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.
Sleeper MM, Palmer JE.The clinical and echocardiographic findings in a 19-h-old female foal with a ventricular septal defect, patent foramen ovale, patent ductus arteriosus, and complete transpositon of the great vessels are described. Clinical signs were suggestive of complex congenital heart disease and echocardiography of the foal allowed definitive diagnosis prior to postmortem.
Porter MB, Ramirez S.Pathologic disorders of the equine neonate often develop shortly after foaling as a result of prematurity, dystocia, trauma, or septicemia. Recognition of these disorders requires routine patient assessment along with diagnostic aids, including abdominal and thoracic ultrasonography. Fortunately, modern technology affords today's equine practitioners the opportunity to use ultrasonography to advance their practice, and it is the authors' hope that this article might help in those efforts.
Koenig J, Cruz A, Genovese R, Fretz P, Trostle S.The purpose of the study was to identify factors influencing the outcome and prognosis of rupture of the tendon of the peroneus tertius muscle in 27 horses. Information on history, physical examination findings, diagnosis, treatment, and final outcome was summarized from medical records. Long-term follow-up information on horses was obtained by telephone survey. A stepwise logistic regression model was used to analyze factors influencing the outcome. Rupture occurred in the midbody of the tendon in 11 horses, at the insertion site in 11 horses, and at the origin in 2 horses. Overall, 18/23 (78...
Knollinger AM, La Croix NC, Barrett PM, Miller PE.To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements obtained with a rebound tonometer in dogs and horses with values obtained by means of applanation tonometry and direct manometry. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 100 dogs and 35 horses with clinically normal eyes, 10 enucleated eyes from 5 dogs, and 6 enucleated eyes from 3 horses. Methods: In the enucleated eyes, IOP measured by means of direct manometry was sequentially increased from 5 to 80 mm Hg, and IOP was measured with the rebound tonometer. In the dogs and horses, results of rebound tonometry were compared with results of applana...
Hartt LS, Carling SJ, Joyce MM, Johnson GA, Vanderwall DK, Ott TL.Uterine function is primarily controlled by the combined actions of oestrogen and progesterone working through their cognate nuclear receptors. The mechanism of establishment of pregnancy in the mare is of interest because it involves prolonged pre-attachment and conceptus migration phases, and both invasive and non-invasive placental cell types, and as such has been an important comparative model. This study characterised regulation of oestrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors in the endometrium of the mare during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. Endometrial tissues collected duri...
Hinchcliff KW, Rush BR, Farris JW.To evaluate plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations and serum cortisol concentration in horses with colic and assess the relationship of these variables with clinical signs, routinely measured clinicopathologic variables, and outcome in affected horses. Methods: Prospective observational study. Methods: 35 horses with colic. Methods: Blood samples were collected within 30 minutes of arrival at the veterinary hospital from horses referred because of colic. Plasma and serum samples were analyzed for cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, lactate, and electrolyte concentrations and a...
Lawn K.During training, a 6-year-old standardbred gelding collapsed, exhibiting severe epistaxis and agonal breathing and was euthanized. The horse had a recent history of poor performance, lethargy, and unilateral eyelid swelling with serous ocular discharge. Postmortem and histopathologic examination findings revealed thoracic lymphosarcoma and concurrent exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Résumé — Mort subite d’un cheval de course de race standardbred causée par un lymphome thoracique. En cours d’entraînement, un standardbred hongre âgé de 6 ans s’est effondré, présentant des s...
Xie H, Colahan P, Ott EA.To evaluate use of electroacupuncture for treatment of horses with signs of chronic thoracolumbar pain. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 15 horses with signs of chronic thoracolumbar pain. Methods: Horses were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatment groups. Horses in group 1 received electroacupuncture stimulation (once every 3 days for 5 treatments), those in group 2 received phenylbutazone (2.2 mg/kg [1 mg/lb], PO, q 12 h, for 5 days), and those in group 3 received saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (20 mL, PO, q 12 h, for 5 days). Thoracolumbar pain scores (TPSs) were evaluated before (baseline...
Wagner B.Antibodies of the horse were studied intensively by many notable immunologists throughout the past century until the early 1970's. After a large gap of interest in horse immunology, additional basic studies on horse immunoglobulin genes performed during the past 10 years have resulted in new insights into the equine humoral immune system. These include the characterization of the immunoglobulin lambda and kappa light chain genes, the immunoglobulin heavy chain constant (IGHC) gene regions, and initial studies regarding the heavy chain variable genes. Horses express predominately lambda light c...
Jäggin S, Fürst A, Hässig M, Auer J.The risk of injury to veterinarians treating horses is high, particularly when performing painful procedures. The present retrospective study investigated this risk, including the frequency and severity of kick injuries, by submitting questionnaires to 700 veterinary practitioners in Switzerland. Evaluation of 216 completed questionnaires revealed that the frequency of kick injuries was affected by the professional experience of the veterinarian, veterinarians being an owner of a horse, the season, the type of procedure, the percentage of equine patients in the practice population, the treatme...
de la Fuente J, Torina A, Caracappa S, Tumino G, Furlá R, Almazán C, Kocan KM.Although Anaplasma marginale was known to be endemic in Italy, the diversity of Anaplasma spp. from this area have not been characterized. In this study, the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. antibodies in randomly selected farm animals collected on the island of Sicily was determined by use of a MSP5 cELISA for Anaplasma spp. and an immunofluorescence test specific for Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Genetic variation among strains of Anaplasma spp. from animals and ticks was characterized using the A. marginale msp1alpha and the Anaplasma spp. msp4 genes. Eight species of ticks were collected and test...
Müntener CR, Gassner B, Demuth DC, Althaus FR, Zwahlen R.We received 62 reports of suspected adverse events (SARs) for the year 2004. Their number and repartition according to affected animals and active substances were comparable with the previous year. The distributors or manufacturers submitted most of the declarations, but the proportion submitted by practicing veterinarians is slowly growing. 72% of the declarations dealt with adverse reactions in small animals (cats and dogs), followed by cattle and horses. Antiparasitics, anti-inflammatory drugs and immunologicals were the most frequently mentioned therapeutic classes, which are listed here a...
Orino K, Miura T, Muto S, Watanabe K.Canine and equine ferritin H and L subunit cDNA clones were obtained using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and TA cloning from various tissues. Canine liver and spleen ferritin H subunit cDNA clones contained an open reading frame for the same 182-amino acid protein as that reported in canine brain ferritin H subunit cDNA although there were substitutions in the 3'-noncoding regions. Ferritin L subunit cDNA clones from canine liver, spleen, and kidney showed identical coding sequences encoding the 174-amino acid protein except for a single nucleotide substitution in ki...
Gasser RB, Williamson RM, Beveridge I.Anoplocephala perfoliata is the commonest tapeworm parasite of horses and is incriminated as a significant cause of clinical disease (e.g., ileocaecal intussusception, caeco-caecal intussusception and/or caecal perforation), particularly in horses chronically infected with large numbers of worms. The high prevalence (approximately 20-80%) of the parasite in some countries suggests an increased risk of clinical cases. In spite of research, there is still a paucity of information regarding the pathogenesis of the disease, the epidemiology of the parasite in different geographical regions and the...
Hungerford NL, Sortais B, Smart CG, McKinney AR, Ridley DD, Stenhouse AM, Suann CJ, Munn KJ, Sillence MN, McLeod MD.Due to the potential for misuse of a wide range of anabolic steroids in horse racing, a screening test to detect multiple compounds, via a common class of metabolites, would be a valuable forensic tool. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed to detect 17alpha-alkyl anabolic steroid metabolites in equine urine. 16beta-Hydroxymestanolone (16beta,17beta-dihydroxy-17alpha-methyl-5alpha-androstan-3-one) was synthesised in six steps from commercially available epiandrosterone (3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstan-17-one). Polyclonal antibodies were raised in sheep, employing mesta...
Lin Q, Rikihisa Y.Diverse p44 alleles at the p44 expression locus (p44Es) encoding surface-exposed major membrane proteins, P44s, of Anaplasma phagocytophilum were hypothesized to be garnered by recombination to enact antigenic variation. However, this hypothesis has not been proven so far, due to inability to clone this obligate intragranulocytic rickettsia. To define the p44E recombination, we developed a novel method to clone A. phagocytophilum. This isogenic cloned population containing a defined p44E was used to infect a naive horse and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. During a 58-day infectio...
Raidal SL, Edwards S.To determine the pharmacokinetics of potassium bromide (KBr) in horses after single and multiple oral doses. Methods: Twelve adult Standardbred and Thoroughbred mares. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. Group 1 horses were given a single oral dose of 120 mg/kg potassium bromide. Part 2 of the study evaluated a loading dose of 120 mg/kg KBr daily by stomach tube for 5 days, followed by 40 mg/kg daily in feed for 7 days. Serum concentrations of KBr were measured to construct concentration versus time curves and to calculate pharmacokinetic parameters. Treated horses ...
van der Haegen A, Künzle F, Gerber V, Welle M, Robinson NE, Marti E.Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is a common condition in stabled horses characterised by small airway inflammation and obstruction following exposure of susceptible horses to mouldy hay and straw. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether lung tissue from horses with RAO contains higher numbers of IgE-protein positive (+) cells and mast cells compared to controls after mouldy hay challenge. Furthermore, mast cell subtypes in lung tissue were investigated. IgE+ cells were detected in most lung tissue samples but no significant differences between RAO-affected and control horses...
Gingrich JB, Williams GM.Paucity of data on host-feeding patterns and behavior of 43 mosquito species that are reported as suspected West Nile virus (WN) vectors has limited full evaluation of their vectorial capacity. Recent studies addressing this issue need additional confirmation and should also be expanded to include collections of species or subpopulations attracted to humans. We used 4 types of collection methods to collect mosquitoes, including omnidirectional Fay-Prince traps, Centers for Disease Control-type light traps, gravid traps, and human-landing collections. Mosquitoes were collected during 2 full WN ...
Mair TS, Smith LJ.Few studies have evaluated long-term survival and complication rates in horses following surgical treatment of colic, making it difficult to offer realistic advice concerning long-term prognosis. Objective: To review the complications occurring after discharge from hospital and survival to >12 months after surgery of 300 horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy for acute colic. Pre-, intra- and post operative factors that affected long-term complications and long-term survival were assessed. Methods: History, clinical findings, surgical findings and procedures and post operative treatments of ...
Linklater WL, Henderson KM, Cameron EZ, Stafford KJ, Minot EO.To investigate the utility of faecal oestrone sulphate (OS) concentrations for detecting pregnancy in mares during behavioural studies of feral horses, in which the collection and preservation of samples is not immediate. Methods: Oestrone sulphate concentrations were measured in fresh dung samples collected from 153 free-roaming Kaimanawa mares throughout the year. In addition, multiple samples were taken from the same pile to investigate the reliability of diagnosis from a single sample, as well as the influence of time until preservation on OS concentrations. Samples were also taken before ...
Charleston WA, McKenna PB.A general review of the epidemiology, significance and control of nematode parasitism of sheep, goats, cattle and deer in New Zealand, the emergence of anthelmintic resistance and its effects, and the search for parasite control strategies that reduce reliance on anthelmintic use, is provided. The research that has formed the basis for present levels of understanding of this complex and important topic is summarised and sources of further information are indicated. Aspects of nematode infections of horses, pigs, dogs and cats, and the history of the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, in New Zeala...
Freeman DE, Schaeffer DJ.Epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE) is one of the more common causes of colic in horses, but recent reports suggest a poor prognosis after surgical treatment. Objective: That EFE has a good prognosis compared with other small intestinal strangulating lesions. Methods: Surgical findings, surgical procedures and short-term outcome were recorded for 157 horses that underwent surgery for strangulating lesions of the small intestine at the University of Illinois from 1994 to 2003. Horses were assigned to 3 groups for comparison; those with EFE, strangulation by lipoma and miscellaneous strangulating ...
Brown-Douglas CG, Perkins NR, Stafford KJ, Hedderley DI.To test published models for predicting time of foaling using data derived from prepartum mammary secretions and to develop a new model based on concentrations of mammary secretion constituents that accurately predicts time of foaling in Thoroughbred mares. Methods: Concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium, citrate and lactose were measured in prepartum mammary secretions of 20 Thoroughbred mares in the 2 weeks before expected date of foaling. Models to predict time of foaling were fitted to data based on absolute concentration, change in concentration, and percentage change in concentrati...
Secombe CJ, Firth EC, Perkins NR, Anderson BH.Third carpal bone (C3) disease is a significant cause of lameness in Standardbred and Thoroughbred horses. The bone density of C3 increases as a result of exercise, reducing the compliance of the bone and predisposing it to injury. Currently, the most widely used method of diagnosis is subjective radiography using the tangential view. Radiographically, increases in bone mineral density (BMD) appear as sclerosis but it is not known at what point increases in sclerosis indicate the onset of disease or increased risk of C3 fracture. A quantitative assessment of the BMD of C3 in horses would impro...
van Hoogmoed LM, Boscan PL.Although potent analgesics, opioids decrease intestinal activity, leading to ileus in many species. N-methylnaltrexone (MNTX), an opioid antagonist which does not cross the blood-brain barrier and antagonises the morphine effect on the intestine, directly stimulates motility and restores function without affecting analgesic properties. While its use has been reported in human subjects, there is no information with regard to its usage in the horse. Objective: To determine whether MNTX has an effect on contractile activity of the equine jejunum and pelvic flexure. Methods: Using circular smooth ...
Pader K, Lescun TB, Freeman LJ.To develop and assess the feasibility of standing transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES®) ovariectomy in the mare. Methods: Descriptive study. Methods: Mares (n=10). Methods: The technique was developed in 6 mares and then evaluated in a short-term study in 4 mares. Abdominal access was developed using controlled access vaginal cannula placement under endoscopic guidance. With viewing provided by a flexible endoscope, hemostasis, and transection of ovarian pedicles was performed using a customized bipolar vessel-sealing device. The ovaries were retrieved and the ...
Consuegra C, Crespo F, Dorado J, Diaz-Jimenez M, Pereira B, Hidalgo M.Lipids and proteins can be used for sperm vitrification to preserve the integrity of sperm membranes or to increase the viscosity of the medium. This study evaluated the effect of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and milk serum proteins (Pronexcell) for stallion sperm vitrification. Hippex extender (Barex Biochemical Products, The Netherlands), plus 1% of bovine serum albumin and 100 mM of trehalose, was used as control for sperm vitrification. In experiment 1, different concentrations of LDL (L1 = 0.25, L2 = 0.5, L3 = 1%) and in experiment 2 of Pronexcell (P1 = 1, P2 = 5, P3 = 10%)...
Chalder R, Housby-Skeggs N, Clark C, Pollard D, Hartley C, Blacklock B.There are a growing number of horses, ponies, and donkeys aged 15 years or older in the United Kingdom, yet there have been no studies utilising a complete ophthalmic examination to investigate the prevalence of ophthalmic pathology within this population. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of ophthalmic pathology and associations with signalment, in a convenience sample of geriatric equids in the United Kingdom. Methods: Cross sectional. Methods: Horses, ponies, and donkeys aged 15 years or older based at The Horse Trust charity underwent a full ophthalmic examination including slit...
Graham RJTY, Rosanowski SM, McILWRAITH CW.Osteochondral fragmentation of the carpus is a common cause of lameness in racehorses. Prognosis following arthroscopic removal of the fragments was reported in 1987, but little is known of recent success rates. Objective: To identify associations between the severity and location of osteochondral fragments in the carpus, and to describe the racing performance of horses pre- and post-surgery in Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. To identify factors associated with a horse racing post-surgery. Methods: Retrospective study of clinical records (2006-2016). Methods: Surgical and racing records for ...
Janeczek M, Chrószcz A, Onar V, Henklewski R, Skalec A.Animal remains that are unearthed during archaeological excavations often provide useful information about socio-cultural context, including human habits, beliefs, and ancestral relationships. In this report, we present pathologically altered equine first and second phalanges from an 11th century specimen that was excavated at Wrocław Cathedral Island, Poland. The results of gross examination, radiography, and computed tomography, indicate osteoarthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joint, with partial ankylosis. Based on comparison with living modern horses undergoing lameness examination...
Hall MS, Vasey JR, Russell JW, Russell T.To evaluate the racing performance of horses that underwent ultrasound-guided intralesional injection of autologous bone marrow aspirate for treatment of selected forelimb suspensory ligament (body or branch) core lesions. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 13 Standardbred and 17 Thoroughbred race horses. Methods: Autologous bone marrow aspirated from the sternebrae was injected, under ultrasound guidance, into suspensory ligament core lesions (body or branch). Racing records were reviewed for a comparison of performance before and after surgery. Results: Of the 13 Standardbreds, 9 (69%) h...
Escribano BM, Molina A, Valera M, Tovar P, Agüera EI, Santisteban R, Vivo R, Agüera S, Rubio MD.The novel aim of this study was to describe the reference values of different haematological and biochemical parameters in the Spanish purebred horse (Andalusian, SPB) in each of the stages of a programmed exercise on a treadmill system, and to establish heritability and genetic correlations for these haematological and biochemical parameters. For this, 94 young SPB male horses (4.22 ± 2.27 years old) were used. An increasing intensity exercise test at 4, 5, 6 and 7 m/s was carried out on a treadmill (6% inclination). Total red blood cells, total white blood cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes...
Dembek KA, Hurcombe SD, Schober KE, Toribio RE.To describe a case of supraventricular tachycardia and sudden death in a horse following administration of flecainide acetate. Methods: An 8-year-old Hanoverian warmblood gelding was treated for chronic, naturally occurring, supraventricular tachycardia with digoxin, procainamide hydrochloride, quinidine sulfate, and flecainide acetate. After oral administration of flecainide, polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (torsades de pointes) and ventricular fibrillation developed, leading to cardiovascular collapse and death. Conclusions: Atrial fibrillation is the most commonly diagnosed dysrhythmia ...
Robinson NE, Derksen FJ, Olszewski M, Berney C, Boehler D, Matson C, Hakala J.In six COPD-affected horses, we analysed the factors responsible for the changes in pleural pressure (delta Pplmax) that occur during tidal breathing. Four-hundred-and-sixty-eight measurements of each parameter: pulmonary resistance (RL), dynamic elastance (Edyn), air flow rates, and the timing of breathing, were gathered during a trial of the bronchodilator pirbuterol. Data were placed into seven ranks, based on the magnitude of delta Pplmax; rank 1: 5-15; rank 2: 15-25; rank 3: 25-35; rank 4: 35-45; rank 5: 45-55; rank 6: 55-65; and rank 7 > 65 cm H2O. Up to rank 4 (45 cm H2O), the increa...
Rossol M, Gygax D, Andritzky-Waas J, Zheng G, Lischer CJ, Zhang X, Auer JA.To (1) evaluate and compare computer-assisted surgery (CAS) with conventional screw insertion (conventional osteosynthesis [COS]) for treatment of equine abaxial distal phalanx fractures; (2) compare planned screw position with actual postoperative position; and (3) determine preferred screw insertion direction. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Cadaveric equine limbs (n=32). Methods: In 8 specimens each, a 4.5 mm cortex bone screw was inserted in lag fashion in dorsopalmar (plantar) direction using CAS or COS. In 2 other groups of 8, the screws were inserted in opposite direction. Precisi...
Lyons ET, Dorton AR, Tolliver SC.Activity of fenbendazole (FBZ), oxibendazole (OBZ), piperazine (PIP) and pyrantel pamoate (PRT) alone and combinations of OBZ and PIP and of OBZ and PRT was evaluated against parascarids, strongyles and strongyloides in horse foals (n=281).This was on two farms - Farm A - mixed light-horses (n=26) and Farm B-Thoroughbreds (n=255) - in Central Kentucky in field tests in 2014 and 2015. Foals on both farms were treated one to three times each; an exception was that seven foals on Farm A were nontreated controls. Before treatment, the foals on Farm A were all weighed on scales but weights for Farm...
Pereira BC, Ortiz I, Dorado J, Consuegra C, Diaz-Jimenez M, Demyda-Peyras S, Gosalvez J, Hidalgo M.DNA fragmentation of granulosa cells might be related to developmental competence of the equine oocyte. Granulosa cells are commonly stored before DNA fragmentation assessment, but the effect of preservation methods on this parameter remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not cryopreservation of granulosa cells affects the DNA damage. Equine oocytes were recovered from postmortem ovaries of five mares. Granulosa cells were washed by centrifugation and then analyzed (control) or stored in cryovials following four different protocols: P1 = directly plunged in liqui...
Slocombe JO, McCraw BM.Four pony foals were inoculated with Strongylus edentatus infective larvae and on days 3 and 4 postinfection two of the ponies were treated with thiabendazole, each at the rate of 440 mg/kg of body weight. Total circulating eosinophil counts in untreated ponies increased to over 1700 per cu mm after the second week postinfection. In the treated ponies as well as in an uninfected untreated pony eosinophil counts did not increase beyond 100 per cu mm. At necropsy on day 35 postinfection the cecum, colon and omentum of treated ponies were normal and few tracks were present on the surface of the l...
McClanahan S, Hunter J, Murphy M, Valberg S.Propylene glycol and mineral oil are commonly used in the veterinary profession for treatment of bovine ketosis and equine impactions, respectively. Accidental administration of 6.0 ml propylene glycol/kg of body weight in horses causes severe depression, ataxia and malodorous breath and feces. However, appropriate medical therapy can result in successful treatment of this toxicosis.
Kumar P, Timoney JF.The tubal tonsil of the horse surrounds the pharyngeal opening of the eustachian tube and is lined by pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium interspersed with areas of follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) heavily infiltrated by lymphocytes but devoid of goblet and ciliated cells. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed microvillous cells and cells with features characteristic of M cells such as reduced microvilli or depressed bare surface, more numerous mitochondria, small vesicles and lysosomes, as well as vimentin filaments and epitopes specific for GS 1-B4 as previousl...
Irwin DH, Howell DW.Several indications for swimming horses are recalled. A satisfactory pool and the technique for its use are described. Some observations on the effect on swimming are offered.
Hinchcliff KW, Kociba GJ, Mitten LA.Thrombocytopenia in horses may be idiopathic or secondary to chronic infectious or inflammatory diseases (eg, equine infectious anemia, lymphosarcoma), drug administration, bone marrow depression, myelophthisic disease, or disseminated intravascular coagulation. This report describes EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia in a horse. Platelet counts for blood containing EDTA were consistently less than reference range, but platelet counts of blood containing heparin were within reference range. When thrombocytopenia is diagnosed in horses without clinical evidence of a bleeding tendency, EDTA-d...
Kelmer G, Doherty TJ, Elliott S, Saxton A, Fry MM, Andrews FM.Endotoxaemia is one of the most severe and ubiquitous disease processes in horses. Although dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) is used clinically in horses, there is no study indicating its efficacy in endotoxaemic horses. Objective: DMSO ameliorates the clinical response to i.v. lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. Methods: Eighteen horses were assigned randomly to one of 4 groups: Normosol-LPS (0.2 mug/kg bwt, i.v.); DMSO (1 g/kg bwt, i.v.)-saline; high-dose DMSO (1 g/kg bwt, i.v.)LPS; low-dose DMSO (20 mg/kg bwt, i.v.)-LPS. Horses participating in the DMSO-saline group were later assigned rando...
King JN, Gerring EL.Dopamine was infused intravenously (1, 5 and 10 micrograms/kg/min) for 60 min in three fasted ponies. A dose-dependent increase in heart rate occurred that was rapid in onset and termination at the start and end of the infusions, respectively. Dose-dependent changes in gastric and small intestinal motility were observed. An initial marked inhibition of gastric contraction amplitude was followed by a secondary prolonged period of activity. At the same time the small intestine showed a prolonged period of irregular activity (phase II) and a marked increase in the interval between successive phas...
Youngblood RC, Filipov NM, Rude BJ, Christiansen DL, Hopper RM, Gerard PD, Hill NS, Fitzgerald BP, Ryan PL.Consumption of wild-type (toxic) endophyte-infected tall fescue (E+) by horses during late gestation is known to adversely affect pregnancy outcome; however, little is known of the potential disruptive consequences of E+ consumption by mares during the critical phases of placentation and fetal development in early pregnancy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the detrimental effects of feeding E+ to mares during early gestation. Mares (n = 12) paired by stage of gestation (d 65 to 100) were assigned to diets (six per diet) consisting of endophyte-free (E-) or E+ tall fescue seed (50% ...
Meister U, Görig C, Murphy CJ, Haan H, Ohnesorge B, Boevé MH.Phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation during cataract surgery in horses occur with increasing frequency. To reduce the postoperative refractive error it is necessary to determine the proper IOL power. In the present study retinoscopy, keratometry and ultrasonographic biometry were performed on 98 healthy equine eyes from 49 horses. The refractive state, corneal curvature (keratometry) and the axial location of all optical interfaces (biometry) were measured. The influences of breed, height at the withers, gender and age on values obtained and the comparison between the le...
Kasper CA, Clayton HM, Wright AK, Skuba EV, Petrie L.Thirteen clinically normal Belgian-type foals were used to study the effects of high doses of oxytetracycline on metacarpophalangeal joint kinematics. Seven foals (treatment group) received 2 doses of oxytetracycline (3 g, IV). The first dose was given when foals were 4 days old; the second dose was given 24 hours later. Six foals (control group) received 2 doses of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (15 ml, IV) at equivalent time periods. All foals were videotaped at a walk twice: immediately prior to the first treatment and 24 hours after the second treatment. The tapes were digitized, and metacarp...
Ford EJ, Adam SE.In the horse, 5'-nucleotidase (5'-NT) activity is found mainly in homogenates of lung, kidney, small intestine, mammary gland, liver and pancreas. Lower activities are present in brain and muscle. Activity can be demonstrated histochemically in the glomeruli and tubules of the kidney, in the sinusoidal borders of the hepatocytes and the bile duct epithelium as well as in the blood vessels of all organs. There is no significant difference between the 5'-NT activity in serum and plasma of normal horses and of horses suffering from a range of orthopaedic conditions. Previous findings that gamma g...
Berryhill EH, Magdesian KG, Kass PH, Edman JE.Few studies have evaluated the effects of age and illness on serum triglyceride concentrations in neonatal foals. The objectives of this study were to evaluate triglyceride concentrations in neonatal foals and their dams through serial measurement immediately postpartum and at 1-2 days and 10-12 days of age, as well as to measure them in sick foals. Serially measured serum triglycerides in seven healthy foals varied with age. Median (range) triglyceride concentrations were 28mg/dL (12-50mg/dL), 89mg/dL (51-264mg/dL), and 60mg/dL (28-135mg/dL) immediately postpartum, at 1-2 days of age, and 10-...
Verheyen T, Decloedt A, De Clercq D, Sys S, Van Loon G.In human medicine, oesophageal electrocardiography (ECG) is a well-established technique that magnifies P waves with respect to the QRS complex. Objective: To investigate the feasibility of oesophageal ECG recording in horses and its ability to produce larger P waves compared with base-apex and unipolar recordings. Methods: Bipolar and unipolar ECG were performed using oesophageal and surface electrodes. Oesophageal ECG was obtained from 6 different recording configurations at different oesophageal depths. Amplitudes of P, Q, R, S and T waves were measured from 3 different cardiac cycles for e...
Mathes RL, Reber AJ, Hurley DJ, Dietrich UM.To evaluate the effects of topical antifungal drugs and delivery vehicles on the morphology and proliferation rate of cultured equine keratocytes. Methods: 16 corneas obtained from 8 apparently ophthalmologically normal horses < 0.5 hours after euthanasia for reasons unrelated to the study. Methods: Primary cultures of equine keratocytes were obtained from corneal stroma and were exposed to several concentrations of 3 commonly used, topically applied antifungals: natamycin, itraconazole, and miconazole. In addition, effects of drug delivery vehicles DMSO, benzalkonium chloride, and carboxym...
van Weeren PR, Knaap J, Firth EC.To elucidate the highly contentious role of copper in the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis. Objective: There would be no relationship between liver copper concentration of mares and foals and incidence of radiographically detectable osteochondrotic lesions in foals and yearlings was tested. Methods: Liver copper concentration was assessed in biopsies taken within 4 days after birth from both mares and foals and from the same foals at age 5 months. Biopsies were taken in the standing, sedated animal under ultrasonographic guidance. Radiographs were taken of both hocks (lateromedial, dorsoplantar...
Burke MJ, Parente EJ.To report surgical complications, occurrence of post-obliteration colic, long term outcome, and return to previous function for horses treated with prosthetic mesh obliteration of the nephrosplenic space. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Horses (n = 26) having nephrosplenic space obliteration using prosthetic mesh. Methods: Horses undergoing mesh obliteration between January 2006 and May 2013 were included. A Proxplast™ mesh was secured to the nephrosplenic space with titanium helical coils in standing horses using laparoscopic technique. Perioperative data were obtained from the m...
Vitale V, Vezzosi T, Di Franco C, Briganti A, Tognetti R, Conte G, Bucchioni E, Sgorbini M.For the echocardiographic examination horses should not be sedated unless absolutely necessary because this alters cardiac dimensions and indices of function. However, some horses do not tolerate the echocardiographic procedure and require sedation to conduct the examination safely and obtain good quality images. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the concurrent infusion of dobutamine in horses sedated with romifidine counteracts the cardiovascular changes observed with sedation alone. Twelve healthy untrained Standardbred mares were used. Three echocardiographic examinations ...
