: Prospective, randomized, blinded clinical trial. Methods: Twelve healthy adult horses participating in an orthopedic research study. Group M (n = 6) received morphine (0.2 mg kg(-1)) and detomidine (0.15 mg kg(-1)) epidurally; group B (n = 6) received buprenorphine (0.005 mg kg(-1)) and detomidine (0.15 mg kg(-1)) epidurally. Methods: Horses received one of two epidural treatments following induction of...
Black HE.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs represent the most heavily prescribed and used class of drugs in human medicine. Most are derivatives of either salicylates, propionic acid, indoleacetic acid, anthranilic acid, pyrazolone, or oxicams. They depress the synthesis of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid by reversible inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase. In the kidney, prostaglandins PGE2 and PGI2 modulate the vasoconstrictor effects of angiotensin II, norepinephrine, and vasopressin. In the presence of volume contraction, anesthesia, or disease states associated with high levels of these...
Merritt AM, Panzer RB, Lester GD, Burrow JA.The pelvic flexure is the midpoint of the equine large colon that marks the junction of dorsal and ventral components. Previous studies of intraluminal pressure in this region indicate that it could be an important motility control center. The present study was undertaken to expand our knowledge of normal myoelectric activity around the pelvic flexure region. Eight bipolar silver wire electrodes were surgically fixed at 5-cm intervals to the colonic serosa of five adult horses, starting 30 cm oral to the pelvic flexure on the left ventral colon and ending 15 cm aboral to the pelvic flexure on ...
Delesalle C, Deprez P, Schuurkes JA, Lefebvre RA.The use of human prokinetic drugs in colic horses leads to inconsistent results. This might be related to differences in gastrointestinal receptor populations. The motor effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin) on the equine mid-jejunum were therefore studied. Longitudinal muscle preparations were set up for isotonic measurement. 5-HT induced tonic contractions with superimposed phasic activity; these responses were not influenced by tetrodotoxin and atropine, suggesting a non-neurogenic, non-cholinergic pathway. The 5-HT receptor antagonists GR 127935 (5-HT(1B,D)), ketanserin (5-HT(2A...
Komáromy AM, Andrew SE, Brooks DE, Detrisac CJ, Gelatt KN.A periocular nodular sarcoid of the right upper and lower eyelids was diagnosed in an 11-year-old Thoroughbred mare. Computed tomography scan revealed the extent of the tumor. The mass was surgically debulked under general anesthesia, and the affected periocular region was injected intralesionally with Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin (BCG). An emulsion of cell wall fractions was used, which has been modified to reduce the toxic and allergic effect, but retain the antitumor activity. In total, five injections were performed at 2-week intervals. At follow-up 7 months after the last BCG injection...
