Comparison of equine platelet function and survival in whole blood collected in acid-citrate-dextrose solution or citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine solution.

BackgroundEquine whole blood collection and storage methods have been evaluated to assess red blood cell viability; however, platelet (PLT) viability has not been comprehensively assessed.ObjectivesThe purpose of the study was to compare viability of PLTs collected in whole blood into 2 different anticoagulants.MethodsWhole blood from 6 healthy adult Thoroughbred horses was collected into citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA) or acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD). Platelet count, pH, and concentrations of glucose, lactate, carbon dioxide, oxygen, bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, and chloride were measured within 10 minutes of collection and then again one hour later at which time PLT aggregometry was performed to assess PLT function.ResultsAggregometry mean amplitudes were significantly higher in CPDA compared to ACD. Blood glucose, pH, bicarbonate, sodium, and lactate concentrations were significantly higher in CPDA compared to ACD. Lactate concentration was higher following one hour in either anticoagulant. Potassium, oxygen, and carbon dioxide concentrations were significantly higher in ACD compared to CPDA at collection.ConclusionsPlatelet aggregometry results suggest that CPDA is superior to ACD for maintaining PLT viability following whole blood collection. This may be associated with the higher, more neutral pH as well as an increase in glucose available for metabolism. Although lactate was increased in the CPDA samples it was not high enough to decrease pH and therefore may not have been high enough to cause morphologic lesions and loss of PLT viability

Fecal microbiota transplant for treatment of diarrhea in adult hospitalized horses-111 cases (2013-2018).

BACKGROUND: Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is increasingly administered as part of the treatment of colitis in horses, yet there is little data as to its effectiveness. AIM: Retrospective evaluation of the effects of FMT on discharge status, fecal consistency, length of hospitalization, and improvement in clinical signs in horses hospitalized for diarrhea. METHODS: Retrospective case-control study. Medical records of adult horses (>1 year old) that received at least one transfaunation treatment (2013-2018) in two referral hospitals were identified through a medical records database search. Medical records of contemporary adult horses with diarrhea who did not receive FMT at the same study centers were used as controls. RESULTS: Control horses had statistically significant shorter hospitalization [7 (1-21)] as compared to the transfaunation group [12 (3-31)] ( p = 0.0006). There were no significant differences between groups in the number of days to the improvement of feces (p = 0.38), or in days to normalization of fecal consistency (p = 0.43), respiratory rate (p = 0.42), heart rate (p = 0.27), body temperature (p = 0.12), peripheral white blood cell count (p = 0.37), improvement in appetite (p = 0.81), or attitude (p = 0.06). There was also no significant difference in survival to discharge (transfaunation 28/37, 75.7%; control 56/74, 75.7%, p = 1.0). CONCLUSION: There were no significant advantages of performing FMTs in horses with diarrhea in this retrospective study. This highlights the need for prospective, randomized studies to evaluate the efficacy of FMT, as well as different formulations, in horses with colitis before this can become standard practice

Comparison of equine platelet function and survival in whole blood collected in acid-citrate-dextrose solution or citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine solution.

BackgroundEquine whole blood collection and storage methods have been evaluated to assess red blood cell viability; however, platelet (PLT) viability has not been comprehensively assessed.ObjectivesThe purpose of the study was to compare viability of PLTs collected in whole blood into 2 different anticoagulants.MethodsWhole blood from 6 healthy adult Thoroughbred horses was collected into citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA) or acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD). Platelet count, pH, and concentrations of glucose, lactate, carbon dioxide, oxygen, bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, and chloride were measured within 10 minutes of collection and then again one hour later at which time PLT aggregometry was performed to assess PLT function.ResultsAggregometry mean amplitudes were significantly higher in CPDA compared to ACD. Blood glucose, pH, bicarbonate, sodium, and lactate concentrations were significantly higher in CPDA compared to ACD. Lactate concentration was higher following one hour in either anticoagulant. Potassium, oxygen, and carbon dioxide concentrations were significantly higher in ACD compared to CPDA at collection.ConclusionsPlatelet aggregometry results suggest that CPDA is superior to ACD for maintaining PLT viability following whole blood collection. This may be associated with the higher, more neutral pH as well as an increase in glucose available for metabolism. Although lactate was increased in the CPDA samples it was not high enough to decrease pH and therefore may not have been high enough to cause morphologic lesions and loss of PLT viability

Equine platelet concentrate preparation and validation

BackgroundDevelopment of equine platelet concentrate (PC) would aid management of cases requiring transfused platelets (PLTs), where adminstration of whole-blood or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) might be contraindicated.ObjectivesTo test and validate a method for production of an equine PRP-PC product.AnimalsSix healthy Thoroughbred geldings from a research herd.MethodsIn this prospective experimental study, whole blood was collected and processed through multiple centrifugation steps to yield 120 mL of PC. The PC was stored at 22°C and gently and continuously agitated. Measurements of PLT count, pH, and concentrations of glucose, lactate, electrolytes, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide were performed on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7. Platelet aggregometry and bacterial culture were also performed.ResultsThe PC always had a PLT count of ≥550 × 103 cells/μL. Aggregometry graph amplitude (P < .0001) and area under the curve (P < .05) significantly decreased over time. Sodium, chloride, lactate (P < .0001), and oxygen (P < .01) concentrations significantly increased over time. pH (P < .001), glucose and bicarbonate concentrations (P < .0001) significantly decreased over time. There was no significant difference in potassium concentration, PLT count, LDH and AST activities and no bacterial growth from culture.Conclusions and clinical importanceThe described technique yielded a PC that meets the standards of the American Association of Blood Banks for human PC

Oxidant-induced damage to equine erythrocytes from exposure to Pistacia atlantica, Pistacia terebinthus, and Pistacia chinensis

Two horses were referred for methemoglobinemia and hemolytic anemia following 5 acute deaths in their herd from an unidentified toxin source. Horses have a greater risk than other mammalian species of developing methemoglobinemia and hemolytic anemia following ingestion of oxidizing toxins, due to deficiencies in the mechanisms that protect against oxidative damage in erythrocytes. Their susceptibility to oxidative erythrocyte damage is evident in the numerous cases of red maple (Acer rubrum) toxicosis. The suspected toxins causing A. rubrum toxicosis are tannic acid, gallic acid, and a metabolite of gallic acid, pyrogallol. These compounds can be found in a variety of plants, posing a risk to equine health. In order to quickly identify toxin sources, 2 rapid in vitro assays were developed to screen plant extracts for the ability to induce methemoglobin formation or cause hemolysis in healthy equine donor erythrocytes. The plant extract screening focused on 3 species of the genus Pistacia: P. atlantica, P. terebinthus, and P. chinensis, which were located in the horse pasture. Extracts of the seeds and leaves of each species induced methemoglobin formation and resulted in hemolysis, with seed extracts having greater potency. The in vitro assays used in the current study provide a useful diagnostic method for the rapid identification of oxidizing agents from unidentified sources. There is no effective treatment for oxidative erythrocyte damage in horses, making rapid identification and removal of the source essential for the prevention of poisoning

Symmetric dimethylarginine concentrations in healthy neonatal foals and mares.

BACKGROUND: Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is a renal biomarker correlated with glomerular filtration rate (GFR). OBJECTIVES: Describe changes in SDMA in clinically healthy foals and their mares during the first month postfoaling. ANIMALS: Convenience sampling of healthy periparturient Thoroughbred mares and their full-term foals from a population of client-owned horses. METHODS: Serum and EDTA whole blood samples were collected from mares in their last month of pregnancy and then from mares and foals at approximately <12 hours, 48 hours, 7 days, and 30 days postbirth. Samples were processed at a commercial reference laboratory for CBC and serum biochemistry, including SDMA concentrations. RESULTS: A total of 125 foals and 104 mares were included. Upper limits for SDMA concentrations in foals were above the adult horse reference interval for the first 20 or more days of life. Median SDMA concentrations decreased from 70 μg/dL (range, 7-100 μg/dL) to 18 μg/dL (range, 6-27 μg/dL) during the first 3 to 4 weeks of life. At birth, the SDMA concentration reference range was established as 0 to 100 μg/dL (upper limit of the assay); 0 to 85 μg/dL for 1 to 4 days old, 0 to 36 μg/dL for 5 to 10 days old, and 0 to 24 μg/dL for 20 to 30 days old. The upper reference limits for SDMA concentrations in mares did not differ from the general reference interval for adult horses. No correlation was identified between mare and foal SDMA concentrations (ρ = .06, P = .58). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Foal SDMA concentrations remained higher than the upper limit of the adult reference range and foals require a different reference range dependent on age