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Topic:Equine Science
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.
A new genomic tool, ultra-frequently cleaving TaqII/sinefungin endonuclease with a combined 2.9-bp recognition site, applied to the construction of horse DNA libraries. Genomics and metagenomics are currently leading research areas, with DNA sequences accumulating at an exponential rate. Although enormous advances in DNA sequencing technologies are taking place, progress is frequently limited by factors such as genomic contig assembly and generation of representative libraries. A number of DNA fragmentation methods, such as hydrodynamic sharing, sonication or DNase I fragmentation, have various drawbacks, including DNA damage, poor fragmentation control, irreproducibility and non-overlapping DNA segment representation. Improvements in these limited DNA scissi...
Performance of a gravitational marrow separator, multidirectional bone marrow aspiration needle, and repeated bone marrow collections on the production of concentrated bone marrow and separation of mesenchymal stem cells in horses. Objective-To determine the efficiency of a novel point-of-care gravitational marrow separator and bone marrow aspiration needle for concentrated bone marrow production and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) separation and assess the effect of repeated bone marrow collections in horses. Animals-8 healthy adult horses. Procedures-Bone marrow aspiration was performed twice (1 month apart) from sternebral bodies with a standard or prototype multidirectional needle. Concentrated bone marrow was obtained by gravitational marrow separation and evaluated for WBC and platelet counts, autom...
Effect of gluteus medius muscle sample collection depth on postprandial mammalian target of rapamycin signaling in mature Thoroughbred mares. To determine the effect of biopsy collection depth on the postprandial activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling factors, particularly protein kinase B, ribosomal protein S6 kinase, ribosomal protein S6, and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 in middle-aged horses. Methods: 6 healthy Thoroughbred mares (mean ± SD age, 13.4 ± 3.4 years). Methods: Horses were fed a high-protein feed at 3 g/kg. Sixty minutes after horses were fed, the percutaneous needle biopsy technique was used to collect biopsy specimens from the gluteus medius muscle at 6, 8, and 10 cm belo...
Fast and sensitive analysis of dermorphin and HYP6-dermorphin in equine plasma using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Dermorphin and HYP(6) -dermorphin are hepta-peptides and natural opioids originally isolated from the skin of South American frogs. They are more potent than morphine but less likely to produce drug tolerance and addiction. These properties make them ideal candidates for the doping of racehorses to enhance performance during competition. Dermorphin was recently classified as a Class I drug by Racing Commissioners International (RCI), indicating that it is a banned substance in equine athletes. To enforce this ban, a fast and sensitive method was developed for dermorphin and HYP(6)-dermorphin a...
Management of zebras and zebra hybrids (zebroids). Equine practitioners are sometimes asked to treat zebras or zebra-horse or zebra-donkey hybrids. Although these equids are subject to many of the same health issues as domestic horses, they cannot be handled like horses and generally require heavy sedation to full anesthesia, even for minor procedures. This usually necessitates the use of ultrapotent narcotics administered by remote delivery systems. This article discusses the handling, sedation, anesthesia, and common medical issues of zebras and zebra hybrids.
Natural killer cell receptor genes in the family Equidae: not only Ly49. Natural killer (NK) cells have important functions in immunity. NK recognition in mammals can be mediated through killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and/or killer cell lectin-like Ly49 receptors. Genes encoding highly variable NK cell receptors (NKR) represent rapidly evolving genomic regions. No single conservative model of NKR genes was observed in mammals. Single-copy low polymorphic NKR genes present in one mammalian species may expand into highly polymorphic multigene families in other species. In contrast to other non-rodent mammals, multiple Ly49-like genes appear to exist ...
Anatomical location and culture of equine corneal epithelial stem cells. To identify morphologically the locations of equine corneal epithelial stem cells (CESCs) and to culture these cells. Methods: We studied the eyes of 12 adult thoroughbred horses. Methods: Eye tissues were immunostained for two positive stem cell markers (p63, CK14) and one negative marker (CK3) to identify the locations of CESCs, so we could compare their immunostaining patterns with those of human stem cells previously reported. We compared the proliferation rates and morphological features of epithelial cells isolated from the corneal limbus and central cornea. Results: Undifferentiated cel...
Functional characterization of detergent-decellularized equine tendon extracellular matrix for tissue engineering applications. Natural extracellular matrix provides a number of distinct advantages for engineering replacement orthopedic tissue due to its intrinsic functional properties. The goal of this study was to optimize a biologically derived scaffold for tendon tissue engineering using equine flexor digitorum superficialis tendons. We investigated changes in scaffold composition and ultrastructure in response to several mechanical, detergent and enzymatic decellularization protocols using microscopic techniques and a panel of biochemical assays to evaluate total protein, collagen, glycosaminoglycan, and deoxyribo...
Descriptive epidemiology of African horse sickness in Zimbabwe. A study of the prevalence of African horse sickness in horses was conducted, using records from two private equine practices in Harare for the period 1998-2004. Results indicated a higher prevalence of the disease in horses in Zimbabwe in the late rainy season (March - May). Age of the horse was found to be a significant risk factor, with foals or yearlings appearing to be 1.80 times more likely to contract the disease compared with horses older than two years. The case fatality rate in foals or yearlings was also higher than in older age groups, but this difference was not significant. The va...
The gold standard of dental care: the juvenile horse. Postpartum evaluation of the foal's head and mouth are performed to detect craniofacial malformations and other congenital defects. Detailed oral examination and diagnostic imaging can provide diagnostic and prognostic information about congenital abnormalities of the mouth or skull. Important abnormalities of foals include wry nose, cleft palate, overbite (parrot mouth), and underbite (monkey mouth, sow mouth). Tumors and cysts can be detected in young horses. In juvenile horses, primary dental care procedures include oral examination, management of sharp enamel points, management of deciduou...
Advances in the treatment of diseased equine incisor and canine teeth. Dental therapies for equid incisor and canine teeth have modernized significantly over the last 2 decades. Basic principles in incisor reduction have become more conservative, and extraction procedures more exacting. Periodontal and endodontic treatments are described to save teeth that would have succumbed to extraction in the past. Pathologic impacts on treatment decisions for equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis are significant, and veterinarians and owners need to be aware of treatment options and outcomes. Easy access to equid incisor and canine teeth offers a variety...
Shock absorbing ability of articular cartilage and subchondral bone under impact compression. Despite the important role of subchondral bone in maintaining the integrity of the overlying articular cartilage, little research has focused on measuring its mechanical behavior, particularly under injurious load conditions such as impact compression. In this study, the stiffness and the absorbed energy of subchondral bone were compared to that of its overlying cartilage by applying impact compression to equine cartilage-bone specimens. Deformations of the cartilage and subchondral bone were examined independently within the cartilage-bone unit by analyzing real-time images of cartilage-bone ...
Reactive oxygen species in stallion semen can be affected by season and colloid centrifugation. There are anecdotal reports that equine fertility may decline towards the end of the breeding season. Previous studies have examined differences in sperm quality between the breeding season and non-breeding season but few studies have investigated the proportions of superoxide or peroxide containing spermatozoa at different times during the breeding season. The purpose of this study was to measure the content of these reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the beginning and end of the Swedish breeding season, using flow cytometric analysis of the fluorescence produced after staining with hydroethidi...
Comparison of allogeneic platelet lysate and fetal bovine serum for in vitro expansion of equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising candidates for cell-based therapy and tissue engineering approaches. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is commonly used for in vitro MSC expansion; however, the use of FBS may be associated with ethical, scientific, and safety issues. This study aimed to compare the ability of allogeneic platelet lysate (PL) and FBS to cause equine bone marrow-derived MSC expansion. MSCs were isolated from bone marrow aspirate in media supplemented with either PL or FBS, and cell proliferation properties and characteristics were examined. There were no significant differences...
An investigation of anthelmintic efficacy against strongyles on equine yards in Scotland. Cyathostomins comprise 50 helminth species, considered the most problematic equine endoparasites. Three classes of anthelmintic are currently licensed for their control, namely the benzimidazoles (fenbendazole), tetrahydropyrimidines (pyrantel) and macrocyclic lactones (ivermectin and moxidectin). Anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomins is common. With no new classes expected in the near future, it is essential to determine the efficacy of the available anthelmintics to inform future control programmes. Objective: To determine the efficacy of all 3 anthelmintic classes against strongyles in e...
A review of terminology for equine juvenile osteochondral conditions (JOCC) based on anatomical and functional considerations. This manuscript describes a new classification of the various joint-related lesions that can be seen in the young, growing horse based on their anatomical and functional aetiopathogenesis. Juvenile osteochondral conditions (JOCC) is a term that brings together specific disorders according to their location in the joint and their biomechanical origin. When a biomechanical insult affects the process of endochondral ossification different types of osteochondrosis (OC) lesions may occur, including osteochondral fragmentation of the articular surface or of the periarticular margins, or the formatio...
An assessment of the aversive nature of an animal management procedure (clipping) using behavioral and physiological measures. Animal management often involves procedures that, while unlikely to cause physical pain, still cause aversive responses. The domestic horse (Equus caballus) regularly has excessive hair clipped off to facilitate its use as a riding/driving animal and this procedure causes adverse behavioral responses in some animals. The aim of this study was to compare behavioral and physiological measures to assess the aversive effect of this procedure. Ten horses were selected on the basis of being either compliant (C: n=5) or non-compliant (NC: n=5) during this procedure. The horses were subjected to a sha...
Importance of the horse and financial impact of equine trypanosomiasis on cattle raising in Venezuela. In Venezuela, horses are indispensable for extensive cattle raising, and extensive cattle raising prevails in all regions. This determines the numerical relationship between horses and cattle (r = 0.93) to be relatively constant nationwide. At regional level, the average extension of cattle ranches varies greatly. However, in relation to the area covered by pastures, the numbers of horses (r = 0.95) and cattle (r = 0.93) are relatively uniform nationwide. Water buffalo occupy small fractions of the territory; therefore, their numbers are related to the area of pastures less strongl...
Effect of body weight on the pharmacokinetics of flunixin meglumine in miniature horses and quarter horses. In most species, large variations in body size necessitate dose adjustments based on an allometric function of body weight. Despite the substantial disparity in body size between miniature horses and light-breed horses, there are no studies investigating appropriate dosing of any veterinary drug in miniature horses. The purpose of this study was to determine whether miniature horses should receive a different dosage of flunixin meglumine than that used typically in light-breed horses. A standard dose of flunixin meglumine was administered intravenously to eight horses of each breed, and three-...
Helical sub-structures in energy-storing tendons provide a possible mechanism for efficient energy storage and return. The predominant function of tendons is to position the limb during locomotion. Specific tendons also act as energy stores. Energy-storing (ES) tendons are prone to injury, the incidence of which increases with age. This is likely related to their function; ES tendons are exposed to higher strains and require a greater ability to recoil than positional tendons. The specialized properties of ES tendons are thought to be achieved through structural and compositional differences. However, little is known about structure-function relationships in tendons. This study uses fascicles from the equine s...
Validation of a photogrammetric technique for computing equine hoof volume. Assessment of equine foot conformation is often based on linear and angular measurements performed on lateral digital photographs. However, quantification of external foot conformation requires more comprehensive assessments to capture the shape of the entire foot. Volumetric measurements of the hoof capsule represent a summary measure quantifying foot shape. The aim of this study was to develop a method for computation of virtual foot models from digital foot images allowing precise and accurate volumetric measurements. This photogrammetric technique was then assessed for the characterization...
