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.
Fureix C, Jego P, Sankey C, Hausberger M.This study aimed to determine whether horses have a kind of memory of humans (based on previous interactions), leading to a general significance of humans revealed by their reactions to humans in subsequent interactions. Subjects were 59 adult horses used to interact daily with humans. Three types of behavioural tests involving an unknown experimenter evaluated three possibly different memorized types of human-animal interactions (not work-related, using work-related objects, unfamiliar working task). We also performed standardized observations of routine interactions between each horse and it...
Fortier G, van Erck E, Fortier C, Richard E, Pottier D, Pronost S, Miszczak F, Thiry E, Lekeux P.The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence and the potential role of equine herpesviruses (EHVs) detection in both bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and tracheal wash (TW). The population included a control group (CTL; 37 TW and 25 BAL) and a pathological group (PAT; 259 TW and 387 BAL), including horses either suffering from respiratory diseases including syndrome of tracheal inflammation, inflammatory airway disease, recurrent airway obstruction, or submitted to respiratory investigation because of exercise intolerance or poor performance. Each respiratory liquid was submitted t...
Chiocchetti R, Bombardi C, Mongardi-Fantaguzzi C, Venturelli E, Russo D, Spadari A, Montoneri C, Romagnoli N, Grandis A.This paper describes the morphology and distribution of the enteric nervous system (ENS) cells and fibres immunoreactive for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), NF200kDa (NF200), and S100 protein. The percentages of subclasses of enteric neurons in the total neuronal population were investigated by the use of anti-PGP 9.5 or anti-NSE antibodies. ChAT-IR myenteric plexus (MP) and submucosal plexus (SMP) neurons were 66+/-7% and 74+/-15%, respectively, whereas those cells expressing nNOS-IR were 38+/-7...
Heleski CR, McGreevy PD, Kaiser LJ, Lavagnino M, Tans E, Bello N, Clayton HM.Unsteady hand position can cause discomfort to the horse, potentially leading to conflict behaviours (CB) such as head tossing or tail lashing. Some instructors feel that martingales or elastic rein inserts can reduce discomfort caused by inexperienced and unsteady hands. Others consider these devices to be inappropriate 'crutches'. Four horses and nine riders were tested under three conditions in random order: plain reins, adjustable training martingales (TM), and elasticised rein inserts (RI). Rein-tension data (7s) and behavioural data (30s) were collected in each direction. Rein-tension da...
Verheyen KL, Price JS, Wood JL.This study aimed to determine the effects of exercise on racecourse performance in horses racing on the flat. Daily exercise and race records were obtained over a 2-year period for a cohort of racehorses in training for which injury data were also available. Multivariable regression techniques were used to investigate associations between canter, training gallop and race distances accumulated in the 30 days prior to each race and the odds of winning the race, earning prize money and the amount of prize money won. Higher cumulative high-speed (gallop+race) distances were associated with increas...
Jansen F, Van der Krogt J, Van Loon K, Avezzù V, Guarino M, Quanten S, Berckmans D.The objective of this research was to develop a non-invasive method to detect an emotional response of a horse to novelty during physical activity. Two horses performed 20 trials each, in which the horse's heart rate (HR) and physical activity were continuously measured. The relationship between the horse's physical activity and HR was described by a mathematical model allowing online decomposition of the horse's HR into a physical component and a component containing information about its emotional state. Exposure to the novel object resulted in an increase in the emotional component of HR, w...
Sasaki N, Tsuzuki N, Yamada M, Minami T, Yamada H.This study aimed to establish a standard dose and sample collection time for (13)C phenylalanine and (13)C-Dipeptide breath test in horses. To evaluate dose-dependent effects, healthy horses received 2.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg (13)C phenylalanine dissolved in 1 ml/kg distilled water and 1.25 mg/kg, 2.5 mg/kg, and 5 mg/kg (13)C dipeptide dissolved in 2 ml/ kg distilled water. Tmax was observed during the sample collection time. For (13)C phenylalanine, the standard deviation of Cmax at 5 mg/kg was lower than that of 10 mg/kg. For (13)C dipeptide, the standard deviation of Tmax was the low...
Koyago M, Nakada K, Tsunoda N, Moriyoshi M, Sawamukai Y.To clarify the physiological changes of sperm morphology in active Thoroughbred stallions during the breeding season, we examined the dismount semen collected from the penile urethra immediately after service. The spermatozoa were analyzed for relationships between the morphology and the stallion's age or the number of services. Seasonal variation was apparent in the rate of the sperm tail abnormalities, spermatozoa with cytoplasmic droplets, appearance of medusa cells, and sperm head length. Area and width of the sperm head correlated negatively with age (P<0.05). The rate of appearance of...
McGreevy PD, Oddie C, Burton FL, McLean AN.This article examines the recently completed equid ethogram and shows how analogues of social interactions between horses may occur in various human-horse interactions. It discusses how some specific horse-horse interactions have a corresponding horse-human interaction - some of which may be directly beneficial for the horse while others may be unusual or even abnormal. It also shows how correspondent behaviours sometimes become inappropriate because of their duration, consistency or context. One analogue is unlikely to hold true for all horse-human contexts, so when applying any model from ho...
Collins J, Hanlon A, More SJ, Wall PG, Duggan V.A three-round Policy Delphi using vignette methodology was employed as a new approach to study stakeholder perceptions and experiences of equine welfare. Forty-four representatives from stakeholder groups in the Irish equine industry participated. In Round 1, vignettes (narratives illustrating potential infringements of equine welfare) were presented to assess perceptions of 'Acceptability' and experiences of 'Frequency of occurrence'. In Round 2, lists of situations where equine welfare might be compromised, possible drivers of behaviour and potential solutions were presented for grading. In ...
Janvilisri T, Scaria J, Thompson AD, Nicholson A, Limbago BM, Arroyo LG, Songer JG, Gröhn YT, Chang YF.Clostridium difficile is a gram-positive, spore-forming enteric anaerobe which can infect humans and a wide variety of animal species. Recently, the incidence and severity of human C. difficile infection has markedly increased. In this study, we evaluated the genomic content of 73 C. difficile strains isolated from humans, horses, cattle, and pigs by comparative genomic hybridization with microarrays containing coding sequences from C. difficile strains 630 and QCD-32g58. The sequenced genome of C. difficile strain 630 was used as a reference to define a candidate core genome of C. difficile a...
McGreevy PD, McLean AN, Keay KA, Thomson PC.Trained responses are said to be under stimulus control when they appear reliably and exclusively on cue. The SMART system is a conceptual, three-dimensional graphic that uses four quadrants to chart a horse's responsiveness to various cues from two reins and the trainer's legs and seat. The current plots have been designed for ridden horses. The models assume that the trainer's cues are bilaterally equivalent, unless the intention is to signal a turn or a lateral movement. The extent to which 'go' signals manifest as straight, forward locomotion reflect the bilateral balance of the horse's re...
Visser EK, VanDierendonck M, Ellis AD, Rijksen C, Van Reenen CG.In 'sympathetic horsemanship' the importance of the natural behaviour of the horse and the use of body language in communication is emphasised. However, it is unclear what effect sympathetic horsemanship has on the welfare of horses. During a 5-week starting period the effect of a sympathetic (ST) versus a conventional (CT) training method was studied using 28 young Warmblood horses. Behavioural observations during the starting period as well as during a standardised final riding test were performed by trained observers. A Wilcoxon matched-pair test was used to detect differences within groups...
Posta J, Komlósi I, Mihók S.The aims of this study were to estimate phenotypic and genetic parameters for a range of traits in Hungarian Sport Horses, and to compare several methods of estimating breeding value (BV) in this breed. The analyses were based on the Hungarian Sport Horse Studbook, results of self-performance tests (SPTs) and show-jumping competition results. An SPT comprises subjective judgement of conformation traits, movement analysis traits and free-jumping performance, assessed via ordinal scores. Genetic parameters of SPTs were estimated with an animal model. Different measurements of the competition per...
Barfield JP, McCue PM, Squires EL, Seidel GE.Cryopreservation of equine embryos>300microm in diameter results in low survival rates using protocols that work well for smaller equine embryos. These experiments tested the potential benefit of incorporating a dehydration step prior to standard cryopreservation procedures. Forty-six, day 7-8, grade 1, equine embryos 300-1350microm in diameter were subjected to one of the following treatments: (A) 2 min in 0.6M galactose, 10min in 1.5M glycerol, slow freeze (n=21); (B) 10min in 1.5M glycerol, slow freeze (n=15); (C) 2min in 0.6M galactose, 10min in 1.5M glycerol, followed by exposure to thaw ...
Symes D, Ellis R.Rider asymmetry is anecdotally associated with underperformance and injury. In this study, rider axial rotation (AR) and shoulder angle displacement (SAD) were measured using video analysis, and leg length inequality (LLI) was measured to assess any correlation between LLI, AR and SAD. Two video cameras, recording transverse and sagittal views, simultaneously filmed each of 17 female riders in walk, trot, and left and right canter. The rider's shoulder angles relative to the cranial caudal line were measured at each limb impact for a complete stride cycle. All riders exhibited left AR and a gr...
Ponthier J, Franck T, Detilleux J, Mottart E, Serteyn D, Deleuze S.Despite improvement of techniques, semen of 20% of stallions remains unfreezable. Recent studies focused on the impact of reactive oxygen species and oxidant enzymes on semen characteristics. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a pro-oxidant enzyme contained in and released by neutrophils during degranulation or after cell lysis. It is responsible for the formation of hypochlorous acid, a strong oxidant agent, which could damage spermatozoa. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between MPO concentration and characteristics of frozen semen from stallions. Thirty-five straws from different s...
Laha R, Sasmal NK.This study was undertaken to detect Trypanosoma evansi infection in clinically ill cattle, buffaloes and horses that were suspected of 'surra' infection. Various diagnostic tests were utilized in order to assess the prevalence of infection in the clinically ill and 'suspected' animals. Animals in the Eastern Region of India were systematically studied for T. evansi infection, which had not been tested for previously. Examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears detected 5.3%, 9.4% and 40.6% infections; the mouse inoculation test detected 18.4%, 15.6% and 46.9% infections whereas an in-house ELIS...
Murray RC, Walters JM, Snart H, Dyson SJ, Parkin TD.The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of illness and lameness at different anatomical sites in registered United Kingdom dressage horses and to identify risk factors for lameness. A questionnaire was sent to all 11,363 registered members of British Dressage in 2005, with one questionnaire assigned per horse. Four multivariable logistic regression models were developed for each section of the questionnaire. A final mixed effects logistic regression model was developed which combined the results from all prior models. Owners reported that 33% of horses had been lame at some time d...
Ma J, Jiang C, Lin Y, Wang X, Zhao L, Xiang W, Shao Y, Shen R, Kong X, Zhou J.To study the in vivo evolution of the attenuated Chinese equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) vaccine, viral gp90 gene variation and virus replication in immunosuppressed hosts were investigated. The results showed that after vaccination, the gp90 gene followed an evolutionary trend of declining diversity. The trend coincided with the maturation of immunity to EIAV, and eventually, the gp90 gene became highly homologous. The sequences of these predominant quasispecies were consistently detected up to 18 months after vaccination. Furthermore, after transient immune suppression with dexamethaso...
Prause AS, Stoffel MH, Portier CJ, Mevissen M.In horses, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders occur frequently and cause a considerable demand for efficient medication. 5-Hydroxytryptamine receptors (5-HT) have been reported to be involved in GI tract motility and thus, are potential targets for treating functional bowel disorders. Our studies extend current knowledge on the 5-HT(7) receptor in equine duodenum, ileum and pelvic flexure by studying its expression throughout the intestine and its role in modulating contractility in vitro by immunofluorescence and organ bath experiments, respectively. 5-HT(7) immunoreactivity was demonstrated in ...
Haase B, Obexer-Ruff G, Dolf G, Rieder S, Burger D, Poncet PA, Gerber V, Howard J, Leeb T.The KIT receptor protein-tyrosine kinase plays an important role during embryonic development. Activation of KIT is crucial for the development of various cell lineages such as melanoblasts, stem cells of the haematopoietic system, spermatogonia and intestinal cells of Cajal. In mice, many mutations in the Kit gene cause pigmentation disorders accompanied by pleiotropic effects on blood cells and male fertility. Previous work has demonstrated that dominant white Franches-Montagnes horses carry one copy of the KIT gene with the p.Y717X mutation. The targeted breeding of white horses would be et...
Kotschwar AB, Baltacis A, Peham C.This study was performed to investigate the forces and pressure distribution under different saddle pads when an excessively wide saddle is used. Eighteen sound horses were ridden on a treadmill at walk and trot. The horses were equipped with a dressage saddle with an excessively wide saddle tree and four different pads (gel, leather, foam and reindeer-fur) used sequentially. For comparison, one measurement was made without a saddle pad. A pressure mat under the pad was used for the collection of kinetic data. Kinematics from the right fore-hoof were required to synchronise the data with the s...
Haase F, Siewert C, von Rautenfeld DB, Fischbach JU, Seifert H.Measuring the leg volume of horses is useful for diagnostic and treatment of different diseases in relation to swollen legs. In the present study different methods to quantify the limb volume are compared, the water displacement method, an optoelectronic 2-dimensional body scanner, the so-called perometer and calculation of volume by applying the disc model. As reference method the golden standard of human medicine - the water displacement method was used. We took volume measurements from different tall horses in a defined section of the forelegs between the coronary band and the carpal joint....
Gómez MD, Goyache F, Molina A, Valera M.The mating policy for Spanish Purebred horses encourages the same or closely related stallions to be used for reproduction across studs differing in environments. Stallions may perform differently across studs, and if so, adjustment for the sire x stud (ss) interaction is recommended. However, there are no studies available that analyzed the influence of ss interaction on estimation of genetic parameters in horses. This research is aimed at assessing the implications of including ss interaction in models fitted for the estimation of genetic parameters for traits under selection using 8 body me...
Gáspárdy A, Rieden S, Simonyi Z, Szemere B, Bodó I.The authors give a short orientation about the age related parameters of the incisors based on the literature. They examined the question of breed differences with respect to the age determination of horses in the different counties, especially in regard to the English Thoroughbred. In this context they present a new parameter as well as a new approach in data-processing. The cup depth and the yearly abrasion showed high breed-specificity. The relative abrasion indicated that the most intensive wear out is typical for the Thoroughbred. The cup depth and the yearly wear out were different accor...
Rendle DI, Heller J, Hughes KJ, Innocent GT, Durham AE.Time delays between collection of blood samples and biochemical analysis of equine blood are unavoidably common in equine practice. The effect that delays may have on the accuracy of results of blood biochemical analyses is not well established. Objective: Delays in processing of blood of up to 72 h results in alterations in measured levels of common biochemical analytes that are of potential clinical relevance. Separation of serum prior to storage is protective against the effects of time delays. Methods: Samples of clotted blood, separated serum and oxalate fluoride plasma from 20 horses wer...
Rees CA.Urticaria secondary to atopy may be a familial problem in some horses. Immunotherapy using a vaccine containing antigens selected on the basis of history and results of intradermal testing can be an effective method of managing atopy in horses; a response to therapy may be seen within 2 months.
Otsuka S, Listowsky I, Niitsu Y, Urushizaki I.An intraspecies hybrid apoferritin was assembled by mixing subunits of horse heart ferritin, which consists mainly of H-type subunits, and horse spleen ferritin, in which L-type subunits predominate. Interspecies hybrid apoferritins were reconstituted from subunits of human liver-horse spleen ferritins and from rat liver-horse spleen ferritins. All the hybrid ferritins migrated as single zones with electrophoretic mobilities intermediate between those of the parent ferritins. Isoelectric focusing data and immunological patterns were consistent with the view that the reassembled apoferritins we...
Marsh PS.Although not common in horses, fire and smoke inhalation trauma may require veterinary assistance at several levels. Most commonly, the equine clinician is called on to provide care of potentially complex and emotionally charged cases. Thermal injury, along with smoke inhalation, can cause local and diffuse lesions. Massive tissue edema may occur, which can be a challenge to manage as well as creating organ dysfunction at distant sites. Further complications of severely affected patients are varied and include life-threatening sepsis. This article reviews some of the important features of this...
Stick JA, Jann HW, Scott EA, Robinson NE.We reviewed 91 cases of laminitis in horses admitted to the Michigan State University Veterinary Clinical Center between Jan 1, 1973 and Dec. 30, 1978. From information in the case records and from the results of a telephone questionnaire, cases were classified into 4 categories on the basis of return to athletic function. The degree of pedal bone rotation was inversely correlated with return to athletic performance. Horses with less than 5.5 degrees rotation returned to former athletic function, whereas horses with more than 11.5 degrees rotation lost their use as performance animals. Ponies ...
Schultheiss PC, Collins JK, Hotaling SF.Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection in a few widely scattered neurons and astrocytes plus endothelial cells in brain and spinal cord of two horses with naturally occurring paralytic disease was demonstrated by use of an immunoperoxidase technique. These horses were euthanatized less than 48 hours after the onset of clinical signs. No staining for EHV-1 was demonstrated in brain or spinal cord of three horses that had a longer duration of clinical disease or in two uninfected horses.
Knych HK, Arthur RM, Steinmetz S, McKemie DS.Ketoprofen (KTP) is currently only available as an injectable formulation for intravenous administration to horses. The primary goal of the study reported here was to characterize the pharmacokinetics of KTP, including determination of bioavailability following oral administration of the currently available injectable formulation as well as a paste formulation. KTP was administered intravenously and orally, and blood and urine samples were collected at various time points up to 96 h. KTP enantiomer concentrations were determined using LC–MS/MS, and pharmacokinetic analyses were performed. Me...
Lester G, Clark C, Rice B, Steible-Hartless C, Vetro-Widenhouse T.To examine effect of pre-exercise administration of furosemide (FUR) on mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) during work and RBC concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collected 40 minutes after exercise. Methods: 10 adult Thoroughbreds. Methods: A modified 10 X 10 crossover design comprising 10 horses during 10 weeks was used. Each horse received each of 5 treatments twice. Treatment structure included a control plus a 2 X 2 factorial and consisted of the following: A, control; B, FUR, 250 mg, IV, 30 minutes before exercise; C, FUR, 250 mg, IV, 240 minutes before exercise; D, ...
Braga PC, Dal Sasso M, Lattuada N, Greco V, Sibilia V, Zucca E, Stucchi L, Ferro E, Ferrucci F.Activated neutrophils (PMNs), the ROS/RNS released by PMNs and the derived inflammatory processes are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of human inflammatory airway diseases. Similar diseases are also present in horses which suffer from recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) and inflammatory airway diseases (IAD). Hyaluronic acid (HA) plays numerous roles in modulating inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to examine whether a preparation of HA (MW 900 000 Da) interferes with ROS/RNS during the course of equine PMN respiratory b...
de Lahunta A, Hatfield C, Dietz A.An unusual occipitoatlantoaxial malformation is described in a 2-week-old male part Arabian foal that was unable to stand at birth and showed signs of spastic tetraparesis due to a cervical spinal cord compression. There were 2 atlases present. One was fused to the occipital bones. The other articulated with the first atlas and an axis which had a long dens that projected into the vertebral canal. Examination of the ossification centers of the axis indicated partial duplication of that bone.
Górski K, Stefanik E, Turek B, Bereznowski A, Czopowicz M, Polkowska I, Domino M.Dental disorders, a term encompassing both malocclusion and dental disease, constitute a serious health problem in horses worldwide. As horse populations differ among countries and regions, a geographically specific characterization of the occurrence of various dental disorders may be helpful for local equine practitioners. This study investigated the prevalence and frequency distribution of selected malocclusions and dental diseases in horses housed in the Mazovia region of Poland, with attention paid to variations among age, gender, and breed categories. Routine dental examinations were cond...
Bramski JH, Reed RA, Diehl KA, Epstein KL, Ryan CA.To determine whether an association exists between direct intracranial pressure (ICP) measurement and ultrasonographic measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in anesthetized and standing horses. Methods: Cross-sectional study performed on a convenience sample of healthy adult horses. Methods: University teaching hospital. Methods: Eight adult horses donated to the University. Enrolled horses were free of abnormalities on physical examination, CBC, neurological evaluation, and ophthalmological examination. Results: Horses were anesthetized in lateral recumbency for placement of an IC...
Dorn CR, Coffman JR, Schmidt DA, Garner HE, Addison JB, McCune EL.Colitis due to salmonellae was diagnosed in 9 horses following hospitalization for various reasons at the University of Missouri Veterinary Teaching Hospital, from May, 1971, to April, 1972. Diarrhea, fever, and either a neutrophil count of less than or equal to 3,600/cmm or a rapid decline in neutrophil numbers were specific for salmonellosis. The value of hematologic survelillance in hospitalized Equidae was demonstrated in another group of 9 horses with neutropenia, each of which was promptly treated and did not develop colitis. Bacteriologic culturing of fecal samples from 28 clinically no...
Manohar M, Goetz TE, Sullivan E, Griffin R.The frusemide dose-response for attenuation of exercise-induced pulmonary capillary hypertension was studied in 7 healthy, exercise-conditioned Thoroughbred horses using previously described haemodynamic procedures. Four different doses of frusemide were tested: 250 mg regardless of bodyweight (amounting to 0.56 +/- 0.03 mg/kg bwt), 1.0 mg/kg bwt, 1.5 mg/kg bwt and 2.0 mg/kg bwt. Frusemide was administered i.v., 4 h before exercise. Haemodynamic data were obtained at rest and during treadmill exercise performed at 14.2 m/s on a 3.5% uphill grade; this workload elicited maximal heart rate of ho...
Liu Q, Wang XF, Ma J, He XJ, Wang XJ, Zhou JH.Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 has a unique integration profile in the human genome relative to murine and avian retroviruses. Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is another well-studied lentivirus that can also be used as a promising retro-transfection vector, but its integration into its native host has not been characterized. In this study, we mapped 477 integration sites of the EIAV strain EIAVFDDV13 in fetal equine dermal (FED) cells during in vitro infection. Published integration sites of EIAV and HIV-1 in the human genome were also analyzed as references. Our results demonstrat...
Giguère S, Jordan LM, Glass K, Cohen ND.Isolation of multiple bacterial species is common in foals with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia. Objective: There is no association between isolation of other microorganisms and outcome. Methods: 155 foals with pneumonia caused by R. equi. Methods: Case records of foals diagnosed with R. equi pneumonia based on culture of the respiratory tract were reviewed at 2 referral hospitals (University of Florida [UF] and Texas A&M University [TAMU]). Results: R. equi was cultured from a tracheobronchial aspirate (TBA) in 115 foals and from lung tissue in 38 foals. Survival was significantly higher at UF...
Greet TR, Curtis SJ.Foot management and hoof care of foals, weanlings, and yearlings tends to be considered a specialist job. Many farriers and veterinary surgeons have little exposure to young and growing stock. Nevertheless, a variety of angular and flexural limb deformities can benefit from simple podiatry techniques, which can be performed provided that a few basic rules are followed. The combined skills of the farrier and veterinary surgeon offer many young horses with angular or flexural limb deformities a chance of a future athletic career.
Beccati F, Santinelli I, Nannarone S, Pepe M.OBJECTIVE To determine the influence of various neck positions on cervical vertebral radiographic measurements in horses. ANIMALS 18 client-owned horses examined for lameness but free of cervical disease. PROCEDURES Laterolateral radiographs of the cervical vertebrae from C1 through T1 were acquired for each horse in 3 neck positions (low, neutral, and high). Minimum sagittal diameter, intravertebral sagittal diameter (intra-VSD) ratio, inter-VSD ratio, length of the articular processes joint ratio, vertebral alignment angle, and vertebral fossa angle were measured at each segment in each neck...
Collatos C, Barton MH, Moore JN.Plasma fibrinolytic activity was evaluated over 5 consecutive days in 59 horses admitted to the Large Animal Teaching Hospital with acute gastrointestinal diseases. Only horses hospitalized for at least 5 days were included in the study. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) were quantitated using standard chromogenic activity assays. Statistical analyses were performed using analysis of variance; differences were considered significant when P < or = .05. Activity of PAI-1, the primary endogenous inhibitor of fibrinolysis, was significantly incre...
Yamamoto K, Yasuda J, Too K.Foetal electrocardiograms (ECG) were obtained from 39 of 50 Thoroughbred foaling mares close to delivery. The 50 newborn foals were studied electrocardiographically during their adaptive period, immediately after birth. In 48 foals there were paroxysmal arrhythmias or mixed arrhythmias. The most common arrhythmias were sinus arrhythmias including wandering pacemaker (32/50) and atrial premature contraction (30/50). The others observed were atrial fibrillation (15/50), ventricular premature contraction (10/50), partial atrioventricular block (7/50), ventricular tachycardia (4/50), atrial tachyc...
Richardson DW.To repair equine fractures successfully, surgeons traditionally have done aggressive open approaches with maximal internal fixation to achieve adequate stability and comfort. Although the need for stability is unquestionable, newer technologies and imaging modalities have allowed improvement in the biology of internal fixation in selected fractures and arthrodeses.
Hahn NE, Fletcher M, Rice RM, Kocan KM, Hansen JW, Hair JA, Barker RW, Perry BD.Dermacentor variabilis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma americanum, and Ixodes scapularis ticks were investigated for their ability to transmit Potomac horse fever. Larval and nymphal ticks were exposed to Ehrlichia risticii by feeding on mice inoculated with the organism. Molted exposed ticks were then allowed to feed on susceptible ponies or mice. No evidence of transmission, either clinically or by detection of antibodies to E. risticii in mice or ponies, was observed for any tick species examined.
Wolker RR, Wilson DG, Allen AL, Carmalt JL.To determine whether intra-articular 70% ethyl alcohol alone (IAEA) or in combination with 2 percutaneously placed transarticular lag screws (EA-TLS) would result in arthrodesis of the equine proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Healthy horses (n=6), aged 1.5-3 years, free of lameness, diagonally paired front and hind PIP joints. Methods: Six milliliters 70% ethyl alcohol was injected into randomly selected diagonally paired front and hind PIP joints. Thirty days later, 2 parallel 5.5 mm cortical screws were inserted in lag fashion across the hind PIP joints an...
Watson ED, Thomassen R, Nikolakopoulos E.During spring transition, when estrus may be exhibited for prolonged periods, it is important for veterinarians and stud farm personnel to be able to predict whether a large follicle will ovulate or regress. It is thought that the presence of ultrasonically detectable uterine edema indicates that a follicle will ovulate, however, there is little evidence to support this. In the present study, 16 mares were regularly examined by transrectal ultrasonography to follow growth and regression of follicles from seasonal anestrus in February until second ovulation. Blood samples were collected daily f...
Hinchcliff KW, Kohn CW, Geor R, McCutcheon LJ, Foreman J, Andrews FM, Allen AK, White SL, Williamson LH, Maykuth PL.We examined the effects of participation in each of 3 modifications of Day 2 of a 3-day-event on blood and serum variables indicative of hydration, acid:base status and electrolyte homeostasis of horses. Three groups of horses - 8 European (E) horses and 2 groups each of 9 North American horses performed identical Days 1 (dressage) and 3 (stadium jumping) of a 3-day-event. E horses and one group of the North American horses (TD) performed modifications of Day 2 of a 1 Star 3-day-event and the other group of North American horses (HT) performed a Horse Trial on Day 2. Jugular venous blood was c...
Holmström M, Drevemo S.The angular velocities of the hindlimb angles of 14 horses, including 6 Grand Prix dressage horses, 4 horses judged as good at the trot and 4 horses judged as poor, were analysed. The horse material was the same as previously used by Holmström (1994) in studies on conformation and trotting gaits in the Swedish Warmblood riding horse. Four consecutive strides of each horse and the corresponding pace were analysed and mean velocity curves (Xh) for each angle were calculated. Before calculation the data were filtered forwards and backwards with a Butterworth third order filter with a cut off fre...
Thompson DL, St George RL, Jones LS, Garza F.Samples of jugular blood were drawn from each of five stallions every 15 min for 12 h during the summer and winter to determine the short-term fluctuations in plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone. Concentrations of LH and FSH were generally not pulsatile, although one stallion exhibited three distinct pulses in these hormones during the winter. In general, patterns of secretion of all three hormones were similar in both seasons and the number of significant rises in hormonal concentrations did not differ between seasons. Concent...
