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.
van Maanen C.Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV1) and equine herpesvirus 4 (EHV4) are important ubiquitous equine viral pathogens, causing much damage to the horse industry. EHV1 strains are associated with respiratory disease, abortion, and paresis/paralysis, whereas EHV4 strains are predominantly associated with respiratory disease. In the past decades much research effort has been put into improving knowledge about these viruses. In this paper the current state of knowledge of these viruses and the most important aspects of these virus infections, e.g. epidemiology, clinical aspects, pathogenesis and pathology, ...
van Maanen C, Cullinane A.Equine influenza is one of the most economically important contagious respiratory diseases of horses. In this paper the current state of knowledge of equine influenza virus and the most important aspects of these virus infections, e.g. epidemiology, clinical aspects, pathogenesis and pathology, immunity, diagnosis, treatment, management and vaccination, are reviewed with an emphasis on epidemiology, diagnosis and vaccinology. Many questions have remained and with the advent of improved technology new questions have arisen. Consequently, research priorities should be set in an attempt to answer...
Moore BD, Balasuriya UB, Hedges JF, MacLachlan NJ.Equine viral arteritis (EVA) is an endotheliotropic viral disease of horses caused by equine arteritis virus (EAV). Although there is only one serotype of EAV, there is marked variation in the virulence of different strains of the virus. The replication and cytopathogenicity of three well-characterized strains of EAV of different virulence to horses were compared in rabbit kidney (RK-13) and primary equine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (ECs). Viral protein expression, plaque size, and cytopathogenicity of all three viruses were similar in RK-13 cells, whereas two virulent strains of EAV w...
Dowling BA, Dart AJ, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ, Walsh WR.To evaluate the effect of recombinant equine growth hormone (rEGH) on the in vitro biomechanical properties of normal adult equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT). Methods: Completely randomized design. Methods: Nine Standardbred horses, 6 to 9 years of age with ultrasonographically normal forelimb SDFT. Methods: Six horses were administered intramuscular (IM) rEGH at 10 microg/kg/day for 1 week, and then 20 microg/kg/day for another 5 weeks; 3 horses (control subjects) were administered an equivalent daily volume of sterile water IM. Horses were killed at the end of the 6-week treatm...
Dart AJ, Cries L, Jeffcott LB, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ.To evaluate the effect of a commercially available 25% propylene glycol hydrogel preparation (Solugel; Johnson and Johnson Medical, North Ryde, Australia) on healing of full-thickness skin wounds on the distal aspect of the limb in horses. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Eight Standardbred horses. Methods: Standardized (2.5 x 2.5 cm) full-thickness skin wounds were created over the mid-dorsomedial aspect of both metacarpi in 8 horses. One wound in each horse was dressed with saline solution (0.9% NaCl) soaked gauze, and one was treated with Solugel under dry regular gauze; wounds were then ban...
Franz S, Baumgartner W.Oesophageal endoscopy in cattle has been rarely reported in the literature. It has, however, been used for many years as an aid to the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses of the upper gastrointestinal tract in small animals and horses. We have assessed the potential value of oesophagoscopy on 120 bovine patients presented at the 2nd Medical Clinic for Ruminants and Swine at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, over a period of three years. In the course of the study, cattle exhibiting symptoms such as salivation, regurgitation or swelling in the neck region were referred for endosco...
Ohnesorge B, Gehlen H, Wohlsein P.Description of transendoscopic electrosurgical treatment of a pulmonary granular cell tumor in a horse. Methods: Case report. Methods: A 12-year-old Standardbred mare. Methods: After endoscopic examination and transendoscopic biopsy, a granular cell tumor nodule was removed transendoscopically from the right principal bronchus of the sedated horse (0.02 mg/kg detomide intravenous) with a monopolar electrosurgical wire snare. Two days later, the surgical area was irradiated transendoscopically using a Nd-YAG laser. Results: After surgery, the horse had no further signs of respiratory disease. C...
Pérez R, Cabezas I, Godoy C, Rubilar L, Muñoz L, Arboix M, Castells G, Alvinerie M.A study was undertaken in order to compare plasma disposition kinetic parameters of doramectin (DRM) and ivermectin (IVM) in horses after oral administration. Ten crossbreed adult horses, clinically healthy, weighing 380-470 kg body weight (bw) were selected for study. Faecal examinations were performed to determine faecal parasite egg counts. Horses were allocated to two groups of five animals to provide an even distribution considering the variables sex, body weight and faecal egg count. Group I, were treated with an oral paste formulation of IVM at 0.2 mg/kg b/w and Group II, were treated w...
Morehead JP, Blanchard TL, Thompson JA, Brinsko SP.To determine features of an early fetal loss (EFL) syndrome and evaluate potential risk factors for EFL in Thoroughbred broodmares on 4 farms in central Kentucky. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 288 pregnant broodmares. Methods: Year-2001 breeding records for 288 Thoroughbred broodmares were examined. Early fetal loss was defined as loss of a fetus that was viable at > or = 40 days of gestation but was subsequently lost by 5 months of gestation. Results: Overall 2001 EFL rate was 25% (73/288), median gestational age at time of fetal loss was 77 days, and median date of loss was May 7...
Dart AJ, Cries L, Jeffcott LB, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ.To evaluate the effect of intramuscular administration of recombinant equine growth hormone on healing of full thickness skin wounds on equine limbs. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Nine Standardbred horses. Methods: In study 1, standardized full thickness skin wounds (2.5 x 2.5 cm) were made over the dorsomedial aspect of the mid-cannon bone of 1 forelimb and 1 hindlimb in 9 horses. Wounds were bandaged without treatment (control subjects) and videorecorded twice weekly until healed. Then, in study 2, similar wounds were created on the opposite limbs; 6 horses were administered intramuscular ...
Howell PG, Groenewald D, Visage CW, Bosman AM, Coetzer JA, Guthrie AJ.Selected isolates of equine encephalosis virus were shown to have comparable viral protein profiles and to represent seven distinct serotypes, based on cross-neutralization tests. Serotype-specific virus-neutralizing antibody in serum samples from horses confirmed the widespread occurrence of infection. The distribution and prevalence of individual serotypes however, varied considerably. Localised foci with an increased seasonal seroconversion in groups of horses to a specific serotype and the detection of an ongoing low level of infection from other serotypes within the population, confirmed ...
Higuchi T, Nanao Y, Senba H.To report the clinical findings, surgical technique, and outcome after repair of urinary bladder rupture through a urethral incision in postpartum mares. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Four Thoroughbred broodmares. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for clinical signs, surgical technique, medical therapy, and outcome. The bladder was everted into the vagina through a urethral incision that included a sphincterotomy. The bladder defect was repaired with absorbable suture material in a single-layer, full thickness, simple, continuous pattern. The urethral incision was closed similarl...
Doyle-Jones PS, Sullins KE, Saunders GK.To compare synovial regeneration in the equine carpus after mechanical or CO(2) laser synovectomy. Methods: Arthroscopic partial synovectomy was performed in the radiocarpal and intercarpal joints. Methods: Twelve horses, 3 to 6 years of age, were randomly divided into 3 groups. Methods: The antebrachiocarpal and intercarpal joints in each horse were randomly assigned a treatment such that each horse had one joint treated as a control (arthroscopic lavage), one in which a mechanical or CO(2) laser partial dorsal carpal synovectomy was performed, and one in which a combination of the mechanical...
Herholz C, Straub R, Gerber V, Wampfler B, Lüthi S, Imhof A, Moens Y, Busato A.The pulmonary health of 66 horses was assessed by a clinical examination and simple supplementary diagnostic methods. Single breath diagrams for CO(2) (SBD-CO(2)) and derived lung function indices were used to determine pulmonary function. The clinical signs in different groups were related to the results of the lung function indices derived from the SBD-CO(2). In horses with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a significant relationship was found between the respiratory frequency and the ratio of Bohr's dead space to the tidal volume (VD(Bohr)/VT), and between the...
Frees KE, Lillich JD, Gaughan EM, DeBowes RM.To determine history, physical and diagnostic examination findings, medical treatment, and outcome of horses with open injuries to the digital flexor tendon sheath treated with the assistance of tenoscopy. Methods: Betrospective study. Methods: 20 horses. Methods: Medical records of 20 horses with open injuries to the digital flexor tendon sheath were reviewed. Signalment, history, physical and diagnostic examination results, bacteriologic culture and susceptibility testing results, surgical and medical treatments, and follow-up examination results were determined. Outcome was determined by us...
Dowling BA, Dart AJ, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ, Walsh WR.To evaluate the effect of recombinant equine growth hormone (rEGH) on the in vitro biomechanical properties of healing superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in horses. Methods: Completely randomized design. Methods: Twelve Standardbred horses, 3 to 7 years of age, with ultrasonographically normal forelimb SDFT. Methods: One week after induction of collagenase (2,000 U) induced superficial flexor tendonitis, horses were randomly divided into groups of 6. One group was administered intramuscular rEGH (10 microg/kg/day for 1 week, then 20 microg/kg/day for 5 weeks), whereas the other group (co...
Kirschvink N, Di Silvestro F, Sbaï I, Vandenput S, Art T, Roberts C, Lekeux P.This study aimed to test whether shredded cardboard is an appropriate minimum-dust bedding material for heaves-affected horses. Results of standardized in vitro measurement of airborne dust and aeroallergen concentrations of cardboard bedding were significantly lower than those of common bedding materials. Six heaves-affected horses in clinical remission after pasturing were stabled for two months on cardboard bedding and fed grass silage. Pulmonary function tests (PFT: ventilatory mechanics, arterial blood gases, airway inflammation scoring, bronchoalveolar cytology) were performed before, du...
Grulke S, Gangl M, Deby-Dupont G, Caudron I, Deby C, Serteyn D.Gastrointestinal disorders in horses leading to endotoxic shock could have further consequences on other splanchnic organs such as the pancreas, as can be seen in humans suffering from septic shock. In this study, the range of enzymatically active trypsin (EAT) in healthy horses was established and is similar to the range observed in healthy humans. EAT values were determined in horses with acute abdominal crises on admission as well as during anaesthesia and in the postoperative phase. A significant increase in plasma EAT was found in 59% of the horses with surgical colic when compared to our...
Lakritz J, Wilson WD, Marsh AE, Mihalyi JE.Plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetics of erythromycin and related compounds were determined after administration of erythromycin ethylsuccinate to six healthy male foals 3 to 5 months of age. Hay was withheld from the foals overnight and erythromycin ethylsuccinate (25 mg/kg of body weight) was administered intragastrically. Plasma erythromycin concentrations were determined at specific times after drug administration by high-performance liquid chromatography assay. Maximum peak plasma concentrations, time to maximum concentrations, area under plasma concentration versus time curves, elim...
Chilcoat CD, Rowlingson KA, Jones SL.Toxic products such as reactive oxygen intermediates released by activated polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) have an important role in the pathophysiology of diseases associated with the deposition of immune complexes (IC) in tissues. IC-induced activation of PMN requires adhesion mediated by integrin adhesion receptors. Of the integrins expressed on PMN, the beta(2) family has been found to be of particular importance for activation of PMN by IC. beta(2) Integrin ligand binding must be activated to enable adhesion to IC. Both activating and inhibitory signals regulate beta(2) integrin ligand...
Mizukoshi F, Maeda K, Hamano M, Iwata H, Matsumura T, Kondo T, Sugiura T.In this study, IgG subclass responses against equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a type-specific region of EHV-4 glycoprotein G (gG). ELISA using sera collected from horses experimentally infected with EHV-4 revealed that IgGa and IgGb antibodies were detected at high level, but IgGc and IgG(T) antibody responses were detected at low level or were undetectable. The IgGa antibody response reached its peak on day 10 post-infection, and then dropped. The IgGb antibody response reached its maximum level on day 12 post-infection, and t...
Keegan KG, Yonezawa Y, Pai PF, Wilson DA.Video-based kinematic analysis of gait in horses is accurate for quantification of lameness and reliable for identification of the affected limb. Algorithms for the measurement of the vertical head and pelvic displacement and phase correlation with vertical displacement of one forelimb and hindlimb foot have been developed for this purpose. However, because of camera field-of-view limitations, video-based analysis of gait can only be reliably accomplished with the horse constrained to move on a treadmill. This paper describes the use of 2 single-axis accelerometers and 2 gyroscopic transducers...
Palacios H, Hibarren I, Olalla MJ, Cala V.The diagnosis of lead poisoning in horses living on farmland in the vicinity of a battery recycling plant was based on clinical signs as well as on laboratory findings. Chemical analysis of six surface soils (0-15 cm) and herbage samples taken at different distances to the recycling plant showed very high total lead levels in the closest sites to the facility and a clear decrease with distance. Total lead levels in soil samples ranged from 127 to 5657 mg kg(-1), with more than 70% of lead extractable by EDTA in the most polluted soils. Lead levels in the aerial part of herbage samples were in ...
McLean RG, Ubico SR, Bourne D, Komar N.WN virus is one of the most ubiquitous arboviruses occurring over a broad geographical range and in a wide diversity of vertebrate host and vector species. The virus appears to be maintained in endemic foci on the African continent and is transported annually to temperate climates to the north in Europe and to the south in South Africa. Reports of clinical disease due to natural WN virus infection in wild or domestic animals were much less common than reports of infection (virus isolation or antibody detection). Until recently, records of morbidity and mortality in wild birds were confined to ...
Garrett LA, Brown R, Poxton IR.This study compares quantitatively the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract of healthy horses with that of horses with equine grass sickness (EGS). Faecal and ileal samples were cultured quantitatively on selective and non-selective media. Confirmed anaerobes were identified to species level. Overall faecal counts gave a ratio of aerobes:anaerobes of approximately 1:1. However, the mean counts in healthy horses of 4.4x10(8) aerobes:3.7x10(8) anaerobes per gram wet weight were different from counts in EGS (means were 10-100-fold higher), with statistically significant differences for the an...
In 2001, West Nile virus (WNV) activity was reported from 359 counties in 27 states and the District of Columbia (DC) to ArboNET, a web-based, surveillance data network maintained by 54 state and local public health agencies and CDC. This activity represented a marked increase from 2000, when WNV activity was reported from 138 counties in 12 states and DC. This report summarizes surveillance data for 2001, which indicate that 66 human illnesses were reported from 10 states and that widespread WNV activity in birds, horses, and mosquitoes extended into the midwestern United States and several s...
Turner JW, Rutberg AT.There are only two nonlethal approaches with which to manage wildlife populations: remove excess individuals or decrease reproductive rates. In the case of wild horse management, the latter has already been shown to be a more humane and less costly approach. Contraception has been known for many years to be effective in wild horses with regard to both fertility and population alteration. Field testing under real-world management situations is a critical aspect of wildlife contraception assessment. Field testing also requires documentation to justify eventual large-scale use of fertility contro...
Data in briefJune 20, 2020
Volume 31 105887 doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.105887
Martín-Cano FE, Gaitskell-Phillips G, Ortiz-Rodríguez JM, Silva A, Gil C, Ortega-Ferrusola C, Peña FJ.This paper provides the dataset of proteins of stallion ejaculates before and after cryopreservation. The data report the analysis and identification of stallion sperm proteins obtained from the same ejaculates and split in two subsamples. The first aliquot consisted on fresh spermatozoa and the second aliquot was frozen and thawed spermatozoa. Samples were analyzed using a UHPLC/MS/MS system consisting of an Agilent 1290 infinity series UHPLC coupled to an Agilent 6550 Q-TOF mass spectrometer (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA). We provide a data set of 2226 different proteins, with ...
Douglas-Hamilton DH, Osol R, Osol G, Driscoll D, Noble H.A field trial of artificial insemination in horses with transproted, chilled semen was conducted using a specially designed container which permitted a controlled, slow initial rate of cooling (-0.3 degrees C/min) and maintenance of a final temperature of 4 degrees -6 degrees C for more than 36 hrs. Forty-six mares in 23 states were inseminated with semen from three German Warmblood stallions standing at stud in Hamilton, Massachusetts. A third-cycle conception rate of 91% was obtained.
Vengust M, Baird JD, van Dreumel T, Ackerley C, Bienzle D.A case of a 1-month-old Thoroughbred foal with dysphagia, salivation, pyrexia, oral mucosal pustules, and esophageal ulceration is reported. Swabs from the ulcerated lesions yielded Equid herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) in virus isolation assays, and histopathology of a biopsy from the esophageal lesion identified nuclear inclusions suggestive of herpesviruses. Immunohistochemical staining with antibodies specific for EHV-2 was positive for epithelial cells in the vicinity of the ulcer but not in more distant mucosa. Electron microscopic evaluation of the biopsy showed herpesviral particles in epithelia...
Schnuelle ML, Hopster K, Toribio RE, Hurcombe SD.To compare the effects of 7.2% hypertonic and 0.9% isotonic saline (sodium chloride) solutions on cardiovascular parameters and plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentrations in healthy, isoflurane-anesthetized horses. Methods: 8 healthy horses. Methods: In a prospective, randomized, crossover study, horses were anesthetized with isoflurane twice with a 14-day washout period between anesthetic episodes. While anesthetized, horses received a bolus (4 mL/kg) of 7.2% hypertonic saline solution (HS) or 0.9% isotonic saline solution (IS). Heart rate; systolic, mean, and diastolic arterial blood p...
Ahmed W, Elbrønd VS, Harrison AP, Hart JO, Williams RE.Back pain is a common condition in horses, yet despite this, quantitative assessments of the efficacy of treatment are scarce. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) and acoustic myography (AMG) recordings were obtained, both preinterventionand postintervention, from the left and right epaxial muscles in eight healthy general riding horses (mean age 17 ± 6 yrs). Using an algometer, MNT readings were taken at each of the 6 preselected points along the thoracolumbar M. longissimus and M. gluteus medius region. AMG recordings of the M. longissimus and M. gluteus medius were taken while wal...
Warmerdam EP.Ultrasonography of the femoral artery in the horse, including color, power and spectral Doppler, provides morphologic and dynamic information. This paper describes the use of the techniques in six clinically normal horses and three with femoral artery thrombosis. Useful landmarks for orientation are the saphenous artery and the medial saphenous vein. The lateral circumflex femoral artery can not be visualized. Recognition of the genus descendens artery is complicated due to the presence of multiple distal caudal femoral arteries. The femoral artery feeds a high resistance bed. In normal horses...
Johnston JK, Morris DD.Sixty-eight horses with colic caused by small intestinal disease were allotted into 2 groups of 34 on the basis of recorded findings during exploratory celiotomy, necropsy, or response to medical treatment alone. Signalment, history, physical examination findings, and laboratory findings were compared between the group of horses with small intestinal obstruction and the group with duodenitis/proximal jejunitis. A significantly greater proportion of horses with duodenitis/proximal jejunitis were older than 2 years old (P less than 0.05). Differences in sex or breed distribution, or in seasonali...
Grages AM, Verhaar N, Pfarrer C, Breves G, Burmester M, Neudeck S, Kästner S.In experimental studies investigating strangulating intestinal lesions in horses, different ischaemia models have been used with diverging results. Therefore, the aim was to comparatively describe ischaemia reperfusion injury (IRI) in a low flow (LF) and no flow (NF) model. Under general anaesthesia, 120 min of jejunal ischaemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion was induced in 14 warmbloods. During ischaemia, blood flow was reduced by 80% (LF, n = 7) or by 100% (NF, n = 7). Intestinal blood flow and oxygen saturation were measured by Laser Doppler fluxmetry and spectrophotometry. Clinical, hi...
Exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) and its familial basis in Warmblood horses is incompletely understood. Objective: To describe the case details, clinical signs and management of ER-affected Warmblood horses from a family with a high prevalence of ER, to determine if histopathological signs of polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) and the glycogen synthase (GYS1) mutation are associated with ER in this family, and to investigate potential risk factors for development of ER. Methods: A family consisting of a sire with ER and 71 of his descendants was investigated. History of episodes of ER, husba...
Deutsch J, Ekiri A, de Vries A.To compare alfaxalone as continuous intravenous (IV) infusion with intermittent IV injections for maintenance of anaesthesia in ponies undergoing castration. Methods: Prospective, randomized, 'blinded' clinical study. Methods: A group of 33 entire male Welsh ponies undergoing field castration. Methods: After preanaesthetic medication with IV detomidine (10 μg kg) and butorphanol (0.05 mg kg), anaesthesia was induced with IV diazepam (0.05 mg kg) followed by alfaxalone (1 mg kg). After random allocation, anaesthesia was maintained with either IV alfaxalone 2 mg kg hour (group A; n ...
Pillai VV, Mudd LJ, Sola MF.A 19-y-old American Saddlebred gelding was evaluated for epiphora of the right eye and generalized cachexia. Initial examination revealed anterior uveitis without ulceration, for which treatment was initiated. Despite the initial response to treatment, the signs progressively worsened to blindness. Histologic examination of the enucleated eye revealed granulomatous panuveitis and optic neuritis with intralesional nematode larvae identified as . Over time and despite anthelmintic treatment, blindness developed in the left eye along with neurologic signs, and the horse was euthanized. Disseminat...
Domanska-Kruppa N, Venner M, Bienert-Zeit A.Overjet is defined as the projection of the maxillary incisors labial to their antagonists in a horizontal direction. This malocclusion in horses can lead to incorrect dental wear and is aesthetically undesirable. Whether lengthening of the maxilla or shortening of the mandible causes the condition has not yet been determined. Therefore, a measurement technique was developed to investigate the correlations between skull bone measurements in overjet-affected individuals. The position of the incisors in 650 Warmblood foals born in a private German stud was examined at two weeks of age, revealing...
Grosenbaugh DA, Amoss MS, Hood DM, Morgan SJ, Williams JD.Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor binding kinetics and EGF-mediated stimulation of DNA synthesis and cellular proliferation were studied in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from the equine thoracic aorta. Binding studies, using murine 125I-labeled EGF, indicate the presence of a single class of high-affinity binding sites (apparent KD = 2.8 X 10(-11) M), with an estimated maximal binding capacity of 5,800 sites/cell. EGF stimulated [3H]thymidine uptake in confluent quiescent monolayers in a dose-dependent fashion, half-maximal stimulation occurring at 7.5 X 10(-11) M. Likewise...
Mills PC, Ng JC, Seawright AA, Auer DE.Vascular leakage induced by intradermal injection of endotoxin, zymosan-activated plasma (ZAP) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) was measured in nine Thoroughbreds using 125-iodine human serum albumin (125I-HSA) as a marker in the blood. ZAP and PAF produced dose-dependent increases in vascular permeability with the maximum occurring within the first 15 min after injection. The vascular leakage induced by endotoxin was also dose-dependent, but the maximum occurred 2 h after intradermal injection. Intradermal sites previously injected with endotoxin were refractory to a second injection of e...
Held JP, McCracken MD, Toal R, Latimer F.Aspermia was diagnosed in a 12-year-old Thoroughbred stallion with generalized lymphosarcoma. Invasion of the epididymus by neoplastic cells caused thickening and enlargement of both epididymes. The testes were not affected. The nodular ultrasonographic architecture was similar to that in previously reported cases of infectious epididymitis.
Cho SN, Collins MT, Reif JS.The indirect fluorescent antibody test was used to examine 109 samples of equine sera randomly selected from serum pools. Results were compared with titers obtained by the microagglutination (MA) test. A high correlation (r = 0.89) was found between titers measured by the 2 tests. Blood samples were obtained serially from a total of 156 horses at a research farm and the sera were tested against Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 through 4 using the MA test; 29 horses (19%) seroconverted to at least 1 serogroup of L pneumophila. The indirect fluorescent antibody test substantiated the results ...
Wagner AE, Dunlop CI, Wertz EM, Chapman PL.To determine whether hemodynamic responses of halothane-anesthetized horses undergoing surgical procedures depended on anesthetic induction protocols used, and to determine whether hemodynamic responses to surgical manipulation could be detected. Methods: Prospective experimental study without controls. Methods: 36 clinically normal horses. Methods: Horses were allotted to 5 groups according to anesthetic induction protocol: acepromazine/guaifenesin/thiamylal, acepromazine/guaifenesin/ketamine, xylazine/guaifenesin/thiamylal, xylazine/guaifenesin/ketamine, and xylazine/diazepam/ketamine. Anest...
Hontoir F, Paques F, Simon V, Balau B, Nicaise C, Clegg P, Dugdale A, Vandeweerd JM.Foot pain is a frequent cause of lameness in horses and can involve multiple structures within the hoof. The T-ligament (an anatomical structure connecting the synovium of the distal interphalangeal joint, the digital flexor tendon sheath and the navicular bursa) is poorly described. Five pairs of equine cadaver distal forelimbs were collected from a slaughterhouse. Sagittal sections (medial, middle and lateral) were obtained and processed with Haematoxylin Eosin Safran, Unna's Orcein, and Picrosirius red stains. Histological assessment revealed that the T-ligament was covered by the surroundi...
Stephenson N, Hodzic E, Mapes S, Rejmanek D, Foley J.Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a tick-transmitted bacterial pathogen of humans and animals comprising strains that cause clinical disease in people, dogs and horses (the pathogenic A. phagocytophilum "genospecies") and more distantly related strains. A rodent-adapted genospecies named DU1, found primarily in woodrats, is unable to infect horses. We developed a real-time PCR (RT-PCR) assay, which targets an 85 base pair region of the ank gene and is specific for the pathogenic genospecies of A. phagocytophilum from North America. Thirty DNA samples from A. phagocytophilum RT-PCR-positive rodents ...
Nourian AR, Baldwin GI, van Eps AW, Pollitt CC.The pathology of equine laminitis has been well-documented 48 h after dosing with oligofructose when clinical lameness and lamellar disintegration is well advanced. Further analysis of the earliest lesions, by collecting lamellar samples at the first sign of foot lameness after oligofructose dosing is required in order to increase understanding of the disease. Objective: To investigate lamellar epidermal hemidesmosome damage and basement membrane dysadhesion by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Methods: Eight clinically normal, mature Standardbred horses were divided randomly into 2 grou...
Bos H, van der Meij GJ, Dik KJ.Bone structure, nutrient canals, form and definition, and a total evaluation of both fore navicular bones were radiologically evaluated in 169 three- and four-year-old Dutch warmblood mares divided into eleven daughter (half sister) groups. On the basis of the 'total evaluation', differences between the three- and four-year-old horses were detectable. Using the 'total evaluation', significant differences were found between daughter groups consisting of three-year-old mares. These differences support the theory that podotrochleosis may be (partly) due to the presence of genetic factors. The pos...
Hartig W, Houe H, Andersen PH.The plentiful data on Danish horses are currently neither organized nor easily accessible, impeding register-based epidemiological studies on Danish horses. A common database could be beneficial. In principle, databases can contain a wealth of information, but no single database can serve every purpose. Hence the establishment of a Danish equine health database should be preceded by careful consideration of its purpose and content, and stakeholder attitudes should be investigated. The objectives of the present study were to identify stakeholder attitudes to the importance, purpose, research ar...
Keen JA, O'Connor SA.Short-term electrocardiogram (ECG) examinations of horses may not detect paroxysmal arrhythmias. Twenty-four hour Holter equipment can be unwieldy and inconvenient for long-term use. This study evaluated a novel long-term ECG patch recorder, the Carnation Ambulatory Monitor (CAM) in horses, determining ideal placement, practicality, durability and performance. Methods: Twenty-one adult mixed-breed horses. Methods: Prospective observational study. Three horses had ECG patches fitted at selected sites (phase 1); the two most promising sites were used for further wear testing (phase 2) and the b...
Chang LY, Chang SM, Andrews L, Saeedi O.Hippotherapy has recently emerged as a horse-based rehabilitative therapy to improve balance, coordination, and strength in patients with a wide range of medical conditions. Although several studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in restoring balance and gait in patients who have suffered cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), few studies have reported on adverse events associated with the treatment. Methods: This case report describes a female post-stroke patient who fell from a horse during a hippotherapy session. She suffered a closed right zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture and ruptured g...
