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Topic:Skin
The skin of horses is a complex organ that serves multiple functions, including protection, thermoregulation, and sensory perception. It consists of several layers, primarily the epidermis and dermis, each contributing to the overall health and functionality of the skin. The epidermis provides a barrier against environmental factors, while the dermis supports the skin structure and houses blood vessels, nerves, and hair follicles. Equine skin is also involved in the production of sweat and sebum, which aid in temperature regulation and skin lubrication, respectively. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the anatomy, physiology, and health conditions of equine skin, as well as advancements in dermatological treatments and care practices.
[Cutaneous vascular hamartoma in a foal]. Vascular hamartomas are rare malformations in foals that typically present as painless masses of the skin or subcutaneous tissue. This case report describes a newborn foal with a vascular mass over the right shoulder. Complete surgical excision was performed at seven days of age. Histologically, the lesion was found to be a well-defined dermal vascular proliferation consistent with a vascular hamartoma. The healing process was uneventful, and no recurrence occurred six months postoperatively. This case adds a rare location on the scapula to the literature and confirms surgical removal as an ef...
Wound healing of experimental cutaneous wounds in horses: comparison between a topical formulation containing powdered coconut water and an antimicrobial ointment. Skin wounds in horses often present prolonged healing, stimulating the search for alternative topical therapies. To date, there are no experimental studies in horses evaluating topical formulations containing powdered coconut water. Objective: To compare the early macroscopic and morphometric wound-healing outcomes and the histopathological findings at day 14 in experimental cutaneous wounds in horses treated with a topical formulation containing powdered coconut water versus a reference antimicrobial ointment. Methods: Eight clinically healthy horses received two standardized circular skin wo...
Cutaneous Equine Sarcoidosis: A Case Series and Investigation Into a Potential Association With Equine Gammaherpesviruses-2 and -5 in 30 Equids. Gammaherpesviruses have been associated with granulomatous inflammation in the skin of various species. Equine sarcoidosis (idiopathic granulomatous disease) can cause granulomatous dermatitis, and its cause remains unknown. Objective: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the possible association between equine gammaherpesviruses-2 and -5 (EHV-2, -5) and cutaneous equine sarcoidosis (cES). Methods: Thirty client-owned equids. Methods: All animals had histologically and clinically confirmed cES. Signalment, geographical location and clinical features were recorded. Gram, Ziehl-Nielsen ...
Screening Equine Skin and Mucous Membranes for Carriage of Coagulase-Positive Staphylococci. Commensal populations of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus spp. (CoPS) in healthy horses are not well-defined. Objective: To determine the point prevalence, anatomical distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility and genomic characteristics of CoPS in healthy horses. Methods: One-hundred and fifty privately owned, systemically healthy horses from seven facilities were enrolled in this study. Methods: Horses were sampled from the nares, buccal mucosa and three skin sites. Isolates were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and antimicrobial...
An unusual presentation of a sarcoid in Australia. Sarcoids are a common skin tumour affecting all equids. To date, only one case of a sarcoid in the oral cavity of the horse has been reported. In the present case, an oral sarcoid was identified using histology and polymerase chain reaction to detect bovine papillomavirus type 2 DNA. The lesion was known to be incompletely surgically excised and did not recur over a 15-month period. This case report describes the first oral sarcoid identified in Australia.
Oclacitinib for Controlling Pruritus and Associated Skin Lesions in 16 Horses With Allergic Dermatitis. Oclacitinib is a Janus kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis in dogs and may be effective in horses. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of oclacitinib in reducing pruritus and skin lesions in horses with allergic dermatitis. Methods: Sixteen horses aged ≥ 18 months. Methods: Horses received oclacitinib at 0.25 mg/kg orally once daily for 21 days. Changes in haematological and biochemical parameters were measured on Day (D)0 and D21. The owners were instructed to evaluate the horses using the pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS) on...
Efficacy of 0.5% Tretinoin in the Treatment of Equine Aural Plaques. Equine aural plaques are a benign form of auricular papillomatosis caused by equine papillomavirus. Despite the efficacy of 5% imiquimod cream, a marked local reaction is frequently observed during therapy, often requiring sedation before application. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and potential adverse effects of 0.5% topical tretinoin in the treatment of equine aural plaques. We hypothesised that tretinoin would be effective, with fewer adverse effects compared to imiquimod. Methods: The study included 10 horses of both sexes, aged between 7 months and 15 y...
Topical betulinic acid for treatment of equine melanoma and sarcoid. Betulinic acid, a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties in vitro, including activity against equine melanoma and sarcoid. However, there is limited in vivo evidence evaluating its clinical efficacy. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a compounded 1% betulinic acid cream for the treatment of equine cutaneous melanoma and sarcoid. Unassigned: This prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled client-owned horses with melanoma or sarcoid tumors. Horses received either a...
Verminous mastitis caused by Cephalobus cubaensis infection in a mare. A 7-y-old American Quarter Horse mare was presented to a veterinary hospital for ongoing reproductive monitoring and management of endometritis. During physical evaluation, several nodular lesions of unknown origin and duration were discovered in the mammae. Histologically, biopsies from the lesions were confirmed as severe granulomatous mastitis with intralesional rhabditid nematodes. A putative diagnosis of or infection was assigned, and ivermectin (1.2 mg/kg PO) treatment was given every 2 wk. When lesions persisted after the initial dose of ivermectin, PCR testing of and gene targe...
Unraveling the Molecular Mechanism of Bider Marking Formation in Dun Mongolian Horses Through Transcriptome Sequencing. (1) Background: The "Bider" marking refers to the symmetrical black stripes distributed on the shoulder blades of Dun Mongolian horses, representing an ancestral trait of significant genetic value. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its formation remain unclear. This study aims to elucidate the molecular basis of these markings by comparing transcriptomic differences in skin tissues from variously pigmented areas of Mongolian horses' "Bider" patterns. (2) Methods: Using three Dun Mongolian horses as subjects, skin tissue samples were collected from their shoulders (dark-marked and li...
Decoding sebaceous gland functions and diseases: insights from domestic animals. Skin sebaceous glands (SGs) synthesize and secrete sebum, a mixture of lipids and cellular debris that defends the external body surface against physicochemical challenges. Recent data define the SG as a dynamic entity with potential functions beyond skin protection, including immunomodulatory actions and the regulation of energy metabolism. We postulate that the SG also has important, unrecognized roles in physiological and pathological processes in domestic animals. Conversely, data derived from domestic animals may have translational relevance for humans. This review article summarizes SG s...
Spontaneous regression of equine sarcoids is an exceptional event. Sarcoids are benign, yet locally aggressive skin tumours that commonly affect horses and other equid species. The lesions are induced by bovine papillomavirus types 1, 2, and probably 13 in conjunction with other factors including trauma and a genetic predisposition. Although sarcoids have a substantial impact on the health and welfare of affected equids, information on the immune response to bovine papillomavirus infection and resulting sarcoids is limited. However, there is evidence that sarcoid disease is associated with an impaired immune response to bovine papillomavirus infection. This o...
Pharmacokinetics of Topical Administration of Altrenogest in Mares and Implications for Human Health. Altrenogest is a synthetic progestogen widely used in equine reproductive management. Adverse effects to altrenogest have been reported in people with cutaneous exposure reported as the highest exposure pathway. Despite these reports, there has been no quantitative research to determine the capacity for altrenogest to be absorbed through skin. This study aimed to determine if cutaneous application of oral altrenogest results in systemic absorption in mares and to evaluate the influence of application site. A randomized, two-period, two-treatment crossover study was undertaken in eight mares. M...
Investigating the effect of surface cryotherapy on equine patient compliance to infraorbital nerve block placement. To investigate the effect of applying ice to the skin overlying the infraorbital canal on the compliance of healthy adult horses to infraorbital nerve block placement during standing sedation. Methods: Blinded, randomized crossover trial. Methods: Thirty healthy adult horses [16 ± 3.9 years old (mean ± standard deviation), weighing 594 ± 63 kilograms (kg)]. Methods: Each horse acted as its own control with a minimum of 7 days between treatments. Horses were sedated using detomidine hydrochloride, and sedation level was evaluated using a published simple descriptive scale. Horses were random...
A topographic analysis of skin thickness in horses. A systematic study of regional skin thickness in different types of horses has not yet been described. Knowledge about regional skin thickness has long been used in human medicine to optimise wound care and skin grafting outcomes and similar knowledge could prove useful in equine wound management. The objective of the current study was to report the topographical variation in skin thickness of Warmblood (WB) and Coldblood (CB) type horses and to compare different methods for measuring skin thickness. Horses free of skin conditions and euthanised for reasons unrelated to this study were include...
Effect of Croton lechleri sap-based topical treatment, with or without nitroglycerin, on healing of equine metatarsal skin wounds. Skin wounds in horses, particularly in the distal extremities, often heal slowly due to mechanical stress, compromised perfusion, and excessive fibroplasia. This study evaluated the effects of topical Croton lechleri (CL) cream, alone or in combination with nitroglycerin, on the healing of skin wounds in the metatarsal region of horses. Six mares received six standardized wounds in each region and were treated with: saline solution, nitroglycerin (0.1 or 1 mg/mL), CL (1 or 10 µg/mL), or CL + nitroglycerin (10 µg/mL + 1 mg/mL). Wound contraction, histology, and bacterial culture were evaluate...
[Pigmentation disorders in the nasal vestibule of horses with nasal discharge]. The nasal vestibule of numerous horses is pigmented. In the ventral part of the nasal vestibule, this pigmentation is often disturbed resulting in a clearly depigmented area. As nasal discharge passes this area, our study aimed at the practical quantification of the depigmented area in the nasal vestibule of horses and the analysis of its relation to nasal discharge and other parameters.This study included 74 horses (59 warmblood horses, 15 ponies) with pigmented nasal vestibule. When a depigmentation was found to be present in the ventral part, this area was photographed and quantified by use...
Successful Treatment of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus in a Horse With Tacrolimus Ointment. A 9-year-old gelding Quarter Horse with a lesion on the right upper eyelid was diagnosed with cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Clinical resolution and control of UV-induced flares were achieved with topical tacrolimus and a UV-blocking mask without adverse effects over the following 3 years.
Differential Expression and Analysis of TBX3 Gene in Skin Tissues of Dun Mongolian Horses with and Without Bider Markings. (1) Background: The dun coat color, a wild-type phenotype in horses characterized by pigment dilution and primitive markings, is regulated by . This study explored the expression and localization of in the Bider marking (a primitive mark unique to the shoulder of horses); (2) Methods: We compared skin tissues from Bider-marked and non-Bider dun Mongolian horses. Samples were collected from the Bider area (dark-colored/light-colored shoulder), dorsal midline, and croup. Histological staining, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting were used to analyze pigment distribution and expression at mRNA and pr...
Antibiotics prescribing patterns and association with system-specific pathologies in equine veterinary practice: Insights from a 12-year study at a veterinary teaching hospital. Antibiotics are essential in veterinary medicine, enhancing animal health and welfare. However, widespread use contributes to resistance, increasing the risk of treatment failure and the transmission to humans. Objective: Analyze antibiotic prescribing practices in an equine internal medicine unit, focusing on factors influencing use, particularly Highest Priority Critically Important Antimicrobials (HPCIAs). Methods: 1315 adult equids, including horses, donkeys and mules, presented for different diseases to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) of the University of Pisa from 2011 to 2023. Re...
Primary photosensitization in horses associated with ingestion of Malachra fasciata Jacq. (Malvaceae) in the Northeast of Brazil. Malachra fasciata Jacq. (Malvaceae) is an invasive plant widely found in Northeastern Brazil and has been experimentally demonstrated to cause severe dermatitis in sheep. However, its toxic effects in horses have not previously been documented. This report describes primary photosensitization in four Quarter Horses grazing on a pasture heavily infested with M. fasciata in Paraíba, Brazil. Affected animals developed alopecic, erythematous, crusted, and ulcerated lesions on sun-exposed areas, accompanied by severe pruritus and behavioral signs of distress. Histopathology revealed epidermal ulce...
High-Altitude Extreme Environments Drive Convergent Evolution of Skin Microbiota in Humans and Horses. Unique skin microbial communities have been shaped by the harsh climatic conditions in high-altitude areas, such as intense ultraviolet radiation and low oxygen concentration. However, it is unknown whether high altitude contributes to shaping common microbiota inhabiting the skin across different mammals. The skin microbial communities of humans and horses living in high-altitude (Tibetan) and low-altitude areas were analyzed using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing technology. Alpha diversity differed between high- and low-altitude groups ( < 0.01). Skin microbial community composition also ...
Efficacy of Ozone Bagging Therapy in Equine Chronic Distal Limb Wounds: Clinical Evaluation of Eight Cases. Limb wounds in horses represent a significant therapeutic challenge due to poor vascularization, reduced skin elasticity, and high risk of complications such as exuberant granulation tissue. Conventional treatments sometimes fail to provide satisfactory healing outcomes, leading to prolonged recovery and increased costs. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of topical ozone therapy using the bagging method in promoting the epithelialization and contraction of chronic distal limb wounds in horses refractory to conventional management. Eight horses, aged 3-21 years, with chronic wounds aver...
Review of animal leishmaniosis in Jordan: An alarming discovery with implications for public health and animal welfare. Leishmaniosis is an endemic parasitic infection in Jordan and the Middle East. Despite the endemicity of leishmaniosis in Jordan and frequently reported humancases, no singleclinical case has been documented in animals throughout the country. This report documents the first two animal Leishmania cases in two different animal species with a current literature review. Cutaneous leishmaniosis was diagnosed in an adult horse that presented with multiple variably sized skin nodules, some of which ulcerated. Visceral leishmaniosis was diagnosed in a stray dog. Cytological, histopathological, and mol...
Melanoma in horses: distribution by sex, age, nationality, and slaughterhouse findings in 28 horses from Northern Italy. Melanomas are dermal-epidermal and subcutaneous tumors commonly found in horses, especially those with grey coats. This study aimed to characterize melanomas in slaughtered horses by analyzing their distribution according to sex, age, and nationality, and to describe the veterinary inspection interventions required at slaughterhouses based on lymph node involvement and distant metastases in a province of northern Italy. Between January and December 2024, 182 grey horses were examined, and 28 cases of melanoma were identified (15% of grey horses) with an average age of 14 years: 8 males (mean a...
Ultrasonography and shear wave elastography of equine skin: a preliminary study. To noninvasively characterize skin thickness and elasticity in healthy horses using B-mode ultrasound and shear wave elastography (SWE) and to verify whether there are differences between the skin of stabled and outdoor horses. Unassigned: 10 clinically healthy horses were enrolled in this study. Five animals were housed exclusively indoors (indoor group), and 5 had temporary or permanent access to an outdoor environment (outdoor group). All horses underwent bilateral ultrasonographic examination of 3 anatomical regions: neck, withers, and girth region caudal to the elbow. Skin thickness was a...
Analysis of Staphylococcal Diversity in the Skin Microbiota of Healthy Riding Horses. In animals, staphylococci constitute a significant part of the normal skin microbiota and mucous membranes. There is limited information available on staphylococci isolated from healthy horses. These skin-associated bacteria can be easily transferred between animals and horse riders via direct contact. Patients undergoing hippotherapy (i.e., medical or therapeutic sessions with horses) are especially at risk of being colonized by horse skin-associated bacteria. However, it remains unclear whether equine skin is colonized by antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) opportunistic pathogens, which may be o...
