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.
Goranov Kh.Comparative studies have been carried out on the blood of certain laboratory and farm animals and birds, whereby the activity of muramidase (lysozyme) is established in neutrophilic cells of mice, guinea pigs, rats, rabbits, dogs, hens, turkeys and geese and in the monocytes of rabbits and dogs. The percentage of cells with muramidase activity manifests species features. No cells with a presence of muramidase activity have been found in the perypheral blood of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses and bullalos. Certain questions of a general biological aspect about the origin of muramidase in the...
Gahne B, Juneja RK.Cattle and horse plasma samples of known post-albumin types were radiolabelled with 14C-vitamin D3. These samples were then analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by autoradiography. The patterns observed were identical to those of post-albumin variants. The polymorphic post-albumin protein of cattle and horse was thus identified as the vitamin D binding protein and homologous to the Gc protein of human plasma.
Snyder SP, England JJ, McChesney AE.Five of six immunodeficient Arabian foals that died of adenoviral infection were found to be infected with an intestinal coccidian of the genus Cryptosporidium. Various developmental stages of the organism were found in the microvillous border of the intestinal mucosa. The foals had diarrhea but it was not possible to separate the effects of the cryptosporidial infection from those of the concomitant adenoviral enteritis.
Malhotra DV, Banerjee DP, Gautam OP.The prevalence of Babesia equi infection in north west India was assessed by means of the capillary tube agglutination (CA) test. The particulate antigen used in the test was potent and no cross reaction with other related haemaprotozoa was observed. The serological survey showed that from 323 horses from 3 localities there was an overall incidence of 50.1 per cent. In Haryana the incidence was 38.3 per cent in the 196 horses tested, in Uttar Pradesh it was 47.2 per cent from 72 animals and in Rajasthan it was 96.4 per cent from 55 horses.
Graham EF, Crabo BG, Pace MM.From the studies cited it was concluded that short and long term preservation of stallion semen has encountered major obstacles. Fertilizing capacity of extended or extended and cooled spermatozoa has been impaired. With the hydrogen ion extenders, the fertility was depressed either with or without glycerol when the semen was inseminated immediately after extension. With the cream-gel extender, fertility was not impaired when inseminated immediately after extension, but was impaired after storage at 5 C for 24 hr or in the presence of glycerol. The fertilizing capacity of extended frozen sperm...
Rejnö S, Strömberg B.An investigation was made of the pathology of osteochondritis dissecans of young foals and horses with clinical signs of the lesion. A randomly selected material of fetuses and young foals without clinical signs was also examined. It was demonstrated that osteochondritis dissecans is primarily a cartilaginous disease, as previously described in pigs and dogs. Thickening, disturbance of endochondral ossification, degeneration and necrosis of the cartilage were the four main features of osteochondritis dissecans. Cracks and fissures occurred in the degenerated and necrotic parts of the cartilage...
Lewis J, Poland J.The ability of erythromycin in liquid medium to suppress the growth of eight species of acholeplasma and of 13 species of mycoplasma was tested. The Acholeplasma spp and two glycolytic Mycoplasma spp from horses--a slow glucose-metabolising (SGM) mycoplasma and a strain N3, related to M mycoides--were sensitive to erythromycin. Thus the growth of acholeplasmas can be suppressed when attempts are made to isolate pathogens from the porcine respiratory tract, but, in the case of horses, erythromycin would suppress not only Acholeplasma spp but also two Mycoplasma spp of unknown pathogenicity in t...
Fisher RA, Scott AM.A new method for separating the isozymes of horse serum esterase is described. The improved resolution has enabled us to detect several previously undescribed phenotypes. This method has also been used to detect two different apparently 'silent' alleles.
Auer JA, Garner HE, Amend JF, Hutcheson DP, Salem CA.The duration and quality of recovery after separate 2 hour anaesthetic periods with equipotent alveolar concentrations of isoflurane, enflurane, halothane and methoxyflurane were evaluated in experimental ponies. Recovery was shortest after isoflurane anaesthesia, followed by enflurane, halothane and finally methoxyflurane, although standing was achieved more rapidly after enflurane than after isoflurane. This sequence of recovery times was compatible with the respective solubilities of the 4 agents. The smoothest recovery was obtained after isoflurane anaesthesia, followed by methoxyflurane, ...
Kaminski M.The detection of the recessive null allele of horse serum esterase (Es) is possible in heterozygotes Es+/EsO which by starch gel electrophoresis appear like homozygotes Es+/Es+. Two methods are proposed, the titration of enzymatic activity of esterase and the immunochemical titration of esterase as antigen. These methods can be applied to solve the cases of suspect parentage or in population studies.
Allen GP, Cohen JC, Randall CC, O'Callaghan DJ.The replication of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) and type 3 (EHV-3) was unimpeded in three different cell types-equine epithelial cells, equine fibroblasts, and mouse fibroblasts-which had been blocked in their capacity to synthesize host DNA by 2.5 mM hydroxyurea (HU) or 2 mM thymidine (TdR). The rate of DNA synthesis in uninfected or equine herpesvirus-infected cells in the presence of HU or TdR was measured by pulse-labeling cell samples with a labeled DNA precursor at different times after infection. DNA synthesis in uninfected cultures was completely inhibited by both compounds. Howev...
Shehata R.The anatomy and histology of the male uterus were studied in the donkey and the horse. In the former it was found complete and long, while in the latter it was incomplete or absent. Some variations met with are described. A new concept of "internal male hermaphroditism' is presented and two types are differentiated.
Schryver HF.Bending properties of samples of cortical bone taken from the cranial, caudal, medial, and lateral quadrants of the midshaft of the radius, femur, and metacarpus of 12 ponies, 18 months old, were determined by 4-point loading at a rate of 10 mm/minute. The elastic modulus for all samples was between 16.2 and 20.2 GN/m2, and the ultimate breaking strength, between 204 and 255 MN/m2. There was greater variation in these properties between bone quadrants than between bones. Samples from the cranial and medial quadrants of both femur and radius were stiffer and had greater ultimate breaking streng...
Woollam DH.The history of teratology is reviewed. Methods available for causing malformations in mammals by subtle changes in the environment during pregnancy are discussed. A table is provided in which the commoner teratogens are listed. Methods are described by means of which the activity of some common teratogens may be opposed. The occurrence at Battle Creek, Michigan, USA, of a chemical agent dangerous to health, life and development of all mammals is described. This gives an indication that injury and death to all mammals, as in the Sevaso disaster, including teratogenesis may be expected to be a f...
Cybinski DH, St George TD, Paull NI.Neutralising antibody to Akabane virus was shown to develop in cattle in northern Australia throughout the year and also on the east coast of New South Wales in the summer during 1975/1976. Other species found to have antibody to Akabane virus were buffaloes, horses, camels and sheep, but no antibody was found in domestic chickens, ducks, wallabies or man. The biting midge Culicoides brevitarsis has been detected in all the major areas where antibody was demonstrated in this study.
Attenburrow DP.The development of a radio-stethoscope for horses is described. The equipment consisted of a sound transducer applied to the skin adjacent to the trachea and a radio transmitter attached to the saddle. The signals emitted were detected by telemetry and recorded on a magnetic tape-recorder. The recorder incorporated a monitor earphone so that sounds could be reproduced at the time of recording. The frequency response obtainable ranged from a few Hz to 4 KHz. This technique provided an objective means of studying the respiratory sounds generated during exercise although absolute values could not...
Grodzki K.The receptor theory of the action of catecholamines as well as the synthesis and production of beta-adrenolytics gave new perspectives for the treatment of circulatory diseases and enabled to use the beta-adrenergic blockade in electrocardiographic diagnosis. The aim of this work was to study whether it is possible to modify the oral method of administration used in human beings, into intravenous one, and what an information could be obtained as to actual heart condition after practolol injection. The results can be summarized as follows:--Practolol-Polfa injected intravenously in amounts of 3...
White SD, Maxwell LK, Szabo NJ, Hawkins JL, Kollias-Baker C.To determine pharmacokinetics of azathioprine (AZA) and clinical, hematologic, and serologic effects of i.v. and oral administration of AZA in horses. Methods: 6 horses. Methods: In study phase 1, a single dose of AZA was administered i.v. (1.5 mg/kg) or orally (3.0 mg/kg) to 6 horses, with at least 1 week between treatments. Blood samples were collected for AZA and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) analysis 1 hour before and at predetermined time points up to 4 hours after AZA administration. In study phase 2, AZA was administered orally (3 mg/kg) every 24 hours for 30 days and then every 48 hours for ...
Chen X, Zhao Y, Su L, Wang L, Ma X, Zhang B, Su Y.Strangles, which is caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, is one of the most prevalent equine infectious diseases and poses heavy economic losses worldwide. Although various vaccines have been used for decades, they seemed to be sub-optimal to demonstrate effective protection, and the antigen component of vaccines against S. equi remains to be optimized. In the present study, three target antigens (M-like protein, α2-macroglobulin and IgG-binding protein, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) were selected and expressed. Mice were immunized and challenged, and their immune res...
Van der Merwe JA.The revised NRC's Nutrient Requirements of Horses is changing the outlook on equine nutrition, dominated for so long by the traditional belief in oats. This has lead to the need for properly balanced diets, in the compounding of which dietary cubes offer the distinct advantage of providing a standardized diet of constant quality in keeping with modern knowledge. Additional factors are: longer storage, freedom from dust, palatability, refractoriness to mould infection, and facilitation of routine feeding. Cube size and hardness are important considerations for the manufacturer. Horses appear to...
Espinosa-Mur P, Spriet M, Nogues MP, Cullen T, Galuppo LD.A 16-year-old, Quarter Horse mare was presented for a 3/5 right hind lameness associated with osteoarthritis of the talocalcaneal joint (TCLJ). Positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) demonstrated marked increased uptake of 18F-sodium fluoride and bone remodeling at the medial facet of the TCLJ, respectively. Under general anesthesia 2 cortical screws (4.5 and 5.5 mm) were placed in neutral fashion via an arthrotomy from dorsomedial to plantaromedial through the medial facet of the TCLJ followed by copious lavage of the tarsocrural joint. Eight weeks after surgery, obse...
Merritt T, Mallonée PG, Merritt AM.Seven healthy foals (five ponies and two horses) were maintained on grass pasture with their dams. All foals had normal faeces at the time of testing. An oral xylose absorption test was performed on each foal at one, two and three months of age. Following an 8 h fast, 0.5 g/kg D-xylose as a 10 per cent solution was given via a nasogastric tube. Control and 30 min interval plasma samples were collected for 3 h and the plasma was analysed for xylose using the phloroglucinol microassay technique. Maximum xylose concentration levels were reached between 30 and 60 mins for each of the foals. The me...
Glade MJ.In an attempt to validate the use of urinary creatinine concentration as an index of urinary flow rate, a series of timed quantitative urine collections were done on several groups of weanling and yearling ponies and Thoroughbreds. A total of 411 urine samples were generated by 19 ponies and 12 Thoroughbreds. Urinary flow rates and urinary creatinine concentrations were measured. When all the data were examined, urinary flow rates were independent of creatinine concentrations. However, for any given animal, daily urinary creatinine excretion was constant over several days, and urinary creatini...
Horner GW.To review laboratory aspects of the equine viral arteritis (EVA) control scheme in New Zealand between 1989 and 2002. Methods: The optimisation and performance of the virus neutralisation test (VNT) for equine arteritis virus (EAV) antibody, and the cell culture test to detect EAV in semen were analysed. Laboratory data and control scheme results were reviewed. Results: Using optimised tests, it has been shown that antibody prevalence in Standardbred horses has steadily declined from 54% to <20%. Prevalences in Thoroughbred horses have remained at a low level of around 3%. The number of horses...
of surveillance testing, October to December 2016International disease occurrence in the fourth quarter of 2016These are among matters discussed in the most recent quarterly equine disease surveillance report, prepared by Defra, the Animal Health Trust and the British Equine Veterinary Association.
Dhawedkar RG, Jain NC, Mount ME, Bowling AT, Vegad JL.An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was standardised and applied for the detection of antiplatelet and antineutrophil antibodies using a heterologous system consisting of equine platelets or neutrophils and antisera raised in rabbits. The standardised technique consisted of using Immulon type 3 plate, 1 per cent gelatine as a blocking solution, poly-L-lysine buffer as a coating solution, unfixed antigen, 90 microliters test serum, horseradish peroxidase conjugated antibody and o-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride as a substrate. The number of unfixed platelets or neutrophils required fo...
Nation PN, Klavano GG.This account describes two neonatal foals affected with osteopetrosis. One of these foals, a full term Peruvian Paso, was born alive, was bright and alert but was unable to stand and was euthanized at two days of age. The second foal, an Appaloosa, was also born alive at full term and was blind, weak, uncoordinated and unable to stand. Postmortem examination of both foals revealed generalized osteopetrosis and brachygnathia inferior. The osteopetrosis was characterized by failure of bone remodelling resulting in spicules of mineralized and nonmineralized cartilage covered by osteoid occupying ...
Checura CM, Momont HW, Castañeira C, Flores-Bragulat A, Losinno L.In horses, prostaglandin E (PGE) is produced by embryos around Day 5 post-ovulation; PGE functions directly at the oviduct promoting embryo transport into the uterus. Non-surgical collection of horse embryos for cryopreservation is recommended at Day 6.5-7 post-ovulation. It was proposed that misoprostol administered orally will hasten oviductal transport of horse embryos. In Experiment 1 (n = 15) there was comparison of time of embryo recovery (Day 6 and 6.5 post-ovulation) from mares administered misoprostol (Day 5 and 5.5) orally to that of untreated mares. On Day 6, embryo collections were...