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.
Roberts K, Hemmings AJ, McBride SD, Parker MO.Large animal models of human neurological disorders are advantageous compared to rodent models due to their neuroanatomical complexity, longevity and their ability to be maintained in naturalised environments. Some large animal models spontaneously develop behaviours that closely resemble the symptoms of neural and psychiatric disorders. The horse is an example of this; the domestic form of this species consistently develops spontaneous stereotypic behaviours akin to the compulsive and impulsive behaviours observed in human neurological disorders such as Tourette's syndrome. The ability to non...
Lansade L, Marchand AR, Coutureau E, Ballé C, Polli F, Calandreau L.The relationship between personality and learning abilities has become a growing field of interest. Studies have mainly focused on the relationship with performance, such as the speed of acquisition. In this study, we hypothesised that personality could in part also be related to a certain predisposition of an individual to switch more easily from a goal-directed process to a habit process during learning. To identify these processes, we conducted a contingency degradation protocol. This study investigated 1/ whether in general horses are able to adjust their response according to the continge...
Maia L, Dias MC, de Moraes CN, de Paula Freitas-Dell'Aqua C, da Mota LS, Santiloni V, da Cruz Landim-Alvarenga F.Cryopreservation is a feasible alternative to maintaining several cell lines, particularly for immediate therapeutic use, transportation of samples, and implementation of new in vitro studies. This work parts from the hypothesis that the medium of cryopreservation composed by 90% of conditioned medium (CM) supports cryopreservation of equine umbilical cord intervascular matrix mesenchymal stem cells (UCIM-MSCs), allowing the maintenance of the biological properties for the establishment of cell banks intended for therapeutic use and in vitro studies. Thus, we evaluated the viability, apoptosis...
Kim HS, Moon HW, Sung HW, Kwon HM.Non-primate hepacivirus (NPHV) corresponds a group of isolates recently characterized in horses and dogs that present similar genomic organization and are closely related to hepatitis C virus. Since canine hapacivirus, NPHV identified in dogs, was first discovered in dogs in the United States, equine hepacivirus (EqHV, NPHV identified in horses) has been identified in horses in several countries. However, no epidemiological studies have investigated EqHV in horses in Korea. In this study, a total of 74 (n=74) serum samples collected from horses in four regions of Korea were tested for EqHV RNA...
Carpenter S, Mellor PS, Fall AG, Garros C, Venter GJ.African horse sickness virus (AHSV) is a lethal arbovirus of equids that is transmitted between hosts primarily by biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). AHSV affects draft, thoroughbred, and companion horses and donkeys in Africa, Asia, and Europe. In this review, we examine the impact of AHSV critically and discuss entomological studies that have been conducted to improve understanding of its epidemiology and control. The transmission of AHSV remains a major research focus and we critically review studies that have implicated both Culicoides and other blood-feeding...
Mukai K, Hiraga A, Takahashi T, Matsui A, Ohmura H, Aida H, Jones JH.OBJECTIVE To determine whether racehorses undergoing regular exercise at 2 intensities or stall rest during a period of reduced training (detraining) would differentially maintain their cardiopulmonary and oxygen-transport capacities. ANIMALS 27 Thoroughbreds. PROCEDURES Horses trained on a treadmill for 18 weeks underwent a period of detraining for 12 weeks according to 1 of 3 protocols: cantering at 70% of maximal rate of oxygen consumption ([Formula: see text]o) for 3 min/d for 5 d/wk (canter group); walking for 1 h/d for 5 d/wk (walk group); or stall rest (stall group). Standardized treadm...
Boison JO, Dowling P, Matus JL, Kinar J, Johnson R.This study reports the use of two validated LC with tandem MS (MS/MS) methods to study the residue depletion profile of phenylbutazone (PBZ) and its metabolite oxyphenbutazone (OXPBZ) from equine serum, urine, and muscle, kidney, and liver tissues. One LC-MS/MS method, with an LOQ of 1.0 ng/mL for PBZ and 2.0 ng/mL for OXPBZ, was used for the analysis of the two drugs in the biological fluids (equine urine and serum); the other LC-MS/MS method, with an LOQ of 0.5 ng/g for PBZ and OXPBZ, was used for the analysis of the drugs in the equine tissue samples. PBZ was administered intravenously to t...
Choubisa SL.India is one of the fluoride-endemic countries where the maximum numbers of ground or drinking water sources are naturally fluoridated. In India, a total of 23, out of 36 states and union territories have drinking water contaminated with fluoride in varying concentration. In the present scenario, especially in rural India, besides the surface waters (perennial ponds, dams, rivers, etc.), bore wells and hand pumps are the principal drinking water sources for domestic animals such as cattle (Bos taurus), water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), sheep (Ovis aries), goats (Capra hircus), horses (Equus c...
Clayton HM, Schamhardt HC, Hobbs SJ.In this study, sagittal plane ground reaction forces (GRFs) in ridden elite dressage horses performing 'collected trot' and in 'passage' over ground were determined. In-ground force plates captured GRF data from four Dutch Warmblood and four Lusitano horses ridden by their trainers. At least three stance phases were analysed for forelimbs and hind limbs per horse. The variables extracted were vertical and longitudinal (braking, propulsive) force maxima, their times of occurrence and the respective impulses for forelimbs and hind limbs. Lusitanos had lower vertical impulses than Dutch Warmblood...
Witkowski L, Rzewuska M, Takai S, Chrobak-Chmiel D, Kizerwetter-Świda M, Feret M, Gawryś M, Witkowski M, Kita J.Rhodococcus equi is one of the most significant bacterial pathogens affecting foals up to 6 months of age worldwide. Rhodococcosis is present in Poland however information about molecular characterization of R. equi isolates is scarce. This study describes molecular characterization of Rhodococcus equi infection on 13 horse breeding farms in Poland between 2001 and 2012. Samples were collected by tracheobronchial aspiration from pneumonic foals or during necropsy. The R. equi isolates were genotyped by plasmid profiling and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Results: Totally, 58 R. equi isolat...
Kang OD, Park YS.This study aimed to analyze the on heart rate, blood lactate concentration, packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin (Hb) response after conducting exercise in endurance horses. Methods: A total of 20 healthy 3-9-years-old Jeju crossbreed mares (5.95 ± 2.24 year) of age and 312.65 ± 13.59 kg of weight) currently participating the endurance competition were used. The field tests selected for the experiment was gallop (approximately 8.3 m/s) along the selected 2.5 km course (a natural forest trail, not artificial road; a closed loop course). The horses were divided into three groups...
Barone A, Toti P, Menchini-Fabris GB, Felice P, Marchionni S, Covani U.The aim of this study was to evaluate volumetric and clinical outcomes of atrophic posterior mandibles treated with inlay or onlay bone grafting techniques. Methods: In posterior mandibles, alveolar ridges were treated either with interpositional equine cancellous bone block (inlay group) or with onlay autogenous bone block (onlay group). Bone volumes at baseline and at 4 months after surgery were measured by computed tomography. Results: A total of 20 subjects were enrolled in the present study: 10 in the inlay group and 10 in the onlay group. After surgery, atrophic posterior mandibles showe...
Marcilla M, Muñoz A, Satué K.Systemic physiological changes required for placental and fetal development during pregnancy are associated with an activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) in women, but this fact has not been investigated in mares. Venous blood samples were taken monthly from 31 successful Spanish mares during the 11months of pregnancy. During the first 4months of pregnancy, adrenaline (AD), dopamine (DOPA) and ACTH increases, whereas 5-hydroxitryptamine (5-HT) decreased, and noradrenaline (NAD) and cortisol (CORT) did not change. Serum NAD increase...
Natali AN, Carniel EL, Frigo A, Fontanella CG, Rubini A, Avital Y, De Benedictis GM.An integrated experimental and computational investigation was developed aiming to provide a methodology for characterizing the structural response of the urethral duct. The investigation provides information that are suitable for the actual comprehension of lower urinary tract mechanical functionality and the optimal design of prosthetic devices. Methods: Experimental activity entailed the execution of inflation tests performed on segments of horse penile urethras from both proximal and distal regions. Inflation tests were developed imposing different volumes. Each test was performed accordin...
Cravana C, Medica P, Ragonese G, Fazio E.To investigate the effects of training sessions on circulating β-endorphin changes in sport horses before and after competition and to ascertain whether competition would affect this response. Methods: A total of 24 trained jumping horses were randomly assigned to one of two training groups: Group A (competing) and Group B (not competing). To determined plasma β-endorphin concentrations, two pre- and post-competition training weeks at aerobic workout and two competitive show jumping event days at anaerobic workout were measured before, 5 and 30 min after exercise. Exercise intensity is descr...
Forterre F, Stoffel MH, Koch C, Precht C, Waschk M, Bürki A.Atlantoaxial instability has been reported in humans, dogs, equids and ruminants. The functional role of the atlantoaxial ligaments has only been described rudimentarily in equids and ruminants. The goal of the present cadaveric study was to compare the anatomy between the different species and to comparatively assess the role of the stabilizing ligaments of the atlantoaxial joint under sagittal shear loading in canine, equine, and bovine cervical spines. Methods: Three equine, bovine, and canine cadaveric specimens were investigated. Biomechanical testing was performed using a purpose built s...
Szczepanik MP, Wilkołek PM, Adamek ŁR, Pluta M, Gołyński M, Sitkowski W, Kalisz G, Taszkun I, Pomorski ZJ.Non-invasive methods of skin condition assessment include, among others, the evaluation of transepidermal water loss (TEWL). The aim of the study was to examine whether TEWL values depend on horse breed. The study was conducted on four breeds: "Felin" ponies (FP) (n=16), Polish koniks (PK) (n=15), Polish cold-blooded horses (PcbH) (n=11) and Wielkopolska horses (WH) (n=12). It was found that horse breed influences TEWL values. In the neck region, statistically significant differences were found between PK and FP (p=0.006), and PK and WH (p=0.0005). In the lumbar region, there were statisticall...
Qin H, Xiao J, Gao X, Wang H.In contrast to the rapid development of the horse husbandry in China, the ability of horse veterinarians to diagnose diseases has not been improved and only a few domain experts have considerable expertise. At present, many expert systems have been developed for diseases diagnosis, but few for horse diseases diagnosis have been studied in depth. This paper presents the design and development of a computer-aided expert system for diagnosing horse diseases. We suggest an approach for diagnosis of horse diseases based on the analysis of diagnostic characteristics and the experiential knowledge of...
Mansfield KL, Hernández-Triana LM, Banyard AC, Fooks AR, Johnson N.Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a significant cause of neurological disease in humans throughout Asia causing an estimated 70,000 human cases each year with approximately 10,000 fatalities. The virus contains a positive sense RNA genome within a host-derived membrane and is classified within the family Flaviviridae. Like many flaviviruses, it is transmitted by mosquitoes, particularly those of the genus Culex in a natural cycle involving birds and some livestock species. Spill-over into domestic animals results in a spectrum of disease ranging from asymptomatic infection in some species t...
Negro S, Imsland F, Valera M, Molina A, Solé M, Andersson L.Several variants in the KIT, PAX3 and MITF genes have previously been associated with white markings in horses. In this study, we examined eight variants of these genes in 70 Menorca Purebred horses (PRMe, only black solid-coloured horses) and 70 Spanish Purebred horses (PRE, different coat colour patterns) that were scored for the extent of white markings. A maximum-likelihood chi-square test, logistic regression model and ridge regression analyses showed that a missense mutation (p.Arg682His) in KIT was associated with white facial markings (P < 0.05) and with total white markings (P &...
Zeng X, Trask C, Kociolek AM.Horse riding is common in many occupations; however, there is currently no research evaluating exposure to whole-body vibration and mechanical shock on horseback. Methods: Whole-body vibration was measured on a cattle rancher during two 30 min horseback rides using a tri-axial accelerometer mounted on a western saddle. Vibration was summarized into standardized metrics, including the 8 hr equivalent root-mean-squared acceleration (A[8]) and the daily 4th power vibration dose value (VDV). The resulting exposures were compared to the exposure limit and action values provided by European Unio...
Frölich K, Jandowsky A.The domestic animals descend from various wild ancestors. Thus, for example, of the wolf, the dog (15 000 BC), of the Bezoar goat the goat (10 000 BC), of the Asian mouflon the sheep (10 000 BC), of the wild boar the pig (8000 BC) and of the aurochs the cattle (7000 BC). Domestication has dramatically changed our culture and led to a great diversity of animal breeds. This is a unique cultural and historical treasure, which we have to preserve for future generations. The zoological park Arc Warder is Europe's largest center for rare and endangered domestic animal breeds. Arc Ward...
of surveillance testing, July to September 2016International disease occurrence in the third quarter of 2016These are among matters discussed in the most recent quarterly equine disease surveillance report, prepared by Defra, the Animal Health Trust and the British Equine Veterinary Association.
Chau TH, Tipple BJ, Hu L, Fernandez DP, Cerling TE, Ehleringer JR, Chesson LA.Oxygen isotope ratios (δ O values) of hair largely reflect features of regional hydrology while strontium isotope ratios ( Sr/ Sr) are thought to reflect bedrock geology; combination of both isotope signatures may provide greater capacity for determining provenance and reconstructing travel history of an organism. To test this hypothesis, we compared the O-Sr isotope profiles of hair from domestic horses with known residency histories. Methods: Tail hairs were collected from a pair of horses pastured together for a period of 16 months, one of which lived in a different location for the 8 mo...
Meier H.Both a mandate of the Bernese Government (1705) and statements in the Georgica Helvetica of 1706 prove that Swiss horse breeding was lucrative and of good quality at that time. However, the political turmoil at the transition from the 18th to 19th century and excessive sales to France and Italy led to a severe drop in quantity as well in quality. The exhibition of horses in Aarau in 1865 showed a wretched state of the material. In the same year, Rudolf Zangger wrote a guide for the discussion of horse breeding in Switzerland. In the following year (1866), Johann Jakob Rychner published a repor...
McNulty SN, Tort JF, Rinaldi G, Fischer K, Rosa BA, Smircich P, Fontenla S, Choi YJ, Tyagi R, Hallsworth-Pepin K, Mann VH, Kammili L, Latham PS....Food borne trematodes (FBTs) are an assemblage of platyhelminth parasites transmitted through the food chain, four of which are recognized as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Fascioliasis stands out among the other NTDs due to its broad and significant impact on both human and animal health, as Fasciola sp., are also considered major pathogens of domesticated ruminants. Here we present a reference genome sequence of the common liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica isolated from sheep, complementing previously reported isolate from cattle. A total of 14,642 genes were predicted from the 1.14 GB gen...
Clark JK, Shanks BC, Jogan KS, Philipp D, Coffey KP, Jack NE, Caldwell JD, Rhein RT.Bermudagrass ( L.) is a familiar forage in the equine industry and teff () is gaining popularity as well. However, it is unclear if the application of poultry litter as a fertilizer affects palatability of these forages in horses. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if forage species and timing of litter application as a fertilizer has an effect on preference by horses. Hay treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial treatment arrangement consisting of teff and bermudagrass harvested after no poultry litter application (NL), poultry litter applied to stubble immediately ...
Bruynsteen L, Moons CP, Janssens GP, Harris PA, Vandevelde K, Lefère L, Duchateau L, Hesta M.Due to the high prevalence of obesity in some horses and ponies (especially in the leisure horse sector), effective and safe weight loss strategies are required. The present study evaluated the effect of two different energy restriction rates on physical, morphometric and welfare parameters in 18 obese (body condition score [BCS] 7-9/9) Shetland geldings. The trial was divided into three periods: (1) a 4 week adaptation period, during which the maintenance energy intakes to maintain a stable obese bodyweight were determined (100% MERob); (2) a 16.5-week weight loss period during which the poni...
Niilo L.Eleven Clostridium perfringens type C strains isolated from fatal cases of hemorrhagic enterotoxemia of Canadian calves, a piglet, and a foal were studied for the production of soluble antigens. All the isolates from calves and a foal failed to produce delta toxin, but were capable of producing large amounts of lethal beta toxin. A strain isolated from a piglet produced delta, but very little beta toxin. Other differences were relatively minor. The results indicated that young domestic animals may be susceptible to all subtypes of C. perfringens type C. A simple method of using blood agar plat...
Essén-Gustavsson B, Karlström K, Lindholm A.Venous blood samples and middle gluteal muscle biopsies were obtained from 21 horses taking part in 100 km or 50 km endurance rides. Group A consisted of seven horses competing over 100 km (four horses completed the ride). Group B consisted of the six horses that were among the 10 best over 50 km while the other eight horses of Group C completed 50 km at a slower speed. Blood lactate, glycerol and creatine kinase increased in all groups while aspartate aminotransferase levels were higher only in Group A. No changes was found in blood glucose in Groups B and C while horses in Group A had lower ...
Christensen JW.The ability of horses to habituate to novel objects influences safety in the horse-human relationship. However, the effectiveness of different habituation techniques has not been investigated in detail. Objective: 1) To investigate whether horses show increased stress responses when negatively reinforced to approach novel objects, compared with horses allowed to voluntarily explore the objects and 2) whether a negatively reinforced approach facilitates object habituation. Methods: Twenty-two 2-3-year-old Danish Warmblood geldings were included. Half of the horses (NR group) were negatively rei...
Guo X, Sugita S.Topography of ganglion cells in the retina of the horse (Thoroughbred) was analyzed in the wholemount retina stained with cresyl violet, and a total number of ganglion cells were estimated. Sizes of ganglion cells were also measured and size spectra were analysed. The main results showed that: (1) a common point in 4 wholemount retinae, based on cell densities and retinal locations, was that a retina could be divided into 5 regions, namely visual streak, nasal, temporal, dorsal and ventral region to the visual streak. A maximum cell density of 4,000 cells/mm2 was found in the visual streak. An...
Hanis F, Chung ELT, Kamalludin MH, Idrus Z.The present study aimed to provide preliminary data on the prevalence of oral stereotypic, locomotory stereotypic, and redirected behaviors as well as their associations with stable management and feeding practices. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 207 working horses used for leisure riding, equestrian sport, polo, endurance, and patrolling were selected from seven equine facilities. Data on the stable management and feeding practices were obtained through the stable records, interviews, and on-site monitoring visits, whereas the prevalence of abnormal behaviors in the studied populat...
Cymbaluk NF.Housing temperature effects on growth, feed utilization and feed digestion of 12, 7-mo-old Standardbred colts were evaluated for 22 wk beginning in late November. Colts were assigned to one of two treatments: housed in a barn heated at 10 degrees C (warm) or housed in a barn with no external heat supply (cold). All horses were allowed outdoors for 4 h daily. Mean temperatures of the warm and cold barn from November to April were 10.9 +/- .66 and -5.2 +/- 1.72 degrees C, respectively. Hair coat weight of cold-housed colts was 1.4- to twofold (P less than .05) that of warm-housed colts from Dece...
Betteridge KJ, Eaglesome MD, Flood PF.Two experiments were conducted using 14 mares. In Exp. 1, mares were inseminated with semen treated with TEPA, which, in other species, has been shown to lead to an arrest in ovum cleavage at 2--4 cells. The oviducts and/or uterus were then flushed 7--10 days after ovulation in 6 mares (Group A) or 2--6 days after ovulation in 5 mares (Group B). Fresh eggs were found in the oviduct flushes of 5 Group A and 5 Group B mares: 9 of the 10 eggs appeared to have cleaved, but none had developed beyond 16-cells. Seven eggs contained spermatozoa and 3 of 4 eggs from each group showed evidence of fertil...
Morgan R, Keen J, Halligan D, O'Callaghan A, Andrew R, Livingstone D, Abernethie A, Maltese G, Walker B, Hadoke P.Glucocorticoids are potent inhibitors of angiogenesis in the rodent in vivo and in vitro but the mechanism by which this occurs has not been determined. Administration of glucocorticoids is used to treat a number of conditions in horses but the angiogenic response of equine vessels to glucocorticoids and, therefore, the potential role of glucocorticoids in pathogenesis and treatment of equine disease, is unknown. This study addressed the hypothesis that glucocorticoids would be angiostatic both in equine and murine blood vessels.The mouse aortic ring model of angiogenesis was adapted to assess...
Hinrichs K, Williams KA.Horse oocytes with expanded (EX) cumuli appear to have greater meiotic competence than do horse oocytes with compact (CP) cumuli but are thought to come from atretic follicles. We evaluated the relationships among cumulus expansion, follicle viability, initial chromatin configuration, and meiotic competence of horse oocytes. Follicle walls were sectioned for histological examination, and the follicles were scraped to obtain the oocytes. Half of the oocytes were evaluated immediately and half were matured for 24 h in vitro. Cumulus expansion was significantly associated with follicle atresia. I...
Grøndahl C, Hyttel P, Grøndahl ML, Eriksen T, Gotfredsen P, Greve T.The objectives were to describe the ultrastructure of equine oocytes aspirated from small and preovulatory follicles, and to relate the ultrastructural features to follicle size and follicular fluid steroid concentrations. Mares were examined every second day by transrectal ultrasonography, and follicles measuring > 30 mm were aspirated (in vivo) using a 20-cm-long 12-gauge needle through the flank. Following slaughter, both large and small follicles were aspirated (in vitro) from six mares. The oocytes were isolated under a stereomicroscope and processed for transmission electron microscop...
Tjälve H.The present article gives a summary of suspected adverse reactions reported by Swedish veterinarians during the period 1991-1995. The summary shows that severe adverse drug-reactions sometimes occur in Swedish veterinary practice. In horses, several cases of acute reactions in animals treated with procaine benzylpenicillin were reported and seven horses died within a few minutes after intramuscular injections of the drug. In cattle and swine most reports referred to the use of antimicrobial agents. In dogs reactions to vaccines were the most frequently reported adverse effects. The reactions w...
Voß K, Tetens J, Thaller G, Becker D.Roan (Rn) horses show a typical seasonal change of color. Their body is covered with colored and white hair. We performed a descriptive statistical analysis of breeding records of Icelandic horses to challenge the hypothesis of roan being lethal in utero under homozygous condition. The roan to non-roan ratio of foals from roan × roan matings revealed homozygous roan Icelandic horses to be viable. Even though roan is known to be inherited in a dominant mode and epistatic to other coat colors, the causative mutation is still unknown. Nevertheless, an association between roan phenotype and the K...
Ritruechai P, Weller R, Wakeling JM.The longissimus dorsi is the largest muscle in the equine back and plays an important role in locomotor ability and performance in the horse. In vivo studies suggest that the mechanical function varies between different muscle segments, in part determined by anatomy. It is possible therefore that variations in function reflect variations in the anatomy of the longissimus dorsi along its length. Objective: To identify if there are regional variations in muscle architecture of the longissimus dorsi. Methods: Computed tomography scans were obtained from 8 cadaver backs to identify the cross-secti...
Nanda S, Dalai AK, Gökalp I, Kozinski JA.The organic wastes such as lignocellulosic biomass, municipal solid waste, sewage sludge and livestock manure have attracted attention as alternative sources of energy. Cattle manure, a waste generated in surplus amounts from the feedlot, has always been a chief environmental concern. This study is focused on identifying the candidacy of horse manure as a next generation feedstock for biofuel production through supercritical water gasification. The horse manure was gasified in supercritical water to examine the effects of temperature (400-600°C), biomass-to-water ratio (1:5 and 1:10) and reac...
Viklund A, Näsholm A, Strandberg E, Philipsson J.For Swedish Warmblood sport horses, breeding values (BVs) are predicted using a multiple-trait animal model with results from competitions and young horse performance tests. Data go back to the beginning of the 1970s, and earlier studies have indicated that some of the recorded traits have changed through the years. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of including all performance data or excluding the older ones compared to a bivariate model (BM) considering performance traits in early and late periods as separate traits. The bivariate approach was assumed to give the mo...
Linke RP, Geisel O, Mann K.Amyloid deposits from equine cutaneous nodular amyloidosis associated with extramedullary plasmacytoma were classified immunohistochemically as equine immunoglobulin lambda-light chain-derived and designated eA lambda (HIP). For chemical identification, the amyloid fibril proteins were separated on Sephadex G-100 in 6M guanidine.HCl. Polypeptides of predominantly 24 kDa and 50 kDa were found by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. They have preponderance of immunoglobulin lambda-antigenic determinants as detected by immunodiffusion and immunoblotting. Since the N-terminus of the major proteins ...
Nagel C, Ille N, Aurich J, Aurich C.Transrectal palpation and ultrasonography of the genital tract in mares are first-day skills for equine veterinarians. In this study, the learning outcome in equine gynecology after four times training on horses (group H4, n = 8), training on horses once (group H1, n = 9), and four times simulator-based training (group Sim, n = 8) was assessed in third-year veterinary students with two tests in live mares 14 days apart. The students of group H4 always scored better for transrectal palpation than students of group Sim and H1 (P < 0.05). Overall, the students reached better results for palpat...
Roberts RS, Foppa IM.Since the introduction of West Nile Virus (WNV) to the United States in 1999, the efficacy of dead bird surveillance for the prediction of human and veterinary WNV infection has been an issue of debate. We utilized South Carolina's Department of Health and Environmental Control surveillance data from 2003 to determine whether dead bird surveillance accurately predicts equine WNV infection on a county level. We adjusted for human population density as a potential confounder of an association between WNV-positive dead bird counts and mammalian WNV risk. We found a strong positive association bet...
Löfqvist L, Pinzke S.Most work in horse stables is performed manually in much the same way as a century ago. It is the least mechanized sector dealing with large animals. People working with horses are exposed to several types of risk for developing musculoskeletal problems, but the work tasks and workload have not been investigated in detail. The aim of this study was to estimate the postural load of the work tasks performed around horses to find those that were harmful and required measures to be taken to reduce physical strain. Altogether, 20 subjects (stable attendants and riding instructors) were video record...
Starke SD, May SA.The development of perceptual skills is an important aspect of veterinary education. The authors investigated veterinary student competency in lameness evaluation at two stages, before (third year) and during (fourth/fifth year) clinical rotations. Students evaluated horses in videos, where horses were presented during trot on a straight line and in circles. Eye-tracking data were recorded during assessment on the straight line to follow student gaze. On completing the task, students filled in a structured questionnaire. Results showed that the experienced students outperformed inexperienced s...
Gialletti R, Marchegiani A, Valeriani T, Nannarone S, Beccati F, Fruganti A, Laus F.To describe the association of clinical and ultrasonographic (US) findings in horses affected by visual impairments, to estimate the most frequent ultrasonographic alteration as well importance and limits of US as a part of ophthalmic evaluation in equine patients. Methods: One-hundred-forty-five horses referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospitals of the University of Perugia and Camerino for ocular problems were submitted to ophthalmic examination and ocular ultrasound. The following group of abnormalities was established: corneal alteration, cataract, synechiae, iris prolapse, anterior cham...
Hanggi EB, Ingersoll JF, Waggoner TL.In the past, equine color vision was tested with stimuli composed either of painted cards or photographic slides or through physiological testing using electroretinogram flicker photometry. Some studies produced similar results, but others did not, demonstrating that there was not yet a definitive answer regarding color vision in horses (Equus caballus). In this study, a pseudoisochromatic plate test--which is highly effective in testing color vision both in small children and in adult humans--was used for the first time on a nonhuman animal. Stimuli consisted of different colored dotted circl...
Epp T, Waldner C, Corrigan R, Curry P.West Nile virus (WNV) infection in horses was first reported in Canada in 2001 and in the province of Saskatchewan in 2002. This paper outlines the surveillance results of WNV in Saskatchewan horses from 2003 to 2005 and describes the usefulness of its inclusion in an integrated surveillance program in Saskatchewan. The number of human and horse cases was highest in 2003, the epidemic year and then substantially lower in 2004 and 2005. Horses provided additive information about WNV activity in rural areas with low human population, however, this required willingness and active participation by...
Zabek T, Nogaj A, Radko A, Nogaj J, Słota E.Genetic variation of endangered Biłgoraj horses and two common Polish horse breeds was compared with the use of 12 microsatellite loci (AHT4, AHT5, ASB2, HMS2, HMS3, HMS6, HMS7, HTG4, HTG6, HTG7, HTG10, VHL20). Lower allelic diversity was detected in all investigated populations in comparison to other studies. Large differences in the frequencies of microsatellite alleles between Biłgoraj horses and two other horse breeds were discovered. In all polymorphic loci all investigated breeds were in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Mean Fis values and the results of a test for the presence of a rec...
McCutcheon LJ, Geor RJ, Ecker GL, Lindinger MI.This study examined sweating responses in six exercise-trained horses during 21 consecutive days (4 h/day) of exposure to, and daily exercise in, hot humid conditions (32-34 degrees C, 80-85% relative humidity). On days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21, horses completed a standardized exercise test on a treadmill (6 degrees incline) at a speed eliciting 50% of maximal O(2) uptake until a pulmonary artery temperature of 41.5 degrees C was attained. Sweat was collected at rest, every 5 min during exercise, and during 1 h of standing recovery for measurement of ion composition (Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-)) and swe...
