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.
Although equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is a relatively uncommon manifestation of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection, it can cause devastating losses during outbreaks. Antemortem diagnosis of EHM relies mainly on the molecular detection of EHV-1 in nasal secretions and blood. Management of horses affected by EHM is aimed at supportive nursing and nutritional care, at reducing central nervous system inflammation and preventing thromboembolic sequelae. Horses exhibiting sudden and severe neurologic signs consistent with a diagnosis of EHM pose a definite risk to the surrounding...
The proposed biological mechanisms for exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) are many and varied. Better knowledge of risk factors should lead to achievable measures to reduce the incidence. Objective: To identify risk factors associated with epistaxis following racing in UK Thoroughbreds, to gain possible insights into the pathogenesis of the condition and to investigate the association between epistaxis and race finishing position. Methods: The association of epistaxis occurring on UK racecourses between 1996 and 1998 with a wide range of race-, horse- and start-level variables was e...
Vesicular stomatitis is an infrequent yet important vesicular disease of cattle, horses, and swine. Periodic outbreaks of this disease in the United States have caused economic losses in cattle herds because of decreased production, movement restrictions, and trade embargoes. Vesicular stomatitis causes clinical signs indistinguishable from those of foot-and-mouth disease. It is of utmost importance that appropriate samples are collected from clinical cases of vesicular disease in cattle and swine so a rapid laboratory diagnosis can be made.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging problem in horses; however, the epidemiology of infection and colonization is poorly understood. This study evaluated factors associated with MRSA colonization at the time of admission to a veterinary teaching hospital. A case-control study evaluating historical factors was performed. Previous colonization of the horse, previous identification of colonized horses on the farm, antimicrobial administration within 30 days, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, and admission to a service other than the surgical service were...
Bosman LM, Logan MG, Miszewski A, Pepper MS.Translational regenerative medicine, integrating human and veterinary approaches within the "One Health" framework, increasingly uses horses as models for human musculoskeletal conditions due to shared anatomical and functional features. Osteoarthritis and tendon disorders affect both species, often resulting from high-impact or repetitive strain activities. Regenerative medicine offers therapeutic opportunities by promoting tissue repair and modulating inflammation. Cellular orthobiologics such as mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) show promise for treating osteoarthritis and tendon injuri...
Fernandes MD, Ribeiro GSN, Joaquim JGF, Ferraz SM, Fonteque JH.In equine husbandry, oral cavity procedures are commonly performed and may be associated with complications, including extraoral diseases, potentially resulting from bacterial contamination and inadequate antisepsis. Bacterial resistance to antimicrobials is a major issue for healthcare professionals, including veterinarians that may misuse these pharmaceuticals. Therefore, developing novel methods for antisepsis is desirable. This study aims to test the effectiveness of a 100 µg/ml ozonized injectable water solution versus 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash. Fifty adult equines had swab samples...
Equine chronic degenerative endometritis (CDE) is a progressive process characterized by endometrial fibrosis that could be responsible for alterations of uterine environment and foetal-maternal communication. Objective: The aim of this study was to try to restore this communication by intrauterine administrations of amniotic cell-derived extracellular vesicles (AMC-EVs) in a case series. Methods: Twelve mares were selected on the basis of their reproductive history of early embryonic loss or abortion and clinical suspicion of CDE subsequently verified with histopathological examination of end...
Faugier C, Snyder LBC, Hyun M, Schroeder C.To evaluate sedation in horses following pharmacopuncture with dexmedetomidine at acupoint Governing Vessel 24 (GV-24) compared to aquapuncture at GV-24 or an equivalent dose of dexmedetomidine administered via IV or SC routes. Unassigned: 10 adult mares received 4 treatments in a blinded, randomized, crossover design: (1) dexmedetomidine administered at GV-24 (DexmedGV24; 1 μg/kg); (2) saline administered at GV-24 (SalineGV24; 1.5 mL); (3) dexmedetomidine administered SC on the lateral neck (DexmedSC; 1 μg/kg); or (4) dexmedetomidine administered IV (DexmedIV; 1 μg/kg). Sedation scores (fa...
Dao TTH, Szűts T, Duong NN, Troung DTQ, Solymosi N, Takács N, Hornok S, Farkas R.Equine piroplasmosis, caused by , and , significantly impacts on the veterinary and economic aspects of the global horse industry. However, many countries, including Vietnam, have not yet conducted epidemiological surveys to determine the prevalence of these haemoparasites. This study aimed to detect and/or infections in horses and to identify their genotypes. Blood samples were collected from 154 apparently healthy horses in eight districts of Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, and Son La provinces located in the northern part of the country. Twenty-four horses (15.58%, 95%CI: 10.70–22.14%) were found ...
Motta D, Aymée L, Roussouliéres I, Di Azevedo MIN, Jacob JCF, Lilenbaum W.Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. Equine genital leptospirosis (EGL) has been described as a chronic and silent syndrome, presenting reproductive alterations such as abortion, stillbirth, placentitis, embryonic loss, repeat breeding syndrome, and subfertility. This study aimed to investigate the genital Leptospira infection in naturally infected mares with poor reproductive performance, as well as to genetically characterize the agents. A total of 41 mares with a history of poor reproductive performance were selected. Sera were collected for ser...
Sullivan J, Blea J, McKemie DS, Kass PH, Knych HK.The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of betamethasone following intra-articular administration to horses have been described; however, studies characterizing intramuscular administration are lacking. Twenty-four horses received an intramuscular dose of 12 mg betamethasone sodium phosphate/betamethasone acetate. Blood and urine were collected at post administration for up to 408 h. Concentrations of betamethasone were determined using LC-MS/MS and pharmacokinetic parameters determined using a Population PK three-compartment model. The duration of pharmacodynamic effects was assessed by...
Kim T, Lee S, Seo JP.Foot diseases are common causes of lameness in horses. Computed tomography (CT) is a valuable tool for diagnosing musculoskeletal lesions in horses and providing a detailed evaluation of foot diseases. Objective: The objective of this study was to establish reference ranges related to the feet of normal Jeju horses by measuring the angles and length of the hoof, and the Hounsfield Unit (HU) value of soft tissues in the foot. Methods: Sixteen normal Jeju horses (mean age: 4.25 years; mean body weight: 282.06 kg) without lameness were examined using CT. After CT scanning, the angles and lengths ...
Satué K, Fazio E, Velasco-Martínez MG, Barbiera G, La Fauci D.Growth hormone (GH) influences follicular development mainly by stimulating insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which acts systemically and locally within the ovary. However, the metabolic profile of follicular fluid (FF) in mares, particularly markers such as fructosamine (FRUCT), an indicator of glucose metabolism, remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to evaluate GH, IGF-1, and FRUCT concentrations in plasma and FF and their variation across follicle sizes. Sixty ovaries were collected during the breeding season from 30 clinically normal mares raised for meat production. Blood sa...
Márquez-Moya A, Carreras-Vico N, Sala-Ayala L, Martínez-Boví R, Cuervo-Arango J.Transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration or ovum pick-up (OPU) has become the standard technique for oocyte collection in mares for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Although repeated follicular flushes and wall scraping are commonly used to improve oocyte recovery rate (ORR), the relative contribution of each remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the effects of multiple flushes versus controlled scraping time on ORR in mares. A controlled trial was conducted in two phases: (1) an ex vivo phase using slaughterhouse ovaries (n = 32), and (2) an in vivo phase in c...
Henshall C, McGreevy P, Shea G, Doherty O, Christensen JW, Fenner K, Warren-Smith A, McLean A.The use of horses for sport is under scrutiny due to evidence that common practices such as tight nosebands may impair horse welfare. Restrictive nosebands prevent horses from performing normal comfort behaviour such as coughing and yawning. To address these concerns, the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) developed a noseband tightness-checking device, the ISES "taper gauge," along with a validated method that assesses how far the device can be inserted beneath the noseband at the dorsal midline of the nasal planum. However, citing concerns about the reliability of dorsal mid...
Eren G, López-Albors O, López Corbalán M, Latorre R.Digital technologies have improved the visualization of anatomical structures for veterinary education and clinical practice. In this study, a detailed three-dimensional anatomical model of the equine palmar metacarpal region was generated using E12-based epoxy sheet plastination combined with digital reconstruction in Amira V5.6 software. Serial cross-sections of the metacarpal region provided high-resolution visualization of bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves, vessels, fasciae, and synovial structures, with minimal shrinkage or deformation, ensuring improved anatomical accuracy. These section...
Nocera I, Cingottini D, Di Franco C, Sala G, Bindi F, Spadari A, Rinnovati R, Vitale V, Jose-Cunilleras E, Sgorbini M.Several studies investigated risk and prognostic parameters for horses with colic; however, the consensus is still debated. The present work aimed to investigate colic outcomes and to identify risk factors in horses referred for colic. In this multicenter retrospective study, 236 clinical records of equids referred for colic at three different equine centers were reviewed. The following data were collected: history, signalment, physical examination at the time of admission, hematological and biochemical analysis, diagnosis, SIRS status and 0-6 point-scale SIRS score, colic type, treatment atte...
Scoggin KE, Rakha SI, Abdellatif AM, Adlan F, Helmy YA, Ruby R, Ball B, Boakari Y, Ali HE.Ascending placentitis is a significant cause of equine pregnancy loss, yet the upstream inflammatory triggers are poorly defined. Recently, we identified S100A8/S100A9 (S100A8/A9) alarmins as potential upstream regulators in a chronic equine placentitis model. The current study aimed to determine whether this upregulation is sustained in the acute model and in clinical cases, and to elucidate the expression of their downstream inflammatory mediators. Using an experimental model, we quantified mRNA expression in acute ( = 5) and chronic ( = 6) placentitis induced by ssp. . We found mRNA expre...
Starrett A, Arnold CE, Burr A, Sarturi JO, Leatherwood JL, Pilla R, Awosile BB, Chaffin MK.To quantify gastrointestinal motility at 3 anatomic locations of the large colon in healthy horses fed 2 diets. Unassigned: 12 American Quarter Horses were enrolled in a prospective crossover study. Horses received either a complete pelleted diet fed at 1.35% body weight (BW) per day or Coastal Bermudagrass hay fed at 2% BW with 0.5% to 0.7% BW of complete pelleted feed. Each diet was fed for 13 days prior to motility assessment. Two ultrasonographers recorded the frequency of contractions at the sternal flexure of the large colon, left ventral colon, and cecum for 4 consecutive, 1-minute peri...
Castillo JDCR, Forte L, Elghandour MMMY, Maggiolino A, De Palo P, Ponce-Covarrubias JL, Salem AZM.Parasitic infections remain a major constraint to equine health and performance, and the worldwide rise of anthelmintic resistance is forcing a shift toward integrated parasite management and new complementary tools. Caesalpinia coriaria (Divi-divi) pods are exceptionally rich in tannins and have been proposed as a potential source of antiparasitic phytochemicals. This review summarizes the current evidence on C. coriaria, focusing on its relevance to equine gastrointestinal helminths. Most available data come from in vitro screening against ruminant nematode models (mainly Haemonchus contortu...
Bish-Jones AR, Papich MG, Orsini JA.This study describes the pharmacokinetics of ertapenem, a carbapenem antimicrobial that has not been previously studied in equids. Administered as a 30 mg/kg intravenous bolus to six healthy horses, serial blood and synovial samples were obtained over 8 h after administration. Pharmacokinetic analysis of plasma and synovial fluid was performed. In plasma, the AUC was 353.10 h × μg/mL (CV = 49.02%), Vss 79.34 mL/kg (CV = 22.85%), CL 84.96 mL/h/kg (CV = 31.31%) and t1/2 2.03 h (CV = 15.32%). In synovial fluid, the AUC was 524.10 h × μg/mL (CV = 16.03...
Hallowell KL, van Eps AW, Kulp JC, Schnabel LV.Lipemia is a common comorbidity in horses with obesity or equine metabolic syndrome, but the impact of lipemia on the measurement of insulin and adiponectin has not been evaluated. Objective: To evaluate endogenous and exogenous lipemic interference with equine insulin and adiponectin measurements via several commercial assays. Methods: Endogenous lipemia was evaluated using plasma and serum samples with triglyceride concentrations of 1000 mg/dL (n = 6 each). Sample insulin concentrations were determined via fluorescence enzyme immunoassay (FEIA), ELISA, and lateral flow assay (LFA). ...
Kamr A, Fortin-Trahan R, Arroyo LG, Hostnik LD, Gomez DE, Toribio RE.Hypocalcemia is frequent in horses with colitis. Information on serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations and its association with bone turnover biomarkers in horses with colitis is lacking. We aimed to determine the association between serum bone resorption biomarkers (C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen [CTX-I]) and bone formation (osteocalcin [OCN]) with blood PTH, total calcium (tCa), ionized calcium (iCa), phosphorus (Pi), and total magnesium (tMg) concentrations, and mortality in horses with acute colitis. A total of 163 horses were divided into colitis (n = 127) and healt...
Mählmann K, Lischer CJ.This technical note describes the use of a manual graphic roadmap (MGR) to assist fluoroscopic guidance during transarterial coil embolization (TACE) for guttural pouch (GP) arterial hemorrhage. Horses underwent MGR-assisted TACE at the Equine Clinic, Free University of Berlin, between 2012 and 2024. Surgery was performed under general anesthesia with fluoroscopic guidance. Following the initial angiogram, a transparent foil was secured to the fluoroscopy monitor, and an assistant traced the vascular anatomy with a waterproof marker to create the MGR, which then served as a guide for catheter ...
Campos Schweitzer A, Mespoulhes-Rivière C, Perkins JD, Ducharme NG, Piercy RJ, Lynch N, Rossignol F.To evaluate functional and histopathologic outcomes of standing selective laryngeal reinnervation using the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) in horses with experimentally induced recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN). Methods: Five Thoroughbred mares. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Methods: The horses underwent left recurrent laryngeal neurectomy followed 8 weeks later by selective laryngeal reinnervation using the SAN. Follow-up evaluations at 4.5, 6, 8, and 12 months included treadmill exercising endoscopy, ultrasonography of intrinsic laryngeal muscles, and percutaneous electrical stimul...
Aimonetti E, Genton M, Lischer CJ, Rossignol F.To determine the benefit of using a three-dimensional (3D)-printed titanium aiming device for placing two 5.5-mm transarticular screws during proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) arthrodesis in equine species. Methods: Ex vivo study. Methods: A total of 40 cadaveric forelimbs from adult horses. Methods: A senior surgeon and a first-year resident each performed 20 constructs: 10 using the device and 10 using a freehand technique. Procedure duration and number of intraoperative radiographs were recorded. Final radiographs were evaluated by an ECVS-certified surgeon unaware of treatment group, b...
Teague P, Dark M, Verdugo D, Freeman D, McFarlane D.The equine pancreas remains understudied, particularly in the context of endocrine disease. This study aimed to characterize regional islet distribution and composition in the normal equine pancreas and investigate how hyperinsulinemia (HI) and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) influence pancreatic islet morphology and hormone expression. In the first experiment, pancreas samples from eight healthy horses were collected and analyzed across three anatomical locations: left lobe, body, and right lobe. The left lobe exhibited a greater relative islet area and perimeter compared to the ...
Amaral A, Cerveira-Pinto M, Santos C, Kordowitzki P, Skarzynski D, Ferreira-Dias G, Szóstek-Mioduchowska A.Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is a pro-fibrotic cytokine that affects extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and fibroblast activity. 17β-Estradiol (E), the dominant ovarian steroid during the follicular phase (FLP) of the estrous cycle, can also influence ECM remodeling and fibrosis, through prostaglandin (PG) synthesis. PGs have opposing roles in fibrosis, with PGE₂ showing anti-fibrotic effects and PGF₂α promoting fibrosis. Equine endometrosis, whose main pathological feature is fibrosis, is marked by chronic inflammation and ECM accumulation, and may involve mediators like TGF-...
Markowitz JS.Equibase (EQB) race charts provide the official record of North American Thoroughbred races and often document catastrophic injury, euthanasia, or equine-ambulance transport. Because chart documentation and regulatory classification differ, fatalities occurring > 72 hours after a race fall outside international regulatory definitions applied by the Equine Injury Database (EID) and may not appear in EID aggregates. EQB charts confirm horse identity, race participation, finishing status, and last recorded start. Horseracing Wrongs (HRW), an advocacy group, publishes horse-level fatality data tha...
Folgmann MS, Stock KF, Feige K, Delling U.Current studies on the health status of young German Warmblood stallions are lacking. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of radiographic findings at licensing examinations of Warmblood candidate stallions and quantify the environmental influences on the distribution of recorded findings. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, records of 1693 radiographic examinations performed on 1678 German Warmblood stallions presented for licensing in 2018-2020 were reviewed. Data were provided by all German Warmblood horse-breeding associations and their official veterinarians. The collecti...
Díaz-Alvarado T, Alcala-Canto Y, Elghandour MMMY, Salem MZM, Mariezcurrena-Berasain MD, Salem AZM.Gastrointestinal endoparasitic diseases, particularly those caused by some strongyles, represent one of the main health challenges in equine production. The prolonged use of synthetic anthelmintics has led to the development of resistance, which has prompted the search for more sustainable therapeutic alternatives. However, plant extracts rich in secondary metabolites are emerging as a promising option. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro anthelmintic activity of aqueous extracts and bioactive compounds (total phenols and saponins) from Azadirachta indica and Cn...
Zimmerman-Cameron SR, Colbath AC, Caruso MA, Hoffman RM, Logan AA.Navicular syndrome is characterized by palmar foot pain and is a common cause of lameness in horses. Palmar digital neurectomy (nerving) removes sensation to the heel region of the hoof and may serve as a treatment for navicular-afflicted horses, while analgesia (blocking) results in temporary loss of sensation. Objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effect of loss of sensation in the heel on the forelimb area and force while tracking on soft and hard ground at the walk and trot. Methods: Three horses that scored a 0 or 1 on the AAEP lameness scale were fitted to Tekscan...
Strugava L, Serighelli-Júnior G, Stadler LM, Flores LADS, Minozzo GA, Dornbusch LPTC, Moreno JCD, Dornbusch PT.Rectal amputation is a surgical approach indicated for the management of severe rectal lacerations or extensive rectal prolapse when transmural compromise or primary repair is unfeasible. These conditions, although uncommon, present substantial challenges in equine practice due to the anatomical complexity of the pelvic region and the potential for life-threatening complications if not adequately addressed. This study aimed to describe and standardize a reproducible surgical technique for rectal amputation in horse cadavers. Six equine cadavers (mean body mass, 441.83± 66.84 kg) were position...
Boeger L, Volkmann N, Probst J, Kemper N, Venner M.The emergence of antimicrobial resistance raises concerns about using antibiotics in veterinary medicine, particularly in cases of bronchopneumonia in foals diagnosed early based on a screening programme. Many subclinical foals recover spontaneously, thus, interest in more restrictive antibiotic usage is increasing. Objective: To determine whether initiating antimicrobial therapy at a later stage of bronchopneumonia decreases antimicrobial usage without compromising successful resolution of pathology in affected foals. Methods: A total of 1200 warmblood foals born in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 ...
