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The Veterinary record2021; 187(1); 29; doi: 10.1136/vr.104710

Peripheral blood markers of sepsis in foals born from mares with experimentally induced ascending placentitis.

Abstract: Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of neonatal death during the first-week postfoaling. Despite recent advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis in the newborn foal, the non-specific clinical signs and subtle nature of this disease may result in delayed diagnosis until severe progression of the disease; thus, early detection of sepsis remains critical for a favourable outcome. This study aimed to identify early blood markers as predictive of sepsis on foals. Thirty-five foals were allocated into three groups: healthy control foals (n=7) and foals born from mares with placentitis: septic foals (n=9) and non-septic foals (n=19). Blood samples were obtained immediately after foaling and at 12, 24 and 48 hours. All samples were assessed for glucose, lactate, triglycerides, total cholesterol, urea, creatinine, total solids, fibrinogen, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), serum amyloid A (SAA) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations. At foaling, glucose and GGT concentrations were lower in septic foals (P<0.001). Of interest, SAA, AFP, creatinine and total cholesterol were higher in septic foals at parturition (P<0.05). At 12 hours, lactate, triglycerides and total cholesterol concentrations were higher in septic foals. When evaluated at 24 and 48 hours, higher concentrations of SAA and AFP were found in placentitis foals than in the control group. Total cholesterol and lactate appear to be suitable markers for sepsis during the first 24 hours postpartum. Septic foals displayed altered energy metabolisms as determined by increased triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations, hypoglycaemia at birth and reduced activity of the GGT and increased lactate and urea concentrations. Sepsis was associated with high concentrations of SAA and AFP.
© British Veterinary Association 2020.
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Publication Date: 2021-02-28 PubMed ID: 33638540DOI: 10.1136/vr.104710Google 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.

The research article discusses a study performed to identify early blood markers that could predict sepsis in newborn foals, especially those born from mares with placentitis.

Objective

The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate the importance of peripheral blood markers in newborn foals as a potential early warning sign of sepsis. The researchers tracked the health of foals born to mares with placentitis, an inflammation of the placenta, as these newborns have increased risk for sepsis.

Methodology

  • A total of 35 foals were grouped into three categories: healthy control foals (7), foals born from mares with placentitis who were septic (9), and foals born from mares with placentitis who were not septic (19).
  • Blood samples from the newborns were taken immediately after birth and at intervals of 12, 24, and 48 hours.
  • All samples were tested for several blood markers which include glucose, lactate, triglycerides, total cholesterol, urea, creatinine, total solids, fibrinogen, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), serum amyloid A (SAA) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations.

Results

  • Sepsis in newborn foals markedly affected the levels of various blood markers. Glucose and GGT concentrations were found to be significantly lower in septic foals at birth.
  • Interestingly, the septic foals showed higher concentrations of SAA, AFP, creatinine and total cholesterol at parturition.
  • Moreover, at the 12-hour marker, lactate, triglycerides, and total cholesterol concentrations were higher in septic foals.
  • At 24 and 48 hours, the foals born to mares with placentitis showed higher concentrations of SAA and AFP compared to the control group.

Conclusions and Implications

  • Results indicated that increased levels of total cholesterol and lactate could serve as suitable markers for sepsis during the first 24 hours postpartum.
  • The study also found altered energy metabolisms in septic foals, evidenced by increased levels of triglycerides and cholesterol, hypoglycemia at birth, and a decrease in GGT activity. Additionally, increased lactate and urea concentrations were noticed.
  • High concentrations of SAA and AFP were found to be associated with sepsis.
  • This research paves the way for early detection and treatment of neonatal sepsis in foals, especially those born from mares with placentitis, thereby potentially decreasing the high neonatal death rates associated with the disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Borba LA, Nogueira CEW, Bruhn FRP, da Silva GC, Feijó LS, Canisso IF, Curcio BDR. (2021). Peripheral blood markers of sepsis in foals born from mares with experimentally induced ascending placentitis. Vet Rec, 187(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.104710

Publication

The Veterinary record
ISSN: 2042-7670
NlmUniqueID: 0031164
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 187
Issue: 1
Pages: 29

Researcher Affiliations

Borba, Luciana de Araujo
  • Departamento de Clínicas Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Nogueira, Carlos Eduardo Wayne
  • Departamento de Clínicas Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Bruhn, Fábio Raphael Pascoti
  • Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
da Silva, Gabriela Castro
  • Departamento de Clínicas Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Feijó, Lorena Soares
  • Departamento de Clínicas Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Canisso, Igor F
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Curcio, Bruna da Rosa
  • Departamento de Clínicas Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn / blood
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horses
  • Parturition
  • Placenta Diseases / etiology
  • Placenta Diseases / veterinary
  • Pregnancy
  • Sepsis / blood
  • Sepsis / veterinary
  • Serum Amyloid A Protein / analysis
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / analysis

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Gomez DE, Wong D, MacNicol J, Dembek K. The fecal bacterial microbiota of healthy and sick newborn foals. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jan;37(1):315-322.
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  3. Wilkins PA, Wong D, Slovis NM, Collins N, Barr BS, MacKenzie C, De Solis CN, Castagnetti C, Mariella J, Burns T, Perkins G, Delvescovo B, Sanchez LC, Kemper AM, Magdesian KG, Bedenice D, Taylor SD, Gold J, Dunkel B, Pranzo G, Constable PD. The Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and Predictors of Infection and Mortality in 1068 Critically Ill Newborn Foals. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e70004.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.70004pubmed: 40091577google scholar: lookup
  4. Morales-Vázquez MM, Meza-Serrano E, Lara-Pereyra I, Acuña-González RJ, Alonso-Morales R, Hayen-Valles S, Boeta AM, Zarco L, Lozano-Cuenca J, López-Canales JS, Flores-Herrera H. Equine Placentitis in Mares Induces the Secretion of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine eIL-1β and the Active Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP)-9. Vet Sci 2023 Aug 22;10(9).
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