Not only can DNA-based tests indicate whether or not a horse is infected with equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), these tests can also measure the amount of virus in the horse's nasal secretions.
"Virus isolation has been the gold standard test for EHV-1, but have recently been replaced by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests," reported Nicola Pusterla, DVM, PhD, Dipl.
One theory explaining this “horse of a different color” phenomenon is that, historically, only a few coat colors might have been appropriate for survival in the wild. For example, horses of a certain color could have been better camouflaged, considered a more appropriate mate, have more tolerance to certain pathogens, or better adapt to the environment than horses of other colors.
Equine piroplasmosis can be difficult to diagnose due to the variable and non-specific clinical signs exhibited by infected horses. Further complicating testing, false positive and false negative results can occur on common tests.
Piroplasmosis, considered an exotic disease in the United States, was recently discovered in horses in 11 states as an investigation into an outbreak
A novel experimental treatment for equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) called RNA interference shows promise, but more research is needed before this technology becomes commercially available.
EHV-1 evades the horse's immune system during infection and can lie dormant in the horse's body. For these reasons, making an effective vaccine against EHV-1 has, and continues to be
An oral hyaluronan product did not produce any improvement in clinical or biochemical parameters in horses diagnosed with osteochondrosis in a new study, researchers from the Universidad de Caldas, in Columbia, recently reported. The study authors concluded that the evaluated product likely resulted in no detectable effect due to the small number of horses included in the study; however, they
Geriatric horses have lower survival rates the younger horses following exploratory colic surgery, but there’s no significant difference in long term survival rates between age groups, report Florida equine veterinarians in a new study.
Environmental conditions during collection and storage of equine fecal samples impact the resulting fecal egg counts (FECs), report parasitologists from both Denmark and the United States.
"Due to the concern regarding anthelmintic resistance in horses, counting strongylid eggs in equine fecal samples pre- and post-deworming has become an important tool in screening for dru
Guttural pouches are more than just ill-defined air-filled vats located somewhere in the horse’s head, said Julie Fjeldborg, DVM, PhD, an associate professor in the department of large animal sciences at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, during the 11th Congress of the World Equine Veterinary Association, which was held Sept. 24-27, 2009, in Guarujá, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Failure to conceive and early embryonic death both negatively impact the equine breeding industry; however, late-term abortions also occur and should not be ignored, said Michelle M. LeBlanc, DMV, Dipl. ACT, from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., during the 11th Congress of the World Equine Veterinary Association, which was held Sept. 24-27, 2009, in Guarujá, Sao
Tendons can be an important source of lameness in athletic horses, but issues with the tendon's sheath–the thin connective tissue wrapped around the tendons, containing synovial fluid–shouldn't be overlooked as another potential cause of lameness.
"Diagnosing lameness originating from tendon sheaths is increasing with awareness and increased availability and use o
If you have ever witnessed a horse having a so-called "episodic event," you aren't likely to soon forget it, particularly if the event occurred while the horse was under saddle. Episodic events are defined here as unusual or unexpected, usually brief (spanning seconds to minutes) behavioral events. Between attacks, affected horses and foals appear totally normal.
A
Soft tissue injuries involving ligaments and tendons have long been recognized as an important source of lameness in horses, and they often recur.
While genetic diseases exist in a number of horse breeds, many researchers have focused expressly on issues occurring in the Quarter Horse breed. Thanks to their efforts, genetic tests for several disorders specific to this breed are now commercially available for breeders and horse owners.
"The size of the Quarter Horse industry, the commitment of the American Quarter Hors
Bacteria such as Salmonella or Clostridium can wreak havoc on a horse's gastrointestinal tract, causing massive losses of water, electrolytes, and proteins. The result? Diarrhea. A smelly, watery, life-threatening mess.
"In more than 60% of diarrhea cases, we never actually discover the inciting cause and testing for all the possibilities can be
Tailored exercise programs involving habitual low-intensity loading during early development could reduce the prevalence of osteochondral injury later in life, said a group of veterinary orthopedic researchers.
According to the researchers, “The positive effect of exercise on bone mineral density has been documented extensively in several species, including the horse.”
The
Horses are cows, said veterinary researcher N. Edward Robinson, BVetMed, PhD, MRCVS, Matilda R. Wilson Chair in Large Animal Clinical Sciences at Michigan State University.
Well, what Robinson actually said was that the “racehorse and modern dairy cow have several things in common.” Both have been genetically selected for performance via a small number of popular sires, performance relie
Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with
