Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

8th Cauthen Seminar (2024) Program, Cauthen-Seminar

Veterinary Science Presentations

Contained here is the complete program for the 8th Annual Cauthen Seminar held at the Gluck Equine Research Center.

The Cauthen seminar series was started in 2017 as a tribute and memorial to respected and beloved farrier and teacher, “Tex” Cauthen, developed to encourage the sharing of best practices, technology, research, experience, and insight among all communities in the equine industry, from owners, farriers, track managers, veterinarians, and jockeys.

The annual series has been hosted at the Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY along with a live broadcast as a Zoom webinar, offered free …

Equine Fecal Microbiota Response To Short Term Antibiotic Administration, Jordan Lacey Parker

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Though generally regarded as safe, research continues to demonstrate negative side effects of antibiotic administration on the gastrointestinal (GIT) microbiota across species. In horses, antibiotic associated diarrhea (AAD) is a life-threatening side effect linked to the GIT microbiota. This study tested the hypothesis that short term antibiotic administration to healthy horses would negatively impact the fecal microbiota as measured by their ability to digest nutrients and produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Twenty-four horses were assigned to one of four treatments: control (CO); potassium penicillin/gentamicin sulfate (KPG); ceftiofur crystalline free acid (EX); trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SMZ); and treated for 4 days. Fecal …

Effects Of High-Speed Training On Messenger Rna Expression In Two-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses, Mackenzie Grace Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Accumulating high-speed exercise has been identified as a significant risk factor for catastrophic injuries in racing Thoroughbreds. Injuries, regardless of severity, are a main cause of withdrawal from the racing industry, raising animal welfare concerns and resulting in significant economic losses. While most of the current literature focuses on catastrophic injuries incurred during racing rather than training, the present study aims to help fill this gap as well as discuss the associated risk factors. The evaluation of messenger RNA (mRNA) expression changes provides an efficient and straightforward approach to identifying horses at risk for catastrophic injury. While alternative injury risk …

Gabapentin, A Human Therapeutic Medication And An Environmental Substance Transferring At Trace Levels To Horses: A Case Report., Kimberly Brewer, Jacob Machin, George Maylin, Clara Fenger, Abelardo Morales-Briceño, Thomas Tobin

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Gabapentin, 1-(Aminomethyl)cyclohexaneacetic acid, MW 171.240, is a frequently prescribed high dose human medication that is also used recreationally. Gabapentin is orally absorbed; the dose can be 3,000 mg/day and it is excreted essentially unchanged in urine. Gabapentin is stable in the environment and routinely detected in urban wastewater. Gabapentin randomly transfers from humans to racing horses and is at times detected at pharmacologically ineffective / trace level concentrations in equine plasma and urine. In Ohio racing between January 2019 and July 2020,18 Gabapentin identifications, all less than 2 ng/ml in plasma, were reported. These identifications were ongoing because the horsemen …

Understanding The Causative Agent, Pathophysiology And Management Of The Kentucky Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome And Related Syndromes, Thomas Tobin, Gabriel Volpato, Navid Yousefi-Mashouf, Kimberly Brewer

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Presentations

No abstract provided.

Synthesis And Characterization Of D5-Barbarin For Use In Barbarin-Related Research, Sucheta Kudrimoti, Jacob Machin, Adedamola S. Arojojoye, Samuel G. Awuah, Rodney Eisenberg, Clara Fenger, George Maylin, Andreas F. Lehner, Thomas Tobin

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Based on structural similarities and equine administration experiments, Barbarin, 5-phenyl-2-oxazolidinethione from Brassicaceae plants, is a possible source of equine urinary identifications of aminorex, (R,S)-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-amine, an amphetamine-related US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) controlled substance considered illegal in sport horses. We now report the synthesis and certification of d₅-barbarin to facilitate research on the relationship between plant barbarin and such aminorex identifications. D₅-barbarin synthesis commenced with production of d₅-2-oxo-2-phenylacetaldehyde oxime (d₅-oxime) from d₅-acetophenone via butylnitrite in an ethoxide/ethanol solution. This d₅-oxime was then reduced with lithium aluminum …

Sporadic Worldwide “Clusters” Of Feed Driven Zilpaterol Identifications In Racing Horses: A Review And Analysis, Jacob Machin, Kimberly Brewer, Abelardo Morales Briceno, Clara Fenger, George Maylin, Thomas Tobin

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Zilpaterol is a β2-adrenergic agonist medication approved in certain countries as a cattle feed additive to improve carcass quality. Trace amounts of Zilpaterol can transfer to horse feed, yielding equine urinary “identifications” of Zilpaterol. These “identifications” occur because Zilpaterol is highly bioavailable in horses, resistant to biotransformation and excreted as unchanged Zilpaterol in urine, where it has a 5 day or so terminal half-life.

In horses, urinary steady-state concentrations are reached 25 days (5 half-lives) after exposure to contaminated feed. Zilpaterol readily presents in horse urine, yielding clusters of feed related Zilpaterol identifications in racehorses. The first cluster, April …

Acetylsalicylic Acid Suppresses Alcoholism-Induced Cognitive Impairment Associated With Atorvastatin Intake By Targeting Cerebral Mirna155 And Nlrp3: In Vivo, And In Silico Study, Doaa I. Mohamed, Dalia Alaa El-Din Aly El-Waseef, Enas S. Nabih, Omnyah A. El-Kharashi, Hanaa F. Abd El-Kareem, Hebatallah H. Abo Nahas, Basel A. Abdel-Wahab, Yosra A. Helmy, Samar Zuhair Alshawwa, Essa M. Saied

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Alcoholism is one of the most common diseases that can lead to the development of several chronic diseases including steatosis, and cognitive dysfunction. Statins are lipid-lowering drugs that are commonly prescribed for patients with fatty liver diseases; however, the exact effect of statins on cognitive function is still not fully understood. In the present study, we have investigated the molecular and microscopic basis of cognitive impairment induced by alcohol and/or Atorvastatin (ATOR) administration to male Wistar albino rats and explored the possible protective effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). The biochemical analysis indicated that either alcohol or ATOR or together in …

Parasite Dynamics In Untreated Horses Through One Calendar Year, Ashley E. Steuer, Haley P. Anderson, Taylor Shepherd, Morgan Clark, Jessica A. Scare, Holli S. Gravatte, Martin K. Nielsen

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Horses are host to a plethora of parasites. Knowledge of the seasonality of parasite egg shedding and transmission is important for constructing parasite control programs. However, studies describing these patterns are sparse, and have largely been conducted only in the United Kingdom. This study evaluated strongylid egg shedding patterns and transmission dynamics of Strongylus vulgaris in naturally infected and untreated mares and foals through one calendar year in Kentucky, USA. The study also investigated the existence of a peri-parturient rise (PPR) in strongylid egg counts in foaling mares and collected information about Strongyloides westeri and Parascaris spp. in the …

Guanabenz In The Horse – A Preliminary Report On Clinical Effects And Comparison To Clonidine And Other Alpha-2 Adrenergic Agonists, Andreas F. Lehner, L. Dirikolu, Thomas Tobin

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

In veterinary medicine, a number of alpha-2 receptor agonists are marketed as sedatives/hypnotics and analgesics, with their principal use being the chemical restraint of large and small animals. Guanabenz (Wytensin®) is an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist marketed for use in humans as an anti-hypertensive agent. Recent reports indicate that guanabenz has been administered to horses in small doses (0.04 mg/kg) for its anti-hypertensive effects. While this offers both benefits of sedation of the horse as well as amelioration of pulmonary hypertension during running exercise and consequent Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH), guanabenz is currently proscribed in most racing jurisdictions and its …

Identifying Bisphosphonate Protein Biomarkers In Equine Sera Using Mass Spectrometry Methods, Malinda Jayne Alison Porter

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Bone resorptive diseases affect humans and horses, alike. Examples of these diseases include osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, and osteogenesis imperfecta in humans, and navicular disease in the horse (Mitchell et al., 2019; Suva et al., 2021). Bisphosphonates are used to treat these diseases, and may remain in the bone for several years after administration, demonstrating the need for newer drug testing methods.

The purpose of the discovery phase of this study was to use blood samples of in-training horses which had been given an initial administration of the bisphosphonate tiludronate and identify protein biomarkers that changed in response to this class …

The Effects Of Cannabidiol On Senior Equine Health, Shelley Turner

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Cannabis sativa L., has been revealed to produce hundreds of phytocannabinoids, of which cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most desired. It has been revealed that CBD can potentially treat inflammation and act as an analgesic in humans without psychoactive effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Recently, there has been interest in understanding the potential health benefits of CBD for horses. With an increasing senior horse population (< 15 years old), alternatives to the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as phenylbutazone, firocoxib, and flunixin meglumine, are desired as these common anti-inflammatory treatments have negative side effects. Because senior horses may have chronic low-grade inflammation, termed inflamm-aging, they are a natural model to investigate the efficacy of CBD on inflammatory responses as well as other health parameters. Given this interest, and due to the lack of research conducted on CBD in the horse, the overall objective of this dissertation work was to conduct both basic and applied research investigating the effects of CBD on equine immune function and health. The first objective was to determine the in vitro effects of CBD as an anti-inflammatory. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from senior horses were cultured in vitro with increasing concentrations of pure CBD dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). These cells were …

The Effect Of Intra-Articular Corticosteroids On The Systemic Messenger Rna Response In An Equine Experimental Inflammation Model, Emma Elaine Partridge

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Intra-articular (IA) corticosteroids are regularly used in equine athletes for the control of joint inflammation. The goal of this study was to utilize an acute synovitis inflammation model to determine the residual effects of IA betamethasone and triamcinolone acetonide on various inflammatory parameters and lameness.

Five mixed-breed, 2-year-old horses were randomly allocated to an IA treatment of the radiocarpal joint with 9 mg of either betamethasone or triamcinolone acetonide. Two weeks following treatment, horses were injected with 1μg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) diluted in 1 mL of 0.9% sterile saline. Following LPS injection, horses were crossed-over and both sets of injections …

Host Range, Biology, And Species Specificity Of Seven-Segmented Influenza Viruses—A Comparative Review On Influenza C And D, Chithra Sreenivasan, Zizhang Sheng, Dan Wang, Feng Li

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Other than genome structure, influenza C (ICV), and D (IDV) viruses with seven-segmented genomes are biologically different from the eight-segmented influenza A (IAV), and B (IBV) viruses concerning the presence of hemagglutinin–esterase fusion protein, which combines the function of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase responsible for receptor-binding, fusion, and receptor-destroying enzymatic activities, respectively. Whereas ICV with humans as primary hosts emerged nearly 74 years ago, IDV, a distant relative of ICV, was isolated in 2011, with bovines as the primary host. Despite its initial emergence in swine, IDV has turned out to be a transboundary bovine pathogen and a broader host range, …

Cyathostomin Resistance To Moxidectin And Combinations Of Anthelmintics In Australian Horses, Ghazanfar Abbas, Abdul Ghafar, John Hurley, Jenni Bauquier, Anne Beasley, Edwina J. A. Wilkes, Caroline Jacobson, Charles El-Hage, Lucy Cudmore, Peter Carrigan, Brett Tennent-Brown, Charles G. Gauci, Martin K. Nielsen, Kristopher J. Hughes, Ian Beveridge, Abdul Jabbar

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Cyathostomins are the most important and common parasitic nematodes of horses, with > 50 species known to occur worldwide. The frequent and indiscriminate use of anthelmintics has resulted in the development of anthelmintic resistance (AR) in horse nematodes. In this study we assessed the efficacy of commonly used anthelmintics against cyathostomins in Australian thoroughbred horses.

METHODS: Two drug efficacy trials per farm were conducted on two thoroughbred horse farms in the state of Victoria, Australia. In the first trial, the horses on Farm A were treated with single and combinations of anthelmintics, including oxfendazole (OFZ), abamectin (ABM), abamectin and morantel …

Estrogens Regulate Placental Angiogenesis In Horses, Shingo Haneda, Pouya Dini, Alejandro Esteller-Vico, Kirsten E. Scoggin, Edward L. Squires, Mats H. T. Troedsson, Peter Daels, Yasuo Nambo, Barry A. Ball

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

A sufficient vascular network within the feto-maternal interface is necessary for placental function. Several pregnancy abnormalities have been associated with abnormal vascular formations in the placenta. We hypothesized that growth and expansion of the placental vascular network in the equine (Equus caballus) placenta is regulated by estrogens (estrogen family hormones), a hormone with a high circulating concentration during equine gestation. Administration of letrozole, a potent and specific inhibitor of aromatase, during the first trimester (D30 to D118), decreased circulatory estrone sulfate concentrations, increased circulatory testosterone and androstenedione concentrations, and tended to reduce the weight of the fetus ( …

Decoding The Equine Genome: Lessons From Encode, Sichong Peng, Jessica L. Petersen, Rebecca R. Bellone, Theodore S. Kalbfleisch, N. B. Kingsley, Alexa M. Barber, Eleonora Cappelletti, Elena Giulotto, Carrie J. Finno

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

The horse reference genome assemblies, EquCab2.0 and EquCab3.0, have enabled great advancements in the equine genomics field, from tools to novel discoveries. However, significant gaps of knowledge regarding genome function remain, hindering the study of complex traits in horses. In an effort to address these gaps and with inspiration from the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) project, the equine Functional Annotation of Animal Genome (FAANG) initiative was proposed to bridge the gap between genome and gene expression, providing further insights into functional regulation within the horse genome. Three years after launching the initiative, the equine FAANG group has generated data …

Evaluating Large Spontaneous Deletions In A Bovine Cell Line Selected For Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Resistance, Aspen M. Workman, Michael P. Heaton, Dennis A. Webster, Gregory P. Harhay, Theodore S. Kalbfleisch, Timothy P. L. Smith, Shollie M. Falkenberg, Daniel F. Carlson, Tad S. Sonstegard

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Bovine viral diarrhea virus’s (BVDV) entry into bovine cells involves attachment of virions to cellular receptors, internalization, and pH-dependent fusion with endosomal membranes. The primary host receptor for BVDV is CD46; however, the complete set of host factors required for virus entry is unknown. The Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cell line is susceptible to BVDV infection, while a derivative cell line (CRIB) is resistant at the level of virus entry. We performed complete genome sequencing of each to identify genomic variation underlying the resistant phenotype with the aim of identifying host factors essential for BVDV entry. Three large compound deletions …

Occurrence Of Potentially Zoonotic And Cephalosporin Resistant Enteric Bacteria Among Shelter Dogs In The Central And South-Central Appalachia, Ashutosh Verma, Kimberly Carney, Marina Taylor, Kaitlyn Amsler, Joey Morgan, Karen Gruszynski, Erdal Erol, Craig N. Carter, Stephan Locke, Ashton Callipare, Devendra H. Shah

Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance and presence of zoonotic enteropathogens in shelter dogs pose a public health risk to shelter workers and potential adopters alike. In this study we investigated the prevalence of zoonotic bacterial pathogens and cephalosporin resistant (Cef^R) enteric bacteria in the feces of apparently healthy shelter dogs in the Cumberland Gap Region (CGR) in the US states of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.

RESULTS: Fecal samples of 59 dogs from 10 shelters in the CGR of Central and South-Central Appalachia were screened for the presence of Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella and Cef^R enteric bacteria. C. …

In Situ Imaging Of Bacterial Outer Membrane Projections And Associated Protein Complexes Using Electron Cryo-Tomography, Mohammed Kaplan, Georges Chreifi, Lauren Ann Metskas, Janine Liedtke, Cecily R. Wood, Catherine M. Oikonomou, William J. Nicolas, Poorna Subramanian, Lori A. Zacharoff, Yuhang Wang, Yi-Wei Chang, Morgan Beeby, Megan J. Dobro, Yongtao Zhu, Mark J. Mcbride, Ariane Briegel, Carrie L. Shaffer, Grant J. Jensen

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

The ability to produce outer membrane projections in the form of tubular membrane extensions (MEs) and membrane vesicles (MVs) is a widespread phenomenon among diderm bacteria. Despite this, our knowledge of the ultrastructure of these extensions and their associated protein complexes remains limited. Here, we surveyed the ultrastructure and formation of MEs and MVs, and their associated protein complexes, in tens of thousands of electron cryo-tomograms of ~90 bacterial species that we have collected for various projects over the past 15 years (Jensen lab database), in addition to data generated in the Briegel lab. We identified outer MEs and MVs …

Equine Influenza Virus And Vaccines, Fatai S. Oladunni, Saheed Oluwasina Oseni, Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Thomas M. Chambers

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Equine influenza virus (EIV) is a constantly evolving viral pathogen that is responsible for yearly outbreaks of respiratory disease in horses termed equine influenza (EI). There is currently no evidence of circulation of the original H7N7 strain of EIV worldwide; however, the EIV H3N8 strain, which was first isolated in the early 1960s, remains a major threat to most of the world’s horse populations. It can also infect dogs. The ability of EIV to constantly accumulate mutations in its antibody-binding sites enables it to evade host protective immunity, making it a successful viral pathogen. Clinical and virological protection against EIV …

Short-Term Transport Stress And Supplementation Alter Immune Function In Aged Horses, Ashton B. Miller, Patricia A. Harris, Virginia D. Barker, Amanda A. Adams

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Long-distance transport is associated with stress-related changes in equine immune function, and shipping-associated illnesses are often reported. Horses are frequently transported short distances, yet the effects of short-term transport on immune function remain largely unknown. Twelve horses, aged 15–30 yr, were assigned to either the control (n = 6) or treatment (n = 6) groups; treatment horses received a daily antioxidant supplement 3 weeks before and after transport. All horses were transported for approximately 1.5–2 hr on Day 0. Blood was collected via jugular venipuncture at 15-min pre- and post-transport and on Days –21, 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21. …

Steroidogenic Enzyme And Steroid Receptor Expression In The Equine Accessory Sex Glands, Robyn E. Ellerbrock, Giorgia Podico, Kirsten E. Scoggin, Barry A. Ball, Mariano Carossino, Igor F. Canisso

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

The expression pattern and distribution of sex steroid receptors and steroidogenic enzymes during development of the equine accessory sex glands has not previously been described. We hypothesized that equine steroidogenic enzyme and sex steroid receptor expression is dependent on reproductive status. Accessory sex glands were harvested from mature stallions, pre-pubertal colts, geldings, and fetuses. Expression of mRNA for estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2), androgen receptor (AR), 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5-4 isomerase (3βHSD), P450,17α hydroxylase, 17–20 lyase (CYP17), and aromatase (CYP19) were quantified by RT-PCR, and protein localization of AR, ER-α, ER-β, and 3βHSD were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Expression of …

Field Safety Experience With An Autologous Cancer Vaccine In Tumor-Bearing Cats: A Retrospective Study Of 117 Cases (2015-2020), Michael D. Lucroy, Alexa M. Kugler, Ferris El-Tayyeb, Ryan M. Clauson, Ashley E. Kalinauskas, Mark A. Suckow

Office of the Attending Veterinarian Academic Publications

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and severity of adverse events (AEs) reported from use of an adjuvanted whole-cell autologous cancer vaccine in cats with solid tumors under field conditions.

METHODS: The case accession database at Torigen Pharmaceuticals was searched to identify client-owned cats that underwent biopsy or surgical resection of their primary tumor, had histologic confirmation of neoplasia and received at least one subcutaneous dose of an adjuvanted whole-cell autologous cancer vaccine. Records were reviewed for any reported AEs.

RESULTS: In total, 117 cats met the inclusion criteria and received 422 doses of autologous …

Laser Irradiation As A Novel Alternative To Detach Intact Particulate Matter Collected On Air Filters, Seyed-Mohammadreza Samaee, Rahim Molaei, Robert A. Yokel, Hedieh Pazokian

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Airborne particulate matter (PM) is collected on specific filters. For subsequent testing, the PM should be detached intact from the filter. Liquid extraction (LE), the standard method to detach PM from air filter surfaces, is challenging and can be tedious. Laser irradiation has been used to characterize PM on filters, but not to detach PM from filters for subsequent testing. A feasibility study was conducted to assess the potential of laser irradiation to detach PM from air filters. Laser-detached PM was deposited on a pre-weighed glass plate. PM detachment and collection were conducted in a single step. PM-coated air filters …

Identification Of A Ruminant Origin Group B Rotavirus Associated With Diarrhea Outbreaks In Foals, Tirth Uprety, Chithra C. Sreenivasan, Ben M. Hause, Ganwu Li, Solomon O. Odemuyiwa, Stephan Locke, Jocelynn Morgan, Li Zeng, William F. Gilsenan, Nathan Slovis, Laurie Metcalfe, Craig N. Carter, Peter J. Timoney, David W. Horohov, Dan Wang, Erdal Erol, Emma Adam, Feng Li

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Equine rotavirus group A (ERVA) is one of the most common causes of foal diarrhea. Starting in February 2021, there was an increase in the frequency of severe watery to hemorrhagic diarrhea cases in neonatal foals in Central Kentucky. Diagnostic investigation of fecal samples failed to detect evidence of diarrhea-causing pathogens including ERVA. Based on Illumina-based metagenomic sequencing, we identified a novel equine rotavirus group B (ERVB) in fecal specimens from the affected foals in the absence of any other known enteric pathogens. Interestingly, the protein sequence of all 11 segments had greater than 96% identity with group B …

Transcriptomic Analysis Of Equine Chorioallantois Reveals Immune Networks And Molecular Mechanisms Involved In Nocardioform Placentitis, Hossam El-Sheikh Ali, Shavahn C. Loux, Laura Kennedy, Kirsten E. Scoggin, Pouya Dini, Carleigh E. Fedorka, Theodore S. Kalbfleisch, Alejandro Esteller-Vico, David W. Horohov, Erdal Erol, Craig N. Carter, Jackie L. Smith, Barry A. Ball

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Nocardioform placentitis (NP) continues to result in episodic outbreaks of abortion and preterm birth in mares and remains a poorly understood disease. The objective of this study was to characterize the transcriptome of the chorioallantois (CA) of mares with NP. The CA were collected from mares with confirmed NP based upon histopathology, microbiological culture and PCR for Amycolatopsis spp. Samples were collected from the margin of the NP lesion (NPL, n = 4) and grossly normal region (NPN, n = 4). Additionally, CA samples were collected from normal postpartum mares (Control; CRL, n = 4). Transcriptome analysis identified 2892 differentially …

Successful Atac-Seq From Snap-Frozen Equine Tissues, Sichong Peng, Rebecca Bellone, Jessica L. Petersen, Theodore S. Kalbfleisch, Carrie J. Finno

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

An assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) has become an increasingly popular method to assess genome-wide chromatin accessibility in isolated nuclei from fresh tissues. However, many biobanks contain only snap-frozen tissue samples. While ATAC-seq has been applied to frozen brain tissues in human, its applicability in a wide variety of tissues in horse remains unclear. The Functional Annotation of Animal Genome (FAANG) project is an international collaboration aimed to provide high quality functional annotation of animal genomes. The equine FAANG initiative has generated a biobank of over 80 tissues from two reference female animals and experiments to begin …

Untangling A Cat’S Cradle: Diphacinone, Acetaminophen, Trauma, And Multiple Deaths In A Kentucky Cat Colony, Megan C. Romano, Uneeda K. Bryant, Lynne M. C. Cassone, Jennifer G. Janes, Michelle N. Helm, Kyle A. Francis

Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Faculty Publications

This manuscript describes an animal cruelty investigation in which several cats from a feral colony were suspected of having been poisoned. Three of the cats were submitted for complete postmortem examination by a qualified veterinary pathologist, and appropriate toxicologic analyses were selected and interpreted by a qualified veterinary toxicologist. Diagnosis in poisoning cases requires communication and collaboration between the pathologists and the toxicologist. A truly definitive diagnosis is not always possible in poisoning cases, particularly in a forensic investigation – a court of law requires a higher standard to establish a cause of death than do routine diagnostic cases. This …

Serological Survey Of Leptospira Infection In Arabian Horses In Poland, Bernard Wasiński, Katarzyna Paschalis-Trela, Jan Trela, Michał Czopowicz, Jerzy Kita, Monika Żychska, Anna Cywińska, Iwona Markowska-Daniel, Craig N. Carter, Lucjan Witkowski

Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Faculty Publications

Leptospirosis is one of the most common zoonotic infections worldwide, including in most livestock, some companion animals, horses, wildlife, and humans. Epidemiological estimation of its prevalence in all species is difficult due to the variety of clinical presentations and challenges regarding laboratory diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to measure the seroprevalence of leptospiral infection in Arabian horses kept in the largest breeding farms in Poland, representing over 15% of the Polish Arabian horse population. Leptospira antibodies were detected by MAT (cut-off 1:100) in 33.2% of serum samples (204 of 615 animals) (CI 95%: 29.6–37.0%), most frequently reacting with …