Oral supplementation with Lithothamnion extract in horses subjected to oligofructose overload intake: effects on systemic inflammation and multiple organ function.

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a common condition in horses with gastrointestinal disorders. If not prevented or controlled, SIRS promotes multiple organ dysfunctions that may culminate in serious disabilities or even death. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Lithothamnion supplementation on systemic inflammatory response and organ function variables in horses undergoing oligofructose overload (OFO) intake. Twelve healthy horses were randomly divided into control and treated groups. The treated group received Lithothamnion (100 mg/kg bw PO BID) for 7 days before oligofructose intake (10 g/kg PO). Horses underwent clinical and laboratory evaluation immediately before and 6, 12, 18, and 24 h following administration of oligofructose. Parametric data were subjected to ANOVA in randomized blocks, followed by Tukey, and Student's t-tests for mean comparsions. Non-parametric data were analyzed by the Friedman, Dunn's, and Mann-Whitney tests (P < .05). Systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction was evident in both groups; however, these changes were milder and delayed in the treated group. Supplementation attenuated and delayed the tachycardia, tachypnea, leukocytosis, hyperproteinemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hyperalbuminemia and hyperglycemia in treated horses undergoing OFO. Furthermore, increases in packed cell volume, red blood cells, hemoglobin, globulin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, indirect and direct bilirubin and creatinine were observed only in the control group, remaining unchanged in the treated group. These findings demonstrate the potential of oral supplementation with Lithothamnion to ameliorate systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction in horses at risk of acquiring gastrointestinal disorders.

Changes in metabolic and physiological biomarkers in Mangalarga Marchador horses with induced obesity.

This study aimed to characterize and correlate physiological and metabolic changes in horses fed a hypercaloric diet (HD). Nine mature horses with a mean initial body condition score of 2.9 ± 1 (scale, 1-9) were fed a high-calorie diet for 5 months. Fasting blood samples were collected before the study and biweekly for the duration of the project to determine the concentrations of cholesterol (CHOL), very low (VLDL), low (LDL) and high-density (HDL) lipoproteins, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, and fructosamine. A low-dose oral glucose tolerance test (LGTT) was conducted before, 75 and 150 days after HD introduction. Mean arterial blood pressure was measured monthly. Following HD introduction, CHOL, LDL, HDL, and fructosamine blood concentrations increased (P < 0.001). These four variables were also positively and significantly correlated with the blood insulin response to LGTT. These findings confirm the occurrence of hypercholesterolemia concomitantly with insulin dysregulation development in horses exposed to HD.

Mechanical nociceptive assessment of the equine hoof following distal interphalangeal joint intra-articular anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: With the hypothesis that equine dorsal lamellar tissue can be desensitized by anesthesia injection into distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ), the objective was to assess the mechanical nociceptive threshold of hoof dorsal lamellae following intra-articular (IA) administration of lidocaine into this joint. METHODS: The DIPJ of the forelimbs of six adult healthy horses were injected with either 5 mL of lidocaine, or 5 mL of lactated Ringer's solution. Treatments were randomly distributed, with each forelimb undergoing a single treatment. The hooves were evaluated pre- and post-injection at pre-selected times over 4 h, using a pressure algometry model. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) were recorded for the sole (dorsal, palmarolateral, and palmaromedial regions), coronary band (medial, lateral, and dorsal regions), heel bulbs (medial and lateral), and dorsal lamellar region (2 cm and 4 cm distal to the coronary band). The MNT means were compared over time using the Friedman test and between treatments using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, with values of P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There were no differences between treatments for any region of the hoof during the evaluation period. However, MNT values indicating analgesia were recorded in the dorsal lamellar region in 50% of hooves following adminstration of lidocaine into the DIPJ. CONCLUSION: The administration of 5 mL of lidocaine into the DIPJ does not significantly increase the mechanical nociceptive threshold of the equine hoof.

Caudal epidural anesthesia in mares after bicarbonate addition to a lidocaine-epinephrine combination.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the nociceptive and clinical effects of buffering a lidocaine-epinephrine solution with sodium bicarbonate in caudal epidural block in mares. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial. ANIMALS: Six mixed-breed mares weighing 350-440 kg. METHODS: Each animal was administered two caudal epidural injections, 72 hours apart, using different solutions prepared immediately before injection. The control solution was 7 mL 2% lidocaine hydrochloride with epinephrine hemitartrate (1:200,000) added to 3 mL sterile water for injection (pH 2.9). The alkalinized solution was 7 mL of lidocaine-epinephrine solution added to 2.3 mL sterile water for injection and 0.7 mL 8.4% sodium bicarbonate (pH 7.4). Nociception was evaluated by response to skin pinching at 31 sites in the sacral region and around the perimeter of the anogenital area (distances of 10, 15 and 20 cm) before, and 5, 10 and 15 minutes after epidural injection, then every 15 minutes until the return of nociception in all evaluated sites. The onset and duration times, and intensity of ataxia (grades 0 to 3) were recorded. The paired t test was used to compare the onset and duration of anesthesia and ataxia (p<0.05). RESULTS: Alkalization of the solution resulted in significant decreases in the average time of onset of loss of nociception in the sacral region (40%) and around the perimeter of the anogenital area extending up to 5 cm (36%) and from 5 to 10 cm (32%) from the anus and vulva. Alkalization also decreased the average duration of ataxia (33%), without affecting the duration and extent of anesthesia or the degree of ataxia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Alkalization of lidocaine-epinephrine solution is advantageous in shortening the duration of ataxia and hastening the onset of anesthesia in areas adjacent to the anogenital area, without reducing the duration of epidural anesthesia, in mares.