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.
Penell JC, Bonnett BN, Pringle J, Egenvall A.Computerized diagnostic information offers potential for epidemiological research; however data accuracy must be addressed. The principal aim of this study was to evaluate the completeness and correctness of diagnostic information in a computerized equine clinical database compared to corresponding hand written veterinary clinical records, used as gold standard, and to assess factors related to correctness. Further, the aim was to investigate completeness (epidemiologic sensitivity), correctness (positive predictive value), specificity and prevalence for diagnoses for four body systems and cor...
Morán G, Burgos R, Araya O, Folch H.In horses, Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO) is an allergic disease that involves IgE mediated Type I Hypersensitivity responses. The development of this type of allergy involves a series of events that begins with reaginic antibodies, mainly IgE and some IgG subclasses. These reaginic antibodies bind with high affinity, via the Fc portion, to FcepsilonRI receptors on the membrane of mast cells and basophils. Once bound, environmental allergens cross-link the antibodies, which results in mast cell degranulation leading to the production of histamine and other chemical mediators that act toget...
Piras FM, Nergadze SG, Poletto V, Cerutti F, Ryder OA, Leeb T, Raimondi E, Giulotto E.Horses, asses and zebras belong to the genus Equus and are the only extant species of the family Equidae in the order Perissodactyla. In a previous work we demonstrated that a key factor in the rapid karyotypic evolution of this genus was evolutionary centromere repositioning, that is, the shift of the centromeric function to a new position without alteration of the order of markers along the chromosome. In search of previously undiscovered evolutionarily new centromeres, we traced the phylogeny of horse chromosome 5, analyzing the order of BAC markers, derived from a horse genomic library, in...
Hornstra H, Pearson T, Georgia S, Liguori A, Dale J, Price E, O'Neill M, Deshazer D, Muhammad G, Saqib M, Naureen A, Keim P.We collected epidemiologic and molecular data from Burkholderia mallei isolates from equines in Punjab, Pakistan from 1999 through 2007. We show that recent outbreaks are genetically distinct from available whole genome sequences and that these genotypes are persistent and ubiquitous in Punjab, probably due to human-mediated movement of equines.
Zhu ZY, Lin YZ, Wang YH, Zhao LP, Zhu YM, Zhou JH.To disclose the potential roles of humoral immune response in the EIAV vaccine-induced protective immunity. In this study, major parameters of humoral immunity be compared between horses inoculated with the EIAV vaccine strain and the pathogenic virulent strain. Methods: Experimental horses were randomly assigned into the group inoculated with the vaccine strain EIAV(DLV); (the vaccinated group) and the group inoculated with sub-morbigenous dose of virulent strain EIAV(Liao); (the inapparent infection group). Humoral immunity parameters, including binding endpoint titer and avidity index of an...
Watts EJ, Rose MT.Horses are more prone to complications in the wound healing process than other species, and problems such as chronic inflammation, delayed epithelialization, poor wound contraction, and exuberant granulation tissue are commonly seen, particularly in wounds on the distal limbs. In comparison, wounds of the oral mucosa heal rapidly in a scarless fashion with a high degree of wound contraction. The effect of platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) on the contraction of a fibroblast-populated collagen matrix (FPC...
YAMASHITA K, AKASHI N, KATAYAMA Y, UCHIDA Y, UMAR MA, ITAMI T, INOUE H, SAMS RA, MUIR WW.The bispectral index (BIS) was evaluated as an indicator of central nervous system (CNS) depression in horses anesthetized with propofol. Five non-premedicated horses were anesthetized with 7 mg/kg, IV propofol and the minimum infusion rate (MIR) of propofol required to maintain anesthesia was determined during intermittent positive pressure ventilation in each horse. The BIS was determined 20 min later and after stabilization at 2.0 MIR, 1.5 MIR, and 1.0 MIR. The BIS was also recorded after the cessation of propofol infusion when the horses regained spontaneous breathing and swallowing reflex...
Giles C, Cavanagh HM, Noble G, Vanniasinkam T.There are currently two known serotypes of equine adenovirus (EAdV), equine adenovirus type 1 (EAdV1) and equine adenovirus type 2 (EAdV2); EAdV1 is predominantly associated with upper respiratory tract infections while EAdV2 appears to have a higher association with gastrointestinal infection, however, very little is known about the prevalence of these viruses in horse populations in Australia. In this study we tested 122 serum samples obtained from horses in New South Wales, Australia, using a standard serum neutralization (SN) assay and ELISA. Ninety-seven of the 122 sera displayed had mode...
Tsujimura K, Yamada M, Nagata S, Yamanaka T, Nemoto M, Kondo T, Kurosawa M, Matsumura T.We investigated the pharmacokinetics of penciclovir after oral administration of its prodrug famciclovir to horses. Following an oral dose of famciclovir at 20 mg/kg, maximum plasma concentrations of penciclovir occurred between 0.75 and 1.5 hr (mean 0.94 + or - 0.38 hr) after dosing and were in the range 2.22 to 3.56 microg/ml (mean 2.87 + or - 0.61 microg/ml). The concentrations of penciclovir declined in a biphasic manner after the peak concentration was attained. The mean half-life of the rapid elimination phase was 1.73 + or - 0.34 hr whereas that of the slow elimination phase was 34.34 +...
Nash DM, Sheldon IM, Herath S, Lane EA.Reproductive efficiency in mares is low and persistent mating-induced endometritis (PMIE) is an important cause of subfertility. Mating-induced endometritis (MIE) an obligate precursor to PMIE, is a ubiquitous, transient inflammatory response to the presence of sperm, seminal components and pathogens. However, the specific inflammatory pathways that derive from MIE and that may also be precursors to PMIE are not clear. The ability to identify and measure robust, repeatable markers of inflammation integral to MIE may be key to understanding the progression to PMIE. The aim of the study was to (...
Tabar-Rodriguez JJ, Cruz AM, Monteith G, Gordon K, Hurtig MB.OBJECTIVE-To use quantitative ultrasonography to evaluate the association between the speed of sound (SOS) at 9 sites in the third metacarpal bone (MCIII) of racing Thoroughbreds with workload accumulation and the effect that MCIII failure has on this association. ANIMALS-Sixty-two 2- and 3-year-old Thoroughbreds in racing condition. PROCEDURES-Cumulative work index (CWI) was used to calculate total workload (CWI(total)) and also 3 independent CWIs for the various gaits (ie, trot [CWI(trot)], gallop [CWI(gallop)], and race [CWI(race)]) used during training and racing. Speed of sound was monito...
Wilson KE, Wilcke JR, Crisman MV, Ward DL, McKenzie HC, Scarratt WK.Objective-To determine whether a limited sampling time method based on serum iohexol clearance (Cl(iohexol)) would yield estimates of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in clinically normal horses similar to those for plasma creatinine clearance (Cl(creatinine)). Animals-10 clinically normal adult horses. Procedures-A bolus of iohexol (150 mg/kg) was administered IV, and serum samples were obtained 5, 20, 40, 60, 120, 240, and 360 minutes after injection. Urinary clearance of exogenous creatinine was measured during three 20-minute periods. The GFR determined by use of serum Cl(iohexol) and plas...
Schaefer EC, Stewart AA, Durgam SS, Byron CR, Stewart MC.OBJECTIVE-To determine whether the effects of a high-molecular-weight sodium hyaluronate alone or in combination with triamcinolone acetonide can mitigate chondrocyte glyocosaminoglycan (GAG) catabolism caused by interleukin (IL)-1 administration. SAMPLE POPULATION-Chondrocytes collected from metacarpophalangeal joints of 10 horses euthanized for reasons unrelated to joint disease. PROCEDURES-Chondrocyte pellets were treated with medium (negative control), medium containing IL-1 only (positive control), or medium containing IL-1 with hyaluronic acid only (0.5 or 2.0 mg/mL), triamcinolone aceto...
Schuh EM, Friedman MS, Carrade DD, Li J, Heeke D, Oyserman SM, Galuppo LD, Lara DJ, Walker NJ, Ferraro GL, Owens SD, Borjesson DL.OBJECTIVE-To optimize the isolation and culture of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from umbilical-cord blood (UCB), identify variables that predicted successful MSC isolation, and determine whether shipping, processing, and cryopreservation altered MSC viability, recovery rates, and expansion kinetics. SAMPLE POPULATION-UCB samples from 79 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse mares. PROCEDURES-UCB samples were processed to reduce volume and remove RBCs. Nucleated cells (NCs) were cryopreserved or grown in various culture conditions to optimize MSC monolayer expansion and proliferation. Donor and UCB-s...
Horin P, Sabakova K, Futas J, Vychodilova L, Necesankova M.In previous work, we found significant associations of horse polymorphic microsatellite and immunity-related (IR) gene markers with Rhodococcus equi infection of foals. Here, a statistically significant association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within the interleukin 7 receptor-encoding gene (IL7R) with high R. equi burden in transtracheal aspirates was found (Fisher's F = 0.043, odds ratio: 8.00, 95% confidence interval: 1.127-56.795). Further positional and/or functional candidate genes investigated TLR2, IL13, IL17A, IL28R, TACE/ADAM 17 and GBP1, were not associated with in...
Milillo P, Traversa D, Elia G, Otranto D.Larvae of Rhinoestrus spp. (Diptera, Oestridae) infect nasal and sinus cavities of horses, causing a nasal myiasis characterized by severe respiratory distress. Presently, the diagnosis of horse nasal botfly relies on the observation of clinical signs, on the post mortem retrieval of larvae or on molecular assays performed using pharyngeal swabs. The present study was carried out to characterize larval somatic proteins and salivary glands of Rhinoestrus spp. in a preliminary assessment towards the immunodiagnosis of equine rhinoestrosis. Out of the 212 necropsied horses 13 were positive for th...
Breuil MF, Duquesne F, Sévin C, Laugier C, Petry S.Contagious equine metritis is a horse disease that causes endometrial inflammation due to Taylorella equigenitalis. Since Taylorella asinigenitalis was characterized, genital swab culture has proved to be an insufficient method for distinguishing between the two Taylorella species. Here, we developed an indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) test using polyclonal antibodies. Specificity, sensitivity, and detection limit were assessed using isolated bacteria (55 T. equigenitalis strains, 46 T. asinigenitalis strains and 18 other bacterial species), experimental and genital swabs in comparison to bac...
Braga FR, Araújo JV, Silva AR, Carvalho RO, Araujo JM, Ferreira SR, Carvalho GR.The predatory capacity of the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia (isolate VC4) embedded in sodium alginate pellets after passage through the gastrointestinal tract of horses was assessed in vitro against Oxyuris equi eggs. Twelve previously dewormed crossbred mares, average weight of 362.5kg (+/-21) were used in the experiment. Each animal of the treated group received an oral dose (100g) of sodium alginate pellets containing P. chlamydosporia mycelial mass. The control group received pellets without fungus. Faecal samples from fungus-treated and control groups were collected at inte...
Jelinski MD, Campbell JR.The objective of this study was to determine the number of hours veterinarians in western Canada work per week, how they apportion their time by species, and clinics' hiring intentions for new veterinary associates. Of 1099 clinics contacted, 706 (64%) responded to the survey, representing 80% (1774/2227) of private practitioners in western Canada. Practitioners devoted 73% of their time to small animals (SA), 11% to beef practice, and 9% to horses. Sixty-four percent of clinics and 66% of practitioners were devoted exclusively to companion animal (SA and horses) practice; only 4% of clinics a...
Clark AR.Current economic trends in equine practice are trends of weakness. Most practices, after a decade of double-digit growth, have migrated to survival mode within a few months. Understanding that all regions and disciplines are affected differently, using the Porter five forces model, we can identify changes that must be made in our business models first to survive and then to position ourselves to prosper when the recession ends. If we are to avoid long-term damage to our practices, we must use cost control and work efficiency in addition to price concessions.
Swanson TD.Ethics is a valuable standard for the structure of equine practice. It relies on sound moral character, beginning with the leaders in the practice. The leadership in each practice regularly needs to review its role in promoting ethical standards. This is not new information but deserves to be revisited with emphasis at this particular time in our society. Nothing less than commitment to grass root stability offers any hope to reverse those actions.
Blach EL.This article explores customer service in equine veterinary medicine. It begins with a discussion about the differences between customers and clients in veterinary medicine. An overview of the nature of the veterinary-client-patient relationship and its effects on the veterinarian's services sheds light on how to evaluate your customer service. The author reviews a study performed in 2007 that evaluated 24 attributes of customer service and their importance to clients of equine veterinarians in their decision to select a specific veterinarian or hospital. The article concludes with an overview...
Lacroix G, Lacroix C.This article discusses equine associate employment agreements from the employer's perspective. It should also be of interest to prospective equine associates. The substantive issues and questions are the same, and neither employers nor employees are likely to get far unless they "walk a mile in the other's moccasins".
Lesser FR, Cowles RR.In this article, the author discusses the design of an equine ambulatory practice. He suggests a more systematic approach to the design of an ambulatory practice that should answer the needs of group and solo practices. Today's practitioners must actively manage their practices so that their resources can be leveraged in such a fashion that a return can be realized on their capital investment and the hours spent in practice.
Ionita M, Howe DK, Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Kaplan RM, Mitrea IL, Yeargan M.A sensitive and specific PCR hybridization assay was applied for species-specific monitoring of the small strongyle (Strongylida: Cyathostominae) populations in horses in a herd before and after treatment with the anthelmintic drug ivermectin. Fecal samples were collected pre- and post-treatment weekly from eight individual horses (four foals and four yearlings) for 6 weeks to determine counts of strongyle eggs per gram of feces (EPGs). Additionally, one foal and one yearling were nontreated controls. Also, one horse, from another herd known to be infected with Strongylus spp., was a positive ...
Moagabo KT, Monyame KB, Baipoledi EK, Letshwenyo M, Mapitse N, Hyera JM.A longitudinal study of animal and human rabies covering 18 years from 1989 to 2006 was retrospectively conducted in order to highlight the epidemiological features and trends of the disease in Botswana. Over the 18-year period, a total of 4 306 brain specimens collected from various species of animals including human beings with clinical signs consistent with rabies were submitted to the National Veterinary Laboratory in Gaborone for confirmatory diagnosis. Of the samples submitted, 2419 cases were found to be positive for lyssavirus antigen; this presents an overall prevalence rate of 56.18 ...
Tumblin DL.There are several options to value a veterinary practice (market approach, asset approach, and income approach) and several methods within these approaches. Examples of an income-based approach include excess earnings, discounted future returns, and single period capitalization of earnings. A qualified valuator will use his or her professional opinion and experience to determine the most appropriate method for one's practice situation. This article outlines the excess earnings method for which where the principal components of value are net assets and goodwill.
Sairanen J, Nivola K, Katila T, Virtala AM, Ojala M.The Finnish mating records of Standardbred trotters (SB; n = 33 679) and Finnhorses (FH; n = 32 731) were analysed to study the effect of the level of inbreeding on foaling rates and to estimate the heritability of foaling rate. A linear mixed model was assumed, with the outcome of the foaling (foal or no foal) as the trait of the study. A restricted maximum likelihood-based method was used to calculate the estimates of the variance components. Predictions of breeding values and estimates of fixed effects were also calculated. The average level of inbreeding was 9.9% in the SB and 3.6% in the ...
Sentsui H, Kono Y.Six strains of equine infectious anemia (EIA) virus propagated in equine leukocyte cultures were found to agglutinate horse erythrocytes. Concentrated virus material containing about 20 units of complement fixation (CF) titer showed hemagglutinating (HA) titers ranging from 4 to 8 units. The HA activity remained stable after ether treatment and was reduced by trypsin, formaldehyde and KIO4. Cesium chloride equilibrium density gradient centrifugation revealed two populations of hemagglutinin, one in the density range of 1.15-1.16 g/ml coinciding with a peak of CF antigen and the other at round ...
Trigg LE, Lyons S, Mullan S.The development of exertional heat illness (EHI) is a health, welfare and performance concern for racehorses. However, there has been limited multivariable assessment of the possible risk factors for EHI in racehorses, despite such information being vital for regulators to effectively manage the condition. Consequently, this study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with the occurrence of EHI in Thoroughbred racehorses and assess the ability of the risk factor model to predict the occurrence of EHI in racehorses to assist in early identification. Runners at British racecourses record...
Holland M, Kelly AB, Snyder JR, Steffey EP, Willits N, McNeal D.A chromogenic peptide substrate assay was used to determine serially plasma antithrombin III (AT III) activity in 4 groups of horses. Group I consisted of healthy, mature horses in which AT III activity was determined twice daily for 7 consecutive days. Groups 2 and 3 contained healthy horses in which AT III activity was monitored for 7 days after controlled, but varying, conditions of general anesthesia and surgery (median celiotomy). Group 4 was made up of patients with a presurgical diagnosis of colonic torsion. In healthy awake horses (group I), there was no difference in AT III values ove...
Naboulsi R, Cieślak J, Headon D, Jouni A, Negro JJ, Andersson G, Lindgren G.Gene expression differences can assist in characterizing important underlying genetic mechanisms between different phenotypic traits. However, when population-dense tissues are studied, the signals from scarce populations are diluted. Therefore, appropriately choosing a sample collection method that enriches a particular type of effector cells might yield more specific results. To address this issue, we performed a polyA-selected RNA-seq experiment of domestic horse () plucked-hair samples and skin biopsies. Then, we layered the horse gene abundance results against cell type-specific marker ge...
Sandersen CF, Detilleux J, Delguste C, Pierard L, van Loon G, Amory H.High-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography has been shown to be cardiotoxic and arrhythmogenic in horses. However, the test may have benefit in practice as a pharmacological challenge of exercise without the treadmill being required. Objective: To investigate the effect of low-dose dobutamine on cardiac performance in ponies previously treated with atropine, in order to develop a pharmacological protocol that allows examination of the equine heart under stimulation. Methods: In 13 healthy Shetland ponies, heart rate (HR), stroke index (SI) and cardiac index (CI) were calculated from pulsed-w...
Bader H.A total of 23 mares were inseminated once within 0-6 h after clinical detection of ovulation, 14 with fresh and 9 with deep-frozen semen containing 0.1 x 10(9) to 4.7 x 10(9) motile spermatozoa. Within these two groups, the mares were slaughtered 2, 4 or 6 h after insemination and their genital tracts removed. The utero-tubal junction, isthmus and ampulla ipsilateral to the ovary in which ovulation occurred were flushed separately for sperm recovery. In 1 or 2 mares of each group, the uterine horn and corpus uteri, the cervix and vagina were also flushed. Tissue samples were collected from the...
Donahue SW.August Krogh was a comparative physiologist who used frogs, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, and horses in his research that led to his Nobel Prize on muscle physiology. His idea to choose the most relevant organism to study problems in physiology has become known as Krogh's principle. Indeed, many important discoveries in physiology have been made using naturally occurring animal models. However, the majority of research today utilizes laboratory mouse and rat models to study problems in physiology. This paper discusses how Krogh's principle can be invoked in musculoskeletal research as a complementa...
Ewert M, Lüders I, Böröcz J, Uphaus H, Distl O, Sieme H.The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of stallion and mare, their ages, and maternal lineage on the gestation length (GL) in Thoroughbreds. In addition, additive genetic effects of the dam, stallion and fetus were analyzed. Data were taken from 1993 through 2009, and included 16,226 pregnancies from 5959 Th oroughbred mares mated with 290 different stallions. All analyses were performed using linear mixed models. The GL ranged from 306 to 390 days, with a mean length of 347.0 ± 14.4 days. Mating of mares with stallions aged 17 years and older resulted in a significantly ...
Schmidburg I, Pagger H, Zsoldos RR, Mehnen J, Peham C, Licka TF.Laterolateral radiographs of equine necks are reported to be inaccurate in determining the site of spinal cord lesions even when a myelogram is carried out. The goal of this study was to assess constrictions present in the cervical vertebral canal at any time point throughout the extremes of movement. Sixteen equine cervical vertebral columns without history of cervical disease were used. After removal of the spinal cord, the dura mater was filled with polyurethane foam and during its plastic phase the cervical vertebral column was passively moved in flexion-extension, lateral bending and 30°...
Guerin G, Bertaud M, Chardon P, Geffrotin C, Vaiman M, Cohen D.Restriction fragment length polymorphism was studied in an ELA typed horse family which included a stallion, a mare with two full-sibs, another mare with three full-sibs and, in addition, three paternal half-sibs. DNA samples from all individuals were investigated by Southern blot analysis using three restriction enzymes (EcoRI, HindIII or TaqI) and human cDNA class I, class II (DR beta) and class III (C4) probes. In addition, a genomic class II DQ alpha probe was used. Fragments hybridized with the various probes revealed the existence of DNA sequences homologous to HLA class I, DR beta, DQ a...
Werpy NM, Ho CP, Garcia EB, Kawcak CE.Eight skeletally mature equine cadaver distal forelimbs were imaged using T2-weighted fast spin echo (FSE) sequences in a 1.0 T horizontal bore magnet. Each limb was parallel to the main magnetic field and with 16° angulation of the limb relative to the main magnetic field, which places one of the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint at or near the magic angle. Each limb was imaged using an echo time (TE) of 80, 100, 120, and 140 ms. Reversal of the magic angle effect was achieved at echo time of 140 ms. However, given the alterations in tissue contrast and subjective decr...
Ruckebusch Y, Roger T.The electromyogram of the terminal ileum, the caecum and the proximal right ventral colon was recorded in fasted conscious ponies receiving intravenously equiactive doses of pilocarpine (0.05 mg/kg) and carbachol (0.01 mg/kg) as acetylcholine analogues; cisapride (0.1 mg/kg) and metoclopramide (2 mg/kg) facilitating acetylcholine release from myenteric neurones and naloxone (0.05 mg/kg) as an antagonist of the endogenous inhibitory opioid system. Both cisapride and naloxone induced typical migrating spike bursts in the colon associated with contractions of caecal body and caecal base. Both pil...
Smith CL, MacDonald MH, Tesch AM, Willits NH.To evaluate the effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on equine articular cartilage matrix metabolism. Methods: Using a cartilage explant culture system, proteoglycan (PG) synthesis, PG release, lactate metabolism, chondrocyte viability, and metabolism recovery were determined after cartilage exposure to DMSO. Methods: Cartilage harvested from metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of 12 horses (age range, 1 to 10 years). Methods: Explants were exposed to concentrations of DMSO (1% to 20%) for variable times (3 to 72 hours). PG synthesis and release were determined by a radiolabel i...
Poltep K, Tesena P, Yingchutrakul Y, Taylor J, Wongtawan T.Silent gastric ulceration occurs without evidence of clinical signs and is common in horses. There is currently no a simple and effective method to diagnose this disease. Proteomics can be used to identify serum biomarkers, but the most abundant serum protein, albumin, could conceal candidate biomarkers. Therefore, it is recommended to remove albumin before a proteomic study; however, there is no specific albumin depletion kit or standard protocol available for horse samples. The objectives of this study were to optimise a protocol to remove equine serum albumin and to use albumin-depleted ser...
Ribeiro Neto LM, Spinosa HS, Salvadori MC.Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid drug widely used in racehorses because of its anti-inflammatory effect. It is, therefore, frequently detected in antidoping tests. A method for the antidoping control of dexamethasone in equine urine using screening by ELISA and confirmation by immunoaffinity chromatography combined with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) is described. The ELISA test is frequently used in antidoping tests for its sensitivity, relative speed, and low cost. The test showed linearity in the range of 4-500 ng/mL of urine, and the...
Adams R, Mayhew IG.Behaviour and response to neurological testing of apparently healthy newborn foals differed significantly from the adult in several ways. Foals responded to external stimulation with exaggerated movements although they tended to sink into a relaxed state when restrained. They had a more angular head position and assumed a base wide stance. The menace reflex developed during the first two weeks post partum. In general, the foals' gait was choppy or dysmetric. In lateral recumbency the foals had increased extensor tone, hyperreflexive tendon reflexes, crossed extensor reflexes as well as recumbe...
Hosaka Y, Sakamoto Y, Kirisawa R, Watanabe T, Ueda H, Takehana K, Yamaguchi M.Although tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha is an important key factor in degeneration of equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), the dynamism of TNF receptors and associated factors on tendinocytes has not been elucidated. To reveal signaling events mediated by TNF-receptors (TNF-Rs) in tendinocytes, we focused on four signaling factors, TNF-R1, TNF-R2, TNF-R-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB), and investigated the distribution and production of these factors. Cultured tendinocytes were obtained from SDFTs of thoroughbred horses. The tendinocytes were t...
Faramarzi B, Thomason JJ, Sears WC.To quantitate changes in hoof wall growth and hoof morphology induced by mild exercise in Standardbreds. Methods: 18 Standardbreds. Methods: Horses were exercised at approximately 6 m/s (4,200 to 5,600 m/d) on 4 d/wk for 17 weeks. Both exercise (n = 9) and nonexercise (control group; 9) groups were housed in a large paddock throughout the study. At the beginning and end of the study, right forelimb feet of all horses were digitally photographed and underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Hoof wall measurements were obtained from the images to evaluate hoof wall growth and morphometric variables....
Liburt NR, McKeever KH, Malinowski K, Smarsh DN, Geor RJ.This study tested the hypotheses that age-induced alteration in cortisol, ACTH, and glucose concentrations are due to differences in the response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and that exercise training would attenuate these differences. Six old (22.0±0.7 yr; mean±SE) and 6 young (7.3±0.6 yr) unfit Standardbred mares ran 3 graded exercise tests (GXT): before (GXT1), after 8 wk of training (GXT2), and at study end at 15 wk (GXT3). Mares trained 3 d/wk at 60% maximum heart rate. Each mare underwent 5 endocrine stimulation tests pre- and posttraining: 1) control (CON), 2) adrenoco...
Adler DM, Cornett C, Damborg P, Verwilghen DR.Local anaesthetics (LAs) are frequently used for diagnostic procedures in equine veterinary practice. The objective of this study was to investigate the physico-chemical stability and bacterial contamination of bupivacaine, lidocaine and mepivacaine used for lameness examinations in horses. The LAs were stored in 12 different groups at different temperatures (-18 °C to 70 °C), light intensities and in common veterinary field conditions for up to 16 months. The pH, presence of bacterial contamination and concentrations of LAs and methylparaben (a preservative present in lidocaine) were de...
Bomcke E, Gengler N.Relationship coefficients are particularly useful to improve genetic management of endangered populations. These coefficients are traditionally based on pedigree data, but in case of incomplete or inexistent pedigrees they are replaced by coefficients calculated from molecular data. The main objective of this study was to develop a new method to estimate relationship coefficients by combining molecular with pedigree data, which is useful for specific situations where neither pedigree nor molecular data are complete. The developed method was applied to contribute to the conservation of the Skyr...
Villalba M, Santiago I, Gómez de Segura IA.The aim of this investigation was to determine the isoflurane-sparing effect and impact on arterial blood pressure and anaesthetic recovery of a constant rate infusion of medetomidine-propofol in horses. In a prospective, crossover, randomised study, six healthy horses (mean ± SD age, 13.7 ± 7.7 years; weight, 433 ± 51 kg) were anaesthetised twice with isoflurane and were randomly assigned to receive one of two treatments on each occasion, at least 2 weeks apart. The first treatment was saline (CTL group) and the second a medetomidine-propofol infusion (MP group; 1.25 µg/kg...
Hurd H.A total of 28 components were detected in the free amino acid (FAA) pool of hydatid fluid from primary and secondary equine cysts, secondary ovine cysts and host plasma. Examination of data from equine cysts revealed that the majority of FAAs were present in significantly greater concentrations in secondary cysts, glycine being over 30 times more concentrated. Values for total carbohydrates and glucose did not, however, differ significantly and total protein content was greater in primary cysts. Comparison of the (FAA) pool of secondary equine and ovine cysts revealed strain variation. It was ...
Merkens HW, Schamhardt HC, Hartman W, Kersjes AW.The amplitudes, impulses and times of occurrence of a number of selected peaks in the ground reaction force tracings of 17 horses with various clinical histories were compared with those of 20 horses used to establish values for the 'standard' Dutch Warmblood horse. The resulting factors were combined, using different weighting factors, into indices characterising each limb. The symmetry between the loading of the forelimbs and the hindlimbs was used to calculate amplitude and peak-time symmetry indices. Limb and symmetry indices were combined in one H(orse) INDEX. This method of quantifying t...
Mienaltowski MJ, Huang L, Bathke AC, Stromberg AJ, MacLeod JN.Human and equine cell transplant strategies for cartilage lesions usually result in scar tissue that is similar to what is produced naturally during the repair process. In this study, culture-expanded de-differentiated chondrocytes and primary bone marrow stromal cells at a pre-transplantation time-point were compared along with neonatal cartilage to repair tissue. Transcriptional profiling using a 9413-probeset equine-specific cDNA microarray and targeted real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation were used to characterize relationships between these cell types and repair tis...
Elte Y, Wolframm I, Nielen M, van Weeren R.The pressure on equine veterinarians to provide services that meet with a client's demands, that is, realizing client satisfaction, is considerable. Objective: The aim of this paper is to analyze existing literature, with a view to distill the most relevant components for client satisfaction in equine veterinary practice. Methods: A structured literature search was conducted. Included papers were systematically organised and analysed using an inductive approach. Results: Seven components relevant to client satisfaction in equine veterinary practice were identified: quality of care, quality of ...
Alonso JM, Esper CS, Pantoja JCF, Rosa GDS, Giampietro RR, Dos Santos B, Guerra ST, Ribeiro MG, Takahira RK, Watanabe MJ, Alves ALG, Rodrigues CA....Difference in blood and peritoneal glucose (DBPG) is used in clinical practice to support a diagnosis of septic peritonitis in horses. It is inexpensive, easy and rapid to perform. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the DBPG to differentiate between septic and non-septic peritonitis in horses. Blood and peritoneal fluids were harvested from suspected animals. Plasma and peritoneal glucose levels, total nucleated cell count, direct microscopic and microbiological examinations of the peritoneal fluid were evaluated. Using DBPG levels, the animals were classified into two group...
Fedorka CE, El-Sheikh Ali H, Scoggin KE, Loux SC, Ball BA, Troedsson MHT.Ascending placentitis is the leading cause of abortion in the horse. The pleiotropic cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is an upstream regulator of this disease, but little is understood regarding its function in pregnancy maintenance or placental infection. To assess this, RNA sequencing was performed on chorioallantois and endometrium of healthy pregnant mares at various gestational lengths (n = 4/gestational age), in addition to postpartum chorioallantois, and diestrus endometrium to assess expression of TNF, TNFR-1, and TNFR-2. Additionally, ascending placentitis was induced via trans-...
Marti M, Mevissen M, Althaus H, Steiner A.The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of bethanechol (BeCh) on contractility patterns of smooth muscle preparations of equine duodenum descendens, jejunum, caecum and pelvic flexure in vitro. Concentration-response relationships were developed for BeCh using in vitro assays with and without preincubation of muscarinic (M) receptor antagonists for M2 and M3 receptors. BeCh induced a significant, concentration-dependent increase in contractile response in equine intestine in specimens with circular orientation. The maximal effect was largest for jejunal specimens with no differenc...
Driessen B, Zarucco L, Kalir B, Bertolotti L.Current use of acepromazine in the anaesthetic management of male horses and ponies and associated risks are largely unknown. Objective: To explore anaesthetic acepromazine use and related adverse effects in the male horse. Methods: Of 8533 anaesthetised horses and ponies medical records of male animals treated perianaesthetically with acepromazine were reviewed. Demographic data, time and dose of acepromazine administration, co-administered drugs, quality of induction and recovery from anaesthesia, arterial blood pressures, and occurrence of penile dysfunction were recorded. Practising ACVA a...
