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Topic:Inflammation
Inflammation is a biological response of the horse's body to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. It is a complex process that involves the activation of immune cells, the release of inflammatory mediators, and changes in blood flow. In horses, inflammation can manifest in various forms, affecting different tissues and organs, including the joints, respiratory system, and skin. The inflammatory response is an essential component of the horse's immune system, aiming to eliminate the initial cause of cell injury, clear out damaged cells and tissues, and establish tissue repair. This topic page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the mechanisms, effects, and management of inflammation in equine health.
Systematic establishment of approaches to the detection of equine macrophage polarization and their application in pathogenic infection. Macrophage phenotypic adaptation critically regulates inflammatory balance during infection; however, progress in equine immunology has been limited by a lack of specific tools for standardized identification. To address this gap, we established a reliable, antibody-based detection method for characterizing equine macrophage M1-like and M2-like marker profiles. After initially validating canonical marker genes via qPCR, we developed specific monoclonal antibodies targeting the differentially expressed surface proteins CD80 (M1-like) and CD163 (M2-like). These novel antibodies enabled the creat...
Sixty minutes of daily solitary turnout improved physiological and behavioral indicators of stress and welfare in stall-housed horses. Housing horses in stalls restricts natural roaming behaviors, which in turn increases stress and stereotypic behaviors. Daily turnout for voluntary exercise is common for stress mitigation, but there is no consensus for optimal duration of turnout sessions. Objective: We sought to understand how minimal and moderate-duration daily turnout affects behavioral and physiological stress indicators. Methods: In a Latin-square design, adult Quarter horses (N=11) were allowed 0, 15, or 60 minutes/day of solitary turnout for 12-day periods. In-stall behaviors and 24-hour time budgets were assessed on d...
Case report: exercise-associated sudden death in a Thoroughbred racehorse with cardiac lesions. Exercise-associated sudden death (EASD), defined as acute collapse and death in an apparently healthy racehorse during or within ~1 h after exercise, is currently among the top concerns in the racing industry. Cases of EASD with no cause of death identified at necropsy are frequently presumed to be of cardiac origin. In such cases, in addition to a regular necropsy, a cardiac examination protocol is performed that includes a detailed gross examination and microscopic evaluation of 11 regions of the heart. Very often this protocol is unrewarding because there are no microscopic lesions to expl...
Effects of Nebulized Alpha-2 Macroglobulin in Horses with Lower Airway Inflammation. Equine asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease with limited safe long-term treatments. Alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), a natural anti-inflammatory protease inhibitor, may provide a novel non-steroidal therapeutic option for horses with lower respiratory tract inflammation. Objective: To characterize the impact of nebulization with alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) on clinical signs, bronchoalveolar lavage cytology, and local and systemic cytokine response in horses with lower respiratory tract inflammation. Methods: Thirteen university-owned horses with lower airway inflammation were randomized...
Interleukin 12 on extracellular matrix-related factors and functional characteristics of equine endometrial fibroblasts. Tissue fibrosis is described as the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. This process is associated with inflammation, and the interaction between fibroblasts and immune cells plays a key role, driving the progression of fibrosis. Results of recent study suggest that interleukin (IL)-12 may play a role in the processes associated with the development of fibrosis. This proinflammatory cytokine is synthesized and released by macrophages, dendritic cells, and B cells. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine: (i) the expression of IL-12 and its receptor ...
Dental disorders are associated with minimal synovial changes in the temporomandibular joint in horses. Dental disorders have been proposed as factors contributing to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort in horses, but objective evidence linking these conditions to synovial fluid alterations remains limited. This study evaluated whether the severity of dental abnormalities influences the physicochemical and cytological characteristics of TMJ synovial fluid and whether occlusal adjustment induces measurable synovial changes over time. Unassigned: Thirty-three horses were assigned to mild, moderate, or severe dental abnormality groups. Synovial fluid was collected bilaterally from the discotem...
Cell-Type Deconvolution of Equine BALF RNA-Seq: A Critical Comparison with Matched Single-Cell Data. Bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) averages signals across heterogeneous cell populations. Computational deconvolution methods aim to infer cell type composition and cell type-specific gene expression from bulk data, but their performance in equine samples has not been evaluated. In this study, we assessed the ability of computational deconvolution to recover cellular composition and differential expression signals in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from horses with severe equine asthma (SEA) and controls (CTL). Cryopreserved BALF samples from six SEA and five CTL horses previously analyzed b...
Short-term provision of moderate dietary starch alters fecal microbiota but does not exacerbate exercise-induced inflammation in yearling Quarter Horses. Energy-dense feeds commonly provided to equine athletes may be high in starch, which alter gastrointestinal microbiota and could promote systemic inflammation. Objective: To test the hypothesis that exercise-induced inflammation would be greater in horses receiving a starch- versus fiber-based concentrate. Methods: Quarter Horses (mean±SD 16±1mo; 337±30kg) received either a fiber-based control (CON; 7 fillies, 8 geldings) or an isocaloric, isonitrogenous starch concentrate (STARCH; 8 fillies, 7 geldings) for 24d. Fecal metagenomics were evaluated on d0 and 21. Blood inflammatory mediators w...
Intra-articular interleukin-1β induces early synovitis in an ex vivo autologously perfused equine forelimb model. To evaluate an ex vivo model of synovitis induced by IA lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and IL-1β in isolated, perfused equine forelimbs. Unassigned: Forelimbs and blood were collected from 12 clinically unremarkable horses following slaughter at a licensed abattoir. In 8 limbs, 2 of 3 phalangeal joints were injected with LPS (0.5 to 5 ng, 4 limbs) or IL-1β (100 ng, 4 limbs) diluted in 1 mL of distilled water. All limbs were perfused with autologous perfusate for 8 hours. Synovial fluid cytology and synovium sample histology scores for synovitis (0 = no changes and 3 = marked changes) were assessed...
Biomarkers of equine asthma: A review of the current literature. Equine Asthma (EA) is a common, lower airway disease. Yet current diagnostic standards rely on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology, which is moderately invasive and not always feasible in field conditions. This review aimed to synthesize current evidence on candidate biomarkers of EA, with a primary focus on blood-based matrices and BALF, while also including data on biomarkers measured in tracheal wash (TW), saliva and exhaled breath condensate (EBC), where available. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, and original studies in horses with mild-to-moderate or...
Ulcerative dermatitis, tendinitis, tenosynovitis, and desmitis caused by chronic infection with Serratia odorifera in a racehorse. We investigated a case of severe infection in a racehorse. The horse had developed progressive lameness associated with swelling of the left tarsal region, which progressed to ulcerative dermatitis, tendinitis, tenosynovitis, and desmitis. The plantar side of the superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon was visible through the skin ulcer, and coalescing nodules were present in the dermis. The horse was euthanized and an autopsy was performed. Grossly, in addition to the changes described above, severe edema of the soft tissues was associated with the ulcer. Microscopically, necrotizing and ulc...
Integrated transcriptomic profiling reveals oncogenic pathways and chimeric transcripts in equine sarcoid lesions with predominant BPV1 detection. Sarcoids are the most common cutaneous tumors in horses, representing up to 90% (35%-90%) of skin neoplasms. Mostly caused by Bovine Papillomavirus (BPVs) infections, sarcoids are highly resistant to therapy and prone to recurring, posing a significant threat to equine health. The aim of this study is to explore molecular pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the development of equine sarcoids, by applying transcriptomic approach. After testing samples for viral DNA, both mRNA and small RNA expression was analyzed via high-throughput Illumina sequencing comparing 12 sarcoids and 12 healthy skin s...
Exploring the role of epigenetics in the processes related to the development of endometrosis in the mare. Endometrosis is a chronic degenerative condition of the mare endometrium characterized by progressive fibrosis and glandular alterations that impair uterine function and fertility. Its pathogenesis involves persistent inflammation, the activation of myofibroblasts, and the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to disrupted glandular secretion and compromised maintenance of pregnancy. While histopathological studies of endometrosis are well described, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Emerging evidence highlights the crucial role of epigenetic reg...
Placental adaptation to maternal environment in domestic animals. The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) is based on the observation that environmental conditions during sensitive windows of development shape lifelong physiology and disease susceptibility. While fetal organs are often viewed as direct programming targets, the placenta is a crucial mechanistic hub because it senses maternal conditions and actively constructs the fetal environment through nutrient transport, endocrine signaling, and immune regulation. Placental plasticity spans morphology and how exchanges are favored by tissue topology, vascular development and perfusion, tra...
Intra-articular 2.5% polyacrylamide hydrogel alters synovial immune pathways in equine experimental osteoarthritis. To determine differential gene expression in synovial tissues following injection of IA 2.5% polyacrylamide hydrogel (2.5% iPAAG), a biocompatible nondegradable synthetic polymer, to treat osteoarthritis (OA). Unassigned: Osteoarthritis was induced in 1 middle carpal joint of 16, 2- to 5-year-old horses (7 mares and 9 geldings) via surgical osteochondral fragment creation in combination with exercise on a high-speed treadmill; the contralateral limb underwent a sham operation. Horses were exercised 5 days per week, beginning on day 16 postoperatively. The osteochondral fragment joint was injec...
Glandular gastric disease prevalence in equids (horses, donkeys, and mules) and other gastric findings: post-mortem comparative study. Equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) has limited prevalence studies and scarce understanding of the predisposing factors and pathophysiological mechanisms involved. The objectives of this study were to determine and compare the post-mortem prevalence of EGGD and other gastric lesions in Colombian equids, specifically horses, donkeys, and mules. The study utilized a sample of 300 equids stomachs, with 100 specimens from each group, collected immediately after slaughter. The post-mortem examination included a thorough inspection of the ventral fundus, adjacent area of the margo plicatus, and ...
Neuroimmune Mechanisms in Equine Asthma: Primary Inflammatory Triggers, Neuroimmune Modulation and Chronic Airway Remodelling. Equine asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lower respiratory tract, primarily associated with inhalation of organic dust, microbial particles and environmental aeroantigens. Although the inflammatory and immunological mechanisms underlying equine asthma have been extensively investigated, the potential contribution of neuroimmune pathways remains poorly understood. In humans and rodent models, asthma is increasingly recognised as a disorder involving complex bidirectional interactions between the nervous and immune systems. Sensory nerve activation, neuropeptide release, autonomic ...
Evaluation of oxidative stress in ill neonatal foals: a preliminary study. Oxidative stress both contributes to and results from sepsis pathophysiology, but its role in ill foals remains poorly characterized. Objective: Ill foals will exhibit decreased antioxidant defense activity and increased oxidative products compared with healthy foals, and these changes will be associated with higher sepsis scores, lower survival scores, and non-survival. Methods: Twenty-six foals < 14 days old: 16 hospitalized foals (11 sick non-septic, 5 septic; median age, 1.5 days; range 1-13) and 10 healthy Standardbred foals (2 days old). Nine of 16 ill foals survived to discharge...
Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Therapies for Liver Disease. Liver dysfunction may reduce the metabolism of drugs that undergo extensive hepatic processing. This will lead to reduced clearance and elimination, and can cause accumulation of the drug, increasing the risk of toxicity. Pentoxifylline and ursodeoxycholic acid are 2 pharmaceuticals that can provide benefits for a variety of equine hepatic diseases. Nutraceuticals are frequently used in horses with hepatopathy, targeting oxidative stress, inflammation, and hepatocellular injury. Neutraceuticals such as S-adenosylmethionine, silymarin and vitamin E are most commonly used although extensive rese...
Single-dose intravenous α2-agonists do not acutely alter anti-inflammatory bioactive protein profiles but reduce interleukin-8 in equine autologous protein solution and platelet-rich plasma. Determine the acute effects of xylazine and detomidine on concentrations of selected growth factors, cytokines, and α2-macroglobulin (A2M) in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and autologous protein solution (APS) and the long-term effects of these sedatives on serum A2M. We hypothesized that sedative administration would decrease concentrations of all bioactive proteins in PRP and APS acutely and A2M in serum for 6 days following sedative administration. Unassigned: 6 horses were randomized to receive IV xylazine (200 mg) or detomidine (10 mg). Blood was collected before and 5 minutes after sedativ...
Age-Related Comparative Study of C-Reactive Protein, Lipid Profile Biomarkers, and Strongyle Nematode Gastrointestinal Parasitic Burden in Horses. Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infection remains one of the most prevalent and economically significant health challenges in equine populations. The infective stages of GI parasites can activate systemic inflammatory responses and disrupt lipid metabolism leading to exacerbation of parasitic infection. Moreover, age-related low-grade chronic inflammation may further contribute to the persistent infection which impacts the health status of individual horses. Objective: This study examined serum levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipid profile parameters to identify ...
Evaluation of systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria in horses with colic associated with acute gastrointestinal disease. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a severe clinical condition commonly observed in horses with acute gastrointestinal disease associated with colic and is linked to increased risk of organ dysfunction and mortality. Early identification of SIRS and reliable prognostic indicators are essential to improve clinical management. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of SIRS in adult horses with colic, evaluate its association with outcome, and investigate the prognostic value of selected clinicopathological variables. Unassigned: A total of 41 adult horses admitted for acute gas...
Case Report: Oral and topical chronic administration of THC-rich and CBD-rich cannabis oil as palliative care in a rescued horse with open wound, sarcoid and chronic pain. Cannabinoid-based therapies have shown analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing potential across veterinary species; however, clinical data on long-term use of THC-rich formulations in horses remain scarce. This case report describes the use of combined oral and topical THC-rich and CBD-rich full-spectrum cannabis oils as part of a palliative care strategy in a rescued horse with severe chronic disease. A senior mixed-breed gelding was rescued with a large, chronic ulcerative lesion of the left hind limb, severe malnutrition, non-weight-bearing lameness (AAEP grade 5/5), and refractory ...
Oclacitinib for Controlling Pruritus and Associated Skin Lesions in 16 Horses With Allergic Dermatitis. Oclacitinib is a Janus kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis in dogs and may be effective in horses. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of oclacitinib in reducing pruritus and skin lesions in horses with allergic dermatitis. Methods: Sixteen horses aged ≥ 18 months. Methods: Horses received oclacitinib at 0.25 mg/kg orally once daily for 21 days. Changes in haematological and biochemical parameters were measured on Day (D)0 and D21. The owners were instructed to evaluate the horses using the pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS) on...
Management of Equine Post-Extraction Cheek Tooth Alveoli: Application of Alveolar Plugs. Preservation of dentition remains the primary goal of equine dentistry; however, cheek tooth extraction is required in cases of severe dental pathology. Following tooth extraction, management of the post-extraction alveolus remains a significant clinical challenge due to its large size and susceptibility to contamination with feed material and bacteria. To mitigate these risks, alveolar plugs are commonly used to protect the alveolus, stabilize the blood clot, and support granulation tissue formation. This review summarizes the current case reports and research articles regarding the use of al...
Pilot Study of an Alpha-2-Macroglobulin-Enriched Plasma-Derived Orthobiologic Preparation in Sport Horses with Chronic Degenerative Joint Disease. Chronic joint disease is a major cause of lameness and reduced performance in sport horses and is characterized by persistent synovial inflammation and protease-mediated matrix degradation. This exploratory prospective pilot study investigated clinical outcomes and synovial biomarker changes following intra-articular administration of an α-2-macroglobulin plasma-derived preparation. Twenty client-owned sport horses were observed in the treatment group (n = 10) or a comparison group (n = 10) and monitored for up to 180 days under field conditions. Clinical outcomes were assessed longitudinally...
Recent Advances in Natural Products for Colitis: Mechanisms and Translational Perspectives. Colitis is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder characterized by persistent mucosal inflammation, epithelial barrier disruption, oxidative stress, immune dysregulation, and gut microbiota imbalance. Although current therapies have improved disease management, their long-term use is still limited by incomplete response, relapse, adverse effects, and high cost. Natural products have attracted increasing attention as promising candidates for colitis intervention because of their structural diversity, broad bioactivity, and multitarget regulatory potential. In veterinary medicine, colitis and...
Association Between Vaquejada Practice and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Muscle Damage in Quarter Horses. Vaquejada (VQ) is a traditional Brazilian sport demanding high performance from Quarter Horse (QH) athletes. This study aimed to identify modifications in hematological, biochemical, inflammatory, and oxidative stress biomarkers associated with VQ training, comparing conditioned and non-conditioned horses. Blood samples were collected at rest from 70 healthy QH horses: 60 athletes (VQ-conditioned athlete group-AG) and 10 sedentary controls (breeding horses-CG). Using Linear Mixed Models alongside comprehensive hematological and biochemical analyses, the study found that AG horses exhibited an ...
Comparative analysis of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from ovarian follicular aspirates of young and aged mares. Mesenchymal stromal cells from equine ovarian follicular aspirates represent a promising source for cell-based therapies. However, the age of the donor mare may alter their biological properties and therapeutic potential. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of age on MSCs from ovarian follicular aspirates of young (< 10 years, n = 5) and aged (≥ 18 years, n = 5) mares. MSCs were isolated, expanded, cryopreserved at passage 3, and subsequently thawed to evaluate proliferation, immunophenotype, differentiation capacity, and gene expression profiles. Proliferation rates, total cel...
Miscellaneous Equine Liver Conditions. Miscellaneous equine liver conditions not covered in other chapters include chronic active hepatitis, Tyzzer's disease, seasonal idiopathic hepatitis, neoplasia, and idiopathic persistent hyperbilirubinemia. Chronic active hepatitis refers to inflammatory and fibrotic liver disease with an unknown cause. Treatment is aimed at reducing inflammation. Tyzzer's disease is caused by Clostridium piliforme infection and causes acute necrotizing hepatitis in foals. Successful treatment with antimicrobial therapy and supportive care is rare. Seasonal idiopathic hepatitis is a winter disease of Midweste...
