Large-scale study of blood markers in equine atypical myopathy reveals subclinical poisoning and advances in diagnostic and prognostic criteria.
Abstract: Equine atypical myopathy (AM) is a severe rhabdomyolysis syndrome primarily caused by hypoglycin A (HGA) and methylenecyclopropylglycine protoxins. This study aimed to refine diagnostic and prognostic criteria for AM while exploring apparently healthy cograzers. Blood samples from 263 horses, including AM cases (n= 95), cograzers (n= 73), colic horses (n= 19), and controls (n= 76), were analyzed for HGA, its toxic metabolite, and acylcarnitines profile. Diseased horses exhibited alterations in acylcarnitines that strongly distinguished them from controls and colic horses. Regression analyses identified distinct acylcarnitines profiles among groups, with cograzers showing intermediate alterations. Age and gelding status emerged as protective factors against AM. Furthermore, serum acylcarnitines profiling was valuable in predicting AM survival, with isovaleryl-/2-methylbutyrylcarnitine (i.e., C5 acylcarnitine) showing promise as both a diagnostic and prognostic marker. Subclinical alterations in cograzers underscore a novel aspect: the presence of subclinical cases of AM.
Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2024-07-18 PubMed ID: 39032580DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2024.104515Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research involves a thorough investigation of blood markers in horses suffering from atypical myopathy (AM), a severe muscle breakdown syndrome, to create a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis. The study discovered the existence of asymptomatic AM cases amongst horses grazing together.
Overview of the Research
- This study was instigated to improve upon diagnostic and prognostic criteria for equine atypical myopathy (AM), a severe muscle breakdown condition in horses, primarily due to the presence of toxic compounds like hypoglycin A (HGA) and methylenecyclopropylglycine protoxins.
- Blood samples from 263 horses—95 AM cases, 73 from horses grazing alongside those with AM (referred to as cograzers), 19 colic cases, and 76 control horses—were scrutinized for the presence of HGA, its toxic metabolite, and an acylcarnitines profile.
Research Findings
- The horses afflicted with the disease exhibited changes in acylcarnitines, important biological markers often used in diagnostics. These changes were crucial in distinguishing them from control cases and colic horses.
- Regression analysis, a powerful statistical technique, was used to identify distinct acylcarnitine profiles among the four groups of horses. Horses grazing with the afflicted ones, though seemingly healthy, revealed intermediate alterations to their blood markers—indicative of potential AM risk.
- The study also revealed age and being a gelding (a neutered male horse) as protective factors, decreasing the likelihood of developing AM.
Importance of Acylcarnitines Profiling in Diagnosis and Prognosis
- Acylcarnitines profiling was shown to be valuable for predicting survival in AM cases. The unique profile also helped in differentiating between AM and other conditions, such as colic.
- Specifically, isovaleryl-/2-methylbutyrylcarnitine, also known as C5 acylcarnitine, was recognized as a promising diagnostic and prognostic marker in AM cases.
Discovery of Subclinical AM Cases
- Subtle changes in the blood markers of apparently healthy cograzers suggest the previously unknown presence of subclinical AM—cases where AM is present but not overtly symptomatic.
- This discovery could have significant implications for preventing AM by identifying it early in seemingly healthy horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Renaud B, Kruse CJ, François AC, Cesarini C, van Loon G, Palmers K, Boemer F, Luis G, Gustin P, Votion DM.
(2024).
Large-scale study of blood markers in equine atypical myopathy reveals subclinical poisoning and advances in diagnostic and prognostic criteria.
Environ Toxicol Pharmacol, 110, 104515.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2024.104515 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), University of Liège, Liège 1 (Sart Tilman) 4000, Belgium. Electronic address: benoit.renaud@uliege.be.
- Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Physiology and Sport Medicine, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), University of Liège, Liège 1 (Sart Tilman) 4000, Belgium. Electronic address: caroline.kruse@uliege.be.
- Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), University of Liège, Liège 1 (Sart Tilman) 4000, Belgium. Electronic address: acfrancois@uliege.be.
- Equine Clinical Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bât. B41, Sart Tilman, University of Liège, Liège 4000, Belgium. Electronic address: ccesarini@uliege.be.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent 9820, Belgium. Electronic address: gunther.vanloon@ugent.be.
- De Morette Equine Clinic, Asse 1730, Belgium. Electronic address: katrien.palmers@demorette.be.
- Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, CHU Sart Tilman, University of Liège, Liège 1 (Sart Tilman) 4000, Belgium. Electronic address: f.boemer@chuliege.be.
- Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, CHU Sart Tilman, University of Liège, Liège 1 (Sart Tilman) 4000, Belgium. Electronic address: geraldine.luis@chuliege.be.
- Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), University of Liège, Liège 1 (Sart Tilman) 4000, Belgium. Electronic address: p.gustin@uliege.be.
- Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), University of Liège, Liège 1 (Sart Tilman) 4000, Belgium. Electronic address: dominique.votion@uliege.be.
MeSH Terms
- Horses
- Animals
- Carnitine / analogs & derivatives
- Carnitine / blood
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Hypoglycins / toxicity
- Hypoglycins / blood
- Biomarkers / blood
- Male
- Muscular Diseases / blood
- Muscular Diseases / veterinary
- Muscular Diseases / diagnosis
- Prognosis
- Female
- Rhabdomyolysis / blood
- Rhabdomyolysis / veterinary
- Rhabdomyolysis / chemically induced
- Rhabdomyolysis / diagnosis
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Votion Dominique-Marie reports financial support was provided by Wallonie agriculture SPW. Votion Dominique-Marie reports financial support was provided by Les Fonds Spéciaux pour la Recherche (FSR) of Liege University (Liège, Belgium). If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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