Molecular and Cellular Evaluation of Horses With Summer Pasture Associated Asthma Syndrome.

Equine asthma is an airway disease that affects a large number of horses annually leading to considerable economic losses in the horse industry. Despite advances in research in this area, there is still a lack of information on its etiology and molecular characterization in pasture associated asthma. The objective of the current study was to characterize the inflammatory disease of lower airways in horses maintained on pasture through cytologic and immunologic profile during the summer in a tropical environment by analysis of the gene expression of Th1 cytokines (IFN- λ, IL-8), Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-5), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, TNF-α) in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in healthy and asthma horses on pasture.

Equine Fecal Microbiota Changes Associated With Anthelmintic Administration.

The gastrointestinal microbiota (GIM) plays an essential role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis with disruptions having profound effects on the wellbeing of the host animal. Parasitic infection is a long-standing issue for the equine industry, and the use of anthelmintic drugs for parasite control has long been standard practice. The impact of anthelmintic treatment on the GIM in healthy horses is not well known.

Dietary energy source affects glucose kinetics in trained Arabian geldings at rest and during endurance exercise.

Advances in modeling and tracer techniques provide new perspective into glucose utilization and potential consequences to health or exercise performance. This study used stable isotope and compartmental modeling to evaluate how adaptation to a feed high in sugar and starch (SS) compared with a feed high in fat and fiber (FF) affects glucose kinetics at rest and during exercise in horses. Six trained Arabians adapted to each feed underwent similar tests at rest and while running approximately 4 m/s on a treadmill.

10.1093/jn/136.7.2090S.

Treatment of clinical laminitis usually fails to prevent some degree of persistent disability; thus, intervention should aim at avoiding risk factors and preventing the disease. Efficiency of intervention would be improved by identifying predisposed horses and ponies. A herd of 160 healthy ponies included 54 previously laminitic (PL) and 106 never laminitic (NL).

Evaluation of genetic and metabolic predispositions and nutritional risk factors for pasture-associated laminitis in ponies.

Objective: To evaluate genetic and metabolic predispositions and nutritional risk factors for development of pasture-associated laminitis in ponies.

Design: Observational cohort study.

Animals: 160 ponies.

Use of proxies and reference quintiles obtained from minimal model analysis for determination of insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta-cell responsiveness in horses.

Objective: To develop proxies calculated from basal plasma glucose and insulin concentrations that predict insulin sensitivity (SI; L.min(-1) x mU(-1)) and beta-cell responsiveness (ie, acute insulin response to glucose [AIRg]; mU/L x min(-1)) and to determine reference quintiles for these and minimal model variables.

Animals: 1 laminitic pony and 46 healthy horses.

Effects of oral potassium supplementation on acid-base status and plasma ion concentrations of horses during endurance exercise.

Objective: To compare effects of oral supplementation with an experimental potassium-free sodium-abundant electrolyte mixture (EM-K) with that of oral supplementation with commercial potassium-rich mixtures (EM+K) on acid-base status and plasma ion concentrations in horses during an 80-km endurance ride.

Animals: 46 healthy horses.

Procedure: Blood samples were collected before the ride; at 21-, 37-, 56-, and 80-km inspection points; and during recovery (ie, 30-minute period after the ride).

Lipoic acid as an antioxidant in mature thoroughbred geldings: a preliminary study.

alpha-Lipoic acid (LA) has demonstrated antioxidant effects in humans and laboratory animals. The objective of this study was to determine whether the effects of LA are similar in horses. Five Thoroughbred geldings were supplemented with 10 mg/kg/d DL-alpha-lipoic acid in a molasses and sweet feed carrier and five received only the carrier as a placebo (CON).