Topic:Human Health
The relationship between human health and horses encompasses various aspects of interaction, including therapeutic, occupational, and zoonotic elements. Equine-assisted therapy is utilized in some therapeutic settings to support mental and physical health in humans, leveraging the horse's role in facilitating emotional and physical rehabilitation. Occupational health considerations arise for individuals working with horses, addressing potential risks such as injuries and allergic reactions. Additionally, zoonotic diseases, which can be transmitted between horses and humans, are an area of concern for public health, necessitating research into prevention and control measures. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the multifaceted connections between human health and horses, focusing on therapeutic applications, occupational health, and zoonotic disease dynamics.
West Nile Virus infection in humans and horses, Cuba. A surveillance system to detect West Nile virus (WNV) was established in Cuba in 2002. WNV infection was confirmed by serologic assays in 4 asymptomatic horses and 3 humans with encephalitis in 2003 and 2004. These results are the first reported evidence of WNV activity in Cuba.
West Nile virus in the United States (1999-2005). The accidental introduction of West Nile Virus into New York City from the Old World in 1999 resulted in an epidemic in humans, horses, and birds that swept to the west coast in just 3 years. The virus is transmitted by infective mosquitoes among susceptible native birds, which serve as amplifying hosts. Clinical disease occurs in humans and horses, but not enough virus is produced in their blood to infect other mosquitoes; therefore, humans and horses are considered dead-end hosts. Humans can best protect themselves by remaining indoors during periods of high mosquito activity and/or by using...
Non-fatal horse related injuries treated in emergency departments in the United States, 2001-2003. To characterise and provide nationally representative estimates of persons with non-fatal horse related injuries treated in American emergency departments. Methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP) is a stratified probability sample comprising 66 hospitals. Data on injuries treated in these emergency departments are collected and reported. NEISS-AIP data on all types (horseback riding and otherwise) of non-fatal horse related injuries from 2001 to 2003 were analysed. Results: An estimated 102,904 persons with non-fatal horse related injuries (35...
Hendra and Nipah viruses: pathogenesis and therapeutics. Within the past decade a number of new zoonotic paramyxoviruses emerged from flying foxes to cause serious disease outbreaks in man and livestock. Hendra virus was the cause of fatal infections of horses and man in Australia in 1994, 1999 and 2004. Nipah virus caused encephalitis in humans both in Malaysia in 1998/99, following silent spread of the virus in the pig population, and in Bangladesh from 2001 to 2004 probably as a result of direct bat to human transmission and spread within the human population. Hendra and Nipah viruses are highly pathogenic in humans with case fatality rates of 40...
Effect of maximal dynamic exercise on exhaled ethane and carbon monoxide levels in human, equine, and canine athletes. Exercise-induced oxidative stress (EIOS) refers to a condition where the balance of free radical production and antioxidant systems is disturbed during exercise in favour of pro-oxidant free radicals. Breath ethane is a product of free radical-mediated oxidation of cell membrane lipids and is considered to be a reliable marker of oxidative stress. The heatshock protein, haem oxygenase, is induced by oxidative stress and degrades haemoglobin to bilirubin, with concurrent production of carbon monoxide (CO). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maximal exercise on exhaled ethane...
Practical uses for ecdysteroids in mammals including humans: an update. Ecdysteroids are widely used as inducers for gene-switch systems based on insect ecdysteroid receptors and genes of interest placed under the control of ecdysteroid-response elements. We review here these systems, which are currently mainly used in vitro with cultured cells in order to analyse the role of a wide array of genes, but which are expected to represent the basis for future gene therapy strategies. Such developments raise several questions, which are addressed in detail. First, the metabolic fate of ecdysteroids in mammals, including humans, is only poorly known, and the rapid catabo...
Prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to Equine rhinitis A and B virus in horses and man. Equine rhinitis viruses (ERVs) are the causative agents of mild to severe upper respiratory infections in horses worldwide. Immunologically, four serotypes of ERVs have been identified. Equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV) and Equine rhinitis B virus 1 (ERBV1) are the most frequent serotypes in Europe. Both viruses have a broad host range in cultured cells with ERAV being able to infect humans. Since there is neither information on the seroprevalence of ERAV and ERBV1 in Austria nor on the zoonotic potential of ERBV1, we investigated 200 horse and 137 veterinary sera for the presence of neutralizing...
Borna disease virus and mental health: a cross-sectional study. Borna disease is an infectious neurological disease of horses, sheep and possibly other animals. A role for Borna disease virus (BDV) in human neurological and psychiatric illness has been proposed, but this hypothesis remains controversial. Objective: To investigate the epidemiology of BDV in UK farming communities. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: We measured the seroprevalence of BDV in the PHLS Farm Cohort, a representative sample of those employed in agriculture in the UK, and investigated the clinical significance of our findings by comparing the prevalence of symptoms of ne...
Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in horses and humans who work with horses. To evaluate the prevalence of nasal colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in horses and horse personnel. Methods: Prospective prevalence study. Methods: 972 horses and 107 personnel from equine farms in Ontario, Canada and New York state. Methods: Nasal swab specimens were collected from horses and humans on farms with (targeted surveillance) and without (nontargeted surveillance) a history of MRSA colonization or infection in horses during the preceding year. Selective culture for MRSA was performed. Isolates were typed via pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and ...
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, southern Mexico. Equine epizootics of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) occurred in the southern Mexican states of Chiapas in 1993 and Oaxaca in 1996. To assess the impact of continuing circulation of VEE virus (VEEV) on human and animal populations, serologic and viral isolation studies were conducted in 2000 to 2001 in Chiapas State. Human serosurveys and risk analyses indicated that long-term endemic transmission of VEEV occurred among villages with seroprevalence levels of 18% to 75% and that medical personnel had a high risk for VEEV exposure. Seroprevalence in wild animals suggested cotton rats as pos...
Is hemoglobin desaturation related to blood viscosity in athletes during exercise? Several studies have suggested that athletes with low hemoglobin saturation during exercise may experience impaired pulmonary blood gas exchange during maximal exercise. Blood viscosity may be implicated in exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in race horses. We hypothesized that blood rheology may contribute to impaired gas exchange and reduced hemoglobin saturation during exercise in humans. A group of 20 highly trained endurance athletes participated in this study, 9 with low hemoglobin saturation during exercise (Low-SpO (2) group) and 11 with normal hemoglobin saturation (High-SpO (2) gr...
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in horses and horse personnel. Fortunately, MRSA infection and colonization are currently uncommon in veterinary medicine. Nevertheless, the increasing reports of the occurrence of MRSA infection in horses, veterinarians, and equine personnel dictate that serious consideration be given to the control of this pathogen in veterinary hospitals as well as in the equine community. It is unclear whether extrapolation from human hospitals and people in the community is appropriate; however, given the rapid increase in nosocomial MRSA in human hospitals and the recent shift of certain clones of MRSA into the community, it would be ...
Confirmation and quantification of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers in equine and human plasma by hyphenated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Oxyglobin (OXY) and Hemopure (HMP) are produced from bovine hemoglobin (Hb) and were developed for the treatment of anemia in animal and human patients, respectively. Hemolink (HML) is a blood substitute of human Hb origin under development. The ability of these agents to carry oxygen in circulating blood and their promise to improve oxygen delivery to tissues supports the potential for their abuse in equine and human athletes. To deter athletes from abuse of these agents, a method has been developed for the detection, confirmation and quantification of OXY, HMP, and HML in equine and human pl...
Cytology of the normal and abnormal choroid plexi in selected domestic mammals, wildlife species, and man. A cytologic study of the choroid plexi of animals and humans was carried out using impression smears (imprints, imp) to understand better the cellular changes that occur in the cerebrospinal fluid in the case of disease. The samples, totaling 756 imp were from 11 dogs (239 imp), 10 horses (219 imp), 1 mule (23 imp), 3 cattle (69 imp), 1 sheep (19 imp), 2 pigs (39 imp), 1 deer (20 imp), 4 monkeys (22 imp), and 7 humans (106 imp). The samples came from individuals clinically free of neurologic disease, as well as from a few abnormal cases. Six of the 7 humans had no history of neurologic disease...
[West Nile virus: in France again, in humans and horses]. West Nile virus (WNV) is a common arbovirosis, transmitted by mosquitoes mainly Culex. WNV is commonly responsible for equine epizootics and epidemics in humans in sub-Saharan Africa. It has been occasionally described in Southern Europe and in some Mediterranean countries. Since 1994, WNV clinical aspects seem to change with an increase of central neurological involvement and a higher mortality, especially among people older than 50 years. In 1999, WNV reached New York, being responsible for severe clinical manifestations. It spread all over North America in less than four years Four (only fo...
Adhesion and proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts on collagen matrix. The purpose of this study was to evaluate adhesion and growth of human dermal fibroblasts on a 0.150 mm-thick matrix of reconstituted collagen isolated from horse tendon. Collagen was extracted and polymerized according to the standard procedures (Opocrin, Corlo, Modena, Italy). By light microscopy, the bottom surface of the matrix appeared linear and compact, whereas the superficial one was indented and less homogeneous. By scanning electron microscopy, the collagen fibrils had different diameters and the great majority of them was oriented parallel to the surface of the gel. By transmission ...
Agricultural tasks and injuries among Kentucky farm children: results of the Farm Family Health and Hazard Surveillance Project. This population-based study reports the prevalent agricultural tasks and the 1-year cumulative incidence of injuries in a sample of 999 children < or = 18 years old living on family farms in Kentucky. Methods: Data were collected in 1994 to 1995 for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Farm Family Health and Hazard Surveillance Project. A random sample of farm children in 60 Kentucky counties was selected using a cross-sectional, two-stage cluster design. Respondents, primarily mothers, completed a 30-minute telephone interview about work-related tasks and injuries expe...
Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric screening and confirmation methods for beta2-agonists in human or equine urine. Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra of 19 common beta(2)-agonists were investigated in terms of fragmentation pattern and dissociation behavior of the analytes, proving the origin of fragment ions and indicating mechanisms of charge-driven and charge-remote fragmentation. Based on these data, liquid chromatographic/ESI tandem mass spectrometric (LC/ESI-MS/MS) screening and confirmation methods were developed for doping control purposes. These procedures employ established sample preparation steps including either acidic or enzymatic hydrolysis, alkaline extraction and, in the case of eq...
Drug resistance in nematodes: a paper tiger or a real problem? The purpose of this review is to illustrate where drug resistance in parasitic nematodes has become a major problem. The mechanisms underlying anthelmintic resistance, the possible reasons for the development of anthelmintic resistance, and recommendations to minimize the further development of anthelmintic resistance in humans will be addressed. Results: Resistance has developed to all drugs of the few anthelmintic classes currently available. Drug resistance has become a major threat to sheep production in Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and South Africa. In addition, the treatment of ...
Different CREM-isoform gene expression between equine and human normal and impaired spermatogenesis. Histone-to-protamine exchange causes chromatin condensation ceasing gene expression in elongating spermatids. Gene expression of protamines is regulated by the transcription factor cAMP-responsive element modulator (CREM). Altered CREM expression results in male infertility, as shown by CREM-knock-out mice being sterile due to round spermatid maturation arrest and patients exhibiting round spermatid maturation arrest revealing a lack or substantial reduction of both CREM-mRNA and CREM-protein. Similar defects in histone-to-protamine exchange have been suggested in infertile stallions exhibitin...
[Fluorescence spectroscopic study of interaction between Fe-protoporphyrin in myoglobin and Cu(II) ions]. In this paper, the interaction between Cu(II) ions and Fe-protoporphyrin in horse-heart myoglobin (FePP-Mb) was studied. As a result, some of the Fe(II) ions in FePP-Mb were found to be replaced by Cu(II) ions forming CuPP-Mb, by adding Cu(II) ions into the myoglobin solution. The interaction became stronger when adding more Cu(II) ions into the myoglobin solution. By studying the metal ions' interaction with myoglobin proteins as macromolecules and discussing the interaction mechanism, this work provides a theoretical basis for the further study of hazardous metal ions' interaction with the h...
[Diagnosis of botulism since 1995. Report of test results]. Since 1970 our laboratory is specialized in diagnosis of clostridial diseases, including Clostridium botulinum and botulism. Since 1995, samples from more than 900 suspected botulinal cases were received, mainly in cattle, horses and men. 524 outbreaks were diagnosed as clearly positive by toxin neutralisation; 83 cases remained inconclusive with the toxin neutralisation. The geographical distribution of the positive cases in Germany is demonstrated for cattle and horses. Dispatch and treatment of specimens and interpretation of results are discussed.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation: review of the technique, basic principles and applications. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is rapidly developing as a powerful, non-invasive tool for studying the descending motor tracts in humans. The applications of the test in animals are for the moment restricted to small animals. However, this non-invasive, sensitive and painless technique appears promising as a test of motor tract function in horses where the neurological examination is mainly restricted to clinical evaluation and some ancillary tests, such as radiography, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and electromyography. In this review, we want to discuss the history, basic principles, techn...
[Advantages of ride therapy in different forms of infantile cerebral palsy (therapeutic riding)]. One hundred children with cerebral palsy, aged 3-14 years, were divided into two equal groups, the first one including 50 children assigned to ride therapy and the second one--to Bobath therapeutic gymnastics. All the patients underwent a functional examination, which was rated using score system worked out by the authors, thus enabling a quantitative evaluation of treatment efficacy. In all the cases, physical rehabilitation resulted in a positive but not the same effect, with ride therapy being significantly (p < 0.001) more beneficial treatment compared to therapeutic gymnastics. Ride thera...
Value of histopathology in vitiligo. Histopathologic studies of vitiligo have been rather limited in number, thus the microscopic features of this common disorder are not very well known. Methods: Skin specimens from 20 human vitiligo patients and skin specimens from five equine vitiligo patients were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. Conclusions: Absence of melanocytes, increased number of Langerhans' cells, epidermal vacuolization, thickening of the basement membrane, T-cell inflammatory infiltrate, and neural alterations were noted in the vitiligo lesions. These results may explain the development of depig...
Stable isotope (13C, 15N and 34S) analysis of the hair of modern humans and their domestic animals. Relationships between dietary status and recent migration were examined by delta(13)C, delta(15)N and delta(34)S analysis of hair samples from 43 modern humans living in a rural community in SW England. The isotopic content of 38 'local' hair samples was compared with that of five recently arrived individuals (from Canada, Chile, Germany and the USA). Hair samples from domestic animals (i.e. mainly cats, dogs, cows and horses) were analysed to examine the difference in delta(13)C, delta(15)N and delta(34)S values between herbivores and carnivores. Generally, modern human hair data from the tri...
Effects of P2Y(1) and P2Y(12) receptor antagonists on ADP-induced shape change of equine platelets: comparison with human platelets. Platelet activation by adenosine 5' -diphosphate (ADP) is via both P2Y(1 )and P2Y(12) receptors and leads to shape change and aggregation. The effects on ADP-induced platelet shape change of two P2Y(1) antagonists, adenosine 3'-phosphate, 5'-phosphosulfate (A3P5PS) and 2-deoxy-N(6)-methyladenosine 3', 5'-diphosphate (MRS-2179) and a P2Y(12) antagonist 2-propylthio-D-beta,gamma-dichloromethylene-adenosine 5'-triphosphate (AR-C67085MX) were determined by turbidimetric aggregometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on equine and human platelets. The platelet aggregation was inhibited during ...