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Topic:Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) in horses is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the progressive deterioration of articular cartilage, subchondral bone changes, and synovial inflammation. This condition can result in pain, reduced mobility, and impaired performance in affected animals. Osteoarthritis is commonly observed in athletic horses due to repetitive joint stress, but it can also occur in older horses as part of the natural aging process. Diagnosis typically involves clinical examination, imaging techniques such as radiography or MRI, and sometimes synovial fluid analysis. Management strategies focus on alleviating pain, reducing inflammation, and slowing disease progression through pharmacological treatments, physical therapy, and sometimes surgical interventions. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of osteoarthritis in equine patients.
Serum osteocalcin is associated with scintigraphic abnormalities in lame and clinically sound racehorses. Musculoskeletal injury is a major welfare and economic challenge in racehorses, with stress-related bone injury contributing to training interruption and catastrophic failure. Advanced imaging modalities can detect early skeletal pathology but remain limited in routine screening environments. Circulating biomarkers of bone turnover may provide complementary indicators of skeletal remodelling but require validation against objective imaging findings. Objective: Evaluate whether osteocalcin (OC) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), or the CTX/OC ratio, are associated with scintig...
Single-cell sequencing reveals synovial fluid γδ T-cell expansion in equine experimental osteoarthritis. Define temporal cellular changes following joint injury using single-cell RNA sequencing in experimental equine posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Unassigned: PTOA was induced in 4 Quarter Horses (3 to 5 years) via carpal osteochondral fragmentation and high-speed treadmill exercise. Synovial fluid (SF) cells and synovium were sampled over 18 weeks (November 2023 to April 2024). Single-cell suspensions were processed (10x Genomics Chromium iX), then aligned to the equine genome (Cell Ranger). Downstream analysis was completed in the R Seurat package. Differential gene expression (log2[fold c...
Non-coding RNA profiles associated with equine osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) by regulating gene expression related to inflammation, chondrocyte apoptosis, and extracellular matrix degradation. In horses, OA is a leading cause of lameness and poor performance, with no current treatments halting disease progression and no clear biomarker available. Although some studies have investigated expression profiles of ncRNAs in equine OA, there is a need to systematically review previous efforts and synthesize information to identify potential ncRNAs to target in future research. Unassigned: The sear...
Mesenchymal stem cells in veterinary clinical practice: Evidence from naturally occurring diseases. Over the past two decades, the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in veterinary medicine has expanded rapidly, although the clinical evidence remains in its early stages. This review discusses clinical studies involving client-owned animals with naturally occurring diseases in which MSCs or MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) were used as treatments. It covers musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis, tendon and ligament injuries, and bone diseases; soft-tissue and oral mucosal conditions; neurological disorders; ophthalmic diseases; and internal medicine disorders, such as i...
Cord blood mesenchymal stromal cells combined with hyaluronic acid show symptom-modifying and potential disease-modifying effects in an equine osteoarthritis fetlock chip model. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of lameness in horses, and current therapies largely address clinical signs rather than disease progression. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown promise as disease-modifying biologics, but their effects on joint structure and immunologic phenotype remain incompletely characterized. Unassigned: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of pooled cryopreserved equine umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (eCB-MSCs) combined with hyaluronic acid (HA) for surgically induced fetlock OA in horses, using integrated clinical, imaging, and synovial biomarker outcomes....
Neosaxitoxin Downregulates Inflammation in an Equine In Vivo Model of Osteoarthritis. Chronic synovial inflammation is a hallmark of osteoarthritis progression and is tightly regulated by synovial macrophages. Recently, voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) have emerged as potent modulators of macrophage-driven inflammation, positioning them as novel therapeutic targets. Among selective NaV channel blockers, neosaxitoxin exerts remarkable anesthetic and immunomodulatory effects; however, its effects on joint inflammation upon intra-articular delivery remain unexplored. Using an equine model of bilateral carpal osteoarthritis, this study evaluated the immunomodulatory and tissue-p...
Short-term effects of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on subjective flexion-associated lameness responses and circulating cytokines in horses with distal tarsal osteoarthritis. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is commonly used in equine sports medicine for its proposed anti-inflammatory effects; however, limited controlled studies have evaluated its physiologic effects in horses. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of PEMF therapy on flexion-induced lameness and circulating cytokines in horses with radiographic evidence of distal tarsal osteoarthritis. Methods: Six mares were enrolled in a repeated-measures crossover design in which each horse served as its own control. Horses were evaluated at baseline (sham PEMF) and at ...
Anti-Inflammatory and Metabolic Effects of Fresh Versus Freeze-Dried Platelet-Rich Plasma on Equine Osteoarthritis in an Ex Vivo Cartilage-Synovium Explant Co-Culture System: A Pilot Study. Equine osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of lameness and economic loss in horses. While platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has clinical potential, the biological effects of fresh PRP (F-PRP) and freeze-dried PRP (FD-PRP) remain insufficiently defined. This pilot study compared 25% and 50% F-PRP and FD-PRP in an interleukin-1β-induced equine cartilage-synovium explant co-culture model. PRP treatments reduced inflammatory responses, with significant downregulation of COX-2 and PGE2 expression, and 25% F-PRP showed the most consistent inhibition of nitric oxide production. PRP also significantly redu...
Straight sesamoidean ligament desmopathy commonly occurs with proximal interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis. Proximal interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis (PIPJ OA) is a common cause of poor performance in the equine athlete; however, the supporting soft tissue structures surrounding the joint are seldom evaluated. Straight sesamoidean ligament injuries have been previously hypothesised to be concomitant with PIPJ OA; however, the frequency of these lesions coinciding with PIPJ OA has not been fully investigated. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of straight sesamoidean ligament desmopathy (SSLD) in horses presenting with PIPJ OA. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: Horses presenti...
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...
Synovial transcriptomic biomarkers predict structural severity in equine osteochondral fragment-induced experimental osteoarthritis. Develop a global joint score (GJS) reflecting equine osteoarthritis (OA) structural severity and identify clinical or molecular parameters predicting disease severity. Unassigned: A retrospective analysis was performed using data from horses (n = 104; 58 females and 46 geldings; 2 to 5 years old) undergoing experimental OA induction via surgical osteochondral fragment creation in the middle carpal joint and high-speed treadmill exercise over 70 days. Longitudinal measures included subjective lameness examinations (lameness, effusion, and flexion), synovial fluid (SF) and serum glycosaminoglyca...
Evaluation of a canine Coll2-1 ELISA kit for use in equine serum and its correlation with radiographic joint disease. This study evaluated an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Coll2-1, a peptide fragment of type II collagen released during cartilage degradation in horses using a kit originally developed for dogs. Objective: The objectives of this study were to: 1) assess the analytical applicability of the canine Coll2-1 ELISA in equine serum and 2) explore the correlations between Coll2-1 concentrations and radiographic scores of osteoarthritis (OA) in horses. Methods: Twelve Lusitano stallions, of similar age and workload but presenting different radiographic scores were include...
Accuracy of Computed Tomography in Diagnosing Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis Relative to Histopathological Findings-An Ex Vivo Study of 41 Horses. Computed tomography (CT) is used to support the diagnosis of equine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease; however, its diagnostic accuracy remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between CT findings and histopathological manifestations of osteoarthritis (OA) in equine TMJs. A total of 82 TMJs were CT-imaged, sampled, grouped into age-related and OA-related groups, and analyzed for frequency distributions, correlations, and CT-based TMJ OA diagnosis. CT findings were observed in 79% of joints, including 'CT anatomical variations' considering to reflect age-related remode...
Clinical Outcomes Following Intra-Articular Administration of Autologous Muscle-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Horses with Chronic Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Open-Label Study. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are increasingly investigated as intra-articular therapies for equine osteoarthritis (OA), although most studies have focused on allogeneic or combination-based approaches. Evidence supporting the use of autologous MSCs as a stand-alone treatment remains limited. The present study evaluated the safety and clinical evolution following intra-articular administration of autologous muscle-derived MSCs (mdMSCs) in horses with naturally occurring chronic OA. Thirteen horses with confirmed clinical disease were included. Each affected joint received a single inje...
Immunohistological characterization of equine synovial tissue in metacarpophalangeal joints of different ages and osteoarthritis status. Synovial macrophages' role in equine osteoarthritis (OA) is not well understood, despite horses being a model for human degenerative joint disorders. Equine synovial macrophages' characterization is limited and age-related changes are not described. This study aimed to evaluate surface marker distribution and expression from potential synovial tissue macrophages in foals, adult non-affected, and OA-affected horses. Unassigned: Surface markers (CD14, CD16, CD206) were quantitatively evaluated on dorsal villous synovial biopsies from the metacarpophalangeal joint of foals (F), non-affected (cont...
Size of the C7-T1 articular processes is overestimated on lateral radiographs when compared to standing cone beam computed tomography. Radiography of the caudal cervical vertebral column is commonly performed in horses, but image distortion may occur due to factors such as scapular superimposition, divergent beam, and the distance between anatomy and detector. These variables can falsely suggest enlargement of the articular processes (APs) at the seventh cervical and first thoracic vertebrae (C7-T1). Objective: To assess the presence of magnification of C7-T1 APs as determined by AP:vertebral body (VB) height ratio on lateral radiographs compared to cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) as a gold standard, and to explore inter...
CD8+ T-cells, CD86+ macrophages and TNF-α signalling pathways are correlated with fetlock osteoarthritis in racehorses. There is emerging evidence for the role of the immune system in osteoarthritis (OA) pathophysiology; however, little is known about how immune cells and the synovial transcriptome are altered in naturally occurring equine OA. Objective: To evaluate synovial fluid (SF) and synovial membrane (SM) immune cell populations and the SM transcriptome in racehorses with fetlock OA. Methods: Cross-sectional cadaver study. Methods: Fetlock joints from racehorses euthanised at NY racetracks were considered for inclusion. SF and SM were analysed by flow cytometry using T-cell (CD3, CD4, CD8) and macrophage...
Clinical and Biochemical Effects of Intra-Articular Autologous Conditioned Serum and Triamcinolone in an Equine Model of Synovitis. Synovitis is a key contributor to the development of OA, and early modulation of the synovial environment may help limit downstream cartilage damage. This study compared the clinical and biochemical effects of intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and autologous conditioned serum (ACS) in an equine model of IL-1β-induced synovitis. Six healthy adult horses were used in a crossover design involving five groups: PBS (negative control), IL-1β (positive control), IL-1β + ACS, IL-1β + TA, and an exploratory ACS-alone group administered post hoc to isolate its effects without IL-1β inter...
Multiple strategies, one mission: mesenchymal stromal cell-based mechanisms of action in osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a cross-species, multifactorial joint disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of articular cartilage, morphological remodeling of the subchondral bone, and inflammatory and fibrotic changes of the joint capsule. These alterations arise from chronic, often subclinical, inflammatory processes and dysregulated cellular homeostasis, leading to profound shifts in the cellular and extracellular composition of the joint organ. Although the mechanisms driving persistent inflammation are only partially understood, their impact on all joint-associated tissues is well...
Overview of the Current Osteoarthritis Treatment in Veterinary Medicine and Future Directions. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic and progressive joint disease that can cause permanent loss of joint function. OA is highly prevalent in horses, dogs, and cats, affecting different joints and leading to reduced mobility and chronic pain. Different risk factors for animal OA have been identified, including trauma and breed. Inflammation is a hallmark of the disease, with various underlying mechanisms such as cyclooxygenase and metalloproteinase activation, nerve growth factor, cytokine, and prostaglandin upregulation, among others. Although disease complexity makes OA difficult to treat, eno...
Client-specific outcome measure for chronic osteoarthritis pain assessment in horses. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent cause of chronic pain and lameness in horses. Whereas lameness can be quantified using objective measures, the assessment of OA-associated pain remains challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the Client-Specific Outcome Measure (CSOM), a tool widely used in small animals, for the assessment of chronic OA pain in horses through caretaker evaluation. Unassigned: Seventeen privately owned horses with confirmed OA were enrolled in a 20-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. For each horse, three individual pain-related ind...
Main causes of death in aged horses in a retirement facility in California can be attributed to the digestive and musculoskeletal systems. To determine the main causes of death in aged horses residing at a retirement facility in California. Unassigned: A retrospective cross-sectional study design was utilized to evaluate signalment, medical history, and necropsy reports of horses aged 20 years or older at death and housed at a single retirement facility. All cases underwent a standard post mortem evaluation from 2010 through 2020 by the University of California-Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Euthanasia decisions were made by the retirement facility staff in consultation with a veterinarian. The m...
Computer-Aided Diagnosis of Equine Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis Using Machine Learning Integrating Computed Tomography Findings and Synovial Fluid Biomarkers. Horses presenting with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunctions are often clinically evaluated for TMJ osteoarthritis (OA). Due to the unique characteristic of TMJ-related pain, the clinical diagnosis of equine TMJ OA is challenging; however, it may be supported by computer-aided tools incorporating biomarker data. This study aims to evaluate a machine learning-based approach to address a binary classification distinguishing healthy TMJs from TMJ OA. Among 50 equine cadaver heads, 82 TMJs were included and annotated as healthy or OA based on histological and computed tomography (CT) findings...
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy in equine and canine practice. To describe the proposed mechanism of action of shock wave therapy and discuss treatment considerations and guidelines for use in equine and canine practice. Unassigned: Client-owned animals with owner consent. Unassigned: Shock wave therapy is proposed to stimulate healing by generating forces that cause cells to undergo microtrauma and release anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors into the treated tissues. While the 4 types of shock wave therapies are discussed, electrohydraulic and piezoelectric are described in detail, as they are most utilized in veterinary medicine for the treat...
Natural eggshell membrane supplementation for chronic lameness in warmblood horses: a 12-week prospective before-after study. Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of equine lameness, yet pragmatic evidence for nutraceuticals in horses remains limited. Unassigned: We prospectively evaluated 12 weeks of daily natural eggshell membrane (NEM; 12 mg/kg, orally) supplementation in Warmblood horses with chronic lameness using a single-arm before-after design. Ten horses were enrolled and prespecified paired contrasts compared visit 3 (V3, week 12) with baseline (V1). Outcomes included rider-reported under-saddle function (walk and trot), examiner-graded lameness (rest and walk-trot composite), simple joint-angle kinematics...
Clinical and research applications of synthetic bone substitutes in equine veterinary medicine: A systematic review. Bone grafting in equine medicine offers a promising contribution to treating orthopaedic developmental diseases and chondral, osteochondral and segmental bone defects. Among grafts, synthetic bone substitutes-alloplastics-show favourable biological properties addressing numerous limitations presented by autografts, xenografts and allografts. Objective: To compile and disseminate clinical data and research findings from existing publications on the use of alloplastics in horses. Methods: Systematic review. Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis 202...
Acquired and Degenerative Conditions of the Cervical Vertebral Column in Horses. The cervical vertebral column in horses plays a crucial role in movement, posture, and performance and disorders affecting it can cause pain, ataxia, or lameness. This review discusses major acquired (traumatic, infectious, neoplastic) and degenerative (osteoarthritis, foraminal stenosis, intervertebral disc disease) conditions. Acquired lesions often arise from trauma, bacterial infection, or neoplasia, with clinical signs ranging from neck pain to neurologic deficits. Degenerative disorders, particularly osteoarthritis of articular process joints, are common in the caudal cervical spine and ...
Translational human and equine regenerative medicine in musculoskeletal conditions. Translational regenerative medicine, integrating human and veterinary approaches within the "One Health" framework, increasingly uses horses as models for human musculoskeletal conditions due to shared anatomical and functional features. Osteoarthritis and tendon disorders affect both species, often resulting from high-impact or repetitive strain activities. Regenerative medicine offers therapeutic opportunities by promoting tissue repair and modulating inflammation. Cellular orthobiologics such as mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) show promise for treating osteoarthritis and tendon injuri...
Ultrasonographic Evidence of Synovitis Correlates with Synovial Citrate and TBARS in Equine Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that affects humans and animals worldwide. Its early diagnosis remains challenging due to subtle clinical signs and late radiographic changes. This study aimed to explore candidate biomarkers associated with spontaneous OA and to investigate their correlation with ultrasonographic scores to support early diagnosis. Clinical, radiographic, and ultrasonographic evaluations were performed on 52 equine metacarpophalangeal joints, with and without OA, allowing joint scoring and classification into osteoarthritis (OAG) and control groups. Synovial ...
Generation and characterization of an immortalized equine osteoblast cell line. Bone is a dynamic tissue that is maintained through the co-ordination of bone resorption and bone formation. An imbalance of these processes can lead to bone disease. In vitro studies of osteoblasts can help to understand bone formation, but primary cells have a limited lifespan in culture. Herein, we report the successful generation of equine immortalized osteoblasts through the stable overexpression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and Simian virus 40 (SV40) large T-antigen in osteoblasts isolated from trabecular bone taken from the third metacarpal of a two-year-old Thoroug...
