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Plasma endotoxin in horses presented to an equine referral hospital: correlation to selected clinical parameters and outcomes.
Abstract: Endotoxaemia is frequently presumed on the basis of clinical signs in horses with colic. Objective: Measurements of plasma endotoxin (LPS) are rarely made in clinical cases and there is little information on the correlations between this variable, clinical variables and outcomes. Objective: To measure LPS levels in plasma of horses presented to the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital on admission and daily for up to 4 days and to relate LPS levels to selected clinical parameters, such as heart rate and packed cell volume, and outcomes. Methods: Blood samples were collected and stored at -20°C prior to assay of the plasma using a validated kinetic chromogenic Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. Clinical parameters and outcome variables were collected from hospital records. Associations were determined by Chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis. Results: Daily blood samples were collected from 234 horses. LPS was detected in 26.5% of the study population and in 29% of those horses presented for colic. Horses providing samples with detectable LPS were more likely to die whilst in the hospital than those that did not (P = 0.045). Horses presenting with colic were more likely to have detectable LPS in their plasma than noncolic cases (P = 0.037), although LPS was detected in the plasma of 8 out of 42 noncolic horses. A horse that did not meet the study definition of clinical endotoxaemia was 10 times less likely to provide a positive LPS sample (OR 0.10, 95% CI: 0.05-0.22). Conclusions: The proportion of horses providing samples with detectable LPS was similar to other studies. Conclusions: LPS was detected in the minority of horses presented with colic. Increased levels of LPS positively correlated with packed cell volume and with risk of mortality in colic cases.
© 2011 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-03-04 PubMed ID: 21496089DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00328.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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.
This research studied the levels of Endotoxin, a harmful substance produced in the body, in horses admitted to a hospital, and its correlation to clinical parameters like heart rate and cell volume as well as the outcomes for these horses. Notably, higher levels of endotoxin and presence of colic were associated with increased likelihood of mortality.
OBJECTIVE AND METHODOLOGY
- The objective of the study was to measure levels of an inflammatory substance, endotoxin (LPS), in the plasma of horses admitted to the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital for up to four days, and establish its relation to certain clinical parameters and outcomes.
- They collected blood samples that were later stored at -20°C and assayed for LPS levels using an analytic procedure known as a kinetic chromogenic Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay.
- The health records of the horses were reviewed to gather data on their clinical parameters and outcomes.
- Statistical tests like Chi-squared test and logistic regression were used to determine associations and correlations.
RESULTS OF THE STUDY
- The daily blood samples were collected from 234 horses. They detected LPS in the blood of 26.5% of the total population and 29% of horses admitted due to colic.
- The study found that horses with detectable levels of LPS were more likely to die in the hospital than those horses which did not have detectable LPS (with a significance level of P= 0.045).
- Horses suffering from colic (a severe, often fluctuating pain in the abdomen) were more likely to have detectable LPS in their blood than noncolic horses (with a significance level of P= 0.037), although 8 out of 42 noncolic horses were also found to have LPS in their plasma.
- Horses that did not display signs of clinical endotoxaemia (a high concentration of endotoxin in the blood, causing ill effects) were 10 times less likely to give a positive LPS sample.
CONCLUSIONS DRAWN
- Results of this study were in sync with previous research in terms of the proportion of horses with detectable LPS.
- It was concluded that LPS was found in a minority of the horses that had colic.
- Increased levels of endotoxins were found to be positively correlated with high cell volume and increased probability of death in horses with colic.
Cite This Article
APA
Senior JM, Proudman CJ, Leuwer M, Carter SD.
(2011).
Plasma endotoxin in horses presented to an equine referral hospital: correlation to selected clinical parameters and outcomes.
Equine Vet J, 43(5), 585-591.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00328.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK. marks@liv.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Colic / blood
- Colic / mortality
- Colic / pathology
- Colic / veterinary
- Endotoxemia / blood
- Endotoxemia / mortality
- Endotoxemia / pathology
- Endotoxemia / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Lipopolysaccharides / blood
- Male
- Odds Ratio
- Risk Factors
Citations
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- Ogbuewu IP, Mbajiorgu CA. Unlocking the feed supplement potentials of blue-green alga (spirulina) in broiler nutrition: a comprehensive review. Trop Anim Health Prod 2025 Aug 13;57(7):364.
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