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.
Myka JL, Lear TL, Houck ML, Ryder OA, Bailey E.Przewalski's wild horse (E. przewalskii, EPR) has a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 66 while the domestic horse (E. caballus, ECA) has a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 64. Discussions about their phylogenetic relationship and taxonomic classification have hinged on comparisons of their skeletal morphology, protein and mitochondrial DNA similarities, their ability to produce fertile hybrid offspring, and on comparison of their chromosome morphology and banding patterns. Previous studies of GTG-banded karyotypes suggested that the chromosomes of both equids were homologous and the differenc...
Gustafson AL, Tallmadge RL, Ramlachan N, Miller D, Bird H, Antczak DF, Raudsepp T, Chowdhary BP, Skow LC.A physical map of ordered bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones was constructed to determine the genetic organization of the horse major histocompatibility complex. Human, cattle, pig, mouse, and rat MHC gene sequences were compared to identify highly conserved regions which served as source templates for the design of overgo primers. Thirty-five overgo probes were designed from 24 genes and used for hybridization screening of the equine USDA CHORI 241 BAC library. Two hundred thirty-eight BAC clones were assembled into two contigs spanning the horse MHC region. The first contig contain...
Aberle K, Wrede J, Distl O.We analysed the relationship coefficients (R) between the four German heavy horse breeds South German Coldblood, Rhenish German Draught Horse, Schleswig Draught Horse and Black Forest Draught Horse. The relationship coefficient makes it possible to ascertain crossbreeding between the breeds over time, or autonomous developments of the breeds, respectively. The investigation revealed that the relationship coefficients between the German draught horse breeds were very low. The mean relationship coefficients between the four German heavy horse breeds were largest between the South German Coldbloo...
Aberle K, Wrede J, Distl O.Gene contributions of foreign populations as well as coefficients of inbreeding and relationship were calculated in 1918 South German Coldblood horses registered in Bavaria in 2003. Based on nearly complete 8-generation-pedigrees (index of pedigree completeness: 76%) the mean coefficient of inbreeding was 23%. After considering missing pedigree data, the mean coefficient of inbreeding was 3%. The rates of inbreeding per generation in the current population amount to about 0.43% over the last eight generations and to about 0.15% in the forthcoming generation. In the total current population, th...
Hochi S.Factors affecting sensitivity of preimplantation embryos and follicular oocytes to cryopreservation were analyzed in the equine and bovine species. (1) Survival of equine blastocysts after two-step freezing in the presence of glycerol as the cryoprotective agent (CPA) was influenced by development of the embryonic capsule. The use of ethylene glycol (EG) with sucrose as CPAs improved the post-thaw survival of blastocysts and made it possible to transfer the embryos into recipient mares without removing the CPAs. In addition, early blastocysts cryopreserved by vitrification could develop both i...
Moussa M, Tremoleda JL, Duchamp G, Bruyas JF, Colenbrander B, Bevers MM, Daels PF.The aim of this study was to evaluate the viability (percentage of dead cells) and the incidence of DNA fragmentation of horse embryos after storage in three different media at 5 degrees C for 6 and 24 h. Forty embryos were stored in Emcare Holding Solution for 6 and 24 h, in Hams'F10 or Vigro Holding Plus for 24 h at 5 degrees C (n = 9-10 per group) and 10 embryos were evaluated immediately after collection. First, embryos were stained, immediately after collection or following storage, to detect dead cells (DAPI) and, subsequently, DAPI-stained embryos were fixed and stained to detect DNA fr...
Mäkelä OT, Lammi MJ, Uusitalo H, Viitanen M, Hyttinen MM, Jurvelin JS, Vuorio E, Helminen HJ, Tulamo RM.To analyze the effect of radiosynovectomy with holmium-166 ferric hydroxide macroaggregate (166Ho-FHMA) on articular cartilage in 6 adult horses. Methods: Arthritic changes and mechanical properties of articular cartilage were evaluated with arthroscopy and postmortem microscopic analyses. Glycosaminoglycan content was measured by safranin-O staining combined with digital densitometry, uronic acid analyses, and dimethylene blue binding assay. 35S-sulfate labeling and autoradiography were used to localize proteoglycan synthesis and to characterize proteoglycan structures using SDS-agarose gel e...
Krebs JW, Wheeling JT, Childs JE.During 2002, 49 states and Puerto Rico reported 7,967 cases of rabies in nonhuman animals and 3 cases in human beings to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an increase of 7.2% from the 7,436 cases in non-human animals and 1 case in a human being reported in 2001. More than 92% (7,375 cases) were in wild animals, whereas 7.4% (592) were in domestic species (compared with 93.3% in wild animals and 6.7% in domestic species in 2001). Compared with cases reported in 2001, the numbers of cases reported in 2002 increased among all major reporting groups with the exception of swine and ro...
Sod GA, Martin GS.To compare the biomechanical properties of a prototype intramedullary pin-plate (IMPP) implant specifically designed for equine metacarpophalangeal (MCP) arthrodesis with a dynamic compression plate (DCP) system. Methods: In vitro biomechanical testing of paired cadaveric equine forelimbs with a simulated traumatic disruption of the suspensory apparatus, stabilized by one of two methods for MCP arthrodesis. Methods: Twenty-one pairs of adult equine cadaveric forelimbs. Methods: Each forelimb had the distal sesamoidean ligaments severed to create a disrupted suspensory apparatus. For each forel...
Chung C, Leib SR, Fraser DG, Ellis SA, McGuire TC.Improved typing of horse classical MHC class I is required to more accurately define these molecules and to extend the number identified further than current serological assays. Defining classical MHC class I alleleic polymorphism is important in evaluating cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in horses. In this study, horse classical MHC class I genes were analyzed based on reverse transcription (RT)-PCR amplification of sequences encoding the polymorphic peptide binding region and the more conserved alpha 3, transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions followed by cloning and sequencing. Primer s...
Eto D, Yamano S, Mukai K, Sugiura T, Nasu T, Tokuriki M, Miyata H.We hypothesize that high intensity training for Thoroughbred horses that have been subjected to conventional training could further improve the metabolic properties of the middle gluteal muscle. Nine well-trained horses were subjected to high intensity (80-100% Vdot;O(2)max, 5 minx2) training for 12 weeks. Biopsy samples were obtained from the muscle before and after 4 and 12 weeks of training. Three of the 9 horses did not complete the training programme. In the remaining 6 horses, activities of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), phosphofructokinase (PFK) and 3-hydroxy acyl CoA dehydrogenase (HAD)...
Bentz BG, Ealey KA, Morrow J, Claypool PL, Saliki JT.A sampling of equids from the state of Oklahoma produced an estimate of seroprevalence of antibody to Sarcocystis neurona to be about 89.2%. This figure represents the highest currently reported regional seroprevalence of antibody to this organism. Regional differences in seroprevalence were found in the western quadrants of the state relative to the eastern quadrants of the state, with a significantly higher seroprevalence in the eastern regions. Thoroughbreds were found to exhibit a statistically significant lower seroprevalence as a breed group when compared with other breeds sampled.
Bentley E, Miller PE, Diehl KA.The recent development of a 20-MHz, high-frequency ultrasound probe has allowed tissue to be visualized at resolutions of 20 to 80 microm, which is similar to a low-power histologic view. This high degree of resolution, however, limits tissue penetration to 5 to 10 mm, which is ideal for examination of the anterior segment of the eye. The detail provided by high-resolution ultrasound readily permits the clinician to distinguish between various anterior segment entities that may appear similar but are treated quite differently, such as anterior uveal tumors, iridociliary cysts, and iris bombé....
Candler C.Occupational performance outcomes from a summer camp for children with sensory modulation disorder were examined. Sensory integration based programming was incorporated into a one week summer day camp that featured therapeutic riding. Using a modified interview format, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was administered to camp participants and their families two weeks prior to and one week after camp. Ten families participated in the study. Comparison of the families' ratings revealed a significant and positive change in the children's behaviors. The COPM was highly useful a...
Chabchoub A, Landolsi F, Zientara S, Amira A, Mejri M, Ghorbel A, Ghram A.The authors describe an equine influenza epizootic that occurred in Tunisia during February and March 1998 in the regions of Tozeur, Sousse and Tunis. They relate the symptoms, the different stages of diagnosis and the serological results.
Sletten K, Johnson KH, Westermark P.The primary structure of amyloid fibril protein AA of a burro has been determined by Edman degradation. The 80 amino acid residue long protein shows strong resemblance to that of other mammalian AA-proteins and differs from equine protein AA at 5 positions: Burro/horse positions 20 (Q/N), 44 (R,Q, K/K,Q), 59 (G,L/G,A), 61 (Q/E) and 65 (N/R).
Eto D, Yamano S, Kasashima Y, Sugiura T, Nasu T, Tokuriki M, Miyata H.Most racehorses are trained regularly from about age 18 months; therefore, little information is available on the effect of training in Thoroughbred foals. Objective: Well-controlled exercise could improve muscle potential ability for endurance running. Methods: Thoroughbred foals at age 2 months were separated into control and training (treadmill exercise) groups and samples obtained from the middle gluteal muscle at 2 and 12 months post partum. Muscle fibre compositions were determined by histochemical and electrophoretical techniques and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity was analysed in...
Castagnolli KC, de Figueiredo LB, Santana DA, de Castro MB, Romano MA, Szabó MP.Acquired immunity of horses to larvae, nymphs and adults of the Amblyomma cajennense tick was evaluated through three consecutive experimental infestations of tick-bite naïve hosts. Data from these infestations were compared to those from field-sensitized horses and donkeys. It was observed that tick-bite naïve horses developed a low level of resistance after two infestations as shown by a significant decrease in larval yield and a tendency for lower engorged weight of nymphs during third infestation. Ticks fed on field-sensitized horses had a similar biological performance to that observed ...
Toscano WA, Toscano JS, Toscano DG, Gross MK.The soluble calmodulin-sensitive isoform of adenylyl cyclase isolated from equine sperm is unique because it requires Mn(2+) rather than Mg(2+) for activity. To gain insight into the molecular action of metals on sperm adenylyl cyclase, the kinetics of Mn(2+) and ATP effect was examined. A biphasic response to increases in ATP concentration was observed when metal was held constant. When [Mn(2+)] exceeded [ATP], however, greatly enhanced enzyme activity was observed. The kinetic profiles were consistent with allosteric activation of adenylyl cyclase by Mn(2+). Linear transformation of the data...
Roberto Da Costa RP, Carvalho H, Agrícola R, Alpoim-Moreira J, Martins C, Ferreira-Dias G.The purpose of this study was to evaluate different parameters of the immune status in the mare, during the follicular and the luteal phases of the oestrous cycle, in two consecutive years. Functional competence of peripheral blood neutrophils, such as chemotaxis, phagocytosis and oxidative burst was assessed under physiological cyclic conditions (Exp. I). In the second year of this study (Exp. II), besides peripheral blood neutrophil phagocytosis and oxidative burst analysis, circulating lymphocyte subsets were also characterized. The reproductive status in a total of 17 adult cycling mares w...
Suwannachot P, Verkleij CB, Van Weeren PR, Everts ME.We studied the effects of exercise without or with a subsequent period on pasture on Ca2+ ATPase concentration in foal skeletal muscle, and compared the results with those previously reported on Na+, K+ ATPase. Ca2+ ATPase was measured in homogenates as Ca2+-dependent steady-state phosphorylation from [gamma-32P]ATP. From day 7 after birth, 24 foals were divided into three groups: (i) staying in a box stall (Box); (ii) staying in a box stall with an exercise programme of an increasing number of sprints per day (Exercise); and (iii) staying on pasture (Pasture). Half of the foals (12 with four ...
Bakala A, Karlik W, Wiechetek M.In this study a detailed description of the equine hepatocyte isolation procedure is presented. Livers were obtained from horses slaughtered at the local slaughterhouse. For blood removal and liver preservation the following steps are suggested: perfusion with the oxygenated HBSS (0-2 degrees C, with continuous flow of 500-800 ml/min for 3-6 min), protection from ischemia injury by flushing with ice-cold University of Wisconsin Solution (UW, flow rate of 500-800 ml/min), and finally immersion of the liver lobe in UW solution (2 degrees C) during its transport to the laboratory. For equine isol...
Baccam P, Thompson RJ, Li Y, Sparks WO, Belshan M, Dorman KS, Wannemuehler Y, Oaks JL, Cornette JL, Carpenter S.Lentiviruses exist in vivo as a population of related, nonidentical genotypes, commonly referred to as quasispecies. The quasispecies structure is characteristic of complex adaptive systems and contributes to the high rate of evolution in lentiviruses that confounds efforts to develop effective vaccines and antiviral therapies. Here, we describe analyses of genetic data from longitudinal studies of genetic variation in a lentivirus regulatory protein, Rev, over the course of disease in ponies experimentally infected with equine infectious anemia virus. As observed with other lentivirus data, t...
Redden RF.Radiographic examination of the equine foot can provide the veterinarian and farrier with a wealth of information. Positioning and selection of exposure factors are of central importance if one is to produce radiographs of maximum diagnostic value.
Jarvis SM, Harris RC.The inward transport of two purines, adenosine and hypoxanthine, at 37 degrees C by horse erythrocytes was compared. No mediated transport of adenosine was detected in horse erythrocytes, nor was saturable, high-affinity binding of the potent facilitated-diffusion inhibitor nitrobenzylthioinosine demonstrable in horse erythrocyte membranes. In contrast, erythrocytes from most horses possessed a saturable sodium-dependent hypoxanthine transporter (apparent K(m), 100 +/- 28 microM; Vmax, 0.20 +/- 0.08 mmol (l cells)-1 h-1; means +/- S.E.M., n = 5). Guanine inhibited hypoxanthine influx (apparent...
Semin GR, Gomes N, D'Aniello B, Sabiniewicz A.We illustrate the problematic nature of different assumptions guiding the examination of whether humans can detect the source of fear chemosignals (i.e., body odors) emitted by horses-a research question examined in an article recently published in . A central issue is that the formulation of the question itself contains the answer to it. In this paper, we parse the problematic assumptions on which the analysis and methodology rely, leading to conclusions that are difficult to support. These assumptions constitute examples of methodological problems that should be avoided in research with anim...
Dahan R, Sutton GA, Oreff GL, Kelmer G.The primary objective of this study was to determine the agreement between the packed cell volume (PCV) and total solids (TS) values in blood collected from the jugular vein (JV) in comparison with the cephalic vein (CV) and the transverse facial venous sinus (TFVS) in healthy adult horses. A total of 72 samples were taken from 24 horses. We found high agreement that reflects no clinically relevant differences between the PCV and TS values obtained from the CV or the TFVS in comparison with the JV in standing healthy adult horses.
Erice I, Gil L, Josa A, Echegaray A, Martinez F, Espinosa E.Mares (n = 39) were classified according to age as young (less than 1.5 yr, n = 17) or old (more than 1.5 yr, n = 22) and sacrificed. Ovaries were measured and weighed, and the number of follicles and CL were counted. Follicle size and distribution were recorded (external: > 20 mm, 5 mm, < 5 mm). External follicles were aspirated while internal follicles were sliced. The number and Type of oocytes recovered using each method were recorded. Oocyte recovery rates (oocytes/ovary) resulted in a mean of 0.92 oocytes by aspiration and 1.36 oocytes by additional slicing. The mean numbers of av...
van der Burg LJ, Muller I, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM.The horse milking industry is expanding in The Netherlands and Flanders. Horse milk has become popular due to its (supposed) health-enhancing properties. A horse-milking farm is not a common client for the Dutch veterinarian. When giving advice in this circumstance it should be recognised that these horses are production animals and that their milk is for human consumption. A review of the literature is given together with the results of an extensive enquiry amongst 13 horse-milking farms in The Netherlands and Flanders.
Zeng J, Rao KR, Brew K, Fenna R.Crystals of the calcium-containing lysozyme from horse milk have been grown by precipitation with sodium phosphate. The crystals are orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with cell dimensions a = 53.2, b = 57.1, and c = 38.2 A and contain a single molecule in the asymmetric unit. The crystals are suitable for high resolution x-ray structural analysis.
Moreau P.A healthy group of loyal clients is of the utmost importance for a healthy practice.Knowing the clients’ expectations and making every effort to exceed them when clients meet with the veterinarian or visit the clinic will result in continued client satisfaction. Clients will show loyalty to a veterinarian when they perceive that the care provided to them suits them and their animal and exceeds their expectations.
Pellegrini A, Zweifel HR, von Fellenberg R.The alpha-2-protease inhibitor, of 65,000 daltons molecular weight, described by several authors in horse plasma and also present as a contaminant in alpha-1-isoinhibitor isolates previously described by us (Pellegrini & von Fellenberg (1980) Biochim. biophys. Acta 616, 351-361) has now been isolated to purity and identified as antithrombin III. The inhibitor is composed of a single polypeptide chain as judged by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The inhibitor was effective only against trypsin and thrombin. Serological cross-reaction existed between the inhibitor and the antiserum t...
Takeuchi K, Shibata N, Senda N.Myosin was isolated from leucocytes in horse arterial blood by the same procedures used for the isolation of myosin from skeletal muscle. The Ca2+-, EDTA-, and Mg2+-ATPase [EC 3.6.1.3] activities of the protein was 0.148, 0.147, and 0.001 mumoles/min/mg, respectively, in 0.5 M KCl at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees. The Ca2+-ATPase activity decreased with decrease in the ionic strength. No difference was found between leucocyte myosin and skeletal myosin in the pH profiles of Ca2+- and EDTA-ATPases. The rate and amount of the initial burst of Pi liberation of leucocyte myosin were 0.002 mumoles/min/mg a...