Veterinary care in horses encompasses the medical and preventive measures taken to maintain and improve the health and well-being of equine patients. It includes a wide range of practices such as routine health examinations, vaccinations, dental care, parasite control, and management of injuries and diseases. Veterinary care also involves diagnostic procedures, surgical interventions, and therapeutic treatments tailored to the specific needs of horses. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of equine veterinary care, including advancements in diagnostic techniques, treatment protocols, and health management strategies to support the well-being and performance of horses.
Kwok WH, Leung EMK, Chan RCM, Ho ENM.The Intelligence and Drug Testing Management (IDTM), a system that can enhance drug testing analytics with related horse information and intelligence in a single platform, can help identify and mitigate potential doping and other threats.
Ebeling-Koning NE, Fowler JT, DelBianco JD, Surmaitis RM.Veterinary medication exposure may result in human toxicity, with approximately 6,000 exposures to veterinary-only medications reported to poison centers in 2022. There is a paucity of literature on the management of poisoned patients secondary to pharmaceuticals intended for equine use. Pergolide is a dopamine and serotonin receptor agonist and is currently approved to treat equine Cushing's disease. It was previously approved in the United States (US) to treat Parkinson's disease in humans; however, it was withdrawn from the market in 2007 due to its association with valvular heart disease....
Goodrich EL, Webb JL.Previous hematologic and serum biochemistry reference interval (RI) values have been established for donkeys in various geographic regions, life-stages, or for specific donkey breeds. The last extensive investigation establishing RIs for adult donkeys in the United States (U.S.) was published over three decades ago. We aimed to establish updated robust RIs using a reference population of apparently healthy adult donkeys from across the U.S. Standard sized ( = 102), miniature ( = 17), and mammoth ( = 1) donkeys from four different states were enrolled, with 20% of the study population including...
Rapezzano G, Foote A, Petrini F, Pereira R, Marcatili M.A newborn Thoroughbred filly presented with a large mass located on the ventro-rostral aspect of the mandible. The mass was surgically removed under general anaesthesia. Upon gross examination, the mass was well circumscribed with a heterogeneous lobulated appearance. The results of histopathology and immunohistochemistry were consistent with a diagnosis of congenital fetal rhabdomyoma. On follow-up at six months post-surgical excision, no abnormalities were noted on clinical examination.
Wickstead FA, Milner PI, Bardell DA.Wound infusion catheters (WICs) have been used in humans and some veterinary species for post-operative local anesthetic administration following a variety of surgical procedures, aiming to reduce post-operative analgesia requirements and improve patient comfort. Benefit in reduction in pain, post-operative analgesia requirements and length of hospital stay are well documented in humans, but use of WICs may not have been widely adopted in veterinary species due to the concern of increased complications, such as dehiscence or surgical site infection (SSI), creating a barrier to their use. This ...
Mascaró Triedo CE, Karar S, Abunemeh M, Portier K.Pupillometry is used in humans to monitor pain, nociception and analgesia. This single-center, non-randomized, non-blinded intervention trial, evaluated the effect of nose twitching on the pupil size in awake, sedated, and anesthetized horses. Pupil height (H) and length (L) were measured before (Be) and after (Af) nose twitching in fourteen non-painful adult awake horses (T0). The percentage of variation (PSV) was calculated (PSVTn = [(TnAf-TnBe)/TnBe]*100). Measurements were repeated (Tn) after acepromazine (0.04 mg kg IV) (T1), romifidine (0.04 mg kg IV) (T2), morphine (0.1 mg...
Uchida T, Kisugi T, Ishii H, Yamada M, Kinoshita K, Leung GN.To uphold the integrity of horseracing and equestrian sports, it is critical for an equine doping control laboratory to develop a comprehensive screening method to cover a wide range of target substances at the required detection levels in equine urine. Methods: The procedure involved the enzymatic hydrolysis of 3 mL urine samples followed by solid-phase extraction using HF Bond Elut C18 cartridge. The resulting extracts were then separated on a C18 reversed-phase column and analyzed using liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC/HRMS) in both electrospray ionization positiv...
Khan Y, El-Shalofy A, Kaps M, Gautier C, Aurich C.We aimed to determine associations between experimentally impaired uterine clearance or treatment with ecbolic drugs on luteal development in estrous mares after insemination. In a crossover design, eight mares were treated with saline (CON), clenbuterol (CLEN), oxytocin (OXY) and carbetocin (CARB) from the day of first insemination until 2 days after ovulation. Between treatments, the mares rested for one cycle. Estrous mares were examined for the presence of free intrauterine fluid by transrectal ultrasound. Endometrial swabs for cytology and bacteriology were collected on days 1 and 14. Blo...
Lima AE, Piñeros DDV, Alibrando BB, Bittar MJ, de Souza AF, Mendes RP, de Freitas SH, Bernardino T, Corrêa RR.The anatomical variations of the maxillary septum and the septal bullae can generate challenges during the interpretation of radiographs of the horses' heads and make it difficult to accurately identify the sites affected in sinus disorders. The description of the radiographic appearance of these structures is currently scarce in the scientific literature. This work aims to describe the anatomical and radiographic characteristics of the maxillary septum and maxillary septal bullae in horses. Six chemically preserved equine cadaver heads were used which, after being submitted to the maxillary o...
Dyson S, Phillips K, Zheng S, Aleman M.There is controversy about the clinical relevance of congenital variants of the ventral laminae of the sixth (C6) and seventh (C7) cervical vertebrae and their relationship with other radiological abnormalities. Objective: To document the prevalence of congenital variants of C6 and C7 and that of other radiological abnormalities from C6 to the second thoracic vertebra (T2). Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: The study included Warmblood horses ≥3 years of age undergoing clinical assessment at two referral institutions: 127 control horses and 96 cases (neurologic, neck pain or stiffness, or...
Zaghloul IY, Bedenice D, Ceresia ML, Jones PH, Sanchez-Londono A, Lobo MN, Böhlke M, Paradis MR.To evaluate the effects of aging on phenylbutazone (PBZ) disposition in older horses (≥ 25 years old) compared to young adults (4 to 10 years old) by characterizing the pharmacokinetic profile of PBZ and its active metabolite, oxyphenbutazone (OPBZ), following a 2.2-mg/kg dose, IV. We hypothesized that the disposition of PBZ will be affected by age. Methods: 16 healthy horses (8 young adults aged 4 to 10 years and 8 geriatric horses ≥ 25 years old). Methods: Horses were administered a single 2.2-mg/kg PBZ dose, IV. Plasma samples were collected at designated time points and frozen at -80 ...
Germann JA, O'Sullivan TL, Greer AL, Spence KL.Disease outbreaks present a significant challenge to horse health and welfare and the economic stability of horse industries internationally. This is a particular concern in Ontario, Canada, where there have been frequent outbreaks of respiratory infectious diseases among horses. Despite these risks, there has been limited research on whether Ontario horse owners engage in biosecurity measures sufficient to mitigate risk of equine diseases, and whether current events such as the COVID-19 pandemic influence attitudes towards equine biosecurity practices. Objective: To explore Ontario horse owne...
Lindinger H, Wehrend A.In horses, parturition is characterized by the fact that any delays may rapidly result in the death of the foal. Therefore, birth monitoring and the rapid detection of dystocia are of great importance. For this purpose, the differentiation between behavior associated with physiological parturition and activities related to difficult parturition is important. The aim of this publication is to present the physiological behavior of mares during parturition on the basis of a literature review. The behavior of mares in the opening phase of parturition is highly individual. In general, it is charact...
Burrell KL, Burford JH, England GCW, Freeman SL.The survival of horses diagnosed with critical colic (requiring referral or euthanasia) relies on rapid and effective decision-making by the owner and veterinary practitioner. Objective: To explore UK horse owners' and veterinary practitioners' experiences of decision-making for critical cases of equine colic. Methods: Qualitative study using a phenomenological approach. Methods: Individual, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 14 horse owners and 13 veterinary practitioners (vets) who had experienced a critical decision (referral or euthanasia) for a horse with colic. A pu...
Gräschke L.Every year, many horses are transported by air. Alongside sport horses traveling to tournaments worldwide, mainly breeding horses, such as shuttle stallions and broodmares, thoroughbreds traded at auctions, and leisure horses are transported by air. Research in veterinary science has highlighted welfare concerns during air transportation. Equine welfare is constituted in the language and discourse evolving from social, political, and ethical views about the treatment of horses. Consequently, this study targets power in creating equine welfare by analyzing the welfare discourses, transportation...
Sweeney DM, Holmström M, Donohue KD, Lambert DH, Bayly WM.To describe the process whereby the screening of racing Thoroughbreds with accelerometer-based inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors followed by clinical evaluation and advanced imaging identified potentially catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in 3 horses. Methods: 3 Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: All cases demonstrated an abnormal stride pattern either during racing (cases 1 and 2) or while breezing (case 3) and were identified as being at very high risk of catastrophic musculoskeletal injury by an algorithm derived from IMU sensor files from > 20,000 horses' race starts. Veterinary e...
Casado-Santos A, González-Cubero E, González-Fernández ML, González-Rodríguez Y, García-Rodríguez MB, Villar-Suárez V.Corneal ulcers are a common and potentially vision-threatening condition in horses that can be challenging to treat with conventional therapies alone. This case report describes the successful treatment of a non-healing corneal ulcer in a 28-year-old Hispano-Bretón mare using the secretome derived from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs). Despite initial treatment with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and surgical debridement, the corneal ulcer failed to heal properly, exhibiting persistent epithelial defects and stromal complications. As an alternative regenerative appr...
Kjeldsen ST, Nissen SD, Christensen NC, Haugaard SL, Schneider MJ, Vinther Z, Sattler SM, Carstensen H, Jøns C, Hopster-Iversen C, Buhl R.Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) occurs sporadically and can impair athletic performance. Gold standard for diagnosis is surface electrocardiography (ECG), however, this requires AF to be sustained. Implantable loop recorders (ILRs) are routinely used for AF detection in human medicine. While ILR placement has been studied in horses, its AF detection performance is unknown. Objective: (I) Validation of ILRs for AF detection in horses. (II) Determining pAF incidence using ILRs and estimate the positive predictive value (PPV). Methods: (I) Experimental study; (II) Longitudinal observational ...
Vázquez FJ, Argüelles D, Muñoz JA, Genton M, Méndez Angulo JL, Climent F, Roquet I, Iglesias M, Velloso Álvarez A, Vitoria A, Bulnes F, Saitua A....Inguinal hernias (IHs) and ruptures are a relatively common condition in horses, occurring in foals (congenital) and adult (acquired) animals. A retrospective observational analysis was conducted on 40 cases that underwent laparoscopic surgery to close the VRs using barbed sutures alone or combined with other techniques. Signalment, clinical presentation, surgery, and follow-up data were obtained. In total, fifty-nine VRs were closed using barbed sutures (alone or in combination with other methods), with six cases performed prophylactically and forty-four due to acquired IH. Of the forty-four ...
Dupont J, Roman Dura B, Salciccia A, Serteyn D, Sandersen C.To study the changes in dynamic compliance (C), ventilation/perfusion (V˙/ Q˙) mismatch and haemodynamic variables in hypoxaemic anaesthetized horses whose PaO increased following salbutamol inhalation. Methods: Retrospective, clinical, cohort study. Methods: A group of 73 client-owned horses treated with salbutamol when PaO <100 mmHg (13.3 kPa) during anaesthesia. Methods: Horses were divided into two groups: responders (R), where PaO after salbutamol ≥1.2 PaO before treatment (i.e. ≥20% increase), and non-responders (NR), where PaO after salbutamol <1.2 PaO before treatment. Demographi...
Seguí Pedrosa B, Dujardin C, Moses B, Thompson C, Sarasola P, Gattacceca F, Loup B, Garcia P, Popot MA, Bailly-Chouriberry L.Clodronic acid is designated as a controlled medication for competition horses by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports and, according to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, clodronic acid is not to be administered to racehorses younger than 3.5 years or within 30 days prior to a race. In this study, 35 horses involved in competition were treated with a single dose of 1.53 mg clodronic acid/kg bodyweight intramuscularly. Plasma samples were obtained before treatment and 10, 20, 30, and 40 days post-administration. Clodronic acid concentrations were mea...
Shokrollahi S, Mohammadi R, Sarrafzadeh-Rezaei F, Jalilzadeh-Amin G, Hashemi-Asl SM.The aim of this study was to compare the sedative and cardiovascular effects of the combination of xylazine-acepromazine versus xylazine-pregabalin - in horses. Four healthy crossbred horses were included in the study and assigned to two treatments. In treatment I (T1), the animals received xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg) in combination with acepromazine maleate (0.05 mg kg) intravenously. In treatment II (T2), the animals received intragastric administration of pregabalin (4.00 mg kg) followed by xylazine hydrochloride (1.00 mg kg) intravenously after 60 min. Head height above ground (HHA...
Hubbell JAE, Muir WW, Gorenberg E, Hopster K.Horses are the most challenging of the common companion animals to anesthetize. Induction of anesthesia in the horse is complicated by the fact that it is accompanied by a transition from a standing position to recumbency. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on induction of anesthesia with a focus on the behavioral and physiologic/pharmacodynamic responses and the actions and interactions of the drugs administered to induce anesthesia in the healthy adult horse with the goal of increasing consistency and predictability.
Barton CK, Hector RC, Hendrickson DA, Kawcak CE, Nelson BB, Goodrich LR.To compare 3 perioperative feeding regimens and their effect on anesthetic complications, manure output, and colic proportion in healthy horses. Methods: 45 horses presenting for elective orthopedic procedures were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: not fasted (NF; continuous access to hay perioperatively), fasted muzzled (FM; 10-hour preoperative fast with slow refeeding postoperatively and muzzle placement), or fasted not muzzled (FNM; same as FM without muzzle placement). Anesthetic protocol was standardized. Outcomes compared between groups included anesthesia time, arterial oxygenation, ...
de Souza TC, Burford J, Busschers E, Freeman S, Suthers JM.To report the long-term survival of adult horses that were subjected to synovial lavage for treatment of contaminated and septic synovial structures. Methods: Multicenter, prospective observational trial. Methods: Horses (n = 240) presented for synovial sepsis at 10 UK referral centers. Methods: Data for horses presented for treatment of synovial sepsis were collected over a 15 month recruitment period. Owners were contacted a minimum of 365 days after surgery using a structured client interview to assess long term survival. Descriptive statistics, and univariable and Cox proportional haza...
Marsella R.Allergy to insects is the most common skin allergy in horses. Pruritus in affected patients can be extreme. Face, ears, mane, and tail area are commonly affected areas. Diagnosis of insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is clinical and is based on history, clinical signs, and response to repellents. Allergy tests are not to be used for diagnostic purposes. Currently, there is no specific treatment for IBH other than insect avoidance, treatment of secondary infections, and symptomatic relief of pruritus. Many allergic horses become also sensitized to pollens. For these patients, allergen specific ...
van Veggel ECS, Vanderperren K, Selberg KT, Bergman HJ, Hoogelander B.This study evaluates the change in an MRI of the proximal metacarpal region in a group of sport horses that returned to work. This retrospective analysis evaluated 18 limbs represented by 17 horses. Results: The hyperintense signal within the dorsal collagenous part of the proximal suspensory ligament (PSL) on T1W/T2*W GRE sequences decreased or stayed the same in the majority of cases. The hyperintense STIR signal within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL resolved in the majority of the patients, and the third metacarpal bone (McIII) hyperintense STIR signal resolved in all patients. The ...
Schumacher A, Gehlen H.This literature review analyzes the historical development of polo, its organizational structure, the course of the game, as well as the breeding, rearing, and training practices of polo horses. Frequently occurring ailments, such as musculoskeletal injuries, respiratory diseases, and internal illnesses, are highlighted. Lameness is a major problem, with injuries to the superficial digital flexor tendon being the most common cause. Other notable diseases include exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), myositis, rhabdomyolysis, and equine infectious anemia (EIA). To ensure the welfare of ...
Collins EN, Barr EM, Westermeyer H, Gilger BC, Oh A.To determine the predictive value of corneal ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) findings for the outcome of equine corneal disease. Methods: 46 horses with a clinical diagnosis of either infectious ulcerative keratitis or stromal abscess. Methods: Corneal UBM (VevoMD; UHF70; VisualSonics) of horses with infectious corneal disease presenting to the North Carolina State University Equine Ophthalmology Service from 2019 to 2023 were evaluated. Size and depth of lesion, presence of Descemet membrane disruption (DMD), corneal thickness, and aqueous humor cell counts (AHCC) were assessed. Comparisons of...
Hintze S, Smith S, Patt A, Bachmann I, Würbel H.Finding valid indicators of emotional states is one of the biggest challenges in animal welfare science. Here, we investigated in horses whether variation in the expression of eye wrinkles caused by contraction of the inner eyebrow raiser reflects emotional valence. By confronting horses with positive and negative conditions, we aimed to induce positive and negative emotional states, hypothesising that positive emotions would reduce whereas negative emotions would increase eye wrinkle expression. Sixteen horses were individually exposed in a balanced order to two positive (grooming, food antic...
Reix CE, Burn CC, Pritchard JC, Barr AR, Whay HR.Lameness is prevalent in working donkeys and has major welfare implications; however, a detailed study of the associated clinical signs is lacking. Objective: To describe the range and prevalence of clinical signs and conformation associated with lameness in working draught donkeys. Methods: Prospective, cross-sectional, observational study. Methods: Data were collected from 102 working draught donkeys in Pakistan. A lameness assessment adapted for working donkeys was used to record clinical signs of lameness, gait, limb conformation and pain responses in the feet, limbs and spine using observ...
Allen WR, Brown L, Wright M, Wilsher S.Previous surveys of reproductive efficiency in British Thoroughbreds included only mares and stallions standing on studfarms in and around Newmarket. The present study was widened to compare Flatrace (FR) (Group A) and National Hunt (NH) (Group B) mares and stallions on studfarms throughout England. Objective: To assess the influences of mare type, status and age, and veterinary manipulations on reproductive efficiency parameters. To compare the inherent fertility of stallions, based on singleton and twin pregnancy rates and pregnancy loss rates, in Groups A and B Thoroughbred breeding stock. ...
Hartmann J, Lindau M.Exocytosis begins with formation of a small fusion pore which then expands allowing rapid release of granular contents. We studied the influence of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) on the conductance of the initial pore and on the dynamics of subsequent expansion in horse eosinophils using the patch clamp technique. The mean initial conductance is approximately 200 pS independent of [Ca2+]i. This value is close to that previously found in beige mouse mast cells. The pore subsequently expands by 18 nS/s at [Ca2+]i < 10 nM, by 40 nS/s at [Ca2+]i = 1.5 microM and by 90 nS/s at [Ca2+]i = 10 micr...
Morrice-West AV, Hitchens PL, Walmsley EA, Stevenson MA, Whitton RC.Musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) in racehorses are commonly due to bone fatigue, a function of the number of cycles (strides) and the magnitude of load applied to the limb. These parameters can be estimated using speed and distance, with greater than 6000 m/month at a gallop (>14 m/s), in combination with canter distances greater than 44,000 m/month, reported to increase fracture risk. Despite their importance, there are limited data on the distances and speeds horses are exposed to during training. Objective: Estimate training volume at different speeds undertaken by Australian Thoroughbr...
Lange-Consiglio A, Tassan S, Corradetti B, Meucci A, Perego R, Bizzaro D, Cremonesi F.This is the first study to compare the treatment of horse tendon and ligament injuries with the use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) obtained from two different sources: amniotic membrane (AMSCs) and bone marrow (BM-MSCs). The objective was to prove the ability of AMSCs to exert beneficial effects in vivo. Methods: Five million allogeneic frozen-thawed AMSCs or autologous fresh BM-MSCs were injected intralesionally in horses belonging to group A (51 horses) and group B (44 horses). The interval lesion/implantation was of 6-15 days for the AMSCs and 16-35 days for the BM-MSCs. Healing was as...
Cohen ND, Woods AM.To characterize horses with acute diarrhea and determine risk factors for failure to survive. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 122 adult horses admitted for acute diarrhea at the teaching hospital between Jan 1, 1990 and Dec 31, 1996. Methods: Medical records of horses with acute diarrhea were reviewed to abstract information regarding signalment, history, physical examination, clinicopathologic testing, treatment, and outcome. Results: 91 of 122 (74.6%) horses lived and were discharged from the hospital. Horses with history of administration of antimicrobials for a problem preceding dia...
Whalley JM, Robertson GR, Scott NA, Hudson GC, Bell CW, Woodworth LM.A gene in equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1; equine abortion virus) equivalent to the gB glycoprotein gene of herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been identified by DNA hybridization and nucleotide sequencing. A 4.3 kbp EHV-1 PstI-ClaI sequence (0.40 to 0.43 map units) contained an open reading frame flanked by appropriate control elements and was capable of encoding a polypeptide of 980 amino acids. This had 50 to 60% identity over a 617 amino acid conserved region with the gB gene products of HSV and three other alphaherpesviruses, and 20 to 30% identity with those of human cytomegalovirus and Epstein-...
de Grauw JC, van de Lest CH, van Weeren PR.Inflammation is an important feature of many joint diseases, and levels of cartilage biomarkers measured in synovial fluid may be influenced by local inflammatory status. Little is known about the magnitude and time course of inflammation-induced changes in cartilage tissue turnover as measured in vivo by synovial fluid markers. We aimed to study temporal changes in concentrations of inflammatory mediators, matrix metalloproteinase activity and cartilage biomarkers over 1 week in joints with experimentally induced inflammation. Methods: Localized inflammation was induced in the intercarpal joi...
Madigan JE, Hietala S, Chalmers S, DeRock E.The prevalence of antibodies to Ehrlichia equi in horses from the foothill regions of northern California and from the Sacramento valley (non-foothill area) was determined, using an indirect fluorescent antibody test. Horses from foothill regions had a higher prevalence of seropositivity (10.4%) and higher titer (1:10 to 1:80) than did those from non-foothill regions (3.1%; titer less than or equal to 1:10). Fifty percent of healthy horses on a foothill farm enzootic for E equi had titer to E equi, suggesting that infection with E equi can be subclinical. Six veterinarians surveyed from northe...
Carmichael SP, Davenport DL, Kearney PA, Bernard AC.The purpose of this study is to determine whether discrepant patterns of horse-related trauma exist in mounted vs. unmounted equestrians from a single Level I trauma center to guide awareness of injury prevention. Methods: Retrospective data were collected from the University of Kentucky Trauma Registry for patients admitted with horse-related injuries between January 2003 and December 2007 (n=284). Injuries incurred while mounted were compared with those incurred while unmounted. Results: Of 284 patients, 145 (51%) subjects were male with an average age of 37.2 years (S.D. 17.2). Most injurie...
Kawcak CE, McIlwraith CW, Norrdin RW, Park RD, James SP.Subchondral bone plays a role in the pathogenesis of osteochondral damage and osteoarthritis in horses and humans. Osteochondral fragmentation and fracture, subchondral bone necrosis and osteoarthritis are common diseases in athletic horses, and subchondral bone is now thought to play an integral role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. There have been numerous research efforts focused on articular cartilage damage and its pathogenesis, yet comparatively little effort focused on subchondral bone pathology or the coordinated disease states of the osteochondral tissues. The purpose of this re...
Apostolakos I, Franz E, van Hoek AHAM, Florijn A, Veenman C, Sloet-van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Dierikx C, van Duijkeren E.To investigate the occurrence and characteristics of ESBL/AmpC-producing Escherichia coli in faecal samples from horses at one equine clinic in the Netherlands. A total of 91 horses, including residents and patients, were sampled. ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli were identified by a combination disc diffusion test. Phylogenetic groups and MLST were determined. ESBL/AmpC genes were analysed using PCR and sequencing. Plasmids were characterized by transformation and PCR-based replicon typing. Subtyping of plasmids was done by plasmid MLST. At least one E. coli isolate with a confirmed ESBL/AmpC gene...
Tinker MK, White NA, Lessard P, Thatcher CD, Pelzer KD, Davis B, Carmel DK.A 1 year prospective study was conducted on 31 horse farms to identify risk factors for equine colic. Farms were randomly selected from a list from 2 adjacent counties of Virginia and Maryland, USA. The association between colic and farm or individual horse risk factors related to management, housing, pasture, use, nutrition, health and events was first examined by univariate statistical analysis. Individually significant (P < = 0.25 for farm factors, P < = 0.10 for horse factors) variables were used in a stepwise multivariable forward logistic regression to select explanatory factors (P < = 0...
Bruhn O, Grötzinger J, Cascorbi I, Jung S.Antimicrobial peptides play a pivotal role as key effectors of the innate immune system in plants and animals and act as endogenous antibiotics. The molecules exhibit an antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, and eukaryotic pathogens with different specificities and potencies depending on the structure and amino-acid composition of the peptides. Several antimicrobial peptides were comprehensively investigated in the last three decades and some molecules with remarkable antimicrobial properties have reached the third phase of clinical studies. Next to the peptides themselves, numerou...
Hackett ES, McCue PM.Glucose assessment and regulation are important factors in the treatment of hospitalized horses and foals. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare glucose measurement by a veterinary glucometer, adjusted by code for use in horses and foals, to a reference chemistry analyzer. It was hypothesized that the veterinary glucometer and reference analyzer would yield similar results and that interpretation of glucose values obtained from a veterinary glucometer would result in clinically appropriate decisions. Methods: Fifty blood samples from adult horses and 50 blood samples from neonata...
Rosanowski SM, Chang YM, Stirk AJ, Verheyen KL.To date, no large scale studies have reported race-day events requiring veterinary attention in British Thoroughbreds racing on the flat. Quantifying and describing common injuries and health conditions affecting racehorses will enable targeted risk factor analysis aimed at reducing their occurrence. Objective: To describe the type and incidence of race-day veterinary events experienced by Thoroughbred racehorses participating in flat racing in the UK. Methods: Retrospective cohort study (2000 to 2013). Methods: Veterinary events recorded by race-day veterinarians were retrieved and linked to ...
Pusterla N, Hussey GS.Equine myeloencephalopathy (EHM), an uncommon manifestation of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) infection, can cause devastating losses on individual farms, boarding stables, veterinary hospitals, and show and racing venues. An improved understanding of EHM has emerged from experimental studies and from data collected during field outbreaks at riding schools, racetracks, horse shows, and veterinary hospitals throughout North America and Europe. These outbreaks have highlighted the contagious nature of EHV-1 and have prompted a reevaluation of diagnostic procedures, treatment modalities, preventati...
Martin BB, Reef VB, Parente EJ, Sage AD.To determine results for horses undergoing a high-speed treadmill examination, including videoendoscopy of the pharynx and larynx before and during exercise, echocardiography before and after exercise, and electrocardiography before, during, and after exercise, because of poor performance. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 348 horses. Results: A definitive diagnosis was obtained for 256 (73.5%) horses. One hundred forty-eight horses had dynamic obstruction of the airway during exercise, 33 had clinically important cardiac arrhythmias alone, 22 had a combination of dynamic airway obstructi...
Raza A, Qamar AG, Hayat K, Ashraf S, Williams AR.Control of equine nematodes has relied on benzimidazoles (BZs), tetrahydropyrimidines and macrocyclic lactones. The intensive use of anthelmintics has led to the development of anthelmintic resistance (AR) in equine cyathostomins and Parascaris equorum. Field studies indicate that BZ and pyrantel resistance is widespread in cyathostomins and there are also increasing reports of resistance to macrocyclic lactones in cyathostomins and P. equorum. The unavailability of reliable laboratory-based techniques for detecting resistance further augments the problem of nematode control in horses. The onl...
McGivney BA, Eivers SS, MacHugh DE, MacLeod JN, O'Gorman GM, Park SD, Katz LM, Hill EW.Selection for exercise-adapted phenotypes in the Thoroughbred racehorse has provided a valuable model system to understand molecular responses to exercise in skeletal muscle. Exercise stimulates immediate early molecular responses as well as delayed responses during recovery, resulting in a return to homeostasis and enabling long term adaptation. Global mRNA expression during the immediate-response period has not previously been reported in skeletal muscle following exercise in any species. Also, global gene expression changes in equine skeletal muscle following exercise have not been reported...
Taylor S.Sepsis is defined as an exaggerated, systemic inflammatory response to infection and is a common condition in horses. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) associated with bacterial infection is a hallmark of sepsis. Sepsis in neonatal foals is a common sequela of failure of passive transfer and, in addition to development of SIRS, may be characterised by bacteraemia, pneumonia, enterocolitis, omphalophlebitis, meningoencephalitis or arthritis. Sepsis in mature horses is most commonly observed secondary to gastrointestinal lesions that result in disrupted mucosa and bacterial transloc...
Bhoora R, Quan M, Franssen L, Butler CM, van der Kolk JH, Guthrie AJ, Zweygarth E, Jongejan F, Collins NE.A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay using a TaqMan minor groove binder (MGB) probe was developed for the detection of Babesia caballi infection in equids from South Africa. Nine previously published sequences of the V4 hypervariable region of the B. caballi 18S rRNA gene were used to design primers and probes to target unique, conserved regions. The B. caballi TaqMan MGB qPCR assay was shown to be efficient and specific. The detection limit, defined as the concentration at which 95% of positive samples can be detected, was determined to be 0.000114% parasitized eryt...
Tamzali Y, Marguet C, Priymenko N, Lyazrhi F.Equine gastric ulcers syndrome (EGUS) prevalence studies are rare in the endurance horse and none has been carried out to date in horses competing at high level. Objective: To determine the prevalence of EGUS in high-level endurance horses. Methods: Thirty endurance horses competing at high level were selected and submitted to 2 gastroscopic examinations. The first gastroscopy was performed during the interseason period, and the second during the competition season within 2-3 days following a ride of 90-160 km. Data related to housing, feeding, training system as well as age, breed and gender ...
Luthersson N, Nielsen KH, Harris P, Parkin TD.The prevalence (up to 93% in Thoroughbred racehorses) and severity of equine gastric ulceration syndrome (EGUS) have been correlated with the type of training and associated management practices. However, there have been few reports to confirm these findings in nonracehorses in Europe. Objective: To describe the prevalence, anatomical distribution, severity and number of gastric ulceration lesions in a population of Danish pleasure horses; and to investigate differences for groups based on age, breed type and workload. Methods: A total of 201 horses not in active race-training, age 7 months-27...
Bourzac C, Smith LC, Vincent P, Beauchamp G, Lavoie JP, Laverty S.There is a need to assess and standardise equine bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) isolation protocols in order to permit valid comparisons between therapeutic trials at different sites. Objective: To compare 3 protocols of equine BM MSC isolation: adherence to a plastic culture dish (Classic) and 2 gradient density separation protocols (Percoll and Ficoll). Methods: BM aspirates were harvested from the sternum of 6 mares and MSCs isolated by all 3 protocols. The cell viability after isolation, MSC yield, number of MSCs attained after 14 days of culture and the functional characteri...
Wylie CE, Ireland JL, Collins SN, Verheyen KL, Newton JR.The objectives of this study were to describe the demographic characteristics and management practices undertaken by owners of horses/ponies within GB and assess seasonal and geographical variations in management practices. A cross-sectional study was conducted, surveying a random sample of veterinary-registered owners in GB, using a self-administered postal questionnaire. A total of 797 useable responses were received. Only 4.0% of animals were stabled 24h/day, this proportion being greater in winter compared to other seasons (p<0.001). Shavings (45.7%) and straw (35.3%) were the most freq...
Bullone M, Vargas A, Elce Y, Martin JG, Lavoie JP.Asthmatic airways are inflamed and undergo remodelling. Inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2-agonist combinations are more effective than inhaled corticosteroid monotherapy in controlling disease exacerbations, but their effect on airway remodelling and inflammation remains ill-defined. This study evaluates the contribution of inhaled fluticasone and salmeterol, alone or combined, to the reversal of bronchial remodelling and inflammation. Severely asthmatic horses (6 horses/group) were treated with fluticasone, salmeterol, fluticasone/salmeterol, or with antigen avoidance for 12 weeks. ...
