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.
Page AE, Wood C, Partridge E, Horohov DW, Adam E.The use of lipopolysaccharide to induce a localized source of inflammation (acute synovitis) and allow for monitoring of changes in systemic mRNA expression has been recently reported. Here, the goal was to maintain a significant systemic mRNA response while limiting the severity of lameness such that this model can be used to examine the effects of various anti-inflammatory treatment modalities on mRNA expression. Three mixed breeds, four-year-old geldings were utilized for this study. One milliliter of phosphate-buffered saline containing 1,000 ng or less of lipopolysaccharide from E. coli O...
Vautravers G, Audigié F, Denoix JM.To describe scintigraphic and transrectal ultrasonographic anatomic variants of the lumbosacral (LS) articulation in horses and to determine the agreement between results obtained with each imaging modality. 243 horses (81 Selle Français Warmbloods, 81 French Standardbred Trotters, and 81 Thoroughbreds). A retrospective search of clinical records was conducted to identify horses that had undergone nuclear scintigraphy and transrectal ultrasonography of the LS region of the vertebral column between January 2016 and December 2019. Scintigraphic images were evaluated by 2 observers blinded to th...
Fielding CL, Magdesian KG.To evaluate changes in electrolyte concentrations and hydration status that take place in endurance horses prior to the start of a competition and determine whether these changes would be associated with elimination. Methods: 19 horses entered in the 2016 Tevis Cup 100-Miles (160 km) One-Day Western States Trail Ride. Methods: Heparinized blood samples were collected at 5 time points: prior to transport to the ride (T0), during check-in the day before the ride (T1), 1 to 2 hours before the start of the ride (T2), at the 15-km mark (T3), and at the 55-km mark (T4). Packed cell volume and plasma...
Zhao Q, Tao C, Pan J, Wei Q, Zhu Z, Wang L, Liu M, Huang J, Yu F, Chen X, Zhang L, Li J.Fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) technology uses exogenous reproductive hormones to regulate the sexual cycle and ovulation of sows without oestrus identification, which improves the sow breeding utilisation rate, reduces the number of non-productive days, and elevates the efficiency of pig farm management. In this study, we aimed to optimise FTAI procedures. Healthy 190-day-old and about 90 kg Large White × Landrace crossing breed replacement gilts (n = 166) which were of unknown reproductive status were randomly selected and divided into three groups: a control group (n = 62...
Philip M, Karakka Kal AK, Subhahar MB, Karatt TK, Mathew B, Perwad Z.Performance-enhancing substances and methods have become a serious problem in competitive sports. The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stabilizers can enhance the organism's capacity for molecular oxygen transport and are likely to be abused as performance-enhancing agents in sports. This paper describes the metabolic conversion of the popular hypoxia inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) inhibitors, namely, daprodustat, desidustat, and vadadustat using equine liver microsomes, determined on a QExactive high-resolution mass spectrometer. During this study, a total of 10 metabolites for da...
Gao Y, Hannan MA, Murata K, Rajabi-Toustani R, Nambo Y.Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) is gaining popularity. Ultrasound examination is used to decrease the abortion rate in horses. In this study, to monitor fetal well-being throughout the gestation for EAT, we measured fetal heart rate (FHR), fetal eye orbit (FEO), fetal gonad length (FGL), fetal kidney length (FKL), and the combined thickness of the uterus and placenta (CTUP) by ultrasonography in pony mares. Additionally, we measured the plasma progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) concentrations in pregnant horses using enzyme immunoassay. The FGL peaked at week 32 and then decreased to term, and...
Hale J, Hughes K, Hall S, Labens R.Autologous conditioned serum (ACS) is a common intra-articular treatment for osteoarthritis in horses. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of ACS preparation method on product contamination and concentrations of relevant cytokines and the influence of multiple freeze/thaw cycles. Blood was obtained from 10 healthy Thoroughbred horses and processed in parallel using a commercial and a non-commercial method to obtain ACS. Fluorescent microsphere immunoassay (FMIA) analysis was performed to quantify Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Inter...
Saini S, Singha H, Shanmugasundaram K, Tripathi BN.Burkholderia mallei causes a highly fatal infectious disease in equines known as glanders. It is one of the OIE listed notifiable diseases, which entails strict control policy measures once B. mallei infection is confirmed in the susceptible hosts. Humans, especially equine handlers, veterinary professionals and laboratory workers are at greater risk to acquire the B. mallei infection directly through prolonged contact with glanderous equines, and indirectly through unprotected handling of B. mallei contaminated materials. Further, natural resistance of B. mallei to multiple antibiotics, aeros...
Pereira MM, Artemiou E, De Pedro P, Adams C, Ritter C.Effective clinical communication can aid veterinarians in building good client relationships, increase adherence to recommendations and, ultimately, improve patient health and welfare. However, available information on veterinary communication in the equine context is limited. The objective of this study was to describe the communication of veterinary students in the equine environment who had previous communication training. Additionally, we assessed the suitability of the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS) for the analysis of audio-video recordings of equine wellness consultations. Met...
Rahmani SS, Malekifard F, Tavassoli M.Neospora caninum is an Apicomplexan parasite that can cause enormous economic losses due to abortions in cattle. The present study investigated the role of Neospora spp. infection in equine abortion in Iranian donkeys using molecular and phylogenetic analyses. Twenty-nine-aborted fetuses and 29 blood samples from their dams were collected from six different regions in the West and Northwest of Iran. They were tested for N. caninum by PCR at the Nc5 locus, followed by sequencing of five of the PCR products. The overall molecular prevalence was 34.5% in blood samples and the prevalence by DNA de...
Hermans H, van den Berg EMH, Slenter IJM, Vendrig DJC, de Nijs-Tjon LJL, Vernooij JCM, Brommer H, Boevé MH, Gehring R.Topical dexamethasone and prednisolone are currently the mainstay treatment for equine ophthalmic inflammatory diseases, such as equine recurrent uveitis. Comparative pharmacokinetic studies in horses are lacking and current guidelines are mainly based on empirical data and extrapolation from other species. Objective: To investigate the penetration and local concentrations of topically applied dexamethasone and prednisolone in normal equine ocular fluids and serum. Methods: Prospective randomised experimental pharmacokinetic study. Methods: Twenty-one Shetland ponies without ophthalmic disease...
Orsolini MF, Meyers SA, Dini P.As the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and in vitro embryo production (IVP) expand in the equine industry, it has become necessary to further our understanding of available semen selection techniques. This segment of our two-section review will focus on the selection of spermatozoa based on quality and sex for equine intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), as well as current and future developments in sperm sorting technologies. Ultimately, novel methods of semen selection will be assessed based on their efficacy in other species and their relevance and future application towa...
Lee SK, Park D, Lee I.Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) causes equine hepatitis. The prevalence of EqPV-H in healthy horses has been reported in the United States, China, Germany, and Austria. The present study determined the prevalence of EqPV-H in the sera of clinically healthy horses in South Korea to identify the potential factors for infection and examine the genetic diversity of EqPV-H DNA sequences through comparison with foreign strains. Serum samples collected from 321 horses were tested for EqPV-H using non-structural protein 1 (NS1)-specific polymerase chain reaction. The associations of EqPV-H infect...
Sakurai M, Isshiki S, Sasaki N, Sakai Y, Yamada Y, Morimoto M.A 7-year-old male Thoroughbred horse exhibited recurrent falls followed by convulsive seizures. The horse was clinically diagnosed with epilepsy and phenobarbital treatment was initiated. However, as seizure control was unsuccessful, the animal was euthanized. At necropsy, yellow-brown linear lesions were found extensively at the U-fibres and cingulate gyrus within the cerebral white matter. Histopathologically, linear demyelination and occasional cavitation were observed. Glial cells with yellow-brown pigment granules, which were autofluorescent, positive to the periodic acid-Schiff reaction ...
Rodríguez-Pozo ML, Armengou L, Viu J, Ríos J, Jose-Cunilleras E.Peritoneal bile acids concentration (PBAC) has not been previously reported in horses. A case of liver lobe torsion in which increased PBAC was detected prompted us to study PBAC in horses. Objective: (a) To determine a reference range of PBAC in horses; (b) to compare PBAC from horses with either hepatic or gastrointestinal disease and healthy horses and (c) to assess the prognostic and diagnostic values of PBAC. Methods: Prospective case-control. Methods: Prospective observational clinical study. Bile acids concentrations were measured in both plasma and peritoneal fluid in selected clinical...
van Veggel ECS, Selberg KT, van der Velde-Hoogelander B, Vanderperren K, Cokelaere SM, Bergman HJ. To describe the MRI findings for 13 horses with deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) injury at the proximal phalanx where the tendon goes from ovoid to bilobed in frontlimbs with tendon sheath distension. In addition, the prognosis of this lesion was assessed. Retrospective case series. Thirteen client-owned horses. Medical records were reviewed, and data were collected regarding signalment, history, MRI findings, and outcomes of horses. Findings of MRI were recorded and whether the case was confirmed with tenoscopy. A diagnosis of DDFT injury at the junction between ovoid and bilobed portio...
Luethy D.Treatment of equine laminitis continues to be a challenge despite recent advancements in knowledge of the pathophysiology of laminitis. With more evidence supporting its use, distal limb hypothermia or cryotherapy has become a standard of care for both prevention of laminitis and treatment of the early stages of acute laminitis. Recent studies have demonstrated that cryotherapy reduces the severity of sepsis-related laminitis and hyperinsulinemic laminitis in experimental models and reduces the incidence of laminitis in clinical colitis cases. This article reviews the recent literature support...
Fürst AE, Lischer CJ.Many disorders affect the equine foot, and many hoof problems have multiple predisposing causes. Surgery may be necessary after conservative management has failed. Diseases of the hoof capsule may seem simple, but their effect on performance can be long-lasting and healing is often prolonged. Diagnosis of problems within the hoof capsule is enhanced with the use of computed tomography and MRI. The prognosis of fractures has improved with strategic placement of lag screws across fracture planes using aiming devices and advanced intraoperative imaging techniques. Collaboration between the clinic...
Tucker R, Parker RA, Meredith LE, Hughes TK, Foote AK.To describe the surgical removal of intra-articular loose bodies (LBs) from the cervical articular process joints (APJs) in five horses and to describe the outcome of the surgery. Methods: Short case series. Methods: Five client-owned horses with naturally occurring LBs within the cervical APJs. Methods: Medical records were reviewed of horses that were diagnosed with LBs of the cervical APJs on computed tomography (CT), where the LBs were subsequently removed surgically. Details of case selection and surgical technique were reviewed along with postoperative complications and clinical outcome....
Puccetti M, Beccati F, Denoix JM.Bone stress injuries and fatigue fractures of the pelvis are reported in only a small number of endurance horses. Objective: To describe bone stress injuries and fatigue fracture of the pelvis in endurance horses trained and competing on the deep sand surfaces. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Medical records of horses used for endurance and diagnosed with bone stress injuries and/or fatigue fractures of the pelvis by ultrasound were reviewed. The bone stress injuries and fatigue fractures were classified as affecting the iliac wing, the iliac shaft, the tuber ischiadicum, the rest...
Bras R, Morrison S.A healthy foot requires a well-balanced foot capable of shock absorption, traction, and normal proprioception. Radiographs and venograms are helpful in assessing health of the external and internal structures of the foot and in early diagnosis. Other techniques to assess foot mechanics include force plate and inertial sensors. When foot pathology ensues, early recognition and emergency mechanical treatment can improve prognosis and overall outcome. Sheared heels, under-run heels, and clubfeet are common problems that need to be corrected early. Successful management and results require he vete...
Mählmann K, Noguera Cender A, Ehrle A, Lischer CJ.To describe a novel fixation of open, unstable, unilateral mandibular fractures applying a locking compression plate as an external skeletal fixator (ESF-LCP). Methods: Four horses and one dromedary. Methods: Short case series. Methods: Animals presented with unstable, open, unilateral fractures of the mandible. Fracture fixation was performed under general anesthesia. A 4.5/5.5 narrow LCP was applied externally above the level of the skin and combined with intraoral tension band wiring. Results: Fracture fixation was achieved successfully using an ESF-LCP. Minimal tissue manipulation was requ...
Leise BS, Fugler LA.Sepsis or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) -associated laminitis is a sequela to primary inflammatory conditions (eg, colitis, ischemic intestinal injury, pneumonia, metritis) and results from a dysregulated systemic inflammatory response that ultimately affects the digital lamellae. Local chemokine production, leukocyte migration, and proinflammatory mediator production occur within the lamellae that can lead to catastrophic lamellar failure. Controlling the primary disease, providing supportive care and anti-inflammatory therapy, applying digital cryotherapy, and providing mech...
Birras J, White SJ, Jonsdottir S, Novotny EN, Ziegler A, Wilson AD, Frey R, Torsteinsdottir S, Alcocer M, Marti E.Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an IgE-mediated allergic dermatitis in horses incited by salivary allergens from Culicoides spp. IBH does not occur in Iceland, as the causative agents are absent, however a high prevalence is seen in horses exported to Culicoides-rich environments. To study the natural course of sensitization to Culicoides allergens and identify the primary sensitizing allergen(s) in horses exported from Iceland utilizing a comprehensive panel of Culicoides recombinant (r-) allergens. IgE microarray profiling to 27 Culicoides r-allergens was conducted on 110 serological s...
Gómez-Cabrera K, Salas-Romero J, Sifontes JA, de la Torre Cánova R, Salas JE, Nielsen MK.For the past several decades, selective anthelmintic therapy (SAT) has been recommended in temperate climate countries for controlling gastrointestinal parasites in horses. However, the feasibility of this approach in tropical climates remains unknown, given the very different parasite transmission patterns and a larger representation of working equids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bio-economic feasibility of SAT in horses kept under tropical conditions of Camagüey, Cuba. Fecal egg counts were determined from 794 adult horses and used for evaluating three different putative treat...
Kapdi A, Dhanze H, Sahu A, Singh V, Kumar MS, Bhilegaonkar KN, Gulati BR.Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a mosquito borne flaviviral zoonoses, causing fatal disease in equines and humans. JE is endemic in most of the states of India with occurrence of human cases every year. The horses are not vaccinated against JE in India and thus they are at more risk of acquiring the disease. Due to nonavailability of indigenously developed ELISA and high cost of imported kits, regular sero-surveillance is not being carried out to assess the true picture of JE virus in equine population of India. Therefore, a recombinant NS1 protein based indirect IgG ELISA was developed with the...
Weber LA, Delarocque J, Feige K, Kietzmann M, Kalbitz J, Meißner J, Paschke R, Cavalleri JV.The naturally occurring betulinic acid (BA) and its derivative NVX-207 induce apoptosis in equine melanoma cells in vitro. After topical application, high concentrations of the substances can be reached in healthy equine skin. With the aim to investigate the effect and safety of topically applied BA and NVX-207 in horses with melanocytic tumors, the longitudinal, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study protocol included eighteen Lipizzaner mares with early-stage cutaneous melanoma assigned to three groups. Melanocytic lesions were topically treated either with a placebo...
Ginther OJ.After the cessation of equine embryo mobility (fixation) on mean Day 16, the embryonic vesicle is rotated or oriented so that the pole with the embryo proper is opposite to the mesometrial attachment. Orientation involves massage of the vesicle by contractions of the turgid uterine horn and greater thickening of the vesicle at the pole with the embryo proper. Thickening of the dorsal endometrium (encroachment) especially on each side of the mesometrial attachment accounts for a guitar-pick shape of the vesicle when viewed in cross section of the uterine horn. On Days 21-40, the allantoic sac e...
Turner CM, Reiswig J, Manfredi JM.Periodontal disease has been identified in horses and donkeys through the millennia at a prevalence of up to 75% and is a leading cause of tooth loss in horses. We hypothesize that there is a correlation between tooth elongations and periodontal disease. Dental records of all client owned horses examined by a single AVDC/equine board certified practitioner in 2016-2018 were analyzed. Inclusion criteria consisted of the examination finding of tooth elongation of one of the following teeth pairs 106/107, 206/207, 310/311, or 410-411. The included cases were then examined for the finding of perio...
Kane AJ, McIlwraith CW, Park RD, Rantanen NW, Morehead JP, Bramlage LR.Although the radiographic examination of yearlings has become commonplace at some large Thoroughbred sales, there are few data to support the decisions facing veterinarians who are asked to evaluate future racing potential. Objective: To identify radiographic changes in the fetlocks, proximal sesamoid bones, carpi, tarsi, stifles and fore feet of Thoroughbred yearlings associated with future racing performance during ages 2 and 3 years. Methods: Radiographs from routine pre- and post sale examinations of 1162 yearlings were used to identify individual radiographic changes in sale yearlings. St...
Segabinazzi LG, Friso AM, Correal SB, Crespilho AM, Dell'Aqua JA, Miró J, Papa FO, Alvarenga MA.Persistent mating-induced endometritis (PMIE) results in decreased fertility in horses, thereby causing a significant impact in the horse market. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a modulator of the inflammatory response, has been largely used in veterinary medicine. Here, we investigated the effects of PRP on uterine inflammation, conception rate, endometrial polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) migration, and COX-2 protein levels in the endometrial tissue. Thirteen PMIE-susceptible mares were used for artificial insemination (AI). The mares were inseminated with fresh semen in three consecutive cycl...
Gulati BR, Kumar R, Mohanty N, Kumar P, Somasundaram RK, Yadav PS.Tendon injuries are common in race horses, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from adult and foetal tissue have been used for tendon regeneration. In the present study, we evaluated equine amniotic fluid (AF) as a source of MSCs and standardised methodology and markers for their in vitro tenogenic differentiation. Plastic-adherent colonies were isolated from 12 of 20 AF samples by day 6 after seeding and 70-80% cell confluency was reached by day 17. These cells expressed mesenchymal surface markers [cluster of differentiation (CD)73, CD90 and CD105] by reverse transcription (RT)-polyme...
Farstad W.Ethical breeding involves the use of healthy animals true to their species in behaviour and physical appearance, and when applicable, showing a sustainable performance. The concerns for the species/breed are essential parts of the breeding goals, including preservation of genetic resources within the species/breed, and the health and welfare of the individual animal. Ethical and welfare considerations were often not prioritized in developing new breeds of production or companion animals. As a result, animal breeding practices are increasingly becoming part of the debate on animal welfare. In c...
Placci M, Marliani G, Sabioni S, Gabai G, Mondo E, Borghetti P, De Angelis E, Accorsi PA.In the equestrian world, two different types of management can be distinguished: traditional management and natural boarding. The aim of this research was to compare hormonal, hematological and immunological parameters of 47 horses kept in these two different managements. Blood and horsehair of the horses were sampled to determine DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) and cortisol concentration through RIA. Moreover, blood count was conducted, and flow cytometry was employed to phenotype lymphocyte subpopulations. Results showed that, in horsehair, DHEA concentration was significantly higher in natura...
Weber R, Hospes R, Wehrend A.The aim of this study was to summarize the current status of the possible causes, clinical symptoms and pathogenesis of abortion in the mare and to evaluate the frequency of varying causes of abortion in German thoroughbred breeding. An analysis of the literature using electronic libraries, journals and textbooks was performed. In addition, the results of examinations of 123 abortions of thoroughbred breeding in central Germany were evaluated. In the literature, bacterial infections are the most frequently described cause of abortion. Other important causes are infections with equine herpesvir...
Zebisch A, May A, Reese S, Gehlen H.Different head-neck positions (HNPs) are used in equestrian sports and are regarded as desirable for training and competition by riders, judges and trainers. Even though some studies have been indicative of hyperflexion having negative effects on horses, this unnatural position is frequently used. In the present study, the influence of different HNPs on physical and psychological stress parameters in the ridden horse was investigated. Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV) and blood cortisol levels were measured in 18 horses. Low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) are power componen...
Bukhari SSUH, Rosanowski SM, McElligott AG, Parkes RSV.Working donkeys () are vital to people's livelihoods. They are essential for carrying goods, however, globally, overloading is one of the primary welfare concerns for working donkeys. We studied mounted load carrying by donkeys and associated factors in Pakistan. A cross-sectional study of donkey owners ( = 332) was conducted, and interviews were undertaken based on a questionnaire. Owners estimated that the median weight of their donkeys was 110 kg [interquartile range (IQR) 100-120 kg], and that they carried a median mounted load of 81.5 kg (IQR 63-99 kg). We found that 87.4% of donkeys carr...
Reix CE, Dikshit AK, Hockenhull J, Parker RM, Banerjee A, Burn CC, Pritchard JC, Whay HR.Participatory methods are increasingly used in international human development, but scientific evaluation of their efficacy versus a control group is rare. Working horses support families in impoverished communities. Lameness and limb abnormalities are highly prevalent in these animals and a cause for welfare concern. We aimed to stimulate and evaluate improvements in lameness and limb abnormalities in horses whose owners took part in a 2-year participatory intervention project to reduce lameness (PI) versus a control group (C) in Jaipur, India. Results: In total, 439 owners of 862 horses part...
Tzelos T, Morgan ER, Easton S, Hodgkinson JE, Matthews JB.Interval treatment control programmes used widely in equine helminth control have favoured the development of anthelmintic resistance worldwide. Best practice guidelines have been designed to address resistance and include the requirement for improved pasture hygiene to break helminth transmission cycles, along with anthelmintic application informed by the results of diagnostic tests to reduce selection pressure for resistance. Using an online questionnaire, this study examined uptake of measures recommended in these guidelines by UK horse owners. The survey comprised 58 questions spanning gra...
González-Medina S, Ireland JL, Piercy RJ, Newton JR, Votion DM.Equine atypical myopathy (AM) is a toxic rhabdomyolysis associated with ingestion of hypoglycin A, derived typically in Europe, from Acer pseudoplatanus tree. Despite the wide distribution of this tree species in the UK, the number of cases reported annually varies, and there has been an apparent increase in prevalence in recent years. Although AM was first recognised in the UK, epidemiological studies have never been conducted focused solely on this country. Objective: To describe the spatiotemporal distribution, presentation, treatment and outcome of AM cases reported in the UK. Methods: Ret...
Endo A, Roos S, Satoh E, Morita H, Okada S.Two strains of lactic acid bacteria were isolated from faeces of two actively racing thoroughbred horses. The isolates formed a subcluster in the Lactobacillus reuteri phylogenetic group, closely related to Lactobacillus fermentum, L. gastricus, L. ingluviei and L. mucosae, by phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness revealed that the isolates belonged to the same taxon and were genetically separated from their phylogenetic relatives. Biochemical and physiological characteristics also distinguished the isolates from their phylogenetic relatives. The...
Payne E, Boot M, Starling M, Henshall C, McLean A, Bennett P, McGreevy P.This review collates peer-reviewed evidence for desirable attributes for those who work with dogs and horses. It is written with a particular focus on the veterinary profession. Although veterinarians and veterinary nurses (VNs) occupy variable roles when interacting with their patients, several behavioural attributes emerge as helpful across the range of such roles. In light of recent research on the value of considering animals' arousal and affective state as predictors of behaviour and welfare, best practice in human-horse and human-dog-interactions is outlined. The attributes of affiliatio...
Dubey JP, Bauer C.There is considerable confusion concerning validity of Eimeria species in equids, and endogenous developmental stages and pathogenicity of equid Eimeria. This paper summarizes worldwide information on history, structure, life cycle, pathogenicity, prevalence, epidemiology, and diagnosis of Eimeria infections in equids. The following conclusions were drawn. Although three species of Eimeria; E. solipedum, E. uninugulata, and E. leuckarti were named from horses, only E. leuckarti is a valid species infecting equids, including horses, donkeys and zebra. We consider E. solipedum, E. uninugulata an...
Christoffersen M, Brandis L, Samuelsson J, Bojesen AM, Troedsson MH, Petersen MR.Endometritis constitutes a major problem in the management of broodmares; hence, diagnostic tests with a high sensitivity and specificity are highly appreciated. The aim of this study was to compare the results from endometrial, cytologic, and bacteriologic examinations obtained by a newly developed, double-guarded, flushing technique versus standard diagnostic tests, the double-guarded swab and biopsy. The described double-guarded flush technique requires the use of a disposable uterine flushing tube, a sanitary sleeve, a sterile steel speculum, and a 250 mL fluid bag. Endometrial biopsies, s...
Schrock P, Lüpke M, Seifert H, Staszyk C.Equine incisors are subjected to continuous occlusal wear causing multiple, age related changes of the extragingival crown. It is assumed that the occlusal wear is compensated by continued tooth elongation at the apical ends of the teeth. In this study, μCT-datasets offered the opportunity to analyze the three-dimensional appearance of the extra- and intraalveolar parts of the enamel containing dental crown as well as of the enamel-free dental root. Multiple morphometric measurements elucidated age related, morphological changes within the intraalveolar part of the incisors. Results: Equine i...
Jackson TA, Osburn BI, Cordy DR, Kendrick JW.Experimental infection with equine herpesvirus 1 (rhinopneumonitis) resulted in neurologic disease in 8 of 15 inoculated horses. Nonpregnant animals did not develop clinical disease, and microscopic examination of tissues revealed no changes. In all mares between 3 and 9 months of gestation, a neurologic syndrome appeared 6 to 8 days after inoculation. Mares inoculated when 10 months pregnant did not develop neurologic disorders, but several aborted. The histopathologic change common to both sequelae was vasculitis, involving smaller arteries and veins. Although blood vessel changes were detec...
Stefánsdóttir GJ, Gunnarsson V, Roepstorff L, Ragnarsson S, Jansson A.This study examined the effect of increasing BW ratio (BWR) between rider and horse, in the BWR range common for Icelandic horses (20% to 35%), on heart rate (HR), plasma lactate concentration (Lac), BWR at Lac 4 mmol/l (W4), breathing frequency (BF), rectal temperature (RT) and hematocrit (Hct) in Icelandic horses. In total, eight experienced school-horses were used in an incremental exercise test performed outdoors on an oval riding track and one rider rode all horses. The exercise test consisted of five phases (each 642 m) in tölt, a four-beat symmetrical gait, at a speed of 5.4±0.1 m/s (...
Rampacci E, Passamonti F, Bottinelli M, Stefanetti V, Cercone M, Nannarone S, Gialletti R, Beccati F, Coletti M, Pepe M.This study aims to investigate the bacteria involved in equine omphalitis and their susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs, and consequently to provide guidelines concerning the most suitable treatment protocol in accordance with the clinical, ultrasound and laboratory findings. Forty foals aged between one and 30 days were evaluated in the course of this investigation. An ultrasound examination of all umbilical remnants was carried out carefully in all foals; umbilical swabs were collected for bacteriological examination, and blood samples were collected for blood culture from 19 foals with ...
Dabareiner RM, White NA.Medical records from all horses with large colon impaction admitted between 1985 and 1991 were examined. Large colon impaction was diagnosed in 147 of 1,100 (13.4%) horses with colic. One hundred thirty horses were admitted for further evaluation of acute onset of abdominal pain after having been examined and treated by referring veterinarians, and 17 horses that were hospitalized for unrelated medical problems developed large colon impaction. Female horses (92/147; 62.6%) were more commonly affected than males. The age ranged from 1 to 29 years (median, 7.1 years). Mean duration of clinical s...
Betros CL, McKeever KH, Kearns CF, Malinowski K.The purpose of this study was to test the hypotheses that ageing would result in a decline in maximal heart rate (HRmax) and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) and, secondarily, that those effects would be reversible with training. Eighteen, healthy, unfit Standardbred mares representing 3 age groups: young (Y = mean +/- s.e. 6.8 +/- 0.4 years, n = 6); middle-aged (MA = 15.2 +/- 0.4 years, n = 6); and old (O = 27.0 +/- 0.2 years, n = 6) were used. HRmax, VO2max and oxygen pulse at VO2max (OPmax) and the velocities producing HRmax (VHRmax) and VO2max (VVO2max) were measured during pretraining an...
Pimenta J, Prada J, Cotovio M.Adult grey horses have a high incidence of melanocytic tumors. This article narratively reviews the role of some genetic features related to melanoma formation in horses, such as STX17 mutation, ASIP or MITF alterations, and the link between the graying process and the development of these tumors. A clear system of clinical and pathological classification of melanocytic tumors in naevus, dermal melanoma, dermal melanomatosis and anaplastic malignant melanoma is provided. Clinical and laboratorial methods of diagnosing are listed, with fine needle aspiration and histopathology being the most re...
Roth SP, Erbe I, Burk J.Reliable decellularization techniques applicable to tendon tissue play a critical role in the field of current tissue engineering. Particularly, an application as three-dimensional culture model for in vitro research and translational approaches to establish graft-based tendon repair as a routine clinical tool represent two main application fields for decellularized tendon scaffolds. Considering methodological issues of tendon decellularization, one of the major challenges lies in the preservation of the tendon-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) architecture to reflect natural tissue characte...
Dhollander S, Jallow A, Mbodge K, Kora S, Sanneh M, Gaye M, Bos J, Leak S, Berkvens D, Geerts S.The objective of this study was to provide epidemiological information of equine trypanosomosis in the Central River Division (CRD) of The Gambia. Therefore, 2285 consultations records of equines, admitted in a gate-clinic at Sololo in CRD, were studied retrospectively. The data were recorded in the period between September 1995 and July 2002 and comprised consultations of 2113 horses and 172 donkeys. 'Trypanosome infection' was the most frequently diagnosed condition and accounted for 61% of the cases. Horses were more frequently diagnosed with trypanosome infections than donkeys (p1 year) we...
Magdesian KG, Hogan PM, Cohen ND, Brumbaugh GW, Bernard WV.To evaluate pharmacokinetics of a high dose of gentamicin administered i.v. or i.m. to horses. Methods: Repeated-measures study. Methods: 6 clinically normal female adult stock-type horses. Methods: All horses were given gentamicin (6.6 mg/kg [3 mg/lb] of body weight), i.v. and i.m., in a two-way cross-over design. Serum gentamicin concentrations were measured during a 24-hour period. Results: Plasma concentration curves were consistent with a two-compartment model. Maximum plasma gentamicin concentrations were 71.9 +/- 15.7 micrograms/ml (0 hours after injection) and 22.0 +/- 4.9 micrograms/m...
Bigbie RB, Schumacher J, Swaim SF, Purohit RC, Wright JC.Equine amnion and live yeast cell derivative were evaluated as a biological dressing and as a topical wound medicament respectively, in the treatment of granulating wounds of the distal portion of the limbs of horses. Wounds measuring 2.5 x 2.5 cm were created on the dorsomedial aspect of the metacarpal and metatarsal region of all 4 limbs of 9 horses. Each wound was assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatment groups: group C, treated with a nonadherent bandage as a control; group A, treated with amnion beneath a nonadherent bandage; and group L, treated with live yeast cell derivative beneath a non...
Raidal SL.Antimicrobial stewardship involves the judicious use of antimicrobials balanced against the requirement to treat the presenting clinical condition. The same mandate and principles as discussed in human medicine and other veterinary disciplines are relevant to equine practice. This brief review will focus on available resources for equine practitioners, emerging perspectives on antimicrobial use and stewardship, and opportunities for more effective antimicrobial use in equine practice. There is a need for improved client education, availability of faster and more accurate techniques for identif...
Wallsten H, Olsson K, Dahlborn K.Clipping the winter coat in horses is done to improve heat dissipation during exercise and make grooming easier. It is often combined with blanketing to keep the horse warm. The aims of the present study were to investigate how clipping and the use of blankets affect thermoregulation during exercise and recovery in horses. Methods: One Gotland pony, one New Forest pony, and one warm-blooded horse exercised one after the other on a 6450 m long track. The horses walked, trotted and cantered according to a predetermined scheme, which took about 50 minutes including three stops. The scheme was rep...
Nielsen MK, Gee EK, Hansen A, Waghorn T, Bell J, Leathwick DM.Strongylid and ascarid parasites are omnipresent in equine stud farms, and ever-increasing levels of anthelmintic resistance are challenging the industry with finding more sustainable and yet effective parasite control programs. Objective: To evaluate egg count levels, bodyweight and equine health under defined parasite control protocols in foals and mares at two Standardbred and two Thoroughbred stud farms. Methods: Longitudinal randomised field trial. Methods: A total of 93 foals were enrolled and split into two treatment groups, and 99 mares were enrolled and assigned to three treatment gro...
Bohn AA, Ferris RA, McCue PM.There have been no studies evaluating and comparing the quality of equine endometrial cytology samples obtained via the 3 most common sampling techniques from healthy mares. Objective: The objective was to compare the quality and contents of equine endometrial samples obtained by 3 different sampling techniques: double-guarded uterine swab, double-guarded uterine brush, and low-volume lavage (LVL), all collected from clinically healthy mares. Methods: Samples were collected from 24 healthy mares in early estrus. In 19 mares, samples were obtained in a sequential manner, first with the swab, th...
