Summary: Helicobacters other than Helicobacter pylori have been associated with gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in humans. These very fastidious microorganisms with a typical large spiral-shaped morphology were provisionally designated “H. heilmannii,” but in fact they comprise at least five different Helicobacter species, all of which are known to colonize the gastric mucosa of animals. H. suis, which has been isolated from the stomachs of pigs, is the most prevalent gastric non-H. pylori Helicobacter species in humans. Other gastric non-H. pylori helicobacters colonizing the human stomach are H. felis, H. salomonis, H. bizzozeronii, and the still-uncultivable “Candidatus Helicobacter heilmannii.” These microorganisms are often detected in the stomachs of dogs and cats. “Candidatus Helicobacter bovis” is highly prevalent in the abomasums of cattle but has only occasionally been detected in the stomachs of humans. There are clear indications that gastric non-H. pylori Helicobacter infections in humans originate from animals, and it is likely that transmission to humans occurs through direct contact. Little is known about the virulence factors of these microorganisms. The recent successes with in vitro isolation of non-H. pylori helicobacters from domestic animals open new perspectives for studying these microorganisms and their interactions with the host.

https://cmr.asm.org/content/cmr/22/2/202.full.pdf

Gastric Helicobacters in Domestic Animals and Nonhuman Primates and Their Significance for Human Health

The term Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) was first used in 1999 to describe gastric ulceration in the horse. However, as discussed by Merritt, the terminology is commonly misused. The committee reinforces the importance of distinguishing between diseases of the squamous and glandular mucosa because, as discussed in this statement, important differences exist between the two. In human medicine, the term peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is used as an umbrella term to describe erosive and ulcerative diseases of the stomach and it is recognized that a large number of individual diseases are present under the term. Furthermore, while some different diseases might share similarities in pathophysiology and treatment regimens, it is recognized in human medicine that the direct extrapolation of either from one specific disease (such as NSAID-associated ulceration) to another (such as Helicobacter pylori associated ulceration) is inappropriate. The committee recognizes that the terminology for EGUS requires clarification and proposes that the nomenclature be: Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) as a general all encompassing term to describe erosive and ulcerative diseases of the stomach consistent with the use of the term PUD in man; Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD) as terms that more specifically describe the affected region anatomically.Within ESGD, both primary and secondary disease is recognized. Primary ESGD, the more common of the 2 forms, occurs in animals with an otherwise normal gastrointestinal tract. In contrast, secondary ESGD occurs in animals with delayed gastric outflow secondary to an underlying abnormality such as pyloric stenosis. The pathophysiology of EGGD remains to be elucidated and as such further subclassification of lesion type is not possible at this time. Instead, the committee recommends the use of descriptive terminology with a clear distinction of the anatomical region affected (cardia, fundus, antrum, or pylorus as shown in Figure 2) and the gross appearance of the lesion. The committee emphasizes that the affected region of the stomach should be clearly identified when communicating research and clinical findings. A summary of the proposed terminology is depicted in Figure 1. Recommendation: Expansion of the existing EGUS terminology to specifically identify squamous and glandular disease as ESGD and EGGD, respectively, as shown in Figure 1.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jvim.13578

European College of Equine Internal Medicine Consensus Statement—Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in Adult Horses

Selenium is an essential trace element important for many physiological processes, especially for the functions of immune and reproductive systems, metabolism of thyroid hormones, as well as antioxidant defense. Selenium deficiency is usually manifested by an increased incidence of retention of placenta, metritis, mastitis, aborts, lowering fertility and increased susceptibility to infections. In calves, lambs and kids, the selenium deficiency demonstrates by WMD (white muscle disease), in foals and donkey foals, it is associated with incidence of WMD and yellow fat disease, and in pigs it causes VESD (vitamin E/selenium deficiency) syndrome. The prevention of these health disorders can be achieved by an adequate selenium supplementation to the diet. The review summarizes the survey of knowledge on selenium, its biological significance in the organism, the impact of its deficiency in mammalian livestock (comparison of ruminants vs. non-ruminants, herbivore vs. omnivore) and possibilities of its peroral administration. The databases employed were as follows: Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar.

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/18/10/2209/pdf

A Summary of New Findings on the Biological Effects of Selenium in Selected Animal Species-A Critical Review.

The evaluation of serum proteins and their electrophoretic pattern is a well-established laboratory method in the diagnosis of many diseases in humans, which has replaced the biochemical determination of the concentrations of albumin and the ratio of albumin to globulins. The measurement of serum proteins may be an important diagnostic tool for the detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of various diseases and pathological processes. The results of serum protein electrophoresis can be one of the most useful diagnostic aids in a wide spectrum of diseases, including infectious and inflammatory diseases, renal or gastrointestinal disorders, immunodeficiency states, as well as paraproteinaemias caused by lymphoid or plasma cell neoplasia. Although many studies have been carried out to determine the usefulness of the determination of serum proteins and their electrophoretic pattern in various disease conditions and disorders also in animals, serum protein evaluation is still a relatively little-used diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine. In this article, methods of serum protein determination, their diagnostic utility in animal care practice and their different patterns in dysproteinaemias and paraproteinaemias are reviewed.

/pdf/serum-proteins-and-their-diagnostic-utility-in-veterinary-kcp7h909j9.pdf

Serum proteins and their diagnostic utility in veterinary medicine: a review

The immunomodulatory effect of aqueous extract of Acacia catechu commonly known as Katha or Karangali was studied at two doses of 5 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg orally. The effect was studied in neutrophil adhesion test, mice lethality test, carbon clearance assay, cyclophosphamide induced neutropenia, serum immunoglobulin levels and the heamagglutination test. Acacia catechu extract showed an increase in the neutrophil adhesion to the nylon fibres, produced a significant increase in the phagocytic index and a significant protection against cyclophosphamide induced neutropenia indicating its effect on cell mediated immunity. On the other hand, Acacia catechu extract produced a significant increase in the serum immunoglobulin levels, increase in the haemagglutination titre values and decreased the mortality ratio in mice, suggesting its effect on the humoral arm of the immune system. From the above results, it was concluded that the aqueous extract of Acacia catechu has a significant effect on both cell mediated and humoral immunity.

/pdf/immunomodulatory-activity-of-acacia-catechu-3i2yauyu5t.pdf

Immunomodulatory activity of Acacia catechu.

Sedlinska M., J. Krejai, M. Vyskoail: Evaluation of Field Methods for Determining Immunoglobulin in Sucking Foals. Acta Vet. Brno 2005, 74: 51-58. The aim of the study was to evaluate quick and easy semiquantitative tests for the detection of serum immunoglobulins that are commonly used for to trace the foals with the failure of passive immunity transfer. We compared the four most employed methods ‐ zinc sulphate turbidity tests using photometric or visual reading, glutaraldehyde test and refractometric determination of total protein concentration in serum. Radial immunodiffusion test was used as a reference method. Thirty-eight blood serum samples from foals were used for quantitative estimation of immunoglobulins. The tested methods were correlated with reference method and their availability for tracing of cases of unsuccessful passive transfer immunogobulins was evaluated. The results obtained so far have not allowed us to recommend without reservation any of the compared methods as a reliable test for the determination of blood serum Ig concentrations in newborn foals. On the other hand, the practical usefulness of two of the tested methods (visual reading of turbidity, refractometry) for rapid field identification of hypogammaglobulinaemic foals was confirmed. Of the two, we prefer the refractometric method (sensitivity: 94.11; specificity: 83.30 and predictive value: 88) for common use because it is quicker and easier than other methods. This study pointed out the critical points of the mentioned problem, which have to be studied further. Foal, IgG, immunoglobulins, glutaraldehyde, zinc sulphate turbidity test, refractometry, FPT

/pdf/evaluation-of-field-methods-for-determining-immunoglobulin-4uf5836w7f.pdf

Evaluation of Field Methods for Determining Immunoglobulin in Sucking Foals

Ludvikova E., L. Pavlata, M. Vyskoail, P. Jahn:Selenium Status of Horses in the Czech Republic. Acta Vet. Brno 2005, 74: 369-375. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between selenium concentration and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px, EC 1.11.19) in whole blood of horses, reference ranges for the activity of GSH-Px and to evaluate the selenium status of horses in the Czech Republic. Blood samples were collected from 159 horses from 35 different farms and processed using the AAS and photometric methods to determine concentrations of selenium and the GSH-Px activity, respectively. Data on both parameters were processed using correlation and regression analysis in order to obtain reference values of GSH-Px for the indirect evaluation of the selenium status of horses. The results were also used to evaluate the occurrence of selenium deficiency in the horses examined. A highly significant linear relation was found between both variables. It can be expressed using the Spearman’s coefficient of rank correlation (r s = 0.873; p < 0.01) and the regression equation (y = 3.621x – 28.698; p < 0.01, r = 0.842). The value of 75 µg·l -1 of selenium in whole blood is considered as a threshold of selenium deficiency in horses. According to our results, the corresponding level of the activity of GSH-Px useful in the diagnostics is 200 µkat·l -1 . Using these criteria, there was a high prevalence of selenium deficiency in the collection of horses examined amounting to 47% and 48% when evaluating the selenium status by the selenium concentration and the activity of GSH-Px, respectively. It can be concluded that there is a high correlation of the activity of GSH-Px and selenium concentration in whole blood of horses and that reference values of the activity of GSH-Px useful in the diagnostics of selenium deficiency in horses in the Czech Republic were determined. The occurrence of selenium deficiency in horses is a topical problem in the Czech Republic.

/pdf/selenium-status-of-horses-in-the-czech-republic-4jbkncvvll.pdf

Selenium Status of Horses in the Czech Republic

Bezdukova, B., P. Jahn, M. Vyskoail, J. Plach˘: Gastric Ulceration and Exercise Intensityin Standardbred Racehorses in Czech Republic. Acta Vet. Brno 2005, 74: 67-71. The objective of our study was to determine prevalence of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) in individual groups of Standardbred horses in the Czech Republic divided in accordance to training intensity, to determine association between training intensity and prevalence of gastric ulcers and severity of gastric ulcers in these horses. Fifty four 2-year-old or older Standardbred racehorses engaged in routine training and racing were selected for this study. Prevalence of gastric ulcers was 20.00% in Standardbred racehorses with no training intensity, 16.67% in horses in mild training, 68.42% in horses in intermediate training and 79.12% in horses in high intensity training. Significant association was proven between training intensity and occurrence of gastric ulcers. Positive correlation between training intensity and gastric ulceration severity was proven as well. From the results we concluded that gastric ulcers are common in Standardbred horses in training in Czech Republic. Their prevalence and severity is dependent on the training intensity.

/pdf/gastric-ulceration-and-exercise-intensity-in-standardbred-36hyh1amwi.pdf

Gastric Ulceration and Exercise Intensity in Standardbred Racehorses in Czech Republic

Bezděkova B., P. Jahn, M. Vyskocil: Gastric Ulceration, Appetite and Feeding Practices in Standardbred Racehorses in the Czech Republic. Acta Vet. Brno 2008, 77: 603-607. The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence of poor appetite and its correlation with the prevalence of gastric ulceration, and to evaluate relation between feeding management (feeding frequency and feeding regularity) and gastric ulceration in a group of 54 Standardbred racehorses in training. Prevalence of gastric ulceration in the group of horses with poor general appetite was 94.8%. Prevalence of gastric ulceration in the group of horses with good general appetite was 48.6%. Significant association between poor general appetite and squamous gastric ulcer presence was observed (p < 0.001). Gastric ulceration was found in 75.0% of horses fed twice daily and in 57.9% horses fed three times a day. Fifty seven point nine per cent of regularly fed horses had gastric ulcers. Irregularly fed horses were ulcer-positive in 75.0%. Thus no significant association between feeding frequency or regularity and the occurrence of gastric ulcers was found.

/pdf/gastric-ulceration-appetite-and-feeding-practices-in-2cdoalnjii.pdf

Gastric Ulceration, Appetite and Feeding Practices in Standardbred Racehorses in the Czech Republic

Ludvikova E., P. Jahn, L. Pavlata, M. Vyskoail: Selenium and Vitamin E Status Correlated with Myopathies of Horses Reared in Farms in the Czech Republic. Acta Vet. Brno 2005, 74: 377-384. The objective of the study was to compare selenium and vitamin E status in equine farms with and without occurrence of myopathies in order to evaluate the role of lack of these substances in the aetiology of myopathies in horses in the Czech Republic. Concentrations of selenium (in 136 horses) and vitamin E (in 131 horses) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities (in 136 horses) were measured in horses from farms with the occurrence of myopathies (group M including 46 horses from 10 farms) and in horses from farms without occurrence of myopathies (group H including 90 horses from 22 farms). Significantly lower concentrations of selenium (43.09 ±36.84 µg·l -1 ; p < 0.001), vitamin E (9.55 ± 9.29 µmol·l -1 ; p < 0.01) and GSH-Px activities (153.38 ± 177.28 µkat·l-1; p < 0.001) were found in horses from the farms with the occurrence of myopathies when compared to those without the occurrence of myopathies (Se 117.35 ± 52.10 µg·l-1; vitamin E 10.75 ± 4.34 µmol·l-1; GSH-Px 397.41 ± 242.15 µkat·l-1). The diagnosis of nutritional myodegeneration (white muscle disease, WMD) was established in six horses with myopathy. The aetiology of myopathy in the other four affected horses was probably different. Evaluating all examined horses, insufficient whole blood selenium and serum vitamin E concentrations were found in 42% and 96% of horses, respectively. Poor saturation with selenium and vitamin Eare important factors in the aetiology of WMD in horses in the Czech Republic. Apart from WMD, horses in the Czech Republic may be affected by some other myopathies. Glutathione peroxidase, nutritional myodegeneration, white muscle disease, tocopherol, creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase

/pdf/selenium-and-vitamin-e-status-correlated-with-myopathies-of-imcc3phpcb.pdf

M. Vyskočil

Papers

Evaluation of Field Methods for Determining Immunoglobulin in Sucking Foals

Selenium Status of Horses in the Czech Republic

Gastric Ulceration and Exercise Intensity in Standardbred Racehorses in Czech Republic

Gastric Ulceration, Appetite and Feeding Practices in Standardbred Racehorses in the Czech Republic

Selenium and Vitamin E Status Correlated with Myopathies of Horses Reared in Farms in the Czech Republic