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OBJECTIVE To evaluate use of a telemetric gastrointestinal (GI) pill to continuously monitor GI temperature in horses at rest and during exercise and to compare time profiles of GI temperature and rectal temperature. ANIMALS 8 Standardbred horses. PROCEDURES Accuracy and precision of the GI pill and a rectal probe were determined in vitro by comparing temperature measurements with values obtained by a certified resistance temperature detector (RTD) in water baths at various temperatures (37°, 39°, and 41°C). Subsequently, both GI and rectal temperature were recorded in vivo in 8 horses over 3 consecutive days. The GI temperature was recorded continuously, and rectal temperature was recorded for 3.5 hours daily. Comparisons were made between GI temperature and rectal temperature for horses at rest, during exercise, and after exercise. RESULTS Water bath evaluation revealed good agreement between the rectal probe and RTD. However, the GI pill systematically underestimated temperature by 0.14°C. In vivo, GI temperature data were captured with minimal difficulties. Most data loss occurred during the first 16 hours, after which the mean ± SD data loss was 8.6 ± 3.7%. The GI temperature was consistently and significantly higher than rectal temperature with an overall mean temperature difference across time of 0.27°C (range, 0.22° to 0.32°C). Mean measurement cessation point for the GI pill was 5.1 ± 1.0 days after administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE This study revealed that the telemetric GI pill was a reliable and practical method for real-time monitoring of GI temperature in horses.

Background Diagnosing IBD in horses is challenging and requires a multimodal approach, since no conclusive diagnostic test is available. The objectives of this study were to provide an overview of population characteristics, results of applied diagnostic tests, treatment modalities and outcome in a large group of horses thought to have IBD and that were presented to four large equine referral hospitals, and to provide an exploratory investigation of possible associations between results of applied diagnostic tests, applied treatment modalities and outcome. A retrospective case series was performed across four large equine referral hospitals. Seventy-eight horses, thought to have IBD were included. Case history, clinical findings, diagnostic test results including oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and enteral biopsies (both duodenal and rectal), applied therapy and outcome were studied. A Chi-Square test was used to identify associations between results of diagnostic tests, treatment and outcome. P-values

Detailed overview of applied treatments in the study population. (DOCX 14 kb)

Detailed overview of the classification of the study population by OGTT results, and for enteral biopsy and rectal palpation findings. (PDF 250 kb)

Detailed overview of gastroduodenoscopic and transabdominal ultrasound findings classified by OGTT results in suspected IBD patients. (PDF 387 kb)

Background Most Friesian horses reach their anaerobic threshold during a standardized exercise test (SET) which requires lower intensity exercise than daily routine training. Aim: to study strengths and weaknesses of an alternative SET-protocol. Two different SETs (SETA and SETB) were applied during a 2 month training period of 9 young Friesian dressage horses. SETB alternated short episodes of canter with trot and walk, lacking long episodes of cantering, as applied in SETA. Following parameters were monitored: blood lactic acid (BLA) after cantering, average heart rate (HR) in trot and maximum HR in canter. HR and BLA of SETA and SETB were analyzed using a paired two-sided T-test and Spearman Correlation-coefficient (p*

Background: White muscle disease (WMD) is a nutritional myopathy caused by selenium (Se) deficiency. In most soils, Se is present in low concentrations, sometimes even below 0.2 mg/kg, a trend which is seen in many countries. Apart from total soil Se concentrations, soil conditions may be such that the bio-availability of Se is so low that it causes very low uptake in plants which can ultimately lead to deficiency problems in animals. This is the first case series to report clinical WMD in foals in areas deficient in Se, in the Netherlands. The aim of the current report is to provide an overview of the clinical history, symptoms and (clinical) pathology of 8 newborn foals living at 4 different premises and suffering from WMD together with the effectiveness of Se and vitamin E (Vit E) supplementation in the affected foals, their dams and herd members. Hands on practical information is provided to apply a correct and effective Se supplementation management in horses and which pitfalls need to be avoided for a successful approach. Case presentation: Case features and history were mapped out for all foals. Se and Vit E status were assessed for the foals, their dams and herd members, at admission and after 3 months of Vit E/Se supplementation. Common symptoms were muscle weakness, inability to rise, lethargy and inadequate suckle reflex together with increased serum muscle enzymes and low glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and low to normal serum vit E levels. Necropsy revealed necrosis of skeletal muscles consistent with nutritional myopathy. Se status of the dams and herd members correlated well with the Se status of the foals. All surviving foals (n = 6) showed normal Vit E and GSH-Px levels after supplementation, likewise, all horses tested at premises 1, 3 and 4. However, dams and herd members in premises 2 showed no normalization . Horses of that premises were diagnosed with pyrrolizidine intoxication one year prior to the study. Conclusions: Certain regions in the Netherlands are sufficiently Se deficient to predispose newborn foals to develop WMD, especially when they are being fed a diet that mainly consists of locally harvested roughage. ispartof: BMC Veterinary Research vol:13 issue:121 pages:1-10 ispartof: location:England status: published

Correlation between heart rate and [Lactate]canter2 for SETA. Table S2. Correlation between HR and [Lactate]canter2 for SETB. Correlations heart rate and blood lactic acid. Correlations between HR parameters and BLA [Lactate]canter1, [Lactate]canter2 at start and at the end of both SETA and SETB were studied in week 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8. Results of the analysis of BLA after [Lactate]canter2 and the maximum and average HRs throughout SETA are shown in supplementary Table 1. Results of the analysis of BLA after [Lactate]canter2 and the maximum and average HRs throughout SETB are shown in supplementary Table 2. Significant correlation coefficients are marked by an asterix (*). (PDF 22Â kb)

This study compared serotonin concentrations in platelet poor plasma (PPP) from healthy horses and horses with surgical small intestinal (SI) colic, and evaluated their association with postoperative ileus, strangulation and non-survival. Plasma samples (with EDTA) from 33 horses with surgical SI colic were collected at several pre- and post-operative time points. Serotonin concentrations were determined using liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results were compared with those for 24 healthy control animals. The serotonin concentrations in PPP were significantly lower (P < 0.01) in pre- and post-operative samples from surgical SI colic horses compared to controls. However, no association with postoperative ileus or non-survival could be demonstrated at any time point. In this clinical study, plasma serotonin was not a suitable prognostic factor in horses with SI surgical colic.

Dark as the Grave first appears as a novel exploring the other side of Under the Volcano, Sigbjørn Wilderness, Lowry’s slightly disguised fictional alter ego, coming back to Mexico where the events that gave rise to the writing of Under the Volcano took place. However this investigation into how the novel came into being, meant to grant the protagonist control over his work and his past, proves a dizzying fall into a bottomless pit. Metafictional embedding and the endless network of identifications blur all landmarks and borders between reality and fiction, thus undermining the very foundations of representation and the Platonic distinction between model and copy. In spite of the protagonists’ successful journey on the diegetic level, Dark as the Grave, which makes the reader experience chaos and confronts him with what Deleuze terms « effondement », appears as a truly experimental novel which calls all borders into question. Dark as the Grave se présente comme un roman sur l’envers du décor d’Under the Volcano, Sigbjørn Wilderness, alter ego à peine déguisé de Lowry, revenant avec son épouse sur les lieux qui ont inspiré l’écriture du chef d’œuvre de Lowry. Cependant le retour sur la genèse d’Under the Volcano, loin d’assurer au protagoniste une maîtrise sur son œuvre et son passé, s’avère une plongée vertigineuse dans un puits sans fond ; les emboîtements métafictionnels, le réseau infini des identifications invalident tous les repères et frontières entre fiction et réalité, décor et envers du décor, remettant ainsi en question les fondements de la représentation, la distinction platonicienne entre modèle et copie. Malgré le parcours diégétique victorieux des protagonistes, Dark as the Grave, entraînant le lecteur vers le chaos et le confrontant à ce que Gilles Deleuze appelle un « effondement », apparaît comme un roman expérimental qui interroge toutes les frontières.