An investigation of the role of soluble CD14 in hospitalized, sick horses.

The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the effects of equine soluble CD14 (sCD14) and monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to equine CD14 on lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) secretion from equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC); and to (2) determine serum concentrations of sCD14 in a population of horses with gastrointestinal diseases or other illnesses likely to result in endotoxemia. Equine PBMC isolated from 10 healthy horses were incubated with Escherichia coli LPS plus CD14 mAb or sCD14 and assayed for TNF-α activity. Pre-incubation with CD14 mAb did not inhibit LPS-induced TNF-α production, whereas use of sCD14 inhibited LPS-induced TNF-α production in a concentration-dependent manner.

Efficacy of Saccharomyces boulardii for treatment of horses with acute enterocolitis.

Objective: To evaluate the viability of Saccharomyces boulardii after PO administration in clinically normal horses and its efficacy as a treatment for horses with acute enterocolitis.

Design: Prospective study.

Animals: 5 clinically normal horses and 14 horses with acute enterocolitis.