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.
Peterson ML, Reiser RF, Kuo PH, Radford DW, McIlwraith CW.Differences in racing times have been noted on synthetic track surfaces that appear to depend on the temperature of the track. No published study to date has considered this effect in a systematic manner. Objective: To investigate the relationship between temperature of track and speed of horses racing on a synthetic surface. Potential changes in the wax component of the synthetic track were investigated as one possible cause of changes in the track speed at the temperatures observed. Methods: At Del Mar racetrack (California, USA), the air, surface and subsurface temperatures at 4 depths in t...
Leclere M, Lefebvre-Lavoie J, Beauchamp G, Lavoie JP.Orally administered prednisolone and dexamethasone are used commonly in the treatment of recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in horses. However, the efficacy of prednisolone in improving pulmonary function during continuous antigen exposure has not been evaluated critically and there is little evidence supporting the efficacy of low-dose oral dexamethasone in the same conditions. Objective: Oral prednisolone and dexamethasone improve pulmonary function in RAO under conditions of continuous antigen exposure, and dexamethasone is more effective than prednisolone at commonly used dosages. Methods:...
Pavone S, Mandara MT.The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) play a key role in the control of intestinal motility and have been implicated in several human gastrointestinal dysmotility syndromes, in equine grass sickness and in other intestinal disorders where a significant reduction in ICC density was observed. Objective: To investigate the density of ICC in clinically normal horses, ICC c-Kit expression was evaluated by image analysis in order to obtain numerical data. Methods: Intestinal samples from the jejunum to small colon from 5 clinically normal horses were studied. Immunohistochemical labelling of ICC was...
Dyson S, Pool R, Blunden T, Murray R.There is limited knowledge about the interpretation of alterations in the distal sesamoidean impar ligament (DSIL) detected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and their correlation with histopathology. Objective: There would be: 1) a correlation between histopathology and MRI findings; and 2) a relationship between MR abnormalities at the origin and the insertion of the DSIL, between insertion and body; and origin and body. Methods: Fifty limbs from 28 horses were examined using high-field MRI and histopathology. MR abnormalities of the DSIL, its origin on the navicular bone and its insert...
Litva A, Robinson CS, Archer DC.Crib-biting/windsucking behaviour has important consequences for equine health and welfare. Lay perceptions of health and illness are of interest to medical sociologists, providing important information to medical practitioners, but have infrequently been applied in veterinary research. Objective: To demonstrate how lay epidemiology can be applied within veterinary research by exploring the lay perceptions regarding the causes of crib-biting/windsucking behaviour in horses. Methods: Informants were recruited from professional and amateur horse owners who had or had not owned/cared for a horse ...
Menzies-Gow NJ.Certain individual animals appear predisposed to recurrent pasture-associated laminitis, but the exact mechanisms underlying their predisposition remain a fundamental question in laminitis research. The risk of endocrinopathic laminitis can be reduced if steps are taken to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation using strategies based on exercise and diet. Exercise has been shown to reduce insulin resistance and suppress inflammation, and dietary manipulation can significantly affect insulin sensitivity.
Haralambus R, Burgstaller J, Klukowska-Rötzler J, Steinborn R, Buchinger S, Gerber V, Brandt S.Sarcoids are nonmetastasising, yet locally aggressive skin tumours that constitute the most frequent neoplasm in equids. Infection by bovine papillomaviruses types 1 and 2 (BPV-1, BPV-2) has been recognised as major causative factor in sarcoid pathogenesis, but a possible correlation of intralesional virus load with disease severity has not been established thus far. Objective: Given the pathogenic role of BPV-1 and BPV-2 in sarcoid disease, we suggest that intralesional viral DNA concentration may reflect the degree of affection. Methods: Severity of disease was addressed by recording the tum...
Gere I, Dixon PM.Peripheral caries (PC) of equine teeth is a poorly described disorder that can cause serious clinical problems if it progresses. Objective: To assess the prevalence, sites and severity of PC in a population of Swedish horses. Methods: A post mortem study of 510 equine skulls was performed in 2 Swedish equine abattoirs. Results: PC only affected the cheek teeth (CT) and was present in 6.1% (31/510) of skulls. It affected mainly the peripheral cementum, and 87% of PC in the 29 affected mature horses occurred in the 3 caudal CT (Triadan 09-11). Concurrent infundibular caries involving most maxill...
Bischofberger AS, Brauer T, Gugelchuk G, Klohnen A.Incisional complications are a major post operative challenge following ventral midline exploratory celiotomy for abdominal pain in horses. They lead to discomfort, prolonged hospitalisation, longer recovery times and increased cost; therefore, investigation of preventative procedures are warranted. Objective: To determine the clinical effect of antibacterial (triclosan) coated 2-0 polyglactin 910 suture material on the likelihood of incisional infections when used for closure of subcutaneous tissue following ventral midline celiotomies in horses. Methods: One hundred horses undergoing explora...
O'Meara B, Bladon B, Parkin TD, Fraser B, Lischer CJ.There is limited information regarding the number of races and the period for evaluation of outcome which is critical for assessment of SDF tendonitis treatments. Objective: To evaluate the re-injury rate and racing performance of Thoroughbred racehorses that sustain SDF tendonitis in relation to matched controls in terms of number of races post treatment and maximum racing performance ratings before and after injury. Methods: Clinical records and racing histories of 401 racehorses with a first occurrence of SDF tendonitis diagnosed by ultrasonography. Controls were of the same age, sex and we...
Cheetham J, Riordan AS, Mohammed HO, McIlwraith CW, Fortier LA.There is no consensus on objective outcome measures that can be used to determine if a medical or surgical treatment affects race performance. Objective: To determine the association between 2 commonly used outcome measures (total starts and total earnings) and age, sex, gait and race surface. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using the race performance data for all Thoroughbred horses age 2, 3, 4 and 5 years racing in the United States, and Standardbred horses of the same ages racing in the United States and Canada during the year 2006. Median earnings and starts were determined ...
Byström A, Rhodin M, von Peinen K, Weishaupt MA, Roepstorff L.The kinematics of the saddle and rider have not been thoroughly described at the walk. Objective: To describe saddle and rider movements during collected walk in a group of high-level dressage horses and riders. Methods: Seven high-level dressage horses and riders were subjected to kinematic measurements while performing collected walk on a treadmill. Movements of the saddle and rider's pelvis, upper body and head were analysed in a rigid body model. Projection angles were determined for the rider's arms and legs, and the neck and trunk of the horse. Distances between selected markers were use...
Bártová E, Sedlák K, Syrová M, Literák I.During January 2007, blood samples were collected from 552 healthy horses from nine different regions of the Czech Republic. Sera were tested for serum antibodies to Neospora caninum by a competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed by an indirect fluorescent antibody test. The same samples were tested for serum antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii by a latex agglutination test. In total, 131 of 552 (24%) horses reacted positively for Neospora antibodies in competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; seven of them had > or =50% of inhibition. Samples wer...
Durham A.Although the treatment and management of laminitis in the horse requires a holistic and often multidisciplinary approach from the veterinarian, farrier, and nutritionist, this review focuses on pharmacologic interventions that might have prophylactic benefit, specifically in the horse with laminitis as a result of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and equine metabolic syndrome.
Bailey SR.A direct causal association between corticosteroid use and laminitis has yet to be proven scientifically, and there have been few studies specifically addressing this aspect. New evidence, however, is improving the understanding of the causes of laminitis, particularly related to endocrine factors. The focus of this article is discussing the circumstances under which steroids might cause this condition.
de Laat MA, McGowan CM, Sillence MN, Pollitt CC.Laminitis occurring in association with hyperinsulinemia is frequently encountered in today's equine population. New evidence suggests that hyperinsulinemia is the direct cause of this form of laminitis, rather than insulin resistance per se. The mechanism by which elevated serum insulin concentrations result in lamellar dysfunction is currently under investigation by many researchers and the use of a new insulin infusion model for investigating the pathogenesis of insulin-associated laminitis will doubtless enhance progress in this field of research. By focusing on the metabolic and vascular ...
Gari FR, Ashenafi H, Tola A, Goddeeris BM, Claes F.Study on comparative sensitivity of parasitological, serological, and molecular tests on 237 horses originating from two dourine-suspected districts of Arsi-Bale highlands of Ethiopia was conducted to determine the prevalence of the disease and degree of agreement of the diagnostic tests. Accordingly, the prevalence of the disease was found to be 4.6%, 36.7%, and 47.6% by parasitological Woo test, RoTat 1.2 and 18S PCR tests, respectively. The seroprevalence of the disease was 27.6% in CATT/Trypanosoma evansi test. In Ethiopia, it was for the first time that trypanosomes from dourine suspected...
Akerreta S, Calvo MI, Cavero RY.To collect, analyze and evaluate the ethnoveterinary knowledge about medicinal plants in a northern Iberian region (Navarra, 10,421 km(2), 620,377 inhabitants). Methods: Field work was conducted between 2003 and 2007, using semi-structured questionnaire and participant observation as well as transects walks in wild herbal plant collection areas. We performed semi-structured interviews with 667 informants (mean age 72; 55.47% women, 44.53% men) in 265 locations, identified the plant reported and analyzed the results, comparing them with those from other territories. Results: Out of 287 species ...
Nelis SA, Sievers C, Jarrett M, Nissen LM, Kirkpatrick CM, Shaw PN.In this paper, a method for the sensitive and reproducible analysis of lignocaine and its four principal metabolites, monoethylxylidide (MEGX), glycylxylidide (GX), 3-hydroxylignocaine (3-HO-LIG), 4-hydroxylignocaine (4-HO-LIG) in equine urine and plasma samples is presented. The method uses liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry operating in electrospray ionisation positive ion mode (+ESI) via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Sample preparation involved solid-phase extraction using a mixed-mode phase. The internal standard adopted was lignocaine-d(10). Lignocaine and its...
Deardorff ER, Weaver SC.The mosquito Culex (Melanoconion) taeniopus is a proven vector of enzootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) subtype IE in Central America. It has been shown to be highly susceptible to infection by this subtype, and conversely to be highly refractory to infection by other VEEV subtypes. During the 1990s in southern coastal Mexico, two VEE epizootics in horses were attributed to subtype IE VEEV. These outbreaks were associated with VEEV strains with an altered infection phenotype for the epizootic mosquito vector, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) taeniorhynchus. To determine the infectivity for ...
Albayrak H, Ozan E.Equine infectious anaemia is a retroviral infection of horses. All infected horses, including those that are asymptomatic, become carriers and are infectious for life. In this study, blood samples of all equines in the province of Ardahan were collected. The material consisted of 8,947 equines, including 8,769 horses and 178 donkeys, from Ardahan province in northeastern Turkey. Blood was collected from all horses and donkeys and the sera were analysed for the presence of antibodies to equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results revealed that ...
Grinninger P, Skalicky M, Nell B.To assess natural variations in degree of refraction, corneal curvature, corneal astigmatism, corneal radius, and intraocular distance of healthy equine eyes. Methods: 159 horses with healthy eyes that were admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital for nonophthalmic surgeries. Methods: Eyes of horses were examined with a retinoscope prior to anesthesia and with a keratograph and A- and B-scan ultrasonographic biometers during surgery. In addition, manual caliper measurements of horizontal and vertical corneal radii were obtained. Results: Mean +/- SD degree of refraction in the horizontal mer...
Burgess BA, Lohmann KL, Blakley BR.Sudden deaths and an outbreak of diarrhea in horses occurred in southern Saskatchewan in 2006. Five horses died while survivors presented with diarrhea and, in 1 case, acute neurologic signs attributed to hyponatremia. Diagnostic testing of affected horses and environmental testing suggested poor water quality, specifically high salinity and high sulfate concentration as the cause. Des morts soudaines et une éclosion de diarrhée se sont produites chez des chevaux du Sud de la Saskatchewan en 2006. Cinq chevaux sont morts tandis que les survivants ont présenté de la diarrhée et, dans 1 ca...
Brosnan RJ, Steffey EP, Esteller-Vico A, Vaughan B, Liu IK.Digital perfusion pressure (DPP) equals mean arterial pressure (MAP) at the hoof coronet minus digital interstitial pressure (DIP) within the hoof. To test whether lamellar blood flow (LBF) changes proportionately to DPP, anesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane in six horses to target a MAP of 60 mmHg. Arterial, venous, and hoof interstitial pressures were measured in each pelvic limb. LBF was measured using fluorescent microspheres during dobutamine infusions targeting either 60 (low), 80 (medium), or 100 (high) mmHg MAP. Following euthanasia, hoof lamina was collected for micro...
Chen T, Ward DA.To determine tear volume, turnover rate, and flow rate in ophthalmologically normal horses by use of fluorophotometry. Methods: 12 mares free of ophthalmic disease. Methods: 2 microL of 10% sodium fluorescein was instilled onto 1 eye of each horse, and tear samples were collected via microcapillary tubes from the inferonasal conjunctival culde-sac at 0, 2, 4, 6, 10, 15, and 20 minutes after instillation. Collected tear samples were then measured for fluorescein concentrations with a computerized scanning ocular fluorophotometer. A decay curve plot of concentration changes over time was used to...
Beeler-Marfisi J, Clark ME, Wen X, Sears W, Huber L, Ackerley C, Viel L, Bienzle D.To evaluate experimental induction of recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) with inhaled fungal spores, lipopolysaccharide, and silica microspheres in horses. Methods: 7 horses with and 3 horses without a history of RAO. Methods: RAO-susceptible horses ranged in age from 17 to approximately 30 years, and control horses ranged in age from 7 to approximately 15 years. Pure mold cultures were derived from repeated culture of hay and identified via gene amplification and sequencing. Pulmonary function testing and bronchoalveolar lavage were performed before and after nebulization with a suspension of...
Byron CR, Barger AM, Stewart AA, Pondenis HC, Fan TM.To determine concentrations of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in equine chondrocytes and synoviocytes and to quantify changes in the OPG:RANKL ratio in response to exogenous factors. Methods: Samples of articular cartilage and synovium with grossly normal appearance obtained from metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of 5 adult (1- to 8-year-old) horses. Methods: Cell cultures of chondrocytes and synoviocytes were incubated with human recombinant interleukin-1beta (hrIL-1beta; 10 ng/mL), lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 10 microg/mL), ...
Serra M, Papakonstantinou S, Adamcova M, O'Brien PJ.The use of cardiac troponin (cTn), the 'gold-standard' biomarker of myocardial injury in humans, is growing in veterinary medicine and in animal safety studies, although there are differences in its application in animals. In this study six new assays for the marker were assessed in 619 animals of six different species (dog, cat, horse, cattle, rat and rabbit), in clinical and drug-safety studies. Healthy animals and clinical cases without cardiac disease served as controls. Several of the tested assays had poor analytic or diagnostic sensitivity and only one test was effective in all species ...
Heitland AV, Jasko DJ, Squires EL, Graham JK, Pickett BW, Hamilton C.Five experiments were conducted to evaluate damage incurred in each processing step for cryopreservation of stallion spermatozoa. In Experiment 1, semen was centrifuged for 9 centrifugation times and the percentage of spermatozoa recovered after each treatment was calculated and spermatozoal motion characteristics analysed. Recovery of spermatozoa was > or = 80% when spermatozoa were centrifuged for > or = 10 min. Experiment 2 evaluated spermatozoa cryopreserved at 5 different concentrations in each of 2 extenders (skim milk-egg yolk-glycerol, SM-EYG; and lactose-EDTA, LAC). In SM-EYG, T...
Shimizu A, Kawano J, Ozaki J, Sasaki N, Kimura S, Kamada M, Anzai S, Saito H, Sato H.Seventy-six Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from various lesions of horses were characterized. All of the 76 strains were identified as biotypes B (38.2%) and C (61.8%). Of 55 strains tested, 42 (76.4%) were differentiated into 7 coagulase types. Coagulase types V and VII were predominant in the metritis strains. Coagulase type II was found most frequently in the strains from phlegmon, dermatitis, sinusitis, empyema sinus, and nasal catarrh. Forty-two (55.3%) of the 76 strains were differentiated into 24 phage patterns. Twenty (58.8%) of 34 typable strains from metritis were lysed by th...
Szenci O, Brydl E, Bajcsy CA.The stability of blood ionized calcium (Ca2+) and acid-base variables in equine, bovine, ovine, and canine venous blood samples (n = 15, in each group) stored at 4 C for 3, 6, 9, 24, or 48 hours was studied. Variables included blood Ca2+ and standard ionized calcium (Ca2+ corrected to pH 7.4) concentrations, pH, blood carbon dioxide and oxygen tensions, base excess, bicarbonate concentration, and total carbon dioxide content. Results indicate that storage of blood samples at 4 C for up to 48 hours, despite appreciable acid-base changes, is associated with less than 1.5% change in equine, bovin...
McClure JT, Kobluk C, Voller K, Geor RJ, Ames TR, Sivula N.Four miniature foals admitted with signs of progressive nonresponsive abdominal pain and no fecal production had fecalith impaction of the small colon. Duration of clinical signs ranged from 10 hours to 5 days. Removal of the fecalith via small colon enterotomy was a successful treatment in all 4 cases. Miniature foals may be predisposed to fecalith impaction of the small colon. If a miniature foal has signs of progressive nonresponsive abdominal pain, fecalith impaction needs to be considered. Surgical correction may be required.
Dorrego A, Herranz C, Pérez-Sancho M, Camino E, Gómez-Arrones V, Carrasco JJ, De Gabriel-Pérez J, Serres C, Cruz-López F.Taylorella asinigenitalis is a non-pathogenic bacteria isolated from the genital tract of donkeys but also a cause of metritis and vaginal discharge in mares. It is closely related to Taylorella equigenitalis, the cause of Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) in horses, and has been present in different countries in Europe since 1995. Up to date, there are no studies on the prevalence of T. asinigenitalis in the equine or asinine populations in Spain; this is the first report of the presence of T. asinigenitalis in donkeys (Equus asinus) from different breeds in three regions of Spain. A total of ...
Jeffcott LB, Buckingham SH, McCarthy RN, Cleeland JC, Scotti E, McCartney RN.The current methods for non-invasive measurement of bone quality are reviewed. In the horse this has traditionally involved the use of radiography, but there are now two other modalities available for the critical evaluation of cortical bone quality and strength. These utilise single photon absorptiometry and ultrasound velocity. Photon absorptiometry gives a direct measurement of bone mineral content, by using a monoenergetic radionuclide source, and transverse ultrasound velocity in bone gives a measure of bone stiffness or elasticity. They can both be used conveniently on the metacarpus of ...
Rowley KJ, Townsend NB, Chang YR, Fiske-Jackson AR.Sagittal fractures of equine cheek teeth are commonly observed during oral examination. There are few reports on the apical and endodontic pathology associated with such fractures seen during computed tomographic (CT) examination. Objective: This study aimed to document the prevalence of CT changes indicative of apical disease in equine cheek teeth, which have suffered a sagittal fracture involving the clinical ± reserve crown. Methods: This study is a retrospective case series. Methods: CT examinations of equine heads with sagittal fractures of cheek teeth present were reviewed: 81 teeth f...
Mora-Pereira M, Abarca EM, Duran S, Ravis W, McMullen RJ, Fischer BM, Lee YP, Wooldridge AA.Keratomycosis is a relatively common, sight threatening condition in horses, where treatment is often prolonged and costly. Subconjunctival (SCo) injections offer less resistance to drug diffusion than the topical route, resulting in better penetration to the ocular anterior segment. Voriconazole, a second generation triazole antifungal, is effective against common fungal organisms causing keratomycosis. If combined with a thermogel biomaterial, voriconazole can be easily injected in the SCo space to provide sustained drug release. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the drug concentrati...
Prieto JMB, Tallmadge RL, Felippe MJB.Identification and classification of B cell subpopulations has been shown to be challenging and inconsistent among different species. Our study tested aspects of ontogeny, phenotype, tissue distribution, and function of equine CD5 B cells, which represented a greater proportion of B cells early in development and in the peritoneal cavity. CD5 and CD5 B cells differentially expressed B cell markers (CD2, CD21, IgM) measured using flow cytometry, but similar mRNA expression of signature genes (DGKA, FGL2, PAX5, IGHM, IL10) measured using quantitative RT-PCR. Sequencing lambda light chain segment...
Lieto LD, Swerczek TW, Cothran EG.Necropsy of two American Saddlebred fillies diagnosed with epitheliogenesis imperfecta (EI) revealed missing patches of epithelium of the skin and oral mucosa as well as dental abnormalities. Examination of the digestive tract did not reveal signs of pyloric atresia in either foal. Histopathologic examination revealed separation of the epidermis from the dermis. In both foals a division within the lamina lucida of the basal lamina was observed by transmission electron microscopy. In comparison with an age-specific control, the ultrastructure of intact skin from the EI-affected foals showed abn...
Andoh K, Kai K, Matsumura T, Maeda K.Cell lines originating from horses are necessary for isolation and propagation of equine herpesviruses (EHV). Although we established an equine-derived cell line, FHK-Tcl3, propagation ceased after fewer than 40 passages. In this study, FHK-Tcl3 cell propagation continued beyond 40 passages, achieving over 100 passages. FHK-Tcl3 cells were then cloned by limiting dilution at the 100th passage. Cloned cells were termed FHK-Tcl3.1. FHK-Tcl3.1 cells grew well and were propagated every 3 to 4 days by splitting 1:5. In addition, EHV-1, -2 and -4 showed a clear cytopathic effect (CPE) in FHK-Tcl3.1 ...
Nishita T, Matsushita H, Kai M.The location of carbonic anhydrase III (CA-III) in frozen sections of biopsies of Thoroughbred horse skeletal muscle was studied. Fibre types were determined by ATP-ase and succinate dehydrogenase staining. CA-III isozyme was detected using a peroxidase conjugated anti-CA-III antibody. CA-III was found to be localised in slow twitch oxidative fibres (ST), but was also present in fast twitch oxidative (FTH) fibres in small amounts. Fast twitch glycolytic (FT) fibres were stained lightly compared with control sections. The concentrations of CA-III in muscle and liver were 70 micrograms/mg protei...
Englisch LM, Kostrzewa K, Kopke S, Failing K, Staszyk C.Hypsodont equine cheek teeth possess large dental crowns, resting partly in the bony alveolus. Over a horse's life cheek teeth erupt continuously to compensate for occlusal wear of 3-4 mm per year. Parts of the crown initially resting in the bony alveolus become progressively exposed at the occlusal surface with time. Hitherto, it is unclear whether the typical structure of the equine occlusal surface, composed of a complex arrangement of enamel, dentin and cementum, remains constant or undergoes structural changes with age. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the occlusal surface composi...
Sherlock CE, Mair TS.Recognition of artefacts is an essential component of the accurate interpretation of diagnostic images. This study aimed to investigate the presence of magic angle effect in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in the equine proximal pastern region. The proximal pastern of four cadaver limbs was imaged using a 0.27 Tesla magnet with high-resolution sequences that are commonly utilised in clinical equine practice. The limbs were imaged in a neutral position and positions that simulated the horse 'leaning in', 'leaning out' and having internal and external rotation of the distal limb. Si...
Keith L, Ball BA, Scoggin K, Esteller-Vico A, Woodward EM, Troedsson MH, Squires EL.The objectives were to: (1) evaluate the efficacy of varying intervals of oxytocin administration in preventing luteolysis in mares; (2) examine PGF(2α) release in mares experiencing prolonged diestrus secondary to oxytocin treatment; and (3) evaluate the endometrial expression of oxytocin receptor, estrogen receptor α, and prostaglandin synthesis enzymes after oxytocin administration. In experiment I, mares received oxytocin (60 IU, im) daily on Days 8 to 10, 8 to 12, or 8 to 14 postovulation, and control mares received sterile saline. Prolongation of diestrus was defined by elevation of se...
Muraro LS, Nogueira MF, Borges AMCM, Souza AO, Vieira TSWJ, de Aguiar DM.Bacteria of the genus Ehrlichia are transmitted by ticks and also are an important cause of infection in wild and domestic mammals. Infection with Ehrlichia spp. has been reported in horses, especially in the USA, Nicaragua and Brazil. In this study, we report the parasitism by Amblyomma sculptum, Rhipicephalus microplus and Dermacentor nitens ticks in horses from a ranch located in south Pantanal wetland. Molecular and serological analyzes to determine infection by Ehrlichia spp. in horses and their respective ticks were carried out. A total of 12 horses were submitted to blood collection to ...
Valette JP, Robert C, Denoix JM.The objectives of this study were to establish standards for growth and to model the evolution of wither height (WH) between birth and adult age in different breeds of sport- and race-horses. Therefore, 398 foals, then yearlings of three different breeds, were measured regularly between birth and 18 months of age. Linear and non-linear functions were compared for describing the growth in each breed group. The monomolecular, Gompertz, logistic and cubic models correctly estimated WH in the three breeds during the first 2 years (R2 = 0.99, s.e. 3.9 to 4.5) and better than the cubic and quadratic...
Ornehult L, Eriksson A, Björnstig U.All 58 deaths caused by nonvenomous animals in Sweden 1975-1984 were scrutinized. In 38 cases horses were involved, in 16 cattle and in one case each a moose, a lion, a dog and a ram. In the horse-related fatalities, the most common cause of accident was that the horse bolted or reared, causing the rider to fall off the horse or the cart or sulky. Falls were thus associated with 22 horse-related deaths. In cattle-related accidents, all fatalities where the cause of accident was known occurred due to aggressive behaviour of the animal. In horse-related accidents, head injuries dominated, while ...
Lange-Consiglio A, Capra E, Giuliani D, Canesi S, Funghi F, Bosi G, Cretich M, Frigerio R, Galbiati V, Cremonesi F.Unlike humans and many other mammalian species, conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) in equine species is not successful. To mimic in vitro equine spermatozoon-oviduct interaction as close as possible to that which occurs in vivo, extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by the female genital tract were used. Three female genital tracts were collected at slaughterhouse from mares in late estrus. Ipsilateral proximal and apical horn endometrial explants were digested with collagenase and trypsin and cells obtained were cultured on insert system to allow their polarization. Ipsilateral ovid...
Sirois J, Betteridge KJ, Goff AK.The outcome of 23 collections and reinsertions of conceptuses on Days 10.5-13.5, 4 transfers of Day-10.5, and 13 transfers of Day-6.5 embryos (ovulation = Day 0) was monitored in 30 mares. Blood samples were taken before and after each procedure to measure plasma 15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F-2 alpha (PGFM), and then daily for progesterone determinations. Mares were also subjected to daily teasing for detection of oestrus, and to uterine ultrasonography for tracing the development of the conceptus. After the reinsertions, 12/23 conceptuses were detectable immediately after the procedure...
Belotta AF, Mayer MN, Koehncke NK, Carmalt J, Freitas FP, Waldner CL.To describe self-reported radiation safety practices by equine veterinary technicians in North America and identify factors associated with these practices. 154 equine technicians. An electronic questionnaire regarding radiation safety practices during the use of portable x-ray equipment was sent to 884 members of the American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and Assistants. Data were summarized, and various factors were evaluated for associations with reported safety practices. 221 of 884 (25.0%) questionnaires were completed, including 154 by equine technicians who had been invol...
Dyson S, Brown V, Collins S, Murray R.Associations between degree of ossification of the cartilages of the foot and injuries to other structures of the foot have been suggested, but have not been investigated by large scale studies. Objective: To describe the frequency of grade >3 ossification of the cartilages of the foot (possibly significant ossification, PSO), mediolateral symmetry of ossification and left-right symmetry between feet; and to investigate associations between PSO and injury of either the collateral ligaments (CLs) of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint or the distal phalanx. Objective: Possibly significant os...
Bugno M, Klukowska J, Słota E, Tischner M, Switoński M.A sex-reversal syndrome appears frequently in the horse. The mare carriers of this syndrome lack of SRY gene. It is suggested that sex-reversal syndrome is probably caused by transfer of the SRY gene from Y to the X chromosome, due to abnormal meiotic exchange. The aim of the study was molecular analysis of the Y-linked genes in a case of the sex-reversed infertile mare with 64,XY karyotype. The karyotype was established on the basis of analysis of 350 metaphase spreads stained by CBG banding. Molecular analysis of the loci assigned to the Y chromosome revealed absence of the SRY gene and pres...
Siles-Lucas M, Felleisen R, Cuesta-Bandera C, Gottstein B, Eckert J.Swiss and Spanish isolates of Echinococcus granulosus were compared using different molecular biological techniques: Genomic DNAs isolated from parasites originating from various intermediate hosts were subjected to Southern hybridization with different probes, the same source of DNA was used for DNA amplification using the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. With both methods the various isolates (metacestodes) of E. granulosus exhibited characteristic banding patterns which allowed us to assign them to the following groups of homologous profiles: (a) isolates of horse and donk...
Browning AP, Collins JA.Combinations of romifidine and butorphanol were used to sedate 55 horses for a variety of surgical, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Eighteen of the horses were given the drugs separately, romifidine first followed by butorphanol four minutes later, and 37 were given the drugs together. The levels of sedation and ataxia were assessed and graded, and there were no statistically significant differences between the two methods of administration. The side effects were typical of the alpha-2 agonists, including bradycardia, heart block and some sweating. Box-walking was observed in one horse....
Burkom H, Estberg L, Akkina J, Elbert Y, Zepeda C, Baszler T.The Risk Identification Unit (RIU) of the US Dept. of Agriculture's Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH) conducts weekly surveillance of national livestock health data and routine coordination with agricultural stakeholders. As part of an initiative to increase the number of species, health issues, and data sources monitored, CEAH epidemiologists are building a surveillance system based on weekly syndromic counts of laboratory test orders in consultation with Colorado State University laboratorians and statistical analysts from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laborator...
