No description available.

No description available.

Master of Science / Department of Clinical Sciences / Warren L. Beard / Objectives: To quantify sub-bandage pressures associated with various bandage constructs applied to the abdomen, distal limb, carpus, and tarsus. To assess the effect of time and /or post-bandaging manipulations on sub-bandage pressures. Study design: Randomized clinical trial Methods: Each bandage’s sub-bandage pressures were measured with the Picopress® compression measuring system at various time points determined by the study protocol. Nine horses were randomly assigned to a treatment regimen consisting of placement of three abdominal bandage types. Bandages were maintained for 24 hours. 8 horses had two types of distal limb bandages (DLC and DLP) applied and maintained for 24 hours. 8 horses had a DLC bandage applied for 96 hours. 8 horses had both carpal and tarsal bandages applied and pressures monitored after application and post walking. A generalized linear model evaluating associations of pressure with location of the sensor, bandage type, time of measurement, and the potential interaction between all variables was performed (P< 0.05). Results: For abdominal bandages, no time and treatment interactions were observed, and bandage pressures were maintained within each treatment group over the 24 hour period. For distal limb bandages, bandage type, sensor location, and time had a significant effect on sub-bandage pressures. For joint bandages, bandage type, sensor location, and post-bandaging manipulations had significant effects on sub-bandage pressures associated with compression bandages. Ambulation did not have a significant effect sub-bandage pressures generated by the carpal elastic bandages. Conclusions: Abdominal sub-bandage pressures do not significantly decrease over a 24 hour period, but generate low sub-bandage pressures. In contrast, limb bandages apply high sub-bandage pressures, but these pressures degrade over the initial 24 hours.

by Sham Mai-har. / Bibliography: leaves 149-176 / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1983

A study was conducted to investigate if morphometric facial measurements could be utilized to differentiate five categorical performance types of Quarter Horses. The five categories being Western, Halter, English, Reining, and Cutting. The measurements were collected from 323 registered Quarter Horses representing animals who ranged in age from one year to 30 years of age and one of three gender (Stallion, Gelding, and Mare) categories. Eight facial measurements were obtained from two geographic areas, Florida and Oregon. A correlation was performed and resulted in a reduction of the data from eight to five facial measurements, due to the presence of facial symmetry. The reduced data was subsequently analyzed by Multivariate Analysis, using the Wilks Lambda Analysis of Variance. The Main effects, age, gender, and categorical performance type were all significant (p<0.0001 to 0.001). Of the two-way interactions only age:gender was not significant (p>0.05) and the three-way interaction age:gender:type was also not significant (p>0.05) Based upon the not significant (p>0.05) Based upon the results, the five original performance categories could be reduced to four (English, Halter, Cutting, and Western/Reining). This indicates that there are a number of similarities in facial measurements between the Western and Reining horses. Findings of this thesis indicate that selected facial morphometric traits exist and are characterized in the different performance categories. / Graduation date: 2003

The replication of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) in macrophages not only leads to cell death, but also to the induction of a variety of cytokines that may affect immune function. Cytokine production may be responsible for the fever, anorexia, hemorrhages, lethargy or thrombocytopenia seen in the acute and chronic phases of equine infectious anemia (EIA). The study of the equine immune system and inflammatory responses, by measuring cytokine expression, can provide important insight into disease pathogenesis in the horse. We have extended studies of virulent and avirulent EIAV clones by examining the effects of Env proteins on cytokine expression in equine monocyte-derived macrophages (EMDM) using EIAV17, EIAV19, EIAV17SU, and EIAV17TM viruses. In the current studies a set of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) assays for the equine cytokines IL-1a, IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-a were validated using QPCR primers and probes which were generated for the aforementioned equine genes.

The replication of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) in macrophages not only leads to cell death, but also to the induction of a variety of cytokines that may affect immune function. Cytokine production may be responsible for the fever, anorexia, hemorrhages, lethargy or thrombocytopenia seen in the acute and chronic phases of equine infectious anemia (EIA). The study of the equine immune system and inflammatory responses, by measuring cytokine expression, can provide important insight into disease pathogenesis in the horse. We have extended studies of virulent and avirulent EIAV clones by examining the effects of Env proteins on cytokine expression in equine monocyte-derived macrophages (EMDM) using EIAV17, EIAV19, EIAV17SU, and EIAV17TM viruses. In the current studies a set of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) assays for the equine cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were validated using QPCR primers and probes which were generated for the aforementioned equine genes.

There are strong suggestions that equine stereotypies are being connected to poor welfare and a sub-optimal management and/or stabling environment. Until today different forms of equine stereotypic behaviors have been described. Crib-biting, weaving, and box-walking are considered the most prevalent. Several studies have been conducted to establish links between the underlying causes and potential function of such behaviors. Both experimental and epidemiological studies have indicated management factors specifically feeding practices, housing conditions, and weaning method as crucial in the development of stereotypies in stabled horses. Some neurologic studies on equine stereotypy demonstrated some forms of CNS dysfunction as the causal factor for the performance of stereotypic behaviors. Different researchers hypothesized that the functional significance of stereotypies is that they reduce stress in captive environments and should thus be considered as a coping mechanism. In contrast, the owner‟s perspective is often that a stereotypic horse has a “stable-vice” that needs to be stopped and different kinds of methods have been developed to control or regulate stereotypic behaviors. However, if the stress-reducing hypothesis is correct, controlling stereotypic behaviors particularly by physical and surgical approaches without addressing the underlying causes is of great concern to the horse‟s welfare. Although there is ongoing uncertainty about the exact function, the growing knowledge about causation should be applied: under all circumstances prevention is better than cure.

The replication of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) in macrophages not only leads to cell death, but also to the induction of a variety of cytokines that may affect immune function. Cytokine production may be responsible for the fever, anorexia, hemorrhages, lethargy or thrombocytopenia seen in the acute and chronic phases of equine infectious anemia (EIA). The study of the equine immune system and inflammatory responses, by measuring cytokine expression, can provide important insight into disease pathogenesis in the horse. We have extended studies of virulent and avirulent EIAV clones by examining the effects of Env proteins on cytokine expression in equine monocyte-derived macrophages (EMDM) using EIAV17, EIAV19, EIAV17SU, and EIAV17TM viruses. In the current studies a set of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) assays for the equine cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were validated using QPCR primers and probes which were generated for the aforementioned equine genes.

Quarter Horse mares (n=28, 465-612 kg BW, 6-19 yrs of age) were used to investigate the effect of organic selenium (Se) supplementation (Selenosource, Diamond V Mills, Inc. Cedar Rapids, IA (SeM)) and DE manipulation on plasma, muscle, and colostrum Se concentrations, plasma glutathione peroxidase (Gsh-Px) activity, foaling parameters, and physical characteristics in mares and their foals. Mares were arranged in a 2x2 factorial with two levels of nutrition, pasture (100% NRC DE) or pasture plus grain (120% NRC DE) (fed at 0.75% BW (0.63 ppm Se)) and two levels of Se supplementation (0 or 0.3 mg/kg DM) equaling four treatment groups: pasture (P), pasture grain (PG), pasture grain Se (PGS), or pasture Se (PS). Mares were blocked by expected foaling date and randomly assigned to dietary treatment within block. Body condition score (BCS), BW, and rump fat (RF) were observed every 14 d beginning at d 0. Mare and foal plasma and muscle sampling began on d 0 (birth in foals). Plasma continued every 14 d and muscle every 28 d until parturition (d 56 in foals). Upon parturition, foaling parameters consisting of times: water break to birth, birth to placenta expulsion, foal standing, and nursing were recorded. Colostrum quality was determined via refractometer and colostrometer analysis, and placenta weight, foal birth weight, whither and hip height and body length were recorded. Maternal SeM supplementation influenced (P<0.05) mare and foal plasma, muscle and colostrum Se concentrations. Increased maternal DE influenced (P<0.05) mare and foal plasma and foal muscle Se, mare BW, BCS, and RF. However, mare muscle Se was unaffected (P>0.05) by DE. Mare and foal plasma Gsh-Px, foal physical characteristics, and foaling parameters were unaffected by treatment (P>0.05). Greater (P<0.02) colostrum refractometer values (Brix%) for P, PS mares were noted and PGS, P mares had shorter gestational lengths (nutrition x SeM interaction (P<0.05)). These data indicate that maternal DE manipulation and SeM supplementation influences mare and foal Se status, mare BW and colostrum quality (Brix%), but not plasma Gsh-Px activity. Additionally, nutrition and SeM supplementation may affect gestational length. However, despite treatments there was no difference in foaling parameters or foal physical characteristics.