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A team of researchers at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) led by Molly McCue discovered that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in a horse’s environment may contribute to the development of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). The researchers’ findings could explain some of the variability in EMS severity that can’t be explained by other commonly measured factors, such as diet, exercise, and season.
EMS is linked to obesity and insulin resistance. It can also lead to laminitis, a painful and debilitating inflammation of tissue in a horse’s hooves, which can necessitate euthanasia in severe cases.
“This is a pivotal piece of a very complicated jigsaw puzzle,” McCue, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM, interim associate dean for research and professor in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, says. “There are a lot of horse owners out there who are very diligent about providing their horses fantastic care, but their horses are still diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. It’s important to be aware that these chemicals contribute to the problem so we can look for ways to reduce horses’ exposure to them.”
This was the first study to report associations between EDCs and disease in domestic animals. EDCs are usually human-made substances found in pesticides, plastics, and personal care products. Any system in the body controlled by hormones can be derailed by hormone disruptions caused by EDCs. They are prevalent in the environment and can mimic a body’s hormones, blocking real ones from doing their jobs and producing harmful effects in humans, domesticated animals, and wildlife. Horses likely come into contact with EDCs through their food and water.
With funding from Morris Animal Foundation, the team studied more than 300 horses from 32 farms in the United States and Canada. The scientists collected data on the horses’ lifestyles as a whole, including diet, exercise, and past illnesses, and farm location. They concluded that accumulation of EDCs may explain some environmental variance seen in horses with EMS. Next, the researchers will look to determine the precise role and dose response to EDCs in horses with EMS.
While it remains to be seen how significant the association between EDCs and EMS is, McCue and her team hope future studies will further scientific understanding on the topic and help advance veterinary care for horses.
Photo by Amy Hamlet