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.
Scheel J, Duswald KH, Ring J, Seifert J, Scholz S, Brendel W.Eight mongrel dogs received a standard daily i.v. infusion of 20 mg/kg b.w. deaggregated horse-anti-dog-lymphocyte-globulin (ALG) and additional prednisolone (1 mg/kg b.w. daily i.v.) over a maximum period of 82 days following pretreatment with deaggregated normal horse IgG. No sensitization against horse protein was observed during therapy of afterwards as proved by lack of humoral antibodies against horse antigens, maintained lymphopenia, good compatibility, longterm prolongation of xenogeneic skin graft survival (85.6+/-20.6 days, n=8' untreated controls 12.5+/-1.3 days, n=4) and longterm s...
Ferguson JA, Reeves WC, Hardy JL.Serologic studies in 24 ponies indicated that prevaccination antibodies to Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus (strain TC-83) had no influence on hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody stimulation by western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) or eastern equine encephalomyelits (EEE)-WEE vaccines. However, studies of the effects of VEE neutralizing antibodies on neutralizing antibody stimulation by the heterologous alphavirus vaccines were inconclusive. The VEE, WEE, and EEE antibody responses were studied in 18 VEE-vaccinated (strain TC-83) animals (13 ponies and 5 horses) at 9 to 1...
Sato K, Miyake M, Yoshikawa T, Kambegawa A.Concentrations of progesterone and oestrogens were determined by radioimmunoassay in the peripheral blood of 22 Percheron and Breton breed mares from the 6th day of oestrus to the 150th day of pregnancy. Periodical variation patterns for the mean values of oestrone, oestradiol 17beta and total oestrogens in the cycling mares were found, with two peaks on the third day before and the 15th day after ovulation, and one depression on the 6th day of oestrus. In pregnant mares, the concentrations of oestrone and oestradiol 17beta increased rapidly (P less than 0.05) after Day 105 of gestation. Proge...
Littlejohn A, Kruger JM, Bowles F.The relationship of velocity (v) to heart rate (HR)and of kinetic energy (KE) to heart rate, were investigated in 6 normal horses and in 6 horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary, disease (COPD). Radiotelemetry was used to determine the heart rate while subjects were ridden on a 400m track. Velocity was measured by stop-watch between 2 markers 50 m apart at the end of the track. Kinetic energy was calculated from the formula KE =1/2 Mv2, where M = mass of horse, rider, saddle and bridle (KG) and V = velocity (metres per second). In all subjects, the relationship of velocity to heart rate was...
Evenberg A, Meyer H, Verheij HM, de Haas GH.Two phospholipases A2 (EC 3.1.1.4) with different isoelectric points have been isolated from horse pancreas in high yield (880 mg/kg tissue). From pancreatic juice the more acidic species was isolated as the sole phospholipase A2. Upon tryptic activation the zymogens release a hepta- and pentapeptide, respectively from the N-terminal part of the protein giving rise to the formation of one single enzyme with a specific activity higher than that of pancreatic phospholipases A2 from other mammalian species. Horse phospholipase A2 differs from the porcine and bovine enzymes with respect to amino a...
Colles CM, Jeffcott LB.Much has been written on laminitis and its treatment over the past 200 years. This article makes a brief review of the practical essentials of the disease and considers some of the recent trends in therapy. Knowledge of the pathogenesis and aetiology of equine laminitis is still very incomplete but recent work in the United States by Coffman and his colleagues has been particularly productive.
Schubert B.Some chromatographic procedures, which can be used to detect and determine certain corticosteroids in samples from race horses, are described. These procedures include thin-layer, gas and high pressure liquid chromatography.
Allsup TN.This paper deals with some recent developments in the air transportation of cattle, sheep, pigs and horses and comments on the factors involved which influence the results.
Hall-Patch PK, Orton RG, Sampson JH.A description is given of trail and endurance riding in the UK as controlled by the Endurance Horse and Pony Society. Veterinary involvement and responsibility are described and measures for their satisfactory execution discussed. Opportunities and need for research into the problems arising are mentioned.
Rose RJ.Complications from neurectomy have been well known for many years. A 16-year-old mare suffered bilateral luxation of the coffin joints following palmar neurectomy and was destroyed. Autopsy showed complete rupture of the deep flexor tendons, and the supporting ligaments of the coffin joints. Arthritis of the coffin joints, with erosion of articular cartilage was evident.
Mitchell KF, Karush F, Morgan DO.The heterogeneity of the IgM response has been studied with anti-lactose antibody purified from the sera of seven horses. The IgM antibody was induced with a bacterial vaccine and the sera were obtained during a one-year period of immunization. L and H chain preparations were derived from separate bleedings of each horse and examined by analytical isoelectric focusing. All of the L chain preparations were complex and similar and, under optimum conditions, exhibited about 45 bands. Their similarity included almost identical concentration distributions over the entire pH gradient. Isoelectric ba...
Sherman J, Thorsen J, Barnum DA, Mitchell WR, Ingram DG.Upper respiratory disease has been a serious problem in Standardbred horses on racetracks in Ontario, with outbreaks occurring once or twice annually in late winter and early spring seasons. To determine the causes of these epidemics, a 3-year investigation was carried out in which nasal swabs and serum samples were obtained at intervals from apparently healthy horses and from horses suffering from upper respiratory disease. The nasal swabs were used to isolate bacteria and viruses. The serum samples were examined for the presence and level of antibodies to equine influenza viruses and equine ...
McGavin MD, Knake R.A 35-kg Duroc pig died 3 days after eating a ration containing aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2. It had hemorrhagic enteritis and extensive midzonal necrosis in the liver. A 13-year-old Quarterhorse that died 2 days after eating moldy hay had hemorrhagic enteritis, fatty degeneration of the myocardium and renal tubules, and extensive total midzonal necrosis of the liver.
Cimprich RE, Rooney JR.Corynebacterium equi is a pathogen associated with respiratory disease in the foal. This paper discusses two cases of Corynebacterium equi infection, one acute and one chronic, in which the major damage was intestinal. Necrosis of Peyer's patches was the only lesion seen in the small intestine of both foals. The foal with acute disease had distinct green-tan focal necrosis and thickened mucosa of the large intestine. In the foal with chronic disease, the mucosa of the large intestine was thickened, rugose, and mottled red-tan. Histologically, the predominant lesions were villous atrophy, mucos...
Gaskin JM, Neal FC, Rubin HL.Precipitin lines not associated with equine infectious anemia (EIA) were observed in routine agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) testing for the infection. The serums which produced these lines were obtained from horses which had been given multiple vaccinations with commercially available cell culture-origin equine virus vaccines as part of a comprehensive herd health program. The lines formed against cell culture-derived, but not spleen-derived EIA viral antigens. Investigation revealed that bovine serum proteins in the vaccines induced precipitating antibodies which reacted with bovine serum pr...
Panitz E.Ethyl-6-ethoxybenzothiazole-2-carbamate (Sch 18099) was evaluated for efficacy against natural helminth infections in ponies, pigs, lambs and chickens. Sixteen critical trials were conducted in ponies at dosages of 15 to 150 mg/kg. At 15 mg/kg, efficacy against adult and larval Oxyuris equi was 100% and 91% and against small strongyles it was 98%. Efficacy levels were 95% against Strongylus vulgaris and S. edentatus at the 20 mg/kg dosage. In two trials at 100 mg/kg efficacy against Parascaris equorum was 77%. No efficacy was observed against Gastrophilus spp. or Anoplocephala spp. In swine si...
Moore JN, Mcilwraith CW.Two cases of osteochondrosis are presented. Lesions involving the lateral trochlear ridge of the femur are demonstrated on conventional radiographs and double-contrast arthrograms. A radiographic suggestion of osteochondrosis lesions in the patella is noted. Post mortem examination of one case confirmed the presence of partially free cartilaginous flaps. Reference is made to familial tendency to osteochondrosis in man, dog, pig and horse. The significance of rapid growth rate in the pathogenesis of the condition is also discussed.
Harland MM, Fedele C, Berens v Rautenfeld D.Horses are highly susceptible to lymphedema. Knowledge of the morphological components of lymphatic collectors is therefore essential to understanding the function of the lymphatic system. A better knowledge of the lymphatic system allows the development of more effective treatments against lymphedema. The composition of hypodermal and deep lymphatic collectors was investigated with immunohistochemical staining, using antibodies against proteins of the collector walls from the skin in the hind limbs of 10 healthy horses. Lymphatic collectors can be subdivided into passive (elastic fibers) and ...
Prado TM, Schumacher J, Kelly GM, Henry RW.The urethral fold of 30 mares was split transversely into dorsal and ventral shelves, and the ventral shelf was used to help create a urethral extension. The dorsal shelf was stretched caudally and sutured to the roof of the extension so that it covered at least the cranial half of the extension. For 20 mares, a relaxing, vaginal incision was created cranial to the external urethral orifice to enable the dorsal shelf to be retracted further caudally. Ten of the 30 mares (33.3 per cent) developed a defect, but none developed a defect in that portion covered by the dorsal shelf of the urethral f...
Hosseinzadeh S, Nofouzi K, Hasanzadeh F, Esmaeili S, Ayen E.Q fever is a frequently occurring illness that is induced by the bacterium ) that can infect humans and various animals. It targets the macrophage cells in the tissues, and circulating monocytes. Unassigned: This study was conducted between 2022 and 2023 in the West Azerbaijan and Ardabil provinces of northwestern Iran to examine the presence infection of . Specimens were obtained by swabbing from 140 mares (70 from each province) and 20 stallions (10 from each province) which were apparently healthy, and their DNA was analyzed using quantitative PCR assay detecting the element of the bacteri...
Lab on a chipMay 28, 2025
Volume 25, Issue 11 2795-2796 doi: 10.1039/d5lc90048d
Heidenberger J, Reihs EI, Strauss J, Frauenlob M, Gültekin S, Gerner I, Toegel S, Ertl P, Windhager R, Jenner F, Rothbauer M.Correction for 'The effect of cyclic fluid perfusion on the proinflammatory tissue environment in osteoarthritis using equine joint-on-a-chip models' by Johannes Heidenberger et al., Lab Chip, 2025, 25, 2256-2269, https://doi.org/10.1039/d4lc01078g.
Faulk C.Sequencing a genome by students has now become practical as we demonstrated with our recent publication of the Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) genome. In this review, I describe my experience teaching genome assembly in the classroom. In my course, students sequenced, assembled, and published a high-quality genome for Przewalski's horse using Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing with only $4000 of materials. Along with the genome, we assembled the mitochondrial genome, sequence variants, predicted gene annotations, and DNA methylation levels. Our genome statistics far exceeded the...
MacNeill AL, Micheloud JF, Parvin R, Gjessing M, Airas NA, Sant'Ana FJF, Adamek M.Zoonotic poxviruses, including monkeypox virus (MPV), the causative agent for Mpox disease, have gained significant media and scientific attention due to recent outbreaks in human populations across the globe. The increase in human cases of poxvirus infection is not unexpected, as routine vaccination against smallpox (a disease caused by the poxvirus variola virus, which cross protects against other orthopoxviruses) was discontinued in the 1980s after its eradication. Large numbers of vertebrate and invertebrate species are susceptible to infection by . Clinical signs and histologic lesions ca...
Harte T, Smith D, Moore J, Wells B.An article published in 1992 by Marion M. Pollin and I.R. Griffiths reviewed the topic of primary dysautonomias of the autonomic nervous system of unidentified origin in multiple domestic species, specifically cats, dogs and horses. Thirty-one years later, we appear no closer to identifying the causal agents of these strikingly similar diseases. This article reviews the similarities and differences in clinical presentation and pathology of dysautonomia in canids, felids, equids, leporids and other less frequently reported species.
Rannamäe E, Andrianov V, Järv E, Semjonov A, Haak A, Kreem J.The remains of a horse's hind foot - a third metatarsal bone and three phalanges - were found in a presumed waste pit of a prosperous medieval household in Viljandi, Estonia, dated from the second half of the 13th to the beginning of the 15th century. The metatarsal bone had been broken during the horse's lifetime and showed evidence of partial healing. Using archaeological, zooarchaeological, morphological, microscopic, densitometric and radiographic analyses, we investigated the bones and the healing process in order to understand animal treatment in a medieval urban context. Our results sho...
Whitlock F, McGlennon A, Newton R, Riley K.As part of her undergraduate research project, Cambridge vet student Katie Riley surveyed the attitudes of UK veterinarians with regard to preventing and controlling strangles, including the use of vaccination. Here, she and Fleur Whitlock, Abigail McGlennon and Richard Newton of Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance discuss her findings.
Kerley BS, Harris P, Jacquay E, Askins M, McClendon M, Adams AA.Feeding small meals (∼1 g/kg BW DM basis) providing >10% nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC; starch + water soluble carbohydrate; WSC) has resulted in an augmented insulin response (AIR) in insulin dysregulated (ID) horses, but it's unclear if AIR reflects NSC content or the g NSC/kg BW/meal. Objective: The insulinemic responses of ID (n = 7) and non-insulin dysregulated (NID; n = 8) horses fed four feeds (A = 6.8% NSC; B = 14.9% NSC; C = 35.5% NSC; D = 44.6% NSC) at three levels of NSC intake (0.06, 0.11-0.12 and 0.17-0.18 g/kg BW) were evaluated in a randomized Latin square design across two...
Croll TP, Swanson BZ.Early in the 1900s, a Philadelphia Horse Dentist apparently had a jolly sense of humor. A business card with a fun reverse is evidence of that. In 1876 Peter J. Haley, Sr. founded a veterinary horse parlor business in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his sons Peter Jr. Haley and James Raymond Haley carried their father's work forward, after his death.
van Proosdij R, Mulder C, Reijm M, Bontkes H, von Blomberg M, van der Kolk H.It has been suggested that gluten may play a role in equine inflammatory small bowel disease (ISBD). Previous work showed an association between equine gluten-sensitive enteropathy and IgA antibodies to tissue transglutaminase (TGA) in serum. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of IgA antibodies to TGA in a group of healthy non-gluten-free sport ponies and to present a case of tentative gluten-sensitive enteropathy and dermatitis in a horse. Blood samples were obtained from 40 healthy jumping ponies. The ponies comprised 12 mares, 8 stallions, and 20 geldings with an ave...
Vanderstraeten E, Bogaert L, Bravo IG, Martens A.Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represents the most common malignant tumour of the eye and external genitals in horses. Comparable to humans, papillomaviruses (PV) have been proposed as etiological agents of cancer in horses and recently, Equine papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2) has been identified in genital SCCs. Hitherto it had never been demonstrated in ocular SCCs. The first goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of EcPV2 DNA in tissue samples from equine genital and ocular SCCs, genital papillomas and penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions, using EcPV2-specific PCR. The sec...
Suagee-Bedore JK, Hebrock S, Sundin O, Lengi AJ, Corl BA, Worth M.LinPro™ (LP) is a commercial dietary supplement marketed to increase hoof growth and quality. Ten mature (5-15 years) non-pregnant Quarter Horse mares without existing hoof quality issues were used to test the hypothesis that 32 weeks of daily supplementation with 113 g of LP would increase hoof growth rates as compared to non-supplemented controls. Hooves were trimmed at the start of the study and every 8 weeks thereafter. A mark was applied on the hoof wall surface at 2.5 cm below the junction of the hoof wall and coronary band. At each trimming, the distance between the mark and coronary ...
Dart AJ, Snyder JR, Julian D, Hinds DM.The microvascular circulation of the cecum was studied in 15 adult horses, using microangiography and light microscopy combined with gross studies and scanning electron microscopy of vascular replicas. After heparinization, the horses were euthanatized and the cecum was transected at the cecocolic junction. Blood was flushed free of the circulation with isotonic NaCl and the cecal lumen was slightly distended. In 6 horses, the vascular system was injected with a modified radiopaque medium and evaluated radiographically. Sections evaluated radiographically were also prepared for histologic exam...
Mancini RA, Suman SP, Konda MK, Ramanathan R, Joseph P, Beach CM.Research focused on determining the fundamental mechanisms by which lactate influences color stability has not considered a direct effect of lactate on myoglobin. Thus, the objective of this study was to use Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry to examine lactate adduction to myoglobin. Equine oxymyoglobin and equine carboxymyoglobin (0.15mM) were incubated with sodium lactate (200mM) at 4 degrees C, pH 5.6 in 50mM sodium citrate buffer or at 37 degrees C, pH 7.4 in 50mM sodium phosphate buffer, simulating typical meat storage and physiological condition...
Cazalet E.The paper examines the responsibilities of the veterinary surgeon in relation to the advances more recently made in the field of equine cardiology. Notwithstanding such advances it is stated that the normal established legal principles apply, in particular in relation to the preparation of certificates, namely that the veterinary surgeon must be sufficiently expert to give the opinion sought, that he must make himself fully aware of the purpose for which the certificate is required and that he must make clear the nature and limitations of any examination carried out.
Williamson JA, Dascanio JJ, Christmann U, Johnson JW, Rohleder B, Titus L.Simulation in veterinary education offers a solution for bridging the gap between observation and performance of clinical skills. An equine neck model was created that allows repetitive practice of jugular phlebotomy, intramuscular (IM) injection, and intravenous catheterization. The aim of this study was to validate the model for jugular phlebotomy and IM injection. We surveyed experienced veterinarians on the model's realism and the comprehensiveness of its features. In a randomized experimental study, we compared the learning outcomes of first-year veterinary students trained on the model (...
Nasir L, Reid SW.The evolutionary conserved region of the equine homologue of the p53 gene from the donkey genome was PCR amplified and cloned. The 1380 bp fragment consisted of exons 5 to 9 and the intervening introns. The exonic and intronic DNA sequences showed a variable but high level of homology with previously published human sequences. The aminoacid sequences corresponding to the evolutionary conserved domains II, III, and V were identical to the human regions, whilst domain IV was 96% homologous.
Thomas DP, Foley JP.Detection of prohibited substances in equestrian sports typically involves time-consuming and tedious sample-preparation methods. Micellar LC (MLC) allows for direct injection of equine serum to detect prohibited NSAIDs. Results: The method was linear over the range of standards examined, with recoveries of 94.2-95.1% for phenylbutazone (12-18 µg/ml), and 83.9-88.7% and 87.9-105.0% for diclofenac and flunixin, respectively (0.1-1.2 µg/ml). The limit of detection was 0.1 µg/ml for all compounds and the limit of quantitation was 0.2 µg/ml for phenylbutazone and 0.3 µg/ml for diclofenac and ...
Tobin T, Blake JW, Sturma L, Arnett S.Procaine added to whole equine blood or diluted plasma was hydrolyzed with half times of approximately 9 and 12 minutes, respectively, at 37 C. This hydrolytic activity was sensitive to heating and physostigmine, but did not affect procainamide. At pharmacologic concentrations of procaine, the rate of the hydrolytic reaction depended directly on the concentrations of plasma or procaine in the system and was less in whole blood than in plasma. These properties are consistent with hydrolysis being due to plasma esterases operating at less than saturating procaine concentrations. These esterases ...
Hopen LA, Colahan PT, Turner TA, Nixon AJ.Subchondral cyst-like lesions of the cubital joint were diagnosed in 7 horses at the teaching hospital between 1983 and 1987. Diagnosis of the lesions was made by administration of intra-articular local anesthesia and/or radiographically. Initial treatment for all horses consisted of stall rest for 60 to 90 days. In addition, 2 horses were administered sodium hyaluronate intra-articularly, 1 horse was given injections of polysulfated glycosaminoglycans IM, and 1 horse was given phenylbutazone orally. Follow-up information was compiled 6 weeks to 4 years after initial examination. At the time o...
Aramaki S, Suzuki E, Ishidaka O, Momose A, Umemura K.The pharmacokinetics of caffeine (CAF) and its metabolites, dimethylxanthines, were examined in horses administered 2.5 mg/kg of CAF intravenously (i.v.), intramusculary (i.m.), or orally (p.o.). The plasma samples were extracted by Extrelut and the concentrations of CAF and metabolites were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a short column. The pharmacokinetics of CAF after bolus i.v. injection were described by the assumption of a two-compartment model, and those of CAF after i.m. or p.o. administration were done by the assumption of a one-compartment model. The...
Calzone S, Wilkins C, Deckers I, Nankervis K.The EquiAmi Training Aid (ETA) is a popular training and rehabilitation tool, however knowledge about its effect on the equine gait is lacking. Understanding of its effects on equine kinematics, and the clinical relevance of these effects is vital to promote optimal use of training aids within training and rehabilitation programmes. Therefore, this study aimed to determine how the ETA influences horses' gait kinematics at walk and trot. Eight horses walked and trotted in-hand with and without the ETA. Optical motion capture was used to measure forelimb and hindlimb pro- and retraction angles, ...
Dzierzęcka M, Jaworski M, Purzyc H, Barszcz K.The aim of the study was to analyse selected densitometric and geometric parameters in the third metacarpal bone along the long axis in horses. The densitometric parameters included the cortical and trabecular bone mineral density, while the geometric parameters included the cortical, trabecular, and total areas, strength strain index X, strength strain index Y, and the polar strength strain index. Methods: The parameters were analysed using eight sections from 10% to 80% of the length of the bone. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography was used in the study. Statistical analysis was carr...
Grier-Lowe CK, Anthony J.Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis is a rarely reported condition in the incisor and canine teeth of older horses. Histologically, there is internal and external resorption of the tooth with formation of excessive cementum. Once lesions become infected or supragingival this condition is very painful. The clinical manifestation, diagnosis and treatment of hypercementosis in an Arabian mare are described. La résorption dentaire odontoclasique et l’hypercémentose représentent une affection rarement signalée des dents incisives et canines chez les chevaux âgés. Sur ...
Hyun SH, Ryew CC.The aim of this study was to investigate the motor ability of forelimb according to on- or off-riding during cadences (walk and trot) of horse. Horses and rider selected as subject consisted of total 37 heads of Jeju native horse and 1 female rider. The variables analyzed composed of 1 stride length, 1 step length, elapsed time of stance, elapsed time of swing, elapsed time of 1 step, and forward velocity (x-axis). Two-way analysis of variance of variables was employed for the statistical analysis with the level of significance set at 5% (P<0.05). Trot cadence showed significant difference ...
Fulton IC, Derksen FJ, Stick JA, Robinson NE, Walshaw R.The efficacy of a nerve muscle pedicle (NMP) graft in restoring upper airway function was evaluated in exercising horses with induced left laryngeal hemiplegia. The NMP graft was created from the first cervical nerve and the omohyoideus muscle and transplanted into the left cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle. Seven adult Standardbreds were trained to exercise on a treadmill inclined at 6.38 degrees. With the horses at rest and exercising at 4.2 and 7.0 m/s, the following variables were recorded: peak inspiratory and expiratory transupper airway pressures (defined as the pressure difference betw...
