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.
Palmer SE, McDonough SP, Mohammed HO.Between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2015, findings of a New York State Gaming Commission-Cornell University postmortem examination program were utilized in a multi-disciplinary mortality review process to review 129 racing fatalities at Thoroughbred racetracks operated by the New York Racing Association (NYRA). Musculoskeletal fractures comprised 79% of the fatalities; cardiopulmonary conditions accounted for 12% of the fatalities. Other causes of death included gastrointestinal (3%), respiratory (5%), and central nervous system (2%) conditions. Fetlock failure represented 50% of the musc...
Davitkov D, Davitkov D, Vucicevic M, Stanisic L, Radakovic M, Glavinic U, Stanimirovic Z.Equine piroplasmosis in donkeys has been recognised as a serious problem of major economic importance. The present molecular study is the first investigation of the presence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Balkan donkeys and of the possible haematological alterations related to it. A total of 70 apparently healthy donkeys from Serbia were included in this study. The overall prevalence of T. equi infection in donkeys tested with multiplex PCR was 50%. There was no B. caballi-positive sample. Infections in donkeys included in this study seem to be associated with decreased red blood cel...
Tarquini G.This retrospective study aimed to compare the effectiveness of an equine collagen matrix (ECM) with that of a subepithelial connective tissue graft (CTG) in patients affected by Class I and II gingival recessions treated with a coronally advanced flap (CAF) technique. Records of 50 consecutive patients were analyzed. Recession depth, probing depth, keratinized tissue width, and percentage of root coverage had been recorded at baseline and at the 1-year follow-up. The number of patients that achieved complete root coverage was also assessed. According to the investigated parameters, ECM and CTG...
Tijjani AO, Junaidu AU, Salihu MD, Farouq AA, Faleke OO, Adamu SG, Musa HI, Hambali IU.A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted to determine seroprevalence and risk factors influencing the presence of Brucella antibodies in donkeys of Borno State, north-eastern Nigeria. The study aimed at providing baseline information that may be used in planning a control policy against equine brucellosis. Blood samples were collected from 601 donkeys, comprised of 374 males and 227 females from the six agricultural zones of the state between March 2013 and September 2014. The sera obtained were tested for Brucella antibodies using Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and competitive enz...
Berglund AK, Fisher MB, Cameron KA, Poole EJ, Schnabel LV.Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising cell source for treating musculoskeletal injuries in horses. Effective and safe allogeneic therapy may be hindered, however, by recipient immune recognition and rejection of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-mismatched MSCs. Development of strategies to prevent immune rejection of MHC-mismatched MSCs in vivo is necessary to enhance cell survival and potentially increase the efficacy and safety of allogeneic MSC therapy. The purposes of this study were to evaluate if transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) downregulated MHC expressi...
Bianco AW, Moore GE, Cooper BR, Taylor SD.Flunixin meglumine (FM) is a commonly used Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in horses, but clinical efficacy is often unsatisfactory. Ketorolac tromethamine (KT) demonstrates superior efficacy compared to other NSAIDs in humans, but its anti-inflammatory effects have not been investigated in the horse. Safety of repeated dosing of KT has not been evaluated. The first objective was to conduct a dose determination study to verify that a previously described dosage of KT would inhibit Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced eicosanoid production in vitro, and to compare KT effects of this inh...
Branly T, Bertoni L, Contentin R, Rakic R, Gomez-Leduc T, Desancé M, Hervieu M, Legendre F, Jacquet S, Audigié F, Denoix JM, Demoor M, Galéra P.Articular cartilage presents a poor capacity for self-repair. Its structure-function are frequently disrupted or damaged upon physical trauma or osteoarthritis in humans. Similar musculoskeletal disorders also affect horses and are the leading cause of poor performance or early retirement of sport- and racehorses. To develop a therapeutic solution for horses, we tested the autologous chondrocyte implantation technique developed on human bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on horse BM-MSCs. This technique involves BM-MSC chondrogenesis using a combinatory approach based on the associ...
Worthing KA, Abraham S, Pang S, Coombs GW, Saputra S, Jordan D, Wong HS, Abraham RJ, Trott DJ, Norris JM.This study aimed to determine the frequency and molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from Australian animals and whether animal-derived MRSA was similar to that from Australian veterinarians. A total of 1,080 clinical coagulase positive Staphylococcus isolates from Australian animals were collected during 2013. Sixteen (4%) of 360 S. aureus isolates were MRSA. Most MRSA came from companion animals, while none came from livestock. MRSA isolates were characterized using whole genome sequencing. ST22-IV (EMRSA-15) was the most common clone in dogs and cats....
Nolan MB, Walsh CM, Duff N, McCrarren C, Prendergast RL, Murphy BA.In seasonally breeding animals, photoperiod perception is crucial for timing of important physiological events. In the horse, long day photoperiod influences the onset of ovulation and cyclicity, shedding of the heavier winter coat and the timing of parturition. In this compilation of studies, conducted across three breeding seasons and two countries, the impact of artificially extended day length was investigated on gestation length, foal birth weight and foal hair coat at birth. The light therapy was administered to pre-partum mares via mobile head worn masks which provided short wavelength ...
Monk CS, Jeong SY, Gibson DJ, Plummer CE.Tetracyclines have activity against matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). Oral medications with effects on the ocular surface are of interest in patients where repeated topical dosing is limited. The aim of this study was to characterize the concentration of minocycline in the tears of normal horses after oral administration and to determine if this level directly inhibits MMP activity. Methods: Five healthy adult ponies were administered oral minocycline (Wedgewood Pharmacy; Swedesboro, NJ) at 4 mg/kg every 12 h for 5 days. Tears were collected at T = 2, 26, 50, 56, 74, 80, and 98 h. Tear minocycl...
Knickelbein KE, Scherrer NM, Lassaline M.To compare corneal sensitivity and tear production in horses with keratitis to horses with other ocular disease. Methods: Retrospective medical record review was used to identify equine patients presented during a 1-year period for an ocular complaint who had Schirmer Tear Test (STT) or Corneal Touch Threshold (CTT) measured. Variables studied included patient age and sex; affected eye; category of presenting ocular complaint (keratitis vs. other ocular complaint); STT; and CTT. Patients with a complaint of ulcerative keratitis, immune-mediated keratitis, and stromal abscess were categorized i...
Williams TB, Williams JM, Rodgerson DH.Nylon cable tie has been shown to be an effective and economical method for fixing fractured ribs in the neonatal foal. This article describes a modification of the previously described technique. Under general anesthesia, the fractured ribs were exposed and a hole was drilled in the dorsal and ventral fragments. The fracture was not reduced, leaving the fragments overriding each other. The nylon cable tie was passed through the hole in the dorsal fragment from the external surface of the rib. The free end of the cable tie was then passed through the hole in the ventral fragment from the exter...
Boakari YL, Ferreira JC, Canesin HS, Thompson DL, Lima FS, Pantoja JCF, Meira C.The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of deslorelin and hCG, two ovulation-inducing therapies, on LH surge and follicle vascularity in mares. Thirty mares were either treated with 1.5 mg IM of deslorelin, 2,500 IU IV of hCG or 2 mL IM of NaCl 0.9% (GnRH, hCG and Saline groups, respectively). Power-flow Doppler examination and blood collection were performed every hour during the first 12 hours after treatment (H0) and every six hours between hours 12 (H12) and 30 (H30) after treatment. Moreover, endpoints were evaluated every hour through the last six hours before ovul...
Mendoza FJ, Serrano-Rodriguez JM, Buzon-Cuevas A, Perez-Ecija A.Alternatives to surgical castration are necessary for controlling the sexual behaviour of stallions with breeding potential in training and competition. Flutamide is a potent selective non-steroidal androgen receptor competitive antagonist that has been used in human beings as an anti-androgenic drug. In this study, the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of flutamide and its main active metabolite, 2-hydroflutamide, were determined in seven healthy mature stallions. Single doses of flutamide (1mg/kg intravenously, 1mg/kg orally in fasted horses, 5mg/kg orally in fasted horses and 5mg/kg oral...
Kinne J, Joseph M, Wernery U, Nogradi N, Hagen F.During the past decades there has been an increase in cryptococcal infections caused by the basidiomycetous yeast species Cryptococcus gattii sensu lato, among humans and animals that live in endemic regions in Australia, Europe and the Americas. Unlike human cryptococcosis, little epidemiological data are available about C. gattii sensu lato infections in horses. Methods: A fatal case of a disseminated C. gattii sensu lato infection in an 11-year-old Arabian gelding imported from South Africa into the United Arab Emitares is reported. Tissue samples were studied by conventional mycology proce...
Plumlee Q, Meason-Smith C, Dieterly A, Gomez G, Porter BF, Rodrigues Hoffmann A.Many previously unrecognized fungi are emerging as potential pathogens. One such group is dematiaceous fungi of the Chaetomiaceae family (phylum Ascomycota, class Sordariomycetes). These fungi are rare causes of opportunistic, neurotropic phaeohyphomycosis in humans but are not known to cause similar infections in animals. The aims of this study were to investigate equine hyphal mycotic encephalitis, characterize key histopathologic features, and classify causative organisms with molecular diagnostic techniques. Seven cases were evaluated by histopathology. Panfungal PCR targeting the ribosoma...
Geburek F, Roggel F, van Schie HTM, Beineke A, Estrada R, Weber K, Hellige M, Rohn K, Jagodzinski M, Welke B, Hurschler C, Conrad S, Skutella T....Adipose tissue is a promising source of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for the treatment of tendon disease. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of a single intralesional implantation of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AT-MSCs) on artificial lesions in equine superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs). During this randomized, controlled, blinded experimental study, either autologous cultured AT-MSCs suspended in autologous inactivated serum (AT-MSC-serum) or autologous inactivated serum (serum) were injected intralesionally 2 weeks after surgical creation of cen...
Skalec A, Egerbacher M.Recent advances in human fascia research have shed new light on the role of the fascial network in movement perception and coordination, transmission of muscle force, and integrative function in body biomechanics. Evolutionary adaptations of equine musculoskeletal apparatus that assure effective terrestrial locomotion are employed in equestrianism, resulting in the wide variety of movements in performing horses, from sophisticated dressage to jumping and high-speed racing. The high importance of horse motion efficiency in the present-day equine industry indicates the significance of scientific...
Engiles JB, Stewart H, Janes J, Kennedy LA.As a pathologist, postmortem examination of the equine carpus can be daunting. The anatomy is complex and oftentimes, small or subtle lesions have significant impact on lameness and secondary lesions such as catastrophic musculoskeletal fractures and other injuries. In performance horses, particularly racehorses, the carpus is a common site of injury and source of lameness. Given the predisposition of racehorses to developing carpal disease, familiarity with clinically relevant anatomy and common developmental, degenerative, traumatic, and inflammatory processes are imperative for thorough pos...
Von Zup M, Lassaline M, Kass PH, Miller PE, Thomasy SM.Brimonidine is an α2 -adrenergic agonist that decreases aqueous humour production and may increase uveoscleral outflow. It has not been evaluated in normal or glaucomatous equine eyes. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of brimonidine in lowering intraocular pressure (IOP), alone and in conjunction with timolol, as a treatment for equine glaucoma by comparing IOP in normal equine eyes treated with brimonidine and brimonidine-timolol, respectively, with IOP in control eyes. Methods: A balanced crossover design with 16 horses receiving one of two treatments, brimonidine and brimonid...
Max MC, Silva CB, González SM, Lindquist AG, Búfalo I, Gomes RG, Morotti F, Costa CB, Barreiros T, Lisboa LA, Seneda MM.This study investigated the effects of different concentrations of FSH (10, 50, 100 and 200 ng/ml) in supplemented MEM+ on the development of equine pre-antral follicles that were cultured in vitro for 2 or 6 days. The ovaries (n = 5) from mares in seasonal anoestrus were collected from a local abattoir. Ten ovarian tissue fragments of approximately 3 × 3 × 1 mm were obtained from each animal. The fragments were cultured in situ for 2 days (D2) or 6 days (D6) in MEM+ or MEM+ supplemented with FSH at four different concentrations, establishing the following 11 groups: control (D0);...
Gonzalez SM, da Silva CB, Lindquist AG, Bufalo I, Morotti F, Lisboa LA, Seneda M.The goal of this study was to determine the distribution of pre-antral follicles in the ovarian parenchyma of mares. For Experiment 1, each ovary was cut longitudinally at the greater curvature, performing two hemiovaries. After that, six fragments from each hemiovary were obtained, resulting in 12 fragments, which were divided into the innermost region of the parenchyma, the middle region and the outermost region. All the three obtained sections were cut transversally to obtain two fragments from each one. For Experiment 2, each ovary also submitted to a longitudinal cut on the greater curvat...
Huppes T, Hermans H, Ensink JM.Implants are often used to improve the cosmetic appearance of horses after enucleation of the eye. When surgical site infection (SSI) occurs, the implant will almost always be lost. The aim of this study is to collect data on the risk factors for SSIs and report long-term follow-up (cosmetic results and return to work) after transpalpebral enucleations. In this retrospective study, records of horses undergoing transpalpebral enucleation were reviewed (2007-2014) and telephone interviews were used to obtain long term follow-up. The potential risk factors for SSIs (indication for enucleation, us...
Boyle AG, Smith MA, Boston RC, Stefanovski D.OBJECTIVE To develop a risk prediction model for factors associated with an SeM-specific antibody titer ≥ 3,200 in horses after naturally occurring outbreaks of Streptococcus equi subsp equi infection and to validate this model. DESIGN Case-control study. ANIMALS 245 horses: 57 horses involved in strangles outbreaks (case horses) and 188 healthy horses (control horses). PROCEDURES Serum samples were obtained from the 57 cases over a 27.5-month period after the start of outbreaks; serum samples were obtained once from the 188 controls. A Bayesian mixed-effects logistic regression model was us...
Johansson MK, Jäderkvist Fegraeus K, Lindgren G, Ekesten B.The syndrome Multiple Congenital Ocular Anomalies (MCOA) is a congenital eye disorder in horses. Both the MCOA syndrome and the Silver coat colour in horses are caused by the same missense mutation in the premelanosome protein (PMEL) gene. Horses homozygous for the Silver mutation (TT) are affected by multiple ocular defects causing visual impairment or blindness. Horses heterozygous for the Silver mutation (CT) have less severe clinical signs, usually cysts arising from the ciliary body iris or retina temporally. It is still unknown if the vision is impaired in horses heterozygous for the Sil...
Schulman FY, Krafft AE, Janczewski T, Reupert R, Jackson K, Garner MM.Five camelid mucocutaneous fibropapillomas with histologic features similar to equine sarcoids were diagnosed. They were characterized by a dermal fibroblastic proliferation and overlying, often ulcerated hyperplastic epidermis with thin rete pegs extending down into the dermis. Two of the tumors came from llamas and three from alpacas. Four of the animals were 6-year-old females. The fifth was a 6-year-old castrated male. The fibropapillomas were located on the nose, lip, and cheeks. One of the llama tumors waxed and waned before surgery and recurred and spread after surgery. None of the othe...
Widders PR, Stokes CR, Newby TJ, Bourne FJ.This study identifies nonimmune binding of equine immunoglobulin by the causative organism of contagious equine metritis. Immunoglobulin binding to the bacterium was strongest for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and less for IgM; IgA was not bound. Binding of equine IgG was inhibited by human IgG, but not by IgG of domestic animals. Immunoglobulin binding by the bacterium appeared to be directed towards an epitope in the hinge region of the immunoglobulin molecule.
Rodgerson DH, Belknap JK, Wilson DA.To describe in horses and ponies a laparoscopic ovariectomy technique facilitated by electrosurgical instrumentation. Methods: Elective ovariectomy was performed in 23 mares using laparoscopic electrosurgical instrumentation. Methods: Twenty-three mares (13 horses, 10 ponies), aged from 2 to 21 years and weighing 90 to 545 kg. Methods: Food was withheld for a minimum of 12 hours. Mares were sedated with detomidine hydrochloride (0.02 to 0.03 mg/kg) or xylazine hydrochloride (0.5 to 1.0 mg/kg). Excluding the pony mares, all other mares were restrained in stocks. Portal sites in the paralumbar f...
Contreras-Aguilar MD, Martínez-Subiela S, Cerón JJ, Martín-Cuervo M, Tecles F, Escribano D.Salivary biomarkers could be useful to objectively evaluate critical illness and prognosis for survival in horses with acute abdominal disease. Objective: To compare salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) activity and concentration in healthy horses and horses with acute abdominal disease, and evaluate the association between sAA activity and concentration with disease severity and outcome. Methods: A prospective cohort. Methods: sAA activity, measured using a colorimetric commercial kit, and concentration, measured using a Time-resolved immunofluorometric assay, in 25 healthy horses and in 33 horses wi...
Gustås P, Johnston C, Roepstorff L, Drevemo S, Lanshammar H.The transmission of shockwaves following hoof impact is proposed to be one major source of stress to the limb. In the forelimb, there are indications that the period of horizontal deceleration of the hoof is related to the attenuation of shockwaves. In the hindlimb, information about the hoof deceleration has been lacking. Objective: To compare hoof deceleration patterns between the fore- and hindlimbs. Methods: Seven Standardbreds were trotted by hand over a force plate covered with sand, with triaxial accelerometers mounted on the fore and hind hooves. Variables representative of deceleratio...
Dam Van P, Desmecht D, Garigliany MM, Bui Tran Anh D, Van Laere AS.Type I/III interferons provide powerful and universal innate intracellular defense mechanisms against viruses. Among the antiviral effectors induced, Mx proteins of some species appear as key components of defense against influenza A viruses. It is expected that such an antiviral protein must display a platform dedicated to the recognition of said viruses. In an attempt to identify such platform in human MxA, an evolution-guided approach capitalizing on the antagonistic arms race between MxA and its viral targets and the genomic signature it left on primate genomes revealed that the surface-ex...
Kraus M, Physick-Sheard PW, Brito LF, Schenkel FS.The number of Standardbred racehorses admitted to the Ontario Veterinary College Teaching Hospital (Guelph, Canada) for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been on the rise since the early 1990s. A small number of sires have been contributing to a large proportion of cases, indicating there may be a genetic predisposition to the arrhythmia in this breed. Objective: The objectives of this study were to determine the heritability of AF in Standardbred horses and whether heritability of the arrhythmia differs across gaits and/or sexes. Methods: Heritability study based on retrospective revi...
Cuming RS, Abarca EM, Duran S, Wooldridge AA, Stewart AJ, Ravis W, Babu RJ, Lin YJ, Hathcock T.To determine in vitro release profiles, transcorneal permeation, and ocular injection characteristics of a voriconazole-containing thermogel suitable for injection into the subconjunctival space (SCS). In vitro release rate of voriconazole (0.3% and 1.5%) from poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide-b-ethylene glycol-b-DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA-PEG-PLGA) thermogel was determined for 28 days. A Franz cell diffusion chamber was used to evaluate equine transcorneal and transscleral permeation of voriconazole (1.5% topical solution, 0.3% and 1.5% voriconazole-thermogel) for 24 hours. Antifungal activit...
Gerhauser I, Geburek F, Wohlsein P.Perosomus elumbis represents a rare congenital anomaly characterized by aplasia of the lumbosacral spinal cord and vertebrae. This anomaly is often associated with arthrogryposis and malformations of the urogenital and intestinal tract. This report describes the first case of perosomus elumbis in an aborted Thoroughbred foal associated with cerebral aplasia with meningocele, cranioschisis, spina bifida, a fused urogenital and intestinal tracts lined by a cutaneous mucosa without uterine glands, atresia ani, and arthrogryposis of the hind legs. Immunohistochemistry detected no abnormalities in ...
Kaiser L, Smith KA, Heleski CR, Spence LJ.To determine the effects of a therapeutic riding program on psychosocial measurements among children considered at risk for poor performance or failure in school or life and among children in special education programs. Methods: Observational study. Methods: 17 at-risk children (6 boys and 11 girls) and 14 special education children (7 boys and 7 girls). Methods: For the at-risk children, anger, anxiety, perceived self-competence, and physical coordination were assessed. For the special education children, anger and cheerfulness were measured, and the children's and their mothers' perceptions ...
Moreira TR, Sarturi C, Stelmachtchuk FN, Andersson E, Norlander E, de Oliveira FLC, Machado Portela J, Marcili A, Emanuelson U, Gennari SM....The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. in equids raised for distinct purposes in the western state of Pará, Brazil, and to identify potential risk factors associated with parasite infection. A cross-sectional study was conducted with cluster sampling in 101 farms from 18 municipalities (farm horses). In visited municipalities, samples from sport and cart horses were included. Serum was obtained for detecting antibodies against T. gondii and Neospora spp. using indirect fluorescent antibody test, with a cut-off point of 1:6...
Larson EM, Babasyan S, Wagner B.IL-8 is a potent chemokine that recruits neutrophils and basophils to promote inflammation in many species. IL-8 is produced by many cell types, including monocytes. In this study, we report a novel role for IgE-binding monocytes, a rare peripheral immune cell type, to promote allergic inflammation through IL-8 production in a horse model of natural IgE-mediated allergy. We developed a mAb with confirmed specificity for both recombinant and native equine IL-8 for flow cytometric analysis. Equine IL-8 was produced by CD14/MHC class II/CD16 monocytes, including a subpopulation of IgE-binding mon...
Paltrinieri S, Meazza C, Giordano A, Tunesi C.Thromboelastometry is used for identifying or monitoring coagulation abnormalities. It has been validated in several species but not in horses and the characteristics of the equine thromboelastogram have not yet been detailed. Objective: The purpose of this study was to validate a thromboelastometer to be used with equine blood and to define the normal equine thromboelastogram. Methods: A Rotem-gamma thromboelastometer (Pentapharm GmbH, Munich, Germany) was used on 38 citrated blood samples to investigate native coagulation, the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, the function of fibrinogen (lar...
Davidson MG, Geoly FJ, Gilger BC, McLellan GJ, Whitley W.A group of Walker Hounds and Beagles that were fed a diet of table scraps were examined because of slow, progressive loss of vision. Clinical and microscopic features of the disease were correlated to the dogs' micronutrient status. Sensory retinal degeneration, predominantly in the central tapetal fundus, was found in all dogs, and severity of changes varied with age of the dog. Plasma, serum, and tissue concentrations of vitamin E were low in affected dogs (10 to 40% of control values). Lipofuscin accumulation was found on microscopic examination in retinal pigment epithelium, smooth muscle ...
Kraus MS, Kaufer BB, Damiani A, Osterrieder N, Rishniw M, Schwark W, Gelzer AR, Divers TJ.To date, no information is available on the true biological elimination half-life (T(1/2) ) of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in the equine species. Such data are required to better evaluate the optimal time to acquire the cTnI sample following acute myocardial injury. Objective: To determine the T(1/2) of equine cTnI. Methods: Four healthy ponies received i.v. injections of recombinant equine cTnI. Plasma cTnI concentrations were measured with a point-of-care cTnI analyser at multiple time points after injection. Standard pharmacokinetic analysis was performed to establish the T(1/2) of cTnI. Resu...
McGorum BC, Chen Z, Glendinning L, Gweon HS, Hunt L, Ivens A, Keen JA, Pirie RS, Taylor J, Wilkinson T, McLachlan G.Equine grass sickness (EGS) is a multiple systems neuropathy of grazing horses of unknown aetiology. An apparently identical disease occurs in cats, dogs, rabbits, hares, sheep, alpacas and llamas. Many of the risk factors for EGS are consistent with it being a pasture mycotoxicosis. To identify potential causal fungi, the gastrointestinal mycobiota of EGS horses were evaluated using targeted amplicon sequencing, and compared with those of two control groups. Samples were collected post mortem from up to 5 sites in the gastrointestinal tracts of EGS horses (EGS group; 150 samples from 54 horse...
Posnett ES, Ambrosio RE.A genomic library of Babesia caballi DNA was constructed in the plasmid vector pUC13. The specificity of the clones for B. caballi was established by the lack of hybridization to Babesia equi, Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina and equine DNA. Two probes, pBC11 and pBC191, were isolated that could detect 0.25 ng and 0.125 ng of B. caballi DNA, corresponding to a parasitaemia of 0.12% and 0.06% respectively. pBC191 could detect B. caballi parasites in the blood of an experimentally infected horse as well as in naturally infected horses.
Satoh M, Fujinaga T, Okumura M, Hagio M.To measure the concentration of serum amyloid A (sAA) protein in horses, a sensitive and highly reproducible sandwich (ELISA) was established, using affinity purified SAA antibody. Results of the ELISA were found to have a high correlation (r = 0.95) with those of the single radial immunodiffusion test. Equine SAA concentration was measured by use of this ELISA. In clinically normal horses, the concentration of SAA was high immediately after birth to 2 weeks of age. After that, SAA concentration had periodic fluctuations in the range of approximately 1.0 to 30 micrograms/ml. Mean (+/- SD)) con...
Murray RC, DeBowes RM, Gaughan EM, Zhu CF, Athanasiou KA.Intra-articular corticosteroids are widely used as anti-inflammatory agents for symptomatic management of arthritis, but their administration with concurrent exercise remains controversial. Biochemical and morphologic analysis of treated cartilage has revealed conflicting results, but previous biomechanical assessment has not been undertaken. Objective: To compare the biomechanical properties of intra-articular methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) and diluent treated cartilage in treadmill exercised horses. Methods: Eight 2-year-old female horses had MPA or diluent administered into contralateral ...
Sands B, Lihou K, Lait P, Wall R.The emergence of Babesia pathogens novel to the UK is of growing concern; these include Babesia canis and Babesia caballi. However, a better understanding of changes in the prevalence of endemic Babesia species such as Babesia venatorum and Babesia divergens is also of importance. Here, the prevalence of Babesia pathogens in both Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes ricinus ticks was assessed. Dermacentor reticulatus were collected from six sites known to harbour populations of this species in west Wales and southern England. DNA was extracted from 879 individual ticks and subjected to PCR and s...
Lizarraga I, Beeler-Marfisi J, Marshall DL, Hassan M, Castillo-Alcala F, Simon BT, Fraites T, Thrall MA.There is a large population of donkeys in Saint Kitts; however, hematological and biochemical reference intervals (RIs) are lacking. This study addressed this deficiency by following the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology RI guidelines. Sixty-six healthy, gelding standard donkeys with a median and interquartile range age of 5 years (3.5 - 8 years) and a mean ± standard deviation body weighed of 156 ± 16.7 kg were used to produce a five-part differential complete blood count using an impedance-based analyzer. Clinical chemistry analytes were quantified using a photometric-base...
Carter RA, Engiles JB, Megee SO, Senoo M, Galantino-Homer HL.Abnormal epidermal stem cell regulation may contribute to the pathogenesis of equine chronic laminitis. Objective: To analyse the involvement of p63, a regulator of epidermal stem cell proliferative potential, in chronic laminitis. Methods: Epidermal tissues from skin, coronet and lamellae of the dorsal foot were harvested from 5 horses with chronic laminitis and 5 control horses. Tissues were analysed using histopathology, immunofluorescence microscopy and quantitative immunoblotting. Results: Hoof lamellae of laminitic horses had a lower frequency of p63 positive cells than control lamellae,...
Mendes Junior AAV, Filgueira CPB, Miranda LFC, de Almeida AB, Cantanhêde LM, Fagundes A, Pereira SA, Menezes RC, Cupolillo E.Epidemiological data related to leishmaniases or Leishmania infection in horses are scarce. However, studies carried out in different regions in the world showed equids parasitised by Leishmania braziliensis, L. infantum and L. martiniquensis. Objective: Identify the Leishmania species causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in a mare, living in Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil), and search the presence of Leishmania viruses in the isolated parasite. Methods: Isoenzymes and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting ITSrDNA region followed by sequencing were conducted for typing the isolated parasite. A se...
Depuydt E, Broeckx SY, Chiers K, Patruno M, Da Dalt L, Duchateau L, Saunders J, Pille F, Martens A, Van Hecke L, Spaas JH.The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the treatment of equine tendon disease is widely investigated because of their regenerative and immunomodulatory potential. However, questions have been raised concerning the immunogenic properties of allogeneic MSCs. Therefore, two studies were conducted to assess the safety of equine allogeneic peripheral blood-derived tenogenic primed MSCs (tpMSCs). The objective was to evaluate if a single and repeated tpMSC administration induced a cellular and humoral immune response in horses suffering from tendon injuries. Horses enrolled in the first study ...
Tartor YH, El Damaty HM, Mahmmod YS.Rapid and accurate identification of dermatophytes is crucial for the effective control of disease outbreaks. Current methods based on culture and microscopic characteristics may require weeks before positive identification is made. Objective: To (i) identify the most common pathogenic dermatophytes affecting Arabian horses; (ii) compare the performance of direct microscopy (DM), culture, PCR using hair samples (PCRhair ) and PCR based on culture isolates (PCRculture ) for the diagnosis of dermatophytosis. Methods: Samples of hair and crusts of skin lesions from Arabian horses were collected o...
Anis A, Sharshar A, Hanbally SE, Sadek Y.Natural products such as honey, rosemary and chamomile oils have many health benefits particularly skin regeneration. These products were previously examined individually as enhancer of skin wound healing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and histopathological features associated with using a mixture of rosemary and chamomile oils with honey, as a composite, in healing of equine-skin wounds experimentally and clinically. For experimental and clinical evaluation 15 donkeys and 122 clinical cases were used, respectively. For the experimental part, animals were divided into ...
Harrington DJ, Greated JS, Chanter N, Sutcliffe IC.Streptococcus equi and Streptococcus zooepidemicus are major etiological agents of upper and lower airway disease in horses. Despite the considerable animal suffering and economic burden associated with these diseases, the factors that contribute to the virulence of these equine pathogens have not been extensively investigated. Here we demonstrate the presence of a homologue of the Streptococcus pneumoniae PsaA protein in both of these equine pathogens. Inhibition of signal peptide processing by the antibiotic globomycin confirmed the lipoprotein nature of the mature proteins, and surface expo...
