Elevated serum amyloid A levels in cases of aborted equine fetuses due to fetal and placental infections.
Abstract: Determination of fetal serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations in aborted fetuses can provide valuable information regarding the infectious and/or inflammatory process of abortion in horses. To investigate the relationship between fetal SAA levels and the infectious/inflammatory disease process in feto-placental tissues, a SAA ELISA was used to test heart serum samples of 89 equine fetuses that were necropsied and diagnosed in the following groups: a multiorgan disease process diagnosed with an identified microorganism (14 cases, group 1); only placentitis diagnosed with an identified microorganism (nine cases, group 2); only placentitis diagnosed with no microorganism identified (six cases, group 3); and no infectious or inflammatory disease process diagnosed (60 cases, group 4). Serum amyloid A concentrations in equine fetuses were elevated from 10.5 to ≥40 mg/L in 10 of 14 cases in group 1; and from less than 2.5 mg/L to greater than 40 mg/L in seven of nine cases in group 2. In group 3, SAA concentrations were found to be less than 2.5 mg/L in five of six cases. In group 4, SAA concentrations were less than 2.5 mg/L in 55 cases, whereas in five cases SAA concentrations were elevated. Statistical significant differences were found between the concentrations of SAA in fetal horse blood and the presence of infectious and/or inflammatory disease process in the feto-placental tissues when a causative microorganism was identified. These results suggest that testing SAA concentrations in fetal heart blood may aid in further understanding the causes of abortions in horses.
Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2016-03-24 PubMed ID: 27125694DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.03.021Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates the serum levels of a particular biomarker, serum amyloid A (SAA), in horse fetuses that have been aborted due to inflammation or infection. It indicates a possible correlation between these levels and presence of disease-causing organisms.
Methodology
- The study employs an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) to measure the concentrations of SAA in heart serum samples from 89 horse fetuses that had been subject to autopsy.
- The fetuses were grouped into four categories: those with confirmed infections in multiple organs (group 1), those with confirmed infections in the placenta only (group 2), fetuses with inflammation of the placenta without any identified microorganism (group 3), and fetuses with no detected infection or inflammation (group 4).
Results
- Groups 1 and 2, with microorganism-identified infections, showed elevated levels of SAA ranging from 10.5 to 40 mg/L (group 1) and less than 2.5 mg/L to greater than 40 mg/L (group 2).
- In group 3, the majority of fetuses showed SAA concentrations less than 2.5 mg/L, indicating the less pronounced inflammation when no microorganism was detected.
- In group 4, the majority of fetuses (55 out of 60), also had SAA concentrations less than 2.5 mg/L, implying no infection or inflammation, while five fetuses in this group showed unexpectedly elevated SAA levels.
Statistical Analysis and Conclusion
- The data analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between the concentration of SAA in fetal horse blood and the presence of an infectious and/or inflammatory disease process when a causative microorganism was identified.
- The findings suggest that SAA concentrations can act as a biomarker for indicating infective or inflammatory processes leading to abortion in horses.
- Studying the impact of SAA concentration levels in fetuses, may enhance our understanding of the causes behind equine abortions and potentially contribute to prevention strategies.
Cite This Article
APA
Erol E, Jackson C, Horohov D, Locke S, Smith J, Carter C.
(2016).
Elevated serum amyloid A levels in cases of aborted equine fetuses due to fetal and placental infections.
Theriogenology, 86(4), 971-975.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.03.021 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Electronic address: erdal.erol@uky.edu.
- Department of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Science, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Aborted Fetus / microbiology
- Abortion, Veterinary / microbiology
- Animals
- Bacterial Infections / microbiology
- Bacterial Infections / veterinary
- Biomarkers / blood
- Female
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / veterinary
- Serum Amyloid A Protein / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Aras Z, Yavuz O. Evaluation of fetal heart serum amyloid a concentrations in infectious cattle abortion cases. Heliyon 2022 Nov;8(11):e11330.
- Long A, Nolen-Walston R. Equine Inflammatory Markers in the Twenty-First Century: A Focus on Serum Amyloid A. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2020 Apr;36(1):147-160.
- Witkowska-Piłaszewicz OD, Żmigrodzka M, Winnicka A, Miśkiewicz A, Strzelec K, Cywińska A. Serum amyloid A in equine health and disease. Equine Vet J 2019 May;51(3):293-298.
- Jawor P, Mee JF, Stefaniak T. Perinatal immuno/inflammatory responses in the presence or absence of bovine fetal infection. BMC Vet Res 2018 Nov 1;14(1):322.
- Zhang Q, Yang D, Han X, Ren Y, Fan Y, Zhang C, Sun L, Ye T, Wang Q, Ban Y, Cao Y, Zou H, Zhang Z. Alarmins and their pivotal role in the pathogenesis of spontaneous abortion: insights for therapeutic intervention. Eur J Med Res 2024 Dec 31;29(1):640.
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