"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.
Saunders LZ, Bistner SI, Rubin LF.An asymptomatic, ophthalmoscopically visible proliferation affected the optic disc and nerve of two aged horses. The lesion consisted of an accumulation of foamy cells, histologically akin to fat cells, which contained an unidentified lipid-like material. The affected area and its environs were permeated by tortuous, thickened blood vessels with heavy deposits of collagen in their walls. The neuropathy is considered to be a storage disease, and although the product stored is unidentified, the lesion is similar to that of human xanthelasma. The neuropathy seems distinct from the exudative optic...
Nakajima H, Norcross NL, Coggins L.Antigenic relationship between purified equine infectious anemia (EIA) virus and spleen-derived antigen from EIA-infected horses was examined by immunodiffusion. Identical antigenicity of these two antigens has been proven because precipitation lines formed between the two antigens and EIA antiserum connected with each other. The results indicate that the antigenic substance derived from infected spleen is a component of EIA virus.
Dodam JR, Branson KR, Gross ME, Petroski GF.The purpose of this study was to assess carbon monoxide (CO) exposure during equine anesthesia with either halothane (H) or isoflurane (I) delivered in a circle rebreathing system. Methods: Prospective clinical investigation. Methods: Fifty client-owned horses. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned for anesthetic maintenance with H (n = 26) or I (n = 24). Two large animal anesthetic machines were used and assigned to a single agent for 2-4 weeks at a time. Machines were disassembled and soda lime changed prior to switching anesthetic agents. Inhalant anesthetic concentration and CO concentrat...
Melrose PA, Knigge KM.The present study describes and compares the topography of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH)-immunoreactive neurons in the forebrain of rats and horses. Two groups of immunoreactive cells were present in both species. These groups were distinguished by their cross-immunoreactivity and topography. The topography of cell bodies with cross-immunoreactivity for peptides derived from pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) including adrenocorticotropin, 16K, alpha-MSH and beta-endorphin was similar in both species. However, the topography of perikarya which stained only for alpha-MSH, and not fo...
Dryburgh EL, Marsh AE, Dubey JP, Howe DK, Reed SM, Bolten KE, Pei W, Saville WJ.Sarcocystis neurona is considered the major etiologic agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a neurological disease in horses. Raccoon ( Procyon lotor ) is considered the most important intermediate host in the life cycle of S. neurona in the United States; S. neurona sarcocysts do mature in raccoon muscles, and raccoons also develop clinical signs simulating EPM. The focus of this study was to determine if sarcocysts would develop in raccoons experimentally inoculated with different host-derived strains of in vitro-cultivated S. neurona merozoites. Four raccoons were inoculated wi...
Hinrichs K, Rand WM, Palmer E.Follicular fluid from small- to medium-sized follicles has been shown to have an inhibiting effect on luteinization of granulosa cells in vitro. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of in vivo removal of follicular fluid on luteinization, peripheral gonadotropin concentrations, and ovulation of secondary follicles in the mare. Follicular fluid was aspirated from the preovulatory follicles of mares when the diameter of the follicle was 30-34 mm (Group A), 35-39 mm (Group B), or 40-44 mm (Group C). Mares in Group D served as controls and the preovulatory follicle was not aspirated....
Smrkovski OA, Koo Y, Kazemi R, Lembcke LM, Fathy A, Liu Q, Phillips JC.Performance and clinical characteristics of a novel hyperthermia antenna operating at 434 MHz were evaluated for the adjuvant treatment of locally advanced superficial tumours in cats, dogs and horses. Electromagnetic simulations were performed to determine electric field characteristics and compared to simulations for a flat microwave antenna with similar dimensions. Simulation results show a reduced skin surface and backfield irradiation and improved directional irradiation (at broadside) compared to a flat antenna. Radiated power and penetration is notably increased with a penetration depth...
Tranchina MM, Scott DW, McDonough SP.Summary A small population of resident T lymphocytes is present in the healthy human and murine epidermis. However, resident epidermal lymphocytes have not been reported in normal skin of the horse. Skin biopsy specimens from the normal skin of 27 horses were examined histologically and immunohistochemically for the presence of lymphocytes, CD3+ cells and BLA.36+ cells in epidermis and adnexal epithelia. All examinations were negative. It appears that lymphocytes occur rarely, if at all, in the epidermis and adnexal epithelia of normal horse skin. Hence, the presence of lymphocytes in these st...
Divers TJ, Mongodin EF, Miller CB, Belgrave RL, Gardner RB, Fraser CM, Schutzer SE.Antemortem diagnosis of neuroborreliosis in horses has been hindered by both the low sensitivity of PCR testing for in CSF and the low specificity of serum:CSF ELISA ratios used to determine intrathecal antibody production against the bacterium. PCR testing of the CSF of an adult horse with acute neurologic disease for the flagellin gene was negative. However, we enriched DNA through nucleic acid hybrid capture, followed by next-generation sequencing, and identified in the CSF of the horse, confirming a diagnosis of neuroborreliosis.
Romagnano A, Richer CL, Messier PE, Jean P.Silver staining shows the presence in the domestic horse of six NORs located on chromosomes 1, 26 and 31 as identified after R-banding. Following electron microscopy, the argyrophilic material was observed outside the terminal secondary constrictions (satellite stalks) on the terminal portion of the short arm of chromosome 1, outside the secondary constrictions on the proximal region of the long arms of chromosome 31, and beside the proximal region of the long arms of chromosome 26. Satellite staining applied to these chromosomes appears to reveal only the active NORs.
Todhunter RJ, Stick JA, Slocombe RF.The effects of 3 feeding techniques on healing of a cervical esophageal mucosal resection and anastomosis were investigated in 16 horses. Horses were fed a moistened pelleted diet 1 of 3 ways: 1) per os (n = 5), 2) by nasogastric (n = 5) or 3) by esophagostomy tube (n = 6) until the 14th postoperative day. The pelleted diet was then fed orally in all horses until euthanasia on the 60th postoperative day. Immediate postoperative feeding per os was unsatisfactory, as only 2 of 5 horses survived in this group. Endoscopic evaluation revealed that mucosal dehiscence of varying degrees occurred, wit...
Guida N, Mesplet M, Di Gennaro E, Digilio P, Moras EV.Aspergillus fumigatus is a cosmopolitan opportunistic fungal associated to rhinopharyngitis, sinusitis and guttural pouches infection with nasal discharges. All them are similar with Strangle's sign, the infectious disease produced by Streptococcus equi spp. The aim of this work was to detect A. fumigatus in healthy horses living in boxes and field. 226 nasopharyngeal swabbing samples were obtained by mycological routine. A. fumigatus was isolated in 26 (11.5%) horses.
Walker NL, Patout AR, Cater M.Hereditary equine regional derma asthenia (HERDA), an autosomal-recessive trait, found in Quarter Horses, causes abnormal collagen structure. Owing to current breeding practices, 3.5% of registered quarter horses and 28.3% of the cow horse population are heterozygote carriers. Research demonstrated homozygote horses develop hyperextensible skin susceptible to injury and other abnormal tissues containing high fibrillar collagen content. No research exists determining the effects of the disease in heterozygote carriers. Currently, 30% of cutting sires are HERDA carriers, potentially increasing t...
Yamarik TA, Wilson WD, Wiebe VJ, Pusterla N, Edman J, Papich MG.Using a randomized, cross-over study design, ciprofloxacin was administered i.g. to eight adult mares at a dose of 20 mg/kg, and to seven of the eight horses at a dose of 5 mg/kg by bolus i.v. injection. The mean C(0) was 20.5 μg/mL (±8.8) immediately after i.v. administration. The C(max) was 0.6 μg/mL (±0.36) at T(max) 1.46 (±0.66) h after the administration of oral ciprofloxacin. The mean elimination half-life after i.v. administration was 5.8 (±1.6) h, and after oral administration the terminal half-life was 3.6 (±1.7) h. The overall mean systemic availability of ...
Partlow JL, Lustgarten M, Redding WR.To the authors' knowledge, the ultrasonographic appearance of hair shafts within a synovial structure of the horse has not been described previously. The purpose of this descriptive study was to illustrate the clinical, ultrasonographic, and arthroscopic characteristics of confirmed hair shafts within synovial structures of seven horses. A review of medical records of the Farm and Equine Veterinary Medical Center at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine identified seven horses with clinical signs suspicious for inflammatory or septic synovitis/tenosynovitis that had ha...
Malton R, Nagy A.Diffusion of local anaesthetic solution after a mid-pastern ring block has not been investigated. Objective: To demonstrate potential distribution of local anaesthetic solution following injection of radiodense contrast medium as performed for a mid-pastern ring block. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Twelve mature horses were used. One and a half ml radiodense contrast medium was injected over the medial or lateral palmar digital nerve at the level of the proximal aspect of the ungular cartilages. A dorsal ring block was performed on the ipsilateral side, 1.5 cm proximal to the palpable palm...