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.
Baxter GM, Moore JN, Tackett RL.The in vitro responses of isolated vascular preparations of digital arteries and veins obtained from healthy anaesthetised horses were determined for dopamine and fenoldopam. The digital vessels were harvested, cut into 4 mm vascular segments, suspended in tissue baths and attached to force-displacement transducers. Dose-response studies between 10(-8) and 10(-4)M concentrations were performed for all drugs. The change in tension of each vascular ring was measured in grams of force. The reactivity between palmar and plantar digital vessels and baseline vascular responses were determined for do...
Pantke P, Hyland J, Galloway DB, MacLean AA, Hoppen HO.Equine plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) possesses both biological (in vitro bioassay, B) and immunological (radioimmunoassay, I) activities and the ratio of B:I varies with stage of the oestrous cycle. To estimate the contribution made by pituitary secretion and peripheral metabolism to changes in the B:I ratio, pituitary venous effluent and circulating plasma from 5 dioestrous and 2 oestrous mares were analyzed using both an in vitro bioassay and a radioimmunoassay. During dioestrus, LH was released in a pulsatile fashion with a frequency of 1.4 pulses/24 h and a pulse duration of 20-40 min (c...
Cain PW, Jones JH, Smith BL.A remote data sampling cart has been designed and built for studying environmental factors that produce stress in horses during transportation. This dedicated sampling cart uses an XT-compatible mother board powered by a 12 V battery, with customized BIOS and ROM program. Sampling is performed using two digital and eight A/D (bipolar, differential) channels in burst mode at a frequency of 1 kHz. Digitized data are stored on magnetic tape for retrieval after the experiment. Configuration of sampling parameters is accomplished via a serial communications link to a host computer, and is stored in...
Ledwozyw A, Kadziołka A, Jabłonka S, Tusińska E, Herbut M.The aim of this study was to investigate the platelet factor 3 activity in platelet-rich plasma of horse, cattle, sheep and pig, by the use of chromogenic tripeptide substrate H-D-Phenylalanyl-Pipecolyl-Arginyl-p-nitroanilide. Among species examined the highest activity of this factor was stated in pig, the lowest one in sheep. Chromogenic substrate test was 10 times more sensitive that Stypven clotting time test. Thus, the use of chromogenic tripeptide substrate is fully valuable in platelet factor 3 activity estimation in domestic animals.
Cocco MJ, Lecomte JT.A proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic study of horse apomyoglobin was undertaken in order to define the regions of myoglobin that are and that are not structurally affected by the binding of the prosthetic group. It was found that, in spite of the poor spectral resolution, a number of spin systems could be identified by using standard correlated methods. Four clusters consisting mostly of hydrophobic residues were detected by nuclear Overhauser spectroscopy, two of which involved the tryptophan side chains. Extensive similarities to nuclear Overhauser spectroscopy data collected on...
van Weeren PR.Kinematic gait analysis is a rapidly growing field of veterinary research promising to become even more important in coming years. All modern analytical techniques are based on the use of skin markers and are therefore prone to suffering from a biological error caused by the sliding of the skin over the underlying skeletal structures. To investigate this error skin displacement was quantified at 18 relevant sites using techniques designed to ensure simultaneous visualization of skin and underlying bone. Mathematical models for correction of skin displacement were formulated. Application of the...
Merkens HW.Forces occurring between the hoof and the ground during the stance phase (i.e. the ground reaction forces GRF) can be analysed using a force plate. The average of a number of five to stance time and body weight normalised GRF recordings (data) will provide 'representative' GRF patterns. These can be used for objective and quantitative evaluation of various forms of therapy in equine orthopaedics as well as for locomotion research during various forms of equestrian sports.
Murray MJ.Hypothyroidism was diagnosed in a neonatal Thoroughbred foal that was weak, hypothermic, and septicemic. Administration of thyroid-releasing hormone elicited attenuated increases in concentrations of free and total triiodothyronine and thyroxine, as compared with a clinically normal, age-matched foal. The foal died of apparent respiratory insufficiency, pre- and postmortem findings compatible with hypothyroidism included hypothermia, large thyroid glands with distended, colloid-filled follicles, and severe, diffuse atelectasis, with thickened alveolar septae and degenerating alveolar squamous ...
Muir WW, Reed SM, McGuirk SM.Intravenous administration of quinidine gluconate converted atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm in 9 of 12 horses. Twelve horses that were diagnosed by ECG to have AF were administered up to 11 mg of quinidine gluconate/kg of body weight in 1.0- to 1.5-mg/kg bolus injections every 10 to 15 minutes. The total dose of quinidine administered IV ranged from 1.8 to 5.8 g. Increased ventricular rate, apprehension, and mild depression were observed during treatment. Other signs of toxicosis were not observed. One horse was successfully treated with IV administered quinidine gluconate on 3 occasi...
Németh F.The aetiology and pathogenesis of navicular bone disease and sesamoidosis are discussed on the basis of findings reported in the literature and research. A marked similarity is found to be present between the clinical presentation, aetiology and pathogenesis of these two diseases. In addition, the intra and juxta-articular signs of degeneration as seen in these diseases are similar to those seen in various forms of arthrosis. Circulatory disturbances resulting from partial or complete arterial occlusion, caused by arteriosclerosis, are likely to play an important role in the cause of degenerat...
Dik KJ.Common soft tissue disorders of the equine carpus are fluctuating or firm soft tissue swellings, wounds and draining tracts. Survey radiography may show the size, position and origin of the swellings and reveals soft tissue calcification, accumulation of air and radiopaque foreign material. Contrast radiography enables accurate visualization of the size, shape, position and origin of fluctuating soft tissue swellings, demonstrates abnormal intersynovial communication and allows precise demonstration of the extent of puncture wounds and draining tracts. Ultrasonography allows differentiation be...
Klein WR.Squamous cell carcinomas of the bovine eye and equine sarcoids are briefly reviewed. A single injection of BCG into the tumour results in permanent regression of the lesion in 37 per cent of the cattle, regression followed by recurrence of the tumour in 26 per cent and in progressive growth of the tumour in 37 per cent of the cases. Recurrence may be prevented by repeated injection into the lesion. From 50 to 60 per cent of the cows will remain free from tumours. Equine sarcoids show a complete regression in 70-80 per cent of the cases. Tumours on the limbs show a less satisfactory response (l...
Kadir FH, Moore GR.Horse spleen ferritin, a spherical protein shell of 24 subunits, contains no haem when extracted. This contrasts with ferritins isolated from bacterial sources which have the capacity to bind up to 24 haem groups [(1990) FEBS Lett. 271, 141-143] via two methionine residues [(1990) Nature 341, 771]. Here it is shown that horse spleen ferritin can bind between 15 and 17 haems per 24 subunits with an apparent association constant of 2.2-3.2 x 10(4) M-1. The strength of haem binding appears to be unaffected either by the presence of the core or by the oxidation state of the haem. The demonstration...
Shawley RV, Mandsager RE.Positive-pressure ventilation is used to provide improved ventilatory support during anesthesia in the horse. Because of the horse's size and the physiologic changes it undergoes during anesthesia, however, the use of positive-pressure ventilation does not always provide the improvement seen in smaller species. Careful attention to respiratory rate, inspiratory pressure, and I:E ratio minimizes the negative aspect of IPPV on the cardiovascular system. The goal of future ventilatory techniques will be to improve oxygenation without cardiovascular compromise and to do so at a reasonable cost to ...
Huntington PJ, Forman AJ, Ellis PM.This paper reports the first isolation of equine arteritis virus (EAV) in Australia and serological evidence of exposure to EAV in Australian horses. Twelve Standardbred stallions imported from North America were found to shed EAV in semen. One hundred and seven stallions were tested for serum antibodies to EAV and 73% of Standardbred stallions tested were seropositive as compared to 8% of Thoroughbred stallions. Serum antibody was detected in 71% of Standardbred mares, 6% of Standardbred racehorses and 1% of Thoroughbred mares and racehorses. Examination of stored serums demonstrated that EAV...
Whetter L, Archambault D, Perry S, Gazit A, Coggins L, Yaniv A, Clabough D, Dahlberg J, Fuller F, Tronick S.A full-length molecular clone of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) was isolated from a persistently infected canine fetal thymus cell line (Cf2Th). Upon transfection of equine dermis cells, the clone, designated CL22, yielded infectious EIAV particles (CL22-V) that replicated in vitro in both Cf2Th cells and an equine dermis cell strain. Horses infected with CL22-V developed an antibody response to viral proteins and possessed viral DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, as determined by polymerase chain reaction assays. In addition, horses infected with CL22-V became persistently infe...
Friedrich A, Hagedorn HW, Schulz R.Due to their marked antiinflammatory effect, synthetic corticosteroids are used to mask illness, especially lameness in horses. The detection of these drugs in equine body fluids requires accurate methods, particularly where misuse of corticosteroids is suspected. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is well established as a reliable technique for the identification of drugs in biological fluids. Using GC/MS, we determined dexamethasone levels in horse urine and serum after intravenous application of a therapeutic dose. Dexamethasone was detectable, in serum for up to six hours, and in...
McCarthy PH.A detailed description is given of the structures forming the borders of Viborg's triangle and those structures contained within and adjacent to the triangle. Changes in the size, shape and prominence of these structures with changes of head and neck posture of the horse are also described.
Jorm LR.A questionnaire survey of 179 horse studs in New South Wales was conducted to estimate the incidence of strangles during 1985 to 1988, to identify risk factors for strangles outbreaks and to assess the effect of strangles vaccination. Forty-nine of the studs (27.4%) had at least one strangles outbreak during this period and 62 studs (34.6%) had at least one case of strangles. The average incidence of strangles was 2.1 cases per 100 horses per year. The risk of strangles increased progressively with the total horse population and rose markedly when more than 100 mares had been served in the 198...
Magno M.This review considers the similarities and difference between several animal species to determine which are most appropriate for studies of the human bronchial circulation in health and disease. The subgross anatomy of the sheep, cow, pig and horse appear to be similar to that of humans. These species have a major bronchial artery with a consistent location. In humans and other species, there is evidence of anastomoses between the bronchial and coronary circulations. The bronchial circulation provides nutrient supply to the neural structures of all species. The bronchial arteries themselves ar...
Evers P, Hoffmann B.This paper describes the use of hormone analysis in the diagnosis of adrenal cortex dysfunction in the dog, cat and horse. Analytical problems concerning the determination of corticosteroid levels are discussed and the pathology of adrenal dysfunction is briefly presented. The paper focuses on the problems in establishing physiological norms for adrenal function based on the established assays. Own experiences and other reported data are referred to.
Hildebrand S.In summary, neuromuscular blocking agents can be used safely and to advantage in equine anesthesia. Muscle-relaxant use in equine anesthesia has been helped by the development of new relaxants such as atracurium, which has a reliable and reproducible duration of action. There are certain cases that benefit particularly by the use of relaxants but their use is not limited to these cases. These cases involve horses that experience persistent movement and hypotension during anesthesia, are undergoing ophthalmic or abdominal surgery or fracture repair, or are severely ill. Horses receiving muscle ...
Payne RC, Sukanto IP, Graydon R, Saroso H, Jusuf SH.During an outbreak of trypanosomiasis in cattle, buffalo and horses on the island of Madura, a survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi in the region. Blood samples were collected from 130 cattle and 147 buffalo in 5 villages, whole blood was examined for trypanosomes by the microhaematocrit (MHCT) method and serum samples were subjected to an enzyme linked immuno absorbent assay to detect T. evansi antibodies. T. evansi was detected by MHCT in 50% of the buffalo examined and 13% of the cattle, while antibodies were detected in 47% of the buffalo and 30% of the ca...
Campbell-Thompson ML, Merritt AM.Equine gastric secretion was studied using a gastric cannula model after fasting (basal) and pentagastrin infusion. Gastric secretory rate, pH, osmolality, and electrolyte concentrations and outputs were determined over a 5-h period. Dose-response tests estimated that the maximally effective intravenous dose of pentagastrin was between 3 and 6 micrograms.kg-1.h-1. Basal secretory rate was 278 +/- 29 (SE) ml/15 min, and the pH was 2.00 +/- 0.31. Pentagastrin infusion at 6 micrograms.kg-1.h-1 increased secretory rate to 533 +/- 60 ml/15 min and decreased pH to 1.41 +/- 0.11. Basal gastric acid c...
Malalana F, Ireland JL, Pinchbeck GL, McGowan CM.Risk factors for a first episode of primary uveitis in horses have not been determined. In addition, disease progression and the proportion of horses that develop recurrence following the original episode are not known. Objective: To determine the risk factors for the development of a first episode of primary uveitis in horses in the UK and to document the proportion of cases that experience recurrence following this first episode. Methods: Prospective case-control longitudinal study. Methods: Horses with a first episode of primary uveitis between July 2014 and August 2018 were recruited to th...
Jabusch JR, Deutsch HF.The amino acid sequence of the high-activity equine erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase (CA-II) has been determined. Two different N-termini are noted, the C1 form having an N-acetyl-serine and the C2 form an N-acetyl-threonine. The sequence of the equine enzyme is most homologous to the human CA-II isozyme, with 224 of the 259 residues being identical.
Lunn DP.Monoclonal antibody technology has allowed the recognition and study of numerous leucocyte antigens in man and laboratory animals for over a decade. Numerous advances in the understanding of immune responses and immunopathology have resulted. In recent years equine researchers have started to develop similar reagents, which now offer a powerful tool to investigators of equine immunology and disease.
Weidenhöfer V, Martin H, Peters J.Since the late 9th century, scientific literature in Arabian language, based on the translation and compilation of works of the Classical, Persian and Indian culture considerably increased. This also applies to the field of veterinary medicine, as is illustrated by a number of hippological and hippiatric treatises. Affinities between texts on horse medicine in Antiquity and in Arabian literature have been mentioned by philologists, but the degree of dependence on classical texts could not be verified due to the lack of translations of the Arabian texts. In this respect, the oldest available te...
White SD, Affolter VK, Dewey J, Kass PH, Outerbridge C, Ihrke PJ.Cutaneous vasculitis was identified by histopathological findings in 72 equines. The most frequent clinical findings were crusts/scales and oedema of the legs with the most common underlying disease being photo-aggravated dermatitis. Common laboratory findings were anaemia, neutrophilia, hyperglycaemia and hyperglobulinaemia. Histopathological patterns were most commonly cell-poor and lymphocytic/histiocytic. While statistically supported treatment recommendations could not be made due to the large numbers of confounding factors, trimethoprim-sulfa antibiotics, corticosteroids, and/or resoluti...
Fintl C, Pearson GT, Mayhew IG, Hudson NP.The generation and maintenance of intestinal motility patterns involve the complex interactions of several components including the gastrointestinal pacemaker cells (interstitial cells of Cajal, ICC). Central to ICC function is the generation of rhythmic pacemaker currents, namely slow waves, which represent the rate limiting step for intestinal smooth muscle contractions. Currently, intracellular slow wave activity has not been demonstrated in the equine colon. Objective: To characterise the in vitro myoelectrical activity of the equine pelvic flexure using intracellular recording techniques....
King MR.Physiotherapeutic exercises aimed at stimulating motor control, flexibility, and stability are regularly employed in human physical therapy programs. Specifically, the use of such exercises has been shown to reduce both pain and reinjury. Pursuant to the equine patient, several core strengthening exercises and their role in activating deep epaxial musculature to subsequently improve postural motor control and alter thoracolumbar kinematics have been investigated. Both baited and passive exercises offer opportunities to facilitate stretching during dynamic phases and strengthening during static...