Evidence of cerebellar abiotrophy (CA) was found in a six-month-old Arabian filly with signs of incoordination, head tremor, wobbling, loss of balance and falling over, consistent with a cerebellar lesion. Normal hematology profile blood test and cerebrospinal fluid analysis excluded infectious encephalitis, and serological testing for Sarcocystis neurona was negative. The filly was euthanized. Postmortem X-ray radiography of the cervical cephalic region identified not abnormalities, discounting spinal trauma. The histopathological analysis of serial transverse cerebellar sections by electron microscopy revealed morphological characteristics of apoptotic cells with pyknotic nuclei and degenerate mitochondria, cytoplasmic condensation and areas with absence of Purkinje cells, matching with CA histopathological characteristics. The indirect DNA test for CA was positive in the filly, and DNA test confirmed the CA carrier state in the parents and the recessive inheritance of the disease. To our knowledge this is the first report of a CA case in Argentina.
This study examined the effect of exercising horses five times per fortnight with two bouts of 5 min duration at their v(10) with 2 days between consecutive exercise sessions. Five Anglo-Arabian horses were treadmill-conditioned for 6 weeks. A standardized exercise test (SET) was performed at the beginning of the conditioning period (CP) to determine the blood lactate-running speed (BLRS) and the heart rate-running speed (HRRS) relationship and the SET was repeated every 2 weeks. After each SET, the BLRS relation was used to calculate the horse's speed (v = velocity), which produced a blood lactate concentration (LA) of 10 mmol/l (v(10) ) and 4 mmol/l (v(4) ). From the HRRS was calculated the speed at which the horses had a heart rate of 180 b/min (v(180) ). Each horse was then conditioned for the next 2 weeks five times at its individual v(10) for two 5-min bouts. Exercise speed was individually adapted to the new v(10) every 2 weeks. In addition, horses were submitted to another SET prescription to determine the peak oxygen consumption (VO(2 peak) ) before, after 3 weeks and at the end of CP. The v(4) of horses increased during the CP (p < 0.05). v(180) did not change (p > 0.05). VO(2 peak) increased in the first 3 weeks of CP (p < 0.05) and levelled off afterwards (p > 0.05). The conclusion drawn was that exercising horses five times per fortnight at their v(10) for two 5-min bouts with 2 days between consecutive exercise sessions improved v(4) and VO(2 peak) but not v(180).
The genetic diversity and structure of 72 Appaloosa horses belonging to a closed breeding population from an ecological reserve in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was investigated using eight microsatellite markers from the International Society for Animal Genetics panel. Our data showed that this Appaloosa horse population had an elevated degree of genetic diversity (He = 0.746) and did not present a significant increase of homozygous individuals (F IS~0 ). However, the short tandem repeats, AHT5, ASB2, HTG10 and VHL20, were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P-value < 0.05). Genetic relationships between this population and other well known horse breeds showed that Appaloosa horses from Argentina could have had their origin in the horses of the Nez Perce's people in Idaho while other Appaloosa horses may have had influences from Andalusian and Lusitano breeds. This closed breeding population conserves an important degree of Appaloosa genetic diversity and notwithstanding its particular breeding characteristics, represents a valuable genetic resource for conservation.
Design of an equine production systems analysis tool aimed at teaching and professional use Diseño de una herramienta de análisis de sistemas de producción equina orientado a docencia y uso profesional RESUMEN La producción equina tiene particularidades que dificultan su interpretación y análisis con los modelos industriales o agropecuarios tradicionales. La modelación en base económica o de resultados en las asignaturas productivas resulta esencial para manejar el enfoque, más aún en alumnos con fuerte formación clínica. En este trabajo presentamos una herramienta versátil de análisis, enfocada principalmente al veterinario zootecnista, de manera que éste a través de un pequeño formulario, encuentre los puntos principales a trabajar en el establecimiento, con el énfasis en poder proyectar mejoras y generar un negocio rentable, o que se auto sustente. Se propone análisis fragmentado y ponderado del sistema. Para lo cual dividimos para el análisis al establecimiento en 3 sectores: estructura no animal, manejo de animales y gestión económica. Esta herramienta se utiliza en la materia producción
Genetic diversity of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is essential for the antigen recognition and presentation during the immune response. Indirect MHC typing by microsatellites (STR) provides data on genetic diversity and population structure, and provides knowledge of selective and evolutionary processes. In order to characterize a sample of Arab horses, we identified MHC haplotypes based on three STRs (UM011, DRB2-STR2 and COR112) covering a region of ~1Mpb. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood and hair of 30 horses from five farms of the province of Buenos Aires. STRs were amplified with fluorescent primers and typed in an automated sequencer. Population and diversity parameters were estimated. Haplotype detection was performed by segregation analysis and with the PHASE program for reconstructing haplotypes. Of the 24 haplotypes identified, 12 were verified by segregation in the Stud Book pedigree records. Our results showed linkage with known equine leukocyte antigen (ELA) class II alleles. The number of haplotypes identified allowed to expand the estimates of diversity in the equine MHC. This methodology is a useful tool and an alternative approach to type MHC in horse lineages and immune-related population studies.
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