Animal Health: Colic and Incidence Studies

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Questions and Answers

What is the estimated incidence of colic per year among horses in the study conducted in the USA?

20.3%

13.6% (correct)

15.2%

10.5%

What percentage of colic cases were resolved in less than 24 hours?

90%

75% (correct)

67%

50%

What is a major factor influencing colic according to horsemen?

Age of the horse

Genetic predisposition

Dietary habits

Individual opinions (correct)

What is a commonality found in epidemiological studies regarding risk factors for diseases?

They help in testing hypothesis of relationships between exposures and diseases. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT mentioned as influencing the risk of colic in horses?

Genetic predisposition Signup and view all the answers

What was a common issue with data regarding the horse's environment?

It was often poorly collected. Signup and view all the answers

Which factors associated with colic can be influenced by human actions?

Management practices Signup and view all the answers

What main conclusion can be drawn from the studies on colic in horses?

Human-controlled practices can mitigate certain risk factors. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant challenge in determining risk factors for colic?

Factors often correlate strongly with one another. Signup and view all the answers

What was the focus of the multi-center case-control study reported by Reeves et al. (1996)?

Risk factors for equine acute abdominal disease Signup and view all the answers

Which substance was evaluated for its effect on the prevalence of equine colic according to French et al. (1994)?

Ivermectin Signup and view all the answers

What type of study did Tinker et al. (1997) conduct regarding equine colic?

Prospective study Signup and view all the answers

What was the duration of the cases evaluated in the enterolithiasis study by Hassel et al. (1999)?

5 years Signup and view all the answers

In the context of equine nutrition, what was one of the focuses of Julliand et al. (2001)?

Microbial disorders related to hay-grain ratios Signup and view all the answers

What specific aspect of equine colic was studied by Tinker et al. (1997) in their prospective study?

Incidence and mortality rates Signup and view all the answers

What was concluded regarding the prevalence of equine colic in the study conducted by Rollins and Clement (1959)?

It varies based on farm management practices Signup and view all the answers

What aspect did Holland et al. (1998) specifically measure related to equine health?

Faecal kinetics in diet studies Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the factors that can lead to colic in horses?

Obstructive actions of worms Signup and view all the answers

What was the finding regarding deworming treatments and colic frequency?

No association was found between deworming frequency and colic. Signup and view all the answers

Which age category of horses showed a higher risk for colic?

Horses older than 10 years Signup and view all the answers

What type of colic is more common in horses over 11 years of age?

Colic from enterolith obstruction Signup and view all the answers

How does age affect colic treatments requiring surgery?

Older horses require more surgical interventions for colic. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the frequency of worming products and colic risk?

Increased worming leads to a higher risk for colic Signup and view all the answers

Which factor complicates the relationship between age and colic incidence?

Horses' level of activity and feeding Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended fecal egg count to reduce the risk of colic?

Less than 200 eggs of strongyles per gram Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Colic in Horses

Colic refers to abdominal pain of digestive origin, primarily affecting horses.
The National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) estimates a 13.6% annual incidence of colic among horses aged 6 months or older across 28 states in the USA.
75% of colic cases resolve in less than 24 hours; however, 67% require veterinarian examination, with 85% of treated horses receiving medical attention.
High mortality rates are reported in horses referred to veterinary clinics due to colic.

Research Studies and Methodologies

Cohort studies assess the incidence of diseases in exposed versus non-exposed populations, enabling precise risk measurement.
Case-control studies focus on comparing previous exposures in diseased individuals (cases) versus healthy individuals (controls).
The first case-control study of colic in horses analyzed 320 cases and 3,610 controls over ten years, examining associations with intrinsic factors and medical management.

Risk Factors for Colic

Age influences the type of colic; horses aged 2 to 8 years showed varying colic risks, with a 1.5-fold increase for those older than 10 years compared to 1-5 year-olds.
Specific colic types are more frequent in older horses, with enterolith-related colic prevalent in those over 11 years, while large colon impaction is common in horses aged 7-8 years.
Surgery for colic was more commonly needed in older horses than in younger ones.

Deworming and Parasitism

A study of 821 colic-treated horses found no significant association between colic and frequency of deworming or anthelmintic usage.
Biased selection of horse groups and various underlying factors in veterinary practices complicate understanding the impact of deworming on colic incidence.

Data Collection and Limitations

Research is typically derived from veterinarian and hospital practices, providing reliable medical data but inadequate information on environmental factors such as feeding and housing.
Contrarily, studies based on farm practices often collect detailed observational data over time, ensuring accuracy.

Conclusions on Colic Risk Factors

Numerous factors are linked to colic in horses, with some (e.g., feeding practices, management) being manageable.
Environmental and intrinsic factors also play critical roles, but many influencing elements cannot be altered by human intervention.
This comprehensive understanding of risk factors can aid in developing better management strategies to mitigate colic incidence.

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Description

This quiz evaluates understanding of colic, an abdominal pain of digestive origin in animals, based on the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) data. It focuses on the methodology of cohort studies that assess the incidence of diseases in exposed versus non-exposed populations.