Veterinary science and horses encompass the study and application of medical, surgical, and therapeutic practices to maintain and improve the health and welfare of equines. This field addresses a wide range of topics, including disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as nutrition, reproduction, and behavior. Research in veterinary science for horses often involves understanding the pathophysiology of equine-specific diseases, developing advanced diagnostic techniques, and improving treatment protocols. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of veterinary science related to horses, providing insights into the latest advancements and methodologies in equine healthcare.
Kareskoski AM, del Alamo MM, Güvenc K, Reilas T, Calvete JJ, Rodriguez-Martinez H, Andersson M, Katila T.Seminal plasma (SP) contains several types of compounds derived from the epididymides and accessory glands. The aim of this study was to examine the protein composition of different ejaculate fractions. Trial I: fractionated ejaculates were collected from two normal and two subfertile stallions. Samples containing pre-sperm fluid and the first sperm-rich jets (HIGH-1), the main sperm-rich portion (HIGH-2), the jets with low sperm concentrations (LOW), and a combined whole-ejaculate (WE) sample was centrifuged, and the SP was filtered and frozen. A part of each SP sample was stored (5°C, 24 h)...
Viñuela-Fernández I, Jones E, Chase-Topping ME, Price J.This study compared three subjective scoring systems used to assess lameness associated with equine laminitis: (1) visual analogue scale, (2) Obel score and (3) clinical grading system (CGS). Two groups of 12 observers, consisting of equine veterinarians and final-year veterinary students, scored lameness severity after watching video footage of 14 horses on two occasions. Generalizability theory was used to investigate the reliability of the three systems and the effects of observer experience. Overall reliability across all times and observers was high. Intra-observer reliability was higher ...
Zoonoses and public healthJune 10, 2010
Volume 58, Issue 3 192-199 doi: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2010.01338.x
McNamara SE, Abdujamilova N, Somsel P, Gordoncillo MJ, DeDecker JM, Bartlett PC.Clostridium difficile (CD), Salmonella, Campylobacter and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are major causes of morbidity in a variety of enteric diseases in humans and animals, but subclinical carriage in both is probably more common than are clinical cases. Little is known regarding the prevalence of these pathogens in animals raised for exhibit at Michigan county fairs or the frequency with which Michigan citizens raising these animals may have been subclinically colonized. To address these issues, 361 fecal specimens from 158 humans and 203 of their farm animals were cultured for C...
Peterson ML, Reiser RF, Kuo PH, Radford DW, McIlwraith CW.Differences in racing times have been noted on synthetic track surfaces that appear to depend on the temperature of the track. No published study to date has considered this effect in a systematic manner. Objective: To investigate the relationship between temperature of track and speed of horses racing on a synthetic surface. Potential changes in the wax component of the synthetic track were investigated as one possible cause of changes in the track speed at the temperatures observed. Methods: At Del Mar racetrack (California, USA), the air, surface and subsurface temperatures at 4 depths in t...
Byström A, Rhodin M, von Peinen K, Weishaupt MA, Roepstorff L.The kinematics of the saddle and rider have not been thoroughly described at the walk. Objective: To describe saddle and rider movements during collected walk in a group of high-level dressage horses and riders. Methods: Seven high-level dressage horses and riders were subjected to kinematic measurements while performing collected walk on a treadmill. Movements of the saddle and rider's pelvis, upper body and head were analysed in a rigid body model. Projection angles were determined for the rider's arms and legs, and the neck and trunk of the horse. Distances between selected markers were use...
Bártová E, Sedlák K, Syrová M, Literák I.During January 2007, blood samples were collected from 552 healthy horses from nine different regions of the Czech Republic. Sera were tested for serum antibodies to Neospora caninum by a competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed by an indirect fluorescent antibody test. The same samples were tested for serum antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii by a latex agglutination test. In total, 131 of 552 (24%) horses reacted positively for Neospora antibodies in competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; seven of them had > or =50% of inhibition. Samples wer...
Akerreta S, Calvo MI, Cavero RY.To collect, analyze and evaluate the ethnoveterinary knowledge about medicinal plants in a northern Iberian region (Navarra, 10,421 km(2), 620,377 inhabitants). Methods: Field work was conducted between 2003 and 2007, using semi-structured questionnaire and participant observation as well as transects walks in wild herbal plant collection areas. We performed semi-structured interviews with 667 informants (mean age 72; 55.47% women, 44.53% men) in 265 locations, identified the plant reported and analyzed the results, comparing them with those from other territories. Results: Out of 287 species ...
Serra M, Papakonstantinou S, Adamcova M, O'Brien PJ.The use of cardiac troponin (cTn), the 'gold-standard' biomarker of myocardial injury in humans, is growing in veterinary medicine and in animal safety studies, although there are differences in its application in animals. In this study six new assays for the marker were assessed in 619 animals of six different species (dog, cat, horse, cattle, rat and rabbit), in clinical and drug-safety studies. Healthy animals and clinical cases without cardiac disease served as controls. Several of the tested assays had poor analytic or diagnostic sensitivity and only one test was effective in all species ...
Westgate SJ, Percival SL, Knottenbelt DC, Clegg PD, Cochrane CA.Wound research is an evolving science in the equine species. In particular, interest is growing regarding the role that microorganisms play in delaying both acute and chronic wound healing. Equine wounds, particularly lower limb wounds, frequently display delayed healing and infection is commonly the underlying reason. This review will summarize the current research and knowledge surrounding equine wound healing and wound care. Particular focus is placed on the role that microbes play in chronic equine wounds and the significance of associated bacterial biofilms. .
Roelfstra L, Vlimant M, Betschart B, Pfister K, Diehl PA.A morphological study of the midgut and salivary glands of second and third instars of Gasterophilus intestinalis (De Geer) (Diptera: Oestridae) was conducted by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The midgut is anteriorly delimited by a proventriculus, without caeca, and is composed of posterior foregut and anterior midgut tissue from which a double-layered peritrophic matrix is produced. The midgut can be divided into anterior, median and posterior regions on the basis of the structural and physiological variations of the columnar cells which occur along its length. Two oth...
Ling Y, Ma Y, Guan W, Cheng Y, Wang Y, Han J, Jin D, Mang L, Mahmut H.Y chromosome acts as a single nonrecombining unit that is male specific and in effect haploid, thus ensuring the preservation of mutational events as a single haplotype via male lines. In this study, 6 Y chromosome-specific microsatellites (SSR) were tested for the patrilineal genetic variations of 573 male samples from Chinese domestic horse (30 breeds), Przewalski's horse, and donkey. All the 6 loci appeared as a haplotype block in Przewalski's horse and the domestic donkey. There were notable differences, however, at Y chromosome markers between horse and donkey. There were 2 haplotypes of ...
Kaps M, Curik I, Baban M.Heterogeneity of variance of growth traits over age is a common issue in estimating genetic parameters and is addressed in this study by selecting appropriate variance structure models for additive genetic and environmental variances. Modeling and partitioning those variances connected with analyzing small data sets were demonstrated on Lipizzan horses. The following traits were analyzed: withers height, chest girth, and cannon bone circumference. The measurements were taken at birth, and at approximately 6, 12, 24, and 36 mo of age of 660 Lipizzan horses born in Croatia between 1948 and 2000....
Wiley KL, Tormos JR, Quinn DM.beta-Secondary deuterium isotope effects have been measured for equine serum butyrylcholinesterase-catalyzed hydrolysis of acetyl-L(3)-thiocholine (L=H or (2)H). The dependencies of initial rates on isotopic substrate concentrations show close adherence to Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and yield the following isotope effects: (D3)k(cat)/K(m)=0.98+/-0.02 and (D3)k(cat)=1.10+/-0.02. The modestly inverse isotope effect on k(cat)/K(m) is consistent with partial rate limitation by a step that converts the sp(2)-hybridized ester carbonyl of the E+A reactant state into a quasi-tetrahedral transition sta...
Piper T, Geyer H, Gougoulidis V, Flenker U, Schänzer W.Boldenone (androsta-1,4-dien-17beta-ol-3-one, Bo) is an anabolic steroid known to have been used in cattle breeding or equine sport as a doping agent for many years. Although not clinically approved for human application, Bo or its main metabolite 5beta-androst-1-en-17beta-ol-3-one (BM1) were detected in several doping control samples. For more than 15 years the possibility of endogenous Bo production in human beings has been discussed. This is a challenging issue for doping control laboratories as Bo belongs to the list of prohibited substances of the World Anti-Doping Agency and therefore th...
Crook TC, Cruickshank SE, McGowan CM, Stubbs N, Wilson AM, Hodson-Tole E, Payne RC.Selective breeding for performance has resulted in distinct breeds of horse, such as the Quarter Horse (bred for acceleration) and the Arab (bred for endurance). Rapid acceleration, seen during Quarter Horse racing, requires fast powerful muscular contraction and the generation of large joint torques, particularly by the hind limb muscles. This study compared hind limb moment arm lengths in the Quarter Horse and Arab. We hypothesized that Quarter Horse hind limb extensor muscles would have longer moment arms when compared to the Arab, conferring a greater potential for torque generation at the...
Sod GA, Riggs LM, Mitchell CF, Martin GS, Gill MS.To compare the monotonic biomechanical properties and fatigue life of a 5.5-mm-broad locking compression plate (5.5 LCP) fixation with a 4.5-mm-broad locking compression plate (4.5 LCP) fixation to repair osteotomized equine 3rd metacarpal (MC3) bones. Methods: In vitro biomechanical testing of paired cadaveric equine MC3 with a middiaphyseal osteotomy, stabilized by 1 of 2 methods for fracture fixation. Methods: Fifteen pairs of adult equine cadaveric MC3 bones. Methods: Fifteen pairs of equine MC3 were divided into 3 test groups (5 pairs each) for (1) 4-point bending single cycle to failure ...
Viklund A, Braam A, Näsholm A, Strandberg E, Philipsson J.For many years, the breeding value estimation for Swedish riding horses has been based on results from Riding Horse Quality Tests (RHQTs) of 4-year-olds only. Traits tested are conformation, gaits and jumping ability. An integrated index including competition results is under development to both get as reliable proofs as possible and increases the credibility of the indexes among breeders, trainers and riders. The objectives of this study were to investigate the suitability of competition data for use in genetic evaluations of horses and to examine how well young horse performance agrees with ...
Chaplin SJ, Gretgrix L.Housing conditions for horses impose various levels of confinement, which may compromise welfare. Lying behaviour and activity can be used as welfare indicators for domestic animals and rebound behaviour suggests a build-up of motivation resulting from deprivation. The objective of this study was to determine if activity and lying behaviour of horses are affected by housing conditions and to investigate the occurrence of rebound behaviour after release from confinement. Eight horses were subjected, in pairs, to each of four experimental treatments; paddock (P), fully stabled (FS), partly stabl...
Bhoora R, Quan M, Matjila PT, Zweygarth E, Guthrie AJ, Collins NE.Although a quantitative real-time PCR assay (qPCR) assay for the detection of Theileria equi has been developed and evaluated, it is possible that additional, as yet undetected 18S rRNA gene sequence variants may exist. A qPCR assay targeting a different gene, used in conjunction with the T. equi 18S rRNA qPCR assay, could assist in the detection of all T. equi genotypes in field samples. A T. equi ema-1-specific qPCR (Ueti et al., 2003) was tested on 107 South African field samples, 90 of which tested positive for T. equi antibody using the immuno-fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The qPCR as...
Jedziniak P, Szprengier-Juszkiewicz T, Olejnik M, Zmudzki J.A confirmatory method for the determination of residues of nine non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and one metabolite in animal muscles has been developed. After enzymatic hydrolysis samples were extracted with acetonitrile and cleaned up using alumina and C(18) SPE cartridges. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used for the separation and determination of analytes. The method was validated in bovine muscles, according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC criteria. Applicability of the method in the analysis of swine, horse and chicken muscles was checked by precision and ...
Angelini P, Tamba M, Finarelli AC, Bellini R, Albieri A, Bonilauri P, Cavrini F, Dottori M, Gaibani P, Martini E, Mattivi A, Pierro AM, Rugna G....Following a large West Nile virus (WNV) epidemic in northeastern Italy in 2008, human and animal surveillance activities were implemented in Emilia Romagna. Human surveillance was performed by serology or genome detection on blood and cerebrospinal fluid for all suspected cases suffering from acute meningoencephalitis in the regional territory. Animal surveillance consisted of passive and active surveillance of horses and active surveillance of wild birds and mosquitoes. Between 15 June and 31 October 2009, nine of 78 possible cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease were confirmed (three fata...
Noble P, Lumay G, Coninx M, Collin B, Magnée A, Lecomte-Beckers J, Denoix JM, Serteyn D.An equine fetlock joint pendulum test was studied and the influence of post mortem time and intra-articular lipid solvent on the viscous frictional response examined. Fresh equine digits (group 1, n=6 controls; group 2, n=6 lipid solvent) were mounted on a pendulum tribometer. Assuming that pendular joint damping could be modelled by a harmonic oscillator fluid damping (HOFD), damping time (τ), viscous damping coefficient (c) and friction coefficient (μ) were monitored for 5h under experimental conditions (400N; 20°C). In all experiments, pendular joint damping was found to follow an expone...
Bellier S, Cordonnier N.The goal of this article is to present the technical aspects and the applications of the blood cells examination and haemostasis in dogs and cats. Technical realisation of blood counts, cytology of normal and abnormal blood cells and significance of the pathologic cell counts are successively treated. Distinctive features of cytology and cell counts in herbivores, horses and cattle, are detailed in a separate chapter.Difficulties of veterinary haematology lie in qualitative and quantitative differences between blood cells of various animal species.Bone marrow cells exploration is not performed...
Barrett E, Arkins S.Few studies are available concerning prevalences of abnormalities in the Thoroughbred horse population. Objective: Determine the prevalence of commonly observed abnormalities in a National Hunt Thoroughbred population using results of pre-purchase examinations conducted at Thoroughbred sales venues. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods: Veterinary pre-purchase examination certificates for 13,603 3- and 4-year-old Thoroughbred National Hunt horses from Tattersalls Ireland, Goffs Ireland and Doncaster Bloodstock Sales Ltd. (DBS) Sales were analysed. All conditions noted by the v...
Dhand NK, Sergeant ES.During the 2007 equine influenza (EI) outbreak in Australia, there was no objective information about the possible under-reporting of cases by horse owners either so that they would avoid movement restrictions or because of their inability to detect infection. This investigation aimed to estimate the proportion of under-reporting during the outbreak based on the results of surveillance undertaken in conjunction with vaccination. The results provided improved estimates of morbidity during the outbreak and indicated the level of under-reporting likely to occur in future outbreaks of other infect...
Leach DH, Ormrod K, Clayton HM.Terminology for the analysis of equine locomotion is reviewed and the most appropriate terms selected for use by research workers in this field. Each cycle of limb movement comprises a stance phase, when the hoof is in contact with the ground, alternating with a swing phase. The stance phase is subdivided at the mid-stance position into an initial decelerative phase followed by a propulsive phase. When the stance phases of different limbs occur concurrently, the term overlap refers to the duration of simultaneous ground contact. Single support is the term used to describe the phase when the li...
East IJ.In 2007, an epizootic of equine influenza (EI) occurred in Australia, involving parts of the states of Queensland and New South Wales. Following an extensive control program, the disease was eradicated within 4 months, after infecting more than 75,000 horses on over 10,000 properties. In Queensland, examination of land use patterns revealed that the majority of infected premises (89.5%) were located in one of three land use classes viz. rural residential, residential-unspecified or grazing natural vegetation. All nine clusters of infection in Queensland were surrounded to some degree by parcel...
Victor S, Lampa E, Rask Andersen A, Gafvelin G, Grönlund H, Elfman L.Horse allergens are less studied than allergens from other furry animals and these allergens must be evaluated to understand the complexity of allergy to horses. The aims of this study were to develop assays for the horse allergens Equ c 1 and Equ c 2 in dander and saliva and to determine their levels in ten horse breeds. The study also included a comparison of these findings with previous results on the levels of Equ c 4 performed on the same study population. The study population included 170 horses from 10 horse breeds including American Curly and Russian Bashkir horse, which have been sugg...
Russell T, Pollock PJ.To report a technique for improving surgical access to the bladder for removal of cystic calculi in male horses. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Geldings (8) with cystic calculi. Methods: After catheterization of the bladder through the penis, 100 mL 2% lidocaine hydrochloride solution was instilled. After 10 minutes, the bladder was distended with sterile, warmed Hartmann's solution to a pressure of ≈ 40 cm H(2) O, using gravity feed. This was left in place until abdominal access was gained at surgery, then the fluid siphoned off via the catheter. Results: Calculi were 3-11 cm ...
The type of diet that a horse consumes is one of the most important factors determining the mineral profile and tensile strength of its hooves, so the quality and nutritional value of the supplied feed are fundamental to achieving satisfactory hoof quality. The objective of this study was to compare the differences in the mineral concentrations of sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and Iron (Fe) between two diets, namely silage and a commercial concentrate, using atomic absorption spectrometry and to determine which led to higher increases in the hoof tensile strength of ho...
Jauregui-Adell J.Mare milk and aqueous solution of mare milk lysozyme were incubated for variable times between 30 C and 100 C at pH 3, 6, or 9. Lysozyme activity was stable at acid and neutral pH and labile at alkaline pH. Some of the results show the existence of a reactivation process in mare's milk and in aqueous solution. reaching 30 to 40% after incubation of the aqueous solution at 4 C for 20 days at pH 3 or 6.
Pascoe RR.Repair of a rupture of the bladder in a foal
has been reported in Australia by Bain (1954).
The condition is well recognised in veterinary
literature and been described by Leader (1952),
Du Plessis (1958), Darbishire (1961) and Kealy
(1961). The usual case, as reported by Leader
(1952), is that of a dorsal tear. The present
paper describes a case with several variations
from those previously reported.