Treatment approaches to horses with acute diarrhea admitted to referral institutions: A multicenter retrospective study.
<h4>Background</h4>This study aimed to describe and compare therapeutic approaches for horses with acute diarrhea in different geographic regions worldwide.<h4>Methods</h4>Clinical information was retrospectively collected from diarrheic horses presented to participating inst...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2024-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313783 |
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| Summary: | <h4>Background</h4>This study aimed to describe and compare therapeutic approaches for horses with acute diarrhea in different geographic regions worldwide.<h4>Methods</h4>Clinical information was retrospectively collected from diarrheic horses presented to participating institutions between 2016 and 2020, including fluid therapy on admission, antimicrobial drugs, probiotics, anti-endotoxic medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, gastroprotectants, digital cryotherapy, and toxin-binding agents. Seasonal and geographic differences were investigated.<h4>Results</h4>1438 horses from 26 participating hospitals from 5 continents were included. On admission, 65% (926/1419) of horses were administered a fluid bolus. Antimicrobial drugs were administered to 55% (792/1419) within the first 24 hours of admission, with penicillin and gentamicin being the most used combination (25%, 198/792). Horses with leukopenia (OR: 2.264, 95%CI: 1.754 to 2.921; P<0.001) or meeting systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria (OR: 2.542, 95%CI: 1.919 to 3.368; P<0.001) had higher odds of being administered antimicrobial drugs. Other treatments administered included probiotics (15%, 215/1438), polymyxin B (13%; 187/1438), pentoxifylline (8%; 118/1438), gastroprotectants (44%; 626/1419), digital cryotherapy (34%; 489/1435), plasma transfusion (13%; 182/1410) and toxin-binding agents (36%; 515/1438).<h4>Limitations</h4>Due to the retrospective nature of the study, the rationale for treatment decisions was unavailable, and associations with survival could not be evaluated.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Treatments varied between hospitals from different geographic regions. Prospective clinical trials are required to evaluate the effects of various treatments on survival. |
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| ISSN: | 1932-6203 |