Acute phase proteins levels in horses, after a single carbohydrate overload, associated with cecal alkalinization.
Authors: Peixoto Rabelo Isabela, Barroco de Paula Vanessa, Carvalho Bustamante Caio, Santana André Marcos, Gomes da Silva Daniela, Baldassi Amanda Cristina, Canola Paulo Aléscio, Araújo Valadão Carlos Augusto
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Carbohydrate overload can trigger laminitis through cecal dysbiosis and increased intestinal permeability, allowing bacterial endotoxins to enter circulation and trigger a systemic inflammatory response characterised by hepatic production of acute phase proteins (APP). Rabelo and colleagues administered a single large carbohydrate dose to horses, with some animals receiving a buffering solution to alkalinise the cecum, then tracked serum APP concentrations and clinical signs of laminitis over several days. The buffering treatment successfully raised cecal pH and reduced the severity of clinical laminitis, whilst APP levels (particularly serum amyloid A and fibrinogen) showed characteristic inflammatory kinetics that correlated with lameness scores and other clinical indicators of acute laminitis. Measuring specific acute phase protein profiles offers a quantifiable biomarker for assessing laminitis severity and potentially monitoring treatment efficacy beyond clinical observation alone. For practitioners, this work demonstrates that cecal alkalinisation may modify the inflammatory cascade in carbohydrate-induced laminitis, suggesting that dietary pH management and buffering strategies warrant further investigation as preventative or acute-phase interventions in susceptible horses.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Carbohydrate overload causes rapid pH changes in the cecum leading to laminitis; monitor feed quality and storage to prevent accidental overfeeding of grain or moldy feed
- •Acute phase proteins may serve as objective biomarkers to detect early inflammatory changes in laminitis before clinical lameness becomes obvious—useful for early intervention
- •Buffering agents show promise in reducing laminitis severity when carbohydrate overload occurs; consider availability of suitable buffers in emergency protocols
Key Findings
- •Single carbohydrate overload successfully induced acute laminitis with measurable changes in cecal pH and microbiota composition
- •Acute phase proteins (APP) demonstrated specific kinetic patterns during the inflammatory response to carbohydrate-induced laminitis
- •Buffering solution application influenced the development and severity of laminitis clinical signs
- •Strong correlation identified between APP levels and clinical manifestations of acute laminitis syndrome