Journal of Equine Veterinary Science最新文献

Background: Horses experience rapid physiological, inflammatory, and oxidative responses during exercise. Spirulina, a nutrient-dense microalga with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may help modulate these responses and support recovery.

Objectives: This study evaluated the effects of 30-day dietary Spirulina supplementation on physiological, inflammatory, and oxidative stress responses to moderate-intensity exercise in sedentary horses. We hypothesized that 30-day Spirulina supplementation would modulate hematologic and inflammatory responses and support recovery from moderate-intensity exercise in sedentary horses.

Methods: Sixteen healthy, sedentary horses (11.4 ± 1.5 years; 528 ± 16 kg) were randomly assigned to Spirulina (SP, 30 g/d; n = 8) or control (C; n = 8) for 30 days. All horses completed a 30-min standardized treadmill exercise test (SET) on day 0 (pre-supplementation) and day 30 (post-supplementation). Jugular blood was collected at baseline, and 10 min, 1 h, 8 h, and 24 h post-SET; synovial fluid was collected from the intercarpal joint at baseline, and 8 h, 24 h, and 120 h post-SET. Samples were analyzed for CBC, biochemistry, nitric oxide (NO), resolvin D1 (RvD1), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glycosaminoglycans (GAG), and chondroitin sulfate epitope 846 (CS846). Two-way ANOVA assessed treatment × time within each day, and day × time within each treatment.

Results: On day 0, groups did not differ. On day 30, SP horses had higher RBC and hemoglobin (p = 0.02, 0.03) and a greater neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (p = 0.03). Plasma RvD1 was increased in SP horses at 10 min, 1 h, and 8 h post-SET (p ≤ 0.04) and in synovial fluid at 8-120 h (p ≤ 0.03). Plasma NO was lower in SP at 1 h (p = 0.01), whereas synovial fluid NO was higher at 24 h (p = 0.04). No effects were observed for SOD, GSH-Px, CS846, or GAG.

Conclusions: Spirulina supplementation was associated with modest changes in selected hematologic and inflammatory markers, particularly RvD1 and NO, but did not influence antioxidant enzymes or cartilage biomarkers. These findings indicate limited effects under moderate exercise conditions in sedentary horses.

This study reports the successful use of maggot therapy in four horses with traumatic wounds caused by wire fences, treated in veterinary clinics and under field conditions in southern Brazil. All lesions showed tissue necrosis, purulent discharge, and foul odor, indicating infection and delayed healing. Sterile Lucilia cuprina larvae (L1 stage) were applied directly to the wounds for 48 hours. Rapid improvement was observed, with marked reduction of necrotic tissue, exudate, and odor, and stimulation of granulation tissue in three cases. Complete wound closure occurred between 10 and 60 days without adverse effects. These findings demonstrate that maggot therapy is a safe, effective, and low-cost adjunctive treatment for complex equine wounds, promoting debridement, infection control, and tissue regeneration.

Background: Traumatic wounds caused by wire fences are common in horses and often difficult to manage due to infection, necrosis, and delayed healing. Maggot therapy has re-emerged as a viable option for selective debridement and tissue regeneration.

Aims/objectives: This study aimed to describe the clinical outcomes of maggot therapy using Lucilia cuprina larvae in horses with traumatic wounds caused by wire fences.

Methods: Four horses (three mares and one gelding, aged 4-6 years) with traumatic limb wounds caused by wire fences were treated with approximately 1,000 sterile L. cuprina larvae (L1 stage) applied directly to the lesions for 48 hours. Cases were managed in veterinary clinics or field conditions in southern Brazil. Wound evolution was assessed by reduction of necrotic tissue, exudate, odor, and stimulation of granulation tissue.

Results: Maggot therapy resulted in complete removal of necrotic tissue and elimination of purulent exudate and odor in all horses. Granulation tissue developed within 48 hours in three cases, and complete wound closure occurred between 10 and 60 days after therapy. No adverse effects or damage to adjacent structures were observed.

Conclusion: Maggot therapy using sterile L. cuprina larvae proved effective and safe for treating wire fences wounds in horses, promoting rapid debridement, infection control, and granulation tissue formation, supporting its value as an adjunctive therapy in equine wound management.

Equestrian sport's social license to operate has come under scrutiny due to concerns surrounding the well-being of ridden horses. Inappropriate equipment use, such as harsh bits or overtight nosebands, can negatively influence well-being by generating inescapable pressure or pain on the sensitive structures of the horse's head and limiting natural behaviours. Restrictive equipment may also be used to generate exaggerated, stressful and uncomfortable head and neck positions such as hyperflexion. Saddles must be properly fitted to both horse and rider to ensure appropriate distribution of kinematic forces across the horse's back and promote the horse's comfort. The rider's balance, body control, ability to cue the horse, decision-making capabilities and understanding of equine behaviour can also influence the horse's experience under saddle. Physical health conditions such as ulcers or unidentified lameness can cause pain, stress and mechanical damage if left untreated, which may be further exacerbated by riding. The ridden horse's well-being is a multifactorial and complex equation. However, riders must seek to understand these nuanced aspects of well-being, and act on the precautionary principle (stating that a practice should not be assumed harmless until it is proven to be so) if there is not yet enough evidence on a subject to draw firm conclusions. Such directives will safeguard the welfare of ridden horses and the social license to operate for equestrian sports.

Thoracolumbar congenital abnormalities are considered rare in mature, performing horses. This case report describes a 14-year-old Welsh pony presented with marked epaxial muscle atrophy, mid-thoracic spinal pain, and stiffness, most pronounced during canter. The thoracic spine exhibited scoliosis, centered at T9-T10, and kyphosis. Radiography and postmortem computed tomography revealed complex congenital malformations of the thoracic vertebral column, including abnormal morphology of the T10-T12 vertebral bodies, partial vertebral fusion, a malformed spinous process, a malformed rib with associated costovertebral and costotransverse joints, and degenerative changes affecting multiple costovertebral and costotransverse joints. Given the combination of persistent ridden behavioral manifestations, safety concerns for a young rider, financial limitations, and the extent of the anatomical abnormalities, euthanasia was elected by the owner. This report highlights the importance of considering congenital thoracic vertebral anomalies as a potential contributor to chronic thoracolumbar pain in adult horses, even in the absence of neurological deficits.

Background: Immunoglobulins ingested via colostrum must remain intact to be absorbed by the neonate. Equine colostrum contains antitrypsin activity, which likely protects these proteins from proteolysis in the gastrointestinal tract.

Aims/objectives: To quantify antitrypsin activity in equine colostrum and milk, describe its temporal changes during the first five days after parturition, compare actitvity between left and right mammary glands, evaluate differences between nulliparous and pluriparous mares, and examine associations with immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations and mare age.

Methods: This retrospective study included 67 mares after 73 parturitions, yielding 145 colostrum samples and 207 milk samples. Samples were obtained from both mammary glands when available. Antitrypsin activity was measured using a colorimetric trypsin inhibition assay, and IgG concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results are reported as median and range.

Results: Median antitrypsin activity in colostrum was higher in nulliparous mares (1.09, range 0.65) than in pluriparous mares (0.78, range 0.72). Activity declined over five days postpartum (median 0.49, range 0.81). No differences were observed between left and right mammary glands. Colostral antitrypsin activity correlated strongly with IgG concentration (rs = 0.77), whereas no correlation was detected in milk (rs = -0.04). Mare age was not associated with colostral antitrypsin activity (rs = -0.09).

Conclusion: Antitrypsin activity in equine colostrum is highest immediately postpartum, particularly in nulliparous mares, and is closely associated with IgG concentrations. These results suggest that antitrypsin activity contributes to the protection of IgG during intestinal absorption and should be considered when assessing colostrum quality for neonatal care.

Translational regenerative medicine, integrating human and veterinary approaches within the "One Health" framework, increasingly uses horses as models for human musculoskeletal conditions due to shared anatomical and functional features. Osteoarthritis and tendon disorders affect both species, often resulting from high-impact or repetitive strain activities. Regenerative medicine offers therapeutic opportunities by promoting tissue repair and modulating inflammation. Cellular orthobiologics such as mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) show promise for treating osteoarthritis and tendon injuries in humans and horses, while non-cellular orthobiologics-including platelet-rich plasma, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein, and alpha-2 macroglobulin-provide growth factors and anti-inflammatory molecules that support tissue regeneration. However, challenges remain, including variable product manufacture, inconsistent MSC isolation and characterization protocols (particularly in equine applications), and regulatory or public scepticism toward these therapies. Standardized production methods and improved clinical integration are needed. Combinatory use of cellular and non-cellular orthobiologics offers strong translational potential to improve musculoskeletal repair across species.