{"title":"Genetic characterization of phenotypic traits in endangered Taishu horse breed and their breeding strategy","authors":"Tomoko Yoshihara , Teruaki Tozaki , Sakura Nakaya , Masaki Takasu , Koki Kawate , Risako Furukawa , Mio Kikuchi , Taichiro Isihge , Shun-ichi Nagata , Hironaga Kakoi , Seiji Hobo","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105233","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105233","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Taishu horse is a native Japanese breed threatened with extinction. It is important to genotype the causative genes of rare phenotypes in endangered breeds because unique genetic traits might be lost unless a breeding strategy for conservation is constructed. In the present study, nine single-nucleotide variants and three indels of nine genes related to coat color, body composition, and gait were genotyped in 56 Taishu horses. Of these, only three genes were polymorphic. The observed coat color phenotypes coincided with the estimated phenotype from the genotypes, whereas black horses showed specific phenotypes that were generally black in winter but turned light brown in summer. No DNA polymorphisms in ligand-dependent nuclear receptor corepressor-like gene and very few polymorphisms in myostatin gene were identified. While means of withers height, chest circumference, cannon circumference, and body length were 122.8, 143.1, 16.9, and 130.2 cm, respectively, no relationship was found between the variants investigated and the body composition measurements. The gaited allele of doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 3 gene was not observed and the estimated phenotypes coincided with the observed phenotype, trot. Genotypes of coat color in the Taishu horses are essential for the construction of breeding strategies to conserve black and chestnut horses, which are much less common than bay horses. These results may help breeders construct breeding strategies to conserve rare phenotypic traits in this breed. This initiative will also be beneficial for breeding programs of other native Japanese horses, such as Noma and Miyako, whose numbers are declining.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"144 ","pages":"Article 105233"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142644016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Lanci , N. Ellero , C. Castagnetti , F. Perina , F. Dondi , J. Mariella
{"title":"Plasma alpha-fetoprotein in neonatal foals affected by prematurity, sepsis and neonatal encephalopathy","authors":"A. Lanci , N. Ellero , C. Castagnetti , F. Perina , F. Dondi , J. Mariella","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105231","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105231","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations have been reported in healthy foals and proposed as a biomarker of sepsis in foals born from mares with experimentally induced placentitis. This study aimed to describe the diagnostic and prognostic value of plasma AFP in foals spontaneously affected by different diseases. The study included all foals less than 72 h old that were diagnosed with either: (1) prematurity (PRE), when born prior to 320 days of gestation with immature physical characteristics; (2) sepsis (SEP), in the presence of both positive blood culture and SIRS or (3) neonatal encephalopathy (NE), with evidence of hypoxic-ischemic injury. Data from healthy foals (H; <em>n</em>=20) were obtained from a previous study. Foals received a complete physical and hematochemical evaluation and blood culture sample collection at hospital admission. Forty-six foals with an average age of 16 h were enrolled and divided into: PRE group (<em>n</em>=7); SEP group (<em>n</em>=14); NE group (<em>n</em>=25). AFP was measured in plasma collected at admission using a commercially available immunoassay validated for horses. AFP was increased in foals in PRE, SEP and NE groups compared with healthy ones (<em>P</em><0.001) but was not able to discriminate between different diseases and outcomes. Overall, AFP was negatively correlated with foal age (<em>r</em>=−0.6; <em>P</em><0.001), foal weight (<em>r</em>=−0.3; <em>P</em>=0.048), monocytes count (<em>r</em>=−0.4; <em>P</em>=0.011) and SAA concentration (<em>r</em>=−0.4; <em>P</em>=0.011). AFP appears to be a useful but non-specific indicator of neonatal health, since it upregulates not only in the presence of SIRS and bacteremia, but also during prematurity and hypoxic-ischemic injury.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"144 ","pages":"Article 105231"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142639051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
E. Arroyo , L.M. Whitelock , M.E. Stanton , V. Stevenson , L.H. de Aguiar , A. Kelleman
{"title":"Hydroallantois in a mare associated with schistosomus and unilateral ovarian agenesis in the fetus","authors":"E. Arroyo , L.M. Whitelock , M.E. Stanton , V. Stevenson , L.H. de Aguiar , A. Kelleman","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105228","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105228","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydropsical conditions in domestic animals are characterized by abnormal fluid accumulation. While their complete pathophysiology remains unclear, factors such as changes in chorioallantoic membranes, placentitis, or fetal abnormalities may contribute. Hydrops present as a medical emergency that can cause complications for the mare. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for the mare's prognosis, as fetal survival is often poor. This report describes a case of hydroallantois in a 9-year-old pregnant Quarter mare at 271 days of gestation, leading to dystocia of a non-viable foal with multiple congenital abnormalities. Given the poor prognosis for fetal survival, transcervical gradual fluid drainage and pregnancy termination were performed. The malformed fetus was subsequently delivered and humanely euthanized.</div><div>Necropsy findings revealed a schistosomus fetus with palatoschisis, a wry nose, prognathism, and unilateral ovarian agenesia. The case underscores the importance of timely intervention in managing hydroallantois. The report contributes to understanding horses' clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of hydroallantois.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"144 ","pages":"Article 105228"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142622019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Soon Hon Cheong , Rebecca Franklin-Guild , Laura B. Goodman , Yamilka Lago-Alvarez , Yoke Lee Lee , Luis Henrique de Aguiar , Mariana Diel de Amorim , Craig Altier
{"title":"Detection of fungal and bacterial organisms from clinical uterine samples of horses using next-generation sequencing in comparison with culture","authors":"Soon Hon Cheong , Rebecca Franklin-Guild , Laura B. Goodman , Yamilka Lago-Alvarez , Yoke Lee Lee , Luis Henrique de Aguiar , Mariana Diel de Amorim , Craig Altier","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105214","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fungal and bacterial culture is currently the primary method for pathogen detection and identification. Next-generation sequencing is a powerful method for detecting and identifying the presence of microbial DNA in samples. We evaluated the correlation between fungal and bacterial culture with next-generation sequencing in equine uterine samples. Fungal cultures (n=63) were evaluated based on their culture results. In culture positive (n=16) samples, next-generation sequencing identified the same organism in 10 samples (62.5%), 5 samples did not identify fungal agents, and 1 sample identified other species of fungal agents. In no growth samples (n=42), next-generation sequencing did not identify fungal agents in 37 samples (88.1%), 4 samples had a potential fungal pathogen identified, and one sample identified only non-pathogenic fungal organisms. Fungal culture and next-generation sequencing had an 80% agreement and moderate correlation by Kappa coefficient (0.508). Bacterial culture (n=57) was also evaluated based on bacterial culture results. In bacterial culture Positive samples (n=32), next-generation sequencing identified the same organism in 25 (78.1%) samples, and identified different organisms from the remaining 7 samples. In bacterial no growth samples (n=14), next-generation sequencing detected bacterial presence in 5 samples, and 9 samples had no bacterial DNA identified. The agreement between bacterial culture and next-generation sequencing was 74% with a moderate correlation by Kappa coefficient (0.46). In conclusion, culture and next-generation sequencing have moderate correlation, and next-generation sequencing has the potential as a diagnostic option for enhancing pathogen detection for equine endometritis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"144 ","pages":"Article 105214"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142622011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Environmental impacts and daily voluntary movement of horses housed in pasture tracks as compared to conventional pasture housing","authors":"Jenna Farmer Long , Jamie Duberstein , Kayla Costin , Todd Callaway , Alexander Abrams , Brooklyne Wassel , Kimberly Toal , Kylee Duberstein","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105215","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105215","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pasture tracks are a modern equine housing trend often implemented as a weight control strategy due to the belief that they promote movement, though this is not proven experimentally. To test movement of horses housed in pasture tracks as compared to conventional pasture housing, two experiments were performed using a track (0.2ha, 3.5m in width, 561 m total distance) created around the perimeter of a 2.0 ha pasture. In experiment 1, eight horses were paired and rotated between three treatment locations: track (T), small 2 ha pasture housed within the track (SP), and a larger 20 ha pasture on the same farm (LP). A GPS-equipped watch attached to the crown piece of a halter tracked movement of horses over a ten-week study as they rotated in pairs to each location, with testing in all locations occurring simultaneously. Environmental impacts of housing were evaluated by comparing vegetative biomass and soil relocation throughout the study. In experiment 2, the same horses (n = 8) were rotated in isolated pairs to T or SP, with only one pair of horses tested at a time to ensure that social influences did not confound movement data. Collective results indicate that horses traveled approximately the same distance in T as compared to SP or LP. However, detrimental environmental impacts resulted from the track, including a decrease in vegetative biomass and greater sediment deposition from runoff. Potential environmental impacts should be further investigated to develop best management practices to mitigate erosion caused by pasture tracks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"143 ","pages":"Article 105215"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142604667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A.C. Herbst , A.T. Puglia , K. Malinowski, K.H. McKeever
{"title":"Calcium propionate is an alkalizing agent in exercising Standardbreds","authors":"A.C. Herbst , A.T. Puglia , K. Malinowski, K.H. McKeever","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105212","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105212","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objective of this study was to determine if calcium propionate is an alkalizing agent in exercising Standardbreds and if it alters plasma glucose and serum insulin concentrations. This study used a randomized crossover design to test the hypotheses that calcium propionate alters total CO2 (tCO<sub>2</sub>), Ca<sup>++</sup>, pH, strong ion difference (SID), glucose, and insulin in Standardbreds completing a simulated race test (SRT) on a high-speed equine treadmill. Blood was collected from eight horses (mean age ± SD = 16 ± 2.7 years; range = 13 - 21 years) at 10 and 5 min prior to treatment or control administration, just prior to the subsequent SRT, directly after the SRT, and at 60- and 90-min post SRT. Plasma pH and plasma concentrations of tCO<sub>2,</sub> glucose, Ca<sup>++</sup>, and Na<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, Cl<sup>-</sup>, Lac<sup>-</sup> (for SID calculation) were measured in duplicate by blood gas analyzer and serum insulin by radioimmunoassay. Data were analyzed by two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. For plasma pH, Na<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, Cl<sup>-</sup>, Lac<sup>-</sup>, SID, insulin and glucose, no effects of treatment or treatment by sampling-timepoint interaction were found (p>0.05). Plasma tCO<sub>2</sub>, Ca<sup>++</sup>, pH, Na<sup>+</sup>, SID, and glucose concentrations were significantly lower, and Lac<sup>-</sup> was significantly higher, directly after the SRT compared to all other timepoints (p<0.05). Plasma tCO2, HCO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> and Ca<sup>++</sup> were significantly higher in treated than in control horses at multiple sampling timepoints after treatment/control administration (p<0.05). Serum insulin concentration, measured only pre and 30 min post treatment/control administration, was unaffected by treatment. Calcium propionate is an alkalizing agent in horses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"143 ","pages":"Article 105212"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142558024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Camilo Hernández-Avilés , Luisa Ramírez-Agámez , Dickson D. Varner , Terje Raudsepp , Charles C. Love
{"title":"Spermatozoal acrosome dysfunction and its role in stallion subfertility","authors":"Camilo Hernández-Avilés , Luisa Ramírez-Agámez , Dickson D. Varner , Terje Raudsepp , Charles C. Love","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105213","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105213","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cases of stallion subfertility due to acrosome dysfunction have been recognized since the 1990s. While some of these were observed in stallions with reduced sperm motility and morphology, a more severe form has been reported in stallions with normal-to-excellent sperm quality parameters, which is also uniquely observed in individuals of the Thoroughbred registry. These stallions carry a susceptibility genotype (A/A-A A in the gene <em>FKBP6</em>, exon 5) for Impaired Acrosomal Exocytosis (IAE). Current clinical observations from our group have identified a few highly subfertile stallions from other breed registries that also display a lower ability to undergo acrosomal exocytosis (AE) but do not carry the A/A-A/A genotype. This document provides a concise review of the role of acrosome dysfunction as a cause of stallion subfertility, including methods to estimate acrosome function and clinical descriptions of IAE in TB and non-TB stallions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"143 ","pages":"Article 105213"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142552760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
P. Witt , E.K.L. Stas , L.C. Hardeman , E.R. van Proosdij , E.A.W.S. Weerts , R.A. Lloyd-Edwards , S. Veraa , L.C. Kranenburg , R. van den Boom
{"title":"Pneumocephalus due to temporohyoid osteoarthropathy in a 16-year-old Friesian mare","authors":"P. Witt , E.K.L. Stas , L.C. Hardeman , E.R. van Proosdij , E.A.W.S. Weerts , R.A. Lloyd-Edwards , S. Veraa , L.C. Kranenburg , R. van den Boom","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105210","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105210","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A sixteen-year-old Friesian mare was admitted to the university clinic with the following clinical signs: anorexia, weight loss, fever, bilateral nasal discharge, unilateral facial paralysis and a non-healing corneal lesion. Endoscopic examination of the upper airways showed thickening of the proximal portion of the right stylohyoid bone. Computed tomography imaging showed pneumocephalus due to grade 3 unilateral temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) with fracture of the petrous temporal bone. The horse did not improve following medical treatment. Surgical intervention was declined by the owner and the horse was euthanized due to poor prognosis. Post-mortem examination confirmed the clinical diagnosis. The prevalence of temporal bone fractures is high in horses with severe THO. However, fracture extension into the cranial vault and pneumocephalus has not been described. This is the first reported case of pneumocephalus due to a fracture of the petrous temporal bone in a horse with THO.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"143 ","pages":"Article 105210"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142568764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S.J. Hobbs , A. Tatlisulu , A. Johnson , S.D. Rowlands , M. Lucey , J.H. Martin , R.W. Graydon , A.J. Northrop
{"title":"Unravelling the speed-going relationship: A proof of concept study from British turf flat and jump race meetings","authors":"S.J. Hobbs , A. Tatlisulu , A. Johnson , S.D. Rowlands , M. Lucey , J.H. Martin , R.W. Graydon , A.J. Northrop","doi":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105211","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105211","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The maximum galloping speeds of racehorses during a race are influenced by the functional performance of the ground (‘going’) amongst other factors. For turf racecourses in Britain, the ground is descriptively classified and numerically quantified on the morning of a race meeting by the clerk of the course and subsequently published to assist decision making. Importantly, this includes deciding whether a horse should or should not run. The going is also assessed and classified during the meeting by racing analysts using the normalized winning times from each race result. Differences between going assessments are regularly reported, therefore this study aimed to evaluate whether an alternative method of measuring going could better predict going measured from performances. Measurement and performance data from 25 flat and 25 jump meetings were compared using linear and nonlinear regression models. A continuous two-phase polynomial model for cushioning was found to be the best predictor of performance going for all 50 meetings (adjusted <em>r<sup>2</sup></em>=0.819, <em>P</em><0.001). As cushioning can provide a going related indicator of the forces that the horse will experience at gallop, this measurement may be useful when evaluating racecourse going. This initial model suggests that there is little performance advantage at maximal galloping speeds above a cushioning value of approximately10 kN, possibly due to changes in limb contact timings to manage limb forces limits as the ground becomes firmer. An expansion of objective measurements of going that relate to performance across a wider geographic region, if not internationally are needed to confirm this limit.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15798,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Veterinary Science","volume":"143 ","pages":"Article 105211"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142501720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}