ImproWin? in the treatment of gastric ulceration of the squamous mucosa in trotting racehorses

Background

Gastric ulceration is highly prevalent in horses, and there is a large commercial market for feed-additives and non-licenced products that claim effect for prevention and treatment of gastric ulceration. ImproWin® has been used as a feed additive in horses with anecdotal evidence that it may have some positive effects on gastric ulceration.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ImproWin® treatment on spontaneously occurring gastric ulcers of the squamous mucosa in Standardbred and Coldblooded trotting racehorses.The study was performed as a randomised, double-blinded, single centre study with stratified semi cross-over design with breed as stratification factors. The horses were clinically and endoscopically examined prior to start and after three weeks of treatment. The ulcerations were scored in accordance with Equine Gastric Ulcer Council (EGUC) recommendations on a 5 point scale and on a 10 cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The patients were responder-classified after 3 weeks. Responders in need of ulcer treatment were randomly allocated to 2 or 4 weeks of additional treatment. Non-responders to placebo were crossed to ImproWin®.

Results

The 5-point EGUC score and VAS recorded score was significantly reduced (P ≤ 0.01) in both groups after 3 weeks of treatment. From 3 weeks to the end of treatment the score was further significantly reduced in the ImproWin® group (P ≤ 0.05).At the end of treatment, 78% in the ImproWin® group and 54.8% in the placebo group were classified as responders. The difference was significant (P = 0.04).

Conclusions

ImproWin® may aid the healing process of ulcers of the gastric squamous mucosa of trotters.     

Effects of supplements containing turmeric and devil’s claw on equine gastric ulcer scores and gastric juice pH

Supplements containing turmeric (Curcuma longa) and devil’s claw (Harpagophytum species) are commonly fed to horses to decrease inflammation and pain, but because these supplements contain spices and plant irritants, warning labels such as 'these supplements might cause gastric irritation' are required. The purpose of this study was to determine whether supplements containing turmeric and devil’s claw cause or worsen gastric ulcers in stall-confined horses, as suggested in required cautions that appear on the labels of these animal products. Twelve clinically healthy Thoroughbred horses with naturally occurring equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) scores >0 were included in a noncrossover study design. Horses were stratified by EGUS score and assigned to either the treatment (supplements containing turmeric and devil’s claw) or control (same supplements without active ingredients) group and fed the supplements for 28 days. Gastroscopy was performed on Days 0, 14 and 28. The EGUS score, nonglandular ulcer number (NGN) and severity (NGS) scores, and glandular number (GN) and severity (GS) scores were recorded during each gastroscopy by a masked investigator (F.M.A.). In addition, bodyweight, gastric juice pH, packed cell volume (PCV), total protein (TP) and blood biochemical results were measured on Day 0 and Day 28. Mean EGUS and NGS scores were significantly lower in both treatment and control groups by Days 14 and 28, when compared to Day 0. NGN score was not different among groups. Bodyweight, gastric juice pH and blood parameters did not change during the study. In conclusion, supplements containing turmeric and devil’s claw did not cause or worsen gastric ulcers or alter health parameters after 28 days of feeding.     

A mixed population of Helicobacter pylori,Helicobacter bizzozeronii and “Helicobacter heilmannii” in the gastric mucosa of a domestic cat

Background

The presence of Helicobacter within the gastric mucosa is responsible for producing pathology in many animal species, including man. Since humans have been shown to harbour many of the same bacterial species as domestic carnivores, concern over their zoonotic potential has been growing. Helicobacter pylori, a class 1 carcinogen responsible for cases of gastritis and gastric cancer in humans, produces similar pathology in pet carnivores and is considered an example of anthroponosis. The case here presented refers to a 13 year-old mixed breed spayed female cat seen at necropsy.

Findings

Stomach samples were analysed for the presence of Helicobacter spp. by cytology, histopathology and PCR. Mild mucosal atrophy was observed in the fundus and antrum, while lymphoplasmocytic infiltrates where noted in the lamina propria of the antrum. Helicobacter-like organisms were observed in the corpus and antrum, occupying gastric glands and surface mucosa. It was possible to detect Helicobacter spp., H. pylori, H. heilmannii and H. bizzozeronii in the fundus, corpus and antrum by PCR, while in the antrum PCR samples were positive for H. pylori.

Conclusions

The spayed female under study could represent either a yet un-described population of domestic cats infected with H. pylori or a case of anthroponosis.     

Primary gastric rupture in 47 horses (1995–2011)

The purpose of this retrospective case-control study was to identify factors associated with primary gastric rupture and to investigate if there were differences between etiologies of primary gastric rupture. Compared to the general colic population, Quarter horses were under-represented and Friesians and draft breeds were over-represented in 47 cases of primary gastric ruptures. Horses with primary gastric rupture typically presented with severe clinical and clinicopathological derangements. There were 24 idiopathic gastric ruptures, 20 gastric impaction associated ruptures, and 3 perforating gastric ulcers. Thoroughbred horses were over-represented in the idiopathic gastric rupture group compared to other breeds and etiologies. This study suggests the presence of important breed predispositions for development of gastric rupture. Further study is necessary to identify if these predispositions are associated with management factors or breed-specific disorders.     

Pneumonyssoides caninum infection – a risk factor for gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs

The pathophysiology, clinical course and therapeutic management of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) in dogs are well known. However, the aetiology remains elusive. Aerophagia has often been put forward as a contributing cause of GDV. The most common clinical sign in dogs with nasal mite (Pneumonyssoides caninum) infection is reversed sneezing, which may result in aerophagia. A prospective one-year necropsy study was conducted. Of 250 dogs, 17 were GDV cases and, of these, 35% had concurrent nasal mite infection compared to 5% in the control population. Multivariate logistic regression analyses performed using the 187 dogs with complete records included nasal mite infection status, age, weight and gender. Nasal mite infection was found to be the most important risk factor for GDV in this study, with an odds ratio and confidence interval of 27.6 (4.8–157.5). Other risk factors that were marginally significant included weight and age with odds ratios of 1.08 (1.02–1.13) and 1.37 (1.04–1.79), respectively. Gender was not found to be a significant risk factor for GDV. This study suggests that nasal mite infection may contribute to the development of GDV in otherwise predisposed dogs.     

Is the Function of the Porcine Sperm Reservoir Restricted to the Ovulatory Period?

The uterotubal junction (UTJ) and caudal isthmus are recognized as a functional pre-ovulatory sperm reservoir (SR). Spermatozoa are released from the SR in a complex and concerted action. However, whether this functionality is restricted only to the ovulatory period is still open to debate. Our study was aimed to analyze the presence of spermatozoa within the UTJ (SR), isthmus (ISTH) and ampulla (AMP) after laparoscopic intrauterine insemination (LIUI) either in the peri- (PERI) or post-ovulatory (POST) period or at mid cycle (MID). Each uterine horn of estrus synchronized gilts (n=12) was inseminated with 20 ml sperm (29.5×10⁶ cells/ml). Oviducts were recovered 7 h after LIUI and separated into the UTJ, ISTH and AMP, and sections were flushed with 10 ml PBS+EDTA solution. After centrifugation, the sperm pellet was evaluated by Čeřovský staining. The median sperm numbers in the PERI, POST and MID groups were 578, 171 and 789 in the UTJ; 545, 233 and 713 in the ISTH; and 496, 280 and 926 in the AMP, respectively, and there were differences between the POST and MID groups (P<0.05) but not between the oviductal sections of each group (P>0.05). Compared with the MID group, the percent of intact sperm cells was higher (P<0.01) in the PERI and POST groups (32.8 vs. 66.4 and 76.8%). Also, the percentages of aberrations in the acrosome and tail were higher (P<0.05) in the MID group. Based on this, it can be assumed that the sperm reservoir is active during different phases of the estrus cycle. However, the mid-cycle oviduct environment considerably impairs sperm cell quality.     

Does the Microbial Flora in the Ejaculate Affect the Freezeability of Stallion Sperm?

In an attempt to evaluate the possible relationship between the microbial flora in the stallion ejaculate and its ability to freeze, three ejaculates from five stallions were frozen using a standard protocol. Before freezing, an aliquot was removed for bacteriological analysis. Bacterial growth was observed in all the ejaculates studied. The isolated microorganisms were: Staphylococcus spp. and Micrococcus spp. (in all the stallions), β-haemolytic Streptococcus (in stallions 3 and 4), Corynebacterium spp. (in stallions 1, 3–5), Rhodococcus spp. (in stallion number 2), Pseudomonas spp. (in stallion number 1) and Klebsiella spp. (in stallions 1, 3 and 5). The presence and richness of Klebsiella and β-haemolytic Streptococcus in the ejaculate were related to two sperm variables post-thaw, namely the proportion of dead spermatozoa (ethidium+ cells; r = 0.55, p < 0.05) and the amplitude of lateral displacement of the sperm head (ALH, μm; r = −0.56, p < 0.05), respectively. The degree of growth of Corynebacterium spp. in the ejaculate was positively correlated with the percentage of spermatozoa showing high caspase activity post-thaw (r = 0.62, p < 0.05). The presence and number of colonies of β-haemolytic Streptococcus were negatively correlated (r = −0.55, p < 0.05) with low sperm caspase activity. It is concluded that the microbial flora of the equine ejaculate may be responsible for some of the sublethal damage experimented by the spermatozoa during cryopreservation.     

Preliminary Report on the “Humane Coyote-Getter” for the Control of the Black-Backed Jackal thos Mesomelas in the Transvaal

The diet of Canis mesomelas was studied in the central Namib Desert, South West Africa. A sample of 772 scats was collected from three main sites (coastal, dry riverine and open plains) and two minor sites (Diamond Area 2). Scats from the coastal site contained predominantly bird material whereas scats from the riverine and plains sites contained predominantly plant material. The present study is compared with other feeding studies of this species, particularly in South Africa.     

The microstructure of the cuticle‐less shell of the eggs of the domestic hen

1. Open pores were a notable feature of the shell of hens' eggs which were naturally devoid of cuticle.

2. In contrast with normal eggs, the surface of the cuticle‐less shell was irregularly contoured and, in many instances, deeply fissured.