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Veterinary Sciences
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The Progress of Equine Medical Research in China and Beyond—Second...
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The Progress of Equine Medical Research in China and Beyond—Second Edition

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 January 2026) | Viewed by 3607

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jing Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Interests: equine microbial physiology in gastrointestinal and reproductive tract; antimicrobial resistance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Gayle Leith

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Interests: clinical skills; equine practice; equine reproduction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue ‘The Progress of Equine Medical Research in China and Beyond’ was successfully concluded on 1 May 2025. We are pleased to have collected around ten high-quality papers, now available for reading here: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/vetsci/special_issues/OT7J2IJ902.

Building on the success of the first volume and in response to the enthusiastic feedback from scholars in the field, we are excited to announce the launch of Volume II of this Special Issue. We continue to welcome submissions of research articles, reviews, communications, and brief reports that contribute to the advancement of equine medical science.

The first volume was launched following the 2024 International Forum of Equine Medicine, held under the auspices of the 11th Annual Congress of the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), co-hosted by the CVMA Chinese Board of Equine Practitioners (CBEP) and the College of Veterinary Medicine at China Agricultural University. Held in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, the forum gathered leading experts from China, the USA, Austria, Korea, and beyond.

The forum and subsequent Special Issue highlighted recent developments in internal medicine, surgery, sports medicine, reproduction, and equine welfare. It provided a strong platform for knowledge sharing, the advancement of equine education and research in China, and the promotion of international collaboration.

We look forward to your valuable contributions to the second volume of this Special Issue as we continue to support and showcase cutting-edge equine medical research globally.

Dr. Jing Li
Dr. Gayle Leith
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • equine medicine
  • clinical sciences
  • equine welfare
  • veterinary research
  • international collaboration

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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9 pages, 577 KB  
Article
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Versus Microsatellites for Parentage Verification in Horse Breeds
by Dongsoo Kim, Sunyoung Lee, Baatartsogt Oyungerel and Giljae Cho
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(9), 890; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12090890 - 15 Sep 2025
Viewed by 961
Abstract
This study aimed to generate information for parentage testing in horse breeds using microsatellites (STRs) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Genotype data were obtained from 189 horse hair root samples, including 38 Thoroughbreds (TBs), 17 Jeju horses (JHs), 20 Quarter horses (QHs), 21 American [...] Read more.
This study aimed to generate information for parentage testing in horse breeds using microsatellites (STRs) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Genotype data were obtained from 189 horse hair root samples, including 38 Thoroughbreds (TBs), 17 Jeju horses (JHs), 20 Quarter horses (QHs), 21 American Miniatures (AMs), and 93 Mongolian horses (MHs), using 15 STR markers and 71 SNP markers. Comparative analysis revealed that the mean expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.468 (AM) to 0.491 (JH) for SNPs and from 0.695 (TB) to 0.791 (MH) for STRs. The mean observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.415 (AM) to 0.487 (MH) for SNPs and from 0.706 (JH) to 0.776 (MH) for STRs. The mean polymorphic information content ranged from 0.349 (AM) to 0.364 (MH) for SNPs and from 0.635 (TB) to 0.761 (MH) for STRs. The inbreeding coefficient ranged from −0.009 (MH) to 0.113 (AM) for SNPs and from −0.058 (TB) to 0.043 (AM) for STRs. The cumulative exclusion probability (PE) for the 71-SNP panel exceeded 0.9999, indicating that SNP markers may be sufficient for parentage testing. In comparison, the STR markers yielded a combined PE of 0.9988 when one parent was known and 0.9999 when both parents were known. These findings highlight the potential of SNPs as alternatives to STRs for routine paternity verification in horses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Progress of Equine Medical Research in China and Beyond—Second Edition)
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13 pages, 1248 KB  
Article
Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability Are Affected by Age and Activity Level in Athletic Horses
by Thita Wonghanchao, Kanokpan Sanigavatee, Soontaree Petchdee, Kulpreeya Chettaratanont, Thitakorn Thongyen, Boonbaramee Wanichayanon, Chanoknun Poochipakorn and Metha Chanda
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(7), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12070624 - 28 Jun 2025
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Abstract
The physiological capabilities of horses begin to decline after they reach 15 years of age. However, some exceptionally talented horses can continue their sports careers beyond this age, raising concerns about their welfare. This study investigated animal welfare by observing resting heart rate [...] Read more.
The physiological capabilities of horses begin to decline after they reach 15 years of age. However, some exceptionally talented horses can continue their sports careers beyond this age, raising concerns about their welfare. This study investigated animal welfare by observing resting heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) metrics in geriatric horses participating in similar training or physical activities compared to younger adult horses over 30 min periods. Forty-six horses of varying ages and activity levels were divided into four groups, including horses under 15 years practising structured training for dressage (AL-1; N = 13) and school riding (AL-2; N = 13) and horses aged between 15 and 20 years participating in AL-1 (N = 10) and AL-2 (N = 10). In adult horses, the HR decreased in those performing AL-1, which was observed alongside an increased RR interval compared to those participating in AL-2 (p < 0.05 for both). Meanwhile, HRV increased in adult horses (measured by pNN50) but decreased in geriatric horses (measured by SDANN, SDNNI, DC, and SD2) participating in AL-1 when compared to their counterparts in AL-2 (p < 0.05 for all). Adult horses exhibited better autonomic regulation while engaged in structured dressage training than geriatric horses. These findings underscore the necessity for the careful management of physical activities to ensure the well-being of all horses, particularly older ones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Progress of Equine Medical Research in China and Beyond—Second Edition)
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Other

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8 pages, 433 KB  
Brief Report
Molecular Identification and Benzimidazole Resistance Analysis of Cyathostomins in Chinese Grazing Horses
by Chenxue Zhang, Enjia Cai, Yuhui Ma, Guangzhi Zhong, Yu Gao, Yuhong Wu, Bo Liu and Jing Li
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(2), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13020169 - 9 Feb 2026
Abstract
This study investigated the cyathostomin species composition, anthelmintic efficacy, and potential resistance-associated mutations in Chinese grazing horses. Fecal samples were collected from 90 adult horses. Fecal egg counts (FECs) were determined using a modified McMaster method. Third stage larvae (L3) cultured from the [...] Read more.
This study investigated the cyathostomin species composition, anthelmintic efficacy, and potential resistance-associated mutations in Chinese grazing horses. Fecal samples were collected from 90 adult horses. Fecal egg counts (FECs) were determined using a modified McMaster method. Third stage larvae (L3) cultured from the eggs were identified to species level by PCR amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer-2 (ITS-2). The main species included Cylicocyclus nassatus and Cylicostephanus spp. However, differences in the relative abundance of less common species, including Cyathostomum pateratum and Cylicocyclus ashworthi, suggests regional variation. Anthelmintic efficacy was assessed by a fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) following albendazole administration. Mutations at six codons of the β-tubulin iso-type-1 (tbb-iso-1) gene were screened by gene sequencing. The results showed that, despite harboring an abundant and diverse cyathostomin community, this herd remained susceptible to albendazole. Overall, this study provides baseline data on cyathostomin species composition and anthelmintic susceptibility in horses from China, contributing to global surveillance of equine cyathostomin resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Progress of Equine Medical Research in China and Beyond—Second Edition)
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15 pages, 2323 KB  
Case Report
Clinical Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcome Analysis of a Horse with Proximal Sesamoid Bone Fracture Complicated by Flexor Tendinitis
by Zhiyuan Zhang, Yang Yang, Yuhui Ma, Zhanhai Mai, Han Fu, Xutian Wang, Xiongjian Cao, Tianqing Li, Jianlong Li and Qingyong Guo
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(1), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13010040 - 2 Jan 2026
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Abstract
With the growing popularity of equestrian sports, the incidence of athletic injuries in horses has also risen. Among these injuries, proximal sesamoid bone fracture (PSBF) and flexor tendinitis are particularly common in the forelimbs of sport horses and represent major causes of musculoskeletal [...] Read more.
With the growing popularity of equestrian sports, the incidence of athletic injuries in horses has also risen. Among these injuries, proximal sesamoid bone fracture (PSBF) and flexor tendinitis are particularly common in the forelimbs of sport horses and represent major causes of musculoskeletal impairment. A 5-year-old horse presented with obvious symptoms such as swelling at the left fetlock joint and metacarpal region after exercise. Through lameness assessment, diagnostic imaging, and hematological testing, the horse was diagnosed with PSBF complicated by flexor tendinitis. The affected horse was treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs combined with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) therapy. After treatment, local microcirculation at the fracture and flexor tendon sites was improved, tissue healing was accelerated, and clinical indicators were stabilized. This case report demonstrates the potential of LIPUS-assisted therapy in promoting the recovery of horses with PSBF and concurrent flexor tendinitis, providing a valuable clinical reference for the management of complex musculoskeletal injuries in veterinary practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Progress of Equine Medical Research in China and Beyond—Second Edition)
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