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.
Doonan GR, Brown CM, Mullaney TP, Brooks DB, Ulmanis EG, Slanker MR.Several hundred Michigan horses were accidentally exposed to varying levels of monensin. Severity of effects was proportional to the level of feed contamination; sudden death resulted on at least two premises. Acute signs of cardiovascular impairment occurred on one premises having received feed containing over 200 grams of monensin per tonne. Gross and histological postmortem lesions consisted of acute myocardial necrosis. Although only circumstantially confirmed, investigations led to the suspicion that the source of poisoning was a ration formulation error in a feedmill in southwestern Onta...
Mendoza L, Marin G.Antigens and rabbit-antisera from holotypes of Pythium insidiosum and P. destruens were prepared to elucidate their antigenic relationship. The antigens and rabbit-antisera of P. insidiosum as well as P. destruens used as a reference system showed that both shared three precipitin bands in common. The antigen and rabbit-antisera of P. destruens and P. insidiosum used as a reference system against other strains isolated from humans and animals with pythiosis, also showed three precipitin bands in common. When we used sera taken from horses with proven pythiosis against antigens of P. insidiosum...
Troyer D, Howard D, Leipold HW, Smith JE.Southern blot analysis of equine DNA's digested with the restriction endonuclease Hinfl hybridized with a 32 PdCTP labeled human VNTR probe revealed a highly polymorphic pattern of restriction fragments upon autoradiography. The horses were unrelated individuals of the quarter horse breed. This heterologous probe can thus be used in the equine species for individual identification and pedigree analysis.
Voss KA, Norred WP, Plattner RD, Bacon CW.Currently there is no convenient bioassay to determine the potential toxicity of corn naturally contaminated with Fusarium moniliforme. A short-term bioassay would be useful for future investigations aimed at isolating as yet unidentified toxins produced by this fungus. Two groups of five male Sprague-Dawley rats were each fed one of two F. moniliforme contaminated corn samples, designated CS-1 and CS-2, that were associated with separate field cases of equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM). A control group, also consisting of five male rats, was fed uncontaminated seed corn. All animals survive...
Wood T, Tai CL, Taylor DG, Woods WE, Wang CJ, Houtz PK, Tai HH, Weckman TJ, Yang JM, Sturma L.Detomidine is a potent non-narcotic sedative agent which is currently in the process of being approved for veterinary clinical use in the United States. Since no effective screening method in horses is available for detomidine, we have developed an 125I radioimmunoassay for detomidine in equine blood and urine as part of a panel of tests for illegal drugs in performance horses. Our 125I radioimmunoassay has an I-50 for detomidine of approximately 2 ng/ml. Our assay shows limited cross-reactivity with the pharmacodynamically similar xylazine, but does not cross-react with acepromazine, epinephr...
Edwards DJ, Brownlow MA, Hutchins DR.Urine and blood samples were taken at the same time from normal adult horses presented for routine investigations to establish reference values for a variety of parameters reported to be useful in the clinical evaluation of renal function. Blood biochemical values were consistent with previous studies and had well-defined normal ranges. Parameters representing urine concentration and electrolyte excretion however, varied widely reflecting the ability of the healthy kidney to change the composition of urine in response to differences in environment and management. Percent creatinine clearance r...
Hurd H.A total of 28 components were detected in the free amino acid (FAA) pool of hydatid fluid from primary and secondary equine cysts, secondary ovine cysts and host plasma. Examination of data from equine cysts revealed that the majority of FAAs were present in significantly greater concentrations in secondary cysts, glycine being over 30 times more concentrated. Values for total carbohydrates and glucose did not, however, differ significantly and total protein content was greater in primary cysts. Comparison of the (FAA) pool of secondary equine and ovine cysts revealed strain variation. It was ...
Gibson KT, McIlwraith CW, Turner AS, Stashak TS, Aanes WA, Trotter GW.A retrospective study was made of 58 horses with open joint injuries admitted to the veterinary teaching hospital. Twenty-five (43%) were admitted within 24 hours of injury, 15 (26%) were examined 2 to 7 days after injury, and 18 (31%) were evaluated a week or more after the initial injury. The joints of the lower portions of the limbs most commonly were affected, with injuries that varied from puncture wounds to severe lacerations with soft tissue deficits. Diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical signs and results of synovial fluid analysis and radiography. Radiography was found to be an ...
Rossmanith W, Horvath E.After electrophoretic separation in SDS-PAGE structural proteins of the virus of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) were easily blotted by the semi-dry-blotting method onto nitrocellulose filters. Strips of these filters were used for antibody demonstration, and positive reactions thereof were intensified by a biotin-avidin-peroxidase system. Sensitivity of this system was so high as to allow readable interpretation of bands up to the dilution of 1:6,400 of a strongly positive serum. Frequently this procedure allowed to make a firm diagnostic Western-Blot diagnosis on far weaker equine sera. Inter...
Dumasia MC, Houghton E, Jackiw M.After homogenization of testicular tissue from stallions aged 1, 2 and 5 years, the unconjugated and conjugated steroids were isolated by a combined solvent-solid extraction procedure. The conjugates were further separated into glucuronides and sulphates by chromatography using Sephadex LH-20. After enzyme hydrolysis and solvolysis of the respective conjugate classes, the three extracts, unconjugated steroids, aglycones and solvolysed sulphates, were purified by chromatography using Kieselgel 60H columns. Five fractions were resolved from each extract; an aliquot of each fraction was derivatiz...
Furuoka H, Ito H, Hamada M, Suwa T, Satoh H, Itakura C.The endocrine cell components in the pancreatic islets of the following 4 pancreatic regions of the horse were investigated by immunohistochemical methods: lobus pancreatis sinister (left lobe); lobus pancreatis dexter (right lobe); and 2 regions of Corpus pancreatis (body), the duodenal lobe which lies along the cranial duodenal flexure and descending duodenum, and the intermediate lobe which is situated around the portal vein. The islets in the left and intermediate lobes contained a central mass of glucagon cells surrounded by insulin cells, a few somatostatin cells and sporadic pancreatic ...
Kayar SR, Hoppeler H, Lindstedt SL, Claassen H, Jones JH, Essen-Gustavsson B, Taylor CR.The relationship between maximal oxygen consumption rate (VO2max) and mitochondrial content of skeletal muscles was examined in horses and steers (n = 3 each). Samples of the heart left ventricle, diaphragm, m. vastus medialis, m. semitendinosus, m. cutaneous thoracicus and m. masseter, as well as samples of muscles collected in a whole-body sampling procedure, were analyzed by electron microscopy. VO2max per kilogram body mass was 2.7 x greater in horses than steers. This higher VO2max was in proportion to the higher total volume of mitochondria in horse versus steer muscle when analyzed from...
Inzana TJ, Iritani B.A group C latex agglutination reagent, included as the negative control in the PathoDx Strep A latex agglutination test (Diagnostic Products Corp., Los Angeles, Calif), was compared with culture for rapid detection of group C streptococci (Streptococcus equi, S. equisimilis, S. zooepidemicus, and S. dysgalactiae) from swabs of veterinary specimens. The overall sensitivity of the latex test was 78%, and specificity was 97.6%. Only 25% of S. dysgalactiae isolates were detected, thereby accounting for the relatively low sensitivity. Ninety-three percent of the group C streptococci other than S. d...
Yoshinari K, Yuasa K, Iga F, Mimura A.A growth-promoting factor for human myeloid cells was purified to apparent homogeneity from horse serum by a combination of gel filtration, blue Sepharose affinity chromatography, Mono Q anion-exchange chromatography, Mono P chromatofocusing and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The growth promoter was an iron-bound, single glycopolypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 84,000, an isoelectric point of 5.4 and an amino terminal sequence of Glu-Gln-Thr-Val-Arg-Trp-Cys-Thr-Val-Ser-Asn-His-Glu-Val-Ser-Lys-. According to the results of the amino acid sequence, iron bindi...
Saudek V, Atkinson RA, Williams RJ, Ramponi G.It has been proposed that combination of intraresidue, sequential and longer range nuclear Overhauser enhancements occurring in 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of protein chains folded in a helix show a regular characteristic pattern. As a test case the spectra of horse muscle acylphosphatase were searched for this pattern together with other typical signs of a helical conformation (i.e. chemical shift, coupling constants and slow 2H-H exchange). Two amino acid sequences complying with these requirements were found. Just a few amino acid spin system assignments were then sufficient to lo...
Saudek V, Williams RJ, Ramponi G.The solution structure of acylphosphatase determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is described. The results allow us to discuss the fold of the protein (101 amino acids), to correlate the exposure and the mobility of the backbone with the antigenicity, and to locate the active site.
Katila T, Oijala M, Kotilainen T, Väisänen K.Four subfertile mares (at least 2 barren years) were used as donors in an embryo transfer program. The embryo recovery rate was 50%, varying between 0-100. The transfer of 9 embryos resulted in the pregnancy rate of 44%. The efficiency of embryo transfer using subfertile mares is low. In this material 20% of flushings resulted in a pregnancy. Fyra subfertila ston (gatt galla i minst 2 är) användes som donatorer i ett program för embryot rans fer. Femtio procent av embryon tillvaratogs (varians 0–100%). Transfer av 9 embryon gav en dräktighetsresultat på 44%. Embryotransfer från subfert...
Staudacher G.23 horses and one donkey with congestive heart failure are treated with a standardized methyldigoxin dose (0.0032 mg/kg of body weight). The therapy is controlled by the serum concentration of the cardiac glycoside. 4 horses have a higher and 13 horses a lower serum concentration as necessary for therapeutic approach. The influence of additional diseases and medications is demonstrated. Finally a rule for the evaluation of the individual therapeutic glycoside-dose is given.
Marais J.The vascular architecture of the dermal laminae was studied by scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts. Ultrastructurally, the laminar vasculature consisted of arterioles, capillaries, venules and veins, arranged in a sheet-like network. Through the laminae, arterioles ran parallel to the solar surface and branched at two levels to form a continuous arteriolar arcade, parallel to the hoof wall. Capillaries originating from these arcades formed hairpin loops joining the marginal vein prior to forming an axially situated venous network. Additional capillaries were also given off...
Cymbaluk NF, Christison GI.The effects of diet and climate were assessed in 42 light horse weanlings over 30 wk. Horses were fed diets varying in energy and phosphorus content. Diets were predominantly forage (73 to 77.5%) or concentrate (62 to 62.25%) and had 2.65 or 3.09 Mcal DE/kg DM, respectively. Horses were weighed every 14 d. Group feed intakes and climatic variables were recorded daily. Dietary phosphorus content did not affect intake or gain. Horses fed forage diets ate 18% more (P less than .001) DM than horses fed concentrate, but DE intakes did not differ. Average DE intakes, 21.5 Mcal daily, were 33% more t...
Juneja RK, Sandberg K, Kuryl J, Gahne B.Two-dimensional agarose gel (pH 8.6)-horizontal polyacrylamide gel (pH 9.0) electrophoresis of horse serum samples, followed by general protein staining, revealed genetic polymorphism of an unidentified protein tentatively designated serum protein 3 (SP3). The SP3 fractions appeared distinctly when a 14% concentration of acrylamide was used in the separation gels. The 2-D mobilities of SP3 fractions were quite similar to that of albumin. Family data were consistent with the hypothesis that the observed SP3 phenotypes were controlled by four co-dominant, autosomal alleles (D, F, I, S). Evidence...
Bollwein A, Hänichen T.The cervical vertebral column of 103 horses of different age (42 weeks old fetus to 23 years) were examined with respect to age-related changes of the intervertebral disks. On gross examination the cervical intervertebral disks in the horse miss a pulpy nucleus but consist of a fibrocartilaginous tissue only, which is in contrast to literature. Age-related degenerative lesions as disintegration of connective tissue fibers leading to partial or complete loss of connection between the disks were found. In the more severe cases a yellow discoloration of the separated disks could be seen. Incidenc...
Schlater LR.Thirteen strains of a gram-negative, fermentative bacterium that produced gas from glucose were isolated from horses with a variety of clinical conditions. The morphological and biochemical characteristics of this bacterium are similar to those described for the family Pasteurellaceae. These strains appear to constitute a new taxon within the genus Pasteurella; however, the final taxonomic position of this group depends upon more detailed genetic studies. Case histories indicate that this bacterium may be a primary respiratory pathogen and may play a secondary role in various other disease con...
Pollock RV.Advances in digital technology have vastly increased the speed and content of information transfer. Equine practitioners of the future should be in contact with their office and other information resources at all times through an array of digital networks. Patients and practitioners alike should benefit from better information access.
Steenhaut M, Vlaminck K, Gasthuys F.RUPTURE of the stomach is a common complication of
gastric impaction and intestinal reflux or of gastric distention.
After rupture, the general condition of the horse deteriorates
and death follows within a few hours (Tennant, Wheat and
Meagher 1972; McIlwraith 1982).
Dietz and Wiesner (1982) state that partial rupture of the
stomach may result in severe blood loss with circulatory
collapse. In this report a partial rupture of the stomach was
surgically repaired during exploratory laparotomy.
Winder NC, Pellegrini A, von Fellenberg R.A peroxidase antiperoxidase technique was used to identify alpha 2-macroglobulin in formalin-fixed sections of normal equine lung and liver and in tissue sections and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from horses with various lung diseases. Equine peripheral blood leucocytes and bronchoalveolar lavage samples from clinically normal horses were negative for alpha 2-macroglobulin. It was concluded that liver and pulmonary macrophages may be potential sources of alpha 2-macroglobulin. Although alpha 2-macroglobulin may play a role in various chronic bronchointerstitial pneumonias of the horse, it is d...
Hacker DV, Buyukmihci NC, Franti CE, Bellhorn RW.The mydriatic effect of 10% phenylephrine was evaluated in 9 horses. Base-line pupillary size in mesopic conditions and during light stimulation was ascertained before application of pharmacologic agents. In study 1, 10% phenylephrine was applied to each eye (n = 5 horses). After 15 minutes, the pupillary size was determined in both lighting conditions. Phenylephrine was again applied to each eye, and after an additional 15 minutes, the pupillary size was determined. In study 2, 1% tropicamide was applied to each eye (n = 4 horses), and after 30 minutes, the pupillary size was determined in bo...
Wilson DG, Peyton LC, Wolf G.Three horses with equine sarcoids were treated with radical surgical excision and immediate split-thickness skin grafts. Graft take ranged from 50 to 100%, and the epithelial coverage attained resulted in an early functional repair. In no instance was there a recurrence of the sarcoid.
Baxter GM, Allen D, Farrell RL.LARYNGEAL haemiplegia is common in horses and most often
involves the left haemilarynx (Baker 1983; Haynes 1984).
Although specific processes have been incriminated in the
pathogenesis of laryngeal haemiplegia, most cases involve an
idiopathic distal axonopathy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The
purpose of this report is to describe a case of laryngeal
haemiplegia associated with an anomalous respiratory cyst. A
description of the lesion, method of surgical repair of the
laryngeal collapse and a proposed term to describe the
abnormality based on pathological and functional consider...
Sardari K, Kazemi H.To evaluation of clinical examination for differential diagnosis of navicular region pain from other forms of palmar heel pain in the forelimb in horses the present study was undertaken. Thirty four horses with lameness referable to the palmar aspect of the hoof based on their response to the palmar digital nerves analgesia were divided into 2 groups based on their response to both distal interphalangeal joint and navicular bursa analgesia. Horses that were profoundly improved by both analgesic blocks (distal interphalangeal joint and navicular bursa) were considered to have navicular region p...
Giraudet A, Hinchcliff KW, Kohn CW, McKeever KH.Plasma insulin concentration of many species has a characteristic early or acute-phase response in the minutes after IV administration of glucose. However, the plasma insulin response of horses soon after the IV administration of glucose has not been examined, whereas the more prolonged response has been evaluated. We examined the plasma insulin and glucose concentration responses of adult mares during the 30 minutes after rapid IV administration of glucose (0.33 g/kg of body weight). Plasma glucose concentration peaked at 664 +/- 54 mg/dl within 1 minute of cessation of glucose administration...
Cazalet E.The paper examines recent developments in the law which have extended criminal and civil liability for veterinary certificates of soundness. Criminal liability under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 is first considered. There follows a discussion of civil liability at common law and under the Misrepresentation Act 1967.
The paper then examines the standard of care required of a veterinary surgeon in preparing a certificate, and, after some general considerations, deals specifically with questions relating to the purpose of the examination, the extent of the examination, and testing for pheny...
of surveillance testing, April to June 2016Continuing reports of abortion due to equine herpesvirus type 1 infectionInternational disease occurrence in the second quarter of 2016These are among matters discussed in the most recent quarterly equine disease surveillance report, prepared by Defra, the Animal Health Trust and the British Equine Veterinary Association.
Dietz HH, Nielsen K.Four horses with a history of chronic diarrhoea and weight loss were studied. Three of them revealed malabsorption, as indicated by decreased absorption of D(+)-xylose. Three patients had distinct hypoalbuminaemia, and 131I-albumin turnover rates of these three horses were increased, compared to two normal control horses. However, the increases were not very marked, probably because actual signs of enteric disease were few in the patients, all of which were studied during convalescence. It is suggested that the observed hypoalbuminaemia is due to a gastrointestinal protein loss during the chro...