Effects of ß-Glucan Supplementation on LPS-Induced Endotoxemia in Horses.

ß-glucan is part of the cell wall of fungi and yeasts and has been known for decades to have immunomodulating effects on boosting immunity against various infections as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern that is able to modify biological responses. ß-glucan has been used in rat models and in vitro studies involving sepsis and SIRS with good results, but this supplement has not been evaluated in the treatment of endotoxemia in horses. This study aims to evaluate the effects of preventive supplementation with ß-glucan in horses submitted to endotoxemia by means of inflammatory response modulation. Eight healthy horses, both male and female, aged 18 ± 3 months, weighing 300 ± 100 kg of mixed breed, were randomly assigned to two groups of four animals, both of which were subjected to the induction of endotoxemia via the intravenous administration of E. coli lipopolysaccharides (0.1 µg/kg). For 30 days before the induction of endotoxemia, horses in the ß-glucan group (GB) received 10 mg/kg/day of ß-glucan orally, and horses in the control group (GC) received 10 mg/kg/day of 0.9% sodium chloride orally. The horses were submitted to physical exams, including a hematological, serum biochemistry, and peritoneal fluid evaluation, and the serum quantification of cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10. For statistical analysis, the normality of residues and homogeneity of variances were verified; then, the variables were analyzed as repeated measures over time, checking the effect of treatment, time, and the interaction between time and treatment. Finally, the averages were compared using Tukey's test at a significance level of 5%. Horses from both experimental groups presented clinical signs and hematological changes in endotoxemia, including an increase in heart rate and body temperature, neutrophilic leukopenia, an increase in serum bilirubin, glucose, lactate, and an increase in TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10. Hepatic and renal function were not compromised by ß-glucan supplementation. GB presented higher mean values of the serum total protein, globulins, and IL-8 compared to that observed in GC. In the peritoneal fluid, horses from GB presented a lower mean concentration of neutrophils and a higher mean concentration of macrophages compared to the GC. It was concluded that preventive supplementation of ß-glucan for thirty days modulated the immune response, as evidenced by increasing serum total proteins, globulins, IL-8, and changes in the type of peritoneal inflammatory cells, without effectively attenuating clinical signs of endotoxemia in horses. Considering the safety of ß-glucan in this study, the results suggest the potential clinical implication of ß-glucan for prophylactic use in horse endotoxemia.

Subarachnoid ketamine and ketamine s (+) associated with lidocaine in sheep and goats anesthesia.

Ten male sheep (Sheep group; SGk) and seven male goats (Goat group; GGks+) were used in this study. The objective was to compare the use of racemic ketamine or ketamine S(+) associated with lidocaine on spinal anesthesia and evaluate if the drugs leads to a surgical anesthesia state, as well as to verify the cardiorespiratory, sedative and motor effects of this technique in these species. After correct placement of the needle in the subarachnoid space, 3.0 mg kg-1 of racemic ketamine (SGk) or ketamine S(+) (GGks+), both diluted in 1.5 mg kg-1 of 2% lidocaine, were administered. Evaluations were performed during orchiectomy, at times 0 (T0), 5 (T5), 10 (T10), 20 (T20), 30 (T30) and 60 (T60) minutes after subarachnoid anesthesia administration. No significant changes in heart and respiratory rates were observed in both experimental groups. All animals showed surgical analgesia and stood conscious or slightly sedated with ataxia immediately after the drugs administration (T5), allowing the execution of bilateral orchiectomy. The ataxia in SGk was classified as severe with recumbency in 80% of the animals, moderate ataxia in 10% of the animals, and mild ataxia in 10% of the animals. All goats (GGks+; 100%) presented severe ataxia and recumbency. At 60 min, animals of both groups were in standing position and with normal gait. Subarachnoid RS-ketamine and ketamine S(+) (3 mg kg-1), associated with lidocaine in sheep and goats, produces surgical anesthesia and recumbency without causing cardiorespiratory abnormalities, regurgitation and bloating.