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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2021; 35(2); 1121-1130; doi: 10.1111/jvim.16093

Effects of phenylbutazone alone or in combination with a nutritional therapeutic on gastric ulcers, intestinal permeability, and fecal microbiota in horses.

Abstract: Gastrointestinal (GI) injury and dysbiosis are adverse events associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use in horses. Phenylbutazone has been shown to alter GI barrier function both in vitro and ex vivo, but its effects on barrier function have not been assessed in vivo. In addition, the ability of nutritional therapeutics to prevent these changes is not known. Objective: Our objectives were to determine whether (a) phenylbutazone affected barrier function in vivo and (b) if phenylbutazone-induced GI injury could be ameliorated by the use of a nutritional therapeutic. Methods: Thirty healthy horses were randomly assigned to 3 groups (n = 10 per group): control, phenylbutazone, or phenylbutazone plus nutritional therapeutic. Methods: This study was conducted as a blinded, randomized block design. All horses were managed identically throughout the study period. Samples were collected throughout the study period to monitor fecal microbiota changes and gastric ulcers before and after treatment. Quantification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene in blood was used as a marker of intestinal permeability. Results: Phenylbutazone increased amounts of bacterial 16S rDNA in circulation 3.02-fold (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1.89-4.17), increased gastric ulceration score by a mean of 1.1 grade (P = .02), and induced specific changes in the microbiota, including loss of Pseudobutyrivibrio of family Lachnospiraceae. These changes were attenuated by nutritional treatment. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings suggest that phenylbutazone induces GI injury, including impaired barrier function, and that nutritional treatment could attenuate these changes.
© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2021-03-03 PubMed ID: 33656183PubMed Central: PMC7995434DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16093Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study assessed the effects of phenylbutazone, a common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used in horses, on the gastrointestinal system. The scientists also evaluated a nutritional therapeutic treatment that may effectively mitigate the adverse effects of the drug. They found that phenylbutazone negatively affected the horses’ digestive health, but that these impacts could be lessened through the nutritional regimen.

Objectives of the Research

  • The principal intention of this study was to understand how phenylbutazone, an NSAID often administered to horses, influences gastrointestinal barrier functions in a live setting.
  • Further, the investigators examined whether a nutritional therapeutic could alleviate the gastrointestinal injuries thought to be instigated by phenylbutazone.

Research Methodology

  • The study involved thirty healthy horses allocated randomly into one of three groups, each group containing ten horses. One group was the control (receiving no treatment), the second was treated solely with phenylbutazone, and the third group was administered both phenylbutazone and the nutritional therapy.
  • The trial was conducted as a blind study, meaning participants were unaware of which treatment was administered.
  • Samples were collected throughout the study period to track changes in fecal microbiota and monitor the progression of gastric ulcers before and after treatment.
  • Measurement of bacterial 16S rRNA genes in the horses’ blood served as an indicator of intestinal permeability.

Findings of the Study

  • Phenylbutazone increased bacterial 16S rDNA in circulation by over three times and amplified the gastric ulceration score by an average of 1.1 grade, indicating damage to the gastrointestinal barrier.
  • The drug also triggered specific changes in microbiota, including a reduction of a bacterial genus in the Lachnospiraceae family, Pseudobutyrivibrio.
  • The nutritional treatment deployed in conjunction with phenylbutazone muted these adverse changes.

Conclusions of the Research

  • The results of the investigation point to the conclusion that phenylbutazone can lead to gastrointestinal harm and disturb barrier function in horses.
  • However, the associated changes could be softened through the nutritional treatment, suggesting possible paths towards safer application of phenylbutazone in veterinary medicine.

Cite This Article

APA
Whitfield-Cargile CM, Coleman MC, Cohen ND, Chamoun-Emanuelli AM, DeSolis CN, Tetrault T, Sowinski R, Bradbery A, Much M. (2021). Effects of phenylbutazone alone or in combination with a nutritional therapeutic on gastric ulcers, intestinal permeability, and fecal microbiota in horses. J Vet Intern Med, 35(2), 1121-1130. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16093

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 35
Issue: 2
Pages: 1121-1130

Researcher Affiliations

Whitfield-Cargile, Canaan M
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Coleman, Michelle C
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Cohen, Noah D
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Chamoun-Emanuelli, Ana M
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
DeSolis, Cristobal Navas
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Tetrault, Taylor
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Sowinski, Ryan
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Bradbery, Amanda
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Much, Mattea
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / adverse effects
  • Horse Diseases / chemically induced
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horses
  • Microbiota
  • Permeability
  • Phenylbutazone / adverse effects
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Stomach Ulcer / chemically induced
  • Stomach Ulcer / drug therapy
  • Stomach Ulcer / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • Cohen / Link Equine Research Endowment
  • Platinum Performance
  • TEX09730 / United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
  • National Institute of Food and Agriculture
  • United States Department of Agriculture

Conflict of Interest Statement

The potential conflicts related to this study include: 1) Platinum Performance has provided financial support to our laboratory in the form of donations for gastroenterology research. 2) Dr. Whitfield‐Cargile has spoken at educational meetings that Platinum Performance has organized, and received honoraria for participation in 1 in‐person meeting and 1 webinar. 3) Platinum Performance provided gifts to members of our laboratory and routinely donates these items to our VMTH. These potential conflicts we managed in the following ways: 1) Platinum Performance has provided financial support (as a research gift) to our laboratory. They have had no control of this study or any other research conducted in our laboratory. Study design and execution were the sole responsibility of the authors of this study. In addition, Platinum Performance has had no input on what we chose to publish regardless of our laboratory\'s findings. 2) All horses and samples were blinded for all data in this manuscript. For example, the author performing gastroscopy and scoring gastric ulcers was blinded to treatment group and has no personal conflicts of interest with Platinum Performance. 3) All samples (blood and feces) were coded in a way that prevented anyone from knowing the group assignment until data were analyzed. 4) A placebo paste was used to further blind all study personnel in the study as to group assignment.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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