"Horses" is a broad topic that encompasses various aspects of equine biology, behavior, and management. This category includes studies on the anatomy, physiology, and genetics of horses, as well as their behavior, nutrition, and care. Research in this area may also cover the historical and cultural significance of horses, their roles in agriculture, sport, and therapy, and the challenges associated with their conservation and welfare. The page aggregates peer-reviewed research articles and scholarly studies that explore the multifaceted relationships between humans and horses, examining both scientific and socio-economic perspectives.
Ducharme NG, Pascoe PJ, Lumsden JH, Ducharme GR.In order to determine which variables are useful in identifying horses with abdominal pain requiring surgery, data were analysed from 219 horses presented at one veterinary teaching hospital. Using multiple stepwise discriminant analysis with a recursive partitioning algorithm, we obtained a decision tree that identifies surgical and non-surgical patients. The prevalence of surgical patients was 79 per cent in this population. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of this decision tree were 99 per cent, 55 per cent, 90 per cent and 99 per cent respectively. ...
Lundin C, Sullins KE, White NA, Clem MF, Debowes RM, Pfeiffer CA.Twenty-two foals were divided into groups of intestinal distension and intestinal ischaemia as methods to induce peritoneal adhesions. In the first group, the lumen of a segment of distal small intestine was occluded without extramural vascular compromise and distended with lactated Ringer's solution to a constant pressure of 25 cm H2O for 2 h within the abdomen. The ischaemic group underwent 70 mins total vascular occlusion of identical segments of bowel. Serosal biopsies were obtained before and after each experimental procedure and following 60 mins of reperfusion. Similar biopsies were har...
Baxter GM, Broome TE, Moore JN.One hundred thirteen of 172 horses (66%) undergoing exploratory celiotomy for a small intestinal lesion survived 4 or more days after surgery. Intra-abdominal adhesions causing clinical problems requiring additional surgery or euthanasia were documented in 25 horses (22.1%). Problems developed in significantly more males than females. The most common initial small bowel lesion was ileal impaction (12 horses); 21 horses underwent small intestinal resection or bypass. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of intra-abdominal adhesions between horses that underwent intestin...
Sweeney CR, Sweeney RW, Benson CE.Results of bacteriologic culture of specimens obtained from 14 horses with pneumonia and from 15 horses that were clinically healthy (nonpneumonia group) were compared. Specimens were obtained by use of an endoscopic guarded tracheal swabbing method and percutaneous tracheal aspiration. The percentage of agreement between the 2 tracheal specimens for the horses of the pneumonia group was 79% for aerobic isolates and 100% for anaerobic isolates. The percentage of agreement between results of the 2 tracheal specimens for horses of the nonpneumonia group was 80% for aerobic organisms and 93% for ...
Sangiah S, MacAllister CC, Amouzadeh HR.The basal gastric pH and free acid contents from five young adult healthy horses were determined at one hour intervals for eight hours. The basal gastric pH and free acid contents varied from 1.63 +/- 0.06 to 1.97 +/- 0.11 and 26.42 +/- 4.14 to 17.92 +/- 5.28 mmol litre-1, respectively. Misoprostol, a methylester analogue of prostaglandin (5 micrograms kg-1, orally) produced a time-dependent increase in the basal gastric pH to above 3.5 (P less than 0.05) at three, four and five hours after administration with a concomitant reduction of 80 to 90 per cent in the basal gastric free acid contents...
Dintinger T, Gaillard JL, Moslemi S, Zwain I, Silberzahn P.The ability of equine and human placental microsomes to aromatize testosterone and 19-nortestosterone was studied. When 3 microM [1 beta,2 beta-3H]testosterone was used as substrate, the specific activity of equine placental microsomal aromatase was 2.5 times higher than that of the human microsomal enzyme. Although 19-nortestosterone was aromatized 67 times more rapidly by equine than by human aromatase, we found that equine aromatase exhibited a markedly weaker affinity for this substrate than did the human enzyme. Competitive inhibition of testosterone aromatization by 19-nortestosterone oc...
Smith JE, Erickson HH, Debowes RM, Clark M.Five horses were exercised at 10m/sec at a 3 degree incline for 2 mins. Packed cell volume, erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, plasma protein, total white cell count and lymphocytes increased significantly in blood samples taken after exercise, compared with those taken before exercise; but mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration decreased. Erythrocytes were more resistant to osmotic stress after exercise, but their shape and degree of deformity were unaffected by exercise.
Craig DR, Shivy DR, Pankowski RL, Erb HN.Obstructive esophageal disorders in 61 horses included feed or foreign body impaction (27 horses), strictures (18 horses), perforations (11 horses), and diverticula (5 horses). Horses with feed impaction were treated nonsurgically (25 horses) or by esophagotomy (2 horses). Survival to discharge was 78%, and 37% of these had persistent chronic obstruction at home. Long-term survival was 52%. Long-term survival of nine horses treated nonsurgically for esophageal strictures was 22%; for nine horses treated surgically it was 44%. Long-term survival of horses treated nonsurgically was significantly...
Rijkenhuizen AB, Németh F, Dik KJ, Goedegebuure SA, Van de Brom WE.The clinical, radiographic, arteriographic, scintigraphic and histological effects of experimental occlusion of the Ramus navicularis (R. Navicularis) and its branching arteries are evaluated. Occlusion of the R. navicularis and its branching arteries creates changes, arteriographically and histologically, which resemble those of navicular disease. The increased bone remodelling, the shift in arterial pattern, the formation of collaterals and the increased connective tissue in the synovial membrane and nutrient foramina, as a reaction to the reduction of the distal arterial supply of the navic...
Kalsbeek HC.Non-surgical correction of nephrosplenic entrapment of the left colon was attempted in 27 cases. In two cases the method failed and a laparotomy was necessary. Two other horses had a recurrence, one of which underwent laparotomy because of torsion of the caecal body.
Hinchcliff KW, McGuirk SM, MacWilliams PS, Cooley AJ.Changes in renal function, determined by pharmacokinetics of phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP), and renal morphologic features were examined in adult pony mares given 20 mg of gentamicin sulfate/kg of body weight, IV, q 8 h (group A) n = 7 or isotonic saline solution, IV, q 8 h, n = 5 (group B) for 14 days. Susceptibility of ponies to gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicosis was varied. Two group-A ponies developed acute renal failure and were euthanatized before treatment day 14, whereas 5 group-A A ponies did not develop physical or behavioral abnormalities after 14 days of gentamicin administration. Al...
Singh AK, McArdle C, Gordon B, Ashraf M, Granley K.A high performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the simultaneous determination of furosemide and bumetanide in horse plasma. The C8 (3 microns) reversed phase column (4.8 x 150 mm) provided clear separation of furosemide and bumetanide with other components present in the horse plasma. The detection limit for both the drugs was 10 ng/mL. Both drugs were stable in plasma (at natural or acidic pH) for up to 24 h. The method is sufficiently sensitive to detect furosemide levels in plasma obtained from horses receiving a therapeutic dose of furosemide.
Krecek RC, Reinecke RK, Horak IG.Between 1980 and 1982, the gastrointestinal tracts of 17 horses which had been grazing on mixed grassveld at Potchefstroom and bushveld at Onderstepoort in the province of Transvaal, Republic of South Africa, were examined at necropsy and processed for parasite recovery. The large strongyles and their prevalences were as follows: Strongylus vulgaris and associated lesions (88-94%), Strongylus edentatus (24%), Strongylus equinus (30%), Triodontophorus nipponicus (35%) and Craterostomum acuticaudatum (18%). The seven most prevalent and abundant cyathostomes collected were Cylicostephanus longibu...
Parker JE, Fubini SL, Todhunter RJ.Fifty-three of 648 horses (8.2%) treated surgically for acute gastrointestinal obstruction were subjected to repeat celiotomy. Forty horses (75%) recovered from anesthesia after repeat celiotomy, and 26 horses (49%) were discharged from the clinic. Excluding two horses lost to follow-up, 10 of 51 horses (20%) survived long term. Horses subjected to repeat celiotomy had a significantly lower long-term survival rate than horses subjected to a single celiotomy. Twenty-eight horses had mechanical obstructions, and 22 had functional obstructions at the second surgery. Significantly more horses with...
Byrd SK, McCutcheon LJ, Hodgson DR, Gollnick PD.This study examined the effects of acute high-intensity exercise on the rate and capacity of Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+-stimulated adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the reversibility of these effects. Thoroughbred horses were run at maximal O2 uptake on a high-speed treadmill until fatigued. Muscle temperatures and biopsy samples were collected at rest, immediately after exercise, and 30 and 60 min after exercise. Blood samples were collected at rest and 5 min after exercise. Muscle and blood (lactate concentration) were three- and fivefold greater than pre-...
Mück WM, Henion JD.The performance of microbore high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis, both equipped with on-line tandem mass spectrometric detection capability, was evaluated critically for the determination of endogenous amounts of leucine enkephalin and methionine enkephalin in equine cerebrospinal fluid. Using an identical sample clean-up and enrichment procedure, capillary zone electrophoresis-mass spectrometry is limited in its concentration detection capacity owing to its much smaller injection volume. Leucine enkephalin was identified in post-mortem equine cerebrospina...
Palmer SE.A verrucous sarcoid was removed from the ear of a horse, using a carbon dioxide laser. The use of carbon dioxide laser excision and ablation enabled complete removal of tumor cells, with minimal damage to underlying normal cartilage. Cosmetic healing was observed with minimal disfigurement. Recurrence of the tumor was not observed after 11 months.
Kauffman VG, Soma L, Divers TJ, Perkons SZ.To provide long-term sedation, a horse was given fluphenazine decanoate, a human antipsychotic drug. The horse was progressively agitated and made unusual repetitive motions. Sedation with barbiturates was an effective treatment. This case is not unusual, and the use of fluphenazine by veterinarians in horses as a mild long-acting tranquilizer is not uncommon.
Murray MJ.Of 183 foals examined by use of gastroendoscopy during 1987 and 1988, 94 had gastric lesions. Sixty-eight of 120 foals in the 1- to 85-day-old age range had endoscopically confirmed gastric lesions, and 26 of 63 foals in the 90- to 310-day-old age range had gastric lesions. Lesions were observed most frequently in the stratified squamous mucosal epithelium, particularly adjacent to the margo plicatus. Lesions were observed in the gastric glandular mucosa in 26 of the 94 foals with gastric lesions, and with a greater frequency in foals with a clinical disorder than in foals with no disorder (27...
Gaughan EM, Rendano VT, Ducharme NG.Over an 8-year period, 9 horses with septic pedal osteitis were admitted to the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine. Septic pedal osteitis was defined by the presence of purulent exudate combined with radiographic evidence of lysis of the distal phalanx. The condition described involved only the distal phalanx, the laminae and hoofwall, and the soft tissues of the sole. Treatment included curettage and removal of the affected portion of the distal phalanx through a ventral approach to the foot, combined with systemic administration of antibodies. Of the 9 horses, 7 returned to soundn...
Copland VS, Hildebrand SV, Hill T, Wong P, Brock N.Blood pressure during anesthesia and surgery was compared for 2 groups of horses. Group A, consisting of 23 horses, had a tourniquet placed on the distal portion of a limb. The other group of 20 horses (group B) had surgery of comparable nature and duration as did group-A horses, but a tourniquet was not used. There was a statistical difference (P less than 0.05) in the peak systolic arterial blood pressure between the groups; group-A horses had a mean (+/- SEM) peak of 151 +/- 6 mm of Hg and group-B horses had a peak of 118 +/- 4 mm of Hg. In addition, group-A horses had immediate decrease in...
Singh AK, Gordon B, Hewetson D, Granley K, Ashraf M, Mishra U, Dombrovskis D.Gas chromatography with chemical ionization mass spectrometry and selected-ion monitoring provided a sensitive method for the screening and confirmation of steroids in horse urine and plasma. Chemical ionization mass spectrometry was more sensitive than the electron impact ionization mass spectrometry for most of the steroids except for testosterone, prednisone-metabolite-2 and prednisolone-metabolite-2. The chromatographic conditions used in this study provided clean separation of different natural and synthetic steroids. Approximately 75-85% of the steroids added to plasma and approximately ...
Wallace KD, Selcer BA, Tyler DE, Brown J.Ninety-one equine aortic and cranial mesenteric arterial segments were evaluated ultrasonographically in a water bath. On the basis of pathologic evidence of verminous arteritis, arterial segments were classified into 4 categories, and the ultrasonographic characteristics of each group were evaluated. Normal arteries (class 1) were ultrasonographically characterized by a smooth luminal surface layer and uniform wall thickness and echogenicity. Arteries with only histopathologic evidence of verminous arteritis (class 2) were ultrasonographically characterized by a smooth luminal surface layer, ...
Bochsler PN, Slauson DO, Chandler SK, Suyemoto MM.The use of cultured tissue has not yet become widespread in research involving equine disease, and this may be attributable in part to the scarcity of published reports concerning tissue culture methods for this species. We report here the isolation of equine microvascular endothelium (EMVE) from fresh omental tissue of horses and ponies. Fresh donor tissue was minced, subjected to collagenase digestion, and filtered. Cells were layered on 5% bovine serum albumin for gravity sedimentation, the bottom layer was collected, and the cells were plated onto fibronectin-coated flasks. Medium consiste...
Wallace KD, Selcer BA, Becht JL.Transrectal ultrasonography was successfully used to image the cranial mesenteric artery and its branches in 23 adult horses. The artery could be imaged from its origin at the aorta distally to identify several bifurcations. The method for transrectal imaging of the cranial mesenteric artery and its major branches required 3 distinct transducer positions. One position was used to locate the cranial mesenteric artery by imaging the caudal portion of the aorta from the aortic bifurcation cranially to the level of the cranial mesenteric artery. The second position was used to image the origin of ...
Takehana K, Abe M, Iwasa K, Hiraga T.Complex carbohydrates were examined in glandular cells of the horse duodenal gland by using lectin histochemical techniques. In the horse, the duodenal gland was distributed in the area from the uppermost part of the small intestine to a point about 6m caudal to the pylorus. It consisted of two types of cells, mucous and serous cells. The former was found in glands distributed almost all over this part, but the latter was present in glands distributed restrictedly to the uppermost part of the small intestine at a point about 10 cm caudal to the pylorus. The cytoplasm of the mucous cell contain...
Genetzky RM, Loparco FV, Ledet AE.A 72-hour water deprivation test was performed in 12 horses to determine clinical pathologic changes. Reference values for electrolyte (X) clearance, expressed as a percentage of creatinine clearance (CLCR; %CLCRX), were also determined. A comparison was made between urine concentration measurement techniques. Results of %CLCRX determination in 12 horses before water deprivation were 0.034 +/- 0.095 %CLCRNa, 42.4 +/- 9.8 %CLCRK, 0.352 +/- 0.190 %CLCRCl, and 0.710 +/- 0.250 %CLCRP. During water deprivation, there was individual variation for electrolyte clearances, but Na excretion increased si...
Shini S, Klaus AM, Hapke HJ.Diazepam is used in veterinary medicine as sedative and pre-anaesthetic agent. This publication describes the plasma-concentration time curve for diazepam and its metabolite in horses suffering from colic after intravenous application as pre-anaesthetic agent. Elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) after a dose of 0.05-0.08 mg/kg (30-50 mg Diazepam per horse) was 7.5 to 13.2 h. Total clearance (Cltot) between 1.86 and 3.44 ml/min/kg was detected and apparent volume of distribution in steady state (Vdiss) was 1.98 to 2.25 l/kg. Diazepam was still found in serum after 24 h. The metabolite oxazepam co...
The Journal of heredityNovember 25, 2009
Volume 101, Issue 2 240-245 doi: 10.1093/jhered/esp090
Dobosz M, Bocci C, Bonuglia M, Grasso C, Merigioli S, Russo A, De Iuliis P.Microsatellites have been used for parentage testing and individual identification in forensic science because they are highly polymorphic and show abundant sequences dispersed throughout most eukaryotic nuclear genomes. At present, genetic testing based on DNA technology is used for most domesticated animals, including horses, to confirm identity, to determine parentage, and to validate registration certificates. But if genetic data of one of the putative parents are missing, verifying a genealogy could be questionable. The aim of this paper is to illustrate a new approach to analyze complex ...
Keegan KG, Baker GJ, Boero MJ, Pijanowski GJ, Phillips JW.Liquid mercury strain gauges were implanted in the forelimb proximal sesamoidean ligaments (PSL) of 8 adult horses. The gauges measured PSL strain while horses were standing with or without external support. In 6 of the horses, the gauges also measured PSL strain in horses at a walk, with or without external support. Gauges were enclosed within sliding polypropylene tubes to prevent nonaxial deformation. Each gauge was placed in 1 arm of a low-resistance half-bridge circuit. To provide temperature compensation, a dummy gauge was placed in the adjacent arm of the bridge circuit and was implante...
This research article entitled “Ultrasonographic visualization of the liver in sites recommended for blind percutaneous liver biopsy in horses” gives information about two corrections made in a previously published veterinary […]
Ranking G.This research article presents an initial investigation into the disease called “Surra,” which significantly affects horses and mules in India, leading to high mortality rates and considerable economic loss. The […]
Carmalt JL, Duke-Novakovski T, Schott HC, van der Kolk JH.OBJECTIVE To determine effects of anesthesia on plasma concentrations and pulsatility of ACTH in samples obtained from the cavernous sinus and jugular vein of horses. ANIMALS 6 clinically normal adult horses. PROCEDURES Catheters were placed in a jugular vein and into the cavernous sinus via a superficial facial vein. The following morning (day 1), cavernous sinus blood samples were collected every 5 minutes for 1 hour (collection of first sample = time 0) and jugular venous blood samples were collected at 0, 30, and 60 minutes. On day 2, horses were sedated with xylazine hydrochloride and ane...
Sayers E, Tabor G.Clinical reasoning has not been studied in veterinary physiotherapy and so the methods used and factors involved are unknown. Similarly, the practices of veterinary physiotherapists within a certain rehabilitation programme have not been documented. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical reasoning and practices of veterinary physiotherapists during rehabilitation of horses following interspinous ligament desmotomy surgery. Unassigned: A qualitative approach was taken and six members of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy were interviewed using a semi-stru...
Frank LA, Kania SA, Weyant E.Dermatophilus congolensis causes a crusting dermatitis that affects horses. Diagnosis requires the identification of the organism with cytological evaluation of crust samples. This method can lack sensitivity in chronic cases. Objective: To develop a probe-based real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) test to assist with the diagnosis of dermatophilosis in horses. Methods: Twenty six privately owned horses and seven horses from a research colony were used. Methods: Crust samples, collected from 14 horses with suspected dermatophilosis and 12 horses with crusting skin disease...
Dyke TM, Sams RA, Thompson KG, Ashcraft SM.To compare pharmacokinetics of eltenac after first and last IV administrations (0.5 mg/kg), using a multiple dosing schedule. Methods: 6 adult mares. Methods: Eltenac (50 mg/ml) was administered IV at a dosage of 0.5 mg/kg of body weight every 24 hours for days 0 through 4. On days 0 and 4, blood samples were collected before, then periodically for 8 hours after eltanac administration. Concentration of eltenac in plasma samples was determined by use of high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: On day 0, median area under the plasma eltenac concentration versus time curve (AUC) was 6.77 ...
McClure SR, Schumacher J, Snyder JR.Three horses were found to have an extensive nasopharyngeal cicatrix that was responsible for respiratory impairment. The cicatrization was diagnosed by use of endoscopy during evaluations of the horses for inspiratory stridor. All 3 horses were treated by endoscope-guided transnasal incision of the cicatrix and were able to resume their previous activities.
Clark ES, Semrad SD, Bichsel P, Oliver JE.Cystometrography and urethral pressure evaluations were performed in 7 horse mares and 5 pony mares before and after sedation with xylazine. Before sedation, mean (+/- SD) maximal bladder contraction pressure was 91.4 +/- 16.5 cm of H2O in horses and was 86.0 +/- 14.4 cm of H2O in ponies, and maximal urethral closure pressure was 49.1 +/- 19.4 cm of H2O in horses and 37.7 +/- 14.4 cm of H2O in ponies. A significant difference was not found between values of nonsedated vs sedated animals. Only values for threshold volume were significantly different (P less than 0.05) between nonsedated horses ...
Translation: The 2nd edition of this specialized book by Renate Ettl includes basic knowledge about the use of kinesiological tapes, ranging from their foundations to specific applications in horses. The reader is vividly introduced to the material and adhesive properties of the tapes, the various application techniques, and their correct application. The book is mainly aimed at manual therapists and veterinarians, but interested horse owners can also gain insight into the "world of colorful strips" with this work.
Part 1 of the book provides foundational knowledge necessary for the correct...
Beeman GM, Soule SG, Swanson TD.This article reviews the history of the medical evaluation of the horse for purchase and the gradual development of definitions and guidelines for performing such an examination. The philosophy of pre-purchase examinations, including potential conflicts of interest, recording methods, and procedures, is discussed. The AAEP guidelines for reporting purchase evaluations are also included.
Karcher LF, Scott DW, Paradis M, Anderson WI.Sterile nodular panniculitis was diagnosed in 5 horses. Physical abnormalities were predominantly limited to cutaneous changes, consisting of multiple subcutaneous nodules that had a tendency to wax and wane over time and were commonly distributed over the trunk, neck, and proximal portion of the limbs. In each horse, the diagnosis was confirmed by excisional biopsy of a nodule and by exclusion of infective causes of panniculitis on the basis of negative culture results and special stain application to skin specimens. Treatment with immunosuppressive doses of glucocorticoids was curative in 1 ...
Cancedda M.In this paper some considerations on the environment of the 42 Kmq of the volcanic-basaltic Giara tableland are discussed. Conditioning by the environment and its effect on the distribution of a population of 712 horses is illustrated in view of their social and behavioural organization.
Hudson NP, Pearson GT, Mayhew IG.Ileal samples were harvested fresh from euthanized adult horses. The tissues were microdissected to prepare wholemount preparations for immunohistochemistry and for either explant or dissociated culture systems of the enteric nervous system. Explant culture systems were established using whole-mounts of either the submucous plexus or the muscularis externa (including the myenteric plexus). Dissociated cell cultures could only be obtained from the submucous plexus. Culture systems were maintained for up to 5 days. Immunoreactivity for a neuronal marker (Pan-N) and for glial cell markers (GFAP a...
Coleman RJ, St Lawrence AC, Lawrence LM, Roberts AM.This study was conducted to compare bodyweight (bwt) loss and recovery in Standardbred horses receiving frusemide compared to controls. Thirty Standardbred horses from 7 training stables that were racing at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, during the spring 2001 pari-mutuel meeting were studied. Fourteen horses (FRU) received frusemide (250 mg/horse i.v.) 4 h prior to racing, while 16 horses (NFRU) did not received frusemide. Horses were weighed on the morning of race day, prior to warm-up, after racing and the next day. Changes in bwt were calculated as percentage increase or decrease fro...
Wilson DV, Berney CE, Peroni DL, Mullineaux DR, Robinson NE.Acupuncture may be recommended for horses with 'heaves' because it is being increasingly applied to treat human asthma. Therefore, its efficacy was investigated in horses with this asthma-like disease. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a single acupuncture treatment for the relief of airway obstruction in heaves-affected horses. Methods: The efficacy of a single acupuncture treatment was tested in 10 heaves-affected horses, and the effect of removal from the dusty stall environment in 5 heaves-affected horses. Before treatment, horses were stabled to induce airway obstruction and, apart f...