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Topic:Horses

"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.
Genetic Characterization of Mangalarga Marchador Breed Horses Based on Microsatellite Molecular Markers.
Journal of equine veterinary science    September 30, 2020   Volume 95 103231 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103231
Baena MM, Diaz S, Moura RS, Meirelles SLC.The Mangalarga Marchador (MM) horse breed has expressive importance in the Brazilian economy. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate diversity in the MM breed. A database with a total of 3,193 genotyped horses was used (MM, n = 2,829; Andalusian - AND, n = 67; Pure Blood Lusitano - LUS, n = 43; English Thoroughbred - THO, n = 54; Arabian - ARA, n = 99; Campolina - CAM, n = 61; and Mangalarga - MAN, n = 40) for 13 microsatellite. Diversity parameters were estimates, such as mean number of alleles (Nm) and the number of rare alleles (AR), expected heterozygosity (He), F statistics...
Importation of macrocyclic lactone resistant cyathostomins on a US thoroughbred farm.
International journal for parasitology. Drugs and drug resistance    September 30, 2020   Volume 14 99-104 doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.09.004
Nielsen MK, Banahan M, Kaplan RM.Anthelmintic resistance in equine cyathostomins is both widespread and highly prevalent in the benzimidazole and tetrahydropyrimidine classes; however, reports of resistance to macrocyclic lactone (ML) drugs are sparse and sporadic. This study reports a case of clear ML resistance in a group of Thoroughbred yearlings imported from Ireland to the US in 2019. Fecal egg count reduction (FECR) following ivermectin administered in February 2020 demonstrated 100% reduction in the US bred yearlings, but 93.5%, 70.5%, and 74.5% reduction in three groups of the imported yearlings. The two former groups...
Adaptogenic and Immunomodulatory Activity of Ashwagandha Root Extract: An Experimental Study in an Equine Model.
Frontiers in veterinary science    September 29, 2020   Volume 7 541112 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.541112
Priyanka G, Anil Kumar B, Lakshman M, Manvitha V, Kala Kumar B.Ashwagandha ( L. Dunal.) is an important "" of Ayurveda. The roots are extensively used as an adaptogen and for different health issues. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-stimulating effects of Ashwagandha are well-documented. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Ashwagandha root extract as an adaptogen against various types of stress in horses. A total of 24 Kathiawari horses were selected and randomly divided into four groups. All the horses were provided with normal feed and water . Group 1 (G1) was treated as the control group, and the horses were given a n...
Surgical excision of a malignant metastatic melanoma located in a skeletal muscle of the lateral thorax of a horse.
Veterinary medicine and science    September 29, 2020   Volume 7, Issue 2 297-302 doi: 10.1002/vms3.366
Billi T, Karadima V, Tyrnenopoulou P, Apostolopoulou EP, Brellou GD, Diakakis N.A 20-year-old grey Warmblood gelding that had history of dermal melanomatosis. To report surgical treatment of a 6-cm large malignant metastatic melanoma located in the cutaneous trunci muscle of the left lateral thorax of a horse. A 20-year-old grey Warmblood gelding was referred for evaluation of a large, rapidly growing, thoracic mass. Clinical examination revealed an ovoid, firm, non-painful, movable mass, approximately 6 cm in diameter, located in the cutaneous trunci muscle of the left lateral thorax. Multiple melanocytic nodules were also found at the perianal region and ventral tail. ...
Metabolomics analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples in horses with naturally-occurring asthma and experimentally-induced airway inflammation.
Research in veterinary science    September 29, 2020   Volume 133 276-282 doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.09.033
Albornoz A, Alarcon P, Morales N, Uberti B, Henriquez C, Manosalva C, Burgos RA, Moran G.The present work characterized the metabolomic profile of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in healthy horses, experimentally-induced airway inflammation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) nebulization, and naturally-occurring asthma (n = 3 in each group). All animals underwent clinical and upper airway endoscopic examinations, and bronchoalveolar lavage. BALF supernatant samples were subjected to metabolic analysis based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Overall, 67 peaks were obtained from BALF GC-MS analysis, corresponding to 53 metabolites which were categorized according to ch...
Straight from the Horse’s Mouth.
Movement disorders clinical practice    September 29, 2020   Volume 7, Issue Suppl 3 S65-S66 doi: 10.1002/mdc3.13055
Malaty IA.No abstract available
Effects of an anti-IGF-1 receptor monoclonal antibody on laminitis induced by prolonged hyperinsulinaemia in Standardbred horses.
PloS one    September 29, 2020   Volume 15, Issue 9 e0239261 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239261
Rahnama S, Vathsangam N, Spence R, Medina-Torres CE, Pollitt CC, de Laat MA, Bailey SR, Sillence MN.Currently, there are no registered veterinary drugs for the treatment of endocrinopathic equine laminitis, and although this form of the disease is known to be caused by prolonged hyperinsulinaemia, the mechanism of insulin toxicity is unclear. One possibility is that high concentrations of insulin activate IGF-1 receptors (IGF-1R) in lamellar tissue, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation and epidermal lamellar dysregulation. An equinized version of a human anti-IGF-1R therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb11) was generated to test this theory, using a modification of the prolonged euglycae...
Psyllium supplementation is associated with changes in the fecal microbiota of horses.
BMC research notes    September 29, 2020   Volume 13, Issue 1 459 doi: 10.1186/s13104-020-05305-w
Mienaltowski MJ, Belt A, Henderson JD, Boyd TN, Marter N, Maga EA, DePeters EJ.Prophylactic supplementation of psyllium husk is recommended to enhance passage of ingested sand from the gastrointestinal tracts of horses. We hypothesized that psyllium supplementation would increase fecal sand passage and favorably alter bacterial populations in the hindgut. Six yearlings and six mature mares were fed a psyllium supplement in the diet daily for seven days. Voluntarily-voided feces were collected over the course of 29 days, prior, during, and after treatment. Feces were analyzed for acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent insoluble ash analyses. Microbial DNA was also...
The Effect of a Seaweed-Derived Calcium Supplement on Gastric Juice pH in the Horse.
Journal of equine veterinary science    September 29, 2020   Volume 95 103265 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103265
Jacobs RD, Gordon MBE, Vineyard KR, Keowen ML, Garza F, Andrews FM.Low gastric pH for extended periods of time can increase the risk of gastric ulceration in horses. Therefore, nutritional interventions that buffer stomach acid may be helpful to decrease ulcer risk. The objective of this trial was to evaluate whether the incorporation of calcified Lithothamnion corallioides and Phymatolithon calcareum (Calmin; Celtic Sea Minerals, Cork, Ireland) into an equine ration would buffer equine gastric juice. Nine mature, Thoroughbred-cross horses, including 6 geldings and 3 mares (524 ± 49 kg) were housed in stalls and fed 2 kg/day of a texturized concentrate (Pu...
Modification of empirical antimicrobial regimens in large animal medicine.
The Veterinary record    September 29, 2020   Volume 187, Issue 9 e78 doi: 10.1136/vr.106039
Redding L, Grunwald H, Cole S, Rankin S, Nolen-Walston R.Empirical antimicrobial regimens can be modified following new diagnostic information or when empirical treatment fails. Little is known about the frequency or clinical context in which these modifications occur. We characterised these modifications in a large animal hospital to identify when antimicrobial use could be optimised. Methods: Chart reviews were performed for all inpatients and outpatients administered antimicrobials at a large animal veterinary referral and teaching hospital in 2017-2018 (n=1163 visits) to determine when and why empirical regimens were modified. Multinomial logist...
What’s in a Click? The Efficacy of Conditioned Reinforcement in Applied Animal Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    September 28, 2020   Volume 10, Issue 10 1757 doi: 10.3390/ani10101757
Pfaller-Sadovsky N, Hurtado-Parrado C, Cardillo D, Medina LG, Friedman SG.A conditioned reinforcer is a stimulus that acquired its effectiveness to increase and maintain a target behavior on the basis of the individual's history-e.g., pairings with other reinforcers. This systematic review synthesized findings on conditioned reinforcement in the applied animal training field. Thirty-four studies were included in the review and six studies were eligible for a meta-analysis on the effectiveness of behavioral interventions that implemented conditioned reinforcement (e.g., clicks, spoken word, or whistles paired with food). The majority of studies investigated condition...
Relationship between rifampicin resistance and RpoB substitutions of Rhodococcus equi strains isolated in France.
Journal of global antimicrobial resistance    September 28, 2020   Volume 23 137-144 doi: 10.1016/j.jgar.2020.08.006
Petry S, Sévin C, Kozak S, Foucher N, Laugier C, Linster M, Breuil MF, Dupuis MC, Hans A, Duquesne F, Tapprest J.Study of the rifampicin resistance of Rhodococcus equi strains isolated from French horses over a 20-year period. Rifampicin susceptibility was tested by disk diffusion (DD) and broth macrodilution methods, and rpoB gene sequencing and MLST were performed on 40 R. equi strains, 50.0% of which were non-susceptible to rifampicin. Consistency of results was observed between rifampicin susceptibility testing and rpoB sequencing. Strains non-susceptible to rifampicin by DD had a substitution at one of the sites (Asp516, His526 and Ser531) frequently encountered and conferring rifampicin resistance....
A single bout of high-intensity exercise modulates the expression of vitamin D receptor and vitamin D-metabolising enzymes in horse skeletal muscle.
Equine veterinary journal    September 28, 2020   Volume 53, Issue 4 796-805 doi: 10.1111/evj.13346
Puangthong C, Sukhong P, Saengnual P, Srikuea R, Chanda M.The expressions of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and vitamin D-metabolising enzymes (CYP27B1 and CYP24A1) in skeletal muscle have been reported. However, the regulation of this vitamin D system in horse skeletal muscle after high-intensity exercise has not yet been elucidated. Objective: To investigate the effect of high-intensity exercise on the expression of vitamin D system-related proteins in horse skeletal muscle and its associations with skeletal muscle stem cell (SMSC) activity and serum 25(OH)D level. Methods: Longitudinal study. Methods: Six healthy ponies (5 geldings, 1 mare; age 6.3 ±Â...
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for Identification of Bacterial Isolates From Horses.
Journal of equine veterinary science    September 28, 2020   Volume 95 103276 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103276
Uchida-Fujii E, Niwa H, Kinoshita Y, Nukada T.Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is used for bacterial identification by analyzing the spectra of isolates and comparing them against a database of reference spectra; it is known for its rapidity and accuracy. Although MALDI-TOF MS is used for identification of bacterial isolates from animals, not all animal pathogens are identified correctly. In this study, we used a commercial MALDI-TOF MS identification system to examine 3724 bacterial isolates from horses and their environments. Isolates that could not be identified with MALDI-TOF ...
A nonsense variant in Rap Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor 5 (RAPGEF5) is associated with equine familial isolated hypoparathyroidism in Thoroughbred foals.
PLoS genetics    September 28, 2020   Volume 16, Issue 9 e1009028 doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009028
Rivas VN, Magdesian KG, Fagan S, Slovis NM, Luethy D, Javsicas LH, Caserto BG, Miller AD, Dahlgren AR, Peterson J, Hales EN, Peng S, Watson KD....Idiopathic hypocalcemia in Thoroughbred (TB) foals causes tetany and seizures and is invariably fatal. Based upon the similarity of this disease with human familial hypoparathyroidism and occurrence only in the TB breed, we conducted a genetic investigation on two affected TB foals. Familial hypoparathyroidism was identified, and pedigree analysis suggested an autosomal recessive (AR) mode of inheritance. We performed whole-genome sequencing of the two foals, their unaffected dams and four unaffected, unrelated TB horses. Both homozygosity mapping and an association analysis were used to prior...
The equine mononuclear phagocyte system: The relevance of the horse as a model for understanding human innate immunity.
Equine veterinary journal    September 28, 2020   Volume 53, Issue 2 231-249 doi: 10.1111/evj.13341
Karagianni AE, Lisowski ZM, Hume DA, Scott Pirie R.The mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) is a family of cells of related function that includes bone marrow progenitors, blood monocytes and resident tissue macrophages. Macrophages are effector cells in both innate and acquired immunity. They are a major resident cell population in every organ and their numbers increase in response to proinflammatory stimuli. Their function is highly regulated by a wide range of agonists, including lymphokines, cytokines and products of microorganisms. Macrophage biology has been studied most extensively in mice, yet direct comparisons of rodent and human macro...
An Integrative miRNA-mRNA Expression Analysis Reveals Striking Transcriptomic Similarities between Severe Equine Asthma and Specific Asthma Endotypes in Humans.
Genes    September 28, 2020   Volume 11, Issue 10 1143 doi: 10.3390/genes11101143
Hulliger MF, Pacholewska A, Vargas A, Lavoie JP, Leeb T, Gerber V, Jagannathan V.Severe equine asthma is an incurable obstructive respiratory condition affecting 10-15% of horses in temperate climates. Upon exposure to airborne antigens from hay feeding, affected horses show neutrophilic airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction, leading to increased respiratory effort. The resulting implications range from welfare concerns to economic impacts on equestrian sports and horse breeding. Immunological and pathophysiological characteristics of severe equine asthma show important parallels with allergic and severe neutrophilic human asthma. Our study aimed at investigating reg...
Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and the Effect on Equine Multifidi Asymmetry.
Journal of equine veterinary science    September 28, 2020   Volume 95 103255 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103255
Isbell DA, Schils SJ, Oakley SC, Carraro U, Knaeble BR.Asymmetry of the multifidi has been correlated with scoliosis and back pain in humans and has been investigated as a factor in equine back pain as well. The purpose of this study was to determine if FES would affect the symmetry of equine thoracolumbar multifidi when compared to controls. Twelve horses received 24 FES treatments bilaterally over the thoracolumbar region for 8 weeks. Twelve additional control horses received no FES treatments. Ultrasonographic measurements of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the multifidi of the treatment horses at seven thoracolumbar levels were compared to ...
Exposure of Horses in Israel to West Nile Virus and Usutu Virus.
Viruses    September 28, 2020   Volume 12, Issue 10 1099 doi: 10.3390/v12101099
Schvartz G, Tirosh-Levy S, Erester O, Shenhar R, Levy H, Bazanow B, Gelman B, Steinman A.West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are arboviruses transmitted by mosquito vectors. Whereas WNV is endemic in Israel, the Middle East, Europe, and in the Americas, data regarding the prevalence of USUV in the Middle East is limited. While both viruses share similar reservoirs and vectors, exposure of horses in the area to USUV have never been assessed. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence and co-exposure of WNV and USUV in horses in Israel. A total of 327 serum samples from healthy unvaccinated horses in Israel collected in 2018 were tested for neutralizing antibo...
Evaluation of the Accuracy of Horse Body Weight Estimation Methods.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    September 26, 2020   Volume 10, Issue 10 1750 doi: 10.3390/ani10101750
Górniak W, Wieliczko M, Soroko M, Korczyński M.Methods of estimating horse body weight using mathematical formulae have better accuracy than methods of reading body weight from measuring tape. The aim of the study was to evaluate established formulae for estimating horse body weight from data gathered using measurement tape. The research was conducted in a group of 299 adult horses and ponies of selected breeds: ponies ( = 58), Polish Noble Half Breed ( = 150), Silesian Breed ( = 23), Wielkopolski Breed ( = 52), and Thoroughbred ( = 16). Body measurements were performed on each horse using a measuring stick and tape. The actual body weight...
Restoring pars intermedia dopamine concentrations and tyrosine hydroxylase expression levels with pergolide: evidence from horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.
BMC veterinary research    September 25, 2020   Volume 16, Issue 1 356 doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02565-3
Fortin JS, Benskey MJ, Lookingland KJ, Patterson JS, Howey EB, Goudreau JL, Schott HC.Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) develops slowly in aged horses as degeneration of hypothalamic dopaminergic neurons leads to proliferation of pars intermedia (PI) melanotropes through hyperplasia and adenoma formation. Dopamine (DA) concentrations and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity are markedly reduced in PI tissue of PPID-affected equids and treatment with the DA receptor agonist pergolide results in notable clinical improvement. Thus, we hypothesized that pergolide treatment of PPID-affected horses would result in greater DA and TH levels in PI tissue collected from ...
Single-dose pharmacokinetics of orally administered metronidazole and intravenously administered imipenem in healthy horses and computer-based simulation of pleural fluid concentrations with multiple dosing.
American journal of veterinary research    September 25, 2020   Volume 81, Issue 10 783-789 doi: 10.2460/ajvr.81.10.783
Kuroda T, Nagata SI, Tamura N, Kinoshita Y, Niwa H, Mita H, Minami T, Fukuda K, Hobo S, Kuwano A.To determine plasma pharmacokinetics of metronidazole and imipenem following administration of a single dose PO (metronidazole, 15 mg/kg) or IV (imipenem, 10 mg/kg) in healthy Thoroughbreds and simulate pleural fluid concentrations following multiple dose administration every 8 hours. Methods: 4 healthy Thoroughbreds. Methods: Metronidazole and imipenem were administered, and samples of plasma and pleural fluid were collected at predetermined time points. Minimum concentrations of metronidazole and imipenem that inhibited growth of 90% of isolates (MIC90), including 22 clinical Bacteroides iso...
Nephrosplenic Space Ablation in Horses After Homologous Pericardium Implant Using a Laparoscopic Stapler.
Journal of equine veterinary science    September 25, 2020   Volume 95 103275 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103275
Spagnolo JD, Castro LM, Corrêa RR, Garcia Filho SG, Ambrósio AM, Baccarin RYA, Hagen SCF, de Sá LM, Silva LCLC.This study aimed to describe and evaluate a laparoscopic technique to promote nephrosplenic space ablation in horses using a homologous pericardium implant, preserved in 98% glycerin and fixed using laparoscopic polydioxanone staples. In this experimental study, six Arabian horses without previous related abdominal diseases were used. The surgical procedures were performed in the standing position under sedation with alpha-2 agonists and opioids, associated with local infiltration of the local anesthetic in the portal sites. The horses were restrained in a stock, and the left flanks were clipp...
Comparison of Muscle MEPs From Transcranial Magnetic and Electrical Stimulation and Appearance of Reflexes in Horses.
Frontiers in neuroscience    September 25, 2020   Volume 14 570372 doi: 10.3389/fnins.2020.570372
Journée SL, Journée HL, Berends HI, Reed SM, de Bruijn CM, Delesalle CJG.Transcranial electrical (TES) and magnetic stimulation (TMS) are both used for assessment of the motor function of the spinal cord in horses. Muscular motor evoked potentials (mMEP) were compared intra-individually for both techniques in five healthy horses. mMEPs were measured twice at increasing stimulation intensity steps over the extensor carpi radialis (ECR), tibialis cranialis (TC), and caninus muscles. Significance was set at < 0.05. To support the hypothesis that both techniques induce extracranially elicited mMEPs, literature was also reviewed. Results: Both techniques show the pr...
Functional contexts of adipose and gluteal muscle tissue gene co-expression networks in the domestic horse.
Integrative and comparative biology    September 24, 2020   icaa134 doi: 10.1093/icb/icaa134
Schaefer RJ, Cullen J, Manfredi J, McCue M.A gene's response to an environment is tightly bound to the underlying genetic variation present in an individual's genome and varies greatly depending on the tissue it is being expressed in. Gene co-expression networks provide a mechanism to understand and interpret the collective transcriptional responses of genes. Here, we use the Camoco co-expression network framework to characterize the transcriptional landscape of adipose and gluteal muscle tissue in 83 domestic horses (Equus caballus) representing 5 different breeds. In each tissue, gene expression profiles, capturing transcriptional re...
Adaptation strategies of horses with induced forelimb lameness walking on a treadmill.
Equine veterinary journal    September 24, 2020   Volume 53, Issue 3 600-611 doi: 10.1111/evj.13344
Serra Bragança FM, Hernlund E, Thomsen MH, Waldern NM, Rhodin M, Byström A, van Weeren PR, Weishaupt MA.There is a paucity of research describing the gait pattern of lame horses at the walk. Objective: To describe the changes in motion pattern and vertical ground reaction forces (GRFz) in horses with induced forelimb lameness at the walk and compare those changes with the changes observed at the trot. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: In 10 clinically sound Warmblood horses, moderate forelimb lameness was induced using a sole pressure model followed by trot and walk on a treadmill. Kinematic data were collected using 3D optical motion capture (OMC), and GRFz by an instrumented treadmill. Mix...
Arthroscopic evaluation of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints in horses with parasagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx.
Equine veterinary journal    September 24, 2020   Volume 53, Issue 4 746-751 doi: 10.1111/evj.13343
James FM, Smith MRW, Wright IM.Fractures of the proximal phalanx are one of the most common long bone fractures of Thoroughbred racehorses. Although the degree of disruption and damage to the articular surface is generally considered a major prognostic determinant, associated arthroscopic findings have not previously been reported. Objective: To describe the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) joint lesions associated with parasagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx arthroscopically identified at the time of fracture repair and compare radiographic and arthroscopic appearance of complete fractures. Methods: Retrospec...
Evaluation of a Commercial Activity Monitor for Determining Step Counts in Horses.
Journal of equine veterinary science    September 24, 2020   Volume 95 103272 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103272
Kline KE, Moorman VJ.Monitoring activity level has become popular in people and animals. In the horse, these monitors may be helpful for the detection of disease, monitor limb loading after surgery, and assist in rehabilitation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a commercial activity monitor (AM) (FitBit Zip) in horses. In Part 1, four stalled horses had five AMs placed (head, chest, withers, and left forelimb and hindlimbs) with stride length setting of 60.96 cm and were monitored for 24 hours with AM and video. In Part 2, four stalled horses had two AMs placed (left forelimb and hindl...
Epidural administration of opioid analgesics improves quality of recovery in horses anaesthetised for treatment of hindlimb synovial sepsis.
Equine veterinary journal    September 23, 2020   Volume 53, Issue 4 682-689 doi: 10.1111/evj.13338
Louro LF, Milner PI, Bardell D.Opioid epidural analgesia has been shown to provide effective analgesia in horses. There is a lack of evidence regarding the effect of opioid epidural analgesia on quality of recovery in horses. Objective: Identify whether opioid epidural analgesia influences quality of recovery in horses undergoing general anaesthesia required for management of hindlimb synovial sepsis. Methods: Single-centre retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods: Data were obtained from the clinical records of horses which had undergone arthroscopic or tenoscopic surgery for management of hindlimb synovial sepsis over...
Adding exogenous biglycan or decorin improves tendon formation for equine peritenon and tendon proper cells in vitro.
BMC musculoskeletal disorders    September 23, 2020   Volume 21, Issue 1 627 doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-03650-2
Pechanec MY, Boyd TN, Baar K, Mienaltowski MJ.Tendon injuries amount to one of the leading causes of career-ending injuries in horses due to the inability for tendon to completely repair and the high reinjury potential. As a result, novel therapeutics are necessary to improve repair with the goal of decreasing leg lameness and potential reinjury. Small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycans (SLRPs), a class of regulatory molecules responsible for collagen organization and maturation, may be one such therapeutic to improve tendon repair. Before SLRP supplementation can occur in vivo, proper evaluation of the effect of these molecules in vitro n...