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.
Marcus LC, Ross JN.The hearts of 23 aged equids (18 horses and 5 mules) were examined histologically. Major findings included arteriolosclerosis and intimal bodies in small muscular arteries, myocarditis, myocardial fibrosis, fatty metamorphosis of myocardial and Purkinje fibers, myocytolysis, and basophilic (mucinous) degeneration of myocardium. Lesions less frequently seen included chronic fibrotic valvulitis, acute myocardial necrosis, sarcosporidiosis, and hemosiderosis. Single cases of malignant melanoma, cartilaginous metaplasia of the I-V septum, mineralization of connective tissue in the I-V septum, and ...
Irfan M.Studies have been made on the effect of storage and temperature on factor V in animals and a method for its assay is described. There was a decrease of the factor with age in oxalated plasma of cattle, horses, sheep, dogs, rabbits and one elephant. This deterioration was very rapid in plasma kept at 37C. as compared with that stored at 4C. Rabbit plasma had the highest concentration of factor V followed by dogs, horses, cattle and sheep. Mixing various dilutions of aged plasma kept at 4C. wlth fresh plasma would enable the percentage prothrombin activity to be determined for the assay of facto...
Bornstein S.Two intersex horses were characterized externally by vulva and “enlarged clitoris-hypoplastic penis” and internally by uterus and testicles. Both had a normal female karyotype 64/XX. One of the horses whose body measurements were in accordance with mares of the same breed, showed a distinct stallion behaviour.
Olson LE.We evaluated the pressure-flow relationships in collaterally ventilating segments of excised pony lungs by infusing N2, He, Ne, or SF6 at known flows (V) through a catheter wedged in a peripheral airway. Measurements were made at segment- (Ps) to-airway opening (Pao) pressure differentials of 3-15 cmH2O when the lungs were held at transpulmonary pressures of 5, 10, and 15 cmH2O. The data were analyzed both by calculating collateral resistance (Ps-Pao/V) and by constructing Moody-type plots of normalized pressure drop [(Ps-Pao)/(1/2 rho U2, where rho is density and U is velocity)] against Reyno...
Mitchell ARM, Scott CJ, Cheong SH, Carrigan P, Diel de Amorim M, Collins CD.Minimizing the interval between parturition and successful rebreeding of thoroughbred broodmares is important in maintaining annual foal production and broodmare profitability. Routine postpartum uterine lavage may help achieve this by aiding uterine clearance and involution in the early postpartum period and increasing pregnancy rates. This retrospective study investigates the effect of postpartum uterine lavage in 32 thoroughbred mares housed on a single farm in Australia in 2014 and 2015. In the control year (2014), postpartum uterine lavage was not performed. In the treatment year (2015), ...
Grøndahl AM, Gaustad G, Engeland A.Radiographic examination of the metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal joints was performed on 753 Standardbred trotters (6-21 months of age): 21 showed obvious changes in 26 proximal sesamoid bones on lateromedial projection. The radiographic changes were divided into 6 different types: (1) irregular abaxial margin (8 horses); (2) enlargement of the sesamoid bone (6 horses); (3) 'fracture' or separate centre of ossification of the apex (4 horses); (4) vertical, non-articular fracture of the plantar part of the sesamoid bone (1 horse); (5) a small bony fragment located in a defect in the apical pa...
Massey CA, Walmsley GL, Gliddon TP, Piercy RJ.Histopathological interpretation of semimembranosus muscle samples from an adult Warmblood mare with clinical signs suggestive of exertional rhabdomyolysis and intermittent mild elevations in muscle enzyme activities revealed abundant sarcoplasmic vacuoles in all fibre-types containing fine, apparently proteinaceous debris. Vacuolar contents stained lightly with PAS, but did not appear to contain amylopectate, lipid or acid phosphatase and their periphery was unstained with dystrophin immunohistochemistry. Electron microscopy revealed that vacuoles were not membrane bound. No vacuoles were det...
Dillon AM, Heath MF.The effects of the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors tyrphostins B42 and B46 on equine platelet function and protein tyrosine phosphorylation (PTP) were assessed. Tyrphostins B42 and B46 (both at 100 microM concentration) produced significant inhibition of thrombin-stimulated equine platelet aggregation. The effect of tyrphostin B46 was also time-dependent. The same concentration of these inhibitors produced very little or no inhibition of platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced aggregation. The effects of tyrphostins B42 and B46 on thrombin- and PAF-stimulated PTP were generally similar, al...
Broström H, Hellström U, Ziverts I, Obel N, Perlmann P.In a preceding report we have shown that the lectin Helix pomatia A hemagglutinin (HP) binds to two subpopulations of neuraminidase-treated equine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), constituting about 20% and 75% of PBL, respectively. The aim of the present study was to further characterize these HP+ cells in regard to other surface markers such as receptors for guinea pig erythrocytes (GPR+ cells), membrane-bound immunoglobulins (sIg+ cells), receptors for activated complement (C3R+ cells) and receptors for IgG (Fc alpha R+ cells). This was done by double marker analysis and by lymphocyte fr...
Pluháček J, Tučková V, King SRB.Flehmen is frequently explained as part of male sexual behaviour, but it can also be associated with overmarking behaviour and thus individual recognition. We tested three explanatory hypotheses of flehmen behaviour: to detect sexual status of a female, to decide whether to overmark an individual, and to improve individual recognition. Additionally, we examined interspecific flehmen differences in the African equids. We observed 130 individuals of all 4 species among 15 groups in 5 zoos. We recorded 4445 eliminations: 142 were accompanied by flehmen and 1648 were inspected by another animal an...
Mckelvie J, Foster AP, Hamblin AS, Cunningham FM.Intradermal injection of a Culicoides antigen extract (CAgX) induces T lymphocyte and eosinophil accumulation in the skin of horses with sweet itch. Blood mononuclear (BMN) cells from normal ponies proliferate when stimulated by mitogen (phytohaemagglutinin, PHA) or antigen (tetanus toxoid, TT) and, as shown here, release soluble factor(s) that induce eosinophil adherence. CAgX also caused concentration dependent proliferation of BMN cells from sweet itch and normal ponies [stimulation index: 29 (13) and 17 (7) for BMN cells from sweet itch and normal ponies, respectively during the active pha...
Riond B, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Lutz H.A point-of-care device (POCD) for measuring total white blood cell count was evaluated for feline, canine, equine and bovine blood samples collected into EDTA. Mean biases were -9.2% (range, -12% to -6.3%) for feline samples, 20.2% (range, 15.3-25.1%) for canine samples, -7.1% (range, -8.3% to -5.9%) for equine samples, and 0.7% (range, -1.1% to 2.5%) for bovine samples. The results were influenced by the presence of nucleated red blood cells. The POCD provided precise, reliable data for feline, equine and bovine samples but the values obtained for the canine counts were overestimations.
Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, van den Ingh TS.A trotter stallion showing symptoms of emaciation was suspected of disease of the liver associated with cholestasis in view of clinical symptoms (poor appetite, sluggishness, jaundice and oedema) and the results of examination of the blood (increased concentrations of gamma-glutamyl, transpeptidase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and markedly increased conjugated bilirubin). A specimen removed at biopsy of the liver revealed the presence of portal fibrosis and severe cholestasis. At autopsy, it was found that very extensive fibrosis of the pancreas (pr...
Hinrichs K, Riera FL.Ten mares were used to investigate the effect of administration of prostaglandin F2 alpha on uterine tubal motility, as reflected by embryo recovery from the uterus 5 days after ovulation (day 0). Mares were assigned to 3 groups: group A, uterine flush for embryo recovery on day 7; group B, uterine flush for embryo recovery on day 5; and group C, uterine flush for embryo recovery on day 5, after treatment with prostaglandin F2 alpha (10 mg, IM) on day 3. Each mare was assigned to each group once. Embryo recovery rates for the 3 groups were: A, 6 of 10; B, 2 of 8; and C, 0 of 10. The embryo rec...
Petrucciani A, Yu G, Ventresca M.Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is an arbovirus that, while it has been known to exist since the 1930's, recently had a spike in cases. This increased prevalence is particularly concerning due to the severity of the disease with 1 in 3 symptomatic patients dying. The cause of this peak is currently unknown but could be due to changes in climate, the virus itself, or host behavior. In this paper we propose a novel multi-season deterministic model of EEE spread and its stochastic counterpart. Models were parameterized using a dataset from the Florida Department of Health with sixteen years of ...
Kwok WH, Ho EN, Leung GN, Wong AS, Yue SK, Wan TS.Relaxin (RLX) is a peptide hormone belonging to the relaxin-like peptide family. Relaxin-2 (RLX-2), a heteromeric polypeptide consisting of an A-chain (24 amino acids) and a B-chain (29 amino acids) linked together by two inter-chain disulfide bonds, is the main circulating RLX hormone in human. Due to its ability to dilate blood vessels surrounding the smooth muscles via induction of nitric oxide resulting in the increase of blood and oxygen supplies to the muscles, it may enhance athletic performance and is therefore banned in horseracing, equestrian competitions, and human sports. In order ...
Drudge JH, Lyons ET, Tolliver SC.Critical tests were carried out in 10 horses to evaluate the antiparasitic activity of febantel given alone or with trichlorfon. Paste formulations were administered intraorally at dose levels of 6 mg of febantel (active ingredient)/kg and 35 mg of trichlorfon (active ingredient)/kg. In 5 tests with febantel alone, removal of 100% was recorded for mature or immature Parascaris equorum from 2 infected horses. Strongylus vulgaris from 4 infected horses, S edentatus from 5 infected horses, and mature Oxyuris equi from 1 infected horse; and removal of 96% was recorded for small strogyles from 1 ho...
Sarma PN, Tang YJ, Prindiville TP, Osborne PD, Jang S, Silva J, Cohen SH.In order to determine genetic relatedness of Bacteroides fragilis isolates from different clinical sources, arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (AP-PCR) was used to compare 17 strains isolated from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and 20 strains isolated from foals with diarrhea. Three reference ATCC strains were also analyzed. Eighteen unique types were identified with a 22-mer arbitrary primer (ERIC-2) among the 20 patient isolates. Types 1 (enterotoxigenic) and 9 (nonenterotoxigenic), were each found in the stools of two patients. All other isolates showed a dis...
Bampidis V, Azimonti G, Bastos ML, Christensen H, Durjava M, Kouba M, López-Alonso M, López Puente S, Marcon F, Mayo B, Pechová A, Petkova M....Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of 4-methyl-5-vinylthiazole [15.018] belonging to chemical group 29 (thiazoles, thiophene and thiazoline), when used as sensory additive (flavourings) in feed for all animal species. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that 4-methyl-5-vinylthiazole [15.018] was safe at the maximum proposed use level of 0.5 mg/kg complete feed for veal calves (milk replacer), dogs, salmonids and ornamental fish. For the other species, the calculated safe concentrations in complete feed are: 0.4...
Berardinelli P, Barazzoni AM, Russo V, Brunetti O, Della Torre G, Scapolo PA, Muttini A, Bortolami R.Based on previous observations that capsaicin can selectively damage group III and IV afferents and induce muscle fibre transformation, we hypothesized that eliminating, by means of capsaicin, the group III and IV afferents of a peripheral territory it could lead to a fibre transformation in a muscle involved in the flexor reflexes of the same peripheral territory. Therefore, capsaicin was injected into the palmar nerves of the forelimb of the horse to investigate if eliminating group III and IV afferents from the hand of the horse a muscle fibre transition would occur in the flexor carpi radi...
Jha S, Hall JA, Cherian G, Henry LR, Schlipf JW.Neutrophils are involved in inflammation through leukotriene (LT) production. The predominant proinflammatory leukotriene released from neutrophils is LTB4, which serves as a biological marker of inflammation. The purpose of this study was to optimize the conditions ex vivo for LTB4 production by neutrophils from horses and dogs, and platelets from chickens. Optimal production of LTB4 was characterized by incubation time (2.5, 5, 10, 15 or 20 min), temperature (25 or 37 degrees C), and calcium ionophore A23187 concentration (0.1, 1, 10 or 20 microM). Incubation longer than 2.5 min did not incr...
Wegner W.In 1893 a major component of veterinary practice derived from 4 million horses and from farm animals, whereas thousands of dogs were even slaughtered every year, especially in Saxony and Silesia. Nowadays companion animals figure as an element of ever growing importance for the practitioner. Teaching and research adapted themselves to this altered situation, research funding and professional politics not yet so completely. In former days veterinarians even presided the licensing committees for breeder animals--today the animal breeding act merely mentions them in connection with institutions o...
Becker W.From 1981 until 1987 we investigated the more detailed circumstances regarding a prophylactic vaccination in altogether 37 stud farms with a history of virus abortion. In 23 cases, in which Prevaccinol and/or Resequin were used, it was found that the following of vaccination schedule and necessary immunization programmes respectively, had considerable imperfections. In seven cases prophylactic vaccinations were not carried out or corresponding questionnaires were not answered. The fact that in the present data no case of virus abortion was observed, when the mare was vaccinated according to th...
Oda D, Onogi A.The inheritance of racing performance in Thoroughbreds is of interest to breeders and geneticists. Therefore, the genetic parameters of racing performance have been investigated in various populations of Thoroughbreds. However, the predictability of the racing performance of a racehorse has not been assessed well. In this study, we built mixed-effects models for Japanese Thoroughbreds and assessed their predictability of racing performance. We used the average velocity as an index of racing performance and treated each category of racecourse and distance as different traits. Model selection us...
O'Donnell LJ, Sheerin BR, Hendry JM, Thatcher MJ, Thatcher WW, LeBlanc MM.The mare exhibits nocturnal uterine contractions in the last 6 days of gestation. It is hypothesized that estradiol 17beta (O17beta) may be associated with the nightly increase in uterine contractions. The 24-h secretion pattern of plasma O17beta was measured in 3 pony mares in late gestation to identify changes in release as the mare neared parturition. Blood was collected weekly at 08:00 hours beginning on day 240 and every third day from day 330 until delivery. Serial blood samples were collected from each mare every 30-min for 24-h beginning on gestation day 310 and every sixth day thereaf...
Piketh G, Williams A, Schliewert EC.Electrocardiography is the method used to monitor the electrical impulses in the heart. These diagnostics are increasingly making use of smartphone-based technologies. The objective of this research was to determine whether the Alivecor KardiaMobile (ECG) smartphone-modulated electrocardiographic device, a novel ECG device, can be used to obtain reliable electrocardiogram (ECG) readings in horses. The device was initially tested in 36 Nooitgedacht pony mares to determine the best site of application, method of skin preparation, and ECG device orientation for reliable ECG tracings. Once the mos...
Whitton RC, Rose RJ.To determine the frequency of damage to the medial palmar intercarpal ligament (MPICL), and the range of sizes of the dorsomedial intercarpal ligament (DMICL) of the midcarpal joint in horses with no history of carpal joint disease. Methods: Cadaver limbs were collected from 72 horses with no history of carpal joint disease. One hundred and forty-two midcarpal joints were dissected and the MPICL and DMICL were examined. Measurements were made with a digital micrometer. Results: MPICL tearing was present in 88 of 96 joints from horses 2 years and older. Tears were predominantly of the dorsolate...
Brandon RB, Giffard JM, Bell K.Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in exons 13, 15 and 16 of equine transferrin for common, rare and mutant variants were investigated. Compared with previous work a further 13 SNPs have been identified, allowing for the two previously identified clades to be subdivided into 11 groups. A combination of one or more of eight SNPs can be used to classify the equine variants into these 11 groups, since most are co-inherited. Putative sites of glycosylation in exons 13 and 16 showed no polymorphism, suggesting that presence or absence of sugar moieties does not lead to electrophoretic variation...
Barakzai SZ, Wells J, Parkin TDH, Cramp P.Unilateral ventriculocordectomy (VeC) is frequently performed, yet objective studies in horses with naturally occurring recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) are few. Objective: To evaluate respiratory noise and exercising overground endoscopy in horses with grade B and C laryngeal function, before and after unilateral laser VeC. Methods: Prospective study in clinically affected client-owned horses. Methods: Exercising endoscopy was performed and concurrent respiratory noise was recorded. A left-sided laser VeC was performed under standing sedation. Owners were asked to present the horse for re...
Tekin N, Wöckener A, Klug E.The effect of a skim milk extender and a glycine-containing extender on sperm motility and acrosome morphology of stallion semen was examined. There was no difference concerning acrosome morphology. After 24 hours of preservation motility of the ejaculates diluted with glycine extender was significantly superior to those handled with skim milk extender. Storage at 5 degrees C in all cases gave better results than storage at room temperature. Skim milk extender is an appropriate diluent when the semen is used for al on the day of its collection, whereas the glycine-containing extender offers th...
Keller SA, Valet S, Martens A, Weisse B, Fürst AE, Kümmerle JM. The aim of this study was to evaluate cyclic fatigue behaviour of a new pin with a thread run-out design in comparison with three other types of pins commonly used for equine transfixation pin casting. Methods: Twenty-four pairs of equine cadaveric third metacarpal bones (MC3) equipped with one transfixation pin placed horizontally in the distal metaphysis were tested using a simplified model, mimicking the biomechanical situation of equine transfixation pin casting. A 6.3/8.0-mm Imex Duraface pin with thread run-out design (ITROP) was compared with a 6.1-mm smooth Steinmann pin (SSP), a...
