Risk factors for laminitis and nonsurvival in acute colitis: Retrospective study of 85 hospitalized horses (2011-2019).

BACKGROUND: Acute colitis is a serious cause of morbidity and death in horses. Recent studies have compared clinical features of coronavirus and salmonellosis, but no study has compared clinical features of enteric salmonellosis, coronavirus, and neorickettsiosis. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors for laminitis and nonsurvival to discharge in horses with enteric salmonellosis, coronavirus, or neorickettsiosis. ANIMALS: Eighty-five horses hospitalized for acute colitis from 2011 to 2019. METHODS: Retrospective case series. Medical record review (2011-2019) of adult (≥2 years) horses with colitis. Primary outcomes were laminitis and survival to discharge. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess association between variables and the development of laminitis. Stepwise Cox regression was performed to assess association between variables and survival. RESULTS: Seventeen of 85 (20%) horses developed laminitis during hospitalization. Neorickettsiosis cases (11/26, 42%) were more likely to develop laminitis than coronavirus (0/16, 0%) cases (odds ratio [OR] 24.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33-451.74, P = .03). There was no significant difference in laminitis between salmonellosis and neorickettsiosis cases (OR 0.27; 95% CI: 0.07-1.07, P = .06). Admission heart rate (OR 1.08; 95% CI: 1.02-1.15, P = .01), total solids (OR 0.17; 95% CI: 0.06-0.54, P = .003), band neutrophils (OR 1248.47; 95% CI: 6.62-235 540, P = .008), and bicarbonate concentration (OR 0.68; 95% CI: 0.5-0.92, P = .01) were predictive of development of laminitis during hospitalization. Sixty-three of 85 (74%) horses survived to discharge: 16/16 (100%) coronavirus cases, 17/26 (65%) neorickettsiosis cases, 14/20 (70%) salmonellosis cases, and 16/23 (70%) unknown cases. Packed cell volume (hazard ratio [HR] 1.17; 95% CI: 1.09-1.26, P < .001), L-lactate concentration (HR 1.33; 95% CI: 1.14-1.55, P < .001), and development of laminitis (HR 7.07; 95% CI: 1.67-29.95, P = .008) were retained in the final multivariable model for prediction of nonsurvival to discharge. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Nonsurvival and laminitis rates were high, likely related to the presence of neorickettsiosis in the region.

Long-lasting antifouling coating from multi-armed polymer.

We describe a new antifouling surface coating, based on aggregation of a short amphiphilic four-armed PEG-dopamine polymer into particles and on surface binding by catechol chemistry. An unbroken and smooth polymeric coating layer with an average thickness of approximately 4 µm was formed on top of titanium oxide surfaces by a single step reaction. Coatings conferred excellent resistance to protein adhesion. Cell attachment was completely prevented for at least eight weeks, although the membranes themselves did not appear to be intrinsically cytotoxic. When linear PEG or four-armed PEG of higher molecular weight were used, the resulting coatings were inferior in thickness and in preventing protein adhesion. This coating method has potential applicability for biomedical devices susceptible to fouling after implantation.