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.
Li S, Zhao G, Han H, Li Y, Li J, Wang J, Cao G, Li X.It is important to resolve the evolutionary history of species genomes as it has affected both genome organization and chromosomal architecture. The rapid innovation in sequencing technologies and the improvement in assembly algorithms have enabled the creation of highly contiguous genomes. DNA Zoo, a global organization dedicated to animal conservation, offers more than 150 chromosome-length genome assemblies. This database has great potential in the comparative genomics field. Results: Using the donkey (Equus asinus asinus, EAS) genome provided by DNA Zoo as an example, the scaffold N50 leng...
Kang H, Bienzle D, Lee GKC, Piché É, Viel L, Odemuyiwa SO, Beeler-Marfisi J.Severe equine asthma (SEA) is a common, debilitating lower airway inflammatory disorder of older horses. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) survey inhaled particulates from barn sources causing them to switch from an anti-inflammatory to a proinflammatory phenotype, resulting in neutrophil recruitment to the lung. This proinflammatory switch may contribute to the development and prolongation of SEA. Validated antibodies to identify the cells involved in the pathogenesis of SEA are lacking. In this study, monoclonal antibodies against CD90, CD163, and CD206 were tested for reactivity with equine leukoc...
Sheats MK, Burke MJ, Robertson JB, Fiebrandt KE, Fogle CA.Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) are units of activity that early-stage professionals perform in the workplace that necessitate simultaneous integration of multiple competencies. EPA #6 requires students to perform a common surgical procedure on a stable patient, including pre-operative and post-operative management. Castration is one of the most common surgeries performed by equine primary care practitioners and is considered an "entry-level competency" for veterinary graduates entering equine private practice, however, to our knowledge there are no equine castration models availabl...
Maitan P, Bromfield EG, Stout TAE, Gadella BM, Leemans B.Conventional in vitro fertilization is not efficacious when working with equine gametes. Although stallion spermatozoa bind to the zona pellucida in vitro, these gametes fail to initiate the acrosome reaction in the vicinity of the oocyte and cannot, therefore, penetrate into the perivitelline space. Failure of sperm penetration most likely relates to the absence of optimized in vitro fertilization media containing molecules essential to support stallion sperm capacitation. In vivo, the female reproductive tract, especially the oviductal lumen, provides an environmental milieu that appropriate...
Ghaly P, Di Mascio D, Vicaretti M.A common source of infection in equine, , is an uncommon pathogen in humans, rarely identified as the cause for mycotic aortic aneurysms. Typically associated with consumption of unpasteurized milk or contact with horses, can result in severe bacteremia, endocarditis and meningitis. We describe the presentation and successful management of a 69-year-old retired equestrian who underwent infrarenal aortic resection and reconstruction using autologous right femoral vein for a mycotic aneurysm.
Michishita M, Shibata R, Machida Y, Matsumoto M, Ochiai K, Azakami D.A 20-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding was referred with clinical signs of anorexia, weight loss, intermittent fever, cough, subcutaneous oedema and exercise intolerance. Haematological examination revealed the presence of blast cells, decreased lymphocytes, mild thrombocytopenia and anaemia but no leucocytosis. Serum analyses detected elevated aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase activities and triglyceride concentrations. Twenty-two days after the initial visit, the horse died after showing clinical signs of decreased appetite, increased body temperature, tachypnoea and t...
Thampi P, Tabbaa SM, Johnstone B, Wimmer MA, Laurent MP, Wayne McIlwraith C, Frisbie DD.The equine model of posttraumatic osteoarthritis (OA) mimics certain aspects of the naturally occurring disease, both in horses and humans. The objective of this study was to assess articular cartilage degeneration in a posttraumatic OA model using the established macroscopic and microscopic scoring systems and compare them with a novel surface topography analysis. OA was induced in the carpal joint of 15 (n = 15) mixed breed horses. Surface changes on the articular cartilage were characterized using osteochondral blocks from the third carpal bone (C3) and radial carpal bone using surface...
Hellstrom EA, Ziegler AL, Blikslager AT.Postoperative ileus (POI), a decrease in gastrointestinal motility after surgery, is an important problem facing human and veterinary patients. 37.5% of horses that develop POI following small intestinal (SI) resection will not survive to discharge. The two major components of POI pathophysiology are a neurogenic phase which is then propagated by an inflammatory phase. Perioperative care has been implicated, namely the use of opioid therapy, inappropriate fluid therapy and electrolyte imbalances. Current therapy for POI variably includes an early return to feeding to induce physiological motil...
Chen Y, Cai S, Zhang Y, Lai Z, Zhong L, Sun X, Li S, Lu G.Equine hepacivirus (EqHV) is a newly discovered hepatitis C virus-like virus that can infect equines. EqHV strains circulating worldwide have been classified into subtypes 1-3. In previous studies, we detected the presence of EqHV strains of subtype 1 and 3 in China. To determine whether EqHV strains of subtype 2 are prevalent in China, serum samples were collected from 133 racehorses in Guangdong province in 2021 and were tested for EqHV RNA by RT-PCR, and the positive rate was 9% (12/133). Sequencing of the NS3 gene revealed that one field strain (GD2021) had a high degree of genetic similar...
Humphreys JM, Pelzel-McCluskey AM, Cohnstaedt LW, McGregor BL, Hanley KA, Hudson AR, Young KI, Peck D, Rodriguez LL, Peters DPC.Mosquito-borne West Nile virus (WNV) is the causative agent of West Nile disease in humans, horses, and some bird species. Since the initial introduction of WNV to the United States (US), approximately 30,000 horses have been impacted by West Nile neurologic disease and hundreds of additional horses are infected each year. Research describing the drivers of West Nile disease in horses is greatly needed to better anticipate the spatial and temporal extent of disease risk, improve disease surveillance, and alleviate future economic impacts to the equine industry and private horse owners. To help...
Sobral GG, Neto OCG, da Silva AM, Carneiro GF.The aim of the present study is to evaluate the correlation between the total protein measured by an optical refractometer and the concentration of IgG by radial immunodiffusion (RID) to determine the performance of the optical refractometer to diagnose the failure of passive transfer of immunity (FPTI) in 12-hour-old foals. Blood was collected from foals (n = 30) 12 hours after birth. A study was carried out to measure the serum IgG concentration by RID test and measure total protein (TP) by optical refractometer. The correlation coefficient was measured between the TP concentration and the...
A 1.8-year-old maiden Thoroughbred filly, without previous history of mating or reproductive management, was referred for clinical inspection due to the presence of sanguineous vaginal discharge and severe abdominal pain. Transrectal palpation indicated uterine asymmetry, and transrectal ultrasonography revealed a mass near the cervix measuring 8.3 cm in diameter, with heterogeneous echogenicity, a trabeculated center, and a well-defined hyperechoic border. Smaller masses surrounded the larger uterine mass. During the examination, the mare expelled a uterine mass through the vulva. Histologica...
Satué K, Fazio E, Cravana C, Medica P.The evidence that androgens regulate the folliculogenesis supports the hypothesis that intrafollicular testosterone (T), androstenedione (A) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) could be modified along follicular growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes and related relationships between systemic and intrafollicular T, A and DHEA in post-deviation and impending ovulation follicles. Sixty ovaries were taken after the slaughter of 30 clinically healthy mares. In according to the sizes, the follicles were classified in 3 different categories, as small (20-30 mm), medium (31-40 ...
Hifumi T, Akioka K, Tanaka T, Miyoshi N.Alveolar echinococcosis, which is caused by a larval-stage infection of Echinococcus multilocularis, is a zoonosis with public health importance. Recently, alveolar echinococcosis in slaughtered horses has been reported in Japan and Poland. In terms of public health, a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic method is essential for early detection during meat inspection. In this study, the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed and validated to target the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cob) gene of E. multilocularis. Forty-one hepatic solid nodules obtained from each h...
Cokelaere SM, Groen WMGAC, Plomp SGM, de Grauw JC, van Midwoud PM, Weinans HH, van de Lest CHA, Tryfonidou MA, van Weeren PR, Korthagen NM.There is an increasing interest in controlled release systems for local therapy in the treatment of human and equine joint diseases, aiming for optimal intra-articular concentrations with no systemic side effects. In this study, the intra-articular tolerability and suitability for local and sustained release of tacrolimus (FK506) from monospheres composed of [PDLA-PEG1000]-b-PLLA multiblock copolymers were investigated. Unloaded and tacrolimus-loaded (18.4 mg tacrolimus/joint) monospheres were injected into the joints of six healthy horses, with saline and hyaluronic acid (HA) in the contralat...
Herteman N, Mosing M, Waldmann AD, Gerber V, Schoster A.Equine asthma (EA) causes airflow impairment, which increases in severity with exercise. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is an imaging technique that can detect airflow changes in standing healthy horses during a histamine provocation test. Objective: To explore EIT-calculated flow variables before and after exercise in healthy horses and horses with mild-to-moderate (MEA) and severe equine asthma (SEA). Methods: Nine healthy horses 9 horses diagnosed with MEA and 5 with SEA were prospectively included. Methods: Recordings were performed before and after 15 minutes of lunging. Absolute...
Segabinazzi LGTM, Andrade LRP, Alvarenga MA, Dell'Aqua JA, Canisso IF.The objectives of this study were: (1) to assess uterine features and serum progesterone concentrations of acyclic mares synchronized and resynchronized with intravaginal progesterone release device (IPRD), and (2) to compare pregnancy rates and losses of cyclic and acyclic embryo recipient mares treated with different synchronization protocols. In Experiment 1, mares (n = 12) received estradiol for 3 days (E2-3d), and then 24 h after the last injection, an IPRD was inserted and kept in place for 9 days. Three days after IPRD removal, mares were treated with E2-3d, and then a new IPRD was inse...
Tayari H, Flaherty D, Schauvliege S, La Rosa L, Auckburally A.To assess the accuracy and trending capability of continuous measurement of haemoglobin concentration [Hb], haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SaO) and oxygen content (CaO) measured by the Masimo Radical-7 pulse co-oximeter in horses undergoing inhalational anaesthesia. Methods: Prospective observational clinical study. Methods: A group of 23 anaesthetized adult horses. Methods: In 23 healthy adult horses undergoing elective surgical procedures, paired measurements of pulse co-oximetry-based haemoglobin concentration (SpHb), SaO (SpO), and CaO (SpOC) and simultaneous arterial blood samples were co...
Ackermann K, Kenngott R, Settles M, Gerhards H, Maierl J, Wollanke B.Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) causes painful inflammatory attacks and oftentimes blindness in the affected eyes. The disease is considered a late sequela of systemic leptospirosis. The most effective therapy is the surgical removal of the vitreous (vitrectomy), which is not only therapeutic, but provides vitreous material that can be assessed diagnostically. For example, the lipL32 gene, culturable Leptospira spp., and anti-Leptospira antibodies have all been detected in vitreous samples obtained from eyes with chronic ERU. Despite this clear evidence of leptospiral involvement, the systemic ...
Abdelhakiem MAH, Hussein HA.Diseases of the central nervous system are a well-recognized cause of morbidity and mortality in equine. Collection and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) give information about the type and stage of degenerative and inflammatory diseases in central nervous system (CNS). The present research aimed to assess the clinical complications of CSF collections and to establish range values of cytological and biochemical parameters of CSF in adult healthy donkeys (Equus asinus). The CSF samples were collected from fifty healthy donkeys at the lumbosacral (LS) and atlanto-occipital (AO) sites. Result...
Rejman EE, Kehoe R, Barta JR.The complete mitochondrial genome of (Eimeriidae, Coccidia, Apicomplexa) was obtained. This morphologically distinctive coccidium is considered to be the only valid species of equids and it infects a range of both domestic and wild horses and their relatives. Despite the distinctive appearance of the oocysts of , the mitochondrial genome organization and gene contents were comparable to other spp. and related eimeriid coccidia infecting a range of mammals and birds. The greatly reduced 6242 bp genome is circular-mapping and contains three protein-coding genes (COI, COIII, CytB), 18 fragme...
Savu AN, Schoenbrunner AR, Politi R, Janis JE.Animal bites are common worldwide. Due to the plethora of animals, there are diverse pathogens with specific associated risks and treatment algorithms. It is crucial to understand these to develop and execute appropriate management plans. This practical review was designed to amalgamate the most common bites worldwide and synthesize data to help guide treatment plans. Methods: A PubMed literature search was performed focusing on the major animal bites. High-level studies were preferred and analyzed but lower-level studies were also used if high-level studies did not exist. Results: The tables ...
Tozaki T, Kwak HG, Nakamura K, Takasu M, Ishii H, Ohnuma A, Kikuchi M, Ishige T, Kakoi H, Hirota KI, Kusano K, Hirata M, Nirasawa T, Nagata SI.In human and equestrian sporting events, one method of gene doping is the illegal use of therapeutic oligonucleotides to alter gene expression. In this study, we aimed to identify therapeutic oligonucleotides via sequencing using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). As a model of therapeutic oligonucleotides, 22 bp-long phosphorothioated oligonucleotides (PSOs) were used. By using a Clarity OTX kit for extracting short-length oligonucleotides, a spectrum of singly charged PSO with a mean intensity of 6.08 × 10 (standard deviation: ...
Agreste FR, Moreira JJ, Fülber J, Bogossian PM, Chaible LM, Silva LCLC, Michelacci YM, Baccarin RYA.The synovial membrane (SM) presents itself with distinctive characteristics during arthroscopic procedures in cases of osteoarthritis (OA) as well as osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in horses. Most of the arthroscopic findings of the SM are limited to a description of a nonspecific inflammation state. In the present study, the macroscopic and histological aspects of the SM in OA and OCD horses were compared to those of healthy horses. The expression of interleukin (IL) in SM was also investigated. Besides, the concentrations of ILs and keratan sulfate (KS) in the synovial fluid (SF), and the m...
Pollaris E, Broeckx BJG, Rajasekharan S, Cauwels R, Vlaminck L. fracture models are frequently used in human dentistry to provide insights in the fracture mechanisms of teeth. Equine cheek teeth fractures are an important dental pathology, but there has been no research performed to examine the fracture resistance . To evaluate the fracture resistance of equine cheek teeth and identify anatomical predictors that might influence fracture resistance in healthy teeth. It was further evaluated if the presence of a fissure caused a decrease in fracture resistance. experimental design. Individual cheek teeth were subjected to a compression load in a univer...
Delling U, Lindner K, Ribitsch I, Jülke H, Brehm W.The objective of this study was to compare bone marrow (BM) aspirates from the sternum and the tuber coxae of middle-aged horses. Bone marrow was obtained from the sternum and both tubera coxae of 12 healthy, 13-year-old geldings. Two different puncture techniques were used for the tuber coxae. The 2 syringes used for sternal sampling were evaluated separately. The mononuclear cell (MNC) fraction of the BM was isolated and the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were culture-expanded. At the sternum, BM aspiration was always possible. Bone marrow aspiration at the tuber coxae required straight and d...
Wise LN, Kappmeyer LS, Silva MG, White SN, Grause JF, Knowles DP.Certain countries including the United States remain non-endemic for particular infectious diseases such as equine piroplasmosis through import restrictions and surveillance. Endemic regions often employ premunition as the primary method to control disease, however in non-endemic countries, chemosterilization combined with methods to confirm parasite elimination are required to maintain disease-free status. The ability of imidocarb diproprionate (ID) to clear persistent Theileria equi infection from infected horses has been shown through the inability of treated horses to transmit via blood tr...
Peterson RB, Goyal SM.A comparative study was carried out to determine the relative sensitivities of eight different cell culture systems to six different herpesviruses of animals. The cells used were: OFL (ovine fetal lung), ML (mink lung), FK (ferret kidney), PTK-2 (potoroo kidney), TEK (turkey embryo kidney), ED (equine dermal), BT (bovine turbinate), and PK15 (porcine kidney). The viruses tested were: PRV (pseudorabies) of swine, CPHV (caprine herpesvirus), IBRV (infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus), DN-599 strain of bovine herpesvirus type 4, EHV-1 (equine herpesvirus), and CHV (canine herpesvirus). On the...
Okamura K, Sasaki N, Yamada M, Yamada H, Inokuma H.Although extensive work has been done to elucidate the beneficial and unfavorable effects of gastrointestinal prokinetic agents in humans, little is known on the effects of these agents in horses. In this study, we compared the effects of mosapride, metoclopramide, cisapride, and lidocaine on equine gastric emptying, jejunal and caecal motility and evaluated these agents' adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Methods: Seven healthy adult Thoroughbreds. Methods: Mosapride 1.0mg/kg and 2.0mg/kg, metoclopramide 0.2mg/kg, and cisapride 1.0mg/kg were dissolved in 100mL distilled water for oral administrat...
Nielsen MK, Jacobsen S, Olsen SN, Bousquet E, Pihl T.Strongylus vulgaris is a pathogenic helminth parasite infecting horses and was once considered to be the primary cause of colic. Migrating larvae cause ischaemia and infarction of intestinal segments. This knowledge is derived from case reports and experimental inoculations of parasite-naïve foals, and it remains unknown to what extent the parasite is associated with different types of colic. Objective: To evaluate the role of S. vulgaris as a risk factor for different types of colic in horses. Methods: A retrospective case-control study among horses referred with abdominal pain to the Univ...
Weber EJ, Sanchez LC, Giguère S.The modified sepsis scoring system provides a method to identify sepsis in foals early in the disease process, but inconsistent results have been obtained from its clinical application in previous studies. Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the modified sepsis score in a larger population of foals. A secondary objective was to identify factors associated with sepsis. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Records were retrospectively analysed for neonatal admissions to the University of Florida Large Animal Hospital from 1982 to 2008. Backwards stepwise multivaria...
McGowan TW, Pinchbeck G, Phillips CJ, Perkins N, Hodgson DR, McGowan CM.To describe management practices and routine preventive care of aged horses in Queensland, Australia, including effects of owner characteristics, affiliation to an equestrian group and retirement of the horse. Methods: Owners of horses were contacted via Equestrian Australia (EA) and asked to complete a questionnaire about their aged horses (e.g. age, breed, sex and colour); their use and management, including preventive health care; and use of equine healthcare providers. Results: Horses aged 15 years or greater represented one-third of the total horses owned in the population sample. The med...
Hernández JÁ, Arroyo FL, Suárez J, Cazapal-Monteiro CF, Romasanta Á, López-Arellano ME, Pedreira J, de Carvalho LMM, Sánchez-Andrade R....The usefulness of pellets industrially manufactured with spores of parasiticide fungi as a contribution to integrated nematode control was assessed in grazing horses throughout sixteen months. Two groups of 7 Pura Raza Galega autochthonous horses (G-T and G-P) were dewormed pour-on (1mg Ivermectin/kg bw) at the beginning of the trial, and other group (G-C) remained untreated. The G-P was provided daily with commercial pellets to which was added a mixture of fungal spores during the industrial manufacturing (2×10 spores of Mucor circinelloides and same dose of Duddingtonia flagrans/kg), and G-...
Hamamoto-Hardman BD, Steffey EP, Weiner D, McKemie DS, Kass P, Knych HK.The objective of the current study was to describe and characterize the pharmacokinetics and selected pharmacodynamic effects of morphine and its two major metabolites in horses following several doses of morphine. A total of ten horses were administered a single intravenous dose of morphine: 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.5 mg/kg, or saline control. Blood samples were collected up to 72 hr, analyzed for morphine, and metabolites by LC/MS/MS, and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. Step count, heart rate and rhythm, gastrointestinal borborygmi, fecal output, packed cell volume, and total prote...
Leblond A, Villard I, Leblond L, Sabatier P, Sasco AJ.Epidemiological studies should allow comparisons to be made of the prevalence of disease in populations from different countries, but the population characteristics and health problems in French horses are not well established. We have conducted a retrospective evaluation of the causes of death and vital characteristics of insured horses in France for the year 1995, with a view to comparison with published data from other countries. Files on 448 deceased horses were provided by nine insurance companies. Most of the animals were used for breeding (60%), followed by leisure (20%), eventing and r...
Viklund Å, Eriksson S.A linear profiling protocol was introduced in 2013 at tests for 3-year-old Swedish Warmblood horses. In this protocol, traits are subjectively described on a nine-point linear scale from one biological extreme to the other. This complements the traditional scoring where horses are evaluated in relation to the breeding objective. This study aimed to investigate the suitability of the linear information for genetic evaluation. Data on 22 conformation traits, 17 movement traits, 14 jumping traits and one temperament trait from 3,410 horses tested between 2013 and 2016 were analysed using an anima...
Farkas R, Tánczos B, Gyurkovszky M, Földvári G, Solymosi N, Edelhofer R, Hornok S.The prevalence of Theileria equi infection was studied in 324 healthy horses from 27 farms in Hungary with cELISA and IFAT and the blood samples of 101 horses selected randomly were also examined by PCR. The results indicate that there are many stud farms where one or more horses are infected with T. equi. Among 27 farms 17 (67.9%) were found to have seropositive horses. The seroprevalence of theileriosis among the tested stud farms ranged between 0 and 100%. No marked differences were found in seropositivity between geographical areas. The overall prevalence of positive samples was 32.0% with...
Tomlinson JE, Taberner E, Boston RC, Owens SD, Nolen-Walston RD.There is a markedly reduced half-life of transfused RBCs when donor and recipient cats or humans are cross-match incompatible. Only 10-20% of horses have naturally occurring alloantibodies. Therefore, cross-match testing before blood transfusion is not always performed. Objective: Cross-match incompatibility predicts shortened RBC survival time as compared to that of compatible or autologous blood. Methods: Twenty healthy adult horses. Methods: Prospective trial. Blood type, anti-RBC antibody screen (before and 1 month after transfusion) and major and minor cross-match determined 10 donor-reci...
Zielińska P, Nicpoń J, Kiełbowicz Z, Soroko M, Dudek K, Zaborski D.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of high intensity laser therapy (HILT) on tendon and ligament injury treatment in horses. Twenty six horses with tendinopathies were randomly assigned to a HILT treated or to a non-treated group. Each horse was subjected to the same rehabilitation programme. Horses from the treatment group underwent a series of fifteen HILT treatments with the same parameters. Clinical and ultrasound assessments were performed by the same veterinarian and were carried out before (day 0), during (day 13-15) and after treatment (day 38-40). Clinical evaluation in...
Stogdale L.The nomenclature of human diabetes mellitus (DM) has been revised, and this classification has been accepted throughout the medical world and literature. The major categories of diabetes are: insulin-dependent DM, type I or IDDM; noninsulin-dependent DM, type II or NIDDM; secondary DM or type S; impaired glucose tolerance, IGT; gestational diabetes; and previous abnormality of glucose tolerance, PrevAGT. A review of the literature has shown that over half of the documented diabetic dogs, with a single medical diagnosis, appear to be type I, IDDM, with a substantial proportion being type S, and...
Duan H, Gao JF, Hou MR, Zhang Y, Liu ZX, Gao DZ, Guo DH, Yue DM, Su X, Fu X, Wang CR.The complete mitochondrial (mt) genome sequence of Triodontophorus brevicauda, an intestinal equine nematode parasite was determined for the first time. The circular T. brevicauda mt genome is 14,305 bp in length and contains 36 genes, of which 12 code for protein, 22 for transfer RNA, and two for ribosomal RNA, and lacks atp8 mtDNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated amino acid sequence of the 12 protein-coding genes was performed using three different tree-building methods. The Strongyloidea cluster divides into two large branches, and each nematode family included in our s...
Burden FA, Bell N.The domestic donkey is a unique equid species with specific nutritional requirements. This article examines the importance of feeding strategies that mimic the donkey's natural environment using poor nutritional quality fibers and access to browsing materials. The relationship between nutrition and health is examined and practical approaches to the healthy and sick donkey are discussed.
Taylor WTT, Barrón-Ortiz CI.Despite its transformative impact on human history, the early domestication of the horse (Equus caballus) remains exceedingly difficult to trace in the archaeological record. In recent years, a scientific consensus emerged linking the Botai culture of northern Kazakhstan with the first domestication of horses, based on compelling but largely indirect archaeological evidence. A cornerstone of the archaeological case for domestication at Botai is damage to the dentition commonly linked with the use of bridle mouthpieces, or "bit wear." Recent archaeogenetic analyses reveal, however, that horse r...
Amaral A, Fernandes C, Lukasik K, Szóstek-Mioduchowska A, Baclawska A, Rebordão MR, Aguiar-Silva J, Pinto-Bravo P, Skarzynski DJ, Ferreira-Dias G.We have shown that bacteria induce neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in mare endometrium. Besides killing pathogens, NETs may contribute for endometrosis (chronic endometrium fibrosis). Since elastase (ELA) is a NETs component that regulates fibrosis and prostaglandin (PG) output, the aim was to evaluate if inhibition of ELA would affect collagen 1 (COL1) transcription and PGs secretion by endometrium explants, in different estrous cycle phases. Follicular-FP (n = 8) and mid luteal-MLP (n = 7) phases explants were cultured for 24-48 hr with medium alone (Control), ELA (0.5 μg/ml,1 ...
Butcher MT, Ashley-Ross MA.Fetlock joint kinematics during galloping in 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old Thoroughbreds in race training were quantified to determine if differences due to age could account for the observation that 2-year old Thoroughbred racehorses incur a high number of injuries to the bones and soft tissues in the distal forelimbs during training and at the outset of racing. Twelve Thoroughbred racehorses were videotaped in the sagittal plane at 250 frames/s during their daily galloping workout on a 7/8 mile sand-surface training track. Four galloping strides were recorded for each horse and subsequently dig...
Toutain PL, Lassourd V.The current performance of analytical techniques used for drug control in horses lead the Regulatory Authorities to decide whether trace levels of drugs legitimately used for therapeutic medication should or should not be reported. Here, we propose a well-ordered and nonexperimental pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic approach for the determination of irrelevant drug plasma (IPC) and urine concentrations (IUC). The published plasma clearance is used to transform an effective (marketed) dose into an effective concentration (EPC). EPC is transformed into an IPC by applying a safety factor (SF). This...
Silva MLCR, Auguste AJ, Terzian ACB, Vedovello D, Riet-Correa F, Macário VMK, Mourão MPG, Ullmann LS, Araújo JP, Weaver SC, Nogueira ML.Madariaga virus (MADV), the new species designation for the South American isolates of eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), is genetically divergent and substantially different in ecology and pathogenesis from North American EEEV strains. We isolated and characterized a MADV isolate obtained from a horse in Brazil. Our results support previous phylogenetic studies showing there are three genetically distinct MADV lineages. The MADV isolate from Paraíba State belongs to the South American lineage III and is closely related to Peruvian, Colombian and Venezuelan isolates.
Jürgenschellert L, Krücken J, Austin CJ, Lightbody KL, Bousquet E, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G.Effective and sustainable worm control in horses would benefit from detailed information about the current regional occurrence of tapeworms. Different diagnostic methods are currently available to detect Anoplocephala spp. infections in horses. However, the format as well as the sensitivity and specificity of the methods vary considerably. Methods: A coprological, serological and questionnaire study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of tapeworm infections on 48 horse farms in the region of Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany. In total, faecal samples of 484 horses were a...
Olivier A, Nurton JP, Guthrie AJ.Wastage is the term used to describe the phenomenon of the loss of racehorses from conception to adulthood due to death or injuries (i.e. they never reach a race-track), or the days lost by racehorses due to not training or being withdrawn from a race. This epizoological study was conducted to investigate wastage in Thoroughbred horses used for flat racing in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Data from 6 racing stables were recorded from 1 March 1993 to 28 February 1994. Each trainer completed a daily training record of the horses in his stable. This questionnaire included reasons why a ho...
McConnico RS, Morgan TW, Williams CC, Hubert JD, Moore RM.To determine pathophysiologic effects of phenylbutazone on the equine right dorsal colon (RDC). Methods: 12 healthy adult horses. Methods: A controlled crossover observational study was conducted. Clinical and serum variables, colonic inflammation (histologic grading), and measurement of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) concentrations, ingesta volatile fatty acid (VFA) content, and arterial blood flow in the RDC were evaluated for a 21-day period in horses administered phenylbutazone (8.8 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h) or a control substance. Results: D...
van de Water E, Oosterlinck M, Dumoulin M, Korthagen NM, van Weeren PR, van den Broek J, Everts H, Pille F, van Doorn DA.Nutraceuticals are often used in the management of equine osteoarthritis, but scientific evidence of their efficacy is lacking. Objective: To study the preventive effects of two new nutraceuticals after the experimental induction of synovitis in comparison with positive and negative control treatments. Methods: Blinded, controlled, randomised experiment. Methods: Twenty-four healthy Standardbred horses were randomly allocated to supplement AT (multi-ingredient, 28 days), supplement HP (collagen hydrolysate, 60 days), meloxicam (4 days) or placebo (60 days). Synovitis was induced in the right i...
Rodriguez C, Taminiau B, Brévers B, Avesani V, Van Broeck J, Leroux AA, Amory H, Delmée M, Daube G.Clostridium difficile has been identified as a significant agent of diarrhoea and enterocolitis in both foals and adult horses. Hospitalization, antibiotic therapy or changes in diet may contribute to the development of C. difficile infection. Horses admitted to a care unit are therefore at greater risk of being colonized. The aim of this study was to investigate the carriage of C. difficile in hospitalized horses and the possible influence of some risk factors in colonization. During a seven-month period, faecal samples and data relating the clinical history of horses admitted to a veterinary...
Guss B, Flock M, Frykberg L, Waller AS, Robinson C, Smith KC, Flock JI.Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) is a clonal, equine host-adapted pathogen of global importance that causes a suppurative lymphodendopathy of the head and neck, more commonly known as Strangles. The disease is highly prevalent, can be severe and is highly contagious. Antibiotic treatment is usually ineffective. Live attenuated vaccine strains of S. equi have shown adverse reactions and they suffer from a short duration of immunity. Thus, a safe and effective vaccine against S. equi is highly desirable. The bacterium shows only limited genetic diversity and an effective vaccine coul...
Donahue JM, Smith BJ, Redmon KJ, Donahue JK.A study was conducted to evaluate a recently available fluorescent antibody test (FAT) conjugate for the detection of leptospires in tissues of aborted and stillborn horses, to determine the leptospira antibody titers and compare serologic test results with FAT results, and to determine the prevalence of leptospira-induced abortions and stillbirths in the equine population of central Kentucky. From July 1, 1988 through June 30, 1989, 15 (2.5%) of 594 submissions (fetuses, stillborn foals, and/or placentas) were diagnosed as leptospirosis by the FAT (14 of 15 tested) and/or microscopic agglutin...
