Oxidative stress (OS) associated with an intense exercise may have a negative influence on equine health. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of endurance races on oxidative and ...antioxidative status of horses by evaluating changes in reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs), malondialdehyde (MDA), biological antioxidant potential (BAP) and oxidative stress index (OSI) values. The study was carried out on 53 race starts (28 individual horses) competing at different endurance races according to distance (40 and 80 km) and difficulty (easy and demanding). Blood samples were taken before and after the race.
Compared to levels of OS serum biomarkers before the race, an increase in values of d-ROMs (P < 0.01), MDA (P < 0.01), and BAP (P < 0.001), and a decrease in OSI (P < 0.001) have been noted after the race. Contrary to other measured biomarkers, BAP did not show significant individual effects of horses. Horses competing at shorter races have shown a significant change in d-ROMs (P = 0.002), BAP (P < 0.001) and OSI (P = 0.004), whereas those competing at longer races in MDA (P = 0.002), BAP (P < 0.001) and OSI (P < 0.001) post-race values. Endurance racing induced changes in values of d-ROMs, BAP and OSI during both easy and demanding races.
Changes in all measured OS biomarkers indicate that prolonged aerobic exercise during endurance race could contribute to the imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in horses, mainly characterised by a pronounced antioxidant response. Biological antioxidant potential was found to be the most reliable biomarker of OS in endurance horses in the present study.
In human and veterinary medicine calprotectin is most widely used in diagnosing different gastro-intestinal diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the stability of canine calprotectin (cCP) in ...serum after storage at low temperatures and imprecision of the method.
Blood samples were collected from dogs with different clinical diagnoses. Twenty-two dogs were included in this study. Calprotectin concentration was measured 4 hours after serum separation (T0), and after being frozen at - 80 °C for 8 (T1) and 16 weeks (T2). The maximum permissible difference (MPD) was derived from the equation for calculating total error (TE) TE = %Bias + (1.96 x %CV), where bias and coefficient of variation (CV) were defined by the manufacturer. The dogs enrolled in this study were patients admitted during the morning (9-12 a.m.), on the day the first measurement was performed. All sample analysis for determination of stability were done in duplicates. For determination of within-run precision, the two patients' serum samples were analyzed in 20 replicates. Imprecision was assessed by analyzing 20 replicates on one plate on two samples where high and low concentrations were anticipated.
The calculated value of MPD was 32.52%. Median calprotectin concentrations were higher at T1 114.08 μg/L (IQR = 55.05-254.56) and T2 133.6 μg/L (IQR = 100.57-332.98) than at T0 83.60 μg/L (IQR = 50.38-176.07). Relative and absolute bias at T1 (49.3%; 45.98 μg/L) and T2 (109.93%; 94.09 μg /L) have shown that calprotectin concentrations increase after long term storage at - 80 °C.
The results of the present study indicate that c-CP was not stable for 16 weeks at low storage temperature (- 80 °C). Considering the observed change in the concentration of c-CP at T1, a storage time of 8 weeks should be safely applied. The method imprecision was not satisfactory, especially in the lower concentration range.
This study aimed to evaluate if exercise-induced acute phase response (APR) occurs in endurance horses in response to the race. The study included 23 horses competing in an endurance competition with ...a successfully passed clinical examination before the race. Blood samples were collected before the start and within 30 min after the end of the race. Haematological and biochemical tests were performed and correlated to acute phase biomarkers changes. Values of calprotectin and haptoglobin (Hp) decreased after the races compared to values before, while concentrations of ceruloplasmin and albumin recorded a significant increase. Greater changes in calprotectin values were noted in Arabian horses compared to other breeds. Values of Hp showed a significantly greater decrease after longer races. Based on study results, endurance racing induces APR in horses characterised by significant changes in selected acute phase biomarkers. More pronounced changes were noted at races with higher average speeds, suggesting the need for thorough horse monitoring during exhausting races.
Sindrom iscrpljenosti konja (engl. exhausted horse syndrome, EHS) podrazumijeva multisistemski poremećaj u konja koji kroz duži vremenski period sudjeluju na natjecanjima, posebno pri toplijim ...vremenskim uvjetima. Zbog pretjeranog tjelesnog napora dolazi do dehidracije, hipovolemije, gubitka elektrolita, poremećaja acido-bazne ravnoteže, gubitka zaliha energije i hipertermije. Klinička slika ovisi o stupnju i brzini javljanja umora u konja te o toleranciji pojedinog konja na tjelesni napor. Dijagnoza se postavlja na temelju anamneze, kliničkih znakova i rezultata laboratorijskih pretraga. U težim se slučajevima dijagnoza lako postavlja, dok je rano prepoznavanje zbog blagih simptoma i nedostatka objektivnih kliničkih i dijagnostičkih kriterija otežano. Cilj terapije navedenog sindroma je trojak: snižavanje tjelesne temperature, nadoknada izgubljene tekućine i elektrolita te obnova cirkulirajućeg volumena krvi. Prognoza u slučaju blagog sindroma iscrpljenosti je dobra, dok je kod težih slučajeva zbog mogućih komplikacija pa čak i smrti životinje upitna. Sindrom iscrpljenosti konja moguće je prevenirati odabirom pasmine konja koja je pogodna za veću tjelesnu aktivnost, održavanje zdravlja konja redovitim veterinarskim pregledima, umjereno pojačavanje intenziteta treninga te izbjegavanje napornih kondicijskih treninga kroz više uzastopnih dana. Od izrazite je važnosti procjena zdravstvenog stanja konja od strane jahača tijekom cijelog natjecanja.
Exhausted horse syndrome is a multi- systemic disorder in sport horses subjected to long term physical activity, especially during hot weather conditions. Increased physical activity can lead to dehydration, hypovolemia, electrolyte loss, acid-base imbalance, depletion of energy reserves and hyperthermia. The clinical presentation depends on the severity and speed of onset of fatigue, and on the individual tolerance of the horse to exercise intensity. Diagnosis is based on the anamnesis, clinical signs and laboratory findings. In severe cases, the diagnosis is easily established, whilst early recognition in mild cases is difficult due to the subtlety of clinical signs and lack of objective clinical and diagnostic criteria. The treatment goal is comprised of three main approaches: decreasing body temperature, replacing fluids and electrolytes, and restoring circulating blood volume. Prognosis is good in mild cases, while in severe cases, presentation is questionable due to possible complications, with the possibility of a lethal outcome. Prevention of exhausted horse syndrome is possible by choosing the appropriate horse breed for the sport, maintaining horse health through regular veterinary inspection, gradually increasing training intensity, and avoiding demanding conditioning training lasting several days in a row. The rider’s evaluation of horse health through the competition is of great importance.
During intensive physical activity horses are exposed to thermolysis, electrolyte loss and rising amounts of catabolic products, which results in alterations of biochemical blood parameters due to ...the horse’s adaptation to metabolic stress. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of intensive physical activity on serum biochemical parameters in horses competing in 40 and 80 km endurance races. Blood samples were taken from 28 horses before and after the race over four competitions, with a total of 53 samples analyzed. Biochemical parameters studied included creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine, gamma-glutamyl transferase, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. The extent of change in pre- and post-race values was compared between categories of age, gender, breed, distance and average speed of horses. Creatine kinase and blood glucose values prior to the race were higher than the reference values. Values of renal parameters and parameters of muscle damage increased after the races, and the degree of change was more pronounced at longer racing lengths, as well as at lower average speed. Electrolyte loss was more prominent during longer races. This study demonstrated that endurance races cause evident changes in serum electrolyte concentrations, renal parameters and markers of muscle damage in horses. These changes are observable in horses at both short and long duration endurance races.
The beneficial effect of physical activity on the musculoskeletal health in dogs is well recognized, but the level of intensity, duration, and frequency of exercise is not fully described. ...Measurement of serum markers of bone metabolism (bone alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin as bone formation markers and C-terminal telopeptide as bone resorption marker) during four months of organized moderate-intensity physical training in Labrador retriever and Golden retriever dogs aged between 11.7–24.4 months, showed variations of bone metabolism. Dogs were included in treadmill running sessions for 25 min, three times per week. Blood samples were taken at the beginning of the program (baseline), after two months (mid-term) and at the end of the study after four months. The values of bone alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin significantly decreased following two months of exercise program. Bone alkaline phosphatase increased by the end of four-month training cycle, but did not reach baseline value. Osteocalcin levels continued to decrease towards the end of the study. C-terminal telopeptide concentrations did not significantly change throughout the study duration. The results of this study show that aerobic exercise of moderate-intensity caused an initial decrease in bone formation followed by an increase of bone alkaline phosphatase and a further decrease of osteocalcin concentration. The response of two formation markers can be explained by the different stage of osteoblast activity that they express. In summary, moderate exercise resulted in no change in bone resorption, and a mild bone formation in young developing dogs.
Joint impact injuries initiate a progressive articular damage finally leading to post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Racehorses represent an ideal, naturally available, animal model of the disease. ...Standardbred racehorses developing traumatic osteoarthritis of the fetlock joint during the first year of their career were enrolled in our study. Age-matched controls were contemporarily included. Biomarker levels of equine osteoarthritis were measured in serum and synovial fluid (SF) at baseline, and repeated yearly over the next 4 years of training (from T1 to T4). The effect of time and disease on the biomarker concentrations were analysed, and their relationship with clinical and radiographic parameters were assessed. We hypothesized that the kinetics of pro-inflammatory cytokines and structural biomarkers of joint disease would demonstrate progression of degenerative joint status during post-traumatic osteoarthritis and clarify the effect of early joint trauma.
The concentrations of IL1-ß, IL-6, TNF-α in the SF of PTOA group peaked at T0, decreased at T1, and then progressively increased with time, reaching levels higher than those observed at baseline starting from T3. CTXII and COMP levels were similar in PTOA and control horses at baseline, and increased in serum and synovial fluid of PTOA horses starting from T2 (serum and synovial CTXII, and serum COMP) or T3 (synovial COMP). The percentual change of TNF-α in the SF of the affected joints independently contributed to explaining the radiological changes at T3 vs T2 and T4 vs T3.
Temporal changes of selected biomarkers in STBRs with an acute episode of traumatic fetlock OA demonstrated that long-term increased concentrations of inflammatory cytokines, type II collagen fragments and COMP, in the SF and serum, are related to PTOA. Based on the observed decrease in inflammatory merkers at T1, we hypothesize that the progression of PTOA could be effectively modulated by proper treatment strategies. Annual variations of synovial concentration of TNF-α can reliably predict radiographic progression of PTOA.
Objectives
The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of different types of injuries caused by various types of projectiles among urban, suburban and rural cats of different ages in ...order to predict the type of injury sustained.
Methods
For the period 1 January 2012 to 30 April 2014, the medical records of cats with metal projectile injuries (PIs) were searched from the archive of the university’s small animal diagnostic imaging centre. Age, sex, owner address, admission during a weekend or on a working day, month of admission, projectile position (head and neck; thoracic region; abdominal region, including lumbosacral spine; forelimbs; and hindlimbs, including tail), number of projectiles, presence of a wound and fracture related to the projectile, and the type of projectile were recorded for each cat.
Results
Sixty-five cats with PIs were admitted during the defined period. In 38.5% of cats the projectiles found upon radiography were incidental findings. The frequency of PIs peaked in March. Airgun projectiles were found in 80.0% of the cats. PIs in two or more body regions were found in 29.2% of the cats. Among the cats that had only been shot in one body region, the projectile was most frequently found in the abdominal region, including the lumbosacral spine (41.3%).
Conclusions and relevance
These results might prompt clinicians to evaluate closely and screen for feline PIs in emergency situations.
MUSULIN, A., M. SKULAC, M. VUCKOVIC, A. MARTINOVIC, P. KOSTESIC, N. BRKLJACA BOTTEGARO, M. PECIN, D. VNUK: Effects of diazepam/ketamine and xylazine/ketamine sedation in geese. Vet. arhiv 88, ...835-846, 2018.The objective of this paper was to compare the effects of diazepam/ketamine and xylazine/ketamine combinations administered intramuscularly to geese, by measurement of the duration of individual anaesthesia periods, and, by exploring their effect on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, to ascertain which combination is safer or better to use in geese. Eight geese received the combination of xylazine and ketamine, eight received the combination of diazepam and ketamine, and six received a 0.9% NaCl solution. Body temperature, breathing and pulse rate were monitored, while biochemical testing and determination of the acid-basic state of venous blood was performed before the administration of the agent, 5 minutes after administration, and after geese began to raise their heads. The geese from the control group were subjected to the additional measurements 35 minutes after saline administration. The period from anaesthetic administration to setting the head on the ground was significantly shorter in geese receiving diazepam/ketamine than in the geese receiving xylazine/ketamine. The time period from setting the head on the ground to the time of the first reaction to pressure on the distal phalanx, and the time from administration to the time of standing up was significantly longer in geese receiving diazepam/ketamine than in geese receiving xylazine/ketamine. The venous CO.sub.2 partial pressure was significantly higher during anaesthesia in the xylazine/ketamine group. According to the results of this study, it may be concluded that the anaesthesia of geese with the diazepam/ketamine combination showed more favourable effects than the anaesthesia with the xylazine/ketamine combination.Key words: anaesthesia; geese; cardiorespiratory effects
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