"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.
Briefer Freymond S, Briefer EF, Von Niederhäusern R, Bachmann I.Horses are often kept in individual stables, rather than in outdoor groups, despite such housing system fulfilling many of their welfare needs, such as the access to social partners. Keeping domestic stallions in outdoor groups would mimic bachelor bands that are found in the wild. Unfortunately, the high level of aggression that unfamiliar stallions display when they first encounter each other discourages owners from keeping them in groups. However, this level of aggression is likely to be particularly important only during group integration, when the dominance hierarchy is being established,...
Petersen JL, Mickelson JR, Cothran EG, Andersson LS, Axelsson J, Bailey E, Bannasch D, Binns MM, Borges AS, Brama P, da Câmara Machado A, Distl O....Horses were domesticated from the Eurasian steppes 5,000-6,000 years ago. Since then, the use of horses for transportation, warfare, and agriculture, as well as selection for desired traits and fitness, has resulted in diverse populations distributed across the world, many of which have become or are in the process of becoming formally organized into closed, breeding populations (breeds). This report describes the use of a genome-wide set of autosomal SNPs and 814 horses from 36 breeds to provide the first detailed description of equine breed diversity. F(ST) calculations, parsimony, and dista...
Khan A, Khan MS, Avais M, Ijaz M, Ali MM, Abbas T.The prevalence of Balantidium coli among donkeys in Lahore and adjoining areas was surveyed and a trial conducted to determine the efficacy of two antiprotozoal drugs: secnidazole (Dysen Forte) and Kalonji (Nigella sativa). Four-hundred donkeys were examined, and 73 (18.3%) were found positive for Balantidium coli. A slight decrease in PCV and an increase in Hb values of infected donkeys were found after antiprotozoal treatment. Secnidazole was 89.5% effective for the treatment of equine balantidiasis compared to 40.0% for Nigella sativa. This is the first report of balantidiasis in equines fr...
Hampson BA, de Laat MA, Mills PC, Walsh DM, Pollitt CC.It has been proposed that the feral horse foot is a benchmark model for foot health in horses. However, the foot health of feral horses has not been formally investigated. Objective: To investigate the foot health of Australian feral horses and determine if foot health is affected by environmental factors, such as substrate properties and distance travelled. Methods: Twenty adult feral horses from five populations (n = 100) were investigated. Populations were selected on the basis of substrate hardness and the amount of travel typical for the population. Feet were radiographed and photographed...
Greve L, Dyson SJ.We have observed saddle slip consistently to one side because of a crooked rider, an ill-fitting saddle, asymmetry in a horse's thoracolumbar shape and lameness. Currently, there are no objective data to permit assessment of the relative importance of each factor. Objective: To document the frequency of occurrence of saddle slip in horses with hindlimb lameness compared with other horses. To describe the effect of lameness characteristics and grade, the abolition of lameness by diagnostic analgesia, breed, size, thoracolumbar shape and symmetry and the rider's weight. Methods: One hundred and ...
Homnick DN, Henning KM, Swain CV, Homnick TD.Falls are an important cause of morbidity in older adults. Equine-assisted activities including therapeutic riding (TR) benefit balance and neuromuscular control in patients with neurological disabilities but have not been systematically studied in older adults at greater risk for falls due to balance deficits. The effect of an 8-week TR program on measures of balance and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults with established balance deficits was evaluated. Methods: This was a pretest-post-test single-group trial of a TR program on measures of balance and quality of life. Methods:...
Klaus C, Hörügel U, Hoffmann B, Beer M.During a routine examination of 130 horse sera from 13 herds in Thuringia one TBEV antibody positive serum - with a very high titre - could be detected. The horse had been bought from a holding in Bavaria, and was reported to have clinical signs that may have been caused by a TBEV infection. To identify the source of the suspected TBEV infection, ticks from the surroundings of the barn in Thuringia as well as horse sera and ticks from two herds in Bavaria were examined. In the holding in Bavaria, where the horse was kept before, two out of ten horse sera were found to be TBEV antibody positive...
Barnett TP, O'Leary JM, Parkin TD, Dixon PM, Barakzai SZ.To investigate upper respiratory tract function in horses, previously undergoing laryngoplasty (LP), using exercising video-endoscopy. Objective: To evaluate arytenoid abduction and stability, diagnose any concurrent upper airway problems, and correlate these with the owners' perception of success. Methods: Horses undergoing LP during a 6-year period at one hospital were initially included. Those available for re-examination were exercised for a duration and intensity considered maximal for their discipline using an over-ground endoscope. Resting and exercising laryngeal and pharyngeal videos ...
Cafarchia C, Figueredo LA, Otranto D.Among diseases of horses caused by fungi (=mycoses), dermatophytosis, cryptococcosis and aspergillosis are of particular concern, due their worldwide diffusion and, for some of them, zoonotic potential. Conversely, other mycoses such as subcutaneous (i.e., pythiosis and mycetoma) or deep mycoses (i.e., blastomycosis and coccidioidomycosis) are rare, and/or limited to restricted geographical areas. Generally, subcutaneous and deep mycoses are chronic and progressive diseases; clinical signs include extensive, painful lesions (not pathognomonic), which resemble to other microbial infections. In ...
Hall MS, Vasey JR, Russell JW, Russell T.To evaluate the racing performance of horses that underwent ultrasound-guided intralesional injection of autologous bone marrow aspirate for treatment of selected forelimb suspensory ligament (body or branch) core lesions. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 13 Standardbred and 17 Thoroughbred race horses. Methods: Autologous bone marrow aspirated from the sternebrae was injected, under ultrasound guidance, into suspensory ligament core lesions (body or branch). Racing records were reviewed for a comparison of performance before and after surgery. Results: Of the 13 Standardbreds, 9 (69%) h...
Burton AJ, Giguère S, Sturgill TL, Berghaus LJ, Slovis NM, Whitman JL, Levering C, Kuskie KR, Cohen ND.Macrolide and rifampin resistance developed on a horse breeding farm after widespread use was instituted for treatment of subclinical pulmonary lesions in foals. Resistance occurred in 6 (24%) of 25 pretreatment and 8 (62%) of 13 (62%) posttreatment isolates from affected foals. Drug-resistant isolates formed 2 distinct genotypic clusters.
Mann RA, Fegan M, O'Riley K, Motha J, Warner S.Virus was detected in the central nervous system (CNS) tissue of 11 horses from Victoria that died displaying neurological symptoms during an outbreak of disease in Australia in 2011. Five horses were identified as being infected with Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) and 6 as being infected with West Nile virus subtype Kunjin (WNV(KUN)). Analysis of partial sequence information from the NS5 and E genes indicated that the MVEVs within the samples were highly homogenous and all belonged to lineage I, which is enzootic to the tropical regions of northern Australia. Likewise, analysis of pa...
Winfield LD, White SD, Affolter VK, Renier AC, Dawson D, Olivry T, Outerbridge CA, Wang YH, Iyori K, Nishifuji K.To describe the clinical, histological and immunological findings of an equine case of pemphigus vulgaris, including the demonstration of antidesmoglein (anti-Dsg) autoantibodies. Methods: The diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris was confirmed in a 9-year-old Welsh pony stallion with both direct and indirect immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation studies, the latter identifying circulating anti-Dsg3 IgG. Treatment with immunosuppressive medications was initiated. Lesions were seen in the perineal area, sheath, mane, tail, eyelids, coronary bands and mucosa of the mouth and oesophagus. Initial c...
Rubin CT, Seeherman H, Qin YX, Gross TS.Distributions of normal strain, shear strain, and strain energy density (SED) were determined across the midshaft of the third metacarpal (MCIII, or cannon bone) of 3 adult thoroughbred horses as a function of speed and gait. A complete characterization of the mechanical demands of the bone made through the stride and from mild through the extremes of locomotion was possible by using three 3-element rosette strain gauges bonded at the diaphyseal midshaft of the MCIII and evaluating the strain output with beam theory and finite element analysis. Mean ± sd values of normal strain, shear strain,...
Relf VE, Morgan ER, Hodgkinson JE, Matthews JB.Few studies have described the combined effect of age, gender, management and control programmes on helminth prevalence and egg shedding in grazing equines. Here, fecal samples collected from 1221 Thoroughbred horses, residing at 22 studs in the UK, were analysed. The distribution of strongyle eggs amongst individuals in relation to age, gender and management practices was investigated. Fecal worm egg counts (FWECs), described as the number of eggs per gramme (epg) of feces, were determined using a modification of the salt flotation method. The FWEC prevalence (mean%) of strongyles, Parascaris...
Walsh KM, Blakeney BA.The purpose of this study was for nurses to experience equine-assisted learning and for them to describe their being in the moment with their horse. The aims of the study were to assist clinicians in recognizing their ability and skill at being present--that is, calm and centered--as they engage with horses and to determine if interaction with horses is a valid representation in recognizing presence in the participants. Methods: Descriptive phenomenology was used to explore this lived experience. Results: Five themes emerged: The Experienced Novice, Present in the Moment, Discovery of Self, Te...
Różański P, Slaska B, Różańska D.The aim of the study was a quantitative and qualitative analysis of microflora, presentation of current data about prevalence of the microflora on the skin and mucous membranes, and determination of its possible effect on reproduction of English full blood horses bred in Poland. The material for analyses was sampled from the skin and mucous membranes (385 samples) of 55 English full blood mares. Taking into account reproduction traits, the mares were classified into three groups. Six yeast-like species, including five species from the genus Candida (C. albicans, C. guiliermondii, C. lusitaniae...
Reesink HL, Hermanson JW, Cheetham J, Mu L, Mitchell LM, Soderholm LV, Ducharme NG.As part of investigation into laryngeal stability and reanimation using functional electrical stimulation, the cricothyroid muscle might be utilised to increase laryngeal cross-sectional area in horses with recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. For optimal electrode placement and muscle recruitment, the neuroanatomy and excitability of the equine cricothyroid muscle needs to be defined. Objective: To describe the anatomy, innervation and function of the equine cricothyroid muscle and its contribution to laryngeal diameter. Methods: Seventeen equine larynges were collected at necropsy and 12 were gro...
Payne SE, Kotze AC, Durmic Z, Vercoe PE.Anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal parasites of horses is an increasing problem, particularly in cyathostomins, and there is a need to find alternative means for the control of these parasites. We screened crude extracts from 37 species of Australian native plants for their anthelmintic activity in vitro against cyathostomin larvae (development from egg to third larval stage), with the aim of identifying those species that may be suitable for incorporation into sustainable parasite management programs. Water extracts from seven species, namely Acacia baileyana, Acacia melanoxylon, Aca...
Van den Eede A, Martens A, Floré K, Denis O, Gasthuys F, Haesebrouck F, Van den Abeele A, Hermans K.Equine methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage entails a risk of both equine and zoonotic transmission and infection. In Europe, CC398, the livestock-associated (LA-)MRSA is highly prevalent in horses and veterinary personnel at equine clinics. The extent of the MRSA reservoir created by healthy horses from the general population and associated health hazard for their daily caretakers is, however, unknown. This study aimed at screening healthy horse-caretaker couples from a broad range of home farms. At five equine gatherings, 166 couples were selected for MRSA screening in...
Haag KT, Magalhães-Padilha DM, Fonseca GR, Wischral A, Gastal MO, King SS, Jones KL, Figueiredo JR, Gastal EL.The aims of this study in mares were to: (1) compare preantral follicle parameters between in vitro Biopsy Pick-Up (BPU) and scalpel blade collection methods and between histological and mechanical isolation processing (experiment 1); (2) histologically evaluate preantral follicles (experiment 2); and (3) compare histological analysis with a previously established mechanical isolation technique using a tissue chopper (experiment 3) for ovarian cortical fragments obtained in vivo using a BPU instrument. In experiment 1, preantral follicles were analyzed (N = 220; 90% primordial and 10% primary)...
Bergström K, Bengtsson B, Nyman A, Grönlund Andersson U.An outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in horses in Sweden raised questions concerning the risk posed by horses to their surroundings following MRSA infections. This initiated a longitudinal study to investigate how long MRSA-infected horses remained positive and to test the sensitivity of different anatomical sampling sites for detection of MRSA. Between October 2008 and June 2010, 9 of 15 horses notified as having MRSA-infected wounds fitted the case criteria for the study. The cases were sampled at five anatomical sites (nostrils, corner of mouth, paste...
Komosa M, Frackowiak H, Purzyc H, Wojnowska M, Gramacki A, Gramacki J.The study included 249 horses belonging to 3 horse breeds. Konik horses, comprising the first group, is an example of a breed similar to the extinct Tarpan. In our study, these horses were taken to be a primitive anatomical model of the horse body. The other groups comprised the Polish Half-bred horse and Thoroughbred horse. The biometric characteristics of the horses were compared based on 24 indices. The aim of the paper was to find a reduced set of indices that can be used to determine group membership of the horses. To do this, we used statistical methods to find the most important indices...
Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Grinwis GC.Equine sarcoidosis may present as a generalized or localized exfoliative dermatitis and/or as a granulomatous inflammation of multiple organs. Objective: To report the clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and outcome for 22 horses with histologically confirmed sarcoidosis. Methods: Twenty-two horses of different breeds, between 3 and 17 years of age. Methods: Diagnosis was based on clinical signs and histopathological findings. Results: The following three forms of equine sarcoidosis were identified: generalized (13.6%), partially generalized (18.2%) and localized (68.2%). High-dose systemic c...
Domijan AM.Fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium spp. moulds that contaminate crop, predominantly maize, all around the world. More than 15 types of fumonisins have been indentified so far, but FB(1) is the most abundant and toxicologically the most significant one. FB(1) has a wide range of toxic effects, depending on animal species. In horses FB(1) causes equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM), in pigs pulmonary oedema and in experimental rodents nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. In humans exposure to FB(1) is linked with higher incidence of primary liver cancer and oesophageal cance...
Leung GN, Kwok WH, Wan TS, Lam KK, Schiff PJ.Formestane (4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione) is an irreversible steroidal aromatase inhibitor with reported abuse in human sports. In 2011, our laboratory identified the presence of formestane in a horse urine sample from an overseas jurisdiction. This was the first reported case of formestane in a racehorse. The metabolism of formestane in humans has been reported previously; however, little is known about its metabolic fate in horses. This paper describes the in vitro and in vivo metabolic studies of formestane in horses, with the objective of identifying the target metabolite with the lon...
Pascoe PJ, Taylor PM.To determine whether specific dopamine receptor antagonists block alfentanil-induced locomotor stimulation in horses. Methods: Randomized, prospective, crossover experiment. Methods: Eight adult horses (462-604 kg). Methods: Doses of dopamine-1 (D1) (NNC 01-0756) and dopamine-2 (D2) antagonists (eticlopride) were selected in a pilot study prior to a three part, blinded, cross-over study. In part 1, horses received 7.5 micro g kg-1 eticlopride, 5 micro g kg-1 NNC 01-0756 or an equal volume of saline. In part 2, they received both antagonists and in part 3, acepromazine at 0.05 mg kg-1. Locomoto...
Theelen MJP, Luiken REC, Wagenaar JA, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Rossen JWA, Schaafstra FJWC, van Doorn DA, Zomer AL.Hospitalisation and antimicrobial treatment are common in horses and significantly impact the intestinal microbiota. Antimicrobial treatment might also increase levels of resistant bacteria in faeces, which could spread to other ecological compartments, such as the environment, other animals and humans. In this study, we aimed to characterise the short- and long-term effects of transportation, hospitalisation and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (TMS) administration on the faecal microbiota and resistome of healthy equids. In a longitudinal experimental study design, in which the ponies served as the...
McGorum BC, Dixon PM, Halliwell RE.Intradermal end-point titres for commercial aqueous extracts of Micropolyspora faeni, Thermoactinomyces vulgaris and Aspergillus fumigatus were determined in control and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affected horses. The intradermal end-point titres of control and COPD-affected horses were not significantly different and values for individual horses for M. faeni, A. fumigatus and T. vulgaris were not correlated with the pulmonary dysfunction or with the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid neutrophilia which had been induced by previous inhalation challenges with these antigens and by '...
Frisbie DD, Nixon AJ.To evaluate potential stimulatory or matrix-sparing effects of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), alone or in combination with a corticosteroid, in an interleukin 1 (IL-1)-induced model of cartilage degradation. Methods: Cartilage from the weightbearing surfaces of trochlea and condyles of clinically normal 2-year-old male horses. Methods: Triamcinolone acetonide and IGF-1 effects were evaluated by assessing: matrix responses by sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) assay and [35S]sulfated GAG synthesis; collagen content by hydroxyproline assay; and mitogenic response by [3H]thymidine incorporat...
Navas de Solis C, Foreman JH.To describe the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of a neonatal foal diagnosed with transient Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A 3-day-old Thoroughbred foal presented with a 24-hour history of diarrhea and depression. Coronavirus particles were observed in the feces via electron microscopy. During hospitalization the foal developed hyperglycemia concomitantly with low insulin concentration and an adequate response to exogenous insulin therapy supported a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes mellitus. The foal required SC insulin for 26 days, but developed complications associated with in...
Berner D, Brehm W, Gerlach K, Offhaus J, Scharner D, Burk J.Signal intensity (SI) of equine tendinopathies in MRI differs between the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) and the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT). In DDFT lesions, short tau inversion recovery (STIR) SI decreases earlier than T2-weighted (T2w) SI, while the latter decreases earlier in SDFT lesions, but long-term results using STIR sequences are lacking. Methods: Standing MRI of eight horses with naturally occurring SDFT lesions was performed at the day of treatment as well as 2, 6 and 12 months after treatment. Results: After 12 months, six horses were sound and showed complete reso...
Healy PJ.Activities of lysosomal hydrolases were measured in the leucocytes of cattle, sheep, goats, horses and pigs. There was high activity of arylsulphatase in leucocytes from cattle, high activities of alpha-fucosidase and beta-glucuronidase in leucocytes from horses and high activity of acid phosphatase in granulocytes from pigs. Within species, arylsulphatase and beta-galactosidase activities were higher in granulocytes than in mononuclear cells, but beta-glucuronidase, phosphodiesterase and alpha-galactosidase activities were higher in mononuclear cells than in granulocytes. Eosinophils of cattl...
Shinjyo S, Abe H, Masuda M.The carbohydrate composition of horse spleen ferritin was studied. 1 mol of the apoferritin, the protein moiety of ferritin, contains 25 mol of hexose, 3 mol of hexosamine and 10 mol of fucose. Same carbohydrate composition was detected in the apoferritin from iron rich ferritins. These results indicate that horse spleen ferritin is composed of non-identical subunits as regards its carbohydrate composition.
Ahmed W, Kulikowska M, Ahlmann T, Berg LC, Harrison AP, Elbrønd VS.Fascia in the veterinary sciences is drawing attention, such that physiotherapists and animal practitioners are now applying techniques based on the concept of fascia studies in humans. A comprehensive study of fascia is therefore needed in animals to understand the arrangement of the fascial layers in an unguligrade horse and a digitigrade dog. This study has examined the difference between the horse and the dog fascia at specific regions, in terms of histology, and has compared it with the human model. Histological examinations show that in general the fascia tissue of the horse exhibits a t...
Roberts MC, Argenzio A.Amitraz, atropine, glycopyrrolate and morphine (but not its derivatives, meperidine [pethidine], oxymorphone and butorphanol) produced similar effects on clinically observed intestinal functions and significantly prolonged intestinal transit, as assessed with polyethylene glycol (PEG). However, their mechanisms of action, particularly on intestinal transport (fluid movement), may differ widely. Loperamide appeared to exert a preferential action on intestinal transport rather than motility, as there was no significant delay in PEG transit. The action of amitraz in perturbing smooth muscle coord...
Staudacher G.The new photometrical kit fructosamine is tested for its use with canine, feline and equine blood. Normal values of fructosamine in nondiabetic animals as well as adequately and inadequately stabilized patients are given. The measurement of fructosamine is an excellent new tool for diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus and should become an essential part of the control of the course of diabetes mellitus in animals.
Hosie MJ, Hofmann-Lehmann R.Companion animals, such as cats, dogs, horses and exotic species, play an important role in society; more than 600 million cats and 900 million dogs live closely with humans worldwide [...].
Hondalus MK, Sweeney CR, Mosser DM.A Rhodococcus equi radiobinding assay has been developed using organisms labeled with 3H-uracil. These labeled organisms resemble their unlabeled counterparts with respect to colony morphology, viability, and buoyant density. Bacteria routinely incorporate between 5 x 10(-3) and 5 x 10(-2) counts per minute per colony forming unit (cfu) which in this assay allows the detection of fewer than 0.2 cfu per macrophage. Once incorporated, greater than 90% of the label remains bacterial associated for at least 4 h postlabeling. The majority of the label is trichloroacetic acid precipitable, partition...
Carminatti A, Chitolina MB, Ribeiro AB, Forest M, Collet SG, Prestes AM, Camillo G.To facilitate exploration of the immense range of gastrointestinal parasites in horses and the impact of parasitism on equine health, the present study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and risk factors associated with these infections in horses reared in different management systems in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Samples were collected from 208 horses: 91 from extensive, 64 from semi-extensive, and 53 from intensive rearing systems. The identified helminths included those of the Strongylida order (80.29%), Parascaris equorum (3.36%), Oxyuris equi (4.33%), and Anoplocephala spp. (1.92%...
Steffey EP, Brosnan RJ, Galuppo LD, Mama KR, Imai A, Maxwell LK, Cole CA, Stanley SD.To characterize the behavior of horses recovering in the Anderson Sling Suspension System after 4 hours of desflurane anesthesia and postdesflurane intravenous (IV) administration of propofol and xylazine. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Healthy horses (n=6), mean+/-SEM age 12.3+/-1.8 years; mean weight 556+/-27 kg. Methods: Each horse was anesthetized with xylazine, diazepam, and ketamine IV and anesthesia was maintained with desflurane in O(2). At the end of 4 hours of desflurane, each horse was positioned in the sling suspension system and administered propofol-xylazine IV. Recovery e...
Bozorgmanesh R, Magdesian KG, Sutton-Burges JW, Owens SD, Tablin F.Development of equine platelet concentrate (PC) would aid management of cases requiring transfused platelets (PLTs), where adminstration of whole-blood or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) might be contraindicated. Objective: To test and validate a method for production of an equine PRP-PC product. Methods: Six healthy Thoroughbred geldings from a research herd. Methods: In this prospective experimental study, whole blood was collected and processed through multiple centrifugation steps to yield 120 mL of PC. The PC was stored at 22°C and gently and continuously agitated. Measurements of PLT count...
Lester GD, Bolton JR, Cullen LK, Thurgate SM.Myoelectric activity was monitored from the terminal ileum, cecum, and colonic pelvic flexure by use of AgpAgCl bipolar electrodes in 4 adult horses before, during, and after general anesthesia. Horses were anesthetized by way of 3 commonly used regimens, including xylazine (1.1 mg/kg of body weight) and ketamine hydrochloride (2.2 mg/kg); thiopental sodium (7.7 mg/kg), followed by halothane vaporized in oxygen; and thiopental sodium (2.5 g) in guaifenesin (100 mg/ml) solution given to effect, followed by halothane in oxygen. All 3 anesthetic regimens decreased intestinal spike-burst activity ...
Ewert KM, Fessler JF, Templeton CB, Bottoms GD, Latshaw HS, Johnson MA.To evaluate the effect of certain drugs on hematologic changes, blood chemical values, and survival in endotoxin shock, anesthetized ponies were given (IV) endotoxin (Escherichia coli O55:B5) and then treated as follows: Group A ponies--given a saline infusion at 5 minutes and at 3 hours after they were given endotoxin; group B ponies--given flunixin meglumine at 5 minutes and at 3, 6, 9, and 24 hours after they were given endotoxin; group C ponies--treated with dexamethasone; and group D ponies--treated with prednisolone at 5 minutes and at 3, 9, and 24 hours after they were given endotoxin. ...
Adami C, Westwood-Hearn H, Bolt DM, Monticelli P.The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of intraoperative electrolyte disturbances and risk factors associated with perianesthetic death in horses undergoing colic surgery. The files of 120 horses meeting the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Data retrieved from the medical records, including demographic data and the occurrence of electrolyte disturbances and other intraoperative complications, were analyzed with a two step-approach by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Hypocalcemia was the most represented electrolyte disturbance (52.5%), followed by h...
Xie J, Tong P, Zhang L, Ren M, Song X, Jia C, Palidan N, Zhang L, Kuang L.In November 2018, an outbreak of respiratory disease occurred in foals at an equestrian club in Changji, northern Xinjiang, China. We applied viral metagenomics to investigate this outbreak and identify potential pathogens involved in this equine respiratory syndrome. The metagenomics data revealed the presence of sequences matching those of equid herpesvirus (EHV) 2, 4, and 5. PCR with specific primers targeting ORF33 of EHV-4 and ORF8 of EHV-2 and EHV-5 revealed coinfection with these viruses in this respiratory syndrome. To investigate the prevalence of these viruses in China, 453 nasal swa...
Brink P, Smith RK, Tverdal A, Dolvik NI.To quantify concentrations of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and fibromodulin in synovial fluid from the tarsocrural joints (TCJs) of horses with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia and determine whether concentrations would change following arthroscopic removal of osteochondral fragments. Methods: 115 client-owned horses with OCD of the TCJ and 29 control horses euthanized for unrelated reasons. Methods: COMP and fibromodulin concentrations were measured in synovial fluid from the TCJs of the affected horses before and after osteochondral ...
Bramlage LR, Schneider RK, Gabel AA.Clinical experience continues to expand our understanding of the pathophysiology of pain and injury within the carpal joints. The anatomical and physiological capacity of the equine carpus to neutralise loading stress plays a significant role in the prevention of carpal injury. The ability of joint surfaces to dissipate axial force by transfer to the interosseous ligaments is the principal means by which carpal injury is avoided. In the medial aspect of the intercarpal joint and the dorsal aspect of the radial carpal joint, however, the effects of chronic maximal stress and isolated acute supr...
Hamor RE, Roberts SM, Severin GA.Eye enucleations performed on 109 dogs, 29 horses, and 23 cats involved placement of 136 silicone orbital implants and 7 mesh implants. Mean follow-up times were 2.4 years (range, 3 weeks to 9 years) in dogs, 3.4 years (range, 10 days to 10.5 years) in horses, and 1.5 years (range, 3 weeks to 7.5 years) in cats. Implants failed in 1 of 96 dogs (1.04%), 3 of 29 horses (10.3%), and 3 of 18 cats (16.7%). Implant failure was attributable to various causes in all species; however, cats appeared to be more prone to late extrusion that were dogs and horses. Implantation of an orbital prosthesis was a...
Egenvall A, Engström H, Byström A.Equine back function is of concern to riders, as well as to veterinarians and physiotherapists; these groups may benefit from knowledge about spinal motion on the circle. This descriptive and comparative study aimed to quantify equine neck, back and pelvic motion in walk, trot and canter on a 9 m circle. Sixteen healthy horses in training, of varying breed and conformation, were measured using optical motion capture (150 Hz), with optical markers on the poll, withers, T15, tubera coxae and lumbosacral joint. Cervicothoracic and thoracolumbar flexion-extension and lateral bending, and pelvic ...
Unlike in Warmblood horses, aortic rupture is quite common in Friesian horses, in which a hereditary trait is suspected. The aortic connective tissue in affected Friesians shows histological changes such as medial necrosis, elastic fibre fragmentation, mucoid material accumulation and fibrosis with aberrant collagen morphology. However, ultrastructural examination of the collagen fibres of the mid-thoracic aorta has been inconclusive in further elucidating the pathogenesis of the disease. Objective: To assess several extracellular matrix (ECM) components biochemically in order to explore a pos...
Hartmann E, Rehn T, Christensen JW, Nielsen PP, McGreevy P.The study investigated equine responses to novelty and handling, aiming to reveal whether horse-human relationships reflect criteria of an attachment bond. Twelve adult Standardbreds were subjected to a fear-eliciting test (novel objects presented close to two humans) and a handling test (being led passing novel objects) to study attachment-related behaviours and ease of handling. The tests were performed both before (pre-test) and after (post-test) horses had been trained by the same female handler (10 sessions of 15 min). Horses were assigned to three groups of four, each of which underwent ...
