Equine obesity can cause life-threatening secondary chronic conditions, similar to those in humans and other animal species. Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), primarily characterized by ...hyperinsulinemia, is often present in obese horses and ponies. Due to clinical similarities to conditions such as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (formerly equine Cushing's disease), conclusive diagnosis of EMS often proves challenging. Aside from changes in diet and exercise, few targeted treatments are available for EMS, emphasizing the need for early identification of at-risk individuals to enable implementation of preventative measures. A genomewide association study (GWAS) using Arabian horses with a history of severe laminitis secondary to EMS revealed significant genetic markers near a single candidate gene () that may play a role in cholesterol homeostasis. The best marker, BIEC2-263524 (chr14:69276814 T > C), was correlated with elevated insulin values and increased frequency of laminitis ( = 0.0024 and = 9.663 × 10, respectively). In a second population of Arabian horses, the BIEC2-263524 marker maintained its associations with higher modified insulin-to-glucose ratio (MIRG) values ( = 0.0056) and BCS ( = 0.0063). Screening of the predicted coding regions by sequencing identified a polymorphic guanine homopolymer and 5 haplotypes in the 3' untranslated region (UTR). An 11 guanine (11-G) allele at was correlated with elevated insulin values in the GWAS population ( = 0.0008) and, in the second population, elevated MIRG and increased BCS > 6.5 ( = 0.0055 and = 0.0162, respectively). The BIEC2-263524-C and the 3' UTR -11(G) polymorphisms were correlated at a 98% frequency, indicating strong linkage disequilibrium across this 150-kb haplotype. Assays for these markers could diagnose horses with a genetic predisposition to develop obesity. Additionally, discovery of FAM174A function may improve our understanding of the etiology of this troubling illness in the horse and warrants investigation of this locus for a role in metabolic- and obesity-related disorders of other species.
The study “the reforming effect of the Ardennes type heavy steeds, on local horse population from Timisoara area”, presents importance from two points of view: is a precise radiography on the number ...of horses raised in Timisoara area, and in the second place, this study, shows the requests and the option of the animal breeders from the respective area both the reforming level of this ones. The research made in this study shows horse breeders from Timisoara area what they have to do in the future from the horse reforming point of view.
Degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis is a progressive idiopathic condition that leads to scarring and rupture of suspensory ligament fibers in multiple limbs in horses. The prevalence of ...degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis is breed related. Risk is high in the Peruvian Horse, whereas pony and draft breeds have low breed risk. Degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis occurs in families of Peruvian Horses, but its genetic architecture has not been definitively determined. We investigated contrasts between breeds with differing risk of degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis and identified associated risk variants and candidate genes. We analyzed 670k single nucleotide polymorphisms from 10 breeds, each of which was assigned one of the four breed degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis risk categories: control (Belgian, Icelandic Horse, Shetland Pony, and Welsh Pony), low risk (Lusitano, Arabian), medium risk (Standardbred, Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse), and high risk (Peruvian Horse). Single nucleotide polymorphisms were used for genome-wide association and selection signature analysis using breed-assigned risk levels. We found that the Peruvian Horse is a population with low effective population size and our breed contrasts suggest that degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis is a polygenic disease. Variant frequency exhibited signatures of positive selection across degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis breed risk groups on chromosomes 7, 18, and 23. Our results suggest degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis breed risk is associated with disturbances to suspensory ligament homeostasis where matrix responses to mechanical loading are perturbed through disturbances to aging in tendon (PIN1), mechanotransduction (KANK1, KANK2, JUNB, SEMA7A), collagen synthesis (COL4A1, COL5A2, COL5A3, COL6A5), matrix responses to hypoxia (PRDX2), lipid metabolism (LDLR, VLDLR), and BMP signaling (GREM2). Our results do not suggest that suspensory ligament proteoglycan turnover is a primary factor in disease pathogenesis.
Abstract Little is known about toxoplasmosis in animals of the Fernando de Noronha Island, Brazil. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the total population of ...pet cats ( n = 348), dogs ( n = 320), pigs ( n = 27), equines ( n = 101), as well as a significant portion of the population of feral cats ( n = 247) of the Island by Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test. Anti - T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 71.26%, 54.74%, 48.75%, 51.85% and 22.7%, of the pet and feral cats, dogs, pigs and equines, respectively, demonstrating a high prevalence of T. gondii infection in the wild and domestic animals of the Island. The Kernel intensity estimator showed a correlation between areas with high prevalence of infection in cats and occurrence of infection in the other studied species. We suggest that the island's health authorities should develop initiatives to reduce the population of cats and alert the island's population about the risk of T. gondii infection.
Unlike other European domesticates introduced in the Americas after the European invasion, equids (Equidae) were previously in the Western Hemisphere but were extinct by the late Holocene era. The ...return of equids to the Americas through the introduction of the domestic horse (Equus caballus) is documented in the historical literature but is not explored fully either archaeologically or genetically. Historical documents suggest that the first domestic horses were brought from the Iberian Peninsula to the Caribbean in the late 15.sup.th century CE, but archaeological remains of these early introductions are rare. This paper presents the mitochondrial genome of a late 16.sup.th century horse from the Spanish colonial site of Puerto Real (northern Haiti). It represents the earliest complete mitogenome of a post-Columbian domestic horse in the Western Hemisphere offering a unique opportunity to clarify the phylogeographic history of this species in the Americas. Our data supports the hypothesis of an Iberian origin for this early translocated individual and clarifies its phylogenetic relationship with modern breeds in the Americas.
This study compared concurrent and separate primary vaccination against equid alphaherpesviruses 1 and 4, genus
Varicellovirus
, subfamily
Alphaherpesvirinae,
family
Herpesviridae
, and equine ...influenza A virus, genus
Alphainfluenzavirus
, family
Orthomyxoviridae.
Their vernacular names are equine herpesvirus 1 and 4 (EHV1/4) and equine influenza virus (EIV). Infection with these respiratory pathogens is associated with loss of performance, interruption of training schedules, and on occasion, cancellation of equestrian events. Vaccination is highly recommended, and for some activities it is a mandatory requirement of the relevant authority. As there is a dearth of information relating to the impact of concurrent vaccination on the antibody response to EHV and EIV vaccines, they are usually administered separately, often 2 weeks apart. In a previous study of booster vaccination in Thoroughbred racehorses, concurrent vaccination with whole-virus inactivated carbopol-adjuvanted EHV and EIV vaccines did not impact negatively on the antibody response. In this study, investigations were extended to concurrent versus separate primary vaccination of warmblood foals. A field study was conducted to compare the immune response to a carbopol-adjuvanted EHV vaccine and an immune stimulating complex (ISCOM)-adjuvanted EI vaccine administered concurrently and 2 weeks apart. No adverse clinical reactions were observed, the pattern of EI and EHV antibody response was similar for both groups, and there was no evidence that concurrent primary vaccination compromised the humoral response. The results are of relevance to horse owners who wish to decrease veterinary costs, limit handling of young animals, and simplify record keeping by vaccinating concurrently.
Summary
Background
A comprehensive study of the effect of supramaximal exercise in lipid homeostasis of Thoroughbreds provides the basis for future research on the role of lipids on energy metabolism ...in racehorses.
Objective
To compare the plasma lipidome of Thoroughbreds before and after supramaximal exercise using an untargeted lipidomics approach.
Study design
Pilot experimental study.
Methods
Four Thoroughbred horses were used. The maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) was calculated for each horse. Horses then underwent treadmill exercise at the speed for which the oxygen requirements had been calculated to be 115% VO2 max. Plasma samples were obtained before (T0) and immediately (T1), 15 (T2) and 30 (T3) minutes post‐exercise, and evaluated using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Data analysis consisted of principal component analysis and one‐way repeated measures analysis of variance.
Results
A total of 933 plasma lipids were detected. Supramaximal exercise‐induced significant changes in the signal intensity of 13 lipids; all ubiquitous in the organism as major components of biological membranes or energy substrates.
Main limitations
A treadmill was used to replicate track conditions. Also, sample size involved only four horses and the statistical analyses failed to achieve the desired power of 80%.
Conclusions
The findings in this pilot study suggest that supramaximal exercise induces changes in specific plasma lipids in Thoroughbred racehorses. While the biological significance of these findings remains to be determined, these results provide baseline information for future studies in lipidomics applied to equine exercise physiology. Further research is warranted to better understand the role of lipids on energy metabolism in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Abstract Background The polyvalent African Horsesickness (AHS) attenuated live vaccine (ALV) produced by Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) Ltd., South Africa, has been associated with some ...safety concerns and alleged cases of vaccine failure or vaccine-induced disease. The risk of reassortment and reversion to virulence is a common concern associated with the use of ALVs, and a phenomenon reported for viruses with segmented RNA genomes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not reassortment of AHS vaccine strains could result in reassortants and reversion to virulence and therefore cause AHS in susceptible horses. Methods Clinical or field isolates of AHS were obtained from horses with AHS symptoms or disease post vaccination. AHS-naïve horses were inoculated with these isolates and monitored for clinical reactions. Laboratory tests were performed at intervals to determine immune responses and viraemia. Viral RNA extraction and complete genome amplification of monovalent AHS-ALV vaccine strains and isolates collected post-vaccination was conducted. cDNA of the genome segments were run on PAGE to determine mobility patterns and genome segments 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. Results No clinical symptoms typical of AHS were observed in inoculated horses and all showed a good immune response. A comparison of mobility patterns of the amplified cDNA genome on PAGE allowed the identification and differentiation of reassortants, which were confirmed by sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences. Conclusion This study, however, showed no indications that vaccine reassortants were pathogenic or lethal after inoculation in susceptible horses. Assumptions of virulence or reversion to virulence of vaccine reassortants post-vaccination in horses could not be substantiated.
To describe the clinical presentation of a Thoroughbred filly with acute hemoperitoneum from a splenic source immediately after racing.
A 3-year-old Thoroughbred filly used for racing and that had ...raced shortly before presentation to the hospital.
On presentation, the filly was quiet, alert, and responsive with a heart rate of 76 beats/min, pale mucous membranes, and absent borborygmi. All other physical examination parameters were within normal limits. Abdominal ultrasound was performed and revealed echogenic free abdominal fluid and a splenic hematoma. Abdominocentesis yielded sanguinous fluid with a PCV of 35%. The next day, repeat ultrasound revealed the splenic hematoma with capsular separation.
The filly was treated overnight with isotonic crystalloid fluids and aminocaproic acid (40 mg/kg, IV, slow bolus over 30 minutes followed by 20 mg/kg, IV, q 6 h), potassium penicillin (22,000 IU/kg, IV, q 6 h), gentamicin (6.6 mg/kg, IV, q 24 h), and omeprazole (4 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h). The lowest PCV obtained from the filly was 36 hours after presentation. The filly stabilized with medical treatment and was discharged to a farm for further recuperation.
There are no published reports detailing hemoperitoneum of splenic origin in Thoroughbreds immediately after racing. Hemoperitoneum of splenic origin is not common in horses, with most cases of hemoperitoneum being secondary to acute trauma, neoplasia, parturition, or postoperative complications. While uncommon, this case raises awareness to another differential for a colicky horse immediately after racing.
Based on the Equine Nutrition Conference - Practice (ENUCO) 2007 which aims to supply scientifically validated practical hints and knowledge on equine nutrition and training. This title includes ...topics such as news on equine nutrition, training and medicine, and relevance and standardization of the terms Glycaemic Index and Glycaemic Response.
