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.
Collins N, Milne E, Hahn C, Dixon P.The establishment of a single validated endoscopic laryngeal grading system for assessing recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) is desirable to facilitate direct comparisons between the findings of different clinical and research groups worldwide. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between the Havemeyer endoscopic laryngeal grading system and histopathological changes consistent with RLN in the left cricoarytenoideus dorsalis (CAD) muscle of horses of different breeds with a full range of clinical severities of RLN, i.e., from normal endoscopic laryngeal function to comp...
Hopf S, Buchalla R, Elhöft H, Rubarth O, Börm W.We present a rare case of a combined dislocated odontoid dens fracture type II (Anderson/D'Alonzo) and rotational atlantoaxial luxation in a 15-year-old girl who was involved in a riding accident.She fell off her horse after it had stopped suddenly, losing consciousness for a few minutes. At presentation in the hospital, she had no complaints other than limited, painful neck movement. Radiologically, a posterior dislocation of an odontoid type II fracture (Anderson/D'Alonzo) was found. Computed tomography reconstruction demonstrated a rotational, hooklike fixed luxation of the left atlantoaxia...
Gorgas D, Luder P, Lang J, Doherr MG, Ueltschi G, Kircher P.Nuclear bone scintigraphy is commonly used in the diagnosis of sacroiliac disease in horses. The aim of the present retrospective study was to determine if there was an association between radiopharmaceutical uptake pattern and radiographic appearance of the sacroiliac region in horses. Seventy-nine horses undergoing bone scintigraphy with Tc-99 m-HDP and radiography of the pelvis because of lameness or poor performance were studied. Subjective and semiquantitative methods were used to characterize and compare radiopharmaceutical uptake between horses. Ventrodorsal radiographs of the region we...
Hilton H, Puchalski SM, Aleman M.Equine temporohyoid osteoarthropathy is characterized by progressive osseous proliferation of the temporohyoid articulation and surrounding structures. The diagnosis has generally been made using radiography and endoscopy of the guttural pouch. Recently, computed tomography (CT) has been used in the diagnosis of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy. This study was performed to determine the CT imaging characteristics of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy and to compare these to radiographic and endoscopic findings. CT scans from 16 horses with a final diagnosis of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy were review...
Patel JR, Heldens JG.Since the refinement of tissue culture techniques for virus isolation and propagation from the mid 1960s onwards, veterinary virology has received much academic and industrial interest, and has now become a major global industry largely centred on vaccine development against economically important virus diseases of food animals. Bio-tech approaches have been widely used for improved vaccines development. While many viral diseases are controlled through vaccination, many still lack safe and efficacious vaccines. Additional challenges faced by academia, industry and governments are likely to com...
Lima-Neto JF, Fernandes CB, Alvarenga MA, Golim MA, Landim-Alvarenga FC.This experiment aimed to study equine fibroblasts in culture analyzing and the cell cycle and viability of cells pre- and post-freezing. Skin fragments were obtained from 6 horses and cultured in DMEM high glucose + 10% FCS in 5% CO(2) until the beginning of confluence. Two passages were performed before freezing. Cells subjected to serum starvation (0.5% FCS) were analyzed for viability and cell cycle at 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144 and 168 h of culture. For the confluent groups, cells were analyzed at the moment they achieved confluence. Cellular viability was assisted with Hoescht 33342 and pro...
Santos LC, de Moraes AN, Saito ME.To compare the intraarticular (IA) analgesic effects of ropivacaine and morphine in horses with experimentally induced synovitis. Methods: Randomized, blinded cross-over design. Methods: Twelve healthy mixed breed horses between 8-15 years old. Methods: Synovitis was induced in the left radio-carpal joint with an injection of lipopolysaccharide (Escherichia coli 055:B5). Six hours later, the horses were treated with an IA injection of 40 mg of ropivacaine (ROPI), 40 mg of morphine (MOR), 20 mg of ropivacaine added to 20 mg of morphine in saline (RM) or 4 mL of saline (SAL), as control. Analges...
Mosing M, Kuemmerle JM, Dadak A, Moens YP.A case of a pony with severe cyanide intoxication as a result of cherry ingestion is presented. General anaesthesia was performed for colic surgery. Severe metabolic lactate acidosis in combination with a high arterial oxygen partial pressure and clinically good peripheral perfusion parameters were the remarkable signs during anaesthesia. Severe hypothermia was obvious during recovery. Ten hours post-surgery the pony was euthanized as a result of neurological signs. The diagnosis of cyanide intoxication was made post-mortem. Conclusions: Cherry ingestion can lead to lethal cyanide intoxication...
Schauvliege S, Van den Eede A, Duchateau L, Pille F, Vlaminck L, Gasthuys F.To compare cardiac output () measurements using lithium dilution (LiDCO) and pulse contour analysis (PulseCO) techniques in isoflurane-anaesthetized ponies before and during the administration of different inotropic/vasoactive drugs. Methods: Prospective randomized experimental cross-over trial. Methods: Six ponies aged 5.0 +/- 1.6 (4-6.5) years and weighing 286 +/- 53 (212-368) kg. Methods: After sedation (romifidine) and induction (midazolam + ketamine), anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. After 90 minutes (= T0), one of four treatments was administered: saline 0.1 mL kg(-1...
Miragliotta V, Raphaël K, Ipiña Z, Lussier JG, Theoret CL.Wound healing in horses is complicated, particularly when wounds are on the limb. The objectives of this study were to clone equine thrombospondin II (THBS2) and secreted protein acidic and cysteine-rich (SPARC) cDNAs and to compare the spatiotemporal expression of mRNAs and proteins during repair of body and limb wounds. These molecules were targeted in view of their potential biological contribution to angiogenesis, which is exacerbated during the repair of limb wounds in horses. Cloning was achieved by screening size-selected cDNA libraries previously derived from 7-day-old wounds. Expressi...
Pisseri F, Bertoli A, Nardoni S, Pinto L, Pistelli L, Guidi G, Mancianti F.Dermatophytes are a group of keratinophilic and keratinolytic molds, some of which are responsible for ringworm. Among them Trichophyton equinum, which mostly infects equids, can cause extensive outbreaks in stud farms. The conventional treatment of equine trichophytosis is topic, based upon medicated shampoos to reduce the spread of infection among the animals. Nevertheless the popularity of phytotherapy is at an all-time peak, and the interest for natural alternatives or complements to conventional drug therapy is challenging both in human and veterinary field. Among herbal remedia Tea Tree ...
Rhee HS, Steel CM, Derksen FJ, Robinson NE, Hoh JF.We used immunohistochemistry to examine myosin heavy-chain (MyHC)-based fiber-type profiles of the right and left cricoarytenoideus dorsalis (CAD) and arytenoideus transversus (TrA) muscles of six horses without laryngoscopic evidence of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN). Results showed that CAD and TrA muscles have the same slow, 2a, and 2x fibers as equine limb muscles, but not the faster contracting fibers expressing extraocular and 2B MyHCs found in laryngeal muscles of small mammals. Muscles from three horses showed fiber-type grouping bilaterally in the TrA muscles, but only in the le...
Rose NS, Northrop AJ, Brigden CV, Martin JH.The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of two different 8-week stretching regimes on stride length (SL) and range of motion (ROM) in the equine trot. Eighteen horses were divided into three matched groups: a 6 days/week stretching regime (6DSR), a 3 days/week stretching regime (3DSR) and a control no-stretching regime (NSR). SL and ROM data were collected at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 for trot in-hand. Stretching had no significant effect on SL. A number of significant differences were found in joint ROM between treatments in the shoulder, stifle and hock, suggesting some negative biome...
Goodwin D, McGreevy P, Waran N, McLean A.The long-held belief that human dominance and equine submission are key to successful training and that the horse must be taught to 'respect' the trainer infers that force is often used during training. Many horses respond by trialling unwelcome evasions, resistances and flight responses, which readily become established. When unable to cope with problem behaviours, some handlers in the past might have been encouraged to use harsh methods or devices while others may have called in a so-called 'good horseman' or 'horse whisperer' to remediate the horse. Frequently, the approaches such practitio...
Keeling LJ, Jonare L, Lanneborn L.The heart rates (HR) of horses and the people leading them (10 horses, 20 people), and riding them (17 horses, 17 people), were recorded in an indoor arena. The horses were Swedish leisure horses of mixed ages, sex and breed. All except two of the people were female and all were of mixed age and riding experience. Each horse-human pair walked or rode between points A and B (30m) four times on each test occasion. However, just before the fourth pass, participants were told that an umbrella would be opened as they rode, or led, the horse past the assistant. The umbrella was not opened, so this p...
Desantis S, Ventriglia G, Zizza S, De Santis T, Di Summa A, De Metrio G, Dell'aquila ME.Equine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were analyzed by means of 13 lectins to evaluate their glycoconjugate patterns and to verify differences between COCs recovered with compact (Cp) and expanded (Exp) cumulus. Cumulus cells showed a similar staining pattern in both Cp and Exp COCs with all lectins used, except for a higher reactivity with SNA and GSA II in Cp COCs and SBA in Exp COCs. The zona pellucida (ZP) showed (1) uniform staining with MAL II, RCA(120), and SBA in both Cp and Exp COCs, (2) trilaminar binding pattern with WGA as well as higher Con A reactivity in the outer region of bot...
Moretti A, Mangili V, Salvatori R, Maresca C, Scoccia E, Torina A, Moretta I, Gabrielli S, Tampieri MP, Pietrobelli M.Babesia caballi and Theileria equi are the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis. In this preliminary epidemiological study, 412 horses reared in central and northern Italy were sampled and three diagnostic methods compared, namely, the microscopy, the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and a PCR. Possible risk factors (such as area, season, breed, activity, sex, age, and grazing) associated with serological positivity were evaluated. A seroprevalence of 68.4% was found: 12.4% of the animals had anti-T. equi antibodies, 17.9% anti-B. caballi antibodies and 38.1% had antibodies agains...
Duz M, Whittaker AG, Love S, Parkin TD, Hughes KJ.Measurement of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) concentration and pH in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is useful for detection and monitoring of asthma in humans. In contrast, limited information on the use of these parameters for the investigation of lower airway inflammation (LAI) is available for horses. Aims of the current study were to investigate the intra- and inter-day variations of EBC H(2)O(2) concentration and pH in horses and establish any relationship(s) with LAI. Both intra- and inter-day variability of EBC H(2)O(2) concentration were large, while those of pH were small. No signific...
Manso Filho HC, McKeever KH, Gordon ME, Manso HE, Lagakos WS, Wu G, Watford M.Glutamine is concentrated within skeletal muscle, where it has been proposed to play a regulatory role in maintaining protein homeostasis. The work presented here addressed the hypothesis that glutamine would be the most abundant free alpha-AA in plasma and skeletal muscle in the foal during the first year of life. Glycine, however, was the most abundant free alpha-AA in plasma at birth and between 3 and 12 mo of age. The concentration of glutamine, the second most abundant AA at birth, increased through the first 7 d (P < 0.05) and then returned to values similar to those at birth. This re...
Piccione G, Assenza A, Borruso M, Fazio F, Caola G.In the sport field, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are important for the physical performance during the aerobic exercise of short intensity and long duration. In man, rat, goat and in the sedentary horse studies on the chronometabolism showed the presence of a circadian rhythm of the plasmatic concentration of NEFA while data for the athletic horse are lacking. To define a chronogram helpful for a specific planning and the differentiation of the training programmme in the athletic horse, the circadian pattern of some fatty acids (NEFA, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids...
von Bargen K, Haas A.The soil actinomycete Rhodococcus equi is a pulmonary pathogen of young horses and AIDS patients. As a facultative intracellular bacterium, R. equi survives and multiplies in macrophages and establishes its specific niche inside the host cell. Recent research into chromosomal virulence factors and into the role of virulence plasmids in infection and host tropism has presented novel aspects of R. equi infection biology and pathogenicity. This review will focus on new findings in R. equi biology, the trafficking of R. equi-containing vacuoles inside host cells, factors involved in virulence and ...
Paryani MR, Gilanpour H.The Caspian miniature horse is one of the rare small breeds in the north of Iran. In the present study, the position of the heart and its valves were determined topographically in 4 miniature horses. We found that Caspian miniature horses have general similarities, with certain topographical variability, with other horses.
Ginther OJ, Almamun M, Shahiduzzaman AK, Beg MA.The mechanism for a reported temporal association between ovulation and a transient disruption in the periovulatory increase in LH concentrations was studied in nine mares treated with human chorionic gonadotropin when the preovulatory follicle was >/=32mm. Examinations for ovulation detection and blood collection were done at 2-h intervals and the results were retrospectively centralized to ovulation (Hour 0). Concentrations of LH began to increase (P<0.03) rapidly at Hour -18, decreased (P<0.04) between Hours 0 and 6, and again increased (P<0.0001) after Hour 12. A progressive de...
Altermatt JL, Suh TK, Stokes JE, Carnevale EM.Young (4 to 9 yr) and old (>or=20 yr) mares were treated with equine follicle-stimulating hormone (eFSH), and oocytes were collected for intracytoplasmic sperm injections (ICSI). Objectives were to compare: (1) number, morphology and developmental potential of oocytes collected from young v. old mares from cycles with or without exogenous eFSH and (2) oocyte morphology parameters with developmental competence. Oocytes were collected from preovulatory follicles 20 to 24 h after administration of recombinant equine LH and imaged before ICSI for morphological measurements. After ICSI, embryo d...
Fennell L, Church S, Tyrell D, Forbes G, Charles J, McCowan C, Savage C.A 10-month-old Friesian filly had a presentation that was consistent with chronic left- and right-sided congestive heart failure. Clinical pathology findings included abnormal haematological and biochemical variables, abnormal blood gas values and increased serum concentration of cardiac troponin I. Echocardiography revealed cardiac chamber dilation and dextropositioning of the aorta. Radiography revealed a generally enlarged heart and pulmonary interstitial infiltration. These findings were supported at necropsy and the diagnosis of double-outlet right ventricle was confirmed. The pathologica...
Uller C, Lewis J.The ability to select the greater numerosity over another in small sets seems to stem from the calculation of which set contains more, and has been taken as evidence of a primordial representation at the roots of the primate numerical system. We tested 56 horses (Equus caballus) in a paradigm previously used with human infants and nonhuman primates. Horses saw two quantities paired in contrasts-2 versus 1, 3 versus 2, 6 versus 4 and a control for volume, 2 versus 1 big-and had to make a choice by snout touching the container holding the numerosity selected. The horses spontaneously selected th...
Hardy J, Robertson JT, Wilkie DA.Ischemic optic neuropathy accompanied by blindness was induced in 2 horses after surgical occlusion of the external and internal carotid and greater palatine arteries, performed as part of the management of guttural pouch mycosis. The blindness was acute and unilateral and may have been caused by ischemic retinal damage. Vascular occlusion is a recommended procedure for treatment of guttural pouch mycosis. Retinal damage and blindness are a possible complication if all possible sources of hemorrhage are occluded.
Blissitt KJ, Bonagura JD.Thirty-two horses with cardiac murmurs typical of tricuspid, mitral and aortic regurgitation were studied using colour flow Doppler echocardiography. The dimensions and duration of any regurgitant signals, recorded at the cardiac valve suspected as being the site of origin of the murmur, were measured. Results were compared with flow signals described at the valves of normal horses (Blissitt and Bonagura 1995). Horses with murmurs suggestive of tricuspid (n = 8) and aortic (n = 8) regurgitation showed larger regurgitant signals at the tricuspid and aortic valves respectively, than has been rep...
Bueno AC, Seahorn TL, Cornick-Seahorn J, Horohov DW, Moore RM.To quantify plasma and urine nitric oxide (NO) concentrations before and after low-dose endotoxin infusion in horses. Methods: 11 healthy adult female horses. Procedure-Eight horses were given endotoxin (35 ng/kg of body weight,i.v.) over 30 minutes. Three sentinel horses received an equivalent volume of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution over the same time. Clinical signs of disease and hemodynamic variables were recorded, and urine and plasma samples were obtained to measure NO concentrations prior to endotoxin infusion (t = 0) and every hour until postinfusion hour (PIH) 6, then every 2 hours unti...
Jann HW, Rains JR.The location and size of 11 retained testes were accurately determined ultrasonographically. There was 100% correlation between the location of the testis determined by ultrasound vs that determined by surgery. Testicular size determined presurgically in all cases closely approximated the actual size obtained by gross measurement of the excised testis. The cryptorchid testicular echotexture was less dense than that of the normal descended testicles, but was easily identified. Ultrasonographic evaluations were completed by use of an ultrasound base unit with attached 5-MHz transrectal transduce...
Kamerling SG, Dequick DJ, Weckman TJ, Sprinkle FP, Tobin T.The effects of procaine, mepivacaine and phenylbutazone on pain perception in the equine were studied using two behavioral assays of nociception; the thermal evoked hoof withdrawal reflex and skin twitch reflex. Pain perception threshold was measured as the latency from onset of thermal stimuli to reflex withdrawal of the forelimb or contraction of the cutaneous musculature. Procaine 2% and mepivacaine 2% prolonged the hoof withdrawal reflex latency when administered locally by producing a block of the palmar and metacarpal nerves. Significant analgesia lasted 90 min and 210 min for procaine a...
DiVincenzo MJ, Bonagura JD, Rings L, Burns TA, Cianciolo RE, Kohnken R.An 8-month-old Hanoverian gelding was presented with a history of cardiac murmurs that were not apparent as a foal nor reported at the time of castration. Major echocardiographic findings included mitral valvular thickening, functional stenosis, and mitral regurgitation of sufficient severity to cause diastolic and systolic cardiac murmurs, left-sided volume overload, and pulmonary hypertension. Due to the hemodynamic severity of the lesion and poor prognosis for future performance and longevity, euthanasia was elected. On gross postmortem examination, there was focal fibrous epicarditis affec...
Furr M, Kennedy T.Ponazuril is used for the treatment of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Coadministration of ponazuril with oil could result in higher serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of ponazuril. Objective: Coadministration of corn oil will result in higher serum and CSF concentrations of ponazuril than when ponazuril is administered alone. Methods: Ten resident university-owned adult horses of either sex and >2 years of age. Methods: Cohort study. Ponazuril oral paste (5 mg/kg BW; ponazuril treatment group (PON); n = 5), or ponazuril oral paste (5 mg/kg BW; ponazuril and oil tre...
Christmann U, Hite RD, Tan RH, Thatcher CD, Witonsky SG, Werre SR, Buechner-Maxwell VA.To evaluate the phospholipid composition and function of surfactant in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) at various clinical stages and compare these properties with findings in horses without RAO. Methods: 7 horses with confirmed RAO and 7 without RAO (non-RAO horses). Methods: Pairs of RAO-affected and non-RAO horses were evaluated before, during, and after exposure to hay. Evaluations included clinical scoring, lung function testing, airway endoscopy, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) absolute and differential cell counts. Cell-free BALF was separated into crude surfactan...
Arnold CE, Love CC.Intraluminal masses in the oviduct might cause infertility and/or subfertility in mares by preventing transport of ova, sperm, or both, to the site of fertilization or the embryo into the uterus. Currently, there is no clinical test for oviductal patency in mares. The objective was to determine if the passage of microspheres from the oviduct to the uterus was associated with the presence or absence of intraluminal masses. In this trial, a standing laparoscopic technique was used to cannulate the oviducts and instill 15-μm fluorescent beads in 16 light-breed mares. At 48 hours after surgery, u...
Barrett MF, McIlwraith CW, Contino EK, Park RD, Kawcak CE, Frisbie DD, zumBrunnen JR.OBJECTIVE To investigate potential associations between repository radiographic findings and subsequent performance of Quarter Horses competing in cutting events. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SAMPLE Repository radiographs (ie, radiographs obtained at the time of sale) for 343 client-owned horses. PROCEDURES Repository radiographic findings were compared with objective measures of performance, including the likelihood of competing; the likelihood of earning money as a 3-year-old, as a 4-year-old, and as a 3- and 4-year-old combined; and the amount of money earned as a 3-year-old, as a 4-y...
Ward NI, Savage JM.The elemental (Br, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V, and Zn) content of blood and wool or hair from animals (sheep, horses and alpacas) exposed to motor vehicle emissions alongside the London Orbital (M25) motorway is reported. Elemental values were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) quality control assessment using flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy (for Pb, correlation coefficients of whole blood r = +0.87, and hair r = +0.82), and replicate (n = 10) analysis of the international reference material IAEA A13 Animal Blood. For Pb very good agreement was obta...
Christley RM, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ, Reid SW, Hodgson JL.Cytological and bacteriological results from tracheal fluid samples obtained endoscopically using a telescoping, plugged catheter (TPC) were compared with results from samples collected by percutaneous transtracheal aspiration (PTA). The TPC technique and PTA were performed in random order on 9 healthy Standardbred geldings. Three weeks later the procedures were performed on the same horses in the reverse order. The presence of oropharyngeal contamination was determined by quantitative bacteriology and quantification of squamous epithelial cells (SEC)/ml sample. The relative numbers of macroph...
Hallamaa R, Batchu K.Lipids have become an important target for searching new biomarkers typical of different autoimmune and allergic diseases. The most common allergic dermatitis of the horse is related to stings of insects and is known as insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) or summer eczema, referring to its recurrence during the summer months. This intense pruritus has certain similarities with atopic dermatitis of humans. The treatment of IBH is difficult and therefore new strategies for therapy are needed. Autoserum therapy based on the use of serum phospholipids has recently been introduced for horses. So far...
Lester GD, MacKay RJ, Smith-Meyer B.Primary meningeal lymphoma was diagnosed in an 18-year-old Morgan gelding. The horse was examined because of a 3-day history of progressive ataxia and weakness. The gait abnormalities were worse on the left side, and the pelvic limbs were more affected than the thoracic limbs. Additional findings included signs of depression, miosis of the left pupil, ptosis of the left upper eyelid, and areas of muscle atrophy on the left side of the neck and over the dorsal aspect of the left scapula. Inflammatory changes were evident in the CSF. At necropsy, there was diffuse and irregular thickening of the...
Cothran EG, van Dyk E, van der Merwe FJ.Genetic variation at 7 blood-group and 10 biochemical genetic loci was examined in 30 horses from a feral herd from the Namib Desert of Namibia, Africa. The observed genetic variability was extremely low compared with that found in domestic horse breeds. The low variation was most probably a result of recent small population size and a small founding population size. Genetic comparison of the Namib horses, which were of unknown origins, to domestic horse breeds, showed that the Namib horses had the highest genetic similarity to Arabian type horses, although they did not closely resemble this t...
Kumar P, Timoney JF, Sheoran AS.The aim of this study was to characterise the morphological and histochemical features of equine nasopharyngeal tonsillar tissue. Nasal and oropharyngeal tonsillar tissue has been described as the gatekeeper to mucosal immunity because of its strategic location at the entrance to the respiratory and alimentary tracts. A combination of light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy has revealed the presence of follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) overlying lymphoid tissue of the equine nasopharyngeal tonsil caudal to the pharyngeal opening of the guttural pouch. Membranous microvillus (M)...
Song K, Yang GM, Han J, Gil M, Dayem AA, Kim K, Lim KM, Kang GH, Kim S, Jang SB, Vellingiri B, Cho SG.Flavonoids form the largest group of plant phenols and have various biological and pharmacological activities. In this study, we investigated the effect of a flavonoid, 3, 4'-dihydroxyflavone (3, 4'-DHF) on osteogenic differentiation of equine adipose-derived stromal cells (eADSCs). Unassigned: Treatment of 3, 4'-DHF led to increased osteogenic differentiation of eADSCs by increasing phosphorylation of ERK and modulating Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation. Although PD98059, an ERK inhibitor, suppressed osteogenic differentiation, another ERK inhibitor, U0126, apparently increased osteoge...
Gim JA, Lee S, Kim DS, Jeong KS, Hong CP, Bae JH, Moon JW, Choi YS, Cho BW, Cho HG, Bhak J, Kim HS.With the advent of next-generation sequencing technology, genome-wide maps of DNA methylation are now available. The Thoroughbred horse is bred for racing, while the Jeju horse is a traditional Korean horse bred for racing or food. The methylation profiles of equine organs may provide genomic clues underlying their athletic traits. We have developed a database to elucidate genome-wide DNA methylation patterns of the cerebrum, lung, heart, and skeletal muscle from Thoroughbred and Jeju horses. Using MeDIP-Seq, our database provides information regarding significantly enriched methylated regions...
Padua MB, Kowalski AA, Cañas MY, Hansen PJ.Uterine serpins (USs), designated as SERPINA14, are expressed in the endometrium in response to progesterone. All species identified as having USs exhibit epitheliochorial placentation and are in the Ruminantia and Suidae orders of the Laurasiatheria superorder. The objective was to identify US genes in species within and outside Laurasiatheria and evaluate whether evolution of the US gene was associated with development of the epitheliochorial placenta. Through queries of nucleotide and genomic databases, known US genes were identified (caprine, bovine, porcine, water buffalo), and new US cod...
Kalisiak O.Flexor tendonitis and suspensory desmitis are among most prevalent musculoskeletal injuries observed in racehorses. The aim of this study was to determine which horse and race-related parameters can help to diminish the possibility of injury or--when injury has occurred--to evaluate the potential for the horse to continue a successful career after convalescence. Special attention was given to the comparison of Arabian and Thoroughbred racehorses. 187 horses with ultrasonographically visible lesions were included in the study. Following parameters were analyzed: structure (Superficial Digital F...
White SL.Horses competing in 3-day, combined-training events develop a metabolic acidosis that is partially compensated for by a respiratory alkalosis immediately after phases B and D. By the end of phase C and 30 minutes to 2 hours after phase D, the acidosis is resolved by the oxidation of lactate, and a metabolic alkalosis prevails. A reduction in TBW and cation content occurs, which often is not replenished 12 to 24 hours after the event, even though the serum or plasma concentration of various constituents may be within normal limits. Hypochloremia and hypocalcemia, however, may persist 12 or more...
Acosta H, Rondón-Mercado R, Avilán L, Concepción JL.Trypanosoma evansi is a widely-distributed haemoflagellated parasite of veterinary importance that infects a variety of mammals including horses, mules, camels, buffalos, cattle and deer. It is the causal agent of a trypanosomiasis known as Surra which produces epidemics of great economic importance in Africa, Asia and South America. The main pathology includes an enlarged spleen with hypertrophy of lymphoid follicles, congested lungs, neuronal degeneration and meningoencephalitis, where migration of the parasites from the blood to the tissues is essential. Most cells, including pathogenic cel...
Sasaki N, Aiuchi H, Yamada H.This study aimed to establish and standardize a breath test that uses 13C-acetate in a liquid diet for evaluation of gastric emptying in horses. Seven adult healthy thoroughbreds were used in this study. They were given 13C-acetate (125 mg, 250 mg, or 500 mg) in a test meal (2000 ml liquid diet) via an intranasal catheter. 13C concentrations in the exhaled CO2 were measured in samples taken before and after test meal administration using an infrared absorption spectroscope. In the 500 mg 13C-acetate group, Delta13CO2 showed a steep gradient immediately after meal administration compared to the...
Sundman EA, Chigerwe M, Hunyadi LM.Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) and asthma in barrel racing horses is a common disease across the United States. Limited information is available on non-infectious respiratory diseases in this population, the interaction between these two diseases, and the occurrence of both EIPH and asthma in the horse. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cytological results of barrel racing horses with EIPH, asthma, or both. A retrospective study was conducted using the medical records of horses that presented with cough and decreased athletic perform...
Rossier Y, Sweeney CR, Ziemer EL.Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in 22 horses with pneumonia or pleuropneumonia. All horses had clinical evidence of pneumonia or pleuropneumonia on the basis of physical, radiographic, ultrasonographic, tracheobronchial aspirate or post-mortem findings. Results of lavage fluid analysis were normal in 9 horses, equivocal in 3 horses, and abnormal in 10 horses. Abnormal lavage fluid had increased total cell count, increased relative and absolute neutrophil counts, degenerative neutrophils, and decreased relative and absolute macrophage and lymphocyte counts.
Ribeiro MG, Pereira TT, de Lima Paz PJ, de Almeida BO, Cerviño CSA, Rodrigues CA, Santos GTS, de Souza Freire LM, Portilho FVR, Filho MFÁ....Central nervous system (CNS) infections comprise life-threatening clinical conditions in domestic species, and are commonly related to severe sequelae, disability, or high fatality rates. A set of bacterial pathogens have been identified in central nervous infections in livestock and companion animals, although the most of descriptions are restricted to case reports and a lack of comprehensive studies involving CNS-related bacterial infections have been focused on a great number of domestic species. In this scenario, we retrospectively investigated selected epidemiological data, clinical findi...
