Equine Medicine encompasses the study and application of medical practices specifically related to the health and well-being of horses. This field involves the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and disorders affecting equine species. It covers a wide range of topics, including internal medicine, surgery, reproduction, and pharmacology. Research in equine medicine often focuses on understanding the physiological and pathological processes unique to horses, as well as developing effective therapeutic interventions. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of equine medicine, providing insights into the latest advancements and methodologies in the care and management of horse health.
Lacerenza MD, Arantes JA, Reginato GM, Finardi GLF, Marchi PH, Vendramini THA, Corrêa RR, Pereira PAM, Valadão CAA, Dória RGS.This study investigated the oral microbiome of horses maintained on a high soluble carbohydrate diet based on sugarcane, in comparison to those fed a pasture-based diet composed of spp., aiming to identify associations between dietary intake, the composition of oral microbial communities, and the occurrence of dental caries and diastemata. A total of 20 healthy horses, both male and female, with an average age of 9 ± 3 years and weight of 400 ± 100 kg, without a defined breed, were selected. They were divided into two groups: the High Soluble Carbohydrate Group (HSCCG), consisting of 10 hor...
Buckman PN, Brinker BA, Kapeller LE, Komáromy AM.To determine the accuracy of the EYEMATE-SC suprachoroidal tracer for telemetric tonometry in canine and equine globes. Methods: The EYEMATE-SC sensor (7.8 mm × 3.8 mm × 1 mm) was implanted in the suprachoroidal space of four freshly enucleated normal canine and two normal equine eyes. The anterior chambers were cannulated and connected to a reservoir of Plasma-Lyte A and a manometer. Starting at a manometric IOP of 5 mmHg, the pressure was progressively increased to 80 mmHg by raising the reservoir. At each setpoint (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 mmHg), t...
Burns JJ, Stull J, John E, Doyle A.For horses presenting for colic to a referral hospital in Atlantic Canada, we aimed to describe clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome for draft breeds; identify associations between clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome for draft compared to nondraft breeds; and identify the overall impact of draft breed on mortality. Unassigned: A retrospective review of equine colic cases presenting to the Atlantic Veterinary College (2004 to 2023). Logistic regression models were used to assess associations between parameters and draft breed and mortality. Unassigned: A total o...
Turcotte G, O'Sullivan TL, Rossi TM, Spence KL, Winder CB, Greer AL.Horses are frequently transported, creating opportunities for the spread of pathogens. Disease transmission models for equine infectious diseases face limitations on their generalizability due to challenges in describing equine movement and the structure of their contact networks beyond simplistic assumptions. This study aimed to combine a stochastic, agent-based, SEIR model for equine influenza disease dynamics with an observed Ontario, Canada equine contact network structure to quantify the potential magnitude of equine influenza outbreaks in Ontario competition horses under different condit...
Cormier KV, Fontenot RL, Eddy A, Williams ML, Wills RW, Jumper WI, Mochal-King CA.The objective of the study was to evaluate effects of intra-articular decellularized porcine amnion/chorion suspension (dPACLS) in horses. Methods: Controlled, randomized, prospective study. Methods: A total of 10 adult horses. Methods: One randomly selected radiocarpal joint (RCJ) was injected with a high dose (HD) of 50 mg (n = 5) or low dose (LD) of 5 mg of dPACLS (n = 5). The contralateral RCJ received saline as control. Systemic serum amyloid A (SAA), synovial fluid analysis (including SAA) and subjective lameness evaluation were performed prior to injection (time 0) and 24, 4...
Shimizu Y, Sugai-Bannai M, Tanabe H, Saito K, Ito H, Tokushige H, Kamiya K, Hirano-Kodaira M, Yamada M, Leung GN.Somapacitan is the second generation of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) medication that retains the pharmacological effects of rhGH but exhibits a longer duration of action due to its reversible albumin-binding in the body. In general, the use of all recombinant growth hormone (rGH) analogues is banned by the human and animal sports regulatory authorities due to their anabolic and lipolytic effects. However, little is known about the elimination kinetics and biological effects of the newly introduced long-acting rhGH, somapacitan, in horses. This paper describes the administration stud...
Lieberth S, Thieme K, Dancker C, Merle R, Eule JC.Retrobulbar anaesthesia (RBA) is relevant for ocular surgery in standing sedated horses. Objective: Gathering insights on experiences with RBA techniques. Methods: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: An online survey collected information on the respondents' professional background, indications, injection methods, use of ultrasound assistance, medication, and complications associated with RBA in horses. Results: Two-hundred and thirty-eight veterinarians from 25 countries contributed. 86.1% were members of veterinary specialty colleges. RBA indications were enucleation (97.8%), corneal surgery (2...
Fain H, Hendrickson DA, Buesing MT, Griffenhagen G.Cryptorchidism is a common congenital disorder in male horses characterized by the failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum. This developmental anomaly has important clinical, surgical, and economic implications, particularly in breeding animals. This retrospective study investigates the prevalence and laterality of cryptorchidism in a large equine population presented to two veterinary referral hospitals-Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (CSU VTH, 1984-2014) and Oakridge Equine Hospital (OEH, 2008-2023). Medical records were reviewed to identify affected ...
Vitale V, Bindi F, Bertelloni F, Sala G, Cingottini D, Bonelli F, Sgorbini M.Bacterial contamination of intravenous catheters in hospitalized horses may pose risks for both patient care and public health due to potential antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic transmission. This prospective clinical study aimed to evaluate the incidence of catheter contamination in equine patients admitted to a Veterinary Teaching Hospital between 2020 and 2021. All horses requiring intravenous catheterization were included, and data were collected on patient signalment, clinical status, duration of catheterization, treatments, and outcomes. Two catheter types were used: 5 cm polytetrafl...
Marchio SP, El-Sheikh Ali H, Scott MA, Barbosa Fernandes C, Scoggin KE, Troedsson M, Boakari Y.Despite its critical role in protecting the fetus, the amniotic membrane remains poorly understood in the context of disease response. The equine amniotic membrane is an important physical barrier to the amniotic compartment, and there is evidence that it may contribute to surfactant synthesis. Surfactants are essential for normal fetal lung development, and disruptions in its availability may be linked to future neonatal complications. Therefore, understanding the molecular changes that occur in fetal-maternal tissues during placentitis would clarify how this condition leads to abortion, pret...
Hopster K, Soares JHN, Levine D, Ortved K, Driessen B, Araos J.Flow-controlled expiration (FLEX) has been shown to significantly enhance oxygenation in horses under laboratory conditions. Objective: This study aims to corroborate these findings by evaluating the effects of FLEX on gas exchange in a randomised clinical trial involving a large population of clinical horses undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Methods: Prospective randomised clinical trial. Methods: A total of 406 healthy adult horses scheduled for elective orthopaedic procedures were recruited for this prospective clinical trial. Horses were randomly assigned to FLEX or VCV (volume-controlled ve...
Majcher AM, Troillet A, Gerlach K, Tönnies PR, Brehm W, Ulrich R.Nine days after a surgical intervention due to an injury of the left hind hoof capsule, a 9-y-old, 538-kg female Wielkopolski horse was found recumbent in its stall with an unplugged permanent intravenous catheter positioned in the left jugular vein. Despite immediate resuscitation attempts, the animal died within minutes. Suspecting venous air embolism, radiographic imaging and detailed postmortem examinations were performed. However, visualization of the heart by radiography was hindered by the animal's body mass and postmortem changes. The autopsy followed a modified Richter method, origina...
Dörner C, Lagos N, Oyaneder L, Menarim BC, Ramírez-Toloza G.Osteoarthritis (OA) is an inflammatory joint disease and the leading cause of musculoskeletal disability affecting human and veterinary patients. New therapeutics halting inflammation while preserving joint homeostasis remain a critical need. Voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels regulate the pro-inflammatory response of macrophages in the synovium, the central driver of joint homeostasis. Neosaxitoxin (NeoSTX) is a phycotoxin that blocks NaV channels, conferring a unique potential to regulate joint inflammation. This study evaluated the safety of intra-articular administration of NeoSTX in hors...
Sahoo DK, Wong D, Paital B, Ruby RE, Patel A.The progression of inflammation during sepsis represents a multifaceted biological cascade that requires effective therapeutic interventions to improve survival. In septic neonatal foals, oxidative stress (OS) arises due to a compromised antioxidant defense system. Oxidative stress may disrupt the functionality of redox-sensitive organelles, such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Endoplasmic reticulum stress disorder affects multiple cellular signaling pathways, including redox balance, inflammation, and apoptosis, and contributes to the pathogenesis of sepsis. The study aimed to elucidate wh...
Kovarikova S, Blahova J, Steffenova V, Vaskova N, Jahn P.Currently, there is relatively little published information on the urine protein-to-creatinine (UPC) ratio in horses, a parameter commonly used in dogs and cats. The aim of this study was to determine the reference range of UPC in urine samples of apparently healthy horses and to assess the influence of age and sex. Urinalysis and the determination of urinary protein and creatinine concentrations and ratios were performed. A total of 118 urine samples from apparently healthy horses were included in the study: 10 from foals younger than 6 months and 108 from horses older than 1 year. The median...
Arantes JA, Rabelo IP, Bermudes L, Lacerenza MD, Mendes RP, Corrêa RR, Yamada DI, Valadão CAA, Dória RGS.This study aimed to compare the sedation quality and cardiorespiratory and behavioral effects of detomidine administered intravenously, either in intermittent boluses or as a continuous rate infusion, with butorphanol in horses pre-medicated with acepromazine for odontoplasty procedures. Unassigned: A prospective clinical study was conducted with fifteen adult horses randomly assigned to two groups: Bolus group (BG, = 7) and Infusion group (IG, = 8). Both groups received acepromazine premedication, followed by detomidine administration (bolus or infusion). Butorphanol was administered either...
de Souza LWG, Oliveira EA, Vieira JW, Farias WAWA, de Souza Santos W, Neves LP, Perini AP.Portable X-ray equipments are commonly used in diagnostic radiology of equine patients. Despite its benefits, the exposure to ionizing radiation can pose a health risk to workers as physical restraint of patients is typically required. In this context, the aim of this study was to apply Monte Carlo simulation to investigate occupational exposure in the diagnosis of horses. The simulations were carried out by the Monte Carlo N-Particle 6.2 (MCNP6.2) code. The workers were represented by a FASH3 (female) and MASH3 (male) virtual anthropomorphic phantoms. To simulate the horse, a realistic virtua...
Giessen EJM, Stas EKL, Grinwis GCM, Veraa S.A 3-month-old Friesian colt presented with severe, progressive distal limb lameness in two limbs. Radiographic and postmortem full-body CT imaging revealed severe articular deforming osteolysis and osteoproliferation at the dorsodistal navicular bone margin and the adjacent distal phalanx proximo-palmar/proximo-plantar margin in two limbs, with the remainder of the distal interphalangeal joint being unaffected. Multiple other joints showed small osteolytic subchondral defects. Postmortem histopathological examination confirmed focal joint disease of both distal interphalangeal joints, without ...
Pfau T, Forbes B, Sepulveda-Caviedes F, Chan Z, Weller R.Based on fundamental mechanics, movement and force associate head and pelvic movement asymmetry with asymmetry of force production. We investigate, how often racehorses undergoing strenuous training regimens show evidence of switching between "preferred" limbs, i.e. one limb producing increased force, when assessed at monthly intervals? We hypothesize that clinical asymmetry thresholds designed for "detecting lameness" are frequently exceeded and that when applying previously established Thoroughbred-specific repeatability values, horses rarely switch between showing left- and right-sided asym...
Schwochow D, Alameddine A, Spörndly-Nees E, Montigny M, Naboulsi R, Jansson A, Niazi A, Lindgren G.Racing without protective shoes is common in the Swedish harness racing industry, as it can enhance horses' performance on the track. Trainers typically decide whether a horse will race barefoot based on practical experience rather than objective measures. However, this practice can sometimes lead to excessive hoof wear, posing potential welfare concerns for racing horses. Gene expression differences may help reveal the underlying genetic mechanisms associated with different phenotypic traits. To explore an objective measure for assessing which horses are best suited for barefoot racing, we co...
Wilson FE, Mair TS, Freeman SL.Referral treatment costs and insurance status impact treatment decisions for colic. Objective: To evaluate changes in the cost of referral treatment for colic, and insurance cover and premiums in the United Kingdom between 2018 and 2023. Methods: Cross sectional study. Methods: Thirty UK equine referral hospitals were contacted in January 2024 and asked about their colic caseload and costs of the last three cases across six categories (surgical +/- resection, euthanasia before, during or after surgery, and medical treatment), using similar methodology to a 2018 study. Data are reported as mean...
Raidal SL, Freccero F, Carstens A, Weaver S, Padalino B.Transportation of horses has been associated with colic and changes to the gastrointestinal microbiome. Percutaneous abdominal ultrasonography using wireless, point-of-care transducers can be used to assess gastrointestinal motility in field settings. Unassigned: Characterization of intestinal motility and salivary cortisol responses of horses completing commercial transportation of 10-12h. Unassigned: Prospective observational study of 30 horses with diverse signalment and transport histories. Clinical parameters, sonographic assessment of intestinal motility and saliva samples, were collecte...
Carmona JU, López C, Jurado-Grisales C.Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely utilized as a routine treatment for chronic musculoskeletal conditions in horses, such as osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, and desmopathies. This effectiveness stems from the high concentration of growth factors and anti-inflammatory cytokines that are released upon activation of this orthobiologic agent, whether activated endogenously or exogenously. Despite its growing popularity, there is a notable absence of instructional videos that demonstrate the techniques for obtaining PRP in horses. This study examines a double centrifugation tube method for obtain...
Wunderlich G, Bull M, McGilchrist N, Zhao C, Ross T, Rose M, Chapman B.The equine gut microbiome is a complex and dynamic ecosystem, housing a diverse consortium of bacteria and anaerobic fungi (AF) capable of breaking down complex plant matter and converting it into vital energy sources for their host. The aim of this study was to broaden our current understanding of bacterial and AF diversity in the equine hindgut and how it differs between cohorts and responds to dietary shifts. Results: Faecal samples were collected from 48 horses and the bacteriome and anaerobic mycobiome analysed using long-read amplicon sequencing. Samples were collected from racehorses (R...
Northwood A, Berner D.Radiographic protocols for the metacarpo-/tarsophalangeal joint during pre-purchase examinations (PPE) vary internationally, but their impact on pathology detection remains unclear. Optimising imaging protocols is essential to balance diagnostic accuracy with workflow efficiency and radiation exposure. Objective: To evaluate the effect of different radiographic view combinations on fetlock pathology detection and observer agreement in a PPE context; hypothesising that detection rates vary with view selection. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Methods: Two observers reviewed fetlock r...
Ferreira I, Pinto JG, Oliveira EGL, Azevedo MCBS, Marcolino LMC, Ferreira-Strixino J.Habronema muscae is a parasitic nematode that causes habronemiasis in horses, leading to chronic skin lesions. The parasite is transmitted via flies, and larvae deposited in wounds result in difficult-to-heal "summer sores". This case study involved treating a 9-year-old gelding male horse with recurrent habronemiasis using photodynamic therapy (PDT) concurrent with conventional treatments. The horse presented with ulcerated, exudative wounds on its limbs and face, unresponsive to traditional treatments. PDT was applied over six months, using methylene blue (MB) as a photosensitizer, combined ...
Graham AE, Colgate VA, Floyd EF.Geographical specific data is required to guide empirical antimicrobial selection in equine neonates. Objective: Evaluate antibiograms and survival in foals from a United Kingdom (UK)-based hospital to guide antimicrobial selection. Methods: Blood and synovial fluid samples from 208 foals ≤ 30 days old admitted to Rossdales Equine Hospital from 2018 to 2023. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed by disc diffusion method. Bacterial culture and susceptibility and foal survival were recorded. The effects of the presence of positive culture or multi...
Willette J, Guinn A, Munsterman A.Impactions of the jejunum are rarely described in the literature. The current case series describes six cases of adult horses with jejunal impactions with feed material diagnosed by exploratory celiotomy. Horses underwent exploratory celiotomy based off of their degree of pain despite medical management and concerns for a primary strangulating small intestinal lesion. All jejunal impactions were relieved via manual decompression of the impaction into the cecum. None of the cases underwent a resection or anastomosis at the site of impaction. All horses were treated with gastroprotectants (omepr...
Kuzmina TA, Königová A, Burcáková L, Syrota Y, Babják M, Várady M.Strongylids and parascarids are the most widespread equine parasites worldwide; however, up-to-date data from Slovakia remain limited. This work bridges that gap by examining the prevalence and level of gastrointestinal helminth infections in Slovak horses. In the study, 392 fecal samples from horses on 24 farms were analyzed using the McMaster method with a sensitivity of 50 eggs per gram (EPG) for detecting nematode eggs and a double-centrifugation/combined sedimentation-flotation protocol for detecting Anoplocephala spp. eggs. Information on the age and breed of horses, management condition...
Tramboo SR, Shahardar RA, Allaie IM, Bulbul KH.Benzimidazole (BZ) anthelmintics have been used indiscriminately in equids to control nematode infections throughout the world including India and has led to the development of BZ resistance. In order to determine the current status of BZ resistance in equids of Kashmir against intestinal strongyles (IS), the present study was conducted using faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) and Allele specific PCR (AS-PCR). The study was conducted on ponies from three major tourist destinations of Kashmir viz; Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg in accordance with the WAAVP guidelines. The animals which wer...
Scherzer J, Fayrer-Hosken RA, Ray L, Hurley DJ, Heusner GL.Embryo transfer has been an inherent part of cattle breeding for more than 35 years and has also gained remarkable interest from the equine industry after several breeds allowed registration of more than one foal per year. In both large animal species, non-surgical embryo recovery and transfer are well-established techniques. However, success rates after superovulation and cryopreservation of embryos in horses are still lagging behind those of cattle, and more research is needed to address these areas. To address the problem of freezing large equine embryos, we offer a preliminary demonstratio...
Venugopal CS, Polikepahad S, Holmes EP, Heuvel JV, Leas TL, Moore RM.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and its receptors in the airway hyperreactivity of horses with obstructive pulmonary disease associated with summer pasture (SPAOPD). The right diaphragmatic lobe of the lung of 8 clinically healthy (unaffected) and 8 SPAOPD-affected horses was collected immediately after euthanasia. Bronchial rings (4 mm wide) were prepared and mounted in organ baths and attached to force transducers interfaced with a polygraph. Four rings were used to study each ET-1 receptor; 1 ring served as the control, and the other 3 were incubate...
Nannarone S, Bini G, Vuerich M, Menchetti L, Arcelli R, Angeli G.The aim of this study was to investigate a new approach for equine maxillary nerve blocks, which can facilitate several orofacial surgeries. Current techniques aim at the maxillary foramen and approach via the zygomatic arch, conferring the risk of injury to several delicate structures in the target area. To investigate the feasibility of a retrograde approach from the infraorbital foramen, an anatomic study of the infraorbital canal and its surrounding structures was performed on 13 cadaveric skulls using computed tomography and anatomical dissection. Measurements included canal length and vo...
Journée SL, de Meeus d'Argenteuil C, De Maré L, Boshuizen B, Vanderperren K, Journée LH, de Bruijn M, Bergmann W, Delesalle C.Spinal cord disorders are a common problem in equine medicine. However, finding the site of the lesion is challenging for veterinarians because of a lack of sensitive diagnostic methods that can assess neuronal functional integrity in horses. Although medical imaging is frequently applied to help diagnose corticospinal disorders, this approach does not reveal functional information. For the latter, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and more recently transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) can be useful. These are brain stimulation techniques that create either magnetic or electrical fi...
Dirks E, de Heus P, Joachim A, Cavalleri JV, Schwendenwein I, Melchert M, Fuehrer HP.A 23-year-old pregnant warmblood mare from Güssing, Eastern Austria, presented with apathy, anemia, fever, tachycardia and tachypnoea, and a severely elevated serum amyloid A concentration. The horse had a poor body condition and showed thoracic and pericardial effusions, and later dependent edema and icteric mucous membranes. Blood smear and molecular analyses revealed an infection with . Upon treatment with imidocarb diproprionate, the mare improved clinically, parasites were undetectable in blood smears, and 19 days after hospitalization the horse was discharged from hospital. However, 89 ...
Wood T, Weckman TJ, Henry PA, Chang SL, Blake JW, Tobin T.Our investigation of the urine of grazing horses at the University of Kentucky shows that the mean pH level is about 7.9, and if their diet is supplemented with grain, it is about 7.4. There appears to be no significant effect of time of day or year on urine pH levels in horses. However, horses taken from pasture and supplemented with grain in a stalled environment show a slight decrease in urine pH. Additionally, we investigated the effects of storage on pH levels. Equine urine samples appear to be quite stable with regard to pH for 48h, but then show a marked increase. Urine pH can have a gr...
Lacombe VA, Mayes M, Mosseri S, Reed SM, Ou TH.Although many studies have been performed to classify seizures by type in man and small animals, a similar study in horses is lacking. Objective: The aims of this study were as follows: 1) to characterise the distribution of seizure types in 104 horses presented for seizure disorders to a referral veterinary hospital; and 2) to characterise the various types of seizures by identifying associated clinical factors. Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical records. Methods: Seizures were classified based on seizure type, according to the most recent accepted definitions in both human and small...
Emeto UE, Okolo CC, Nweze NE.Epidemiological data on trypanosomosis and piroplasmosis of horses are lacking in southeastern Nigeria. The prevalence of trypanosome and piroplasm infections in horses and resistance profile of isolated trypanosomes to diminazene and isometamidium salts were investigated. For the cross-sectional study of horses billed for slaughter, 304 horses were randomly sampled. Approximately 2 ml of blood was collected into anticoagulant-treated bottles for haematocrit (HCT) determination, direct microscopic examinations, and rat inoculation. Gender, body condition scores (BCS), age groups, and body wei...
Reinemeyer CR.Efforts to control cyathostome nematodes in temperate climates have not been uniformly successful, as evidenced by contemporary reports of clinical disease and widespread anthelmintic failure. Indeed, effective control is confounded by numerous factors, including ignorance of local transmission patterns, confusing or conflicting control recommendations, and use of ineffective anthelmintics or regimens. Most of these problems are universal rather than being climatically unique, and it is important to recognize that they are mere symptoms of larger and more comprehensive problems. The most basic...
Buchanan AM, Davis DC, Pedersen NC, Beaman BL.L-phase (CWD) broth and plate media were used in parallel with conventional microbiological media during a 3-year period for culturing synovial and pleural fluids of animals. Two kinds of recoveries were obtained where parallel conventional methods were negative: (1) parent or normal bacteria, in very low numbers; and (2) Type B CWD variants in equally low numbers. Organisms in group 1 were: Streptococcus zooepidemicus from horses (2x); beta-hemolytic streptococci, Lancefield Gp. G (2x); Staphylococcus aureus; Actinobacillus, and Actinomyces viscosus. Group 2 consisted of Bacteroides sp., Prop...
Munro R, Ressel L, Gröne A, Hetzel U, Jensen HE, Paciello O, Kipar A.During the mid-1700s, development of the veterinary profession was largely focussed on equine medicine and surgery. Subsequently, rather erratic development encompassed other species and eventually led to specialization in different disciplines. Teaching of veterinary pathology was well established in Europe and North America by the late 19 century. Specialization in this discipline was boosted in the 1940s by the formation, in the USA, of the Register of Veterinary Pathology and American College of Veterinary Pathologists. National societies followed soon afterwards in Europe. The European So...
Fukuda K, Kuroda T, Tamura N, Mita H, Miyata H, Kasashima Y.This study aimed to verify the effects of platelet lysate (PL) administration on the repair of injured horse tissue. Skeletal muscle injuries were induced in 26 Thoroughbreds by bupivacaine administration. PL or saline was administered 1 day (1D) after injury. Muscle samples from 22 horses injected with PL or saline were obtained by needle biopsy at 2, 3, 4, or 7 days (2D, 3D, 4D, or 7D, respectively) after injury, and growth-factor concentrations and muscle regeneration-associated gene expression levels were determined. Intact samples were similarly collected before injury, and samples of inj...
Klymiuk MC, Balz N, Elashry MI, Wenisch S, Arnhold S.Nanoparticles including extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells are of increasing interest for research and clinical use in regenerative medicine. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including also previously named exosomes, provide a promising cell-free tool for therapeutic applications, which is probably a safer approach to achieve sufficient healing. Storage of EVs may be necessary for clinical applications as well as for further experiments, as the preparation is sometimes laborious and larger quantities tend to be gained. For this purpose, nanoparticles were obtained from mes...
Jacquinet G, Rowan C, Ryan J, Vinardell T, Thompson IR, Johnson JP.The Arabian horse has been identified as carrying a risk locus for equine metabolic syndrome, predisposing this breed to development of laminitis. Radigraphy of the equine foot is widely considered the main diagnostic imaging technique for evaluation of the laminitic horse. Knowledge of 'normal' breed values allows assessment of the degree and severity of radiological changes associated with laminitis. The objective of this study was to investigate the normal values for radiological measurements of the feet of the Straight Egyptian Arabian horse in Qatar. The design was a clinical prospective ...
Hobbs KJ, Le Sueur ANV, Burke MJ, Cooper BL, Sheats MK, Ueda Y.Develop, implement, and monitor for adverse effects of, a novel hemoperfusion therapy in adult horses. Unassigned: A prospective, observational feasibility study using three healthy adult horses from the North Carolina State University teaching herd. Health status was determined by physical exam, complete blood count, coagulation panel, and serum biochemistry. Each horse was instrumented with a 14 Fr × 25 cm double-lumen temporary hemodialysis catheter and underwent a 240 min polymer-based hemoperfusion session. Horses were administered unfractionated heparin to maintain anti-coagulation ...
Henderson CS, Story MR, Nout-Lomas YS.To determine reasons for horses to have neck radiographs performed, the incidence of transposition of the ventral lamina of C6 onto C7 (TC67), and the final diagnoses for all horses. Our hypotheses were to find a similar incidence of TC67, as has been previously reported, and an increased incidence of neck pain and dysfunction in horses with TC67. Methods: 135 horses. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Medical records of 135 horses with cervical vertebral column radiographs between 2020 and 2022 were assessed. Patient signalment, reasons for radiographs, radiographic findings, and dia...
Reis IL, Lopes B, Sousa P, Sousa AC, Rêma A, Caseiro AR, Briote I, Rocha AM, Pereira JP, Mendonça CM, Santos JM, Lamas L, Atayde LM, Alvites RD....Here, we describe a case of a 5-year-old show-jumping stallion presented with severe lameness, swelling, and pain on palpation of the left metacarpophalangeal joint (MCj). Diagnostic imaging revealed full and partial-thickness articular defects over the lateral condyle of the third metacarpus (MC3) and the dorsolateral aspect of the first phalanx (P1). After the lesion's arthroscopic curettage, the patient was subjected to an innovative regenerative treatment consisting of two intra-articular injections of equine synovial membrane mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (eSM-MSCs) combined with umbilic...
Brumund L, Wittenberg-Voges L, Rohn K, Kästner SBR.An accurate risk score that can predict peri-anesthetic morbidity and mortality in equine patients could improve peri-operative management, outcome and client communication. Unassigned: Three hunded horses underwent pre-anesthetic risk assessment using the American Society of Anesthesiologists-Physical Status augmented with equine-specific diseases (ASA-PS-Equine), a multifactorial 10-part rubric risk scale (10-RS), and a combination of both, the Combined horse anesthetic risk identification and optimization tool (CHARIOT). Intra-and post-anesthetic complications, the recovery phase and mortal...
Furukawa R, Tozaki T, Kikuchi M, Ishige T, Takahashi Y, Fukui E, Kakoi H.Gene doping is prohibited in horse sports and can involve the administration of exogenous genes, called transgenes, to postnatal animals. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods have been developed to detect gene doping; however, these generally require DNA extraction from the plasma prior to qPCR. In this study, we developed two methods, direct droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and nested ddPCR, to detect the equine erythropoietin (EPO) transgene without DNA extraction. Direct ddPCR used pretreated plasma and PCR to detect the EPO transgene spiked at 10 copies/μL. Nested ddPCR utilis...
Yokomori T, Tozaki T, Ohnuma A, Ishimaru M, Sato F, Hori Y, Segawa T, Itou T.Retraining retired racehorses for various purposes can help correct behavioral issues. However, ensuring efficiency and preventing accidents present global challenges. Based on the hypothesis that a simple personality assessment could help address these challenges, the present study aimed to identify genetic markers associated with personality. Eight genes were selected from 18 personality-related candidate genes that are orthologs of human personality genes, and their association with personality was verified based on actual behavior. A total of 169 Thoroughbred horses were assessed for their...
de Souza TC, Burford J, Busschers E, Freeman S, Suthers JM.To report the long-term survival of adult horses that were subjected to synovial lavage for treatment of contaminated and septic synovial structures. Methods: Multicenter, prospective observational trial. Methods: Horses (n = 240) presented for synovial sepsis at 10 UK referral centers. Methods: Data for horses presented for treatment of synovial sepsis were collected over a 15 month recruitment period. Owners were contacted a minimum of 365 days after surgery using a structured client interview to assess long term survival. Descriptive statistics, and univariable and Cox proportional haza...
Asahi Y, Arai T, Tanaka Y.In older horses, basal metabolic rate decreases, and plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations related to energy metabolism change. The occurrence of age-related diseases, which increases in old animals, may enhance inflammatory reactivity (inflammaging). Finding the appropriate treatment for inflammaging at an early stage may prevent various age-related diseases. Changes in metabolite and hormone concentrations and enzyme activities involved in energy metabolism in the plasma of clinically healthy riding horses of various ages were measured to identify biomarkers of inflammaging (persisten...
Nawrot K, Soroko-Dubrovina M, Zielińska P, Dudek K, Howell K.The study aimed to evaluate the impact of BEMER (Physical Vascular Therapy) on body surface temperature using infrared thermography (IRT) in the distal parts of the forelimbs in Thoroughbreds. The study tested the hypothesis that BEMER therapy leads to an increase in body surface temperature and blood vessel diameter in the distal parts of the forelimbs. The study involved 16 horses, split into 2 groups: active BEMER ( = 8) and sham ( = 8). The active BEMER group had BEMER boots applied to the distal parts of the forelimbs, whereas the sham group had BEMER boots applied without activation of t...
de Carvalho JRG, Del Puppo D, Littiere TO, de Sales NAA, Silva ACY, Ribeiro G, de Almeida FN, Alves BG, Gatto IRH, Ramos GV, Ferraz GC.Diagnosing and treating lameness in horses is essential to improving their welfare. In equine orthopedic practice, infrared thermography (IRT) can indirectly detect soreness. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can treat painful and inflammatory processes in horses. Using IRT, the efficacy of meloxicam (Maxicam Gel) was evaluated in pre-treating transient synovitis in horses induced by a middle carpal joint injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from 055:B5 at a dose of 10 endotoxin units. Unassigned: In a cross-over design, six healthy horses were randomly assigned to receive either 0.6 ...
Vázquez FJ, Argüelles D, Muñoz JA, Genton M, Méndez Angulo JL, Climent F, Roquet I, Iglesias M, Velloso Álvarez A, Vitoria A, Bulnes F, Saitua A....Inguinal hernias (IHs) and ruptures are a relatively common condition in horses, occurring in foals (congenital) and adult (acquired) animals. A retrospective observational analysis was conducted on 40 cases that underwent laparoscopic surgery to close the VRs using barbed sutures alone or combined with other techniques. Signalment, clinical presentation, surgery, and follow-up data were obtained. In total, fifty-nine VRs were closed using barbed sutures (alone or in combination with other methods), with six cases performed prophylactically and forty-four due to acquired IH. Of the forty-four ...
Baudisch N, Singer E, Jensen KC, Eichler F, Meyer HJ, Lischer C, Ehrle A.Surgical treatment options for horses with overriding dorsal spinous processes include interspinous ligament desmotomy and partial spinous process ostectomy. The impact of spinal surgery on the three-dimensional biomechanics of the equine thoracolumbar spine and the epaxial musculature is unclear. Objective: To investigate the influence of interspinous ligament desmotomy and cranial wedge ostectomy on the biomechanics of the equine thoracolumbar spine and the paraspinal Musculi multifidi. Methods: Ex-vivo experiments. Methods: Twelve equine thoracolumbar spine specimens were mounted in a custo...
Arrigo F, Aragona F, Faggio C, Giudice E, Giannetto C, Piccione G, Rizzo M, Arfuso F.The aim of this study was to assess the changes of pro-inflammatory interleukins in 10 horses subjected to road transport practices (distance of 150 km) from the training site (Messina, Sicily) to the competition centre in Syracuse (Sicily). Blood sampling and interleukins analysis were performed during a round trip transportation (transport 1 and transport 2). In particular, blood samples were collected before the transport took place (Pre), five minutes later (Post) and one hour later (Post 1 h), for each transport, in order to assess the serum concentration of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-...
Casado-Santos A, González-Cubero E, González-Fernández ML, González-Rodríguez Y, García-Rodríguez MB, Villar-Suárez V.Corneal ulcers are a common and potentially vision-threatening condition in horses that can be challenging to treat with conventional therapies alone. This case report describes the successful treatment of a non-healing corneal ulcer in a 28-year-old Hispano-Bretón mare using the secretome derived from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs). Despite initial treatment with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and surgical debridement, the corneal ulcer failed to heal properly, exhibiting persistent epithelial defects and stromal complications. As an alternative regenerative appr...
Shokrollahi S, Mohammadi R, Sarrafzadeh-Rezaei F, Jalilzadeh-Amin G, Hashemi-Asl SM.The aim of this study was to compare the sedative and cardiovascular effects of the combination of xylazine-acepromazine versus xylazine-pregabalin - in horses. Four healthy crossbred horses were included in the study and assigned to two treatments. In treatment I (T1), the animals received xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg) in combination with acepromazine maleate (0.05 mg kg) intravenously. In treatment II (T2), the animals received intragastric administration of pregabalin (4.00 mg kg) followed by xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg) intravenously after 60 min. Head height above ground (HHA...
Skedros JG, Dayton MR, Cronin JT, Mears CS, Bloebaum RD, Wang X, Bachus KN.Many bones experience bending, placing one side in net compression and the other in net tension. Because bone mechanical properties are relatively reduced in tension compared with compression, adaptations are needed to reduce fracture risk. Several toughening mechanisms exist in bone, yet little is known of the influences of secondary osteon collagen/lamellar 'morphotypes' and potential interplay with intermolecular collagen cross-links (CCLs) in prevalent/predominant tension- and compression-loaded regions. Paired third metacarpals (MC3s) from 10 adult horses were prepared for mechanical test...
