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.
Pinzón-Osorio CA, Cortés-Beltrán D, Sanchez-Isaza CA, Jiménez-Robayo LM, Lozano-Márquez H, Zambrano-Varón J, Jiménez-Escobar C.A 4-year-old Colombian Creole mare was presented for diagnosis because the external orifice of her cervix was not detectable when a uterine lavage as therapy for uterine fluid accumulation was attempted. Clinical and ultrasonographic evaluation of the genital tract revealed that ovaries were of normal size and showed structures suggestive of regular ovarian activity. However, granular free-floating fluid material distending the uterus was detected by ultrasound. Upon vaginal examination, the normal external cervical morphology was not evident. The vagina ended in a blind bag with a small papil...
Pinzón-Osorio CA, Meneses-Martínez H, Botero-Espinosa L, Herrera-Luna CV.A 10 year-old endurance Arabian mare was presented with an invasive, firm, multilobulated mass at the left ventral face of the tongue. The mare had a history of four months of ptyalism, dysphagia, severe halitosis, and dysmastication. The Evaluation of the horse included physical and oral examination, complete blood count and serum biochemistry profile, computed tomography evaluation of the head, and histopathology of the mass. The computerized tomography (CT) head scan showed the homogeneous mass in the oral cavity confirming the degree of invasion on the tongue, as well as a small mineral fo...
Velloso Alvarez A, Boone L, Horzmann K, Hanson RR.To combine laparoscopic techniques with natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (hybrid NOTES) to minimize number and enlargement of paralumbar laparoscopic portals for bilateral ovariectomy in standing, sedated mares. Methods: Case series. Methods: Six horses. Methods: Six mares with palpably normal ovaries were restrained in stocks, sedated, and had caudal epidural anesthesia performed. A 7.5 MHz ultrasound probe was used transvaginally to select placement of vaginotomy. An attempt was made to remove both ovaries with 70 cm esophageal forceps through the vaginotomy, while visualiz...
Jiménez BLM, Elghandour MMMY, Adegbeye MJ, Tirado González DN, Tirado Estrada G, Salem AZM, Pacheco EBF, Pliego AB.In the race against deadly diseases, multiple drugs have been developed as a treatment strategy in livestock. Each treatment is based on a specific mechanism to find a suitable drug. Antibiotics have become a fundamental part of the equine industry to treat bacterial diseases. These antibiotics have specific doses and side effects, and understanding each parameter allows veterinarians to avoid or limit the adverse effects of such drugs. Use of antibiotics causes microbial imbalance, decreased microbial diversity and richness in both cecal and fecal samples. Antibiotics reduced metabolites prod...
Makra Z, Eördögh R, Fábián I, Veres-Nyéki K.To compare the corneal anaesthetic effect of 0.5% bupivacaine, 2% lidocaine and 0.4% oxybuprocaine on normal equine eyes. Methods: Prospective, blinded crossover study. Methods: A group of 10 clinically healthy horses. Methods: Corneal sensitivity was determined in each eye by measuring corneal touch threshold (CTT). The study had three phases. Each subject was randomly given one of the three treatments followed by a 72 hour washout period. Every horse received all treatments. Baseline CTT was recorded prior to anaesthetic instillation (T0) then CTT was measured 5 and 10 minutes after (T1 and ...
Cooper HE, Davidson EJ, Slack J, Ortved KF.To report the clinical features, treatment, and outcome in horses with cellulitis and concurrent septic tendonitis and/or desmitis. Methods: Short case series. Methods: Medical records from 2000 to 2019 were reviewed, identifying horses with cellulitis and concurrent septic tendonitis and/or desmitis based on sonographic examination and positive bacterial culture. Signalment, ultrasonographic results, bacterial culture, treatment, duration of hospitalization, and complications were recorded. Long-term outcome data were obtained from follow-up examinations and/or telephone interviews. Successfu...
Farinelli F, de Rezende ASC, Fonseca MG, Lana ÂMQ, Leme FOP, Klein BON, Silva RHP, de Abreu AP, Damazio MJ, Melo MM.The Horse Agribusiness Complex is an important activity in the Brazilian agricultural sector. Mangalarga Marchador (MM) is the most numerous breed of horses in Brazil and its temperament and gait characteristics (4-beat stepping gait) allow for the constant growth of the breed and the performance of vs. equestrian activities. The training management currently adopted with MM horses is based on empiricism, and scientific support is necessary to improve the well-being of horses in competitions and maintain the physical integrity of these athletes. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the effect...
The research paper involves a study targeting lesions in the foot joints of Warmblood horses, which was found to be common. However, the authors acknowledge that the initial paper contained […]
Bookbinder L, Schott HC.To describe refeeding syndrome in an equid without a history of recognized risk factors. Methods: Refeeding syndrome with marked hypophosphatemia developed in an aged miniature donkey gelding during treatment of suspected enterocolitis. Hypophosphatemia (manifested clinically as ileus and neuromuscular weakness) developed despite a short (3 day) history of hyporexia, increased body condition (7/9), and adherence to nutritional recommendations for critically ill equids. Nutritional support included nasogastric enteral feeding with a commercial equine nutrition product claiming to provide 100% o...
Wild I, Freeman S, Robles D, Matamoros D, Ortiz M, Rodriguez J, Burford J.In Honduras, many families are reliant on working equids in their daily life. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge about, and approaches to colic used by owners of working equids in Choluteca, Honduras using a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured, verbal questionnaires were conducted with ninety-three owners from eleven different communities in the Choluteca region on equid horse owners' knowledge of colic and treatments. Additional context was gained through observations and verbal questionnaires with three veterinary practitioners and eight agricultural pharmacy (agrovet) st...
Morice P, Allano M, Provost C, Fairbrother JH, Gagnon CA, Sauvé F.Genomic characterization was conducted on 2 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from 2 horses hospitalized during an overlapping period of time and 2 methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strains isolated from 2 distinct horses. Phylogenetic proximity was traced and the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of the antimicrobial resistance of the strains were compared. Whole genome sequencing of MRSA strains for this report was similar but differed from whole genome sequencing of MSSA strains. The MRSA strains were closely related, belonging to sequence type ...
Vermedal H, Valverde A, Sears W.The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of anesthesia duration on the quality of recovery in horses. The medical records of horses that were anesthetized and underwent surgery for elective and emergency soft tissue and orthopedic conditions from 2013 to 2019 were reviewed. Horses included in the study (N = 305) fulfilled the following requirements: all had the same premedication/induction protocol and the same balanced anesthesia for maintenance and were anesthetized by the same, experienced Board-certified anesthesiologist. A standardized anesthetic recovery score was comple...
Fülber J, Agreste FR, Seidel SRT, Sotelo EDP, Barbosa ÂP, Michelacci YM, Baccarin RYA.Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a promising therapy for the treatment of equine joint diseases, studied due to their possible immunomodulatory characteristics and regenerative capacity. However, the source of most suitable MSCs for producing cartilage for regenerative processes in conjunction with biomaterials for an enhanced function is yet to be established. Objective: To compare the chondrogenicity of MSCs derived from synovial fluid, bone marrow, and adipose tissue of horses, using the aggrecan synthesis. Methods: MSCs from ten horses were cultured, phenotypic characterization was ...
Sallé G, Canlet C, Cortet J, Koch C, Malsa J, Reigner F, Riou M, Perrot N, Blanchard A, Mach N.The widespread failure of anthelmintic drugs against nematodes of veterinary interest requires novel control strategies. Selective treatment of the most susceptible individuals could reduce drug selection pressure but requires appropriate biomarkers of the intrinsic susceptibility potential. To date, this has been missing in livestock species. Here, we selected Welsh ponies with divergent intrinsic susceptibility (measured by their egg excretion levels) to cyathostomin infection and found that their divergence was sustained across a 10-year time window. Using this unique set of individuals, we...
Ortega Granda O, Valle C, Shannon A, Decroly E, Canard B, Coutard B, Rabah N.Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a reemerging arthropod-borne virus causing encephalitis in humans and domesticated animals. VEEV possesses a positive single-stranded RNA genome capped at its 5' end. The capping process is performed by the nonstructural protein nsP1, which bears methyl and guanylyltransferase activities. The capping reaction starts with the methylation of GTP. The generated mGTP is complexed to the enzyme to form an mGMP-nsP1 covalent intermediate. The mGMP is then transferred onto the 5'-diphosphate end of the viral RNA. Here, we explore the specificities of the...
Pfau T, Persson-Sjodin E, Gardner H, Orssten O, Hernlund E, Rhodin M.Differences in movement asymmetry between surfaces and with increasing speed increase the complexity of incorporating gait analysis measurements from lunging into clinical decision making. This observational study sets out to quantify by means of quantitative gait analysis the influence of surface and speed on individual-rein movement asymmetry measurements and their averages across reins (average-rein measurements). Head, withers, and pelvic movement asymmetry was quantified in 27 horses, identified previously as presenting with considerable movement asymmetries on the straight, during trot i...
Finno CJ.Hoof wall separation disease (HWSD) is a genetic defect in Connemara ponies characterised by separation and cracking of the dorsal hoof wall. The disease can result in chronic inflammation, severe lameness and laminitis. Affected ponies typically show clinical signs within the first six months of life. The disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The genetic mutation is a frameshift mutation in the gene SERPINB11, (c.504_505insC). Carriers are completely normal, only ponies that are homozygous for the mutation will have clinical signs of the disease. Within the Connemara breed, ca...
Swain O'Fallon EA.Foal emergencies can be intimidating to manage in the field, yet many conditions will respond well to the supportive care possible on the farm. Triage of the foal targets focused supportive care to stabilize the foal before referral to a hospital or to facilitate the management in the field. There are many diagnostic and therapeutic options available in the field setting to support a successful outcome on the farm.
Turner TA.Barbiturate overdose as a method of euthanasia is becoming unacceptable. This has made alternative methods of euthanasia very important. Gunshot or captive bolt euthanasia is among methods that are acceptable, but they may not be esthetically acceptable. This has led to the use of other methods of euthanasia. Inducing anesthesia prior to euthanasia offers an easier method of control. Adjunctive techniques using intravenous potassium or magnesium salts administered intravenously and intracardiac administration of potassium chloride or intrathecal lidocaine offer alternatives that work well and ...
Wilson WD, Magdesian KG.Antimicrobial drugs play an important, often central, role in the therapeutic management of mature horses and foals with a variety of illnesses, including those requiring critical care. Antimicrobial use must be based on rational principles involving thorough patient evaluation and sound clinical judgment that indicate a high likelihood that the patient has a bacterial infection and that antimicrobials are indicated to promote recovery. The aim of antimicrobial treatment is to inflict an insult on infecting bacteria sufficient to kill the organism or render it susceptible to inactivation by na...
Kilcoyne I, Nieto JE.For the equine veterinarian, orthopedic emergencies are a common occurrence in clinical practice, with traumatic wounds of the distal limb and penetrating injuries of the hoof being some of the most common medical conditions to affect horses. Intravenous regional limb perfusion is a technique widely used for the treatment of orthopedic infections in horses. The objectives of this review are to discuss some of the clinical applications for this treatment modality in the field and to review the technique for the practitioner.
Rhodes DM, Madrigal R.Colic is one of the most frequent emergencies necessitating veterinary attention. Referral is not an option in many cases; therefore, the ability to diagnose and treat colic in an ambulatory setting is paramount. Portable imaging and point-of-care testing has improved the ability to identify lesions and assess the patient's status. In cases when field management is the only option, practitioners should be aware of the various treatment options available.
Lu KG, Sprayberry KA.Selected conditions affecting broodmares are discussed, including arterial rupture, dystocia, foal support with ex utero intrapartum treatment, uterine prolapse, postpartum colic, the metritis/sepsis/systemic inflammatory response syndrome complex, and retained fetal membranes. Postpartum colic beyond third-stage labor contractions should prompt comprehensive evaluation for direct injuries to the reproductive tract or indirect injury of the intestinal tract. Mares with perforation or rupture of the uterus are typically recognized 1 to 3 days after foaling, with depression, fever, and leukopen...
Sprayberry KA, Lu KG.Selected emergency conditions of male and female reproductive tracts in horses are described, including injuries affecting the external genitalia of male horses and emergent conditions arising during gestation in mares. Conditions affecting male horses are discussed in the context of breeding stallions, but kicks or other mechanisms of trauma in the groin can also affect geldings. Priapism, paraphimosis, trauma to the scrotum and testicles, and penile injury are discussed. In mares, traumatic vestibular injury, placentitis, hydropsic conditions, prepubic tendon and abdominal wall compromise, a...
Palmer S, Gomez AMM, Mohammed HO.A longitudinal retrospective study was carried out to investigate the attrition of Thoroughbred (TB) and Standardbred (SB) horses racing at New York racetracks during the 2016 to 2019 seasons. The data were collected from the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) Equine Breakdown, Death, Injury and Incident (EBDII), The Jockey Club InCompass Solutions, and The United States Trotting Association Pathway databases. Survival analysis was used to compare the predisposing factors by breed of the horse. The study included 431 horses (360 TB and 71 SB). There was a significant difference between t...
Roessner HA, Hurcombe SD, Klein CE, Hopster K, Engiles JB.To compare end-to-end jejunal anastomoses with a one-layer (Utrecht) and two-layer (simple continuous/Cushing) patterns. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Eight healthy adult horses. Methods: Jejunal end-to-end anastomoses were performed in randomly assigned one-layer or two-layer patterns. Horses were recovered from surgery and monitored for complications. At 14 days, the opposite pattern was performed (cross-over design) prior to euthanasia. Duration of closures was compared between patterns. Serosal width was measured before harvesting anastomotic sites from the first procedure. Lumin...
Hall NP, Ragle CA, Farnsworth KD, Caffey SR, Sanclemente JL.To describe a technique for basihyoid-ceratohyoid disarticulation (BCD) in standing sedated horses affected by temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) and report outcomes for horses that underwent the procedure. Methods: 6 client-owned horses. Methods: Electronic medical records of a veterinary teaching hospital were searched to identify horses that underwent BCD for treatment of THO from 2018 to 2019. Signalment, clinical data, use of the horse, and complications were recorded. Follow-up data obtained by telephone interview with owners included the clinical outcome and time to improvement after s...
Podico G, Gray SM, Wang L, Canisso IF.An 8-y-old jenny was presented because of anorexia and mild depression. The jenny had weaned her colt 10 d before the admission. Upon arrival at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, the heart rate was elevated, and the right udder was painful and swollen on palpation. Milk stripping of the affected side revealed purulent content; the contralateral udder had normal-appearing milk. Cytology of mammary gland secretions from the affected side revealed a large number of hypersegmented reactive neutrophils with phagocytized bacteria. Complete blood count, serum chemistry, and f...
Gómez-Torres F, Ruíz-Sauri A.The His bundle is a part of the specialized electrical conduction system that provides a connection between the atrial and ventricular myocardial compartments in both normal and abnormal hearts. The aim of this study was to perform a morphometric analysis of His bundle characteristics of in humans, dogs, horses and pigs and compare them in these studied species. Histological sections of 5 μm thickness were obtained and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome; the desmin and periodic acid-Schiff methods were also used for precise identification of cells. The His bundle was found...
van Galen G, Leblond A, Tritz P, Martinelle L, Pronost S, Saegerman C.Diagnosis of equine herpesvirus-1 associated myeloencephalopathy (EHM) can be troublesome, but early recognition and knowledge of risk factors are essential for prevention and control. The objectives for this study are to (1) describe EHM in France, (2) improve clinical recognition, (3) identify risk factors. Through epidemiosurveillance of acute neurological cases (all considered to be potentially infectious cases) in France (2008-2011), 26 EHM cases were identified and 29 EHM negative control cases. EHM cases were described and compared to controls with univariate, multivariate and classific...
Buckley P, Dunn T, More SJ.Pony Club is one of the leading junior equestrian organisations in the world, and was established to teach young people the many aspects of horsemanship. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of the health and performance of Pony Club horses from the perspective of their owners. In-depth interviews were conducted with Pony Club members at two sites in Australia, and topics relating to participants' background with horses, horse attributes valued by participants, horse health and performance, and Pony Club-related matters. The in-depth interviews were taped, transcribed and analyse...
Cohen ND, Chaffin MK, Kuskie KR, Syndergaard MK, Blodgett GP, Takai S.To determine whether the concentrations of airborne virulent Rhodococcus equi in stalls housing foals during the first 2 weeks after birth are associated with subsequent development of R equi pneumonia in those foals. Methods: Air samples collected from foaling stalls and holding pens in which foals were housed during the first 2 weeks after birth. Methods: At a breeding farm in Texas, air samples (500 L each) were collected (January through May 2011) from stalls and pens in which 121 foals were housed on day 1 and on days 4, 7, and 14 after birth. For each sample, the concentration of airborn...
Hermosilla C, Coumbe KM, Habershon-Butcher J, Schöniger S.A fatal case of eosinophilic and granulomatous meningoencephalitis caused by the free-living panagrolaimid nematode Halicephalobus gingivalis is reported in a 10-year-old Welsh gelding in the United Kingdom. Clinical examination first revealed behavioural abnormalities which rapidly progressed to severe ataxia, reduced mentation status and cranial nerve signs. Despite symptomatic treatment no amelioration of neurological signs was achieved and the horse was subjected to euthanasia. A complete post mortem examination revealed eosinophilic and granulomatous meningoencephalitis mainly affecting t...
Marth CD, Young ND, Glenton LY, Noden DM, Browning GF, Krekeler N.The steroid hormone environment in healthy horses seems to have a significant impact on the efficiency of their uterine immune response. The objective of this study was to characterize the changes in gene expression in the equine endometrium in response to the introduction of bacterial pathogens and the influence of steroid hormone concentrations on this expression. Methods: Endometrial biopsies were collected from five horses before and 3 h after the inoculation of Escherichia coli once in oestrus (follicle >35 mm in diameter) and once in dioestrus (5 days after ovulation) and analysed usi...
Firestone SM, Lewis FI, Schemann K, Ward MP, Toribio JA, Taylor MR, Dhand NK.Australia experienced its first ever outbreak of equine influenza in August 2007. Horses on 9359 premises were infected over a period of 5 months before the disease was successfully eradicated through the combination of horse movement controls, on-farm biosecurity and vaccination. In a previous premises-level case-control study of the 2007 equine influenza outbreak in Australia, the protective effect of several variables representing on-farm biosecurity practices were identified. Separately, factors associated with horse managers' perceptions of the effectiveness of biosecurity measures have b...
Kooyman FN, van Doorn DC, Geurden T, Mughini-Gras L, Ploeger HW, Wagenaar JA.For the control of cyathostomins in horses, the macrocyclic lactones (MLs), moxidectin (MOX) and ivermectin (IVM) are the most commonly used anthelmintics. However, reduced activity, observed as shortening of the egg reappearance period (ERP) has been described. Shortening of the ERP may be caused by a decreased susceptibility of immature worms for MLs. Alternatively, immature worms may develop faster into egg producing adults as a result of repeated ML treatments. The species composition of the larval cultures obtained shortly after ML and pyrantel (PYR) treatment can confirm the hypothesis o...
Squires E.Numerous reproductive technologies have been developed in the past several decades, which have dramatically changed the way mares are bred. This review will focus on embryo recovery and transfer, cooled-shipped embryos, embryo freezing, oocyte freezing, oocyte collection and transfer, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and sexed semen. Embryo transfer procedures have been constant for many years and the costs have not changed. The major change has been the ability to store embryos at 5 C for 12-24 hours and transport them to recipient stations. Embryo freezing has become more common us...
Brounts SH, Lund JR, Whitton RC, Ergun DL, Muir P.To evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of a novel helical fan beam CT system used for imaging of horses with a range of clinical distal limb problems. 167 horses. Medical records were reviewed of horses presented for CT of the distal limb at 2 university-based veterinary hospitals. The following data were recorded: age, sex, breed, presenting complaint, sedation used for imaging, scanning time, procedure time, other diagnostic imaging methods performed, imaging diagnosis, clinical diagnosis, and complications during imaging. Most horses were Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. Procedure times r...
Videla R, Andrews FM.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is common in horses. A history of mild intermitted recurrent colic signs after eating is noted in many horses. Management of horses with abdominal pain caused by gastric ulcers is especially difficult, because non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, typically used to control abdominal pain, may exacerbate this condition. Effective pharmacologic agents are available to treat EGUS and eliminate abdominal pain, but more comprehensive measures of environmental and dietary management are needed to manage horses with EGUS and prevent recurrence. This article focu...
Reisinger N, Schaumberger S, Nagl V, Hessenberger S, Schatzmayr G.The pathogenesis of laminitis is not completely identified and the role of endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) in this process remains unclear. Phytogenic substances, like milk thistle (MT) and silymarin, are known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and might therefore have the potential to counteract endotoxin induced effects on the hoof lamellar tissue. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of endotoxins on lamellar tissue integrity and to test if MT and silymarin are capable of inhibiting LPS-induced effects in an in vitro/ex vivo model. In preliminary ...
Faber M, Johnston C, van Weeren PR, Barneveld A.We tested the hypothesis that repeatability of a standardised protocol for quantifying back kinematics is sufficiently high not to prevent its use in the clinical evaluation of horses with back problems. We investigated the extent to which differences between laboratories may affect the results when a standardised protocol is used. As a clinical tool, movement analysis techniques are helpful for the objective and quantitative assessment of kinematics. Knowledge about the repeatability of the kinematic data is very important. The present study investigates the repeatability of back kinematics i...
Parker RA, Yeates JW.Assessing patients' quality of life (QOL) is a core part of clinical decision making. Various methodologies for assessing patients' QOL have been developed in human medicine and small animal veterinary disciplines. In contrast, the lack of aids for QOL assessment in equine veterinary practice leaves practitioners reliant on subjective assessments of QOL, which may be prone to avoidable errors. Objective: This paper suggests pragmatic ways in which QOL may be enhanced, while remaining appropriate for the time, financial and owner-based constraints within equine practice. Methods: Through interd...
Matsuoka T.Gelded horses of mixed breeding, ranging in weight between 360 and 455 kg, were fed pellets that contained monensin at concentrations of 279, 124, 31, and 0 ppm. Of 2 horses fed 279 ppm (253 g/T), both died. Of 3 horses fed 125 ppm (113 g/T), 1 died; feed intake was reduced in the 2 survivors. Of 3 horses fed 31 ppm (28 g/T), 1 had a transitory reduction in feed intake and the other 2 remained clinically normal. The 2 horses fed 0 ppm remained clinically normal. Monensin was also given to horses by gavage, at dosages of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 20 mg/kg of body weight. The LD50 was estimated to be betwe...
Prochno HC, Barussi FM, Bastos FZ, Weber SH, Bechara GH, Rehan IF, Michelotto PV.Infrared thermography has been used to help in diagnosing lameness. It is hypothesized that, if used in a routine basis, it could help in understanding musculoskeletal modifications during race training. This study aimed to evaluate thermal variation in the musculoskeletal regions of young Thoroughbred (TB) horses during their initial months of race training. Thermographic examinations were performed once every 2 weeks on 16 (10 male, 6 female) two-year-old TB racehorses, from arrival to the racetrack in June 2016, until January 2017, for a total of 16 evaluations. Thermographic imaging was pe...
Kelley LC, Mahaffey EA.Gross lesions, microscopic appearance, and immunophenotyping are reported in a retrospective study of 31 cases of equine malignant lymphoma. Immunohistochemical studies were performed on archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. Monoclonal antibodies to surface glycoprotein BLA.36 and intracytoplasmic domains of mb-1 and B29 were used to document the presence of B lymphocytes in the equine tumors. Polyclonal antibody to CD3 and monoclonal antibodies to T-lymphocyte markers CD3 and CD5 revealed the presence of variable numbers of T cells within the equine lymphomas. The neoplastic com...
Takahashi Y, Takahashi T.Exertional heat illness (EHI) is recognised in horses, but few reports have investigated its risk factors. Objective: To identify risk factors for EHI in racehorses participating in flat races in Japan. Methods: Descriptive epidemiology and retrospective unmatched case-control study. Methods: Between 2005 and 2016, veterinary records of horses diagnosed with EHI after flat races were reviewed retrospectively and data of the months from April to September were used for a case-control study. For each case, three control horses were randomly selected from starts between April and September. Race ...
Gold SJ, Werpy NM, Gutierrez-Nibeyro SD.Sagittal groove injuries of the proximal phalanx are an important cause of lameness in performance horses. The purpose of this retrospective case series study was to describe standing low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of these injuries in a group of Warmblood horses. Horses with an MRI diagnosis of sagittal groove injuries involving the proximal phalanx and that had follow-up MRI and clinical outcome information were included. Findings from clinical examinations, diagnostic tests, and other imaging modalities were recorded. All MRI studies were retrieved for re-evaluat...
Torres SM, Koch SN.This article reviews various aspects of 3 clinical disorders associated with papillomavirus in horses commonly known as classical viral papillomatosis, genital papillomas/papillomatosis, and aural plaques. Classical papillomatosis is usually asymptomatic and spontaneously resolves within 1 to 9 months; therefore, treatment is often not required. Genital papillomas/papillomatosis have not been reported to spontaneously resolve, and there is increasing evidence that genital papillomas may evolve to in situ or invasive squamous cell carcinomas. Horses with aural plaques may be asymptomatic or may...
Théon AP, Pascoe JR, Carlson GP, Krag DN.Twenty horses with 30 lesions were studied to evaluate the effects of intratumoral chemotherapy with cisplatin in sesame oil on equine sarcoids (n = 19), squamous cell carcinomas (n = 7), and squamous cell papillomas (n = 4). Treatment consisted of 4 sessions of intratumoral cisplatin chemotherapy at 2-week intervals. A controlled-release formulation of cisplatin in sesame oil was used to limit drug egress from the injection site. Mean dosage per session was 0.97 (+/- 0.17, SEM) mg of cisplatin/cm3 of tumor tissue treated for tumor volumes ranging from 10 to 20 cm3. Dosage tended to be slightl...
Hartmann E, Bøe KE, Christensen JW, Hyyppä S, Jansson H, Jørgensen GH, Ladewig J, Mejdell CM, Norling Y, Rundgren M, Särkijärvi S....Keeping horses in groups is widely recommended but limited information is available about how this is implemented in practice. The aim of this survey was to describe how horses are kept in the Nordic countries in relation to sex, age, breed, and equestrian discipline and to assess owners' attitudes toward keeping horses in groups. Horse owners in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden were approached using a web-based questionnaire, which was translated into 4 languages and distributed online via equestrian forums, organizations, and social media. The number of respondents was 3,229, taking care...
Kang OD, Lee WS.This study aimed to estimate the change of stress level in horses based on cortisol concentration levels in their saliva. A total of 61 horses were divided into the following three groups: i) tourist riding experience (TR, n = 23); ii) resting group (RR, n = 14); and iii) horse-riding education (ER, n = 24). The saliva samples of TR and ER groups were taken using plain cotton Salivettes four times a day: at 07:00 (basal), 11:00 (Exercise 1, after 1-hour exercise in the morning), 14:00 (Exercise 2, after 1-hour exercise in the afternoon), and 16:00 (Exercise 3, after 1-hour exercise in the afte...
Akter R, Legione A, Sansom FM, El-Hage CM, Hartley CA, Gilkerson JR, Devlin JM.Equine abortion is a cause of severe economic loss to the equine industry. Equine herpesvirus 1 is considered a primary cause of infectious abortion in horses, however other infectious agents can also cause abortion. Abortions due to zoonotic pathogens have implications for both human and animal health. We determined the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii, Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in 600 aborted equine foetal tissues that were submitted to our diagnostic laboratories at the University of Melbourne from 1994 to 2019. Using qPCR we found that the prevalence of C. burnetii was 4%. The h...
Robles M, Nouveau E, Gautier C, Mendoza L, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Lagofun B, Aubrière MC, Lejeune JP, Caudron I, Guenon I, Viguié C, Wimel L....Obesity is a growing concern in horses. The effects of maternal obesity on maternal metabolism and low-grade inflammation during pregnancy, as well as offspring growth, metabolism, low-grade inflammation, testicular maturation and osteochondrotic lesions until 18 months of age were investigated. Twenty-four mares were used and separated into two groups at insemination according to body condition score (BCS): Normal (N, n = 10, BCS ≤4) and Obese (O, n = 14, BCS ≥4.25). BCS and plasma glucose, insulin, triglyceride, urea, non-esterified fatty acid, serum amyloid A (SAA), leptin and adiponect...
Da Silva AS, Garcia Perez HA, Costa MM, França RT, De Gasperi D, Zanette RA, Amado JA, Lopes ST, Teixeira MM, Monteiro SG.In this study, we reported the first outbreak of the infection by Trypanosoma vivax in horses in southern Brazil, a non-endemic region where bovines have only recently been found infected by this trypanosome species. We evaluated 12 horses from a farm in southern Brazil, where four horses displayed pale mucous membranes, fever, weight loss, and swelling of abdomen, prepuce, or vulva. The diagnosis of T. vivax was confirmed in four horses by morphological parameters of trypomastigotes in blood smears and species-specific PCR. All T. vivax-infected animals showed anemia, and most showed increase...
Clayton HM, Kaiser LJ, Lavagnino M, Stubbs NC.To identify differences in intersegmental bending angles in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar portions of the vertebral column between the end positions during performance of 3 dynamic mobilization exercises in cervical lateral bending in horses. Methods: 8 nonlame horses. Methods: Skin-fixed markers on the head, cervical transverse processes (C1-C6) and spinous processes (T6, T8, T10, T16, L2, L6, S2, and S4) were tracked with a motion analysis system with the horses standing in a neutral position and in 3 lateral bending positions to the left and right sides during chin-to-girth, chin-to-hi...
Van den Eede A, Hermans K, Van den Abeele A, Floré K, Dewulf J, Vanderhaeghen W, Crombé F, Butaye P, Gasthuys F, Haesebrouck F, Martens A.Given the significance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections for both horses and staff in equine veterinary hospitals, protocols are required to minimise the risk of nosocomial transmission, including the screening of the skin and nasal chambers of equine patients for evidence of infection. The objective of this study was to clarify the potential existence and extent of MRSA on the skin of horses requiring long-term hospitalisation (≥ 6 months). Thirty such horses were sampled at eight different locations on their skin and from their nasal chambers. MRSA was isolat...
Poole DC, Erickson HH.As the Thoroughbreds race for the final stretch, 44 hooves flash and thunder creating a cacophony of tortured air and turf. Orchestrated by selective breeding for physiology and biomechanics, expressed as speed, the millennia-old symphony of man and beast reaches its climax. At nearly 73 kilometers per hour (45 mph) over half a ton of flesh and bone dwarfs its limpet-like jockey as, eyes wild and nostrils flaring, their necks stretch for glory. Beneath each resplendent livery-adorned, latherin-splattered coat hides a monstrous heart trilling at 4 beats per second, and each minute, driving over...
Borer KE, Bailey SR, Menzies-Gow NJ, Harris PA, Elliott J.Identification of ponies (Equus caballus) at increased risk of pasture-associated laminitis would aid in the prevention of the disease. Insulin resistance has been associated with laminitis and could be used to identify susceptible individuals. Insulin resistance may be diagnosed by feeding supplementary water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and measuring blood glucose and insulin concentrations. The aim of this study was to assess the glycemic and insulinemic responses of 7 normal (NP) and 5 previously laminitic (PLP), mixed breed, native UK ponies fed glucose, fructose, and inulin [1 g/(kg·d) fo...
Hilton H, Puchalski SM, Aleman M.Equine temporohyoid osteoarthropathy is characterized by progressive osseous proliferation of the temporohyoid articulation and surrounding structures. The diagnosis has generally been made using radiography and endoscopy of the guttural pouch. Recently, computed tomography (CT) has been used in the diagnosis of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy. This study was performed to determine the CT imaging characteristics of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy and to compare these to radiographic and endoscopic findings. CT scans from 16 horses with a final diagnosis of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy were review...