About

Sophie H. Bogers, PhD, MVSc, BVSc, is a Clinical Assistant Professor in Large Animal Surgery at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech. Her educational background includes a BVSc and MVSc from Massey University in New Zealand, and a PhD in Biomedical and Veterinary Science from Virginia Tech. She is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in Large Animal Surgery. Her research interests focus on stem cells and regenerative medicine, osteoarthritis, and orthopedic infection. Dr. Bogers has professional experience as a clinical instructor, fellow, resident, and adjunct faculty at Virginia Tech and Massey University, with prior internships and fellowships at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute and Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. She has received honors such as the Elaine Klein Career Development Award from the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. Her contributions include advancing veterinary medicine's progress in regenerative orthopedics and studying bone mineral density characteristics in racehorses, among other research endeavors.

Research topics

• Biology
• Pathology
• Internal medicine
• Chemistry
• Anesthesia
• Surgery
• Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Immunology
• Cancer research
• Cell biology

Selected publications

• Novel in Vitro Co-Culture System Allows Assessment of Msc-Mediated Mitigation of Biofilms

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2025-01-01

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Utility of a commercially available transwell system for assessment of MSC-mediated mitigation of biofilms

  Journal of Microbiological Methods · 2025-11-15

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Comparison of Gait Characteristics for Horses Without Shoes, with Steel Shoes, and with Aluminum Shoes

  Animals · 2025-08-13

  articleOpen access

  Differences in horseshoe materials may have effects on gait that could change perceived esthetic qualities. Objective information regarding effects of shoeing on gait characteristics of horses is scant. The aim of this study was to determine differences in gait characteristics for horses under various experimental shoeing conditions (barefoot, aluminum shoes, steel shoes) on two surfaces (asphalt and soft footing) using body- and hoof-mounted sensors. We hypothesized that shoeing would affect hoof arc height during early (arc height a) and late (arc height b) swing phases but would not affect other gait variables. Twelve healthy, adult, client-owned horses were evaluated at a trot on asphalt and soft footing under the three experimental shoeing conditions. No significant (p < 0.05) effects of shoeing were detected for gait symmetry (Q score), mediolateral hoof deviation, stride length, or midstance, breakover, swing, and landing stride phase times. Hoof arc height a was significantly (p < 0.001) lower for aluminum versus steel shoes for right and left forelimbs on asphalt and soft footing. Hoof arc height b was significantly higher for aluminum versus steel shoes on soft footing for left (p < 0.001) and right (p = 0.02) forelimbs. Findings indicate that shoe weights affect early and late swing phase hoof heights differently. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether measured hoof arc height changes affect subjective esthetics of gait.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells reduce established S. aureus and E. coli biofilm matrix in vitro

  PLoS ONE · 2024-10-31 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Biofilms reduce antibiotic efficacy and lead to complications and mortality in human and equine patients with orthopedic infections. Equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) kill planktonic bacteria and prevent biofilm formation, but their ability to disrupt established orthopedic biofilms is unknown. Our objective was to evaluate the ability of MSC to reduce established S. aureus or E. coli biofilms in vitro. We hypothesized that MSC would reduce biofilm matrix and colony-forming units (CFU) compared to no treatment and that MSC combined with the antibiotic, amikacin sulfate, would reduce these components more than MSC or amikacin alone. MSC were isolated from 5 adult Thoroughbred horses in antibiotic-free medium. 24-hour S. aureus or E. coli biofilms were co-cultured in triplicate for 24 or 48 hours in a transwell plate system: untreated (negative) control, 30 μg/mL amikacin, 1 x 106 passage 3 MSC, and MSC with 30 μg/mL amikacin. Treated biofilms were photographed and biofilm area quantified digitally. Biomass was quantified via crystal violet staining, and CFU quantified following enzymatic digestion. Data were analyzed using mixed model ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc comparisons (p < 0.05). MSC significantly reduced S. aureus biofilms at both timepoints and E. coli biofilm area at 48 hours compared to untreated controls. MSC with amikacin significantly reduced S. aureus biofilms versus amikacin and E. coli biofilms versus MSC at 48 hours. MSC significantly reduced S. aureus biomass at both timepoints and reduced S. aureus CFU at 48 hours versus untreated controls. MSC with amikacin significantly reduced S. aureus biomass versus amikacin at 24 hours and S. aureus and E. coli CFU versus MSC at both timepoints. MSC primarily disrupted the biofilm matrix but performed differently on S. aureus versus E. coli. Evaluation of biofilm-MSC interactions, MSC dose, and treatment time are warranted prior to testing in vivo.

  PublisherDOI

• Lyme Disease-Associated Eosinophilic Synovitis in a Horse

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2024-01-01

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Technique for guttural pouch bead removal using a novel three‐dimensional (<scp>3D)</scp>‐printed instrument

  Veterinary Surgery · 2024-07-26 · 1 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding

  OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine if a three-dimensional (3D)-printed instrument technique would improve lavage removal of plastic beads (guttural pouch [GP] chondroid mimics) through a dorsal pharyngeal recess (DPR) fenestration. We hypothesized that using a 3D-printed instrument placed through the DPR fenestration would remove more beads, reduce lavage time and incur less soft tissue damage than using a lavage tube control or instrument placement through the salpingopharyngeal ostium (SPO). STUDY DESIGN: Experimental cadaveric study. SAMPLE POPULATION: A total of 30 cadaveric equine heads. METHODS: DPR fenestration was performed using transendoscopic laser and 50 plastic 12 mm beads were placed into one GP of horse heads. Four removal procedures using a 3D-printed instrument or lavage tube control placed through the DPR fenestration or the SPO were compared. Number of beads removed and number of 2-min lavage cycles to recover ≥96% of beads or three consecutive no-yield cycles were recorded. Endoscopic soft tissue damage was graded. Data were compared by generalized estimating equations (GEE) model and Fisher's exact test (p < .05). RESULTS: More beads (median 48 beads; range 0-49) were removed faster (median 24 beads/cycle; range 12-50) using the 3D-printed instrument compared to control (median 6 beads; range 0-29, 0.66 beads/cycle, range 0-49). There was no difference between total beads removed or removal speed between placement sites. There was no difference in soft tissue damage between procedures. CONCLUSION: Our 3D-printed instrument enabled efficient plastic bead removal. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: DPR fenestration and use of our 3D-printed instrument represents an alternative to current chondroid removal techniques, warranting investigation in clinical cases.

  PublisherDOI

• Intra-articular bone marrow mononuclear cell therapy improves lameness from naturally occurring equine osteoarthritis

  Frontiers in Veterinary Science · 2023-10-09 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Osteoarthritis (OA) can be debilitating and is related to impaired resolution of synovial inflammation. Current treatments offer temporary relief of clinical signs, but have potentially deleterious side effects. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNC) are a rich source of macrophage progenitors that have the ability to reduce OA symptoms in people and inflammation in experimentally-induced synovitis in horses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of intra-articular BMNC therapy to improve clinical signs of naturally occurring equine OA. Horses presenting with clinical and radiographic evidence of moderate OA in a single joint were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: saline (negative control), triamcinolone (positive control), or BMNC (treatment group). Lameness was evaluated subjectively and objectively, joint circumference measured, and synovial fluid collected for cytology and growth factor/cytokine quantification at 0, 7, and 21 days post-injection. Data were analyzed using General Estimating Equations with significance set at p &amp;lt; 0.05. There were no adverse effects noted in any treatment group. There was a significant increase in synovial fluid total nucleated cell count in the BMNC-treated group on day 7 (median 440; range 20–1920 cells/uL) compared to day 0. Mononuclear cells were the predominant cell type across treatments at all time points. Joint circumference decreased significantly in the BMNC-treated group from days 7 to 21 and was significantly lower at day 21 in the BMNC-treated group compared to the saline-treated group. Median objective lameness improved significantly in the BMNC group between days 7 and 21. GM-CSF, IL-1ra, IGF-1, and TNF-α were below detectable limits and IL-6, IL-1β, FGF-2 were detectable in a limited number of synovial fluid samples. Inconsistent and limited differences were detected over time and between treatment groups for synovial fluid PGE 2 , SDF-1, MCP-1 and IL-10. Decreased lameness and joint circumference, coupled with a lack of adverse effects following BMNC treatment, support a larger clinical trial using BMNC therapy to treat OA in horses.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Issue Information

  Equine Veterinary Journal · 2023-04-13

  paratextOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Effects of Bit Chewing on Gastric Emptying, Small Intestinal Transit, and Orocecal Transit Times in Clinically Normal Horses

  Animals · 2023-08-04 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Ileus is a common life-threatening problem in horses, and currently available treatments may be ineffective. The purpose of this study was to determine whether bit chewing, a form of sham feeding, decreases the gastric emptying time (GET), small intestinal transit time (SITT), and total orocecal transit time (OCTT) in clinically normal horses in a prospective crossover study. Nine healthy horses were acclimated and fed a standardized diet. Following 24 h of fasting, self-contained video endoscopy capsules and acetaminophen were administered into the stomach via a nasogastric tube. Each horse underwent experimental (bit chewing for 20 min every 6 h) or control (no bit chewing) conditions, with a 3-week minimum washout period between conditions. The horses were enrolled in either part of the study until all video capsules were retrieved and/or 30 days lapsed. The video capsules were recovered from manure, and GET, SITT, and OCTT were determined from a video analysis. Bit chewing significantly decreased OCTT (p = 0.015) compared to the control conditions. Bit chewing decreased GET and SITT, but the differences were not significant. The mean (median) times determined via the video capsule analysis for the bit-chewing conditions were as follows: GET, 2.34 h (2.86 h); SITT, 3.22 h (3.65 h); and OCTT, 5.13 h (6.15 h), and for the control conditions, they were as follows: GET, 3.93 h (5 h); SITT, 3.79 h (4.4 h); and OCTT, 8.02 h (9.92 h). Bit chewing decreased OCTT in healthy horses. Because this segment of the gastrointestinal tract is frequently affected by ileus, bit chewing may be a safe and inexpensive intervention for that condition in horses. Further investigation in clinical patients with ileus is warranted.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in adult horses with mechanically induced lameness

  Equine Veterinary Journal · 2022 · 22 citations

  • Medicine
  • Anesthesia
  • Pharmacology

  BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen has been used clinically in horses alone or combined with traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for treatment of musculoskeletal pain in horses. OBJECTIVES: To determine the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of acetaminophen at two doses in horses with mechanically induced lameness compared with phenylbutazone or placebo control. STUDY DESIGN: In vivo experiment. METHODS: Nine healthy mares with mechanical lameness induced via a reversible sole pressure horseshoe model were treated with acetaminophen (20 mg/kg PO; A20), acetaminophen (30 mg/kg PO; A30), phenylbutazone (2.2 mg/kg, PO; PB) and oral placebo (C) in a randomised four-way Latin square model. Plasma concentrations for A20 and A30 were analysed via LC-MS/MS and noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. Heart rate and heart rate variability were measured using a portable telemetry. Lameness was scored by three blinded boarded equine surgeons using the AAEP and 10-point scales. RESULTS: of 0.43 h. Post-treatment heart rate for A30 was significantly lower than A20 at 1 and 7 h; lower than PB at 2, 3, 4.5 and 7 h; lower than C at 2, 3.5, 4.5, 6, 7 and 8 h. 10-point Lameness scores were significantly improved for A30 than C at 2 and 4 h post-treatment; PB was significantly improved than C at 8 h post treatment. There were no significant differences in lameness between A20, A30 and PB. MAIN LIMITATIONS: Small sample size, lack of objective lameness measurement. CONCLUSIONS: Acetaminophen at 30 mg/kg produced a more rapid improvement in lameness scores and heart rate compared with other treatments in this model. Further evaluation of the pharmacokinetics and safety of repeated oral dosing of acetaminophen at 30 mg/kg is needed to determine clinical utility.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Charlotte F. Bolwell

  Massey University

  50 shared

• C. Wayne McIlwraith

  Colorado State University

  50 shared

• Erica K. Gee

  50 shared

• Chris W. Rogers

  Massey University

  50 shared

• Wendi D. Roe

  Massey University

  50 shared

• Stephen R. Werre

  Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

  15 shared

• Christopher R. Byron

  Virginia Tech

  14 shared

• Harold C. McKenzie

  Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

  9 shared

Education

• Other, Not specified in the provided HTML

  Not specified in the provided HTML

• Other, Not specified in the provided HTML

  Not specified in the provided HTML

• Ph.D., Not specified in the provided HTML

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Awards & honors

• Elaine Klein Career Development Award, Grayson-Jockey Club R…