Triglycerides, free fatty acids and total bilirubin in horses with left ventral colon impaction

Triglyceride, freie Fettsäuren und Gesamtbilirubin bei Pferden mit Verstopfung der linken ventralen Längslage des großen Kolons

Gomaa N, Koeller G, Schusser G F

DOI: 10.21836/PEM20090207
Year: 2009
Volume: 25
Issue: 2
Pages: 137-140

Colic horses are under stress of pain, anorexia or feed restriction during treatment leading to fat mobilization. The objective of this study is the investigation of fat mobilization in twelve horses with left ventral colon impaction referred to the large animal hospital, University of Leipzig. Serum triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFAs) and total bilirubin (TB) were measured at admission and after impaction resolution. Six healthy horses were used as control in two different protocols. In protocol A the horses were fed twice a day and stabled on straw-bedded boxes without feed over a period of 12 hours (overnight). In protocol B the same horses were transferred into unbedded boxes without feed over a period of 12 hours (overnight). Blood was collected in both protocols at 7.00 a.m. before feeding. In horses with impaction serum FFAs (830.3 μmol/l, median) and TB (75.9 μmol/l) at admission were significantly elevated in comparison with the values of protocol A (129.5 μmol/l; 22.5 μmol/l) while serum FFAs did not differ significantly with values in protocol B (395.5 μmol/l). Serum TG (0.46 mmol/l) of colic horses at admission and of horses in protocol A (0.46 mmol/l) and B (0.31 mmol/l) did not differ significantly. These values were still in normal limits. Serum TG and TB of colic horses at impaction resolution (1.59 mmol/l, P≤0.05; 92.9 μmol/l) were higher than at admission (0.46 mmol/l, 75.9 μmol/l). At impaction resolution FFAs were lower (553.45 μmol/l) than at admission (830.3 μmol/l). Serum triglycerides, FFAs and TB returned to normal in 58.3%, 50% and 25% of colic horses respectively after impaction resolution. We concluded that the horses with left ventral colon impaction undergo fat mobilization during the period of impaction. This was characterized by mild hypertriglyceridemia and hyperbilirubinemia which are reversible and return to normal after impaction resolution and feeding of the animal. It is recommended that horses with prolonged impaction more than two days and/or increased serum TG >2.26 mmol/l should receive partial parenteral nutrition to reduce fat mobilisation and to decrease release of inflammatory cytokines from adipose tissue.