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.
Ginther OJ, Pierson RA.The morphological and pathological status of the uterus in mares was evaluated using a linear-array ultrasound scanner, and the ultrasonic properties of the uterus were characterized. The uterus was examined each day in 16 mares, beginning at mid-diestrus. The uterus was recorded as having an ultrasonic morphology characteristic of diestrus (endometrial folds not distinguishable), estrus (prominent endometrial folds) or an intermediate stage (folds only moderately distinguishable). The number of mares with an intermediate or estrous image increased gradually between day -7 (2 14 mares; ovulati...
Polley L.In an abattoir survey of 383 horses from the four western provinces of Canada and 240 horses from Washington, Montana and North Dakota prevalences of Onchocerca sp of 11.8% and 25.8% respectively have been demonstrated by umbilical skin specimen examinations. The results of this survey are discussed in relation to the parasite's natural history and its clinical significance in western Canada.
Kitamura N, Yamada J, Calingasan NY, Yamashita T.Endocrine cells immunoreactive for somatostatin, gastrin, glicentin, glucagon, secretin, cholecystokinin, motilin and neurotensin were identified immunocytochemically in the gastrointestinal mucosa of the horse. Somatostatin-, glicentin- and glucagon-immunoreactive cells were very numerous in the cardiac and fundic regions of the stomach, whereas most gastrin-immunoreactive cells were confined to the pyloric region. Somatostatin-immunoreactive cells also were detected in all portions of the small intestine while gastrin-immunoreactive cells were confined exclusively to the upper portion and gl...
Hodgson DR, Rose RJ, Allen JR, Dimauro J.Muscle biopsy samples were collected from the left middle gluteal muscle of horses participating in competitive barrier trials. Twelve horses were biopsied the day before and within 30 minutes of completion of an 800 m barrier trial. A further six horses were sampled the day before, and within 30 minutes of, completion of a 1200 m barrier trial. Serial muscle sections were examined histochemically for myosin adenosine triphosphatase activity after acid preincubation, to demonstrate type I, IIA and IIB fibres. The glycogen content in the individual fibres was assessed using the periodic acid Sc...
Townley P, Baker KP, Quinn PJ.An investigation of the landing and engorging sites of midges on a bait horse was made in Ireland as part of a project examining the aetiology of sweet itch. Ten species were recovered, seven of which engorged. Culicoides obsoletus and C dewulfi were the most commonly represented, accounting for 89.9 per cent of midges landing and 90.5 per cent of midges engorging. Only 4.69 per cent of midges attracted to the bait were C pulicaris. Overall, the preferential landing sites for midges were along the mane and lower leg regions. Few culicoides were attracted to the head, front and underside of the...
Bousfield GR, Ward DN.A method has been developed for the purification of equine lutropin (eLH) and equine follitropin (eFSH) from horse pituitary glands which attains high yields of both hormones in contrast to previous methods that were devoted to one or the other with inferior recovery of the hormones. Two-pass chromatography over CM-Sephadex was used to separate eLH from eFSH. Subsequent steps employing QAE (quaternary amino-ethyl)-Sephadex chromatography and gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200 produced highly purified hormone preparations. Yields of purified eLH and eFSH were 110 and 60 mg/kg of frozen pituitari...
Mullaney TP, Brown CM, Watson GL, Brandt LA.An apparently new and emerging fatal hepatic disease affecting foals is described. Characteristics included evidence of hepatic failure, marked biliary hyperplasia, hepatocellular necrosis and occasionally fibrosis. Generally, the features of the disease appear to differ markedly from other hepatic diseases of neonatal foals.
Zavy MT, Vernon MW, Asquith RL, Bazer FW, Sharp DC.Two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of exogenous hormone treatment on uterine luminal prostaglandin F (PGF). In the first experiment ovariectomized pony mares received either corn oil (21 days, n = 3), estradiol valerate (21 days, n = 3), progesterone (21 days, n = 3) or estradiol valerate (7 days) followed by progesterone (14 days, n = 4). Progesterone treated mares had higher (P less than .01) uterine luminal PGF compared with all other groups, and no differences were detected between other treatment comparisons. In Experiment II, uterine fluid was collected from 4 ovariectom...
Conner M, Kalica A, Kita J, Quick S, Schiff E, Joubert J, Gillespie J.Reoviruses have been isolated from a number of species including human, bovine, feline, canine and equine. In most species they seem to produce mild to inapparent disease. We have isolated a reovirus type 3 from a foal with diarrhea. The virus designated the Ralph strain has been propagated in both the MA-104 and A-72 cell lines. The strain produced cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in these cell cultures. Tissue-cultured virus fixed complement in the presence of reovirus antibodies, but failed to do so in the presence of rotavirus antiserum. By electron microscopy the viral particle measured +/- 6...
Silberzahn P, Rashed F, Zwain I, Leymarie P.An homogenate from cortical tissue of mare adrenals was incubated in the presence of tritiated pregnenolone. The (3H) androstenedione and the (3H) testosterone synthesized during the incubation were extracted, purified, and co-crystallized to constant specific activity in the presence of unlabeled carriers. The rate of conversion of pregnenolone to androstenedione and testosterone was of the order of 5 and 0.15 per cent respectively. The high ratio of (3H) androstenedione to (3H) testosterone observed in this study suggests that androstenedione is the main androgen produced by mare adrenals. I...
Kalpravidh M, Lumb WV, Wright M, Heath RB.The analgesic effects of butorphanol (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mg/kg), pentazocine (2.2 mg/kg), and butorphanol vehicle (0.04 ml/kg) were observed in 6 horses. These horses were instrumented to measure response objectively to painful superficial and visceral stimuli. The tested drugs were given IV according to a Latin square design. After preinjection base-line measurements were made, the analgesic effects were observed at 15 and 30 minutes and then at 30-minute intervals until postinjection minute 240. Analgesic effects of butorphanol were dose-related, with durations between 15 and 90 minutes...
Held JP, Oliver JW.A study was designed to assess the secretory response of thyroid glands in horses to an economically feasible dose (5 IU) of thyrotropin injected IV, and to establish valid blood sampling periods in cases in which thyroxine concentrations were different from base-line values. Significant (P less than 0.001) response (doubling or near-doubling of base line) occurred as early as 3 hours after thyrotropin administration, with peak response at 4 to 5 hours. It was concluded that administration of 5 IU of thyrotropin is economical and effective in the horse, with collection of a second blood sample...
Pearson JE, Knowles RC.In 1972 the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) established requirements that horses which had immunodiffusion antibody against equine infectious anemia could not be transported interstate. Forty-two states had regulations requiring that horses have a negative equine infectious anemia immunodiffusion test before movement. In order to standardize immunodiffusion testing, it was stipulated in the 1972 regulations that tests must be performed in approved laboratories. The approved laboratories were required to have personnel trained in the immunodiffusion test procedure, to follow the standard pr...
Thurmon JC, Steffey EP, Zinkl JG, Woliner M, Howland D.Xylazine given IV at doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg to mares caused a significant (P less than 0.05) dose-related increase in serum glucose concentration and urine volume. Serum glucose concentrations as much as 150 mg/dl were recorded in mares after they were given the largest xylazine dose. The greatest urine volume, similar to changes in peak glucose concentration, always occurred during the first hour after dosing with xylazine and averaged 1.82, 3.93, and 5.68 ml/kg/hour after the 0.5-, 1.0-, and 1.5-mg/kg doses, respectively, were given. Urine osmolality and specific gravity were signi...
Gillespie J, Kalica A, Conner M, Schiff E, Barr M, Holmes D, Frey M.From 105 field cases of diarrhea in neonatal or young foals, rotavirus was detected by electron microscopy (EM) and/or by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the feces of 65 foals on 16 different premises. ELISA was performed with Rotazyme test kits developed by Abbot and Company for the detection of rotaviruses. Twenty-four field isolates from the feces of diarrheic foals with equine rotavirus infection as ascertained by EM were placed in MA-104 cell cultures after pretreatment of the viral suspension with 10 micrograms ml-1 of trypsin and incorporation of 0.5 micrograms ml-1 or 1 mi...
Houghton E, Copsey J, Dumasia MC, Haywood PE, Moss MS, Teale P.As part of a continuing research program associated with the detection of anabolic steroid residues in horse urine, normal samples from entire male horses have now been investigated. Isomers of three C-18 neutral steroids; 4-estren-17-ol-3-one (1), estrane-3,17-diol (2) and an unsaturated estranediol having a possible structure (3), have been identified in urine samples from two male horses aged 8 and 14 years. Of these three steroids, compound (2) was not detected in the urine of a 2.5 yr old entire male nor in the majority of post-race urine samples from entire male horses average age 3.8 yr...
Issel CJ, Foil LD.There are several factors involved in the mechanical transmission of equine infectious anemia (EIA) virus by insects. Large hematophagous insects, especially tabanids, which feed from extravascular sites (ie, pool feeding) appear to be the most efficient vectors. The biology of the host-seeking and blood-feeding behavior of the vectors are important variables that have been overlooked in the mechanical transmission of pathogens like EIA virus. The biology, population levels, and diversity of the vectors, in addition to the clinical status and proximity of EIA virus-infected horses maintained w...
Thompson DL, Voelkel SA, Reville-Moroz SI, Godke RA, Derrick DJ.Effects of testosterone propionate (TP) treatment on plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) before and after an injection of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) were studied using ovariectomized cows and pony mares. An initial injection of GnRH (1 microgram/kg of body weight) was followed by either TP treatment or control injections for 10 (cows) or 11 (ponies) d. A second GnRH injection was administered 1 d after the last TP or oil injection. Concentrations of LH and FSH were determined in samples of plasma taken before and after each GnRH i...
Sellers AF, Lowe JE, Rendano VT.Transmission of intestinal content with respect to wall position and intraluminal pressure was studied using implanted catheters in portions of the haustrated left ventral colon and nonhaustrated pelvic flexure and left dorsal colon in 3 conscious, standing, and feeding ponies. Wall position and content movement was studied in 1 noncatheterized conscious pony that was standing and eating. When coordinated wall movements involving greater than or equal to 30 cm of adjacent colon were seen, point-to-point content movement accompanied intraluminal pressure peaks occurring in the same direction. N...
Altmeyer P, Holzmann H, Stöhr L, Koch HJ.White horses are subject to age-dependent coat depigmentation. They are dark gray or black at birth and lose their coloring between their second and fourth year. Beginning at about age 10 their coat takes on a characteristic silver-gray coloring. The purpose of this paper was to find out to what extent the endogenic alpha-MSH level changes with the change in pigmentation. alpha-MSH plasma levels were determined by radioimmunologic analysis in 3 age groups of white Camarque horses: age group 1 consisted of dark horses with a mean age of 1.2 years and a mean alpha-MSH level of 106.4 pg/ml +/- 18...
Henderson LL, Warren JC.Estradiol 17 alpha-dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.148) and estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.62) from horse placenta have been purified to homogeneity. Both enzymes are localized in the microsomal fraction and are solubilized in 1.5% sodium cholate. The 17 alpha- and 17 beta-dehydrogenases are separated by selective elution from hydroxylapatite with 0.5 and 1.0 M potassium phosphate, respectively. Subsequent purification is achieved by two affinity-absorption steps using reactive blue 2-agarose and estriol hemisuccinate-Sepharose. Homogeneous estradiol 17 alpha-dehydrogenase has a specific ac...
Desmadril M, Mitraki A, Betton JM, Yon JM.The unfolding-folding transition of phosphoglycerate kinase induced by GuHC1 was studied at equilibrium. Various signals were used to follow the transition: fluorescence emission, difference spectra, circular dichroism and enzymatic activity. The non-coincidence of transition curves obtained from different structural parameters indicate a deviation from a two-state process. The view that structural domains behave as independent "folding units" is critically discussed.
Abalaka SE, Audu Z, Kolawole VO, Adeyemo BT, Idoko IS, Okafor ROS, Oyelowo-Abdulraheem FO, Tags SZ, Ogbe AO, Sanni S, Jegede OC, Sani NA, Tenuche OZ....Schistosomiasis is a worldwide snail-borne parasitic infestation of man and animals with acute or chronic phases having devastating sequelae. The present case report focused on post-mortem examination of a cachexic Dongola stallion ( Linnaeus, 1758) in Abuja, Nigeria, that failed to respond to treatment. Typical dense collagenous granulomatous lesions with marked inflammatory responses and fibrosis occurred in the liver and several visceral organs of the horse along with other lesions indicative of systemic collapse. Special Ziehl-Neelsen and Periodic Acid-Schiff staining as well as microbial ...
Wong SS, Ngan AH, Riggs CM, Teng JL, Choi GK, Poon RW, Hui JJ, Low FJ, Luk A, Yuen KY.The newly described brittle tail syndrome causes weakening and breakage of the tail hair of horses. Extensive mycological and molecular studies showed that a novel fungus Equicapillimyces hongkongensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is the most likely cause of this syndrome. It is a septate branching hyaline mould which grows optimally at 30°C, requires nicotinic acid but is inhibited by cycloheximide, and specifically infects horse hair. Hyphae fill the core of infected hair shafts with short-necked structures resembling ascomata containing banana-shaped septate ascospore-like structures perforating th...
Klinkhamer K, Menheere PP, van der Kolk JH.Glucocorticoids are suggested to precipitate laminitis and induce insulin resistance in horses. Objective: To assess insulin sensitivity and the basal amount of glucose metabolized in equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Methods: The euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp (EHC) technique was performed in seven horses with a diagnosis of PPID based on the presence of hypertrichosis and positive dexamethasone suppression-test results comprising one gelding and six mares with a mean age of 21.1 ± 5.8 (SD; range 15-34) years. Results were compared with those from five negative (h...
Kútvölgyi G, Brabender K, Andersson M, Javkhlan A, Nagy S, Páble T, Egerszegi I, Hidas A, Soós I, Kovács A.The case of an 8-year-old, sexually active but infertile Przewalski's stallion (Equus ferus przewalskii) was studied. Besides the infertility, the stallion also showed permanent problems with its body condition, being obviously weaker than all the other group members. The horse was kept in a separate place for two years with 12 mares in its harem group (six mares had foals earlier); however, none of the mares covered got pregnant. Andrological and cytogenetic investigations revealed underdeveloped testes, arrested spermatogenesis, azoospermia, and XY/XXY/X0 mosaicism. We classify the case as a...
Spirito S, Campi S, Boquet M, Fernández H, Ferrari M.The aims of this study were to estimate the ability of the Feulgen reaction to identify equine sperm nuclei with different ploidy levels, to determine the frequency of haploid, diploid and polyploid sperm nuclei in the semen of fertile equines and to evaluate the relationship between the nuclear DNA content and the nuclear area. Determination of the ploidy level of Feulgen-stained spermatozoa using a scanning microspectrophotometer was very similar to the subjective estimations made with a light microscope. This indicates that the Feulgen reaction is a simple, inexpensive and reliable techniqu...
Poradowski D, Chrószcz A.The study consisted of the immunohistochemical analysis of fundic and pyloric mucosa in the equine stomach between the 4th and 11th month of gestation. The accessible material was classified into three age groups using the CRL method. The adult reference group was used to define potential differences between foetal and adult populations of gastric APUD cells. The samples were preserved, prepared, and stained according to the standard protocols. The immunohistochemical reaction was assessed using the semi-quantitative IRS method. The results were documented and statistically analysed. The most ...
Davies JV, Gerring EL.Motility patterns in the equine small intestine were investigated in eight ponies. Muscular activity was assessed by means of extramural strain gauge transducers, bi-polar electrodes and in three of the animals, fitted with Thiry-Vella loops, the transit of fluid. Circular muscle contractions were preceded by spiking superimposed on the slow wave and fluid transit in the loops correlated with both these events.
Rodrigues LT, Segabinazzi LG, Oliveira SN, Frasson M, Papa FO.Pregnancy rates after embryo transfer (ET) are disappointing in donkey species. This study aims to report two successful ET of mini-donkey embryos using Brazilian Northeastern jennies as recipients. Eighteen embryo flushes were performed 9 days post-ovulation in two non-pregnant mini-donkeys jennies (11 and 7 cycles per jenny). Eleven embryos (61%, 11/18) were collected and transferred to Brazilian Northeastern jennies 4-6 days post-ovulation by conventional (n = 6) or an alternative (n = 5) technique. The alternative method consisted of inserting a Polansky equine vaginal speculum smear...
Ketelaars HC, Peters JG, Anzion RB, Van Ginneken CA.The isolation, partial identification and quantitative determination of four guaiphenesin glucuronides in plasma and urine of the horse is described. The identity of the glucuronides was checked by UV and fluorescence spectrophotometry, by NMR spectrometry and by mass spectrometry after permethylation. The applicability of the procedure to pharmacokinetic studies is demonstrated.
Stanley SD, Moffitt K, Wiebe V.Equine practitioners should follow these recommendations when using compounded medications: (1) the decision must be veterinary driven, based on a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship and on evidence-based medicine; (2) compliance with the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994; and (3) use limited to (a) horses for which no other method or route of drug delivery is practical; (b) those drugs for which safety, efficacy, and stability have been demonstrated; or (c) disease conditions for which a quantifiable response to therapy or drug concentration can be monitored.
Meier HP.The genetic predisposition to navicular disease is proven nowadays, but otherwise, etiology and pathogenesis are still unclear. Causal therapy isn't possible and because of the poor prognosis, neurectomy is still of bearing. This operation was performed already 200 years ago, but in the middle of the last century, critical voices have been raised in regard to the surgical procedure and its indication both for medical reasons and breeding. Clear instructions for exclusion of diseased animals from breeding are also older than one hundred years. These facts call for ethic considerations which con...
Wong JK, Tang FP, Wan TS.The study of the metabolism of drugs, in particular steroids, by both in vitro and in vivo methods has been carried out in the authors' laboratory for many years. For in vitro metabolic studies, the microsomal fraction isolated from horse liver is often used. However, the process of isolating liver microsomes is cumbersome and tedious. In addition, centrifugation at high speeds (over 100 000 g) may lead to loss of enzymes involved in phase I metabolism, which may account for the difference often observed between in vivo and in vitro results. We have therefore investigated the feasibility of us...
Davies JV, Gerring EL.Small intestinal ischaemia is a cause of pain in man and horses. Occlusion of the vascular supply to Thiry loops in experimental ponies caused severe discomfort and loss of motility within a few minutes but these effects could not be reproduced by a similar procedure in intact gut preparations. However, embolisation of the mural vascular network produced ischaemia of the small intestine of anaesthetised ponies which led to a cessation of motility in the affected segments, though unaffected segments became hypermotile with a characteristic motility pattern. These results suggest the need for re...
Rubio-Martínez LM, Redding WR, Bladon B, Wilderjans H, Payne RJ, Tessier C, Geffroy O, Parker R, Bell C, Collingwood FA.Fractures of the medial intercondylar eminence of the tibia (MICET) are scarcely reported in horses. Objective: To report the clinical and diagnostic findings, surgical treatment and outcome in a series of horses presented with MICET fracture and treated with arthroscopic fragment removal. Methods: Multicentre retrospective case series. Methods: Case records of horses diagnosed with MICET fractures that had undergone surgical treatment were reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained from re-examination visits and/or owners. Results: Twenty-one cases were identified at 9 equine hospitals betw...
Fey K, Weiss R, Sasse HH.Both, the oral and intravenous application of two trimethoprim-potentiated sulfonamides induced measurable antibacterial activities in the feces of horses. With regard to the risk of antibiotic-induced alterations of the gastrointestinal flora, the route of application of potentiated sulfonamides seems to be of minor importance. The antibiotics used were Sulfadimethoxine/Trimethoprim (Trafigal 30% ad us. vet.) for oral and Sulfadoxine/Trimethoprim (Borgal 24% ad us. vet., both Hoechst AG, Frankfurt) for intravenous application. As recommended, both drugs were given in a dose of 20 mg per kg bo...
Jaussaud P, Courtot D, Doron P, Guyot JL.Chronopharmacokinetics of intravenous phenylbutazone in the horse was studied with the aim of antidoping control. Among parameters studied, the single one which seemed to depend on circadian rhythm was the elapsed time between the injection and the plasmatic peak. There was no relationship between the injection time and the both parameters: half-life and time required to reach the forensic level of 4 micrograms/ml. This later, and oxyphenbutazone/phenylbutazone ratio, should depend on individual factors. Therefore, the injection time should not be a main parameter for the phenylbutazone evalua...
Leung DKK, Wong ASY, Zhou QL, Wan TSM, Ho ENM.A non-target variable Data Independent Acquisition (vDIA) workflow based on accurate mass measurements using a Q Exactive OrbiTrap is presented for the first time for equine doping control testing. The vDIA workflow uses a combination of MS1 events (1 to 2) and multiple vDIA events to cover the analytes of interest. The workflow basically captures a digital image of a sample allowing all relevant MS1 and MS2 data to be recorded. In theory, the workflow can accommodate an unlimited number of analytes as long as they are amenable to the sample extraction protocol and fall within the mass limits ...