Equine veterinary journal2015; 47 Suppl 48; 23; doi: 10.1111/evj.12486_53

Clinical Research Abstracts of the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress 2015.

Martin Giménez, T
·
Aguirre Pascasio, CN
·
de Blas Giral, I

Abstract: Andalusian horses have been proposed as a breed predisposed to equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) phenotype [1] because they are prone to exhibiting regional, generalised adiposity and tendency to laminitis [2]. Insulin dysregulation represents the main pathophysiological cause for all the features of EMS, however there are no epidemiological studies in this breed. Objective: To assess insulin dysregulation through insulin proxies in Andalusian horses with different levels of obesity. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: One hundred and sixty-four Andalusians (78 stallions and 86 mares, 2-15 years) were scored for overall (body condition score, BCS) and neck (cresty neck score, CNS) adiposity. Grain concentrate was withheld for 12 h before sampling. Blood samples were collected between 06.00-10.00 h for basal glucose, insulin concentrations, RISQI and MIRG proxies calculation. Conditions were defined as: obese horses (Ob), BCS ≥ 7; cresty neck horses (CN), CNS ≥ 3; hyperinsulinaemia, insulin ≥20 μu/ml; low insulin sensitivity, RISQI5.6muinsulin (2)/[10.l.mgglucose]. Regarding BCS 2 groups were created: Ob and non-Ob. These groups were subdivided depending on CNS: with CN and without it (nonCN). Ob-nonCN group (n = 2) was excluded for the statistics due to the low number of horses. Results: Of the horses studied, 26.8% were Ob-CN, 42.1% were nonOb-CN and 31.1% were nonOb-nonCN. Ob horses presented higher insulin levels (P = 0.034) and lower RISQI values (P = 0.019) than all nonOb horses. When CN was considered, only RISQI was lower (P = 0.015) in Ob-CN group respect to nonOb-nonCN, however nonOb-CN group does not differ from the other 2 groups. Furthermore, the percentage of Ob-CN horses with hyperinsulinaemia (2.3%), abnormal RISQI (4.5%) and MIRG (9.1%) was very low. Conclusions: These results suggest that in Andalusians, increased adiposity was not clearly associated to insulin dysregulation and, similar to human beings, may coexist as a metabolically healthy but obese phenotype. Ethical animal research: Ethical University Committee approved all the procedures and owner informed consent was obtained. Background: None. Competing interests: None declared.

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Publication Date: 2015-09-17 PubMed ID: 26374982DOI: 10.1111/evj.12486_53Google Scholar: Lookup

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The study investigates the incidence of insulin dysregulation in Andalusian horses, particularly those exhibiting signs of obesity. The research suggests that, contrary to expectations, increased adiposity in these horses does not have a clear association with insulin dysregulation.

Objective and Methods of the Study

The chief aim of this research is to examine insulin dysregulation, which is a main causative factor of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), in Andalusian horses with varying degrees of obesity.
The study is cross-sectional, involving 164 Andalusian horses, both mares and stallions, aged between 2 and 15 years.
Obesity is assessed through the body condition score (BCS) and the cresty neck score (CNS). RISQI and MIRG are calculated to assess insulin dysregulation.
For accurate results, horses were not given grain concentrate for 12 hours before sampling their blood between 6 am and 10 am. The blood samples were used to evaluate baseline glucose and insulin concentrations.

Conditions, Groups and Results

The horses are classified into specific groups based on their BCS and CNS scores. Conditions include obesity (BCS ≥ 7), cresty neck (CNS ≥ 3), hyperinsulinemia (insulin ≥20 μu/ml), and a greater insulin secretory response (MIRG>5.6muinsulin).
Analysis of the blood sample data indicates that obese (Ob) horses had higher insulin levels and lower RISQI values than all non-obese horses.
Only RISQI was lower when cresty neck was considered for the Ob-CN group in comparison to nonOb-nonCN. The percentage of Ob-CN horses with conditions such as hyperinsulinemia, abnormal RISQI, and MIRG was very low.

Conclusions

The results suggest that there seems to be no clear correlation between increased obesity and insulin dysregulation in Andalusian horses.
This implies that, similar to humans, Andalusian horses can be metabolically healthy but obese – meaning the phenotype for equine metabolic syndrome among these horses does not necessarily include insulin dysregulation.
All procedures in the study adhered to the guidelines approved by the Ethical University Committee, and confirmed consent from horse owners was obtained.

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APA

Martin Giménez T, Aguirre Pascasio CN, de Blas Giral I. (2015). Clinical Research Abstracts of the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress 2015. Equine Vet J, 47 Suppl 48, 23. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12486_53