Osteopathic treatment in horses increases blood concentration of beta‐endorphin, erythropoietin and interleukin‐6
A. Musso, F. Garza, C.‐C. Liu, M. Keowen, F. M. AndrewsSummary
Background
Animal osteopathy is a manual therapy consisting of the manipulation of body tissues. Human‐based studies suggest that osteopathic treatment (OT) induces biochemical changes during and after intervention. Reports in horses are limited.
Objectives
Experiment 1: To determine if repeated jugular venipuncture (JV) alters stress biomarkers and necessitates jugular catheter (JC) placement for Experiment 2. Experiment 2: To determine the effects of OT on short‐term biomarkers in horses.
Study design
In vivo randomised controlled trial.
Methods
Experiment 1: 8 healthy Thoroughbred geldings were assigned to two groups, JC ( n = 4) or JV ( n = 4). Blood was collected at baseline (T0), 20 min (T20) and 40 min (T40). Experiment 2: 18 healthy Thoroughbred geldings were assigned to two groups, OT group ( n = 13) or control ([C], n = 13). Blood was drawn from the jugular vein before (T0), during (T20) and after (T40) the OT. For an initial screening, the serum concentration of several endocrine and inflammatory biomarkers including adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), beta‐endorphin (β‐END), cortisol (COR), erythropoietin (EPO) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) was measured in the serum by ELISA. Results from the initial screening prompted us to further investigate β‐END and COR. An additional 18 Thoroughbreds ([OT], n = 9) or control ([C], n = 9) were evaluated. Statistical analysis: data were analysed using a mixed‐effects two‐way ANOVA. Significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results
Experiment 1: there was no difference in ACTH ( p > 0.7) and COR ( p > 0.5) between the two collection methods. Experiment 2: EPO (0.298 ± 0.109, p = 0.01) and IL‐6 (0.0903 ± 0.0398, p = 0.03) increased immediately after the treatment in treated horses. The second screening demonstrated that β‐END (0.130 ± 0.0436, p = 0.003) was increased immediately after the OT when compared to controls.
Main limitations
Only short‐term responses were monitored.
Conclusions
A single osteopathic treatment elicited a quantifiable short‐term physiological response in horses.