Testing For Insulin Dysregulation After Travelling Could Lead To A False Positive Result
New research conducted by Dr Erica Jacquay and Dr Amanda Adams from the University of Kentucky in partnership with the WALTHAM™ Equine Studies Group, has shown that testing for insulin dysregulation, which is the core component of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), within three hours of short-distance travelling could lead to a false positive result. The work has recently been accepted for publication In the Equine Veterinary Journal.
The study, entitled The impact of short-term transportation stress on insulin and oral sugar responses in insulin dysregulated and non-insulin dysregulated horses* aimed to characterise the effect of short-term transportation on stress parameters and insulin responses to an oral sugar test (OST) in horses with and without ID.
Seven non-pregnant insulin dysregulated (ID) mares and seven non- pregnant non-ID mares (all of which had previous experience of transportation) were transported in groups for approximately 1.5 hours to and from their home base by the same driver. An oral sugar test (0.15mls/Kg BW Karo Light Corn Syrup) was completed 24 hours before (am) and 3 hours after travelling (pm).
Serum and salivary cortisol both increased significantly in response to transportation with no differences between ID and non-ID horses. As expected, the insulin dysregulated mares had increased insulin responses to the OST on both occasions, but the insulin levels were above the diagnostic cut off for ID in 5 out of 7 of the non-ID mares when an OST was performed after travelling. This suggests that in a ‘real life’ situation some horses may have been misdiagnosed as having insulin dysregulation and be falsely considered as having EMS. In addition, for some of the ID animals their post travelling T60 OST insulins were more than double those of pre-transportation.
“This research is an important step in improving our understanding of insulin dysregulation and EMS,” said Dr Pat Harris who heads the WALTHAM™ Equine Studies Group which provides the science behind the SPILLERS brand. “The findings show that performing an OST three hours after short-term transportation may result in inaccurate ID status, whether testing a new case or monitoring the status of an ID horse. In addition, special care should be given when transporting horses with ID especially those with a history of hyperinsulinaemia- associated laminitis.
“Further studies are needed to determine the best timing of diagnostic testing if transporting horses to a veterinary clinic for OSTs."
References
*Jacquay ET, Harris PA, Adams AA. The impact of short-term transportation stress on insulin and oral sugar responses in insulin dysregulated and non-insulin dysregulated horses. Equine Vet J. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14403
More from Spillers
- Feed manufacturer donates £10,000 to voters’ chosen charities
- Feed manufacturer to donate £10,000 to charities of your choice
- Equine feed manufacturer announces new webinar series
- Feed manufacturer donates strip grazing supplies to help Redwings residents battle the bulge
- Feed manufacturer’s survey reveals equestrian industry’s views on obesity