In horses, allergies have been characterized by clinical signs and/or intradermal (i.d.) allergen testing. Our aim was to find the first direct evidence that immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediates equine allergy. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that immediate skin reactions in horses can also be mediated by IgG. Anti-IgE affinity columns were used to purify IgE from serum of one healthy horse an...

To evaluate the functional status of neuronal α2-adrenoceptors (ARs) and β2-ARs on ACh release in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), we examined the effects of the physiological agonists epinephrine (Epi) and norepinephrine (NE) and the β2-agonists RR- and RR/ SS-formoterol on ACh release from airway cholinergic nerves of horses with RAO. Because SS-formoterol, a distomer of the β2...

Background: Determination of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentration is a commonly used test in the evaluation of endocrine causes of equine laminitis, but the concentration in healthy horses can be high at certain times of year, which alters the specificity of the ACTH test. Objective: To determine if circulating concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, glucose, insulin, and thyroxine vary m...

Despite their ability to interbreed and produce fertile offspring, there is continued disagreement about the genetic relationship of the domestic horse (Equus caballus) to its endangered wild relative, Przewalski's horse (Equus przewalskii). Analyses have differed as to whether or not Przewalski's horse is placed phylogenetically as a separate sister group to domestic horses. Because Przewalski...

A survival analysis was used to compare the culling rate of Icelandic horses due to the presence of radiographic and clinical signs of bone spavin. A follow-up study of 508 horses from a survey five years earlier was performed. In the original survey 46% of the horses had radiographic signs of bone spavin (RS) and/or lameness after flexion test of the tarsus. The horse owners were interviewed b...

Despite a vast amount of literature about horse training, there is little scientifically verified knowledge about learning behavior in horses. See Murphy and Arkins () for a review of research about learning behavior in horses. In particular, there is little research about horses’ abilities of concept formation and relational learning. However, some researchers have found evidence for learn...

Energy is an essential nutrient for all horses, and it is especially important in performance horses, pregnant and lactating mares, and young growing horses. A negative energy balance in horses such as these may result in unsatisfactory performance, decreased fertility, or slow growth. Therefore, ensuring adequate energy intake is an important aspect of the nutritional management of the equine....

Hyperimmunization of horses with specific antigens to harvest antisera is associated with high incidence of liver amyloidosis. The histopathologic examination is the gold standard method for diagnosis of the hepatic amyloidosis. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the clinical manifestations and serum values of appropriate chemical constituents due to liver injury, provide the...

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is a febrile zoonotic infectionand has worldwide distribution among humans as well asanimals. Although the seroprevalence of brucellosis in variousanimals has been described in Iran, there is only one report onequine brucellosis in the region. OBJECTIVES: This study wascarried out to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis inracing clubs and private horse owners in t...

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the seroprevalence of Streptococcus equi in Israel, to monitor seropositive horses over time and to identify archived strains that were recovered from Israeli horses. A serological survey of 200 healthy horses on 20 farms throughout Israel was performed to detect recent exposure to S equi antigens A and C via indirect ELISA. Seroprevale...