Search Results

Abstract

Objective—To determine whether a deficiency in systemic or local (pars intermedia) antioxidant capacity is associated with pituitary pars intermedia oxidative stress and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) in horses.

Sample Population—Blood samples from 20 horses with PPID and 20 healthy client-owned horses, archived paraffin-embedded adrenal gland and substantia nigra tissues from 20 horses, and pituitary gland tissue from 16 horses.

Procedures—Total glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were determined in RBCs. Accumulation of a systemic marker of oxidative stress (3-nitrotyrosine) was assessed in plasma and formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded adrenal gland and substantia nigra tissues. Local antioxidants (total and manganese superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total glutathione) were measured in pars intermedia tissues.

Results—No significant differences existed in systemic antioxidant enzyme activity or accumulation of 3-nitrotyrosine between horses with PPID and control horses. In pituitary gland tissues, glutathione peroxidase activity was increased in horses with oxidative stress, whereas total glutathione concentration and superoxide dismutase activity remained unchanged. There was an age-associated decrease in manganese superoxide dismutase activity in the pars intermedia.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—There was no evidence of systemic accumulation of oxidative stress markers or deficiencies in antioxidant capacity in horses with PPID, suggesting that these are unlikely to be major predisposing factors in the development of PPID. Manganese superoxide dismutase activity in the pars intermedia decreased significantly with increasing age. Role of an ageassociated decrease in antioxidant capacity for the pars intermedia in the development of PPID in horses warrants further investigation. (Am J Vet Res 2005;66:2065–2072)

Abstract

Objective—To characterize age-associated changes in lymphocyte population subsets and immunoglobulin isotypes.

Animals—30 healthy young light-breed horses (5 to 12 years old) and 30 healthy aged light-breed horses (> 20 years old).

Procedure—Lymphocyte subset populations were identified, using monoclonal antibodies to cell surface markers CD5, CD4, CD8, and IgG. Subset populations were quantitated by use of flow cytometric analysis of antibody-stained cells. Serum immunoglobulin concentration was determined using single radial immunodiffusion.

Results—Absolute cell counts of total lymphocytes, T cells, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, and B cells were decreased in aged horses, compared with young horses. There was a significant decrease in the percentage of CD8⁺ cells and an increase in the CD4⁺-to- CD8⁺ cell ratio in the aged population, compared with young horses. However, serum concentration of IgG, IgG(T), IgM, or IgA did not differ with age.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In horses, total lymphocyte count and lymphocyte subset cell counts decrease with age. Age-matched control values are necessary for optimal evaluation of hematologic variables in aged horses. The decrease in lymphocyte subset cell counts in healthy aged horses mimics that seen in other species and may contribute to an age-associated decrease in immunocompetency. ( Am J Vet Res 2001;62:1413–1417)

Abstract

Objective—To investigate effects of sample handling, storage, and collection time and season on plasma α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) concentration in healthy equids.

Animals—11 healthy Standardbreds and 13 healthy semiferal ponies.

Procedure—Plasma α-MSH concentration was measured by use of radioimmunoassay. Effects of delayed processing were accessed by comparing α-MSH concentrations in plasma immediately separated with that of plasma obtained from blood samples that were stored at 4oC for 8 or 48 hours before plasma was separated. Effects of suboptimal handling were accessed by comparing α-MSH concentrations in plasma immediately stored at -80°C with plasma that was stored at 25°C for 24 hours, 4oC for 48 hours or 7 days, and –20°C for 30 days prior to freezing at –80°C. Plasma α-MSH concentrations were compared among blood samples collected at 8:00 AM, 12 noon, and 4:00 PM. Plasma α-MSH concentrations were compared among blood samples collected in January, March, April, June, September, and November from horses and in September and May from ponies.

Results—Storage of blood samples at 4°C for 48 hours before plasma was separated and storage of plasma samples at 4°C for 7 days prior to freezing at –80°C resulted in significant decreases in plasma α-MSH concentrations. A significantly greater plasma α-MSH concentration was found in September in ponies (11-fold) and horses (2-fold), compared with plasma α-MSH concentrations in spring.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Handling and storage conditions minimally affected plasma α-MSH concentrations. Seasonal variation in plasma α-MSH concentrations must be considered when evaluating pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in equids. (Am J Vet Res 2004;65:1463–1468)

Abstract

Objective—To evaluate the correlation between plasma α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) concentration and body mass index (BMI) in healthy horses.

Animals—82 healthy horses.

Procedure—Plasma α-MSH concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. At the time blood samples were collected, body condition scores (BCS) were determined and measurements of girth circumference, body length, and height were obtained. Weight was estimated by use of the following formula: estimated weight (kg) = [girth (cm)² × length (cm)]/11,877. Body mass index was calculated as estimated weight (kg)/height (m)².

Results—A correlation was found between BMI and BCS (r _s = 0.60 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.44 to 0.73]). A weak correlation was found between plasma α-MSH concentration and BMI (r _s = 0.25 [95% CI, 0.03 to 0.45]) and BCS (rs = 0.26 [95% CI, 0.04 to 0.46]). A correlation was found between plasma α-MSH concentration and BMI in horses ≥ 10 years old (r _s = 0.49 [95% CI, 0.20 to 0.69]) but not in horses < 10 years old (r _s = –0.04). Horses in the upper quartile of BMI had significantly greater plasma α-MSH concentration (median, 9.1 pmol/L; range, 2.0 to 95.3 pmol/L) than horses in the lowest quartile of BMI (median, 7.0 pmol/L; range, 3.6 to 15.7 pmol/L).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—A correlation exists between plasma α-MSH concentration and BMI in horses. Further study is required to determine whether melanocortin receptor defects underlie this correlation or, alternately, whether plasma α-MSH concentration is simply a correlate of adiposity. (Am J Vet Res 2004;65:1469–1473)

Abstract

Objective—To determine effects of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (Cushing's disease) and age on fecal egg count and time to egg reappearance after anthelmintic treatment in horses residing in similar environments.

Design—Cross-sectional study.

Animals—29 healthy horses (4 to 35 years old) and 13 horses with PPID (13 to 33 years old).

Procedures—Fecal egg counts were performed by use of a modified Wisconsin flotation method at 2-week intervals before and after ivermectin treatment.

Results—Horses with PPID had higher fecal egg counts before and 8, 10, and 12 weeks after ivermectin treatment, compared with counts for site-matched healthy horses. There was no difference in the period for < 90% reduction in fecal egg counts between the 2 groups. Age did not affect fecal egg counts at any time point.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—For similar environmental conditions, horses with PPID were more likely to have higher fecal egg counts than were healthy horses. Therefore, horses with PPID may need to have a more aggressive parasite prevention program than do healthy horses. Age did not affect fecal egg counts or time to egg reappearance after anthelmintic treatment, which suggested age alone does not likely require special consideration when designing a parasite control program for adult horses.

Abstract

Objective—To measure plasma ACTH, D-melanocyte–stimulating hormone (D-MSH), and insulin concentrations during various photoperiods between February and October in horses and ponies with and without pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID).

Design—Cohort study.

Animals—13 clinically normal (control) ponies, 14 clinically normal (control) horses, 7 ponies with PPID, and 8 horses with PPID.

Procedures—Blood samples were collected from February through October during 8 photoperiods: 1, February 13 through March 2; 2, April 4 through 6; 3, June 19 through 22; 4, August 6 through 7; 5, August 14 through 17; 6, September 4 through 6; 7, September 26 through 28; and 8, October 16 through 18. Plasma ACTH, D-MSH, and insulin concentrations at each photoperiod were compared among groups.

Results—Log ACTH concentration was increased during photoperiod 4 through 8, compared with photoperiod 1 through 3, in all groups. In photoperiod 3 through 7, log ACTH concentrations were higher in horses and ponies with PPID, compared with values for control horses and ponies. D-Melanocyte–stimulating hormone (log and raw value) concentration was higher in photoperiod 2 through 8, compared with photoperiod 1, in control horses and ponies. In horses and ponies with PPID, log D-MSH concentration was higher in photoperiod 3 through 8, and D-MSH concentration was higher in photoperiod 4 through 8, compared with photoperiod 1. In control horses and ponies, plasma insulin concentration was lower in photoperiod 3 than in photoperiod 1.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Plasma D-MSH and ACTH concentrations increased as daylight decreased from summer solstice (maximum daylight hours) to 12 hours of daylight.

Abstract

Objective—To compare endogenous ACTH and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) concentrations after administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and to compare ACTH concentrations after TRH administration with those following domperidone administration in healthy horses and horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID).

Design—Prospective case series.

Animals—69 clinically normal horses and 47 horses with or suspected to have PPID.

Procedures—ACTH concentrations were measured during 108 TRH stimulation tests in 88 horses, and α-MSH concentrations were measured during 56 TRH stimulation tests in 50 horses. In 28 of these horses, ACTH concentrations after domperidone administration were measured and test results were compared. The pituitary gland was histologically examined in all horses that were euthanatized.

Results—ACTH and α-MSH concentrations increased in all horses afterTRH administration, with a greater and more prolonged increase in horses with PPID. Percentage increase was significantly greater for α-MSH concentration than for ACTH concentration. The change in ACTH concentration after domperidone administration was less consistent in differentiating clinically normal horses from those with PPID than was the response to TRH.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that ACTH concentration in response to TRH administration was useful for the diagnosis of PPID in horses and appeared more accurate than response to domperidone administration. Use of an α-MSH concentration ≥ 30 or 50 pmol/L did not appear superior to use of an ACTH concentration ≥ 36 pg/mL for the diagnosis of PPID, either before or 30 minutes after TRH administration.

Abstract

Objective—To evaluate concordance among veterinary pathologists in the assessment of histologic findings in the pars intermedia of pituitary gland sections from aged horses with mild signs suggestive of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID).

Sample Population—10 pituitary glands from aged horses.

Procedure—7 pathologists were provided with signalment, clinical signs, and a single H&E-stained pituitary gland section from 10 aged horses with mild signs suggestive of PPID. Pathologists described histologic findings for each section and stated whether findings were consistent with PPID. Agreement among pathologists and with antemortem diagnostic test results was calculated.

Results—Overall, only fair agreement was found among the pathologists as to which horses had histologic findings consistent with disease (mean ± SE kappa value, 0.34 ± 0.069). Interpretation of individual sections varied, with minimal agreement (4 or 5/7 pathologists) for 5 of 10 sections evaluated. Postmortem assessment was in agreement with an antemortem endocrine diagnostic test result 79% of the time.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Validation of antemortem diagnostic testing for PPID in horses often relies on the results of postmortem histologic evaluation. The lack of consensus in histologic interpretation of pituitary glands from aged horses with mild clinical signs in our study indicates that postmortem histologic evaluation of pituitary glands is an inappropriate standard in validation of antemortem diagnostic tests for detection of early PPID. Caution should be used when interpreting diagnostic test results in horses in which early PPID is suspected. (Am J Vet Res 2005;66:2055–2059)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To determine whether prophylactic administration of valacyclovir hydrochloride versus initiation of treatment at the onset of fever would differentially protect horses from viral replication and clinical disease attributable to equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) infection.

ANIMALS 18 aged mares.

PROCEDURES Horses were randomly assigned to receive an oral placebo (control), treatment at detection of fever, or prophylactic treatment (initiated 1 day prior to viral challenge) and then inoculated intranasally with a neuropathogenic strain of EHV-1. Placebo or valacyclovir was administered orally for 7 or 14 days after EHV-1 inoculation or detection of fever (3 horses/group). Effects of treatment on viral replication and clinical disease were evaluated. Plasma acyclovir concentrations and viremia were assessed to determine inhibitory concentrations of valacyclovir.

RESULTS Valacyclovir administration decreased shedding of virus and viremia, compared with findings for control horses. Rectal temperatures and clinical disease scores in horses that received valacyclovir prophylactically for 2 weeks were lower than those in control horses. The severity of but not the risk for ataxia was decreased by valacyclovir administration. Viremia was decreased when steady-state trough plasma acyclovir concentrations were > 0.8 μg/mL, supporting the time-dependent activity of acyclovir.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Valacyclovir treatment significantly decreased viral replication and signs of disease in EHV-1–infected horses; effects were greatest when treatment was initiated before viral inoculation, but treatment was also effective when initiated as late as 2 days after inoculation. During an outbreak of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy, antiviral treatment may be initiated in horses at various stages of infection, including horses that have not yet developed signs of viral disease.