"Foals" encompasses a stage in the lifecycle of equines with distinct physiological and developmental characteristics. Foals are young horses, typically under one year of age, undergoing rapid growth and development. They require specific nutritional, health, and management practices to support their transition to adulthood. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the growth, development, health challenges, and management practices associated with foals and horses, providing insights into their care and welfare across different life stages.
Littlejohn A.The arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) in clinically normal newborn foals at 1300 m above sea-level is considerably lower (less than 60 mmHg) than in similarly aged foals at lower altitudes. This figure is further reduced to less than 50 mmHg without adverse effect in newborn foals at 1300 m maintained under pentobarbitone anaesthesia for prolonged periods. Measurement of O2 dissociation curves indicates that haemoglobin becomes saturated at a lower blood O2 tension in newborn foals than adult horses.
Lovell JD, Stabenfeldt GH, Hughes JP, Evans JW.The levels of progesterone and total progestins increased during late pregnancy and then fell dramatically during the last few days before parturition, although birth occurred in the presence of significant amounts of plasma progesterone. Oestrogen levels decreased slowly but insignificantly until birth occurred, and then remained at a low level until the post-partum oestrus 10 to 12 days later. Total 11beta-hydroxycorticosteroids were unchanged from Day 45 before to Day 15 after birth. The endocrine pattern of one ovariectomized pregnant mare during the last month of gestation was similar to ...
Morgan DO, Bryans JT, Mock RE.The foal is born without detectable antibody and except for small amounts of IgM is devoid of immunoglobulins. Intrafetal administration of either Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus (VEE-TC83) or ovine erythrocytes elicited IgGa, IgGb and a trace of IgG(T). The fetal blood VEE-TC83 neutralization titre was higher than the neutralization titre elicited by the same preparation in older horses.
Whitwell KE.A brief description is given of the morphology of the umbilical cord and some variations encountered. In 95% of normal Thoroughbred foals the cord measures less than 84 cm. Factors which govern cord length are not known. Seven pathological conditions involving the umbilical cord are described. Increased length is the most common abnormality and predisposes to three potentially lethal conditions, strangulation of the cord around the fetus, excessive torsion, and allantochorionic necrosis at the cervical pole.
Osborne VE.Foaling figures for Thoroughbred mares in Australia show a puzzling disparity between conception and foaling rates in the second half of the 22 years of official data collection between 1950 and 1972. In the first 9 years of the survey, the live foal percentages rose in parallel with conception rates, but then a divergence of the figures occurred with the conception rate continuing to improve by 6-25% while the foaling rate improved by only 0-01% over the same period. An hypothesis supported by data from two studs is considered that stress factors additional to those experienced by mares in th...
MacDougall DF.The proteins IgG and IgG(T) are the predominant immunoglobulins in equine colostrum. Their distribution and catabolism were studied in the newborn foal using an isotopic tracer technique. More precise quantitation of the absorption of these immunoglobulins from colostrum is now possible.
Platt H.Many infections of the equine placenta and fetus result from ascending spread along the cervical canal. Most abortions due to infection occur during the later stages of pregnancy and the possible effects of intrauterine infection on the developing fetus and young foal are discussed.
Gillespie JR.Respiratory function in newborn foals is discussed with particular reference to the important part played by functional residual capacity and chest wall compliance in maintaining blood gaseous exchange within normal limits.
Irvine CH, Evans MJ.Total tyhroxine (TT4), free thyroxine (FT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) concentrations in foal umbilical cord blood were respectively 14, 5 7 and 3 times the concentrations of these hormones in adult horse blood. The TT4 levels in foals declined rapidly to reach adult concentrations by Day 16 and FT4 levels declined steadily during the first 3 months of life. Foal TT3 levels rose during the first 10 hr after birth and thereafter declined, although they were still X2-5 higher than adult levels at 3 months of age. Levels of FT3 similarly increased after birth be...
Comline RS, Hall LW, Lavelle R, Silver M.Methods developed for the insertion of catheters into the umbilical artery and vein and the uterine vein of the pregnancy mare are described. The technique requires careful anaesthesia and the maintenance of normal blood gas tensions, pH and arterial blood pressure. Fetal survival was variable: three mares delivered live foals and six fetuses survived more than 15 days with a maximal period of 41 days. The erythrocytes sedimentation rate (ESR) of the fetal foal was always very low at operation but subsequently increased slightly; a sudden large rise in ESR usually indicated imminent fetal deat...
Ganjam VK, Kenney RM, Flickinger G.The pattern of plasma progestagen levels during the oestrous cycle was similar to that previously reported except for lower peak levels. The lack of significant difference (p less than 0-01) between CPBA and RIA values suggests that progesterone itself is the major component during the oestrous cycle. Progesterone levels during the first and second post-parturient oestrous cycles were similar to those observed during the cycle of the non-pregnant mare. During pregnancy there were two peaks of plasma progestagens. The first, which occurred during the 3rd month, coincided with high levels of PMS...
Nathanielsz PW, Rossdale PD, Silver M, Comline RS.Fetal plasma cortisol concentrations (mean +/- S.E.M.) in ten animals with indwelling umbilical catheters ranged from 13-9 +/- 1-5 ng/ml (227 to 244 days) to 18-1 +/- 2-2 ng/ml (290 to 310 days). Maternal values did not change over this period (15-9 +/- 1-7 ng/ml). Fetal cortisol production rates in two fetuses were 3-6 and 3-8 mg/kg/day at 291 days; there was little placental transfer of cortisol. In three fetuses (319 to 321 days) plasma cortisol values 1 to 10 days before birth were higher (30 to 50 ng/ml) than in any other group, and at birth the values were comparable with those found in ...
Rossdale PD, White S.Forty-eight lungs from fetal and neonatal horses were examined for pressure-volume relationships between pressures of 0 and 40 cmH2O. The inflation-deflation curves obtained were analysed by four different methods and the stability of the lung assessed in terms of hysteresis, stability indices and volume of air retained at maximal pressure (Vmax). Differences in the shape of the deflation curve between ventilated and non-ventilated lungs were similar to findings in other species. It is postulated that breathing alters lung-tissue elasticity during the neonatal period, as demonstrated by a sign...
Feist JD, McCullough DR.A behavioural study of feral horses was conducted on the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range in the western United States. All 270 horses on the Range were identified individually. The sex ratio was nearly balanced. Foal to adult female ratio was 43-2:100. Morality was concentrated among foals and old horses. Horses were organized as forty-four harem groups each with a dominant stallion, one to two immature stallions, one to three immature mares, one to three adult mares and their yearling and foal offspring, and 23 bachelor groups of one to eight stallions. Harem groups were quite stable year-rou...
Palmer AC, Rossdale PD.Brains from eighteen Thoroughbred foals suffering from the convulsive foal syndrome were examined neuropathologically and compared with brains from nine foals dying from different causes. In the brains of nine convulsive foals there was necrosis of the cerebral cortex, accompanied in three by severe necrosis of the diencephalon and brain stem; haemorrhage into the cerebral cortex was also present in most of this group. In the other nine brains from convulsive foals there was haemorrhage, often severe, especially in the white and grey matter of the cerebral cortex and in the cerebellum. Minimal...
Zakopal J, Pour L.During the epizootic spreading in Europe, equine influenza was brought in also into Czechoslovakia. The disease gradually spread from Slovakia (where horses were isolated after a trip abroad) to race horses throughout the country. The serological examination by the IH test showed that, again, the A equi 1/Praha 56 virus was the causative agent of the infection. The application of the Grippeguin vaccine from France was effective. No clinical manifestations of the disease were observed in two mares from one farm that had not been vaccinated although they had been in the focus of infection. Howev...
Garel JM, Martin-Rosset W, Barlet JP.Plasma calcium and calcitonin levels were measured periodically during the two last months of pregnancy and at the time of parturition in 9 pregnant mares and their foals. In pregnant animals, there was an increase in plasma calcitonin levels in the days before parturition, which was not due to any change in plasma calcium. This result indicates that in the mare, as in the cow, in the days before parturition CT secretion escapes from its control by plasma calcium. In 0-day and 7-day-old foals plasma calcium levels were significantly higher than in their mothers, but plasma calcitonin levels we...
Drew B, Barber WP, Williams DG.On a thoroughbred stud four foals were born with greatly enlarged thyroids and leg weakness. Two foals died within 18 hours of birth, the others subsequently recovered. An enlarged thyroid was also evident in one of the resident mares. The thyroids from the dead foals were hyperplastic. Feed analyses showed that the mares had an iodine intake of about 83 mg daily, 8-8 ppm of the dietary dry matter, due almost entirely to the high iodine content of a proprietary compound horse nut which had been fed at the daily rate of 12 lb per head. It was concluded from the histology of the thyroids, the hi...
Pauli B, Althaus S, Von Tscharner C.Migrating fourth-stage larvae of Strongylus vulgaris, a parasite of equines, damage the intima of the anterior mesenteric artery and its larger branches and induce thrombus formation on the injured sites. As the time of larval passage through each of these branches has been exactly determined in earlier experiments, the aim of the present studies is to contribute to a more complete understanding of repair mechanisms in the process of time after thrombotic vascular injuries. Methods: five foals were separated individually to specially cleaned stables and given anthelmintic treatment till the ag...
Scott EA, Kneller SK, Witherspoon DM.The physiologic closure of the ductus areteriosus was determined in 4 foals less than 16 hours old. The common carotid artery was catheterized, using local anesthesia and tranquilization, and contrast medium was injected into the ascending aorta. Radiographs were made of heart and great vessels during and after the injection to visualize the pathway of injected contrast medium.
Whitlock RH, Dellers RW, Shively JN.A three-week-old Arabian filly was admitted to the Large Animal Hospital with a respiratory disorder and died despite symptomatic treatment. The necropsy lesions were suggestive of viral pneumonia. An equine adenovirus were isolated from nasal and pharyngeal swabs and from several tissues after death. Typical adenovirus virions were demonstrated by electron microscopy.
Harrington DD.1. The effects of feeding with a purified magnesium-deficient diet (--Mg, 7-8 mg Mg/kg) on horse foal blood serum and tissue concentrations of Mg, calcium and phosphorus were studied, and the results compared with histopathological findings. 2. Serum concentrations of Ca and P were unaffected by feeding with the --Mg diet, whereas serum Mg concentrations decreased from a mean initial (day o) concentration of 0.78 mmol/l to 0.53 mmol/l 7 d after foals were placed on the -Mg diet, and then continued to decrease at a slower rate. 3. Aorta concentrations of Ca and P, but not Mg, were positively co...
Whitwell KE, Jeffcott LB.Of 211 consecutive thoroughbred foalings, 145 satisfied a set of criteria for normal parturition and foal viability. The fetal membranes from these and from 10 pony foalings have been systematically examined morphologically and quantitatively and the findings compared to those of other authors. Five sites on the allantochorion were consistently devoid of villi. Expulsion usually occurred with the non-villous side outermost. In 24 per cent of allantochorions the non-pregant horn was of equal length or longer than the pregnant horn. These placentae tended to be shed with the villous side outermo...
Brown MP, MacCallum FJ.Tetracycline-labeled bones of 23 foals from 52 to 104 days old were sectioned and macroscopically examined to assess the extent of ossification or fusion of ossification centers. A grading system was devised with which to record information about the ossification centers and growth plates. The objective was to define anatomic standards which could contribute toward obtaining an accurate radiologic interpretation. Labeled limb bones of 3 neonatal foals were similarly treated, but grading of these was limited to the consideration of whether each site was still cartilaginous or had commenced to o...
Jones RS.Surgical repair of a cleft palate was carried out in three horses. Mandibular symphisotomy allowed adequate exposure of the defect. The first subject, a young foal died from inhalation pneumonia but the other two made satisfactory recoveries. The problems of closure of the lip and symphysis are discussed.
Dutta SK, Shipley WD.Foals (farms 1 and 2) and mares (farms 1 and 3) vaccinated with a commercially available rhinopneumonitis vaccine were tested for the level of antibodies and for protection against the natural infection. The serum-neutralization (SN) antibody titers against equine herpesvirus type 1 were 1:8 or less in the majority of foals and 1:16 or higher in about 10%. The level of the nasal secretory antibody in the foals (farm 2) was less than 1:4. The vaccinated foals did not show any apparent respiratory tract infection for about 6 months and then an epizootic of respiratory tract disease appeared on f...
Ozaydın T, Celik I, Sur E, Oznurlu Y, Uluısık D.We attempted to characterize the cytochemical staining patterns of leukocytes and to determine the percentages of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) and acid phosphatase (ACPase) positive lymphocytes in peripheral blood of thoroughbred foals at different ages. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular veins of 60 healthy thoroughbred foals, 1 day, 3 days and 1 year old. Each age group included 10 male and 10 female animals. Peroxidase (PO) activity was detected in neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes. Lymphocytes were negative for PO staining. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was o...
van Grevenhof EM, Gezelle Meerburg ARD, van Dierendonck MC, van den Belt AJM, van Schaik B, Meeus P, Back W.Osteochondrosis (OC) is a common, clinically important joint disorder in which endochondral ossification is focally disturbed. Reduced blood supply to growing cartilage is considered an important cause of the condition, which has both genetic and environmental origins. Housing conditions can influence cartilage injury through peak-pressure changes during limb sliding. Additionally, circulatory perturbation can cause the avascular necrosis of cartilage. In this study, we evaluated the type and frequency of limb sliding during standing up and the occurrence of OC in foals aged up to 12 months o...
Masuda T, Takakura A, Kobayashi S.Flight and avoidance reactions from human were examined using 168 postweaning Thoroughbred foals in 22 breeding farms. Further 114 yearlings of 168 foals were tested in the following summer. The foal handlings by the stabler were asked in questionnaire. The relationship between the behavioural reactions and the foal handling frequencies was analyzed. The flight reaction was estimated as the distance from the animal to a stranger when the animal began to flight away from his approach. The avoidance scores were set up from (1) (not resistant) to (5) (touch rejection) from human touching. In the ...
Allen AL, Myers SL, Searcy GP, Fretz PB.The Hematologic values of 19 equine fetuses between 202 and 238 days gestation were compared with those of their dams. The red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were significantly lower in fetal blood, while the mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and red cell distribution width were significantly higher. Mares had a significantly higher nucleated blood cell count than fetuses, and all nucleated cells were leukocytes (WBC). Most WBC in mare blood were segmented neutrophils and lymphocytes. In contrast, ...
van Haeringen H.Investigations for the presence of antibodies to red blood cell antigens were carried out in equine colostrum and serum. Material from 181 mares without clinical disease was tested. The object was to obtain information on the number of mares producing antibodies capable of inducing haemolytic disease in newborn foals. Of the mares 2.8% was positive for haemolysins. These mares are expected to be a risk for haemolytic disease. In addition agglutinating antibodies were identified in 39.2 per cent of the mares examined. It is not known whether or not these antibodies constitute a hazard for the f...
Divers TJ, Warner A, Vaala WE, Whitlock RH, Acland HA, Mansmann RA, Palmer JE.Eight foals, 2 to 5 days of age, with similar clinical signs and laboratory and pathologic findings, died from hepatic failure. The predominant clinical signs were depression and icterus. Abnormally high values were found for plasma ammonia content, aromatic-to-branch-chain amino acid ratio, total serum bilirubin content, gamma glutamyl transferase activity, alkaline phosphatase activity, and PCV; partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time were prolonged. Some foals had high sorbitol dehydrogenase activity. These laboratory findings were suggestive of subacute hepatic disease and failure...
van Niekerk FE, van Niekerk CH.Pregnant Anglo-Arab and Thoroughbred mares (n = 24) were divided randomly according to age and breed into 4 groups of 6 mares each from approximately 6 weeks before their expected foaling date. Diets received by the 4 groups varied in essential amino-acid and total protein contents. Serum progestagen, FSH and LH concentrations were determined from the day of parturition until foal heat and during the 1st oestrous cycle following foal heat. Serum progestagen, FSH and LH concentrations did not differ between the treatment groups. Progestagen concentrations were high (mean = 7.0: 5.2-16.4 ng/ml) ...
Wong DM, Vo DT, Alcott CJ, Peterson AD, Brockus CW, Hsu WH.Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has received increased attention in equine critical care but there is minimal information of AVP concentration in foals. The clinical usefulness of measuring AVP in ill foals depends on knowledge of age-related changes in AVP concentrations in healthy foals. Objective: Plasma AVP concentrations will be significantly different when measured from birth to 3 months of age in healthy foals. Methods: Thirteen healthy university-owned foals. Methods: Prospective, observational study. Blood was collected from healthy foals at birth and 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, and 8...
Huricha , Kawai M, Ninomiya S.In this study, we investigated suckling behavior and the distance between a foal and its mare as indicators of foal growth in Hokkaido native horses (HKD) during the first 40 days of life. Direct observations were made of 22 mare and foal pairs from two consecutive days 1 and 2, 5 and 6, 10 and 11, 20 and 21, 30 and 31, and 40 and 41 after birth by focal animal sampling for 3 h per day. Suckling behavior was continuously recorded, along with the terminator. The distance between the foal and its mare was determined using the instantaneous sampling method (1 min), and the percentage was calc...
Murray MJ, Ball MM, Parker GA.A 3-month-old foal with a history of persistent fever and leukocytosis was found to have pneumonia, ulceration of the squamous portion of the stomach, and dilatation of the distal portion of the esophagus. The foal was euthanatized and necropsied. The distal portion of the esophagus was severely dilated, and there was severe ulceration and mural thickening of the stomach at the cardia. Because of the severe gastric ulceration and mural thickening, the gastroesophageal junction was fixed in an open position, permitting gastroesophageal reflux. The megaesophagus and pneumonia were considered to ...
Stolk PW, Firth EC.Intra-osseous pressure was measured in the third metatarsal bone of 8 pony foals at the age of 1, 3, 6 and 26 weeks of age, and on one occasion in the third metatarsal bone of 5 ponies aged 1-5 years; the animals were under general anesthesia and in lateral recumbency. Saphenous venous pressure and lateral superficial plantar metatarsal arterial pressure were also monitored throughout the procedure. There were no statistically significant changes in the epiphyseal, diaphyseal, venous or arterial pressures with increasing age of the foals. There was no statistically significant difference betwe...
Conceição ML, Alonso JM, Alves ALG, Hussni CA, Rodrigues CA, Watanabe MJ.Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) usually occurs in athletic adult horses. Congenital DDSP in foals secondary to the persistent frenulum of the epiglottis is rarely observed. The aim of this report was to describe a case of a seven-day-old female neonate Quarter Horse presenting dysphagia, milk reflux through the nostrils and mouth, and expiratory dyspnea since 4 days. Thoracic auscultation was indicative of aspiration pneumonia. Diagnosis of DDSP associated with local inflammation was made after endoscopic examination of upper respiratory tract. Radiographic examination was perfo...
Fraser NS, Wilborn RR, Johnson AK, Braden TD, Wiley AA, Canisso IF, Bartol FF.Equine uterine development, including endometrial histogenesis, begins prenatally and is completed postnatally. Little is known about this process in the horse. Uterine tissue was acquired from 38 foals, ranging in developmental age from gestational day (GD) 300 to postnatal day (PND) 180, for assessment of endometrial histogenesis. Patterns of endometrial cell proliferation were evaluated by multispectral imaging of uterine tissue sections stained immunofluorescently for Ki-67. Labeling index (LI, % labeled cells) for Ki-67 was calculated for each endometrial cell compartment (luminal epithel...
Delvescovo B, Mullen KR, Eicker SW, Ivanek R, Ainsworth DM.Previously we described a clustering of dysphagic foal cases on a Pennsylvania (PA) Standardbred farm which was associated with exposure of pregnant mares to high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the well water. The effect of dysphagia on future athleticism was uncertain. Objective: To determine if, as adults, dysphagic foals were less likely to race and if athleticism (age of first race, Speed Index and Earnings Per Start Index) differed from that of healthy foals that raced as adults. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Methods: All foals born during the study peri...
Wilson RB, Haffner JC.Right atrioventricular atresia with a ventricular septal defect, a rare congenital cardiac anomaly of either animals or man, was diagnosed in a one week old Arabian foal. The foal had been weak and cyanotic since birth, sometimes becoming dyspneic when stressed. Necropsy revealed a dilated and hypertrophied left ventricle with the right ventricle being small. The right atrioventricular valve was absent. The right and left ventricles communicated via a septal defect which was located immediately adjacent to the aortic valve.
Robinson JA, Allen GK, Green EM, Garner HE, Loch WE, Walsh DM.Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration was measured in 11 colostrum-fed (CF) and 8 colostrum-deprived (CD) 2- to 3-day-old foals after foals were infused with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; Escherichia coli O55:B5 endotoxin, 0.5 microgram/kg of body weight in sterile saline [0.9% NaCl] solution). Four CF and 2 CD foals were given saline solution alone. Serum IL-6 concentration was estimated by use of an in vitro proliferative bioassay, using the IL-6 dependent B.13.29 clone 9 cells. Interleukin-6 concentration increased in all LPS-infused foals, and geometric mean serum IL-6 concentration was sign...
Günzel AR, Merkt H.Of 383 mares showing clinical evidence of suspected early fetal resorption between 20 and 60 days after mating, 217 were treated with a single injection of 200 mg CAP (a synthetic progestagen); the remaining 166 mares served as untreated controls. Treatment had neither a beneficial nor a detrimental effect on the continuation of pregnancy. Conception rates following loss of the conceptus were higher in lactating than in non-lactating mares. No increase in number of twin or deformed foals was evident in the treated animals.
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...
Braun J.Although foals born after embryo transfer are eligible for registration in the majority of horse breeds, application of embryo transfer is still rare. This is mainly due to the lack of a possibility for superovulation. Uterine stage embryos can be recovered by a non-surgical flushing technique. Transfer can be accomplished by non-surgical as well as surgical methods. In contrast to the situation in cattle, most related technologies are scarcely available. Methods of cryopreservation as well as bisection of embryos are hampered by the fact that suitable embryos (morula) can be collected from th...
Merritt T, Mallonée PG, Merritt AM.Seven healthy foals (five ponies and two horses) were maintained on grass pasture with their dams. All foals had normal faeces at the time of testing. An oral xylose absorption test was performed on each foal at one, two and three months of age. Following an 8 h fast, 0.5 g/kg D-xylose as a 10 per cent solution was given via a nasogastric tube. Control and 30 min interval plasma samples were collected for 3 h and the plasma was analysed for xylose using the phloroglucinol microassay technique. Maximum xylose concentration levels were reached between 30 and 60 mins for each of the foals. The me...
Nation PN, Klavano GG.This account describes two neonatal foals affected with osteopetrosis. One of these foals, a full term Peruvian Paso, was born alive, was bright and alert but was unable to stand and was euthanized at two days of age. The second foal, an Appaloosa, was also born alive at full term and was blind, weak, uncoordinated and unable to stand. Postmortem examination of both foals revealed generalized osteopetrosis and brachygnathia inferior. The osteopetrosis was characterized by failure of bone remodelling resulting in spicules of mineralized and nonmineralized cartilage covered by osteoid occupying ...
van der Vossen N, Cavalcante P, Glynn S, Achappa D, Mehmood W, Oikawa M, Vinardell T, Jamieson C.Upper respiratory disease was reported over many seasons in Arabian foals on a single stud farm in the Middle East. Affected foals were noted to have mucopurulent nasal discharge, cough, fever and tachypnea. All affected foals had been empirically treated with a macrolide and rifampicin, by the referring veterinarian without improvement. On endoscopic examination, all affected foals had significant guttural pouch empyema (GPE). (1) To document a previously unreported presentation of guttural pouch empyema (GPE) in a family of juvenile Arabian foals; (2) To document the cytological and microbia...
Ganjam VK, Kenney RM, Flickinger G.The pattern of plasma progestagen levels during the oestrous cycle was similar to that previously reported except for lower peak levels. The lack of significant difference (p less than 0-01) between CPBA and RIA values suggests that progesterone itself is the major component during the oestrous cycle. Progesterone levels during the first and second post-parturient oestrous cycles were similar to those observed during the cycle of the non-pregnant mare. During pregnancy there were two peaks of plasma progestagens. The first, which occurred during the 3rd month, coincided with high levels of PMS...
Barnes RJ, Comline RS, Jeffcott LB, Mitchell MD, Rossdale PD, Silver M.The concentrations of 13, 14-dihydro-15-oxo-prostaglandin F(PGFM), the stable metabolite of prostaglandin F, were measured in the plasma of catheterized mares and foetuses and non-catheterized thoroughbred mares and ponies during the last months of gestation. The plasma concentration of PGFM increased gradually towards term in all groups of animals. During the operation for insertion of catheters, maternal and foetal concentrations of PGFM were high, but the values fell to basal levels 24--48 h after the operation. It was found the preoperative starvation (24 h) led to a rise in the concentrat...
Warko G, Becht H, Bostedt H.Sixteen vital foals with free access to maternal colostrum received a additional non-species-specific commercial colostrum additive within the first 18 hours of their life. The additive had been prepared from bovine colostrum. At birth no bovine IgG was detectable. The concentration of bovine IgG reached its maximum 18 hours post natum with XG = 74.6 mg/dl. 96 hours after birth IgG levels had dropped to XG = 20.9 mg/dl. The correlation of bovine IgG with GGT-activity was highly significant. Formation of antibodies against bovine IgG could not be demonstrated. It is not possible to increase igG...
Castagnasso EE, Kienast ME, García PP, Giovambattista G.Recently, the use of DNA markers has provided a more accurate method of identifying individuals and verifying parentage. In this report, we describe foal assignment in a farm bred jumping horses (Silla argentino). Ten mares were freely served by two stallions, resulting in nine foals. Weaning occurred without registration of the mare of each offspring, resulting in a failure to identify either the mare or the sire of each foal. Animals were typed using 12 microsatellite systems and four biochemical polymorphisms in order to determine the paternity/maternity of each foal. We used the CERVUS pro...
Theiner E, Weber C, Müller E, Venner M, Finkler-Schade C, Vervuert I.This study aimed to examine the effects of an oral supplementation on manganese (Mn) concentrations in the blood of lactating warm-blood broodmares. Furthermore, the potential relationship between Mn supply of the lactating mare and its suckling foal was investigated. Methods: During the 90-day trial, lactating mares were divided into 3 groups and daily received a daily dose of either a placebo (n = 11) or a Mn supplement of 560 mg Mn as Mn sulfate (n = 11) or Mn chelate (n = 11) in addition to the Mn intake from the basal ration (hay ad libitum, total mixed ration: Mn intake ~ 1...
Lindner A, von Wittke P, Thein P, Strube W.The effect of the prophylactic application of the paramunity inducer Baypamun on the incidence of diseases among foals (n = 63) in four Thoroughbred studs was evaluated. In a blind study, 38 of the foals received 2 ml of Baypamun intramuscularly while 25 of the foals received a placebo at six and four days before weaning and on the fifth day post-weaning. During the observation period of three weeks, beginning with the first and ending ten days after the last application, 7.9% of the foals treated with Baypamun (3 out of 38) suffered from respiratory infections compared to 24% of the foals tre...
Abutarbush SM.This report describes 2 foals with esophageal laceration due to ingestion of foreign bodies. Endoscopic examination of the esophagus revealed full thickness esophageal laceration in 1 colt and partial thickness laceration of the esophagus in the other. The esophageal obstruction was relieved by repetitive esophageal lavages and flush under general anesthesia in both foals. Lacération et obstruction œsophagiennes causées par un corps étranger chez deux jeunes poulains âgés de moins de 1 an. Ce rapport décrit deux poulains âgés de moins de 1 an souffrant d’une lacération œsophagienn...
Schultheiss PC, Collins JK, Carman J.An indirect immunoperoxidase (IP) procedure using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex detection technique was developed to detect viral equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) antigen in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from aborted equine fetuses. The procedure was applied to liver, lung, and other tissues from 20 cases of confirmed or suspected EHV-1-induced abortions. Specific staining was observed in tissue sections from EHV-1-infected fetuses. Positive IP staining was present in tissues of 7 cases that were also positive by fluorescent antibody (FA) and virus isolation (VI) and that had typ...
