The effect of Strongylus vulgaris larvae on equine intestinal myoelectrical activity.
Abstract: The myoelectrical activity of the ileum, caecum and large colon was monitored from Ag-AgCl bipolar recording electrodes in four conscious 'parasite-naive' weanling foals. All foals were inoculated with 1000 infective 3rd-stage Strongylus vulgaris larvae and alterations to the myoelectrical activity observed. The frequencies of caecal and colonic spike bursts increased significantly in all post infection periods coinciding with assumed larval penetration into the intestinal mucosa and migration through the vasculature. Peaks in caecal and colonic activity occurred at Days 1 to 5 post infection. In the caecum, peaks occurred again at Days 15 and 31 post infection, preceding similar rises in colonic spike burst frequency at Days 19 and 35. Longer term changes indicated a return towards pre-infection levels of activity suggesting smooth muscle adaptation to decreased blood flow. The analysis of caecal and colonic spike burst propagation indicated that the increases in burst frequency were not attributable to an increase in the propagation of spike bursts in any particular direction, but rather to proportional increases in all directions of activity. There was a slight decrease in the simple ileal spike burst frequency immediately post-infection. None of the experimental animals exhibited signs of abdominal pain during the trial, and there was no evidence of bowel infarction at post mortem examination despite the presence of severe parasite-induced arterial lesions. The results suggest that increased caecal and colonic motility is an important host response in susceptible foals exposed to S. vulgaris larvae.
Publication Date: 1989-06-01 PubMed ID: 9118113DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1989.tb05646.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study examines how infection by Strongylus vulgaris larvae, a type of horse parasite, impacts the intestinal activities (myoelectrical activities) in young horses. The research highlights increased intestinal activity post infection as a potential defense mechanism in young horses.
Objective of the Research
- The research aimed to understand the effect of Strongylus vulgaris larvae on the myoelectrical activity of the ileum, caecum, and large colon in young foals.
Research Design and Method
- Four consciousness ‘parasite-naive’ weanling foals were selected for the study.
- The foals were inoculated with 1000 infective 3rd-stage Strongylus vulgaris larvae.
- Alterations to the myoelectrical activity due to the infection were observed and monitored.
Observations and Results
- Post infection, the frequencies of caecal and colonic spike bursts increased significantly, which coincided with the larval penetration into the intestinal mucosa and migration through the vasculature.
- Longer term changes suggested that these activities returned to pre-infection levels as the smooth muscle adapted to the decreased blood flow.
- In the immediate aftermath of infection, the simple ileal spike burst frequency experienced a slight decrease.
- No signs of abdominal pain were exhibited by the experimental animals during the trial and no evidence of bowel infarction at post mortem examination was found despite the presence of severe parasite-induced arterial lesions.
Conclusion
- The research concluded that increased caecal and colonic motility (movement) appears to be an important host response mechanism in young horses exposed to S. vulgaris larvae.
- This could indicate a potential defense mechanism the horse’s body employs to combat the infection.
Cite This Article
APA
Lester GD, Bolton JR, Cambridge H, Thurgate S.
(1989).
The effect of Strongylus vulgaris larvae on equine intestinal myoelectrical activity.
Equine Vet J Suppl(7), 8-13.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1989.tb05646.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Studies, Murdoch University, Western Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cecum / parasitology
- Cecum / physiopathology
- Data Collection
- Electrodes / veterinary
- Electromyography / veterinary
- Female
- Horses
- Ileum / parasitology
- Ileum / physiopathology
- Intestinal Mucosa / parasitology
- Intestinal Mucosa / physiopathology
- Intestines / parasitology
- Intestines / physiology
- Larva / physiology
- Muscle, Smooth / physiology
- Strongyle Infections, Equine / physiopathology
- Strongylus / isolation & purification
- Strongylus / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Saeed MA, Beveridge I, Abbas G, Beasley A, Bauquier J, Wilkes E, Jacobson C, Hughes KJ, El-Hage C, O'Handley R, Hurley J, Cudmore L, Carrigan P, Walter L, Tennent-Brown B, Nielsen MK, Jabbar A. Systematic review of gastrointestinal nematodes of horses from Australia. Parasit Vectors 2019 Apr 29;12(1):188.
- Navarre CB, Roussel AJ. Gastrointestinal motility and disease in large animals. J Vet Intern Med 1996 Mar-Apr;10(2):51-9.
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