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Topic:Veterinary Medicine
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.
Effect of erythromycin and colistin ophthalmic ointment on post-race keratitis in Thoroughbred racehorses. This study investigated the prophylactic efficacy of administering an ophthalmic ointment containing erythromycin and colistin (EC ointment) after racing to prevent post-race keratitis in Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: The incidence of post-race keratitis following turf and dirt races was compared between treatment groups (non-ointment group: eye flushing only; ointment group: eye flushing and application of EC ointment) and between two randomly assigned groups (non-antimicrobial group: application of ophthalmic white petrolatum; antimicrobial group: application of EC ointment). Results: Af...
Multisystemic and cerebral infection associated with Halicephalobus gingivalis in Brazilian Criollo horses. Halicephalosis is a rare cosmopolitan disease affecting equids, cattle, and humans, manifesting as meningoencephalitis. This study reports the detection of Halicephalobus gingivalis infection in two adult horses with neurological clinical signs in Rio Grande do Sul state, in the Southern Brazil. It underscores the pathological main findings and phylogenetic analyses. In both cases, the horses exhibited severe neurological manifestations and were euthanized due to poor prognosis. Pathological findings revealed gross brain lesions, in addition, alterations in the kidneys and lymph nodes. Histopa...
First documented cases of equine leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis in France. In this study, we describe the first documented cases of equine cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis in France and provide clinical and parasitological data relevant for the recognition of this emerging infection in horses. Three horses presenting localized cutaneous lesions were diagnosed with L. martiniquensis infection in different regions of France without spatial or temporal clustering. Lesions were clinically nonspecific and initially compatible with common equine dermatological conditions, including sarcoid-like tumors. Histopathological examination rev...
Case Report : Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus bacteriemia and spondylodiscitis following direct contact with a horse. Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus is a zoonotic pathogen that commonly colonizes the respiratory tract and oral cavity of horses. Human infections are rare and most frequently present as bacteremia, meningitis, or pneumonia. Methods: We report the case of an 88-year-old patient who developed Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus spondylodiscitis after direct and exclusive contact with a live horse. Clinical, microbiological, and radiological findings were reviewed. Results: Blood cultures identified Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus. Magnetic resonance imaging confirm...
Ursodeoxycholic Acid Oral Pharmacokinetics and Plasma Bile Acid Profile Changes in a Population of Healthy Neonatal Foals. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a secondary bile acid used in humans for the treatment of some cholestatic diseases. Interest in its potential use in equine patients with liver conditions has increased. Pharmacokinetic parameters in adult horses have recently been reported; however, they are not available for foals. The objective of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics of UDCA following a single oral dose of 15 mg/kg in six healthy neonatal foals and evaluate associated changes in bile acids (BA) profile. UDCA concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass...
Thymidine kinase 1 activity in serum and body cavity fluids of horses with lymphoma. The accuracy of serum thymidine kinase 1 (TK1S) as a biomarker of lymphoma in horses is variable. The value of measurement in body cavity fluid (TK1F) has not been established. Objective: (1) TK1F and TK1S will be higher in horses with lymphoma compared to diseased controls (DCs); (2) TK1F will be higher than TK1S; and (3) there will be a strong correlation between both measurements. Methods: Twenty animals in the lymphoma and 31 animals with nonneoplastic, gastrointestinal/respiratory disorders in DC group. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using prospectively collected data and sampl...
Association Between Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) Immunohistochemical Expression and Clinicopathological Features in Equine Melanoma. Equine melanoma is one of the most important oncological diseases in horses and exhibits a distinct biological behavior compared with melanoma in other species. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been associated with tumor aggressiveness and metastasis in human and canine melanoma, but its expression in equine melanoma remains unknown. Objective: Evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-9 in equine melanomas and investigate its association with clinicopathological features. Methods: 68 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded equine melanomas from 48 gray horses were evaluated immunohis...
Bacterial isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in tracheal wash samples from horses with equine asthma in Poland. Equine asthma (EA) is a chronic inflammatory lower-airway disease. Bacterial growth from tracheal wash (TW) may occur in samples from horses with EA, but may represent colonisation rather than active infection. This study described cultivable bacterial isolates recovered from TW samples from horses with EA in Poland and assessed their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and association with month/season of sampling and airway neutrophil percentage. Unassigned: In total, 165 adult horses diagnosed with EA according to American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine-based criteria underwent e...
Prior-informed population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of dexamethasone in horses. Dexamethasone (DEX) is widely used in equine practice with diverse studies having characterized its pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) including our published comprehensive meta-analysis. Individual DEX concentrations in plasma and urine and serum cortisol from five studies (n = 32 horses) were analyzed using a minimal physiologically-based PK (mPBPK) model and a circadian baseline-indirect response PD model. The previous meta-analysis provided complex structural models to assess sources of variability across an array of studies involving intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM) a...
The Impact of Track Incline on Musculoskeletal Injuries in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Training: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Fractures on Flat and Uphill Woodchip Surfaces. While race-day musculoskeletal injuries are well-documented, a considerable gap exists regarding fractures sustained during training, where Thoroughbred racehorses accumulate the majority of their high-speed exercise. In Japan, compliant woodchip tracks are frequently used, and uphill track geometries are a foundational element of conditioning. Objective: To quantify and describe the incidence and anatomical distribution of fractures occurring during training on flat versus uphill woodchip tracks over a 15-year period (2008-2022). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using centr...
Weigh tape more accurately estimates equine body weight than morphometric formula: a controlled technical assessment. Accurate body weight (BW) estimation in horses is essential for clinical and nutritional management; however, calibrated scales are often unavailable under field conditions. Objective: To compare the longitudinal accuracy and consistency of a commercial weigh tape and the Carroll and Huntington morphometric formula against calibrated digital scale measurements in adult horses. Methods: In a prospective longitudinal experimental study, six clinically healthy adult crossbred horses (mean real body weight [Rbw] 355.5 ± 21.2 kg) were monitored weekly for 63 days under controlled management condit...
Application of digital pathology to assess the effect of hormone treatment on placental histomorphometry in mares with induced ascending placentitis. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hormonal treatments with altrenogest (ALT) and estradiol cypionate (ECP) on placental histomorphometry in mares with experimentally induced ascending placentitis, using digital pathology as a quantitative tool. Thirty pregnancies from 27 Criollo-type mares were assigned to six groups: healthy controls (n = 5); basic treatment (n = 5), treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TSM), and flunixin meglumine (FM); ALT group (n = 5) + basic treatment; ECP group (n = 5) + basic treatment; ALT + ECP group (n = 5) in addition to basic treat...
Use of UV-Polymerizable Methacrylate Adhesive as a Post-Recovery Bandage Replacement for Transphyseal Screw Incisions in Horses: A Pilot Study. Surgical adhesives may provide an alternative to postoperative bandaging, but their use has not been evaluated in veterinary medicine. This prospective pilot study investigated the tolerance and postoperative adhesion of a UV-polymerizable methacrylate adhesive (UV-PMA) as a post-recovery bandage substitute following transphyseal screw placement in horses. A total of 153 sutured stab incisions from 102 horses were included; 75 received UV-PMA and 78 were protected with bandages. Surgical site infection (SSI) within 30 days and UV-PMA/bandage slippage within 14 days were compared between the tr...
Inflammatory phenotype and response to intradermal skin testing are not predictive of equine asthma diagnosis. The role of inflammation, allergy, and air quality in the pathogenesis of equine asthma has not yet been fully elucidated. Objective: To evaluate serum inflammatory cytokines, intradermal skin testing (IDT), and air quality in asthmatic horses. It was hypothesized that there would be an association between environmental allergies and poor air quality with asthma. Methods: 52 client-owned horses with clinical signs consistent with asthma were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Horses were diagnosed with asthma based on the results of bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) cytology. Blood samples wer...
Proteomic Profiling and Targeted Validation Reveal a More Extensive Salivary than Serum Response to a Feed-Deprivation Protocol in Horses with Gastric Lesions. Gastric ulceration is common in horses and remains challenging to diagnose, as gastroscopy is the gold standard. This study aimed to characterise the salivary and serum protein changes associated with a feed-deprivation protocol. Eight horses underwent this protocol, and gastric lesions were assessed by gastroscopy at the end of the experimental period. Saliva and blood samples were collected pre- and post-protocol, and pooled samples from each biological fluid and condition were analysed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to compare protein profiles. Fifteen salivary and five serum protei...
Pancreatic α-cell dysfunction associated with equine insulin dysregulation. Insulin dysregulation (ID) in horses is characterised by insulin resistance and exaggerated insulin responses, yet the underlying endocrine mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In humans, α-cell dysfunction characterised by exaggerated glucagon secretion contributes to metabolic disease; however, the role of pancreatic α-cell function in equine ID has not previously been investigated. Objective: To investigate whether horses with moderate to severe ID exhibit α-cell dysfunction, characterised by fasting and postprandial hyperglucagonaemia as well as impaired postprandial glucagon supp...
Effects of constant rate infusion of a fixed-dose combination of medetomidine and vatinoxan on sedation, cardiorespiratory variables, and gastrointestinal activity in standing Thoroughbred horses. A fixed-dose combination of medetomidine (MED) and vatinoxan (VTX), a peripherally selective α2-adrenoceptor antagonist, is commercially available, but its constant rate infusion (CRI) has not been evaluated. Objective: To compare the sedative effects, cardiorespiratory variables, and gastrointestinal activity of MED-VTX and MED-atipamezole (ATIP) with MED alone in Thoroughbred horses. Methods: Six healthy Thoroughbreds underwent a blinded three-treatment, three-period crossover study. Horses received MED (7 μg/kg IV; 5 μg/kg/h CRI for 60 min) alone (gM), with VTX (140 μg/kg IV; 100 μg/kg...
Race-related fatalities in U.S. jump racing, 2023-2025: incidence and documentation across public reporting sources. Fatality reporting in National Steeplechase Association (NSA)-sanctioned U.S. jump racing is distributed across several public sources, and no single source consistently links the race incident with the final clinical outcome. Objective: To identify and verify race-related fatalities associated with NSA-sanctioned jump-racing starts, compare documentation across public sources, and estimate minimum confirmed fatality incidence. Methods: The study population included official starters in completed NSA-sanctioned hurdle/fence and timber races during 2023-2025. Potential fatalities reported by Ho...
Retrospective investigation of equine parvovirus-hepatitis in Italy. Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) has recently been identified as the etiological agent of Theiler's disease, a major cause of acute hepatitis and liver failure in horses. While iatrogenic transmission of EqPV-H is well-documented, the natural horizontal transmission of the virus remains poorly understood. This study provides the first comprehensive epidemiological investigation and molecular characterization of EqPV-H in equine populations across Italy. A total of 1320 archival serum samples from northern and southern Italy were screened for the presence of EqPV-H DNA by qPCR. The overall ...
A Retrospective Analysis of Liberal Fluid Therapy and Total Protein Changes in 124 Horses Undergoing Colic Surgery. Perioperative fluid therapy in horses undergoing colic surgery should be individualised to avoid complications associated with both hypo- and hypervolaemia. This retrospective study evaluated the haemodynamic effects of a liberal perioperative fluid therapy approach, focusing on total plasma protein (TPP) changes. Medical records of 124 horses undergoing colic surgery between March 2018 and June 2020 were reviewed. Packed cell volume (PCV) and TPP were assessed preoperatively, after surgery, on postoperative days (POD) 2, 5 and 7, and at long-term follow-up. Horses were stratified according to...
Association of submaximal exercise test variables with diagnosis of asthma in a mixed-breed cohort of leisure horses. Submaximal exercise tests (SET) are used to assess respiratory health in various contexts. The diagnostic value of SETs for the assessment of asthma in the field remains uncertain. Objective: A SET helps distinguish healthy horses and asthma phenotypes. Methods: Twenty-six privately owned mixed-breed leisure horses of a clinical cohort. Horses were healthy (8) or diagnosed with mild (miEA) (4), moderate (modEA) (7), or severe asthma (sEA) (7) according to history, clinical examination, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology. Methods: Cross-sectional study using clinical data and samp...
Retrospective Analysis of the Clinical Findings of 114 Horses with Eosinophilic Keratoconjunctivitis. Eosinophilic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) is an inflammatory eye disease of horses with an unknown cause and suspected immune-mediated pathogenesis. This single-center retrospective case series included 114 horses (163 affected eyes) examined at a German equine referral hospital from January 2012 to December 2020. Of these horses, 71 (62.3%) were Warmbloods, 77 (67.5%) were presented from July to September, and 49 (43.0%) had bilateral disease. The cornea was involved in 139 of 163 eyes (85.3%). During the study period, 114 EKC cases occurred among 5742 ophthalmology cases (2.0%), with an increa...
Comparison of blind end closure techniques in equine ileum. To determine the difference in bursting pressure (BP), bursting wall tension (BWT), and closure speed between commonly utilized methods of ileal stump closure. Methods: Randomized experimental study. Methods: A total of 71 ileal segments from 18 healthy horses. Methods: Ileum was collected postmortem from 18 horses and divided into four segments. One end of each segment was closed using one of three techniques: Parker-Kerr (PK), gastrointestinal staples (ST), or gastrointestinal staples with a Lembert staple oversew (SO). Closure time was recorded. Control (C) segments were not altered. Segmen...
Serum osteocalcin is associated with scintigraphic abnormalities in lame and clinically sound racehorses. Musculoskeletal injury is a major welfare and economic challenge in racehorses, with stress-related bone injury contributing to training interruption and catastrophic failure. Advanced imaging modalities can detect early skeletal pathology but remain limited in routine screening environments. Circulating biomarkers of bone turnover may provide complementary indicators of skeletal remodelling but require validation against objective imaging findings. Objective: Evaluate whether osteocalcin (OC) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), or the CTX/OC ratio, are associated with scintig...
Seroprevalence and associated epidemiological drivers of glanders in horses: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2002-2026). Glanders (malleus), a highly contagious zoonotic disease caused by Burkholderia mallei, remains an important transboundary disease of equids despite extensive control efforts in many countries. However, its epidemiological patterns and associated drivers have not been comprehensively synthesized. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of glanders in horses and identify key epidemiological drivers based on studies published up to April 27, 2026. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, ProQu...
Residual contamination in nebulization medication cups after corticosteroid administration: an in vitro assessment with implications for equine doping control. Nebulization is increasingly used to administer respiratory medications in horses. However, the potential for residual contamination in medication cups after administering regulated substances raises concerns about inadvertent doping. Objective: To evaluate whether medication cups used for nebulization of corticosteroids can subsequently be used for administration of non-regulated substances without detectable carryover. Methods: In vitro experimental study. Methods: Three corticosteroids (budesonide, dexamethasone, fluticasone propionate) were nebulized using Flexineb™ medication cups. Foll...
Myocardial dysfunction associated with low-dose endotoxin administration in adult horses. Horses with endotoxemia have variable myocardial function, but little is known about the severity or persistence of myocardial dysfunction (MD). Objective: Horses with experimentally induced endotoxemia have systolic and diastolic MD. Methods: Twelve systemically healthy horses. Methods: Horses were given Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide 30 ng/kg over 60 min. Echocardiography and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) measurements were performed at baseline, 1, 3, and 5 h post-endotoxin. Fluid therapy (10 L), polymyxin B (6000 IU/kg), and flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg) were administered intravenou...
Use of clinical findings to distinguish between intestinal lymphoma or inflammatory bowel disease in horses. Identifying clinical findings that are distinct between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and intestinal lymphoma could be helpful for providing preliminary guidance for clients regarding their horse's prognosis while awaiting histopathologic results. Objective: To describe and compare the clinical findings of horses with a final histopathologic diagnosis of IBD vs intestinal lymphoma. Methods: Forty-six adult (≥1-year-old) horses with a final histopathologic diagnosis of IBD or intestinal lymphoma on endoscopic duodenal biopsy, surgical biopsy, or necropsy. Methods: Retrospective single-cent...
Effects of Repeated Monopolar Pulsed Capacitive Radiofrequency Energy Treatments on Mechanical Nociceptive Thresholds and Skin Temperature in Show-Jumping Horses with Thoracolumbar Pain. This study evaluated the effects of repeated monopolar Capacitive Resistive Electrical Transfer (CRET) therapy on mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNT) and skin surface temperature in horses with perceived chronic thoracolumbar pain. Fifteen show-jumping horses were enrolled in a randomized sham-controlled clinical trial. Ten horses received treatment, and five underwent a sham procedure. Five treatment sessions were performed at 72 h intervals using a monopolar capacitive radiofrequency device operating at 500 kHz. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNT) were assessed before treatment, afte...
