Topic:Anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory agents are substances used to reduce inflammation in horses, often employed in the management of various equine conditions. These agents can be categorized into non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids, among others. NSAIDs, such as phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine, work by inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzymes, which play a role in the inflammatory process. Corticosteroids, like dexamethasone, modulate the immune response and reduce inflammation through their effects on gene expression. The use of anti-inflammatory agents is common in equine veterinary practice to alleviate pain and improve the quality of life in horses suffering from musculoskeletal disorders, colic, and other inflammatory conditions. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of anti-inflammatory agents in equine medicine.
Distribution of endocannabinoid system receptors in the equine hoof: dysregulation as a potential therapeutic target for laminitis. A growing body of evidence indicates that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is essential for controlling the homeostasis of the skin and that the ECS is modified in the presence of skin disease. It is plausible to expect that the lamellar junction of the hoof expresses cannabinoid receptors and that their expression could be affected by lamellar disease. The goal of this study was to characterise the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) and type 2 (CB2R) and the G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) within the dermo-epidermal junction of the hooves of healthy and laminitic horses. The expression ...
Selected cytokine and chemokine concentrations in equine autologous conditioned serum are similar under defined and practically relevant storage conditions. The anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects of autologous conditioned serum (ACS) in joint-associated disorders are presumably mediated by the biomolecules it contains, such as cytokines and chemokines. ACS is commonly used in equine practice after storage. Data regarding the influence of storage conditions of ACS on cytokine and chemokine concentrations are not available. Unassigned: To evaluate the effect of commonly used storage conditions on selected cytokine and chemokine concentrations in equine ACS. Unassigned: From 10 horse patients with clinically indicated ACS preparation six ACS ...
Evidence Related to the Effects of Intralesional/Intrasynovial Corticosteroids on Tendon/Ligament Homeostasis and Healing. Inflammation plays a role in acute and chronic equine tendon/ligament injury; anti-inflammatories are often indicated. Local corticosteroids provide consistent and profound short-term effects on pain and inflammation across species. However, there is no demonstrated benefit in the long term, and complications can occur. Alternative biologic anti-inflammatory treatments are available and should be used in horses at risk of complications. Nonetheless, corticosteroids remain an affordable and effective anti-inflammatory that, with continued research, may be indicated on a case-by-case basis as pa...
Equine epiglottitis: Diagnosis, treatment and outcome. Epiglottitis is an uncommon upper airway pathology manifested endoscopically by mucosal oedema, reddening and thickening of the epiglottic mucosa. Literature on epiglottitis in horses is sparse. Objective: To describe the diagnosis, treatment and outcome of Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses diagnosed with epiglottitis at a single centre. A secondary objective is to demonstrate the efficacy of inhaled and topical anti-inflammatories for this condition. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Medical records (2009-2023) were reviewed for racehorses treated for epiglottitis. Data coll...
In Vitro Immunomodulatory Effects of Equine Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Primed with a Cannabidiol-Rich Extract. Cell-based therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) shows promise for treating several diseases due to their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. To enhance the therapeutic potential of MSCs, in vitro priming strategies have been explored. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound derived from cannabis, may influence MSC proliferation, differentiation, and immunomodulatory properties. This study evaluates the immunomodulatory potential of equine adipose tissue-derived MSCs (EqAT-MSCs) primed with a CBD-rich cannabis extract. EqAT-MSCs (P3) were primed with CBD concentrati...
Astaxanthin supplementation in Arabian racing horses mitigates oxidative stress and inflammation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells through enhanced mitophagy. Astaxanthin, a strong antioxidant carotenoid, has shown promising features in mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress and so that has been considered as a supplement for high-performance animals. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of astaxanthin on oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial health in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from Arabian racehorses. Horse-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) presented increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytoki...
Determination of the miRNA profile of extracellular vesicles from equine mesenchymal stem cells after different treatments. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and incurable disease in humans and animals. To gain a better understanding of the pathogenesis and identify potential treatments, miRNAs will be extracted and analysed from extracellular vesicles (EVs) of equine adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSCs). Methods: For this purpose we cultivated and pretreated AdMSCs under different conditions: interleukin 1β, shock wave, chondrogenic differentiation, chondrogenic differentiation under hypoxia, or after senescence. After treatment, EVs were harvested from the cell culture supernatants. Next-generation sequ...
Relationship between back pain and poor performance in show jumping athletic horses. Showjumping athletic horses are frequently affected by back pain, which in turn influences their performance and equestrian activities. Unassigned: The aim of the present study was to determine the etiological factors predisposing to back problems in show jumping horses and how to diagnose, and manage them. Unassigned: A total of 75 cases (45 geldings and 30 mares, aged between 8 and 23 years and weighing 420-550 Kg) with histories suggestive of back problems and low competitive ability as show jumping were used in this study. The evaluation of data was based on the inputs of case history, cli...
Survey on 9 years of anti-doping controls in horse races in Italy. Doping in racehorses is a threat to horse welfare and the integrity of the sport. Despite its relevance, the literature on the prevalence of anti-doping violations worldwide is limited. Objective: To analyse anti-doping violations in racehorses in Italy. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Methods: Data on horse races, anti-doping testing, and confirmed violations between 2014 and 2022 were collected and analysed. Positivity rates, most common drug classes and parent drugs, and differences between trotting and galloping horses were investigated. Results: During the considered 9-year ti...
In Vivo Metabolic Studies of 2-Hydroxyethyl Salicylate in Horses. 2-Hydroxyethyl salicylate (2HES), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is a medication to treat musculoskeletal injuries and inflammation swelling of humans and horses. Its misuse could affect the performance of horses and mask injuries, which could pose significant health risks. In horseracing, it is reported as an adverse finding once detected in competition. The metabolism of 2HES in either human or horse has not been reported, and therefore, little is known about its metabolic fate. This paper describes the in vivo metabolism of 2HES in horse with an objective to identify the mo...
Meta-Analysis and Mechanism-Based Modeling of Synovial and Plasma Pharmacokinetics and Adrenal Suppression Following Intra-Articular Injection of Methylprednisolone Acetate in Horses. This study assesses the pharmacokinetics (PK) of published methylprednisolone (MPL) data in horses following intra-articular (IA) administration of MPL acetate (MPA) and the associated adrenal suppression. The concentrations of MPL/MPA in synovial fluid, blood, and urine, as well as hydrocortisone (HC) in plasma, were digitized from multiple sources in the literature. A minimal physiologically based pharmacokinetic model and a linked indirect response model with a circadian rhythm baseline were applied. Concentrations of MPA in joints followed a triexponential decay, converting to MPL. The cle...
Therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells transplantation on traumatic facial nerve paralysis in two horses. Cell-based therapy has emerged as a promising strategy for treating peripheral nervous system (PNS) injuries across different species. However, there is a scarcity in the literature regarding the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treating PNS injuries in horses. This report aims to describe the therapeutic potential of equine MSC transplantation in two horses with chronic traumatic facial nerve paralysis. Both horses presented with lip ptosis and right deviation of the nostril and upper lip, being clinically diagnosed with left facial nerve paralysis. Due to the refractorine...
Early effects of anti-TNFα antibodies in horses with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common pathology in sport horses, presenting a chronic and recurrent course. Traditional anti-inflammatory treatments provide only temporary clinical improvement and pain relief; however, they have been associated with metabolic disorders in articular cartilage in the medium term. In this study, we generated a llama polyclonal antibody against equine TNF-α, which was used for intra-articular treatment in horses with OA. Treatment effects were assessed through clinical examination and the determination of inflammatory parameters (MMP-2, MMP-9, LDH, and GAGs) in ...
Interleukin-1β as an articular process joint intra-articular model induces synovitis and signs of acute neck pain in horses. To develop and define a model of acute neck pain in an equine cervical articular process joint (APJ) using recombinant equine IL-1β (reIL-1β). Unassigned: 12 horses in this experimental study received a randomly assigned, unilateral intra-articular injection of 50 ng (n = 6) or 100 ng (n = 6) of reIL-1β and saline (contralateral side as control) into the C5-to-C6 APJ. Blinded ultrasonographic, clinical, and biomechanical parameters were evaluated between 4 hours and 14 days. Unassigned: There was a significant increase in APJ effusion on ultrasonographic examination that peaked at 24 hours ...
Safety and efficacy of oral edible bird’s nest supplementation: Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory benefits for Arabian race stallions during exercise. Exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammation adversely affect the health and performance of athletic horses. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of edible bird's nest (EBN) supplementation and its potential anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in Arabian race stallions during exercise. Key objectives included assessing EBN's impact on hepatic and renal function, hematological profiles, and sialic acid (SA) levels. Unassigned: Two experiments were conducted on 18 Arabian stallions. In Experiment 1, six healthy stallions were divided into control (n = 2) and EBN-supplemented ...
Nebulization of 2% lidocaine has no detectable impact on the healthy equine respiratory microbiota. Glucocorticosteroids remain the most common pharmaceutical approach for the treatment of equine asthma but can be associated with significant side effects, including respiratory microbiome alterations. The goal of the study was to assess the impact of 2% lidocaine nebulization, a projected alternative treatment of equine asthma, on the healthy equine respiratory microbiota. A prospective, randomized, controlled, blinded, 2-way crossover study was performed, to assess the effect of 1 mg/kg 2% lidocaine (7 treatments over 4 days) on the equine respiratory microbiota compared to control horses (s...
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) Supplementation in Adult Horses Supports Improved Skeletal Muscle Inflammatory Gene Expression Following Exercise. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a sulfur-containing molecule with reported anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Exercise causes the formation of free radicals and stimulates inflammatory gene expression in leukocytes and skeletal muscle. The hypothesis that dietary supplementation with MSM alters the exercise-mediated inflammatory and oxidant response was assessed in unfit adult thoroughbred geldings. Ten geldings (6.7 ± 1.6 yr) were assigned to a diet supplemented without (CON, = 5) or with 21 g of MSM ( = 5) for 30 days. Following the supplementation period, horses performed a stan...
Doping Control Analysis of Methylsulfonylmethane in Horses. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), also known as dimethyl sulfone, is a naturally occurring sulphur-containing compound that can be found in plants, animals and humans. MSM can also be a metabolite of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Due to their anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, both MSM and DMSO are prohibited substances in horseracing. As both substances are naturally occurring, their misuse in horses is controlled by International Residue Limits (IRL) of 1200 and 15 μg/mL, respectively, in horse urine as established by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. The elimination ...
Investigation of an Outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus-1 Myeloencephalopathy in a Population of Aged Working Equids. The objective of this study was to describe an outbreak of equine herpesvirus-1 myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in a population of aged equids. The outbreak was linked to the introduction of five healthy non-resident horses 15 days prior to the first case of acute recumbency. This fulminant EHM outbreak was predisposed by the grouping of the 33 unvaccinated animals in two large pens with shared water and feed troughs. Fourteen horses (42.4%) developed neurological deficits within the first week of the outbreak. Four additional equids developed fever and respiratory signs (EHV-1 infection), while fif...
Hemodynamic Response to Lipopolysaccharide Infusion and Effect of Meloxicam Administration on Cardiac Function in Donkeys. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in donkeys is observed to be secondary to colic, diarrhea or pleuropneumonia, among other disorders. Horses with SIRS develop secondary disturbances such as hyperlipemia, laminitis, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, and hemodynamic and cardiac derangements, which impair their prognosis and increase the mortality rate. In donkeys, no information is available on the effect of experimentally induced endotoxemia in the cardiovascular system. Acute experimental endotoxemia was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infusion in six healthy adult non...
Pilot study characterizing a single pooled preparation of equine platelet lysate for nebulization in the horse. Platelet lysate (PL) demonstrates antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties offering potential for treatment of bacterial pneumonia in horses. It remains unknown whether nebulization is suitable for PL administration in horses. This pilot study characterized particle size and flow rate of pooled equine PL (single preparation) nebulized using an equine-specific nebulizer (Flexivent®). Unassigned: Protein composition and antimicrobial activity were compared before and after nebulization. Protein composition was evaluated according to growth factor, antimicrobial peptide and cytokine concen...
Clinical efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids in equine asthma: A meta-analysis and number needed to treat. Equine asthma, a prevalent chronic inflammatory condition affecting the equine population, significantly compromises the performance and quality of life in affected horses. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are often the first-line pharmacological intervention due to their potent anti-inflammatory properties. This meta-analysis investigates the clinical efficacy of ICS in treating equine asthma, emphasizing the number needed to treat (NNT) and the likelihood of achieving a clinical response. A comprehensive literature search identified relevant studies comparing ICS with placebo (PCB) controlled t...
Differential modulation of inflammatory cytokines by recombinant IL-10 in IL-1β and TNF-α ̶ stimulated equine chondrocytes and synoviocytes: impact of washing and timing on cytokine responses. Osteoarthritis (OA) remains a challenging joint disorder necessitating effective anti-inflammatory interventions. In this study, our primary objective was to establish an in vitro protocol that replicates the clinical investigation of anti-inflammatory drugs intended for OA management. Focusing on recombinant IL-10 (r.IL-10) as a potential anti-inflammatory treatment, we designed and implemented two distinct protocols to evaluate the efficacy of r.IL-10 in modulating chondrocyte and synoviocyte inflammation.The experimental design involved sequential stimulation with IL-1β and TNF-α for 24 ...
Treatment approaches to horses with acute diarrhea admitted to referral institutions: A multicenter retrospective study. This study aimed to describe and compare therapeutic approaches for horses with acute diarrhea in different geographic regions worldwide. Methods: Clinical information was retrospectively collected from diarrheic horses presented to participating institutions between 2016 and 2020, including fluid therapy on admission, antimicrobial drugs, probiotics, anti-endotoxic medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, gastroprotectants, digital cryotherapy, and toxin-binding agents. Seasonal and geographic differences were investigated. Results: 1438 horses from 26 participating hospitals from 5 continents w...
Investigation Into the Equine Metabolism of Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitor Roflumilast for Potential Doping Control. The phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors constitute a relatively modern class of medications that are known for inducing bronchodilation and exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties within the body. Due to these properties, there is concern regarding their potential misuse as performance-enhancing substances in competitive sports. This study delves into the metabolic conversion of roflumilast in thoroughbred horses following oral administration and in vitro experimentation using equine liver microsomes and Cunninghamella elegans. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a Q Exactiv...
Identification of altered blood metabolic pathways in equines following ethyl pyruvate administration using non-targeted metabolomics. Ethyl pyruvate (EP) has emerged as a promising compound with potential therapeutic benefits attributed to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to understand the effects of EP on plasma metabolites and immune cells in horses, utilizing advanced liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and blood chemistry analyses. Our comprehensive analysis detected 2,366 ions, and 126 metabolites were accurately identified. Remarkably, EP administration induced significant changes in 28 metabolites at 1 h a...
Administration of sodium hyaluronate to adult horses prior to and immediately after exercise does not alter the range of motion in either the tarsus or metacarpophalangeal joints. Hyaluronic acid (HA), a glycosaminoglycan found in joint synovial fluid, is administered to horses as an anti-inflammatory with lubrication properties. This experiment examined the effects of HA administered before and shortly after an exercise test on metacarpophalangeal (MCP; fetlock) and tibiotarsal (hock) joint range of motion (ROM). Horses were injected intravenously (IV) with placebo (4 mL, saline) or HA (4 mL, 40 mg) 24 h before performing a standardized exercise test (SET) on a high-speed treadmill and again at 6-h post-SET. Passive fetlock flexion was measured at 4 and 24 h post-...
Urinary incontinence and sabulous cystitis in mares: report of five cases. This report describes five cases of urinary incontinence in Quarter Horse mares associated with the development of sabulous cystitis. The animals in this study had a history of persistent urinary incontinence for eight months, with clinical signs of continuous dribbling urine during rest and movement. The initial treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs was ineffective. Clinical examination revealed severe scalding in the perineal region and on the medial aspect of the hind limbs, along with neurological signs such as ataxia, hind limb paresis, and diminished perineal reflexes. T...
Equine metabolic investigation of the phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor ibudilast as a potential performance enhancer. Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors are a newer class of drugs that induce bronchodilation and have anti-inflammatory effects, making them susceptible to misuse as performance enhancers in competitive sports. Methods: This study explores the metabolic conversion of PDE4 inhibitor ibudilast in thoroughbred horses after oral administration and in vitro using equine liver microsomes and Cunninghamella elegans. A liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry method was used to postulate the plausible structures of the detected metabolites. Results: A total of 20 in vivo metabolites wer...