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Browsing by Author "Suagee-Bedore, Jessica K."

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    Effects of Crude Rice Bran Oil and a Flaxseed Oil Blend in Young Horses Engaged in a Training Program
    Mowry, Kayla C.; Thomson-Parker, Timber L.; Morales, Cruz; Fikes, Kalley K.; Stutts, Kyle J.; Leatherwood, Jessica L.; Anderson, Mark J.; Smith, Rachelle X.; Suagee-Bedore, Jessica K. (MDPI, 2022-11)
    Rice bran oil and flaxseed oil contain omega-3 fatty acids with the potential to reduce post-exercise inflammation and muscle damage. This study measures plasma interleukin-1β and creatine kinase and fatty acid profiles in lightly worked, young horses (Equus caballus) undergoing an exercise test after 60 days (d) of oil consumption, where the oil replaced 25% of concentrate calories. Treatments consisted of CON (no oil), FLAX (flaxseed oil blend), and RICE (crude rice bran oil). Blood was collected pre-exercise, and again at 1 min, 30 min, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h post-IET. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Plasma creatine kinase activity was not different in CON during the study, greater (p < 0.05) in RICE from pre-exercise to 30 min post-exercise across all exercise tests, and lesser (p < 0.05) in FLAX at 30 min post-exercise on d 30 compared to d 0. Plasma interleukin-1β was greater (p < 0.01) in CON on d 60, but no differences were observed in FLAX and RICE throughout the study. Plasma alpha-linolenic and linoleic acids were greatest (p < 0.05) in FLAX after 30 d of inclusion, while CON horses had greater (p < 0.05) EPA across all exercise tests and DHA after 60 d. These results indicate that 60 d of inclusion of crude rice bran oil or a flaxseed oil blend may benefit lightly worked, young horses by reducing training-program-related increases in interleukin-1β, while a flaxseed oil blend may reduce exercise-induced increases in creatine kinase. Additionally, the flaxseed oil blend has the potential to increase plasma omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Replacing 25% of concentrate calories with flaxseed or rice bran oil has potential benefits for young horses in training.
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    Validation of a Commercial ELISA Kit for Non-Invasive Measurement of Biologically Relevant Changes in Equine Cortisol Concentrations
    Share, Elizabeth R.; Mastellar, Sara L.; Suagee-Bedore, Jessica K.; Eastridge, Maurice L. (MDPI, 2024-10-01)
    The measurement of fecal cortisol/corticosterone metabolites (FCMs) is often used to quantify the stress response. The sampling method is relatively non-invasive, reduces concern for elevation of cortisol from the sampling method, and has been shown to measure cortisol more consistently without the daily diurnal rhythm observed in blood. Commercial ELISA (enzyme-linked immunoassay) kits offer benefits over previously validated immunoassay methods but lack validation. The objective of this study was to evaluate a commercial ELISA kit (Arbor AssaysTM DetectX® Cortisol ELISA kit, K003-H1, Ann Arbor, MI, USA) and provide analytical and biologic validation of equine fecal and plasma samples. Horses (4 male, 4 female, mean ± SD: 4 ± 5 yr) were transported for 15 min with limited physical and visual contact via a livestock trailer. Blood and fecal samples were collected pre- and post-transportation. Parallelism, accuracy, and precision tests were used to analytically validate this kit. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS 9.4. Plasma cortisol concentrations increased in response to trailering (254.5 ± 26.4 nmol/L, 0 min post-transportation) compared to pre-transportation (142.8 ± 26.4 nmol/L). FCM concentrations increased 24 h post-trailering (10.8 ± 1.7 ng/g) when compared to pre-transportation (7.4 ± 1.7 ng/g). These data support that changes in FCMs can be observed 24 h post-stressor. In conclusion, the Arbor AssaysTM DetectX® Cortisol ELISA kit is a reliable, economic option for the measurement of biologically relevant changes in cortisol in equine plasma and FCMs.