Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Topic:Equine Health
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.
Cetirizine in horses: pharmacokinetics and effect of ivermectin pretreatment. The pharmacokinetics of the histamine H(1)-antagonist cetirizine and the effects of pretreatment with the antiparasitic macrocyclic lactone ivermectin on the pharmacokinetics of cetirizine were studied in horses. After oral administration of cetirizine at 0.2 mg/kg bw, the mean terminal half-life was 3.4 h (range 2.9-3.7 h) and the maximal plasma concentration 132 ng/mL (101-196 ng/mL). The time to reach maximal plasma concentration was 0.7 h (0.5-0.8 h). Ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg bw) given orally 1.5 h before cetirizine did not affect its pharmacokinetics. However, ivermectin pretreatment 12 h be...
Experimental infections with West Nile virus. West Nile virus emerged recently in North America as a serious human and animal pathogen. This review summarizes the use of experimental infections with West Nile virus in diverse vertebrate species that have been used to answer fundamental questions about the host response, pathogenesis of West Nile virus infection and virus evolution. Results: West Nile virus has an extremely broad vertebrate host range. Infection of common species of birds has defined those with high vs. low potential to serve as amplifying hosts for the virus. In general, mammals (primates, horses, companion animals) are d...
A preliminary study of the short circuit current (Isc) responses of sweat gland cells from normal and anhidrotic horses to purinergic and adrenergic agonists. The causal factors of equine anhidrosis have not yet been elucidated but defective electrolyte transport mechanisms in the gland are likely to be involved. To investigate this possibility, experiments were performed on cultured equine sweat gland epithelia from five free-sweating UK horses (3 intact males, 2 mares, aged 2-4 years) and from three free-sweating Singapore horses (1 intact male, 2 mares, aged 3-5 years) and three anhidrotic (Singapore) horses (1 intact male, 1 gelding, 1 mare, aged 3-6 years). Cultured cells from each animal were grown on permeable supports and loaded into Ussing ...
Relationships of follicle versus oocyte maturity to ultrasound morphology, blood flow, and hormone concentrations of the preovulatory follicle in mares. The effects of ultrasound morphology, vascularity, and follicular-fluid hormones of the preovulatory follicle on oocyte recovery rate and on follicle and oocyte maturity rates were studied for 60 spontaneous and solitary preovulatory follicles in mares. An ovulation-inducing dose of hCG was given when the follicle was >or=32 mm (Hour 0), and a procedure for oocyte recovery was done 30 h later (Hour 30). Between Hours 0 and 30, diameter of the follicle increased less and circulating estradiol (E2) concentrations decreased more in groups with successful versus nonsuccessful oocyte recovery an...
Respirable dust concentrations in equine stables. Part 1: validation of equipment and effect of various management systems. Traditional methods of measuring airborne dust concentrations (ADC) in animal housing have included the collection of dust onto pre-weighed filters permitting the calculation of mean, not maximum, ADC. However real-time continuous particle monitors are advantageous in identifying short duration elevations in ADC which may be detrimental to equine respiratory health in the face of a relatively low mean ADC. These monitors have not previously been used to measure ADC in equine stables. Comparisons of a filter-based sampler and a real-time continuous particle monitor revealed no significant diffe...
Pimelea trichostachya poisoning (St George disease) in horses. A dense population of Pimelea trichostachya plants (Family Thymelaeaceae) in pasture poisoned a horse herd in southern inland Queensland in October-November 2005. Plant density was 2 to 45 g wet weight/m(2) (mean 16 g/m(2)) from 5 to 69 plants/m(2) (mean 38 plants/m(2)) representing 3 to 20% (mean 9%) of the volume of pasture on offer. Ten of 35 mares, fillies and geldings were affected. Clinical signs were loss of body weight, profound lethargy, serous nasal discharge, severe watery diarrhoea and subcutaneous oedema of the intermandibular space, chest and ventral midline. Pathological finding...
Genetic relationships of five Indian horse breeds using microsatellite markers. The genetic relationships of five Indian horse breeds, namely Marwari, Spiti, Bhutia, Manipuri and Zanskari were studied using microsatellite markers. The DNA samples of 189 horses of these breeds were amplified by polymerase chain reaction using 25 microsatellite loci. The total number of alleles varied from five to 10 with a mean heterozygosity of 0.58 ± 0.05. Spiti and Zansakari were the most closely related breeds, whereas, Marwari and Manipuri were most distant apart with Nei's DA genetic distance of 0.071 and 0.186, respectively. In a Nei's DA genetic distances based neighbour joining...
VetCell Bioscience Ltd–regenerative medicine for the world of animal health. VetCell Bioscience is a UK-based company focused on pioneering the use of regenerative medicine in the animal health market. VetCell was formed in partnership with the Royal Veterinary College and the Institute for Orthopaedic and Musculoskeletal Science to develop the use of cellular therapies to treat athletic injuries in horses. This ground-breaking work has been the springboard from which the Company has expanded into other areas of veterinary regenerative medicine.
Bottleneck study and genetic structure of Iranian Caspian horse population using microsatellites. Genetic diversity within the Iranian Caspian horse was evaluated using 8 different microsatellite pairs on 45 Caspian horse blood samples. This molecular characterisation was undertaken to evaluate the problem of genetic bottlenecks, if any, in this breed. The number of alleles per locus varied from 3 to 5 with mean value of 4.125. All markers have relatively high PIC value (> 0.6), observed heterozygosity; 0.9433, expected Levene's heterozygosity 0.6856 and expected Nei's heterozygosity equal to 0.6762. This study indicated the existence of substantial genetic diversity in the Caspian hors...
An investigation into the depth of penetration of low level laser therapy through the equine tendon in vivo. Low level laser therapy (LLLT) is frequently used in the treatment of wounds, soft tissue injury and in pain management. The exact penetration depth of LLLT in human tissue remains unspecified. Similar uncertainty regarding penetration depth arises in treating animals. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that transmission of LLLT in horses is increased by clipping the hair and/or by cleaning the area to be treated with alcohol, but is unaffected by coat colour. A LLLT probe (810 nm, 500 mW) was applied to the medial aspect of the superficial flexor tendon of seventeen equine forelim...
Respirable dust concentrations in equine stables. Part 2: the benefits of soaking hay and optimising the environment in a neighbouring stable. The effect of soaking hay to minimise equine breathing zone respirable dust concentration (RDC) is unknown, as is the duration of soaking required. Additionally, the influence of the bedding and forage used in one stable on the mean and maximum RDC in a neighbouring stable within a common airspace is unknown. Consequently, in the management of equine environmental respiratory disease uncertainty remains about the necessity for optimising conditions in neighbouring stables. Investigations using a real-time continuous particle monitor revealed that when feeding hay, horses' mean breathing zone R...
Study (1991 to 2001) of drug-resistant Population B small strongyles in critical tests in horses in Kentucky at the termination of a 40-year investigation. Population B, drug-resistant small strongyles have been studied in naturally infected horses in Kentucky for more than 40 years. These parasites first were found to be resistant to phenothiazine (PTZ) and thiabendazole (TBZ), later to other parasiticides. Studies have been on evaluation of antiparasitic efficacy of several compounds, especially the benzimidazoles, against Population B small strongyles in clinical (field) tests (1959-1983) on the commercial farm of origin and in clinical and critical tests (1966-2001) at the University of Kentucky (UK) research farm. Research on these nematodes...
The effect of lidocaine on postoperative jejunal motility in normal horses. To measure the effect of lidocaine on the duration of the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) and Phases I, II, and III of the MMC, spiking activity of the jejunum, and number of Phase III events when administered postoperatively to normal horses. Methods: Nonrandomized cross-over design. Methods: Horses were anesthetized and via flank laparotomy 4 silver-silver chloride bipolar electrodes were sutured to the proximal jejunum. Electrical activity was recorded for 6 hours during 3 recording sessions beginning 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively. Saline (0.9% NaCl) solution was administered for...
Ventroaxial luxation of the apex of the corniculate process of the arytenoid cartilage in resting horses during induced swallowing or nasal occlusion. To report ventroaxial luxation of the apex of the left or right corniculate process of the arytenoid cartilage under the contralateral corniculate process during resting endoscopic examination, and morphologic features of the larynx of 1 affected horse. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Horses (n=8). Methods: Horses had endoscopic examination as part of a survey of Clydesdale horses (n=7), or investigation of poor performance in Thoroughbred horses (1). One Clydesdale was euthanatized and the larynx examined; 4 cadaver larynges from normal horses were also examined. Results: Ventroaxial l...
[Prevalence of hereditary diseases in three-year-old horses of the Freiberger breed]. The objective of this study was to investigate clinical signs indicating diseases with known or suspected hereditary components like equine sarcoid, insect bite hypersensitivity, osteochondrosis, allergic airway diseases, podotrochleosis, prognatism and wind-sucking in the franches-montagnes horse. We performed a clinical examination on 702 three-year-old, privately owned franches-montagnes horses, which were shown at the Swiss-Field-Tests in 2004. With the help of the owners a questionnaire on health, environment and feeding habits of the animals was completed. In 11.9% of the horses, sarcoid...
Traumatic injuries associated with horseback riding. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 30 million people ride horses each year in the United States. Horseback riding related injuries are common, with an estimated 50,000 emergency room visits annually. The popularity of recreational horseback riding has increased in South Florida and the incidence of associated traumatic injuries is a reflection of this. Methods: Retrospective review of patients admitted to a state designated Level I trauma center that sustained horseback riding associated injuries between January 2000 and December 2003. Information ex...
Cytokine and chemokine gene expression of IL-1beta stimulated equine articular chondrocytes. To evaluate mRNA expression of several proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in equine unstimulated and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-stimulated chondrocytes. Methods: In vitro experiment using equine chondrocyte cultures. Methods: Whole articular cartilage from metacarpophalangeal joints (n=5 horses; 10 fetlocks). Methods: Chondrocyte monolayer cultures were established from digested adult equine articular cartilage and stimulated with 5 ng/mL of recombinant human IL-1beta. RNA was extracted from the cells 24 hours after stimulation. IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, tumor n...
Tilt table recovery of horses after orthopedic surgery: fifty-four cases (1994-2005). To describe an assisted anesthetic recovery technique using a tilt table for horses after high-risk orthopedic-related procedures and to evaluate outcome. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Anesthetic recoveries (n=54) for 36 horses. Methods: Medical records (April 1994-October 2005) for horses that had high-risk orthopedic surgery and recovery from general anesthesia on a tilt table were reviewed. Information about the surgical procedure, anesthetic and recovery period was analyzed. Results: Of 54 anesthetic recoveries, 1 horse (1.9%) had complete failure of internal fixation during recov...
[Prevalence of hereditary diseases in three-year-old Swiss Warmblood horses]. The objective of this study was to investigate clinical signs indicating hereditary diseases like equine sarcoid, osteochondrosis (OC) and the idiopathic laryngeal hemiplegia (ILH), and to demonstrate relationships between environment, feeding habits and conformation ("exterieur" evaluation) of the horses. For this purpose, we analyzed veterinary examinations of 403 stallions at the approvals since 1994 examined 493 three-year-old Swiss Warmblood horses, which were shown at the Swiss-Field-Tests in 2005. With the help of the owners a questionnaire on health, environment and feeding habits of t...
Descriptive study of an outbreak of equine sarcoid in a population of Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) in the Gariep Nature Reserve. An outbreak of equine sarcoid occurred in a population of Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) at the Gariep Nature Reserve located in the southern Free State Province of South Africa in 1996. The course of the outbreak during 1996 to 2003 is described. During this period the average population size was 69 animals. Initially (1996) all affected animals were removed from the population. New cases continued to manifest and the incidence varied between 4.6% and 17.6%. Prevalence reached 24.7% in 2002. No sexual predilection was noticed in the 39 recorded cases. Of the affected individuals, 64%...
Investigation of the molecular detection of vaccine-derived equine herpesvirus type 1 in blood and nasal secretions from horses following intramuscular vaccination. The objective of this study was to investigate whether intramuscular vaccination of healthy adult horses with a killed or a modified live equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) vaccine could induce transient positive PCR results in either blood or secretions collected on a nasopharyngeal swab. Four horses in each group received either a single killed or a modified-live vaccine intramuscularly. Two local commingled and 2 distant nonvaccinated controls were included for each group. All horses were observed daily for evidence of clinical abnormalities throughout the study periods. Blood and nasopharyn...
Clinical and pathological studies on intoxication in horses from freshly cut Jimson weed (Datura stramonium)-contaminated maize intended for ensiling. Spontaneous intoxication in 34 horses after ingesting freshly harvested maize that was to be used for ensiling and heavily contaminated with young Datura stramonium plants, is described. The clinical status of all horses was monitored for 7 days, and included body (rectal) temperature, respiratory and heart rates, colour and moistness of visible mucosae, changes in pupil size, appetite, thirst, general behaviour, locomotion, sensory perceptions, urination and defaecation. The intoxication was accompanied by altered clinical status, namely mild hyperthermia, tachycardia, polypnoea, dyspnoea and...
Hypertrichosis in a horse with alimentary T-cell lymphoma and pituitary involvement. A 13-year-old Quarterhorse mare had a 6-month history of diarrhea, progressive weight loss, and lethargy. At presentation the mare was hirsute, had hyperhidrosis, and abnormal fat distribution in addition to severe diarrhea. A presumptive clinical diagnosis of protein-losing enteropathy and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction was made. T-cell lymphoma was diagnosed in a rectal biopsy specimen. The owner elected to euthanize the mare because of poor prognosis and the severity of the disease. At necropsy, the mare had hypertrichosis and the pituitary gland was diffusely enlarged. Histologicall...
Effects of blood contamination of cerebrospinal fluid on results of indirect fluorescent antibody tests for detection of antibodies against Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of blood contamination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on the results of indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IFATs) for Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora hughesi. The in vitro study used antibody-negative CSF collected from non-neurologic horses immediately after euthanasia and blood samples from 40 healthy horses that had a range of IFAT antibody titers against S. neurona and N. hughesi. Serial dilutions of whole blood were made in seronegative CSF to generate blood-contaminated CSF with red blood cell (RBC) concentrations ranging from 10 to ...
Major retinal autoantigens remain stably expressed during all stages of spontaneous uveitis. Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is a valuable model for autoimmune diseases, since it develops frequently and occurs spontaneously. We investigated the overall expression level of three major retinal autoantigens in normal retinas and various ERU stages. Analysis of retinal proteomes of both, healthy and diseased retinas revealed an almost unaffected expression of IRBP, S-antigen and cRALBP in ERU cases. Validation of these findings with western blots and immunohistochemistry confirmed constant to increased expression of these autoantigens, although loss of their physiological expression sites ...
An epidemiological investigation of the African horsesickness outbreak in the Western Cape Province of South Africa in 2004 and its relevance to the current equine export protocol. African Horsesickness (AHS) is a controlled disease in South Africa. The country is divided into an infected area and a control area. An outbreak of AHS in the control area can result in a ban of exports for at least 2 years. A retrospective epidemiological study was carried out on data collected during the 2004 AHS outbreak in the surveillance zone of the AHS control area in the Western Cape Province. The objective of this study was to describe the 2004 outbreak and compare it with the 1999 AHS outbreak in the same area. As part of the investigation, a questionnaire survey was conducted in th...
Infections caused by pathogenic free-living amebas (Balamuthia mandrillaris and Acanthamoeba sp.) in horses. This article describes amebic infections in 4 horses: granulomatous amebic encephalitis caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris and Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and systemic infections caused by Acanthamoeba sp. The former infection occurred in 1 of 4 horses spontaneously without any underlying conditions; the latter amebic infection was perhaps "opportunistic" considering the visceral involvement by this protozoan in association with Aspergillus sp. and/or Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas sp. The clinicopathologic findings and demonstration of the amebic organisms using immunohistochemical techniques, ...
A quantitative PCR assay for the detection and quantification of Babesia bovis and B. bigemina. 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...
