Journal of Equine Science最新文献

{"title":"Isolation and molecular identification of <i>Lactobacillaceae</i> bacteria and <i>Bifidobacterium</i> from horse feces.","authors":"Riko Fujimoto, Momoka Kuchida, Tomomi Ban-Tokuda, Hiroki Matsui","doi":"10.1294/jes.36.39","DOIUrl":"10.1294/jes.36.39","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The equine large intestine harbors a diverse array of symbiotic microorganisms. Disruptions in the gut microbiota can lead to various diseases in horses. Probiotics offer promising avenues for enhancing equine health and performance. However, commercial formulations lack robust scientific validation. This study aimed to isolate and identify Lactobacillaceae and Bifidobacterium spp. from horse feces to explore their potential as probiotics. Fecal samples from Thoroughbred horses were subjected to isolation procedures. Lactic acid-producing bacteria were isolated using specific media and identified. The results revealed the isolation of Lactobacillaceae strains, including Limosilactobacillus equigenerosi, Ligilactobacillus equi, Ligilactobacillus agilis, and a Bifidobacterium sp., Bifidobacterium pseudolongum. These findings contribute to the understanding of equine gut microbiota and offer insights into potential probiotic candidates.</p>","PeriodicalId":35701,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Science","volume":"36 1","pages":"39-43"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11919548/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143671107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Differences in serum iron concentrations between the summer and winter in Noma horses.","authors":"Keiichi Hisaeda, Tetsushi Ono, Takako Shimokawa-Miyama, Akihisa Hata, Eri Iwata, Yasuharu Hiasa, Emi Ohzawa, Teruaki Tozaki, Harutaka Murase, Masaki Takasu, Naohito Nishii, Hitoshi Kitagawa","doi":"10.1294/jes.36.1","DOIUrl":"10.1294/jes.36.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We examined the differences in serum iron (Fe) concentrations and related variables between summer and winter in Noma horses. Blood samples were collected from 37 clinically normal horses seven consecutive times: September 2018, February 2019, October 2019, February 2020, September 2020, February 2021, and February 2022. Serum Fe concentrations ranged from 74 μg/dl to 316 μg/dl with a median of 176 μg/dl. The concentrations were lower in stallions compared with mares and geldings, tended to be low at 10-14 years of age, and then increased with age. Serum Fe concentrations were repeatedly low in summer and high in winter. Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), Fe-saturation rate, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), MCV, MCH, albumin, cholesterol, sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), and calcium (Ca) were lower in summer than in winter. However, creatinine, total protein, inorganic phosphorus, and Mg were higher in summer. The unsaturated iron-binding capacity, RBC count, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glucose, and AST levels were not significantly different. Serum Fe concentrations were positively correlated with Hb, TIBC, Fe saturation rate, Ht, MCV, MCH, creatinine, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, AST, Na, Cl, and Ca, but negatively correlated with BUN and K. In Noma horses, serum Fe concentrations might be higher than the reference values for horses and consistently decrease in summer in parallel with Hb and MCV. The lowering of the serum Fe concentrations in summer may be due to a combination of the effects of Fe loss from sweating, dermatitis, insect bites, dietary composition, and/or unknown factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":35701,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Science","volume":"36 1","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11919544/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143671301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Misconceptions and misuse: assessing horse caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding dexamethasone use in Ibadan, Nigeria.","authors":"Tolulope Ademola Olakojo, Olumide Odunayo Akinniyi, Emmanuel Oluwaseun Dansu, Abayomi Onaolapo Adeoye, Osereime Adah, Onyeka Chidiebele Nwufoh, Bisi Olajumoke Adeoye, Olayinka Ayotunde Oridupa, Adebowale Bernard Saba","doi":"10.1294/jes.36.103","DOIUrl":"10.1294/jes.36.103","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dexamethasone is a common drug used in equine medicine, but when administered inappropriately, it can lead to serious health complications. There is a dearth of data on horse caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding dexamethasone use in Nigeria. Understanding current dexamethasone usage patterns is necessary for developing educational interventions which will then improve equine welfare. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of horse caregivers regarding dexamethasone use in Ibadan, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst a total of 100 horse caregivers in Ibadan using a structured questionnaire. Face-to-face interviews were conducted so as to assess KAP regarding dexamethasone use. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were conducted with P≤0.05 considered significant. All respondents were male, and 66% of them were aged 20-39 years. Only 46% of them demonstrated satisfactory knowledge, with 76% of them wrongly identifying dexamethasone as a painkiller rather than a steroid (6%). Attitudes (caregivers' perceptions and willingness to follow veterinary guidance) and practices were satisfactory in 54% of respondents. Facility type significantly influenced attitudes (P=0.036), with commercial stable workers showing poorer attitudes (80% unsatisfactory). Age significantly affected practices (P=0.014), with teenagers demonstrating the worst practices (100% unsatisfactory). Frequency of veterinary consultation significantly affected both attitudes (P=0.025) and practices (P=0.007), with daily interaction showing the best outcomes. Knowledge gaps as well as inappropriate practices regarding dexamethasone use exist among horse caregivers in Ibadan, particularly concerning its classification, mechanism of action, and side effects. We recommend the implementation of educational programmes and encouragement of regular veterinary consultation amongst caregivers.</p>","PeriodicalId":35701,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Science","volume":"36 3","pages":"103-113"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12445995/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145114415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlation of hindgut microbiome and fermentation properties with a history of gas and/or impaction colic in Japanese draft horses.","authors":"Rintaro Yano, Tomoe Moriyama, Hisao Arai, Andrew J Scheftgen, Garret Suen, Takehiro Nishida, Masaaki Handa, Naoki Fukuma","doi":"10.1294/jes.36.93","DOIUrl":"10.1294/jes.36.93","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Colic, a major gastrointestinal disease in horses, has a high recurrence rate and can lead to surgery or fatal outcomes, highlighting the need for effective prevention measures. Disruption of the microbiome is a multifaceted problem and can occur from a variety of factors, such as high-concentrate diets, which can then potentially cause colic. However, individual variation in the incidence of colic can occur when under identical management practices. The aim of this study was to characterize the fecal bacterial composition of Japanese draft horses with and without a history of colic in the past two years under identical feeding conditions to determine if specific bacterial taxa are associated with either phenotype. A fecal bacterial community analysis was performed via sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The fecal lactate concentration was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Our results show a significant decrease in microbial evenness in horses with a history of colic along with an increase in <i>Streptococcus</i>. The fecal lactate concentration was higher in the colic group compared with the non-colic group, which may be attributed to the higher abundance of <i>Streptococcus</i>. Horses without a history of colic were characterized by amplicon sequence variants belonging to bacteria associated with fiber degradation, including Rikenellaceae RC9, Kiritimatiellae, and Clostridium. Overall, our results align with previous studies on equine colic epidemiology and suggest that the bacterial microbiome composition, independent of diet, may be related to the recurrence of colic.</p>","PeriodicalId":35701,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Science","volume":"36 3","pages":"93-102"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12445996/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145114370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tibetan wild ass, <i>Equus kiang,</i> in the literature: a comprehensive review.","authors":"Mumtaz Ali","doi":"10.1294/jes.36.115","DOIUrl":"10.1294/jes.36.115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Tibetan wild ass (<i>Equus kiang</i>) is primarily located on the Tibetan Plateau and in the Ladakh region of India. This species is recognised as the only odd-toed ungulate within the order Perissodactyla, family Equidae, and genus <i>Equus</i>. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), <i>E. kiang</i> is classified as a species of Least Concern; however, the subspecies <i>Equus k. kiang</i>, which inhabits the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary in Ladakh, is categorised as Data Deficient by the IUCN. To rigorously assess the validity of the Data Deficient classification of <i>E. k. kiang</i>, a comprehensive literature review was undertaken utilising search terms including \"<i>E. kiang</i>\", \"Asiatic Wild Ass\", \"Tibetan Wild Ass\", and \"kiang\" on platforms such as PubMed (NCBI) and Google Scholar. The results consistently demonstrated that the majority of the literature concentrates on the ecological and behavioural attributes of the kiang, while there is limited focus on genetic factors. Most genetic studies have prioritised the estimation of genetic diversity and the execution of phylogenetic analyses; however, none have sufficiently investigated the population structure. Notably, there is a significant paucity of research on the whole-genome sequencing of <i>E. kiang</i>, and to date, no nucleotide sequences from India have been submitted to GenBank. Consequently, it can be inferred that while <i>E. kiang</i> is designated as a species of Least Concern, its subspecies, <i>E. k. kiang</i>, remains Data Deficient. It is strongly recommended that future research employ molecular markers such as mitochondrial DNA D-loop markers, microsatellite (MSAT) markers, and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers to evaluate the population structure of this resilient equid.</p>","PeriodicalId":35701,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Science","volume":"36 4","pages":"115-127"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12705304/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145775984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preoperative computed tomography imaging for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning in equine cranial disorders: two case reports of congenital malformations.","authors":"Takashi Yamaga, Masaaki Tagami, Akiko Takeyama, Fumiki Kato, Tsukasa Suzuki, Masayuki Tagami, Nao Tsuzuki","doi":"10.1294/jes.36.33","DOIUrl":"10.1294/jes.36.33","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Computed tomography (CT) offers high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging, making it particularly valuable for assessing complex structures, such as the head, especially when conventional radiography and endoscopy are insufficient for a definitive diagnosis. Herein, we present two cases of equine cranial disorders resulting from congenital malformations. In case 1, which had a dentigerous cyst, CT images confirmed the location of the ectopic tooth within the skull and a detailed fistula tube. In case 2, which had temporohyoid osteoarthropathy, CT examination revealed that the stylohyoid bone was malformed, and the inner ear was presumed to be filled with soft tissue with calcification. The information obtained by CT was invaluable, as it allowed for accurate diagnosis and precise surgical planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":35701,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Science","volume":"36 1","pages":"33-37"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11919546/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143671109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First documented case of equine brucellosis in Libya: a case report.","authors":"Murad Ali Hiblu, Mohamed Omar Ahmed","doi":"10.1294/jes.36.129","DOIUrl":"10.1294/jes.36.129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This case report documents the first identified Brucella infection in a 6-year-old male Thoroughbred horse in Libya. The horse exhibited muscle and joint pain, inflammation over the shoulders with a pulpy texture (fistulous withers), stress, fatigue, and potential systemic infection. Its diagnosis was confirmed through serological testing, with agglutination titers of 1/80 for B. melitensis and 1/160 for B. abortus, and a blood culture revealing Gram-negative coccobacilli. After 3 weeks of combination therapy with rifampicin and doxycycline, the inflammation resolved, systemic signs disappeared, the horse's health improved significantly, with restored appetite and reduced levels of stress and fatigue. This novel finding underscores the potential spread of brucellosis across animal species, highlighting brucellosis' spread across animal species and its public health risks. It emphasizes the urgent need for a \"One Health\" approach, vaccination programs, enhanced diagnostic infrastructure, and international collaboration.</p>","PeriodicalId":35701,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Science","volume":"36 4","pages":"129-132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12705303/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145775872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rising trends of inbreeding in Japanese Thoroughbred horses.","authors":"Momoko Watanabe, Fumio Sato, Hideki Innan","doi":"10.1294/jes.35.57","DOIUrl":"10.1294/jes.35.57","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We investigated the changes in inbreeding levels in Japanese Thoroughbred horses over the past 46 years. Our results show a significant increase in inbreeding over the past 30 years, primarily due to the influence of two sires, Northern Dancer and Sunday Silence. Northern Dancer's bloodline spread gradually through descendants like Northern Taste, leading to a slower increase in the inbreeding coefficient. In contrast, Sunday Silence was directly imported and became a leading sire, causing a rapid increase in his blood proportion and inbreeding coefficient. Our findings suggest that monitoring the trajectories of successful sires and considering historical factors can help predict and control potential inbreeding depression in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":35701,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Science","volume":"35 4","pages":"57-61"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11634535/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142819436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of horse behavior using an activity monitoring device used for cats and dogs.","authors":"Tatsuya Matsubara, Ryota Fukatsu, Makoto Yamamoto, Minami Moriya, Kazuki Hano, Kotono Nakamura, Yasunori Ohba, Masaki Takasu","doi":"10.1294/jes.35.47","DOIUrl":"10.1294/jes.35.47","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Including Internet of Things (IoT) technology in horse-rearing management can potentially mitigate problems such as human resource shortages and time limitations in performing daily behavior monitoring. In this study, a small and inexpensive activity meter used to monitor dogs and cats (PLUS CYCLE^®, JARMeC, Kanagawa, Japan) was used to monitor the daily behavior of horses. A study was performed to examine the suitability of the PLUS CYCLE^® device for monitoring horses and to determine whether it could estimate horse behavior. The device was equipped with an accelerometer and was used to monitor Kiso horses in horse stalls and pastures after installing the devices at specific locations on headcollars and girths. The amount of activity from the accelerometer showed differences among the horses' behavioral types (lying, standing, walking, and feeding) in the stall, suggesting that it functions in horses. In the pasture, the amount of activity was correlated with GPS movement speed. Then, we tried to establish restricted cubic spline regression models to predict the locomotion speed in the pasture based on the amount of activity, but the prediction accuracy was low. This study showed that PLUS CYCLE^® can be used to monitor horse activity amount during the daily management of individual horses. However, to achieve higher precision in monitoring detailed behaviors, additional investigation and data pertaining to the amount of activity for each horse during rearing in different environments are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":35701,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Science","volume":"35 4","pages":"47-55"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11634534/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142819431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"DNA barcoding of <i>Anoplocephala perfoliata</i> derived from a draft horse (Ban'ei horse) in Hokkaido, Japan.","authors":"Mizuki Sasaki, Natsuko Fukumoto, Shinya Fukumoto","doi":"10.1294/jes.35.43","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.35.43","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A two-year-old male Japanese draft horse (known as a \"Ban'ei horse\") excreted eight cestodes. Based on their morphological features, they were identified as Anoplocephala perfoliata. The partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) sequences of the worms were nearly identical to A. perfoliata isolated from horses in Europe. The results of phylogenetic analyses of COI revealed that our samples and the European isolates formed the same clade, which was separate from Chinese and Australian isolates. Ban'ei horses were developed by crossbreeding draft horses imported from European countries in the 1900s. Our results suggest that A. perfoliata was transported to Hokkaido with horses from Europe. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. perfoliata infection in a Japanese draft horse.</p>","PeriodicalId":35701,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Science","volume":"35 3","pages":"43-46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11473121/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142476551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}