Abstract
ABSTRACT. Roier E.C.R., Reis T.P., Pires M.S., Botteon R.C.C.M, Almeida F.Q. & Botteon P.T.L. [Endotoxaemia control by the virginiamycin administration in horses with carbohydrate overload]. Controle da endotoxemia pela administração de virginiamicina em equinos com sobrecarga por carboidratos. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária 33(2):120-124, 2011. Departamento de Medicina e Cirurgia Veterinária, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465, km 7, Seropédica, 23851-970, RJ, Brasil. E-mail: pbotteon@ufrrj.br This work aimed to verify the efficiency of the administration of virginiamycin in starch overload horses to control the harmful effects of this overload. 17, 6 g/kg of starch was administered by a nasogastric tube. It was used four horses with a right ventral colon fistula with four treatments in a Latin square 4 x 4. T1 – control, without virginiamycin administration; T2 - virginiamycin administration at the same time of corn starch; T3 – virginiamycin administration 12 hours after corn starch; T4 - virginiamycin administration at the same time of corn starch and 12 hours after it. Clinical examinations and blood samples were collected before the assay (zero time), 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours after carbohydrate overload. Besides the clinical evaluation, the endotoxin serum levels of the horses were determinate. There were no observed changes on mucosa color and refill time on treatments that virginiamycin was administered in overload moment. Increase the hooves temperature and digital pulse was observed in all groups, However, there was no lameness in any group. The administration of virginiamycin at the time of the corn starch overload or even 12 hours after was effective in minimizing the clinical signs and the values of endotoxemia after the corn starch overload. In the control treatment, the plasma levels of endotoxin increased significantly at 24 hours after corn starch overload (p <0.05).