"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.
Söbbeler FJ, Kästner SB.To evaluate the transdermal local anaesthetic effect of lidocaine or lidocaine combined with prilocaine or tetracaine in horses. Methods: Experimental, randomized study. Methods: A total of five healthy adult warmblood horses. Methods: Horses were clipped bilaterally at the withers, cranial saddle area and caudal saddle area. Baseline measurements for mechanical superficial sensation via von Frey filaments and nociceptive thermal thresholds were performed. A 5% lidocaine patch (12 hour exposure, treatment L), a lidocaine/prilocaine cream (each 2.5%, treatment LP) and a lidocaine/tetracaine cre...
Bustos CP, Marfil MJ, Lanza NS, Guida N.Streptococcus equi subsp. equi is the etiologic agent of strangles, an infectious disease affecting the upper respiratory tract and head and neck lymph nodes of equines. Routine antimicrobial therapy includes penicillin (PEN) as antibiotic of first choice. Streptococci are usually susceptible to PEN and only a few antimicrobial studies had been performed. The aim of this work was to study the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of S. equi from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ninety-two isolates were studied by the single disk method to PEN, cefotaxime, erythromycin (ERY), tetracycline, enrofloxacin ...
Sack A, Daramragchaa U, Chuluunbaatar M, Gonchigoo B, Bazartseren B, Tsogbadrakh N, Gray GC.Horses are critically important for Mongolian herders' livelihoods, providing transportation and food products, and playing important cultural roles. Equine influenza virus (EIV) epizootics have been frequent among Mongolia's horses, with five occurring since 1970. We sought to estimate the prevalence for EIV infection among horses and Bactrian camels with influenza-like illness between national epizootics. In 2016-2017, active surveillance for EIV was periodically performed in four aimags (provinces). Nasal swabs were collected from 680 horses and 131 camels. Seven of the horse swabs were "po...
Rooney MF, Porter RK, Katz LM, Hill EW.Variation in the myostatin (MSTN) gene has been reported to be associated with race distance, body composition and skeletal muscle fibre composition in the horse. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that MSTN variation influences mitochondrial phenotypes in equine skeletal muscle. Mitochondrial abundance and skeletal muscle fibre types were measured in whole muscle biopsies from the gluteus medius of n = 82 untrained (21 ± 3 months) Thoroughbred horses. Skeletal muscle fibre type proportions were significantly (p < 0.01) different among the three MSTN genotypes and mito...
Van Cleemput J, Poelaert KCK, Laval K, Maes R, Hussey GS, Van den Broeck W, Nauwynck HJ.The respiratory epithelium of humans and animals is frequently exposed to alphaherpesviruses, originating from either external exposure or reactivation from latency. To date, the polarity of alphaherpesvirus infection in the respiratory epithelium and the role of respiratory epithelial integrity herein has not been studied. Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV1), a well-known member of the alphaherpesvirus family, was used to infect equine respiratory mucosal explants and primary equine respiratory epithelial cells (EREC), grown at the air-liquid interface. EHV1 binding to and infection of mucosal e...
De Gasperi D, Dzierzak SL, Muir P, Vanderby R, Brounts SH.OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of sedation on results of acoustoelastography of the superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) in clinically normal horses. ANIMALS 27 clinically normal horses. PROCEDURES For each horse, the pathology index (PI) for the SDFT of each thoracic limb was determined by use of acoustoelastography at 4 locations (5, 10, 15, and 20 cm distal to the accessory carpal bone). Horses were evaluated before and after they were sedated with a combination of detomidine hydrochloride (0.01 mg/kg, IV) and butorphanol tartrate (0.01 mg/kg, IV). A repeated-measures ANOVA was used ...
Individual animals vary in their behaviour and reactions to novel situations. These differences may extend to differences in cognition among individuals. We tested twenty-six horses for their ability to detour around symmetric and asymmetric obstacles. All of the animals were able to get around the barrier to reach a food target, but varied in their approach. Some horses moved slowly but were more accurate in choosing the shortest way. Other horses acted quickly, consistently detoured in the same direction, and did not reliably choose the shortest way. The remaining horses shifted from a faste...
Hayashi S, Tanaka T, Moriishi K, Hirayama K, Yamada A, Hotta K.Non-primate hepacivirus (NPHV) is recently identified as a closely related homologue of hepatitis C virus. The previous studies showed a high prevalence of NPHV infection among Japanese domestic horses originated from abroad. The historical distribution of NPHV among horses in Japan, therefore, is still unknown. In this study, seroepidemiological study of NPHV was conducted using 335 sera from five breeds of Japanese native horses. These horses are maintained as the pedigree and are reared apart from other horse breeds. The detection of antibodies against NPHV were conducted by western blot an...
Heintzman PD, Zazula GD, MacPhee R, Scott E, Cahill JA, McHorse BK, Kapp JD, Stiller M, Wooller MJ, Orlando L, Southon J, Froese DG, Shapiro B.The extinct 'New World stilt-legged', or NWSL, equids constitute a perplexing group of Pleistocene horses endemic to North America. Their slender distal limb bones resemble those of Asiatic asses, such as the Persian onager. Previous palaeogenetic studies, however, have suggested a closer relationship to caballine horses than to Asiatic asses. Here, we report complete mitochondrial and partial nuclear genomes from NWSL equids from across their geographic range. Although multiple NWSL equid species have been named, our palaeogenomic and morphometric analyses support the idea that there was only...
Hopster K, Wittenberg-Voges L, Geburek F, Hopster-Iversen C, Kästner SBR.Aim of this prospective experimental study was to assess effects of systemic hypoxemia and hypovolemia on global and gastrointestinal oxygenation and perfusion in anesthetized horses. Therefore, we anesthetized twelve systemically healthy warmblood horses using either xylazine or dexmedetomidine for premedication and midazolam and ketamine for induction. Anesthesia was maintained using isoflurane in oxygen with either xylazine or dexmedetomidine and horses were ventilated to normocapnia. During part A arterial oxygen saturation (SaO) was reduced by reducing inspiratory oxygen fraction in steps...
Peckle M, Pires MS, Silva CBD, Costa RLD, Vitari GLV, Senra MVX, Dias RJP, Santos HA, Massard CL.Theileria equi is one of the etiologic agents of the equine piroplasmosis. This infectious disease is transmitted by ticks and is a worldwide problem in the international horse movement. The 18S rRNA gene of T. equi is often used for genotyping and phylogenetic purpose. This study aimed to analyze the degree of the heterogeneity of the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi in horses from the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The complete T. equi 18S rRNA sequences were obtained from twenty naturally infected horses. The PCR amplicons were cloned and sequenced. The phylogenetic analyses were performed using ...
Afonso T, Giguère S, Brown SA, Barton MH, Rapoport G, Barba M, Dembek KA, Toribio RE, Coleman AE.Despite the paucity of data available, orally administered angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are empirically used in horses with valvular regurgitation. Objective: Evaluate the echocardiographic and hormonal changes in response to oral benazepril in horses with left-sided valvular regurgitation. Methods: Prospective, randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Methods: Horses with mitral valve (MR) and/or aortic valve regurgitation (AR) received oral benazepril (n = 6) at a dosage of 1 mg/kg q 12 h or a placebo (n = 5) for 28 days. Echocardiography was performed before drug...
Greco-Otto P, Bond S, Sides R, Kwong GPS, Bayly W, Léguillette R.Despite the use of water treadmills (WT) in conditioning horses, the intensity of WT exercise has not been well documented. The workload on a WT is a function of water height and treadmill speed. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of these factors on workload during WT exercise. Fifteen client-owned Quarter Horses were used in a randomized, controlled study. Three belt speeds and three water heights (mid cannon, carpus and stifle), along with the control condition (dry treadmill, all three speeds), were tested. Measured outcomes were oxygen consumption (V̇O2), v...
Merkies K, Nakonechny L, DuBois C, Derisoud E.Training practices may impose restrictions on the equine behavioral repertoire through the use of training equipment. Presently, the prevalence of the use of training equipment in Canada is unknown. Through an online survey for horse enthusiasts (n = 654), this study evaluated the prevalence and predominant uses of whips, spurs, and head-control equipment by enthusiasts with direct contact with horses compared to perceptions held by enthusiasts with no direct horse contact using chi-squared analyses. Respondents primarily reported using whips and spurs to augment rider or trainer cues and re...
Pihl TH, Nielsen MK, Olsen SN, Leifsson PS, Jacobsen S.Strongylus vulgaris is re-emerging in horses kept under surveillance-based parasite control regimens. Information on nonstrangulating intestinal infarction associated with S. vulgaris is needed to improve recognition of the condition. Objective: To describe the typical clinical presentation, laboratory findings, gross pathology, treatment and outcome of horses with nonstrangulating intestinal infarction. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Nonstrangluating intestinal infarction was diagnosed in 30 horses with a localised intestinal infarction with concurrent signs of S. vulgaris mig...
Rehrl S, Schröder W, Müller C, Staszyk C, Lischer C.Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH) is a painful and progressive dental disease that mainly affects the incisors and canine teeth of aged horses. Diagnosis is based on radiographs to detect early stages of the disease. EOTRH is probably underdiagnosed and its prevalence in Germany unknown. Objective: This study was performed to determine the radiological prevalence of EOTRH in a large horse population in Berlin-Brandenburg, Germany. Methods: Prevalence study. Methods: The study population (142 horses) consisted of all horses 10 years and older that were presented...
Shields E, Seiden-Long I, Massie S, Leguillette R.A "high-sensitivity" cardiac troponin-T (hscTnT) assay recently has been validated for use in horses and is a specific biomarker of myocardial damage. Postexercise release kinetics of cTnT utilizing the hscTnT assay have yet to be established in horses. Objective: To determine: (1) cTnT release kinetics in racing Thoroughbreds after a high-intensity 5/8th mile Chuckwagon race; (2) the effects of age on pre- and postrace cTnT concentrations; and (3) sampling guidelines for clinicians evaluating horses presenting after exercise. Methods: Samples were obtained from 38 Thoroughbred geldings aged 5...
Lindström H, Peer SM, Ing NH, Mannervik B.Glutathione transferases (GSTs) comprise a superfamily of enzymes prominently involved in detoxication by making toxic electrophiles more polar and therefore more easily excretable. However some GSTs have developed alternative functions. Thus, a member of the Alpha class GSTs in pig and human tissues is involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis, catalyzing the obligatory double-bond isomerization of Δ-androstene-3,17-dione to Δ-androstene-3,17-dione and of Δ-pregnene-3,20-dione to Δ-pregnene-3,20-dione on the biosynthetic pathways to testosterone and progesterone. The human GST A3-3 is the ...
Aleman M, Finno CJ, Weich K, Penedo MCT.The carrier status of lavender foal syndrome (LFS), cerebellar abiotrophy (CA), severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), and occipitoatlantoaxial malformation (OAAM1) in foals with juvenile idiopathic epilepsy (JIE) is unknown. Objective: To determine the carrier status of LFS, CA, SCID, and OAAM1 in foals with JIE. Methods: Ten foals with JIE. Methods: Archived DNA samples were tested for known genetic mutations causing LFS, CA, SCID, and OAAM1. The inclusion criteria consisted of having been diagnosed with JIE by ruling out other causes of seizures in foals and supported by electroencephalog...
Sadeghi R, Moradi-Shahrbabak M, Miraei Ashtiani SR, Miller DC, Antczak DF.Previous research on the equine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) demonstrated strong correlations between haplotypes defined by polymorphic intra-MHC microsatellites and haplotypes defined using classical serology. Here, we estimated MHC diversity in a sample of 124 Arabian horses from an endangered strain native to Iran (Persian Asil Arabians), using a validated 10-marker microsatellite panel. In a group of 66 horses related as parent-offspring pairs or half-sibling groups, we defined 51 MHC haplotypes, 49 of which were new. In 47 of the remaining 58 unrelated horses, we could assign on...
Patterson-Kane JC, Karikoski NP, McGowan CM.Laminitis, one of the most debilitating conditions of all equids, is now known to be the result of several systemic disease entities. This finding, together with other recent developments in the field of laminitis research, have provoked a rethink of our clinical and research strategies for this condition. First, laminitis is now considered to be a clinical syndrome associated with systemic disease (endocrine disease, sepsis or systemic inflammatory response syndrome, SIRS) or altered weight bearing rather than being a discrete disease entity. Next, laminitis associated with endocrine disease ...
Zellner A, Bockstahler B, Peham C.The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Kinesio Taping on the trajectory of the forelimb and the muscle activity of the M. brachiocephalicus and the M. extensor carpi radialis in horses. 19 horses and ponies of different breeds (body weight: 496±117 kg), gender (8 mares, 10 geldings and 3 stallions) and ages (14.9±6.9 years old) were analysed without Kinesio Tape ("no tape"), with Kinesio Tape (muscle facilitation application on both muscles of both sides, "with tape") and immediately after Kinesio Taping ("post tape") through kinematic motion analysis and surface electromyogra...
Kohnken R, Schober K, Godman J, Gardner A, Jenkins T, Schroeder E, Baker P, Dunbar L.A 4-week-old American Quarter Horse colt presented with a recent history of diarrhea and decreased activity level. On initial physical examination, the animal was bright and alert and major findings were limited to a loud systolic heart murmur radiating widely over both sides of the thorax. While in the hospital, the clinical condition of the foal warranted further imaging to determine the cause and extent of cardiac disease. A variety of congenital cardiac malformations were identified during echocardiographic examination and autopsy, including a double outlet right ventricle and a subpulmona...
McGivney BA, Griffin ME, Gough KF, McGivney CL, Browne JA, Hill EW, Katz LM.Circulating miRNAs (ci-miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding RNAs emerging as potential diagnostic biomarkers. Equine miRNAs have been previously identified including subsets of tissue-specific miRNAs. In order to investigate ci-miRNAs as diagnostic tools, normal patterns of expression for different scenarios including responses to exercise need to be identified. Human studies have demonstrated that many ci-miRNAs are up-regulated following exercise with changes in expression patterns in skeletal muscle. However, technical challenges such as haemolysis impact on accurate plasma ci-miRNA quantific...
Payne SE, Flematti GR, Reeder A, Kotze AC, Durmic Z, Vercoe PE.There is a need to investigate new methods of controlling cyathostomins in horses due to increasing anthelmintic resistance amongst these parasites. In a previous study we identified the Australian plant Alectryon oleifolius as having anthelmintic activity towards cyathostomins. This study aimed to isolate and identify the bioactive compound(s) responsible for all or part of this anthelmintic activity and quantify its activity in vitro. The condensed tannin procyanidin A2 was isolated from the plant through a process of bioassay guided fractionation and identified using 1D and 2D nuclear magne...
Menozzi A, Pozzoli C, Poli E, Colla C, Placenza G, Bertini S.We investigated the effects of different selective α -adrenergic receptor (AR) agonists (detomidine, medetomidine, xylazine, and brimonidine) on the contractions of horse-isolated bronchi induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) and by carbachol. No effects were observed on the contraction induced by carbachol, while α -AR agonists reduced EFS-evoked contractions in a concentration-related fashion. The rank order of potency (pD ) was brimonidine (7.40 ± 0.20) >medetomidine (7.09 ± 0.24) >detomidine (6.13 ± 0.55) >xylazine (4.59 ± 0.16). The maximal effects (E ) were -56.3% ...
Wehrman RF, Gemensky-Metzler AJ, Zibura AE, Nyhart AB, Chandler HL.OBJECTIVE To determine the safety of topical administration of 1% atropine ophthalmic solution in healthy horses by objectively measuring gastrointestinal transit time. DESIGN Randomized, masked, controlled crossover study. ANIMALS 6 adult geldings. PROCEDURES Horses were randomly assigned (3/group) to first receive topical treatment of the left eye with 1% atropine or artificial tears solution; the right eye was left untreated. After 24 hours of treatment every 6 hours, 200 nontoxic beads were administered to each horse via nasogastric intubation and treatment frequency was decreased to every...
Stock KF, Hamann H, Distl O.Genetic parameters were estimated for the prevalence of osseous fragments in distal (DIJ) and proximal interphalangeal (PIJ), fetlock (FJ) and hock joints (HJ) of Hanoverian Warmblood horses by using residual maximum likelihood (REML) with linear animal models. The analyses were based on the results of 10 standardized radiographs of all four limbs of 3725 young riding horses selected for sale at auction. Transformation factors onto the underlying liability scale were verified by a simulation study. The heritability estimates of osseous fragments on the liability scale were in the range of h2 =...
Henson FM, Davies ME, Jeffcott LB.This study describes (1) the histological appearance of dyschondroplasia, the primary lesion of osteochondrosis, in articular cartilage of the horse and (2) the localization of type VI collagen which is an important constituent of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Dyschondroplastic cartilage was identified on the basis of the presence of cartilage cores (i.e., cartilage extending into the subchondral bone) and confirmed with subsequent histological examination. Full-thickness cartilage samples from 57 horses were collected and paraffin embedded. Histological examination was used to examine the n...
Deaton CM.Equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is a naturally occurring respiratory disease in horses with many similarities to human asthma and, as a result, has been used as an animal model of this disease. Oxidative stress has been demonstrated to occur in a range of respiratory diseases in human beings including asthma. Quantitatively, horses have a greater non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity in the pulmonary epithelial lining fluid compared to human beings due to high ascorbic acid concentrations, which reflects their ability to synthesise ascorbic acid. Consequently, a greater oxidative load i...
Bell RA, Nielsen BD, Waite K, Rosenstein D, Orth M.Seventeen Arabian weanlings were used to determine the influence of housing on third metacarpal bone mass. Animals were separated into three treatment groups: Pasture (n = 6), Stall (n = 5), and Partial-Pasture (n = 6). Radiographs of the left third metacarpus were taken every 28 d to determine radiographic bone aluminum equivalence (RBAE). Serum was collected every 14 d and analyzed for osteocalcin, carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), and keratan sulfate. Hip and wither height, BW, and cannon circumference were measured every 28 d. Lateral RBAE in the pastured group increas...
Kobayashi K, Jackowiak H, Frackowiak H, Yoshimura K, Kumakura M, Kobayashi K.A common characteristic of horses, Rocky Mountain goats, and cattle is that they all have a well developed lingual prominence on the dorsal surface of the posterior area of the tongue. Foliate papillae were found in the horse studied but not in the goat or in cattle. The horse filiform papillae had a long and slender external form with a thin and slender CTC, while in the goat and cattle the external form consisted of a large thick main process and the CTC consisted of a bundle of numerous rod-shaped protrusions. The special papilla found on the lingual prominence resembled larger filiform-lik...
Glaser AL, Chirnside ED, Horzinek MC, de Vries AA.Equine arteritis virus (EAV) is a small, enveloped, positive-stranded RNA virus, in the family Arteriviridae , W.H.ich can infect both horses and donkeys. While the majority of EAV infections are asymptomatic, acutely infected animals may develop a wide range of clinical signs, including pyrexia, limb and ventral edema, depression, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis. The virus may cause abortion and has caused mortality in neonates. After natural EAV infection, most horses develop a solid, long-term immunity to the disease. Marzz and geldings eliminate the virus within 60 days, but 30 to 60% of acut...
Xu M, Hu Y, Qiu H, Wang J, Jiang J. species, which mainly feed on protists and algae, are free-living close relatives of apicomplexans. Recent reports have identified sp. infections in an immunocompromised individual and a suspected case of tick-transmitted infection resulting in neurological symptoms. Our molecular examination of piroplasmosis-infected horses in China identified nearly whole 18S rRNA gene sequences that are closely related to sp. ATCC 50594 isolated from brown woodland soil at Gambrill State Park, located in Frederick, MD, shedding light on an underreported emerging zoonotic pathogen.
Wernery U, Knowles NJ, Hamblin C, Wernery R, Joseph S, Kinne J, Nagy P.A virus was isolated from aborted dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) fetuses during an abortion storm in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Laboratory investigations showed the causative agent to be indistinguishable from equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV), a picornavirus. Two pregnant dromedaries experimentally infected with the camel virus isolate both aborted and an identical virus was reisolated from both fetuses, thus confirming the diagnosis. The extremely high prevalence of antibody (>90 %) and the high titres recorded against ERAV in the dromedary herd clearly showed that ERAV does infect dromedari...
Waller AS.Strangles, characterised by pyrexia followed by abscessation of the lymph nodes of the head and neck, was first described in 1251 (Rufus 1251) and the causative agent, Streptococcus equi, was identified in 1888 (Schutz 1888). However, despite more than a century of research into this disease, strangles remains the most frequently diagnosed infection of horses with over 600 outbreaks being identified in the UK alone each year (Parkinson and others 2011). Here, Andrew Waller reviews some of the recent advances in the understanding of the evolution of S equi and puts this into the context of prev...
Beluche LA, Bertone AL, Anderson DE, Kohn CW, Weisbrode SE.To determine whether enrofloxacin has detrimental, dose-dependent effects on equine articular cartilage in vitro. Methods: Cartilage explants were developed from 6 healthy horses between 0 and 96 months old. Methods: Patellar cartilage explants were incubated in 5 concentrations of enrofloxacin (2 microg/ml, 10 microg/ml, 1,000 microg/ml, 10,000 microg/ml, and 50,000 microg/ml) for 72 hours. Proteoglycan synthesis (Na35SO4 incorporation for 24 hours), proteoglycan degradation (Na35SO4 release for 72 hours), endogenous proteoglycan content (dimethylmethlene blue assay), and total protein conten...
Hughes KJ, Laidlaw EH, Reed SM, Keen J, Abbott JB, Trevail T, Hammond G, Parkin TD, Love S.Sagittal ratio values (SRVs) of cervical vertebrae are used for ante-mortem diagnosis of cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy, but intraobserver and interobserver variability in measurement may influence radiographic interpretation of vertebral stenosis in horses with neurological disease. Objective: To determine intraobserver repeatability in SRVs, intra- and interobserver agreement in SRVs and whether or not agreement was influenced by animal age. Methods: Forty-two horses (>1 year old) with neurological disease from which laterolateral computed radiographic images of C2-C7 were obtained. ...
Papadopoulos E, Rowlinson M, Bartram D, Carpenter S, Mellor P, Wall R.An in vitro assay was used to assess the efficacy of the proprietary pyrethroid insecticide cypermethrin applied to horses (Deosect spray, 5.0%, w/v Fort Dodge Animal Health) against the biting midge Culicoides nubeculosus (Meigen) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti Linneaus and Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae). Hair was collected from the back, belly and legs of the horses immediately prior to treatment and 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days after treatment, and also from untreated controls. In laboratory assays groups of 10 adult female C. nubeculosus, Ae. aegy...
Van Den Wollenberg L, Vandendriessche V, van Maanen K, Counotte GHM.Straightforward testing procedures to enable the diagnosis of insulin dysregulation (ID) in horses that are suitable for use in daily veterinary practice are needed because of the risk that ID could result in laminitis. In our study (that included 90 horses), we compared the proportion of horses classified as ID-positive, ID-suspect, and ID-not diagnosed according to the basal insulin concentration (BIC) with the proportion of horses classified as ID-positive or ID-negative according to a practical and feasible version of an oral sugar test (OST). Furthermore, BIC, basal glucose concentration,...
Olave CJ, Ivester KM, Couetil LL, Burgess J, Park JH, Mukhopadhyay A.Racehorses commonly develop evidence of mild asthma in response to dust exposure. Diets deficient in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Ω-3) might exacerbate this response. Objective: To compare dust exposure, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology, and plasma Ω-3 and specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPM) concentrations amongst racehorses fed dry hay, steamed hay, and haylage. Methods: Forty-three Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: Prospective clinical trial. Horses were randomly assigned to be fed dry hay, steamed hay, or haylage for 6 weeks. Measures of exposure to dust in the...
Swanberg JE, Clouser JM, Gan W, Mannino DM, Flunker JC.Latino workers are likely exposed to a variety of respiratory hazards in the horse barn, yet the potential impact of these exposures on respiratory health has not been investigated. Methods: Using a community-based sample of 225 Latino horse farmworkers we investigated the prevalence of upper and lower respiratory symptoms and occupational characteristics associated with them. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with respiratory symptomology. Results: Upper respiratory symptoms prevalence ranged from 24% to 45%. Half of workers reported lower respiratory s...
Werpy NM, Denoix JM.Injury to the suspensory ligament can result in significant lameness. Multiple imaging modalities may be required to fully characterize injury to the suspensory ligament. Ultrasonography of the suspensory ligament is challenging, due to the normal anatomy. This article describes imaging of the proximal suspensory ligament in the front and hind limbs of the horse.
Hain-Saunders NMR, Knight DR, Bruce M, Riley TV.Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile presents a significant health risk to humans and animals. The complexity of the bacterial-host interaction affecting pathogenesis and disease development creates an ongoing challenge for epidemiological studies, control strategies and prevention planning. The recent emergence of human disease caused by strains of C. difficile found in animals adds to mounting evidence that C. difficile infection (CDI) may be a zoonosis. In equine populations, C. difficile is a known cause of diarrhoea and gastrointestinal inflammation, with considerable mortality and morb...
Sundstrom KD, Lineberry MW, Grant AN, Duncan KT, Ientile MM, Little SE.Ticks are common on horses, but recent publications characterizing equine tick infestations in North America are lacking. Methods: To further understand attachment site preferences of common ticks of horses, and to document the seasonality of equine tick infestation in northeastern Oklahoma, horses from eight farms were evaluated twice a month over a 1-year period. Each horse was systematically inspected beginning at the head and moving caudally to the tail. Attachment sites of ticks were recorded and all ticks collected were identified to species and stage. Results: Horses (26 males and 62 fe...
Dyhre-Poulsen P, Smedegaard HH, Roed J, Korsgaard E.The dampening of hoof impact was investigated by measuring the accelerations transmitted through structures of the hoof in horses trotting freely on an asphalt tarmac. The hoof dampened the vibrations transmitted to the first phalanx. Shoeing decreased the viscous dampening and increased the median power frequency and the maximal amplitude of the vibrations transmitted to the first phalanx. The pressure inside the digital cushion of the foreleg was recorded. The pressure dropped during the stance phase, indicating expansion of the hoof. The expansion of the hoof was not produced by frog or sol...
Reisinger N, Dohnal I, Nagl V, Schaumberger S, Schatzmayr G, Mayer E.One of the most important hoof diseases is laminitis. Yet, the pathology of laminitis is not fully understood. Different bacterial toxins, e.g. endotoxins or exotoxins, seem to play an important role. Additionally, ingestion of mycotoxins, toxic secondary metabolites of fungi, might contribute to the onset of laminitis. In this respect, fumonsins are of special interest since horses are regarded as species most susceptible to this group of mycotoxins. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) on primary isolated epidermal and dermal hoof cells, as well as ...
Hultén C, Sletten K, Foyn Bruun C, Marhaug G.Serum amyloid A (SAA) from acute phase horse serum was isolated using hydrophobic interaction chromatography, gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. Three SAA isoforms with different isoelectric points, i.e. SAA pI 8.0, SAA pI 9.0 and SAA pI 9.7, were identified by two-dimensional electrophoresis and further characterized with amino acid sequence analysis. These isoforms were found in similar concentrations in all animals investigated, with SAA pI 9.7 constituting about half of the total SAA content. Partial amino acid sequence analysis verified the previously published heterogeneous ...
Lew AM, Valas RB, Maloy WL, Coligan JE.Horse serum is shown to contain a soluble class I molecule analogous to the secreted Q10 molecule in the mouse. This molecule has several similarities to the recently described mouse Q10 molecule: it is smaller than membrane-bound equine class I molecules; it occurs in a high molecular mass complex of 200-300 kd in serum; and the serum levels of the equine molecule are similar to that of the Q10 molecule (about 30 micrograms/ml). A soluble molecule is also detected in the sera of species related to the horse; it has in fact been found in all the wild members of the order Perissodactyla so far ...
Champion ZJ, Vickers MH, Gravance CG, Breier BH, Casey PJ.Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) are both present in blood plasma and IGF-I has been measured in epididymal fluid and seminal plasma. This study was designed to investigate the direct effects of GH or IGF-I on the motility of mature equine spermatozoa in vitro. We compared the effects of one concentration (100 ng/ml) of recombinant bovine GH (rbGH) and recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) on motility and motion characteristics of equine spermatozoa over a 24 h period. Motility was maintained longer in spermatozoa treated with either rbGH or rhIGF-I during a 24 h period...
van Harreveld PD, Lillich JD, Kawcak CE, Turner AS, Norrdin RW.To determine microradiographic appearance, bone histomorphometry, and mineral density of the long bones of the metacarpophalangeal joint in horses after immobilization followed by remobilization. Methods: 5 healthy horses. Methods: One forelimb of each horse was immobilized in a fiberglass cast for 7 weeks, followed by 8 weeks of increasing exercise. Calcein and oxytetracycline were administered IV during the immobilization and exercise phases, respectively, for bone labeling and analysis after euthanasia. Sagittal sections of metacarpal bones and proximal phalanges were examined via radiograp...
Liccardi G, Emenius G, Merritt AS, Salzillo A, D'Amato M, D'Amato G.Most studies on the sensitization to horse allergens in populations without professional exposure have been carried out in geographical areas where the rate of horse ownership is high and horse riding is popular. Very few studies have been carried out in populations living in large urban areas. This gap in the literature probably reflects the widespread view that prevalence of horse-related allergy is low in urban populations because the latter are not regularly exposed to horses. On the contrary, we suggest that urban areas constitute a model useful to study potential modalities of exposure a...
Martinelli MJ, Eurell J, Les CM, Fyhrie D, Bennett D.Although there are many studies in the equine literature focused on articular diseases and the aetiology of osteoarthritis, few have concentrated on normal articular structures and how they change with age. The objective of this investigation was to study the thickness and morphology of the calcified cartilage layer of the distal metacarpus over a range of ages. A parasagittal slab of bone was sectioned from the region of sesamoid contact on the medial condyle of the metacarpi from 34 horses. The slab of bone was preserved, dehydrated and embedded, undecalcified, in methylmethacrylate and then...
Lynden J, Ogden J, Hollands T.Emerging research highlights how, due to demographic changes in horse owner populations in Western societies, complex owner-horse relationships are leading to inappropriate horse care, including overnutrition, which in turn can lead to laminitis. Farriers, due to their regular visits, may be in a position to support owners in dealing with this problem. Objective: This study explored whether UK farriers have a role in working with horse owners to support horse welfare and prevent laminitis. Methods: Grounded theory analysis, a qualitative methodology. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were co...
