Background Coxiella burnetii exposure in equids remains poorly investigated worldwide and has never been evaluated in Brazil. Aims/objectives To investigate the occurrence of anti-C. burnetii antibodies in a large population of equids from southeastern Brazil and to identify associated risk factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 307 apparently healthy equids, including horses, donkeys, and mules, from six municipalities in the Greater Vitória Metropolitan Region, Espírito Santo State, Brazil. Sera were tested for anti-C. burnetii antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Univariate analysis was performed to evaluate associations between seropositivity and demographic, environmental, and management variables. Results Seropositivity was detected in 9.45% (29/307) of the animals. A statistically significant association was observed between location and seropositivity (P = 0.0146), with equids from Vila Velha showing 4.26-fold higher odds of seropositivity than those from the reference municipality. Breeding equids showed higher odds of seropositivity (OR = 1.49), whereas equids with cat contact showed lower odds (OR = 0.45); however, neither association was statistically significant. No significant associations were observed between seropositivity and sex, age, equid type, topography, access to standing water, contact with ruminants, dogs, pigs, poultry, or tick infestation. Conclusion This study provides the first evidence of exposure to C. burnetii in equids from Brazil. The absence of an association between seropositivity and contact with ruminants, together with the higher seropositivity observed in one municipality, suggests that exposure to C. burnetii may be more closely related to geographic area than to contact with known animal reservoirs.
Background Equine musculoskeletal therapy interventions are increasingly used in management and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal disorders. Consolidation of the evidence base would facilitate collaboration between veterinarians and veterinary physiotherapists. Aims/objectives This scoping review aimed to identify, categorise, and summarise the current evidence on equine musculoskeletal therapy interventions. Methods The study followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for a scoping review. CAB Abstracts, Web of Science, and PubMed databases were searched and reviewed against inclusion criteria. Publications evaluating hydrotherapy, massage, stretching, myofascial release, osteopathy, chiropractic interventions, TENS, therapeutic ultrasound, kinesiotherapy, trigger point release, reflex inhibition, and thermotherapy for equids were included and reviewed. Data were extracted and charted according to study aim, study design, musculoskeletal therapy intervention, population, assessment methods, and outcome. Results 2,340 publications were identified; following duplicate removal, 1,874 were screened and 74 met inclusion criteria. Thirteen intervention categories were identified. Massage, chiropractic interventions, dynamic mobilisation and hydrotherapy were the most frequently studied, with 11-14 publications each. There were between 1-6 studies for each of the other interventions. There were considerable variations in intervention delivery, study design, and outcome assessment which limited ability to consolidate evidence. The greatest body and consistency of evidence was for dynamic mobilisation and massage. Conclusion This is the largest published evidence review of equine musculoskeletal therapy interventions to date, encompassing 13 categories. Variation in study design and outcomes limited comparison and the ability to generate evidence-based recommendations. Standardised terminology, consistent study design and reporting will strengthen the evidence base and aid clinical integration.
Background Feeding horses excess crude protein (CP) leads to increased nitrogen excretion in urine and feces. However, evidence is lacking in how CP partitioning in the diet impacts nitrogen profiles in equine feces for potential fertilizer use. Objectives Thus, our retrospective pilot study objective was to determine if daily CP and neutral detergent soluble CP (NDSCP) intakes affected equine fecal nitrogen profiles. Methods Three Quarter Horse geldings were fed 15 g dry matter (DM)/kg body weight (BW)/d of coastal Bermudagrass hay for 14 d (GRASS) then 15 g DM/kg BW/d of a 50:50 mixture of coastal Bermudagrass and alfalfa hay for 14 d (MIXED). A concentrate with 158 g CP/kg DM was fed daily (0.5 kg DM/d). Fresh feces were collected on Day 14 of each phase and frozen at -80°C, then analyzed by Dairy One (Ithaca, NY, USA). Intake data (g/kg BW/d) and fecal analyses (g/kg DM) were analyzed using a paired t-test and ANCOVA using CP intake as a covariate. Results The MIXED diet provided more NDSCP (2.04 g NDSCP/kg BW/d) than GRASS (1.50 g NDSCP/kg BW/d; P < 0.001). Fecal ammonia concentration tended greater and fecal carbon concentration was less in MIXED versus GRASS (P = 0.082; P = 0.015). From the ANCOVA, MIXED had greater fecal ammonia (P = 0.047) but less fecal-N (P = 0.018) and organic-N (P = 0.007) than GRASS. Conclusion Increases in dietary NDSCP from greater CP intake increase excretion of nitrogen as fecal ammonia in a single hand-grab sample, which indicates that dietary protein fractionation may impact equine fecal nitrogen profiles and therefore, manure management.
Background Left ventricular (LV) volume assessment evaluates cardiac size and remodelling in horses. Single-plane Simpson method of discs (SMOD) provides volumetric measurements requiring body size normalization. Aims/objectives We described LV volumes using SMOD in healthy Brazilian Sport Horses (BH) and evaluated thoracic-girth–estimated body weight (BWe) versus scale-measured weight (BWs) for indexing. Methods Thirty BH horses (15 males, 15 females; 4–16 years) underwent echocardiography. LV end-diastolic (LVEDV), end-systolic volumes (LVESV), and ejection fraction (EF%) were obtained using SMOD. Body weight was scale-measured and estimated via thoracic girth formula. Volumes were indexed to BWs, BWe, and a 500- kg reference. Results Mean LVEDV was 1060 ± 154 mL (95% CI: 1003–1118), LVESV 318 ± 77 mL (95% CI: 290–347), and EF 70.0 ± 5.4%. Overall, BWe was associated with BWs (R² = 0.61; P < 0.0001) with mean bias of +33.25 kg (limits of agreement:37.59 to +104.09 kg), mean absolute error of 39 ± 28.83 kg, and percentage error of 8.92 ± 7.27%. LVEDV/BWs averaged 2.30 ± 0.29 mL/kg and LVEDV/BWe 2.15 ± 0.26 mL/kg. Normalization to 500 kg yielded LVEDV[500] of 1151 ± 146 and 1069 ± 131 mL, and LVESV[500] of 346 ± 83 and 321 ± 70 mL (BWs; BWe). Indexed variables showed moderate to strong linear association between methods. In this sample, no sex or age differences were detected. Conclusion Body weight normalization improved interindividual comparability. While BWe offers a practical field alternative, estimation errors warrant caution in individual evaluations, making BWs preferred.
