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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.
Pharmacokinetics and preliminary safety of single-dose oral fluralaner at 10 and 25 mg/kg in healthy horses revealed no adverse reactions.
American journal of veterinary research    October 3, 2025   Volume 86, Issue 12 ajvr.25.06.0200.xml doi: 10.2460/ajvr.25.06.0200
Morgan JM, Gentille SR, Goyette FD, Lehman ML, Boss AL, Cassano JM, Knych HK, White SD.To determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of a single dose of the oral ectoparasiticide fluralaner at 10 and 25 mg/kg in healthy horses. Unassigned: 12 clinically healthy university-owned horses, 9 to 17 years of age, were administered a single oral dose of fluralaner at 10 or 25 mg/kg. Physical examinations, neurological examinations, plasma samples, hematology and biochemistry panels, and skin biopsies were collected throughout the 84-day trial period. Fluralaner concentrations were measured in plasma and skin by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and pharmacokinetics were ev...
Complications in Wound Management.
The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice    September 30, 2025   Volume 41, Issue 3 563-578 doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2025.08.006
Morales Yñiguez FJ, Leise BS.Over 25% of all emergencies are classified as wounds, making them the most common health conditions treated by veterinarians. While equine wounds may heal with minimal intervention, many complications associated with wound management can occur, thereby delaying wound healing and leading to chronic non-healing wounds. Wounds should be closed primarily when possible; however, numerous factors influence the risk of complications. Infection and biofilm production are common causes of delayed wound healing. Other causes of non-healing wounds include the presence of foreign material, sequestrum form...
Isolation of major bacterial species associated with equine skin wounds and in-vitro antibacterial activities of selected medicinal plants.
Scientific reports    August 29, 2025   Volume 15, Issue 1 31942 doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-01062-7
Beshir A, Kemal J, Abraha B, Tola EH.Wounds on the skin are a common health issue affecting working equines. This study aimed to evaluate the in-vitro antibacterial properties of crude methanolic extracts from selected medicinal plants against pathogens isolated from equine skin wounds in Merti district. Agar well and disc diffusion tests were used to determine the mean zone of inhibition, while broth dilution methods were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs), further confirming the potent antibacterial effects of the selected medicinal plant extracts. One way anal...
Effect of Fluorescence Biomodulation on Dermal Healing in an Equine Experimental In Vivo Wound Model.
Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T    August 26, 2025   Volume 39, Issue 2 117-125 doi: 10.1055/a-2655-9312
Loyd A, Neto R, Caldwell F, Boone L, White A.This study aimed to determine the safety and macroscopic/microscopic effects of fluorescence biomodulation (FBM) on experimentally induced, full-thickness, distal limb wounds in horses.This was an experimental study ( = 6 horses). Two full-thickness wounds were created on both dorsal metacarpi of six adult horses. Each forelimb was randomly allocated to either control (no FBM) or treatment (FBM) and randomly allocated to visual or histological assessment of healing. Wounds were treated within each experimental group every 7 days for four treatments. Fluorescence biomodulation wounds were ...
Anti-IL-5 Vaccination Dampens Allergen-Specific IgE Levels and Modulates IL-4 and IL-5 Th2 Cytokines in Skin Allergy of Mice and Horses.
Allergy    August 21, 2025   Volume 80, Issue 12 3377-3390 doi: 10.1111/all.70020
Jebbawi F, Olomski F, Inversini V, Keller G, Rhiner T, Waldern N, Lam J, Pantelyushin S, Canonica F, Birkmann K, Johansen P, Kündig TM....Skin allergies are among the most frequent types of allergies, where continuous investigation of the pathological immune mechanisms is required for a better understanding and a more effective treatment of the disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of interleukin (IL)-5 vaccination on allergen-specific IgE antibodies as well as T cell cytokine modulation in skin allergy using a mouse model and a naturally occurring disease in horses. Methods: Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice, as well as horses affected by equine insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) were administered an anti-IL-...
The impact of transdermal application site on pharmacokinetics and selected pharmacodynamics of buprenorphine in horses.
Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia    August 18, 2025   Volume 52, Issue 6 903-911 doi: 10.1016/j.vaa.2025.08.035
Hoh RL, Mama KR, Morales CJ, McKemie DS, Kass PH, Knych HK.To assess absorption after transdermal application of buprenorphine to different sites and assess behavioral, antinociceptive and adverse effects. It was hypothesized that the dose and site of transdermal buprenorphine administration would influence absorption, plasma drug concentrations, physiological, antinociceptive and behavioral effects in horses. Methods: Two-part study; prospective randomized balanced three-way crossover (study 1) and single-dose (study 2) experimental study. Methods: Six (study 1) and eight (study 2) horses, aged 3-14 years. Methods: In study 1, horses were administere...
Photodynamic therapy in the treatment of cutaneous habronemosis in a horse: Case report.
Journal of equine veterinary science    August 13, 2025   Volume 153 105674 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105674
Ferreira I, Pinto JG, Oliveira EGL, Azevedo MCBS, Marcolino LMC, Ferreira-Strixino J.Habronema muscae is a parasitic nematode that causes habronemiasis in horses, leading to chronic skin lesions. The parasite is transmitted via flies, and larvae deposited in wounds result in difficult-to-heal "summer sores". This case study involved treating a 9-year-old gelding male horse with recurrent habronemiasis using photodynamic therapy (PDT) concurrent with conventional treatments. The horse presented with ulcerated, exudative wounds on its limbs and face, unresponsive to traditional treatments. PDT was applied over six months, using methylene blue (MB) as a photosensitizer, combined ...
Topical Use of Sucralfate in Cutaneous Wound Management: A Narrative Review with a Veterinary Perspective.
Veterinary sciences    August 13, 2025   Volume 12, Issue 8 756 doi: 10.3390/vetsci12080756
Accorroni L, Dini F, Pilati N, Marchegiani A, Bazzano M, Spaterna A, Laus F.Wound management is a fundamental skill for veterinarians, requiring a systematic approach to wound care and a deep understanding of the biological principles underlying healing. Sucralfate, widely known as a mucoprotective agent for gastroduodenal ulcers, has recently shown promising topical effects in human skin lesions by binding and protecting growth factors from proteolytic degradation, thereby enhancing their local availability. This action promotes angiogenesis, chemotaxis and cell proliferation, while reducing oxidative stress and exerting bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects agains...
Cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol treatment of equine dermatophytosis: a novel therapeutic approach.
Frontiers in veterinary science    July 28, 2025   Volume 12 1651946 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1651946
Kurras S, Knottenbelt D, Schmelz U, Schaal T, Tischendorf T, Fuchs R, Schorling T, Koene MHW.Dermatophytosis is a common fungal skin infection in horses, particularly affecting young and immunocompromised animals. Traditional treatments often involve antifungal medications with potential side effects. Here, we present a case report that evaluated the efficacy of cold atmospheric plasma-aerosol (CAP-A) as a standalone treatment for equine dermatophytosis. Unassigned: A 2-year-old Westphalian warmblood stallion presented with confirmed dermatophyte lesions restricted to the left side of the mouth which were treated with CAP-A. Treatment was administered 2 times daily for 12 consecutive ...
Using an Equine Cadaver Head to Investigate Associations Between Sub-Noseband Space, Noseband Tension, and Sub-Noseband Pressure at Three Locations.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    July 19, 2025   Volume 15, Issue 14 2141 doi: 10.3390/ani15142141
Doherty O, Conway R, McGreevy P.Pressures applied to horses via nosebands are of growing concern. The current study applied noseband pressure to the head of a dead horse. Pressure sensors were placed on the left nasal bone to record pressures as the noseband was progressively tightened. Tightness increased as predicated by holes in the strap of the noseband (as supplied) through eight steps from two fingers' space, assessed using the standard International Society for Equitation Science Taper Gauge through to zero space. Sensors were also placed at the midline frontal plane and intra-orally at the level of the second premola...
Crusting pastern dermatitis in a 15-year-old warmblood gelding.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association    July 11, 2025   1-3 doi: 10.2460/javma.25.05.0315
McKeever JM, Linn-Peirano SC.No abstract available
Mixed infection of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in a mare (Equus ferus caballus) from Minas Gerais State, Southeastern Brazil.
Journal of equine veterinary science    July 9, 2025   Volume 152 105649 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105649
Martins ALM, Estevam LGTM, Freire MA, Lima ACVMDR, de Oliveira FCB, Dutra-Rêgo F, Carvalho GML, Ribeiro VM, Paz GF.Equine leishmaniasis is a widespread disease in Brazil, mainly caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, with occasional cases involving Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum. This study reports a mixed infection in a 6-year-old mare from rural Itabirito, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The mare exhibited nodular cutaneous lesions on all limbs but had no other health issues. Skin and bone marrow samples were collected and analyzed using parasitological and molecular methods targeting the hsp70 gene and ITS1 region. Both L. (V.) braziliensis and L. (L.) infantum were identified, confirming a mixed infectio...
Equine skin grafting using the punch graft technique.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association    July 2, 2025   1 doi: 10.2460/javma.25.04.0287
Kamm JL, Odegaard J, Gaida J, King N.This tutorial aims to illustrate and instruct on the technique of punch skin grafting in the horse. Unassigned: A 10-year-old paint gelding with a 9 X 6-cm chronic granulating wound to the left forelimb was utilized for this tutorial. Unassigned: The chronic wound was debrided with sharp dissection, and the limb was pressure bandaged overnight. Twenty-four hours later, the horse was sedated for punch skin grafting. The ventral pectoral region was aseptically prepared for skin harvest and locally anesthetized. An 8-mm biopsy punch was used to harvest the grafts. The subcutaneous tissue was then...
Distribution of endocannabinoid system receptors in the equine hoof: dysregulation as a potential therapeutic target for laminitis.
Histochemistry and cell biology    July 1, 2025   Volume 163, Issue 1 71 doi: 10.1007/s00418-025-02397-y
Zamith Cunha R, Gobbo F, Morini M, Zannoni A, Mainardi C, D'arpe L, Gramenzi A, Chiocchetti R.A growing body of evidence indicates that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is essential for controlling the homeostasis of the skin and that the ECS is modified in the presence of skin disease. It is plausible to expect that the lamellar junction of the hoof expresses cannabinoid receptors and that their expression could be affected by lamellar disease. The goal of this study was to characterise the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) and type 2 (CB2R) and the G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) within the dermo-epidermal junction of the hooves of healthy and laminitic horses. The expression ...
Correction: Expression of genes with biomarker potential identified in skin from DSLD-affected horses increases with age.
PloS one    June 16, 2025   Volume 20, Issue 6 e0326448 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0326448
Roberts JH, Zhang J, David F, McLean A, Blumenshine K, Müller-Alander E, Halper J.[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287740.].
Severe urticaria in a horse after consumption of horseweed (Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist) – A case study.
Acta veterinaria Hungarica    June 5, 2025   Volume 73, Issue 2 81-85 doi: 10.1556/004.2025.01149
Cserhalmi D, Wermer K.Our paper presents a case study of a Welsh pony mare with grazing-induced severe urticaria. The main clinical signs were eye swelling, depression and extensive urticaria. Physical examination revealed no other abnormalities. Botanical sampling revealed horseweed (Conyza canadensis) as the most abundant species and a potential allergen plant due to sesquiterpene lactones (SQL). Differential diagnosis strongly suggested that the clinical signs were the result of a hypersensitivity reaction to this plant. Former studies brought controversial data about the toxic or allergic potential of horsewee...
Aspergillus nidulans as an agent of subcutaneous mycetoma in a horse.
Research in veterinary science    May 23, 2025   Volume 192 105719 doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2025.105719
Bordoni T, Dini FM, Morini M, Rinnovati R, Spadari A, Galuppi R.Mycetoma is a fungal chronic skin proliferative lesion rarely encountered in horses and often associated with fungi such as Scedosporium spp., Madurella spp., Phialophora spp., Curvularia spp., and less frequently with Aspergillus spp. A case of subcutaneous mycetoma in the cervical region in a 7-year-old male Quarter Horse, diagnosed through cytological, histological, cultural and molecular methods, is reported. Aspergillus nidulans, usually implicated in guttural pouch mycosis, was identified. This unusual case represents the second case report of mycetoma caused by Aspergillus nidulans in t...
Cutaneous Cauliflower-Like Lesions in a Horse Caused by Scedosporium apiospermum.
Mycopathologia    May 22, 2025   Volume 190, Issue 3 43 doi: 10.1007/s11046-025-00951-9
Grassi A, Turba ME, Maniscalco L.No abstract available
Assessing thermal changes in the equine thoracolumbar region following different capacitive-resistive electrical transfer protocols.
Frontiers in veterinary science    May 21, 2025   Volume 12 1570120 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1570120
Calle-González N, Rivero JL, Olivares J, Miró F, Argüelles D, Requena F, Munoz A.Capacitive-resistive electrical transfer (CRET) is an endogenous non-invasive technique, used as deep diathermy. We pursue to analyze the temperature changes by applying different CRET protocols in the thoracolumbar spine of horses, between thoracic vertebrae 15 and lumbar 2. Unassigned: Ten clinically sound horses without thoracolumbar pain underwent various CRET protocols applied to a standardized thoracolumbar region (T15-L2). The protocols included sham (device off), low intensity (LIP, 5%), medium intensity (MIP, 30%), and high intensity (HIP, 40%). The HIP protocol was further divided in...
Validation of the Equine Urticaria Activity Score for the assessment of chronic recurrent urticaria in horses.
Veterinary dermatology    May 19, 2025   doi: 10.1111/vde.13358
Birkmann K, Waldern N, Jucker S, Balaschitsch K, Zablotski Y, Fettelschoss-Gabriel A.Recurrent urticaria is common in horses. The pathophysiology is poorly understood and treatment options are limited. Often, only glucocorticoids are effective for controlling clinical signs, albeit with potential adverse effects. Studies investigating new treatments need a validated objective scoring system for the grading of skin lesions to assess response. Objective: The aims were to investigate inter- and intraobserver reliability of the Equine Urticaria Activity Score (EqUAS) for the grading of skin lesions in horses with recurrent urticaria, and to examine agreement between experienced an...
Comparative Efficacy of Topical Pyrethroids and Benzoyl Peroxide for Treating Chorioptic Mange in Spanish-Breton Horses.
Journal of parasitology research    April 22, 2025   Volume 2025 8948099 doi: 10.1155/japr/8948099
Carbonell JD, Fernández N, Escobar MJ, Álvarez MT, Sánchez L, Hernández A, Meana A.Chorioptic mange is a challenging condition to treat due to the superficial locations of the nonhematophagous mite Chorioptes bovis, and while topical acaricides are recommended, the clinical feature relapses are frequent. In a double-blinded clinical trial, three randomized groups of Spanish-Breton horses (n = 32) naturally infected with C. bovis on their legs were evaluated over a period of 70 days. All treatments were applied once every 14 days for three treatments. Before treatment and on Day (D)10, D25, D37, D56, and D70, each leg per animal was scored according to equine pastern derm...
Antibiotic resistance in equine dermatology: what should we do?
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association    March 28, 2025   Volume 263, Issue 7 927-931 doi: 10.2460/javma.24.11.0732
Marsella R.Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern worldwide and across species. This is especially important in horses with skin infections, as many of them are infected with Staphylococcus aureus, which can also colonize people. An increasing body of literature has documented colonization of horses with methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) and transmission of MRSA between horses and veterinarians and vice versa. Colonization with MRSA does not always result in disease but has a potential impact on other horses, owners, handlers, and especially veterinarians. The WHO has published criteria to determ...
Genomic Patterns of Homozygosity and Genetic Diversity in the Rhenish German Draught Horse.
Genes    March 11, 2025   Volume 16, Issue 3 327 doi: 10.3390/genes16030327
Sievers J, Distl O.The Rhenish German draught horse is an endangered German horse breed, originally used as working horse in agriculture. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the breed's genetic diversity using pedigree and genomic data in order to analyze classical and ancestral pedigree-based inbreeding, runs of homozygosity, ROH islands, and consensus ROH. Methods: We studied the genome-wide genotype data of 675 Rhenish German draught horses and collated pedigree-based inbreeding coefficients for these horses. The final dataset contained 64,737 autosomal SNPs. Results: The average number of ...
Genomic regions and candidate genes associated with forehead whorl positioning in Thoroughbred horses.
Journal of equine science    March 10, 2025   Volume 36, Issue 1 11-18 doi: 10.1294/jes.36.11
Yokomori T, Tozaki T, Segawa T, Itou T.Previous studies have examined the relationship between hair characteristics and temperament traits in various animals. A partial genetic association has been suggested in humans because whorl formation and neurological development occur simultaneously during the fetal period. In the horse industry, anecdotal evidence suggests a link between the forehead whorl position and temperament. In our previous study, the heritability of forehead whorl positioning was h=0.653, indicating significant genetic contributions in thoroughbreds. Therefore, in this study, we designed a genome-wide association s...
The effect of dietary camelina, flaxseed, and canola oil supplementation on skin fatty acid profile and immune and inflammatory responses in healthy adult horses.
Journal of animal science    February 4, 2025   skaf025 doi: 10.1093/jas/skaf025
Hartwig S, Burron S, Richards T, Rankovic A, Ma DW, Pearson W, Ellis J, Trevizan L, Seymour DJ, Shoveller AK.Camelina sativa is an oilseed crop rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA), an n-3 fatty acid (FA), and is resistant to harsh climates and pests. Previously, supplementation with camelina oil (CAM) in horses had no adverse effects on basic health parameters and had comparable skin and coat parameters as both flaxseed oil (FLX) and canola oil (OLA). Further, the plasma FA profile of horses was reflective of their respective treatment oil. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of dietary CAM supplementation on skin FA profile, immune, and inflammatory responses as compared to two commonl...
Use of full-thickness mesh grafts and full-thickness meek micrografts in five horses with ear skin defects caused by trauma or neoplasm resection.
Veterinary surgery : VS    January 27, 2025   doi: 10.1111/vsu.14220
Resetic N, Comino F, Wilmink J, Gorvy DA.To report the management and outcomes of five horses with ear skin defects treated with the use of full-thickness mesh grafts and full-thickness Meek micrografts. Methods: Five horses with acute or granulating pinna skin wounds. Methods: Short case series. Methods: A full-thickness graft was harvested from the pectoral region under general anesthesia. The sheet graft was stretched on a sterile plastic board with the epidermal side facing down. The subcutaneous fat and fascia were removed by sharp dissection. The skin graft was then meshed by hand or using a block mesher, or manually cut into m...
Skin Barrier in Normal and Allergic Horses: What Do We Know?
Veterinary sciences    January 24, 2025   Volume 12, Issue 2 doi: 10.3390/vetsci12020091
Marsella R.Information on skin barrier in horses is limited. A study on the epidermal ultrastructure of normal and allergic horses documented disorganized amorphous intercellular lipids in the stratum corneum of allergic samples. These findings are similar to atopic canine and human skin. Currently, there is no published study comparing skin barrier function parameters between normal and allergic horses; thus, the functional implications of the ultrastructural changes are unknown. In normal horses, body location, gender, breed, and ambient conditions affect skin barrier parameters, such as Transepidermal...
Serum 25(OH) Vitamin D Concentrations in Horses: Effects of Age, Gender, Breed, Skin Colour and Season.
Veterinary medicine and science    January 9, 2025   Volume 11, Issue 1 e70092 doi: 10.1002/vms3.70092
Alemi M, Ahmadi Sheikhsarmast S, Mohri M.The optimal amount of vitamin D required for the proper functioning of the immune system differs from the amount necessary for bone homeostasis. Furthermore, vitamin D metabolism varies among horses. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of information regarding reference values for vitamin D in horses, particularly in the Turkmen breed. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)Vit D) in Turkmen, Thoroughbred and mixed Turkmen × Thoroughbred horses and to explore the effects of various factors on it and its relationship with serum bio...
Microbiological effect of topically applied Weissella cibaria on equine pastern dermatitis.
Frontiers in veterinary science    January 6, 2025   Volume 11 1493756 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1493756
Styková E, Valocký I, Kačírová J, Fecskeová LK.Equine pastern dermatitis (EPD) is a multifactorial disease with a change in the skin microbiome. The present study monitored the influence of Weissella cibaria Biocenol™ 4/8 D37 CCM 9015 stabilized on alginite on the skin microbiota of healthy horses and model patients with EPD. Based on clinical signs, EPD lesions were identified as exudative or proliferative forms. A comparison of the initial microbial community based on 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between healthy vs. exudative (R = 0.52, p = 0.003) and exudative vs. ...
Expression and Analysis of TBX3 Gene in the Skin from Three Locations on Dun Mongolian Bider Horse.
Genes    December 11, 2024   Volume 15, Issue 12 1589 doi: 10.3390/genes15121589
An T, Dugarjaviin M, Han H.The Mongolian horse, one of the oldest and most genetically diverse breeds, exhibits a wide variety of coat colors and patterns, including both wild-type and unique features. A notable characteristic of dun Mongolian horses is the presence of Bider markings-symmetrical, black-mottled patterns observed on the shoulder blades. These markings are also seen in Przewalski's horses. The dun coat color, a common wild-type phenotype in domestic horses, is characterized by pigment dilution with distinct dark areas and is regulated by mutations in the gene. This study aimed to investigate the role of ...