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.
Seabaugh KA, Selberg KT, Mueller POE, Eggleston RB, Peroni JF, Claunch KM, Markwell HJ, Baxter GM.Osteoarthritis (OA) of the centrodistal (CD) and tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints is a common cause of lameness in horses. Intra-articular diagnostic anaesthesia and/or therapeutic injection are relied upon to help diagnose and treat many horses with OA of these joints. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of arthrocentesis of the CD and TMT joints using a sample population of equine surgeons and surgery residents. Methods: Randomised experimental study. Methods: Six operators each injected four CD and four TMT joints in 12 sedated horses. The operators were randoml...
Skiöldebrand E, Ekman S, Mattsson Hultén L, Svala E, Björkman K, Lindahl A, Lundqvist A, Önnerfjord P, Sihlbom C, Rüetschi U.Clinical tools to diagnose the early changes of osteoarthritis (OA) that occur in the articular cartilage are lacking. Objective: We sought to identify and quantify a novel cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) neoepitope in the synovial fluid from the joints of healthy horses and those with different stages of OA. Methods: In vitro quantitative proteomics and assay development with application in synovial fluids samples obtained from biobanks of well-characterised horses. Methods: Articular cartilage explants were incubated with or without interleukin-1β for 25 days. Media were analysed...
Vargas A, Peltier A, Dubé J, Lefebvre-Lavoie J, Moulin V, Goulet F, Lavoie JP.OBJECTIVE To develop a method to maintain the initial phenotype of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells isolated from equine endobronchial biopsy specimens in long-term cell culture. SAMPLE Endobronchial tissue specimens (8 to 10/horse) collected from the lungs of previously healthy horses at necropsy (n = 12) and endobronchial biopsy specimens collected from standing, sedated, heaves-affected horses in clinical remission of the disease (5) and control horses (4). PROCEDURES A sampling protocol was developed to recover and maintain a contractile phenotype in ASM cells from endobronchial specimens ...
Gastal GD, Alves BG, Alves KA, Souza ME, Vieira AD, Varela AS, Figueiredo JR, Feugang JM, Lucia T, Gastal EL.The method of transportation and the conditions imposed on the ovarian tissue are pivotal aspects for the success of ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the size of the ovarian tissue (e.g. whole ovary, biopsy size and transplant size) during different times of storage (0, 6, 12 and 24 h) on the structural integrity of equine ovarian tissue transported at 4°C. Eighteen pairs of ovaries from young mares (<10 years old) were harvested in a slaughterhouse and processed to simulate the fragment sizes (biopsy and transplant size groups) o...
Saps M, Miranda A.There is little evidence for most of the medications currently used to treat functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) in children. Not only are there very few clinical trials, but also most have significant variability in the methods used and outcomes measured. Thus, the decision on the most appropriate pharmacological treatment is frequently based on adult studies or empirical data. In children, peppermint oil, trimebutine, and drotaverine have shown significant benefit compared with placebo, each of them in a single randomized clinical trial. A small study found that cyproheptadine was be...
Zhao J, Poelaert KCK, Van Cleemput J, Nauwynck HJ.Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) causes respiratory disease, abortion and neurological disorders in horses. Besides epithelial cells, CD172a monocytic cells become infected with EHV-1 in the respiratory mucosa and transport the virus from the apical side of the epithelium to the lamina propria en route to the lymph and blood circulation. Whether CD172a monocytic cells are specifically recruited to the infection sites in order to pick up virus is unknown. In our study, equine nasal mucosa explants were inoculated with EHV-1 neurological strains 03P37 and 95P105 or the non-neurological strains ...
Crijns CP, Van Bree HJ, Broeckx BJG, Schauvliege S, Van Loon G, Martens A, Vanderperren K, Dingemanse WB, Gielen IM.The objective of this study was to examine the influence of the size, age and sex of the horse on the size of the pituitary gland and determine the possibility of using the pituitary gland height-to-brain area ratio (P:B ratio) to allow comparison of different sized and aged horses. Thirty-two horses without pituitary pars inter-media dysfunction that underwent a contrast-enhanced computed tomographic (CT) examination were included in a cross-sectional study. On the CT images, the pituitary gland height was measured and the P:B ratio was calculated. These measurements were correlated to the si...
Hanche-Olsen S, Kielland C, Ihler CF, Hultin Jäderlund K.Acquired equine polyneuropathy (AEP), a neurological disease clinically characterised by knuckling of metatarsophalangeal joints, has been described in numerous Nordic horses during the last 20 years. Although clinical recovery has been reported, large-scale data on long-term follow-up of survivors have been lacking. Objective: To describe long-term survival of AEP affected horses registered in Norway, with a focus on athletic performance and possible residual clinical signs connected to the disease. Methods: A retrospective cohort study. Methods: The study includes 143 horses recorded with A...
Berlin S, Kirschbaum A, Spieckermann L, Oswald S, Keiser M, Grube M, Venner M, Siegmund W.The treatment of equine lung infections by Rhodococcus equi with rifampicin is empirically based because pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) indices and pivotal clinical outcome data are not available. Objective: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics and pulmonary distribution of rifampicin into epithelial lining fluid (ELF) and bronchoalveolar lavage cells (BALC) to predict antimicrobial activity in the lung using PK/PD indices. Methods: Controlled, randomised, two-period, crossover, repeated-dose study with an initial arm to measure disposition after i.v. administration of rifampicin. Methods...
Journal of proteomicsFebruary 24, 2017
Volume 158 62-72 doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2017.02.015
Segura Á, Herrera M, Reta Mares F, Jaime C, Sánchez A, Vargas M, Villalta M, Gómez A, Gutiérrez JM, León G.The venom of the Mexican west-coast rattlesnake (Crotalus basiliscus) was characterized for its protein composition, toxicological profile and immunogenic properties. This venom is composed of 68% Zn2+-dependent metalloproteinases (SVMPs), 14% phospholipases A2 (PLA2s), 11% serine proteinases, 4% SVMPs-inhibitor tripeptides (SVMP-ITs), 2% bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs), 0.6% cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs), and 0.2% l-amino acid oxidases (LAAOs). SVMPs present in the venom are responsible for azocasein hydrolysis and hemorrhagic activity, but their contribution to the lethal...
Decloedt A, Damen S, Vanhaecke L.Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are strictly forbidden in equine sports because of their stimulating effect on muscle growth and performance. Nevertheless, low levels of AAS have been found in some horses, untreated with AAS. Glucocorticoids (GC), used as an anti-inflammatory therapy and structurally related to AAS, might play a role in this phenomenon. In order to unravel this possible correlation the influence of glucocorticoid treatment on the excretion of AAS was studied both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo effects were investigated by analysing urine samples collected from a gelding trea...
Chan J, Doyle B, Branley J, Sheppeard V, Gabor M, Viney K, Quinn H, Janover O, McCready M, Heller J.In November 2014, New South Wales Health was notified of a cluster of respiratory illness in a veterinary school. Active case finding identified another case at a local equine stud. All cases had exposure to the equine fetal membranes of Mare A. This tissue subsequently tested positive for Chlamydia psittaci using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. We conducted a cohort study of the university and stud farm staff to determine risk factors for disease. Nine people were exposed to the fetal membranes of Mare A. Of these, five cases of psittacosis were identified. Two required hosp...
Holzhauer M, Bremer R, Santman-Berends I, Smink O, Janssens I, Back W.Information is scarce on the prevalence of hoof disorders in horses. In this study, we examined the prevalence of and risk factors for hoof disorders in a population of horses in The Netherlands. In a group of 942 randomly selected horses, hoof health was scored during regular foot trimming (one horse/farm). Hooves were assessed for the occurrence of one of 12 hoof disorders by a group of 21 certified farriers in two periods i.e. winter and summer of 2015. The mean age of the group of horses was 11.2±5.6years. They were mainly used for recreation (28.2%), dressage (26.8%), other disciplines (...
Colbath AC, Hackett ES, Lesser CS, Hendrickson DA.To develop a novel technique for left paralumbar laparoscopic bilateral ovariectomy in standing, sedated mares. Methods: Prospective descriptive clinical study. Methods: Twelve client-owned mares. Methods: Healthy mares with normal ovarian palpation and ultrasonographic appearance were enrolled. Horses were restrained in standing stocks and administered a variable rate infusion of sedation. A left paralumbar bilateral ovariectomy was performed with 1 laparoscopic and 3 instrument portals. Access to the right ovary was facilitated by retracting the descending colon and associated mesentery with...
Kelmer G, Tatz AJ, Kdoshim E, Britzi M, Segev G.This prospective experimental study goal was to determine the pharmacokinetics of imipenem after intravenous regional limb perfusion (IV-RLP) in standing horses. Nine horses participated in the study; that was approved by the University Animal Care and Use Committee. One thoracic limb or one pelvic limb of each horse was randomly selected. After the veins were catheterized, an Esmarch bandage tourniquet was applied and the catheter was injected with a solution containing 500mg of imipenem. Synovial fluid samples were collected from the fetlock joint and blood samples were collected from the ju...
Oliveira FG, Cook RF, Naves JHF, Oliveira CHS, Diniz RS, Freitas FJC, Lima JM, Sakamoto SM, Leite RC, Issel CJ, Reis JKP.Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Although the virus infects all members of the Equidae the vast majority of studies have been conducted in horses (Equus caballus) with comparatively little information available for other equid species. Brazil has one of the most abundant donkey (E. asinus) populations of any nation although the economic importance of these animals is declining as transportation becomes increasingly mechanized. As a result, considerable numbers of donkeys especially in the Northeast of the country have ...
Vimercati S, Büchi M, Zielinski J, Peduto N, Mevissen M.Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) are responsible for the phase I metabolism of drugs, xenobiotics and endogenous substances. Knowledge of single CYPs and their substrates is important for drug metabolism, helps to predict adverse effects and may prevent reduced drug efficacy in polypharmacy. In this study, three equine isoenzymes of the 3A subfamily, the equine flavoprotein NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase (POR), and the cytochrome b5 (CYB5) were cloned, sequenced and heterologously expressed in a baculovirus expression system. Testosterone, the standard compound for characterization of the human CYP3A...
Cenani A, Brosnan RJ, Madigan S, Knych HK, Madigan JE.Propranolol has been suggested for anxiolysis in horses, but its sedation efficacy and side effects, both when administered alone and in combination with α-adrenoceptor agonists, remain undetermined. This study aimed to document the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of propranolol, romifidine and their combination. Methods: Randomized, crossover study. Methods: Six adult horses weighing 561 ± 48 kg. Methods: Propranolol (1 mg kg; treatment P), romifidine (0.1 mg kg; treatment R) or their combination (treatment PR) were administered intravenously with a minimum of 1 week between treatment...
Dunkel B, Pfau T, Fiske-Jackson A, Veres-Nyeki KO, Fairhurst H, Jackson K, Chang YM, Bolt DM.To investigate whether acupuncture can alter gait in horses as assessed by objective and subjective parameters. Methods: Prospective, randomized, singleblinded, crossover study. Methods: Eight adult horses. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to a treatment (three acupuncture treatments in 8 days) or control group. Subjective and objective gait analyses were performed before and after each treatment and at 1, 3 and 7 days after the last treatment (time-points 1-9, respectively). Horses were assessed at the trot in a straight line on a hard surface and on the lunge on the left and right rein...
Arcaro I, Fischer BL, Lascola KM, Clark-Price SC.To investigate the effects of intravenous (IV) administration of terbutaline on PaO, PaCO, pH, heart rate (HR) and arterial pressures in healthy, laterally recumbent horses breathing ambient air under total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA). Methods: Prospective experimental study. Methods: Eight healthy adult horses were enrolled. Six horses, four mares and two geldings weighing 433-624 kg, completed the study. Methods: Horses were sedated with xylazine (1.0 mg kg) IV for placement of arterial and venous catheters. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.1 mg kg) and ketamine (2.2 mg kg) IV and ...
Cruz Benedetti IC, Nottrott K, Fourel I, Le Bris M, Mongellas E, Portier K.To compare the effects of a lidocaine constant rate infusion (CRI) combined with 1% isoflurane versus those of 2% isoflurane alone on cardiovascular variables in anaesthetized horses, and to estimate the sample size required to detect a difference in recovery quality. Methods: Prospective, randomized, blinded, crossover study. Methods: Twelve healthy experimental horses. Methods: Horses were anaesthetized twice using an intravenous (IV) administration of acepromazine, romifidine, diazepam and ketamine. Horses were placed in dorsal recumbency and ventilated mechanically. During the first 10 min...
Hopster K, Rohn K, Ohnesorge B, Kästner SBR.To compare the effects of controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) and constant positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and interposed recruitment manoeuvres (RMs) with those of CMV without PEEP on gas exchange during general anaesthesia and the early recovery period. Methods: Prospective, randomized clinical trial. Methods: A total of 48 Warmblood horses undergoing elective surgery in lateral (Lat) (n = 24) or dorsal (Dors) (n = 24) recumbency. Methods: Premedication (romifidine), induction (diazepam and ketamine) and maintenance (isoflurane in oxygen) were identical in all horses. Groups La...
Pessoa GA, Martini AP, Trentin JM, Minela T, Fiorenza MF, Rubin MIB.The aim of this study was to compare the sperm separation technique using filtration through glass wool compared with just diluted cooled semen. Eighteen ejaculates were collected from 6 pony stallions of the Brazilian pony breed. Evaluations were done on pH, osmolarity, total motility, membrane functionality (HOST), membrane integrity (CFDA/PI), morphology and mitochondrial viability (MTT) in fresh, 24 and 48 h of cooled semen at 5°C. After dilution, the half of the extended semen was cooled (control group). The other half was cooled after filtration trough glass wool (filtered group). Reta...
Mosing M, Marly-Voquer C, MacFarlane P, Bardell D, Böhm SH, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Waldmann AD.To evaluate the regional distribution of ventilation in horses during spontaneous breathing and controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) using electrical impedance tomography (EIT). Methods: Prospective, experimental case series. Methods: Four anaesthetized experimental horses. Methods: Horses were anaesthetized with isoflurane in an oxygen-air mixture and medetomidine continuous rate infusion, placed in dorsal recumbency with an EIT belt around the thorax, and allowed to breathe spontaneously until PaCO reached 13.3 kPa (100 mmHg), when volume CMV was started. For each horse, the EIT signal wa...
Chromosomal abnormalities in the sex chromosome pair (ECAX and ECAY) are widely associated with reproductive problems in horses. However, a large proportion of these abnormalities remains undiagnosed due to the lack of an affordable diagnostic tool that allows for avoiding karyotyping tests. Hereby, we developed an STR (single-tandem-repeat)-based molecular method to determine the presence of the main sex chromosomal abnormalities in horses in a fast, cheap and reliable way. The frequency of five ECAX-linked (LEX026, LEX003, TKY38, TKY270 and UCDEQ502) and two ECAY-linked (EcaYH12 and SRY) mar...
Horbal A, Dixon PM.A 4-year-old thoroughbred cross mare was referred to the University of Edinburgh Veterinary School Equine Hospital for treatment of a soft tissue tumor on the buccal gingival margin of the rostral right maxillary cheek teeth. The lesion was initially surgically excised and diagnosed as a fibrosarcoma via histopathology. Adjunctive treatment with intralesional cisplatin chemotherapy was begun. The tumor recurred and was repeatedly treated with intralesional cisplatin injections and additional surgical resection over the course of 14 weeks. Despite the initial poor response to treatment, no furt...
Kolus CR, MacLeay JM, Hackett ES.A foal born with assisted delivery developed rib fractures and a diaphragmatic hernia. The hernia was repaired using surgical mesh. The filly was healthy 42 months later. Dystocia is a risk factor for rib fractures and traumatic acquired diaphragmatic herniation. Surgical mesh repair is an option for diaphragmatic defects. Un poulain né lors d’une parturition assistée a développé des fractures des côtes et une hernie diaphragmatique. La hernie a été réparée à l’aide d’un treillis chirurgical. La pouliche était en santé 42 mois plus tard. La dystocie est un facteur de risque ...
Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Mazuz ML, Savitsky I, Steinman A.The tick-borne equine hemoparasite, Theileria equi, is endemic in many parts of the world where prevalence may be high, and most infected horses are apparently healthy but serve as life-long carriers. To determine the factors that affect T. equi dynamics, we followed parasitic loads in apparently healthy horses at four time points during one year. A total of 1094 blood samples were collected from 395 horses, along with ticks and demographic and clinical data. Infection and load of T. equi were tested by PCR and qPCR, and for the spring dataset, infection was also tested serologically by IFAT (...
Roser JF, Meyers-Brown G.Advanced reproductive technologies have been developed to enhance fertility in mares and stallions. Some of these technologies in mares include superovulation, embryo transfer (ET), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), oocyte transfer (OT), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), and cloning. Superovulation can provide multiple oocytes for these techniques. This review will focus on how recombinant equine follicle-stimulating hormone (reFSH) and recombinant equine luteinizing hormone (reLH) are important for superovulation and ET and may be useful for ICSI, OT, GIFT, and cloning. Superovula...
Larsson P, Persson E, Tydén E, Tjälve H.Horses may be exposed to aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) via inhalation of mouldy dust, leading to high exposure of olfactory and respiratory tissues. In the present study the metabolic activation of AFB(1) was examined in olfactory and respiratory tissues in horse. The results showed covalent binding of AFB(1)-metabolites in sustentacular cells and cells of Bowman's glands in the olfactory mucosa, in some cells of the surface epithelium of nasal respiratory, tracheal, bronchial and bronchiolar mucosa and in some glands in these areas. Immunohistochemistry revealed that cells expressing proteins react...
Carvalho R, Oliveira AM, Souza AM, Passos LM, Martins AS.In this study, an improved polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for detection of DNA of latent EHV-1 strains from several sources. Three pairs of oligonucleotide primers spanning fragments of 333 bp, 226 bp and 268 bp of the thymidine kinase (tk) gene, and one primer pair spanning 225 bp of the glycoprotein C (gC) gene were used in specific amplifications. Primers for EHV-4 PCR were also designed. Restriction digests with TaqI confirmed the identity of tk PCR fragments from EHV-1. The sensitivity to detect PCR products was further improved by visualisation in silver-stained acrylamide gels...
Chotel F, Parot R, Durand JM, Garnier E, Hodgkinson I, Bérard J.The choice of first-line treatment for congenital varus equine clubfoot remains a controversial issue largely dependent on experience. In France, functional treatment predominates. In 1948, Ponseti proposed reducing the deformity with successive casts. Although cast treatment is a very old method, Ponseti's method is original because it is based on strict rules established from anatomic evidence. The goal is not to correct the apparent deformation, but on the contrary to impose a simultaneous supination and abduction of the foot. Once the calcaneopedal block has been derotated, percutaneous te...
Gossett KA, Cleghorn B, Adams R, Church GE, McCoy DJ, Carakostas MC, Flory W.Increased anion gap (AG) was due, in part, to L-lactic acidosis in 14 of 14 horses with intestinal disorders. In a few horses, increased whole blood concentrations of D-lactate made a minor contribution to the AG. However, the increase in AG was often greater than the sum of the increases in these 2 acid anions. This unexplained increase was not a result of increases in whole blood pyruvate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, or acetoacetate concentrations or serum albumin or phosphate concentrations. Identification of other anions causing increased AG could lead to better understanding, diagnosis, and treatm...
Pycock JF, Allen WE.Exudate and uterine flushings were collected at either 30, 60, 120 or 240 mins after intrauterine infusions of Streptococcus zooepidemicus in genitally normal mares during oestrus. Uteri were also flushed without prior induction of endometritis. Protein concentrations in exudate and flushings increased with time and exudate pH decreased with time; the pH of flushings did not alter. Lysozyme and lactate dehydrogenase were present in flushings from non-infected uteri, but concentrations increased with time after infection. Immunoreactive prostaglandin E2 was undetectable before infection, but co...
Bauquier JR, Forbes G, Nath L, Tudor E, Bailey SR.Acute gastrointestinal disease occurs commonly in horses. Novel biomarkers might improve the understanding of SIRS and aid diagnosis and determination of prognosis. Objective: Increased plasma concentrations of the biomarkers HMGB-1 and nucleosomes are associated with severity of gastrointestinal lesions in horses; concentrations of these biomarkers will be greater in horses with lesions more likely to cause SIRS; and will provide additional information compared with standard biomarkers fibrinogen and SAA. Methods: Thirty horses with gastrointestinal disease, 22 healthy horses. Methods: Prospe...
Raisis AL, Blissitt KJ, Henley W, Rogers K, Adams V, Young LE.Experimental studies in adult horses have shown that general anaesthesia maintained with isoflurane is associated with less depression of cardiovascular function compared with halothane anaesthesia. Adverse effects of intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (IPPV) have also been demonstrated. Nevertheless, the haemodynamic effects of these agents and the effects of differing modes of ventilation have not been assessed during clinical anaesthesia in horses undergoing surgery. Methods: The haemodynamic effects of isoflurane or halothane anaesthesia during spontaneous or IPPV were studied non-...
Scotty NC, Barrie KB, Brooks DE, Taylor D.A 7-year-old gray Mustang gelding weighing 454 kg was presented for evaluation of a brown mass within the left eye (OS) of 1 year's duration with recent enlargement. Results: A nonpainful, 8 mm diameter, brown, vascularized mass was identified in the anterior chamber of the OS. Ocular B-scan ultrasound confirmed iris involvement and corneal endothelial contact. Histopathology confirmed the presumptive diagnosis of a uveal melanocytic neoplasm, and revealed 1-3 mitotic figures per high power (400x) field. Results: The mass was removed via sector iridectomy without complications, but without com...
Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Mimoun L, Mazuz ML, Steinman A.Although the main route of transmission of is through tick feeding, transplacental transmission is also possible and may lead to abortion, or to the birth of a sick or carrier foal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of as a cause of abortions in Israel and the risk of foals being infected at a young age. Eight aborting mares were serologically evaluated for exposure to via the immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and their aborted fetuses were evaluated using PCR and qPCR. In addition, five mares and their foals (aged 4-6 months) from a highly endemic farm were tested for i...
Fleming PR, Crompton JL, Simpson DA.The aim of this study was to highlight the neuro-ophthalmological dangers associated with horse riding, and working around horses, and the importance of wearing adequate headgear to protect the rider from neuro-ophthalmic injuries. It raises the questions of whether the current laws regarding helmet use are satisfactory, and whether helmets currently used are of an adequate standard. Methods: The records over a 20-year period of one neuro-ophthalmologist in Adelaide were reviewed producing 22 patients with neuro-ophthalmological sequelae of head injuries as a result of horse-related accidents....
Dalla Costa E, Dai F, Lecchi C, Ambrogi F, Lebelt D, Stucke D, Ravasio G, Ceciliani F, Minero M.Pain in horses is an emergent welfare concern, and its assessment represents a challenge for equine clinicians. This study aimed at improving pain assessment in horses through a convergent validation of existing tools: we investigated whether an effective analgesic treatment influences the horse grimace scale (HGS) and the concentration of specific circulating microRNAs (miRNAs). Eleven stallions underwent routine surgical castration under general anaesthesia. They were divided into two analgesic treatment groups: castration with the administration of preoperative flunixin and castration with ...
Hébert L, Polledo G, Lecouturier F, Giorgi M, Beck C, Lowenski S, Laroucau K, Büscher P, Hans A, Becù T.Northern Argentina hosts equine populations living under preserved natural areas and extensive breeding conditions, with limited access to veterinary care. Horses can be in contact with i) wildlife considered to be a potential reservoir of horse pathogens (e.g. capybara, coatis and pampas deer) and/or ii) potential disease vectors such as ticks, horse flies, Culicidae and vampire bats. In this context, the aim of this study was to assess the exposure of horses from a herd in northern Argentina to different vector-borne pathogens. Serum samples were collected from 20 horses on a farm in Chaco p...
Moore RM, Bertone AL, Muir WW, Stromberg PC, Beard WL.Effects of low-flow ischemia and reperfusion of the large colon on mucosal architecture were determined in horses. Twenty-four adult horses were randomly allocated to 3 groups: sham-operated (n = 6), 6 hours of ischemia (n = 9), and 3 hours of ischemia and 3 hours of reperfusion (n = 9). Low-flow ischemia was induced in horses of groups 2 and 3 by reducing colonic arterial blood flow to 20% of baseline values. Systemic hemodynamic and metabolic variables were maintained constant and in a normal physiologic range. Full-thickness biopsy specimens were obtained from the left ventral colon for his...
Gerlach K, Ludewig E, Brehm W, Gerhards H, Delling U.A retrospective analysis of 619 upper and lower cheek teeth from 62 horses was performed. Based on clinical findings, as well as radiographic and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings, the teeth were classified into five groups. There were 20 teeth with abnormal MR imaging signals as well as clinical alterations and 599 healthy teeth. Using MR imaging, the appearance of pulp in diseased and disease-free teeth was compared, and the appearance of abnormal pulp was studied. Subsequently, the ability of MR imaging to diagnose pulpitis and pulp necrosis in teeth with normal external appearance w...
Tesena P, Korchunjit W, Taylor J, Wongtawan T.Gastric tissue biopsy and gene expression analysis are important tools for disease diagnosis and study of the physiology of the equine stomach. However, RNA extraction from gastric biopsy samples is a complex procedure because the samples contain low quantities of RNA and are contaminated with mucous protein and bacterial flora. The objectives of these studies were to compare the performance of RNA extraction methods and to investigate the sensitivity of commercial qPCR master mixes for gene expression analysis of gastric biopsy samples. Three commercial RNA extraction methods (TRIzol, GENEzol...
Konishi E, Shoda M, Kondo T.Recent reductions in numbers of human and equine Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases in Japan have seen calls to end JE vaccination. Here, we analyzed yearly variations of natural JE virus activity, using sera collected serially in 1998-2003 from racehorses residing in Ibaraki and Shiga prefectures, both located in central Japan. A total of 208 sera from 24 individuals in Ibaraki and 259 from 27 in Shiga were examined for antibodies to JE virus nonstructural 1 (NS1) protein, a marker of natural infection. The natural infection rate in epizootic seasons, which was determined by a significant incre...
Hilderbran AC, Breuhaus BA, Refsal KR.This study was performed to determine whether sick horses have thyroid hormone (TH) alterations similar to those observed in nonthyroidal illness syndrome in other species. Objective: Horses suffering from systemic diseases have decreased THs and inappropriately low thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Methods: Seventy-one clinically normal horses; 380 hospitalized horses. Methods: Total thyroxine (TT4), free thyroxine by equilibrium dialysis (fT4D), total triiodothyronine (TT3), free triiodothyronine (fT3), and TSH were measured in normal and hospitalized horses. Disease severity was categorize...
Bannai H, Nemoto M, Tsujimura K, Yamanaka T, Kokado H.Getah virus causes fever, skin eruptions, and limb edema in horses. For a high-throughput and time-saving method for serodiagnosis, we explored immunogenic antigens of Getah virus, and established an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a recombinant protein. Western blot analysis using sera from infected horses showed strong reaction with viral antigens around 46 kDa corresponding to E1 or E2 glycoproteins. Recombinant E2 (rE2) protein reacted more strongly with infected horse sera than did rE1 protein in both Western blotting and ELISA. In ELISA using rE2 protein (rE2-ELISA), fo...
Canisso IF, Loux SC, Lima FS.Placentitis is an important cause of abortion, stillbirth, and neonatal death in horses. The diagnosis of placentitis is based on occurrence of clinical signs (premature mammary gland development and vulvar discharge) and ultrasonography of the caudal placental pole. However, early and subtle cases can be missed. In the last few years, several studies have provided objective means of diagnosing placentitis in mares with single or serial measurements of blood markers. Among the markers evaluated the steroids produced by the fetoplacental unit have been shown to change in association with placen...
Li C, White SH, Warren LK, Wohlgemuth SE.Aging is associated with decreased mitochondrial content and function in skeletal muscle, possibly due to compromised biogenesis and autophagic removal of dysfunctional mitochondria. The aim of this study was to compare markers of mitochondrial content and biogenesis and of autophagy between skeletal muscle from young and aged American Quarter Horses. Citrate synthase protein and mtDNA copy number were decreased in triceps brachii (TB) muscle (P<0.05) from aged horses, suggesting an age-related decline in mitochondrial content. Concomitantly, mRNA expression of PGC-1α and TFAM, regulators ...
Bazzano M, Giannetto C, Fazio F, Rizzo M, Giudice E, Piccione G.The aim of the study was to assess changes in some haematological parameters of periparturient mares from the last three months of pregnancy until the third week after foaling. The study was carried out on 15 healthy pregnant mares (Group A) and 7 healthy non-pregnant non-lactating mares (Group B). Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture into EDTA tubes and tested for Haematocrit (Hct), Red Blood Cell (RBC), Haemoglobin (Hb), Platelets (Plt) and White Blood Cell (WBC). Peripheral blood smears were also performed to assess changes in the leucocyte differential count. Group A showed...
López-Sanromán FJ, Holmbak-Petersen R, Varela M, del Alamo AM, Santiago I.To evaluate the duration of effects on movement patterns of horses after sedation with equipotent doses of xylazine hydrochloride, detomidine hydrochloride, or romifidine hydrochloride and determine whether accelerometry can be used to quantify differences among drug treatments. Methods: 6 healthy horses. Methods: Each horse was injected IV with saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (10 mL), xylazine diluted in saline solution (0.5 mg/kg), detomidine diluted in saline solution (0.01 mg/kg), or romifidine diluted in saline solution (0.04 mg/kg) in random order. A triaxial accelerometric device was used f...
Davies HM, McCarthy RN, Jeffcott LB.Stacked rectangular rosette strain gages were used to measure surface bone strain on the dorsomedial cortex of the third metacarpal bones in 6 adult Thoroughbred horses during treadmill exercise. The peak principal compressive and tensile strains, angle of the peak strains and strain rate during loading were calculated and compared with speed and gait. At speeds from 4 to 14 m/s loading on the metacarpus resulted in compression of the dorsomedial cortex. Tension only occurred consistently in 1 forelimb of 1 horse at the walk (2 m/s). The angle of peak compression was within 10 degrees of the l...
Wylie CE, Collins SN, Verheyen KL, Newton JR.Epidemiological studies into the risk factors for naturally-occurring equine laminitis are limited. There are a small number of such studies, although the results are inconsistent and remain disputed. The reasons for the conflicting results remain unclear. The aim of this review was to critically evaluate previous research in order to identify publications which provide the best evidence of risk factors for naturally-occurring equine laminitis. A systematic review of English language publications was conducted using MEDLINE (1950-2010), CAB Direct (1910-2010) and IVIS (1997-2010). Additional p...
Byron CR, Benson BM, Stewart AA, Pondenis HC.To evaluate the effects of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) on proteoglycan production by equine chondrocytes and to investigate whether glucosamine hydrochloride modulates these effects at clinically relevant concentrations. Methods: Articular cartilage with normal gross appearance from metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of 8 horses (1 to 10 years of age). Methods: In vitro chondrocyte pellets were pretreated with glucosamine (0, 1, 10, and 100 microg/mL) for 48 hours and exposed to MPA (0, 0.05, and 0.5 mg/mL) for 24 hours. Pellets and media were assayed for proteoglycan prod...
