Gluten - Factor in Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Horses?

Newsdate: Mon, 8 Oct 2012 - 10:55 am
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Chronic inflammatory small bowel disease has an increased prevalence in sport horses. The disorder is associated with intermittent colic, weight loss, poor performance and anemia.

Gluten sensitivity in horses

Gluten sensitivity in horses

Gluten sensitivity has been identified by researchers as a potential cause of equine chronic inflammatory small bowel disease in sport horses.

Chronic inflammatory small bowel disease seems to have a predominance in dressage horses, but its exact cause is unknown to date.

Researchers of the Free University of Amsterdam and Utrecht University in the Netherlands have now identified gluten sensitivity as a potential cause of equine chronic inflammatory small bowel disease in sport horses.

Gluten is a major compound of the endosperm of various cereals, in particular of wheat, barley and rye. Especially the gliadin fraction of the gluten is associated with Coeliac disease (gluten intolerance) in man.

Some horses fed a gluten-rich ration showed concurrent antibody responses as seen in celiac patients. To test the pathogenic role of gluten, one sport horse with chronic inflammatory bowel disease and antibodies followed a gluten-free ration during 6 months. Both villous morphology and blood antibody titers improved in this horse.

The development of a screening test aimed at identifying gluten-sensitivity in individual horses based on blood samples is currently in progress.

Information from: Taylor & Francis, via AlphaGalileo reprinted in Science Daily

About the Author

Flossie Sellers

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As an animal lover since childhood, Flossie was delighted when Mark, the CEO and developer of EquiMed asked her to join his team of contributors.

She enrolled in My Horse University at Michigan State and completed a number of courses in everything related to horse health, nutrition, diseases and conditions, medications, hoof and dental care, barn safety, and first aid.

Staying up-to-date on the latest developments in horse care and equine health is now a habit, and she enjoys sharing a wealth of information with horse owners everywhere.

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