Prevalence and Progression of Resting ACTH, Insulin and Adiponectin Values as Indicators of Suspected Endocrine Diseases in Sport Horses and Ponies Compared to Non-Sport Horses, Ponies and Donkeys.

This study assessed whether sport horses face a higher probability of issues in their endocrine systems compared to non-sport horses, and how these diseases can progress over time. The focus was on pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), insulin dysregulation (ID), and metabolic obesity. It was found that sport horses have the same prevalence of PPID and metabolic obesity as non-sport horses, but the latter are more likely to have insulin dysregulation. However, on follow-up assessments, PPID and metabolic obesity were found to be more common in sport horses.

Study Purpose and Methodology

• The motivation behind the research was to understand prevalence and progression of endocrine diseases in sport horses. Such knowledge is crucial due to the prolonged active years of sport horses, and their need for optimal health to maintain performance.
• The study compared the prevalence of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), insulin dysregulation (ID), and metabolic obesity between sport and non-sport horses. The breed was the key determinant for identifying a horse as a sport horse or a non-sport horse.
• For the research, blood samples from different horses were required. The samples were analyzed for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), serum insulin, or adiponectin levels.

Key Results

• In the initial surveys, sport horses showed similar instances of PPID and metabolic obesity as non-sport horses. Interestingly, non-sport horses had more cases of insulin dysregulation.
• Upon follow-up, sport horses demonstrated more instances of PPID and metabolic obesity. These horses exhibited a higher median ACTH, signifying increased PPID prevalence. While they also displayed more cases of metabolic obesity, they had higher median adiponectin, perhaps indicating that they suffer less severely from this condition than non-sport horses.

Implications of Results

• Based on these findings, it might be important to routinely screen sport horses for potential endocrine disorders, considering their increased prevalence in the follow-up study.
• The results highlight the importance of understanding health issues unique to sport horses. Early detection and management of such conditions could improve performance and longevity of these horses.