Archer D C, Pinchbeck G K, French N P, Proudman C J
Division of Veterinary Clinical Studies, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, The Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
Equine Vet J. 2008 May;40(3):224-30. doi: 10.2746/042516408X266079.
Epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE) is one of the most common causes of small intestinal strangulation in the horse. Identification of risk factors would generate hypotheses about causation and may suggest preventive strategies.
Horses exhibiting certain behavioural patterns and those exposed to particular management practices are at increased risk of EFE.
A matched case-control study was conducted on EFE cases admitted to hospitals in the UK, Ireland and USA. Data on 109 cases and 310 control horses were obtained by telephone questionnaire and conditional logistic regression was used to identify associations between horse- and management-level variables and the risk of EFE.
Crib-biting/windsucking behaviour was strongly associated with increased risk of EFE (OR 67.3, 95%CI 15.3-296.5). A history of colic in the previous 12 months (OR 4.4, 95%CI 1.5-12.7) and horses of greater height (OR/cm 1.05, 95%CI 1.01-1.08) were also at increased risk. The person(s) responsible for horses' daily care (nonowner/relative/spouse OR 5.5, 95%CI 2.3-13.3) and a number of behavioural features, including response to a stimulus causing fright (easily frightened OR 0.4, 95%CI 0.1-1.0) or excitement (sweats up easily/occasionally OR 0.3, 95%CI 0.1-0.8), reaction to their surroundings (inquisitive OR 0.4, 95%CI 0.2-0.8) and feeding behaviour when stressed (goes off food in full/part OR 0.3, 95%CI 0.1-1.0) were also associated with altered risk of EFE.
The association between horses of greater height and those with a previous history of colic and increased risk of EFE suggests that some horses may be inherently predisposed to EFE. Furthermore, a behavioural pattern has been characterised that is common to horses at increased risk of EFE. Further research is required to investigate the causal pathway linking behavioural traits with gastrointestinal dysfunction and to determine whether behavioural modification reduces the risk of EFE.
The findings of the present study have relevance to horses in the UK, Ireland and USA.
网膜孔嵌顿（EFE）是马小肠绞窄最常见的病因之一。识别风险因素有助于提出关于病因的假设，并可能提示预防策略。
表现出特定行为模式的马以及经历过特定管理方式的马发生EFE的风险增加。
对英国、爱尔兰和美国医院收治的EFE病例进行了一项配对病例对照研究。通过电话问卷调查收集了109例病例和310匹对照马的数据，并采用条件逻辑回归分析来确定马匹和管理层面的变量与EFE风险之间的关联。
咬栏/咽气行为与EFE风险增加密切相关（比值比67.3，95%置信区间15.3 - 296.5）。过去12个月内有腹痛病史（比值比4.4，95%置信区间1.5 - 12.7）以及体型较高的马（每厘米比值比1.05，95%置信区间1.01 - 1.08）发生EFE的风险也增加。负责马匹日常护理的人员（非主人/亲属/配偶，比值比5.5，95%置信区间2.3 - 13.3）以及一些行为特征，包括对引起惊吓的刺激的反应（容易受惊，比值比0.4，95%置信区间0.1 - 1.0）或兴奋的反应（容易/偶尔出汗，比值比0.3，95%置信区间0.1 - 0.8）、对周围环境的反应（好奇，比值比0.4，95%置信区间0.2 - 0.8）以及应激时的采食行为（完全/部分拒食，比值比0.3，95%置信区间0.1 - 1.0）也与EFE风险的改变有关。
体型较高的马以及有腹痛病史的马与EFE风险增加之间的关联表明，一些马可能天生就易患EFE。此外，已经确定了一种行为模式，这种模式在EFE风险增加的马中很常见。需要进一步研究来调查将行为特征与胃肠功能障碍联系起来的因果途径，并确定行为改变是否能降低EFE的风险。
本研究结果适用于英国、爱尔兰和美国的马匹。
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