Reproductive Health
Our scientists study environmental and biochemical factors affecting pregnancy in mares.
The Equine Reproductive Health Research group at the Gluck Equine Research Center study reproductive immunology, infertility and pregnancy loss in horses.
Current projects include:
- Bacterial biofilm associated proteins as potential diagnostics for endometritis
- Biomarkers for high-risk pregnancies
- The effect of seminal plasma on immune tolerance during pregnancy, and metabolism of the offspring
- The importance of Vitamin D in equine reproduction
- Degradation of endometrial cups by immune-modulatory treatment
- Pathophysiology of endometrial fibrosis
Publications & Presentations
van Heule M, El-Sheikh Ali H, Fernando Monteiro H, Bazzazan A, Scoggin K, Fedorka C, Weimer BC, Ball B, Daels P, Dini P. Characterization of the equine placental microbial population during nocardioform placentitis. Theriogenology, Submitted January 2024.
Menarim BC, Mok CH, Scoggin K, Gornik A, Adam EN, MacLeod JN. Fetal cartilage progenitor cells in the repair of osteochondral defects. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. Submitted February 2024.
Bailey, C.S., Leite, T., Troedsson, M.H.T. Observations from the trenches on focal mucoid (nocardioform) placentitis. Clin. Theriogenology (under review).
Muderspach, N.D., Troedsson, M.H.T., Ferreira-Dias, G., Agerholm, J.S., Christoffersen, M. (2024) Distribution of degenerative changes in the equine endometrium as observed in a single versus two biopsies. Theriogenology. 213:52-58 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.09.0018.
Doty, A.L., Miller, L.M.J., Fedorka, C.F., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2024) The role of equine CRISP-3 in the interaction between ploymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and populations of viable or dead spermatozoa, and bacteria. Theriogenology. 219(15):22-31 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.02.014.
Fedorka, C.E., Schnobrich, M.R., Muderspach, N.D., Scoggin, K.E., Dedman, M.T., Weigle, K.E., May, M.G., Twist, H., Linse, C.R., Douglas, R.H., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2024) Utilizing an immunostimulant (Settle®) to hasten the degradation of endometrial cups. Eq. Vet. J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14079.
Orellana-Guerrero D, Uribe-Salazar JM, El-Sheikh Ali H, Scoggin KE, Ball B, Daels P, Finno CJ, Dini P. Dynamics of the equine placental DNA methylome and transcriptome from mid- to late gestation. International Journal of Molecular Science. Published April 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087084.
van Heule M, Fernando Monteiro H, Bazzazan A, Scoggin K, Rolston M, El-Sheikh Ali H, Weimer BC, Ball B, Daels P, Dini P. Characterization of the equine placental microbial population in healthy pregnancies. Theriogenology. Published August 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.04.022.
de la Fuente, A., Scoggin, C., Bradecamp, E., Martin-Pelaez, S., van Heule, M., Troedsson, M.H.T., Daels, P., Meyers, S., Dini, P. (2023) Dynamics of in vitro equine oocyte maturation in horses: a transcriptomic approach. Int. J. Mol. Sci. https//doi.org/10.3390/ijms241813718.
Miller, L.M.J., Woodward, E.M. Campos, J.R., Williams, N., Squires, E.L., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) Expression of Sperm Protein at 22kDa (SP22) on spermatozoa and in the stallion’s reproductive tract prior to and following heat-induced testicular regulation. Andrology https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.13464.
Fedorka, C.E., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) The Immune Response to Ascending Placentitis: A Narrative Review. Theriogenology, 203:11-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.03.002.
Fedorka, C.E., El-Sheikh Ali, H., Ball, B.A., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) Galectinology of equine pregnancy. Animals 13(1), 129; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010129.
Fedorka, C.E., El-Sheikh Ali, H., Ball, B.A., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) Galectinology of equine placental disease. Vet. Sci. 10(3), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10030218.
Alghamdi, A.S., Fedorka, C.E., Scoggin, K.E., Vico, A.E., Beatty, K., Davolli, G., Ball, B.A., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) Binding of equine seminal lactoferrin/ superoxide dismutase (SOD-3) complex is biased towards dead spermatozoa. Animals 13(1), 52;
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010052.
Williams, N.J., Slovis, N.M., Browne, N.S., Troedsson, M.H.T., Giguėre, S., Hernandez, J.A. (2022) Enterococcus durans infection and diarrhea in Thoroughbred foals. J. Vet. Int. Med. 36(6):2224-2229; https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16568.
Fedorka, C.E., El-Sheikh Ali, H., Scoggin, K.E., Loux, S.C., Ball, B.A., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2022) TNF signaling during equine placental infection leads to pro-apoptotic and necroptotic outcomes. Am. J. Repr. Immun. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2022.103655.
Fedorka, C.F., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2021) The use of immunomodulators in equine reproduction. Clin. Theriogenology 13:238-246.
de la Fuente, A., Scoggin, C., Bradecamp, E., Ali, H., Troedsson, M.H.T., Meyers, S., Dini, P. (2021) Transcriptome characterization of equine oocyte maturation. Reprod. Fert. Develop. https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv34n2Ab146.
Shingo, H., Dini, P., Esteller-Vico, A., Scoggin, K.E., Squires, E.L., Troedsson, M.H.T., Daels, P., Nambo, Y., Ball, B.A. (2021) Estrogen-regulated angiogenesis in the equine placenta. Int. J. Mol. Sc. https://doi.org/103390/ijms222212116.
Fedorka, C.E., Ball, B.A., Wynn, M.A.A., McCormack, M.E., Scoggin, K.E., Esteller-Vico, A., Curry, T., Kennedy, L., Squires, E.L., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2021) Alterations of Circulating Markers During Late Term Pregnancy Complications in the Horse. Part II: Steroid Hormones and AFP. J. Eq. Vet. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103395.
Fedorka, C.E., Ball, B.A., Walker, O.F., McCormack, M.E., Scoggin, K.E., Kennedy, L., Squires, E.L., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2021) Alterations of Circulating Markers During Late Term Pregnancy Complications in the Horse. Part I: Cytokines. J. Eq. Vet. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103425.
Fedorka, C.E., El-Sheikh Ali, H., Walker, O.F., Scoggin, K.E., Dini, P., Loux, S.C., Troedsson, M.H.T., Ball, B.A. (2021) The imbalance of the Th17/Treg axis involved in equine ascending placental infection. J. Reprod. Immunology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2020.103268.
Troedsson, M.H.T., Hutchinson R., Scoggin, K.E. (2024) Preliminary observation on the endometrial response to repeated infection with common uterine pathogens. 10th International Workshop on Equine Reproductive Medicine. Leipzig, Germany.
Troedsson, M.H.T., Fedorka, C.F., Scoggin, K.E. (2024) Pathophysiology of equine endometritis. 12th International Conference on Equine Reproductive Medicine, Leipzig, Germany.
Fedorka, C.E., Troedsson, M.H.T. Immune-mediated biomarkers for ascending placentitis. (2024) 12th International Conference on Equine Reproductive Medicine, Leipzig, Germany.
Whitehead A., Troedsson, M.H.T., Loux, S., Hamilton, B., Pletcher, P. Faulkner, V. (2024) Comparison of equine semen quality after cooled storage in the absence vs presence of antibiotics and Vitamin D. Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine Research Day.
May, M., Muderspach, N., Christofferson, M., Troedsson, M.H.T., Miller, L.M.J (2024) Novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial fibrosis in the mare. Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine Research Day.
Troedsson, M.H.T., El-Sheikh-Ali, H., Scoggin, K.E., Humphrey, E.A., Troutt, L., Fedorka, C.E. (2023) The impact of seminal plasma on the equine endometrial transcriptome
ISER XIII, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
Fedorka, C.E. Schnobrich, M. Muderspach, N., Dedman, M., Weigle, K., May, M., Twist, H., Douglas, B., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) Utilizing an immunostimulant (Settle®) to hasten the degradation of endometrial cups. ISER XIII, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
Muderspach, N, Agerholm, J, Troedsson, M.H.T., Ferreira-Dias, G., Christoffersen, M. (2023) Are degenerative changes in a single endometrial biopsy representative for the endometrial state? ISER XIII, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
Scoggin, K.E., Borlee, B.R., Fedorka, C.E., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) Identification of endometrial biofilm specific proteins for in vivo diagnostics. ISER XIII, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
Loux, S.C., Scoggin, K.E., Loynachan, A., Menarim, B., May, M.G., Muderspach, N., Fedorka, C.E., Troedsson, M.H.T., Kalbfleisch, T.S. (2023) Intrauterine Vitamine D3 improves inflammatory resolution in mares susceptible to persisitent breeding-induced endometritis. ISER XIII, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
Loux SC (2023) Vitamin D3 as a Novel Therapy for Persistent Breeding-Induced Endometritis: A Tale of How Bioinformatics can Improve Clinical Science. Louisiana State University.
Loux SC, Scoggin KE, Loynachan A, Menarim B, May MG, Muderspach N, Troedsson MHT, Kalbfleisch TS. (2023) Intrauterine Vitamin D3 Improves Inflammation Resolution in Mares Susceptible to Persistent Breeding-Induced Endometritis. Equine Science Society. Dallas, TX.
Muderspach, N.D., Agerholm, J.S., Troedsson, M.H.T., Ferreira-Dias, G., Schoof, E.M., Fedorka, C.F., Miller, L.M.J., Wood, P.L., Christoffersen, M. (2023) Proteomic profiling and identification of biomarkers for equine endometrial fibrosis. Poster presentation (NDM) at UBUNTU Proteomic Summer School, French Proteomic Society, Cape Town, South Africa.
Fedorka, C., F., Schnobrich, M.R., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) How To Bring A Mare Into Estrus following Pregnancy Loss. 69th Annual Conv. AAEP. San Diego.
Troedsson, M.H.T. (2022) How to evaluate sperm-uterine interaction. International Symposium on Equine Reproduction (ISER) Webinar.
Troedsson, M.H.T. Clinical advances in equine placentitis. University of Zurich, Switzerland, July 2022.
Loux SC, Scoggin KE, Ball BA, Kalbfleisch TS. (2022) Placental Infection in Mares Results in Shifting Balance of Free Fatty Acids from Circulation to Amniotic Fluid. Bioactive Lipids in Cancer, Inflammation and Related Diseases. New Orleans, LA.
Troedsson, M.H.T. Diagnostics and Therapy of Equine Placentitis. (2022) Freidrich Loeffler Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, Mariensee, Germany. July 2022.
Schnobrich, M., Douglas, R., Troedsson, M.H.T., Fedorka, C.F. (2022) Decreased equine chorionic gonadotropin secretion following hysteroscopic-guided injection of an immunomodulatory. AAEP Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX.
Troedsson, M.H.T. and Schnobrich, M. (2022) How to manage persistent breeding-induced endometritis in the mare. International Symposium on Equine Reproduction (ISER) Webinar.
Troedsson, M.H.T. and Schnobrich, M. (2022) How to diagnose and manage placentitis in the mare. International Symposium on Equine Reproduction (ISER) Webinar.
Troedsson, M.H.T. (2022) Diagnostic and therapeutic value of progesterone/progestins during late gestation. ReproTraining Virtual Presentation and Panel discussion on ”Progesterone – myths and medicine.”
Loux, S.C., Mitchell, J.M., Scoggin, K.E., El-Sheikh Ali, H.E., Ball, B.A., Kalbfleisch, T. (2022) Vitamin D in horses – a tale of the strengths and limitations of transcriptomics. Plant and Animal Genome XXIX.
Troedsson, M.H.T. (2021) Optimizing diagnosis and treatment of equine placentitis. PDVet Virtual presentation and panel discussion. February 2022.
Troedsson, M.H.T. (2021) Responsible use of antibiotics in equine practice: Strategies in human and veterinary medicine. Organizer and moderator of panel discussion. 67th Annual Conv. Am. Assoc. Eq. Pract., Nashville, TN.
Fedorka, C.E. (2021) Immunomodulators in the mare: Treatment options in an era of ever-increasing antimicrobial resistance. NovaVive Biopharmaceuticals. Virtual presentation December 2021.
Fedorka, C.E. (2021) From pathways to pathogenesis: Utilizing reproductive immunology to increase pregnancy success. Colorado State University, Edward Squires Distinguished Equine Lecturer.
Fedorka, C.E. (2021) The use of immunomodulators in the mare, Society for Theriogenology, Omaha, NE.
Fedorka, C.E. (2021) The use of progestins in the mare, Society for Theriogenology, Omaha, NE.
