Acute phase proteins in grass sickness (equine dysautonomia).
Abstract: Four acute phase proteins were assayed in the serum of normal horses and those with acute, subacute and chronic grass sickness, colic and inflammatory conditions, in order to investigate their diagnostic value in grass sickness. The grass sickness and inflammation group had a significantly increased haptoglobin concentration (P less than 0.01-P less than 0.001). Orosomucoid was elevated in acute, subacute and chronic grass sickness and inflammation (P less than 0.001, P less than 0.001, P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.05, respectively). Highest concentrations of haptoglobin and orosomucoid were recorded in subacute grass sickness. Ceruloplasmin was significantly higher in acute grass sickness cases than all other groups except the colic group (P less than 0.05-P less than 0.01). alpha 2-macroglobulin was significantly higher in acute grass sickness than normal, colic and chronic grass sickness cases (P less than 0.01, P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.05). The time scale of changes suggests that the stimulus to haptoglobin and orosomucoid synthesis occurs at the onset of clinical signs whereas the increase in ceruloplasmin and alpha 2-macroglobulin is more likely to reflect haemoconcentration.
Publication Date: 1991-05-01 PubMed ID: 1715594DOI: 10.1016/0034-5288(91)90123-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article investigates the diagnostic value of four acute phase proteins in the serum of horses with grass sickness and other equine conditions. It found that grass sickness and inflammatory conditions resulted in significantly increased concentrations of certain proteins, and that these concentrations could serve as indicators of disease onset.
Objective of the Research
- The research aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of four acute phase proteins (haptoglobin, orosomucoid, ceruloplasmin, and alpha-2-macroglobulin) in the serum of horses with varying degrees of grass sickness (acute, subacute, and chronic), colic, and inflammatory conditions.
Findings of the Study
- The study found that the group of horses suffering from grass sickness and inflammation demonstrated significantly increased haptoglobin concentrations.
- Orosomucoid concentrations were also found to be elevated in horses with acute, subacute, and chronic grass sickness as well as those with inflammation. The highest concentrations of haptoglobin and orosomucoid were recorded in cases of subacute grass sickness.
- The research also found that ceruloplasmin was noticeably higher in horses with acute grass sickness than in all other groups except the colic group.
- Alpha-2-macroglobulin was found to be significantly elevated in cases of acute grass sickness in comparison to normal horses, those with colic, and those suffering from chronic grass sickness.
Conclusion and Implications:
- The timing of the changes suggests that the stimulus for haptoglobin and orosomucoid synthesis likely occurs at the onset of clinical signs, making these proteins potential early indicators of grass sickness.
- The increase in ceruloplasmin and alpha-2-macroglobulin, on the other hand, may be more likely to reflect haemoconcentration, a process that occurs when the volume of blood plasma decreases, often due to dehydration, and which can affect the concentrations of various substances in the blood.
- These findings can contribute valuable information in terms of disease identification and management, improving our understanding of these conditions and aiding in the development of more effective diagnostic and treatment protocols.
Cite This Article
APA
Milne EM, Doxey DL, Kent JE, Pemberton A.
(1991).
Acute phase proteins in grass sickness (equine dysautonomia).
Res Vet Sci, 50(3), 273-278.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-5288(91)90123-6 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Roslin, Midlothian.
MeSH Terms
- Acute Disease
- Acute-Phase Proteins / analysis
- Animals
- Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / blood
- Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / diagnosis
- Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / veterinary
- Blood Proteins / analysis
- Ceruloplasmin / analysis
- Chronic Disease
- Colic / blood
- Colic / diagnosis
- Colic / veterinary
- Female
- Haptoglobins / analysis
- Hematocrit / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Inflammation / blood
- Inflammation / diagnosis
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Male
- Orosomucoid / analysis
- alpha-Macroglobulins / analysis
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Ludwig EK, Hobbs KJ, McKinney-Aguirre CA, Gonzalez LM. Biomarkers of Intestinal Injury in Colic. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 7;13(2).
- Cray C. Acute phase proteins in animals. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci 2012;105:113-50.
- Eurell TE, Wilson DA, Baker GJ. The effect of exploratory laparotomy on the serum and peritoneal haptoglobin concentrations of the pony. Can J Vet Res 1993 Jan;57(1):42-4.
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