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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.
Evaluation of Histogel- and Gelfoam-embedded bronchoalveolar lavage and transtracheal wash fluids compared with cytocentrifuged and sediment smear preparations. Storage and temperature significantly impact bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis, and shipment of samples to diagnostic laboratories is often necessary. Alternative sample preparation methods could limit storage and temperature effects. Objective: This study aimed to determine if airway wash samples that were fixed in formalin after being embedded in Histogel or Gelfoam gave comparable results to fresh cytocentrifuged or sediment smear preparations for the evaluation of cell morphology. Methods: Eleven bronchoalveolar lavage and 3 transtracheal wash fluids were available, including 8 ...
Postnatal changes in epigenetic modifications of neutrophils of foals are associated with increased ROS function and regulation of neutrophil function. Neonates of all species, including foals, are highly susceptible to infection, and neutrophils play a crucial role in innate immunity to infection. Evidence exists that neutrophils of neonatal foals are functionally deficient during the first weeks of life, including expression of cytokine genes such as IFNG. We hypothesized that postnatal epigenetic changes were likely to regulate the observed age-related changes in foal neutrophils. Using ChIP-Seq, we identified significant differences in trimethylated histone H3 lysine 4, an epigenetic modification associated with active promoters and enhan...
Synovial nerve fiber density decreases with naturally-occurring osteoarthritis in horses. To measure the nerve fiber density in synovial membranes from healthy and OA equine joints and to investigate the relationship between synovial innervation and OA severity, synovial vascularity and synovitis. Twenty-five equine metacarpophalangeal joints were collected post-mortem. The joints were dissected and the macroscopic lesions of the articular cartilage were scored. Synovial membrane specimens (n = 50) were harvested, fixed, sectioned and scored histologically. Immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence with S-100 protein, that identifies nerve fibers, and ⍺-actin, that st...
Expression of glucose transporters in the endometrium and early conceptus membranes of the horse. Glucose is the primary energy substrate for early conceptus development and, for the first 40 days of gestation, the equine conceptus depends solely on glucose available in the histotroph; thereafter, histotrophic glucose provision continues to support transport across the definitive placenta. To investigate glucose provision routes during early equine pregnancy we examined expression of glucose transporters in conceptus membranes and endometrium recovered on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after ovulation. To further differentiate the contributions of maternal progesterone priming and conceptus-endomet...
Alterations in Metabolic Status and Headshaking Behavior Following Intravenous Administration of Hypertonic Solutions in Horses with Trigeminal-Mediated Headshaking. Trigeminal-nerve-mediated headshaking represents a major welfare challenge for owners and veterinarians and is caused by a low threshold firing of the trigeminal nerve resulting in pain manifested as violent head jerking that often terminates the horse’s career and life due to poor quality of life and suffering. As metabolic changes such as acid⁻base status and electrolytes play a role in nerve firing, this study sought to assess the effects following administration of hypertonic solutions on headshaking behavior in affected horses. This prospective randomized controlled crossover desi...
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha protein concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from healthy horses and horses with severe equine asthma. The objective of this study was to determine if TNF-α protein concentration differs in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained from healthy horses, horses with naturally occurring exacerbations of severe equine asthma and horses in remission from severe equine asthma. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- α) protein concentrations were determined in BALF by commercial equine ELISA. Horses with naturally occurring exacerbation of severe equine asthma were found to have significantly lower BALF TNF-α protein concentrations than healthy horses (p = 0.0026). There was no significant differ...
Electrocardiographic confirmation of a twin pregnancy in a mare at 8 months of gestation. A 15-year-old Warmblood mare, at 8 months of gestation, was presented to the Ghent University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for evaluation of suspected stage one labor. Transrectal ultrasonography revealed no clear signs of placentitis or stage one labor. The combined thickness of uterus and placenta was 11 mm and the cervix was closed. Twin pregnancy was suspected by transabdominal ultrasonography but could not be confirmed with certainty. An electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded from the mare's abdominal wall to register a fetal ECG. To confirm twin pregnancy, registration of both fetal ECG...
Cell specific microvesicles vary with season and disease predisposition in healthy and previously laminitic ponies. Microvesicles are small (up to 1 μm) vesicles found in plasma and other bodily fluids. They are recognised as part of the normal system of inter-cellular communication but altered numbers are also used as biomarkers of disease. Microvesicles have not been studied in detail in the horse but may be relevant to diseases such as laminitis. Identification of equine cell specific microvesicles was performed by developing a panel of cross reactive antibodies to use in flow cytometry to detect microvesicles of platelet, leucocyte and endothelial origin in plasma from healthy ponies and those predis...
Interventional Radiology Management of Tracheal and Bronchial Collapse. Chondromalacia of the tracheal and bronchial cartilages and redundancy of the dorsal tracheal membrane result in collapse of the large airways, leading to coughing and airway obstruction. It most commonly affects small-breed dogs, although larger-breed dogs, cats, and miniature horses are also sporadically reported. Dynamic airway imaging is used to confirm the diagnosis. The primary goal of medical management is to control clinical signs attributable to coughing and airway inflammation. When this is no longer effective, tracheal stents provide a minimally invasive, rapid way to restore airway...
Optimization of Antimicrobial Treatment to Minimize Resistance Selection. Optimization of antimicrobial treatment is a cornerstone in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Various national and international authorities and professional veterinary and farming associations have released generic guidelines on prudent antimicrobial use in animals. However, these generic guidelines need to be translated into a set of animal species- and disease-specific practice recommendations. This article focuses on prevention of antimicrobial resistance and its complex relationship with treatment efficacy, highlighting key situations where the current antimicrobial drug product...
Glycosphingolipids of porcine, bovine, and equine pericardia as potential immune targets in bioprosthetic heart valve grafts. Pericardial tissue from various animal species is utilized for the production of the bioprosthetic heart valves (BHV) used clinically. Experimental data show that the eventual breakdown of BHV is partly due to immunological interactions with carbohydrate tissue antigens. To understand these processes, we have examined the glycolipid-based carbohydrate antigens in naïve porcine, bovine, and equine pericardia. Total non-acid and acid glycosphingolipid fractions were isolated from porcine, bovine, and equine pericardia, and individual glycolipid compounds were characterized by thin-layer chromat...
Male Flat Jockeys Do Not Display Deteriorations in Bone Density or Resting Metabolic Rate in Accordance With Race Riding Experience: Implications for RED-S. Despite consistent reports of poor bone health in male jockeys, it is not yet known if this is a consequence of low energy availability or lack of an osteogenic stimulus. Given the rationale that low energy availability is a contributing factor in low bone health, we tested the hypothesis that both hip and lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) should progressively worsen in accordance with the years of riding. In a cross-sectional design, male apprentice (n = 17) and senior (n = 14) jockeys (matched for body mass and fat-free mass) were assessed for hip and lumbar spine BMD, as well as bot...
Equine influenza: evolution of a highly infectious virus. , and of the equine influenza group at the Animal Health Trust provide a timely reminder of risk of equine influenza and the importance of vaccination.
The prevalence of Dermatophilus congolensis in horses with pastern dermatitis using PCR to diagnose infection in a population of horses in southern USA. Dermatophilus congolensis is a facultative anaerobic actinomycete that causes papular to exudative dermatitis with crusting in horses. This organism is frequently implicated as a cause of pastern dermatitis, but few data are available validating the organism's association with this disease. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate if D. congolensis is associated with pastern dermatitis in horses utilizing RT-qPCR. Methods: Fifteen client-owned horses diagnosed with pastern dermatitis and eight client-owned unaffected control horses were utilized for this study. Methods: A cross-sectio...
L- and D-threo ethylphenidate concentrations, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics in horses. Ethylphenidate is a psychostimulant and analog of the commonly prescribed compound, methylphenidate (Ritalin®). There are a limited number of studies describing the disposition and pharmacologic/toxicological effects of ethylphenidate in any species. The abuse potential in equine athletes along with the limited data available regarding administration in horses necessitates further study. The objectives of the current study were to describe drug concentrations, develop an analytical method that could be used to regulate its use, and describe the pharmacodynamic effects of ethylphenidate in hor...
Cross-modal perception of human emotion in domestic horses (Equus caballus). Humans have domesticated many kinds of animals in their history. Dogs and horses have particularly close relationships with humans as cooperative partners. However, fewer scientific studies have been conducted on cognition in horses compared to dogs. Studies have shown that horses cross-modally distinguish human facial expressions and recognize familiar people, which suggests that they also cross-modally distinguish human emotions. In the present study, we used the expectancy violation method to investigate whether horses cross-modally perceive human emotions. Horses were shown a picture of a ...
Effect of a unilateral hind limb orthotic lift on upper body movement symmetry in the trotting horse. In trotting horses, movement asymmetry is associated with ground reaction force asymmetry. In humans, limb length differences influence contralateral force production. Here we investigate whether horses, in immediate reaction to limb length changes, show movement asymmetry adaptations consistent with reported force differences. Aim of this study was to quantify pelvic and compensatory head and withers movement asymmetry as a function of limb length changes after application of orthotic lifts. In this experimental study movement asymmetry of eleven trotting horses was calculated from vertical d...
Expression of pro-apoptotic markers is increased along the osteochondral junction in naturally occurring osteochondrosis. Osteochondrosis (OC) is a naturally occurring disease of the articular-epiphyseal cartilage and subchondral bone layers, leading to pain and decreased mobility. The objective of this study was to characterize gene and protein expression of apoptotic markers in chondrocytes surrounding cartilage canals and along the osteochondral junction of osteochondrosis (OC)-affected and normal cartilage, using naturally occurring disease in horses. Paraffin-embedded osteochondral samples (6 OC, 8 normal controls) and cDNA from chondrocytes captured with laser capture microdissection (4 OC, 6 normal control...
Detection of seventy-two anabolic and androgenic steroids and/or their esters in horse hair using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry in multiplexed targeted MS2 mode and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Anabolic and androgenic steroids (AAS) are banned substances in both human and equine sports. They are often administered intramuscularly to horses in esterified forms for the purpose of extending their time of action. The authors' laboratory has previously reported an UHPLC/HRMS method using quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometer in full scan and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) mode for the detection of 48 AAS and/or their esters in horse hair. However, two injections were required due to the long duty cycle time. In this paper, an UHPLC/HRMS method using multiplexed targeted MS mode was de...
First detection of anti-Besnoitia spp. specific antibodies in horses and donkeys in Italy. Among Apicomplexa protozoa infecting equids, Besnoitia spp., Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. represent important issues from a sanitary and zootechnical viewpoint. However, only scarce epidemiological data are available on the spread of the infections in horses and donkeys in Europe. Therefore, a serosurvey was planned to estimate the prevalence of these Sarcocystidae species in Italian equids. Serum samples from 268 horses and 18 donkeys raised in Italy were collected and serologically analyzed to detect anti-Besnoitia spp., anti-T. gondii and anti-Neospora spp. antibodies: an approach ba...
Association between hyperinsulinaemia and laminitis severity at the time of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction diagnosis. Hyperinsulinaemia is the suspected component of insulin dysregulation having the strongest association with laminitis and occurs variably in equids with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Objective: We hypothesised that magnitude of hyperinsulinaemia correlates with laminitis severity in PPID-affected equids. Furthermore, we hypothesised that owners can be unaware of chronic endocrinopathic laminitis. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Serum insulin concentrations, owner-reported laminitis history and radiographic evidence of laminitis were determined in 38 client-owned horses...
Face, construct, and concurrent validity of a simulation model for laparoscopic ovariectomy in standing horses. OBJECTIVE To develop and validate a simulation model for laparoscopic ovariectomy in standing horses. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SAMPLE 15 third-year veterinary students and 4 equine surgeons with experience in laparoscopy. PROCEDURES A simulation model that mimicked laparoscopic ovariectomy in standing horses was developed. Face validity of the model was determined with a questionnaire completed by the equine surgeons. Construct validity was determined by comparing performance scores (based on time to completion and accuracy completing various operative tasks) for simulated laparoscopic...
Clinical features and outcome in horses with severe large intestinal thickening diagnosed with transabdominal ultrasonography: 25 cases (2003-2010). OBJECTIVE To describe clinical features and outcome of horses with severe large intestinal thickening diagnosed with transabdominal ultrasonography. Methods: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 25 horses. PROCEDURES Medical records of horses that underwent transabdominal ultrasonography between 2003 and 2010 were reviewed. Horses were included if the wall of the large intestine was ≥ 9 mm thick in any of 6 abdominal zones. RESULTS Median age was 13 years (range, 3 to 28 years). Horses were initially examined because of colic, diarrhea, inappetence, weight loss, lethargy, fever, or hematuria. ...
Treatment of Retained Fetal Membranes in the Mare-A Practitioner Survey. Retained fetal membranes (RFM) is a common post-partum problem in mares for which the treatment is highly variable. The aim of this study was (i) to investigate the different treatments used by equine practitioners for RFM and (ii) to determine if there is a difference between treatments used by reproductive specialists and general equine practitioners. Information regarding treatment of RFM was sought from veterinary practitioners via a survey and this was compared to recommendations in the current literature. The survey was sent out to equine veterinarians and mixed practitioners with a high...
Recovery of horses from general anesthesia after induction with propofol and ketamine versus midazolam and ketamine. OBJECTIVE To evaluate quality of recovery from general anesthesia in horses after induction with propofol and ketamine versus midazolam and ketamine. DESIGN Prospective randomized crossover study. ANIMALS 6 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES Horses were premedicated with xylazine (1.0 mg/kg [0.45 mg/lb], IV), and general anesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.1 mg/kg [0.045 mg/lb], IV) or propofol (0.5 mg/kg [0.23 mg/lb], IV), followed by ketamine (3.0 mg/kg [1.36 mg/lb], IV). Horses were endotracheally intubated, and anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane. After 60 minutes, horses were giv...
The detection of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin in horse serum following long-term local administration. Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin are alkaloids with analgesic effects in humans and animals. When used locally, both of them minimalise pain sensation by defunctionalising nerve endings. According to the Federation Equestrian International Prohibited Substances List, these are substance banned in horse competitions. The aim of the study was to determine the detection time of capsaicin in both plasma and serum after long-term use of a gel recommended for commercial use and applied as intended. The objective of the study was to select the best material for the detection of capsaicin as a doping su...
Comparison of protective efficacies between intranasal and intramuscular vaccination of horses with a modified live equine herpesvirus type-1 vaccine. Immune responses were compared after intranasal (IN) and intramuscular (IM) vaccination of horses with a modified live equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) vaccine, and the protective effect after EHV-1 challenge was evaluated. IN- and IM-vaccinated groups (n = 5 each) showed significant rises in serum virus-neutralizing titers with increased levels of IgGa and IgGb antibodies after the first vaccination (P < 0.05). In nasal secretions, the IN group had significantly increased levels of IgA antibodies after vaccination (P < 0.05), whereas the response of the IM group was dominat...
Serotype Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance among Salmonella enterica Isolates from Patients at an Equine Referral Hospital. Although Salmonella enterica can produce life-threatening colitis in horses, certain serotypes are more commonly associated with clinical disease. Our aim was to evaluate the proportional morbidity attributed to different serotypes, as well as the phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Salmonella isolates from patients at an equine referral hospital in the southern United States. A total of 255 Salmonella isolates was obtained from clinical samples of patients admitted to the hospital between 2007 and 2015. Phenotypic resistance to 14 antibiotics surveilled by the U.S. Nati...
Effect of three types of horseshoes and unshod feet on selected non-podal forelimb kinematic variables measured by an extremity mounted inertial measurement unit sensor system in sound horses at the trot under conditions of treadmill and soft geotextile surface exercise. Therapeutic farriery is part of the management of certain orthopaedic conditions. Non-podal parameters are important as most horses shod with therapeutic shoes are expected to perform again and the choice of shoe type may be influenced by the effects they may have on gait. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effects of three different shoe designs and unshod front feet on forelimb non-podal kinematic variables using an extremity mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU) system under conditions of treadmill and overground exercise on a soft geotextile surface at the trot. Ten so...
