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Background: Ingestion of sand can cause colic, diarrhoea and weight loss in horses, but these signs are unspecific and can have many other causes. The amount of sand that induces disease may vary between individuals. To avoid over-diagnosing, it is important to determine the amount of sand that can be found in horses without clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease. The aim of this study was to use previously suggested parameters for establishing a radiographic diagnosis of sand colic, and compare these findings between a sand colic group and a control group.

SummaryReasons for performing study: Acquired equine polyneuropathy (AEP, also known as 'Scandinavian knuckling syndrome'), is a serious disease of unknown aetiology, which emerged clustering in horse farms in Sweden, Norway and Finland in the 1990s. Clinical and epidemiological data regarding the syndrome are scarce. Objectives: To describe the clinical and epidemiological findings and outcome in outbreaks of AEP and compare risk factors in affected and unaffected horses on affected farms in Norway and Sweden during [2007][2008][2009]. Methods: Neurological examinations were performed and data collected regarding demography, usage, turning-out, feeding, prophylactic strategies and long-term outcome. Results: Thirteen affected farms with 157 horses of various breeds, of which 42 were AEP cases, were studied. Typical digital extensor dysfunction and knuckling of pelvic limbs were noted in 34 definitive cases. Eight additional plausible cases had a severe, acute course of neurological disease. There were no signs of brain or cranial nerve dysfunction. Cases occurred from December to April, with new cases emerging within 100 days of the index case. Affected and unaffected horses were fed wrapped forage. Prevalence for AEP was 27% and case fatality 29%. The median duration of AEP in survivors was 4.4 months (1-17 months). Survivors returned to full work within 19 months (median 6.6 months). Acquired equine polyneuropathy was less prevalent in horses aged >12 years and young horses had a higher chance of survival than older horses. Management factors did not differ between affected and unaffected horses. Conclusions: Acquired equine polyneuropathy is a potentially fatal neurological disease characterised by pelvic limb knuckling. Surviving horses returned to normal function after a long period of rest. Cases were clustered in farms during the winter/spring season. Wrapped forage was used in all farms. Potential relevance: The results provide valuable insights into the clinical examination, handling and prognosis of cases of AEP, an emerging neurological disease of unknown aetiology in horses.

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Endotoxemia caused prominent, time-related changes in equine neutrophil characteristics including emergence of giant neutrophils and markedly decreased MPXI several days after endotoxin infusion.

BackgroundAn oral sugar test (OST) using Karo® Light Corn Syrup has been developed in the USA as a field test for the assessment of insulin dysregulation in horses but the syrup is not available in Scandinavian grocery stores. The aim of the study was to compare the results of a modified OST between horses with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and healthy horses using a Scandinavian commercially available glucose syrup (Dansukker glykossirap). In addition, the effect of breed and the repeatability of the test were evaluated. In the present study, clinically healthy horses (7 Shetland ponies, 8 Icelandic horses, 8 Standardbred horses) and 20 horses of various breeds with EMS underwent the modified OST test. The Icelandic horses and Shetland ponies underwent the OST twice. Insulin and glucose data from the OST were used to calculate peak insulin concentration (PeakINS), time to peak insulin concentration (T-peakINS), area under the curve for insulin (AUCINS) and glucose (AUCGLU) as well as whole body insulin sensitivity index (ISICOMP).ResultsCompared to the healthy group, the EMS group had 6–7 times higher geometric mean for PeakINS and AUCINS and 8 times lower geometric mean for ISICOMP. The EMS group had a delayed T-peakINS compared to the healthy group. There was no effect of breed in the group of healthy horses on PeakINS, T-peakINS, AUCINS, AUCGLU and ISICOMP. Coefficient of variation for repeated tests was 19.8, 19.0 and 17.6 % for PeakINS, AUCINS and ISICOMP respectively.ConclusionsThe results of the present study demonstrate that the modified OST appears to be a practical and useful diagnostic tool for assessment of insulin dysregulation in the horse. However, to make it possible to establish the most appropriate sampling interval and to evaluate the accuracy of the modified OST, further studies in horses with a variable degree of insulin resistance are needed, where results from the modified OST are compared with quantitative measurements for IS.

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Background: The increasing number of horses diagnosed with insulin resistance (IR) and the suggested link between IR and laminitis has highlighted the need to accurately diagnose IR in clinical practice.Hypothesis/Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the repeatability of the combined glucose-insulin tolerance test (CGIT) as well as to determine the effect of 2 different breeds and the effect of a stressor on the test results.Animals: Clinically normal horses, 9 Standardbred horses and 9 Icelandic horses. Methods: Prospective clinical nonrandomized trial. The CGIT was performed on all horses on 2 occasions 3 weeks apart. An additional CGIT was performed on four of the Standardbred and four of the Icelandic horses after transportation to a new environment (stressor) the day before testing.Results: Calculated parameters for the glucose curve of the CGIT had low repeatability, whereas the parameters for the insulin curve had high repeatability. There was an effect of breed (Standarbred versus Icelandic horse) as well as stress on the glucose dynamics, but not on the insulin dynamics of the CGIT.Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Repeatability of the glucose dynamics of the CGIT is low. In addition, there appears to be breed differences in the glucose dynamics. It is therefore suggested that diagnosis of IR should not be made solely based on results from the glucose curve of the CGIT.