Search Results (43)

Hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) are uncultivable, cell wall-less bacteria that parasitizeon the surface of red blood cells of mammals, potentially causing anemia and other systemic signs. While widely distributed among domestic and wild animals, their occurrence in equids remains poorly understood, and no species has been identified as host-specific to horses or donkeys. This study presents the first systematic survey of hemoplasmas in equids from southeastern Europe and only the second molecularly confirmed case in horses in Europe. A total of 843 equids (817 horses and 26 donkeys) from different regions of Croatia, representing various ages, uses, and husbandry systems, were screened for hemoplasmas by PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Only one horse tested positive, identified as Mycoplasma wenyonii, a hemoplasma typically associated with cattle. The estimated prevalence was 0.12% (95% CI: 0.003–0.68%). No donkeys were infected. The extremely low prevalence observed here—the lowest reported in any study detecting hemoplasma-positive horses—supports the hypothesis that equids do not harbor host-specific hemoplasma species and may only sporadically acquire infections from other hosts via spillover. This finding underscores the apparent absence of persistent hemoplasma lineages adapted to equids and highlights the need for further research on their epidemiology, host specificity, and transmission dynamics. Full article

Horses maintained under traditional management systems and dependent on natural forages are often exposed to seasonal and compositional variations that can affect metabolic homeostasis. This study examined associations between forage nutrient composition and metabolic–morphometric indicators in horses from four agroecologically distinct regions of northwestern Romania. Eighty-eight horses managed under semi-extensive rural conditions underwent clinical examination, body condition scoring (BCS), cresty neck scoring (CNS), and fasting blood sampling. Forage samples (n = 34) from daily rations were analyzed for fermentable carbohydrate content, while serum insulin, leptin, and adiponectin were quantified using validated equine-specific ELISA assays. Forage composition varied substantially among regions, influencing both endocrine and morphometric outcomes. Horses consuming carbohydrate-rich forages exhibited higher insulin (0.95–219 μIU/mL) and leptin concentrations (925–28,190 pg/mL), accompanied by elevated BCS and CNS scores, whereas adiponectin levels tended to decrease with increasing carbohydrate content. These findings demonstrate that naturally occurring variation in forage quality can significantly influence metabolic regulation in horses managed under low-input, traditional systems. Integrating forage nutrient evaluation with clinical and endocrine assessments provides a practical framework for identifying animals at risk of metabolic dysfunction and guiding nutritional strategies to mitigate the incidence of laminitis and related disorders. Full article

In this manuscript, an analysis of the prospect of using a direct-contact air, gravel, ground heat exchanger (GAHE)—patented and tested at the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology—as a simple and inexpensive way of improving microclimate parameters in horse stables using renewable energy was presented. Different options for introducing a GAHE into the typical HVAC system have been proposed and examined. Using the GAHE calculation model developed based on the research, computer simulations of the GAHE’s interaction with the ventilation system were conducted. The effects of GAHE interaction were compared with a typical solution that does not utilise ground renewable energy. The analyses demonstrate year-round changes in microclimate parameters, particularly in the air temperature, relative humidity, and the THI comfort index. The benefits of using a GAHE as a component that improves comfort for animals and employees, while simultaneously saving energy, were demonstrated. The use of measurement data and computer energy simulations demonstrates the engineering feasibility of including GAHEs in a mechanical ventilation system for a horse stable. The obtained results indicate the potential for improving animal husbandry and employee working conditions without the need to consume additional energy to operate complex HVAC systems. Full article

Polo is an equestrian sport with a long tradition, but to date there is little scientific data on health risks, particularly lameness. In an international online survey, 145 polo players (47.6% female, 52.4% male) with an average of 13.4 years of playing experience were questioned about lameness risks and influencing factors. The respondents reported a median of six horses, most frequently mares as their best-performing and healthiest animals. Horse age was significantly associated with the risk of lameness, increasing by approximately 19.5% per year (OR = 1.195; p = 0.030) and differed depending on the breed of horse. Player-related variables such as age, sex, level of experience and type of husbandry had no significant influence. Risk perception was only associated with the handicap: players with a higher handicap rated the risk of injury as lower. Sex, age and horse ownership were not relevant. Unfavourable ground conditions were cited as the most common cause of injury (58.6%). The results show that players believe key predictors of lameness, in particular the age and breed of the horses, are objective factors, while subjective risk assessments are primarily influenced by the players’ level of experience. Further studies are necessary to improve horse health in polo and to enable preventive measures. Full article

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) refers to mucosal gastric disease in horses, including equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) and equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD), which present as two distinct disease entities differing in pathophysiology and approach to disease management. Both diseases are a source of pain in affected horses, partly explaining why EGUS continues to receive substantial attention in the equine medical, welfare and equitation research sectors. There is a complex interplay between EGUS and a variety of physical and psychological stressors. Horses with EGUS are often presented to veterinarians with a history of problem behaviors, some of which resolve following gastroprotectant therapy. However, problem behaviors persist in some cases, despite gastroscopic resolution of disease. Some of these horses have pain-related learnt, anticipatory behavior, even after the original source of pain has resolved. Such cases, as well as chronic or refractory EGUS cases, can benefit from a behavioral medicine approach. This includes the management of any underlying diseases, environmental modification, behavior modification, and, in select cases, behavior-modifying medication. This commentary, based on the authors’ clinical experiences and current literature, explores how behavioral medicine can be integrated with traditional pharmacologic, nutraceutical, and husbandry strategies for the multi-modal management of EGUS, with a focus on managing the horse’s experience to improve case outcome. Full article

Horse iris recognition is a non-invasive identification method with great potential for precise management in intelligent horse farms. However, horses’ natural vigilance often leads to stress and resistance when exposed to close-range infrared cameras. This behavior makes it challenging to capture clear iris images, thereby reducing recognition performance. This paper addresses the challenge of generating high-resolution iris images from existing low-resolution counterparts. To this end, we propose a novel hybrid-architecture image super-resolution (SR) network. Central to our approach is the design of Paired Asymmetric Transformer Block (PATB), which incorporates Contextual Query Generator (CQG) to efficiently capture contextual information and model global feature interactions. Furthermore, we introduce an Efficient Residual Dense Block (ERDB), specifically engineered to effectively extract finer-grained local features inherent in the image data. By integrating PATB and ERDB, our network achieves superior fusion of global contextual awareness and local detail information, thereby significantly enhancing the reconstruction quality of horse iris images. Experimental evaluations on our self-constructed dataset of horse irises demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. In terms of standard image quality metrics, it achieves the PSNR of 30.5988 dB and SSIM of 0.8552. Moreover, in terms of identity-recognition performance, the method achieves Precision, Recall, and F1-Score of 81.48%, 74.38%, and 77.77%, respectively. This study provides a useful contribution to digital horse farm management and supports the ongoing development of smart animal husbandry. Full article

Bedding is an important component of equine accommodation management. Choosing the right bedding is important for stable management and its selection may include considerations such as the sourcing of the material, the capital investment and ongoing costs, delivery, storage, installation, ongoing labour and maintenance, removal and disposal. Furthermore, it is crucial that the consequences for the health and welfare of horses and humans and the impact on the environment should also be considered. This review aimed to outline the advantages and disadvantages of different horse bedding types, focusing on their effects on the well-being of horses, humans, and the environment. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) technique was used as the methodology for this review. The search was performed in Scopus and Web of Science bibliometric databases and a total of 176 records were screened reading the title and the abstract. After screening, 58 records were retained and another 19 records were identified using their reference lists (i.e., snowballing). Therefore, a total of 77 records were considered. Straw and wood shavings were the most commonly used and studied bedding materials, while research on alternative options remains limited. Straw is identified as horses’ preferred option, while shavings appear to be the easiest to clean, making them the preferred choice for stable workers. The parameters to consider when choosing the bedding most fit for purpose are many and their attributes differ across the various bedding types. This review has compared all the bedding types within the research literature to determine the best overall option using the research-based evidence. Each bedding type offers unique benefits and drawbacks summarised in a user-friendly table. Stable managers must consider and evaluate them to suit their specific needs, including the health and welfare of each horse and the husbandry system involved. Our findings may, therefore, be useful in the decision-making process of equine industry members. Full article

Animal and plant remains recovered from two archaeological sites in Iași city (NE Romania) were analyzed in this work. The aim of this study was to contribute to the economic and environmental evaluation of an old urban settlement. The analyzed sites, both of value in archaeological preventive research, are dated to the 18th–19th centuries. The archaeozoological analysis consisted of anatomical, taxonomic, and taphonomic identifications, quantification, estimations of age at slaughter and sex, and osteometry. The results revealed that the animal remains are of domestic origin, as indicated by traces of butchering, and can be mainly described in terms of their frequencies (i.e., number of identified specimens and minimum number of individuals), selection for slaughter, morphology, and size. The results show that animal husbandry (e.g., cattle, sheep/goat, pig, and horse) had significant importance in the economy of the settlement, and cattle were preferred for consumption. Few remains were identified for wild mammals (i.e., red deer, wild boar, and hare), birds, and mollusks. The phytolith analysis indicated that some plant resources were used in the economy of this settlement. The identification of opal silica bodies revealed the presence of grasses and cultivated cereals. Full article

As this is a meta-study, we examined whether plant species diversity in the feed and the possibility of feed choice would influence the number of cases of photosensitization in farm animals. We evaluated 110 scientific references which described 172 cases of photosensitization worldwide, mainly in husbandry animals between 1926 and 2022. More than 50% of the cases occurred in South America and Australia. Among the animal species, sheep and cattle were statistically overrepresented. A total of 35 organisms were revealed to be phototoxic: 24 herbs, 2 grasses, 7 woody species, and 2 kinds of fungi. Animals developed mainly secondary photosensitization due to fresh feed (71.8%) of normal quality (88.1%), indicating that the phototoxic agents are from liver-toxic plants such as the grass Brachiaria and the herb Froelichia. Horses fell ill chiefly with primary photosensitization due to directly acting phototoxic agents of plant species such as the herbs Medicago and Pastinaca, both in fresh and conserved feed. Goats manage to avoid phototoxic plants under both high and low feed diversity if they still have free choice between plant species. High feed diversity reduced the incidence 2.4-fold, while enabled selection possibility even reduced it 7.5-fold. Since the lack of choice between forage plants was revealed to be the main cause of photosensitization, this knowledge could be used to prevent the disease in livestock. Full article

Sheep and goat may become carriers of some zoonotic diseases. They are important livestock and experimental model animals for human beings. The fast and accurate identification of genetic materials originating from sheep and goat can prevent and inhibit the spread of some zoonotic diseases, monitor market product quality, and maintain the stability of animal husbandry and food industries. This study proposed a methodology for identifying sheep and goat common specific sites from a genome-wide perspective. A total of 150 specific sites were selected from three data sources, including the coding sequences of single copy genes from nine species (sheep, goat, cow, pig, dog, horse, human, mouse, and chicken), the dbSNPs for these species, and human 100-way alignment data. These 150 sites exhibited low intraspecific heterogeneity in the resequencing data of 1450 samples from five species (sheep, goat, cow, pig, and chicken) and high interspecific divergence in the human 100-way alignment data after quality control. The results were proven to be reliable at the data level. Using the process proposed in this study, specific sites of other species can be screened, and genome-level species identification can be performed using the screened sites. Full article

Agricultural systems contribute nearly one-third of global anthropogenic GHG emissions and are an important source of GHGs globally. The clarification of the GHG emission pattern from agriculture is of paramount importance in the establishment of an agricultural emission reduction mechanism and the realization of China’s dual-carbon target. Based on the life cycle assessment method (LCA), this paper comprehensively quantifies the greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural system in China, encompassing rice, wheat, and corn cultivation as well as animal husbandry including cows, horses, donkeys, mules, camels, pigs, and sheep. The analysis covers the period 2000–2020 and examines the spatial distribution, temporal trends, and structural changes in the greenhouse gas emissions within China’s agriculture sector. The main results are as follows: (1) from 2000 to 2020, China witnessed a consistent upward trajectory in its total agricultural GHG emissions, exhibiting an average annual growth rate of 0.73%. Notably, methane (CH₄) emissions emerged as the largest contributor, displaying an overall fluctuating pattern. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions demonstrated intermittent increases with a noteworthy annual growth rate of 3%, signifying the most rapid expansion within this context. Conversely, nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions experienced decline over the specified period. (2) GHG emissions from cultivation demonstrate an upward trajectory, primarily driven by the CH₄ emissions originating from rice cultivation and CO₂ resulting from straw incineration. Conversely, GHG emissions stemming from animal husbandry declined, with the primary source being CH₄ emissions arising from animal enteric fermentation. Agricultural N₂O emissions predominantly arise due to manure management and nitrogen fertilizer application. (3) Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions exhibit significant variations in spatial distribution, gradually concentrating towards the North China Plain, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and the northeast. Specifically, agricultural CH₄ emissions are progressively concentrated in China’s pivotal rice-growing regions, encompassing the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Plain, as well as livestock breeding areas like Inner Mongolia. Agricultural CO₂ emissions primarily concentrate in dryland crop production zones such as North China and Northeast China. Meanwhile, Agricultural N₂O emissions predominantly occur in Inner Mongolia and the North China Plain. China’s agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 show a significant spatial clustering effect, with hotspots primarily concentrated in Shandong, Anhui, Henan, and other regions and cold spots focused in the western and southern areas. The emission patterns of agricultural GHGs are closely intertwined with farming practices, regional development levels, and national policy; hence, tailored measures for emission reduction should be formulated based on specific crop types, livestock categories, agricultural production activities, and regional development characteristics. Full article

The northwestern region of China, known as the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Area (QTPA), is characterized by unique climate conditions that support the breeding of various highly-adapted livestock species. Tick vectors play a significant role in transmitting Babesia and Theileria species, posing serious risks to animal health as well as the economy of animal husbandry in QTPA. A total of 366 blood samples were collected from Tibetan sheep (n = 51), goats (n = 67), yaks (n = 43), cattle (n = 49), Bactrian camels (n = 50), horses (n = 65), and donkeys (n = 40). These samples were examined using conventional and nested PCR techniques to detect Theileria and Babesia species. The overall infection rates were 0.3% (1/366) for Babesia spp. and 38.2% (140/366) for Theileria spp. Notably, neither Babesia nor Theileria species were detected in donkeys and yaks. The infection rates of Babesia and Theileria species among animals in different prefectures were significantly different (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, B. caballi, and B. ovis were not detected in the current study. To our knowledge, this is the first documented detection of Theileria luwenshuni infection in Bactrian camels and goats, as well as T. sinesis in cattle and T. equi in horses on the Qinghai plateau. These novel findings shed light on the distribution of Babesia and Theileria species among livestock species in QTPA. Full article

The Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau area (QTPA) features a unique environment that has witnessed the selective breeding of diverse breeds of domestic livestock exhibiting remarkable adaptability. Nevertheless, Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., Coxiella spp., and Borrelia spp. represent tick-borne bacterial pathogens that pose a global threat and have substantial impacts on both human and animal health, as well as on the economy of animal husbandry within the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau area. In this study, a total of 428 samples were systematically collected from 20 distinct areas within the Qinghai Plateau. The samples included 62 ticks and 366 blood samples obtained from diverse animal species to detect the presence of Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., Coxiella spp., and Borrelia spp. The prevalence of infection in this study was determined as follows: Anaplasma bovis accounted for 16.4% (70/428), A. capra for 4.7% (20/428), A. ovis for 5.8% (25/428), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato for 6.3% (27/428), Coxiella burnetii for 0.7% (3/428), and Rickettsia spp. for 0.5% (2/428). Notably, no cases of A. marginale and A. phagocytophilum infections were observed in this study. The findings revealed an elevated presence of these pathogens in Tibetan sheep and goats, with no infections detected in yaks, Bactrian camels, donkeys, and horses. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first investigation of tick-borne bacterial pathogens infecting goats, cattle, horses, and donkeys within the Qinghai Plateau of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau area. Consequently, our findings contribute valuable insights into the distribution and genetic diversity of Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., Coxiella spp., and Borrelia spp. within China. Full article

Lateralised behavioural responses to environmental stressors have become more frequently used as indicators of social welfare in animals. These lateralised behavioural responses are under the control of asymmetrical brain functions as part of the primary functions of most vertebrates and assist in primary social and survival functions. Lateralised behavioural responses originating from the left hemisphere are responsible for processing familiar conditions, while the right hemisphere is responsible for responding to novel stimuli in the environment. The forced lateralisation and side preference tests have been used to determine the visual lateralised behavioural responses in livestock to environmental stressors. Limb preference during movement has also been used to determine motor lateralisation. Although behavioural investigations in livestock have recorded lateralised behavioural responses to environmental stressors, there are still limitations in the implication of lateralisation to other conditions, such as restraint and invasive procedures. Thus, it is important to have a non-invasive measure for these lateralised behavioural responses. Recently, lateralised behavioural responses have been correlated with the use of infrared temperature of external body surfaces, such as the eyes and coronary bands of limbs. This review summarised the different forms of the lateralised behavioural responses in livestock, especially cattle and horses, to environmental stressors, and the association between these responses and the relevant external body surfaces’ infrared temperature, with the purpose of improving the use of non-invasive measures in assessing welfare conditions in animals. The combination of the lateralised behavioural responses and infrared temperature of external body surfaces to environmental stressors could improve the assessment strategies of welfare conditions and the related additional husbandry interventions that could be applied to improve the welfare of farm animals. Full article

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides occur almost globally and can regionally and seasonally reach high abundances. Most species are hematophagous, feeding on all groups of vertebrates, including humans. In addition to being nuisance pests, they are able to transmit disease agents, with some viruses causing high morbidity and/or mortality in ruminants, horses and humans. Despite their impact on animal husbandry, public health and tourism, knowledge on the biology and ecology of culicoid biting midges and their interactions with ingested pathogens or symbiotic microorganisms is limited. Research is challenging due to unknown larval habitats, the insects’ tiny size, the inability to establish and breed most species in the laboratory and the laborious maintenance of colonies of the few species that can be reared in the laboratory. Consequently, the natural transmission of pathogens has experimentally been demonstrated for few species while, for others, only indirect evidence of vector potential exists. Most experimental data are available for Culicoides sonorensis and C. nubeculosus, the only species kept in western-world insectaries. This contribution gives an overview on important biting midge vectors, transmitted viruses, culicoid-borne viral diseases and their epidemiologies and summarizes the little knowledge on interactions between biting midges, their microflora and culicoid-borne arboviruses. Full article