Genetics in horses encompasses the study of hereditary traits and the genetic makeup that influences various characteristics and health conditions in equine populations. This field involves the analysis of genes and their functions, inheritance patterns, and the impact of genetic variations on traits such as coat color, performance ability, and susceptibility to diseases. Research in equine genetics employs techniques such as genome mapping, sequencing, and genetic testing to identify specific genes and mutations associated with these traits. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the genetic basis of equine traits, the methodologies used in genetic research, and the implications for breeding, health management, and conservation of horse breeds.
Pei Y, Dupont C, Sydor T, Haas A, Prescott JF.To analyze further the role in virulence of the prominent cholesterol oxidase (ChoE) of Rhodococcus equi, an allelic exchange choE mutant from strain 103+ was constructed and assessed for virulence in macrophages, in mice, and in foals. There was no difference between the mutant and parent strain in cytotoxic activity for macrophages or in intra-macrophage multiplication. No evidence of attenuation was obtained in macrophages and in mice, but there was slight attenuation apparent in four intra-bronchially infected foals compared to infection of four foals with the virulent parent strain, based...
Blanco A, Moyano R, Vivo J, Flores-Acuña R, Molina A, Blanco C, Monterde JG.Purkinje cerebellar cells were studied in three Arabian horses aged between 6 and 8 months with clinical disorders in their movements, tremors and ataxia; the occurrence of apoptosis in this cell population was investigated by the (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) method. Both optical and electron microscopical images showed a scant number of Purkinje cells, most of them with morphological features of apoptosis such as condensation of the nucleus and cytoplasm as well as segregation and fragmentation of the nucleus into apoptotic bodies. The TUNEL te...
Kydd JH, Davis-Poynter NJ, Birch J, Hannant D, Minke J, Audonnet JC, Antczak DF, Ellis SA.Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) causes respiratory and neurological disease and abortion in horses. Animals with high frequencies of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) show reduced severity of respiratory disease and frequency of abortion, probably by CTL-mediated control of cell-associated viraemia. This study aimed to identify CTL epitopes restricted by selected major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I alleles expressed in the equine leukocyte antigen (ELA) A3 haplotype. Effector CTL were induced from EHV-1-primed ponies and thoroughbreds with characterized MHC class I haplotypes and screened ...
Faszer K, Draper D, Green JE, Morris GJ, Grout BW.A Stirling Cycle freezer has been developed as an alternative to conventional liquid nitrogen controlled rate freezers. Horse semen samples were cooled in 0.25 ml straws and 15 ml bags in the Stirling Cycle freezer under laboratory conditions and as a portable device, powered from a car battery. For comparison, straws were frozen in a conventional liquid nitrogen controlled rate freezer. Upon thawing, motility and viability of samples frozen in the Stirling Cycle freezer were not significantly different when compared to samples frozen in the liquid nitrogen freezer. Unlike liquid nitrogen syst...
Brown VA, Wilkins PA.Techniques for novel approaches to the diagnosis and management of equine pulmonary disease continue to be developed and used in clinical practice. Diagnostic techniques involving immunoassays and nucleic acid-based tests not only decrease the time in which results become available but increase the sensitivity and specificity of test results. These assays do not substitute for careful clinical evaluation but can shorten the time to a confirmed accurate diagnosis, and thus allow for early initiation of therapeutic strategies and prevention protocols. With further understanding of the molecular ...
Dranchak PK, Valberg SJ, Onan GW, Gallant EM, Binns MM, Swinburne JE, Mickelson JR.To determine whether there was genetic linkage between the recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) trait in Thoroughbred horse pedigrees and DNA markers in genes (the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release channel [RYR1] gene, the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase [ATP2A1] gene, and the transverse tubule dihydropyridine receptor-voltage sensor [CACNA1S] gene) that are important in myoplasmic calcium regulation. Methods: 34 horses in the University of Minnesota RER resource herd and 62 Thoroughbreds from 3 families of Thoroughbreds outside of the university in which RER-affected status wa...
Bugislaus AE, Roehe R, Willms F, Kalm E.In a genetic analysis of German trotters, the performance trait racing time per km was analysed by using a random regression model on six different age classes (2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-year-old and older trotters; the age class of 3-year-old trotters was additionally divided by birth months of horses into two seasons). The best-fitting random regression model for the trait racing time per km on six age classes included as fixed effects sex, race track, condition of race track (fitted as second-order polynomial on age), distance of race and each driver (fitted as first-order polynomial on age) as ...
Smith KJ, Bertone AL, Weisbrode SE, Radmacher M.To identify patterns and correlations of gross, histologic, and gene expression characteristics of articular cartilage from horses with osteoarthritis. Methods: 10 clinically normal horses and 11 horses with osteoarthritis of the metacarpal condyles. Methods: Metacarpophalangeal joints were opened and digitally photographed, and gross lesions were scored and quantified. Representative cartilage specimens were stained for histologic scoring. Total RNA from dorsal and palmar articular surfaces was processed on an equine gene expression microarray. Results: Histologic scores were greater in both ...
Young AE, Bower LP, Affolter VK, De Cock HE, Ferraro GL, Bannasch DL.Chronic progressive lymphedema (CPL) is a debilitating condition identified in Clydesdales, Shires and Belgian draft horses and results in progressive swelling of the lower legs associated with the development of thick skin folds, ulcerations, fibrosis and marked hyperkeratosis. The result is severe discomfort and recurrent secondary infection, often requiring euthanasia. Due to the delayed onset, many horses are bred prior to diagnosis. CPL has only been documented in three related draft horse breeds, suggesting a genetic cause. Determining the molecular basis would enable owners to test hors...
Li JL, Shi YF, Bu RQ, Mang L.Restriction endonucleases, namely BamH I, Taq I, Hae III, Rsa I and Hinc II, were used to analyze the polymorphism of partial mtDNA Cytb gene sequences from 256 horses 6 types (Thoroughbred, Sanhe, Wuzhumuqin, Xinihe, Wushen and Pony) including the imported breed, cultivated breed and local breed. The products of endonuclease digestion were run on 8% non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and detected by silver staining. Results indicated BamH I and Taq I polymorphism. In all 7 restriction patterns were defected that could be sorted into 3 haplotypes, of which haplotypes I and III w...
Dovc P, Kavar T, Sölkner H, Achmann R.The development and a brief history of the Lipizzan horse breed are reviewed. The contribution of several breeds, some of them already extinct, to the development of the Lipizzan horse, gives it a special status representing an important gene pool. This well-documented breed is a part of the common European natural and cultural heritage. Breeding practices establishing stallion and mare family lines as well as availability of pedigrees are described. Molecular analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite data allowed us to analyse the structure of the Lipizzan population, to estima...
Saito S, Sawai K, Minamihashi A, Ugai H, Murata T, Yokoyama KK.We describe here the isolation and maintenance of pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells from equine blastocysts that have been frozen and thawed. Equine ES cells appear to maintain a normal diploid karyotype in culture. These cells express markers that are characteristic of mouse ES cells, namely, alkaline phosphatase, stage-specific-embryonic antigen 1, STAT3, and Oct4. We also describe protocols for the induction of differentiation in vitro to neural precursor cells in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), epidermal growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor and to he...
Brandon CI, Vandenplas M, Dookwah H, Murray TF.The aim of this study was to establish a heterologous expression system for the equine adenosine A(3) receptor (eA(3)-R) in an effort to ascertain its pharmacologic profile. Initially, radioligand binding assays identified clones expressing the eA(3)-R in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK) based on the specific binding of [(125)I]AB-MECA. Subsequently, adenylate cyclase assays were utilized to demonstrate functional coupling of the eA(3)-R to the G-protein/adenylate cyclase system. Equilibrium competition binding assays were then performed using selective and non-selective A(3) agonists and an...
Paciello O, Pasolini MP, Navas L, Russo V, Papparella S.Central core disease is a nonprogressive or slowly progressive congenital myopathy with a variable degree of hypotonia and axial and proximal muscle weakness that is histologically characterized by areas devoid of oxidative enzyme activity, resulting from an absence or low numbers of mitochondria in these regions (central core). A 10-month-old, male, pony foal was examined because of stiff gait, marked contractures of the distal portion of the limbs, flexion deformities of the hooves, and moderate hypotonia that had been present from birth. The foal had increased creatine kinase (282 U/liter; ...
Momozawa Y, Takeuchi Y, Tozaki T, Kikusui T, Hasegawa T, Raudsepp T, Chowdhary BP, Kusunose R, Mori Y.Equine anxiety trait is considered an important temperament in various situations, including riding, training, and daily care. This study examined the polymorphism of the equine serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) gene as a candidate genetic element influencing equine anxiety trait. The sequence of the coding region of this gene was highly homologous with those of other mammals, and four single nucleotide polymorphisms were found by comparing the sequences of ten genetically unrelated thoroughbred horses. Radiation hybrid mapping revealed that this gene was located 26.92 cR from neurofibromin 1 on ...
Donnelly BP, Nixon AJ, Haupt JL, Dahlgren LA.To characterize the nucleotide sequence of equine platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A and -B and analyze temporal expression of these genes in equine tendon after induced tendinitis injury. Animals-18 mature horses. Methods: Genes for equine PDGF-A and -B were reverse transcribed and sequenced from synovial tissue mRNA obtained from a 3-year-old horse. Collagenase-induced lesions were created in the tensile region of the superficial digital flexor tendon in 14 horses; 3 horses served as uninjured control animals. Tendons were harvested and total RNA was isolated from experimental horses 1,...
Ishihara A, Zachos TA, Bartlett JS, Bertone AL.To evaluate host cell permissiveness and cytotoxic effects of recombinant and modified adenoviral vectors in equine chondrocytes, synovial cells, and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMD-MSCs). Methods: Articular cartilage, synovium, and bone marrow from 15 adult horses. Methods: Equine chondrocytes, synovial cells, and BMD-MSCs and human carcinoma (HeLa) cells were cultured and infected with an E-1-deficient adenovirus vector encoding the beta-galactosidase gene or the green fluorescent protein gene (Ad-GFP) and with a modified E-1-deficient vector with the arg-gly-asp capsid pepti...
Bleul U, Theiss F, Rütten M, Kähn W.This case report describes a three-year-old Friesian stallion with hypospadias. Physical examination revealed a ventrocaudal deviation of the shaft of the penis and an incomplete glans penis. The urethral opening was 4 cm in length, slit-like and had a mucous membrane covering. A short fold ran from the ventral aspect of the anus and ended with a non-pigmented hairless area of skin. A human choriongonadotropin (hCG)-stimulation test resulted in an increase in the plasma levels of estrogen sulfate and testosterone, indistinguishable from that of a normal stallion. The karyogram had a normal num...
Osborne C.A 7-year-old Arabian gelding was presented with a 9-month history of progressive patches of nonpruritic scaling, crusting, alopecia, and leukoderma of the periocular areas and muzzle, becoming generalized over time. Sebaceous adenitis was diagnosed on histopathologic examination. Lesions resolved without treatment, coinciding with regression of a sarcoid on the neck. Un cheval Arabe castré âgé de 7 ans a été présenté pour une histoire de 9 mois de plaques de desquamation, de croutes, d’alopécie et de leucodermie sur les régions périoculaire et sur le nez, devenant généralisées ...
Wang Y, Zhang XY, Wei LL, Wu DL, Wang XJ, Xiang WH, Shen RX, Shao YM.To evaluate the relationship between the transcriptional level of IFN-gamma mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and immune protective response driven by inoculated horses with donkey leukocyte attenuated vaccine of EIAV(DLV), and to elucidate the immune mechanism of DLV. Methods: A real-time PCR method was established for quantitative detection of IFN-gamma mRNA level from horse PBMCs. Twelve horses were divided into vaccination group, healthy control group, challenging control group and EIAV natural infection group. The transcriptional level and distribution of IFN-gamma mRNA in...
Dario C, Carnicella D, Dario M, Bufano G.A data set concerning 1,816 subjects entered in the Italian Horse Registry from 1925 to 2002 was analyzed to investigate the morphological evolution of the Murgese horse and to obtain useful elements to enhance breeding practices. Three basic body measurements (height at withers, chest girth, and cannon bone circumference) were considered for each subject. Heritabilities were calculated for each parameter to infer the growth and development traits of this breed. Over the past 20 years the Murgese horse has undergone considerable changes, passing from a typical mesomorphic structure (height at ...
Bonnefoy A, Romijn RA, Vandervoort PA, VAN Rompaey I, Vermylen J, Hoylaerts MF.Binding of von Willebrand factor (VWF) to platelet GPIbalpha and to collagen is attributed to VWF A1 and A3 domains, respectively. Objective: Using VWF, VWF lacking A1 (DeltaA1-VWF) or A3 (DeltaA3-VWF) and VWF with defective A3 (H1786A-VWF), in combination with recombinant A1 (residues 1262-1492) or A3 (residues 1671-1878), fused to glutathione-S-transferase (GST-A1 and GST-A3), we have re-investigated the role of A1 in platelet recruitment to surfaces of collagen. Results: In flow, measurable binding of DeltaA3-VWF occurred to horse tendon, but also to human type III collagen. GST-A1 and GST-...
Semevolos SA, Nixon AJ, Fortier LA, Strassheim ML, Haupt J.The purpose of this study was to determine changes in the expression of regulatory molecules in normal equine articular cartilage throughout development up to 18 months of age. The hypothesis was that expression of these regulatory molecules would decrease from birth to postpubescence. Cartilage was harvested from normal femoropatellar or scapulohumeral joints from 34 fresh horse cadavers. Horses were placed in four age groups [prenatal (n = 5); prepubertal, 0-6 months (n = 11); pubertal, 7-14 months (n = 13); and postpubertal, 15-18 months (n = 5)]. Indian hedgehog (Ihh), Gli1, Gli3, Patched1...
Harvey JW.Deficiencies of enzymes involved in erythrocyte metabolism can have significant effects on erythrocyte function and survival. Animals with pyruvate kinase (PK) or phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiencies have shortened erythrocyte life spans and regenerative anemia. PK-deficient dogs (but not PK-deficient cats) develop progressive myelofibrosis and osteosclerosis of bone marrow and hemochromatosis and cirrhosis of the liver. PFK-deficient dogs have sporadic episodes of hyperventilation-induced intravascular hemolysis and hemoglobinuria. Cytochrome b5 reductase (Cb5R) deficiency in dogs and cats ...
The Journal of nutritionJune 15, 2006
Volume 136, Issue 7 Suppl 2094S-2098S doi: 10.1093/jn/136.7.2094S
Treiber KH, Kronfeld DS, Geor RJ.Insulin is a major regulatory hormone in glucose and fat metabolism, vascular function, inflammation, tissue remodeling, and the somatotropic axis of growth. Insulin resistance alters insulin signaling by decreasing insulin action in certain resistant pathways while increasing insulin signaling in other unaffected pathways via compensatory hyperinsulinemia. In humans, altered insulin signaling is implicated in reduced glucose availability to insulin-sensitive cells, vasoconstriction and endothelial damage, and inflammatory response. Although no direct evidence exists for insulin's role in thes...
Koerner J, Nesic D, Romero JD, Brehm W, Mainil-Varlet P, Grogan SP.Fibroblast-like cells isolated from peripheral blood of human, canine, guinea pig, and rat have been demonstrated to possess the capacity to differentiate into several mesenchymal lineages. The aim of this work was to investigate the possibility of isolating pluripotent precursor cells from equine peripheral blood and compare them with equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were used as a control for cell multipotency assessment. Venous blood (n = 33) and bone marrow (n = 5) were obtained from adult horses. Mononuclear cells were obtained by Fico...
Balaggan KS, Binley K, Esapa M, MacLaren RE, Iqball S, Duran Y, Pearson RA, Kan O, Barker SE, Smith AJ, Bainbridge JW, Naylor S, Ali RR.We evaluated the efficacy of equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV)-based lentiviral vectors encoding endostatin (EIAV.endostatin) or angiostatin (EIAV.angiostatin) in inhibiting angiogenesis and vascular hyperpermeability in the laser-induced model of choroidal neovascularisation (CNV). Equine infectious anaemia virus.endostatin, EIAV.angiostatin or control (EIAV.null) vectors were administered into the subretinal space of C57Bl/6J mice. Two weeks after laser injury CNV areas and the degree of vascular hyperpermeability were measured by image analysis of in vivo fluorescein angiograms. Compar...
Bell SA, Balasuriya UB, Gardner IA, Barry PA, Wilson WD, Ferraro GL, MacLachlan NJ.The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of equine herpesviruses (EHV) 1-5 in the nasal secretions (NS) of a cohort of 12 mares and their foals from birth to 6 months of age, estimate the prevalence of EHV-1-5 infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of selected foals, and investigate phylogenetic relationships amongst the various strains of EHV-2 and 5. Virus-specific PCR assays were used to detect EHV-1-5 in NS and PBMC. A homologous portion of the glycoprotein B (gB) gene of the various strains of EHV-2 and 5 was sequenced and compared. EHV-2, 4, and 5 were...
Rodríguez-Roldán V, García-Heredia JM, Navarro JA, Hervás M, De la Cerda B, Molina-Heredia FP, De la Rosa MA.Two synthetic genes coding for human and Arabidopsis cytochrome c, respectively, have been designed and constructed, and the recombinant proteins have been over-expressed in Escherichia coli cells. Thus a comparative analysis of the two heme proteins, including horse cytochrome c as a reference, has been performed. In addition to their physico-chemical properties, the redox behavior of the three proteins has been analyzed by following the kinetics of both their reduction by flavin semiquinones (lumiflavin, riboflavin, and FMN) and oxidation by cytochrome c oxidase. The resulting data indicate ...
Liu Q, Wang XF, Ma J, He XJ, Wang XJ, Zhou JH.Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 has a unique integration profile in the human genome relative to murine and avian retroviruses. Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is another well-studied lentivirus that can also be used as a promising retro-transfection vector, but its integration into its native host has not been characterized. In this study, we mapped 477 integration sites of the EIAV strain EIAVFDDV13 in fetal equine dermal (FED) cells during in vitro infection. Published integration sites of EIAV and HIV-1 in the human genome were also analyzed as references. Our results demonstrat...
Scarlet D, Handschuh S, Reichart U, Podico G, Ellerbrock RE, Demyda-Peyrás S, Canisso IF, Walter I, Aurich C.It was the aim of this study to characterize the development of the gonads and genital ducts in the equine fetus around the time of sexual differentiation. This included the identification and localization of the primordial germ cell population. Equine fetuses between 45 and 60 days of gestation were evaluated using a combination of micro-computed tomography scanning, immunohistochemistry, and multiplex immunofluorescence. Fetal gonads increased in size 23-fold from 45 to 60 days of gestation, and an even greater increase was observed in the metanephros volume. Signs of mesonephros atrophy wer...
Garcia MC, Beech J.Intravenous glucose tolerance testing (0.5 g/kg of body weight) was done on 2 groups of healthy horses maintained with hay (group 1, n = 5) and with hay plus grain supplementation (group 2, n = 5) and on a group of horses with clinically diagnosed pituitary adenoma (group 3, n = 10). Healthy horses showed an immediate increase of plasma glucose concentration after the IV glucose injection, with return of values to base line in 1 hour. Group 3 horses showed resting hyperglycemia and a delayed return of glucose values to base line (3 hours). Group 3 horses showed resting hyperinsulinemia and a f...
Shahrabadi MS, Marusyk RG, Crawford TB.Sequential changes induced by an equine adenovirus in cultured fetal equine kidney cells were studied by electron microscopy. The first morphological change was the appearance of type I inclusions. These inclusions developed to type II inclusions which appeared as ring forms. Type III inclusions were formed within the central part of type II inclusions and finally filled up most of the nuclear space. As the infection proceeded, type IV inclusions which appeared as dense dark-staining spheres were formed at the center of the type III inclusions and also inside the cytoplasm. These dark-staining...
Vera L, Boyen F, de Visscher A, Vandenbroucke V, Vanantwerpen G, Govaere J.The use of commercial chromogenic agar plates for the rapid, easy and correct identification of equine endometritis-causing bacteria has been proposed. Preliminary tests in our lab revealed undescribed limitations. Therefore, we tested the ability of the Brilliance UTI agar, a commercially available chromogenic agar, to accurately identify bacteria causing equine endometritis. Objective: To 1) investigate whether bacteria present in the equine uterus are able to grow on this chromogenic agar plate, 2) determine whether these bacteria belong to the genera for which these agar plates were origin...
Lenasi T, Rogelj I, Dovc P.Here we report the entire cDNA sequences for equine alphaS1-, beta- and kappa-casein. Based on interspecies comparison, nine exons were found in equine beta-casein and five in kappa-casein. In equine alphaS1-casein cDNA the exon 5 was missing, which resulted in the total of 18 exons instead of 19 theoretically possible exons in alphaS1-casein cDNA. Comparison of DNA sequences representing exon 5 in other species with corresponding equine genomic region confirmed the presence of cryptic exon in horse genomic DNA. Equine alphaS1-casein mRNA was present in three forms in the lactating mammary gla...
Lee YS, Jung HJ, Yoon MJ.Putative markers for each specific germ cell stage can be a useful tool to study the fate and functions of these cells. Undifferentiated embryonic cell transcription factor 1 (UTF1) is a putative marker for undifferentiated spermatogonia in humans, rats and horses. The deleted in azoospermia-like (DAZL) protein is also expressed by differentiated spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes in several species. However, whether the expression patterns of these molecular markers are identical and applicable to donkeys remains to be elucidated. The objective of this study was to investigate the expres...
Conley AJ, Scholtz EL, Dujovne G, Cotterman RF, Legacki EL, Uliani RC, Alvarenga MA, Ball BA, Kalra B, Savjani GV, Kumar A.Studies in mares have examined serum inhibin concentrations using immuno-assays unable to distinguish dimeric inhibin-A from inhibin-B isoforms. Inhibin-A and inhibin-B immuno-assays were used to investigate concentrations in cyclic mares, young and old (6 vs 19 years old, respectively) mares following hemi-ovariectomy, mares during pregnancy and in mares with confirmed granulosa cell tumors (GCTs). Mares with inter-ovulatory intervals of 26 days had ovulatory peaks of inhibin-A averaging 80 pg/mL with a mid-cycle nadir of 5 pg/mL. Inhibin-A and inhibin-B concentrations were highly correlate...
Deriusheva SE, Loginova IuA, Chiriaeva OG, Iaschak K, Smirnov AF.Distribution of blocks of ribosomal RNA genes along metaphase chromosomes of 26 horses from five breeds was determined by means of a modified method of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in combination with simultaneous R- banding. Gene loci coding for rRNA were mapped to the region of secondary constriction on the short arm of chromosome 1, and to the pericentromeric regions of chromosomes 27, 28, and 31. The nucleolar organizer region (NOR) on chromosome 27 was not described earlier. Interindividual and interchromosomal NOR polymorphism was detected With the use of a semiquantitative ...
Drabbe A, Janssens S, Blott S, Ducro BJ, Fontanel M, Francois L, Schurink A, Stinckens A, Lindgren G, Van Mol B, Pille F, Buys N, Velie BD.Osteochondrosis (OC) is an important skeletal disease causing profound welfare concerns in horses. Although numerous studies have explored the genetics underlying OC in various breeds, the Belgian Warmblood (BW) remains unstudied despite having a concerning prevalence of 32.0%. As a result, this study aimed to conduct genome-wide association (GWA) analyses to identify candidate variants associated with OC in BWs. To achieve this, blood samples and radiographs were collected from 407 Belgian Warmbloods registered to one of two BW studbooks (Belgisch Warmbloedpaard and Zangersheide), and genotyp...
Hedayat Evrigh N, Omri M, Boustan A, Seyedsharifi R, Vahedi V.The source and history of horse domestication have been studied for decades in biology and archeology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic structure and the genetic relationship between six breeds of native horses using mitochondrial D-loop region. Blood samples were collected from 96 horses. Total DNA was extracted, and 430 bp of D-Loop region (hyper variable) was amplified and sequenced using Sanger sequencing methods. The analysis of data led to identify 48 polymorphic sites that create 52 haplotypes. The plotted phylogenic tree for haplotypes of Iranian native horses is plac...
Zhang H, Nagaoka K, Imakawa K, Nambo Y, Watanabe G, Taya K, Weng Q.The establishment of equine pregnancy is a unique and long process during which a series of physical and possibly biochemical interactions are required between the conceptus and uterus. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern of inhibin/activin subunits in the uterus during early pregnancy. The uteri from four adult mares on cyclic day 13 or pregnancy day 25 were obtained. Immunohistochemical experiments suggested that inhibin/activin subunits were immunolocalized in the luminal and glandular epithelium on pregnancy day 25. In addition, the inhibin α and inhibin/activin βB subu...
Buono F, Veneziano V, Veronesi F, Molento MB.In June 2022, at the XXXII Conference of the Italian Society of Parasitology, the parallels of the main endoparasitic infections of horses and donkeys were discussed. Although these 2 species are genetically different, they can be challenged by a similar range of parasites (i.e. small and large strongyles, and spp.). Although equids can demonstrate some level of resilience to parasites, they have quite distinct helminth biodiversity, distribution and intensity among different geographical locations and breeds. Heavily infected donkeys may show fewer clinical signs than horses. Although parasi...
Sampaio B, Ortiz I, Resende H, Felix M, Varner D, Hinrichs K.Exposure to the calcium ionophore A23187 may present a "universal" sperm treatment for IVF, as it bypasses capacitation pathways. However, success in utilizing A23187 is variable, especially in equine spermatozoa. Notably, albumin is used during A23187 treatment but paradoxically is thought to suppress A23187 action. Essentially no critical data are available on the effects of A23187 and albumin concentrations, ratios, or addition protocols on changes in intracellular calcium ([Ca] ) in any cell type. To determine factors that affect the action of A23187 on [Ca] in equine and murine spermatozo...
De La Corte FD, Valberg SJ, MacLeay JM, Williamson SE, Mickelson JR.To determine whether excessive glycogen accumulation in skeletal muscle of Quarter Horses with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) is a result of enhanced cellular uptake of glucose. Methods: 6 horses with PSSM and 10 healthy (control) horses. Methods: Intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT), oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), and modified insulin tolerance tests (MITT) were performed. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were measured in blood samples collected before and for up to 8 hours after glucose or insulin administration. Results: Peak glucose concentrations during IVGTT...
Schambony A, Hess O, Gentzel M, Töpfer-Petersen E.Cysteine rich secretory proteins (CRISPs) have been detected immunochemically in the equine male genital tract. CRISPs are secretory products of the epididymis, the ampulla and the seminal vesicle. A particular feature of the horse is the abundance of CRISPs in seminal plasma. CRISPs can also be detected in extracts of testicular, epididymal and ejaculated spermatozoa in increasing amounts. Unlike other seminal plasma proteins, they cannot be removed completely from spermatozoa by high salt treatment. The remaining CRISP antigens are localized on the midpiece, and the postacrosomal and equator...
Miragliotta V, Ipiña Z, Lefebvre-Lavoie J, Lussier JG, Theoret CL.Wound healing in horses is fraught with complications. Specifically, wounds on horse limbs often develop exuberant granulation tissue which behaves clinically like a benign tumor and resembles the human keloid in that the evolving scar is trapped in the proliferative phase of repair, leading to fibrosis. Clues gained from the study of over-scarring in horses should eventually lead to new insights into how to prevent unwanted scar formation in humans. cDNA fragments corresponding to CTNNB1 (coding for beta-catenin) and PECAM1, genes potentially contributing to the proliferative phase of repair,...
Carter RA, Ericsson SA, Corn CD, Weyerts PR, Dart MG, Escue SG, Mesta J.The objective of this study was to determine if spermatozoal reduction of the dyes methylene green to colorless and resazurin to pink or colorless was associated with the fertility potential of an equine semen sample. Fifty samples from 38 stallions were evaluated for the number of spermatozoa per milliliter and number of motile sperm per milliliter. Methylene green (20 micrograms/mL of semen) or resazurin (85 micrograms/mL of semen) was added to 3-mL aliquots of semen. Semen samples were identified as having low fertility potential (< 200 x 10(6) total cells/mL and or = 200 x 10(6) total ...
Crausaz M, Launois T, Smith-Fleming K, McCoy AM, Knickelbein KE, Bellone RR.Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common cancer affecting the equine eye. A missense variant within the gene damage-specific DNA binding protein 2 (DDB2 c.1013C>T, p.Thr338Met) was previously identified as a causal recessive genetic risk factor for the development of ocular SCC within Haflingers, Belgian Draft horses, and Rocky Mountain Horses, but not in the Appaloosa or Arabian breeds. This study aimed to evaluate three cases of ocular SCC in additional breeds and determine if DNA testing for the DDB2 variant in warmblood horses and Connemara ponies is warranted. Histopathology confi...
Herszberg B, McCue ME, Larcher T, Mata X, Vaiman A, Chaffaux S, Chérel Y, Valberg SJ, Mickelson JR, Guérin G.Glycogen storage diseases or glycogenoses are inherited diseases caused by abnormalities of enzymes that regulate the synthesis or degradation of glycogen. Deleterious mutations in many genes of the glyco(geno)lytic or the glycogenesis pathways can potentially cause a glycogenosis, and currently mutations in fourteen different genes are known to cause animal or human glycogenoses, resulting in myopathies and/or hepatic disorders. The genetic bases of two forms of glycogenosis are currently known in horses. A fatal neonatal polysystemic type IV glycogenosis, inherited recessively in affected Qu...
Choi YH, Velez IC, Macías-García B, Hinrichs K.In nuclear transfer (NT), exposure of donor cell chromatin to the ooplast cytoplasm may aid reprogramming; however, the length of exposure feasible is limited by the developmental life span of the oocyte. We examined the effect of duration of nucleus-cytoplasmic exposure before activation and of in vitro maturation (IVM) in equine NT. In experiment 1, 24 h IVM and a delay of 2, 5, or 8 h between reconstruction and activation yielded 4%, 15%, and 11% blastocysts, respectively. In experiment 2, a 5-h activation delay yielded 17% and 22% blastocysts with two donor cell lines. In experiment 3, usi...
Bernoco D, Byrns G, Bailey E, Lew AM.Two antisera, B-442 and R-2046, were produced by immunizing offspring with purified peripheral blood lymphocytes from a parent matched for the ELA-A specificity carried on the unshared haplotype. Absorption analysis demonstrated that these antisera contained at least two families of cytotoxic antibodies, one directed against antigens present on T and B cells, and a second directed preferentially against antigens present on surface Ig positive cells. Immunoprecipitation studies using these antisera demonstrated that both antisera contain antibodies specific for glycoproteins with molecular weig...
Ryan PL, Bennett-Wimbush K, Vaala WE, Bagnell CA.Tall fescue is one of the most widely grown forage grasses for horses in the United States. However, it is frequently infected with the endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum which produces ergot alkaloids that cause severe adverse effects in the pregnant mare. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of fescue toxicosis and fluphenazine on circulating relaxin in pregnant pony mares and evaluate the usefulness of relaxin as a monitor of treatment efficacy. Twelve mares were maintained on endophyte-infected tall fescue pasture. Group TRT (n = 6), received 25 mg of fluphenazine de...
Pellegrini A, von Fellenberg R.The principal alpha-1-protease inhibitor of horse was fractionated by classical methods and analysed with a modified fibrinogen-agarose gel electrophoretic method of high sensitivity and resolving power. Starting with an electrophoretically homogeneous inhibitor in unfractionated serum, two isoinhibitor bands became apparent after fractionation with (NH4)2SO4 and DEAE-cellulose DE-52 ion-exchange chromatography. The isoinhibitors differed in electrophoretic migration and in the elution pattern from Sephadex G-100 gel filtration, but possessed identical antigenic determinants and enzyme specifi...
Bridges CG, Edington N.Six Welsh Mountain pony foals were experimentally infected with a subtype 2 isolate of Equid Herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and subsequently examined for T cell mediated cytotoxicity against both subtypes. Cytotoxicity was not observed at 3 or 7 days after primary exposure but virus-specific, and genetically restricted, cytotoxicity of EHV-1-labelled autologous skin fibroblasts could be demonstrated 7 and 21 days after the animals were given a second exposure to live virus. Killing of subtype 2 antigen-labelled targets was more efficient than subtype 1 coated cells. This finding was paralleled by the o...
Curling A.Equine recurrent uveitis is a cyclical disease that affects the eye and often leads to high management costs and unfavorable results, such as blindness. Research has improved understanding of the roles of various etiologies, especially leptospirosis, in initiating and perpetuating the pathogenesis of equine recurrent uveitis. Research has also led to the discovery that specific breeds and horses with specific coat color patterns may be predisposed to developing recurrent uveitis.
Arrighi S, Cremonesi F, Bosi G, Domeneghini C.Specimens of testis, excurrent duct including the male accessory glands and urethra, were studied in boars, bulls, horses and donkeys, in order to localize endocrine/paracrine cells. Silver impregnation methods were used to test the argentaffinity and/or argyrophilia of cells. Immunoreactivities to chromogranin A, 5-hydroxytryptamine, somatostatin, [met]- and [leu]- enkephalins, gastrin-releasing peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide, neuropeptide Y, substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, beta-endorphin antisera were tested by a streptavidin-biotin method. In the testis, epididymis, du...
Cehak A, Wilkens MR, Guschlbauer M, Mrochen N, Schröder B, Feige K, Breves G.Transepithelial transport mechanisms play a key role in regulating the absorption and secretion of calcium (Ca(2+)) and inorganic phosphate (P(i)) in the gastrointestinal tract. Although intestinal disorders with imbalances in macromineral homeostasis are frequently observed in horses, available data on intestinal Ca(2+) and P(i) transport are limited. The aim of the present study was to characterize the intestinal Ca(2+) and P(i) transport functionally by using the in vitro radioisotope tracer technique with Ussing chambers and to identify components involved in Ca(2+) transport at both mRNA ...
Smith DR, Leach DH, Bell RJ.Anatomical anomalies in the hind feet of a seven month old Appaloosa foal were identified and investigated through the use of gross anatomical dissection, radiography and angiography. Abnormalities were restricted to the distal aspect of both hind legs, the right hind leg being more severely affected. Anatomically the right foot resembled that of an equine fetus of approximately 120 days gestational age. Disruption of vascular perfusion to hoof structures was evident in both hind legs and was related to areas of abnormal bone conformation as well as to areas of abnormal ossification and calcif...
Hormanski CE, Truax R, Pourciau SS, Folsom RW, Horohov DW.The in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with interleukin 2 (IL-2) results in the development of potent cytotoxic effector cells, referred to as lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. LAK cells are capable of lysing a wide variety of autologous, allogeneic and xenogeneic tumor cells. The exact mechanism of target cell recognition by LAK cells remains unknown. LAK cell activity has been reported for a variety of domesticated species except the horse. We report here that IL-2-stimulated equine PBMC, which fail to lyse either human or murine tumor cell lines, exhibi...
