Equine Science encompasses the study of horses and their management, health, and performance. This field integrates various scientific disciplines such as biology, genetics, nutrition, physiology, and veterinary medicine to understand and improve the well-being and capabilities of horses. Areas of focus include equine anatomy, reproduction, behavior, and disease prevention. Research in equine science aims to enhance horse care, optimize training and performance, and address health challenges. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the diverse aspects of equine science, providing insights into the latest advancements and methodologies in the field.
Sedykh SE, Purvinish LV, Monogarov AS, Burkova EE, Grigor'eva AE, Bulgakov DV, Dmitrenok PS, Vlassov VV, Ryabchikova EI, Nevinsky GA.Exosomes are 40-100 nm nanovesicles containing RNA and different proteins. Exosomes containing proteins, lipids, mRNAs, and microRNAs are important in intracellular communication and immune function. Exosomes from different sources are usually obtained by combination of centrifugation and ultracentrifugation and according to published data can contain from a few dozens to thousands of different proteins. Crude exosome preparations from milk of eighteen horses were obtained for the first time using several standard centrifugations. Exosome preparations were additionally purified by FPLC gel fi...
Bolat D, Yıldız D, Bahar S, Yürüker S, Kaymaz F, Ilgın C, Bozkurt EÜ, Karahan S, Sabancı SS.We investigated the microscopic structure of transverse sections of the oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nerves of Arabian foals using stereological methods. Bilateral nerve pairs from 2-month-old female Arabian foals were analyzed. The tissues were embedded in plastic blocks, then 1 µm thick sections were cut and stained with osmium tetroxide and methylene blue-azure II. Stereology was performed using light microscopy. Morphometry showed that the right and left pairs of nerves were similar. The transverse sectional areas of the oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nerves were 1.93 ± 0.19 mm...
Ohmura H, Mukai K, Takahashi T, Aida H, Jones JH.OBJECTIVE To determine cardiorespiratory responses of Thoroughbreds to uphill and downhill locomotion on a treadmill at identical gradients. ANIMALS 5 highly trained Thoroughbred geldings. PROCEDURES Thoroughbreds were exercised for 2-minute intervals on a treadmill at 1.7, 3.5, 6.0, 8.0, and 10.0 m/s at a 4% incline, 0% incline (horizontal plane), and 4% decline in random order on different days. Stride frequency, stride length, and cardiopulmonary and O-transport variables were measured and analyzed by means of repeated-measures ANOVA and Holm-Šidák pairwise comparisons. RESULTS Horses com...
Holt D, St George LB, Clayton HM, Hobbs SJ.Previous studies have validated methods for determining kinematic gait events using threshold-based techniques. However, a simple method that can be successfully applied to walk, trot and canter is yet to be identified. Objective: To develop a simple kinematic method to identify the timing of hoof contact (hoof-on), peak vertical force and lift off (hoof-off), which can be applied in walk, trot and canter. Methods: In vivo method authentication study. Methods: Horses (n = 3) were ridden in walk, trot and canter down a runway on which four force plates were arranged linearly. Three-dimensional ...
Gastal GD, Alves BG, Alves KA, Souza ME, Vieira AD, Varela AS, Figueiredo JR, Feugang JM, Lucia T, Gastal EL.The method of transportation and the conditions imposed on the ovarian tissue are pivotal aspects for the success of ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the size of the ovarian tissue (e.g. whole ovary, biopsy size and transplant size) during different times of storage (0, 6, 12 and 24 h) on the structural integrity of equine ovarian tissue transported at 4°C. Eighteen pairs of ovaries from young mares (<10 years old) were harvested in a slaughterhouse and processed to simulate the fragment sizes (biopsy and transplant size groups) o...
Crijns CP, Van Bree HJ, Broeckx BJG, Schauvliege S, Van Loon G, Martens A, Vanderperren K, Dingemanse WB, Gielen IM.The objective of this study was to examine the influence of the size, age and sex of the horse on the size of the pituitary gland and determine the possibility of using the pituitary gland height-to-brain area ratio (P:B ratio) to allow comparison of different sized and aged horses. Thirty-two horses without pituitary pars inter-media dysfunction that underwent a contrast-enhanced computed tomographic (CT) examination were included in a cross-sectional study. On the CT images, the pituitary gland height was measured and the P:B ratio was calculated. These measurements were correlated to the si...
Hanche-Olsen S, Kielland C, Ihler CF, Hultin Jäderlund K.Acquired equine polyneuropathy (AEP), a neurological disease clinically characterised by knuckling of metatarsophalangeal joints, has been described in numerous Nordic horses during the last 20 years. Although clinical recovery has been reported, large-scale data on long-term follow-up of survivors have been lacking. Objective: To describe long-term survival of AEP affected horses registered in Norway, with a focus on athletic performance and possible residual clinical signs connected to the disease. Methods: A retrospective cohort study. Methods: The study includes 143 horses recorded with A...
Vimercati S, Büchi M, Zielinski J, Peduto N, Mevissen M.Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) are responsible for the phase I metabolism of drugs, xenobiotics and endogenous substances. Knowledge of single CYPs and their substrates is important for drug metabolism, helps to predict adverse effects and may prevent reduced drug efficacy in polypharmacy. In this study, three equine isoenzymes of the 3A subfamily, the equine flavoprotein NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase (POR), and the cytochrome b5 (CYB5) were cloned, sequenced and heterologously expressed in a baculovirus expression system. Testosterone, the standard compound for characterization of the human CYP3A...
Oliveira FG, Cook RF, Naves JHF, Oliveira CHS, Diniz RS, Freitas FJC, Lima JM, Sakamoto SM, Leite RC, Issel CJ, Reis JKP.Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Although the virus infects all members of the Equidae the vast majority of studies have been conducted in horses (Equus caballus) with comparatively little information available for other equid species. Brazil has one of the most abundant donkey (E. asinus) populations of any nation although the economic importance of these animals is declining as transportation becomes increasingly mechanized. As a result, considerable numbers of donkeys especially in the Northeast of the country have ...
Burk J, Glauche SM, Brehm W, Crovace A, Francioso E, Hillmann A, Schubert S, Lacitignola L.Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) derived from synovial fluid (SF) are considered to be a promising cell type for therapeutic applications in joint disease. However, despite their potential relevance for clinical and experimental studies, there is insufficient knowledge about SF-derived MSCs isolated from horses and sheep. In this study, cells were recovered from healthy SF and bone marrow (BM) of sheep, and from healthy and osteoarthritic SF of horses. Ovine SF-MSCs were used to assess the efficiency of intracellular labelling with quantum dots (QDs). Colony forming units, generati...
Zahedi M, Parham A, Dehghani H, Mehrjerdi HK.Application of competent cells such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treatment of musculoskeletal disorders in equine athletes is increasingly needed. Moreover, similarities of horse and human in size, load and types of joint injuries, make horse as a good model for MSCs therapy studies. This study was designed to isolate and characterize stemness signature of equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). Methods: BM of three mares was aspirated and the mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated using density gradient. The primary MNCs were cultured and analyzed after tree passa...
Faubladier C, Julliand V, Beuneiche L, Philippeau C.Total tract apparent digestibility of dietary fibrous components and parameters of the faecal digestive ecosystem were compared at immediate and late post-weaning periods using five foals. The foals were abruptly weaned (day 0) from their mares at 6 months of age. Immediately (day 0 to day 14) and later (day 131 to day 194) after weaning, foals received the same basal diet consisting of hay and pellets. Pellets were fed at 0.36% BW. Hay was offered ad libitum and corresponded to 120% of the average voluntary hay intake measured individually during the immediate (days 1 to 4) and late (days 180...
Weissman-Miller D, Miller RJ, Shotwell MP.Translational research is redefined in this paper using a combination of methods in statistics and data science to enhance the understanding of outcomes and practice in occupational therapy. These new methods are applied, using larger data and smaller single-subject data, to a study in hippotherapy for children with developmental disabilities (DD). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates DD affects nearly 10 million children, aged 2-19, where diagnoses may be comorbid. Hippotherapy is defined here as a treatment strategy in occupational therapy using equine movement to achieve...
Stover SM.Racehorses are susceptible to bone fractures when damage from repetitive, high-magnitude loads incurred during training and racing exceed concurrent damage removal and replacement, resulting in transient periods of focal osteoporosis and bone weakening. Clinically, these events correspond to cortical stress fractures and subchondral bone stress remodeling. Evidence of these preexisting lesions include periosteal callus, endosteal callus, and intracortical focal hyperemia for cortical stress fractures; and subchondral focal hyperemia located superficial to sclerotic compacted trabecular bone ti...
Tamura N, Nukada T, Kato T, Kuroda T, Kotoyori Y, Fukuda K, Kasashima Y.The objective assessment of the mechanical properties of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) could provide useful information for the rehabilitation of horses with SDFT injuries. Assessment of strain ratio (the strain of a standard reference divided by that of lesions) is a quantitative method in sonoelastography for evaluating tissue stiffness in vivo. As yet, no longitudinal studies have used strain ratio to evaluate the progression of stiffness in SDFT injuries. Objective: To test the hypothesis that strain ratio can evaluate the recovery of stiffness during the healing of SDFT inj...
Kwok KY, Chan GHM, Kwok WH, Wong JKY, Wan TSM.Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are chemicals that possess the anti-oestrogenic activities that are banned 'in' and 'out' of competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in human sports, and by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) in horseracing. SERMs can be used as performance-enhancing drugs to boost the level of androgens or to compensate for the adverse effects as a result of extensive use of androgenic anabolic steroids (AASs). SERMs have indeed been abused in human sports; hence, a similar threat can be envisaged in horseracing. Numerous an...
Horseman SV, Hockenhull J, Buller H, Mullan S, Barr AR, Whay HR.The equine industry in Great Britain has not been subject to the same pressures as the farming industry to engage with welfare assessment, but this may change as concern about equine welfare increases. Stakeholder attitudes toward welfare assessment may impact the implementation of welfare assessment practices. Focus-group discussions regarding welfare assessment were conducted with 6 equine stakeholder groups: leisure horse owners (caregivers; n = 4), grooms (n = 5), veterinary surgeons (n = 3), welfare scientists (n = 4), welfare charity workers (n = 5), and professional riders (n = 4). Thre...
Roth SP, Glauche SM, Plenge A, Erbe I, Heller S, Burk J.Decellularization of tendon tissue plays a pivotal role in current tissue engineering approaches for in vitro research as well as for translation of graft-based tendon restoration into clinics. Automation of essential decellularization steps like freeze-thawing is crucial for the development of more standardized decellularization protocols and commercial graft production under good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions in the future. In this study, a liquid nitrogen-based controlled rate freezer was utilized for automation of repeated freeze-thawing for decellularization of equine superficia...
Cortés O, Dunner S, Gama LT, Martínez AM, Delgado JV, Ginja C, Jiménez LM, Jordana J, Luis C, Oom MM, Sponenberg DP, Zaragoza P, Vega-Pla JL.Criollo horse populations descend from horses brought from the Iberian Peninsula over the period of colonization (15th to 17th century). They are spread throughout the Americas and have potentially undergone genetic hybridization with other breeds in the recent past. In this study, 25 autosomal microsatellites were genotyped in 50 horse breeds representing Criollo populations from 12 American countries (27 breeds), breeds from the Iberian Peninsula (19), one breed each from France and Morocco and two cosmopolitan horse breeds (Thoroughbred and Arabian). The genetic relationships among breeds i...
de Bruijn CM, Houterman W, Ploeg M, Ducro B, Boshuizen B, Goethals K, Verdegaal EL, Delesalle C.Most Friesian horses reach their anaerobic threshold during a standardized exercise test (SET) which requires lower intensity exercise than daily routine training. Objective: to study strengths and weaknesses of an alternative SET-protocol. Two different SETs (SETA and SETB) were applied during a 2 month training period of 9 young Friesian dressage horses. SETB alternated short episodes of canter with trot and walk, lacking long episodes of cantering, as applied in SETA. Following parameters were monitored: blood lactic acid (BLA) after cantering, average heart rate (HR) in trot and maximum H...
Kwok WH, Choi TLS, Tsoi YYK, Leung GNW, Wan TSM.A fast method for the direct analysis of enzyme-hydrolysed horse urine using an automated on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled to a liquid-chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometer was developed. Over 100 drugs of diverse drug classes could be simultaneously detected in horse urine at sub to low parts per billion levels. Urine sample was first hydrolysed by β-glucuronidase to release conjugated drugs, followed by centrifugal filtration. The filtrate (1mL) was directly injected into an on-line SPE system consisting of a pre-column filter and a SPE cartridge column for the separa...
Canesin HS, Brom-de-Luna JG, Choi YH, Ortiz I, Diaw M, Hinrichs K.We evaluated the meiotic and developmental competence of GV-stage equine oocytes vitrified under different conditions. In a preliminary study, using dimethyl sulfoxide (D), ethylene glycol (EG) and sucrose (S) as cryoprotectants, the maturation rate was higher for cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) held overnight before vitrification (37%) than for those vitrified immediately (14%; P < 0.05). Thereafter, all COCs were held overnight before vitrification. In Experiment 1 we compared 1 min (1m) and 4 min (4m) exposure to vitrification and warming solutions; oocytes that subsequently matured wer...
Duru S.The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic variability in the Turkish Arab horse population using pedigree information. This study is the first detailed pedigree analysis of the breed in Turkey. Pedigree data were collected from the National Studbook. The pedigree data for 23 668 horses, born between 1904 and 2014, were used in the analysis. From this data set, a reference population (RP) of 14 838 animals symbolising the last generation was defined. Demographic parameters, the inbreeding level (F), the average relatedness (AR), the effective population size (N e), the effective number of f...
Walker VA, Tranquille CA, Newton JR, Dyson SJ, Brandham J, Northrop AJ, Murray RC.Dressage horses are often asked to work in lengthened paces during training and competition, but to date there is limited information about the biomechanics of dressage-specific paces. Preliminary work has shown increased fetlock extension in extended compared with collected paces, but further investigation of the kinematic differences between collected, medium and extended trot in dressage horses is warranted. Objective: Investigation of the effect of collected vs. medium/extended trot on limb kinematics of dressage horses. Methods: Prospective kinematic evaluation. Methods: Twenty clinically...
Science (New York, N.Y.)February 12, 2017
Volume 355, Issue 6325 627-630 doi: 10.1126/science.aag1772
Cantalapiedra JL, Prado JL, Hernández Fernández M, Alberdi MT.Evolutionary theory has long proposed a connection between trait evolution and diversification rates. In this work, we used phylogenetic methods to evaluate the relationship of lineage-specific speciation rates and the mode of evolution of body size and tooth morphology in the Neogene and Quaternary radiation of horses (7 living and 131 extinct species). We show that diversification pulses are a recurrent feature of equid evolution but that these pulses are not correlated with rapid bursts in phenotypic evolution. Instead, rapid cladogenesis seems repeatedly associated with extrinsic factors t...
Endoh C, Matsuda K, Okamoto M, Tsunoda N, Taniyama H.Aortic rupture is a well recognized cause of sudden death in thoroughbred horses. Some microscopic lesions, such as those caused by cystic medial necrosis and medionecrosis, can lead to aortic rupture. However, these microscopic lesions are also observed in normal horses. On the other hand, a previous study of aortic rupture suggested that underlying elastin and collagen deposition disorders might be associated with aortic rupture. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the structural components of the tunica media of the aortic arch, which is composed of elastin, collagen, smooth...
Frontiers in zoologyFebruary 11, 2017
Volume 14 8 doi: 10.1186/s12983-017-0193-1
Briefer EF, Mandel R, Maigrot AL, Briefer Freymond S, Bachmann I, Hillmann E.Non-human animals often produce different types of vocalisations in negative and positive contexts (i.e. different valence), similar to humans, in which crying is associated with negative emotions and laughter is associated with positive ones. However, some types of vocalisations (e.g. contact calls, human speech) can be produced in both negative and positive contexts, and changes in valence are only accompanied by slight structural differences. Although such acoustically graded signals associated with opposite valence have been highlighted in some species, it is not known if conspecifics disc...
Williams DL, Issel CJ, Steelman CD, Adams WV, Benton CV.Biological and mechanical transmission trials with Psorophora columbiae (Dyar and Knab) and Aedes sollicitans (Walker) and ponies acutely infected with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) were negative. The EIAV antigen was detected by radioimmunoassay in Ae sollicitans immediately after the mosquitoes had fed on an acutely ill pony, but not 14 days after feeding. Psorophora columbiae mosquitoes had detectable EIAV antigen as determined by radioimmunoassay 24 hours after they fed on an acutely ill pony; this antigen was not detected again until 6 days after feeding and was still detected 14 ...
Schambardt HC, Merkens HW, Vogel V, Willekens C.Using a force plate, ground reaction force (GRF) patterns at take-off and landing between the hooves and the ground were recorded for all limbs of 5 Dutch Warmbloods jumping a 0.8-m vertical fence from the right-leading canter. Distribution of the GRF and force impulses over the 4 limbs at take-off and landing were considerably different from those recorded at the normal canter. At take-off, the propulsory GRF of the hind limbs were 3 to 5 times higher than at the normal canter, depending on the jumping technique of the horse. At landing, the propulsory GRF were mainly increased in the trailin...
Dini P, Bartels T, Revah I, Claes AN, Stout TAE, Daels P.A high degree of inbreeding has been reported to negatively impact semen quality in Friesian horses and Shetland ponies. Both breeds are characterized by a closed studbook, small population size, and high incidence of inbreeding. The Dutch Warmblood studbook (KWPN: Koninklijk Warmblood Paardenstamboek Nederland) is a much larger studbook with two distinct populations: the KWPN-Riding horses, managed as an 'open' studbook, and the KWPN-Harness horses, representing a much smaller subpopulation within the KWPN breed and managed as an 'almost closed' studbook. It was recently reported that the deg...
de Castro RVG, Pieri NCG, Fantinato Neto P, Grizendi BM, Dória RGS, Meirelles FV, Smith LC, Garcia JM, Bressan FF.The cellular reprogramming into pluripotency is influenced by external and internal cellular factors, such as culture conditions (e.g., environmental oxygen concentration), and the aging process. Herein, we aimed to generate and maintain equine iPSCs (eiPSCs) derived from fibroblasts of a horse older than 20 years and to evaluate the effect of different levels of oxygen tension (atmospheric 20% O, 5% O, or 20% to 5% O) on these cells. Fibroblasts were reprogrammed, and putative eiPSCs were positive for positive alkaline phosphatase detection; they were positive for pluripotency-related genes ...
Elliott S, Cheetham J.Resting endoscopy has commonly been used as a method to predict laryngeal function at exercise. Objective: To perform a meta-analysis to determine the sensitivity and specificity of resting laryngeal endoscopy to predict clinical recurrent laryngeal neuropathy at exercise. Methods: Meta-analysis. Methods: Manuscripts were included if data were available for both resting and exercising airway function on all or a subset of horses. Normal resting endoscopy was defined as laryngeal grades 1 or 2 on a 4-/7-point scale or 1, 2 or 3 on a 5-point scale and normal dynamic endoscopy as a dynamic laryng...
Max MC, Bizarro-Silva C, Búfalo I, González SM, Lindquist AG, Gomes RG, Barreiros TRR, Lisboa LA, Morotti F, Seneda MM.Folliculogenesis is a process of development and maturation of the ovarian follicles, being essential for the maintenance of fertility. In in vivo conditions, 99.9% of the follicles of an ovary do not ovulate and undergo atresia. In order to minimize this loss and to clarify the existing mechanisms, a technique was developed that allows for the in vitro follicular development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentrations on the in vitro culturing of equine preantral follicles. Ovaries (n = 10) were collected from a local ...
Lindahl J, Dalin AM, Stuhtmann G, Morrell JM.One of the challenges faced by equine breeders is ensuring delivery of good quality semen doses for artificial insemination when the mare is due to ovulate. Single Layer Centrifugation (SLC) has been shown to select morphologically normal spermatozoa with intact chromatin and good progressive motility from the rest of the ejaculate, and to prolong the life of these selected spermatozoa in vitro. The objective of the present study was a proof of concept, to determine whether fertilizing ability was retained in SLC-selected spermatozoa during prolonged storage. Results: Sixteen mares were insemi...
Williams S, Horner J, Orton E, Green M, McMullen S, Mobasheri A, Freeman SL.A change in management from pasture to stabling is a risk factor for equine colic. Objective: To investigate the effect of a management change from pasture with no controlled exercise to stabling with light exercise on aspects of gastrointestinal function related to large colon impaction. The hypothesis was that drinking water intake, faecal output, faecal water content and large intestinal motility would be altered by a transition from a pastured to a stabled regime. Methods: Within-subject management intervention trial involving changes in feeding and exercise using noninvasive techniques. M...
Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM.African horse sickness (AHS) is an infectious but no-contagious viral disease of equidae with high mortality in horses. The disease is caused by an arthropod-borne double-stranded RNA virus within the genus Orbivirus of the family Reoviridae transmitted by at least two species of Culicoides. Nine different serotypes have been described. The nine serotypes of AHS have been described in eastern and southern Africa. Only AHS serotypes 9 and 4 have been found in West Africa from where they occasionally spread into countries surrounding the Mediterranean. Examples of outbreaks that have occurred ou...
Wilsher S, Allen WR.Eight day 10 horse embryos were transferred non-surgically to recipient mares that had ovulated 7 days after the donors. The embryonic vesicle was seen ultrasonographically in all eight recipients, and three out of eight (38%) of the vesicles developed an embryo proper with a beating heart. Conceptus expansion was initially slower than that in control mares but continued until day 22 (recipient day 15). Time of fixation of the vesicle was related to its diameter, rather than uterine stage. Although the embryo proper first appeared ultrasonographically on day 22, as normal, it grew more slowly ...
Lopes MS, Mendonça D, Rojer H, Cabral V, Bettencourt SX, da Câmara Machado A.The Terceira Pony is a horse indigenous to Terceira Island in the Azores. These horses were very important during the colonization of the island. Due to their very balanced proportions and correct gaits, and with an average withers height of 1.28 m, the Terceira Pony is often confused with a miniature pure-bred Lusitano. This population was officially recognized as the fourth Portuguese equine breed by the national authorities in January, 2014. The aim of this study was to analyze the morphology and the genetic diversity by means of microsatellite markers of this emerging horse breed. The biom...
Parker M, McBride SD, Redhead ES, Goodwin D.Significant similarities exist between the neural and behavioural features of environmentally and drug-induced stereotypy. For example, exposure to dopamine agonists, such as amphetamine, induces stereotypy and causes alterations in midbrain neurophysiology similar to those observed following chronic stress. An additional behavioural feature of these neural changes in the drug-induced phenotype is an enhanced rate of switching from response-outcome (R-O) to stimulus-response (S-R) learning. The aim of the current experiment was to examine R-O and S-R learning in horses displaying environmental...
Witham CL, Stull CL.To examine metabolic responses of chronically starved horses to refeeding with 3 isoenergetic diets. Methods: Uncontrolled clinical trial. Methods: 22 mature mixed-breed horses that were emaciated but otherwise clinically normal. Methods: Horses were fed 1 of 3 diets: alfalfa hay, oat hay, or a combination diet of half oat hay and half commercially prepared ration. Digestible energy of diets was gradually increased throughout the refeeding period. One pre- and 4 postprandial blood samples were obtained daily, and analyses included RBC count, Hct, and determination of hemoglobin, glucose, insul...
Medica P, Bruschetta G, Cravana C, Ferlazzo A, Fazio E.The objective of current study was to evaluate the effect of transportation stress on the circulating adrenaline (A), noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) responses of stallions, according to the different distances. Forty-two stallions were studied before and after road transportation of 100, 200 and 300km, for a period of 1-3h. An increase in plasma A after 100km (P<0.001) was observed. A similar result was seen in plasma NA after 100km (P<0.001), and 300km (P<0.001). Increases in plasma DA after 100 and 200km (P<0.0001) were observed, with a decrease after 300km (P<0.0001). S...
Peel JA, Peel MB, Davies HM.The economic impact of soundness problems in racehorses is very high and low hoof angle at the toe has been associated with a lack of soundness. However, it is not clear what environmental and management factors might contribute to a low hoof angle. Objective: To investigate the hypothesis that the hooves of racehorses become flatter when in gallop training, as well as to determine factors contributing to this trend. Methods: Weekly hoof measurements were taken with a hoof gauge from 45 Thoroughbred racehorses; 4 Thoroughbred show horses kept in consistent conditions and shod by the same farri...
Zuccaro A, Bordonaro S, Criscione A, Guastella AM, Perrotta G, Blasi M, D'Urso G, Marletta D.Sanfratellano is a native Sicilian horse breed, mainly reared in the north east of the Island, developed in the 19th century from local dams and sires with a restricted introgression of Oriental, African and, more recently, Maremmano stallions. In this study, the genetic relationships and admixture among Sanfratellano, the other two Sicilian autochthonous breeds and Maremmano breed were assessed using a set of microsatellites. The main goals were to infer the impact of Maremmano breed in the current Sanfratellano horse and to provide genetic information useful to improve the selection strategi...
Dixon PM, Barakzai SZ, Collins NM, Yates J.There is limited information available on the more serious sequellae of idiopathic cheek teeth (CT) fractures. Objective: To obtain information on clinical and ancillary diagnostic findings in referred horses with idiopathic CT fractures. Methods: Details of all horses suffering from idiopathic CT fractures referred to the Equine Hospital at the University of Edinburgh 1999-2005 were examined, and information concerning fracture patterns, clinical and ancillary diagnostic findings, treatments and long-term response to treatments were obtained and analysed. Results: A total of 60 maxillary and ...
Blommaert D, Franck T, Donnay I, Lejeune JP, Detilleux J, Serteyn D.The aim of this work was to completely replace the egg yolk a classical diluent for freezing equine semen by a cyclodextrin-cholesterol complex. At the same time, the reduction in the glycerol content used for cryopreservation and the incubation time between sperm and the freezing media were evaluated. Horse ejaculates were frozen with four different freezing extenders: a frozen reference medium (IF) containing egg yolk and 2.5% glycerol and media without egg yolk but supplemented with 1.5 mg 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin cholesterol (HPβCD-C) complex and containing either 1% (G1), 2% (G...
Eaton MD, Evans DL, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ.Thoroughbred horses have a high aerobic capacity, approximately twice that of elite human athletes. Whereas the aerobic capacity of horses can be accurately measured, there have been no measurements of anaerobic capacity. The aim of this study was to determine whether maximal accumulated O2 deficit (MAOD) could be measured in horses and used as an estimate of anaerobic capacity, as in human athletes. Six fit Thoroughbred horses were used with the exercise protocol utilizing a treadmill set at a 10% incline. O2 uptake VO2 was measured via an open-flow system for seven submaximal speeds (3-9 m/s...
Linnane L, Serrano AL, Rivero JL.The distribution of muscle fibres classified on the basis of their content of different myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms was analysed in muscle biopsies from the gluteus medius of adult untrained horses by correlating immunohistochemistry with specific anti-MHC monoclonal antibodies and standard myofibrillar ATPase (mATPase) histochemistry. Percutaneous needle biopsies were taken at 3 depths (20, 40 and 60 mm) from 4 4-y-old Andalusian stallions. The percentage of 'pure' I MHC fibres increased whereas that for pure IIX MHC fibres decreased from the most superficial to the deepest sampling sit...
van Weeren PR, Jansen MO, van den Bogert AJ, Barneveld A.Hind limb kinematics were recorded in five horses at walk and trot using an opto-electronic CODA-3 system. Simultaneously, in vivo strain in the completely tendinous peroneus tertius muscle was registered by implanted mercury-in-silastic strain gauges. The origin-insertion length patterns of the peroneus tertius were calculated from raw kinematic data and from data corrected for the error caused by skin displacement, and compared with the directly measured strain. The strain patterns calculated from externally measured kinematic data appeared to be in accordance with the directly measured stra...
Plaza Dávila M, Bucci D, Galeati G, Peña FJ, Mari G, Giaretta E, Tamanini C, Spinaci M.Stallion spermatozoa are highly dependent on oxidative phosphorylation for ATP production to achieve normal sperm function and to fuel the motility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of equine sperm under capacitating conditions to the inhibition of mitochondrial complex I by rotenone and to test whether epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a natural polyphenol component of green tea, could counteract this effect. After 2-h incubation of stallion spermatozoa in modified Tyrode's medium, rotenone (100 nm, 500 nm and 5 μm) and EGCG (10, 20 and 60 μm), alone or in combination, di...
Gramkow HL, Evans DL.Running ability of Thoroughbred racehorses is correlated with maximal oxygen uptake, and the velocity at maximal oxygen uptake is highly correlated with the velocity at maximal heart rate (VHRmax). Objective: To investigate the relationship between VHRmax and racing performance, expressed as 'peak dollars earned per race start'. Methods: Heart rate (HR) and velocity were recorded in 25 Thoroughbred racehorses during trotting and subsequent fast gallops in the field at velocities of 15-16 m/sec. Velocity was recorded by a global positioning system (GPS). Maximal HR (HRmax) and maximal velocity ...
Chateau H, Robin D, Falala S, Pourcelot P, Valette JP, Ravary B, Denoix JM, Crevier-Denoix N.Inadequate track surfaces are believed to be a risk factor in the occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries, but quantification of the shocks and vibrations provoked by hoof impact on different ground surfaces (including new synthetic tracks) has been insufficiently documented in trotters under high-speed training conditions. Objective: To test the reliability and sensitivity of an accelerometric device to discriminate between the biomechanical effects of 2 different tracks at high speed. Methods: Three French Trotters were used and their right front hooves were equipped with one triaxial acceler...
Eriksson H, Augustinsson KB.A plausible mechanism of action of horse serum butyrylcholinesterase is proposed. It includes substrate activation at the level of deacylation. The rate constant for the acylation of the enzyme appears to be much greater than the rate constant for the deacylation, at low substate concentrations. At higher substrate concentrations the rate constants become more similar. No interaction between the four subunits in binding of inhibitors or in the catalysis was observed. There is one esteratic and one anionic site per subunit apparent from labelling studies with [32P]diisopropylfluorophosphate and...
Muehlmann LA, Michelotto PV, Nunes EA, Grando FC, da Silva FT, Nishiyama A.Phagocytosis exerted by alveolar macrophages and neutrophils is crucial in the clearance of exogenous particles deposited in the airways. Therefore, substances that activate these phagocytes in the airways can exert important effects on the particle clearance rate. PAF, particularly, was proved to be a potent activator of several immune cells and was shown to be present in the equine lower airways in specific conditions, such as after exercise. The present study aimed to investigate if PAF is able to increase the phagocytic capacity and the production of superoxide anion in equine alveolar mac...
Kinnison T, May SA.The Royal Veterinary College's 'Teaching Quality Survey' was completed by 261 recent graduates (six months after graduation) from 2005 to 2011 (26.8 per cent response rate). The results were used to compare veterinarians' background information with current position and career ambition, and to investigate perceptions of curriculum balance. There was a significant difference between males' and females' current positions and career ambitions with comparatively lower percentages of females in farm animal and farm and equine practices. There was also a significant difference between individuals fr...
Dell'Aquila ME, De Felici M, Massari S, Maritato F, Minoia P.In vitro fertilization (IVF) has had poor success in the horse, a situation related to low rates of sperm penetration through the zona pellucida (ZP). Zona pellucida hardening (ZPH) is seen in mouse and rat oocytes cultured in serum-free medium. The hardened ZP is refractory to sperm penetration. Fetuin, a component of fetal calf serum, inhibits ZPH and allows normal fertilization rates in oocytes cultured in the absence of serum. We evaluated whether fetuin is present in horse serum and follicular fluid (FF) and whether fetuin could inhibit ZPH in equine oocytes matured in vitro, thus increas...
van der Kolk JH, Thomas S, Mach N, Ramseyer A, Burger D, Gerber V, Nuoffer JM.Mitochondrial β-oxidation is essential in fat metabolism and can be monitored with blood acylcarnitine profiling, as partly degraded fatty acids accumulate as their carnitine esters. To guarantee continuous energy supply during long-distance exercise, endurance horses oxidise considerable amounts of fat in the mitochondrion. In endurance races over 80 km, glycogen depletion is evident in equine slow-twitch high oxidative muscle fibres and as a consequence, horses participating in endurance races over 80 km rely almost entirely on β-oxidation of fatty acids. This study investigated mitoch...
González-Fernández L, Macías-García B, Velez IC, Varner DD, Hinrichs K.The mechanisms leading to capacitation in stallion sperm are poorly understood. The objective of our study was to define factors associated with regulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in stallion sperm. Stallion sperm were incubated for 4 h in modified Whitten's media with or without bicarbonate, calcium, or BSA. When sperm were incubated in air at 30×10⁶/ml at initial pH 7.25, protein tyrosine phosphorylation was detected only in medium containing 25 mM bicarbonate alone; calcium and BSA inhibited phosphorylation. Surprisingly, this inhibition did not occur when sperm were incubate...
