Crossover animal trials were performed with intravenous and oral administration of deoxynivalenol-3-β-D-glucoside (DON3G) and deoxynivalenol (DON) to broiler chickens and pigs. Systemic plasma concentrations of DON, DON3G and de-epoxy-DON were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to unravel phase II metabolism of DON. Additionally for pigs, portal plasma was analysed to study presystemic hydrolysis and metabolism. Data were processed via tailor-made compartmental toxicokinetic models. The results in broiler chickens indicate that DON3G is not hydrolysed to DON in vivo. Furthermore, the absolute oral bioavailability of DON3G in broiler chickens was low (3.79 ± 2.68 %) and comparable to that of DON (5.56 ± 2.05 %). After PO DON3G administration to pigs, only DON was detected in plasma, indicating a complete presystemic hydrolysis of the absorbed fraction of DON3G. However, the absorbed fraction of DON3G, recovered as DON, was approximately 5 times lower than after PO DON administration, 16.1 ± 5.4 compared with 81.3 ± 17.4 %. Analysis of phase II metabolites revealed that biotransformation of DON and DON3G in pigs mainly consists of glucuronidation, whereas in chickens predominantly conjugation with sulphate occurred. The extent of phase II metabolism is notably higher for chickens than for pigs, which might explain the differences in sensitivity of these species to DON. Although in vitro studies demonstrate a decreased toxicity of DON3G compared with DON, the species-dependent toxicokinetic data and in vivo hydrolysis to DON illustrate the toxicological relevance and consequently the need for further research to establish a tolerable daily intake.

Objective: To report the clinical features, outcomes, and prognostic factors associated with the surgical treatment of epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE). Study design: Retrospective study at a single referral hospital. Animals: Horses (n = 142) undergoing surgery (n = 145) for EFE. Methods: Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative data of surgeries on horses that underwent exploratory laparotomy for EFE were obtained. The postoperative outcome was assessed by follow-up telephone calls with the owners/caregivers. Factors associated with postoperative reflux (POR), relaparotomy, hospital discharge, colic after hospital discharge, and survival after discharge were assessed. Results: In total, 145 surgeries were performed on 142 horses (recurrence rate, 3%). Warmblood horses represented 85% of the horses that underwent surgery. Windsucking/crib-biting was confirmed in 60% of these surgery cases. Left-to-right entrapment was diagnosed in all horses. Ileal involvement was recorded in 74% of the cases. Uncontrollable intraoperative hemorrhage was encountered in 6% of the surgeries. One hundred seven (74%) horses recovered from surgery, and 65% of those survived to discharge. The rate of survival to discharge of all surgeries was 48%. The median survival of the cases that were discharged exceeded 3193 days. Horses requiring intestinal resection were predisposed to POR, and those undergoing jejunoileostomy were more prone to POR than those undergoing jejunojejunostomy. Horses with POR were less likely to be discharged than those without POR, and those that underwent resection had shorter life expectancy after hospital discharge than those that did not undergo resection. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of EFE was associated with high morbidity and mortality, with recurrence in at least 3% of surviving horses. Clinical significance: Owners of horses with EFE should be informed of the guarded prognosis associated with current surgical treatment.

Several clinically relevant structures delineate the epiploic foramen. Its defining structure consists, in part, of elastin fibres. Anatomical and laparoscopic knowledge may assist surgeons in developing interventions to treat diseases involving the epiploic foramen.

This FEMC technique provides a fast, simple, reliable and safe procedure to obliterate the EF and may be useful in horses at risk for EFE.

Piglets are considered to be suitable animal models for predicting the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of test drugs for potential use in the paediatric population. Such PK/PD studies require multiple blood and urine samplings. The goal of the present study was to determine a suitable blood collection strategy applicable in the youngest age categories of six days, four weeks and eight weeks of age, as well as a urine collection technique for male piglets in the same age categories. Blood was collected either by a surgically-placed jugular vein catheter (six days old [ n = 4] and four weeks old [ n = 2] piglets) or by direct venepuncture of the jugular vein (four weeks old [ n = 2] and eight weeks old [ n = 4] piglets). A non-invasive method for total volume urine collection in male piglets was also developed using a urine pouch. No specific complications were encountered during anaesthesia or surgery for jugular catheter placement. After a 24 h recovery period, urine and blood were easily collected without technical complications. One piglet was humanely killed at week 2 because of septicaemia. Histological analysis of both veins in all four piglets revealed negligible damage to the blood vessel wall. In conclusion, the presented techniques for blood (jugular catheter and direct venepuncture) and urine collection (pouches) are suitable for PK/PD studies in piglets.