"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.
Kim D, Lee S, Oyungerel B, Cho G.This study aimed to generate information for parentage testing in horse breeds using microsatellites (STRs) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Genotype data were obtained from 189 horse hair root samples, including 38 Thoroughbreds (TBs), 17 Jeju horses (JHs), 20 Quarter horses (QHs), 21 American Miniatures (AMs), and 93 Mongolian horses (MHs), using 15 STR markers and 71 SNP markers. Comparative analysis revealed that the mean expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.468 (AM) to 0.491 (JH) for SNPs and from 0.695 (TB) to 0.791 (MH) for STRs. The mean observed heterozygosity ranged from ...
Hou L, Sulayman A, Zeng Y, Zhou L, Aimaier A, Kader A, Shi L.The study of horse genetic diversity is imperative for informing conservation strategies, safeguarding ancestral lineages, and enhancing breed adaptability to environmental and disease pressures. This study employed 13 microsatellite markers with fluorescent-labeled capillary electrophoresis to analyze the genetic diversity of the Kyrgyz horse ( = 30) and Barkol horse ( = 30) for the first time, comparing them with three other indigenous horse breeds ( = 30 per breed) from Xinjiang, China. A total of 208 alleles were detected. The Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) results from GenAlEx 6.51...
Pilati N, Pressanto MC, Palumbo Piccionello A, De Angelis Corvi F, Beccati F.The term overriding spinous processes (ORSPs), commonly known as "kissing spine syndrome," refers to a skeletal abnormality in horses that is characterized by the narrowing (<4 mm) of the interspinous space and touching or overlapping of the spinous processes (SPs). This condition primarily affects the mid- and caudal thoracic vertebrae; however, ORSP can also affect the lumbar SPs. In the veterinary community, kissing spine is widely recognized as a common condition in sport horses, as it is often associated with chronic back pain and contributes to poor performance. Despite its significant c...
Mousquer MA, Paz CFR, Rafael LA, Wendt CG, Curcio BR, Souza RP, Santos IPOD, da Silva RB, Müller V, Nogueira CEW.Obesity is common in some horse breeds, raising concerns about health and performance. Criollo horses in morphological events often undergo intensive management promoting early adiposity. Objective: This study aimed (1) to assess morphometric traits, metabolic profile, hoof morphology, and tarsal joint alterations in Criollo horses participating in morphological trials; (2) to evaluate sex-related differences; and (3) the associations between morphometric measurements, hoof morphology, and tarsal osteoarthritis grades. Methods: Fifty-five horses (30 mares, 25 stallions) were evaluated for body...
Kassymbekova SN, Bimenova ZZ, Iskhan KZ, Sobiech P, Jastrzebski JP, Brym P, Babis W, Kalykova AS, Otebayev ZM, Kabylbekova DI, Baneh H, Romanov MN.Mugalzhar horses are a relatively young native breed of Kazakhstan, prized for meat and milk production and adaptation. This study was conducted to investigate genetic diversity and pinpoint genomic regions associated with selection signatures in this breed using whole-genome sequence data. Variant calling yielded a total of 21,722,393 high-quality variants, including 19,495,163 SNPs and 2,227,230 indels. Most variants were located in introns and intergenic regions, while only 1.94% were exonic. Estimates of genetic diversity were moderate, with expected and observed heterozygosity and nucleot...
Marques GF, Moorman VJ, Ellis KL, Perlini M, Edwards VL.To describe the long-term outcome of a horse that underwent a standing, ultrasound-guided, minimally invasive, biceps brachii tenotomy. Methods: Case report. Methods: A 17-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse gelding. Methods: The horse had a chronic, severe, lameness localized to the left shoulder region. Diagnostic imaging revealed fractures of the intermediate and lesser tubercles of the left humerus, biceps brachii (BB) tendinopathy, and bicipital bursitis. Conservative management was attempted, but lack of improvement prompted surgical intervention. An ultrasound-guided, minimally invasive, B...
Pipitpornsirikul P, Thangthamniyom N, Laikul A, Songkasupa T, Pathomsakulwong W, Apichaimongkonkun T, Kasemsuwan S, E-Kobon T, Lekcharoensuk P.African horse sickness (AHS), a life-threatening disease caused by African horse sickness virus serotype 1 (AHSV-1), emerged in Thailand in February 2020 with 607 cases and a 93% fatality rate. The outbreak was mitigated by vector control and a live attenuated virus (LAV) vaccine. Information regarding viremia and immunity after infection and vaccination during outbreaks are essential for controlling disease transmission. This study evaluated these parameters in 15 infected naïve horses and 11 vaccinated horses during the 2020 outbreak. Whole blood was collected and subjected to RT real-time ...
Robel M, Grest P, Riond B, Zablotski Y, Schoster A.Limited data are available on immune cells in the intestinal wall of healthy horses, hampering interpretation of results in case of disease. Objective: Characterize and quantify the immune cell populations and their distribution in duodenal and rectal biopsies of horses without gastrointestinal disease; compare immune cell counts (ICCTs) between full thickness- and mucosal biopsies. Methods: Twenty horses fit for slaughter, slaughtered for meat production. Methods: Full-thickness and endoscopic forceps obtained mucosal biopsies were taken within 30 min after slaughter from the duodenum and rec...
Selecky ME, Louie EW, Donnelly C, Finno CJ, Morgan JM.Echocardiographic reference intervals for Quarter Horses are infrequently reported. Objective: To provide standard echocardiographic measurements for sedentary Quarter Horses and evaluate the relationship between physical characteristics (body weight, age, sex) and echocardiographic measurements. Methods: Forty-one sedentary Quarter Horses, free of cardiac disease, from a university research herd. Methods: A cross-sectional study evaluating standardized echocardiograms performed on sedentary Quarter Horses (41) between 2020 and 2022. Reference intervals were calculated for raw and weight-corre...
Baxley BH, Stellato A, Anderson NC.Horses involved in equine-assisted services (EAS) support the psychological and physiological health of individuals through mounted activities; however, limited research exists on how these sessions affect the horse's movement. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the influence of rider presence and posture on horses' gait parameters in EAS settings. Methods: Horses (n = 22) were observed during walk and trot, both with and without a mounted rider, in four EAS centers in the United States. Distal limb-mounted inertial measurement units collected peak ground reaction force (pGRF), stride ...
Raïsky C, Vives BM, Leduc L, Symoens A, Tavanaeimanesh H, Richard H, Juette T, Bédard C, Leclère M.Steaming hay reduces respirable particles and is commonly used to feed horses with asthma. However, it showed inconsistent benefits in clinical studies. Objective: (1) To assess the effects of steamed hay on lung function and airway inflammation in horses with severe equine asthma (SEA) in remission; (2) To compare these effects with a dry hay diet. Methods: Cross-over in vivo experiment. Methods: Horses were fed steamed and dry hay for 4 weeks in a prospective, cross-over study, with a 4-week washout period. Lung function, bronchoalveolar lavage (BALF) cytology, and a 23-point weighted clin...
Buschmann E, Van Steenkiste G, Bulckens H, Schauvliege S, Decloedt A, van Loon G.Frequent premature atrial complexes (PACs) can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation or atrial tachycardia, and pharmacological therapy can be challenging. Objective: To report the use of three-dimensional electro-anatomical mapping of PAC originating from the right atrial free wall and treatment by radiofrequency ablation in three horses. Methods: Retrospective case report. Methods: Frequent premature atrial complexes (PACs) were diagnosed in three horses. Twelve-lead ECG and vectorcardiography suggested an origin in the right lateral free wall in two horses and the caudal right atrium in ...
O'Brien C, Simon O, Franklin SH, Ferlini Agne G, Weaver S, Raidal SL.Physical restraint of horses for veterinary procedures is necessary to allow completion of tasks effectively and without injury to patient or personnel. Objective: To compare physiological effects and behavioural responses to four commonly used restraint techniques for upper respiratory tract (URT) endoscopy in unsedated horses. Methods: Blocked and randomised interventional study. Methods: Twelve university owned teaching horses were blocked into groups of four and randomly allocated to one of four restraint methods (nose twitch, ear hold, Stableizer® and nil restraint) for URT endoscopy. Ho...
Janicek JC, Grant BD, Woodie JB, Reed SM, Mariën T, Anderson J.To describe the surgical approach used in horses undergoing C7-T1 ventral interbody fusion using a kerf cut cylinder (KCC) implant and report the short- and long-term outcomes. Methods: Observational retrospective study. Methods: A total of 38 client-owned horses. Methods: Medical records of horses that underwent ventral interbody fusion because of C7-T1 cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy from 2004 to 2024 were reviewed. Preoperative variables included age, sex, breed, and affected site(s). Surgical variables included types of KCC used, intraoperative complications, and anesthesia related ...
Krcal C, Licka T.Besides oral temperature, meteorological parameters are expected to be relevant for mouthpiece temperature, potentially influenced by the material, surface area and weight of the bit. This study measured the temperature of the mouthpieces at the corner of the mouth while they were in use on 58 carriage horses during the four 2024 seasons. Stainless steel, copper, and copper-steel bits were tested in three shapes: Butterfly Liverpool, Liverpool, and Loose Ring Snaffle with four rings. Additionally, surface temperatures of inner thighs, the ground, and buildings were measured using infrared ther...
Gutierrez SO, Garcia-Lopez JM, Chope KB, Levine DG, Ortved K, Brown KA.To describe the clinical and ultrasonographic findings in horses with desmopathy of the abaxial palmar/plantar ligament (APL) of the proximal interphalangeal joint and the prevalence of concurrent musculoskeletal injuries in the pastern and foot. Unassigned: Horses presenting to New Bolton Center between March 2017 and November 2022 with an age ranging from 5 to 20 years that underwent lameness evaluation in which lameness was localized to the distal limb and had an ultrasonographic diagnosis of APL desmopathy. Unassigned: Horses included were those that (1) presented for a lameness examinatio...
Whitlock F, Newton R, King S, Ionescu AM, Higgins S.With the geographical distribution of West Nile virus expanding, there is growing concern about the potential for an incursion to the UK. Here, Fleur Whitlock, Richard Newton, Simon King, Andra-Maria Ionescu and Sara Higgins provide a timely reminder of key aspects of the virus' biology.
Bozzola C, Sala G, Stancari G, Ferrucci F, Zucca E.Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) results from alveolar capillary stress failure after strenuous exercise, leading to bleeding and pulmonary inflammation. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology is considered the gold standard for the assessment of airway inflammation; however, it is often considered more invasive compared to tracheal wash (TW). It has been demonstrated that TW is a reliable diagnostic tool that may substitute BALF to diagnose and grade the severity of EIPH in racehorses; however, no information about airway inflammation in EIPH-affected horses has been reporte...
Cabaret J.Resistance to anthelmintics in gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) is highly prevalent, as these parasites have been treated with anthelmintics for decades in ruminants and horses. Anthelmintics belong to different classes, each with a different mode of action. The most used are benzimidazoles and macrocyclic lactones and, to a lesser extent, levamisole and pyrantel in herbivores, as estimated from the literature. Combining these classes should be effective in controlling GIN. However, several farmers' practices tend to promote GIN resistance. Therefore, it is unclear whether the use of anthelmi...
Paksoy Y, Ural K, Erdoğan H, Erdoğan S, Paşa S.The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the relaxation, stress reduction and behavioral changes observed after manual therapy applied to horses exposed to racing and physical training stimulus. This descriptive approach is aimed at veterinary clinicians to evaluate the therapy process more effectively with behavioral feedback. For this purpose, the study was conducted in two different equestrian clubs in Adana (Adana Mediterranean and Suvari Equestrian Clubs) between 2023 and 2024. A total of 32 racehorses (16 Thoroughbred, 16 Arabian; 16 female, 16 male) of different ages, genders and bre...
Plotsker NM, Taylor R, Coffin HR, Beatty A, Newbold G, Knickelbein KE.To describe the clinical and histologic features of a sarcoid arising from the medial caruncle with spread to the third eyelid of a horse. Methods: A 20-year-old Quarter Horse gelding. Methods: An incisional biopsy of the medial caruncle mass was initially performed, with histopathology suggesting a sarcoid or other spindle cell neoplasm. The mass grew rapidly following the biopsy, expanding to affect the third eyelid and adjacent superior palpebral conjunctiva. A complete third eyelid and medial caruncle excision with resection of affected palpebral conjunctiva and adjunctive cryotherapy was ...
Lamanna M, Buonaiuto G, Colleluori R, Raspa F, Valle E, Cavallini D.The time-activity budget is a key indicator of animal welfare. This meta-analysis integrated 14 studies (1979-2020) with 364 horses under wild, natural-living, and stabled conditions to evaluate feeding, resting, standing, and locomotion. Objective: The study aimed to categorize daily behavioural patterns in equines, with emphasis on feeding behaviour. Methods: Fixed and random effects models, forest plots, and ANOVA assessed the influence of management, sociality, sex, age, body size, and feeding type. Results: Feeding was greater in free-ranging (56 %) than stabled horses (38 %; p < 0.0001),...
Taylor WTT, Delsol N, Oelze VM, Mitchell P, Stricker L, Lavin M, Ogundiran A, Hosek L, Barrón-Ortiz CI, Ojediran O, Quintero-Bisono D....Domestic equids were central to the initial colonization of the Atlantic coast of the Americas, a process partially chronicled by historical records. While Spanish colonists brought horses to the Caribbean decades earlier, settlement of the English colony at Jamestown, Virginia, was among the first dispersals of horses to the eastern seaboard. Archaeozoological analysis of identifiable domestic equid remains from two contexts associated with the initial occupation of Jamestown demonstrates intense processing and consumption of the first Jamestown horses during the "Starving Time" winter of 160...
Azócar-Aedo L, Meniconi G, Pino-Olguín C, Gallardo M.At a veterinary hospital in southern Chile, we conducted an epidemiological study involving domestic dogs, cats, and horses to determine the seropositivity for pathogenic spp., identify the infecting serogroups, measure antibody titers, and characterize seropositive animals by sex and age. None of the sampled animals showed clinical signs of leptospirosis. The microscopic agglutination test, using a panel of eight serogroups, was used for diagnosis. The seropositivity was 36.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 24.5-48.4) in dogs, 12.9% (95% CI = 2.6-23.1) in cats, and 45.2% (95% CI = 30.1-60.2...
Dong-Ha L, Eun-Bee L, Jong-Pil S, Eun-Ju K.Despite routine vaccination, equine influenza outbreaks occur due to disparities of virus strains between vaccine and field, and immunity gaps between vaccinations. Objective: To evaluate whether a combination of adjuvants can enhance immune responses to equine influenza virus (EIV) vaccines. Methods: In vivo experimental study. Methods: Eight mixed-breed horses were immunised intramuscularly with a recombinant canarypox-based EIV vaccine, either alone or in combination with monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C). A single vaccine dose was administered, and...
Muñoz AM, Cribb N.Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical techniques are desirable in horses and other equids. A new approach called "modified single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) for equine cryptorchidectomy" is described, along with the postoperative outcomes of 10 equids. A SILS Port device (Covidien) was placed a 30- to 40-millimeter incision in combination with 1 or 2 15-millimeter para-inguinal incisions to exteriorize the intra-abdominal testicles. Ten animals, 2 bilateral abdominal cryptorchid horses and 8 unilateral abdominal cryptorchid equids, underwent cryptorchidectomy using the SILS tech...
Steensma MJ, Ducro BJ, Dibbits B, Doekes HP, van Schipstal JGC, Kalblfleisch T, Groenen MAM, Derks MFL.In horses, genetic diversity is predominantly observed between breeds, with little variation within breeds. The studbooks of the two largest horse populations in the Netherlands, the Dutch Warmblood horse and Friesian horse population, have ongoing conservation projects including collecting large-scale genotype and sequence data. The current reference genome, derived from a Thoroughbred horse can lead to bias in genetic analyses of other horse breeds. Therefore, the aim of this study was to create high-quality breed-specific reference genomes of Dutch Warmblood and Friesian horses. We performe...
Bacon EK, Parnell D, Muscatello G, McElroy J, Velie BD.The ongoing discussion surrounding the well-being of retired racehorses underscores the importance of implementing effective rehoming strategies that prioritise animal welfare. A significant knowledge gap persists regarding whether a horse's success in racing can be used to reliably predict its performance in different equestrian sports upon retirement from racing. Objective: To examine the association between racehorse performance metrics and eventing metrics in off-the-track Thoroughbreds that compete in eventing within Australia. Methods: Racing metrics and eventing metrics for a sample of ...
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 ...
Toupadakis CA, Wong A, Genetos DC, Cheung WK, Borjesson DL, Ferraro GL, Galuppo LD, Leach JK, Owens SD, Yellowley CE.To determine the optimal osteogenic source of equine mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs) and optimize collection of and expansion conditions for those cells. Methods: 10 adult Quarter Horses and 8 newborn Thoroughbred foals. Methods: eMSCs were isolated from bone marrow (BM), adipose tissue, and umbilical cord blood and tissue, and the osteogenic potential of each type was assessed. Effects of anatomic site, aspiration volume, and serum type on eMSC yield from BM were investigated. Results: BM-eMSCs had the highest overall expression of the osteogenic genes Cbfa1, Osx, and Omd and staining for ALP ...
Chermette R, Ferreiro L, Guillot J.Dermatophytoses are one of the most frequent skin diseases of pets and livestock. Contagiousness among animal communities, high cost of treatment, difficulty of control measures, and the public health consequences of animal ringworm explain their great importance. A wide variety of dermatophytes have been isolated from animals, but a few zoophilic species are responsible for the majority of the cases, viz. Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton equinum and Trichophyton verrucosum, as also the geophilic species Microsporum gypseum. According to the host and the fungal spec...
Lorenzo JM, Sarriés MV, Tateo A, Polidori P, Franco D, Lanza M.Meat has exerted a crucial role in human evolution and is an important component of a healthy and well balanced diet due to its nutritional richness. The aim of the present review was to shed light on the nutritional composition of horsemeat and their benefits for human health. One of the reasons for such interest was the occurrence, in Europe several years ago, of dioxin, Bovine Encephalopathy and foot-and-mouth disease problems in farm animals. Therefore, consumers began to look for alternative red meats from other non-traditional species. There is no carcass classification system on horses ...
McNulty SN, Tort JF, Rinaldi G, Fischer K, Rosa BA, Smircich P, Fontenla S, Choi YJ, Tyagi R, Hallsworth-Pepin K, Mann VH, Kammili L, Latham PS....Food borne trematodes (FBTs) are an assemblage of platyhelminth parasites transmitted through the food chain, four of which are recognized as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Fascioliasis stands out among the other NTDs due to its broad and significant impact on both human and animal health, as Fasciola sp., are also considered major pathogens of domesticated ruminants. Here we present a reference genome sequence of the common liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica isolated from sheep, complementing previously reported isolate from cattle. A total of 14,642 genes were predicted from the 1.14 GB gen...
Tobaly-Tapiero J, Bittoun P, Neves M, Guillemin MC, Lecellier CH, Puvion-Dutilleul F, Gicquel B, Zientara S, Giron ML, de Thé H, Saïb A.Foamy viruses (FVs) are complex retroviruses which have been isolated from different animal species including nonhuman primates, cattle, and cats. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a new FV isolated from blood samples of horses. Similar to other FVs, the equine foamy virus (EFV) exhibits a highly characteristic ultrastructure and induces syncytium formation and subsequent cell lysis on a large number of cell lines. Molecular cloning of EFV reveals that the general organization is that of other known FVs, whereas sequence similarity with its bovine FV counterpart is only 40%...
Tell LA.Aspergillosis is relatively uncommon in mammals, but dogs, horses, cows and dolphins are susceptible. On the other hand, aspergillosis is a major cause of mortality in birds. This paper provides an overview of the manifestations of this disease in these animals. Treatment options are still lacking, but the increased incidence of the disease in humans has led to increased study, which may benefit both human and veterinary medicine.
Edson D, Field H, McMichael L, Vidgen M, Goldspink L, Broos A, Melville D, Kristoffersen J, de Jong C, McLaughlin A, Davis R, Kung N, Jordan D....Pteropid bats or flying-foxes (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) are the natural host of Hendra virus (HeV) which sporadically causes fatal disease in horses and humans in eastern Australia. While there is strong evidence that urine is an important infectious medium that likely drives bat to bat transmission and bat to horse transmission, there is uncertainty about the relative importance of alternative routes of excretion such as nasal and oral secretions, and faeces. Identifying the potential routes of HeV excretion in flying-foxes is important to effectively mitigate equine exposure risk at the bat...
Thorpe CT, Godinho MSC, Riley GP, Birch HL, Clegg PD, Screen HRC.While the predominant function of all tendons is to transfer force from muscle to bone and position the limbs, some tendons additionally function as energy stores, reducing the cost of locomotion. Energy storing tendons experience extremely high strains and need to be able to recoil efficiently for maximum energy storage and return. In the equine forelimb, the energy storing superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) has much higher failure strains than the positional common digital extensor tendon (CDET). However, we have previously shown that this is not due to differences in the properties of...
Witte TH, Knill K, Wilson AM.Measurement of peak vertical ground reaction force (GRFz) from multiple limbs simultaneously during high-speed, over-ground locomotion would enhance our understanding of the locomotor mechanics of cursorial animals. Here, we evaluate the accuracy of predicting peak GRFz from duty factor (the proportion of the stride for which the limb is in contact with the ground). Foot-mounted uniaxial accelerometers, combined with UHF FM telemetry, are shown to be practical and accurate for the field measurement of stride timing variables, including duty factor. Direct comparison with the force plate produc...
Soave O, Brand CD.Coprophagy is performed by rodents and lagomorphs and to a lesser degree by piglets, foals, dogs and nonhuman primates. Due to the construction of the digestive system of rodents and rabbits, coprophagy is necessary to supply many essential nutrients. Bacterial synthesis of nutrients occurs in the lower gastrointestinal tract in these animals where little absorption is realized. The eating of their feces provides a method for obtaining these nutrients.
Carpenter S, Mellor PS, Fall AG, Garros C, Venter GJ.African horse sickness virus (AHSV) is a lethal arbovirus of equids that is transmitted between hosts primarily by biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). AHSV affects draft, thoroughbred, and companion horses and donkeys in Africa, Asia, and Europe. In this review, we examine the impact of AHSV critically and discuss entomological studies that have been conducted to improve understanding of its epidemiology and control. The transmission of AHSV remains a major research focus and we critically review studies that have implicated both Culicoides and other blood-feeding...
Knowles DP, Kappmeyer LS, Haney D, Herndon DR, Fry LM, Munro JB, Sears K, Ueti MW, Wise LN, Silva M, Schneider DA, Grause J, White SN, Tretina K....A novel apicomplexan parasite was serendipitously discovered in horses at the United States - Mexico border. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rDNA showed the erythrocyte-infective parasite to be related to, but distinct from, Theileria spp. in Africa, the most similar taxa being Theileria spp. from waterbuck and mountain zebra. The degree of sequence variability observed at the 18S rDNA locus also suggests the likely existence of additional cryptic species. Among described species, the genome of this novel equid Theileria parasite is most similar to that of Theileria equi, also a pathogen of...
Lobigs M, Pavy M, Hall RA, Lobigs P, Cooper P, Komiya T, Toriniwa H, Petrovsky N.Advax is a polysaccharide-based adjuvant that potently stimulates vaccine immunogenicity without the increased reactogenicity seen with other adjuvants. This study investigated the immunogenicity of a novel Advax-adjuvanted Vero cell culture candidate vaccine against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in mice and horses. The results showed that, in mice, a two-immunization, low-dose (50 ng JEV antigen) regimen with adjuvanted vaccine produced solid neutralizing immunity comparable to that elicited with live ChimeriVax-JE immunization and superior to that elicited with tenfold higher doses of a ...
Vázquez-Boland JA, Giguère S, Hapeshi A, MacArthur I, Anastasi E, Valero-Rello A.Rhodococcus equi is a soil-dwelling pathogenic actinomycete that causes pulmonary and extrapulmonary pyogranulomatous infections in a variety of animal species and people. Young foals are particularly susceptible and develop a life-threatening pneumonic disease that is endemic at many horse-breeding farms worldwide. R. equi is a facultative intracellular parasite of macrophages that replicates within a modified phagocytic vacuole. Its pathogenicity depends on a virulence plasmid that promotes intracellular survival by preventing phagosome-lysosome fusion. Species-specific tropism of R. equi fo...
Costa MC, Weese JS.The equine intestinal tract contains a complex microbial population (microbiota) that plays an important role in health and disease. Despite the undeniable importance of a 'normal' microbiota, understanding of the composition and function of this population is currently limited. As methods to characterize the microbiota and its genetic makeup (the microbiome) have evolved, the composition and complexity of this population are starting to be revealed. As is befitting a hindgut fermenter, members of the Firmicutes phylum appear to predominate, yet there are significant populations of numerous ot...
Kumar N, Bera BC, Greenbaum BD, Bhatia S, Sood R, Selvaraj P, Anand T, Tripathi BN, Virmani N.Equine influenza viruses (EIVs) of H3N8 subtype are culprits of severe acute respiratory infections in horses, and are still responsible for significant outbreaks worldwide. Adaptability of influenza viruses to a particular host is significantly influenced by their codon usage preference, due to an absolute dependence on the host cellular machinery for their replication. In the present study, we analyzed genome-wide codon usage patterns in 92 EIV strains, including both H3N8 and H7N7 subtypes by computing several codon usage indices and applying multivariate statistical methods. Relative synon...
Matthews JB.Anthelmintics have been applied indiscriminately to control horse nematodes for over 40 years. Three broad-spectrum anthelmintic classes are currently registered for nematode control in horses: benzimidazoles (fenbendazole, oxibendazole), tetrahydropyrimidines (pyrantel) and macrocyclic lactones (ivermectin, moxidectin). Generally, control strategies have focused on nematode egg suppression regimens that involve the frequent application of anthelmintics to all horses at intervals based on strongyle egg reappearance periods after treatment. The widespread use of such programmes has substantial...
Kaplan RM.Suppressive anthelmintic treatment strategies originally designed to control Strongylus vulgaris in horses were extremely successful in reducing morbidity and mortality from parasitic disease. Unfortunately, this strategy has inadvertently resulted in the selection of drug-resistant cyathostomes (Cyathostominea), which are now considered the principal parasitic pathogens of horses. Resistance in the cyathostomes to benzimidazole drugs is highly prevalent throughout the world, and resistance to pyrantel appears to be increasingly common. However, there are still no reports of ivermectin resista...
van Duijkeren E, Moleman M, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Multem J, Troelstra A, Fluit AC, van Wamel WJ, Houwers DJ, de Neeling AJ....At the Veterinary Microbiological Diagnostic Center, the Netherlands, the percentage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates found in equine clinical samples increased from 0% in 2002 to 37% in 2008. MRSA of spa-type t064, belonging to MLST ST8 and spa-types t011 and t2123, both belonging to the livestock-associated MLST ST398, predominated. During an outbreak of post-surgical MRSA infections in horses at a veterinary teaching hospital in 2006/2007, MRSA isolates of spa-type t2123 were cultured from 7 horses and 4/61 personnel which indicated zoonotic transmission. After...
Proops L, McComb K.It has recently been shown that some non-human animals can cross-modally recognize members of their own taxon. What is unclear is just how plastic this recognition system can be. In this study, we investigate whether an animal, the domestic horse, is capable of spontaneous cross-modal recognition of individuals from a morphologically very different species. We also provide the first insights into how cross-modal identity information is processed by examining whether there are hemispheric biases in this important social skill. In our preferential looking paradigm, subjects were presented with t...
Baker TS, Newcomb WW, Booy FP, Brown JC, Steven AC.Cryoelectron microscopy and three-dimensional computer reconstruction techniques have been used to compare the structures of two types of DNA-free capsids of equine herpesvirus 1 at a resolution of 4.5 nm. "Light" capsids are abortive, whereas "intermediate" capsids are related to maturable intracellular precursors. Their T = 16 icosahedral outer shells, approximately 125 nm in diameter, are indistinguishable and may be described in terms of three layers of density, totalling 15 nm in thickness. The outermost layer consists of protruding portions of both the hexon and the penton capsomers, ris...
Giguère S, Viel L, Lee E, MacKay RJ, Hernandez J, Franchini M.Work in humans and laboratory animals has identified a central role for cytokines and chemokines in development and persistence of lower airway inflammation. The objectives of this study were to determine interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha induction in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of control horses and horses with heaves both during remission and exacerbation of the disease, and to determine the effect of therapy with inhaled fluticasone propionate on the cytokine profile of horses with heaves. IL-1 beta an...
Corning S.The small strongyles of horses, also known as cyathostomins, are considered the most prevalent and pathogenic parasites of horses today. The clinical syndrome of larval cyathostominosis which occurs as a result of mass emergence of inhibited stages has a high fatality rate despite the best standard of care given to affected horses. Management of the challenge level of cyathostomins to prevent the syndrome is preferable. Many different management programmes have been tried over the past two decades, with mixed success. Programmes have relied heavily on repeated use of anthelmintic treatments th...
Whittle BJ, Moncada S, Vane JR.The activity of prostacyclin (PGI2), PGE1 or PGD2 as inhibitors of platelet aggregation in plasma from human, dog, rabbit, rat, sheep and horse was investigated. Prostacyclin was the most potent inhibitor in all species. PGD2 was a weak inhibitor in dog, rabbit and rat plasma whereas PGE1 and prostacyclin were highly active. Theophylline or dipyridamole potentiated the inhibition of human platelet aggregation by prostacyclin, PGE1 or PGD2. Compound N-0164 abolished the inhibition by PGD2 of human platelet aggregation but did not inhibit the effects of PGE1 or prostacyclin. The results suggest ...
Willing B, Vörös A, Roos S, Jones C, Jansson A, Lindberg JE.Diets rich in readily fermentable carbohydrates, fed traditionally to meet the increased energy requirements of the performance horse, are associated with a number of gastrointestinal disorders that involve disturbances in the intestinal microbiota, however, these changes are poorly understood. Objective: With the long-term objective of improving intestinal health and to increase understanding of the relationship between diet and microbiota, the effect of feeding Standardbred horses a high-energy forage-only (F) diet was studied compared to a more traditional forage-concentrate (C) diet on fae...
Lippold S, Matzke NJ, Reissmann M, Hofreiter M.DNA target enrichment by micro-array capture combined with high throughput sequencing technologies provides the possibility to obtain large amounts of sequence data (e.g. whole mitochondrial DNA genomes) from multiple individuals at relatively low costs. Previously, whole mitochondrial genome data for domestic horses (Equus caballus) were limited to only a few specimens and only short parts of the mtDNA genome (especially the hypervariable region) were investigated for larger sample sets. Results: In this study we investigated whole mitochondrial genomes of 59 domestic horses from 44 breeds an...
Rubin JE, Pitout JD.Organisms in the family Enterobactericeae including, Escherichia coli, commonly cause community and hospital-associated infections in both humans and companion animals. The increasing prevalence of infections with organisms producing broad spectrum β-lactamses such as the ESBLs (particularly the CTX-M type), AmpC and carbapenemase enzymes are threatening the future of the β-lactam drugs. While a number of organisms within the Enterobacteriaceae producing these enzymes have been isolated from cats, dogs and horses, E. coli, including isolates indistinguishable from strains found in people, ha...
