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Veterinary surgery : VS2016; 45(7); 859-867; doi: 10.1111/vsu.12531

Serum and Synovial Fluid Serum Amyloid A Response in Equine Models of Synovitis and Septic Arthritis.

Abstract: To investigate the serum and synovial fluid serum amyloid A (SAA) response in equine models of synovitis and septic arthritis and to compare handheld and validated immunoturbidometric assays for SAA quantification. Methods: Controlled, experimental study. Methods: Healthy adult horses (n = 9). Methods: Synovitis (n = 4) and septic arthritis (n = 5) were induced using lipopolysaccharide and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively, and serial serum and synovial fluid samples were collected. Serial synovial fluid cytology was performed for both models and synovial fluid from the septic arthritis model was submitted for bacterial culture. Serum and synovial fluid SAA were quantified by handheld test and immunoturbidometric assay. Cytologic and SAA data were compared within and between models (mixed model ANOVA) and results of SAA assays were compared using category-by-category analysis (weighted kappa coefficient). Results: Synovial fluid total nucleated cell counts and total protein increased significantly following induction of both models. Serum and synovial fluid SAA remained normal in synovitis horses and increased significantly in septic arthritis horses. Serum SAA increased more rapidly than synovial fluid SAA. Agreement was 98% when SAA concentrations were low (<50 μg/mL) but the assays diverged when concentrations were greater than ∼100 μg/mL. Overall, there was good category-by-category agreement between SAA assays (weighted kappa = 0.824). Conclusions: Serum and synovial fluid SAA may be useful adjuncts in diagnosing septic arthritis in horses. SAA concentrations for the assays diverged and examination using a larger sample size is needed before direct numeric comparisons between the assays can be made.
© Copyright 2016 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2016-09-01 PubMed ID: 27580707DOI: 10.1111/vsu.12531Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 investigates the response of Serum Amyloid A (SAA) in blood and synovial fluid in horse models of synovitis and septic arthritis. It also compares two SAA quantifying methods for their effectiveness. The results suggest that SAA could be used to diagnose septic arthritis in horses, although more research is needed to validate the findings.

Research Objective and Methodology

  • The objective of the research was to understand the response of Serum Amyloid A (SAA), an acute phase protein produced during inflammation, in serum (blood) and synovial fluid (the fluid surrounding a joint) in equine models of synovitis (inflammation of the synovial membrane) and septic arthritis (inflammation of a joint due to a bacterial infection).
  • The study also aimed to compare two SAA quantifying assays: a handheld test and a validated immunoturbidometric assay, a technique that uses light scattering to measure protein concentrations in solutions.
  • The study was conducted on nine healthy adult horses. Synovitis and septic arthritis were induced in four and five horses, respectively, using lipopolysaccharide and Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Over time, serum and synovial fluid samples were collected from all the horses and analysed using both SAA assays. Synovial fluid cytology (examination of synovial cells) was also carried out concurrently.

Results and Conclusions

  • As predicted, total nucleated cell counts and total protein levels rose significantly after the induction of both synovitis and septic arthritis, reflecting the body’s inflammatory response.
  • SAA levels in serum and synovial fluid remained normal in horses with synovitis but rose drastically in those with septic arthritis. This shows SAA’s potential utility in diagnosing septic arthritis in horses.
  • However, serum SAA levels increased more rapidly than those in synovial fluid.
  • The two SAA assays showed a 98% agreement when SAA concentrations were low. However, they diverged when concentrations exceeded approximately 100 μg/mL, indicating that the method to quantify SAA may influence the results.
  • The researchers stressed the need for further studies involving larger sample sizes to substantiate direct numeric comparisons between the two SAA assays.

Significance

  • This research sheds light on the potential role of SAA in detecting septic arthritis in horses, which could lead to more rapid and accurate diagnoses.
  • The study is crucial for establishing the need for further inquiries into various methods of SAA quantification, with the ultimate goal of improving the clinical utility of these tests.

Cite This Article

APA
Ludwig EK, Brandon Wiese R, Graham MR, Tyler AJ, Settlage JM, Werre SR, Petersson-Wolfe CS, Kanevsky-Mullarky I, Dahlgren LA. (2016). Serum and Synovial Fluid Serum Amyloid A Response in Equine Models of Synovitis and Septic Arthritis. Vet Surg, 45(7), 859-867. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.12531

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 45
Issue: 7
Pages: 859-867

Researcher Affiliations

Ludwig, Elsa K
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Brandon Wiese, R
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Graham, Megan R
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Tyler, Amelia J
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Settlage, Julie M
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Werre, Stephen R
  • Laboratory for Study Design and Statistical Analysis, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Petersson-Wolfe, Christina S
  • Department of Dairy Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Kanevsky-Mullarky, Isis
  • Department of Dairy Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Dahlgren, Linda A
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia. lad11@vt.edu.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Infectious / etiology
  • Arthritis, Infectious / metabolism
  • Arthritis, Infectious / veterinary
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / etiology
  • Horse Diseases / metabolism
  • Horses
  • Immunoassay / methods
  • Immunoassay / veterinary
  • Male
  • Nephelometry and Turbidimetry / methods
  • Nephelometry and Turbidimetry / veterinary
  • Serum Amyloid A Protein / metabolism
  • Synovial Fluid / chemistry
  • Synovitis / etiology
  • Synovitis / metabolism
  • Synovitis / veterinary

Citations

This article has been cited 21 times.
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