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.
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. ...
Carstanjen B, Balali M, Gajewski Z, Furmanczyk K, Bondzio A, Remy B, Hartmann H.The purpose of this study was to analyze the acute effect of whole body vibration exercise (WBVE) on clinical parameters and blood values in horses. Seven horses were exposed to a 10 min WBVE at a frequency of 15-21 Hz. Clinical parameters and venous blood samples were taken before and directly after WBVE. Acute short-term WBVE produced a decrease in serum cortisol (p = 0.02) and creatine-kinase (p = 0.02) values. Clinical parameters, hematology, fibrinogen, lactate, IGF-I, GGT, creatinine, myeloperoxidase activity and bone marker values were not significantly changed by WBVE. In adult sound h...
Heffron B, Taddei L, Benoit M, Negrusz A.The use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in racehorses is allowed under most jurisdictions. Furosemide is administered to treat exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. To help distinguish between therapeutic and illegal uses, racing regulatory bodies have set thresholds in serum for several drugs. The method for the simultaneous detection and quantification of furosemide, flunixin, ketoprofen, phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone using 500 µL of serum, and liquid extraction using diethyl ether : hexanes : dichloromethane followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry quantitati...
Silva A, Wagner B, McKenzie HC, Desrochers AM, Furr MO.The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the effects of equine soluble CD14 (sCD14) and monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to equine CD14 on lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) secretion from equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC); and to (2) determine serum concentrations of sCD14 in a population of horses with gastrointestinal diseases or other illnesses likely to result in endotoxemia. Equine PBMC isolated from 10 healthy horses were incubated with Escherichia coli LPS plus CD14 mAb or sCD14 and assayed for TNF-α activity. Pre-incubation with CD14 mAb d...
Reed SM, Howe DK, Morrow JK, Graves A, Yeargan MR, Johnson AL, MacKay RJ, Furr M, Saville WJ, Williams NM.Recent work demonstrated the value of antigen-specific antibody indices (AI and C-value) to detect intrathecal antibody production against Sarcocystis neurona for antemortem diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Objective: The study was conducted to assess whether the antigen-specific antibody indices can be reduced to a simple serum : cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) titer ratio to achieve accurate EPM diagnosis. Methods: Paired serum and CSF samples from 128 horses diagnosed by postmortem examination. The sample set included 44 EPM cases, 35 cervical-vertebral malformation (CVM) ca...
Stock KF, Reents R.Technical advances and development in the market for genomic tools have facilitated access to whole-genome data across species. Building-up on the acquired knowledge of the genome sequences, large-scale genotyping has been optimized for broad use, so genotype information can be routinely used to predict genetic merit. Genomic selection (GS) refers to the use of aggregates of estimated marker effects as predictors which allow improved individual differentiation at young age. Realizable benefits of GS are influenced by several factors and vary in quantity and quality between species. General cha...
Tappenbeck K, Hoppe S, Reichert C, Feige K, Huber K.The purpose of the study was to compare the contractility-enhancing effects of lidocaine in equine jejunal circular (CSM) and longitudinal smooth muscle (LSM) in vitro. In previous studies, more pronounced effects of lidocaine were observed in ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injured smooth muscle. Therefore in this study, effects were examined in both non-injured control tissues and tissues challenged by a defined, artificial IR injury. Isometric contractile performance of CSM and LSM, assessed by frequency (F), amplitude (A) and mean active force (MAF) of contractions, was defined as contractility...
Zhu C, Li Q, Guo W, Lu G, Yin X, Qi T, Xiang W, Ran D, Qu J.We report the complete genomic sequence of A/equine/Heilongjiang/1/2010, a strain of Florida sublineage clade 2 of H3N8 subtype equine influenza virus (EIV) isolated in northern China. This is the first announcement of a complete genomic sequence of EIV of such a clade in China.
Campos-Junior PH, Costa GM, de Avelar GF, Segatelli TM, Lacerda SM, Aponte PM, de França LR.Morphometry is a classical quantitative method often used in biology to provide a data basis for functional interpretations/interactions of a particular organ or system. Herein we took advantage of this valuable approach to evaluate the spermatogonial stem cell niche using the horse testis and immunocytochemical localization of GFRA1 [glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor receptor produced by Sertoli cells)] as an example. Using the NIH ImageJ free software, we describe in detail all the necessary steps to investigate this specific and crucial microenvironment. Based on several recently ...
Emmerich IU.In 2012, two newly developed active pharmaceutical ingredients for horses and food producing animals were released on the German market for veterinary drug products. Those are the parenterally applicable first generation cephalosporin Cefalonium (Cepravin®) and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug Suxibuzone (Danilon®). Furthermore, one established veterinary active pharmaceutical ingredient is applicable to additional species: The anticoccidial Amprolium (Eimeryl®) has again been authorized for chicken and turkeys. Additionally, two veterinary drugs with a new formulation as well as thr...
Zamboulis DE, Senior M, Clegg PD, Milner PI.Tissue sensitisation and chronic pain have been described in chronic-active laminitis in the horse, making treatment of such cases difficult. Purinergic P2X receptors are linked to chronic pain and inflammation. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of purinergic P2X receptor subtypes 1, 2, 3 and 7 in the hoof, palmar digital vessels and nerve, dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord in horses with chronic-active laminitis (n=5) compared to non-laminitic horses (n=5). Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on tissue sections using antibodies against P2X receptor subtypes 1-3 and ...
Murray R, Guire R, Fisher M, Fairfax V.Girths are frequently blamed for veterinary and performance problems, but research into girth/horse interaction is sparse. The study objectives were (1) to determine location of peak pressure under a range of girths, and (2) to compare horse gait between the horse's standard girth and a girth designed to avoid detected peak pressure locations. In the first part of the study, and following validation procedures, a calibrated pressure mat placed under the girth of 10 horses was used to determine the location of peak pressures. A girth was designed to avoid peak pressure locations (Girth F). In t...
Nagy A, Dyson SJ, Murray JK.Information acquired from endurance riders and its relationship with the results of the ride has not been investigated. The aims of this study were to assess associations between data provided by riders and data obtained from the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) website at FEI endurance rides and to identify whether data provided by riders in pre- and post-ride questionnaires was subject to response and/or information bias. Variables were collected from the FEI website and from self-completed pre-ride and post-ride questionnaires at 20 FEI endurance rides in 2011 and 2012. Kappa stat...
Afonso T, Giguère S, Rapoport G, Berghaus LJ, Barton MH, Coleman AE.Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are used in horses with cardiovascular disorders despite the paucity of available data regarding their efficacy. Objective: The degree of serum ACE inhibition varies considerably between drugs. Methods: Eight healthy adult horses. Methods: Randomized prospective study. Horses were fasted overnight prior to receiving one of 4 ACE inhibitors intragastrically, administered at one of 2 dosages, using a randomized Latin square design (benazepril: 0.5 and 0.25 mg/kg; ramipril: 0.3 and 0.1 mg/kg; quinapril: 0.25 and 0.125 mg/kg; perindopril: 0.1 and 0.05...
Desquesnes M, Holzmuller P, Lai DH, Dargantes A, Lun ZR, Jittaplapong S.Trypanosoma evansi, the agent of "surra," is a salivarian trypanosome, originating from Africa. It is thought to derive from Trypanosoma brucei by deletion of the maxicircle kinetoplastic DNA (genetic material required for cyclical development in tsetse flies). It is mostly mechanically transmitted by tabanids and stomoxes, initially to camels, in sub-Saharan area. The disease spread from North Africa towards the Middle East, Turkey, India, up to 53° North in Russia, across all South-East Asia, down to Indonesia and the Philippines, and it was also introduced by the conquistadores into Latin ...
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...
Bedford SJ, Kurokawa M, Hinrichs K, Fissore RA.In oocytes from all mammalian species studied to date, fertilization by a spermatozoon induces intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) oscillations that are crucial for appropriate oocyte activation and embryonic development. Such patterns are species-specific and have not yet been elucidated in horses; it is also not known whether equine oocytes respond with transient [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations when fertilized or treated with parthenogenetic agents. Therefore, the aims of this study were: (i) to characterize the activity of equine sperm extracts microinjected into mouse oocytes; (ii) to ascertain i...
Willis AM, Diehl KA, Hoshaw-Woodard S, Kobayashi I, Vitucci MP, Schmall LM.To determine the effect of 0.005% latanoprost solution on intraocular pressure (IOP) of eyes of clinically normal horses and establish the frequency of adverse effects of drug administration. Methods: 20 adult clinically normal horses. Methods: IOP was recorded (7, 9, and 11 AM; 3, 5, and 7 PM) on days 1 and 2 (baseline), days 3 to 7 (treatment), and days 8 to 9 (follow-up). Latanoprost was administered to 1 randomly assigned eye of each horse every 24 hours during the treatment period, following the 7 AM IOP recording. Pupil size and the presence or absence of conjunctival hyperemia, epiphora...
de la Rebière de Pouyade G, Grulke S, Detilleux J, Salciccia A, Verwilghen DR, Caudron I, Gangl M, Serteyn DD.The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of postoperative laminitis in colic cases and to determine if low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is effective in preventing this complication. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: Client-owned horses. Interventions- SC administration of enoxaparin during the postoperative period. Results: Medical records of 360 horses undergoing surgery for colic and surviving at least 3 days were evaluated. Fifty-six horses admitted before 1995 did not receive LMWH (control group) and 304 admitted after 1995 received LMWH as a prophylaxis for lam...
Agnieszka N, Joanna K, Wojciech W, Adam O.The aim of this study was determine the viability and developmental competence of equine oocytes after IVM and vitrification using the Rapid-I method, as part of an effort to develop an effective equine oocyte vitrification protocol. Equine oocytes were collected by scraping ovarian follicles of slaughtered mares. A total of 1052 ovaries were used in this study, from which 3135 oocytes were obtained. Of the 2853 oocytes retrieved, 2557 underwent in vitro maturation for approximately 36 h. After in vitro culture, 1202 oocytes (47%) had a first polar body. To evaluate the toxicity of the solu...
Gilmour JS, Fraser JA.An 8-month old Welsh Cob filly had shown progressive ataxia of the hindquarters since about 3 months of age. Autopsy revealed a venous malformation resulting in malacia in the ninth thoracic segment of the spinal cord. It is proposed that the tissue destruction associated with this congenital lesion gave rise to the ataxia.
Schumacher J, Vaughan JT.Treatments of penile and preputial injuries, anomalies, tumors, "summer sores," paraphimosis, phimosis, and priapism are presented. Surgical procedures described include preputiotomy, reefing, penile retraction, amputation, and relocation. Treatment of hemospermia by means of urethrotomy is discussed.
Leahy PD, Smith BS, Easton KL, Kawcak CE, Eickhoff JC, Shetye SS, Puttlitz CM.Computed tomography (CT) data can be employed with respect to determining mechanical properties and has been used to predict parameters such as elastic modulus, yield strength, and ultimate strength of intact bone. Micro-computed tomography (muCT) possesses the resolution capable of detecting apparent bone density in extremely local regions and can characterize the trabecular structure. It has been asserted that this micro-structure is susceptible to micro-buckling and bending, which has a controversial role in predicting the global mechanical properties of bone. The current study measured the...
Sewell DA, Harris RC.Adenine nucleotide (AN) degradation has been shown to occur during intense exercise in the horse and in man, at or close to the point of fatigue. The aim of the study was to compare the concentrations of muscle inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) and plasma ammonia (NH3) during intense exercise with the concentrations of muscle and blood lactate. Seven trained thoroughbred horses were used in the study. Each exercised on a treadmill for periods of between 30 s and 150 s, at 11 and/or 12 m.s-1. Blood and muscle samples were taken and analysed for lactate and NH3 and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), ...
Chateau H, Degueurce C, Jerbi H, Crevier-Denoix N, Pourcelot P, Audigié F, Pasqui-Boutard V, Denoix JM.The purpose of this study was to quantify small amplitude rotational movements in the metacarpophalangeal joint (MPJ) of the horse and to measure the influence of asymmetric placement of the foot on these articular angles. Trihedrons, supporting kinematic markers defining a local frame, were screwed into the third metacarpal bone and the proximal phalanx of 4 isolated forelimbs. The limbs were loaded in a press, and the lateral or medial aspects of the foot were raised alternately by a 12 degrees wedge. The use of the joint coordinate system permitted the simultaneous and continuous computing ...
Schramel J, Nagel C, Auer U, Palm F, Aurich C, Moens Y.The regional distribution of ventilation in conscious standing pregnant Shetland pony mares was investigated by Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). Six ponies were repeatedly examined a minimum of four weeks prior to (antepartum, AP) until three weeks after parturition (postpartum, PP). From the cross-sectional ventilation image the ventral to dorsal (V/D), left to right (L/R) ventilation distribution ratio and the relative ventilation in four horizontal regions of interest (ROI) placed symmetrically in the chest was analyzed. Antepartum V/D was 0.74 ± 0.09 on day -28 ± 3 (AP28) and decre...
Sharp DC.This paper will discuss development of the equine conceptus, especially from the perspective of the maternal environment in which it develops and to which it has considerable influence.
Gmel AI, Gmel G, von Niederhäusern R, Weishaupt MA, Neuditschko M.Gait quality, that is, the way horses move according to functional and aesthetic principles, englobes many traits that are scored by experts during breeding competitions. The experts can score a trait on a subjective valuating (SV) scale or on a linear profiling (LP) scale representing the biological extremes of the population. However, the reliability of the appraisal of gait quality traits has not been extensively evaluated. In this study, seven breed experts appraised the walk and trot quality of 24 Franches-Montagnes stallions presented in hand on a sand track. Inter-rater reliabilities of...
Hotchkiss JW, Reid SW, Christley R.Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is an environmental respiratory disease affecting horses. A risk-screening questionnaire (RSQ) for RAO would provide a useful tool to investigate the epidemiology of the disease in horses; our aim in this study was to construct and validate such an instrument. Guidance for what questions to include in the RSQ came from three processes: a review of the scientific literature, a survey of equine practitioners in the UK and a consultation with 19 experts using a modified Delphi technique. The latter consultation consisted of two rounds; agreement amongst the expe...
Nieto JE, Snyder JR, Kollias-Baker C, Stanley S.To determine effects of cisapride and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on the jejunum of horses. Methods: Jejunal muscle strips from 8 horses. Methods: Muscle strips were suspended in isolated muscle baths. Isometric stress responses to 5-HT and cisapride, with and without specific antagonists, were determined. Results: Muscle strips incubated with atropine and tetrodotoxin responded to 5-HT and cisapride with an increase in contractile force. The 5-HT caused a concentration-dependent increase in contractile amplitude, with a maximum response (Emax) of 1,151+/-214 g/cm2 and a molar concentration tha...
Scare JA, Steuer AE, Shaffer CL, Slusarewicz P, Mousley A, Nielsen MK.In vitro maintenance of helminth parasites enables a variety of molecular, pharmaceutical and immunological analyses. Currently, the nutritional and environmental in vitro requirements of the equine ascarid parasite, Parascaris spp., have not been determined. Additionally, an objective method for assessing viability of Parascaris spp. intestinal stages does not exist. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the in vitro requirements of intestinal stages of Parascaris spp., and to develop a viability assessment method. A total of 1045 worms were maintained in a total of 212 cultures. Worms o...
Allen WR, Kydd JH, Boyle MS, Antczak DF.Transfer of donkey embryos to horse mares provides a useful model of early fetal death. Endometrial cups do not develop in this one type of extraspecific pregnancy and 80% of donkey fetuses are aborted between Days 80 and 100 of gestation in conjunction with abnormal implantation and an intense accumulation of leucocytes in the endometrium of the surrogate mare. Treatment of mares carrying donkey conceptuses with progestagen (allyl trenbolone) or purified horse chorionic gonadotrophin does not prevent abortion. However, passive immunization with serum from mares carrying intraspecific horse fe...
Laviada MD, Arias M, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM.The structural and non-structural proteins induced by African horsesickness virus serotype 4 (AHSV-4) in infected Vero cells were analysed by SDS-PAGE. Twenty-two virus-induced polypeptides were detected in infected cells by comparison with the polypeptides of mock-infected cells, of which four major (VP2, VP3, VP5 and VP7) and three minor (VP1, VP4 and VP6) structural proteins and four non-structural proteins (P58, P48, P21 and P20) were shown to be virus-coded, as deduced from electrophoretic and antigenic studies of purified virions and infected cells. The proteins that elicit the major ant...
Vincen TL, Newton JR, Deaton CM, Franklin SH, Biddick T, McKeever KH, McDonough P, Young LE, Hodgson DR, Marlin DJ.Heart rate is one of the most commonly measured variables in equine exercise physiology and relative exercise intensity commonly expressed as % of maximal heart rate. A number of influences affect maximal heart rate (HRmax), including age of the horse but other factors have not been described. Objective: To determine if fitness, health status, gender, breed, athletic use, body mass, in addition to age, are predictive of HRmax in the horse. Methods: Maximal heart rate data from 328 horses which underwent treadmill exercise tests at 5 different laboratories were obtained retrospectively. Univari...
Alpoim-Moreira J, Szóstek-Mioduchowska A, Słyszewska M, Rebordão MR, Skarzynski DJ, Ferreira-Dias G.Endometrosis negatively affects endometrial function and fertility in mares, due to excessive deposition of type I (COL1) and type III (COL3) collagens. The pro-fibrotic transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) induces myofibroblast differentiation, characterized by α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, and collagen synthesis. In humans, fibrosis has been linked to epigenetic mechanisms. To the best of our knowledge, this has not been described in mare endometrium. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the in vitro epigenetic regulation in TGF-β1-treated mare endometrial fibroblasts an...
Duncan ID, Baker GJ, Heffron CJ, Griffiths IR.The larynges of 6 horses were examined endoscopically and the findings correlated with the gross and histological appearance of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles and their nerve supply. In all cases it appeared that the balance between abductor and adductor muscle groups had been lost due to preferential atrophy of individual muscles or groups of muscles. The laryngeal abnormalities recorded were asymmetry of the larynx with asynchronous left sided abduction and fluttering or trembling of the left vocal cord and arytenoid cartilage. It is suggested that these changes represent the early signs of...
Koskinen E.In a previous study, times from parturition to the first ovulation were followed in 55 Finnhorse mares on the basis of milk progesterone determinations. Ninety-six per cent of mares had ovulated by day 20 post-partum. If intervals of more than 19 days are excluded from the data, the time from parturition to 1st ovulation was 117 days. However, in cases of foaling before and after the beginning of June the times were 13.0 days and 8.8 days, respectively (p less than 0.001). Long intervals (over 16 days) occurred mainly before 1st May (in 6 out of 7 cases). In a 2nd study, 25 post-partum Finnhor...
Seyoum Z, Zewdu A, Dagnachew S, Bogale B.A study was conducted from November 2015 to April 2016 to determine fenbendazole and ivermectin resistance status of intestinal nematodes of cart horses in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. Forty-five strongyle infected animals were used for this study. The animals were randomly allocated into three groups (15 horses per group). Group I was treated with fenbendazole and Group II with ivermectin and Group III was left untreated. Faecal samples were collected from each cart horse before and after treatment. Accordingly, the reduction in the mean fecal egg count at fourteen days of treatment for iverme...
Bolton JR, Merritt AM, Cimprich RE, Ramberg CF, Streett W.The D-xylose absorption test was applied to clinically normal horses and to horses with signs of gastrointestinal disease. A dosage of 0.5 grams of xylose per kilogram of bodyweight was useful in detecting horses that absorbed the pentose abnormally. The clinical findings were correlated with gross and microscopic findings by biopsy and at necropsy. Gastrointestinal lesions associated with abnormal xylose absorption were classified as: 1) villous atrophy; 2) edema of the lamina propria or 3) necrosis of the lamina propria.
Ortega-García MV, Salguero FJ, García N, Domínguez M, Moreno I, Berrocal A.Cutaneous forms of leishmaniosis due to Leishmania braziliensis have been reported in horses in the New World. Domestic animals play a role in the transmission of the disease. In Costa Rica, human cases of L. braziliensis, L. panamensis and L. infantum have been reported. The present report describes five cases of equine cutaneous leishmaniosis in Costa Rica. The aetiological diagnosis was based on the presence of the parasite within the lesions. Skin biopsies were used to perform histopathological analyses of the lesions. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the presence of the Leishmania ...
Yovich JV, McIlwraith CW, Stashak TS.Osteochondritis dissecans of the sagittal ridge of the third metacarpal and metatarsal bones was diagnosed in 8 horses during an 18-month period. Seven of the horses were less than or equal to 2 1/2 years old. Synovial distention of the affected fetlock joints and a pain response to fetlock flexion were typical findings. Lameness predominated in 1 limb at a trot, although fetlock flexion frequently elicited lameness in other affected limbs. Radiography revealed bony lesions (flattening, erosion, or fragmentation) of the sagittal ridge in at least 2 fetlock joints in all horses. The onset of si...
Rosanowski SM, Chang YM, Stirk AJ, Verheyen KLP.The incidence of race-day injuries in Great Britain (GB) is higher on all-weather (AW) surfaces than on turf. However, to date no studies have focused on identifying risk factors for injury specific to AW racing. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to determine risk factors for fatality, distal limb fracture (DLF) and episodes of epistaxis in flat racing Thoroughbreds racing on AW surfaces in GB. Data included all flat racing starts on AW surfaces (n=258,193) and race-day veterinary events recorded between 2000 and 2013. Information on additional course-level variables was gather...
Equine sarcoids develop upon bovine papillomavirus type 1 or 2 (BPV1, BPV2) infection in conjunction with trauma and represent the most common tumour disease in horses and other equids, including donkeys. In face of a sarcoid outbreak involving 12 of 111 donkeys and mules at the 'Rifugio degli Asinelli', a subsidiary charity organization of The Donkey Sanctuary, non-invasively collected sample material including crusts, dandruff, swabs and hair roots was collected from sarcoid-affected and 26 healthy donkeys, as well as dandruff from a grooming kit and tabanids caught from or in the vicinity o...
Tóth F, Schumacher J, Schramme MC, Hecht S.To evaluate the effects of sequential anesthesia of the individual compartments of the equine stifle joint on lameness induced by intra-articular deposition of interleukin (IL)-1β. Methods: 6 horses. Methods: For each horse, baseline hind limb lameness was first evaluated. A randomly selected compartment of 1 stifle joint was then injected with IL-1β to induce synovitis and lameness; subsequently, the same compartment was anesthetized with 2% mepivacaine hydrochloride, and lameness was reevaluated. Two weeks later, baseline lameness was evaluated, and lameness was similarly induced; thereaft...
