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.
Thomson GR, Mumford JA, Campbell J, Griffiths L, Clapham P.An investigation was made of 3 serological tests (virus neutralization, complement fixation and indirect immunofluorescence), which are applicable to epidemiological studies of infections by Equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1). Sera from gnotobiotic foals inoculated intranasally with various strains of EHV-1 were unable in some cases to neutralize heterologous strains and these results were not consistent with the existence of clearly-defined subtypes of EHV-1, as previously proposed. The cross-reactions in complement-fixation tests paralleled those with neutralization but immunofluorescence tests wer...
Groman EV, Schultz RM, Engel LL, Orr JC.In the reduction of 17beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstan-3-one to the 3beta-alcohol, horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase utilizes the 4-pro-R hydrogen of NADH whereas the 3(17)beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas testosteroni utulized the 4-pro-S hydrogen. These observations provide an exception to the rule proposed by Alworth and Bentley that with regard to the paired methylene hydrogens at C-4 of NADH and NADPH "the stereospecificity of a particular reaction is fixed and does not vary with the source of the enzyme preparation". It is also apparent that for these two enzymes, the selecti...
Kramer JW, Nickels FA, Bell T.Examination of effusions from body cavities must include a search for neoplastic as well as inflammatory cells. Neoplastic cells found in the thorax are generally derived from adenocarcinomas or mesotheliomas. Mesotheliomas are relatively uncommon and the neoplastic cells found in effusions are difficult to differentiate from activated cells in inflammatory effusions. An ante-mortem diagnosis of mesothelioma was made in a mare on the basis of the large volume of fluid produced, the pleomorphic mesothelial cells, the polyp formation and the absence of PAS staining material after digestion of th...
Moorthy AR, Spradbrow PB.Mycoplasmas were isolated from two of 43 nasal swabs taken from live horses, and from one of 28 tracheal swabs taken from slaughtered horses. The slaughtered horse that yielded mycoplasmas had no gross pathological changes in the respiratory tract, but the nasal isolations were made from horses with rhinitis. The three mycoplasmas could be distinguished by cultural characteristics, and probably they represent three different species.
Moorthy AR, Spradbrow PB.Mycoplasmas were isolated from two of 43 nasal swabs taken from live horses, and from one of 28 tracheal swabs taken from slaughtered horses. The slaughtered horse that yielded mycoplasmas had no gross pathological changes in the respiratory tract, but the nasal isolations were made from horses with rhinitis. The three mycoplasmas could be distinguished by cultural characteristics, and probably they represent three different species.
Forssmann A.The islets of Langerhans of the equine pancreas were examined with the electron microscope after immersion or perfusion fixation. Five cell types could be distinguished after fixation by either technique: 1. A-cells, situated at the center of the islets, 2. B-cells, containing mostly "pale granules" and constituting the principal cell type of the periphery of the islets, 3. D-cells, also located mainly at the periphery of the islets, 4. G-cells, found at the edge of the islets and in the exocrine pancreas, and 5. S-cells, (small granule cells), which are relatively few in number and occur only...
Verhaegen M, Sand G.The distribution of protein phosphokinase (EC 2.7.1.37) activities has been established in horse thyroid nuclei. The presence of several enzyme activities has been demonstrated, two of which are clearly distinct. The first one acts on histone as substrate and is activated by cyclic AMP. Physico-chemical properties of this nuclear cyclic AMP-dependent histone kinase and of the cytosol histone kinase are different, demonstrating the absence of a contamination from the cytosol. The second enzyme acts on casein as substrate and is not stimulated by cyclic AMP POR CYCLIC GMP. The findings are consi...
Sogin DC, Plapp BV.Diazonium-1H-tetrazole was tested as a potential active-site-directed reagent for amino acid residues involved in catalysis by alcohol dehydrogenase. In a novel reaction with a protein, diazonium-1H-tetrazole inactivated the enzyme selectively, and almost stoichiometrically, but reacting with the sulfur of a cysteine residue, Cys-174. As a model compound, the tetrazole adduct of free cysteine was prepared. Elementary and spectral analyses of the adduct were consistent with the structure 5-tetrazoleazo-S-cysteine. The adduct absorbs light with a maximun at 316 nm, and is destroyed by irradiatio...
Gräfner G, Zimmermann H, Karge E, Münch J, Ribbeck R, Hiepe T.Systematic faunal studies in the district Schwerin showed at the present time there are 3 more or less damage-biotopes existing in the districts of Perleberg, Ludwigslust and Parchim; 5 river sources can be considered as potential sources, 5 are temporary and 2 are ephemeral whilst in 3 further areas environmental influences such as effluent impairs the flow of the river and the developmental stages of Simuliidae were not observed.--The following species were found: Boophthora erythrocephala, Wilhelmia salopiensis, Wilhelmia equina, Odagmia ornata, Eusimulium aureum and Eusimulium lundstroemi....
Anwer MS, Engelking LR, Gronwall R, Klentz RD.Plasma bile acid concentration was determined in normal dogs,sheep, calves and ponies for three days before and six days after liver damage, induced by carbon tetrachloride. In all species, a significant increase in plasma bile acid concentration was associated with a concomitant significant increase in plasma sorbitol dehydrogenase and transferase activity. Plasma bilirubin also significantly increased in all animals except the dogs. Results suggested that plasma bile acid levels could be used to test liver function in domestic animals.
Hafs HD.Often in developing hormone assays, hormones that may interfere with the assay by cross-reaction are not available for testing the validity of the assay. For example, horse TSH was unavailable to test for cross-reaction in an LH radioimmunoassay (RIA). The authors devised an indirect means of accomplishing the same goal, and the evidence from the indirect test of cross-reaction was at least as persuasive as a direct test might have been. Other examples are given of experiments where extensive effort was devoted to validation of steroid RIA, but there were substantial quantitative differences i...
Hillidge CJ, Lees P.The neuroleptanalgesic drug combination of
etorphine and acepromazine (Large Animal
Immobilon; Reckitt & Colman Ltd.) was
administered i.v. at the recommended dose rate
(24 ,ug/kg etorphine and 100 pg/kg acepromazine)
to twelve Welsh Mountain ponies of 185 to 336 kg
bodyweight. Cardiovascular measurements were
made before and at pre-determined times up to
30 min after the injection. The etorphine
antagonist, diprenorphine (Revivon; Reckitt &
Colman Ltd.), was then injected i.v. (30,ug/kg)
and further measurements were obtained.
Pronounced increases in heart rate, moderate
increase...
Jeffcott LB, Rossdale PD.The current knowledge of the clinical signs, epidemiology and pathogenesis of abortion due to the equid herpesvirus (EHV 1) is reviewed. The relationship between the respiratory and abortigenic forms of the disease is discussed as well as the low incidence of virus abortion in the UK compared to some other parts of the world. Some practical aspects of the disease as they affect stud management are considered including methods of diagnosis, prophylaxis and the necessary action to be taken to prevent spread of infection.
Recchi L, Alvariza S, Benech A, Ruiz N, José Estradé M, Suarez G, Crosignani N.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of oral amitriptyline in horses. Oral amitriptyline (1 mg/kg) was administered to six horses. Blood samples were collected from jugular and lateral thoracic vein at predetermined times from 0 to 24 hr after administration. Plasma concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and analyzed using noncompartmental methods. Pharmacodynamic parameters including heart rate, respiration rate, and intestinal motility were evaluated, and electrocardiographic examinations were performed in all subjects. The mean m...
O' Brien C, Pegg J.This observational study aimed to elucidate the effects of RWST on the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems of horses and concurrently determine whether RWST limits distal limb temperature increases previously reported during gallop training on land. A group of 15 clinically sound international event horses were recruited, and heart rate (HR), speed (km/h) and thermal images of the distal limb were analysed at set intervals during RWST training. Intervals of RWST produced a total mean HR value of 65.18 ± 3.76%, which is within the parameters for increased aerobic stamina. Mean HR increa...
Topper MJ, Prasse KW.To adapt manual human chromogenic assays for coagulation factors VII (F.VII), VIII:coagulant (F.VIII:C), IX (F.IX), and X (F.X), and C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) for use with an automated analyzer, and to measure the activity of these proteins in horses. Methods: 10 healthy horses were used to determine ranges for the assays. Pooled plasma for standards was collected from an additional 20 healthy horses. Methods: A computer-assisted analyzer was programmed from the manual method for commercially available human F.VII, F.VIII:C, F.IX, F.X, and C1-INH chromogenic assay kits. Standards were pre...
Booth LC, Oxender WD, Douglas RH, Woodley SL.A gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was injected in mares given prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) to induce luteolysis in an attempt to sunchronize ovulation. Pretreatment with estradiol-17 beta (E2-17 beta) was used to determine whether or not estradiol would enhance the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) after treatment with GnRH. Twelve mares were used in a balanced Latin square crossover design. Mares were injected with PGF2 alpha, treatment A; PGF2 alpha mgnRH, treatment B; or PGF2 alpha me2-17 beta mgnRH, treatment C. The interval +/- SEM from PGF2 alpha injection to estrus was 3....
Raisis AL, Hodgson JL, Hodgson DR.Twenty-one compromised neonatal foals hospitalised at the Rural Veterinary Centre (RVC) during 1993 were studied to determine i) serum gentamicin concentrations obtained when gentamicin was administered at 3.3 mg/kg bwt twice daily i.m.; ii) factors which contributed to inter-foal variation in serum gentamicin concentrations achieved and iii) clinical efficacy of gentamicin therapy in foals with confirmed septicaemia. Septicaemia was confirmed in 7 foals with positive blood cultures and suspected in 8 foals with a sepsis score > 11. Peak serum concentrations (Ps) were > 6 microg/ml in al...
Nelson EA, Sanchez LC, Mallicote MF, Warren LK, Robelen AM, Reuss SM. To compare urine urinary pH, blood pH and concentration of electrolytes in blood of healthy horses fed an anionic salt supplement to achieve diets with a dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) of -40 or 0 mEq/kg DM, with horses a fed a diet with a DCAD of 85 mEq/kg DM. Eight healthy horses received each of three diets in a randomised crossover design. Diets consisted of grass hay and concentrate feed, with a varying amount of an anionic supplement to achieve a DCAD of 85 (control), 0 or -40 mEq/kg DM. They were fed for 14 days each with a washout period of 7 days between. Urine pH was m...
Dobesova O, Bezdekova B.Thirty-eight guttural pouch lavages from 19 clinically healthy horses were collected transendoscopically. Cytological examination and bacteriological culture of the samples were carried out. All 38 lavages assessed for cytology contained less than five per cent neutrophils and could be termed as cytologically 'normal'. In none of the lavages did the neutrophil count vary between five and 25 per cent or exceed 25 per cent, which are the borderlines for being termed 'reactive' or 'pathological', respectively. Epithelial cells were the most commonly represented cell type in all lavages. Bacteriol...
Hiepe T, Nickel S, Siebeke F.The eggs of Strongyloides westeri were found in the faeces of the foals from the 16th day of their life, with a peak in their numbers between the 30th and 40th day of life. Egg release ceased in all foals irrespective of their date of birth in the months July-August. Parallel examinations of the mares were negative. Recommendations for the control of strongyloidosis in foals are given.
Giguère S, Prescott JF.The remarkable ability of the horse and other animals to prevent infection by most bacterial pathogens encountered is the result of a complex set of distinct but overlapping defense mechanisms. This article summarizes the current state of knowledge on innate and adaptive immunity to bacterial pathogens and reviews various ways in which some bacteria have evolved in order to evade components of the host response.
Hodgson DR, Rose RJ, Allen JR.For determination of 3 muscle fiber types in equine skeletal muscle, a comparison of 2 preincubation buffers, each followed by myosin adenosine triphosphatase staining, was made. Serial sections of the muscle samples (n = 75) were preincubated in an acid buffer (pH 4.6) or a formaldehyde-glycine buffer (pH 7.25) and then were stained for myosin adenosine triphosphatase. Differentiation of muscle fibers into type I, IIA, and IIB was identical with both techniques; however, in the samples prepared at pH 4.6, type I fibers were black; type IIA, light gray; and type IIB, dark gray. In the samples ...
Maylin GA, Bache CA, Lisk DJ.Effluents from a number of industries which are typically treated in municipal sewage plants result in cadmium-containing sludge. Disposal of such sewage sludge by application to agricultural land can result in uptake of cadmium by crops. In this study, oats were grown on soils which had been amended with sewage sludge from Syracuse, New York. The cadmium concentration in the sludge-grown oats was 1.79 ppm dry weight. Horses were fed the sludge-grown oats for 6 weeks during which time blood samples were taken for the determination of cadmium. No significant differences (p greater than 0.05) we...
McDonell WN, Pascoe PJ, Lindsay WA, Burgess ML.The use of the wick catheter to measure intracompartmental muscle pressure in equine muscle was documented. The presence of muscle compartments involving the extensor carpi radialis muscle and the long head of the triceps brachii was demonstrated by anatomic dissection and radiographic technique. The wick catheter was capable of accurately measuring pressures within both of these compartments. Furthermore, the wick catheter was sensitive to pressure changes resulting from external compression of muscle compartments. Manipulation of systemic blood pressure and PaCO2 in 1 anesthetized horse did ...
Mugg PA, Hill A.The failure of N. gonorrhoeae to grow on isolation media was found to be due to inhibitory substances present in commercially available horse sera. Subsequent investigations indicated that the inhibitory action of the horse serum may have been due to antibodies to N. gonorrhoeae, H. influenzae, H. parainfluenzae and beta hemolytic streptococci. This experience highlights the need for media quality control programmes in laboratories which prepare microbiological culture media.
van der Mey GJ.Horse-breeding in the Netherlands is briefly reviewed. Particular attention is paid to the number of foals of various breeds. Some effects of inbreeding in Friesian horses are discussed. As regards methods selection, attention is mainly paid to saddle horses. The role of veterinarians (from the point of view of selection for soundness) is described. Selection is based on the results of studies in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht. A number of these results are reviewed.
Baker SJ, Gerring EL.The gastric emptying of different forms of ingesta occurs by a variety of mechanisms and dysfunction may selectively affect different components of the gastric contents. A technique for assessing gastric emptying of solid, indigestible, radiopaque markers was developed. Emptying of these markers in four ponies was variable in both pattern and rate (half emptying time ranged from less than one hour to more than 24 hours). However, whereas in man physically similar markers appear to empty relatively rapidly when fasting but are delayed by a meal, no such delay was evident in these ponies. The ho...
Hope E, Johnston SD, Hegstad RL, Geor RJ, Murphy MJ.A commercially available radioimmunoassay kit for measurement of human osteocalcin was validated for use in horses. For accurate measurement of equine serum osteocalcin, blood samples may be collected at a temperature between 20 and 25 C, then centrifuged within 90 minutes; serum may be stored at -20 C in plastic tubes for up to 26 weeks. Serum may be thawed and refrozen up to 5 times without significant change in measured equine serum osteocalcin concentration. Assay sensitivity was 0.16 ng/ml. Recovery of bovine osteocalcin standard added to equine serum was linear. Intra-assay coefficient o...
