"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.
Carrade DD, Owens SD, Galuppo LD, Vidal MA, Ferraro GL, Librach F, Buerchler S, Friedman MS, Walker NJ, Borjesson DL.The development of an allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) product to treat equine disorders would be useful; however, there are limited in vivo safety data for horses. We hypothesized that the injection of self (autologous) and non-self (related allogeneic or allogeneic) MSC would not elicit significant alterations in physical examination, gait or synovial fluid parameters when injected into the joints of healthy horses. Methods: Sixteen healthy horses were used in this study. Group 1 consisted of foals (n = 6), group 2 consisted of their dams (n = 5) and group 3 consisted of half-siblings ...
Kuzmina TA, Tolliver SC, Lyons ET.Three species of cyathostomes--Cylicocyclus ashworthi, Cylicostephanus bidentatus, and Cylicostephanus hybridus were identified recently in horses in Kentucky. General characteristics and distinguishing description of these species are presented. Distribution of these species and their role in the horse strongylid community are discussed. The importance of examining the entire contents of the large intestine or alternatively a high number of specimens in order to recover and identify species residing in low numbers is stressed.
Ascenzi P, Ciaccio C, Sinibaldi F, Santucci R, Coletta M.Upon interaction with bovine heart cardiolipin (CL), horse heart cytochrome c (cytc) changes its tertiary structure disrupting the heme-Fe-Met80 distal bond, reduces drastically the midpoint potential out of the range required for its physiological role, binds CO and NO with high affinity, and displays peroxidase activity. Here, the effect of CL on peroxynitrite isomerization by ferric cytc (cytc-Fe(III)) is reported. In the absence of CL, hexa-coordinated cytc does not catalyze peroxynitrite isomerization. In contrast, CL facilitates cytc-Fe(III)-mediated isomerization of peroxynitrite in a d...
Barsnick RJ, Hurcombe SD, Smith PA, Slovis NM, Sprayberry KA, Saville WJ, Toribio RE.Endocrine dysregulation of hormones of energy metabolism is well documented in critically ill humans, but limited information exists in septic foals. The purpose of this study was to provide information on the hormonal response to energy metabolism in critically ill foals, focusing on insulin, glucagon, and leptin. Objective: Concentrations of insulin, glucagon, leptin, and triglycerides will be higher, whereas glucose concentration will be lower in septic foals than in healthy and sick nonseptic foals. The magnitude of these differences will be associated with severity of disease and nonsurvi...
Nolen-Walston RD, Norton JL, Navas de Solis C, Underwood C, Boston R, Slack J, Dallap BL.Central venous pressure (CVP) is used in many species to monitor right-sided intravascular volume status, especially in critical care medicine. Objective: That hypohydration in adult horses is associated with a proportional reduction in CVP. Methods: Ten healthy adult horses from the university teaching herd. Methods: In this experimental study, horses underwent central venous catheter placement and CVP readings were obtained by water manometry. The horses were then deprived of water and administered furosemide (1 mg/kg IV q6h) for up to 36 hours. Weight, CVP, vital signs, PCV, total protein (...
Haenni M, Targant H, Forest K, Sévin C, Tapprest J, Laugier C, Madec JY.Coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) are potential causative agents of equine infections, but they are rarely responsible for the death of the animal. In the current study, staphylococci implicated in the death or euthanasia of horses were retrospectively studied in 3,457 necropsies performed over a decade (1995-2006). Morbidity associated with CoPS was 1.7%, representing 60 isolates of CoPS, which were identified as Staphylococcus aureus (59) and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (1). Coagulase-positive staphylococci (alone or in association with another bacterial species) were associated wi...
Knowles S, Blas-Machado U, Butler AM, Gomez-Ibañez SE, Lowder MQ, Fayrer-Hosken RA.An 11-year-old Oldenburg mare presented with a 3-month history of weight loss and swelling of the posterior right mandible. Physical examination and radiographs showed a soft-tissue mass in the right mandible with foci of mineralization, periosteal proliferation, and a retained molar. The tumor increased in size over several weeks, and the mare was euthanized. On necropsy, a 24 cm × 15 cm × 15 cm firm, white mass had obliterated the posterior right mandible. The mass was multinodular with discrete clusters of blood-filled cystic spaces. Histologically, the mass was composed of neoplastic ...
Chauhan M, Gupta AK, Dhillon S.The genetic relationships of three Indian horse breeds-Marwari, Spiti, and Kathiawari were studied by genotyping 96 individuals with 20 polymorphic microsatellite markers. A total of 157 alleles were detected across 20 polymorphic loci. The Marwari population showed the highest allelic diversity (A = 5.7 and Ar = 5.14), followed by Spiti (A = 4.9 and Ar = 4.74) and Kathiawari (A = 4.1 and Ar = 3.82). The gene diversity was highest in the Spiti population (He = 0.67), followed by Marwari (He = 0.66) and Kathiawari (He = 0.59). Within population inbreeding estimates (f) in Marwari, Spiti and Kat...
Laperriere V, Brugger K, Rubel F.The West Nile virus (WNV) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) circulating in a natural transmission cycle between mosquitoes (enzootic vectors) and birds (amplifying hosts). Additionally, mainly horses and humans (dead-end hosts) may be infected by blood-feeding mosquitoes (bridge vectors). We developed an epidemic model for the simulation of the WNV dynamics of birds, horses and humans in the U.S., which we apply to the Minneapolis metropolitan area (Minnesota). The SEIR-type model comprises a total of 19 compartments, that are 4 compartments for mosquitoes and 5 compartments or health st...
Arens AM, Barr B, Puchalski SM, Poppenga R, Kulin RM, Anderson J, Stover SM.California horses incur a bone fragility syndrome manifested by pathologic fractures. This study investigated gross, radiographic, and histologic features of the disorder as well as relationships with silicosis and levels of heavy metals and trace minerals through a postmortem study of 9 affected and 3 unaffected horses. Bones and soft tissues were evaluated grossly and histologically. Bones, lymph nodes, and lung tissue were evaluated radiographically. Tissues were evaluated for silicon levels, intracytoplasmic crystals, heavy metals, and trace minerals. All 9 affected horses had osteoporosis...
Trump M, Kircher PR, Fürst A.Two fillies with hindlimb lameness and a tentative diagnosis of a pelvic fracture involving the acetabulum were examined using computed tomography (CT). The use of CT for these two cases revealed the exact course of the fractures and fissures, as well as the size and position of fragments, thus allowing for definitive diagnosis.
Jackson M, Kummer M, Auer J, Hagen R, Fuerst A.This prospective study describes a series of 18 olecranon fractures in 16 horses that were treated with locking compression plates (LCP). Twelve of the 18 fractures were simple (type 2), whereas six were comminuted (type 4). Six fractures were open and 12 were closed. Each horse underwent LCP osteosynthesis consisting of open reduction and application of one or two LCP. Complete fracture healing was achieved in 13 horses. Three horses had to be euthanatized: two because of severe infection and one because of a comminuted radial fracture 11 days after fixation of the olecranon fracture. Complic...
Easter JL, Schumacher J, Watkins JP.Surgical arthrodesis of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint by transfixation casting was used to salvage a three-year-old filly and a yearling filly that were chronically lame because of infection of the DIP joint for breeding. Unlike previously described techniques for arthrodesis of the DIP joint, the technique used did not require insertion of implants across the joint, which may have contributed to the successful outcome.
Bermúdez CS, Zaldívar AY, Spolidorio MG, Moraes-Filho J, Miranda RJ, Caballero CM, Mendoza Y, Labruna MB.The present research evaluated the presence of Rickettsia spp. on ectoparasites of horses and dogs (using PCR techniques), and their sera (using immunofluorescence assay) in El Valle de Antón town in Panama. A total of 20 horses and 20 dogs were sampled, finding four species of ectoparasites on dogs (the ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma oblongoguttatum, and the flea Ctenocephalides felis), and two tick species on horses (Amblyomma cajennense and Dermacentor nitens). DNA of Rickettsia amblyommii was found in pools of A. cajennense, D. nitens, and R. sanguineus, while ...
Hall TL, Tell LA, Wetzlich SE, McCormick JD, Fowler LW, Pusterla N.Ceftiofur, a third generation cephalosporin, demonstrates in vitro efficacy against microorganisms isolated from septicemic neonatal foals. This pharmacokinetic study evaluated the intravenous and subcutaneous administration of ceftiofur sodium (5 mg/kg body weight; n = 6 per group) and subcutaneous administration of ceftiofur crystalline free acid (6.6 mg/kg body weight; n = 6) in healthy foals. Plasma ceftiofur- and desfuroylceftiofur-related metabolite concentrations were measured using high performance liquid chromatography following drug administration. Mean (±SD) noncompartmental pharma...
Winther L, Baptiste KE, Friis C.Cefquinome concentrations, following intravenous and aerosol administration to horses, in pulmonary epithelial lining fluid (PELF) were examined and compared to plasma concentrations. Single dose of cefquinome sulphate (1 mg/kg) was administered intravenously to six horses followed by a single aerosol administration (225 mg) with a wash-out period of 14 days between treatments. After each drug administration, cefquinome concentrations in plasma and PELF, obtained by intrabronchial cotton swabs, were determined. After intravenous administration, cefquinome concentrations in plasma declined fast...
Forbes G, Church S, Savage CJ, Bailey SR.Endotoxaemia is a major cause of equine morbidity, and plasma from horses immunised against Escherichia coli is used in its treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of hyperimmune plasma on the clinical and leukocyte responses, including production and activity of TNFα, in an in vivo endotoxin challenge model. Pre-treatment with hyperimmune equine plasma had no significant effect on peak total plasma TNFα concentration (occurring 90min after the administration of 30ng/kg LPS). However, the bioavailable (unbound) TNFα measured by bioassay was significantly reduced in pla...
de Boyer des Roches A, Durier V, Richard-Yris MA, Blois-Heulin C, Ezzaouïa M, Hausberger M, Henry S.Behavioural modifications, including modifications of emotional reactivity, can occur following early experience such as handling (manual rubbing). Here, we investigated the effects of unilateral tactile stimulation at an early stage on emotional reactions later on. We handled newborn foals intensively on one side of their body. This early unilateral tactile experience had medium-term effects: the reactions of foals to a human approach, when they were 10 days old, differed according to the side stimulated at birth. Fewer right-handled foals accepted contact with humans, they delayed first cont...
Kirby AT, Traub-Dargatz JL, Hill AE, Kogan LR, Morley PS, Heird JC.To develop a questionnaire for self-assessment of biosecurity practices at equine boarding facilities and to evaluate infectious disease control practices in these facilities in Colorado. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: 64 equine boarding facilities in Colorado. Methods: Survey questions were rated according to importance for prevention and containment of equine infectious diseases. Point values (range, 0 to 20) were assigned for possible responses, with greater values given for optimal infection control methods. Questionnaires were mailed to equine boarding facilities in Colorado adv...
James FM, Engiles JB, Beech J.A 12-year-old Thoroughbred was examined because of signs of depression, neck stiffness, and poor performance. Results: Physical examination revealed that the horse was dull, appeared depressed, was reluctant to raise its neck and head above a horizontal plane, and had a temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F). No radiographic or scintigraphic abnormalities of the neck were found; however, high plasma fibrinogen concentration and relative lymphopenia were identified and the horse was seropositive for antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi. Analysis of CSF revealed neutrophilic inflammation, and resu...
Campos RK, Brum MC, Nogueira CE, Drumond BP, Alves PA, Siqueira-Lima L, Assis FL, Trindade GS, Bonjardim CA, Ferreira PC, Weiblen R, Flores EF....During the last bovine vaccinia (BV) outbreaks, several Vaccinia virus (VACV) strains were isolated and characterised, revealing significant polymorphisms between strains, even within conserved genes. Although the epidemiology of VACV has been studied in BV outbreaks, there is little data about the circulation of the Brazilian VACV isolates. This study describes the genetic and biological characterisation of two VACV isolates, Pelotas 1 virus (P1V) and Pelotas 2 virus (P2V), which were obtained concomitantly from a horse affected by severe cutaneous disease. Despite being isolated from the sam...
Farr AC, Hawkins JF, Baird DK, Moore GE.To characterize features of diagnosis, treatment, and outcome in horses with foreign bodies, exclusive of enteric, inhaled, and foot-penetrating foreign bodies. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 37 horses with foreign bodies. Methods: The incidence of equine foreign bodies from 1990 through 2005 was determined by review of data from veterinary schools participating in the Veterinary Medical Database (VMDB). Medical records of horses with foreign bodies at Purdue University were reviewed, and the following information was retrieved: clinical history; signalment; results of physical, ...
Davidson EJ, Martin BB, Rieger RH, Parente EJ.To (1) assess upper airway function by videoendoscopy in horses performing poorly after laryngoplasty and (2) establish whether dynamic collapse of the left arytenoid can be predicted by the degree of resting postsurgical abduction. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses that had left laryngoplasty (n=45). Methods: Medical records (June 1993-December 2007) of horses evaluated for abnormal respiratory noise and/or poor performance after laryngoplasty were reviewed. Horses with video recordings of resting and exercising upper airway endoscopy were included and postsurgical abduction categorized. ...
Perrin R, Launois T, Brogniez L, Desbrosse FG, Coomer RP, Clegg PD, Reda AA, Gehin SG, Vandeweerd JM.To assess the reliability of computed tomography (CT) to identify the direction of implant insertion for cortical screws along the longitudinal axis of intact (nonfractured) distal sesamoid bones. Methods: In vitro study. Methods: Cadaveric paired equine forelimbs (n=16). Methods: Insertion of a cortical screw in lag fashion along the longitudinal axis of intact (nonfractured) distal sesamoid bones was evaluated in 2 groups (3.5 and 4.5 mm) of 8 paired limbs. In each group, the direction of the distal sesamoid bone was determined by CT (Equine XTC 3000 pQCT scanner). Screw placement was verifi...
Smith MR, Wright IM, Minshall GJ, Dudhia J, Verheyen K, Heinegård D, Smith RK.To evaluate digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) synovial fluid cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) concentrations as a molecular marker for intrathecal pathology. Methods: Case control study. Methods: Horses (n=46) with DFTS tenosynovitis; 23 fresh cadaver horses. Methods: DFTS synovial fluid samples were collected from clinical cases with noninfected DFTS tenosynovitis and from control DFTS. Clinical and surgical findings were recorded, and dissection of control limbs was performed to confirm the DFTS to be grossly normal. Synovial fluid COMP was quantified using a homologous competiti...
Sankey C, Henry S, Górecka-Bruzda A, Richard-Yris MA, Hausberger M.How do we bond to one another? While in some species, like humans, physical contact plays a role in the process of attachment, it has been suggested that tactile contact's value may greatly differ according to the species considered. Nevertheless, grooming is often considered as a pleasurable experience for domestic animals, even though scientific data is lacking. On another hand, food seems to be involved in the creation of most relationships in a variety of species. Results: In this study, we used the horse training context to test the effects of food versus grooming during repeated human-ho...
Raabe O, Reich C, Wenisch S, Hild A, Burg-Roderfeld M, Siebert HC, Arnhold S.Adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) are multipotent cells which, in the presence of appropriate stimuli, can differentiate into various lineages such as the osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic. In this study, we investigated the effect of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) in comparison to hydrolyzed fish collagen in terms of the chondrogenic differentiation potential of ADSCs. ADSCs were isolated from subcutaneous fat of horses by liposuction. Chondrogenesis was investigated using a pellet culture system. The differentiation medium was either supplemented with TGF-β1 (5 ng/ml)...
Spicer LJ, Santiago CA, Davidson TR, Bridges TS, Chamberlain CS.The objective of the present study was to evaluate changes in concentrations of free insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I in follicular fluid (FFL) during follicle development in the mare. Mares (n = 14) were classified as either in the follicular phase (n = 8) or luteal phase (n = 6). Follicles (n = 92) were categorized as small (6-15 mm; n = 54), medium (16-25 mm; n = 23) or large (>25 mm; n = 15) and FFL was collected. Free IGF-I levels in FFL in large follicles of follicular phase mares were greater (P < 0.05) than in large follicles of luteal phase mares and small or medium follicles ...
McCue ME, Anderson SM, Valberg SJ, Piercy RJ, Barakzai SZ, Binns MM, Distl O, Penedo MC, Wagner ML, Mickelson JR.The GYS1 gene mutation that is causative of Type 1 Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM) has been identified in more than 20 breeds of horses. However, the GYS1 mutation frequency or Type 1 PSSM prevalence within any given breed is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of the GYS1 mutation and prevalence of genetic susceptibility to Type 1 PSSM in selected breeds from Europe and North America. The GYS1 mutation was detected in 11 breeds, including, in order of increasing allele frequency, Shires, Morgans, Appaloosas, Quarter Horses, Paints, Exmoor Ponies, Saxon-Thu...
Whyard JM, Brounts SH.This study compared post-operative complications and survival in horses with right dorsal displacement of the large colon (RDD) and horses with other non-strangulating large colon (NSLC) lesions. Data were obtained from medical records of horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy from 2000 to 2016 and from owner questionnaire. Of 137 horses that fitted the inclusion criteria, 67 (49%) had RDD and 70 (51%) had NSLC lesions. Twenty-eight horses with RDD (42%) and 27 horses with NSLC (39%) experienced ≥ 1 complication after surgery. The RDD group showed more severe complications than the NSLC gr...
Fraser DG, Oaks JL, Brown WC, McGuire TC.Equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) is a horse lentivirus causing lifelong, persistent infection. During acute infection, CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are probably involved in terminating plasma viraemia. However, only a few EIAV CTL epitopes, restricted to fewer horse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I alleles, are known. As interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-secreting CD4(+), T helper 1 (Th1) lymphocytes promote CTL activity and help maintain memory CTL, identifying broadly recognized EIAV Th1 epitopes would contribute significantly to vaccine strategies seeking to promote s...
Baptista VDS, Guttmann PM, Rusca AC, Moreira da Silva K, Macieira DB, de Alencar NX, Lessa DAB.Ten mule foals were used to investigate serum IgG concentration. Blood was collected from mares and foals on the day following parturition (D1), at 48 and 72 hr after birth (D2 and D3), and on D7, D14, D21, D28, D35, D42, and D60. Serum IgG concentration was determined by zinc sulfate turbidity test and was above 400 mg/dl at all time points, except for one foal on D2. Mean values were above 800 mg/dl from D1 to D7 and at D60. The difference between mares and foals at each collection time was significant, except at D1. For all other days, foal IgG values were lower than the mare IgG values. Me...
de Cocq P, Mooren M, Dortmans A, van Weeren PR, Timmerman M, Muller M, Van Leeuwen JL.In the equestrian world it is assumed that riders use changes in weight distribution and leg forces as important instruments to give horses directions about speed and direction of movement. However, the changes of these forces have never been quantified. Objective: To investigate the distribution of normal forces (perpendicular to surface) underneath the saddle and of normal forces exerted by the rider's legs during lateral movements. Methods: Eleven riders performed 3 different exercises: riding straight ahead, shoulder-in and travers at trot. Three saddle force systems were used simultaneous...
Pfau T, Persson-Sjodin E, Gardner H, Orssten O, Hernlund E, Rhodin M.Differences in movement asymmetry between surfaces and with increasing speed increase the complexity of incorporating gait analysis measurements from lunging into clinical decision making. This observational study sets out to quantify by means of quantitative gait analysis the influence of surface and speed on individual-rein movement asymmetry measurements and their averages across reins (average-rein measurements). Head, withers, and pelvic movement asymmetry was quantified in 27 horses, identified previously as presenting with considerable movement asymmetries on the straight, during trot i...
Vezzosi T, Vitale V, Sgorbini M, Tognetti R, Bonelli F.Continuous electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring is the gold standard for diagnosing arrhythmias that occur intermittently or under exercise. The aim of this study was to compare two different methods for 24-hour Holter monitoring in horses, a 7-electrode system (7-ES) versus a 4-electrode system (4-ES), assessing the recording performance at rest and during exercise. Six standardbred horses were included in the present prospective study. Two different methods for 24-hour Holter monitoring were used in each horse with a washout period of one week between each recording method. In the first 15 ...
Padalino B, Zaccagnino P, Celi P.The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of three different physical exercises on the physiological and behavioural patterns of Standardbred trotters housed in single stalls. Twelve racing mares were observed twice during each different exercise: daily training (DT) consisted of forty minutes at slow trot (4-5 m/s) in a small track; maximal exercise (ME) consisted of 1600 m run at maximal velocity; race (R) was a real race of 1600 m. The mares were examined at rest in their stall (Time I), soon after the completion of the exercise (Time II), one hour (Time III), and two hours...
McDole MG, Gay JM.A case-control study of the association between the presence of serum antibodies against Neospora spp. and fetal loss was performed on serum samples submitted to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory in northwestern United States. Control sera were randomly selected from those submitted from healthy horses for routine equine infectious anemia testing required for regulatory health certification. Case sera were randomly selected from those submitted from aborting mares for diagnostic workup. Based on a 1:50 or greater titer on the indirect fluorescent antibody test, 8% of the 160 control sera and ...
Sano H, Martin-Flores M, Santos LC, Cheetham J, Araos JD, Gleed RD.To evaluate the effect of epidural morphine on gastrointestinal (GI) motility in horses. Methods: Randomly ordered crossover design. Methods: Six healthy adult horses weighing 585± 48 kg (mean±SD). Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to receive either 0.2 mg kg(-1) morphine or an equal volume (0.04 mL kg(-1)) of saline epidurally (the first inter coccygeal space) with 2 weeks between treatments. The horses were stabled, fed a standardized diet and allowed water ad libitum throughout the duration of the study. Radiopaque spheres were administered by stomach tube. Xylazine 0.2 mg kg(-1) int...
Yang Q, Lopez MJ.The equine hoof capsule, composed of modified epidermis and dermis, is vital for protecting the third phalanx from forces of locomotion. There are descriptions of laminitis, defined as inflammation of sensitive hoof tissues but recognized as pathologic changes with or without inflammatory mediators, in the earliest records of domesticated horses. Laminitis can range from mild to serious, and signs can be acute, chronic, or transition from acute, severe inflammation to permanently abnormal tissue. Damage within the intricate dermal and epidermal connections of the primary and secondary lamellae...
Verdegaal EJMM, Delesalle C, Caraguel CGB, Folwell LE, McWhorter TJ, Howarth GS, Franklin SH.OBJECTIVE To evaluate use of a telemetric gastrointestinal (GI) pill to continuously monitor GI temperature in horses at rest and during exercise and to compare time profiles of GI temperature and rectal temperature. ANIMALS 8 Standardbred horses. PROCEDURES Accuracy and precision of the GI pill and a rectal probe were determined in vitro by comparing temperature measurements with values obtained by a certified resistance temperature detector (RTD) in water baths at various temperatures (37°, 39°, and 41°C). Subsequently, both GI and rectal temperature were recorded in vivo in 8 horses over...
O'Driscoll JG, Troy PT, Geoghegan FJ.The clinical pattern, bacteriological investigation and subsequent treatment of a serious outbreak of venereal disease in stud farms on both sides of the Irish Sea is described. The consistency with which Bacillus proteus was isolated from infected mares and stallions was remarkable. Prompt treatment with ampicillin, to which the organism was sensitive in vitro, eradicated the disease. No local treatment was applied.
Turlo A, Cywinska A, Czopowicz M, Witkowski L, Szarska E, Winnicka A.The aim of this study was to evaluate serum amyloid A (SAA) concentration in horses with orthopedic injuries acquired during racing and in healthy ones after completing the race. Injuries of bone and tendon did not cause radical increase in SAA concentration observed in other inflammatory conditions. SAA concentration correlated positively with white blood cell count (WBC) on the 3rd-4th days after race being significantly higher in the injured horses than in the control group in that time. It was suggested that racing effort may cause increase in SAA level, more pronounced in horses manifesti...
The Journal of traumaOctober 6, 1997
Volume 43, Issue 3 492-495 doi: 10.1097/00005373-199709000-00017
Temes RT, White JH, Ketai LH, Deis JL, Pett SB, Osler TM, Wernly JA.Head, face, and neck injuries (HFNI) occur during animal-related trauma. We compared patients with HFNI and without HFNI after animal-related injuries to determine the significance of these injuries. Methods: Retrospective review of admissions for animal injuries between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 1995, by age, gender, mechanism, animal, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, Injury Severity Score (ISS), Abbreviated Injury Severity score for head and neck (AIS Head/Neck), AIS score for face (AIS Face), intensive care unit stay, hospitalization length, morbidity, and mortality. Results: There w...
Watson ED, Thomson SR.The density and distribution of MHC Class II positive cells and subpopulations of lymphocytes were studied in the endometrium of genitally normal mares and mares susceptible to endometritis. In genitally normal mares, more MHC Class II positive cells were present in the epithelium and stratum compactum during oestrus than dioestrus. Significantly more CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes were present in the stratum compactum than in the stratum spongiosum. CD4+ lymphocytes were present in greater numbers than CD8+ lymphocytes in the stratum compactum but approximately equal numbers were present in the st...
Loux SC, Conley AJ, Scoggin KE, El-Sheikh Ali H, Dini P, Ball BA.Steroid production varies widely among species, with these differences becoming more pronounced during pregnancy. As a result, each species has its own distinct pattern of steroids, steroidogenic enzymes, receptors, and transporters to support its individual physiological requirements. Although the circulating steroid profile is well characterized during equine pregnancy, there is much yet to be explored regarding the factors that support steroidogenesis and steroid signaling. To obtain a holistic view of steroid-related transcripts, we sequenced chorioallantois (45 days, 4 months, 6 months, 1...
Weiss DJ, McClay CB, Smith CM, Rao GH, White JG.Platelet function was evaluated in horses with exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeder) and in control horses (nonbleeder). Platelet aggregation, secretion, and adhesion to rabbit aortic subendothelium were similar for bleeders and nonbleeders. Platelets readily aggregated in response to ADP, thrombin, collagen, and arachidonic acid, but platelet secretion occurred only with high concentrations of thrombin. Platelets readily adhered to rabbit aortic subendothelium and tended to form large thrombi rather than platelet monolayers or aggregates. These data suggest that horses may be predis...
Quigley A, Sekiya M, Garcia-Campos A, Paz-Silva A, Howell A, Williams DJL, Mulcahy G.Fasciola hepatica is a common parasite of livestock in Ireland, causing significant economic losses and affecting animal welfare. A previous abattoir study of 200 horses led to an estimated 9.5 % prevalence of infection in horses slaughtered in Ireland. However, the epidemiology and pathogenic significance of this infection in this species is not well-described. The objectives of this study were to determine the susceptibility of horses to oral challenge infection with F. hepatica metacercariae, and to document the course of the infection along with serological and biochemical response. We att...
Zientara S, Sailleau C, Moulay S, Wade-Evans A, Cruciere C.The development of a coupled reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR) is described for the detection of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) double-stranded RNA. Genome segments 7 and 10 were chosen as target templates for primers selected for use in the RT-PCR. Using these AHSV-specific primers all 9 serotypes were detectable. The sensitivity and specificity of the RT-PCR results were compared to those obtained by competition ELISA.
Norvall A, Cota JG, Pusterla N, Cissell D.Equine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) diseases are increasingly recognized as a problem for the well-being and performance of horses. Diagnosis is confounded by overlap of clinical signs associated with pathology of the oral cavity, poll, and cervical vertebrae. Arthrocentesis for intra-articular analgesia, sampling of synovial fluid, and medication is needed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Ultrasound features of the normal TMJ and a blind arthrocentesis technique have been described, but a systematic approach to ultrasound-guided (USG) arthrocentesis has not been reported. Ultrasound ...
Airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) are pivotal characteristics of equine asthma. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) may have a central role in modulating airway inflammation and dysfunction. Therefore, the aim of this study was to match the inflammatory and contractile profile in LPS-challenged equine isolated bronchi to identify molecular targets potentially suitable to counteract AHR in asthmatic horses. Equine isolated bronchi were incubated overnight with LPS (0.1-100 ng/ml). The contractile response to electrical field stimulation (EFS) and the levels of cytokines, chemokines...
To determine risk factors for Clostridium piliforme infection in neonatal foals on a Thoroughbred breeding farm in California. Methods: Case-control and retrospective cohort studies. Methods: 322 neonatal Thoroughbred foals either born on the study farm or born elsewhere but traveled to the farm with their dam during the 1998, 1999, and 2000 breeding seasons. Methods: Mare and foal records from 1998, 1999, and 2000 were examined, using case-control design methods to determine variables associated with increased risk of C. piliforme infection in foals. Important risk factors identified in the c...
VanderBroek AR, Reef VB, Aitken MR, Stefanovski D, Southwood LL.Auscultation and ultrasonography are noninvasive techniques used to assess gastrointestinal motility in horses. Recently, noninvasive acoustic gastrointestinal surveillance (AGIS) biosensors evaluating intestinal motility have been validated in humans. Objective: To compare AGIS to auscultation and ultrasonography for detecting decreased motility after xylazine administration. Methods: Randomised, blinded, controlled cross-over proof of principle study. Methods: Six healthy horses were evaluated under fasted and nonfasted conditions and randomly assigned to receive treatment with 0.4 mg/kg xyl...
