Prekallikrein deficiency in a family of Belgian horses.
Abstract: A 7-year-old Belgian stallion hemorrhaged excessively after castration; the hemostatic mechanism was investigated. The horse had normal one-stage prothrombin time and markedly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Results of intrinsic coagulation factor assays were all normal with the exception of prekallikrein activity, which was markedly reduced (less than 1% activity; value for control population, 63 to 150%). Two of this horse's full siblings, a brother and sister, had markedly prolonged APTT and low prekallikrein values (2.5% and less than 1%, respectively). The addition of plasma from a normal equine plasma pool corrected the prolonged APTT in the 3 Belgian sibling with low prekallikrein activity. Prekallikrein activity in 10 other closely related Belgian horses ranged between 12.5 and 64% (mean, 29.3%), compared with 63 to 150% (mean, 91%) in 10 mixed-breed horses. In the 3 Belgian siblings with low prekallikrein activity, the APTT approached normal after prolonged incubation (15 minutes) with the contact activator and in response to addition of an ellagic acid activator. The 3 Belgian siblings with low prekallikrein activity may be homozygous for prekallikrein deficiency, whereas the other close relatives may be heterozygous for the genetic defect.
Publication Date: 1990-09-15 PubMed ID: 2211324
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Summary
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This study investigates a case of excessive bleeding in a Belgian stallion following castration, which was linked to a significantly low prekallikrein activity, a key component in blood clotting. The deficiency was also found in two of the horse’s siblings, suggesting a possible genetic cause.
Investigation of a Hemostatic Mechanism
- The study was initiated after a 7-year-old Belgian stallion bled excessively following castration. Hypothesizing a problem with the horse’s hemostatic mechanism (the process that causes bleeding to stop), researchers started an investigation.
- Tests showed that the horse had a normal one-stage prothrombin time, a test that measures how long it takes blood to clot, but an unusually long activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). APTT is another test to evaluate the blood’s clotting time, specifically focusing on the “intrinsic” (internal) and the “common” pathways of coagulation.
- All intrinsic coagulation factor assays were normal, except for prekallikrein activity, which was extremely low (below 1%, as compared to a control population range of 63 to 150%). Prekallikrein is a blood plasma protein that plays a crucial role in blood clotting and inflammation.
Genetic Link and Implications
- Two full siblings of the horse, a male and a female, were also found to have prolonged APTT and severely low prekallikrein values (2.5% and less than 1% respectively).
- When plasma from a normal horse was introduced to the affected siblings, it corrected the prolonged APTT. This indicates that the deficient factor in the horses’ blood was effectively replenished. It also underlines the pivotal role of prekallikrein in maintaining normal coagulation times.
- Of 10 other closely related Belgian horses examined, prekallikrein activity ranged between 12.5 and 64%, suggesting a possible genetic cause for the deficiency. In contrast, a sample of unrelated mixed-breed horses showed normal or near-normal prekallikrein levels (with a range of 63 to 150%).
- The study concludes that the three Belgian siblings with low prekallikrein activity could be homozygous (inherited from both parents) for the prekallikrein deficiency. Their relatives with slightly higher, albeit still reduced levels, may be heterozygous (only one parent carries the gene) for the genetic defect. Thus, a genetic disposition towards prekallikrein deficiency in this particular breed of Belgian horses seems plausible.
Cite This Article
APA
Geor RJ, Jackson ML, Lewis KD, Fretz PB.
(1990).
Prekallikrein deficiency in a family of Belgian horses.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 197(6), 741-745.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Loss, Surgical / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horses
- Male
- Orchiectomy / veterinary
- Partial Thromboplastin Time / veterinary
- Pedigree
- Prekallikrein / deficiency
- Prothrombin Time / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Dodds WJ. One Health: Animal Models of Heritable Human Bleeding Diseases.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 26;13(1).
- Dahlgren AR, Tablin F, Finno CJ. Genetics of equine bleeding disorders.. Equine Vet J 2021 Jan;53(1):30-37.
- Satué K, Gardon JC, Muñoz A. Clinical and laboratorial description of the differential diagnoses of hemostatic disorders in the horse.. Iran J Vet Res 2020 Winter;21(1):1-8.
- Furness MC, Setlakwe E, Sallaway J, Wood D, Fromstein J, Arroyo LG. Acute myeloid leukemia with basophilic differentiation in a 3-year-old Standardbred gelding.. Can Vet J 2016 Oct;57(10):1067-1071.
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