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.
Webb AI, Weaver BM.The solubilities of halothane at a concentration of 0.77% v/v in 5% carbon dioxide in air at 37 degrees C were determined for a variety of equine tissues. The mean values for the tissue/gas partition coefficients for visceral tissue taken from 36 horses were 5.42 for whole brain, 4.82 for grey matter, 7.41 for white matter, 4.18 for myocardium, 2.76 for lung, 8.51 for liver, 3.21 for kidneys, 2.66 for gastrointestinal tract, 1.77 for blood and 2.45 for spleen. The mean coefficients for eight different muscles taken from 23 horses ranged from 2.43 for extensor carpi radialis to 4.91 for psoas m...
Austin RJ, Dies KH.The protozoan, Klossiella equi was found in the kidneys of an aged Shetland mare raised in the Fredericton area of New Brunswick. This is the first published report of K. equi in a horse in Canada. The microscopic appearance of the parasite in the kidney is described. A brief discussion of other conditions seen in the horse is also presented.
Pascoe JR, Ferraro GL, Cannon JH, Arthur RM, Wheat JD.Of 235 Thoroughbred racehorses examined with a flexible fiberoptic endoscope within 2 hours of racing to determine the frequency of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), 103 (43.8%) had various degrees of hemorrhage in the tracheal lumen. Two of these horses (0.8%) subsequently had blood flow from the nostrils. Blood seemed to originate from the lung. Statistical analysis of frequency data for 191 horses which finished in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places did not show any relationship between EIPH and horse's age, sex, or finishing position. However, a trend toward an increased frequency of EIP...
Weaver BM, Webb AI.The halothane muscle/gas partition coefficients at 37 degrees C for 26 samples of eight different muscles from four horses were found to depend significantly on the fat content of the muscle sample with a regression coefficient of 1.913 (SEM 0.109) per per cent ether-extractable fat content. The blood/gas partition coefficients in 24 horses showed a significant dependence on plasma triglyceride concentration (regression coefficient 0.00084 (SEM 0.00033) per mg dl-1), an insignificant positive dependence on plasma free and total cholesterol concentration and, in a multiple regression analysis, ...
Carakostas MC, Moore WE, Smith JE.A procedure with chromium-51 (51Cr) as the cell label that maintains high-cell viability for studying granulocyte kinetics in horses is described. The procedure combines and modifies several methods for isolating leukocytes and granulocytes for use in the horse when a large volume of labeled cells is required. Also described is an improved technique for measuring granulocyte specific activity in large serial blood samples, using a Ficoll-sedimentation method. The procedure should be useful for determining granulocyte kinetics in the horse, the only major domestic species for which such data ar...
Purohit RC, Mysinger PW, Redding RW.A continuous series of electroencephalograms (EEG) was obtained from each of 6 mature horses which had been given xylazine and ketamine hydrochloride IV. Electrocardiograms and respiratory rates were also obtained. The EEG of the unsedated standing adult horse displayed a dominant fast activity in the range of 25-35 Hz, 5-30 microV superimposed over slower 1-4 Hz, 10-50 microV activity with occasional 10-14 Hz, 10-40 microV spindle-type activity. The xylazine-sedated horse displayed hypersynchronous EEG patterns, with the dominant activity being 1-3 Hz, 10-70 microV with overlying mixed freque...
Simpson CF, Buergelt CD.The alveoli of the lungs of 2 aborted foals contained elongated, dense bodies when examined histologically and by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. By light microscopy, the bodies (10 to 40 micrometers in size) stained intensely with the Gram stain, and up to 10 were present within an alveolus. Electron microscopy determined that such bodies were not cellular in origin but appeared to be a congealed fluid product composed of layers of fibrillar-like material. From the human literature, it was concluded that these intraalveolar bodies were probably congealed amniotic fluid.
Gunn HM.A modification of the histochemical reaction to demonstrate myosin adenosine triphosphatase activity in skeletal (striated) muscle was used to define the density of capillaries in transverse sections of 3 muscles (semitendinosus, diaphragm, and pectoralis transversus) of horses and dogs. Thoroughbred horses and Greyhound dogs, breeds noted for their speed in running, were compared with other members of their respective species. Thoroughbred cross horses were grouped with non-Thoroughbreds for comparison with Thoroughbreds. The area of muscle supplied by a capillary was remarkably similar in mu...
Orpin CG.Microscopic examination of horse caecum contents revealed vegetative growth of phycomycete fungi on particles of digesta, and uniflagellated cells similar to fungal zoospores in the liquid phase. Three morphologically distinct isolates of strictly anaerobic phycomycete fungi were obtained from the caecum contents and cultured in vitro. Two of the isolates were able to utilize a wide range of plant carbohydrates for growth, including alpha-cellulose, xylan and particulate starch, and extensively digested water-insoluble plant tissues.
Burrows GE.The response of the pony to increasing doses of Escherichia coli endotoxin was evaluated using intravenous and intraperitoneal administration models. Marked changes were seen in all parameters measured following endotoxin administration. Leukopenia (neutropenia, lymphopenia) and thrombocytopenia were not dose-dependent. Similarly, elevated plasma fibrinogen and altered glucose concentrations (hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia), pyrexia and increased lactate/pyruvate ratios were apparent at all endotoxin doses but were not dose related. The widely used packed cell volume and capillary refill time,...
Stover SM, Brown MP, Kelly RH, Farver TB, Knight HD.Six adult mares were given a single dose of aqueous suspension procaine penicillin G (300,000 IU/ml) IM at a dosage of 22,000 IU/kg of body weight (15.4 mg of penicillin G/kg). Serum, synovial fluid, peritoneal fluid, and urine penicillin concentrations were measured serially over a 48-hour period. The mean peak serum penicillin concentration was 1.42 microgram/ml at 3 hours. Penicillin was detected in synovial fluid and peritoneal fluid, which obtained mean peak penicillin concentrations of 0.62 microgram/ml and 0.58 microgram/ml, at 4 hours and 3 hours, respectively. These concentrations ste...
McCullagh KG, Silver IA.The historical development of "firing" as a treatment for various complaints in animals and man is followed from the first surviving written account by Vegetius (approximately AD 500) to the present day. Changing concepts as to the mechanism of action of the actual cautery are examined in relation to physiological understanding at various times and conflicting views and evident fallacies are discussed. It is of particular interest that firing of "sinewes" (tendons and ligaments) was expressly forbidden until the 18th century. It is concluded that "firing" is an outmoded practice for which ther...
McGuire TC, Perryman LE, Banks KL.Following the descriptions of immunodeficiencies in horses beginning in 1973, there has been considerable effort to develop methods for differential diagnosis and to determine the cause and prevalence of the disorders. In addition, the equine immunodeficiencies, especially combined immunodeficiency, have been studied from a comparative viewpoint with the goal of finding information applicable to similar diseases of children. Coincident with the development of knowledge about the immunodeficiencies per se, considerable information about several aspects of immunology has been obtained. It is the...
Lyons ET, Drudge JH, Tolliver SC.Antiparasitic activity of a micronized formulation of the benzothiazole compound, tioxidazole, at the dose rate of 11 mg/kg, was evaluated by the critical test method. Drug was given by stomach to 3 horses and on feed to 3 horses. Excellent removal activity was found for Strongylus vulgaris (100%) in 5 naturally infected horses, S edentatus (91% to 100%) in 5 horses, small strongyles (88% to 99%) in 6 horses, immature Oxyuris equi (100%) in 5 horses, and Parascaris equorum (100%) in 5 horses (a 6th horse had 10 small specimens present at necropsy). There was no measurable activity against bots...
Garcia P, Perot I, Loup B, Balssa F, Jaubert M, Delcourt V, Dujardin C, Popot MA, Bailly-Chouriberry L.Clodronate is a non-nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate drug approved in equine veterinary medicine. Clodronate is prohibited for use in competition horses; therefore, to set up an appropriate control, detection times and screening limits are required. The quantitative method in plasma consisted of addition of chloromethylene diphosphonic acid as internal standard. Automated sample preparation comprised a solid phase extraction with weak anion exchange properties on microplate. After methylation of the residue with trimethyl orthoacetate, analysis was conducted by high-performance liquid chroma...
Cheng HW, Chik TK, Weir J, Chan BP.Damage to the hyaline cartilage of the joint surface and osteochondral fractures are key factors leading to the development of osteoarthritis in racehorses, representing a significant cause of racehorse retirement. To tissue-engineer an osteochondral unit that is suitable for joint repair, incorporation of a zone of calcified cartilage should be considered so as to mimic itscounterpart. To date, equine mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs) have been reported to have multilineage differentiation potential. Yet the generation of a zone of calcified cartilage using eMSCs has not been reported. This work...
Nakao T, Ohno-Fujitani T, Nakao M.Approximate molecular weights and the subunit structures of Na,K-ATPase from horse kidney were estimated by means of the combination of porous silica gel chromatography, laser light scattering (LS) and refractive index (RI) measurements in C12E8. When the enzymes were eluted with NaCl- or KCl-containing solution, 3 or 4 protein peaks, respectively were detected except that of low molecular weight range. These peaks were tentatively named Na-1, Na-2, Na-2', Na-3 (NaCl-containing eluents), K-1, K-2, K-3 (KCl-containing eluents), respectively. Na,K-ATPase and K-p-nitrophenylphosphatase activities...
Wilsher S, Ousey J, Allen WR.Abnormal cord attachment can be a manifestation of an inappropriate fixation position of the conceptus in the uterus, or it may result from disorientation of the conceptus post fixation. The potential for this resulting in fetal and neonatal compromise is reviewed in the light of previous reports and to which 3 cases within the authors' experience are added.
Riley CB, Jenvey CJ, Baker FJ, Corripio A. To determine if an ELISA for measurement of IgA in equine serum could be used to measure concentrations of IgA in foal faeces and to determine correlations with concentrations in the milk of the dam. Faeces from 20 Welsh Cob and Welsh Pony foals and milk from their dams were collected within 12 hours (Day 0) and at 6 days after parturition (Day 6). On Day 6, faeces could not be collected from 2/20 foals, and milk samples could not be collected from 3/20 mares. An equine IgA ELISA validated for serum and plasma was used to measure concentrations of IgA in all samples in triplicate. The preci...
Boyle AG.Respiratory distress in the horse and foal is an emergency. Managing equine respiratory distress in the field starts with appropriate assessment of the patient to determine whether the breathing obstruction stems from the upper or lower respiratory tract or is nonrespiratory in origin. From a thorough, but efficient, physical examination to point-of-care ultrasound and endoscopy, the veterinarian has many tools in the field to help diagnose the patient.
Gehlen H, Bubeck K, Stadler P.In 12 healthy warmblood horses (six trained and six untrained) the pulmonary wedge pressure and heart frequency was measured at rest and during a standardised exercise test on a treadmill. The mean pulmonary wedge pressure at rest was 14.53 +/- 2.36 mmHg. There was no significant difference in pulmonary wedge pressure either at rest or during exercise between trained and untrained horses. During walking (1.8 m/s) the mean pulmonary wedge pressure was 19.62 +/- 4.03 mmHg, during trotting (4 und 5 m/s) it was between 22.38 +/- 3.92 mmHg and 25.28 +/- 3.7 mmHg. During canter (6 m/s) and gallop (8...
Seren E, Tamanini C, Gaiani R, Bono G.Plasma concentrations of progesterone and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone were high in the 2nd and 3rd months of gestation, but 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone increased from a level of 2 ng/ml, during the first 3 months, to 10-15 ng/ml during months 5-10, to reach 80-120 ng/ml during the last 30 days before foaling.
McKinnon AO, Belden JO.A surgical technique involving reconstruction of the caudal vaginal vault was used to correct vesicovaginal reflux in 32 of 34 mares. After surgery, 22 of 24 mares became pregnant, and embryos were harvested for transfer from 6 of the other 10 mares. It was concluded that the procedure was safe and efficacious.
Meyer PK.The article reviews German anatomical terms applied to longer limb bones and their joints of the horse. The listed terms have been used in German veterinary and special veterinary anatomical hand- and textbooks since 1774; etymological remarks are made on some unusual words.
Brandstetter J, Stanek C, Hinterhofer C.The use of handmade particulate reinforced alloy horseshoes (MMC metal matrix composites) was tested in a field study on 15 riding and draught horses. All horseshoes have been tempered after having been manually forged and tested concerning their surface imperfection. Forging temperature ranged between 350 degrees and 420 degrees C. Horseshoes in series A consisted of particulate reinforced wrought alloy (22% Al2O3 in alloy matrix). 11 shoeing periods with a duration of mean = 49.7 days (sd = 13.6) were evaluated. Horseshoes in series B consisted of particulate reinforced foundry alloy (20% Si...
Levine RA, Hart AH, Wardlaw SC.Using quantitative buffy coat analysis (QBCA), rapid and accurate measurements can be made of the erythrocyte PCV, total WBC count, and platelet count, and the leukocyte population can be differentiated into total granulocytes (including quantitation of eosinophils), and lymphocytes and monocytes. The QBCA is performed by placing a blood sample (50 to 111 microliters) into a high-precision-bore microhematocrit tube that contains a freely moving, closely fitting, cylindrical plastic float. After centrifugation for 5 minutes, the buffy coat components separate by density. The plastic cylinder fl...
Greiner EC.Potential methods of incriminating insects as the cause of insect hypersensitivity are presented. A listing of the biting midges known to attack horses in North America is presented also. An example of how species may be determined to be the cause of the hypersensitivity is given using data from a recent study in Florida. Light trap collections indicated the temporal and geographic distribution of potential contributing species and collections made by vacuuming horses further delineated species by proving they feed on horses and the correct locations on the horses to match lesion distribution....
Divers TJ, Radcliffe RM, Cook VL, Bookbinder LC, Hurcombe SDA.Blood products, crystalloids, and colloid fluids are used in the medical treatment of severe hemorrhage in horses with a goal of providing sufficient blood flow and oxygen delivery to vital organs. The fluid treatments for hemorrhage will vary depending upon severity and duration and whether hemorrhage is controlled or uncontrolled. Methods: With acute and severe controlled hemorrhage, treatment is focused on rapidly increasing perfusion pressure and blood flow to vital organs. This can most easily be accomplished in field cases by the administration of hypertonic saline. If isotonic crystallo...
Easley J.Equine dentistry has been practiced for almost 3000 years, making it one of the oldest areas of equine health care. Progress has been slow and mirrored changes seen in human medical care. Many horsemen practiced equine dentistry during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Most of what was known then concentrated on sharp enamel points and abnormal dental occlusal wear. This changed slowly in the late twentieth century as research in equine dentistry increased. Today, veterinarians performing equine dentistry focus on detailed oral examination and base treatment for proper diagno...
Morley M, Loeb J.As Malcolm Morley becomes BVA president for 2022/23, Josh Loeb chats to him about his love for horses and why the veterinary profession is actually a human-centred business.
