equine antithymocyte globulin (Thymogam)

Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in horses in the district of Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Kante Noumouké N, Kaba Lanceï L, N'Gotta Kouadio-Ba Idrissa KI, Camara Almamy Ousmane Deen AOD et al.

Gastrointestinal parasitic infections constitute a major constraint to equine health and productivity, particularly in tropical regions where climatic and environmental conditions favor parasite survival and transmission. In Côte d'Ivoire, epidemiological data regarding gastrointestinal parasites in horses remain limited, especially in urban and peri-urban settings such as the district of Abidjan. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, diversity, and associated risk factors of gastrointestinal parasites affecting horses in the study area. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2024 to February 2025 among 277 horses originating from 19 equine facilities, including 8 riding schools and 11 breeding farms, located in the district of Abidjan. Fresh fecal samples were collected and analyzed using four coprological techniques: direct examination, flotation, the simplified Ritchie concentration method, and Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests and logistic regression, were performed to identify factors significantly associated with parasitic infections at a significance threshold of p ≤ 0.05. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 88.80%, indicating widespread circulation of equine gastrointestinal parasites within the study area. Fifteen parasite species were identified, with predominance of Strongylus spp. (48.37%), Parascaris equorum (40.07%), cyathostomins (Cyathostominae) (30.68%), Fasciola hepatica (29.24%), and Cryptosporidium parvum (28.51%). Nematodes represented the predominant parasitic group. Significant associations were observed between parasitic infections and management-related factors, particularly feeding practices and type of equine activity. Horses from riding schools appeared more exposed to certain parasitic infections compared with horses raised on breeding farms. The high prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal parasites observed among horses in the district of Abidjan highlight an important equine health concern in Côte d'Ivoire. These findings emphasize the need to strengthen integrated parasite control strategies, including regular parasitological monitoring, improved hygiene and management practices, rational use of anthelmintics to reduce the risk of resistance, and targeted deworming programs. Reinforcing veterinary surveillance and increasing awareness among horse owners and managers could substantially contribute to improving equine health and productivity in the study area.

The self-replicating RNA platform expands to cancer immunotherapy with next-generation Eastern equine encephalitis virus vectors.

Kenneth Lundstrom L

Vital bone and increased osteoid in equine osteochondrosis dissecans of the proximal phalanx: A controlled study indicating a mineralization deficit rather than vascular failure.

Leuffert S I SI, von Brackel F N FN, Cardinaux E M EM, Alimy A-R AR et al.

Osteochondrosis and osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) are among the most common orthopaedic disorders in young horses. Although traditionally explained by vascular failure and ischaemic necrosis, recent findings in human juvenile OCD suggest that impaired bone mineralization may play an important role. Horses are known to have relatively low circulating vitamin D metabolites, raising the question of whether insufficient mineralization contributes to equine OCD. This study investigated the bone vitality and mineralization status of osteochondrosis dissecans fragments (OCDFs) collected from the dorsomedioproximal aspect of the proximal phalanx and compared them with control bone from the corresponding anatomic region in non-affected horses. Micro-CT, undecalcified histology, histomorphometry, and quantitative backscattered electron imaging (qBEI) were used to assess bone vitality, osteoid accumulation, and mineral content. All OCDFs showed vital bone tissue without any evidence of osteonecrosis. Histomorphometry revealed a pronounced accumulation of osteoid by means of osteoid per tissue volume (control: 0.49% ± 0.36% vs. OCD: 2.85% ± 1.45%, p = 0.0001). Micro-CT demonstrated reduced bone tissue mineral density in OCD (control: 843.7 mgHA/cm3 ± 31.3 mgHA/cm3 vs. OCD: 779.0 mgHA/cm3 ± 37.0 mgHA/cm3, p < 0.0001) confirmed by qBEI. Our results indicate that equine OCDFs contain vital bone with impaired mineralization rather than necrotic tissue. This pattern mirrors findings in human juvenile OCD and supports the hypothesis that a metabolic mineralization disorder contributed to the pathogenesis of equine OCD.

Evaluation of a canine Coll2-1 ELISA kit for use in equine serum and its correlation with radiographic joint disease.

Ramos Sofia S, Lamy Elsa E, Nunes Telmo T, Rosa Teresa T et al.

This study evaluated an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Coll2-1, a peptide fragment of type II collagen released during cartilage degradation in horses using a kit originally developed for dogs. The objectives of this study were to: 1) assess the analytical applicability of the canine Coll2-1 ELISA in equine serum and 2) explore the correlations between Coll2-1 concentrations and radiographic scores of osteoarthritis (OA) in horses. Twelve Lusitano stallions, of similar age and workload but presenting different radiographic scores were included. Radiographic studies of the stifle, tarsi, fetlocks and distal limbs were done and the classification of the radiographs was performed using a 0-4 scale. Blood samples were obtained at rest and the Coll2-1 concentration in equine serum measured using Coll2-1 ELISA. Analytical performance was evaluated by measuring intra-assay and inter-assay precision and regression analysis. Data distribution was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Non-parametric methods were applied when normality was rejected, and correlations between Coll2-1 concentrations and radiographic scores were evaluated using Kendall's Tau-b. Intra-assay and inter-assay CVs ranged from 5.6 to 19.3% and 3.6 to 22%, respectively. The regression analysis yielded a determination coefficient of 0.94, with all analytical parameters within manufacturer's recommendations. No significant correlations were observed between serum Coll2-1 concentrations and radiographic OA scores. Using serum, Coll2-1 did not appear to be a sensitive biomarker for identifying OA in this population. However, the canine ELISA demonstrated acceptable analytical performance in equine serum, supporting its use in another disease.