Experimental methods in equine research encompass a variety of techniques and procedures used to investigate physiological, behavioral, and health-related aspects of horses. These methods are designed to collect data that can enhance the understanding of equine biology and inform veterinary practices. Common experimental approaches include controlled trials, observational studies, and laboratory-based experiments. Techniques may involve the use of non-invasive imaging, biochemical assays, and physiological monitoring to assess parameters such as metabolic function, locomotion, and disease progression. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the application, development, and evaluation of experimental methods in the study of equine science.
Meurice A, Pujol R, De Fourmestraux C, Coquillon M, Tessier C.Surgical approaches to the equine rectum and perirectal area are described in the literature. However, surgeries in this region can be challenging. Objective: To describe the surgical anatomy of the presacral space and to evaluate its access using a retroperitoneoscopic approach. Methods: Ex vivo experiment. Methods: Preliminary dissections were performed in two cadavers to define the boundaries of the presacral space and to determine portal locations for the surgical approach. After that, nine cadavers were used for experimental presacral retroperitoneoscopic procedure in a standing position....
Patton ME, Andrews FM, Bogers SH, Wong D, McKenzie HC, Werre SR, Byron CR.Ileus is a common life-threatening problem in horses, and currently available treatments may be ineffective. The purpose of this study was to determine whether bit chewing, a form of sham feeding, decreases the gastric emptying time (GET), small intestinal transit time (SITT), and total orocecal transit time (OCTT) in clinically normal horses in a prospective crossover study. Nine healthy horses were acclimated and fed a standardized diet. Following 24 h of fasting, self-contained video endoscopy capsules and acetaminophen were administered into the stomach via a nasogastric tube. Each horse u...
Claeys I, Van der Vekens E, Kümmerle J, de Preux M, Koch C.To develop a minimally invasive technique for placing a toggle construct across the coxofemoral joint of small equids using computer-assisted surgery. Methods: Experimental cadaveric study. Methods: Three pilot specimens: One donkey, one Shetland pony and one Warmblood foal. Six main study specimens: Three Shetland ponies, one American Miniature Horse, one Warmblood foal and one donkey. Methods: Experimental surgeries were performed on both coxofemoral joints of each cadaver. Using a minimally invasive surgical approach, 5.5 mm bone canals were drilled through the femur and acetabulum, trave...
McCarthy MB, Duesterdieck-Zellmer KF, Larson MK.To determine whether Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) ameliorates the effects of interleukin 1 (IL-1) on equine articular cartilage, or exerts negative effects on normal equine articular cartilage homeostasis in vitro. Methods: Articular cartilage explants from 6 healthy femoropatellar joints of 3 adult horses. Methods: Explants were allocated to the IL-1 challenged or unchallenged group, then exposed to 1 of 6 concentrations of BoNT-A (0, 1, 10, 50, 100, or 500 pg/mL) for 96 hours. To assess BoNT-A's effects on inflammation, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was measured in media via ELISA. Matrix ...
Bolz NM, Sánchez-Andrade JS, Torgerson PR, Bischofberger AS.The purpose of the study was to determine the diagnostic performance of computed tomographic arthrography (CTA) and 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting artificial cartilage lesions in equine femorotibial and femoropatellar joints. Methods: A total of 79 cartilage defects were created arthroscopically in 15 cadaver stifles from adult horses in eight different locations. In addition, 68 sites served as negative controls. MRI and CTA (80-160 mL iodinated contrast media at 87.5 mg/mL per joint) studies were obtained and evaluated by a radiologist unaware of the lesion distributi...
Cheng X, Zhen K, Fan Y, Tang Q, Wu H.This study examines the effects of equine-assisted activity (EAA) training on executive functioning (EF) (inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) in children aged 7-8 years. Methods: Twenty-Four healthy children aged 7-8 years with a 1:1 ratio of boys to girls were randomly divided into EAA group (EAAG) or control group (CG). The subjects in EAAG were trained for 12 weeks, and CG participated in normal daily activities. All subjects conducted the Flanker, 1-Back, and More-odd shifting tasks at rest and recorded the average reaction times (RTs) and accuracy data of each t...
Machová K, Juríčková V, Kasparová A, Petrová K, Sládková B, Svobodová I.Equine Facilitated Psychiatry and Psychology (EFPP) is a supportive non-pharmacological treatment program used in the treatment of patients with substance use disorder. The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible change in patient's health and health-related quality of life between the first and fourth session of the EFPP program using the Assessment of Quality of Life (AQoL) and the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS). The Human-Animal Interaction Scale (HAIS) and a 5-point Likert-type scale was used for an assessment of patient's mood in the experimental group. The study sample ...
Velloso Alvarez A, Wooldridge AA, Fuller J, Shrader SM, Mansour M, Boone LH.No studies have evaluated the effect of culture in serum-free media (SF) vs. media supplemented with equine serum (ES) on co-culture of synovial membrane and cartilage tissue explants. The study objective was to evaluate the effects of equine serum supplementation on induced production of inflammatory and catabolic mediators from articular cartilage and synovial explants while in co-culture. Articular cartilage and synovial membrane explants were harvested from femoropatellar joints of five adult horses. Cartilage and synovial explants were harvested from the stifle of five horses, placed in c...
Carmo LG, Werner LC, Michelotto PV, Daros RR.Food rewards are believed to have a positive valence in horses. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of food rewards on horse behavior before entering a horse chute, and behavior and facial movements while restrained in it. Thirteen female adult horses were brought once daily to an animal handling facility for three weeks. In week 1, baseline period, no reinforcement was applied. In weeks 2 and 3, experimental phase, half of the horses received positive reinforcement treatment after entering and remaining in the chute; the remaining horses were considered as controls (no positive rei...
Pye JL, Garcia TC, Kapatkin AS, Samol MA, Stover S.To compare (1) performance of compact versus standard flute drill bits, (2) screw insertion properties and (3) pullout variables between interlocking thread (ITS) and buttress thread (BTS) self-tapping screws in third metacarpi. Methods: In vitro experimental study. Methods: Paired third metacarpi from 11 Thoroughbreds aged 2-4 years. Methods: Screws were inserted into the lateral condylar fossae following bone preparation using the respective drill bit for each screw type. Screw pullout was achieved using a mechanical testing system. Density and porosity of bone surrounding screw holes was ...
Faulkner JE, Broeckx BJG, Martens A, Raes E, Haardt H, Vanderperren K.Metal artifacts in CT negatively impact the evaluation of surgical implants and the surrounding tissues. The aim of this prospective experimental study was to evaluate the ability of a single energy metal artifact reduction (SEMAR™, Canon) algorithm and virtual monoenergetic (VM) dual-energy CT (DECT) scanning techniques to reduce metal artifacts from stainless steel screws surgically inserted into the equine proximal phalanx. Seven acquisitions of 18 cadaver limbs were performed on a Canon Aquilion One Vision CT scanner (Helical +SEMAR, Volume +SEMAR, Standard Helical, Standard Volume and V...
Thomson-Parker TL, Fikes KK, Anderson MJ, Wagner AL, Girard ID, Suagee-Bedore JK.Calming supplements are common in the equine industry. This study tested the hypothesis that Phytozen EQ, a blend of citrus botanical oils, magnesium, and yeast would reduce startle response as well as reduce behavioral and physiological signs of stress in young (1.5-6 years of age) horses (n = 14) when tied in isolation and when trailered in isolation. During the 59-day trial, horses were assigned to either the control (CON; n = 7) or treatment (PZEN; n = 7) group that received 56 g of Phytozen EQ daily. Horses underwent a 10-minute isolation test on d 30 and a 15 minute individual trai...
Pala S, Hänninen NE, Mohammadi A, Ebrahimi M, Te Moller NCR, Brommer H, René van Weeren P, Mäkelä JTA, Korhonen RK, Afara IO, Töyräs J....The aim of this study is to assess whether articular cartilage changes in an equine model of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), induced by surgical creation of standard (blunt) grooves, and very subtle sharp grooves, could be detected with ex vivo T relaxation time mapping utilizing three-dimensional (3D) readout sequence with zero echo time. Grooves were made on the articular surfaces of the middle carpal and radiocarpal joints of nine mature Shetland ponies and osteochondral samples were harvested at 39 weeks after being euthanized under respective ethical permissions. T relaxation times ...
Smith HL, Berglund AK, Robertson JB, Schnabel LV, McMullen RJ, Gilger BC, Oh A.The objective of the study was to determine the effect of gentamicin on CD3+ T-lymphocyte proliferation and cell viability using an in vitro cell culture model as a means of investigating the mechanism of action of low-dose intravitreal gentamicin injection. Methods: Three adult horses with no evidence of ophthalmic or systemic disease. Methods: Peripheral blood lymphocytes were treated with gentamicin at concentrations 37.5 μg/mL, 112.5 μg/mL, 187 μg/mL, 375 μg/mL, or 750 μg/mL then stimulated to proliferate with concanavalin A (ConA). 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and c...
Lisboa BRF, da Silva JAR, da Silva WC, Barbosa AVC, Silva LKX, Lourenço-Júnior JB.In Brazil, the study on equine thermoregulation has not shown considerable advances, moreover, in the Amazon, this is a little explored aspect. This study aims to evaluate the thermoregulation of horses submitted to two methods of post-exercise cooling, in the climatic conditions of the Eastern Amazon. The experiment was conducted at Centro Hipico, Ananindeua, Para, for 15 days. Ten male horses, castrated of the Brazilian breed, aged 13 years and with an average weight of 482.3 kg were used. Equestrianism, which was exercised with pre-established protocol in the arena and track, for 30 min. Af...
Testa B, Biggi M, Byrne CA, Bell A.Acquisition of magnetic resonance images of the equine limb is still sometimes conducted under general anaesthesia. Despite low-field systems allow the use of standard anaesthetic equipment, possible interferences of the extensive electronic componentry of advanced anaesthetic machines on image quality is unknown. This prospective, blinded, cadaver study investigated the effects of seven standardised conditions (Tafonius positioned as in clinical cases, Tafonius on the boundaries of the controlled area, anaesthetic monitoring only, Mallard anaesthetic machine, Bird ventilator, complete electro...
Stage HJ, Trappe S, Söllig K, Trachsel DS, Kirsch K, Zieger C, Merle R, Aschenbach JR, Gehlen H.The investigation of multipotent stem/stromal cells (MSCs) in vitro represents an important basis for translational studies in large animal models. The study's aim was to examine and compare clinically relevant in vitro properties of equine MSCs, which were isolated from abdominal (abd), retrobulbar (rb) and subcutaneous (sc) adipose tissue by collagenase digestion (ASCs-) and an explant technique (ASCs-). Firstly, we examined proliferation and trilineage differentiation and, secondly, the cardiomyogenic differentiation potential using activin A, bone morphogenetic protein-4 and Dickkopf-1. Fi...
Seewald LA, Sabino IG, Montney KL, Delco ML.To evaluate mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) release from injured chondrocytes and investigate the utility of synovial fluid mtDNA concentration in early detection of posttraumatic osteoarthritis. We measured mtDNA release using four models of osteoarthritis: in vitro interleukin-1β stimulation of cultured equine chondrocytes, ex vivo mechanical impact of bovine cartilage explants, in vivo mechanical impact of equine articular cartilage, and naturally occurring equine intraarticular fracture. In our in vivo model, one group was treated with an intraarticular injection of the mitoprotective peptide S...
de Medeiros Ferreira JR, Mello Cerbaro AE, Bastos FL, Pereira RA, Duarte MA, Araújo Júnior ÂMC, da Silva AH, de Oliveira Gobesso AA.High amounts of grains in the equine diet led to high starch intake, causing gut alterations. Aimed at reducing harmful effects, extract (MCE) is a phytogenic additive that stands out for its antibiotic and anti-inflammatory effects proven in different species. However, there is no useful information for horses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of the inclusion of commercial MCE on body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), total apparent digestibility (AD) of nutrients, faecal pH and fermentative products, on ponies fed a high-starch diet. Eight ...
Kang H, Lee GKC, Bienzle D, Arroyo LG, Sears W, Lillie BN, Beeler-Marfisi J.Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are the predominant innate immune cell in the distal respiratory tract. During inflammatory responses, AMs may be supplemented by blood monocytes, which differentiate into monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). Macrophages play important roles in a variety of common equine lower airway diseases, including severe equine asthma (SEA). In an experimental model, an inhaled mixture of Aspergillus fumigatus spores, lipopolysaccharide, and silica microspheres (FLS), induced SEA exacerbation in susceptible horses. However, whether equine AMs and MDMs have differing immunopheno...
Verhaar N, Hoppe S, Grages AM, Hansen K, Neudeck S, Kästner S, Mazzuoli-Weber G.α2 agonists are frequently used in horses with colic, even though they have been shown to inhibit gastrointestinal motility. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dexmedetomidine on small intestinal in vitro contractility during different phases of ischaemia. Experimental segmental jejunal ischaemia was induced in 12 horses under general anaesthesia, and intestinal samples were taken pre-ischaemia and following ischaemia and reperfusion. Spontaneous and electrically evoked contractile activity of the circular and longitudinal smooth muscles were determined in each sample with a...
Umair M, Beitsma M, de Ruijter-Villani M, Deelen C, Herrera C, Stout TAE, Claes A.The cryotolerance of equine blastocysts larger than 300 μm can be improved by aspirating blastocoele fluid prior to vitrification; however, it is not known whether blastocoele aspiration also enables successful slow-freezing. The aim of this study was therefore to determine whether slow-freezing of expanded equine embryos following blastocoele collapse was more or less damaging than vitrification. Grade 1 blastocysts recovered on day 7 or 8 after ovulation were measured (>300-550 μm, n = 14 and > 550 μm, n = 19) and blastocoele fluid was aspirated prior to slow-freezing in 10...
Kappel S, Ramirez Montes De Oca MA, Collins S, Herborn K, Mendl M, Fureix C.The use of 2-dimensional representations (e.g. photographs or digital images) of real-life physical objects has been an important tool in studies of animal cognition. Horses are reported to recognise objects and individuals (conspecifics and humans) from printed photographs, but it is unclear whether image recognition is also true for digital images, e.g. computer projections. We expected that horses trained to discriminate between two real-life objects would show the same learnt response to digital images of these objects indicating that the images were perceived as objects, or representation...
Verhaar N, de Buhr N, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Dümmer K, Hewicker-Trautwein M, Pfarrer C, Dengler F, Kästner S.Hypoxia inducible factors (HIF) are widely researched in human medicine for their role in different disease processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and distribution of HIF in experimental small intestinal ischemia in the horse. Unassigned: In 14 horses under general anesthesia, segmental jejunal ischemia with 90% reduction in blood flow was induced. The horses were randomly divided into two groups of seven horses, one subjected to ischemic postconditioning (IPoC) by delayed reperfusion, and a control group (group C) undergoing undelayed reperfusion. Intestinal sample...
Pechanec MY, Beall JM, Katzman S, Maga EA, Mienaltowski MJ.Tendinopathies remain the leading contributor to career-ending injuries in horses because of the complexity of tendon repair. As such, cell-based therapies like injections of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs, or MSCs) into injured tendons are becoming increasingly popular though their long-term efficacy on a molecular and wholistic level remains contentious. Thus, we co-cultured equine MSCs with intrinsic (tendon proper) and extrinsic (peritenon) tendon cell populations to examine interactions between these cells. Gene expression for common tenogenic, perivascular, and differenti...
Burns TA, Watts MR, Belknap JK, van Eps AW.Supporting limb laminitis (SLL) is a complication of severe orthopedic disease in horses and is often life-limiting, yet the pathophysiology remains obscure. Objective: To investigate the role of digital lamellar inflammatory signaling in the pathophysiology of SLL using a model of unilateral weight bearing, hypothesizing that there would be evidence of lamellar inflammation in limbs subjected to the model. Methods: Thirteen healthy adult Standardbred horses were used for this study (11 geldings, 2 mares; mean age 6.5 ± 2.5 years; mean body weight 458.3 ± 32.8 kg). Methods: Randomized...
Blanco MA, Di Rado FN, Peterson MM.Turfgrass in equine sports has clear advantages over other types of reinforcement but adds complexity to the management. This study investigates factors that influence the turfgrass' surface performance and how the use of a drainage package and a geotextile reinforcement affect quantitative measurements of turfgrass. The measurements are made using affordable, lightweight testing tools that are readily available or easily constructed. Eight boxes with turfgrass over a mix of the arena with peat at a consistent depth were tested for volumetric moisture content (VMC %) with time-domain reflectom...
Ögren G, Ragnarsson S, Jansson A.Knowledge of endogenous nutrient losses is important when estimating the nutrient requirements of animals. It has been suggested that faecal endogenous phosphorus (P) losses differ between growing and adult horses, but studies on foals are scarce. In addition, studies on foals on forage-only diets with different P contents are lacking. Thus this study: (1) assessed faecal endogenous P losses in foals fed a grass haylage-only diet close to or below estimated P requirements; (2) evaluated use of serum cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptides of type-I collagen (CTx) as a marker of bone resorpti...
Karatt TK, Sathiq MA, Laya S, Karakka Kal AK, Subhahar MB, M P MA, Philip M, Graiban FM, Caveney MR.Since 2010, there has been an increasing number of adverse analytical findings related to selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) in competitive sports. It emphasizes the importance of comprehensive doping control analytical procedures that are capable of detecting SARM misuse. Methods: In this study, it is described how LY2452473, a SARM, was metabolized in thoroughbred horses after a single-dose oral administration and in vitro with equine liver microsome preparations. An investigation of the metabolism of LY2452473 in horses' urine, plasma, and hair matrices was carried out during th...
Rumpel AS, De Carvalho AL, Vassoler JM, Schmidt ML, Mertz CC, Rozo CAC, Campos JK, Alievi MM. The aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical properties of two minimally invasive arthrodesis techniques of the equine proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint (three transarticular 5.5-mm cortical screws [AO-3TLS] vs. two transarticular 7.0-mm headless cannulated multi-use compression screws [MUC-2TS]) in dynamic non-destructive testing and compression testing to failure. Methods: The experimental study included six pairs of cadaveric adult equine forelimbs; one limb from each horse was randomly assigned to one of the treatments, and the contralateral limb was submitted to the rem...
Allhands RV, Torzilli PA, Kallfelz FA.The diffusion of glucose (180 M.W.), inulin (5,000 M.W.) and dextran (20,000 M.W.) into mature bovine and equine articular cartilage was studied. Concentration profiles were determined using a one-dimensional experimental configuration and the diffusion coefficient and partition coefficient calculated from a theoretical model. Glucose was found to diffuse the fastest, followed by inulin and dextran. The partition coefficient was similarly ordered. The rate of diffusion was found to decrease with increasing diffusion time, indicating a dependence on solute concentration. No time variation was e...
Soboll G, Hussey SB, Minke JM, Landolt GA, Hunter JS, Jagannatha S, Lunn DP.Equine influenza virus remains an important problem in horses despite extensive use of vaccination. Efficacy of equine influenza vaccination depends on the onset and duration of protective immunity, and appropriate strain specificity of the immune response. This study was designed to test the protective immunity resulting from vaccination with the North American commercial ALVAC equine influenza vaccine (RECOMBITEK Influenza, Merial, USA)(1) against challenge with American lineage influenza viruses. In experiment 1, 12 ponies were vaccinated twice, at a 35 day interval, using the ALVAC-influen...
Earing JE, Cassill BD, Hayes SH, Vanzant ES, Lawrence LM.The objective of this study was to determine if in vitro methodologies developed for the Ankom Daisy(II) incubator could produce accurate estimates of in vivo equine DM digestibility (DMD) and NDF digestibility (NDFD) when equine feces were used as the inoculum source. Four mature geldings were utilized in a 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments (timothy hay, alfalfa hay, timothy hay plus oats, and alfalfa hay plus oats), in which the geldings were individually housed and fed. During each 5-d total fecal collection period, feces were co...
Fortier G, Richard E, Hue E, Fortier C, Pronost S, Pottier D, Lemaitre L, Lekeux P, Borchers K, Thiry E.The aim of this trial was to investigate the putative involvement of equid herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) in airway inflammation of adult horses. Six horses received corticosteroid treatment, before either mock infection (n=2) or EHV-2 strain LK4 inoculation (n=4). These four horses were also submitted to immunosuppression 84 days post inoculation. EHV-2 was detected by quantitative PCR in respiratory samples up to respectively 21 days and 14 days. Nested PCR, cloning and sequencing allowed the detection of five different 'field' strains throughout the trial. Neutrophils proportions were transiently in...
Galan JE, Timoney JF.Mucosal nasopharyngeal immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG responses to proteins of Streptococcus equi were studied in horses after the experimental production of strangles. S. equi-specific IgA and IgG titers in nasopharyngeal mucus were much higher in samples from animals 1 to 2 weeks after challenge than in samples from control animals. Although IgA was the major immunoglobulin in nasal mucus, there was more antibody activity associated with IgG as measured by radioimmunoassay. Great differences between the specificities of antibodies in nasal mucus and in serum were detected. IgA and IgG of muc...
Guedes AGP, Aristizabal F, Sole A, Adedeji A, Brosnan R, Knych H, Yang J, Hwang SH, Morisseau C, Hammock BD.This study determined the pharmacokinetics, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory effects of the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitor t-TUCB (trans-4-{4-[3-(4-Trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)-ureido]-cyclohexyloxy}-benzoic acid) in horses with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced radiocarpal synovitis. A total of seven adult healthy mares (n = 4-6/treatment) were administered 3 μg LPS into one radiocarpal joint and t-TUCB intravenously (i.v.) at 0 (control), 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, and 1 mg/kg in a blinded, randomized, crossover design with at least 3 weeks washout between. Two investigators independe...
Schuh EM, Friedman MS, Carrade DD, Li J, Heeke D, Oyserman SM, Galuppo LD, Lara DJ, Walker NJ, Ferraro GL, Owens SD, Borjesson DL.OBJECTIVE-To optimize the isolation and culture of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from umbilical-cord blood (UCB), identify variables that predicted successful MSC isolation, and determine whether shipping, processing, and cryopreservation altered MSC viability, recovery rates, and expansion kinetics. SAMPLE POPULATION-UCB samples from 79 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse mares. PROCEDURES-UCB samples were processed to reduce volume and remove RBCs. Nucleated cells (NCs) were cryopreserved or grown in various culture conditions to optimize MSC monolayer expansion and proliferation. Donor and UCB-s...
Elashry MI, Gegnaw ST, Klymiuk MC, Wenisch S, Arnhold S.Cell-based therapies have become a promising approach to promote tissue regeneration and the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Bone regeneration maintains bone homeostasis, mechanical stability and physical performance. Mechanical stimulation showed to induce stem cell differentiation into the osteogenic fate. However, the effect of various osteogenic protocols on the osteogenic commitment of equine adipose-derived stem cells is not fully elucidated. Here we examined the influence of fluid-based shear stress (FSS) via mechanical rocking to assess whether mechanical stimulation promotes o...
Lang HM, Schnabel LV, Cassano JM, Fortier LA.Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are frequently delivered via needle injection for treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of needle diameter on the viability of MSCs. Methods: Equine bone marrow-derived MSCs from 5 horses were suspended in PBS, and held at room temperature for 7 hours to mimic shipping conditions. Two replicate samples for each needle size (20, 22, 23, or 25-gauge [ga]) were aspirated into a 3 mL syringe and re-injected into the holding vial 3 times, to reproduce the resuspension of cells prior to injection in clinical cases. C...
Ross PF, Ledet AE, Owens DL, Rice LG, Nelson HA, Osweiler GD, Wilson TM.A study to evaluate the effects of dietary fumonisin B1 was conducted using 6 ponies (4 test and 2 control). A ration naturally contaminated with fumonisin B1 was fed in 3 phases: 1) 44 ppm fumonisin B1, 2) less than 1 ppm fumonisin B1, and 3) 88 ppm fumonisin B1. All ponies were monitored daily, weighed weekly, and limit fed at a rate of 0.8% body weight plus hay. Feed intake was measured daily, and a serum chemistry panel was completed once or twice weekly. Four to 7 days after initiation of the trial (Phase 1), all 4 test ponies had decreased feed consumption, and selected serum chemistry p...
Barrey E, Galloux P, Valette JP, Auvinet B, Wolter R.The purpose of this study was to compare the velocity-dependent changes in stride length and stride frequency of horses performing the same incremental exercise test first on a track with a rider and then on a treadmill with a 0 and 3.5% slope successively. Seven French saddle horses undertook the exercise test which consisted of 5 stages of increasing speed for 3 min each with 1 min rest between each stage (1.6, 4.2, 8.3, 9.2 and 10 m/s). The horses were recorded by use of a video camera, and the tapes were analysed with regard to gait parameters. At 1.6, 8.3, 9.2 and 10 m/s, stride frequenci...
Schaefer E, Harms C, Viner M, Barnum S, Pusterla N.Equine coronavirus (ECoV) is a recently reported enteric disease of adult horses. Natural infection by ECoV has been reported in adult horses worldwide, whereas experimental infection has only been reported in juvenile horses. An experimental infection model is needed to study the clinical presentation, laboratory abnormalities, and pathophysiological changes associated with ECoV. Objective: To investigate the clinical, hematologic, molecular, and serological features of adult horses experimentally infected with ECoV. Methods: Eight adult horses. Methods: Four horses were intragastrically infe...
Petter-Puchner AH, Froetscher W, Krametter-Froetscher R, Lorinson D, Redl H, van Griensven M.While fibrin sealant (FS) and equine collagen (EC) have been used as scaffold materials in experimental spinal cord injury (SCI), questions concerning neurocompatibility still remain. In this study, we assessed potential adverse effects, as well as functional and histological impact of FS and EC in subtotal hemisection of the thoracic spinal cord (SC) in rats. Methods: 124 male rats were randomly assigned to four main groups (n=31): Sham (SH), Lesion only (L), fibrin sealant (GFS) and equine collagen group (GEC). SH animals received laminectomy only; all other animals underwent subtotal latera...
de Laat MA, van Eps AW, McGowan CM, Sillence MN, Pollitt CC.Laminitis has many triggers and comparing the histopathology of lesions induced by different causes may help to establish whether a common mechanism or multiple pathologies are involved. The aim of this study was to describe the microscopical lesions and to quantify morphometric changes in the lamellae of horses with insulin-induced (n=4) and oligofructose (OF)-induced laminitis (n=4) compared with normal controls (n=4). Archived lamellar samples collected during two previous studies were used. Laminitis was induced within 48 h in standardbred horses with either a euglycaemic, hyperinsulinaemi...
Pusterla N, Pusterla JB, Braun U, Lutz H.Four cows and four horses were infected experimentally with Ehrlichia phagocytophila, the cause of tickborne fever in ruminants, and with human granulocytic ehrlichia-like agent, a recently discovered species that infects people, horses and dogs in the USA and Europe. They were infected in either order, 30 days apart, to investigate serological cross-reactivity within the Ephagocytophila genogroup. The course of infection was assessed by routine clinical, haematological, serological and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) examinations. Two of the cows infected with Ephagocytophila and two of the h...
Holyoak GR, Little TV, McCollam WH, Timoney PJ.The relationship between stage of reproductive tract maturity and susceptibility to the experimental establishment of persistent infection with equine arteritis virus (EAV) was investigated in 21 prepubertal and 15 peripubertal colts. Five of six prepubertal colts inoculated intranasally remained infected in the reproductive tract from post-challenge day 28 to 93 and two of six from post-challenge day 120 to 180. No virus was detected in five of these animals killed on post-challenge day 210. Each of two peripubertal colts remained infected in the reproductive tract at post-challenge day 60 an...
Neirinckx E, Vervaet C, Michiels J, De Smet S, Van den Broeck W, Remon JP, De Backer P, Croubels S.The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of the Ussing chamber technique for the determination of the jejunal permeability of passively absorbed, high permeability model compounds (acetaminophen and ketoprofen) in different animal species. Additionally, electrophysiological measurements and histological examination of pre- and post-incubation tissue specimens were performed. Apparent permeability coefficients of turkey and dog jejunum were low and highly variable due to tissue fragility caused by differences in thickness of the remaining intestinal layers after stripping and resulti...
Diaz GJ, Boermans HJ.Fumonisins are the most recently discovered group of mycotoxins with important implications in animal health. Equine leucoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary edema are diseases observed for many years, but their etiology was unknown. These 2 syndromes were recently reproduced experimentally after administration of purified fumonisin B1 (FB1). The main target organs for the toxic actions of FB1 are the brain in horses and the lungs in the case of swine. However, severe liver damage in both species and pancreatic lesions in swine are also observed, especially when Fusarium moniliforme culture...
Timney B, Keil K.In an attempt to demonstrate whether horses could make use of pictorial cues to depth, two were trained initially to make a relative-line-length discrimination between two lines placed one above the other. Psychophysical measurement of their discrimination thresholds showed that from a viewing distance of approximately 160 cm they could reliably distinguish a lower line of 10 cm from an upper one of 14 cm. In the second phase of the experiment, two lines of equal length were superimposed on a photograph of a set of railway tracks with many pictorial cues to depth, or a photograph of a pastoral...
Pusterla N, Madigan JE, Chae JS, DeRock E, Johnson E, Pusterla JB.We report successful helminthic transmission of Ehrlichia risticii, the causative agent of Potomac horse fever, using trematode stages collected from Juga yrekaensis snails. The ehrlichial agent was isolated from the blood of experimentally infected horses by culture in murine monocytic cells and identified as E. risticii ultrastructurally and by characterization of three different genes.
Nakajima H, Ushimi C.Antigenicity of purified equine infectious anemia (EIA) virus was examined by immunodiffusion against sera obtained from horses experimentally infected with EIA virus. The purified virus reacted with the infected horse serum, and virus-specific precipitating antibody was demonstrated. Furthermore, it was found that purified EIA virus reacted against the serum of horses infected with all strains of EIA virus which were antigenically different from one another. From the result, group-specific components of the virus rather than strain-specific ones were considered to be involved in the reaction....
Werner LA, Hardy J, Bertone AL.To compare intra-articular (IA) and bone gentamicin concentrations achieved after intra-articular administration or regional intravenous perfusion (RIP). Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Twelve healthy adult horses. Methods: Horses were assigned to 2 treatment groups (n = 6/group): Group 1, 1 g gentamicin administered simultaneously in both left and right metacarpophalangeal joints and group 2, 1 g gentamicin administered simultaneously in both left and right lateral palmar veins. Serum, synovial fluid, and bone biopsy specimens were collected. Gentamicin concentrations were determined by...
Peterson RB, Goyal SM.A comparative study was carried out to determine the relative sensitivities of eight different cell culture systems to six different herpesviruses of animals. The cells used were: OFL (ovine fetal lung), ML (mink lung), FK (ferret kidney), PTK-2 (potoroo kidney), TEK (turkey embryo kidney), ED (equine dermal), BT (bovine turbinate), and PK15 (porcine kidney). The viruses tested were: PRV (pseudorabies) of swine, CPHV (caprine herpesvirus), IBRV (infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus), DN-599 strain of bovine herpesvirus type 4, EHV-1 (equine herpesvirus), and CHV (canine herpesvirus). On the...
van de Water E, Oosterlinck M, Dumoulin M, Korthagen NM, van Weeren PR, van den Broek J, Everts H, Pille F, van Doorn DA.Nutraceuticals are often used in the management of equine osteoarthritis, but scientific evidence of their efficacy is lacking. Objective: To study the preventive effects of two new nutraceuticals after the experimental induction of synovitis in comparison with positive and negative control treatments. Methods: Blinded, controlled, randomised experiment. Methods: Twenty-four healthy Standardbred horses were randomly allocated to supplement AT (multi-ingredient, 28 days), supplement HP (collagen hydrolysate, 60 days), meloxicam (4 days) or placebo (60 days). Synovitis was induced in the right i...
Tangtrongsup S, Kisiday JD.Dexamethasone is known to support mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) chondrogenesis, although the effects of dose and timing of exposure are not well understood. The objective of this study was to investigate these variables using a laboratory model of MSC chondrogenesis. Methods: Equine MSCs were encapsulated in agarose and cultured in chondrogenic medium with 1 or 100 nM dexamethasone, or without dexamethasone, for 15 days. Samples were analyzed for extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation, prostaglandin E2 and alkaline phosphatase secretion, and gene expression of selected collagens and catabolic e...
Sanchez-Teran AF, Bracamonte JL, Hendrick S, Burguess HJ, Duke-Novakovski T, Schott M, Hoff B, Rubio-Martínez LM.To evaluate the effect of arthroscopic lavage on systemic serum amyloid A (SAA) and SAA, total protein, nucleated cell count, and percentage of neutrophils in synovial fluid in healthy horses. Methods: Prospective experimental study. Methods: Healthy adult horses (n = 6). Methods: Middle carpal joints were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: arthrocentesis (controls) or arthroscopic lavage, with 30 day washout period between treatments. Synovial fluid and blood samples were collected at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours. Measurements included systemic and synovial fluid SAA, as well as ...
Devireddy RV, Swanlund DJ, Olin T, Vincente W, Troedsson MH, Bischof JC, Roberts KP.Optimization of equine sperm cryopreservation protocols requires an understanding of the water permeability characteristics and volumetric shrinkage response during freezing. A cell-shape-independent differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) technique was used to measure the volumetric shrinkage during freezing of equine sperm suspensions at cooling rates of 5 degrees C/min and 20 degrees C/min in the presence and absence of cryoprotective agents (CPAs), i.e., in the Kenney extender and in the lactose-EDTA extender, respectively. The equine sperm was modeled as a cylinder of length 36.5 microm a...
Burger D, Thomas S, Aepli H, Dreyer M, Fabre G, Marti E, Sieme H, Robinson MR, Wedekind C.Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) have been shown to influence social signalling and mate preferences in many species, including humans. First observations suggest that MHC signalling may also affect female fertility. To test this hypothesis, we exposed 191 female horses () to either an MHC-similar or an MHC-dissimilar stimulus male around the time of ovulation and conception. A within-subject experimental design controlled for non-MHC-linked male characteristics, and instrumental insemination with semen of other males ( = 106) controlled for potential confounding effects of ...
