Species comparison in horses involves examining the physiological, anatomical, and behavioral differences and similarities between horses and other animal species. This area of study can provide insights into the evolutionary adaptations and ecological roles of horses. Researchers often focus on aspects such as digestive systems, locomotion, sensory capabilities, and social structures to understand how horses have evolved to meet their environmental and survival needs. Comparative studies may also explore genetic differences and similarities, contributing to a broader understanding of species evolution and adaptation. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research and scholarly articles that analyze various aspects of species comparison involving horses, highlighting significant findings and methodologies used in the field.
Deaton CM.Equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is a naturally occurring respiratory disease in horses with many similarities to human asthma and, as a result, has been used as an animal model of this disease. Oxidative stress has been demonstrated to occur in a range of respiratory diseases in human beings including asthma. Quantitatively, horses have a greater non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity in the pulmonary epithelial lining fluid compared to human beings due to high ascorbic acid concentrations, which reflects their ability to synthesise ascorbic acid. Consequently, a greater oxidative load i...
Keel MK, Songer JG.Clostridium difficile is a confirmed pathogen in a wide variety of mammals, but the incidence of disease varies greatly in relation to host species, age, environmental density of spores, administration of antibiotics, and possibly, other factors. Lesions vary as well, in severity and distribution within individuals, and in some instances, age groups, of a given species. The cecum and colon are principally affected in most species, but foals and rabbits develop severe jejunal lesions. Explanations for variable susceptibility of species, and age groups within a species, are largely speculative. ...
Brown JJ, Ollier WE, Thomson W, Matthews JB, Carter SD, Binns M, Pinchbeck G, Clegg PD.Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a crucial role in the regulation of inflammatory and immune responses. In all vertebrate species the genes encoding TNF-alpha are located within the major histocompatability complex. In the horse TNF-alpha has been ascribed a role in a variety of important disease processes. Previously two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been reported within the 5' un-translated region of the equine TNF-alpha gene. We have examined the equine TNF-alpha promoter region further for additional SNPs by analysing DNA from...
Solow AR, Roberts DL, Robbirt KM.The fossil record has been used to shed light on the late Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions in North America and elsewhere. It is therefore important to account for variability due to the incompleteness of the fossil record and error in dating fossil remains. Here, a joint confidence region for the extinction times of horses and mammoths in Alaska is constructed. The results suggest that a prior claim that the extinction of horses preceded the arrival of humans cannot be made with confidence.
Leeb T, Vogl C, Zhu B, de Jong PJ, Binns MM, Chowdhary BP, Scharfe M, Jarek M, Nordsiek G, Schrader F, Blöcker H.In an effort to increase the density of sequence-based markers for the horse genome we generated 9473 BAC end sequences (BESs) from the CHORI-241 BAC library with an average read length of 677 bp. BLASTN searches with the BESs revealed 4036 meaningful hits (E <or= 10(-5)) in the human genome that provide useful markers for the human-horse comparative map. The 4036 BLASTN hits allowed the anchoring of 3079 BAC clones to the human genome, on average one corresponding equine BAC clone per megabase of human DNA. We used the BLASTN anchored BESs for an in silico prediction of the gene content an...
Podolak M, Kedzierski W, Bergero D.The aim of this study was to compare changes in epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) levels in blood plasma of two racehorses breeds: Arabian and Thoroughbred during moderate intensity exercise performed in the same conditions. The increase in plasma E level just after exercise was higher in Thoroughbreds than in Arabians. During the whole test, the Arabians showed the higher levels of NE and DA as compared to those found in Thoroughbreds.
Perrocheau M, Boutreux V, Chadi S, Mata X, Decaunes P, Raudsepp T, Durkin K, Incarnato D, Iannuzzi L, Lear TL, Hirota K, Hasegawa T, Zhu B, de Jong P....A medium-density map of the horse genome (Equus caballus) was constructed using genes evenly distributed over the human genome. Three hundred and twenty-three exonic primer pairs were used to screen the INRA and the CHORI-241 equine BAC libraries by polymerase chain reaction and by filter hybridization respectively. Two hundred and thirty-seven BACs containing equine gene orthologues, confirmed by sequencing, were isolated. The BACs were localized to horse chromosomes by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Overall, 165 genes were assigned to the equine genomic map by radiation hybrid (RH...
Mauel S, Steinbach F, Ludwig H.Dendritic cells (DC) are the initiators of immune responses and are present in most tissues in vivo. To generate myeloid DC from monocytes (MoDC) in vitro the necessary cytokines are granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Using degenerated primers delineated from other species and rapid amplification of cDNA ends reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RACE RT-PCR), the cDNA of equine (eq.) GM-CSF was cloned and found to have a point deletion at the 3'-end of eq.GM-CSF, resulting in a 24-nucleotide extended open reading frame not described ...
Zhang Y, Kobayashi K, Kitazawa K, Imai K, Kobayashi M.By using published experimental values of the standard oxygen (O2) equilibrium curve and the in vivo arterial and venous O2 pressure (PO2) of fetal and maternal blood in five mammalian species (human, cow, pig, sheep, and horse), we investigated the relationship between the efficiency of O2 delivery and the effectiveness of the Bohr shift, and discussed the significance of cooperativity for mammalian Hb. The O2 delivery of fetal blood was more efficient than that of maternal blood, and the effectiveness of the Bohr shift at both O2 loading and release sites of fetal blood was high. A linear re...
Wagner ML, Raudsepp T, Goh G, Agarwala R, Schaffer AA, Dranchak PK, Brinkmeyer-Langford C, Skow LC, Chowdhary BP, Mickelson JR.A comparative approach that utilizes information from more densely mapped or sequenced genomes is a proven and efficient means to increase our knowledge of the structure of the horse genome. Human chromosome 2 (HSA2), the second largest human chromosome, comprising 243 Mb, and containing 1246 known genes, corresponds to all or parts of three equine chromosomes. This report describes the assignment of 140 new markers (78 genes and 62 microsatellites) to the equine radiation hybrid (RH) map, and the anchoring of 24 of these markers to horse chromosomes by FISH. The updated equine RH maps for ECA...
The Journal of heredityFebruary 17, 2006
Volume 97, Issue 2 107-113 doi: 10.1093/jhered/esj020
Luís C, Bastos-Silveira C, Cothran EG, Oom Mdo M.Fossil records, archaeological proofs, and historical documents report that horses persisted continuously in the Iberian Peninsula since the Pleistocene and were taken to the American continent (New World) in the 15th century. To investigate the variation within the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region of Iberian and New World horse breeds, to analyze their relationships, and to test the historical origin of New World horses, a total of 153 samples, representing 30 Iberian and New World breeds, were analyzed by sequencing mtDNA control region fragments. Fifty-four haplotypes were found and...
Werners AH, Bull S, Vendrig JC, Smyth T, Bosch RR, Fink-Gremmels J, Bryant CE.The inter- and intra-species differences in the response to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are well recognised in mammalian species. It has been hypothesized that these differences can be attributed to genetic polymorphisms in the components involved in LPS signal transduction. These components include the cluster of differentiation factor 14 (CD-14), a membrane bound protein on the surface of mononuclear cells that recognises LPS and a receptor complex consisting of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) and myeloid differentiation factor-2 (MD-2). Sequencing of these three proteins in humans and mice revea...
van der Meulen KM, Favoreel HW, Pensaert MB, Nauwynck HJ.Equine herpesvirus (EHV)-1 is a pathogen of horses, well known for its ability to induce abortion and nervous system disorders. Clinical signs may occur despite the presence of a virus-specific immune response in the horse. The current review will summarize the research, on how, EHV-1-infected cells can hide from recognition by the immune system. Research findings on immune evasion of EHV-1 will be compared with those of other herpesviruses of veterinary importance.
Pearson RA, Archibald RF, Muirhead RH.Four cattle, sheep, ponies and donkeys were fed dehydrated lucerne, early-cut hay, later-cut hay or barley straw in a Latin square-based design for four periods of 35 d. In the first sub-period animals were fed the diets ad libitum (1-21 d) and in the second sub-period they were fed the same diet restricted to 0.75 of ad libitum intake (days 22-35). Measurements of forage intake, apparent digestibilities and gastrointestinal mean retention times (MRT) were made in the last 7 d of each sub-period. Differences between species in voluntary DM intake (VDMI; g/kg live weight (LW)(0.75) and g/LW) we...
Skedros JG.Osteocytes, the most prevalent cell type in bone, appear to communicate via gap junctions. In limb-bone diaphyses, it has been hypothesized that these cellular networks have the capacity to monitor habitual strains, which can differ significantly between cortical locations of the same bone. Regional differences in microdamage associated with prevalent/predominant strain mode (tension, compression, or shear) and/or magnitude may represent an important "variable" detected by this network. This hypothesis was indirectly addressed by examining bones subjected to habitual bending for correlations o...
Gusson F, Carletti M, Albo AG, Dacasto M, Nebbia C.To complete a studyaimed at investigating the pattern of the basal activities of liver xenobioticmetabolizing enzymes in major and minor species intended for meat production, microsomal carboxylesterases and some conjugating enzyme activities were determined and compared in liver preparations from horses, cattle, pigs, rabbits and broiler chicks, using the rat as a reference species. Horses and broiler chicks exhibited a lower microsomal carboxylesterase activity towards indophenyl or p-nitrophenyl acetate than that measured in cattle or pig subfractions. Among food-producing species, the rate...
Schneider N, Heimann M, Lejeune JP, Verwilghen DR, Deby-Dupont GP, Serteyn DA.In the human and equine species, different kinds of free floating intra-articular particles are related to certain disorders. Osteochondral fragments formed during osteochondrosis dissecans are the most common finding in the equine species, whereas in humans rice bodies due to rheumatoid arthritis are more frequent. Herein we report a third type of floating body inside the stifle of an adult draught horse stallion, in macroscopic appearance similar to articular rice bodies known in humans. As revealed by histologic examination, the two particles consist of polypoid degenerated structures deriv...
D'Auria E, Agostoni C, Giovannini M, Riva E, Zetterström R, Fortin R, Greppi GF, Bonizzi L, Roncada P.As milk represents the main source of nutrition for infants, the question of an effective human milk substitute becomes mandatory when a formula-fed baby is allergic to cows' milk proteins. In this case, formulas containing extensively hydrolysed milk proteins should be preferred, but even such a formula may cause allergic reactions in highly sensitive patients. If there is evidence of cows' milk allergy with IgE-associated symptoms, after 6 mo of age, a soy bean formula may be recommended only when tolerance to soy protein has been established by clinical challenge. In infants with allergic r...
Carbone L, Nergadze SG, Magnani E, Misceo D, Francesca Cardone M, Roberto R, Bertoni L, Attolini C, Francesca Piras M, de Jong P, Raudsepp T....Centromere repositioning (CR) is a recently discovered biological phenomenon consisting of the emergence of a new centromere along a chromosome and the inactivation of the old one. After a CR, the primary constriction and the centromeric function are localized in a new position while the order of physical markers on the chromosome remains unchanged. These events profoundly affect chromosomal architecture. Since horses, asses, and zebras, whose evolutionary divergence is relatively recent, show remarkable morphological similarity and capacity to interbreed despite their chromosomes differing co...
Wiedmeyer CE, Johnson PJ, Cohn LA, Meadows RL, Kerl ME, Tessman RK, Perlis J, DeClue AE.With the emergence of continuous glucose monitoring systems being used to provide a detailed glucose picture in humans, a commercially available system (CGMS(R), Medtronic Minimed, Northridge, CA) was examined for use in veterinary species. Methods: Adult, clinically normal horses (n = 7), cats (n = 3), dogs (n = 4), and cows (n = 5) were studied. Cats (n = 4), dogs (n = 5), and one horse with diabetes were included in the study. Several of the normal horses, including the horse with diabetes, and one cow were subjected to an intravenous glucose tolerance test. The CGMS was attached to each an...
Marx JO, Olsson MC, Larsson L.To fully understand the effect of scaling on skeletal muscle shortening velocity (V (0)), it is important to know which phenotypic characteristics drive the changes between species. The purpose of the current investigation was to compare the effects of body mass and femur length, as an estimate of total limb length, on V (0) in species that cover a 100,000-fold range of body masses. Using the slack test procedure, V (0) was determined for fibers expressing types I and IIa myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms in the mouse, rat, dog, human, horse, and rhinoceros under identical experimental condit...
Almagro JC, Martinez L, Smith SL, Alagon A, Estevez J, Paniagua J.We have constructed a chimeric antibody single-chain Fv (scFv) fragments phage-displayed library that combines an invariant human V(L) chain with the repertoire of V(H) domains amplified from a horse immunized against scorpion venom. To gain insight into the equine V(H) repertoire, the V(H) sequences of 46 unique clones randomly chosen from the library prior to antigenic selection were analyzed. Comparisons with previously reported equine V(H) sequences, as well as with the repertoire of human IGHV germline genes and known V(H) sequences of sheep, cattle and pig, suggest that the equine IGH lo...
Swinburne JE, Boursnell M, Hill G, Pettitt L, Allen T, Chowdhary B, Hasegawa T, Kurosawa M, Leeb T, Mashima S, Mickelson JR, Raudsepp T, Tozaki T....A genetic linkage map of the horse consisting of 742 markers, which comprises a single linkage group for each of the autosomes and the X chromosome, is presented. The map has been generated from two three-generation full-sibling reference families, sired by the same stallion, in which there are 61 individuals in the F2 generation. Each linkage group has been assigned to a chromosome and oriented with reference to markers mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The average interval between markers is 3.7 cM and the linkage groups collectively span 2772 cM. The 742 markers comprise 734 mic...
Hasebe R, Kimura T, Nakamura K, Ochiai K, Okazaki K, Wada R, Umemura T.Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) shows endotheliotropism in the central nervous system (CNS) of infected horses. However, infection of endothelial cells has not been observed in the CNS of infected mice. To explore the basis for this difference in endotheliotropism, we compared the susceptibility of equine brain microvascular endothelial cells (EBMECs) and mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells (MBMECs) to EHV-1 infection. The kinetics of viral growth in EBMECs was typical of a fully productive infection whereas viral infection in MBMECs seemed to be nonproductive. Immunofluorescence microsco...
Milenkovic D, Mata X, Chadi S, Guérin G.Laminins are large heterotrimeric basement membrane glycoproteins composed of alpha, beta and gamma chains. The Laminin 5 isoform has an alpha3beta3gamma2 composition and is essential for the adhesion of basal keratinocytes to the underlying epithelial basement membrane where it is mainly located. Mutations in the genes coding for the 3 chains have been associated with a severe skin blistering disease, Herlitz's junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB), observed in different species as man, dog, cat and horse. In this study, we report the sequence of the 5.2 kb horse laminin alpha 3 cDNA (LAMA3)...
Piccione G, Caola G, Refinetti R.Daily or circadian oscillation has been documented in a variety of physiological and behavioral processes. Although individual variables have been studied in great detail, very few studies have been conducted on the temporal relationships between the rhythms of different variables. It is not known whether the circadian pacemaker generates each and every rhythm individually or whether most rhythms are simply derived from a few clock-controlled rhythms. As a first step in elucidating this issue, 21 physiological variables were recorded simultaneously in horse and sheep. The results indicated tha...
Brooks SA, Bailey E.Sabino (SB) is a white spotting pattern in the horse characterized by white patches on the face, lower legs, or belly, and interspersed white hairs on the midsection. Based on comparable phenotypes in humans and pigs, the KIT gene was investigated as the origin of the Sabino phenotype. In this article we report the genetic basis of one type of Sabino spotting pattern in horses that we call Sabino 1, with the alleles represented by the symbols SB1 and sb1. Transcripts of KIT were characterized by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequencing cDNA from horses with the g...
Tallmadge RL, Lear TL, Antczak DF.The availability of a contig of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones spanning the equine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) made possible a detailed analysis of horse MHC class I genes. Prior to this study, only a single horse MHC class I gene had been sequenced at the genomic level. Although many ( approximately 60) MHC class I cDNA sequences had been determined and published, from this information, it was not possible to determine how many class I loci are expressed in horses or to assign individual sequences to allelic series. In this study, 15 MHC class I genes were identified ...
Kaikkonen M, Hyyppä S.Like potassium (K+), caesium (Cs+) tends to concentrate intracellularly. The aim here was to determine how moderate exercise affects the uptake of Cs+ from blood plasma. Methods: After an intravenous Cs+ dose of 5 micromol kg(-1), plasma Cs+ concentration was followed for 100 min in goats and for 60 min in horses. The latter were divided into two groups, one resting and the other trotting on a treadmill (inclination 3 degrees, speed 5 m s(-1)). Results: The plasma Cs+ concentration follows a multiphase exponential decay curve, which initially could be approximated with a two-phase curve. The i...
The Journal of physiologyOctober 6, 2000
Volume 528 Pt 1, Issue Pt 1 209-219 doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7793.2000.00209.x
Fowden AL, Taylor PM, White KL, Forhead AJ.1. Using the Fick principle and tracer methodology, the metabolic rates of chronically catheterized fetal foals (n = 24) were measured at different gestational ages during the second half of gestation and in response to maternal fasting for 36 h in late gestation (n = 4, term approximately 335 days). 2. Absolute rates of umbilical blood flow, fetal glucose utilization and umbilical uptake of oxygen (O2) and glucose increased from mid-gestation to 300 days and then plateauxed until term. The absolute rate of umbilical lactate uptake was significant after, but not before, 280 days of gestation. ...
Barton MD, Hughes KL.A total of 189 isolates of Rhodococcus equi and related organisms and 16 marker strains representing the genera Rhodococcus and Corynebacterium were screened for 160 unit characters in a numerical taxonomic study. Analysis of the data indicated that R. equi forms a relatively homogeneous cluster distinctly separated from the recognized species of Rhodococcus and Corynebacterium (sensu stricto). Other members of the genus Rhodococcus are soil organisms and R. equi appears to fit into the genus on ecological as well as taxonomic grounds. It seems unlikely that R. equi could be a gastrointestinal...
Mendoza FJ, Perez-Ecija RA, Monreal L, Estepa JC.Coagulation disorders are frequently diagnosed, especially in hospitalized equidae, and result in increased morbidity and mortality. However, hemostatic reference intervals have not been established for donkeys yet. Objective: To determine whether the most common coagulation parameters used in equine practice are different between healthy donkeys and horses. Methods: Thirty-eight healthy donkeys and 29 healthy horses. Methods: Blood samples were collected to assess both coagulation and fibrinolytic systems by determination of platelet count, fibrinogen concentration, clotting times (prothrombi...
Nielsen KH.Using antisera specific for the heavy chain of human IgE and bovine reaginic immunoglobulin, the degree of cross-reaction amongst sera from pig, rat, rabbit, guinea pig, goat, cow, horse, dog, cat and human was tested. Antihuman IgE antiserum gave strong reactions with pig, rabbit, cow, goat and human sera (100% to 15.1%) and weak reactions with rat, guinea pig, horse, dog and cat sera (10.1% to 3.22%). Antibovine reagin antiserum produced a considerable amount of cross-reaction with sera from pig, rat, rabbit, goat, horse and human (43.6% to 20.1%) with limited reactions with guinea pig, dog ...
Matsuyama S, Kubo K, Ohashi F, Takamori Y.Prohibitin is the protein which has an inhibitory function in cell growth, and its gene is suggested to be one of putative tumor suppressor genes. In this report, we described a partial cloning of prohibitin cDNAs from canine, feline, bovine, equine, and rabbit liver mRNAs by RT-PCR, and their homology analysis. The sequences of these RT-PCR products were compared with each other as well as those reported for human and rat. The homology in this region of prohibitin cDNA was approximately 90%, and the amino acid sequence of each RT-PCR product shared more than 95% identity. Therefore, it is con...
Meta geneJune 30, 2015
Volume 5 120-123 doi: 10.1016/j.mgene.2015.06.006
Ito H, Langenhorst T, Ogden R, Inoue-Murayama M.Androgen receptor genes (AR) have been found to have associations with reproductive development, behavioral traits, and disorders in humans. However, the influence of similar genetic effects on the behavior of other animals is scarce. We examined the loci AR glutamine repeat (ARQ) in 44 Grevy's zebras, 23 plains zebras, and three mountain zebras, and compared them with those of domesticated horses. We observed polymorphism among zebra species and between zebra and horse. As androgens such as testosterone influence aggressiveness, AR polymorphism among equid species may be associated with diffe...
Harvey AM, Ramp D, Mellor DJ.A detailed understanding of what is usual for a species under optimal conditions is critical for identifying and interpreting different features of body function that have known impacts on animal welfare and its assessment. When applying the Five Domains Model to assess animal welfare, the key starting point is therefore to acquire extensive species-specific knowledge relevant to each of the four physical/functional Domains of the Model. These Domains, 1 to 4, address areas where objective information is evaluated and collated. They are: (1) Nutrition; (2) Physical environment; (3) Health; and...
Proops L, Burden F, Osthaus B.Donkeys and mules are frequently kept as companion animals for horses and ponies, with these different equids often being considered a homogenous group. However, the extent to which domestic equids form inter-specific bonds and display similar social behaviour when living in a mixed herd has not previously been studied. Here we compare the social organization of these three (sub)species when housed together, providing the first systematic analysis of how genetic hybridization is expressed in the social behaviour of mules. A group of 16 mules, donkeys and ponies was observed for 70h and preferr...
Pointelli E, Santa-maria MA, Caretta G.A total of 1267 microfungi, including 35 Myxomycetes, were recorded from the fecal samples of the 60 horses; of these 395 were found on 20 saddle-horse feces, 363 on 20 race-horses and 509 on 20 working horses. Eighty two species representing 53 genera were recorded; of these 7 were Zygomycetes, 18 Ascomycetes, 1 Basidiomycetes and 25 Fungi Imperfecti: 2 Myxomycetes. Common coprophilous fungi are in decreasing order Pilobolus kleinii, Saccobolus depauperatus, Mucor hiemalis, Lasiobolus ciliatus, Podospora curvula, Petriella guttulata, M. circinelloides, Coprinus radiatus, Dictyostelium mucoroi...
Satterlee JD, Moench S.Proton hyperfine resonance assignments for cytochromes c from several species are currently being successfully pursued by several laboratories. These efforts focus mostly on the ferrous forms. In contrast to that work, we have pursued assignments of the proton hyperfine shifted resonances for horse and tuna ferricytochromes c. Our results indicate that assignments are nearly identical in those two proteins. Using the pre-steady state nuclear Overhauser effect, several additional assignments have been made for the tuna protein, whereas for the horse protein, the following protons have been assi...
Allen WR, Kydd JH, Boyle MS, Antczak DF.Transfer of donkey embryos to horse mares provides a useful model of early fetal death. Endometrial cups do not develop in this one type of extraspecific pregnancy and 80% of donkey fetuses are aborted between Days 80 and 100 of gestation in conjunction with abnormal implantation and an intense accumulation of leucocytes in the endometrium of the surrogate mare. Treatment of mares carrying donkey conceptuses with progestagen (allyl trenbolone) or purified horse chorionic gonadotrophin does not prevent abortion. However, passive immunization with serum from mares carrying intraspecific horse fe...
McIlwraith CW, Lattermann C.The use of intra-articular corticosteroids for traumatic arthritis and osteoarthritis (OA) is common in the horse. The beneficial and deleterious effects of the principal corticosteroids used betamethasone esters (Celestone [Soluspan], methylprednisolone acetate [Depo Medrol], and triamcinolone acetonide [TA] [Vetalog or Kenalog]) have been defined for the horse. While TA has both disease-modifying as well as symptom-modifying effects, methyl prednisolone acetate has deleterious effects on the articular cartilage. Studies in traumatically injured joints show the same rationale (suppression of ...
Tozaki T, Swinburne J, Hirota K, Hasegawa T, Ishida N, Tobe T.Genetic maps are extremely important tools for tracing the genes that govern economically significant traits, and microsatellites are a significant component of these. In this study, we isolated 2346 novel horse microsatellites as resources for the construction of high-density horse genetic maps. Of these 2346 markers, 339 (14.5%) horse sequences showed sequence homology to DNA sequences in the human genome, demonstrating that microsatellites as type II markers are valuable resources for developing linkage maps and that they have a potential equal to that of type I markers for developing compa...
One health outlookMay 9, 2022
Volume 4, Issue 1 9 doi: 10.1186/s42522-022-00065-y
Gömer A, Puff C, Reinecke B, Bracht S, Conze M, Baumgärtner W, Steinmann J, Feige K, Cavalleri JMV, Steinmann E, Todt D.The Equine Hepacivirus (EqHV) is an equine-specific and liver-tropic virus belonging to the diverse genus of Hepaciviruses. It was recently found in a large donkey (Equus asinus) cohort with a similar seroprevalence (30%), but lower rate of RNA-positive animals (0.3%) compared to horses. These rare infection events indicate either a lack of adaptation to the new host or a predominantly acute course of infection. Methods: In order to analyze the susceptibility and the course of EqHV infection in donkeys, we inoculated two adult female donkeys and one control horse intravenously with purified Eq...
Braunitzer G, Schrank B, Stangl A, Bauer C.The sequence analysis of llama (Lama glama, Camelidae) hemoglobin is described. The chains were separated, cleaved by trypsin as previously described, quantitatively characterized and sequenced in the sequenator. The llama hemoglobin differs from the human hemoglobin in that it has 25 different amino acids in the alpha chain and 24 different amino acids in the beta chain. The interaction between protein and phosphate is discussed. The earlier finding that the O2 affinity of the llama hemoglobin is dependent on its content of 2, 3-bisphosphoglycerate is interpreted here as a mutation of the 2, ...
Rull-Cotrina J, Molleda JM, Gallardo J, Martín-Suárez E.To assess the refractive state of the equine eye utilizing retinoscopy. To compare the refractive state of Spanish Thoroughbred horses with the refractive state of Crossbred horses. Methods: The refractive state of 135 horses (264 eyes) was assessed utilizing streak retinoscopy. Two perpendicular meridians were examined in order to assess astigmatism at a working distance of approximately 67 cm. A group of 81 Spanish Thoroughbred horses was compared with a group of 54 Crossbred horses. Cyclopentolate ophthalmic solution was instilled in the eyes of a group of 18 horses to determine if accommod...
O'Connor SJ, Gardner DS, Ousey JC, Holdstock N, Rossdale P, Edwards CM, Fowden AL, Giussani DA.The aims of this study were to compare and contrast the development of the cardiac baroreflex and endocrine responses to acute hypotensive stress in healthy newborn pony foals and lambs during the first two weeks of postnatal life. Methods: Under general anaesthesia, seven Welsh pony foals and six Welsh Mountain lambs were catheterised with hind limb artery and vein catheters. Following post-surgical recovery, at 1 week and 2 weeks of age, blood pressures of the animals were raised and lowered acutely by intravenous infusion of phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside, respectively. During hypot...
Burnley M.The parameters of the hyperbolic speed-duration relationship (the asymptote critical speed, CS, and the curvature constant, D') provide estimates of the maximal steady state speed (CS) and the distance an animal can run, swim, or fly at speeds above CS before it is forced to slow down or stop (D'). The speed-duration relationship has been directly studied in humans, horses, mice and rats. The technical difficulties with treadmill running in dogs and the relatively short greyhound race durations means that, perhaps surprisingly, it has not been assessed in dogs. The endurance capabilities of li...
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...
Perrocheau M, Boutreux V, Chadi S, Mata X, Decaunes P, Raudsepp T, Durkin K, Incarnato D, Iannuzzi L, Lear TL, Hirota K, Hasegawa T, Zhu B, de Jong P....A medium-density map of the horse genome (Equus caballus) was constructed using genes evenly distributed over the human genome. Three hundred and twenty-three exonic primer pairs were used to screen the INRA and the CHORI-241 equine BAC libraries by polymerase chain reaction and by filter hybridization respectively. Two hundred and thirty-seven BACs containing equine gene orthologues, confirmed by sequencing, were isolated. The BACs were localized to horse chromosomes by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Overall, 165 genes were assigned to the equine genomic map by radiation hybrid (RH...
Mifune H, Suzuki S, Noda Y, Mohri S, Mochizuki K.In the pig, cattle and horse, the right and left atria and ventricles were examined by immunohistochemistry, and the right atrial and auricular cardiocytes were studied by transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, ANP-granules in the cardiocytes were analyzed by ultrastructural morphometry. Immunohistochemically, the most intensely ANP-reacted cardiocytes were localized in the right auricle, particularly more prominent in the pig and cattle than in the horse. Ultrastructurally, ANP-granules were located principally in the perinuclear region associated with the Golgi apparatus and throughout ...
Fenstermaker RA, Farmerie TA, Clay CM, Hamernik DL, Nilson JH.Expression of the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene occurs in the pituitaries of all mammals and in the placentas of primates and horses. In humans, tandem cAMP response elements (CREs), located in the proximal promoter-regulatory region of the alpha-subunit gene, act together with an adjacent upstream regulatory element to confer placenta-specific expression. Here, we report that the alpha-subunit genes of Old World Monkeys contain a single functional CRE. This suggests that tandem CREs are unique to higher primates and humans and are not absolutely required for placenta-specific expres...
Arbabi V, Pouran B, Weinans H, Zadpoor AA.Investigation of the solute transfer across articular cartilage and subchondral bone plate could nurture the understanding of the mechanisms of osteoarthritis (OA) progression. In the current study, we approached the transport of neutral solutes in human (slight OA) and equine (healthy) samples using both computed tomography and biphasic-solute finite element modeling. We developed a multi-zone biphasic-solute finite element model (FEM) accounting for the inhomogeneity of articular cartilage (superficial, middle and deep zones) and subchondral bone plate. Fitting the FEM model to the concentra...
Renner-Martin TF, Forstenpointner G, Weissengruber GE, Eberhardt L.Although donkeys play an important role as companion or pack and draught animals, theriogenological studies and anatomical data on the genital organs of the jenny are sparse. To provide anatomical descriptions and morphometric data, the organa genitalia feminina, their arteries and the ligamentum latum uteri of 10 adult but maiden jennies were examined by means of gross anatomical and morphometric techniques. In comparison with anatomical data of horses obtained from literature the genital organs of jennies appear to be more voluminous in relation to the body mass and the position of the ovari...
The most common musculoskeletal conditions reported in donkeys are related to the foot. Radiographic examinations are clinically important in the diagnosis of foot abnormalities and are commonly used. However, few studies have been conducted to establish the normal radiographic appearance of a donkey's foot. To determine the radiographic features of the front digit in healthy Amiata donkeys. Radiographic examinations were performed on 56 forefeet of 28 Amiata donkeys. Three radiographic views of each front foot were taken: lateromedial, dorsopalmar and dorso-65°proximal/palmarodistal oblique....
Cosso G, Carcangiu V, Luridiana S, Fiori S, Columbano N, Masala G, Careddu GM, Sanna Passino E, Mura MC.The goal of this study was to contribute to the general knowledge of the Sarcidano Horse, both by the identification of the genetic basis of the coat color and by updating the exact locations of the genotyping sites, based on the current EquCab3.0 genome assembly version. One-hundred Sarcidano Horses, living in semi-feral condition, have been captured to perform health and biometric checks. From that total number, 70 individual samples of whole blood were used for DNA extraction, aimed to characterize the genetic basis of the coat color. By genotyping and sequencing analyses of the Exon 1 and...
Putnová L, Štohl R, Vrtková I.We propose the first comprehensive in-depth study monitoring horses in the Czech Republic. We scanned 9,289 animals from 44 populations for 17 equine STRs. Other equids analysed involved Equus przewalskii and Equus asinus. The total of 228 different alleles were detected, with the mean number of 13.4 per locus. The highest allelic richness (AR) was found in the Welsh Part Bred (6.01), followed by the Camargue (5.93) and Czech Sport Pony (5.91), whereas the Friesian exhibited the lowest AR (3.06). Interpopulation differences explained approximately nine per cent of the total genetic diversity. ...
Lichter-Peled A, Polani S, Stanyon R, Rocchi M, Kahila Bar-Gal G.Juvenile idiopathic epilepsy (JIE) in Arabian foals resembles benign-familial neonatal convulsion (BFNC) syndrome, a rare idiopathic epilepsy of new-born humans. BFNC syndrome exhibits genetic heterogeneity, as has been hypothesised to occur in Arabian foals, and is known to be caused by mutations in the voltage-gated potassium channel subunit KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 genes. The close phenotypic characteristics of both Arabian foals and children suggest these epileptic syndromes are caused by the same genetic disorder. In horses, the KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 genes are located on the terminal region of chromosom...
Merritt AM.This article represents an attempt to provide an overview of the current knowledge of equine gastroduodenal secretory and motor activity, with respect to how these functions are controlled and interact. First, the equine gastric mucosal anatomy is discussed in comparison with other monogastric species, with some attention directed at the large nonglandular portion in relation to its function, or lack thereof. Next, control of gastric acid secretion, as assessed by the collection of gastric contents from a cannula or continuous measurement of their changes in pH, is reviewed, pointing out that ...
Levine MA.Before the development of firearms, the horse was crucial to warfare and, before the invention of the steam engine, it was the fastest and most reliable form of land transport. It is crucial to the life of nomadic pastoralists on the Eurasian steppe and played a major role in the evolution of human society during the Bronze Age and Iron Age. Understanding the human past requires knowledge of the origins and development of horse husbandry. The problem of being able to identify the early stages of horse domestication is one that many researchers have grappled with for the most part unsuccessfull...
