The incidence of sports injuries in horses is increasing, thus accurate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment are critical. Among common sports-related injuries, proximal sesamoid bone fractures (PSBFs) are one of the most frequent types. To investigate the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on imaging and hematological parameters of PSBFs, providing a clinical reference for the diagnosis and treatment of PSBFs in racehorses. After clinical diagnosis and radiographic examination confirmed the disease and its location, the affected horses were randomly divided into two groups: the ultrasound group received daily LIPUS treatment, while the control group received no intervention. After a four-week treatment, lameness grading, imaging, and hematological parameters were reassessed to evaluate PSBF healing and changes in blood indicators. Both imaging and hematological examinations play important clinical roles in the early diagnosis and later-stage evaluation of diseases. In this study, following LIPUS treatment, the affected horses showed significantly increased ALP activity in the serum, and higher levels of serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and the calcium-phosphorus product (Ca × P) (P < 0.05). Additionally, analysis of inflammatory cytokines revealed that the expression of pro-inflammatory markers, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, were markedly elevated during the early stages of fracture but gradually returned to normal as treatment progressed. These findings suggest that LIPUS can accelerate healing by alleviating inflammation at the fracture site. This study found that LIPUS treatment of PSBFs significantly improved microcirculation at the fracture site and promoted efficient healing through enhanced callus formation and accelerated bone repair. This favorable outcome of LIPUS therapy provides a valuable clinical reference for future diagnosis and treatment of PSBFs.

Cefquinome is used to treat septicemia caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) and respiratory infections caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in foals. However, studies reporting the use of cefquinome to target E. coli as pathogens of sepsis are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the optimal dosage regimen for cefquinome against E. coli using a PK/PD model. After the administration of 1 mg/kg cefquinome (intramuscularly or intravenously), blood samples were collected at different time points to determine the serum concentration of cefquinome via HPLC. The pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated via NCA (WinNonlin 5.2.1 software). The main pharmacokinetic parameters of cefquinome in foals were as follows: after intravenous administration, the elimination half-life (T_1/2β) was 2.35 h, the area under the curve (AUC_0–last) was 12.33 μg·h/mL, the mean residence time (MRT_0–last) was 2.67 h, and the clearance rate (CL) was 0.09 L/h/kg. After intramuscular administration, the peak concentration (C_max) was 0.89 μg/mL, the time to reach the maximum serum concentration (T_max) was 2.16 h, T_1/2β was 4.16 h, AUC_0–last was 5.41 μg·h/mL, MRT_0–last was 4.92 h, CL was 0.15 L/h/kg, and the absolute bioavailability (F) was 43.86%. An inhibitory sigmoid Emax model was used to integrate the PK/PD indices with ex vivo antimicrobial effects to identify pharmacodynamic targets (PDTs). According to the dose calculation formula, the doses of intramuscularly administered cefquinome required to achieve bacteriostatic effects, bactericidal effects, and bactericidal elimination were 1.10, 1.66, and 2.28 mg/kg, respectively. However, further studies are warranted to verify the therapeutic efficacy of cefquinome in clinical settings.

Anthelmintic treatment is widely used in equine health management to control parasitic infections; however, its potential effects on the gut microbiota and metabolic characteristics remain poorly understood. In this study, twelve Yili horses were randomly assigned to two groups: a control group (C), which received no anthelmintic treatment, and a Miechongshu-treated group (T), which was orally administered Miechongshu at a dose of 0.36 g/kg body weight on day 0. Fecal samples were collected from the rectums of Yili horses on day 14 after administration, and differences in gut microbial composition and metabolic characteristics between the two groups were further examined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing in combination with LC–MS/MS-based metabolomic analysis. The results showed that there was no significant difference in α diversity (p > 0.05). At the phylum level, compared with Group C, the relative abundance of Halobacterota significantly increased (p < 0.05). At the family level, the relative abundance of Prevotellaceae in Group T was significantly higher than that in Group C, while the relative abundance of Christensenellaceae decreased (p < 0.05). At the genus level, the relative abundance of Christensenellaceae_R-7_group was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). A total of 98 differentially expressed metabolites were identified in the total ion mode. Among them, 64 were upregulated compared with Group C, and 34 were downregulated. KEGG analysis revealed that four enriched metabolic pathways showed significant differences. Metabolic pathways, tryptophan metabolism, purine metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis and carotenoid biosynthesis differed between the two groups. Compared with Group C, the contents of the metabolites tetradecanoic acid and adenosine were significantly decreased, while tryptophol was significantly increased. These results indicate that anthelmintic treatment is associated with alterations in the intestinal microecological balance and metabolic homeostasis of the host, providing new insights for evaluating the use of anthelmintics and the management of intestinal health in horses.

With the growing popularity of equestrian sports, the incidence of athletic injuries in horses has also risen. Among these injuries, proximal sesamoid bone fracture (PSBF) and flexor tendinitis are particularly common in the forelimbs of sport horses and represent major causes of musculoskeletal impairment. A 5-year-old horse presented with obvious symptoms such as swelling at the left fetlock joint and metacarpal region after exercise. Through lameness assessment, diagnostic imaging, and hematological testing, the horse was diagnosed with PSBF complicated by flexor tendinitis. The affected horse was treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs combined with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) therapy. After treatment, local microcirculation at the fracture and flexor tendon sites was improved, tissue healing was accelerated, and clinical indicators were stabilized. This case report demonstrates the potential of LIPUS-assisted therapy in promoting the recovery of horses with PSBF and concurrent flexor tendinitis, providing a valuable clinical reference for the management of complex musculoskeletal injuries in veterinary practice.

The equine gastrointestinal microbiome plays an essential role in digestion, energy metabolism, immune regulation, and maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. Increasing evidence suggests that microbial-derived metabolites provide a functional link between diet, the microbiome, and host physiology. This narrative review summarizes current knowledge on how dietary factors, including structural carbohydrates, non-structural carbohydrates, protein, and lipids, influence microbial function and metabolite production in horses. Relevant publications available up to June 2026 were identified through searches of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar and were narratively synthesized according to dietary factors, microbial metabolites, associated diseases, and nutritional interventions. Emphasis is placed on major microbial metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, endotoxins, bile acid derivatives, tryptophan metabolites, and nitrogenous fermentation products, and their potential roles in health and disease. Current evidence supports a central role for the nutrition–microbiota–metabolite axis in gastrointestinal disorders such as colic, colitis, equine gastric ulcer syndrome, and carbohydrate-associated laminitis, whereas its involvement in equine metabolic syndrome and the gut–lung axis remains less well defined. The review also discusses microbiome-targeted nutritional interventions and emerging multi-omics approaches that are improving our understanding of microbial function. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential of microbiome-informed nutritional strategies to support equine health, welfare, disease prevention, and athletic performance.

This study investigated the cyathostomin species composition, anthelmintic efficacy, and potential resistance-associated mutations in Chinese grazing horses. Fecal samples were collected from 90 adult horses. Fecal egg counts (FECs) were determined using a modified McMaster method. Third stage larvae (L3) cultured from the eggs were identified to species level by PCR amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer-2 (ITS-2). The main species included Cylicocyclus nassatus and Cylicostephanus spp. However, differences in the relative abundance of less common species, including Cyathostomum pateratum and Cylicocyclus ashworthi, suggests regional variation. Anthelmintic efficacy was assessed by a fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) following albendazole administration. Mutations at six codons of the β-tubulin iso-type-1 (tbb-iso-1) gene were screened by gene sequencing. The results showed that, despite harboring an abundant and diverse cyathostomin community, this herd remained susceptible to albendazole. Overall, this study provides baseline data on cyathostomin species composition and anthelmintic susceptibility in horses from China, contributing to global surveillance of equine cyathostomin resistance.