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Background: When surgical treatment of cervical vertebral malformation is considered, precise localization of compression sites is essential, but remains challenging. Magnetic motor evoked potentials (mMEP) from paravertebral muscles are useful in localizing spinal cord lesions, but no information about cervical muscle mMEP in horses is available yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the possibility, normal values, inter-and intra-observer agreement and factors that have an effect on cervical mMEP in healthy horses. Methods: Transcranial magnetic stimulation was performed on 50 normal horses and 4 (2 left, 2 right) muscle responses were recorded at the middle of each cervical vertebra (C1-C7) and additionally just caudal to C7 to evaluate cervical nerves (Cn) Cn1 to Cn8. Latency time and amplitude of the recorded mMEP were defined by both an experienced and an unexperienced operator. Results: Latency increased gradually from 14.2 +/- 1.38 ms for Cn3 to 17.7 +/- 1.36 ms for Cn8, was significantly influenced by cervical nerve (P < 0.01), gender (P = 0.02) and height (P = 0.03) and had a good intra-observer agreement. The smallest mean amplitude (4.35 +/- 2.37 mV) was found at Cn2, the largest (5.99 +/- 2.53 mV) at Cn3. Amplitude was only significantly influenced by cervical nerve (P < 0.01) and had a low intra-observer agreement. No significant effect of observer on latency (P = 0.88) or amplitude (P = 0.99) measurements was found. Conclusion: mMEP of cervical muscles in normal horses are easy to collect and to evaluate with limited intra-and inter-observer variation concerning amplitude and should be investigated in future studies in ataxic horses to evaluate its clinical value.

Observations were made on the intestinal threadworm (Strongyloides westeri) and ascarid (Parascaris equorum) in field studies in 373 Thoroughbred foals on nine farms in Central Kentucky (USA) in 2013. Qualitative examination was made of feces of the foals for presence of S. westeri and P. equorum eggs. The main purpose of the prevalence study was to obtain current data on S. westeri in Thoroughbred foals. This was done to compare these findings with earlier studies in this geographical area where the prevalence of this parasite has been very low the last several decades. All the foals except on one farm had been treated one or more times with a parasiticide before the study. Prevalence of S. westeri in foals was 0 to 3 % on two farms, 6 to 9 % on three farms, and 20 to 51 % on four farms. The prevalence of P. equorum in foals was 0 to 14 % on three farms, 27 to 38 % on three farms, and 46 to 51 % on three farms. Effect of drugs given before the current study, on the prevalence of the two parasitic nematode species, is discussed. Also, three field tests were done by the present authors to evaluate activity of three individual or combination of drugs against ascarids. Evaluation was somewhat limited because, on two of the farms, a relatively small number of foals was passing ascarid eggs before treatment. However, oxibendazole and oxibendazole/piperazine combination were much more efficacious than fenbendazole.

The aim of the present study was to examine sport horses in Northwest Turkey for Eimeria (E.) leuckarti infections. Between 2004 and 2008 fecal samples from 549 horses of different age, breed and sex of 21 farms were examined for E. leuckarti oocysts using a qualitative method which involved centrifugation/flotation and saturated sugar solution as medium. The prevalence of infection was evaluated relative to host age, sex, breed and pasture availability. 16 (2.9%) horses were found to be infected with E leuckarti, whilst infected horses were located in nine (42.8%) farms. Younger horses (< 1 year old) were more frequently infected than older ones. However, breed, sex and availability of pasture were not identified as factors influencing the prevalence. As a main conclusion, compared with the low infection rate found in individual horses, E. leuckarti was highly prevalent at the farm level which possess a permanent risk of infection of especially younger horses at these premises. This study reports for the first time on the prevalence of E. leuckarti in sport horses from farms in Northwest Turkey.

This group of experiments focused on relationships between diet, somatotropic axis, and growth. Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) are factors in the somatotropic axis, and important to development of growth cartilage in the young animal. The entire study was divided into four main experiments. Characteristics of growth in 113 Thoroughbred foals born over a five year period were described with a series of empirical and physiological equations. Glycemic and insulinemic responses to different feed compositions were evaluated with glycemic response tests. The 24 hr pattern of plasma glucose, insulin, GH, and IGF-I was described in yearlings fed two meals a day. Finally, an association between ADG and IGF-I was described in Thoroughbreds from birth to 16 mo of age. Feeding diets to the foal that influence the somatotropic axis during growth may affect development of growth cartilage in unexpected or detrimental ways. The pattern of weight in Thoroughbred foals from birth to 16 mo of age was most closely described by multiple regression with a combination of age, girth, body length, and physeal circumference (R2 = 0.99). Glycemic and insulinemic responses were significantly higher in yearlings fed a sugar and starch supplement when compared to those fed a fat and fiber supplement (P = 0.043 and 0.031; respectively). Glucose and insulin secretion was significantly affected by the feeding of two meals in a 24 hr period (P < 0.0001). Plasma IGF-I was positively correlated with ADG from birth to 16 mo of age in foals fed either a fat and fiber or sugar and starch supplement (r = 0.34, P < 0.0001). The results from the series of experiments described here suggest a possible role of dietary mangement in reducing the risk of skeletal disorders that involve the influence of IGF-I on chondrocyte maturation. Ph. D.