"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.
Vigroux P, Candau M, Ruckebusch Y.Electrical spiking activity of the caecum is increased eight-fold and the rate of passage of digesta is increased four-fold when the volume of caecal contents is doubled. The role of caecal motility in regulating the volume of caecal contents is discussed.
Drăgănescu N, Iftimovici R, Girjabu E, Iacobescu V, Buşila A, Cvaşniuc D, Tudor G, Mănăstireanu M, Lăpuşneanu .The paper reports on serological results obtained by HAI tests against several alphaviruses - eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), western equine encephalitis (WEE), Chikungunya, Midlebourg, Semliki Forest, Sindbis, and Ilheus viruses - carried out in humans and some domestic animals in a region with an intensive circulation of migratory birds. It was possible to detect in human antibodies to EEE, WEE, and Sindbis viruses, but in very low proportions (1.8%, 0.4%, and 0.6%, respectively). Serological results obtained in animals were practically negative: antibodies to EEE virus were found only in...
Beech J.Tracheobronchial aspirates were obtained from 27 normal horses and from 57 horses with respiratory disease. Aspirates from normal horses contained mainly ciliated columnar epithelial cells, mononuclear cells, a few neutrophils and mucus. Aspirates from horses with acute suppurative bronchopneumonias or chronic bronchiolitis had predominantly neutrophils and usually large amounts of mucus; in severe suppurative inflammatory diseases, many of the cells were degenerated, and there were coils of fibrinous material resembling Curschmann's spirals. Eosinophils were rarely found, even from horses wit...
Ramadan RO.The clinical features and pathology of an ocular melanoma in a young born-grey mare are described. The tumour, possibly arising on the cornea, invaded the eye and extra-orbital muscles. Histologically; it consisted predominantly of spindle-shaped and polygonal cells containing melanin.
Douglas RH, Ginther OJ.Nine groups of pony mares (3/group) were used in a 3 times 3 factorial experiment. The factors were dose of PGF-2 alpha (0, 0.25 of 1.25 mg and route of administration (im, iu or il). Mares were laparotomized and treated on day 7 postovulation. Jugular blood was collected for progesterone RIA at 0 (pretreatment) and 1,6,12,24,48, and 72 hr posttreatment. In mares given either 0.25 mg or 1.25 mg PGF-2alpha, progesterone concentrations were not significantly different among the three routes at any of the posttreatment times studied except at 6 hr posttreatment. In mares given 0.25 mg, progestero...
Kravets ID, Garin NS, Krutovskikh AV, Volkovoĭ KI, Fedorov VL.The authors present the results of studies on obtaining and comparative assessment of experimental anthrax diagnostic sera in experiments on various animals. Donkeys, sheep, horses, rabbits and monkeys (Papio hamadryas) were immunized with the STI-I vaccine by a single scheme. The activity of the obtained sera was tested in the diffuse precipitation reaction by the amount of the detected antibodies and the titre. The most active sera were obtained from donkeys and sheep: their titre was 5.5 and 4 times greater and amount of the detected antibodies 2.6--2 times greater than in the sera of horse...
Ellis PM.An accurate modified auscultatory technique for the indirect measurement of arterial pressure in the horse is described. Limitations of the method were sensitivity to external motion in nervous, conscious horses, and the failure to detect Korotkoff sounds in shocked, anaesthetized surgical cases. The apparatus required for the method is expensive and is probably impractical for routine monitoring during anaesthesia.
Johnson JE, Ryan GD.Soft tissue lesions are often secondary to equine carpal injury. The clinical and pathological nature of soft tissue changes following carpal trauma are varied. This report describes a case of intersynovial fistula between the radial carpal joint and the common digital extensor tendon sheath. The differential diagnosis and pathological features of equine soft tissue carpal injuries are discussed.
Krook L, Whalen JP, Lesser GV, Berens DL.Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSH) defines a spontaneous and experimental disease in most domesticated and in some wild animals, caused by dietary calcium deficiency and/or phosphorus excess. Calcium deficiency results directly in hypocalcemia, and phosphorus excess induces hyperphosphatemia which causes hypocalcemia. Secondary hyperparathyroidism thus results and the plasma parameters return to normal and are maintained but only at the expense of progressive bone loss. The bone loss is generalized but the bones are not uniformly affected. The hierarchy of bone loss is, in decreas...
Anderson MG.The effects of exercise of different intensities on blood concentrations of glucose, lactate, pyruvate, free fatty acids and glycerol were studied in a group of clinically normal horses. Blood lactate, pyruvate and lactate/pyruvate ratio increased during exercise, particularly during galloping. These changes occurred within the first 12-15 seconds of exercise indicating that anaerobic metabolic pathways are brought into use very quickly in the strenuously exercising horse. Since blood glycerol levels were significantly increased during exercise body lipids were also mobilised. At the same time...
Blackmore DJ, Elton D.This paper records the concentrations of aspartate amino transferase (A.A.T.), creatine kinase (C.P.K.), sorbitol dehydrogenase (S.D.H.), alpha-hydroxybuturate dehydrogenase (alpha-H.B.D.) and alkaline phosphatase (A.P.) activity observed in the sera of Thoroughbred horses in the United Kingdom, at rest and during training. The methods of analysis have been selected to achieve the optimum precision when used for horse serum. During training A.A.T., C.P.K. and alpha-H.B.D. are related and demonstrate intermittent periods of increasing activity. S.D.H. remains unchanged but demonstrates increase...
Levitt NH, Miller HV, Pedersen CE, Eddy GA.The development of a new diagnostic procedure for the identification of Venezvelan, eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis (VEE, EEE, WEE) viruses is described. The procedure utilizes virus precipitation with reference fluorescein-conjugated gamma globulin, followed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Clinical specimens containing varying concentrations of virus yielded, in primary duck embryo cell culture, sufficient virus for detection within 22 to 44 hours. Identification of VEE, EEE and WEE virus in specimens was accomplished by microprecipitation within this time. In contrast to c...
Osz E, Réthy L.The authors have compared the anaphylaxis due to active and passive sensitization of mice. In the case of active sensitizing, anti-mouse anti-thymocyte horse serum (ATS), and/or normal horse serum (NHS), whereas in the case of passive sensitizing, plasma, peripheral leukocytes, spleen cells and thymocytes of sensitized animals were used. Provocation of shock was carried out by intravenous administration of ATS or NHS. Irreversible anaphylaxis occurred in a significantly higher rate in the case of ATS than NHS sensitivity, produced either actively, or passively. Differences have been found also...
McGuire TC, Poppie MJ, Banks KL.Measurement of serum immunoglobulins in 46 foals less than 2 weeks old revealed 9 foals with hypogammaglobulinemia. The hypogammaglobulinemia was attributed to failure in transfer of immunoglobulins from dam to foal via colostrum. Three of the affected foals did not nurse at all, or only slightly, and 2 of these died of infections within a few days after birth, whereas the 3rd foal did not grow as well as normal foals. Six of the affected foals nursed in an apparently normal manner, and 5 of these had nonfatal respiratory infections between 2 and 5 weeks of age. Analysis of serum samples from ...
Dorn CR, Coffman JR, Schmidt DA, Garner HE, Addison JB, McCune EL.Colitis due to salmonellae was diagnosed in 9 horses following hospitalization for various reasons at the University of Missouri Veterinary Teaching Hospital, from May, 1971, to April, 1972. Diarrhea, fever, and either a neutrophil count of less than or equal to 3,600/cmm or a rapid decline in neutrophil numbers were specific for salmonellosis. The value of hematologic survelillance in hospitalized Equidae was demonstrated in another group of 9 horses with neutropenia, each of which was promptly treated and did not develop colitis. Bacteriologic culturing of fecal samples from 28 clinically no...
Péterfy F, Varró R, Fatrai Z, Barna I, Kiss I.Horse immune sera do not give satisfactory results in immunochemical techniques based on electrophoresis of antigens through antibody-containing agarose gel. As the majority of precipitating horse antibodies belongs to the beta globulins, they migrate in the gel during electrophoresis. After enzymatic treatment the pepsin fragments work well in all electroimmunodiffusion methods.
Sha DH, Mullineaux DR, Clayton HM.Surface markers are usually used to track bone movement. However, skin movement related to the bone has a large effect on the analysis of skeletal kinematics. A 2-dimensional (2D) skin displacement correction model has been successfully developed, but no 3D skin displacement model exists. Objective: To develop a 3-dimensional (3D) skin displacement model for the equine radial segment during trot. Methods: The 3D trajectories of 6 skin-based markers and a bone-fixed triad were captured at trot in 4 horses. Skin displacements in the bone-based coordinate system were calculated using a singular-v...
Medeiros LF, Medeiros LO, Berciano Sanjurjo MA.1. The metabolism in the erythrocytes of thoroughbred horses in a sequential study from umbilical cord to the 1st month was investigated. 2. Emphasis was put on hemolytic period at which: (a). PFK, GSH-Px and GSH play a significant role. (b). There is a lower glucose consumption determined by a decreased activity in several enzymatic steps. (c). Singularly high concentrations of 2-3DPG and ATP were detected. 3. It has been suggested that the metabolic adjustments were achieved by an increased activity of the hexose monophosphate shunt, G-3PD and AK.
Tsunoda RH, Serrano-Recalde EC, Arruda RP, Oliveira BMM, Pinto SCC, Celeghini ECC.The aim was to evaluate effects of addition of pentoxifylline to skimmed milk semen extender on uterine inflammatory response. Thirty-six estrous cycles of 15 mares were randomly divided into five groups for artificial insemination (AI): Control: mimicking the AI procedure (n = 7); Extender: deposition of skimmed milk based extender (n = 7); Extender + PTX: skimmed milk based extender plus pentoxifylline (7.18 mM; n = 8); Semen: semen diluted with extender without pentoxifylline (n = 7), and Semen + PTX: semen diluted with extender containing pentoxifylline (n = 7). M...
Klopfenstein Bregger MD, Fürst AE, Kircher PR, Kluge K, Kummer M.To describe minimally-invasive lag screw osteosynthesis combined with external coaptation for the treatment of Salter-Harris type II third metacarpal and third metatarsal bone fractures. Methods: Three foals aged two weeks to four months with a Salter-Harris type II third metacarpal or third metatarsal fracture. Surgery was carried out under general anaesthesia in lateral recumbency. After fracture reduction, the metaphyseal fragment was stabilized with two cortical screws placed in lag fashion under fluoroscopic control. A cast was applied for at least two weeks. Results: All foals had a good...
van Nieuwstadt RA, Kalsbeek HC.In a horse with chronic unilateral nasal discharge guttural pouch mycosis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus was diagnosed. A percutaneous indwelling catheter was surgically installed in the left guttural pouch. Initial treatment with a povidone iodine solution proved to be unsatisfactory. Treatment was continued by administering enilconazole by ways of an indwelling through-the-nose-catheter. The latter treatment resulted in complete recovery.
Ludwig EK, Byron CR, Lahmers KK, Santos MP.An adult horse was diagnosed with a frontal and caudal maxillary sinus lipoma, which was surgically removed. This is the first known report of a sinus lipoma in a horse. Lipomas should be considered in the differential diagnoses of equine sinus masses; complete surgical excision appears to be curative. Un cheval adulte a été diagnostiqué avec un lipome du sinus maxillaire frontal et caudal qui a été enlevé par chirurgie. Il s’agit du premier rapport d’un lipome de sinus chez un cheval. Les lipomes devraient être considérés dans les diagnostics différentiels des masses des sinus ...
Ekiri AB, House AM, Krueger TM, Hernandez JA.To assess awareness, perceived relevance, and acceptance of surveillance and infection control practices at a large animal referral hospital among referring veterinarians and clients who sent horses to the facility for veterinary care. Methods: Survey. Methods: 57 referring veterinarians and 594 clients. Methods: A 15-question survey targeting Salmonella enterica as an important pathogen of interest in horses was sent to clients who sent ≥ 1 horse to the University of Florida Large Animal Hospital for veterinary care during July 1, 2007, through July 1, 2011, and to veterinarians who had ref...
Dilling SC, TenBroeck SH, Hogsette JA, Kline DL.Mosquitoes are pests of horses, but mosquito trap efficacy data, especially the ability of traps to protect horses, are lacking. Studies were conducted to investigate the comparative attraction between traps and horses, increase trap attraction by adding horse odors to the airstream of a trap, determine the spatial distribution of adult mosquitoes, estimate the numbers of mosquitoes feeding on horses, determine the relative attraction of horses to mosquitoes, and estimate the range of mosquitoes' attraction between two horses. When a horse and a mosquito trap were placed 3.5 m apart, there was...
Kelly PG, Pollock PJ.To describe (1) diagnosis of dynamic collapse of the cricotracheal ligament in a group of horses and (2) treatment and outcome of affected horses. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Thoroughbred horses (n = 8). Methods: Of 600 over ground dynamic endoscopic examinations performed, 8 Thoroughbred horses had cricotracheal ligament collapse (CTLC); 5 were 2 years old and in early training and 2 were mature horses in full work. CTLC was diagnosed if circumferential collapse of the cricotracheal ligament was identified during exercise. Seven horses had repeat endoscopic examination. T...
Hamouzová P, Drábková Z, Stehlíková Š, Řeháková K, Čížek P, Dobešová O, Jahn P, Doubek J.This study determined Tregs and inflammatory cytokines in BALF and peripheral blood (PB) of adult horses with mild and severe asthma and different BALF cytological inflammation profiles. Horses of diverse breeds with asthma (age range: 2-20 years, n = 24) were divided into groups according to the number of points obtained in a standardized clinical scoring system (mild-moderate equine asthma - MEA, severe equine asthma - SEA) and according to the inflammation type based on cytological finding. Plasma levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17 and MMP-9 in the BALF were determined by ELISA. Tregs ...
Reschke C.The case report describes the surgical and photodynamic treatment (PDT) of an equine sarcoid in a 6-year-old gelding. A mass on the ventral prepuce, several tumours on the lateral aspect of the prepuce and one sarcoid on the front aspect of the chest were treated. For PDT, Temoporfin (Fospeg® Biolitec AG, Jena) at a concentration of 0.15mg/ml was injected locally. The subsequent irradiation was performed using a red-light laser (652nm) with an energy density of 10J/cm². The mass on the ventral aspect of the prepuce and some of the lateral tumours displayed total remission. The remaining tumo...
Alonso JM, Schmidt EMS, Eckersall PD, Kjelgaard-Hansen M, Alves ALG, Rodrigues CA, Watanabe MJ, Crescencio AP, Hussni CA.The acute phase response is a response to injury and depends on the severity of the trauma. Heparin is routinely used for postsurgical treatment of horses to prevent abdominal adhesions; however, its effect on inflammation is unknown. This study aimed to assess systemic inflammatory response of horses subjected to small colon enterotomy and to evaluate heparin effects on postsurgical inflammation. Ten adult horses were subjected to small colon enterotomy and were assigned to a control or a treatment group. Both groups received prophylactic antibiotics and flunixin, and the treatment group rece...
van Bergen T, Rötting A, Wiemer P, Schauvliege S, Vanderperren K, Ugahary F, Martens A.Preventive laparoscopic closure of the epiploic foramen (EF) has previously been described, but methods for EF closure during laparotomy for treatment of colic are lacking. Objective: To describe the foramen epiploicum mesh closure (FEMC) technique through a ventral midline laparotomy in horses under general anaesthesia and its outcome. Methods: Terminal surgical experiment and in vivo study. Methods: In a pilot study, a standard ventral midline laparotomy was performed under general anaesthesia in 10 experimental horses and a three-dimensional expandable diabolo-shaped mesh construct was manu...
Hanie EA, Sullins KE, Powers BE, Nelson PR.In 6 horses, bilateral metacarpal vertical series of three 4.0-mm unicortical drill holes were made. At random, one of each series of 3 holes was filled using a sternal 4.0-mm cancellous bone cylinder or a slurry of cancellous bone injected into the hole or left as an empty control. All horses had lateral metacarpal xeroradiographs at monthly intervals. Three horses (6 metacarpi) were examined post mortem after 4 months and 3 others after 6 months. Immediate through 4-month post-operative xeroradiographs demonstrated increased density in the holes with cancellous cylinders and no difference co...
Kikuchi K, Sasaki K, Akizawa H, Tsukahara H, Bai H, Takahashi M, Nambo Y, Hata H, Kawahara M.Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is responsible for a broad range of physiological processes during fetal development and adulthood, but genomic analyses of IGF2 containing the 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs) in equines have been limited. In this study, we characterized the IGF2 mRNA containing the UTRs, and determined its expression pattern in the fetal tissues of horses. The complete equine IGF2 mRNA sequence harboring another exon approximately 2.8 kb upstream from the canonical transcription start site was identified as a new transcript variant. As this upstream exon did not cont...
