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.
Nadler SA, Carreno RA, Adams BJ, Kinde H, Baldwin JG, Mundo-Ocampo M.Phylogenetic relationships among six isolates of Halicephalobus gingivalis (Stefanski, 1954), a species with pathogenic potential in horses and humans, were evaluated using DNA sequences from the nuclear large-subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU rDNA) gene. Sequences from nematodes obtained from in vitro cultures (soil or clinical sources), or isolated from infected horse tissues, were compared. Gene sequences from a fatal equine clinical case from southern California and a free-living isolate recovered from southern California soil showed no fixed differences. Sequences from isolates representing two ...
Dowdall SM, Proudman CJ, Love S, Klei TR, Matthews JB.Cyathostomins are important equine gastrointestinal parasites. Mass emergence of mucosal stage larvae causes a potentially fatal colitis. Mucosal stages are undetectable non-invasively. An assay that would estimate mucosal larval stage infection would greatly assist in treatment, control and prognosis. Previously, we identified two putative diagnostic antigens (20 and 25 kDa) in somatic larval preparations. Here, we describe their purification and antigen-specific IgG(T) responses to them. Western blots confirmed the purity of the antigens and showed that epitopes in the 20 kDa complex were sp...
Pruett HE, Thompson DL, Cartmill JA, Williams CC, Gentry LR.Light horse mares, stallions, and geldings were used to 1) extend our observations on the thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) inhibition of GH secretion in response to physiologic stimuli and 2) test the hypothesis that stimulation of endogenous TRH would decrease the normal rate of GH secretion. In Exp. 1 and 2, pretreatment of mares with TRH (10 microg/kg BW) decreased (P < 0.001) the GH response to exercise and aspartate infusion. Time analysis in Exp. 3 indicated that the TRH inhibition lasted at least 60 min but was absent by 120 min. Administration of a single injection of TRH to stal...
Raymond SL, Smith TK, Swamy HV.The feeding of Fusarium mycotoxin-contaminated grains adversely affects the performance of swine and poultry. Very little information is available, however, on adverse effects associated with feeding these mycotoxin-contaminated grains on the performance of horses. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding a blend of grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on feed intake, serum immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations, serum chemistry, and hematology of horses. A polymeric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent (GM polymer) was also tested for efficacy in preventing F...
Pfister JA, Stegelmeier BL, Gardner DR, James LF.Spotted locoweed (Astragalus lentiginosus var. diphysus) is a toxic, perennial plant that may, if sufficient precipitation occurs, dominate the herbaceous vegetation of pinyon-juniper woodlands on the Colorado Plateau. Six cow/calf pairs and four horses grazed a 20-ha pasture with dense patches of locoweed in eastern Arizona during spring 1998. Locoweed density was 0.7 plants/m2 in the pasture. Locoweed averaged 30.4% NDF and 18.4% CP. Concentrations of the locoweed toxin, swainsonine, fluctuated from 1.25 to 2 mg/g in locoweed. Horses ate more (P < 0.01) bites of locoweed than did cows (15...
Cunningham FM, Vandergrifft E, Bailey SR, Sepulveda MF, Goode NT, Horohov DW.The cytokine, interleukin (IL)-5 stimulates eosinophil differentiation, activation and survival and can prime these cells, increasing the response to other mediators. In view of its many effects on eosinophils, IL-5 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic disease in man. Here we report the cloning of equine IL-5 and expression of the recombinant protein by transfection of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The cloned cDNA sequence consisted of 405 nucleotides and encoded a protein of 135 amino acids. There is >85% identity with feline, bovine, ovine, canine, and human IL-5 sequence...
This report summarizes West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance data reported to CDC through ArboNET as of 3 a.m., Mountain Daylight Time, September 10, 2003.
Matthee S.Anthelmintic products form the basis of helminth control practices on horse stud farms at present. Regular evaluation of the efficacy of these products is advisable, as it will provide information on the worm egg reappearance period and the resistance status in the worm population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of doramectin, pyrantel pamoate, ivermectin and moxidectin on a Thoroughbred stud farm in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The study also compared the anthelmintic efficacy of two moxidectin formulations administered at their recommended dosages (an injectab...
Carmalt JL, Townsend HG, Allen AL.To evaluate the effect of dental floating on the position of the mandible relative to the maxilla (a measure of rostrocaudal mobility [RCM] of the mandible) during extension and flexion of the head of horses. Methods: Randomized controlled blinded trial. Methods: 59 horses housed in 1 barn. Methods: Horses were formally randomized into a treatment (n = 33) or control (26) group. All horses were sedated, and the distance between rostral portions of the upper and lower incisor arcades were determined with the head fully extended and flexed at the poll (the difference in measurements represented ...
Heidler B, Parvizi N, Sauerwein H, Bruckmaier RM, Heintges U, Aurich JE, Aurich C.In this study, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), leptin, luteinising hormone (LH) and prolactin were analyzed in mares from late pregnancy throughout lactation (group 1, n=46) and in non-lactating mares (group 2, n=11). Plasma GH concentrations in group 1 mares during gestation and lactation were lower than in mares of group 2 (P<0.05). Highest IGF-1 levels were found in lactating mares in the week of foaling. IGF-1 concentrations decreased continuously thereafter. Plasma leptin concentrations decreased after foaling and, for 4 weeks, were lower in lactating than in...
Veronesi MC, Battocchio M, Faustini M, Gandini M, Cairoli F.The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship of pharmacological induction of estrous and/or ovulation with the occurrence of twin pregnancies in Thoroughbred mares. Out of 680 mares, 356 received one of the following treatments during the estrous cycle in which they became pregnant: injection of 0.5mg of cloprostenol at the ultrasonographic detection of a CL (n=86); injection of 5000 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) immediately before mating (n=221); injection of 0.5mg of cloprostenol at the ultrasonographic detection of a CL plus injection of 5000 IU hCG immediately be...
Pirie RS, Dixon PM, McGorum BC.Mould extract inhalation challenges have been used extensively in the investigation of heaves. Such challenges have induced pulmonary neutrophilic inflammation and dysfunction, consistent with, but less severe than the natural disease. However, the method of mould extract production is likely to result in endotoxin contamination. Objective: To investigate whether insufficient dose delivery was responsible for the shortfall in response to inhaled extract compared with natural disease, and whether endotoxin contamination of mould extract contributed to the pulmonary inflammation and dysfunction....
Young LE.Our recent data have confirmed that maximum oxygen delivery in racing Thoroughbreds is positively correlated to left ventricular mass measured by echocardiography. A similar, but weaker relationship also exists between left ventricular mass and Timeform performance rating in commercial racehorses. The relationship of the Thoroughbred heart to racing success and the special problems that selective breeding for aerobic capacity have had in this species are reviewed in this article.
Feng YY, Yang H, Gu XT, Jiang HJ, Lu TH.In this paper, the interaction between Cu(II) ions and Fe-protoporphyrin in horse-heart myoglobin (FePP-Mb) was studied. As a result, some of the Fe(II) ions in FePP-Mb were found to be replaced by Cu(II) ions forming CuPP-Mb, by adding Cu(II) ions into the myoglobin solution. The interaction became stronger when adding more Cu(II) ions into the myoglobin solution. By studying the metal ions' interaction with myoglobin proteins as macromolecules and discussing the interaction mechanism, this work provides a theoretical basis for the further study of hazardous metal ions' interaction with the h...
Cook RF, Cook SJ, Berger SL, Leroux C, Ghabrial NN, Gantz M, Bolin PS, Mousel MR, Montelaro RC, Issel CJ.Pathogenicity was reportedly restored to an avirulent molecular clone of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) by substitution of 3' sequences from the pathogenic variant strain (EIAV(PV)). However, the incidence of disease in horses/ponies was found to be significantly lower (P = 0.016) with the chimeric clone (EIAV(UK)) than with EIAV(PV). This was attributable to 3' rather than 5' regions of the proviral genome, where EIAV(UK) differs from the consensus EIAV(PV) sequence by having a 68-bp duplication in the 3' LTR and arginine (R(103)) rather than tryptophan (W(103)) at position 103 in the ...
Beech J, Zappala RA, Smith G, Lindborg S.Tear production was evaluated in 39 horses and 29 ponies using Schirmer tear test strips to determine whether diurnal or weekly fluctuations occur, whether location of strip placement has an effect, if values are the same for both eyes in an animal and whether sex, age, stabling vs. pasture and winter vs. summer had an effect. There was no test in which the raw score was less than 10 mm, although there were many occasions where tear wetting exceeded 35 mm. Analysis of the raw (continuous) scores by linear regression provided no evidence that signalment, housing or season or location of strip p...
Wada S, Yoshinari M, Katayama Y, Anzai T, Wada R, Akuzawa M.A 2-year-old Thoroughbred filly presented with ocular pain and epiphora of the left eye. The pupil was miotic and the cornea edematous near the ventro-temporal limbus, but did not retain any fluorescein. The topical antibiotics and atropine and diclofenac, and systemic flunixin meglumine and antibiotic therapy did not resolve the condition. A pink and fleshy infiltrate developed near the limbus indicating nonulcerative keratouveitis. The anterior uveitis deteriorated as manifested by the presence of dyscoria, hypopyon, and organized fibrin in the anterior chamber. Ocular signs were improved by...
Choi YH, Love LB, Westhusin ME, Hinrichs K.Early development of embryos produced by transfer of equine nuclei to bovine cytoplasts is superior to that of intraspecies equine nuclear transfer embryos. This may be related to differences in chromatin remodeling or efficiency of activation between the two oocyte types. The pattern of donor nucleus remodeling was examined in equine-equine and equine-bovine reconstructed oocytes. Chromosome condensation occurred in equine cytoplasts by 2 h but was not seen in bovine cytoplasts until 4 h. We investigated the effect of activation of equine-equine reconstructed oocytes at <30 min or at 2 h a...
Herrera HD, Duchene AG, Croxatto JO, Burgués N, Amusquibar H.Vascular tumors of the conjunctiva in the horse are rare. We present a unique case of an intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia of the conjunctiva. Methods: Horse. Methods: Case report. A 6-year-old-mare presented with a red mass in the conjunctiva of the left eye. After complete ophthalmologic examination the lesion was excised. The tissue was processed for light microscopy and studied histopathologically. Results: Pathologic examination revealed a nonencapsulated vascular lesion composed of confluent vascular spaces filled by multiple papillary structures composed of a central colla...
Camillo F, Vannozzi I, Rota A, Di Luzio B, Romagnoli S, Aria G, Allen WR.Mules, hybrids resulting from the mating of a horse mare (Equus caballus, 2n = 64) to a Jack donkey (E. asinus, 2n = 62), are generally infertile. Five horse embryos were transferred non-surgically to two cyclic and one acyclic recipient mules. In the mares and cycling mules, oestrus and ovulation were induced with, respectively, d-cloprostenol and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). The acyclic mule, on the other hand, received oestradiol benzoate when the embryo donor was showing oestrus and progesterone after the donor had ovulated and until pregnancy diagnosis. Non-surgical embryo collect...
Taniguchi K, Obitsu T, Ohmura H, Hiraga A, Hata H, Aida H, Akiyama K, Tanaka K.A rigid-type of polyethylene T-cannula was fitted into the anterior ileum of six horses in order to improve the cannulation techniques. A piece of polyethylene net was fastened onto the intestinal wall around the cannula to prevent dislodgment of the cannula by promoting a secure adhesion between the ileum and the abdominal wall. The cannula barrel sheathed with silicone tubing was exteriorized through a stab incision at the lateral ventral wall on the transverse line of the second lumber vertebra, and a flange was screwed onto the barrel. The feeding regime gradually increased concentrate wit...
Chambers G, Ellsmore VA, O'Brien PM, Reid SW, Love S, Campo MS, Nasir L.The equine sarcoid, one of the most common dermatological lesions in equids, is a benign, locally invasive dermal fibroblastic lesion. Previous studies have suggested an association with two bovine papilloma virus (BPV) types, BPV-1 and BPV-2. In the present study, we examined sarcoids from horses from two geographical areas, Switzerland and the UK, for the major transforming gene of BPV, E5. We detected BPV DNA for the E5 open reading frame and viral E5 RNA transcripts in most sarcoids. Sequence analysis of the E5 open reading frame of sarcoid-associated BPV detected several unique DNA sequen...
Hoque S, Senba H, Tsunoda N, Derar RI, Watanabe G, Taya K, Osawa T, Miyake Y.To clarify the endocrinological characteristics of the mares with granulosa theca cell tumor (GTCT), peripheral plasma samples from the 6 mares affected with GTCT were collected before and after the surgical removal of the affected ovary. Concentrations of testosterone (T), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), immunoreactive-inhibin (ir-INH), progesterone (P) and estradiol-17beta (E(2)) in the plasma samples were measured by radioimmunoassay. Before removal of GTCT in all cases, the concentrations of T were significantly higher than those of normal mares at the breedin...
Guillaume D, Chavatte-Palmer P, Combarnous Y, Duchamp G, Martinat N, Nagy P, Daels PF.The aim of this study was to compare the effects of treatment with repeated injections of sulpiride (a dopamine D2 antagonist) on prolactin secretion and induced lactation in ovariectomized and intact adult mares and to verify if this induction was possible at the beginning and at the end of the birth season. Two experiments were carried out in September [experiment (expt) 1], and in March (expt 2), in France (48 degrees N). In expt 1, three groups of five mares were tested: intact-control, intact-treated and ovariectomized-treated mares. In expt 2, mares previously subjected to artificial pho...
Ginther OJ, Bergfelt DR, Beg MA, Meira C, Kot K.In cattle and mares, free insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is higher in the future dominant follicle (F1) than in the future largest subordinate follicle (F2) before deviation in diameter or selection is manifested between the two follicles. The effect of IGF-1 on other follicular-fluid factors and on the destiny of F2 were studied in two experiments in each species, using a total of 40 heifers and 42 mares. An injection of IGF-1 was made into F2 at the expected beginning of deviation (heifers, F1 >or= 8.5 mm; mares, F1 >or= 20.0 mm; Hour 0). In heifers, follicular fluid was taken fr...
Haber M, Cao Z, Panjwani N, Bedenice D, Li WW, Provost PJ.The physiologic mechanisms involving growth factors, including PDGF-BB, EGF, and TGF-beta 1, as potent mediators of fibroblasts and epithelial cells in corneal wound healing remain unknown. The goal of this study was to determine culture methods for equine epithelial cells and keratocytes and to investigate how exogenous growth factors influence proliferation of both cell types. Methods: Cell cultures were established from healthy corneas harvested from horses immediately following euthanasia and maintained using standard tissue culture protocols. To determine the effects of PDGF-BB, EGF, TGF-...
Abo El Sooud K.The pharmacokinetics of gentamicin was studied in lambs, calves and foals, respectively after single intravenous (i.v.) injections of 5 mg kg(-1) body weight. The plasma concentration-time curves of gentamicin sulphate were best fitted to follow a two-compartment open model in calves and foals and a three-compartment open model in lambs. Gentamicin showed high plasma level at 5 min post-injection. Then its concentration decreased gradually until its minimum detectable level at 10 and 12 h post-injection in foals and calves, respectively, was reached. In contrast, the plasma concentrations were...
Zerbe H, Castilho LF, Engelke F, Mattos RC, Schuberth HJ, Klug E, Leibold W.Sufficient numbers of functionally competent polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes (PMN) seem to be of major importance during the course of equine endometritis. In this study, we wanted to establish a method for cryopreservation of functionally competent neutrophils for an intended local endometritis therapy in mares. The separation of leucocytes by hypotonic lysis of whole blood from clinically healthy mares was superior to the separation by dextrose sedimentation. After suspension of the cells in the cryoprotective solution [equine plasma with 5% (v/v) dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO)], the l...
Feige K, Ehrat FB, Kästner SB, Schwarzwald CC.The purpose of this study was to evaluate plasmapheresis as a method for plasma extraction in comparison with centrifugation or gravity sedimentation. The study was designed as a cross over trial with six Freiberger horses undergoing plasma donation by plasmapheresis followed by whole-blood donation and subsequent plasma production 4 weeks later. Automated plasmapheresis and whole-blood donation were well tolerated in all horses. The plasmapheresis method achieved an almost complete removal of erythrocytes and leucocytes from plasma at all flow rates. After blood bag centrifugation, significan...
Sledge DG, Miller DL, Styer EL, Hydrick HA, Baldwin CA.Granulomatous dermatitis in horses has been linked to many etiologies, including various parasites, fungi, and bacteria. Idiopathic forms of granulomatous inflammation-producing diseases, some of which are localized to the skin, also have been reported in horses. Herein we describe a case of recurrent equine granulomatous skin disease characterized by intranuclear viral inclusions within macrophages and giant cells. The histologic changes were primarily noted in the deep dermis and included multifocal to coalescing areas of necrosis marked by histiocytic cell infiltration and presence of giant...
Freeman DE, Kleinzeller A, Donawick WJ, Topkis VA.When sheets of mucosa from the cecum of clinically normal horses were incubated in vitro with radiolabeled L-alanine, they could accumulate this amino acid against an apparent concentration gradient after 60 to 150 minutes of incubation. The active transport system for L-alanine was on the serosal surface of the mucosal sheet only. L-Alanine accumulation at 60 minutes was partly inhibited by 20 mM glycine (P less than 0.01), 0.5 mM ouabain (P less than 0.05), and Na deprivation (P less than 0.02). Anoxia for 60 minutes increased L-alanine accumulation, but had adverse effects on cell structure...
Cho SN, Collins MT, Reif JS, McChesney AE.Attempts to infect horses with Legionella pneumophila were undertaken to determine pathogenicity and to evaluate the possibility that horses serve as a reservoir for the organism. A previous study showed that the prevalence of antibodies to L pneumophila in the equine population exceeded 30% of over 600 sera examined. Horses were infected experimentally with the Philadelphia 1 or Bloomington 2 strain of L pneumophila IV or by aerosolization. Signs of clinical illness were restricted to a transient febrile response. A transient decrease in circulating lymphocytes occurred 2 days after inoculati...
Verger C.We have shown previously that hemoglobin greatly stimulates chick embryo cell proliferation in Eagle's minimal essential medium supplemented with horse serum. In the present study we compared the effects of horse serum plus 10 micrometers hemoglobin to those of fetal bovine serum on subcultures of chick embryo cells serially propagated at high cell densities. The cells became elongated in the presence of fetal bovine serum and their rate of proliferation progressively decreased, whereas they became polygonal in the presence of horse serum plus hemoglobin and proliferated well in successive cel...
Herteman N, Bullone M, Lavoie JP.Heaves is a severe debilitating condition of horses, characterized by lower airway inflammation and permanent structural changes of the bronchial wall. Chronic inflammation promotes the formation of new vessels, a phenomenon known as angiogenesis. Narrow band imaging (NBI) endoscopy is a noninvasive technique that enhances the visualization of submucosal vessels, and commonly is employed for the study of angiogenesis in human patients. Objective: Using NBI, we aimed to determine whether or not the central airways of horses with heaves undergo angiogenesis. Methods: Horses with heaves during ex...
Fonseca AO, Botton Sde A, Nogueira CE, Corrêa BF, Silveira Jde S, de Azevedo MI, Maroneze BP, Santurio JM, Pereira DI.Pythium insidiosum is an important pathogen of mammals' species, including humans. Equine is the main species affected by this oomycete. P. insidiosum requires an aquatic environment to develop its life cycle, and the susceptible hosts are contaminated when they contact the microorganism in swampy areas. The equine pythiosis is characterized by the formation of irregular masses within the cutaneous lesions, called kunkers, which easily detach from the lesion. From these structures, it is possible to isolate P. insidiosum in pure cultures. The present study aimed to reproduce in vitro the life ...
Lauper M, Gerber V, Ramseyer A, Burger D, Lüth A, Koch C, Dolf G.There is a lack of evidence regarding genetic parameters of health traits in Swiss Warmblood horses. Objective: To estimate heritabilities of equine sarcoid disease, horn quality of hooves, prognathism and increased filling of talocrural joints as a possible indicator for osteochondrosis in Swiss Warmblood horses examined at the field tests for 3-year-olds between 2005 and 2013. Methods: Retrospective analysis of breed society database. Methods: Swiss Warmblood horses were examined clinically by 13 veterinarians at field tests in Switzerland between 2005 and 2013. The presence of sarcoids, hor...
Dixon PM, Puidupin C, Borkent D, Liuti T, Reardon RJM. Computed tomographic (CT) imaging has shown some horses with sinonasal diseases to have changes in their sinus bony structures. Scintigraphic and clinical evidence of sinus osteitis have also been reported. However, no study has objectively examined for the presence and degree of osteitis in equine sinonasal disease. To assess for the presence and extent of osteitis of sinus-related bony structures by examination of CT images of horses with clinically and sinoscopically confirmed unilateral sinonasal disease. Retrospective examination of CT images of horses with confirmed, mainly chronic (&...
Sandersen CF, Detilleux J, de Moffarts B, Van Loon G, Amory H.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of combined atropine low-dose dobutamine stress test on left ventricular parameters in adult warmblood horses, to establish a potential protocol for pharmacological stress echocardiography. Seven healthy untrained warmblood horses aged 9 to 22 years were used. Heart rate (HR) and left ventricular B- and M-mode dimensions were recorded at baseline and during stress testing with 35 microg/kg atropine IV followed by incremental dobutamine infusion of 2 to 6 microg/kg/min. HR increased significantly (P < .05) during the pharmacological challen...
Hughes JP.Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) is a highly contagious venereal disease of horses caused by a fastidious, Gram-negative coccobacillus which grows best on chocolate agar under microaerophilic conditions (5-10% CO2). Clinically, the disease is characterized by a copious watery-to-mucopurulent, vaginal discharge two to ten days after breeding by an infected stallion (11, 13). Shortened estrous cycle lengths are common and may be the only indication of endometritis in some instances (7). Inapparent carriers of the disease in both the mare and stallion make control of the disease more difficult. O...
Yamashita K, Muir WW, Tsubakishita S, Abrahamsen E, Lerch P, Hubbell JA, Bednarski RM, Skarda RT, Izumisawa Y, Kotani T.To compare the analgesic and cardiopulmonary effects of medetomidine and xylazine when used for premedication of horses undergoing general anesthesia. Methods: Randomized clinical trial. Methods: 40 horses. Methods: Twenty horses were premedicated with medetomidine (10 microg/kg [4.5 microg/lb], i.m.) and the other 20 were premedicated with xylazine (2 mg/kg [0.9 mg/kg], i.m.). Horses were then anesthetized with a combination of guaifenesin and ketamine; anesthesia was maintained with halothane. Additional doses of medetomidine or xylazine were given if horses were not sufficiently sedated at ...
Martinez CR, Santangelo KS, Olver CS.Whole transferrin receptor (TfR) is present in reticulocyte exosomes. Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) is cleaved from whole TfR in human plasma, with the remnant cytoplasmic domain (cTfR) remaining membrane associated. In humans, sTfR is a biomarker that can detect iron deficiency in the presence of inflammatory disease. This condition is still a diagnostic dilemma in veterinary species. We aimed to (1) confirm the presence of exosomes and exosome-associated TfR in the serum of dogs, cats, and horses; and (2) to assess and compare the proportion of cTfR to total (cTfR + whole) in exoso...
Newkirk KM, Ehrensing G, Odoi A, Boston RC, Frank N.OBJECTIVE To assess insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin expression within pancreatic islets of horses with and without insulin resistance. ANIMALS 10 insulin-resistant horses and 13 insulin-sensitive horses. PROCEDURES For each horse, food was withheld for at least 10 hours before a blood sample was collected for determination of serum insulin concentration. Horses with a serum insulin concentration 20 μU/mL underwent a frequently sampled IV glucose tolerance test to determine sensitivity to insulin by minimal model analysis. Horses with a sensitivity to insulin < 1.0 × 10 L•min•mU w...
Allen WR.Fertilized eggs reach the uterus of the mare by the sixth day after ovulation whereas unfertilized eggs remain lodged in the fallopian tubes for many months. However, embryo removal studies indicate that the fetal message for luteal maintenance in the pregnant mare is not transmitted until Days 14-16. The equine endometrial cups comprise a series of small, ulcer-like endometrial outgrowths which are present in the pregnant horn of the uterus between 40 and 150 days of gestation. Each cup consists of a discrete colony of large, gonadotropin-secreting, trophoblast cells derived from a specialize...
Harada K, Kanemitsu S, Akioka K, Fujita K, Nishi Y, Taura Y, Sasaki N.Fifty-four slaughtered horses were classified into groups having adipose tissue in the crest of the neck with or without hemorrhage (AH and NH groups, respectively). Blood biochemical tests (Alb, TP, T-bil, GOT, GPT, LDH, T-cho, and BUN) and an epidemiological survey (age, gender, weight, origin, breed, BCS, CNS, and hoof disease) were performed. T-bil tended to be high, while the other parameters were normal. Weight, BCS, and CNS were higher in the AH group (P<0.05). GOT was lower in the AH group (P<0.05). It was suspected that the horses in the AH group had lipomatosis. It was assumed ...
Harris P, Marlin D, Gray J.A similar and significant (P less than 0.001) increase in plasma thyroxine (T4) concentration was seen in seven clinically normal thoroughbred horses 2 h after the intravenous administration of either 2.5 iu or 5 iu of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) with a peak response around 4 h after administration. The intravenous administration of 0.2, 0.5 or 1 mg thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) resulted in a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in T4 concentration in three groups of animals; six thoroughbreds in full work, five thoroughbreds at rest and four ponies at rest. The peak response w...
Gibson KT, Burbidge HM, Anderson BH.To describe clinical findings, ultrasonographic features and outcome of injury to the branches of insertion of the superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon in horses. Methods: Retrospective study of 14 cases. Methods: Fourteen Thoroughbred horses with tendonitis affecting the branches of insertion of the SDF tendon were examined for lameness, location and amount of swelling, and the presence of other musculoskeletal abnormalities. The flexor tendons were assessed by ultrasonographic examination, and recommendations were made for management of the cases. Outcome was assessed by re-examination of...
White SD.Pruritus in the horse may be due to several causes, the most common being a hypersensitivity response to salivary proteins in the Culicoides genera, which may coexist with atopic dermatitis, also known as an environmental allergy to pollens, molds, dust, storage mites, etc. Less common etiologies are food allergy and contact allergy, the latter often caused by owners applying various products to the skin. Other ectoparasites, such as Chorioptes mites, may also initiate pruritus. Secondary bacterial infections (usually Staphylococcus spp) may be pruritic in and of themselves. This article revie...
Bernard WV, Reimer JM.Recent advances in veterinary diagnostics have improved our ability to diagnose and treat foal diseases. However, these advances do not replace the physical examination as the most valuable diagnostic aid available to the equine practitioner. The basic physical examination provides the majority of information needed to make a presumptive diagnosis, provide a direction for ancillary tests, and formulate a plan for emergency therapy if needed.
Perryman LE, McGuire TC.Combined immunodeficiency in horses is a genetic disorder in which there is a defect in the production of committed B and T lymphocytes. In this study, peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes from foals with combined immunodeficiency were examined for their capacity to stimulate and respond in one-way mixed lymphocyte cultures. Irradiated cells from combined immunodeficient foals were uniformly capable of stimulating cells from unrelated horses. However, none were able to respond to allogeneic stimulation. Examination of cells from known carrier horses revealed no difference in capacity to sti...
Barbosa JD, Lins AMC, Bomjardim HDA, Silveira NDSES, Barbosa CC, Beuttemmuller EA, Brito MF, Salvarani FM.An investigative and epidemiological study was carried out for equine herpesvirus type 1 (HVE-1) in 10 outbreaks of neurological disease from different farms in the state of Pará, Brazil. 25 horses were studied: six male and 19 females, aged between one and 13 years. A necropsy of six horses was performed, and the others recovered either with or without treatment (T1-vitamin B1 + dexamentasone; T2-vitamin B1 + flunixim meglumine). Animals that received treatment recovered after eight days. The main clinical signs observed were motor incoordination, progressive paresis, thoracic and/or pelvic ...
Foland JW, Trotter GW, Stashak TS, McIlwraith CW, Turner AS, Aanes WA.Fifty-five horses were presented to Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital between 1st of January 1980 and 31st of December 1989 for treatment of distal limb lacerations involving flexor tendons (n = 35) or extensor tendons (n = 20). Of the 35 flexor tendon lacerations, 11 horses were killed without treatment and 24 horses were treated. Twenty-two horses were included in determining outcome. Four (18 per cent) returned to their original level of use, nine (41 per cent) returned to limited riding, seven (32 per cent) returned to breeding or pasture soundness and two (9 per cent)...
Hobbs KJ, Johnson PJ, Wiedmeyer CE, Schultz L, Foote CA.Limited information is available regarding endothelial glycocalyx degradation during sepsis in horses. Plasma syndecan-1 concentrations are increased in consequence of sepsis in other species and have been useful for prognostication. Objective: To determine whether plasma syndecan-1 levels are increased in adult horses affected with sepsis. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Adult horses were assigned to one of three groups based on results of physical and laboratory examinations, clinical diagnosis, and results of previously described SIRS classification: Group 1 horses included he...
Satué K, Gardon JC, Muñoz A.The process of fibrin clot formation is a series of complex and well-regulated reactions involving blood vessels, platelets, procoagulant plasma proteins, natural inhibitors, and fibrinolytic enzymes. Vasculitis can be caused by a variety of different agents as bacteria, viruses, protozoal, rickettsial organisms, toxic, drugs, medications, and neoplasms. The most common cause of vasculitis is the purpura hemorrhagica, which is associated with exposure to Streptococcus equi ssp. equi or less commonly, equine influenza. Deficiencies or defects of the hemostatic components may result in bleeding ...
Sanz MG, Viljoen A, Saulez MN, Olorunju S, Andrews FM.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a commercial feed supplement containing pectin-lecithin on squamous mucosa ulceration in horses exposed to an experimental ulceration model. Five mares were treated while five mares were controls for this crossover, blinded study. The mares were fed concentrates and hay and were stabled with a two-hour turn out per day for a period of four weeks. The pectin-lecithin complex was fed for the duration of the study on the treated group. At the end of a four-week period, all mares underwent a seven-day alternating feed deprivation (week 5). ...
Ross J, Palmer JE, Wilkins PA.To review management of pregnant mares with body wall defects and assess the effect of various management strategies on the outcome of mares and their foals. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 13 mares. Methods: Medical records of eligible mares were reviewed. Signalment, history, admitting complaint, clinical findings, parity, type of body wall defect, concurrent diagnoses, postpartum complications, outcome of fetus, outcome of mare, and type of clinical case management were recorded. Results: 8 mares received conservative management and 5 mares received interventional management. S...
Laverty S, Lavoie JP, Pascoe JR, Ducharme N.Clinical features, treatment and outcome of 15 horses with penetrating thoracic wounds are described. The most common cause of trauma was collision with an object (10 horses). Concurrent clinical findings included subcutaneous emphysema (12 horses), pneumothorax (12 horses), haemothorax (5 horses) and pneumomediastinum (6 horses). Axillary wounds were present in 5 horses. Foreign bodies were identified and removed from 2 horses. Wounds were sutured (6 horses) or packed (7 horses). Air was evacuated from the pleural cavities of 11 horses. Eleven horses (73%) were discharged from the hospital. A...
