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Topic:Equine Medicine
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.
Rethinking Equine Cystitis: Evidence from Four Atypical Clinical Presentations. In this case series, four equines were diagnosed with cystitis, resulting in divergent clinical outcomes. Three animals achieved complete clinical resolution without recurrence, whereas one required euthanasia due to progressive clinical deterioration. All diagnoses were established through a dual-modality investigative protocol comprising cystoscopic evaluation and histopathological examination of bladder mucosal biopsies. The cohort exhibited considerable etiological heterogeneity. One case was classified as chronic idiopathic cystitis, while another was attributed to an opportunistic bacter...
Equine Ulcerative Genital Lesions Associated with Parapoxvirus. In 2026, a widespread outbreak of ulcerative dermatitis of unknown aetiology occurred in breeding horses in Ireland. The lesions resembled those associated with equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV3) infection, i.e., papules, vesicles, and ulcers on the penis of stallions and on the vulval and anal areas of mares. This study aimed to identify the probable causative agent. The methods applied included metagenomic sequencing of DNA, phylogenetic analysis, and real-time PCR. Metagenomic analysis directly from a penile sample confirmed the presence of equine parapoxvirus (EqPPV) DNA. Phylogenetic analysis in...
Comparison of xylazine-ketamine-guaifenesin and xylazine-tiletamine-zolazepam protocols for constant rate infusion anesthesia in horses undergoing field castration. The common use of "triple drip" (xylazine, ketamine, and guaifenesin; XKG) is a popular protocol for constant rate infusion (CRI) in equine practice. However, due to restrictions on ketamine and guaifenesin in many countries, tiletamine-zolazepam (TZ) could serve as an alternative. To date, there have been limited studies evaluating the use of xylazine in combination with TZ (XTZ) administered via CRI to maintain surgical anesthesia in equine field practice. Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety of XTZ infusion with the classical XKG protocol for field anesthesia. Methods: Twelve ...
Health assessment of Tokara horses on Nakanoshima island: potential chronic hepatic dysfunction induced by Leopard plant (Farfugium japonicum) ingestion. We investigated the health of Tokara horses (n=34) on Nakanoshima as part of conservation efforts for this breed. Although the horses were clinically healthy, elevated white blood cell count, neutrophil count and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were observed, leading to suspicion of chronic hepatic dysfunction and infectious disease. A survey revealed that the caretakers had been feeding the horses Leopard plant, which contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). The abnormal GGT levels observed in these horses may suggest the possibility of chronic PA poisoning resulting from the con...
Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Aerosol Treatment of Equine Antibiotic-Resistant Wound Infection: A Preliminary Case Series. Wound infections are common sequelae of wound treatment in horses. Secondary bacterial colonization with antimicrobial resistant microorganisms is of particular concern and is of crucial importance regarding the "One Health Concept". Due to frequent antimicrobial resistance (AMR), conventional treatments often involve determining resistance and sensitivity using time-consuming antibiograms. Infections with multi-resistant pathogens are especially challenging. This case series presents studies of four horses evaluating the efficacy of Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Aerosol (CAP-A) as a standalone trea...
Advanced 3D Horse Reconstruction: Integrating Image-to-3D Modelling and Non-Rigid Registration for On-Barn Body Measurements. Precision livestock farming (PLF) relies on high-precision three-dimensional (3D) horse reconstruction and automatic body measurement to support refined breeding management and health surveillance. However, data collection is restricted by building environment noise and hardware layout constraints; complex equine body shapes and large individual variations induce local geometric distortions in reconstructed models, limiting field deployment. Drawing on generative 3D reconstruction, this study develops the first image-to-3D pipeline that leverages three consumer depth cameras to reconstruct hig...
Core decompression augmented with bone marrow aspirate concentrate for refractory distal sesamoid bone pathology in horses: A retrospective clinical study. To determine short- and long-term outcomes of core decompression combined with autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) in treating moderate-to-severe refractory distal sesamoid bone (DSB) trabecular pathology in horses. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Methods: A total of 21 client-owned Warmblood horses with DSB pathology unresponsive to conservative management. Methods: Preoperative diagnosis included lameness localization by diagnostic analgesia and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmation of DSB trabecular pathology. Horses underwent arthroscopic core decompressi...
Intrauterine ozone therapy reduces bacterial load in mares with mixed bacterial endometritis: a longitudinal study. Mixed bacterial endometritis poses a therapeutic challenge in mares due to the coexistence of multiple pathogens with divergent antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. This study evaluated the effects of intrauterine ozone insufflation on uterine bacterial load and endometrial inflammatory response in mares with naturally acquired mixed bacterial endometritis. Fifteen mares with mixed bacterial infection were allocated to two treatment groups: a pathological control group receiving pure medical oxygen insufflation (PC; n = 6) and an ozone-treated group receiving 42 µg/mL ozone for three c...
Seasonal modulation of platelet indices in mares. Platelet indices provide valuable information on platelet activation, heterogeneity, and production kinetics, yet their physiological variability remains poorly characterized in horses. Although seasonal changes in platelet count have been described, the seasonal modulation of derived platelet indices in mares remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seasonal variation of platelet count and derived platelet indices in clinically healthy mares from the Valencia region (Spain), and to assess their interrelationships. Forty clinically healthy Spanish Purebred mares (6-...
Morphological and Biomechanical Characterization of Amniotic Membranes Across Species: Equine, Canine, Porcine, Ovine, and Human Samples-A Pilot Study. The use of amniotic membrane (AM) has become well established in the treatment of ocular surface disorders in both humans and animals. However, comparative studies of AM from different species remain scarce. Objective: To compare the thickness and biomechanical properties of equine, canine, porcine, and ovine AMs with those of human AM. Methods: Placentas were collected, and AMs were manually separated from the chorion. All AM samples were cryopreserved in a 1:1 solution of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) and glycerin at -80°C for 60 days. After thawing, samples underwent thicknes...
Technical note on cervical epidural catheterization in two adult horses: Injectate distribution and epidural space effects. To determine the caudalmost extent of diffusion of contrast media administered through a cervical epidural catheter (CEC) and to describe pathologic changes associated with maintaining an indwelling CEC for up to 17 days. Methods: Pilot study. Methods: Two mature horses. Methods: CECs were placed under ultrasound guidance in two horses. Both horses were injected with 5 mL 50% Iohexol contrast solution, followed by radiographs of catheter insertion site to confirm placement. A total volume of 15 mL contrast solution was injected in 5 mL aliquots up to 25 min post-initial injection. La...
Evaluation of Microvascular Flow Imaging and Power Doppler Ultrasonography in an Equine Model of Induced Superficial Digital Flexor Tendonitis. Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries are common in athletic horses and are associated with prolonged healing and high reinjury rates. Conventional ultrasonography provides structural information but limited physiologic assessment. This study compared microvascular imaging (MVI) and Power Doppler (PD) for evaluating vascular changes in a collagenase-induced equine SDFT injury model and assessed the effect of scanning technique on vascular signal detection. Eight adult Thoroughbred horses underwent bilateral collagenase-induced SDFT injury, with one forelimb randomly assigned to int...
Approaches to Thoroughbred Horse Identification in Diverse Sample Types Using Multiplexed SNP-PCR Sequencing Panels. The ability to determine the identity of equine samples would be highly advantageous in cases of ambiguous sample source, as individual-specific controls for gene editing detection, or forensic examination of suspect biological materials in potential doping cases. To this end, a SNP-PCR sequencing-based panel comprising 93 markers in one reaction was designed and investigated for use in Thoroughbred horses. Marker amplification performance and discriminating power were calculated against a population survey of 264 Thoroughbred whole blood samples from routine doping testing. The sensitivity of...
Favorable survival of horses with guttural pouch mycosis following hospital-based treatment. To report the clinical outcomes and survival time in horses undergoing treatment of guttural pouch mycosis. Unassigned: Client-owned horses with guttural pouch mycosis admitted between 2005 and 2024 for evaluation and treatment were identified by medical record search. Signalment, disease history, and surgical and treatment details were recorded. Owners were contacted for follow-up information. Unassigned: 41 horses with guttural pouch mycosis were identified, of which 28 had epistaxis or a history of epistaxis on presentation. Thirty-five horses underwent surgical treatment, and the procedure...
A postmortem grading system for articular cartilage loss of the dorsoproximal aspect of the proximal phalanx of Thoroughbred racehorses. The metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints in Thoroughbred racehorses are common injury sites, given their high range of motion and compression during galloping. In New Zealand, the proximal phalanx (P1) is a common site for race-day fracture, but the lesions of this bone have not been described. Therefore, we created a scoring system to describe cartilage on the dorsoproximal aspect of P1 in New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorses. We collected 102 P1s from racehorses submitted for postmortem examination. Horses were categorized into 2 cohorts: 1) fracture (18 horses euthanized becaus...
Equine nuclear medicine: Current state of play. Equine nuclear medicine provides functional information on bone turnover, perfusion, inflammation and tracer biodistribution. Its role has evolved from planar scintigraphy toward SPECT, PET and quantitative imaging. This review synthesised the historical foundations and contemporary state of equine nuclear medicine, with emphasis on racehorse and performance-horse applications. Methods: A PRISMA-aligned systematic narrative review and evidence map were undertaken. MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection and SciQuest were searched, supplemented by reference-list screening, forward ci...
Effect of neonatal rib fracture repair on racing and sales performance in Thoroughbreds. The racing outcome of horses that have undergone surgical repair of neonatal rib fractures is not well documented. Objective: To evaluate the impact of surgical repair of neonatal rib fractures on subsequent sales and racing performance in Thoroughbreds. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Medical records of neonatal Thoroughbreds that underwent surgical repair of rib fractures at a referral hospital between 2014 and 2025 were reviewed. Sales and racing data were obtained from publicly available databases. Outcomes assessed included sale price at weanling and yearling sales, total ca...
Risk factors for horse falls in British jump racing (2010-2023). Horse falls are an important safety and welfare concern in jump racing, as they are associated with an increased risk of equine fatality and injury, as well as jockey injury. Objective: To identify risk factors for horse falls in British jump racing. Methods: Retrospective cohort. Methods: All jump race starts made on British racecourses between January 2010 and April 2023 were considered. Available horse, race, racecourse, trainer and jockey data were collated and combined with faller data recorded in official databases. Horses that were 'brought down' by another horse were not considered a f...
Perineural dexamethasone does not prolong bupivacaine sensory blockade in equine palmar digital nerve blocks: a randomized crossover trial. To determine whether dexamethasone sodium phosphate (dexamethasone SP) prolongs the sensory blockade produced by perineural bupivacaine during medial and lateral palmar digital nerve blocks in horses. Unassigned: 8 healthy adult horses were enrolled in a blinded, randomized 4 X 4 crossover trial. Each horse received 1 of 4 perineural treatments over the palmar digital nerves of the left forelimb: bupivacaine, bupivacaine + dexamethasone SP, dexamethasone SP alone, or saline. A minimum 7-day washout was used between treatments. Mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) was measured at baseline and...
SURVIVAL ON THE MARGINS: NICHE PARTITIONING AND DENSITY-DEPENDENT SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF EQUINE CYATHOSTOMINS. Habitat preferences of gastrointestinal nematodes are well-documented in small hosts, but equine cyathostomin diversity has largely been characterized only at farm or regional levels. While organ-level site preferences are known, within-organ spatial distributions remain unexplored. We investigated the longitudinal and radial distribution of adult cyathostomins within the large-intestinal lumen. Intact large intestines from 5 Shetland ponies were frozen post-necropsy and transected into 4-cm sections. Three micro-habitat samples (2.5 cm diameter) were collected per section. We recovered 2,444 ...
Bacteremia in horses undergoing routine dental prophylaxis: Before, during, and after the procedure. Transient bacteremia after dental procedures is well-documented in the literature, but the prevalence and clinical significance in horses remains largely unexplored. Objective: To assess whether routine dental prophylaxis in clinically healthy horses is associated with detection of bacteria in blood, using culture and 16S rDNA sequencing. Our central hypothesis is that a percentage of horses would demonstrate detectable but transient bacteremia in the immediate post-procedural period following dental prophylaxis. Methods: Prospective, observational study. Methods: Venous blood samples from 20 ...
Plasma Homocysteine Concentrations in Horses with Left-Sided Valvular Heart Disease. In human medicine, homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, is used as a biomarker reflecting endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, thrombogenesis, oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease. An automated enzyme-cycling assay for homocysteine, established for humans, has been validated and reference ranges have been created for horses. In this study the homocysteine assay was further evaluated by assessing short-term stability (whole blood and plasma samples stored at 4 °C and room temperature for 24 h), long-term stability (two years), the effect of different anticoagulants (lithium h...
Effects of equine sperm incubation under capacitation-supporting conditions on homologous and heterologous ICSI outcomes. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in horses has become sufficiently efficient to be considered for clinical and commercial application; however, several factors influencing its efficiency remain poorly understood. This study evaluated whether incubating equine sperm under capacitating conditions induces capacitation-associated changes and affects embryo development following homologous equine ICSI, as well as oocyte activation, early cleavage, and 5-methylcytosine (5 mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) levels following heterologous ICSI using bovine oocytes. Equine spermatozoa were ...
First experience with radiofrequency catheter ablation in horses with recurrent, persistent naturally occurring atrial fibrillation. Myocardial sleeves in the caudal vena cava and pulmonary veins are a potential trigger for initiation and perpetuation of atrial fibrillation (AF) in horses. Objective: Isolation of myocardial sleeves in the caudal vena cava or pulmonary veins might reduce the risk for AF recurrence. Methods: Case series. Methods: Records from seven horses with persistent, recurrent, naturally-occurring AF that were treated with three-dimensional electro-anatomical mapping and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in order to reduce recurrence risk were reviewed. Mapping of the caudal vena cava was performed...
Effects of TECAR Therapy on Body Surface Temperature and Longissimus Dorsi Muscle Tone in Thoroughbred Racehorses: A Pilot Study. Capacitive and resistive electric transfer (TECAR) therapy is increasingly used in equine physiotherapy; however, objective evidence regarding its immediate effects on equine back muscles remains limited. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effects of TECAR therapy on body surface temperature and muscle tone of the longissimus dorsi muscle in Thoroughbred racehorses. A randomized, single-blinded experimental study was conducted in 20 clinically healthy Thoroughbred racehorses aged 2-3 years. Horses were randomly assigned to either a TECAR treatment group ( = 10) or a sham-treatment control ...
Development and validation of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of twenty-five steroids in equine serum. Steroids are potential biomarkers for monitoring equine pregnancy. However, immunoassays currently used for their quantification suffer from cross-reactivity and limited specificity, thus requiring more accurate methods. This study reports the development and validation of a robust liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for simultaneous quantification of 25 steroids covering the main biosynthetic pathways of progestogens, corticosteroids, androgens, and estrogens. Steroids were extracted by protein precipitation followed by evaporation, derivatization, and reconstitut...
Vasopressin stimulation testing in hospitalized foals. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal gland axis (HPAA) dysfunction impairs survival and can be diagnosed with an arginine vasopressin (AVP) stimulation test. Objective: Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol response to an AVP stimulation test will be attenuated in hospitalized foals compared to healthy foals and associated with severity of disease. Methods: Fifteen healthy and 45 hospitalized foals: 19 septic, 26 sick non-septic (SNS). Methods: A prospective, observational case-control design was utilized to assess HPAA function and compare corticotropin-releasing hormone, ACTH, and cortis...
An observational study evaluating the environmental impact of equine arthroscopy. Human pressures on Earth's life‒support systems have exceeded multiple planetary boundaries, highlighting the need for sectors, including veterinary healthcare, to reduce environmental impacts. Methods: A prospective convenience sample of 10 horses undergoing arthroscopy at a UK equine hospital between January and March 2025 was studied. Data were collected on anaesthesia, volatile capture, pharmaceuticals, single-use consumables, waste, building energy and travel by horses and staff. Carbon emissions (kgCOe) were calculated using published conversion factors. A hybrid methodology combined b...
High-Throughput Equine Plasma Profiling Using Laser-Assisted Rapid Evaporative Ionisation Mass Spectrometry. Remnants of erythrocyte removal from blood constitute therapeutic plasma-a water-based solution containing mainly platelets, extracellular vesicles (EVs), protein and lipid complexes and ions. Plasma-based therapies, including their use to accelerate wound healing in human and animal patients, are increasingly gaining prominence in regenerative medicine; however, methods for the optimal preparation of individual plasma are still under development. Rapid and accurate analysis of plasma composition is essential for the development of therapeutic applications and for ensuring the quality of plasm...
Effect of lingual gauze swab placement and light exclusion on pulse oximeter agreement with arterial haemoglobin-oxygen saturation derived from blood-gas analysis in healthy anaesthetised horses. To compare peripheral arterial haemoglobin-oxygen saturation values obtained using pulse oximetry (SpO) with and without a lingual gauze swab under ambient light and light-exclusion conditions, with arterial haemoglobin-oxygen saturation derived from arterial blood-gas analysis (SaO). Methods: Prospective method-comparison study. Methods: A group of 60 healthy adult horses undergoing elective general anaesthesia. Methods: In American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification I-II horses, SpO readings were obtained under six conditions during anaesthesia: no swab, no swa...
