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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Zoo Wildl Med / ESTABLISHING REFERENCE INTERVALS FOR SERUM INFLAMMATORY MARK...
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians2025; 56(1); 54-61; doi: 10.1638/2024-0015

ESTABLISHING REFERENCE INTERVALS FOR SERUM INFLAMMATORY MARKERS AND INVESTIGATING THEIR STORAGE STABILITY AND CLINICAL UTILITY IN ASIAN WILD HORSES (EQUUS FERUS PRZEWALSKII) UNDER MANAGED CARE.

Abstract: Acute phase proteins (APPs) are commonly used in domestic equine practice, where they rise rapidly in response to inflammation and decrease soon after resolution. This response provides useful information to identify, monitor, and prognosticate a variety of inflammatory conditions. Asian wild horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) are an endangered relative of the domestic horse, and APP reference intervals (RI) and clinical utility in this species are not well documented. This study used serum samples from clinically healthy Asian wild horses under managed care to establish RI for serum amyloid A (SAA, n = 21) using an equine SAA assay and haptoglobin (HP, n = 23) using a proprietary assay. The utility of SAA and HP in identifying inflammation in clinically abnormal horses was assessed, and storage stability of these analytes under refrigerated conditions was determined. The RIs established in this study were 0.3-6.8 mg/L for SAA and 0-3.25 g/L for HP. Six clinically abnormal cases were retrospectively assessed using the RI established in this study. One case of pituitary neoplasia showed elevated SAA levels, one case of maxillary lip phaeohyphomycosis and concurrent endometritis showed elevations in SAA and HP, and one case of chronic laminitis had elevated SAA. Storage stability of SAA and HP were assessed at 4°C over 7 d. SAA significantly decreased between Time 0 h and Time 72 h, but increased again at 7 d with no significant difference between Time 0 h and Time 7 d. Because of the initial decrease in SAA concentration over the first 72 h, it is recommended that SAA is analyzed within 48 h if freezing or immediate analysis is not possible. There was no significant difference between HP between Time 0 h and Time 7 d, suggesting stability of this analyte over this period if freezing or immediate analysis is not possible.
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Publication Date: 2025-03-12 PubMed ID: 40067222DOI: 10.1638/2024-0015Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.

This research aims to establish reference intervals for serum inflammatory markers in Asian wild horses (Equus ferus Przewalskii), investigate how these markers change when stored under refrigerated conditions, and evaluate their clinical utility in identifying inflammation-related conditions in these endangered animals.

Study Technique and Goals

  • The study used serum (liquid part of the blood) samples from healthy Asian wild horses that are under managed care.
  • The purpose was to establish Reference Intervals (RI) for two serum inflammatory markers – Serum Amyloid A (SAA) and Haptoglobin (HP).
  • The research also aimed to investigate how these markers change when stored at 4°C over a period of 7 days.
  • Finally, it assessed the utility of these markers in identifying inflammation in horses exhibiting clinical abnormalities.

Outcomes

  • The researchers were able to establish RIs for both SAA and HP in Asian wild horses. For SAA, the RI was 0.3-6.8 mg/L, and for HP, it was 0-3.25 g/L.
  • When examining six clinically abnormal cases using these newly established RIs, they found that elevated SAA levels indicated pituitary neoplasia in one horse, and elevated SAA and HP indicated maxillary lip phaeohyphomycosis and concurrent endometritis in another.

Storage Stability

  • The storage stability of both SAA and HP were tested at 4°C over a 7-day period.
  • SAA levels significantly decreased between the start time (0 hours) and 72 hours. However, at 7 days, the SAA levels increased again, matching the initial SAA levels recorded at 0 hours.
  • Given the initial decrease in SAA concentration over the first 72 hours, it’s recommended that SAA is analyzed within 48 hours if the samples can’t be frozen or immediately analyzed.
  • For HP, there was no significant difference in levels between the start time and after 7 days. This suggested the marker remained stable over a 7-day period if freezing or immediate analysis was not possible.

Overall, this research provides new insights into the use and stability of serum inflammatory markers in Asian wild horses, offering a point of reference for future studies and management of these endangered animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Toy S, Black SR, Pastor AR, Whiteside DP. (2025). ESTABLISHING REFERENCE INTERVALS FOR SERUM INFLAMMATORY MARKERS AND INVESTIGATING THEIR STORAGE STABILITY AND CLINICAL UTILITY IN ASIAN WILD HORSES (EQUUS FERUS PRZEWALSKII) UNDER MANAGED CARE. J Zoo Wildl Med, 56(1), 54-61. https://doi.org/10.1638/2024-0015

Publication

Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
ISSN: 1042-7260
NlmUniqueID: 8915208
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 56
Issue: 1
Pages: 54-61

Researcher Affiliations

Toy, Shannon
  • Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Animal Health Department, Calgary, AB T2E 7V6, Canada, stoydvm@hotmail.com.
  • University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada.
Black, Sandra R
  • Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Animal Health Department, Calgary, AB T2E 7V6, Canada.
Pastor, Adriana R
  • Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Animal Health Department, Calgary, AB T2E 7V6, Canada.
Whiteside, Douglas P
  • Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Animal Health Department, Calgary, AB T2E 7V6, Canada.
  • University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / blood
  • Serum Amyloid A Protein / metabolism
  • Inflammation / veterinary
  • Inflammation / blood
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Reference Values
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Male
  • Animals, Wild
  • Haptoglobins / metabolism
  • Acute-Phase Proteins / metabolism

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