Plasma levels of zinc, copper, copper/zinc ratio, and activity of carbonic anhydrase in equine piroplasmosis.

This research investigates the variations in plasma concentration of copper, zinc, carbonic anhydrase activity, and the copper/zinc ratio in horses infected with a disease called equine piroplasmosis, compared with healthy horses.

Objective of the Research

The research aimed to determine the effects of equine piroplasmosis, a disease caused by the Babesia equi parasite, on the levels of copper, zinc, the copper/zinc ratio, and the activity of an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase in the blood plasma of infected horses. This is compared to the same factors in healthy horses to identify any significant differences.

Research Methodology

The study involved 24 horses in total:

• 14 horses were diagnosed with equine piroplasmosis and used as the test subjects.
• 10 healthy horses were used as control subjects.

The diagnosis of equine piroplasmosis was confirmed both through clinical signs of the disease and microscopic inspection of their blood, where the researchers looked for the presence of the parasite inside red blood cells using a specific staining technique.

Findings and Conclusion

From the study, it was found that:

• The infected horses had lower plasma levels of zinc compared to the healthy control horses.
• The levels of copper in the plasma were higher in the infected horses than in the healthy controls.
• Infected horses also showed increased activity of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, which aids in the regulation of pH and fluid balance in the body.
• The ratio of copper to zinc was found to be higher in infected horses compared to the healthy controls.

In conclusion, the study shows that equine piroplasmosis significantly alters the concentrations of certain elements and the activity of specific enzymes in the blood, consequently affecting the overall health and metabolic balance of the infected horses.