ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between plasma and RBC fatty acid composition and incidence and severity of squamous gastric ulcers when altered by short-chain (SC) or long-chain (LC) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation. ANIMALS: 13 fit Thoroughbred horses in training. PROCEDURES: Horses were evaluated by gastroscopy for squamous ulcer score, gastric pH, and blood fatty acid composition prior to supplementation (UNSUPP) and after 3 months of supplementation with a corn-flax oil blend of alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid (SC-PUFA) or a gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)-fish oil blend of GLA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; LC-PUFA) in a crossover design. Prior to gastroscopy and blood collection, horses performed a 4,600-m standardized exercise test on the racetrack as a stressor. RESULTS: Three months of supplementation with LC-PUFAs increased RBC levels of GLA, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), arachidonic acid (AA), EPA, and DHA, and reduced severe ulcer prevalence (38% UNSUPP vs 8% LC-PUFA with a severe ulcer score of grade 3 to 4). Short-chain PUFA supplementation did not effectively elevate RBC GLA, DGLA, AA, EPA, or DHA and severe ulcer incidence was not different (38% UNSUPP vs 23% SC-PUFA with a severe ulcer score of grade 3 to 4). Lower levels of RBC GLA, DGLA, AA, and EPA correlated with severe squamous gastric ulceration (grade 3 to 4). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Equine gastric ulcer syndrome is prevalent in high-performance horses and is a concern to owners and trainers. Long-chain PUFA supplementation increased levels of GLA, DGLA, AA, EPA, and DHA, unlike SC-PUFA supplementation, and was associated positively with prevention or resolution of severe squamous gastric ulceration. Further studies are needed to evaluate different management styles and exercise intensities.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell , Horse Diseases , Stomach Ulcer , Horses , Animals , Stomach Ulcer/epidemiology , Stomach Ulcer/prevention & control , Stomach Ulcer/veterinary , Prevalence , Ulcer/veterinary , Eicosapentaenoic Acid , Fatty Acids, Unsaturated , Arachidonic Acid , Docosahexaenoic Acids , Erythrocytes , Fatty Acids , Dietary Supplements , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/veterinary , Horse Diseases/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Five horses were presented with signs of myopathy along with systemic malaise, hyperfibrinogenemia, hyperphosphatemia, and an elevated calcium phosphorus product (Ca*P). Postmortem findings were consistent with systemic calcinosis, a syndrome of calcium deposition in the tissue of organs including lungs, kidneys, muscle, and heart that has not been previously described in horses.
Subject(s)
Calcinosis/veterinary , Horse Diseases/diagnosis , Animals , Calcinosis/blood , Calcinosis/diagnosis , Calciphylaxis/blood , Calciphylaxis/diagnosis , Calciphylaxis/veterinary , Calcium/blood , Fatal Outcome , Horse Diseases/blood , Horses , Male , Phosphorus/bloodABSTRACT
CASE DESCRIPTION: A 7-year-old 509-kg (1,120-lb) Tennessee Walking Horse mare was evaluated because of bilateral mucosanguinous nasal discharge, intermittent right-sided epistaxis, and worsening dyspnea of 9 months' duration. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Multiple masses in the nasopharynx were detected via endoscopic and radiographic examinations. Cytologic and histologic examinations of biopsy specimens of 1 mass revealed round yeasts with thick nonstaining capsules and occasional narrow-based budding that resembled cryptococcal organisms. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Oral administration of fluconazole and organic ethylenediamine dihydriodide and intermittent intralesional injections with fluconazole, amphotericin B, and formalin resulted in resolution of lesions for a period of 2.5 years. The horse then developed exophthalmos, recurring clinical signs, and extensive nasopharyngeal masses. The masses were surgically debulked via a large frontonasal bone flap, and the horse was treated with IV injections of amphotericin B and long-term oral administration of fluconazole. Clinical signs did not recur in the following 2-year period. A presumptive diagnosis of cryptococcosis was made following cytologic and histologic evaluations of the masses; results of serologic analysis and fungal culture confirmed infection with Cryptococcus neoformans. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cryptococcal infection of the upper respiratory tract in horses has previously been described as a uniformly fatal disease. As this case report illustrates, medical and surgical treatment of sinonasal cryptococcal granulomas in horses may be successful, but the importance of long-term follow-up and the potential for disease recrudescence should be considered. As efficacious antifungal agents become less expensive, their increased use will likely decrease mortality rates in horses with fungal infections.
Subject(s)
Cryptococcosis/veterinary , Granuloma/veterinary , Horse Diseases/therapy , Nose Diseases/veterinary , Animals , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Cryptococcosis/drug therapy , Cryptococcosis/surgery , Female , Granuloma/drug therapy , Granuloma/microbiology , Granuloma/surgery , Horses , Nose Diseases/drug therapy , Nose Diseases/surgeryABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Lung surfactant function and composition are varied and adapted to the specific respiratory physiology of all mammalian species. HYPOTHESIS: Lung surfactant function and composition are different in neonatal foals as compared to adult horses. ANIMALS: Six adult horses, 7 term foals (<24 hours old), and 4 premature foals were used. Animals were part of the Auburn University teaching herd except for 3 client-owned premature foals. METHODS: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained from all animals. Ultracentrifugation of cell-free BALF separated surfactant into crude surfactant pellets (CSP) and supernatant. Both fractions were analyzed for phospholipid and protein content with the Bartlett and bicinchoninic acid method, respectively. Phospholipid composition of the CSP was determined by using high-performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light scatter detector. Surface tension of the CSP was measured with a pulsating bubble surfactometer. Results from term foals (<24 hours old) were compared statistically to those from adult horses. Values of P < .05 were considered significant. RESULTS: BALF phospholipid content was similar between adult horses and term foals, but BALF protein content was significantly decreased in term foals. Phosphatidylglycerol was significantly decreased, phosphatidylinositol was significantly increased, and the minimum surface tension was significantly increased in the CSP from term foals compared to adult horses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Surface tension and phospholipid composition of surfactant in neonatal foals are significantly different compared to adult horses. These changes may influence biophysical and immunologic functions of surfactant.
Subject(s)
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/chemistry , Lung/metabolism , Phospholipids/analysis , Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins/analysis , Pulmonary Surfactants/analysis , Age Factors , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/cytology , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/veterinary , Female , Horses , Lung/physiology , Male , Phospholipids/metabolism , Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins/metabolism , Pulmonary Surfactants/metabolism , Respiratory Function TestsSubject(s)
Horse Diseases/diagnosis , Pancreatitis/veterinary , Acute Disease , Aging , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Female , HorsesSubject(s)
Horse Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Myositis Ossificans/veterinary , Nervous System Diseases/veterinary , Wounds and Injuries/veterinary , Animals , Ataxia/diagnostic imaging , Ataxia/etiology , Ataxia/veterinary , Hindlimb , Horse Diseases/diagnosis , Horses , Male , Myositis Ossificans/diagnostic imaging , Myositis Ossificans/etiology , Nervous System Diseases/complications , Nervous System Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Radiography , Wounds and Injuries/complications , Wounds and Injuries/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cardiopulmonary and clinicopathologic effects of rapid IV administration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in awake and halothane-anesthetized horses. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 6 adult horses. PROCEDURES: Horses received IV infusion of 5 L of a balanced electrolyte solution with and without 1 g/kg (0.45 g/lb) of 10% DMSO solution when they were awake and anesthetized with halothane (4 treatments/horse). Arterial and venous blood samples were collected immediately before and at intervals during or after fluid administration and analyzed for blood gases and hematologic and serum biochemical variables, respectively. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and arterial blood pressure variables were recorded prior to, during, and after fluid administration. RESULTS: After administration of fluid with or without DMSO, changes in measured variables were detected immediately, but most variables returned to baseline values within 4 hours. One awake control horse had signs of anxiety; agitation and tachycardia were detected in 2 awake horses administered DMSO. These clinical signs disappeared when the rate of infusion was reduced. In anesthetized horses, increased concentrations of WBCs and plasma fibrinogen and serum creatine kinase activity persisted for 24 hours, which was related to the stress of anesthesia more than the effects of fluid administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Infusion of 5 L of balanced electrolyte solution with or without 10% DMSO induced minimal changes in cardiopulmonary function and clinicopathologic variables in either awake or halothane-anesthetized horses. Stress associated with anesthesia and recovery had a greater influence on measured variables in anesthetized horses than fluid administration.
Subject(s)
Analgesics, Non-Narcotic/administration & dosage , Dimethyl Sulfoxide/administration & dosage , Horses/physiology , Anesthetics, Inhalation , Animals , Blood Gas Analysis/veterinary , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Cross-Over Studies , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Halothane , Heart Rate/drug effects , Infusions, Intravenous/veterinary , Prospective Studies , Random Allocation , Respiration/drug effectsABSTRACT
Selenium (Se) deficiency disease has been described in camelids and only clinical data is available for administration of parenteral Se supplements. This study investigated the pharmacokinetic effects of subcutaneous Se injection (0.1 mg/kg) in llamas fed a diet adequate in Se. Absorption of Se was rapid with peak whole blood Se concentration at the first sampling time. Significant differences in whole blood Se concentration from before injection of Se were not found past 2 days after Se injection. Parenteral Se is unlikely to have a long-term effect on whole blood Se concentration in llamas fed adequate dietary Se.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/pharmacokinetics , Camelids, New World/metabolism , Selenium/pharmacokinetics , Absorption , Animals , Antioxidants/administration & dosage , Antioxidants/metabolism , Diet , Dietary Supplements , Half-Life , Infusions, Parenteral/veterinary , Injections, Subcutaneous/veterinary , Male , Selenium/administration & dosage , Selenium/blood , Selenium/deficiency , Tissue DistributionSubject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Facial Paralysis/veterinary , Horse Diseases/diagnosis , Otitis Media/veterinary , Skull Fractures/veterinary , Animals , Corneal Ulcer/etiology , Corneal Ulcer/veterinary , Diagnosis, Differential , Facial Nerve Diseases/diagnosis , Facial Nerve Diseases/veterinary , Facial Paralysis/complications , Facial Paralysis/etiology , Female , Horse Diseases/drug therapy , Horse Diseases/etiology , Horses , Hyoid Bone/injuries , Hyoid Bone/surgery , Otitis Media/complications , Otitis Media/diagnosis , Otitis Media/drug therapy , Prognosis , Skull Fractures/complications , Skull Fractures/physiopathology , Temporal Bone/injuries , Temporal Bone/surgery , Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases/diagnosis , Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases/veterinaryABSTRACT
A prospective study was performed to determine the serologic response of previously vaccinated horses to revaccination against eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis (EEE and WEE). Horses responded variably to each antigen, and some horses had low or undetectable antibodies 6 months after vaccination. Some horses did not develop increasing titers to EEE or WEE despite recent vaccination. Geometric mean titers peaked 2 weeks after revaccination and were significantly increased from before revaccination. Except for one horse, EEE:WEE titer ratios ranged from 0.25 to 2.0. Regular vaccination against EEE and WEE did not interfere with testing for Saint Louis encephalitis.