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.
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...
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...
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 =â...
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...
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 =â€...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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)...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Bai B, Zhang X, Zhang M, Ma W, Li J, Zhang H, Na L, Guo X, Lin Y, Wang XF, Wang X.Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is an important model for the study of pathogenesis in lentiviruses. Studies of viral genome organization and replication mechanisms are fundamental to the understanding of virus pathogenicity. In this study, we identified an unique transcript from EIAV in vivo and in vitro by Sanger sequencing and Northern blotting. The transcript contains a complete open reading frame and has length 369 nt. We named the protein encoded by this transcript S4 and demonstrated its expression in EIAV-infected cells. An S4-deficient EIAV infectious clone displayed obviously i...
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 97Â % DNA homology and respectively present serious equine health and welfare concerns. Currently there are few PCR assays targeting unique regions of...
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.
Musoles-Cuenca B, Padilla-Blanco M, Vitale V, Lorenzo-Bermejo T, de la Cuesta-Torrado M, Ballester B, Maiques E, Rubio-Guerri C, Velloso Alvarez A.Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) is a significant pathogen within the subfamily, causing respiratory disease, abortions, and, in severe cases, equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM). While nasal swabs and blood samples are commonly used for real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) diagnosis, variability in viral shedding necessitates exploring additional sample types. This study reports the first molecular detection of EHV-1 in ocular swabs from naturally infected horses during an outbreak in the Valencian Community in 2023. Nasal and ocular swabs were collected from ten symptomati...
Baldwin CM, Gillen A.To evaluate three different jejunal transection angles for end-to-end jejunojejunostomies, comparing construction time, lumen size, and suture number. Methods: Ex vivo cadaver study. Methods: Eight euthanized horses each had three mid-jejunal specimens harvested. Methods: Jejunal segments were assigned to one of three groups (A30, A45, and A60) and transected at 30, 45, or 60°, respectively. Following transection, a standardized handsewn single-layer interrupted modified Lembert anastomosis was performed, and construction time and number of sutures placed were recorded. Anastomotic index (AI)...
Kim CM, Blanco LB, Alhassan A, Iseki H, Yokoyama N, Xuan X, Igarashi I.We developed a TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the quantitative detection of Theileria equi from the in vitro-cultured parasite and field blood samples collected from horses living in Ghana and Brazil. The detection limit for the assay was determined to be 1.5 parasites/microl per sample, and the quantitative capacity was demonstrated using the in vitro-cultured parasite. For field applications, the real-time PCR assay was compared to a previously established nested PCR assay used as the gold standard for the real-time PCR assay. Of 65 field blood samples, 46 samples...
Wood EL, Matthews JB, Stephenson S, Slote M, Nussey DH.Cyathostomins are the most prevalent equine intestinal parasites and resistance has been reported in these nematodes against all 3 licensed anthelmintic classes. Strategies need to be developed that are less dependent upon drugs and more reliant on management-based control. To develop these we need to understand natural transmission patterns better. Here, we analysed longitudinal fecal egg count (FEC) data from 5 pony populations used for conservation purposes. We tested how egg excretion varied amongst populations and individuals, and how this was affected by age and climate. There was eviden...
Radtke CL, Nino-Fong R, Esparza Gonzalez BP, Stryhn H, McDï¿® LA.To characterize equine muscle tissue- and periosteal tissue-derived cells as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and assess their proliferation capacity and osteogenic potential in comparison with bone marrow- and adipose tissue-derived MSCs. Methods: Tissues from 10 equine cadavers. Methods: Cells were isolated from left semitendinosus muscle tissue, periosteal tissue from the distomedial aspect of the right tibia, bone marrow aspirates from the fourth and fifth sternebrae, and adipose tissue from the left subcutaneous region. Mesenchymal stem cells were characterized on the basis of morphology, ad...
Tomlinson JE, Kapoor A, Kumar A, Tennant BC, Laverack MA, Beard L, Delph K, Davis E, Schott Ii H, Lascola K, Holbrook TC, Johnson P, Taylor SD....Three flaviviruses (equine pegivirus [EPgV]; Theiler's disease-associated virus [TDAV]; non-primate hepacivirus [NPHV]) and equine parvovirus (EqPV-H) are present in equine blood products; the TDAV, NPHV, and EqPV-H have been suggested as potential causes of serum hepatitis. Objective: To determine the prevalence of these viruses in horses with equine serum hepatitis. Methods: Eighteen horses diagnosed with serum hepatitis, enrolled from US referral hospitals. Methods: In the prospective case study, liver, serum, or both samples were tested for EPgV, TDAV, NPHV, and EqPV-H by PCR. Results: Bot...
Weaver SC, Pfeffer M, Marriott K, Kang W, Kinney RM.Epizootics of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) involving subtype IAB viruses occurred sporadically in South, Central and North America from 1938 to 1973. Incompletely inactivated vaccines have long been suspected as a source of the later epizootics. We tested this hypothesis by sequencing the PE2 glycoprotein precursor (1,677 nucleotides) or 26S/nonstructural protein 4 (nsP4) genome regions (4,490 nucleotides) for isolates representing most major outbreaks. Two distinct IAB genotypes were identified: 1) 1940s Peruvian strains and 2) 1938-1973 isolates from South, Central, and North America...
Turner TA.Thermography is a practical aid in the clinical evaluation of the equine patient. It is particularly germane to the evaluation of lameness. This modality specifically increases the accuracy of diagnosis. Thermography is the pictorial representation of skin temperature. The technique involves the detection of infrared radiation, which can be directly correlated to blood flow. To be accurate, thermography must be performed in a controlled area free of drafts. The area should be protected from sunlight to avoid erroneous heating of the skin, and the horse's hair length should be uniform. Thermogr...
Theoret CL, Wilmink JM.Impaired wound healing represents an enormous clinical and financial problem for companion animals and humans alike. Unfortunately, most models used to study healing rely on rodents, which have significant differences in the healing and scarring process and rarely develop complications. In order to better simulate impaired healing, the model should strive to reproduce the natural processes of healing and delayed healing. Wounds on the limbs of horses display similarities to wounds in humans in their epithelialization/contraction ratio, genetic influence as well as dysregulated cytokine profile...
Richardson DW, Dodge GR.To determine the effects of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on expression and regulation of several matrix-related genes by equine articular chondrocytes. Methods: Articular cartilage harvested from grossly normal joints of 8 foals, 6 yearling horses, and 8 adult horses. Methods: Chondrocytes maintained in suspension cultures were treated with various doses of human recombinant IL-1beta or TNF-alpha. Northern blots of total RNA from untreated and treated chondrocytes were probed with equine complementary DNA (cDNA) probes for cartilage matrix-related ge...
McPartlin LA, Suarez SS, Czaya CA, Hinrichs K, Bedford-Guaus SJ.Capacitation is a complex and not well-understood process that encompasses all the molecular changes sperm must undergo to successfully fertilize an oocyte. In vitro fertilization has remained elusive in the horse, as evidenced by low in vitro fertilization (IVF) rates (0%-33%); moreover, only two foals have ever been produced using IVF. Incubation of stallion sperm in modified Whittens supplemented with bovine serum albumin and sodium bicarbonate yielded significant rates of time-dependent protein tyrosine phosphorylation and induced acrosomal exocytosis, consistent with capacitation. The obj...
Leemans B, Gadella BM, Stout TA, De Schauwer C, Nelis H, Hoogewijs M, Van Soom A.In contrast to man and many other mammalian species, conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) with horse gametes is not reliably successful. The apparent inability of stallion spermatozoa to penetrate the zona pellucida in vitro is most likely due to incomplete activation of spermatozoa (capacitation) because of inadequate capacitating or fertilizing media. In vivo, the oviduct and its secretions provide a microenvironment that does reliably support and regulate interaction between the gametes. This review focuses on equine sperm-oviduct interaction. Equine sperm-oviduct binding appears to be...
Pomar FJ, Teerds KJ, Kidson A, Colenbrander B, Tharasanit T, Aguilar B, Roelen BA.The occurrence of pregnancies and births after embryo transfer (ET) of in vivo produced embryos is generally more successful compared to that of embryos produced in vitro. This difference in ET success has been observed when embryos of morphological equal (high) quality were used. The incidence of apoptosis has been suggested as an additional criterion to morphological embryo evaluation in order to assess embryo quality and effectively predict embryo viability. In this study, equine, porcine, ovine, caprine and bovine in vivo and in vitro produced morphologically selected high quality (grade-I...
Rudolph J, O'Callaghan DJ, Osterrieder N.The genome of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) strain RacL11, a highly virulent isolate obtained from an aborted foal, and that of the modified live vaccine strain KyA, were cloned as bacterial artificial chromosomes (BAC) in Eseherichia coli. Mini F plasmid sequences were inserted into the viral genomes by homologous recombination instead of the gene 71 (EUS4) open reading frame after co-transfection of viral DNA and recombinant plasmid pdelta71-pHA2 into RK13 cells. After isolation of recombinant viruses by three rounds of plaque purification, viral DNA was isolated from RK13 cells infected...
McCarthy AJ, Lindsay JA, Loeffler A.Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) continues to pose a major threat to human health. In animals, MRSA has become established as a veterinary pathogen in pets and horses; in livestock, it presents a concern for public health as a reservoir that can infect humans and as a source of transferrable resistance genes. Genetic analyses have revealed that the epidemiology of MRSA is different in different animal hosts. While human hospital-associated MRSA lineages are most commonly involved in pet infection and carriage, horse-specific MRSA most often represent 'traditional' equine S. au...
Tozaki T, Miyake T, Kakoi H, Gawahara H, Sugita S, Hasegawa T, Ishida N, Hirota K, Nakano Y.Using 1400 microsatellites, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to identify genomic regions associated with lifetime earnings and performance ranks, as determined by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). The minimum heritability (h(2) ) was estimated at 7-8% based on the quantitative trait model, suggesting that the racing performance is heritable. Following GWAS with microsatellites, fine mapping led to identification of three SNPs on ECA18, namely, g.65809482T>C (P=1.05E-18), g.65868604G>T (P=6.47E-17), and g.66539967A>G (P=3.35E-14) associated with these performance ...
Mihm M, Evans AC.The selection of a single ovarian follicle for further differentiation and finally ovulation is a shared phenomenon in monovulatory species from different phylogenetic classes. The commonality of dominant follicle (DF) development leads us to hypothesize that mechanisms for DF selection are conserved. This review highlights similarities and differences in follicular wave growth between cows, mares and women, addresses the commonality of the transient rises in FSH concentrations, and discusses the follicular secretions oestradiol and inhibin with their regulatory roles for FSH. In all three spe...
Knollinger AM, La Croix NC, Barrett PM, Miller PE.To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements obtained with a rebound tonometer in dogs and horses with values obtained by means of applanation tonometry and direct manometry. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 100 dogs and 35 horses with clinically normal eyes, 10 enucleated eyes from 5 dogs, and 6 enucleated eyes from 3 horses. Methods: In the enucleated eyes, IOP measured by means of direct manometry was sequentially increased from 5 to 80 mm Hg, and IOP was measured with the rebound tonometer. In the dogs and horses, results of rebound tonometry were compared with results of applana...
Perkins GA, Lamb S, Erb HN, Schanbacher B, Nydam DV, Divers TJ.Plasma ACTH levels have been variable in horses with a positive clinical response for therapy for equine Cushing's Disease (ECD). Therefore, our purpose was to determine the value of monitoring plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) levels during treatment of equine Cushing's disease (ECD) with either cyproheptadine (n = 32) or pergolide (n = 10). First, we validated the chemiluminescent ACTH assay (specificity, precision, accuracy, intra-assay and interassay variations) and tested methods of handling the whole blood from the time of collection to when the ACTH was assayed. The sensitivity and spec...
Li Y, Wen X, Li M, Moumouni PFA, Galon EM, Guo Q, Rizk MA, Liu M, Li J, Ji S, Tumwebaze MA, Byamukama B, Chahan B, Xuan X.Ticks carry and transmit a wide range of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, and protozoa) that are of importance to humans and animals globally. However, information about the tick-borne pathogens harbored by ticks in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), northwestern China, is scarce. This study investigated the occurrence of tick species of domestic animals and tick-borne pathogens by using morphological molecular identification and sequence analysis in Turpan, Qitai, Altay, Hejing, Nileke, and Zhaosu counties (XUAR). A total of 5822 adult ticks (females and males) from 12 tick species wer...
Eivers SS, McGivney BA, Fonseca RG, MacHugh DE, Menson K, Park SD, Rivero JL, Taylor CT, Katz LM, Hill EW.Intense selection for elite racing performance in the Thoroughbred horse (Equus caballus) has resulted in a number of adaptive physiological phenotypes relevant to exercise; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for these characteristics are not well understood. Adaptive changes in mRNA expression in equine skeletal muscle were investigated by real-time qRT-PCR for a panel of candidate exercise-response genes following a standardized incremental-step treadmill exercise test in eight untrained Thoroughbred horses. Biopsy samples were obtained from the gluteus medius before, i...
Kutasi O, Bakonyi T, Lecollinet S, Biksi I, Ferenczi E, Bahuon C, Sardi S, Zientara S, Szenci O.The spread of lineage 2 West Nile virus (WNV) from sub-Saharan regions to Europe and the unpredictable change in pathogenicity indicate a potential public and veterinary health threat and requires scientific awareness. Objective: To describe the results of clinical and virological investigations of the 1st outbreak of a genetic lineage 2 WNV encephalomyelitis in horses. Methods: Seventeen horses with neurologic signs. Methods: Information regarding signalment, clinical signs, and outcome was obtained for each animal. Serology was performed in 15 cases, clinicopathological examination in 7 case...
Bermúdez CS, ZaldÃvar AY, Spolidorio MG, Moraes-Filho J, Miranda RJ, Caballero CM, Mendoza Y, Labruna MB.The present research evaluated the presence of Rickettsia spp. on ectoparasites of horses and dogs (using PCR techniques), and their sera (using immunofluorescence assay) in El Valle de Antón town in Panama. A total of 20 horses and 20 dogs were sampled, finding four species of ectoparasites on dogs (the ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma oblongoguttatum, and the flea Ctenocephalides felis), and two tick species on horses (Amblyomma cajennense and Dermacentor nitens). DNA of Rickettsia amblyommii was found in pools of A. cajennense, D. nitens, and R. sanguineus, while ...
Tomlinson JE, Tennant BC, Struzyna A, Mrad D, Browne N, Whelchel D, Johnson PJ, Jamieson C, Löhr CV, Bildfell R, McKenzie EC, Laverack M, Renshaw RW....A novel equine parvovirus (EqPV-H) was recently discovered in the equine liver with Theiler's disease. Objective: To determine the prevalence of EqPV-H infection in naturally occurring Theiler's disease cases and in-contact horses in the absence of historical equine biologic product administration. Methods: Ten cases of Theiler's disease from 6 separate properties were included in the study, based on the criteria of acute onset of clinical signs of liver failure with laboratory or histopathologic findings characteristic of Theiler's disease and no history of receiving an equine biologic produc...
Saito S, Ugai H, Sawai K, Yamamoto Y, Minamihashi A, Kurosaka K, Kobayashi Y, Murata T, Obata Y, Yokoyama K.Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells with the potential capacity to generate any type of cell. We describe here the isolation of pluripotent ES-like cells from equine blastocysts that have been frozen and thawed. Our two lines of ES-like cells (E-1 and E-2) appear to maintain a normal diploid karyotype indefinitely in culture in vitro and to express markers that are characteristic of ES cells from mice, namely, alkaline phosphatase, stage-specific embryonic antigen-1, STAT-3 and Oct 4. After culture of equine ES-like cells in vitro for more than 17 passages, some ES-like cells diffe...
Cuny C, Witte W.MRSA infections in equine clinics were reported from Northern America, Europe, Australia, and Japan. The majority of nosocomial infections in horses is obviously associated with particular MRSA clonal lineages. As already observed for epidemic MRSA in human hospitals more than 10 years ago, a dynamics of MRSA clonal lineages is also observed in European equine clinics: clonal lineages belonging to clonal complex (CC) 8 are on the retreat whereas MRSA attributed to CC398 become increasingly prevalent. The majority of CC398 isolates belong to a subpopulation which is particularly associated with...
Nemoto M, Oue Y, Morita Y, Kanno T, Kinoshita Y, Niwa H, Ueno T, Katayama Y, Bannai H, Tsujimura K, Yamanaka T, Kondo T.Recently, outbreaks associated with equine coronavirus (ECoV) have occurred in Japan and the United States. While ECoV is likely to be pathogenic to horses, it has not been shown that experimental inoculation of horses with ECoV produces clinical signs of disease. In this study, we inoculated three Japanese draft horses with an ECoV-positive diarrheic fecal sample to confirm infection after inoculation and to investigate the clinical course and virus shedding patterns of ECoV. Virus neutralization tests showed that all three horses became infected with ECoV. Two of the three horses developed c...
Ireland JL, Clegg PD, McGowan CM, Platt L, Pinchbeck GL.Geriatric horses (aged≥15 years) now represent a substantial proportion of the equine population, yet mortality rates for aged horses in the UK have not previously been described. Although post-mortem studies have provided some data regarding specific causes of death, "old age" is a common owner-reported reason for euthanasia of adult horses, indicating further elucidation of reasons for death or euthanasia is required for the geriatric equine population. The objective of this cohort study was to describe mortality rates, causes of death or euthanasia and factors associated with mortality in...
Nielsen MK, Peterson DS, Monrad J, Thamsborg SM, Olsen SN, Kaplan RM.Strongylus vulgaris is an important strongyle nematode with high pathogenic potential infecting horses world-wide. Several decades of intensive anthelmintic use has virtually eliminated clinical disease caused by S. vulgaris, but has also caused high levels of anthelmintic resistance in equine small strongyle (cyathostomin) nematodes. Recommendations aimed at limiting the development of anthelmintic resistance by reducing treatment intensity raises a simultaneous demand for reliable and accurate diagnostic tools for detecting important parasitic pathogens. Presently, the only means available t...
Bullone M, Lavoie JP.Human asthma is a complex and heterogeneous disorder characterized by chronic inflammation, bronchospasm and airway remodeling. The latter is a major determinant of the structure-function relationship of the respiratory system and likely contributes to the progressive and accelerated decline in lung function observed in patients over time. Corticosteroids are the cornerstone of asthma treatment. While their action on inflammation and lung function is well characterized, their effect on remodeling remains largely unknown. An important hindrance to the study of airway remodeling as a major focu...
Poulet H, Minke J, Pardo MC, Juillard V, Nordgren B, Audonnet JC.The canarypox vaccine vector (ALVAC) technology has been used to develop and license several vaccines for companion animals and horses in the European Union and USA. ALVAC is a ubiquitous vector with high biosafety since it is non-replicative in mammalians, is genetically and physically stable, and able to induce both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses against the expressed transgene product. Specific rules apply for the development and registration of recombinant vector vaccines. The biology of the vector as well as the recombinant virus must be thoroughly documented to allow the risk...
