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.
Watts LM, Browne JA, Murphy BA.A comprehensive understanding of the equine circadian clock involves the evaluation of circadian clock gene expression. A non-invasive and effective method for detecting equine clock gene expression has yet to be established. Currently, research surrounding this area has relied on collecting tissue biopsies or blood samples that can often be costly, time consuming and uncomfortable for the animal. Methods: Five mares were individually stabled under a light-dark (LD) cycle that mimicked the external environmental photoperiod during a time of year corresponding with the vernal equinox. Hair foll...
Magee C, Bruemmer JE, Nett TM, Squires EL, Clay CM.Kisspeptides (KiSS) are a recently discovered family of neuropeptides with a central role in regulating the onset of reproductive function in all animals studied to date. We have established biological and physiological evidence for KiSS signaling in the mare. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the physiological and behavioral responses of mares repeatedly given the equine-specific kisspeptpin decapeptide (eKp-10, YRWNSFGLRY-NH(2)) in an effort to shorten the interovulatory period. Administration of eKp-10 (0.5 mg iv every 4 h) to mares beginning on Day 16 postovulation (Group ...
Yuda Y, Kasashima Y, Kuwano A, Sato K, Hattori S, Arai K.Upregulation of hyaluronidase 2 (HYAL2), one of somatic hyaluronidase (HAase), was demonstrated in granulation tissue during the healing of equine superficial digital flexor tendon injuries. The activity of HAase was assessed by hyaluronan (HA)-containing gel zymography and in situ zymography using frozen sections obtained from normal and injured tendon tissues. Elevated HAase activity was identified in the extract from the tendinopathic tissues, with lower levels of the activity in normal tendons. In situ zymography using fluorescently-labeled HA demonstrated HAase activity in the granulation...
McCarrel TM, Minas T, Fortier LA.Numerous methods are available for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) generation, but evidence defining the optimum composition is lacking. We hypothesized that leukocyte-reduced PRP would result in lower inflammatory cytokine expression compared with concentrated-leukocyte PRP and that maintaining the platelet:white blood cell (WBC) ratio would compensate for the effect of increased WBC concentration. Methods: Blood and flexor digitorum superficialis tendons were collected from young adult horses. Three PRP groups were generated with the same platelet concentration but different WBC concentrations: i...
McD￮ LA.Stem cell therapy and cell-based therapies using other progenitor cells are becoming the treatment of choice for many equine orthopedic lesions. Important criteria for obtaining autogenous equine progenitor cells in vitro for use in clinical cell-based therapy include the ability to isolate and expand cells repeatedly to high numbers (millions) required for therapy, in a clinically relevant time frame. Cells must also maintain their ability to differentiate into the tissue type of choice. The objective of this study was to compare isolation and expansion techniques for preparation of periostea...
King JN, Zubrod CJ, Schneider RK, Sampson SN, Roberts G.Two hundred and thirty-two horses with lameness localized to the metacarpo(tarso)phalangeal (MCP/MTP) region without a radiographic diagnosis were evaluated. All horses had high-field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the MCP/MTP region performed for the lame limb and the contralateral limb for comparison. There were 46 horses that had bilateral abnormalities in the forelimbs; 27 of these horses were not lame in the contralateral limb at the time of examination. Bilateral hind limb abnormalities were observed in 37 horses; 22 horses were not lame in the contralateral limb. Soft tissue abnorma...
Leiva M, Felici F, Carvalho A, Ramis A, Peña T.An 11-year-old Arabian mare was presented for investigation of a visible, pale-colored intraocular mass in the right eye. Results: An intraocular mass was detected clinically and ultrasonographically as originating from the superior temporal quadrant of the ciliary body and iris and causing secondary glaucoma. The echodense mass was occupying the majority of the vitreous chamber and extended into the anterior chamber. The left eye appeared normal. Results: Enucleation was recommended for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. No adjuvant treatment was given. Histopathological examination demonst...
Casella S, Giannetto C, Giudice E, Marafioti S, Fazio F, Assenza A, Piccione G.Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation in fed and fasted horses after addition of tramadol hydrochloride was evaluated in vitro. On 10 horses citrated blood samples were collected 2h after feeding (fed animals) and 21 h after feeding (fasted animals). Final concentrations of ADP 1 and 0.5 μM, and tramadol hydrochloride (1, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after the addition of tramadol) were used to determine the maximum degree and initial velocity of platelet aggregation. Repeated measures multifactor analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to evaluate the effect of feeding/fasting con...
Duesterdieck-Zellmer KF, Driscoll N, Ott JF.To determine concentration-dependent effects of tiludronate on cartilage explants incubated with or without recombinant equine interleukin-1β (rEq IL-1). Methods: Articular cartilage explants from the femorotibial joints of 3 young adult horses. Methods: Cartilage explants were incubated with 1 of 6 concentrations (0, 0.19, 1.9, 19, 190, or 1,900 mg/L) of tiludronate and with or without rEq IL-1 (0.01 ng/mL) for 96 hours. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) concentrations in culture medium and explant digests were analyzed via PGE(2) enzyme immunoassay. Sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) concentration...
Patterson AL, Squires EL, Hansen TR, Bouma GJ, Bruemmer JE.Maternal recognition of pregnancy is a physiological process that primarily describes endometrial responses to a conceptus. Recognition of a conceptus prevents the release of prostaglandin F(2α) , thereby ensuring survival of the corpus luteum and continued progesterone production. Exactly how this occurs in the mare is poorly understood. Because prostaglandin F(2α) is a pro-inflammatory hormone, we hypothesized that differential gene expression in the endometrium at the time of maternal recognition reflects an anti-inflammatory event leading to decreased prostaglandin F(2α) secretion. Mare...
Borer-Weir KE, Bailey SR, Menzies-Gow NJ, Harris PA, Elliott J.To evaluate a human radioimmunoassay (RIA) and equine and high-range porcine (hrp) species-specific ELISAs for the measurement of high serum insulin concentrations in ponies. Methods: Serum samples from 12 healthy nonobese ponies (7 clinically normal and 5 laminitis prone; 13 to 26 years of age; 11 mares and 1 gelding) before and after glucose, insulin, and dexamethasone administration. Methods: Intra-and interassay repeatability, freeze-thaw stability, dilutional parallelism, and assay agreement were assessed. Results: Assay detection limits were as follows: RIA, < 389 μU/mL; equine ELISA...
Breton A, Sharma R, Diaz AC, Parham AG, Graham A, Neil C, Whitelaw CB, Milne E, Donadeu FX.Pluripotent stem cells offer unprecedented potential not only for human medicine but also for veterinary medicine, particularly in relation to the horse. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are particularly promising, as they are functionally similar to embryonic stem cells and can be generated in vitro in a patient-specific manner. In this study, we report the generation of equine iPSCs from skin fibroblasts obtained from a foal and reprogrammed using viral vectors coding for murine Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4 sequences. The reprogrammed cell lines were morphologically similar to iPSCs rep...
Sarrafian TL, Case JT, Kinde H, Daft BM, Read DH, Moore JD, Uzal FA, Stover SM.To determine major causes of death and the anatomic location of musculoskeletal injuries in Quarter Horse racehorses in California. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 314 Quarter Horse racehorses with musculoskeletal injuries that were necropsied through the California Horse Racing Board Postmortem Program from 1990 to 2007. Methods: Postmortem pathology reports were retrospectively reviewed. Musculoskeletal injuries were categorized by anatomic region and described. The number of Quarter Horse starts and starters for the same period of time were obtained from a commercial database f...
Rickey EJ, Cruz AM, Trout DR, McEwen BJ, Hurtig MB.To determine whether a single contusive impact injury to the palmar aspect of the metacarpus would progress to post-traumatic osteoarthritis or palmar osteochondral disease in horses. Methods: 12 horses. Methods: In each horse, an impact injury was created on the palmar aspect of the medial metacarpal condyle of 1 randomly chosen limb with an impactor device under arthroscopic and fluoroscopic guidance. The opposite limb was sham operated as a control. A low to moderate amount of forced exercise was instituted, and horses were evaluated clinically via lameness examinations weekly for 5 months,...
Elshafie EI, Sani RA, Hassan L, Sharma R, Bashir A, Abubakar IA.A cross-sectional study was designed to assess the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Trypanosoma evansi infection among horses, using a total of 527 blood samples obtained from eight states in Peninsular Malaysia. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on risk factors associated with T. evansi seroprevalence. The overall seroprevalence detected by card agglutination test for T. evansi (CATT/T. evansi) was 13.90% (73/527, CI: 11.2-17.1%). Female and exogenous horses showed a higher risk in association with the disease seroprevalence compared to other groups. The major...
Valverde A, Black B, Cribb NC, Hathway A, Daw A.To compare the effects of sedative doses of acepromazine, xylazine or xylazine/ketamine administered to horses after isoflurane anesthesia on the quality of recovery and anesthesia recovery times. To determine if recovery scores improve after repeated consecutive anesthetic episodes. Methods: Prospective, randomized, crossover study. Methods: Fifteen adult research horses, 6.5±3.4 years old and weighing 499±40 kg. Methods: Horses undergoing three anesthetic episodes with isoflurane for magnetic resonance of the forelimbs were administered acepromazine (0.02 mg kg(-1) i.v.) or xylazine (0.3 m...
Steelman SM, Chowdhary BP.Equine laminitis is a devastating disease that causes severe pain in afflicted horses and places a major economic burden on the horse industry. In acute laminitis, the disintegration of the dermal-epidermal junction can cause the third phalanx to detach from the hoof wall, leaving the horse unable to bear weight on the affected limbs. Horses that survive the acute phase transition into a chronic form of laminitis, which is often termed "founder". Some evidence suggests that chronic laminar inflammation might be associated with alterations in the endocrine and immune systems. We investigated th...
Black B, Cribb NC, Nykamp SG, Thomason JJ, Trout DR.Artefacts caused by regional anaesthesia can influence image interpretation of ultrasonography and nuclear scintigraphy. Perineural and intrasynovial anaesthesia are commonly performed prior to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); and the effects on MR images, if any, are unknown. Objective: To determine if perineural and intrasynovial anaesthesia of structures in the equine foot cause iatrogenic changes detectable with MRI. Methods: A baseline MRI examination of both front feet was performed on 15 horses, 2-6 days prior to mepivacaine injection adjacent to the lateral and medial palmar digital n...
Rushton J, Tichy A, Brem G, Druml T, Nell B.There are no studies on the ophthalmic health status in the Lipizzaner breed. Objective: To perform an ophthalmological survey in a closed herd in 3 housing systems. Methods: All horses at the Federal Stud Piber, Heldenberg and the Spanish Riding School Vienna were subjected to ophthalmological examination. Findings were documented and correlated with factors such as age, gender, location and housing situation. The interrelation of abnormalities of different regions was determined by calculating accuracy. Pedigree analysis of horses affected by cataract was performed. Results: A total of 267 h...
Hart SK, Barrett JG, Brown JA, Papich MG, Powers BE, Sullins KE.Use of a novel, biodegradable, antimicrobial-impregnated gel provides an alternative method of local treatment of infections in horses. Objective: To determine in vivo elution of antimicrobial medications from antimicrobial-impregnated cross-linked dextran gel and to evaluate the effect on wound healing when implanted subcutaneously in horses. Methods: Amikacin-, vancomycin- or amikacin/clindamycin-impregnated gel was placed subcutaneously in 11 horses' necks, using 6 replicates with a 3 month washout between experiments. Capillary ultrafiltration probes for collection of interstitial fluid we...
O'Leary JM, Barnett TP, Parkin TD, Dixon PM, Barakzai SZ.Although equine motorised dental instruments are widely used, there is limited information on their thermal effect on teeth. The recently described variation in subocclusal secondary dentine depth overlying individual pulp horns may affect heat transmission to the underlying pulps. Objective: This study compared the effect of 3 different equine motorised dental instruments on the pulpar temperature of equine cheek teeth with and without the use of water cooling. It also evaluated the effect of subocclusal secondary dentine thickness on pulpar temperature changes. Methods: A thermocouple probe ...
Velie BD, Knight PK, Thomson PC, Wade CM, Hamilton NA.Studies of Thoroughbred racing populations have provided evidence of a positive effect on racing careers for horses that commence racing as 2-year-olds. Currently, research investigating the presence of this effect in the Australian Thoroughbred racing population is limited. Objective: To investigate the association between age at first start and career length in the Australian Thoroughbred population and estimate the risk of racing retirement for horses racing in Australia based on age at first start, career earnings, number of starts as a 2-year-old and distance raced. Methods: Data were col...
Adams MK, Goodrich LR, Rao S, Olea-Popelka F, Phillips N, Kisiday JD, McIlwraith CW.The 2 sites of bone marrow harvest for isolation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in the horse are the sternum and ilium. The technical procedure is based on practitioner preference, but no studies have compared MSC concentrations and growth rates between the sites in horses aged 2-5 years. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare nucleated cell counts and growth rates between the sternum and ilium and between consecutive 5 ml bone marrow aspirates. We hypothesised that there would be a higher concentration of MSCs in the sternum than the ilium, and that the first sequential a...
Moyer W, Spencer PA, Kallish M.The relative incidence of dorsal metacarpal disease was examined in two groups of Thoroughbred racehorses training on dissimilar surfaces (dirt and wood fibre). The horses and training methods appeared to be similar. The incidence of disease was significantly greater in the group training on dirt. There was no significant difference in the age distribution of incidence between the two groups and there was no association of incidence with sex or age within the training group. The number of fast miles worked by the two groups prior to the onset of dorsal metacarpal disease was lower in the group...
Uquillas E, Dart CM, Perkins NR, Dart AJ.To compare the effects of two concentrations of oxygen delivered to the anaesthetic breathing circuit on oxygenation in mechanically ventilated horses anaesthetised with isoflurane and positioned in dorsal or lateral recumbency. Methods: Selected respiratory parameters and blood lactate were measured and oxygenation indices calculated, before and during general anaesthesia, in 24 laterally or dorsally recumbent horses. Horses were randomly assigned to receive 100% or 60% oxygen during anaesthesia. All horses were anaesthetised using the same protocol and intermittent positive pressure ventilat...
Corrêa MJ, da Mota MD.The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for racing performance traits in Quarter Horses in Brazil. The data (provided by the Sorocaba Jockey Club) came from 3 Brazilian hippodromes in 1994-2003, with 11 875 observations of race time and 7775 of the speed index (SI), distributed in 2403 and 2169 races, respectively. The variance components were estimated by the MTGSAM program, under animal models including the random additive genetic effect, random permanent environmental effect, and the fixed effects of sex, age and race. Heritabilities for race time and the SI, for the 3 dist...
Argue CK, Clayton HM.The object of this study was to determine the limb support sequence during the transitions from walk to trot and from trot to walk in dressage horses under saddle and to test the null hypothesis that the limb support sequence during the transitions is not related to the level of training. Sixteen dressage horses training at novice to FEI Grand Prix level were videotaped performing an average of 9 transitions each from walk to trot and from trot to walk. The 30-Hz videotapes were viewed in slow motion, and based on the limb support sequence the transitions were categorized into two types. In ty...
Ebling AJ, McKnight AL, Seiler G, Kircher PR.The complexity of the equine skull makes the temporomandibular joint a difficult area to evaluate radiographically. The goal of this study was to determine the optimal angle for a complementary radiographic projection of the equine temporomandibular joint based on a computed tomography (CT) cadaver study. CT was performed on six equine cadaver heads of horses that were euthanized for other reasons than temporomandibular joint disease. After the CT examination, 3D reconstruction of the equine skull was performed to subjectively determine the angle for a complementary radiographic projection of ...
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...
Callow LL, McGregor W, Rodwell BJ, Rogers RJ, Fraser GC, Mahoney DF, Robertson GM.An indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test for the diagnosis of Babesia equi infections was evaluated. Antigen prepared by conventional methods was of high quality in one instance and of lesser quality in a second when possible autofluorescence of the horse blood caused inconvenience in reading tests. Tests on 14 horses shown by parasitological means to be either infected (9) or uninfected (5) produced reactions at dilutions of 1/270 to 1/7290 for infected and at 1/10 to 1/90 for uninfected animals. The accuracy of the test was further demonstrated during investigations of 701 horses in 3 sta...
Coleman MC, Blodgett GP, Bevevino KE, Ivanek R, Cummings KJ, Carter GK, Cohen ND.The occurrence of Rhodococcus equi at farms varies, with disease occurring endemically at some farms, but only sporadically, or not at all at other farms. Only some foals residing on endemic farms develop clinical signs of disease. Limited evidence is available regarding foal-level risk factors for the development of R. equi pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to identify foal-level risk factors associated with the development of R. equi pneumonia among foals at a large breeding farm in Texas with a recurrent problem of R. equi pneumonia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted usin...
Chapman HM, Taylor EG, Buddle JR, Murphy DJ.The ability to handle animals safely, competently, and with confidence is an essential skill for veterinarians. Poor animal-handling skills are likely to compromise credibility, occupational health and safety, and animal welfare. In the five-year veterinary science degree at Murdoch University, animal handling is taught in a prerequisite unit in the second semester of the second year. From 2008, however, this unit will be taught in the first year of the five-year course. Students are taught to handle sheep, cattle, pigs, and horses safely and competently. Each student receives 30 hours of form...
Kowalik S, Wiśniewska A, Kędzierski W, Janczarek I.Skeletal muscle is considered to be the largest endocrine organ determining the maintenance of energy homeostasis. Adaptive changes in skeletal muscles in response to physical exercise influence the production as well as secretion of myokines, which are bioactive factors that play a crucial role in energy expenditure processes. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of two different types of exercise on the circulating level of two of these, myostatin and irisin, in trained horses. Twenty purebred Arabian horses were involved in the study: 10 three-year-old horses trained on the ra...
Bailey SR, Elliott J.5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a potent vasoconstrictor of equine digital arteries and veins which may play a role in the ischaemic disease, laminitis. The present investigation compared the properties of 5-HT1B/1D receptors in arteries with those in veins using isolated rings of equine digital blood vessels. The 5-HT1B/1D receptor-selective agonists, anpirtoline and sumatriptan were 17.9 and 10 times more potent and produced 4.1 and 5.6 times greater maximum contractions, respectively, in veins when compared to arteries. Other agonists tested were of equal potency and produced the same maximum...
Hirayama K, Honda Y, Sako T, Okamoto M, Tsunoda N, Tagami M, Taniyama H.A 21-year-old thoroughbred mare had a 35 x 14 x 10 cm mass involving the mammary gland. Metastases were found in the kidneys, lungs, skeletal muscles, and regional lymph nodes. Histopathologic examination of the tumor revealed a ductal solid carcinoma with extensive intraductal and intralobular involvement and focal infiltration of the adjacent stroma. The intralobular neoplasms were divided into irregularly shaped islands and sheets of polygonal and spindle-shaped epithelial cells by thick or thin fibrous connective tissue bundles. The neoplastic cells had a small or moderate amount of cytopl...
Guevara L, Abdelgawad A, Onzere C, Greenwood AD, Davidson Z, Bishop R, Mutinda M.Equid herpesviruses types 1 (EHV-1) and 9 (EHV-9) are unusual among herpesviruses in that they lack strong host specificity, and the full extent of their host range remains unclear. The virus establishes latency for long periods and can be reactivated and shed, resulting in clinical disease in susceptible species. A sensitive and specific peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to study the seroprevalence of both viruses in a broad range of species among both wild and captive populations. We used this assay to study the seroprevalences of EHV-1 and EHV-9 in a natural popu...
Lee DH, Birhanu BT, Lee EB, Lee SJ, Boby N, Park YS, Park SC.Cefquinome is administered in horses for the treatment of respiratory infection caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus, and septicemia caused by Escherichia coli. However, there have been no attempts to use cefquinome against Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi), the causative agent of strangles. Hence the objective of this study was to calculate an optimal dosage of cefquinome against S. equi based on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics integration. Cefquinome (1.0 mg/kg) was administered by intravenous and intramuscular routes to six healthy thoroughbred foals. Serum cefqui...
Slowikowska M, Bajzert J, Miller J, Stefaniak T, Niedzwiedz A.Non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers of equine asthma syndrome (EAS) from blood or urine are sought. The aim of this study was to assess the absorbance of circulating immune complexes (CICs) during the exacerbation, remission, and treatment of an asthma episode and assess the potential usefulness of CIC levels in the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease. The control group, asthma group, and treated asthma group each contained six horses. Following an initial examination and group classification, the horses were kept in a dusty environment for seven days and then moved to an asthma-friendly en...
Kilcoyne I, Watson JL, Spier SJ, Whitcomb MB, Vaughan B.Septic sialoadenitis, although uncommonly reported in equids, is a significant cause of pain, inappetence, dysphagia and discomfort. There are currently few reported cases possibly as a result of its infrequent occurrence. Objective: To review cases presenting with sialoadenitis and describe the presenting complaints, results of diagnostic tests, treatment and outcome. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Records were reviewed for equids presenting to the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital between 1998 and 2010 for salivary gland swelling. Equids were in...
Nobert KM.This article provides an overview of the US Food and Drug Administration's current and potential regulation of veterinary regenerative medicine and the various products used in the practice. This article also discusses several of the potential enforcement risks associated with the commercialization of such therapies and products and offers the reader strategies for mitigating those risks. Finally, the article concludes with a review of an important and ongoing court battle that focuses on the marketing and promotion of cellular-based therapies for humans that could have a significant impact on...
Ericson C, Stenfeldt P, Hardeman A, Jacobson I.Kinesiotape theoretically stimulates mechanoreceptive and proprioceptive sensory pathways that in turn may modulate the neuromuscular activity and locomotor function, so alteration of activation, locomotion and/or range of motion (ROM) can be achieved. The aim of this study was to determine whether kinesiotape applied to the abdominal muscles would affect the ROM in flexion-extension (sagittal plane) in the thoracolumbar back of horses at trot. The study design was a paired experimental study, with convenient sample. Each horse was randomly placed in the control or the intervention group and t...
Fogle CA, Gerard MP, Elce YA, Little D, Morton AJ, Correa MT, Blikslager AT.To analyze the effect of the intraoperative use of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CBMC) and related perioperative factors on postoperative colic and survival in horses that had abdominal surgery for colic. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Horses (n=203) that had surgery for small intestinal disease; 33 horses had intraoperative administration of CBMC. Methods: Information was obtained from medical records for 170 horses that had surgery for colic before use of CBMC and 33 horses that had intraoperative CBMC. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to estimate median survival time and a Co...
Young SS, Tesarowski D.Respiratory mechanics were compared using conventional and forced oscillation techniques in six conscious horses and a mechanical model of the equine respiratory system. The parameters calculated from conventional airflow and esophageal pressure measurements were pulmonary resistance and dynamic compliance. The impedance of the respiratory system was measured at 1, 2, and 3 Hz with the forced oscillation technique, and respiratory system resistance, compliance, inertance, and resonant frequency were calculated. Pulmonary resistance was 1.0 +/- 0.3 cmH2O.l-1.s, and pulmonary dynamic compliance ...
Green SA, Jenkins SJ, Clark PA.The biuret total protein method and a bromcresol green (BCG) albumin method were used on the Abbott ABA-100 chemistry analyzer to assay serum proteins in clinically normal cattle, sheep, ponies, pigs, and ducks. Total proteins were also read on a refractometer and mylar supported cellulose acetate electrophoresis was performed. Globulins and A/G ratios were calculated from the chemical method and the results compared with the electrophoretic method. Total protein, albumin and A/G ratios in the ponies, sheep and older cattle were in agreement between the two methods. The younger cattle and all ...
Walker C, Perotti VM, Love DN, Whalley JM.The abortigenic effects of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) strain HVS25A, given intranasally, were assessed in pregnant BALB/c, C57BL/6J and Quakenbush mice at day 16 of pregnancy. All EHV-1-infected BALB/c mice showed clinical signs typical of EHV-1-induced disease, together with evidence of abortion. However, although there were fetal and neonatal deaths in some C57BL/6J and Quakenbush litters, the respiratory and systemic effects of EHV-1 infection in the dams were inconsistent. BALB/c dams were then inoculated at day 15 of pregnancy with either EHV-1 or rabbit kidney (RK) cell lysate (control...
Veen I, de Grauw JC.Endotracheal intubation is a routine procedure in veterinary anaesthesia, yet no consensus guidelines exist for endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff inflation and pressure measurement. The aim of this study was to assess current practice of ETT cuff inflation and seal verification in veterinary medicine. An online questionnaire was distributed among veterinary professionals who administer anaesthesia, comprising six demographic and twelve ETT cuff-related questions per species. N = 348 questionnaires were completed. Cuff pressure was measured by 30% of respondents in cats, 32% in dogs and 9% in both f...
Canisso IF, Ball BA, Erol E, Claes A, Scoggin KE, McDowell KJ, Williams NM, Dorton AR, Wolfsdorf KE, Squires EL, Troedsson MH.Nocardioform placentitis in horses is poorly understood, and the development of an experimental model would be of help in understanding the pathogenesis of the disease. Objective: To investigate whether (1) intrauterine inoculation of Crossiela equi during the periovulatory period or (2) i.v., oral or intranasopharyngeal inoculation of C. equi during midgestation would result in nocardioform placentitis, and (3) before and after mating endometrial swabs present evidence of nocardioform placentitis-associated organisms (C. equi or Amycolatopsis spp.). Methods: In Study I, mares (n = 20) rec...
Rubin CT, Seeherman H, Qin YX, Gross TS.Distributions of normal strain, shear strain, and strain energy density (SED) were determined across the midshaft of the third metacarpal (MCIII, or cannon bone) of 3 adult thoroughbred horses as a function of speed and gait. A complete characterization of the mechanical demands of the bone made through the stride and from mild through the extremes of locomotion was possible by using three 3-element rosette strain gauges bonded at the diaphyseal midshaft of the MCIII and evaluating the strain output with beam theory and finite element analysis. Mean ± sd values of normal strain, shear strain,...
Lucas RG, Rodríguez-Hurtado I, Álvarez CT, Ortiz G.Equine back pain can potentially initiate an unstable intervertebral situation that results in atrophy and dysfunction of the epaxial muscles even after back pain has resolved. Several physiotherapy approaches are advocated to promote the strengthening of the multifidus muscle. This study aimed to asses and compare the effect of dynamic mobilization exercises (DME) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in 8 adult horses (4 individuals by group) to increase the cross-sectional area (CSA) of this muscle after a 7-weeks period treatment. The epaxial muscles of NMES group were electrical...
Asplin KE, Patterson-Kane JC, Sillence MN, Pollitt CC, Mc Gowan CM.Ponies with laminitis associated with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia lack systemic and/or intestinal inflammatory signs, suggesting a different pathogenesis potentially reflected in differing histopathology. Objective: To describe the histological appearance and quantify morphological changes in primary and secondary epidermal lamellae (PEL and SEL) of laminitis lesions from ponies with insulin-induced laminitis. Methods: Equine hoof lamellar tissue was obtained from 4 control ponies and 5 ponies with laminitis induced following infusion of insulin (1036 ± 55 µU/ml) while maintai...
Bhardwaj A, Tandon G, Pal Y, Sharma NK, Nayan V, Soni S, Iquebal MA, Jaiswal S, Legha RA, Talluri TR, Bhattacharya TK, Kumar D, Rai A, Tripathi BN.The horse, one of the most domesticated animals, has been used for several purposes, like transportation, hunting, in sport, or for agriculture-related works. Kathiawari, Marwari, Manipuri, Zanskari, Bhutia, Spiti, and Thoroughbred are the main breeds of horses, particularly due to their agroclimatic adaptation and role in any kind of strong physical activity, and these characteristics are majorly governed by genetic factors. The genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of these Indian equine breeds using microsatellite markers have been reported, but further studies exploring the SNP d...
Oltner R, Edqvist LE.Progesterone concentrations in heparinized plasma harvested immediately after blood collection were compared with levels obtained after storage of the corresponding whole blood for 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 1 day, 2 days and 5 days at room temperature and in a refrigerator. The blood was taken during the luteal phase from 4 dogs, 4 horses, 4 pigs and 8 cows. For 4 cows the storage time was extended to 9 and 20 days. No significant effect of whole blood storage time on plasma progesterone concentrations could be shown for dogs or pigs. For the horse a slight but significant decrease was demonstrated when ...
Wilkens MR, Marholt L, Eigendorf N, Muscher-Banse AS, Feige K, Schröder B, Breves G, Cehak A.Intestinal calcium absorption plays a key role in the maintenance of calcium homeostasis and may either occur by paracellular or transcellular mechanisms. The horse has some unique peculiarities in calcium homeostasis compared to other species including a high absorptive capacity for calcium in the intestine, high plasma calcium concentrations, high renal excretion, and low plasma concentrations of vitamin D metabolites. So far, knowledge about the underlying mechanisms and the regulation of intestinal calcium absorption is still limited concerning this species. Several studies have documented...
