TEHRF research projects (2026-27)

Photo: Christina Weese

How does endurance racing affect the release of cardiac troponin I in horses from Saskatchewan?
Dr. Vanessa Cowan and Jon Morton, WCVM

Two factors limit veterinarians’ ability to detect and diagnose equine myocardial disease: electrocardiograms and echocardiograms aren’t sensitive enough to detect heart issues in horses, plus the early clinical signs of equine heart disease can be vague.

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a protein found in heart muscle. Elevated cTnI levels in the bloodstream are the most sensitive indicators of myocardial disease in people and animals. While cTnI point-of-care analyzers are diagnostic tools used in human medicine, no such tool has been validated for use in horses.

WCVM researchers will use a point-of-care cTnI analyzer at Saskatchewan endurance races to screen equine athletes for myocardial disease and to determine the cause of temporary cTnI elevations with exercise. These samples collected from healthy horses will also allow the research team to establish reference intervals for cTnI levels. The team’s eventual goal is to implement a point-of-care cTnI analyzer at the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre. This analyzer may also help in the management of other serious diseases in horses such as colic.

How does iodine affect the skeletal development of foals?
Dr. Sally Sukut, WCVM

Neonatal foals depend entirely on their mothers for a vital supply of iodine during pregnancy. Iodine is needed for healthy thyroid function, which produces the hormones associated with skeletal development. If the mare doesn’t consume enough iodine or thyroid function is interrupted, her foal can develop serious neurological and skeletal problems that result in developmental orthopedic disease or euthanasia.

Dr. Sally Sukut, a medical imaging specialist at the WCVM, will review 20 pairs of neonatal foals and mares, with each pair undergoing various evaluations to track the levels of iodine during pregnancy — including an examination of the genes involved in iodine transport and absorption by the foal. Sukut and her team will conduct digital radiographs of live foals and will extract bone samples from any euthanized foals for further study.

Sukut’s research into foal development will help veterinarians develop a better understand how the presence and levels of iodine affect the development of their skeletal systems. These findings will help veterinarians to recognize developmental disorders more quickly, improve broodmare nutrition and welfare, and support long-term performance in equine athletes. Radiographic criteria for the grading of neonatal foal skeletons will also be updated to reflect these findings. Most significantly, this research will use advanced imaging techniques to produce high-resolution skeletal scans, giving clinicians the opportunity to identify potential dysmaturity and orthopedic issues in foals with greater accuracy.

How can a new in vitro model help veterinarians better understand equine pregnancy?
Dr. Claire Card, WCVM

How do mares recognize that they’re pregnant? The maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) in mares remains a mystery, which limits veterinarians’ ability to develop different treatments and therapies for equine reproductive health. Gaining more knowledge about this process would help researchers better understand what factors contribute to increased reproductive success.

Access to a cost-effective in vitro model for studying the earliest stages of equine pregnancy will significantly benefit this research area. To meet this goal, WCVM researchers are using organoids that function like an “organ in a dish” for research. Organoid-like trophoblastic vesicles (TRVs) can replicate the main function of horse embryos, such as hormone production. They also produce extracellular vesicles (EVs) that are crucial to the process of pregnancy recognition. This project’s goal is to study how the physical conditions of a TRV culture can affect their viability, along with how they can be stored.

Developing more robust TRVs will provide scientists with an inexpensive and effective way to simulate biological communication between the mare and foal. Researchers are also studying the use of cryogenic freezing to store these cultures for future projects.

Can a new AI tool keep veterinarians safe from ergonomic strain and injury?
Drs. James Carmalt and Monique Mayer, WCVM

Lameness examinations are a common diagnostic practice for most equine veterinarians. But the process of manipulating a horse’s limbs into awkward positions can potentially expose practitioners to physical injury.

In this study, WCVM researchers plan to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to identify the ergonomic risks associated with lameness examinations — information that will help to improve the safety and career longevity of equine practitioners. The scientists will use AI-based video analysis to assess posture and motion and collect force measurements. They’ll also collect more information about the ergonomic risk of different flexion techniques and highlight which regions of the veterinarian’s body are most at risk when performing lameness exams.

This information will be a valuable resource for developing evidence-based recommendations aimed at reducing ergonomic strain, improving safety and extending the length of practitioners’ careers. These results will also serve as reference material for any future studies evaluating the ergonomic risks of other procedures used in large animal medicine.

Is there a better way to diagnose tapeworm infection in horses?
Drs. Emily Jenkins, Michelle Husulak, Muhammad Asjad and Tasha Epp, WCVM

Tapeworm infection can cause poor health and colic in affected horses. But traditional detection methods such as fecal flotation are unreliable since tapeworm eggs are shed inconsistently through feces. Many owners simply go ahead and give preventive dewormer medication to their horse — an option that contributes to the growing issue of anthelmintic (parasite) resistance.

In this study, WCVM scientists are using molecular diagnostic techniques to develop a more accurate fecal test for detecting tapeworms. This test will use polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a highly sensitive molecular technique, to make multiple copies of the parasite’s genetic sequence. The test will also allow scientists to detect different tapeworm species instead of a simple positive or negative result.

The test will allow veterinarians to accurately detect tapeworms in horses. In turn, an improved diagnostic test will help practitioners demonstrate links between tapeworm infection and poor performance and/or colic in equine patients. It will also benefit the long-term health of horses — reducing the overuse of dewormer medications and giving a more accurate picture of tapeworm infection prevalence in Saskatchewan horses.