Assessment of serum protein electrophoresis for monitoring therapy of naturally acquired equine cyathostomin infections.
Abstract: Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) has previously been suggested as a means of assessing cyathostomin burdens in horses, although SPE used for that purpose is supported by little evidence. This clinical research report describes a study that objectively evaluated the use of SPE on a population of 38 horses following the administration of different anthelmintics. The population was subdivided into three groups, Groups F, M and P: 7.5 mg/kg bwt fenbendazole was administered to Group F on day -12; on day 0 0.4 mg/kg bwt moxidectin was administered to Group M and 19 mg/kg bwt pyrantel was administered to Group P. Faecal worm egg counts were obtained on days -14, 0 and 10. Groups M and P acted as controls for the Group F faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) in which a high level of benzimidazole resistance was demonstrated. Group F was then used as a control group for the FECRT for both Groups P and M. A high anthelmintic efficacy of moxidectin and pyrantel was detected. SPE was performed on venous blood collected on days 0, 10, 30, 56 and 80. As the cyathostomins infecting the horses had been shown to be highly resistant to fenbendazole, Group F then served as a control group for comparison of any changes in protein fractions. Serum proteins did not vary significantly between groups on any of the sampling dates. No significant changes in serum proteins were observed in any group and no patterns were apparent on qualitative assessment of SPE profiles. SPE was therefore concluded to be an insensitive tool for the monitoring of cyathostomin treatment in horses in a clinical environment.
Publication Date: 2007-04-25 PubMed ID: 17462826DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.03.020Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research paper describes a study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPE) as a tool for monitoring the treatment of horse worm infections. It was found that SPE did not efficiently detect changes in protein after treatment, concluding that it is an insensitive method for tracking worm treatment progress in horses.
Study Overview
- The study involved a population of 38 horses that were naturally infected with cyathostomins, a common parasite found in horses.
- These horses were divided into three groups each receiving different treatments: Fenbendazole was given to Group F, Moxidectin to Group M, and Pyrantel to Group P.
- The worm load was measured in fecal samples obtained on specific days, whereas the efficacy of the anthelmintics (medicine to treat worm infections) was evaluated by a Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT).
- As the worms infecting the horses were found to be resistant to Fenbendazole (given to Group F), this group served as a control for comparing changes in protein fractions post-treatment.
- Protein composition in horse blood was measured using Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPE), a technique to separate proteins based on their charge and size.
Primary Findings
- The study found a high anthelmintic efficacy of Moxidectin and Pyrantel.
- It was identified that the cyathostomins were highly resistant to Fenbendazole.
- The serum proteins did not vary significantly among the three groups on any of the sampling dates.
- There were no significant changes or patterns observed in the serum proteins of any of the groups during the post-treatment monitoring.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPE), the method proposed for monitoring the success of treatments, was ineffective in this setting.
- It was highlighted that no substantial changes were detected in the serum proteins post-treatments, indicating that SPE is not a reliable tool for monitoring cyathostomin treatment in horses in a clinical scenario.
Cite This Article
APA
Abbott JB, Mellor DJ, Love S.
(2007).
Assessment of serum protein electrophoresis for monitoring therapy of naturally acquired equine cyathostomin infections.
Vet Parasitol, 147(1-2), 110-117.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.03.020 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Division of Companion Animal Sciences, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK. john.abbott@oakhamvethospital.co.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
- Blood Protein Electrophoresis / methods
- Blood Protein Electrophoresis / veterinary
- Blood Proteins / metabolism
- Feces / parasitology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Male
- Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
- Serum Albumin / metabolism
- Strongylida Infections / drug therapy
- Strongylida Infections / veterinary
- Strongyloidea / isolation & purification
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Sarro YS, Tounkara A, Tangara E, Guindo O, White HL, Chamot E, Kristensen S. Serum protein electrophoresis: any role in monitoring for antiretroviral therapy?. Afr Health Sci 2010 Jun;10(2):138-43.
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