"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.
van den Hoven R, Duvigneau JC, Hartl RT, Gemeiner M.On four occasions, four horses with heaves and four horses with small airway inflammatory diseases inhaled 0.9% saline based aerosol mixtures with or without lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Prior to the first saline and LPS inhalation, horses were untreated, while three and a half days prior to the third and forth inhalation horses had received 0.8 microg/kg clenbuterol intravenously twice daily. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and interferon- gamma (IFN- gamma) was investigated by RT-PCR, all of which ...
Voermans M, van der Velden MA.A 2-year-old unilateral inguinal cryptorchid Frisian stallion was castrated by bilateral laparoscopic intra-abdominal spermatic cord transection. Because blood testosterone levels were still high on postoperative day 7, both testicles were removed using an open approach. Pathology revealed the presence of vital Leydig-cells in both testes. Failure of the laparoscopic castration in this horse was attributed to an alternate blood supply to the testes by vessels derived from the cremaster and/or external pudendal artery.
Kuehn R, Kaczensky P, Lkhagvasuren D, Pietsch S, Walzer C.Recent studies suggest that Asiatic wild asses (Equus hemionus) are being increasingly poached in a commercial fashion. Part of the meat is believed to reach the meat markets in the capital Ulaanbaatar. To test this hypothesis, we collected 500 meat samples between February and May 2006. To differentiate between domestic horse (Equus caballus) and wild ass meat, we developed a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We amplified and sequenced a cytochrome b fragment (335 bp) and carried out a multialignment of the generated sequences ...
Ul Hasan M, Muhammad G, Gutierrez C, Iqbal Z, Shakoor A, Jabbar A.A cross-sectional study has been carried out in order to determine the prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi infection in susceptible hosts in the Punjab region (Pakistan). A total of 170 equines and 150 dromedary camels were examined. Five (3.3%) and 6 (4%) camels were positive at parasitological and serological examination, respectively. None of the equines tested positive at any method. These results seem to indicate that T. evansi infection has a relatively low prevalence in the Punjab region. However, efforts must be done in order to establish control measures in affected herds and avoid disse...
Aurich C, Spergser J.This study investigated effects of bacteria from the genital tract of horses and the effect of gentamicin in semen extender on spermatozoal function in cooled-stored stallion semen. Semen was collected from healthy stallions and processed with a milk-based extender with or without gentamicin (1g/l). Pseudomonas (Ps.) aeruginosa, Staphylococcus (St.) aureus, Streptococcus (Sc.) equi subsp. equi (Sc. equi), Sc. equi subsp. zooepidemicus (Sc. zooepidemicus), Sc. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (Sc. equisimilis) or culture medium alone (control) were added. Immediately after addition of bacteria a...
Lefrançois T, Blitvich BJ, Pradel J, Molia S, Vachiéry N, Martinez D.In July 2002, a surveillance system was implemented on Guadeloupe to detect for the potential introduction and monitor the spread of West Nile virus (WNV). From 2002 to 2004, equines and chickens were serologically assayed for antibodies to WNV by IgG and IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), epitope-blocking ELISA, and plaque reduction neutralization tests. After introduction, probably through migratory birds at the end of 2001, many seroconversions occurred between July and October 2002 resulting in a high seroprevalence (19.3%) in equines in 2003. WNV circulation levels decreased d...
Alberti A, Sparagano OA.Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum, formerly Ehrlichia phagocytophila) is a tick-borne pathogen responsible for tick-borne fever in ruminants, equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis (EGE) in horses, canine granulocytic ehrlichiosis (CGE) in dogs, and for human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE). Human cases have been registered in many countries with a broad range of symptoms and pathogenicity. This article focused on Sardinia as the prevalence in humans was almost seven times higher than in the rest of Italy. To evaluate the risk, blood samples were collected from dogs and horses on the isl...
Jones SL, Valenzisi A, Sontakke S, Sprayberry KA, Maggi R, Hegarty B, Breitschwerdt E.Effusive, fibrinous pericarditis is an uncommon disease entity in horses. In 2001, pericarditis occurred in conjunction with an epizootic in central Kentucky that was associated with exposure to eastern tent caterpillars (ETCs). Bacterial isolation from equine pericardial fluid samples was attempted using an insect cell culture growth medium (ICCGM). Using previously cultured, stored frozen samples from four horses with fibrinous pericarditis, inoculation of 10% blood agar plates yielded no growth, whereas simultaneous inoculation of ICCGM resulted in the isolation of Proprionibacterium acnes,...
Pant GR.Japanese encephalitis (JE) is an emerging disease of animals and humans in Nepal. A serological study for antibody to JE virus was conducted in Nepal from September 2003 to August 2004 by collecting 280 sera from pigs, ducks, and horses covering 10 districts of the country. These sera were tested by performing competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies against JE virus. The total number of tested sera was 280, of which 43.92% were found positive for the presence of antibodies against JE virus infection in Nepal. Sero-prevalence of JE in pigs, ducks, and horse...
Lillini E, Macrì G, Proietti G, Scarpulla M.Ixodes ricinus (I. ricinus) is one of the vectors of Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum) in Europe, in which rates of infection range from 1.9% to 34%. In 1998, human granulocytic ehrlichiosis-like (HGE-like) Ehrlichia DNA was detected in Italy, by PCR technique in one I. ricinus nymph out of 55 ticks that were examined. In 1996, 6.3% of 310 human sera in high-risk subjects from Italy were found positive for antibodies to Ehrlichia phagocytophila (E. phagocytophila). In the same year, the authors reported the first case of equine granulocytic ehrlichiosis. In 1997, only 2 out of 563...
Chevalier V, Lancelot R, Diaité A, Mondet B, Sall B, De Lamballerie X.The Ferlo area (north-central Senegal) is characterized by a system of temporary ponds favorable to arboviruses among which West Nile fever (WNF) was already identified. During the rainy season in 2003, a serological study was undertaken on horses to assess the activity of the WNF virus (WNFV) in Barkedji (Ferlo). The observed serological prevalence rate was 78.3% for neutralizing antibodies, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of [64.0, 92.7]. This prevalence rate significantly increased with age (P = 10(-5)). This study confirmed that WNF was endemic in the Ferlo. The transmission risks depe...
Houghton E, Teale P, Dumasia MC.For almost two decades we have known that enzymatic hydrolysis of "normal" urine samples from the entire male horse using Escherichia coli (E. coli) followed by solvolysis (ethyl acetate:methanol:sulphuric acid) results in the detection of significant amounts of estr-4-ene-3,17-dione (19-norandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione) along with estr-4-en-17beta-ol-3-one (19-nortestosterone, nandrolone) in extracts of the hydrolysed urine and that both steroids are isolated from the solvolysis fraction. This solvolysis process is targeted at the steroid sulphates. Also we have shown that 19-norandrost-4-ene-3,17...
Balendra G, Turner M, McCrory P, Halley W.To provide a breakdown of injury incidence from amateur jump racing (also known as point to point racing) in Great Britain and Ireland during 1993-2006 and to compare the injury epidemiology with professional horse racing in Great Britain, Ireland and France. Methods: Retrospective review. Methods: Great Britain and Ireland. Methods: Amateur jockeys. Methods: Injury rates. Results: Injury data suggest that point to point racing is more dangerous from an injury point of view than professional jump racing, which has previously been shown to be more dangerous than flat racing. Amateur jockeys hav...
Morris L.Advanced artificial insemination techniques, such as deep uterine,hysteroscopic, oviductal, and intrafollicular insemination, are described in the context of the different types of spermatozoa that are now available for insemination, including fresh, chilled, frozen,sex-sorted, and epididymal spermatozoa. The implementation of these new technologies answers and poses questions about the interactions of sperm and oocytes in vivo.
Yuan Z, Philbey AW, Gault EA, Campo MS, Nasir L.Papillomaviruses are normally strictly species-specific and even under experimental conditions do not usually infect any other host than the natural host. The only documented reports of natural papillomavirus cross-species infection are of BPV-1/BPV-2, which can infect horses and induce equine sarcoids. BPV DNA has not been detected in non-sarcoid equine tumours or equine papillomas, but its presence has been reported in some cases of equine dermatitis. In the present study, we show that equine inflammatory skin conditions harbour episomal circular double stranded BPV-1 genomes, with copy numb...
Hendrickson D.Laparoscopic surgery has become commonplace in the field of equine urogenital surgery. As with most surgical procedures, the limiting factors in developing new surgical techniques are limited to the patient size and demeanor, the skills of the surgeon, and the available equipment. Some of the greatest benefits of laparoscopic surgery in the horse include better visualization of the important structures; tension-free amputation of the testes or ovaries,which generally leads to less postoperative pain; and the ability to evaluate the transected stump carefully to make sure there is no hemorrhage...
Bucca S.Identification of a compromised pregnancy in the mare requires the exhaustive collection of a database that includes past and recent reproductive and medical histories and a variety of parameters indicating fetal distress and possibly suggesting neonatal compromise.Judicious interpretation of findings and serial recording of data throughout gestation may help in the early detection of abnormal fetomaternal exchange pathways. Some sources of compromise may be identified, and the impact on fetomaternal well-being maybe calculated. Appropriate preventive or corrective measures may then be impleme...
Carnevale EM, Maclellan LJ.Assisted reproductive techniques have been developed to obtain pregnancies from subfertile mares and stallions and to salvage gametes after death. In recent years, these procedures have been used for clinical cases with repeated success. Although new developments occur, the basis for the success and future development of assisted reproductive techniques is our ability to collect and handle the equine oocyte successfully. This article focuses on important clinical aspects of oocyte collection and evaluation and briefly discusses the clinical use of assisted reproductive procedures in the horse....
Troedsson MH.Endometritis is a common cause of infertility in broodmares. In the past, the condition was believed to be exclusively the result of bacterial contamination of the uterus. Treatment strategies were focused on preventing bacteria from entering the uterus and on treating mares with signs of endometritis with antibiotics. More recent research on uterine defense mechanisms has increased our understanding of the pathophysiology of equine endometritis. Additional causative agents have been identified, and we have learned to separate uterine infections and a physiologic breeding-induced endometritis ...
Veeramachaneni DN, Moeller CL, Sawyer HR.Conventional light microscopic evaluation of a seminal ejaculate does not fully avail potential indicators of functional impairment in spermatozoal organelles. The technique of critical quantitative evaluation of morphologic features of individual structural components of spermatozoa at a light microscopic level in conjunction with critical qualitative evaluation of spermatozoal organelles at an ultrastructural level, as described in this article, is a valuable clinical tool. Compared with a battery of sperm function assays used in human andrology clinics, this relatively less expensive and si...
Wolfsdorf KE.Methods to manage twins after fixation include natural reduction,dietary reduction, transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration,surgical removal, craniocervical dislocation, and transabdominal ultrasound-guided injection. Of these, results have been inconsistent with regard to producing a single healthy foal, except for craniocervical dislocation. This new technique enables the twin to be reduced before complete placenta formation has occurred, allowing the remaining fetus to use the entire endometrial surface and grow to its full potential.
McCue PM, Roser JF, Munro CJ, Liu IK, Lasley BL.The granulosa cell tumor is the most common ovarian tumor in mares. A clinical diagnosis can be made based on the presence ofa unilaterally enlarged ovary and a small inactive contralateral ovary. Endocrine testing may be beneficial to confirm a diagnosis. Surgical removal of the tumor eliminates the adverse effect on pituitary function and results in resumption of follicular development and ovulation in the opposite ovary over time.
Macpherson ML.Equine placentitis is a complex disease that has devastating consequences for horse owners. Placentitis is a significant cause of foal loss annually. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of the disease are paramount for survival of the affected neonate. This article discusses current information on pathogenesis of the disease as well as diagnostic and therapeutic options.
Hendrickson D.Laparoscopic surgery has become commonplace in the field of equine urogenital surgery. As with most surgical procedures, the limiting factors in developing new surgical techniques are limited to the patient size and demeanor, the skills of the surgeon, and the available equipment. Some of the greatest benefits of laparoscopic surgery in the horse include better visualization of the important structures; tension-free amputation of the testes or ovaries,which generally leads to less postoperative pain; and the ability to evaluate the transected stump carefully to make sure there is no hemorrhage...
Minervini F, Giannoccaro A, Fornelli F, Dell'Aquila ME, Minoia P, Visconti A.The mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEA) and its derivatives, alpha and beta-zearalenol (alpha and beta-ZOL), synthesized by genera Fusarium, often occur as contaminants in cereal grains and animal feeds. The importance of ZEA on reproductive disorders is well known in domestic animals species, particularly in swine and cattle. In the horse, limited data are available to date on the influence of dietary exposure to ZEA on reproductive health and on its in vitro effects on reproductive cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ZEA and its derivatives, alpha and beta-ZOL, on granulosa c...
Choi KS, Ko YJ, Nah JJ, Kim YJ, Kang SY, Yoon KJ, Joo YS.A rapid immunoassay for detecting and quantifying West Nile virus (WNV)-neutralizing antibodies in sera was developed as an alternative to the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), the gold standard test for WNV. The assay is a competitive, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using neutralizing monoclonal antibody 5E8 (NT-ELISA). A cutoff percent inhibition (PI) value of 35% (mean PI plus 3 standard deviations), with a specificity of 99%, was established based on analysis of 246 serum samples from horses free of WNV. The NT-ELISA detected neutralizing antibodies in all sera collected 7 or...
Franci P, Leece EA, Brearley JC.Patient positioning and long anaesthetic duration required for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may result in a higher frequency of post anaesthetic myopathy/neuropathy syndrome (PAMNS) as compared to horses undergoing anaesthesia for surgery. Objective: Equine anaesthesia for MRI is associated with a higher frequency of PAMNS than anaesthesia for nonemergency, nonabdominal surgery. Methods: Anaesthetic and medical records of horses (n = 633) undergoing MRI or surgery between January 2001 and January 2005 (inclusive), were reviewed. Information obtained included patient details (breed, sex, ag...
Knox PM, Watkins JP.A method for proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP joint) arthrodesis that provides a stable fixation and minimal duration of cast support is evaluated retrospectively. Objective: Evaluate the clinical use of a combined plate-screw method for PIP joint arthrodesis in a large number of horses. Methods: The records of 53 horses undergoing PIP joint arthrodesis were reviewed. Arthrodesis was performed with a dorsally placed 3-, 4- or 5-hole narrow dynamic compression plate (DCP) with 2 transarticular cortex screws placed in lag fashion either side of the plate. Subject details, clinical presentatio...
Varcoe-Cocks K, Sagar KN, Jeffcott LB, McGowan CM.Despite the prevalence of orthopaedic injuries to horses, there is no objective means of quantifying the intensity of musculoskeletal pain. Objective: Mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNT) can be measured repeatably by pressure algometry in horses and MNTs are correlated with both severity of clinical signs and subjective scores of muscle pain on palpation in horses with suspected sacroiliac dysfunction (SID). Methods: The technique of pressure algometry and its repeatability was tested at 4 anatomical sites on either side of the thoracolumbar and pelvic region in 12 Thoroughbreds in trainin...
Malinowski K, Betros CL, Flora L, Kearns CF, McKeever KH.The purpose of the study was to determine whether 12 weeks of exercise training would affect plasma glucose and plasma insulin concentrations in young and older Standardbred mares. Eighteen healthy, unfit mares representing 3 age groups were used: young (Y = 6.8 +/- 0.4 years; n = 6), middle-aged (MA = 15.2 +/- 0.4; n = 6), and old (O = 27.0 +/- 0.2; n = 6). Pre- and post-training incremental exercise tests (GXT) were performed to measure plasma glucose and insulin concentration from immediately after, until 120 min postexercise. Training consisted of exercise 3 days/week (weeks 1-8) and 4 day...
Moore JN, White NA, Berg JN, Trim CM, Garner HE.Experimental small intestinal strangulation obstruction was produced in anesthetized ponies. The limulus amoebocyte lysate test demonstrated the presence of endotoxin in the general circulation 60 and 120 minutes following restoration of mesenteric blood flow. Mucosal degeneration, with loss of villus epithelial cells, was demonstrated coincident with endotoxemia. The findings were consistent with an ischemia-mediated alteration in the intestinal barrier to endotoxin.
Bolen G, Busoni V, Jacqmot O, Snaps F.Although ultrasonography is widely used in equine orthopedics, its use in the distal portion of the digit is still limited. The purpose of this descriptive study was to document the normal ultrasonographic appearance of the palmarodistal aspect of the digital area imaged between the bulbs of the heels. Ultrasonographic images were obtained with a 7.5 MHz microconvex transducer in 10 fresh equine cadaver forelimbs and five soundhorses. Sagittal, parasagittal, and transverse images were obtained from the proximal aspect of the middle phalanx to the distal sesamoid bone. Anatomic sections were ob...
Weiss DJ, Moritz A.Previous studies have suggested an association between equine immune-mediated hemolytic anemia and clostridial infections or neck abscesses. Objective: The purpose of this report was to describe and characterize the hematologic abnormalities in a horse with Clostridium-associated immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. We also retrospectively evaluated hematologic abnormalities in 8 horses with clostridial myositis or subcutaneous emphysema. Methods: A 7-year-old Foreign Warm-Blood gelding was evaluated for anemia and a cervical abscess. CBCs and reticulocyte counts were obtained using an Advia 120 ...
Gordon ME, McKeever KH.Twelve Standardbred mares underwent blood sampling for 24 h to test the hypothesis that there is diurnal variation of humoral mediators of peripheral energy balance including active ghrelin, adiponectin, leptin, glucose, insulin, and cortisol. The experiment was conducted under acclimated conditions. Grass hay and pelleted grain were provided at 0730 and 1530. Plasma concentrations of active ghrelin and leptin concentrations both peaked (47.3 +/- 6.5 pg/ mL and 5.9 +/- 1.1 ng/mL, respectively; P < 0.05) at 1550, 20 min after feeding. Active ghrelin decreased (P < 0.05) to 28.9 +/- 4.5 pg/mL ov...
Whitehair KJ, Adams SB, Parker JE, Blevins WE, Fessler JF.Antibiotics were delivered to chronically infected tissues by regional limb perfusion in three horses with osteomyelitis associated with orthopedic implants. Two infections were resolved with implants in place; in one, a sequestrum was resorbed. In one horse, regional antibiotic perfusion was applied to treat progressively worsening bone infection after initial implants loosened and were removed.
Malacarne BD, Cota LO, Neto ACP, Paz CFR, Dias LA, Corrêa MG, Carvalho AM, Faleiros RR, Xavier ABS.With the hypothesis that equine dorsal lamellar tissue can be desensitized by anesthesia injection into distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ), the objective was to assess the mechanical nociceptive threshold of hoof dorsal lamellae following intra-articular (IA) administration of lidocaine into this joint. Methods: The DIPJ of the forelimbs of six adult healthy horses were injected with either 5 mL of lidocaine, or 5 mL of lactated Ringer's solution. Treatments were randomly distributed, with each forelimb undergoing a single treatment. The hooves were evaluated pre- and post-injection at pre-se...
Peham C, Licka T, Mayr A, Scheidl M, Girtler D.Treadmills are widely used in equine motion analysis. For the evaluation of the trot of a horse, a trotting speed with low variation between motion cycles is necessary to make the measurements reproducible. The aim of this study is to show how an individual 'optimum' trotting speed for lameness quantification can be determined. In this study, the stability of a horse's gait pattern was evaluated by calculating the standard deviation (S.D.) of motion-cycle speed (MCS). In trot, eighteen horses were analysed at several speeds. The measurements were taken with the ExpertVision System (Motion Anal...
Johnson CB, Bloomfield M, Taylor PM.To characterise the effects of thiopentone on the equine electroencephalogram during halothane anaesthesia. Methods: Prospective controlled study. Methods: Eight healthy Welsh mountain pony geldings between 5 and 9 years old and weighing between 270 and 330 kg (mean 301 kg). Methods: Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone and maintained using halothane in oxygen. End tidal halothane was maintained above 0.75 and below 0.85%. EEG was recorded continuously and a binaural broad band click stimulus was provided throughout the experiment at 6.1224 Hz. An infusion of 500 mg thiopentone was given o...
Gulick BA, Liu IK, Qualls CW, Gribble DH, Rogers QR.Plasma amino acid patterns were studied in 6 clinically normal adult horses during the course of hepatic disease induced by feeding them plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. At death, there were significant (P less than 0.01) increases in glutamine, proline, tyrosine, asparagine, lysine, histidine, alanine, phenylalanine, methionine, aspartic acid, and ornithine values. There were no significant changes in glycine, valine, isoleucine tryptophan, and arginine values. There were significant (P less than 0.01) decreases in citrulline. Ammonia increased 4-fold. Alpha-Aminoadipic acid and alp...
Valberg SJ, Iglewski H, Henry ML, Schultz AE, McKenzie EC.Selective breeding and discipline specific training has led to equine breeds adept at various athletic disciplines. Breed-specific skeletal muscle adaptations have been studied in many breeds but not Warmbloods (WB). We evaluated gluteal muscle contractile muscle fiber types and citrate synthase activity (CS), a marker for mitochondrial volume density, in WB trained for dressage (second level-Grand Prix) contrasted with Quarter Horses (QH). Gluteus medius muscle biopsies from 14 unfit/18 fit dressage-trained WB and 20 unfit/16 fit reining/working cow QH were analyzed fluorometrically and fiber...
Bookbinder L, Prisk A.Gastrointestinal colic is the most common primary care equine emergency and affects nearly one of four horses per year. Colic is a significant welfare concern for equine patients and a financial and emotional burden for owners. The primary care practitioner is instrumental in identifying critical cases quickly and making appropriate management recommendations to improve patient outcomes.
Dunstan RH, Macdonald MM, Thorn B, Wood D, Roberts TK.Horses in heavy training in preparation for racing and competition have increased metabolic demands to support the more intensive levels of exercise and recovery. However, little is known at the metabolic level about amino acid turnover and the specific alterations of demand caused by high intensity exercise. During exercise, certain amino acids are required in greater quantities due to disproportionate losses via excretory systems and usage in biosynthetic pathways. This investigation has built a theoretical computer model in an attempt to bring together the published rates of protein intake ...
Gugliandolo E, Barbagallo A, Peritore AF, Cuzzocrea S, Crupi R.Background: Four show jumping horses were evaluated for non-responsive lameness, which caused their withdrawal from show jumping competitions. The clinical evaluation was performed by radiographic examination, flexion tests, diagnostic anesthesia and lameness evaluation using the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) scale. The diagnoses were a case of navicular syndrome, a complicated case of chronic navicular syndrome and arthrosis of the distal interphalangeal joint of the right anterior limb and two cases of distal intertarsal joint arthritis. Nutraceuticals are often an impo...
Neustroev MP, Petrova SG.An inactivated vaccine based on the BN-12 strain with the TNP-3 strain filtrate used as immunomodulator has been developed in order to prevent salmonella-induced equine abortion. Preclinical and clinical trials with the white mice and the horses, respectively, are carried out. The lack of toxicity is proven. The vaccine immunogenicity for mouse and mare models comprised 90 and 100%, respectively. The industrial vaccine tests showed that the industrial output of foals increased by 13.8% after immunization. Cost-effectiveness of the vaccine used with the TNP-3 strain filtrate comprised 14.1 r...
Palomar-Ciria N, Bello HJ.Alternative treatments for Post-traumatic-Stress Disorder (PTSD) have attracted attention, especially Equine-Assisted Services (EAS) including psychotherapy and occupational therapy involving horses. In this work, we measured the effectiveness of EAS in PTSD through a meta-analysis. An intensive bibliography search focusing in EAS and PTSD was conducted following the PRISMA recommendations. The search was not restricted by date. For the quantitative analyses, 5 works were selected. They were chosen based on the instrument utilized for the assessment of PTSD symptoms: the PTSD Checklist for DSM...
Wong DM, Giguère S, Wendel MA.To compare the diagnostic performance of a point-of-care (POC) analyzer with that of established methods for the measurement of plasma IgG, total protein, and albumin concentrations in neonatal foals. Methods: Evaluation study. Methods: 100 neonatal foals < 7 days of age. Procedures-Plasma IgG, total protein, and albumin concentrations were measured with a POC analyzer via an immunoturbidimetric method. Corresponding measurements of plasma IgG, total protein, and albumin concentrations were measured by means of automated biochemical analyzers via automated immunoturbidimetric, biuret, and b...
Dzieciatkowski T, Przybylski M, Cymerys J, Turowska A, Chmielewska A, Tucholska A, Banbura MW.Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is one of the major viral agents causing diseases in horses common worldwide. A variety of techniques, including PCR, have been used to diagnose EHV-1 infections. In this paper, an attempt of real-time PCR has been described, which uses specific fluorochrome-labeled TaqMan probes for detection of viral DNA. This method does not require post-amplification manipulations, thereby reducing the risk of cross-contamination. The assay was sensitive enough to detect EHV-1 sequences in different clinical samples, as well in mice neuronal cell cultures. The technique wa...
Debarbat F, Mollaret HH, Mailloux M.Bovine leptospirosis is a typical form in the island of Reunion. It appears during the second part of the rain season. The clinical picture of equine leptospirosis is acute hepatonephritis. About 10 serogroups are found in bovines, with greater frequency for Sejroë and Hebdomadis. In horses, the prevailing serogroups are Autumnalis, Ballum, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Australis, Grippotyphosa.
Baker JL, Aleman M, Madigan J.Clinically apparent hypoglycemia is rare in adult horses. Hypoglycemia is a well-recognized paraneoplastic syndrome in humans and dogs with non-insulin-secreting tumors and may occur in horses as well. Hypoglycemia associated with non-insulin-secreting tumors is believed to result from production of an abnormal form of insulin-like growth factor II. Neoplasia should be considered in the differential diagnosis for adult horses with hypoglycemia.
Allen KJ, Franklin SH.To date there is no information on the comparison of the more recently documented technique of performing endoscopy during ridden exercise in the field, with the more traditional method of endoscopy during high-speed treadmill exercise. Objective: To compare the results of upper respiratory tract endoscopy in UK Thoroughbred racehorses performed during ridden exercise in the field with those obtained during exercise on the treadmill. Methods: A direct comparison was undertaken in 4 horses whereby both procedures were performed in the same horse within 10 days of each other. An indirect compari...
Ziemer EL, Pappagianis D, Madigan JE, Mansmann RA, Hoffman KD.Fifteen confirmed cases of equine coccidioidomycosis that originated in California and Arizona were studied retrospectively. Age, breed, and sex varied among affected horses. The most common historical problems were chronic weight loss (53% of cases) and persistent cough (33% of cases). The most frequent physical examination abnormalities were related to the respiratory tract (60% of cases). In 27% of cases, horses had signs of musculoskeletal pain. Horses consistently had hyperproteinemia, hyperfibrinogenemia, leukocytosis, and neutrophilia. An antemortem etiologic diagnosis was made for 11 (...
Hacker DV, Moore PF, Buyukmihci NC.In 4 horses with ocular angiosarcomas, the common characteristics were that all horses were aged, and the neoplasms developed initially on conjunctival surfaces, grew slowly, and metastasized despite excision and radiation treatment. Histopathologically, the neoplasms were of 2 types: a capillary pattern of scant stroma and endothelial-lined vascular channels, and a solid pattern composed of sheets of pleomorphic cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and poorly defined cytoplasmic borders. Definitive diagnosis was made by use of factor VIII:RAg, which stained the tissues intensely.
van der Zaag EJ, Weerts EA, van den Belt AJ, Back W.Navicular bone partition is a rare condition reported in horses, which is during the evaluation of a lameness or prepurchase examination often misinterpreted for a parasagittal fracture. In this report, the clinicopathological findings of three cases of navicular bone partition are evaluated. The possible pathomechanisms underlying the condition are hypothesised, focusing on a potential origin of foetal vascular disturbance. This study is furthermore aiming at a clearer and earlier recognition of navicular bone partition, since this condition would finally predispose for a clinical lameness wi...
Gelberg H, Cockerell GL, Minor RR.The outer medullary (juxtacortical) zone of a normal equine adrenal gland had columnar chromaffin-positive cells arranged with their long axes perpendicular to fine vascular channels. The deeper medullary regions were composed of smaller irregularly round to polygonal chromaffin positive cells in small packets. Both cell types contained two types of membrane-bound cytoplasmic secretory granules. Osmiophilic granules with a homogeneous core, crenated membrane and narrow submembranous halo predominated in the columnar juxtacortical cells. The rounder, central medullary cells contained predominan...
Mayhew IG.Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita was studied in a newborn thoroughbred foal. The syndrome affected only the left hind limb allowing the right hind limb to serve as a reference. There was a significant depletion of large motor neurons from the ventral horn of the spinal cord from L3 to S4 on the affected side. Hypoplasia of nerves, muscles, and bones was present in the affected limb. Histologically, hypoplasia and degeneration of myofibers and nerve bundles were seen. No cause of the syndrome, which corresponds to most human cases, was determined. Neuromuscular arthrogryposis was diagnosed be...
Gajos K, Kozdrowski R, Nowak M, Siemieniuch MJ.Mares that fail to become pregnant after repeated breeding, without showing typical signs of clinical endometritis, should be suspected of subclinical endometritis (SE). Contact with infectious agents results in altered synthesis and secretion of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines and arachidonic acid metabolites, and disturbs endometrial functional balance. To address the hypothesis that SE affects the immune endocrine status of the equine endometrium, spontaneous secretion of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), prostaglandin F(2α) (PGF(2α)), 6-keto-PGF(1α )(a metabolite of prostacyclin ...
Takai S, Vigo G, Ikushima H, Higuchi T, Hagiwara S, Hashikura S, Sasaki Y, Tsubaki S, Anzai T, Kamada M.Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays were developed to detect virulent Rhodococcus equi in transtracheal aspirate samples from sick foals showing respiratory signs. An oligonucleotide primer pair from the sequence of the virulence-associated 15- to 17-kDa antigen gene of the virulence plasmid in virulent R. equi was used to amplify a 564 bp region by PCR, and the result was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization. No positive reaction was seen in DNA from 13 different microorganisms typically found in the respiratory tract. In tracheal aspirates seeded with virulent R. equi, a visible...
