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.
Mozzaquatro FD, Verstegen JP, Douglas RH, Troedsson MH, DeLaCorte FD, Silva CA, Rubin MI.Ultrasonic-guided transvaginal follicle aspiration was performed in 58 crossbreed mares in order to determine whether aspiration of various dominant follicle diameters resulted in luteal tissue capable of producing progesterone (P(4)). The mares were randomly assigned to three groups according to follicular diameter (25-29 mm; 30-35 mm and >35 mm). Mares that had ovulations naturally served as controls. The serum progesterone (P(4)) concentrations in the aspirated mares were greater (P < 0.0001; r(2) = 0.6687; CV = 21.52) in mares with natural ovulation compared to mares with aspirated follicl...
Wagner B, Stokol T, Ainsworth DM.Transfer of maternal IgE antibodies to the neonate with the colostrum has been described in different mammalian species. Previous work in horses has shown that IgE bound to the surface of neonatal basophils is solely of maternal origin. However, the functional role of the maternal IgE transfer remained unclear. We hypothesized that maternal IgE mediates the onset of innate IL-4 production in equine neonatal basophils. Intracellular IL-4 production was measured in PBMC of newborn and older foals by flow cytometric analysis. A small population of IL-4(+) cells was observed in the peripheral bloo...
Heo EJ, Lee HS, Jeoung HY, Ko HR, Kweon CH, Ko YJ.A recombinant glycoprotein (R-GP) of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSV-NJ) was expressed in insect cells by a baculovirus system. Its utility as a diagnostic antigen in a blocking ELISA was investigated as an alternative to the current native GP extracted from VSV-NJ. With the cut-off value of 73% inhibition, the R-GP ELISA exhibited 99.1% specificity for naive sera from cattle and horses. It did not cross-react with VSV-Indiana (VSV-IN) positive sera and differentiated from foot-and-mouth disease and swine vesicular disease. Taken together, this is the first report that the R-GP has ...
BMC research notesDecember 16, 2009
Volume 2 255 doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-2-255
Rendo F, Iriondo M, Manzano C, Estonba A.The Cantabrian Coast horse breeds of the Iberian Peninsula have mainly black or bay colored coats, but alleles responsible for a chestnut coat color run in these breeds and occasionally, chestnut horses are born. Chestnut coat color is caused by two recessive alleles, e and e(a), of the melanocortin-1 receptor gene, whereas the presence of the dominant, wild-type E allele produces black or bay coat horses. Because black or bay colored coats are considered as the purebred phenotype for most of the breeds from this region, it is important to have a fast and reliable method to detect alleles caus...
Venner M, Peters J, Höhensteiger N, Schock B, Bornhorst A, Grube M, Adam U, Scheuch E, Weitschies W, Rosskopf D, Kroemer HK, Siegmund W.Macrolide antibiotics penetrate in the lung against steep concentration gradients into the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) and broncho-alveolar cells (BAC). Since they interact with ABCB1, ABCC2, and organic anion transporting proteins (OATPs), which are localized to lung tissue, pulmonary concentration may be influenced by rifampicin (RIF), an inducer and modulator of efflux and uptake transporters. We measured concentrations of tulathromycin (TM) in plasma, ELF and BAC in 21 warm-blooded foals 24 and 192 h after first and last intramuscular injection of 2.5 mg/kg TM once weekly for 6 weeks. In...
Timoney JF, DeNegri R, Sheoran A, Forster N.The clonal Streptococcus equi causes equine strangles, a highly contagious suppurative lymphadenopathy and rhinopharyngitis. An important virulence factor and vaccine component, the antiphagocytic fibrinogen binding SeM of S. equi is a surface anchored fibrillar protein. Two recent studies of N. American, Japanese and European isolates have revealed a high frequency of N-terminal amino acid variation in SeM of S. equi CF32 that suggests this region of the protein is subject to immunologic selection pressure. The aims of the present study were firstly to map regions of SeM reactive with convale...
Ossiprandi MC, Buttrini M, Bottarelli E, Zerbini L.Clostridium difficile, associated with a wide spectrum of diseases in humans, as well as in several animal species, is an important cause of colitis in adult horses and foals. The aim of this study was to investigate by toxin gene profile and PCR-ribotyping the molecular characteristics of 14 C. difficile strains isolated from 42 faeces of healthy horses. Both toxin genes, tcdA and tcdB, were present in only 1 isolate (7.1%). Six isolates (42.9%) demonstrated tcdA-/tcdB+ genotype, and seven isolates (50.0%) were tcdA-/tcdB-. All strains were binary toxin genes negative (cdtA-/cdtB-). The PCR-p...
Sun WC, Berghaus LJ, Moore JN, Hurley DJ, Vandenplas ML, Thompson R, Linden J.Stimulation of adenosine A(2A) receptors results in anti-inflammatory effects in a variety of cell types. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha and IL-1, have been reported to up-regulate the expression of adenosine A(2A) receptors and thereby enhance the functional activity of adenosine A(2A) receptors in human and murine monocyte/macrophage cell lines and in monocytes/macrophages isolated from those species. In this study, we investigated the effects of LPS and TNF-alpha on the expression and functional activity of adenosine A(2A) receptors in isolated eq...
BMC research notesDecember 11, 2009
Volume 2 246 doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-2-246
Smits K, Goossens K, Van Soom A, Govaere J, Hoogewijs M, Vanhaesebrouck E, Galli C, Colleoni S, Vandesompele J, Peelman L.Application of reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction is very well suited to reveal differences in gene expression between in vivo and in vitro produced embryos. Ultimately, this may lead to optimized equine assisted reproductive techniques. However, for a correct interpretation of the real-time PCR results, all data must be normalized, which is most reliably achieved by calculating the geometric mean of the most stable reference genes. In this study a set of reliable reference genes was identified for equine in vivo and fresh and frozen-thawed in vitro embryos....
Morán G, Burgos R, Araya O, Folch H.In horses, Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO) is an allergic disease that involves IgE mediated Type I Hypersensitivity responses. The development of this type of allergy involves a series of events that begins with reaginic antibodies, mainly IgE and some IgG subclasses. These reaginic antibodies bind with high affinity, via the Fc portion, to FcepsilonRI receptors on the membrane of mast cells and basophils. Once bound, environmental allergens cross-link the antibodies, which results in mast cell degranulation leading to the production of histamine and other chemical mediators that act toget...
Penell JC, Bonnett BN, Pringle J, Egenvall A.Computerized diagnostic information offers potential for epidemiological research; however data accuracy must be addressed. The principal aim of this study was to evaluate the completeness and correctness of diagnostic information in a computerized equine clinical database compared to corresponding hand written veterinary clinical records, used as gold standard, and to assess factors related to correctness. Further, the aim was to investigate completeness (epidemiologic sensitivity), correctness (positive predictive value), specificity and prevalence for diagnoses for four body systems and cor...
Hirota J, Nishi H, Matsuda H, Tsunemitsu H, Shimiz S.Flavivirus-infected sera are known to show cross-reactions in serodiagnoses of heterologous flavivirus infections. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is endemic in Asia and, in Japan, many horses are vaccinated against JEV. However, the cross-reactivity level of JEV-vaccinated horse sera in the serodiagnosis of West Nile virus (WNV) has not been clarified. The antibody cross-reactivity of JEV-vaccinated horse sera in WNV serological tests, such as the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), IgG indirect ELISA (IgG-ELISA) and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test, was examined. All JEV-vacc...
Zhu ZY, Lin YZ, Wang YH, Zhao LP, Zhu YM, Zhou JH.To disclose the potential roles of humoral immune response in the EIAV vaccine-induced protective immunity. In this study, major parameters of humoral immunity be compared between horses inoculated with the EIAV vaccine strain and the pathogenic virulent strain. Methods: Experimental horses were randomly assigned into the group inoculated with the vaccine strain EIAV(DLV); (the vaccinated group) and the group inoculated with sub-morbigenous dose of virulent strain EIAV(Liao); (the inapparent infection group). Humoral immunity parameters, including binding endpoint titer and avidity index of an...
Hornstra H, Pearson T, Georgia S, Liguori A, Dale J, Price E, O'Neill M, Deshazer D, Muhammad G, Saqib M, Naureen A, Keim P.We collected epidemiologic and molecular data from Burkholderia mallei isolates from equines in Punjab, Pakistan from 1999 through 2007. We show that recent outbreaks are genetically distinct from available whole genome sequences and that these genotypes are persistent and ubiquitous in Punjab, probably due to human-mediated movement of equines.
Watts EJ, Rose MT.Horses are more prone to complications in the wound healing process than other species, and problems such as chronic inflammation, delayed epithelialization, poor wound contraction, and exuberant granulation tissue are commonly seen, particularly in wounds on the distal limbs. In comparison, wounds of the oral mucosa heal rapidly in a scarless fashion with a high degree of wound contraction. The effect of platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) on the contraction of a fibroblast-populated collagen matrix (FPC...
TSUJIMURA K, SHIOSE T, YAMANAKA T, NEMOTO M, KONDO T, MATSUMURA T.An equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) mutant, DeltagE, defective in glycoprotein E (gE) was evaluated as a modified live virus (MLV) vaccine. Colostrum-deprived Thoroughbred foals inoculated intranasally (i.n.) or intramuscularly (i.m.) with DeltagE did not exhibit any clinical signs of respiratory disease except for a mild nasal discharge in 1 i.n. inoculated foal on Days 1 and 3 post-infection. In contrast, the intranasal inoculation of foals with the revertant of DeltagE resulted in biphasic pyrexia, mucopurulent nasal discharge and swelling of submandibular lymph nodes. These results indica...
YAMASHITA K, AKASHI N, KATAYAMA Y, UCHIDA Y, UMAR MA, ITAMI T, INOUE H, SAMS RA, MUIR WW.The bispectral index (BIS) was evaluated as an indicator of central nervous system (CNS) depression in horses anesthetized with propofol. Five non-premedicated horses were anesthetized with 7 mg/kg, IV propofol and the minimum infusion rate (MIR) of propofol required to maintain anesthesia was determined during intermittent positive pressure ventilation in each horse. The BIS was determined 20 min later and after stabilization at 2.0 MIR, 1.5 MIR, and 1.0 MIR. The BIS was also recorded after the cessation of propofol infusion when the horses regained spontaneous breathing and swallowing reflex...
Giles C, Cavanagh HM, Noble G, Vanniasinkam T.There are currently two known serotypes of equine adenovirus (EAdV), equine adenovirus type 1 (EAdV1) and equine adenovirus type 2 (EAdV2); EAdV1 is predominantly associated with upper respiratory tract infections while EAdV2 appears to have a higher association with gastrointestinal infection, however, very little is known about the prevalence of these viruses in horse populations in Australia. In this study we tested 122 serum samples obtained from horses in New South Wales, Australia, using a standard serum neutralization (SN) assay and ELISA. Ninety-seven of the 122 sera displayed had mode...
Huff NK, Thompson DL, Mitcham PB, Storer WA.Mares and geldings in good body condition selected for hyperleptinemia vs. normal leptin concentrations were studied to determine whether the hyperleptinemic condition affected various characteristics of the hematologic and hormonal systems after a challenge with lipopolysaccharide endotoxin. Four mares and 4 geldings that were determined to be hyperleptinemic (mean plasma leptin concentrations of 10.0 to 15.5 ng/mL) and 4 mares and 4 geldings with mean plasma leptin concentrations between 2.4 and 5.5 ng/mL were administered Escherichia coli O55:B5 endotoxin (35 ng/kg of BW in 500 mL of saline...
Tsujimura K, Yamada M, Nagata S, Yamanaka T, Nemoto M, Kondo T, Kurosawa M, Matsumura T.We investigated the pharmacokinetics of penciclovir after oral administration of its prodrug famciclovir to horses. Following an oral dose of famciclovir at 20 mg/kg, maximum plasma concentrations of penciclovir occurred between 0.75 and 1.5 hr (mean 0.94 + or - 0.38 hr) after dosing and were in the range 2.22 to 3.56 microg/ml (mean 2.87 + or - 0.61 microg/ml). The concentrations of penciclovir declined in a biphasic manner after the peak concentration was attained. The mean half-life of the rapid elimination phase was 1.73 + or - 0.34 hr whereas that of the slow elimination phase was 34.34 +...
Morton AJ, Grosche A, Rötting AK, Matyjaszek SA, Blikslager AT, Freeman DE.OBJECTIVE-To identify expression and localization of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 in healthy and ischemic-injured left dorsal colon of horses. SAMPLE POPULATION-Left dorsal colon tissue samples from 40 horses. PROCEDURES-Tissue samples that were used in several related studies on ischemia and reperfusion were evaluated. Samples were collected during anesthesia, before induction of ischemia, and following 1 hour of ischemia, 1 hour of ischemia and 30 minutes of reperfusion, 2 hours of ischemia, 2 hours of ischemia and 30 minutes of reperfusion, and 2 hours of ischemia and 18 hours of reperf...
Schuh EM, Friedman MS, Carrade DD, Li J, Heeke D, Oyserman SM, Galuppo LD, Lara DJ, Walker NJ, Ferraro GL, Owens SD, Borjesson DL.OBJECTIVE-To optimize the isolation and culture of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from umbilical-cord blood (UCB), identify variables that predicted successful MSC isolation, and determine whether shipping, processing, and cryopreservation altered MSC viability, recovery rates, and expansion kinetics. SAMPLE POPULATION-UCB samples from 79 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse mares. PROCEDURES-UCB samples were processed to reduce volume and remove RBCs. Nucleated cells (NCs) were cryopreserved or grown in various culture conditions to optimize MSC monolayer expansion and proliferation. Donor and UCB-s...
Schaefer EC, Stewart AA, Durgam SS, Byron CR, Stewart MC.OBJECTIVE-To determine whether the effects of a high-molecular-weight sodium hyaluronate alone or in combination with triamcinolone acetonide can mitigate chondrocyte glyocosaminoglycan (GAG) catabolism caused by interleukin (IL)-1 administration. SAMPLE POPULATION-Chondrocytes collected from metacarpophalangeal joints of 10 horses euthanized for reasons unrelated to joint disease. PROCEDURES-Chondrocyte pellets were treated with medium (negative control), medium containing IL-1 only (positive control), or medium containing IL-1 with hyaluronic acid only (0.5 or 2.0 mg/mL), triamcinolone aceto...
Tabar-Rodriguez JJ, Cruz AM, Monteith G, Gordon K, Hurtig MB.OBJECTIVE-To use quantitative ultrasonography to evaluate the association between the speed of sound (SOS) at 9 sites in the third metacarpal bone (MCIII) of racing Thoroughbreds with workload accumulation and the effect that MCIII failure has on this association. ANIMALS-Sixty-two 2- and 3-year-old Thoroughbreds in racing condition. PROCEDURES-Cumulative work index (CWI) was used to calculate total workload (CWI(total)) and also 3 independent CWIs for the various gaits (ie, trot [CWI(trot)], gallop [CWI(gallop)], and race [CWI(race)]) used during training and racing. Speed of sound was monito...
Nash DM, Sheldon IM, Herath S, Lane EA.Reproductive efficiency in mares is low and persistent mating-induced endometritis (PMIE) is an important cause of subfertility. Mating-induced endometritis (MIE) an obligate precursor to PMIE, is a ubiquitous, transient inflammatory response to the presence of sperm, seminal components and pathogens. However, the specific inflammatory pathways that derive from MIE and that may also be precursors to PMIE are not clear. The ability to identify and measure robust, repeatable markers of inflammation integral to MIE may be key to understanding the progression to PMIE. The aim of the study was to (...
Horin P, Sabakova K, Futas J, Vychodilova L, Necesankova M.In previous work, we found significant associations of horse polymorphic microsatellite and immunity-related (IR) gene markers with Rhodococcus equi infection of foals. Here, a statistically significant association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within the interleukin 7 receptor-encoding gene (IL7R) with high R. equi burden in transtracheal aspirates was found (Fisher's F = 0.043, odds ratio: 8.00, 95% confidence interval: 1.127-56.795). Further positional and/or functional candidate genes investigated TLR2, IL13, IL17A, IL28R, TACE/ADAM 17 and GBP1, were not associated with in...
Milillo P, Traversa D, Elia G, Otranto D.Larvae of Rhinoestrus spp. (Diptera, Oestridae) infect nasal and sinus cavities of horses, causing a nasal myiasis characterized by severe respiratory distress. Presently, the diagnosis of horse nasal botfly relies on the observation of clinical signs, on the post mortem retrieval of larvae or on molecular assays performed using pharyngeal swabs. The present study was carried out to characterize larval somatic proteins and salivary glands of Rhinoestrus spp. in a preliminary assessment towards the immunodiagnosis of equine rhinoestrosis. Out of the 212 necropsied horses 13 were positive for th...
Wilson KE, Wilcke JR, Crisman MV, Ward DL, McKenzie HC, Scarratt WK.Objective-To determine whether a limited sampling time method based on serum iohexol clearance (Cl(iohexol)) would yield estimates of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in clinically normal horses similar to those for plasma creatinine clearance (Cl(creatinine)). Animals-10 clinically normal adult horses. Procedures-A bolus of iohexol (150 mg/kg) was administered IV, and serum samples were obtained 5, 20, 40, 60, 120, 240, and 360 minutes after injection. Urinary clearance of exogenous creatinine was measured during three 20-minute periods. The GFR determined by use of serum Cl(iohexol) and plas...
Castagnetti C, Pirrone A, Mariella J, Mari G.The use of blood lactate concentration as an indicator of prognosis and disease severity has become a common practice in equine medicine, especially with the validation of handheld analyzers. However, few authors described lactate concentration in critically ill foals, and there are no published studies about the use of handheld analyzers in neonatal foals. In this study, for the first time in the equine neonate, we validated the Lactate Scout analyzer, both in healthy and in critically ill foals. The study also describes the normal range for blood lactate in 26 healthy neonatal foals during t...
Colahan PT, Jackson CA, Rice B, Szabo N, Jones JH.Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor vasodilator, increases cGMP concentrations by inhibiting enzymatic degradation. Marketed to treat erectile dysfunction in men, it also reduces pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP). Because it reduces PAP, sildenafil may enhance performance and/or prevent exercise induced-pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). Objective: To determine if sildenafil citrate administration altered commonly measured indices of performance or reduced EIPH in exercised horses. Methods: Thirteen athletically conditioned Thoroughbred horses (2 mares and 11 geldings, age 3-12 years) were ...
Gardner RB, Nydam DV, Luna JA, Bicalho ML, Matychak MB, Flaminio MJ.Phagocytic activity of neonatal foals has been reported to be similar to that of adult horses, but serum opsonization capacity develops with age and may be further altered when opsonins are consumed during infection. Objective: Phagocytosis, oxidative burst activity, and serum opsonization capacity in neonatal foals admitted to an intensive care unit are reduced in comparison with control foals. Methods: Blood samples were collected from hospitalized neonatal foals and from control foals. Hospitalized foals were characterized as sick or septic on the basis of a sepsis score and received intrav...
Di Francesco A, Donati M, Mattioli L, Naldi M, Salvatore D, Poglayen G, Cevenini R, Baldelli R.We tested 731 sera from apparently healthy light horses against Chlamydophila pneumoniae, by a microimmuno-fluorescence (MIF) test. To verify cross-reactions with other species of chlamvdiae, all sera with an antibody titre > or = 32 to C. pneumoniae were tested against both C. psittaci and C. abortus. Antibodies to C. pneumoniae were detected in 194 out of 731 (26.5%) samples tested, with antibody titres ranging from 32 to 1024. No antibody titre > or = 32 was detected in sera to C. abortus. Only few sera with a high antibody titre to C. pneumoniae reacted weakly with C. psittaci at the dilut...
García-López JM.Angular limb deformities are seen in young foals and are defined as lateral or medial deviations of the limb in the frontal plane distal to a particular joint. Several factors can contribute to the development of an angular limb deformity. Early assessment of the level of ossification of the cuboidal bones is critical to avoid complications long term. Although most deviations self-correct with minimal intervention other than modifications in exercise and hoof trimming, some require surgical intervention in the form of growth acceleration or retardation. This article focuses on growth augmentat...
Mayhew IG, Washbourne JR.The Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential (BAEP) is a recording of the electrical activity of the brainstem following an acoustic stimulation. Up to seven peaks may be identified within 10 ms, and are labelled I to VII. The first five of these peaks are of most clinical importance, and in normal horses, peaks I, III and V are always present at stimulus intensities of 70-100 dB. Repeated sampling of clinically normal subjects at different stimulus intensities has enabled mean latency values to be determined for the ipsilateral and contralateral peaks I, III and V, and also for the interpeak laten...
Greiner EC, Mays MB, Smart GC, Weisbrode SE.Verminous mastitis was the reason for euthanasia of a 22-yr-old Paso Fino mare from Miami, Florida. The etiologic agent was a species of Cephalobus (Rhabditida: Cephalobidae), a genus of soil-inhabiting nematodes that were obviously multiplying in the mammary gland. Only females and larvae were detected in the tissues by histologic section or by teasing the tissue to liberate the worms. At least 12,900 individuals were present per gram of tissue. This is the first case of Cephalobus infecting horses and it indicates that not all histiotropic infections of horses by rhabditoid nematodes are by ...
Hagler WM, Behlow RF.An outbreak of salivary syndrome in horses in North Carolina was investigated. Rhizoctonia leguminicola was the predominant fungus isolated from toxic red clover hay. The fungus was less prevalent in the hay after 10 months of storage, and the hay had also decreased in biological activity after 10 months. Toxic hay caused extreme salivation, piloerection, respiratory distress, and increased frequency of defecation when fed to guinea pigs, and purified extracts of toxic hay and pure slaframine elicited these same responses when injected intraperitoneally into guinea pigs. The freshly acquired h...
Pascoe RR.The effect on the fertility of mares during two outbreaks of equine coital exanthema have been described. Conception was not prevented, nor was pregnancy terminated in mares showing active lesions of coital exanthema. Normal pregnancy rates occurred in mares served during active infection of the stallions. Origin of the disease was not determined.
Mendonça MFF, Pimentel LA, Leal PV, Oliveira Filho JC, Caymmi LG, Silva AWO, Jesus RS, Peixoto TC.This study aimed to describe the first reports of outbreaks of hepatogenous photosensitization in cattle, sheep, and horses caused by spontaneous ingestion of Chamaecrista serpens, as well as to reproduce poisoning in sheep experimentally. Eleven photodermatitis outbreaks of unknown cause occurred in cattle, sheep and horses on nine farms in the semiarid region of Bahia, northeastern Brazil, between July 2017 and July 2020. Cutaneous lesions of photosensitization initiated until one week after the animals were introduced in paddocks invaded by the plant at the beginning of the rainy season. Th...
Yu M, Wang Z, Robinson NE.To determine the presence and function of alpha 2-adrenoceptors on cholinergic nerves innervating horse airway smooth muscle, the effects of some alpha 2-adrenoceptor agents on contractions of and acetylcholine (ACh) release from equine airway smooth muscle preparations were studied. Muscle contractions were elicited by either electrical field stimulation (EFS) or exogenous ACh. ACh release was induced by EFS and measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists clonidine (10(-7) to 10(-5) M) and UK-14,304 (10(-8) to 10(-6) M) conc...
Yazici Z, Albayrak H, Ozan E, Gumusova S.West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne disease that can cause fatal infection in mammals including humans, dogs, horses, birds and reptiles. Although West Nile Virus is an asymptomatic infection, especially it can cause neurologic disorders in humans and horses. The aim of this study was to the investigate virological presence of WNV in horses in the Black Sea Region of Turkey using real time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR). Methods: Totally, 120 horse sera were collected equally from 4 provinces in Middle Black Sea Region of Turkey and investigated for WNV presence by Taqman based rRT-PCR. Results: WNV n...
Langlois B, Blouin C, Chaffaux S.The files for ultrasound diagnosis of gestating mares belonging to the French equine herd recorded for 3 consecutive years were joined with the files for foal birth of these same mares, allowing the statistical analysis of factors of pregnancy loss. For 28 872 positive diagnoses of gestation, 2898 losses were recorded, that is, a global rate of gestation interruption of 9.12%. The etiology of these interruptions is mainly extrinsic: the year and month of insemination, as well as region for climatic reasons. The intrinsic causes that are implicated are breed of the father (heavy breeds except t...
Sipma KD, Cornillie P, Saulez MN, Stout TA, Voorhout G, Back W.Hydrocephalus is uncommon in horses. However, in recent years, it has become clear that the prevalence of hydrocephalus is greater in Friesian horses than in other breeds probably due to their limited gene pool. Before identification of candidate genes that predispose to the development of hydrocephalus in Friesian horses can be pursued, an in-depth, phenotypic, pathological description of the condition in Friesians would be of great benefit. Our study aimed to characterize the morphology of hydrocephalus in Friesian horses, to support further investigation of the genetic background of this co...
Morris CF, Robertson JL, Mann PC, Clark S, Divers TJ.A syndrome characterized clinically by oliguria, progressive severe azotemia, and edema of the abdomen and groin was seen in 2 horses. Treatment with fluids, diuretics, and corticosteroids administered intravenously was ineffective, and the horses were euthanatized. Microscopically, there was severe necrotizing angiopathy with profuse fibrin deposition in renal glomeruli and sinusoids of peripheral lymph nodes. The signs observed in the horses resembled hemolytic-uremic syndrome in human beings.
Gleed FD, Ducharme NG, Hackett RP, Hakim TS, Erb HN, Mitchell LM, Soderholm LV.We hypothesised that frusemide would decrease pulmonary capillary pressure in horses during strenuous exercise. Seven horses were tested after receiving saline or frusemide (2 mg/kg bwt) in random order with an interval of at least one week. Measurements were made with the horses standing, exercising at 75, 90 and 100% HRmax (maximal heart rate), and then walking 2 min after cessation of 100% HRmax. The exercise tests lasted for approximately 3 min with an interval of walking between them. Pulmonary artery and oesophageal pressures were recorded continuously and subsequent analysis of the pulm...
Rossetti RB, Gaido Cortopassi SR, Intelizano T, de Lima Machado TS, Ferreira da Cruz RS.To compare the quality of induction and recovery, degree of muscle relaxation, clinically apparent potency and cardiopulmonary effects of racemic ketamine or S(+)-ketamine when used for total intravenous anesthesia in horses. Methods: Prospective randomized clinical trial Methods: Sixteen healthy stallions (323 +/- 99 kg), with a mean age of 6.2 years, undergoing castration. Methods: Horses were pre-medicated with romifidine IV, 15 minutes before induction of anesthesia. Each animal was then randomly allocated to receive either diazepam and ketamine (DK) or diazepam and S(+)-ketamine (DKS) at ...
Barton MH, Morris DD, Crowe N, Collatos C, Prasse KW.Hemostatic indices were determined in 45 healthy light breed foals, from birth to 1 month of age, and in 20 healthy adult (> 2 years of age) light breed horses. Blood samples were obtained from each foal at 4 ages: 1) < 24 hours, 2) 4-7 days, 3) 10-14 days, and 4) 25-30 days. The following hemostatic indices were determined: platelet count; prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times; activity concentrations of protein C, antithrombin III, plasminogen, alpha-2 antiplasmin, tissue plasminogen activator, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; plasma protein C antigen and fibrino...
Manneveau G, Lecallard J, Thorin C, Pamela H, Tessier C.To compare the topographic modifications and tactile sensitivity of the pharynx and larynx after administration of four sedative and analgesic protocols in standing horses. Methods: Experimental, observer-blinded, crossover study. Methods: Eight healthy mares. Methods: Five protocols were evaluated: 1) xylazine and butorphanol administered intravenously (IV); 2) detomidine and butorphanol administered IV; 3) xylazine administered IV and lidocaine topically; 4) detomidine administered IV and lidocaine topically and 5) no analgesia or sedation (control). Quality of sedation, head height and sudd...
Haussler KK, Behre TH, Hill AE.'Soring' is the term used to describe the application of an irritant to the distal forelimbs of gaited horses with the sole intent of inflicting pain and inducing altered gait, illegally practiced in Tennessee Walking Horses. Objective methods for the detection of limb pain due to this practice are, however, lacking. Objective: To assess whether Tennessee Walking Horses respond to manual pressures<or=10 kg/cm2 and to establish reference mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) within the pastern region. Methods: In 25 mature Tennessee Walking Horses in which no irritant had been applied, MN...
Sykes BW, Underwood C, Greer R, McGowan CM, Mills PC.Omeprazole is widely used in the treatment of equine gastric ulcer syndrome. To date, little is known about the relative pharmacokinetics of the different formulations making comparisons between products difficult. The objectives of the study were to investigate the relative pharmacokinetics of five commercially available formulations of omeprazole in the horse and to test for bioequivalence of four of the formulations using one of the formulations as a reference standard. Twelve mature Thoroughbred horses were fasted for 16 h then administered 2 g of each formulation in a cross-over design. S...
Hobo S, Niwa H, Oku K.Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) constitutes a potentially valuable diagnostic tool for rapid diagnosis of contagious diseases. In this study, we developed a novel LAMP method (seM-LAMP) to detect the seM gene of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi), the causative agent of strangles in equids. The seM-LAMP successfully amplified the target sequence of the seM gene at 63°C within 60 min. The sensitivity of the seM-LAMP was slightly lower than the 2nd reaction of the seM semi-nested PCR. To evaluate the species specificity of the seM-LAMP, we tested 100 S. equi and 189 non-S. e...
Gacem S, Bompart D, Valverde A, Catalán J, Miró J, Soler C.This study was conducted to determine optimum image capture frame rates (FRO) when there was evaluation of different types of counting chambers used for CASA-Mot determinations of stallion sperm motility. Sperm VCL was determined at frame rates of 25-250 f/s in: 1) Spermtrack® (Spk) 10 and 20 chambers (drop displacement-type chambers 10 and 20 μm-deep respectively; and 2) ISAS®D4C10, ISAS®D4C20 (10 and 20 μm-deep respectively) and ISAS®D4C20 L (20 μm-deep) capillary loaded chambers. Values for different sperm kinematic variables were determined using each chamber at 250 f/s, whi...
Wong DM, Ruby RE, Eatroff A, Yaeger MJ.A newborn foal was presented because it was unresponsive and in cardiopulmonary arrest. Aggressive cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation was administered to the foal, which revived the foal; however, acute renal failure developed. Fluid retention and azotemia occurred although the foal was alert and able to suckle. A 6-hour renal replacement therapy session using hemodiafiltration and a continuous renal replacement therapy machine was administered to the foal at 3 days of age which lowered the foal's azotemia and facilitated removal of some of the excess body fluid. Despite therapy, the foal ...
George LW, Divers TJ, Mahaffey EA, Suarez MJ.Ponies given dried red maple (Acer rubrum L.) leaves at a dose of 3.0 gm/kg body weight became ill and died one to five days after administration of the leaves. Two clinical patterns of disease were seen. Ponies given dried leaves collected after September 15 died by 18 hours, while ponies given dried leaves collected before September 15 became ill with a hemolytic syndrome and died by three to five days. Freshly harvested leaves administered immediately after collection did not produce disease in ponies, but when dried, they became toxic and remained so for at least 30 days. Overnight freezin...
Dabareiner RM, Watkins JP, Carter GK, Honnas CM, Eastman T.To determine clinical, radiographic, and scintigraphic abnormalities in and outcome of horses with septic or nonseptic osteitis of the axial border of the proximal sesamoid bones. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 8 horses. Methods: Data collected from medical records included signalment; history; horse use; severity and duration of lameness; results of perineural anesthesia, radiography, ultrasonography, and scintigraphy; and outcome following surgery. Results: Five horses did not have any evidence of sepsis; the other 3 had sepsis of the metacarpophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal joint ...
Rodgerson DH, Spirito MA, Thorpe PE, Hanson RR.Two surgical techniques were used to evert the bladder into the vagina for observation and repair of bladder tears that were associated with parturition. One technique involved an incision through the vaginal floor into the peritoneal cavity just caudal to the cervix, and prolapse of the bladder into the vagina. The second technique involved a 3-cm incision through the urethra, 5 cm cranial to the urethral orifice, and digital exploration of the tear and finger traction to evert the bladder through the urethral incision. In both mares, the bladder defects were repaired in two layers, with use ...