Squires Named New University of Kentucky Equine Initiative DirectorEd Squires, PhD, Dipl. ACT

(hon.), executive director of the UK Gluck Equine Research Foundation and the director of advancement and industry rela-tions at the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center and a pioneer in equine research, has been named the University of Kentucky Equine Initiative di-rector and Dickson Professor of Equine Science and Management beginning April 1.

Squires takes over leadership of the initiative, an umbrella pro-Dr. Ed Squires

gram for all things equine within UK’s College of Agriculture, from James MacLeod, VMD, PhD, John S. and Elizabeth A. Knight chair and professor of veterinary science at the Gluck Center.

“UK’s equine program is uniquely positioned to become one of the prominent equine programs in the world,” Squires said.

“I look forward to this new challenge and building upon the strong base developed by the previous leadership.”

“Having spent more than 30 years in an equine sciences pro-gram and being involved in teaching, research and outreach has prepared me well for this position. One of my strengths is facili-tating people to work together,” Squires added.

Squires will split his time equally between this position and his current role as executive director of the UK Gluck Equine Research Foundation and director of advancement and indus-try relations. He will also continue as editor of the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.

Squires is widely supported for the position by UK’s equine stakeholders.

“I think it is a win-win for both Gluck and the Equine Initia-tive. Ed was involved in the initial development of the Colorado State University equine program, and his fundraising for the Gluck Equine Research Center has been successful in the short time he has been here,” said David Switzer, executive director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, UK Equine Advisory

Equine Initiative Director, p. 4

Nielsen Accepts Parasitology Position at the Gluck Center Martin K. Nielsen, DVM, PhD,

an assistant professor at the Uni-versity of Copenhagen in Den-mark, has accepted an assistant professor appointment in parasi-tology at the University of Ken-tucky’s Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center. Nielsen will join the UK Department of Veteri-nary Science as a faculty member in August.

“The opening of a faculty posi-tion in equine parasitology at the Gluck Equine Research Center and the appointment of Dr. Mar-Dr. Martin Nielsen

tin Nielsen to this position is a response to real challenges in parasite control as a result of increased resistance of parasites against known drugs,” said Mats Troedsson, DVM, PhD, Dipl.

ACT, Dipl. ECAR, chair of UK’s Department of Veterinary Science and director of the Gluck Center.

“Dr. Nielsen is a young and enthusiastic veterinary scientist who already has gained international recogni-tion for his research contributions in the field of equine para-sitology. He will bring new expertise and en-ergy to an exceptional-ly strong existing team of parasitologists at the Gluck Center (Drs. Gene Lyons, PhD, and Daniel Howe, PhD), and I am confident

Nielsen, p. 4

University of Kentucky GLUCK EQUINE

Research & Service Report

SPRING FEATURES

Letter from the Director, p. 3Genetics and Genomics, p. 5Infectious Diseases and Immunology, p. 5Musculoskeletal Science, p. 7Parasitology, p. 7Reproductive Health, p. 8Grants and Awards, p. 9News and Events, p. 10

VOLUME III, ISSUE I SPRING 2011www.ca.uky.edu/gluck

BOARD OF DIRECTORS2010

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKYGLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Dr. Walter W. Zent, ChairTom Goncharoff, Vice ChairDr. Lee T. Todd, Jr., President

Dr. Kumble R. Subbaswamy, Vice PresidentDr. M. Scott Smith, SecretaryMrs. Angela Martin, Treasurer

Bruce AddingtonAlan Balch

Stacy V. BearseJane BeshearBill CasnerCase Clay

Dr. Nancy CoxGinny Grulke

Lisa LourieDr. Jamie MacLeod

Dr. Everett McCorveyDebby Oxley

Dr. Stephen ReedDan RosenbergDr. Robert Stout

David SwitzerOlly Tait

Dr. Mats TroedssonDr. Naoya YoshidaF.E. “Butch” Wise

Chris YoungArt Zubrod

GLUCK EQUINERESEARCH FOUNDATION

FOR MOREINFORMATIONCONTACT:

Dr. Ed SquiresExecutive DirectorGluck Equine Research Foundation108 Gluck Equine Research CenterLexington, Kentucky 40546-0099

Phone: (859) 218-1176Fax: (859) 257-8542E-mail: edward.squires@uky.edu

MAXWELL H. GLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH CENTERhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck

GLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH & SERVICE REPORT The UK Gluck Equine Research & Service Report is produced by UKGERF and the Department of Veterinary Science. It is published twice a year on behalf of all

equine researchers and veterinarians and others in the horse industry who are committed to thecontinued improvements in equine research and technology. Research material is meant to be shared. However,

materials are copyrighted and require reprintpermission from UKGERF. The Gluck Equine Research & Service Report is

available online at: http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck.

The mission of the Gluck Equine Research Center is scientific discovery, educationand dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of the health and well-being of horses.

GLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION PAGE 2

About the Gluck Equine Research Foundation

A Letter from the Director

Dr. Mats Troedsson

GLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION PAGE 3

The downturn in the global econo-my has affected the equine industry, re-sulting in challenging times for horse own-ers, breeders, equine veterinarians and ev-erybody else in the equine community. The Gluck Equine Research Center is not an exception as we have adjusted our operation to manage budget cuts and de-

valued endowments without affecting our commitment to improving the health and well-being of horses through research. We have focused our efforts to minimize the ef-fect of a tight budget on the research productivity from scientists at the Gluck Center and to further position the Gluck Center as a premier equine research center even during this difficult time.

Thanks to our committed faculty and staff, the Gluck Center had one of its more productive years ever. A few of the many accomplishments of scientists at the Gluck Center in 2010 include: identification of a potential stem cell for articular cartilage within joint tissue; development of new diagnostic tests for equine protozoal myeloen-cephalitis (EPM), equine influenza, equine infectious ane-mia, Streptococcus equi and Leptospira interrogans; the iden-tification of a determinant for susceptibility for equine arteritis virus; studies on the immunology and efficacy of treatment of Lawsonia intracellularis and Rhodococcus in-fections in foals; improved diagnostics and treatment of mares with placentitis; and the epidemiology and disease process by which Nocardioform bacteria causes abortion.

The University of Kentucky Animal Genetic Testing and Research Laboratory (AGTRL), which is in the Gluck Center building, has gone through a couple of years of restructuring and is now operating at a much leaner and efficient level. The laboratory received the highest rating possible on the Horse Comparison Test by the Interna-tional Society for Animal Genetics in 2010. This rating re-

flects excellent work of highly motivated and skilled staff. Without their hard work and loyalty to this unique service laboratory, we would not have been able to continue this important service to the horse industry.

Recognizing the emerging problem that is anticipated regarding parasite resistance to current dewormers, we have recently recruited Dr. Martin Nielsen from the Uni-versity of Copenhagen in Denmark to join our excep-tional group of parasitologists at the Gluck Center. Dr. Nielsen will join us later this summer.

Faculty and staff at the Gluck Center share your pas-sion for horses and we are committed to improving the health and well-being of horses around the world. In do-ing so, we really need your help and support. Any contri-bution, small or large, during these financially challenging times will make a great difference.

Thank you for your support!

Dr. Mats Troedsson, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACTGluck Equine Research Center Director

and Department of Veterinary Science ChairM.Troedsson@uky.edu

Nielsen Accepts Parasitology Position, continued

GLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION PAGE 4

Squires Equine Initiative Director, continuedCommittee member and Gluck Founda-tion Board member. “Anytime you can get someone with his breadth of experi-ence, it’s important to take advantage of it.”

“Dr. Squires brings a proven reputation of excellence coupled with vision for teaching, research and service. That vi-sion will be propelled by the tremendous team effort that has built a foundation for excellence in equine programming at the University of Kentucky,” said Norm Luba, executive director of the North American Equine Ranching Information Council and chair of the UK Equine Ad-visory Committee.

Squires is a Morgantown, W.Va., native who received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from West Virginia University and his doctorate in endocrinology and reproductive physiology at the Univer-sity of Wisconsin. From 1976 to 2008, Squires was a professor in the Depart-ment of Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University.

Squires is a pioneer in developing the techniques of embryo transfer. His other research areas include reproductive en-docrinology of the non-pregnant and pregnant mare, hormonal regulation of the estrous cycle and preservation of stal-

lion semen. His most recent research has centered on development of assisted re-productive techniques such as oocyte col-lection and transfer, oocyte maturation, in vitro fertilization, embryo freezing, su-perovulation and sexed semen.

Squires’ research efforts have resulted in 265 refereed publications, 254 non-ref-ereed publications, 29 book chapters, 14 books and 118 articles. He has lectured extensively to national and international veterinary and scientific groups and horse breeders.

Squires has received numerous awards and honors for his research, including the Oliver P. Pennock Distinguished Ser-vice Award; the George Stubbs Award; Animal Physiology and Endocrinology Award; and Horse Person of the Year Award from the Colorado Horse Coun-cil. He was inducted into UK’s Gluck Equine Research Foundation Equine Re-search Hall of Fame in 2007.

“Ed has made major contributions to reproductive science in horses that have resulted in new products on the market. He also brings a vast network of support-ers from many breeds as well as many sec-tors of the pharmaceutical industry. Most of all, Ed likes horses and horse people,” said Scott Smith, dean of the UK College

of Agriculture. “He takes over the reins from the capable leadership of Jamie MacLeod and will be sharing a half-time appointment with the Gluck Equine Re-search Foundation. The foundation was an early catalyst for the Equine Initiative, and the initiative certainly adds breadth to the foundational science programs in the Veterinary Science Department. We are very enthusiastic about the future of equine programs at UK.”

During MacLeod’s three years as direc-tor, the Equine Initiative grew in size and scope from a Commonwealth Collabora-tive program to one with university-wide participation.

“Serving as the first director of the Equine Initiative and Dickson Professor has been an honor. I am very proud of the scope and breadth of UK’s equine pro-grams and our ongoing commitment to collaboration and interdisciplinary team-work,” MacLeod said. “The Equine Ini-tiative has made an encouraging start, but it is just the beginning. Our dedication to academic innovation will maintain the true spirit of ‘initiative’ in the Equine Initiative, and I look forward to working with Dr. Squires on this continuing vision.”

Holly Wiemers, MS, is communications director for UK’s Equine Initiative.

that their combined research efforts will be of great value to the horse industry in Kentucky and around the world.”

A native of Denmark, Nielsen received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University and his PhD from the Univer-sity of Copenhagen. Prior to his current position, he was a practicing veterinarian in equine medicine at Dyrlaegegruppen Laugo v/ Klavs Alexander and was a clinical veterinarian at the Royal Veteri-nary and Agricultural University.

At the University of Copenhagen, Nielsen teaches several classes, advises graduate students, is a member of the night duty emergency team, and a leader of the large animal clinical service and re-

search laboratory. “In an ideal scenario, where I could pick

the job in the world I wanted the most, I would pick the Gluck Center. It has the proud traditions within equine parasitol-ogy, the expertise, the resources, and the research culture,” Nielsen said.

Nielsen’s research interests include en-doparasite infections of horses, clinical and molecular diagnosis, epidemiology, surveillance, and control.

“Equine parasite control is facing huge challenges these days and many questions are arising,” Nielsen said. “With help and support from other faculty members I hope to be able to provide answers for some of these.”

Nielsen has published more than 20

scientific research papers, a book chap-ter and more than 100 abstracts, poster presentations, and lay articles. In 2009, he was awarded the Young Elite Scien-tist Award from the Danish Research Council. Other recent awards include the 2010 Aage and Edith Dyssegaards Foun-dation for high quality research within medicine, veterinary medicine and animal production; 2008 Albert and Lorraine Clay Research Fellowship, University of Kentucky; and the 2007 AAVP-Intervet Outstanding Graduate Student Award, American Association of Veterinary Par-asitologists.

Jenny Blandford is the Gluck Foundation Assistant at the Gluck Center.

GLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION PAGE 5

1: (left to right) Kathy Graves, Brock Daugherty, Karen Davies.

2: Graves. 3: Mandy Eakins.

Animal Genetics Testing & Research Laboratory Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Infectious Diseases and Immunology

The Morris Animal Foundation an-nounced on Feb. 2 it would fund $10,800 to conduct a genome wide association study (GWAS) of horses for susceptibility to Equine Arteritis Virus (EAV).

Previous studies in the laboratory of Udeni Balasuriya, BVSc, PhD, an associ-

Morris Animal Foundation Funds EAV Study at Gluck Centerate professor of virology at the Gluck Center, showed that an in vitro test could be used to predict which horses are highly susceptible to EAV infection. The work in connection with the Morris Animal Foun-dation Grant entails testing susceptible and resistant horses with more than 54,000

genetic markers identified during the se-quencing of the horse genome; the distri-bution of markers will be compared for the two groups and those which are unique to one group will be used to uncover genes that play a role for viral infection or im-

EAV Study, p. 6

In 2011, the University of Kentucky’s Animal Genetics Testing & Research Laboratory (AGTRL) celebrates 25 years of offering a variety of genetic testing ser-vices to horse owners and breed registries.

Established in 1986 and formerly known as the Horse Blood Typing Lab-oratory and then the Equine Parent-age Testing Laboratory, when the lab

began DNA testing, the AGTRL is lo-cated in the Gluck Equine Research Cen-ter. The lab was previously housed in the Dimock Animal Pathology building at UK until 2009.

Available genetic tests include traditional blood typing, DNA typing, parentage anal-ysis, and color gene testing. The lab further provides an opportunity for horse owners to investigate their horses’ DNA and of-fers a range of tests to the public.

The AGTRL, under the leadership of di-rector Kathy Graves, PhD, is one of three laboratories associated with public univer-sities in the United States. The other two are at the University of California, Davis and Texas A&M University.

The lab was initially established to blood type Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds in order to verify parentage. Throughout the years, the number of contracts has ex-panded to include more than 40 registries around the world. One of the additional uses of blood typing is to test broodmares for possible red cell incompatibilities with their foals, which causes a condition known as neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI). As the last laboratory in North America to offer full blood typing services, the AGTRL still performs NI testing for veterinary clinics and breeding farms across the country.

DNA technology was introduced in 1994 and gradually replaced blood

typing as the preferred method for identification and parentage verifica-tion of horses. Hair samples replaced blood samples and made it easier for owners to collect and ship samples to the lab.

Besides being a service lab, the AGTRL also has a research component. Most re-cently, the mutation that causes JEB in Saddlebred horses was discovered by Graves and Pamela Henney. The lab is open to working with registries to address-ing genetic problems in specific breeds. The vast archive of samples dating back to 1992 is a valuable research asset.

Other tests available at the AGTRL can determine the presence of genes linked to coat color such as the E Locus gene, which controls presence of red or black hair; the Agouti gene, which determines whether a horse is bay or black; the Cream Dilution gene, responsible for palominos and buck-skins; Champagne Dilution; Silver; Gray; Sabino; and Tobiano. The Champagne Dilution, Tobiano, and Sabino tests were also developed at the Gluck Center in the laboratory of Ernie Bailey, PhD, professor in the Department of Veterinary Science.

The AGTRL uses its revenue for ge-netic research projects and works with breed registries to identify ge-netic issues within specific breeds. To

request a series of tests, owners, breed-ers, and veterinarians can visit the AG-TRL website at www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/AGTRL.asp.

Jenny Blandford is the Gluck Foundation Assistant at the Gluck Center.

Natalie Voss, a former equine communications intern, contributed to this story.

Genetics and Genomics

1

2

3

GLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION PAGE 6

competition, Balasuriya said. “Results of this study will en-

hance our understanding of the car-rier state as well as susceptibility to the disease, EVA,” Balasuriya said. “In the long run, findings from this study will allow us to develop diag-nostic tools to predict possible car-rier stallions of EAV and prevent further spreading of the virus.”

Balasuriya said if the data from this pilot study suggest that suscep-tibility/resistance to EAV infection is indeed associated with a specific gene(s), a total number of 120 se-men samples will be tested by using

Udeni Balasuriya’s (second from left) lab group at the Gluck Equine Research Center

Timoney Named International PrEquID Group ChairPeter Timoney, MVB, PhD, FRCVS,

Frederick Van Lennep Chair in Equine Veterinary Science at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center, was named the acting chair of the inter-national Prevention of Equine Infectious Disease Guidelines Group (PrEquID) in September 2010.

PrEquId was “set up to compile guide-lines for the prevention and management of major equine infectious diseases based on current scientific knowledge and avail-able vaccines,” according to its mission statement. The group, which is comprised of international veterinary experts who specialize in immunology, vaccinology, and/or equine medicine, was established in fall 2009 under the founding chair-manship of Marian Horzinek, professor emeritus at Universitiy of Utrecht in the Netherlands. The University of Kentucky was a co-organizer of the meeting where the group was formed. The international meeting in Padova, Italy, was titled “Pro-tecting Against Equine Diseases in a

Changing International Environment.” “The equine industry worldwide is fac-

ing an unprecedented threat from the challenge of infectious diseases,” Tim-oney said. “It’s a huge industry involving a complex range of stakeholders, including veterinarians, owners, breeders, trainers, shippers, and regulators.”

PrEquID was initially supported by Fort Dodge Animal Health and more recently is supported by Pfizer Animal Health. Since the group was formed, it has met three times in Athens, Greece, in Novem-ber 2009; Marrakech, Morocco, in March 2010; and in Birmingham, United King-dom, in September 2010. During these meetings, guidelines have been drafted for

equine influenza, equine herpesvirus 1 and 4 related diseases, strangles, tetanus, and African Horse Sickness.

Timoney said the objectives of PrEquID is to establish a rational basis for preven-tion of infectious diseases through use of vaccines and appropriate management strategies, increase awareness of the risks of pathogen spread through horse move-ments, and emphasize the importance of monitoring, surveillance, and reporting at a national and international level in achiev-ing greater diseases control.

“Deliverables,” Timoney said of PrEquID include, “applying the principles of evidence-based medicine (EBM), in de-veloping guidelines for individual diseases of greatest significance for equine indus-tries worldwide. And, by availing of cur-rent channels of communication, publish its recommendations for the benefit of the veterinarian, horse owner, and equine in-dustry at-large.

“We must set aside individual and nation-PrEquID, p. 7

mune response.Others involved in the study in-

clude Ernie Bailey, PhD, genetics/genomics at the Gluck Center, Peter Timoney, MVB, PhD, FRCVS, Fred-erick Van Lennep Chair in Equine Veterinary Science at the Gluck Center, and Yun Young Go, a PhD candidate at the Gluck Center. The study is part of Go’s ongoing re-search of her PhD program.

“The Morris Animal Foundation has funded this pilot project to iden-tify the specific genes that makes horses’ susceptibility to EAV infec-

EAV Study, continued

tion. Findings from this study would allow us to establish a strong link between host genetics and susceptibility to infectious diseases agents. This is a new area of re-search that combines expertise in equine genetics and infectious diseases at the Gluck Center.” Balasuriya said. “We would like to thank MAF for supporting this im-portant study by providing funding.”

EAV is the causative agent of Equine Vi-ral Arteritis (EVA), which is characterized

by upper respiratory tract disease in adult horses, abortion in mares, and pneumonia in young foals. Stallions can become long-term carriers of the virus and transmit the virus during breeding. Chronically infected stallions can transmit the virus to suscep-tible mares through natural breeding and artificial breeding during embryo transfer. EVA appears to be on the rise because horses are increasingly transported nation-ally and internationally for breeding and

the same techniques in this study in a sepa-rate follow-up study.

The Morris Animal Foundation (http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/), has committed to funding nearly 30 new and continuing large animal health studies in 2011. The Foundation has committed $1.7 million toward equine health and welfare research throughout the next three years.

Jenny Blandford is the Gluck Foundation Assistant at the Gluck Center.

Infectious Diseases and Immunology

GLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION PAGE 7

al agendas and concentrate on the bigger picture if we’re to achieve greater interna-tional control over the spread of equine diseases and protect our industry for the future,” Timoney said.

The first set of guidelines by PrEquID were published at the end of 2010.

PrEquID members are Timoney; Horzinek; Ann Cullinane, Irish Equine Centre, Ireland; James Gilkerson, Uni-versity of Melbourne, Australia; Alan Guthrie, University of Pretoria, South Af-rica; Paul Lunn, Colorado State University, USA; Richard Newton, Animal Health Trust, United Kingdom; Klaus Osterrie-

der, University of Berlin, Germany; and Paul-Pierre Pastoret, World Organisation for Animal Health.

For more information on PrEquID and to view full guidelines visit www.prequid.org.

Jenny Blandford is the Gluck Foundation Assistant at the Gluck Center.

PrEquID, continued

Musculoskeletal Science

It is a warm spring night and ev-eryone in the barn is eagerly await-ing the arrival of a new foal. The wait is rewarded with the birth of a big, strong, and beautiful colt. Dur-ing the next 12 months, the foal thrives. The owners dream about having a future champion, until un-expectedly one morning the farm manager notices the colt’s gait is off and he looks somewhat unco-ordinated in his hindquarters. The veterinarian comes out to the farm, examines the yearling, and takes standing cervical radiographs. Assessment of the radiographs and the clinical signs lead to a diagnosis of Wobbler Syndrome and a guarded prognosis for any sort of success-ful athletic career.

Sadly, this scenario is one that occurs all too often.

Wobbler Syndrome is a disease that af-fects both the nervous and musculoskel-etal system of the horse. The disease is characterized by a structural narrowing of the vertebral canal in the neck that can pro-duce severe neurological deficits through compression of the cervical spinal cord. The cause is thought to be multi-factorial

Samples Needed for Wobbler Syndrome Research

The letter B on this myelogram indicates the site of narrowing in the neck

with genetics, high planes of nutrition, trauma, rapid growth, and decreased cop-per/increased zinc levels all potentially im-portant.

The possible role of genetics, in particu-lar, is interesting and remains somewhat controversial. A pedigree analysis several decades ago suggested that inherited genes were involved, yet breeding studies have not demonstrated a clear pattern of in-heritance. Are there genetic determinants at all? Is it a single gene or multiple genes? Are there interactions between genetic and environmental (management) variables? Perhaps more relevant in the immediate term, however, is whether there is any

hope that we will be able to answer these questions and elucidate the role of genetics in this disease?

The answer to the last question is “yes” – there is now a new reason to be hopeful. With completion of the equine genome sequencing project and the subsequent devel-opment of a genetic research tool based on analyzing a type of DNA variation known as Single Nucleo-tide Polymorphisms (or SNPs), ge-netic associations in the horse can

be studied with much greater sensitivity than previously possible. Two University of Kentucky veterinarians at the Univer-sity of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center, Jennifer Janes, DVM, PhD, and James MacLeod, VMD, PhD, are currently conducting a SNP-based research study to search for genes that contribute to the cause and progression of Wobbler Syn-drome.

However, assistance from the horse com-munity is critically needed to identify ad-ditional cases. If you know of a horse with Wobbler Syndrome and would like to help, contact Janes by e-mail at jennifer.janes@uky.edu.

Parasitology

Sandra Collins, a senior laboratory tech-nician in the laboratory of Gene Lyons, PhD, retired from the Department of Veterinary Science at the University of Kentucky on Jan. 3 after 40 and a half years.

Collins began working in the classical parasitology laboratory with Lyons and former department chair and faculty mem-ber Harold Drudge, DVM, ScD, on June 29, 1970, in the Dimock Animal Pathology

Longtime Veterinary Science Staff Member Sandra Collins Retiresbuilding. She recalls wearing a skirt, stock-ings, and flats on the first day but soon found out after rounding up horses at the farm that jeans and boots were more ap-propriate for the work day.

“She has been a key person with us,” Ly-ons said. “She’s filled in all the gaps over the years. She will be greatly missed.”

A Lexington, Ky., native who graduated from Henry Clay High School before a brief stint as a student at UK, Collins said

when she began working at UK, she never planned to stay. She had previously worked at Purcell’s Department Store in inventory control and left for a slight pay raise.

Since joining the staff, Collins has been what she calls a “utility person” and has many tasks such as getting anthelmintics in proper dosage, prepares sample cups for parasite collection, and sets up the samples for EPGs (egg per gram) and LPGs (larvae

Collins, p. 8

GLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION PAGE 8

Reproductive Health

per gram). She also makes sure quality, lab management, and safety are followed in the laboratory and gives tours of the labo-ratory when requested.

“I’ve worked with various animals in par-asitology over the years including rabbits and guinea pigs in the lab and some cattle and sheep in field experiments,” Collins said.

Collins said what made her stay after all these years was “the horse contact.”

“I’ve always been interested in Saddle-breds,” she said. “I started out riding hunt-er/jumpers and then I owned Saddlebreds. I got to where it cost more to board the horse than me. So, to get my horse fix, I thought by working here, I could still have a horse fix.

“Because of my interest in horses, this is my way of giving back with the little bit that I do,” Collins said. “It may not be for some people, but we all find our niche. And if you find it, utilize it to the best of your ability and to the ability of what

you’re doing.” Throughout her time in the department,

the most interesting things she saw were various cases when the posting of horses was done at the animal pathology building. Collins has seen a few two-headed lambs throughout the years, too. Though, one of the most interesting things related to para-sites she has seen is how parasites adapt to anthelmintics and become drug resistant over time.

“There for awhile, they were having to come out with new anthelmintics every seven to eight years because the animals were adapting to them so quickly,” she said. “Then when the anthelmentic class ‘Ivermectin’ came on the market, every-one thought it was the ‘everything forever’ dewormer. Animals have recently started to adapt to it. It’s just amazing. You think you’ve got (parasite control) handled but you don’t.”

One of the biggest changes Collins has witnessed within the equine industry is how horses have become more of a com-

panion animal. Horses used to be more heavily used in other venues and have now been replaced by machinery.

Collins said what she will remember most is the people she has worked with over the years from the old pathology building to moving into the Gluck Equine Research Center. Visiting scientists in the parasitol-ogy laboratory have hailed from about 11 countries throughout the years.

“I’ve met so many people from foreign countries and have made so many friends,” Collins said. “You find out people are the same, no matter what country they are from. They all want to do their job well, have a better life for their family, and most of them share an interest in horses.”

In her retirement, Collins said she plans to work on a book, photography, and paint watercolors and acrylics/oils. She also plans to attend more Saddlebred shows on the Kentucky County Fair circuit.

Jenny Blandford is the Gluck Foundation Assistant at the Gluck Center.

Collins, continued

The University of Kentucky Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Re-search Center and Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory report an increase in the number of cases of fetuses and placentas submitted to the laboratory and diagnosed with nocardio-form placentitis.

This is a unique form of bac-terial placentitis affecting late gestation mares, causing abor-tion, stillbirth or foals born alive but compromised. This form of placentitis was first

University of Kentucy Reports an Increase in Cases of Placentitis

diagnosed in central Kentucky in the 1980s and has also been reported in other areas of the United States and abroad.

The number of nocardioform placenti-tis cases fluctuates from year to year. How mares become affected has not been deter-mined. Nocardioform placentitis is typi-cally a sporadic occurrence on the farm, however, and there is no evidence affected mares pose a risk to other mares in their herd.

Mares experiencing nocardioform pla-centitis breed back normally and are not at

an increased risk for reoccurrence in sub-sequent pregnancies. While the number of cases has increased this year, incidence within the overall population of mares is very low, with less than 1 percent abor-tions reported.

According to researchers at UK, based on past observations, it is likely that the number of cases will return to average lev-els in future years.

The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory’s epidemiology section constantly surveys the occurrence of animal diseases, and

trends are immediately noted and monitored. A detailed epidemiological study is cur-rently underway to identify risk factors associated with nocardioform placentitis.

“The VDL has constant surveillance for trends and emerging problems that al-lowed for early identification of the increase in placentitis cases. We will continue to monitor for the occurrence of this and other problems through epidemiology and

diagnostic testing,” said Neil Williams, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVP, professor and the laboratory’s associate director. “The increased capabilities for surveillance we have built in the past several years allow us to catch syndromes early.”

A survey will be sent to farm managers in the near future, and results will be used to complete a first-line analysis for risk fac-tors. UK will then distribute a report of the findings.

According to Mats Troedsson, DVM, Placentitis, p. 9

GLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION PAGE 9

PhD, Dipl. ACT, director of the Gluck Center and chair of the department of veterinary science at UK, the Gluck Cen-ter, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and area veterinarians are currently engaged in collaborative research to better under-stand, diagnose and treat this type of pla-centitis, as well as placentitis in general.

Placentitis, continued Farms are encouraged to submit to the lab any fetus (including placenta) that is aborted, as well as placentas from any live foalings where the placenta is judged to be abnormal or the foal is compromised. This is to understand the scope of the situation better and to provide research data.

To assist farms during this time of eco-nomic challenge, through support from

the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders and the College of Agriculture Department of Veterinary Science, the cost of examination of placentas from presumptive cases of nocardioform pla-centitis will be waived. It is important to limit the submission of placentas to those that are judged to be abnormal.

Reproductive HealthGoals of the Reproductive Health Group at the Gluck Center

The equine reproductive health group at the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center has developed a number of strategic goals to address the impor-tant practical problems which affect horse owners and breeders as a means to en-hance reproductive performance in horses.

Centered in the largest Thoroughbred nursery in the world, researchers at the Gluck Center have productive and impor-tant partnerships with horse farms and equine veterinarians. The Gluck Center also addresses the specific reproductive technologies used by all other breeds in Kentucky.

The group consists of four faculty mem-bers: Barry Ball, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, the Albert G. Clay Endowed Chair in Equine Reproduction; Karen McDow-ell, PhD, associate professor; Ed Squires, PhD, Dipl. ACT (hon.), director of the UK Equine Initiative, executive director of the UK Gluck Equine Research Foun-dation and the director of advancement and industry relations at the Gluck Center; and Mats Troedsson, DVM, PhD, Dipl.

ACT, director of the Gluck Center and chair of the department of veterinary sci-ence at UK.

These goals will be realized by utilizing a combination of bench laboratory re-search, animal-based research, and field studies. Research studies will target mul-tiple aspects of equine reproductive health with the goal of increasing reproductive efficiency in the horse.

Major goals of our research program in-clude:

1. Increasing pregnancy rates•Develop diagnostic tests to improve the

fertility of stallion sperm•Increase the fertility of frozen-thawed

stallion sperm •Devise treatments to enhance the mare’s

uterine defense after insemination2. Minimize early embryo losses (fer-

tilization to Day 14 of pregnancy):•Evaluate changes in genes expressed by

the early embryo and uterus as a means to identify critical signals from the early em-bryo responsible for successful maternal recognition and establishment of preg-

nancy •Evaluate the effects of the pregnancy

hormone, progesterone, on the uterine en-vironment and early embryo survival

3. Diagnosis and therapy of later preg-nancy losses (seven to nine months of gestation):

•Improved diagnostic techniques for later pregnancy losses including endocrine testing, ultrasound evaluation, sampling of fetal fluids, and markers for inflammation that may be detected in the mare’s blood

•Improved therapeutic techniques that more specifically direct antibiotic therapy to the uterus and placenta

•Develop treatments to reduce uterine contractions which ultimately lead to abor-tion of the fetus

•Improved assessment of the outcomes of treated mares including health of the neonate and the older foal from mares that were treated

Barry Ball, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, the Albert G. Clay Endowed Chair in

Equine Reproduction at the Gluck Center, submitted this information.

Grants and AwardsGluck Center Receives $500,000 Gift for Musculoskeletal Research

The University of Kentucky’s Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center received a $500,000 gift from The Lourie Founda-tion to support studies on the repair of cartilage, tendon, and ligament injuries.

“Serious musculoskeletal injuries limit the athletic careers of many horses,” said James MacLeod, VMD, PhD, John S. and Elizabeth A. Knight Chair, a professor of veterinary science at the Gluck Center and director of the UK Equine Initiative. “Promising new data in the field of regen-erative medicine indicate the potential for

much more complete healing of tendon, ligament, and even articular cartilage inju-ries.”

The gift will fund research programs on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of tissue repair.

“Basic knowledge on the underlying biol-ogy is very important,” MacLeod said. “It enables both the development and optimi-zation of new equine therapies. We are ex-tremely grateful for this support from The Lourie Foundation.”

“This gift will allow us to expand our

research effort in an emergent and very exciting area of musculoskeletal research,” said Ed Squires, PhD, Hon. Dipl. ACT, executive director of the Gluck Equine Research Foundation and director of ad-vancement and industry relations at the Gluck Center.

To make a donation to fund equine re-search, visit http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/DonateNow.asp.

Jenny Blandford is the Gluck Foundation Assistant at the Gluck Center.

GLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION PAGE 10

Global Insurance Market, Lloyds of London presented a check for $45,000 to the Uni-versity of Kentucky in fall 2010, continuing almost three decades of support for The Equine Dis-ease Quarterly.

An equine health research pub-lication produced by the Depart-ment of Veterinary Science, the Quarterly is an award-winning publication that provides timely research-based reports on some of the most important issues fac-ing the equine industry. The pub-lication currently reaches more than 18,000 readers in 93 coun-tries and is translated into sev-eral languages. Available on the Internet, its articles are regularly

Grants and AwardsLloyd’s of London and UK Department of Veterinary Science Continue Partnership

Lloyd’s of London presented a $45,000 check to the UK Department of Veterinary Science. Pictured (left to right): Chuck

Fischesser, President of Lloyd’s Kentucky Agents Association, Dr. Mats Troedsson, chair of the UK Department of Veterinary Science, Dean M. Scott Smith, UK College of Agriculture, Dr. Peter Timoney, co-editor of the Quarterly, Pat Talley, regional

director of Lloyd’s America and Charlie Moore, senior vice-president Lloyd’s Kentucky.

abstracted by a variety of scientific and lay equine publications worldwide.

“After 29 years and contributions nearing the $1 million mark, Lloyd’s remains com-mitted to equine health and the support of Kentucky’s signature horse industry,” said Julian Lloyd, Chair of the Livestock Com-mittee for Lloyd’s Underwriters. “We are very pleased to remain steadfast partners with the University and the Common-wealth.”

In addition to on-going research and oth-er projects, the Department of Veterinary

Science, the Gluck Equine Research Cen-ter, and the University of Kentucky Vet-erinary Diagnostic Laboratory (formerly the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center) had active roles in the World Equestrian Games.

“The Department of Veterinary Science served as a resource for veterinary diagnos-tics and emergency response for the World Equestrian Games. The University of Ken-tucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory was available throughout the games for any necessary diagnostic services. The Gluck

Equine Research Center provid-ed expertise in case of a disease outbreak, and worked closely together with the KY state veterinarian’s office, official veterinarians for FEI and the University of Kentucky Vet-erinary Diagnostic Laboratory. In addition, Roberta Dwyer at the Gluck Center has been in-volved in emergency manage-ment preparations to evaluate multiple response capabilities for traditional first responders.”

“UK’s prominent involve-ment with the World Equestrian Games further demonstrates the University’s unparalleled reputation in the equine field, and Lloyd’s remains their proud

partner in championing this great indus-try,” said Pat Talley, Lloyd’s U. S. Central Region Director.

Published four times yearly, the Quarter-ly is available to subscribers at no charge. It is co-edited by Roberta Dwyer, Peter Timoney, and Neil Williams from the UK Department of Veterinary Science.

Roberta Dwyer, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVPM, is a professor in the Department

of Veterinary Science at UK.

When Craig Carter, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVPM, director of the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Labora-tory (formerly the Livestock Disease Di-agnostic Center), and David Horohov, PhD, William Robert Mills Chair in Equine Immunology at the UK Gluck Equine Research Center, first discussed holding seminars about horse-related topics four years ago, the focus was to provide equine health information to veterinarians in Cen-tral Kentucky.

“Our intent was to provide the local practitioners with state-of-the-art infor-mation on a variety of equine health-relat-ed topics,” Horohov said. “We also sought

to showcase some of the efforts by faculty here at UK who were working on these important areas.”

The Department of Veterinary Science Equine Diagnostic and Research Seminar Series began in June 2006 with a presen-tation on “Lawsonia infections in horses.” It has continued its momentum this year with support of the Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners (KAEP), Pfizer Animal Health, The Horse, and the UK College of Agriculture.

The seminars are the last Thursday of the month and offer one hour of continu-ing education credit to veterinarians. The seminars are recorded by The Horse as

UK Veterinary Science Seminar Series Continues Momentumthey are presented, edited and posted on TheHorse.com, and can be viewed in the “Horse Courses” section on the website. To date, more than 30 research and diag-nostic seminars have been held featuring the work by UK faculty and equine re-searchers from the United States and Eu-rope.

“We have covered a variety of equine-related topics ranging from infectious diseases to reproduction, laminitis, and economics,” Horohov said.

He said two of the more popular semi-nars attended was a seminar on laminitis and another on neurologic herpes virus.

Seminar Series, p. 11

News and Events

GLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION PAGE 11

Follow the University of Kentucky Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center on

Facebook and Twitter (UKGluckCenter)

Gluck Equine Research Foundation Releases Second Research ReportThe University of Kentucky Gluck

Equine Research Foundation published the Research Report 2010 in March.

The Research Report 2010 focuses on the research accomplishments and scien-tific publications published during the cal-endar year by the faculty at the University of Kentucky Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center.

The Research Report is divided into the six groups at the Gluck Center (genetics and genomics, infectious diseases and im-munology, musculoskeletal science, para-sitology, pharmacology/toxicology and reproductive health) and includes each faculty members’ educational background, interest, projects, and graduate students.

“Needless to say, we are delighted that horse owners and veterinarians across the globe have found our program useful. We look forward to continuing this outreach effort with TheHorse.com into the future with the support of Pfizer Animal Health,” Horohov said.

Based on statistics from TheHorse.com, the seminars have been viewed by people worldwide, including western Europe, Fin-land, Slovenia, Uruguay, Barbados, Ugan-da, Iceland, Grenada, Afghanistan, and Cuba, among others.

Even though the Seminar Series was created with local equine practitioners in mind, the seminars are open to horse own-ers and breeders and students.

An organizing committee consisting of local practitioners; Stephanie Church, edi-tor-and-chief of The Horse; Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Bill Bernard, DVM, Dip. ACVIM, and Jack Easley, DVM, Dipl.

ABVP, of KAEP; and Carter, Horohov and Ed Squires, PhD, Hon. Dipl. ACT, di-rector of the Equine Initiative, executive director of the Gluck Foundation and di-rector of advancement and industry rela-tions, meets each year to discuss potential topics and speakers. A brief survey before the topics for the 2011 seminars were set was sent to Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioner members via email.

A new feature for 2011 will be an eve-ning dinner session on Dec. 6. The dinner seminar, Advances in Equine Neurological Diseases Symposium, will feature several speakers.

The Seminar Series, which was held at the Kentucky Horse Park’s South Theater in 2010, will convene at its former location at the VDL when construction is complete in early 2011.

“We are doubling the square footage of our laboratory and adding a new adminis-tration wing with a beautiful 100 seat audi-

torium. That’s where the seminars will be held starting in May 2011,” Carter said.

A complete listing of past seminars is available at http://www.thehorse.com/Videos/Horse-Courses.aspx. The upcom-ing 2011 Seminar Series dates are:

•April 28, Hilary Clayton (Michigan State University), Biomechanics

•May 26, TBD•June 30, Erdal Erol (Veterinary Diag-

nostic Laboratory), Diagnostic Tests for Bacteria and Viruses

•July 28, John Robertson (Virginia Tech), Equine Melanoma

•Aug. 25, James MacLeod (Gluck Cen-ter), Musculoskeletal

•Sept. 29, Mats Troedsson (Gluck Cen-ter), Endometritis

•Oct. 27, Norm Ducharme (Cornell University), Upper Respiratory Diseases

•Dec. 6, Advances in Equine Neu-rological Diseases Symposium at the Embassy Suites in Lexington, Ky.

It also includes research technicians/assis-tants and visiting scientists in 2010.

Other information in the Research Re-port includes Gluck Equine Research Center grants and awards and scientific publications, including books/chapters in books, refereed journal articles, non-refereed journal articles and seminars and papers presented. Individuals and organi-zations who donated money to the Gluck Foundation in 2010 are also recognized.

The Research Report is available online at www.ca.uky.edu/gluck or at www.ca.uky.edu/equine. For more information contact Jenny Blandford at jenny.blandford@uky.edu or 859-218-1089.

Seminar Series, continued

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKYGLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION

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The Gluck Equine Research Center encompasses faculty members that conduct equine research full time in the areas of infectious diseases and immunology, genetics and genomics, musculoskeletal science, parasitology, pharmacology/toxi- cology and reproductive health. Gifts to the Gluck Equine Research Center are used to support research, build facilities, purchase equipment, provide scholarships for graduate students, create educational material and provide continuing education programs for Veterinarians and Horsemen.

108 Gluck Equine Research Center Lexington, KY 40546-0099