Projects
New intranasal marker vector vaccine for protection of horses against equine herpesvirus 1 related and other (re)emerging viral diseases. Ghent University
This project aims to develop a live attenuated vaccine to protect horses against equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1)-associated diseases by intranasal administration. This vaccine will protect the upper respiratory tract (primary replication site of EHV-1) of horses by the activation of a local and general immunity. The proposed vaccine strain will have a plugin spot for the introduction of other foreign (viral) genes, which allows to use this ...
New intranasal marker vector vaccine for protection of horses against equine herpesvirus 1 related and other (re)emerging viral diseases. Ghent University
Equine herpesvirus 1 is causing respiratory, reproductive and neurological disorders, resulting in financial losses in horse industry. In Belgium, only inactivated vaccines are available which only partially protects horses. As an infection with wild type virus is establishing a full protection for 6 months, an intranasal vaccination will give the best prevention. Two intranasal attenuated EHV-1 viruses have been developed in the promoter’s ...
Adaptive hydrogels combined with mesenchymal stem cells to treat bone cysts in horses Ghent University
The presence of an osseous cyst-like lesion (OCLL) severely affects the sports career of a horse and its economic value. Thus far, therapeutic approaches fail to meet the expected demands in terms of functional recovery and/or absence of radiographic evidence of OCLL after treatment. In this project, we aim to restore full functionality of horses suffering from lameness due to the presence of OCLL and eliminate any radiographic abnormality ...
Development of an 'anaesthetic conserving device' for inhalation anaesthesia in horses Ghent University
For longer procedures, horses are anaesthetized using inhalant anaesthetics, such as isoflurane, sevoflurane and desflurane. As these are important greenhouse gases, who are very resistant to breakdown in the atmosphere, their use should be kept to a minimum. In human medicine, an 'anaesthetic conserving device' is already marketed, which allows a substantially lower use of isoflurane and sevoflurane. Several adjustments are however required ...
Unravelling the pathophysiology of mitral valve regurgitation in horses in order to provide a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis Ghent University
Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) has a prevalence of up to 40% in athletic horses. Although limited effects on performance are expected in most horses with mild MR, in some horses MR progresses and causes clinical signs or arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. The major gap in the current knowledge is how to identify those horses with relevant cardiac disease which could impact performance or compromise horse and rider safety in the future. ...
Unravelling the pathophysiology of mitral valve regurgitation in horses in order to provide a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis Ghent University
Mitral valve regurgitation is a frequent finding in athletic horses and often has important economic consequences when diagnosed in sport horses at prepurchase examination. The aim of this project is to unravel the pathophysiology of equine mitral valve disease in order to improve the diagnosis and provide a more accurate prognosis, using echocardiography and cardiac biomarkers.
Preimplantation genetic testing in equine test-tube embryos: the advent of a new era in breeding champion horses Ghent University
The high individual value of the horse results in an exponential increase in the number of in vitro produced (IVP) equine embryos. Yet, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), involving the prelevation of cells from the embryo for genetic profiling prior to embryo transfer, is still limited to sex determination and the detection of a few monogenic traits, using multiplex PCR with variable results. The goal of this project is to develop a ...
EQUICARD: accurate heart monitoring in horses via a fitted ECG registration vest Ghent University
The EQUICARD project aims to develop a portable, easy-to-use electrocardiogram recorder system specifically designed for horses. The new suit will enable veterinarians to accurately detect heart rhythm disorders in an easier way than available today. For this project, electrodes will be incorporated into an easy-to-apply suit. The properties of the suit will optimize signal quality, without inhibiting the movement of the horse. During the ...