Triglycerides are a type of lipid found in the bloodstream and tissues of horses, serving as a significant energy source. They are composed of three fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone and are stored in adipose tissue. Triglyceride levels in horses can be influenced by factors such as diet, metabolism, and health status. Elevated triglyceride levels may indicate metabolic disorders, such as equine metabolic syndrome or hyperlipemia, particularly in ponies and miniature horses. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the role, metabolism, and clinical implications of triglycerides in equine health.
Aiche S, Chikhaoui M, Smail F, Benamor N, Benia AR.Pregnancy causes increased oxidative stress in mares, possibly harming both the mare and the foal, whereas the effects of different exercise levels on oxidative stress and lipid metabolism during pregnancy remain unclear. Objective: For this reason, the aim of this research was to explore the impacts of different training intensities on oxidative stress and lipid metabolism during pregnancy. Methods: The study comprised 22 clinically normal Purebred Arabian mares from Algeria, which were divided into three groups according to age and exercise frequency. Blood samples were collected during both...
Wang T, Huang J, Ren W, Meng J, Yao X, Chu H, Yao R, Zhai M, Zeng Y.This study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms underlying the relationship between cardiac structure and function and plasma metabolic characteristics in Yili horses participating in an 80-km endurance, by integrating echocardiography, lipidomics, and energy metabolomics analyses. Twenty four competing Yili horses were selected and divided based on competition outcomes: Pre-Completion Group: PCG ( = 6); Post-Completion Group: PoCG ( = 6); Overtime Completion Group: OCG ( = 6); and Non-Completion Group: NCG ( = 6). Cardiac structural and functional parameters were assessed via echoca...
Chwirot A, Niedźwiedź A, Stygar D, Siwińska N, Paszkowska M, Niżański W, Napierkowska S, Migdał P, Kublicka A, Marynowska M, Matczuk A....This study investigated the presence of antibodies to human adenovirus type 36 (HAdV-D36) in horses with different metabolic statuses, including normal, overweight, and those diagnosed with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). A total of 151 serum samples were tested, of which 47.6% were positive for anti-HAdV-D36 antibodies. Although the horses were confirmed to be susceptible to HAdV-D36 infection, there was no significant correlation between infection and blood glucose or cholesterol levels. However, the triglyceride levels showed significant differences-they were particularly elevated in the s...
Wang T, Meng J, Peng X, Huang J, Huang Y, Yuan X, Li X, Yang X, Chang X, Zeng Y, Yao X.Yili horses, a versatile breed from Xinjiang, China, are renowned for their racing abilities. However, studies on the links between cardiac morphology, function, and metabolic profiles with performance are limited. This study combined echocardiographic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses to explore these relationships in high-level, average, and untrained Yili horses. Echocardiographic assessments revealed increased left ventricular mass in trained horses, with significant differences in intraventricular septal thickness and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter. RNA sequencing identif...
Dosi M, Scott L, Payne H, Poldy J, Keen J, McGorum B, Malbon A, Morgan R.Hyperinsulinaemia (HI) is an important feature of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). It has been suggested that reduced hepatic clearance of insulin contributes to HI, particularly in humans affected by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Objective: In obese horses with HI, insulin clearance is impaired and associated with MASLD. Methods: Tissue samples were collected at post-mortem from clinically well-characterized horses with HI (n = 13; basal insulin > 20 mIU/l) and without HI (control; n = 20). Methods: Retrospective observational study. Molecular d...
Slavik K, Bender S, Sharkey L, Nolen-Walston R.Renal lipidosis is a well-documented histologic finding in humans and small animals with renal and metabolic disorders, but it is not well described in equids. Objective: To describe the signalment, clinicopathologic indices, and postmortem findings of equids with a histologic diagnosis of both hepatic and renal lipidosis (HL + RL) and compare them to cases with hepatic lipidosis only (HL). Methods: Equids with necropsy findings of renal or hepatic lipidosis (state diagnostic lab) between 2008 and 2022. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Signalment, history, necropsy diagnosis, and...
Bertin FR, van Eps AW, de Tonnerre DJ, Kulp JC, Stefanovski D.Dexamethasone is used to experimentally induce insulin resistance; however, its impact on insulin secretion is unclear. This study aimed to assess the responses to oral carbohydrate challenges in dexamethasone-treated horses. Unassigned: 8 healthy Standardbreds received 0.08 mg/kg of dexamethasone IM every 48 hours for 14 days in June 2022 (winter in the Southern hemisphere). Oral glucose tests (OGT) were conducted before treatment (day 1) and on days 8 and 15. Glucose, insulin, triglycerides, total and active glucagon-like peptide-1 (tGLP-1 and aGLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic pol...
Pardié M, Kalpokas I, Freccero F, Castagnetti C, Meikle A.The aim of this study was to determine the effect of body condition score (BCS) on metabolic and endocrine parameters in pregnant Criollo mares (n=41), which were categorized according to their BCS as obese (7 to 9 BCS, n=26) or normal (5 to 7, n=15). Blood samples were taken during gestation in 3 periods: between 3.5 and 5 months (I), 8 and 9 months (II) and in the last month of gestation (III). The data was analyzed in the statistical model by mixed procedures, including BCS, gestational period and their interaction as fixed effects. BCS was only different in period I, as normal mares increa...
Tomal A, Szłapka-Kosarzewska J, Mironiuk M, Michalak I, Marycz K.Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a critical endocrine condition in horses, characterized by hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance, posing a significant threat to their health. This study investigates the efficacy of supplementing EMS-affected horses with Arthrospira platensis enriched with Cr(III), Mg(II), and Mn(II) ions using biosorption process in improving insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, reducing inflammation, and mitigating obesity-related fat accumulation. Our results demonstrate that Arthrospira supplementation reduces baseline insulin and glucose levels,...
Bruschetta G, Zanghì G, Giunta RP, Ferlazzo AM, Satué K, D'Ascola A, Fazio E.Horse transport is considered a cause of stress in animals and is known to affect the 5-HT concentrations in both the brain and other tissues. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of horse transportation and slaughter stress on plasma serotonin's concentration and the expression levels of the related 5-HT1B and 5-HT2A receptors in PBMCs. Furthermore, the IL-12 levels and a variety of blood parameters, including triglycerides, total cholesterol, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, were also considered. This research was carried o...
Megerssa YC, Gari FR.Delays between blood collection and analysis are inevitable, and samples are always stored in the refrigerator. The current study aimed to evaluate the stability of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), total protein (TP), albumin and urea (URA) in horses and oxen after storage at -20°C. Methods: Sera from apparently healthy 20 male horses and 20 oxen were obtained and aliquots of serum were divided into 3 portions. The first tube was used for baseline (T0) measurement of analyte values, whereas the other two tubes, T1 and T2, were stored at -20°C for 1 and 2 months, respectively...
Johansson L, Ringmark S, Bergquist J, Skiöldebrand E, Jansson A.The plasma metabolomic profile of elite harness horses subjected to different training programmes was explored. All horses had the same training programme from 1.5 until 2 years of age and then high-intensity training was introduced, with horses divided into high and low training groups. Morning blood samples were collected at 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3.5 years of age. The plasma was analysed using targeted absolute quantitative analysis and a combination of tandem mass spectrometry, flow-injection analysis and liquid chromatography. Differences between the two training groups were observed at 2 yea...
Ribeiro RM, Ribeiro DDSF, Cota LO, Carvalho AM, Gobesso AAO, Faleiros RR.This study aimed to compare the use of enzymatic colorimetry and Friedewald's formula for the determination of LDL in horses. A total of 260 samples were used. Direct analysis was performed to determine low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC). The LDL level was calculated using the Friedewald equation (LDL= TC-HDL-TG/5). The correlations between the direct LDL analysis and the LDL calculated using the Friedewald formula were determined by Pearson's tests, and the coefficient of determination was also obtained by ...
Goodrich EL, Behling-Kelly E.The clinical evaluation of lipid metabolism in equids is often limited to the measurement of total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. This provides a limited picture of metabolic state and general health, given the continuous exchange of lipid species between various lipoproteins. Major lipoprotein classes in equids include high-density lipoprotein (HDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and chylomicrons (CM). Unlike large breed horses, donkeys are highly susceptible to hepatic lipidosis. Currently, serum trig...
Loos CMM, Urschel KL, Vanzant ES, Oberhaus EL, Bohannan AD, Klotz JL, McLeod KR.The objectives of the study were to study the effects of the synthetic ergot alkaloid (EA), bromocriptine, on glucose and lipid metabolism in insulin dysregulated (ID, n = 7) and non-ID (n = 8) mares. Horses were individually housed and fed timothy grass hay and two daily concentrate meals so that the total diet provided 120% of daily DE requirements for maintenance. All horses were given intramuscular bromocriptine injections (0.1 mg/kg BW) every 3 days for 14 days. Before and after 14 days of treatment horses underwent a combined glucose-insulin tolerance test (CGIT) to assess insulin sensit...
Satué K, Fazio E, Muñoz A, Medica P.The objective of this research was to evaluate the changes in body condition score (BCS), age and the main biochemical parameters in pregnant Spanish Purebred mares. A total of 45 pregnant Spanish broodmares has been studied, classified in three different groups: group A (n = 15), aging 14-18 years old and BCS lower than 4 of 10, group B (n = 15), with ages of 4 to 8 years and a BCS of 5-6/10, and group C (n = 15), aging between 6 and 11 years and a BCS of 8 of 10. Three pregnancy periods were considered: the 1st period, from the 1st to the 3rd, the 2nd from the 4th to the 6th, and the l...
Stelletta C, Alberti S, Cil B, Tekin K, Tirpan MB, Arganaraz M, Akcay E, Daskin A.The identification of various substances in seminal plasma has opened the way to study their functionality. It was aimed to identify the electrophoretic protein profile (EPP) and biochemical parameters (BP) of seminal plasma (SP) as predictors of semen quality and fertility in stallion. Forty-six ejaculates from 7 fertile stallions, aged between 6-26 years, were collected from May to July and 117 mares were used to obtain fertility data. For each ejaculate, volume, sperm motility, concentration were determined and seminal plasma samples were collected to perform one- -dimensional electrophores...
Lauková A, Micenková L, Kubašová I, Bino E, Kandričáková A, Plachá I, Štrkolcová G, Gálik B, Kováčik A, Halo M, Simonová MP.The beneficial influence of bacteriocin-producing, probiotic, mostly non-autochthonous bacteria has already been reported in various animals. However, their use in horses provides limited information, and results with autochthonous bacteria have not been reported. Therefore, the main objective of this model study was to test the effect of autochthonous, bacteriocin-producing faecal strain Enterococcus faecium EF 412 application in horses. One gram of freeze-dried EF 412 strain (10 CFU/mL for 21 days) was applied to horses in a small feed ball. Clinically healthy horses (12), Slovak warm-blood ...
Bazzano M, Bonfili L, Eleuteri AM, Serri E, Scollo C, Yaosen Y, Tesei B, Laus F.A proper knowledge of biochemical parameters and inflammatory markers like serum amyloid A (SAA) is crucial in the monitoring of the first post-partum period in equids. Since no information is available on SAA for donkeys at this stage, 50 animals including jennies (n.10) and newborn foals (n.10) within 48 hr from foaling, and jennies (n.10) and foals (n.20) after 30 days from parturition were enrolled in the study to assess routine biochemical profile including SAA. Jennies showed higher alkaline phosphatase and lower bilirubins and cholesterol at 30 days of lactation compared to post-part...
Ahmadi F, Mirshahi A, Mohri M, Sardari K, Sharifi K.To investigate the hormonal and biochemical profiles of horses with osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD), serum insulin, cortisol, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, fasting blood glucose (FBG), cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high- and low-density lipoproteins, albumin and uric acid were measured in horses definitely diagnosed with OCD (n=19) as well as clinically normal horses (n=18). Proxies representing insulin sensitivity [reciprocal of square root of insulin concentration (RISQI)] and beta cell responsiveness [modified insulin to glucose ratio (MIRG)] were calculated. Body fat percent (BF%) was est...
Filippo PAD, Duarte BR, Albernaz AP, Quirino CR.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feed restriction on some physical and blood parameters in horses kept outdoors under natural conditions. Twenty horses were deprived of food for 48 h. They were closely monitored and examined, and blood samples were taken at the beginning (0) of the experiment and 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 hours afterward. During the experimental period, the control group (12 animals) had free access to water and hay, while the restricted group had free access to water only. Data were submitted to two-way analysis of variance with repeated measur...
Ibrahim A, Mahmoud UT, Ali MM, Ragab SMM.This study described the subcapsular technique for primary closure castration in donkeys with special regard to its efficiency and welfare impacts. The study was conducted on twelve adult male donkeys, allocated randomly into two groups; subcapsular castration (SC) and open castration (OC) groups, whether the donkeys were subjected to surgical castration either by subcapsular or open castration techniques, respectively. Testosterone, cortisol, lactate, glucose, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured before an...
Arfuso F, Giannetto C, Panzera MF, Fazio F, Piccione G.This study aimed to evaluate the possible relationship among UCP1, body weight, rectal temperature and lipid profile in the horse. Thirty clinically healthy Italian Saddle geldings (6-10 years old) were enrolled after the informed owners' consent. All horses were blood sampled and their body weight and rectal temperatures were recorded. On the sera obtained after blood centrifugation the concentration of UCP1, total lipids, phospholipids, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins (HDLs), low density lipoproteins (LDLs) and very low density ...
Saeidi E, Mansoori Yarahmadi H, Fakhraei J, Mojahedi S.The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of dietary prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS) from inulin and Enterococcus faecium on nutrient digestibility, fecal pH, and some blood parameters. In this experiment, twelve adult Kurdish horses with average bogy weight of 416 ± 43.3 kg and age averaging 6 ± 1.8 year were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin Square experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial design during 4 periods of 28 days, including 21 days for dietary adaptation and 7 days for sampling. Horses were offered 1 of 4 treatments: (1) no FOS or 2.5 × 10 colony forming ...
Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O, Cywińska A, Michlik-Połczyńska K, Czopowicz M, Strzelec K, Biazik A, Parzeniecka-Jaworska M, Crisman M, Witkowski L.Breed specific reference ranges for selected blood parameters are recommended for proper interpretation of blood tests, but there are only few reports dealing with ponies. The purpose of this study was to investigate if blood parameters differ among ponies' classes and to check if general normal values for equine species are applicable to ponies. Results: All, except total protein concentration, biochemical parameter significantly (p < 0.05) differed among ponies' classes. The most pronounced difference was noted in blood lactate concentrations, higher (p < 0.001) in the sma...
Direkvandi E, Rouzbehan Y, Fazaeli H.To determine the effects of feeding frequency on nutrient digestibility and blood metabolites in horse, 16 Turkmen horses were used with weight of 430 ± 46 kg and age of 7 ± 1.8 years. Four feeding frequencies with 2 (M2), 4 (M4), 6 (M6), and 8 (M8) meals per day were used for a period of 28 days. The ratio of hay to concentrate was 70:30 in the experimental diet. Acid insoluble ash was used as internal marker to determine digestibility. On the 27th day of experiment, the blood was collected on 13 time points throughout the day. The results of this experiment showed that feed intake was not ...
Trimboli F, De Amicis I, Di Loria A, Ceniti C, Carluccio A.The Martina Franca donkey (MFd) is one of the largest Italian donkey breeds, considered as endangered breed. To support the conservation strategies, knowledge about the physiologic hematological parameters of MFds is needed. The aims of the study were to determine reference value for hematological and major serum parameters in a population of healthy MFds and to estimate the influence of age on these parameters. Eighty-one clinically healthy MFds (17 males and 64 females) in different ages were enrolled: group A (foals, n° 16, animals < 1 year old) group B (young animals, n° 36, from 1 to 3 ...
Cappai MG, Pudda F, Wolf P, Accioni F, Boatto G, Pinna W.Wildlife protection and management are important priorities for landscape identity and biodiversity preservation. Feeding practices of fauna confined in facilities during temporary captivity are fundamental to support animal health and natural behavior. Appropriate provision of feedstuffs appears to be necessary to support the best practices in respect of animal species-specific natural diet. This investigation explored the variation of the metabolic profile by means of selected metabolite and respective circulating levels in a group feral Giara horses undergoing the change of the diet, moving...
Sodré TDRP, Sousa LN, Silva CA, Santos JM, Sampaio MQ, Coni ROS, Dantas RTS, Ferreira APG, Manso Filho HC, Fazio F, Coelho CS.Vaquejada is an important Brazilian equine discipline. Understanding physiological adaptations of these athletes is crucial to improve properly performance, guaranteeing welfare. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of three vaquejada simulation tests (VST) on physiological parameters of horses and standardize a possible rest interval between races. Ten clinically healthy Quarter horses, 8.9 ± 4.3 year-old and 441.3 ± 25.0 kg, executed three VST, 5 days apart from each other. Vaquejada simulation tests consisted of two horses, a puller, and a helper, running with a bul...
Carter RA, Geor RJ, Burton Staniar W, Cubitt TA, Harris PA.This study described a scoring system for the assessment of apparent neck adiposity and evaluated morphometric measurements for assessment of neck and overall adiposity. Twenty-one barren Thoroughbred mares, 13 Arabian geldings and 75 Welsh, Dartmoor, or crossbred pony mares, were clinically examined and blood samples analysed for insulin, glucose, leptin, and triglycerides. Bodyweight (BW), height, length, girth and abdominal circumferences, neck length, neck crest height and neck circumference were measured, and body condition scores (BCS) and cresty neck scores (CNS) were rated. Girth:heigh...
Treiber KH, Kronfeld DS, Hess TM, Byrd BM, Splan RK, Staniar WB.To evaluate genetic and metabolic predispositions and nutritional risk factors for development of pasture-associated laminitis in ponies. Methods: Observational cohort study. Methods: 160 ponies. Methods: A previous diagnosis of laminitis was used to differentiate 54 ponies (PL group) from 106 nonlaminitic ponies (NL group). Pedigree analysis was used to determine a mode of inheritance for ponies with a previous diagnosis of laminitis. In early March, ponies were weighed and scored for body condition and basal venous blood samples were obtained. Plasma was analyzed for glucose, insulin, trigly...
Biddle AS, Tomb JF, Fan Z.Due to modern management practices and the availability of energy dense feeds, obesity is a serious and increasingly common health problem for horses. Equine obesity is linked to insulin resistance and exacerbation of inflammatory issues such as osteoarthritis and laminitis. While the gut microbiome is thought to play a part in metabolic status in horses, bacterial communities associated with obesity have yet to be described. Here we report differences in metabolic factors in the blood of obese, normal and lean horses correlated with differences in gut microbiome composition. We report that ob...
Carter RA, McCutcheon LJ, George LA, Smith TL, Frank N, Geor RJ.To determine the effects of diet-induced weight gain on glucose and insulin dynamics and plasma hormone and lipid concentrations in horses. Methods: 13 adult geldings. Methods: Horses were fed 200% of their digestible energy requirements for maintenance for 16 weeks to induce weight gain. Frequently sampled IV glucose tolerance tests were performed before and after weight gain to evaluate glucose and insulin dynamics. Adiposity (assessed via condition scoring, morphometric measurements, and subcutaneous fat depth) and plasma concentrations of insulin, glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, trigly...
Suagee JK, Corl BA, Crisman MV, Pleasant RS, Thatcher CD, Geor RJ.Obesity and hyperinsulinemia increase the risk of laminitis in horses and ponies. In mares, obesity also has been associated with increased circulating concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The association of other proinflammatory cytokines with body condition score (BCS) and insulin requires further determination. Objective: Plasma concentrations of TNF, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and serum amyloid A (SAA) will positively correlate with BCS or insulin or both in horses. Furthermore, inflammatory protein concentrations will correlate with age and vari...
Morgan RA, McGowan TW, McGowan CM.To determine the prevalence of hyperinsulinaemia in a population of ponies in Queensland, Australia, and identify associated factors. Methods: Breeders or traders of ponies within a 100 km radius of Gatton, Queensland, were recruited for study using an internet database. Clinical and management details were obtained, including body condition score, fat deposition and history or evidence of laminitis. Blood samples were analysed for serum insulin and triglyceride concentrations and plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and leptin concentrations following short-term removal from pasture and...
The aims of this study were to (1) verify if significant changes occur in hematological and biochemical parameters in jennies during the last 2 months of pregnancy and the first 2 months of lactation, and (2) determine any differences with mares. Hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated in jennies every 15 days during late pregnancy, parturition, and early lactation. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, analysis of variance for repeated measurements and Tukey's multiple comparison test as post hoc were applied. The significance level was set at P < 0.05. Statistical analysis sho...
Harvey JW, Pate MG, Kivipelto J, Asquith RL.Pregnancy and lactation result in increased metabolic demands. Although homeostatic mechanisms function to keep substances in blood at relatively constant levels, some changes in the concentrations of routine clinical chemistry analytes are likely to occur. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine what physiological changes occur in serum clinical biochemistry analytes in pregnant and nursing mares, and to determine whether the changes were substantial enough to warrant separate reference intervals for pregnant or lactating horses. Methods: Forty-two Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred, S...
Trimboli F, De Amicis I, Di Loria A, Ceniti C, Carluccio A.The Martina Franca donkey (MFd) is one of the largest Italian donkey breeds, considered as endangered breed. To support the conservation strategies, knowledge about the physiologic hematological parameters of MFds is needed. The aims of the study were to determine reference value for hematological and major serum parameters in a population of healthy MFds and to estimate the influence of age on these parameters. Eighty-one clinically healthy MFds (17 males and 64 females) in different ages were enrolled: group A (foals, n° 16, animals < 1 year old) group B (young animals, n° 36, from 1 to 3 ...
Mendoza FJ, Estepa JC, Gonzalez-De Cara CA, Aguilera-Aguilera R, Toribio RE, Perez-Ecija A.Donkeys are commonly afflicted by endocrine and metabolic disturbances but few studies have investigated endocrine variables involved in energy regulation and their association with morphometric indices, age or gender in this species. Hemostatic and clinical differences have been demonstrated between horses and donkeys, so to consider both species as metabolically and endocrinologically similar could lead to misdiagnosis. In this study, plasma concentrations of glucose, triglycerides and endocrine factors involved in energy homeostasis (insulin, glucagon, leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin and insul...
Wang L, Luo DK, Pan ZY.The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between glucocorticoid receptors and steroid‑induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH). Healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=16/group); the normal (no treatment), control (horse serum injections) and treatment (horse serum and methylprednisolone injections) groups. Methylprednisolone and horse serum injections were used to establish a SANFH model in rabbits; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histopathological analysis were used to evaluate the SANFH rabbit model. Total cholesterol an...
Cappai MG, Pudda F, Wolf P, Accioni F, Boatto G, Pinna W.Wildlife protection and management are important priorities for landscape identity and biodiversity preservation. Feeding practices of fauna confined in facilities during temporary captivity are fundamental to support animal health and natural behavior. Appropriate provision of feedstuffs appears to be necessary to support the best practices in respect of animal species-specific natural diet. This investigation explored the variation of the metabolic profile by means of selected metabolite and respective circulating levels in a group feral Giara horses undergoing the change of the diet, moving...
O'Connor CI, Lawrence LM, Lawrence AC, Janicki KM, Warren LK, Hayes S.Ten horses of Thoroughbred or Standardbred breeding were used to study the effects of dietary fish oil supplementation on the metabolic response to a high-intensity incremental exercise test. Horses were assigned to either a fish oil (n = 6) or corn oil (n = 4) treatment. The fish oil (Omega Protein, Hammond, LA) contained 10.6% eicosapentaenoic acid and 8% docosahexaenoic acid. Each horse received timothy hay and a textured concentrate at a rate necessary to meet its energy needs. The supplemental oil was top-dressed on the concentrate daily at a rate of 324 mg/kg BW. Horses received their as...
Pösö AR, Soveri T, Oksanen HE.Serum enzyme activities, albumin, protein, urea, cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid, glucose and lactate concentrations as well as hematocrit values were measured in standardbred and Finnish-bred horses at rest and after (i) a short controlled exercise and (ii) a trotting competition. There were no breed differences in the enzyme activities at rest and the 2 breeds responded in the same manner to the exercise. Only after the race proper significant increases in the enzyme activities were found. The activities rose more in the standardbred horses than in the Finnish-bred horses. Urea an...
Bruschetta G, Zanghì G, Giunta RP, Ferlazzo AM, Satué K, D'Ascola A, Fazio E.Horse transport is considered a cause of stress in animals and is known to affect the 5-HT concentrations in both the brain and other tissues. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of horse transportation and slaughter stress on plasma serotonin's concentration and the expression levels of the related 5-HT1B and 5-HT2A receptors in PBMCs. Furthermore, the IL-12 levels and a variety of blood parameters, including triglycerides, total cholesterol, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, were also considered. This research was carried o...
Frank N, Sommardahl CS, Eiler H, Webb LL, Denhart JW, Boston RC.To evaluate glucose and lipid metabolism in healthy adult horses administered levothyroxine sodium (L-T4). Methods: 12 healthy adult mares. Methods: 8 horses received an incrementally increasing dosage of L-T4 (24, 48, 72, or 96 mg of L-T4/d) for weeks 1 to 8. Each dose was provide between 7 AM and 8 AM in the morning grain meal for 2 weeks. Four additional horses remained untreated. Serum concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) were measured and composition of VLDL examined in samples obtained between 8 AM...
Watson TD, Burns L, Packard CJ, Shepherd J.The incidence of hyperlipaemia in ponies is highest in mares in late gestation and then early in lactation. Plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were measured to establish the metabolic basis for this and the lipoprotein composition of six healthy Shetland ponies was analysed before pregnancy, in the last six weeks of gestation and one month after foaling. In the pregnant ponies, the concentrations of cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly increased (both P < 0.05) because of increased concentrations of high density lipoproteins (HDL) and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL)...
Pösö AR, Viljanen-Tarifa E, Soveri T, Oksanen HE.Effects of graded intensity exercise on plasma lipids was studied in Standardbred and Finnishbred Trotters. The rate of lipolysis indicated by the elevated plasma concentrations of glycerol increased parallel with the intensity of the trot in the Standardbreds, but not as clearly in the Finnishbred trotters. During the exercise plasma triglyceride concentration increased significantly and the increase correlated with the intensity of the exercise as well as the activity of lipolysis. Together with the increase in plasma triglycerides, there was a parallel increase in the pre-beta fraction of l...
Robie SM, Janson CH, Smith SC, O'Connor JT.Concentrations of serum phospholipids, triglycerides, total cholesterol, nonesterified fatty acids, and glucose were determined for 9 months (September, 1972, to May, 1973) in 19 fasting horses and ponies (8 Morgan horses, 7 Thoroughbred horses, and 4 Shetland Ponies). Morgan horses had higher concentrations of total lipid than did Thoroughbreds, although the relative proportions of each type of lipid were similar in the 2 breeds. Shetland Ponies had higher nonesterified fatty acid and lower glucose concentrations than did either breed of horse. In both breeds of horses, concentrations of seru...
O'Connor CI, Lawrence LM, Hayes SH.Thirteen horses of Thoroughbred or Standardbred breeding were used to study the effect of dietary fish oil supplementation on blood lipid characteristics. Horses were assigned to either fish oil (n = 7) or corn oil (n = 6) treatment groups for 63 d. The fish oil contained 10.8% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 8% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Each horse received timothy hay and a mixed-grain concentrate at rates necessary to maintain BW. Oil (corn or fish) was top-dressed on the concentrate daily at a rate of 324 mg/ kg of BW. The n-6:n-3 ratio was approximately 3.6:1 for horses receiving the cor...
Arfuso F, Giannetto C, Rizzo M, Fazio F, Giudice E, Piccione G.The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of serum mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and leptin levels as well as of lipid and lipoprotein profiles in mares during the peripartum period. Ten pregnant mares (group A) were monitored from 15 ± 3 days of pregnancy until 15 days after foaling, and 10 nonpregnant nonlactating mares constituted the control (group B). In group A, blood sampling was performed on Days 15 ± 3 and 7 ± 3 before foaling, on the day of foaling, and on Days 7 and 15 after foaling. In group B, blood sampling was performed on the same days as in gr...
Loos CMM, Urschel KL, Vanzant ES, Oberhaus EL, Bohannan AD, Klotz JL, McLeod KR.The objectives of the study were to study the effects of the synthetic ergot alkaloid (EA), bromocriptine, on glucose and lipid metabolism in insulin dysregulated (ID, n = 7) and non-ID (n = 8) mares. Horses were individually housed and fed timothy grass hay and two daily concentrate meals so that the total diet provided 120% of daily DE requirements for maintenance. All horses were given intramuscular bromocriptine injections (0.1 mg/kg BW) every 3 days for 14 days. Before and after 14 days of treatment horses underwent a combined glucose-insulin tolerance test (CGIT) to assess insulin sensit...
Shepherd ML, Pleasant RS, Crisman MV, Werre SR, Milton SC, Swecker WS.The objective of this study was to determine the effects of high and moderate non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) hay on insulin, glucose, triglyceride, and leptin concentrations in overweight Arabian geldings. Eight adult overweight (average BCS 7 [9-point scale]) Arabian geldings were fed each of two orchardgrass hays, high NSC (18% DM) and moderate NSC (12% DM), in a cross over design during two 28-day periods. Body weight and body condition score assessment along with blood sampling to measure insulin, glucose, leptin, and triglyceride concentrations were performed on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and ...
Ranjithkumar M, Malik TA, Saxena A, Dan A, Sakthivel PC, Dey S.Trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma evansi commonly produces wasting disease with signs of emaciation and cachexia mainly at the end stage. The present study was conducted to explore the possible hyperlipaemia or hyperlipidaemia and its association with cachexia-anorexia in equine trypanosomiasis. Out of the fifteen confirmed animals, none of the plasma sample was opaque. There was a significant increase in plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol and blood urea nitrogen and a highly significant increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. A mild increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL)...
Filippo PAD, Duarte BR, Albernaz AP, Quirino CR.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feed restriction on some physical and blood parameters in horses kept outdoors under natural conditions. Twenty horses were deprived of food for 48 h. They were closely monitored and examined, and blood samples were taken at the beginning (0) of the experiment and 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 hours afterward. During the experimental period, the control group (12 animals) had free access to water and hay, while the restricted group had free access to water only. Data were submitted to two-way analysis of variance with repeated measur...
Gehlen H, Twickel S, Stöckle S, Weber C, Bartmann CP.Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is the most prevalent endocrine disease in horses. Although donkeys and mules may also be affected, only a few data have been published. Reference values for diagnostic parameters, such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), are especially scarce or even lacking. Therefore, in the present study, available data from the literature have been verified and completed to facilitate a reliable diagnosis. Clinical inspections and haematological and biochemical examinations were carried out four times in a three-month interval (February to November) in 44 donkeys a...
Mogg TD, Palmer JE.The medical records of 23 American Miniature Horses with hyperlipidemia, hyperlipemia, or hepatic lipidosis were reviewed. The most common clinical signs were anorexia and lethargy. The mean duration of clinical signs was 2.4 days. A primary disease was identified in 19 cases. Enterocolitis was the most common primary disease (n = 10). Intentional feed restriction, as part of treatment for colic, resulted in hyperlipemia in 2 horses and hyperlipidemia in 1. Four horses had primary hyperlipemia, 3 of which had signs of hepatoencephalopathy secondary to hepatic lipidosis. Dextrose, heparin, and ...
Bazzano M, Bonfili L, Eleuteri AM, Serri E, Scollo C, Yaosen Y, Tesei B, Laus F.A proper knowledge of biochemical parameters and inflammatory markers like serum amyloid A (SAA) is crucial in the monitoring of the first post-partum period in equids. Since no information is available on SAA for donkeys at this stage, 50 animals including jennies (n.10) and newborn foals (n.10) within 48 hr from foaling, and jennies (n.10) and foals (n.20) after 30 days from parturition were enrolled in the study to assess routine biochemical profile including SAA. Jennies showed higher alkaline phosphatase and lower bilirubins and cholesterol at 30 days of lactation compared to post-part...
