Reference intervals for equine fecal calprotectin and calprotectin:protein ratio and preliminary clinical evaluation in horses with colic and colitis.
Abstract: To establish the reference interval (RI) of fecal calprotectin (fCP) and fCP:protein ratio in the feces of healthy horses and demonstrate preliminary clinical utility for the quantification of intestinal inflammation. Methods: Feces were collected from healthy horses (n = 103) and horses with colic (n = 15) or colitis (n = 13). Feces were suspended in buffer to create fecal supernatant. Fecal calprotectin concentration was determined by ELISA, fecal total protein concentration was determined by bicinchoninic acid assay, and the fCP:protein ratio was calculated. Reference intervals for fCP and fCP:protein ratio were calculated from healthy horses. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed to evaluate associations between fCP concentration and fCP:protein ratio with group and other clinical features. The study period was from September 20, 2023, through April 20, 2024. Results: The RI for fCP was 0.056 to 0.278 μg/mL; 4 of 13 colitis cases had fCP above the RI. The RI for fCP:protein was 6.6 X 10-6 to 4.9 X 10-5; 5 of 13 colitis cases and 2 of 15 colic cases had fCP:protein above the RI. Horses with colitis had significantly greater fCP (median [quartile 1, quartile 3], 0.234 [0.194, 0.279] μg/mL) than healthy horses (0.196 [0.138, 0.220] μg/mL) or colic cases (0.189 [0.164, 0.215] μg/mL). There was a greater difference in fCP:protein ratio between colitis cases (4.31 X 10-5 [3.19 X 10-5, 6.23 X 10-5]) and both healthy horses (2.19 X 10-5 [1.58 X 10-5, 2.88 X 10-5]) and colic cases (1.52 X 10-5 [1.22 X 10-5, 3.56 X 10-5]). Conclusions: Both fCP and fCP:protein ratio were increased in horses in colitis; additional work is needed to establish clinical utility. Conclusions: There are few reliable diagnostic modalities for inflammation of the equine large colon. With additional development of a clinically applicable test and validation in larger population, fecal calprotectin may facilitate noninvasive quantification of intestinal inflammation in horses.
Publication Date: 2024-11-27 PubMed ID: 39626360DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.24.09.0271Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research paper presents an investigation into the reference intervals for fecal calprotectin levels and the fecal calprotectin to protein ratio in horses, to establish a baseline for these parameters in healthy horses and preliminary use in identifying intestinal inflammation in horses suffering from colic and colitis.
Methodology
- The researchers collected fecal samples from a population of healthy horses (103 in total), and horses suffering from colic (15 specimens) or colitis (13 specimens).
- The fecal samples were then suspended in a buffer solution to create a fecal supernatant.
- Fecal calprotectin concentration was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while fecal total protein concentration was found using bicinchoninic acid assay.
- The ratio of fecal calprotectin to protein was then calculated, with the reference intervals for both fecal calprotectin and the fecal calprotectin to protein ratio established using the data from healthy horses.
Results
- The reference interval for fecal calprotectin in healthy horses was determined to be 0.056 to 0.278 μg/mL, with four out of the thirteen colitis cases having fecal calprotectin above this range.
- The reference interval for the fecal calprotectin to protein ratio in healthy horses was found to be 6.6 X 10-6 to 4.9 X 10-5, with five of the colitis cases and two of the colic cases exceeding this range.
- Horses affected by colitis demonstrated significantly higher fecal calprotectin levels and fecal calprotectin to protein ratios compared to both healthy horses and horses with colic.
Conclusions
- Both the fecal calprotectin levels and the fecal calprotectin to protein ratio were found to be elevated in horses suffering from colitis, indicating possible use as markers for intestinal inflammation.
- Further research is required to confirm the clinical utility of these parameters, although initial findings suggest fecal calprotectin could be used as a noninvasive measure of intestinal inflammation in horses.
- This tool could potentially lead to better diagnostic methods for inflammation of the equine large colon, aiding in the development of more effective treatment options provided that applicability and validation in a larger population are achieved.
Cite This Article
APA
Bishop RC, Shanthappa N, Connolly SL, Wilkins PA, McCoy AM.
(2024).
Reference intervals for equine fecal calprotectin and calprotectin:protein ratio and preliminary clinical evaluation in horses with colic and colitis.
Am J Vet Res, 86(1).
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.24.09.0271 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / analysis
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Colic / veterinary
- Colic / diagnosis
- Feces / chemistry
- Reference Values
- Colitis / veterinary
- Colitis / diagnosis
- Female
- Male
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