Lecture 8 - diseases Flashcards
Malnutrition causes?
immunosuppression
- increases risk of infection
What about horses magnifies problem feeding practices
small stomach capacity
tight sphincters
Factors that compound nutrition related diseases
Stall confinement
increased housing density
USA national health monitoring system report for 2000
- 13% of all horses (exlcuding racetracks) suffered from laminitis
- 4.7% had to be euthinized
Laminitis
- 2nd most lethal condition of horses following colic
- lamellae of hooves weaken and inflammation sets in with onset foot pain
- lamellae normally support suspensory apparatus, which attaches to coffin bone
- lamellae separate from coffin bone inside hoof and the weight forces it down into the hoof capsule, can even perforate the sole
- disturbance in blood flow can change growth rate of hoof wall
- heel grows fast than toe, growth rings of hooves
Hoof composition
distal phalanx (coffin or pedal bone)
lamellae
navicular bone
deep flexor tendon
Acute vs Chronic Laminitis
Acute
- 24-72hrs
- shifting of weight from toes to heels
Chronic
-4 or 5 days +
Determining whether chronic laminitis has occurred?
Growth rings on hooves
- the more space out the rings at the heal, more likely chronic
Major cause of laminitis
Carbohydrates
- high intake of soluble from overgrazing of lush pasture
- overload of grain and forages
- excess undigested in SI and fermented in cecum and LI
How laminitis develops - LI to stomach
Carbs fermented in cecum and LI
- large increase of lactic acid producing bacteria (anaerobic lactobacilli and streptococci)
- decreases intracecal pH from 7 to 4
- proliferation of starch fermenting organisms declines because of low pH
- lactic acid accumulation causes damage to intestinal mucosa
- increased permeability of intestinal epithelium to bacteria and endotoxins
How Laminitis develops - intestinal bacteria
Increased permeability of intestinal epithelium
- intestinal bacteria produce metabolites that activate metalloproteinases in the hoof wall
- weekens bond between hoof wall and coffin bone
How laminitis develops - endotoxins
endotoxemia - endotoxins from stomach reach blood
- reduces blood flow to the lamella of the hoof
How laminitis develops - biogenic amines
Increase lactic acid in intestinal tract
- causes microbial breakdown of amino acids
- have hormone like properties including vasoconstrictor effects
- cause constriction of digital arteries and veins via stimulation of serotonergic receptors or displacement of norepinephrine from perivascular nerves
Biogenic amines
serotonin epinephrine norepinephrine putrescine spermine spermidine histamine tryamine
Lactic acid producing bacteria
lactobacilli
streptococci