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.
Lang JJ, Li X, Micheler CM, Wilhelm NJ, Seidl F, Schwaiger BJ, Barnewitz D, von Eisenhart-Rothe R, Grosse CU, Burgkart R.Femoral fractures are often considered lethal for adult horses because femur osteosynthesis is still a surgical challenge. For equine femur osteosynthesis, primary stability is essential, but the detailed physiological forces occurring in the hindlimb are largely unknown. The objective of this study was to create a numerical testing environment to evaluate equine femur osteosynthesis based on physiological conditions. The study was designed as a finite element analysis (FEA) of the femur using a musculoskeletal model of the loading situation in stance. Relevant forces were determined in the mu...
Schöpper H, Egerbacher M.The vascularization pattern of the equine stifle joint is insufficiently described in the literature, even though there is a growing need for knowledge of the exact blood supply, as (i) arthroscopy and endoscopic surgery techniques are increasingly performed in horses and (ii) ex vivo models of menisci need nutrient supply that mimic the in vivo situation. The aim of this study was to describe the vessels involved in the stifle joint supply and the exact branching pattern of the popliteal artery. Colored latex was injected into the arteries of nine pelvic limbs of equine cadavers (n = 6) to ev...
Maurício LS, Leme DP, Hötzel MJ.Inadequate management conditions can impair the welfare of captive-bred horses. Understanding individuals' viewpoints and the factors influencing their decisions about adopting or avoiding certain practices may provide insights into their motivations and decision-making processes. This is particularly relevant in the equestrian community, where equine practitioners and enthusiasts often engage in harmful practices. We explored the beliefs, knowledge, and attitudes of equine practitioners and enthusiasts about horse welfare and the barriers that prevent them from employing better management pra...
Schrurs C, Dubois G, Van Erck-Westergren E, Gardner DS.In-training racehorse physiological data can be leveraged to further explore race-day performance prediction. To date, no large retrospective, observational study has analysed whether in-training speed and heart rate recovery can predict racehorse success. Speed (categorised as 'slow' to 'fast' according to the time taken to cover the last 600 m from a virtual finish line) and heart rate recovery (from gallop to 1 min after exercise) of flat racehorses (n = 485) of varying age, sex and type according to distance (e.g., sprinter, miler and stayer) were obtained using a fitness tracker from a si...
Pereira R, Gillespie S, Rapezzano G, Withers J, Duz M, Foote A.A 15-month-old, grey, Thoroughbred filly presented for investigation of a 6-week history of corneal oedema and blepharospasm on the right eye (OD). The filly was otherwise healthy. Following ophthalmic examination, glaucoma on the OD was diagnosed. A space occupying mass within the anterior chamber was documented on transpalpebral ultrasonographic examination. This mass obliterated most of the anterior intraocular structures on the peripheral nasal side (corneal endothelium and drainage angle), leading to secondary glaucoma. After systemic and topical treatment addressing secondary glaucoma, t...
Steensma MJ, Doekes HP, Pook T, Derks MFL, Bakker N, Ducro BJ.In the past, small population sizes and unequal ancestor contributions have resulted in high inbreeding rates (ΔF) in the Friesian horse. Two decades ago, the studbook implemented a mating quota and started publishing individual kinships and reduced ΔF below 1% per generation. However, since then, the breeding population size has decreased and this raises the question whether current breeding strategies are sufficient to keep ΔF below desired rates. The aim of this study was to (1) reflect on past inbreeding trends and their main determinants, using pedigree analysis and (2) evaluate the ef...
Perry EB, Handlos GC, Fenton JM.Anise has demonstrated equine palatability but its olfactory effect is underexplored. The objective was to investigate the effect of the aroma of anise on consumptive behavior. Stock-type horses (n = 8) were used in a crossover 6-day preference test. Palatability stocks were utilized. Bowls containing oats were situated on plates holding gauze soaked with 0.375 ml of anise or corn oil (control). Variables included first diet sniffed (FS), first consumed (FC), first action (FA), and amount consumed (AC). Each trial was video-recorded. Behavior data were analyzed using chi square and Kruskal...
French KM, Musiał AD, Karczewski M, Daugnora L, Shiroukhov R, Ropka-Molik K, Baranowski T, Bertašius M, Skvortsov K, Szymański P....Horse sacrifice and deposition are enigmatic features of funerary rituals identified across prehistoric Europe that persisted in the eastern Baltic. Genetic and isotopic analysis of horses in Balt cemeteries [1st to 13th centuries CE (Common Era)] dismantle prevailing narratives that locally procured stallions were exclusively selected. Strontium isotope analysis provides direct evidence for long-distance (~300 to 1500 kilometers) maritime transport of Fennoscandian horses to the eastern Baltic in the Late Viking Age (11th to 13th centuries CE). Genetic analysis proves that horses of both sexe...
Houben RMAC, Newton JR, van Maanen C, Waller AS, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Heesterbeek JAP.Strangles, a disease caused by infection with Streptococccus equi subspecies equi (S. equi), is endemic worldwide and one of the most frequently diagnosed infectious diseases of horses. Recent work has improved our knowledge of key parameters of transmission dynamics, but important knowledge gaps remain. Our aim was to apply mathematical modelling of S. equi transmission dynamics to prioritise future research areas, and add precision to estimates of transmission parameters thereby improving understanding of S. equi epidemiology and quantifying the control effort required. A compartmental deter...
Wood JM, Baum HP, Bews JP, Wachsmuth ED, Heusser C, Hofbauer KG.In this study, the hypotensive efficacy of R-3-36-16, a monoclonal antibody against human kidney renin, was investigated during chronic administration to a primate. R-3-36-16 was given by continuous intraperitoneal infusion with osmotic minipumps to normotensive marmosets fed a low-sodium diet in doses of 30 or 300 micrograms/kg/day for 14 days. The lower dose had no effect on blood pressure (BP) or plasma renin activity (PRA). After two days of treatment, the higher dose reduced PRA by 57% and lowered BP by 13 +/- 7 mm Hg. Although the hypotensive response persisted after 14 days of treatment...
Burron S, Richards T, Krebs G, Trevizan L, Rankovic A, Hartwig S, Pearson W, Ma DWL, Shoveller AK.Both n-6 and n-3 fatty acids (FA) have numerous significant physiological roles for mammals. The interplay between these families of FA is of interest in companion animal nutrition due to the influence of the n-6:n-3 FA ratio on the modulation of the inflammatory response in disease management and treatment. As both human and animal diets have shifted to greater consumption of vegetable oils rich in n-6 FA, the supplementation of n-3 FA to canine, feline, and equine diets has been advocated for. Although fish oils are commonly added to supply the long-chain n-3 FA eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), ...
Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O, Malin K, Dąbrowska I, Grzędzicka J, Ostaszewski P, Carter C.Domestic horses routinely participate in vigorous and various athletic activities. This enables the horse to serve as a model for studying athletic physiology and immunology in other species, including humans. For instance, as a model of physical efforts, such as endurance rides (long-distance running/aerobic exercise) and races (anaerobic exercise), the horse can be useful in evaluating post-exercise response. Currently, there has been significant interest in finding biomarkers, which characterize the advancement of training and adaptation to physical exercise in the horse. The parallels in c...
Labordère AL, Ruzickova P, Kamus LJ, Beauchamp G, Malo A, Richard H, Laverty S.To evaluate vascularity of the synovial membrane covered septum (SMS) separating the tarsocrural (TC) and proximal intertarsal (PIT) joints (Part 1) and compare two methods of transection, electrosurgical or Ferris Smith rongeur (FS rongeur) (Part 2). Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Part 1, 10 SMS (n = 5 horses). Part 2, six horses (n = 12 tarsi). Methods: In part 1, SMS harvested postmortem were each divided into eight regions of interest (ROIs), processed for histology, and immunostained with anti-α-actin antibody for blood vessel identification. Vascular density was calculate...
Arroyo-Salvo C, Río S, Bogetti ME, Plaza J, Miragaya M, Yaneff A, Davio C, Fissore R, Gervasi MG, Gambini A, Perez-Martinez S.Factors contributing to the limited success of in vitro fertilization in horses remain to be studied. In this work, we elucidated the effect of different essential capacitation media components, bicarbonate, and bovine serum albumin or polyvinyl-alcohol, and the incubation microenvironment on sperm parameters associated with capacitation, acrosome reaction, and their ability to activate oocytes via heterologous intracytoplasmic spermatozoa injection in equine cryopreserved spermatozoa. Methods: Frozen-thawed spermatozoa underwent incubation at different time intervals in either Tyrode's albumi...
Elte Y, Wolframm I, van Grevenhof I, Nielen M, van Weeren R.Client satisfaction depends on the balance between expectations and service experience. Previous research identified seven aspects of equine veterinary professional conduct that are important for client satisfaction: quality of care, quality of service, horsemanship, transfer of knowledge, financial aspects, interpersonal skills and professionalism. Methods: By employing a cross-sectional study design through a survey-based investigation, horse owners' initial contact preferences and their perceptions of the importance of various aspects of veterinary care in different scenarios were explored....
Pereira R, Bowen M, Rapezzano G, Redpath A, Pratt S, Hallowell G.Recombinant intracameral tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) administration can aid clearance of fibrin from the anterior chamber. In this retrospective multicentre case series, the effect of intracameral rTPA administration to treat fibrin in the anterior chamber resulting from trauma or inflammatory ocular disease was evaluated. Clinical data from 30 treatments in 29 horses were obtained from medical records from 2003 to 2022. Association between time from onset of clinical signs and time for rTPA treatment to effect was studied with regression analysis. Twenty-seven horses (93.1%) had no pr...
Machado M, Camacho AL, Coubrough C, R R Queiroz-Machado C, Custodio C, Barros CSL, Riet-Correa F, Menchaca A.We reported thirteen cases of bilateral stringhalt associated with Hypochaeris radicata that occurred in horses in Uruguay during a severe drought in the summer of 2023. All horses were affected chronically and progressively by bilateral hyperflexion of hindlimbs. In two severely affected horses, the main histological lesions included neuronal chromatolysis and axonal spheroids in the ventral gray horn in the lumbar and sacral spinal cord and axonal degeneration and digestion chambers in ventral roots fibers and long peripheral nerves. We suggest that in addition to injuries to peripheral nerv...
Fuentes F, Contreras MJ, Arroyo-Salvo C, Cabrera P P, Silva M, Merino O, Arias ME, Felmer R.Although under appropriate laboratory conditions, sperm from different mammalian species can be capacitated in vitro, the optimal conditions for sperm capacitation in the stallion have been elusive. This study evaluated the effect of different capacitating inducers in Whitten and Tyrode media and assessed their impact on capacitation-related factors. Stallion sperm were incubated with different combinations of capacitating inducers at 38.5 °C in an air atmosphere. Sperm quality variables such as motility, mitochondrial membrane potential, and lipid peroxidation were assessed. Membrane fluidi...
Ramos GV, Santos MM, Gava FN, de Lacerda-Neto JC.The effects of conditioning on cardiac function in young horses is still unknown. For this reason, this study evaluated the left ventricular (LV) function of young horses by echocardiography after six weeks of conditioning. Fourteen untrained young purebred Arabian horses were evaluated at rest and after a stress test (ST) before and after a six-week conditioning program. There was an increase in V4 (p < 0.001) after conditioning, as well as a reduction in both heart rate (HR) at rest and peak HR during the ST (p < 0.001). There was also a reduction in internal diameter, along with an in...
Nelson GR, Mama KR, Weiner D, McKemie DS, Kass PH, Steinmetz SJ, Knych HK.This study describes the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, including antinociceptive effects, of a transdermal buprenorphine solution in horses. It was hypothesized that transdermal application would lead to sustained blood concentrations and antinociceptive effects with fewer adverse effects compared with intravenous (IV) injection. Methods: Prospective nonrandomized four-part parallel experimental study. Methods: A group of eight horses (three mares and five geldings) aged 6-12 years. Methods: Horses were administered incremental doses of 15, 30 and 45 μg kg of buprenorphine transderma...
Shnaiderman-Torban A, Pe'er O, Gustafsson K, Tatz A, Brizi M, Soback S, Abu Ahmad W, Magen R, Ofri R, Kelmer G.In equine glaucoma, topical treatment with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) is recommended. Oral acetazolamide, a systemic CAI, is used in horses with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis. Information regarding its effect on equine intraocular pressure (IOP) is scarce. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of oral acetazolamide treatment on IOP in horses, in a case-control study. Methods: Ten healthy horses. Methods: Horses were treated with oral acetazolamide (4.4 mg/kg) BID for 1 week. Serum acetazolamide concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spect...
Grzeskowiak R, Schumacher J, Omidi O, Bowers K, Cassone LMC, Abedi R, Hespel AM, Mulon PY, Anderson DE.To assess a three-dimensional (3-D)-printed laryngeal clamp (LC) designed to enhance the anchoring of laryngeal prostheses at the cricoid cartilage. Methods: Ex vivo biomechanical study. Methods: A total of 22 equine larynges. Methods: Two experimental groups included larynges with standard prosthetic laryngoplasty (PL; n = 10) and larynges with prosthetic laryngoplasty modified with laryngeal clamps (PLLC; n = 10). All constructs underwent 3000 cycles of tension loading and a single tension to failure. Recorded biomechanical parameters included maximum load, actuator displacement, a...
Silva AH, Lucena JEC, Taran FMP, Cunha DS, Almeida JAT, Lima RS, Dias WS, Santiago JM.This study aimed to compare the digestibility of tropical grasses by horses by the in vivo method using mobile nylon bags with the in vitro digestibility method using horse feces as a source of inoculum. Five horses were used in a 2 × 5 factorial design with randomized blocks featuring two methods (in vivo and in vitro) and five grasses: Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon spp.), sixweeks threeawn grass (Aristida adsencionis, Linn), Alexandergrass (Brachiaria plantaginea (Link) Hitchc.), capim-de-raiz (Chloris orthonoton, Doell), and Sabi grass (Urochloa mosambicensis). No difference (P>0.05) was foun...
Leemans B, Gadella BM, Marchand JHEAM, Van Soom A, Stout TAE.We recently developed re-differentiated equine oviduct epithelial cell (REOEC) monolayers demonstrating various in vivo morphological characteristics, but lacking secondary ciliation. In this study, we evaluated the effects of fetal bovine serum, reproductive steroid hormones, Wnt- and Notch ligands and inhibitors, and different EOEC seeding densities, in both conventional wells and on microporous membranes, on EOEC morphology and, in particular, secondary ciliation. REOEC monolayers were assessed by confocal microscopy after combined staining of nuclei, cilia and the cytoskeleton. Only Wnt li...
Poochipakorn C, Sanigavatee K, Wonghanchao T, Huangsaksri O, Chanda M.Underrun heels are among the most hoof imbalances, causing poor performance in hoses. Several corrective shoeing protocols have been performed, but the outcomes have yet to be consistent. In this study, we proposed an alternative trimming protocol for managing underrun heels: strategic palmar trimming before conventional shoeing. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the potential of strategic palmar trimming before conventional shoeing for managing hoof imbalance in horses with underrun heels. Unassigned: Eleven affected horses were divided into control (5 horses with 14 defective...
Takahashi Y, Takahashi T, Mukai K, Ebisuda Y, Ohmura H.Understanding how muscle activity changes with different surface grades during canter is essential for developing training protocols in Thoroughbreds because canter is their primary gait in training and races. We measured the spatiotemporal parameters and the activation of 12 surface muscles in the leading limb side of 7 Thoroughbreds. Horses were equipped with hoof strain gauges and cantered at 10 m/s on a treadmill set to grades of -4%, 0%, 4%, and 8%, randomly, for 30 seconds each without a lead change. Integrated electromyography (iEMG) values during stance and swing phases were calculated...
Hubbell JAE, Muir WW, Gorenberg E, Hopster K.Horses are the most challenging of the common companion animals to anesthetize. Induction of anesthesia in the horse is complicated by the fact that it is accompanied by a transition from a standing position to recumbency. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on induction of anesthesia with a focus on the behavioral and physiologic/pharmacodynamic responses and the actions and interactions of the drugs administered to induce anesthesia in the healthy adult horse with the goal of increasing consistency and predictability.
Ferran AA, Roques BB, Chapuis L, Kuroda T, Lacroix MZ, Toutain PL, Bousquet-Melou A, Lallemand EA.Benzylpenicillin (BP) is a first-line antibiotic in horses but there are discrepancies between manufacturers and literature recommendations regarding dosing regimen. Objectives of this study were to evaluate pharmacokinetics and local tolerance of four different formulations of BP in adult horses, and to suggest optimized dosing regimen according to the formulation. Unassigned: A cross-over design was used in 3 phases for the intramuscular injection of three different products: procaine BP alone, procaine BP/ benzathine BP combination or penethamate hydriodide were administered IM in the glute...
Fresa K, Catandi GD, Whitcomb L, Gonzalez-Castro RA, Chicco AJ, Carnevale EM.Obesity is a complex disease associated with augmented risk of metabolic disorder development and cellular dysfunction in various species. The goal of the present study was to investigate the impacts of obesity on the metabolic health of old mares as well as test the ability of diet supplementation with either a complex blend of nutrients designed to improve equine metabolism and gastrointestinal health or L-carnitine alone to mitigate negative effects of obesity. Mares (n = 19, 17.9 ± 3.7 years) were placed into one of three group: normal-weight (NW, n = 6), obese (OB, n = 7...
Romeiro PS, Weber SH, Justino EJ, Michelotto PV.The use of immersive methodologies is a trend in the educational environment, but their outcomes in the teaching-learning process need to be better understood. This study aimed to assess the impact of the educational environment on learning equine distal limb ultrasonography, comparing immersive classroom, traditional classroom, and virtual classroom. A total of 153 veterinary medicine students from the first to the third semester participated in this study. The students were divided into four groups: traditional (n = 22), immersive (n = 100), online (n = 31), and traditional-immer...
