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.
de Preux M, Precht C, Travaglini AT, Propadalo LM, Farra D, Vidondo B, Easley JT, Koch C.To determine the effect of the Vertek aiming device (VAD) on the surgical accuracy of navigated drilling of the distal sesamoid bone (DSB). Methods: Experimental cadaveric study. Methods: A total of 30 paired equine cadaveric limbs from 15 horses. Methods: Each specimen was placed in a purpose-built frame (PBF). Preoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were acquired with an imaging unit coupled with a surgical navigation system. In the DSB of each specimen, a 4.5 mm glide hole and a 3.2 mm thread hole were drilled under navigation guidance, to simulate drilling for the repa...
Blum S, Gisler J, Dalla Costa E, Montavon S, Spadavecchia C.Study objective was to evaluate whether the application of a lip twitch could be proposed as conditioning stimulus in the context of a novel Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) assessment paradigm for use in horses. The study was a prospective, experimental, randomized trial. Twelve healthy horses were evaluated in two experimental sessions. The lip twitch was used as the conditioning stimulus in both sessions; electrical stimulation was used as the test stimulus in one session, while mechanical and thermal stimulations were used in the other. Differences between thresholds recorded before and d...
Hobbs SJ, Tatlisulu A, Johnson A, Rowlands SD, Lucey M, Martin JH, Graydon RW, Northrop AJ.The maximum galloping speeds of racehorses during a race are influenced by the functional performance of the ground ('going') amongst other factors. For turf racecourses in Britain, the ground is descriptively classified and numerically quantified on the morning of a race meeting by the clerk of the course and subsequently published to assist decision making. Importantly, this includes deciding whether a horse should or should not run. The going is also assessed and classified during the meeting by racing analysts using the normalized winning times from each race result. Differences between go...
Rodrigues LT, Segabinazzi L, Frasson M, Dell'Aqua C, Carmo MT, Takahira RK, Alvarenga M, Papa F.Although protocols for superovulation have been described in horses, this technique has been discouraged due to the low embryo recovery rates in superovulated mares. The reason for these poor results is poorly understood, but the formation of a blood clot in the ovulation fossa following ovulations has been hypothesized. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the safety and effect of periovulatory anticoagulant therapy on embryo recovery of superovulated mares. In experiment 1, five mares were assigned to receive five anticoagulant treatments in a crossover design: intravenous injections of 150...
Barrera G, Albiach-Serrano A, Guillén-Salazar F.Studies have shown that horses are sensitive to human attentional cues. Also, there is some evidence that they might be able to infer the knowledge state of a human and communicate intentionally with us. However, this ability is not fully characterized and certain behaviors, like gaze, asymmetric ears position or vocalizations, which could work as attention-getting behaviors, have been scarcely studied in this context. The aim of the present study was to assess whether horses' gaze toward a person, asymmetric ears position and vocalizations are subject to audience effects and adjust to human a...
Silva BCE, Drzewiecka EM, Piotrowska-Tomala K, Alpoim-Moreira J, Sadowska A, Kowalik MK, Pimenta J, Rebordão MR, Ferreira-Dias G, Skarzynski D....A reduction in myometrial contractile activity can lead to inadequate cleaning of the uterine lumen, resulting in persistent endometritis and potentially endometrosis in mares. Oxytocin (OXT) is a key hormonal regulator of myometrial contraction. While epigenetic regulation of myometrial gene expression has been studied in humans, there is limited information on the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and ten-eleven translocation enzymes (TETs) in the myometrium of mares. This study aimed to evaluate the mRNA transcription of these enzymes and the potential role of DNA methylation in ...
Van Mol B, Janssens S, Oosterlinck M, Pille F, Buys N.Equine osteochondrosis and osteochondral fragments in the fetlock joint are linked to various environmental and genetic risk factors. To assess the scope of the literature linking these risk factors to the development of these osteochondral disorders, while identifying knowledge gaps and challenges to guide future research, a scoping review was performed. This article constitutes the second part of this scoping review and focuses on genetic factors, with the first part addressing environmental factors. To identify potentially relevant papers, online bibliographical databases PubMed and Web of ...
Arias-Esquivel AM, Moscoso E, Umaña D, Arguedas M, Solano D, Durán G, Gómez A, Gutiérrez JM, León G.The immunization and industrial bleeding of horses are essential stages for producing snake antivenoms. In Costa Rica, the traditional method involves stimulating the antibody response of horses by periodically injecting venoms, collecting hyperimmune plasma over three consecutive bleeding days, and repeating this process every eight weeks. While this method does not cause major physical or hematological issues in horses, the associated stress has not been evaluated. We compared this traditional method with an alternative method that involves injecting venoms, collecting hyperimmune plasma in ...
Galinelli NC, Bamford NJ, Erdody ML, Warnken T, de Laat MA, Sillence MN, Harris PA, Bailey SR.The role of dopamine in the regulation of insulin secretion in horses is poorly understood and requires further investigation. Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is associated with decreased activity of dopaminergic neurons which normally suppress peptide hormone secretion from the pituitary pars intermedia. A high proportion of horses with PPID also have insulin dysregulation (ID), characterised by post-prandial hyperinsulinaemia and/or tissue insulin resistance, which are risk factors for the development of laminitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of alpha-me...
Mustefa A, Engdawork A, Sinke S.Ethiopian horses are multipurpose horses that have socioeconomic significance for smallholder farmers. However, studies regarding their husbandry practices have received little attention. Thus, the current study was conducted to assess the horse husbandry practices in the southwest Ethiopia. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires from a total of 196 randomly selected respondents. The general linear model and frequency procedures of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS 9.0) were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data, while indices were calculated using Micros...
Respirable mineral particles can induce lower airway inflammation, but the role they play in asthma of horses is unknown. Objective: Respirable mineral particles, particularly respirable silica, are an overlooked determinant of chronic lung inflammation (asthma) in horses. Methods: Twenty-three horses from an equine hospital population: 11 moderately affected (MEA), 7 severely asthmatic (SEA), and 5 control horses free from respiratory clinical signs. Methods: Prospective observational study. The quantity and quality of mineral particles found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were charac...
Irwin-Huston JM, Bourebaba L, Bourebaba N, Tomal A, Marycz K.Musculoskeletal injuries and chronic degenerative diseases pose significant challenges in equine health, impacting performance and overall well-being. Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) is a glycoprotein determining the bioavailability of sex hormones in the bloodstream, and exerting critical metabolic functions, thus impacting the homeostasis of many tissues including the bone. Unassigned: In this study, we investigated the potential role of SHBG in promoting osteogenesis and its underlying mechanisms in a model of equine adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs). An SHBG-knocked down model has b...
Sreenivasan CC, Naveed A, Uprety T, Soni S, Jacob O, Adam E, Wang D, Li F.Using metagenomic sequencing we identified equine rotavirus group B (ERVB) of ruminant origin in foal diarrhea outbreaks in the 2021 foaling season. To further investigate ERVB occurrence and determine its environmental stability, we collected mare and foal fecal samples from different farms in Central Kentucky during the 2022 foaling season. The RT-qPCR-based analyses showed that ERVB genome was detected in 16.67 % (42/252) of surveyed mare samples and 26.56 % (34/128) of foal samples. Furthermore, 94.12 % (16/17) of collected soil samples and 100 % (13/13) of water samples obtained f...
Magalhaes HB, Canisso IF.Foal immunity relies heavily on the absorption of colostrum immunoglobulins; thus, colostrum evaluation is used to predict the transfer of passive immunity (TPI), and its conductivity is associated with TPI in cattle. Leading up to and at parturition, a reduction in colostrum pH and conductivity is thought to be necessary for TPI; however, this remains to be determined. Objective: To assess conductivity, pH, and Brix refractometer index of colostrum to predict the TPI in foals. Methods: Field study. Methods: The colostrum of 241 mares was assessed for conductivity, pH, and Brix index using han...
Sasaki Y, Suzuki S, Kusaba N, Rahman N, Aikawa C, Okamura M.In recent years, reported cases of salmonellosis in cattle and horses in Hokkaido, Japan, have increased. To optimize antimicrobial therapy, we assessed the antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella isolates from these animals. Among 112 bovine isolates, high resistance rates were observed for streptomycin (92.0%), ampicillin (88.4%), and tetracycline (79.5%), while resistance rates for kanamycin (8.9%), ciprofloxacin (1.8%), gentamicin (0.0%), and colistin (0.0%) were low. Additionally, 18.8% of the bovine isolates were resistant to cefotaxime, and all of these cefotaxime-resistant isolates ...
Verhaar N, Hammer E, Reineking W, Hewicker-Trautwein M, Geburek F.To compare the practicability and tissue sample quality between different intestinal biopsy techniques. Methods: Experimental, randomized ex vivo study. Methods: Small intestine of nine horses. Methods: Four different biopsy techniques were evaluated in the aboral jejunum and the ileum within 1 h after euthanasia. One segment was used as control (C), and the applied techniques included an 8 mm biopsy punch (BP), transverse wedge resection (TW), longitudinal wedge resection with transverse closure (LW) and a longitudinal sample using Eppendorfer biopsy forceps (EF). Defects were closed using ...
Ammons DT, Chow L, Goodrich L, Bass L, Larson B, Williams ZJ, Stoneback JW, Dow S, Pezzanite LM.Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major source of pain and disability worldwide. Understanding of disease progression is evolving, but OA is increasingly thought to be a multifactorial disease in which the innate immune system plays a role in regulating and perpetuating low-grade inflammation. The aim of this study was to enhance our understanding of OA immunopathogenesis through characterization of the transcriptomic responses in OA joints, with the goal to facilitate the development of targeted therapies. Unassigned: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was completed on cells isolated from the syno...
Perera TRW, Bromfield EG, Gibb Z, Nixon B, Sheridan AR, Rupasinghe T, Skerrett-Byrne DA, Swegen A.Understanding the systemic biochemistry of early pregnancy in the mare is essential for developing new diagnostics and identifying causes for pregnancy loss. This study aimed to elucidate the dynamic lipidomic changes occurring during the initial stages of equine pregnancy, with a specific focus on days 7 and 14 post-ovulation. By analysing and comparing the plasma lipid profiles of pregnant and non-pregnant mares, the objective of this study was to identify potential biomarkers for pregnancy and gain insights into the biochemical adaptations essential for supporting maternal recognition of pr...
Huangsaksri O, Wonghanchao T, Sanigavatee K, Poochipakorn C, Sukhong P, Chanda M.Lunging is a training technique commonly performed in a round pen or on a lunge line. This study investigated the effort intensity, autonomic responses, and method agreement in applying different lunging protocols to untrained ponies. Sixteen untrained ponies (aged 13.6 ± 6.3 years and weighing 358 ± 47.4 kg) were studied. Each pony underwent the same research-focused lunging program on a lunge line and, subsequently, in a round pen with a two-day interval between sessions. The heart rate variability (HRV) and effort intensity, indicated as a percentage of maximum heart rate (%HRmax), were d...
Martínez-Bartolomé I, Masot J, Serres C.Kenney-Doig scale is considered the international standard method for classifying uterine biopsies in mares; however, its objectivity has been questioned by various studies. In the present study, we analysed the degree of agreement between two pathologists when assessing the same set of 201 uterine biopsies, obtaining a slight to moderate level of agreement (κ = .34/κ = .57). Subsequently, we developed a numerical scale based on the evaluation of histological parameters, including inflammation, fibrosis, glandular density and lymphatic lacunae. Partial scores were summed to obtain a ...
Muñoz-García CC, Luis-Calero M, Fernández-Hernández P, Pizarro-Hernández A, Fernández-González R, Gutiérrez-Adán A, Sánchez-Calabuig MJ....The present study aimed to evaluate whether primed anoestrus mares are suitable recipients for embryos produced by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Anoestrus was confirmed in four mares and daily doses of oestradiol benzoate (6 mg in total) over 5 days were administered; after 3 days of rest, oral altrenogest was administered at 0.088 mg/kg and embryos (1 to 5 embryos per mare; 15 in total) were transferred 3.5 days after progesterone onset. Uterine lavage was conducted 48 h after transfer. The results revealed an 80% embryo recovery rate, and among the retrieved embryos, 6...
Luis-Calero M, Muñoz-García CC, Fernández-Hernández P, Macías-García B, González-Fernández L.A protocol for conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) in horses using fresh semen has been described, using a prolonged incubation in FERT-TALP medium (22 h) at 38.2°C in the presence of penicillamine, hypotaurine and epinephrine (PHE). Our work aimed to develop a protocol that maintains quality parameters in frozen-thawed equine spermatozoa incubated for 22 h in the presence of PHE using different media (FERT-TALP and INRA96) and incubation temperatures (30 and 38.2°C). Twelve frozen ejaculates from four stallions were thawed and then incubated in either FERT-TALP or INRA96 with PHE...
Craig NM, Munguia NS, Trujillo AD, Chan AM, Wilkes R, Dorr M, Marsella R.This study investigated the effects of recombinant equine IL-31 (eIL-31) in vivo and in vitro. Methods: Equine IL-31 mRNA sequences were verified by sequencing. Recombinant eIL-31 was produced using mammalian and bacterial expression systems. From November 2019 through February 2021, 12 normal horses, 6 to 10 years old with no history or clinical signs consistent with allergic skin disease, were injected ID with eIL-31 and saline in 2 challenge studies. Pruritus-associated behaviors were recorded for a minimum of 15 minutes preinjection and 4 hours postinjection. Adherent monocytes from 3 prur...
Eren G, López-Albors O, Guilabert Segura R, Jordan Montesinos J, Latorre R.The accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (AL-DDFT) plays a crucial role in the stay apparatus of the horse. This study aimed to investigate the anatomical relationship between the AL-DDFT, the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), and other structures in the metacarpal region. Sixteen distal forelimbs from eight horses, aged 1 to 6 years, were evaluated through macroscopic, microscopic, and morphometric analyses, utilizing detailed dissection, E12 plastinated sections, and histological analysis. During lateral dissection, a connection was observed between the AL-DDFT and th...
Bundgaard L, Årman F, Åhrman E, Walters M, Auf dem Keller U, Malmström J, Jacobsen S.In human proteomics, substantial efforts are ongoing to leverage large collections of mass spectrometry (MS) fragment ion spectra into extensive spectral libraries (SL) as a resource for data independent acquisition (DIA) analysis. Currently, such initiatives in equine research are still missing. Here we present a large-scale equine SL, comprising 6394 canonical proteins and 89,329 unique peptides, based on data dependent acquisition analysis of 75 tissue and body fluid samples from horses. The SL enabled large-scale DIA-MS based quantification of the same samples to generate a quantitative eq...
D'Agostino AL, Giuliano EA, Kuroki K, Martin LM.To describe the first report of third eyelid cartilage eversion in an adult American Quarter Horse mare. Methods: A 22-year-old American Quarter Horse mare presented to the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center Equine Hospital for a 2-week history of a third eyelid cartilage abnormality of the left eye with no known recent trauma. Complete ophthalmic examination revealed third eyelid cartilage eversion of the left nictitans. The abnormal scrolled cartilage was surgically excised using a handheld cautery unit and submitted for histopathologic evaluation. Results: Histopathologic findi...
Pereira AT, Pozzobon R, Dos Anjos BL, Chaves LT, Smilgys ÉC, Thoma AJS, Lunkes VL, de Oliveira JS, de Andrade CM, Soares JCM.Criollo breed is quite popular in Brazil, mainly in the Southern Region, and the long loop rodeo is one of the main sports modality adapted to this breed. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in the muscle and oxidative functions caused by exercises practiced in this sports modality. Data such as exercising frequency, covered distance, mean duration time and number of runs, and blood samples at the following times: before the tournament, on the final day of the event, and 18-24 h after the end of the tournament were collected. Were assessed lactate and the enzymes aspartate aminotra...
Ellerbrock M, Krohn J, Büttner K, Wehrend A.Dystocia is rare in horses, but is life-threatening for mares and foals. Therefore, veterinary research depends on up-to-date data to optimise equine dystocia management. In addition, knowledge of the prognosis of equine dystocia is necessary to advise animal owners. This retrospective study of equine dystocia aimed to enrich existing datasets with up-to-date information. For the first time, the focus was on the causes of dystocia that occurred alone or in combination. Over a period of 10 years, 72 cases of dystocia were analysed using a standardised, predetermined diagnosis code. Results: Of ...
Olsen E, Andersen PH, Pfau T.The increased variations of temporal gait events when pathology is present are good candidate features for objective diagnostic tests. We hypothesised that the gait events hoof-on/off and stance can be detected accurately and precisely using features from trunk and distal limb-mounted Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). Four IMUs were mounted on the distal limb and five IMUs were attached to the skin over the dorsal spinous processes at the withers, fourth lumbar vertebrae and sacrum as well as left and right tuber coxae. IMU data were synchronised to a force plate array and a motion capture sy...
von Teichman BF, Dungu B, Smit TK.The polyvalent African horsesickness (AHS) attenuated live virus (AHS-ALV) vaccine produced at Onderstepoort Biological Products incorporates 7 of the 9 known serotypes circulating in southern Africa. Serological cross-reaction has been shown in vitro to Serotypes 5 and 9 by Serotypes 8 and 6 respectively, but the degree of in vivo cross-protection between these serotypes in vaccinated horses has not previously been reported. Due to the increasing incidence of AHS Serotypes 5 and 9 in the field, over the last 3-4 seasons of AHS in South Africa, and the absence of Serotypes 5 and 9 in the AHS-A...
Schwarzwald CC, Schober KE, Bonagura JD.To assess the feasibility, describe the techniques, and determine the reliability of transthoracic echocardiography for characterization of left atrial (LA) size and LA mechanical function in horses. Methods: 6 healthy adult horses. Methods: Repeated echocardiographic examinations were performed independently by 2 observers in standing, unsedated horses by use of 2-dimensional echocardiography, pulsed-wave flow Doppler, and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) techniques. Test reliability was determined by estimating measurement variability, within-day interobserver variability, and between-day inter-...
Berg L, Koch T, Heerkens T, Bessonov K, Thomsen P, Betts D.Orthopaedic injury is the most common cause of lost training days or premature retirement in the equine athlete. Cell-based therapies are a potential new treatment option in musculo-skeletal diseases. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have been derived from multiple sources in the horse including bone marrow and umbilical cord blood. The objective of this study was to provide an in vitro comparison of the chondrogenic potential in MSC derived from adult bone marrow (BM-MSC) and umbilical cord blood (CB-MSC). Results: MSC from both sources produced tissue with cartilage-like morphology that stain...
Raudsepp T, Gustafson-Seabury A, Durkin K, Wagner ML, Goh G, Seabury CM, Brinkmeyer-Langford C, Lee EJ, Agarwala R, Stallknecht-Rice E, Schäffer AA....A comprehensive second-generation whole genome radiation hybrid (RH II), cytogenetic and comparative map of the horse genome (2n = 64) has been developed using the 5000rad horse x hamster radiation hybrid panel and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The map contains 4,103 markers (3,816 RH; 1,144 FISH) assigned to all 31 pairs of autosomes and the X chromosome. The RH maps of individual chromosomes are anchored and oriented using 857 cytogenetic markers. The overall resolution of the map is one marker per 775 kilobase pairs (kb), which represents a more than five-fold improvement over ...
Pinto PS, Libonati H, Lilenbaum W.Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis which can affect many species. Control programs need accurate diagnosis to be successful, and currently, diagnosis relies on serology. It presents three main issues: the sampling, the antigen panel, and the cutoff point. Herein, we propose a systematic review on leptospirosis among dogs, pigs, and horses in Latin America in order to improve the understanding of the seroepidemiology of leptospirosis in these species in the region as well as the temporal development of the research on this topic and, consequently, improve the chances of success on control pr...
Overbeck W, Witte TS, Heuwieser W.The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of a uterine swab (US), a cytological brush (CB) and an endometrial biopsy (EB) to detect subclinical endometritis in mares. Cytological and bacteriological results of all three techniques were related to histological occurrence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in the stratum compactum, commonly known as 'best standard'; to diagnose endometritis. Samples were taken from 55 mares of different breeds without clinical signs of endometritis. Samples for US, CB and EB were collected, smeared on a microscopic slide and cultured for bacte...
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...
Gilbertie JM, Schaer TP, Schubert AG, Jacob ME, Menegatti S, Ashton Lavoie R, Schnabel LV.Infectious arthritis is difficult to treat in both human and veterinary clinical practice. Recent literature reports Staphylococcus aureus as well as other gram-positive and gram-negative isolates forming free-floating biofilms in both human and equine synovial fluid that are tolerant to traditional antimicrobial therapy. Using an in vitro equine model, we investigated the ability of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) formulations to combat synovial fluid biofilm aggregates. Synovial fluid was infected, and biofilm aggregates allowed to form over a 2-hour period. PRP was collected and processed into d...
Corvilain B, Collyn L, van Sande J, Dumont JE.The regulation of thyroid metabolism by iodide involves numerous inhibitory effects. However, in unstimulated dog thyroid slices, a small inconstant stimulatory effect of iodide on H(2)O(2) generation is observed. The only other stimulatory effect reported with iodide is on [1-(14)C]glucose oxidation, i.e., on the pentose phosphate pathway. Because we have recently demonstrated that the pentose phosphate pathway is controlled by H(2)O(2) generation, we study here the effect of iodide on basal H(2)O(2) generation in thyroid slices from several species. Our data show that in sheep, pig, bovine, ...
McCoy HE, Broder CC, Lottenberg R.The species specificities of plasminogen activation and binding of plasmin by pathogenic group C streptococci isolated from humans, horses, and pigs were examined. Of 56 streptococcal isolates, 52 elaborated plasminogen activator activity and 49 of these had specificity for plasminogen of the homologous host. Analysis of supernatants from 13 isolates indicated that the plasminogen activator activity resulted from secreted streptokinases. These 13 streptokinases were antigenically related and bound all three plasminogens, indicating that the binding recognition sites were conserved despite the ...
Timoney JF, Walker J, Zhou M, Ding J.Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus, a Lancefield group C streptococcus, is a frequently isolated opportunist pathogen from a variety of animal hosts, including the horse. Previous studies have indicated that equine strains carry antigens with characteristics of the antiphagocytic M proteins on the Lancefield groups A and G streptococci. We have cloned a protective M-like protein gene (SzPW60) of an equine strain of S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus W60 and determined its sequence. This gene encodes a protein with a molecular weight of 40,123 which protects mice against subsp. zooepidemicus but...
Charvet CL, Guégnard F, Courtot E, Cortet J, Neveu C.The control of parasitic nematodes impacting animal health relies on the use of broad spectrum anthelmintics. However, intensive use of these drugs has led to the selection of resistant parasites in livestock industry. In that respect, there is currently an urgent need for novel compounds able to control resistant parasites. Nicotine has also historically been used as a de-wormer but was removed from the market when modern anthelmintics became available. The pharmacological target of nicotine has been identified in nematodes as acetylcholine-gated ion channels. Nicotinic-sensitive acetylcholin...
Gencoglu H, Orhan C, Sahin E, Sahin K.OA is quite common in companion animals, especially in large breed dogs and horses. Collagen, the most abundant protein of mammals, has specific connective tissue types for skin, bones, reticulate, basal lamina, bones, cell surfaces, while type II collagen (UC-II) forms the main structure of cartilage tissue. Even at the smaller dosages, UC-II has also been reported to be more effective than the glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements, which are the supplements most frequently used in the market. In this review, we summarize the effects of UC-II on joint health and function in health a...
Arévalo-Turrubiarte M, Baratta M, Ponti G, Chiaradia E, Martignani E.Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used therapeutically in equine medicine. MSCs release extracellular vesicles (EVs), which affect cell processes by inhibiting cell apoptosis and regulating inflammation. To date, little is known about equine EVs and their regenerative properties. Objective: To characterise equine MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) and evaluate their effect on equine chondrocytes treated with pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Methods: In vitro experiments with randomised complete block design. Methods: Mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow, adipose tissue, and ...
Pascucci L, Curina G, Mercati F, Marini C, Dall'Aglio C, Paternesi B, Ceccarelli P.In the last decades, multipotent mesenchymal progenitor cells have been isolated from many adult tissues of different species. The International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) has recently established that multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is the currently recommended designation. In this study, we used flow cytometry to evaluate the expression of several molecules related to stemness (CD90, CD44, CD73 and STRO-1) in undifferentiated, early-passaged MSCs isolated from adipose tissue of four donor horses (AdMSCs). The four populations unanimously expressed high levels of CD90 an...
Frean SP, Abraham LA, Lees P.The effects of hyaluronan and carprofen (both racemic mixture and separate R and S enantiomers) on proteoglycan (PG) synthesis by equine cultured chondrocytes and cartilage explants were examined. Hyaluronan stimulated PG synthesis in both cell and explant cultures. The concentration-response curve of the latter was bell-shaped. Racemic carprofen and R and S enantiomers also stimulated PG synthesis, although concentration-response relationships varied for each preparation and high concentrations inhibited synthesis. It was concluded that (a) hyaluronan exerts a stimulatory effect on PG synthes...
Duffy CW, Morrison LJ, Black A, Pinchbeck GL, Christley RM, Schoenefeld A, Tait A, Turner CM, MacLeod A.African animal trypanosomiasis, or Nagana, is a debilitating and economically costly disease with a major impact on animal health in sub-Saharan Africa. Trypanosoma vivax, one of the principal trypanosome species responsible for the disease, infects a wide host range including cattle, goats, horses and donkeys and is transmitted both cyclically by tsetse flies and mechanically by other biting flies, resulting in a distribution covering large swathes of South America and much of sub-Saharan Africa. While there is evidence for mating in some of the related trypanosome species, Trypanosoma brucei...
Mobasheri A, Trujillo E, Bell S, Carter SD, Clegg PD, Martín-Vasallo P, Marples D.Chondrocytes exist in an unusual and highly variable ionic and osmotic environment in the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage. Alterations to the ionic and osmotic environment of chondrocytes influence the volume and ionic content of the cells, which, in turn, modifies the rate at which extracellular matrix macromolecules are synthesized and degraded. Thus, regulation of the water and solute content of chondrocytes will profoundly affect their anabolic and catabolic functions. The water content of cells is effectively influenced by the abundance of aquaporin (AQP) water channels. Recen...
Al Naem M, Bourebaba L, Kucharczyk K, Röcken M, Marycz K.Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have become a popular treatment modality in equine orthopaedics. Regenerative therapies are especially interesting for pathologies like complicated tendinopathies of the distal limb, osteoarthritis, osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and more recently metabolic disorders. Main sources for MSC harvesting in the horse are bone marrow, adipose tissue and umbilical cord blood. While the acquisition of umbilical cord blood is fairly easy and non-invasive, extraction of bone marrow and adipose tissue requires more invasive techniques. Characterization of the stem cells a...
Waller AP, Burns TA, Mudge MC, Belknap JK, Lacombe VA.Insulin resistance (IR) has been widely recognized in humans, and more recently in horses, but its underlying mechanisms are still not well understood. The translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) to the cell surface is the limiting step for glucose uptake in insulin-sensitive tissues. Although the downstream signaling pathways regulating GLUT translocation are not well defined, AS160 recently has emerged as a potential key component. In addition, the role of GLUT12, one of the most recently identified insulin-sensitive GLUTs, during IR is unknown. Objective: We hypothesized that cell-su...
Woolcock JB, Farmer AM, Mutimer MD.The development of a selective medium for the isolation of Corynebacterium equi is described. The medium has been used to examine fecal samples from 127 horses of which 90 have been found to carry the organism.
Peachey LE, Molena RA, Jenkins TP, Di Cesare A, Traversa D, Hodgkinson JE, Cantacessi C.A growing body of evidence, particularly in humans and rodents, supports the existence of a complex network of interactions occurring between gastrointestinal (GI) helminth parasites and the gut commensal bacteria, with substantial effects on both host immunity and metabolic potential. However, little is known of the fundamental biology of such interactions in other animal species; nonetheless, given the considerable economic losses associated with GI parasites, particularly in livestock and equines, as well as the global threat of emerging anthelmintic resistance, further explorations of the ...
van Eps AW, Pollitt CC.Experimental induction of equine laminitis with a reliable and clinically relevant model should facilitate understanding of the disease. Successful induction with oligofructose (OF) could link pasture consumption to laminitis. Objective: To determine whether alimentary administration of OF induces laminitis. Methods: Twelve horses were dosed with OF and 6 received a sham (placebo) treatment. Clinical observations were made and blood collected at 4 h intervals over a 48 h study period. Stained sections of the hoof wall lamellae, examined by light microscopy, were graded for laminitis severity. ...
Ikeda T.Ivermectin is an oral semi-synthetic lactone anthelmintic agent derived from avermectins isolated from fermentation products of Streptomyces avermitilis. Ivermectin showed a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on motility of a free-living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). There exist specific binding sites having a high affinity for ivermectin in the membrane fraction of C. elegans, and a strong positive correlation was detected between the affinity for these binding sites and the suppressive effect on motility of C. elegans in several ivermectin-related substances. These re...
Sundberg JP, Burnstein T, Page EH, Kirkham WW, Robinson FR.In a retrospective study of neoplasms in Equidae pre;ented to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University, from Jan 1, 1970, to Dec 31, 1974, data were compiled on numbers and anatomic sites of neoplasms as well as on age, sex, and breed of subjects from which the neoplasms were taken. During this 5-year period, 21 neoplasms were diagnosed from 687 equine necropsies (3.1%) and 215 from 635 biopsies (33.9%), totaling 236 neoplasms from 1,322 cases (17.9%). The most common neoplasms were sarcoids (43.6%) and squamous cell carcinomas (24.6%). Papillomas (5.5%), nerve sheath tumors...
Waller AS.Strangles, characterized by abscessation of the lymph nodes of the head and neck, is the most frequently diagnosed infectious disease of horses worldwide. The persistence of the causative agent, Streptococcus equi, in a proportion of convalescent horses plays a critical role in the recurrence and spread of disease. Recent research has led to the development of effective diagnostic tests that assist the eradication of S equi from local horse populations. This article describes how these advances have been made and provides advice to assist the resolution and prevention of outbreaks. New perspec...
von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Thompson RA, Krücken J, Grant W, Bowman DD, Schnyder M, Deplazes P.Anthelmintic resistance (AR) has thus far only rarely been reported for intestinal helminths of dogs and cats, in contrast to parasites of livestock and horses. We highlight possible reasons for this striking and important discrepancy, including ecological, biological and genetic factors and/or intervention regimens of key intestinal helminths concerning both host groups. In view of the current knowledge related to the genetics, mechanisms and principles of AR development, we point at issues which in our view contribute to a comparatively lower risk of AR development in intestinal helminths of...
