Investigation of a contributing factor for cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy using computed tomography for measuring the cervical vertebral volume.

Thoroughbred horses appear to be particularly predisposed to cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), also known as wobbler syndrome. We hypothesized that variations in the cervical vertebral volumes can affect the dynamic instability of the cervical vertebrae. This observational study aimed to clarify whether cervical vertebral volume could be considered as a contributing factor in CVSM in Thoroughbred horses.

Distribution of equine coronavirus RNA in the intestinal and respiratory tracts of experimentally infected horses.

Equine coronavirus (ECoV) causes pyrexia, anorexia, lethargy, and sometimes diarrhoea. Infected horses excrete the virus in their faeces, and ECoV is also detected in nasal samples from febrile horses. However, details about ECoV infection sites in the intestinal and respiratory tracts are lacking.

Simultaneous Daily Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Fails to Prevent Metronidazole-Induced Dysbiosis of Equine Gut Microbiota.

Antimicrobial administration can lead to imbalances of gastrointestinal microbiota, called dysbiosis. Dysbiosis sometimes results in diarrhea and enteritis in horses. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is used to treat affected horses, but whether it is effective as a prophylactic approach for dysbiosis in horses receiving antimicrobials remains unknown.

Effect of restraint inside the transport vehicle on heart rate and heart rate variability in Thoroughbred horses.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of transportation and restraint in a van on heart rate (HR) and HR variability in Thoroughbreds. Eight healthy Thoroughbreds were exposed to four conditions, each for a duration of 30 min: stall rest (REST), restraint inside a van (VAN), restraint inside a van with the engine running (V + E), and road transportation (TRANS). Electrocardiograms were recorded to determine HR, low-frequency (LF) power, high-frequency (HF) power, and LF/HF ratio.

Comparison of Heel Movement Between two Different Glue-on Type Shoes and Nailed Shoes in Thoroughbreds.

Gluing an aluminum shoe onto equine hooves has been known to restrict heel movement and might cause interference with shock absorption and blood flow to the hoof. To investigate the effects of new glue-on type shoes on heel movement, 2 experiments that compared forelimb heel movement between conventional nailed shoes and flexible polyurethane glue-on shoes or Hanton-type shoes, which had 2 side clips for adhesive, were conducted on separate days. A displacement sensor was fixed on the heel to measure the forelimb's mediolateral heel movement.

Incidence of carpal fractures and risk factors for recurrent fractures after arthroscopic removal of carpal chip fracture fragments in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Background: We aimed to investigate the recent incidence of carpal fractures and the risk factors for recurrent ipsilateral fractures after arthroscopic removal of clinically active unilateral carpal chip fracture fragments in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Methods: The findings for horses managed under the Japan Racing Association that developed carpal bone fractures between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The proportion of cases that developed a recurrent carpal fracture in the originally affected joint was calculated, and the risk factors for recurrent fractures were analysed.

Characteristic computed tomographic myelography findings in 23 Thoroughbred horses.

The purpose of this observational study was to determine the characteristic computed tomographic (CT) myelography findings of cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM) lesions in Thoroughbred horses. A total of 23 Thoroughbred horses (age range, 155-717 days on CT examination; mean, 410.9 days) were analyzed.

Identification of potential biomarkers in urine and plasma after consumption of tobacco product in horses.

The use of nicotine stimulants in horses is generally banned in horse racing and equestrian sports-accidental consumption of tobacco products is one of the possible causes of nicotine exposure in horses. The authors recently reported a comprehensive metabolic study of nicotine in equines, differentiating between nicotine exposure and sample contamination by means of a nicotine biomarker trans-3'-hydroxycotinine. To identify potential biomarkers for the differentiation of genuine nicotine administration and consumption of tobacco products, tobacco leaves (equivalent to 250 mg of nicotine) were nasoesophageally administered to three thoroughbred mares.

An objective index for spinal cord compression on computed tomography in Thoroughbred horses.

Background: Computed tomographic myelography can be a useful tool for evaluating vertebral canal stenosis. However, an index of spinal cord compression is yet to be established.

Objectives: This observational descriptive study aimed to establish an index for spinal cord compression using computed tomography (CT).

Platelet Lysate Enhances Equine Skeletal Muscle Regeneration in A Bupivacaine-Induced Muscle Injury Model.

This study aimed to verify the effects of platelet lysate (PL) administration on the repair of injured horse tissue. Skeletal muscle injuries were induced in 26 Thoroughbreds by bupivacaine administration. PL or saline was administered 1 day (1D) after injury.

Comprehensive metabolic study of nicotine in equine plasma and urine using liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry for the identification of unique biomarkers for doping control.

Nicotine is classified as a stimulant, and its use is banned in horse racing and equestrian sports by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities and the Fédération Équestre Internationale, respectively. Because nicotine is a major alkaloid of tobacco leaves, there is a potential risk that doping control samples may be contaminated by tobacco cigarettes or smoke during sample collection. In order to differentiate the genuine doping and sample contamination with tobacco leaves, it is necessary to monitor unique metabolites as biomarkers for nicotine administration and intake.

Equine nonneoplastic abnormal ovary in a draft mare with high serum anti-Müllerian hormone: a case study.

We performed a standing hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariectomy in a draft mare that presented with high serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level and had an enlarged single cystic ovary. Histopathological examination revealed no tumor cell proliferation in the ovary, but the presence of a large ovarian cyst was confirmed. In the diagnosis of abnormal ovaries in mares, a comprehensive assessment should be performed, including the monitoring of ovarian morphology and biomarkers over time, to determine the disease prognosis and treatment plan.

A comprehensive and comparative proteomic analysis of horse serum proteins in colitis.

Background: Equine colitis is a diarrhoeal disease caused by inflammation of the large bowel and can potentially be life-threatening due to its rapid progression. Pathogenesis is multifactorial and pathophysiology is highly complicated, therefore, reliable diagnostic biomarkers are needed in the veterinary field.

Objective: Serum is one of the most commonly used diagnostic tools in equine clinical investigation.

Antibody Responses to a Reverse Genetics-Derived Bivalent Inactivated Equine Influenza Vaccine in Thoroughbred Horses.

Updating vaccine strains is important to control equine influenza (EI). Previously, we reported that a monovalent inactivated EI vaccine derived from a virus generated by reverse genetics (RG) elicited immunogenicity in horses. In the present study, we compared antibody responses to a bivalent inactivated EI vaccine generated by RG and a commercially available bivalent inactivated EI (CO) vaccine derived from wild-type equine influenza viruses in Thoroughbred horses.

Moderate-intensity training in hypoxia improves exercise performance and glycolytic capacity of skeletal muscle in horses.

We investigated whether moderate-intensity training of horses in moderate hypoxia for 4 weeks elicits greater adaptations in exercise performance, aerobic capacity, and glycolytic/oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle compared to normoxic training. In a randomized crossover study design, seven untrained Thoroughbred horses (5.9 ± 1.

Risk factors for jockey falls in Japanese Thoroughbred jump racing.

Jockey safety is an important subject from a welfare perspective and public perception. This is the first retrospective case-control study that aims to identify risk factors associated with jockey falls (JF) in Thoroughbred jump races held by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). JF in 17,459 maiden-class race starts at eight racecourses from 2003 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed.

High prevalence of Mycoplasma equirhinis in Thoroughbred horses with respiratory symptoms in autumn 2018.

Mycoplasma species are often isolated from horses with respiratory symptoms; however, the pathogenicity of Mycoplasma is still unclear. In autumn of 2018, we encountered an increase in cases with respiratory symptoms, mainly coughing, in a group of Thoroughbred racehorses in Japan. We examined tracheal wash samples obtained from 40 of those cases.

Medication control of flunixin in racing horses: Possible detection times using Monte Carlo simulations.

Background: For medication control in several jurisdictions, withdrawal time is the period of refrain from racing after drug administration. It is set by adding a safety period to an experimental detection time. However, there are no reports of statistical analyses of detection time for the determination of withdrawal time in flunixin meglumine-treated horses.

Risk Factors for Jockey Falls in Japanese Thoroughbred Flat Racing.

Jockey safety is of paramount importance from welfare perspective and public perception. This retrospective case-control study aims to identify risk factors associated with jockey falls (JF) in flat races of Japan Racing Association (JRA). JF in 715,210 race starts by 74,328 horses at 10 racecourses from 2003 to 2017 were reviewed.

Development of ELISA based on Bacillus anthracis capsule biosynthesis protein CapA for naturally acquired antibodies against anthrax.

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by the gram-positive spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Detecting naturally acquired antibodies against anthrax sublethal exposure in animals is essential for anthrax surveillance and effective control measures. Serological assays based on protective antigen (PA) of B.

Persistence of virus-neutralizing antibodies in horses inoculated with two doses of a live equine herpesvirus type 1 vaccine with different vaccination intervals.

The antibody response in horses inoculated with 2 doses of a live equine herpesvirus type 1 vaccine with different vaccination intervals (1 to 3 months) was evaluated with regard to the persistence of virus-neutralizing (VN) antibodies. The durations for which the geometric mean VN titers were maintained significantly higher than those before the first vaccination (P<0.05) were up to 5 months in horses that received the vaccination with a 1-month interval (n=17) and 7 months for those that received it with a 2-month (n=17) or 3-month interval (n=14 or 17).