Horse Industry Research Articles

SHOPPING IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Large modern shopping malls are replacing smaller, traditional groceries in the Republic of Korea. The present paper analyzes this phenomenon and recommends a laissez-faire public policy response. Alterations in selling format to consumers are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of changes in the economy. They are always occurring, at least in healthy economies, and, always, roadblocks are placed in their way. For example, Wal-Mart is prohibited from opening stores in a few communities. Uber and Lyft have been met with great hostility from established taxicab services. Economists even offer a generic term for this phenomenon: restrictions on entry. The present paper is a case study of this occurrence. It focuses on the Republic of Korea, and mainly considers grocery stores. But this small story is emblematic of what takes place in numerous countries all around the world, and many industries. We recommend a laissez-faire public policy approach to this phenomenon. If the new ways of doing things do not violate anyone’s rights, now laws should be passed interfering with the new ways of engaging in commerce. But is this not unfair to the people engaged in the old industries that are withering away? Not a bit of it. The horse and buggy industry, for example, was populated by entrepreneurs who earned a good living before the advent of the horseless carriage. Why should they be guaranteed profits when their offerings are no longer accepted by the public? And the same applies to automobile manufacturers, should their products ever be supplanted by even better means of transportation.

Capturing Entrepreneurial Opportunities in the Romanian Equine Sector: an Fs-Qca Approach

The paper proposes an analysis of entrepreneurial intentions in the equine sector in Romania and the identification of the variables influencing economic growth in this field. The equine sector plays a strategic role in the development of durable, sustainable and social entrepreneurship. The combination of equine services can ensure a business's survival during a crisis, and businesses involving horses can be considered complex. The equine sector is constantly changing: it is affected by politics, the social environment and new competitors. Changing customer requirements make it a difficult area in which to develop a sustainable start-up ecosystem. The present study is important in drawing attention to the main impediments faced by Romanian entrepreneurs in the development of the equine sector, a sector which—because of the emotional and physical benefits that horses offer—has great potential. The horse industry needs true "enthusiastic entrepreneurs" who have the management knowledge and skills to make their business more professional and profitable. It was found that the firm's organisation method is an important factor in predicting business continuity, in achieving medium- and long-term objectives, and in ensuring business success.

Surviving Partner Loss: Strategies from the Thoroughbred Horse Industry

Surviving Partner Loss: Strategies from the Thoroughbred Horse Industry

First Report of Trypanosoma theileri in Equine Host and Tabanus sp. in Malaysia

Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) theileri is a non-pathogenic or weakly pathogenic parasite of domestic cattle that is cyclically transmitted by blood-sucking insects, mainly tabanid flies. It has been reported in several countries like Brazil, Venezuela, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Although the ruminant industry is actively expanded in Malaysia, T. theileri and T. theileri-like trypanosomes have never been reported from Malaysia. The low pathogenicity of this species might be the main reason for overlooking T. theileri in this country. This paper describes an unforeseen finding of T. theileri from the outbreak of T. evansi in the state of Kelantan, Malaysia. This is the first time T. theileri reported in Malaysia, and also the first time T. theileri is reported in equid. Clinical signs compatible with infection by blood protozoa were observed; however, it was uncertain whether they were due to T. theileri infection. The detection of T. theileri from the blood sample and Tabanus sp. were confirmed through molecular analysis with PCR and DNA sequencing. In the present study, T. theileri from one horse and one Tabanus sp. were clustered with sequences of the previously described phylogenetic lineages from Japan, Chad and Brazil cattle. Even though this species is claimed to be host-specific with ruminant host restriction, the finding from this study suggested that T. theileri can infect equine whilst other isolates are known to infect ruminant species only. It is suspected there were two genotypes of T. theileri circulating in at least two districts of Kelantan. Thus, further study on multiple DNA regions should be conducted to determine the strains of detected T. theileri in Malaysia. Its impact on the horse and cattle industry should also be revised.

Occupational vs. non-occupational equestrians: Differences in demographics and injury patterns

IntroductionNineteen million people participate in horseback riding activities in the US, and the horse industry employs more than 460,000 full-time workers. Emergency department data suggest young female amateurs and male professionals are most at risk of death from horse-related injuries. However, there has been no investigation into factors that may increase severe injury and mortality risk in these populations. This study investigates demographics and injury pattern differences between occupational and non-occupational horse-related injuries in the US. MethodsThe 2017 American College of Surgeons National Trauma Databank (ACS NTDB) was analyzed for horse-related injury using ICD 10 codes. Demographics, injury data, protective device use, and hospital procedures were analyzed. Occupational versus non-occupational injuries based on incident location (farm, sports, recreational, residential) were compared using ANOVA or Pearson's Chi-squared test. ResultsOf 3911 incidents, the most common injury mechanism was falling from the horse, but occupational and non-occupational farm injuries showed higher incidence of being struck by a horse. One-third required surgery. Upper extremity injuries were most common. Occupational injuries more often affected upper extremities of working age, minority males with commercial insurance. Non-occupational injuries most often affected heads of women at the extremes of age. Helmet use was higher in occupational, non-occupational sports, and non-occupational recreation injuries, and severe head injury incidence was decreased in these groups. Complications and discharge dispositions were not different across groups. ConclusionsIn the largest trauma center study to date, we have shown equine-related trauma to be common and affect a predictable demographic that may permit injury prevention initiatives. Helmets may reduce severe head injury, but the efficacy of protective clothing remains to be validated.

The financial burden of African Horse Sickness: a case of the European Union trade ban on South Africa’s horse industry

ABSTRACT Globalisation and the increased movement of goods such as live animals and animal products across national borders can exacerbate the introduction and spread of diseases. This risk can be mitigated through adherence to trade control measures such as the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) of the World Trade Organization (WTO). However, compliance with SPS measures usually results in additional production and trade costs. This paper applied cost–benefit analysis, using stochastic scenario analysis, to estimate the financial burden of SPS measures on exporting horses from South Africa to the European Union (EU). These measures were instituted following a ban on the direct export of horses from South Africa to the EU, triggered by outbreaks of African Horse Sickness (AHS) in the AHS Controlled Area in the Western Cape Province. Analysis revealed that compliance to existing SPS measures by exporting a horse via a third country is 1.67 times more costly than exporting directly to the EU. A strengthened public-private sector partnership is recommended to jointly identify the most efficient and effective ways to develop capacity for collaborative judicious investment in order to build a resilient horse industry thereby enabling employment creation and economic growth.

Modification of O-ring intrauterine devices (IUDs) in mares: Contraception without estrus suppression

A significant welfare concern for those within the horse industry is that of the overpopulation in free-roaming horses in the western US. The goal of the present study was to identify a humane and inexpensive means of providing contraception and reducing pregnancy rates in a way that could be applied to free-roaming horses on the western U.S. open range lands. A series of studies was conducted utilizing the previously-described silastic O-ring intrauterine devices (IUDs). Throughout these studies pregnancy was successfully prevented in mares with an O-ring IUD, but collective retention rates failed to exceed 50% regardless of size or durometer (material hardness/malleability). When the O-ring IUDs were compared to the recently-described Y-design IUDs (Holyoak et al., 2021) the Y-design IUDs had a markedly greater rate of retention; therefore, the Y-design IUDs would be most appropriate for potential use in free-roaming horses. Assessment of mare records revealed that the vast majority of mares continued to have ovulations and mating continued to occur while the IUDs were in place. A few mares had multiple small ovarian follicles when the IUD was in utero. Findings indicate that utilizing an IUD with the expectation of estrus suppression in mares would fail to be fruitful.

Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks Collected from Horses in the Republic of Korea

The horse industry has grown rapidly as a leisure industry in the Republic of Korea (ROK) in parallel with an increased demand for equestrian activities. As a result, there has been an increase in horse breeding and equestrian population and potential exposure to ticks and their associated pathogens. To provide a better understanding of the potential disease risks of veterinary and medical importance, a study was conducted to determine the geographical distribution and diversity of ticks collected from horses and vegetation associated with horse racetracks/ranches throughout the ROK. This included a survey of five associated common pathogens, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Borrelia spp., Babesia caballi, and Theileria equi. A total 9220 ticks were collected from horses and associated pastures. Ticks were identified to species, stage of development, and sex. Two species of ticks, Haemaphysalis longicornis (99.9%) and Ixodes nipponensis (0.1%) were identified. Two of the target pathogens, A. phagocytophilum and Borrelia spp., were detected in 5/1409 tick pools (0.35%) and 4/1409 pools (0.28%) of H. longicornis, respectively, both of which are zoonotic pathogens of medical importance. The results of 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis of A. phagocytophilum showed a close relationship to strains distributed in China, USA, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Poland. Borrelia spp. showed a close relationship, based on 16S rRNA gene, to the strains reported from the USA (B. burgdorferi and B. americana) and Japan (B. tanukii and B. garinii). These results provide information about the potential risks of veterinary and medical importance and the development of mitigation strategies for disease prevention.

Integrating Audio Signal Processing and Deep Learning Algorithms for Gait Pattern Classification in Brazilian Gaited Horses

This study focused on assessing the usefulness of using audio signal processing in the gaited horse industry. A total of 196 short-time audio files (4 s) were collected from video recordings of Brazilian gaited horses. These files were converted into waveform signals (196 samples by 80,000 columns) and divided into training (N = 164) and validation (N = 32) datasets. Twelve single-valued audio features were initially extracted to summarize the training data according to the gait patterns (Marcha Batida—MB and Marcha Picada—MP). After preliminary analyses, high-dimensional arrays of the Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC), Onset Strength (OS), and Tempogram (TEMP) were extracted and used as input information in the classification algorithms. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed using the 12 single-valued features set and each audio-feature dataset—AFD (MFCC, OS, and TEMP) for prior data visualization. Machine learning (random forest, RF; support vector machine, SVM) and deep learning (multilayer perceptron neural networks, MLP; convolution neural networks, CNN) algorithms were used to classify the gait types. A five-fold cross-validation scheme with 10 repetitions was employed for assessing the models' predictive performance. The classification performance across models and AFD was also validated with independent observations. The models and AFD were compared based on the classification accuracy (ACC), specificity (SPEC), sensitivity (SEN), and area under the curve (AUC). In the logistic regression analysis, five out of the 12 audio features extracted were significant (p < 0.05) between the gait types. ACC averages ranged from 0.806 to 0.932 for MFCC, from 0.758 to 0.948 for OS and, from 0.936 to 0.968 for TEMP. Overall, the TEMP dataset provided the best classification accuracies for all models. The most suitable method for audio-based horse gait pattern classification was CNN. Both cross and independent validation schemes confirmed that high values of ACC, SPEC, SEN, and AUC are expected for yet-to-be-observed labels, except for MFCC-based models, in which clear overfitting was observed. Using audio-generated data for describing gait phenotypes in Brazilian horses is a promising approach, as the two gait patterns were correctly distinguished. The highest classification performance was achieved by combining CNN and the rhythmic-descriptive AFD.

A Survey of Horse Selection, Longevity, and Retirement in Equine-Assisted Services in the United States.

Simple SummaryThe aim of this study was to provide information about horses and ponies in equine-assisted services (EAS), particularly in the areas of selection, longevity, and retirement as little published information exists about this sector of the United States horse industry. Survey results revealed centers do use selection procedures when evaluating horses which often included initial screenings and trial periods. Horses are active in programs from anywhere less than a year to over 20 years. The greatest number of horses are active for 1–6 or 7–10 years. Horses are retired for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons include unsoundness, behavior, and other health issues. We conclude behavior, soundness, and health are key considerations when selecting and retiring horses in EAS. These areas should be focused on at an individual horse level in future research efforts. The information presented in this article helps us understand the horses in EAS programs, provides a starting point for future research, and begins to explore the unique needs of programs and horses in EAS.Little published information exists on the horses in equine-assisted services (EAS), particularly their selection, longevity, and retirement. The purpose of this study was to characterize horses and procedures used in EAS. A pilot survey was developed using focus group discussions and distributed to Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH Intl) centers in Florida (n = 45, Part I) before further modification and distribution to members of PATH Intl., American Hippotherapy Association (AHA), eagala, and Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) (n = 26,000, Part II). Response rates were 36% (Part I) and 0.7% (Part II). Centers report a median of 10 (Part I) or 9 (Part II) horses and ponies. Selection procedures included initial screening (Part I = 100%, Part II = 96%), pre-purchase or pre-donation exam (I = 64%, II = 60%), acclimation period (I = 100%, II = 84%), trial period (I = 91%, II = 90%), and other (II = 11%). Horses remained active in programs for less than a year to over 20 years with the greatest number working 7–10 (Part I) or 1–6 (Part II) yr. In Part I of the study, behavior (44%) was the leading cause of retirement followed by unsoundness (33%). In Part II, unsoundness was the highest ranked response followed by behavior. Behavior, soundness, and health emerged as key factors in horse selection and retirement. Future work should focus on investigating these issues at an individual horse level.

Holding the Best and Worst Hand: A Two-Sided Matching Approach to Seller-Intermediary Relationships

We study the interplay between partner selection, firm resources, and resource concentration in the Thoroughbred horse industry, focusing on seller-intermediary relationships and a given portfolio of products. Theory predicts that partners are more likely to be selected for high-quality resources. However, when an upstream partner has multiple goods to allocate, the focal partner may bundle high-quality resources with low-quality resources. We analyze this problem using a dataset of breeder-consignment relationships formed from 2005 to 2008 to sell horses. Our modeling approach incorporates the selection of partner decisions, allowing us to account for the diversity of goods for each side and recover the cost of transactions. Our results indicate that differences in resource portfolios result in an increased concentration of business with intermediaries.

Development of a 19-plex short tandem repeat typing system for individual identification and parentage testing of horses (Equus caballus).

Individual identification of horses for pedigree verification and registration is important for the sustainable development of the horse industry. Horse individual identification and parentage tests commonly use the 17 short tandem repeats (STRs) recommended by the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) and the locus LEX33. While many multiplex STR typing systems have been established for the horse, a sex determining marker is usually absent, and none of them can simultaneously detect all 17 ISAG recommended loci and the locus LEX33. Here, we present a 19-plex STR typing system that contains the 17 ISAG recommend loci, the locus LEX33 and amelogenin as sex determining loci. The results of our sensitivity, species specificity, stutter analysis and population data analysis, indicate that this system is a specific, sensitive, and robust tool for the identification of individuals, parentage testing and genetic research in the horse.

Challenges to exotic disease preparedness in Great Britain: The frontline veterinarian's perspective.

Exotic diseases pose a significant risk to horse health and welfare. Several stakeholder groups, including primary care veterinarians, share responsibility for maintaining freedom from pathogens that cause exotic diseases. However, little is known about the current state of exotic disease preparedness within the British horse industry. The aim of this study was to explore equine veterinarians' experiences of, and attitudes towards, exotic disease preparedness in Great Britain. This is a qualitative interview-based study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 primary care equine veterinarians in Great Britain. Participants were purposively selected to include perspectives across varying levels of experience, clientele and location. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Three themes were developed: (a) the reactive generalist, relating to participants' self-concept of their role as primary care practitioners; (b) working within the bounds of influence, encompassing participants' perceived inability to influence their clients' knowledge and behaviours and (c) a fragmented horse industry, illustrating the wider culture in which participants worked, characterised by a lack of cohesion amongst its members. Only veterinarians' perspectives have been captured, so viewpoints from other stakeholders, such as horse owners and government officials, should be used to triangulate these findings. The findings suggest that improvements are required before an optimal level of exotic disease preparedness can be achieved. Additional support provided to frontline veterinarians, such as skills-based training (ie, clinical reasoning and collaborative relationship building), accessible and trusted emergency support networks and clear expectations and responsibilities during an outbreak are recommended to optimise exotic disease preparedness.

From the Eurasian Steppes to the Roman Circuses: A Review of Early Development of Horse Breeding and Management.

Simple SummaryHorses were domesticated later than any other major livestock species. Their role in shaping ancient civilizations cannot be overestimated. As a primary means of transportation, an essential asset in warfare, and later one of the key elements of circus entertainment, horses quickly became luxurious goods. Vast amounts of money were invested in the horse industry resulted resulting in the rapid development of horse breeding and husbandry. This review examines paleogenetic, archeological, and classical studies on managing horses in antiquity. Many ancient approaches and practices in horse management are still relevant today and some of them, now abandoned, are worth re-examination.The domestication of the horse began about 5500 years ago in the Eurasian steppes. In the following millennia horses spread across the ancient world, and their role in transportation and warfare affected every ancient culture. Ownership of horses became an indicator of wealth and social status. The importance of horses led to a growing interest in their breeding and management. Many phenotypic traits, such as height, behavior, and speed potential, have been proven to be a subject of selection; however, the details of ancient breeding practices remain mostly unknown. From the fourth millennium BP, through the Iron Age, many literature sources thoroughly describe horse training systems, as well as various aspects of husbandry, many of which are still in use today. The striking resemblance of ancient and modern equine practices leaves us wondering how much was accomplished through four thousand years of horse breeding.

Innovation configurations in sport clusters: The role of interorganizational citizenship and social capital

Innovation plays a central role in the sports sector. However, delivering innovative solutions is increasingly becoming a network-level phenomenon, reinforcing the need to understand the network-level dynamics. This research explores this phenomenon by building on two complementary theoretical foundations: interorganizational citizenship behavior (ICB) and social capital. The research aims to understand how different configurations of dimensions of social capital and interorganizational citizenship behavior facilitate product and process innovation. The research uses data from a horse industry cluster in France and applies fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), a method developed explicitly for configurational analysis. The results unveil a series of configurations leading to both product and process innovation. The findings show that the different dimensions of ICB and social capital have both positive and negative impacts on innovation. Moreover, the results chart multiple paths to innovation and highlight differences between product and process innovation in sports clusters.

114 An online course to teach and encourage equine biosecurity practices

To introduce horse owners, caretakers, and industry professionals to equine biosecurity concepts, the University of Minnesota (UMN) Extension Equine Program offered a semi-self-paced, 6-week online certificate course. Our objective to improve content and its delivery was prompted by student feedback from year one before the second offering (January 2020 and January 2021, respectively). The Equine Biosecurity Online Certificate Course (EBOCC) used the Canvas learning management platform. To meet course objectives, adult learners viewed weekly asynchronous lectures on biosecurity concepts, practicing biosecurity at home and at shows/events, and communicating a biosecurity plan to clients and service providers. Weekly assignments alternated between discussion forums and a quiz to assess learning. Lecture notes and supportive resources (e.g., web articles or videos) were provided for each module. Students also wrote a biosecurity plan for their individual farm or horse ownership circumstance, prompted by 11 biosecurity principles. Knowledge gain was measured through pre- and post-course assessments and course satisfaction was considered through a course evaluation. The first offering resulted in knowledge gain ( P ≤ 0.0008) though course evaluations indicated improvements were necessary for future delivery. The non-traditional students struggled with Canvas course navigation and desired more applied uses for equine biosecurity. Improved user-experience was created for year 2 using Canvas design options. Weekly modules were further developed to include deeper biosecurity concepts and applied uses. Learners in year 2 also demonstrated knowledge gain ( P ≤ 0.0001) and greater course satisfaction (82%) compared with the first offering (67%). In total, 40 horse owners and industry professionals from 11 states and 5 countries (including the US) participated. The enrolled students personally owned 101 equids and cared for an additional 303 animals. Based on the information they learned, 93% of the students agreed or strongly agreed they would make at least one change in their horse operation or ownership with respect to biosecurity. Participants conveyed gratitude for the encouragement to write a biosecurity plan as part of their everyday management and disease preparedness, with 47% implementing at least one change before the course ending. Exposure to equine biosecurity through an online course provided students opportunity to increase knowledge and commit to biosecurity practices in the present and for the future. Utilizing course evaluations to constructively evaluate the delivery of this Extension course improved the impact of the lessons taught.

111 Ability to interpret and apply animal behavior and welfare terminology by adults within the horse industry

Interpretations of horse behavior are diverse among equestrians and may be influenced by a misunderstanding of animal behavior and welfare terminology. This study explored how horse industry adults interpret and understand fundamental animal behavior, welfare, and operant conditioning (OC) concepts as applied to horses. A sample of 1145 adults completed an online survey containing horse-related psychographic questions, horse-human interaction videos with and without heart rate (HR) data, terminology questions related to specific behavioral and welfare states in horses, and scenarios related to animal learning. Data were analyzed with frequency counts (SPSS ver. 25), and when appropriate, correlations, cross-tabulations, or mixed model ANOVA (SAS ver. 9.4). Most participants identified as female (94%), white (94%), and live in the United States (63%). Most (96%) previously owned a horse, 86% currently owned a horse, and 4% had never owned a horse. Few participants provided complete definitions for fear (14%), stress (34%), or reactivity (1%), but some provided partial definitions for these terms (63% for fear, 43% for stress, and 29% for reactivity). Most (80%) correctly identified the normal resting HR for an adult horse. When viewing horse-human interaction videos, 83% of participants did not change their interpretation of the horse's behavior in the videos after the HR was revealed, suggesting a lack of understanding of the potential impacts of fear, stress, and reactivity on horse HR. Few participants were able to correctly define terms used in OC such as negative reinforcement (7%), negative punishment (8%), positive reinforcement (9%), and positive punishment (12%). When selecting the OC principle for horse-human interaction scenarios, more participants (42%; P = 0.001) correctly identified positive reinforcement compared with negative punishment (16%), negative reinforcement (23%), and positive punishment (19%). No differences ( P > 0.14) were found between participants’ abilities to correctly define fear, stress, reactivity, or any of the OC principles, based on gender, race, age, horse ownership, or ability to correctly identify resting HR. Compared with US participants, those living outside the US were more likely ( P < 0.006) to correctly understand negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment. These findings suggest that education in these areas is needed for all individuals who interact with horses, regardless of gender, race, age, or horse ownership. Improved understanding of behavioral terminology and OC principles for horses may positively impact horse welfare.

110 Usage and perceptions of equestrian safety equipment

Equestrians are no strangers to injury. Modernization of the sport aims to support safe riding habits and limit fatal injuries, especially with the use of equestrian safety equipment. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing the use of safety equipment across a range of equestrian disciplines. It was hypothesized that use, perceptions of efficacy, and influencing factors would differ according to discipline but not other demographic factors. An online survey was widely distributed via horse industry organizations and social media over a 2-week period in January 2021. The survey identified rider demographics including age, education level, geographic region, and primary riding discipline, and used 5-pt Likert-scale questions regarding use, perceived effectiveness, and influences on 3 types of safety equipment. Data were examined using frequency counts, correlation, and mixed model ANOVA (SAS, Inc.). Of 770 responses, 48.6% identified themselves as English riders, 46.2% as western riders, and 5.2% as drivers. As hypothesized, helmet use was lower in western disciplines than English disciplines ( P < 0.0001) or driving ( P < 0.0001). Participation in a discipline that requires use of safety equipment increased the likelihood of helmet use ( P < 0.0001), but not other equipment. Age, level of education, and geographic region did not influence the use of helmets or other equipment ( P > 0.05). When asked how often respondents used helmets, only 58.2% of all participants chose “always,” yet 74.2% considered helmets “very effective” in preventing injury. Across all disciplines, 79.1% “strongly agreed” or “somewhat agreed” that their use of helmets was influenced by past injuries and experiences. Of respondents, 75.3% “strongly agree” that youth should be required to wear helmets. Unlike helmet use, only 16.8% had used safety vests in the past year, and 19.5% used safety stirrups. Use of safety vests and safety stirrups was greater ( P < 0.001) in English than western disciplines. Of respondents, 58.3% considered safety vests “very effective” or “moderately effective” in preventing injuries; while more than one-quarter (27.8%) were “not sure” of effectiveness of safety stirrups. These results suggest that while helmet use is considered an effective way to prevent injury, discipline norms still heavily influence use. Safety vests and stirrups were less likely to be used and may require more industry wide education or exposure before being widely accepted. Understanding the equestrian demographics and disciplines that are likely to use safety equipment, as well as how they are influenced will allow for greater education and safety in equestrian sport.

Development of a stable transgenic Theileria equi parasite expressing an enhanced green fluorescent protein/blasticidin S deaminase

Theileria equi, an intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite, causes equine piroplasmosis, a disease which negatively impacts the global horse industry. Genetic manipulation is one of the research tools under development as a control method for protozoan parasites, but this technique needs to be established for T. equi. Herein, we report on the first development of a stable transgenic T. equi line expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein/blasticidin S deaminase (eGFP/BSD). To express the exogenous fusion gene in T. equi, regulatory regions of the elongation factor-1 alpha (ef-1α) gene were identified in T. equi. An eGFP/BSD-expression cassette containing the ef-1α gene promoter and terminator regions was constructed and integrated into the T. equi genome. On day 9 post-transfection, blasticidin-resistant T. equi emerged. In the clonal line of T. equi obtained by limiting dilution, integration of the eGFP/BSD-expression cassette was confirmed in the designated B-locus of the ef-1α gene via PCR and Southern blot analyses. Parasitaemia dynamics between the transgenic and parental T. equi lines were comparable in vitro. The eGFP/BSD-expressing transgenic T. equi and the methodology used to generate it offer new opportunities for better understanding of T. equi biology, with the add-on possibility of discovering effective control methods against equine piroplasmosis.

Maternal recognition of pregnancy in the mare: does it exist and why do we care?

Maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) is a process by which an early conceptus signals its presence to the maternal system and prevents the lysis of the corpus luteum, thus ensuring a maternal milieu supportive of pregnancy continuation. It is a fundamental aspect of reproductive biology, yet in the horse, the mechanism underlying MRP remains unknown. This review seeks to address some of the controversies surrounding the evidence and theories of MRP in the equine species, such as the idea that the horse does not conform to the MRP paradigm established in other species or that equine MRP involves a mechanical, rather than chemical, signal. The review examines the challenges of studying this particularly clandestine phenomenon along with the new tools in scientific research that will drive this quest forward in coming years, and discusses the value of knowledge gleaned along this path in the context of clinical applications for improving breeding outcomes in the horse industry.