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.
Hnátková Z, Vraný B, Hnátek J, Lettl A.The preparation of toxic cultures of Clostridium septicum is described, using an apparatus with a straight dialysis tubing, where the medium is filled both into the nutrition and cultivation space of the apparatus. Using the cultivation to nutrition volume rate 1:2, mean titre of lethal antigen in filtrates 3.86 limes mortis per mL and 300 dosis lethalis minima per Lm was obtained in comparison with the values of 2.22 and 150 respectively in flask filtrates. Native filtrates of dialyzed cultures were better antigens for hyperimmunization of horses than the culture filtrates from flasks.
Sławomirski J, Głuszak J.The studies performed on spinal cords of two horses revealed that cells of the nucleus of the own dorsal horn are present in all segments of lumbo-sacral part of the spinal cord. The nucleus is composed of two parts: basal and marginal. Basal part is composed of large and medium size cells situated in 2/3 of the lower part of the grey substance of the dorsal horn. The marginal part of the described nucleus is composed of elongated and spindle shaped cells situated along the dorsal margine of the grey substance of the dorsal horn. Continuity of the nucleus in lumbo-sacral part of the spinal cor...
Dubin A, Potempa J, Kurdowska A, Pajdak W, Koj A.Alpha-1-proteinase inhibitors isolated from plasmas of horse, ox, pig, rabbit and man were used for determination of some kinetic parameters of interaction with three horse leucocyte proteinases and bovine pancreatic trypsin and chymotrypsin. Effective molar ratio of enzyme-to-inhibitor, inactivation rate constant and inhibition constant were measured. In horse, ox, pig and rabbit two principal electrophoretic forms of alpha 1-PI could be distinguished. Both forms effectively inhibited trypsin but usually only one form reacted promptly and stoichiometrically with chymotrypsin and leucocyte ela...
Johansson IM, Anlér EL, Bondesson U, Schubert B.Two metabolites of meclofenamic acid have been isolated from equine urine. Both metabolites are found to be monohydroxylated forms of meclofenamic acid by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after extractive alkylation. The parent drug and the metabolites are separated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography on a Spherisorb ODS column, using methanol-phosphate buffer eluents and UV detection at 280 nm. The structure of the metabolites is discussed on the basis of LC, TLC and GC-MS data.
Kent MG, Shoffner RN, Buoen L, Weber AF.The XY sex-reversal syndrome occurs when a phenotypic mare is born that has the karyotype of a stallion. The syndrome is manifested by both genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity. The sex-reversed genetic condition occurs frequently within certain pedigrees where XY females have been found and can be readily detected by chromosome karyotyping. The phenotypic spectrum ranges from the feminine mare with a reproductive tract that is within normal limits to the greatly masculinized mare. Pedigree analysis suggests that there are two modes of inheritance: (1) an X-linked recessive or autosomal sex-...
Holmes JR, Henigan M, Williams RB, Witherington DH.The paper describes five cases of atrial fibrillation detected after racing. In four of them, the arrhythmia disappeared spontaneously within 24 h and they were regarded as paroxysmal in type. In the fifth case, which won its race, the arrhythmia persisted for at least 45 h after racing. It was therefore regarded as an example of persistent atrial fibrillation. It was then treated with quinidine sulphate which restored sinus rhythm. It would seem that paroxysmal atrial fibrillation may be a cause of sudden decrease in racing performance.
Johnson L, Nguyen HB.Stereological methods were employed in two experiments with adult stallions: to confirm seasonal variation in number of Sertoli cells and to characterize the annual cycle of the Sertoli cell population. In the first experiment, testes from 28 adult (4-20 years old) horses obtained in the non-breeding season (December-January) were compared to testes from 28 adult horses in the breeding season (June-July). Sertoli cell numbers were calculated from the nuclear volume density, parenchymal volume, and volume of an individual Sertoli cell nucleus determined by reconstruction of serial sections or f...
Kold SE, Hickman J, Melsen F.Four full thickness cartilage defects, two linear and two elliptical, and four subchondral cavity defects were created at the point of weightbearing of the medial femoral condyle in four experimental ponies. This study showed that subchondral bone cysts can develop following full thickness (cartilage only) linear cartilage defects at a weightbearing location. Subchondral bone cysts did not develop following the removal of an elliptical piece of cartilage, exposing the subchondral bone. Primary subchondral defects created in communication with the joint cavity did not heal by replacement with b...
Rando A, Di Gregorio P, Masina P.Horse DNA samples digested with PstI and probed with the rabbit beta 1 globin gene show three phenotypes determined by one fragment of variable length (about 5.1 or 3.3 kb). Family data demonstrate that these fragments segregate as Mendelian alleles. The frequencies of the two alleles are 0.66 for the 3.3-kb fragment and 0.34 for the 5.1-kb one. Another polymorphism has been detected with BamHI. Again three phenotypes determined by two alleles (fragments of 7.5 and 3.8 kb) have been observed. Allelic frequencies of the 7.5- and 3.8-kb fragments are 0.24 and 0.76 respectively. The two polymorph...
Hodgson DR, Rose RJ, Dimauro J, Allen JR.Biopsy samples were obtained from the middle gluteal muscle of 10 Thoroughbred horses undergoing a commercial race-training program. Samples were obtained before the program began and again after 6 and 12 weeks of training. All horses had raced at least once by the 12th week of training. Serial sections of muscle were examined histochemically for myosin adenosinetriphosphatase after either acid (pH 4.3 and 4.6) or alkaline (pH 10.3) preincubation, and then muscle fibers were identified as types I, IIA, IIB, or IIC. The oxidative capacity of individual fibers was assessed, using the reduced nic...
Eysker M, Jansen J, Mirck MH.Alternate grazing of horses and sheep as a control measure for gastrointestinal helminthiasis was studied in three grazing experiments in 1981, 1982 and 1983. Each year a group of three mare yearling Shetland ponies, which were kept on a small pasture from spring to autumn, were compared with a similar group which grazed a similar or the same pasture until July and were subsequently removed to a similar pasture which had been grazed by sheep from April to July. In addition both groups were treated with an anthelmintic when the latter group was removed to the sheep pasture. Pasture larval count...
Diaw OT, Bayssade-Dufour C, Pino De Morales LA, Albaret JL, Vassiliades G.Cercarial chaetotaxy of Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus (Paramphistomoidea), parasite of the Horse, is described. Cercariae were shed by experimentally infected Bulinus forskalii. This description is the first one of a Gastrodiscidae. The cercarial chaetotaxy of the Gastrodiscidae is quite different from those of Paramphistomoidea and Diplodiscidae.
Timoney JF.An R antigen of the group C streptococcus S. equi that cross reacts with a similar antigen of S. zooepidemicus has been identified and characterized. It is acid, heat and trypsin resistant, but pepsin sensitive and has an isoelectric point of 4.8. The amino acids in highest concentration are glutamic, aspartic, alanine, leucine, and valine. Bacterial components released in a French Press contain large amounts of R antigen, which is present also in culture supernatants and acid extracts. It has a molecular weight of about 82,000. Trypsin extraction of cells yields molecules of predominantly 56,...
Diesing L, Steuber S, Ahmed JS, Hörchner F.The sequential appearance of variable antigen types (VATs) of a clone of Trypanosoma evansi was studied in four ponies. Using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, VAT populations which had been isolated from parasitemic peaks of single ponies, were tested for specificity with serum samples collected from other ponies. When antibody activity was demonstrated in a combination of trypanosomes and serum, it was concluded that a major VAT appeared in common. In the serum of all animals antibody activity was demonstrated to all VAT populations isolated from the other ponies during the first 4 weeks ...
Katila T, Lock TF, Ely RW, Smith AR.The study was designed to determine differences between normal mares and mares with endometrial pathology in the inflammatory response after bacterial challenge. Six normal mares (biopsy category I) and 4 mares with pathological endometrial changes (biopsy category II) were given an intrauterine infusion of β-hemolytic streptococci on the second day of estrus. All mares had a similar kind of inflammatory response after the bacterial inoculation as assessed by rectal and vaginal examinations. There were no significant differences in the amount of discharge, uterine tone, uterine size and cervi...
Whyte A, Ockleford CD, Wooding FB, Hamon M, Allen WR, Kellie S.The establishment of a monolayer culture of cells derived from the girdle region of a 34-day-old donkey conceptus is described. These cells have had over 100 repeated passages in culture. Low levels of pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin (PMSG, eCG) could be detected in the cells by indirect immunofluorescence using some monoclonal anti-eCG antibodies, but the cells did not secrete eCG as measured by radioimmunoassay or inhibition of haemagglutination. There was marked nuclear polymorphism with binucleate and occasional multinucleate cells. The cells were strongly reactive with wheatgerm agglu...
Cheevers WP, Fatemi-Nainie S, Anderson LW.A retrovirus is spontaneously released into the culture medium of the equine sarcoid-derived MC-1 cell line. The MC-1 virus did not exhibit in vitro transforming activity or replication when tested on equine fibroblasts or a variety of other mammalian cell cultures. Complementary DNA, synthesized using detergent-activated MC-1 virus RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, detected homologous sequences in the DNA of an established equine dermal cell line and in the DNA of primary equine dermal fibroblasts. Iododeoxyuridine or azacytidine induced a replication-deficient endogenous retrovirus in the normal...
Doreau M, Boulot S, Martin-Rosset W, Robelin J.The milk and nutrient intakes of 21 nursing foals of heavy breeds (adult weight: 800 kg) were determined at 1, 4 and 8 weeks of age. Lactose intake increased (P is less than 0.01) from 1 300 g/day at 1 week of age to 1 800 g/d at 8 weeks; fat decreased (P is less than 0.01) from 400 g/d to 300 g/d and protein did not vary (600 g/d). Energy and nitrogen intakes did not depend on the source of energy in the mother's diet. Milk, energy and nitrogen intakes were well related (r = 0.74 to 0.81) with foal growth between 1 and 4 weeks, but not between 4 and 8 weeks. The composition of weight gain sho...
Meredith D, Elser AH, Wolf B, Soma LR, Donawick WJ, Lazary S.Frequencies of equine leukocyte antigen distribution were determined by complement-mediated cytotoxicity testing among populations of Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses, including animals affected with equine sarcoid and laminitis. A highly significant association is described between the presence or history of sarcoid lesions in Thoroughbreds and the expression of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-encoded antigens, W3 and B1. No association was found between antigenic expression frequencies and laminitis in either breed. These findings suggest that a strong relationship exists betw...
Skrabalak DS, Henion JD.Betamethasone and its major unconjugated metabolite, 6-beta-hydroxybetamethasone, were detected in equine urine by thin-layer chromatography and characterized by micro-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (micro-LC/MS). Their structures were confirmed by a combination of infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Palmieri G, Panu R, Asole A, Farina V, Sanna L, Gabbi C.The most developed and organized lamina running trough the biceps brachii muscle belly forms a well-marked tendinous intersection connecting the proximal tendon with the distal one. Moreover, the lacertus fibrosus arises from this lamina close to the distal tendon and blends with the fascia of the forearm and joins the extensor carpi radialis muscle. The nerve supply for the biceps tendinous intersection arises from the intramuscular rami of the musculo-cutaneous nerve, whereas the lacertus fibrosus is provided with some cutaneous rami of the same nerve. The biceps brachii tendinous intersecti...
Tate LP, Newman HC, Cullen JM, Sweeney C.Laryngeal surgery in the equine is customarily and routinely performed by means of a ventral laryngotomy incision. Such procedures are usually performed under deep general anesthesia with the horse in dorsal recumbency. The objective of this work was to determine the efficacy of an endoscopic approach coupled to a Nd:YAG laser fiber in performing arytenoidectomy. Arytenoidectomy is commonly indicated in the treatment of arytenoid chondritis and in the failure of prosthetic implantation for left laryngeal hemiplegia. This preliminary study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of the endo...
Todhunter RJ, Stick JA, Slocombe RF.The effects of 3 feeding techniques on healing of a cervical esophageal mucosal resection and anastomosis were investigated in 16 horses. Horses were fed a moistened pelleted diet 1 of 3 ways: 1) per os (n = 5), 2) by nasogastric (n = 5) or 3) by esophagostomy tube (n = 6) until the 14th postoperative day. The pelleted diet was then fed orally in all horses until euthanasia on the 60th postoperative day. Immediate postoperative feeding per os was unsatisfactory, as only 2 of 5 horses survived in this group. Endoscopic evaluation revealed that mucosal dehiscence of varying degrees occurred, wit...
Kamerling SG, Dequick DJ, Weckman TJ, Tobin T.Sensitive methods for measuring the analgesic, physiological and behavioural effects of opioids in the horse have recently been developed. Fentanyl, a prototypic mu-opiate receptor agonist, has been previously shown to produce a syndrome characterized by marked analgesia and locomotor stimulation as well as tachycardia, tachypnoea and behavioural arousal. To determine whether other opiate receptors mediate some of the actions of the narcotic analgesics in the horse, an agent with activity at kappa- and to lesser extent mu-receptors was studied using a vigorous experimental protocol. Like fenta...
Köhler H, Oberlojer HG, Schönbauer M.In the ampulla roof of the wave-like extending horse rectum the muscular coat is only weakly developed as a deltoid-shaped tuna muscularis area, thus forming a place of minor resistance. With regard to the degree of development of the muscular coat a rectal ampulla with a stable form and strong muscles can be distinguished from an ampulla with a labile form and weak muscles. The rupture of the intestinal wall in this region in the case of rupture-experiments as well as the frequent occurrence of diverticula reveals this area as being a place of minor resistance which requires extreme caution d...
Eysker M, Mirck MH.The distribution of inhibited early third stage Cyathostominae larvae in different parts of the large intestine of the horse was studied in 20 Shetland ponies necropsied in autumn 1982, 1983 and 1984. The location of the larvae in the large intestinal wall was studied by histological examination of the intestines of the eight ponies from 1984. Inhibited larvae were located predominantly and more or less equally in the caecum and the ventral colon. Generally fewer early L3 were in the dorsal colon. In 1984 a considerable proportion (mean 17%, range 9.7-36.9%) of the inhibited larvae was found i...
Cox JE, Redhead PH.The long term effect of a single injection of 6,000 iu of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) was studied in two pony stallions. Peripheral plasma samples were analysed for testosterone and oestrone sulphate. Testosterone concentrations were markedly elevated for five days after injection in both stallions. No adverse effects of these high concentrations were observed on concentrations later in the experiment. There was an initial increase in oestrone sulphate in one stallion, after which concentrations decreased to below pre-injection levels. The other stallion (whose initial oestrone sulphat...
Minamijima Y, Niwa H, Uchida E, Yamamoto K.In the past decade, mass spectrometry has become an important technology for protein identification. Recent developments in mass spectrometry allow a large number of identifications in samples; therefore, mass-spectrometry-based techniques have been applied to the discovery of biomarkers. Here, we conducted a proteomic study to compare the proteomes in sera between healthy Thoroughbreds and Thoroughbreds with respiratory disease associated with transport (RDT). We found that four proteins, apolipoprotein F, lipopolysaccharide binding protein, lysozyme and protein S100-A8, were upregulated, whi...
Dargatz DA, Salman MD.Epidemiology is a tool much like any other diagnostic tool that the practitioner uses as an aid in the complete physical examination of the group of animals. It can be used to generate a specific differential diagnosis list. Epidemiology is especially useful to design a disease control and prevention program by helping to elucidate the key determinants of disease occurrence.
Stern JA, Doreste YR, Barnett S, Lahmers SM, Baumwart RD, Seino KK, Bonagura JD.Sustained narrow-QRS tachycardia of three months duration and left ventricular systolic dysfunction were identified in a fifteen-year-old Quarter Horse. No underlying cause for the tachyarrhythmia was found and no predisposing structural cardiac lesions were evident by echocardiography. Intravenous diltiazem and lidocaine were administered without achieving successful conversion of the arrhythmia. Oral quinidine therapy converted the tachyarrhythmia to sinus rhythm. Ventricular systolic dysfunction and chamber dilatation subsequently resolved. As with other species, echocardiographic features ...
Van Hoogmoed LM, Snyder JR, Harmon FA.To evaluate the effect of 2 cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors on contractile activity of the circular smooth muscle layer of the equine dorsal and ventral colon. Methods: Samples of the dorsal and ventral colon obtained from 10 healthy horses. Methods: Full-thickness tissue samples were collected from the dorsal colon in the area of the diaphragmatic flexure and the ventral colon in the area of the sternal flexure. Samples were cut into strips oriented along the fibers of the circular muscle layer and mounted in a tissue bath system for determination of contractile strength. Incremental amount...
Houghton E.The methylated xanthines caffeine and/or theobromine are commonly encountered in drug-positive samples from racehorses and their metabolism and excretion in the horse and their analysis in urinary extracts has been of particular interest in this laboratory. Due to their polar nature the dimethylxanthines theobromine, theophylline and paraxanthine give unsatisfactory gas chromatographic performance and require derivatization prior to analysis by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The present paper describes a simple deuteromethylation procedure to render the compounds amenable to analysis by...
Emmerich IU.In 2014, no new active pharmaceutical ingredients were released on the German market for horses and food producing animals. One established veterinary active pharmaceutical ingredient is avaibable for an additional species. The analgetic buprenorphine (Buprenodale® Multidose) has additionally been authorized for horses. Furthermore, four new preparations with a new pharmaceutical form, one drug with a new formulation, new galenics and a new indication, respectively, have recently been released to the market. Furthermore, the prostaglandin F2α analoque luprostiol is available again.