Fact sheet: Equine herpes virus
Equine herpes virus (EHV) is a DNA virus found in horses all around the world. There are different strains of EHV, with the most common...
THOROUGHBRED HORSES
What Causes Equine Laminitis? The role of impaired glucose uptake
34 pages
Published: 27 Nov 2007
Author(s): Sillence, Martin, et al.
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The painful and crippling disease of laminitis is thought to have plagued horses and their owners for more than 2000 years. Part of the challenge for scientists who have tried to understand this disease is the wide range of conditions that can lead to laminitis. Among other factors, the triggers to laminitis can be dietary, drug-related, or may involve diverse medical conditions which could be described loosely as ‘stressful’ to the horse. Underlying factors may include a genetic component, plus a dysfunctional hormone and metabolic system.
This report describes a significant breakthrough in laminitis research. Many of the predisposing factors are explained and a number of triggers can now be understood, through the identification of a common causative agent. This report is designed to inform horse owners, clinical veterinarians and research scientists about this discovery and its immediate implications for prevention and treatment, as well as informing future research aimed at new therapeutic options.
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