Evaluation of the cyclooxygenase selectivity of robenacoxib and its effect on recovery of ischemia-injured jejunal mucosa in horses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cyclooxygenase (COX) selectivity of robenacoxib and its effect on recovery of jejunal mucosa following ischemic injury in horses. ANIMALS: 12 healthy horses. PROCEDURES: Half the maximal inhibition (EC50) of robenacoxib for COX-1 and COX-2 activity was established in bloods samples from 6 horses via measurement of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and prostaglandin E2 concentrations, respectively; COX selectivity was subsequently calculated. Six other horses were anesthetized, and ischemia was induced in the jejunum for 2 hours. Control and ischemia-injured mucosa were collected and incubated with Ringer's solution (control treatment), flunixin meglumine (2.7 × 10⁻5M), or robenacoxib (2.7 × 10⁻5M). Transepithelial electrical resistance and mannitol flux were measured over a 4-hour recovery period. Bathing solution TXB2 and prostaglandin E metabolite concentrations were measured to assess COX-1 and COX-2 function, respectively. RESULTS: The mean ± SD EC50 value of robenacoxib for COX-1 and COX-2 was 11.46 ± 4.46 µM and 0.19 ± 0.07 µM, respectively, resulting in a COX selectivity ratio of 61.01. The transepithelial electrical resistance of ischemia-injured jejunum treated with flunixin meglumine was significantly lower than that of control and robenacoxib-treated tissues. A significant increase in concentrations of prostaglandin E metabolites and TXB2 was detected in control and robenacoxib-treated tissues but not flunixin meglumine-treated tissues. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Robenacoxib selectively inhibited COX-2 and allowed recovery of barrier function in ischemia-injured equine jejunal tissue in vitro.

Demographic characteristics of horses donated to the North Carolina State University Equine Health Center, 1996-2008.

OBJECTIVE: To determine demographic characteristics of horses donated to the North Carolina State University Equine Health Center (EHC) between 1996 and 2008. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS: 122 horses donated to the EHC between January 1996 and December 2008, and 246 horses offered for donation to the EHC between January 2007 and December 2008. PROCEDURES: Telephone and medical records were examined. Data were collected in 5 categories: age, sex, breed, reason for donation, and use prior to donation. RESULTS: From January 1996 through December 2008, 122 horses were donated to the EHC (median, 3 horses/y; range, 0 to 39 horses/y). There were 131 and 115 horses offered for donation during 2007 and 2008, respectively, of which 38 and 23 were accepted. Mean +/- SD age of horses offered for donation during 2007 and 2008 was 12.7 +/- 6.7 years, with 75 of the 246 (30.5%) horses between 6 and 10 years old. Musculoskeletal disease was the most commonly listed reason horses were offered for donation (115/240 [47.9%]). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that unwanted horses donated to the EHC between 1996 and 2008 spanned a wide range of ages and breeds and included both males and females. The most common reason given for unwanted horses offered for donation during 2007 and 2008 was musculoskeletal disease, with degenerative joint disease, lameness of undetermined cause, laminitis, and navicular disease being the most common musculoskeletal conditions.

Molecular phylogeny of the pinworms of mice, rats and rabbits, and its use to develop molecular beacon assays for the detection of pinworms in mice.

Though pinworm infestation has been prevalent since the early years of laboratory animal medicine, the genomes of these parasites have not yet been sequenced. The authors used high-fidelity polymerase chain reaction to amplify a large portion of the ribosomal gene complex of four pinworm species commonly found in lab rodents and rabbits (Aspiculuris tetraptera, Passalurus ambiguus, Syphacia muris and Syphacia obvelata). They determined DNA sequences for these complexes and carried out phylogenetic analysis. Using this information, the authors developed real-time molecular beacon assays for pinworm detection, comparing the new diagnostic approach with traditional methods such as perianal tape testing, fecal flotation and direct examination of intestinal content.