Histological comparison of the lamellar tissue of Iberian origin breed horses created in semi-feral conditions or in an intensive system.
Authors: Malacarne Bruno Dondoni, Martins Rodrigo Ribeiro, Paz Cahuê Francisco Rosa, Alves João Victor Almeida, Dias Lucas Antunes, Cavalcante Marina Alcantara, Santos Alison Miranda, Silva André Guimarães Maciel, Leise Britta Sigrid, Carvalho Armando Mattos, Faleiros Rafael Resende
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary Whilst wild horse hooves are often cited as a gold standard for natural hoof health, previous research has identified histological changes consistent with laminitis even in feral populations, raising questions about whether environment truly determines lamellar integrity. This study examined lamellar tissue samples from the forelimbs of eight intensively managed Mangalarga Marchador horses (stalled with high-calorie diets) and fourteen semi-feral Iberian-origin horses (Marajoara and Puruca breeds), measuring primary and secondary epidermal lamellae dimensions and morphology to test whether pasture-based management confers superior tissue health. Semi-feral horses demonstrated notably healthier lamellar architecture, with the domesticated group showing early pathological signs including abnormal keratinisation of the abaxial primary dermal lamella, tapered axial primary epidermal lamella tips, nuclei condensation, and disorganised secondary epidermal basal cells—hallmarks of endocrinopathic laminitis—whilst semi-feral animals exhibited greater epidermis/dermis interface contact and more regularly organised cellular structures. These findings suggest that intensive management systems increase susceptibility to laminitic changes at the histological level, and support the hypothesis that semi-feral conditions maintain superior lamellar health in Iberian breeds, with clear implications for housing design, dietary management, and exercise protocols in domestic equine practice.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Intensive management systems combining stall confinement and high-calorie diets may predispose horses to lamellar pathology and early laminitis development; consider management modifications to improve turnout and dietary control
- •Semi-feral grazing and natural movement patterns appear protective for lamellar tissue health, suggesting that increased exercise and natural foraging may benefit hoof health in domesticated horses
- •Regular histological screening of hoof lamellar tissue may help identify early endocrinopathic laminitis before clinical signs appear in intensively managed horses
Key Findings
- •Semi-feral Iberian horses (Marajoara and Puruca breeds) showed healthier lamellar tissue histology compared to intensively managed Mangalarga Marchador horses
- •Domesticated horses in intensive systems exhibited early signs of laminitis including abnormal keratinization, tapered PEL tips, nuclei condensation, and abnormal SELBC orientation
- •Semi-feral horses demonstrated greater epidermis/dermis interface contact and more rounded nuclei in secondary epidermal basal cells than intensively managed horses
- •Management system (semi-feral vs. stall confinement with high-calorie diet) appears to influence lamellar tissue histology and laminitis development