Veterinary medicine for horses encompasses the study and application of medical practices to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases in equine species. This field involves a comprehensive understanding of equine anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology. Veterinary practitioners employ a range of diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions to address health issues in horses, including lameness, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory conditions, and infectious diseases. Preventative care, such as vaccination and deworming programs, is also a significant aspect of equine veterinary medicine. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of veterinary medicine as it pertains to horses, including advancements in diagnostic techniques, treatment protocols, and preventive health strategies.
Kotilainen T, Huhtinen M, Katila T.The objective of this study was to investigate the inflammatory reaction induced in the equine uterus by insemination with fresh and frozen semen. Eleven groups (6 to 8 mares per group) were studied during 2 breeding seasons. The mares were inseminated using raw semen, frozen semen, extended fresh and frozen semen, concentrated fresh semen, seminal plasma and seminal extenders only. One group was bred naturally. Six hours after insemination, the uteri were flushed with 50 ml of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Seventeen out of 104 samples (16%) exhibited slight bacterial growth. Neutrophil con...
Ginther OJ, Baucus KL, Bergfelt DR.The ovaries of periparturient pony mares (n=9 to 16 parturitions per month for January to April) were scanned ultrasonically on the day of parturition, while those of postpartum and control mares (n=12) were examined at least twice weekly. Four mares had apparent lactational anovulation (incidence, 7%) that corrected spontaneously (1 mare) or within 14 d after the weaning of foals on August 10 (3 mares). All but 2 of the postpartum ovulations occurred after April 29; that is, parturition did not effectively stimulate ovulation in ponies foaling during the anovulatory season. Mean diameter of t...
Jaglan PS, Roof RD, Yein FS, Arnold TS, Brown SA, Gilbertson TJ.Ceftiofur sodium, a broad spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic approved for veterinary use, is metabolized to desfuroylceftiofur which is conjugated to micro as well as macromolecules. Twelve horses, weighting 442-618 kg, were injected intramuscularly with a single dose of 2.2 mg ceftiofur/kg (1.0 mg/lb) body weight. Blood was collected at various intervals over 24 h after treatment. Three groups of four horses each were euthanized and lungs were collected at 1, 12, and 24 h after treatment. The concentration of desfuroylceftiofur and desfuroylceftiofur conjugates in the plasma and lungs was dete...
Williams J, Miyabayashi T, Ruggles A, Yamamoto J, Takiguchi M.A 2.5-year-old female Thoroughbred horse was referred to the veterinary teaching hospital for right front limb lameness of 1 year duration. Physical examination and diagnostic nerve blocks failed to localize the origin of the lameness. Scintigraphy with 99mTc-MDP suggested increased radionuclide uptake in the palmar metacarpal soft tissues of the right front limb. Ultrasonographic examination revealed hypoechoic lesions in the superficial digital flexor tendon and the suspensory ligament, suggesting tendinitis and desmitis. Combined imaging modalities improved detection and characterization of...
Hoshi F, Satho M, Koyama S, Nakadaka K, Chiba M, Ikeda N, Hakamada R, Higuchi S, Kawamura S.The usefulness of a dry-chemistry blood analyzer, Spotchem SP-4410 (SP-4410) in a veterinary clinic for analysis of bovine and equine blood chemistry was studied. We quantitated total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), total bilirubin (T-Bil), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total cholesterol (T-Cho), glucose (Glu), calcium (Ca), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in bovine sera. Each sample was assayed with both the SP-4410 and an automated blood analyzer which served as a wet-chemistry reference system, and t...
Mizuno Y, Aida H, Hara H, Fujinaga T, Hagio M.Cardiac output (CO) measurements by the three methods of dye dilution, pulsed Doppler echocardiography and thermodilution in horses under anesthetized conditions were compared. Although CO determined by the thermodilution method was slightly higher than those obtained by the other two methods, the measurements by all methods showed almost similar results. The coefficients of correlation between the dye dilution and thermodilution methods, the dye dilution and pulsed Doppler echocardiography methods, and the thermodilution and pulsed Doppler echocardiography methods were 0.87, 0.89, and 0.88, r...
Graham PM, Ott EA, Brendemuhl JH, TenBroeck SH.Thirty-nine Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse yearlings were used in two 112-d experiments to determine the effect of lysine and threonine supplementation on growth and development. Yearlings were individually fed three dietary treatments that consisted of a pelleted concentrate containing corn, oats, and soybean meal fed to appetite twice daily and Coastal bermuda grass hay group-fed at a rate of 1 kg/100 kg BW. Three concentrates were tested: (A) basal, (B) basal plus .2% lysine, and (C) basal plus .2% lysine, and .1% threonine. Feed intake, weight, withers height, girth, hip height, body lengt...
Elze K, Schulz J, Rob O.Necrosis of the skin on both lateral aspects of the hind limbs following the caudal branch of the lateral saphenous vein in 22 suckling foals is described. The first clinical signs were observed on days 2-5 post natum. S. aureus was isolated from the wounds. Decubitus in the region of the malleolus lateralis tibiae was considered the starting point of an ascending infection. This type of dermonecrosis was only observed in boxes with hard floors where the straw bedding was pushed aside by the lying foals regularly, never, however, in boxes with deep and permanent sawdust or straw bedding. Thera...
McClure JR, Chapman MR, Klei TR.Since 1978, 20 surgical implantations of either Strongylus vulgaris or Strongylus edentatus have been performed in our laboratory for the purpose of obtaining single species cultures of these parasites. Following surgical implantation peak EPG values of 13-327 (S. vulgaris) and 363-1284 (S. edentatus) generally occurred during the first 3 weeks post-implantation. Duration of infections was as long as 5 years. Successful outcome of such surgeries appears to be related to the total number of parasites used (> or = 38) and the ratio of female to male worms implanted (1:1 or 2:1).
Sönmez C, Eroglu A.The present study was carried out to investigate the pregnancy rate after covering in the foal heat (Group I), in the subsequent spontaneous heat (Group II), and in the induced heat (Group III) after administration of 7.5 mg of the prostaglandin F2 alpha analogue Luprostiol (Reprodin, Bayer) between the 20th and 22nd day post partum. Breeding during foal heat resulted in a pregnancy rate of 43.9% compared to 48.6% in the subsequent spontaneous heat post partum. Of 18 mares in group III, 14 mares had a foal heat, whereas 4 others had not shown a foal heat. 1-8 days after treatment, 14 mares (77...
Kuwamura M, Iwaki M, Yamate J, Kotani T, Sakuma S, Yamashita A.A 9-year-old male horse showed emaciation, weakness and trembling and was euthanatized. Histopathological examinations revealed loss, swelling and chromatolysis of motor neurons throughout the spinal ventral horns, axonal degeneration of the ventral spinal roots. Eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions were distributed in degenerated spinal ventral neurons. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions consisted of aggregations of granular dense material and a few vesicles. They reacted positively with polyclonal antibody against ubiquitin. The present case was diagnosed as equine motor neuron disease, which ...
Ouragh L, Mériaux JC, Braun JP.Gene frequencies at 16 blood group and protein polymorphism loci (A, C, D, K, P, Q, U, Al, Gc, Es, A1B, Tf, PGD, PGM, GPI and Pi) are given for three horse breeds in Morocco (Arabian, Arab-Barb and Barb). These data are used to calculate average heterozygosity (h), Nei's standard genetic distance (DN) and probability of exclusion (PE). Variability expressed as the average heterozygosity was lower in the Arabian (0.330 +/- 0.066), while it was higher and almost the same in the Arab-Barb (0.413 +/- 0.071) and the Barb (0.414 +/- 0.070). The shortest genetic distance was found between Barb and Ar...
Marklund S, Ellegren H, Eriksson S, Sandberg K, Andersson L.Ten (TG)n positive clones, isolated from an equine genomic library and sequenced, contained 12-19 uninterrupted TG repeats. Primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were synthesized and nine of these (TG)n loci (HTG7-15) were successfully amplified and utilized in this study together with five previously reported equine microsatellite loci (HTG2-6). The PCR products were analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by automated laser fluorescence detection or autoradiography. All microsatellites showed polymorphism and stable Mendelian inheritance. Differences in microsatellite v...
Laws EG, Freeman DE.Diamine oxidase (DAO), an enzyme of small intestinal origin, is released from mucosal storage sites by IV administration of heparin, to yield the plasma postheparin DAO (PHD) curve. The PHD curve is diminished when mucosal surface area is lost, and baseline (without heparin) plasma DAO activity increases when mucosal storage sites are damaged. Plasma DAO activity was measured after 2 doses of heparin were administered IV in healthy, conscious horses. In anesthetized horses, the PHD curve was studied: during sham small intestinal surgery, and during venous strangulation obstruction (VSO) of the...
Bostedt H, Lehmann B.By means of clinical and analytical procedures (enzyme immuno assay for progesterone with microtiterplate method) the ovarian activity from 27 mares was tested over a period of several weeks. The measurement of the progesterone level to determine the time of ovulation was proved as suitable in the period of 1-2 days after ovulation. In normocyclic mares (n = 17) a different development of the progesterone profile was detected, so that an insufficient development of the corpus luteum (35%) could be considered. By means of continuous measurement of progesterone (> or = 30 days) six of ten mares ...
Shams Eldin HE, Kirchhoff H.Tracheal swabs were taken from 25 horses with respiratory diseases and investigated for mycoplasmas using three different media. Mycoplasmas could be isolated from 5 horses. The isolates were characterized by serological and biochemical methods. Four isolates could be identified as Mycoplasma equirhinis. The fifth isolate could not be typed. It did not react with antisera against mycoplasmas found in the respiratory tract of horses and its biochemical characteristics were different from the mycoplasmas described so far. It may represent a new species.
Cooley JL, Hinchcliff KW, McKeever KH, Lamb DR, Muir WW.Effects of furosemide administration on exertion-induced changes in plasma renin activity and plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide and aldosterone in horses during sustained submaximal exertion were examined. Furosemide (1 mg/kg of body weight) or heparinized saline solution was administered IV to each of 6 mares not conditioned to exercise, either 4 hours or 2 minutes before 60 minutes of sustained submaximal running on a treadmill. Horses ran at a speed that induced heart rate approximately 65% of maximal after saline treatment. After 15 minutes of running, furosemide suppress...
Zientara S, Sailleau C, Moulay S, Cruciere C.A single tube reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method for detection of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) in splenic tissues from infected horses is described. Double stranded RNA was extracted from infected organs of horses and used to produce complementary DNA (cDNA) with the two primers selected for the PCR. The 1179 bp amplified product (the segment 7 which encodes for VP 7), detected by electrophoresis on agarose gel and ethidium bromide staining, was hydrolysed with eight restriction endonucleases for characterization of the AHSV. The sensitivity of this method i...
Cothran EG, Long YG.A new D blood group phenogroup consisting of the specificities adeo was observed in a stallion family of Caspian ponies from Iran. An additional six undescribed genetic variants were seen in a total of 82 Iranian horses. This result suggests extensive new genetic variation may be present in domestic horses from geographic regions that have not yet received scientific attention.
Sugar O.Reports of pathologic investigations as to the cause of intermittent claudication in horses were made in France in October, 1831, by veterinarian Jean-François Bouley. Obstructive clots in the femoral arteries were found to be responsible for the muscular changes causing limping. Bouley's work in the horse was used by Charcot in 1858 to understand the mechanism of claudication in the case of a soldier with gunshot wound in whom a traumatic aneurysm, clotting, and ischemia of the legs developed. This was not, however, the first medically reported case of human claudication from vascular occlus...
Tanaka S, Kaji Y, Taniyama H, Matsukawa K, Ochiai K, Itakura C.Typical Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was found in a male thoroughbred foal (46 days old) suffering from diarrhea and hypogammaglobulinemia after birth. The characteristics of the organisms were demonstrated by Grocott methenamine silver staining, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The present focal had no histological lesions suggesting immunodeficiency. However, he could not get adequate colostrum from his dam, because she died of hemorrhagic shock due to immuno-mediated thrombocytopenia at delivery. This condition was considered to have predisposed the foal to the pneumonia...
Hoberg EP, Miller S, Brown MA.We report the first documented case of autochthonous echinococcosis in a horse of North American origin. Three fully mature and viable unilocular hydatid cysts of Echinococcus granulosus (Batsch, 1786) were an incidental finding at necropsy in the liver of a 14-yr-old gelding thoroughbred that had been foaled in Virginia and raised in Maryland. Protoscolices were armed with 2 rows of 28-37 rostellar hooks; small hooks measured 23-30 microns; large hooks measured 26-33 microns. Morphologically, these were compatible with rostellar armature considered typical for the equine strain of E. granulos...
Tavernor AS, Kydd JH, Bodian DL, Jones EY, Stuart DI, Davis SJ, Butcher GW.An equine CD2 cDNA has been isolated by monoclonal antibody screening of a T-lymphocyte cDNA library. The cDNA contained an open reading frame of 1041 bp encoding a translated product of 347 amino acids. Northern blotting analysis revealed a single mRNA species expressed in spleen, thymus and activated peripheral lymphocytes. The predicted amino acid sequence has 50-65% identity with the human, rat and mouse CD2 sequences with greatest similarity shared with the human homologue. Evolutionarily conserved structural and functional domains in CD2 were identified by comparing the sequences of the ...
Jang SS, Hirsh DC.During the years from 1984 through 1991, 1,067 specimens from canine, equine, exotic, feline, porcine, and ruminant animal sources were found to contain members of the genus Fusobacterium: The most common sites or conditions from which members of this genus were isolated were abscesses, the respiratory tract, and pleural and peritoneal cavities. Most specimens contained a single Fusobacterium species. The most commonly isolated species was Fusobacterium necrophorum. Almost all of the specimens contained other obligate anaerobes together with facultative and obligate aerobes. The identities of ...
Maddison JE.Fifty-nine reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were received by the Adverse Drug Reaction Subcommittee of the Australian Veterinary Association from April 1992-March 1993 inclusive. The number of reports received/number of animals involved per species was: dogs (30/43); cats (11/14); horses (8/10); cattle (9/30); ferret (1/1). Of these, 37 (63%) were classified as definite ADRs and 12 (20%) as probable ADRs. In 10 (17%) reports an ADR could not be substantiated or there was insufficient information available to make a decision. Twenty-three reports involved apparent hypersensiti...
Mizuno Y, Aida H, Hara H, Fujinaga T.Intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) is useful method for compensate of respiratory function in anesthetized horses. However, IPPV may decrease cardiac output. Alterations in cardiac output of three groups (N = 5) healthy, halothane-anesthetized mares were determined and compared during a 120 min period of anesthesia. The groups were as follows: spontaneous ventilation (SV), controlled ventilation using an end-inspiratory pressure of 20 cmH2O (CV20) and a third group using 25 cmH2O (CV25) inspiratory pressure. In the CV groups, respiratory function was adequately maintained. Altho...
McD○ LA, Dart AJ, Schiffman P, Parrot JJ.Enterolithiasis, as a cause of colic, was diagnosed and treated during surgical intervention in 2 Grant's zebras (Equus burchelli bohmi). The zebras were part of a wild herd in a zoo in the western United States. The clinical signs of enterolithiasis in both zebras were similar to those reported for horses. Analysis of the enterolith from 1 zebra revealed a composition identical to enteroliths that have been analyzed from horses. Three other zebras from this herd had enteroliths at necropsy. Enterolithiasis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for zebras with low-grade obstructive ...
Kilcoyne I, Nieto JE, Galuppo LD, Dechant JE.To determine the median time to maximum concentration (t) of amikacin in the synovial fluid of the tarsocrural joint following IV regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) of the drug in a saphenous vein of horses. Methods: 7 healthy adult horses. Methods: With each horse sedated and restrained in a standing position, a 10-cm-wide Esmarch tourniquet was applied to a randomly selected hind limb 10 cm proximal to the point of the tarsus. Amikacin sulfate (2 g diluted with saline [0.9% NaCl] solution to a volume of 60 mL) was instilled in the saphenous vein over 3 minutes with a peristaltic pump. Tarsocrur...
Cehak A, Burmester M, Geburek F, Feige K, Breves G.The aim of this study was to characterize the transport mechanisms of electrolytes and nutrients across the jejunum of nine healthy horses electrophysiologically. The stripped mucosa was mounted in Ussing chambers and tissue conductances (G(t)) and short circuit currents (I(sc)) were continuously monitored. After blocking the sodium and potassium channels with amiloride, tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) and barium, chloride secretion was stimulated by carbachol and forskolin. Subsequently, chloride channels were inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, 5-nitro-2-(3-ph...
Stephen JO, Corley KT, Johnston JK, Pfeiffer D.To determine historical, physical, and clinical factors that may affect morbidity and mortality in horses with small intestinal volvulus unrelated to other causes (e.g., incarceration, lipoma, etc.). Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Client-owned horses (115), aged 1 month to 21 years. Methods: Data were obtained from medical records, identified by computer search and manual review. Continuous variables were compared between affected and non-affected horses with Mann-Whitney U-tests and non-continuous variables with Fisher's exact test (2 x 2 tables) or chi(2)-tests (larger tables). Stepw...
Markel MD, Orsini JA, Gentile DG, Freeman DE, Tulleners EP, Harrison IW.Four horses operated on for left dorsal displacement of the large colon (LDDLC) had major intraoperative or postoperative complications. One horse was euthanatized during surgery because of extensive necrosis of the large colon. Three horses that were discharged after surgical correction of LDDLC were readmitted with signs of abdominal pain between 5 weeks and 13 months after surgery. Two horses had recurrence of LDDLC, and the third horse had an omental adhesion attached to and obstructing the pelvic flexure. The displacements were corrected, the adhesion was broken down, and the horses were ...
Atwal OS, McDonell W.The pulmonary intravascular macrophages (PIMs) of equines contain a unique electron-dense surface coat that is predominantly composed of lipoproteins. A single exposure of inhalatory halothane causes mobilization of the surface coat into the endocytotic system of the PIMs, followed by expansion of the Golgi apparatus and its enrichment with acid phosphatase. Simultaneously, the cells of the lymphocytic series show hyperplasia in the form of mitotic changes inside the microvascular compartment of the lung. Halothane is known to cause acute and chronic hepatotoxicity because of its biotransforma...
Akköse M, Karabulut E, İnal Ş, Dik GÇ, Özbeyaz C, Kaya U, Çam M, Topal B.The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and serum total protein (STP) concentrations and serum Brix percentages of neonatal Arabian foals during first 3 weeks of life. Blood samples were collected from 12 apparently healthy foals by jugular venipuncture at birth and at 12-hours, 24-hours, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15 and 21 days of age. Serum IgG and STP concentrations and Brix percentages were measured by the radial immunodiffusion assay, and digital STP and Brix refractometers, respectively. Based on the serum IgG concentrations measured at 24 h, ...
Schneider RK, Meyer DJ, Embertson RM, Gentile DG, Buergelt CD.Peritoneal lavage was performed on ponies to determine the effect on peritoneal surfaces. Lavage solution (20 L) was introduced into each pony's peritoneal cavity through catheters placed in the paralumbar fossa, and the solution was removed by drainage from the ventral portion of the abdomen. Six ponies each were lavaged with sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, sterile saline solution containing 5 X 10(6) U of potassium penicillin and 3 g of neomycin or povidone-iodine diluted to 3% by volume with sterile saline solution, and 3 ponies were lavaged with povidone-iodine diluted to 10% with ste...
Geiser DR, Andrews FM, Rohrbach BW, Provenza MK.To determine normal acid-base status of the CSF and to compare it with changes during acute hypercapnia in equine neonates. Methods: 10 clinically normal foals between 1 and 12 days old. Methods: CSF and arterial and venous blood samples were collected every 15 minutes during 45 minutes of normocapnia and 90 minutes of hypercapnia in isoflurane-anesthetized foals. CSF samples were collected via a subarachnoid catheter placed in the atlanto-occipital space. Results: Comparison of blood and CSF gases during normocapnia indicated that CSF was significantly more acidic than blood. The lower pH was...
Breuhaus BA.This study was performed to determine whether anhidrotic horses have altered thyroid function compared with horses that sweat normally. Objective: Anhidrotic horses have normal thyroid function. Methods: Ten client-owned horses with clinical signs of anhidrosis were paired with 10 horses living in the same environment that had normal sweat production. Methods: Horses were diagnosed as having normal sweat production or being anhidrotic based on responses to intradermal injections of terbutaline and physiologic responses to lunging exercise. Control horses were selected from the same environment...
Fernández-Varón E, Ayala I, Marín P, Carrión A, Martos N, Escudero E, Cárceles CM.Danofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone developed for veterinary medicine showing an excellent activity. However, danofloxacin pharmacokinetics profile have not been studied in horses previously. Objective: To study the pharmacokinetics following i.v., i.m. and intragastric (i.g.) administration of 1.25 mg/kg bwt danofloxacin to 6 healthy horses. Methods: A cross-over design was used in 3 phases (2 x 2 x 2), with 2 washout periods of 15 days (n = 6). Danofloxacin (18%) was administered by i.v. and i.m. routes at single doses of 1.25 mg/kg bwt. For i.g. administration an oral solution was prepared an...
Panasophonkul S, Lohachit C, Sirivaidyapong S.To study the postpartum ovarian activities for investigation of first postpartum oestrus, twenty-five Thai crossbred native mares were monitored after parturition by oestrous detection, transrectal palpation and reproductive ultrasonography. Blood samplings were also taken for estradiol-17beta (E2) analysis. The first ovulation occurred within 20 days postpartum in 92% (23/25) of the mares. The mean intervals of foaling to first oestrus and to first ovulation were 10.3 +/- 2.9 and 13.4 +/- 2.6 days (mean +/- SD) respectively. Serum E2 increased from 7.0 +/- 2.9 to a peak of 10.8 +/- 3.3 pg/ml ...
Bartak M, Chodkowski M, Słońska A, Bańbura MW, Cymerys J.In the present study, the influence of the infection with equine herpesvirus type 1 (non-neuro-pathogenic and neuropathogenic strains of EHV-1) on the morphology and distribution of mitochondrial network in equine dermal cell line was investigated. Our results indicate that EHV-1-infection caused changes in the mitochondrial morphology manifested mostly by fission and reactive oxygen species generation.
Chay S, Woods WE, Rowse K, Nugent TE, Blake JW, Tobin T.Studies were undertaken to determine blood levels of furosemide in horses after 0.5- and 1.0-mg/kg doses administered iv. Analyses indicated that the pharmacokinetic parameters were dose independent and best described by a three-compartment open model. The alpha-, beta-, and gamma-phase half-lives of 5.6, 22.3, and 158.5 min, respectively, were observed after the 0.5-mg/kg dose. Similarly, the respective half-lives after the 1.0-mg/kg dose were 5.8, 24.1, and 177.2 min. After a 0.5-mg/kg dose of furosemide, population frequency distributions were evaluated at 1 hr and 4 hr post-drug administra...
Hauspie S, Forsyth R, Vanderperren K, Declercq J, Martens A, Saunders JH.The objective of this study is to describe the normal histological appearance of the dorsoproximal aspect of the sagittal ridge of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone in young Warmblood horses, and to compare it to the different radiographic variations (irregular, indentation, lucency, notch) described at this level. A total of 25 metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints of 12 Warmblood horses were used. Five samples of each radiographically described group were selected for histological processing. Each category was compared with the normal control group. Each group showed a bone cortex, covered...
Neuhauser S, Handler J, Schelling C, Pieńkowska-Schelling A.Chromosomal abnormalities are notable causes of infertility in horses. Mares show various degrees of estrous behavior, and ultrasound examination often reveals an underdeveloped genital tract. This article reports investigations on fertility in a Haflinger sibship with a healthy, normally developed, fertile mare with at least three healthy offspring. Chromosomal analysis performed incidentally and blinded for this mare revealed 63,X/64,XX/65,XXX mosaicism. Two closely related mares were also mosaics (63,X/64,XX), and one of them was a carrier of a marker chromosome. Repeated examinations of th...
Vecchi I, Sabbioni A, Bigliardi E, Morini G, Ferrari L, Di Ciommo F, Superchi P, Parmigiani E.Standardbred maiden mares are generally stressed and in poor physical condition because of their incorrect management at the end of their racing careers. The purpose of this study was to identify an objective assessment that, similar to body condition score (BCS) determination, is easy to measure and able to confirm or improve fattening status assessment, as well as to ascertain whether a relationship with reproduction efficiency exists in subjects destined for a first-time insemination program. The authors assessed 29 Standardbred maiden mares (7 +/- 2 years old) during the breeding season. O...
Pang H, Kong XG, Sentsui H, Kono Y, Sugiura T, Hasegawa A, Akashi H.Six strains of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) were recovered from febrile and non-febrile stages of a horse experimentally infected with the P337-V70 strain given once to a horse. The env gp90 genes of the isolates, the P337-V70 and P337-V26, avirulent virus derived from the P337-V70 strain, were sequenced. A comparison of the gp90 gene sequences revealed that amino acid variations among the viruses tested showed as high as 8.2 to 11.5%. In addition, the comparison also indicated that the isolates that recovered from the non-febrile stage were contained in nucleotide insertions in the p...
Nagao JF, Neves Neto JR, Papa FO, Alvarenga MA, Freitas-Dell'Aqua CP, Dell'Aqua JA.This study aimed to determine whether deslorelin acetate could induce double ovulation in mares. In Experiment 1, eight mares were treated with prostaglandin on Day 8 (D8) after ovulation, then treated with saline or with 100 μg of a controlled-release formulation of deslorelin acetate vehicle intramuscularly (IM) every 12h from D8 after ovulation until at least two follicles reached 33 mm. At this time, ovulation was induced with 2500 IU of hCG. Artificial insemination was performed 24h after induction, and embryos were collected on the eighth day after ovulation was first detected. In Exper...
Santosuosso E, David F, Massie S, Filho SA, McCrae P, Johnson S, Leguillette R.Cardiac arrhythmias have not been previously reported in horses while swimming. Objective: To describe the type and frequency of encountered arrhythmias during repetitive swimming cycles. Methods: Descriptive observational study. Methods: Sixteen horses swam five pool lengths (75 m), each separated by an active recovery walk. Continuous electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded (n = 80) and analysed during the pre-swim, swim and active-recovery periods. Arrhythmias were categorised as sinus arrhythmia (SA), sinus block, sinus pause (compensatory and non-compensatory), second degree atriovent...
You Y, Proctor RM, Vasilko ED, Robinson MA.JWH-250 is a synthetic cannabinoid. Its use is prohibited in equine sport according to the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) and the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). A doping control method to confirm the presence of four JWH-250 metabolites (JWH-250 4-OH-pentyl, JWH-250 5-OH-pentyl, JWH-250 5-OH-indole, and JWH-250 N-pentanoic acid) in equine urine was developed and validated. Urine samples were treated with acetonitrile and evaporated to concentrate the analytes prior to the analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The chromat...
Haugland LM, Collier MA, Panciera RJ, Bellamy J.In an attempt to prevent neuroma formation and digital reinnervation after sharp palmar digital neurectomy in 10 adult horses with navicular disease, 18,426 W/cm2 of CO2 laser energy was applied to the proximal nerve stump. Clinical follow-up was 4 to 23 months. In two horses, palmar digital nerve biopsies were taken at month 4 (four nerves) and month 7 (two nerves). Nine horses were sound immediately and at all follow-up examinations. None had clinical evidence of painful neuroma or digital reinnervation. Histologically, there was minimal scar tissue at the surgical site; axonal sprouts were ...
Nikolakopoulos E, Kindahl H, Watson ED.Mares resistant (n=7) and susceptible (n=9) to persistent mating-induced endometritis were artificially inseminated (AI) during oestrus with chilled extended semen. Blood samples were collected from 30 min before AI, for 2 h after AI and again between 16 and 18 h after AI. Samples were assayed for oxytocin and the PGF2alpha metabolite 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGF2alpha (PGFM). AI caused a significant increase in oxytocin concentrations in both the resistant and susceptible mares and there was no significant difference in oxytocin release between the two groups of mares. Mean PGFM concentrations w...