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.
Tian Y, Su Y, Jiang X, Su L, Zhang B, Lv F.The zoonotic pathogen subspecies (SEZ) frequently colonizes equines harmlessly but can occasionally cause disease or cross species barriers. Currently, growing evidence suggests SEZ can lead to severe clinical manifestations in horses and other animals, posing a threat to human and companion animal health. In this study, we sequenced the complete genome of the SEZ strain HT321, a novel sequence type 420 isolated from a donkey with a respiratory infection in China. Subsequently, we conducted comparative genomics, core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (cgSNP), phylogenetic analysis multi...
Guayaquil G, Chávez C, Enríquez S, Arrivillaga-Henríquez J, Vaca F, Eleizalde MC, Mendoza M, Pedelini L, Martínez-Fresneda M, Uzcanga GL....Trypanosoma evansi, a protozoan parasite of the Trypanozoon subgenus, infects domestic and wild animals, and occasionally humans, worldwide. Despite its significant impact on livestock production, epidemiological studies and molecular analyses of T. evansi based on variant surface glycoproteins (VSG) remain limited in South America. We report the first molecular identification of T. evansi in two localities in the Ecuadorian Amazon and provide phylogenetic and structural analyses of the VSG RoTat 1.2 fragment. Using a retrospective biobank approach, we analyzed DNA from blood samples of dogs a...
Bugno-Poniewierska M, Bielecka M, Pietras N, Kij-Mitka B, Podstawski Z, Długosz B.The Hucul horse is a Polish primitive breed with a small population size, which highlights the importance of preserving the genetic resources. The cryopreservation of semen is essential for creating gene banks, but its effect on the acrosome reaction in Hucul stallions has not yet been investigated. The acrosome reaction is one of the most important physiological events associated with the fertilization process. Therefore, our goal was to determine the level of acrosome reaction in chilled and frozen/thawed Hucul stallion semen using the FluoAcro test and the SCA semen analysis system. We foun...
Greening L, Harkin E, Kyriazopoulou P, Heppelthwaite Z, Aragona F, Browne JA, Hemmings A, Williams JM, Murphy BA.Modern horse husbandry involves significant time spent indoors, often in suboptimal lighting conditions and with frequent night-time disturbances by humans for management purposes. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a customised light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system and a standard fluorescent lighting fixture on equine sleep behaviours, circadian rhythmicity and spontaneous blink rates in horses. Ten riding school horses experienced two stable lighting conditions for four weeks each in a cross-over study running from January to March, 2023. The treatment lighting co...
Wermer K, Korbacska-Kutasi O, Berkecz R, Csupor D, Ágh N, Sztojkov-Ivanov A, Cserhalmi D.Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown potential therapeutic benefits in veterinary medicine, but further investigations are needed to establish its pharmacokinetics and therapeutic dosing in horses and ponies. The present study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetic properties of CBD in Connemara ponies following oral administration of CBD oil. Unassigned: Ten healthy ponies received a single oral dose of CBD oil at 2 mg/kg. Blood samples were collected before dosing and up to 16 days post-administration, with physical examinations conducted at baseline and at 8, 12, and 24 h post-dose. Addition...
Wilsher S, Ismer A, Grippo A, Hoogewijs M, Bussade P, Kovacsy S.Different cryoprotectants can influence the ability of embryos to successfully survive vitrification and subsequent warming before transfer. Objective: To compare pregnancy rates for embryos ≤500 μm vitrified, without puncture or aspiration of the blastocoele cavity, with one of three commercial human embryo vitrification kits containing the same penetrating cryoprotectants (DMSO and EG) but varying in their non-penetrating cryoprotectants (NPCPAs; sucrose, trehalose, dextran serum supplement [DSS], and hydroxypropyl cellulose [HPC]). Methods: In vivo experiments. Methods: Embryos (n =...
Amiet B, Rainger J, Zedler S, Stewart A, Woldeyohannes S, Goodwin W.To compare horses' aversive behavioural responses to the application of 5% prilocaine/lidocaine eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics (EMLA) cream versus subcutaneous infiltration of 2% lidocaine, followed by jugular vein catheterization. Methods: Blinded, randomized study. Methods: A group of 26 university-owned research horses. Methods: Each horse received both treatments at opposite jugular sites with ≥ 12 hours between procedures. One randomly assigned jugular site received 1 g cm of 5% EMLA cream 60 minutes before catheterization, while the contralateral site received 1.5 mL of 2% lido...
Pyles MB, Fowler AL, Crum AD, Hayes SH, Schendel RR, Lawrence LM.Mare milk is the primary source of nutrients for neonatal foals and contains various carbohydrates. Milk oligosaccharides are complex carbohydrates that are resistant to enzymatic digestion and provide support for the immune system and developing microbiome in the neonate. However, factors influencing the synthesis of milk carbohydrates in the mare are not well understood. This study aimed to determine the effects of dietary nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) on mare milk composition and yield. Thoroughbred mares were paired by age and last breeding date then randomly assigned to one of two diet...
Żychska M, Rzewuska M, Kizerwetter-Świda M, Chrobak-Chmiel D, Stefańska I, Kwiecień E, Witkowski L.The rise of antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis affecting human and veterinary medicine, highlighted within the One Health framework. Horses, classified as both meat and companion animals, play a crucial role in facilitating resistant bacteria spread to humans. Despite increased awareness and reduced antibiotic use in livestock, data on equine antibiotic use and resistance remain limited. This retrospective study examines antimicrobial resistance in 978 bacterial isolates from horses in Poland over 12 years (2010-2022), utilizing data from the Microbiological Diagnostic Laboratory ...
Li J, Matsumoto T, Liu H, Li C, Murase H, Yamamoto Y, Nagaoka K.Accurate prediction of the timing of parturition is crucial to ensure the health and well-being of both mares and foals. However, equine pregnancies are characterised by significant variability in gestation length, unique endocrine mechanisms, and subtle physiological changes before parturition. Objective: To investigate the characteristic changes in the peripheral metabolites of mares before and after parturition using metabolomic approaches. Methods: Longitudinal in vivo metabolic study. Methods: Plasma samples (n = 95) were collected from successfully foaling Thoroughbred mares (n =...
Santos L, Werfel K, Ferlini-Agne G.Accurate measurement of haemoglobin concentration is crucial for monitoring the oxygen-carrying capacity in anaesthetised horses. This prospective study aimed to determine the agreement in haemoglobin concentration in anaesthetised horses using the SpHb pulse co-oximeter, an Epoc® blood gas analyser, and values derived from packed cell volume (PCV), which served as the reference method in this study. The study included 34 horses undergoing elective surgeries. Blood samples were collected from each horse and divided for analysis using the microhaematocrit method to estimate haemoglobin concent...
Rossi HS, Mykkänen AK, Teppo AM, Junnila JJT, Hyytiäinen HK.Pneumonia is a common condition in young, hospitalized foals, causing accumulation of inflammatory secretions to the airways. In humans, respiratory physiotherapy is commonly used as a supplementary treatment for pneumonia with varying results regarding its efficacy, but the efficacy in foals has not been assessed to date. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of respiratory physiotherapy as a supplementary therapy method for young foals with pneumonia. Methods: A total of 44 foals with pneumonia aged under a month were used. The prospective intervention group receivi...
Furukawa R, Tozaki T, Kawate K, Kikuchi M, Ishige T, Takahashi Y, Fukui E, Kakoi H.Gene doping, which entails the administration of transgenes, poses a serious threat to the integrity of equine sports and also raises both ethical and regulatory concerns. Current methods used for the detection of such doping often necessitate the extraction of DNA from plasma, which can be time-consuming and labour-intensive. To overcome this limitation, we developed a direct chamber digital PCR (cdPCR) method that enables transgene detection in equine plasma without the need for DNA purification. Using the equine erythropoietin (EPO) transgene as a model, we validated the assay by analysing ...
Boocock H, Flyps J, Escobar A, Redondo JI, Taylor PM, Gozalo-Marcilla M, Johnston GM, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Sullivan R.Equid anaesthetic mortality is of interest to practitioners. Data for donkey and hybrid mortality have not been specifically described. The main aim of this worldwide observational, prospective, multicentre cohort study was to report on mortality in the 7 days following a general anaesthetic or standing sedation in donkeys and hybrids. This study hypothesised that donkeys and hybrids would have higher mortalities compared to horses. Data were collected as part of the fourth Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Equine Fatalities (CEPEF4). A total of 825 cases were included, with 757 donkeys ...
Al-Kass Z, Morrell JM, Ntallaris T.Sperm quality is adversely affected by cryopreservation due to the increased production of reactive oxygen species, which affects the integrity of sperm membranes, motility, and DNA fragmentation. Three methods for removing seminal plasma, washing (centrifuging extended semen at 800× for 10 min) and Single Layer Centrifugation with high or low density Equicoll, were used to prepare 29 ejaculates from ten stallions for freezing. Sperm quality parameters (kinematics, plasma membrane integrity, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA fragmentation)...
Beggan CP, Panizzi L, Oliver LJ.To measure microsphere recovery following needle-through-and-through lavage (NTAT) of the metacarpo-/metatarsophalangeal joint (fetlock) and digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) compared to endoscopic lavage (EL). Methods: Ex vivo experimental study. Methods: Adult equine cadavers immediately following euthanasia (n = 10). Methods: Colored 15 μm microspheres (2 million) were injected into fetlock joints and DFTS. Synovial structures were assigned to NTAT or EL groups. Each lavage was performed using 5 L of 0.9% NaCl, sequentially collecting egress fluid for microsphere quantification. Re...
Heun F, Meißner J, Schieder AK, Ohnesorge B, Busse C.To determine the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) and effective contact time of four topical antiseptics-polyhexanide, povidone-iodine (PVP-I), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and N-acetylcysteine (NAC)-against Pantoea agglomerans, a pathogen frequently isolated in equine ulcerative keratitis. Methods: Over a 17-month sampling period, clinical isolates were collected from horses with ulcerative keratitis. The most frequently isolated strain (Pantoea agglomerans, n = 14) was selected for in vitro analysis. Methods: All isolates were used to determine the MBCs of the four antiseptics. Eac...
Hellige M, Schröder C, Seehusen F, Cavalleri JM, Rohn K, Stadler P, Geburek F.Computed tomographic myelography (CTM) and radiographic myelography (RxM) are diagnostic for extradural spinal cord compression, but knowledge about the contrast distribution in flexion and normal position of nonaffected horses is lacking. Objective: (1) To determine the inter- and intravertebral ratios at C3-C4 of CTM in neutral and flexed positions in Warmbloods. (2) To compare the diameters of the spinal cord and the contrast columns at C3-C4 between neutral and flexed positions in CTM and RxM. (3) To evaluate the variability of measurements. Methods: Terminal in vivo method-comparison stud...
Baptiste KE, Kyvsgaard NC, Ahmed MO, Damborg P, Dowling PM.Rifampin is an enigma among antimicrobials. Blood and tissue compartment concentrations are a "moving target" along the treatment course due to the complex pharmacodynamic interactions within the body. Rifampin concomitant therapies are for the prevention and treatment of Rhodococcus equi infection in foals, for nearly 40 years. The necessity of rifampin concomitant therapies is based on beliefs that both antimicrobials (e.g., rifampin plus macrolide) penetrate into pulmonary abscesses and intracellular compartments above R. equi minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), as well as better ef...
Germonpré J, Lorenz I, Vandekerckhove LMJ, Duchateau L, Diekhoff T, Vanderperren K.Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is a promising advancement for detecting bone edema-like lesions (BME). However, its application in horses remains limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate DECT virtual-non-calcium (VNCa) imaging in the equine foot and establish which confounding factors could influence its applicability in clinical practice. The DECT VNCa map of 14 standing and 5 cadaveric (recumbent) cases with foot-related lameness was scored in consensus by two readers in comparison to MRI. Overall, 17/19 cases demonstrated BME on MRI, whereas 2 did not. Agreement between DECT V...
Wang J, Qiu J, Wang M, Wu X, Li X, Zhang H.Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) poses a significant global threat to the equine industry, resulting in considerable economic losses and compromised horse health. Given the limited treatment options available, early detection and prevention strategies are essential to combat this viral infection. In this study, we introduce a novel colloidal gold immunochromatographic (ICLF) strip for the rapid and accurate detection of EIAV antibodies. The strip incorporates a unique fusion protein, p26-gp90, designed to enhance both the specificity and sensitivity of the detection method for EIAV antibo...
Mikaiel T, Waller A, Foote A, Cardwell JM, Mitchell J, Priestnall SL.Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) is a commensal opportunistic bacterium associated with outbreaks of equine respiratory disease alongside a diverse range of diseases in various species. The closely related Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) is the causative agent of 'strangles', the most frequently diagnosed contagious equine disease. Despite differing clinical signs, the two subspecies share approximately 97 % DNA homology and respectively present serious equine health and welfare concerns. Currently there are few PCR assays targeting unique regions of...
Pimenta J, Cotovio M.This study explores equine veterinarians' clinical practices regarding mucocutaneous tumors, based on a survey conducted among members of the Portuguese Association of Equine Veterinarians, and examines their perceptions of owner and buyer concerns regarding these tumors. Veterinarians expressed significantly greater concern about squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) during routine examinations ( < 0.001) compared to sarcoids and melanomas. Concern over sarcoids was significantly greater during pre-purchase evaluations compared to routine clinical exams ( = 0.03). For melanomas, a trend toward increa...
Durham AE.This study aimed to further define and quantify possible cross-reactive peptides when measuring plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentration in equids. Equine plasma samples were spiked with known concentrations of exogenous manufactured peptides comprising human ACTH, ACTH (corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide, CLIP) and ACTH (corticotropin inhibiting peptide, CIP). All samples were assayed in duplicate using Siemens Immulite 2000xpi chemiluminescent assay (CLA) and Tosoh AIA-900 immunoflurorescent assay (IFA). As expected, ACTH was measured by both assays although higher v...
Reemtsma FP, Giers J, Horstmann S, Stoeckle SD, Gehlen H.Plasma amino acid (PAA) concentration in horses vary according to the exercise type. This study evaluated the changes in PAA levels and the associated metabolites, urea and ammonia, following short-duration, high-intensity cross-country exercise in eventing horses. Twenty eventing horses participated in 55 rides at 14 international competitions (2* to 4* levels) across five venues in Germany and Poland. Blood samples were collected at four timepoints: before exercise (TP0), at 10 min (TP1), and at 30 min (TP2) post-exercise, as well as in the morning on the day after the competition (TP3). A t...
Ryan CA, Berry DP, Bugno-Poniewierska M, Burke MK, Raudsepp T, Egan S, Doyle JL.Autosomal trisomy, a genetic disorder characterized by the presence of an extra autosome, is a rare but important chromosomal abnormality in horses, often associated with infertility, developmental abnormalities, and reduced life expectancy. This study represents the largest population-level screening for autosomal trisomy in horses; the analysis used single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel genotype intensity data from 17,078 horses, 6601 of which were juveniles (i.e., ≤12 months of age) when genotyped. Using methodologies adapted from similar screening studies in cattle, the only aneuplo...
Sosa-Portugal S, Dale L, Devaney J, Sharp A, Malalana F, Timofte D.The "ESKAPE" bacteria include a group of organisms known for their multidrug resistance and potential association with nosocomial infections in human and veterinary hospitals. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of steam cleaning in reducing the number of ESKAPE organisms on environmental surfaces from the stables of an equine veterinary referral hospital. Methods: Environmental sampling was performed at two timepoints (pre- and post-steam cleaning) on smooth metallic doors and rough rubber stable walls. Microbiological culture targeted ESKAPE organisms and Escherichia co...
Whitlock F, McGlennon A, Newton R, Riley K.As part of her undergraduate research project, Cambridge vet student Katie Riley surveyed the attitudes of UK veterinarians with regard to preventing and controlling strangles, including the use of vaccination. Here, she and Fleur Whitlock, Abigail McGlennon and Richard Newton of Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance discuss her findings.
Luis-Calero M, Marinaro F, Muñoz-García CC, Fernández-Hernández P, Ortiz-Rodríguez JM, Fernández-González R, Pericuesta E, Gutiérrez-Adán A....In vitro embryo production is widely used in equine clinical reproduction; however, its efficiency remains suboptimal due to the undermined developmental competence of in vitro-matured oocytes. In this work, we evaluated the effect of mare preovulatory follicular fluid (PFF) secretome supplementation during in vitro maturation (IVM) of equine oocytes recovered post-mortem. Secretome was isolated from PFF and was added to the IVM medium at concentrations of 20 µg/ml (S20) or 40 µg/ml (S40). The percentage of mature oocytes, as well as embryo cleavage, blastocyst development, and gene expr...
Walter S, Rasche A, Moreira-Soto A, Pfaender S, Bletsa M, Corman VM, Aguilar-Setien A, García-Lacy F, Hans A, Todt D, Schuler G....The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major human pathogen. Genetically related viruses in animals suggest a zoonotic origin of HCV. The closest relative of HCV is found in horses (termed equine hepacivirus [EqHV]). However, low EqHV genetic diversity implies relatively recent acquisition of EqHV by horses, making a derivation of HCV from EqHV unlikely. To unravel the EqHV evolutionary history within equid sister species, we analyzed 829 donkeys and 53 mules sampled in nine European, Asian, African, and American countries by molecular and serologic tools for EqHV infection. Antibodies were found in...
Bussche L, Harman RM, Syracuse BA, Plante EL, Lu YC, Curtis TM, Ma M, Van de Walle GR.The prevalence of impaired cutaneous wound healing is high and treatment is difficult and often ineffective, leading to negative social and economic impacts for our society. Innovative treatments to improve cutaneous wound healing by promoting complete tissue regeneration are therefore urgently needed. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been reported to provide paracrine signals that promote wound healing, but (i) how they exert their effects on target cells is unclear and (ii) a suitable delivery system to supply these MSC-derived secreted factors in a controlled and safe way is unavailabl...
Poissant J, Gavriliuc S, Bellaw J, Redman EM, Avramenko RW, Robinson D, Workentine ML, Shury TK, Jenkins EJ, McLoughlin PD, Nielsen MK, Gilleard JS.Horses are ubiquitously infected by a diversity of gastro-intestinal parasitic helminths. Of particular importance are nematodes of the family Strongylidae, which can significantly impact horse health and performance. However, knowledge about equine strongyles remains limited due to our inability to identify most species non-invasively using traditional morphological techniques. We developed a new internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) DNA metabarcoding 'nemabiome' assay to characterise mixed strongyle infections in horses and assessed its performance by applying it to pools of infective larvae ...
Martig S, Chen W, Lee PV, Whitton RC.Musculoskeletal injuries are a common cause of lost training days and wastage in racehorses. Many bone injuries are a consequence of repeated high loading during fast work, resulting in chronic damage accumulation and material fatigue of bone. The highest joint loads occur in the fetlock, which is also the most common site of subchondral bone injury in racehorses. Microcracks in the subchondral bone at sites where intra-articular fractures and palmar osteochondral disease occur are similar to the fatigue damage detected experimentally after repeated loading of bone. Fatigue is a process that h...
von Samson-Himmelstjerna G.During the past two decades anthelmintic resistance in equine parasites has been found in the group of small strongyle species (cyathostomins) and in the ascarid species Parascaris equorum. The ubiquitous nature and possible severe consequences of disease with these nematodes make them the prime targets of current worm control programmes. Traditional control strategies mainly rely on the strategic application of anthelmintics, currently represented by three major drug classes: benzimidazoles (BZ), the tetrahydropyrimidine pyrantel (PYR) and macrocyclic lactones (ML). Following decades of routi...
Nielsen MK.Anthelmintic resistance is reported in equine nematodes with increasing frequency in recent years, and no new anthelmintic classes have been introduced during the past 40 years. This manuscript reviews published literature describing anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomins, Parascaris spp., and Oxyuris equi with special emphasis on larvicidal efficacy against encysted cyathostomin larvae and strongylid egg reappearance periods (ERP). Resistance to benzimidazoles and pyrimidines is highly prevalent in cyathostomin populations around the world, and macrocyclic lactone resistance has been docume...
Moodley A, Stegger M, Bagcigil AF, Baptiste KE, Loeffler A, Lloyd DH, Williams NJ, Leonard N, Abbott Y, Skov R, Guardabassi L.Region X of the protein A gene (spa) was sequenced from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates originating from animals, humans and the environment at veterinary hospitals in the UK and Ireland. MRSA transmission between animals and veterinary staff was assessed on the basis of spa typing, PFGE and epidemiological data. Methods: MRSA isolates from dogs (n = 27), horses (n = 9), cats (n = 6), staff (n = 22) and environmental surfaces (n = 3) were analysed by PFGE and spa typing. Known contacts between human and animal MRSA carriers were ascertained from the veterinary hospi...
Scepek S, Coorssen JR, Lindau M.Using the patch-clamp technique, we studied the role of protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation on the exocytotic fusion of secretory granules with the plasma membrane in horse eosinophils. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) had no effect on the amplitude and dynamics of degranulation, indicating that the formation of fusion pores is insensitive to activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Fusion pore expansion, however, was accelerated approximately 2-fold by PMA, and this effect was abolished by staurosporine. Elevating intracellular Ca2+ to 1.5 microM also resulted in a 2-fold accelera...
Dobbe JC, van der Meer Y, Spaan WJ, Snijder EJ.The recent development of arterivirus full-length cDNA clones makes possible the construction of chimeric arteriviruses for fundamental and applied studies. Using an equine arteritis virus (EAV) infectious cDNA clone, we have engineered chimeras in which the ectodomains of the two major envelope proteins, the glycoprotein GP(5) and the membrane protein M, were replaced by sequences from envelope proteins of related and unrelated RNA viruses. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, we monitored the transport of the hybrid GP(5) and M proteins to the Golgi complex, which depends on their heterodime...
Muir P, McCarthy J, Radtke CL, Markel MD, Santschi EM, Scollay MC, Kalscheur VL.The mechanisms that regulate functional adaptation of the articular ends of long bones are poorly understood. However, endochondral ossification of articular cartilage and modeling/remodeling of the subchondral plate and epiphyseal trabeculae are important components of the adaptive response. We performed a histologic study of the distal end of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone of Thoroughbreds after bones were bulk-stained in basic fuchsin and calcified sections were prepared. The Thoroughbred racehorse is a model of an extreme athlete which experiences particularly high cyclic strains in ...
Youngstrom DW, Barrett JG, Jose RR, Kaplan DL.Natural extracellular matrix provides a number of distinct advantages for engineering replacement orthopedic tissue due to its intrinsic functional properties. The goal of this study was to optimize a biologically derived scaffold for tendon tissue engineering using equine flexor digitorum superficialis tendons. We investigated changes in scaffold composition and ultrastructure in response to several mechanical, detergent and enzymatic decellularization protocols using microscopic techniques and a panel of biochemical assays to evaluate total protein, collagen, glycosaminoglycan, and deoxyribo...
Leclere M, Lavoie-Lamoureux A, Gélinas-Lymburner E, David F, Martin JG, Lavoie JP.Recent studies suggest that airway smooth muscle remodeling is an early event in asthma, but whether it remains a dynamic process late in the course of the disease is unknown. Moreover, little is known about the effects of an antigenic exposure on chronically established smooth muscle remodeling. We measured the effects of antigenic exposure on airway smooth muscle in the central and peripheral airways of horses with heaves, a naturally occurring airway disease that shares similarities with chronic asthma. Heaves-affected horses (n = 6) and age-matched control horses (n = 5) were kept on pastu...
Fureix C, Jego P, Sankey C, Hausberger M.This study aimed to determine whether horses have a kind of memory of humans (based on previous interactions), leading to a general significance of humans revealed by their reactions to humans in subsequent interactions. Subjects were 59 adult horses used to interact daily with humans. Three types of behavioural tests involving an unknown experimenter evaluated three possibly different memorized types of human-animal interactions (not work-related, using work-related objects, unfamiliar working task). We also performed standardized observations of routine interactions between each horse and it...
Hortensius RA, Harley BA.The design of biomaterials for regenerative medicine can require biomolecular cues such as growth factors to induce a desired cell activity. Signal molecules are often incorporated into the biomaterial in either freely-diffusible or covalently-bound forms. However, biomolecular environments in vivo are often complex and dynamic. Notably, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), linear polysaccharides found in the extracellular matrix, are involved in transient sequestration of growth factors via charge interactions. Biomaterials mimicking this phenomenon may offer the potential to amplify local biomolecular...
De Schaepdrijver L, Simoens P, Lauwers H, De Geest JP.In this paper a morphological study of the retinal vascular patterns in various species of domestic animals is reported. A classification of these patterns into four well-defined groups is described. In the domestic ruminants, pigs and carnivores the retina contains a compact plexus of blood vessels located in the major part of the light-sensitive portion of the retina (euangiotic or holangiotic pattern). In other domestic animals blood vessels are present only in a smaller part of the retina. In the rabbit, vessels are confined to a broad horizontal band coincident with the area of dispersion...
Bertin FR, de Laat MA.Insulin dysregulation is the hallmark of equine metabolic syndrome and has received attention because of its direct association with laminitis. In the absence of an adequate treatment for laminitis, a focus on prophylaxis is needed, making early detection of individuals at risk of developing laminitis one of the main challenges in equine endocrinology. Recent studies have shown that insulin dysregulation goes beyond tissue insulin resistance and it is now demonstrated that the equine enteroinsular axis plays a major role in insulin secretion and equine hyperinsulinaemia. In this review, we dis...
Tanaka T, Kasai H, Yamashita A, Okuyama-Dobashi K, Yasumoto J, Maekawa S, Enomoto N, Okamoto T, Matsuura Y, Morimatsu M, Manabe N, Ochiai K....Equine hepacivirus (EHcV) has been identified as a closely related homologue of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, but not in Asian countries. In this study, we genetically and serologically screened 31 serum samples obtained from Japanese-born domestic horses for EHcV infection and subsequently identified 11 PCR-positive and 7 seropositive serum samples. We determined the full sequence of the EHcV genome, including the 3' untranslated region (UTR), which had previously not been completely revealed. The polyprotein of a Japanese EHcV strain showed ap...
Evangelista MC, Monteiro BP, Steagall PV.Facial expressions of pain have been identified in several animal species. The aim of this systematic review was to provide evidence on the measurement properties of grimace scales for pain assessment. The protocol was registered (SyRF#21-November-2019), and the study is reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies reporting the development, validation, and the assessment of measurement properties of grimace scales were included. Data extraction and assessment were performed by 2 investigators, following the COnsensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement INstruments ...
de Grauw JC, van de Lest CH, van Weeren PR.Inflammation is an important feature of many joint diseases, and levels of cartilage biomarkers measured in synovial fluid may be influenced by local inflammatory status. Little is known about the magnitude and time course of inflammation-induced changes in cartilage tissue turnover as measured in vivo by synovial fluid markers. We aimed to study temporal changes in concentrations of inflammatory mediators, matrix metalloproteinase activity and cartilage biomarkers over 1 week in joints with experimentally induced inflammation. Methods: Localized inflammation was induced in the intercarpal joi...
Basile M, Boivin S, Boutin A, Blois-Heulin C, Hausberger M, Lemasson A.Laterality is now known to be an ubiquitous phenomenon among the vertebrates. Particularly, laterality of auditory processing has been demonstrated in a variety of species, especially songbirds and primates. Such a hemispheric specialization has been shown to depend on factors such as sound structure, species specificity and types of stimuli. Much less is known on the possible influence of social familiarity although a few studies suggest such an influence. Here we tested the influence of the degree of familiarity on the laterality of the auditory response in the domestic horse. This species i...
Gallo N, Natali ML, Sannino A, Salvatore L.Type I collagen has always aroused great interest in the field of life-science and bioengineering, thanks to its favorable structural properties and bioactivity. For this reason, in the last five decades it has been widely studied and employed as biomaterial for the manufacture of implantable medical devices. Commonly used sources of collagen are represented by bovine and swine but their applications are limited because of the zoonosis transmission risks, the immune response and the religious constrains. Thus, type-I collagen isolated from horse tendon has recently gained increasing interest a...
van Eeden C, Williams JH, Gerdes TG, van Wilpe E, Viljoen A, Swanepoel R, Venter M.To determine which agents cause neurologic disease in horses, we conducted reverse transcription PCR on isolates from of a horse with encephalitis and 111 other horses with acute disease. Shuni virus was found in 7 horses, 5 of which had neurologic signs. Testing for lesser known viruses should be considered for horses with unexplained illness.
Bulmer LS, Murray JA, Burns NM, Garber A, Wemelsfelder F, McEwan NR, Hastie PM.Gut microbiota have been associated with health, disease and behaviour in several species and are an important link in gut-brain axis communication. Diet plays a key role in affecting the composition of gut microbiota. In horses, high-starch diets alter the hindgut microbiota. High-starch diets are also associated with increased behavioural reactivity in horses. These changes in microbiota and behaviour may be associated. This study compares the faecal microbiota and behaviour of 10 naïve ponies. A cross-over design was used with experimental groups fed high-starch (HS) or high-fibre (HF) die...
Ueti MW, Palmer GH, Kappmeyer LS, Statdfield M, Scoles GA, Knowles DP.The protozoan parasite Babesia equi replicates within erythrocytes. During the acute phase of infection, B. equi can reach high levels of parasitemia, resulting in a hemolytic crisis. Horses that recover from the acute phase of the disease remain chronically infected. Subsequent transmission is dependent upon the ability of vector ticks to acquire B. equi and, following development and replication, establishment of B. equi in the salivary glands. Although restriction of the movement of chronically infected horses with B. equi is based on the presumption that ticks can acquire and transmit the ...
Uldahl M, Clayton HM.Information is needed to guide sport administrators in formulating rules for equipment use in competitions. Objective: To seek associations between spurs, bits, nosebands and whips with injuries in horses during competitions in four equestrian sports. Methods: Cross sectional study. Methods: Post competition evaluations were performed in 3143 horse/rider combinations competing in Danish Equestrian Federation competitions in dressage, showjumping, eventing and endurance by trained evaluators who recorded the presence and type of spurs, bits, nosebands, and whips. Further evaluations recorded no...
Kydd JH, Smith KC, Hannant D, Livesay GJ, Mumford JA.Twelve adult ponies and 2 conventional foals were exposed intranasally to EHV-1, strain Ab4 (TCID50 10(-6.6) and samples of respiratory tract associated lymphoid tissues were recovered between 12 h and 13 days after infection. Infectious virus was detected in tissue homogenates using susceptible cell monolayers and expression of viral antigens was monitored using indirect immunoperoxidase histochemistry on paraffin sections. The results showed both infectious EHV-1 and viral antigens in respiratory tract associated lymph nodes 12 h after exposure. Infected leucocytes were identified morphologi...
Kennedy R, Lappin DF, Dixon PM, Buijs MJ, Zaura E, Crielaard W, O'Donnell L, Bennett D, Brandt BW, Riggio MP.Equine periodontal disease is a common and painful condition and its severe form, periodontitis, can lead to tooth loss. Its aetiopathogenesis remains poorly understood despite recent increased awareness of this disorder amongst the veterinary profession. Bacteria have been found to be causative agents of the disease in other species, but current understanding of their role in equine periodontitis is extremely limited. The aim of this study was to use high-throughput sequencing to identify the microbiome associated with equine periodontitis and oral health. Subgingival plaque samples from 24 h...
Couëtil LL, Rosenthal FS, DeNicola DB, Chilcoat CD.To evaluate the association among clinical signs, results of cytologic evaluation of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and measures of pulmonary function in horses with inflammatory respiratory disease. Methods: 9 healthy horses, 5 horses with inflammatory airway disease (IAD), and 9 horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Clinical examination, lung function tests, and BAL were performed on each horse. Results: Standard lung mechanics of horses with exacerbated COPD differed significantly from those of healthy horses; however, there were few differences among horse...
Lindenberg F, Krych L, Kot W, Fielden J, Frøkiær H, van Galen G, Nielsen DS, Hansen AK.Shortly after birth the mammalian gut is colonized, by a transient microbiota, highly susceptible to environment and diet, that eventually stabilizes and becomes the resident gut microbiota. In a window of opportunity during the colonization, oral tolerance is established towards resident bacteria. In this study, the development of the equine gut microbiota was investigated in ten foals from parturition until post weaning. We found great differences in the core species of the gut microbiota composition between time-matched samples on Day 7 and 20 post-partum. Between day 20 and Day 50 post-par...
