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Topic:Biomarkers
Biomarkers in horses are measurable indicators of biological processes, states, or conditions that can be used to assess health and disease. These biomarkers can be identified in various biological samples such as blood, urine, or tissue. They provide valuable information for diagnosing diseases, monitoring health status, and evaluating treatment responses in equine medicine. Common biomarkers in horses include enzymes, hormones, and metabolites, which may change in response to physiological or pathological conditions. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the identification, quantification, and application of biomarkers in equine health and disease management.
Characterizing dietary and exercise management practices and inflammatory biomarkers in a population of recreationally managed horses in Pennsylvania. Horses evolved as slow-moving grazers for 30 to 40 million years, but domesticated horses often consume greater quantities of grains and concentrates to foster athleticism. The changes in diet and exercise are hypothesized to increase the risk of chronic inflammatory conditions. Objective: The objective was to characterize relationships between dietary and exercise management practices and acute phase proteins (APPs) in horses. Methods: We collected body condition scores, blood samples, and surveys of the horse management practices from 144 horses. Plasma serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive prot...
Forage chemical composition drives early metabolic shifts in ponies fed different haylages. Rapid changes between feeds can cause dysbiosis and colic in horses. The metabolic consequences of transitioning between haylages (HY) are currently unknown. Objective: To characterise urinary and faecal metabonomics in ponies transitioned between HY varying in botanical composition and physiological age and to evaluate the speed of metabolic adaptation. Methods: In vivo experiments repeated Latin Square. Methods: Eight Welsh Mountain ponies were fed four HY (R1, R2, M1, M2) across 4 × 15-day periods; a structured 3-day (Days 13-15) changeover was observed: old:new 70:30, 50:50and 30:70....
Cumulus cell DNA fragmentation as non-invasive biomarker of equine oocyte quality in in vitro embryo production. The efficiency of in vitro embryo production in animal species is constrained by the absence of practical, non-invasive biomarkers to assess oocyte quality. Cumulus cell DNA fragmentation index (CC-DFI) has been proposed as a biomarker in humans, but data in animals remain limited. Objective: This study investigated the association of CC-DFI with in vitro maturation (IVM) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes in horses, and its relationship with mare-related factors, autumnal transition period, cumulus cell viability, and cumulus expansion. Methods: Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC...
Serum amyloid A alone or in combination with white blood cell count and fibrinogen is associated with inflammatory disease status in horses undergoing elective anesthesia. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical utility of common systemic inflammatory markers (WBC count [WBCC], plasma fibrinogen, and serum amyloid A [SAA]) for the detection of disease in patients undergoing general anesthesia. Unassigned: A retrospective review of 1,002 surgical case records (February 2021 to June 2023) was performed. Systemically stable equine patients undergoing elective orthopedic and soft tissue procedures and that had WBCC, fibrinogen, and SAA evaluated preoperatively were eligible for inclusion. Disease status (healthy vs disease) was recorded for each case ...
Novel serum biomarkers provide evidence for an involvement of the CCL3:CCL5 axis in fatal musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses. Fatal musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries in Thoroughbred (TB) racehorses adversely affect equine welfare, negatively impact public acceptance of horse racing, and cause severe economic losses for the racing industry. Biomarker assays predicting the risk of MSK injuries are currently not available. Our hypothesis was that immune system and inflammatory markers are indicators of fatal MSK injuries in TB racehorses. Unassigned: Serum samples from TB racehorses with fatal (n = 44) and nonfatal injuries (63) were collected. Serum from 2- to 5-year-old TBs submitted for annual equine infectious anemia t...
Influence of Follicle Number and Reproductive Cyclicity on Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Yield Isolated From Equine Ovarian Follicular Aspirates. Follicular aspirates have emerged as an alternative source of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in mares; however, factors influencing successful MSC isolation remain unclear. This study evaluated whether reproductive cyclicity and follicle count affect MSC recovery from ovum pick-up (OPU)-derived follicular aspirates. Twenty-eight OPU procedures were performed on 13 mares, and cells were cultured until passage 3. Successful MSC cultures were obtained in 15/28 procedures (53.6%), while 13 procedures (46.4%) yielded non-MSC populations. Neither reproductive status (cycling vs. anestrous) nor foll...
Liposomal bupivacaine local analgesia reduces systemic inflammatory responses following equine laparoscopic surgery. Liposomal local anesthetics have been shown to extend analgesia duration and improve pain scores dose-dependently in horses. Our objective was to assess concurrent impact on systemic inflammatory markers. Unassigned: 18 mares (age, 2 to 20 years) with normal ovarian anatomy were enrolled. Laparoscopic bilateral ovariectomies were performed standing with sedation. Local analgesia was: 80 mL bupivacaine hydrochloride (BHCl; n = 6), 30 mL 0.75% BHCl + 20 mL (low-dose) liposomal bupivacaine (LB) expanded to 80 mL with saline (LB20, n = 6), or 30 mL 0.75% BHCl + 40 mL (high-dose) LB expanded to equ...
Association Between Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) Immunohistochemical Expression and Clinicopathological Features in Equine Melanoma. Equine melanoma is one of the most important oncological diseases in horses and exhibits a distinct biological behavior compared with melanoma in other species. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been associated with tumor aggressiveness and metastasis in human and canine melanoma, but its expression in equine melanoma remains unknown. Objective: Evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-9 in equine melanomas and investigate its association with clinicopathological features. Methods: 68 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded equine melanomas from 48 gray horses were evaluated immunohis...
Thymidine kinase 1 activity in serum and body cavity fluids of horses with lymphoma. The accuracy of serum thymidine kinase 1 (TK1S) as a biomarker of lymphoma in horses is variable. The value of measurement in body cavity fluid (TK1F) has not been established. Objective: (1) TK1F and TK1S will be higher in horses with lymphoma compared to diseased controls (DCs); (2) TK1F will be higher than TK1S; and (3) there will be a strong correlation between both measurements. Methods: Twenty animals in the lymphoma and 31 animals with nonneoplastic, gastrointestinal/respiratory disorders in DC group. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using prospectively collected data and sampl...
Inflammatory phenotype and response to intradermal skin testing are not predictive of equine asthma diagnosis. The role of inflammation, allergy, and air quality in the pathogenesis of equine asthma has not yet been fully elucidated. Objective: To evaluate serum inflammatory cytokines, intradermal skin testing (IDT), and air quality in asthmatic horses. It was hypothesized that there would be an association between environmental allergies and poor air quality with asthma. Methods: 52 client-owned horses with clinical signs consistent with asthma were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Horses were diagnosed with asthma based on the results of bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) cytology. Blood samples wer...
Pancreatic α-cell dysfunction associated with equine insulin dysregulation. Insulin dysregulation (ID) in horses is characterised by insulin resistance and exaggerated insulin responses, yet the underlying endocrine mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In humans, α-cell dysfunction characterised by exaggerated glucagon secretion contributes to metabolic disease; however, the role of pancreatic α-cell function in equine ID has not previously been investigated. Objective: To investigate whether horses with moderate to severe ID exhibit α-cell dysfunction, characterised by fasting and postprandial hyperglucagonaemia as well as impaired postprandial glucagon supp...
Serum osteocalcin is associated with scintigraphic abnormalities in lame and clinically sound racehorses. Musculoskeletal injury is a major welfare and economic challenge in racehorses, with stress-related bone injury contributing to training interruption and catastrophic failure. Advanced imaging modalities can detect early skeletal pathology but remain limited in routine screening environments. Circulating biomarkers of bone turnover may provide complementary indicators of skeletal remodelling but require validation against objective imaging findings. Objective: Evaluate whether osteocalcin (OC) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), or the CTX/OC ratio, are associated with scintig...
Biomarkers of brain injury in foals with neonatal maladjustment syndrome. Plasma concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial-fibrillary-acidic protein (GFAP), and astrocytic protein S100B, might be linked to the pathophysiology of Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome (NMS). Objective: To measure serum concentration of BDNF and S100B, plasma concentration of GFAP, and neurosteroids (progesterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone) in foals with NMS, foals presented for other diseases, including premature, and healthy foals, and determine their association with outcome. Methods: Fourteen healthy foals, 19 NMS foals, 39 foals hospitalized for other diseases ...
Myocardial dysfunction associated with low-dose endotoxin administration in adult horses. Horses with endotoxemia have variable myocardial function, but little is known about the severity or persistence of myocardial dysfunction (MD). Objective: Horses with experimentally induced endotoxemia have systolic and diastolic MD. Methods: Twelve systemically healthy horses. Methods: Horses were given Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide 30 ng/kg over 60 min. Echocardiography and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) measurements were performed at baseline, 1, 3, and 5 h post-endotoxin. Fluid therapy (10 L), polymyxin B (6000 IU/kg), and flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg) were administered intravenou...
Oxidative stress markers in different age ranges of healthy horses. Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants, impairing cellular functions and contributing to diseases and aging. Despite the growing interest in oxidative stress, studies specifically evaluating the influence of age on laboratory and oxidative stress parameters in clinically healthy horses remain limited. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of age on laboratory and oxidative stress parameters in clinically healthy horses. A total of 152 clinically healthy horses (80 females and 72 males) were selected, including young horses aged 3 to 48 months (...
Functional and biochemical inflammatory responses to a 75 ng intra-articular recombinant equine interleukin-1β (reIL-1β) synovitis model. Recently, a synovitis model using 75 ng intra-articular recombinant equine interleukin-1 (reIL 1β), showed promise for inducing a mild, self-limiting inflammatory response without overtly altering upper-body movement asymmetry in = 3 horses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of this 75 ng reIL-1β model on gait biomechanics and synovial fluid (SF) inflammatory, pro-resolution, and cartilage turnover biomarkers in a larger equine sample. SF samples were collected from the left intercarpal joint of = 11 horses at baseline and at 6- and 12-hours following 75 ng reIL-1β injection and...
Serial Postoperative Blood and Peritoneal Fluid Analysis and Ultrasonographic Assessment in Client-Owned Horses Undergoing Ventral Midline Exploratory Celiotomy for Colic. Postoperative monitoring, including evaluation of peritoneal fluid, is used to aid in the diagnosis and treatment plan for complications after colic surgery. The primary objective of this study was to determine serial venous and peritoneal postoperative variables, including L-lactate values in horses after ventral midline exploratory celiotomy. A secondary objective was to evaluate postoperative abdominal ultrasonography as a predictor of complications. A total of 36 client-owned horses with signs of colic undergoing ventral midline exploratory celiotomy were prospectively enrolled in the stud...
Centrifugation of peritoneal fluid improves visual assessment of strangulating lesions in equine colic. Early and accurate recognition of a strangulating lesion is essential to expedite surgical intervention in horses presenting with colic. Objective: To evaluate the use of a colour grading scale in the visual assessment of peritoneal fluid, before and after centrifugation, and assess its ability to predict the presence of a strangulating lesion. Methods: Prospective clinical study. Methods: Peritoneal fluid samples from 231 equids presenting with colic were visually analysed immediately after collection and assigned a numerical value based on a developed colour scale. Peritoneal fluid was centr...
Evaluating ex vivo toll-like receptor agonist response as a potential biomarker in equine gastric ulcer syndrome. Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is highly prevalent in horses. Despite its presumed painful nature, evaluation of objective biomarkers associated with EGUS presence and severity remains limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) following ex vivo stimulation of toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR2 and TLR4) as a potential biomarker for EGUS status, with gastric lesions used as a proxy for presumed EGUS-associated pain. Venous blood was collected from 77 horses, PBMCs were isolated ...
Circulating Cell-Free RNA Reflects Immune-Associated and Airway Remodeling Signatures in Equine Asthma. Circulating cell-free RNA (cfRNA) has emerged as a promising minimally invasive biomarker capable of capturing transcripts originating from multiple tissues and cell types, but its utility in chronic inflammatory airway diseases remains poorly understood. Equine asthma (EA), a naturally occurring respiratory disease that shares key clinical and immunopathological features with human asthma, provides a valuable comparative model for evaluating plasma cfRNA in this context. We performed transcriptomic profiling of plasma cfRNA from horses with EA and healthy controls and compared these findings ...
High molecular weight adiponectin as an adjunct biomarker for insulin dysregulation in equids. Total adiponectin concentration is associated with hyperinsulinemia and laminitis risk in ponies but the high molecular weight (HMW) multimer is a more sensitive indicator of metabolic disease in other species and could be a useful biomarker for insulin dysregulation (ID). Objective: To determine a cut-off value for using HMW adiponectin as an adjunct diagnostic tool for ID. Methods: Cohort of 127 privately and university-owned horses and ponies of various breeds with 55 classified as ID positive and 72 as ID negative. Methods: Cohort study. Baseline and postprandial blood samples from an in-f...
Serum physiology, fecal microbiota, and metabolome signatures associated with perinatal stage transitions in Mongolian mares. Lactation is a critical reproductive trait that influences offspring survival and livestock productivity in equine production. Characterizing physiological transitions during the perinatal period can improve our understanding of how mares adapt to late gestation, parturition, and early lactation. However, in horses-a typical monogastric herbivore with unique digestive characteristics-the associations between gut microbiota and perinatal physiological adaptation, as well as related stage-associated microbial and metabolic features, remain largely uncharacterized. Unassigned: In this study, para...
Non-coding RNA profiles associated with equine osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) by regulating gene expression related to inflammation, chondrocyte apoptosis, and extracellular matrix degradation. In horses, OA is a leading cause of lameness and poor performance, with no current treatments halting disease progression and no clear biomarker available. Although some studies have investigated expression profiles of ncRNAs in equine OA, there is a need to systematically review previous efforts and synthesize information to identify potential ncRNAs to target in future research. Unassigned: The sear...
Equine Blood and Salivary Cortisol Levels While Exercising on a Water Treadmill with an Artificial River System. A water treadmill (WT) is used in equine rehabilitation and training. This study aimed to investigate whether varying water depths and using an active artificial river (AR) system during water treadmill exercise would affect physiological stress responses in leisure horses. Thirteen leisure horses participated in five 20 min WT sessions, including those with a treadmill with dry belt, fetlock-depth WT (with/without AR), and carpal-depth WT (with/without AR) at a walking speed of 1.25 m/s. Blood and salivary cortisol levels were measured before, immediately after, and 30 min after exercise. Blo...
Preliminary evaluation of beta-endorphin alone and in combination with adrenocorticotropic hormone for the diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in equids. Limited published data exist regarding the diagnostic utility of beta-endorphin (β-END) for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), either compared with or in combination with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Objective: To evaluate β-END as a potential diagnostic test for PPID in comparison with ACTH and to explore the diagnostic performance of combined tests. Methods: Ninety-eight equids aged 19-32 years, owned by the foundation "Stiftung für das Pferd," were included. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2025. Haircoat abnormalities were scored as absent, mi...
Horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction have an altered fecal short-chain fatty acid profile. Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is a prevalent endocrine disease in older horses sharing pathogenetic features with Parkinson disease, including dopaminergic neurodegeneration and α-synuclein aggregation. This study was conducted to determine whether horses with PPID exhibit changes in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles as described in Parkinson disease, providing further evidence for involvement of a microbiota-gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis of PPID. Unassigned: Prospective case-control study including 22 horses > 12 years of age. Diagnosis of PPID was based on clinical ...
Evaluation of a commercial multiplex immunoassay for assessing uterine inflammation in mares susceptible to persistent breeding-induced endometritis. Persistent breeding-induced endometritis (PBIE) is characterized by a prolonged and dysregulated uterine inflammatory response following breeding. Although inflammatory cytokines are central to the post-breeding immune response, their assessment in the equine uterus has historically relied largely on gene expression analyses. Multiplex immunoassays provide an opportunity to simultaneously quantify multiple cytokine proteins within uterine secretions; however, the application of equine-specific multiplex immunoassays utilizing the Luminex platform to low-volume uterine lavage (LVL) fluid remain...
Effects of omeprazole therapy administered via different routes on urinary parameters and selected interleukins in horses with equine gastric ulcer syndrome. Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is commonly treated with proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, administered orally or by injection. In humans, omeprazole has been associated with acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) and acute kidney injury (AKI), potentially linked to oxidative stress, and urinary interleukins may serve as early non-invasive markers. However, this association has not been established in horses. Objective: To evaluate the effects of oral and injectable omeprazole on basic urinary parameters and selected interleukin levels, with particular emphasis on the potential risk ...
Effects of Exercise on Ocular Parameters and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Saliva and Tear Fluid of Horses. Physical exercise is a physiological stressor in horses and may induce oxidative stress through increased production of reactive oxygen species. Saliva and tear fluid are accessible non-invasive matrices that may reflect oxidative balance, while ocular parameters including intraocular pressure (IOP), tear secretion (TS) and central corneal thickness (CCT) are key components of ocular homeostasis. Objective: To evaluate the effects of a standardised submaximal exercise session on IOP, TS and CCT, and on oxidative stress biomarkers (CAT, SOD, GSH, MDA, IMA) measured in saliva and tear fluid. Met...
