99 Characterization of lipid and inﬂammatory proﬁles in horses with equine metabolic syndrome S.E. Elzinga* 1 , P.L. Wood 2 , and A.A. Adams 1 1 University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; 2 Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN, USA Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a growing problem in the equine industry that is linked to the potentially devastating condition laminitis. One of the deﬁning characteristics of EMS is obesity. In humans and mice, a relationship between obesity, lipid proﬁles, and inﬂammation has been observed. As such, focus has shifted to using lipidomics to classify lipid proﬁles of individuals with metabolic dysfunction, but this technique has yet to be utilized in the horse. Moreover, previous work has yielded conﬂicting results about the inﬂammatory state of EMS animals. Considering that abnormal lipid proﬁles may contribute to altered cell signaling or increased inﬂammation, our goal was to examine possible differences in plasma lipid proﬁles of EMS horses compared with controls, as well as better understand their inﬂammatory state. To accomplish this, 23 age-matched mixed sex and breed horses (13 ± 3 years old) were selected in the spring of 2014 from the University of Kentucky’s herd. Of the horses, 9 were classiﬁed controls and 14 EMS. EMS was deter- mined by the presence of hyperinsulinemia, general or regional obesity, and history of laminitis. All horses were maintained on a diet of mixed grass hay and had access to water and a mineral block ad libitum. Prior to blood sample collection horses were weighed, and average body condition (BCS) and cresty neck score (CNS) was calculated from 3 trained investigators. Following fasting, serum and plasma sample collection was performed via jugular venipuncture and an oral sugar test was administered. Serum was analyzed for insulin, leptin, triglycer- ide, cholesterol, and nonesteriﬁed fatty acid (NEFA) concentra- tions. Plasma samples were used to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells for cytokine protein concentration via ﬂow cytometry and gene transcription via RT-PCR. Plasma was uti- lized for lipidomic analysis. Data were analyzed using SIGMA- STAT version 3.1 by 2 way ANOVA with ﬁxed effects set as EMS vs control and age. As expected, EMS horses had increased BCS, CNS, basal insulin, and insulin post administration of oral sugar (P < 0.05) compared with controls. They also had increased serum triglycerides and leptin, but no differences in cholesterol or NEFA. Flow cytometry and RT-PCR showed no (P > 0.05) dif- ferences between the 2 groups, however high variability may have inﬂuenced results. Lipidomics analysis revealed signiﬁ- cantly elevated (P < 0.05) plasma tri-, di-, mono-acylglycerides, and ceramide in EMS horses, but lower sphingomyelins, suﬂa- tides, and choline plasmalogens. Thus, EMS horses have differ- ences in their lipid proﬁles compared with controls. Key Words: lipidomics, inﬂammation, immune Oral Presentations 100 Distal forelimb asymmetries in the domestic horse S.R. Malone* 1, 2 , and H.M.S. Davies 2 1 Morehead State University, Morehead, KY, USA; 2 The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia Differences in bone weight have long been associated with the dominant limb in a variety of species. Although some differ- ence in bone size and shape are expected, animals with severe asymmetries may be at an increased risk of injury or a decreased chance of success in athletic endeavors. Equine cadaver forelimbs (n ¼ 30 pairs) were used to describe bilateral forelimb asymme- tries and test the hypothesis that a relationship between exter- nally measurable variables and bone parameters exists. External measurements of hoof anatomy were collected including prox- imal hoof circumference (PHC), hoof angle, and solar circum- ference. Hooves were then dissected and bones removed so measurements of bone weight, length and width could be collected from the third metacarpal (MC3) bone and the ﬁrst (P1), second (P2), and third (P3) proximal phalanges. A previously described asymmetry index (ASI) was calculated for each variable. A one-sample t-test was used to assess if the ASI for each variable was signiﬁcantly different from zero (indicating asymmetry) and signiﬁcance was set at P < 0.05. Results are reported as the mean ASI ± SD. Subjects had heavier (P ¼ 0.024) left MC3 bones (À0.99 ± 2.28) and steeper (P ¼ 0.03) left P3 angles (À2.07 ± 4.98). Relationships between variables that can be measured externally on a live horse (PHC and hoof angle) were also evaluated as predictors for internal measurements using a regression equation. Signiﬁcant relationships were identiﬁed between the predictor PHC and MC3 length (P < 0.001; R 2 ¼ 40.3), MC3 width (P < 0.001; R 2 ¼ 56.6) and MC3 weight (P < 0.001; R 2 ¼ 63.7) as well as PHC and P3 angle (P ¼ 0.022; R 2 ¼ 17.4) and P3 weight (P < 0.001; R 2 ¼ 81.4). This study is the ﬁrst to identify bilateral differences in equine bone weight and relationships between PHC and internal bone measurements. The relationship identiﬁed between PHC and internal asymmetries may allow researchers a new method of assessing asymmetry in live horses. It could provide a method for identifying horses at a higher risk of injury due to severe asymmetries. Key Words: asymmetry, hoof 101 Measuring conformation in mules, hinnies, and donkeys (Equus asinus) from Spanish and Portuguese populations A.K. McLean* 1 , W. Wang 1, 2 , A. Heartﬁeld 1, 3 , and J.B. Rodrigues 1, 4 1 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; 2 Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA, USA; 3 Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; 4 University Lus ofona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon, Portugal Mules and hinnies are hybrid offspring of donkeys (Equus asinus) and horses (Equus caballus). Little scientiﬁc information is known regarding mules and even less is known about hinnies, the reciprocal cross. Conformation standards are in place for horses but currently are not available for equid hybrids or donkeys. Conformation maybe related to functionality and longevity of equids. All animals in this study were of similar genetics (Zamora Leones and Mirandes donkey breeds and Spanish horses) from Toro, Spain and Miranda do Douro, Portugal and used for traction. Balance was measured in centimeters (cm). Balance was evalu- ated by dividing the body equally into thirds; length of neck (poll to top of withers) ¼ mid section (back and loin) ¼ hip (point of hip to point of buttock). In donkeys (n ¼ 26) mean of middle > mean of neck > hip (P < 0.05), mules (n ¼ 10) and hinnies (n ¼ 22) middle ¼ neck > hip (P < 0.05). Topline and underline means equal when measured (1:2 ideal) in donkeys and hinnies. Topline in mules was less than underline (P ¼ 0.03, ratio 0.85 with a 95% CI (0.79, 0.97). Ideally, the measurement of the heart girth is equal to heart girth to ground. The mean heart girth was signiﬁcantly larger than mean heart to ground in all equids (P < 0.05). Wither height equaled hip height and no difference was found. When dividing into equal thirds, length of hip was signiﬁcantly shorter Abstracts / Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 35 (2015) 418e436 426