Clinical Research Abstracts of the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress 2015.
Abstract: Atrial fibrillation is a common equine arrhythmia. Quinidine alone, or with digoxin are common treatments. Studies on outcome in Warmblood populations in which duration of the AF is often unknown are limited. Objective: To identify the factors that are associated with the success of full treatment cardioversion with oral medication, and establish whether there are differences in these factors between institutions. Methods: Retrospective case series using patient records of Equine University Clinic of Utrecht University and Rossdales Equine Hospital, Newmarket. Methods: Forty-nine horses treated with quinidine were identified (29 Warmbloods, 20 Thorougbreds, 1 Anglo-Arabian). Details of signalment, history, duration physical examination and echocardiography including left atrial size and presence of mitral regurgitation were retrieved. Clinical details including mean weight, age and left atrial size were compared between clinics using independent samples t test. Association between variables and cardioconversion were evaluated in a backwards logistic regression using Akaike's information criterium (AIC) and odds ratios were calculated. Factors were sex, clinic, breed, mitral regurgitation, duration and poor performance. Covariates were age, weight and the size of the left atrium. Significance was set at 0.05. Results: Fifty-one horses (mean age 8.8 s.d. 4.5 years) were treated with quinidine sulfate, 18 also received digoxin. Eighty per cent converted to sinus rhythm. In 8 horses the known duration was less than 3 months. The only factor associated with successful treatment was the use of digoxin in combination with quinidine sulfate (odds ratio 12.4; 95% CI 2.61 and 91.85 according to AIC analysis). Conclusions: In this retrospective case series, there is much potential for bias in the data; however, the use of digoxin in addition to quinidine was associated with improved conversion rates regardless of breed even though AF duration was unknown in most horses. Ethical animal research: Research ethics committee oversight not currently required by this conference: retrospective study of clinical records. Explicit owner informed consent for inclusion of animals in this study was not stated. Background: None. Competing interests: None declared.
© 2015 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal © 2015 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2015-09-17 PubMed ID: 26376318DOI: 10.1111/evj.12486_63Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research investigates the occurrence, severity, and impact of fasciolosis, a parasitic liver disease, in working donkeys in Ethiopia. The study reveals a high infection prevalence among donkeys, indicating their potential role in spreading the disease among livestock and humans, emphasizing the need for inclusion in epidemiological studies and preventive measures.
Objective and Methods of the Study
- The main objective of the study was to inspect the prevalence and harm caused by fasciolosis in donkeys.
- Various methods were used to conduct the study, including the cross-sectional coprological methods (study of feces to determine the health conditions of the animals), retrospective post-mortem studies, and employing traditional sedimentation-centrifugation-flotation techniques to analyze fecal samples.
- The study was conducted on a random sample of 803 working donkeys from the central region of Ethiopia.
- Data analysis was conducted using a generalized linear model and multivariate binary logistic regression with a significance level set at P<0.05.
Results of the Study
- The investigation revealed a worrying prevalence of fasciolosis infection, affecting 44.4% of donkeys according to coprological exams, and 41.9% post-mortem, independent of the age of the animal.
- Both Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica were spotted with an average infection intensity of 30 flukes (parasitic worms).
- The study also discovered that older donkeys (≥8 years) often harbor a significantly larger worm load.
- Physical and cellular pathologies of hyperplasia (abnormal increase in cell production), thickening of the bile ducts, fibrosis (scarring) of large portal regions, and irregular bile duct proliferation and hypertrophy (increase in size of tissues) were noted.
Conclusions
- The high infection prevalence of fasciolosis and associated liver damage in working donkeys in Ethiopia displays not only the impact on the health of the animals but the potential role they play in the spread of the disease.
- The authors stressed the need to consider these animals in overall epidemiological studies and also stressed the importance of developing sound preventative and control strategies for fasciolosis.
- The study maintained a strict ethical stance by obtaining the necessary approvals and consents for the use of animals in research.
- There were no competing interests declared by the researchers.
Cite This Article
APA
Lotstra RJ, van den Broek J, Power T, Marr CM, Wijnberg ID.
(2015).
Clinical Research Abstracts of the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress 2015.
Equine Vet J, 47 Suppl 48, 28.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12486_63 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
- Department of Farm Animal Health, Dept. Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
- Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, AL7 9TA, UK.
- Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Cotton End Road, Exning, Newmarket, CB8 7NN, UK.
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
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