Thoroughbreds are a breed of horse known for their agility, speed, and spirit, often associated with horse racing and equestrian sports. Originating from crossbreeding native English mares with imported Arabian, Barb, and Turkoman stallions, Thoroughbreds have a well-documented pedigree that traces back to the late 17th and early 18th centuries. This breed is characterized by a refined head, deep chest, and long legs, contributing to their athletic capabilities. Thoroughbreds are primarily bred for their performance in racing but are also utilized in other equestrian disciplines. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the genetics, physiology, and performance characteristics of Thoroughbreds, as well as their management and welfare in various equine activities.
Kovár J.The possibility of using the test for pulse-rate response to gradated load in the evaluation of the endurance component of horse performance (in other words, response to the degree of horse adaptation to load) is discussed in detail. A mathematic-statistical analysis of regression coefficients is performed in the equations of the dependence of pulse rate on speed obtained in 278 three years old horses in the period following the termination of the basic training (145 Bohemian Warm-Blooded horses, 115 Kladrub Black horses and 18 English Half-Breds). A ten-score scale is calculated on the basis ...
Burns PJ, Jawad MJ, Edmundson A, Cahill C, Boucher JK, Wilson EA, Douglas RH.Stallions on two Central Kentucky farms (9/farm) were studied during the 1980 breeding season. On one farm stallions were exposed to an increased photoperiod (16 h light/day) from 1 December 1979; on the second farm the stallions were maintained in an ambient photoperiod. On the basis of matings per conception (total mating/mares in foal) stallions on each farm were assigned to a high fertility (1 . 9-2 . 4 matings per conception, N = 4) or low fertility (2 . 6-5 . 6 matings per conception, N = 5) group. Exposure of stallions to increased photoperiod significantly increased serum concentration...
Rose RJ, Rossdale PD, Leadon DP.Six spontaneously delivered foals, 8 Thoroughbred foals induced at term with fluprostenol and 17 Pony foals induced prematurely with fluprostenol and oxytocin at a gestational age of 270 to 330 days were studied to determine PO2, PCO2, pH, base excess and HCO3 values in arterial blood between birth and 7 days of age. The Pony foals were subdivided into those that survived greater than 24 h (N = 9) and less than 9 h (N = 8). Blood gas and acid base values in the term-induced foals were similar to those in spontaneously delivered foals. The induced premature foals surviving greater than 24 h had...
Simpson DJ, Greenwood RE, Ricketts SW, Rossdale PD, Sanderson M, Allen WR.In 1981 a trial was conducted on 6 Newmarket Thoroughbred stud farms into the use of real-time ultrasound echography (scanning) as an aid to the early diagnosis of pregnancy in the mare. The procedure was found to be practicable and interpretation of the findings was relatively straightforward. Pregnancy was positively diagnosed from as early as 14 days after ovulation and a number of twin pregnancies were recognized, some in which the conceptuses were situated in separate horns of the uterus but an almost equal number in which the conceptuses were together in the same horn. It was concluded t...
Pascoe PJ.A 16 year old Thoroughbred mare was presented to the Ontario Veterinary College because of an acute episode of colic. An exploratory laparotomy was performed and a neurofibroma was identified and successfully removed from the small colon. The clinical and pathological features of this case are discussed.
Jeffcott LB, Kold SE.The clinical and radiological characteristics of stifle lameness in 86 horses are described. The majority of these cases had been lame for some weeks before referral. The most frequent diagnoses made were osteochondrosis dissecans (13 per cent) and subchondral bone cyst (38 per cent). Both of these conditions were seen principally in Thoroughbreds at or before the onset of training. The other bone lesions encountered were osteoarthritis (3 per cent), fractures (4 per cent) and "epiphysitis" (1 per cent). The commonest soft tissue condition was an atypical or partial upward fixation of the pate...
Medeiros LF, Medeiros LO, Berciano Sanjurjo MA.1. The metabolism in the erythrocytes of thoroughbred horses in a sequential study from umbilical cord to the 1st month was investigated. 2. Emphasis was put on hemolytic period at which: (a). PFK, GSH-Px and GSH play a significant role. (b). There is a lower glucose consumption determined by a decreased activity in several enzymatic steps. (c). Singularly high concentrations of 2-3DPG and ATP were detected. 3. It has been suggested that the metabolic adjustments were achieved by an increased activity of the hexose monophosphate shunt, G-3PD and AK.
Lindsay WA, McMartin RB, McClure JR.Five cases of fracture of the third tarsal bone in racehorses are reported. A method of surgical correction employing a cortical bone screw is described in 2 cases. Healing of the fractures was followed radiographically. Surgical repair permitted both horses to return to competition. The 3 cases treated conservatively suffered a prolonged healing time and excessive new bone formation. They were unable to return to training due to persistent lameness.
van Niekerk CH, Morgenthal JC.The depressing effect on plasma progestagen levels of pregnant mares subjected to specific stressful conditions such as severe pain, infectious diseases, emotional disturbances and exogenous corticosteroids are described. It is concluded that the detrimental effect of stress, evident from its negative influence on plasma progestagen concentrations, could play a major role in the occurrence of pregnancy failure in the Thoroughbred mare.
Jeffcott LB, Kold SE.Thirty-three cases with subchondral bone cysts in the stifle are reported. The condition was most commonly seen in young Thoroughbreds and produced intermittent lameness of varying degree. Radiographically distinct areas of radiolucency were found in the distal femur or proximal tibia adjacent to the femorotibial joint. Lesions were usually unilateral but 5 horses had cysts in both stifles. The cases could be divided into 2 distinct groups. Horses in Group A (28 cases) had a large circular or dome-shaped cyst in the medial femoral condyle with a distinct communication with the femorotibial joi...
Parry BW, McCarthy MA, Anderson GA, Gay CC.The influence of occlusive bladder width on blood pressure, measured indirectly using a doppler ultrasound technique at the middle coccygeal artery, was studied in 6 anesthetized horses. The relationship was investigated on tails with and without hair, and the optimum bladder width (BW)/tail girth (TG) ratio was determined for systolic pressure (SP) and diastolic pressure (DP), with the data grouped as unclipped tails (TT-1), clipped tails (TT-2), and both unclipped and clipped tails collectively (TTB). The optimum BW/TG ratios for SP and DP were 0.296 and 0.866 for TT-1, 0.376 and 1.156 for T...
Fowden AL, Ellis L, Rossdale PD.Plasma concentrations of insulin and glucose were measured in Pony and Thoroughbred foals at birth and at intervals thereafter for up to 7 days. The plasma concentrations of insulin in foals of both breeds at birth were 11.2 +/- 2.5 microU/ml (N = 6) and 13.5 +/- 1.5 microU/ml (N = 16) respectively. These values were similar to those obtained for foals in utero but were significantly less than those in adult animals. There was little variation in the plasma concentrations of insulin and glucose during the first 2 h of life and both concentrations tended to rise in the next 24-48 h. Although th...
Pascoe RR.A total of 2187 Thoroughbred and Standardbred mares was examined over a 4-year period to determine the location of the fetus at 42 days, the location of the previous fetus as determined by examination 5-15 days after foaling, and pregnancy location the next season. Maiden mares showed 44 and 56% of pregnancies in the left and right horns respectively. No transuterine migration was observed in 139 maiden mares examined after their first foal. Lactating mares showed 62% implantations and full-term pregnancies on one side of the uterus with the next season's pregnancy being in the opposite uterin...
Ott EA, Asquith RL, Feaster JP.Forty-six Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse yearlings were used in two experiments designed to determine the amount of lysine in the concentrate necessary to promote maximum growth when fed the Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay provided at 1% body weight (BW)/day. In the first experiment, a 196-day trial, supplemental protein sources and analyses of the concentrates compared were: (1) soybean meal (SBM; 15.4% crude protein, .70% lysine); (2) SBM + .2% lysine (15.7% crude protein, .81% lysine), and (3) brewers dried grains + .2% lysine (15.9% crude protein, .59% lysine). Concentrate inta...
Waldron-Mease E, Klein LV, Rosenberg H, Leitch M.Malignant hyperthermia developed in a 4-year-old Thoroughbred horse following 3 hours and 15 minutes of halothane anesthesia, with supplementary succinylcholine. Clinical signs included fever, sweating, hyperventilation, tachycardia, and decreased blood pressure followed by a rapid increase in blood pressure. Biochemical aberrations included hypocalcemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, myoglobinuria, and high creatine phosphokinase and ornithine carbamyl transferase activities. Treatment consisted initially of surface cooling with cold water, alcohol and ice, IV administration of cooled bala...
George LW, Tanner ML, Roberson EL, Burke TM.A 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was examined because of respiratory disease that developed after it was placed on pasture occupied by a donkey. Clinical signs in the gelding included a harsh, dry paroxysmal cough and increased expiratory effort. Eosinophils were seen in smears of mucus aspirated from the trachea and the bronchi. Immature, 5th-stage Dictyocaulus arnfieldi was identified in the tracheal mucus. The cough and other clinical signs were not diminished by corticosteroid therapy or by the administration of bronchodilators. Treatment with 10-fold therapeutic dosages of thiabendazole ...
Lyons ET, Drudge JH, Swerczek TW, Crowe MW, Tolliver SC.At necropsy of 49 Thoroughbreds from farms with generally good parasite control programs in central Kentucky, examination was specifically made for presence of Strongylus vulgaris in all of the horses and of Parascaris equorum in 21 of them. None of the deaths of the horses was caused by infections of internal parasites. Visceral arteries were examined for specimens of S vulgaris and lesions related to migrating stages of this parasite. Contents of the small intestines were examined for P equorum. Specimens of S vulgaris were recovered from 19 (39%) horses, and arterial lesions were observed i...
Lindsay WA, Horney FD.During a 6-year period, carpal arthrotomies were performed on 89 horses with carpal fractures. Fifty-two percent of the fractures involved the left forelimb; the 3rd carpal bone was most often involved (42%), followed by the radial carpal bone (30%). The effect of surgery on the performance of a subgroup of 48 thoroughbreds was evaluated by comparing the number of starts, level of racing (claiming value), and earnings for the 12 months of racing preceding and following arthrotomy. The data indicated that carpal arthrotomy in the Thoroughbred carries with it a favorable prognosis inasmuch as 80...
Haynes PF.Persistent dorsal displacement of the soft palate was diagnosed in 2 Thoroughbred horses examined because of decreased exercise tolerance and a respiratory noise during strenuous exercise. The persistent dorsal displacement of the soft palate was caused by an epiglottis that was approximately 2/3 normal size, and thus was incapable of maintaining the soft palate in a normal subepiglottic position. Contrast pharyngography suggested a primary epiglottic abnormality. Visual assessment of the lesion was accomplished by exploratory ventral laryngotomy and endoscopy of the oropharynx per os. Surgica...
Snow DH, Douglas TA, Thompson H, Parkins JJ, Holmes PH.Toxic effects of phenylbutazone (PBZ) in ponies and horses were studied, using a variety of biochemical, pathophysiologic, and pathologic methods. At dosage levels of 10 to 12 mg/kg of body weight/day for 8 to 10 days, ponies frequently developed clinical signs of toxicosis characterized by hypoproteinemia. Studies using 51CrCl3 demonstrated that PBZ caused a protein-losing gastroenteropathy. The plasma loss was usually associated with gastrointestinal ulceration, but sometimes occurred without obvious lesions in mildly affected animals. Similar studies (8.2 mg/kg/day for 13 days) in Thoroughb...
Stewart GA.During the last three decades in Australia and New Zealand the heart score theory has been used in the cardiovascular assessment of racehorses in training (Steel 1957, 1963, 1966-67; Irvine 1964, 1966; Stewart and Steel 1970; Steel and Stewart 1972, 1974). In particular the heart score has been of value as one of several factors employed in assessing the potential of the horse for different types of racing. More recently, studies indicating the heritability of heart score and its possible sex-linkage (Steel et al 1977) have suggested its use also as one of several criteria for selection in rac...
Chen CL, Riley AM.Serum thyroxine (T-4) and triiodothyronine (T-3) concentrations were assayed in neonatal foals (1.5 to 4 months) and mature horses (2 to 25 years old) by a modified radioimmunoassay procedure. Blood was collected from 52 clinically healthy foals and horses of various breeds (Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, American Saddle Horses, and a single cross-bred horse). Neonatal foals had high serum concentrations of T-4 (mean, 4.02 microgram/dl) and T-3 (192.9 ng/dl) as compared with the values in mature horses (T-4, mean of 1.76 microgram/dl; T-3, mean of 98.69 ng/dl). Stallions had slightly higher T-...
Snow DH, Baxter P, Whiting B.The pharmacokinetics of meclofenamic acid were studied in Thoroughbred horses and in ponies. After intravenous (i.v.) administration of either 2 mg/kg or 4 mg/kg sodium meclofenamate the elimination half-life was of the order of 0.9 h while the volume of distribution was found to be 0.128 litre/kg. Elimination was in accordance with a one-compartment model. Following oral administration of either meclofenamic acid (4 mg/kg) or sodium meclofenamate (4 mg/kg) a much longer terminal half-life than that calculated for Kel from i.v. data was found. This anomaly indicated that the 'flip-flop' phenom...
Shults T, Kownacki AA, Woods WE, Valentine R, Dougherty J, Tobin T.In horses given (rapid IV) methylphenidate (Ritalin, alpha-phenyl-2-piperidinacetic acid methyl ester; 0.70 mg/kg), plasma concentrations of the drug decreased rapidly at first, with an apparent alpha half-life of about 19 minutes, and then more slowly, with an apparent beta half-life of about 2.4 hours. These data were well fitted by a 2-compartment open model. In blood, about 40% of the methylphenidate present was in the plasma fraction, and of this, about 80% was plasma-protein bound. If given by subcutaneous or IM injection, plasma concentrations of methylphenidate peaked in about 1 hour a...
Dintenfass L, Fu-lung L.Nineteen racehorses have been studied for haemorheologic factors as earlier studies showed a definite correlation between physical fitness and these factors in humans. Results included individual values for all viscosity factors, and the arithmetic means, the latter showing 4.70 +/- 0.49 cP for blood viscosity measured at a shear rate of 180 s-1; 1.100 +/- 0.048 cP for plasma viscosity; 1.045 +/- 0.063 for the rigidity of red cells defined by term 'Tk'; 42.2 +/- 4.1% haematocrit; 290 +/- 39 mg per 100 ml for fibrinogen level; and 278 +/- 75 mm h-1 for aggregation of red cells at 37 degrees C (...
Paine SW, Aldurdunji M, Garth-Greeves A, Muir T, Hincks PR.Hydroxyzine and cetirizine are first- and second-generation oral antihistamine drugs, respectively, used to treat allergic reactions in horses. Cetirizine is also a metabolite of hydroxyzine, which may lead to complexities in regulating their use in equine sporting events. The aim of the research was to be able to provide detection times (DT) from pharmacokinetic studies in thoroughbred horses to better inform trainers, and their veterinary surgeons, prescribing these substances for treatment of Thoroughbred racehorses. Six and two horses were given 9 repeated administrations of hydroxyzine HC...
Dewes HF, Lowe MD.Events leading to the deaths of two fillies at pasture are described. Pasture hay containing the flowering stages of Senecio jacobea (ragwort) had been fed three to four months earlier. Paddocks were subdivided with posts and rails treated with copper chrome arsenate. Six horses on the property chewed rails spasmodically. Both fillies presented with haemoglobinurea. Values in liver of 83 mg Cu kg and kidney 35 mg Cu kg wet weight and serum 1.4 mg Cu/l together with histophathology of seneciosis support a sequence of ragwort poisoning followed by copper accumulation in liver and kidney terminat...
Tyrnenopoulou PC, Rizos ED, Kritsepi-Konstantinou M, Papadopoulou PL, Patsikas MN, Papazoglou LG, Aggeli A, Diakakis NE.To determine whether differences existed in the viscoelastic properties of synovial fluid samples from the metacarpophalangeal, intercarpal, and distal interphalangeal joints of orthopedically normal athletic horses. Methods: 45 warmblood horses and 30 Thoroughbreds (age range, 4 to 16 years). Methods: Synovial fluid samples were aseptically obtained via arthrocentesis from 1 metacarpophalangeal, intercarpal, and distal interphalangeal joint of each horse, and nucleated cell counts were performed. A commercial ELISA was used to measure sample hyaluronic acid concentrations, and full rheologica...
Allen BV.The assay of serum folate has been used to investigate the folate status of thoroughbreds in training to race, in-foal thoroughbred mares at stud and crossbred ponies kept permanently at grass. Throughbreds in training, with no obvious haematological or clinical abnormalities, had lower serum folate levels (mean 3.3, range 1.5 to 6.1 microgram per litre) compared with thoroughbred mares at stud (mean 10.6, range 6.4 to 15.8 microgram per litre) and crossbred ponies at grass (mean 10.9, range 7.4 to 16.6 microgram per litre. Intensive exercise, over a period of six months, significantly decreas...
Moorman VJ, Marshall JF, Jann HW.A 7-year-old sexually intact male Thoroughbred racehorse was evaluated because of exercise intolerance, respiratory tract noise, and coughing when eating. Results: A persistent dorsal displacement of the soft palate was identified during endoscopic examination of the upper portions of the respiratory tract. Radiography of the pharyngeal and laryngeal regions revealed a hypoplastic epiglottis that was ventral to, and not in contact with, the soft palate. The horse was anesthetized, and an oral endoscopic examination revealed a subepiglottic frenulum that had resulted in the dorsal displacement ...
Southwood LL, Evans DL, Hodgson DR, Bryden WL, Rose RJ.The effects of roughage source on metabolism and exercise capacity were investigated using 6, previously conditioned, mature thoroughbred horses in a cross-over experiment. The horses were assigned to either non-alfalfa or alfalfa roughage diets which were isocaloric. The diets were fed for 2 weeks, after which the horses were exercise tested and then fed the alternate diet. Horses were exercised on a high-speed treadmill using a rapid incremental test. Arterial blood samples were collected for blood gas analysis and acid base measurements and venous blood samples for lactate and red blood cel...
Mazan MR.A 30-year-old Morgan-Quarter Horse gelding with hyperadrenocorticism was referred for treatment of a full-thickness tear of the retroperitoneal portion of the rectum. In older horses, the caudal end of the peritoneal space may be farther cranial than is commonly thought. Thus, there is a greater chance that full-thickness rectal tears will involve the retroperitoneal, rather than the peritoneal, portion of the rectum. This horse had a quick recovery and good outcome, despite underlying hyperadrenocorticism that would be expected to impair healing. Although relatively little is known about mana...
Chou CC, Chen CL, Asbury AC, Webb AI, Vickroy TW.To develop an ELISA that is sensitive and suitable for measurement of immunoreactive acepromazine (ACP) in horse serum and urine and to determine the acute effects of exercise on immunoreactive ACP values in Thoroughbreds. Methods: 12 healthy Thoroughbreds (5 mares, 5 geldings, 2 stallions), aged 2 to 8 years. Methods: A commercially available antibody and a horseradish peroxidase-conjugated oxime derivative of immunoreactive ACP were used to develop a one-step ELISA. Horses were used in a crossover design study to evaluate possible effects of treadmill exercise on serum and urine ACP concentr...
Johnstone IB, Physick-Sheard P, Crane S.Plasma antithrombin-III activity was quantitated in plasma samples obtained from 165 clinically normal horses 3 years old or younger. In the horses as a group, antithrombin-III activity ranged from 63 to 131% of a species-specific reference plasma. Thoroughbred horses had significantly higher antithrombin-III activity (103.3 +/- 18.3; mean +/- SD) than did Standardbred horses (92.3 +/- 14.2). The plasma antithrombin-III activities were significantly lower in horses younger than 16 months old when compared with those in more mature horses (3 years old). There was no statistically significant ge...
Katayama Y, Kuwano A, Yoshihara T.A 4-year-old female thoroughbred race horse died of acute peritonitis caused by necrotizing granulomatous duodenitis. Yersinia enterocolitica was immunohistochemically demonstrated in macrophages in granulomas developed in the duodenum, lung, liver and abdominal lymph nodes. The yeast-like fungi were found in the cytoplasmic vacuoles of macrophages in the lung that infiltrated into the granulomas and surrounding alveoli with congestive edema. The yeast-like fungi were positively stained by Gomori-Grocott chromic acid methenamine silver stain and immuno-histochemically stained with anti-histopl...
Sasaki N, Takakuwa J, Yamada H, Mori R.To evaluate effectiveness of allogeneic bone screws and pins for internal fixation of midbody transverse fractures of equine proximal sesamoid bones (PSBs) in vitro. Methods: 14 forelimbs from cadavers of 3-year-old Thoroughbreds. Methods: Allogeneic cortical bone fragments were collected from the limbs of a male Thoroughbred, and cortical bone screws were prepared from the tissue by use of a precision desktop microlathe programmed with the dimensions of a metal cortical bone screw. A midbody transverse osteotomy of each PSB was performed by use of a bone-shaping oscillating saw and repaired v...
Vaughan B, Whitcomb MB, Puchalski SM, Poulin-Braim AE, Nieto JE, Galuppo LD.Thromboses of the cranial tibial vein (Horse 1) and brachial, median, and cranial circumflex humeral arteries (Horse 2) were identified as causes of unilateral lameness in two Thoroughbred racehorses. Nuclear scintigraphy was performed for suspicion of long bone stress fractures but instead allowed identification of unusual areas of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake within soft tissues of the affected limbs. Ultrasonography of these regions allowed identification of occlusive thrombi within a 25 cm length of the cranial tibial vein (Horse 1) and variable lengths of affected arteries in Hors...
Christensen JM, Blythe LL, Craig AM.Phenylbutazone was administered to six Thoroughbred horses in a cross-over study in which the horses received cimetidine pretreatment or no cimetidine pretreatment. Blood samples were collected at various times for 48 h after phenylbutazone administration and the plasma was analysed for phenylbutazone. Cimetidine pretreatment elevated phenylbutazone plasma concentrations during the first 8 h after phenylbutazone administration. The absorption rate, maximum phenylbutazone plasma concentrations and AUC were significantly greater with cimetidine pretreatment. The half-life of phenylbutazone did n...
Holcombe SJ, Bertone AL.A 9-week-old Thoroughbred x Holsteiner colt was referred for evaluation and treatment of lameness of the right hind limb. Radiography of the stifle revealed multiple bony fragments within the lateral portion of the femorotibial joint and a radiolucency of the distolateral portion of the femur in the area of the extensor fossa, which were consistent with avulsion of the origin of the extensor digitorum longus muscle. Arthroscopy of the lateral portion of the femorotibial joint revealed exposed subchondral bone in the area of the extensor fossa, and the origin of the extensor digitorum longus mu...
Miyakoshi D, Senba H, Shikichi M, Maeda M, Shibata R, Misumi K.This study aimed to evaluate the influence of radiographic abnormalities of 2-year-old Thoroughbred horses that were listed at in-training sales in Japan, on whether they started to race or not at 2-3 years of age. Radiographs of 850 2-year-old Thoroughbreds in the in-training sales repository from 2007 to 2010 were reviewed, and 26 categories of radiographic abnormalities were found. Forty-three horses (5.1%, 43/850) did not start a race at 2-3 years of age. In accordance with the racing results for this age category, as determined by Fisher's exact test and multiple logistic regression analy...
Naito Y, Sasaki N, Matsui A, Nambo Y, Inokuma H, Yamada H.The concentrations of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA; valine, leucine, isoleucine) were determined in plasma of 7 healthy thoroughbred mares and their foals from birth (0 week) to 24 weeks of age, using automated high-performance liquid chromatography. In foals, the concentrations of plasma valine were significantly high (p<0.05) at 16, 20 and 24 weeks. The concentrations of plasma leucine were significantly high (p<0.05) at 1 and 3 weeks. The concentrations of plasma isoleucine were significantly high (p<0.05) from 1 to 24 weeks. In mares, the concentrations of plasma valine were s...
Henninger RW, Bramlage LR, Schneider RK, Gabel AA.Case records of 25 horses with transverse fractures of the proximal sesamoid bone were reviewed to evaluate the success of treatment. All fractures were repaired by use of lag screw fixation and an autogenous cancellous bone graft because the fracture fragments were considered too large for surgical removal and reconstruction of the suspensory apparatus was necessary. Radiography was performed in all cases, and the fractures were classified into 3 types: (1) proximal midbody fractures, which included all fractures in the proximal aspect of the sesamoid bone that resulted in fragments involving...
Pollock PJ, Kelly PG, Reardon RJ, Kelly GM.The objectives of this report were to describe the occurrence and features of dynamic ventrorostral displacement of the dorsal laryngeal mucosa (VRDDLM) in a group of Thoroughbred horses presented for investigation of poor performance and/or abnormal respiratory noise. Records from 600, dynamic, endoscopic examinations of the upper respiratory tract of horses were reviewed. Horses with VRDDLM were identified as those in which the dorsal laryngeal mucosa progressively obscured the interarytenoid notch and dorsoaxial portion of the corniculate processes of the arytenoid cartilages during high-sp...
Smith P, Stubley D, Blackmore DJ.Methods were developed for the measurement of superoxide dismutase (SOD), diamine oxidase (DAO) and caeruloplasmin oxidase in the blood of thoroughbred horses. These enzymes were measured in 178 normal thoroughbreds stabled throughout the United Kingdom. The relationships between the activities of SOD, DAO and caeruloplasmin oxidase and the blood concentrations of their associated trace metals (copper, zinc and manganese) were studied in 52 of the thoroughbreds. Trace metals were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry. No relationships were found between the activities ...
Jaeschke G, Rudolph R.In a review supplementary to prior evaluations further hematological or cytodiagnostic aspects respectively of equine leucosis are discussed. Leukemic nature of the disease is characterized by increased count of normal blood cells or by the presence of morphologically non-differentiated cells in circulating blood or by disorder or loss of function of blood cells respectively. Thrombocytopenia in the most cases is accompanied by anemia, leukemia and tumor cell infiltration in bone marrow. Tumor cells in circulating blood indicate their presence in bone marrow too. In cases of equine leucosis wi...
Whitton RC, Kannegieter NJ, Rose RJ.To examine the relationship between medial palmar intercarpal ligament (MPICL) tearing and postoperative performance in racing horses. Methods: The postoperative performance of 42 horses in which the midcarpal joint was examined arthroscopically was followed prospectively. Intra-articular variables examined were the severity of MPICL tearing, subchondral bone damage and articular cartilage damage. Using a scoring system based on the class of race and the position in the race, a mean score was calculated for up to five races before and after surgery. The preoperative score was subtracted from t...
Ineson AC, Rogers CW, Firth EC, Gee EK.To compare subjective and quantitative methods of assessing physeal swelling of the distal third metacarpal (Mc3) and metatarsal (Mt3) bones of Thoroughbred foals. Methods: The fetlocks of 16 Thoroughbred foals were filmed on five occasions over a period of 5 months and the video images were transferred to computer and digitised. The rate of change of each of the medial and lateral contours of the distal Mc3 and Mt3 bones was determined by calculating values for the second derivative of the contour. The degree of physeal swelling at the same site was subjectively assessed and allocated a grade...
Dhar AK, Thompson MS, Paradis MR, Alcivar-Warren A.To determine the complementary DNA (cDNA) sequence of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in horses and compare messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of IL-1ra among horses of various breeds. Methods: Blood samples from neonatal and adult horses examined for a variety of diseases. Methods: A polymerase chain reaction procedure was used to amplify a 220 base pair (bp) portion of the genomic DNA. The upstream and downstream regions of the cDNA sequence were determined by means of 5' and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) procedures. Northern blot hybridization was used to examine steady...
Whisenant KD, Ruggles AJ, Stefanovski D, Woodie JB, Hopper SA, Embertson RM.Haematogenous septic arthritis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in foals. Previous research has demonstrated a variable prognosis for athletic performance in foals diagnosed with septic arthritis. Objective: To determine the racing prognosis for Thoroughbred foals, 6 months of age or less with single septic joint of presumed haematogenous origin without recognised systemic sepsis or other serious comorbidity compared with a group of maternal sibling controls. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Data were collected from Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in-patient records fro...
Within the veterinary world, data regarding the surgical management of hypospadias is lacking. Reports within equines have documented resective phallectomy procedures rather than urethral reconstruction. This case report documents the first ever urethroplasty for an equine hypospadias, performed by a consultant paediatric surgeon. The urethroplasty was achieved by applying the same surgical principles mastered from paediatric urology to a horse. The indication for surgery was contact dermatitis of the hind-leg, which impaired the thoroughbred foal's racing potential. Methods: A single stage ur...
Muñoz L, Sepúlveda-Calderón P, Villaguala-Pacheco C, Aqueveque CL.The aim of this research was to assess the copro-prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in owned Chilean breed horses (Equus caballus) residing in the province of Concepción, Chile. The study was carried out throughout October 2017. Samples were taken from all (100%) Chilean breed horse (124 specimens; 45 females and 79 males, aged between 7 months and 24 years old) from the Concepción province. A rectal stool sample was obtained from each animal. This was analyzed using the Army Medical School method (AMS III) technique to detect F. hepatica eggs. Information about the horse's age, sex, previous f...
Galuppo LD, Simpson EL, Greenman SL, Dowd JP, Ferraro GL, Meagher DM.To report clinical evaluation of headless compression screws for repair of metacarpal/metatarsal (MC/MT3) condylar fractures in horses. Methods: Retrospective case study. Methods: Racing Thoroughbreds (n=16) with nondisplaced lateral condylar fractures of MC/MT 3. Methods: Medical records (1999-2004) of horses with nondisplaced longitudinal fractures of the lateral condyle of MC/MT3 were reviewed. Pre-operative variables retrieved were: patient age, gender, limb involvement, injury occurrence, fracture length, and width, evidence of palmar comminution and degenerative joint disease, number of ...
Matsumura T, Mashiko R, Sato T, Itokawa K, Maekawa Y, Ogawa K, Isawa H, Yamamoto A, Mori S, Horita A, Ginnaga A, Miyatsu Y, Takahashi M, Taki H....The redback spider (Latrodectus hasseltii Thorell) reportedly invaded Japan in September 1995. To date, 84 redback spider bite cases have been reported; 7 of these cases employed the antivenom. Antivenom has been imported from Australia in the past, but because of restrictions on exportation it was evident that nearly all of the antivenom present in Japan would expire during 2014. In 2014, a plan was proposed to experimentally manufacture and stockpile a horse antiserum for ourselves, using redback spiders indigenous to Japan. A total of 11,403 female spiders were captured alive: 1,217 from th...
