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Topic:Veterinary Research
Veterinary research in horses encompasses the study of diseases, health management, and medical treatments specific to equine species. This field investigates various aspects of horse health, including infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, and musculoskeletal conditions. Researchers focus on understanding the pathophysiology of equine ailments, developing diagnostic tools, and evaluating therapeutic interventions. The study of horse health also involves examining preventive measures such as vaccination protocols and nutritional management to promote overall well-being. This page collects peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the diverse areas of veterinary science related to horses, providing insights into disease mechanisms, treatment strategies, and advancements in equine healthcare.
Multimodal Analysis of Child-Horse Therapeutic Interactions Using Vision-Language Models in an Australian Aboriginal Equine-Assisted Learning Program for Social and Emotional Well-Being: Development and Evaluation Study. The human-horse bond has played a role in human development throughout history and has more recently been applied to mental health promotion through equine-assisted learning (EAL) programs. In EAL settings, therapeutic documentation and assessment commonly rely on practitioner observations documented through behavioral checklists, structured interviews, and progress notes, which can pose challenges due to time demands, subjectivity, and inconsistent standardization across practitioners and contexts. Objective: This study aimed to address these challenges in the context of mental health promoti...
Pharmacokinetics of Detomidine and Vatinoxan in Horses. The pharmacokinetics of detomidine, vatinoxan, and their combination have not been previously characterized in detail in horses. Detomidine (20 μg/kg), vatinoxan (200 μg/kg), or their combination was administered intravenously to six horses according to a Latin square design. Blood was sampled at various times up to 480 min following administration. Plasma concentrations of detomidine, OH-detomidine, COOH-detomidine, and vatinoxan were measured using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Compartmental models were fitted to the time-concentration data using nonlinear mixed-eff...
Equine herpesvirus 1 myeloencephalopathy incidence and case fatality rates in the USA. Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) myeloencephalopathy (EHM) has substantial animal welfare and economic consequences. Despite extensive research, population-level estimates of EHM incidence and case fatality rates remain poorly characterized. Objective: Describe the burden of EHM and estimate EHM attack and case fatality rates in the United States. Methods: None. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using surveillance data collected by the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) in the United States during 2019-2023. Regression models were used to estimate the mean annual E...
Effect of canagliflozin on insulin sensitivity in insulin-dysregulated horses as assessed by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Insulin resistance, enhanced β-cell responsiveness, and lower insulin clearance contribute to hyperinsulinemia in horses with insulin dysregulation. Canagliflozin (CAN) reduces hyperinsulinemia in horses, but its effect on insulin sensitivity (IS) remains unclear. Objective: Evaluate the effects of CAN on IS and insulin clearance using a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp (EHC) and on β-cell responsiveness using a graded glucose infusion test (GGI) in insulin-dysregulated (ID) horses. Methods: Twenty privately owned ID mares. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study...
Inter- and intra-rater reliability of two grading systems for equine gastric glandular disease. The recommended combined descriptive terminology scoring system for equine gastric glandular disease has poor reliability whereas a published numerical scoring system has substantial reliability. Descriptive terminology appears more affected by clinical experience than numerical scoring. Individual descriptive terminologies have previously correlated with descriptions of severity. Objective: To compare the reliability of two scoring systems across varied clinical experience and between numerical scores and descriptive terms. The hypothesis was that the numerical scoring system would have bette...
Feasibility of Enucleation in Standing Sedated Horses With Retrobulbar Anesthesia and Auriculopalpebral Nerve Block: Impact of Ultrasound Guidance in a Case Series. Examining the feasibility of enucleation in standing sedated horses with dorsal retrobulbar anesthesia (RBA) and auriculopalpebral (AP) nerve block and the impact of ultrasound (US) guidance on RBA success. Methods: Thirty horses. Methods: In a prospective clinical case series, horses (n = 15/group) received standardized sedation, dorsal RBA (12 mL mepivacaine) and AP nerve block (4 mL lidocaine). Group 1 received US-assisted RBA (10 MHz linear probe), Group 2 underwent blind RBA subsequently. Needle positioning time was recorded. Eyelid sensitivity was measured before (t) and 20 m...
Thirteen years of environmental surveillance of ESKAPE organisms and Escherichia coli in an equine hospital: Informing infection control. Bacteria from the ESKAPE group (i.e., Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter species) and Escherichia coli are frequently multidrug-resistant and can be associated with healthcare-associated infections, an increasing concern for veterinary settings. Objective: To determine the environmental prevalence of ESKAPE and E. coli on surfaces which can act as reservoirs of infection in clinical areas in equine hospitals. Methods: Observational study. Methods: Routine environmental sampling was performed in on...
Transrectal ultrasonographic assessment of the equine fetal distal limb beyond the first phalanx for predicting fetal age and bone development in Quarter Horses. In Quarter Horses (QH), fetal age can be predicted within 2 weeks prior to 200- days of gestation ultrasonographically; however, as pregnancy advances, accuracy decreases. Recently, fetal ultrasonographic measurement of the first phalanx length (P1L) was introduced as a novel biometric parameter during late gestation, and the timing of appearance and closure of P1 epiphyses has been identified as potential markers of bone development. The overall aim of this study is to describe distal limb bone development beyond the first phalanx. Ten healthy pregnant mares (9 QH and 1 Thoroughbred carrying ...
Trazodone administration does not affect platelet concentration or function in horses. To determine the effect of a clinically relevant dose of trazodone on platelet count and function in healthy horses. Methods: Prospective, controlled, cross-over study. Methods: Ten healthy horses. Methods: Horses were administered either 7 mg/kg trazodone orally in corn syrup or an equal amount of corn syrup (control), every 12 h for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, horses underwent at least a 2-week washout period before being administered the alternate treatment (trazodone or control). Blood was collected before the first treatment administration (day 0) and after 2 weeks of treatment for ...
Harnessing the Horse for Human Osteoarthritis: microRNA-181a-5p Antisense Oligonucleotides in Clinically Normal Equine Fetlock Joints Are Safe and Well Tolerated. Horses serve as a translational model for human osteoarthritis (OA) due to their comparable joint size, cartilage thickness, and incidence of naturally occurring disease. Overexpression of microRNA-181a-5p has been implicated in cartilage degradation in OA, and its inhibition using locked nucleic acid antisense oligonucleotides (LNA-miR-181a-5p ASOs) represents a potential therapeutic strategy. This study evaluated the safety of intraarticular (IA) LNA-miR-181a-5p ASO injection in clinically normal horse fetlock joints. Twelve horses were randomized to receive two IA injections, 28 days apart,...
Risk factors and long-term prognosis of catheter-associated thrombophlebitis in neonatal foals. Thrombophlebitis is a possible complication of the use of indwelling catheters in hospitalized neonatal foals. Limited data are available concerning associated risk factors, and long-term prognosis regarding vein patency is currently unknown. Objective: Identify risk factors for catheter-associated thrombophlebitis in neonatal foals and assess long-term prognosis in a small subset. Methods: Two hundred twenty-three foals < 31 days of age, hospitalized in Utrecht University Equine Hospital between 2019 and 2024. Methods: Retrospective review of medical records. Foals that received an indw...
Investigating the TASK1 potassium channel in equine atrial myocardium as a potential treatment target for atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically relevant arrhythmia in horses, with limited pharmacological treatment options in both veterinary and human medicine. TASK1 potassium channels represent a promising atrial-selective antiarrhythmic target, but their relevance in horses has not been established. To characterize equine TASK1 (eqTASK1) channels regarding structural conservation, electrophysiological function, pharmacological sensitivity, cardiac expression pattern and in vivo electrophysiological effects of TASK1 inhibition. Methods: Sixteen horses killed for non-cardiovascular...
In vitro anthelmintic activity of the monoterpene linalool, alone and combined with the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans, in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes in horses. This study evaluated, in vitro, the anthelmintic activity of the monoterpene linalool, alone and in association with the fungus Duddingtonia flagrans, against gastrointestinal nematodes of horses. Nematodes from the superfamily Strongyloidea, obtained from naturally infected horses, were used. The ovicidal activity of linalool was evaluated using the Egg Hatch Test (EHT). The larvicidal activity was evaluated using the Larval Motility Inhibition Test (LMIT), in which infective larvae (L3) were assigned to experimental groups treated with linalool alone (0.15, 0.3, 0.6, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40...
Fluorescent tagging for assessment of environmental cleaning in an equine hospital. Healthcare-associated infections increase morbidity, mortality, and treatment costs in both human and veterinary medicine, and environmental contamination can contribute to their occurrence. Monitoring of environmental cleaning is an important component of multimodal infection control strategies. Fluorescent tagging is a low-cost, practical approach that correlates with reduced environmental contamination in human and small animal hospitals. Its applicability in equine hospitals, where surface characteristics and contamination risks differ, has not yet been evaluated. Objective: To evaluate fl...
Left Ventricular Volume Indexing in Athletic Brazilian Sport Horses Using Body Weight. Left ventricular (LV) volume assessment evaluates cardiac size and remodelling in horses. Single-plane Simpson method of discs (SMOD) provides volumetric measurements requiring body size normalization. Objective: We described LV volumes using SMOD in healthy Brazilian Sport Horses (BH) and evaluated thoracic-girth-estimated body weight (BWe) versus scale-measured weight (BWs) for indexing. Methods: Thirty BH horses (15 males, 15 females; 4-16 years) underwent echocardiography. LV end-diastolic (LVEDV), end-systolic volumes (LVESV), and ejection fraction (EF%) were obtained using SMOD. Body wei...
Influence of chiropractic care on sleep-related behavior of athletic Mangalarga Marchador horses. Sleep is a fundamental biological process for homeostasis in mammals. Chiropractic is a manual therapeutic approach that aims to restore joint mobility, correct biomechanical dysfunctions, and optimize welfare. Objective: The present study examined the influence of chiropractic sessions on resting behavior patterns of Mangalarga Marchador horses raised in an intensive system. Methods: Nine Mangalarga Marchador horses, with an average age of 4.2 ± 1.2 years, were evaluated for their sleep-related behavior over 72 hours, followed by a chiropractic session, and reassessed over the next 72 hours ...
Experts recommend management strategies for horses during poor air quality. To adapt the existing air quality index (AQI) framework to communicate equine health risk and develop practical recommendations for horse care, training, and competitions at increasing levels of air pollution. Unassigned: A 3-round modified Delphi study. Unassigned: 15 expert equine veterinarians contributed, with 11 experts completing 3 rounds. First, experts agreed that both healthy horses and those with underlying health conditions may experience short- and long-term health effects. Second, experts adapted the AQI public health messaging to communicate equine-specific health risk. Third, ex...
Low-dose histrelin for ovulation induction in mares: a partially randomized crossover pilot study. This partially randomized crossover pilot study evaluated reduced doses of histrelin for ovulation induction in mares and compared intramuscular (IM) administration with pharmacopuncture at the Bai-hui and Yan-chi acupoints. Eleven mares were enrolled, of which nine completed all eight protocols and were included in the analyses. The protocols comprised 250 µg histrelin IM (standard dose), 75 µg IM, 25 µg IM, no intervention, saline at Bai-hui, saline at Yan-chi, 25 µg histrelin at Bai-hui, and 25 µg histrelin at Yan-chi. Ovulation was assessed by transrectal ultrasonography at sched...
Barriers to Australian veterinary students choosing an equine career. The equine veterinary profession is experiencing a global recruitment and retention crisis with fewer graduates entering equine practice. We aimed to investigate perceived and actual barriers to Australian veterinary students' considering an equine veterinary career. Methods: A mixed methods design was used. The study population consisted of veterinary students from seven universities in Australia. An online survey was distributed that comprised demographic, Likert-scale and open-ended questions and covered themes of equine experience, perceptions of clients, salary, Higher Education Contribut...
Evaluation of Machine Learning Models for Predicting Breeding Values of Key Performance Traits in Iranian Crossbred (Thoroughbred × Turkmen) Racehorses. Accurate prediction of breeding values (BVs) is fundamental to genetic improvement in racehorses. Although single-trait mixed models (STM), typically implemented using BLUP-based procedures, remain the standard framework for genetic evaluation, machine learning (ML) methods offer a flexible, data-driven approach for learning complex relationships among phenotypic, environmental, and pedigree-derived information. These capabilities have encouraged researchers to explore the application of ML methods for predicting breeding values. Objective: This study compared the performance of 13 ML algorith...
The Impact of Systemic Treatment With Flunixin Meglumine on the Two Antiproteases Alpha-2-Macroglobulin (A2M) and Alpha-1-Antitrypsin (A1AT) in Equine Plasma and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF). To evaluate the effect of flunixin meglumine, a systemic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on the antiproteases, A2M and A1AT, in equine plasma and PRF. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study. Plasma, solid PRF, and liquid PRF were collected from a control-group that included healthy horses not treated with NSAIDs within the last 3 months. The NSAID-group were ophthalmology patients with no systemic inflammatory disease, and all received a full dose of flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg BID PO or IV) for three or more days prior to collection. Samples were collected and prepar...
New Noninvasive Long-Term Stress indicator in Horses: Analysis of Cortisol Levels in the Hoof of Foals. Noninvasive sampling methods are recommended in animals as far as possible. However, there has been no way to safely measure long-term stress in all horses including foals and stallions. Currently, nail cortisol in humans has been reported to be a promising noninvasive long-term stress indicator. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of a horse's hoof as a noninvasive long-term stress indicator by determining whether hoof cortisol levels varied similarly to hair cortisol levels noted in a previous study. All hooves were sampled by one farrier after a foal's birth. They were divided into ...
The Western Ecotype of the Kazakh Horse: Current Status and Genomic Characterisation. The Kazakh horse comprises several locally adapted types and ecotypes of the Eurasian Steppe. The Adai is its western ecotype, kept year-round on desert pasture in Mangystau, Western Kazakhstan, and recognised as a separate breed in 2024 without genetic evaluation. We asked whether that label corresponds to a genetic unit and whether the population has remained closed. We genotyped 533 horses recorded as Adai, 500 traced to five farms in Mangystau, against 988 reference horses of 45 breeds on 36,193 shared autosomal SNPs. Structure was assessed by principal component analysis, pairwise with...
Influence of the anaesthetist´s perception on the evaluation of recovery quality in horses undergoing general anaesthesia. In horses, anaesthetic recovery is evaluated using subjective scales. Previous studies examined the influence of scale type and evaluator-related factors but the impact of operator perception (unconscious bias) has received limited attention. Unassigned: To analyse the influence of operator perception on recovery scoring. Unassigned: Anaesthetic recoveries at an equine hospital (May 2019-May 2023) were assessed in real time (RT) by attending anaesthetists and retrospectively using video recordings (VR) by a single evaluator. Horses aged 1 - 21 years undergoing a single anesthetic procedure wit...
Multimodal characterization of equine synovitis: Correlation between arthroscopic, histopathological, and biomarker assessments in septic vs. aseptic cases. Endoscopy and synovial membrane histology are complementary modalities for evaluating synovial inflammation. Cytokine involvement in non-septic arthritis is well documented but remains poorly characterized in septic synovitis. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the inflammatory cytokine profile associated with septic and non-septic synovitis and assess correlations among endoscopic, histological, and synovial fluid biomarker findings. Methods: Three groups were defined: horses undergoing elective or therapeutic endoscopy (Group 1, n=26), horses with confirmed septic synovitis (Group 2...
Superior Post-Thaw Sperm Quality and Fertility of Epididymal Compared with Ejaculated Sperm in Subfertile Stallions. Despite the benefits of seminal plasma during breeding, its value is questionable when utilizing biotechnological approaches such as artificial insemination. In addition, deleterious effects of secretions from accessory glands on sperm viability and conception rate have been reported, especially in stallions with poor semen quality. Objective: The present study aimed to compare the kinetics, structural and functional viability, and fertility parameters of spermatozoa obtained from the ejaculate and from the cauda epididymis of subfertile stallions, as well as to evaluate the differences in the...
Effect of Different Equilibration Times in the Freezing Process on Post-Thaw Motility Parameters in Equine Spermatozoa. Cryopreservation of stallion semen remains suboptimal, with approximately one-third of stallions producing semen that is poorly tolerant to freezing. As optimization of pre-freezing procedures may improve post-thaw sperm quality, this study evaluated the effect of different equilibration times before freezing on the post-thaw quality of stallion semen. For this purpose, 21 ejaculates were initially collected from 5 stallions and 15 were included in the final analysis after predefined exclusions. These ejaculates were separated from the seminal plasma via centrifugation in INRA 96 medium. After...
Validation of a point-of-care assay for simultaneous quantification of equine adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticotropin-like intermediate peptide. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations are used to diagnose equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). The reference chemiluminescent immunoassay for immunoreactive ACTH (iACTH) cross-reacts with corticotropin-like intermediate peptide (CLIP), which is also abnormally high in PPID. Objective: To compare the performance of a novel point-of-care (POC) immunoassay that concurrently measures ACTH and CLIP against the reference iACTH assay. Methods: Twenty-eight university-owned horses (13 PPID, 15 non-PPID). Methods: Prospective observational study. Resting plasma hormo...
Cranial Shape Variation in Adult Kyrgyz Horses: Associations with Size and Sex. Cranial diversity within indigenous horse populations remains incompletely characterized. Cranial shape variation and its associations with skull size and sex were investigated in 37 adult Kyrgyz horses aged 4-5 years (18 females and 19 males). Three-dimensional configurations of 25 cranial landmarks were evaluated using Procrustes alignment, principal component analysis, and permutation-based multivariate models. Skull size was quantified using centroid size calculated from the landmark configurations. The first two principal components represented 29.41% of shape variance, with changes distr...
