Abstract: Colic is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in horses, with oxidative stress implicated in its pathophysiology. Objective: Evaluate biomarkers (BIOs) of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in healthy horses and those with non-strangulating colic (NSC) and strangulating colic (SC) and assess correlations with survival. Methods: Seventy-one adult horses: 10 healthy and 61 colic-affected (42 NSC, 19 SC) admitted to 3 veterinary teaching hospitals. Methods: Prospective, multicenter cohort study. Blood samples were collected at admission (T0) and up to 96 h post-admission. Biomarkers measured included arylesterase (AREase), paraoxonase (POase), lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), butyrylcholinesterase, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics and generalized linear mixed models. Results: Compared with healthy horses, colic-affected horses had higher AREase (P = .01), GST (P = .001), and GPx (P = .001), and lower POase (P < .001) and TAC (P = .02). Survival was associated with higher AREase (coefficient [coef.] 106.65 kU/L; 95% confidence interval [CI], 24.70-188.60; P = .01), lower SOD (coef. -0.38 U/mL; 95%CI, -0.76 to -0.06; P = .03), and lower TAC (coef. -3.37 μmol/mL; 95%CI, -5.49 to -1.25; P = .01). Colic type also influenced results, with NSC (vs SC) associated with lower LPO (coef. -1.24 malondialdehyde [MDA]/μL; 95%CI, -2.81 to -0.32; P = .01), higher SOD (coef. 0.42; 95%CI, 0.03-0.81; P = .04), and higher TAC (coef. 1.21; 95%CI, 0.10-2.98; P = .04). Conclusions: Results emphasize the association between oxidative stress BIOs and colic in horses, suggesting that specific BIOs, particularly AREase, may have prognostic utility.
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Overview
This study investigated oxidative stress and antioxidant defense biomarkers in healthy horses and horses suffering from two types of colic (non-strangulating and strangulating), aiming to understand their relationship with disease type and patient survival outcomes.
Introduction and Background
Colic is a significant medical condition in horses, leading to high rates of illness and death.
Oxidative stress, an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body, is thought to play a role in the development and progression of colic.
Understanding biomarkers related to oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses may help in diagnosing and predicting outcomes in horses with colic.
Study Objectives
Measure and compare oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers among healthy horses, horses with non-strangulating colic (NSC), and horses with strangulating colic (SC).
Determine correlations between these biomarkers and survival outcomes.
Assess whether specific biomarkers are associated with the type of colic.
Setting: Horses admitted to three veterinary teaching hospitals.
Study Design: Prospective, multicenter cohort study.
Blood samples collected on admission (T0) and up to 96 hours after admission.
Measured biomarkers:
Arylesterase (AREase)
Paraoxonase (POase)
Lipid peroxidation (LPO) – measured by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels
Superoxide dismutase (SOD)
Butyrylcholinesterase
Total antioxidant capacity (TAC)
Glutathione S-transferase (GST)
Glutathione peroxidase (GPx)
Statistical analysis included nonparametric tests and generalized linear mixed models to assess differences and associations.
Key Results
Differences between healthy and colic horses:
Increased AREase, GST, and GPx in colic-affected horses (p-values 0.01, 0.001, and 0.001 respectively), indicating elevated antioxidant enzyme activities in response to colic.
Decreased POase and TAC in colic horses (p < 0.001 and 0.02), suggesting compromised paraoxonase activity and overall antioxidant capacity.
Associations with survival:
Higher AREase levels correlated with better survival (Coefficient 106.65 kU/L; p = 0.01), indicating this biomarker might be protective or reflect better physiological response.
Lower SOD (Coefficient -0.38 U/mL; p = 0.03) and lower TAC (Coefficient -3.37 μmol/mL; p = 0.01) were associated with survival, indicating that elevated oxidative stress markers may relate to worse outcomes.
Influence of colic type:
NSC was associated with lower lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels compared to SC (Coefficient -1.24 MDA/μL; p = 0.01), suggesting less oxidative damage in NSC.
NSC horses had higher SOD (Coefficient 0.42; p = 0.04) and higher TAC (Coefficient 1.21; p = 0.04) than SC horses, indicative of better antioxidant defense in NSC cases.
Conclusions and Implications
The study confirms oxidative stress biomarkers differ significantly between healthy horses and those with colic, and also vary with colic severity and type.
Some biomarkers, particularly arylesterase (AREase), may serve as useful prognostic indicators for survival in colic-affected horses.
Colic type influences oxidative stress and antioxidant responses, with strangulating colic showing more oxidative damage and weaker antioxidant defense compared to non-strangulating colic.
These findings suggest antioxidant biomarkers could help veterinarians assess prognosis and potentially guide therapeutic strategies in horses with colic.
Cite This Article
APA
Bindi F, de Marchi L, Elias-Cortajarena A, Sala G, Vitale V, Spadari A, Rinnovati R, Bonelli F, Sgorbini M.
(2026).
Evaluation of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense biomarkers in healthy and colic horses: correlation with type of colic and outcome.
J Vet Intern Med, 40(1), aalag017.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jvimsj/aalag017
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