Investigation of breed differences in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations among healthy horses and ponies.
Abstract: Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentration is commonly measured to diagnose pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Several intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect ACTH concentrations, including breed. The objective of this study was to prospectively compare plasma ACTH concentrations among different breeds of mature horses and ponies. Three breed groups comprised Thoroughbred horses (n = 127), Shetland ponies (n = 131) and ponies of non-Shetland breeds (n = 141). Enrolled animals did not show any signs of illness, lameness or clinical signs consistent with PPID. Blood samples were collected 6 months apart, around the autumn equinox and spring equinox, and plasma concentrations of ACTH were measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. Pairwise breed comparisons within each season were performed on log transformed data using the Tukey test. Estimated mean differences in ACTH concentrations were expressed as fold difference with 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Reference intervals for each breed group per season were calculated using non-parametric methods. In autumn, higher ACTH concentrations were found among non-Shetland pony breeds compared with Thoroughbreds (1.55 fold higher; 95 % CI, 1.35-1.77; P < 0.001), and in Shetland ponies compared with Thoroughbreds (2.67 fold higher; 95 % CI, 2.33-3.08; P < 0.001) and non-Shetland pony breeds (1.73 fold higher; 95 % CI, 1.51-1.98; P 0.05). Reference intervals were similar among breed groups in spring, but upper limits for ACTH concentrations were markedly different between Thoroughbred horses and pony breeds in autumn. These findings emphasise that breed should be accounted for when determining and interpreting reference intervals for ACTH concentrations among healthy horses and ponies in autumn.
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2023-05-18 PubMed ID: 37207985DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2023.105995Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Age Factors
- Blood Analysis
- Breed Differences
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Hormones
- Horses
- Physiology
- Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction
- Plasma
- Ponies
- Seasonal Variation
- Shetland Ponies
- Thoroughbreds
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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This research investigates how the levels of a specific hormone called adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) vary across different horse breeds during different seasons. The study found that ACTH levels differed significantly among different breeds in the autumn, but not in the spring, suggesting that breed-specific considerations are important when interpreting these hormone levels in horses.
Background of the Study
- ACTH is a hormone often measured in horses to diagnose pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), a common endocrine disorder.
- The concentration of this hormone can be influenced by several factors, including the breed of the horse. Hence, the study aims to evaluate breed-based differences in plasma ACTH concentrations among healthy horses and ponies.
Methodology
- The study included Thoroughbred horses, Shetland ponies, and non-Shetland pony breeds. The animals included in the study showed no signs of illness, lameness, or clinical signs of PPID.
- Blood samples were collected twice, once around the autumn equinox and once around the spring equinox. The ACTH concentrations in these samples were then measured using a chemiluminescent immunoassay, a biochemical test used to detect the presence of the hormone.
- Statistical analyses were performed to compare ACTH levels between breeds in both seasons. Reference intervals for ACTH concentrations for each breed group per season were also calculated.
Findings
- In autumn, non-Shetland pony breeds and Shetland ponies had higher ACTH concentrations compared to Thoroughbred horses. Further, Shetland ponies had higher ACTH concentrations than non-Shetland pony breeds. However, no such differences were observed in the spring.
- The upper limits for ACTH concentrations in autumn were significantly different between Thoroughbreds and pony breeds.
Conclusion
- The study highlights that while determining and interpreting ACTH concentrations in horses and ponies, the breed of the animal and the season of testing should be considered.
Cite This Article
APA
Bamford NJ, Stewart AJ, El-Hage CM, Bertin FR, Bailey SR.
(2023).
Investigation of breed differences in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations among healthy horses and ponies.
Vet J, 296-297, 105995.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2023.105995 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Melbourne Veterinary School, The Universtiy of Melbourne, Building 400, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia. Electronic address: n.bamford@unimelb.edu.au.
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Building 4114, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia.
- Melbourne Veterinary School, The Universtiy of Melbourne, Building 400, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Building 4114, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia.
- Melbourne Veterinary School, The Universtiy of Melbourne, Building 400, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Horses / genetics
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Pituitary Diseases / genetics
- Pituitary Diseases / veterinary
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
- Seasons
- Gait
Conflict of Interest Statement
Conflict of Interest Statement None of the authors has any financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.
Citations
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