High intake of sugars and starch, low number of meals and low roughage intake are associated with equine gastric ulcer syndrome in a Belgian cohort

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a pathological condition affecting the glandular and squamous regions of the stomach. It is characterized by non-specific clinical signs, behavioural changes or can also be found without any overt clinical manifestations. Nutritional factors such as intermittent feeding, high sugars and starch intake, large amounts of straw as forage and prolonged time without access to forage have all been associated with an increased risk of equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD). The aim of this study was to investigate which nutritional practices are commonly seen in clinical ESGD cases in Belgium. Medical records of 27 horses referred to the equine nutritional service at Ghent University (2013-2018) due to equine gastric ulcer lesions were reviewed. Twenty-one healthy horses referred for dietary evaluation during the same period were selected as control cases (CC). Dietary evaluation was performed on an individual basis. Forage/concentrate ratio on dry matter basis, forage content in the diet, total dietary sugars and starch intake per day and per meal were analysed. Retrospective descriptive and statistical analyses were performed. Significantly, higher amounts of forage intake (%DM per BW) in the CC vs. ESGD group were noted (p <= .05) with average values of 1.39 (SD +/- 0.27) and 1.27 (SD +/- 0.70) respectively. There were no significant differences for sugars and starch intake in g/kg BW/day (p = .18). However, the sugars and starch intake per meal (g/kg BW/meal) in the CC group (average value 1.06, SD +/- 0.56) was significantly (p < .001) lower than in the EGUS group (average value 1.85 SD +/- 0.78). Forage intake below the recommended absolute minimum value as well as high sugars and starch intake were most commonly associated with EGUS in the present case series. An adequate diet formulation taking into account these main nutritional factors is therefore essential to avoid gastric problems in horses

Simultaneous Measurement of the DPOAE Signal Amplitude and Phase Changes

Although the phenomenon of otoacoustic emission has been known for nearly 30 years, it has not been fully explained yet. One kind of otoacoustic emission is distortion product of the otoacoustic emission (DPOAE). New aspects of this phenomenon are constantly discovered and attempts are made to interpret correctly the obtained results. This paper discusses a new method of measuring DPOAE signals based on double phase-sensitive detection, which makes possible a real-time measurement of the DPOAE signal amplitude and phase. The method was applied for measurements of DPOAE signals in guinea pigs. Sample records are presented and the obtained results are discussed

Modelling of microprocessor system controlling the air temperature and relative humidity in a cattle barn

Analizowano czynniki kształtujące mikroklimat w budynkach dla bydła. Wybrano dwa najważniejsze parametry: temperaturę i wilgotność. Przedstawiono model systemu sterowania temperaturą i wilgotnością w oborze. Model bazuje na elektronicznych urządzeniach pomiarowych i sterujących. Na skonstruowanym stanowisku badawczym, stanowiącym zamknięte po-mieszczenie, wykonano pomiary temperatury i wilgotności powietrza. Sterowanie i regulacja odbywa się za pomocą sterownika mikroprocesorowego.Factors creating the microclimatic conditions in the cattle barns were analyzed. Two most important parameters were considered: the temperature and relative humidity of air. The model of system controlling air temperature and relative humidity inside a cattle barn was presented. Model is based on electronic, measuring and steering devices. The air temperature and relative humidity were determined on measuring stand designed in form of a closed space. Microprocessor system was applied to control and steering of both selected parameters

Electromyographic evaluation of masseter muscle activity in horses fed different types of roughage

The aim of the study was to obtain information about masseter muscle activity, the main determinant of salivary flow during the chewing process. Four horses were offered the following diets: cracked corn (dry matter intake (DMI): 0.26% of BW), hay ad libitum (DMI: 2.8±0.5% of BW); haylage ad libitum (DMI: 2.4±0.4% of BW) and a straw/alfalfa chaff ([SAC] (DMI: 3.1±0.5% of BW). Feed intake time (min/kg) and chewing frequency (chews/kg) were recorded by direct observation or by using a modified halter. The activity of the masseter muscle was determined by EMG (IED®) and the following measurements made: Amplitude (muscle action potential = MAP, expressed in V) and duration of MAP (expressed in sec). Feed intake time and chewing frequency for roughages were different compared to cracked corn in the following order: haylage > hay > SAC > cracked corn. The intake of hay or haylage was associated with intense masseter muscle activity (MAP: hay 9.82±1.7 V, haylage 11.4±3.3 V, duration MAP: hay 0.31±0.04 sec, haylage 0.30±0.04 sec). Similar intense chewing was measured for the SAC (MAP 12.6±3.8 V), although duration of the chewing cycle was relatively short (0.22±0.03 sec) which is possibly related to limited fibre length. In contrast to roughages, concentrates are consumed rapidly, with less intense masseter muscle activity as reflected by the low amplitude of EMG (MAP 4.9±1.5 V). This is associated with low salivary flow rates that are likely to negatively affect gastric digestion

Modification of the equine gastrointestinal microbiota by Jerusalem artichoke meal supplementation

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of natural prebiotic active compounds on the microbial composition in different regions of the equine gastrointestinal tract. Twelve adult horses (body weight [bwt] 534 ± 64.5 kg; age 14 ± 7.5 years) were randomly divided into two feeding groups. Six horses received a basal diet consisting of 1.5 kg hay/ 100 kg bwt x d-1 and oat grains equal to 1.19 g starch/kg bwt x d-1, supplemented with Jerusalem artichoke meal providing prebiotic fructooligosaccharides + inulin in a quantity of 0.15 g/kg bwt x d-1. The remaining horses received a placebo added to the basal diet. The horses were fed for 21 d and euthanized at the end of the feeding period. Digesta samples from different parts of the gastrointestinal tract were taken, DNA extracted and the V1-V2 region of the 16S rRNA gene amplified. Supplementation with the prebiotic increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus (P < 0.05), with a concurrent reduction of the relative abundance of Streptococcus mainly in the stomach (P < 0.05). In the hindgut, the supplemental prebiotic also increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus but further reduced the relative abundance of fibrolytic bacteria, specifically the unclassified members of the families Lachnospiraceae (P < 0.05) and Ruminococcaceae. The relative abundance of the genus Ruminococcus increased solely in the caecum and colon transversum. Overall, the addition of the prebiotic significantly increased the diversity in nearly all parts of the gastrointestinal tract (P < 0.05). The feeding of this natural prebiotic compound to horses had an impact on the microbial community in the entire gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, the effect on the bacterial community in the foregut (especially the stomach) was more pronounced in comparison to the effect in the hindgut. Therefore, the impact on stomach health should be carefully considered.</p

Investigation of Sediments Causing Damage to Water Meters in a Large Drinking Water Distribution System

Preliminary studies on the sediments collected from water meters of Krakow water supply system were performed in the cooperation with the Municipal Water Supply and Sewage. Creation and deposition of sediments on the measuring devices installed in the water supply system is a serious technological and economical problem for water companies, defectively operating for this reason water meters must be replaced. It is evident that knowledge of the chemical and phase composition of sediments is an important step towards resolving the problem of impurities in water supply systems. Four different samples of sediments, coming from water meters, were investigated using the proton-induced X-ray emission, the X-ray diffraction, the Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The X-ray methods revealed presence of amorphous and fine-crystalline phases as well as high content of iron-based compounds. As a crystalline phase, the most frequently appeared: goethite, lepidocrocite, iron oxides (hematite, maghemite, magnetite), calcium carbonate, and quartz. In one of the samples, the nanocrystalline phase was found and identified as hydrous iron oxyhydroxide ferrihydrite. Vibrational spectroscopy methods confirmed the composition of crystalline phases as well as enabled to estimate the abundance of amorphous phase in samples

Detection of MCPG metabolites in horses with atypical myopathy.

Atypical myopathy (AM) in horses is caused by ingestion of seeds of the Acer species (Sapindaceae family). Methylenecyclopropylacetyl-CoA (MCPA-CoA), derived from hypoglycin A (HGA), is currently the only active toxin in Acer pseudoplatanus or Acer negundo seeds related to AM outbreaks. However, seeds or arils of various Sapindaceae (e.g., ackee, lychee, mamoncillo, longan fruit) also contain methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG), which is a structural analogue of HGA that can cause hypoglycaemic encephalopathy in humans. The active poison formed from MCPG is methylenecyclopropylformyl-CoA (MCPF-CoA). MCPF-CoA and MCPA-CoA strongly inhibit enzymes that participate in β-oxidation and energy production from fat. The aim of our study was to investigate if MCPG is involved in Acer seed poisoning in horses. MCPG, as well as glycine and carnitine conjugates (MCPF-glycine, MCPF-carnitine), were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of serum and urine from horses that had ingested Acer pseudoplatanus seeds and developed typical AM symptoms. The results were compared to those of healthy control horses. For comparison, HGA and its glycine and carnitine derivatives were also measured. Additionally, to assess the degree of enzyme inhibition of β-oxidation, several acyl glycines and acyl carnitines were included in the analysis. In addition to HGA and the specific toxic metabolites (MCPA-carnitine and MCPA-glycine), MCPG, MCPF-glycine and MCPF-carnitine were detected in the serum and urine of affected horses. Strong inhibition of β-oxidation was demonstrated by elevated concentrations of all acyl glycines and carnitines, but the highest correlations were observed between MCPF-carnitine and isobutyryl-carnitine (r = 0.93) as well as between MCPA- (and MCPF-) glycine and valeryl-glycine with r = 0.96 (and r = 0.87). As shown here, for biochemical analysis of atypical myopathy of horses, it is necessary to take MCPG and the corresponding metabolites into consideration

Hypoglycin A Content in Blood and Urine Discriminates Horses with Atypical Myopathy from Clinically Normal Horses Grazing on the Same Pasture

<div><p>Hypoglycin A (HGA) in seeds of <i>Acer spp</i>. is suspected to cause seasonal pasture myopathy in North America and equine atypical myopathy (AM) in Europe, fatal diseases in horses on pasture. In previous studies, this suspicion was substantiated by the correlation of seed HGA content with the concentrations of toxic metabolites in urine and serum (MCPA-conjugates) of affected horses. However, seed sampling was conducted after rather than during an outbreak of the disease. The aim of this study was to further confirm the causality between HGA occurrence and disease outbreak by seed sampling during an outbreak and the determination of i) HGA in seeds and of ii) HGA and MCPA-conjugates in urine and serum of diseased horses. Furthermore, cograzing healthy horses, which were present on AM affected pastures, were also investigated. AM-pastures in Germany were visited to identify seeds of <i>Acer pseudoplatanus</i> and serum (n = 8) as well as urine (n = 6) from a total of 16 diseased horses were analyzed for amino acid composition by LC-ESI-MS/MS, with a special focus on the content of HGA. Additionally, the content of its toxic metabolite was measured in its conjugated form in body fluids (UPLC-MS/MS). The seeds contained 1.7–319.8 μg HGA/g seed. The content of HGA in serum of affected horses ranged from 387.8–8493.8 μg/L (controls < 10 μg/L), and in urine from 143.8–926.4 μg/L (controls < 10 μg/L), respectively. Healthy cograzing horses on AM-pastures showed higher serum (108.8 ± 83.76 μg/L) and urine concentrations (26.9 ± 7.39 μg/L) compared to control horses, but lower concentrations compared to diseased horses. The range of MCPA-carnitine and creatinine concentrations found in diseased horses in serum and urine were 0.17–0.65 mmol/L (controls < 0.01), and 0.34–2.05 μmol/mmoL (controls < 0.001), respectively. MCPA-glycine levels in urine of cograzing horses were higher compared to controls. Thus, the causal link between HGA intoxication and disease outbreak could be further substantiated, and the early detection of HGA in cograzing horses, which are clinically normal, might be a promising step in prophylaxis.</p></div