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.
Martins ALM, Estevam LGTM, Freire MA, Lima ACVMDR, de Oliveira FCB, Dutra-Rêgo F, Carvalho GML, Ribeiro VM, Paz GF.Equine leishmaniasis is a widespread disease in Brazil, mainly caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, with occasional cases involving Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum. This study reports a mixed infection in a 6-year-old mare from rural Itabirito, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The mare exhibited nodular cutaneous lesions on all limbs but had no other health issues. Skin and bone marrow samples were collected and analyzed using parasitological and molecular methods targeting the hsp70 gene and ITS1 region. Both L. (V.) braziliensis and L. (L.) infantum were identified, confirming a mixed infectio...
Garcia-Collao MR, Curtiss AL, Hogan PM.To describe the outcomes of arthroscopic debridement of third carpal bone (C3) incomplete slab fractures (ISF) in racehorses. Methods: Retrospective case study. Methods: Horses undergoing arthroscopic debridement of ISF of C3. Methods: The medical records of horses surgically treated for ISF of C3 were reviewed. Age, sex, breed, limb, fracture configuration, preoperative radiographs, arthroscopic findings, postoperative intraarticular therapies, and exercise recommendations were recorded. Racing performance was obtained from online databases. Univariable analyses were used to determine associa...
Saraiva MMS, Rodrigues HLS, Benevides VP, de Leon CMCG, Santos SCL, Stipp DT, Givisiez PEN, Vieira RFC, Oliveira CJB. () is a major cause of opportunistic infections in humans and animals, leading to severe systemic diseases. The rise of MDR strains associated with animal carriage poses significant health challenges, underscoring the need to investigate animal-derived . Objective: This study examined the genotypic relatedness and phenotypic profiles of antimicrobial resistance in . , previously sampled from nostril swabs of healthy horses from two geographically distant Brazilian states (Northeast and South), separated by over 3700 km. The study also sought to confirm the presence of methicillin-resistant (M...
Pramod RK, Yadav V, Vishnuraj MR, Gupta MK.Annually, around 100 million vertebrate animals are utilized globally in biomedical research, with rodents, specifically mice and rats, being the most commonly used animals in laboratory settings. While rodent models have substantially advanced our understanding of basic biological mechanisms, the translation of these findings often benefits from the use of large animal models, which offer several key advantages for bridging preclinical research to human applications. Thus, domestic animals are increasingly recognized as valuable laboratory animal models to mirror human diseases, assess pharma...
Arshad A, Reif AH, Cavalleri JV, Desvars-Larrive A.Equids serve diverse roles in contemporary society. Their use as companion animals, in sports, transportation, and food production brings them into close contact with humans, creating potential zoonotic risks. This review had two objectives: (i) to catalogue zoonotic pathogens detected in equids across Central Europe, and (ii) to analyse research trends and collaborations in equid zoonosis studies within the region. We conducted a systematic literature search following PRISMA guidelines to identify publications on naturally occurring zoonotic pathogens in equids from nine countries: Austria, t...
Strand E, Vermedal H, Olsen HMB, Fjordbakk CT, Fretheim-Kelly ZL.Clinical evaluation of alar fold (AF) collapse is presently based upon subjective evaluation of improvement in breathing and respiratory noise after suturing the AFs dorsally. Objective: To evaluate use of nasopharyngeal airway pressure (NAP) as an objective method of assessing for the presence of AF collapse during exercise. NAPs should also potentially provide a precise means to grade the degree of airway obstruction present and response to surgical treatment. Methods: Prospective clinical study of actively racing Standardbred horses. Methods: Standardbreds undergoing this test were outfitte...
Stucki G, Valet S, Fuerst AE, Weisse B, Jackson MA.The aim of this study was to compare the strength (load at failure) and the number of cycles to failure of 3.5- and 4.0-mm cortical screw-bone constructs for repair of navicular bone fractures in horses.This was an in vitro biomechanical study that used a four-point bending apparatus to determine the load at failure of 3.5- and 4.0-mm cortical screw-bone constructs subjected to static and cyclic loading.In static testing, pairwise comparison of 4.0-mm cortical screw-bone constructs demonstrated significantly greater strength (mean increase: +16%, = 0.0135) compared with those in the 3.5-m...
Lobato OL, Nogueira TDS, Lima TET, Andrade FJDC, de Macedo MGG, Pereira RS, Xavier J, Amorim MR, Barbosa PP, da Rocha AS, Silva SDC, Alcantara LCJ....The cycle of the Orthoflavivirus nilense (West Nile virus - WNV) involves birds and mosquitoes, while humans and equids serve as terminal hosts. In 2014, the first human case in Brazil was confirmed in Piauí State. Objective: To investigate the presence of WNV in birds, mosquitoes, and equids in municipalities of Piauí. Methods: Collections were carried out following recommendations from the Ministry of Health of Brazil, in 11 municipalities (all with human cases or bird mortality), where biological samples were collected from birds, mosquitoes, and equids. The Viral RNA extraction was perfo...
McCarthy J, Cameron-Whytock HA, Bennet ED.Thoroughbred racing is a major industry, and in recent years, public concerns about equine safety have become more prominent, particularly in relation to on-track injuries and fatalities. This has challenged the industry's social licence to operate (SLO). Objective: To investigate and elucidate how UK and Irish racing stakeholders perceive risks to racehorses on race day and how those risks should be managed. Methods: Qualitative analysis of stakeholder perspectives using a constructionist approach. Methods: Twelve stakeholders from veterinary, communication and regulatory sectors within racin...
Schneider MJ, Piotrowski IL, Junge HK, van Steenkiste G, Vernemmen I, van Loon G, Schwarzwald CC.Left atrial mechanical dysfunction is common in horses following the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to evaluate the use of an acoustic cardiography monitor (Audicor) in quantifying cardiac mechanical and hemodynamic function in horses with AF before and after treatment and to correlate these findings with echocardiographic measures. Twenty-eight horses with AF and successful transvenous electrical cardioversion were included. Audicor recordings with concomitant echocardiographic examinations were performed one day before, one day after, and two to seven days after card...
Albornoz A, Morales B, Fernandez VB, Henriquez C, Quiroga J, Alarcón P, Moran G, Burgos RA.Equine asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterised by neutrophilic inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, and impaired pulmonary function. Obesity, increasingly prevalent among domestic horses, has been identified as a potential risk factor for exacerbating inflammatory conditions. This study aimed to explore whether obesity modifies neutrophil metabolism and inflammatory responses in horses affected by asthma. Six asthmatic horses in clinical remission were categorised into two groups: obese and non-obese, based on body condition score. Serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) an...
Kuroda T, Minamijima Y, Niwa H, Mita H, Nomura M, Ohta M.A pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) approach was used to determine the dosage regimens of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections after intravenous (IV) and per os (PO) administration in horses. Methods: Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole plasma concentrations were measured in six horses after a single IV administration of 15 mg/kg (2.5 mg/kg trimethoprim and 12.5 mg/kg sulfamethoxazole) and PO administration of 30 mg/kg (5.0 mg/kg trimethoprim and 25.0 mg/kg sulfamethoxazole). The data were modeled using a nonlinear mixed-effects mode...
Ruspi BD, Bramlage LR, Ruggles AJ, Slone SA.To report the rate of survival, rate of return to racing, and quality of racing performance following surgical fixation of medial condylar fractures. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: A total of 150 Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses surgically treated for medial condylar fracture (100 lag screw fixation, 50 plate fixation). Methods: Medical records, radiographs, and racing databases (2000-2020) were reviewed to collect signalment, fracture characteristics, fixation methods, survival rate, and complication rate. Change in racing performance was assessed using Wilcoxon rank sum tests...
Scarlet D, Schuler G, Malama E, Bollwein H, Bocci C, Colleoni S, Lazzari G, Galli C, Kowalewski MP.Despite recent improvements in equine ovum pick-up (OPU) combined with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), there is still significant inter-individual variability. In this study, serum concentrations of the oocyte-secreted factors growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), as well as the GDF9/BMP15 complex, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), progesterone (P4), and free and conjugated estradiol-17β (E2), were determined in 59 mares (3-24 years) at the time of OPU. Mares were classified retrospectively, based on the number of embryos obtained, into low or...
Diptera-borne diseases pose a major threat to global health, and their distribution is constantly changing due to climate change, globalization, and environmental changes. To improve the knowledge of dipteran species and their distribution in equine facilities, CDC-UV and oviposition traps were placed, and the dipping technique was performed in 16 equestrian centers of Northwest (NW) Spain (Galicia and Castilla y León Autonomous Communities) between July and November 2023. A questionnaire was distributed among the horse owners to obtain additional information. Four genera of culicids, (51.8%...
Zhang XX, Huang X, Li XQ, Wang ZY, Jiang Y, Jiao X, Li Q, Wang J, Zhong FG.Salmonella enterica serovar Kentucky ST198 has been increasingly reported in diverse sources worldwide, emerging as a globally epidemic clone. In this study, we aim to characterise the first isolated S. Kentucky ST198 strain from a horse in China. Methods: Twelve faecal samples were collected from horses at a farm in Shihezi, Xinjiang Province, China, and investigated for the presence of Salmonella. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of 15 antimicrobial agents were determined using the broth microdilution method. The whole genome of Sal140 was sequenced using the Illumina Hiseq platform and...
Valdez-Espinoza UM, Fadda LA, Marques R, Osorio-Olvera L, Jiménez-García D, Lira-Noriega A.The reemergence of the New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) poses a significant threat to animal and public health with minimal regulatory oversight. This study analyzes the potential distribution and reemergence of this pest, which is endemic to South America but was previously eradicated in North America. We first developed bioclimatic suitability models, and then incorporated these findings along with reemergence records and inspection point data to simulate possible dispersal routes into Mexico and the United States. Our results document the historical distribution of C. hominivor...
Espinosa-López EM, Ortiz-Guisado B, Diez de Castro E, Durham A, Aguilera-Tejero E, Gómez-Baena G.Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a multifactorial endocrine disorder characterized by obesity, insulin dysregulation (ID), and an increase in the risk of laminitis, a painful condition that can lead to euthanasia in severe cases. Diagnosing EMS is challenging and often relies on clinical history including obesity, difficulty in losing weight, and recurring episodes of laminitis. The gold standard for laboratory support of an EMS diagnosis is the identification of ID, with basal insulin being the simplest and most accessible method, especially in a field setting. However, various factors such...
Kamm JL, Odegaard J, Gaida J, King N.This tutorial aims to illustrate and instruct on the technique of punch skin grafting in the horse. Unassigned: A 10-year-old paint gelding with a 9 X 6-cm chronic granulating wound to the left forelimb was utilized for this tutorial. Unassigned: The chronic wound was debrided with sharp dissection, and the limb was pressure bandaged overnight. Twenty-four hours later, the horse was sedated for punch skin grafting. The ventral pectoral region was aseptically prepared for skin harvest and locally anesthetized. An 8-mm biopsy punch was used to harvest the grafts. The subcutaneous tissue was then...
Perkins GA, Wagner B, Rollins A, Sfraga H, Pearson E, Cercone M.To apply equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) antibody testing in nasal swabs and serum in nonclinical horses during a naturally occurring outbreak of (EHV-1). Previous experimental EHV-1 challenge studies showed stable serum anti-EHV-1 antibody concentrations paired with rapidly increasing nasal mucosal antibodies (mucAbs) prevent EHV-1 infection, viral shedding, and cell-associated viremia. From this, we hypothesized that EHV-1 antibody testing can confirm exposure in non-clinical horses during an outbreak. Unassigned: 2 horses with neurological signs from 1 farm were admitted to an equine hosp...
Jantunen N, Raekallio M, Obrochta B, Tapio H, Gracia Calvo L, Rivera Pöyhönen R, Hagman K, Karikoski N.To assess the effects of a 4 hour detomidine constant rate infusion (CRI) with and without a vatinoxan CRI on energy metabolism and urine composition. Methods: Randomized, blinded, crossover study. Methods: Eight Finnhorses, 587 (550-620) kg [median (range)] and 13 (4-16) years old. Methods: Horses were administered an intravenous (IV) detomidine loading dose (0.01 mg kg) followed by 240 minutes CRI (0.015 mg kg hour) (DET) and the same detomidine protocol combined with an IV vatinoxan loading dose (0.15 mg kg) and CRI (0.05 mg kg hour) (DET+VAT). Blood samples for glucose, insulin, non-esteri...
Couto G, Grippo A, Ismer A, Hoogewijs M, Pedro B, Vasconcelos L, Santos G, Wilsher S.Vitrified in vitro-produced embryos can be successfully warmed in isotonic media at room temperature (RT; 22°C). However, this protocol has not been reported for in vivo embryos, which are more challenging to vitrify and warm. Study objectives were to see if vitrified in vivo embryos warmed in RT isotonic medium gave equivalent pregnancy rates to stepwise serial dilution warming, and if embryo size influenced the results. One hundred and seventeen embryos were divided into groups by size (G1:≤ 300 μm, n = 59; G2:> 300-400 μm, n = 33; G3:> 400-500 μm, n = ...
Hernández-Avilés C.Sperm quality analysis using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) systems and fluorescence-based techniques has become common in the animal reproduction industry, particularly for large animals (i.e., bovine, porcine, equine). In this chapter, the methods commonly utilized in the author's laboratory to examine sperm motion characteristics via CASA and plasma membrane intactness by flow cytometry will be described. These include methods to properly dilute fresh (stallions, bulls, boars), cool-stored (stallions, boars), or frozen/thawed (stallions, bulls, boars) sperm for assessment of sperm ...
van Spijk JN, Junge HK, Eberhardt C, Wolf N, Vogt D, Zscherpe P, Herger E, Straub M, Schwarzwald CC.Echocardiographic evaluation of right heart (RH) size and function in horses is challenging and relies on subjective assessment. Objective: Evaluate inter- and intra-rater agreement of subjective assessment of RH size, RH function, and the presence of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) in horses. Assess subjective RH changes with and without PHT and the influence of observer experience. Methods: Healthy horses (n = 30) and horses with Doppler measurements suggesting the presence or absence of PHT (n = 30 each). Methods: Nine standard echocardiographic recordings were analyzed by experienced ...
Zamith Cunha R, Gobbo F, Morini M, Zannoni A, Mainardi C, D'arpe L, Gramenzi A, Chiocchetti R.A growing body of evidence indicates that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is essential for controlling the homeostasis of the skin and that the ECS is modified in the presence of skin disease. It is plausible to expect that the lamellar junction of the hoof expresses cannabinoid receptors and that their expression could be affected by lamellar disease. The goal of this study was to characterise the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) and type 2 (CB2R) and the G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) within the dermo-epidermal junction of the hooves of healthy and laminitic horses. The expression ...
de Souza Lima E, de Oliveira Filho RB, Malta KC, Pires IC, Rosa DS, Chideroli RT, Aburjaile FF, de Jesus Sousa T, Ramos RTJ, Góes-Neto A....Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is a bacterium that causes significant economic damage to farmers, mainly in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil. In this context, only biovar ovis has been reported, and it is widespread in small ruminants. However, this report describes the first equine case in Brazil attributable to a biovar equi. Clinically, it is the causative agent of ulcerative lymphangitis, mastitis, necrotic and ulcerative dermatitis. A Quarter Horse from the semiarid Northeast presented ulcerative lymphangitis. Culture, nitrate reduction test, MALDI-TOF, and whole-genome sequ...
Clarysse M, Bertier P, Verpaele S, Madsen AM, Vlaminck L.Equine dental disorders, such as sharp enamel points and focal overgrowths, are common in horses and are often treated with motorized dental grinding tools. These tools, while effective, produce dust and aerosols that may pose health risks to veterinarians and nearby individuals. This study aimed to assess the health risks associated with dental dust and aerosols generated during equine odontoplasty. Using a realistic setup, air concentrations of inhalable and respirable dust, crystalline silica, and airborne microorganisms and endotoxins were measured in 12 groups of horses undergoing odontop...
Knudsen AR, Marsh JS, Pye JL.To describe reproductive performance in Thoroughbred broodmares post-large colon resection and to compare to performance post-colopexy. Methods: A single-institution retrospective study. Methods: A total of 29 client-owned horses: post-large colon resection (LCR) n = 19, post-colopexy: n = 10. Methods: Thoroughbred broodmares that survived until discharge following LCR (Group R) or colopexy (Group P) between 2006 and 2023 were included. Clinical data were collected from clinical records. Breeding and foaling data were collected from the Australian and New Zealand Studbooks. Statistical...
Akinniyi OO, Lawal TR, Rufai N, Jolayemi KO, Amaje J.African horse sickness (AHS) is endemic in Nigeria. Despite this, little is known about the perspective of horse handlers in Nigeria regarding AHS. The study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) of horse handlers in Southwest Nigeria regarding AHS. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted, which involved convenient sampling of 131 horse handlers in Lagos and Oyo States by February - April 2024. The pre-validated questionnaires were administered via face-to-face interviews, covering demographics, knowledge of AHS transmission, clinical signs, prevention and cont...
Aziz KJ, Issa NA, Mikaeel FB, Ismael SS.This study investigated the prevalence, intensity, and associated risk factors of Parascaris equorum (P. equorum) infection in equids using both parasitological and molecular methods. Data on age, sex, body condition, and housing conditions were systematically collected to evaluate their influence on infection risk. Fecal samples from 294 equines (148 horses, 47 mules, 63 donkeys, and 36 ponies) were examined microscopically using direct wet-mount and flotation techniques, with infection intensity quantified using the McMaster technique to determine eggs per gram (EPG). Molecular confirmation ...
Gimenez C, Casado N, Criado-Fornelio A, de Miguel FA, Dominguez-Peñafiel G.This study reports a molecular survey of Hepatozoon species and of the order Piroplasmida in the Province of Burgos, northern Spain. The diagnostic techniques employed included PCR and the sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene. Eighty-nine blood samples from domestic animals plus 138 blood/coagulated blood samples from wild mammals were examined. Theilerid protozoa were found at relatively high frequencies in bovines (14.6%) and horses (36%). Theileria buffeli, T. sergenti and T. annulata were diagnosed in cows. T. equi was common in horses and T. annae was found in a donkey for the first time. A ne...
Arkell M, Archer RM, Guitian FJ, May SA.Eighteen observers were influenced to different extents in the grades of lameness they allocated to eight horses by whether they knew that a nerve block had been administered; on a scale from 0 to 10 the mean difference in grade allocated once the observer knew a horse had been nerve-blocked was increased by 0.4. The consistency of the assessments made by the individual observers was good, with a an average of 0.6 of a grade difference when grading the same horse on two occasions. The agreement between the assessments of four orthopaedic experts was reasonable (+/-1 grade), but significantly p...
Lu J, Guo Z, Pan X, Wang G, Zhang D, Li Y, Tan B, Ouyang L, Yu X.Avian influenza virus H5N1 has demonstrated considerable pandemic potential. Currently, no effective vaccines for H5N1 infection are available, so passive immunotherapy may be an alternative strategy. To investigate the possible therapeutic effect of antibody against highly pathogenic H5N1 virus on a mammal host, we prepared specific equine anti-H5N1 IgGs from horses vaccinated with inactivated H5N1 virus, and then obtained the F(ab')2 fragments by pepsin digestion of IgGs. Methods: The horses were vaccinated with inactivated H5N1 vaccine to prepare anti-H5N1 IgGs. The F(ab')2 fragments were p...
Mair TS, Smith LJ.Few studies have assessed short- and long-term complication rates of horses following surgical treatment of colic, a potentially fatal condition. Complications can lead to patient discomfort and increased costs; knowledge of predisposing factors may help to reduce complication rates. Objective: To document and analyse short-term complications in 300 horses undergoing colic surgery, and to assess some of the possible predisposing factors. Methods: History, clinical findings, surgical findings and procedures, and post operative treatments of 300 consecutive surgical colic cases (1994-2001) were ...
Collins PJ, Vachieri SG, Haire LF, Ogrodowicz RW, Martin SR, Walker PA, Xiong X, Gamblin SJ, Skehel JJ.In 2004 an hemagglutinin 3 neuraminidase 8 (H3N8) equine influenza virus was transmitted from horses to dogs in Florida and subsequently spread throughout the United States and to Europe. To understand the molecular basis of changes in the antigenicity of H3 hemagglutinins (HAs) that have occurred during virus evolution in horses, and to investigate the role of HA in the equine to canine cross-species transfer, we used X-ray crystallography to determine the structures of the HAs from two antigenically distinct equine viruses and from a canine virus. Structurally all three are very similar with...
Morgan R, Keen J, McGowan C.Laminitis is one of the most common and frustrating clinical presentations in equine practice. While the principles of treatment for laminitis have not changed for several decades, there have been some important paradigm shifts in our understanding of laminitis. Most importantly, it is essential to consider laminitis as a clinical sign of disease and not as a disease in its own right. Once this shift in thinking has occurred, it is logical to then question what disease caused the laminitis. More than 90 per cent of horses presented with laminitis as their primary clinical sign will have develo...
Pirie RS, Collie DD, Dixon PM, McGorum BC.Equine heaves is a naturally occurring organic dust-induced asthma characterized by airway neutrophilia, mucus hypersecretion and obstructive lung dysfunction. However, the relative role of different dust components in disease severity remains unclear. Objective: This study investigated the relative contribution of inhaled endotoxin and organic dust particulates (mainly mould spores) in inducing heaves in heaves-susceptible horses. Methods: Control and heaves-susceptible horses received inhalation challenges with hay dust suspension (HDS) before and after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) depletion. He...
Morris LH, Allen WR.The findings of a retrospective survey of 1393 Thoroughbred mares visiting 22 studfarms in the Newmarket region of the UK during the 1998 mating season were compared with those of a similar study undertaken in 1983. The effects of mare age and status, stallion, month of mating, application of uterine treatments and other parameters on the rates of singleton and twin conception and subsequent pregnancy losses were analysed. Mare age and status significantly affected the per cycle pregnancy rate and the incidence of pregnancy loss. Overall, the mean number of matings per oestrus was 1.12 and the...
Arroyo LG, Kruth SA, Willey BM, Staempfli HR, Low DE, Weese JS.Molecular typing of Clostridium difficile isolates from animals and humans may be useful for evaluation of the possibility for interspecies transmission. The objective of this study was to evaluate C. difficile isolates from domestic animals and humans using PCR ribotyping. Isolates were also tested using PCR for the presence of genes encoding toxins A and B. One hundred and thirty-three isolates of C. difficile from dogs (n = 92), horses (n = 21) and humans (n = 20), plus one each from a cat and a calf, were evaluated. Overall, 23 ribotypes were identified. Of these, nine were identified from...
Maddox TW, Clegg PD, Diggle PJ, Wedley AL, Dawson S, Pinchbeck GL, Williams NJ.The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli represents a significant problem. However, the carriage of such bacteria by horses in the UK has not been well characterised. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of nasal carriage of MRSA and faecal carriage of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli amongst horses in the general equine community of the mainland UK. Methods: A cross-sectional study of horses recruited by 65 randomly selected equine veterinary practices was conducted, wi...
Lansade L, Nowak R, Lainé AL, Leterrier C, Bonneau C, Parias C, Bertin A.Behavioural and physiological markers of discrete positive emotions remain little investigated in animals. To characterise new markers in horses, we used tactile stimulations to induce emotional situation of contrasting valence. In the Gentle grooming group (G, N = 13) horses were gently groomed during 11 sessions on the body areas they appreciated the most. Horses in the Standard grooming group (S, N = 14) were groomed using a fixed procedure, reported to induce avoidance reactions in some horses. At session 11, G horses expressed significantly more contact-seeking behaviours than S h...
Wang LF, Michalski WP, Yu M, Pritchard LI, Crameri G, Shiell B, Eaton BT.In 1994, a new member of the family Paramyxoviridae isolated from fatal cases of respiratory disease in horses and humans was shown to be distantly related to morbilliviruses and provisionally called equine morbillivirus (K. Murray et al., Science 268:94-97, 1995). To facilitate characterization and classification, the virus was purified, viral proteins were identified, and the P/V/C gene was cloned and sequenced. The coding strategy of the gene is similar to that of Sendai and measles viruses, members of the Paramyxovirus and Morbillivirus genera, respectively, in the subfamily Paramyxovirina...
Beretta C, Garavaglia G, Cavalli M.We report on the inhibitory activity of the NSAIDs meloxicam, carprofen, phenylbutazone and flunixin, on blood cyclooxygenases in the horse using in vitro enzyme-linked assays. As expected, comparison of IC50 indicated that meloxicam and carprofen are more selective inhibitors of COX-2 than phenylbutazone and flunixin; meloxicam was the most advantageous for horses of four NSAIDs examined. However at IC80, phenylbutazone (+134.4%) and flunixin (+29.7%) had greater COX-2 selectivity than at IC50, and meloxicam (-41.2%) and carprofen (-12.9%) had lower COX-2 selectivity than at IC50. We therefor...
Moretti A, Mangili V, Salvatori R, Maresca C, Scoccia E, Torina A, Moretta I, Gabrielli S, Tampieri MP, Pietrobelli M.Babesia caballi and Theileria equi are the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis. In this preliminary epidemiological study, 412 horses reared in central and northern Italy were sampled and three diagnostic methods compared, namely, the microscopy, the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and a PCR. Possible risk factors (such as area, season, breed, activity, sex, age, and grazing) associated with serological positivity were evaluated. A seroprevalence of 68.4% was found: 12.4% of the animals had anti-T. equi antibodies, 17.9% anti-B. caballi antibodies and 38.1% had antibodies agains...
Lyons S, Kapoor A, Schneider BS, Wolfe ND, Culshaw G, Corcoran B, Durham AE, Burden F, McGorum BC, Simmonds P.Non-primate hepacivirus (NPHV), equine pegivirus (EPgV) and Theiler's disease associated virus (TDAV) are newly discovered members of two genera in the Flaviviridae family, Hepacivirus and Pegivirus respectively, that include human hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human pegivirus (HPgV). To investigate their epidemiology, persistence and clinical features of infection, large cohorts of horses and other mammalian species were screened for NPHV, EPgV and TDAV viraemia and for past exposure through serological assays for NPHV and EPgV-specific antibodies. NPHV antibodies were detected in 43% of 328 ho...
Harris SR, Robinson C, Steward KF, Webb KS, Paillot R, Parkhill J, Holden MT, Waller AS.Strangles, the most frequently diagnosed infectious disease of horses worldwide, is caused by Streptococcus equi. Despite its prevalence, the global diversity and mechanisms underlying the evolution of S. equi as a host-restricted pathogen remain poorly understood. Here, we define the global population structure of this important pathogen and reveal a population replacement in the late 19th or early 20th Century. Our data reveal a dynamic genome that continues to mutate and decay, but also to amplify and acquire genes despite the organism having lost its natural competence and become host-rest...
Breton A, Sharma R, Diaz AC, Parham AG, Graham A, Neil C, Whitelaw CB, Milne E, Donadeu FX.Pluripotent stem cells offer unprecedented potential not only for human medicine but also for veterinary medicine, particularly in relation to the horse. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are particularly promising, as they are functionally similar to embryonic stem cells and can be generated in vitro in a patient-specific manner. In this study, we report the generation of equine iPSCs from skin fibroblasts obtained from a foal and reprogrammed using viral vectors coding for murine Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4 sequences. The reprogrammed cell lines were morphologically similar to iPSCs rep...
Warner SM, Koch TO, Pfau T.Assessing back movement is an important part of clinical examination in the horse and objective assessment tools allow for evaluating success of treatment. Objective: Accuracy and consistency of inertial sensor measurements for quantification of back movement and movement symmetry during over ground locomotion were assessed; sensor measurements were compared to optical motion capture (mocap) and consistency of measurements focusing on movement symmetry was measured. Methods: Six nonlame horses were trotted in hand with synchronised mocap and inertial sensor data collection (landmarks: T6, T10,...
Allsopp MT, Lewis BD, Penzhorn BL.The intra-erythrocytic parasite Theileria equi is one of two tick-transmitted causative agents of equine piroplasmosis. Piroplasms of T. equi can be transmitted across the equine placenta and once a horse is infected, it appears to remain a lifelong carrier, since anti-theilerial drugs suppress but do not eliminate the parasite. Carrier mares may transmit the organism to their offspring and this may result in abortion or neonatal piroplasmosis, but observations by some researchers suggest that foals may be born as carriers yet remain apparently healthy. Using a T. equi-specific oligonucleotide...
Arnhold S, Elashry MI, Klymiuk MC, Geburek F.Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) offer a promising cell source for therapeutic applications in musculoskeletal disorders. The appropriate selection of ASCs from various fat depots for cell-based therapy is challenging. The present study aims to compare stemness and multipotency of ASCs derived from retroperitoneal (RP), subcutaneous (SC), and lipoma (LP) fat to assess their usefulness for clinical application. Equine ASCs from the three fat tissue sources were isolated and characterized. The cell viability, proliferation, and self-renewal were evaluated using MTT, sulforhod...
Bisanzio D, Giacobini M, Bertolotti L, Mosca A, Balbo L, Kitron U, Vazquez-Prokopec GM.West Nile Virus (WNV) transmission in Italy was first reported in 1998 as an equine outbreak near the swamps of Padule di Fucecchio, Tuscany. No other cases were identified during the following decade until 2008, when horse and human outbreaks were reported in Emilia Romagna, North Italy. Since then, WNV outbreaks have occurred annually, spreading from their initial northern foci throughout the country. Following the outbreak in 1998 the Italian public health authority defined a surveillance plan to detect WNV circulation in birds, horses and mosquitoes. By applying spatial statistical analysi...
Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Drudge JH.Small strongyles are highly prevalent in horses and can be found worldwide. Even though over 50 species of these parasites have been described, about 10 species comprise the bulk of the total number present in horses. Efforts to control small strongyles and other equine internal parasites have been undertaken for many years. Some of the early medications and control measures provided questionable activity against endoparasites; whether effective or not, they could be detrimental to the horse. Beginning in the early 1900s, scientific effort was used to evaluate activity of antiparasitic compoun...
Rizk MA, El-Sayed SA, Terkawi MA, Youssef MA, El Said el Sel S, Elsayed G, El-Khodery S, El-Ashker M, Elsify A, Omar M, Salama A, Yokoyama N....A rapid and accurate assay for evaluating antibabesial drugs on a large scale is required for the discovery of novel chemotherapeutic agents against Babesia parasites. In the current study, we evaluated the usefulness of a fluorescence-based assay for determining the efficacies of antibabesial compounds against bovine and equine hemoparasites in in vitro cultures. Three different hematocrits (HCTs; 2.5%, 5%, and 10%) were used without daily replacement of the medium. The results of a high-throughput screening assay revealed that the best HCT was 2.5% for bovine Babesia parasites and 5% for equ...
Raabe O, Reich C, Wenisch S, Hild A, Burg-Roderfeld M, Siebert HC, Arnhold S.Adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) are multipotent cells which, in the presence of appropriate stimuli, can differentiate into various lineages such as the osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic. In this study, we investigated the effect of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) in comparison to hydrolyzed fish collagen in terms of the chondrogenic differentiation potential of ADSCs. ADSCs were isolated from subcutaneous fat of horses by liposuction. Chondrogenesis was investigated using a pellet culture system. The differentiation medium was either supplemented with TGF-β1 (5 ng/ml)...
Paria N, Raudsepp T, Pearks Wilkerson AJ, O'Brien PC, Ferguson-Smith MA, Love CC, Arnold C, Rakestraw P, Murphy WJ, Chowdhary BP.Studies of the Y chromosome in primates, rodents and carnivores provide compelling evidence that the male specific region of Y (MSY) contains functional genes, many of which have specialized roles in spermatogenesis and male-fertility. Little similarity, however, has been found between the gene content and sequence of MSY in different species. This hinders the discovery of species-specific male fertility genes and limits our understanding about MSY evolution in mammals. Here, a detailed MSY gene catalogue was developed for the horse--an odd-toed ungulate. Using direct cDNA selection from horse...
Godinho MSC, Thorpe CT, Greenwald SE, Screen HRC.Tendon is composed of fascicles bound together by the interfascicular matrix (IFM). Energy storing tendons are more elastic and extensible than positional tendons; behaviour provided by specialisation of the IFM to enable repeated interfascicular sliding and recoil. With ageing, the IFM becomes stiffer and less fatigue resistant, potentially explaining why older tendons become more injury-prone. Recent data indicates enrichment of elastin within the IFM, but this has yet to be quantified. We hypothesised that elastin is more prevalent in energy storing than positional tendons, and is mainly lo...
Turner CE, Kurupati P, Wiles S, Edwards RJ, Sriskandan S.Currently there is no licensed vaccine against the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes. The highly conserved IL-8 cleaving S. pyogenes cell envelope proteinase SpyCEP is surface expressed and is a potential vaccine candidate. A recombinant N-terminal part of SpyCEP (CEP) was expressed and purified. AntiCEP antibodies were found to neutralize the IL-8 cleaving activity of SpyCEP. CEP-immunized mice had reduced bacterial dissemination from focal S. pyogenes intramuscular infection and intranasal infection. We also identified a functional SpyCEP-homolog protease SeCEP, expressed by the equine p...
Jacobsen S, Niewold TA, Halling-Thomsen M, Nanni S, Olsen E, Lindegaard C, Andersen PH.The aim of the study was to determine the intraarticular serum amyloid A (SAA) response pattern in horses with inflammatory arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis was induced by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the radiocarpal joint of four horses. Serum and synovial fluid (SF) samples were collected before and at 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 144 h after injection. Concentrations of SAA were measured by immunoturbidometry, and expression of SAA isoforms was visualized by denaturing isoelectric focusing and Western blotting. The LPS injection caused systemic and local clinical signs of in...
Lindholm A, Piehl K.LINDHOLM, ARNE and KARIN PIEHL: Acta vet. scand. 1974, , 287–309. — Measurements of metabolites, electrolytes, water, RNA and protein concentrations, the activity of certain muscle enzymes (SDH and PFK) and muscle fibre composition were made on biopsy specimens from the gluteus medius muscle of 68 standardbred horses, ½ to 8 years old. The muscle fibres were classified in 3 major categories, slow twitch (ST), fast twitch and high oxidative (FTH) and fast twitch (FT) fibres. The percentage of FTH fibres was higher after the age of 4 years, averaging 54 %. ST fibres comprised 24 % and this...
Keegan KG, MacAllister CG, Wilson DA, Gedon CA, Kramer J, Yonezawa Y, Maki H, Pai PF.To assess the analytic sensitivity of an inertial sensor system for detection of the more severely affected forelimb in horses with bilateral lameness. Methods: 18 adult horses with forelimb lameness. Methods: Horses were fitted with inertial sensors and evaluated for lameness with a stationary force plate as they were trotted in a straight line. Inertial sensor-derived measurements for vertical head movement asymmetry (HMA) and vector sum (VS) of maximum and minimum head height differences between right and left halves of the stride were used to predict differences in mean peak vertical force...
