A high protein meal affects plasma insulin concentrations and amino acid metabolism in horses with equine metabolic syndrome.

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is characterized by an abnormal insulin response to a glycemic challenge but despite the known insulinotropic effects of certain amino acids, there is a paucity of data evaluating the impact of dietary protein on insulin dynamics in these horses. The objective was therefore to assess insulin and amino acid responses following intake of a high protein meal in healthy horses and those with EMS. Six mature horses diagnosed with EMS and six age-matched control horses without EMS were used.

Equine antibody response to larval Parascaris equorum excretory-secretory products.

Parascaris equorum is an intestinal nematode of foals and young horses that can produce mild to severe pathology. Current diagnosis is limited to detection of patent infections, when parasite eggs are identified during fecal examinations. This study examined the use of larval P.

Effects of a docosahexaenoic acid-rich microalgae nutritional product on insulin sensitivity after prolonged dexamethasone treatment in healthy mature horses.

Objective: To determine effects of a microalgae nutritional product on insulin sensitivity in horses.

Animals: 8 healthy mature horses. PROCEDURES :Horses (n = 4/group) received a basal diet without (control diet) or with docosahexaenoic acid-rich microalgae meal (150 g/d) for 49 days (day 0 = first day of diet).

In vitro culture of Parascaris equorum larvae and initial investigation of parasite excretory-secretory products.

Currently, diagnosis of Parascaris equorum infection in equids is limited to patent infections. The goals of this study were to culture P. equorum larvae in vitro and identify excretory-secretory (ES) products for prepatent diagnostic testing.

The effect of diet composition and feeding state on the response to exercise in feed-restricted horses.

Eight Thoroughbred horses were used to determine the effects of long-term calorie restriction and diet composition on serum T4 and T3 concentrations and metabolic responses with exercise. Horses were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups (n = 4): Group 1, horses were fed a calorie-restricted diet designed to have 70% of the calories from the roughage source (RHR); Group 2, horses were fed a calorie-restricted diet designed to have 70% of the calories from the concentrate source (RHC). Horses then completed 2 step-wise exercise tests; one following a 12 h fast and one 2 h after a meal of 2 kg of a grain mix.