Evaluation of gastrointestinal tract lesions and serum malondialdehyde levels after repeated oral administration of phenylbutazone in horses

Phenylbutazone (PBZ) is a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for horses. However, because of its gastrointestinal side effects, its administration requires careful attention in veterinary practice. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a serum biomarker associated with increased damage to the equine gastrointestinal system. This study investigated the hematological effects and alterations in the gastrointestinal tract and assessed serum MDA concentrations following repeated oral PBZ administration at clinical doses. Fourteen horses were randomly divided into control and treatment groups. All horses in the treatment group were administered 4.4 milligrams per kilogram of body weight of PBZ syrup orally twice a day for 7 days, whereas the control group received syrup as a placebo. The development of gastrointestinal side effects was investigated using gastroscopy, abdominal ultrasound, and fecal pH; serum MDA concentrations were assessed using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Data were compared between PBZ-treated and control horses before and after the treatment period. The treatment group exhibited decreased albumin and total protein concentrations. Moreover, this group exhibited a higher thickness of the right dorsal colon wall (p = 0.03) and had higher scores for squamous gastric ulcers (p = 0.01). Fecal pH was lower in the treatment group than in the control group after PBZ administration (p < 0.01). Although MDA concentrations were higher in the treatment group after PBZ administration, they did not differ significantly from those of the control group. This study highlighted the changes in hematological and gastrointestinal lesions resulting from PBZ administration in horses at clinical doses, even without clinical signs. However, MDA may not be an optimal biomarker for the early detection of gastrointestinal damage due to PBZ treatment in horses.

The Therapeutic Potency of Silver/Chitosan, Silver/Saponin and Chitosan/ Saponin Nanocomposites on Ethanol-induced Gastric Ulcers in Wistar Rats

BACKGROUND

The annual incidence of peptic ulcer disease is estimated to be four million cases worldwide, with an average lifetime risk of 7.5% in individuals of all ages. Polymer nanocomposites have novel prospects in the field of modern medicine.

OBJECTIVE

The present research endeavors to assess the therapeutic efficacy of nanoparticles composed of silver/chitosan, silver/saponin, and chitosan/saponin against gastric ulcers induced by ethanol in Wistar rats.

METHODS

Forty-eight rats were randomly split into eight groups of the same size. Oral ethanol (5 ml/kg of body weight) was given to all rat groups except the control one for 1 hour before treatment. Control and ulcer groups of rats were given distilled water orally. The rats in the other groups were given orally 1/10 LD50 of each treatment as follows: AgNPs, chitosan NPs, Saponin, AgNPs-Chitosan NPs, AgNP-Saponin, and chitosan-Saponin NPs.

RESULTS

NP-treated groups showed a significant increase in the gastric juice pH, glutathione reduced, catalase, and nitric oxide while gastric juice volume, ulcer index, and malondialdehyde levels decreased compared with the ulcer group. Histopathological investigation of stomach showed improvement in NPs groups specially in the chitosan-Saponin NPs group.

CONCLUSION

The current study revealed that silver-chitosan, silver-saponin and chitosansaponin nanocomposites effectively treat gastric ulcers. Chitosan-Saponin nanoparticles showed high therapeutic effectiveness against gastric ulcer in rats.

Association of the severity of colic in horses with oxidative stress biomarkers, acute-phase proteins, and certain trace elements

Sixty-one horses were enrolled in this study and divided into 3 different groups according to their severity of colic (heart rate, oral mucous membrane color, and abdominal distention): a strangulating colic (SC) group (n=21), non-strangulating colic (NC) group (n=20), and control group (n=20) consisting of randomly selected normal horses without signs of colic. The serum concentrations of haptoglobin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), zinc, iron, and copper were evaluated in all horses. The average concentration of TNFα in the SC group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.001). The TNFα concentration was higher in the NC group compared with the control group (P<0.001). Furthermore, the average concentration of TNFα tended to be higher in the SC group compared with the NC group (P=0.052). The average concentration of haptoglobin in the SC group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.001). The average concentration of NO was higher in the SC group compared with the NC group. (P=0.016) The average concentration of MDA was higher in the SC group compared with the control group (P=0.042). Furthermore, the concentration of MDA was higher in the SC group compared with the NC group (P=0.048). TNFα in horses with signs of colic may be a reliable indicator of prognosis and the severity of clinical signs. The haptoglobin concentration may be a useful marker in cases where animals are referred to clinicians a few days after the onset of colic. The concentrations of MDA and NO should be interpreted with caution.

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome: An Update on Current Knowledge

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is a term that has been used since 1999, initially being used to describe all gastric mucosal disease in horses. Since this time, the identification of two distinct main disease entities of the equine gastric mucosa have been described under the umbrella of EGUS; these are Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD). In 2015 the European College of Equine Internal Medicine (ECEIM) released a consensus statement defining these disease entities. This document highlighted the lack of evidence surrounding EGGD compared to ESGD, and identified knowledge gaps for further research to be directed. Subsequently, many studies on EGGD have been published, especially on pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. This article updates current knowledge on both ESGD and EGGD as understanding has evolved since the last large-scale review.

Manifestation of gastric ulcers in horses used in public safety

ABSTRACT We evaluated 28 horses from a squad applied in public safety in Paraná (Brazil), in order to check the incidence of gastric ulcers and its correlation with mounted policing activity, considering the initial and maintenance training to which such animals are submitted. Horses were divided in two groups, one named control with 14 individuals, used in policing community activities, and the 14 others named as target group, these were used in restoration and maintenance of public order. Both groups have differentiated maintenance training protocols, and all had been evaluated for fecal occult blood, clinical evaluation, gastroscopy and histopathological. There were no significant changes that proved the development of gastric ulcers in horses used in public safety due to initial and maintenance training, and the main factor for prevention was the diversified diet with emphasis in hayed alfalfa.

Evaluation of Oxidative Stress Parameters in Healthy Saddle Horses in Relation to Housing Conditions, Presence of Stereotypies, Age, Sex and Breed

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of many horse diseases and it has been shown that housing has important implications for the psychophysical well-being of horses. The aim of this study is to determine if there are any differences between the redox status in horses in relation to housing conditions. The four housing conditions analyzed were: single box, without external access and without contact (Cat A), single box with external access and possibility of partial contact (Cat B), group housing with box and large paddock (Cat C), pasture with more than 7 horses and the possibility of green forage for the whole year (Cat D). A group of 117 healthy horses were selected in several private stables in Northern Italy. All subjects treated with any type of drug were excluded. At the end of the enrollment, the 117 selected horses were divided into the four housing categories. Stereotypies were highest in the group of horses in single box, without external access and without contact (Cat A). Oxidative stress was evaluated by testing plasma or serum samples for the following parameters: superoxide anion (WST), nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (d-ROMs), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Simultaneously with the blood sampling, the owners completed a questionnaire with all the management aspects of the horse (signaling, feeding, equestrian activity, vaccinations, foot management etc.). The statistical evaluation was carried out based on the categories previously described, on the presence and absence of stereotypies and on some signaling data obtained from the questionnaire. There were no significant differences in the parameters analyzed between the categories. No significant redox status differences were detected based on the presence or absence of stereotypies. Interestingly, when the age was introduced as selection (<14 and >14 years old) parameter inside the categories, statistical significance was observed for some of the stress markers considered. Finally, independently of the housing conditions, the horses of the most two represented breeds exhibited different values of FRAP. All these aspects are commented in the discussion.