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.
Votion DM, van Galen G, Sweetman L, Boemer F, de Tullio P, Dopagne C, Lefère L, Mouithys-Mickalad A, Patarin F, Rouxhet S, van Loon G, Serteyn D....It is hypothesised that European atypical myopathy (AM) has a similar basis as seasonal pasture myopathy in North America, which is now known to be caused by ingestion of hypoglycin A contained in seeds from the tree Acer negundo. Serum from horses with seasonal pasture myopathy contained the conjugated toxic metabolite of hypoglycin A, methylenecyclopropyl acetic acid (MCPA). Methods: Retrospective study on archived samples. Objective: 1) To determine whether MCPA-carnitine was present in serum of European horses confirmed to have AM; 2) to determine whether Acer negundo or related Acer speci...
Sheferaw D, Alemu M.The prevalence of equines helminthosis studied from November 2011 to May 2012 in two agroecological zones Damot-Gale district, Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence, and to see the distribution of internal helminth parasites of equines. A total of 500 faecal samples collected for coprological examination of gastrointestinal helminth ova. From each species of studied animals 200 positive faecal samples were pooled and cultured, and then the larvae recovered and identified. The coprological examination revealed 100 % Strongyle, 16.6 % Fascio...
Slater J.Josh Slater looks back at the past 125 years of developments in equine infectious disease, including landmark discoveries in microbiology and genomics, and considers what the future may hold.
Holmquist JG, Schmidt-Gengenbach J, Haultain SA.Grazing management necessarily emphasizes the most spatially extensive vegetation assemblages, but landscapes are mosaics, often with more mesic vegetation types embedded within a matrix of drier vegetation. Our primary objective was to contrast effects of equine grazing on both subalpine vegetation structure and associated arthropods in a drier reed grass (Calamagrostis muiriana) dominated habitat versus a wetter, more productive sedge habitat (Carex utriculata). A second objective was to compare reed grass and sedge as habitats for fauna, irrespective of grazing. All work was done in Sequoia...
Schroeder OE, Aceto HW, Boyle AG.The objective of this study was to examine all kick injuries to the radius and tibia seen in an ambulatory setting over an 11-year period in order to determine factors affecting outcome. Medical records of 51 horses seen for a kick injury to the radius or tibia were reviewed. Signalment, physical examination findings, type of management, and outcome were evaluated. There was a significant association between the presence of bony crepitus and a lameness score of ≥ 4/5 and a poor outcome. There was no relationship between signalment and outcome, but significantly more Thoroughbred/Thoroughbred...
Pepe M, Angelone M, Gialletti R, Nannarone S, Beccati F.Although arthropathy of the cervical articular process joints (APJs) is common, descriptions of the arthroscopic technique of the cervical APJ have not been reported previously. Objective: To develop an arthroscopic approach to the APJ and to describe the arthroscopic anatomy of the APJ. Methods: Descriptive cadaver study and clinical case report. Methods: The regional anatomy was reviewed and the technique developed on fresh cadaver necks. A series of cadaveric APJ arthroscopies from C2-C3 to C6-C7 were performed to evaluate the procedure, which was then used in 3 clinical cases. A descriptio...
Schaffer PA, Wobeser B, Dennis MM, Duncan CG.A retrospective study evaluated the clinical data and histologic features of non-neoplastic dermatologic lesions in skin biopsies from horses, donkeys, and mules submitted over a 10-year period to the Colorado State University Diagnostic Medicine Center and to the University of Saskatchewan Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Prairie Diagnostic Services. A total of 1793 non-neoplastic biopsies were available for analysis. Based on the histologic description and morphologic diagnosis, each submission was classified as inflammatory, or non-neoplastic/non-inflammatory. Results of this stud...
Akridge HD, Rankin SC, Griffeth GC, Boston RC, Callori NE, Morris DO.Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain USA 500 predominately colonizes horses and people working with them. Previous studies demonstrate that some Staphylococcus species exhibit higher affinity for corneocytes of specific mammalian species. Objective: The objective was to determine the relative affinities of various MRSA strains, meticillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strains and a meticillin-susceptible Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MSSP) for equine corneocytes. We hypothesized that MRSA strain USA 500 would exhibit greater adhesion than other staphylococcal strains te...
Switonski M, Mankowska M, Salamon S.The melanocortin receptor gene family consists of five single-exon members, which are located on autosomes. Three genes (MC2R, MC4R and MC5R) are syntenic in the human, mouse, cattle and dog genomes, while in the pig, the syntenic group comprises MC1R, MC2R and MC5R. Two genes (MC1R and MC4R) have been extensively studied due to their function in melanogenesis (MC1R) and energy control (MC4R). Conservative organisation of these genes in five mammalian species (human, mouse, cattle, pig and dog), in terms of the encoded amino acid sequence, is higher in the case of MC4R compared to MC1R. Polymo...
Taylor EA, Beard WL, Douthit T, Pohlman L.Caecal acidosis is a central event in the metabolic cascade that occurs following grain overload. Buffering the caecal acidosis by enterally administered sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3 ) may be beneficial to affected horses. Objective: To determine the effect and duration of enterally administered NaHCO3 on caecal pH in healthy horses. Methods: Experimental study using horses with caecal cannulas. Methods: Nine horses had been previously fitted with a caecal cannula. Six horses received 1.0 g/kg bwt NaHCO3 and 3 control horses were given 3 l of water via nasogastric tube. Clinical parameters, ...
Fultz L, Giguère S, Berghaus LJ, Davis JL.Current labelling for the use of ceftiofur crystalline free acid (CCFA) in horses states that 2 i.m. doses must be administered 4 days apart to provide 10 days of therapeutic coverage. A 10 day treatment regimen is not sufficient for the long-term treatment of horses with severe lung consolidation or pleuropneumonia. There are currently no data to guide an appropriate dosing interval when a longer treatment regimen is warranted. Objective: To determine steady-state plasma and pulmonary epithelial lining fluid (PELF) concentrations of desfuroylceftiofur acetamide (DCA) after weekly i.m. adminis...
Decloedt A, de Clercq D, van der Vekens N, Verheyen T, van Loon G.Atrial fibrillation cycle length (AFCL) is an indicator of atrial electrical remodelling during atrial fibrillation (AF). Objective: To compare AFCL measured invasively from an intra-atrial electrogram (AFCLEGM ) with AFCL measured noninvasively by atrial colour tissue Doppler imaging (AFCLTDI ). Methods: Prospective descriptive clinical study. Methods: Measurements were performed in 31 episodes of AF or flutter in 29 horses (588 ± 61 kg bwt, 9 ± 3 years old) admitted for transvenous electrical cardioversion. The AFCLEGM was measured from an intracardiac electrogram using a bipolar sensi...
Ambrisko TD, Moens Y.In a previous in vitro study using saline medium, the authors showed that certain drugs changed the voltages of lithium dilution cardiac output (LiDCO) sensors and also influenced their accuracy in measuring lithium concentrations. These two parameters correlated and so we examined whether such drug-sensor interaction exists when LiDCO sensor was exposed to xylazine in blood. Methods: Five healthy adult warm-blood horses were injected with 0.5 mg kg(-1) xylazine i.v. Physiological saline solution and venous blood were consecutively sampled through the same LiDCO sensor at 60, 45, 30, 15, and 0...
Jenner F, Närväinen J, de Ruijter-Villani M, Stout TA, van Weeren PR, Brama P.Equine embryogenesis post implantation is not well studied, and only two-dimensional illustrations are available. A thorough appreciation of the complex three-dimensional relationship between tissues and organs and their development is, however, crucial for understanding physiological and pathological mechanisms. Objective: The goals were 2-fold: 1) to establish a freely accessible online atlas as a reference tool for the scientific and pedagogic communities; and 2) to create a framework for integration of data with known spatiotemporal distribution, such as gene expression or cell lineage. Me...
Bowser JE, Elder SH, Pasquali M, Grady JG, Rashmir-Raven AM, Wills R, Swiderski CE.Hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA) is an autosomal recessive disorder of Quarter Horses characterised by skin fragility. Horses with HERDA have a missense mutation in peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase B (PPIB), which encodes cyclophilin B and alters folding and post translational modifications of fibrillar collagen. Objective: The study aimed to test the hypothesis that tendons, ligaments and great vessels, which, like skin, are rich in fibrillar collagen, will also have abnormal biomechanical properties in horses with HERDA. Methods: Ex vivo biomechanical study comparing...
O'Neill HD, Ballegeer EA, De Feijter-Rupp HL, Stick JA, Derksen FJ, Robinson NE.Current diagnosis of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) depends upon disease recognition in the clinically affected horse. Biopsy of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles may provide a method to identify the changes in fibre-type composition that occur in RLN before clinical signs become apparent. Objective: To develop an ultrasound-guided biopsy technique of the left cricoarytenoideus lateralis muscle (CALM) and evaluate its efficacy and safety in vivo. Methods: A longitudinal descriptive study. Methods: Six standing horses underwent ultrasound-guided biopsy of the left CALM. Frozen muscle cores ...
Cardwell JM, Smith KC, Wood JL, Newton JR.Many studies of respiratory disease in racehorses have focused on a combination of increased tracheal mucus and airway neutrophilia. Examination of each component separately should provide further insight into this condition. Objective: To identify infectious risk factors for endoscopically visible tracheal mucus in National Hunt racehorses. Methods: A 2 year prospective longitudinal study. Methods: Monthly quantitative bacteriological examinations of tracheal wash samples and viral serological examinations were conducted. Risk factors for 'small amounts of mucus' (mucus score = 1/3) and 'incr...
Lönnell AC, Bröjer J, Nostell K, Hernlund E, Roepstorff L, Tranquille CA, Murray RC, Oomen A, van Weeren R, Bitschnau C, Montavon S, Weishaupt MA....Training regimens of showjumping horses under field conditions are largely undocumented. Objective: The aims of this study were to quantify and compare training regimens used in professional-level showjumping yards, with respect to time exercised and type of activity. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Methods: A prospective 6-month cohort study of showjumping horses in 4 European countries (The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Great Britain) was designed to analyse training and health data, in yards with several horses in training and riders competing at professional level. Riders documented...
Pollina GF, Pepe M, Dean A, Di Marco V, Marton D.Gallium (Ga) is under study for the treatment of osteolytic disorders in equines. Previous studies indicate that oral gallium maltolate (GaM) would provide a higher bioavailability than oral Ga salts. However, oral administration to adult horses of 2 mg/kg of GaM, in the form of a solution mixed with food, did not lead to detectable Ga levels in plasma. Therefore, a study was performed to model the chemical behaviour of GaM in the digestive tract. The equilibrium formation constants for Ga(III) and maltol were calculated by means of UV–visible measurements and validated by 1H-NMR measurement...
Wise LN, Kappmeyer LS, Mealey RH, Knowles DP.Equine piroplasmosis is caused by one of 2 erythrocytic parasites Babesia caballi or Theileria equi. Although the genus of the latter remains controversial, the most recent designation, Theileria, is utilized in this review. Shared pathogenesis includes tick-borne transmission and erythrolysis leading to anemia as the primary clinical outcome. Although both parasites are able to persist indefinitely in their equid hosts, thus far, only B. caballi transmits across tick generations. Pathogenesis further diverges after transmission to equids in that B. caballi immediately infects erythrocytes, wh...
Bröjer J, Lindåse S, Hedenskog J, Alvarsson K, Nostell K.The increasing number of horses diagnosed with insulin resistance (IR) and the suggested link between IR and laminitis has highlighted the need to accurately diagnose IR in clinical practice. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the repeatability of the combined glucose-insulin tolerance test (CGIT) as well as to determine the effect of 2 different breeds and the effect of a stressor on the test results. Methods: Clinically normal horses, 9 Standardbred horses and 9 Icelandic horses. Methods: Prospective clinical nonrandomized trial. The CGIT was performed on all horses on 2 occasio...
Seltenhammer MH, Sundström E, Meisslitzer-Ruppitsch C, Cejka P, Kosiuk J, Neumüller J, Almeder M, Majdic O, Steinberger P, Losert UM, Stöckl J....The Grey horse phenotype, caused by a 4.6 kb duplication in Syntaxin 17, is strongly associated with high incidence of melanoma. In contrast to most human melanomas with an early onset of metastasis, the Grey horse melanomas have an extended period of benign growth, after which 50% or more eventually undergo progression and may metastasize. In efforts to define changes occurring during Grey horse melanoma progression, we established an in vitro model comprised of two cell lines, HoMel-L1 and HoMel-A1, representing a primary and a metastatic stage of the melanoma, respectively. The cell lines ...
Costello S, Heffron B, Taddei L, Benoit M, Hurt L, Simpson L, Bishop J, Folker-Calderon D, Negrusz A.Fluphenazine, a potent antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia in humans, is used in racehorses as a performance-enhancing drug, and for that reason it has been banned by the Association of Racing Commissioners International. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for detecting and quantitating fluphenazine in equine serum was developed and validated. The method was then employed to quantitate fluphenazine in serum samples collected from three study horses after intramuscular injection of fluphenazine decanoate. Stability testing showed that fluphenazine is stable in unextra...
Brooks MB, Divers TJ, Watts AE, Ness SL, Frye AH, Stokol T, Fubini SL.To evaluate the platelet activation response before and after treatment with clopidogrel in horses. Methods: 12 healthy adult mares. Methods: In a masked study, horses (6/group) were randomly allocated to alternately receive placebo or clopidogrel via nasogastric tube at a loading dose of 4 mg/kg followed by 2 mg/kg every 24 hours. Blood samples were collected before and 72 hours after initiation of treatment for ADP- and collagen-induced light transmission aggregometry; determination of closure time in collagen-ADP cartridges; modified thrombelastography for comparison of maximal amplitudes g...
Textor JA, Willits NH, Tablin F.Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) products may be useful for treatment of joint disease in horses, but may contain undesirable pro-inflammatory cytokines in addition to growth factors. This study investigated whether autologous PRP increases synovial fluid growth factor and cytokine concentrations when injected into normal equine metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal (fetlock) joints. Fetlock joints of seven healthy horses received one of four treatments: saline, resting PRP, CaCl2-activated PRP or thrombin-activated PRP. Synovial fluid was sampled prior to injection and at 6, 24, 48 and 96 h p...
Moorman VJ, Reiser RF, Peterson ML, McIlwraith CW, Kawcak CE.To determine kinematic changes to the hoof of horses at a walk after induction of unilateral, weight-bearing forelimb lameness and to determine whether hoof kinematics return to prelameness (baseline) values after perineural anesthesia. Methods: 6 clinically normal Quarter Horses. Methods: For each horse, a sole-pressure model was used to induce 3 grades of lameness in the right forelimb, after which perineural anesthesia was administered to eliminate lameness. Optical kinematics were obtained for both forelimbs with the horse walking before (baseline) and after induction of each grade of lame...
Moorman VJ, Reiser RF, Peterson ML, McIlwraith CW, Kawcak CE.To determine kinematic changes to the hoof of horses at a trot after induction of unilateral, weight-bearing forelimb lameness and to determine whether hoof kinematics return to prelameness values after perineural anesthesia. Methods: 6 clinically normal Quarter Horses. Methods: For each horse, a sole-pressure model was used to induce 3 grades (grades 1, 2, and 3) of lameness in the right forelimb, after which perineural anesthesia was administered to alleviate lameness. Optical kinematics were obtained for both forelimbs with the horse trotting before (baseline) and after induction of each gr...
Sutton GA, Paltiel O, Soffer M, Turner D.Two behaviour-based scales for evaluating abdominal pain in horses (Equine Acute Abdominal Pain Scales, EAAPS-1 and -2) and a numerical rating scale (NRS) were compared for reliability and validity. Forty-one equine veterinarians randomly assigned into three groups were each presented a different set of 28 moving picture films randomly chosen among 36 films of horses with colic and four controls. One randomly chosen film was embedded twice within each set. The first (n=15) and the second (n=16) groups scored pain with the EAAPS-1 and EAPPS-2, respectively, while the third (n=10) used the NRS. ...
Yin C, Pettigrew A, Loftus JP, Black SJ, Belknap JK.In the septic horse prone to laminitis, a similar activation of the innate immune system appears to occur as reported in the septic human prone to organ failure. Because oxidant injury plays a central role in organ failure occurring due to an overzealous innate immune response in human sepsis, this study was performed to determine whether there was evidence of oxidant stress in the laminar tissue in the early stages of laminitis. 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), a lipid aldehyde that forms due to lipid peroxidation occurring during episodes of oxidant stress, readily forms adducts with cellular pr...
Dunkel B, Bolt DM, Smith RK, Cunningham FM.Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is increasingly used for treatment of orthopaedic injuries. However, the effects of different stimuli on the release pattern of regenerative and proinflammatory factors from equine platelets are largely unknown and an optimal treatment protocol remains to be established. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify a stimulus that enhanced release of histopromotive factors (platelet-derived growth factor BB [PDGF] and transforming growth factor 1β[TGF]) without causing concurrent release of a proinflammatory mediator (CCL5). Methods: Washed platelets were prepar...
Leathwick DM, Sauermann CW, Geurden T, Nielsen MK.A previously described model for the dynamics of the parasitic stages of Parascaris spp. was modified to include eggs outside the host and the genetics of anthelmintic resistance before being used to address questions regarding the development of resistance. Three broad questions were addressed; i) How sustainable is the current common practice of treating foals monthly for their first year of life (i.e. 12 treatments/year)? ii) Does the timing of treatments have an effect on resistance development? (i.e. do certain treatments select for resistance more strongly than others?), and iii) How sus...
Thorsteinsdóttir L, Guðmundsson GÖ, Jensson H, Torsteinsdóttir S, Svansson V.Equine coital exanthema (ECE) caused by equid alphaherpesvirus 3 (EHV-3) is a contagious venereal disease. It is characterized by the formation of papules, vesicles, pustules and ulcers on the external genitals of both mares and stallions. The Icelandic horse is the only breed in Iceland and has lived isolated in the country for over 1000 years. Three types of equine herpesviruses (EHV) have been found in Iceland, EHV-4, EHV-2 and EHV-5, while EHV-1 has never been detected. Symptoms resembling ECE have previous been observed in horses in Iceland, arousing suspicion of EHV-3 infection, but thi...
Ishak GMA, Dutra GA, Gastal GDA, Gastal MO, Feugang JM, Gastal EL.The inability to obtain in vivo samples of antral follicle wall layers without removing the ovaries or sacrificing the animals has limited more in-depth studies on folliculogenesis. In this study, a novel ultrasound-guided follicle wall biopsy (FWB) technique was used to obtain in vivo follicle wall layers and follicular fluid samples of growing antral follicles. The expression of proliferative, hormonal, angiogenic, and pro-/antiapoptotic receptors and proteins in the follicular wall among three follicle classes were compared during the spring transitional anovulatory (SAN) and spring ovulato...
Taylor SD, Leib SR, Wu W, Nelson R, Carpenter S, Mealey RH.Using the equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) lentivirus model system, we previously demonstrated protective effects of broadly neutralizing immune plasma in young horses (foals) with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). However, in vivo selection of a neutralization-resistant envelope variant occurred. Here, we determined the protective effects of purified immunoglobulin with more potent broadly neutralizing activity. Overall, protection correlated with the breadth and potency of neutralizing activity in vitro. Four of five SCID foals were completely protected against homologous challen...
van Galen G, Rijckaert J, Mair T, Amory H, Armengou L, Bezdekova B, Durie I, Findshøj Delany R, Fouché N, Haley L, Hewetson M, van den Hoven R....To identify prognostic variables for adult equids and foals with tetanus. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study (2000-2014). Methods: Twenty Western, Northern, and Central European university teaching hospitals and private referral centers. Methods: One hundred fifty-five adult equids and 21 foals with tetanus. Methods: None. Results: Variables from history and clinical examination were statistically compared between survivors and nonsurvivors (adults: 49 survivors, 85 nonsurvivors; foals: 7 survivors, 10 nonsurvivors). Cases euthanized for financial reasons were excluded. Mortality rates i...
Kulmala KA, Pulkkinen HJ, Rieppo L, Tiitu V, Kiviranta I, Brünott A, Brommer H, van Weeren R, Brama PA, Mikkola MT, Korhonen RK, Jurvelin JS....Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) has been introduced for the evaluation of cartilage integrity. Furthermore, CECT enables imaging of the structure and density of subchondral bone. In this laboratory study, we investigate the potential of microCECT to simultaneously image cartilage and subchondral bone for the evaluation of tissue healing. Methods: Osteochondral lesions (Ø = 6 mm) were surgically created in equine intercarpal joints (n = 7). After spontaneous healing for 12 months, the horses were sacrificed and osteochondral plugs (Ø = 14 mm), including the repair cartilage and a...
Eysker M, Jansen J, Mirck MH.Inhibited early third stage larvae of Cyathostominae were found in the digested mucosa of the large intestine of 12 yearling, female Shetland ponies, which were used in two grazing experiments. The ponies were killed in late autumn. In some ponies the inhibited larvae were very abundant and in most animals the majority of the Cyathostominae populations consisted of these early third stage larvae, suggesting that the phenomenon has an epidemiological significance.
Ueda T, Tozaki T, Nozawa S, Kinoshita K, Gawahara H.Recently, the illegal use of novel technologies, such as gene and cell therapies, has become a great concern for the horseracing industry. As a potential way to control this, metabolomics approaches that comprehensively analyze metabolites in biological samples have been gaining attention. However, it may be difficult to identify metabolic biomarkers for doping because physiological conditions generally differ between resting and exercise states in horses. To understand the metabolic differences in horse plasma between the resting state at training centres and the sample collection stage after...
Ostrowski SR, Kubiski SV, Palmero J, Reilly CM, Higgins JK, Cook-Cronin S, Tawde SN, Crossley BM, Yant P, Cazarez R, Uzal FA.In September 2010, an outbreak of type A botulism involved 4 horses in northern California that were fed grass clippings obtained from a nearby park. All 4 animals developed a progressive flaccid paralysis syndrome clinically consistent with exposure to preformed Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). Within 48 hr of consuming the grass clippings, all 4 horses showed marked cervical weakness (inability to raise their heads to a normal position) and died or were euthanized within 96 hr. One horse was submitted for diagnostic examination and subsequent necropsy. At necropsy, extensive edema wa...
Kondo H, Wickins SC, Conway JA, Mallicote MF, Sanchez LC, Agnew DW, Farina LL, Abbott JR.A 23-year-old Anglo-Arabian mare was presented with tachypnea, dyspnea, and pitting edema of the ventral thoracic subcutis. On necropsy, a tan to red, friable, irregularly shaped mass (23 × 20 × 18 cm) occupied the cranial mediastinum. Histologically, the mass was classified as a liposarcoma and was composed of short interlacing bundles of spindle-shaped to irregularly rounded cells with discrete, variably sized, clear cytoplasmic vacuoles, which were stained with oil red O in frozen sections of formalin-fixed tissue.
Vanderman KS, Tremblay M, Zhu W, Shimojo M, Mienaltowski MJ, Coleman SJ, MacLeod JN.Brother of CDO (BOC) is a cell surface receptor that derives its name from the structurally related protein, cell adhesion molecule-related/down-regulated by oncogenes (CDO, sometimes CDON). High levels of BOC mRNA and protein expression have been described in embryonic tissues with active cell proliferation and ongoing cellular differentiation(1,2). A microarray-based screen of RNA isolated from 11 different adult equine tissues unexpectedly identified BOC as having an expression pattern restricted to articular cartilage. The objective of this study was to further investigate BOC expression i...
Davis RO, Gravance CG, Casey PJ.Tissue variation in microscope slides made for spermatozoon analysis and variation introduced by the subjective techniques used to analyze these slides reduce the statistical power of studies that seek to use spermatozoon morphology to predict fertility. A simple specimen preparation method was developed to standardize stallion spermatozoon morphologic smears, and a new, automated spermatozoa morphometry instrument was used to objectively analyze the efficacy of the specimen preparation technique. The method achieved a standard spermatozoon concentration and reduced field-to-field variation in...
Trachsel DS, Calloe K, Mykkänen AK, Raistakka P, Anttila M, Fredholm M, Tala M, Lamminpää K, Klaerke DA, Buhl R.Exercise-associated sudden deaths (EASDs) are deaths occurring unexpectedly during or immediately after exercise. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is one cause of EASD. Cardiac arrhythmias caused by genetic variants have been linked to SCD in humans. We hypothesize that genetic variants may be associated with SCD in animals, including horses. Genetic variants are transmitted to offspring and their frequency might increase within a family. Therefore, the frequency of such variants might increase with the inbreeding factor. Higher inbreeding could have a negative impact on racing performance. Pedigree...
Andrews FM, Spurgeon TL.The histologic and histochemical staining characteristics of the triceps brachii (long head), extensor carpi radialis, gluteus medius, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and extensor digitorum longus muscles of 8 Thoroughbreds, 2 Quarter Horses, 1 Arabian, 1 Paso Fino, and 1 Shetland Pony are described. Muscle fiber morphology, staining distribution and intensity, amount of IM connective tissue, number of IM blood vessels and IM nerves, calcium-activated adenosine triphosphatase activity (CaATPase), percentage of fibertype population, percentage of relative fibe...
Reardon RJ, Bailey R, Walmsley JP, Heller J, Lischer C.To (1) define mechanical properties in flexion, extension, and left lateral bending of cadaveric equine 4th and 5th cervical (C4-C5) articulations, (2) compare biomechanical properties of C4-C5 when stabilized with a kerf cut cylinder (KCC) compared with a ventrally placed 4.5 mm locking compression plate (LCP). Methods: In vitro biomechanical investigation. Methods: Cadaveric adult equine cervical vertebral columns (n=54). Methods: Cervical vertebrae aged by horse dentition and size measured from radiographs were divided into 3 age groups then randomly allocated to 3 groups. The C4-C5 articul...
Baskerville A.Related to its potential vulnerability the respiratory tract has a very complex and effective defence apparatus. The interaction between these defence mechanisms and certain characteristics of aetiological agents results in a pattern in which initial infections by these agents tend to occur at specific sites in the tract. Infections in which the primary portal of entry is in the upper respiratory tract include Bordetella bronchiseptica and Haemophilus spp in pigs; Pasteurella spp in cattle, sheep, pigs; Mycoplasma spp in cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry; equine herpesvirus 1 in horses; infectio...
Nogradi N, Slovis NM, Gebhart CJ, Wolfsdorf KE, McCracken JL, Scoggin CF, Kass PH, Mapes SM, Toth B, Lundquist ML, Pusterla N.Equine proliferative enteropathy caused by Lawsonia intracellularis is an emerging disease with as yet unaddressed preventative measures. The hypothesis of this study was that vaccination will prevent clinical and sub-clinical disease. Weanling Thoroughbreds (n=202) from Central Kentucky were randomly assigned into two groups (vaccinated and non-vaccinated). Vaccinated foals received 30 mL of an avirulent, live L. intracellularis vaccine intra-rectally twice, 30 days apart. Foals were monitored for clinical disease, total solids and average weight gain until yearling age. There was an overall ...
Gorissen BMC, Wolschrijn CF, Serra Bragança FM, Geerts AAJ, Leenders WOJL, Back W, van Weeren PR.Foals stand and walk immediately after birth, but insight into the subsequent longitudinal development of their gait kinetics in the early juvenile phase and the possible influence of osteochondrosis thereon is lacking. Objective: To quantify gait kinetics in foals during the first half year of life, taking into account their osteochondrosis status. Methods: Prospective, cohort study performed at a single stud farm. Methods: Pressure plate measurements at walk and trot from 11 Dutch Warmblood foals during the first 24 weeks of life were used to determine body mass normalised peak vertical forc...
Hammock PD, Freeman DE, Baker GJ.To examine the efficacy of psyllium mucilloid in evacuating sand from the equine large intestine. Methods: 12 clinically healthy pony geldings. Methods: Twelve ponies were assigned to 2 groups of six each. One group was treated with psyllium and the second was a control group. All ponies had an exploratory celiotomy and 10 g/kg body weight of sand was placed into the cecum. Ponies were fed a grain mixture alone at 1 g/kg (controls), a grain mixture plus psyllium pellets, each at 1 g/kg body weight (3 ponies), or fed a grain mixture and given psyllium powder by nasogastric tube at 1 g/kg body w...
Main AR, Soucie WG, Buxton IL, Arinc E.A relatively simple method is described by which cholinesterase was purified about 19000-fold starting from horse serum. Typically 20 litres of serum were processed to yield 15-18mg of electrophoretically pure cholinesterase in the form of an active salt-free dry powder. The method included two stages: fractionation with (NH(4))(2)SO(4) and ion-exchange chromatography. The (NH(4))(2)SO(4) stage included, in principle, the acid (pH3) step of the Strelitz (1944) procedure. The step took advantage of the stabilizing effect that 33%-satd. (NH(4))(2)SO(4) has on cholinesterase activity at pH3 and i...
Vitoria A, Romero A, Barrachina L, Fuente S, Gil L, de Blas I, Vázquez Bringas FJ.Most previously described techniques for laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty (IH) in horses require advanced laparoscopic skills. Our objective was to describe a new laparoscopic IH technique using a surgical anchoring system. Methods: Standing laparoscopic IH was performed unilaterally in eight experimental stallions, using the contralateral inguinal canal (IC) as a control. A polyether ether ketone harpoon was anchored in the craniolateral aspect of the vaginal ring, and an extracorporeal knot was used to fix the device. Clinical evaluation, including testicular palpation and lameness examina...
Dyson S, Pool R, Blunden T, Murray R.There is limited knowledge about the interpretation of alterations in the distal sesamoidean impar ligament (DSIL) detected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and their correlation with histopathology. Objective: There would be: 1) a correlation between histopathology and MRI findings; and 2) a relationship between MR abnormalities at the origin and the insertion of the DSIL, between insertion and body; and origin and body. Methods: Fifty limbs from 28 horses were examined using high-field MRI and histopathology. MR abnormalities of the DSIL, its origin on the navicular bone and its insert...
Page AE, Loynachan AT, Bryant U, Stills HF, Adams AA, Gebhart CJ, Pusterla N, Horohov DW.Lawsonia intracellularis is the etiological agent of infectious intestinal hyperplasia for which several clinical diseases have been described including proliferative enteropathy (PE), intestinal adenomatosis, and ileitis. While initially recognized as the causative agent of PE in pigs, L. intracellularis is now viewed as an emerging cause of intestinal hyperplasia in a wide range of mammalian species, including horses. Equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE) has been reported worldwide though definitive diagnosis is difficult and the epidemiology of the disease remains poorly understood. Weanl...
Golding E, Neavyn Neita A, Walshe N, Hanlon A, Mulcahy G, Duggan V.As the primary decision-maker for their horse's health and welfare, owners' knowledge of clinical conditions may impact their horse's health. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the emotional impact of equine illness on the owner can be severe but research is lacking. Objective: To evaluate horse owners' self-declared knowledge of eight common equine health conditions and perceptions of the quality of information available; to ascertain respondents' perceptions of the severity of impact on their horse of the conditions and potential emotional impact on themselves and to establish the factors of g...
Worsman FCF, Miller ZJ, Shaw DJ, Blissitt KJ, Keen JA.Left atrial size predicts cardiac morbidity and mortality in humans and dogs. Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) may be reliable for assessing left atrial volume (LAV) in horses. Objective: To determine intra- and interobserver variability estimates of 3DE-LAV and compare it to that of 2DE-LAV estimates. Methods: Method comparison. Methods: 3DE datasets were obtained from 40 horses, then graded for quality, creating a final study population of 22 horses. The 3DE and 2DE maximum LAV (LAV ) and minimum LAV (LAV ) were measured, and left atrial emptying volume (LA EV) and left atr...
Birras J, White SJ, Jonsdottir S, Novotny EN, Ziegler A, Wilson AD, Frey R, Torsteinsdottir S, Alcocer M, Marti E.Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an IgE-mediated allergic dermatitis in horses incited by salivary allergens from Culicoides spp. IBH does not occur in Iceland, as the causative agents are absent, however a high prevalence is seen in horses exported to Culicoides-rich environments. To study the natural course of sensitization to Culicoides allergens and identify the primary sensitizing allergen(s) in horses exported from Iceland utilizing a comprehensive panel of Culicoides recombinant (r-) allergens. IgE microarray profiling to 27 Culicoides r-allergens was conducted on 110 serological s...
Gerst S, Borchers K, Gower SM, Smith KC.EHV-1 and EHV-4 abortion diagnosis is based upon detailed examination of the aborted fetus. However, in some cases, only the placenta is available for examination. Furthermore, the contribution of lesions in the placenta to pathogenesis and diagnosis of EHV-1 and EHV-4 abortion has been neglected. Objective: To assess the utility of placental examination in equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) and EHV-4 abortion diagnosis. Methods: Sections of allantochorion from 49 herpesvirus abortions were analysed by PCR, in situ hybridisation and immunostaining. Results: Virus-specific nested PCR confirmed the pr...
