Relationship between biochemical markers and radiographic scores in the evaluation of the osteoarticular status of Warmblood stallions.

in Research in Veterinary Science (2009), 87(2), 319-328

Biochemical markers and radiographic scores as an evaluation for the osteoarticular status of Warmblood stallions.

(2009)

Establishing the osteoarticular status of the horse is often performed by means of radiological screening of the animals. Widespread blood sampling could potentially be an alternative to this procedure ... [more ▼]

Establishing the osteoarticular status of the horse is often performed by means of radiological screening of the animals. Widespread blood sampling could potentially be an alternative to this procedure which is time consuming and sometimes technically difficult. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the radiological status of the horses and the levels of biochemical markers (BM) of cartilage degradation and synovial inflammation. Materials and Methods: A specific radiological scoring (RS) system was developed and applied on 63 stallions presented for studbook admission. Additionally, groups of horses were established according to the occurrence of osteochondrosis (OC), degenerative joint disease (DJD) and distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) effusion. Insulin growth factor-I, myeloperoxidases, Coll2-1 and Coll2-1NO2 were used as BM. The effects of age and weight on the BM and of the BM on the RS were measured. Mean values of BM between OC positive versus negative, DJD positive versus negative and DIPJ effusion positive versus negative were compared using SAS statistical program. Results: No effect of the combined BM was found on the RS. No significant differences between the values of the BM were found within the different radiological classes (RC). However, considering only the Coll2-1NO2 marker, the probability to belong to class A was given by the equation 9.63 -0.31 Coll2-1NO2 + 0.04 (Coll2-1NO2)². Equally a tendency (p= 0.06) towards an increase in RC by 0.45 for each increasing unit of Coll2-1NO2 was present. Significant positive correlations were found between Coll2-1 values and Coll2-1 NO2 values. MPO values were found to be significantly higher in OC negative horses (357.86  64.43 ng/ml) than in OC positive horses (231.17  27.15 ng/ml). IGF-I levels were found significantly lower in the positive DIPJ effusion group (416.05  17.57 ng/ml) compared to the negative DIPJ effusion group (477.1  22.40 ng/ml). Coll2-1 values were significantly higher in the positive DIPJ effusion group (911.04  41.13 nM) compared to the negative DIPJ effusion group (769.04  37.92 nM). Mean values of Coll2-1 were significantly higher in the DJD positive group (901.24  36.75 nM) compared to the DJD negative group (790.590  39.397 nM) Discussion: The combination of the blood parameters did not seem to correlate with the used RS system. Coll2-1NO2 levels however tend to increase with poorer RC and could therefore be used as a useful predictor of the osteoarticular status of the horse. Coll2-1 levels were significantly higher in the degenerative joint disease group. A high percentage of horses with DIPJ effusion was present in this study and was associated with decreased IGF-I and increased Coll2-1 levels. [less ▲]

In vivo administration of acepromazine or promethazine to horse decreases the reactive oxygen species production response of subsequently isolated neutrophils to stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate

in Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2009)

The previous experiments have shown that some phenothiazines have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in vitro. In this study the inhibition of the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by ... [more ▼]

The previous experiments have shown that some phenothiazines have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in vitro. In this study the inhibition of the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by neutrophils was studied in two groups of horses, which received a dose of 0.1 mg⁄ kg of either acepromazine or promethazine intravenously. Blood samples were collected before (T0) and 0.5, 1, 3 and 5 h after drug administration. The chemiluminescence (CML) response of neutrophils was measured ex vivo in the presence of luminol for a period of 10 min and the maximum CML value (peak value) recorded. There was a significant inhibition of the ROS production in the acepromazine treated group (49% inhibition) at 5 h after administration and in the promethazine group (24% inhibition) at 3 h after administration (P < 0.05 vs. T0). These findings are of therapeutic relevance in the use of phenothiazines in equine patients with inflammatory diseases where neutrophil activation and ROS production are implicated. [less ▲]

Evaluation of sedation depth and quality of performed procedures following administration of α2-agonists combined or not with butorphanol in horses.

Poster (2008, October)

Several molecules available in equine medicine provide profound sedation and good analgesia when performing diagnostic or surgical procedures. They differ slightly in degree of action, as well in time as ... [more ▼]

Several molecules available in equine medicine provide profound sedation and good analgesia when performing diagnostic or surgical procedures. They differ slightly in degree of action, as well in time as in depth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the depth of sedation and quality of performing a standardized procedure after injection of an 2-agonist alone or associated with butorphanol. Horses presented to the Equine Clinic of Liege University from December 2007 to June 2008 for an endoscopic, dental, radiological or ophthalmological examination of which owner and clinician agreed to include the horse in the study were retained. All horses (n=133) were sedated in a randomized double blind fashion using one of the six following protocols: detomidine (D) (0.01mg/kg IV), romifidine (R) (0.04mg/kg IV), or xylazine (X) (0.5mg/kg IV) alone or associated with butorphanol (B) (0.02mg/kg IV). Stability, head position and the reaction to a stimulus (auditive and visual) were evaluated before the start of the procedure. An overall subjective grade using a 10 cm line scale was given to evaluate sedation depth (ranging from no effect to maximal depth on line) and the quality of the performed procedure (ranging from not realised to ideal examination). For each specific procedure, the same clinician experienced in his particular field evaluated the parameters. Data were related by a variance analysis using SAS system and considered significant if P<0.01. The used protocols significantly influenced both sedation depth and examination quality. Sedation depth increased significantly when B was added in all the three 2-agonists used (mean ± SD): D: 6.46±0.33; D+B: 7.06±0.37; R: 4.93±0.46; R+B: 7.04±0.45; X: 4.94±0.43; X+B: 7.75±0.40. Detomidine provided a significantly better quality of the examination compared to romifidine and xylazine. The addiction of butorphanol significantly decreased the examination quality when added to detomidine and increased the quality when combined with romifidine and xylazine. Mean (± SD) of the quality of performed procedures: D: 8.41±0.54; D+B: 6.06±0.64; R: 6.68±0.71; R+B: 7.16±0.67; X: 4.47±0.67; X+B: 4.52±0.64. Comparison of sedation depth and quality of performed examination revealed an increase in quality of examination scores with increasing depth of sedation until a certain level. As from sedation depths with scores of 8 or more, a decrease in quality of examination was encountered. This report shows the important effect of butorphanol addition on sedation. However, increasing sedation depth was not necessarily linked to a better quality of procedure, notably due to difficulties in handling strongly sedated horses for the procedures performed in this study. [less ▲]

Mandibular osteodistraction as a corrective method for class II malocclusions in the horse.

Poster (2008, July)

Myeloperoxidase Assay in Plasma and Peritoneal Fluid of Horses with Gastrointestinal Disease

in Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research = Revue Canadienne de Recherche Vétérinaire (2008), 72(1), 37-42

Gastrointestinal disorders, especially strangulating intestinal obstructions, are still a major cause of illness and death in the horse. Circulating lipopolysaccharides may activate both neutrophils and ... [more ▼]

Gastrointestinal disorders, especially strangulating intestinal obstructions, are still a major cause of illness and death in the horse. Circulating lipopolysaccharides may activate both neutrophils and monocytes. The activated neutrophils release myeloperoxidase (MPO), a specific enzyme with strong oxidative activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate MPO concentrations in the plasma and peritoneal fluid (PF) of horses with colic and to check the hypothesis that these concentrations would be higher in a case of strangulating obstruction than in cases of nonstrangulating disease. By using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for equine MPO, we determined the MPO concentrations in horses admitted to a clinic for colic. Horses with nonstrangulating or strangulating obstruction of the large intestine (NSLI or SLI), strangulating obstruction of the small intestine (SSI), or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were compared with healthy horses. The horses with SLI, SSI, or IBD had significantly higher MPO levels in plasma and PF than did those in the other 2 groups. The mean plasma level was significantly higher in the horses with NSLI than in the healthy horses. High MPO values in PF indicated necrotic bowel. These results show that neutrophil activation occurs during nonstrangulating and strangulating intestinal obstruction in horses and that the plasma and PF MPO concentrations may be a marker of the severity of the disease. [less ▲]

Datex-Ohmeda S/5 direct and indirect blood pressure monitoring during general anesthesia in the adult horse

(2008, January)

The Effect of Colic on Oxygen Extraction in Horses

in Veterinary Journal (2008), 175(1), 102-107

Blood oxygen transport and oxygen extraction were assessed in horses with colic. A gravity score (GS) ranging from 1 to 3 was attributed to each colic case with healthy horses used as controls. Jugular ... [more ▼]

Blood oxygen transport and oxygen extraction were assessed in horses with colic. A gravity score (GS) ranging from 1 to 3 was attributed to each colic case with healthy horses used as controls. Jugular venous and carotid arterial blood samples were collected and concentrations of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, adenosine triphosphate, inorganic phosphate and chloride were determined. pH and partial pressures of carbon dioxide (PCO(2)), and oxygen (PO(2)) were also measured. Oxygen equilibrium curves (OEC) were constructed under standard conditions and oxygen extraction ratios calculated. Haemoglobin oxygen affinity measured under standard conditions (P50(std)) was unchanged in colic horses compared with healthy controls. Horses with the highest GS, i.e. 3 had lower blood pH values than healthy animals. Arterial and venous partial pressures of oxygen at 50% haemoglobin saturation (P50(a) and P50(v)) were significantly higher in horses suffering from colic (GS=3) than in healthy horses. The oxygen extraction ratio was also significantly increased in colic horses with a GS of 3. A rise in the oxygen extraction ratio detected in the most severely affected animals seemed to reflect the compensatory properties of the oxygen transport system where extraction of oxygen from the blood increases when systemic oxygen delivery decreases, as might be anticipated in horses with colic. [less ▲]

The use of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy in the treatment of urethral urolithiasis in the horse: a preliminary study.

in Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2008), 22(6), 1449-51

BACKGROUND: Radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is widely used in equine practice for the treatment of orthopedic problems. However, its original use as a lithotripsy device in human and canine ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: Radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is widely used in equine practice for the treatment of orthopedic problems. However, its original use as a lithotripsy device in human and canine urology led us to postulate that it could be used as an alternative to the surgical treatment of urethral calculi in horses. HYPOTHESIS: Radial ESWT can easily and safely fragment calculi in the distal urethra of the horse. ANIMALS: Two postmortem cases and 1 live case of obstructive urinary disease admitted at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Liege. METHODS: A radial shockwave device was directly applied to the urethra in an attempt to fragment calculi. An ex vivo trial was performed on the same retrieved calculi to investigate pressure settings in order to obtain complete fragmentation of the calculus. RESULTS: In all cases, radial ESWT was able to fragment the calculus partially, enabling retrieval of the remaining fragments via the urethra. Much higher pressure settings than those used for in vivo partial fragmentation were necessary to obtain complete destruction of the calculi ex vivo. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: This brief report suggests the use of radial ESWT as a safe and useful alternative to more invasive surgical management of urethral calculi in horses. [less ▲]

Inhibitory Effect of Curcuminoids and Tetrahydrocurcuminoids on Equine Activated Neutrophils and Myeloperoxidase Activity

in Physiological Research (2007), 57(4), 577-587

In the horse, the inflammation response to various pathologies (intestinal strangulations, laminitis, etc.) involves an excessive stimulation of the polymorphonuclear neutrophils releasing reactive oxygen ... [more ▼]

In the horse, the inflammation response to various pathologies (intestinal strangulations, laminitis, etc.) involves an excessive stimulation of the polymorphonuclear neutrophils releasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). The aim of the present work was to study the effect of natural polyphenols, curcuminoids and tetrahydrocurcuminoids (THC) on isolated stimulated equine neutrophils and on the activity of purified MPO. The ROS production and the release of MPO by activated neutrophils were measured by chemiluminescence and ELISA techniques, respectively. The activity of purified MPO was measured by studying its nitration, chlorination or oxidation capacity and by using an original method called SIEFED allowing the study of drug interaction with the enzyme without interferences of the medium. Curcuminoids and THC had dose-dependent inhibitory effects on ROS production and MPO release by activated neutrophils and on purified MPO activity. We suggest that the higher efficacy of curcuminoids versus THC could be explained, at least partially, by its chemical structure: the conjugated double bounds and the plane structure of curcuminoids made easier the neutralization of the radical species generated by activated neutrophils and the interaction of the drug with the active site of MPO. These inhibitory effects of curcuminoids on the oxidant activity of equine neutrophils and on MPO activity open therapeutic perspectives in equine pathologies with excessive inflammatory reactions. [less ▲]