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Equine veterinary journal. Supplement2011; (38); 23-27; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00280.x

Serum amyloid A level as a potential indicator of the status of endurance horses.

Abstract: Changes in serum levels of acute phase proteins (APPs) reflect the acute phase reaction, a rapid and nonspecific response to any tissue damage. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is the main APP in horses, which increases in various diseases, surgical injuries and after long distance endurance rides; however, this nonspecific parameter has not been investigated as an indicator of subclinical disorders, which may result in elimination during endurance competitions. Objective: To evaluate the serum concentration of SAA as a potential indicator for the status of horses prepared for long distance endurance rides (120 and 160 km). Methods: Twenty Arabian horses were tested and 12 were eliminated during the ride and 8 completed the distances. Routine haematological and biochemical tests and measurement of serum concentrations of SAA were carried out before and after the competition. Results were compared using the Mann Whitney U test. Results: Before the competition all haematological and biochemical parameters varied within reference ranges with no differences between the eliminated horses and the ones that successfully finished the competition. After the rides creatine phosphokinase activity and neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio reflecting exercise-induced leukogram changes increased (P < 0.05) in both groups. Before the competition, the concentration of SAA remained within reference ranges; however, it was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in horses that successfully finished the competition than in eliminated ones (411.7 ± 144 ng/ml vs. 5809.5 ± 2242.7 ng/ml). After the ride SAA levels increased (P < 0.05) and were similar in both groups (13,833.8 ± 1354.3 ng/ml and 12,831.2 ± 1317.6 ng/ml). Conclusions: Serum SAA level was the only laboratory parameter that indicated most (66.6%) of the eliminated horses before entering the competition. None of the horses with SAA level higher than 1000 ng/ml completed the distance. Thus, it may be postulated that serum SAA concentration may indicate a poor status of a horse, resulting in elimination during a competition.
© 2010 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2011-05-27 PubMed ID: 21058978DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00280.xGoogle 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 evaluates the use of Serum amyloid A (SAA) levels as an indicator of the physical status of endurance horses. The study found that horses with elevated SAA levels were more likely to fail to complete long-distance endurance rides.

Objective and Methods

  • The researchers aimed to assess SAA concentration as an indicator of a horse’s condition before endurance competitions. These competitions often involve long-distance endurance rides of 120 and 160 kilometers.
  • The study involved twenty Arabian horses wherein their haematological and biochemical parameters, including SAA, were measured before and after the competitions.
  • The horses were categorized into two groups – those who successfully completed (8) and those who were eliminated during the ride (12). The elimination was due to various subclinical disorders that impede the horse’s ability to complete the race.
  • The data from the two groups were compared using the Mann Whitney U statistical test.

Results

  • Before the competition, all horses had normal haematological and biochemical parameters. There was no notable difference between the eliminated and successfully finishing horses.
  • However, SAA levels were significantly lower in horses who completed the ride compared to those eliminated (411.7 ± 144 ng/ml vs. 5809.5 ± 2242.7 ng/ml). These observations indicate that horses with higher SAA levels were more likely to be eliminated during the race.
  • Post-race, the SAA levels rose in all horses and were similar across the groups. Other parameters like creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio also increased, reflecting exercise-induced leukogram changes.

Conclusions

  • SAA was the sole laboratory parameter that flagged most (66.6%) of the eliminated horses before the race.
  • None of the horses with SAA levels higher than 1000 ng/ml could finish the distance, suggesting that increased SAA concentration might hint at a horse’s poor condition, leading to elimination during a competition.

This study suggests that monitoring SAA levels in horses before endurance races could serve as a valuable tool for evaluating their readiness and potential performance in such competitions. Further research may be necessary to better understand the role of SAA and other potential indicators in predicting horse race performance.

Cite This Article

APA
Cywinska A, Gorecka R, Szarska E, Witkowski L, Dziekan P, Schollenberger A. (2011). Serum amyloid A level as a potential indicator of the status of endurance horses. Equine Vet J Suppl(38), 23-27. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00280.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal. Supplement
NlmUniqueID: 9614088
Country: United States
Language: English
Issue: 38
Pages: 23-27

Researcher Affiliations

Cywinska, A
  • Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland. anna_cywinska@sggw.pl
Gorecka, R
    Szarska, E
      Witkowski, L
        Dziekan, P
          Schollenberger, A

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Female
            • Horses / blood
            • Horses / physiology
            • Male
            • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
            • Physical Endurance / physiology
            • Serum Amyloid A Protein / physiology

            Citations

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