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.
Adams AP, Oriol JG, Campbell RE, Oppenheim YC, Allen WR, Antczak DF.This research tested the hypothesis that immunological sensitization of mares by skin allografting, followed by the establishment of pregnancy using semen from the skin-graft donor, would give rise to secondary immune responses to the developing horse conceptus, resulting in an earlier demise of the fetally derived endometrial cups. Maiden mares received skin allografts from a stallion homozygous for Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) antigens and/or equivalent autografts and were subsequently mated to the skin-graft donor stallion during the next two breeding seasons. Mares that had been ...
Ghanem YM, Ibrahim el-SM, Yamada S, Matsumura T, Osterrieder N, Yamaguchi T, Fukushi H.The pathogenicities of RacL11 and Kentucky D strains of equine herpesvirus 1 in the hamster infection model are different from those of Ab4p and the Japanese isolates. Virus genome restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and sequence comparison of an intergenic region, glycoproteins and tegument genes showed higher conservation but with some strain-specific differences. These results indicate that point nucleotide differences in RacL11 and Kentucky D might be responsible for their pathogenicity in rodent models.
Minke JM, Toulemonde CE, Dinic S, Cozette V, Cullinane A, Audonnet JC.A classical limitation of early life immunization is the interference by maternally derived antibodies, which are known to inhibit the immune response to modified-live and killed vaccines. Several studies have convincingly shown that even minute amounts of maternally derived antibodies against equine influenza can strongly interfere with successful vaccination of foals born to immune mares. In this study we evaluated the response of foals born to vaccinated mares to immunization with a canarypox-vectored recombinant vaccine against equine influenza virus H3N8. The recombinant vaccine was able ...
Slota E, Wnuk M, Bugno M, Pienkowska-Schelling A, Schelling C, Bratus A, Kotylak Z.Cytogenetic investigations of the nucleolar-organizing regions (NORs) show that there is variation in the transcriptional activity of rDNA in many organisms. As a consequence, genetic polymorphism of these regions has been detected. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hypothetic genetic mechanisms determining the NORs polymorphism of the domestic horse chromosomes. Molecular cytogenetic analyses were carried out on Hucul horses and the following techniques were used: fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), telomere primed in situ synthesis (PRINS), in situ nick-translation with...
Heldens JG, van Loon AA, van de Zande S.Conventional equine influenza vaccination schedules consist of a primary course of two vaccinations given 4-6 weeks apart followed by a third vaccination (booster) given approximately 5 months later. In between the primary course and the third vaccination, horses are generally considered not to be adequately protected against influenza. This study aimed to investigate whether Thoroughbred foals would benefit from a vaccination schedule in which the third vaccination was given earlier than in conventional vaccination schedules. The vaccines used were an inactivated whole virus equine influenza ...
Bugno M, Klukowka-Rötzler J, Słota E, Witarski W, Gerber V, Leeb T.The physical localization of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene was performed on donkey chromosomes. Bacterial artificial chromosome DNA containing the equine EGFR gene was used to map this gene by fluorescent in situ hybridization on donkey metaphase chromosomes. The gene was mapped on donkey 1q21.1 region.
Bokor A, Blouin C, Langlois B.The aim of this study was to detect Thoroughbred mare families and sire lines, in France, in the United Kingdom and Ireland, whose offspring may be successful in steeplechase races and can be recommended therefore for sport horse breeding. Race results were collected from all steeplechase races in these countries between 1998 and 2003, which contained the results of 17,355 horses from 12,861 dams and 2452 sires. In France, non-Thoroughbred horses were also included in the analysis because they race and mate together with Thoroughbreds. Performance was measured with two criteria: earnings and r...
Diesterbeck US, Hertsch B, Distl O.The aim of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for pathologic changes in the navicular bone in Hanoverian warmblood horses. Seventeen paternal half-sib groups comprising 192 individuals were analyzed in a whole-genome scan. These families included 144 progeny and grandchildren, which were randomly chosen from the Hanoverian warmblood. Three different traits were considered: deformed canales sesamoidales and radiographic changes in the contour and in the structure of the navicular bone. The genome scan included in total 214 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers. The pu...
Ginther OJ, Utt MD, Beg MA, Gastal EL, Gastal MO.The negative effect of estradiol-17beta (E2) on LH, based on exogenous E2 treatments, and the reciprocal effect of LH on endogenous E2, based on hCG treatments, were studied throughout the ovulatory follicular wave during a total of 103 equine estrous cycles in seven experiments. An initial study developed E2 treatment protocols that approximated physiologic E2 concentrations during the estrous cycle. On Day 13 (ovulation = Day 0), when basal concentrations of E2 and LH precede the ovulatory surges, exogenous E2 significantly depressed LH concentrations to below basal levels. Ablation of all f...
Clulow JR, Maxwell WM, Evans G, Morris LH.Duck and chicken egg yolk were compared for their protective effects against cold shock during the cryopreservation of stallion sperm in a lactose-EDTA-glycerol cryodiluent. Methods: A completely randomised design was used. Procedure Ejaculates from five stallions (n = 14 ejaculates) were split and diluted to either 20 or 200 x 10(6) sperm/mL in a lactose-EDTA extender containing either duck or chicken egg yolk. The extended semen was then frozen in liquid nitrogen. The percentage of sperm total motility and forward progressive motility were assessed before freezing and at 0 and 1 hr after tha...
Frederico LM, Gerard MP, Pinto CR, Gradil CM.An Arabian mare was referred for right granulosa-theca cell tumor (GTCT) evaluation. The mare was presented 4.5 years later for a left GTCT, after successfully conceiving and delivering a normal foal in the interim. The concurrent or nonconcurrent occurrence of bilateral GTCT in mares appears to be rare. Une jument Arabe a été référée pour l’évaluation d’une tumeur de la granulosa et de la thèque du côté droit (TGT). La jument avait été présentée 4,5 ans plus tôt pour une TGT du côté gauche, ayant entre temps conçu et mis au monde un poulain normal. La présence, simultan...
Epp TL.A 4.5-month-old quarter horse colt was presented with severe right hind metatarsophalangeal varus, present since birth. On radiographs, it was determined that there was a 16 degree deviation with the pivot point at the distal physis of the 3rd metatarsal bone. A step ostectomy in the sagittal plane corrected the deformity. Un poulain Quarter horse âgé de 4,5 mois a été présenté pour une difformité congénitale métatarsophalangienne varus du membre postérieur droit. Une déviation de 16° par rapport au point de pivotement au niveau de la plaque de croissance distale du 3 métatarse a...
Clayton HM, Sha D, Stick J, Elvin N.The metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint and its supporting soft tissues are common sites of injury in athletic horses. Equine gait analysis has focused on 2D analysis in the sagittal plane and little information is available which describes 3D motions of the MCP joint and their possible role in the development of injuries. The aim was to characterize the 3D rotations of the equine MCP joint during walking and trotting. Three-dimensional trajectories of marker triads fixed rigidly to the third metacarpus and proximal phalanx of the right forelimb of healthy horses were recorded at walk (n = 4) and ...
Hewes CA, Keoughan GC, Gutierrez-Nibeyro S.Enucleation was performed in 5 horses under local anesthesia and sedation with the horse standing. Minimal hemorrhage occurred during the surgical procedure, and there were no other reported complications. Standing enucleation is a surgery that is safe to perform in horses. L’énucléation a été réalisée chez 5 chevaux en position debout sous anesthésie locale et sédation. Une hémorragie minime est survenue pendant la procédure chirurgicale et il n’y a pas eu de complications rapportées. L’énucléation debout est une chirurgie sécuritaire chez le cheval. (Traduit par Docteur ...
Climent F, Carmona JU, Cuenca R, Prades M.Eosinophilic synovitis (ES) is a rare disease described in human and veterinary medicine. Only three cases have been reported in the horse. A case of tarsocrural synovitis in an Hispano-Arabian gelding is presented in this report. The patient presented with severe joint effusion and lameness of the right tarsocrural joint on admission. Synovial fluid analysis revealed an increased WBC of 12800 leukocytes/microliter with 76% of eosinophils. Lavage of the diseased joint and medical treatment with antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs produced remission of the clinical problem.
Robertson TP, Moore JN, Noschka E, Lewis TH, Lewis SJ, Peroni JF.To determine the effects of the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, Ro-31-8220, on agonist-induced constriction of laminar arteries and veins obtained from horses. Methods: Laminar arteries and veins obtained from 8 adult mixed-breed horses. Methods: Laminar arteries and veins were isolated and mounted on small vessel myographs for the measurement of isometric tension. Concentration-response curves were then obtained for the vasoconstrictor agonists phenylephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, prostaglandin F(2), and endothelin-1. All responses were measured with or without the addition of Ro-31-8220 (3 ...
Sun WC, Moore JN, Hurley DJ, Vandenplas ML, Murray TF.To assess the anti-inflammatory effects of an adenosine analogue on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated equine neutrophils. Methods: Neutrophils obtained from 10 healthy horses. Methods: An adenosine analogue (5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine [NECA]) was tested for its ability to inhibit production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in LPS-stimulated equine neutrophils. Selective adenosine receptor antagonists were used to identify the receptor subtype responsible for effects. To assess the mechanism of action of NECA, cAMP concentrations were measured, and effects of dibutyryl cAMP (a stable anal...
Neil KM, Axon JE, Todhunter PG, Adams PL, Caron JP, Adkins AR.To determine the clinical characteristics and outcome of foals with septic osteitis of the distal phalanx. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 22 foals. Methods: Information obtained from medical records included signalment; clinical, laboratory, and radiographic findings; treatment method; and outcome. Foals included in the study had lameness referable to the foot, radiographic evidence of localized lysis or focal loss of bone density of the distal phalanx, and suppurative discharge or necrosis of the affected bone evident at surgery. Foals with a history or evidence of penetrating w...
Kawcak CE, Frisbie DD, McIlwraith CW, Werpy NM, Park RD.To evaluate the use of a combination of avocado and soybean unsaponifiable (ASU) extracts for the treatment of experimentally induced osteoarthritis in horses. Methods: 16 horses. Methods: Osteoarthritis was induced via osteochondral fragmentation in 1 middle carpal joint of each horse; the other joint underwent a sham operation. Horses were randomly allocated to receive oral treatment with ASU extracts (1:2 [avocado-to-soybean] ratio mixed in 6 mL of molasses; n = 8) or molasses (6 mL) alone (placebo treatment; 8) once daily from days 0 to 70. Lameness, response to joint flexion, synovial eff...
White G, McClure SR, Sifferman R, Holste JE, Fleishman C, Murray MJ, Cramer LG.To determine the effects of 8 days of light to heavy exercise on gastric ulcer development in horses and determine the efficacy of omeprazole paste in preventing gastric ulceration. Methods: Randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial. Methods: 102 horses with normal-appearing gastric mucosa on endoscopic examination that were in light to heavy training. Methods: Horses at 4 trial locations were allocated into replicates and sham dosed orally (empty syringe) or treated with a paste formulation of omeprazole (1 mg/kg [0.45 mg/ lb], PO) once daily for 8 days. Training regimens varied amon...
Dumoulin M, Pille F, Desmet P, Dewulf J, Steenhaut M, Gasthuys F, Martens A.The objective of the present study was to assess the incidence of upward fixation of the patella (UFP) in different types of patients and to evaluate the outcome of conservative and surgical treatment for correcting this condition. A particular attempt was made to find out whether corrective trimming and/or shoeing (CTS) is efficient in the conservative treatment of UFP, and whether a longer postoperative resting period reduces the risk of complications after medial patellar desmotomy (MPD). Medical records of 78 horses with intermittent or permanent UFP were analyzed retrospectively. Young an...
Little D, Brown SA, Campbell NB, Moeser AJ, Davis JL, Blikslager AT.To determine the effect of meloxicam and flunixin meglumine on recovery of ischemia-injured equine jejunum. Methods: 18 horses. Methods: Horses received butorphanol tartrate; were treated IV with saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (SS; 12 mL; n = 6), flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg; 6), or meloxicam (0.6 mg/kg; 6) 1 hour before ischemia was induced for 2 hours in a portion of jejunum; and were allowed to recover for 18 hours. Flunixin and SS treatments were repeated after 12 hours; all 3 treatments were administered immediately prior to euthanasia. Selected clinical variables, postoperative pain scores...
McCue PM, LeBlanc MM, Squires EL.Equine follicle stimulating hormone (eFSH) has been used to induce follicular development in transitional mares and problem acyclic mares, as well as superovulate cycling mares. The most efficacious protocol is to administer 12.5 mg eFSH, intramuscularly, twice daily beginning 5 to 7 days after ovulation when the diameter of the largest follicle is 20 to 25 mm. Prostaglandins are to be administered on the second day of eFSH therapy. Treatment with eFSH is continued for 3 to 5 days until follicle(s) are >or=35 mm in diameter. The mare is subsequently allowed to 'coast' for 36 h, after which hum...
Morein B, Blomqvist G, Hu K.The maintenance of pregnancy requires suppression of the maternal immune system which would naturally recognize the developing fetus as an allograft and seek to destroy it by mounting a Th1 regulated cytotoxic immune response. During pregnancy a range of soluble factors are produced by the placenta which switch maternal immune regulation towards a protective Th2 phenotype. These factors also influence the developing fetal immune system and all newborns initially have an immunological milieu skewed towards Th2 immunity. Vaccination during the neonatal period must therefore overcome the dual cha...
Ho EN, Leung DK, Leung GN, Wan TS, Wong HN, Xu X, Yeung JH.Mesterolone (1alpha-methyl-5alpha-androstan-17beta-ol-3-one) is a synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) with reported abuses in human sports. As for other AAS, mesterolone is also a potential doping agent in equine sports. Metabolic studies on mesterolone have been reported for humans, whereas little is known about its metabolic fate in horses. This paper describes the studies of both the in vitro and in vivo metabolism of mesterolone in racehorses with an objective to identify the most appropriate target metabolites for detecting mesterolone administration. In vitro biotransformation st...
Holyoak GR, Smith CM, Boyette R, Montelongo M, Wray JH, Ayalew S, Duggan VE, Confer AW.Actinobacillus equuli is carried in the alimentary tract of mares and can cause severe septicemia of neonatal foals. A hemolytic subspecies, A. equuli subsp. haemolyticus, and a non-hemolytic subspecies, A. equuli subsp. equuli, have been identified. Hemolytic strains produce the RTX toxin Aqx. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate sequentially in two sets of mare-foal pairs antibodies to A. equuli whole bacterial cells, outer membrane proteins, and recombinant Aqx and to compare the transfer of antibodies to these antigens between mares and their foals. Two mare/foal sets of sera were ...
Donovan DC, Jackson CA, Colahan PT, Norton N, Hurley DJ.Using an established standardized exercise test on a high-speed treadmill, thirteen Thoroughbred racehorses were exercised to fatigue (failure); blood samples were obtained before exercise, at failure, and at 2, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h after exercise. The exercise test induced a systemic inflammatory response characterized by a mild transient endotoxemia, leukocytosis, increased leukocyte expression of mRNA for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-1 beta, and IL-6, and increased circulating concentrations of TNF-alpha and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF 2 alpha), with the most pronounced change...
Piuko K, Bravo IG, Müller M.In the present study we describe the isolation and characterization of putative equine granzyme B for which we propose the designation 'eqGrzmB'. Sequence analysis revealed characteristic features of a GrzmB protease such as the presence of a signal (leader-) peptide and an activation di-peptide. The isolated eqGrzmB is functionally active when expressed in human or in insect cells. Furthermore, exchange of any of three putative active site amino acids, which are highly conserved along granzyme B enzymes, led to a complete loss of enzymatic activity in the newly identified eqGrzmB. Phylogeneti...
Southwood LL, Stashak TS, Fehr JE, Ray C.A lateral approach to the carpal sheath was used for endoscopic removal of osteochondromas from the distal aspect of the radius in 3 horses. Previously osteochondromas have been removed through an incision into the carpal sheath; however, endoscopy is less invasive, requires less surgery and convalescence time, provides better cosmetic results, is associated with a lower risk of infection, and allows better examination of structures within the sheath. A medial approach for endoscopic removal has been described previously; however, the lateral approach was advantageous, because it avoided the m...
Kumar P, Timoney JF, Southgate HH, Sheoran AS.The nasal turbinates of 5 young horses were studied by light and scanning electron-microscopy. Stratified cuboidal epithelium lined the rostral part of the dorsal and ventral nasal turbinates of the vestibular region. The polyangular microvillus cells of this region were separated by linear depressions. The mid and caudal parts of the dorsal and ventral nasal turbinates and the rostral part of the ethmoturbinates were lined by pseudostratified columnar ciliated respiratory epithelium. Numerous cilia with dilated blebs on the ciliated cells concealed adjacent non-ciliated supporting cells and g...
Gussekloo SW, Lankester J, Kersten W, Back W.To determine the effect of differences in structural and mechanical tendon properties on functionality of the passive stay apparatus in horses. Methods: 5 forelimbs each from nondwarf Friesians, dwarf Friesians, and ponies. Methods: Harvested forelimbs were loaded to test the passive stay apparatus. Tendons that stabilize the distal portion of the limb (superficial digital flexor tendon, deep digital flexor tendon, and tendo interosseus [suspensory ligament]) were isolated, and force-elongation data were obtained. Bone lengths, initial tendon lengths, and initial tendon cross-sectional areas w...
Ferreira CSC, Morais RCL, de Andrade ABP, Balaro MFA, Ribas JAS, Gomes GM, Pinna AE.The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the RI and PI values would help in choosing the best embryo recipient, and observe whether CL vascularization would influence P4 production. During the breeding season 2018/2019, the study was conducted using 35 mares, which is used for reference to collect data for the project on the day of embryo transfer. The utilized mares were divided into five groups followed by the day after ovulation, with D0 being the day of ovulation. Therefore, the five groups are as follows: D4-mares that were on the 4th post-ovulation day; D5-mares that were on the 5th...
Hanson RR, Schumacher J, Humburg J, Dunkerley SC.To evaluate clinical and laboratory findings for horses treated medically for ileal impactions. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 10 horses with primary ileal impaction that were treated successfully with medical treatment alone. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for all horses with naturally developing ileal impaction seen at our hospital between 1990 and 1994. Results: Transrectal palpation revealed an impaction in the midabdominal area in all horses. Generalized distention of the small intestine was evident in 6 horses, whereas 4 horses were examined early in the course of t...
Brouwer GJ, Hall LW, Kuchel TR.The effects of combining large doses of xylazine (1.1 mg per kg intravenously) with ketamine, methohexitone and thiopentone were studied in four experimental ponies. Onset of anaesthesia was more delayed after ketamine than after the barbiturates. Assessment of smoothness of induction and recovery indicated that all three combinations were effective and acceptable. Injection of xylazine was followed by atrioventricular (A-V) block which could be prevented by the prior administration of atropine. Blood pressure was well maintained with all three combinations of drugs. Arterial oxygen tension de...
Raes EV, Vanderperren K, Pille F, Saunders JH.Ultrasonographic findings from 100 horses (103 joints) diagnosed with tarsal region pathology are described. Results of standard orthopaedic, radiographic and ultrasonographic examination of the tarsal region were analysed retrospectively. Periarticular swelling and/or synovial effusion was present in 100% of the joints, a wound was observed in 14.5% and 76.7% of the horses that were lame. Abnormalities were detected in 69.7% of joints using radiography and in 100% with ultrasonography. Our results show that the main disease process can affect all aspects of the tarsus. The most common ultraso...
Rodrigues JA, Gonçalves AR, Antunes L, Bettencourt EV, Gama LT.Breeding and parturition records collected over a period of 35 years in the Alter Real stud of Lusitano horses were used to calculate gestation length (GL). The 1027 gestations by 209 mares mated to 60 stallions had a mean GL of 338.1 ± 9.26 days. The mixed model analysis of variance indicated that the sex of the foal and inbreeding of the dam and foal had no significant effect on GL (P > .05). On the other hand, GL increased linearly with mare age, with an estimated regression coefficient of 0.155 ± 0.069 days/year (P < .05). Year and conception month affected GL (P < .05), with longer g...
Wong DM, Buechner-Maxwell VA, Manning TO, Ward DL.To evaluate differences in response to ID injection of histamine, phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and Aspergillus organisms between clinically normal horses and horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Methods: 5 healthy adult horses and 5 adult horses with RAO. Methods: Intradermal testing (IDT) was performed on the neck with 2 positive control substances (histamine and PHA) and a mixture comprising 5 Aspergillus species. Four concentrations of each test substance plus a negative control substance were used. Equal volumes (0.1 mL) of each test substance were prepared to yield 15 syringes ([4...
Gehlen H, Loschelder J, Merle R, Walther M.The effects of a standard protocol for euthanasia on heart rate variability (HRV) as a consequence of stress response were analyzed in this prospective clinical study. The HRV was determined in 40 horses undergoing euthanasia due to various reasons, at different locations, and with/without owner presence. For euthanasia, horses were sedated with xylazine or a combination of xylazine and butorphanol. General anesthesia was induced using diazepam and ketamine. Afterwards, horses were euthanized with pentobarbital. The ECG data were taken by a Telemetric ECG at three time points (sedation, anesth...
Coloe PJ, Ireland L, Vaudrey JC.We record a fatal case of gas-oedema disease (malignant oedema) in a 5-year-old horse. The nature of the lesion is consistent with a gas-oedema type infection due to a Clostridium spp. The causative organism was isolated and identified by conventional biochemical tests and by gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of its metabolic products as Clostridium fallax, but significant variations in the reported biochemical characteristics of Cl. fallax were detected. We believe that this is the first reported case of Cl. fallax infection in a horse.
Watson ED, Stokes CR, David JS, Bourne FJ, Ricketts SW.Intrauterine infusion of 1 per cent oyster glycogen solution was used to induce acute endometritis in four genitally normal mares. Numbers of viable neutrophils recovered in uterine washings had increased by 1 h after infusion and remained elevated for at least 72 h. There was a significant correlation between numbers of viable neutrophils and total protein concentrations and between prostaglandin (PG)F and PGE2 concentrations in washings. There was also a significant relationship between concentrations of 15-keto-13, 14-dihydro PGF2 alpha in plasma and PGF in washings. Intrauterine concentrat...
Thompson JC, Ellison R, Gillett R, Badcoe L.Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation tests were carried out on a number of horses, including one clinically affected horse whose age and clinical signs suggested that a pituitary adenoma was most unlikely. The results of these tests indicated that, according to criteria published overseas, the majority of these horses had pituitary adenomas. The fact that clinically normal or affected horses may have marked increases in cortisol concentrations indicates that the TRH stimulation test is not suitable for the diagnosis of pituitary adenoma. Other tests, including alterations in glucose...
van der Kolk JH, Bernadina WE, Visser IJ.A four year old Dutch warmblooded mare was born and raised in the province of North-Brabant, the Netherlands. On May 16, 1989, she showed signs of colic, anorexia, depression, ileus, severe dehydration and leukopenia. When the mare collapsed, euthanasia was carried out. Acute colitis and cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in macrophages were observed at autopsy. When an indirect immunofluorescence assay was performed, the Ehrlichia risticii titre of the serum was found to be 1:640.
MacLeod JN, Fubini SL, Gu DN, Tetreault JW, Todhunter RJ.To determine whether steady-state levels of type-II procollagen, aggrecan core protein, or fibronectin mRNA in articular chondrocytes are altered by synovitis or administration of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA). Methods: Articular cartilage specimens collected from 10 ponies, 2.5 to 3.5 years old and 200 to 300 kg. Methods: 4 experimental groups were compared, using the cartilage specimens: control, MPA-treated, lipopolysaccharide-induced synovitis, and lipopolysaccharide-induced synovitis with MPA treatment. RNA was isolated from articular cartilage and compared by northern blot analysis, u...
Pan LG, Forster HV, Wurster RD, Murphy CL, Brice AG, Lowry TF.We addressed the role of spinal afferent information in the exercise hyperpnea. Arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) was assessed in 10 normal ponies during low (1.8 mph 7% or 17% grade) or moderate (6 mph 7% grade) treadmill exercise. After control studies, bilateral spinal ablation (SA) of the dorsolateral sulcus and dorsolateral funiculus at L2 was performed in seven ponies. In normal ponies within the first 90 s of exercise, PaCO2 initially decreased 2.7, 4.1, and 5.2 Torr below rest at the three work loads, respectively (P less than 0.05). PaCO2 thereafter increased toward resting levels but remained 1....
Díaz S, Giovambattista G, Peral-García P.Sequence information was obtained on the variation of the ELA-DRB upstream regulatory region (URR) after polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) cloning and sequencing of approximately 220 bp upstream of the first exon of horse DRB genes. The sequence of the proximal URR of equine DRB is composed of highly conserved sequence motifs, showing the presence of the W, X, Y, CAAT and TATA conserved boxes of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II promoters. Five different polymorphic horse DRB promoter sequences were detected in five horse breeds. The res...
Kobluk CN, Schnurr D, Horney FD, Sumner-Smith G, Willoughby RA, Dekleer V, Hearn TC.High-speed cinematography with computer aided analysis was used to study equine hindlimb kinematics. Eight horses were filmed at the trot or the pace. Filming was done from the side (lateral) and the back (caudal). Parameters measured from the lateral filming included the heights of the tuber coxae and tailhead, protraction and retraction of the hoof and angular changes of the tarsus and stifle. Abduction and adduction of the limb and tarsal height changes were measured from the caudal filming. The maximum and minimum values plus the standard deviations and coefficients of variations are prese...
Kasashima Y, Takahashi T, Birch HL, Smith RK, Goodship AE.Tendons can be considered in two functional groups, those contributing to energetics of locomotion and those acting solely to position the limb. The energy-storing tendons in both human and equine athletes have a high frequency of injury with similar pathophysiology. In previous studies, high-intensity exercise appears to induce a disruption of the matrix rather than functional adaptation in adults. Here we explore the hypothesis that the introduction of controlled exercise during growth would result in an adaptive response without deleterious effects. Young horses were given a controlled exer...
Siemieniuch MJ, Gajos K, Kozdrowski R, Nowak M.Even if mares continue to breed up to an advanced age, in aging mares reproductive failure is quite common. Subclinical endometritis, which occurs more often in aging mares than in younger counterparts, may cause prolongation or shortening of the inter-estrus period or the corpus luteum lifespan. We hypothesized that during subclinical endometritis the secretion of selected arachidonic acid metabolites may differ in aging mares compared to younger females. To verify this thesis, ex vivo organ cultures of endometrium were established with subsequent measurements of concentrations of prostaglan...
Dabareiner RM, White NA, Donaldson L.Ileus and peritoneal adhesions are the most common complications following surgery for small intestinal obstruction. Carolina Rinse (CR) has been shown to decrease reperfusion injury in intestine and other organs. Objective: CR decreases intestinal inflammation and subsequent scarring associated with reperfusion injury. Methods: CR was infused intra-arterially and applied topically just prior to reperfusion in jejunum exposed to experimental ischemia. Vascular permeability, neutrophil accumulation and serosal scarring were compared in treated and untreated intestine. Results: CR maintained a n...
Stegmann GF, Littlejohn A.The effect of lateral and dorsal recumbency on cardiopulmonary function in six anaesthetised horses were compared. Cardiac output/kg, stroke volume/kg, alveolar ventilation, venous admixture, pulmonary shunt and blood-gas values were determined. From lateral to dorsal recumbency cardiac output/kg decreased non-significantly. A significant increase in pulmonary shunt occurred. A positive correlation between body mass and pulmonary shunt in dorsal recumbency was found. Alveolar ventilation increased significantly in dorsal recumbency when breathing air compared to oxygen.
Pan LG, Forster HV, Kaminski RP.We assessed in ponies the adequacy of using rectal (Tre) rather than arterial temperature (Tar) under conditions common to ventilatory control experiments, i.e., CO2 breathing, thermal stress, and particularly exercise. We were interested in whether, and to what extent, Tar-Tre differences could lead to errors in arterial blood gas corrections. At control environmental temperatures (Ta) of 5 degrees C in the winter and 21 degrees C in the summer, Tar and Tre (37.1 degrees C) did not differ (P greater than 0.05). Elevating winter or summer Ta by 10-18 degrees C for 2-days or lowering summer Ta ...
Taylor PM, Silver M, Fowden AL.The uterine and umbilical vessels of 12 pregnant ponies were catheterised to study foetal metabolism. The effects of this procedure on maternal and foetal cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic and adrenocortical activity were monitored during and after surgery. Premedication with acepromazine-butorphanol-detomidine was followed by induction of anaesthesia with detomidine and ketamine and maintenance, using mechanical ventilation, with halothane in oxygen and nitrous oxide. Mean maternal arterial blood pressure was greater than 70 mmHg during anaesthesia and arterial oxygen tension remained ov...
Peters M, Brandt K, Wohlsein P.An intracranial epidermoid cyst was diagnosed in a Haflinger gelding aged 12 years suffering from episodes of neurological disturbance, apathy and fever. The extracerebral cyst was located in the region of the tentorium cerebelli and measured 9 x 8 x 5 cm. It displaced the cerebral hemispheres anteriorly and compressed the cerebellum and brainstem underneath. Histologically, the cyst was lined by keratinizing, stratified squamous epithelium and contained keratin scales, debris, focal haemorrhages, and degenerating inflammatory cells. The epithelium was supported by a vascularized fibrous capsu...
Gandini M, Cerullo A, Franci P, Giusto G.Reducing postoperative incisional infection is the main reason to administer postoperative antimicrobials (AMD) after emergency laparotomy in horses, while reducing inflammation and providing analgesia are the reasons to administer anti-inflammatory drugs (AID). The basis for postoperative AMD and AID administration is empirical and only recently has been questioned. Empirical approaches can be changed, and these changes, along with the description of their outcomes, can help produce appropriate stewardship. The aim of this study is to report the changes in AMD and AID regimens in horses under...
Deane JC, Dagleish MP, Benamou AE, Wolf BT, Marlin D.To evaluate the consistency of partial pressures (P) of arterial oxygen (aO(2)), arterial carbon dioxide (aCO(2)) and pH measurements in equine carotid arterial blood samples taken into syringes made from three different materials and stored at room temperature or placed in iced water for measurement at three different times. Methods: Prospective observational study over 19 days. Methods: Four clinically normal Thoroughbred or Thoroughbred-cross horses (three geldings, one mare, mean age 6.25 years, range 5-7 years). Methods: Identical blood samples were taken on two separate occasions from th...
Proudman CJ, Holmes MA, Sheoran AS, Edwards SE, Trees AJ.The equine intestinal cestode Anoplocephala perfoliata has been the subject of recent epidemiological and immunological studies because of its suspected association with intestinal disease in the horse. We have previously shown that the IgG(T) subtype antibody response to the 12/13 kDa component of the parasite excretory/secretory (E/S) antigen is positively correlated with parasite intensity. In this study, we utilize that correlation to examine the changes in natural infection intensity with age. Infection intensity based on IgG(T) responses showed a triphasic age-dependency pattern with pea...
