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Validation of the 13C-octanoic acid breath test for measurement of equine gastric emptying rate of solids using radioscintigraphy.
Abstract: Disordered gastric motility may be a significant factor in the pathogenesis of many equine conditions. Although tests for liquid phase emptying rate have been validated in the horse, there are no effective tests for solid phase emptying measurement that can be performed routinely in the field. Objective: The objective of this study was the assessment of a novel stable isotope technique, the 13C-octane acid breath test (13C-OABT), for the measurement of gastric emptying of solid ingesta, by direct comparison with the optimum method of gastric scintigraphy. Methods: To facilitate dual measurement of gastric emptying, a test meal was used containing baked egg yolk labelled with both 13C-octanoic acid and 99mtechnetium sulphur colloid. Simultaneous, serial lateral gastric scintigraphs and expiratory breath samples were obtained in 12 healthy horses after voluntary ingestion of the test meal. Analysis of breath 13CO2:12CO2 ratio was performed by continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Power regression was used to determine the gastric emptying coefficient, the gastric half-emptying time (t 1/2) and duration of the lag phase (tlag). Results: Significant correlations (P < 0.001) were found between the 2 techniques for measurement of both t 1/2 and tlag. In addition, scintigraphic left t 1/2 was correlated significantly to breath test gastric emptying coefficient (P < 0.001). Conclusions: It was concluded that the 13C-octanoic acid breath test is a reliable diagnostic procedure to measure gastric emptying rate of solids in the horse. Conclusions: Being safe, noninvasive and easy to perform, this test has potential value as both sensitive diagnostic modality and humane research tool for motility studies.
Publication Date: 2003-01-30 PubMed ID: 12553459DOI: 10.2746/042516403775467423Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Validation Study
- Animal Health
- Animal Science
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Studies
- Gastrointestinal Health
- Horses
- In Vivo
- Noninvasive Procedures
- Physiology
- Scintigraphy
- Stable Management
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research article focuses on the validation of the 13C-octanoic acid breath test (13C-OABT) to measure the gastric emptying rate of solid food in horses, comparing it to scintigraphy, the current gold-standard technique. The study concludes that the 13C-OABT is a reliable, safe, and noninvasive technique and may be helpful in diagnosing and studying disorders related to gastric motility in horses.
Methodology and Objective
- The researchers’ main objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new method, the 13C-octanoic acid breath test (13C-OABT) for measuring the rate at which a horse’s stomach empties solid food.
- The test’s validity was checked by comparing it to scintigraphy, a more established method for the same purpose.
- The researchers used a test meal made of baked egg yolks labeled with both 13C-octanoic acid and 99mtechnetium sulphur colloid.
- Twelve healthy horses were used in this study, where they voluntarily ingested the test meal.
- The researchers collected data from lateral gastric scintigraphs and the horse’s exhaled breath samples simultaneously.
- Continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry was used for the analysis.
Results
- The research found a significant correlation between the 13C-OABT and scintigraphy in measuring two key parameters: the gastric half-emptying time (t 1/2) and the duration of the lag phase (tlag).
- Also, a significant correlation was found between the breath test gastric emptying coefficient and the gastric half-emptying time measured through scintigraphy.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that the 13C-octanoic acid breath test (13C-OABT) is efficient and reliable in measuring the gastric emptying rate of solids in horses.
- The 13C-OABT was pegged as a dependable, safe, and noninvasive testing procedure which can be easily performed.
- Given these characteristics, it could be a valuable tool for diagnosing gastric malfunctioning as well as carrying out further research on gastric motility in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Sutton DG, Bahr A, Preston T, Christley RM, Love S, Roussel AJ.
(2003).
Validation of the 13C-octanoic acid breath test for measurement of equine gastric emptying rate of solids using radioscintigraphy.
Equine Vet J, 35(1), 27-33.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516403775467423 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Breath Tests / methods
- Caprylates / metabolism
- Carbon Dioxide / metabolism
- Carbon Isotopes
- Female
- Gastric Emptying / physiology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Radionuclide Imaging
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Stomach / diagnostic imaging
- Stomach / physiology
- Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Camilleri M, Linden DR. Measurement of Gastrointestinal and Colonic Motor Functions in Humans and Animals. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2016 Jul;2(4):412-428.
- Viljoen GJ, Luckins AG. The role of nuclear technologies in the diagnosis and control of livestock diseases--a review. Trop Anim Health Prod 2012 Oct;44(7):1341-66.
- Jensen RB, Walslag IH, Marcussen C, Thorringer NW, Junghans P, Nyquist NF. The effect of feeding order of forage and oats on metabolic and digestive responses related to gastric emptying in horses. J Anim Sci 2025 Jan 4;103.
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