Statistical analysis in equine research involves the application of mathematical techniques to collect, review, and interpret data related to horse health, behavior, and performance. This field encompasses a variety of methods, including descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and multivariate analysis, to identify patterns, test hypotheses, and draw conclusions from equine data. Statistical analysis aids in understanding various aspects of equine science, such as disease prevalence, treatment efficacy, genetic traits, and performance metrics. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, applications, and outcomes of statistical analysis in the context of equine studies.
Bubenikova J, Plasil M, Futas J, Stejskalova K, Klumplerova M, Oppelt J, Suchentrunk F, Burger PA, Horin P.The immunogenome is the part of the genome that underlies immune mechanisms and evolves under various selective pressures. Two complex regions of the immunogenome, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and natural killer cell receptor (NKR) genes, play an important role in the response to selective pressures of pathogens. Their importance is expressed by their genetic polymorphism at the molecular level, and their diversity associated with different types of diseases at the population level. Findings of associations between specific combinations of MHC/NKR haplotypes with different diseases i...
Ivanova Z, Petrova V, Grigorova N, Vachkova E.Obtaining accurate and reliable gene expression results in real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) data analysis requires appropriate normalization by carefully selected reference genes, either a single or a combination of multiple housekeeping genes (HKGs). The optimal reference gene/s for normalization should demonstrate stable expression across varying conditions to diminish potential influences on the results. Despite the extensive database available, research data are lacking regarding the most appropriate HKGs for qRT-PCR data analysis in rabbit and horse adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). Therefore,...
Hermange T, Ruault B, Couroucé A.The aim of this study is to describe clinical data associated with acorn intoxication and to find variables associated with survival. Data from horses presented at CISCO-ONIRIS from 2011 to 2018 with a diagnosis of acorn intoxication were included. Diagnosis was based on the following: season, the presence of acorns in the environment, clinical and hemato-biochemical parameters suggestive of a digestive/renal disease, the co-morbidity of companion animals, and post-mortem findings. Statistical analysis was completed using Student's t-test for mean comparisons and a Chi-square test for group co...
Bae JW, Hwang JM, Lee WJ, Kim DH, Yi JK, Ha JJ, Oh DY, Kwon WS.The selection of superior sires is paramount for enhancing the efficiency of animal production in the livestock industry. However, semen quality assessment still relies on conventional semen analysis techniques in both animals and humans. Despite extensive efforts to develop various biomarkers for more accurate and precise predictions of male fertility potential, more effective physiological indicators and advance potential biomarkers are needed. Herein, we aimed to develop new potential biomarkers related to sperm motion kinematics for male fertility prediction. We first evaluated sperm motio...
Szemán K, Végvári Z, Gőri S, Kapocsi I, Székely T, Manning JA.Social behaviour is thought to be a major component of survival, reproduction, and resilience of populations. Thus, it is a key component in management and conservation of wild populations. In polygynous breeding species, group size influences the reproductive success of males and females, and hence it is essential to understand the environmental and demographic factors that shape the phenology of group size within populations. Here, we investigate harem size and its determinants using a 15-year dataset of annual harem size phenology-based metrics from a reintroduced population of wild Przewal...
Lacerenza MD, Arantes JA, Reginato GM, Passarelli D, Balieiro JCC, Amaral AR, Vendramini THA, Brunetto MA, Dória RGS.β-glucan is part of the cell wall of fungi and yeasts and has been known for decades to have immunomodulating effects on boosting immunity against various infections as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern that is able to modify biological responses. β-glucan has been used in rat models and in vitro studies involving sepsis and SIRS with good results, but this supplement has not been evaluated in the treatment of endotoxemia in horses. This study aims to evaluate the effects of preventive supplementation with β-glucan in horses submitted to endotoxemia by means of inflammatory response m...
Lapsina S, Stirn M, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Schoster A, Riond B.Acidification of equine urine to promote dissociation of ion complexes is a common practice for urine ion concentration measurements. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of acidification and storage after acidification on calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and phosphate (P) concentrations and on fractional excretion (FE) of these electrolytes. Thirty-two fresh equine urine samples were analysed between December 2016 and July 2020. Complete urinalysis (stick and sediment) was performed on all samples. Ca, Mg, P and creatinine concentrations were measured in supernatant of centrifug...
Aragona F, Cicero N, Nava V, Piccione G, Giannetto C, Fazio F.Biological monitoring of trace element horses is a well-known tool for investigating potential bioaccumulation in urbanized and industrialized geographical areas. Some biomaterials such as hoof are considered as an important indicator of environmental pollution. Hooves can store trace elements for a long time compared to blood and this represents a scientific key to long-term monitoring of exposure to environmental pollutants. In the present study, samples of equine hoof and blood were taken from an experimental group of horses living in an industrialized area of Sicily (Italy) and from a cont...
Eichler F, Ehrle A, Jensen KC, Baudisch N, Petersen H, Bäumer W, Lischer C, Wiegard M.Cannabidiol (CBD) products have been proposed to exert stress- and anxiety-relieving effects in animals. Despite the increasing popularity of CBD for veterinary use, the available research detailing the effects of CBD in horses is limited. The aim of this study (part 1 of 2) was to analyze stress parameters via behavioral observations and heart rate monitoring in healthy horses following single oral administration of a CBD containing paste in different doses. Study products were two pastes for oral administration, one containing CBD and one containing no active ingredient. Pastes were applied ...
van Spijk JN, Lo HC, Merle R, Richter IG, Diemar A, Stoeckle SD, Gehlen H.Matrix metalloproteinase-9 is increased in renal tissue in human kidney disease, but its role as a biomarker for kidney disease has not been fully evaluated yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum MMP-9 (sMMP-9) and urinary MMP-9 (uMMP-9) concentrations in dehydrated horses. Dehydrated horses were prospectively included. Blood and urinary samples were taken at admission, and after 12, 24, and 48 h (t0, t12, t24, t48), an anti-equine MMP-9 sandwich ELISA was used. Four healthy horses served as the controls. Serum creatinine, urea, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), urine-specific gravi...
Kolluru V, John R, Saraf S, Chen J, Hankerson B, Robinson S, Kussainova M, Jain K.Livestock rearing is a major source of livelihood for food and income in dryland Asia. Increasing livestock density (LSK) affects ecosystem structure and function, amplifies the effects of climate change, and facilitates disease transmission. Significant knowledge and data gaps regarding their density, spatial distribution, and changes over time exist but have not been explored beyond the county level. This is especially true regarding the unavailability of high-resolution gridded livestock data. Hence, we developed a gridded LSK database of horses and small ruminants (i.e., sheep & goats)...
Salgado CRS, Silva ADNE, Arruda IF, Millar PR, Amendoeira MRR, Leon LAA, Teixeira RBC, de Lima JTB, Chalhoub FLL, Bispo de Filippis AM, Fonseca ABM....Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has been demonstrated in various animal species; those recognized as potential zoonotic reservoirs pose a considerable risk to public health. In Brazil, HEV-3 is the only genotype identified in humans and swine nationwide, in a colony-breeding cynomolgus monkey and, recently, in bovines and capybara. There is no information regarding HEV exposure in the equine population in Brazil. This study aimed to investigate anti-HEV antibodies and viral RNA in serum samples from horses slaughtered for meat export and those bred for sport/reproduction purposes. We used a ...
Gou Y, Han Y, Li J, Niu X, Ma G, Xu Q.In order to explore the aromatic differences between Xinjiang cow milk powder and specialty milk powder (donkey, camel, and horse milk powder), Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry (GC-IMS) analysis was employed to investigate the volatile compounds in these four types of milk powders. A total of 61 volatile substances were detected, with ketones, aldehydes, and alcohols being the primary flavor components in the milk powders. While the aromatic components of the different milk powders showed similarities in terms of types, there were significant differences in their concentrations, ex...
Taylor SN, Colbath AC, Manfredi JM, Yob CJ, Muñoz KA.To investigate the effect of isoflurane anesthesia on thermoregulation and peripheral heat loss in dorsally recumbent horses. Methods: Prospective, clinical study. Methods: Seven adult horses (2.6 ± 1.5 years old, 455 ± 70.2 kg). Methods: Horses underwent elective surgical procedures in dorsal recumbency under general anesthesia (GA) maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Rectal (TR), intranasal (TN) and fetlock surface temperatures (TF) were measured every 10 minutes for the first 80 minutes following induction of GA. Room temperature (TRO) was monitored during the study. Statistical analysi...
Muderspach ND, Troedsson MHT, Ferreira-Dias G, Agerholm JS, Christoffersen M.Equine endometrial degeneration is diagnosed by microscopy of an endometrial biopsy but it is uncertain if findings in a single biopsy represent the state of the entire endometrium. Previous studies have compared samples from multiple sites but conclusions are inconsistent. Further clarification is therefore needed. In this study, presence and characteristics of endometrial degeneration were compared in two full thickness specimens from the ventral base of both uterine horns, obtained post mortem from cyclic mares (n = 82). Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were blinded evaluated for pe...
The study aimed to assess Apgar scores and collect data on clinical, hemato-biochemical, and venous blood gas parameters in seven mules during their first 48 hours of life. Apgar scores, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), body temperature (BT), body weight (BW), time to achieve sternal recumbency, stand, nurse, and pass meconium were recorded. Blood samples were collected at birth (T0), 6 (T6), 12 (T12), 24 (T24), 48 (T48) hours of life. Data distribution was verified and differences in laboratory parameters over time assessed. One foal had an Apgar score of 6/8, thus excluded from the st...
Oda D, Onogi A.The inheritance of racing performance in Thoroughbreds is of interest to breeders and geneticists. Therefore, the genetic parameters of racing performance have been investigated in various populations of Thoroughbreds. However, the predictability of the racing performance of a racehorse has not been assessed well. In this study, we built mixed-effects models for Japanese Thoroughbreds and assessed their predictability of racing performance. We used the average velocity as an index of racing performance and treated each category of racecourse and distance as different traits. Model selection us...
Caballero-Gómez J, Rivero-Juárez A, Cano-Terriza D, Fajardo T, Buono F, Jose-Cunilleras E, García J, Alguacil E, Rivero A, García-Bocanegra I. (HEV) is an important emerging zoonotic virus in Europe. Although domestic pigs and wild boar are the main reservoirs of this pathogen, susceptibility to this virus has been confirmed in a growing number of animal species, including equines. However, their role in the epidemiology of this virus remains poorly understood. Our aim was to assess HEV circulation and identify potential risk factors associated with exposure in equid species in different European countries. A total of 596 equines, including 496 horses, 63 donkeys and 37 mules/hinnies bred in four European countries (Spain, Italy, Un...
Clark BL, Stewart AJ, Kemp KL, Bamford NJ, Bertin FR.Field tests and their association with laminitis have not been evaluated in large cohorts. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of basal insulin (BI), the oral sugar test (OST) and the insulin tolerance test (ITT) to diagnose ID and investigate their association with laminitis. Insulin dysregulation status was determined in 146 ponies using BI (insulin concentration >20 µIU/mL), an OST (insulin concentration >65 µIU/mL at 60 or 90min after oral administration of 0.45mL/kg corn syrup) and an ITT (< 50% reduction in glucose concentration 30min after intravenous adminis...
Bordin C, Raspa F, Harris P, Ellis AD, Roggero A, Palestrini C, Bergero D, Valle E.The application of hay feeding devices, such as the use of hay nets or slow feeders, can help with the management of weight in ponies; however, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding their effect on equine posture. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the effect of different feeding devices on the posture of ponies using morphometric analysis. Two different breed types, Shetland type (SH, n = 5) versus Welsh Cob type (WC, n = 4), were fed the same forage in four different ways: on the ground (G), using a fully filled haynet (HF), using a partially filled haynet (HL) and...
Johnson MG, Adam E, Watt A, Page AE.Accumulating high-speed exercise has been identified as a significant risk factor for catastrophic injuries in racing Thoroughbreds. Injuries, regardless of severity, are a main cause of withdrawal from the racing industry, raising animal welfare concerns and resulting in significant economic losses. While most of the current literature focuses on injuries incurred during racing rather than training, the present study aims to help fill this gap. As such, peripheral blood was collected weekly, prior to exercise or administration of medication, from eighteen, two-year-old Thoroughbreds throughou...
Leclercq A, Lundblad J, Persson-Sjodin E, Ask K, Zetterberg E, Hernlund E, Haubro Andersen P, Rhodin M.The prevalence of vertical asymmetries is high in "owner-sound" warmblood riding horses, however the origin of these asymmetries is unknown. This study investigated correlations between vertical asymmetries and motor laterality. Young warmblood riding horses (N = 65), perceived as free from lameness were evaluated on three visits, each comprising objective gait analysis (inertial measurement units system) and a rider questionnaire on perceived sidedness of the horse. A subgroup (N = 40) of horses were also subjected to a forelimb protraction preference test intended as an assessment of motor l...
He H, Banks SA, Biedrzycki AH.The objective of this study was to provide an overarching description of the inter-subject variability of the equine femur and tibia morphology using statistical shape modeling. Fifteen femora and fourteen tibiae were used for building the femur and tibia statistical shape models, respectively. Geometric variations in each mode were explained by biometrics measured on ±3 standard deviation instances generated by the shape models. Approximately 95% of shape variations within the population were described by 6 and 3 modes in the femur and tibia shape models, respectively. In the femur shape mod...
Huggins L, Norris J, Conley A, Dini P.Abnormal or undesired mare behaviours are often assumed to be associated with ovarian abnormalities. Objective: We aimed to determine the incidence of abnormal behaviours and their association with concentrations of one or more ovarian hormones associated with a granulosa cell tumour (GCT). Methods: Retrospective descriptive. Methods: A total of 2914 hormonal profile samples submitted with the words behave, behaviour, or behaving in the submission history were analysed. The association between reported abnormal behaviours and concentrations of testosterone, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), inhib...
Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Ripollés-Lobo M, Bartolomé E, Perdomo-González DI, Valera M.The Arabian horse is a generally reliable sport horse, and continues to be a remarkable endurance horse, so the relevance of the expected value of the proportion of Arabian genes (EV%AG) in horses participating in eventing could be a relevant factor. A total of 1089 horses participating in eventing (8866 records) were used. A GLM revealed that the EV%AG was significant in dressage, show jumping and cross-country. A BLUP genetic evaluation was computed with five genetic models (without the EV%AG (0) using as a covariate (A), as a fixed effect (B), with variance heterogeneity, and in genetic gro...
Thomson-Parker TL, Fikes KK, Anderson MJ, Wagner AL, Girard ID, Suagee-Bedore JK.Calming supplements are common in the equine industry. This study tested the hypothesis that Phytozen EQ, a blend of citrus botanical oils, magnesium, and yeast would reduce startle response as well as reduce behavioral and physiological signs of stress in young (1.5-6 years of age) horses (n = 14) when tied in isolation and when trailered in isolation. During the 59-day trial, horses were assigned to either the control (CON; n = 7) or treatment (PZEN; n = 7) group that received 56 g of Phytozen EQ daily. Horses underwent a 10-minute isolation test on d 30 and a 15 minute individual trai...
Bastos MS, Solar Diaz IDP, Alves JS, de Oliveira LSM, de Araújo de Oliveira CA, de Godói FN, de Camargo GMF, Costa RB.The measurement of morphometric traits in horses is important for determining breed qualification and is one of the main selection criteria for the species. The development of an index (HPC) that consists of principal components weighted by additive genetic values allows to explore the most relevant relationships using a reduced number of variables that explain the greatest amount of variation in the data. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using HPC are a relatively new approach that permits to identify regions related to a set of traits. The aim of this study was to perform GWAS using HP...
Smith HL, Berglund AK, Robertson JB, Schnabel LV, McMullen RJ, Gilger BC, Oh A.The objective of the study was to determine the effect of gentamicin on CD3+ T-lymphocyte proliferation and cell viability using an in vitro cell culture model as a means of investigating the mechanism of action of low-dose intravitreal gentamicin injection. Methods: Three adult horses with no evidence of ophthalmic or systemic disease. Methods: Peripheral blood lymphocytes were treated with gentamicin at concentrations 37.5 μg/mL, 112.5 μg/mL, 187 μg/mL, 375 μg/mL, or 750 μg/mL then stimulated to proliferate with concanavalin A (ConA). 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and c...
Logan AA, Snyder AJ, Nielsen BD.The effects of gait and diameter have been studied independently, but rarely together in equine circular exercise studies. This study aimed to determine the impact of diameter (10-m or 15-m) at various gaits (walk, trot, and canter) on stride frequency or forelimb stance duration. Nine mature horses were outfitted with Tekscan™ Hoof Sensors on their forelimbs during circular and straight-line exercise at various gaits on a clay and sand arena surface. Statistical analysis was performed in SAS 9.4 with fixed effects of exercise type, recording, leg, and breed (PROC GLIMMIX, p < 0.05 significa...
Kawahisa-Piquini G, Bass L, Pezzanite LM, Moorman VJ.The role of hoof morphology is increasingly recognized as a factor associated with lameness incidence in performance horses. The primary objective was to evaluate effect of training initiation on hoof unevenness in Quarter Horses (n = 42; 29 2-year-olds, 13 3-year-olds) over 6-months (m) in training (m0, m2, m4, and m6). Horses were objectively assessed for lameness (inertial sensor system) and photographs and radiographs of feet were taken. Hoof measurements were taken (palmar/plantar angles, frog base width/length, toe length/angle, heel length/angle, heel/foot width, wall height/angle), a...
Secchi V, Masala G, Corda A, Corda F, Potop E, Barbero Fernandez A, Pinna Parpaglia ML, Sanna Passino E.Early diagnosis of tendon injuries and accurate long-term monitoring of the healing process are key for equine veterinarians that use conventional ultrasonography. The development of strain elastography could improve the management of clinical cases. The aim of the study was to assess the intraobserver repeatability and interobserver reproducibility of manual measurements of the colored areas of the tendons within elastograms and to standardize this manual modality by comparing the analysis of the images with ImageJ. Twenty elastograms of the injured superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) ...
Ma W, Klemm WR.Equine urine was analysed by capillary gas chromatography. The volatile profiles from oestrous and dioestrous samples were compared to establish any qualitative or quantitative difference that may have potential value in olfactory communication. Forty-five different volatile compounds were detected. Of these, 17 major compounds were common to all chromatograms. The chemical profile of oestrous urine was distinguished by the presence of a unique peak that was not present in dioestrous samples. Numerous constituents exhibited endocrine dependence: while the concentrations of seix peaks increased...
Data in briefApril 1, 2022
Volume 42 108123 doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2022.108123
Gmel AI, Gmel G, Weishaupt MA, Neuditschko M.This article presents the data obtained from the scoring of 24 stallions of the Franches-Montagnes (FM) horse breed by six experts of this breed. The experts scored six traits at walk and eight at trot from the video recordings of these stallions walking and trotting on a treadmill during an incremental speed test. The scores were given on a scale of one to nine. All experts scored the same videos twice (two scoring tests) with a time interval of two years, and without feedback from the first scoring. Video sequences were presented in a different order between first and second scoring. The int...
Simhofer H, Niederl M, Anen C, Rijkenhuizen A, Peham C.The objective of this study was to compare masticatory movements before and after dental treatment using kinematic analysis. The masticatory movements of 15 adult Warmblood horses with mild dental pathology chewing standardised hay were recorded on three consecutive days before and three times after (days 7, 21, 28) dental correction. The results of the leading mandibular tracking marker, located at the caudal edge of the inter-mandibular suture, were compared statistically. Reproducibility of measurements prior to dental treatment was excellent (P<0.05). Rostrocaudal mandibular motion was ...
Sieme H, Troedsson MH, Weinrich S, Klug E.Twelve fertile stallions were divided into two groups, either receiving gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (n = 6) or Placebo (n = 6). Based on the history of frozen/thawed semen characteristics three stallions within each group were assigned as being "good freezers" [GnRH (+); Placebo (+)] and three stallions were assigned as being "poor freezers" [GnRH (-); Placebo (-)]. The study was performed as a "blinded" investigation and stallions were treated twice daily by an intramuscular injection of 1 ml GnRH (Buserelin), 50 microg) or Placebo. The experiment was divided into three time periods...
Bartolomé E, Perdomo-González DI, Ripollés-Lobo M, Valera M.Horses have been valued for their diversity of coat color since prehistoric times. In particular, the pleiotropic effect that coat color genes have on behavior determines the way the horse perceives and reacts to its environment. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of coat color on basal reactivity assessed with infrared thermography as eye temperature at rest (ETR), determine their relation with the results obtained by these horses in Show Jumping competitions and to estimate the genetic parameters for this variable to test its suitability for genetic selection. A Gene...
Rose RJ, Ilkiw JE, Hodgson D.Thirty-one horses competing in a 100 kilometre endurance ride had electrocardiograms recorded before and after the ride from which the heart score of each horse was calculated. Blood was also taken to determine the packed cell volume (PCV) and total plasma protein (TPP) before the ride, after 60 kilometres (mid ride) and at completion of the ride. Statistical analysis of the heart scores showed that a faster group of horses had significantly higher heart scores than either a slower group or those eliminated due to inadequate recovery of heart rate. No horses developed electrocardiogram abnorma...
Gómez MD, Goyache F, Molina A, Valera M.The mating policy for Spanish Purebred horses encourages the same or closely related stallions to be used for reproduction across studs differing in environments. Stallions may perform differently across studs, and if so, adjustment for the sire x stud (ss) interaction is recommended. However, there are no studies available that analyzed the influence of ss interaction on estimation of genetic parameters in horses. This research is aimed at assessing the implications of including ss interaction in models fitted for the estimation of genetic parameters for traits under selection using 8 body me...
Rushton JO, Kolodziejek J, Tichy A, Nowotny N, Nell B.To date the influence of herpesviruses on the development of equine ocular diseases has not been clearly determined. Objective: The purpose of this study was to illustrate the course of equine ocular findings over a period of 18 months at 6 month intervals, in correlation with the results of herpesvirus detection. Methods: 266 Lipizzaners in 3 federal states of Austria underwent complete ophthalmologic examination 4 times. Blood samples, nasal- and conjunctival swabs were obtained at the same time and used for the detection of the equid gammaherpesviruses EHV-2 and EHV-5 using consensus herpes...
Wilkes EJA, Woodgate RG, Raidal SL, Hughes KJ.This study investigated the impact of variability in Parascaris spp. and strongyle faecal egg counts (FEC) from foals on treatment decision-making and detection of a patent infection. A single faecal sample was collected once daily for three days from 53 foals and a FEC was performed on three separate portions of each sample (total of nine egg counts per foal). Differences in the decision to administer an anthelmintic using the results of a single count (C), the mean of three (X¯) or nine counts (X¯) and the upper 5% confidence limit of the gamma confidence interval (CI) of the estimate of t...
Hertzsch R, Richter A.Based on their performance-enhancing potential, caffeine and theophylline are prohibited substances in equine sports. Residues in horses can be caused by wilful application or by unintended uptake of contaminated feed. The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities recently introduced international residue limits (IRLs) to facilitate the discrimination between pharmacological relevant and irrelevant concentrations in doping samples. The objective of this study was to investigate the scientific validity of these IRLs. A systematic analysis was performed to assess the IRLs by different ...
Lee D, May K, Faramarzi B.Laminitis is a common but critical disease that causes severe pain and disability in horses. The etiology and pathogenesis of laminitis remain inconclusive and a multimodal therapeutic approach is generally indicated. Acupuncture has been used as a treatment option; however, the required number of treatments is still controversial due to the lack of objective scientific evidence. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if the response to a second acupuncture treatment differed from the response to the first acupuncture treatment in horses with chronic laminitis. Methods: Fourte...
Plasma clearance of iohexol is a reliable method to assess the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The relationship between aging and GFR in horses is unclear. To compare GFR estimated by iohexol clearance in horses of different ages. Twenty-one clinically healthy horses were enrolled. Prospective study. Groups: (A) composed by 8 young horses (≤14 years old) with serum creatinine <1.5 mg/dL, (B) by 7 aged horses (≥20 years old) with serum creatinine <1.5 mg/dL, and (C) by 6 aged horses (≥20 years old) with serum creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL. Iohexol was injected (75.5 mg/kg) through...
Charnock LN, Keys DA, McMullen RJ.Identify ocular findings associated with blunt ocular trauma to aid in differentiation from other equine ocular diseases. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: Medical records of horses at the Equine Clinic Munich-Riem, Munich, Germany and Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine were reviewed. Age, sex, breed, laterality, and clinical findings on ophthalmic examination, as well as an observed (confirmed) or unobserved (suspected) history of trauma, were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed to identify any correlation between clinical signs and blunt ocular traum...
McLellan J, Plevin S.Upper respiratory tract (URT) endoscopic examination is a routine part of prepurchase examinations. Discrepancies have been documented in the assessment of arytenoid function grades (AFG) between veterinarians. Objective: To document intra- and interobserver agreement for a population of multi-experience level veterinarians for assessment of AFG of 2-year-old Thoroughbreds. Methods: Observational cohort study. Methods: One-hundred and fourteen URT videoendoscopic examinations were evaluated by 10 veterinarians. Veterinarians were categorised based on experience, into five groups, each group wi...
Pressanto MC, Pepe M, Coomer RPC, Pilati N, Beccati F.The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of radiographic abnormalities of the interspinous spaces (ISSs) in the thoracolumbar vertebral column of unbroken yearlings and to compare these findings with a group of older trained Thoroughbred horses without perceived back pain. Yearlings (n = 47) and trained horses (55); 102 total. Each horse underwent a digital radiographic study of the thoracolumbar vertebral column (T7-L3) and each space graded for narrowing of the ISSs, increased opacity, radiolucency, and modeling of the cranial and caudal margins of...
Howard RD, Stashak TS, Baxter GM.Two 2.5-cm2 full-thickness skin wounds were created surgically over the lateral aspect of the cannon bone of each limb of 6 horses (n = 48 wounds). Dressings evaluated were a nonadherent gauze pad (group 1); a synthetic semiocclusive dressing, (group 2); equine amnion (group 3); and a synthetic fully occlusive dressing (group 4). Wounds were assessed subjectively at each dressing change, and total wound area, area of granulation tissue, and area of epithelium in each wound were determined by computerized digital analysis of photographs of the wounds. Complete healing time (wound covered by epi...
Lord PF, Croft MA.Echocardiography may be an accurate method of measuring left ventricular (LV) volumes and mass of the horse's heart. If so, studies of the heart size and hypertrophy would be possible. This study evaluated geometric models of the external and internal LV shapes, to determine which could be applied to echocardiographic measurements. We preserved 30 horses' hearts and measured their dimensions and cross sectional areas. These measurements were entered into seven formulae representing different geometric models of the ventricle and its chamber. We derived a correction factor to estimate the long ...
Bugislaus AE, Roehe R, Willms F, Kalm E.In a genetic analysis of German trotters, the performance trait racing time per km was analysed by using a random regression model on six different age classes (2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-year-old and older trotters; the age class of 3-year-old trotters was additionally divided by birth months of horses into two seasons). The best-fitting random regression model for the trait racing time per km on six age classes included as fixed effects sex, race track, condition of race track (fitted as second-order polynomial on age), distance of race and each driver (fitted as first-order polynomial on age) as ...
Wilkes EJA, Cowling A, Woodgate RG, Hughes KJ.Faecal egg counts (FEC) are used widely for monitoring of parasite infection in animals, treatment decision-making and estimation of anthelmintic efficacy. When a single count or sample mean is used as a point estimate of the expectation of the egg distribution over some time interval, the variability in the egg density is not accounted for. Although variability, including quantifying sources, of egg count data has been described, the spatiotemporal distribution of nematode eggs in faeces is not well understood. We believe that statistical inference about the mean egg count for treatment decis...
Varegg MS, Kløverød KM, Austnes MK, Siwinska N, Slowikowska M, Zak A, Niedzwiedz A.Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a method for the recovery of respiratory secretion from the lower airways. Objective: To investigate if the administration of a single dose of a bronchodilatator in horses with a suspected or confirmed severe equine asthma could improve recovery of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Methods: Twenty-eight horses with severe equine asthma. Methods: Horses were divided into 2 groups: group "treated" was given salbutamol before endoscopic examination and BALF collection, whereas group "not treated" was not given. BAL was performed with BAL-catheter by instilling 3...
Zoller JL, Cavinder CA, Sigler D, Tedeschi LO, Harlin J.Maintaining optimal body condition is an important concern for horse owners and managers as it can affect reproductive efficiency, athletic ability, and overall health of the horse; however, information regarding dietary requirements to maintain or alter BCS in the horse is limited. A recently developed model had high accuracy in predicting the energy required to alter BCS in the horse. However, the model was restricted to sedentary mares, while many horses are subject to physical work. The objective of this study was to expand the scope of that model to include exercising horses by incorporat...
Dzierzęcka M, Charuta A.Proximal phalanges in horses are among bones that are most prone to injuries. So far, the detailed analysis of densitometric and geometric parameters of both front legs proximal phalanges in horses has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the densitometric and geometric parameters between proximal phalanges in equine both front legs with the use of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Methods: The study material comprised isolated both front legs proximal phalanges derived from 22 horses. The structure analysis of the proximal phalanges was conducted with ...
Brudvig JM, Swenson CL.Rapid and precise measurement of total and differential nucleated cell counts is a crucial diagnostic component of cavitary and synovial fluid analyses. Objective: The objectives of this study included (1) evaluation of reliability and precision of canine and equine fluid total nucleated cell count (TNCC) determined by the benchtop Abaxis VetScan HM5, in comparison with the automated reference instruments ADVIA 120 and the scil Vet abc, respectively, and (2) comparison of automated with manual canine differential nucleated cell counts. Methods: The TNCC and differential counts in canine pleura...
Rawlinson JE, Bass L, Campoy L, Broman A, Prytherch B.To characterize the anatomy of the mental foramen and determine associations with age, weight, sex and breed. Methods: Retrospective descriptive study. Methods: Forty-one horses, 0.6-25.2 years and weighing 136-820 kg. Methods: Computed tomography (CT) studies of equine heads performed over 5 years were evaluated in multiplanar and three-dimensional reconstruction. Measurements obtained were positioning of the foramen along the mandible, foramen height and width, foramen-canal angulation and rostral canal mineralization. Exploratory statistical analyses investigated associations between measu...
Faramarzi B, Salinger A, Kaneps A, Nout-Lomas Y, Greene H, Dong F. The goal of this study was to quantify external and internal anatomical characteristics of the foal foot throughout the first year of age. Digital radiographs and photographs were taken bimonthly of the forefeet of nine Arabian foals, beginning at about 2 weeks of age until 12 months of age. Sixty-eight linear and angular variables were measured using NIH (National Institutes of Health) software. Statistical analyses were performed using piecewise random coefficient model and -values < 0.05 were considered significant. Distinct changes in hoof development were identified betwe...
Manikowska F, Jóźwiak M, Idzior M, Chen PJ, Tarnowski D.Hippotherapy has been shown to produce beneficial effects by improving the most difficult motor functions, such as sitting, running, jumping, coordination, as well as balance and muscle strength in children with motor developmental delays. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of hippotherapy on spatiotemporal parameters of gait in cerebrally palsied children. Methods: 16 ambulatory cerebrally palsied children (GMFCS Level I-III; Female: 10, Male: 6; Age: 5.7-17.5 years old) qualified for hippotherapy were investigated. Basic spatiotemporal parameters of gait, including walking speed...
Anderson SL, Bracamonte JL, Hendrick S.The objective of this study was to compare the bursting strength (BS) and mode of failure (MF) of ventral midline (VM) celiotomies closed with USP 7 polydioxanone (7PD) in 1 or 2 simple continuous sections. A bursting strength model, consisting of inserting and inflating a 200-L polyurethane bladder through a 25-cm VM celiotomy, was used on 15 fresh equine cadavers. Celiotomies were closed using 7PD in 2 separate sections (4 knots), 2 continuous sections (3 knots), or a single section (2 knots) using a simple continuous pattern. The horses' signalment, body weight, number of total knots, MF, a...
Müller V, Moraes BDSS, Carvalho IR, Wendt CG, Patten RD, Nogueira CEW.The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters for the morphometric measurements of withers height (WH), thoracic circumference (TC) and cannon bone circumference (CBC) of Criollo horses, stratified for maternal and paternal effects. Statistical genetic design of factor crossings was used to evaluate the offspring of full siblings and half-siblings. Fifty stallions were selected (n = 50) who had been crossed with six mares each (n = 6), to provide 300 parental pairings in which two offspring were born per mare (n = 600). WH in females and TC in males were highly influenced ...
De Mello Costa MF, Anderson GA, Davies HM, El-Hage CM, Slocombe RF.Investigate angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity in equine plasma as a predictor of performance in endurance competitions and the effect of endurance exercise on ACE activity. Objective: Precompetition values of ACE activity in equine blood are correlated with performance results and with heart rates pre- and post competition used as indicators of fitness. Endurance exercise increases ACE activity. Methods: Nineteen horses participating in an 80 km endurance competition had venous blood samples collected before and after the ride. ACE activity and total protein were measured in the blo...
