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.
Ginther OJ, Gastal EL, Gastal MO, Beg MA.The effect of an injection of a supraphysiologic dose of rhIGF1 into the second-largest ovarian follicle (F2) at the expected beginning of deviation (F1, > or =20 mm; Day 0) on development of dominance by F2 was studied in mares (n=16; controls, n=8). F1 became dominant (> or =28 mm) in 8 of 8 and 15 of 16 follicles in the controls and treated groups, respectively. The incidence of dominance (P<0.001) and ovulation (P or =20mm after the expected beginning of deviation resulted in dominance by 8 of 12 follicles treated with rhIGF1 on Days 1-3 (n=8 mares). Results demonstrated that the ...
Brokken MT, Schneider RK, Sampson SN, Tucker RL, Gavin PR, Ho CP.Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging abnormalities in horses with lameness localized to the proximal metacarpal or metatarsal region have not been described. To accomplish that, the medical records of 45 horses evaluated with MR imaging that had lameness localized to either the proximal metacarpal or metatarsal region were reviewed. Abnormalities observed in the proximal suspensory ligament or the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon included abnormal high signal, enlargement, or alteration in shape. Twenty-three horses had proximal suspensory ligament desmitis (13 hindlimb, 10 fore...
Diaz OS, Smith G, Reef VB.The purpose of this study was to describe the normal ultrasonographic appearance of the caudal portion of the equine ureters, pelvic urethra, and urinary bladder and to assess ureteral contractility. Fifteen horses with no evidence of urinary tract disease (five females, five intact males and five geldings) were studied. The lower urinary tract was evaluated ultrasonographically using a transrectal approach. The normal ultrasonographic appearance and anatomic location of structures of the lower urinary tract were evaluated and anatomic relationships described. Both ureters were identified dors...
Getman LM, McKnight AL, Richardson DW.The objective of this report was to provide an anatomic description of the equine palmar lateral outpouching of the middle carpal joint by comparing its arthroscopic and magnetic resonance (MR) contrast arthrography appearance and to define the structures within the palmar lateral outpouching of the middle carpal joint that can be assessed arthroscopically. MR contrast arthrography was performed on seven cadaveric limbs; images were compared with those obtained during arthroscopic exploration of the palmar lateral outpouching of the middle carpal joint. Gross dissection was performed to confir...
Go YY, Wong SJ, Branscum AJ, Demarest VL, Shuck KM, Vickers ML, Zhang J, McCollum WH, Timoney PJ, Balasuriya UB.The development and validation of a microsphere immunoassay (MIA) to detect equine antibodies to the major structural proteins of equine arteritis virus (EAV) are described. The assay development process was based on the cloning and expression of genes for full-length individual major structural proteins (GP5 amino acids 1 to 255 [GP5(1-255)], M(1-162), and N(1-110)), as well as partial sequences of these structural proteins (GP5(1-116), GP5(75-112), GP5(55-98), M(88-162), and N(1-69)) that constituted putative antigenic regions. Purified recombinant viral proteins expressed in Escherichia col...
Drum MG, Kawcak CE, Norrdin RW, Park RD, McIlwraith CW, Les CM.Comparison of subchondral bone density determined by quantitative computed tomography (CT) with gross and histopathologic changes have not been made in horses. The goal of this study was to determine if mean quantitative CT density and mean voxel standard deviation are associated with the presence and severity of osteochondral lesions in the palmar aspect of the distal third metacarpal bone in racing horses. Metacarpophalangeal joints from nine racehorses were imaged using CT and scored for gross damage. Four-millimeter-thick sagittal and 30 degrees palmar dorsal plane sections were cut, decal...
Gorgas D, Kircher P, Doherr MG, Ueltschi G, Lang J.Radiography is part of evaluating horses with poor performance and pelvic limb lameness; however, the radiographic appearance of the sacroiliac region is poorly described. The goal of the present study was to describe the use of a simple technique to obtain radiographs of the sacroiliac region in the anesthetized horse and to describe the radiographic appearance of this region. Seventy-nine horses underwent radiography of the pelvis under general anesthesia in dorsal recumbency. During a 5s exposure time the horse was actively ventilated to blur the abdominal viscera, which allowed assessment ...
Pusterla N, Wilson WD, Mapes S, Finno C, Isbell D, Arthur RM, Ferraro GL.The objective of this study was to determine viral loads, strain (neuropathogenic versus non-neuropathogenic) and state (lytic, non-replicating, latent) of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the blood and nasopharyngeal secretions of adult horses following natural exposure. The index case, a 4-year-old Thoroughbred gelding with confirmed EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy, as well as potentially exposed horses, were sampled over a period of 3 weeks. The study population comprised of 39 adult Thoroughbred horses and 35 adult "pony" and outrider horses of various...
Bogaert L, Martens A, Van Poucke M, Ducatelle R, De Cock H, Dewulf J, De Baere C, Peelman L, Gasthuys F.Bovine papillomavirus (BPV), the causative agent of papillomas in cattle, has been shown to play a major role in the pathogenesis of equine sarcoids in horses. BPV has also been detected occasionally in normal equine skin. In this study, presence and activity of BPV in normal skin and peripheral blood of 4 groups of horses were evaluated: sarcoid-affected horses, horses living in contact with sarcoid-affected horses, horses living in contact with papilloma-affected cattle and control horses. From each horse, 3 samples on 4 locations were collected: a swab of the intact skin surface and both a ...
Bigley RF, Gibeling JC, Stover SM, Hazelwood SJ, Fyhrie DP, Martin RB.Volume effects are a fundamental determinant of structural failure. A material exhibits a volume effect if its failure properties are dependent on the specimen volume. Many brittle ceramics exhibit volume effects due to loading a structure in the presence of "critical" flaws. The number of flaws, their locations, and the effect of stress field within the stressed volume play a role in determining the structure's failure properties. Since real materials are imperfect, structures composed of large volumes of material have higher probabilities of containing a flaw than do small volumes. Consequen...
Kim CM, Blanco LB, Alhassan A, Iseki H, Yokoyama N, Xuan X, Igarashi I.We developed a TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the quantitative detection of Theileria equi from the in vitro-cultured parasite and field blood samples collected from horses living in Ghana and Brazil. The detection limit for the assay was determined to be 1.5 parasites/microl per sample, and the quantitative capacity was demonstrated using the in vitro-cultured parasite. For field applications, the real-time PCR assay was compared to a previously established nested PCR assay used as the gold standard for the real-time PCR assay. Of 65 field blood samples, 46 samples...
Yu NH, Ho EN, Tang FP, Wan TS, Wong AS.A multi-target high-throughput liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method for the detection of low ppt to low ppb levels of anabolic steroids, corticosteroids, anti-diabetics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in equine plasma was developed for the purpose of doping control. Plasma samples were first deproteinated by addition of trichloroacetic acid. Drugs were then extracted by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using Bond Elut Certify cartridges, and the extracts were analysed by a triple-quadrupole/linear ion trap LC-MS-MS instrument in positive electrospray...
Kozelek P, Holcik J, Sedlinska M.The paper describes experiments and their results that offered an insight to relationship between RR and QT intervals in equine ECG signals recorded under various conditions. In contrast to human heart in a great number of cases the QT intervals prolonged with a heart rate acceleration. Peak-to-peak differences between maximum and minimum RR intervals during the excitation response in non-standard responses were twice as smaller as in standard responses and the lengths of QT intervals were significantly longer in the non-standard records. This fact means that the electrical processes in equine...
Guest DJ, Allen WR.Embryonic stem-like (ES-like) cells have now been derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of horse embryos at the blastocyst stage. Because they have been shown to express cell-surface antigens found in both human and mouse ES cells, the present study investigated gene expression patterns in day-7 horse blastocysts from which the horse ES-like cells had been derived originally. The genes studied included Oct-4, stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1), SSEA-3, SSEA-4, tumor rejection antigen-1-60 (TRA-1-60), TRA-1-81, and alkaline phosphatase activity, and whereas all three of the SSEA antig...
Pearce JW, Galle LE, Kleiboeker SB, Turk JR, Schommer SK, Dubielizig RR, Mitchell WJ, Moore CP, Giuliano EA.Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is the most frequent cause of blindness in horses worldwide. Leptospira has been implicated as an etiologic agent in some cases of ERU and has been detected in fresh ocular tissues of affected horses. The objective of this study was to determine the presence of Leptospira antigen and DNA in fixed equine ocular tissues affected with end-stage ERU. Sections of eyes from 30 horses were obtained. Controls included 1) 10 normal equine eyes and 2) 10 equine eyes with a nonrecurrent form of uveitis. The experimental group consisted of 10 eyes diagnosed with ERU based on...
Cullinane A, Quinlivan M, Nelly M, Patterson H, Kenna R, Garvey M, Gildea S, Lyons P, Flynn M, Galvin P, Neylon M, Jankowska K.In 2006 there was an outbreak of equine infectious anaemia (EIA) in Ireland. This paper describes the use of the diagnosis of clinical and subclinical cases of the disease. In acute cases the ELISAs and the immunoblot were more sensitive than the AGID. In one mare, fluctuating antibody levels were observed in all the serological assays before it seroconverted by AGID. Viral RNA and DNA were detected by RT-PCR and PCR in all the tissues from the infected animals examined postmortem. The PCR detected viral DNA in plasma regardless of the stage of the disease. In contrast, the RT-PCR detected RNA...
Ginel PJ, Zafra R, Lucena R, Bautista MJ.This case report describes a case of multiple follicular cysts in a 4-year-old Spanish purebred stallion. The lesions ranged in size from 0.5 to 3 cm in diameter, and were firm, well circumscribed and nonpruritic. They developed over a 2-year period with a generalized distribution affecting all body regions. Five nodules were removed and histopathologically corresponded to simple epidermal cysts (infundibular and isthmus-catagen) with squamous epithelium and a keratin filled cavity. Lesions were not evident at birth but their number, early age of detection, slow growth and lack of previous tra...
Pearson W, Orth MW, Lindinger MI.Herbs are an increasingly popular treatment option for horses with cartilage inflammation, despite a relative paucity of research demonstrating efficacy. The research objective was to evaluate the differential anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective efficacy of a simulated digest of indomethacin and a commercially available herbal product in a cartilage model of osteoarthritis. Cartilage explant was integrated with simulated digestion of indomethacin and the herbal product in order to account, at least in part, for the actions of major digestive enzymes and pH. The resulting digests were ultra...
Hamza E, Wagner B, Jungi TW, Mirkovitch J, Marti E.Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an allergic dermatitis of horses caused by IgE-mediated reactions to bites of insects of the genus Culicoides. IBH does not occur in Iceland due to the absence of Culicoides. However, Icelandic horses exported to mainland Europe as adults (1st generation) have a > or =50% incidence of developing IBH. In contrast, their progeny (2nd generation) has a <10% incidence of IBH. Here we show that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Icelandic horses born in mainland Europe and belonging either to the IBH or healthy subgroup produce less interleukin (IL)...
Timoney JF, Yang J, Liu J, Merant C.Streptococcus equi (S. equi) causes equine strangles, a highly contagious and widespread purulent lymphadenitis of the head and neck. Highly resistant to phagocytosis, it produces long extracellular chains in affected lymph nodes. In a screen of clones reactive with convalescent serum from a gene library of S. equi CF32 we identified IdeE, an IgG-endopeptidase and homologue of the leucocyte receptor Mac-1 (CD11b). IdeE is expressed during S. equi infection eliciting both serum and mucosal antibody responses which persisted at significant levels in serum for over 200 days. Release from S. equi ...
DeLorey MS.The goal of this retrospective study was to record the direction of the diagonal incisor malocclusion (DIM) and excursion to molar contact (EMC) distances both before and after corrective procedures to determine if any general trends were apparent which may aid in predicting the outcome of DIM corrections. Pre-correction and post-correction data were compared to confirm a benefit to the patient from the corrective procedure. The results of this preliminary study reveal a few general trends to serve as basic guidelines for the practitioner Lateral EMC distances to the left and right in cases of...
Müntener CR, Bruckner L, Gassner B, Stürer A, Demuth DC, Althaus FR, Zwahlen R.We received 190 reports of suspected adverse events (SARs) following the use of veterinary drugs for the year 2006: 118 declarations for veterinary drugs and 72 declarations following the application of immunolgical medicinal products. Most of the 118 declarations relate to the use of antiparasitic drugs (48%) and every second declaration to drug use in dogs. Other drug classes concerned were, in decreasing order, antiinfectives (20%) and drugs used off-label (12%; other target species or other indication). For the vaccines, most of the reactions occurred in dogs (62%) followed by horses (11%)...
Tydén E, Olsén L, Tallkvist J, Tjälve H, Larsson P.Gene and protein expression as well as catalytic activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A were studied in the nasal olfactory and respiratory mucosa and the tracheal mucosa of the horse. We also examined the activity of NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase (NADPH P450 reductase), the amount of cytochrome b(5) and the total CYP content in these tissues. Comparative values for the above were obtained using liver as a control. The CYP3A related catalytic activity in the tissues of the upper airways was considerably higher than in the liver. The CYP3A gene and protein expression, on the other hand, was hig...
Tate LP, Blikslager AT, Papich MG.The objective was to develop a protocol whereby 808-nm diode laser irradiation combined with intravenous (IV) indocyanine green (ICG) could be used in non-contact mode with equal surgical efficacy to the Nd:YAG on equine tissues. Background: The 808-nm diode laser, delivering 20-40 W of power, has been produced for veterinary medical applications. This laser's power output is less than that of most neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers. ICG is absorbed at a wavelength of 810 nm, which when concentrated in tissue should be an excellent absorber for the energy produced by the 808-nm ...
Kodama A, Yanai T, Yomemaru K, Sakai H, Masegi T, Yamada S, Fukushi H, Kuraishi T, Hattori S, Kai C.Equine herpesvirus 9 (EHV-9) is a new neurotropic equine herpesvirus which induced encephalitis in a variety of animals. However, there was no information on the susceptibility of EHV-9 in primates. Methods: To assess the infectivity of EHV-9, four common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) were inoculated by the nasal route with 10(6) plaque-forming units of EHV-9. Conclusions: All of the inoculated animals exhibited various neurological signs progressing to collapse. Histologically, the affected animals had severe encephalitis characterized by neuronal degeneration and necrosis with intranuclear ...
Saragusty J, Gacitua H, Pettit MT, Arav A.Despite its potential impact on the horse industry, sperm cryopreservation is not an established technology throughout the industry, for a number of reasons that include a reduction in pregnancy rate and increased cost per pregnancy. We have evaluated a novel directional freezing technique, based on a multi-thermal gradient (MTG), by comparing it with the conventional, controlled-rate cryopreservation method (CRCM). Ninety-seven ejaculates with > or =50% motility, collected from 31 stallions were each divided into two parts and subsequently frozen by either MTG or CRCM. Frozen samples were ...
Henze A, Aumer F, Grabner A, Raila J, Schweigert FJ.Although horses and donkeys belong to the same genus, their genetic characteristics probably result in specific proteomes and post-translational modifications (PTM) of proteins. Since PTM can alter protein properties, specific PTM may contribute to species-specific characteristics. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyse differences in serum protein profiles of horses and donkeys as well as mules, which combine the genetic backgrounds of both species. Additionally, changes in PTM of the protein transthyretin (TTR) were analysed. Serum protein profiles of each species (five anima...
Greet TR, Whitwell KE.Twenty-five horses, suspected on clinical grounds of having grass sickness, were given a barium swallow. Using image intensification the passage of the barium bolus was followed radiographically from the pharynx to the stomach. All 18 horses in which grass sickness was later confirmed at post mortem examination showed defective oesophageal motility. Although the specificity of the abnormality could not be proven, the technique offers a valuable aid to the ante mortem diagnosis of grass sickness.
Matthews A, Gilger B.Immune mediated keratopathies (IMMKs) are a relatively commonly occurring group of heterogeneous corneal disorders. This paper describes the currently recognised clinical presentations of the IMMKs in the USA and in the UK. Although a clinical diagnosis is relatively straightforward in most cases, the specific aetiopathogeneses of the IMMKs remains elusive and largely speculative, but are thought to be based upon upregulated immunoreactivity in the normally immunologically passive cornea. Treatment protocols, both medical and surgical, are based primarily on collective clinical experience and ...
Thevis M, Machnik M, Schenk I, Krug O, Piper T, Schänzer W, Düe M, Bondesson U, Hedeland M.The issue of illicit performance enhancement spans human and animal sport in presumably equal measure, with prohibited substances and methods of doping conveying both ways. Due to the proven capability of unbound ionic cobalt (Co(2) (+) ) to stimulate erythropoiesis in humans, both human and equine anti-doping regulations have listed cobalt as a banned substance, and in particular in horse drug testing, thresholds for cobalt concentrations applying to plasma and urine have been suggested or established. Recent reports about the finding of substantial amounts of undeclared nickel in arguably li...
Nauwelaerts S, Clayton HM.Estimates of the position of the centres of mass (CM) of body segments are usually extrapolated relative to bony landmarks as determined in cadaver studies. This extrapolation assumes that segments are rigid bodies. Since the trunk represents a large percentage of the total body mass in horses, violation of the rigid body assumption by the trunk segment has important consequences for studying the biomechanics of equine locomotion. Objective: To assess the magnitude of error in CM position due to deformability of the trunk segment and the timing of these errors during the trotting stride. The h...
Latimer CA, Wyman M.This discussion of normal and abnormal findings on routine ophthalmic examination of the foal should prove useful to the equine practitioner who must provide counsel to the concerned owner and/or breeder. Early diagnosis and treatment of ocular abnormalities improve the prognosis for continued function and aid determination of the significance of lesions observed in later life.
Channing CP.OUR knowledge of the pathways of steroid biosynthesis in the ovary has been gained mainly by incubations of ovaries in vitro1,2. The tissues incubated have contained numerous cell types: granulosa cells, theca interna cells, stromal cells, interstitial cells, and sometimes luteal cells. Possibly such mixtures of two or more different cell types are able to secrete hormones that one cell type cannot secrete by itself3–9. Furthermore, during such incubations in vitro an exchange of precursors and products between different cell types may be facilitated because of breakdown of naturally occurri...
van den Hoogen BM, van den Lest CH, van Weeren PR, van Golde LM, Barneveld A.In this study, the effect of different exercise regimens on proteoglycan metabolism of articular cartilage was examined in 43 newborn foals randomly divided into 3 groups: a) box-rest, b) box-rest with training and c) free pasture exercise. They were subjected to these exercise regimens from ages 1 week to 5 months and at 5 months, 24 foals (8 from each group) were sacrificed to assess short-term exercise effects. The remaining 19 foals were subjected to the same regimen of light exercise for an additional 6 months before being sacrificed to evaluate possible long-term effects. Articular carti...
Cabral LDR, Sato AP, de Sousa RS, Rossa AP, Sanches AWD, Bortoleto CT, Locatelli Dittrich R.The closely related apicomplexa protozoa, Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora spp., and Sarcocystis neurona, have all been associated with neurological and reproductive diseases in horses. However, there is limited data regarding the presence of these three parasites in equine placental tissues and amniotic fluid. The aim of the present report was to investigate the presence of the DNA of T. gondii, Neospora spp. and S. neurona in placentas and amniotic fluid in mares. Anti-T. gondii, anti- S. neurona and anti- Neospora spp. antibody titers were evaluated in 31 mares in the final third of pregnancy by...
Smith JE, DeBowes RM, Cipriano JE.Corticosteroid preparation was administered to 7 Shetland Ponies and 10 Quarter Horses. Serum iron concentration increased dramatically for 48 to 72 hours after the steroid treatment, whereas serum iron-binding capacity and serum ferritin concentration did not. An increase in available iron may allow bacteria to proliferate when ponies or horses are stressed or treated inappropriately with corticosteroids.
Raftery AG, Jallow S, Coultous RM, Rodgers J, Sutton DGM.Equine trypanosomiasis is a severe and prevalent disease that has the greatest impact globally upon working equids due to its distribution across lower income countries. Morbidity and mortality rates are high; disease management strategies in endemic regions are ineffective and cost prohibitive. Individual variation in disease phenotype in other species suggests host factors could reveal novel treatment and control targets but has not been investigated in equids. Methods: A prospective clinical evaluation of equines presenting for a free veterinary examination was performed in hyperendemic vil...
Melo e Silva SR, Vulcano LC.Collateral cartilage ossification of the distal phalanx in the Brazilian Jumper horse is a common finding. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and the degree of ossification of the collateral cartilages of the distal phalanx in Brazilian Jumper horses. In an analysis of 652 collateral cartilages from the front feet of 163 horses, 93% of these cartilages had collateral cartilage ossification (P < 0.005), and 7% of these cartilages did not have any type of ossification. In ossified cartilages, 86.4% had ossification beginning from the base, and 6.6% had a separate cente...
Foster CV, Harris RC.There was no detectable loss of total carnitine associated with intense exercise from the middle gluteal muscle of Thoroughbred horses. Measurements made on a single biopsy obtained during the course of a normal training and exercise programme may, therefore, be considered representative of the normal content at rest. The variability in total carnitine content within the normal muscle biopsy area amounted to 13.2 per cent of the normal mean content. Approximately 50 per cent of this variability could be attributed to covariation with citrate synthase, to which it was highly significantly corre...
Biggi M, Dyson S.The distribution of lesions detected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of hind feet has not been reported. Objective: To evaluate type and distribution of lesions detected using MRI in hind feet of lame horses and to compare the findings with those reported in front feet; to document follow-up information. Methods: Horses were selected if hindlimb lameness was abolished by plantar nerve blocks performed at the base of the proximal sesamoid bones. Magnetic resonance images were acquired using either a low-field or a high-field magnet, and all images were evaluated retrospectively by both a...