About

Katarzyna Dembek is associated with the College of Veterinary Medicine at NC State University, where she is involved in student engagement and support. She holds the position of Director of Student Engagement, and her contact information includes a phone number and email address. Her role emphasizes fostering a caring, collaborative culture within the college, supporting student achievement and well-being, and enhancing the overall student experience. The college's focus on research, community, and professional development suggests her involvement in initiatives that promote student success and engagement in veterinary medicine. Specific details about her research focus, background, or key contributions are not provided in the page text.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Internal medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology
• Anesthesia
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Endocrinology
• Microbiology

Selected publications

• Risk factors for strangulating lipoma obstruction and lipomata in horses

  Equine Veterinary Journal · 2025-10-04

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Strangulating lipoma obstruction (SLO) is the most common cause of equine small intestinal strangulation and is fatal without surgery. Currently, epidemiological information is primarily limited to signalment-related risk factors and requires further investigation. OBJECTIVES: To identify horse-level risk factors for SLO and/or abdominal lipoma(s) (LP) formation in horses with acute colic that underwent surgery or post-mortem examination at participating equine clinics. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, international, multicentre, epidemiological study. METHODS: An epidemiological study was conducted over 27 months (January 2022-April 2024) in 8 clinics (UK n = 4, USA n = 4) to identify variables associated with altered likelihood of SLO and/or LP. Horses presenting with acute colic signs that underwent surgery or post-mortem examination were eligible. Those (i) that had SLO as the primary cause of colic, or (ii) those that had mesenteric and/or omental lipoma(ta) (LP) were compared to horses without lipomata. Signalment, adiposity, endocrine status, and lipomata deposition data were analysed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: Data from 392 horses was obtained (108 SLO; 190 LP). Increasing age (odds ratio [OR] 1.23) for every year increase in age 95% CI (95% CI: 1.17-1.30, p < 0.001), male sex (OR 1.78, 95% CI: 1.08-2.95, p = 0.02) and clinical indicators of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) (OR 4.77, 95% CI: 2.93-7.77, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with increased likelihood of SLO. Increasing age, clinical indicators of EMS, indicators of previous/current laminitis (hoof growth ring score), jejunal mesenteric fat score and omental fat scores were significantly associated with increased likelihood of LP. MAIN LIMITATIONS: Population restricted to horses with acute colic signs admitted to collaborating clinics. CONCLUSIONS: Measures to prevent adiposity and EMS development appear important to reduce the likelihood of LP and SLO. Further investigation of differential adipose tissue deposition between male and female horses is warranted.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Postanesthetic rhabdomyolysis in 7 warmblood horses

  Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association · 2024-10-25 · 1 citations

  article

  OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical findings, outcomes, and muscle histopathology in warmblood horses that developed severe rhabdomyolysis in the perianesthetic period despite remaining stable while under general anesthesia. ANIMALS: 7 warmblood horses, 6 geldings and 1 mare, with a median age of 9 years (range, 4 to 18 years) and median weight of 615 kg (range, 550 to 703 kg). Records from the Valberg Neuromuscular Diagnostic Laboratory and Michigan State University were reviewed (2016 to 2023) to identify warmbloods with postanesthetic myopathy (PAM). CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Warmblood horses with no history of myopathy developed PAM after remaining stable while under general anesthesia. Five of 7 horses were in regular work prior to anesthesia, and activity level was unknown in 2 horses. Time to standing in recovery was prolonged, 3 horses were euthanized due to persistent recumbency, and rhabdomyolysis recurred in 4 horses 5 to 11 days after anesthesia, with 1 surviving. Horses had muscle stiffness, pain, and sweating and struggled to remain standing. As PAM developed, serum creatine kinase activity and lactate concentrations (12 ± 7 mmol/L; n = 5) were markedly increased. RESULTS: At necropsy, histopathology revealed complete glycogen depletion (5 of 7), acute myodegeneration (6 of 7), and chronic active myodegeneration of representative skeletal muscle samples. A semimembranosus biopsy obtained 14 days after anesthesia from the survivor had rare glycogen-depleted fibers. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Warmblood horses are susceptible to fatal PAM characterized by acute myodegeneration, lactic acidosis, and muscle glycogen depletion that occurs up to 11 days after anesthesia. In horses with delayed recovery after anesthesia, monitoring for 2 weeks after anesthesia, including assessment of serum creatine kinase activity and blood lactate, could potentially improve outcomes.

  PublisherDOI

• An updated description of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses and factors associated with death

  Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine · 2024-07-15 · 10 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Available descriptive studies on equine pneumonia are outdated or focus on specific horse or bacterial populations. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical presentation and bacterial isolates of adult horses with bacterial pneumonia and identify factors associated with death. ANIMALS: One hundred sixteen horses >2 years old with bacterial pneumonia. METHODS: Retrospective case series. Data regarding history, physical examination, clinicopathologic features, treatment, bacterial culture and sensitivity, and outcome were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Historical risk factors were present for 60% of cases, whereas abnormal vital signs on intake were present for <50%. Most horses (58%) underwent at least 1 change of antimicrobial treatment, and 67% received the highest-priority critically important antimicrobials. Streptococcus zooepidemicus was the most isolated bacteria (44%), followed by Escherichia coli (19%), Klebsiella spp. (18%), other Streptococcus species (17%), and Bacillus spp. (13%). Fusobacterium spp. were the most common anaerobic isolates (11%). Antimicrobial susceptibility varied widely. Survival to discharge was 73%. Heart rate at presentation (odds ratio [OR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.008-1.17, P = .03) and higher creatinine (OR 14.1, 95% CI 1.56-127.6, P = .02) increased the risk of death. Higher lymphocyte count (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.08-0.94, P = .04) reduced risk. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Contrasting older literature, Fusobacterium spp. were the most common anaerobes. Streptococcus zooepidemicus remained the most common isolate and was predictably susceptible to penicillin. Antimicrobial susceptibility was otherwise variable and broad applicability is limited as this was a single-center study. Increased risk of death associated with tachycardia and abnormally high serum creatinine concentration is consistent with previous studies.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Assessment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis function using a vasopressin stimulation test in neonatal foals

  Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine · 2023-07-11 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: Bacterial sepsis is the leading cause of death in foals and is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPAA) dysfunction. HPAA function can be evaluated by an arginine-vasopressin (AVP) stimulation test. HYPOTHESES/OBJECTIVES: Administration of AVP will stimulate a dose-dependent rise in systemic adrenocorticotropin-releasing hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in neonatal foals. There will be no response seen in corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and baseline AVP will be within reference interval. ANIMALS: Twelve neonatal foals, <72 hours old. METHODS: HPAA function was assessed in foals utilizing 3 doses of AVP (2.5, 5, and 7.5 IU), administered between 24 and 48 hours of age in this randomized cross-over study. Cortisol, ACTH, CRH and AVP were measured at 0 (baseline), 15, 30, 60 and 90 minutes after AVP administration with immunoassays. The fold increase in cortisol and ACTH was calculated at 15 and 30 minutes compared to baseline. RESULTS: All doses of AVP resulted in a significant increase in cortisol concentration over time, and a dose-dependent increase in ACTH concentration over time. ACTH and cortisol were significantly increased at 15 and 30 minutes, respectively after all 3 doses of AVP compared to baseline (P < .01). There was no change in endogenous CRH after stimulation with AVP. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Administration of AVP is safe and results in a significant rise in ACTH and cortisol in neonatal foals. A stimulation test with AVP (5 IU) can be considered for HPAA assessment in septic foals.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Systemic Absorption of Triamcinolone Acetonide following Intrasynovial and Extrasynovial Articular Injection

  VCOT Open · 2023-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Introduction: Laminitis remains a major concern with clinical use of corticosteroids, particularly triamcinolone acetonide (TA). Available literature has not demonstrated an increased risk of laminitis with use of TA, but clinical experience indicates that one-time use of appropriate doses can induce fatal laminitis. Individual case factors influencing laminitis risk have not been investigated, and previous studies on musculoskeletal therapies have focused solely on intraarticular (intrasynovial) injections. This study aimed to determine if systemic absorption of TA varies between intrasynovial (antebrachiocarpal) and extrasynovial (sacroiliac) injection sites. We hypothesized that there would be increased absorption from the extrasynovial site.

  PublisherDOI

• Longitudinal effects of oral administration of antimicrobial drugs on fecal microbiota of horses

  Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine · 2023 · 18 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Medicine
  • Internal medicine
  • Gastroenterology

  BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial drug-associated diarrhea (AAD) is the most common adverse effect in horses receiving antimicrobials. Little information on how oral administration of antimicrobials alters intestinal microbiota in horses is available. OBJECTIVE: Investigate changes of the fecal microbiota in response to oral administration of antimicrobials. ANIMALS: Twenty healthy horses. METHODS: Prospective, longitudinal study. Horses were randomly assigned to 4 groups comprising 4 horses each: group 1 (metronidazole); group 2 (erythromycin); group 3 (doxycycline); group 4 (sulfadiazine/trimethoprim, SMZ-TMP); and group 5 (control). Antimicrobials were administered for 5 days. Fecal samples were obtained before (day 0) and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 30 days of the study period. Fecal microbiota was characterized by high throughput sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA. RESULTS: Horses remained healthy throughout the study. Richness and diversity in doxycycline, erythromycin, and metronidazole, but not SMZ-TMP groups, was significantly lower (P < .05) at multiple time points after administration of antimicrobials compared with samples from day 0. Main changes in the microbiota were observed during the time of antimicrobial administration (day 2-5; weighted and unweighted UniFrac PERMANOVA P < .05). Administration of erythromycin, doxycycline and, to a lesser extent, metronidazole produced a pronounced alteration in the microbiota compared with day 0 samples by decreasing the abundance of Treponema, Fibrobacter, and Lachnospiraceae and increasing Fusobacterium and Escherichia-Shigella. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Oral administration of antimicrobials alters the intestinal microbiota of healthy horses resembling horses with dysbiosis, potentially resulting in intestinal inflammation and predisposition to diarrhea.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• General anesthesia does not induce ultrasonographic changes in the pleura of healthy adult horses anesthetized for elective magnetic resonance imaging

  Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association · 2023-02-07 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: To compare thoracic ultrasonographic findings in healthy horses before and after general anesthesia for elective MRI utilizing a recently developed ultrasonographic scoring system to aid clinicians in the early identification of pneumonia following anesthesia. ANIMALS: 13 adult horses > 3 years of age. PROCEDURES: Prior to anesthesia, horses underwent a thorough physical examination, CBC, thoracic radiography, and thoracic ultrasonography. Horses were then anesthetized for elective MRI, and thoracic ultrasonography was repeated within 3 hours after recovery. Thoracic ultrasonographic findings were scored utilizing a recently developed scoring system, and scores were compared before and after anesthesia. RESULTS: There was no significant difference identified in total thoracic ultrasonography score before and after anesthesia, and there was no correlation between thoracic ultrasonography score following anesthesia and the body weight of the horse, the time recumbent, and the dependent side. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In healthy horses undergoing anesthesia for elective imaging, there was no significant change in thoracic ultrasonographic findings 3 hours after recovery from anesthesia. These data can aid clinicians in determining the clinical significance of ultrasonographic changes in the lung in the immediate postanesthetic period.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to ovine corticotropin-releasing-hormone stimulation tests in healthy and hospitalized foals

  Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine · 2023-01-01 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPAA) response to sepsis can be impaired in critical illness. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation test might assess HPAA function in foals. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate plasma cortisol, ACTH, arginine vasopressin (AVP), and endogenous CRH (eCRH) response to different doses of ovine CRH (oCRH). ANIMALS: Healthy (n = 14) and hospitalized (n = 15) foals <7 days of age. METHODS: In this prospective randomized study, oCRH (0.1, 0.3, and 1 μg/kg) was administered intravenously and blood samples were collected before, 15, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after administration of oCRH to determine plasma hormone concentrations. The hormonal response was evaluated as the difference (Delta; μg/dL or pg/mL) or percent change between baseline hormone concentration and each time point after oCRH stimulation. RESULTS: Cortisol concentrations increased from baseline at 15 minutes with 0.1 and 0.3 μg/kg and at 30 and 60 minutes from baseline with 1 μg/kg oCRH (P < .05) in healthy and hospitalized foals. ACTH concentrations increased from baseline at 15 minutes with 0.1 μg/kg and at 30 minutes with 1 μg/kg oCRH (P < .05) in hospitalized foals. Delta cortisol 0 - 30, ACTH 0 - 30, and eCRH 0 - 30 was higher for the 1 μg/kg compared with 0.1 μg/kg oCRH in healthy foals (P < .05). Delta ACTH 0 - 15 and eCRH 0 - 30 was higher for the 1 μg/kg compared with the lower doses of oCRH in hospitalized foals (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Cortisol, ACTH, and eCRH concentrations increased in response to administration of all doses of oCRH. One microgram per kilogram of oCRH appears to be optimal for the assessment of HPAA in healthy and hospitalized foals.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Comparison of thoracic ultrasonography and thoracic radiography between healthy adult horses and horses with bacterial pneumonia using a novel, objective ultrasonographic scoring system

  Frontiers in Veterinary Science · 2022-10-13 · 8 citations

  articleOpen access

  Background: Thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) is widely used in equine practice but comparison to radiography is limited in horses. Objectives: To validate a novel, objective scoring system for TUS in adult horses and to compare ultrasonographic and radiographic findings. Animals: 13 healthy horses and 9 with confirmed bacterial pneumonia. Methods: Prospective study in which TUS and radiography were performed on healthy horses and those with bacterial pneumonia confirmed by clinical signs and results of transtracheal wash analysis. Ultrasonography was scored utilizing a novel scoring system evaluating number of comet tail lesions, the presence or absence of pleural effusion and/or pulmonary consolidation in each intercostal space. Eighteen horses had thoracic radiographs taken that were scored by a board-certified radiologist utilizing a previously described system. Total scores were recorded and compared between control and diseased patients. Results/Findings: = 0.01). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis identified a sensitivity of 66.7% (95% CI 0.417-1) and specificity of 92.3% (95% CI 0.462-1) for the ability of ultrasonography to identify bacterial pneumonia utilizing a TUS score cutoff of 37. Conclusions and clinical importance: TUS had moderate sensitivity and high specificity for identification of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses. TUS appears to be an acceptable stand-alone imaging modality for diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia in horses when radiography is not practical.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The fecal bacterial microbiota of healthy and sick newborn foals

  Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine · 2022-12-15 · 7 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: The fecal bacterial microbiota of normal foals and foals with enterocolitis has been characterized using next-generation sequencing technology; however, there are no reports investigating the gut microbiota in foals hospitalized for other perinatal diseases. OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare the fecal bacterial microbiota in healthy and sick foals using next-generation sequencing techniques. ANIMALS: Hospitalized (17) and healthy foals (21). METHODS: Case-control study. Fecal samples were collected from healthy and sick foals on admission. Sick foals were further divided into sick nonseptic (SNS, n = 9) and septic (n = 8) foals. After extraction of DNA, the V4 region of the 16 S rRNA gene was amplified using a PCR assay, and the final product was sequenced with an Illumina MiSeq. RESULTS: Diversity was significantly lower in healthy than sick foals (P < .05). The bacterial membership (Jaccard index) and structure (Yue & Clayton index) of the fecal microbiota of healthy, septic, and SNS foals were similar (AMOVA, P > .05). Bacterial membership (AMOVA, P = .06) and structure (AMOVA, P = .33) were not different between healthy and sick foals. Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, and Streptococcus were among the 5 more abundant taxa identified in both groups. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Higher fecal microbiota diversity in sick than healthy foals might suggest a high exposure to environmental microorganisms or an unstable colonic microbiota. The presence of microorganisms causing bacteremia in foals in a high relative abundance in the feces of foals suggests the intestine might play an essential role in the causation of bacteremia in foals.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Ramiro E. Toribio

  The Ohio State University

  15 shared

• David M. Wong

  Iowa State University

  9 shared

• Dennis J. Chew

  The Ohio State University

  4 shared

• Bonnie S. Barr

  Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital

  4 shared

• Caitlin E. Malik

  Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

  4 shared

• Samuel D. Hurcombe

  University of Pennsylvania

  4 shared

• Kate L. Hepworth‐Warren

  North Carolina State University

  4 shared

• Valerie J. Parker

  The Ohio State University

  3 shared

Labs

• CVM Clinical Sciences: DOCS Equine MedicinePI

Education

• Ph.D., Animal Science

  University of California, Davis

  2005

• M.S., Animal Science

  University of California, Davis

  2002

• B.S., Animal Science

  University of California, Davis

  2000