Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Topic:Horses
"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.
Comparison of PCR and culture to the indirect fluorescent-antibody test for diagnosis of Potomac horse fever. Potomac horse fever is an acute systemic equine disease caused by Ehrlichia risticii. Currently, serologic methods are widely used to diagnose this disease. However, serologic methods cannot determine whether the horse is presently infected or has been exposed to ehrlichial antigens in the past. The purpose of the present study was to compare the sensitivities of the nested PCR and cell culture with that of the indirect fluorescent-antibody (IFA) test for the diagnosis of Potomac horse fever. Blood and fecal specimens serially collected from a pony experimentally infected with E. risticii Mary...
Multiple aneurysmal bone cysts in a foal. Multiple aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are previously unreported in horses. An ABC was diagnosed in the left 3rd metacarpal of a Thoroughbred foal, which partially resolved following surgical curettage. A 2nd ABC developed in the left tibia, 7 wk postoperatively, and the foal was euthanized.
Identification of thrombospondin as a high molecular mass protein released from activated equine platelets. To establish the existence of platelet-derived proteins in equine plasma, with the future goal of developing an assay for the detection of in vivo platelet activation. Methods: 5 mature healthy horses. Methods: Platelet-rich plasma and platelet-poor plasma were prepared from anticoagulated blood. Platelets were separated from plasma proteins by gel filtration, then activated with 0.5 microM platelet-activating factor. Protease inhibitors were added, and the released platelet proteins were harvested. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was performed on the released platele...
Infectious temporomandibular joint disease in the horse: computed tomographic diagnosis and treatment of two cases. Diagnostic imaging and treatment of unilateral destructive temporomandibular joint disease in two horses is described and discussed. Computed tomography appeared to be the best imaging technique for these lesions. The disease can be followed by functional recovery after the infection has resolved.
Adjunctive use of a neodymium:yttrium-aluminum garnet laser for treatment of pythiosis granulomas in two horses. Pythiosis, caused by Pythium insidiosum, is a common cutaneous granulomatous disease in horses. Surgical removal is the most common treatment; however, high rates of recurrence have been reported. Results of examination of 2 horses with pythiosis granulomas in which a neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser was used to photoablate the bed after removal are reported. The mass had not recurred in either horse 1 year after surgery. Photoablation results in collateral thermal necrosis and may kill organisms that have infiltrated surrounding tissues, thus reducing the risk of recurrence.
Septic tenosynovitis and focal osteomyelitis of the lateral proximal sesamoid bone in a thoroughbred gelding. Chronic septic tenosynovitis with concurrent, associated focal osteomyelitis of the lateral proximal sesamoid bone was diagnosed in a seven-year-old thoroughbred gelding. Surgical management of this case consisted of open annular ligament desmotomy and curettage of the affected sesamoid. Following lavage of the digital sheath the incisional wound was closed but a 2 cm gap was left distally to allow for postoperative open drainage. The distal limb was bandaged and the horse treated with antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. Sepsis resolved and the horse made a gradual return to ful...
Abdominal surgery in foals. Foals are good candidates for abdominal surgery because their smaller size permits a more complete abdominal exploration and frequently definitive procedures in many cases. The use of rectal examination is replaced with alternative diagnostic modalities such as barium contrast radiography and ultrasonography. With the advancements in these technologies they can distinguish common gastrointestinal lesions and, in most cases, provide sufficient information to guide surgical intervention. The unique aspects of diagnosis and surgical management of gastrointestinal disorders of the foal are discuss...
Detection of activated platelets and platelet-leukocyte aggregates in horses. To determine the potential usefulness of tests for detection of platelet activation and platelet-leukocyte aggregates in horses. Methods: Blood from 3 healthy Thoroughbreds. Methods: Microscopic and flow cytometric assays were used to evaluate spontaneous platelet aggregation, platelet activation, and platelet-leukocyte aggregates. Platelet activation was detected by evaluation of binding of anti-human fibrinogen to unactivated and ADP-, thrombin-, thrombin agonist receptor peptide-, and platelet activating factor-activated platelets. Platelet-leukocyte aggregates were evaluated microscopicall...
In vitro responses of equine small airways and lung parenchyma. In vitro responses of equine small peripheral airways (SA) and lung parenchyma (LP) were studied. We examined their contractile and relaxant responses and investigated effects of histamine, and endogenous prostanoids as these mediators may play a role in development or recurrent airway obstruction in horses (heaves). SA and LP electrical field stimulation (EFS) induced nearly maximal and partial frequency-dependent contractions, respectively. These contractions were virtually abolished in SA but only partially inhibited in LP by atropine (ATR) and tetrodotoxin (TTX). Methacholine (MCh) contrac...
Diseases and surgery of the small colon. Diseases of the small colon are numerous and they can affect horses of any age. Diseases can be simple obstructions, nonstrangulating obstructions, strangulating obstructions, and congenital defects. American Miniature Horses appear prone to luminal obstruction with impacted intestinal contents, and some ischemic diseases are more common in postpartum mares. Enterotomy and enterectomy have a high success rate in the small colon, provided the affected portion can be exteriorized. The beginning and terminal portions of the small colon can be involved in many diseases and are not readily accessib...
Effects of airway obstruction on transmural pulmonary artery pressure in exercising horses. To determine whether laryngeal hemiplegia would increase transmural pulmonary artery pressure (TPAP). Methods: 6 horses. Methods: Horses were studied under 5 conditions: control conditions, after induction of left laryngeal hemiplegia, during obstruction of the left nostril, after placement of an instrumented tracheostomy, and after placement of an open tracheostomy. Horses were evaluated after being given saline solution and after being given furosemide. Methods: Horses were exercised on a high speed treadmill, using a maximum speed of 13 m/s. During each exercise, airway pressures, airflow, ...
Epidemiology of colic. Understanding the epidemiology of equine colic is directly relevant to the management of individual horses with colic. In this article, the epidemiology of colic is reviewed with emphasis on epidemiologic studies that have identified specific factors associated with increased risk of colic and epidemiologic studies that are designed to predict the need for surgery and prognosis in horses with colic. Despite the magnitude of the problem of equine colic, much remains to be learned about the epidemiology of this disease.
Caecal disease in equids. To review the breed, age, gender, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment and outcome of horses with caecal disease presented to a referral centre. Methods: Retrospective study of 96 cases. Methods: The breed, age, and gender of the study population were compared with the corresponding hospital population for the same period. The means (+/- SD) for clinical and laboratory findings were recorded for each caecal disorder. Treatment was categorised as medical or surgical, and outcome was recorded. Results: Caecal diseases included impaction (40% of total cases), rupture associated with concur...
Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser treatment of cystic granula iridica in horses: eight cases (1988-1996). To determine clinical features of cystic granula iridica in horses and outcome of horses treated with an ophthalmic neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 8 horses. Methods: An ophthalmic Nd:YAG laser was used to deflate cysts in all horses. Results: Horses were examined because of visual impairment (n = 5), decreased jumping performance (2), or head shaking (1). Clinical signs associated with cysts resolved in all horses after treatment. Short- and long-term complications did not develop, and cysts did not recur. Conclusions: Cystic granula ir...
Management of rectal tears. Rectal tears have important medicolegal implications, and severe tears have a poor prognosis. Prompt diagnosis, immediate application of first aid measures, early referral, use of appropriate definitive treatments, and aggressive aftercare will improve the prognosis. The grade of rectal injury will determine the definitive treatment, but there are few guidelines to determine which treatment is best in each case. Bypass procedures, such as colostomy and indwelling rectal liner, have their own advantages and disadvantages, but can facilitate healing and prevent life-threatening complications if ...
Validation of microsatellite markers for routine horse parentage testing. A parallel testing of 4803 routine Quarter Horse parentage cases, using 15 loci of blood group and protein polymorphisms (blood typing) and 11 loci of dinucleotide repeat microsatellites (DNA typing), validated DNA markers for horse pedigree verification. For the 26 loci, taken together, the theoretical effectiveness of detecting incorrect parentage was 99.999%, making it extremely unlikely that false parentage would fail to be recognized. The tests identified incorrect parentage assignment for 95 offspring (2% of cases). Despite fewer loci, DNA typing was as effective as blood typing and, in ...
Current concepts in management of abdominal adhesions. Adhesions are an important complication after abdominal surgery in horses and foals, especially after small intestinal resection and anastomosis. Prevention therapies used in horses have included nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, heparin, dimethyl sulfoxide, carboxymethylcellulose, and meticulous surgical technique; however, the ideal surgical technique and prevention therapy has not been determined. Further, treatment of abdominal adhesions has a poor prognosis, emphasizing the need for improvements in prevention methods.
Equine inhibin/activin beta A-subunit mRNA is expressed in the endometrial gland, but not in the trophoblast, during pregnancy. The expression of both inhibin alpha- and inhibin/activin beta A-subunit mRNA was examined in equine uteroplacental tissues collected during pregnancy (days 90 to 300). Northern blot analysis revealed that 5 transcripts (7.0, 4.1, 3.4, 2.6, 1.5 kb) of beta A-subunit were present, and the most abundantly expressed transcript was the 1.5 kb one. Relatively high levels of the 1.5 kb transcript were seen in the second trimester of pregnancy compared to what was found in the third trimester. To identify the tissue localization of beta A-subunit mRNA, in situ hybridization was performed, and the pos...
Advances in diagnostic techniques for horses with colic. Recent advances in the use of abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, laparoscopy, radiography, and peritoneal fluid analysis have contributed to the evaluation of horses with colic. Improved diagnostic capabilities allow earlier surgical intervention when necessary, and this should improve survival rates and the economic aspects of case management.
Relationships among oocyte-cumulus morphology, follicular atresia, initial chromatin configuration, and oocyte meiotic competence in the horse. Horse oocytes with expanded (EX) cumuli appear to have greater meiotic competence than do horse oocytes with compact (CP) cumuli but are thought to come from atretic follicles. We evaluated the relationships among cumulus expansion, follicle viability, initial chromatin configuration, and meiotic competence of horse oocytes. Follicle walls were sectioned for histological examination, and the follicles were scraped to obtain the oocytes. Half of the oocytes were evaluated immediately and half were matured for 24 h in vitro. Cumulus expansion was significantly associated with follicle atresia. I...
Surgical treatment of progressive ethmoidal hematoma aided by computed tomography in a foal. A progressive ethmoidal hematoma (PEH) was treated successfully in a 4-week-old Belgian filly by surgical removal, using a frontonasal bone flap. The filly had respiratory stridor, epistaxis, and facial enlargement over the left paranasal sinuses, which had progressively increased in size since birth. Computed tomographic images of the head obtained with the foal under general anesthesia were useful in determining the extent and nature of the soft-tissue mass and planning surgical intervention. On the basis of the histologic appearance of the mass, a diagnosis of PEH was made. Twelve months af...
Lateral buccotomy for removal of a supernumerary cheek tooth in a horse. A 3-year-old female Standardbred was admitted for evaluation of a firm swelling on the right side located rostral to the facial crest and a firm intraoral swelling located rostral to the erupted cheek teeth. Examination of skull radiographs revealed a supernumerary cheek tooth rostral to the erupted third premolar. The supernumerary tooth was removed via lateral buccotomy. The horse did not have complications after surgery and resumed racing. Lateral buccotomy should be considered for removal of rostrally located maxillary or mandibular cheek teeth. Supernumerary cheek teeth can be found in lo...
Linkage of the gene for equine combined immunodeficiency disease to microsatellite markers HTG8 and HTG4; synteny and FISH mapping to ECA9. Equine combined immunodeficiency disease (CID) is caused by homozygosity for an autosomal recessive gene. To identify linked markers for the disease, we studied a family segregating for the equine CID gene. A stallion and 19 of his CID-affected offspring were tested for marker segregation at 23 microsatellite DNA loci. His CID-affected offspring inherited only one of his two alleles at the HTG8 and HTG4 loci, namely HTG8-186 and HTG4-124, respectively. Lod scores for linkage to the CID gene using a theta of 0.01 were 5.34 for HTG8 and 2.37 for HTG4. The apparent genotypes also suggested linkag...
Equine oocyte competence for nuclear and cytoplasmic in vitro maturation: effect of follicle size and hormonal environment. Equine oocyte competence after in vitro maturation (IVM) was investigated in terms of the diameter of the follicle of origin and the stage of the estrous cycle, with three criteria of maturation: nuclear stage after DNA Hoechst staining, meiotic spindle morphology after tubulin immunocytochemical staining, and cortical granule localization after lectin labeling. Seven successive in vivo ultrasound-guided follicular punctures were performed on 10 cyclic saddle mares, alternatively at the end of the follicular phase (after induction of ovulation with a gonadotropin injection) and in midluteal ph...
FISH mapping of the IGF2 gene in horse and donkey-detection of homoeology with HSA11. Three genomic subclones derived from a phage clone containing the equine IGF2 gene were used to FISH map the gene on horse (ECA) and donkey (EAS) metaphase chromosomes. The gene mapped on ECA 12q13 band and is the first locus mapped to this horse chromosome. In donkey the gene mapped very terminal on the long arm of one small submetacentric chromosome that shows almost identical DAPI-banding pattern with ECA12. This is the first locus mapped in donkey genome. Cross species chromosome painting of equine metaphase chromosomes with human Chromosome (Chr) 11-specific probe showed homoeology of thi...
