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.
Meyer GA, Rashmir-Raven A, Helms RJ, Brashier M.This study was performed to determine the effect of administration of i.v. oxytocin on the contractility of the musculature associated with the equine oesophagus. Nine clinically normal horses were fitted with a nasogastric tube modified with inflatable latex cuffs. These cuffs were connected to piezoelectric pressure recording devices. Oxytocin in 3 different doses or saline controls were administered i.v. in a randomised block pattern. Systolic blood pressure, ECG, heart rate and nasogastric tube cuff pressures were then measured for 60 min. Administration of oxytocin i.v. at 0.11 and 0.22 i...
von Rechenberg B, McIlwraith CW, Akens MK, Frisbie DD, Leutenegger C, Auer JA.Nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and the activity of neutral metalloproteinases (NMPs) were measured in conditioned media of equine synovial membrane and articular cartilage explant cultures from horses with normal joints (n = 7) and from horses affected with moderate (n = 7) or severe osteoarthritis (n = 14) as judged by macroscopic appearance. Normal articular cartilage appeared glossy and bluish-white, was of normal thickness and showed no evidence of discolouration, fibrillation or other cartilage discontinuity. Slight discolouration and fibrillation or minor clefts of the carti...
Raisis AL, Young LE, Meire HB, Taylor PM, Walsh K, Lekeux P.Ultrasonography of the left and right femoral artery and vein was performed in 5 conscious horses. Velocity waveforms, recorded using low pulse repetition frequency, were used to calculate time-averaged mean velocity (TAV), velocity of component a (TaVa), velocity of component b (TaVb) and volumetric flow. Waveform analysis included calculation of early diastolic deceleration slope (EDDS) and pulsatility index (PI) and subjective description of the waveform. Measurements were recorded at monthly intervals for 6 months. The repeated measurements were used to determine the within-horse variation...
Törneke K, Larsson CI, Appelgren LE.Isoxsuprine is used in veterinary medicine as a vasodilating agent. The drug has been detected in the urine of horses up to 6 weeks after the cessation of administration. In the present study, the distribution pattern of 3H-isoxsuprine was investigated using whole body autoradiography in mice to find a possible site of retention. Melanin was the only place of retention identified. Additional in vitro studies showed an affinity of isoxsuprine to both melanin and keratin. The K(d) values were 0.02 mmol/l and 1 mmol/l, and the B(max) values were 0.2 micromol/mg and 2 micromol/mg, respectively. A ...
Giangaspero A, Tieri E, Otranto D, Battistini ML.A survey on the prevalence of Thelazia spp. in Abruzzo region (Italy) in slaughtered native horses was conducted from August 29, 1997 to August 28, 1998. Both eyes from 128 eight-month to 11 year-old native animals were examined. 50 horses (39.06%) were found parasitized by Thelazia lacrymalis. 502 specimens (371 females, 88 males and 12 larvae) were collected. In the infected horses the numbers of T. lacrymalis ranged from 1 to 48, with a mean count burden of 3.92 per head (SD = 7.79). T. lacrymalis specimens were mainly in the excretory ducts of the Harderian gland, and also in the ducts of ...
Roy MF, Lavoie JP, Deschamps I, Laverty S.Primary splenic disease in the horse is rarely recognised as a
clinical entity. A few cases of splenic abscesses (Swan 1968),
splenic haematoma (Spier et al. 1986; McGorum et al. 1996),
and splenic rupture (Finocchio 1971; Steiner 1981; Dyke and
Friend 1988) have been reported. One case of primary
splenomegaly associated with recurrent colic has been
described in the veterinary literature and a splenectomy was
performed which corrected the problem (Varra and Nelson
1976). We are aware of only one report of splenomegaly
associated with splenic infarction in horses (Scott et al. 1978);
...
Belloli C, Carcano R, Arioli F, Beretta C.We used isolated equine digital arteries to study the vasodilatory mechanism of isoxsuprine, and fowl caecum preparations to investigate the affinity of the drug for beta-adrenoceptors. Isoxsuprine is a potent vasodilator of arterial smooth muscle that has been precontracted by an alpha-adrenoceptor agonist such as noradrenaline (log EC50 = -6.33 [-5.98; -6.68]). The present study indicates that its effect is due to alpha-adrenoceptor blockade since: (1) after a long lasting exposure to cumulative doses of isoxsuprine the vasoconstricting action of noradrenaline cannot be restored; (2) isoxsup...
Cantlon JD, Gordy PW, Bowen RA.Vesicular stomatitis (VS) virus causes an important clinical disease of cattle and horses in North America. In order for a vaccine to be useful in the control of VS, it must not only protect against disease, but allow ready differentiation of infected and vaccinated animals. In these studies, we evaluated neutralizing antibody responses in outbred mice, calves, and horses that received a DNA vaccine that expressed the glycoprotein (G) gene of VS New Jersey virus. The vaccine elicited antibody titers in individuals from each species, especially when two doses were administered, but the level of...
Feige K, Schwarzwald C, Fürst A, Kaser-Hotz B.The major purpose of this investigation was to describe the causes, possible complications, and prognoses of horses with esophageal obstruction. Of 34 cases presenting with esophageal obstruction, 28 cases were due to impaction of ingesta. Obstruction due to pre-existing esophageal disease occurred in 4 horses with megaesophagus, in 1 horse with stricture in the upper third of the esophagus, and in 1 horse with esophageal diverticulum. There was no significant difference in the contamination of the trachea between horses that subsequently developed aspiration pneumonia and those that did not. ...
Trimeche A, Yvon JM, Vidament M, Palmer E, Magistrini M.The supplementation of the freezing diluent with 3 amino acids (glutamine, proline and histidine) and 1 amino acid-related compound (betaine) in preserving stallion spermatozoa diluted in INRA82 extender containing 2.5% (v/v) glycerol and 2% (v/v) egg yolk (control extender) during freezing and thawing was studied at 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 mM in 20 split ejaculates (10 stallions x 2 ejaculates; Experiment 1). Glutamine and proline were studied at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 mM in 20 split ejaculates (10 stallions x 2 ejaculates; Experiment 2). In each experiment, spermatozoa were eval...
Sevinga M, Schukken YH, Hesselink JW, Jonker FH.The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the change in cross-sectional area of the early corpus luteum (CL) and progesterone production in relation to subsequent pregnancy diagnosis. The cross-sectional area of the CL of 75 Friesian brood mares was measured by ultrasonography on Day 1 or 2 and Day 8 or 9 after ovulation. The change in cross-sectional area was expressed in a volume ratio. Plasma progesterone concentrations were measured on Days 8 to 9, and ultrasonography to determine pregnancy status was carried out on Day 17. The data obtained were analyzed by using a multiple logisti...
Perkins JD, Bowen IM, Else RW, Marr CM, Mayhew IG.The parasympathetic terminal cardiac ganglia were examined in three normal horses and in five horses with grass sickness. Histopathological changes, consistent with those observed in other ganglia of horses with grass sickness, were identified in the terminal cardiac ganglia of the affected horses. A functional analysis of cardiac autonomic control by time domain analysis (TDA) of heart rate variability was applied to eight horses with grass sickness, and double-paired to 16 normal horses on the basis of their age, sex and breed, and the time of day at which the electrocardiographs were obtain...
Nikolakopoulos E, Watson ED.Bacteria were infused into the uteri of 5 estrous mares resistant to persistent mating-induced endometritis, first during a control cycle, and then during treatment with clenbuterol, a beta 2 agonist. Uterine cellular response was evaluated 48 h later by transrectal ultrasonography, followed by uterine lavage. During clenbuterol treatment all mares accumulated intrauterine fluid, whereas in the control cycle none of the mares retained fluid. There was no significant difference between the 2 cycles in the cloudiness of the lavage fluid, number of cells per milliliter, percentage of neutrophils ...
Guignot F, Bezard J, Palmer E.In the mare only a limited number of oocytes can be successfully collected in vivo, so that when large numbers of oocytes are needed for experimentation, ovaries harvested from slaughtered mares must be used. The resulting temperature changes and time intervals mandated by handling and transport of ovaries from the slaughterhouse to the laboratory adversely affect the rate of oocyte recovery and their quality after IVF and maturation. We chose to study the effect of temperature and time in transit of excised ovaries by evaluating rate of oocyte recovery, nuclear maturation stage reached before...
Blanchard TL, Taylor TS, Love CL.Breeding records from a herd of mammoth asses (Equus asinus americanus) maintained on pasture in southeast Texas from 1990 to 1998 were reviewed. Jennies were pasture or hand mated, and estrus was either observed while the jennies were on pasture or when exposed to a jack after being penned. Eighty-one estrus periods and 43 diestrus intervals were recorded in 33 jennies over 4 seasons of the year (January-March, April-June, July-September, and October-December). Estrous cycle length and the duration of estrus were similar among seasons. Over all seasons, estrous cycle length was 23.3 +/- 2.6 d...
Baeyens WR, Van der Weken G, Haustraete J, Aboul-Enein HY, Corveleyn S, Remon JP, García-Campaña AM, Deprez P.The group of LiChrospher ADS (alkyl-diol silica) sorbents that make part of a unique family of restricted-access materials, have been developed as special packings for precolumns used in the LC-integrated sample processing of biofluids. The advantage of these sorbents lies in the direct injection of untreated biological fluids, that is without sample clean-up, the elimination of the protein matrix with a quantitative recovery together with an on-column enrichment. The present method is based on previous work applying UV detection at 260 nm for ketoprofen determinations. Plasma samples introduc...
Tunón AM, Rodríguez-Martínez H, Hultén C, Nummijärvi A, Magnusson U.Undiluted uterine fluid from 20 Warmblood/Standardbred mares (5 to 14 yr old) was recovered by absorption to an intrauterine tampon. The mares were considered gynecologically healthy based on a clinical examination including uterine swabs for cytology and bacteriology as well as endometrial biopsy examinations. The protein profiles (SDS-PAGE) and concentrations of total protein, albumin, and immunoglobulins (Ig) A and G in the uterine fluid were examined and compared with the same proteins in serum. Major peaks were identified on the obtained protein profiles, and there was a clear similarity ...
LeBlanc MM, Neuwirth L, Jones L, Cage C, Mauragis D.The position of the uterus within the abdomen may affect a mare's ability to rapidly clear the uterine lumen of contamination. In this study, the position of the uterus was determined from left and right lateral flank scintigrams taken 1 and 2 h after intrauterine infusion of radiocolloid. Scintigraphy was performed during estrus in 44 mares, 24 were reproductively normal and 20 exhibited a delay in uterine clearance. Reproductively normal mares were nulliparous (n = 14) or pluriparous (n = 10), 3 to 21 yr of age, had no history of persistent uterine infections and cleared > 50% of a radioc...
Troedsson MH.The objective of this article is to review the role of uterine defense mechanisms in natural resistance to chronic or persistent endometritis. A breakdown of uterine physical clearance mechanisms is currently believed to play a major role in susceptibility to persistent endometritis. Mares with increased susceptibility to persistent endometritis have impaired myometrial contractility in response to an acute inflammation, resulting in an accumulation of fluid and inflammatory products within the uterine lumen. The origin of this defect remains unknown. Recent studies have demonstrated that sper...
Rodger FE, Illingworth PJ, Watson ED.Although the mare corpus luteum (CL) is capable of aromatization, the expression of other enzymes involved in estradiol synthesis is not yet clear. This study examined the localization of P450C17 in the mare CL at different stages of its functional development. In ovaries from follicular phase mares P450C17 was localized in the theca cells of ovarian follicles. Following ovulation, no immunostaining for P450C17 was detected in the mature CLs of nonpregnant mares. In pregnant mares, no immunostaining for P450C17 was identified in the corpus luteum prior to secretion of eCG by the feto placental...
Love CC, Kenney RM.The relationship between fertility and susceptibility of sperm DNA to denaturation was determined in a group of 84 actively breeding, clinically fertile stallions. Susceptibility of DNA to denaturation was determined using the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). The SCSA measures, mean of alpha-t (mean alpha t), standard deviation of alpha-t (SD alpha t), and the COMP of alpha-t (cells outside the main population)] were significantly correlated with the percentage seasonal pregnancy rate (SPR; mean alpha t, r = -0.24, P < or = 0.05; % COMP alpha t, r = -0.27, P < or = 0.05); percentage pre...
Gastal EL, Gastal MO, Ginther OJ.Ultrasonically detected changes in the equine preovulatory follicle were characterized for the 3 d preceding ovulation early (n = 47) and late (n = 14) in the ovulatory season. Values for the following follicle end points increased progressively over the 3 d: diameter, incidence of nonspherical shape, echogenicity of the apparent granulosa layer, and prominence of an anechoic layer beneath the granulosa. The latter 2 echotexture end points were scored from 1 to 3 (minimal to maximal). Follicle diameter and the 2 echotexture characteristics were more prominent early than late in the ovulatory s...
McKenzie DM, Diffay BC.Cryptosporidial oocyst shedding was detected in a 2.5-year-old Quarterhorse stallion with diarrhoea. Based on the detection of cryptosporidial oocysts, and the absence of other aetiological agents or enteropathogens, cryptosporidiosis was presumptively diagnosed. This case was unusual because cryptosporidial oocyst shedding is primarily found in some immunocompromised or immature horses, and has not been reported in healthy mature horses.
Malmgren L.The storage and transport of cooled, liquid semen is an effective way of facilitating the use of desirable stallions for breeding mares located on distant farms. The Equitainer System is the most widely used transport container and it has been shown that it is possible to ship semen in this container and obtain good conception rates. However, the cost of Equitainers is high, and stud-farms that ship large quantities of semen have tended to rely on cheaper alternatives, even though little documentation exists concerning their reliability, especially under extreme temperature conditions. Two dif...
Collins MN, Friend TH, Jousan FD, Chen SC.Three groups of slaughter-type horses, totaling 30 mares and 29 geldings, were used to determine density effects on displacement (distance moved during a stop), falls, injuries, and orientation using a single-deck, open-topped commercial semi-trailer. Each horse was assigned to one of two treatments: high density (1.28 m(2)/horse with 14 horses) or low density (2.23 m(2)/horse with eight horses). Both treatments occurred sequentially on the same day (treatment order was alternated each trial), using the middle 2.44x7.32 m compartment of a large semi-tractor trailer. The horses were transported...
Mebarki M, Kaidi R, Azizi A, Basbaci M.Ultrasonographic fetal sexing is of utmost economic importance for horse breeders. Relatively, a few studies have been conducted to determine fetal sex in mare using transrectal Doppler ultrasound. This study aimed to compare two sexing techniques, two-dimensional (2D) mode and color Doppler ultrasonography. Methods: The study was conducted on 39 mares under field conditions. Examinations were performed using the ultrasonic model device (Medison SonoAce Pico, South Korea), equipped with real-time 3-7 MHz convex multifrequency transducer. Fetal sex diagnosis was carried out in two periods of pr...
Agne GF, Jung SW, Wooldridge AA, Duran SH, Ravis W, Toribio R.Diuretic treatment is the mainstay for management of congestive heart failure in horses, and its use has been restricted to injectable medications because no currently data supports the use of PO administered loop diuretics. Objective: To determine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of PO administered torsemide and, determine if PO administered torsemide, could be used as an alternative to injectable diuretics in the horse. Methods: Six healthy adult mares. Methods: A 2-phase, prospective study, that consisted of pharmacokinetic profiling of a single dose (6 mg/kg PO) and pharm...
Marcatili M, Voss SJ, Pollock PJ.To describe a surgical technique for thyroidectomy in horses with thyroid neoplasia under standing sedation and local anesthesia. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Client-owned horses (n = 10). Methods: Medical records of horses with a history of thyroid enlargement were included in the study if thyroid gland enlargement was treated surgically via hemi- or bilateral thyroidectomy, with the horse standing and sedated. Data derived from follow-up clinical examination, performance level, recurrence, and cosmetic outcome were evaluated. Results: Thyroid enlargement was unilateral in 8 and...
Müller EMT, Ehrle A, Pozzi A, Lasarzik de Ascurra J, Lischer CJ, Kümmerle JM.To describe open reduction and surgical stabilization of a coxofemoral luxation in a pony using a modified toggle pin technique and prosthetic joint capsule reconstruction without osteotomy of the greater trochanter. Methods: A 2-year-old Shetland pony with a bodyweight of 167 kg. Methods: Case report. Methods: Radiographic examination confirmed craniodorsal luxation of the left coxofemoral joint. An open reduction with the aid of a pulley system was performed. A toggle pin was inserted through a bone tunnel extending from the level of the femoral shaft through the femoral head and the cente...
Feige K, Eser MW, Geissbühler U, Balestra E, Metzler K.Hirsutism was the most often observed symptom in horses with a pituitary gland tumor and was present in all 13 examined horses. Other symptoms were atrophy of muscles (n = 10), hyperhidrosis (n = 8), polyuria/polydipsia (n = 5), bulging or supraorbital fat (n = 3), polyphagia (n = 2), apathy (n = 2) and seizures (n = 2). Laminitis was the most frequently observed concurrent disease (n = 8). Hyperglycaemia (mean, 9.9 +/- 3.71 mmol/l) in 13 horses and glucosuria (median, 55 [range, 2-55] mmol/l) in 7 horses were the most important laboratory results. The dexamethasone suppression test was positi...
Van Pelt RW, Langham RF, Gill HE.A 2-year-old Standardbred colt with a history of intermittent lameness of the left hindlimb had hemangiosarcomatous involvement of the tarsal synovial sheath. Tibiotarsal and proximal intertarsal synovial sacs were visibly distended and there was pronounced distension of the tarsal synovial sheath. A large, firm mass was palpable in the sheath at about the level of the tuber calcis. Three circumscribed sessile growths were surgically excised from the sheath. The growths were lobulated, moderately vascular, and of fibrotic consistency. Microscopically, the pattern of the hemangiosarcomas appear...
Barth AD, Barber SM, McKenzie NT.A two month old Thoroughbred filly was presented with signs of depression, grinding of the teeth, frothing of the mouth and abdominal pain. These signs had persisted for two weeks despite treatment with mineral oil, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, meperidine and antibiotics. A variety of diagnostic tests were done, the only abnormal finding was a stress leukon. On exploratory laparotomy the stomach was dilated with fluid and gas and the pyloric canal was constricted. Pyloroplasty resulted in correction of the condition. The etiological possibilities are discussed. This is believed to be the fir...
Serov OL, Zakijan SM, Kulichkov VA.Erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) was examined by 13% starch gel electrophoresis in 74 mules (42 females and 32 males), 35 donkeys, and ten horses. The quantitative expression of the parental alleles at the Gpd locus varies greatly in female mules from the hemizygous expression of the maternal allele to that of the paternal. The data obtained indicate that the X chromosomes are randomly inactivated in females mules. No selective advantage of a cell population with a maternally (or paternally) derived X active was found in female mule erythrocytes. It is suggested that the ph...
Epp T, Waldner C, Leighton FA, Berke O, Townsend HG.The primary objectives of this study were to determine the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) infection of horses in Saskatchewan in 2003 and to identify risk factors for the infection. Blood samples were collected in August and October from 212 horses in 20 herds in 5 geographic zones. After accounting for within-herd clustering, the proportion of horses that had been infected with WNV, as determined by IgG and IgM antibody response, was 55.7% (95% confidence interval, 44.9% to 65.8%). The proportion of antibody-positive horses differed among herds (0% to 100%) and across ecoregions (20%...
Lohmann KL, James CR, Higgins SN, Howden KJ, Epp T.This retrospective study describes the detection of equine infectious anemia (EIA) during Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) disease investigations in Canada, examines aspects of importance for disease control, and evaluates potential animal-level risk factors for EIA in high-risk horses. Based on review of all EIA-positive samples and all samples collected during disease investigations (N = 4553) over a 4-year period (2009 to 2012), 409 EIA cases were detected. Horse owners with EIA cases owned between 1 and 60 affected animals, and 49 horses seroconverted during a disease investigation p...
Bauer JE, Meyer DJ, Campbell M, McMurphy R.Alterations in serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in ponies with experimentally induced liver disease were investigated. Hepatocellular damage was induced, using a nonlethal dose of carbon tetrachloride. In a separate group of ponies, obstructive jaundice was induced by surgical ligation of the common bile duct. Over a 6-day period, blood samples were obtained from ponies after treatment with carbon tetrachloride and for 12 days in ponies subjected to surgery. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were unaffected in both groups of ponies, except for significantly (P less th...
Briant C, Toutain PL, Ottogalli M, Magallon T, Guillaume D.The appropriate dosage regimen for equine FSH (eFSH) (dose, dosing interval) administration in a superovulation treatment in pony mares was determined by a kinetic approach using production rates and kinetic parameters of elimination of the hormone. Two dosage regimens were then tested in superovulation protocols. The eFSH production rates were determined by sampling four ovariectomized pony mares every 10 min for 8 h during the breeding season. Kinetic parameters were determined by administering four dose levels of a preparation of eFSH (4.4, 8.8, 17.6 and 35.2 micro g/kg) by the i.v. route t...
Auer DE, Ng JC, Reilly JS, Seawright AA.The vascular leakage induced by histamine, bradykinin, serotonin and prostaglandin E1 and E2 was assessed. The test agents were injected intradermally into the shaved thoracic skin of horses and the vascular leakage estimated either semi-quantitatively by recording the diameter of the lesions or by measuring the actual volume of extravasated plasma in microliters using iodine-125-labelled human serum albumin (125I-HSA) as a marker in the blood plasma. Using the latter method, the vascular leakage induced by carrageenin and the effect of coadministered prostaglandins E1 and E2 upon the vascular...
Dahan R, Sutton GA, Oreff GL, Kelmer G.The primary objective of this study was to determine the agreement between the packed cell volume (PCV) and total solids (TS) values in blood collected from the jugular vein (JV) in comparison with the cephalic vein (CV) and the transverse facial venous sinus (TFVS) in healthy adult horses. A total of 72 samples were taken from 24 horses. We found high agreement that reflects no clinically relevant differences between the PCV and TS values obtained from the CV or the TFVS in comparison with the JV in standing healthy adult horses.
Welles EG, Prasse KW, Moore JN.Protein C content and plasminogen activity were measured in plasma from 100 horses with signs of colic. Data were analyzed by grouping horses 4 ways. Each horse was allotted to 1 of 2 outcome groups (survivors and nonsurvivors), 1 of 3 broad-category diagnosis groups (inflammatory disorders, strangulating obstructions, and all other gastrointestinal disorders), and 1 of 2 clinical management groups (medical and surgical). In a fourth grouping, all horses (although numbers of horses included in each subgroup were small) were assigned either to specific diagnostic groups that had high expectatio...
Waraksa E, Owczarek K, Kubica P, Kłodzińska E, Ozimek M, Wrzesień R, Bobrowska-Korczak B, Namieśnik J.Bromhexine (BH), expectorant used in the treatment of respiratory disorders associated with viscid or excessive mucus, is not permitted for use in the competing horse by many authorities in horseracing and Olympic disciplines. Metabolic studies are of the great importance in anti-doping field because they allow for updating the selection of the most appropriate markers for prohibited substances, such as metabolites present at higher concentration levels and/or lasted for a longer period of time in biological samples than a parent drug. This study describes LC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneou...
Fujimura S, Hondo E, Kobayashi T, Yamanouchi K, Inoue N, Nagata S, Watanabe G, Taya K, Kitamura N, Yamada J.Inhibin is believed to play roles in the pituitary secretion of FSH and in the paracrine regulation of testicular function. Although it has been generally accepted that inhibin is produced in Sertoli cells, there was a recent evidence for the localization of inhibin in Leydig cells of primates, rat and sheep. However, there is no report on the expression of inhibin in the adult horse testis. Therefore, using immunohistochemistry, western blotting and in situ hybridization techniques, the present study examined inhibin alpha-subunit (Ih-alpha) expression in the adult horse testis. For the detec...
Meister D, Fürst A, Kaegi B, Struchen C, Kaser-Hotz B, Flückiger M.In a retrospective study the tolerance to Teflon coated catheters in long-term intravenous medication was evaluated in 80 horses. Catheters were inserted into the jugular vein and remained there for 3 to 30 days (average 8.6 days). Catheters were flushed using an heparinized solution after each medication administration. The site of catheter placement was evaluated daily for swelling, pain and venous distensibility respectively. Swelling at the site of insertion was noted in 10 horses, a small subcutaneous abscess formation was identified in one horse. Fourteen sonographic evaluations were per...
de Backer P, Vandecasteele-Thienpont LM, Jonckheere JA, Belpaire FM, Debackere M, de Leenheer AP.Bromhexine was administered orally (2 mg./kg.) and intravenously (i. v.) (1 mg./kg.) in 3 horses. Plasma levels were measured and the pharmacokinetic behaviour and bioavailability were estimated. The half-life of elimination after i. v. administration ranged from 3.1 to 4.4 hours. The mean values of the apparent volume of distribution and the volume of distribution of the central compartment amounted to 16.2 and 3.3 1./kg., respectively. A very high plasma clearance, ranging from 49.8 to 59 ml./kg./min., was found.
One hour after oral administration, a mean peak plasma level of about 14 ng....
Lee H, Campbell WD, Theis KM, Canning ME, Ennis HY, Jackson RL, Hanson RR.Fresh and frozen cartilage samples of the fetlock, carpus, and stifle were collected from 12 deceased horses. Half were measured immediately following extraction, and half were frozen for seven days and then measured. Seven indentations (various normalized displacements) were implemented with an indention rate of 0.1 mm/s. Solid phase aggregate modulus (Es), hyperelastic material constant (α), and fluid load fraction (F') of equine articular cartilage were assessed using the Ogden hyperelastic model. The properties were statistically compared in various joints (fetlock, carpus, and stifle),...
Bertone AL, Stashak TS, Sullins KE.Large colon resection and anastomosis was performed in 11 horses at various levels of the colon, using several surgical methods. The level of resection ranged from the pelvic flexure to the cecocolic ligament. Nine of 11 horses survived and at follow-up (4 months to 7 years) were free of clinical signs referable to disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Seven horses could be evaluated as to athletic or reproductive function and all returned to original potential.
König von Borstel U, Bernhard V.The objective of this study was to compare the impact of health disorders and reasons for culling on the functional and biological longevity of warmblood breeding stallions using semi-parametric survival analysis accounting for competing risks. Complete breeding records were collected from 455 warmblood stallions serving between 1975 and 2010 at Marbach State Stud in Germany. The median length of life (18.0 years) was twice as long as the median length of service (9.0 years). However, both figures increased significantly over the time period examined (e.g., functional longevity increased from ...
De Amicis I, Bucci R, Giangaspero B, D'Alterio N, Trachtman AR, Robbe D.Orchitis and epididymo-orchitis are inflammatory lesions of the testicle. We herein describe a case of monolateral chronic orchitis which occurred in a Tiro Pesante Rapido (TPR) stallion, born in 2002, with a history of good fertility. The stallion was healthy and asymptomatic although the left testis was found to be smaller as compared with the right one and was hard in consistency. Histopathology examination revealed tubular atrophy and parenchymal sclerosis. Scattered foci of calcification and chronic inflammation, the latter dominated by macrophages and lymphocytes, were also observed. Alt...
Manohar M, Goetz TE, Griffin R, Sullivan E.To determine the effects of phenylbutazone administration on heart rate and right atrial and pulmonary vascular pressures in Thoroughbreds during rest and during exercise performed at maximal heart rate. Methods: 7 healthy, exercise-conditioned Thoroughbreds. Methods: Horses were studied on 3 occasions: without medication [control], after i.v. administration of phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg of body weight) at 12-hour intervals for 2 days and a final dose given 1 hour before exercise, and after i.v. administration of phenylbutazone for 2 days in the same manner, but with the final dose given 24 hou...
Chapman CB, Courage P, Nielsen IL, Sitaram BR, Huntington PJ.Procaine penicillin is a commonly used antibiotic in equine medicine but its use is associated with a substantial incidence of adverse reactions. Soluble procaine concentrations were determined by HPLC in several commercially available procaine penicillin preparations, including some that were involved in adverse reactions. The mean (+/- SEM) soluble procaine concentrations in the veterinary preparations was 20.18 +/- 5.07 mg/ml, which was higher than the concentration in the only procaine penicillin preparation for use in humans in Australia of 7.3 mg/ml. Heating the veterinary procaine penic...
McGuirk SM, Muir WW, Sams RA.A pharmacokinetic study was made, using 7 healthy adult horses (weighing between 400 and 560 kg) given quinidine gluconate IV and quinidine sulfate orally. The apparent volume of distribution of quinidine base was 3.10 +/- 0.79 L/kg, total body clearance was 5.49 +/- 2.40 ml/minute/kg, and plasma half-life was 6.65 +/- 3.00 hours. The systemic availability of quinidine sulfate after oral administration of a 10 mg/kg dose was 48.5 +/- 20.4%. Oral administrations of quinidine sulfate in doses of 10 mg/kg and 10 g produced peak plasma concentrations of 0.79 microgram/ml at 146 minutes and 1.47 mi...
Carnet F, Paillot R, Fortier C, Hue ES, Briot L, de Geoffroy F, Vidalain PO, Pronost S.Equine influenza virus (EIV) is responsible for recurring outbreaks that are detrimental to the equine industry. Vaccination is key for prevention, but the effectiveness and duration of protection provided by existing vaccines is often insufficient. In order to improve vaccine efficacy, we evaluated the benefit of immune stimulation with inactivated Parapoxvirus ovis (iPPVO) on the antibody response induced by a vaccine boost against EIV. A whole inactivated ISCOMatrix-adjuvanted equine influenza vaccine was administered alone ( = 10) or combined with iPPVO injections at D0, D2 and D4 post vac...
