"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.
Fujita S, Cleve H.The major glycoproteins of horse and swine erythrocyte membranes were isolated and examined chemically and immunologically. The major glycoprotein of horse erythrocyte membranes had a molecular weight of 33 000 and consisted of 46.2% protein and 53.8% carbohydrate, of which 9.4% was hexose, 10.1% hexosamine and 33.7% sialic acid. This glycoprotein was associated with activity for the infectious mononucleosis heterophile antigen. There were two different major glycoproteins in swine erythrocyte membranes. One major glycoprotein had a molecular weight of 46 200 and consisted of 34.2% protein and...
Palmer E, Jousset B.Eight mares were observed clinically for 14 months to detect oestrus and ovarian activity, and assays of urinary oestrogens and plasma progesterone were performed. Cyclical ovarian activity occurred during 60% of the experimental period. Persistent luteal activity was found over 20% of the period and for the rest of the time activity was absent. Cyclical activity was characterized by the alternation of periods of low and high progesterone levels corresponding to the follicular and luteal phases of the ovarian cycle. During the follicular phase, urinary oestrogen levels increased to a maximum o...
Arthur GH.The effect of intrauterine saline on reproductive function was studied by infusion of mares in anoestrus, dioestrus, oestrus and prolonged dioestrus. Anoestrous mares were unaffected except near the beginning and end of the breeding season when anovulatory heats were induced. Dioestrous mares infused between Days 5 and 9 returned to heat an average of 3-8 days earlier than expected, and infusions during dioestrus were followed by ovulatory heats of normal fertility. Three mares in prolonged dioestrus showed ovulatory heats within 3 to 9 days of infusion. Infusions during oestrus had no appreci...
McFeely RA.The karyotype of the horse consists of 64 chromosomes; 18 pairs have a terminal centromere and 13 pairs a non-terminal centromere. Identification of individual chromosomes is enhanced by the use of band-staining techniques which allow recognition of minor structural rearrangements of chromatin material. Seven previously reported cases of male pseudohermaphroditism with chromosome studies are reviewed. Three were genetic females, one was basically an XX/XY chimaera, one was an XX/XXY chimaera, and one was an XXXY. Also reviewed is an infertile mare with 63 chromosomes and no distinguishable sex...
Flood PF, Marrable AW.The distribution of several hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSD) was examined in a variety of equine placental and fetal tissues. The main points of interest were: (a) the lack of dehydrogenase activity in the gonad, (b) the appearance of a variety of HSDs in the trophoblast as early as 13 days of gestation, (c) the histochemical similarity between the cells of the trophoblast and the endometrial cup, and (d) the restriction of the strong endometrial 17beta-HSD reaction to those parts of the uterine epithelium directly apposed to the trophoblast.
Sullivan JJ, Turner PC, Self LC, Gutteridge HB, Bartlett DE.Reproductive efficiency was evaluated for 838 Quarter-horse mare-years on five farms and 939 Thoroughbred mare-years on seven farms over 4 years. The pregnancy rate from first service was 51% for Quarter-horse mares and 43% for Thoroughbred mares (P less than 0-05). The cumulative pregnancy rate after five services was 85% for Quarter-horse and 77% for Thoroughbred mares (P less than 0-05). First-service-period pregnancy rates were 44, 40 and 54% for maiden, barren and foaling mares, respectively. Cumulative pregnancy rates after five service-periods were 84, 74 and 84% for maiden, barren and ...
David JS.A total of 424 eggs was recovered from flushings of 176 pairs of oviducts. Of these eggs, 324 were in a state of advanced degeneration (Type 4) and ten appeared to have been recently ovulated (Type 1). The number of eggs/oviduct varied from 0 to 13, most being up to 3 eggs, but fifty oviducts contained no eggs. It is widely believed that unfertilized ova are selectively retained in the oviducts but an alternative explanation for their presence is put forward.
Deanesly R.A histological study of the developing germinal epithelium in the fetal horse ovary shows an enormous wastage of oocytes during the meiotic phase, between Days 73 and 150 of pregnancy. The first groups of oocytes to enter this phage undergo mass degeneration and eventually disappear; few, if any, oocytes develop to primordial follicles. Peripheral oogonia, dividing by mitosis, give rise to more oocytes which pass through the same changes and are also reduced by degeneration, but by Day 150 primordial follicles are fairly common.
Kitchen H, Bunn HF.Studies were made of the O2 affinities of fetal and maternal haemoglobins in the horse, and correlations were found with erythrocytic levels of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate.
Burrows R, Goodridge D.The EHV-1 viruses of fetal origin grew better and had a wider tissue culture host range than those isolated from horses with respiratory diseases. Comparisons of a fetal isolate (F/304) and a respiratory disease isolate (R/NM-3) in partly immune horses showed that the F/304 virus infected horses more readily, grew better in the nasopharynx, was more likely to cause abortion, and was excreted to a greater extent into the environment.
Trexler PC, Thomson GR.A method of rearing germ-free gnotobiotic foals is described. To date, four foals have been infected with rhinopneumonitis and the only clinical signs of infection have been a transient fever and leukopaenia; no detailed results are, as yet, available.
Allen WR, Rowson LE.Surgical and non-surgical methods used for the recovery and transfer of fertilized horse eggs are described. Sixteen of the twenty-three zygotes recovered surgically between Days 1 to 6 after ovulation from thirty donor mares were transferred surgically to synchronized recipients; seven pregnancies resulted. Seven of the eleven zygotes recovered non-surgically between Days 6 to 8 after ovulation from twenty-eight donor mares were transferred non-surgically to synchronized recipients; five pregnancies resulted.
Parker WG, Sullivan JJ, Larson LL.The diagnostic value of rectal palpation and immunological assay of PMSG was tested at different stages of pregnancy in mares inseminated with frozen semen in three separate studies. The results were based on foaling success and particular attention was paid to the numbers of inconsistent results obtained by the two tests. Generally, the number of false positive diagnoses was lower for the immunological assay than for palpation in early pregnancy (Days 40 to 60) and the relationship became reversed later in gestation.
Pickett BW, Voss JL.Experimental and clinical observations were made to treat abnormal sexual behaviour. The most common cause of abnormality was mismanagement of the animal; over-use and rough treatment at service and too-frequent ejaculation during winter had a detrimental effect on the behaviour of young stallions. Pain due to injury incurred at copulation or when associated with mounting attempts was also a common cause of impotence. Most impotent stallions responded well to re-training and recovery can be achieved without pharmacological treatment in most cases.
Chandley AC, Fletcher J, Rossdale PD, Peace CK, Ricketts SW, McEnery RJ, Thorne JP, Short RV, Allen WR.Chromosomal abnormalities have been detected in seven mares isolated by their poor reproductive performance. All had small or rudimentary gonads and absent or irregular oestrous cycles. Two mares had an XO genotype, one was a 65,XXX female and another a 64,XY sex-reversed female. Two other mares were sex chromosome mosaics of the 63,X/64,XX type. The seventh mare showed a normal female karyotype but a small extra autosomal fragment was found in a few cells.
Silver M, Comline RS.Mares and fetuses with indwelling catheters in the umbilical and uterine vessels have been used to monitor transplacental blood gas tensions, pH, O2 affinities and the concentration of various metabolites in fetal and maternal blood during late gestation. Measurements of umbilical and uterine blood flows and arterio-venous differences enabled the uptake of O2 and glucose by the fetus and the uterus to be estimated. The present findings are compared with those from other species in comparable conditions.
Douglas RH, Ginther OJ.Several experiments indicated that prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) has luteolytic and abortifacient properties in mares. A single subcutaneous injection of 1-25 mg PGF2alpha on Day 6 of dioestrus was as effective as 10 mg PGF2alpha in inducing luteolysis. Oestrus and ovulation appeared to be synchronized when a single injection of 1-25 mg PGF2alpha was given on Days 7, 10 or 13 after ovulation but not on Days 1 or 4 after ovulation or on Day 2 of oestrus. Intramuscular administration was as effective as subcutaneous administration and 1-25 mg PGF2alpha was the minimal effective systemic dose...
Merkt H, Klug E, Bohm KH, Weiss R.A high incidence of Klebsiella contamination in German 'Warmblut' and Thoroughbred stallions is reported. The organism was recovered from the nostrils, prepuce, pre-ejacultory secretion and, in some cases, on the body surface, in the faeces and on the ground of the covering (mating) yard. Fertility was not affected. However, differences of virulence were observed and Type 5 proved to be the most pathogenic.
Hillman RB, Loy RG.The rate of urinary oestrogen excretion was studied in four ovariectomized mares. In two animals ovariectomized when urinary oestrogen concentration was high, levels fell to a minimun within 48 hr. Intramuscular injection of oestradiol-17beta produced maximum urinary oestrogen levels within 3 to 6 hr and a return to minimum detectable levels within 24 hr. The major urinary oestrogen in mares was oestrone. In nine maiden mares studied between September and June, the cycle, the durations of dioestrus and oestrus, and the time of ovulation were similar in autumn (September to December) and spring...
Ganjam VK, Kenney RM.Total androgens, testosterone and total oestrogens were measured in twenty-one intact, nine unilaterally cryptorchid, three bilaterally cryptorchid stallions and four geldings. Total oestrogens were significantly higher (P less than 0-005) and total androgens significantly lower (P less than 0-05) in the bilateral cryptorchid compared to other groups. There was a significant (P less than 0-025) day and night variation in total androgen levels. Thyroidectomized and intact animals showed a marked decrease in total androgen as well as testosterone levels during the winter period thus showing an e...
González-Angulo A, Hernández-Jáuregui P, Martínez-Zedilo G.Light and electron microscopic studies of the gonads of the fetal horse have shown that, in their hypertrophic condition which begins during the 3rd month, the interstitial cells contain large amounts of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting a secretory activity. Hydroxylating activity which was cytochrome P-450-dependent was observed in the fetal testis and may be involved in steroid biosynthesis.
Clark TL.The rarity of equine ovarian neoplasms is attested to by the lack of reports in the literature. However, sixteen cases have been diagnosed at the Iowa State University Veterinary Hospital in the last 3 years and, of these, the granulosa-cell tumour was the most common. A study of the clinical and subsequent histories of these and other mares reveals some common findings as to age, breed, reproductive status, clinical signs, and post-surgical reproductive capability.
Douglas RH, Ginther OJ.Prenatal specimens from mares with known breeding dates were used to characterize morphological changes in the fetus and placenta of pony mares. Prenatal characteristics and the day on which each was first found and weights of different components of the equine conceptus are summarized.
Parker WG, Sullivan JJ, First NL.Fifty mares were inseminated on Days 2, 4, 7, 11 or 17 of the oestrous cycle with spermatozoa from one of three stallions to observe the distribution of the spermatozoa in various parts of the reproductive tract 12 hr later (Days 3, 5, 8, 12 and 18). Only 0-06 to 2-21% of inseminated spermatozoa were recovered from the tract. More (P less than 0-05) spermatozoa were recovered from the cervix and uterus on Day 12 than on Days 3, 5, 8 and 18. The mean number of spermatozoa recovered from either or both oviducts was significantly greater (P less than 0-10) on Days 5 and 8 than on Days 3, 12 and 1...
Zafracas AM.This paper describes sixteen cases of Candida infection of the genital tract in Thoroughbred mares. Clinical signs and histopathological lesions of the disease are described and the results of treatment with Lugol's solution and Nystatin are given.
Chase JP, Beard WL, Bertone AL, Goltz K.Peritonitis was induced in 12 horses by median celiotomy and 1 hour of small intestinal ischemia. Six horses had primary closure of the incision, whereas six horses had a plastic mesh sutured to the ventral abdominal wall leaving the abdomen open for ventral drainage. The mesh was removed after 5 days and the abdominal wall was closed by apposition of the linea alba and subcutaneous tissues and approximation ef the skin edges. Peritoneal fluid was collected and analyzed for nucleated cell count and total protein concentration on days 0 and 5. Serum biochemical profiles, serum electrolyte conce...
Andersen C, Tnibar A.Medial patellar ligament splitting (MPLS) has been shown to be a highly effective and minimally invasive treatment for upward fixation of the patella (UFP) in horses. However, long-term follow-up results of this procedure have not previously been reported. Objective: To evaluate the long-term resolution of UFP following MPLS and provide information on complications and recurrence. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Data were collected from horses that underwent MPLS between 1999 and 2013. All cases had a confirmed diagnosis of UFP that had not responded to conservative therapy. Data ...
Brünisholz HP, Schwarzwald CC, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Ringer SK.The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of pentastarch on colloid osmotic pressure (COP) and cardiopulmonary function during and up to 24 h after anaesthesia in horses. Twenty-five systemically healthy horses were anaesthetised using isoflurane-medetomidine balanced anaesthesia. Twelve were assigned to treatment with hydroxyethyl starch (HES) (H group) and 13 to no HES (NH group). In the H group, 6 mL/kg of pentastarch 10% HES (200/0.5) was infused over 1 h starting 30 min after induction of anaesthesia. Horses of the NH group received an equal amount of lactated Ringer's so...
Ma X, Wang C, Zhang B, Xia L, Su Y.Strangles is a highly prevalent, extremely contagious, and occasionally lethal infectious disease affecting horses worldwide. Prophylactic antibiotics are ineffective in prevention of disease but are recommended for exposed horses at the first sign of fever and any horse obviously ill from strangles or with complications and there is an urgent need of a cost-effective, safe, efficacious vaccine. In the present study, we sought to develop effective vaccines by fusing the Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) antigen SeM with the flagellin of Salmonella abortus equi FljB. We also explored...
Martínez-Boví R, Plaza-Dávila M, Cuervo-Arango J.The use of flunixin-meglumine (a potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) during the critical period of intrafollicular prostaglandin production before ovulation (24 and 36 h after hCG treatment) results in a high rate of ovulatory failure and formation of haemorrhagic anovulatory follicles (HAF) in the mare. Dexamethasone is commonly used to prevent persistent mating-induced endometritis in susceptible mares, but the effect on ovulation blockage within the pre-ovulatory critical window of intrafollicular prostaglandins production following hCG administration has not been determined. Six ...
VOR DER DOMESTIKATION HING DAS ÜBERLEBEN DER EQUIDEN VON DER FäHIGKEIT AB, SICH IHRER UMGEBUNG UND MIT IHR VERBUNDENEN GEFAHREN ANZUPASSEN. DIES BETRAF V. A. RAUBTIERE, AUF DIE DIE PFERDE SCHNELL REAGIEREN MUSSTEN. MODERNE PFERDE UNTERSCHEIDEN SICH VON IHREN VORFAHREN U. A. IN IHRER REAKTION AUF STRESSOREN. SIE WURDEN üBER JAHRHUNDERTE HINWEG SO GEZüCHTET, DASS EIN FüR MENSCHEN SICHERER UMGANG MIT IHNEN MöGLICH IST. DIES REDUZIERTE AUCH IHRE REAKTIONEN AUF ANGSTERZEUGENDE FAKTOREN. DIE STUDIE UNTERSUCHTE, OB PFERDE NOCH IMMER DIE FäHIGKEIT BESITZEN, RECHTZEITIG AUF GEFAHREN DURCH RAUBTI...
van Suntum M, Hartung K.Subchondral bone cysts or cyst like lesions are an important hint in the radiographic diagnosis of degenerative joint disease. In this study we set artificial lesions of different size in the subchondral bone of different joint surfaces of horses, and we then tried to determine from which size on these lesions could be made visible on radiographs in different projections. It shows that the possibility of visualization of such lesions is frequently overestimated, cyst like lesions have to be quite large, before they can be seen on routine radiographs.
Stalheim OH, Stone SS, Blackburn BO, Foley J.In horses given whole cultures or cells of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp capri (by subcutaneous and intravenous injections), antibody responses were measured by serologic procedures. During an immunization period of 22 weeks, horses produced an antiserum that was used to identify M mycoides subsp capri by agglutination, complement-fixation, and fluorescent antibody (FA) tests, but not by the growth-inhibition test. Horses that were injected with whole cultures of M mycoides subsp capri responded better than horses that were injected with only cells, ie, antibodies were detectable sooner by agar ge...
Boersema JH.A horse with foot-mange failed to recover following a number of courses of treatment with coumaphos. Mites isolated from this horse were tested in vitro for their sensitivity to coumaphos and lindane. The mites were resistant to coumaphos and sensitive to lindane. Following treatment with lindane, the horse recovered within four weeks.
Costa G, Labadia A, Garcia-Sacristan A.The effects of verapamil, a calcium antagonist agent, were studied on smooth muscle preparations of the lower urinary tract of horses. Verapamil (2 X 10(-4) to 2 X 10(-8) M) relaxed the ureter, urethra and urinary bladder preparations contracted by potassium (127 mM), L-noradrenaline (2 X 10(-5) M), histamine (2 X 10(-5) M) and acetylcholine (2 X 10(-5) M). These results allow the conclusion that verapamil has a dose-dependent relaxing effect on smooth muscle of the lower urinary tract.
Rose RJ, Ilkiw JE, Hodgson D.Thirty-one horses competing in a 100 kilometre endurance ride had electrocardiograms recorded before and after the ride from which the heart score of each horse was calculated. Blood was also taken to determine the packed cell volume (PCV) and total plasma protein (TPP) before the ride, after 60 kilometres (mid-ride) and at completion of the ride. Statistical analysis of the heart scores showed that a faster group of horses had significantly higher heart scores than either a slower group or those eliminated due to inadequate recovery of heart rate. No horses developed electrocardiogram abnorma...
Waldern NM, Kubli V, Dittmann MT, Amport C, Krieg C, Weishaupt MA.In Icelandic horses (ICE), high, long hooves with added weights are often used to improve gait quality in competitions. From a biomechanical point of view, excessively long hooves can be problematic as they increase forces acting on the distal limb. The study aimed to determine if hoof capsule size and angle of ICE at competitions are comparable to those of Warmblood horses (WB) requiring shoeing. Hoof dimensions and balance were quantified in 13 horses of each breed at the beginning of a shoeing period (BSP), allowing a baseline comparison between breeds, as well as for WB at the end of a sho...
Palmer SE.Evaluation was made of the portable infrared thermometer to measure limb surface temperature in 3 horses--first standing in a stall and then placed in lateral recumbency under general anesthesia. To determine the effect of pigment, black and white targets were examined with the instrument under various clinical conditions. In each horse, thermal gradient measurements were consistent along the extremities. Mean limb surface temperatures were less than rectal temperature and greater than ambient temperature. Limb surface temperatures measured in lateral recumbency under general anesthesia were u...
Kraft VW, Menghistu D, Zeilmann M, Grabner A, Ghermai A.Reference values of serum phenols between 0.3 and 0.7 mmol/L in dogs respectively between 0.25 and 0.37 mmol/L in horses are determined. In dogs increased phenol values were found frequently in hepatopathy. Furthermore elevations, particularly in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, were obtained; especially in hemorrhagic enteritis of dogs, associated with parvovirosis, and in mechanical ileus of the small intestine and the large intestine respectively in horses. In renal and endocrine diseases increased phenol values were seldom obtained.