The placebo effect in horses refers to the phenomenon where a horse experiences a perceived or actual improvement in condition following a treatment that has no therapeutic effect. This effect is often observed in clinical trials and studies where control groups receive a placebo treatment to assess the efficacy of a new drug or therapy. Understanding the placebo effect in horses is important for designing rigorous equine research studies, as it helps distinguish between the actual effects of a treatment and psychological or physiological responses that are not directly caused by the treatment itself. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the mechanisms, implications, and methodologies for accounting for the placebo effect in equine research.
Nagae M, Nishio T, Ohnuki K, Shimizu K.Placenta extract is used as an ingredient in ointments for treating dermatological diseases, skin dryness, and for skin beautification. However, the clinical effects of the equine placenta on humans and the underlying mechanism of action are unclear. This randomized, controlled, double-blind study aimed to clinically evaluate the effect of oral intake of equine placental extract on human skin quality. Methods: Healthy women volunteers between the ages of 30 and 59 years (n = 29) were randomly assigned to receive 220 mg of equine placental extract-placebo orally, once daily for 4 weeks....
Ziadi A, Ozmaie S, Asghari A, Rajaei SM.This study aims to assess the effect of topical 0.5% apraclonidine on Intraocular pressure (IOP) in horses and compare the effects of timolol maleate 0.5% with 0.5% apraclonidine in the equine eye. Twenty healthy female thoroughbred horses were used. Horses were divided into two groups. Ten horses received single dose of 0.2 mL of 0.5% apraclonidine in one randomly selected eye and the contralateral eye received single dose of 0.2 mL of artificial tears. In the second group, 10 horses received single dose of 0.2 mL of 0.5% timolol maleate in one eye and the opposite eye received single dose of...
Dai F, Costa ED, Giordano A, Heinzl EUL, Giongo P, Pagnozzi G, Cannas S, Minozzi G, Minero M.Horses preparation for competition may cause psychological and physical stress. Physical vascular therapy BEMER® is reported to increase vasomotion and microcirculation, supporting body healing. This study aimed at assessing whether BEMER® physical vascular therapy in horses influences recovery rate of hematological and biochemical blood parameters within 1 h after moderate exercise and reduces stress measured by physiological and behavioral indicators. This prospective, randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study included twelve warmblood horses (3 mares, 8 geldings, 1 s...
Theiner E, Weber C, Müller E, Venner M, Finkler-Schade C, Vervuert I.This study aimed to examine the effects of an oral supplementation on manganese (Mn) concentrations in the blood of lactating warm-blood broodmares. Furthermore, the potential relationship between Mn supply of the lactating mare and its suckling foal was investigated. Methods: During the 90-day trial, lactating mares were divided into 3 groups and daily received a daily dose of either a placebo (n = 11) or a Mn supplement of 560 mg Mn as Mn sulfate (n = 11) or Mn chelate (n = 11) in addition to the Mn intake from the basal ration (hay ad libitum, total mixed ration: Mn intake ~ 1...
Weber LA, Delarocque J, Feige K, Kietzmann M, Kalbitz J, Meißner J, Paschke R, Cavalleri JV.The naturally occurring betulinic acid (BA) and its derivative NVX-207 induce apoptosis in equine melanoma cells in vitro. After topical application, high concentrations of the substances can be reached in healthy equine skin. With the aim to investigate the effect and safety of topically applied BA and NVX-207 in horses with melanocytic tumors, the longitudinal, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study protocol included eighteen Lipizzaner mares with early-stage cutaneous melanoma assigned to three groups. Melanocytic lesions were topically treated either with a placebo...
Lucassen A, Finkler-Schade C, Schuberth HJ. () fermentation products (SCFP) are used in animal husbandry as pre- and postbiotic feed supplements. A variety of immunomodulatory effects are noted in many species. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that horses fed with SCFP containing feed additive Olimond BB display a modulated early immune response after influenza vaccination. Six horses received Olimond BB pellets (OLI) and five horses were fed placebo pellets (PLA) for 56 days. On day 40 all horses were vaccinated with a recombinant influenza A/equi-2 vaccine. At the day of vaccination, the groups did not differ in t...
O'Banion MP, Sundman E, Edmonds M, Davis J.Dipyrone is a non-opioid, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with antipyretic and analgesic properties commonly used in horses. Dipyrone is rapidly hydrolyzed to the primary active metabolite 4-methylaminoantipyrine (4-MAA). The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic profile of 4-MAA following repeated and escalating doses of intravenously administered dipyrone. Twenty-six horses were randomly allocated to five treatment groups (one placebo group and four dipyrone groups [30 mg/kg q8h, 30 mg/kg q12h, 60 mg/kg q8h, and 90 mg/kg q12h]) and treated for nine consecutive da...
Guptill JT, Raja SM, Juel VC, Walter EB, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Hill H, Sendra E, Hauser B, Jackson P, Swamy GK.Botulism is a rare, life-threatening paralytic disease caused by Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). Available treatments, including an equine antitoxin and human immune globulin, are given postexposure and challenging to produce and administer. NTM-1632 is an equimolar mixture of 3 human IgG monoclonal antibodies, B1, B2, and B3, targeting BoNT serotype B (BoNT/B). This first-in-human study assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and immunogenicity of NTM-1632. This double-blind, single-center, placebo-controlled dose escalation study randomized 3 cohorts of healthy vol...
Farag AMM, Ibrahim HMM.The current study was undertaken to investigate the effect of intravenous administration of ondansetron on the small and large intestinal motility in donkeys (Equus asinus) using non-invasive transabdominal ultrasonography. The current prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study was conducted on thirty healthy donkeys (15 males and 15 females). The selected donkeys underwent two trials; the first was performed by intravenous administration of saline solution as a placebo, while the second was carried out by intravenous administration of ondansetron hydrochloride. The contracti...
Banse HE, Whitehead AE, McFarlane D, Chelikani PK.Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a common endocrine disorder of aged horses, with muscle atrophy as one of the clinical signs. We sought to compare muscle mass and regulation of skeletal muscle proteolysis between horses with PPID and muscle atrophy to older horses without PPID, and to assess the impact of treatment with pergolide (dopaminergic agonist) on PPID horses. We hypothesized that PPID-associated muscle atrophy is a result of increased proteolysis, and that markers of muscle atrophy and proteolysis would improve over time with pergolide treatment. Markers of muscle atro...
Pirie RS, Mueller HW, Engel O, Albrecht B, von Salis-Soglio M.Ciclesonide is a glucocorticoid prodrug, already registered for human use. Due to its mode of action and inhaled route of administration, it was considered an appropriate treatment option for horses with severe equine asthma. Although the efficacy of inhaled ciclesonide has been demonstrated in horses with asthma exacerbations under controlled mouldy hay challenge conditions, it has not yet been reported under field conditions. Objective: To assess the effectiveness and safety of inhaled ciclesonide for the treatment of severe equine asthma. Methods: Prospective, multicentre, placebo-controlle...
Dai F, Rausk J, Aspegren J, Huhtinen M, Cannas S, Minero M.The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group clinical field study was to evaluate the effect of detomidine oromucosal gel in alleviating anxiety and fear in horses. Sixteen horses with a history of acute anxiety and fear associated with firework-related noise entered the study. On New Year's Eve, eight horses were treated with 30 μg/kg detomidine gel and eight horses with placebo gel. When fireworks were present, 75% (6/8) of the detomidine-treated horses were scored by their owners as having a good or excellent treatment effect on anxiety and fear, while 50% (...
Faghihi H, Rajaei SM, Mehrazin H, Golabdar S, Brooks DE.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical 1% tetracaine hydrochloride on the intraocular pressure (IOP) in ophthalmologically normal horses. Thirty eyes of 15 clinically normal horses were used for this study. The animals were randomly assigned to two groups (treatment and control). Prior to the instillation of 1% tetracaine or placebo, the baseline IOPs (T0) of each animal were recorded in both groups. Then one drop of tetracaine was instilled randomly into one eye of each horse in the treatment group (8 horses). In the control group (7 horses), one drop of artificial tear w...
Weber LA, Puff C, Kalbitz J, Kietzmann M, Feige K, Bosse K, Rohn K, Cavalleri JV.The naturally occurring betulinic acid (BA) and its derivative NVX-207 show anticancer effects against equine malignant melanoma (EMM) cells and a potent permeation in isolated equine skin in vitro. The aim of the study was to determine the in vivo concentration profiles of BA and NVX-207 in equine skin and assess the compounds' local and systemic tolerability with the intent of developing a topical therapy against EMM. Eight horses were treated percutaneously in a crossover design with 1% BA, 1% NVX-207 or a placebo in a respective vehicle twice a day for seven consecutive days with a seven-d...
Grady SE, Lescun TB, Moore GE, Cooper BR, Davern AJ, Brunner TJ, Taylor SD.The objective was to compare the analgesic efficacy of ketorolac tromethamine (KT) and two other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including flunixin meglumine (FM) and phenylbutazone (PB), using a heart bar shoe (HBS) model of reversible foot lameness in horses. Nine adult horses were used in a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study. After induction of left front limb lameness using a modified HBS model, one of three NSAIDs (KT, 2.0 mg/kg IV; FM, 1.1 mg/kg IV; PB, 4.4 mg/kg IV) or saline (placebo) was administered IV as a single dose. Lameness was assessed eve...
Cox A, Wood K, Coleman G, Stewart AJ, Bertin FR, Owen H, Suen WW, Medina-Torres CE.To assess the efficacy of an herbal spray combining various essential oils, with a claim of mast cell stabilisation, antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, and insect repellent effects on the clinical presentation of insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) in horses. Methods: Double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised, cross-over clinical trial. Methods: Twenty adult horses with clinical IBH were treated with a daily application of herbal spray or placebo for 28 days in a randomised, cross-over fashion, separated by a>28-day washout period. Horses were examined and scored prior to and after the co...
Wambacq WA, van Doorn DA, Rovers-Paap PM, Ducatelle R, Vlaminck L, Lourenço M, Hesta M.As colic and intestinal disorders are a major concern in horses, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of butyrate, known to have a diverse array of beneficial effects on intestinal health. The effect of micro-encapsulated sodium butyrate supplementation on gut histology and immunohistochemistry parameters was studied in 14 healthy warmblood horses destined for slaughter in two separate periods. Horses were fed a low fiber - high starch diet, designed to induce subsequent starch overflow in the large intestine, aiming to create a mild challenge f...
Johnson LM, Holcombe SJ, Shearer TR, Watson V, Gandy J, Southwood LL, Lynch TM, Schroeder EL, Fogle CA, Sordillo LM.Identifying therapies that mitigate ischemic colonic injury and improve mucosal healing and intestinal viability are crucial to improving survival in horses with ≥360° large colon volvulus (LCV). Ethyl pyruvate is the ethyl ester of pyruvate with diverse pharmacologic effects that limit ischemic injury and hasten intestinal mucosal repair in preclinical rodents, sheep and swine models. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of ethyl pyruvate on systemic indices of colon viability, expression of inflammatory genes in whole blood, morbidity and survival after surgical correc...
Martin LM, Johnson PJ, Amorim JR, DeClue AE.Resveratrol, a phytophenol, is a commonly used equine nutraceutical supplement touted to exert anti-inflammatory effects. The effect of orally administered resveratrol on tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), leukocyte phagocytic activity or oxidative burst function have not been reported in horses. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a commercially available, orally administered resveratrol product on innate immune functions in healthy adult horses. Whole blood was collected from 12 horses prior to and following 3 weeks of treatment with either the man...
Starzonek J, Roscher K, Blüher M, Blaue D, Schedlbauer C, Hirz M, Raila J, Vervuert I.In horses and ponies numerous medical conditions are known to be linked with inflammation in different tissues, especially in the liver. Besides affecting other metabolic pathways such as the expression of certain interleukins (IL), inflammation is associated with stress of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In particular, ER stress leads to adaptive stress response and can be measured by several markers of inflammatory and stress signalling pathways, like nuclear factor κB (NF-kB). Objective: To investigate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory reactions and their modulation in horses a...
Munsterman AS, Dias Moreira AS, Marqués FJ.Wei Le San (WLS) is a Chinese herbal formula comprised of 9 herbs selected for their putative anti-inflammatory effects. Objective: To evaluate the effects of WLS administration in horses with nonglandular gastric ulcers. Methods: Ten mixed breed mares (aged 7-21 years, 401-567 kg body weight). Methods: Experimental design was a blinded, prospective, 2-period crossover study. All horses received a placebo (25 mL dextrose-based syrup; n = 10) and the treatment (WLS, 5 g in 25 mL dextrose-based syrup; n = 10), administered twice daily. Horses underwent a 1-week, alternating feed-depriv...
Hodge E, Kowalski A, Torcivia C, Lindborg S, Stefanovski D, Hart K, Frank N, van Eps A.The use of parallel dynamic tests to identify insulin dysregulation (ID) and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in horses could have better diagnostic utility than measuring baseline hormone concentrations, if the tests do not alter diagnostic interpretation of one another. Objective: Performing a thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test before an oral sugar test (OST) would not affect results of OST. Methods: Twenty-six healthy university-owned horses. Methods: A prospective randomized placebo-controlled, crossover design was used to evaluate 3 OST protocols: OST alone, ...
Persson-Sjodin E, Hernlund E, Pfau T, Haubro Andersen P, Holm Forsström K, Rhodin M.Quantitative gait analysis has revealed that a large proportion of horses in training, perceived as free from lameness by their owners, show movement asymmetries of equal magnitude to horses with mild clinical lameness. Whether these movement asymmetries are related to orthopaedic pain and/or pathology has yet to be further investigated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether movement asymmetries in riding horses in training are affected by anti-inflammatory treatment with meloxicam. In a crossover design, horses were treated with meloxicam or placebo for four days res...
Bayly W, Lopez C, Sides R, Bergsma G, Bergsma J, Gold J, Sellon D.Public pressure exists in the United States to eliminate race-day furosemide administration despite its efficacy in decreasing the severity of equine exercise pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). No effective alternative prophylaxis strategies have been identified. Objective: To investigate alternative protocols to race-day furosemide that might mitigate EIPH. Methods: Seven fit Thoroughbreds with recent EIPH. Methods: Double-blinded placebo-controlled Latin square crossover using a treadmill followed by a blinded placebo-controlled crossover study at a racetrack. First, horses exercised supramaximall...
Broeckx SY, Martens AM, Bertone AL, Van Brantegem L, Duchateau L, Van Hecke L, Dumoulin M, Oosterlinck M, Chiers K, Hussein H, Pille F, Spaas JH.There is a need to improve therapies for osteoarthritis in horses. Objective: To assess the efficacy of equine allogeneic chondrogenic-induced mesenchymal stem cells combined with equine allogeneic plasma as a novel therapy for osteoarthritis in horses. Methods: Randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled experiment. Methods: In 12 healthy horses, osteoarthritis was induced in the metacarpophalangeal joint using an osteochondral fragment-groove model. Five weeks after surgery, horses were randomly assigned to either an intra-articular injection with chondrogenic-induced mesenchymal stem cel...
Lavoie JP, Bullone M, Rodrigues N, Germim P, Albrecht B, von Salis-Soglio M.Inhaled corticosteroids are effective for the treatment of equine asthma but they induce cortisol suppression with potential side effects. Objective: To study the efficacy of ciclesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid with an improved safety profile, on lung function, clinical signs related to airway obstruction, and serum cortisol levels in asthmatic horses exposed to a mouldy hay challenge. Methods: Cross-over placebo controlled, blinded, randomised experiment. Methods: Sixteen horses were enrolled in three subsequent dose-titration studies (8 horses/study) to investigate the effects of inhaled ...
Urubschurov V, Stroebel C, Günther E, Romanowski K, Büsing K, Zeyner A.Effects of probiotics on the intestinal microbiota of foals are yet insufficiently studied. The aim of this study was to investigate whether supplementation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (DSM 7133) and Enterococcus faecium (DSM 7134) influences the bacterial composition of the faecal microbiota of foals. A total of 34 newborn foals were randomly assigned to the placebo group (PG, n = 16) and the treatment group (TG, n = 18). From day 1 to day 14 of life, foals orally received 3 ml of either a probiotic preparation (1.05 × 10 CFU E. faecium and 4.50 × 10 CFU L. rhamnosus) or placebo (...
Donnelly CG, Sones JL, Dockweiler JC, Norberg LA, Norberg LE, Cheong SH, Gilbert RO.OBJECTIVE To evaluate use of flunixin meglumine as a treatment to postpone ovulation in mares, mare fertility after flunixin meglumine treatment during estrous cycles, and effects of flunixin meglumine on function of the corpus luteum after ovulation. ANIMALS 13 healthy mares. PROCEDURES A single-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study was conducted. Flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg, IV, q 24 h) or lactated Ringer solution (placebo treatment) was administered for 2 days to mares with a dominant follicle (≥ 35 mm in diameter) and behavioral signs of estrus. Mares then were bred by artificia...
Morresey PR, White GW, Poole HM, Hu T, Yin M, Sundman EA.OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dipyrone to control pyrexia in horses with naturally occurring disease under field conditions. ANIMALS 138 horses with pyrexia and various infections evaluated at 14 veterinary sites in 12 states. PROCEDURES In the first (effectiveness) phase of this 2-phase study, horses were randomly assigned 3:1 to receive 1 dose of dipyrone (30 mg/kg [13.6 mg/lb], IV) or an equivalent amount of placebo. Effectiveness was defined as a decrease in rectal temperature ≥ 1.1°C (2°F), compared with the pretreatment value, or a rectal temperature of ≤ 38...
Meier A, de Laat M, Reiche D, Fitzgerald D, Sillence M.A previous six-week (wk) study demonstrated the potential of the sodium-glucose linked transport inhibitor velagliflozin as a novel treatment for equine insulin dysregulation. The present study examined the safety and efficacy of velagliflozin over 16 wk. of treatment, and over 4 wk. of withdrawal. Twenty-four insulin dysregulated ponies were selected, based on their hyper-responsiveness to a diet challenge meal containing 3.8 g non-structural carbohydrates (NSC)/kg bodyweight (BW). Ponies with serum insulin > 90 μIU/mL either 2 or 4 h after feeding were enrolled, and randomly allocated...
Vardy MD, Gardner TR, Cosman F, Scotti RJ, Mikhail MS, Preiss-Bloom AO, Williams JK, Cline JM, Lindsay R.The purpose of this study was to determine effects of ovariectomy (OVX) and conjugated equine estrogens plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (CEE/MPA), or ethinyl estradiol plus norethindrone acetate (EE/NA) on biomechanics of uterosacral (USL) and round (RL) ligaments in postmenopausal (PMP) monkeys. Methods: This was a randomized, triple blind, placebo-controlled study. OVX monkeys received 12 months no treatment (Pbo) (n = 19), CEE/MPA (n = 19), or EE/NA (n = 21). USL and RL step strains and stress-relaxation data were curve-fitted, giving strain-dependent tensile modulus (TM) from 0% to 30%. R...
Ziebell KL, Steinmann H, Kretzdorn D, Schlapp T, Failing K, Schmeer N.The efficacy of an immunomodulator, Baypamun N, was tested in 4-10-month-old horses which were exposed to stress by weaning, transport and commingling with yearlings from different breeders (crowding). Verum (n = 26) and placebo animals (n = 27) received three intramuscular injections of the investigational preparations (days 0, 2, 9) starting at the day of commingling in one stable. The incidence of acute respiratory disease was high during the first 4 weeks after commingling. Approximately 50% of all horses showed seroconversion due to field infection by EHV1 and EHV4 during the observation ...
Venner M, Credner N, Lämmer M, Giguère S.The objectives of the present study were to determine the relative efficacy of tulathromycin, azithromycin, or azithromycin with rifampin for the treatment of pulmonary abscesses on a farm with endemic infections caused by Rhodococcus equi. Foals with ultrasonographic evidence of pulmonary abscesses (abscess score 8.0-15 cm; n=120) were randomly allocated in four equal treatment groups: (1) tulathromycin intramuscularly; (2) azithromycin monotherapy, orally; (3) azithromycin with rifampin, orally; (4) saline intramuscularly as a placebo. Physical examination and thoracic ultrasonography were p...
Pirie RS, Mueller HW, Engel O, Albrecht B, von Salis-Soglio M.Ciclesonide is a glucocorticoid prodrug, already registered for human use. Due to its mode of action and inhaled route of administration, it was considered an appropriate treatment option for horses with severe equine asthma. Although the efficacy of inhaled ciclesonide has been demonstrated in horses with asthma exacerbations under controlled mouldy hay challenge conditions, it has not yet been reported under field conditions. Objective: To assess the effectiveness and safety of inhaled ciclesonide for the treatment of severe equine asthma. Methods: Prospective, multicentre, placebo-controlle...
John J, Roediger K, Schroedl W, Aldaher N, Vervuert I.Almost all foals develop transient diarrhoea within the first weeks of life. Studies indicated different viral, bacterial, and parasitic causes, such as rotavirus, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, and Cryptosporidium are discussed. But little is known about the development of intestinal microflora in foals. The present study investigated whether the supplementation with Bacillus cereus var. toyoi would modify the developing intestinal microflora and consequently reduce diarrhoea in foals. From birth, the foals were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: placebo (10 mL isotonic...
Olsén L, Bondesson U, Broström H, Olsson U, Mazogi B, Sundqvist M, Tjälve H, Ingvast-Larsson C.Horses with insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) have difficulty in completely avoiding allergens, so effective treatment options are required. A randomised, placebo controlled and double blinded field study was conducted to determine the pharmacokinetics and efficacy in reducing dermatitis of the antihistamine cetirizine given orally at 0.4 mg/kg twice daily for 3 weeks. The influence of protection blankets and stabling were also investigated. The estimated maximum plasma concentration (C(max)) and trough plasma concentration of cetirizine were 135 ng/mL and 18 ng/mL, respectively. There was no...
Frisbie DD, McIlwraith CW, Kawcak CE, Werpy NM.A randomized blinded placebo controlled trial was conducted to assess the clinical, biochemical and histological effects of a hyaluronan, sodium chondroitin sulfate and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine combination (PG) administered through an intra-articular (IA) route for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) at the time of injury. OA was induced in one carpal joint of each of 16 horses. Horses were designated placebo or IA PG treated. All horses were treated with 125 mg amikacin sulfate IA and 5 mL physiological saline in the middle carpal joint bilaterally on study Days 0 (after induction of OA), 7, 1...
Ashrafi GH, Piuko K, Burden F, Yuan Z, Gault EA, Müller M, Trawford A, Reid SWJ, Nasir L, Campo MS.Equine sarcoids are fibroblastic skin tumours affecting equids worldwide. While the pathogenesis is not entirely understood, infection with bovine papillomavirus (BPV) type 1 (and less commonly type 2) has been implicated as a major factor in the disease process. Sarcoids very seldom regress and in fact often recrudesce following therapy. Nothing is known about the immune response of the equine host to BPV. Given that the viral genes are expressed in sarcoids, it is reasonable to assume that vaccination of animals against the expressed viral proteins would lead to the induction of an immune re...
Couetil L, Hammer J, Miskovic Feutz M, Nogradi N, Perez-Moreno C, Ivester K.Equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is characterized by airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and increased mucus production in the airways. Anticholinergic drugs like atropine induce bronchodilatation and rapid improvement in lung function. N-butylscopolammonium bromide (NBB) is an anticholinergic drug used to relieve spasmodic colic in horses, but its effect on airway smooth muscle is unknown. Objective: To evaluate the effect of NBB on clinical signs and lung function of RAO-affected horses. Methods: Nine horses diagnosed with RAO. Methods: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, random...
Pedersen SK, Cribb AE, Read EK, French D, Banse HE.In equids, phenylbutazone at high doses induces gastric disease, primarily in the glandular portion of the stomach. However, the mechanism of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastric disease in horses has yet to be determined. While phenylbutazone-associated ulceration is often attributed to a decrease in basal gastric prostaglandins, this has not been demonstrated in the horse. Twelve horses were randomly assigned to treatment (n = 6; 4.4 mg/kg phenylbutazone PO in 20 ml molasses q 12 hr for 7 days) or placebo (n = 6; 20 ml molasses PO q 12 hr for 7 days) groups....
Wambacq WA, van Doorn DA, Rovers-Paap PM, Ducatelle R, Vlaminck L, Lourenço M, Hesta M.As colic and intestinal disorders are a major concern in horses, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of butyrate, known to have a diverse array of beneficial effects on intestinal health. The effect of micro-encapsulated sodium butyrate supplementation on gut histology and immunohistochemistry parameters was studied in 14 healthy warmblood horses destined for slaughter in two separate periods. Horses were fed a low fiber - high starch diet, designed to induce subsequent starch overflow in the large intestine, aiming to create a mild challenge f...
Foreman JH, Barange A, Lawrence LM, Hungerford LL.The objective was to test the hypothesis that phenylbutazone (PBZ) alleviates lameness in an adjustable heart bar shoe model of equine foot pain. Eight Quarter Horse mares underwent 4-weekly treatments randomly: 0.9% saline placebo (SAL: 1 mL/45 kg body weight i.v.) with no lameness; SAL with lameness; PBZ (4.4 mg/kg body weight i.v.) with no lameness; and PBZ with lameness. Blinded heart rate (HR) and lameness score (LS) were assessed every 20 min for 2 h and then hourly through 9 h. At 1 h SAL or PBZ was administered. Jugular venous samples were obtained at hours 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 and wer...
Hoffman AM, Staempfli HR, Prescott JF, Viel L.A double-blind randomized clinical trial was undertaken to determine the value of parenterally administered Streptococcus equi M-protein vaccine in foals during an epizootic of strangles. Weaned mixed-breed foals (n = 664) housed on 2 adjacent feed-lots (A and B) arrived over a 5-day period, 2 weeks before primary vaccination. Foals in lot B (n = 114) were randomly administered vaccine (n = 59) or saline solution (placebo; n = 55) on 3 occasions at biweekly intervals. Foals in lot A (n = 450) were given 1 dose of vaccine (n = 225) or placebo. The following clinical observations were scored bli...
Lucassen A, Finkler-Schade C, Schuberth HJ. () fermentation products (SCFP) are used in animal husbandry as pre- and postbiotic feed supplements. A variety of immunomodulatory effects are noted in many species. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that horses fed with SCFP containing feed additive Olimond BB display a modulated early immune response after influenza vaccination. Six horses received Olimond BB pellets (OLI) and five horses were fed placebo pellets (PLA) for 56 days. On day 40 all horses were vaccinated with a recombinant influenza A/equi-2 vaccine. At the day of vaccination, the groups did not differ in t...
Ströbel C, Günther E, Romanowski K, Büsing K, Urubschurov V, Zeyner A.Foal first diarrhoea is one of the most prominent problems in the early life of horses. Probiotics might have the potency to prevent or at least diminish neonatal diarrhoea. We hypothesised that the treatment of foals with probiotic strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecium starting early after birth and then daily over 2 weeks would prevent or mitigate foal heat diarrhoea. The influence of this probiotic treatment on diarrhoea incidence and growth and health performance of young foals was investigated. Thirty-four foals were randomly allocated to two groups. From day 1 to 1...
Hinchcliff KW, Morley PS, Guthrie AJ.To evaluate the efficacy of furosemide for prevention of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in Thoroughbred racehorses under typical racing conditions. Methods: Randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded, crossover field trial. Methods: 167 Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: Horses were allocated to race fields of 9 to 16 horses each and raced twice, 1 week apart, with each of the 2 races consisting of the same race field and distance. Each horse received furosemide (500 mg, IV) before one race and a placebo (saline solution) before the other, with the order of treatments randomly determ...
Guptill JT, Raja SM, Juel VC, Walter EB, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Hill H, Sendra E, Hauser B, Jackson P, Swamy GK.Botulism is a rare, life-threatening paralytic disease caused by Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). Available treatments, including an equine antitoxin and human immune globulin, are given postexposure and challenging to produce and administer. NTM-1632 is an equimolar mixture of 3 human IgG monoclonal antibodies, B1, B2, and B3, targeting BoNT serotype B (BoNT/B). This first-in-human study assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and immunogenicity of NTM-1632. This double-blind, single-center, placebo-controlled dose escalation study randomized 3 cohorts of healthy vol...
Gaustad G, Larsen S.A randomised double blind and placebo controlled clinical study was carried out. Standardbred trotters (n=77), age 3-4 years) with moderate to severe lameness were grouped according to number of affected joints and, within each group, were randomised for treatment with polysulphated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG), sodium hyaluronate (SH) or placebo for 3 weeks. The horses were inspected weekly with a final examination 2-4 weeks after the end of treatment. Mean initial lameness score was significantly reduced during treatment and at the last examination in all 3 groups (P<0.01). Additionally, the...
O'Neill W, McKee S, Clarke AF.The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) supplementation on the skin test response of atopic horses. Six horses that displayed a positive skin test for allergy to extract from Culicoides sp. participated in the 42-day, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over trial. Results showed that supplementation with flaxseed for 42 days in our experimental horses reduced the mean skin test response to Culicoides sp. This observation was concurrent with a significant decrease in the long-chain saturated fatty acids; behenic acid (22:0) and lignoceric acid...
Read JR, Boston RC, Abraham G, Bauquier SH, Soma LR, Nolen-Walston RD.To determine whether prolonged administration of clenbuterol results in tachyphylaxis, specifically regarding its bronchoprotective properties and effect on sweating in horses. Methods: 8 Thoroughbreds with inflammatory airway disease. Methods: In a crossover design, horses received clenbuterol (0.8 μg/kg, p.o., q 12 h) or placebo for 21 days, with a washout period of ≥ 30 days between the 2 treatments. Airway reactivity was evaluated by use of flowmetric plethysmography and histamine broncho-provocation before (day 0; baseline) and every 7 days after the start of treatment. Sweat function ...
Edner A, Lindberg LG, Broström H, Bergh A.Static magnetic blankets are often claimed to induce increases in blood flow, reduce muscle tension and tenderness, and be beneficial in both prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries in horses. However, there are no studies that confirm alleged beneficial effects of magnets on muscles of the back in healthy horses. Objective: To investigate whether static magnets sewn into a blanket affect back muscle blood flow, skin temperature, mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) and behaviour in healthy horses. Methods: Prospective, randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study. Me...
Perez-Moreno CI, Couëtil LL, Pratt SM, Ochoa-Acuña HG, Raskin RE, Russell MA.The objective was to quantify the effect of furosemide and carbazochrome on exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in Standardbred horses using red blood cell count and hemoglobin concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Six healthy Standardbred horses with prior evidence of EIPH performed a standardized treadmill test 4 h after administration of placebo, furosemide, or furosemide-carbazochrome combination. Red blood cell (RBC) counts and hemoglobin concentrations were determined on the BAL fluid. The RBC count in BAL ranges were (2903-26,025 cells/microL), (45-24,060 cells/m...
Piat P, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Laverty S.To assess the effects of an intra-articular (IA) lidocaine or bupivacaine injection on synovial fluid (SF) biomarkers of cartilage metabolism. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Horses (n = 6). Methods: The study had 2 components, each with an identical design: the first arm assessed the effects of bupivacaine (0.5%) IA in the intercarpal joints and, after a 2-week washout period, the second was conducted to evaluate the effects of IA lidocaine (2%) in the tarsocrural joints. The mares were randomly assigned to receive the test local anesthetic in the target joint or the placebo (0.9% NaCl) in th...
Weber LA, Puff C, Kalbitz J, Kietzmann M, Feige K, Bosse K, Rohn K, Cavalleri JV.The naturally occurring betulinic acid (BA) and its derivative NVX-207 show anticancer effects against equine malignant melanoma (EMM) cells and a potent permeation in isolated equine skin in vitro. The aim of the study was to determine the in vivo concentration profiles of BA and NVX-207 in equine skin and assess the compounds' local and systemic tolerability with the intent of developing a topical therapy against EMM. Eight horses were treated percutaneously in a crossover design with 1% BA, 1% NVX-207 or a placebo in a respective vehicle twice a day for seven consecutive days with a seven-d...
Weber LA, Delarocque J, Feige K, Kietzmann M, Kalbitz J, Meißner J, Paschke R, Cavalleri JV.The naturally occurring betulinic acid (BA) and its derivative NVX-207 induce apoptosis in equine melanoma cells in vitro. After topical application, high concentrations of the substances can be reached in healthy equine skin. With the aim to investigate the effect and safety of topically applied BA and NVX-207 in horses with melanocytic tumors, the longitudinal, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study protocol included eighteen Lipizzaner mares with early-stage cutaneous melanoma assigned to three groups. Melanocytic lesions were topically treated either with a placebo...
Ness SL, Frye AH, Divers TJ, Rishniw M, Erb HN, Brooks MB.OBJECTIVE To determine effects of oral administration of Yunnan Baiyao on platelet activation, coagulation, and fibrinolysis in healthy horses. ANIMALS 12 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES In a randomized blinded crossover study that included a 4-week washout period between treatments, horses were orally administered a paste containing Yunnan Baiyao (15 mg/kg) or placebo at 12-hour intervals for 3 days. Blood samples were collected before start of treatment (time 0) and at 24 and 72 hours for a CBC, measurement of fibrinogen concentration, coagulation screening tests, and a panel of assays to a...
Walliser U, Fenner A, Mohren N, Keefe T, deVries F, Rundfeldt C.The benefit of pre and post-operative administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the relief of post-operative pain and control of inflammation in horses following orthopaedic surgery has not been previously investigated in controlled clinical field trials, and the utility of such treatment is a matter of ongoing dispute. Recently the utility of post-operative pain management was emphasized. It was therefore our aim to determine the efficacy of meloxicam in horses following partial resection of fractured splint bones. This condition was selected since the limited extent of the ...
Allison A, Robinson R, Jolliffe C, Taylor PM.There are limited investigations comparing ketamine to a ketamine-midazolam co-induction. Objective: To compare quality and safety of general anaesthesia induced using ketamine alone with anaesthesia co-induced using ketamine and midazolam. Methods: Randomised, double blinded, placebo controlled trial. Methods: After i.v. detomidine (20 μg/kg) thirty-eight ponies undergoing field castration received either 0.06 mg/kg (0.6 mL/50 kg) midazolam (group M) or 0.6 mL/50 kg placebo (group P) with 2.2 mg/kg ketamine i.v. for anaesthetic induction. Quality of anaesthetic induction, endotracheal intuba...
Marshall K, Marsella R.Increased antimicrobial resistance highlights the need for alternatives to antibiotics. Bacteriophages, which are benign viruses that kill bacteria, are promising. We studied the efficacy of topical bacteriophages for treating equine staphylococcal superficial pyodermas. Eight isolates were tested against a bacteriophage bank, and a cocktail consisting of two bacteriophages was prepared. Twenty horses with clinical and cytological evidence of superficial pyoderma and confirmed infection based on swabbed culture were enrolled in the study. Each horse received both the bacteriophage cocktail a...
Urayama S, Tanaka A, Kusano K, Sato H, Muranaka M, Mita H, Nagashima T, Matsuda H.Flunixin meglumine (FM), a nonselective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, is most frequently selected for the treatment of equine systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)/endotoxemia. However, FM has considerable adverse effects on gastrointestinal function. The aims of this study were to compare the effect of meloxicam (MX), a COX-2 selective inhibitor commonly used in equine clinical practice, with FM, and to investigate the potential for clinical application in horses with SIRS/endotoxemia. Fifteen horses were divided into three groups of five and orally administered MX (0.6 mg/kg), FM ...
