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Farag HI, Murphy BA, Templeman JR, Hanlon C, Joshua J, Koch TG, Niel L, Shoveller AK, Bedecarrats GY, Ellison A, Wilcockson D, Martino TA. One Health: Circadian Medicine Benefits Both Non-human Animals and Humans Alike. J Biol Rhythms 2024; 39:237-269. [PMID: 38379166 PMCID: PMC11141112 DOI: 10.1177/07487304241228021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Circadian biology's impact on human physical health and its role in disease development and progression is widely recognized. The forefront of circadian rhythm research now focuses on translational applications to clinical medicine, aiming to enhance disease diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment responses. However, the field of circadian medicine has predominantly concentrated on human healthcare, neglecting its potential for transformative applications in veterinary medicine, thereby overlooking opportunities to improve non-human animal health and welfare. This review consists of three main sections. The first section focuses on the translational potential of circadian medicine into current industry practices of agricultural animals, with a particular emphasis on horses, broiler chickens, and laying hens. The second section delves into the potential applications of circadian medicine in small animal veterinary care, primarily focusing on our companion animals, namely dogs and cats. The final section explores emerging frontiers in circadian medicine, encompassing aquaculture, veterinary hospital care, and non-human animal welfare and concludes with the integration of One Health principles. In summary, circadian medicine represents a highly promising field of medicine that holds the potential to significantly enhance the clinical care and overall health of all animals, extending its impact beyond human healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hesham I. Farag
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Centre for Cardiovascular Investigations, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Barbara A. Murphy
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - James R. Templeman
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Charlene Hanlon
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Jessica Joshua
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Thomas G. Koch
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Lee Niel
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Anna K. Shoveller
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | | | - Amy Ellison
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - David Wilcockson
- Department of Life Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - Tami A. Martino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Centre for Cardiovascular Investigations, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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Murphy BA. Circadian and Circannual Regulation in the Horse: Internal Timing in an Elite Athlete. J Equine Vet Sci 2019; 76:14-24. [PMID: 31084748 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Biological rhythms evolved to provide temporal coordination across all tissues and organs and allow synchronization of physiology with predictable environmental cycles. Most important of these are circadian and circannual rhythms, primarily regulated via photoperiod signals from the retina. Understanding the nature of physiological rhythms in horses is crucially important for equine management. Predominantly, they have been removed from exposure to their natural environmental stimuli; the seasonally changing photoperiod, continuous foraging and feeding activity, social herd interactions, and the continuous low-intensity exercise of a grassland dweller. These have been replaced in many cases with confined indoor housing, regimental feeding and exercise times, social isolation, and exposure to lighting that is often erratic and does not come close to mimicking the spectral composition of sunlight. Man has further altered seasonal timing cues through the use of artificial lighting programs that impact reproductive behavior, breeding efficiency, and the development of youngstock. Understanding how these new environmental cues (some stronger and some weaker) impact the internal physiology of the horse in the context of the natural endogenous rhythms that evolved over millennia is key to helping to improve equine health, welfare, and performance, now and into the future. This review provides an overview of the field, highlights the recent discoveries related to biological timing in horses, and discusses the implications that these findings may have for the production and management of the elite equine athlete.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara A Murphy
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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