Presumptive bacterial translocation in horses with strangulating small intestinal lesions requiring resection and anastomosis.

The research article evaluates whether bacterial translocation, a process where bacteria cross the intestinal barrier into systemic circulation, occurs in horses with small intestinal strangulation (SIS). The study found that bacterial translocation occurs in both healthy and SIS-affected horses, with differing bacterial species identified in each group.

Objective and Methods of the Study

• The researchers aimed to identify if bacterial translocation happens in horses suffering from small intestinal strangulation.
• Thirty-six adult horses with SIS and 10 healthy adult horses were included in the study.
• The process involved sterile collection and bacterial culturing.
• Samples were collected from peripheral venous blood, mesenteric venous blood, mesenteric lymphatic tissue, and intestinal aspirates from SIS-affected and healthy horses.

Results of the Study

• Among the horses with SIS, 13.8% had at least one sample yield a positive result, indicating presumptive bacterial translocation.
• It was found that shorter SIS bowel segments were more likely to have a positive culture result.
• In the group of control horses, different bacterial species were identified compared to horses with SIS.
• The use of antimicrobial did not influence the bacterial culture status, suggesting that antibiotic use does not affect bacterial translocation.
• There were no differences between culture-positive and culture-negative horses with SIS in terms of admission, clinical, or clinicopathologic variables indicating that these factors may not significantly influence the occurrence of bacterial translocation.

Conclusions

• The study concluded that bacterial translocation can occur in both normal and SIS-affected horses.
• The variety of bacterial genera identified was different between the two groups.
• Interestingly, a low incidence of bacterial translocation was noted in horses with SIS, suggesting other factors might be contributing to postoperative complications.