Antibody titres to core lipopolysaccharides in horses with gastrointestinal disorders which cause colic

Abstract

Summary Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) titres to core lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were determined in 102 horses admitted to a university referral hospital during a 12‐month period for evaluation of colic. Serum samples were collected again 10–14 days later from 84 of the horses. Titres to core LPS were quantitated by an indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), utilising the J‐5 mutant of Escherichia coli 0111:B4 as the solid‐phase antigen. All horses had natural antibodies to core LPS at the time of admission and the titre was not affected significantly by age, sex or type of gastrointestinal disorder. The geometric mean titres to core LPS increased significantly within 14 days of admission in those horses with large colon displacement (25), ileal impaction (13), small intestinal strangulating obstruction (11) and small colon obstruction (4). Twenty four (28.6 per cent) of the horses had at least a 4‐fold rise in titre (seroconversion) to core LPS within 14 days of admission. The incidence of seroconversion to core LPS was significantly greater (P<0.05) in horses with disorders requiring surgical intervention (35.8 per cent) than in those with disorders (proximal enteritis, colitis, large colon impaction and unknown) which only required medical treatment (16.1 per cent). Seroconversion rate was not statistically different between groups of horses with diseases of the small intestine which required surgical or medical treatments. The results of this study indicate that gastrointestinal disorders that cause colic in horses result in IgG production to core LPS, and the latter is more prevalent in disorders requiring surgery.

Effects of continuous or intermittent lipopolysaccharide administration for 48 hours on the systemic inflammatory response in horses

“…26 Blood samples (20 mL) were collected immediately prior to LPS or saline solution administration and used for a CBC, serum biochemical analysis, and assessment of whole blood inflammatory cytokine gene expression. Horses were transported to the Veterinary Medical Center and allowed to acclimate to the environment for 24 hours before experimental procedures were initiated.…”

Expression of inflammation-associated genes in circulating leukocytes collected from horses with gastrointestinal tract disease

“…Thus, circulating LPS initiates a systemic inflammatory response. 3,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] It has been hypothesized that a systemic inflammatory response and many of the complications associated with GIT diseases could be reduced by blunting the response to LPS by the cells of an affected horse. 12 This po-…”

Effects of an intravenous endotoxin challenge on glucose and insulin dynamics in horses

“…[3][4][5] Horses that have retained fetal membranes or that develop pleuropneumonia, wound infections, or gram-negative bacteremia are also at risk for endotoxemia. [3][4][5] Horses that have retained fetal membranes or that develop pleuropneumonia, wound infections, or gram-negative bacteremia are also at risk for endotoxemia.…”