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.
McDaniel AL, Martin SA, McCann JS, Parks AH.The objective of this study was to examine the effects of Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract on the in vitro equine cecal fermentation of soluble starch, amino acids/peptides, coastal bermudagrass hay, and alfalfa hay. Cecal contents were obtained from a cecally fistulated Quarter Horse gelding fed coastal bermudagrass and grain (70:30) either unadapted or adapted to dietary A. oryzae supplementation (2 g/d). Mixed cecal microorganisms were incubated in anaerobic media for either 24 h (soluble starch, amino acids) or 48 h (bermudagrass hay, alfalfa hay). A. oryzae was added to the incubat...
Glade MJ.Skeletal homeostasis during late gestation, lactation, and the post-lactational recovery period is poorly understood. In an experiment using an animal model (the horse), metacarpal breaking strengths (MBS) estimated via transmission ultrasonics were examined during the last 12 weeks of gestation and for 40 weeks after parturition. MBS increased during the last 6-10 weeks of gestation in mares fed amounts of calcium (Ca) recommended by the National Research Council; maximum MBS coincided with the week of parturition. In contrast, MBS in mares fed 20% less Ca remained relatively constant during ...
Green SL.Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a viral disease of livestock that results in vesicles and ulcerations on the teats, oral mucosa, tongue, and coronary bands. All three main serotypes of the VS virus can infect the horse. Although VS does not have a major impact on the equine industry, it is clinically identical to the other more economically devastating vesicular diseases of cattle and swine and can produce influenza-like symptoms in humans. VS in horses is reportable, as are all vesicular diseases of livestock.
Palmer SE.Laparoscopic laser instrumentation and endoscopic stapling techniques were used to perform 10 unilateral ovariectomy procedures on 5 standing Thoroughbred mares. In all instances, mares had a clinically normal reproductive tract and estrous cycle, and ovariectomy was performed to eliminate regular estrous behavior. All procedures were accompanied by minimal trauma and uncomplicated postoperative recovery. Mares were able to resume normal activity 2 weeks after surgery. Regular estrous behavior was eliminated in all 5 mares, although 1 mare continued to have signs of estrous behavior occasional...
Stewart F, Goode JA, Allen WR.A heterologous radioimmunoassay was developed and validated for the measurement of horse GH in plasma. It utilized recombinant-derived bovine GH as the radiolabelled ligand, a guinea-pig anti-porcine GH serum as first antibody and pituitary-derived horse GH as standard. Cross-reactivities were high with all of the pituitary and recombinant-derived GH preparations tested (49-140%) and very low (< 0.3%) with horse FSH, LH and prolactin. A synthetic analogue of GH-releasing factor(1-29) stimulated the expected pattern of GH release in foals. Plasma GH concentrations in foals were low at birth (< ...
Philpott M.This review summarizes the major infectious diseases of the three major agricultural species (cattle, sheep and pigs) and horses, and presents the evidence for and against the possibility of infectious agents being transmitted between animals via the venereal route or by the use of semen or early embryos in commercial artificial insemination (AI) or embryo transfer (ET). Cattle feature most prominently in the widespread distribution of frozen semen, and national and international organizations have set out guidelines to work towards disease-free bull studs with semen free from potential pathog...
Godber LM, Brown CM, Mullaney TP.A 13-year-old American Saddlebred mare was presented with a 4-day history of anorexia. Physical examination revealed increased inspiratory effort and bony enlargement of the distal limbs. Radiographs indicated a thoracic mass and periosteal proliferations on the distal limbs consistent with hypertrophic osteopathy. Gastric endoscopy revealed distal esophageal and gastric ulceration, and functional pyloric stenosis. Abdominal ultrasonographic examination revealed multiple large, cystic structures associated with the liver. A percutaneous biopsy indicated the thoracic mass to be a granular cell ...
Kordula T, Dubin A, Schooltink H, Koj A, Heinrich PC, Rose-John S.Horse blood leucocytes contain an elastase inhibitor (HLEI) belonging to the serpin family. Poly(A)+RNA isolated from these cells was used to construct a cDNA library in lambda gt10, which was first screened with a synthetic degenerate oligonucleotide probe corresponding to the amino acid sequence of the reactive centre of the inhibitor. Three clones were obtained covering the entire coding region of the protein. Sequencing of these clones showed identity with the amino acid sequence obtained from Edman degradation of the elastase inhibitor. The coding sequence of the HLEI cDNA was cloned into...
Lindner A, Bauer S.The effect of storage duration at different storage temperatures on the plasma ammonia concentration of equine EDTA whole blood, EDTA plasma and heparin plasma samples was investigated. Further, the effect of jugular vein compression before and during blood sampling on the plasma ammonia values was evaluated. In EDTA whole blood kept at 4 degrees C there was no significant increase of ammonia content after 6 hours of storage, whereas the increase was already significant 3 hours after collection if the EDTA whole blood was kept at 20-22 degrees C. EDTA plasma samples stored at 20-22 degrees C, ...
Eckert J.Selected ectoparasitoses of animals are reviewed with special reference to the situation in Switzerland. The review contains information on the parasitoses leishmaniasis of dogs, parafilariasis of equines and cattle, onchocercosis of cattle and horses, ixodiosis, demodicosis of dogs and scabies of domestic animals, fly infestation, myiasis, and infestation with fleas and black flies (simuliidiosis). In addition to information on prevalence, biology and pathogenic effects of ectoparasites, the review provides indications on diagnosis and control.
Nakakuki S.The lungs of five horses were examined. At present, in veterinary anatomy, the horse lung is divided into the cranial and caudal lobes by the cardiac notch on either side. In addition to these lobes, in the right lung, the accessory lobe is present. However, from the viewpoint of the bronchial ramifications, the horse lung can be divided into the cranial, middle, caudal and accessory lobes bilaterally. The horse lung has four bronchiole systems on either side, dorsal, lateral, ventral and medial. The cranial lobe is formed by the first bronchiole of the dorsal bronchiole system. The middle lob...
Paweska JT, Barnard BJ.This paper reports the first serological evidence of exposure of donkeys to equine arteritis virus. Seven hundred and thirty-four serum samples collected between 1989 and 1992 from donkeys in different areas of South Africa were examined for the presence of antibodies against this virus by a microneutralization test. Seventeen percent of serum samples tested positive. The distribution of seropositive animals varied from none in the western Cape Province and the Transvaal Highveld to 30% in the northern Transvaal. The country-wide distribution of serologically positive donkeys suggests a longst...
Thein P, Essich G.An investigation was carried out upon occurrence and course of infectious and non infectious diseases as well as the mortality in foals born and raised at the State Stud Marbach/Lauter between 1982 and 1991. The foals have been investigated from birth to weaning, they consisted of 177 Thoroughbred Arabians and 285 German Warmblood foals (total 462 foals). The diseases were divided into pre-, peri- and postnatal according to their known or assumed cause and onset. There was a preponderance of prenatal diseases (11.25%) whereas the perinatal rate was 1.30% and the postnatal rate of diseases was ...
Szalai G, Bailey E, Gerber H, Lazary S.The genetic diversity at the ELA DQ beta locus was investigated using polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. Based upon serological methods 16 class II homozygous animals were selected and their genomic DNA was used. A DQ beta gene from an equine cDNA library was also sequenced. Our methodology and the similarity between the genomic and the cDNA sequences suggest that the studied locus is expressed on equine lymphocytes. In the predicted amino acid sequence the most extensive variation is located at residues 56-60. The pattern of these five amino acids is strongly correlated to the sero...
Steel JW.The kinetics of avermectin disposition and metabolism in ruminant livestock and horses are reviewed with particular emphasis on the influence of route of administration and formulation on persistence of residues in tissues and excretion in faeces. Because information is not publicly available on other compounds in this class currently under development (e.g. moxidectin, doramectin), ivermectin only is considered. The biological half-life of ivermectin in plasma is similar in cattle and sheep but because of a larger volume of distribution, plasma clearance is more rapid in sheep. However, injec...
Dougherty DM, Lewis P.Using horses, we investigated the control of operant behavior by a tactile stimulus (the training stimulus) and the generalization of behavior to six other similar test stimuli. In a stall, the experimenters mounted a response panel in the doorway. Located on this panel were a response lever and a grain dispenser. The experimenters secured a tactile-stimulus belt to the horse's back. The stimulus belt was constructed by mounting seven solenoids along a piece of burlap in a manner that allowed each to provide the delivery of a tactile stimulus, a repetitive light tapping, at different locations...
Merkens HW, Schamhardt HC, van Osch GJ, Hartman W.Ground reaction force (GRF) patterns from 20 clinically sound Dutch Warmbloods were recorded at the right fore-leading canter, and a standard horse was composed. These GRF data for the standard can be used for evaluation of jumping horses. The GRF patterns were asymmetric for all 4 limbs. The leading right forelimb decelerated the body. The trailing left forelimb propelled the body and decelerated it slightly. The trailing left hind limb propelled, and the leading right hind limb contributed to deceleration and propulsion. Referred to the maximal vertical load of the leading right forelimb, th...
Edens LM, Morris DD, Prasse KW, Anver MR.Protein C is a vitamin K-dependent serine protease with anticoagulant and profibrinolytic activity which is synthesized in the liver. Decreased protein C activity was detected in a Thoroughbred colt with clinical and histopathologic evidence of recurrent venous thrombosis. Although protein C activity was reduced, protein C antigen concentration was normal. Consumptive coagulopathies produce a decrease in both the functional and antigenic concentrations of protein C, thus a defect in protein C synthesis was suspected. Inhibition of gamma-carboxylation secondary to vitamin K antagonism results i...
Schambardt HC, Merkens HW, Vogel V, Willekens C.Using a force plate, ground reaction force (GRF) patterns at take-off and landing between the hooves and the ground were recorded for all limbs of 5 Dutch Warmbloods jumping a 0.8-m vertical fence from the right-leading canter. Distribution of the GRF and force impulses over the 4 limbs at take-off and landing were considerably different from those recorded at the normal canter. At take-off, the propulsory GRF of the hind limbs were 3 to 5 times higher than at the normal canter, depending on the jumping technique of the horse. At landing, the propulsory GRF were mainly increased in the trailin...
Colbath AC, Frye CW.Biologic therapies are becoming increasingly utilized by veterinarians. The literature regarding the interaction of biologic therapies with other therapeutics is still in its infancy. Initial studies have examined the effects of exercise, stress, various pharmaceutical interventions, extracorporeal shockwave, therapeutic laser, and hyperbaric oxygen on biologic therapies. Continued research is imperative as owners and veterinarians increasingly choose a multimodal approach to injury and illness. Further, understanding the effects of concurrently administered treatments and pharmaceuticals as w...
Fernley RT.1. Angiotensin I converting enzyme from horse plasma has been extensively purified and shown to be homogeneous by disc-gel electrophoresis. 2. The metal ion involved in the catalytic reaction of the enzyme has been identified for the first time as zinc by atomic absorption spectrometry. 3. A number of other physicochemical properties of the enzyme are described and compared with results obtained by other investigators. The molecular weight was determined by gel filtration to be 113 000 daltons. The pH maximum was found to be 7-4. The chloride activation of the enzyme appears to act by facilita...
Springer S, Mihatsch DI, Grimm H, Jenner F.Equine veterinarians face a range of challenges when attending competition horses. Athletic goals may significantly impact veterinary decision making, and the veterinarian's work can be complicated by reputational considerations and rival opinions during an assessment of whether a horse is "fit to compete". Using an online questionnaire, we found that the majority of German, Austrian and Swiss equine veterinarians (N = 172) surveyed agreed that the owners of competition horses are more likely than owners of leisure horses to approach them with clear treatment ideas, and that the former have hi...
Murray R, Fisher M, Fairfax V, MacKechnie-Guire R.The association between rider-saddle interaction and horse kinematics has been little studied. It was hypothesized that differences in a thigh block design would influence (a) rider-saddle interface pressures, (b) rider kinematics, and (c) equine limb/spinal kinematics. Eighteen elite sport horses/riders were trotted using correctly fitted dressage saddles with thigh blocks S (vertical face) and F (deformable face). Contact area, mean, and peak pressure between rider and saddle were determined using an on-saddle pressure mat. Spherical markers allowed for the measurement of horse/rider kinemat...
Bethune JL, Budreau AJ, Kägi JH, Vallee BL.Traditionally, the charge of a protein molecule as determined by electrophoresis has been compared to that revealed by pH titration, and any lack of coincidence has been ascribed to ion binding, and the two results have been brought into agreement by adjustment of binding parameters (1). Metallo-thionein allows a unique opportunity to examine the validity of the electrophoretic approach, since the amino acid sequence and metal atom binding studies allow the absolute charge of the molecule to be computed (2). This then can be compared to the charge determined from electrophoretic mobility measu...
BARKHAN P, TOMLIN SC, ARCHER RK.This research article compares the coagulation properties of horse blood to human blood, aiming to explore several previous findings concerning naturally occurring deficiencies in horse plasma and their relevance to […]
PEARSON PB, SCHMIDT H.On the basis of studies with Shetland ponies it appears that a daily intake of 38 µg of pantothenic acid per kg. of body weight is adequate to permit normal growth and health in the horse.
The amount of pantothenic acid excreted by the renal pathway is influenced by the levels ingested. On the level of 150 µg daily per kg. of body weight 41 per cent was excreted in the urine whereas when the level ingested was 38 µg per kg. of body weight only 12.7 percent was excreted by the renal pathway.
Cancedda M.In this paper some considerations on the environment of the 42 Kmq of the volcanic-basaltic Giara tableland are discussed. Conditioning by the environment and its effect on the distribution of a population of 712 horses is illustrated in view of their social and behavioural organization.