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Monitoring of inflammatory blood biomarkers in foals with Rhodococcus Equi pneumonia during antimicrobial treatment.
Abstract: Rhodococcus equi (R. equi), a gram-positive facultative intracellular pathogen, is a common cause of pneumonia in foals and represents a major cause of disease and death. The aim of the present study was to investigate the time-depended changes in White Blood Cells (WBC), basophils (Baso), neutrophils (Neu), lymphocytes (Lymf), monocytes (Mon), eosinophils (Eos), platelet (PLT) counts, fibrinogen (Fbg) concentration, interferon (IFN-α, IFN-γ) and interleukins (IL-2 and IL-10) in foals with clinical R. equi pneumonia. The main treatment was with azithromycin-rifampicin for 14 days. Blood was sampled prior to, 7 and 14 days after starting therapy. Treatment was associated with significantly decreased counts of WBC, (25.6 ± 6.7 and 14.2 ± 2,7 × 10/ml), Neu (18.6 ±6.2 and 10.7 ± 3.1 × 10/ml), Mon (1.5 ± 0.5 and 0.9 ± 0.2 × 10/ml) and Fbg (539 ± 124 and 287 ± 26 g/dl) between day 0 and day 14. IL-2 and IL-10 concentrations were significantly increased (P = 0.028, P = 0.013, respectively) after treatment, whereas IFN-α and IFN-γ concentrations were not. The diagnostic potentials of INF-α, INF-γ, IL-2 and IL-10 per se seems not very high, however, the study suggests that the activity change of selected interleukins in the course of the disease may be associated with amelioration. We concluded that patterns of serum concentration changes of INF-α, INF-γ, IL-2 and IL-10 may help in the study of the innate immune response in foals during infection and treatment of R. equi pneumonia.
Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2024-05-24 PubMed ID: 38797250DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105103Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research explored how the concentrations of different blood cells and biochemical substances in foals (young horses) change over time when they’re treated for pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi, a common bacterial infection. The researchers found that treatment was associated with notable changes in the counts of certain types of blood cells and the concentrations of certain substances involved in the immune response, potentially shedding light on how the body fights off this infection.
Introduction and Methodology
- This study aimed to examine specific white blood cells (including basophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils) and platelets, in addition to fibrinogen concentration and interferons and interleukins (important components of the immune response), in foals suffering from R. equi pneumonia.
- The main treatment employed for the infected foals comprised administering a combination of azithromycin and rifampicin for a period of 14 days.
- The scientists drew blood samples before treatment, and again at the 7-day and 14-day marks, to study the changes during and post-treatment.
Results
- The researchers found that treatment was linked with a significant decrease in the counts of WBC, neutrophils, monocytes, and fibrinogen concentration.
- There was also a significant increase in interleukin-2 and interleukin-10 concentrations post-treatment. These substances play a crucial role in regulating immune responses.
- Two types of interferons studied (IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma) did not exhibit a significant change in concentration during the treatment period.
Conclusion
- Although the interferons and interleukins in isolation may not appear significantly diagnostic, the researchers observed specific patterns in the activity of these substances during the course of the illness and treatment, potentially indicating an association with disease improvement.
- Thus, the study concludes that examining the patterns of serum concentration changes of INF-alpha, INF-gamma, IL-2 and IL-10 might assist in understanding the foal’s innate immune response during an R. equi pneumonia infection and its treatment.
Cite This Article
APA
Deniz Ö, Ekinci G, Onmaz AC, Derelli FM, Fazio F, Aragona F, Hoven RVD.
(2024).
Monitoring of inflammatory blood biomarkers in foals with Rhodococcus Equi pneumonia during antimicrobial treatment.
J Equine Vet Sci, 138, 105103.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105103 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kastamonu University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 37150, Merkez, Kastaonu, Türkiye.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erciyes University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 38280, Kayseri, Türkiye.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erciyes University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 38280, Kayseri, Türkiye.
- İzmit Stud and Breeding Station of Jockey Club of Türkiye, Kocaeli, Türkiye.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Via Palatucci snc, 98168, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: ffazio@unime.it.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Via Palatucci snc, 98168, Messina, Italy.
- Department of Companion Animals and Horses, Clinic for Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Veterinary University of Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of competing interest None.
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Deniz Ö, Erol HS, van den Hoven R, Onmaz AC, Aragona F, Fazio F. Monitoring Weaning Stress in Fillies and Colts on a Thoroughbred Breeding Farm by Cortisol and Blood Inflammatory Markers: The Benefits of Gradual Separation and Social Support. Animals (Basel) 2025 Dec 10;15(24).
- Aragona F, Giannetto C, Piccione G, Arfuso F, Arrigo F, Costa A, De Caro S, Cannuli A, Fazio F. Effect of time of day and physical exercise on inflammatory biomarkers in athletic horses. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1608770.
- Aragona F, Rizzo M, Giudice E, Fazio F, Costa A, Di Bella B, De Caro S, Arfuso F, Briglia M, Piccione G, Giannetto C. Circadian Oscillation of Leukocyte Subpopulations and Inflammatory Cytokines over a 24-H Period in Horses. Vet Sci 2025 Apr 20;12(4).
- Piccione G, Arfuso F, Giudice E, Aragona F, Pugliatti P, Panzera MF, Zumbo A, Monteverde V, Bartolo V, Barbera A, Giannetto C. Dynamic Adaptation of Hematological Parameters, Albumin, and Non-Esterified Fatty Acids in Saddlebred and Standardbred Horses During Exercise. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 21;15(3).
- Deniz Ö, Aragona F, Murphy BA, Tümer KÇ, Bozacı S, Fazio F. Climate change impact on blood haemogram in the horse: a three-year preliminary study. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1482268.
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