Occurrence of Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Clinical Manifestations, and Associated Risk Factors in Nigeria

Overview

Journal J Equine Sci

Date 2023 Jul 5

PMID 37405068

Authors

Olumide Odunayo Akinniyi

Anthony Kojo Beku Sackey

Gabriel Enenche Ochube

Philip Wayuta Mshelia

Francis Alkali Musa

Mary Oluwatomisin Elijah

Kelvin Olutimilehin Jolayemi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Insulin dysregulation (ID) is central to the pathophysiology of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), putting the horse at risk of laminitis. There is a paucity of information on the status of EMS in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of EMS, clinical manifestations, and associated risk factors in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was carried out. Selected horses underwent an insulin 2-step response test to ascertain insulin dysregulation; a physical examination was carried out to diagnose laminitis and obesity. Risk factors were assessed using a questionnaire. The overall prevalence of EMS was 43.10%. Breed and sex were significantly associated with EMS, but age was not. Horses diagnosed with laminitis showed two signs of laminitis, namely, divergent hoof rings and widened white lines. Risk factors significantly associated with the prevalence of EMS were as follows: being a West African Barb horse (60.00%), being a stallion (67.86%), being a leisure horse (67.86%), only walking horses during exercise (68.00%), exercising horses once every 5 months (82.76%), tethering horses to a stake in the ground (67.86%), obesity (92.86%), and abnormal neck crest (83.33%). The risk of ID remains higher in obese horses. However, some of the horses with ID were not obese, indicating that there are other possible underlying causes of EMS.

Citing Articles

Can Nigerian horse owners effectively estimate body condition and cresty neck scores?.

Akinniyi O, Mshelia P, Edeh R J Equine Sci. 2024; 35(1):9-14.

PMID: 38524755 PMC: 10955270. DOI: 10.1294/jes.35.9.

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