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.
Wentink GH.The locomotor pattern of the hind limb of seven horses has been studied in intact animals and after transection of the following structures: the peroneus tertius tendon, the cranial tibial muscle, both cranial tibial muscle and peroneus tertius tendon, and the superficial digital flexor tendon. The investigation was carried out by high speed cinematography and electromyography. It is concluded that (1) the muscles and tendons over the cranial aspect of the tibia play an important role during the support phase; (2) the movements of the hind limb may be performed without the action of the crania...
Pierson RE, Sahu SP, Dardiri AH, Wilder FW.Contagious equine metritis was reproduced experimentally in 6 pony mares. The disease was characterized by rapidly developing cervicitis and by varying amounts of exudate. The exudate, apparent as early as 48 hours after inoculation, drained from the cervix as a tenacious, mucopurulent discharge for several days, then rapidly disappeared. In all mares, the clinical disease cleared within several weeks of inoculation, without treatment.
Fujiki Y, Rathnam P, Saxena BB.A tentative amino acid sequence of the beta-subunit of equine follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was derived from the sequences of tryptic, thermolytic as well as peptic, subtilisin, and chymotryptic peptides. Equine FSH-beta is analogous to human FSH-beta except six amino acid substitutions at positions 12, 16, 21, 62, 108, and 114. The amino acid sequence suggests that the hormone-specific beta-subunits of FSH are similar at the interspecies level, whereas the amino acid sequences of the hormone nonspecific alpha-subunits show variations.
Quist EE, Hokin LE.A potent inhibitor of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity was purified from Sigma equine muscle ATP by cation- and anion-exchange chromatography. The isolated inhibitor was identified by atomic absorption spectroscopy and proton resonance spectroscopy to be an inorganic vanadate. The isolated vanadate and a solution of V2O5 inhibit sarcolemma (Na+ + K+)-ATPase with an I50 of 1 micrometer in the presence of 1 mM ethyleneglycol-bis-(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), 145 mM NaCl, 6mM MgCl2, 15 mM KCl and 2 mM synthetic ATP. The potency of the isolated vanadate is increased by free Mg2+. ...
Dickie CW, Klinkerman DL, Petrie RJ.Two Quarter Horse foals from different premises died from enterotoxemia. Clostridium perfringens toxins alpha and beta were demonstrated in the foal's intestines by mouse protection tests. Clostridium perfringens type C was isolated from the intestines of each foal. Histologic examination revealed hemorrhage, necrosis, and massive numbers of C perfringens.
Wilson RT.Equines have been largely ignored in modern scientific literature on domestic animals, probably because they are not providers of meat and milk. Their contribution to the economy in the Sudan, however, is considerable and they are the principal means of transport both as baggage and as riding animals. They also play an important role in the supply of fuel and the distribution of domestic water in the larger villages and towns. Information on population structure is provided and descriptions, with particular reference to withers height and weight, are given of two types of donkey and of the hor...
Witzel DA, Smith EL, Wilson RD, Aguirre GD.Electroretinographic studies of myctalopic Appaloosa horses demonstrated photopic and scotopic abnormalities similar to those in humans with congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) of the Schubert-Bornschein type. The phototopic abnormalities consisted of reduced b-wave amplitudes and slower than normal b-wave implict time. The dark-adapted ERG's consisted of a simple negative potential; the scotopic b-wave was nonrecordable. However, a normal c-wave was present in the dark-adapted response. Histologic studies demonstrated no structural abnormalities that could explain the functional defe...
Tzipori S, Walker M.A rotavirus, morphologically similar to other known rotaviruses, was demonstrated in the faeces of 5 foals with diarrhoea on two properties. Four of these 5 samples produced specific intracytoplasmic fluorescence in cell culture when reacted with calf rotavirus antiserum conjugate. Sixteen affected foals from both properties were depressed, did not suckle and became recumbent. Most had a watery diarrhoea which lasted for 3 days and resulted in some dehydration and loss of body condition. Sick foals were separated from their mothers following the onset of diarrhoea and given fluid therapy and a...
Dik KJ, Németh F, Merkens HW.The radiological and clinical interpretation of alterations of the navicular bone, the interaction of radiological and clinical symptoms in relation to the age of the animal, the influence of work-load on this interaction and the possibility of predicting navicular disease at an early stage are discussed. The discussion is based on experience in a study of 130 horses.
Scott AM, Jeffcott LB.Clinical features of haemolytic disease of the newborn foal (HDNF) are reviewed. The state of knowledge concerning the serological factors associated with isoimmunisation of mares and as assessment of the methods available for screening potential "haemolytic mares" are presented. The treatment of severely affected foals has principally involved exchange transfusion but more recently a simple transfusion of mare's packed erythrocytes has proved more successful.
Dawson FL, Benson JA, Croxton-Smith P.Serum agglutination tests, anti-globulin tests, and complement fixation tests were carried out on sera taken over a period of 98 days from two fillies experimentally infected with the contagious equine metritis organism. The pattern, and significance in diagnosis, of these results is discussed. All 3 tests showed positive titres in the acute phase of experimental disease; reactions in the complement fixation test persisted longest.
Slocombe JO, Cote JF.The anthelmintic canbendazole (CBZ), adminis-
tered in several formulations to horses in critical
trials, has been shown to have high effcacy
against intestinal nematodes (3, 4, 6). There are
two reports of field trials with CBZ (2, 5), and
although a large number of horses were involved,
the efficacies reported were for a restricted
number of nematodes. Recently, CBZ paste was
administered to horses in another field trial and
the findings on rxdatability, safety and efficacy
against a wide range of nematodes are presented.
Allen WE.Plasma concentrations of sodium benzylpenicillin were measured following intrauterine infusion at a dose rate of 22,000 u/kg (250,000 u/ml). The reproductive status of the mare at the time of infusion did not appear to influence plasma concentrations of penicillin, but preswabbing the endometrium for bacteriological culture resulted in peak plasma concentrations which were nearly twice those found in unswabbed mares.
The Journal of heredityJuly 1, 1978
Volume 69, Issue 4 214-216 doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a108933
Trommershausen-Smith A.Genetic segregation patterns among blood type markers and various phenotypically observed traits were studied in a small herd of ponies. The herd consisted of 10 mares without white spotting and a single stallion with the dominant pattern of tobiano spotting. Comparison of segregation patterns at loci for which the stallion was heterozygous showed tight linkage for the Alb-B and tobiano markers. In 17 cases in which the Alb contribution of the sire could be determined, all 10 foals that inherited AlbB from him were tobiano spotted, and all 7 non-spotted foals inherited his AlbA. The use of the...
Timoney PJ, McArdle JF, O'Reilly PJ, Ward J.Contagious equine metritis 1977 was reproduced in pony mares using cultures of the Gram-negative coccobacillus aetiologically associated with the disease. Variability in clinical response was observed in the first of 2 experiments, with the presence of semen, either alone or in an extender, appearing to potentiate the pathogenicity of the challenge strain of the organism. The experimental disease was characterised by a variable degree of vaginal discharge and concomitant inflammatory changes involving the vervix and vagina. Although all of the affected mares recovered spontaneously, a high per...
Herron MA, Martin JE, Joyce JR.A quantitative study of optic axons in the optic tracts of several species was performed to determine the number and percentage of optic axons that decussate. Animals were prepared by unilateral ocular enucleation, and light microscopic techniques were employed to count the fibers. The mean number of fibers projecting from a single eye was 732,119 for the pony, 1,041,739 for the cow, 534,755 for the sheep, and 442,629 for the pig. The mean degree of crossover at the chiasm was 80.8% in ponies, 82.9% in cattle, 88.9% in sheep, and 87.8% in pigs.
Skelton G, Acutt E, Stefanovski D, van Eps A.Traditional radiographic measurements of distal phalanx (Pd) displacement based on the outer hoof wall are not useful for diagnosis of acute laminitis. Objective: We hypothesised that the distance between the inner hoof wall and Pd ('lamellar lucent zone'; LLZ) measured on lateromedial digital radiographs would be increased in horses with acute and subacute laminitis compared with healthy horses. Methods: Retrospective cohort study and in vivo experimental study. Methods: Forelimb radiographs from 32 healthy and 18 laminitic mixed-breed horses were analysed retrospectively. Laminitis was defin...
Evers P, Hoffmann B.This paper describes the use of hormone analysis in the diagnosis of adrenal cortex dysfunction in the dog, cat and horse. Analytical problems concerning the determination of corticosteroid levels are discussed and the pathology of adrenal dysfunction is briefly presented. The paper focuses on the problems in establishing physiological norms for adrenal function based on the established assays. Own experiences and other reported data are referred to.
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.
Kiesse O, Torgerson P, Pot SA, Stadler S.A retrospective data analysis was performed on 17 eyes from 13 horses which underwent a sub-Tenon's injection to facilitate phacoemulsification or pars plana vitrectomy under general anesthesia between 2018 and 2022. All procedures were performed by the same veterinary ophthalmologist. Seven eyes received a sub-Tenon's dose of 7 ml lidocaine (XylocainÒ, 2 % lidocaine hydrochloride, Germany, Aspen Germany GmbH), and 10 eyes received 7 ml mepivacaine (MepinaestÒ purum 2 %, mepivacaine hydrochloride, Switzerland, Gebro Pharma GmbH). Statistical analysis compared onset and duration of gl...
Chanutin S, Bauck AG, Roberts JF, Denagamage TN, Freeman DE.Jejunocaecostomy (JC) is frequently required to bypass diseased ileum as a side-to-side (SS) anastomosis with blind end closure of the small intestine. The effects of the blind end closure method on the performance of the anastomosis have not been studied. Objective: To compare handsewn and stapled blind end closures of the ileum and jejunum. Methods: In vivo experiments. Methods: JC was performed with either Parker-Kerr (PK; 6 horses) or oversewn stapled technique (OS; 6 horses) to close jejunum and ileum for an SS anastomosis. At surgery, peritoneal fluid was analysed and various anastomotic...
Seither RL, Brown OR, Babu BV.Rat, cow and foal lung extracts contained an inhibitor for the liver NAD biosynthetic-pathway enzyme, nicotinatemononucleotide pyrophosphorylase (carboxylating) [EC 2.4.2.19]. The inhibitor was not dialyzable, was labile at 100 degrees C, was retained by a 30,000 dalton pore size Amicon membrane and, when partially purified by precipitation at 40-100% ammonium sulfate, inhibited the enzyme stoichiometrically. Lung reportedly does not contain nicotinate-mononucleotide pyrophosphorylase or make NAD de novo. However, the inhibitor would mask detection of the enzyme in lung extracts. We detected a...
Blohina NV, Khrabrova LA.Russia has a significant pedigree diversity of horse breeds with unique gene pools that are well adapted to a wide variety of harsh natural and climatic conditions, are characterized by universal performance and high productive qualities, and are of significant interest to the world horse breeding. Genetic studies of population diversity in horse breeding are very relevant, since many domestic horse breeds are under threat of extinction. Biomaterials (hair, blood, semen) from horses of 15 local breeds bred in the Russian Federation and neighboring countries (CIS) were selected for the research...
Secor EJ, Womack SJ, Ysebaert MP, Colville MJ, Reesink HL.Synovial fluid (SF) is an ideal sentinel fluid for osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis and prognostication due to its critical homeostatic role, proximity to articular tissues and immune cell composition. Untargeted proteomics enable identification of soluble markers for diagnostic and therapeutic applications while minimising bias. Objective: To use liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to define the SF proteome in horses with and without carpal OA. The goal was to identify differentially regulated proteins in mild-moderate carpal joint disease compared with healthy joints. Meth...
Caudron I, Grülke S, Gabriel A, Serteyn D.This study is a part of a work to design a radiographical method to objectively define the conformation of an equine digit and to assess the individual appropriate trimming of a horse. Various angles were measured directly from the phalangeal bones. The authors observed that the bone relief of the sesamoid ligament insertions on the proximal phalanx was an essential landmark to determine the phalangeal alignment. The same angles were measured from specific radiographs and made it possible to quantify the rotation imposed to the proximal phalanx. The authors also noticed that the phalangeal rot...
Phillips AW, Courtenay JS, Ruston RD, Moore J, Baker C, Epps HB.A simple apparatus is described for the collection of plasma from horses while maintaining their blood in extracorporeal circulation. Using this device, nearly 2.5 kg of plasma protein was collected from a horse during a period of 3 weeks without any obvious adverse effect upon the animal. The blood’s packed cell volume showed little variation throughout this period, although its content of plasma protein was found to fall. The normal plasma protein level was almost completely re-established after 3 weeks rest. A horse immunized with tetanus toxoid and subjectcd to repeated cycles of plasmap...
O'Callaghan MW.We live in an age in which highly sophisticated computerized equipment and imaging methods are becoming increasingly available. Demand from clients requires that we as veterinary professionals keep our eyes on the future potential of these technologies for diagnosis and treatment. This article briefly reviews some of the techniques that are just around the corner for the progressive equine practitioner.
Marquardt SA, Wilcox CV, Burns EN, Peterson JA, Finno CJ.Equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (eNAD/EDM) is a neurologic disease that has been reported in young horses from a wide range of breeds. The disease is inherited and associated with vitamin E deficiency during the first two years of life, resulting in bilateral symmetric ataxia. A missense mutation (chr3:71,917,591 C > T) within adhesion G protein-coupled receptor L3 (ADGRL3) was recently associated with risk for EDM in the Caspian breed. In order to confirm these findings, genotyping of this missense mutation, along with the three other associated single nuc...
Hofstee W.Vet and owner of Unicorn Trails Wendy Hofstee explains how she developed a horse-riding holiday business alongside a successful career in emergency veterinary work.
Engelking LR, Paradis MR.This article addresses clinical problems that present in equine liver disease. It also discusses the variety of laboratory tests available to the clinician that can differentiate the type and degree of liver dysfunction. This is followed by a more specific discussion regarding unique features of equine bilirubin and bile acid metabolism.
Gehlen H, Shety T, El-Zahar H, Hofheinz I.Cardiac biomarkers are important tools for monitoring disease progress and can monitor progression of therapy. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been studied for its use as a cardiac biomarker in human and small animal medicine while in horses with cardiac disease it has not been evaluated yet. The objective of the present study was to determine the concentration of plasma ET-1 in healthy horses and compare it with ET-1 concentration in horses with cardiac disease during rest and after exercise. Fifty four horses admitted to the Equine Clinic of Free University of Berlin were used in the present study, ...
Delbeke FT, Teale P, Debackere M, Houghton E.A commercially available generic promazine ELISA kit is available which shows cross-reactivity for the tranquilizer chlorprothixene (CPT). The ELISA test readily detects the presence of CPT or its metabolites in equine urine for up to 24 h after the i.v. and i.m. administration of sub-therapeutic doses (4.5 mg) to three horses. Maximum concentrations (CPT equivalents) are obtained 2 h after i.v. dosing. No distinct concentration peak values are observed after i.m. administration. Following solid-phase extraction, confirmation of CPT and its metabolites by electron impact mass spectrometry afte...
Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Cornelissen BP, Laan TT, Enzerink E, Ensink JM.Rectal tears occur incidentally and often have a poor prognosis. Early recognition of the problem and adequate therapy determine the outcome. The history, clinical examination, therapy, and outcome of two horses with grade IIIb and grade IV rectal tears are discussed.
Hildebrand S.In summary, neuromuscular blocking agents can be used safely and to advantage in equine anesthesia. Muscle-relaxant use in equine anesthesia has been helped by the development of new relaxants such as atracurium, which has a reliable and reproducible duration of action. There are certain cases that benefit particularly by the use of relaxants but their use is not limited to these cases. These cases involve horses that experience persistent movement and hypotension during anesthesia, are undergoing ophthalmic or abdominal surgery or fracture repair, or are severely ill. Horses receiving muscle ...
VOR DER DOMESTIKATION HING DAS ÜBERLEBEN DER EQUIDEN VON DER FäHIGKEIT AB, SICH IHRER UMGEBUNG UND MIT IHR VERBUNDENEN GEFAHREN ANZUPASSEN. DIES BETRAF V. A. RAUBTIERE, AUF DIE DIE PFERDE SCHNELL REAGIEREN MUSSTEN. MODERNE PFERDE UNTERSCHEIDEN SICH VON IHREN VORFAHREN U. A. IN IHRER REAKTION AUF STRESSOREN. SIE WURDEN üBER JAHRHUNDERTE HINWEG SO GEZüCHTET, DASS EIN FüR MENSCHEN SICHERER UMGANG MIT IHNEN MöGLICH IST. DIES REDUZIERTE AUCH IHRE REAKTIONEN AUF ANGSTERZEUGENDE FAKTOREN. DIE STUDIE UNTERSUCHTE, OB PFERDE NOCH IMMER DIE FäHIGKEIT BESITZEN, RECHTZEITIG AUF GEFAHREN DURCH RAUBTI...
van Suntum M, Hartung K.Subchondral bone cysts or cyst like lesions are an important hint in the radiographic diagnosis of degenerative joint disease. In this study we set artificial lesions of different size in the subchondral bone of different joint surfaces of horses, and we then tried to determine from which size on these lesions could be made visible on radiographs in different projections. It shows that the possibility of visualization of such lesions is frequently overestimated, cyst like lesions have to be quite large, before they can be seen on routine radiographs.
Tappenbeck K, Schmidt S, Feige K, Naim HY, Huber K.Lidocaine is the most commonly chosen prokinetic for treating postoperative ileus in horses, a motility disorder associated with ischaemia-reperfusion injury of intestinal tissues. Despite the frequent use of lidocaine, the mechanism underlying its prokinetic effects is still unclear. Previous studies suggested that lidocaine altered cell membrane characteristics of smooth muscle cells. Therefore, the present study aimed to elucidate effects of lidocaine administration on characteristics of detergent-resistant membranes in equine jejunal smooth muscle. Lidocaine administration caused significa...
