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.
Fugazzola M, Nissinen MT, Jäntti J, Tuppurainen J, Plomp S, Te Moller N, Mäkelä JTA, van Weeren R.Strategies for articular cartilage repair need to take into account topographical differences in tissue composition and architecture to achieve durable functional outcome. These have not yet been investigated in the equine stifle. Objective: To analyse the biochemical composition and architecture of three differently loaded areas of the equine stifle. We hypothesise that site differences correlate with the biomechanical characteristics of the cartilage. Methods: Ex vivo study. Methods: Thirty osteochondral plugs per location were harvested from the lateral trochlear ridge (LTR), the distal int...
Murray R, Fisher M, Fairfax V, MacKechnie-Guire R.The association between rider-saddle interaction and horse kinematics has been little studied. It was hypothesized that differences in a thigh block design would influence (a) rider-saddle interface pressures, (b) rider kinematics, and (c) equine limb/spinal kinematics. Eighteen elite sport horses/riders were trotted using correctly fitted dressage saddles with thigh blocks S (vertical face) and F (deformable face). Contact area, mean, and peak pressure between rider and saddle were determined using an on-saddle pressure mat. Spherical markers allowed for the measurement of horse/rider kinemat...
Sätter JK, McGawley K, Connysson M, Staunton CA.To identify how riding rein direction (left and right) and rider asymmetry affect tölt performance in Icelandic horses. Two horses were ridden in tölt by four riders on both left and right reins. Riders wore pressure insoles that measured the total absolute force (FAbs) and absolute force difference (FDiff) in their left and right feet in the stirrups. A 3D motion-analysis system recorded the degrees of side-to-side movement in the pelvis (RollP) and in the thoracolumbar region (RollT). Lateral advanced placement (LAP) and duty factor (DF) were calculated to determine tölt performance. One-...
Springer S, Mihatsch DI, Grimm H, Jenner F.Equine veterinarians face a range of challenges when attending competition horses. Athletic goals may significantly impact veterinary decision making, and the veterinarian's work can be complicated by reputational considerations and rival opinions during an assessment of whether a horse is "fit to compete". Using an online questionnaire, we found that the majority of German, Austrian and Swiss equine veterinarians (N = 172) surveyed agreed that the owners of competition horses are more likely than owners of leisure horses to approach them with clear treatment ideas, and that the former have hi...
Onder Z, Yildirim A, Duzlu O, Ciloglu A, Yetismis G, Karabulut F, Inci A.This study was conducted to determine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the benzimidazole (BZ) resistance in strongyle nematode egg populations in horses using molecular techniques. A total of 200 fecal samples were collected from horses in 26 farms in two provinces (Kayseri and Nevşehir) of the Central Anatolia Region of Türkiye between May and August 2022. The flotation method was used to detect strongyle nematode eggs in the fecal samples of the horses. Afterward, strongyle nematode eggs were collected, and the allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) technique was used...
Himebaugh NE, Robertson JB, Weninger K, Gilger BC, Ekesten B, Oh A.The aim of this study was to assess the transmission of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation (200-400 nm) through intact enucleated globes of different species (dogs, cats, pigs, rabbits, horses, and humans) using spectrophotometry. Globes of cats (n = 6), dogs (n = 18), pigs (n = 10), rabbits (n = 6), horses (n = 10), and humans (n = 4) were analyzed. A 5-10 mm circular area of sclera and choroid from the posterior aspect of the globe was removed under a surgical microscope, leaving the retina intact in all species except the horse. Glass coverslips were added in horses and rabbits du...
Topp AK, Springer A, Mischke R, Rieder J, Feige K, Ganter M, Nagel-Kohl U, Nordhoff M, Boelke M, Becker S, Pachnicke S, Schunack B, Dobler G, Strube C.Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a tick-transmitted flavivirus, which can infect humans and animals, sometimes even with a fatal outcome. Since many decades, TBEV is endemic in southern Germany, while only sporadic occurrence has been noted in northern parts of the country so far. Nevertheless, autochthonous human clinical cases are increasing in the federal state of Lower Saxony in north-western Germany, and several natural foci of TBEV transmission have recently been detected in this federal state. In order to shed more light on the current distribution of TBEV in Lower Saxony, the pr...
Shapter FM, Granados-Soler JL, Stewart AJ, Bertin FR, Allavena R.Crofton weed (Ageratina adenophora) is a global and highly invasive weed, with ingestion causing severe respiratory disease in horses, leading to irreversible and untreatable pulmonary fibrosis and oedema. While reports of equine pneumotoxicity remain common in Australia and New Zealand, equine pneumotoxicity may be underdiagnosed in other countries where Crofton weed is endemic but poorly differentiated. The pathogenesis of Crofton weed toxicity following ingestion has been well described in a number of different animal models, including rodents, rabbits, and goats. However, induced toxicity ...
Martins AV, Coelho AL, Corrêa LL, Ribeiro MS, Lobão LF, Palmer JPS, Moura LC, Molento MB, Barbosa ADS.The frequency of gastrointestinal parasites with an emphasis on Strongylus vulgaris was investigated among the Brazilian Pony breed kept on farms in the municipality of Teresópolis, state of Rio de Janeiro. Fecal samples were collected in three stud farms: A (n= 22 animals), B (n= 3), and C (n= 2). Fecal samples were subjected to the quantitative Mini-FLOTAC technique, using three different solutions, and to qualitative techniques. The parasite prevalence was found to be 81.4%. Eggs from strongylids were identified in 74% of the ponies. Eggs of Parascaris spp. were detected in 22.7% of the an...
Piketh G, Williams A, Schliewert EC.Electrocardiography is the method used to monitor the electrical impulses in the heart. These diagnostics are increasingly making use of smartphone-based technologies. The objective of this research was to determine whether the Alivecor KardiaMobile (ECG) smartphone-modulated electrocardiographic device, a novel ECG device, can be used to obtain reliable electrocardiogram (ECG) readings in horses. The device was initially tested in 36 Nooitgedacht pony mares to determine the best site of application, method of skin preparation, and ECG device orientation for reliable ECG tracings. Once the mos...
Palomar-Ciria N, Bello HJ.Alternative treatments for Post-traumatic-Stress Disorder (PTSD) have attracted attention, especially Equine-Assisted Services (EAS) including psychotherapy and occupational therapy involving horses. In this work, we measured the effectiveness of EAS in PTSD through a meta-analysis. An intensive bibliography search focusing in EAS and PTSD was conducted following the PRISMA recommendations. The search was not restricted by date. For the quantitative analyses, 5 works were selected. They were chosen based on the instrument utilized for the assessment of PTSD symptoms: the PTSD Checklist for DSM...
Bou T, Ding W, Ren X, Liu H, Gong W, Jia Z, Zhang X, Dugarjaviin M, Bai D.Traditional Mongolian endurance training is an effective way to improve the athletic ability of the horse for endurance events and is widely used. This incorporates aerobic exercise and intermittent fasting and these altered physiologic conditions are associated with switches between muscle fibre types. Objective: To better understand the adaption of horse skeletal muscle to traditional Mongolian endurance training from muscle fibre characteristics and transcriptional levels and to explore possible molecular mechanisms associated with the endurance performance of horses. Methods: Before-after ...
Munsterman AS, VanderBroek AR, Kottwitz JJ, Watson VE.To compare a novel suture loop method for intestinal biopsies (SLB) with a two-layer, hand-sutured biopsy (HSB) technique in equine small and large intestines. Methods: Experimental, randomized, ex vivo study. Methods: Eight healthy adult horses. Methods: The duodenum, aboral jejunum, and ventral and dorsal large colon were harvested after euthanasia and divided into three sections each. The sections were randomized to SLB, HSB, or control (C, no biopsy) groups. Tissue samples were excised after placement of a suture loop formed by a 4S Roeder knot and oversewn with a Cushing pattern using bar...
Zúñiga MP, Badillo E, Abalos P, Valencia ED, Marín P, Escudero E, Galecio JS.Rhodococcus equi is responsible for foal pneumonia worldwide, with a significant economic impact on the production and breeding of horses. In Chile, the first case was reported in 2000, and since then, its incidence has been increasing. Distinctive characteristics of R. equi as an intracellular pathogen in macrophages, emergence of virulence plasmids encoding surface lipoprotein antigens, and appearance of antibiotic resistance against macrolides and rifampicin have significantly complicated the treatment of R. equi pneumonia in foals. Therefore, in vitro susceptibility studies of first-line a...
Peat FJ, Kawcak CE, McIlwraith CW, Keenan DP, Berk JT, Mork DS.Subchondral lucencies (SCLs) in the distal aspect of the medial femoral condyle (MFC) of young Thoroughbred horses are a source of controversy on presale radiographs. There is limited scientific evidence regarding the risk of progression and impact on future racing performance. Objective: To (1) identify the prevalence of MFC SCLs on sales repository radiographs in yearling and 2-year-old Thoroughbreds; (2) identify any association between grade of MFC SCL and future racing performance and (3) monitor changes in MFC SCL grades between yearling and 2-year-old sales. Methods: Prospective cohort ...
Frers F, Delarocque J, Huber K, Feige K, Warnken T.Both, oral and intravenous (IV) testing protocols, are recommended and still used to detect insulin dysregulation (ID) in equids. However, IV tests mainly focus on peripheral insulin resistance (IR), while oral tests assess hyperinsulinemia (HI), which are different aspects of ID. The objective of this study was to describe if horses with HI also demonstrate IR and consequently can be detected by a modified 2-step insulin response test (2-step IRT) performed with a veterinary approved porcine zinc insulin (PZI). Twelve Icelandic horses were subjected to an OGT and 2-step IRT in a crossover stu...
Lazić S, Savić S, Petrović T, Lazić G, Žekić M, Drobnjak D, Lupulović D.The paper presents the findings of specific antibodies in the blood sera of donkeys against the following viruses: equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), African horse sickness virus (AHSV), equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), equine influenza virus subtype H3N8 (EIV) and equine arteritis virus (EAV). The analyses were conducted during the year 2022. From a total of 199 donkeys bred in "Zasavica", blood was sampled from 53 animals (2 male donkeys and 51 female donkeys), aged 3 to 10 years. Specific antibodies against EIAV were not detected in any of the tested animals using the agar-gel immunod...
Herbst AC, Coleman MC, Macon EL, Brokman A, Stromberg AJ, Harris PA, Adams AA.Information on the management and health of US senior horses (≥15 years of age) is currently limited. Objective: Provide information on (1) primary use of US senior horses, (2) reasons and risk factors for horse retirement, (3) exercise management, (4) prevalence of low muscle mass and (5) risk factors for, and owner-perceived consequences of, low muscle mass. Methods: Online survey. Methods: Survey responses from 2717 owners of U.S.-resident senior horses (≥15 years of age) were analysed descriptively and inferentially, using ordered and binomial logistic regression, ANOVA and the Kru...
McLean AK, Falt T, Abdelfattah EM, Middlebrooks B, Gretler S, Spier S, Turoff D, Navas Gonzalez FJ, Knych HK.Recent approval of transdermal flunixin meglumine (FM) (Banamine®) in cattle has opened the door for the drug's potential application in other species. Transdermal FM could provide a safe and effective form of pain relief in donkeys. In order to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and effects of FM on anti-inflammatory biomarkers in donkeys, a three-way crossover study design was employed. In total, 6 healthy donkeys were administered transdermal (TD) FM at a dosage of 3.3 mg/kg, and oral (PO) and intravenous (IV) doses of 1.1 mg/kg body weight. Blood samples were collected over 96 h to determine t...
Atai T, Ozmaie S, Anoushepour A.This research was performed to compare the effects of prednisolone and fluorometholone on intraocular pressure (IOP) and Schirmer tear test (STT) in the normal equine eye. Sixteen normal mares aged between 6 and 10 years were used for this study. Horses were randomly assigned to two groups. Eight horses in the first group received 0.2 mL of topical 1% prednisolone in one eye and the contralateral eye was used as control (0.2 mL of saline was instilled). The second group received 0.2 mL of 0.1% fluorometholone in a randomly selected eye and the contralateral eye served as control and received 0...
Vincelette AR, Renders E, Scott KM, Falkingham PL, Janis CM.The traditional story of the evolution of the horse (family Equidae) has been in large part about the evolution of their feet. How did modern horses come to have a single toe (digit III), with the hoof bearing a characteristic V-shaped keratinous frog on the sole, and what happened to the other digits? While it has long been known that the proximal portions of digits II and IV are retained as the splint bones, a recent hypothesis suggested that the distal portion of these digits have also been retained as part of the frog, drawing upon the famous Laetoli footprints of the tridactyl (three-toed...
Huggins L, Norris J, Conley A, Dini P.Abnormal or undesired mare behaviours are often assumed to be associated with ovarian abnormalities. Objective: We aimed to determine the incidence of abnormal behaviours and their association with concentrations of one or more ovarian hormones associated with a granulosa cell tumour (GCT). Methods: Retrospective descriptive. Methods: A total of 2914 hormonal profile samples submitted with the words behave, behaviour, or behaving in the submission history were analysed. The association between reported abnormal behaviours and concentrations of testosterone, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), inhib...
Jaimes-Dueñez J, Jiménez-Leaño Á, Enrique-Niño S, Arias-Landazábal N, Bedoya-Ríos M, Rangel-Pachón D.Piroplasmosis and trypanosomiasis are debilitating diseases of great economic impact on the equine industry of Latin America. Considering the lack of studies in the northeastern part of Colombia, this study aimed to determine the epidemiological, clinical and genetic features associated with infection of the Babesia, Theileria, and Trypanosoma species in horses from this geographical area. Two hundred and eighty horses from the Arauca, Meta, and Santander departments were molecularly analyzed for infection with Babesia caballi, Theileria equi, Trypanosoma evansi, and Trypanosoma vivax. Further...
Pinetre J, Delcourt V, Becher F, Garcia P, Barnabé A, Loup B, Popot MA, Fenaille F, Bailly-Chouriberry L.Many innovative biotherapeutics have been marketed in the last decade. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and Fc-fusion proteins (Fc-proteins) have been developed for the treatment of diverse diseases (cancer, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory disorders) and now represent an important part of targeted therapies. However, the ready availability of such biomolecules, sometimes characterized by their anabolic, anti-inflammatory, or erythropoiesis-stimulating properties, raises concerns about their potential misuse as performance enhancers for human and animal athletes. In equine doping control labo...
Rock KD, Polera ME, Guillette TC, Starnes HM, Dean K, Watters M, Stevens-Stewart D, Belcher SM.Central North Carolina (NC) is highly contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in part due to local fluorochemical production. Little is known about the exposure profiles and long-term health impacts for humans and animals that live in nearby communities. In this study, serum PFAS concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry and diagnostic clinical chemistry endpoints were assessed for 31 dogs and 32 horses that reside in Gray's Creek NC at households with documented PFAS contamination in their drinking water. PFAS were detec...
Greening L, Allen S, McBride S.Sleep disturbance is observed across species, resulting in neurocognitive dysfunction and poor impulse control/regulation of negative emotion. Understanding animal sleep disturbance is thus important to understand how environmental factors influence animal sleep and day-to-day welfare. Self-reporting tools for sleep disturbance are commonly used in human research to determine sleep quality, that cannot be transferred to non-verbal animal species research. Human research has, however, successfully used frequency of awakenings to create an objective measurement of sleep quality. The aim of this ...
Stevens KA, Caruso JC, Fallahi AKM, Patiño JM.Since initial reports suggesting primary tendon repair as possible and even desirable emerged in the 1960s, significant advancements in the understanding of flexor tendon anatomy, biology, mechanisms of response to injury, and methods of repair, have been made. Recent research highlights enhanced improvements in operative techniques and rehabilitative care that have made primary flexor tendon repair a preferred operative approach for lacerations and can successfully achieve a reliable flexor tendon repair site, optimizing digital motion. The formative goals of surgical treatment for lacerated ...
Aguilar-Lazcano CA, Espinosa-Curiel IE, Ríos-Martínez JA, Madera-Ramírez FA, Pérez-Espinosa H.The development of technology, such as the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, has significantly advanced many fields of study. Animal research is no exception, as these technologies have enabled data collection through various sensing devices. Advanced computer systems equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities can process these data, allowing researchers to identify significant behaviors related to the detection of illnesses, discerning the emotional state of the animals, and even recognizing individual animal identities. This review includes articles in the English langu...
Nielsen MK.Anoplocephalid tapeworms are commonly occurring in grazing horses around the world. Two currently available anthelmintics have documented high efficacy against Anoplocephala perfoliata; praziquantel in various dosages ranging from 1.0 to 2.5 mg/kg and pyrantel pamoate administered at 13.2 mg base/kg. Anthelmintic resistance has not been reported in A. perfoliata, but anecdotal reports made during 2022 have suggested a possible loss of efficacy for both actives. This paper reports fecal egg count data from a Thoroughbred operation in Central Kentucky in 2023. Fifty-six yearlings were first de...
Jackson K, Kelty E.Equine peripheral caries is a common condition characterized by demineralization and degradation of the clinical crown of equine cheek teeth. The condition can cause significant pain and morbidity, particularly in severe cases. Recent studies indicate that the condition is driven by environmental conditions within the mouth, as only the clinical crown of the tooth is affected (the reserve crown below the gingival margin remains unaffected). It is hypothesized that peripheral caries is driven by changes in oral pH, with risk factors for the condition including the intake of high-sugar feeds (oa...
Williams KJ.Progressive lung fibrosis in humans, typified by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in people. Similar diseases have been described in dogs, cats, and horses. The cause and pathogenesis of such diseases in all species is poorly understood. There is growing evidence in human medicine that IPF is a manifestation of abnormal wound repair in response to epithelial injury. Because viruses can contribute to epithelial injury, there is increasing interest in a possible role of viruses, particularly gammaherpesviruses, in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fi...
The results of integrated human and veterinary surveillance for West Nile virus (WNV) infections in Austria during the transmission seasons 2015 and 2016 are shown. Altogether WNV nucleic acid was detected in 21 humans, horses, wild birds and mosquito pools. In detail: in four human clinical cases [two cases of West Nile fever (WNF) and two cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND)]; eight blood donors [among 145,541 tested donations], of which three remained asymptomatic and five subsequently developed mild WNF; two horses with WNND, of which one recovered and one had to be euthanized; ...
Cuny C, Kuemmerle J, Stanek C, Willey B, Strommenger B, Witte W.Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has become an emerging public health problem worldwide, no longer only associated with healthcare-associated infections. With the exception of some recent reports concerning infections in cats, dogs and horses, infections with MRSA in companion animals have been infrequently reported. Here we submit findings for MRSA infections in horses in a central European university hospital.
Mott J, Rikihisa Y, Zhang Y, Reed SM, Yu CY.Potomac horse fever is an acute systemic equine disease caused by Ehrlichia risticii. Currently, serologic methods are widely used to diagnose this disease. However, serologic methods cannot determine whether the horse is presently infected or has been exposed to ehrlichial antigens in the past. The purpose of the present study was to compare the sensitivities of the nested PCR and cell culture with that of the indirect fluorescent-antibody (IFA) test for the diagnosis of Potomac horse fever. Blood and fecal specimens serially collected from a pony experimentally infected with E. risticii Mary...
Giguère S, Jacks S, Roberts GD, Hernandez J, Long MT, Ellis C.The objective of this retrospective study was to compare the efficacy of azithromycin-rifampin, clarithromycin-rifampin, and erythromycin-rifampin for the treatment of pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi in foals. Eighty-one foals with naturally acquired pneumonia caused by R. equi were included in the study. Information on age, sex, breed, physical examination findings, laboratory testing, and thoracic radiography was abstracted from each medical record. Foals were divided in 3 groups based on the antimicrobial agent selected for therapy. Short-term (discharge from the hospital) and long-ter...
Gilger BC, Malok E, Cutter KV, Stewart T, Horohov DW, Allen JB.Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), a chronic, recurrent inflammation primarily of the anterior uveal tract, is the most common cause of blindness in horses. Recently, T-lymphocytes have been found to be the most numerous cell type to infiltrate the anterior uveal of horses with ERU. In the present study, we characterized the T-lymphocyte population in the anterior uveal tract of eyes of horses with chronic ERU by evaluating the microscopic appearance (histopathologic features), the T-lymphocyte subsets, and the relative levels and amounts of T-lymphocyte cytokine mRNA in the anterior uvea. Seven ...
Furtado T, Preshaw L, Hockenhull J, Wathan J, Douglas J, Horseman S, Smith R, Pollard D, Pinchbeck G, Rogers J, Hall C.The international governing body for equestrian sports, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), states that the welfare of the horse must be paramount and never subordinated to competitive or commercial influences. However, there is growing unease about welfare issues from both within and outside the sport. The aim of this study was to understand stakeholder perceptions of current welfare issues within equestrian sport, determine whether there is scope for change, and explore attitudes towards welfare assessment. Participants ( = 48) from equestrian sport ( = 38) and animal welfare res...
Kearns CF, McKeever KH, Roegner V, Brady SM, Malinowski K.Plasma concentrations of adiponectin and leptin were measured in 23 mature Standardbred mares (age: 10+/-3 years) and 12 weanling fillies (10 Quarter Horse/Belgian crossbreds and two Quarter Horses; aged: 4+/-3 months) to test the hypothesis that adipocytokines are proportional to adiposity in horses. Rump fat thickness was measured using B-mode ultrasound and percent body fat (% fat) calculated using a published formula for the estimation of fatness in horses. Plasma adiponectin and leptin were determined using radioimmunoassay. In the absence of purified equine adiponectin or leptin, results...
Tzelos T, Barbeito JS, Nielsen MK, Morgan ER, Hodgkinson JE, Matthews JB.Parasitic nematodes, particularly cyathostomins, are ubiquitous in grazing horses world-wide. Considerable burdens of cyathostomin larvae can encyst in the large intestinal wall. The most recommended treatment against these pathogenic stages is moxidectin. Information is required on how effective moxidectin is against cyathostomin populations in different regions. The objectives here were to determine the efficacy of moxidectin treatment and estimate the strongyle egg reappearance period (ERP) after treatment in several equine populations, to confirm the type of strongyle nematodes present and...
Caniglia CJ, Schramme MC, Smith RK.Collagen fibril size is decreased in repair tissue following tendon injury compared to normal tendon matrix in horses. Mesenchymal stem cells have been suggested to promote regeneration of tendon matrix rather than fibrotic repair following injury, although this concept remains unproven. Objective: To explore the hypothesis that implantation of autologous mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow into a surgically created central core defect in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) of horses would induce the formation of a matrix with greater ultrastructural similarities to tendon...
Bailey KE, Gilkerson JR, Browning GF.Equine rotaviruses were first detected in foals over 30 years ago and remain a major cause of infectious diarrhoea in foals. During this time, there has been substantial progress in the development of sensitive methods to detect rotaviruses in foals, enabling surveillance of the genotypes present in various horse populations. However, there has been limited epidemiological investigation into the significance of these circulating genotypes, their correlation with disease and the use of vaccination in these animal populations. Our knowledge of the pathogenesis of rotavirus infection in foals is ...
Starling M, McLean A, McGreevy P.Equitation science is an evidence-based approach to horse training and riding that focuses on a thorough understanding of both equine ethology and learning theory. This combination leads to more effective horse training, but also plays a role in keeping horse riders and trainers safe around horses. Equitation science underpins ethical equitation, and recognises the limits of the horse's cognitive and physical abilities. Equitation is an ancient practice that has benefited from a rich tradition that sees it flourishing in contemporary sporting pursuits. Despite its history, horse-riding is an a...
Young JJ, Coulombier D, Domanović D, Zeller H, Gossner CM.West Nile virus (WNV) infection is notifiable in humans and equids in the European Union (EU). An area where a human case is detected is considered affected until the end of the mosquito transmission season (week 48) and blood safety measures have to be implemented. We used human and equine case notifications between 2013 and 2017 to define the WNV distribution in the EU and to investigate the relevance of using equine cases as a complementary trigger for blood safety measures. Adding areas with equine cases to the definition of an affected area would have a major impact on blood safety measur...
Rebordão MR, Galvão A, Szóstek A, Amaral A, Mateus L, Skarzynski DJ, Ferreira-Dias G.Endometrosis is a degenerative chronic process, characterized by paramount fibrosis development in mare endometrium. This condition is one of the major causes of subfertility/infertility in mares. As in other organs, fibrosis might be a pathologic sequel of many chronic inflammatory diseases. However, aetiology and physiopathologic mechanisms involved in endometrial fibrosis are still controversial. This review presents new hypotheses based on our newest data. As the first line of innate immune defence, systemic neutrophils arrive in the uterus at mating or in the presence of pathogens. A nove...
de Vries AA, Glaser AL, Raamsman MJ, de Haan CA, Sarnataro S, Godeke GJ, Rottier PJ.Equine arteritis virus (EAV) is an enveloped, positive-stranded RNA virus belonging to the family Arteriviridae of the order Nidovirales. The unsegmented, infectious genome of EAV is 12,704 nt in length [exclusive of the poly(A) tail] and contains eight overlapping genes that are expressed from a 3'-coterminal nested set of seven leader-containing mRNAs. To investigate the importance of the overlapping gene arrangement in the viral life-cycle and to facilitate the genetic manipulation of the viral genome, a series of mutant full-length cDNA clones was constructed in which either EAV open readi...
Raudsepp T, Santani A, Wallner B, Kata SR, Ren C, Zhang HB, Womack JE, Skow LC, Chowdhary BP.We herein report a detailed physical map of the horse Y chromosome. The euchromatic region of the chromosome comprises approximately 15 megabases (Mb) of the total 45- to 50-Mb size and lies in the distal one-third of the long arm, where the pseudoautosomal region (PAR) is located terminally. The rest of the chromosome is predominantly heterochromatic. Because of the unusual organization of the chromosome (common to all mammalian Y chromosomes), a number of approaches were used to crossvalidate the results. Analysis of the 5,000-rad horse x hamster radiation hybrid panel produced a map spannin...
Gu J, MacHugh DE, McGivney BA, Park SD, Katz LM, Hill EW.The wild progenitors of the domestic horse were subject to natural selection for speed and stamina for millennia. Uniquely, this process has been augmented in Thoroughbreds, which have undergone at least 3 centuries of intense artificial selection for athletic phenotypes. While the phenotypic adaptations to exercise are well described, only a small number of the underlying genetic variants contributing to these phenotypes have been reported. Objective: A panel of candidate performance-related genes was examined for DNA sequence variation in Thoroughbreds and the association with racecourse per...
Costa DG, Marvulo MF, Silva JS, Santana SC, Magalhães FJ, Filho CD, Ribeiro VO, Alves LC, Mota RA, Dubey JP, Silva JC.Fernando de Noronha is an archipelago of 21 islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, state of Pernambuco, Brazil, which has a varied biodiversity including alien species or sinantropic animals. The objective here was to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic and wild animals from Fernando de Noronha archipelago, Brazil. Between July 2007 and May 2010, blood samples were collected from 764 animals (533 domestic and 231 wild animals). Sera were tested by the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) or the modified agglutination test (MAT), or by both. Antibodies to T. g...
Buling A, Criado-Fornelio A, Asenzo G, Benitez D, Barba-Carretero JC, Florin-Christensen M.The haemoparasites Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina affect cattle over vast areas of the tropics and temperate parts of the world. Microscopic examination of blood smears allows the detection of clinical cases of babesiosis, but this procedure lacks sensitivity when parasitaemia levels are low. In addition, differentiating between similar haemoparasites can be very difficult. Molecular diagnostic procedures can, however, overcome these problems. This paper reports a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay involving the use of SYBR Green. Based on the amplification of a small fragment of the cytochrome...
Schuurman W, Gawlitta D, Klein TJ, ten Hoope W, van Rijen MH, Dhert WJ, van Weeren PR, Malda J.If chondrocytes from the superficial, middle, and deep zones of articular cartilage could maintain or regain their characteristic properties during in vitro culture, it would be feasible to create constructs comprising these distinctive zones. Objective: Zone-specific characteristics of zonal cell populations will disappear during 2-dimensional expansion but will reappear after 3-dimensional redifferentiation, independent of the culture technique used (alginate beads versus pellet culture). Methods: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Equine articular chondrocytes from the 3 zones were expan...
Karagianni AE, Kapetanovic R, McGorum BC, Hume DA, Pirie SR.Alveolar macrophages (AMs) constitute the first line of defence in the lung of all species, playing a crucial role in the regulation of immune responses to inhaled pathogens. A detailed understanding of the function and phenotype of AMs is a necessary pre-requisite to both elucidating their role in preventing opportunistic bacterial colonisation of the lower respiratory tract and developing appropriate preventative strategies. The purpose of the study was to characterise this important innate immune cell at the tissue level by making functional and phenotypic comparisons with peritoneal macrop...
Pinchbeck GL, Morrison LJ, Tait A, Langford J, Meehan L, Jallow S, Jallow J, Jallow A, Christley RM.The Gambia has an increasing population of equidae largely used for agriculture and transportation. A review of cases at The Gambian Horse and Donkey Trust (GHDT) indicated that a common reason for presentation is a poorly defined medical condition often attributed to trypanosomosis. There are few reports describing the prevalence or the range of clinical signs associated with infection with different species of trypanosomes in horses and donkeys, but given the importance of these animals, the role of trypanosomosis requires investigation. Results: In total 241 animals from the Central River D...
Magdesian KG.Diarrhea is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal foal. Numerous noninfectious and infectious agents are responsible for enterocolitis and enteritis. This article provides an overview of the differential diagnoses for neonatal diarrhea and general and specific guidelines for therapy.
The Journal of parasitologyFebruary 24, 2001
Volume 86, Issue 6 1276-1280 doi: 10.1645/0022-3395(2000)086[1276:COTLCO]2.0.CO;2
Dubey JP, Saville WJ, Lindsay DS, Stich RW, Stanek JF, Speert CA, Rosenthal BM, Njoku CJ, Kwok OC, Shen SK, Reed SM.Sarcocystis neurona is the most important cause of a neurologic disease in horses, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). The complete life cycle of S. neurona, including the description of sarcocysts and intermediate hosts, has not been completed until now. Opossums (Didelphis spp.) are definitive hosts, and horses and other mammals are aberrant hosts. In the present study, laboratory-raised domestic cats (Felis domesticus) were fed sporocysts from the intestine of a naturally infected opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Microscopic sarcocysts, with a maximum size of 700 x 50 microm, developed...
Branly T, Bertoni L, Contentin R, Rakic R, Gomez-Leduc T, Desancé M, Hervieu M, Legendre F, Jacquet S, Audigié F, Denoix JM, Demoor M, Galéra P.Articular cartilage presents a poor capacity for self-repair. Its structure-function are frequently disrupted or damaged upon physical trauma or osteoarthritis in humans. Similar musculoskeletal disorders also affect horses and are the leading cause of poor performance or early retirement of sport- and racehorses. To develop a therapeutic solution for horses, we tested the autologous chondrocyte implantation technique developed on human bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on horse BM-MSCs. This technique involves BM-MSC chondrogenesis using a combinatory approach based on the associ...
Smith JJ, Ross MW, Smith RK.The purpose of this study was to investigate the response of suspensory ligament fibroblasts (SLF) to in vitro stimulation using acellular bone marrow (ABM), platelet rich plasma (in vitro PRP), and serum as potential treatment modalities for suspensory desmitis. Blood, bone marrow, and suspensory ligaments were collected from five horses. SLF were harvested, grown until confluent, and stimulated with various concentrations of ABM, PRP, equine serum, foetal bovine serum, and medium (control). The responses to the treatments were assessed using a combination of radio-labeling for total protein ...
Physick-Sheard PW, McGurrin MK.A lack of information on normal heart rhythm at maximal effort hampers investigation of poor performance and sudden death in Standardbred racing. Objective: To characterize rhythm variations during scheduled racing in clinically normal Standardbred horses. Methods: Two hundred and eighty-eight Standardbred horses competing in 40 scheduled races at a Southern Ontario racetrack. Methods: Observational study, convenience sampling: Heart rhythm was monitored by ECG from harnessing to postrace recovery and assessed visually and by examining heart rate intervals. Rhythm variations were used as respo...
Parker JL, White KK.A complete search of the literature concerning Lyme borreliosis as it relates to horses and cattle was done. The epidemiology, pathogenesis, immunological response to the disease, diagnosis and treatment are discussed. A review of clinical cases in horses and cattle is presented. Clinical signs of Lyme borreliosis in horses include: chronic weight loss, sporadic lameness, laminitis, low grade fever, swollen joints, muscle tenderness, and anterior uveitis. In addition to those clinical signs, neurological signs such as depression, behavioral changes, dysphagia, head tilt and encephalitis can be...
Anastasiou A, Hall LD.Cramer-Rao theory and computer simulations were used to show that the errors involved in calculating the magnetization and relaxation parameters of a two-component system decrease with: (1) increasing SNR, (2) increasing number of echoes used in the fitting procedure, and (3) increasing ratio of the relaxation times of the two components, T(22)/T(21). Images of bi-compartmental phantoms of known T(2) values were acquired using an optimized imaging sequence, and an optimized fitting algorithm was used to calculate the T(2) values of the two components by fitting the resulting images to a bi-exp...
Spaas JH, Guest DJ, Van de Walle GR.Tendon injuries are one of the most common orthopaedic problems in both human and equine athletes. When a damaged tendon heals naturally, it loses a substantial part of the original strength and elasticity. Therefore, tendons recover structurally (reparation) but not functionally (regeneration) after conservative medical or surgical treatment. Since the structure and matrix composition of human and equine tendons share many similarities, the nature of tendon injuries are also strongly comparable in both species. Therefore, the evaluation of regenerative therapies in horses may have application...
