Small intestinal malabsorption in the horse: an assessment of the specificity of the oral glucose tolerance test.
Abstract: Specificity of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for the diagnosis of small intestinal malabsorption in the horse was assessed by comparing the results of OGTT with the results of a histopathological examination of the small intestine in 42 adult horses affected by chronic weight loss. The horses were assigned to three groups on the basis of the results of the test. Five horses were considered to have a normal OGTT absorption result (Group 1); all the horses had a histologically normal small intestine. Twenty-five horses had a partial malabsorption result (Group 2) seven of which had normal small intestinal morphology, whereas the remaining 18 had a variety of pathological lesions including lymphosarcoma, villous atrophy, granulomatous enteritis and eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Twelve of the 42 horses had a total malabsorption result (Group 3), and all had a severe infiltrative lesion in the small intestinal wall (either lymphosarcoma or granulomatous enteritis).
Publication Date: 1991-09-01 PubMed ID: 1959524DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb03735.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Adult Horses
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Equine Health
- Gastrointestinal Health
- Glucose Tolerance Test
- Histopathology
- Horses
- Inflammatory Response
- Lymphoma
- Malabsorption
- Metabolism
- Morphology
- Pathology
- Pathophysiology
- Small Intestine
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Weight Loss
Summary
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This research article investigates the accuracy of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in diagnosing small intestine malabsorption in horses suffering from chronic weight loss. The study compared OGTT results to results from a histopathological examination in 42 horses.
Research Methodology
- The study involved 42 adult horses dealing with chronic weight loss.
- These horses underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), a common tool for diagnosing malabsorption in the small intestine.
- The results of the OGTT were then compared with results from histopathological examinations of the horses’ small intestines.
- The horses were divided into three groups based on the OGTT results.
Research Results and Interpretations
- Group 1 comprised five horses determined to have normal OGTT absorption; examination of their small intestines revealed normal histology.
- Group 2 consisted of 25 horses with partial malabsorption. Seven of these showed normal small intestine morphology, while the remaining 18 horses displayed various pathologies, including lymphosarcoma, villous atrophy, granulomatous enteritis, and eosinophilic gastroenteritis.
- Group 3 included 12 horses with total malabsorption. Upon examination, all horses in this group exhibited severe infiltrative lesions in their small intestinal walls, either due to lymphosarcoma or granulomatous enteritis.
- The results suggest that the OGTT specificity for diagnosing small intestinal malabsorption in horses is high, particularly when the malabsorption is total.
Conclusion
- This research indicates OGTT as a potentially reliable tool for diagnosing small intestinal malabsorption in horses suffering from chronic weight loss.
- It’s particularly effective when diagnosing total malabsorption.
- The study also emphasizes the importance of using additional diagnostic measures, such as histopathological examinations, to confirm the results of OGTT and identify any underlying pathological conditions.
Cite This Article
APA
Mair TS, Hillyer MH, Taylor FG, Pearson GR.
(1991).
Small intestinal malabsorption in the horse: an assessment of the specificity of the oral glucose tolerance test.
Equine Vet J, 23(5), 344-346.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb03735.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bristol, School of Veterinary Science, Langford, Avon, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Glucose Tolerance Test / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Intestine, Large / pathology
- Intestine, Small / pathology
- Intestine, Small / physiopathology
- Malabsorption Syndromes / diagnosis
- Malabsorption Syndromes / veterinary
- Male
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Thane K, Sonntag J, Warnken T, Reiche D, Uricchio C, Frank N. Comparison of a customized glycemic pellets challenge with the oral sugar test to measure glycemic and insulinemic responses in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Nov-Dec;38(6):3281-3287.
- Kranenburg LC, Bouwmeester BF, van den Boom R. Findings and Prognosis in 149 Horses with Histological Changes Compatible with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 30;14(11).
- Hostetter JM, Uzal FA. Gastrointestinal biopsy in the horse: overview of collection, interpretation, and applications. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022 May;34(3):376-388.
- Boshuizen B, Ploeg M, Dewulf J, Klooster S, Bruijn M, Picavet MT, Palmers K, Plancke L, Cock H, Theelen M, Delesalle C. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in horses: a retrospective study exploring the value of different diagnostic approaches. BMC Vet Res 2018 Jan 19;14(1):21.
- Kaikkonen R, Niinistö K, Sykes B, Anttila M, Sankari S, Raekallio M. Diagnostic evaluation and short-term outcome as indicators of long-term prognosis in horses with findings suggestive of inflammatory bowel disease treated with corticosteroids and anthelmintics. Acta Vet Scand 2014 Jun 3;56(1):35.
- Kostiuk D. Equine eosinophilic enterocolitis. Can Vet J 2000 Nov;41(11):871-2.
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