Risk factors in horses refer to variables or conditions that increase the likelihood of disease, injury, or other adverse health outcomes in equine populations. These factors can be intrinsic, such as age, breed, and genetic predisposition, or extrinsic, including environmental conditions, management practices, and exposure to infectious agents. Understanding risk factors is important for developing preventive strategies and improving health management in horses. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the identification, assessment, and mitigation of risk factors in equine health, with the aim of enhancing disease prevention and promoting overall well-being in horses.
Cox R, Proudman CJ, Trawford AF, Burden F, Pinchbeck GL.Colic (abdominal pain) is a clinical condition of serious concern affecting the welfare and survival of donkeys at the Donkey Sanctuary in the UK. One of the most commonly reported causes is due to impacted ingesta in the large intestine ("impaction colic"). However little is known about the incidence of, or risk factors for, this condition. Here we describe the epidemiology of colic in donkeys, specifically impaction colic. We focus on temporal aspects of the disease and we identify environmental and management related risk factors for impaction colic in UK donkeys. Results: There were 807 co...
Bidwell LA, Bramlage LR, Rood WA.To determine the fatality rate of horses undergoing general anaesthesia at a private equine referral practice using a limited number of anaesthetic protocols. Methods: A retrospective analysis of records (n = 17 961) from all horses undergoing general anaesthesia for surgical procedures from 1997 to 2001 at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Results were reported as percentage of the population, and as crude mortality rates for each procedure (deaths per 1000). Results: The prevalence of equine fatalities directly related to anaesthesia was 0.12% (n = 21) and this rose ...
Weller R, Pfau T, Verheyen K, May SA, Wilson AM.There is a lack of scientific data and studies on the effect of conformation on performance or on orthopaedic health. Objective: To investigate the relationship between conformation, injury and performance in racehorses used for racing over fences. Methods: Over 2 years, 108 National Hunt racehorses were followed and their medical and performance data recorded. Conformation was measured in 3D with a computerised motion analysis system. Linear multiple regression models were used to evaluate the effect of conformation on measures of race performance and stepwise forward logistic regression mode...
Ryan CT, Schaer BL, Nunamaker DM.A device is needed to safely and wirelessly evaluate accelerations experienced by the horse hoof under a variety of surface conditions with the horse exercising at training or racing speeds. Objective: To develop a miniaturised wireless data acquisition system (WDAS) which reliably records hoof accelerations and the times over which they occur in a minimally invasive manner in the exercising Thoroughbred. Methods: The following criteria were set for device development: production of a lightweight and minimally invasive system, which provides an adequate acceleration range, appropriate frequenc...
Chaney KP, Holcombe SJ, LeBlanc MM, Hauptman JG, Embertson RM, Mueller PO, Beard WL.Anecdotal speculation suggests that prognosis for survival of mares and foals following correction of uterine torsion has improved over the past 30 years. Objective: To determine statistically the outcome of uterine torsion according to duration of clinical signs, stage of gestation, parity, physical examination findings, method of correction, prognosis for survival and reproductive health of the mare, and prospects for the foal within the neonatal period. Methods: This retrospective study combined cases from 4 equine referral hospitals. Results: The stage of gestation at which uterine torsion...
Krause JB, McKenzie HC.Adequate nutritional support of sick foals in critical care is an important aspect of treatment. When enteral feeding is contraindicated, parenteral nutrition (PN) provides a source of energy and protein. However, no study has critically assessed the use of PN in a large group of foals. Objective: The administration of PN to clinically ill foals was examined retrospectively to determine the effects of PN formulation and variables on the incidence of PN-associated complications and outcome. Objective: There was no effect of PN formula on 1) the occurrence or type of complications; 2) of PN form...
Singer ER, Barnes J, Saxby F, Murray JK.Two related studies on injuries sustained by event horses during competition and during training are reported. During the cross-country phase of competition, the most common injuries were lacerations and abrasions to the carpus and stifle. Superficial digital flexor tendonitis and exertional rhabdomyolysis were significantly more common during Cours Complete Internationale (CCI) competitions compared to one-day event (ODE) competitions. The difference in injury types at ODEs and CCI competitions probably relates to the increased athletic demands of the CCI and the closer veterinary observation...
Olds AM, Stewart AA, Freeman DE, Schaeffer DJ.To determine the rate of development of septic arthritis after elective arthroscopy and evaluate associations between various factors and development of this complication in horses. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 682 horses that underwent arthroscopic procedures at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 1994 to 2003. Methods: Information pertaining to signalment, joints treated, whether antimicrobials were administered, and development of postoperative septic arthritis was collected from medical records. Horses with a primary problem of septic arthritis or w...
Leblond A, Sandoz A, Lefebvre G, Zeller H, Bicout DJ.Geographic information system and remote sensing technologies were used to identify landscape features associated with risk of West Nile virus transmission as defined by the presence of confirmed horse cases. SPOT-4 images of Camargue area were used to generate a map of landscape categories of epidemic foci and the geographic information system was employed to determine the proportion of landscape components surrounding 10 horse case sites and 17 control sites. The spatio-temporal analysis of the cases outbreak gave the best results for a spatial window of 9 km and a temporal window of 18 days...
Poulet H, Minke J, Pardo MC, Juillard V, Nordgren B, Audonnet JC.The canarypox vaccine vector (ALVAC) technology has been used to develop and license several vaccines for companion animals and horses in the European Union and USA. ALVAC is a ubiquitous vector with high biosafety since it is non-replicative in mammalians, is genetically and physically stable, and able to induce both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses against the expressed transgene product. Specific rules apply for the development and registration of recombinant vector vaccines. The biology of the vector as well as the recombinant virus must be thoroughly documented to allow the risk...
Balendra G, Turner M, McCrory P, Halley W.To provide a breakdown of injury incidence from amateur jump racing (also known as point to point racing) in Great Britain and Ireland during 1993-2006 and to compare the injury epidemiology with professional horse racing in Great Britain, Ireland and France. Methods: Retrospective review. Methods: Great Britain and Ireland. Methods: Amateur jockeys. Methods: Injury rates. Results: Injury data suggest that point to point racing is more dangerous from an injury point of view than professional jump racing, which has previously been shown to be more dangerous than flat racing. Amateur jockeys hav...
Franci P, Leece EA, Brearley JC.Patient positioning and long anaesthetic duration required for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may result in a higher frequency of post anaesthetic myopathy/neuropathy syndrome (PAMNS) as compared to horses undergoing anaesthesia for surgery. Objective: Equine anaesthesia for MRI is associated with a higher frequency of PAMNS than anaesthesia for nonemergency, nonabdominal surgery. Methods: Anaesthetic and medical records of horses (n = 633) undergoing MRI or surgery between January 2001 and January 2005 (inclusive), were reviewed. Information obtained included patient details (breed, sex, ag...
Cohen ND, Toby E, Roussel AJ, Murphey EL, Wang N.Feeding concentrate has been putatively associated with risk of development of duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ); however, this association has not been evaluated systematically in a controlled study. Objective: To determine whether there was evidence that feeding practices were associated with increased odds of developing DPJ employing a case control study. Objective: The amount of concentrate fed daily to horses is significantly greater among horses that develop DPJ than control horses with either lameness or other types of colic. Methods: Feeding practices of cases of DPJ diagnosed betwee...
Frederico LM, Jones SL, Blikslager AT.To identify factors associated with development of small colon impaction in horses and with selection of medical versus surgical treatment and to determine the prognosis for affected horses following medical or surgical management. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 44 horses with primary impaction of the small colon. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for signalment, history, clinical findings, treatment (medical vs surgical), hospitalization time, and outcome. For comparison purposes, the same information was collected for 83 horses with primary impaction of the large colon. Re...
Acosta-González RI, González-Reyes I, Flores-Gutiérrez GH.A cross-sectional study was conducted to determinate the seroprevalence rate of equine brucellosis in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Serum samples from 420 equines were analyzed with the Rose Bengal test at cell concentrations of 3% (RBT-3%) and 8% (RBT-8%), and positive results were confirmed with the Rivanol test (RT). Risk factors were determined with the prevalence ratio (PR) and the use of variables generated from a questionnaire administered to the animals' owners. Serum from 1 stallion had positive results with both the RBT-8% and the RT, for a seroprevalence rate of 0.238%. Drinking ...
Gallagher LM, Crane J, Fitzharris P, Bates MN.To confirm that working with horses is an occupational respiratory hazard and observed associations are not attributable to confounding. Methods: A postal survey of the respiratory health of 659 horse trainers and a comparison group of 506 vegetable growers was conducted. Data were analysed using logistic regression. Results: Relative to vegetable growers, horse trainers reported higher rates of chronic bronchitis [odds ratio (OR) = 6.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.2-21.4] and organic dust toxic syndrome/farmers' lung (ODTS/FL) (OR = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.8-6.8). Grinding oats, spreading hay, and...
Verheyen KL, Price JS, Wood JL.This study's aim was to determine the effects of dam age and parity on the rate of fracture in offspring in Thoroughbred racehorses in training for flat racing. It was hypothesised that first foals and those from older mares would have a higher fracture rate than subsequent foals and those from younger mares. A two-year observational cohort study collected data from eight trainers on 335 horses that were monitored since the start of their training as yearlings. Multivariable Poisson regression analyses showed that first foals had a significantly lower fracture rate than subsequent ones (RR=0.3...
Senior JM, Pinchbeck GL, Allister R, Dugdale AH, Clark L, Clutton RE, Coumbe K, Dyson S, Clegg PD.There is little information on the prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, post anaesthetic colic (PAC) in horses undergoing nonabdominal operations. Objective: To undertake the first prospective study of prevalence of PAC and identify risk factors in its development in nonabdominal procedures. Methods: A multicentre prospective case-control study was conducted, on every horse undergoing anaesthesia for a nonabdominal procedure between April 2004 and June 2005. Colic cases were defined as any horse with recognised signs of abdominal pain within 72 h of general anaesthesia that could n...
Halbert ND, Cohen ND, Slovis NM, Faircloth J, Martens RJ.Rhodococcus equi is an important intracellular pathogen of horses, most commonly causing chronic, suppurative bronchopneumonia in foals. Although most foals likely are exposed to environmental R. equi within the 1st few days of life, only some develop R. equi pneumonia, and the basis of differences in susceptibility among foals currently is unknown. In this study, we investigated solute carrier family 11 member 1 (SLC11A1) gene sequences in the 5' untranslated region, exon 1, and a portion of intron 1 for variations in 3 equid species (horse, donkey, zebra) and compared variants within 3 indep...
Egenvall A, Bonnett BN, Olson P, Penell J, Emanuelson U.Our objective was to estimate the 5-year survival to death in insured warmblooded riding horses (as reflected by a life-insurance claim) in horses with or without at least one costly veterinary-care event (VCE) in 1997. We also determined the impacts of gender, age, previous diagnosis of veterinary claim, geographic variables, cost for veterinary claims and life-insurance value upon the survival. The design was a retrospective cohort study using a population of warmblooded riding horses insured in a Swedish animal-insurance company (Agria Insurance, P.O. 70306, SE-107 23 Stockholm, Sweden) in ...
Verheyen K, Price J, Lanyon L, Wood J.In order to gain insight into those training regimens that can minimise the risk of fracture in athletic populations, we conducted a large epidemiological study in racehorses. Thoroughbred racehorses provide a suitable model for studying fracture development and exercise-related risk factors in physically active populations. They represent a homogeneous population, undertaking intensive exercise programmes that are sufficiently heterogeneous to determine those factors that influence injury risk. Daily exercise information was recorded for a cohort of 1178 thoroughbreds that were monitored for ...
Brakenhoff JE, Holcombe SJ, Hauptman JG, Smith HK, Nickels FA, Caron JP.(1) To determine the effect of age, height, weight, breed, sex, and specific use on the prevalence of idiopathic left laryngeal hemiplegia (ILH) in a population of draft performance horses; (2) to determine the association between tracheal mucus and laryngeal dysfunction, and the prevalence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in a population of draft performance horses. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: Draft horses competing at the 2005 Michigan Great Lakes Draft Horse Show. Methods: Endoscopic examinations were performed on horses competing at the 2005 Michigan Great Lakes Draft...
French jockeys suffer more severe injuries when they fall off their horses than their British counterparts. While it has been shown that jockeys suffer high rates of fatal and non-fatal injuries, little is known about differences in injury rates between countries. To investigate this, researchers from Australia, France and the UK used prospectively collected data on the rates of fatal and non-fatal injuries in flat and jump jockeys in France and compared them with data from the UK.
Holcombe SJ, Robinson NE, Derksen FJ, Bertold B, Genovese R, Miller R, de Feiter Rupp H, Carr EA, Eberhart SW, Boruta D, Kaneene JB.Accumulations of mucus within the trachea are often found during endoscopic examinations of the airways of poorly performing racehorses, but the clinical importance of this finding is unknown. Objective: To determine the effect of tracheal mucus, pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia (PLH) and cytological indices of tracheal aspirate on racing performance in Thoroughbred horses assessed by race place and whether the horse was raced. Methods: Endoscopic examination of the nasopharynx, larynx and trachea was performed, and a tracheal aspirate obtained monthly at Thistledown racetrack from April to Dec...
Robinson NE, Karmaus W, Holcombe SJ, Carr EA, Derksen FJ.Although subclinical airway inflammation is thought to be common in horses, there is little information on its prevalence and none on risk factors. Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for an increased number of inflammatory cells and for mucus accumulation in the trachea of pleasure horses. Methods: Horses (n = 266) in stables (n = 21) in Michigan were examined endoscopically, once in winter and once in summer 2004. Visible tracheal mucoid secretions were graded 0-5 and inflammatory cell numbers counted in a tracheal lavage sample. Information collected about each horse inc...
Andersen MS, Clark L, Dyson SJ, Newton JR.Post anaesthetic colic is a recognised risk of general anaesthesia (GA), but causes are poorly understood. Objective: To identify risk factors for development of colic following GA for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or nonabdominal surgery and to test whether the use of perianaesthetic morphine was associated with an increased risk of post anaesthetic colic. Methods: A total of 553 anaesthetic and clinical records of 500 horses anaesthetised at the Animal Health Trust were analysed, 342 (62%) involved MRI and 211 (38%) nonabdominal, predominantly orthopaedic surgery. Multivariable logistic r...
Ward MP, Schuermann JA, Highfield LD, Murray KO.Equine West Nile virus (WNV) encephalomyelitis cases - based on clinical signs and ELISA serology test results - reported to Texas disease control authorities during 2002 were analyzed to provide insights into the epidemiology of the disease within a previously disease-free population. The epidemic occurred between June 27 and December 17 (peaking in early October) and 1,698 cases were reported. Three distinct epidemic phases were identified, occurring mostly in southeast, northwest and then central Texas. Significant (P<0.05) disease clusters were identified in northwest and northern Texas. M...
Koenig J, Cote N.Colic is a common problem encountered in equine practice. Alteration of gastrointestinal motility is often the underlying cause for abdominal pain. Gastrointestinal motility can be measured as myoelectric activity, mechanical activity, and transit of intraluminal contents. Regulation of motility is based on a complex interaction between central innervation, autonomic innervation, and the enteric nervous system. Various humoral and neurochemical substances are required to interact flawlessly to allow propulsive motility. Ileus is defined as the absence of propulsive aboral movement of gastroint...
The Journal of nutritionJune 15, 2006
Volume 136, Issue 7 Suppl 2090S-2093S doi: 10.1093/jn/136.7.2090S
Kronfeld DS, Treiber KH, Hess TM, Splan RK, Byrd BM, Staniar WB, White NW.Treatment of clinical laminitis usually fails to prevent some degree of persistent disability; thus, intervention should aim at avoiding risk factors and preventing the disease. Efficiency of intervention would be improved by identifying predisposed horses and ponies. A herd of 160 healthy ponies included 54 previously laminitic (PL) and 106 never laminitic (NL). Pedigree analysis was consistent with dominant inheritance partially suppressed in males. Blood analysis revealed higher plasma concentrations of insulin and triglycerides but not cortisol, glucose, or free fatty acids in the PL group...
Lepeule J, Seegers H, Rondeau V, Robert C, Denoix JM, Bareille N.Developmental Orthopaedic Disease (DOD) in limb joints is frequent, can cause lameness and is a major cause of economic losses for the horse breeding industry. Studies on risk factors for DOD usually dichotomise the outcome to presence/absence without considering the extent of the disease, which can be appreciated by the number or the severity of the lesions. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of growth, exercise conditions and feeding practices on the number of radiographic findings (RF) of DOD in a cohort of horses, assuming that the risk factors associated with the presence of ...
Smith K, Templeton A.Previous research suggests that shared social identification and expected support from others can reduce the extent to which attendees of mass events perceive that others pose health risks. This study evaluated the social identity processes associated with perceived risk at UK pilot sporting events held during COVID-19, including the government Events Research Programme. An online survey (N = 2029) measured attendee perceptions that other spectators adhered to safety measures, shared social identity with other attendees, expectations that others would provide support, and the perceived risk ...
Abu-Halaweh M, Abo-Shehada MN, Khalil R.A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 379 horses to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora spp. in Jordan using the indirect fluorescent antibody test. Five variables, namely locality (n=10), climatic zone (n=4), age group (n=3), gender, and breed were tested as risk factors for Neospora-immunoglobulin (Ig)G seropositivity at four cutoff titers (1:50, 1:200, 1:400, and 1:800) using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. A total of 122 (32%; 95% CI: 28, 37) sera samples had anti-Neospora-IgG at a cutoff titer of 1:50. Increased Neospora-IgG seropositivity w...
Egenvall A, Bonnett BN, Olson P, Penell J, Emanuelson U.Our objective was to estimate the 5-year survival to death in insured warmblooded riding horses (as reflected by a life-insurance claim) in horses with or without at least one costly veterinary-care event (VCE) in 1997. We also determined the impacts of gender, age, previous diagnosis of veterinary claim, geographic variables, cost for veterinary claims and life-insurance value upon the survival. The design was a retrospective cohort study using a population of warmblooded riding horses insured in a Swedish animal-insurance company (Agria Insurance, P.O. 70306, SE-107 23 Stockholm, Sweden) in ...
Pollard D, Furtado T.Real or perceived traffic risk is a significant barrier to walking and cycling. To understand whether similar barriers influence equestrians, this study obtained exercise behaviours, road use and experiences of road-related incidents from UK equestrians ( = 6390) via an online questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with road use and experiencing a near-miss or injury-causing incident in the previous year. Content analysis identified themes around equestrians' decisions not to use roads. Our results show that most equestrians (84%) use r...
de Moura AB, da Silva MO, Farias JA, Vieira-Neto A, de Souza AP, Sartor AA, Fonteque JH, Bunn S.The aims of this study were to determine occurrences of Neospora spp. IgG antibodies in horses from two geographical regions of the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, and identify risk factors for infection. Analyses were performed on 615 samples using the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT ≥ 1:50). Out of the 615 samples, 25 (4.1%) were positive for Neospora spp. The titers for Neospora spp. were distributed as follows: 1:50 (13), 1:100 (eight), 1:200 (three) and 1:400 (one). Out of the 311 samples taken in the mountain region, eight were positive (2.6%). Among the samples from th...
Tabar JJ, Cruz AM.The objective of this study was to identify risk factors and describe clinical signs in 7 foals with cecal rupture; none of the foals survived. Six foals had undergone general anesthesia; 5 for orthopedic procedures. Six of the foals were receiving nonsteriod anti-inflammatory drugs. Most foals started showing colic signs on day 2 after surgery, preceded in 3 cases by dullness. Cecal rupture occurred between 4 hours and 2 days after the first signs of colic were noticed. Intestinal motility was decreased or absent in all foals for which it was recorded.Foals undergoing general anesthesia shoul...
van Buiten A, Westers P, Colenbrander B.The "effect" of stallion, mare and management-related factors on the odds of pregnancy per cycle in the horse were identified and quantified from the breeding records of Dutch Warmblood (n=4491), Friesian (n=1467) and Shetland-pony mares (n=3267) mated either naturally or by artificial insemination to one of the 88 stallions between 1992 and 1996. A mare was considered to be pregnant when she did not return to oestrous within 28 days of the last insemination. For Dutch Warmblood horses, the percentage of mares that did not return for service within 28 days (NR28) varied between studfarms and r...
Bertone AL.The decision to perform a procedure in the standing patient rather than in a completely anesthetized patient depends on many factors, such as patient health, cost, time, facilities, and anesthetic expertise. Although the procedure often is technically easier to perform if the patient is anesthetized, cost and patient risk considerations may result in a decision to do the surgery standing. Surgical experience in performing procedures standing is important for a successful outcome.
Berman N, Tirosh-Levy S, Steinman A, Minderigiu A, Blinder E, Leszkowicz Mazuz M. is a tissue cyst forming coccidia, which affects multiple host species worldwide. Equine besnoitiosis is characterized mainly by generalized skin lesions and cysts in the scleral conjunctiva. Recent reports revealed exposure to in equines in Europe and the United States. However, the exposure to spp. in the Israeli equine population was never investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence and associated risk factors for besnoitiosis in equids in Israel. A cross-sectional serosurvey was performed using serum samples of apparently healthy horses ( = 347), donkeys ( = 9...
Bookbinder L, Schott HC.To describe refeeding syndrome in an equid without a history of recognized risk factors. Methods: Refeeding syndrome with marked hypophosphatemia developed in an aged miniature donkey gelding during treatment of suspected enterocolitis. Hypophosphatemia (manifested clinically as ileus and neuromuscular weakness) developed despite a short (3 day) history of hyporexia, increased body condition (7/9), and adherence to nutritional recommendations for critically ill equids. Nutritional support included nasogastric enteral feeding with a commercial equine nutrition product claiming to provide 100% o...
Marchese GA, Crystal J, Louro LF.Prevalence and risk factors of severe hypoxemia in anesthetized horses undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy are sparsely documented. The aim of this study was to report incidence of severe hypoxemia ( PaO2 < 60 mmHg) in horses undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy and identify potential risk factors for this complication. A single center retrospective cross sectional designed was used. Clinical data of 714 horses undergoing general anesthesia for emergency explorative laparotomy were reviewed. A backward stepwise elimination procedure was used to determine the final multivariable ...
Vanderwall DK, Squires EL, Brinsko SP, McCue PM.To determine the incidence, ultrasonographic characteristics, and risk factors associated with embryonic development characterized by formation of an embryonic vesicle without an embryo in mares. Methods: Prevalence survey. Methods: 159 pregnant mares. Methods: From 1994 to 1998, mares between 11 and 40 days after ovulation with normal and abnormal embryonic development were examined ultrasonographically, and characteristics of each conceptus were recorded. Results: The incidence of abnormal embryonic development in mares characterized by formation of an embryonic vesicle without an embryo was...
Vignjević G, Vrućina I, Sestak I, Turić N, Bogojević MS, Merdić E.The West Nile Virus (WNV) is a zoonotic arbovirus that has recently been causing outbreaks in many countries in southern and Central Europe. In 2012, for the first time, it caused an outbreak in eastern Croatia with total of 7 human clinical cases. With an aim of assisting public health personnel in order to improve survey protocols and vector control, the high risk areas of the WNV transmission were estimated and mapped. The study area included cities of Osijek and Slavonski Brod and 8 municipalities in Vukovarsko-Srijemska County. Risk estimation was based on seroprevalence of WNV infections...
Stephen JO, White NA, McCormick WH, Cowles RR, Corley KT.To identify the types of injuries sustained by horses that competed in steeplechase races and determine the prevalence of and risk factors for those injuries. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 2,680 horses that competed in various types of steeplechase races from 1996 through 2000. Methods: Data regarding races; environment; equipment problems; the number of horses that entered, started, and finished races; the number of riders that fell; and the number of horses that were slowed or stopped by the rider, ran off the course, fell, and sustained injuries or physical abnormalities during races...
Stephen JO, Corley KT, Johnston JK, Pfeiffer D.To determine historical, physical, and clinical factors that may affect morbidity and mortality in horses with small intestinal volvulus unrelated to other causes (e.g., incarceration, lipoma, etc.). Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Client-owned horses (115), aged 1 month to 21 years. Methods: Data were obtained from medical records, identified by computer search and manual review. Continuous variables were compared between affected and non-affected horses with Mann-Whitney U-tests and non-continuous variables with Fisher's exact test (2 x 2 tables) or chi(2)-tests (larger tables). Stepw...
Tahoun A, Elnafarawy HK, Elmahallawy EK, Abdelhady A, Rizk AM, El-Sharkawy H, Youssef MA, El-Khodery S, Ibrahim HMM.Diagnosis and treatment of ocular fungal infection in equine seems very challenging for owners and clinicians. The present study aimed to identify and characterize fungal species isolated from the eyes of clinically healthy and diseased equines (N = 100) from Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. The work also involved morphological and molecular characterization of the major fungal species. In addition, correlations between the occurrence of isolated fungi and some of the potential risk factors were also investigated. Interestingly, the prevalence rate of ocular mycosis in all examined equines in the ...
Kaiser A, Meier HP, Doherr MG, Perler L, Zanoni R, Gerber V.Since 1991, no cases of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) have been reported in Switzerland. Risk factors for introduction of the virus into Switzerland are still present or have even increased as frequent inapparent infections, large numbers of imported horses, (since 2003) absence of compulsory testing prior to importation, EIA cases in surrounding Europe, possible illegal importation of horses, frequent short-term stays, poor knowledge of the disease among horse owners and even veterinarians. The aim of this study was to provide evidence of freedom from EIA in imported and domestic horses in S...
Gharaibeh MH, Abutarbush SM, Mustafa FG, Lafi SQ, Halaiqa MS.Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global problem that will need a multinational collaborative effort to overcome this serious challenge. The aim of the study is to investigate the potential risk factors associated with the prevalence and distribution of antimicrobial-resistance genes (ARGs) of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from equine fecal samples. One hundred and eighteen horses from different geographical locations and management systems were enrolled in the study and a questionnaire containing information about each individual horse was designed and filled. The enrolled horses bel...
Murer S, Polidori G, Beaumont F, Bogard F, Hakim H, Legrand F.Pudendal Neuralgia (PN) is a rare, debilitating disease caused by damage to the pudendal nerve, which innervates the anus, rectum, perineum, lower urinary tract, and genitalia. Although its etiology remains scientifically unknown, a number of sports practices, including horse-riding, are reported as triggering and/or aggravating factors. The present work summarizes the experimental measurements of the contact pressure at the interface between the rider and saddle, for a population of 12 experienced female riders. These tests reveal that dynamic horseback-riding leads to high levels of peak pre...
Dhand NK, Sergeant ES.The aim of this preliminary study was to estimate the proportions of seropositive horses on infected premises (IPs) in order to assess the attack risk of the disease. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the differences in attack risks between enterprise sizes and predefined spatial clusters/regions. The average attack risk experienced during the outbreak was 96.88% (median 100%), but it differed according to the size of the enterprise and other geographic and demographic conditions. The highest attack risks were observed in the Dubbo cluster/region and the lowest in the Nar...
Pellizzoni SG, Costa SCL, Mery RBG, Barbieri JM, Munhoz AD, Silva AND, Sevá ADP, Alvarez MRDV, Albuquerque GR.The aims of this study were to determine the seroprevalence of Sarcocystis neurona antibodies in equines in the Ilhéus-Itabuna microregion (BA), and identify possible factors associated with infection. The presence of sporocysts/oocysts of Sarcocystis spp. was also verified in Didelphis spp. A total of 669 serum samples were collected from equines in 56 properties located in 12 municipalities in the region. Indirect fluorescent antibody test was performed with slides containing merozoites of the S. neurona, using a cut-off titer of 1:80. Occurrence of 7.92% of anti-S. neurona antibodies was o...
Dekker R, Groothoff JW, Eisma WH, ten Duis HJ.To determine whether equestrian injuries result in long-term residual symptoms and to establish the risk factors for these outcomes. Methods: Retrospective, descriptive. Methods: A total of 88 patients older than 17 years of age who had been admitted to the Department of Surgery, University Hospital Groningen during the period 1990-1998 because of an equestrian injury were included in the study. After an average period of five years an inventory was made using the Sickness Impact Profile 68 (SIP68), if absenteeism from work or sport and disabilities or handicaps were experienced. Following thi...
Bowers K, Weinhandl JT, Anderson DE.Equine tibial fractures are relatively infrequent in racing and non-racing sport horses, but limitations in successful treatment of tibial fractures in adult horses result in relatively high mortality compared with other musculoskeletal injuries. The aetiology of tibial fracture can be classified into two general categories: traumatic impact or fatigue failure. Tibial stress fractures, also known as fatigue fractures, are often rated as the second most common stress fracture in racing Thoroughbreds; young age, early stage in race training, and initiation of training after a period of rest are ...
de la Rúa-Domènech R, Mohammed HO, Atwill ER, Cummings JF, Divers TJ, Summers BA, deLahunta A, Jackson C.To examine the regional variations in the distribution of equine motor neuron disease (EMND) in the United States and the factors that might explain those variations. Methods: Cluster investigation and case-control study. Methods: The study population consisted of 97 horses with histopathologically confirmed EMND and 698 controls with diagnosis of other spinal cord disorders at 21 US veterinary teaching hospitals participating in the Veterinary Medical Data Base. Methods: The total horse population of the United States was divided into 21 regions, and the regional incidence rates of EMND from ...
Weese JS, Saab M, Moore A, Cai H, McClure JT.To compare PCR and culture results for the detection of subspecies . Respiratory tract samples (N = 158) from horses being tested for Bacterial culture was carried out on samples from which was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. was isolated from 12 (7.6%) samples: 4/9 (44%) samples when the PCR cycle threshold (C) was ≤ 30, 7/30 (23%) when the C was 30.1 to 35, and 1/119 (0.8%) when the C was 35.1 to 40. The highest C sample from a sample that yielded a positive culture was 36.9. The optimal Youden's J value was at a C of 34.2, the same value as determined by number needed to misdi...
Cohen ND, Mackay RJ, Toby E, Andrews FM, Barr BS, Beech J, Bernard WV, Clark CK, Divers TJ, Furr MO, Kohn CW, Levy M, Reed SM, Seahorn TL, Slovis NM.To identify risk factors for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) among horses examined at 11 equine referral hospitals. Methods: Case-control study. Methods: 183 horses with EPM, 297 horses with neurologic disease other than EPM (neurologic controls), and 168 horses with non-neurologic diseases (non-neurologic controls) examined at 11 equine referral hospitals in the United States. Methods: A study data form was completed for all horses. Data were compared between the case group and each of the control groups by means of bivariate and multivariate polytomous logistic regression. Results: ...
Hoff RB, Molognoni L, Deolindo CTP, de Oliveira T, Mattos JLS, Oliveira LVA, Daguer H.Sugarcane yeast and brewer's yeast from ethanol production are widely used as ingredients of animal feed formulations in Brazil. To avoid the contamination of the must in ethanol production refineries, the use of antibiotics is one of the main preventive treatments. Thus, there is a risk of antibiotic residues carry over from yeast to animal feed. This unintentional addition of antibiotics can produce non-compliant feed products, due to regulatory aspects and their toxicity for animals. The results of an exploratory program to assess the occurrence of over 60 antibiotics and other pharmaceutic...
Carpenter TE, McBride MD, Hird DW.We examined the risk of importing and mistakenly releasing equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV)-infected horses into California. A computer simulation model was constructed to evaluate current and alternative quarantine station procedures; 150,000 iterations were performed to simulate 15 different scenarios of 10,000 horses imported into the state over a 14-year period. Simulation results showed that under current conditions of low EIAV prevalence in exporting countries, increasing the quarantine period would not decrease the number of EIAV-infected horses mistakenly released from quarantine....
Olufemi OT, Edeh ER, Isyaku MS, Haliru M, Samaila S, Mshelia PW, Owolodun OA, Newton JR, Daly JM.Equine influenza (EI) is a fast-spreading respiratory disease of equids caused by equine influenza A virus (EIV), often resulting in high morbidity and a huge economic impact on the equine industry globally. In this cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of EI and its associated risk factors, sera from 830 horses bled on a single occasion in Northwest Nigeria between October 2019 and January 2020 were screened for antibodies to A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 (H3N8) using the single radial haemolysis (SRH) assay. Antibodies were detected in 71.3% (592/830, 95% CI: 68−74%) of horses (...
