Equine laminitis induced with oligofructose.
BACKGROUND
Experimental induction of equine laminitis with a reliable and clinically relevant model should facilitate understanding of the disease. Successful induction with oligofructose (OF) could link pasture consumption to laminitis.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether alimentary administration of OF induces laminitis.


METHODS
Twelve horses were dosed with OF and 6 received a sham (placebo) treatment. Clinical observations were made and blood collected at 4 h intervals over a 48 h study period. Stained sections of the hoof wall lamellae, examined by light microscopy, were graded for laminitis severity.


RESULTS
All horses administered OF, but no sham-treated controls, developed clinical and histological laminitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Alimentary overload with OF is a valid induction model for studying the pathogenesis of laminitis. A link is therefore established between field cases of laminitis and pasture fructan content.
van Eps
A W
AW
Australian Equine Laminitis Research Unit, School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
Pollitt
C C
CC
D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000473:pathology*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology*; D006736:Horses; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
D009844:Oligosaccharides; C120489:oligofructose