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.
Volding DM, Flores-Ahlschwede P, Cramer MJ, Landrock KK, Sayre KC, Welsh TH, Bordin AI, Piccione J, Cohen ND.To determine the effects of transfusion of Rhodococcus equi hyperimmune plasma (REHIP) on serum electrolyte and protein concentrations in neonatal foals. Unassigned: A prospective observational study of 355 privately owned Thoroughbred foals from 13 farms in New York and cross-sectional study of REHIP samples. Blood was collected immediately before and after transfusion of either 1 or 2 L of REHIP to foals, and serum samples were separated and frozen until tested for concentrations of sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), total protein (TP), albumin, and globulins. Samples (n = 90) of REH...
Battistin L, Moya LFA, Ferreira LVO, Braz AMM, Carvalho M, Golim MA, Amorim RM.Cell-based therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) shows promise for treating several diseases due to their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. To enhance the therapeutic potential of MSCs, in vitro priming strategies have been explored. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound derived from cannabis, may influence MSC proliferation, differentiation, and immunomodulatory properties. This study evaluates the immunomodulatory potential of equine adipose tissue-derived MSCs (EqAT-MSCs) primed with a CBD-rich cannabis extract. EqAT-MSCs (P3) were primed with CBD concentrati...
Two new quantitative methods for the determination of four stress-related hormones (cortisol, cortisone, dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) in horse hair and sheep wool by liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid high resolution mass spectrometry were developed and validated. Hormones were extracted overnight from ground samples with methanol after a washing step with the same solvent to remove external contamination. The extract was evaporated and dry residue was solubilized in an acid mixture of methanol and water. The methods were validated according to ICH guidelin...
Bianchi D, Santos RRD, Peleja PL, de Sousa ABB, da Silva Evangelista M, de Almeida Júnior JS, Barata LES, Moraes WP, Minervino AHH. (tropical horse tick) is a tick species commonly found parasitizing horses and other equids in the Amazon region, causing economic losses. Currently, tick control is based on chemical acaricides, usually in a power formulation for topical use. However, its indiscriminate use results in the emergence of resistant tick lineages. Several plant compounds have been tested for their acaricide activity. In the Amazon, several plants are used for oil extraction, resulting in the production of solid residue (waste) that may contain chemical molecules with biological activities. Thus, we aimed to test ...
Rodriguez Velazquez D, Forte L, Varela Guerrero JA, Díaz Alvarado T, Elghandour MMMY, Maggiolino A, De Palo P, Salem AZM.Exploring new natural-origin antiparasitic alternatives is essential in addressing the resistance issues that have emerged due to the widespread use of chemical or synthetic antiparasitic compounds. This area remains relatively underexplored despite the increasing recognition of plants like (mesquite) for their antiparasitic properties and nutritional value as a high-protein animal feed. This review aims to investigate the antiparasitic potential of against gastrointestinal parasites in horses. The review incorporates sources from 2005 to 2024. It was found that various phytochemical compoun...
Chambers A.All anti-doping programmes face financial constraints and monitoring trends in medication use or abuse in a population of racehorses can be difficult and expensive. Obtaining biological samples is the primary method of anti-doping control in individual horses or stables of horses but can be invasive and expensive. Another important practice of anti-doping control has been the confiscation of used and filled syringes by regulators for individual forensic analysis. Pooled samples testing involves the testing of multiple individual samples together as one composite sample. This pooled sample appr...
Sohn Y, An SJ, Forbes E, Kim BS, Jeon HS, Ryu SH, Lee I.The lateral trochlear ridge of the stifle joint is highly susceptible to developing Osteochondrosis (OC)/Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions. This retrospective study evaluated the medical and racing outcomes of 75 Thoroughbreds who underwent arthroscopic OCD removal at the Jeju Stud Farm Equine Hospital from 2015 to 2017. The analysis included medical records, radiographic assessments, and race performance data, comparing 75 horses that underwent surgery with 257 control horses selected as siblings from the same dam. The surgical group had comparable racehorse registration rates (89.3 %...
Duma LA, Begonia MT, Miller B, Jung C, Wood M, Duma BG, Rowson S.The current equestrian helmet standards set minimal requirements for passing helmets, highlighting the need for a rating system that differentiates helmets based on their impact performance. This study's objectives were to compare equestrian helmet impact response kinematics between linear-driven and oblique impact conditions and then to evaluate the effect of incorporating oblique drop tests into a previously established equestrian helmet rating system, Equestrian STAR. Methods: Oblique drop tests were conducted with 45 equestrian helmet models at two impact locations, front boss and rear bos...
Sun YF, Han ZX, Yao XK, Meng J, Ren WL, Wang CK, Yuan XX, Zeng YQ, Wang YF, Sun ZW, Wang JW.: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different stages of training on the intestinal microbial abundance of Yili horses. : Ten Yili horses, all aged 2 years old and weighing 305 ± 20 kg, were selected and divided into a training group and an untrained group. The training group performed riding training 6 days a week, and the untrained group moved freely in the activity circle every day. Fecal samples were collected on days 30 and 60, and the intestinal microorganisms were detected and analyzed using metagenomics. : Compared with the 30-day untrained group, the relative abu...
Kawaida MY, Kwon OS, Ahn A, Reiter AS, Tillquist NM, Noh SG, Lee JW, Moore TE, Reed SA.This study investigated the effects of astaxanthin (ASTX) supplementation on oxidative status during a deconditioning-reconditioning cycle. Twelve polo ponies were assigned to no supplementation (CON) or an ASTX supplemented group, which received oral administration of a supplement containing 75 mg ASTX daily for 32 weeks. Polo ponies underwent a 16-week deconditioning period (DECON) followed by a 16-week reconditioning program (RECON). Submaximal exercise tests (SETs) were performed at the beginning of the study (Baseline), after DECON, and after RECON. Blood samples were collected at -30...
Cameron-Whytock H, Divall H, Lewis M, Apps C.The study hypothesised that a markerless motion capture system can provide kinematic data comparable to a traditional marker-based system for riders mounted on a horse. The objective was to assess the markerless system's accuracy by directly comparing joint and segment angle measurements taken during walking and trotting with those obtained from a marker-based system. Ten healthy adult participants performed five dynamic trials during walking and trotting. A twelve-camera marker-based system and eight-camera 2D video-based system were synchronised. Three-dimensional hip, knee, shoulder and elb...
Legg KA, Cochrane DJ, Gee EK, Chin YY, Rogers CW.Thoroughbred race-riding requires jockeys to attenuate horse movement and maintain postural stability whilst galloping at high speeds. This study aimed to investigate the head movement of jockeys in relation to race-riding experience. Accelerometer and heart rate data were collected from twelve apprentice and two senior jockeys during 85 exercise rides and 82 trial rides. Mean head displacements were determined for each jockey by double integrating the filtered acceleration data. A mixed effect multivariable linear regression model was used to investigate the relationship between jockey experi...
Lundmark Hedman F, Ewerlöf IR, Frössling J, Berg C.The presence of a trustworthy and effective animal welfare control system is important both for animal welfare and for public and consumer trust. The inspectors' main task, regardless of whether they are official inspectors or private auditors, is to check for and enforce compliance with any relevant regulations. The aim of this study was to investigate how official animal welfare inspectors and private animal welfare auditors in Sweden perceive their inspection work and to explore any differences in the perception of being an inspector between these two groups. An electronic questionnaire was...
Renaudin CD, Picandet V, Kass PH.Using the equation of Hartwig et al. and the table established for light breed horses, day of gestation was predicted in 108 Warmblood (WB) and 59 racehorses (Thoroughbred [TB] and Standardbred [STB]) pregnant mares. In WB, gestational ages were predicted within 2 weeks from 100 to 200 days of gestation using biparietal diameter (BPD), aortic diameter (AortD) or femur length (FL); within 2 weeks from 100 to 250 days using BPD or AortD; within 2 weeks from 100 to 300 days using BPD alone; and within 3 weeks from 100 to 350 days using eye approximated volume (EyV) alone. In the ...
Midon M, Clark-Price SC, Lin HC, Lascola KM, Boone L.To determine if serum iron concentrations decrease acutely during and after general anesthesia in healthy horses. Methods: Prospective experimental study. Methods: A convenience sample of 24 healthy adult horses (eight females, 16 geldings), weighing 545 ± 33 kg (mean ± standard deviation). Methods: Horses were anesthetized for 120 minutes with isoflurane, after premedication with intravenous (IV) xylazine (0.8 mg kg-1) and induction with IV midazolam (0.1 mg kg-1) and ketamine (2.2 mg kg-1). Blood samples for serum iron analysis were obtained just before premedication (baseline), after 60 m...
Vernemmen I, Demeyere M, Van Steenkiste G, Buschmann E, Decloedt A, van Loon G.Ultrasonographic guidance of catheter-based interventions in horses is based primarily on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) has the potential to provide detailed imaging of specific cardiac regions. Insight and training in echocardiographic guidance can be acquired using an echocardiography simulator. Objective: Use an echocardiography simulator for horses to determine specific ICE views for catheter-based interventions and validate these in live horses. Methods: Six adult healthy experimental horses. Methods: Observational study. An echocardiographic ph...
Macleod BM, Wilkins PA, McCoy AM, Bishop RC.Viscoelastic coagulation testing (VCT) identifies subclinical disruption of coagulation homeostasis and may improve prognostication, particularly for patients with severe systemic inflammation or shock. Machine learning (ML) algorithms may capture complex relationships between clinical variables better than linear regression (GLM). Objective: To evaluate the utility of ML models incorporating VCT and clinical data to predict survival outcomes in horses with acute abdominal pain. Methods: Retrospective observational cohort study. Methods: VCT (VCM Vet™) was performed on 57 horses with acute a...
Chevalier N, Migné CV, Mariteragi-Helle T, Dumarest M, De Mas M, Chevrier M, Queré E, Marcillaud-Pitel C, Lupo C, Bigeard C, Touzet T, Leblond A....The circulation of West Nile virus (WNV), Usutu virus (USUV), and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was investigated in south-western France during the first six months of 2023, following the emergence of WNV in equids in Gironde, a département in south-western France, in 2022. Blood samples were collected from 494 horses located in the Gironde département and divided into three zones: the Confluence zone, the Intermediate zone and the Arcachon Basin. Samples were tested for WNV-, USUV- and TBEV-specific antibodies. An overall seroprevalence of 14% (95% CI [11-18%]) for orthoflavivirus an...
Cole RC, DeGraves FJ, Brown J, Schumacher J.To compare the effect of 2.5 mL 2% mepivacaine to the effect of 0.5 mL 2% mepivacaine administered over each palmar digital nerve, as an abaxial sesamoid nerve block (ASNB), to 6 horses lame because of naturally occurring digital pain. Unassigned: In a crossover study design with 3 horses in each group, the trotting gait of the horses was analyzed with an inertial sensor-based, motion-analysis system (Q with Lameness Locator; Equinosis LLC) immediately before and after treatment with either 0.5 or 2.5 mL mepivacaine administered over each nerve near the base of the proximal sesamoid bone of th...
Conrad MB, Leatherwood JL, Paris BL, George JM, Martinez RE, Vergara-Hernandez FB, Nielsen BD, Colbath AC, Arnold CE, Glass KG, Welsh TH, Bradbery AN.Extra-label bisphosphonate (BP) use in juvenile horses is anecdotally reported, primarily for analgesic effects, despite the limited scientific understanding of biologic impacts on skeletally immature horses undergoing exercise. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of clodronate disodium (CD), a form of BP, on endocrine regulators of calcium. Thus, 32 yearling Quarter Horses were stratified by age (500 ± 13 d), body weight (BW; 336 ± 26 kg), sex (n = 16 geldings, n = 16 fillies), and initial bone optical density into 1 of 4 treatment groups for a 168-d tr...
The inflammatory status in horses with gastric ulcers was monitored by two inflammatory biomarkers, S100A12 and adenosine deaminase (ADA), using saliva samples from healthy and horses with gastric ulcers. Two trials were developed: an experimental trial, in which gastric ulceration was induced in 8 horses by feed deprivation, and a clinical trial, in which 20 horses without any symptomatology and 37 with symptoms compatible with gastric ulcers were used. S100A12 and ADA levels were measured in the saliva samples of all horses using previously validated assays. In both trials, horses with gastr...
Chang X, Zhang Z, Yao X, Meng J, Ren W, Zeng Y.The equine lipid metabolism is activated during and after endurance exercise to provide energy in response to the metabolic and physiological changes in the body caused by prolonged exercise; however, the specific regulatory mechanisms remain controversial and identifying differential lipid metabolites associated with equine endurance is essential to elucidate these regulatory mechanisms. In this study, blood samples for lipid metabolomic analysis and biochemical indices were collected before and after a 26 km race from 12 Yili horses with different endurance performance. The biochemical res...
Cheung HW, Wong KS, Cheng PCF, Tsang CYN, Farrington AF, Wan TSM, Ho ENM.Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) continue to be a significant threat to the integrity of human and equine sports. Besides conventional direct testing, monitoring the biomarkers associated with the effects of ESAs may provide a complementary approach via indirect detection to enhance doping control. In this study, we applied RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to discover blood RNA biomarkers in Thoroughbred horses after administration with a long-acting form of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO), methoxy polyethylene glycol epoetin beta, Mircera®. A single subcutaneous administration of Mi...
May A, Hanche-Olsen S, Goehring LS, Matiasek K, Jäderlund KH, Zablotski Y, Gröndahl G.Acquired equine polyneuropathy in Nordic horses (AEP) is the most prevalent equine polyneuropathy in Norway, Sweden, and Finland and is characterised by pelvic limb knuckling due to metatarsophalangeal extension dysfunction. Objective: To evaluate the function of descending motor pathways in AEP using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Methods: An analytical, observational cohort design. Methods: Clinical findings and TMS results of 20 horses from an AEP outbreak in Sweden were evaluated at 5-month intervals. Latency time (LT) in milliseconds (ms) between coil discharge and onset of musc...
Barnabé MA, Elliott J, Harris PA, Menzies-Gow NJ.Insulin dysregulation (ID) and hypoadiponectinaemia (total [adiponectin] <7.9 μg/mL) are risk factors for laminitis. They are sometimes, but not always, associated with obesity. Objective: To investigate the effects of pasture consumption and obesity on ID and circulating total [adiponectin] in ponies. Methods: Longitudinal. Methods: Seven native-breed ponies with normal basal and post-oral sugar test (OST) [insulin] and body condition score (BCS) 4.3-5.5/9 were allowed to graze until they reached BCS 7/9. Ponies were then maintained at BCS 7/9 until completion of the study (week 22). Morph...
Pawlina-Tyszko K, Semik-Gurgul E, Podstawski P, Herc W, Witkowski M, Ropka-Molik K.Alterations in the genes involved in the creation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) were observed in our earlier transcriptome studies of sarcoids and their cell culture model. For a complete characterization of the underlying molecular pathways, it is imperative to comprehend the involvement of ECM modifications in the oncogenic transformation of sarcoid fibroblasts. Thus, the aim of this investigation was to describe the expression patterns of a set of genes that are essential for the rearrangements of the extracellular matrix, namely collagen genes, and elucidate possible mechanisms underly...
Munsterman AS, Dias Moreira AS, Kottwitz J.To evaluate the effects of detomidine on equine intestinal slow-wave activity and frequency distribution measured by electrointestinography (EIG). Methods: Prospective, experimental study. Methods: University teaching hospital. Methods: A convenience sample of twelve 7- to 21-year-old clinically normal horses. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to saline control (four horses) or detomidine treatment (eight). After obtaining a 30-min baseline EIG, a saline or detomidine bolus was administered, followed by a constant rate infusion, and another EIG was recorded. Ultrasonographic examinations ...
Turek B, Jankowski K, Pawlikowski M, Jasiński T, Domino M.Proximal phalanx (P1) fractures in horses are relatively common, and present significant treatment challenges, especially when the fractures are comminuted or infected. An innovative treatment approach includes attaching an external fixator to the third metacarpal bone (MC III), the healthy bone above fracture, to offload the injured P1 and protect it from load-bearing forces, particularly during post-surgical standing up. This study aims to develop the favourable mathematical and numerical models for screws configuration in this external fixator. Nine configurations (I-IX), varying in screw a...
Gómez-Torres F, Ballesteros-Acuña L, Ruíz-Sauri A.Arrhythmic sudden cardiac death in dogs and horses often results from ventricular arrhythmia secondary to myocardial damage. Despite this, limited data exist on the histomorphometric changes in cardiac conduction fibers (CCFs) and cardiac conduction cells (CCCs) following spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI). This study aimed to characterize morphometric and histological alterations in conduction fibers and their junctions with cardiomyocytes in infarcted hearts of horses and dogs. Unassigned: Ten hearts from horses and 10 from dogs that had died suddenly were examined. Histological and immu...
McKinney CA, Oliveira BCM, Bedenice D, Paradis MR, Mazan M, Sage S, Sanchez A, Widmer G.Fecal microbial transplantation (FMT), a treatment for certain gastrointestinal conditions associated with dysbiosis in people, is also empirically employed in horses with colitis. This study used microbiota high-throughput sequencing to compare the fecal microbial profile of healthy horses to that of geriatric microbial transplant recipients experiencing diarrhea and tested whether FMT restores microbiota diversity. To evaluate the effect of environment and donor characteristics on the intestinal microbiota, fecal samples were collected per rectum from 15 healthy young-adult (2-12 years) and ...
Mobasheri A, Lewis R, Maxwell JE, Hill C, Womack M, Barrett-Jolley R.Chondrocytes possess the capacity to transduce load-induced mechanical stimuli into electrochemical signals. The aim of this study was to functionally characterize an ion channel activated in response to membrane stretch in isolated primary equine chondrocytes. We used patch-clamp electrophysiology to functionally characterize this channel and immunohistochemistry to examine its distribution in articular cartilage. In cell-attached patch experiments, the application of negative pressures to the patch pipette (in the range of 20-200 mmHg) activated ion channel currents in six of seven patches. ...
England GC, Clarke KW.In recent years the usefulness of the alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonist drugs has been recognized in equine practice. Several agents have become available and are now licensed for use in a number of countries. The principle actions of all alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonists are similar, in that they produce a reduction in heart rate and alteration of heart rhythm, an initial hypertension followed by a prolonged hypotension, a decrease in the cardiac output and respiratory depression. For clinical purposes, these agents produce sedation and analgesia, they are useful for premedication and markedly potenti...
Wagner B, Radbruch A, Rohwer J, Leibold W.In this study we describe the generation of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which recognize different epitopes of the equine IgE constant heavy chain. Equi-murine recombinant IgE (rIgE), composed of the murine V(H)186.2 heavy chain variable region, linked to the equine IgE constant heavy chain and expressed together with the murine lambda(1) chain in J558L cells was used to immunize BALB/C mice. A total of 17 different mAbs were obtained, which recognized the rIgE heavy chain constant region. None of the mAbs reacted with monoclonal equine isotypes IgM, IgG1 (IgGa), IgG3 (IgG(T)), IgG4 (IgGb) or...
Balasuriya UB, Heidner HW, Davis NL, Wagner HM, Hullinger PJ, Hedges JF, Williams JC, Johnston RE, David Wilson W, Liu IK, James MacLachlan N.Replicon particles derived from a vaccine strain of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus were used as vectors for expression in vivo of the major envelope proteins (G(L) and M) of equine arteritis virus (EAV), both individually and in heterodimer form (G(L)/M). The immunogenicity of the different replicons was evaluated in horses, as was their ability to protectively immunize horses against intranasal and intrauterine challenge with a virulent strain of EAV (EAV KY84). Horses immunized with replicons that express both the G(L) and M proteins in heterodimer form developed neutralizing ant...
Fuller CJ, Bladon BM, Driver AJ, Barr AR.The objective of this study was to assess the reliability of lameness scoring in horses. One veterinary surgeon examined nineteen lame horses on four occasions. Gait was recorded by camcorder, and scored from 0 to 10 ranging from sound to non-weight bearing lameness. A global score of overall change in lameness during the study was also determined for each horse. To measure intra-assessor reliability of the scoring systems, one veterinary surgeon scored videotapes of the horses' gaits on two occasions. To measure inter-assessor reliability, three veterinary surgeons viewed the videotapes, assi...
Edington N, Smyth B, Griffiths L.One of three mares in the last trimester of pregnancy became paraplegic 7 days after experimental infection with EHV-1 and was killed 10 days after infection (d.p.i.). The other two mares aborted foetuses at 12 and 14 d.p.i. In the first mare, virus was detected by immunofluorescence (IIF) and immunoperoxidase (IP) staining in endothelial cells of the endometrium, placenta and umbilical vein, but not in any other foetal tissues. In the experimentally aborted foetuses, and in two other independent field cases of abortions, endothelial cell infection was also detected in the foetuses, both in ma...
Södersten F, Hultenby K, Heinegård D, Johnston C, Ekman S.This is a descriptive study of tendon pathology with different structural appearances of repair tissue correlated to immunolocalization of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and type I and III collagens and expression of COMP mRNA. The material consists of nine tendons from seven horses (5-25 years old; mean age of 10 years) with clinical tendinopathy and three normal tendons from horses (3, 3, and 13 years old) euthanized for non-orthopedic reasons. The injured tendons displayed different repair-tissue appearances with organized and disorganized fibroblastic regions as well as areas o...
Garvican ER, Cree S, Bull L, Smith RK, Dudhia J.Autologous mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) injection into naturally-occurring equine tendon injuries has been shown to be safe and efficacious and protocols inform translation of the technique into humans. Efficient transfer of cells from the laboratory into tissue requires well-validated transport and implantation techniques. Methods: Cell viability in a range of media was determined over 72 hours and after injection through a 19G, 21G or 23G needle. Viability, proliferation and apoptosis were analysed using TrypanBlue, alamarBlue® and AnnexinV assays. Results: Cell viability was similar in all...
Williams KJ, Robinson NE, Lim A, Brandenberger C, Maes R, Behan A, Bolin SR.Gammaherpesviruses (γHV) are implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis in humans and murine models of lung fibrosis, however there is little direct experimental evidence that such viruses induce lung fibrosis in the natural host. The equine γHV EHV 5 is associated with equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF), a progressive fibrosing lung disease in its natural host, the horse. Experimental reproduction of EMPF has not been attempted to date. We hypothesized that inoculation of EHV 5 isolated from cases of EMPF into the lungs of clinically normal horses would induce lung fibr...
Parkin TD, Clegg PD, French NP, Proudman CJ, Riggs CM, Singer ER, Webbon PM, Morgan KL.The risk of fatal distal limb fractures in thoroughbreds racing in the UK was calculated and shown to vary considerably between the different types of race. Flat turf racing was associated with the lowest risk (0.4 per 1000 starts) and national hunt flat racing was associated with the highest risk (2.2 per 1000 starts). The types of fracture were classified by detailed radiographic and postmortem examinations of all the cases recorded over two years, and the distribution of the different types of fracture in the five main types of racing was examined. Overall, lateral condylar fractures of the...
Nielsen JM.The objective of this study was to compare results from endometrial culture swabs with results from culturing of endometrial biopsies. The culture results were related to cytological findings (polymorphonuclear; PMN-cells) and histological observations (PMN-cells). Biopsy and swab samples were smeared on the surface of a blood agar petri dish, and examined for growth of bacteria. Cytology samples were obtained from endometrial biopsies, stained and examined under microscopy for the presence of PMN-cells. Endometrial biopsies were examined for the presence of PMN-infiltration of the endometrial...
Sazmand A, Bahari A, Papi S, Otranto D.Parasitic infections can cause many respiratory, digestive and other diseases and contribute to some performance conditions in equids. However, knowledge on the biodiversity of parasites of equids in Iran is still limited. The present review covers all the information about parasitic diseases of horses, donkeys, mules and wild asses in Iran published as articles in Iranian and international journals, dissertations and congress papers from 1931 to July 2020. Parasites so far described in Iranian equids include species of 9 genera of the Protozoa (Trypanosoma, Giardia, Eimeria, Klossiella, Crypt...
Frontoso R, De Carlo E, Pasolini MP, van der Meulen K, Pagnini U, Iovane G, De Martino L.Bacterial pathogens are a potential cause when a mare fails to conceive to a fertile stallion on a well-managed breeding farm on one or more cycles in the same season. Furthermore, emerging bacterial resistance to commonly used (topical) antibiotics has been demonstrated. In this study, a total of 586 uterine swabs from mares with fertility problems were evaluated and the bacterial isolates were identified and measured for resistance to 10 antibiotics most commonly used during bacterial equine infection. Forty-nine percent of the examined mares were positive at bacteriological investigations. ...
Jacobsen S, Thomsen MH, Nanni S.To determine serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations in serum and synovial fluid from healthy horses and horses with joint disease and assess the effect of repeated arthrocentesis on SAA concentrations in synovial fluid. Animals-10 healthy horses and 21 horses with various types of joint disease. Methods: Serum and synovial fluid samples were obtained from each horse. In 5 of the 10 healthy horses, arthrocentesis was repeated 9 times. Concentrations of SAA were determined via immunoturbidometry. Results: Serum and synovial fluid SAA concentrations were less than the assay detection limit in healt...
Bermúdez SE, Eremeeva ME, Karpathy SE, Samudio F, Zambrano ML, Zaldivar Y, Motta JA, Dasch GA.Several outbreaks of Rocky Mountain spotted fever have occurred in recent years in Colombian communities close to the border with Panama. However, little is known about rickettsiae and rickettsial diseases in eastern Panamanian provinces, the Darien Province and the Kuna Yala, located north of the endemic area in Colombia. In 2007, 289 ticks were collected in several towns from dogs, horses, mules, cows, and pigs. DNA was extracted from 124 Dermacentor nitens, 64 Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 43 Amblyomma ovale, 35 A. cajennense, 10 Boophilus microplus, 4 A. oblongoguttatum, and 9 A. cajennense ny...
Bachmann I, Audigé L, Staﾬher M.Studies on the prevalence of behavioural disorders in horses and on associated risk factors have revealed inconsistent results. There are many studies on the neuropharmacological, surgical or mechanical therapy of stereotypies, but little is known about their causation. Objective: To explore risk factors associated with the occurrence of behavioural disorders in horses. Methods: A sample of horse owners, selected randomly and representative for Switzerland, was contacted in a postal survey. Answers were provided for 622 stables (response rate 35.2%). Individual data of 2,341 horses were examin...
Gwee SXW, St John AL, Gray GC, Pang J.Dengue is a rapidly spreading mosquito-borne flavivirus infection that is prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Humans are known to be the main reservoir host maintaining the epidemic cycles of dengue but it is unclear if dengue virus is also maintained in a similar enzootic cycle. The systematic review was conducted in accordance to Cochrane's PRISMA recommendations. A search was done on PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Cochrane Library. Key data on animal dengue positivity was extracted and classified according to animal type and diagnostic modes. Of the 3818 articles identified, 56 arti...
Kinnunen PM, Palva A, Vaheri A, Vapalahti O.Borna disease virus (BDV) has gained lot of interest because of its zoonotic potential, ability to introduce cDNA of its RNA transcripts into host genomes, and ability to cause severe neurobehavioural diseases. Classical Borna disease is a progressive meningoencephalomyelitis in horses and sheep, known in central Europe for centuries. According to current knowledge, BDV or a close relative also infects several other species, including humans at least occasionally, in central Europe and elsewhere, but the existence of potential 'human Borna disease' with its suspected neuropsychiatric symptoms ...
Bastos RG, Suarez CE, Laughery JM, Johnson WC, Ueti MW, Knowles DP.Members of the CCp protein family have been previously described to be expressed on gametocytes of apicomplexan Plasmodium parasites. Knocking out Plasmodium CCp genes blocks the development of the parasite in the mosquito vector, making the CCp proteins potential targets for the development of a transmission-blocking vaccine. Apicomplexans Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina are the causative agents of bovine babesiosis, and apicomplexan Theileria equi causes equine piroplasmosis. Bovine babesiosis and equine piroplasmosis are the most economically important parasite diseases that affect world...
Charman HP, Bladen S, Gilden RV, Coggins L.Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) has a density of 1.154 g/cm3 in sucrose a high-molecular-weight RNA similar in size to Rauscher murine leukemia virus, and an internal virion reverse transcriptase that utilizes the synthetic RNA template poly(rA) but not the synthetic DNA template poly(dA), both with (dT)12 as primer. Although capable of utilizing manganese at low concentrations (approximately 0.1 mM), EIAV reverse transcriptase showed highest activity in the presence of 9 mM magnesium. The major protein of EIAV has a slightly lower molecular weight than the comparable protein of type C v...
Horvath S, Haghani A, Peng S, Hales EN, Zoller JA, Raj K, Larison B, Robeck TR, Petersen JL, Bellone RR, Finno CJ.Cytosine methylation patterns have not yet been thoroughly studied in horses. Here, we profile n = 333 samples from 42 horse tissue types at loci that are highly conserved between mammalian species using a custom array (HorvathMammalMethylChip40). Using the blood and liver tissues from horses, we develop five epigenetic aging clocks: a multi-tissue clock, a blood clock, a liver clock and two dual-species clocks that apply to both horses and humans. In addition, using blood methylation data from three additional equid species (plains zebra, Grevy's zebras and Somali asses), we develop anoth...
Whitton RC, Trope GD, Ghasem-Zadeh A, Anderson GA, Parkin TD, Mackie EJ, Seeman E.Bone modelling and remodelling reduce the risk of fatigue fractures; the former by adapting bone to its loading circumstances, the latter by replacing fatigued bone. Remodelling transiently increases porosity because of the normal delay in onset of the formation phase of the remodelling sequence. Protracted intense loading suppresses remodelling leaving modelling as the only means of maintaining bone strength. We therefore hypothesized that race horses with fatigue fractures of the distal third metacarpal bone (MC3) will have reduced porosity associated with suppressed remodelling while contin...
Williams IF, Heaton A, McCullagh KG.The histological appearance of cells and tissues in the reparative scar tissue which forms in the equine superficial flexor tendon following partial rupture was compared to that of normal tendon. The repair fibroblasts were found to be larger and more basophilic than the tenocytes of normal tendon, to have large vesicular nuclei and to resemble the 'myofibroblasts' described in scar tissue elsewhere. The cell to matrix ratio in scarred zones of tendon was found to be increased and the concentration of collagen in these areas was less than in normal tendon. However, the scar tissue collagen was...
Fortier LA, Smith RK.After tendon injury, the scar tissue that replaces the damaged tendon results in a substantial risk for reinjury. The goal of regenerative therapies is to restore normal structural architecture and biomechanical function to an injured tissue. Successful restoration processes for any tissue are thought to recapitulate those of development, in which there are spatial and temporal interactions between scaffold, growth factors, and cell populations.
Frisbie DD, Smith RK.Stem cells have received much attention in recent times because of their potential to improve healing of othropaedic problems. This manuscript presents the genesis, issues and current state of stem cell treatment in equine medicine. Current literature supports the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treatment of orthopaedic problems.
Kydd J, Antczak DF, Allen WR, Barbis D, Butcher G, Davis W, Duffus WP, Edington N, Grünig G, Holmes MA.The First International Workshop on Equine Leucocyte Antigens was organized and convened for the purposes of identifying immunologically relevant cell surface molecules of equine leucocytes and establishing a system of nomenclature for those molecules. Participating members of the workshop represented the majority of laboratories world-wide engaged in the tasks of production and characterization of equine leucocyte and lymphocyte markers using monoclonal antibodies. The workshop confirmed the identification of several equine CD molecules described previously by individual laboratories, and in ...
Pybus OG, Thézé J.Just 5 years ago the hepatitis C virus (HCV) - a major cause of liver disease infecting >3% of people worldwide - was the sole confirmed member of the Hepacivirus genus. Since then, genetically-diverse hepaciviruses have been isolated from bats, dogs, cows, horses, primates and rodents. Here we review current information on the hepaciviruses and speculate on the zoonotic origins of the viruses in humans, horses and dogs. Recent and direct cross-species transmission from horses to dogs appears plausible, but the zoonotic origins of HCV in humans remain opaque. Mechanical transmission by biting ...
