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Topic:Veterinary Research
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.
Comparative bone histology of adult horses (Equus caballus) and cows (Bos taurus). Bone microstructure of domestic herbivores is still not completely understood. Indeed, works focused on the bone histology of numerous Mammalian species frequently led to misunderstandings because of the high number of variations such as the kind of bone, section orientation, species, breed and age. Moreover, attempts to identify the species in archaeozoological studies by a mere qualitative approach have not been encouraging and in recent years quantitative methods, based on image processing and statistical analysis, have appeared. The present study was undertaken to determine whether morphom...
Walk-run classification of symmetrical gaits in the horse: a multidimensional approach. Walking and running are two mechanisms for minimizing energy expenditure during terrestrial locomotion. Duty factor, dimensionless speed, existence of an aerial phase, percentage recovery (PR) or phase shift of mechanical energy and shape of the vertical ground reaction force profile have been used to discriminate between walking and running. Although these criteria work well for the classification of most quadrupedal gaits, they result in conflicting evidence for some gaits, such as the tölt (a symmetrical, four-beat gait used by Icelandic horses). We use established pattern recognition meth...
Differential gene expression of TRPM1, the potential cause of congenital stationary night blindness and coat spotting patterns (LP) in the Appaloosa horse (Equus caballus). The appaloosa coat spotting pattern in horses is caused by a single incomplete dominant gene (LP). Homozygosity for LP (LP/LP) is directly associated with congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) in Appaloosa horses. LP maps to a 6-cM region on ECA1. We investigated the relative expression of two functional candidate genes located in this LP candidate region (TRPM1 and OCA2), as well as three other linked loci (TJP1, MTMR10, and OTUD7A) by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. No large differences were found for expression levels of TJP1, MTMR10, OTUD7A, and OCA2. However, TRPM1 (Transient Recept...
Diagnostic equine serology. This article is presented with two main goals: (1) to provide equine clinicians with a resource for identifying types of serum tests available and (2) to outline briefly the necessary sample type, assay principle, and relative strengths and weakness of the various methods. Specific etiologies are presented and grouped by clinical diagnosis categories, along with brief comments concerning each disorder and its relevant diagnostic assays. This organization provides an abstracted list of infectious disorders commonly considered for the various clinical presentations and a summary of available ser...
Clinical pathology of the foal. The neonatal foal is in a period of transition between fetal and extrauterine life. The clinicopathologic findings in this period often reflect the in utero environment; thus, results need to be interpreted with the knowledge of changes that intrauterine life may produce. These changes can also assist the veterinarian in identifying a foal at high risk for developing clinical problems. The veterinarian should also be aware of the normal variations in clinicopathologic findings that occur as the foal matures. As with results from all diagnostic testing, the clinicopathologic results need to be ...
Equine coagulopathies. The most common cause of hemorrhage is vascular injury; however, the possibility of hemostatic failure should be considered in the initial differential diagnosis. This article provides an overview of preliminary screening and definitive tests to identify hemostatic defects in horses.
Clinical pathology in the racing horse: the role of clinical pathology in assessing fitness and performance in the racehorse. Clinical pathology is frequently used in racehorses to screen for "fitness" to race and to screen for disease that may affect performance. The role of clinical pathology in exercise testing of racehorses is important, especially in the area of blood lactate responses to exercise. This article discusses the use of resting and dynamic clinical pathology in the racehorse, especially in respect to investigation of the state of training (or fitness) and detection of subclinical performance-limiting disease.
Immunodeficiency disorders in horses. Immunodeficiencies are characterized as primary (genetic) or secondary (acquired). Primary immunodeficiencies are relatively uncommon; however, clinically, they present a significant challenge to the practitioner, especially if the underlying disorder goes unrecognized. Secondary immunodeficiencies may present at any age, but failure of passive transfer in neonatal foals is most commonly encountered. This article provides a general overview of clinical signs and diagnosis of primary and secondary immunodeficiencies currently recognized in horses.
Bone marrow and lymph node evaluation. Evaluation of equine bone marrow and lymph node samples can provide the definitive diagnosis in some cases, and may provide useful information in other cases. Some newer techniques, including immunophenotyping of cells and clonality assays, provide the capability to more precisely identify cells, both as to origin and malignancy. Use of these techniques on equine bone marrow and lymph node samples, and compiling of the data, will eventually provide invaluable information about equine neoplasia that will greatly improve the ability to predict tumor behavior and response to therapy.
Erythrocytes. In this article, the normal kinetics, morphology and other unique characteristics of equine erythrocytes are reviewed, the influence of the spleen on erythrocyte values is discussed, and selected normal reference intervals are presented. In addition, the classification and causes of anemia and polycythemia are reviewed and the appropriate laboratory tests for accurate diagnosis are presented.
Identification of factors associated with the development of insect bite hypersensitivity in horses in The Netherlands. An Internet-based questionnaire among horse owners was carried out to identify factors affecting the incidence of insect bite hypersensitivity (IBHI) among horses in the Netherlands. Information was obtained for 794 horses of various breeds, but the breed distribution was not representative for the Dutch horse population. Of the horses for which information was available, 56% suffered from IBH and 44% did not. The most common clinical symptoms were pruritus, scaling, and hair loss, occurring mainly at the base of the tail and along the mane. Breed, age, region (and local habitat), stabling, ty...
Mechanisms for dominant follicle selection in monovulatory species: a comparison of morphological, endocrine and intraovarian events in cows, mares and women. The selection of a single ovarian follicle for further differentiation and finally ovulation is a shared phenomenon in monovulatory species from different phylogenetic classes. The commonality of dominant follicle (DF) development leads us to hypothesize that mechanisms for DF selection are conserved. This review highlights similarities and differences in follicular wave growth between cows, mares and women, addresses the commonality of the transient rises in FSH concentrations, and discusses the follicular secretions oestradiol and inhibin with their regulatory roles for FSH. In all three spe...
Complementary DNA cloning, functional expression and characterization of a novel cytochrome P450, CYP2D50, from equine liver. Members of the CYP2D family constitute only about 2-4% of total hepatic CYP450s, however, they are responsible for the metabolism of 20-25% of commonly prescribed therapeutic compounds. CYP2D enzymes have been identified in a number of different species. However, vast differences in the metabolic activity of these enzymes have been well documented. In the horse, the presence of a member of the CYP2D family has been suggested from studies with equine liver microsomes, however its presence has not been definitively proven. In this study a cDNA encoding a novel CYP2D enzyme (CYP2D50) was cloned f...
Pharmacokinetics of a single bolus intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous dose of disodium fosfomycin in horses. Pharmacokinetic parameters of fosfomycin were determined in horses after the administration of disodium fosfomycin at 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg intravenously (IV), intramuscularly (IM) and subcutaneously (SC) each. Serum concentration at time zero (C(S0)) was 112.21 +/- 1.27 microg/mL and 201.43 +/- 1.56 microg/mL for each dose level. Bioavailability after the SC administration was 84 and 86% for the 10 mg/kg and the 20 mg/kg dose respectively. Considering the documented minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC(90)) range of sensitive bacteria to fosfomycin, the maximum serum concentration (Cmax) obt...
Prevalence of equine herpesvirus-1 and equine herpesvirus-4 infections in equidae species in Turkey as determined by ELISA and multiplex nested PCR. In this report we examined the presence of specific antibodies against equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), and equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) in several equidae, including mules, donkeys, horses. The presence of EHV-1 and EHV-4 in respiratory diseases of equids, and ability of multiplex nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening in simultaneous diagnosis of horses acutely infected by EHV-1 and EHV-4 were also investigated. Sera from 504 horses, mules and donkeys sampled were tested for the presence of EHV-1 and EHV-4 specific antibodies. Blood samples taken from 21 symptomatic horses a...
The use of dexamethasone administered to mares at breeding time in the modulation of persistent mating induced endometritis. The present study describes the effect of a single dose of dexamethasone administered to mares at time of breeding. In an initial experiment, the authors investigated safety of treatment. In a second experiment the effect of treatment on the uterine environment, fetal development and pregnancy outcome was examined. In the final part of the study, mares susceptible to persistent mating induced endometritis were identified, by means of a risk factor score system and the effect of treatment evaluated. Results indicated that dexamethasone administered at breeding time did not negatively impact on ...
Pharmacokinetics of valacyclovir in the adult horse. Recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus type-1 infections have stimulated renewed interest in the use of effective antiherpetic drugs in horses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of valacyclovir (VCV), the prodrug of acyclovir (ACV), in horses. Six adult horses were used in a randomized cross-over design. Treatments consisted of 10 mg/kg ACV infused intravenously, 5 g (7.7-11.7 mg/kg) VCV delivered intragastrically (IG) and 15 g (22.7-34.1 mg/kg) VCV administered IG. Serum samples were obtained at predetermined times for acyclovir assay using high-performance li...
A cis-acting regulatory mutation causes premature hair graying and susceptibility to melanoma in the horse. In horses, graying with age is an autosomal dominant trait associated with a high incidence of melanoma and vitiligo-like depigmentation. Here we show that the Gray phenotype is caused by a 4.6-kb duplication in intron 6 of STX17 (syntaxin-17) that constitutes a cis-acting regulatory mutation. Both STX17 and the neighboring NR4A3 gene are overexpressed in melanomas from Gray horses. Gray horses carrying a loss-of-function mutation in ASIP (agouti signaling protein) had a higher incidence of melanoma, implying that increased melanocortin-1 receptor signaling promotes melanoma development in Gra...
Binding of equine infectious anemia virus to the equine lentivirus receptor-1 is mediated by complex discontinuous sequences in the viral envelope gp90 protein. The identification and characterization of a functional cellular receptor for equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), designated equine lentivirus receptor-1 (ELR1), a member of the tumour necrosis factor receptor protein family, has been reported previously [Zhang, B. et al. (2005). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 102 , 9918-9923]. The finding of a single receptor for EIAV is distinct from feline, simian and human immunodeficiency viruses, which typically utilize two co-receptors for infection, but is similar to avian and murine oncoviruses, which use single receptors. This study sought to determine...
Palatal sclerotherapy: a potentially useful treatment of intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate in juvenile standardbred racehorses. This study was aimed at evaluating the tolerability and the efficacy of palatal sclerotherapy in juvenile standardbred racehorses with easily audible "snoring-like" respiratory noises suspected to be the result of intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate. The palate of 8 horses was injected with sodium tetradecyl sulfate under videoendoscopic guidance. Palatal sclerotherapy resulted in resolution of the respiratory noise in 7 horses, improvement of performance in 6 horses, and mild side effects in only 3 horses. This preliminary study suggests that palatal sclerotherapy is a safe, r...
Tetanus in the equine species: a retrospective study of 31 cases. Few studies exist about factors affecting the outcome of horses with tetanus. Methods: 31 equids (30 horses and 1 donkey) with a clinical diagnosis of tetanus admitted to the Equine Clinic of the University of Liege between 1991 and 2006. The cases were divided into two groups according to the outcome (survivors and non-survivors). Methods: The clinical data of survivors and non-survivors were compared using an ANOVA (continuous data) or a Fisher's test (discrete data). Results: The survival rate was 32%. Most animals were 5 years or younger, and none had been appropriately vaccinated. The non...
Characterization and quantification of fluoxymesterone metabolite in horse urine by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Fluoxymesterone, an anabolic steroid with the 17alpha-methyl,17beta-hydroxy group, has been developed as an oral formulation for therapeutic purposes. However, it is also used illegally in racehorses to enhance racing performance. In this study, we detected 9alpha-fluoro-17,17-dimethyl-18-norandrostane-4,13-dien-11beta-ol-3-one by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), which has not been reported as a fluoxymesterone metabolite so far in horse. It was synthesized for use as a reference standard, and characterized on the basis of (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR spectra, as well as GC/MS EI mass s...
Bacteremia in equine neonatal diarrhea: a retrospective study (1990-2007). Bacteremia in sick foals is associated with survival, but the association of bacteremia and diarrhea is not reported. Objective: Neonatal foals with diarrhea will commonly be bacteremic. Methods: One hundred and thirty-three neonatal foals. Methods: Records of all foals <30 days of age presenting with diarrhea between January 1990 and September 2007 were reviewed. Results: Sixty-six of 133 foals (50%) were bacteremic at admission, with 75 isolates from the 66 samples. The blood culture from a further 18 foals (13.5%) grew coryneform bacteria. Nine foals (6.8%) had 2 or more organisms grown ...
Comparison of the Accu-Chek Aviva point-of-care glucometer with blood gas and laboratory methods of analysis of glucose measurement in equine emergency patients. More information is needed regarding accuracy of commonly used methods of glucose measurement in the critically ill horse. Objective: Glucometry will have good agreement with a laboratory standard. Glucometry with plasma will have better agreement than when performed with whole blood. Methods: Fifty sequentially admitted equine emergency patients, aged >1year. Methods: Venous blood was collected at admission and immediately analyzed by point-of-care glucometry on both whole blood (POC/WB) and plasma (POC/PL), a multielectrode blood gas analyzer with whole blood (BLG), and a standard laborat...
Diagnosis of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infections in horses in Sudan using ELISA and PCR. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in Sudan. The presence of antibodies against Babesia caballi and Theileria equi was determined in serum samples obtained from 158 horses raised in different locations in Sudan by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The B. caballi 48-kDa and the T. equi EMA-2 purified recombinant proteins were used as antigens in the ELISA test. Results showed that seven (4.4%) were positive for B. caballi and 80 (63.5%) were positive for T. equi. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays have been applied using primers targeti...
Substitution of human for horse urine disproves an accusation of doping*. In order to detect switching and/or manipulation of samples, the owner of a stallion asked our lab to perform a DNA test on a positive doping urine sample. The objective was to compare the urine DNA profile versus blood and hair DNA profiles from the same stallion. At first, 10 microsatellite markers were investigated to determine the horse identity. No results were obtained when horse specific markers were typed in the urine sample. In order to confirm the species origin of this sample we analyzed the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. This analysis from blood and hair samples produced reproduc...
Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for equine tendinopathy. Optimal management of tendon overuse injuries in equine and human athletes should avoid the formation of excessive scar tissue, regenerate normal tendon matrix, and reduce re-injury rates. We hypothesized that the implantation of marrow-derived stromal stem cells (BM-MSCs), in far greater numbers than are present normally within tendon tissue, would synthesize a matrix more closely resembling tendon matrix than scar tissue, and hence increase the capacity to return to performance successfully. This article reviews the technique used clinically in the horse and the current outcome data for hors...
