New scoring system for horse skin, coat condition provides insights into parasite impact

A new study has found that horses with higher parasitic loads also have worse coat conditions, thanks to a novel tool with far-reaching impacts developed by UConn researchers

University of Connecticut

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A student works with a horse in the UConn stables.

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Credit: (Jason Sheldon/UConn Photo)

A new study has found that horses with higher parasitic loads also have worse coat conditions, thanks to a novel tool with far-reaching impacts developed by UConn researchers. 

This work was led by Jenifer Nadeau, associate professor of animal science in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR). It was published as an abstract in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.

The Hamilton-Zuk Hypothesis suggests an association between birds’ plumage and their parasitic load. The hypothesis states that birds with better, more attractive plumage have a lower parasitic load. Nadeau wanted to see if this association was also present in horses.

Essentially all horses have some parasites in their system because parasites live on grass, and horses graze as an essential part of their diets. At low levels, these parasites are generally harmless. However, if they cross a certain threshold they can cause health problems like damage to the liver, stomach, or intestines.

UConn regularly deworms its horses to prevent a buildup of parasites. Students assist with fecal analysis as part of the equine program’s emphasis on experiential learning. UConn recently announced a new Equine Science and Management major that will start accepting students in the fall of 2026.

“Even if it’s not detrimental at this point, it could be,” Nadeau says. “So, by being on top of it, we prevent it from being a problem later on for the animals.”

Nadeau and her students evaluated the UConn horses’ parasitic load. At the same time, other students blinded to the parasite load scored horses using a novel skin and coat condition scoring system that she and her graduate student, Nicole (Gonzalez) DeBel, developed.

Nadeau did indeed find that horses with a higher parasitic load have less hair luster.

This work provides researchers and horse managers with another tool to better understand how parasites, specifically strongyles – the common parasite at the center of the study – affect horses.

The scoring system can also be used by animal control agencies to help evaluate horses.

“They could analyze the coat of horses that have been in an abuse or neglect situation using our skin and hair coat condition scoring system, and if it’s really poor they could use it as one of their data points to indicate that it’s time to do something for this horse,” Nadeau says. “They can also use it to monitor improvement.”

Nadeau plans to continue working on questions related to parasites in horses, as it is critical for addressing a significant problem with managing parasites in horses – drug-resistance. Much like bacterial infections, parasites are becoming increasingly resistant to treatments that have worked in the past.

Given this, UConn engages in the practice of selective deworming. UConn deworms all of its horses in the spring. They also collect fecal samples from each horse to assess their parasitic load. Horses with a high parasitic load are dewormed again in the fall. Young horses may also be dewormed in the summer because they generally have higher parasitic loads, since their immune systems are less developed.

By selectively deworming horses only when they need it, it helps reduce the chance of drug-resistant parasites.

Nadeau is now looking at historical data to determine if and how parasitic load changes in an individual horse over time.

“We’ve been seeing a decrease in parasitic load in the horses over the years, which does seem to show we have an effective parasitic control protocol at UConn,” Nadeau says.

Nadeua, who is also an educator with UConn Extension, is conducting a study to gather insight into the current deworming practices used by horse owners and equine professionals. The public is invited to submit their input through the survey, which will help UConn better understand current approaches and perceptions of treatment, with the ultimate goal of educating horse enthusiasts on the most effective deworming strategies.

 

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Journal

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science

DOI

10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105546 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

The effect of parasitic load on skin and hair coat condition in Morgan and Thoroughbred horses

 

‘Toothless’ compulsory voting can increase voter turnout

New study highlights the surprising power of unenforced laws to boost democratic participation

University of Georgia

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A new study from the University of Georgia found that even unenforced, or “toothless,” compulsory voting laws can increase voter turnout.

Governments around the world are searching for ways to combat low voter turnout. And this study suggests simply putting a mandatory voting law on the books — without imposing any penalties on people who don’t show up to the polls — may meaningfully shift civic behavior.

Based on a rare natural experiment in the Indian state of Karnataka, the study found the 2015 adoption of a non-penalized compulsory voting law led to a 6.5 to 14 percentage point increase in voter turnout in local village elections.

“We see clear evidence that people respond to the law, even in the absence of enforcement,” said Shane Singh, corresponding author of the study and the Joshua W. Jones Professor of Public and International Affairs in the UGA School of Public and International Affairs. “It supports the idea that laws have an expressive function: They shape norms and behavior even when there are no punishments involved.”

Compulsory voting: A gentler way to strengthen democracy

The study arrives at a pivotal time for democracies grappling with chronically low voter turnout.

Unlike more punitive models used elsewhere, Singh’s findings suggest a “lighter touch” approach could still be effective.

“You don’t need to punish people to encourage voting,” Singh explained. “Sometimes just making voting compulsory, even without teeth, is enough.”

Just as most drivers will stop at a stop sign even when no one is around and there’s no enforcement in sight, people are often inclined to follow laws simply because they exist, the researchers said.

Other countries grapple with concept of mandatory voting

This research offers timely insights for policymakers in the United States and abroad.

In the last few years, several U.S. state legislatures have debated compulsory voting bills with varying levels of enforcement, including none at all.

Internationally, some countries harshly penalize nonvoters while others have no penalties for abstention. Chile’s legislature, for example, is currently debating whether to add enforcement mechanisms to its own compulsory voting law.

“Our findings should encourage governments to consider unenforced compulsory voting as a serious, middle-ground policy,” Singh said. “It’s a viable option for boosting turnout, one that encourages participation without relying on punishments or penalties.”

The study adds powerful new evidence to the global conversation on how democracies can strengthen participation without heavy-handed enforcement.

As lawmakers in the U.S. and abroad explore ways to boost turnout, this research offers a compelling, data-driven case for rethinking what it means to make voting “mandatory.”

Published in Electoral Studies, the study was co-authored by Reshikesav Rajan, a graduate of the UGA School of Public and International Affairs and current doctoral student at Texas A&M University.

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Journal

Electoral Studies

DOI

10.1016/j.electstud.2025.102951 

Article Title

Toothless compulsory voting can increase turnout: Evidence from India

Article Publication Date

1-Aug-2025

Ocean-savvy penguins ride the tide to save energy and find food, study shows

Magellanic penguins use ocean currents to save energy and find food on their way home

COWBUNGA MAN, SURF'S UP

Swansea University

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Magellanic penguins gather at their breeding colony after returning from long journeys at sea

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Credit: Professor Rory Wilson, Swansea University

Magellanic penguins are smarter ocean travellers than previously thought, according to a new study involving researchers from Swansea University’s Animal Movement Lab. The findings reveal that these penguins use tidal currents not only to return home more efficiently, but also to forage for food along the way.

Published in PLOS Biology, the researchers tracked 27 adult penguins during their return trips from foraging in the ocean off Argentina. Led by the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, the team discovered that instead of swimming in a straight line back to their nests, the penguins often followed curved, S-shaped paths shaped by the tides. These routes helped them conserve energy and take advantage of feeding opportunities.

Co-author Professor Rory Wilson of Swansea University’s Animal Movement Lab explains: “We used small high-tech tracking devices with GPS and compasses, combined with detailed ocean current models. These revealed that penguins adjusted their swimming direction depending on the strength and direction of the currents. In calm water, they headed straight for home, but when the currents were stronger, they allowed themselves to drift sideways. This made their journey longer, but less tiring.”

This strategy also gave the penguins more chances to feed.

“The penguins were observed diving and foraging for food during much of their return journey,” said Professor Wilson. “As they got closer to the colony, they became more focused and swam more directly, often arriving within just 300 metres of their original departure point — an impressive level of accuracy after journeys of up to 75km.”

The researchers considered two logical strategies the penguins might use to return home. Theoretically, and assuming that the penguins ‘knew’ where they were, because they cannot see land when they are far out at sea, they would appear to have two obvious options as to how to get home. The ‘naïve’ approach would be to always head directly for the colony regardless of current strength or direction – something humans caught in rip tides or rivers are prone to doing. However, in strong opposing currents, the penguins doing this would have to work extremely hard.

Indeed, currents in their region may be up to 4.5mph – roughly equivalent to speeds of the best Olympic swimmers and although penguins – which cruise at about 4.5mph - can easily travel faster, it costs them lots more energy. The smarter ‘navigator’s option’ is to swim at an angle to the colony so that the combined effect of the penguin swim speed and direction and that of the current results in an overall movement towards the colony. This is far more energy efficient. However, it assumes that penguins can somehow compute or perceive the effect of the current and correct their heading accordingly.

Surprisingly, the penguins don’t strictly follow either strategy. “Actually, penguins do neither!” said Professor Wilson. “Their approach is more flexible. They seem relaxed about being at sea — sometimes swimming with the current even if it doesn’t take them directly to their nest. Occasionally, they shoot past the colony and down the coast.”

What’s remarkable, Professor Wilson adds, is that penguins appear to sense both the presence and strength of currents, even when there are no visible cues: “Penguins seem able to determine when they are in a current and roughly how strong it is. They also appear to understand the tidal cycle — that water moves first in one direction and then reverses. If they’re carried too far by the incoming tide, they seem to know they’ll be brought back by the outgoing tide later.”

These findings offer new insight into how Magellanic penguins adapt their movement strategies in dynamic environments. They also provide a broader framework for understanding how other marine animals, such as seals, turtles, and seabirds, may respond to increasingly dynamic ocean conditions driven by climate change, including intensified currents, shifting prey distributions, and altered thermal fronts.

The paper 'Penguins exploit tidal currents for efficient navigation and opportunistic foraging' is available here: https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002981

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Journal

PLOS Biology

DOI

10.1371/journal.pbio.3002981 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Penguins exploit tidal currents for efficient navigation and opportunistic foraging

Article Publication Date

17-Jul-2025

 

Scientific study finds better health in households using improved cookstoves in Rwanda

Fine dust reduction during cooking improves lung health of women in Africa

Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)

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During the study in Rwanda, researchers from TROPOS used mobile measuring devices to measure air pollution with particulate matter (PM2.5) and its toxic components such as soot and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and found significant differences in pollution levels between cooking with traditional and modern stoves.

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Credit: Leizel Madueno / Andrea Cuesta, TROPOS

Berlin/Leipzig. Efficient stoves not only reduce CO₂ emissions and conserve valuable resources, but their use also leads to better indoor air quality and potentially reduces health risks, especially for women. This is shown in a study conducted by the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), Buana e.V., and Safer Rwanda, which has now been published in the journal Scientific Reports from the Nature Portfolio. The study compares air quality and health effects of efficient stoves and traditional cooking methods in rural communities in Rwanda. It was supported by atmosfair, a German non-profit organization supporting offsetting of CO₂ with projects such as the production and distribution of improved cookstoves. The study was funded by Chiesi Onlus Foundation.

 

 

The three-year randomized controlled trial involved over 1,000 adults in rural areas of Rwanda. Researchers compared health outcomes between households using  traditional cooking methods  and those adopting the Save 80 improved cookstove. Participants underwent two rounds of assessment, including health questionnaires and lung function tests. In addition, researchers measured household air pollution levels, focusing on harmful particles, i.e., particulate matter (PM2.5) and its toxic components such as black carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

 

The research team showed that adult women using the Save 80 cookstove spent less time cooking (avg. reduction of 34%) and breathed far cleaner air compared to households using traditional cooking techniques, with indoor fine particle levels dropping by 77%. Black carbon and brown carbon, which are harmful pollutants linked to respiratory disease, also decreased by up to 50% and 78%, respectively.

 

Users of Save 80 stoves reported fewer respiratory symptoms, like persistent cough and mucus production, and showed slower declines in lung function over time compared to those using traditional cooking methods. “Our findings underscore the significant impact of clean cooking, particularly on women, who bear the burden of household air pollution through daily cooking activities,” says Andrea Cuesta-Mosquera, researcher from the Atmospheric Microphysics Department at TROPOS.

 

Around 2.3 billion people in the world use unsafe and polluting cooking methods like open fires or rudimentary stoves, exposing families to unsafe levels of smoke and particulate matter. This indoor air pollution is a significant contributor to respiratory diseases in adults and children. “Household air pollution is a silent killer in many low-income settings”, says Dr. Henning Kothe from Buana e.V., who supervised the health assessment component of the research project.

 

The findings of this study may support broader adoption of cleaner cooking solutions in Rwanda and similar settings. The study provides a valuable resource for policymakers and global health advocates seeking effective strategies to combat household air pollution. “This was a unique opportunity to measure the health effects of a defined exposure. This is an important step in our research and will also help to better understand the effect of air pollution on health in other regions”, says Prof. Dr. Mira Pöhlker, head of the Atmospheric Microphysics Department at TROPOS, who supervised the air pollution measurements.

 

"I am very pleased with these results. The study shows that our stove projects not only protect the climate but also help to improve living conditions in our project countries," said atmosfair CEO Dietrich Brockhagen. atmosfair is strongly committed to the introduction of cleaner cooking solutions in sub-Saharan Africa, with own production plants and distribution networks in Nigeria and Rwanda. As a climate protection organization, its main focus is on reducing CO₂ emissions, which is ensured among other approaches through stove constructions that consume 80% less wood for cooking than traditional methods. At the same time, atmosfair projects are designed to support social, health and economic development in countries of the Global South where people suffer the most from climate change.

The full study is published in Scientific Reports from Nature Portfolio (doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09863-6).

During the study in Rwanda, researchers from TROPOS used mobile measuring devices to measure air pollution with particulate matter (PM2.5) and its toxic components such as soot and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and found significant differences in pollution levels between cooking with traditional and modern stoves.

Credit
Leizel Madueno / Andrea Cuesta, TROPOS




The research team showed that adult women using the Save 80 cookstove spent less time cooking (avg. reduction of 34%) and breathed far cleaner air compared to households using traditional cooking techniques, with indoor fine particle levels dropping by 77%.

Credit
atmosfair




More efficient stoves improve indoor air quality and potentially reduce health risks, especially for women. This is shown by a study conducted by the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), Buana e.V. and Safer Rwanda, which has now been published in the journal Scientific Reports, part of the Nature portfolio.

Credit
Leizel Madueno / Andrea Cuesta, TROPOS



More efficient stoves improve indoor air quality and potentially reduce health risks, especially for women. This is shown by a study conducted by the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), Buana e.V. and Safer Rwanda, which has now been published in the journal Scientific Reports, part of the Nature portfolio.

Credit
Leizel Madueno / Andrea Cuesta, TROPOS

 

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Journal

Scientific Reports

DOI

10.1038/s41598-025-09863-6 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

mproved cookstoves enhance household air quality and respiratory health in rural Rwanda

Article Publication Date

18-Jul-2025

COI Statement

Henning Kothe worked at Buana e.V (co-funding). Allan Mubiru was an employee of atmosfair gGmbH (co-production and distribution of stoves type Save80 in Rwanda) during the realization of the study.

Pusan National University researchers investigate how air pollution triggers immune imbalance and lung damage

Chronic exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 activates oxidative stress and NRF2, driving allergy-like lung inflammation

Pusan National University

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Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 triggers oxidative stress and activates the NRF2 pathway, shifting the immune response toward TH2 inflammation—worsening asthma and other allergic lung diseases.

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Credit: Professor Changwan Hong from Pusan National University, Korea

Air pollution is a global health concern, with over 90% of the world’s population breathing air that exceeds World Health Organization safety standards. Fine and coarse particulate matter are especially dangerous, as they can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream. While the link between air pollution and respiratory diseases is well established, how these pollutants disrupt immune responses in the lungs has remained unclear.

In a recent study, a team of researchers led by Professor Changwan Hong from Pusan National University School of Medicine, South Korea, investigated how long-term exposure to particulate matter triggers immune imbalance in the lungs. “Our study reveals how chronic exposure to particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) triggers harmful allergic-like (TH2) immune responses in the lungs by activating oxidative stress and the NRF2 pathway,” explains Prof. Hong. This paper was made available online on 8 April 2025 and was published in Volume 82 of Redox Biology on 1 May 2025.

Using a mouse model, the researchers exposed mice to PM10 and PM2.5 daily for 16 weeks. They then analysed lung tissue, plasma, and immune cell profiles to evaluate how particulate matter affected lung health and immune function. Mice exposed to PM showed significant signs of lung inflammation, including alveolar wall thickening, immune cell infiltration, and tissue scarring. These effects were more severe in the group exposed to PM2.5, which is known to reach deeper areas of the lungs.

The researchers also observed a marked shift in immune response. TH1-type immune activity, associated with protective responses, was suppressed, while TH2-associated signals increased. This included elevated levels of cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, and higher levels of IgE and IgG1, antibodies linked to asthma and allergic inflammation. These findings suggest that long-term exposure to PM skews immune balance toward an allergic-type response.

This immune shift was closely linked to activation of the NRF2 pathway, a key regulator of oxidative stress. NRF2 typically protects against environmental damage, but under chronic activation, it appeared to worsen inflammation. “This mechanistic link explains why air pollution can worsen asthma and other allergic diseases, identifying NRF2 as a key driver of this shift,” Prof. Hong notes.

The study offers insight into how chronic air pollution affects respiratory health at a molecular level. By linking NRF2 activation to immune reprogramming, the findings highlight new potential therapeutic targets, such as antioxidants or drugs that regulate NRF2 activity.

“Our findings suggest that targeting oxidative stress or modulating NRF2 activity could be a new strategy to treat or prevent pollution-induced allergic inflammation, such as asthma,” says Prof. Hong.

Overall, the research provides a clearer understanding of how pollution impacts the immune system and supports the need for stronger air quality regulations to protect vulnerable populations.

 

***

Reference

Title of original paper: Particulate matter exposure induces pulmonary TH2 responses and oxidative stress-mediated NRF2 activation in mice

Journal: Redox Biology

DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2025.103632

 

About Pusan National University

Pusan National University, located in Busan, South Korea, was founded in 1946 and is now the No. 1 national university of South Korea in research and educational competency. The multi-campus university also has other smaller campuses in Yangsan, Miryang, and Ami. The university prides itself on the principles of truth, freedom, and service and has approximately 30,000 students, 1,200 professors, and 750 faculty members. The university comprises 14 colleges (schools) and one independent division, with 103 departments in all.

Website: https://www.pusan.ac.kr/eng/Main.do

About the author

Prof. Changwan Hong is a Professor of Anatomy and Vice Dean of Research at Pusan National University School of Medicine in South Korea. His group focuses on immune regulation, cytokine, T cell immunity and CAR-T immunotherapy. Prof. Hong earned his PhD in immunology from Korea University in 2007 and received postdoctoral training in cellular immunology at the NIH and Stanford University. An expert in T cell development and cytokine biology, he has authored numerous scientific publications and is dedicated to translating immunological research into improved public health outcomes.

Lab:

https://chong.pusan.ac.kr/

ORCID ID:

0000-0003-2567-2973

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Journal

Redox Biology

DOI

10.1016/j.redox.2025.103632 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Particulate matter exposure induces pulmonary TH2 responses and oxidative stress-mediated NRF2 activation in mice