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.
Jamshidpour R, Nabavi R, Moadab H, Rezaie F, Chale AC, Sargison N.Resistance to benzimidazole (BZ) by cyathostomin nematodes has become a major threat to equine health around the world. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of BZ drugs against small strongyle nematodes in horses of western Iran using coprological and molecular examination. Unassigned: Faecal egg count reduction tests were performed on 398 horses kept in 16 stables in western Iran (Kermanshah Province), to detect benzimidazole resistance in small strongyle nematodes. Allele-specific PCR was used to identify the F200Y (TAC/TTC) SNP in the beta-tubulin gene codon in cyathostomin larvae. Unassigned:...
Kranenburg LC, Reinke KS, van den Broek J, Zaal EA, van den Boom R, van Doorn DA.Hydrolysed collagen is used as a supplement for horses with osteoarthritis, hoof horn growth problems, and gastric ulcers. To determine the oral availability of a specific hydrolysed collagen supplement and the appropriate dose, six Warmblood mares were fed two different concentrations of the supplement: 100 g HC (C), 50 g HC (C), and a control of 0 g HC (C) during one week in a randomised cross-over design. On day 7, 14 and 21, blood sampling for amino acid (AA) analysis was performed, just prior to feeding the supplement (t = 0) and every hour after feeding for 8 h (t = 1-8). Statistical ana...
Rump-Dierig I, Giers J, Frenzel C, Stöckle S, Gehlen H.This study examines seasonal changes in muscle and heart parameters in eventing horses over the course of a competition season. Blood levels of the enzymes creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as well as the heart muscle-specific concentration of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were measured before (pre), 30 min (p30) and 24 h (p24) after competitions. Creatine kinase (CK: median pre-competition = 175 U/L, 30 min post = 221 U/L, 24 h post = 140 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (AST: pre = 319 U/L, p30 = 335 U/L, p24 = 333 U/L), and cardiac troponin I concentration (cTnI: pre = 0...
Wang L, Zheng R, Li Z, Zhang L.Recent increases in cases of western equine encephalitis (WEE) in South America have raised significant concerns about the virus's potential to cause an endemic disease due to its adaptation to mosquito vectors. Currently, there are no effective vaccines or treatments for WEEV, despite ongoing research into various biochemical products in animal models. The virus presents different pathological effects depending on the host. In humans, WEEV infection leads to central nervous system damage, resulting in encephalitis and severe neurological sequelae, which underscores the need for further resear...
Papini L, de Preux M, Pauwels F, Missotten J, Van der Vekens E.(1) Background: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is increasingly used in equine practice to diagnose musculoskeletal injuries, including fractures in the distal limb. However, limited detail in the thick cortical bone of the metacarpus/metatarsus hinders accurate diagnosis. In human medicine, the addition of aluminum filters (AF) enhanced image quality while reducing radiation exposure. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of AF on image quality in CBCT scans of equine distal limbs. (2) Methods: Adult equine cadaver limbs were scanned with a mobile CBCT unit using varying tube currents ...
St George L, Nankervis K, Walker V, Maddock C, Robinson A, Sinclair J, Hobbs SJ.Despite growing evidence on the adaptive movement patterns that horses adopt during water treadmill (WT) exercise, underlying adaptations in muscle activity remain uninvestigated. This feasibility study aimed to develop a method for the synchronous measurement of muscle activity and movement of horses during WT exercise. Combined surface electromyography (sEMG) (2000 Hz) from selected hindlimb (biceps femoris, gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae) and epaxial (longissimus dorsi) muscles, and three-dimensional kinematic (200 Hz) data from the back and pelvis of one (n = 1) horse were collected ...
Wang T, Yang X, Ren W, Meng J, Yao X, Chu H, Yao R, Zhai M, Zeng Y.Training not only enhances the athletic performance of horses but also improves cardiac structure and function, strengthens cardiovascular adaptability, and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, the consequences of training on equine cardiac structure and function remain unclear. This study investigated the morphological, functional, genetic, and metabolic changes in the hearts of Yili horses divided into three groups: high athletic performance (agility group, AG), low athletic performance (ordinary group, OG), and untrained (untrained group, UN). The results showed remodeling ...
Döberl J, Li Z, Furrer R, Jäger MC.Reduced anthelmintic efficacy against small strongyles in horses is a widespread problem, yet recent data is scarce. Objective: This paper aims to investigate the current status of anthelmintic efficacy in the field in Germany, specifically focusing on pyrantel. Methods: The study included 1670 horses for which a total of 1913 dewormings were analysed. Of these, 1682 were performed with pyrantel, 56 with fenbendazole, 162 with macrocyclic lactones and 13 with other compounds (e.g. herbs). The faecal egg count reduction (FECR) was calculated with two methods, the faecal egg count reduction test...
Díaz-Bertrana ML, Pitti L, Ramírez AS, Encinoso M, Fumero-Hernández M, Morales I, Arencibia A, Jaber JR.This study aimed to characterize the computed tomographic (CT) dimensions and contrast attenuation properties of the equine eye. CT scans from 21 horses without ocular abnormalities were analyzed to obtain detailed ocular measurements and attenuation values. In addition, cranial measurements, such as nasal-occipital length and zygomatic width, were incorporated to explore potential anatomical relationships between the skull and intraocular structures. Although most correlations between cranial and ocular parameters were weak, statistically significant associations-particularly those involving ...
Tallmadge RL, Laverack M, Lejeune M, Crossley B, Diel DG.Equid herpesvirus (EHV) 1 and -4 are common viral pathogens of horses that can cause upper respiratory disease, neurological disease, abortion, and death. As characteristic alphaherpesviruses, both EHV-1 and EHV-4 can establish latency, resulting in a lifelong carrier state in infected animals. Here we describe the development and validation of a rapid and sensitive multiplex real-time PCR assay (EHV1-4MP) that simultaneously detects EHV-1 and EHV-4 and includes an endogenous internal control - melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) - targeting the equid genome. The EHV1-4MP assay analytical sensitiv...
Serrano-Rodríguez JM, Miraz R, Saitua A, Díez de Castro E, Ledesma-Escobar C, Ferreiro-Vera C, Priego-Capote F, Sánchez de Medina V....Cannabigerol (CBG) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid with growing interest in veterinary medicine; however, its pharmacokinetic profile in horses remains unknown. Understanding its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination is essential to optimizing dosing strategies and evaluating its potential for clinical use in equine patients. Unassigned: A prospective crossover study was conducted in eight healthy adult horses to assess the metabolism and the pharmacokinetics after intravenous (IV) administration at 1 mg/kg and oral administrations at 10 mg/kg with two formulations (mice...
da Silva GM, Navas C, Carvalho MB, Sampaio Y, Rocha MN, Gomes-Silva A, de Matos Guedes HL, Cunha L, Castilho LR, da Silva JL, Felicori LF.Horse immunoglobulins have been utilized for over a century in serotherapy to treat venomous animal bites and various other conditions. However, molecular-level information about these immunoglobulins remains limited, particularly regarding immunoglobulin lambda light chains (Igλ), which constitute over 90 % of circulating antibodies. Despite the sequencing of the equine genome, the International ImMunoGeneTics information system (IMGT) has not yet annotated Igλ in its database, restricting the analysis of the horse antibody repertoire. In this study, we analyzed the equine Igλ repertoire...
Warren P, Mc Crudden D, O'Reilly S, Mc Eleney C.Macroalgae have been used in supplements and feedstuffs for equines and other animals for many years. Health-related attributes of macroalgal bioactive compounds, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anthelmintic effects, have been largely reported in non-equine species to date. Given the prevalence of resistance to antimicrobial and anthelmintic drugs, sourcing naturally occurring alternatives is of high priority in the current One Health strategy. Nutritionally, seaweed contains a broad range of macro and micro nutrients. These nutrients, combined with the bioactive compounds such as...
A Mangalarga Marchador mare was referred to treatment with a history of poisoning with evident tachyarrhythmia detected on cardiac auscultation. The electrocardiogram was performed and detected occurrences of paroxysmal monomorphic ventricular bigeminy (pMVB), pMVB with pairs of premature ventricular contractions (PVC) (pMVBPC), and paroxysmal monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (pMVT). In all cases, incomplete atrioventricular dissociation and coupling variation are observed. These characteristics, associated with non-reduction of successive subsequent coupling intervals and the absence of ty...
Fowler AL, Pyles MB, Hayes SH, Crum AD, Lawrence LM.Total fecal collection studies to determine digestibility of nutrients are costly and laborious. The use of externally dosed indigestible markers, such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), to estimate digestibility using spot samples could be advantageous, but studies validating their use in horses are inadequate. Two experiments were conducted to determine if TiO2 in fecal spot samples effectively estimated fecal output in horses. In Exp. 1, four mature horses were fed a forage-based diet (85:15 forage: concentrate) split into two equal meals with 1.75 ± 0.03 g TiO2/kg DM (10 g TiO2) per day ...
Piecuch A, Szterk A.This review highlights the role of β-glucans-specifically β(1 → 3), β(1 → 6), and β(1 → 4)-glucans-as water-soluble dietary fibres in animal nutrition and health. Sourced from yeast, plants, seaweed, and mushrooms, β-glucans differ in structure depending on origin, which affects their solubility and biological activity. Recent studies emphasize their therapeutic potential in horses, particularly for managing gastric ulcers, viral infections, immune dysfunction, and poor performance. The review summarizes data on effective dosages, formulations, and sources of β-glucans tailor...
DI Stefano DA, Coccoluto L, Panina-Bordignon P, Brambilla E, Ruffini F, Murtaj V, Orlando F, Colombo M, Frigerio C, DI Bona A, Recupero D, Morroni M....Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that involves the use of bone tissue or bone substitutes to repair damaged bone. In dentistry and maxillofacial surgery, bone graft substitutes from various sources are commonly used. Given their critical role in clinical outcomes, it is essential to thoroughly investigate the biological and mechanical properties of these materials. Methods: In this in vitro study, we evaluated the biological properties of two equine-derived bone graft substitutes in comparison to β-tricalcium phosphate. The materials included one equine-derived graft containing hydrolyze...
Ajiro S, Matsuya S, Hifumi T, Tsujio M.Arterial distribution to the tensor fasciae antebrachii (TFA) muscle is little described in the veterinary literature. In this study, we investigated TFA vascularity intra- and inter-specifically, using specimens obtained from dogs, cattle, pigs, and horses at necropsy. Canine TFA specimens showed vascularity from the collateral ulnar artery in all cases, and from the thoracodorsal artery in some cases, with no brachial or deep brachial arterial vascularity. Bovine TFA specimens showed vascularity from the thoracodorsal artery. All porcine TFA specimens showed deep brachial arterial vascularit...
Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Błaszczak A, Długosz B, Musiał A, Ropka-Molik K.The Silesian horse is a heavy warmblood breed developed in Polish Silesia through the covering of local mares by East Frisian and Oldenburg stallions. Because of its historical significance and genetic heritage, the breed is part of a conservation programme in Poland. One of the genetic disorders of concern in warmblood horses is fragile foal syndrome (FFS), an autosomal recessive disease caused by a mutation in the gene (c.2032G>A). Affected foals either perish in late pregnancy or are born with severe connective tissue abnormalities, leading to early death. As carriers do not exhibit sympto...
: isolates from humans and horses of the equine-associated clonal complexes (CCs) CC1 and CC1660 were comparatively investigated for their genomic relationships. : A total of 91 isolates (64 human, 27 equine) were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS), sequence analysis, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. : WGS confirmed 75 CC1 and 16 CC1660 isolates, comprising nine sequence types (STs) in CC1 and four STs in CC1660. Ten types were present in CC1 and five in CC1660. In the gene of three CC1 isolates, a 285 bp deletion was detected, and a nucleotide deletion causing a premature...
Zhang Y, Zheng J, Zhang H, Lin Y, Wang Y, Ma Z, Wei J, Zhou B, Zhong D.Getah virus (GETV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), West Nile virus (WNV), and African horse sickness virus (AHSV) are mosquito-borne viruses threatening the health of racehorses. However, the systematic surveillance of these viruses among Shanghai racehorses remains lacking. Therefore, molecular and serological surveillance was conducted for these viruses in racehorses and mosquitoes at horse farms in Shanghai, China, during 2022 to assess their prevalence. Among 11,140 mosquitoes collected from seven farms across four districts, and were identified as the dominant species. RT-qPCR detec...
Kuroda T, Knych HK, Noble GK, Minamijima Y, Leung GN, Nomura M, Mizobe F, Ishikawa Y, Kusano K, Toutain PL.Flunixin meglumine is widely used to manage pain and inflammation in horses, and its regulation requires robust pharmacokinetic analysis for harmonization. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis of flunixin disposition using plasma and urine concentration data from 65 horses across four countries to robustly estimate pharmacokinetic parameters in setting screening limits (SLs) for controlling medications in horses. A population (POP) model was developed using nonlinear mixed-effects model analysis. The irrelevant plasma concentration (IPC) and irrelevant urine concentration (IUC) were det...
Sande A, Santosuosso E, Scharf JE, Shoemaker SJ, Temple S, Hemmerling K, Kell T, Leguillette R, Bayly WM.To compare maximal lactate steady-state (MLSS) speeds determined using a treadmill-dependent invasive reference method (RM) with 2 noninvasive methods based on heart rate variability-focused analysis of exercise ECGs. Unassigned: This was a randomized, blinded study using 7 fit Thoroughbreds. A standardized incremental exercise treadmill test (SET) where blood lactate concentration ([La]) was measured after every step facilitated calculation of speeds at which [La] was 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 mmol/L. The RM required steady-state exercise (SS) at each of these speeds for 25 minutes or until [La] incr...
Esdaile E, Houston K, Till BJ, Sutton RB, Scurrell E, Ling M, Hartley C, Bellone RR.Although several inherited ocular disorders have been extensively studied in horses, few reports of equine ectopia lentis exist and no genetic investigations have been reported. Ectopia lentis in humans and other species is reported to be caused by trauma, genetic variants, and systemic diseases. The most commonly reported genetic causes are dominant alleles in FBN1. Here we examined a 3-day old Oldenburg x Thoroughbred colt due to concerns over bilateral ocular anomalies and hypothesized that either a recessively inherited allele or a dominant de novo allele was the genetic cause. Examination...
Wonghanchao T, Sanigavatee K, Pongnarudech P, Suchairat T, Jitsopin S, Wanichayanon B, Rattanakarn D, Jantakanangkoon P, Jaraswutiwong T, Kalanuson N....Horses competing in eventing competitions encounter significant challenges that increase their risk of severe injuries and metabolic disorders. Numerous studies have focused on the risk of such injuries and disorders during the cross-country segment. While one study has examined autonomic responses during this segment, research on these responses across all three phases of competition, particularly during one-day events, is still limited. The objective of this study was to analyse the autonomic responses of horses by measuring heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) during three exerc...
Narouei M, Rahimi H, Kafshdouzan K.Infections caused by and , as zoonotic diseases, pose a serious threat to the health of humans and animals. To date, there is limited information regarding these diseases in horses. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of and in the serum of racehorses in Iran (Golestan province). 350 blood samples were collected from racehorses in four regions of Golestan province, and demographic data (sex, age, and sampling location) were recorded. The collected serum samples were examined by PCR to identify the genomes of and . The results showed that 3.4 % (P < 0.05, 95 % CI: 1.97 % - 5.9 %) of...
Raftery AG, Gummery L, Garcia K, Mohite D, Capewell P, Sutton DGM.Equine trypanosomiasis is a neglected protozoal disease. Objective: To perform a systematic search of literature to explore: (1) In equines what is the global geographical distribution and prevalence of trypanosomiasis? In low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is trypanosomiasis more prevalent than in higher-income countries (HICs)? (2) Is trypanosomiasis infection a significant contributor to global morbidity and mortality? Methods: Systematic review and meta-analyses. Methods: Studies were identified that described naturally occurring equine trypanosomiasis worldwide following 'Preferred R...
Blomström AL, Hansen S, Riihimäki M.Papillomaviruses (PVs) are small, non-enveloped viruses with double-stranded circular DNA genomes that infect a wide range of hosts, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish. While human papillomaviruses are extensively studied, recent advancements in high-throughput sequencing techniques have increased the detection and genetic characterization of PVs from various animal species. Here, we describe the identification and whole-genome characterization of a divergent equine papillomavirus (EcPV) detected through a viral metagenomic investigation of a horse in Denmark exhibiting neurological ...
Ali A, Derar DR, Alaeyeari AA, Alharbi YM.This study aimed to monitor intrauterine fetal growth, establish predictive equations for gestational age estimation, and determine the optimal period for fetal sexing in Arabian horses using ultrasonography. Unassigned: Seven Arabian mares were monitored from insemination to parturition using transrectal ultrasonography. The following fetal and embryonic parameters were measured: embryonic vesicle (EV), crown-rump length (CRL), biparietal diameter (BIP), stomach diameter (STD), chest depth (CHD), abdominal diameter (ABD), kidney length (KDL), eyeball diameter (EBD), and eye lens length (ELL)....
Serighelli-Júnior G, Strugava L, de Oliveira Franco JD, Kulik K, Dornbusch PT, Machado M, Moreno JCD.To describe the detailed anatomy of the equine thoracoabdominal region and to compare the accuracy of ultrasound-guided versus blind intercostal nerve injection techniques, targeting the thoracic intercostal nerves (T12-T18) in equine cadavers. Methods: Randomized, blinded, cadaveric study. Methods: Eight fresh adult equine cadavers. Methods: Eight horse cadavers were used: one in phase I (436 kg; 4 years old) for anatomic landmarks identification and seven in phase II [420 (317-560 kg); 16 (3-22 years old) [median (minimum-maximum)] for comparative study. In phase I, dissections were performe...
Rico-Hesse R, Weaver SC, de Siger J, Medina G, Salas RA.One of the most important questions in arbovirology concerns the origin of epidemic Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) viruses; these viruses caused periodic, extensive epidemics/epizootics in the Americas from 1938-1973 (reaching the United States in 1971) but had recently been presumed extinct. We have documented the 1992 emergence of a new epidemic/epizootic VEE virus in Venezuela. Phylogenetic analysis of strains isolated during two outbreaks indicated that the new epidemic/epizootic virus(es) evolved recently from an enzootic VEE virus in northern South America. These results suggest co...
Powers AM, Oberste MS, Brault AC, Rico-Hesse R, Schmura SM, Smith JF, Kang W, Sweeney WP, Weaver SC.Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) epidemics and equine epizootics occurred periodically in the Americas from the 1920s until the early 1970s, when the causative viruses, subtypes IAB and IC, were postulated to have become extinct. Recent outbreaks in Columbia and Venezuela have renewed interest in the source of epidemic/epizootic viruses and their mechanism of interepizootic maintenance. We performed phylogenetic analyses of VEE virus isolates spanning the entire temporal and geographic range of strains available, using 857-nucleotide reverse transcription-PCR products including the E3 and ...
Leroux C, Issel CJ, Montelaro RC.We have investigated the genetic evolution of three functionally distinct regions of the equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) genome (env, rev, and long terminal repeat) during recurring febrile episodes in a pony experimentally infected with a well-characterized reference biological clone designated EIAV(PV). Viral populations present in the plasma of an EIAV(PV)-infected pony during sequential febrile episodes (18, 34, 80, 106, and 337 days postinfection) were amplified from viral RNA, analyzed, and compared to the inoculated strain. The comparison of the viral quasispecies showed that the ...
de Grauw JC, van Loon JP.Accurate recognition and quantification of pain in horses is imperative for adequate pain management. The past decade has seen a much needed surge in formal development of systematic pain assessment tools for the objective monitoring of pain in equine patients. This narrative review describes parameters that can be used to detect pain in horses, provides an overview of the various pain scales developed (visual analogue scales, simple descriptive scales, numerical rating scales, time budget analysis, composite pain scales and grimace scales), and highlights their strengths and weaknesses for po...
De Boyer Des Roches A, Richard-Yris MA, Henry S, Ezzaouïa M, Hausberger M.Lateralization of emotions has received great attention in the last decades, both in humans and animals, but little interest has been given to side bias in perceptual processing. Here, we investigated the influence of the emotional valence of stimuli on visual and olfactory explorations by horses, a large mammalian species with two large monocular visual fields and almost complete decussation of optic fibres. We confronted 38 Arab mares to three objects with either a positive, negative or neutral emotional valence (novel object). The results revealed a gradient of exploration of the 3 objects ...
Tarazona AM, Ceballos MC, Broom DM.Excessive human population growth, uncontrolled use of natural resources, including deforestation, mining, wasteful systems, biodiversity reduction by agriculture, and damaging climate change affect the existence of all animals, including humans. This discussion is now urgent and people are rethinking their links with the animals we use for clothing, food, work, companionship, entertainment, and research. The concepts of one health, one welfare, and one biology are discussed as a background to driving global change. Nothing should be exploited without considering the ethics of the action and t...
Arnhold SJ, Goletz I, Klein H, Stumpf G, Beluche LA, Rohde C, Addicks K, Litzke LF.To isolate and characterize bone marrow-derived equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for possible future therapeutic applications in horses. Methods: Equine MSCs were isolated from bone marrow aspirates obtained from the sternum of 30 donor horses. Methods: Cells were cultured in medium (alpha-minimum essential medium) with a fetal calf serum content of 20%. Equine MSC features were analyzed to determine selfrenewing and differentiation capacity. For potential therapeutic applications, the migratory potential of equine MSCs was determined. An adenoviral vector was used to determine the transdu...
DebRoy C, Maddox CW.The pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli recovered from the intestinal tract of animals fall into categories called enterotoxigenic, enteropathogenic, enterohemorrhagic and necrotoxigenic. The other two categories, enteroinvasive and enteroaggregative, have not been reported in animals. The pathogenicity of these strains is determined by the presence of certain genes that encode adhesins and toxins, are generally organized in large blocks in chromosomes, large plasmids or phages, and are often transmitted horizontally between strains. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the vir...
McLean RG, Ubico SR, Bourne D, Komar N.WN virus is one of the most ubiquitous arboviruses occurring over a broad geographical range and in a wide diversity of vertebrate host and vector species. The virus appears to be maintained in endemic foci on the African continent and is transported annually to temperate climates to the north in Europe and to the south in South Africa. Reports of clinical disease due to natural WN virus infection in wild or domestic animals were much less common than reports of infection (virus isolation or antibody detection). Until recently, records of morbidity and mortality in wild birds were confined to ...
Shehu-Xhilaga M, Ablan S, Demirov DG, Chen C, Montelaro RC, Freed EO.The Gag proteins of a number of different retroviruses contain late or L domains that promote the release of virions from the plasma membrane. Three types of L domains have been identified to date: Pro-Thr-Ala-Pro (PTAP), Pro-Pro-X-Tyr, and Tyr-Pro-Asp-Leu. It has previously been demonstrated that overexpression of the N-terminal, E2-like domain of the endosomal sorting factor TSG101 (TSG-5') inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) release but does not affect the release of the PPPY-containing retrovirus murine leukemia virus (MLV), whereas overexpression of the C-terminal portion...
Blitvich BJ, Bowen RA, Marlenee NL, Hall RA, Bunning ML, Beaty BJ.We evaluated the ability of epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to detect West Nile virus (WNV) antibodies in domestic mammals. Sera were collected from experimentally infected horses, cats, and pigs at regular intervals and screened in ELISAs and plaque reduction neutralization tests. The diagnostic efficacies of these techniques were similar.
Miller TL, Lin C.Formal nomenclature is proposed for five methanogens, isolated from horse, pig, cow, goose and sheep faeces, that represent four novel species of the genus Methanobrevibacter. The four species, Methanobrevibacter gottschalkii sp. nov., Methanobrevibacter thaueri sp. nov., Methanobrevibacter woesei sp. nov. and Methanobrevibacter wolinii sp. nov., are distinguished from each other by a lack of genomic DNA reassociation and from previously described members of the genus on the basis of differences in the sequences of the 16S rRNA genes.
Evans SV, Brayer GD.The three-dimensional structure of horse heart metmyoglobin has been refined to a final R-factor of 15.5% for all observed data in the 6.0 to 1.9 A resolution range. The final model consists of 1242 non-hydrogen protein atoms, 154 water molecules and one sulfate ion. This structure has nearly ideal bonding and bond angle geometry. A Luzzati plot of the variation in R-factor with resolution yields an estimated mean co-ordinate error of 0.18 A. An extensive analysis of the pattern of hydrogen bonds formed in horse heart metmyoglobin has been completed. Over 80% of the polypeptide chain is involv...
Tinker MK, White NA, Lessard P, Thatcher CD, Pelzer KD, Davis B, Carmel DK.A prospective study of one year was conducted on 31 horse farms to obtain population based estimates of incidence, morbidity and mortality rates of equine colic. Farms with greater than 20 horses were enrolled by randomly selecting horse owners from 2 adjacent counties of Virginia and Maryland. Descriptive information for 1427 horses was collected at the initiation of the study and updated at 3 month intervals. Time on the farm during the study was tabulated for each horse. When colic was reported by the owner, investigators visited the farm to obtain information about the colic. The crude inc...
Burn CC, Dennison TL, Whay HR.Over 85% of equids live in developing countries, where they are usually used for work. We aimed to identify environmental factors associated with potential welfare problems in working equids, helping target welfare interventions towards the most vulnerable animals. Over 5 years, non-invasive behavioural and physical data were collected from 5481 donkeys, 4504 horses, and 858 mules across nine developing countries. Hoof and limb problems were over 90% prevalent, and 85% of equids were thin. Older, thinner animals had the most problems, and species differences in susceptibility were found. Equid...
Hitchens PL, Morrice-West AV, Stevenson MA, Whitton RC.Studies of racehorse injury or fatality in various countries have identified common, and in some cases conflicting, risk factors. We conducted a systematic search of the relevant literature published from 1990 to 2017. Peer-reviewed articles were included if they reported the incidence of fatal or catastrophic musculoskeletal injury (CMI) in Thoroughbred flat races (n=21) or risk factors for CMI (n=65). Pooled effect sizes were estimated using the random-effects DerSimonian-Laird model. The pooled incidence of CMI was 1.17 (95% confidence interval 0.90, 1.44) per 1000 race starts. Almost 300 f...
Laatamna AE, Wagnerová P, Sak B, Květoňová D, Xiao L, Rost M, McEvoy J, Saadi AR, Aissi M, Kváč M.A total of 219 and 124 individual fecal samples of horses and donkeys, respectively, were screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp., Encephalitozoon spp., and Enterocytozoon bieneusi DNA by genus-specific nested PCR. Isolates were genotyped by sequence analysis of SSU rRNA, GP60, TRAP-C1, COWP, and HSP70 loci in Cryptosporidium, and the ITS region in microsporidia. Cryptosporidium spp. was detected on 3/18 horse farms and 1/15 farms where donkeys were kept. Overall, five (2.3%) horse and two (1.6%) donkey specimens were PCR positive for Cryptosporidium. Genotyping at SSU and GP60 loci ...
Bosch G, Moleman M, Barneveld A, van Weeren PR, van Schie HT.The repair process of tendon injuries, which are common in both human and equine athletes, is slow and the quality of the repair tissue is often inferior to the original tendon tissue, which frequently leads to re-injury. The relatively poor vascularization of tendons is considered to be one of the reasons for their limited healing potential. Recently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous concentrate of platelets, rich in growth factors, has been shown to enhance the repair process of injured tendons. This effect has been ascribed to the high levels of growth factors in PRP, several of wh...
Ghosh S, Qu Z, Das PJ, Fang E, Juras R, Cothran EG, McDonell S, Kenney DG, Lear TL, Adelson DL, Chowdhary BP, Raudsepp T.We constructed a 400K WG tiling oligoarray for the horse and applied it for the discovery of copy number variations (CNVs) in 38 normal horses of 16 diverse breeds, and the Przewalski horse. Probes on the array represented 18,763 autosomal and X-linked genes, and intergenic, sub-telomeric and chrY sequences. We identified 258 CNV regions (CNVRs) across all autosomes, chrX and chrUn, but not in chrY. CNVs comprised 1.3% of the horse genome with chr12 being most enriched. American Miniature horses had the highest and American Quarter Horses the lowest number of CNVs in relation to Thoroughbred r...
Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Fry LM, Knowles DP, Steinman A.Equine piroplasmosis (EP), caused by the hemoparasites , , and , is an important tick-borne disease of equines that is prevalent in most parts of the world. Infection may affect animal welfare and has economic impacts related to limitations in horse transport between endemic and non-endemic regions, reduced performance of sport horses and treatment costs. Here, we analyzed the epidemiological, serological, and molecular diagnostic data published in the last 20 years, and all DNA sequences submitted to GenBank database, to describe the current global prevalence of these parasites. We demonstrat...
Jeffcott LB.The survey comprised 443 horses, referred to the clinical department of the Equine Research Station, with a history of a thoracolumbar (TL) complaint. A wide range of lesions were capable of producing back problems and more than one condition or site of injury was found in 75 animals (17 per cent). There were 103 horses (19.7 per cent) with no evidence of damage to the TL spine or its associated structures. In 66 of these cases, clinical signs were attributed to a variety of hindlimb lamenesses and, in 37, no specific diagnosis could be made. Soft tissue injury was diagnosed in 203 cases (38.8...
Antwis RE, Lea JMD, Unwin B, Shultz S.Microbiome composition is linked to host functional traits including metabolism and immune function. Drivers of microbiome composition are increasingly well-characterised; however, evidence of group-level microbiome convergence is limited and may represent a multi-level trait (i.e. across individuals and groups), whereby heritable phenotypes are influenced by social interactions. Here, we investigate the influence of spatial structuring and social interactions on the gut microbiome composition of Welsh mountain ponies. We show that semi-feral ponies exhibit variation in microbiome composition ...
The Journal of hereditySeptember 1, 1991
Volume 82, Issue 5 369-377 doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a111106
Wichman HA, Payne CT, Ryder OA, Hamilton MJ, Maltbie M, Baker RJ.We describe a molecular model for rapid chromosomal evolution that proposes tandemly repeated DNA sequences as a driving force. A prediction of this model is that when extensive rearrangements of euchromatin have been facilitated by heterochromatin, genomes will be characterized by tandemly repeated sequences that have actively changed chromosomal fields by intragenomic movement. Alternatively, it is proposed that in conservative chromosomal lineage each class of tandemly repeated sequences will be restricted to a specific chromosomal field. To provide baseline data to test this model we exami...
Lange-Consiglio A, Rossi D, Tassan S, Perego R, Cremonesi F, Parolini O.We have recently demonstrated that heterologous transplantation of horse amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal cells (AMCs) can be useful for cell therapy applications in tendon diseases, and hypothesized that these cells may promote tendon repair via paracrine-acting molecules targeting inflammatory processes. To test this hypothesis, here we examined the immunomodulatory characteristics of AMCs and of their conditioned medium (AMC-CM) in vitro, and studied the potential therapeutic effect of AMC-CM in thirteen different spontaneous horse tendon and ligament injuries in vivo. Our results demo...
Seino KK, Long MT, Gibbs EP, Bowen RA, Beachboard SE, Humphrey PP, Dixon MA, Bourgeois MA.We used a severe challenge model that produces clinical West Nile virus (WNV) disease to test the efficacy of three commercially available equine WNV vaccines in horses. Twenty-four healthy, WNV-seronegative horses of varying ages and genders were placed, in random and blind manner, into three trial groups consisting of eight horses each; two horses in each group received (i) an inactivated WNV vaccine (K-WN), (ii) a modified-live vaccine (CP-WN) containing the WNV prM and E proteins expressed by a canarypox vector, (iii) a live-chimera vaccine (WN-FV) containing WNV prM and E proteins express...
Park KD, Park J, Ko J, Kim BC, Kim HS, Ahn K, Do KT, Choi H, Kim HM, Song S, Lee S, Jho S, Kong HS, Yang YM, Jhun BH, Kim C, Kim TH, Hwang S, Bhak J....Thoroughbred horses are the most expensive domestic animals, and their running ability and knowledge about their muscle-related diseases are important in animal genetics. While the horse reference genome is available, there has been no large-scale functional annotation of the genome using expressed genes derived from transcriptomes. Results: We present a large-scale analysis of whole transcriptome data. We sequenced the whole mRNA from the blood and muscle tissues of six thoroughbred horses before and after exercise. By comparing current genome annotations, we identified 32,361 unigene cluster...
