Equine Practitioners Research Articles

A review on equine colic: Etiology, differential diagnosis, therapy, and prevention

Equines encompass various animals, such as horses, donkeys, ponies, mules, and zebra. These animals are means of transportation, leisure, source of meat, and income worldwide. Equine colic is among the equines' most important, common, and emergent health issues, particularly in horses. The complexity and anatomical characteristics rendered equines prone to equine colic. Different classifications for equine colic are known depending on cause, affected site, and duration. In the current study, we have exhaustively focused on etiological, clinical findings, clinical and laboratory diagnosis, and eventually, the treatment and control of equine colic. Such knowledge is lacking, and some reports discuss only one or few aspects. Because they are the most prevalent cause, we have focused on gastrointestinal disorders as a cause of colic. Moreover, recent approaches for diagnosis and prognosis were investigated mainly via the biomarkers analysis assay. Because of its importance, similarity to other equines, worldwide distribution, and plenty of available research, we mostly specified our description of horses as a model of equine animals. This review offers valuable insights for veterinarians and equine practitioners, potentially aiding in mitigating health risks and fatal consequences associated with colic in equines

Evaluation of hoof morphometry in normal and lame polo horses at Ibadan Polo Club.

This study evaluated the changes in hoof morphometric parameters between normal and lame polo horses. Cross-sectional survey of hoof morphometric parameters of polo horses was conducted at the Ibadan Polo club. Also, each horse was physically examined and severity of lameness scored based on the criteria by American Association of Equine Practitioners. Differences in morphometric parameters between sex, lameness status and shoeing status were analyzed using Student’s t test and values were considered significant at p< 0.05) higher in females (118.8 ± 9.3mm; 117.1 ± 8.3mm) than male horses (109.8 ± 6.1 mm; 106.8 ± 12.1 mm). Hoof wall angles did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between the sexes. Majority of the hoof morphometric parameters were significantly (p< 0.05) higher in shod horses compared to unshod horses. In addition, the dorsal hoof wall angle of the right hind limb was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in lame (61.3 ± 11.50) than normal horses (53.6 ± 8.30). It was concluded that shoeing conditions and lameness significantly alters hoof morphometric parameters of polo horses.

Evaluation of Fecal Egg Count Tests for Effective Control of Equine Intestinal Strongyles.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners strongly advocates evidence-based intestinal strongyle control in horses. It recommends targeted treatment of all heavy egg shedders (>500 eggs per gram (EPG) of feces), while the low shedders (0-200 EPG) are left untreated. As 50-75% of adult horses in a herd are low shedders, preventing them from unnecessary anthelmintic exposure is critical for tackling resistance. There are various fecal egg count (FEC) techniques with many modifications and variations in use, but none is identified as a gold standard. The hypothesis of the study was that the diagnostic performance of 12 commonly used quantitation methodologies (three techniques with four variants) differs. In this regard, method comparison studies were performed using polystyrene beads as proxy for intestinal strongyle eggs. Mini-FLOTAC-based variants had the lowest coefficient of variation (CV%) in bead recovery, whereas McMaster variants had the highest. All four variants of Mini-FLOTAC and the NaNO3 1.33 specific gravity variant of modified Wisconsin followed a linear fit with R2 > 0.95. In contrast, the bead standard replicates for modified McMaster variants dispersed from the regression curve, causing a lower R2. The Mini-FLOTAC method seems less influenced by the choice of floatation solution and has better repeatability parameters and linearity for bead standard recovery. For FEC tests with high R2 (>0.95) but that underestimated the true bead count, a correction factor (CF) was determined to estimate the true count. Finally, the validity of CF was analyzed for 5 tests with R2 > 0.95 to accurately quantify intestinal strongyle eggs from 40 different horses. Overall, this study identified FEC methodologies with the highest diagnostic performance. The limitations in standardizing routine FEC tests are highlighted, and the importance of equalization of FEC results is emphasized for promoting uniformity in the implementation of parasite control guidelines.

Survey of equine veterinarians regarding primary equine back pain in the United States.

Back pain is a common complaint, clinical finding and performance limiting factor in sport horses. This study sought to gather current veterinary trends in the diagnosis, treatment and management of primary equine back pain in the United States. A 22 question survey was distributed electronically to equine practitioners through AAEP and ACVSMR listservs and through closed social media groups. The survey was open from April 20, 2022 to July 5, 2022. Responses were analyzed using Microsoft excel pivot tables. Ninety-seven survey responses were obtained and analyzed. Respondents reported the clinical signs most frequently relayed to them by the owner/rider/trainer of horses diagnosed with primary back pain were behavioral issues and poor performance. Most common diagnostic tests reported were radiography of the spinous processes, thoraco-lumbar vertebral bodies, and transcutaneous ultrasound of the thoraco-lumbar region. Most common pathologies reported were impinging dorsal spinous processes, degenerative sacro-iliac joint disease, and osteoarthritis in lumbar or thoracic articular process joints. In regards to impinging spinous process ("kissing spine") treatments, 72.2% of respondents recommended surgery only after non-surgical treatments failed, and 14.6% of respondents never recommended surgery. The majority (82%) of respondents reported some level of improvement in clinical signs of primary back pain with rehabilitation alone. To date, there has been no consensus or discussion about common abnormalities, diagnostic tests, treatments or management options for primary equine back pain in the United States. Results of this survey are a starting point showing current trends in diagnosis, treatment and management of primary equine back pain among equine practitioners in the United States showing 82% of practitioners using rehabilitation as a component of treatment.

71 Lameness responses to a single exercise bout following dietary supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product in young horses

Yearling Quarter Horses (mean ± SEM; 561 ± 3 d; 373.3 ± 5 kg BW; 13 fillies, 14 colts) were used in a randomized complete block to test the hypothesis that dietary supplementation of a postbiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) mitigates lameness following a single exercise bout in young horses. For the 76-d trial, yearlings were fed a basal diet of 1% BW/d (as-fed) grain-based horse feed formulated without added microbials (SafeChoice® Original, Nutrena) twice daily plus ad libitum Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon datylon) hay, and water. Horses were grouped by age, sex, and BW and randomly assigned to 1) concentrate only (CON; n = 10), 2) concentrate top dressed with 46 mg/kg SCFP (TRT 1; n = 8), or 3) concentrate top dressed with 92 mg/kg SCFP (TRT 2; n = 9). Objective lameness assessments were obtained by a wireless Inertial Sensor System (ISS) followed by a subjective evaluation performed by a licensed veterinarian. All horses underwent a baseline lameness assessment on d 0, followed by 2 lameness assessments on d 76 (pre-exercise, and post-exercise). Objective lameness evaluations were performed at the trot for 2 30 m, back-and-forth passes, wearing the wireless ISS lameness analysis system and evaluated in triplicate per assessment. For the subjective lameness analysis, horses were additionallytrotted in a circle in both directions within a 16 × 14 m area and evaluated by an individual licensed veterinarian using the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) lameness scale. Data were analyzed using PROC GLM in SAS v9.4 with diet and time included as fixed effects. When analyzing AAEP lameness evaluations, no differences were detected for dietary treatment or diet × time interactions related to primary (P = 0.55; P = 0.98), secondary (P = 0.43; P = 0.78), or tertiary (P = 0.77; P = 0.77) limbs. Additionally, no dietary treatment effects or diet × time interactions were detected using the wireless ISS for front Q score (P = 0.19; P = 0.92) or hind pushoff Q score (P = 0.53; P = 0.27). Furthermore, there was no effect of dietary treatment on hind impact Q score (P = 0.68). However, there tended to be a diet × time interaction (P = 0.06) whereby horses on TRT 2 tended to have a lower hind impact Q score. Additionally, post-exercise front Q scores increased over time (P ≤ 0.01) compared with both baseline and pre-exercise values regardless of dietary treatment. These results indicate the intensity of exercise may not have been sufficient to lead to dietary differences related to gait asymmetry.

155 Survey of equine veterinarians: Part 1—Hay selection and evaluation

Few nutrition-related surveys of equine veterinarians have been conducted. This survey investigated the perspectives of veterinarians on selecting and evaluating hay for horses. A survey link (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) was sent to members of Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners and distributed by equine practices located in Lexington, KY. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed in SPSS V28. There were 41 responses with 34 completed surveys. The majority of veterinarians (93%) worked in equine-specialized practices (>90% equine), with the main practice areas relating to breeding (44%), performance (12%), recreational horses (2%), or a combination of equine specializations (42%). Veterinarians were confident in identifying hay types (78% very confident or confident) and evaluating hay quality based on sensory characteristics such as color and smell (73.2% very confident or confident), but only 41.5% were very confident or confident in evaluating hay quality based on forage analysis. Stage of maturity (52%) and texture (29%) were most selected as characteristics used to evaluate hay quality. Fiber (neutral-detergent fiber or crude fiber) was reported by 84% of respondents as the most useful chemical component to evaluate digestibility. Most veterinarians (85.3%) indicated that educational materials on selecting hay for differenthorse types, sensory evaluation of hay, and interpreting a forage analysis would be useful to share with clients. When asked to rank the likelihood of recommending certain hay types for different classes of horses, alfalfa hay and mixed alfalfa grass hay were less likely to be recommended for sedentary horses compared with breeding and growing and performance horses (P < 0.001). Veterinarians in breeding farm practices tended to be less likely to recommend cool-season grass hays for breeding and growing horses compared with veterinarians in other practice types (P = 0.09). Hay sampling and analysis services were not routinely offered to clients, but 50% of veterinarians had submitted a sample for analysis, with the most selected reason being to evaluate nonstructural carbohydrates (35%). When asked where they would refer clients requesting this service, 11% of veterinarians were unsure, while 67% selected county extension agent and 19% commercial lab. This group of veterinarians displayed understanding of key principles of selecting and evaluating hay for horses. This preliminary survey provides valuable information regarding nutrition-based interactions between veterinarians and their clients that can be used to develop educational materials.

179 Survey of equine veterinarians: Part 2—Hay feeding practices and horse health

Horse owners often consider veterinarians to be an important source of information about equine nutrition. The objective of this survey was to learn about the perspectives of veterinarians on the relationship between hay feeding practices, horse health and behavior. A survey link (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) was sent to members of Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners and distributed by equine practices located in Lexington, KY. Descriptive statistics were performed in SPSS V28. The majority of veterinarians thought time spent eating hay was extremely (56%) or moderately important (33%) to health when pasture is not available. Ninety 2 percent of veterinarians said time spent eating is important for increasing saliva production and decreasing the risk of gastric ulcers. When asked about factors that may affect rate of hay consumption, 44% of veterinarians strongly agreed that physical form was important, while only 14% of veterinarians strongly agreed that fiber content was an important factor. Nutrition scenarios for performance and sedentary horses were presented to gauge concern about amount of hay offered. The amount of hay fed to performance and sedentary horses was considered of extreme or moderate concern by 97% and 86% of veterinarians, respectively. Most veterinarians considered the minimum amount of hay forperformance and sedentary horses to be 1.5 lb per 100-lb bodyweight and 1 lb per 100-lb bodyweight, respectively. Supporting digestive function was the most frequently selected reason for recommending a minimum amount of hay for performance (83%) and sedentary (66%) horses. For horses with underweight, overweight, and digestive health issues, the percentage of veterinarians who would discuss hay type with their clients was 97, 90, and 87%, respectively. For these same categories of horses, the percentage of veterinarians who would discuss hay amount with their clients was 92, 80, and 69%, respectively. Only 46% of veterinarians agreed they would discuss hay type and 59% agreed they would discuss hay amount for horses with undesirable oral behaviors or other undesirable behaviors. This survey suggests veterinarians view the type and amount of hay as having important roles in weight management and digestive health compared with affecting equine behavior. In addition, although veterinarians are often considered to be an important nutrition resource, veterinarians in this survey reported clients rarely (51%) or occasionally (37%) asked for feeding advice.

Plasma UCHL-1 as a Biomarker of Brain Injury in Hospitalized Foals With Neonatal Encephalopathy

A plasma biomarker such as ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL-1) to distinguish neonatal encephalopathy (NE) from other disorders and provide prognostic information would be useful for equine practitioners. In this prospective study, plasma UCHL-1 was measured in 331 hospitalized foals ≤4 days of age. Clinical diagnoses of neonatal encephalopathy only (NE group, n = 77), sepsis only (Sepsis group, n = 34), concurrent sepsis and NE (NE+Sepsis group, n = 85), or neither sepsis nor NE (Other group, n = 101) were made by the attending veterinarian. Plasma UCHL-1 concentrations were measured by ELISA. Differences between clinical diagnoses groups were evaluated and receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis was performed to assess diagnostic and prognostic performance. Median admission UCHL-1 concentration was significantly higher for NE (18.22 ng/mL; 7.93–37.43) and NE+Sepsis (17.42 ng/mL; 7.67–36.24) groups than Other foals (7.77 ng/mL; 3.92–22.76). Admission UCHL-1 was significantly higher in nonsurvivors (16.66 ng/mL; 6.89–34.84) than survivors (10.27 ng/mL; 5.82–29.94). Overall diagnostic performance of admission UCHL-1 concentration for NE diagnosis was determined (AUC 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.55–0.68); sensitivity and specificity for predicting NE were 73% and 49% respectively. Overall prognostic performance of time to lowest UCHL-1 concentration for predicting nonsurvival was determined (AUC 0.72; 95% CI = 0.65–0.79); sensitivity and specificity were 86% and 43% respectively. In this foal population, differences in plasma UCHL-1 concentrations were observed between foals with NE or NE with sepsis, and other diagnoses. The diagnostic and prognostic value of admission UCHL-1 concentration was limited.

Usage of Antimicrobials in Equine Veterinary Practice in Denmark – A Case-Based Survey

Horses may be carriers of important resistant bacteria like methicillin-resistant staphylococci. Such bacteria can potentially threaten both equine and public health, but little is known about predisposing factors like antimicrobial usage patterns in equines. Objectives of this study were to investigate the antimicrobial usage practices by Danish equine practitioners as well as factors impacting usage. A total of 103 equine practitioners filled in an online questionnaire. When asked to explain their typical treatment of six clinical case scenarios, only 1% and 7% of respondents prescribed systemic antimicrobials for a cough and pastern dermatitis, respectively. More frequent usage was reported for diarrhoea (43%), extraction of a cracked tooth (44%), strangles (56%), and superficial wound near a joint (72%). Among the antibiotics indicated for treatment, enrofloxacin was the only critically important antimicrobial agent reported by two respondents. Thirty-eight (36%) respondents worked in practices with antimicrobial protocols. When asked to prioritize the most important factor influencing prescribing habits, bacterial culture (47%) and antimicrobial protocols (45%) were selected far more often than the owner´s economy (5%) and expectations (4%). Veterinarians reported limitations such as the availability of only one oral antibiotic (sulphadiazine/trimethoprim), and a need for clearer treatment guidelines. In conclusion, the study highlighted important aspects regarding antimicrobial usage among equine practitioners. Antimicrobial protocols and pre- and post-graduate education on prudent antimicrobial usage are recommended.

Investigation of Potential Serum Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Chronic Back Pain in Horses

Abstract Back pain is one of the most common triggers of performance failure in athletic and riding horses. Diagnosis of equine back pain has been very challenging for equine practitioners, particularly in chronic cases. Therefore, the identification of blood biomarkers would facilitate the clinical differentiation of chronic back pain. This study aimed to investigate serum biomarkers of glial cell activation, axonal damage, and inflammation for the diagnosis of equine chronic back pain. Serum samples from forty horses comprising chronic back pain (CBP), back pain concurrent with lameness (BPL), lameness (LN), and healthy control (HC) (n=10 per group) were screened for ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), phosphorylated neurofilament-H (pNF-H) by ELISA, and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) by multiplex assay. Serum concentrations of GFAP (3.81±1.72 ng/mL) and pNF-H (0.76±0.18 ng/mL) were significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher in horses with CBP when compared with other groups. Iba-1 was not significantly higher in CBP horses. There was no significant difference between the pro-inflammatory cytokines among the groups. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were also increased in the CBP than the HC control horses but lower in relation to BPL and LN horses. In addition, serum Iba-1, GFAP, and pNF-H showed a high discriminatory capacity for horses with CBP with high sensitivity (50-100%) and specificity (70-100%). This study provides evidence that serum levels of the GFAP and pNF-H may be useful in the clinical differentiation of horses with chronic back pain.

Ceftiofur use and antimicrobial stewardship in the horse.

Equine practitioners require recommendations that support antimicrobial stewardship and avoid generating resistance to medically important antibiotics. This review examines current inadequacies in antimicrobial stewardship standards within the veterinary community, related to antimicrobial categorisation and prescribing practices. Resistance to cephalosporin antibiotics in horses is also described. Properties of cephalosporin antibiotics are outlined and equine-specific studies of ceftiofur, a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic with medical importance, are detailed. Readers are provided with recommendations that encourage appropriate use of ceftiofur, citing the evidence available in horses.

Equine Melanocytic Tumors: A Narrative Review.

Adult grey horses have a high incidence of melanocytic tumors. This article narratively reviews the role of some genetic features related to melanoma formation in horses, such as STX17 mutation, ASIP or MITF alterations, and the link between the graying process and the development of these tumors. A clear system of clinical and pathological classification of melanocytic tumors in naevus, dermal melanoma, dermal melanomatosis and anaplastic malignant melanoma is provided. Clinical and laboratorial methods of diagnosing are listed, with fine needle aspiration and histopathology being the most relevant. Relevance is given to immunohistochemistry, describing potentially important diagnostic biomarkers such as RACK1 and PNL2. Different therapeutical options available for equine practitioners are mentioned, with surgery, chemotherapy and electroporation being the most common. This article also elucidatesnew fields of research, perspectives, and new therapeutic targets, such as CD47, PD-1 and COX-2 biomarkers.

Occurrence of osteochondrosis of the scapulohumeral joint in a 6-month-old filly: a case report

Osteochondrosis of the scapulohumeral joint is one of the most frequent diseases of this joint, which can cause marked discomfort, decreased athletic use, economic losses and restrictions in equine breeding. This report discusses the clinical case of a 6-month-old warmblood filly with osteochondrosis of the scapulohumeral joint. Contraction of the deep digital flexor tendon and flexural deformity on the right front limb was the primary diagnosis established by the equine practitioner. The filly was referred to the Equine clinic of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy (UVMP) in Košice for desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon. The final, primary diagnosis obtained by a complex diagnostic approach was osteochondrosis of the scapulohumeral joint. Presence of multiple pathologies on the right front limb was detected, but the main source of painful clinical manifestation was the condition of the scapulohumeral joint. This report describes an uncommon, rarely diagnosed pathological condition, which can lead to unfavourable prognosis. Osteochondrosis of the scapulohumeral joint was the reason for humane euthanasia of the filly in this case. The clinical case was completed by postmortem findings.

Short Communication: changes in gait after 12 wk of shoeing in previously barefoot horses.

Farriery can impact gait symmetry and lameness outcomes, but there is limited scientific data documenting these effects. We hypothesized that shoeing previously barefoot horses with plain stamp shoes on the hind hooves would increase gait symmetry, alter hock angles and increase range of motion, and improve lameness scores more than shoeing with traditional fullered shoes. At the start of the study, gait symmetry via wireless inertial motion sensors (IMS), kinematic gait analysis (hock angle and range of motion), and American Association for Equine Practitioner's (AAEP) lameness scoring were completed for 14 barefoot horses. Horses were then trimmed and hind hooves were shod (wk 0) in three-quarter fullered shoes or plain stamp style shoes. Horses were trimmed and re-shod at week 6. At the end of 12 wk, the IMS analysis, kinematic gait analysis, and lameness scoring were repeated. Differences between shod and barefoot values were calculated for each horse, and impact of shoe type was analyzed via t-test. Significance was determined at P ≤ 0.05. No differences were observed in the IMS scores, hock angles or range of motion, or AAEP lameness scores between horses shod in fullered or plain stamp shoes (P ≥ 0.08). As no variables were determined to be significantly different between the two shoe types, data from all horses were combined to analyze the differences between the barefoot and shod state. Shoeing increased the maximum angle of the right and left hocks (P ≤ 0.03) and the minimum angle of the left (P = 0.02) but not right hock (P = 0.23) relative to barefoot conditions. No differences in hock range of motion were observed in either hock. Lower AAEP lameness scores were observed in horses when shod compared with barefoot (P = 0.001). In conclusion, shoeing previously barefoot horses improved AAEP lameness scores and increased hock angles, regardless of the type of shoe.

Malocclusions and Dental Diseases in Privately Owned Horses in the Mazovia Region of Poland.

Dental disorders, a term encompassing both malocclusion and dental disease, constitute a serious health problem in horses worldwide. As horse populations differ among countries and regions, a geographically specific characterization of the occurrence of various dental disorders may be helpful for local equine practitioners. This study investigated the prevalence and frequency distribution of selected malocclusions and dental diseases in horses housed in the Mazovia region of Poland, with attention paid to variations among age, gender, and breed categories. Routine dental examinations were conducted on 206 privately owned horses (n = 206). Disorders were recorded using a dental chart and classified as either malocclusions or dental diseases. Out of all examined horses, 95% demonstrated at least one dental disorder, with a roughly equal distribution of these disorders among incisor teeth (31%) and cheek teeth (31% each for premolars and molars). More specifically, there were disorders noted in 14 incisors, 3 canines, 2 wolf teeth, and 15 cheek teeth. Across all age, gender, and breed groups, malocclusions of incisor, premolar, and molar teeth occurred with a higher prevalence than did dental diseases. Curvatures and calculus were the most commonly reported pathologies in incisor teeth, whereas sharp enamel points and caries predominated in cheek teeth.

Prevalence of radiographic changes in forelimb digits and metacarpophalangeal joints of South African endurance racehorses.

If the number of events alone is considered, endurance riding is the fastest growing and the second-most popular Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) discipline. Lameness is the most common cause of elimination from endurance races worldwide. To the authors' knowledge, no studies have been published investigating the prevalence of radiographic changes in the forelimb digits and metacarpophalangeal joints (MCP) of endurance racehorses in South Africa. Investigate the prevalence of radiographic changes in the forelimb digits and MCP joints of South African endurance racehorses. One hundred endurance racehorses registered with ERASA were volunteered by their owners to partake in the current study. Radiographs were obtained from horses competing in endurance races during the 2018-2019 endurance racing season. Radiographs included seven standard views of each distal forelimb. Radiographic images were independently evaluated by three observers, point prevalence and inter-rater reliability (IRR) was calculated. Data analysis of the forelimb digits revealed a large proportion of horses with bilateral signs of dorsopalmar hoof imbalance (95%); a diversion from a straight digital axis (91%), with an extended (broken back) proximal interphalangeal joint (67%) being the most common abnormality. Osteoarthritis of the proximal (16%) and distal (7%) interphalangeal joints was only observed in a low percentage of horses. Interestingly, the hoof-distal-phalanx-ratio of the majority (86%) of horses was more than 25% but none of these horses showed any other signs of chronic laminitis, indicating that hoof-distal-phalanx-ratio might not be a reliable indicator of chronic laminitis in this population of horses. Ossification of the ungular cartilages was observed in the majority (69%) of horses, either affecting one or both distal phalanges. Descriptive data analysis of the MCP joints showed that a large proportion of horses displayed radiological signs of MCP joint osteoarthritis (28%), with 10% being bilateral. The current study provides insight into radiographic changes and their prevalence in the distal front limbs of South African endurance racehorses. Knowledge about the prevalence of specific radiographic changes would enable equine practitioners to better evaluate and manage horses that are affected. Although no correlations were made with age, speed or number of competitive kilometres competed, the current study may serve as a basis for future research.

The Microbiological Quality of Concentrates for Horses-A Retrospective Study on Influencing Factors and Associations with Clinical Symptoms Reported by Owners or Referring Vets.

Simple SummaryPoor feed hygiene is also referred to as spoilage and can be measured by means of determining growth of microorganisms (bacteria, mold and yeast). Evidence has been provided of mold spores triggering equine asthma, a chronic, non-infectious respiratory disease. Furthermore, a high yeast load is suspected to trigger gastrointestinal disorders (colic) in horses. One aim of the present study was to clarify the possible connection between certain equine diseases and poor feed hygiene. For this purpose, archived reports of hygiene examinations of concentrates for horses were processed statistically. Reports contained information on disease symptoms as reported by horse owners or equine practitioners, as well as results of sensory and microbiological analyses. Further assistance to horse owners and equine practitioners should be provided in evaluating health hazards emanating from poor feed hygiene. Another objective was to assess the possibility of detecting hygiene deficiencies by means of simple examination methods such as determination of dry matter content and sensory analysis in order to estimate the validity of these field methods. It was shown that a connection can be made between mold content of oats and coughing in horses, whereas no connection could be found between poor feed hygiene and equine colic or elevated liver enzyme activities. No significant predictability of poor feed hygiene by means of sensory analysis could be established, whereas a significant association between low dry matter content and mold contamination in grains was shown.Evidence has already been provided that feed-borne mold spores and endotoxins can trigger chronic, non-infectious respiratory disease if inhaled. Furthermore, deficiencies in feed microbiology are suspected to trigger gastrointestinal and liver disorders in horses, but the connection needs further clarification. Most of the previous studies regarding horse feed hygiene focused on forage, whereas research regarding hygienic quality of concentrates is scarce. In the present study, results of reports on hygienic quality of compound feed and cereals for horses were evaluated secondarily. Results included sensory findings, and counts of aerobic bacteria, molds and yeasts determined by cultivation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contents. It was found that microbial counts of compound feed exceeded VDLUFA orientation values significantly more frequently than cereals (38.4 vs. 22.6%). However, average counts of bacteria, molds and yeasts were higher in cereals than in compound feeds (p < 0.0001, respectively). Mold counts in grains were significantly higher if dry matter contents were below 86% (p = 0.0201). No relation could be established between the anamnestically reported gastrointestinal disorders or elevated liver enzyme activities and microbiological deviations. Mold counts of concentrates which were suspected to cause coughing in horses were significantly higher than mold counts of control samples (3.29 vs. 2.40 log10 cfu g−1, p = 0.0313). These results indicate that hygienic status of concentrates is relevant for horse health in the respiratory tract.

TamaFlex™-A novel nutraceutical blend improves lameness and joint functions in working horses.

BackgroundLameness is one of the major causes of reduced physical performance and early retirement in working horses. TamaFlex™ (NXT15906F6) is a standardized synergistic anti‐inflammatory botanical formulation containing Tamarindus indica seed extract and Curcuma longa rhizome extract at a 2:1 ratio.MethodsWe conducted a 12‐week single‐center, randomized, blinded, placebo‐controlled trial demonstrating the efficacy of NXT15906F6 in horses with lameness grade 2–4 on the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) scale. Twenty‐two lame horses were supplemented with NXT15906F6 (2.5 gram/day) or placebo over a period of 84 days. Improvement in lameness over placebo was the primary endpoint, and changes in the levels of rheumatoid factor (RF), anti‐nuclear antibody (ANA), and anti‐cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACC‐peptide) in serum, and pro‐inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL‐1β and IL‐6), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and prostaglandin‐E2 (PGE2) in serum and synovial fluid were the secondary endpoints.ResultsNXT15906F6 exhibited significant relief from lameness in a time‐dependent manner. NXT15906F6 also reduced levels of ANA, PGE2, IL‐1β, TNF‐α and IL‐6. Moreover, NXT15906F6 supplementation is safe and tolerable in alleviating joint pain in lame horses, and protects the joints from further degradation by reducing pro‐inflammatory mediators.ConclusionNXT15906F6 significantly reduces the lameness during walking and trotting, leading to an improvement in their joint flexibility, health, and working performances.

Equids' Core Vaccines Guidelines in North America: Considerations and Prospective.

Vaccination against infectious diseases is a cornerstone of veterinary medicine in the prevention of disease transmission, illness severity, and often death in animals. In North American equine medicine, equine vaccines protecting against tetanus, rabies, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, and West Nile are core vaccines as these have been classified as having a heightened risk of mortality, infectiousness, and endemic status. Some guidelines differ from the label of vaccines, to improve the protection of patients or to decrease the unnecessary administration to reduce potential side effects. In North America, resources for the equine practitioners are available on the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) website. Conversely, in small companion animals, peer review materials are regularly published in open access journals to guide the vaccination of dogs and cats. The aims of this review are to present how the vaccine guidelines have been established for small companion animals and horses in North America, to review the equine literature to solidify or contrast the current AAEP guidelines of core vaccines, and to suggest future research directions in the equine vaccine field considering small companion animal strategies and the current available resources in equine literature.

Total Failure of Fenbendazole to Control Strongylid Infections in Czech Horse Operations.

The control of strongylid infections has become challenging globally for equine practitioners due to the development of anthelmintic resistance. Comprehensive information on anthelmintic resistance in the Czech Republic, however, is still lacking. This study monitored the current efficacy of fenbendazole, pyrantel embonate, ivermectin and moxidectin. Forty-eight of 71 operations met the criteria (≥6 horses with ≥200 eggs per gram), with 969 fecal egg count reduction tests performed. Anthelmintic resistance was evaluated on an operation level based on fecal egg count reduction (FECR) and the lower limit of the 95% credible interval (LLCI) using Bayesian hierarchical models. General anthelmintic efficacy across all operations was assessed by posterior FECRs and the occurrence of sub-zero efficacies. Ivermectin and moxidectin demonstrated excellent efficacy (FECR 99.8–100%; 99.4–100 LLCI) in 45 and 23 operations, respectively, pyrantel embonate demonstrated sufficient efficacy in 15 operations and resistance was suspected in seven operations (FECR 88.1–99.1%; 72.5–98.5 LLCI). Fenbendazole, however, was not effective in a single operation (FECR 19.1–77.8%; 8.1–50.1 LLCI) out of 18. Fenbendazole had the highest probability of sub-zero efficacy (29.1%), i.e., post-treatment fecal egg counts exceeded the pre-treatment counts. Our data indicate an increase in the development of anthelmintic resistance, resulting in total failure of fenbendazole and a reduced efficacy of pyrantel embonate. Introducing advanced approaches of parasite control in the Czech Republic to slow the spread of anthelmintic resistance is thus needed.