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Histopathological examination of chronic laminitis in Kaimanawa feral horses of New Zealand.
Abstract: To investigate the prevalence, histopathological and histomorphometric presentation of chronic laminitis in a population of Kaimanawa feral horses. Methods: Following the capture and euthanasia of feral horses from the Kaimanawa Ranges of New Zealand, the left forefoot of 28 stallions and 28 mares aged between 6 and 12 years were removed and processed for histology. Sections of lamellar samples from each horse were examined using light microscopy. The presence of laminitis was assessed and the histopathological lesions were described. Horses were grouped by histological diagnosis into laminitic and non-laminitic groups and histomorphometric analysis was conducted and compared between groups. The parameters examined were total length of primary epidermal lamellae (PEL), keratinised length of PEL, and the length of secondary epidermal lamellae (SEL) at the abaxial end and axial end of each PEL. Results: Of the horses examined, 25 (45%) were diagnosed with chronic laminitis. The most prevalent histopathological features were the presence of excessive cap horn, and multi-branched and attenuated SEL. Histomorphometric assessment of the lamellar architecture revealed no difference in morphometric measurements between the normal and laminitic groups for any parameter measured (p>0.05). Conclusions: The current study found a high prevalence of laminitis in feral Kaimanawa horses. The reason for this in the Kaimanawa population is not known. Histomorphometric analysis may not be a good indicator of chronic laminitis in feral horses. Conclusions: It is an important finding that the feral horse lifestyle in the environment of the Kaimanawa Ranges in New Zealand offers no protection against foot disease. The finding suggests that horses are vulnerable to laminitis whether in domestic care or in a feral habitat.
Publication Date: 2012-05-24 PubMed ID: 22621688DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2012.682271Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article presents a study done on a population of Kaimanawa feral horses in New Zealand, to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of chronic laminitis — a painful condition affecting the horse’s hooves. The results revealed a high prevalence of laminitis among these horses despite their free-range lifestyle, challenging the assumption that such conditions are mainly linked to domesticated environments.
Research Methodology
- 56 feral horses, both stallions and mares aged between 6 and 12 years were captured and euthanized. The left forefoot of each horse was then removed and processed for histology.
- Each of the samples was examined using light microscopy.
- Based on the findings, the horses were categorized into two groups: those showing signs of laminitis (laminitic group) and the ones that didn’t (non-laminitic group).
- Histomorphometric analysis was conducted on the samples, examining parameters such as the total length of primary epidermal lamellae (PEL), keratinised length of PEL, and the length of secondary epidermal lamellae (SEL) at both the abaxial and axial ends of each PEL.
Key Findings
- Out of the 56 horses studied, 25, i.e., 45% were diagnosed with chronic laminitis.
- Excessive cap horn and the presence of multi-branched and attenuated SEL were identified as the most prevalent histopathological features of the condition.
- Histomorphometric assessment of the lamellar architecture revealed no significant difference in any of the measured parameters between the normal and laminitic groups.
Conclusions
- This study found a surprisingly high occurrence of laminitis in feral Kaimanawa horses, indicating that even a free-range, undomesticated lifestyle does not safeguard against this foot disease.
- The study also suggests that histomorphometric analysis might not be a suitable indicator of chronic laminitis in feral horses, as both the laminitic and non-laminitic groups displayed similar measurements in the parameters examined.
- Although the results do not offer an explanation for the high prevalence of laminitis in the particular population of Kaimanawa horses, they highlight the vulnerability of all horses to this condition, irrespective of their domesticated or feral status.
Cite This Article
APA
Hampson BA, de Laat MA, Beausac C, Rovel T, Pollitt CC.
(2012).
Histopathological examination of chronic laminitis in Kaimanawa feral horses of New Zealand.
N Z Vet J, 60(5), 285-289.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2012.682271 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland , Gatton Campus , Australia. b.hampson1@uq.edu.au
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Chronic Disease
- Female
- Foot Diseases / epidemiology
- Foot Diseases / pathology
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Hoof and Claw / pathology
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Inflammation / epidemiology
- Inflammation / pathology
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Male
- New Zealand / epidemiology
- Prevalence
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Malacarne BD, Martins RR, Paz CFR, Alves JVA, Dias LA, Cavalcante MA, Santos AM, Silva AGM, Leise BS, Carvalho AM, Faleiros RR. Histological comparison of the lamellar tissue of Iberian origin breed horses created in semi-feral conditions or in an intensive system. PLoS One 2023;18(6):e0286536.
- Harvey AM, Ramp D, Mellor DJ. Review of the Foundational Knowledge Required for Assessing Horse Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 1;12(23).
- Górecka-Bruzda A, Jaworski Z, Jaworska J, Siemieniuch M. Welfare of Free-Roaming Horses: 70 Years of Experience with Konik Polski Breeding in Poland. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 24;10(6).
- Rogers CW, Bolwell CF, Gee EK. Proactive Management of the Equine Athlete. Animals (Basel) 2012 Dec 19;2(4):640-55.
- Lovász L, Sommer-Trembo C, Barth JMI, Scasta JD, Grancharova-Hill R, Lemoine RT, Kerekes V, Merckling L, Bouskila A, Svenning JC, Fages A. Rewilded horses in European nature conservation - a genetics, ethics, and welfare perspective. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2025 Feb;100(1):407-427.
- Górecka-Bruzda A, Siemieniuch M, Lansade L, Stanley CR. How Useful Are Existing Protocols in the Quick Assessment of the Welfare of Semi-Feral Horses? Pilot Study on Konik Polski Horses Living in the Forest Sanctuary. Animals (Basel) 2023 Dec 19;14(1).
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