Research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Veterinary Research looks at the devastating disease laminitis, and finds that it is linked to general inflammation, especially of the digestive system.
Laminitis in horses
Research looks at the devastating disease laminitis in horses, and finds that it is linked to general inflammation, especially of the digestive system.
Laminitis is a painful and debilitating disease. Although the exact cause is unknown it is often associated with insulin resistance and obesity, and can be preceded by diseases such as colic and diarrhea.
It is known to occur in horses allowed the freedom to eat lots of lush fresh, grass especially after being kept indoors for the winter. Inflammation can lead to irreversible rotation of the foot bones inside the hoof. In 75% of cases the inflammation becomes chronic 'founder', leaving the horse permanently lame.
Prof Bhanu Chowdhary and Dr Samantha Steelman from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, found 16 proteins which have different levels in the blood of horses with and without chronic laminitis.
Horses in both groups were in good health apart from the laminitis. Eleven of these proteins are involved in response to wounding, coagulation and inflammation, such as coagulation factor X. The remaining proteins included fetuin A and B, both of which are involved in acute immune response, immunoglobin, an indicator of increased antibody levels, and most importantly APOA-IV.
Dr Steelman explained, "APOA-IV is produced by the small intestine -- one of its functions is to tell the animal when it is full. It also has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which might explain the raised levels of APOA-IV."