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Metabolites2024; 14(3); doi: 10.3390/metabo14030147

Automated Spectrophotometric Assays for the Measurement of Ammonia and Bicarbonate in Saliva of Horses: Analytical Validation and Changes in Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS).

Abstract: Ammonia (NH3) and bicarbonate (HCO3) have been related to gastric ulcers in humans. Ammonia is considered a possible cause of gastric ulcers, whereas bicarbonate has a protective function. The presence of ulcers in the stomach of horses is defined as Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS), which is a frequent disease in this species, and it has been associated with changes in saliva composition, such as in analytes related to inflammation, immune system and oxidative stress. The objectives of this study were (1) to perform an analytical validation of two automated spectrophotometric assays, one for ammonia and one for bicarbonate, in the horses' saliva and (2) to evaluate their possible variations with EGUS. Analytical validation of the automated assays for ammonia and bicarbonate in the saliva of horses showed that both assays were precise and accurate. In addition, significantly higher values of ammonia and lower values of bicarbonate were found in the saliva of horses with EGUS compared to healthy horses. It can be concluded that ammonia and bicarbonate can be measured in the saliva of horses and that ammonia increases and bicarbonate decreases in this sample type could be related to the presence of EGUS in this species.
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Publication Date: 2024-02-28 PubMed ID: 38535307PubMed Central: PMC10972414DOI: 10.3390/metabo14030147Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper presents an analysis and validation of two automated spectrophotometric assays for measuring ammonia and bicarbonate in horse saliva, as well as evaluates their fluctuations in relation to Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS).

Objective and Process

The key goals of this study, explained in the abstract were:

  • To perform an analytical validation of two automated spectrophotometric assays, specifically for ammonia and bicarbonate, in horse saliva. Spectrophotometric assays are procedures used to measure the concentration of particular chemicals (in this case, ammonia and bicarbonate) based on light absorption properties.
  • To evaluate the changes in the presence and concentration of these chemicals in relation to Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS), a common ailment in horses associated with alterations in saliva composition.

Analytical Validation Results

The results of the validation of the automated assays for ammonia and bicarbonate in the saliva showcase that these assays are precise and accurate. Such precision and accuracy are crucial to reliable measurements in any kind of chemical analysis and scientific experiments, making these assays effective methods of measuring ammonia and bicarbonate levels.

Correlation with Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS)

The researchers discovered that horses with EGUS had notably higher levels of ammonia and lower levels of bicarbonate in their saliva compared to healthy horses. This suggests a relationship between:

  • The increase in ammonia levels, which has been considered a possible cause of gastric ulcers in humans
  • The decrease in bicarbonate levels, which is known to have a protective function against gastric ulcers by neutralizing acid in the stomach.

This also indicates that these changes in the levels of these two chemicals can potentially be linked to the presence of EGUS.

Conclusion

The study concludes that ammonia and bicarbonate levels can be measured in horse saliva using the validated assays, and that changes in these levels could be connected to the presence of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in horses. Thus, these measurements might explore new avenues for understanding, diagnosing, and treating EGUS.

Cite This Article

APA
Muñoz-Prieto A, Llamas-Amor E, Contreras-Aguilar MD, Ayala I, Martín Cuervo M, Cerón JJ, Hansen S. (2024). Automated Spectrophotometric Assays for the Measurement of Ammonia and Bicarbonate in Saliva of Horses: Analytical Validation and Changes in Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS). Metabolites, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14030147

Publication

Metabolites
ISSN: 2218-1989
NlmUniqueID: 101578790
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 3

Researcher Affiliations

Muñoz-Prieto, Alberto
  • Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Llamas-Amor, Eva
  • Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Contreras-Aguilar, María Dolores
  • Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Ayala, Ignacio
  • Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Martín Cuervo, María
  • Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Extremadura, Avda de la Universidad s/n, 10003 Cáceres, Spain.
Cerón, José Joaquín
  • Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Hansen, Sanni
  • Section Medicine and Surgery, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Agrovej 8, 2630 Taastrup, Denmark.

Grant Funding

  • 19894/GERM/15 / Fundación Séneca - Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Región de Murcia
  • RYC2021-033660-I / Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI)

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Muñoz-Prieto A, Cerón JJ, Tecles F, Cuervo MM, Contreras-Aguilar MD, Ayala I, Oudada-Guillén A, Pardo-Marín L, Hansen S. Measurement of Trace Elements (Zinc, Copper, Magnesium, and Iron) in the Saliva of Horses: Validation Data and Changes in Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS). Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 7;14(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14121724pubmed: 38929343google scholar: lookup
  2. Llamas-Amor E, Goyena E, González-Bulnes A, García Manzanilla E, Cerón JJ, Martínez-Subiela S, López-Martínez MJ, Muñoz-Prieto A. Cystatin C, Ammonia, and Bicarbonate Measurements in the Saliva of Pigs: Analytical Validation and Changes in S. suis Infection. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 27;14(11).
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