"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.
Tovar P, Escabias MI, Santisteban R.A study of electrocardiograms recorded from foals during the first two weeks of life has been made in order to detect any changes of the cardiac activation and recuperation processes during this period. A stepwise discriminant analysis revealed significant differences between the first and second week of age, fundamentally on the basis of the T and P wave amplitudes which gave the lowest values at 14 days, and on the PQ segment duration that showed the highest values at the same age.
Bernard WV, Divers TJ.Seven horses were given 0.5 mg of carbon tetrachloride/kg of body weight via a nasogastric tube. Subsequent hepatocellular damage was monitored by serum enzyme determinations of sorbitol dehydrogenase, isoenzyme 5 of lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate transaminase activities. Creatinine kinase activity was evaluated as an indicator of muscle cell damage. Sorbitol dehydrogenase, isoenzyme 5 of lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate transaminase activities were significantly (P less than 0.05) increased by 24 hours after carbon tetrachloride administration. Isoenzyme 5 of lactate dehydrogenase a...
Sweeney CR, Benson CE, Whitlock RH, Meirs DA, Barningham SO, Whitehead SC, Cohen D.The age-specific attack rates of Streptococcus equi infections of the upper respiratory tract and lymph nodes (strangles) in horses for the different age groups were 17.6% for broodmares, 47.5% for 1-year-old horses, and 37.5% for foals. Streptococcus equi was isolated from nasal, pharyngeal, or lymph node specimens in 31 (60.8%) of 51 sick horses. A male 1-year-old horse, shipped from Kentucky to farm A, was considered to be the index case. Six (19.4%) of 31 horses with strangles remained as shedders of S equi after clinical signs of the disease had ended. Shedders of S equi were not identifi...
Mair TS, Lane JG.Case records are reviewed of 51 adult horses in which a diagnosis of pneumonia, pulmonary abscess or pleuritis had been made. Forty-five horses were afflicted with pneumonia and/or pulmonary abscesses; in 11 of these the infection was primary, whereas in 34 it was secondary to another disease process (inhalation of food or saliva, thoracic trauma, generalised infection, airway disease, neoplasia or thromboembolism). Of the 11 horses with primary pulmonary infections, 10 appeared to be associated with a previous episode of stress; this took the form of long distance travel in eight cases. There...
MacDonald MH, Honnas CM, Meagher DM.Medical records of 28 horses with osteomyelitis of the calcaneus were reviewed to evaluate signalment, history, diagnostic and treatment methods, outcome, and long-term follow-up information. Trauma was the most commonly reported cause (24). Physical examination revealed lameness in 27 horses, and 22 (79%) had a wound or draining tract over the plantar aspect of the calcaneus. Radiography of all horses was done prior to the initiation of treatment, and follow-up radiography was done on 20 horses. The most common radiographic findings were soft tissue swelling (25), bony lysis of the calcaneus ...
Schamhardt HC, Hartman W, Lammertink JL.Strain gauge rosettes were bonded to the dorsal, lateral, medial, and plantar aspects of the third metatarsal bone in the hind limbs of 6 ponies. The maximal compressive principal strain was approximately -600 X 10(-6) m/m, and exceeded the amplitudes of the tensile strains at all aspects of the bone. After transformation, the shear strain and the principal strains parallel and perpendicular to the bone were obtained. The first peak in the bending strain was higher in the dorsal and lateral aspects, and the second peak was higher in the medial and plantar aspects. Young modulus of elasticity w...
Lloyd KC, Wheat JD, Ryan AM, Matthews M.Sudden onset of hematuria was associated with mucosal ulceration of the proximal portion of the urethra in 1 stallion and 3 geldings. Hematuria was observed characteristically and consistently at the end of urination. Mucosal ulceration was identified endoscopically in the proximal portion of the urethra at the level of the ischial arch. Biopsy of an ulcerated area of the proximal urethra in one gelding revealed transitional cell carcinoma. Treatment regimens varied from systemic antimicrobial and/or vasoactive therapy to diversion of urinary flow via a temporary perineal urethrostomy. Hematur...
French DA, Pharr JW, Fretz PB.Diagnostic ultrasonography was used during surgery to assist in the removal of a piece of wire from the retropharyngeal region. A 3-year-old Quarter Horse mare was referred with dysphagia of 2 days' duration. Radiography revealed a 9-cm piece of wire located caudodorsal to the larynx. A ventral surgical approach was performed, dissecting along the right side of the larynx and trachea. The surgical field was filled with 0.85% sterile physiologic saline solution. A 5 MHz-mm sector scanner probe immersed in the fluid was able to locate the wire and facilitate the direction and depth of dissection...
Ross MW, Bernard WV, Orsini PG, Ford TS.A 3-year-old Standardbred stallion was admitted for treatment of acute enterocolitis. The horse improved in response to empiric treatment, but subsequently developed ventral edema, scrotal abscessation, and severe laminitis. Improvement again was seen, but on day 29 of hospitalization, the horse developed rapid heart rate and signs of abdominal pain. Exploratory celiotomy revealed complete obstruction of the descending portion of the duodenum, 20 cm caudal to the duodenal sigmoidal flexure. Three-tier duodenojejunostomy and jejunojejunostomy were performed to bypass the duodenal obstruction.
Gallivan GJ, McDonell WN, Forrest JB.Ventilation and gas exchange were studied in healthy, adult horses and cows, two large species with different lung structures and different breathing patterns. The oxygen uptake (VO2), carbon dioxide output (VCO2), respiratory rate (fR), minute ventilation (VE), alveolar ventilation (VA), alveolar oxygen pressure (PAO2), and VE/VO2 ratio were higher in the cows, while the tidal volume (VT) and physiological dead space (VD) were larger in the horses. The arterial blood gases, alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference (PAO2-PaO2) and VD/VT ratio did not differ between the two species. The hig...
Edwards DJ, Love DN, Raus J, Baggott JD.Neomycin was administered intramuscularly to four normal adult horses at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg bodyweight every 12 h for 10 days (21 doses). The pharmacokinetic behaviour of neomycin with multiple dosing was characterised and a range of blood chemical and urinary parameters examined for evidence of nephrotoxicity. There was evidence of physical renal tubular injury (enzymuria and cylindriuria) within four days of neomycin administration but this subsided following cessation of treatment. No significant functional nephrotoxicity was detected. More severe nephrotoxicity might be expected in il...
Tate LP, Sweeney CL, Cullen JM, Corbett WT, Newman HC, Brown TC, Ketner MT.A neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser was used to study effects of applying laser irradiation transendoscopically to the corniculate process of the arytenoid cartilage in horses. Dosimetry was established initially in vitro in 10 corniculate cartilages that were irradiated and examined histologically to determine penetration depths at selected power settings. Eleven horses were given xylazine IV and butorphoral tartrate IV, and their left ventricle and corniculate process were irradiated. Six horses had left laryngeal hemiplegia and were euthanatized and necropsied 14 weeks after ...
Samuelson D, Smith P, Brooks D.The iridocorneal angle of the horse was anteriorly lined by a pectinate ligament, consisting of several layers of vertically oriented collagenous beams, that were interrupted by a network of extracellular spaces. The anterior chamber angle consisted mostly of a large uveal trabecular meshwork that was composed of widely-spaced, thick trabeculae. These trabeculae were attached in part posteriorly to extensions of the ciliary body musculature and anteriorly inserted into the prominent pectinate ligament. The corneoscleral trabecular meshwork was shaped hemiobovately and formed the external bound...
Prades M, Brown MP, Gronwall R, Houston AE.After single oral administration of ketoconazole (30 mg/kg bodyweight [bwt]) in 50 ml of corn syrup to a healthy mare, the drug was not detected in serum. Ketoconazole in 0.2 N HC1 was administered intragastrically to six healthy adult horses in five consecutive doses of 30 mg/kg bwt at 12 h intervals. Ketoconazole concentrations were measured in serum, synovial fluid, peritoneal fluid, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), urine and endometrium. Mean peak serum ketoconazole concentration was 3.76 micrograms/ml at 1.5 to 2 h after intragastric administration. Mean peak synovial concentration was 0.87 mic...
Madewell BR, Munn RJ.Abnormal irregularly branched and anastomosing tubules within cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum were observed by transmission electron microscopy in tumour cells comprising connective tissue neoplasms (sarcoids) from three horses and a mule. These tubuloreticular inclusions were also observed in cultured tumour cells from one of these horses examined, but were not detected in fibroblasts (fibrocytes), epidermis, or vascular endothelial cells in skin biopsy specimens from five clinically healthy horses, nor in one additional equine connective tissue neoplasm.
Drummond WH, Sanchez IR, Kosch PC, Webb AI.Adult ponies develop pulmonary hypertension at altitude (Bisgard, Orr and Will 1975), but the neonatal response to acute hypoxaemia is unknown. Seven foals aged five days were instrumented with a systemic and a Swan-Ganz pulmonary artery catheter while anesthetised and intubated. Cardiac index, pulmonary (PAP) and systemic (SAP) vascular pressures were measured as the foals breathed gas mixtures with FI02 of 8 to 94 per cent. Because foramen ovale or ductus arteriosus shunts might have altered thermodilution cardiac index measurements in the stressed foals, the ratio, PAP/SAP was calculated to...
West HJ.In 18 horses there was no effect of age or sex on plasma activities of gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT), 5'-nucleotidase (5'-NT) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP). All the enzymes were equally stable after storage for one month at -20 degrees C and there was no significant difference between their activities in serum and plasma in clinically normal horses. The pattern of release of gamma-GT, 5'-NT and LAP into plasma was studied in 114 horses which had a variety of orthopaedic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and hepatic (necrosis, lipidosis, neoplasia and cirrhosis) conditions. A definit...
Nett TM, Shoemaker CF, Squires EL.High concentrations of estrogens in the peripheral circulation during late gestation inhibit synthesis of LH and markedly reduce pituitary content of LH at the end of pregnancy in most domestic species. Because blood concentrations of estrogen peak shortly before mid-gestation in the mare and then gradually decrease until parturition, we hypothesized that pituitary content of LH may increase during late gestation. To test this hypothesis 10 horse mares were challenged with a maximally stimulatory dose (2 micrograms/kg) of GnRH on d 240 and 320 of gestation and d 3 after parturition. A separate...
Zicker SC, Brumbaugh GW.The effect of phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg of body weight, IV, q 24 h, for 5 days) on glucose tolerance and on secretion of insulin in 6 healthy geldings was determined. Phenylbutazone significantly lowered fasting concentrations of glucose in plasma but did not significantly change the concentration of insulin in serum. There was no significant effect of phenylbutazone on glucose tolerance, on secretion of insulin, or on the area under the insulin/glucose ratio vs time curve in healthy geldings, as determined by paired t test analysis.
Winder NC, Pellegrini A, von Fellenberg R.Using a peroxidase anti-peroxidase technique alpha-1-protease inhibitor (alpha-1-PI) was identified in normal equine hepatocytes in formalin-fixed liver sections, and in airway secretions and macrophages in formalin-fixed lung sections of horses with chronic small airway disease and chronic bronchointerstitial pneumonia. In addition, it was identified occasionally in macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage samples from clinically healthy horses and from horses with chronic small airway disease. Equine peripheral blood leucocytes and formalin-fixed lung sections with normal histology were negativ...
Ammons SF, Threlfall WR, Kline RC.Body temperature and serum progesterone concentrations were measured in mares to determine if a change in either could be useful in predicting estrus, ovulation or parturition. There was no significant correlation (P > 0.1) between rectal temperature and the environmental temperature or progesterone concentration. Progesterone concentration did correlate with stage of estrous cycle and the stage of pregnancy. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in temperature were noted at different times throughout the day. No change in temperature occurred that could be utilized to predict estrus, ovula...
Dacquet C, Loirand G, Rakotoarisoa L, Mironneau C, Mironneau J.1. Specific binding of the calcium-antagonist dihydropyridine derivative, (+)-[3H]-PN 200-110 (isradipine), to cell membranes of equine portal vein smooth muscle was compared with binding to intact strips isolated from rat portal veins. 2. Specific binding to vascular smooth muscle membranes was of high affinity, saturable and reversible. The dissociation constant obtained from association and dissociation kinetics of (+)-[3H]-PN 200-110 was similar to that obtained from equilibrium binding and competition experiments. 3. Specific binding of (+)-[3H]-PN 200-110 was completely displaced by unla...
Kirker-Head CA, Fackelman GE.Four long bone fractures with a short distal fragment were repaired with a cobra head bone plate alone (2 cattle) or in combination with a straight, broad dynamic compression plate (2 horses). Three fractures were of the distal femur (1 horse, 2 cattle) and one was of the distal radius (1 horse). The long-term outcome of the three femoral fractures was soundness in one case and mild lameness in two. Although satisfactory bone healing progressed in the horse with the radial fracture, laminitis in the contralateral forelimb necessitated euthanasia at week 6.
Pearson EG, Riebold TW.A representative of each of 3 types of bronchodilators was given iv to horses with clinical signs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We used atropine (0.01 mg/kg of body weight) as an anticholinergic, isoproterenol HCl as a beta-adrenergic, and aminophylline, the soluble salt of theophylline, as a methylxanthine. Response to these drugs was evaluated by measuring maximal change in intrathoracic pressures (delta Ppl) and observing clinical signs. Atropine caused a significant (P less than 0.01) reduction in delta Ppl, compared with that caused by aminophylline. Atropine caused the delta ...
Elze K, Schulz J, Rob O.Necrosis of the skin on both lateral aspects of the hind limbs following the caudal branch of the lateral saphenous vein in 22 suckling foals is described. The first clinical signs were observed on days 2-5 post natum. S. aureus was isolated from the wounds. Decubitus in the region of the malleolus lateralis tibiae was considered the starting point of an ascending infection. This type of dermonecrosis was only observed in boxes with hard floors where the straw bedding was pushed aside by the lying foals regularly, never, however, in boxes with deep and permanent sawdust or straw bedding. Thera...
Geor R, Hope E, Lauper L, Piela S, Klassen J, King V, Murphy M.The effects of dexamethasone (0.2 mg/kg of body weight; IV, IM, and PO) and methylprednisolone acetate (120 mg given intra-articularly) on serum osteocalcin and cortisol concentrations were studied in 6 horses. Serum osteocalcin and cortisol concentrations were serially monitored after each treatment. A significant (P < 0.05) decrease in serum osteocalcin and cortisol concentrations was observed from 12 to 24 and 2 to 48 hours, respectively, after IV and IM administrations of dexamethasone. Serum osteocalcin and cortisol concentrations were significantly decreased from 6 to 48 and 3 to 72 h...
Barnett AL, Steel JD, Stewart GA.Free erythrocyte protoporphyrin was estimated in 166 Thoroughbred horses and the mean value was found to be 4o vg.Poo ml. packed cells. Signifi-cantly lower haemoglobin concentrations were found in 21 horses whose erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentration was 7o p.g.lioo ml. packed cells or greater.
Hacker DV, Buyukmihci NC, Franti CE, Bellhorn RW.The mydriatic effect of 10% phenylephrine was evaluated in 9 horses. Base-line pupillary size in mesopic conditions and during light stimulation was ascertained before application of pharmacologic agents. In study 1, 10% phenylephrine was applied to each eye (n = 5 horses). After 15 minutes, the pupillary size was determined in both lighting conditions. Phenylephrine was again applied to each eye, and after an additional 15 minutes, the pupillary size was determined. In study 2, 1% tropicamide was applied to each eye (n = 4 horses), and after 30 minutes, the pupillary size was determined in bo...
Sardari K, Kazemi H.To evaluation of clinical examination for differential diagnosis of navicular region pain from other forms of palmar heel pain in the forelimb in horses the present study was undertaken. Thirty four horses with lameness referable to the palmar aspect of the hoof based on their response to the palmar digital nerves analgesia were divided into 2 groups based on their response to both distal interphalangeal joint and navicular bursa analgesia. Horses that were profoundly improved by both analgesic blocks (distal interphalangeal joint and navicular bursa) were considered to have navicular region p...
Houston RS, Fincher GT, Craig TM.The migration of infective strongyle larvae through sandy clay loam soil was determined by evaluating the burial of horse dung as a method of reducing parasitism in horses. Equine feces containing 325 strongyle eggs/g of feces were buried at depths of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5, 15.0, 20.0, and 30.0 cm below the pasture surface in sandy clay loam soil. Herbage samples were taken periodically from above the buried feces and were analyzed to determine the maximum vertical migration of infective larvae. The greatest distance of migration was 20 cm which occurred 31 days after the feces were buried...
Cazalet E.The paper examines recent developments in the law which have extended criminal and civil liability for veterinary certificates of soundness. Criminal liability under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 is first considered. There follows a discussion of civil liability at common law and under the Misrepresentation Act 1967.
The paper then examines the standard of care required of a veterinary surgeon in preparing a certificate, and, after some general considerations, deals specifically with questions relating to the purpose of the examination, the extent of the examination, and testing for pheny...
Morris DD, Whitlock RH.TEIROMBOCYTOPENIA can be caused by failure of production or increased destruction of platelets, resulting in a bleeding diathesis, characterised by mucosal petechiac and haemorrhage into various organs. In humans, some drugs (cg, phenylbutazone and chloramphenicol) cause idiosyncratic marrow suppression and subsequent thrombocytopenia. Bone marrow suppression is also well documented in humans and small animals receiving cytotoxic drugs (Calabresi 1979; MacEwen 1980). Decreased megakaryocytic proliferation is rarely recognised in large animals. The most prevalent causes of thrombocytopenia are ...
Bernard-Strother S, Mansmann RA, Beckstead C.A 6-month-old Quarter Horse colt, with severe left foreleg lameness of 6 weeks' duration, had swelling of the distal interphalangeal joint and a smaller-than-normal left front foot. Radiographs revealed a nondisplaced, midsagittal, intraarticular fracture of P3, which was treated with an eggbar shoe with 2 quarter clips, and stall rest for 10 weeks. The colt was sound after 10 weeks.
Abu-Seida AM, Elemmawy YM.Desmopathy of the collateral sesamoidean ligament (CSL) is an unusual disorder in draft horses. This study records the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of chronic CSL desmopathy in eight draft horses and confirms these features by histopathology. The recorded chronic CSL desmopathy has usually affected the forelimbs (100%) and commonly bilateral (62.5%). All horses showed positive proximal digital nerve block, positive front digital flexion test, and negative interphalangeal extension test. Radiography revealed no osseous abnormalities in all feet. MRI features of chronic CSL desmopat...
Smyth GB, Taylor EG.A Salter-Harris type-II fracture of the proximal portion of the right femur in a 2-month-old filly was reduced and stabilized with three 6.5-mm-diameter, 100-mm-long cancellous bone screws through a dorsal approach to the right coxofemoral joint. The screws were removed after 11 months because the filly became lame in the affected limb. The surgical wounds dehisced despite preventive measures, most likely because of tightness of skin in the coxal region. Seven years after the original injury, the horse could perform vigorous paddock exercise without any disability. Early internal fixation of p...
Pigé C, Masseau I, Bonilla AG.The objective of this study was to determine if abdominal elevation could induce radiographically visible widening of the interspinous spaces in the thoracolumbar region of standing sedated horses and facilitate the surgical approach to the region. Radiographs centered on T13 and T18 were taken while applying different degrees of tension on a wide strap placed under the abdomen of 7 healthy horses. Then, the interspinous spaces between T11 and L2 were measured following a standardized method. The interspinous spaces widen radiographically between T11 to L2, except for T18-L1. Thus, the reporte...
Oikawa M, Kaneko M, Yoshikawa T.To elucidate the pathomorphogenesis of extremely shortened small-intestinal villi, occurring spontaneously in neonatal foals, the morphology of the small intestine with stunted villi was studied in eight cases. All intestinal wall elements and the villi were poorly developed. Most villi were found to be extremely short throughout the entire length of the small intestine. The villous core consisted of undifferentiated, fibroblast-like cells held loosely together by ground substance which was rich in glycosaminoglycan. Development of the villous lamina propria was poor with respect to capillarie...
Van Amstel SR, Ross M, van den Bergh SS.A case of maduromycosis mycetoma caused by Madurella mycetomatis is reported. The horse presented with multiple subcutaneous swelling over the right scapula. There were no discharging fistulae present. Macroscopically the lesion contained a black granular material embedded in a granulomatous mass. Microscopically large numbers of microcolonies were present containing segmented hyphae. No typical chlamydospores were observed. Cultures yielded a fungus identified as Madurella mycetomatis. Treatment consisted of surgical excision and local treatment with thiabendazole powder.
Gutierrez CV, Riddle WT, Bramlage LR.To determine whether serum thyroxine (T4) concentration was associated with pregnancy rates 15 to 16 days after ovulation in mares and to determine whether thyroid hormone supplementation would enhance fertility in mares. Methods: Cohort study. Methods: 329 clinically normal broodmares. Methods: Mares were examined 15 to 16 days after ovulation to determine whether they were pregnant; blood samples for determination of serum T4 concentration were collected at the same time. Sixty mares were receiving thyroid hormone supplementation prior to the study because of low serum T4 concentration (< 16...
Argenzio RA, Hintz HF.Factors affecting glucose tolerance and the effect of volatile fatty acids on plasma glucose were studied with five ponies in two 5×5 latin square trials. The treatments were equimolar infusions of glucose, acetate, propionate, butyrate and isontonic saline in fed or fasted ponies.
Animals fasted for 72 hr. exhibited a markedly lower glucose tolerance than those fed ad libitum. Propionate appeared to be the only VFA stimulating a significant glucose response in the fasted animals, but no response was noted in the fed animals. The data suggest that length of fast is an important variable in...
Medeiros LO, Medeiros LF, Barcelos SR, Ferri S, Reiner UR.
Summary:
The authors studied glycolytic and non-glycolytic erythrocytic enzyme activities in 8 thoroughbred horses with equine infectious anemia (EIA) and 16 normal controls. Biochemical lesions were indicated, the most outstanding being a deficiency of pyruvatekinase. Adenvlatekinase could be considered as a “salvage pathway” for the formation of ATP.
Zusammenfassung:
Infektiöse Anemie bei Pferden Mangel an Pirovatokinase in Erythrocyten der Englischen Vollblutpferde
Die Autoren untersuchten die Aktivität der glykolytischen und der nichtglykolytischen Enzyme der Erythrocyt...
Moriarty KM, Brown MF, Sutton RH.Auto-immune, haemolytic anacmias (AHA) of man (Dacie, Citation1963) and domestiicated animals (Schalm, Citation1965; Farrelly et al., Citation1966; Lapras and Oudar, Citation1971) are classified either as idiopathic or secondary to an underlying disease process (Pirofsky, Citation1969). In both categories antibodies active against the indivual's own erythrocytes are formed. These auto-antibodies are of two types being either warm or cold-acting. Warm-acting antibodies are most effective at 37°C, belong to the IgG class of immunoglobulins, and are incomplete in that, generally, they do not cau...