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ancient genomes revisit the ancestry of domestic and przewalski's horses.the eneolithic botai culture of the central asian steppes provides the earliest archaeological evidence for horse husbandry, ~5500 years ago, but the exact nature of early horse domestication remains controversial. we generated 42 ancient-horse genomes, including 20 from botai. compared to 46 published ancient- and modern-horse genomes, our data indicate that przewalski's horses are the feral descendants of horses herded at botai and not truly wild horses. all domestic horses dated from ~4000 ye ...201829472442
how grazing affects soil quality of soils formed in the glaciated northeastern united states.historically, much of the new england landscape was converted to pasture for grazing animals and harvesting hay. both consumer demand for local sustainably produced food, and the number of small farms is increasing in ri, highlighting the importance of characterizing the effects livestock have on the quality of pasture soils. to assess how livestock affect pasture on charlton and canton soils series in ri, we examined soil quality in farms raising beef cattle (bos taurus), sheep (ovis aries), an ...201829468318
cycle-specific female preferences for visual and non-visual cues in the horse (equus caballus).although female preferences are well studied in many mammals, the possible effects of the oestrous cycle are not yet sufficiently understood. here we investigate female preferences for visual and non-visual male traits relative to the periodically cycling of sexual proceptivity (oestrus) and inactivity (dioestrus), respectively, in the polygynous horse (equus caballus). we individually exposed mares to stallions in four experimental situations: (i) mares in oestrus and visual contact to stallion ...201829466358
environmental stressors may cause equine herpesvirus reactivation in captive grévy's zebras (equus grevyi).equine herpesviruses (ehv) are common and often latent pathogens of equids which can cause fatalities when transmitted to non-equids. stress and elevated glucocorticoids have been associated with ehv reactivation in domestic horses, but little is known about the correlation between stress and viral reactivation in wild equids. we investigated the effect of an environmental stressor (social group restructuring following a translocation event) on ehv reactivation in captive grévy's zebras (equus g ...201830155350
milk composition of indian rhinoceros ( rhinoceros unicornis) and changes over lactation.the objective of this study was to determine the major nutrient composition of indian rhinoceros milk ( rhinoceros unicornis) over the first 13 mo of an 18-mo lactation period and to compare the results to those of previous studies on rhinoceros, african elephant ( loxodonta africana), and horse milk ( equus ferus caballus). the following parameters were measured: dry matter (dm), crude ash (ash), crude protein (cp), ether extract (ee), nitrogen-free extract (nfe; calculated), lactose, calcium ( ...201830212337
domestic horses (equus caballus) discriminate between negative and positive human nonverbal vocalisations.the ability to discriminate between emotion in vocal signals is highly adaptive in social species. it may also be adaptive for domestic species to distinguish such signals in humans. here we present a playback study investigating whether horses spontaneously respond in a functionally relevant way towards positive and negative emotion in human nonverbal vocalisations. we presented horses with positively- and negatively-valenced human vocalisations (laughter and growling, respectively) in the abse ...201830158532
rna sequencing (rna-seq) reveals extremely low levels of reticulocyte-derived globin gene transcripts in peripheral blood from horses (equus caballus) and cattle (bos taurus).rna-seq has emerged as an important technology for measuring gene expression in peripheral blood samples collected from humans and other vertebrate species. in particular, transcriptomics analyses of whole blood can be used to study immunobiology and develop novel biomarkers of infectious disease. however, an obstacle to these methods in many mammalian species is the presence of reticulocyte-derived globin mrnas in large quantities, which can complicate rna-seq library sequencing and impede dete ...201830154823
reimmunization increases contraceptive effectiveness of gonadotropin-releasing hormone vaccine (gonacon-equine) in free-ranging horses (equus caballus): limitations and side effects.wildlife and humans are increasingly competing for resources worldwide, and a diverse, innovative, and effective set of management tools is needed. controlling abundance of wildlife species that are simultaneously protected, abundant, competitive for resources, and in conflict with some stakeholders but beloved by others, is a daunting challenge. free-ranging horses (equus caballus) present such a conundrum and managers struggle for effective tools for regulating their abundance. controlling rep ...201830063758
leukocyte telomere length in the thoroughbred racehorse.thoroughbred racehorses possess superior cardiorespiratory fitness levels and are at the pinnacle of athletic performance compared to other breeds of horses. although equine athletes have undergone years of artificial selection for racing performance, musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses are common and concerns relating to animal welfare have been proposed. leukocyte telomere length is indicative of biological age, and accelerated telomere shortening occurs with excess physical and psychologic ...201830051918
cross-modal perception of human emotion in domestic horses (equus caballus).humans have domesticated many kinds of animals in their history. dogs and horses have particularly close relationships with humans as cooperative partners. however, fewer scientific studies have been conducted on cognition in horses compared to dogs. studies have shown that horses cross-modally distinguish human facial expressions and recognize familiar people, which suggests that they also cross-modally distinguish human emotions. in the present study, we used the expectancy violation method to ...201829930289
detecting the population structure and scanning for signatures of selection in horses (equus caballus) from whole-genome sequencing data.animal domestication gives rise to gradual changes at the genomic level through selection in populations. selective sweeps have been traced in the genomes of many animal species, including humans, cattle, and dogs. however, little is known regarding positional candidate genes and genomic regions that exhibit signatures of selection in domestic horses. in addition, an understanding of the genetic processes underlying horse domestication, especially the origin of chinese native populations, is sti ...201829899660
human demonstration does not facilitate the performance of horses (equus caballus) in a spatial problem-solving task.horses’ ability to adapt to new environments and to acquire new information plays an important role in handling and training. social learning in particular would be very adaptive for horses as it enables them to flexibly adjust to new environments. in the context of horse handling, social learning from humans has been rarely investigated but could help to facilitate management practices. we assessed the impact of human demonstration on the spatial problem-solving abilities of horses during ...201829899296
animals remember previous facial expressions that specific humans have exhibited.for humans, facial expressions are important social signals, and how we perceive specific individuals may be influenced by subtle emotional cues that they have given us in past encounters. a wide range of animal species are also capable of discriminating the emotions of others through facial expressions [1-5], and it is clear that remembering emotional experiences with specific individuals could have clear benefits for social bonding and aggression avoidance when these individuals are encountere ...201829706519
domestic horses (equus ferus caballus) fail to intuitively reason about object properties like solidity and weight.from early infancy, humans reason about the external world in terms of identifiable, solid, cohesive objects persisting in space and time. this is one of the most fundamental human skills, which may be part of our innate conception of object properties. although object permanence has been extensively studied across a variety of taxa, little is known about how non-human animals reason about other object properties. in this study, we therefore tested how domestic horses (equus ferus caballus) intu ...201829525917
african horse sickness virus (ahsv) with a deletion of 77 amino acids in ns3/ns3a protein is not virulent and a safe promising ahs disabled infectious single animal (disa) vaccine platform.african horse sickness virus (ahsv) is a virus species in the genus orbivirus of the family reoviridae. currently, nine serotypes have been defined showing limited cross neutralization. ahsv is transmitted by species of culicoides biting midges and causes african horse sickness (ahs) in equids with a mortality up to 95% in naïve domestic horses. ahs has become a serious threat for countries outside africa, since endemic culicoides species in moderate climates are competent vectors of closely rel ...201829525278
frequency of equus caballus papillomavirus in equine aural plaques.despite the reported association between aural plaques and the presence of equus caballus papillomavirus (ecpv), there are few data regarding the distribution of viral types in different geographic regions or possible correlations for different papillomaviruses and lesion characteristics. we detected the presence and frequency of ecpv (1-7) dna in aural plaque biopsies of horses from different regions of brazil and identified the patterns of these infections or coinfections and their possible as ...201829601778
physiological costs of infection: herpesvirus replication is linked to blood oxidative stress in equids.viruses may have a dramatic impact on the health of their animal hosts. the patho-physiological mechanisms underlying viral infections in animals are, however, not well understood. it is increasingly recognized that oxidative stress may be a major physiological cost of viral infections. here we compare three blood-based markers of oxidative status in herpes positive and negative individuals of the domestic horse (equus ferus caballus) and of both captive and free-ranging mongolian khulan (equus ...201829985431
molecular diagnosis of trypanosoma cruzi/leishmania spp. coinfection in domestic, peridomestic and wild mammals of venezuelan co-endemic areas.american trypanosomiasis and leishmaniases are diseases caused by protozoans of the trypanosomatidae family. in venezuela, although several endemic foci of both diseases coincide, there are no reports of coinfection in mammals. the molecular diagnosis of the coinfection t. cruzi-leishmania spp. was done in 527 blood samples collected on filter paper of several species of mammals (canis familiaris, equus asinus, didelphis marsupialis, equus mulus, rattus rattus, equus caballus, artibeus fratercul ...201831014717
physiological responses in horses, donkeys and mules sold at livestock markets.the horse welfare at markets includes fatigue, fear, fasting, dehydration and injuries. however, the scientific literature contains no readily-available information on the physiology responses of equids sold in livestock markets. the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of holding in livestock markets on gas exchange, the acid-base balance, energy metabolism, and the mineral and water balance in 4 types of horses (equus caballus), donkeys (equus asinus) and mules ((equus asi ...201830255085
a review of eimeria infections in horses and other equids.there is considerable confusion concerning validity of eimeria species in equids, and endogenous developmental stages and pathogenicity of equid eimeria. this paper summarizes worldwide information on history, structure, life cycle, pathogenicity, prevalence, epidemiology, and diagnosis of eimeria infections in equids. the following conclusions were drawn. although three species of eimeria; e. solipedum, e. uninugulata, and e. leuckarti were named from horses, only e. leuckarti is a valid specie ...201829887031
shape variation and modularity of skull and teeth in domesticated horses and wild equids.in horses, the morphological changes induced by the process of domestication are reportedly less pronounced than in other species, such as dogs or pigs - although the horses' disparity has rarely been empirically tested. we investigated shape differences and modularity of domesticated horses, przewalski's horses, donkeys and zebras. mandibular and tooth shape have been shown to be valuable features for differentiating wild and domesticated forms in some mammals.201829713365
birth, evolution, and transmission of satellite-free mammalian centromeric domains.mammalian centromeres are associated with highly repetitive dna (satellite dna), which has so far hindered molecular analysis of this chromatin domain. centromeres are epigenetically specified, and binding of the cenpa protein is their main determinant. in previous work, we described the first example of a natural satellite-free centromere on equus caballus chromosome 11. here, we investigated the satellite-free centromeres of equus asinus by using chip-seq with anti-cenpa antibodies. we identif ...201829712753
the disappearing lamellae: implications of new findings in the family equidae suggest the loss of nuchal ligament lamellae on c6 and c7 occurred after domestication.conflicting data predominantly describes the equine nuchal ligament lamellae (nll) attachments as c2-c6 or c2-c7; however, preliminary evidence suggests c2-c5. this study aimed to identify morphological variations in the attachments of the nll in four species of the family equidae and determine if the variations were species or breed linked. cadaveric examination evaluated 98 equids; equusasinus (n = 2), equus ferus caballus (n = 93), equus przewalskii (n = 2), and equus quagga boehmi (n = 1). t ...201831256881
glucose and insulin response of horses grazing alfalfa, perennial cool-season grass, and teff across seasons.elevated nonstructural carbohydrate (nsc) values in pasture forages can cause adverse health effects in some horses (equus caballus l.). the objectives of this study were to determine the impact of different forage species on blood glucose and insulin concentrations of horses throughout the grazing season. research was conducted in july (summer) and september (fall) in st. paul, mn. alfalfa (medicago sativa l.), mixed perennial cool-season grasses (csg), and teff (eragrostis tef [zucc.] trotter) ...201831256885
correlation between fecal egg count, presence of strongylus vulgaris, and body score of feral horses on fort polk, louisiana.approximately 700 feral horses, dubbed "trespass horses" by the united states army, occupy fort polk, louisiana and the surrounding kisatchie national forest. these horses are considered a nuisance and hazard, and the military is seeking to remove the horses via adoption. the aim of this research was to evaluate the fecal egg count (fec), body condition score (bcs), and the presence of strongylus vulgaris within this previously unstudied horse population prior to removal. the feral horse data wa ...201831014862
glucocorticoid assessment in the domestic horse: the impacts of time and climatic variables on sample integrity.assessment of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fgm) offers a noninvasive method of monitoring adrenal activity in domestic horses. samples are collected on an opportunistic basis and, if they are not fresh or have been exposed to the elements before they are identified, may not accurately reflect fgm concentrations.201828727902
an update on medium- and low-abundant blood plasma proteome of horse.the main objectives of the study were to: (1) deeply analyse the serum protein composition of equus caballus, (2) assess the effectiveness of the high-abundant protein depletion and improve the concentration of medium- and low-abundant proteins. the analysis were performed on the blood plasma of three healthy part-arabian mares. the implementation of two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation - time of flight mass spectrometry allowed us to establish a horse ...201828689516
circulating mir-23b-3p, mir-145-5p and mir-200b-3p are potential biomarkers to monitor acute pain associated with laminitis in horses.circulating micrornas (mirnas) are emerging as promising biomarkers for several disorders and related pain. in equine practice, acute laminitis is a common disease characterised by intense pain that severely compromises horse welfare. recently, the horse grimace scale (hgs), a facial expression-based pain coding system, was shown to be a valid welfare indicator to identify pain linked to acute laminitis. the present study aimed to: determine whether mirnas can be used as biomarkers for acute pai ...201828689512
long-term adaptation capacity of ponies: effect of season and feed restriction on blood and physiological parameters.domesticated horses are increasingly kept under semi-natural housing conditions, whereas their adaptation capacity is not fully investigated. in all, 10 shetland pony mares were held under semi-extensive conditions for 1 year. in winter animals were allocated into two feeding groups (60% and 100% of maintenance energy requirement, respectively). triiodothyronine, thyroxine, non-esterified fatty acids (nefa), total bilirubin, total protein, triglyceride, glucose, insulin and hair length were meas ...201828689503
generalized papillomatosis in three horses associated with a novel equine papillomavirus (ecpv8).currently, seven equine papillomaviruses (pv) are known and are associated with one of three different and distinct clinical presentations.201828833761
modeling asthma: pitfalls, promises, and the road ahead.asthma is a chronic, heterogeneous, and recurring inflammatory disease of the lower airways, with exacerbations that feature airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. asthma has been modeled extensively via disease induction in both wild-type and genetically manipulated laboratory mice (mus musculus). antigen sensitization and challenge strategies have reproduced numerous important features of airway inflammation characteristic of human asthma, notably the critical roles of type 2 t ...201829451705
genetic analysis of the hungarian draft horse population using partial mitochondrial dna d-loop sequencing.the hungarian draft is a horse breed with a recent mixed ancestry created in the 1920s by crossing local mares with draught horses imported from france and belgium. the interest in its conservation and characterization has increased over the last few years. the aim of this work is to contribute to the characterization of the endangered hungarian heavy draft horse populations in order to obtain useful information to implement conservation strategies for these genetic stocks.201829404201
a novel non-invasive selection criterion for the preservation of primitive dutch konik horses.the dutch konik is valued from a genetic conservation perspective and also for its role in preservation of natural landscapes. the primary management objective for the captive breeding of this primitive horse is to maintain its genetic purity, whilst also maintaining the nature reserves on which they graze. breeding selection has traditionally been based on phenotypic characteristics consistent with the breed description, and the selection of animals for removal from the breeding program is prob ...201829389896
characterization of estrous cycles and pregnancy in somali wild asses (equus africanus somaliensis) through fecal hormone analyses.although reproduction in the domestic horse has been well described, less is known about reproduction in wild equids. this study describes endocrine patterns associated with estrous cycles and pregnancy for somali wild asses (equus africanus somaliensis), an endangered african equid. fecal samples were collected three times per week for more than 2 years from five female somali wild asses at the saint louis zoo; progestagen and estrogen metabolites were quantified using commercially available im ...201829377248
microsatellite markers for evaluating the diversity of the natural killer complex and major histocompatibility complex genomic regions in domestic horses.genotyping microsatellite markers represents a standard, relatively easy and inexpensive method of assessing genetic diversity of complex genomic regions in various animal species, such as the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) and/or natural killer cell receptor (nkr) genes. mhc-linked microsatellite markers have been identified and some of them were used for characterizing mhc polymorphism in various species, including horses. however, most of those were mhc class ii markers, while mhc cla ...201829341455
stallion semen quality depends on major histocompatibility complex matching to teaser mare.the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) has repeatedly been found to influence mate choice of vertebrates, with mhc-dissimilar mates typically being preferred over mhc-similar mates. we used horses (equus caballus) to test whether mhc matching also affects male investment into ejaculates after short exposure to a female. semen characteristics varied much among stallions. controlling for this variance with a full-factorial within-subject experimental design, we found that a short exposure to a ...201829334412
the impact of artificial selection on morphological integration in the appendicular skeleton of domestic horses.the relationships between the different component parts of organisms, such as the sharing of common development or function, produce a coordinated variation between the different traits. this morphological integration contributes to drive or constrain morphological variation and thus impacts phenotypic diversification. artificial selection is known to contribute significantly to phenotypic diversification of domestic species. however, little attention has been paid to its potential impact on int ...201829315551
comparative histomorphological study of endometrium in mares.uterine acute post-breeding inflammation is a physiological tissue response to the entry of exogenous elements, with persistent endometritis being the main pathology responsible for subfertility in the mare (equus ferus caballus; linnaeus, 1758). mares can be classified as susceptible or resistant to endometritis according to their ability to remove intrauterine fluid within 48 hr after experimental inoculation. endometrial biopsy is a technique that is commonly used to establish the degree of l ...201829314167
seroepidemiology of non-primate hepacivirus (nphv) in japanese native horses.non-primate hepacivirus (nphv) is recently identified as a closely related homologue of hepatitis c virus. the previous studies showed a high prevalence of nphv infection among japanese domestic horses originated from abroad. the historical distribution of nphv among horses in japan, therefore, is still unknown. in this study, seroepidemiological study of nphv was conducted using 335 sera from five breeds of japanese native horses. these horses are maintained as the pedigree and are reared apart ...201829187712
a conditioned reinforcer did not help to maintain an operant conditioning in the absence of a primary reinforcer in horses.the use of conditioned reinforcers is increasingly promoted in animal training. surprisingly, the efficiency of their use remains to be demonstrated in horses. this study aimed to determine whether an auditory signal which had previously been associated with a food reward 288 times could be used as a conditioned reinforcer to replace the primary reinforcer in an unrelated operant conditioning procedure. fourteen horses were divided into two groups of 7: no reinforcement (nr) and conditioned rein ...201829158027
lateralization of mother-infant interactions in wild horses.the manifestation of behavioural lateralization has been shown to be modified by environmental conditions, life experiences, and selective breeding. this study tests whether the lateralization recently found in feral domestic horse (equus caballus) is evident in undomesticated horses. mother-offspring interactions were investigated in przewalski's horse (e. ferus przewalskii) living in their natural habitat in mongolia. lateral position preferences during mare-foal spontaneous reunions were used ...201829341906
asian horses deepen the msy phylogeny.humans have shaped the population history of the horse ever since domestication about 5500 years ago. comparative analyses of the y chromosome can illuminate the paternal origin of modern horse breeds. this may also reveal different breeding strategies that led to the formation of extant breeds. recently, a horse y-chromosomal phylogeny of modern horses based on 1.46 mb of the male-specific y (msy) was generated. we extended this dataset with 52 samples from five european, two american and seven ...201829333704
a fast and reliable real-time pcr method for detection of ten animal species in meat products.species substitution in meat products is a common problem reported worldwide. this type of food fraud is, typically, an intentional act for economic gain, using sources of low-priced meats in high-value meat products. consequences include economic, health, and religious concerns. highly sensitive and efficient techniques are thus required to detect meat species. this paper describes a method based on real-time pcr to detect 10 animal species (bos taurus, sus scrofa, ovis aries, capra hircus, gal ...201829377112
a candidate gene approach identifies variants in slc45a2 that explain dilute phenotypes, pearl and sunshine, in compound heterozygote horses.variations in the slc45a2 gene are responsible for the dilution phenotypes cream and pearl in domestic horses. cream dilution is inherited in an incomplete dominant manner, diluting only red in the heterozygous state but both red and black pigments when two alleles are present. the pearl dilution is recessive and dilutes only the red and black pigment in the homozygous state or when paired with a cream allele. horses that inherit one copy of pearl (cprl ) and one copy of the dominant cream allel ...201931006892
explicit evidence for a missense mutation in exon 4 of slc45a2 gene causing the pearl coat dilution in horses.four loci seem responsible for the dilution of the basic coat colours in horse: dun (d), silver dapple (z), champagne (ch) and cream (c). apart from the current phenotypes ascribed to these loci, pearl has been described as yet another diluted coat colour in this species. to date, this coat colour seems to segregate only in the iberian breeds purebred spanish horse and lusitano and has also been described in breeds of iberian origin, such as quarter horses and paint horse, where it is referred t ...201930968968
whole genome sequencing analysis of horse populations inhabiting the korean peninsula and przewalski's horse.the jeju horse is an indigenous horse breed in korea. however, there is a severe lack of genomic studies on korean horse breeds.201930941726
neuroanatomy of the equine brain as revealed by high-field (3tesla) magnetic-resonance-imaging.in this study, the morphology of the horse brain (equus caballus) is decribed in detail using high field mri. the study includes sagittal, dorsal, and transverse t2-weighted images at 0.25 mm resolution at 3 tesla and 3d models of the brain presenting the external morphology of the brain. representative gallocyanin stained histological slides of the same brain are presented. the images represent a useful tool for mr image interpretation in horses and may serve as a starting point for further res ...201930933986
molecular detection of equus caballus papillomavirus type 2 in genital swabs from healthy horses in the republic of korea.equus caballus papillomavirus type 2 (ecpv-2) is implicated in genital neoplasms in horses, including equine penile papillomas, penile intraepithelial neoplasia, and squamous cell carcinoma (scc). this virus seldom regresses spontaneously and can result in the development of scc, which may result in significant clinical damage and economic cost. however, the prevalence of this virus is unknown in clinically unaffected horses. the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ecpv-2 dna in ...201930929791
plasma amino acid concentrations of horses grazing alfalfa, cool-season perennial grasses, and teff.the impact of forage species on plasma amino acid (aa) concentrations of grazing horses (equus caballus l.) is unknown. the objectives of this study were to determine the impact of different forage species on plasma aa concentrations and protein synthesis. research was conducted in july in st. paul, mn, usa. alfalfa (medicago sativa l.), mixed perennial cool-season grasses (csgs), and teff (eragrostis tef [zucc.] trotter) pastures were grazed by six horses randomly assigned to one of three forag ...201930929786
glucose and insulin response of aged horses grazing alfalfa, perennial cool-season grass, and teff during the spring and late fall.spring and late fall grazing can lead to metabolic problems in horses (equus caballus l.) as a result of elevated nonstructural carbohydrates (nsc) in pastures. therefore, the objectives were to determine the impact of different forage species on blood glucose and insulin concentrations of horses during the spring and late fall. research was conducted in may (spring) and october (late fall) in st. paul, mn. alfalfa (medicago sativa l.) and mixed perennial cool-season grasses (csg) were grazed in ...201930929773
prevalence and analysis of equine periodontal disease, diastemata and peripheral caries in a first-opinion horse population in the uk.equine dental disease remains a widespread affliction in domestic horses, with the potential to cause significant welfare problems. this retrospective study aimed to increase understanding of this aspect of equine health by examining dental records of 932 horses, taken from a 1-year period of first-opinion practice in south-western england and southern wales. three grossly-identifiable dental diseases were analysed: equine periodontal disease, diastemata and peripheral caries. the prevalence of ...201930902197
droplet digital pcr detection of the erythropoietin transgene from horse plasma and urine for gene-doping control.indiscriminate genetic manipulation to improve athletic ability is a major threat to human sports and the horseracing industry, in which methods involving gene-doping, such as transgenesis, should be prohibited to ensure fairness. therefore, development of methods to detect indiscriminate genetic manipulation are urgently needed. here, we developed a highly sensitive method to detect horse erythropoietin (epo) transgenes using droplet digital pcr (ddpcr). we designed two taqman probe/primer sets ...201930901981
wild horse populations in south-east australia have a high prevalence of strongylus vulgaris and may act as a reservoir of infection for domestic horses.australia has over 400,000 wild horses, the largest wild equid population in the world, scattered across a range of different habitats. we hypothesised that wild horse populations unexposed to anthelmintics would have a high prevalence of strongylus vulgaris infections. verminous endarteritis and colic due to migrating s. vulgaris larvae is now absent or unreported in domestic horses in australia, yet wild horses may pose a risk for its re-emergence. a total of 289 faecal egg counts (fecs) were ...201930815358
validation of two multiplex real-time pcr assays based on single nucleotide polymorphisms of the ha1 gene of equine influenza a virus in order to differentiate between clade 1 and clade 2 florida sublineage isolates.we validated 2 multiplex real-time pcr (rtpcr) assays based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) of the hemagglutinin-1 ( ha1) gene of h3n8 equine influenza a virus (eiv) to determine clade affiliation of prototype and field isolates. initial validation of the 2 multiplex rtpcr assays (snp1 and snp2) was performed using nucleic acid from 14 eiv florida sublineage clade 1 and 2 prototype strains. we included in our study previously banked eiv rtpcr-positive nasal secretions from 341 horses c ...201930803412
synergy between mc1r and asip for coat color in horses (equus caballus)1.through domestication and human selection, horses have acquired various coat colors, including seven phenotypes: black, brown, dark bay, bay, chestnut, white, and gray. here we determined the genotypes for melanocortin-1 receptor (mc1r) and agouti signaling protein (asip) in 709 horses from 15 breeds. we found that the eeee genotype frequency at mc1r decreased from dark to light colors (black = 64.5%, brown = 67.5%, dark bay = 47.0%, bay = 16.5%, and chestnut = 0.0%), whereas the aaaa genotype f ...201930785190
laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and papilloma associated with equus caballus papillomavirus 2 in a horse.a case of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (scc) and squamous papilloma in a 19-year-old thoroughbred stallion is described. the animal exhibited severe wheezing caused by laryngopharyngeal stenosis. histological examination identified laryngeal, laryngotracheal, and guttural pouch tumor masses consisting of areas of scc. in the epiglottic lesion, the overlying epithelium was replaced by papilloma cells, and superficial cells frequently had nuclear inclusion bodies that expressed oncoprotein e6 ...201931167980
grazing high and low: can we detect horse altitudinal mobility using high-resolution isotope (δ13 c and δ15 n values) time series in tail hair? a case study in the mongolian altai.carbon and nitrogen stable isotope time series performed in continuously growing tissues (hair, tooth enamel) are commonly used to reconstruct the dietary history of modern and ancient animals. predicting the effects of altitudinal mobility on animal δ13 c and δ15 n values remains difficult as several variables such as temperature, water availability or soil type can contribute to the isotope composition. modern references adapted to the region of interest are therefore essential.201931148256
eye blink rates and eyelid twitches as a non-invasive measure of stress in the domestic horse.physiological changes provide indices of stress responses, however, behavioural measures may be easier to determine. spontaneous eye blink rate has potential as a non-invasive indicator of stress. eyelid movements, along with heart rate (hr) and behaviour, from 33 horses were evaluated over four treatments: (1) control-horse in its normal paddock environment; (2) feed restriction-feed was withheld at regular feeding time; (3) separation-horse was removed from visual contact with their paddock ma ...201931443315
exploration of fine-scale recombination rate variation in the domestic horse.total genetic map length and local recombination landscapes typically vary within and across populations. as a first step to understanding the recombination landscape in the domestic horse, we calculated population recombination rates and identified likely recombination hotspots using approximately 1.8 million snp genotypes for 485 horses from 32 distinct breeds. the resulting breed-averaged recombination map spans 2.36 gb and accounts for 2939.07 cm. recombination hotspots occur once per 23.8 m ...201931434677
individual differences in behavior and heart rate variability across the preweaning period in the domestic horse in response to an ecologically relevant stressor.the study of individual differences in behavior and physiology has attracted considerable interest among behavioral biologists. important questions include how early in life such differences emerge and to what extent they remain stable across development. due to the demanding nature of longitudinal studies, there is still a lack of information on this in mammals, especially in large, long-lived species. our aim in this study was to look for stable individual differences in behavior and physiolog ...201931419447
identification of a novel equine papillomavirus in semen from a thoroughbred stallion with a penile lesion.papillomaviruses (pvs) have been identified in a wide range of animal species and are associated with a variety of disease syndromes including classical papillomatosis, aural plaques, and genital papillomas. in horses, 13 pvs have been described to date, falling into six genera. using total rna sequencing (meta-transcriptomics) we identified a novel equine papillomavirus in semen taken from a thoroughbred stallion suffering a genital lesion, which was confirmed by nested rt-pcr. we designate thi ...201931382657
sex identification in horses (equus caballus) based on the gene pair nlgn4x/nlgn4y. 201931318073
horses prefer to solicit a person who previously observed a food-hiding process to access this food: a possible indication of attentional state attribution.inferring what others witnessed provides important benefits in social contexts, but evidence remains scarce in nonhuman animals. we investigated this ability in domestic horses by testing whether they could discriminate between two experimenters who differed in what they previously witnessed and decide whom to solicit when confronted with an unreachable food source based on that information. first, horses saw food being hidden in a closed bucket (impossible for them to open) in the presence of t ...201931301426
epas1 gain-of-function mutation contributes to high-altitude adaptation in tibetan horses.high altitude represents some of the most extreme environments worldwide. the genetic changes underlying adaptation to such environments have been recently identified in multiple animals but remain unknown in horses. here, we sequence the complete genome of 138 domestic horses encompassing a whole altitudinal range across china to uncover the genetic basis for adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia. our genome dataset includes 65 lowland animals across ten chinese native breeds, 61 horses living at ...201931273382
a primitive trait in two breeds of equus caballus revealed by comparative anatomy of the distal limb.the 55-million-year history of equine phylogeny has been well-documented from the skeletal record; however, this is less true for the soft tissue structures that are now vestigial in modern horse. a recent study reported that two ligamentous structures resembling functional interosseous muscle ii and iv were evident in dutch konik horses. the current study investigates this finding and compares it to members of the genus equus to identify either a breed anomaly or functional primitive trait. dis ...201931197123
identification of a non-host semiochemical from tick-resistant donkeys (equus asinus) against amblyomma sculptum ticks.amblyomma sculptum is a tick affecting animal and human health across argentina, bolivia, paraguay and brazil. donkeys, equus asinus, are known to be resistant to a. sculptum, suggesting that they can produce non-host tick semiochemicals (allomones), as already demonstrated for some other vertebrate host/pest interactions, whereas horses, equus caballus, are considered as susceptible hosts. in this study, we tested the hypothesis that donkeys produce natural repellents against a. sculptum, by co ...201930799282
serological diagnosis of equine infectious anemia in horses, donkeys and mules using an elisa with a gp45 synthetic peptide as antigen.equine infectious anemia (eia) is a disease caused by a lentivirus that is currently controlled exclusively by identification of seropositive animals. in most countries, including brazil, the official diagnostic test for eia is the agar gel immunodiffusion test (agid). although this assay has a high specificity it can produce false negative reactions or equivocal results due to weak precipitation lines, especially in samples from donkeys, mules or newly infected equids. in this pioneering study, ...201930576724
sequence and functional variability of toll-like receptor 9 gene in equines.significant structural differences in the extracellular domain of toll-like receptor 9 (tlr9) account for species-specific recognition of its ligand cpg-odn sequences. tlr9 is extensively studied in human, mice and some domestic animals. the recognition ability appears to be utilized differently by various species and breeds, but so far no comprehensive study exists about the equine tlr9 gene. we characterized tlr9 sequences of marwari and zanskari breeds of horses and poitu donkey. we sequenced ...201930503611
the equine hoof: laminitis, progenitor (stem) cells, and therapy development.the equine hoof capsule, composed of modified epidermis and dermis, is vital for protecting the third phalanx from forces of locomotion. there are descriptions of laminitis, defined as inflammation of sensitive hoof tissues but recognized as pathologic changes with or without inflammatory mediators, in the earliest records of domesticated horses. laminitis can range from mild to serious, and signs can be acute, chronic, or transition from acute, severe inflammation to permanently abnormal tissue ...201931741428
preservation of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and immunoglobulin a through silica gel drying for field studies in horses.non-invasive methods enable stress evaluation through measuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fgms), and immunoglobulin a (iga) in the feces avoiding stressful blood drawing or stressful restraining of animals in the field. however, fgms and iga are mostly analysed in freshly frozen samples, which is difficult when fresh samples cannot be frozen immediately or frozen samples cannot be stored or transported. good results were also derived from air-dried fecal samples, which are hampered by un ...201931687143
inter- and intra-breed genome-wide copy number diversity in a large cohort of european equine breeds.copy number variation (cnv) is a common form of genetic variation underlying animal evolution and phenotypic diversity across a wide range of species. in the mammalian genome, high frequency of cnv differentiation between breeds may be candidates for population-specific selection. however, cnv differentiation, selection and its population genetics have been poorly explored in horses.201931640551
refinement of global domestic horse biogeography using historic landrace chinese mongolian populations.the mongolian horse is one of the oldest extant horse populations and although domesticated, most animals are free-ranging and experience minimal human intervention. as an ancient population originating in one of the key domestication centers, the mongolian horse may play a key role in understanding the origins and recent evolutionary history of horses. here we describe an analysis of high-density genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (snp) data in 40 globally dispersed horse populations (n ...201931628847
a case study of vertebral fusion in a 19th-century horse from serbia.to evaluate the etiology of skeletal changes noted in equid vertebrae from a 19th- century context near belgrade, serbia.201931550619
the expression of equine keratins k42 and k124 is restricted to the hoof epidermal lamellae of equus caballus.the equine hoof inner epithelium is folded into primary and secondary epidermal lamellae which increase the dermo-epidermal junction surface area of the hoof and can be affected by laminitis, a common disease of equids. two keratin proteins (k), k42 and k124, are the most abundant keratins in the hoof lamellar tissue of equus caballus. we hypothesize that these keratins are lamellar tissue-specific and could serve as differentiation- and disease-specific markers. our objective was to characteriz ...201931550264
erratum: author correction: improved reference genome for the domestic horse increases assembly contiguity and composition.[this corrects the article doi: 10.1038/s42003-018-0199-z.].201931531403
mutual interactions between cognition and welfare: the horse as an animal model.research in cognitive psychology has repeatedly shown how much cognition and emotions are mutually related to one another. psychological disorders are associated with cognitive (attention, memory and judgment) biases and chronic pain may affect attention, learning or memory. laboratory studies have provided useful insights about the processes involved but observations about spontaneous animal models, living in different stress/welfare conditions may help understand further how cognition and welf ...201931491471
age-associated telomere shortening in thoroughbred horses.telomeres are genetically conserved repetitive terminal dna that protect against genomic instability and shorten with ageing. here, we reveal the leukocyte telomere length of equus caballus by measuring terminal restriction fragments (trfs) using southern blot analysis in a cohort of 43 thoroughbred horses (age: 24 h-25 years). heterogeneous trfs were observed in each animal and large inter-animal variation in mean trf was observed (range: 10.5-18.7 kbp). mean trfs were inversely correlated with ...201931479729
are horses (equus caballus) sensitive to human emotional cues?emotions are important for social animals because animals' emotions function as beneficial cues to identify valuable resources such as food or to avoid danger by providing environmental information. emotions also enable animals to predict individuals' behavior and determine how to behave in a specific context. recently, several studies have reported that dogs are highly sensitive to not only conspecific but also human emotional cues. these studies suggest that domestication may have affected suc ...201931470656
a novel kit deletion variant in a german riding pony with white-spotting coat colour phenotype.white spotting phenotypes in horses may be caused by developmental alterations impairing melanoblast differentiation, survival, migration and/or proliferation. candidate genes for white-spotting phenotypes in horses include ednrb, kit, mitf, pax3 and trpm1. we investigated a german riding pony with a sabino-like phenotype involving extensive white spots on the body together with large white markings on the head and almost completely white legs. we obtained whole genome sequence data from this ho ...201931463981
the case of an arctic wild ass highlights the utility of ancient dna for validating problematic identifications in museum collections.museum collections are essential for reconstructing and understanding past biodiversity. many museum specimens are, however, challenging to identify. museum samples may be incomplete, have an unusual morphology, or represent juvenile individuals, all of which complicate accurate identification. in some cases, inaccurate identification can lead to false biogeographic reconstructions with cascading impacts on paleontological and paleoecological research. here, we analyzed an unusual equid mandible ...201931869520
causes of death and detection of antibodies against japanese encephalitis virus in misaki feral horses (equus caballus) in southern japan, 2015-17.we performed postmortem examinations on seven misaki feral horses (equus caballus) and evaluated misaki feral horses, japanese wild boars (sus scrofa leucomystax), domestic pigs (sus scrofa), and wild japanese macaques (macaca fuscata fuscata) from 2015 to 2017 in cape toi, kushima, miyazaki prefecture, southern japan, for antibodies against japanese encephalitis virus (jev). strongylus vulgaris infection with severe arterial lesions and hemomelasma ilei was present in all necropsied horses. we ...201931112466
development and evaluation of a duplex taqman qpcr assay for detection and quantification of trypanosoma cruzi infection in domestic and sylvatic reservoir hosts.a question of epidemiological relevance in chagas disease studies is to understand trypanosoma cruzi transmission cycles and trace the origins of (re)emerging cases in areas under vector or disease surveillance. conventional parasitological methods lack sensitivity whereas molecular approaches can fill in this gap, provided that an adequate sample can be collected and processed and a nucleic acid amplification method can be developed and standardized. we developed a duplex qpcr assay for accurat ...201931783770
a unified str profiling system across multiple species with whole genome sequencing data.short tandem repeats (strs) serve as genetic markers in forensic scenes due to their high polymorphism in eukaryotic genomes. a variety of strs profiling systems have been developed for species including human, dog, cat, cattle, etc. maintaining these systems simultaneously can be costly. these mammals share many high similar regions along their genomes. with the availability of the massive amount of the whole genomics data of these species, it is possible to develop a unified str profiling syst ...201931861983
emotional transfer in human-horse interaction: new perspectives on equine assisted interventions.equine assisted interventions (eais) include all therapeutic interventions aimed at improving human wellbeing through the involvement of horses. due to the prominent emotional involvement traditionally characterizing their relation with humans, horses developed sophisticated communicative skills, which fostered their ability to respond to human emotional states. in this review, we hypothesize that the proximate causation of successful interventions could be human-animal mutual coordination, thro ...201931779120
horses categorize human emotions cross-modally based on facial expression and non-verbal vocalizations.over the last few years, an increasing number of studies have aimed to gain more insight into the field of animal emotions. in particular, it is of interest to determine whether animals can cross-modally categorize the emotions of others. for domestic animals that share a close relationship with humans, we might wonder whether this cross-modal recognition of emotions extends to humans, as well. in this study, we tested whether horses could recognize human emotions and attribute the emotional val ...201931653088
frameshift variant in mfsd12 explains the mushroom coat color dilution in shetland ponies.mushroom is a unique coat color phenotype in shetland ponies characterized by the dilution of the chestnut coat color to a sepia tone and is hypothesized to be a recessive trait. a genome wide association study (gwas), utilizing the affymetrix 670k array (mnec670k) and a single locus mixed linear model analysis (emmax), identified a locus on eca7 for further investigation (pcorrected = 2.08 × 10-10). this locus contained a 3 mb run of homozygosity in the 12 mushroom ponies tested. analysis of hi ...201931635058
effects of size and personality on social learning and human-directed behaviour in horses (equus caballus).due to our long history of living in close association with horses, these animals are suggested to have enhanced skills in understanding and communicating with humans. today, horses have become important to humans for sport and leisure and their understanding of human behaviour and their human-directed behaviour are therefore of great importance. in this study, we investigated 22 horses in a human contact-seeking experiment where they were presented with an unsolvable problem and a detour experi ...201931312981
genome-wide association studies based on equine joint angle measurements reveal new qtl affecting the conformation of horses.the evaluation of conformation traits is an important part of selection for breeding stallions and mares. some of these judged conformation traits involve joint angles that are associated with performance, health, and longevity. to improve our understanding of the genetic background of joint angles in horses, we have objectively measured the angles of the poll, elbow, carpal, fetlock (front and hind), hip, stifle, and hock joints based on one photograph of each of the 300 franches-montagnes (fm) ...201931091839
the horse y chromosome as an informative marker for tracing sire lines.analysis of the y chromosome is the best-established way to reconstruct paternal family history in humans. here, we applied fine-scaled y-chromosomal haplotyping in horses with biallelic markers and demonstrate the potential of our approach to address the ancestry of sire lines. we de novo assembled a draft reference of the male-specific region of the y chromosome from illumina short reads and then screened 5.8 million basepairs for variants in 130 specimens from intensively selected and rural b ...201930988347
potent inhibitors of equine steroid isomerase ecagst a3-3.equine glutathione transferase a3-3 (ecagst a3-3) belongs to the superfamily of detoxication enzymes found in all higher organisms. however, it is also the most efficient steroid double-bond isomerase known in mammals. equus ferus caballus shares the steroidogenic pathway with homo sapiens, which makes the horse a suitable animal model for investigations of human steroidogenesis. inhibition of the enzyme has potential for treatment of steroid-hormone-dependent disorders. screening of a library o ...201930897163
domestic horse bite: an unusual etiology of crush injury of the fourth finger-how to manage?almost 2% of all emergency admissions involve an animal bite. while horses bite humans very rarely, their bites are mostly associated with fatalities. herein, we report the case of a 23-year old bitten by a domestic horse causing a crush injury to his fourth finger with fracture dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint. the patient benefited upon arrival at the emergency department from copious irrigation with saline serum, tetanus toxoid, postexposure rabies vaccination, and prophylact ...201930838145
development and validation of a novel 13-plex pcr system for commonly used short tandem repeats in horses (equus caballus).due to the thriving development of the modern horse industry and the occurrence of horse related crimes, the demand for methods of individual horse identification, parentage tests and other genetic analyses is increasing. previous methods had disadvantages that decreased the accuracy of the results, lacked the inclusion of all commonly used short tandem repeats (str) or increased the experimental cost and time.201930566256
benefits of zebra stripes: behaviour of tabanid flies around zebras and horses.averting attack by biting flies is increasingly regarded as the evolutionary driver of zebra stripes, although the precise mechanism by which stripes ameliorate attack by ectoparasites is unknown. we examined the behaviour of tabanids (horse flies) in the vicinity of captive plains zebras and uniformly coloured domestic horses living on a horse farm in britain. observations showed that fewer tabanids landed on zebras than on horses per unit time, although rates of tabanid circling around or brie ...201930785882
furry animal allergen component sensitization and clinical outcomes in adult asthma and rhinitis.sensitization to allergen components has been linked to asthma in children, but studies in adults are lacking.201930594587
researching immunocontraceptive vaccines with mares (equus caballus) as both a target and model for african elephant (loxodonta africana) cows: a review.a sequence of studies is reviewed that reported the domestic horse (equus caballus) mare as an appropriate and accessible research platform for recording clinical and laboratory data post-immunisation with anti- gnrh and -zona pellucida (zp) immunocontraceptive vaccines. experience with a native porcine zp (pzp) vaccine in african elephant (loxodonta africana) cows highlighted needs for improving vaccine formulations and more clearly defining associated ovarian effects and safety profiles. initi ...201931208844
intestinal ciliates (alveolata, ciliophora) in brazilian domestic horses (equus caballus l.) and a review on the ciliate communities associated with horses around the world.the aims of this study were to identify and quantify the gastrointestinal ciliates from brazilian domestic horses, to compare the data obtained with previous studies and to review data on ciliate communities associated with horses around the world. we used eight domestic horses, kept under extensive management. fecal samples were obtained immediately after defecation of animals and fixed in 18.5% formaldehyde. we identify 24 species of endosymbiotic ciliates, distributed in two subclasses, two o ...201931716156
genetics, evolution, and physiology of donkeys and mules.the genus equus is made up of donkeys, horses, and zebras. despite significant variation in chromosome number across these species, interspecies breeding results in healthy, although infertile, hybrid offspring. most notable among these are the horse-donkey hybrids, the mule and hinny. donkeys presently are used for everything from companion animals to beasts of burden. although closely related from an evolutionary standpoint, differences in anatomy and physiology preclude the assumption that th ...201931672199
unravelling the hybrid vigor in domestic equids: the effect of hybridization on bone shape variation and covariation.hybridization has been widely practiced in plant and animal breeding as a means to enhance the quality and fitness of the organisms. in domestic equids, this hybrid vigor takes the form of improved physical and physiological characteristics, notably for strength or endurance. because the offspring of horse and donkey is generally sterile, this widely recognized vigor is expressed in the first generation (f1). however, in the absence of recombination between the two parental genomes, f1 hybrids c ...201931615394
comparing and contrasting knowledge on mules and hinnies as a tool to comprehend their behavior and improve their welfare.mules and hinnies are the hybrids between donkeys (equus asinus) and horses (equus caballus). for centuries, mankind has used them for agrarian purposes, the military, or recreation. contrasting literature with behavioral observations, we seek a better behavioral understanding andthus comprehensive solutions for their welfare enhancement. over the past 6 years, we have assessed physical and behavioral welfare in over 900 mules by surveying owners from egypt, peru, portugal, spain, mexico, and th ...201931357421
stereotypic horses (equus caballus) are not cognitively impaired.stereotypies in animals are thought to arise from an interaction between genetic predisposition and sub-optimal housing conditions. in domestic horses, a well-studied stereotypy is crib-biting, an abnormal behaviour that appears to help individuals to cope with stressful situations. one prominent hypothesis states that animals affected by stereotypies are cognitively less flexible compared to healthy controls, due to sensitization of a specific brain area, the basal ganglia. the aim of this stud ...201930328528
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