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.
Dunkel B, Chaney KP, Dallap-Schaer BL, Pellegrini-Masini A, Mair TS, Boston R.Intestinal hyperammonaemia (HA) has been infrequently reported in individual horses; however, there have been no studies describing clinical and laboratory data as well as short- and long-term outcome in a larger number of cases. Objective: To describe clinical and laboratory data and short- and long-term outcome in a large group of horses with intestinal HA. Methods: Multi-centred, retrospective study; case records of horses with HA were reviewed and any horse with a clinical or post mortem diagnosis of intestinal HA was included. Hyperammonaemia was defined as a blood ammonium (NH(4) (+)) co...
Gerber V, Schott Ii HC, Robinson NE.Efficacy of medications for recurrent airway obstruction is typically tested using clinical, cytological and lung function examinations of severely affected animals. These trials are technically challenging and may not adequately reflect the spectrum of disease and owner complaints encountered in clinical practice. Objective: To determine if owners of horses with chronic airway disease are better able to detect drug efficacy than a veterinarian who clinically examines horses infrequently. Methods: In a double-blinded randomised controlled trial, owners and a veterinarian compared the efficacy ...
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 ...
Dahlberg JA, Valdes-Martinez A, Boston RC, Parente EJ.Loss of arytenoid abduction is a common post operative complication of laryngoplasty without a definitive cause. It has been a clinical impression during laryngoplasty surgery that there is great conformational variability along the caudal edge of the Thoroughbred cricoid cartilage that could impact post operative retention of suture position. A change in suture position would probably lead to some loss of abduction. Defining any structural variability of the cricoid would be an initial step in determining whether this variability could impact on the retention of suture position. Objective: An...
Bettiol N, Dixon PM.Cheek teeth (CT) diastemata are a major equine dental disorder that can be treated by mechanically widening the diastemata. There is limited anatomical knowledge of the spatial relationships of the individual pulps to the adjacent interproximal surfaces; on the risks of exposing the 6th pulp horn when performing the clinically unproven 'bit seating' procedure on Triadan 06s. Objective: To describe the anatomical relationships between the occlusal and interproximal surfaces of CT and the adjacent pulp horns; and between the 6th pulp horn and the occlusal and rostral surfaces of Triadan 06s. Met...
Tull TM, Bramlage LR.To evaluate the diagnostic features, results of free-choice exercise treatment, prognosis, and postinjury racing performance of Thoroughbred racehorses with cumulative stress-induced bone injury (CSBI) of the distal portion of the third metacarpal and third metatarsal bones (MC3/MT3). Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 55 Thoroughbred racehorses with CSBI of the distal portion of MC3/MT3. Methods: Data on signalment, history, and radiographic, scintigraphic, and lameness examination findings were reviewed. Horses with lameness localized to the distal portion of MC3/MT3, and that did ...
Beech J, McFarlane D, Lindborg S, Sojka JE, Boston RC.To compare endogenous ACTH and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) concentrations after administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and to compare ACTH concentrations after TRH administration with those following domperidone administration in healthy horses and horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Methods: Prospective case series. Methods: 69 clinically normal horses and 47 horses with or suspected to have PPID. Methods: ACTH concentrations were measured during 108 TRH stimulation tests in 88 horses, and α-MSH concentrations were measured during 56 TRH st...
Madejón P, Domínguez MT, Murillo JM.Pasture selection by livestock is an essential topic for rangeland management, especially in trace element-contaminated soils. We have studied the composition (nutrients and trace elements) of a grass-based diet from soils affected by a mine spill at different growth stages (October 2008 to May 2009). A diet based on other plants (mainly Compositae species) was also studied (May 2009) for comparison. Faeces and mane hair of horses feeding on these pastures were also analysed. Micronutrient (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) and potentially toxic trace element (As, Cd, Pb, Tl) concentrations were below the ma...
Brown JS, Johnson MC, Sims WP, Boone LH, Swor TM, Weeks BR.A 4-year-old Quarter Horse mare was presented to the Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for evaluation of a rectal tear. On initial evaluation, rectal palpation and colonoscopy revealed a grade IIIb rectal tear. Analysis of peritoneal fluid revealed a modified transudate. Preliminary supportive care included fluid therapy and mineral oil administration via nasogastric tube. Approximately 48 hours after presentation, a second abdominocentesis was performed, and cytologic examination of the fluid revealed a marked suppurative exudate. Round clear nonrefractile material obs...
Nemoto M, Ohta M, Tsujimura K, Bannai H, Yamanaka T, Kondo T, Matsumura T.We evaluated loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) as a means of detecting equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) DNA directly from nasal swabs. To increase the sensitivity, we added a step in which the samples were heat-treated to the original LAMP procedure. The detection limit of the LAMP assay with heat treatment was 10 times more sensitive than the original LAMP assay even when the DNA extraction step was omitted. In addition, the LAMP assay with heat treatment was more sensitive than the original LAMP assay and the polymerase chain reaction using clinical samples. The LAMP assay with ...
Ireland JL, McGowan CM, Clegg PD, Chandler KJ, Pinchbeck GL.This study reports on aspects of preventive health care and on the prevalence of disease in geriatric (≥30 years old) horses and ponies in North-West England and North Wales. Of 128 questionnaires mailed to horse owners, 87 useable responses were received and 69 horses were subject to veterinary examination. Of the animals examined, 16% were underweight with body condition scores (BCS)3/5). This contrasted with the owner responses that reported 23% of the animals surveyed to be underweight and only 3% to be overweight. When assessed at trot, 77% of the horses were lame on at least one limb, ...
Minke JM, Siger L, Cupillard L, Powers B, Bakonyi T, Boyum S, Nowotny N, Bowen R.The emergence of lineage 2 strains of WNV in Europe as a cause of clinical disease and mortality in horses raised the question whether the existing WNV vaccines, all based on lineage 1 strains, protect against circulating lineage 2 strains of WNV. In the present paper we have determined the level of cross protection provided by the recombinant ALVAC(®)-WNV vaccine in a severe challenge model that produces clinical signs of WNV type 2 disease. Ten horses were vaccinated twice at 4 weeks interval with one dose of the ALVAC-WNV vaccine formulated at the minimum protective dose. A further 10 hors...
Trope GD, Anderson GA, Whitton RC.The effect of palmar osteochondral disease lesions on performance of Thoroughbred (TB) racehorses is unclear. There is a need to describe patterns of radiopharmaceutical uptake (IRU) in fetlock joints of TB racehorses and to evaluate post scintigraphy performance. Objective: IRU in the metacarpal (MC) and metatarsal (MT) condyles is more common than IRU in the parasagittal grooves and is associated with poorer post diagnosis performance than controls. Methods: Location of IRU within the fetlock region was identified and graded subjectively in TB racehorses. Performance variables were determine...
Meredith K, Bolwell CF, Rogers CW, Gee EK.To obtain data on the use of allied health therapy within competitive equestrian sport in the North Island of New Zealand. Methods: Data were collected during January 2010 by survey at show jumping and dressage championships in the North Island, and from racing yards in the Central Districts of New Zealand. The survey consisted of 30 open, closed and multiple-choice questions, and was conducted face-to-face, by the same interviewer. Information on the demographics of riders or trainers and horses in each discipline (show jumping, dressage, and Thoroughbred racing), the use of allied health the...
van der Burg LJ, Muller I, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.The horse milking industry is expanding in The Netherlands and Flanders. Horse milk has become popular due to its (supposed) health-enhancing properties. A horse-milking farm is not a common client for the Dutch veterinarian. When giving advice in this circumstance it should be recognised that these horses are production animals and that their milk is for human consumption. A review of the literature is given together with the results of an extensive enquiry amongst 13 horse-milking farms in The Netherlands and Flanders.
Gygax D, Fürst A, Picek S, Kummer M.To report internal fixation of a fractured axis with a dynamic compression plate (DCP). Methods: Case report. Methods: A 7-year-old Warmblood gelding. Methods: Surgery was performed under anesthesia in sternal recumbency. After fracture reduction the complete transverse fracture in the cranial third of the axis was stabilized with a 7-hole 4.5 mm DCP. Optimal positioning of the plate and the length of the screws were facilitated by fluoroscopy. Recovery from anesthesia was supervised in a pool. Results: The horse had an excellent outcome and returned to its previous activity level. Conclusions...
Kuhl J, Aurich JE, Wulf M, Hurtienne A, Schweigert FJ, Aurich C.In this study, effects of oral β-carotene supplementation to mares (β-carotene group: 1000 mg/day, n = 15; control group: n = 15) from 2 weeks before foaling until 6 weeks thereafter on concentrations of β-carotene, vitamin A and α-tocopherol in plasma, colostrum and milk and plasma of their foals were determined. In addition, effects on fertility were studied. Beta-carotene concentrations increased in plasma and colostrum of β-carotene-supplemented mares compared to control mares (p < 0.05). In mares of both groups, β-carotene concentrations were higher in colostrum than in milk (p &...
Sponseller BA, Sponseller BT, Alcott CJ, Kline K, Hostetter J, Reinertson EL, Fales-Williams A.Syringomyelia and hydromyelia are cavitary lesions of the spinal cord that may be acquired or congenital. These lesions are not frequently reported in large animal species. The presenting complaints, clinical, gross pathological, and histopathologic findings of 2 cases of syringomyelia and 1 case of hydromyelia in horses are described. La syringomyélie et l’hydromyélie sont des lésions cavitaires de la colonne vertébrale qui peuvent être acquises ou congénitales. Ces lésions ne sont pas fréquemment signalées chez les espèces de grands animaux. Les plaintes de présentation et les ...
Staempfli SA, Saied A, Wakamatsu N, Serra V, Eades SC.A 5-day-old Thoroughbred colt was presented with profuse watery diarrhea, hypovolemic shock, and a patent urachus. Despite intensive medical therapy, the colt was euthanized 15 d later due to poor clinical response. Necropsy revealed a small intestinal structural abnormality that formed a closed jejunal ring. Although rare, intestinal malformations should be considered in neonatal foals with clinical signs resembling enteritis. Entérite septique résistante au traitement causée par une malformation jéjunale chez un poulain Thoroughbred âgé de 5 jours. Un poulain Thoroughbred âgé de 5 jo...
Sod GA, Riggs LM, Mitchell CF, Martin GS, Gill MS.To compare the number of cycles to failure of 4.5 mm broad dynamic compression plates (DCP), 4.5 mm broad limited-contact dynamic compression plates (4.5-LC-DCP), and 5.5 mm broad limited-contact dynamic compression plates (5.5-LC-DCP) having a rough (denoted by a prefix R-) versus a standard smooth contact surface for the fixation of osteotomized equine 3rd metacarpal (MC3) bones. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Fifteen pairs of adult equine cadaveric MC3 bones. Methods: Fifteen pairs of equine MC3 were divided into 3 test groups (5 pairs each) for comparison of (1) R-DCP fixation with DCP fi...
Schleining JA, McClure SR, Derrick TR, Wang C.To evaluate the ability of industrial polystyrene foam insulation pads to redistribute loads placed on clinically normal weight-bearing structures of the foot and shift the location of the center of pressure palmarly in horses. Methods: 25 nonlame mature horses. Methods: Both forefeet from each horse were evaluated. Center of pressure data and solar load distribution patterns were recorded during a 5-second trial by use of a commercial pressure measurement system prior to placement of foam sole support and at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after placement. Total contact surface area, contact press...
Earle-Richardson GB, Jenkins PL, Scott EE, May JJ.Agriculture ranks as one of the most hazardous industries in the nation. Ongoing injury surveillance is key to identifying and preventing major sources of injury. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the total number and types of injuries identified from community reporting versus two newly available medical data systems. These new systems are important because they are less time consuming and expensive to maintain. Methods: Farm injury case records from 2007 were collected for 10 NY counties from the following sources: ambulance reports, hospital data, and community surveilla...
Shmalberg J, Xie H.Acupuncture exerts diffuse analgesic effects through the release of endogenous opioids and other locally and centrally acting mediators. Successful therapeutic interventions for various musculoskeletal conditions in horses are well documented, and acupuncture may significantly enhance performance. The use of acupuncture is specifically supported in treating nonsurgical gastrointestinal disorders, in which specific techniques can alter motility and contribute to visceral analgesia. This article describes the use of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for equine reproductive management and f...
Johnson PJ, Goetz TE.A 10-month-old Standard-bred colt was examined because of weight loss, fever, and extensive subcutaneous edema of the ventral aspects of its trunk. Diagnosis of granulomatous enteritis was based on D-xylose malabsorption, hypoproteinemia, and rectal mucosal biopsy. Campylobacter fetus subsp fetus was cultured from jugular venous blood when the horse was admitted to the hospital and 24 hours later. Appropriate antimicrobial agents and glucocorticoids failed to effect clinical remission. After euthanasia, granulomatous enteritis was confirmed at necropsy but C fetus subsp fetus was not isolated ...
McIlwraith CW.This paper reviews the current status of diagnostic and surgical arthroscopy in the horse. Arthroscopy has been used as a diagnostic aid since 1974 and is useful for evaluation of abnormalities in synovial membrane and articular cartilage. Surgical arthroscopy is a more recent advance that has replaced conventional arthrotomy in 90 per cent of the author's cases. Clinical conditions currently being treated using arthroscopic techniques rather than arthrotomy include all chip fractures in the carpus, chip fractures of the first phalanx, chronic proliferative synovitis in the fetlock and osteoch...
Hill T, Carmichael D, Maylin G, Krook L.The incidences of fractures and soft tissue injuries during 68397 starts of thoroughbred horses at New York Racing Association tracks were analyzed concerning track condition, dirt and turf tracks, environmental conditions, length of races, location of fractures on the track, and age of horses. It was concluded that the conditions evaluated are of no importance in the occurrence of racing injuries to thoroughbred horses.
Jann HW, Hart JC, Stein LE, Ritchey J, Blaik M, Payton M, Fackelman GE, Rezabek GB, Mann BK.To assess the effects of a crosslinked, modified hyaluronic acid (xCMHA-S) gel on equine tendon healing using an in vivo surgical model. Methods: In vivo experimental study. Methods: Adult horses (n = 5). Methods: Full thickness bilateral forelimb window tenectomies were surgically created in both forelimb superficial digital flexor tendons and xCMHA-S gel was implanted intraoperatively into the right forelimb lesion of each horse whereas the left forelimb served as the untreated control. Healing was monitored by serial ultrasound examinations every 14 days over the course of the 84 day st...
Collodel G, Rinaldi S, Moretti E, Fontani V, Castagna A, Iacoponi F, Terzuoli G, C뻝u F, Careddu GM, Cossu I, Passino ES.The Radio Electric Asymmetric Conveyer (REAC) has been mostly applied to treat symptoms related to psychological stress. In the study, we demonstrated the effect of REAC-Veterinary Neuro Psycho Physical Optimization (VNPPO) treatment protocol on sperm parameters of subfertile (n=11) and fertile (n=4) stallions. Subfertile stallions showed a reduced sperm concentration, progressive motility and normal morphology compared to fertile stallions. An increase in progressive sperm motility and quality of sperm morphology was found in subfertile stallions after the REAC-VNPPO treatment. The positive e...
Bixby-Hammett DM.In brief: In a two-year study of the estimated 13,428,000 hours of horse activities by 18,408 US Pony Clubs (USPC) members aged 6 to 21 in scheduled supervised programs, there were 64 accidents resulting in 88 injuries in 16 areas of the body. The head/face was the area most often injured (27.27%), and bruise/abrasion was the most common type of injury (28.26%). Cross-country riding was the most dangerous event (42.31%). Unexpected actions of the horse caused many accidents-25% occurred when the horse bucked and threw the rider, 23.08% when the horse refused a jump, and 17.31% when the horse f...
Luethy D, Slack J, Kraus MS, Gelzer AR, Habecker P, Johnson AL.Third-degree atrioventricular block (AVB) and primary inflammatory myocarditis are uncommon findings in horses. The horse of this report presented for collapse at rest and was found to have multiple cardiac arrhythmias, most notably 3rd-degree AVB. The horse was subsequently diagnosed with eosinophilic myocarditis on necropsy, a rare form of myocarditis not previously reported in horses. Despite extensive testing, an etiologic agent could not be identified, illustrating the difficulty in identifying a specific cause of myocarditis in horses.
Meade BJ, Timoney PJ, Donahue JM, Branscum AJ, Ford R, Rowe R.In 1998, a newly identified bacterium Taylorella asinigenitalis was isolated from the external genitalia and reproductive tracts of nurse mares, a stallion and donkey jacks in Kentucky. An extensive regulatory effort was implemented to contain the outbreak including the tracing and testing of 232 horses and donkeys on 58 premises. T. asinigenitalis was isolated from the reproductive tract of 10 adult equids, including two donkey jacks, one Paint Quarter-horse stallion and seven draft-type breeding mares. None of the infected horses had clinical signs of reproductive tract disease. The odds of ...
Roberts MC, Groenendyk S.Splenectomy was successfully performed on 2 aged horses to facilitate experimental studies of Babesia equi infection. Resection of part of the 17th rib provided the most acceptable approach and avoided many complications encountered on removing part of the 16th rib.
Monreal L, Villatoro AJ, Monreal M, Espada Y, Anglés AM, Ruiz-Gopegui R.Thirty healthy male horses were allotted to 3 groups and treated blindly during 4 days. Group-1 horses received unfractioned calcium heparin (100 IU/kg of body weight, SC, q 12 h). Group-2 horses received a single dose of a low-molecular-weight heparin (50 anti-Xa IU/kg, SC) every morning, and a similar volume of saline solution every evening. Group-3 horses received the vehicle (saline solution), SC, every 12 hours. Citrated and EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples were collected before starting the medication (T-0) and once daily 3 hours after each morning injection (T-3, T-27, T-51, and T-75)....
Escartin-Peña M, Bautista-Garfias CR.Sera from 41 horses and 159 donkeys, from twelve States of México, were tested to ascertain anti-Gasterophilus circulating antibodies by double immunodiffusion (DD), counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), indirect haemagglutination (IH), thin layer immunoassay (TIA) and diffusion-in-gel ELISA (DIG-ELISA) methods using crude somatic antigen from third instar larvae of G. intestinalis (DeGeer). At necropsy, 33/41 horses and 24/159 donkeys were found to be parasitized by G. intestinalis and/or G. nasalis (L.). Gasterophilus intestinalis was the species most commonly found in the equines. Analysis o...
Palacios H, Hibarren I, Olalla MJ, Cala V.The diagnosis of lead poisoning in horses living on farmland in the vicinity of a battery recycling plant was based on clinical signs as well as on laboratory findings. Chemical analysis of six surface soils (0-15 cm) and herbage samples taken at different distances to the recycling plant showed very high total lead levels in the closest sites to the facility and a clear decrease with distance. Total lead levels in soil samples ranged from 127 to 5657 mg kg(-1), with more than 70% of lead extractable by EDTA in the most polluted soils. Lead levels in the aerial part of herbage samples were in ...
Honnas CM, Spensley MS, Laverty S, Blanchard PC.An 18-year-old mare, 285 days pregnant, was evaluated for apparent abdominal pain of 8 hours' duration. A large volume of sanguinous fluid was obtained on abdominocentesis, and digital vaginal examination revealed a dilated cervix and blood in the uterus. Abdominal palpation per rectum revealed the uterus to be large and distended with fluid. Ultrasonography revealed a dead fetus on the floor of the cranial portion of the abdomen. The mare was euthanatized, and necropsy confirmed that the uterus had ruptured, and that the fetus, within its chorioallantois, was in the abdomen. The amniotic sac ...
Doxey DL, Gilmour JS, Milne EM.Local weather patterns associated with 15 outbreaks of equine grass sickness in eastern Scotland were studied. The majority showed a trend toward cooler drier weather associated with irregular ground frosts. This would not preclude the hypothesis that fungi might be connected with the aetiology of grass sickness.
Kailaanmäki A, Kinnunen T, Kwok WW, Rytkönen-Nissinen M, Randell J, Virtanen T.The responses of allergen-specific CD4(+) T cells of allergic and healthy individuals are still incompletely understood. Our objective was to investigate the functional and phenotypic properties of CD4(+) T cells of horse-allergic and healthy subjects specific to the immunodominant epitope region of the major horse allergen Equ c 1. Specific T-cell lines (TCLs) and clones were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells with Equ c 1(143-160), the peptide containing the immunodominant epitope region of Equ c 1. The frequency, proliferative response, cytokine production and HLA restriction...
Perdrizet JA, Scott DW.Cellulitis and subcutaneous abscess formation was diagnosed in a 3-month-old Thoroughbred filly. Clinical signs consisted of a large ulcerated plaque, with satellite pustules on the medial aspect of the right hock and subcutaneous abscesses in the right inguinal and mammary gland areas. Laboratory analysis revealed mature neutrophilia. Rhodococcus equi was isolated from the cellulitis and the subcutaneous abscess. Oral administration of erythromycin and rifampin for 35 days resulted in a clinical cure.
Merritt AM, Panzer RB, Lester GD, Burrow JA.The pelvic flexure is the midpoint of the equine large colon that marks the junction of dorsal and ventral components. Previous studies of intraluminal pressure in this region indicate that it could be an important motility control center. The present study was undertaken to expand our knowledge of normal myoelectric activity around the pelvic flexure region. Eight bipolar silver wire electrodes were surgically fixed at 5-cm intervals to the colonic serosa of five adult horses, starting 30 cm oral to the pelvic flexure on the left ventral colon and ending 15 cm aboral to the pelvic flexure on ...
Delesalle C, Deprez P, Schuurkes JA, Lefebvre RA.The use of human prokinetic drugs in colic horses leads to inconsistent results. This might be related to differences in gastrointestinal receptor populations. The motor effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin) on the equine mid-jejunum were therefore studied. Longitudinal muscle preparations were set up for isotonic measurement. 5-HT induced tonic contractions with superimposed phasic activity; these responses were not influenced by tetrodotoxin and atropine, suggesting a non-neurogenic, non-cholinergic pathway. The 5-HT receptor antagonists GR 127935 (5-HT(1B,D)), ketanserin (5-HT(2A...
Hayakawa Y, Komae H, Ide H, Nakagawa H, Yoshida Y, Kamada M, Kataoka Y, Nakazawa M.An acute death occurred in a racehorse with pneumonia after long-distance transportation in December, 1990. Pasteurella caballi, Streptococcus suis and Streptococcus zooepidemicus were isolated from the lung at high rate. Specific antigens of these bacteria were also demonstrated immunohistologically in the pneumonic lesion. These findings indicated that the disease is equine transport pneumonia caused by a mixed infection of the three bacterial species. This is the first report on the isolation of P. caballi and S. suis from a racehorse in Japan.
Beste KJ, Lawhon SD, Chamoun-Emanuelli AM, Duff AH, Coleman MC, Griffin CE, Hardy J, Whitfield-Cargile CM.Horses with bacterial sinusitis frequently undergo empirical treatment with antimicrobials, however, in some cases bacterial culture of the affected sinus is used to direct therapy. Data regarding which organisms are part of the commensal microbiota of the equine sinus are lacking making it difficult to interpret culture results and guide empiric antimicrobial selection. Objective: Our objectives were to describe the bacterial and fungal microbiota of the paranasal sinuses in clinically normal horses using culture-dependent and independent approaches and to compare the bacterial culture and su...