FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) / Diagnostic orientation values for ACTH and other parameters ...
Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition2020; 104(2); 679-689; doi: 10.1111/jpn.13279

Diagnostic orientation values for ACTH and other parameters for clinically healthy donkeys and mules (insulin, triglycerides, glucose, fructosamines, and ɣ-GT).

Abstract: Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is the most prevalent endocrine disease in horses. Although donkeys and mules may also be affected, only a few data have been published. Reference values for diagnostic parameters, such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), are especially scarce or even lacking. Therefore, in the present study, available data from the literature have been verified and completed to facilitate a reliable diagnosis. Clinical inspections and haematological and biochemical examinations were carried out four times in a three-month interval (February to November) in 44 donkeys and 31 mules. Data from clinically healthy animals were used as an orientation. Plasma ACTH concentrations showed seasonal changes in both animal groups. However, it was generally higher in donkeys than mules. Although blood glucose (EDTA plasma) showed no difference between groups, serum insulin concentrations were consistently higher in donkeys. Serum fructosamine levels were slightly higher in mules, whereas, in some cases, serum triglyceride levels were considerably higher in donkeys. Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase showed a striking peak in mules in August, whereas the remaining gamma-glutamyltransferase values were lower compared to donkeys. By comparing donkeys and mules, the present work reveals differences in various blood parameters which should be considered for diagnoses and future studies.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition published by Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2020-01-03 PubMed ID: 31900994DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13279Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 study aims to establish diagnostic reference values for different health-related parameters like adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), insulin, blood glucose, etc., in donkeys and mules, which are currently lacking. The results show differences in these parameters between donkeys and mules, highlighting the need for their consideration in disease diagnosis and future health-related studies.

Research Context and Methodology

  • The research study was initiated to fill the knowledge gap concerning diagnostic parameters of endocrine disease, particularly Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, in donkeys and mules. Although this is a common disorder in horses, data for donkeys and mules are sparse. The study embarked on verifying and completing available data from past sources to set dependable standards for diagnosis.
  • As part of the study, clinical checks along with haematological and biochemical examinations were conducted four times in three months on 44 donkeys and 31 mules. Data collected from clinically healthy animals were used as a benchmark for interpretation.

Study Findings

  • The study reported observable seasonal variations in plasma ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) concentrations in both animal groups. However, the levels were generally higher in donkeys than mules. ACTH is a hormone that regulates the levels of the steroid hormone cortisol, which is released from the adrenal gland.
  • There was no significant difference in blood glucose levels between donkeys and mules, yet serum insulin concentrations were consistently higher in donkeys. This finding implies that comparative insulin resistance could be higher in donkeys, which may have implications for the management and diagnosis of metabolic diseases.
  • Serum fructosamine levels, which reflect blood glucose concentrations over a period of two to three weeks, were slightly higher in mules. On the other hand, serum triglyceride levels were notably higher in donkeys in some cases. This could indicate underlying metabolic disorders or nutritional issues.
  • For serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), an enzyme indicating liver disease, there was an unexpected peak in mules in August. Despite this, the remaining GGT values came out lower when compared to donkeys.

Implications of the Study

  • This study elucidates variable difference in crucial blood parameters between donkeys and mules. These findings have crucial implications for clinical diagnosis and assessments of health status in these animals.
  • The established reference values will aid in the early detection and management of different health disorders in these animals, an area earlier challenged by lack of specific diagnostic parameters.
  • The study necessitates considering species differences in future research studies to avoid biased outcomes and help plan individualised care.

Cite This Article

APA
Gehlen H, Twickel S, Stöckle S, Weber C, Bartmann CP. (2020). Diagnostic orientation values for ACTH and other parameters for clinically healthy donkeys and mules (insulin, triglycerides, glucose, fructosamines, and ɣ-GT). J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl), 104(2), 679-689. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.13279

Publication

Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
ISSN: 1439-0396
NlmUniqueID: 101126979
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 104
Issue: 2
Pages: 679-689

Researcher Affiliations

Gehlen, Heidrun
  • Equine Clinic, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Twickel, Sophie
  • Equine Clinic, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Equine Praxis Dr. Rieland, Warburg, Germany.
Stöckle, Sabita
  • Equine Clinic, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Weber, Corinna
  • LABOKLIN GmbH & Co. KG, Bad Kissingen, Germany.
Bartmann, Claus P
  • Pack Animal Company of the German Armed Forces 230, Bad Reichenhall, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose
  • Equidae / blood
  • Fructosamine / analogs & derivatives
  • Fructosamine / blood
  • Insulin / blood
  • Reference Values
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase / blood

Grant Funding

  • Boehringer Ingelheim

References

This article includes 51 references
  1. Bagdade JD, Biermann EL. Steroid-induced lipemia. Archives of Internal Medicine 125, 129-134.
    doi: 10.1001/archinte.1970.00310010131015google scholar: lookup
  2. Bartmann CP, Henseler H. Anästhesiologische Verfahren bei Trag- und Reittieren der Bundeswehr. Wehrmedizin Und Wehrpharmazie 38, 43-45.
  3. Beech J, Boston RC, McFarlane D, Lindborg S. Evaluation of plasma ACTH, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, and insulin concentrations during various photoperiods in clinically normal horses and ponies and those with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 15, 715-722.
  4. Burden F. Practical feeding and condition scoring for donkeys and mules. Equine Veterinary Education 24, 589-596.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.2011.00314.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  5. Burns TA, Toribo RE. Endocrine diseases of the geriatric equid. pp. 582-590.
  6. Coakley M, Peck KE, Taylor TS, Matthews NS, Mealey KL. Pharmacokinetics of flunixin meglumine in donkeys, mule, and horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research 60, 1441-1444.
  7. Copas VE, Durham AE. Circannual variation in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations in the UK in normal horses and ponies, and those with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Equine Veterinary Journal 44, 440-443.
  8. Donaldson MT, McDonnell SM, Schanbacher BJ, Lamb SV, McFarlane D, Beech J. Variation in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentration and dexamethasone suppression test results with season, age, and sex in healthy ponies and horses. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 19, 217-222.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2005.tb02685.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  9. Du Toit N, Shaw DJ, Keen JA. Adrenocorticotropic hormone in domestic donkeys- reference values, seasonality and association with laminitis. pp. 85-86.
  10. Du Toit N, Trawford AF, Keen JA. Insulin and ACTH values in donkeys with and without laminitis in the UK. p. 88.
  11. Duffield H. An approach to the dull donkey. pp. 28-36.
  12. Dugat SL, Taylor TS, Matthews NS, Gold JR. Values for triglycerides, insulin, cortisol and ACTH in a herd of normal donkeys. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 30, 141-144.
  13. Filipovic N, Stojevic Z, Pravanovic N. Serum fructosamine concentrations in relation to metabolic changes during late pregnancy and early lactation in mares. Berliner Und Münchner Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 123, 169-173.
  14. Frank N. Oral sugar test to diagnose insulin resistance in horses. Proceedings of the American Association of Equine Practice 58, 576.
  15. Frank N. Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. pp. 574-577.
  16. French JM, Patrick VH. Reference values for physiological, haematological and biochemical parameters in domestic donkeys (Equus asinus). Equine Veterinary Education 7(1), 33-35.
  17. Gracia MC, Beech J. Equine intravenous glucose tolerance test: Glucose and insulin responses of healthy horses fed grain or hay and of horses with pituitary adenoma. American Journal of Veterinary Research 47, 570-572.
  18. Hoffman RM, Wilson JA, Kronfeld DS, Cooper WL, Lawrence LA, Sklan D, Harris PA. Hydrolyzable carbohydrates in pasture, hay, and horse feeds: Direct assay and seasonal variation. Journal of Animal Science 79, 500-506.
    doi: 10.2527/2001.792500xgoogle scholar: lookup
  19. Horowitz GL. Defining, establishing, and verifying reference intervals in the clinical laboratory. Approved guideline (3rd ed.). .
  20. Keen JA, McLaren M, Chandler KJ, McGorum BC. Biochemical indices of vascular function, glucose metabolism and oxidative stress in horses with equine Cushing's disease. Equine Veterinary Journal 36, 226-229.
    doi: 10.2746/0425164044877215google scholar: lookup
  21. Knowles EJ, Withers JM, Mair TS. Increased plasma fructosamine concentrations in laminitic horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 44, 226-229.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00419.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  22. Laboklin. (2014). Bad Kissingen. Retrieved from: www.labopedia.de; last change March 18, 2014.
  23. Lee ZL, Zylstra R, Haritou SJA. The use of adrenocorticotrophic hormone as a potential biomarker of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in horses. Veterinary Journal 185, 58-61.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.04.014google scholar: lookup
  24. Levionnois O. Sedation der Pferde in der Praxis - Indikation und Wahl der Methode. Praktischer Tierarzt 88, 240-249.
  25. Mattheeuws DRG, Kaneko JJ, Loy RG, Cornelius CE, Wheat JD. Compartmentalization and turnover of a 131-l-labelled albumin on gamma-globulin in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research 27, 699-705.
  26. Mendoza FJ, Toribio RE, Perez-Ecija A. Donkey internal medicine - Part I: Metabolic, endocrine and alimentary tract disturbances. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 65, 66-74.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2018.02.001google scholar: lookup
  27. Neumann S. Leber- Labordiagnostik. pp. 254-272.
  28. Peel AJ, Bouts T, Flach E, Rivers S, Routh A. Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (equine Cushing's disease) in an onager (Equus hemionus onager). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 40, 773-780.
    doi: 10.1638/2008-0142.1google scholar: lookup
  29. Pietta D, Bartmann CP. Hufpflege und -beschlag bei Eseln und Maultieren. pp. 318-324.
  30. Pongratz MC, Junge HK, Riond B, Schwarzwald CC. Validation of the Accutrend Plus point-of-care triglyceride analyzer in horses, ponies, and donkeys. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 26, 682-690.
    doi: 10.1111/vec.12512google scholar: lookup
  31. Reeves HJ, Lees R, McGowan CM. Measurement of basal serum insulin concentration in the diagnosis of Cushing's disease in ponies. Veterinary Record 149, 449-452.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.149.15.449google scholar: lookup
  32. Rickards K. Treatment of hyperadrenocorticism in donkeys. Veterinary Record 30, 152.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.c518google scholar: lookup
  33. Robie SM, Janson CH, Smith SC, O'Connor JT Jr. Equine serum lipids: Serum lipids and glucose in Morgan and Thoroughbred horses and Shetland ponies. American Journal of Veterinary Research 36, 1705-1708.
  34. Scheck K, Weigert P, Lemmer B, Noreisch W. Labordiagnostische Untersuchungen bei Haflinger Pferden und Maultieren (Tragtiere der Bundeswehr) - 3. Substrate Im Serum. Tierärztliche Praxis 8, 537-542.
  35. Schleicher ED, Olgemöller B, Wiedenmann E, Gerbitz KD. Specific glycation of albumin depends on its half-life. Clinical Chemistry 39, 625-628.
  36. Schwarz B. Das Equine Cushing syndrom. .
  37. Schwarz B, Anen C. Eselmedizin - Basiswissen. .
  38. Schwendenwein I. Referenzintervalle - Referenzlimits. pp. 3-13.
  39. Spelta C. Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction: Current perspectives on diagnosis and management. Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports 6, 293-300.
    doi: 10.2147/vmrr.s74191google scholar: lookup
  40. Sprayson T. The care of the geriatric donkey. pp. 239-254.
  41. Starkey P, Starkey M. Regional and world trends in donkey populations. pp. 10-21.
  42. Staudacher G. Fruktosamine als neues wertvolles Kriterium für die Einstellung diabetischer Tiere sowie ihre photometrische Bestimmung. Tierärztliche Praxis 18, 441-446.
  43. Svendsen ED. Appendix 3 Biochemical parameters. p. 372.
  44. Svendsen ED. Appendix 1. pp. 380-384.
  45. Taylor FGR, Hillyer MH. Klinische Diagnostik in der Pferdepraxis. .
  46. Trachsel D, Brehm W, Tschudi P. Referenzwerte von hämatologischen und biochemischen Parametern für Esel. Tierärztliche Praxis 33, 55-60.
  47. Trawford A. Donkey welfare internationally - current research. .
  48. Van der Kolk JH, Wensing T, Kalsbeek HC, Breukink HJ. Laboratory diagnosis of equine pituitary pars intermedia adenoma. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 12, 35-39.
    doi: 10.1016/0739-7240(94)00006-mgoogle scholar: lookup
  49. Watson D, Mury D, Love S. Equine hyperlipaemia in the United Kingdom: Clinical features and blood biochemistry of 18 cases. Veterinary Record 131, 48-51.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.131.3.48google scholar: lookup
  50. Watts KA. A review of unlikely sources of excess carbohydrate in equine diets. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 25, 338-344.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2005.07.005google scholar: lookup
  51. Weigert P, Scheck K, Lemmer B, Noreisch W. Labordiagnostische Untersuchungen bei Haflinger Pferden und Maultieren (Tragtiere der Bundeswehr) - 2. Enzymaktivitäten Im Serum. Tierärztliche Praxis 8, 387-393.

Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Goodrich EL, Llanos-Soto SG, Ivanek R, Pinn-Woodcock T, Frye E, Wells A, Purdy SR, Berryhill E, Place NJ. Both Season and Equid Type Affect Endogenous Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Concentrations in Healthy Donkeys, Mules and Hinnies in the United States. Animals (Basel) 2026 Jan 16;16(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani16020290pubmed: 41594480google scholar: lookup
  2. Mendoza FJ, Toribio RE, Perez-Ecija A. Metabolic and Endocrine Insights in Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 10;14(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14040590pubmed: 38396558google scholar: lookup
  3. Humphreys S, Kass PH, Magdesian KG, Goodrich E, Berryhill E. Seasonal variation of endogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations in healthy non-geriatric donkeys in Northern California. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:981920.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.981920pubmed: 36032308google scholar: lookup
  4. Alberghina D, Statelli A, Monteverde V, Vazzana I, Cascone G, Panzera M. Serum Cortisol and Its Correlation with Leucocyte Profile and Circulating Lipids in Donkeys (Equus asinus). Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 26;12(7).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12070841pubmed: 35405831google scholar: lookup
  5. Gehlen H, Schwarz B, Bartmann C, Gernhardt J, Stöckle SD. Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction and Metabolic Syndrome in Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 8;10(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10122335pubmed: 33302557google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,359 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.