Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Topic:Molecular biology
Molecular biology in horses involves the study of molecular processes and genetic mechanisms that underpin equine physiology and health. This field encompasses the analysis of DNA, RNA, proteins, and other biomolecules to understand gene expression, genetic variation, and cellular functions in horses. Techniques such as genomic sequencing, gene expression profiling, and molecular diagnostics are employed to explore topics like hereditary diseases, performance traits, and immune responses in equines. This page assembles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that investigate the molecular biology of horses, focusing on genetic research, molecular techniques, and their applications in equine science.
Harnessing the Horse for Human Osteoarthritis: microRNA-181a-5p Antisense Oligonucleotides in Clinically Normal Equine Fetlock Joints Are Safe and Well Tolerated. Horses serve as a translational model for human osteoarthritis (OA) due to their comparable joint size, cartilage thickness, and incidence of naturally occurring disease. Overexpression of microRNA-181a-5p has been implicated in cartilage degradation in OA, and its inhibition using locked nucleic acid antisense oligonucleotides (LNA-miR-181a-5p ASOs) represents a potential therapeutic strategy. This study evaluated the safety of intraarticular (IA) LNA-miR-181a-5p ASO injection in clinically normal horse fetlock joints. Twelve horses were randomized to receive two IA injections, 28 days apart,...
Investigating the TASK1 potassium channel in equine atrial myocardium as a potential treatment target for atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically relevant arrhythmia in horses, with limited pharmacological treatment options in both veterinary and human medicine. TASK1 potassium channels represent a promising atrial-selective antiarrhythmic target, but their relevance in horses has not been established. To characterize equine TASK1 (eqTASK1) channels regarding structural conservation, electrophysiological function, pharmacological sensitivity, cardiac expression pattern and in vivo electrophysiological effects of TASK1 inhibition. Methods: Sixteen horses killed for non-cardiovascular...
Serum and uterine fluid extracellular vesicles and prostaglandin E metabolite concentrations during diestrus and early pregnancy in mares. Prostaglandins produced by endometrial and conceptus tissues have an established role in maintaining luteal function in early pregnancy and initiating luteolysis during diestrus in mares. The cellular mechanisms controlling the secretion and delivery of prostaglandins have not been fully elucidated. We hypothesized that nanosized lipid bilayer extracellular vesicles (EV) that carry a variety of biological molecules would be involved in these key regulatory processes. Serum and uterine fluid samples were collected from diestrus and pregnant mares on day (D) 10 and D14 post-ovulation, and concep...
Melanin as a Multifunctional Molecular System: Biosynthesis, Genetics, and Functional Roles in Livestock Species. Melanin is the primary pigment found in the skin, hair, wool and feathers of many vertebrates and plays a crucial role in determining the physical appearance and physiological performance of livestock species. Melanin functions in thermoregulation as well as coloration, photoprotection, and adaptation to diverse environmental conditions. This review examines the biosynthesis of melanin and the genetics of melanogenesis in major livestock species such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and poultry, and the roles of melanin-based pigmentation within different systems of animal production. Th...
Host-mediated filtering and interspecific associations structure strongyle parasite communities in Sable Island horses. Mixed-species parasite infections are common in wildlife, yet the ecological processes that structure these communities remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that host-mediated and extrinsic environmental filtering, alongside biotic interactions, act concurrently to shape parasite community composition, and that these structuring patterns would depend on parasite traits or evolutionary history. We applied nemabiome DNA metabarcoding to 3147 faecal samples from 916 feral horses with no history of anthelmintic treatment, collected over 10 years as part of a long-term individual-based study...
Understanding Stallion Sperm Capacitation: Species-Specific Mechanisms, Cryocapacitation, and Implications for IVF. Until recently, no repeatable protocol for equine in vitro fertilization (IVF) had been established, despite decades of trying. Recent studies have demonstrated reproducible IVF outcomes under specific experimental conditions, bringing equine IVF into a new perspective. Prolonged incubation of stallion spermatozoa in a TALP based medium supplemented with penicillamine, hypotaurine and epinephrine (PHE) appears to be important factors of protocols that support sperm capacitation and markedly improved IVF outcomes. The sperm capacitation procedure has now been applied successfully using both fre...
Quantitative assessment of specific bacterial taxa of the intestinal microbiota of healthy and diarrheic horses. Alterations in intestinal microbiota composition, as determined by DNA sequencing, are reported in horses with acute colitis compared with healthy horses. Objective: Changes in specific bacterial populations can detect overall intestinal disruption of the normal intestinal microbiota. Identify bacterial taxa that indicate intestinal dysbiosis or health in horses using quantitative PCR (qPCR). Methods: Thirty horses with undifferentiated colitis, 13 with colitis associated with Salmonella spp., 14 with antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), 52 healthy horses from Canada and 48 from the United St...
Differential Gene Expression of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell and Granulosa Cell Markers in Equine Follicular Aspirates. Equine follicular aspirates obtained during ovum pick-up contain a heterogeneous mixture of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) and granulosa cells (GC). This study evaluates how selective isolation and expansion of MSC decrease GC populations. Follicular aspirates-derived cells were cultured up to passage four (P4) following a previously validated protocol. While freshly isolated follicular aspirates cells (FAC) displayed heterogeneous morphologies, early passages (P3-P4) showed a uniform, spindle-shaped phenotype compatible with MSC. Gene expression analysis by RT-qPCR revealed a marked upregula...
Recent Advances and Emerging Applications in Embryo Vitrification for Livestock. Vitrification has progressively supplanted conventional slow freezing as the method of choice for embryo cryopreservation in both human medicine and animal production, particularly for in vitro-produced embryos and for species or developmental stages highly sensitive to conventional freezing. By combining very high cooling and warming rates with concentrated cryoprotectant solutions and minimal sample volumes, it largely prevents intracellular ice formation and, in experienced hands, consistently yields post-warming survival and developmental rates that exceed those obtained with traditional ...
A single-cell RNA-seq dataset characterizing cellular diversity in healthy equine skin. The skin serves as the primary barrier tissue in horses and is frequently affected by immune-mediated dermatological conditions, most notably insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH). Yet, the cellular composition and transcriptional landscape of normal equine skin have never been characterized at single-cell resolution. Here, we present a single-cell RNA sequencing dataset of healthy equine skin comprising 85,574 high-quality transcriptomes from two horses, with one skin biopsy collected from each horse, divided into two portions for independent processing via manual or automated tissue dissociatio...
Multisystemic and cerebral infection associated with Halicephalobus gingivalis in Brazilian Criollo horses. Halicephalosis is a rare cosmopolitan disease affecting equids, cattle, and humans, manifesting as meningoencephalitis. This study reports the detection of Halicephalobus gingivalis infection in two adult horses with neurological clinical signs in Rio Grande do Sul state, in the Southern Brazil. It underscores the pathological main findings and phylogenetic analyses. In both cases, the horses exhibited severe neurological manifestations and were euthanized due to poor prognosis. Pathological findings revealed gross brain lesions, in addition, alterations in the kidneys and lymph nodes. Histopa...
First documented cases of equine leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis in France. In this study, we describe the first documented cases of equine cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis in France and provide clinical and parasitological data relevant for the recognition of this emerging infection in horses. Three horses presenting localized cutaneous lesions were diagnosed with L. martiniquensis infection in different regions of France without spatial or temporal clustering. Lesions were clinically nonspecific and initially compatible with common equine dermatological conditions, including sarcoid-like tumors. Histopathological examination rev...
Testicular Expression of Vitamin-D Receptor and Vitamin-D-Metabolizing Enzymes (CYP2R1, CYP27A1, and CYP27B1) in Normal and Cryptorchid Horses. Vitamin D (VD) is required for testis activity being a key regulator of calcium and testosterone, both essential for spermatogenesis and sperm maturation. VD is activated by a metabolizing machinery of enzymes (CYP2R1, CYP27A1, CYP27B1) and acts throughout its receptor (VDR). Cryptorchidism is a developmental defect caused by the failed scrotal descend of the testicle and can compromise fertility depending on whether one or both testes are retained. Here, we reported the expression and localization of VDR- and VD-activating enzymes in the testis of normal and unilateral cryptorchid equines obt...
Redox homeostasis modulation promotes capacitation-associated events in equine sperm. Sperm capacitation, a crucial process for successful fertilization, is modulated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and involves molecular changes including increased membrane fluidity, cholesterol depletion, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Although an effective equine in vitro fertilization protocol has recently been described, its requirement for prolonged capacitation limits applicability to high-quality ejaculates. Because stallion spermatozoa possess endogenous antioxidant systems that may mitigate ROS accumulation and delay ROS-mediated capacitation, this study investigated whether i...
Association Between Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) Immunohistochemical Expression and Clinicopathological Features in Equine Melanoma. Equine melanoma is one of the most important oncological diseases in horses and exhibits a distinct biological behavior compared with melanoma in other species. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been associated with tumor aggressiveness and metastasis in human and canine melanoma, but its expression in equine melanoma remains unknown. Objective: Evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-9 in equine melanomas and investigate its association with clinicopathological features. Methods: 68 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded equine melanomas from 48 gray horses were evaluated immunohis...
Correction: First-time description of MHC diversity in Straight Egyptian Arabian horses using immune-linked microsatellite markers. [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1859977.].
Serological and molecular detection and phylogenetic characterization of Taylorella equigenitalis in horses in Iraq. Contagious equine metritis caused by is an important venereal disease of equids that can impair reproductive performance and facilitate transmission through clinically inapparent carriers. Information on infection in Iraqi horses remains limited. This study aimed to determine the serological and molecular occurrence of in horses in Iraq, evaluate associations with clinical and epidemiological factors, and characterize PCR-positive isolates using sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Unassigned: A total of 157 adult horses from Baghdad, Babylon, Nineveh, and Wasit provinces were examined ...
Retrospective investigation of equine parvovirus-hepatitis in Italy. Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) has recently been identified as the etiological agent of Theiler's disease, a major cause of acute hepatitis and liver failure in horses. While iatrogenic transmission of EqPV-H is well-documented, the natural horizontal transmission of the virus remains poorly understood. This study provides the first comprehensive epidemiological investigation and molecular characterization of EqPV-H in equine populations across Italy. A total of 1320 archival serum samples from northern and southern Italy were screened for the presence of EqPV-H DNA by qPCR. The overall ...
Alterations in the gut resistomes of endangered wild equids associated with anthropogenic activities: Insights for One Health surveillance. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are emerging environmental contaminants, but how human-associated management practices are associated with mobile resistomes in endangered wildlife remains poorly resolved. Here, we used fecal metagenomics to compare Przewalski's horses, Mongolian khulans, and domestic horses from Xinjiang, China, including Przewalski's horses from a protected area and a captive-breeding setting under human management. Across 47 fecal metagenomes, we identified 380 ARG subtypes, 23 metal resistance gene (MRG) types, and 26 mobile genetic element (MGE) subtypes. Przewalski's h...
Multitechnique Physicochemical Characterization of Horse Hoof Trimmings as Sustainable and Untapped Keratin Source. In the keratin-rich biomass scenario, horse hoof trimmings play a marginal role due to the limited volume and the scarce background on material features, despite added values such as cruelty-free, localized and routine production and traceability. This work presents a multitechnique characterization of horse hooves, including physicochemical, structural, thermal, and compositional analysis, providing a solid background knowledge of material features, mandatory for upcycling strategy definition. FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, SEM-EDX, thermogravimetric analysis, and elemen...
Prolyl-Hydroxyproline Promotes Structural Matrix Organization in 3D Equine Tendon Proper and Peritenon Post-Injury Model. Tendinopathy of the superficial digital flexor tendon affects horse health and performance, with slow healing and high re-injury rates due to the formation of mechanically weaker scar tissue. Tendons are rich in Type I collagen and may benefit from supplementation with collagen-derived dipeptide prolyl hydroxyproline (H-Pro-Hyp-OH) which improves collagen regeneration and reduces scarring in murine injury models. However, its effects on equine tenocytes in the tendon proper (TP) and peritenon (PERI) under stress are unknown. Three-dimensional fibrin-based TP and PERI constructs were used to ev...
Karyotype evolution and phylogenetic conflict in Eurasian wild asses illuminated by a chromosome-level genome assembly of the Mongolian wild ass (Equus hemionus hemionus). The evolutionary history and taxonomy of the Eurasian wild ass (Equus hemionus) remain contentious due to limited genomic resources and conflicting phylogenetic signals. Here, we present the first chromosome-level genome assembly of the Mongolian wild ass (E. h. hemionus). The assembly reveals a diploid number of 2n = 52 and identifies a lineage-specific chromosomal fusion homologous to horse chromosomes 8q and 15, which is uniquely shared with E. kiang. By integrating autosomal, mitochondrial, and Y-chromosomal data with paleogenomes, we resolved a well-supported phylogeny identifying four ...
Equine asthma – old disease and new concepts. Equine asthma is increasingly recognised as a biologically heterogeneous syndrome in which similar clinical manifestations may arise from distinct molecular mechanisms. Although clinical phenotypes have substantially improved disease classification, increasing evidence indicates that molecular endotypes more accurately reflect the biological mechanisms underlying disease heterogeneity. This review summarises current knowledge regarding the pathophysiological mechanisms of equine asthma, with particular emphasis on inflammatory pathways, molecular endotypes, genetic susceptibility, airway remod...
Equine alveolar echinococcosis: a focus on epidemiology, clinical and pathological features, and diagnostics. Here, we review equine alveolar echinococcosis (AE), focusing on its epidemiology, clinical and pathological features, and diagnostic challenges, through comparisons with AE in other host species. AE is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval form of the tapeworm. Horses are considered dead-end hosts, in which AE infection can be detected at slaughter, highlighting their potential as sentinel animals in endemic areas. Equine AE is typically asymptomatic and is generally only found incidentally during meat inspection or necropsy. Standard diagnosis involves histopathology and conventional poly...
Genome-wide exploration of coat color-associated loci in Hokkaido Native Horses, with a novel locus implicated in the roan phenotype. Genes and loci regulating horse coat color have been investigated in many breeds, but their associations with the 16 coat colors of the Hokkaido Native Horse (HKD) remain unknown. HKDs were classified according to coat-color groups based on pedigree-recorded coat color, and genome-wide association (GWA) analyses were performed. Except for gray and roan, a clear single signal corresponding to the known locus was obtained for each coat color, suggesting that the reported loci are the primary causes of these coat colors. Because gray and roan are difficult to distinguish visually and may therefor...
Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in horses in Spain. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a tick-borne zoonotic pathogen of increasing importance in Europe, responsible for Lyme borreliosis and affecting both humans and domestic animals. In horses, infection is often subclinical and difficult to diagnose due to variable clinical presentation and limitations in diagnostic methods. Epidemiological data remain limited in several countries, including Spain. This study aimed to estimate the first nationwide seroprevalence in horses in Spain and to identify associated risk factors. A total of 716 serum samples from clinically healthy horses across 17 au...
Oocyte and Embryo Vitrification in Horses. Vitrification has emerged as a decisive technique in assisted reproductive technology, offering superior cryopreservation outcomes for both oocytes and embryos compared with traditional slow freezing. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the vitrification of equine oocytes and embryos, emphasizing the influence of technical factors, including cryoprotectant selection, exposure time, temperature control, and device volume, on vitrification outcomes. Biological factors such as the oocyte maturation stage, the presence of cumulus cells, and embryo size are also explored, highlighting...
Limited evidence for exposure of horses in the United Kingdom to influenza D virus. Since it was first detected in 2011, antibodies to influenza D virus (IDV) have been found in several species, although cattle are the major host. In cattle, IDV is typically associated with mild respiratory signs, but it is clinically significant as a component of bovine respiratory disease complex. Although antibodies to IDV have been detected in equids, no association of IDV with naturally occurring respiratory disease in horses has yet been demonstrated. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether IDV may be a causal agent of equine respiratory disease in the UK. Methods: Nas...
Cyathostomin species richness and alpha diversity at egg reappearance following fecal egg count-based selective ivermectin treatment. Cyathostomin nematodes are ubiquitous in grazing horses. The overuse of anthelmintics has led to increasing problems with drug resistance to benzimidazoles and pyrantel. Although macrocyclic lactones (ML), such as ivermectin, generally retain the highest efficacy, reduced ML efficacy has increasingly been reported. A shortened egg reappearance period (ERP) is frequently used as an indicator of reduced susceptibility. However, the species-specific response dynamics after ivermectin treatment are inadequately characterized in cyathostomins. The objective of this study was to compare the cyathost...
