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.
Berhane Y, Elliott J, Bailey SR.Haemodynamic disturbances leading to ischaemia and reperfusion injury of the digit are thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of acute equine laminitis. Identification of physiological regulators of blood flow through the equine digit is important in identifying factors, which may predispose animals to laminitis. A method was developed to assess endothelium-dependent responses of the isolated Krebs-perfused equine digit by co-administration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) with vasodilator agents, carbachol (CCh), bradykinin (BK) and substance P (SP). Bolus co-administration of CCh (0.02-2...
Peyrou M, Bousquet-Melou A, Laroute V, Vrins A, Doucet MY.Enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin are two veterinary fluoroquinolones used to treat severe bacterial infections in horses. A repeated measures study has been designed to compare their pharmacokinetic parameters, to investigate their bioavailability and to estimate their absorbed fraction and first-pass effect by using plasma, urinary and metabolite data collected from five healthy mares. Clearance and V(d(ss)) were greater for enrofloxacin (mean +/- SD = 6.34 +/- 1.5 mL/min/kg and 2.32 +/- 0.32 L/kg, respectively) than for marbofloxacin (4.62 +/- 0.67 mL/min/kg and 1.6 +/- 0.25 L/kg, respectively...
Davis JL, Little D, Blikslager AT, Papich MG.Ussing chambers have been used to study the mucosal permeability of drugs in humans, rats and other species. This data can then be used to develop in vitro/in vivo correlations (IVIVC) for drugs based on the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). Due to the poor oral bioavailability of many drugs in the horse, this method may be useful for screening drugs before development to determine if they warrant further study. Cephalexin (CPX), marbofloxacin (MAR), metronidazole (MTZ) and fluconazole (FCZ) were chosen for this study based on the wide range of physicochemical properties and bioava...
Begg LM, Hoffmann KL, Begg AP.Cardiac troponin I is a potentially useful test to identify cardiac muscle damage in the horse. Measurements of cardiac troponin I from serum or heparinised plasma samples from 23 clinically normal Thoroughbred horses in race training were analysed through a standard Australian commercial laboratory using the ADVIA Centaur Assay. The cardiac troponin I concentrations were < 0.15 microg/L from all samples. The test was then validated using macerated equine myocardium. Cardiac troponin I concentration may be useful in determining whether poor performance in Thoroughbred horses is related to a...
Frank N, Andrews FM, Sommardahl CS, Eiler H, Rohrbach BW, Donnell RL.A combined dexamethasone (DEX) suppression/thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) test (DEX/TRH test) has been developed to evaluate horses for presence of a pars intermedia pituitary adenoma (PIPA), but to the authors' knowledge, the accuracy of this test has not been previously determined. Objective: The sensitivity and specificity of the DEX/TRH test can be determined by comparing test results with histopathologic examination findings. Methods: Age of 42 horses of various breeds ranged from 2 to 33 years. Methods: Plasma cortisol concentration was measured before and 24 hours after IV administ...
Venner M, Schmidbauer S, Drommer W, Deegen E.The aim of the study reported here was to compare complications of lung biopsy in horses and the quality of the lung specimens after biopsy using the manual Tru-Cut biopsy needle (TC) and an automated biopsy needle (ABN). For experiment 1, lung biopsy was performed in 50 horses with one instrument on one side of the thorax, and then with the other instrument on the other side. Postmortem examination was performed in 20 of the 50 horses. Coughing was detected in 10 of 50 horses and epistaxis was observed in 6 of the 50 horses. Endoscopy revealed bleeding into the airways in 16 of 49 horses and ...
Slocombe JO, de Gannes RV, Lake MC.The aims of studies in 2002 and 2003 on three farms with 76 foals naturally infected with Parascaris equorum were to (i) identify if the nematode was resistant to ivermectin and moxidectin, and (ii) confirm the effectiveness of fenbendazole and pyrantel pamoate for the parasite. Twelve clinical trials, each with a Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test, were conducted on two Thoroughbred and one Standardbred farms in southwestern Ontario, Canada. In each trial, Parascaris eggs/g feces were estimated for each foal pre- and post-treatment using the Cornell-Wisconsin double flotation and Cornell-McMaster...
Lopez AM, Hecker R, Mutwiri G, van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk S, Babiuk LA, Townsend HG.Previous studies have shown that protection against equine influenza virus (EIV) is partially mediated by virus-specific IgGa and IgGb. In this study we tested whether addition of a CpG ODN formulation to a commercial killed virus vaccine would enhance EIV-specific IgGa and IgGb antibody responses, and improve protection against an experimental EIV challenge. Thirty naïve horses were assigned to one of three groups and vaccinated as follows: 10 were given vaccine (Encevac TC4, Intervet Inc.) alone, 10 were given vaccine plus 0.25 mg CpG ODN 2007 formulated with 30% Emulsigen (CpG/Em), and 10 ...
Oku K, Ohta M, Katoh T, Moriyama H, Kusano K, Fujinaga T.We examined the influence of propofol infusion on cardiovascular system at the rate of 0.14, 0.20 and 0.30 mg/kg/min in six adult Thoroughbred horses. The cardiovascular parameters were heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), mean right atrial pressure (MRAP), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), pre-ejection period (PEP) and ejection time (ET). In order to keep the ventilation conditions constantly, intermittent positive pressure ventilation was performed, and the partial arterial CO(2) pressure was maintained at 45 to 55 mmHg during maintenance ...
Meyers RA, Hermanson JW.The soleus muscle of horses is rather diminutive with respect to the overall size of adjacent synergist muscles in the hind limb of the horse. Whether or not such a muscle might be vestigial or may be providing some essential function has not been determined. We have studied the horse's soleus muscle using histochemical (ATPase), immunocytochemical (myosin isoform identification), and SDS-PAGE analysis to demonstrate that it is largely composed of 100% type I, presumed slow-twitch fibers. Only one soleus muscle studied (out of 13 adult horses) contained any type II muscle fibers. Given this co...
Fielding CL, Brumbaugh GW, Matthews NS, Peck KE, Roussel AJ.To determine the pharmacokinetics and clinical effects of a subanesthetic, continuous rate infusion of ketamine administered to healthy awake horses. Methods: 8 adult horses. Methods: Ketamine hydrochloride was administered to 2 horses, in a pilot study, at rates ranging from 0.4 to 1.6 mg/kg/h for 6 hours to determine an appropriate dose that did not cause adverse effects. Ketamine was then administered to 6 horses for a total of 12 hours (3 horses at 0.4 mg/kg/h for 6 hours followed by 0.8 mg/kg/h for 6 hours and 3 horses at 0.8 mg/kg/h for 6 hours followed by 0.4 mg/kg/h for 6 hours). Conce...
Boscan P, Steffey EP, Farver TB, Mama KR, Huang NJ, Harris SB.To compare anesthesia-related events associated with IV administration of 2 novel micellar microemulsion preparations (1% and 5%) and a commercially available formulation (1%) of propofol in horses. Animals-9 healthy horses. Methods: On 3 occasions, each horse was anesthetized with 1 of the 3 propofol formulations (1% or 5% microemulsion or 1% commercial preparation). All horses received xylazine (1 mg/kg, IV), and anesthesia was induced with propofol (2 mg/kg, IV). Induction and recovery events were quantitatively and qualitatively assessed. Venous blood samples were obtained before and at in...
Hobbs SJ, Richards J, Matuszewski B, Brigden C.To develop and evaluate a marker cluster set for measuring sagittal and extrasagittal movement of joints in the distal portion of the forelimb in ponies. Methods: 4 ponies. Methods: 5 infrared cameras were positioned on a concrete walkway in a frontal-sagittal arc and calibrated. Four segments were defined: hoof, middle phalanx, proximal phalanx, and metacarpus. Rigid clusters with 4 retroreflective markers were placed on each segment. A static trial was recorded with additional anatomic markers on the medial and lateral joint lines. Those anatomic markers were removed, and kinematic data were...
Liska DA, Akucewich LH, Marsella R, Maxwell LK, Barbara JE, Cole CA.To determine serum pharmacokinetics of pentoxifylline and its 5-hydroxyhexyl metabolite in horses after administration of a single IV dose and after single and multiple oral doses. Methods: 8 healthy adult horses. Methods: A crossover study design was used with a washout period of 6 days between treatments. Treatments were IV administration of a single dose of pentoxifylline (8.5 mg/kg) and oral administration of generic sustained-release pentoxifylline (10 mg/kg, q 12 h, for 8 days). Blood samples were collected 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 20, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 hours after IV a...
Ray-Miller WM, Hodgson DS, McMurphy RM, Chapman PL.To compare recoveries from anesthesia of horses placed on a conventional padded stall floor or on a specially designed air pillow. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 409 horses (> 1 year old) that were anesthetized for surgical procedures during a 37-month period. Methods: By random allocation, horses were allowed to recover from anesthesia in either a foammat-padded recovery stall or an identical recovery stall equipped with a rapidly inflating-deflating air pillow. All recoveries were videotaped for subsequent analysis by an independent evaluator. Times to first movement, first attempt ...
Goetting-Minesky MP, Makova KD.In mammals, males undergo a greater number of germline cell divisions compared with females. Thus, the male germline accumulates more DNA replication errors, which result in male mutation bias-a higher mutation rate for males than for females. The phenomenon of male mutation bias has been investigated mostly for rodents and primates, however, it has not been studied in detail for other mammalian orders. Here we sequenced and analyzed five introns of three genes (DBX/DBY, UTX/UTY, and ZFX/ZFY) homologous between X and Y chromosomes in several species of perissodactyls (horses and rhinos) and of...
Airaksinen S, Heiskanen ML, Heinonen-Tanski H.Increased stabling of horses near to cities has led to interest in the environmental effects of paddocks. In this study, the contamination of horse paddocks was examined by determining the nutrient and micro-organism contents in the surface run-off waters and the electrical conductivity, pH and phosphorus, potassium and nitrate contents of top soils. Two open-stable paddocks were studied, one cleaned and the other left uncleaned, with a stocking density of 37.5 animalsha(-1) in both. The feeding and drinking places were the most contaminated areas of both paddocks. In spring, after seven month...
Wilson AD, Badnell-Waters AJ, Bice R, Kelland A, Harris PA, Nicol CJ.High carbohydrate diets can affect the health and behaviour of foals, but the mechanisms are not always fully understood. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of feeding a starch and sugar (SS), or a fat (oil) and fibre (FF) rich diet to two groups of eight foals. Diets were fed from 4 to 42 weeks of age, alongside ad libitum forage. Faecal pH levels did not differ significantly between groups and endoscopic examination showed that the gastric mucosa was healthy in both groups at 25 and 42 weeks of age. At 40 weeks of age, SS foals had significantly higher total blood glucose...
Liang CZ, Cao RB, Wei JC, Zhu LH, Chen PY.According to the antigenic analysis of equine arteritis virus (EAV) GL protein, one pair of primers were designed, with which the gene fragment coding the high antigenic domain of EAV GL protein was amplified from the EAV genome. The cloned gene was digested with BamH I and Xho I and then inserted into pET-32a and resulted pET-GL1. The pET-GL1 was transformed into the host cell BL21(DE3) and the expression was optimized including cultivation temperature and concentration of IPTG. The aim protein was highly expressed and the obtained recombinant protein manifested well reactiongenicity as was c...
Egenvall A, Bonnett BN, Olson P, Penell J, Emanuelson U.Our objective was to estimate the 5-year survival to death in insured warmblooded riding horses (as reflected by a life-insurance claim) in horses with or without at least one costly veterinary-care event (VCE) in 1997. We also determined the impacts of gender, age, previous diagnosis of veterinary claim, geographic variables, cost for veterinary claims and life-insurance value upon the survival. The design was a retrospective cohort study using a population of warmblooded riding horses insured in a Swedish animal-insurance company (Agria Insurance, P.O. 70306, SE-107 23 Stockholm, Sweden) in ...
Muscatello G, Gilkerson JR, Browning GF.The use of selective media to facilitate the isolation of Rhodococcus equi from environmental and clinical samples has aided studies of the ecology of R. equi and the epidemiology of disease caused by R. equi. Here, we compared the efficacy of two selective media (NANAT and modified CAZ-NB) for the recovery of six defined strains of R. equi and for the isolation and enumeration of both avirulent and virulent R. equi from 60 paired soil samples from horse farms using colony blotting and DNA hybridisation. No difference was found between the two media in the recoverability of defined strains of ...
Roig M, Segura J, Ventura R.A method to quantify metabolites of 17beta-nandrolone (17betaN) in boar and horse urine has been optimized and validated. Metabolites excreted in free form were extracted at pH 9.5 with tert-butylmethylether. The aqueous phases were applied to Sep Pak C18 cartridges and conjugated steroids were eluted with methanol. After evaporation to dryness, either enzymatic hydrolysis with beta-glucuronidase from Escherichia coli or solvolysis with a mixture of ethylacetate:methanol:concentrated sulphuric acid were applied to the extract. Deconjugated steroids were then extracted at alkaline pH with tert-...
Archer DC, Pinchbeck GL, Proudman CJ, Clough HE.Colic is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in domesticated horses yet many questions about this condition remain to be answered. One such question is: does season have an effect on the occurrence of colic? Time-series analysis provides a rigorous statistical approach to this question but until now, to our knowledge, it has not been used in this context. Traditional time-series modelling approaches have limited applicability in the case of relatively rare diseases, such as specific types of equine colic. In this paper we present a modelling approach that respects the discrete nature...
Jackson C, Collyer PB, Loynachan A.A stillborn full term foal was presented at necropsy. The dilated duodenum and the dorsal and ventral left colon and cecum extended into the thoracic cavity and were encased by a thin transparent membrane originating from the diaphragm. The congenital condition was diagnosed as a developmental anomaly with diaphragmatic eventration. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of diaphragmatic eventration in a Thoroughbred stillborn foal.
Hussey SB, Clark R, Lunn KF, Breathnach C, Soboll G, Whalley JM, Lunn DP.Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection is common in young horses throughout the world, resulting in respiratory disease, epidemic abortion, sporadic myelitis, or latent infections. To improve on conventional diagnostic tests for EHV-1, a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was developed, using primers and probes specific for the EHV-1 gB gene. Amplification efficiencies of 100% +/- 5% were obtained for DNA isolated from a plasmid, infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and nasal secretions from infected ponies. The dynamic range of the assay was 8 log10 dilutions,...
Franck T, Kohnen S, Deby-Dupont G, Grulke S, Deby C, Serteyn D.An original method called SIEFED (specific immunological extraction followed by enzymatic detection) was developed for the specific detection of the activity of equine myeloperoxidase (MPO). The method consists of the extraction of MPO from aqueous solutions by immobilized anti-MPO antibodies followed by washing (to eliminate proteins and interfering molecules) and measurement of MPO activity using a detection system containing a fluorogenic substrate, hydrogen peroxide, and nitrite as reaction enhancer. The SIEFED technique was applied to study active MPO in horse biological fluids and the ef...
Verheyen K, Price J, Lanyon L, Wood J.In order to gain insight into those training regimens that can minimise the risk of fracture in athletic populations, we conducted a large epidemiological study in racehorses. Thoroughbred racehorses provide a suitable model for studying fracture development and exercise-related risk factors in physically active populations. They represent a homogeneous population, undertaking intensive exercise programmes that are sufficiently heterogeneous to determine those factors that influence injury risk. Daily exercise information was recorded for a cohort of 1178 thoroughbreds that were monitored for ...
Renaudin CD, Kass PH, Bruyas JF.A table was generated, based on foetal ultrasonographic measurements in light breed mares, for each day of gestation beginning with day 100, to provide the predicted value of four biometric parameters: biparietal diameter (BPD), eye approximated volume (EyV), foetal aortic diameter (AortD) and femur length (FL). Using this table, day of gestation was successfully predicted in 23 Quarter Horses (QH) with known mating or ovulation dates. BPD, EyV and FL were the best foetal age predictors between 100- and 200-days gestation predicting within 2 weeks of the actual day of gestation, while BPD and...
Beadle RE, Guthrie AJ, Kou AH.A density-corrected ultrasonic pneumotachometer designed specifically for horses (UF202) was evaluated and characterized with the aid of a custom-built apparatus. UF202 provided voltage outputs for airflow through and gas density within the flowhead. Baseline stability for flow channel output (VUF202) was or = 0.9976). Under optimal conditions, VUF202 accuracy was determined to be +/- 1.00% FS and repeatability was +/- 0.78% FS. VUF202 resolution was 24 ml/s. The rise time for VUF202 was 18 ms, and the -3-dB point was 18 Hz; digital compensation provided a flat frequency response to 32 Hz. VU...
Schöniger S, Gräfe H, Wipplinger M, Schoon HA.In mares, placental diseases are a common cause of pregnancy failure and they can have an economic impact on the horse breeding industry. To our knowledge no published data on TLR expression in the equine placenta exist. This study examined the expression of TLR 2, 4 and 6 as transcript and protein in the placenta (chorioallantois) of 14 foals born alive. By PCR, all examined placental samples contained TLR 2, 4 and 6 transcripts. Using immunohistochemistry, trophoblasts and allantoic epithelium were immunopositive for TLR 2, 4 and 6 in all placental samples. The majority of placental samples ...
Peraza J, Hector RC, Lee S, Terhaar HM, Knych HK, Wotman KL.Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is increasingly used to treat painful conditions in horses but its ocular penetration has not been studied. Objective: To determine whether orally administered acetaminophen penetrates the aqueous humour of the normal equine eye and report an aqueous humour:serum acetaminophen concentration ratio in horses. Methods: In vivo experiment. Methods: Six privately owned horses with normal ophthalmic examinations weighing 568 ± 65 kg (mean ± standard deviation) and aged 11 ± 4 years were given 20 mg/kg acetaminophen orally every 12 h for a total of s...
Hoffman AM, Swanson LG, Bruns SJ, Kuehn H, Bedenice D.To determine whether tension of the girth strap of a saddle would sufficiently affect rib motion and reduce lung volume to alter pulmonary resistance in horses. Methods: 10 healthy adult horses. Methods: We used classical techniques to measure the effects of tightening a girth strap (15 kg of tension) on pulmonary dynamics during eupnea and hyperpnea in horses. Respiratory impedance was evaluated by use of oscillometry, and resistance and reactance data were partitioned into lung and chest wall components. Rib cage and abdominal contributions to tidal volume and minute ventilation were measure...
Wylie CE, Shaw DJ, Fordyce FM, Lilly A, McGorum BC.Equine grass sickness (EGS) remains a frequently fatal disease of equids in Britain. Since previous investigations of signalment- and meteorology-related risk factors for EGS have yielded some conflicting data, further investigation is warranted. Objective: To identify signalment- and meteorology-related risk factors for EGS in Scotland. Methods: Retrospective time-matched case-control study. Methods: This study was undertaken using data for 455 EGS cases and 910 time-matched controls that were referred to the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, and average UK Meteorological Office weat...
Goni JI, Hendrix K, Kritchevsky J.It is important to determine if a horse is shedding Salmonella spp., but a complete culture series can be cost prohibitive. Objective: Determine the optimal pooling technique to maintain high sensitivity of Salmonella spp. culture using spiked samples, and then demonstrate the efficacy of this protocol on clinical submissions. Objective: Pooled fecal samples are as sensitive as 5 individual cultures for the detection of Salmonella shedding. Methods: A single Salmonella-negative horse from the university herd, and 19 hospitalized horses. Methods: Salmonella-free fecal samples were spiked with d...
Donadeu FX, Ginther OJ.The role of the number of follicles and circulating immunoreactive inhibin in the decrease in plasma FSH concentrations that occurs during development of a follicular wave was studied in mares. All follicles > or = 6 mm in diameter were ablated by ultrasound-guided transvaginal aspiration of follicular fluid on day 10 after ovulation. During the subsequent wave, all follicles, the three largest follicles (three follicle group), the largest follicle (single follicle group) or no follicles were retained and the remaining follicles were ablated before they reached > 10 mm in diameter (n = 1...
Winston S, Fiscus S, Hesterberg L, Matsushita T, Mildbrand M, Porter J, Teramoto Y.The development of three separate rapid ELISAs for detecting antibodies in host serum to three different viruses is described. These include: 1. A direct antigen assay using enzyme labelled anti-canine Ig for detecting antibodies to canine parvovirus, 2. A competitive ELISA using a feline infectious peritonitis virus-specific monoclonal antibody labelled with enzyme, and 3. A competitive ELISA using an equine infectious anemia virus-specific monoclonal antibody and enzyme labelled antigen, p. 26. The utility and benefits of each of the three approaches is emphasized.
Wilkins PA, Lascola KM.Interstitial pneumonias encompass a wide variety of acute and chronic respiratory diseases and include the specific diseases equine multinodular pulmonary fibrosis and acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress. These diseases have been diagnosed in all age groups of horses, and numerous agents have been identified as potential causes of interstitial pneumonia. Despite the varied causes, interstitial pneumonia is uniformly recognized by the severity of respiratory disease and often poor clinical outcome. This article reviews the causal agents that have been associated with the developmen...
Gasa S, Makita A.Gangliosides were isolated from equine kidney and spleen, and their carbohydrate and lipid moieties were characterized. Among the long-chain bases, considerable proportions of trihydroxy bases (42.3 to 61.2% of the total bases), in which phytosphingosine was predominant were found in all the ganglioside classes. The other major base was sphingosine. Among the constituent fatty acids, long-chain acids (with a carbon number of more than 20), comprised approximately half the total acids, with some alpha-hydroxy and mono-unsaturated acids. By means of sequential hydrolysis with glycosidases couple...
Biggi M, Dyson SJ.OBJECTIVE To use high-field and low-field MRI to describe the anatomy of the proximal portion of the tarsal region (proximal tarsal region) of nonlame horses. SAMPLE 25 cadaveric equine tarsi. PROCEDURES The proximal portion of 1 tarsus from each of 25 nonlame horses with no history of tarsal lameness underwent high-field (1.5-T) and low-field (0.27-T) MRI. Resulting images were used to subjectively describe the anatomy of that region and obtain measurements of the collateral ligaments of the tarsocrural joint. RESULTS Long and short components of the lateral and medial collateral ligaments of...
Pailhoux E, Cribiu EP, Parma P, Cotinot C.In this study, cytogenetic analysis of an infertile mare revealed a 64, XY karyotype. The XY sex-reversed animal had a female phenotype with gonadal dysgenesis. Using Southern blot analysis, we tested for the presence of two Y-specific genes SRY and ZFY by using DNA isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes. The results showed that at least the DNA-binding domain of the SRY gene was deleted from the Y chromosome of the XY mare but that the ZFY gene was present on this chromosome.
Chiaradia E, Gaiti A, Scaringi L, Cornacchione P, Marconi P, Avellini L.To better define the species-specific antioxidant systems and to ascertain the influence of the intracellular redox status on the immune system of different animal species, we determined lymphocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity, plasmatic glutathione levels (GSH) and the effect of H2O2 on the responsiveness of lymphocytes to proliferative stimuli. Among the three species considered, sheep presented the lowest plasmatic GSH and the highest lymphocyte GSHPx activity. On the contrary, dogs showed an inverted pattern (high GSH - low GSHPx). Horses displayed intermediate values for both p...
James FM, Parente EJ, Palmer JE.A 1-day-old Standardbred foal with a history of extreme respiratory distress after birth consistent with upper airway obstruction was evaluated. A temporary tracheostomy tube was placed by the referring veterinarian. Results: On initial examination, there was evidence of hypoxic-ischemic syndrome, secondary to perinatal asphyxia. Endoscopy revealed obstruction of both nares at the level of the choanae; a diagnosis of bilateral choanal atresia was made. Results: The foal was anesthetized and underwent transendoscopic laser fenestration of the buccopharyngeal membranes. Three weeks after surgery...
Matthews GL, Keegan KG, Graham HL.To determine effects of tendon grip technique on in vitro surface strain measurements of equine deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) when loaded in tension. Methods: 12 hind limb DDFT from 8 adult horses (mean age, 9.8 years [range, 4.5 to 17 years]; mean body weight, 472 kg [range, 450 to 509 kg]), with no clinical evidence of hind limb lameness. Methods: After calibration, liquid mercury strain gauges were sutured to plantar surfaces of the tendons at distal (position 1), middle (position 2), and proximal (position 3) metatarsal regions. Each tendon was affixed to a materials testing machine (d...
Pass MA, Mogg TD.Amitraz and its active metabolite BTS27271 were given intravenously to ponies and sheep at equimolar doses of 1 mg/kg and 0.68 mg/kg, respectively, and the plasma concentrations of amitraz and BTS27271 estimated at various times thereafter. Amitraz was hydrolysed to BTS27271 in both species. Amitraz was undetectable in sheep plasma after approximately 5 min but persisted in the plasma of ponies for at least 90 min. The persistence of unmetabolized amitraz in ponies may have implications for the toxicity of amitraz in that species. The primary and secondary disposition half-lives of amitraz in ...
Rohlf CM, Garcia TC, Fyhrie DP, le Jeune SS, Peterson ML, Stover SM.Shear forces at the surface-hoof interface affect hoof slide, surface grip, forces transferred to the limb, and injury risk. However, the variation in shear forces among surfaces with different compositions have not been quantified. Shear ground reaction forces were measured on five dirt and seven synthetic arena surfaces. Cohesion/adhesion and angle of internal friction/coefficient of friction were calculated. Surface composition, surface temperature, cushion depth, and moisture content were also measured. The effects of surface material (dirt/synthetic) on shear properties were assessed usin...
Pan LG, Forster HV, Bisgard GE, Lowry TF, Murphy CL.Our purpose was to assess compensatory breathing responses to airway resistance unloading in ponies. We hypothesized that the carotid bodies and hilar nerve afferents, respectively, sense chemical and mechanical changes caused by unloading, hence carotid body-denervated (CBD) and hilar nerve-denervated ponies (HND) might demonstrate greater ventilatory responses when decreasing resistance. At rest and during treadmill exercise, resistance was transiently reduced approximately 40% in five normal, seven CBD, and five HND ponies by breathing gas of 79% He-21% O2 (He-O2). In all groups at rest, He...
Di Meo GP, Neglia G, Perucatti A, Genualdo V, Iannuzzi A, Crocco D, Incarnato D, Romano G, Parma P, Iannuzzi L.Gonadal dysgenesis and heterosexual conditions are often associated with sex chromosome abnormalities. In this study we report on 2 cases of abnormal sex development involving numerical sex chromosome aberrations in both horse and sheep. A 17-month-old Standardbred filly was sent to an equine fertility centre as an embryo donor due to its reduced size, being much smaller than a racehorse filly of the same age, which excluded it from an athletic career. External genitalia were clinically normal but manual palpation of the reproductive tract showed the presence of a small underdeveloped uterus a...
Hébert L, Touzain F, de Boisséson C, Breuil MF, Duquesne F, Laugier C, Blanchard Y, Petry S.Taylorella equigenitalis is the causative agent of contagious equine metritis (CEM), a sexually transmitted infection of horses. We herein report the genome sequence of T. equigenitalis strain MCE529, isolated in 2009 from the urethral fossa of a 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood horse in France.
Bellone RR.Advances in equine genetics and genomics resources have enabled the understanding of some inherited ocular disorders and ocular manifestations. These ocular disorders include congenital stationary night blindness, equine recurrent uveitis, multiple congenital ocular anomalies, and squamous cell carcinoma. Genetic testing can identify horses with or at risk for disease and thus can assist in clinical management. In addition, genetic testing can identify horses that are carriers and thus can inform breeding decisions. Use of genetic tests in management and breeding decisions should aid in reduci...
Hilton H, Aleman M, Madigan J, Nieto J.To describe the indications for, complications arising from, and outcome of horses that had standing lateral thoracotomy for pleural or pericardial disease. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n=16). Methods: Medical records (January 1990-December 2008) of sedated standing horses that had lateral thoracotomy were reviewed. Clinical and surgical findings, perioperative and short-term complications were recorded. Long-term (>6 months) outcome was determined through telephone conversations with owners and veterinarians. Results: Mean (±SD) horse age was 6.6±5.3 years (range, 1-15 years). ...
Stanley RL, Maile C, Piercy RJ.Muscle biopsy is increasingly used in equine veterinary practice for investigating exertional, inflammatory or immune mediated myopathies and unexplained muscle atrophy. Although formalin-fixed samples are often used, for complete evaluation, fresh-frozen tissue is required. Freezing muscle in veterinary practice is impractical: samples sent to specialist laboratories for processing are therefore susceptible to delays, potentially leading to artefact and compromising histological interpretation. Objective: Altered temperature, duration and hydration status influence the severity of storage-ind...
Rendle DI, Hughes KJ, Farish C, Kessell A.A 6-year-old Standardbred mare that presented with bilateral palpebral swelling and a left corneal ulcer was diagnosed with a multicentric T-cell lymphoma. Other clinical findings included submandibular lymphadenopathy and oedema, pharyngeal oedema and rhinitis. Prior to euthanasia the horse developed keratomalacia, the onset of which was coincidental with the use of high doses of topical and systemic corticosteroids. Although an unusual presentation, palpebral swelling should be considered as a clinical sign of lymphoma.
Allen BV, Blackmore DJ.The relationship between paired plasma and serum viscosity measurements and plasma proteins, including fibrinogen, were compared in 106 horses with both normal and abnormal serum protein levels. There is a highly significant positive correlation between serum viscosity and total serum proteins and total globulin levels. The difference between plasma and serum viscosity correlated well with clottable fibrinogen concentration. Albumin levels showed a negative correlation with plasma and serum viscosity, globulins and fibrinogen. Simultaneous estimation of serum and plasma viscosity improves the ...
MacAllister CG, Sangiah S.Thirty young ponies were examined endoscopically for evidence of gastric ulceration. Seven ponies had noninduced gastric ulcers present at the initial examination and were eliminated from the study. In an attempt to induce gastric ulcers experimentally, flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg of body weight, IM, q 8 h) was administered for 7 days to the 23 ponies with endoscopically normal gastric mucosa. During the 7 days of flunixin administration, 11 ponies developed gastric ulcers that were appropriate for study. The 11 ponies were randomly allotted to 2 groups. Group-A (n = 5) and group-B (n = 6) p...
Idrissi Bougrine S, Fassi Fihri O, el Harrak M, Fassi Fehri MM.A vaccination protocol involving three horses, with five repeated injections of inactivated serotype 4 African horse sickness virus, was undertaken to determine a possible threshold for the appearance of antibodies against the non-structural protein NS3. Using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, with the recombinant NS3 protein as an antigen, the authors detected a response to NS3 as of the second injection for the first horse and after four injections for the second horse. No response to NS3 was detected for the third horse. The results show that the inactivated vaccine is insuffic...
