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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Gentamicin-induced sensorineural auditory loss in healthy ad...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2021; 35(5); 2486-2494; doi: 10.1111/jvim.16221

Gentamicin-induced sensorineural auditory loss in healthy adult horses.

Abstract: Irreversible sensorineural auditory loss has been reported in humans treated with aminoglycosides but not in horses. Objective: Investigate if auditory loss occurs in horses treated using the recommended IV daily dosage of gentamicin for 7 consecutive days. Methods: Ten healthy adult horses (7-15 years; females and males, 5 each). Methods: Prospective study. Physical and neurological examinations and renal function tests were performed. Gentamicin sulfate was administered at a dosage of 6.6 mg/kg via the jugular vein on alternating sides for 7 days. Gentamicin peak and trough concentrations were measured. Horses were sedated using detomidine hydrochloride IV to perform brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAER) before the first dose, immediately after the last dose, and 30 days after the last dose. Peaks latencies, amplitudes, and amplitude ratios were recorded. Data from the second and last BAER were compared to results at baseline. Bone conduction was performed to rule out conduction disorders. Results: Seven horses had auditory loss: complete bilateral (N = 1), complete unilateral (N = 2), and partial unilateral (N = 4). Based on physical examination and BAER results, sensorineural auditory loss was suspected. Absent bone conduction ruled out a conduction disorder and further supported sensorineural auditory loss in horses with completely absent BAER. Auditory dysfunction was reversible in 4 of 7 horses. Conclusions: Gentamicin at recommended doses may cause sensorineural auditory loss in horses that might be irreversible. Follow-up studies are needed to investigate if other dosing protocols present a similar risk.
© 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: 2021-07-28 PubMed ID: 34322916PubMed Central: PMC8478042DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16221Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 research study investigates whether gentamicin, an antibiotic treatment, could cause hearing loss in healthy adult horses. It was found that this drug could indeed result in sensorineural auditory loss, which may be irreversible in some cases.

Study Design

  • The study involved ten healthy adult horses, both female and male, aging between 7 to 15 years.
  • This research was prospective in nature meaning that the subjects were chosen and then observed over a certain time period.
  • Various tests, including physical and neurological examinations and renal function tests, were performed to track the health and progress of the horses.
  • Gentamicin sulfate was given to the horses through the jugular vein alternate side for a week.
  • After the dosage, gentamicin peak and trough concentrations were also measured.

Methodology

  • All ten horses were subjected to brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAER) before the first dose, immediately after the last dose, and 30 days post dose. This test measures the electrical activity in the auditory nerve, auditory pathways, and in the brain that occur in response to clicks.
  • Any changes in peaks latencies, amplitudes, and amplitude ratios were recorded and compared to baseline data.
  • Bone conduction was additionally used to rule out any conduction disorders.

Results

  • Out of the ten horses in the study, seven were found to have auditory loss. This varied in degree with one horse having complete bilateral auditory loss, two with complete unilateral loss and four with partial unilateral loss.
  • Physical examination and BAER results led to a suspicion of sensorineural auditory loss, which was further confirmed by absent bone conduction.
  • Auditory dysfunction was reversible in four out of the seven horses. However, in three cases, this seemed be irreversible.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that gentamicin at recommended doses could potentially result in irreversible sensorineural auditory loss in horses. The researchers acknowledge the need for further studies to explore if other dosage protocols also pose a similar risk to horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Aleman MR, True A, Scalco R, Crowe CM, Costa LRR, Chigerwe M. (2021). Gentamicin-induced sensorineural auditory loss in healthy adult horses. J Vet Intern Med, 35(5), 2486-2494. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16221

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 35
Issue: 5
Pages: 2486-2494

Researcher Affiliations

Aleman, Monica R
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
True, Alexander
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Scalco, Rebeca
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Crowe, Chelsea M
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Costa, Lais R R
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Chigerwe, Munashe
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gentamicins / adverse effects
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies

Grant Funding

  • V435622 / Equine and Comparative Neurology Research Group

Conflict of Interest Statement

Munashe Chigerwe serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. He was not involved in review of this manuscript. No other authors have a conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Davies C, Mittal R, Li CY, Marwede H, Bergman J, Hilton N, Mittal J, Bhattacharya SK, Eshraghi AA. Identification of Target Proteins Involved in Cochlear Hair Cell Progenitor Cytotoxicity following Gentamicin Exposure.. J Clin Med 2022 Jul 14;11(14).
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  2. Lai TW, Cheng HL, Su TR, Yang JJ, Su CC. Cichoric Acid May Play a Role in Protecting Hair Cells from Ototoxic Drugs.. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Jun 16;23(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ijms23126701pubmed: 35743144google scholar: lookup
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