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.
Kotze SH, Van Aswegen G.The ileocaecal junctions of 5 horses and 2 donkeys were examined by using antisera to the following peptides: somatostatin, glucagon, gastrin, neurotensin, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Antisera to somatostatin, neurotensin and NPY demonstrated endocrine cells in the ileal- and caecal parts of the ileocaecal junction, while immunoreactivity for glucagon was demonstrated in endocrine cells of the ileal part only. Nerve cell bodies showing immunoreactivity to SP, VIP, CGR...
Milne EM, Doxey DL, Gilmour JS.Serum total lipids, lipoprotein fractions, triglycerides, cholesterol, phospholipids and free fatty acids were measured in horses with acute, subacute and chronic grass sickness (equine dysautonomia) and in colic cases. The values were compared with those of normal grazing and stabled horses. A marked individual variation occurred, but total lipids, triglycerides and free fatty acids were significantly higher than normal in grass sickness and colic cases with cholesterol was significantly higher than normal in grass sickness cases only. Pre-beta lipoprotein was significantly increased in colic...
Pyörälä S, Kotilainen T, Silvennoinen P, Hänninen U, Mero M, Kaartinen L.Serum tinidazole concentrations were monitored in five clinically healthy adult horses after intravenous (i.v.) and oral administration of the drug (15 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg, respectively). After i.v. administration, the mean residence time was 7.0 h, the elimination half-life 5.2 h and the body clearance rate 1.6 ml/min/kg. The distribution volume was found to be 660 ml/kg. After oral administration, the mean residence time was 8.5 h, the absorption half-life 1.1 h and the bioavailability essentially 100%. In view of the in-vitro sensitivities of various anaerobic bacteria, a dosage of 10-15 mg/...
Irvine CH, Sutton P, Turner JE, Mennick PE.Plasma progesterone concentrations were measured in 179 mares bled on alternate days commencing with a positive pregnancy diagnosis on Days 17 to 18 after ovulation and concluding on Days 42 to 45. During this period 17 mares (10 per cent) lost their pregnancies, 11 before Day 25. In 15 mares the timing of the pregnancy loss could be determined with adequate accuracy; in only one did a decline in progesterone precede the loss. Thus pregnancy loss between Days 17 and 42 was rarely caused by a fall in plasma progesterone.
Hinrichs K, Riera FL.Ten mares were used to investigate the effect of administration of prostaglandin F2 alpha on uterine tubal motility, as reflected by embryo recovery from the uterus 5 days after ovulation (day 0). Mares were assigned to 3 groups: group A, uterine flush for embryo recovery on day 7; group B, uterine flush for embryo recovery on day 5; and group C, uterine flush for embryo recovery on day 5, after treatment with prostaglandin F2 alpha (10 mg, IM) on day 3. Each mare was assigned to each group once. Embryo recovery rates for the 3 groups were: A, 6 of 10; B, 2 of 8; and C, 0 of 10. The embryo rec...
Reeves MJ, Vansteenhouse J, Stashak TS, Yovich JV, Cockerell G.A study was undertaken to evaluate the significance and mechanism of reperfusion injury in the equine large colon following 1 h of haemorrhagic strangulation obstruction (HSO) or ischaemic strangulation obstruction (ISO) and to assess the effect of treatment with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). ISO or HSO were created 40 cm from the pelvic flexure and maintained for 60 mins under general anaesthesia. Normal saline or 20 per cent DMSO (1 g/kg bodyweight) was administered intravenously 10 mins prior to the end of the ischaemic period. Four groups of four horses in a 2 x 2 factorial design were used....
Attenburrow DP, Flack FC, Portergill MJ.The technique of impedance plethysmography is described and its application to observation of lung volume changes in the horse at exercise is discussed. The results from horse at rest show that there is a close relationship between rate of lung volume change (flow rate) and the associated impedance changes during both inspiration and expiration. Impedance changes during exercise were related to inspiration and expiration by observation of associated respiratory sounds. Artefacts related to technical difficulties are also indicated.
Wood T, Weckman TJ, Henry PA, Chang SL, Blake JW, Tobin T.Our investigation of the urine of grazing horses at the University of Kentucky shows that the mean pH level is about 7.9, and if their diet is supplemented with grain, it is about 7.4. There appears to be no significant effect of time of day or year on urine pH levels in horses. However, horses taken from pasture and supplemented with grain in a stalled environment show a slight decrease in urine pH. Additionally, we investigated the effects of storage on pH levels. Equine urine samples appear to be quite stable with regard to pH for 48h, but then show a marked increase. Urine pH can have a gr...
Boy MG, Galligan DT, Divers TJ.Medical records of 82 horses with clinical signs of neurologic disease and histologic lesions suggestive of protozoal encephalomyelitis were reviewed. The presence of a protozoan parasite in the CNS was not influenced by prior treatment of the horse with corticosteroids. Prior treatment of horses with trimethoprim-sulfonamide alone or in combination with pyrimethamine resulted in a decreased number of horses in which a protozoan parasite was detected in the CNS at necropsy. The mean age of affected horses was 3.62 +/- 2.78 years, with male and Standardbred horses being overrepresented, compare...
Asmis R, Jörg A.Horse eosinophils preincubated with 3H-labelled acetate and stimulated with the Ca2+ ionophores ionomycin or A23187 form a radioactive compound, which we have shown to be 1-O-alkyl-2-[3H]acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (platelet-activating factor). We could detect no 1-O-acyl-2-[3H]acetyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine in the radioactive fraction. The formation of platelet-activating factor was strongly correlated to the generation of leukotriene C4, the main arachidonate metabolite in horse eosinophils, suggesting that platelet-activating factor and leukotriene C4 have a common precursor pool (1...
Beard WL, Robertson JT, Leeth B.Congenital frontal sinus cysts were found bilaterally in the frontal sinuses of a one-year-old miniature horse. Diagnosis was based on radiography of the head and cytologic examination of tissue aspirated from the frontal sinuses. The cysts were surgically removed, using a hinged bone flap technique bilaterally over the frontal sinuses.
Ekfalck A.A method was developed for separating different layers of the matrix of the equine hoof wall by dissection, and the layers were then analyzed with respect to their amino acid composition. The results were used to compare the biochemistry of hard keratinization (e.g., in the hoof wall matrix) and soft keratinization (e.g., in the epidermis of the skin). Hard keratinization differed from soft keratinization not only by its previously well known high incorporation of cystine, but also by considerable incorporation of tyrosine and threonine into the outer layers of the keratogenous zone and by the...
Ohshima K, Satake S, Ono M, Ajito T, Okada K, Numakunai S.A pathological study was performed on osteoarthrosis detected at autopsy in 20 horses whose ages ranged from 21 days to 17 years old. They were asymptomatic on the joints except in 3 animals, and autopsied after death or sacrificed due to accidental fracture or other diseases. Lesions of osteoarthrosis were recognized in all horses, which tended to increase in incidence and severity according to age. Lesions were concentrated at hinged joints such as the elbow, fetlock, and hock. Synovial fossae and ulcerative lesions were observed on each opposite articular cartilage, forming the so-called mi...
Love CC, Strzemienski PJ, Kenney RM.Serum concentration of ampicillin, a semisynthetic penicillin, was measured in mares at various time intervals up to 24 hours after intrauterine infusion of 3 g of ampicillin. Blood samples were drawn immediately before infusion and at 1-, 4-, 10- and 24-hour intervals after infusion. At postinfusion hour 24, two endometrial biopsy specimens were obtained to measure endometrial concentrations of ampicillin. Blood was drawn twice as part of the 24-hour postinfusion sample collection, once before removal of the biopsy specimens and again 5 minutes after removal of the biopsy specimens. After dru...
Manohar M.The present study was carried out on seven healthy ponies to examine the extent of blood flow in various inspiratory and expiratory muscles at rest and during maximal exertion as well as to determine the proportion of cardiac output needed to perfuse respiratory muscles during these conditions. Tissue blood flow was studied with 15 micron-diameter radionuclide-labeled microspheres injected into the left ventricle during steady conditions. The inspiratory and expiratory muscles comprised 2.41 and 3.05% of body weight, respectively, and received 6.17 and 3.75% of the cardiac output at rest. With...
Morris EA, Seeherman HJ.Forty-six racehorses with a history of poor performance underwent endoscopic evaluation of laryngeal and pharyngeal function while exercising on a high-speed treadmill. This evaluation allowed the definitive diagnosis of intermittent or continual upper respiratory tract obstruction as a cause of poor performance, as well as the documentation of the dynamic functional anatomy of the obstruction. Ten of the horses (22%) were determined to have a functional abnormality of the upper respiratory tract. These abnormalities included epiglottic entrapment (1 horse), persistent dorsal displacement of t...
May SA, Hooke RE, Lees P.Equine interleukin-1 has been produced from peripheral blood monocytes by stimulation with E. coli lipopolysaccharide. Sephacryl S200 gel filtration revealed a molecular weight of 17-18 kD. Chromatofocusing of the 17-18 kD peak identified four active fractions. Two major peaks were detected at pH 6.7 and pH 7, with smaller peaks at pH 6.3 and pH 5.9. The pI 7 molecule is probably the equine form of IL-1 beta.
Ostrowski SR, Gunter EW, Matte TD.During the course of an investigation into community lead poisoning near a secondary lead smelter in Jamaica, blood lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels were measured in 8 exposed and 6 (3 Jamaican, 3 US) unexposed donkeys and mules. The blood lead levels of 6 animals in the contaminated area ranged from 7.5 to 33 micrograms/dl (mean = 17.6 micrograms/dl), compared to 1.8 and 2.4 in unexposed Jamaican animals. More striking was the difference in zinc protoporphyrin levels; all 8 exposed donkeys and mules had values between 900 and 1890 micrograms/dl, compared with a range of 34-46 micrograms/dl...
Cullen LK, Steffey EP, Bailey CS, Kortz G, da Silva Curiel J, Bellhorn RW, Woliner MJ, Elliott AR, Jarvis KA.The effects of different arterial carbon dioxide tensions (PaCO2) on cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were studied in 6 male halothane-anesthetized horses positioned in left lateral recumbency. Steady-state anesthetic conditions (1.06% end-tidal halothane concentration) commenced 60 minutes following anesthetic induction with only halothane in oxygen. During atracurium neuromuscular blockade, horses were ventilated, and respiratory rate and peak inspiratory airway pressure were maintained within narrow limits. The CSFP and IOP were measured at 3 different leve...
Mollerach-Gobbi B, Retegui LA, Peña C.The immunochemical behavior of several fragments of equine growth hormone (eGH) was examined using competitive binding assays with antibodies (Abs) to eGH obtained from different sources. Antigenicity was detected within the sequences 5-72 and 73-123 by rabbit Abs to eGH and by three mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) produced by using bovine growth hormone as immunogen, but showing heteroclitic properties towards eGH. The polyclonal Abs to eGH also recognized as immunoreactive two smaller peptides corresponding to the amino acid residues 52-72 and 110-123. By contrast, the heteroclitic Abs to...
Bernard W, Reef VB, Clark ES, Vaala W, Ehnen SJ.Records of 6 horses with pericarditis were reviewed. Septic pericarditis was suspected in all horses, based on historic and clinical findings. In horses 1, 2, and 4, cytologic examination of the pericardial effusion revealed acute inflammation with severe neutrophil degeneration. In horses 3 and 5, cytologic examination of pericardial fluid revealed subacute inflammation with degenerated neutrophils, and in horse 6, chronic active inflammation, with well preserved neutrophils. In horses 1 and 3, bacteria were identified on cytologic examination of pericardial fluid. Results of microbiologic cu...
Ungar-Waron H, Braverman Y, Gluckman A, Trainin Z.Summer seasonal recurrent dermatitis (SSRD) or "sweet itch" is a seasonally occurring allergic dermatitis of horses provoked by biting midges. The allergic skin reactions have been attributed to allergens present in various Culicoides species. C. imicola is the suspected etiological agent of SSRD in Israel. Whole body extracts of this midge induced hypersensitivity reactions upon injection into susceptible horses and in this study attempts were made to define components of C. imicola which have immunogenic and allergenic properties. Immunogenic potency was evaluated by raising antisera to whol...
van der Velden MA, Rutgers LJ.During a 10 year period, 18 horses were treated surgically because of visceral prolapse after castration. Surgery was successful in six cases of omental prolapse and in eight out of 12 cases of intestinal prolapse. To minimise the risk of visceral prolapse, the authors prefer half-closed castration, with proper ligation of the parietal vaginal tunic, to open castration. If adequate treatment is started promptly, prognosis in cases of visceral prolapse is favourable.
Forster HV, Murphy CL, Brice AG, Pan LG, Lowry TF.The major objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that in ponies the change in plasma [H+] resulting from a change in PCO2 (delta H+/delta PCO2) is less under acute in vivo conditions than under in vitro conditions. Elevation of inspired CO2 and lowering of inspired O2 (causing hyperventilation) were used to respectively increase and decrease arterial PCO2 (Paco2) by 5-8 Torr from normal. Arterial and mixed venous blood were simultaneously sampled in 12 ponies during eucapnia and 5-60 min after Paco2 had changed. In vitro data were obtained by equilibrating blood in a tonometer at f...
Sutherland IH.Following the development of a unique claim structure encompassing both nematode and arthropod species, ivermectin was first introduced as a veterinary parasiticide in 1981. For cattle(c), sheep(s), horses(h) and pigs(p) injectable(c,s,p), oral(c,s,h) and topical(c) products are available delivering ivermectin at 200 to 500 micrograms/kg. Efficacy extends to nematodes of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, conjunctival sac and soft tissues. Among the arthropod parasites claims have been established for the biting fly Haematobia irritans(c), the screw-worm Chrysomyia bezziana(c), larva...
Liu IK, Cheung AT, Walsh EM, Ayin S.The functional competence of uterine-derived polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) from 28 mares was measured for migration responsiveness by use of a chamber (filter) assay. Uterine infection was induced with Streptococcus zooepidemicus in mares considered resistant to chronic uterine infection (Grade I). In sequential analysis of uterine flushings obtained from these mares 5, 12, 15, 20, and 25 h after infection was induced, PMNs showed an initial rise at 12 h (from 5), then a general decline in migration response and in concentration of cells per ml from 12 through 25 h post-inoculation. In ...
Meinders RI, Mendoza M, Dickey AN, Scholl EH, Hassan HM.We report the complete circular genome sequences of six strains and their plasmids, if any, from the fecal material of quarter horses at different ages.
Rossdale PD, Mayall ES.In the preceding 2 issues, March and May, editorials were presented
regarding the generality of peer review and the relationship of
authors to readership. In this issue, the outcome of peer review and
content of the Journal is considered as a logical end-point of
endeavours of authors and editors. Science is a hard taskmaster for
both of these participants; it is about what is; and not about what
would be nice, desirable or, even, applicable. The content of any
scientific Journal is presented in order to advance knowledge and is
thereby constrained by correspondingly strict disciplines...
Firth EC, Whittem T, Nouws JF.Six adult ponies were injected in the same intramuscular site with kanamycin sulphate (10 mg/kg). Two hours later, arthrocenteses of the right metacarpophalangeal, radio-carpal, intercarpal, tibio-tarsal and metatarsophalangeal joints were performed within 3 minutes. Arthrocenteses of the same joints on the left side were conducted 5 hours later. When expressed as a percentage of plasma drug concentration, differences in synovial fluid drug concentration between the joints sampled at 2 and 5 hours after injection were not detected.
Simon F, Laczay P, Móra Z, Lehel J.The target animal safety of a dexamethasone-prednisolone combination was studied on 12 horses divided into two groups of six each. One group of horses received the therapeutic dose of the combination (25 mg/animal dexamethasone pivalate and 75 mg/animal prednisolone) and the second group was given the threefold dose of it. The preparation was administered intravenously for 2 consecutive days. For assessment of safety a wide range of clinical, haematological, biochemical and urine variables were tested as laid down in the guidelines of the FDA. All horses treated by the therapeutic or the three...
Magnuson N, Perryman L, Wyatt C, Mason P.Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) occurs in horses of the Arabian breed and is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait1. Affected foals are severely lymphopenic with an absence of functional B and T lymphocytes.2 The few lymphocytes that can be found in affected foals resemble large granular lymphocytes (LGL) and can be grown long-term with media containing interleukin-2 (IL-2).3 The disorder is restricted to the lymphoid system, as other leukocytes are functionally and quantitatively normal.4
Sharma AK, Singh TP.Lactoferrin binds two Fe(3+) and two CO(2-)(3) ions with high affinity. It can also bind other metal ions and anions. In order to determine the perturbations in the environments of the binding sites in the N and C lobes and elsewhere in the protein, the crystal structure of oxalate-substituted diferric mare lactoferrin has been determined at 2.7 A resolution. The final model has a crystallographic R factor of 21.3% for all data in the resolution range 17.0-2.7 A. The substitution of an oxalate anion does not perturb the overall structure of the protein, but produces several significant changes...
Freeman DE, Kilgallon EG.To determine if venous strangulation obstruction (VSO) of the distal half of the equine small intestine would increase length of that segment. Methods: Halothane-anesthetized horses were assigned randomly to 3 groups of 5 horses: Group 1 (controls)--the entire small intestine was measured and rubber-shod clamps were applied to mark each end of the most distal 50% of the small intestine; Group 2--same procedure, except that VSO was induced in the distal 50% of the small intestine for 180 minutes; and Group 3--same initial procedure, except that VSO was induced for 90 minutes and followed by rep...
Baker SJ, Gerring EL.Impedance epigastrography was used to measure gastric emptying rates on two occasions in each of three foals. After smoothing of the raw data, emptying of water appeared to obey an exponential model. The mean emptying rate constant (SEM) was 0.171 +/- 0.038 min-1 (mean emptying half time 4.9 +/- 1.0 min).
Menozzi A, Pozzoli C, Poli E, Delvescovo B, Serventi P, Bertini S.We investigated the effects of nonselective muscarinic antagonist (atropine) and of selective muscarinic subtype 1 (M1), 2 (M2), 3 (M3) antagonists (VU0255035, methoctramine, pFHHSiD, respectively) on the contractions evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS) or by exogenous ACh in isolated horse bronchial muscle. Atropine completely inhibited neurogenic contractions in a concentration-dependent fashion, whereas selective muscarinic antagonists induced relevant modifications only at the highest concentration tested. Experiments with selective muscarinic antagonists in combination showed tha...
Knych HK, McKemie DS, Yim S, Stanley SD, Arthur RM.Given the potential for long-term inhibition of bone remodeling/healing and detrimental effects to horses in training, bisphosphonates are tightly regulated in horseracing. Hair has proven to be an effective matrix for detection of drug administration to horses and has been particularly effective in detecting drugs for a long period of time post administration. Thus, hair may prove to be a useful matrix for detection of administration of this class of drugs. The objective of the current study was to develop an assay and assess the usefulness of hair as a matrix for long-term detection of clodr...
Bauer B, Blank J, Heile C, Schein E, Clausen PH.A fence of black mosquito netting of 100 cm height, pre-treated with 80 mg/m2 of deltamethrin and UV-protected, was used to shelter horses from nuisance and biting insects on pasture in northern Brandenburg. The netting material was attached to the surrounding poles of the existing fences at a height of 15 cm above ground. Three trial groups were selected grazing in spatially separated areas with comparable densities of insect populations. One paddock was completely fenced apart from a wall of 170 cm height and 70 m length. The second pasture had only partial protection with 126 m (13.4%) of f...
Monzón CM.An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect antibodies against Trypanosoma evansi was evaluated using 90 different sera, obtained from naturally-infected horses. As negative controls, 218 sera from the T. evansi-free zone of Argentina, and 90 uninfected sera from the enzootic zone were used. The results of the ELISA were expressed in terms of percent positivity (PP) when compared with a positive primary reference serum, obtained from a horse experimentally-infected with T. evansi. The inter-assay coefficient of variation (CV), expressed as PP, was 44.7% for the negative con...