Risk factors for laminitis and nonsurvival in acute colitis: Retrospective study of 85 hospitalized horses (2011-2019).

The research study focuses on understanding risk factors that cause laminitis (a debilitating and painful disorder in the foot of a horse) and the non-survival or mortality rate in horses suffering from acute colitis (inflammation of the colon). The acute colitis in these cases was caused by three different infectious agents – enteric salmonellosis, coronavirus, and neorickettsiosis. The study, a retrospective review of clinical records, analyzed the factors affecting 85 horses hospitalized for acute colitis across 2011-2019.

Methodology

• The study was a retrospective review of clinical records over eight years (2011-2019), involving horses (2 years or older) suffering from enteric salmonellosis, coronavirus, or neorickettsiosis triggered acute colitis.
• The primary outcomes of interest were if the horse exhibited laminitis during its hospital stay and if the horse survived to discharge from the hospital.
• To assess the correlation between variables and the development of laminitis, a multivariable logistic regression was implemented. Meanwhile, a stepwise Cox regression was applied for variables relative to survival.

Findings

• Analysis showed that out of 85 horses, 17 (20%) developed laminitis during their hospitalization.
• Interestingly, horses with neorickettsiosis (42%) were significantly more susceptible to develop laminitis compared to those with coronavirus (0%) with an Odds ratio (OR) of 24.48.
• There was no significant difference recorded in laminitis development between horses with salmonellosis and those with neorickettsiosis.
• The study established that admission heart rate, total solids, band neutrophils, and bicarbonate concentration could predict the development of laminitis during hospitalization.
• In terms of survival rate, 74% of horses, specifically all coronavirus cases, 65% of neorickettsiosis cases, and 70% each of salmonellosis and unknown cases survived to discharge.
• The study identified that the packed cell volume, L-lactate concentration, and development of laminitis were primary predictors of non-survival to discharge.

Conclusion

• The rates of non-survival and laminitis were high, particularly attributed to the incidence of neorickettsiosis in the region.

Such findings suggest the necessity for preventive measures for neorickettsiosis and careful monitoring of the identified risk indicators to improve horses’ treatment outcomes suffering from these conditions.