The Effect of Sedation, Oral Examination, and Odontoplasty on Systemic Inflammation as Measured by Serum Amyloid A in the Adult Performance Horse.

This research studied the effects of sedation, oral examination, and odontoplasty on systemic inflammation in adult performance horses, using Serum Amyloid A (SAA) levels as an indicator. The study found that these procedures did not significantly impact systemic inflammation.

Introduction to the Research

• The researchers used Serum Amyloid A (SAA), a protein produced by the liver during periods of inflammation or infection in the body, as their primary marker for systemic inflammation in horses.
• Increased SAA levels are evidence of a systemic disease process and can increase enormously during such periods. In this study, they used SAA values to understand any systemic inflammatory effects due to sedation, oral examination, or odontoplasty in adult performance horses.

Research Methodology

• The study was performed on 32 clinically healthy adult performance horses.
• Blood samples were taken immediately before the procedures (sedation, oral examination, odontoplasty), and also 48 hours and 72 hours after these procedures were performed on the horses.
• SAA levels were measured directly after the blood samples were collected, using a commercially available stall-side lateral flow immunoassay test which is validated specifically for measuring equine SAA levels.

Research Findings

• The results showed that SAA values in tested horses remained within their normal limits for each of the time periods considered.
• There were no significant differences in SAA levels observed between the time periods, i.e., before, 48 hours after, and 72 hours after the procedures.
• The study concluded that actions such as sedation, oral examination, and odontoplasty do not have a systemic inflammatory impact on adult performance horses, as evidenced by the constant levels of SAA.