"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.
Plasma clearance of iohexol is a reliable method to assess the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The relationship between aging and GFR in horses is unclear. To compare GFR estimated by iohexol clearance in horses of different ages. Twenty-one clinically healthy horses were enrolled. Prospective study. Groups: (A) composed by 8 young horses (≤14 years old) with serum creatinine <1.5 mg/dL, (B) by 7 aged horses (≥20 years old) with serum creatinine <1.5 mg/dL, and (C) by 6 aged horses (≥20 years old) with serum creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL. Iohexol was injected (75.5 mg/kg) through...
Fretheim-Kelly ZL, Halvorsen T, Clemm H, Roksund O, Heimdal JH, Vollsæter M, Fintl C, Strand E.Dynamic obstructions of the larynx are a set of disorders that occur during exercise in equines and humans. There are a number of similarities in presentation, diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment. Both equines and humans present with exercise intolerance secondary to dyspnea. During laryngoscopy at rest, the larynx appears to function normally. Abnormalities are only revealed during laryngoscopy at exercise, seemingly triggered by increased ventilatory demands, and quickly resolve after cessation of exercise. Lower airway disease (asthma being the most prevalent condition), cardiac diseas...
Camargo CE, Rechsteiner SF, Macan RC, Kozicki LE, Gastal MO, Gastal EL.The aim of this study was to compare the embryonic and early fetal development of horse embryos between recipient mules and mares from day 10-60 of pregnancy, in addition to hormonal (eCG and progesterone), ovarian, and uterine characteristics for approximately 4 months. Embryo donor mares (n = 5) and two groups of recipients (acyclic mules, n = 7; cyclic mares, n = 7) were used. Donor mares were monitored daily by transrectal ultrasonography and inseminated using fresh semen. Cyclic recipient mares were synchronized with the donor's ovulation using PGF2α and deslorelin acetate. M...
Schnabel CL, Babasyan S, Rollins A, Freer H, Wimer CL, Perkins GA, Raza F, Osterrieder N, Wagner B.Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) outbreaks continue to occur despite widely used vaccination. Therefore, development of EHV-1 vaccines providing improved immunity and protection is ongoing. Here, an open reading frame 2 deletion mutant of the neuropathogenic EHV-1 strain Ab4 (Ab4ΔORF2) was tested as a vaccine candidate. Three groups of horses ( = 8 each) were infected intranasally with Ab4ΔORF2 or the parent Ab4 virus or were kept as noninfected controls. Horses infected with Ab4ΔORF2 had reduced fever and nasal virus shedding compared to those infected with Ab4 but mounted similar ada...
Roser JF, Etcharren MV, Miragaya MH, Mutto A, Colgin M, Losinno L, Ross PJ.The effectiveness of different treatments with recombinant equine FSH to stimulate follicular growth, multiple ovulations and embryo production in seasonally anovulatory mares was evaluated. During mid-winter season (July-August in Argentina, South America) forty light breed donor mares, presenting follicles <10 mm in diameter and no CL at ultrasound examination (deep-anestrus), were randomly assigned (n = 10/group) to one of the following treatments: Group 1: twice daily intramuscular (IM) injections of 0.65 mg reFSH (AspenBio Pharma, CO), Group 2: once daily IM injection of 1.3 mg ...
The UK has never experienced an outbreak of African horse sickness but, as Matthew Robin of the Fyrnwy Equine Clinic explains, there is still a risk of a case occurring.
Bowen IM, Redpath A, Dugdale A, Burford JH, Lloyd D, Watson T, Hallowell GD.Primary care guidelines provide a reference point to guide clinicians based on a systematic review of the literature, contextualised by expert clinical opinion. These guidelines develop a modification of the GRADE framework for assessment of research evidence (vetGRADE) and applied this to a range of clinical scenarios regarding use of analgesic agents. Key guidelines produced by the panel included recommendations that horses undergoing routine castration should receive intratesticular local anaesthesia irrespective of methods adopted and that horses should receive NSAIDs prior to surgery (ove...
Krueger K, Marr I, Dobler A, Palme R.Non-invasive methods enable stress evaluation through measuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs), and immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the feces avoiding stressful blood drawing or stressful restraining of animals in the field. However, FGMs and IgA are mostly analysed in freshly frozen samples, which is difficult when fresh samples cannot be frozen immediately or frozen samples cannot be stored or transported. Good results were also derived from air-dried fecal samples, which are hampered by unstable air humidity in the field. These difficulties may be overcome, when drying of samples could b...
Cercone M, Olsen E, Perkins JD, Cheetham J, Mitchell LM, Ducharme NG.Exercise induced intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) is a common cause of airway obstruction and poor performance in racehorses. The definite etiology is still unclear, but through an experimental model, a role in the development of this condition was identified in the dysfunction of the thyro-hyoid muscles. The present study aimed to elucidate the nature of this dysfunction by investigating the spontaneous response to exercise of the thyro-hyoid muscles in racehorses with naturally occurring DDSP. Intramuscular electrodes were implanted in the thyro-hyoid muscles of nin...
Dern K, Burns TA, Watts MR, van Eps AW, Belknap JK.Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is consistently increased in the digital lamellae in different studies of sepsis-related laminitis (SRL). IL-6 signalling through the gp130 receptor activates similar signalling (i.e. mTORC1-related signalling) previously reported to be activated in models of endocrinopathic laminitis. Objective: To assess the activation state of signalling proteins downstream of IL-6/gp130 receptor complex activation in an experimental model of SRL. Methods: Randomised experimental study. Methods: Lamellar phospho-(P) protein concentrations downstream of the IL-6/gp130 receptors were asse...
Gustafsson K, Tatz AJ, Dahan R, Kelmer G.Case history: Medical records were reviewed of horses (n = 7) undergoing surgery for fracture of one or more facial bones extending into the paranasal sinuses that was repaired primarily within 24 hours of the time of injury using a rotational periosteal flap, between April 2009 and May 2017. A kick from another horse was the cause of the injury of three horses, and one horse was injured when it collided with a tree. The cause of the injury of three horses was unknown.Clinical findings and treatment: Fractures were of the right maxillary bone in two horses, the left maxillary bone in two h...
Vernemmen I, De Clercq D, Decloedt A, Vera L, Van Steenkiste G, van Loon G.The number of atrial premature depolarisations (APDs) is a known risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in humans. Objective: To evaluate if the number of APDs over a 24-h period 5 days post cardioversion predicts AF recurrence within 1 year in horses, taking the multifactorial nature of AF into account. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Eighty horses met these inclusion criteria: first AF episode, no AF recurrence within 5 days post cardioversion, cardioversion by transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC), 24-h ECG recording and echocardiographic examination 5 da...
Lopp CT, McCoy AM, Boothe D, Schaeffer DJ, Lascola K.To characterize the pharmacokinetics of a clinically relevant dose of misoprostol administered PO or per rectum (PR) to horses. Methods: 8 healthy adult horses. Methods: In a randomized 3-way crossover design, horses received a single dose of misoprostol (5 μg/kg) administered PO (with horses fed and unfed) and PR, with a minimum 3-week washout period separating the experimental conditions. Blood samples were obtained before and at various points after drug administration (total, 24 hours), and plasma concentrations of misoprostol free acid were measured. Results: Mean maximum plasma concentr...
Haffner JC, Neal DL, Hoffman RM, Grubbs ST.We investigated the stability of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in plasma after freezing for different lengths of time. The plasma ACTH concentrations of 12 horses were measured on day 0 (baseline) and over time, after stimulation with thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Samples were stored at -80°C for 3, 7, 30, 60, and 90 d, or at -20°C for 3, 7, 30, and 60 d, or between ice packs at -20°C for 3 and 7 d prior to determination of ACTH concentration. ACTH concentrations were compared to baseline (non-frozen day 0 plasma) for each storage method using a mixed model with repeated measure...
Alonso MA, Silva LA, Affonso FJ, Lemes KM, Celeghini ECC, Lançoni R, Carvalho HF, de Arruda RP.Establishment of pregnancy after embryo transfer is the ultimate goal of an embryo transfer program and increasing pregnancy rates and reducing pregnancy loss are mandatory. The utilization of treatments to improve conception rates in recipient mares has been the focus of several research groups over the last years and the results are controversial. Some studies using human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) found promising results. Our hypothesis was that hCG administration would cause an additional stimulation on luteal function, uterine and luteal vascularization and progesterone concentration, ...
Morris LH, Maclellan LJ.The increased commercialisation of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in horses creates more opportunities to incorporate advanced reproductive technologies, such as sex-sorted, refrozen and lyophilised spermatozoa, into a breeding program. This paper reviews the status of these semen-handling technologies in light of their use in equine ICSI programs. Pregnancies have been achieved from each of these advanced technologies when combined with ICSI in horses, but refinements in the semen-handling processes underpinning these technologies are currently being explored to produce more reliable...
Trösch M, Cuzol F, Parias C, Calandreau L, Nowak R, Lansade L.Over the last few years, an increasing number of studies have aimed to gain more insight into the field of animal emotions. In particular, it is of interest to determine whether animals can cross-modally categorize the emotions of others. For domestic animals that share a close relationship with humans, we might wonder whether this cross-modal recognition of emotions extends to humans, as well. In this study, we tested whether horses could recognize human emotions and attribute the emotional valence of visual (facial expression) and vocal (non-verbal vocalization) stimuli to the same perceptua...
Crosby DE, Labens R, Hughes KJ, Nielsen S, Hilbert BJ.Synovial infections (SI) are common in horses of all ages and can be associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Identifying factors influencing survival and return to function may be useful for management of affected individuals and determination of prognosis. The objectives of this study were to identify factors associated with survival and return to function of horses and foals with SI presented to an equine hospital. This study is a retrospective case series. Data were collected from medical records of all horses with SI that were presented to a single equine hospital between Ap...
Park J, Kim EB.The ecosystem of an animal farm is composed of various elements, such as animals, farmers, plants, feed, soil, and microorganisms. A domesticated animal's health is largely connected with the reservoir of bacteria and viruses in animal farms. Although a few studies have focused on exploring the gut microbiome of animals, communities of microbiota and viruses in feedlots have not been thoroughly investigated. Methods: Here, we collected feces and dust samples (4 groups: cattle feces, C_F; horse feces, H_F; cattle dust, C_D; and horse dust, H_D) from cattle and horse farms sharing the same housi...
Galinelli N, Wambacq W, Broeckx BJG, Hesta M.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a pathological condition affecting the glandular and squamous regions of the stomach. It is characterized by non-specific clinical signs, behavioural changes or can also be found without any overt clinical manifestations. Nutritional factors such as intermittent feeding, high sugars and starch intake, large amounts of straw as forage and prolonged time without access to forage have all been associated with an increased risk of equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD). The aim of this study was to investigate which nutritional practices are commonly seen in...
Cuervo-Arango J, Claes AN, Stout TAE.This study retrospectively examined the degree to which success within a commercial ovum pick-up (OPU)-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) program varied between individual mares and stallions. Over 2 years, 552 OPU sessions were performed on 323 privately owned warmblood mares. For mares that yielded at least one blastocyst during the first OPU-ICSI cycle, there was a 77% likelihood of success during subsequent attempts; conversely, when the first cycle yielded no blastocyst, the likelihood of failure (no embryo) in subsequent cycles was 62%. In mares subjected to four or more OPU session...
Arnhold S, Elashry MI, Klymiuk MC, Geburek F.Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) offer a promising cell source for therapeutic applications in musculoskeletal disorders. The appropriate selection of ASCs from various fat depots for cell-based therapy is challenging. The present study aims to compare stemness and multipotency of ASCs derived from retroperitoneal (RP), subcutaneous (SC), and lipoma (LP) fat to assess their usefulness for clinical application. Equine ASCs from the three fat tissue sources were isolated and characterized. The cell viability, proliferation, and self-renewal were evaluated using MTT, sulforhod...
Easton-Jones C, Woolard K, Mohr FC, Roy MA, Aleman M.Intracranial neoplasia in horses is rare compared to other species. Detailed information such as neurological, electroencephalographic, and histopathological examination of horses with intracranial neoplasia associated with seizures is scarce in the literature. Furthermore, ganglioglioma has not been reported in the horse. A 7-year-old Quarter horse cross Paint gelding was examined due to recurrent seizure-like episodes of 1-year duration. The seizures had been increasing in frequency and length, occurring up to 20 times a day at the time of presentation. Neurological examination revealed inte...
Dahmani M, Davoust B, Sambou M, Bassene H, Scandola P, Ameur T, Raoult D, Fenollar F, Mediannikov O.Our study aimed to assess the diversity of the species of Anaplasmataceae in Senegal that infect animals and ticks in three areas: near Keur Momar Sarr (northern region), Dielmo and Diop (Sine Saloum, central region of Senegal), and in Casamance (southern region of Senegal). Methods: A total of 204 ticks and 433 blood samples were collected from ruminants, horses, donkeys and dogs. Ticks were identified morphologically and by molecular characterization targeting the 12S rRNA gene. Molecular characterization of species of Anaplasmataceae infecting Senegalese ticks and animals was conducted usin...
Hesselkilde EZ, Carstensen H, Flethøj M, Fenner M, Kruse DD, Sattler SM, Tfelt-Hansen J, Pehrson S, Braunstein TH, Carlson J, Platonov PG....Large animal models are important in atrial fibrillation (AF) research, as they can be used to study the pathophysiology of AF and new therapeutic approaches. Unlike other animal models, horses spontaneously develop AF and could therefore serve as a bona fide model in AF research. We therefore aimed to study the electrical, functional and structural remodelling caused by chronic AF in a horse model. Nine female horses were included in the study, with six horses tachypaced into self-sustained AF and three that served as a time-matched sham-operated control group. Acceleration in atrial fibrilla...
Krohn J, Ennen S, Hospes R et al. Use of a cervical stent for long-term treatment of pyometra in the mare: A report of three cases. Reprod Dom Anim 2019; 55: 1155–1159 DIE PYOMETRA DER STUTE IST EIN CHRONISCHER ENTZüNDUNGSZUSTAND DES ENDOMETRIUMS, DER HäUFIG MIT DER AKKUMULATION GROßER MENGEN AN SEKRET EINHERGEHT. PRäDISPONIERT SIND STUTEN MIT VERäNDERUNGEN DER ZERVIX, DURCH DIE DIE UTERINE CLEARANCE BEEINTRäCHTIGT WIRD. DIE HäUFIG UNSPEZIFISCHEN SYMPTOME UMFASSEN LEISTUNGSMANGEL, KONDITIONSVERLUST, SUBFEBRILE TEMPERATUR ODER KOLIKARTIGE SCHMERZEN. MANCHE TIERE PRäSENTIEREN SICH SYMP...
Beste KJ, Ortved KF, Rossignol F, Ducharme NG.To describe the use of a silicone-covered laser guide and diode laser for surgical correction of epiglottic entrapment and report postoperative outcomes in horses with epiglottic entrapment. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Thoroughbred and standardbred racehorses (n = 29) with epiglottic entrapment. Methods: A silicone-covered laser guide was placed endoscopically to direct the diode laser cutting action during transection of the entrapping subepiglottic membrane and to act as a physical barrier between the membrane and the epiglottic cartilage. Postoperative complications and tra...
Kellon EM, Gustafson KM.Hyperinsulinemia associated with equine metabolic syndrome and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is a risk factor for laminitis. Research in other species has shown elevated body iron levels as both a predictor and consequence of insulin resistance. In humans, this is known as dysmetabolic hyperferritinemia. To explore the relationship between equine hyperinsulinemia and body iron levels. We reviewed case histories and laboratory results from an open access database maintained by the Equine Cushing's and Insulin Resistance Group Inc. (ECIR). We identified 33 horses with confirmed hyperinsu...
Reissmann M, Musa L, Zakizadeh S, Ludwig A.Considering the hidden mode of inheritance of some coat-color-associated alleles, we investigated the presence/absence of coat-color-associated alleles in 1093 domestic horses of 55 breeds and 20 specimens of Przewalski's horse. For coat-color genotyping, allele specific PCR, pyrosequencing and Li-Cor analyses were conducted on 12 coat-color-associated alleles of five genes. Our data provide deep insight into the distribution of coat-color-associated alleles within breeds. We found that the alleles for the basic colorations (bay, black, and chestnut) are widely distributed and occur in nearly ...
Garcia EIC, Elghandour MMMY, Khusro A, Alcala-Canto Y, Tirado-González DN, Barbabosa-Pliego A, Salem AZM.Oxidative stress is the excess generation of free radicals and/or a decrease in the response of the antioxidant system. It is known to cause damage to the equine health by unbalancing the stable molecules. The dietary supplementation of vitamins E, C, and β-carotene cause beneficial effect on horses' health. These supplements could transform free radicals into the stable radicals, thereby showing importance in the prevention of diseases associated with oxidative stress. Adding vitamins E, C, and β-carotene to the horses' diets in stressful conditions could decrease the production of free rad...
Turner AS, Mills EJ, Gabel AA.Strain gauges were successfully bonded in vivo to the cranial, caudal, medial, and lateral aspects of the equine radium and tibia and to the dorsal, palmar, or plantar, medial, the lateral aspects of the metacarpus and metatarsus--all in the mid-diaphyseal region. Various activities were investigated, including walking, trotting or pacing, and standing up from anesthesia. The strain patterns showed that each stride produced a characteristic deformation cycle. The strains were measured and the axial loads were calculated as the horse performed certain activities. The tension band side of each b...
Crevier-Denoix N, Ravary-Plumioën B, Evrard D, Pourcelot P.A non-invasive ultrasonic (US) technique of tendon force measurement has been recently developed. It is based on the relationship demonstrated between the speed of sound (SOS) in a tendon and the traction force applied to it. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the variability of this non-linear relationship among 7 equine superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendons, and the reproducibility of SOS measurements in these tendons over successive loading cycles and tests. Seven SDF tendons were equipped with an US probe (1MHz), secured in contact with the skin overlying the tendon me...
Coombs DK, Patton T, Kohler AK, Soboll G, Breathnach C, Townsend HG, Lunn DP.Protecting equids against equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection remains an elusive goal. Repeated infection with EHV-1 leads to protective immunity against clinical respiratory disease, and a study was conducted to measure the regulatory cytokine response (IFN-gamma and IL-4) in repeatedly infected immune ponies compared to non-immune ponies. Two groups of four ponies were established. Group 1 ponies had previously been infected on two occasions, and most recently 7 months before this study. Group 2 ponies had no history no vaccination or challenge infection prior to this study. Both groups w...
Scheidegger MD, Gerber V, Ramseyer A, Schüpbach-Regula G, Bruckmaier RM, van der Kolk JH.The aim of this study was to further characterize the ACTH stimulation test as reflected by salivary cortisol response and to measure the short- and long-term repeatability of it in healthy horses as a tool to assess the capacity of the adrenal cortex to secrete cortisol. Nineteen healthy horses were subjected to 3 ACTH stimulation tests. Intervals were 2 wk and 5 mo between the first and second and the second and third tests, respectively. A dose of 1-μg/kg BW synthetic ACTH was injected intravenously. Saliva samples were collected at baseline and at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 min afte...
Steinman A, Navon-Venezia S.Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasingly recognized global public health threat to the modern health-care system that could hamper the control and treatment of infectious diseases [...].
van der Woerdt A, Gilger BC, Wilkie DA, Strauch SM.Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured, using applanation tonometry, in both eyes of 20 horses after topical application of 0.5% proparacaine to the cornea. Ultrasonic pachymetry was used to measure central, mid-peripheral, and peripheral corneal thickness (CT) in all 4 quadrants of both eyes of 25 horses. All measurements were repeated after auriculopalpebral nerve block, sedation by IV administration of xylazine, or combination of nerve block and sedation. Mean IOP after topical anesthesia of the cornea was 20.6 +/- 4.7 mm of Hg for the left eye and 20.35 +/- 3.7 mm of Hg for the right eye....
Liu MA.Gene-based vaccines are under development for a broad variety of applications, ranging from vaccines to immunotherapies for infectious diseases, cancer, autoimmune diseases and allergy. In addition, following the licensing of DNA vaccines for use in fish and horses, and DNA immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer in dogs, several veterinary uses of vaccines have been demonstrated for species ranging from fish and shrimp to cattle and horses. A variety of publications describing preclinical and clinical studies of the technologies used to increase the potency of gene-based vaccines, and resea...
Piotrowska-Tomala KK, Jonczyk AW, Skarzynski DJ, Szóstek-Mioduchowska AZ.Prostaglandins (PGs) play crucial roles in the regulation of the oestrus cycle and establishment of pregnancy in animals. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and ovarian steroids are involved in regulating endometrial PG production in many species. Their effects on PG production and associated pathways in the mare myometrium and endometrium are the subjects of our interest. This study aimed to evaluate the specific effects of LH and ovarian steroids on equine myometrial and endometrial tissues on (i) PGE and PGF secretion and (ii) transcription of genes encoding specific enzymes responsible for PG synthe...
Getachew AM, Innocent GT, Trawford AF, Feseha G, Reid SJ, Love S.A cross-sectional coprological survey in the regions of Ada, Akaki, Bereh and Boset, and a retrospective postmortem investigation were conducted to study the epidemiology of Parascaris equorum in donkeys and horses in Ethiopia. Faecal samples from 803 working donkeys and 402 horses were collected, and the numbers of worms recovered from 112 donkeys examined postmortem between 1995 and 2004 were analysed. There was a high prevalence of infection and faecal egg output of P equorum in both donkeys and horses, and the severity of the infection in donkeys was increased irrespective of their age. Th...
Tuppits U, Orro T, Einarsson S, Kask K, Kavak A.The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of measuring blood concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp) and fibrinogen (Fib) in horse reproductive management, and changes in response to artificial insemination (AI) with frozen-thawed semen. Standardbred mares (n=18) with different reproductive status (eight healthy mares in first postpartum oestrus, five healthy barren mares and five mares with endometritis) were inseminated with frozen-thawed semen. Endometritis was evaluated during oestrus by bacteriological culture, cytology and presence of ultrasonicall...
Weese JS, Cruz A.Perioperative antimicrobial administration practices were evaluated retrospectively in 97 horses undergoing elective arthroscopy, and antimicrobial use was compared with standard recommendations for perioperative prophylaxis. Parenteral antimicrobials were administered perioperatively to 95/97 (98%) horses, 88 of which received intravenous sodium penicillin. Time from 1st dose until 1st incision ranged from 30 to 390 min [142 +/- 55.6 min, mean +/- standard deviation (s), median 135 min], and the first incision was performed greater than 2 half-lives after administration of sodium penicillin i...
Picandet V, Jeanneret S, Lavoie JP.Results of arterial blood gas analysis can be biased by pre-analytical factors, such as time to analysis, syringe type, and temperature during storage. However, the acceptable delay between time of collection and analysis for equine arterial blood gas remains unknown. Objective: Dedicated plastic syringes provide better stability of arterial blood gases than multipurpose plastic syringes. Methods: Eight mares, 1 stallion, and 1 gelding, ages 3 to 10 years old. Methods: Arterial blood samples were collected in a glass syringe, a plastic syringe designated for blood gas collection, and a multipu...
Kakoi H, Kikuchi M, Tozaki T, Hirota KI, Nagata SI, Hobo S, Takasu M.The distribution of Y chromosomal haplotypes in Japanese native horse populations was investigated to obtain genetic information on these populations. Here, 159 male/gelded horses from eight local populations were investigated, and three Y haplotypes (JHT-1, JHT-2, and JHT-3) were identified by analyzing five Y-linked loci. Five populations had only JHT-1, whereas two populations had only JHT-2. One population had JHT-1 and JHT-3. Based on the geographical distribution of these haplotypes and previously reported haplotypes for other Asian horses, JHT-1 is considered to be a major haplotype in ...
Decloedt A, Borowicz H, Slowikowska M, Chiers K, van Loon G, Niedzwiedz A.Pulmonary hypertension has been described in horses with severe equine asthma, but its effect on the right ventricle has not been fully elucidated. Objective: To evaluate right ventricular structure and function after a 1-week period of pulmonary hypertension secondary to acute exacerbation of severe equine asthma. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: A clinical episode of severe equine asthma was induced experimentally in six susceptible horses. Examinations in remission and on day 7 of the clinical episode included a physical examination with clinical scoring, echocardiography, arterial bloo...
Hanrath M, Rodgerson DH.To describe a technique for laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy in standing horses using electrosurgical instrumentation. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: Ten horses, 1 to 7 years of age, with unilaterally or bilaterally retained testes. Methods: Food was withheld for a minimum of 12 to 24 hours. Horses were sedated using xylazine hydrochloride (0.5 to 1 mg/kg) and butorphanol tartrate (0.02 mg/kg) or detomidine hydrochloride (0.02 to 0.03 mg/kg) and restrained in standing stocks. Three portal sites in the paralumbar fossae were locally desensitized using 2% mepivacaine. After trocar...
Berruex F, Gerber V, Wohlfender FD, Burger D, Koch C.The progression of equine sarcoids (ES) is notoriously unpredictable. Making a choice for the appropriate treatment is challenging when dealing with milder manifestations of ES. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical course of ES in young horses. Methods: A cohort of 61 ES-affected three-year-old Franches-Montagnes horses and a breed-, age- and geographically matched control group of 75 ES-free peers were examined twice over a period of 5-7 years. Owners and caretakers were queried, using a standardized questionnaire. Results: More than half of the 38/61 (62%) horses...
Gambini A, Maserati M.Interest in equine somatic cell nuclear transfer technology has increased significantly since the first equid clones were produced in 2003. This is demonstrated by the multiple commercial equine cloning companies having produced numerous cloned equids to date; worldwide, more than 370 cloned horses have been produced in at least six different countries. Equine cloning can be performed using several different approaches, each with different rates of success. In this review we cover the history and applications of equine cloning and summarise the major scientific advances in the development of t...
Pusterla N, Gebhart C.Equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) is a disease of foals caused by the obligate intracellular organism Lawsonia intracellularis. This emerging disease affects mainly weanling foals and causes fever, lethargy, peripheral oedema, diarrhoea, colic and weight loss. The diagnosis of EPE may be challenging and relies on the presence of hypoproteinaemia, thickening of segments of the small intestinal wall observed on abdominal ultrasonography, positive serology and molecular detection of L. intracellularis in faeces. Although the clinical entity, diagnostic work-up and treatment of EPE are well e...
da Costa CF, Samesima N, Pastore CA.Different methodologies for electrocardiographic acquisition in horses have been used since the first ECG recordings in equines were reported early in the last century. This study aimed to determine the best ECG electrodes positioning method and the most reliable calculation of mean cardiac axis (MEA) in equines. Methods: We evaluated the electrocardiographic profile of 53 clinically healthy Thoroughbreds, 38 males and 15 females, with ages ranging 2-7 years old, all reared at the São Paulo Jockey Club, in Brazil. Two ECG tracings were recorded from each animal, one using the Dubois lead posi...
Votion DM, François AC, Kruse C, Renaud B, Farinelle A, Bouquieaux MC, Marcillaud-Pitel C, Gustin P.In 2014, atypical myopathy (AM) was linked to Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore maple) in Europe. The emergence of this seasonal intoxication caused by a native tree has raised many questions. This manuscript aims at answering the five most frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding (1) identification of toxic trees; reduction of risk at the level of (2) pastures and (3) equids; (4) the risk associated with pastures with sycamores that have always been used without horses being poisoned and (5) the length of the risk periods. Answers were found in a literature review and data gathered by AM surve...
Brown CM, Kaneene JB, Taylor RF.An analysis was made of the causes of death in horses and ponies over one year of age which died suddenly (Group 1) or were found dead but were considered normal when last seen (Group 2). There were 49 animals in Group 1. Thoroughbreds were overrepresented, but there were no ponies in this group. No cause of death was found in 30.6 per cent of cases and 16.3 per cent died from each of the following causes: haemorrhage in the respiratory system, central nervous system, and adverse drug reactions. Cardiovascular lesions were the cause of death in 14.4 per cent and the remaining 3.1 per cent had ...
Naem S.Habronema muscae (Spirurida: Habronematidae) occurs in the stomach of equids, is transmitted by adult muscid dipterans and causes gastric habronemiasis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the morphological aspects of adult worms of this nematode in detail. The worms possess two trilobed lateral lips. The buccal cavity was cylindrical, with thick walls and without teeth. Around the mouth, four submedian cephalic papillae and two amphids were seen. A pair of lateral cervical papillae was present. There was a single lateral ala and in the female the vulva was situated in the mid...
Sankey C, Henry S, Górecka-Bruzda A, Richard-Yris MA, Hausberger M.How do we bond to one another? While in some species, like humans, physical contact plays a role in the process of attachment, it has been suggested that tactile contact's value may greatly differ according to the species considered. Nevertheless, grooming is often considered as a pleasurable experience for domestic animals, even though scientific data is lacking. On another hand, food seems to be involved in the creation of most relationships in a variety of species. Results: In this study, we used the horse training context to test the effects of food versus grooming during repeated human-ho...
Sandoval-Castellanos E, Wutke S, Gonzalez-Salazar C, Ludwig A.Wild horses unexpectedly survived terminal Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions until eventual European extirpation in the twentieth century. This survival is tied to either their occurrence in cryptic open habitats or their adaptation to forests. Our niche modelling inferred an increasing presence of horses in post-glacial forests, and our analysis of ancient DNA suggested significant selection for black phenotypes as indicating adaptation to forests.
Sauer FJ, Gerber V, Frei S, Bruckmaier RM, Groessl M.The aim of the present study was to measure salivary cortisol concentrations of horses before and after hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stimulation by means of liquid chromatography-tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and an immunoassay (cELISA) for method comparison. Nine clinically healthy horses participated in the study. An ACTH stimulation test was performed. Saliva samples were collected before (T0) and 60 (T60) min after intravenous injection of 1 μg/kg BW synthetic ACTH1-24. LC-MS/MS was assessed for the determination of equine salivary cortisol. The results of these measur...
