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.
Spirito F, Charlesworth A, Linder K, Ortonne JP, Baird J, Meneguzzi G.Recent achievements in the genetic correction of keratinocytes isolated from patients with junctional epidermolysis bullosa have paved the way to a gene therapy approach for the disease. Because gene therapy protocols require preclinical validation in animals, we have characterized spontaneous animal models of junctional epidermolysis bullosa. In this study we have elucidated the genetic basis of the hereditary junctional mechanobullous disease in the Belgian horse, a condition characterized by blistering of the skin and mouth epithelia, and exungulation (loss of the hoof). Immunofluorescence ...
Henner J, Poncet PA, Aebi L, Hagger C, Stranzinger G, Rieder S.Coat color played an important role during domestication and formation of breeds. Livestock breeders often had special preferences for particular color phenotypes because they believed them to be associated with performance or fitness traits. Socio-cultural reasons might have had an influence on color selection as well. Recently genetic tests on DNA level got available to genotype in any individual horse for basic horse coat colors (chestnut, bay, black). In particular, hidden carriers of the recessive chestnut and black allele are recognizable with these tests. A sample of 162 Franches-Montag...
Schelling C, Hagger C, Pieńkowska A, Siegfried JP, Stranzinger G.A population of Baudet du Poitou donkeys was genetically characterized using microsatellites. The results were used to verify the pedigrees and to estimate the genetic variability. It could be confirmed that a equine parentage test kit works well for donkeys and that by using 13 microsatellites more than 99% of wrong pedigree informations would be detected. The genetic variability was comparable to a representative group of Baudet du Poitou donkeys in France.
Anzai T, Timoney JE, Kuwamoto Y, Wada R, Oikawa M, Higuchi T.To develop polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis for molecular typing of strains of Streptococcus zooepidemicus and to use the new typing method to analyze a collection of isolates from the respiratory tract of Thoroughbreds. Methods: 10 strains of S zooepidemicus, 65 isolates from the respiratory tract of 9 yearlings following long distance transportation, and 89 isolates from tracheal aspirates of 20 foals with pneumonia. Methods: Phenotypic variations in the SzP protein were detected by western immunoblot analysis. Using PCR-RFLP analysis, ge...
Volkmann DH, Williams JH, Henton JH, Donahue JM, Williams NM.Since the late 1980s a distinct form of focally-extensive mucoid to mucopurulent uterine body chronic placentitis,caused by nocardioform organisms, hasbeen recognised in horses in the USA state of Kentucky and possibly in other areas. This disease has led to increasing numbers of foal losses from late abortions, still-births, prematurity, or early neonatal deaths. The foals are usually not infected, but may be small or emaciated. Modes of infection and transmission are as yet unknown. Nocardia spp. and related nocardioform bacteria as causes of equine infertility, endometritis and foal death a...
Pirhonen A, Linnala-Kankkunen A, Kenney RM, Mäenpää PH.Protamine P1 amino acid sequences were determined from semen samples of the Przewalski horse, donkey, Somali wild ass, Grevy's zebra, and Grant's zebra (odd-toed perissodactyls), and compared with those of the domestic horse. Although the rate of amino acid variation of protamine P1 is known to be among the most rapidly diverging polypeptides, the equid sequences revealed only little variation. The sequence from the Przewalski horse was identical with that from the domestic horse. The other sequences differed from the corresponding sequences of the domestic and Przewalski horses in two positio...
Pinto CR, Paccamonti DL, Eilts BE, Short CR, Godke RA.Recent studies suggest that nitric oxide (NO) may have a role in regulating ovarian physiology. To investigate the role of NO during ovulation in mares, inhibitors of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were administered to estrous mares. Forty cycling mares (20 horses and 20 pony mares) were allotted to one of the three treatment groups. Once a follicle was at least 27 mm in diameter, but smaller than 35 mm, mares were given one of the following treatments: saline solution 0.9% (n = 20, w/v, i.v., every 12 h), Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME; n = 10, 148 micromol/kg, i....
Aranguren-Méndez J, Gómez M, Jordana J.The hierarchical population structure of five, native-Spanish donkey breeds (Andaluza, Catalana, Mallorquina, Encartaciones and Zamorano-Leonesa) has been studied using F-statistics. In addition, nine Moroccan asses and 24 Merens breed horses were included in the analysis. Data came from 15 DNA microsatellites. The analysis shows that Spanish donkeys are substructured at both hierarchical levels studied, among breeds and within breeds (between subpopulations). In the whole population, the deficit of heterozygotes was estimated to be about 21%. The fixation indices corresponding to differences ...
Benarafa C, Collins ME, Hamblin AS, Sabroe I, Cunningham FM.The chemokine eotaxin (CCL11) is a key player in the trafficking of eosinophils to normal tissues and in the tissue eosinophilia associated with human allergic disease. We have recently cloned equine eotaxin and here we report the production of rEq eotaxin, with and without a C-terminal fusion peptide, in a novel expression system utilising stably transfected insect cells. rEq eotaxin induced equine eosinophil migration and superoxide production in vitro. A shape change in human eosinophils that could be blocked by 7B11, a monoclonal antibody against human CCR3, was also observed. Biological a...
Li QC, Mabrouk PA.This paper reports the first report of rapid, reversible direct electron transfer between a redox protein, specifically, horse myoglobin, and a solid electrode substrate in nonaqueous media and the spectroscopic (UV-vis, fluorescence, and resonance Raman) characterization of the relevant redox forms of myoglobin (Mb) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). In DMSO, the heme active site of metmyoglobin (metMb) appears to remain six-coordinate high-spin, binding water weakly. Changes in the UV-fluorescence spectra for metMb in DMSO indicate that the protein secondary structure has been perturbed and sugge...
Ginther OJ, Meira C, Beg MA, Bergfelt DR.Deviation during a follicular wave in mares begins when the largest follicle (F1) reaches a mean diameter of 22.5 mm and is characterized by continued growth of F1 to become the dominant follicle and regression of F2 to become the largest subordinate follicle. In the present study, F1 was ablated at the expected beginning of deviation (Hour 0) to provide a reference point for characterizing the intrafollicular changes preceding experimental deviation between F2 and F3. Diameters and concentrations of follicular fluid factors in F2 and F3 were determined in F1-ablated mares at Hours 0, 12, 24, ...
Thway TM, Wolfe MW.Equids and primates are the only species known to express the placental hormone chorionic gonadotropin (CG). CG is a member of the heterodimeric glycoprotein family and is composed of an alpha subunit linked to a hormone-specific beta subunit. Previously, we have reported that epidermal growth factor (EGF) regulates the equine glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit promoter through a protein kinase C (PKC)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway in trophoblasts. The current study investigates the regulatory element/factors involved in the induction of equine glycoprotei...
Lemazurier E, Séralini GE.Our previous work showed that stallion testis produces high amounts of estrogens which are subsequently found in the ejaculate. These estrogens are mainly synthesized by testicular aromatase, and the major estrogen produced is estrone sulfate (E1S). The objective of this study was to investigate the potential role of E1S as a source of estrogens in the male and female horse reproductive tracts by determining whether both estrone sulfatase (Sulf) and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I (17beta-HSD1) activities were present in equine testes, epididymis and uterus. We assessed E1S bioconve...
Bachmann I, Staﾬher M.In the Swiss horse population, the prevalence of conspicuous behaviours (behavioural disorders and stable vices) was recorded with a written questionnaire in a representative survey among 1861 horse yards, and the occurrence of the stereotypic behavioural disorders crib-biting, weaving and boxwalking was analysed with emphasis on their association with horse specific (breed, age, sex) and environmental factors (e.g. housing system, nutrition, management and utilisation). 622 horse yards with a total number of 2536 horses answered to the questionnaire, and conspicuous behaviours were described ...
Hartel PG, Summer JD, Hill JL, Collins JV, Entry JA, Segars WI.Several genotypic methods have been developed for determining the host origin of fecal bacteria in contaminated waters. Some of these methods rely on a host origin database to identify environmental isolates. It is not well understood to what degree these host origin isolates are geographically variable (i.e., cosmopolitan or endemic). This is important because a geographically limited host origin database may or may not be universally applicable. The objective of our study was to use one genotypic method, ribotyping, to determine the geographic variability of the fecal bacterium, Escherichia ...
Long MT, Mines MT, Knowles DP, Tanhauser SM, Dame JB, Cutler TJ, MacKay RJ, Sellon DC.Sarcocystis neurona was isolated from the blood of a 5-month-old Arabian foal with severe combined immunodeficiency. The foal had been inoculated approximately 3 weeks previously with 5 x 10(5) sporocysts that were isolated from the intestines of an opossum and identified by restriction enzyme analysis of PCR products as S. neurona. The isolate obtained from the blood of this foal was characterized by genetic, serologic, and morphologic methods and identified as S. neurona (WSU1). This represents the first time that S. neurona has been isolated from any tissue after experimental infection of a...
Battsetseg B, Lucero S, Xuan X, Claveria FG, Inoue N, Alhassan A, Kanno T, Igarashi I, Nagasawa H, Mikami T, Fujisaki K.The potential role of Boophilus microplus as a natural tick vector of Babesia equi and Babesia caballi in Brazilian horses was assessed using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based marker assay. B. equi merozoite-specific 218bp gene fragment was detected in almost 96% of horse blood samples, and 45.3-62.5% of females, eggs, larvae, and nymphs of B. microplus collected from 47 horses at Campo Grande in the State of Matto Grosso, Brazil. Except for the partially-fed female ticks, the B. caballi-specific 430bp gene fragment was amplified from horse blood samples, and all developmental stage...
Lichtenfels JR, Gibbons LM, Krecek RC.Terminology for common names for the Tribe Cyathostominea (cyathostomins), and disease caused by the nematodes (cyathostominosis), were recommended to replace the previously used names cyathostomes and cyathostomosis, which are ambiguous, inaccurate or synonymous, by the Third Internal Workshop on the Systematics of Cyathostominea of Horses, held in Stresa, Italy, 28 August 2001. The progress by this international working group at three workshops is reviewed briefly and a list of publications is provided. Included are an annotated checklist by genus and species of 93 species level names and th...
Kindig CA, McDonough P, Erickson HH, Poole DC.Within the moderate exercise intensity domain, the speed of oxygen uptake (V(O(2))) kinetics at the transition to a higher metabolic rate is thought to be limited by an inertia of the oxidative machinery. Nitric oxide (NO)-induced inhibition of O(2) consumption within the electron transport chain may contribute to this inertia. This investigation tested the hypothesis that a reduction or removal of any such NO effect via infusion of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; a NOS inhibitor) would speed V(O(2)) kinetics at the onset of moderate exercise. Five Thoroughbred geldings underwe...
Kreeger JM, Templer A, Tumquist SE, Bailey KL, Johnson PJ, Wilson DA.Paranasal meningioma was diagnosed in a 5-year-old Appaloosa gelding. The mass occupied the right maxillary, frontal, and sphenopalatine sinuses but did not invade the calvarium. The diagnosis was based on histologic evaluation, positive immunohistochemical staining for vimentin and cytokeratin, and ultrastructural features including the presence of interdigitating spindle cells with numerous desmosomes.
Harnal VK, Wildt DE, Bird DM, Monfort SL, Ballou JD.Genome resource banks (GRBs) and assisted reproductive techniques are increasingly recognized as useful tools for the management and conservation of biodiversity, including endangered species. Cryotechnology permits long-term storage of valuable genetic material. Although, the actual application to endangered species management requires technical knowledge about sperm freezing and thawing, a systematic understanding of the quantitative impacts of various germ plasm storage and use scenarios is also mandatory. In this study, various GRB strategies were analyzed using the historical data from th...
Bjørnstad G, Røed KH.Assignment tests have been utilized to investigate population classification, measure genetic diversity and to solve forensic questions. Using microsatellite data from 26 loci genotyped in eight horse breeds we examined how population differentiation, number of scored loci, number of scored animals per breed and loci variability affected individual assignment precision applying log likelihood methods. We found that both genetic differentiation and number of scored loci were highly important for recognizing the breed of origin. When comparing two and two breeds, a proportion of 95% of the most ...
Brooks SA, Terry RB, Bailey E.An MspI polymorphism was identified in intron 13 of the equine homologue of proto-oncogene c-kit (KIT) by comparing DNA sequences from horses with solid coat colour and horses homozygous for the tobiano spotting (To) gene. The allele associated with solid coat colour was designated KM0, while the allele associated with the tobiano pattern created an additional MspI restriction site and was designated KM1. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) studies using DNA from hair follicles demonstrated that all 129 of 129 tobiano patterned horses possessed the KM1...
Hill EW, Bradley DG, Al-Barody M, Ertugrul O, Splan RK, Zakharov I, Cunningham EP.Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop sequences (381 bp) from 100 thoroughbreds in 19 of the most common matrilineal female families were used to reconstruct a founder female population for the thoroughbred ( approximately 1650-1750 AD). Seventeen haplotypes were found to have contributed to the 19 female lineages. In order to place the reconstructed founder population in wider historical context, we examined, using both single strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequence analysis, variation in a 343 bp mtDNA fragment in that population and 13 other horse populations of disparate provenance...
Yang YH, Kim KI, Cothran EG, Flannery AR.We used sequence polymorphism of the mitochondrial DNA D-loop (968 bp excluding the tandem repeat region) to determine genetic diversity of horses inhabiting Cheju (a southern island of Korea). Seventeen haplotypes with frequencies from 1.5 to 21.5% were found among 65 Cheju horse samples. Genetic diversity (h) of the 17 haplotypes was calculated to be 0.91, indicating that the extant Cheju horse population consists of diverse genetic groups in their maternal lineage. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 17 types of Cheju (D-loop sequences determined), 5 Mongolian, 6 Arabian, 3 Belgian, 2 Tsushim...
Martoriati A, Lalmanach AC, Goudet G, Gérard N.A growing body of evidence suggests that the ovary is a site of inflammatory reactions, and thus, ovarian cells could represent sources and targets of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) system. The aim of the present work was to investigate the expression of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-1ra, IL-1R1, and IL-1R2 genes in equine cumulus cells and oocytes. Moreover, the influence of IL-1beta on in vitro maturation of cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) was examined. COCs were collected using ultrasound-guided follicular puncture in vivo. Oocytes and cumulus cells were isolated from preovulatory and subordinate foll...
Choi YH, Love CC, Chung YG, Varner DD, Westhusin ME, Burghardt RC, Hinrichs K.We investigated the use of direct nuclear injection using the Piezo drill and activation by injection of stallion sperm cytosolic extract for production of cloned equine embryos. When metaphase II horse oocytes were injected with either of two dosages of sperm extract and cultured 20 h, similar activation rates (88% vs. 90%) and cleavage rates (49% vs. 46%) were obtained. The successful reconstruction rate of horse oocytes with horse somatic cell donor nuclei after direct injection using the Piezo drill was 82%. Four dosages of sperm extract (containing 59, 176, 293, or 1375 microg/ml protein)...
Giese A, Jude R, Kuiper H, Piumi F, Schambony A, Guérin G, Distl O, Töpfer-Petersen E, Leeb T.Acidic epididymal glycoprotein 1 (AEG1), also called cysteine-rich secretory protein 1 (CRISP1), is a member of the CRISP protein family which is characterized by 16 conserved cysteine residues at the C-terminus. The CRISP proteins are expressed in the male genital tract and are thought to be involved in sperm-egg fusion. Therefore, their genes are of interest as candidate genes for inherited male fertility dysfunctions and as putative quantitative trait loci for male fertility traits. In this report, the cloning and DNA sequence of 90 kb of horse genomic DNA from equine chromosome 20q22 conta...
Hayashi T, Matsuo T, Hitomi Y, Okawa K, Suzuki A, Shiro Y, Iizuka T, Hisaeda Y, Ogoshi H.Horse heart myoglobin was reconstituted with mesohemin derivatives methylated at the 6- or 7-position to evaluate the role of the heme-6-propionate or heme-7-propionate side chain in the protein. The association and dissociation of the O(2) binding for the deoxymyoglobin with 6-methyl-7-propionate mesoheme are clearly accelerated. Furthermore, the myoglobin with 6-methyl-7-propionate mesoheme shows fast autoxidation from oxymyoglobin to metmyoglobin compared to the myoglobin with 6-propionate-7-methyl heme and the reference protein. These results indicate the 6-propionate plays an important ph...
De Lange V, Chiers K, Lefère L, Cools M, Ververs C, Govaere J.Two unilateral cryptorchid stallions were referred to the clinic because of chronic debilitating condition with emaciation. Rectal examination, and ultrasound and gross examination revealed in both animals an abdominal mass, caudally of the kidney, and multiple nodules spread over the abdomen. Histologic analysis revealed an intra-abdominal malignant seminoma with intraperitoneal and renal metastasis. Interestingly, a seminoma was also present in the descended testis of the draught horse.
Peauroi JR, Fisher DJ, Mohr FC, Vivrette SL.A 14-year-old Arabian gelding had weight loss and anorexia of 3 weeks' duration. Results of repeated laboratory tests revealed persistent hypercalcemia and serum phosphorus concentration that was within or less than the reference range. Parathyroid hormone concentration was high. Histologic examination of specimens obtained at necropsy revealed parathyroid adenoma. A diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism attributable to a functional parathyroid adenoma was made. Abnormalities in calcium and phosphorus concentrations were similar to those seen with primary hyperparathyroidism in dogs, in whi...
Díaz S, Echeverría MG, It V, Posik DM, Rogberg-Muñoz A, Pena NL, Peral-García P, Vega-Pla JL, Giovambattista G.The polymorphism of equine lymphocyte antigen (ELA) class II DRA gene had been detected by polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and reference strand-mediated conformation analysis. These methodologies allowed to identify 11 ELA-DRA exon 2 sequences, three of which are widely distributed among domestic horse breeds. Herein, we describe the development of a pyrosequencing-based method applicable to ELA-DRA typing, by screening samples from eight different horse breeds previously typed by PCR-SSCP. This sequence-based method would be useful in high-throug...
Leeb T, Sieme H, Töpfer-Petersen E.Our knowledge on the many aspects of mammalian reproduction in general and equine reproduction in particular has greatly increased during the last 15 years. Advances in the understanding of the physiology, cell biology, and biochemistry of reproduction have facilitated genetic analyses of fertility. Currently, there are more than 200 genes known that are involved in the production of fertile sperm cells. The completion of a number of mammalian genome projects will aid in the investigation of these genes in different species. Great progress has been made in the understanding of genetic aberrati...
Stock KF, Distl O.To evaluate whether additive genetic correlations existed between certain aspects of the radiographic appearance of the distal sesamoid (navicular) bones (RNB) or between RNB and other types of radiographic changes in the limbs of Hanoverian Warmblood horses. Methods: 5,157 horses. Methods: Quasi-linear and binary traits were defined by the appearance of canales sesamoidales (CSs) and the structure and contour of the forelimb navicular bones (NBs). Prevalences of osseous fragments in the metacarphophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal (fetlock) and tarsocrural joints and deforming arthropathy in ...
Veronesi F, Di Palma S, Gabrielli S, Morganti G, Milardi GL, Middleton B, Lepri E.The only species currently known to inhabit the fibers of skeletal and cardiac muscles in horses are , and . We describe herein the invasion of myofibers in a horse by , a sheep-specific species with low virulence in the original host. A hunter gelding was referred to a veterinary surgeon in Newmarket (UK). The anamnestic data reported that the horse had an initial history of swelling of the right forelimb with fluid on the front of the carpus and edema spreading up the forearm. Subsequently, 2 firm lumps were found on the left pectoral muscle adjacent to the axilla of the left forelimb. Hist...
Varrasso A, Drummer HE, Huang JA, Stevenson RA, Ficorilli N, Studdert MJ, Hartley CA.The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the P1 region of the genomes of 10 independent equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV) isolates were determined and found to be very closely related. A panel of seven monoclonal antibodies to the prototype virus ERAV.393/76 that bound to nonneutralization epitopes conserved among all 10 isolates was raised. In serum neutralization assays, rabbit polyclonal sera and sera from naturally and experimentally infected horses reacted in a consistent and discriminating manner with the 10 isolates, which indicated the existence of variation in the neutralizatio...
Alghamdi AS, Madill S, Foster DN, Troedsson MH.When mares are inseminated repeatedly, protein molecules from the seminal plasma (SP) prevent sperm-neutrophil binding and reduced fertility. The molecule(s) responsible for sperm-neutrophil binding is not known and the identification of beneficial SP proteins is complicated by their large numbers and abundant variation. We examined several important aspects of sperm-neutrophil binding to ultimately facilitate the identification and isolation of the molecule(s) responsible. First, we raised anti-equine P-selectin antibodies to determine the involvement of this adhesion molecule in sperm-neutro...
Park Y, Pariza MW.We analyzed fetal calf, newborn calf, horse, and adult cow sera for conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). All sera samples contained CLA, but the amounts varied. The predominant isomer was cis-9,trans-11 CLA but some samples appeared to contain substantial amounts of an isomer with the retention time of trans-10,cis-12 CLA.
Moreno-Millan M, Delgado Bermejo JV, Lopez Castillo G.An X-trisomy has been detected in an intersexuality Spanish-bred horse by using G- and C-banding methods. The external characteristics and the behavioural and physiological irregularities of the horse are described. This is the first time that an association between an X-trisomy and a case of intersexuality has been reported in any domestic animal.
Frederico LM, Gerard MP, Pinto CR, Gradil CM.An Arabian mare was referred for right granulosa-theca cell tumor (GTCT) evaluation. The mare was presented 4.5 years later for a left GTCT, after successfully conceiving and delivering a normal foal in the interim. The concurrent or nonconcurrent occurrence of bilateral GTCT in mares appears to be rare. Une jument Arabe a été référée pour l’évaluation d’une tumeur de la granulosa et de la thèque du côté droit (TGT). La jument avait été présentée 4,5 ans plus tôt pour une TGT du côté gauche, ayant entre temps conçu et mis au monde un poulain normal. La présence, simultan...
Morton HC.The biological role of IgA depends, at least partly, on the interaction with specific receptors (FcalphaRs) on the surface of leukocytes. The human FcalphaR, CD89, was the first IgA Fc receptor to be identified, and binding of IgA-coated particles to CD89 triggers numerous cellular effector functions including phagocytosis, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), and release of inflammatory mediators. Recently, CD89 orthologs have been identified in a number of other species, including cows and horses. This brief review will summarize our current knowledge regarding the structure...
Chapard L, Van Thillo A, Meyermans R, Gorssen W, Buys N, Janssens S.Show jumping is one of the most popular disciplines in the horse sector, which makes success in show jumping competitions an important breeding goal for many studbooks. Therefore, the genetic evaluation of show jumping performance is of major interest and this is the case for two Belgian Warmblood studbooks: the Belgian Warmblood horse and Zangersheide. In this study, first an improved phenotype for show jumping performance was developed, i.e. adjusted fence height based on a new non-arbitrary method to scale ranking and competition level, which are two major components of success in competiti...
Sacchetto R, Sharova E, Patruno M, Maccatrozzo L, Damiani E, Mascarello F.Histidine-rich calcium binding protein (HRC) is a high capacity, low affinity Ca(2+) binding protein, specifically expressed in striated muscles of mammals. In rabbit skeletal and cardiac muscles, HRC binds to sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes via triadin, a junctional SR protein. Recently, a potential role in heart failure and arrhythmogenesis has been assigned to HRC due to its activity as regulator of SR Ca(2+) uptake and Ca(2+) release. HRC might play a particularly relevant role in the equine heart, given its slower resting heart rate (20-35 beats/min) and longer action potential dura...
Byambaragchaa M, Choi SH, Joo HE, Kim SG, Kim YJ, Park GE, Kang MH, Min KS.Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), produced by the endometrial cups of the placenta after the first trimester, is a specific glycoprotein that displays dual luteinizing hormone (LH)-like and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-like effects in non-equid species. However, in equidaes, eCG exhibits only LH-like activity. To identify the specific biological functions of glycosylated sites in eCG, we constructed the following site mutants of N- and O-linked glycosylation: eCGβ/αΔ56, substitution of α-subunit N-linked glycosylation site; eCGβ-D/α, deletion of the O-linked glycosylation sites ...
Sheikh A.The Arabian horse breed is well known for its purity and played a key role in the genetic improvement of other horses worldwide. The mitochondrial genome plays a vital role in maternal inheritance and it's helpful to evaluate its genetic diversity and conservation. It has higher mutation rates than nuclear DNA in vertebrates and therefore reveals phylogenetic relationships and haplotypes. In this study, the mitochondrial genome mutations in two Saudi horse strains, Kehilan and Hamdani demonstrated various changes in the gene and amino acid levels and included two other Saudi horses (Hadban and...
Gmel AI, Haraldsdóttir EH, Bragança FMS, Cruz AM, Neuditschko M, Weishaupt MA.In gait quality assessments of horses, stride length (SL) is visually associated with spectacular movements of the front limbs, and described as ground coverage, while the movement of the hind limb under the body is supposedly essential to a longer over-tracking distance (OTD). To identify movement patterns with strong associations to SL and OTD, limb and body kinematics of 24 Franches-Montagnes (FM) stallions were measured with 3D optical motion capture (OMC) on a treadmill during an incremental speed test at trot (3.3-6.5 m/s). These measurements were correlated to the scores of ground cover...
Tulamo RM, Saari H, Konttinen YT.Concentration of hyaluronate (HA) in equine serum was determined by a recently developed specific radioassay. The mean +/- SD HA concentration in equine serum was 288 +/- 145 micrograms/L, was age dependent, and varied widely between horses (range, 190 to 760 micrograms/L). Light or moderate exercise increased serum HA concentration from baseline values by 1.5- to 3-fold. In all horses, serum HA concentration returned to or below the original resting values 1 and 2 hours after exercise.
Leid RW, Coley SC, Blanchard DP, Perryman LE.The equine alternative complement pathway has been partially characterized and compared to the equine classical activation pathway. A dose-dependent lysis of RbRBC was observed with peak lytic values noted within 10 minutes at 37 degrees C when rabbit red blood cells (RbRBC) were used as an alternative pathway activator. Sheep red blood cells (SRBC) sensitized with rabbit hemolysin or partially purified equine IgM antibodies were equally sensitive to lysis. Dilution of the commercial hemolysin by 1/5 reduced lysis from 90% to 38% in the presence of constant cell numbers. Hemolysis of SRBC peak...
Riera FL, Hinrichs K, Hunt PR, Kenney RM.Cervical hyperplasia with prolapse through the vulvar lips was documented in a mare. Postmortem examination indicated that the mass originated from the cervical wall. The surface of the prolapsed mass had histologic features of normal cervix. Cervical hyperplasia can be considered in a list of differential diagnoses in cases of prolapse of the internal genitalia in mares.
Bernstock JD, Ostby S, Fox B, Sotoudeh H, Janssen A, Kang YJ, Chen J, Prattipati V, Elsayed G, Chagoya G, Yamashita D, Friedman GK, Nabors B, Huh WK....Leptomeningeal metastasis is extremely rare in patients with ovarian cancer, but should be considered in patients presenting with neurologic deficits such as cauda equine syndrome. Given its poor prognosis and lack of data currently on management, additional studies are needed to optimize treatment regimens and improve outcomes.
Zhang M, Wei K, Wu Z, Sun J, Hu J, Deng S, Tao J.There is considerable confusion concerning the relationships among species of Sarcocystis found in donkeys and horses. Here, we describe a Sarcocystis species in Chinese donkeys (Equus asinus). Sarcocysts were found in 12 of 32 (37.5%) adult donkeys. By light microscopy, they were divided into two types, thin-walled and thick-walled. The thin-walled were macroscopic (up to 320 μm wide) and had short club-like protrusions (up to 2.7 μm long); the thick-walled were microscopic (up to 135 μm wide) and had villar protrusions (up to 5.4 μm long). Ultrastructures of the two types exhibited s...
Sampaio CA, Prado ES.Ala-Phe-Lys-CH2-Cl is a chloromethylketone derivative which is able to promote the inhibition of several proteolytic enzymes. In this paper the inhibition of horse urinary and plasmatic kallikreins is described and this inhibition is compared to that produced in human plasma kallikrein. This compound was designed based upon the structure of bradykinin. This enzyme substrate system can provide a model for the study of the interactions between bradykinin and its receptor. The inhibition of the enzymes was achieved both for its esterase and kinin-releasing activities.
Sato K, Tokuhisa S, Inaba Y.The growth of group A human, bovine, equine and porcine rotaviruses were enhanced by pretreatment of virus with pancreatin, trypsin, protease, alkaline phosphatase or pepsin and incorporation of these enzymes in maintenance medium. In contrast, alpha-amylase or lipase inhibited the growth of equine and porcine rotaviruses. The other enzymes, adenosine deaminase, lactase, lysozyme, ribonuclease or triose-phosphate isomerase gave little or no change in the growth of all four rotaviruses.
Papkoff H.The objectives of this paper are to review the chemical and biological properties of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG, PMSG) isolated from the serum. Comparisons are made with eCG isolated from endometrial cups, trophoblast cell culture medium, and low titer serum. The results show that eCG can vary, depending on the source, in both chemical and biological (LH and FSH activity) properties.
Chin WW, Maizel JV, Habener JF.The sizes of the human and subhuman alpha-subunits of the glycoprotein hormones differ by four amino acids (hCG alpha, 92 amino acids; murine, equine, bovine, and ovine alpha, 96 amino acids). The shortening of the human alpha-subunit has been attributed to posttranslational proteolysis. We have recently determined the nucleotide sequences of the mRNAs encoding the precursors of the alpha-subunit of mouse TSH and rat gonadotropins using recombinant DNA techniques. In this report, we have compared these nucleotide sequences and their deduced amino acid sequences with those of the pre- alpha-sub...
Luczkowiak J, Radreau P, Nguyen L, Labiod N, Lasala F, Veas F, Herbreteau CH, Delgado R.Several anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have received emergency authorization for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment. However, most of these mAbs are not active against the highly mutated Omicron SARS-CoV-2 subvariants. We have tested a polyclonal approach of equine anti-SARS-CoV-2 F(ab')2 antibodies that achieved a high level of neutralizing potency against all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern tested including Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.12 and BA.4/5. A repertoire of antibodies targeting conserved epitopes in different regi...
Goodrowe KL, Heath E.Bielanski and Kaczmarski (1979) reported the presence of microtubules in the neck region of mature stallion spermatozoa. It was hypothesized that these microtubules are derived from the manchette (a microtubular organelle present during spermiogenesis). In order to test this hypothesis, testes from 15 mature stallions were collected, perfused with 2% phosphate-buffered glutaraldehyde, and prepared for transmission electron microscopy. Spermatozoa from the caudae epididymides of each stallion were prepared in a similar manner. Spermiogenesis was observed in general, and the presence of a microt...
Ryder OA, Sparkes RS, Sparkes MC, Clegg JB.1. Through the use of isoelectric focusing and peptide analysis, the hemoglobins of Przewalski's horse. Equus przewalskii and the domestic horse, E. caballus have been compared. 2. Przewalski's horses have two separate alpha-globin chain polymorphisms similar to domestic horses. Each hemoglobin phenotype could be accurately determined by isoelectric focusing. 3. Confirmation of the electrofocusing hemoglobin determinations was made by comparison to amino acid composition analyses of purified tryptic peptides and by analysis of the rare hemoglobins phenotypes observed in a family of Norwegian t...
Frame SR, Harrington DD, Fessler J, Frame PF.Mechanobullous disease was diagnosed in a male Belgian foal that had sloughed hooves at 30 hours and at 6 and 12 days of age. Histologic and electron microscopic studies disclosed that lesions were the result of separation of the basal epithelial cell layer from the lamina densa of the basement membrane zone along the lamina lucida. Results of immunofluorescence on tissue specimens were negative for immunoglobulin deposition. The breeding history of the foal's dam indicated that the foal was produced from breeding of the mare to its full sibling stallion. This same mare had produced a female f...
