"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.
Dumoulin M, Martens A, Van den Abeele AM, Boyen F, Oosterlinck M, Wilderjans H, Gasthuys F, Haesebrouck F, Pille F.This study evaluated the Etest for direct antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of bacteria from equine synovial specimens, incubated in BACTEC enrichment bottles. Ninety-four culture-positive broths were inoculated onto agar to directly determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 13 antimicrobials, using the Etest (direct Etest). Results were compared with those obtained with the agar dilution reference method, the standard Etest, and the disc diffusion method, after subculture and standardisation of the inoculum. For categorical comparison of AST results, MICs were transla...
Clark JK, Shanks BC, Jogan KS, Philipp D, Coffey KP, Jack NE, Caldwell JD, Rhein RT.Bermudagrass ( L.) is a familiar forage in the equine industry and teff () is gaining popularity as well. However, it is unclear if the application of poultry litter as a fertilizer affects palatability of these forages in horses. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if forage species and timing of litter application as a fertilizer has an effect on preference by horses. Hay treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial treatment arrangement consisting of teff and bermudagrass harvested after no poultry litter application (NL), poultry litter applied to stubble immediately ...
Haghi MM, Etemadifar F, Fakhar M, Teshnizi SH, Soosaraei M, Shokri A, Hajihasani A, Mashhadi H.Babesiosis is a protozoal disease caused by Babesia spp. in mammals and humans worldwide. It is one of the most important tick-borne diseases, which affects livestock productions, reproductions, and accordingly failing economy. In this, systematic review and meta-analysis, study, the prevalence of babesiosis among domestic herbivores in Iran, between 1998 and 2015, was methodically reviewed. Nine databases including five English and four Persian databases were explored. A total of 49 articles, as regards the examination of 13,547 sheep, 1920 goats, 7167 cattle, and 940 horses, corresponding to...
Martin P, Cheze L, Pourcelot P, Desquilbet L, Duray L, Chateau H.Many factors associated with the saddle and the rider could produce pain in horses thus reducing performance. However, studies of horse-saddle-rider interactions are limited and determining their effects remains challenging. The aim of this study was to test a novel method for assessing equine thoracic and lumbar spinal movement under the saddle and collect data during trotting. Back movement was measured using inertial measurement units (n = 5) fixed at the levels of thoracic vertebrae T6, T12 and T16, and lumbar vertebrae L2 and L5. To compare unridden and ridden conditions, three horses...
Doherty O, Casey V, McGreevy P, Arkins S.Nosebands are used by riders to prevent the horse from opening its mouth, to increase control and, in some cases, to comply with the competition rules. While equestrian texts traditionally recommend that two adult human fingers should be able to fit under a fastened noseband, noseband tightness levels are not, in general, regulated in competition. Possible detrimental consequences for the horse, of excessively tight nosebands, include discomfort, pain or tissue damage. The current study investigated noseband usage in equestrian competition. Data regarding noseband type, position, width and tig...
Zeyner A, Romanowski K, Vernunft A, Harris P, Müller AM, Wolf C, Kienzle E.The provision of NaCl, according to current recommendations, to horses in moderate work has been shown to induce immediate postprandial acidosis. The present study aimed to clarify whether this NaCl induced acidosis i) persists beyond the immediate postprandial period, and ii) is still present after a 2 week adaptation period. Six adult warmblood mares in moderate work received daily 1.00 kg hay per 100 kg body weight (bwt) only together with 0.64 kg unprocessed cereal grains/100 kg bwt.d as fed basis. Using a 3x3 Latin Square, either 0 (NaCl-0), 50 (NaCl-50) or 100 (NaCl-100) g NaCl/d were fe...
Doherty O, Conway T, Conway R, Murray G, Casey V.Noseband tightness is difficult to assess in horses participating in equestrian sports such as dressage, show jumping and three-day-eventing. There is growing concern that nosebands are commonly tightened to such an extent as to restrict normal equine behaviour and possibly cause injury. In the absence of a clear agreed definition of noseband tightness, a simple model of the equine nose-noseband interface environment was developed in order to guide further studies in this area. The normal force component of the noseband tensile force was identified as the key contributor to sub-noseband tissue...
Hunyadi L, Sundman EA, Kass PH, Williams DC, Aleman M.Immune-mediated myositis (IMM) is a cause of rhabdomyolysis, stiffness, and muscle atrophy predominantly affecting Quarter horses. Limited information is available with regard to outcome, prognostic indicators, and associations with concurrent diseases. Objective: To report outcomes and associations between outcome and clinical and laboratory parameters, and presence of concurrent illness. Methods: Sixty-eight horses; 52 Quarter horses and related breeds and 16 other breeds. Methods: Retrospective cohort study (1991-2014). Medical records of horses with histological diagnosis of IMM were revie...
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...
Heffron B, Bash J, Larsen AK.The use of alkinizing agents by trainers to counteract the accumulation of lactic acid in racehorses has been well documented. A by-product of this administration is elevated total carbon dioxide (tCO2) concentrations. Most regulatory authorities have set the threshold for tCO2 in plasma at 37 mM. The quantification of tCO2 often presents a challenge to laboratories due to the instrumentation required, which can be expensive to use and maintain. The Beckman DxC 600 (Brea, CA) is currently used in our laboratory for tCO2 quantification. The goal of this research was to determine if another anal...
Rocha T.Contagious equine metritis (CEM), a highly contagious bacterial venereal infection of equids, caused by Taylorella equigenitalis, is of major international concern, causing short-term infertility in mares. Portugal has a long tradition of horse breeding and exportation and until recently was considered CEM-free. However, in 2008, T. equigenitalis was isolated at our laboratory from a recently imported stallion and 2 mares from the same stud. Following this first reported outbreak, the Portuguese Veterinary Authority (DGVA) performed mandatory testing on all remaining equines at the stud (n=30)...
Senju N, Tozaki T, Kakoi H, Shinjo A, Matsuyama R, Almunia J, Takasu M.Thirty-two microsatellites and a mitochondrial DNA haplotypes of endangered Yonaguni horses were analyzed to establish a pedigree registration system and to understand their genetic diversity for planning effective conservation. Blood samples were collected from 78 of the 130 horses in existence, and DNA was extracted and genotyped. There were two major findings. One is that it is possible to use microsatellites for Yonaguni horse pedigree registration in the future because the power of exclusion of parentage testing is reliable at 0.999998. The second is the clarification of the current genet...
Rodrigues VDS, Garcia MV, Cruz BC, Maciel WG, Zimmermann NP, Koller WW, Barros JC, Andreotti R.The objective of this study was to evaluate the life cycle and parasitic competence of Dermacentor nitens (Neumann, 1897) on different animal species. Experimental infestations were induced in five specimens each of seven species of possible hosts: rabbits, horses, sheep, cows, guinea pigs, birds and dogs. Rabbits were infested in the ear using artificial feeding chambers, and the horses, sheep, cows and dogs were infested in the ear without feeding chambers. For the infestation of guinea pigs, artificial feeding chambers were fixed on the back. Birds were infested by placing larvae on the bac...
Daneshvar Amoli A, Mohebali N, Farzaneh P, Shahzadeh Fazeli SA, Nikfarjam L, Ashouri Movasagh S, Moradmand Z, Ganjibakhsh M, Nasimian A, Izadpanah M....Caspian horse, a rare horse breed found in 1965 by Louise Firouz in northern Iran, is a small horse which is reported to be in danger of extinction in its original homeland. There seems to be a great need to prevent extinction of this valuable horse. In this study, 51 fibroblast cell lines from Caspian horse ear marginal tissue were successfully established by sampling 60 horses using primary explant technique. Cells were authenticated and growth curve was plotted. According to results obtained, population doubling time (PDT) was calculated 23 ± 0.5 h for all cell lines. Multiplex polymera...
Guven E, Avcioglu H, Deniz A, Balkaya İ, Abay U, Yavuz Ş, Akyüz M.Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a hemoprotozoan tick-borne disease with worldwide distribution that is caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. There are studies reporting the presence of equine piroplasmosis in Turkey but the situation in Erzurum is unknown. The aim of the current study was to determine the situation of equine piroplasmosis in jeered horses in Erzurum. Between April and August 2015, a total of 125 Arabian horse were examined and blood samples were collected. At the time of sampling, animals were also examined for tick infestations and clinical signs. Besides microscopic exa...
Almeida JC, Vidotto O, Ferreira EP, Ribeiro LP, Mongruel AC, Vieira TS, Freire RL, Mota RA, Vieira RF.Although the infection by Toxoplasma gondii in horses is usually asymptomatic, it may be characterized by the presence of tissue cysts and maintenance of detectable antibody titers. The aim of this study was to detect anti-T.gondii antibodies and to determine risk factors associated in sport horses from Paraíba State, Northeastern Brazil. A total of 138 apparently healthy sport horses of different age and gender were sampled. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were detected in 16/138 (11.6%; 95% CI: 6.77-18.14%) horses by indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA). A significant associat...
Word TA, Larsen RW.Here the molar volume and enthalpy changes associated with the early events in the folding of ferrocytochrome c (Cc) at high pH have been examined using time resolved photoacoustic calorimetry (PAC). The data reveal an overall volume change of 1.3 ± 0.3 mL mol and an enthalpy change of 13 ± 7 kcal mol occurring subsequent to photodissociation of the unfolded CO bound Cc species in <∼20 ns. Two additional kinetic phases are observed that are associated with non-native His binding (ΔH and ΔV of 2 ± 4 kcal mol and -0.5 mL mol, τ ∼ 2.5 μs ) and Met binding (ΔH an...
Braus BK, Lehenauer B, Tichy A, Nell B, Schwendenwein I.Cytology plays a major role in the diagnosis of ocular surface diseases. Objective: To compare 2 cytological sampling methods for obtaining corneal and conjunctival cell samples regarding irritation for the patient, invasiveness, sample quality and diagnostic equivalence. Methods: Observational prospective study. Methods: In 5 healthy horses, conjunctival and corneal samples were taken bilaterally by impression cytology sampling (ICS) and cytobrush sampling (CBS). Irritation and invasiveness were assessed with an eye irritation and an epithelial damaging score system, respectively. Sample qual...
Lang A, Brucker P, Ludwig M, Wrede T, Theunert J, Gasse H.The topographical correlations between certain extracranial and intracranial osseous points of interest (POIs), and their age-related changes, are indispensable to know for a diagnostical or surgical access to intracranial structures; however, they are difficult to assess with conventional devices. In this pilot study, the 3-dimensional coordinates of extra-/intracranial POIs were determined, thus avoiding perspective distortions that used to be intrinsic problems in 2-dimensional morphometry. The data sets were then analysed by creating virtual triangles. The sizes, shapes, and positions of t...
Henry TJ, Puchalski SM, Arzi B, Kass PH, Verstraete FJM.There are several reports of incisor tooth resorption and hypercementosis in horses but, to date, studies have been limited in case numbers and to advanced lesions. Tooth resorption in other species is a radiographic diagnosis of types of resorption that are often identified before clinical signs. Our goal was to evaluate radiographically incisor tooth resorption in a large population of horses, utilising interpretation criteria from canine and human dentistry. Objective: To document and classify incisor tooth resorption and hypercementosis. Methods: Retrospective descriptive case series. Meth...
Olivo G, Lucas TM, Borges AS, Silva RO, Lobato FC, Siqueira AK, da Silva Leite D, Brandão PE, Gregori F, de Oliveira-Filho JP, Takai S, Ribeiro MG.Diarrhea is a major clinical problem affecting foals up to 3 months of age. The aim of this study was to identify enteric microorganisms involved in monoinfections and coinfections and the associated virulence factors in healthy and diarrheic foals. Diarrheic (D) ( = 56) and nondiarrheic (ND) foals ( = 60) up to three months of age were studied. Fecal samples were analyzed for identification of infectious agents (microbiological culturing, molecular techniques, and microscopic analyses). (30% versus 25%), spp. (25% versus 7%), (25% versus 25%), type A (21% versus 10%), (20% versus 35%), ...
Mizen K, Woodman J, Boysen SR, Wagg C, Greco-Otto P, Léguillette R, Roy MF.Blood lactate concentration is a marker of tissue perfusion and helps guide therapeutic interventions in critically ill horses. In both humans and dogs, administration of corticosteroids can increase blood lactate concentration, leading to type B hyperlactatemia. This effect could be a consequence of the impact of corticosteroids on glucose metabolism. Objective: To investigate the effects of daily IM dexamethasone administration on blood lactate and glucose concentrations in horses. Methods: Nine healthy adult horses. Methods: A randomized, blinded, controlled, cross-over study design was use...
Nürnberger S, Rentenberger C, Thiel K, Schädl B, Grunwald I, Ponomarev I, Marlovits S, Meyer C, Barnewitz D.The present study reports for the first time the presence of giant crystals in mitochondria of equine chondrocytes. These structures show dark contrast in TEM images as well as a granular substructure of regularly aligned 1-2 nm small units. Different zone axes of the crystalline structure were analysed by means of Fourier transformation of lattice-resolution TEM images proving the crystalline nature of the structure. Elemental analysis reveals a high content of nitrogen referring to protein. The outer shape of the crystals is geometrical with an up to hexagonal profile in cross sections. It ...
Nagel C, Trenk L, Wulf M, Ille N, Aurich J, Aurich C.In mares, foaling is associated with changes in hematology, plasma electrolytes, blood pressure and heart rate and it has been hypothesized that these are induced by oxytocin. To test this hypothesis, mares (n = 8-14/group) were treated with oxytocin (OT; 20 I.U.) or saline (CON) at 1 h (test A) and 12 h after foaling (test B) and during first postpartum diestrus (test C). Heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), atrioventricular blocks, salivary cortisol concentration, blood pressure, plasma electrolytes and blood count were determined. Heart rate decreased from test A to C (P < 0.001)...
Juffo GD, Bassuino DM, Gomes DC, Wurster F, Pissetti C, Pavarini SP, Driemeier D.The Salmonella sp. genus is identified in several species, and the zoonosis it causes is one of the most important types worldwide. The specifics of salmonellosis vary according to the function of the serovar involved, the species affected, age and predisposing factors. However, few cases of equine salmonellosis have been reported. This study presents ten confirmed salmonellosis cases in equines in southern Brazil. Six were adult animals with stress factors preceding the disease, while four were foals, three of which presented with hyperacute manifestations. The main clinical signs were diarrh...
'The invisible horse' was the central topic discussed at a conference organised by the equine charity World Horse Welfare in London last month. Gill Harris reports.
Stadler S, Dennler M, Hetzel U, Del Chicca F, Hoey S, Spiess BM, Voelter K, Pot SA.To compare the localization and distribution of two different anesthetic fluid volumes around equine cadaver eyes to determine an appropriate volume for a single sub-Tenon's injection in horses. Methods: A single sub-Tenon's injection of 2% lidocaine was performed in 10 equine cadaver heads (20 eyes) using two different volumes (7 mL on one side and 10 mL on the opposite side). The posterior circular distribution of the anesthetic was quantified in sagittal, dorsal, and transverse MRI (T2W-TSE) sequences and evaluated independently by three board-certified radiologists. The distribution of the...
Sadaba SA, Madariaga GJ, Botto CM, Carino MH, Zappa ME, García PP, Olguín SA, Massone A, Díaz S.Evidence of cerebellar abiotrophy (CA) was found in a six-month-old Arabian filly with signs of incoordination, head tremor, wobbling, loss of balance and falling over, consistent with a cerebellar lesion. Normal hematology profile blood test and cerebrospinal fluid analysis excluded infectious encephalitis, and serological testing for Sarcocystis neurona was negative. The filly was euthanized. Postmortem X-ray radiography of the cervical cephalic region identified not abnormalities, discounting spinal trauma. The histopathological analysis of serial transverse cerebellar sections by electron ...
Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Bosco-Lauth A, Hartwig AE, Uddin MJ, Barcelon J, Suen WW, Wang W, Hall RA, Bowen RA.Most natural West Nile virus (WNV) infections in humans and horses are subclinical or sub-lethal and non-encephalitic. Yet, the main focus of WNV research remains on the pathogenesis of encephalitic disease, mainly conducted in mouse models. We characterized host responses during subclinical WNV infection in horses and compared outcomes with those obtained in a novel rabbit model of subclinical WNV infection (Suen et al. 2015. Pathogens, 4: 529). Experimental infection of 10 horses with the newly emerging WNV-strain, WNVNSW2011, did not result in neurological disease in any animal but transcr...
Meichner K, Kraszeski BH, Durrant JR, Grindem CB, Breuhaus BA, Moore PF, Neel JA, Linder KE, Borst LB, Fogle JE, Tarigo JL.An 11-year-old, 443-kg Haflinger mare was presented to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a 2-week history of lethargy and a 3-day duration of anorexia, pyrexia, tachycardia, and ventral edema. Severe pitting edema, peripheral lymphadenopathy, and a caudal abdominal mass were noted on physical examination. An extreme leukocytosis (154.3 × 103 /μL) and microscopic hematologic findings suggestive of myelomonocytic leukemia were observed. Serum protein electrophoresis revealed a monoclonal gammopathy and urine protein electrophoresis revealed a monoclonal ligh...
Sobczak N, Kantyka M.The saliva of medicinal leeches, e.g., Hirudo medicinalis and Hirudo verbana commonly used in hirudotherapy, contains more than 100 bioactive substances with various therapeutic effects, including anticoagulant, vasodilator, thrombolytic, anti-inflammatory and anaesthetic properties. Recently, leeches have been used very successfully in veterinary medicine to treat many diseases of animals, especially dogs, cats and horses. The most common indications for the use of leeches are hip and elbow dysplasia, acute and chronic arthritis, diseases associated with inflammation of tendons, ligaments, an...
Snyder JR.Intestinal edema, luminal distention, and ischemia are common pathologic processes involved in producing the intestinal damage found during surgical exploration for acute abdominal disorders in the horse. The severity of intestinal edema depends on the degree of altered intravascular forces and changes in capillary permeability. Capillary hydrostatic pressure rises as the less pliable venules and veins become occluded during intestinal obstruction. Concurrently, the production of various endogenous products that damage the vascular wall leads to increases in capillary permeability and protein ...
Van Cleemput J, Poelaert KCK, Laval K, Vanderheijden N, Dhaenens M, Daled S, Boyen F, Pasmans F, Nauwynck HJ.β-Defensins protect the respiratory tract against the myriad of microbial pathogens entering the airways with each breath. However, this potentially hostile environment is known to serve as a portal of entry for herpesviruses. The lack of suitable respiratory model systems has precluded understanding of how herpesvirus virions overcome the abundant mucosal β-defensins during host invasion. We demonstrate how a central alphaherpesvirus, equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV1), actually exploits β-defensins to invade its host and initiate viral spread. The equine β-defensins (eBDs) eBD1, -2, and -3...
Biral NV, Azevedo Santos H, Senne NA, Paulino PG, Camilo TA, Tassinari WS, Silva VL, Santos FN, Angelo IDC.Equine leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan of the Leishmania genus, and it has been reported in several countries around the world, especially Brazil. Therefore, the present investigation aims to conduct a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence, spatial distribution, and associated factors with seropositivity for Leishmania spp. in draft horses from the Distrito Federal, Brazil. The serological survey was conducted on 411 animals, employing the Indirect Immunofluorescence Test (IFA) and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The Kappa (κ) and g...
Sheldon SA, Aleman M, Costa LRR, Santoyo AC, Howey Q, Madigan JE.Trigeminal-mediated headshaking results from low-threshold firing of the trigeminal nerve resulting in apparent facial pain. Magnesium may have neuroprotective effects on nerve firing that potentially dampen signs of neuropathic pain. This hypothesis has not been investigated in horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking. Objective: To investigate head-shaking behavior in affected horses after IV magnesium sulfate infusion. Methods: Six geldings with trigeminal-mediated headshaking. Methods: Prospective randomized crossover study. Horses were controlled for diet and infused IV with 5% dextros...
Salem SE, Proudman CJ, Archer DC.Perioperative lidocaine treatment is commonly used in horses that undergo surgical treatment of colic, to prevent or treat postoperative ileus and reduce the effects of intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion injury. However, its clinical efficacy has not been evaluated in a large population of horses undergoing small intestinal surgery. The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether systemic lidocaine administration reduced the prevalence, volume and duration of postoperative reflux and improved rates of survival following surgical treatment of small intestinal lesions. Data were collected as ...
Sampson SN, Schneider RK, Gavin PR, Ho CP, Tucker RL, Charles EM.Seventy-two horses with recent onset of navicular syndrome and normal radiographs were assessed. Horses underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of both front feet. All abnormalities were characterized and the most severe abnormality identified, if possible. Abnormal signal intensity in the navicular bone was the most severe abnormality in 24 (33%) horses. Pathologic change in the deep digital flexor tendon was the most severe abnormality in 13 (18%) horses. Pathologic change in the collateral sesamoidean ligament was the most severe abnormality in 11 (15%) horses. Pathologic change in the di...
Morsy K, Bashtar AR, Al Quraishy S, Adel S.Parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE) caused by infection of the gut with parasitic nematodes is one of the most important diseases of livestock animals from both financial and welfare perspectives. Parascaris equorum and Habronema microstoma are of the most endemic nematodes of the world which are currently the major cause of PGE of the domestic horses in Egypt. The present investigation introduced the first morphological description of these nematodes recovered from the domestic horse, Equus ferus caballus (Equidae), in Egypt by light and scanning electron microscopy. Seven P. equorum (fifth stage...
Taira T, Fujinaga T, Okumura M, Yamashita K, Tsunoda N, Mizuno S.Haptoglobin (Hp) was isolated from equine serum by ammonium sulphate precipitation, anion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Equine Hp which migrated to the alpha 2-globulin region in electrophoresis, contained 2 fractions with molecular weights (NW) of 108,000 and 105,000, and each fraction consisting of 2 subunits. Quantitative measurement of Hp in equine serum was performed by the single radial immunodiffusion method using anti-equine Hp serum. In clinically normal horses, the highest concentration of serum Hp was found in newborn foals and a high value was maintained until 12 mont...
Donadeu FX, Watson ED.The annual reproductive cycle in the horse involves a reduction in ovarian activity during short days. The absence of ovulatory activity during winter has important consequences for an equine industry eager to breed mares early during the year. The anovulatory season results from a reduction in the secretion of pituitary gonadotropin that is in turn triggered by the inhibitory effects of short photoperiod on the hypothalamus-pituitary axis. Recent studies have provided evidence that the response of the ovaries to endocrine stimuli during the anovulatory season is affected not only by circulati...
Rollinson J, Taylor FG, Chesney J.Six cases of accidental salinomycin poisoning in horses are described. The horses were fed a contaminated ration and presented clinical signs which were extremely varied in nature and severity. However, the range of signs, including anorexia, colic, weakness and ataxia bore similarities to those described in horses poisoned with the related ionophore monensin. Other similarities became apparent in serum biochemical profiles of the clinical cases. Although ionophore toxicity is rarely reported in horses they appear to be particularly susceptible, and it should therefore be considered as a diffe...
Rossi SL, Russell-Lodrigue KE, Plante KS, Bergren NA, Gorchakov R, Roy CJ, Weaver SC.Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a re-emerging virus of human, agriculture, and bioweapon threat importance. No FDA-approved treatment is available to combat Venezuelan equine encephalitis in humans, prompting the need to create a vaccine that is safe, efficacious, and cannot be replicated in the mosquito vector. Here we describe the use of a serotype ID VEEV (ZPC-738) vaccine with an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) to alter gene expression patterns. This ZPC/IRES vaccine was genetically engineered in two ways based on the position of the IRES insertion to create a vaccine th...
Brooks DE, Plummer CE, Carastro SM, Utter ME.To evaluate the long-term visual outcome of phacoemulsification lens extraction surgery in foals and horses and identify any unique postoperative complications that affect the visual outcome. Methods: This is a retrospective medical records study of phacoemulsification cataract surgery in 95 foals and horses from 1990 to 2013. Results: Cataracts were removed by phacoemulsification from 111 eyes of 95 horses ranging in age from 22 days to 26 years (average 8.0 ± 5.7 years). Forty-four of the 95 animals were foals (46.3%). Sixteen horses or foals had surgery bilaterally. One hundred and two eye...
Lindåse SS, Nostell KE, Müller CE, Jensen-Waern M, Bröjer JT.To quantify insulin sensitivity and monitor glucose, insulin, and lipid concentrations in a group of moderately insulin-resistant horses during induction of obesity by use of a forage diet supplemented with fat and during subsequent turnout to pasture. ANIMALS 9 adult Standardbred mares (11 to 20 years old). Methods: Weight gain of horses was induced during 22 weeks by use of a forage diet supplemented with fat fed in gradually increasing amounts, followed by feeding of that fat-supplemented diet at 2.5 times the daily maintenance requirements. Horses were then turned out to pasture. Insulin s...
Boos GS, Nobach D, Failing K, Eickmann M, Herden C.A suitable RNA extraction protocol was established to gain high quality RNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues to perform reliable molecular assays either applicable for using FFPE tissue archives or tissues with harsh formalin-fixation. Eighteen FFPE samples from the central nervous system of horses, stored up to 11 years, were used as archive cases. To test the influence of the fixation period, brain, liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle tissue fragments from another horse, were treated either with water or tris-acetate-EDTA buffer after fixation under different timepoints with 10...
Proft A, Spiesschaert B, Izume S, Taferner S, Lehmann MJ, Azab W.The serine-threonine protein kinase encoded by gene (pUS3) of alphaherpesviruses was shown to modulate actin reorganization, cell-to-cell spread, and virus egress in a number of virus species. However, the role of the US3 orthologues of equine herpesvirus type 1 and 4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4) has not yet been studied. Here, we show that is not essential for virus replication in vitro. However, growth rates and plaque diameters of a -deleted EHV-1 and a mutant in which the catalytic active site was destroyed were significantly reduced when compared with parental and revertant viruses or a virus in w...
East LM, Dargatz DA, Traub-Dargatz JL, Savage CJ.Enterocolitis associated with Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) infection in neonatal foals is often severe and has been associated with a high case-mortality risk. We designed a premises-based survey to evaluate the associations of regional foaling practices, premises environmental management, periparturient foal and brood-mare management, and periparturient brood-mare ration with the occurrence of neonatal enterocolitis attributed to C. perfringens infection. Potential risk factors individually associated with enterocolitis were breed type, housing type at foaling and in the first thr...
Chaffin MK, Walker MA, McArthur NH, Perris EE, Matthews NS.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on the brain of 5 normal, anesthetized, neonatal (age 3-to-6 days) Quarter Horse foals. The objectives of the study were to develop a technique for imaging the brain of neonatal foals, and to ascertain their normal brain anatomy. Intravenous propofol was administered for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. Using spin echo MR techniques, T1 weighted sagittal and transverse views, and spin density and T2 weighted transverse views were successfully made of each foal. MR images provided excellent visualization of many anatomic structures ...
Sikora M, Król J, Nowak M, Stefaniak T, Aubertsson G, Kozdrowski R.Endometritis is a common problem in a broodmare practice, often leading to infertility. The diagnosis is based on several methods such as cytology, bacteriology and histopathology; however the outcome of these methods may be inconclusive even when used together. The objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate the usefulness of acute phase proteins as an additional diagnostic tool for diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in mares and (2) to evaluate the association between macroscopic changes in uterine flushes and inflammation of the uterus. Materials were collected from 53 Icelandic ma...
Skedros JG, Dayton MR, Sybrowsky CL, Bloebaum RD, Bachus KN.It has been hypothesized that a major objective of morphological adaptation in limb-bone diaphyses is the achievement of uniform regional safety factors between discrete cortical locations (e.g. between cranial and caudal cortices at mid-diaphysis). This hypothesis has been tested, and appears to be supported in the diaphyses of ovine and equine radii. The present study more rigorously examined this question using the equine third metacarpal (MC3), which has had functionally generated intracortical strains estimated by a sophisticated finite element model. Mechanical properties of multiple mid...
Ryan EG, Beatty SH, Gray E, Field N, Liston R, Rhodes V, Donlon J.Retention of veterinary practitioners has arisen as a significant problem in recent years in Ireland. No prior Irish peer-reviewed publications have addressed this problem. An online questionnaire was available through social media and via email to Irish vets from January to November 2019. The aim of this survey was to ascertain the factors contributing to the problem of vet retention in Ireland. Results: A total of 370 eligible responses were received. The median age of respondents was 31 and the gender balance was 250 females (68%) to 118 males (32%). The majority of respondents worked in cl...
Gerard MP, Blikslager AT, Roberts MC, Tate LP, Argenzio RA.Recent studies suggest that horses requiring surgical correction of strangulating intestinal obstruction may develop post operative complications as a result of ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore, the mucosal and serosal margins of resected small intestine from 9 horses with small intestinal strangulating lesions were examined for evidence of ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Severe mucosal injury and marked elevations in myeloperoxidase activity were detected at ileal resection margins (n = 4), whereas the mucosa from proximal jejunal (n = 9) and distal jejunal (n = 5) resection margins was ...
Van Der Vekens N, Decloedt A, Ven S, De Clercq D, van Loon G.Different cardiac troponin I (cTnI) assays give different results. Only 1 manufacturer has marketed troponin T (cTnT) assays. Therefore, cTnT often is preferred for detection of myocardial infarction in human patients. Studies of cTnT in horses are limited. Objective: To compare a cTnI and a high-sensitive cTnT assay (hs-cTnT) in horses. Methods: Cardiac troponin I and cTnT were determined in 35 healthy horses (group 1), 23 horses suspected to have primary myocardial damage (group 2a), and 41 horses with secondary myocardial damage caused by structural heart disease (group 2b). Methods: All cT...
Lam KK, Parkin TD, Riggs CM, Morgan KL.To identify the risk factors for premature retirement because of tendon injury in a Thoroughbred racehorse population. Methods: 175 Thoroughbred racehorses (cases) at the Hong Kong Jockey Club that were retired from racing because of tendon injury between 1997 and 2004 and for which the last preretirement exercise was at a fast pace were each matched with 3 control horses that were randomly selected from all uninjured horses that had galloped on the same date as that last exercise episode. Methods: Training data for all horses were examined. Conditional logistic regression analyses were perfor...
Komine M, Langohr IM, Kiupel M.Friesian horses have a perceived high rate of congenital or hereditary diseases, including megaesophagus, that may lead to choke and death. A retrospective study was performed to determine the prevalence and pathologic characteristics of esophageal disease in 852 horses, including 17 Friesians, that had been necropsied over a 6-year period at the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Forty-two horses had grossly described esophageal lesions (25 muscular hypertrophy, 7 hemorrhage, 6 megaesophagus, 4 erosion/ulceration, 3 obstruction, 2 tears, 2 secondary neoplasms, 2 lymphoid patc...
Ushimi C, Henson JB, Gorham JR.Primary horse leukocyte cultures were inoculated with 2 or 10 50% tissue culture infective doses (TCID(50)) of equine infectious anemia (EIA) virus per cell, and the titer of cell-associated and fluid-phase virus was determined from 1 to 72 hr postinoculation (PI). Cover slips were collected from 4 to 72 hr PI and stained for EIA viral antigen by the indirect immunofluorescent (FA) technique. Viral replication was detected after a latent period of approximately 18 to 24 hr and reached peak titers of approximately 10(4.5) to 10(6) TCID(50)/0.5 ml from 48 to 72 hr PI. The fluid phase contained 1...
Burgueño A, Spinsanti L, Díaz LA, Rivarola ME, Arbiza J, Contigiani M, Delfraro A.St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) and West Nile virus (WNV) belong to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex (Flavivirus genus, Flaviviridae family). They show antigenic close relationships and share many similarities in their ecology. Both are responsible for serious human diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of neutralizing antibodies to these viruses in horses from Uruguay. To do this, 425 horse sera were collected in 2007 and analyzed by plaque reduction neutralization tests. As a result, 205 sera (48.2%) were found positive for SLEV, with titers ranging b...
