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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Clin Pathol / Serum protein concentrations and protein fractions in clinic...
Veterinary clinical pathology2019; 48(4); 677-682; doi: 10.1111/vcp.12793

Serum protein concentrations and protein fractions in clinically healthy Italian Heavy Draft Horses using agarose gel electrophoresis.

Abstract: Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) reference intervals (RIs) have been evaluated in different horses, but no specific values are shown for equine breeds as previously described in other species (dogs, cats), and no studies have been performed on SPE in draft horses. Objective: This study aimed to determine RIs for SPE in heavy draft horses (Italian Heavy Draft Horse-IHDH) living in central Italy. A comparison between different physiologic states (pregnancy and no pregnancy) and ages (foals and adults) was executed. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 215 apparently healthy horses (mares, stallions, and foals). SPE (total proteins, albumin, α1-, α2-, β1-, β2-, and γ-fractions, A/G) was evaluated in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Perugia. RIs were determined using well-described, modern analytical and statistical methods. The normality of distributions was assessed using the Anderson-Darling test. Differences between subgroups were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. A P < .05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. Results: Our results showed that IHDHs had increases in TPs and the α2-, β1-, β2-, and γ-fractions, and decreases in albumin, α1-globulins, and A/G ratios compared with the data reported in other horses. We also found that foals had significantly higher α1-globulins and significantly lower albumin concentrations, and A/G ratios compared with those of the adult horses. Conclusions: In the present study, SPE RIs using agarose gels have been determined for the first time in a large number of draft horses (represented by IHDH). The obtained results provide a basis for the further investigation of equine breeds with natural breeding, and the impact of age and physiologic states on SPE.
© 2019 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.
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Publication Date: 2019-11-03 PubMed ID: 31680291DOI: 10.1111/vcp.12793Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research aimed to establish reference values for serum protein electrophoresis (SPE), a test to analyse different proteins in the blood, for Italian Heavy Draft Horses. The study found that there were variations in protein levels in these horses based on various factors such as age, physiological state (pregnancy), and blood protein component, with findings addressing a notable gap in equine medical research.

Objective

  • The main goal of the study was to establish reference intervals (RIs) for serum protein electrophoresis (a technique used to study proteins in the blood) in Italian Heavy Draft Horses (IHDHs). The researchers sought to determine if there were any significant differences in these RIs between different states of being (non-pregnant, pregnant, adult, foal) within this specific breed of horse. This was done due to the lack of prior studies focusing specifically on draft horses.

Methods

  • The study gathered blood samples from 215 healthy horses, including mares, stallions, and foals, for analysis. This screening evaluated total proteins, albumin (a type of protein made by the liver), several protein fractions, and the albumin to globulin ratio (A/G). This work was executed at the University of Perugia’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
  • The establishment of reference intervals employed current analytical and statistical methods, and the Anderson-Darling test was used to check the normality of distributions. The Mann-Whitney U test, on the other hand, was used to identify any significant differences between the subgroups. If the P-value was less than .05, the result was deemed statistically significant.

Results

  • Reported results showed variations in protein levels and structures for the Italian Heavy Draft Horses when compared to other breeds. There were higher total proteins and several protein fractions, and a lower concentration of albumin, α1-globulins, and the A/G ratio.
  • Mirroring this, it was determined that IHDH foals have significantly higher α1-globulins and lower albumin and A/G ratios when compared to the adults in their breed.

Conclusions

  • This study was the first of its kind to establish serum protein electrophoresis reference intervals using agarose gels in a large number of draft horses. This is vital to gain insights into the health status and detect potential protein abnormalities in this breed of horses.
  • These findings serve as a basis for deeper investigation and understanding of different equine breeds, the impact of varying physiological states on their protein distribution, and its implications for veterinary medicine.

Cite This Article

APA
Miglio A, Morelli C, Maresca C, Felici A, Di Gianbattista A, Antognoni MT. (2019). Serum protein concentrations and protein fractions in clinically healthy Italian Heavy Draft Horses using agarose gel electrophoresis. Vet Clin Pathol, 48(4), 677-682. https://doi.org/10.1111/vcp.12793

Publication

Veterinary clinical pathology
ISSN: 1939-165X
NlmUniqueID: 9880575
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 48
Issue: 4
Pages: 677-682

Researcher Affiliations

Miglio, Arianna
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Morelli, Chiara
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Maresca, Carmen
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Perugia, Italy.
Felici, Andrea
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Perugia, Italy.
Di Gianbattista, Andrea
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Perugia, Italy.
Antognoni, Maria Teresa
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Proteins / analysis
  • Electrophoresis, Agar Gel / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horses / blood
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Reference Values

References

This article includes 16 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Inoue Y, Ono T, Hisaeda K, Yamada Y, Hata A, Shimokawa T, Miyama, Shibano K, Ohzawa E, Kitagawa H, Iwata E. Relationships between the age and blood test results or body sizes in Noma horses.. J Equine Sci 2022 Jul;33(2):27-30.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.33.27pubmed: 35847483google scholar: lookup
  2. Fikes KK, Coverdale JA, Leatherwood JL, Campbell JM, Welsh TH Jr, Hartz CJ, Goehring M, Millican AA, Bradbery AN, Wickersham TA. Effect of bioactive proteins on gait kinematics and systemic inflammatory markers in mature horses.. Transl Anim Sci 2021 Jan;5(1):txab017.
    doi: 10.1093/tas/txab017pubmed: 33748684google scholar: lookup
  3. Cappelli K, Amadori M, Mecocci S, Miglio A, Antognoni MT, Razzuoli E. Immune Response in Young Thoroughbred Racehorses under Training.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 5;10(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10101809pubmed: 33027949google scholar: lookup
  4. Miglio A, Gavazza A, Siepi D, Bagaglia F, Misia A, Antognoni MT. Hematological and Biochemical Reference Intervals for 5 Adult Hunting Dog Breeds Using a Blood Donor Database.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jul 16;10(7).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10071212pubmed: 32708682google scholar: lookup
  5. Lancioni H, Cardinali I, Giontella A, Antognoni MT, Miglio A. Mitochondrial DNA variation in the Italian Heavy Draught Horse.. PeerJ 2020;8:e8996.
    doi: 10.7717/peerj.8996pubmed: 32461825google scholar: lookup
  6. Miglio A, Cappelli K, Capomaccio S, Mecocci S, Silvestrelli M, Antognoni MT. Metabolic and Biomolecular Changes Induced by Incremental Long-Term Training in Young Thoroughbred Racehorses during First Workout Season.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 18;10(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10020317pubmed: 32085444google scholar: lookup
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