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.
Burn CC, Pritchard JC, Farajat M, Twaissi AA, Whay HR.A risk analysis was undertaken in an attempt to improve improvised rump straps on donkeys carrying tourists at the World Heritage Site at Petra, Jordan. Tail-base lesions were identified in 63 of the 86 donkeys. Observations and questionnaires were used to collect data relating to the straps, donkey health and human attitudes. The worse lesions were associated with padded rather than unpadded straps, if tightly fitted. Padding could be a cause of, or a response to lesions, but results suggest that it did not effectively aid healing. Significantly worse lesions occurred with unclean than with c...
The Journal of hereditySeptember 13, 2007
Volume 98, Issue 6 594-602 doi: 10.1093/jhered/esm064
Plante Y, Vega-Pla JL, Lucas Z, Colling D, de March B, Buchanan F.The present-day Sable Island horse population, inhabiting an island off the eastern coast of Canada, is believed to have originated mainly from horses confiscated from the early French settlers in Nova Scotia in the latter half of the 18th century. In 1960, the Sable Island horses were given legal protected status and no human interference has since been allowed. The objective of this study was to characterize the current genetic diversity in Sable Island horses in comparison to 15 other horse breeds commonly found in Canada and 5 Spanish breeds. A total of 145 alleles from 12 microsatellite l...
Stanley RL, Fleck RA, Becker DL, Goodship AE, Ralphs JR, Patterson-Kane JC.Injury to the energy-storing superficial digital flexor tendon is common in equine athletes and is age-related. Tenocytes in the superficial digital flexor tendon of adult horses appear to have limited ability to respond adaptively to exercise or prevent the accumulation of strain-induced microdamage. It has been suggested that conditioning exercise should be introduced during the growth period, when tenocytes may be more responsive to increased quantities or intensities of mechanical strain. Tenocytes are linked into networks by gap junctions that allow coordination of synthetic activity and ...
Beaudry F, Vachon P.Glucosamine is an amino sugar involved in the biosynthesis of glycosylated proteins and lipids. Recently, with increased public interest in natural products medicine, glucosamine has been widely used to treat osteoarthritis, even though demonstrations of its actual efficacy remain relatively unknown. Information related to the pharmcokinetics of glucosamine is sparse. A recent analytical method published used 13C-glucosamine as an internal standard to analyse study samples. The method lacked accuracy owing to an important natural isotopic contribution of glucosamine to 13C-glucosamine ion abun...
Yörük I, Deger Y, Mert H, Mert N.The serum concentrations of copper, zinc, iron, and cobalt and copper/zinc ratio were investigated in horses infected with equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). Nine horses were naturally infected with the virus and nine healthy horses served as controls. The concentrations of copper, zinc, iron, and cobalt were determined spectrophotometrically in the blood serum of all horses. The results were (expressed in micrograms per deciliters) copper 2.80 +/- 0.34 vs 1.12 +/- 0.44, zinc 3.05 +/- 0.18 vs 0.83 +/- 0.06, iron 2.76 +/- 0.17 vs 3.71 +/- 0.69, cobalt 0.19 +/- 0.37 vs 0.22 +/- 0.45, and copper/zinc ...
Schaudien D, Müller JM, Baumgärtner W.A well-circumscribed mass 70 x 35 x 28 cm in size and 41 kg in weight was detected at necropsy in a male adult horse within the omentum major without any association to the gastrointestinal tract. The tumor consisted of multiple white-to-yellow lobules and displayed a firm consistency. In addition, multiple cysts filled with blood-like fluid, and multifocal areas of necrosis were observed. Histologically, the mass consisted of slightly pleomorphic spindloid-shaped cells arranged in interlacing bundles containing elongated nuclei with blunt ends. The majority of tumor cells revealed a positive ...
Allen WR, Gower S, Wilsher S.Polyclonal antisera for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its two main receptor molecules, VEGF-I (Flt) and VEGF-II (KDR), were used in a conventional immunocytochemical staining method to localize these angiogenic ligand molecules in the endometrium and placenta of the mare during the oestrous cycle and pregnancy. The anti-VEGF and anti-Flt sera both labelled the lumenal and glandular epithelia of the endometrium throughout the oestrous cycle and both the invasive trophoblast cells of the endometrial cups and the non-invasive trophoblast of the allantochorion in pregnancy. The ant...
Mankoc S, Hostnik P, Grom J, Toplak I, Klobucar I, Kosec M, Barlic-Maganja D.In the present study, a new one-step real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) strategy with minor-groove-binder (MGB) technology for the detection of EAV from 40 semen samples of Slovenian carrier stallions was tested. A novel MGB probe (EAVMGBpr) and a reverse primer (EAV-R) based on the multiple sequence alignment of 49 different EAV strain sequences of the highly conserved ORF7 (nucleocapsid gene) were designed. The performance of the assay was compared with different molecular detection methods. Three different primer pairs targeting the ORF1b and ORF7 were used, ...
Levy I, Duchamp G.The aim of the present study, was to evaluate whether a single subcutaneous administration of the GnRH analogue buserelin could induce ovulation in the mare during the breeding season. Two studies were carried out under field conditions. In Experiment 1, 90 cycles of trotter mares aged 2-7 years, were assigned to a buserelin group (Bus1) or to a control group (Control), in the presence of a >/=35 mm pre-ovulatory follicle, with uterine oedema and a relaxed cervix. Ten mares were assigned to the two groups for 32 cycles in Bus1 and 52 cycles in Control, two mares received only Bus1 for three...
Staniar WB, Kronfeld DS, Akers RM, Harris PA.The objective of this longitudinal study was to characterize growth and plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations in pasture-raised thoroughbreds fed two sources of dietary energy. Mares and foals were randomly assigned to either a sugar and starch (SS) or fat and fibre (FF)-rich feed, and plasma IGF-I and growth were measured once a month from 1 to 16 months of age. These dependent variables were also compared with day length and ambient temperature. There was an association between plasma IGF-I concentration and average daily gain (ADG) (r = 0.32, p 0.10) in the FF group wh...
Relave F, Lefebvre RC, Beaudoin S, Price C.The aim of this study was to validate an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the measurement of progesterone (P4) in mares. Specifically, the objectives were as follows: (1) to determine the specificity and sensitivity of the ELISA test for determination of P4, (2) to measure the potential agreement between the 2 people performing the test, and 3) to evaluate the effect of time on the outcome. Ten mares were sampled on the day before ovulation (D-1), and on days 1 (D1), 3 (D3), and 5 (D5) following ovulation, during the reproductive season. While mares were cycling regularly, estrus ...
Rendle DI, Cottle HJ, Love S, Hughes KJ.In equids, chorioptic mange is a common dermatitis for which there are no licensed medications in the uk. Doramectin and fipronil are licensed for the control of ectoparasites in other species and were evaluated for the treatment of 17 cases of chorioptic mange in 13 equids. Equids were included if clinical findings were indicative of chorioptic mange, chorioptes mites were positively identified and concurrent disease that could affect response to disease was not evident. A random number table was used to allocate subjects to receive doramectin (group D, eight animals) or fipronil (group F, ni...
Hobo S, Niwa H, Anzai T.In the present study, the concentrations of serum amyloid A and surfactant protein D in sera were measured to evaluate them for identification of the clinical condition of horses with bacterial pneumonia. The study utilized 185 clinically healthy control thoroughbreds and 9 thoroughbreds for experimental infectious study with S. zooepidemicus. Blood samples were collected from the 185 healthy control thoroughbreds. The 9 thoroughbreds were experimentally infected S. zooepidemicus using an endoscopic injection to a lung lobe and were then observed of clinical conditions. Blood samples were coll...
Kidd JA, Barr AR, Tarlton JF.Thirty-nine samples of synovial fluid were collected from the joints of 32 horses with suspected septic arthritis and 39 samples were collected from horses euthanased for non-orthopaedic conditions. The white blood cell counts (WBCC) were determined and the pro and active forms of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 were measured by gelatin zymography and image analysis in each sample. The initial measurements of the ratio of proMMP9:proMMp2 and WBCC were good prognostic indicators of the survival of the horses. There was no significant relationship between the interval between the injury...
Weyenberg SV, Hesta M, Buyse J, Papadopoulos GA, Janssens GP.To determine whether plasma leptin concentrations and glucose tolerance are affected by changes in energy balance, nine healthy Shetland ponies were fed at 140% followed by 75% of their maintenance requirements for 13 days in each of the two periods. Bodyweight was recorded every three days. Blood samples were taken every two days and analysed for leptin and cortisol. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed on day 7 of each period. Serial blood samples were analysed for glucose and insulin. Although bodyweight was not affected, plasma leptin concentrations increased (P<0.001) initially...
Bentley VA, Sample SJ, Livesey MA, Scollay MC, Radtke CL, Frank JD, Kalscheur VL, Muir P.Failure of functional adaptation to protect the skeleton from damage is common and is often associated with targeted remodeling of bone microdamage. Horses provide a suitable model for studying loading-related skeletal disease because horses are physically active, their exercise is usually regulated, and adaptive failure of various skeletal sites is common. We performed a histologic study of the navicular bone of three groups of horses: (1) young racing Thoroughbreds (n = 10); (2) young unshod ponies (n = 10); and (3) older horses with navicular syndrome (n = 6). Navicular syndrome is a painfu...
Taharaguchi S, Nagano A, Okai K, Miyasho T, Kuwano M, Taniyama H, Yokota H.The objective of this study was to find serum indicators of gastric ulcers in foals. By using two-dimensional electrophoresis of serum proteins, three distinct spots were detected in samples from foals with gastric ulcers detected endoscopically. One of them appeared with high frequency and was identified by partial digestion with trypsin and subsequent nano-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry (nanoesi-ms/ms) analysis as an alpha(1)-antitrypsin. Western blot analysis, using an antibody against human alpha(1)-antitrypsin, revealed at least two bands, of molecular weight 58 kDa and ...
Nakamura Y, Nishi H, Katayama Y, Niwa H, Matsumura T, Anzai T, Ohtsu Y, Tsukano K, Shimizu N, Takai S.An eight-year-old thoroughbred mare with no previous history of illness aborted a fetus at 196 days of gestation, and its internal tissues were examined immunohistologically and bacteriologically. The placenta was not examined, but specimens of the intrauterine fluids and the dam's faeces were collected four days after the abortion and examined bacteriologically. No significant histological lesions were found in the fetus but the amnion and the umbilical cord were oedematous and had petechial haemorrhages. Rhodococcus equi was isolated in pure culture from the lung, heart and stomach contents ...
Hupe O, Ankerhold U.Pet owners often assist voluntarily while their pets are being X-rayed during a medical examination. Medical staff members occupationally exposed to radiation are monitored regularly, as they wear personal dosemeters, whereas no dose measurements are carried out on voluntarily assisting persons, as measurements are both cost- and time-intensive. However, the dose limits prescribed in the German radiation protection regulations have to be observed for these volunteers as well. To assist the legislator in deciding whether the German regulation should be changed so that in future the dose of volu...
Traversa D.The recognition that the health and welfare of some humans are improved through contact and relationships with animals is now established. Two commonly recognized assistance animals are dogs and horses. Both provide therapeutic benefits to humans with some physical and mental illnesses and both assist people with disabilities. Moreover, the public and scientific attention to the health and conservation of many animal breeds is also increasing worldwide. In the past few years, two potentially life-threatening nematode infections that can induce tumours or tumour-like masses in canids and equids...
Yang YJ, Cho GJ.A total of 384 Thoroughbred mares were investigated to determine and evaluate the features of early embryonic death at nine equine farms on Jeju Island, South Korea, from 2001 to 2003. Overall, 771 matings for 384 mares resulted in 376 pregnancies 15 days after ovulation. Subsequently, 12.2% (46/376) of these early conceptuses were lost within 45 days after ovulation. Furthermore, about three quarters of the 46 embryonic deaths occurred between 16 and 25 days after ovulation. The incidence of embryonic death was highest in the barren (17.2%), more than 15 years old (15.4%), and more than 10 pa...
Fuller MC, Abutarbush SM.A 10-year-old gelding was presented with a tongue that had swelled immediately after oral administration of oxfendazole, using an udder infusion cannula. The tongue appeared to have been punctured inadvertently. The horse recovered after treatment with intravenous fluid, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Administering oral medication by this method should be discouraged. Un cheval hongre âgé de 10 ans a été présenté avec une langue devenue tuméfiée immédiatement après l’administration orale d’oxfendazole à l’aide d’une canule à infusion du pis. La langue semblait a...
Garré B, Shebany K, Gryspeerdt A, Baert K, van der Meulen K, Nauwynck H, Deprez P, De Backer P, Croubels S.The purpose of this study was twofold. The first aim was to evaluate the oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetics (PKs) of acyclovir in horses after intravenous (i.v.) administration and after oral administration of acyclovir and its prodrug, valacyclovir. Second, we aimed to combine these PK data with pharmacodynamic (PD) information, i.e., 50% effective concentrations (EC(50) values) from in vitro studies, to design an optimal dosage schedule. Three treatments were administered to healthy adult horses: 10 mg of acyclovir/kg of body weight delivered as an i.v. infusion over 1 h, 20 mg of acy...
Silver M, Barnes RJ, Comline RS, Fowden AL, Clover L, Mitchell MD.The concentrations of the primary prostaglandins (PG) F-2alpha and E-2 and the metabolite 13,14-dihydro-15-oxo-prostaglandin (PGFM) in maternal and fetal plasma and in allantoic fluid were measured in chronically catheterized mares and fetuses. A gradual rise in all 3 PGs occurred with increasing gestational age. PGE-2 and PGF-2 alpha levels were highest in the allantoic fluid and lowest in the maternal plasma, whereas PGFM concentrations were greatest in maternal plasma. Significant venous-arterial plasma differences in PGFM concentration were detected across the uterine circulation between 1...
Zandi MB, Salek Ardestani S, Vahedi SM, Mahboudi H, Mahboudi F, Meskoob A.Dareshouri, Arabian, and Akhal-Teke are 3 Middle Eastern horse breeds that have been selected for endurance and adaptation to harsh climates. Deciphering the genetic characteristics of these horses by tracing selection footprints and copy number of variations will be helpful in improving our understanding of equine breeds' development and adaptation. For this purpose, we sequenced the whole genome of 4 Dareshouri horses using Illumina Hiseq panels and compared them with publicly available whole-genome sequences of Arabian (n = 3) and Akhal-Teke (n = 3) horses. Three tests of FLK, hapFLK, and p...
Varona L, Legarra A.(1) Background: Ranking traits are used commonly for breeding purposes in several equine populations; however, implementation is complex, because the position of a horse in a competition event is discontinuous and is influenced by the performance of its competitors. One approach to overcoming these limitations is to assume an underlying Gaussian liability that represents a horse's performance and dictates the observed classification in a competition event. That approach can be implemented using Montecarlo Markov Chain (McMC) techniques with a procedure known as the Thurstonian model. (2) Metho...
Naval J, Calvo M, Lampreave F, Piñeiro A.1. A high concentration Cibacron Blue-Sepharose derivative has been used to study the affinity chromatography of albumin from eight animal species. 2. The apparent affinity constants for albumin varies between 3.9 x 10(4) M-1 and 0.9 x 10(4) M-1, in the order: Human greater than rabbit greater than horse greater than pig = dog greater than bovine greater than rat greater than chicken. 3. Other serum proteins were also bound to the gel, particularly lipoproteins and alpha 2-macroglobulin.
Tolley EA, Notter DR, Marlowe TJ.Repeatabilities (t) and heritabilities (h2) of racing time were estimated from data on 7,206 2- and 3-yr-old Standardbred pacers and trotters competing in 1-mile (1.6 km) charted races at six tracks between 1975 and 1978. A total of 38,487 records representing 2,387 sire progeny groups were divided into subsets by gait, age and track. Initially, the designation "class of race" was recognized as a subjective categorization that reflected nonrandom assignments of horses to races. After extensive investigation, we concluded that racing times should be adjusted by linear regression for the time of...
Horin P, Osickova J, Necesankova M, Matiasovic J, Musilova P, Kubickova S, Hubertova D, Vyskocil M, Rubes J.In previous work, we found significant associations of horse chromosome 15 (ECA15) microsatellite markers HMSO1 and HTG06 with two horse infections, Rhodococcus equi and Lawsonia intracellularis, respectively. Interleukin-1 beta subunit and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist encoding genes (IL1B and IL1RN) could be considered as candidate genes underlying the associations reported. Therefore, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within three interleukin-1 beta functionally related genes: IL1B, IL1RN and Casp1 (interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme/caspasel encoding gene). Using a...
Campbell TE, Doughty H, Harris PA, de Laat MA, Sillence MN.The rapid intake of high-cereal, low-roughage meals may cause gastrointestinal and behavioral disorders. We investigated some of the factors that can affect the rate of intake (ROI) in four separate studies. Study 1 investigated the effect of chaff length and addition rate on the ROI of oats. The ROI decreased as more chaff was added to the diet, attaining significance (P < .05, n = 6) at levels above 15% addition and reaching a plateau at ∼50%. This was independent of stalk length (1.4 cm vs. 4.1 cm). Study 2 showed that meal size (varying from 0.5 to 4 g/kg BW) did not affect the RO...
Cacciamali A, Pascucci L, Villa R, Dotti S.Nanoscience and nanotechnologies have recently gained importance in several fields, such as industry and medicine. A big issue of the increasing application of nanomaterials is the poor literature regarding their potential toxicity in humans and animals. Recently, adult stem cells have been proposed as putative targets of nanoparticles (NPs). This study aims to investigate the effects of zerovalent-metallic NPs on isolated and amplified equine Adipose tissue derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (eAdMSCs). Cells were treated with Cobalt (Co-), Iron (Fe-), and Nickel (Ni-) nanoparticles (NPs) at diffe...
Brooks AC, Menzies-Gow NJ, Wheeler-Jones CP, Bailey SR, Elliott J, Cunningham FM.Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can activate equine platelets directly or indirectly, via leukocyte-derived platelet activating factor (PAF). Thromboxane (Tx) production by LPS-stimulated equine platelets requires p38 MAPK and this kinase has been suggested as a therapeutic target in endotoxaemia. The present study has utilised selective inhibitors to investigate the role of p38 MAPK and two other kinases, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase C (PKC), in regulating PAF-induced Tx production, aggregation and 5-HT release in equine platelets, and the modification of these responses b...
Southwood LL.Horses with large colon volvulus (LCV) often require intensive postoperative medical management. Although early referral and surgical intervention are critical for minimal postoperative complications and a successful outcome, this is often not possible for many reasons. Endotoxemia, extensive mucosal damage with subsequent severe hypoproteinemia, and focal ischemic necrosis are the major causes of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Although fluid therapy, flunixin meglumine, and antimicrobials are still the mainstay of perioperative management, synthetic colloids are being used to maintain...
Hale J, Hughes K, Hall S, Labens R.Autologous conditioned serum (ACS) is a common intra-articular treatment for osteoarthritis in horses. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of ACS preparation method on product contamination and concentrations of relevant cytokines and the influence of multiple freeze/thaw cycles. Blood was obtained from 10 healthy Thoroughbred horses and processed in parallel using a commercial and a non-commercial method to obtain ACS. Fluorescent microsphere immunoassay (FMIA) analysis was performed to quantify Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Inter...
Tate LP, Sweeney CL, Bowman KF, Newman HC, Duckett WM.Transendoscopic neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser was used to treat 12 standing horses with epiglottic entrapment (EE) or dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP), or both. In four horses, transendoscopic laser staphylectomy was performed. The most common presenting complaints were respiratory stridor, cough, and exercise intolerance. Ten horses with EE healed without epiglottic complications; in one horse, partial adhesion of the aryepiglottic fold to one side of the epiglottis was corrected surgically through a laryngotomy incision. One horse with DDSP had no further sign...
Thiemann A, Foxcroft A.The UK public and veterinary profession often think of the equine charity sector as dealing with issues directly related to the UK equine population - overproduction, rehoming, shelter and welfare. However, the Donkey Sanctuary, like many UK-based equine charities, also works in Europe and further afield to try to address a much broader range of issues, as Alex Thiemann and Andy Foxcroft explain.
Pascoe JR, Meagher DM, Wheat JD.Uterine torsion was diagnosed in 26 mares of various breeds. The mean duration of gestation was 9.6 months. The most common clinical history was intermittent unresponsive colic of varying duration. Diagnosis of uterine torsion was confirmed by rectal palpation, and surgical correction was achieved in most cases by standing flank laparotomy and manual repositioning of the gravid uterus. Recumbent laparotomy was used only if the mare was intractable, the uterus was ruptured, or hysterotomy was indicated. Of 20 foals determined to be alive during surgery, 14 (70%) were subsequently born alive.
Ehrmann C, Engel J, Moritz A, Roscher K.In addition to maintaining hemostasis, platelets have an important role in modulating innate and adaptive immune responses. A low platelet count has been found to be a negative prognostic factor for survival in humans and horses with critical illnesses, such as sepsis or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Decreased platelet aggregation, caused by in vivo activation, has been found in human patients with severe sepsis. In our prospective controlled study, we assessed platelet biology in blood samples from 20 equine SIRS cases and 120 healthy control horses. Platelet variables such ...
Nauwelaerts S, Aerts P, Clayton H.Gaits can be defined based upon specific interlimb coordination patterns characteristic of a limited range of speeds, with one or more defining variables changing discontinuously at a transition. With changing speed, horses perform a repertoire of gaits (walk, trot, canter and gallop), with transitions between them. Knowledge of the series of kinematic events necessary to realize a gait is essential for understanding the proximate mechanisms as well as the control underlying gait transitions. We studied the kinematics of the actual transition from trot to canter in miniature horses. The kinema...
Hubert JD, Burba DJ, Moore RM.To describe a laparoscopic technique for granulosa cell tumor removal using a vessel sealing device (LigaSuretrade mark) in standing mares. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Eight mares (8-24 years old; weighing, 406-525 kg). Methods: Before surgery, ovarian size and adjacent body wall thickness was determined by ultrasonography. Mares were sedated and after local anesthesia (inverted L and local infiltration), laparoscopic cannulation was performed without insufflation. The mesovarium was anesthetized and the LigaSure instrument applied to the mesovarium for hemostasis and resection to r...
Muñoz-Prieto A, Cerón JJ, Rubio CP, Contreras-Aguilar MD, Pardo-Marín L, Ayala-de la Peña I, Martín-Cuervo M, Holm Henriksen IM....In this report, the measurement of salivary biomarkers as an aid for diagnosis of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) was studied. A comprehensive panel of 23 salivary analytes was measured in the saliva of horses affected by EGUS and compared to healthy animals and horses with other diseases clinically similar to EGUS but with a negative diagnosis at gastroscopic examination. A total of 147 horses were included in the study and divided into heathy population (n = 12), the EGUS group (n = 110), and the group of horses with other diseases (n = 25). From the 23 analytes studied, 17 showed incre...
Schaafstra FJWC, van Doorn DA, Schonewille JT, Roelfsema E, Westermann CM, Dansen O, Jacobs M, Lee JY, Spronck EA, Blok MC, Hendriks WH.Exercise and physical training are known to affect gastrointestinal function and digestibility in horses and can lead to inaccurate estimates of nutrient and energy digestibility when markers are used. The effect of exercise on apparent nutrient digestibility and faecal recoveries of ADL and TiO2 was studied in six Welsh pony geldings subjected to either a low- (LI) or high-intensity (HI) exercise regime according to a cross-over design. Ponies performing LI exercise were walked once per day for 45 min in a horse walker (5 km/h) for 47 consecutive days. Ponies submitted to HI exercise were gra...
Knowles EJ, Withers JM, Mair TS.The use of plasma fructosamine concentration ([fructosamine]) as a marker of abnormal glucose homeostasis in laminitic horses has not been investigated. Objective: Plasma fructosamine concentration may be higher amongst laminitic horses than normal horses; this might relate to underlying insulin resistance. Objective: 1) To compare [fructosamine] between laminitic and normal horses. 2) To investigate associations between [fructosamine] at presentation in laminitic horses with a) single sample markers of insulin resistance and b) outcome. Methods: Plasma fructosamine concentration, fasting seru...
Gilkerson JR.The clinical symptoms observed during the 2007 equine influenza outbreak are compared and contrasted with those observed in overseas outbreaks and described in the veterinary literature.
Miyazaki S, Fukumura M, Yoshioka M, Yamanaka N.From 1997 to 1999, 29 cases of disorders were detected in cattle and horses that had been fed ryegrass straw imported from the U.S.A. These animals showed symptoms resembling ryegrass staggers and the clinical signs disappeared after removal of the straw. Endophytic hyphae were detected in the seeds of all straw samples that were responsible for the clinical cases. Lolitrem B concentrations in the straw ranged between 972 and 3740 ppb. Ergovaline concentrations were between 355 and 1300 ppb. Even though the concentrations of lolitrem B were lower than the toxic threshold proposed by Oregon Sta...
Glazar BS, McCue PM, Bruemmer JE, Squires EL.Practical estrus synchronization schemes are needed for mares. The Ovsynch synchronization protocol for cattle involves the administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to induce ovulation or luteinization of dominant follicles during the luteal phase and prostaglandin 7 days later to cause regression of any luteal tissue and development of a preovulatory follicle. An Ovsynch-type synchronization program potentially could be developed for horses if luteinization or ovulation of diestrous follicles occurred in response to GnRH treatment. The objective of this study was to determine i...
Ousey JC, Dudan F, Rossdale PD.The status of the mare and foetus in relation to readiness for birth was assessed by measurement of the electrolytes sodium, potassium and calcium in mammary secretions pre-partum. Sixteen Thoroughbred mares were allowed to foal spontaneously and the ionic status of their mammary secretions was measured over three to five weeks pre-partum. From these measurements, a scoring system was developed where an ionic score of 35 points or more suggested that the mare was within 24 h of foaling. On the basis of this ionic score, 10 pony mares were induced with either oxytocin or fluprostenol and assess...
Blunden AS, Hannant D, Livesay G, Mumford JA.Welsh Mountain ponies were inoculated with an isolate of Streptococcus pneumoniae, SPE 1618 (capsular type 3) recovered from the equine respiratory tract: 10 ml of a suspension of 10(8) or 10(9) cfu/ml were instilled intratracheally. Fever was observed after either dose but the greater concentration also produced coughing, ocular and nasal discharge, depression and enlargement of submandibular lymph nodes. Cytological evidence of infection was also observed in tracheal washings during the first week after inoculation and corresponded with isolation of S. pneumoniae from the washes. Morbid anat...
