Evaluation of Systemic and Local Inflammatory Parameters and Manifestations of Pain in an Equine Experimental Wound Model.
Authors: Bundgaard Louise, Sørensen Mette Aa, Nilsson Tina, Salling Elin, Jacobsen Stine
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Pain and Inflammatory Response in an Equine Experimental Wound Model Researchers examining fibroproliferative disorders in horses have long relied on standardised cutaneous wound models, yet little was known about the actual discomfort these procedures cause. Bundgaard and colleagues assessed both systemic and local inflammatory markers alongside pain behaviour in 12 excisional wounds created on the shoulders and metatarsi of standing horses, monitoring clinical parameters (temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate), blood biomarkers (white blood cell count, serum amyloid A, fibrinogen, iron), local wound signs, and pain using a composite measure pain scale (CMPS, 27-unit maximum) over 28 days. The wounding procedure itself triggered measurable inflammatory responses, with two horses showing mild pain scores (2 and 7 units) by day 1 post-surgery and one horse scoring 3 units by day 8, whilst subsequent biopsies produced neither local nor systemic inflammatory signs. The findings suggest that whilst this experimental model remains a valuable research tool, it induces only mild discomfort—critical information for institutional ethics committees and researchers seeking to demonstrate that scientific benefits justify the mild welfare impact of the procedure.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Horses tolerate excisional wound creation and subsequent biopsy sampling with minimal pain manifestations, suggesting this model is relatively humane for research purposes
- •Clinical monitoring parameters (temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, limb circumference) can detect systemic inflammatory responses to wounding even when subjective pain scores are low
- •Researchers using this wound model should be aware that while pain is mild, the procedure does cause measurable systemic inflammation that must be justified by expected research benefits
Key Findings
- •Wounding procedure elicited a measurable systemic inflammatory response with elevated white blood cells, serum amyloid A, and fibrinogen
- •Pain scores on composite measure pain scale (CMPS) were minimal, with only 3 of 12 horses showing pain manifestations (scores of 2, 7, and 3 units out of 27) in the acute post-operative period
- •Biopsy sampling procedure did not elicit local or systemic signs of inflammation, indicating minimal additional discomfort from tissue sampling
- •Experimental wound model causes mild discomfort and pain manifestations, important for ethical justification of animal research protocols