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.
McConnico RS, Weinstock D, Poston ME, Roberts MC.To determine whether quantification of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity could be a useful laboratory technique to detect granulocyte infiltration in equine intestinal tissues. Methods: Intestinal tissue (inflamed or healthy) collected from 16 age- and sex-matched Shetland Ponies. Methods: Intestinal tissue MPO activity was determined, and histologic assessment of adjacent specimens from healthy and inflamed intestine was done. Results: Intestinal tissue MPO activity and histopathologic score increased with time after castor oil challenge and peaked at 16 hours in an equine diarrhea model in whic...
Balasuriya UB, Snijder EJ, van Dinten LC, Heidner HW, Wilson WD, Hedges JF, Hullinger PJ, MacLachlan NJ.Virus derived from an infectious cDNA clone of equine arteritis virus (EAV030H) was intranasally inoculated into two stallions, neither of which subsequently developed clinical manifestations of equine viral arteritis (EVA). Virus was isolated from nasal swabs and mononuclear cells collected from both stallions =14 days p.i. and from the semen of one stallion only at 7 days p.i. Similarly, viral RNA was detected by RT nested-PCR in nasal swabs and mononuclear cells for =14 days p.i. and at 7 days p.i. in the semen of the one stallion. Both stallions seroconverted to EAV by 10 days p.i. and...
Hong CB, Van Meter PW, Latimer CL.A malignant rhabdoid tumour was diagnosed in the orbit of a 2-year-old Thoroughbred filly. The neoplasm, which was very aggressive, was present in nearly every part of the ocular and periocular structures and had spread to the lymph nodes of the head and neck, the salivary glands and the subcutaneous tissues around the eye. The neoplasm was composed of polygonal cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Many cells had a large, vesiculate, indented nucleus and contained a paranuclear globular inclusion. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions were seen to consist of whorls of intermediate filaments...
Denoix JM, Busoni V.The ultrasonographic anatomy of the accessory ligament of the superficial digital flexor tendon (AL-SDFT) in the horse is presented. Comparison between anatomical sections of isolated limbs and ultrasound scans of the distal antebrachium in sound horses enabled the authors to establish the normal reference ultrasonographic images of this structure. The AL-SDFT inserts 7-14 cm above the antebrachiocarpal joint on the palmaromedial aspect of the radius. Ultrasonographically it appears as an uniformly echogenic structure located deep to the median artery. The knowledge of ultrasonographic anatomy...
Dejardin LM, Arnoczky SP, Cloud GL.During impact, equine hooves undergo viscoelastic deformations which may result in potentially harmful strains. Previous hoof strain studies using strain gauges have been inconclusive due to arbitrary gauge placement. Photoelastic stress analysis (PSA) is a full-field technique which visually displays strains over entire loaded surfaces. This in vitro study identifies normal hoof strain patterns using PSA. Custom-made photoelastic plastic sheets were applied to the hoof surface. The hooves were axially loaded (225 kg) under level and varus/valgus conditions. Strain patterns were video-recorded...
Christley RM, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ, Reid SW, Hodgson JL.Cytological and bacteriological results from tracheal fluid samples obtained endoscopically using a telescoping, plugged catheter (TPC) were compared with results from samples collected by percutaneous transtracheal aspiration (PTA). The TPC technique and PTA were performed in random order on 9 healthy Standardbred geldings. Three weeks later the procedures were performed on the same horses in the reverse order. The presence of oropharyngeal contamination was determined by quantitative bacteriology and quantification of squamous epithelial cells (SEC)/ml sample. The relative numbers of macroph...
Freeman DE, Hungerford LL, Schaeffer D, Lock TF, Sertich PL, Baker GJ, Vaala WE, Johnston JK.Data from 116 mares that had caesarean section or vaginal delivery at 2 university hospitals were analysed in 5 groups, as follows: dystocia corrected by caesarean section, Group DCS (n = 48); elective caesarean section, Group ECS (n = 10); caesarean section concurrently with colic surgery, Group CCS (n = 8); assisted vaginal delivery, Group AVD (n = 22); and controlled vaginal delivery under general anaesthesia, Group CVD (n = 28). Survival rate in all mares that had caesarean section, excluding Group CCS, was 88% (51/58). All mares in Group ECS survived and Group CCS had the lowest survival ...
Katwa LC, Johnson PJ, Ganjam VK, Kreeger JM, Messer NT.Biosynthesis of endothelin-1 (ET-1), the most potent endogenous vasoconstrictor yet identified, is increased following myocardial infarction (MI) in man. Pathological events which occur in the connective tissues of the equine hoof during laminitis are similar in some respects, to changes occurring in the myocardial connective tissues following MI in man. The objective of this study was to determine whether ET-1 expression in connective tissues obtained from the hoof of laminitic horses is increased compared with tissues obtained from healthy horses. Expression of ET-1 in connective tissues of ...
Miller MM, Sweeney CR, Russell GE, Sheetz RM, Morrow JK.To determine effects of blood contamination on western blot (WB) analysis of CSF samples for detection of anti-Sarcocystis neurona antibodies, and on CSF albumin and IgG concentrations, albumin quotient (AQ), and IgG index in horses. Methods: Prospective in vitro study. Methods: Blood with various degrees of immunoreactivity against S neurona was collected from 12 healthy horses. Cerebrospinal fluid without immunoreactivity against S neurona was harvested from 4 recently euthanatized horses. Methods: Blood was serially diluted with pooled nonimmunoreactive CSF so that final dilutions correspon...
Hutchens DE, Paul AJ, DiPietro JA, Lock TF, Jones CJ, Rowley DD, Wallace RW.A controlled test was conducted to assess the efficacy bioequivalence of a single dose of 0.5% fenbendazole (FBZ) top dress pellets to a 10% FBZ suspension formulation (Panacur suspension 10%, Hoechst Roussel Vet). Thirty horses with naturally-acquired parasite infections, in replicates of three, were used. Strongyle egg per gram counts were not significantly different (P>0.1) between groups pretreatment, but FBZ treated groups were significantly different from the control group post-treatment. At necropsy, which occurred seven to nine days post-treatment, two methods of nematode recovery were...
Valiev AG, Valieva TA, Valeeva GR, Speranskiĭ VV, Levachev MM.The influence of essential fatty acids of mare's milk fat on the immunocompetent system and nonspecific resistance of male rats weighing 135-145 g was investigated after 6 weeks of feeding. Rats were fed with isocaloric purified diets containing 15% of test fat (in control--combination of lard and sunflower oil) which provide the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids equal to 0.76. An increase of immune responsiveness and nonspecific resistance in the group fed with the diet with mare's milk fat on day 6 after a single immunization of the animals with 5% sheep erythrocyte suspension was noted.
Gardelle O, Feige K, Geissbühler U, Geyer H, Schmucker N, Sydler T, Kaser-Hotz B.For the past 2 years computed tomography is used at the Veterinary School, University of Zürich. This new imaging modality enables the detection of abnormalities occurring in small and large animals which were previously not visible with imaging techniques. Subjects of this study were a foal and a small pony, both with suspected head trauma. Routine radiography could not explain any of the neurological deficiencies. In the first case a basilar skull fracture along with a focal brain hemorrhage was detected, in the second case multiple basilar skull fractures were seen. The computed tomographi...
Raabe ML, Issel CJ, Montelaro RC.We have previously demonstrated a high propensity for enhancement of virus replication and disease resulting from experimental immunization of ponies with a baculovirus recombinant envelope (rgp90) vaccine from equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). The current studies were undertaken to examine the correlation between the observed in vivo vaccine enhancement and in vitro assays for antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of EIAV replication. Toward this goal an optimized EIAV in vitro enhancement assay was developed using primary equine macrophage cells and used to evaluate the enhancement prope...
Kim KI, Yang YH, Lee SS, Park C, Ma R, Bouzat JL, Lewin HA.Historical records suggest that horses inhabiting the island of Cheju in Korea are descendants of Mongolian horses introduced in 1276. Other studies, however, suggest that horses may have been present on the island prior to the Mongolian introduction. To determine the origin of the Cheju horses we used a phylogenetic analysis of sequences of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop region, including tRNA Pro and parts of tRNA thr and tRNA Phe sequences (1102-bp excluding the tandem repeat region). Maximum parsimony and neighbor-joining trees were constructed using sequences determined for seven Ch...
Rush BR, Hoskinson JJ, Davis EG, Matson CJ, Hakala JE.To determine whether pulmonary distribution of aerosolized technetium Tc 99m pentetate is improved after inhalation of a single dose of albuterol sulfate in horses susceptible to recurrent airway obstruction (heaves). Methods: 6 horses with heaves and 4 horses with normal respiratory tract function. Methods: Images were obtained during ventilation of horses at baseline (maximal change in pleural pressure during tidal breathing [deltaPpImax] >15 cm H2O) and after aerosolized albuterol sulfate (360 microg) administration, with a 24-hour washout period between experiments. The deltaPpImax was ...
Carrasco L, Sánchez C, Gómez-Villamandos JC, Laviada MD, Bautista MJ, Martínez-Torrecuadrada J, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM, Sierra MA.African horse sickness (AHS) is a disease of equids, characterized by severe pulmonary oedema and caused by an orbivirus. To determine the role of pulmonary intravascular macrophages (PIMs) in the development of pulmonary microvascular changes in this disease, five horses were given an intravenous inoculation of 10(6)TCID50of serotype 4 of AHS virus. Viral replication was detected in endothelial cells, PIMs, interstitial macrophages and fibroblasts. Alveolar and interstitial oedema, and changes in pulmonary microvasculature, consisting mainly of the sequestration of neutrophils and the formati...
Frank N, Sojka JE, Latour MA, McClure SR, Polazzi L.To measure and compare concentrations of selected blood lipids before and after thyroidectomy in horses. Methods: 5 healthy adult mares. Methods: Mares were confirmed to be euthyroid. Thyroidectomy was performed, and hypothyroidism was confirmed. Selected blood lipid variables were measured before hypothyroidism was induced and weekly for 4 weeks after induction. Plasma concentrations of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) were measured. The composition of VLDL and LDL also was ...
Harkins JD, Karpiesiuk W, Woods WE, Lehner A, Mundy GD, Rees WA, Dirikolu L, Bass S, Carter WG, Boyles J, Tobin T.Mepivacaine is a local anaesthetic drug that is widely used in equine medicine and is classified by the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) as a Class 2 foreign substance that may cause regulators to impose significant penalties if residues are identified in post-race urine samples. Therefore, an analytical/pharmacological database was developed for this agent and its metabolites. Using an abaxial sesamoid local anaesthetic model, it was determined that the highest no-effect dose (HNED) for its local anaesthetic effect was 2 mg. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELI...
Koupai-Abyazani MR, Esaw B, Laviolette B.A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was used for the detection of etodolac in equine serum and urine. The method consisted of a one-step liquid-liquid extraction, separation on a reversed-phase (RP-18) column and detection using an ultraviolet detector. Additional confirmation methods included a HPLC coupled with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometer (APCI-MS). Free (unbound) etodolac and its conjugates were present in the samples. Concentrations of the drug in the serum and urine samples collected from four standardbred mares after a single oral administra...
Grulke S, Benbarek H, Caudron I, Deby-Dupont G, Mathy-Hartert M, Farnir F, Deby C, Lamy M, Serteyn D.Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a specific enzyme of neutrophil azurophilic granules with a strong oxidative activity. Thanks to a radioimmunoassay of equine myeloperoxidase, the authors have observed a significantly higher plasma level of MPO in horses operated for strangulation obstruction of the large intestine (n = 6) than in horses suffering from a non-strangulating displacement of the large intestine (n = 9). For the 2 groups, 3 phases were distinguished: reception (P1), intensive care (P2) and terminal phase (P3). The mean peak values of MPO for these phases were 121.6 ng/mL (P1), 168.6 ng/mL ...
Patton JF, Balasuriya UB, Hedges JF, Schweidler TM, Hullinger PJ, MacLachlan NJ.An avirulent, novel variant of equine arteritis virus (EAV; CA95G) was isolated from the semen of a persistently infected Standardbred stallion. The CA95G virus caused subclinical infection and seroconversion in susceptible horses, and virus was isolated only once from blood and nasal secretions collected from 6 experimentally infected horses. Sequence analysis of genes encoding the known EAV structural proteins shows that this highly attenuated strain of EAV is genetically similar to virulent field strains of EAV and, in particular, to a strain of EAV that was isolated during an outbreak of e...
Kappmeyer LS, Perryman LE, Hines SA, Baszler TV, Katz JB, Hennager SG, Knowles DP.A competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) was developed for detection of equine antibodies specific for Babesia caballi. The assay used recombinant B. caballi rhoptry-associated protein 1 (RAP-1) and monoclonal antibody (MAb) 79/17.18.5, which is reactive with a peptide epitope of a native 60-kDa B. caballi antigen. The gene encoding the recombinant antigen was sequenced, and database analysis revealed that the gene product is a rhoptry-associated protein. Cloning and expression of a truncated copy of the gene demonstrated that MAb 79/17.18.5 reacts with the C-termina...
Borchers K, Frölich K, Ludwig H.In blood samples of seven captive equid species from four German zoos EHV-1 specific antibodies were detected in 76% and EHV-4 specific antibodies in 73% of the 55 animals, whereas 93% were tested positive for EHV-2 and EHV-5, respectively. In only one blood sample from a Przewalski's wild horse EHV-4 DNA was amplified by PCR. From seven Przewalski's wild horses EHV-2, and from another one EHV-5 was isolated by cocultivation. The identity of the virus isolates was verified by PCR and restriction enzyme digestion.
Woodie JB, Ruggles AJ, Bertone AL, Hardy J, Schneider RK.To determine whether fracture fragment dimensions, suspensory ligament damage, and racing status at the time of injury were associated with outcome in Standardbred horses with apical fracture of the proximal sesamoid bone. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 43 Standardbred racehorses. Methods: Medical records, racing records, and radiographs were reviewed, and ultrasonographic findings were scored. Measurements of the fractured portion of the proximal sesamoid bone were made. Results: Seventy-four percent (32/43) of horses were pacers, and 26% (11/43) were trotters. Statistical differences...
Preuschoft H, Witte H, Recknagel S, Bär H, Lesch C, Wüthrich M.The functions of the most common head-gears for horses are analysed from a biomechanical point of view. With the exception of the stable halter are all of them designed to enlarge the tensile forces transmitted through the reins or the longe, and to concentrate the enlarged forces on sensitive parts of the horse's head: the nose, or the lips, mandible and tongue. Since the direction, duration and size of these tensile forces are the essential factors to modulate signals for controlling the horse, a device has been developed to measure, or at least roughly quantify these forces. The mechanical ...
Ousey JC, Rossdale PD, Dudan FE, Fowden AL.Enhanced adrenocortical activity in the fetus is related to the onset of parturition in many species. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of injection of fetal ACTH on gestational length and fetal viability in the horse. Pony mares (n=23) were studied from 300 days gestation. Seven control mares (Group 1) received three consecutive intrafetal injections of sterile water, while fetuses of a further 16 mares received Depot ACTH1-24. These mares were either allowed to foal spontaneously (Group 2, n=4) or delivery was induced within 3 days of the last fetal injection (Group 3, n=7); ...
Dixon JB, Allan D, West CR.Data are presented on lymphocyte transformation by phytohaemagglutinin in 20 normal horses. The logarithms of transformation ratios were found to have an approximately normal distribution, giving (for the transformation ratios themselves) a geometric mean of 23.6, a range of 1.92 to 97.3, and an estimated 95 per cent tolerance interval of 1.1 to 488. Analysis of variance on the logarithms of the transformation ratios gave a coefficient of variation of 140 per cent of the transformation ratios themselves for the variation between horses; whereas the coefficient of variation between duplicate sa...
Jones RS, Seymour CJ.The inhalational anaesthetic agent isoflurane was administered to 22 dogs and 21 horses undergoing a variety of surgical procedures. Satisfactory anaesthesia was produced in all the animals. The cardiopulmonary changes were similar to those observed with halothane. Rapid changes in the depth of anaesthesia were achieved and recovery from anaesthesia was rapid in both dogs and horses, which was a reflection of the relative insolubility of isoflurane. Recovery from anaesthesia in the horses was particularly smooth and rapid with the animals spending a greater part of their recumbency in the ster...
House JK, Smith BP, Wildman TR, Carrigan MJ, Kamiya DY.To determine the prevalence of Salmonella infections in horses at necropsy. Methods: Cross-sectional prevalence survey. Methods: 102 horses. Methods: Mesenteric lymph nodes were collected from horses that were necropsied. Horses had died or were euthanatized because of severe disease or at the request of the owner. Twenty-eight of the horses were racehorses euthantized following acute catastrophic injuries on the racetrack. Mesenteric lymph nodes were submitted for Salmonella culture via direct plating of tissue specimens on MacConkey agar and by use of 4 enrichment culture techniques that use...
Teale P, Houghton E.A screening procedure for anabolic steroid residues in horse urine has been developed based upon solid-phase extraction and gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis in the selected ion mode. For moderate sample throughput the method provides a viable alternative to radioimmunoassay screening and has advantages over the latter technique due to its flexibility, specificity and ability to detect a number of steroids in a single analysis. Full automation of the gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis is an additional feature of the methodology.
Uberti B, Pressler BM, Alkabes SB, Chang CY, Moore GE, Lescun TB, Sojka JE.To investigate the effects of heparin administration on urine protein excretion during the developmental stages of experimentally induced laminitis in horses. Methods: 13 horses. Procedures-Horses received unfractionated heparin (80 U/kg, SC, q 8 h; n=7) or no treatment (control group; 6) beginning 3 days prior to induction of laminitis. All horses were given 3 oligofructose loading doses (1 g/kg each) at 24-hour intervals and a laminitis induction dose (10 g of oligofructose/kg) 24 hours following the final loading dose (designated as 0 hours) via nasogastric tube. Serum glucose and insulin c...
Lemirre T, Santschi EM, Girard CA, Fogarty U, Janes JG, Richard H, Laverty S.The aetiology of equine medial femoral condyle (MFC) subchondral bone radiolucencies (SR) is unknown. Objective: Characterise the microstructural structural features of MFC SR in juvenile Thoroughbreds with microcomputed tomography (μCT) and histology. Methods: Cross-sectional post-mortem study. Methods: Distal femurs were collected at post-mortem. Conventional tomodensitometry was employed to scout for MFCs with and without SR lesions (SR+ and SR-, respectively). Group 1 were CT MFC SR+ and Group 2 age-matched SR- controls. Both underwent μCT and histological analysis. Group 3 CT MFC SR- fo...
Haardt H, Romero AE, Boysen SR, Lohnherr A, Tan JY.Abdominal organ displacement is a potentially life-threatening condition in horses. Primary care veterinarians commonly make referral decisions based on a combination of clinical and ultrasonographic findings. However, published studies describing the effects of transducer on identifying abdominal organ locations in horses are currently lacking. The objective of this prospective, methods comparison, pilot study was to compare organ identification using a high-frequency linear (transrectal) transducer and a low-frequency curvilinear (abdominal) transducer for transcutaneous abdominal ultrasonog...
Zhang XY, Robinson NE, Zhu FX.We tested the hypothesis that increasing intracellular levels of adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) increases acetylcholine (ACh) release from airway parasympathetic nerves. Muscle strips from equine trachea were preincubated for 60 min with 10(-7)M atropine, 10(-6)M neostigmine, and 10(-5) M guanethidine. The ACh release was evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS, 20 V, 0.5 ms, 0.5 Hz) and measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Agents known to increase cAMP, i.e., forskolin (10(-6) - 10(-4) M), 8-bromoadenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosp...
Asseged BD, Habtemariam T, Tameru B, Nganwa D.Deriving horse oocytes in the USA is hampered by the lack of abattoirs processing horse carcasses which could provide abundant quantities of ovaries from slaughtered mares. Therefore, several cloning industries in the USA are attempting to import cloned horse embryos from Canada. Like any agricultural commodity, cloned embryos pose a risk of introduction of exotic animal diseases into the importing country. Under such circumstances, risk assessment could provide an objective, transparent, and internationally accepted means for evaluating the risk. This quantitative risk assessment (QRA) was in...
Cuevas-Ramos G, Domenech L, Prades M.Postoperative reflux (POR) is a well-recognized complication after colic surgery in horses, particularly when presenting small intestinal pathology. Even though much has been written about the pathophysiology and management of POR, additional clinical studies are needed to better understand and anticipate this complication. The aim of the study was to provide clinical evidence of ultrasound findings in the postoperative period (three days). The study is based on transcutaneous abdominal ultrasounds of the caudoventral abdomen during the postoperative period (three days), in 58 horses, presente...
Uhlhorn H, Ekman S, Haglund A, Carlsten J.Thirty-five carpal joints from 20 standardbred trotters, age 1 to 7 years, all euthanized for nonorthopedic reasons, were examined to investigate the correlation between assessments of subchondral bone sclerosis in the third carpal bone from radiographs in the dorsoproximal-dorsodistal (DPr-DDi) projection and histomorphometric bone volume density measurements. The agreement between assessments of sclerosis from antemortem versus postmortem radiographs was also evaluated. Bones graded as sclerotic in the DPr-DDi projection had significantly higher bone volume density values for all areas of me...
Elbahi A, Kipar A, Ressel L.This report describes a series of four equine mast cell tumours (MCTs) with atypical morphological features. The tumours were 1-2 cm in diameter and mostly localized to the eyes (one eyelid, two conjunctiva). Histologically, they were composed of very large (up to 35 μm) round pleomorphic cells with a large central to paracentral nucleus and abundant granular cytoplasm. A large number of viable mature eosinophils were detected intermingled with the large round cells. Histochemical staining (toluidine blue and Perls' Prussian blue) and immunohistochemistry (KIT, mast cell tryptase, lysozyme ...
Graham JK.Methodologies to capacitate bovine spermatozoa, induce the acrosome reaction, and fertilize bovine oocytes in vitro have been established. The capability to do the same with stallion spermatozoa, however, is not available. Several different methods have been used to capacitate stallion spermatozoa with variable results. More basic research needs to be done to establish in vitro conditions necessary to capacitate and induce an acrosome reaction in stallion spermatozoa. Although much progress can be expected in this area, it is unlikely that the general practitioner will use these technologies i...
Newman AW.Clinical pathology results are only as good as the quality of samples and accompanying information submitted to the diagnostic laboratory. The frustration of nondiagnostic or equivocal test results can often be avoided by taking the time to follow sample handling and submission guidelines. This article discusses preanalytical errors that commonly affect the accuracy of hematology, chemistry, and cytology testing, and offers practical tips for preventing these errors and maximizing diagnostic yield.
Malik CE, Wong DM, Dembek KA, Wilson KE.To determine the accuracy of 2 interstitial glucose-monitoring systems (GMSs) for use in horses compared with a point-of-care (POC) glucometer and standard laboratory enzymatic chemistry method (CHEM). Methods: 8 clinically normal adult horses. Methods: One of each GMS device (Dexcom G6 and Freestyle Libre 14-day) was placed on each horse, and blood glucose concentration was measured via POC and CHEM at 33 time points and compared with simultaneous GMS readings. An oral glucose absorption test (OGAT) was performed on day 2, and glucose concentrations were measured and compared. Results: Glucos...
Franck T, Votion DM, Ceusters J, De La Rebière de Pouyade G, Mouithys-Mickalad A, Niesten A, Fraipont A, VAN Erck E, Goachet AG, Robert C, Serteyn D.Intense exercise in horses induces an increase of creatine kinase (CK) and stimulation of neutrophils which release the strong oxidant enzyme, myeloperoxidase (MPO) into the blood. It is not known whether active MPO is found in equine muscles and whether oxidant activity of neutrophils could affect muscular tissues and mitochondrial activity. Objective: Specific immuno-extraction followed by enzymatic detection (SIEFED) methods will be employed for the first time to assess both the normal range of MPO and mitochondrial complex I (MCI) activities in equine muscular microbiopsies and to study th...
Render JA, Harrington DD, Wells RE, Dunstan RW, Turek JJ, Boosinger TR.Giant cell tumor of soft parts was diagnosed in 6 horses 3 to 12 years old (mean, 6.8 +/- 3.5 years): 3 Quarter Horse geldings, 2 Standardbred mares, and 1 Standardbred stallion. The neoplasms developed as raised, solitary masses, approximately 1 to 4 cm in diameter, which were firmly attached to subcutaneous tissue of the neck (1 horse), shoulder (1 horse), thigh (2 horses), or stifle (2 horses). Excision was followed by local recurrence in 3 horses within 1 to 1 1/2 months. The neoplasms were firm and cut with resistance. On cut surface, they were white, with mottled red hemorrhagic areas.
Littlejohn A, Bowles F.Pressure curves obtained by cardiac catheterization of the pulmonary artery, right ventricle and right atrium of 9 horses and ponies with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were compared with those similarly recorded from 6 clinically normal control subjects. The mean pulmonary peak systolic, pulmonary minimum diastolic and ventricular peak systolic pressures of the COPD subjects were significantly higher (P less than 0,01) than the corresponding mean pressures of the clinically normal control subjects. The mean pressure calculated from pressure curves obtained from 8 Thoroughbreds i...
Gao Y, Hannan MA, Murata K, Rajabi-Toustani R, Nambo Y.Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) is gaining popularity. Ultrasound examination is used to decrease the abortion rate in horses. In this study, to monitor fetal well-being throughout the gestation for EAT, we measured fetal heart rate (FHR), fetal eye orbit (FEO), fetal gonad length (FGL), fetal kidney length (FKL), and the combined thickness of the uterus and placenta (CTUP) by ultrasonography in pony mares. Additionally, we measured the plasma progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) concentrations in pregnant horses using enzyme immunoassay. The FGL peaked at week 32 and then decreased to term, and...
Moeller BC, Flores L, Clifford A, Alarcio G, Mosburg M, Arthur RM.Methylphenidate is a powerful central nervous system stimulant with a high potential for abuse in horse racing. The detection of methylphenidate use is of interest to horse racing authorities for both prior to and during competition. The use of hair as an alternative sampling matrix for equine anti-doping has increased as the number of detectable compounds has expanded. Our laboratory developed a liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry method to detect the presence of methylphenidate in submitted samples. Briefly, hair was decontaminated, cut, and pulverized prior to liquid-liq...
Köhne M, Ille N, Erber R, Adib Razavi MS, Walter I, Aurich C.Progestin concentration in plasma during the early luteal phase is crucial for endometrial function and conceptus development. We hypothesized that periovulatory gonadotrophin treatment via support of luteal function affects endometrial gene expression in horses. Effect of age was analyzed as well. Shetland mares (n = 8, age 4-25 years) were assigned to the following treatments during five consecutive cycles in alternating order following a cross-over design: treatment hCG/-: preovulatory injection of hCG, but no gonadotrophin injection at detection of ovulation, treatment -/hCG: no preovulat...
Fielding CL, Magdesian KG, Carlson GP, Rhodes DM, Ruby RE.To apply the principle of sodium dilution to calculate the changes in the extracellular fluid (ECF) volume (ECFV) and intracellular fluid volume (ICFV) that occur during dehydration and rehydration in horses. Methods: 8 healthy horses of various breeds. Methods: Horses were dehydrated over 4 hours by withholding water and administering furosemide. Saline (0.9% NaCl) solution was administered IV during the next 2 hours (20 mL/kg/h; total 40 mL/kg). Horses were monitored for an additional hour following IV fluid administration. Initial ECFV was determined by use of multifrequency bioelectrical i...