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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Changes in Acute Phase Response Biomarkers in Racing Enduran...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(21); doi: 10.3390/ani12212993

Changes in Acute Phase Response Biomarkers in Racing Endurance Horses.

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate if exercise-induced acute phase response (APR) occurs in endurance horses in response to the race. The study included 23 horses competing in an endurance competition with a successfully passed clinical examination before the race. Blood samples were collected before the start and within 30 min after the end of the race. Haematological and biochemical tests were performed and correlated to acute phase biomarkers changes. Values of calprotectin and haptoglobin (Hp) decreased after the races compared to values before, while concentrations of ceruloplasmin and albumin recorded a significant increase. Greater changes in calprotectin values were noted in Arabian horses compared to other breeds. Values of Hp showed a significantly greater decrease after longer races. Based on study results, endurance racing induces APR in horses characterised by significant changes in selected acute phase biomarkers. More pronounced changes were noted at races with higher average speeds, suggesting the need for thorough horse monitoring during exhausting races.
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Publication Date: 2022-10-31 PubMed ID: 36359117PubMed Central: PMC9657625DOI: 10.3390/ani12212993Google 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 study evaluates the occurrence of acute phase response (APR), a system-wide response to disruptions or stresses, in endurance racing horses. The research found that certain biomarkers change significantly due to the stress of endurance racing, with more pronounced changes observed in races with higher average speeds.

Objective of the Study

  • The objective of this research was to inspect whether the exercise-induced acute phase response, which is a major systemic reaction triggered by various disruptions, occurs in endurance horses due to the stress of the race.

Research Methodology

  • The study assessed 23 horses that were competing in an endurance competition and had successfully completed a clinical examination before the race.
  • Researchers collected blood samples from these horses both before the race started and within 30 minutes after the race finished.
  • These blood samples were then analyzed with haematological and biochemical tests, and the data was correlated to changes in acute phase biomarkers.

Research Findings

  • The levels of two biomarkers – calprotectin and haptoglobin (Hp) – decreased after the races when compared to their levels before the races began.
  • Conversely, the concentrations of two other biomarkers – ceruloplasmin and albumin – increased significantly as a result of racing.
  • Arabian horses showed greater changes in calprotectin values compared to horses of other breeds.
  • Greater decreases in the levels of Hp were observed after longer races, indicating that the duration of endurance exercise impacts the degree of acute phase response.

Implications

  • These findings demonstrate that endurance racing induces an acute phase response in horses, characterized by significant changes in specific acute phase biomarkers.
  • The study suggests that more pronounced changes were noted in races with higher average speeds. This emphasizes the need for thorough monitoring of horses during demanding races to detect any potential health issues and to ensure the wellbeing of the animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Mihelić K, Vrbanac Z, Bojanić K, Kostanjšak T, Ljubić BB, Gotić J, Vnuk D, Bottegaro NB. (2022). Changes in Acute Phase Response Biomarkers in Racing Endurance Horses. Animals (Basel), 12(21). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12212993

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 21

Researcher Affiliations

Mihelić, Karla
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Vrbanac, Zoran
  • Department of Radiology, Ultrasound Diagnostic and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Bojanić, Krunoslav
  • Laboratory for Aquaculture Biotechnology, Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička Cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Kostanjšak, Tara
  • Clinic for Surgery, Orthopaedics and Ophthalmology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Ljubić, Blanka Beer
  • Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Gotić, Jelena
  • Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Vnuk, Dražen
  • Clinic for Surgery, Orthopaedics and Ophthalmology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Bottegaro, Nika Brkljača
  • Clinic for Surgery, Orthopaedics and Ophthalmology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.

Grant Funding

  • KK.01.1.1.04.0055 / European Regional Development Fund, Operational Program "Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020." for project "Diagnostic significance of calprotectin in early detection of inflammatory conditions "

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Gotić J, Špelić L, Kuleš J, Horvatić A, Gelemanović A, Ljubić BB, Mrljak V, Bottegaro NB. Proteomic analysis emphasizes the adaptation of energy metabolism in horses during endurance races. BMC Vet Res 2025 Feb 15;21(1):67.
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  2. Wang J, Ren W, Li Z, Ma S, Li L, Wang R, Zeng Y, Meng J, Yao X. Blood-Based Whole-Genome Methylation Analysis of Yili Horses Pre- and Post-Racing. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 24;15(3).
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  3. Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O, Malin K, Dąbrowska I, Grzędzicka J, Ostaszewski P, Carter C. Immunology of Physical Exercise: Is Equus caballus an Appropriate Animal Model for Human Athletes?. Int J Mol Sci 2024 May 10;25(10).
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  4. Giers J, Bartel A, Kirsch K, Müller SF, Horstmann S, Gehlen H. Blood-based assessment of oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine and metabolic adaptations in eventing horses accounting for plasma volume shift after exercise. Vet Med Sci 2024 May;10(3):e1409.
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