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.
Tham HL, Linder KE, Olivry T.Autoimmune dermatoses targeting melanocytes have gained attention in human medicine due to their progressive nature and the social impact suffered by affected individuals. In veterinary medicine, vitiligo and the uveodermatological syndrome are the two autoimmune diseases that are known to affect skin melanocytes.In the first part of this article, we will review the signalment, clinical signs, histopathology and the treatment outcome of vitiligo in dogs, cats and horses; where pertinent, we compare the animal diseases to their human homologue. In a similar fashion, the information on the uveod...
Doyle AJ, Saab ME, Lewis K, McClure JT.Alcohol-based antisepsis has been extensively studied in human health care, but only little information is available regarding efficacy and tolerance in other species. The purpose of this study was to determine if an alcohol-based antiseptic is effective at reducing bacterial counts on equine skin and the appropriate contact time to do so, without causing any adverse skin reactions. Samples were collected before and after preparation from clipped sites over both jugular veins of horses and were plated on 3M Petrifilm Aerobic Count Plates in duplicate. Trial 1 tested an alcohol-based product (E...
Gupta RC, Lall R, Srivastava A, Sinha A.Hyaluronic acid (also known as hyaluronan or hyaluronate) is naturally found in many tissues and fluids, but more abundantly in articular cartilage and synovial fluid (SF). Hyaluronic acid (HA) content varies widely in different joints and species. HA is a non-sulfated, naturally occurring non-protein glycosaminoglycan (GAG), with distinct physico-chemical properties, produced by synoviocytes, fibroblasts, and chondrocytes. HA has an important role in the biomechanics of normal SF, where it is partially responsible for lubrication and viscoelasticity of the SF. The concentration of HA and its ...
de Laat MA, Pollitt CC.The third phalanx of the equine digit is suspended within the hoof capsule by a specialized interdigitating dermoepidermal layer called the lamellae, which fails during laminitis. Pathology of the basement membrane (BM), which interfaces epidermis and dermis, is evident during acute laminitis. However, BM damage appears to be less prevalent in ponies with the insulin-associated form of laminitis. The aim of the present study was to investigate changes to the ultrastructure and morphometry of the lamellar BM in the acute phase of insulin-induced laminitis in horses. Lamellar tissue from the lef...
Harman RM, Theoret CL, Van de Walle GR.Significance: Cutaneous wounds are a major problem in both human and equine medicine. The economic cost of treating skin wounds and related complications in humans and horses is high, and in both species, particular types of chronic wounds do not respond well to current therapies, leading to suffering and morbidity. Recent Advances: Conventional methods for the treatment of cutaneous wounds are generic and have not changed significantly in decades. However, as more is learned about the mechanisms involved in normal skin wound healing, and how failure of these processes leads to chronic nonheal...
White SD, Bourdeau PJ, Brément T, Vandenabeele SI, Haspeslagh M, Bruet V, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.Donkeys are important throughout the world as work animals and occasionally as pets or a meat source. Most descriptions of skin disease in donkeys are reported in small case series, textbooks or review articles. Objective: To document skin diseases and their prevalence in donkeys and to investigate predilections for the most common conditions. Methods: Case populations at four veterinary schools totalling 156 donkeys. Methods: A retrospective study was performed by searching computerized medical records, using the key word "donkey", at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Californi...
Huhmann R, Mueller RS.Topical application of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has shown satisfactory results in dogs and humans with allergic skin diseases. Urea and glycolic acid act as keratolytics and moisturizers. Culicoides hypersensitivity is the most common equine hypersensitivity disorder and only limited treatment options exist. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a cream containing topical PUFAs, humectants and emollients on clinical signs of equine Culicoides hypersensitivity. Methods: Privately owned horses (n = 28) with clinical signs of Culicoides hypersensitivity. Methods: For a period of four ...
Lanci A, Merlo B, Mariella J, Castagnetti C, Iacono E.A complex feedback of growth factors, secreted by a variety of cell types, is responsible for the mediation of skin healing. Despite the recent advances in wound healing management, this fails up to 50% and skin wounds can still be considered one of the main causes of morbidity, both in human and veterinary medicine. Regenerative medicine, involving mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), is nowadays a promising solution for skin wound healing. Indeed, MSCs are involved in the modulation of the inflammatory local response and cell replacing, by a paracrine mode of action. Local application of equine...
Stein L, Sledge D, Smedley R, Kiupel M, Thaiwong T.A 15-y-old Miniature horse mare had a 6-mo history of an ulcerated mass on the right lower eyelid. An incisional biopsy and a subsequent excisional biopsy were submitted to the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for microscopic evaluation. Histologically, the incisional biopsy was composed of sheets of large neoplastic vacuolated polygonal cells. A few regions contained poorly differentiated neoplastic round-to-basaloid cells that rimmed the sheets of highly vacuolated polygonal cells. Both vacuolated and basaloid cells exhibited strong perimembranous and cytoplasmic im...
Steinmetz A, Gittel C, Böttcher D, Lapko L, Offhaus J.A melanoma of the upper eyelid was resected in a gray warmblood gelding. A full functional eyelid could be obtained by completion a sliding skin graft with a free labial mucocutaneous graft transplantation to restore the mucocutaneous junction and to decrease the risk of postoperative trichiasis.
Poore LA, Duncan N, Williams J.A non-ossified unilateral subcutaneous fibroma was diagnosed in the distal femoral region of a 5-year-old Nooitgedacht mare. Histopathological examination of the excised mass revealed long interweaving bundles of semi-mature monotonous collagenous connective tissue with fusiform nuclei without mitotic figures. The mare made an uneventful recovery following surgical removal of the neoplasm. Subcutaneous fibromas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of skin swellings associated with the limbs of horses.
Kamus LJ, Theoret C, Costa MC.To use next generation sequencing to characterize the microbiota of horses during healing of skin wounds in two anatomical locations (body and limb) known to present different healing patterns; and to investigate the impact of bandaging on bacterial communities of skin wounds located on the limbs of horses. Full-thickness skin wounds were created on the distal extremity of both thoracic limbs and on one lateral mid-thoracic wall of four healthy horses. Limb wounds were randomly assigned to bandaging or not. A full-thickness sample was collected with a biopsy punch from intact thorax and limb s...
Maher M, Kuebelbeck L.Nonhealing wounds present a common challenge to the equine practitioner. An underlying source of inflammation and infection is almost always present and needs to be resolved for healing to proceed. Wound débridement is the mainstay for this resolution. In addition, wound closure, wound dressings, and skin grafts can be used to achieve successful wound healing.
Alvarez AV, Schumacher J, DeGraves FJ.OBJECTIVE To determine whether addition of epinephrine to a lidocaine solution would prolong and potentiate the efficacy of a palmar digital nerve block (PDNB) in horses. ANIMALS 6 adult horses with naturally occurring forefoot lameness. PROCEDURES Initially, a PDNB with a 2% lidocaine solution was performed on the affected foot of each horse. Three days later, the PDNB was repeated with a 1% lidocaine solution or a 1% lidocaine solution containing epinephrine (dilution, 1:200,000). After another 3-day washout period, the PDNB was repeated with the treatment opposite that administered for the ...
Sarcoids are the mostcommon skin tumors in horses, characterized by rare regression, invasiveness and high recurrence following surgical intervention and Delta Papillomaviruses are widely recognized as the causative agents of the disease. In order to gain new insights into equine sarcoid development, we have evaluated, in 25 equine sarcoids, by immunohistochemistry and western blotting analysis, the expression levels of VEGF, Ki67 and bcl-2. Moreover, we have measured microvessel density and specific vessel parameters. Results: All sarcoid samples showed a strong and finely granular cytoplasma...
Loeffler A, Herrick D, Allen S, Littlewood JD.Allergic pruritus and urticaria in the horse are challenging for veterinarians and owners; little is known about their long-term management. Objective: To summarize intradermal allergen test results (IDT), and to assess owners' perceptions of skin disease and the effects of medical treatment and management changes in their atopic horses over time. Methods: Eighty two horses with atopic dermatitis in southeastern England between 2006 and 2011. Methods: The IDT results were reviewed retrospectively. Owners completed telephone questionnaires on skin changes, medication, effect of allergen-specifi...
Soma LR, You Y, Robinson MA, Boston RC.Intravenous (iv), subcutaneous (sq), and topical (tp) lidocaine was administered to six horses in a cross-over, randomized design study. Samples were collected for up to 72 hr. Compartmental models were used to investigate the pharmacokinetics of (LD) and its metabolites 3-hydroxylidocaine (3-OH), 4-hydroxylidocaine (4-OH), and monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX). Metabolites 3-OH and 4-OH were present in conjugated forms, whereas LD and metabolite MEXG were present primarily in the un-conjugated form. Plasma concentrations of LD after iv administration (100 mg) were described by three-compartme...
Alkhilaiwi F, Wang L, Zhou D, Raudsepp T, Ghosh S, Paul S, Palechor-Ceron N, Brandt S, Luff J, Liu X, Schlegel R, Yuan H.Skin injuries in horses frequently lead to chronic wounds that lack a keratinocyte cover essential for healing. The limited proliferation of equine keratinocytes using current protocols has limited their use for regenerative medicine. Previously, equine induced pluripotent stem cells (eiPSCs) have been produced, and eiPSCs could be differentiated into equine keratinocytes suitable for stem cell-based skin constructs. However, the procedure is technically challenging and time-consuming. The present study was designed to evaluate whether conditional reprogramming (CR) could expand primary equine...
Jørgensen E, Lazzarini G, Pirone A, Jacobsen S, Miragliotta V.Information on microscopic anatomy of equine skin is sparse. In horses, limb wounds often become chronic and/or non-healing whereas body wounds heal normally. These dissimilarities in healing patterns might be a product of different phenotypic characteristics of body and limb skin. The objective of this study was to investigate microscopic anatomy, epidermal thickness, keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation as well as the presence of mast cells in normal equine skin of body and limb. Methods: The study involved body and limb skin biopsies from six horses. Histological characteristics o...
Tannahill VJ, Cogan T, Allen K, Acutt E, Busschers E.To determine the efficacy and dermal tolerance of a novel alcohol-based skin antiseptic (ABSA) in horses. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Systemically healthy horses (n = 25) with no history or clinical signs of skin disease. Methods: Four clipped sites on the abdomen were randomly assigned to a skin preparation protocol: saline (negative control; NC), chlorhexidine gluconate followed by isopropyl alcohol (positive control; PC), saline followed by the ABSA (ABSA A), or a commercially available horse shampoo followed by the ABSA (ABSA B). Microbiological swabs were obtained from each ...
Szczepanik MP, Wilkołek PM, Adamek ŁR, Gołyński M, Sitkowski W, Taszkun I.The measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) is one of the biophysical skin parameters used to assess skin barrier function. Assessment of transepidermal water loss, may depend on such factors as body region, age, sex or breed and the hair coat has been considered as one of the factors that may cause variation of TEWL values. The aim of our research was an examination of the influence of clipping on the amount of TEWL. The examination was performed with 12 Wielkopolska horses with Courage Khazaka Multi Probe Adapter 5 and a TEWL TM 300 probe. The TEWL values were statistically constant ...
Fettelschoss-Gabriel A, Fettelschoss V, Thoms F, Giese C, Daniel M, Olomski F, Kamarachev J, Birkmann K, Bühler M, Kummer M, Zeltins A, Marti E....Insect-bite hypersensitivity is the most common allergic dermatitis in horses. Excoriated skin lesions are typical symptoms of this seasonal and refractory chronic disease. On a cellular level, the skin lesions are characterized by massive eosinophil infiltration caused by an underlying allergic response. To target these cells and treat disease, we developed a therapeutic vaccine against equine IL-5 (eIL-5), the master regulator of eosinophils. The vaccine consisted of eIL-5 covalently linked to a virus-like particle derived from cucumber mosaic virus containing the tetanus toxoid universal T-...
Li 李靖 J, Liu B, Yu F, Liu T, Peng Y, Fu Y.Hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA) is an autosomal recessive inheritable disorder described in the Quarter Horses and related breeds. In this case report, a 2-year-old Quarter Horse filly was diagnosed with HERDA based on clinical findings and genetic testing. The observed clinical signs were stretchy, loose and thin skin, and open wounds on the upper body. Skin biopsy results were consistent with the common findings previously described in the literature. This is the first HERDA case report in China (and in Asia). Genetic testing protocols should be implemented for breeding fa...
Hofberger SC, Gauff F, Thaller D, Morgan R, Keen JA, Licka TF.OBJECTIVE To identify signs of tissue-specific cortisol activity in samples of suspensory ligament (SL) and neck skin tissue from horses with and without pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). SAMPLE Suspensory ligament and neck skin tissue samples obtained from 26 euthanized horses with and without PPID. PROCEDURES Tissue samples were collected from 12 horses with and 14 horses without PPID (controls). Two control horses had received treatment with dexamethasone; data from those horses were not used in statistical analyses. The other 12 control horses were classified as old horses (≥...
Lomas HR, Robinson PA.Equine insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), commonly known as sweet itch or summer eczema, is a frustrating recurrent skin disease in the equine industry involving an immune reaction to the bites of spp. midges. To investigate the impact of IBH in the field, an exploratory pilot study was conducted with equine stakeholders in one region of central England. Nine semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with horse owners and an equine veterinarian. The aim was to gain an understanding of experiences with IBH, and to gauge opinions on the value of the various management strategies ...
Tomich LM, Pieper JB, Stern AW.Dermoscopy is a noninvasive diagnostic technique that allows visualization of structures of the superficial dermis not visible with the naked eye. Objective: To assess the usefulness and applicability of dermoscopy for evaluation of healthy equine skin. Methods: Twelve healthy horses from a research herd. Methods: Five regions (cheek, lateral neck, dorsum, flank and abdomen) were examined with contact dermoscopy using both nonpolarized and polarized light at both 17-fold and 24-fold magnification. These findings were compared to histological features of skin biopsies cut both longitudinally an...
Legnani S, Zini E, Roccabianca P, Funiciello B, Zanna G.Dermoscopy is a diagnostic tool that has been introduced into small animal dermatology for the evaluation of hair and the skin surface. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the use of this technique on horses and the dermoscopic appearance of equine hair and skin have yet to be reported. Objective: To assess the feasibility of dermoscopy, and to describe hair and skin surface features of healthy warmblood horses. Methods: Thirty four client-owned, healthy adult horses. Methods: Six body regions (head, neck, dorsal thorax, ventral thorax, croup and mane) were examined with a smartphone-attach...
Pereira RCDF, De La Côrte FD, Brass KE, da Silva Azevedo M, Gallio M, Cantarelli C, Dau SL, Cezar AS, Inkelmann MA.Wounds localized on the distal limbs in horses are difficulty healing. No studies have been conducted to evaluate homologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in horses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect upon applying autologous PRP, homologous PRP, and autologous PRP gel on the wound healing process of wounds on the distal limb of horses. To study a possible correlation between the platelet count and wound healing time, four skin wounds of 4 cm2 were surgically created on the dorsolateral aspect of the third metacarpus in eight healthy adult horses. Each skin wound was randomly treate...
Li B, He X, Zhao Y, Bai D, Shiraigo W, Zhao Q, Manglai D.Studies on the molecular genetics of horse skin pigmentation have typically focused on very few genes and proteins. In this study, we used Illumina sequencing to determine the global gene expression profiles in horses with white-colored coats and those with black-colored coats, with the goal of identifying novel genes that could regulate horse coat color. Results: Genes encoding ribosomal-associated proteins were highly expressed in horse skin. We found a total of 231 unigenes that were differentially expressed between horses with white coats and horses with black coats; 119 were down-regulate...
Panzuti P, Rocafort Ferrer G, Mosca M, Pin D.Equine pastern vasculitis is an uncommon disorder in horses. Underlying causes are difficult to assess, especially bacterial infections. Conclusions: A 13-year-old French saddle gelding horse presented for evaluation of a six weeks history of pastern dermatitis. Histopathological examination of skin biopsy samples revealed small vessel vasculitis. A pure growth of a multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MRPA) was obtained from a deep skin biopsy. Clinical remission was observed after a six week course of enrofloxacin and lesions did not recur. Conclusions: To the best of the authors' kno...
Cvitas I, Galichet A, Ling SC, Müller EJ, Marti E.Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) plays a key role in the development of allergic inflammation. Little is known about possible triggers of equine TSLP expression. Objective: To investigate TSLP expression in equine insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) skin lesions. The capacity of TLR 1-8 ligands (L) and of atopic cytokine milieu as potential triggers of TSLP and of interleukin (IL)-6 as a downstream effector molecule of TLR signalling, were examined in primary equine keratinocyte cultures. Methods: Lesional skin from IBH-affected and healthy skin from control-horses (n = 9 each group) was s...
Leach DH, Dyson S.The instant centres of rotation (ICRs) of each limb joint, other than the coxofemoral joint and those of the digits, were calculated for eight clinically sound horses from tracings of radiographs according to the method of Reuleaux (1963). The majority of ICR positions coincided with the attachment sites of the collateral ligaments. The ICR of the scapulohumeral joint, which does not have collateral ligaments, was caudodistal to the caudal part of the greater tubercle of the humerus. The ICR for the femorotibial joint was located just caudal to the femoral attachment of the collateral ligament...
Pollitt CC, Molyneux GS.The microcirculation of the dermal laminae and papillae of the equine foot from seven clinically normal Australian ponies was studied using an improved microvascular casting corrosion technique and scanning electron microscopy. Casts of veins, arteries, capillaries and arteriovenous anastomoses (AVAs) were readily identified by their characteristic surface morphology. Arteries entered the laminar circulation axially, between pairs of axial veins, and were connected to each other by smaller calibre interconnecting arteries. Short abaxial branches of the axial interconnecting arteries gave rise ...
Mair TS.Three horses developed severe pulmonary infections while being treated with systemic corticosteroids for other diseases. Two of them had an immune-mediated skin disease, compatible with a diagnosis of pemphigus foliaceus, and one had severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Case 1 developed diffuse pneumonia from which Streptococcus zooepidemicus and Bacteroides melaninogenicus were isolated, and it responded to antibiotic therapy. Case 2 developed septicaemia, pulmonary thrombosis and pneumonia associated with Escherichia coli, and died during a peracute illness with signs of disseminate...
Benarafa C, Cunningham FM, Hamblin AS, Horohov DW, Collins ME.We report the cloning of four equine CC chemokines, eotaxin, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, MCP-2 and MCP-4, which show high levels of identity with their respective homologous sequences in other species. Using a multiplex RT-PCR, we have studied the constitutive mRNA expression of these four CC chemokines in skin, lung, liver, spleen, jejunum, colon and kidney of normal adult horses and compared this data with the eosinophil counts in the same samples. We demonstrate that eotaxin mRNA is only expressed in jejunum and colon, where there are large numbers of eosinophils suggesting th...
Weiss R, Böhm KH, Mumme J, Nicklas W.Over a thirteen year period (1965 to 1977) a total of 4790 skin scrapings and hair samples of animals were examined mycologically. 887 strains of dermatophytes were isolated out of 885 of these samples (= 18,5%). Most frequently Trichophyton verrucosum was identified in samples from cattle, followed by Microsporum canis isolated from cats, dogs and zoo animals. T. mentagrophytes was mainly found on guinea pigs, chinchillas and dogs and T. equinum on horses. Although the total number of the samples examined within the last 8 years increased, the total of the dermatophytes isolated remained prop...
Federici M, Gerber V, Doherr MG, Klopfenstein S, Burger D.In the last 30 years the amount of white markings in the population of Franches-Montagnes horses (FM) has more than doubled which has led to some controversy, particularly in respect to the health of the horses. The objective of this study was to investigate if the coat colour and white markings have an impact on selected skin diseases and hoof horn abnormalities. To this purpose 974 three-year-old FM were subjected to a clinical examination during the field and station tests organized by the FM breeding association. In 16.9% of the horses, one or several equine sarcoids were detected, 15.2% o...
Boorman S, Scherrer NM, Stefanovski D, Johnson AL.Facial nerve paralysis (FNP) in equids is not well described in the veterinary literature. Objective: To investigate the causes of FNP and associations among clinical variables, diagnosis, and outcome. Methods: Sixty-four equids presenting with FNP between July 2000 and April 2019. Cases of postanesthetic FNP were excluded. Methods: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Variables were evaluated for associations with outcomes (diagnosis and case outcome) using logistic regression. Results: The most common cause of FNP was trauma (n = 20). Additional diagnoses included central nervous s...
Haddy E, Burden F, Fernando-Martínez JA, Legaria-Ramírez D, Raw Z, Brown J, Kaminski J, Proops L.Working equids play an essential role in supporting livelihoods, providing resilience and income security to people around the world, yet their welfare is often poor. Consequently, animal welfare focussed NGOs employ a range of initiatives aimed at improving standards of working equid welfare. However, there is debate surrounding the efficacy of welfare initiatives utilised and long term monitoring and evaluation of initiatives is rarely undertaken. This study compares equid welfare and the social transmission of welfare information across Mexican communities that had previously received diffe...
Hillyer LL, Jackson AP, Quinn GC, Day MJ.Epidermal (infundibular) and dermoid cysts are unusual in the horse in contrast with other species. The diagnosis and treatment of six lesions in the dorsal midline of a three-year-old Thoroughbred-cross gelding is described. The lesions were believed to be congenital and presented asymptomatically but required attention because five of them were in the saddle region, thus preventing ridden exercise. Under general anaesthesia, the cysts were excised and subsequently examined histologically. The horse recovered uneventfully. This report is novel in that such midline cysts have not previously be...
O'Niell FD, Issel CJ, Henk WG.Organ cultures of equine fetal tracheal and nasal turbinate epithelium were inoculated with equine influenza virus-A1 (EIV-A1), equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), or equine rhinovirus-1 (ERV-1). Infected organ cultures were processed for scanning and transmission electron microscopy at various intervals and were compared with noninfected controls. Organ cultures inoculated with ERV-1 appeared normal with the exception of rare island-like lesions in infected nasal turbinate. Virus particles were not seen in thin sections of organ cultures infected with ERV-1. The EHV-1 caused extensive loss of the e...
Rashmir-Raven A.Hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia is a form of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and has an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Affected horses are typically born normal and develop lesions within the first 2 years of life. The most common symptoms of the disease include stretchy, loose skin that feels doughy or mushy. More severely affected horses experience spontaneous skin sloughing and extensive lacerations, hematomas, and seromas from minor trauma. Affected horses have a higher than expected incidence of corneal ulcers. DNA testing can normal, establish carrier and affected status. Pa...
Hollis AR.Sarcoids are the most common cutaneous neoplasm of the horse, arising as a result of a neoplastic proliferation of fibroblasts associated with infection with bovine papillomavirus, most notably types 1 and 2. Although they do not metastasise, they are locally invasive and aggressive, and can lead to important welfare concerns, interfere with tack and therefore impede athleticism, and undoubtedly lead to a reduction in the value of affected horses. This review discusses the evidence behind the most commonly used treatments for equine sarcoids. The most commonly used treatments are discussed. No...
Knottenbelt DC.Skin disease in donkeys is less common than in horses, but is easily overlooked. Little published material exists on this important area of equine medicine. Skin tumors continue to challenge veterinarians working with donkeys. This article outlines the main disease entities that the author has encountered, although there are many other diseases and disorders that occur in different parts of the world that are not yet appreciated. When investigating a skin disease, a logical and comprehensive clinical approach should always be made; many conditions are similar in clinical presentation or are co...
Michanek P, Toth T, Bergström E, Treffenberg-Pettersson H, Bergh A.Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are commonly used for treating a variety of disorders in horses, including wounds. Despite its claim to shorten healing times, there is a lack of scientific documentation regarding its effects. Objective: To investigate if treatment with pulsating visible red light (λ ≈ 637 nm) and near-infrared (NIR) light (λ ≈ 956 nm) affects wound healing. Methods: Randomised blinded controlled experimental study. Methods: A circular skin wound (Ø = 2 cm) was created on each side of the neck in eight healthy horses. One randomly chosen wound received light treatm...
Di Francesco P, Cajon P, Desterke C, Perron Lepage MF, Lataillade JJ, Kadri T, Lepage OM.To assess the clinical value and safety of the application of allogeneic equine oral mucosa mesenchymal stromal cells (OM-MSCs) to wounds. Animals. 8 healthy adult horses without front limb skin lesions or musculoskeletal disease. Procedures. Stem cells were isolated from the oral mucosa of a donor horse. Horses were subjected to the creation of eight full-thickness cutaneous wounds, two on each distal forelimb (FL) and two on both sides of the thorax (TH). Each wound was subjected to one out of four treatments: no medication (T1), hyaluronic acid- (HA-) gel containing OM-MSC (T2), HA-gel cont...
Gerber V, Kaiser-Thom S, Oesch S.Equine pastern dermatitis (EPD) is a nonspecific cutaneous reaction pattern on the distal extremities, typically in the palmar/plantar area of the pastern. Although EPD is commonly seen in equine practice and can be a debilitating condition, peer-reviewed original studies on many aspects of this multifactorial syndrome are still scarce. This narrative review aims to give an overview of the clinical presentation (forms of EPD and clinical scores and differential diagnoses), risk factors, and therapeutic approaches. The emphasis is on intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors as most of the original ...
Yasui T, Fukui K, Nara T, Habata I, Meyer W, Tsukise A.The present study revealed in detail the subcellular localization of lysozyme and beta-defensin in the apocrine glands of the equine scrotal skin, a specific body region. The apocrine glandular cells were equipped with a varying number of secretory granules, a well-developed Golgi apparatus and abundant cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum within their cytoplasm. In these cells, reactive gold particles representing lysozyme were detectable in the secretory granules as well as the Golgi apparatus and elements of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Additionally, the antimicrobial peptide gr...
Lomas HR, Robinson PA.Equine insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH), commonly known as sweet itch or summer eczema, is a frustrating recurrent skin disease in the equine industry involving an immune reaction to the bites of spp. midges. To investigate the impact of IBH in the field, an exploratory pilot study was conducted with equine stakeholders in one region of central England. Nine semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with horse owners and an equine veterinarian. The aim was to gain an understanding of experiences with IBH, and to gauge opinions on the value of the various management strategies ...
Fritsche A, Mathis GA, Althaus FR.Biotin deficiency in animals causes pathological changes of the skin and its appendages including, for example, exfoliative dermatitis, depigmentation, and alopecia. The hooves of biotin-deficient swine are weak, brittle, and often necrotic. These changes disappear after dietary biotin supplementation. Biotin supplementation also noticeably improves the hoof quality of horses, cattle and swine having no apparent biotin deficiency. In order to elucidate the molecular basis of these effects, the influence of biotin on cytokeratin expression in a keratinocyte cell line (Ha-CaT) was investigated u...
Johnson PJ, Ganjam VK, Slight SH, Kreeger JM, Messer NT.The role of glucocorticoids (GCs) in the pathogenesis of laminitis is incompletely understood. Local tissue activity of GC is regulated by the steroid converting enzyme, 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (11beta-HSD-1). Changes in integumentary (skin and hoof lamellar) 11beta-HSD activity occurring during laminitis could affect the extent to which GCs are involved in its development. Objective: That changes in integumentary 11beta-HSD-1 activity associated with the laminitic condition would lead to elevated local tissue levels of GCs, which could subsequently contribute, through paracrine ...
Brounts SH, Rashmir-Raven AM, Black SS.This case report describes a distinctive deep cutaneous lesion in a 1-year-old Quarter Horse filly with hyperelastosis cutis. The horse had a typical clinical presentation of hyperelastic skin associated with a 6-month history of cutaneous wounds that developed following minor cutaneous trauma. Punch biopsies of skin from the affected horse were thinner than similar biopsies from an age- and breed-matched control. Significant microscopic lesions were not seen in cutaneous punch biopsies stained with haematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome stains, but the ultrastructure of the dermis from...
Miller RI, Campbell RS.A survey of granulomatous and neoplastic diseases of the skin of horses of tropical north Queensland was carried out during the period 1970-1980. Of 338 horses affected, 46.4% suffered from equine fibrosarcoma (sarcoid), 30.2% from phycomycosis, 7.4% from squamous cell carcinoma, 6.8% from other tumours, 4.7% from cutaneous habronemiasis and 4.4% from exuberant granulation tissue. Most specimens were submitted during the first half of the year after the wet monsoonal season and significantly more diseases originated during the first quarter. There was minor variations with breed, age and sex s...
Hofberger SC, Gauff F, Thaller D, Morgan R, Keen JA, Licka TF.OBJECTIVE To identify signs of tissue-specific cortisol activity in samples of suspensory ligament (SL) and neck skin tissue from horses with and without pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). SAMPLE Suspensory ligament and neck skin tissue samples obtained from 26 euthanized horses with and without PPID. PROCEDURES Tissue samples were collected from 12 horses with and 14 horses without PPID (controls). Two control horses had received treatment with dexamethasone; data from those horses were not used in statistical analyses. The other 12 control horses were classified as old horses (≥...
Tóth F, Schumacher J, Castro F, Perkins J.To describe and evaluate full-thickness skin grafting of equine wounds. Methods: Case series. Methods: Adult horses (n=6). Methods: A full-thickness graft was harvested from the pectoral region with the horse anesthetized or standing and sedated after local anesthetic infiltration. Grafts were attached to the cutaneous margin of the wound with staples and/or sutures if the horse was anesthetized or if the recipient site was desensitized. Cyanoacrylate glue was used to attach the grafts to the cutaneous margin of the wound of 3 horses. Medical records were reviewed for history, physical examina...
