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Frontiers in veterinary science2022; 8; 741530; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.741530

Hematological and Serum Biochemical Changes and Their Prognostic Value in Horses Spontaneously Poisoned by Crotalaria spectabilis.

Abstract: Determining the prognosis of poisoning by plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids is usually challenging. This study aimed to identify important prognostic parameters that can determine the severity of spontaneous poisoning by in horses. Blood samples from 42 horses spontaneously poisoned by oats contaminated with seeds were evaluated. Complete blood counts (CBC) and serum biochemical tests [urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, total and direct bilirubin concentrations, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and creatine kinase (CK) activities] were performed. Horses were followed up for 12 months to determine the long-term survival rate; after 12 months, they were divided into two groups: survivors ( = 30) and non-survivors ( = 12). Horses spontaneously poisoned with had higher levels of urea, globulin, bilirubin (total, direct, and indirect), AST, GGT, and CK than the reference values. Non-survivor horses showed significantly higher ( < 0.05) values of hemoglobin, GGT, and direct bilirubin than the survivor horses. Horses with serum GGT activity higher than 95 U/l had 14.0 times the risk of death compared to animals showing activities equal to or lower than this value, whereas horses with serum direct bilirubin concentration higher than 0.6 mg/dl (10.26 μmol/L) had 5.78 times the risk of death compared to the others. In summary, serum GGT activity and direct bilirubin concentration may be useful prognostic indicators for assessing the severity of -poisoned horses.
Copyright © 2022 Câmara, de Sousa Argenta, de Moraes, Fonseca, Fino, Paludo and Soto-Blanco.
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Publication Date: 2022-01-14 PubMed ID: 35097039PubMed Central: PMC8795585DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.741530Google 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.

This research focuses on diagnosing the severity and determining the prognosis of horses poisoned by Crotalaria spectabilis, a toxic plant, by observing changes in hematological and serum biochemical parameters. Higher levels of serum GGT activity and direct bilirubin concentration can indicate a higher risk of mortality.

Overview of the Research

  • The study was launched with the primary aim of identifying the prognostic factors that reflect the severity of poisoning in horses. This was in response to the challenge in determining the prognosis of poisoning by plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids, a potent toxin mainly found in Crotalaria spectabilis.
  • The study performed a series of blood and serum biochemical tests and tracked 42 horses, which were poisoned by oats contaminated with Crotalaria spectabilis seeds, over a year.

Research Findings and Interpretation

  • Data showed that poisoned horses had elevated levels of several markers including urea, globulin, bilirubin (total, direct, and indirect), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and creatine kinase (CK) compared to normal benchmarks. The elevated values suggest a response to the toxic effects of the plant.
  • By comparing the data of surviving horses (30) and non-survivors (12) after a year, it was found that non-survivial was associated with significantly higher values of hemoglobin, GGT, and direct bilirubin.
  • Horses showing a serum GGT activity above 95 U/l had 14 times higher risk of death as compared to those with levels equal to or below this value. This points towards the potential of serum GGT activity as a strong prognostic marker.
  • Similarly, horses with a serum direct bilirubin concentration above 0.6 mg/dl (10.26 μmol/L) were nearly 6 times more prone to death than other horses. This highlights the prognostic ability of direct bilirubin concentration.

In conclusion, the study indicates that serum GGT activity and direct bilirubin concentration can act as potential indicators in assessing the severity and determining the prognosis of horses poisoned with Crotalaria spectabilis.

Cite This Article

APA
Câmara ACL, de Sousa Argenta VL, de Moraes DDA, Fonseca EF, Fino TCM, Paludo GR, Soto-Blanco B. (2022). Hematological and Serum Biochemical Changes and Their Prognostic Value in Horses Spontaneously Poisoned by Crotalaria spectabilis. Front Vet Sci, 8, 741530. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.741530

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 8
Pages: 741530
PII: 741530

Researcher Affiliations

Câmara, Antonio Carlos Lopes
  • Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital, College of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
de Sousa Argenta, Verônica Lourença
  • Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital, College of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
de Moraes, Daniella Dianese Alves
  • Secretaria de Estado da Agricultura, Abastecimento e Desenvolvimento Rural Do Distrito Federal, Brasília, Brazil.
Fonseca, Eduardo Ferreira
  • Secretaria de Estado da Agricultura, Abastecimento e Desenvolvimento Rural Do Distrito Federal, Brasília, Brazil.
Fino, Tayná Cardim Moraes
  • Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital, College of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
Paludo, Giane Regina
  • Veterinary Clinical Pathology Laboratory, College of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
Soto-Blanco, Benito
  • Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, Veterinary College, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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