A screening test for subclinical liver disease in horses affected by pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicosis.
Abstract: To evaluate various biochemical tests as indicators of subclinical liver disease in horses exposed to pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicosis. Methods: A clinical pathology field study. Methods: Twenty-two clinically normal horses from four properties in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Methods: Serum samples from each horse were assayed for gamma glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, and for serum bile acid concentration, albumin and total protein. Serum protein electrophoresis was performed and their amino acid profiles determined. Bromosulphophthalein half-clearance times were measured. Horses were then subjected to a single liver biopsy. Results were analysed by, variance of group means, the Fisher-Irwin exact test, and by sensitivity and specificity calculation. Results: Horses were classified into 2 groups, of 10 unaffected and 12 subclinically affected, on the basis of liver histology. Significant differences between the unaffected and subclinical groups were observed for gamma glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities (P < 0.01). Gamma glutamyltransferase had sufficient sensitivity (75%) and specificity (90%) to function as a primary screening test for subclinical liver disease in horses exposed to pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Alkaline phosphatase was useful, but with lower sensitivity (58%). Conclusions: Serum gamma glutamyltransferase activity is a useful screening test for detecting subclinical liver disease in horses exposed to pyrrolizidine alkaloids under field conditions in northern Australia.
Publication Date: 1996-09-01 PubMed ID: 8894041DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1996.tb15411.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study assesses the effectiveness of certain biochemical tests in identifying subclinical liver disease in horses known to have been exposed to poisons called pyrrolizidine alkaloids. It shows that testing for an enzyme called gamma glutamyltransferase is a useful screening method for this type of disease.
Research Methods and Sample Population
- The researchers conducted a clinical pathology field study with 22 horses that appeared healthy but were from areas in Western Australia where pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicosis is known to occur.
- Each of these horses provided samples of serum, a component of blood, which the scientists could analyze for various biomarkers of liver disease.
- In addition to these tests, each horse underwent a liver biopsy, a procedure that provides a small sample of liver tissue for analysis.
Biochemical Tests and Their Indications
- The biochemical tests used were assays for gamma glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, and measurements of serum bile acid concentration, albumin, and total protein.
- Serum protein electrophoresis, a test that separates proteins by their electrical charge, was performed to determine protein profiles.
- The half-clearance times for a substance called bromosulphophthalein were also recorded. This measure indicates how quickly the liver can clear certain substances from the blood.
Results Analysis
- The obtained results were statistically analyzed using variance of group means, the Fisher-Irwin exact test, and sensitivity and specificity calculations.
- Based on their liver histology, the horses were divided into two groups: ten that were unaffected and twelve showing subclinical signs of liver disease.
Conclusion and Recommendations
- According to the analyzed results, significant differences in gamma glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities were observed between the unaffected and subclinical groups.
- The researchers concluded that gamma glutamyltransferase has sufficient sensitivity and specificity to be used as a primary screening test for subclinical liver disease in horses exposed to these toxins. However, they noted that while alkaline phosphatase can also be useful, it shows lower sensitivity.
Cite This Article
APA
Curran JM, Sutherland RJ, Peet RL.
(1996).
A screening test for subclinical liver disease in horses affected by pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicosis.
Aust Vet J, 74(3), 236-240.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1996.tb15411.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Agriculture, Kununurra, Western Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Alkaline Phosphatase / blood
- Amino Acids / blood
- Animals
- Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
- Bile Acids and Salts / blood
- Biopsy
- Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
- Female
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / chemically induced
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Liver / pathology
- Liver Diseases / diagnosis
- Liver Diseases / veterinary
- Male
- Mass Screening / veterinary
- Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids / adverse effects
- Reference Values
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Western Australia
- gamma-Glutamyltransferase / blood
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