"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.
Westermann CM, Dorland L, van Diggelen OP, Schoonderwoerd K, Bierau J, Waterham HR, van der Kolk JH.Earlier research on ten horses suffering from the frequently fatal disorder atypical myopathy showed that MADD (multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency) is the biochemical derangement behind atypical myopathy. From five horses that died as a result of this disease and seven healthy control horses, urine and plasma were collected ante mortem and muscle biopsies were obtained immediately post-mortem (2 patients and 7 control horses), to analyse creatine, purine and carbohydrate metabolism as well as oxidative phosphorylation. In patients, the mean creatine concentration in urine was increased...
Johnstone LK, Mayhew IG, Fletcher LR.Perennial ryegrass staggers is purported to be a common neurological mycotoxicosis of horses but the case description lacks detail and evidence. Objective: To describe the clinical syndrome of lolitrem B intoxication in horses, limiting tests to those that are applicable to clinical practice, and to assess the potential value of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests for lolitrem B in horse body fluids. Methods: Seven horses in 2 separate groups were fed perennial ryegrass seed and hay containing 2 ppm lolitrem B. Paired data were collected prior to and after 2 weeks exposure to lol...
Biggi M, Dyson S.The significance of distal border fragments of the navicular bone is not well understood. There are also no objective data about changes in thickness and proximal/distal extension of the palmar cortex of the navicular bone. Objective: To describe the distribution of distal border fragments and their association with other radiological abnormalities of the navicular bone and describe the shape of the navicular bone in sound horses and horses with foot-related lameness, including navicular pathology. Methods: Sound horses had radiographs acquired as part of a prepurchase examination. Lame horses...
Tamzali Y, Borde L, Rols MP, Golzio M, Lyazrhi F, Teissie J.Sarcoids are the commonest form of equine skin tumour. Several therapeutic measures have been described but none is considered to be universally effective. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a new anticancer therapy that utilises electrical field pulses to induce increased cell membrane permeability to antitumour hydrophilic drugs, such as cisplatin. The increased intracellular concentration of the drugs has a significant therapeutic benefit. The procedure has not been previously reported in a large number of horses. Objective: To validate ECT as a novel alternative treatment for equine sarcoids. Me...
de Grauw JC, van de Lest CH, van Weeren PR.Articular tissues are capable of producing a range of eicosanoid mediators, each of which has individual biological effects and may be affected by anti-inflammatory treatment. We set out to develop and evaluate a high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) approach for the simultaneous analysis of multiple eicosanoid lipid mediators in equine synovial fluid (SF), and to illustrate its use for investigation of the in vivo effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment. Methods: Synovial fluid samples were obtained from normal joints of 6 adult...
Kennedy MW.Horses and other equids are unusual in producing protein-rich sweat for thermoregulation, a major component of which is latherin, a highly surface-active, non-glycosylated protein that is a member of the PLUNC (palate, lung and nasal epithelium clone) family. Latherin produces a significant reduction in water surface tension at low concentrations (≤1 mg/ml), and probably acts as a wetting agent to facilitate evaporative cooling through a thick, waterproofed pelt. Latherin binds temporarily to hydrophobic surfaces, and so may also have a disruptive effect on microbial biofilms. It may conseq...
Visser MB, Pollitt CC.Laminitis is known to involve deregulation of proteases and destruction of the lamellar basement membrane with the host inflammatory response also playing a role. Leukocyte infiltration has been well characterized in the black walnut model of laminitis induction, but not in carbohydrate induced models. Increased gene expression of multiple cytokines, including IL-6, has also been implicated in laminitis development. Using real time PCR, immunohistochemistry and zymography methods, we characterize leukocyte infiltration and IL-6 gene expression in oligofructose (OF) induced laminitis. As well, ...
Oku K, Kakizaki M, Ono K, Ohta M.Seven Thoroughbred horses were castrated under total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) using propofol and medetomidine. After premedication with medetomidine (5.0 µg/kg, intravenously), anesthesia was induced with guaifenesin (100 mg/kg, intravenously) and propofol (3.0 mg/kg, intravenously) and maintained with constant rate infusions of medetomidine (0.05 µg/kg/min) and propofol (0.1 mg/kg/min). Quality of induction was judged excellent to good. Three horses showed insufficient anesthesia and received additional anesthetic. Arterial blood pressure changed within an acceptable range in all horse...
Hess IM, Massey PD, Walker B, Middleton DJ, Wright TM.Hendra virus infection is an emerging infectious disease that is not well understood. Most cases of Hendra virus infection have occurred in Queensland, with one case in a horse in NSW. Hendra virus infection has a high mortality rate in horses and humans and as cases could occur anywhere in Australia it is important to be ready for prompt action should an outbreak occur in NSW. This paper: reviews the current knowledge on Hendra virus infection including methods for preventing the disease; explains the animal health and human health response for an outbreak within NSW; and discusses possible f...
Pascucci L, Curina G, Mercati F, Marini C, Dall'Aglio C, Paternesi B, Ceccarelli P.In the last decades, multipotent mesenchymal progenitor cells have been isolated from many adult tissues of different species. The International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) has recently established that multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is the currently recommended designation. In this study, we used flow cytometry to evaluate the expression of several molecules related to stemness (CD90, CD44, CD73 and STRO-1) in undifferentiated, early-passaged MSCs isolated from adipose tissue of four donor horses (AdMSCs). The four populations unanimously expressed high levels of CD90 an...
Woodward AD, Nielsen BD, Liesman J, Lavin T, Trottier NL.To evaluate the protein quality and postgut N utilization of full-bloom timothy hay, oat-supplemented timothy-hay diets, and alfalfa hay harvested at different maturities, apparent whole tract N digestibility, urinary N excretion, and serum AA profiles were determined in light to moderately exercised Arabian horses. Six Arabian geldings (16.0 ± 0.3 yr; 467 ± 11 kg of BW) were randomly allocated to a 6 × 6 Latin square design. Diets included full-bloom timothy grass hay (G), G + 0.2% BW oat (G1), G + 0.4% BW oat (G2), mid-bloom alfalfa (A1), early-bloom alfalfa (A2), and early-bud alfalfa ha...
Dias DP, Teixeira LG, Canola PA, Albernaz RM, Marques JA, Neto JC.The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate surgical catheter implantation in the facial artery of horses and the long-term maintenance of such arteries using heparin and ascorbic acid as filling solution. Nine horses were implanted with a polyurethane catheter. The catheters were flushed with a heparin/ascorbic acid solution every 8h and remained patent for 25 days. Arterial blood samples were collected twice a day, and one exercise test that included serial blood samples and arterial pressure recordings was performed on a treadmill. Polyurethane catheters surgically implanted in the fa...
Cuervo-Arango J.Flunixin meglumine (FM), a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, causes ovulatory failure in the mare. However, the effect of the FM treatment relative to the time of hCG administration on the ovulation failure has not been determined nor has its effect on the luteal function of treated mares. Estrous mares with a follicle ≥32 mm (range of 32-38 mm) were treated with 1.7 mg/kg b.w. of FM iv at zero, 12, 24 and 36 h (n=6), at 24 and 36 h (n=6), at 28 and 36 h (n=6), at 24h (n=6) or at 30 h (n=6) after treatment with 1500 IU hCG. One group received no FM (control, n=6). Progesterone concentratio...
Trachsel DS, Grenacher B, Weishaupt MA, Schwarzwald CC.Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a cardiovascular biomarker that might be useful in assessing the severity of cardiac disease in horses. Plasma ANP concentrations (Cp(ANP)) were compared between horses with heart disease but normal chamber size and function (Group A; n=6), horses with heart disease associated with left atrial (LA) enlargement, LA dysfunction, and/or left ventricular (LV) enlargement (Group B; n=5), and horses with no clinically apparent cardiovascular disease (Group C; n=13). The median (min-max) for Cp(ANP) was significantly higher in Group B (53.5 (36.0-70.7) pg/mL), comp...
Hilton HG, Magdesian KG, Groth AD, Knych H, Stanley SD, Hollingsworth SR.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used systemically for the treatment of inflammatory ocular disease in horses. However, little information exists regarding the ocular penetration of this class of drugs in the horse. Objective: To determine the distribution of orally administered flunixin meglumine and firocoxib into the aqueous humor of horses. Methods: Fifteen healthy adult horses with no evidence of ophthalmic disease. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to a control group and 2 treatment groups of equal sizes (n = 5). Horses assigned to the treatment groups rece...
Ribera T, Monreal L, Armengou L, RÃos J, Prades M.Increased synovial fibrinolytic activity (detected by increases in synovial D-Dimer concentrations) has been observed in different joint diseases in humans and adult horses, presumably in order to minimize fibrin deposition within the joint and thus avoid its detrimental effects. Objective: To investigate fibrinolytic pathway activation in joint sepsis in foals by measuring synovial D-Dimer concentrations. Methods: Eighteen septic foals with septic joints, 9 septic foals without septic joints, 9 systemically healthy foals with septic joint, and 3 controls are included. Methods: Prospective obs...
Carlson KL, Chaffin MK, Corapi WV, Snowden KF, Schmitz DG.The starry sky hepatic pattern is an unusual ultrasonographic appearance of equine liver characterized by numerous small, hyperechoic foci, some of which cast an acoustic shadow, distributed randomly throughout the hepatic parenchyma. Our objectives were to describe the signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathological findings, primary disease process, and ultrasonographic findings of horses with this ultrasonographic pattern, as well as determine the associated gross and histologic changes. The starry sky pattern was identified in 18 adult horses of mixed gender and breed. The horses had vario...
Khosravi M, Kavosh F, Taghavi-Moghadam A, Ghaem-Maghami S, Pirali-Kheirabadi K, Rahimi-Feyli P, Navid-Pour S, Amin-Pour A, Arbabi F.No abstract available
Stepnik CT, Outerbridge CA, White SD, Kass PH.This retrospective study reports on the clinical presentation of equine atopic skin disease and evaluates response to treatment with allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) based on intradermal testing and/or serum testing. Computerized medical records from January 1991 to December 2008 yielded 54 horses included in the study. Presenting clinical signs (CS) included urticaria (n=28), pruritus (n=8) or both (n=18). Forty-one of 54 horses received ASIT, and response to ASIT (n=32) was evaluated via telephone survey. Eighty-four per cent (n=27) of owners reported that ASIT reduced their horse's CS...
Ginther OJ, Hannan MA, Beg MA.The changing concentrations and temporal relationships among a PGF2α metabolite (PGFM), progesterone (P(4)), LH, and estradiol-17β (E(2)) before, during, and after luteolysis were studied in 10 mares. Blood samples were collected every hour for ≥4 d beginning on day 12 after ovulation. The luteolytic period extended from a decrease in P(4) at a common transitional hour (Hour 0) at the end of preluteolysis and beginning of luteolysis to a defined ending when P(4) reached 1 ng/mL. The length of luteolysis was 22.9 ± 0.9 h, contrasting with 2 d in published P(4) profiles from sampling every ...
Thomas CM, Murray R, Sharif M.The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between the extent of chondrocyte apoptosis and expression of the articular cartilage (AC) extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and fibronectin. Methods: Cartilage from four sites (when available) on equine left middle carpal joints (n = 12) were used. Expression of COMP and fibronectin was determined using specific polyclonal antibodies and a biotin-streptavidin/peroxidase method. The intensity of staining for matrix molecules was graded (none, mild, moderate, strong) in each cartilage zone. ...
Burbelo PD, Bren KE, Ching KH, Coleman A, Yang X, Kariu T, Iadarola MJ, Pal U.Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi is common in horses and ponies from the New England and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Here, we evaluated luciferase immunoprecipitation systems (LIPS) for profiling antibody responses against three different antigenic targets for the diagnosis of equine B. burgdorferi infection. LIPS testing of horse serum samples suspected of Lyme infection revealed that approximately 75% of the horse samples (114/159) were seropositive against the synthetic VOVO antigen, comprising repeated immunodominant C6 epitopes as well as OspC immunodominant epitopes. A ...
Klier J, May A, Fuchs S, Schillinger U, Plank C, Winter G, Gehlen H, Coester C.Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in horses has become a common problem in stabled horses in industrialized countries and deserves new therapeutic strategies. CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs) were developed as effective immunostimulating agents to induce a Th2/Th1 shift. These agents showed a beneficial therapeutic effect in allergic diseases with predominant Th2 immunoresponse. CpG-ODN delivery by gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) resulted in enhanced cellular uptake in murine and human in vitro studies and was a starting point for the present trial. The aim of this study was to identify an o...
Getman LM, Davidson EJ, Ross MW, Leitch M, Richardson DW.To (1) describe the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of keratomas; (2) describe a CT- or MRI-assisted partial hoof wall resection technique for removal of keratomas; and (3) evaluate the morbidity and postoperative outcome of these horses. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n=10) with keratoma. Methods: Data retrieved from medical records included signalment, lameness duration and grade, physical and diagnostic evaluation findings, CT and MRI technique and findings, surgical details, histopathologic diagnosis, postoperative treatment, and complicatio...
Wernery U, Wernery R, Joseph M, Al-Salloom F, Johnson B, Kinne J, Jose S, Jose S, Tappendorf B, Hornstra H, Scholz HC.We confirm a natural infection of dromedaries with glanders. Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis of a Burkholderia mallei strain isolated from a diseased dromedary in Bahrain revealed close genetic proximity to strain Dubai 7, which caused an outbreak of glanders in horses in the United Arab Emirates in 2004.
Dechant JE, Symm WA, Nieto JE.To compare agreement between a portable clinical analyzer and laboratory-based bench-top analyzer for analysis of pH, lactate, and glucose concentrations in synovial fluid. Methods: Prospective experimental study. Methods: Clinically normal horses (n=8); 6 horses euthanatized for reasons unrelated to the study; 11 horses that had synoviocentesis for reasons other than sepsis; 7 horses that had synoviocentesis for evaluation of sepsis; and 2 horses without recorded clinical data. Median age of horses was 8 years (range, 1 day to 24 years). Methods: Supernatant from each synovial fluid sample wa...
Abutarbush SM, Alqawasmeh DM, Mukbel RM, Al-Majali AM.The purposes of this study were to estimate the seroprevalence and distribution of horse piroplasmosis, to evaluate risk factors associated with the occurrence of the disease and to compare the different diagnostic methods used for this disease. A total of 253 clinically normal horses were sampled, and a collection form was completed for each horse from five of six different climatic zones of Jordan. The sixth zone was not sampled because it did not include horse population. Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) revealed 37 horses (14.6%) positive for Theileria equi, and none ...
Decurnex V, Anderson GA, Davies HM.Most lameness in horses relates to foot problems and may be associated with changes in hoof shape, but there is a lack of information on the influence of normal exercise on hoof shape. Objective: To investigate the effect of training on proximal hoof circumference in young Thoroughbred racehorses being prepared for racing. Methods: Thirty-seven young Thoroughbred racehorses were included in this study. Front hoof circumference immediately below the coronary band was measured weekly with a measuring tape in all horses present at the stable. Most horses accomplished a minimum of 2 training perio...
Boyle AG, Martin BB, Davidson EJ, Durando MM, Birks EK.Dynamic pharyngeal collapse (PC) is a condition seen in racehorses that can be career-ending. Objective: To characterise and grade PC and describe the effects of PC on athletic performance. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for 828 horses, of which 49 (6%) records were identified as horses with a primary diagnosis of PC. Tapes of video-endoscopy of the pharynx during exercise were reviewed. Each video recording was assigned a grade (0-4) reflecting the degree of PC and a classification for severity of upper airway obstruction. Earnings per race prior to diagnosis of PC were compared to ea...
Morrison PK, Bing C, Harris PA, Maltin CA, Grove-White D, Argo CM.Obesity, a major concern for equine welfare, is highly prevalent in the leisure horse population. Skeletal-muscle and adipose tissues are important determinants of maintenance energy requirements. The myostatin and perilipin pathways play key roles in the regulation of muscle mass and lipolysis respectively and have both been associated with obesity predisposition in other mammalian species. High quality samples, suitable for molecular biology, are an essential prerequisite for detailed investigations of gene and protein expression. Hence, this study has evaluated a) the post-mortem stability ...
al-Massad FK, Kadir FH, Moore GR.The origin of the 440 nm fluorescence of horse spleen ferritin and of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Azotobacter vinelandii bacterioferritin has been investigated using a Nitro Blue Tetrazolium/glycinate colorimetric test specific for quiones [Paz, Flückiger, Boak, Kagan & Gallop (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 689-692]. The results of the analysis indicate that ferritin and bacterioferritins contain quinones. A possible functional role of these quinones in iron uptake and release is described, as is the possibility that the presence of quinones in these proteins results from oxidative damage.
Wright IM.The clinical features are reported from 118 horses (mean age 9.2 years) which were diagnosed as suffering from navicular disease using predetermined criteria. The animals were used for a variety of purposes and had been lame for periods between 1 and 72 months. The majority of cases (84.7%) had been treated using various techniques before evaluation. The severity of lameness was related to the duration of clinical signs: 78% of horses were bilaterally affected but there was no left:right limb predominance. Broken foot/pastern axes were recorded in 75% of horses while 45% also exhibited mediola...
Kjellberg L, Morgan K.Interest in the use of open barns on Swedish horse farms is increasing as an alternative to keeping horses in box stalls and as a 2007 law requires phasing out of tie stalls. To provide adequate forage to satisfy welfare requirements for nutrition, gut health and behavioural needs, the use of automated feeding is also increasing. Studies on forage intake rate report wide variation but provide little information on how to introduce horses to an automatic forage station and on how forage intake rate varies in individual horses fed using an automatic forage station. This study documented the proc...
Allen K, Franklin S.Two forms of dynamic upper respiratory tract obstruction affecting racehorses that involve the soft palate have been described: palatal instability (PI) and dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). Observation of DDSP is straightforward in that it is an all or nothing event, whereas observation of PI is subjective and interpretation may vary between clinicians. Objective: The aim of this study was to attempt to characterise PI and to investigate endoscopic features that precede DDSP. Methods: A retrospective study on the endoscopic observations of Thoroughbred racehorses referred for hig...
Kang H, Zsoldos RR, Skinner JE, Gaughan JB, Mellor VA, Sole-Guitart A.The frequent monitoring of a horse’s body temperature post strenuous exercise is critical to prevent or alleviate exertional heat illness (EHI) from occurring. Percutaneous thermal sensing microchip (PTSM) technology has the potential to be used as a means of monitoring a horse’s body temperature during and post-exercise. However, the accuracy of the temperature readings obtained, and their relationship to core body temperature are dependent on where they are implanted. This study aimed to document the relationship between core body temperature, and temperature readings obtained using PTSM...
Karanth S, Pope C.The organophosphorus insecticide tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP) is commonly used as a feed-through larvicide in many livestock species, including cattle and horses. Cholinesterase (ChE) activity in blood (generally plasma or whole blood) is often employed to assess organophosphorus insecticide intoxication in animals as well as humans. In many species, including horse and man, plasma contains predominantly butyrylcholinesterase whereas red blood cells in all species express exclusively acetylcholinesterase. To evalulate the comparative interaction of TCVP with blood ChEs in different species, we com...
Kohn CW, Hinchcliff KW, McKeever KH.Six healthy Thoroughbred mares were trained to run on a high-speed treadmill and were conditioned for approximately 5 weeks. Each horse performed 6 identical standardised exercise tests (SET) 5 to 7 days apart. Each SET was performed under different ambient laboratory conditions: low temperature/low humidity (LL) 20.2 degrees +/- 0.6 degree C, 53.6 +/- 4.1%; low temperature/high humidity (LH) 19.7 +/- 0.6 degrees C, 86.7 +/- 4.2%; medium temperature/low humidity (ML) 24.6 +/- 0.2 degrees C, 58.7 +/- 3.7%; medium temperature/high humidity (MH) 24.7 +/- 0.3 degrees C, 87.5 +/- 1.4%; high tempera...
Zhao Y, Chang J, Zhang B, Tong P, Wang C, Ran D, Su Y.Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) induces serious respiratory infections, viral abortion, neurological signs, and neonatal mortality in horses. Despite the use of vaccines, EHV-1 infection also causes a high annual economic burden to the equine industry. The poor immunogenicity of and protection conferred by EHV-1 vaccines are the major factors responsible for the spread of EHV-1 infection. The present study examined the immunogenicity of a novel DNA vaccine co-expressing FliC, a flagellin protein, in Salmonella abortus equi and the gD protein of EHV-1. Mice and horses were immunized intramuscularl...
Hodgson DR, Rose RJ, DiMauro J, Allen JR.The effects of training on skeletal muscle composition were studied in four Standardbred geldings given a seven week submaximal treadmill training programme. Before the start of training, muscle biopsies were collected from the left middle gluteal muscle for the determination of muscle fibre types, oxidative capacity and capillary numbers using histochemical techniques. The concentrations of citrate synthase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HAD), lactate dehydrogenase and total muscle glycogen were measured using fluorometric methods. Muscle biopsy samples were repeated after one, three, five...
MartÃnez J, Montgomery DL, Uzal FA.Vascular mineralization (siderocalcinosis) in the brain of horses has been usually assumed to be an incidental age-related finding with no clinic significance. In the present study, eight 15-32-year-old horses of different breeds with cerebral siderocalcinosis were studied. Four of these horses had acute and severe central nervous system clinical signs of unknown etiology, 2 horses had neurological signs of known cause, and 2 horses did not have neurological signs. Gross examination of the brains in 4 animals revealed symmetrical foci of malacia in the cerebellar white matter. Histologically, ...
Abutarbush SM.To describe the use of ultrasonography to diagnose large colon volvulus (LCV) in horses. Methods: Descriptive report. Methods: 4 horses with clinical signs of abdominal pain. Methods: Each horse was administered analgesic agents for pain control and placed in stocks. Ultrasonographic evaluations were performed with a 3.5-MHz sector scanning transducer that was placed parallel to the long axis of the horse (longitudinal imaging) over an area of the left ventral aspect of the abdomen. The boundaries of the evaluated region included the ventral midline, 2 vertical lines at the level of the left 1...
Hedenstierna G, Nyman G, Kvart C, Funkquist B.The multiple inert gas elimination technique was adapted for use in the conscious standing horse. The modifications included increased infusion rate of the inert gases (30 ml/min), extended infusion time (60 mins) in order to reach steady state, and construction of a nose mask mixing box system for collection of expired gas. Eight adult horses with a mean weight of 454 kg and a mean age of 6.1 years were studied while standing under resting conditions. Ventilation was 65.2 liters/min and cardiac output measured by thermodilution 40.2 liters/min. Systemic and pulmonary artery mean pressures wer...
Kim JS, Hinchcliff KW, Yamaguchi M, Beard LA, Markert CD, Devor ST.The purpose of the present study was to determine the age-related changes in myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition and muscle oxidative and glycolytic capacity in 18 horses ranging in age from two to 30 years. Muscle samples were collected by excisional biopsy of the semimebranosus muscle. MHC expression and the key enzymatic activities were measured. There was no significant correlation between horse age and the proportions of type-IIA and type-IIX MHC isoforms. The percentage of type-I MHC isoforms decreased with advancing age. Muscle citrate synthase activity decreased, whereas lactate dehyd...
Ginther OJ, Gastal EL, Gastal MO, Beg MA.The effect of an injection of a supraphysiologic dose of rhIGF1 into the second-largest ovarian follicle (F2) at the expected beginning of deviation (F1, > or =20 mm; Day 0) on development of dominance by F2 was studied in mares (n=16; controls, n=8). F1 became dominant (> or =28 mm) in 8 of 8 and 15 of 16 follicles in the controls and treated groups, respectively. The incidence of dominance (P<0.001) and ovulation (P or =20mm after the expected beginning of deviation resulted in dominance by 8 of 12 follicles treated with rhIGF1 on Days 1-3 (n=8 mares). Results demonstrated that the ...
Johnson AL, Johnstone LK, Stefanovski D.The accuracy of the Lyme multiplex assay for the diagnosis of neuroborreliosis in horses is unknown. Objective: To describe Lyme multiplex results in horses with a postmortem diagnosis of neuroborreliosis. The hypothesis was that paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) results and a CSFÂ :Â serum ratio would allow differentiation of horses with neuroborreliosis from those with other neurologic diseases. Methods: Ninety horses that had neurologic examinations, serum and CSF Lyme multiplex analyses, and postmortem examination of the nervous system performed. Methods: Retrospective study. Data...
Schumacher J, Dutton DM, Murphy DJ, Hague BA, Taylor TS.To report experience with paranasal sinus surgery through a frontonasal flap in sedated, standing horses. Methods: Treatment of 10 horses with naturally occurring paranasal sinus disease through a frontonasal bone flap created with the horses standing. Methods: Ten adult horses. Methods: After restraint and sedation, local anesthetic was injected subcutaneously along the proposed incision line over the conchofrontal sinus and was instilled into the sinuses through a small hole created in the frontal bone. A 3-sided, rectangular, cutaneous incision that extended through the periosteum was creat...
Preuschoft H, Witte H, Recknagel S, Bär H, Lesch C, Wüthrich M.The functions of the most common head-gears for horses are analysed from a biomechanical point of view. With the exception of the stable halter are all of them designed to enlarge the tensile forces transmitted through the reins or the longe, and to concentrate the enlarged forces on sensitive parts of the horse's head: the nose, or the lips, mandible and tongue. Since the direction, duration and size of these tensile forces are the essential factors to modulate signals for controlling the horse, a device has been developed to measure, or at least roughly quantify these forces. The mechanical ...
Keegan KG, Arafat S, Skubic M, Wilson DA, Kramer J.To investigate continuous wavelet transformation and neural network classification of gait data for detecting forelimb lameness in horses. Methods: 12 adult horses with mild forelimb lameness. Methods: Position of the head and right forelimb foot, metacarpophalangeal (ie, fetlock), carpal, and elbow joints was determined by use of kinematic analysis before and after palmar digital nerve blocks. We obtained 8 recordings from horses without lameness, 8 with right forelimb lameness, and 8 with left forelimb lameness. Vertical and horizontal position of the head and vertical position of the foot, ...
Górski K, Tremaine H, Obrochta B, Buczkowska R, Turek B, Bereznowski A, Rakowska A, Polkowska I.The aim of this paper is to thoroughly describe the etiology, diagnostic processes and recommended treatment of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH). It is a relatively recently described disease. Most recent reports show that it is a common problem involving older equine patients. The most common and significant symptom of EOTRH is oral pain. The main clinical signs include periodontitis and gingivitis with a gingival recession, alveolar bone protrusion, periodontic fistulas and soreness of the incisors. When establishing the final diagnosis, it is necessary to co...
Bruhn O, Cauchard J, Schlusselhuber M, Gelhaus C, Podschun R, Thaller G, Laugier C, Leippe M, Grötzinger J.Defensins are small effector molecules of the innate immune system, synthesised by various organisms including plants and animals. The peptides act as endogenous antibiotics with an antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of microbes including bacteria, fungi and viruses. alpha-Defensins are a subgroup of the defensin family, their synthesis is limited to some tissues and furthermore to some mammalian species including the horse. Equine DEFA1 is an enteric alpha-defensin exclusively produced in Paneth cells. The peptide showed an activity against a broad spectrum of microbes, but typic...
Jang SS, Biberstein EL, Hirsh DC.Actinobacillus suis-like organisms have been recognized in equine specimens at the University of California Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital since 1975. The most common source (65%) of the organism was transtracheal washings. The organism was gram-negative, produced hemolysis on blood agar, and gave a positive reaction for oxidase, urease, o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside, and esculin. Carbohydrate reactions were variable, consisting of 4 main patterns. Actinobacillus suis-like organisms were (90%) sensitive to therapeutic concentrations of amikacin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, gen...
Herthel D, Hood DM.This article focuses on the initial assessment of the horse affected with chronic laminitis. Variations in the clinical presentation and primary considerations in making a differential diagnosis are included. The elements of a clinical history essential to sound, therapeutic management, and prognosis are summarized. The physical and radiographic assessment of the digital lesions and diagnostic approaches to the common systemic aspects of the disease are presented and discussed.
Coutu P, Caulkett N, Pang D, Boysen S.Hypoxemia is common during equine field anesthesia. Our hypothesis was that oxygen therapy from a portable oxygen concentrator would increase PaO2 during field anesthesia compared with the breathing of ambient air. Methods: Prospective clinical study. Methods: Fifteen yearling (250 - 400Â kg) horses during field castration. Methods: Horses were maintained in dorsal recumbency during anesthesia with an intravenous infusion of 2000Â mg ketamine and 500Â mg xylazine in 1Â L of 5% guaifenesin. Arterial samples for blood gas analysis were collected immediately post-induction (PI), and at 15 and 30Â...
Miller SM, Short CE, Ekström PM.We compared the anesthetic combination of detomidine, ketamine, and halothane in control horses not undergoing apparently painful procedures with that in horses during arthroscopic surgery. The effectiveness of this regimen in suppressing neurologic response to surgery was, thus, evaluated. In this study, significant differences were not observed in electroencephalographic total amplitude, spectral edge, or beta-to-delta frequency ratio between surgically treated and nonsurgically treated (control) horses. On the basis of its attenuation of encephalographic responses, we conclude that detomidi...
