"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.
McD○ LA, Anderson GI, Wright GM, Ryan DA.Bone cell cultures were evaluated to determine if osteogenic cell populations at different skeletal sites in the horse are heterogeneous. Osteogenic cells were isolated from cortical and cancellous bone in vitro by an explant culture method. Subcultured cells were induced to differentiate into bone-forming osteoblasts. The osteoblast phenotype was confirmed by immunohistochemical testing for osteocalcin and substantiated by positive staining of cells for alkaline phosphatase and the matrix materials collagen and glycosaminoglycans. Bone nodules were stained by the von Kossa method and counted....
Carmalt JL, Allen AL.To evaluate the effect of rostrocaudal mobility (RCM) of the mandible during extension and flexion of the atlanto-occipital joint on weight gain, feed digestibility, and fecal particle size in horses. Methods: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: 34 pregnant mares housed in 1 barn. Methods: Horses were randomized into a treatment (n = 17) or control (17) group. All horses were sedated, and the distance between the rostral portions of the upper and lower incisor arcades was determined during extension and flexion of the atlanto-occipital joint; mandibular RCM was calculated as the difference b...
Art T, Franck T, Lekeux P, de Moffarts B, Couëtil L, Becker M, Kohnen S, Deby-Dupont G, Serteyn D.The aim of this work was to measure the myeloperoxidase (MPO) concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid collected from horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), both in crisis and in remission, as well as from healthy horses. Seven horses with RAO were exposed to moldy hay until the maximum change in pleural pressure was greater than 1.5 kPa. At that point, BAL was performed, and the total cell counts and percentages in the fluid were immediately determined. To measure the MPO concentration in BAL-fluid supernatant, we used a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with poly...
Mills PC, Cross SE.An increasing number of formulations are applied to equine skin, yet variable penetration can affect efficacy, or the incidence of adverse effects, or both. To investigate the effects of common methods of skin preparation on transdermal drug penetration in vitro, we clipped, harvested, and froze skin samples from 5 Thoroughbred geldings. Thawed samples were prepared as follows: control (no preparation); cleaned with aqueous chlorhexidine (Aq-C, 0.1% w/v); cleaned with alcoholic chlorhexidine (Al-C, 0.5% w/v); shaved (Sh); or tape-stripped (Ta) with the use of adhesive tape. The samples were th...
Cruz AM, Coté N, McDonell WN, Geor RJ, Wilson BA, Monteith G, Li R.In this study, we aimed to define the effects of anesthesia and surgery on the resting energy expenditure of horses in experimental conditions. Six horses were used in a longitudinal study with 2 study periods: before and after anesthesia and surgery. Every horse underwent a standard 90-min ventral midline exploratory laparotomy. Oxygen uptake (VO2) and carbon dioxide output (VCO2) were measured, with the use of a closed-circuit spirometry system, on 5 consecutive days immediately before and after the surgery. In 3 consecutive 5-min periods each day, the expired air was collected in a Collins ...
Acosta-González RI, González-Reyes I, Flores-Gutiérrez GH.A cross-sectional study was conducted to determinate the seroprevalence rate of equine brucellosis in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Serum samples from 420 equines were analyzed with the Rose Bengal test at cell concentrations of 3% (RBT-3%) and 8% (RBT-8%), and positive results were confirmed with the Rivanol test (RT). Risk factors were determined with the prevalence ratio (PR) and the use of variables generated from a questionnaire administered to the animals' owners. Serum from 1 stallion had positive results with both the RBT-8% and the RT, for a seroprevalence rate of 0.238%. Drinking ...
Kofler J, Kneissl S, Malleczek D.Clinical, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) findings of acute desmopathy of the lateral collateral sesmoidean (navicular) ligament (CSL) in a 13-year-old Hanoverian mare are presented. On admission to the clinic the horse showed a grade 5/6 left front-limb lameness at the walk, pain on coffin joint manipulation, and coffin joint effusion. Despite a positive palmar digital nerve block, radiographs and ultrasonography did not indicate reasons for the severe clinical signs. However, MRI revealed damage to the CSL and bone marrow oedema of the navicular bone (NB), where...
Galli C, Colleoni S, Duchi R, Lagutina I, Lazzari G.Development of assisted reproductive technologies in horses has been relatively slow compared to other domestic species, namely ruminants and pigs. The scarce availability of abattoir ovaries and the lack of interest from horse breeders and breed associations have been the main reasons for this delay. Progressively though, the technology of oocyte maturation in vitro has been established followed by the application of ICSI to achieve fertilization in vitro. Embryo culture was initially performed in vivo, in the mare oviduct or in the surrogate sheep oviduct, to achieve the highest embryo devel...
Davis E, Rush BR, Herr LG, Ewert KM.Successful clinical management of bacterial pneumonia in horses depends on the administration of an appropriate antimicrobial agent at an adequate dosage and frequency, given by the correct route of administration for an adequate duration. Empiric antimicrobial therapy should be based on the clinician's experience and current veterinary literature. Based on the frequency of Gram-positive bacterial pathogens isolated from horses with bacterial pneumonia, every effort should be made to provide antimicrobial coverage for this class of pathogens. Gram-negative pathogens may co-exist; therefore, br...
Luo T, Bertone JJ, Greene HM, Wickler SJ.In its FDA approved formulation, N-butylscopolammonium bromide (Buscopan Injectable Solution, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica) is an anticholinergic spasmolytic agent indicated for management of abdominal pain associated with spasmodic colic, flatulent colic, and simple impactions in horses. Use of this drug ablates gastrointestinal peristalsis and rectal pressure. It ahs been suggested that N-butylscopolammonium bromide could be used to facilitate rectal examinations in horses. This study compared the effects of N-butylscopolammonium bromide versus lidocaine and a saline control on rectal pres...
Bell SA, Balasuriya UB, Nordhausen RW, MacLachlan NJ.Horses are commonly infected by herpesviruses, but isolation of equine herpesvirus-5 (EHV-5) has only infrequently been reported. We describe the isolation and characterization of a strain of EHV-5 from the blood mononuclear cells of a healthy adult horse in California. The virus was initially identified by EHV-5 specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and it caused lytic infection of cultured rabbit kidney cells only after repeated serial passage. Virions with characteristic herpesvirus morphology were readily demonstrated in cell culture lysate by transmission electron microscopy. A portio...
Nunes J, Mackie JT, Kiupel M.A 3.5-year-old Thoroughbred mare presented at necropsy with a large mass at the root of the mesentery and multiple smaller mesenteric masses. The mucosa of the small intestine contained numerous raised nodules. Histologic examination revealed severe granulomatous mesenteric lymphadenitis and enteritis. Epithelioid macrophages and multinucleated giant cells frequently contained numerous intracytoplasmic yeast organisms, which were strongly positive on immunohistochemical staining when using a polyclonal antibody against Histoplasma spp. A diagnosis of abdominal histoplasmosis was made based on ...
Bicout DJ, Carvalho R, Chalvet-Monfray K, Sabatier P.The paper examines the prevalence of equine infectious anemia (EIA) in horse populations in the northern part (comprising 89 cities) of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, from January 2002 to December 2004. Data on 8,981 agar gel immunodiffusion test results from the region were used as input for a statistical and autoregressive analysis model to construct a city-level map of the distribution of EIA prevalence. The following EIA prevalence (P) levels were found: 49 cities with 0 < P < or = 0.5%, 26 with 0.5% < P < or = 1.5%, 10 with 1.5% < P < or = 5%, and 4 with 5% < P < or = 25%.
Abutarbush SM, Naylor JM, Parchoma G, D'Eon M, Petrie L, Carruthers T.To evaluate the effectiveness of a self-learning computer module (SLCM) versus traditional instruction in teaching how to pass a nasogastric tube (NG) in the horse. Methods: A double-blind, monocentric study. Methods: 52 third-year students in the DVM program were randomly assigned to two groups: traditional instruction (N = 25) or SLCM instruction (N = 27). Methods: Traditional instruction consisted of an instructor and live demonstration; SCLM students were given a CD-ROM each. Both sessions lasted one hour. The students were then united in one session to practice passing the NG tube. Their ...
Ordakowski-Burk AL, Quinn RW, Shellem TA, Vough LR.Thousands of hectares of timothy (Phleum pretense L.) grown in the Mid-Atlantic region are infected by cereal rust mite (Abacarus hysterix) that causes discoloration and curling of leaves, decreased nutritional quality, and substantial decreases in yield. A decline in production of timothy hay can lower income for hay producers and cause horse owners to search for alternative hays. Low alkaloid reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) hay has potential as an alternative to timothy hay because it grows well in the Mid-Atlantic region, is believed to have a similar nutrient quality to timothy,...
Saad MD, Hussein HA, Bashandy MM, Kamel HH, Earhart KC, Fryauff DJ, Younan M, Mohamed AH.Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important cause of hepatitis among young Egyptian adults with high seroprevalence rates seen in both rural areas of the Nile Delta and in suburban Cairo. Because natural antibodies to HEV have been detected in animals and zoonotic transmission is postulated, we surveyed work horses in Cairo for evidence of HEV exposure and viremia. Sera from 200 Cairo work horses were tested by ELISA for the presence of IgG anti-HEV antibody revealed a seropositivity of 13%. Among 100 samples processed for detection of viral genome by means of nested polymerase chain reaction (N-P...
Venner M, Kerth R, Klug E.Tulathromycin is a new injectable macrolide antibiotic used for the treatment of pulmonary diseases of swine and cattle. In this study, 37 foals with sonographic evidence of lung abscesses were treated with tulathromycin (2.5mg/kg intramuscularly [IM] once weekly, group 1) and 33 foals (group 2) with a combination of azithromycin (10mg/kg per os [PO] once daily for the first seven days of therapy, thereafter every other day) and rifampin (10mg/kg PO twice daily). The bacterial aetiological agent was not determined. The foals were only mildly sick and the median number of pulmonary abscesses wa...
Druml T, Curik I, Baumung R, Aberle K, Distl O, Sölkner J.All over Europe, the number of draught horses has decreased drastically during the last 50 years. As a prerequisite for efficient management decisions, we analysed the conservation status in Austrian (Noriker Carinthia - NC, Noriker Salzburg - NS), Croatian (Croatian Coldblood - C, Posavina horse - P) and German (Altmaerkisch Coldblood - A, Black Forest horse - BF, Mecklenburg Coldblood - M, Rhenish German Draught horse - R, Saxon Thuringa Coldblood - ST, Schleswig Draught horse - Sch, South German Coldblood - SG) draught horses (434) using multilocus genotypic information from 30 (effectively...
Nagy AD, Simhofer H.To report use of mandibular condylectomy for treatment of advanced degenerative joint disease of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) caused by sepsis. Methods: Clinical case report. Methods: Two-year-old Noriker filly. Methods: Computed tomography (CT) was used to confirm advanced degenerative joint disease of the left TMJ and for follow-up after mandibular condylectomy and removal of necrotic meniscus. Results: Painful swelling (3 weeks duration) with drainage located just caudal to the left lateral canthus of the eye was associated with atrophy of the left masseter muscle, masticatory problems...
Gandini M, Bertuglia A.To compare functional indices of end-to-end (EEA) jejunojejunal anastomosis using skin staples in horses with a 2-layer inverting hand-sewn technique. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Jejunal segments from 8 fresh equine cadavers. Methods: For each bowel segment, 2 EEA anastomoses were created: one 2-layer hand-sewn and one 1-layer using skin staples. Time for anastomosis creation was recorded and compared. Lumen diameter of each anastomosis was measured on digital radiographs after intraluminal instillation of contrast medium and inflation of the jejunal segments to 14 mm Hg. Anastomotic...
Forsyth SF, Lopez-Villalobos N, Rogers CW.To assess the stability of creatine kinase (CK) activity in plasma collected from healthy foals and frozen at -20 degrees C for up to 12 weeks. Methods: Samples of venous blood drawn from 25 foals were analysed for CK activity soon after collection, and again after 1 and 12 weeks of freezing at -20 degrees C. Results: CK activity decreased (p<0.001) between Week 0 and Week 1 and between Week 0 and Week 12. Conclusions: Decreases in CK activity were statistically significant but clinically insignificant.
Fiala SM, Pimentel CA, Mattos AL, Gregory RM, Mattos RC.Our objective was to determine whether the concentration of cooled sperm inseminated influenced sperm transport and intensity of the uterine inflammatory reaction 2, 4 and 24h after insemination. Experimental subjects were 189 estrous mares with a dominant follicle > or =35 mm in diameter and no bacterial growth or neutrophils detected in uterine smears. Each mare was randomly assigned to receive one of the following intrauterine treatments (volume, 20 mL): insemination with 5x10(6) mL(-1) or 25x10(6) mL(-1) or 50x10(6) mL(-1) sperm diluted in 3 mL seminal plasma (SP) and 17 mL skim milk; s...
Gandini M.To report a technique for closed-bowel 1-layer inverting end-to-end jejunojejunal anastomosis in horses. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Fresh cadaveric jejunal segments from 12 horses. Methods: For each bowel segment a 1-layer closed and a 2-layer inverting end-to-end jejunojejunosotomy was created. Anastomosis construction time and anastomotic bursting pressure were measured and compared. Results: Closed-bowel anastomosis was significantly faster to create than a 2-layer technique. Luminal narrowing (<30%) was similar with both techniques and comparable with other inverting techniques....
Radcliffe CH, Woodie JB, Hackett RP, Ainsworth DM, Erb HN, Mitchell LM, Soderholm LV, Ducharme NG.To compare upper airway mechanics, arterial blood gases, and tracheal contamination in horses with induced left laryngeal hemiplegia (recurrent laryngeal neuropathy [RLN]) treated by laryngoplasty/vocal cordectomy (LPVC) or modified partial arytenoidectomy (MPA). Methods: Repeated measures under the following conditions: Control, RLN, LPVC, and MPA. Methods: Six horses. Methods: Two trials were conducted under all conditions at 80% and 100% of maximal heart rate (HR(max)). In Trial 1, arterial blood gases, tracheal and pharyngeal pressures, and laryngeal videoendoscopy were recorded. In Trial ...
Attili AR, Kennerman E, Takai S, Or ME, Marenzoni ML, Torun S, Pieramati C, Kayar A, Golcu E, Parkan C, Yilmaz Z, Gonul R, Valente C, Cuteri V.In order to assess the Rhodococcus equi infection in three provinces of Turkey (Bursa, Izmir and Istanbul), 696 sera from healthy foals and adult horses were tested by indirect ELISA using a R. equi reference strain (ATCC 6939) as antigen. 103 sera (14.80%) with titres >0.646 resulted positive. Seroprevalence was significantly higher (P=0.0053) in male than in female horses of Istanbul province, although higher antibody titres (mean value) were observed in the female group of Bursa and Izmir provinces with differences estimated between provinces (P=0.0002). Seroprevalence was correlated wit...
Morgan JW, Santschi EM, Zekas LJ, Scollay-Ward MC, Markel MD, Radtke CL, Sample SJ, Keuler NS, Muir P.To compare the orthogonal radiographic (OR) and computed tomographic (CT) appearance of paired Thoroughbred racehorse limbs with severe condylar fracture. Methods: In vitro study. Methods: Cadaveric paired limbs with severe condylar fracture (n=11 horses). Methods: Four standard radiographic and multiple transverse CT images were obtained of the fractured and contralateral limbs centering on the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal (fetlock) joints. Radiographs and CT images were graded by 4 raters, and interobserver agreement was calculated. Imaging evaluations were supplemented by fetlock joint dis...
Taylor SE, Barakzai SZ, Dixon P.To evaluate the effect ventriculocordectomy (VC) for treatment of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) on exercise performance and owner satisfaction in a mixed-breed population of horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Adult horses (n=92) with a history of abnormal respiratory noise and RLN. Methods: Retrospective analysis of horse that had unilateral VC (and contralateral ventriculectomy in 63 horses) for treatment of idiopathic RLN. Owners/trainers completed a questionnaire about complications and outcome at least 1 year after surgery. Performance index was determined using race rec...
Gummow B, de Wet CS, de Waal DT.Serum samples from yearling Thoroughbred horses (n = 176) in the magisterial districts of Colesberg, Venterstad, and Wodehouse in the Northern and Eastern Cape Provinces were collected between September and November 1995 to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Babesia equi and Babesia caballi in these regions. Samples were examined for specific antibodies using the indirect fluorescent antibody test. The 95% confidence intervals for the prevalence of serum antibodies in the 3 districts combined varied from 47% to 61% for B. equi and from 26% to 40% for B. caballi. Antibody prevalence did ...
DiMaio Knych HK, Stanley SD.Members of the CYP2D family constitute only about 2-4% of total hepatic CYP450s, however, they are responsible for the metabolism of 20-25% of commonly prescribed therapeutic compounds. CYP2D enzymes have been identified in a number of different species. However, vast differences in the metabolic activity of these enzymes have been well documented. In the horse, the presence of a member of the CYP2D family has been suggested from studies with equine liver microsomes, however its presence has not been definitively proven. In this study a cDNA encoding a novel CYP2D enzyme (CYP2D50) was cloned f...
Nagel C, Aurich C.Based on the marked variability in physiological equine gestation length, induction of foaling in mares often results in the birth of dysmature foals. Precise prediction of preparedness of the mare for foaling is thus essential. Treatment with glucocorticoids mimics the fetal signal that initiates birth. Repeated daily dexamethasone treatment in late gestation results in birth of mature foals but the time from initiation of treatment to foaling is highly variable and complications such as dystocia have been reported. Contrary to most expectations, treatment of prepartum mares with progestogens...
Ginders M, Leschnik M, Künzel F, Kampner D, Mikula C, Steindl G, Eichhorn I, Feßler AT, Schwarz S, Spergser J, Loncaric I.The aim of the present study was to investigate the genetic relatedness and the antimicrobial resistance profiles of a collection of Austrian Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from companion animals and horses. A total of 12 non-repetitive isolates presumptively identified as S. pneumoniae were obtained during routinely diagnostic activities between March 2009 and January 2017. Results: Isolates were confirmed as S. pneumoniae by bile solubility and optochin susceptibility testing, matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and sequence analysis of...
Tomczuk K, Hirzmann J, Köhler K, Szczepaniak K, Studzinska M, Demkowska-Kutrzepa M, Roczeń-Karczmarz M, Bauer C.A cross-sectional survey was performed to obtain first information on the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in slaughter horses from central, eastern and southern Poland, a country with a highly endemic occurrence of this tapeworm in red foxes. White tough nodular lesions being 3-10 mm in size, sharply demarcated and spherically or irregularly shaped were found in 54 of 365 livers examined. Histologically, focal granulomatous necrotizing inflammations and sometimes PAS-positive acellular lamellar structures being characteristic of the E. multilocularis metacestode stage were...
Mollenhauer HH, Rowe LD, Witzel DA.Heart, diaphragm, and rear limb muscle from ponies and rats treated with monensin were examined by light and electron microscopy. In both species, mitochondrial aberrations were observed in selected muscle cells. The aberrations consisted of loss of matrix substance (vacuolization) usually accompanied by swelling. Vacuolated mitochondria were characterized by an almost total loss of matrix substance with retention of the rudimentary cristae form. In ponies, most vacuolated mitochondria were observed in heart muscle though some also were found in the diaphragm. In rats, most vacuolated mitochon...
Ambache N, Killick SW.1 Graded motor responses were elicited in isolated, desheathed, thin strips of dog, horse, pig and sheep retractor penis (RP) muscles by field stimulation with trains of 0.2 ms pulses at 10 hertz. These twitches were shown to be neurogenic in all four species, by their prompt extinction in tetrodotoxin.2 alpha-Adrenoceptor blocking drugs abolished the contractile response to noradrenaline and to tyramine in all four species.3 Motor transmission was wholly adrenergic in the horse as in the dog RP because phentolamine rapidly abolished the electrically induced twitches in both these species; but...
Hepworth-Warren KL, Wong DM, Hay-Kraus BL, Wang C, Sun Y.This study compared the effects of IV administration of isotonic fluid therapy and colloidal fluid therapy in healthy neonatal foals. Fifteen healthy neonatal foals were used in a randomized blinded prospective clinical study. Foals were randomly assigned to receive a bolus of 20 mL/kg of tetrastarch (TES) or balanced crystalloid solution. Vital parameters, colloid osmotic pressure (COP), and various clinicopathologic variables were assessed prior to infusion and at various time points up to 120 h after infusion. The treatment group (TES) had a significant increase in both COP and percentage i...
Banse HE, Holbrook TC, Frank N, McFarlane D.Local (skeletal muscle and adipose) and systemic inflammation are implicated in the development of obesity-associated insulin resistance in humans. In horses, obesity is neither strongly nor consistently associated with systemic inflammation. The role of skeletal muscle inflammation in the development of insulin dysregulation (insulin resistance or hyperinsulinemia) remains to be determined. We hypothesized that skeletal muscle inflammation is related to obesity-associated hyperinsulinemia in horses. Thirty-five light-breed horses with body condition scores (BCSs) of 3/9 to 9/9 were studied, i...
Bowker RM, Linder K, Van Wulfen KK, Sonea IM.The anatomy of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint in the adult horse is described in relationship to the suspensory ligaments of the navicular bone, the neurovascular bundle and the sensory nerves to these periarticular regions. Using polymer plastic injections, the synovial cavity of the DIP joint was observed to have a complex relationship to the proximal suspensory or collateral sesamoidean ligament (CSL) of the navicular bone with the cavity forming cranial and caudal compartments around the CSL abaxially. Sensory nerves, as identified by peptide immunocytochemistry and silver/gold chl...
Rockx B, Mire CE.Henipaviruses are emerging zoonotic viruses that can cause outbreaks of severe respiratory and neurological disease in humans and animals such as horses. The mechanism by which these viruses can cause disease remain largely unknown and to date there are no therapeutics or vaccines approved for use in humans. Nipah virus is listed on the World Health Organization R & D Blueprint list of epidemic threats. In order to advance the availability of effective therapeutics and vaccines and medicines that can be used to save lives and avert large scale crises, animal models are required which recap...
Windberger U, Auer R, Seltenhammer M, Mach G, Skidmore JA.From a certain level of exercise-intensity onward, hematocrit increases in horses, which brings more oxygen carriers into the bloodstream. Camels, however, when used in competitive racing could be even in need of iron supplementation and blood transfusions due to a severe reduction of their available hematocrit compared to their resting hematocrit. Since the extrinsic and intrinsic mechanical properties of camel erythrocytes (RBC) are so different compared to RBCs of other mammals, the question arises whether this observation might be a response to endurance exercise aiming at keeping the RBC ...
Zhu C, Li Q, Guo W, Lu G, Yin X, Qi T, Xiang W, Ran D, Qu J.We report the complete genomic sequence of A/equine/Heilongjiang/1/2010, a strain of Florida sublineage clade 2 of H3N8 subtype equine influenza virus (EIV) isolated in northern China. This is the first announcement of a complete genomic sequence of EIV of such a clade in China.
Johnson PJ, Mrad DR, Schwartz AJ, Kellam L.Outcome and complications associated with administration of moxidectin gel to 3 foals < 4 months old are described. Two foals became comatose but survived following supportive treatment. One foal died following loss of consciousness associated with moxidectin administration. Risk of moxidectin overdose exists, because horse owners often fail to read or comprehend the package insert instructions pertaining to use of the syringe-locking mechanism. In addition, moxidectin should not be administered to foals < 4 months old, because it is likely that treated foals will become comatose.
Cui C, Li L, Wu L, Wang X, Zheng Y, Wang F, Wei H, Peng J.A healthy intestine plays an important role in the growth and development of farm animals. In small intestine, Paneth cells are well known for their regulation of intestinal microbiota and intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Although there has been a lot of studies and reviews on human and murine Paneth cells under intestinal homeostasis or disorders, little is known about Paneth cells in farm animals. Most farm animals possess Paneth cells in their small intestine, as identified by various staining methods, and Paneth cells of various livestock species exhibit noticeable differences in cell shape, ...
Kamani J, Bártová E, Kašpárková N, Mohammed SJ, Budíková M, Sedlák K.The protozoan parasites Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, transmitted by ticks, cause equine piroplasmosis, the most prevalent tick-borne disease in equids. Trichinellosis is a worldwide food-borne zoonosis caused by helminth Trichinella spp. that can lead to serious disease in humans, with fatal outcome. Although the infection is rare in horses, it deserves attention due to the increasing use of horse meat as a source of protein for humans. Horse trichinellosis is caused by several Trichinella species, most commonly by T. spiralis. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of ant...
Austin HE, Hyams JH, Abbott KA.Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, Australia, is responding to a national need for veterinarians with the skills and attributes to fulfill roles in rural practice and the large-animal industries. Rural practitioners must competently and confidently handle a range of large animals if they are to build a relationship of mutual trust with clients and deliver effective animal-health services. Training in animal handling begins in the first year of the course with highly structured small-group practical classes involving cattle, horses, sheep, dogs, cats, pigs, poultry, and laboratory ani...
Johansson AM, Gardner SY, Levine JF, Papich MG, LaFevers DH, Fuquay LR, Reagan VH, Atkins CE.Continuous rate infusion (CRI) of furosemide in humans is considered superior to intermittent administration (IA). This study examined whether furosemide CRI, compared with IA, would increase diuretic efficacy with decreased fluid and electrolyte fluctuations and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the horse. Five mares were used in a crossover-design study. During a 24-hour period, each horse received a total of 3 mg/kg furosemide by either CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h preceded by a loading dose of 0.12 mg/kg IV) or IA (1 mg/kg IV q8h). There was not a statistically signific...
Kristiansen KK, Kold SE.There is limited knowledge available of factors influencing response to treatments of the DIP-joint in horses with lameness responding to diagnostic analgesia of the DIP-joint. For this reason a multivariable statistical analysis was performed. Objective: Horses with lameness reduced by > or = 75% 10 min after intra-articular analgesia of the DIP-joint, can be treated successfully by intra-articular medication of the joint. Multiple factors influence the response to treatment. Methods: The study was performed retrospectively based on clinical records of horses treated with either polysulpha...
Lampinen-Salomonsson M, Beckman E, Bondesson U, Hedeland M.Altrenogest (17alpha-allyl-17beta-hydroxyestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one) is a steroid used for the control of estrus in horses. This drug can potentially be abused in racehorses as the occurrence of estrus can alter their performance. This work describes an analytical method based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the detection of altrenogest in horse urine down to a concentration of 13 pg/mL (0.042 nM). Furthermore, the qualitative aspect of metabolism of altrenogest in the horse has been studied. The main transformations that were found for this species were conjugation with gl...
Squire KR, Fessler JF, Toombs JP, Van Sickle DC, Blevins WE.Femoral head ostectomy was performed in six horses, three ponies, and four cattle for treatment of fractures of the femoral capital physis, coxofemoral luxation, fractured acetabulum, or severe degenerative joint disease. The procedures were performed via a cranial approach that did not involve osteotomy of the greater trochanter. A dorsal approach for femoral head ostectomy via osteotomy of the greater trochanter was evaluated in three healthy adult ponies. Three animals (2 ponies, 1 calf) were euthanatized within a month and one horse was euthanatized at year 2 due to postoperative complicat...
Jansen MO, van Buiten A, van den Bogert AJ, Schamhardt HC.The in vivo strains of the musculus interosseus medius (suspensory ligament) and its rami extensorii (extensor branches) in the forelimb of the horse were determined from angular changes of the metacarpophalangeal and the distal interphalangeal joints. For this purpose, regression models were fitted to strains and joint angle combinations measured in in vitro limb loading experiments. The in vivo strains were computed from the kinematics of 8 horses at the walk, the trot and the canter. It was found that the extensor branches were strained about 1.0% at hoof impact, which indicates that they p...
Ek N.The Pr protein, which is one of the major equine acidic prealbumins and which consists of a large number of phenotypes, has been studied with regard to its chemical identity. Serum samples of known Pr phenotype which had been treated with varying amounts of bovine trypsin were subjected to starch gel electrophoresis at pH 4.8. When a certain amount of trypsin was used, the Pr protein was markedly affected, whereas the other acidic prealbumins retained their normal electrophoreitic pattern. Extracts from three different regions of the acidic prealbumin field were tested by the casein precipitat...
Palm FM, Schenk I, Neuhauser S, Schubert D, Machnik M, Schänzer W, Aurich C.Treatment with the progestin altrenogest is widely used in pregnant mares. The fact that foals born from healthy mares treated with altrenogest until term suffered from neonatal problems raises the question of direct effects of altrenogest on vital functions in the neonate. We have therefore investigated altrenogest concentrations in maternal and neonatal blood plasma and in fetal fluids. Pregnant mares were treated with altrenogest orally once daily (0,088 mg/kg bodyweight, n = 7) or left untreated (n = 8) from 280 d of gestation until foaling. Altrenogest concentration was determined in plas...