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.
Robertson TP, Moore JN, Noschka E, Lewis TH, Lewis SJ, Peroni JF.To determine the effects of the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, Ro-31-8220, on agonist-induced constriction of laminar arteries and veins obtained from horses. Methods: Laminar arteries and veins obtained from 8 adult mixed-breed horses. Methods: Laminar arteries and veins were isolated and mounted on small vessel myographs for the measurement of isometric tension. Concentration-response curves were then obtained for the vasoconstrictor agonists phenylephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, prostaglandin F(2), and endothelin-1. All responses were measured with or without the addition of Ro-31-8220 (3 ...
Sun WC, Moore JN, Hurley DJ, Vandenplas ML, Murray TF.To assess the anti-inflammatory effects of an adenosine analogue on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated equine neutrophils. Methods: Neutrophils obtained from 10 healthy horses. Methods: An adenosine analogue (5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine [NECA]) was tested for its ability to inhibit production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in LPS-stimulated equine neutrophils. Selective adenosine receptor antagonists were used to identify the receptor subtype responsible for effects. To assess the mechanism of action of NECA, cAMP concentrations were measured, and effects of dibutyryl cAMP (a stable anal...
Neil KM, Axon JE, Todhunter PG, Adams PL, Caron JP, Adkins AR.To determine the clinical characteristics and outcome of foals with septic osteitis of the distal phalanx. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 22 foals. Methods: Information obtained from medical records included signalment; clinical, laboratory, and radiographic findings; treatment method; and outcome. Foals included in the study had lameness referable to the foot, radiographic evidence of localized lysis or focal loss of bone density of the distal phalanx, and suppurative discharge or necrosis of the affected bone evident at surgery. Foals with a history or evidence of penetrating w...
Kawcak CE, Frisbie DD, McIlwraith CW, Werpy NM, Park RD.To evaluate the use of a combination of avocado and soybean unsaponifiable (ASU) extracts for the treatment of experimentally induced osteoarthritis in horses. Methods: 16 horses. Methods: Osteoarthritis was induced via osteochondral fragmentation in 1 middle carpal joint of each horse; the other joint underwent a sham operation. Horses were randomly allocated to receive oral treatment with ASU extracts (1:2 [avocado-to-soybean] ratio mixed in 6 mL of molasses; n = 8) or molasses (6 mL) alone (placebo treatment; 8) once daily from days 0 to 70. Lameness, response to joint flexion, synovial eff...
Dumoulin M, Pille F, Desmet P, Dewulf J, Steenhaut M, Gasthuys F, Martens A.The objective of the present study was to assess the incidence of upward fixation of the patella (UFP) in different types of patients and to evaluate the outcome of conservative and surgical treatment for correcting this condition. A particular attempt was made to find out whether corrective trimming and/or shoeing (CTS) is efficient in the conservative treatment of UFP, and whether a longer postoperative resting period reduces the risk of complications after medial patellar desmotomy (MPD). Medical records of 78 horses with intermittent or permanent UFP were analyzed retrospectively. Young an...
Little D, Brown SA, Campbell NB, Moeser AJ, Davis JL, Blikslager AT.To determine the effect of meloxicam and flunixin meglumine on recovery of ischemia-injured equine jejunum. Methods: 18 horses. Methods: Horses received butorphanol tartrate; were treated IV with saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (SS; 12 mL; n = 6), flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg; 6), or meloxicam (0.6 mg/kg; 6) 1 hour before ischemia was induced for 2 hours in a portion of jejunum; and were allowed to recover for 18 hours. Flunixin and SS treatments were repeated after 12 hours; all 3 treatments were administered immediately prior to euthanasia. Selected clinical variables, postoperative pain scores...
McCue PM, LeBlanc MM, Squires EL.Equine follicle stimulating hormone (eFSH) has been used to induce follicular development in transitional mares and problem acyclic mares, as well as superovulate cycling mares. The most efficacious protocol is to administer 12.5 mg eFSH, intramuscularly, twice daily beginning 5 to 7 days after ovulation when the diameter of the largest follicle is 20 to 25 mm. Prostaglandins are to be administered on the second day of eFSH therapy. Treatment with eFSH is continued for 3 to 5 days until follicle(s) are >or=35 mm in diameter. The mare is subsequently allowed to 'coast' for 36 h, after which hum...
Morein B, Blomqvist G, Hu K.The maintenance of pregnancy requires suppression of the maternal immune system which would naturally recognize the developing fetus as an allograft and seek to destroy it by mounting a Th1 regulated cytotoxic immune response. During pregnancy a range of soluble factors are produced by the placenta which switch maternal immune regulation towards a protective Th2 phenotype. These factors also influence the developing fetal immune system and all newborns initially have an immunological milieu skewed towards Th2 immunity. Vaccination during the neonatal period must therefore overcome the dual cha...
Ho EN, Leung DK, Leung GN, Wan TS, Wong HN, Xu X, Yeung JH.Mesterolone (1alpha-methyl-5alpha-androstan-17beta-ol-3-one) is a synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) with reported abuses in human sports. As for other AAS, mesterolone is also a potential doping agent in equine sports. Metabolic studies on mesterolone have been reported for humans, whereas little is known about its metabolic fate in horses. This paper describes the studies of both the in vitro and in vivo metabolism of mesterolone in racehorses with an objective to identify the most appropriate target metabolites for detecting mesterolone administration. In vitro biotransformation st...
Donovan DC, Jackson CA, Colahan PT, Norton N, Hurley DJ.Using an established standardized exercise test on a high-speed treadmill, thirteen Thoroughbred racehorses were exercised to fatigue (failure); blood samples were obtained before exercise, at failure, and at 2, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h after exercise. The exercise test induced a systemic inflammatory response characterized by a mild transient endotoxemia, leukocytosis, increased leukocyte expression of mRNA for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-1 beta, and IL-6, and increased circulating concentrations of TNF-alpha and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF 2 alpha), with the most pronounced change...
Piuko K, Bravo IG, Müller M.In the present study we describe the isolation and characterization of putative equine granzyme B for which we propose the designation 'eqGrzmB'. Sequence analysis revealed characteristic features of a GrzmB protease such as the presence of a signal (leader-) peptide and an activation di-peptide. The isolated eqGrzmB is functionally active when expressed in human or in insect cells. Furthermore, exchange of any of three putative active site amino acids, which are highly conserved along granzyme B enzymes, led to a complete loss of enzymatic activity in the newly identified eqGrzmB. Phylogeneti...
Goodrich LR, Hidaka C, Robbins PD, Evans CH, Nixon AJ.Gene therapy with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) increases matrix production and enhances chondrocyte proliferation and survival in vitro. The purpose of this study was to determine whether arthroscopically-grafted chondrocytes genetically modified by an adenovirus vector encoding equine IGF-1 (AdIGF-1) would have a beneficial effect on cartilage healing in an equine femoropatellar joint model. A total of 16 horses underwent arthroscopic repair of a single 15 mm cartilage defect in each femoropatellar joint. One joint received 2 x 10(7) AdIGF-1 modified chondrocytes and the contralateral...
Zientek KD, Anderson DF, Wegner K, Cole C.A method for the extraction and quantitation of procaine in equine plasma was developed for use with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Procaine was isolated from equine plasma by liquid-liquid extraction at pH 11 with dichloromethane using procaine-d10 as an internal standard. Quantitation was achieved by LC-MS using a 3-microm C-18 column coupled to an electrospray ionization source on a linear ion-trap mass spectrometer. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation was determined to be 50 and 200 pg/mL, respectively. The lowest limit of detection determined by previous met...
Rogers CW, Back W.To quantify the effect of plain, wedged and eggbar shoes on the distribution of pressure under the hoof of horses at the walk, at selected areas of interest (AOI), to find scientific evidence for the perceived efficacy of these shoes in the treatment of palmar heel pain. Methods: Six clinically sound adult Warmblood mares weighing 551 (SD 25) kg were shod (forelegs) with either plain, eggbar or 6 degrees-wedge shoes using a latin-square experimental design. All horses were shod by the same farrier, and each balanced and aligned for its individual conformation. Data were collected on three walk...
LeBlanc MM, Magsig J, Stromberg AJ.Low-volume uterine flush (n=401) was performed in 308 infertile mares to diagnose endometritis. Mares evaluated were either barren after three or more breedings or had two or more unsuccessful embryo recovery attempts during consecutive cycles. Culture results were compared with cytological and histological findings, efflux clarity and pH to substantiate that the micro-organisms recovered were truly pathogens. Cytological specimens were evaluated for presence of epithelial and inflammatory cells, bacteria, yeast and debris. Endometrial biopsies (n=110) were examined for the presence of neutrop...
Brown MP, Trumble TN, Plaas AH, Sandy JD, Romano M, Hernandez J, Merritt KA.(1) To investigate the effects of exercise and osteochondral (OC) injury on synovial fluid (SF) chondroitin sulfate (CS) and hyaluronan (HA) concentration and chain length, (2) to compare SF and cartilage CS data from joints with OC fragmentation, and (3) to compare SF CS and HA profiles with those seen in serum from the same horses. Methods: Serum and SF were obtained from (1) normal horses after 8 weeks rest, (2) the same horses after 9 months treadmill training, and (3) horses with OC injury from racing. Articular cartilage was also collected from group 3 horses. Concentrations and chain le...
Morisset S, Frisbie DD, Robbins PD, Nixon AJ, McIlwraith CW.Repair of cartilage defects involves sequential participation of specific hormones and growth factors with potential impairment by inflammatory cytokines. We explored an in vivo gene therapy treatment to supply adenoviral vectors carrying the genes of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-1ra) and insulinlike growth factor-1 (IGF-1), hoping to enhance repair of full-thickness equine chondral defects treated with microfracture. We asked whether our treatment could (1) increase proteoglycan and Type II collagen content in the repair tissue, (2) improve the macroscopic and histomorphometr...
Westermann CM, de Sain-van der Velden MG, van der Kolk JH, Berger R, Wijnberg ID, Koeman JP, Wanders RJ, Lenstra JA, Testerink N, Vaandrager AB....Two horses (a 7-year-old Groninger warmblood gelding and a six-month-old Trakehner mare) with pathologically confirmed rhabdomyolysis were diagnosed as suffering from multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD). This disorder has not been recognised in animals before. Clinical signs of both horses were a stiff, insecure gait, myoglobinuria, and finally recumbency. Urine, plasma, and muscle tissues were investigated. Analysis of plasma showed hyperglycemia, lactic acidemia, increased activity of muscle enzymes (ASAT, LDH, CK), and impaired kidney function (increased urea and creatinine). ...
Nagy A, Dyson SJ, Murray RM.Radiographic examination of the cartilages of the foot is well documented; however, there is limited information about their scintigraphic assessment. Objective: To evaluate the scintigraphic appearance of the cartilages of the foot using subjective and quantitative image analysis and to correlate radiographic and scintigraphic findings. Objective: An ossified cartilage would have similar radiopharmaceutical uptake (RU) to the ipsilateral aspect of the distal phalanx; RU would extend throughout the length of the ossified cartilage; a separate centre of ossification (SCO) would be identified on...
Camargo FC, Robinson NE, Berney C, Eberhart S, Baker S, Detolve P, Derksen FJ, Lehner AF, Hughes C, Tobin T.The bronchodilator effects of trimetoquinol (TMQ) have been studied when administered i.v. or intratracheally, but not in an aerosolised form. Objective: To define the relationship between the therapeutic and adverse responses (therapeutic index) of TMQ when administered as an aerosol or by the oral route. Methods: Increasing doses of TMQ were administered to horses with heaves as an aerosol and by the oral route. Dose ranged 100-1000 microg/horse for aerosolised TMQ and from 6-60 microg/kg bwt for the oral route. Airway and cardiac effects were assessed by measurement of maximal change in ple...
Bosch G, Lin YL, van Schie HT, van De Lest CH, Barneveld A, van Weeren PR.Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has recently been introduced as a new therapy for tendon injuries in horses, but little is known about the basic mechanism of action of this therapy. Objective: To study the effect of ESWT on biochemical parameters and tenocyte metabolism of normal tendinous structures in ponies. Methods: Six Shetland ponies, free of lameness and with ultrasonographically normal flexor and extensor tendons and suspensory ligaments (SL), were used. ESWT was applied at the origin of the suspensory ligament and the mid-metacarpal region of the superficial digital flexor ten...
Latorre R, RodrÃguez MJ.The importance of correlating anatomical studies with diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in practice has long been recognised. Such studies in the horse have, until recently, lagged behind this discipline in human medicine and surgery. Clinical techniques by which this correlation is achieved include radiography, ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. This review presents published literature on the subject and, in addition, describes the part played by plastination, a recently developed technique for the preservation of biological specimens. In this, tissue fluids ...
Steinman A, Kachtan I, Levi O, Shpigel NY.Clostridium botulinum type C is prevalent in Israel and outbreaks recorded in many species, other than horses. Association between levels of anti-BoNT/C antibodies and equine grass sickness (EGS) have been demonstrated but seroprevalence of anti-BoNT/C antibodies in horses has not been reported nor has EGS been reported in Israel. Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of specific anti-BoNT/C antibodies in horses in Israel and to determine whether age, breed and gender, or geographical region of farms are potential risk factors for exposure to BoNT/C. Objective: Anti-BoNT/C antibodies are ...
Bonin SJ, Clayton HM, Lanovaz JL, Johnston T.Previous studies have suggested that temporomandibular joint (TMJ) kinematics depend on the type of food being masticated, but accurate measurements of TMJ motion in horses chewing different feeds have not been published. Objective: The temporomandibular joint has a larger range of motion when horses chew hay compared to pellets. Methods: An optical motion capture system was used to track skin markers on the skull and mandible of 7 horses as they chewed hay and pellets. A virtual marker was created on the midline between the mandibles at the level of the 4th premolar teeth to represent the ove...
Castagnasso EE, Kienast ME, GarcÃa PP, Giovambattista G.Recently, the use of DNA markers has provided a more accurate method of identifying individuals and verifying parentage. In this report, we describe foal assignment in a farm bred jumping horses (Silla argentino). Ten mares were freely served by two stallions, resulting in nine foals. Weaning occurred without registration of the mare of each offspring, resulting in a failure to identify either the mare or the sire of each foal. Animals were typed using 12 microsatellite systems and four biochemical polymorphisms in order to determine the paternity/maternity of each foal. We used the CERVUS pro...
Lloyd D, Walmsley JP, Greet TR, Payne RJ, Newton JR, Phillips TJ.There is little published clinical evidence on the use of a laparoscopic approach for the removal of pathologically enlarged ovaries in standing mares. Objective: To show the orders of success and complication rates that can be expected if pathologically enlarged ovaries are removed from standing, sedated mares under laparoscopic guidance using only electrosurgical means of haemostasis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was made of 55 mares in which the removal of an enlarged ovary was attempted by applying a standard laparoscopic procedure for routine ovariectomy in standing mares including a...
Okumura M, Kim GH, Tagami M, Haramaki S, Fujinaga T.Keratan sulphate (KS) concentration in sera from resting horses and horses training daily on a racetrack was measured by an inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using anti-equine KS antibody 1/14/16H9. For the in-training horses, serum KS concentrations in 2-year-old-horses was significantly higher than 3- or 4-year-old-horses. A higher concentration of serum KS was found in the in-training group than in the long-term resting group in 2-year-old-horses. Serum KS concentration increased remarkably immediately after training in healthy horses, and at 1, 5, 9 and 24 h after traini...
Cappelli K, Gialletti R, Tesei B, Bassotti G, Fettucciari K, Capomaccio S, Bonfili L, Cuccioloni M, Eleuteri AM, Spaterna A, Laus F.Guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) is a multifunctional receptor encoded by the gene, representing an attractive target for therapy in several gastrointestinal diseases in humans. Little is known about this system in horses. We investigated for the first time the gene expression of guanylin, uroguanylin and GC-C receptors in different horse's gastrointestinal tracts. Tissue samples from stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, head and body of cecum, left and right dorsal colon, left and right ventral colon, pelvic flexure, transverse colon, descending colon and rectum were collected from adult horses with...
Gonzalez SM, da Silva CB, Lindquist AG, Bufalo I, Morotti F, Lisboa LA, Seneda M.The goal of this study was to determine the distribution of pre-antral follicles in the ovarian parenchyma of mares. For Experiment 1, each ovary was cut longitudinally at the greater curvature, performing two hemiovaries. After that, six fragments from each hemiovary were obtained, resulting in 12 fragments, which were divided into the innermost region of the parenchyma, the middle region and the outermost region. All the three obtained sections were cut transversally to obtain two fragments from each one. For Experiment 2, each ovary also submitted to a longitudinal cut on the greater curvat...
Semik E, Ząbek T, Gurgul A, Fornal A, Szmatoła T, Pawlina K, Wnuk M, Klukowska-Rötzler J, Koch C, Mählmann K, Bugno-Poniewierska M.In this study, for the first time we report the genome-wide DNA methylation profile of skin tumour in horses and describe differentially methylated genomic regions (DMRs) with respect to healthy skin. Methods: The comparative analysis of DNA methylation patterns detected using Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS) technique, allowed identification of 136 regions showing differential methylation between sarcoid and normal skin tissue. Results: Most of the identified DMRs were short fragments, less than 1 kb in size, located in the intergenic regions. Among identified DMRs there wer...
Dyson S, Murray R.Use of physiological methods of diagnostic imaging could provide insight into the pathogenesis of foot pain in live horses. Objective: To describe patterns and intensity of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake (IRU) in the navicular bone, and relate this to distribution and types of signal intensity change in the navicular bone and to the presence or absence of lesions of the related soft tissue structures detected using MRI. Methods: Scintigraphic and MR images of 264 horses with unilateral or bilateral foot pain were analysed and graded. A Spearman rank correlation was used to test for relat...
Dwyer RM.Rotavirus poses a challenge each foaling season to farm managers and veterinarians in intensive horse breeding areas throughout the world. By understanding the epidemiology of the disease as well as characteristics of the virus, veterinarians can make sound recommendations on prevention and control of outbreaks. Even when effective prophylactic products are developed, farm management practices, including quarantine, disinfection, and hygiene, will always need to be in force to prevent any contagious disease outbreak.
Nixon AJ, Sams AE, Ducharme NG.An endoscopically assisted technique for internally dividing the palmar or plantar annular ligament was developed in six cadaver limb specimens and two anesthetized horses. Under arthroscopic view, a slotted cannula was inserted into the digital sheath through a stab wound proximal to the annular ligament and advanced through the fetlock canal superficial to the flexor tendons with the slot oriented toward the fibers of the annular ligament. Division of the annular ligament by 90-degree tipped open and guarded blades was observed and verified by direct arthroscopic view. At necropsy, complete ...
Munabi AK, Cassorla FG, D'Agata R, Albertson BD, Loriaux DL, Lipsett MB.Decreased sperm counts and impaired sperm motility are present in a substantial proportion of men with varicocele. Elevations in the temperature of the affected testis, and increased spermatic vein estradiol (E2) concentrations have been found in some of these patients. To investigate the possibility that increases in temperature lead to a pattern of testicular steroidogenesis that results in increased E2 synthesis, we have examined the effects of temperature changes on the activities of four important testicular steroidogenic enzymes. 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD), 17-hydro...
Carmichael RJ, Whitfield C, Maxwell LK.Equine herpes myeloencephalopathy, resulting from equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1) infection, is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in the horse. As compared to other antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir, ganciclovir has enhanced potency against EHV-1. This study investigated the pharmacokinetics of ganciclovir and its oral prodrug, valganciclovir, in six adult horses in a randomized cross-over design. Ganciclovir sodium was administered intravenously as a slow bolus at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg, and valganciclovir was administered orally at a dose of 1800 mg per horse. Intravenousl...
Lyons ET, Tolliver SC.Fenbendazole (FBZ) suspension was administered intraorally at the dose rate of 7.0-10.3 mg/kg once a day for 5 consecutive days to 58 thoroughbred yearlings on two farms in central Kentucky in April, 2002. The average dose rates of drug given to groups of colts and fillies on each farm were 7.8-8.5 mg/kg. Only 3 of the yearlings had negative counts of strongyle eggs per gram of feces (EPGs) after treatment which was at 8.4, 8.7, or 9.4 mg/kg; the pretreatment EPG counts were low (10-30). Reduction of EPG values at the highest dose rates was 0% (at 9.5 mg/kg) and 78% (at 10.3 mg/kg). This study...
Orsolini MF, Meyers SA, Dini P.As the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and in vitro embryo production (IVP) expand in the equine industry, it has become necessary to further our understanding of semen physiology as it applies to overall fertility. This segment of our two-section review will focus on normal sperm parameters, beginning with development and extending through the basic morphology of mature spermatozoa, as well as common issues with male factor infertility in IVP. Ultimately, the relevance of sperm parameters to overall male factor fertility in equine IVP will be assessed.
Jelìnek F, Faldyna M, Jasurkova-Mikutova G.Five days after birth of a viable Fell pony filly, yellow watery diarrhoea appeared without any signs of systemic disease. Four days later the diarrhoea ceased. On 11th day, the animal showed apathy, and a few days later, the foal was very lethargic, suffered from muscular weakness and severe watery diarrhoea that reappeared. The illness did not respond to therapy. At the age of 21 days the filly spontaneously died under symptoms of intestinal colic and pneumonia. Haematological examinations revealed lower numbers of erythrocytes as well as non-selective lymphopenia. Phagocytic activity was sl...
Gottschalk M, Sieme H, Martinsson G, Distl O.A high quality of stallion semen is of particular importance for maximum reproductive efficiency. In the present study, we estimated the relationships among estimated breeding values (EBVs) of semen traits and EBVs for the paternal component of the pregnancy rate per estrus cycle (EBV-PAT) for 100 German Warmblood stallions using correlation and general linear model analyses. The most highly correlated sperm quality trait was total number of progressively motile sperm (r = 0.36). EBV-PAT was considered in three classes with stallions 1 SD below (<80), around (80-120), and above (>120) the popu...
Frey J, Eberle S, Stahl C, Mazuet C, Popoff M, Schatzmann E, Gerber V, Dungu B, Straub R.In Europe the incidence of botulism in horses has increased in the last decade due to the growing popularity of haylage feeding. Recombinant vaccines are safer and less expensive to produce and are generally better tolerated than toxoids. Objective: To investigate whether the recombinant C-terminal half of the heavy chain of the botulinum neurotoxin C (Hc BoNT/C) in combination with an immunstimulatory adjuvant is an appropriate vaccine candidate for horses by testing its efficacy to induce neutralising antibodies and by comparing its immunogenic properties and adverse reactions to a commercia...
Marsh AE, Lakritz J, Johnson PJ, Miller MA, Chiang YW, Chu HJ.Clinically normal horses developed cellular immunity to Sarcocystis neurona following IM vaccination with a commercial killed S. neurona vaccine, as indicated by the development of measurable anti-S. neurona IgG antibodies and additional intradermal skin testing. Large-scale independent assessments of the vaccine's performance and safety are in progress under field conditions. The next step in the evaluation of this vaccine would be to attempt experimental challenge after a reproducible reliable equine model of S. neurona encephalitis has been established that allows for reisolation of the pat...
Kurth A, Skilling DE, Smith AW.To test horses for serologic evidence of an association between vesiviral antibodies and abortion. Methods: Sera from 141 horses. Methods: 2 experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 comprised sera obtained in 2001 and 2002 from 3 groups of horses (58 mares from farms with a history of abortion problems, 25 mares between 3 and 13 years of age with unknown reproductive histories that were sold at auction [breeding-age control mares], and 29 mixed-age males and yearling females sold at auction [negative control population]). Experiment 2 comprised sera from 3 groups of pregnant mares (10 pregnant...
Pezzanite LM, Chow L, Strumpf A, Johnson V, Dow SW.Antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation both present challenges to treatment of bacterial infections with conventional antibiotic therapy and serve as the impetus for development of improved therapeutic approaches. Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy exerts an antimicrobial effect as demonstrated in multiple acute bacterial infection models. This effect can be enhanced by pre-conditioning the MSC with Toll or Nod-like receptor stimulation, termed activated cellular therapy (ACT). The purpose of this review is to summarize the current literature on mechanisms of antimicrobial activity...
Bucher K, Szalai G, Marti E, Griot-Wenk ME, Lazary S, Pauli U.The tumour suppressor protein p53 enhances the genetic stability of the cell and plays a critical role in tumour suppression. Equine p53 was analysed by sequencing exons 5 to 9, a region which includes most known mutations and all the mutational hotspots in the species that have been investigated. The fragment was amplified, cloned and sequenced from genomic and complementary DNA. A comparison of the predicted amino acid sequences between the horse and other species resulted in identities between 66 per cent with the clawed frog and 92 per cent with the cat. Using the single strand conformatio...
Hikasa Y, Masuda K, Asakura Y, Yamashita Y, Sato C, Kamio M, Miura A, Taniguchi T, Minamizuru N.This study aimed to pharmacologically identify and characterize α2-adrenoceptors and imidazoline (I) receptors (I1- and I2-subtype) on canine, feline, bovine, equine, murine, and leporine platelet membranes. Saturation binding studies with both (3)H-yohimbine and (3)H-clonidine showed that α2-adrenoceptors were expressed on canine, leporine, feline, and murine platelets but not on bovine and equine platelets. In competition studies, the rank order of affinity of 6 compounds for canine platelet α2-adrenoceptors was similar to that of potency at α2A-subtype reported in human platelets. Satur...
Krohn J, Ennen S, Hospes R, Nieth J, Wehrend A.An effective long-term treatment is necessary for mares with pyometra, because the condition tends to recur. In many affected animals, several conformational or anatomical anomalies contribute to impaired uterine clearance. Ovariohysterectomy is the surgical procedure of choice. Conservative therapy consists of draining and flushing the uterus, and systemic anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial treatment. Uterine secretions tend to accumulate again after local treatment, especially in mares with poor vaginal conformation or cervical adhesions. Herein, we describe three cases in which a cervical ...
Schumacher J, Hanselka DV.Free autogenous skin grafting of the horse is indicated for wounds too large to heal by contraction and epithelization. Techniques of pinch, punch, tunnel, and sheet grafting are described. Allografting and storage of skin for delayed grafting are discussed.
Finno CJ, Kaese HJ, Miller AD, Gianino G, Divers T, Valberg SJ.A pigment retinopathy has been reported in adult horses with equine motor neuron disease (EMND) arising from chronic α-tocopherol (α-TP) deficiency. A pigment retinopathy has not been identified in horses with neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (NAD/EDM) that affects genetically susceptible young horses with α-TP deficiency. The objective of this report is to describe, for the first time, a pigment retinopathy in a family of α-TP-deficient Warmbloods (WB) with clinically apparent NAD/EDM or EMND. Unassigned: Twenty-five WB horses from one farm underwent complete ...
Petty DP, Lange AL, Verster A, Hattingh J.Ponies (n = 8) approximately 18 months old, were infected with 20,000 to 30,000 infective larvae of Strongylus equinus with less than 10% contamination with Strongylus edentatus larvae and necropsied 7 months post-infection. Lesions were present in the omentum, liver, pancreas, ventral colon, caecum and occasionally in the lungs. There were numerous intraabdominal adhesions and severe multiple granulomatous omentitis. Pancreatic damage, which characterises S. equinus, was exceptionally mild and was manifested mainly by slight periductular infiltration of eosinophils. Granulomas associated with...
Bassarak B, Moser I, Menge C.A modified Baltz's in vitro cultivation system for the propagation of Trypanosoma equiperdum strain OVI was established to develop a replacement for the conventional production procedure of dourine diagnostic antigen in rats. To increase trypanosome yields we designed an optimized culture medium by addition of supplemental compounds. Trypanosomes were adapted to this medium by two succeeding cultivation steps which led to a substantial proliferation rate and an increased cell density tolerance, respectively. As a result, adapted parasites could be propagated to maximum cell densities of >2Ã...
