Serum in horses refers to the component of blood that remains after the removal of cells and clotting factors. It contains a variety of proteins, electrolytes, hormones, and metabolic waste products. Serum analysis is a valuable tool in veterinary medicine for assessing the health status of horses. It provides insights into organ function, nutritional status, and the presence of disease. Common parameters measured in equine serum include enzymes, such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), as well as electrolytes like sodium and potassium. This page assembles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the composition, diagnostic applications, and implications of serum analysis in equine veterinary practice.
Böttiger LE.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, total protein and fibrinogen, electrophoretic protein pattern, and total serum protein-bound carbohydrates have been determined in a number of domestic animals and compared to human values. The striking finding is that although the E.S.R. varies widely between various species, the fibrinogen content is of the same order of magnitude in all. The horse, which shows a very high E.S.R., has a well marked beta-globulin fraction as an outstanding feature, a finding that should be further studied. Blutsenkungsgeschwindigkeit, Gesamteiweiss und Fibrinogen, elektroforeti...
Hesselholt M.By means of isoimmunizations and heteroimmunizations 10 equine blood typing reagents were isolated. The specific antibodies were complete agglutinins, which were used in the direct agglutination test in saline medium. The reagents were designated A2, C, D, E, G, H, I, K, Da1, and Da2 reagent. Da1 and Da2 are preliminary designations. The data obtained from blood typing of a family material and a population material of Icelandic horses showed that the occurrence of each blood type factor is controlled by a single, dominant gene. The family data tended to show that the blood factors under invest...
KAMINSKI M, GAJOS E.TWENTY-THREE fresh and 28 frozen (1–11 years old) samples of horse sera, 62 frozen donkey sera (3–11 years old), 24 frozen mule sera (2–10 years old), and 1 frozen 2-year-old serum sample of a hinny (offspring of a she-ass by a stallion) were studied by starch- and agar-gel electrophoresis (starch gel: horizontal migration, discontinued buffer system; tris-citrate pH 8.7 and borate 0.3 M, pH 8.2; 2 V/cm for 14 h; 10 samples analysed simultaneously; 0.1 ml. serum mixed with soluble starch Merck; agar gel: 0.8 per cent agar in veronal buffer 0.025 M, pH 8.2; 4.5 V/cm; 2½ h; 10 samples on ...
Martin KL, Hoffman RM, Kronfeld DS, Ley WB, Warnick LD.Changes in serum concentrations of Ca and parathyroid hormone (PTH) may develop in periparturient mares, may be influenced by dietary Ca, and may be associated with changes in Ca concentration of mammary secretion. Milk and blood samples were taken from eight mares on Farm A and eight on Farm B for 10 d before parturition and from four mares on each farm for 5 d postpartum. Milk Ca was measured by two commercial tests. Serum samples were analyzed for PTH and total Ca in 16 mares and for ionized Ca in six (Farm A). Parturition was induced in eight mares on Farm A and four on Farm B; no signific...
Terpstra AH, Sanchez-Muniz FJ, West CE, Woodward CJ.1. By means of density gradient ultracentrifugation, the density profile of the serum lipoproteins was studied in 14 species of domestic and laboratory animals: the pig, chicken, rhesus monkey, rabbit, dog, horse, sheep, cat, mouse, goat, cow, guinea-pig, trout and rat. 2. The concentration of cholesterol in whole serum and the lipoprotein fractions of these animal species was also determined. 3. There were large differences in the density profile of the serum lipoproteins among the various animals studied and the results indicate that the density limits employed for human serum lipoproteins a...
Nett TM, Pickett BW.Two studies were conducted to determine the relationship between LH and progesterone and between PMSG and progesterone during pregnancy in mares. In the first, samples of jugular blood were collected daily from 7 mares from the first day of oestrus until Day 28 of pregnancy, and in the second, samples were collected weekly from 14 mares from Day 35 of gestation until parturition. In an attempt to prolong secretion of progesterone from accessory corpora lutea, 7 of these 14 mares were injected with increasing doses (2--10 mg) of diethylstilboestrol (DES) between Days 84 and 142 of gestation. Th...
Hobo S, Niwa H, Anzai T, Jones JH.In this study, to evaluate the influence of strangles vaccination on serological test results, we investigated the changes in strangles serum antibody levels in horses after vaccination and subsequent intranasal challenge with S. equi. The horses were vaccinated for strangles with either a component vaccine (Group C) or a live vaccine (Group L). We measured changes in strangles serum antibody levels weekly for 20 weeks after vaccinating horses twice for strangles over a 3-week interval, and for 7 weeks after intranasal challenge with S. equi in the same horses. Serum antibody responses to the ...
Raulo SM, Maisi P.To determine whether gelatinolytic activity in tracheal epithelial lining fluid (TELF), blood neutrophils, and blood lymphocytes from horses was metalloprotease activity, and to compare, for healthy horses and horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gelatinolytic activity in neutrophils, lymphocytes, and serum with activity in TELF. Methods: 7 horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 4 healthy control horses. Methods: Neutrophils and lymphocytes were obtained by means of Percoll separation. Zymography was used to detect gelatinolytic activity; EDTA inhibition and...
Wilde H, Chutivongse S.Four hundred nineteen patients exposed to rabies in Thailand were treated with equine rabies immune globulin (ERIG) manufactured by Sclavo of Italy, a product also licensed in the United States of America. They were followed for a minimum of 1 month after ERIG injection and rabies vaccine administration. Adverse serum sickness-like reactions were noted in 15 patients (3.58%). These were clinically acceptable and only 1 of these patients required corticosteroid therapy and short term hospitalization for serum sickness. ERIG is approximately 1/10 of the cost of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG...
Metzger N, Hinchcliff KW, Hardy J, Schwarzwald CC, Wittum T.Detection of failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) is important in reducing morbidity and mortality in neonatal foals. We investigated the performance of a commercial equine IgG test (SNAP Foal IgG Test Kit) to diagnose FTPI in hospitalized foals. Furthermore, we evaluated the usefulness of serum total protein (STP) and serum globulin (SG) concentrations as indicators of FTPI. Serum IgG concentration was measured by means of the SNAP test and single radial immunodiffusion, and SG and STP concentrations were determined by means of a clinical chemistry analyzer. Subjects were 67 hospita...
Lygren T, Hansen S, Langberg H, Fjeldborg J, Jacobsen S, Nielsen MO, Schjerling P, Markussen B, Thomsen PD, Berg LC.Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) has important roles in anabolic processes in the musculoskeletal system and has been reported to decrease with age in both people and horses. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine serum IGF-1 levels in the aging horse from early to late adulthood (age range 5-27 years). Methods: Healthy horses (n = 72) were used in a cross-sectional study, while 37 paired serum samples were available for a longitudinal study. Serum IGF-1 protein was determined using an ELISA kit validated for use in equine samples. Results: No association was found betw...
Fradette ME, Céleste C, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Laverty S.To evaluate the effects of continuous oral administration of phenylbutazone on serum and synovial fluid biomarkers of skeletal matrix metabolism in horses. Methods: 11 adult female horses without clinical or radiographic evidence of joint disease. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to control or treatment groups. Phenylbutazone was administered orally twice daily at a dose of 4.4 mg/kg for 3 days to the treatment group and subsequently at a dose of 2.2 mg/kg for 7 days. Serum and radiocarpal synovial fluid samples were obtained at baseline and thereafter at regular intervals for 4 weeks. B...
Messer NT, Johnson PJ.Two adult Quarter Horse mares from the same farm developed signs of hepatic disease approximately 2 months after parturition. Both mares had received tetanus antitoxin at the time of foaling. One mare developed subcutaneous edema of the distal aspect of all 4 limbs, photodermatitis involving unpigmented areas of skin, and high serum activities of liver-specific enzymes. The other mare had signs of acute hepatic failure, including icterus, hepatic encephalopathy, and high serum activities of liver-specific enzymes, and died. The second mare had signs typical of serum hepatitis (Theiler's diseas...
McKenzie HC, Funk RA, Trager L, Werre SR, Crisman M.Potomac horse fever (PHF) is a potentially fatal enterocolitis of horses caused by Neorickettsia risticii. The disease was originally recognised almost 40 years ago in the state of Maryland in the US. It is now known to occur in many areas of North America, as well as having been described in South America and Europe. Monocomponent PHF vaccines are available, but clinical protection with vaccination has been reported to be inconsistent. Objective: This study was designed to assess the immunogenicity of a commercially available Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) vaccine when administered as either a mo...
Newton JR, Geraghty RJ, Castillo-Olivares J, Cardwell JM, Mumford JA.Several laboratories worldwide have recently experienced problems related to serum cytotoxicity with the equine arteritis virus (EAV) neutralisation test (VN) when using Office International des Epizooties (OIE) reference laboratory prescribed rabbit kidney (RK-13) indicator cells. Cytotoxicity can be mistaken for viral cytopathic effect and has led to increasing difficulties in test interpretation, consequently causing disruption to both equine breeding and disease surveillance. Results from experimental and field-derived data suggest that this serum cytotoxicity is associated with use of a t...
Assunção P, Barbosa T, Yonezawa L, Barbosa L, Watanabe M, Kohayagawa A, Schmidt E.High-intensity exercise can be associated with the occurrence of muscle injury, as well as the induction of an acute-phase response (APR). The present study aims to investigate the synthesis and profile of serum proteins in horses before and after participating in 2 different exercise protocols and to relate this profile to the presence or absence of muscular injury caused by exercise. Ten purebred Arabian (n = 5) and Criollo (n = 5) horses were subjected to 2 different tests on a treadmill, one consisting of short-duration and rapid-acceleration training (TRA) that was mostly anerobic and the...
Paraskevaidi M, Hook PD, Morais CLM, Anderson JR, White R, Martin-Hirsch PL, Peffers MJ, Martin FL.Reliable and validated biomarkers for osteoarthritis (OA) are currently lacking. Objective: To develop an accurate and minimally invasive method to assess OA-affected horses and provide potential spectral markers indicative of disease. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study. Methods: Our cohort consisted of 15 horses with OA and 48 without clinical signs of the disease, which were used as controls. Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was used to investigate serum samples (50 μL) collected from these horses. Spectral processing and multivariat...
Riley CB, McClure JT, Low-Ying S, Dolenko BK, Somorjai RL, Shaw RA.To assess the feasibility of a serum-based test using infrared spectroscopy to identify a subpopulation of mares at risk of producing foals susceptible to failure of passive transfer of immunity (FPT) because of mare-associated factors. Methods: Serum was collected from post-parturient mares (n = 126) and their foals at 24-72 h of age. A radial immunodiffusion IgG test was used to determine each foal's serum IgG concentration. Infrared absorbance spectra of dam sera were collected in the wave number range of 400-4000 cm(-1). Following data preprocessing, pattern recognition techniques were use...
Moore RM, Moulthrop JI, Sather GE, Holmes CL, Parker RL.Field studies were conducted in 1972 to determine the immunization status of equines along the Mexico, Arizona, and New Mexico borders. Interviews with horse owners were conducted along roads selected at random in the counties of Santa Cruz and Yuma, Ariz., and in Dona Ana County, N. Mex. At least 450 horse owners in each county were asked about the vaccination status of their animals, and information was taken on 1,260 animals. Blood specimens were obtained from every third equine, regardless of stated vaccination status, and tested for the presence of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE), we...
Guillot J, Sarfati J, Ribot X, Jensen HE, Latgé JP.To detect antibodies against Aspergillus fumigatus antigens in serum samples from horses and to evaluate the relevance of this method as an alternative approach to the diagnosis of mycosis of the auditory tube diverticulum (guttural pouch mycosis [GPM]). Methods: Twelve clinically normal horses (controls) and 12 horses with GPM diagnosed by endoscopic observation of characteristic mycotic plaques. Methods: Antibodies to A fumigatus antigens were detected in serum by use of an ELISA and immunoblot analysis with extracellular antigens. Results: Antibodies against A fumigatus antigens were found ...
Takagi M, Nishimura K, Oguri N, Ohnuma K, Ito K, Takahashi J, Yasuda Y, Miyazawa K, Sato K.The viability of embryos before flushing from donor mares (n = 5) and after transfer to recipient mares (n = 7) was monitored in mare serum by detecting early pregnancy factor (EPF) using the rosette inhibition test (RIT). The EPF activity was measured in donor mares before and after natural mating at natural estrus; after ovulation on Days 2, 5 and 8; and after embryo flushing (Day 8) on Days 8, 9, 10 and 13 after ovulation. The collected embryos were transferred immediately after flushing. The EPF activity in recipient mares were measured on the day of transfer and after embryo transfer on D...
Conway ED, Stiles J, Townsend WM, Weng HY.OBJECTIVE To compare the anticollagenase efficacy of fresh feline, canine, and equine serum and plasma on in vitro corneal degradation. SAMPLE Grossly normal corneas from recently euthanized dogs, cats, and horses and fresh serum and plasma from healthy dogs, cats, and horses. PROCEDURES Serum and plasma were pooled by species and used for in vitro experiments. Corneas were collected and stored at -80°C. Sections of cornea were dried, weighed, and incubated in saline (0.9% NaCl) solution with clostridial collagenase and homologous fresh serum or plasma. Corneal degradation was assessed as the...
Lescun TB, Ward MP, Adams SB.To compare gentamicin concentrations achieved in synovial fluid and joint tissues during IV administration and continuous intra-articular (IA) infusion of the tarsocrural joint in horses. Methods: 18 horses with clinically normal tarsocrural joints. Methods: Horses were assigned to 3 groups (6 horses/group) and administered gentamicin (6.6 mg/kg, IV, q 24 h for 4 days; group 1), a continuous IA infusion of gentamicin into the tarsocrural joint (50 mg/h for 73 hours; group 2), or both treatments (group 3). Serum, synovial fluid, and joint tissue samples were collected for measurement of gentami...
Peck KE, Ray AC, Manuel G, Rao MM, Foos J.To develop a sensitive, rugged high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the measurement of phenylbutazone (PBZ) in equine sera, using a rapid, nonevaporative extraction technique. Methods: Sera from 5 nonexercising adult horses. Methods: After addition of sodium chloride and acetonitrile to serum samples, reverse-phase HPLC analysis for PBZ and oxyphenbutazone (OXY) was performed directly on extracts, using diode array UV spectrophotometric detection. Probenecid was used as an internal standard. Data were evaluated by standard means of statistical analysis. Results: Recoveries ...
Russell A, Shost N, Burch M, Salazara LL, Fikes K, Bechelli J, Suagee-Bedore J.Anaplasmosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which is spread by infected ticks. In horses, A. phagocytophilum generally causes transient infection characterized by fever, lethargy, inappetence, ventral edema, petechiae, icterus, ataxia, recumbency, muscle stiffness, and, in severe cases, death. Following natural infection, horses retain antibodies for approximately 2 years, which can be detected through an immunofluorescence antibody assay. Current infections are determined through PCR assay of white blood cell DNA. For this study, whole blood was collected from...
Spengler MI, Rasia M.The aggregation capacity of human erythrocytes lies between that of the non-aggregating bovine erythrocytes and the remarkably aggregating equine ones. As the ability to aggregate is attributed to cell factors and the composition of the plasma proteins, the role that plasma proteins play in the aggregation process in these three species was studied. Washed erythrocytes were suspended in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; pH 7.4, 300 mOsm/L) plus polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in a suitable concentration to obtain an average intensity of aggregation (control media). The superimposed effect of replacin...
Widders PR, Stokes CR, David JS, Bourne FJ.Antibody in serum, uterine and vaginal secretions was measured following local immunisation and experimental infection with the organism of contagious equine metritis (Taylorella equigenitalis). Intrauterine immunisation with killed T equigenitalis stimulated a systemic IgG titre and a uterine IgA and IgM response. Subsequent challenge with the organism, however, resulted in a characteristic metritis in both control and vaccinated mares. Antibody in serum and secretions was increased following challenge infection, dwarfing the response to immunisation. The local response was restricted to the ...
Benoit M, Lingen K, Taddei LM, Heffron BT, Hurt L, Lokanc JA, Lingner K, Cardenas E, Flores S, Mayer D, Pilipiak D, Folker-Calderon D, Negrusz A.Pyrilamine (mepyramine) is an H1-receptor antagonist used in human and veterinary medicine. It has the potential to produce central nervous system effects in horses and therefore may have some impact on an outcome of a horse race. A single oral dose of pyrilamine (300 mg/horse) was given to three animals. Serum samples were collected before drug administration and at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 h, and 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 days post-administration. Urine samples were collected at 0-1, 1-2, 2-4, 4-6, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 h, and 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 days ...
Leclere M, Lavoie-Lamoureux A, Lavoie JP.Systemic inflammation is observed in horses with heaves and could also be present in horses with a lesser degree of pulmonary inflammation. Objective: It was hypothesized that racehorses with inflammatory airway disease (IAD) have increased concentration of circulating acute phase proteins. The objective of this study was to compare serum acute phase proteins of racehorses with and without lower airway inflammation. Methods: Serum from 21 client-owned Standardbred racehorses with exercise intolerance and lower airway inflammation and serum from 10 client-owned Standardbred racehorses with exer...
Dagleish MP, Pemberton AD, McAleese SM, Thornton EM, Miller HR, Scudamore CL.Equine alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (API) consists of three, occasionally four, serum glycoproteins. This study investigated the immunohistochemical localisation of equine API in paraformaldehyde fixed, paraffin embedded equine tissue samples of liver, lung, stomach, pancreas, jejunum and colon in five horses using affinity purified sheep polyclonal and protein A purified mouse monoclonal antibodies, whose specificities were verified by Western blotting. Exposing tissue sections to boiling citrate buffer greatly enhanced antigen recovery and improved immunostaining with both antibodies, result...
Riond B, Wenger-Riggenbach B, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Lutz H.Serum protein electrophoresis is a useful screening test in equine laboratory medicine. The method can provide valuable information about changes in the concentrations of albumin and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-globulins and thereby help characterize dysproteinemias in equine patients. Reference values for horses using agarose gel as a support medium have not been reported. Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish reference intervals for serum protein concentrations in adult horses using agarose gel electrophoresis and to assess differences between warm-blooded and heavy draught hors...
Jackman BR, Moore JN, Barton MH, Morris DD.The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro effects of flunixin meglumine, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, and ketoprofen, a reported cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitor, on the synthesis of cyclo-oxygenase end-products thromboxane B2 and prostaglandin E2, lipoxygenase derived 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, tumor necrosis factor and tissue factor. Six adult horses were each randomly administered flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg) or ketoprofen (2.2 mg/kg) intravenously every 12 hours with the drug treatments separated by two weeks. Blood samples were obtained prior to initiatin...
Nasciutti NR, Garcia FG, da Silva ESM, de Miranda RL, Fontes LAR, Rosa JB, Headley SA, Mundim AV, Saut JPE.Several studies have demonstrated variations in peripartum blood biochemical analytes used to monitor the health status of mares and their foals of different breeds. Objective: We aimed to characterize the physiologic changes of peripartum energy and mineral metabolism in healthy Quarter Horse mares and their neonatal foals. Methods: Blood samples were initially collected from 17 mares on days 60 and 30 prepartum, and from mares and their foals on the day of parturition (after colostrum ingestion), and on days 15, 30, and 60 postpartum. The serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, magnesiu...
