Application of acute phase protein measurements in veterinary clinical chemistry.

The research article primarily discusses how the measurement of acute phase proteins can be applied in veterinary clinical chemistry, and their potential use as general health indicators in large animals like pigs, cows, and horses.

Main Objective

The principal objective of this research paper is to analyze the functioning of acute phase proteins, specifically haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, and serum amyloid A. The aim is to study their role as non-specific indicators of health in veterinary clinical chemistry, and accordingly, assess their utility in the health surveillance of large animals including pigs, cows, and horses.

Acute Phase Response

• The research introduces the concept of the ‘acute phase response’, which is part of the body’s immediate response system against trauma, inflammation, or infection.
• This reaction involves an increase in the synthesis of certain proteins in the liver, leading to a higher concentration of these proteins in the bloodstream, collectively referred to as ‘acute phase proteins’.
• Once the triggering factor for the trauma, infection or inflammation disappears, the concentration of these proteins in the serum returns to their base levels.

Specific Acute Phase Proteins Discussed

• The primary focus is on three specific acute phase proteins – haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, and serum amyloid A.
• These proteins are released in response to inflammation and infection, thereby potentially serving as non-specific indicators of health.

Application in Veterinary Clinical Chemistry

• The paper mentions the possible use of these proteins in the health status surveillance of pigs at the herd level. The levels of these proteins could potentially indicate the overall health status of the herd.
• Measurement of these proteins may also help detect mastitis (inflammation of mammary glands) in dairy cattle. An increased level of these proteins could suggest the presence of this condition.
• Lastly, the paper suggests that these proteins could also be used for prognosticating respiratory diseases in horses, potentially aiding in early detection and treatment.