Serum amyloid A concentration in healthy periparturient mares and mares with ascending placentitis.
Abstract: Placentitis is a prevalent cause of abortion, premature delivery and neonatal death in mares. Early diagnosis is paramount for the survival of the fetus and delivery of a live foal. Objective: To determine: 1) Serum amyloid A (SAA) profile in healthy mares during late gestation; 2) if placentitis affects SAA concentrations and 3) the effects of therapy on SAA concentrations and pregnancy outcome in mares with placentitis. Methods: In Experiment I, 15 healthy pregnant mares were evaluated from 280 days of gestation to 60 h post partum. In Experiment II, pregnant mares were inoculated intra-cervically with Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Day 280-295) and assigned to control (n = 5) and treatment (n = 9) groups. Treatment was initiated at the onset of clinical signs. Serum amyloid A concentrations were determined prior to inoculation and then weekly until abortion or delivery. Results: Serum amyloid A remained at low concentrations (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.2-8.1 mg/l) during late gestation followed by a significant increase within 36 h post partum; SAA returned to basal concentrations by 60 h post partum. In Experiment II, SAA significantly increased within 96 ± 56 h of inoculation in control mares followed by abortion. Therapy was effective (P<0.05) in preventing the rise in SAA in 66% (6/9) of mares and only one out of 3 mares with increased SAA aborted. Overall, the incidence of abortion was higher in mares with increased SAA concentrations (75%; 6/8) compared with mares in which SAA remained at baseline concentrations (0/6). Conclusions: Mares with placentitis had significant increased SAA within 96 h post inoculation and concentrations remained increased until abortion in untreated mares. Successful treatment either prevented the rise of SAA concentration or decreased its concentration to baseline concentrations, followed by delivery of a live foal. Conclusions: Serum amyloid A may be used as a prognostic indicator in cases of ascending placentitis in the mare.
© 2012 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2013-02-22 PubMed ID: 23432049DOI: 10.1111/evj.12034Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research study is investigating the usefulness of Serum Amyloid A (SAA) levels in early diagnosis of placentitis in horses, a condition that can lead to abortion, premature delivery, and neonatal death. The study also explores how effective treatment impacts SAA levels and pregnancy outcomes.
Research Method
- The research was segmented into two experiments. In Experiment 1, 15 healthy pregnant mares were studied from the 280th day of gestation until 60 hours post-partum.
- In Experiment 2, pregnant mares were divided into two groups (control and treatment) and were artificially infected with Streptococcus zooepidemicus, a bacteria that can cause placentitis, between days 280 and 295 of their gestation.
- The treatment group received medical therapy at the onset of clinical signs of placentitis, whilst the control group received no treatment.
- Serum amyloid A concentrations were determined before the inoculation (infection), and thereafter weekly until they aborted or delivered.
Research Findings
- The first experiment found that SAA remained at low concentrations in healthy mares during late gestation and significantly increased within 36 hours after birth. These levels then returned to basal (normal) levels by 60 hours post-partum.
- In the second experiment, SAA levels significantly increased within 96 ± 56 hours of inoculation in the control group mares. This was usually followed by an abortion.
- On the other hand, therapy effectively prevented the rise in SAA in 66% (6 out of 9) of treated mares and only one out of 3 mares with increased SAA levels ended in abortion.
- Comparatively, the incidence of abortion was higher in the mares which had increased SAA concentrations (75%; 6 out of 8) than in mares in which SAA remained at baseline concentrations.
Research Conclusion
- This research suggests that mares with placentitis have a significant increase in SAA levels within 96 hours of infection and these levels remain increased until an abortion in untreated mares.
- In contrast, successful treatment either prevents the rise of SAA concentration or decreases its concentration to baseline levels, facilitating the delivery of a live foal.
- From these results, the researchers concluded that Serum Amyloid A may be used as a prognostic indicator in cases of ascending placentitis in mares.
Cite This Article
APA
Coutinho da Silva MA, Canisso IF, MacPherson ML, Johnson AE, Divers TJ.
(2013).
Serum amyloid A concentration in healthy periparturient mares and mares with ascending placentitis.
Equine Vet J, 45(5), 619-624.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12034 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, USA. marco.dasilva@cvm.osu.edu
MeSH Terms
- Abortion, Veterinary / blood
- Abortion, Veterinary / etiology
- Animals
- Biomarkers / blood
- Female
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Peripartum Period
- Placenta Diseases / blood
- Placenta Diseases / microbiology
- Placenta Diseases / veterinary
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / pathology
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / veterinary
- Serum Amyloid A Protein / metabolism
- Streptococcal Infections / pathology
- Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
- Streptococcus equi
Citations
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