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.
Frost AB, Larsen F, Larsen SW, Østergaard J, Thomsen MH, Stürup S, Andersen PH, Larsen C.To establish a pharmacokinetic model for the model drug, sodium diatrizoate (DTZ), allowing joint disappearance kinetics to be estimated from serum appearance kinetics following intra-articular administration, and to calculate the relative joint exposure after intravenous and intra-articular DTZ administration (F(iv/IA)). Methods: Each of five horses received an aqueous solution of 3.9 mg/kg sodium diatrizoate both intravenously and intra-articularly separated by a one-week wash out period. Serum and synovial samples were collected over 7 h and analyzed for content of model compound using indu...
Wennerstrand J, Gómez Alvarez CB, Meulenbelt R, Johnston C, van Weeren PR, Roethlisberger-Holm K, Drevemo S.Back problems are important contributors to poor performance in sport horses. It has been shown that kinematic analysis can differentiate horses with back problems from asymptomatic horses. The underlying mechanism can, however, only be identified in a uniform, experimental setting. Our aim was to determine if induction of back pain in a well-defined site would result in a consistent change in back movement. Back kinematics were recorded at a walk and trot on a treadmill. Unilateral back pain was then induced by injecting lactic acid into the left longissimus dorsi muscle. Additional measureme...
Bryant NA, Paillot R, Rash AS, Medcalf E, Montesso F, Ross J, Watson J, Jeggo M, Lewis NS, Newton JR, Elton DM.During 2007, large outbreaks of equine influenza (EI) caused by Florida sublineage Clade 1 viruses affected horse populations in Japan and Australia. The likely protection that would be provided by two modern vaccines commercially available in the European Union (an ISCOM-based and a canarypox-based vaccine) at the time of the outbreaks was determined. Vaccinated ponies were challenged with a representative outbreak isolate (A/eq/Sydney/2888-8/07) and levels of protection were compared.A group of ponies infected 18 months previously with a phylogenetically-related isolate from 2003 (A/eq/South...
Ramery E, Fievez L, Fraipont A, Bureau F, Lekeux P.The long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) plays an important role in host defence and its over-expression may contribute to airway injury. The aim of the present study was therefore to characterize in more detail PTX3 and its expression in the horses' airway. Six healthy horses and six horses affected by recurrent airway obstruction (R.A.O.) were submitted to a dusty environment challenge. PTX3 DNA and cDNA were cloned and sequenced. PTX3 expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells, BALF supernatant and bronchial epithelial cell...
Bubeck KA, García-López J, Maranda LS.To compare heat generation and time to finish between a new step drill and sequential drilling in order to create a 6.2 mm pilot hole for insertion of a positive profile transfixation pin into the equine third metacarpal bone. Methods: Nine pairs of equine third metacarpal bones from cadavers of adult horses were used. Maximum temperature rise of the bone was measured continuously at the cis- and trans-cortices 1, 2 and 3 mm from the final pilot hole during creation of a 6.2 mm hole using a step drill and sequential drilling with 4.5, 5.5 and 6.2 mm drill bits. Five holes were drilled into the...
Carmona JU, Argüelles D, Deulofeu R, Martínez-Puig D, Prades M.The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and biochemical effects of the administration of oral hyaluronan (Hyal-Joint [HJ]) on young horses with osteochondrosis (OC). Our hypotheses were that HJ administration is safe, would decrease the degree of synovial effusion and the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in synovial fluid, and would increase the concentration of hyaluronic acid (HA) in plasma and synovial fluid. Eleven young horses with tarsocrural OC were included in a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial. Six horses rece...
de la Rebière de Pouyade G, Riggs LM, Moore JN, Franck T, Deby-Dupont G, Hurley DJ, Serteyn D.Laminitis is a local manifestation of a systemic inflammatory response that is characterized by neutrophil activation and movement of neutrophils into the laminar tissues. Given the evidence for the involvement of neutrophils in the development of laminitis, we measured concentrations of neutrophil elastase, a serine protease released from the azurophilic granules of neutrophils, in plasma, skin and laminar tissues obtained from control horses and horses given black walnut heartwood extract (BWHE) to induce laminitis. Healthy horses (5-15 years old) were randomly assigned to 4 groups: 3 experi...
Brown P.Synthetic mesh products have been used to repair abdominal wall defects (eg, hernias) for many years. Biological mesh products are now available as an option when synthetic mesh products are not appropriate. To correctly prepare biological tissue grafts for use in the OR, perioperative nurses must understand the types of grafts available. Biological tissue grafts may be harvested from human, porcine, bovine, or equine hosts and from skin, pericardium, or small intestine submucosa.
Zerpa H, Berhane Y, Elliott J, Bailey SR.Cooling-enhanced contractile responses in cutaneous arteries have been reported to involve the activation of alpha(2C)-adrenoceptors, but their role in cutaneous veins is not clearly understood. The aim was to pharmacologically characterize the subtype of postsynaptic alpha(2)-adrenoceptors in the equine digital vein mediating contraction at two temperatures. The increase in isometric tension of endothelium-denuded equine digital vein in response to UK-14304 was studied in the absence and presence of relatively selective alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonists at temperatures of either 30 degrees C ...
Gryspeerdt AC, Vandekerckhove AP, Garré B, Barbé F, Van de Walle GR, Nauwynck HJ.Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV1) replicates in the respiratory tract of horses, after which infected leukocytes transport virus throughout the body, resulting in abortion or nervous system disorders. Two EHV1 strains circulate in the field: neurovirulent and non-neurovirulent. To investigate differences in replication in the upper respiratory tract (URT), an experimental inoculation study in ponies was performed with both strains. Two groups of six ponies, were inoculated intranasally with 10(6.5) TCID(50) of either strain. Clinical signs, nasal shedding and viremia were evaluated. At early time po...
Jalim SL, McKinnon AO, Russell TM.A Monteggia fracture is a humero-radial luxation combined with a fracture of the ulna. It is a rare injury, infrequently reported in the horse. This case report describes the surgical repair of such a fracture in a 4-month-old filly.
Micera E, Albrizio M, Surdo NC, Moramarco AM, Zarrilli A.In this work the slaughter-linked plasma modifications of some stress-related hormones in horses subject to standardized butchering procedures were investigated in order to highlight the compromised animal welfare during pre-slaughter handling. During pre-slaughter, animals show strong hardship behavioural patterns, probably due to being under life-threatening conditions. Blood samples from 12 male horses, ageing from 3 to 5 years, were collected before slaughtering in lairage, and during exsanguination after stunning. Catecholamines, cortisol and beta-endorphin concentrations were assessed in...
Hausberger M, Gautier E, Biquand V, Lunel C, Jégo P.Stress at work, as shown by a number of human studies, may lead to a variety of negative and durable effects, such as impaired psychological functioning (anxiety, depression...). Horses share with humans this characteristic of working on a daily basis and are submitted then to work stressors related to physical constraints and/or more "psychological" conflicts, such as potential controversial orders from the riders or the requirement to suppress emotions. On another hand, horses may perform abnormal repetitive behaviour ("stereotypies") in response to adverse life conditions. In the present st...
Kelmer G, Catasus CT, Saxton AM, Elliot SB.The feasibility of maintaining indwelling intravenous catheters in the saphenous, cephalic or palmar digital vein of horses for seven days to infuse antimicrobial drugs was investigated in 18 horses. The horses were randomly assigned to six groups according to the vein catheterised and whether they received amikacin or erythromycin. None of the catheters was replaced more than once, and 11 of the 18 catheters remained patent for all seven days. Neither the drug administered nor the vein catheterised significantly affected the survival of the catheter. In all but three cases, complications, inc...
Gaede W, Reckling KF, Schliephake A, Missal D, Hotzel H, Sachse K.At a stud farm of Trakehner horses, all 33 foals of a birth cohort developed conjunctivitis and serous to muco-purulent rhinitis, and 7 older horses showed recurrent signs of conjunctivitis. Examination of nasal and conjunctival swabs by bacterial and cell culture, as well as real-time PCR, ArrayTube microarray analysis and DNA sequencing led to the identification of Chlamydophila (C.) caviae (first description in horses) and Streptococcus (S.) equi subsp. zooepidemicus. We presume a synergistic effect associated with these two agents by hypothesising that primary lesions were set by C. caviae...
Scarth JP, Spencer HA, Hudson SC, Teale P, Gray BP, Hillyer LL.In this study, the use of equine liver/lung microsomes and S9 tissue fractions were used to study the metabolism of the androgenic/anabolic steroid stanozolol as an example of the potential of in vitro technologies in sports drug surveillance. In vitro incubates were analysed qualitatively alongside urine samples originating from in vivo stanozolol administrations using LC-MS on a high-resolution accurate mass Thermo Orbitrap Discovery instrument, by LC-MS/MS on an Applied Biosystems Sciex 5500 Q Trap and by GC-MS/MS on an Agilent 7000A. Using high-resolution accurate mass full scan analysis o...
Oikawa MA, Nambo Y, Miyamoto M, Miura H, Kikuchi M, Ohnami Y.A broodmare showed mild signs of abdominal discomfort and anemia after normal delivery. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a massive hematoma within the broad ligament adjacent to the uterine horn. Internal bleeding into the peritoneal cavity (hemoabdomen) was not seen. Following treatment, the clinical signs improved. Hemorrhage caused by rupture of the arteries within the broad ligament of the uterus may be a cause of hematoma. Prepartum and postpartum rupture of the arteries supplying the reproductive organs in the mare, which is not uncommon, can be fatal if severe hemoabdomen occurs. I...
Giesecke K, Hamann H, Sieme H, Distl O.Stallion fertility has increasing importance as the artificial insemination is employed in horses more intensely. Molecular genetic markers may be useful tools to evaluate the stallion fertility before breeding. The prolactin receptor gene (PRLR) was chosen as a candidate for stallion fertility because of its influence on testicular and accessory sex gland function. Screening the equine PRLR gene for polymorphisms in Hanoverian stallions revealed two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Association and haplotype analyses were performed in 162 Hanoverian warmblood stallions for these intrage...
Corrente M, D'Abramo M, Latronico F, Greco MF, Bellacicco AL, Greco G, Martella V, Buonavoglia D.A methicillin-resistant (MR) Staphylococcus epidermidis strain was isolated from a saddle horse affected by osteolysis. MR coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS) were isolated from 11 of 14 (78.8%) horses housed in the same riding club. By typing of the SCCmec region, almost the strains displayed a non typeable (NT) pattern and possessed the ccr type 2. Altogether, the high prevalence of MRCNS and the detection of NT SCCmec types support the hypothesis that horses may represent a reservoir of MRCNS for humans and that equine MRCNS may act as potential source of resistance genes for other sta...
Minami Y, Yamano S, Kawai M, Hiraga A, Miyata H.To find a new parameter indicating muscle fitness in Thoroughbred horses, we examined time-dependent recovery of glycogen content and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+)-ATPase activity of skeletal muscle after intensive treadmill running. Two repeated 50-sec running sessions (13 m/sec) were performed on a flat treadmill (approximately 90%VO2max). Muscle samples of the middle gluteal muscle were taken before exercise (pre) and 1 min, 20 min, 60 min, and 24 hr after exercise. Muscle fiber type composition was determined in the pre muscle samples by immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal an...
Dhanjal JK, Wilson DV, Robinson E, Tobin TT, Dirikolu L, Dirokulu L.To determine the optimal dose, serum concentrations and analgesic effects of intravenous (IV) tramadol in the horse. Two-phase blinded, randomized, prospective crossover trial. Seven horses (median age 22.5 years and mean weight 565 kg). Horses were treated every 20 minutes with incremental doses of tramadol HCl (0.1-1.6 mg kg(-1)) or with saline. Heart rate, respiratory rate, step frequency, head height, and sweating, trembling, borborygmus and head nodding scores were recorded before and up to 6 hours after treatment. In a second study, hoof withdrawal and skin twitch reflex latencies (HWRL ...
Allen WR, Wilsher S.Constant, self induced mobility throughout the uterine lumen between days 6 and 17 after ovulation, complete envelopment by a self-secreted glycoprotein capsule between days 7 and 30 and 'injection' of specialised, gonadotrophin-secreting trophoblast cells into the maternal endometrium at days 35-37 are three unusual aspects of equine embryogenesis. The outer trophoblast layer of the allantochorion finally establishes a stable, microvillous contact with the lumenal epithelium of the endometrium around days 40-42 and placentation commences thereafter. The allantochorion elongates steadily until...
Lu Z, Chambers TM, Boliar S, Branscum AJ, Sturgill TL, Timoney PJ, Reedy SE, Tudor LR, Dubovi EJ, Vickers ML, Sells S, Balasuriya UB.The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate new TaqMan real-time reverse transcription-PCR (rRT-PCR) assays by the use of the minor groove binding probe to detect a wide range of equine influenza virus (EIV) strains comprising both subtypes of the virus (H3N8 and H7N7). A total of eight rRT-PCR assays were developed, targeting the nucleoprotein (NP), matrix (M), and hemagglutinin (HA) genes of the two EIV subtypes. None of the eight assays cross-reacted with any of the other known equine respiratory viruses. Three rRT-PCR assays (EqFlu NP, M, and HA3) which can detect strains of th...
Martinello T, Bronzini I, Maccatrozzo L, Iacopetti I, Sampaolesi M, Mascarello F, Patruno M.Mammalian adult stem cells show, in vitro, extensive differentiative ability and may represent a versatile tool for tissue regenerative purposes, even after long-term storage. Multipotent stem cells isolated from horse blood have been shown to possess the capacity to differentiate into diverse mesenchymal lineages although their full characterization is still at an early stage. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of cryopreservation on stemness characteristics of adult equine mesenchymal stem cells isolated from peripheral blood (ePB-MSC). Each sample of ePB-MSC was analyzed immed...
Pagger H, Schmidburg I, Peham C, Licka T.This aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the stiffness of the equine cervical spine depends on the direction of force applied and on spinal position. Muscles and nuchal ligament were removed from the cervical spines of 17 horses that were without a history of cervical or neurological disease. The cervical spines were then flexed/extended dorsoventrally (with the spine straight and with the occiput rotated 30° against T1) and laterolaterally. Mean dorsoventral stiffness was 297 N/m (± 135) in flexion, 1347 N/m (± 2083) in extension, 421 N/m (± 164) in lateral flexion, 279 N/m ...
Craigo JK, Barnes S, Zhang B, Cook SJ, Howe L, Issel CJ, Montelaro RC.Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), a lentivirus that infects horses, has been utilized as an animal model for the study of HIV. Furthermore, the disease associated with the equine lentivirus poses a significant challenge to veterinary medicine around the world. As with all lentiviruses, EIAV has been shown to have a high propensity for genomic sequence and antigenic variation, especially in its envelope (Env) proteins. Recent studies have demonstrated Env variation to be a major determinant of vaccine efficacy, emphasizing the importance of defining natural variation among field isolates o...
The Journal of physiologyJuly 1, 2013
Volume 591, Issue 18 4499-4513 doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.257956
Vengust M, Staempfli H, Viel L, Swenson ER, Heigenhauser G. During intense exercise in horses the transvascular fluid flux in the pulmonary circulation (Jv-a) represents 4% of cardiac output (Q). This fluid flux has been attributed to an increase in pulmonary transmural hydrostatic forces, increases in perfused microvascular surface area, and reversible alterations in capillary permeability under conditions of high flow and pressure. Erythrocyte fluid efflux, however, accounts for a significant fraction of Jv-a. In the lung the Jacobs-Stewart cycle occurs with diffusion of CO2 into alveolar space with possible accompanying chloride (Cl-) and water ...
Dixon RJ, Hartley WJ, Hutchins DR, Lepherd EE, Feilen C, Jones RF, Love DN, Sabine M, Wells AL.An outbreak of perinatal foal mortality associated with a herpesvirus is described. Twenty two foals either were still-born, or died soon after birth, or were weak and soon developed severe respiratory signs, or were normal at birth and developed respiratory symptoms 18 to 24 hours later. Elevated temperatures, heart and respiratory rates were constant features. The animals were severely leucopaenic, and showed an absolute neutropaenia. At autopsy the lungs were enlarged, and showed varying degrees of aeration and moderate to severe oedema and congestion. Histopathology showed an acute focal n...
Shupe JL, Leone NC, Olson AE, Gardner EJ.Investigation of hereditary multiple exostoses in horses under controlled research conditions for 10 years and epidemiologic studies that have spanned up to five generations of human families contain notable similarities. The present study demonstrated that a single dominant autosomal gene is responsible for hereditary multiple exostoses in horses and man. Affected individuals transmit this trait to approximately 50% of their progeny, whereas nonaffected individuals do not transmit the condition to their offspring. The tumors in affected horses are most often present at birth. They tend to be ...
Botha CJ, Lewis A, du Plessis EC, Clift SJ, Williams MC.Twenty-eight horses in southern Mozambique died after exhibiting severe respiratory distress. At necropsy, the overinflated lungs did not collapse, had prominent rib impressions, and were fibrotic and emphysematous. Microscopically, prominent proliferation of nonciliated epithelial (Clara) cells in the terminal bronchioles and pulmonary fibrosis were observed, indicative of chronic pneumotoxicity. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated hyperplasia, desquamation, and apical bulging of Clara cells into the bronchiolar lumen. The outbreak was attributed to ingestion of Crotalaria dura J.M....
Albrecht BA, Daels PF.The onset of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) secretion in pregnant mares is associated with an increase in luteal androgen and oestrogen production. The luteal cell type(s) responsible for the increased production of androgens and oestrogens has not been identified in the equine corpus luteum. In this study, we examined the pattern of expression of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD), cytochrome P450 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (P450(17 alpha)) and cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) by immunohistochemistry in equine luteal tissue collected during dioestrus (days 7-10; ...
Prisk AJ, García-López JM.To determine the long-term return to performance of horses with impinging and/or overriding dorsal spinous processes (ORDSP) treated with interspinous ligament desmotomy (ISLD) and to determine the prognostic value of radiographic and scintigraphic grades. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Seventy-one horses with ORDSP treated with ISLD. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for signalment, physical examination, gait evaluation, and number of interspinous spaces treated. Preoperative radiographic and scintigraphic images were evaluated with grading scales. Follow-up was obtained with a t...
Craig TM, Bowen JM, Ludwig KG.After foaling, 6 mares and their foals were placed on equine parasite-free pastures. Observations of fecal nematode eggs and pasture larvae indicated peak cyathostome egg production occurred in late August and early September, with greatest numbers of larvae on the forage appearing during October. Two foals were necropsied for parasitologic evaluations at approximately 155 days of age. Both had approximately 100,000 adult cyathostomes, mostly Cylicostephanus longibursatus, Cylicocyclus nassatus and Cyathostomum catinatum. However, there were nearly 7 times more cyathostome larvae (189,004) in ...
Vercruysse J, Eysker M, Demeulenaere D, Smets K, Dorny P.A controlled trial was carried out to evaluate the persistence of the effect against small strongyles of a 2 per cent moxidectin gel administered orally to foals at a dose rate of 0.4 mg/kg bodyweight. Five of nine helminth-free foals were treated on day 0, and the remaining four foals were used as controls. On days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 all nine foals were infected experimentally with 200,000 small strongyle larvae. Three treated and two control foals were necropsied on day 42 and the rest on day 43. Fourteen species of small or medium sized small strongyles were found in the control foals, 10 ...
Rainger JE, Hughes KJ, Kessell A, Dart CM.A 3-year-old Thoroughbred colt was presented to the University Veterinary Centre Camden for evaluation of ataxia. The horse was anaesthetised to facilitate cervical radiography and myelographic examination of the spinal cord. Recovery from anaesthesia was uneventful. Five days after general anaesthesia the horse re-presented with pleuropneumonia. It was euthanased 24 hours after presentation on humane grounds. Necropsy revealed severe tracheal erosion over the middle third of the ventral surface of the trachea, pleuropneumonia and narrowing of the cervical cord between C4 and C6. It is postula...
Annandale EJ, Valberg SJ, Essen-Gustavsson B.To determine whether disruption of adenine triphosphate (ATP) regeneration and subsequent adenine nucleotide degradation are potential mechanisms for rhabdomyolysis in horses with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) performing submaximal exercise. Methods: 7 horses with PSSM and 4 control horses. Methods: Horses with PSSM performed 2-minute intervals of a walk and trot exercise on a treadmill until muscle cramping developed. Control horses exercised similarly for 20 minutes. Serum creatine kinase (CK) activity was measured 4 hours after exercise. Citrate synthase (CS), 3-OH-acylCoA dehydrog...
Regenerative medicine applied to skin lesions is a field in constant improvement. The use of biomaterials with integrin agonists could promote cell adhesion increasing tissue repair processes. The aim of this pilot study was to analyze the effect of an α4β1 integrin agonist on cell adhesion of equine adipose tissue (AT) and Wharton's jelly (WJ) derived MSCs and to investigate their adhesion ability to GM18 incorporated poly L-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffolds. Adhesion assays were performed after culturing AT- and WJ-MSCs with GM18 coating or soluble GM18. Cell adhesion on GM18 containing PLLA sc...
Diamond MJ, Young LE, Bartram DH, Gregg AS, Clutton RE, Long KJ, Jones RS.Romifidine, 100 micrograms/kg administered by intravenous injection, was evaluated as a premedicant to ketamine/halothane anaesthesia in 60 horses. Sedation developed within one to two minutes. In three cases mild staggering occurred within two minutes. Anaesthesia was induced after five minutes by the intravenous administration of ketamine (2 to 2.2 mg/kg). A mean time of 79 seconds elapsed before lateral recumbency was adopted. Fifty-four of the horses sank smoothly to the floor, with occasional steps sideways. Jaw tone, limb rigidity and mild muscle tremors often persisted for short periods...
Henson KL, Alleman AR, Kelley LC, Mahaffey EA.Immunohistochemical techniques were used to examine 29 cases of equine lymphoma for estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression. The lymphomas examined included T-cell-rich large B-cell lymphomas, B-cell neoplasms, and T-cell lymphomas. The individual cases were also classified according to the anatomic location of the tumors. One normal equine lymph node was also examined for ER and PR expression. All of the cases of equine lymphoma and the normal lymph node were negative for Er. A total of 16/29 (55%) PR-positive lymphomas were identified. Seven of the 12 (58%) T-cell-ri...
Lees P, May SA, Hoeijmakers M, Coert A, Rens PV.The pharmacodynamics and enantioselective pharmacokinetics of vedaprofen were studied in six ponies in a two period cross-over study, in which a mild acute inflammatory reaction was induced by carrageenan soaked sponges implanted subcutaneously in the neck. Vedaprofen, administered intravenously at a dosage of 1 mg/kg, produced significant and prolonged inhibition of ex vivo serum thromboxane B2 (TXB2) synthesis and short-lived inhibition of exudate prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and TXB2 synthesis. Vedaprofen also partially inhibited oedematous swelling and leucocyte infiltration into exudate. Vedap...
Blanchar TL, Brinsko SP, Rigby SL.A tendency for deslorelin implants to suppress subsequent follicular growth and delay return to estrus following induced ovulation has been documented in nonlactating mares. To investigate this phenomenon in lactating mares, 22 broodmares in southeast Texas were administered either deslorelin or hCG to induce ovulation in the first postpartum estrus during February and March 2001. Mares were teased daily and examined twice weekly (Tuesdays and Thursdays) by transrectal ultrasonography. When a follicle >35 mm diameter was detected on Tuesday, mares were treated with either 2,500 U hCG admini...
Schmotzer WB, Timm KI.Successful diagnostic local anesthesia is dependent upon a thorough knowledge of appendicular anatomy, application of correct technique, and accurate interpretation. Use of cadaver specimens to review anatomy and practice needle placement is strongly recommended. A marker solution, such as new methylene blue, can be injected into cadaver limbs, which can be subsequently dissected to verify accuracy. Detailed interpretation of local anesthetic blocks in the lame horse reaches beyond the scope of this article. Interpretive difficulties, however, can be responsible for the failure of a block to p...
Walmsley E, Steel C, Haines G, Lumsden J, O'Sullivan C.The incidence of colic following swimming exercise (SC) in a racehorse population examined over 3 years was 0.08%. Following 167,977 swims, 136 cases were reported. Colic resolved spontaneously in 2 horses, medically in 129 or surgically in 5. In a separate study, 21 horses were subject to exploratory laparotomy for SC. Findings included non-strangulating displacements in 7 horses, strangulating displacements in 7, a combination of non-strangulating and strangulating displacements in 1, prominent gaseous intestinal distension in 5 and no abnormalities in 1 horse. A poor response to analgesia p...
Hedia M, Leroy JLMR, Govaere J, Van Soom A, Smits K.The application of trans-vaginal ovum pick up (OPU) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is well established for commercial in vitro embryo production in horses. These assisted reproductive techniques are especially applied during the non-breeding season of the mare. However, little is known about how the health of the oocyte donor may affect the biochemical composition of the follicular fluid (FF) in small and medium-sized follicles routinely aspirated during OPU. This study aimed to investigate associations between systemic and FF concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), total choleste...
Hobo S, Ogasawara Y, Kuroki Y, Akino T, Yoshihara T.To characterize surfactant protein isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of healthy horses. Methods: 10 Thoroughbreds (5 males, 5 females; 26 to 40 months old) that did not have a history or clinical signs of respiratory tract disease. Methods: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained and centrifuged at 33,000 X g. Lipid was removed from precipitated fractions by means of extraction with 1-butanol, and organic solvent-insoluble protein precipitates were dialyzed against Tris buffer. The suspension was centrifuged, and supernatant was placed in a mannose-Sepharose affinity column,...
Sprick M, Fürst A, Baschnagel F, Michel S, Piskoty G, Hartnack S, Jackson MA.To evaluate the damage inflicted by an unshod hoof and by the various horseshoe materials (steel, aluminium and polyurethane) on the long bones of horses after a simulated kick. Methods: Sixty-four equine radii and tibiae were evaluated using a drop impact test setup. An impactor with a steel, aluminium, polyurethane, or hoof horn head was dropped onto prepared bones. An impactor velocity of 8 m/s was initially used with all four materials and then testing was repeated with a velocity of 12 m/s with the polyurethane and hoof horn heads. The impact process was analysed using a high-speed camera...
Phutthachalee S, Mählmann K, Seesupa S, Lischer C.Compensatory lameness is common in horses and evaluation can be challenging. Objective: To investigate patterns of compensatory movements in clinical cases with fore- or hindlimb lameness before and after diagnostic analgesia. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: Multiple limb lameness of 367 horses was characterised by type (push-off, impact or mixed), limb (fore- or hindlimb in predominant lameness) and side (ipsi- or contralateral in concurrent lameness) using a body-mounted inertial sensor (BMIS). Diagnostic analgesia was performed until the percentage improvement of the vector ...
Silver M, Fowden AL.In the present study, ten insulin challenge tests were carried out on nine chronically catheterized fetal foals between 253 and 314 days gestation (term > 320 days). Changes in fetal plasma concentrations of glucose, catecholamines, cortisol, ACTH, free fatty acid (FFA) and lactate were measured before and after a bolus dose of insulin (0.5-2.0 u/kg I.V.). Fetal blood gases, pH, haemoglobin levels and heart rate were measured throughout the 2-3h experimental period. The fetuses fell into two distinct groups on the basis of proximity to delivery and basal plasma cortisol and catecholamine level...
Boguta L, Gradzki Z, Borges E, Maurin F, Kodjo A, Winiarczyk S.Bacteria isolated from nasal cavity of 80 foals with upper respiratory tract infection, as well as from 20 healthy foals, were examined. Within the group of sick animals, from 18 (22.5%) bacteria with recognized pathogenicity were isolated. Coagulase-negative staphylococci and Acinetobacter sp. were the dominant species identified (100 and 45%, respectively). No bacteria species with recognized pathogenicity were isolated from the group of healthy animals. Three cases of death within the group of sick foals were investigated. Rhodococcus equi in two cases and Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumoniae t...
Yan W, Shin KS, Wang SJ, Xiang H, Divers T, McDonough S, Bowman J, Rowlands A, Akey B, Mohamed H, Chang YF.Clostridium (C.) difficile is a common cause of nosocomial diarrhea in horses. Vancomycin and metronidazole have been used as standard treatments but are only moderately effective, which highlights the need for a novel alternative therapy. In the current study, we prepared antiserum of equine origin against both C. difficile toxins A and B as well as whole-cell bacteria. The toxin-neutralizing activities of the antibodies were evaluated in vitro and the prophylactic effects of in vivo passive immunotherapy were demonstrated using a conventional mouse model. The data demonstrated that immunized...
DiPietro JA, Todd KS.The common anthelmintics used to treat parasitic infections of horses are described. Dosage, anthelmintic spectrum, formulation and administration, mode of action, toxicity contraindications, and resistance of parasites to anthelmintics are included.
Bowers J, Slocombe R.To determine commonly used girth tensions in Thoroughbred racehorses in the Melbourne metropolitan area. Methods: A prospective industry survey. Methods: Strappers were instructed to tension girths, using the same saddle, under-saddle packing and girth, sufficiently to hold the saddle for racing. These tensions were continuously recorded by an in-line load cell in the girth. Seventeen strappers from five stables participated in the study, which was conducted on 91 horses. Results: Resting girth tensions varied considerably. The mean tension on inhalation was 13 +/- 0.4 kg. Male strappers recor...
Doherr MG, Carpenter TE, Wilson WD, Gardner IA.The objective of this study is to describe the design, application and validity of a self-administered (mailed) questionnaire to collect data on potential risk factors for Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in California horses. Horses admitted to the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) between 1 July 1992 and 30 June 1994 served as the study base for case identification and simple random sampling of 800 control horses. A questionnaire was mailed to owners of the study horses, followed by a reminder postcard and a second copy of a questionnaire. Data were collected o...
Hellings IR, Skjerve E, Karlstam E, Valheim M, Ihler CF, Fintl C.There are no reports on the number of fatalities or causes of death in the Norwegian and Swedish harness racehorses. Objective: The incidence rates (IRs), risk factors, and postmortem findings in horses that died or were euthanized associated with racing between 2014 and 2019 were investigated. Methods: Thirty-eight Standardbreds and 10 Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotters died or were euthanized associated with racing. A total of 816 085 race-starts were recorded. Methods: Incidence rates were calculated for both countries and horse breeds. Risk factors for sudden death were identified us...
