Triglyceride concentrations in neonatal foals: Serial measurement and effects of age and illness.
Abstract: Few studies have evaluated the effects of age and illness on serum triglyceride concentrations in neonatal foals. The objectives of this study were to evaluate triglyceride concentrations in neonatal foals and their dams through serial measurement immediately postpartum and at 1-2 days and 10-12 days of age, as well as to measure them in sick foals. Serially measured serum triglycerides in seven healthy foals varied with age. Median (range) triglyceride concentrations were 28mg/dL (12-50mg/dL), 89mg/dL (51-264mg/dL), and 60mg/dL (28-135mg/dL) immediately postpartum, at 1-2 days of age, and 10-12 days of age, respectively (P24h old. Sick foals <24h old had lower triglycerides than sick foals aged 1-7 days (median, 41mg/dL [range, 16-116]; median, 110mg/dL [range, 24-379mg/dL]; P<0.001). Age and triglyceride concentration showed a non-linear association independent of foal health status (P=0.01). Sick foals with positive bacterial cultures had higher triglycerides than those with negative cultures (median, 111mg/dL [range, 10-379mg/dL] and median 53mg/dL [range, 17-271mg/dL], respectively; P=0.033). Nonsurvivors had higher triglycerides than survivors (median, 116mg/dL [range, 41-379mg/dL] and median, 55mg/dL [range, 10-311mg/dL], respectively; P=0.04). In conclusion, triglycerides were highest in healthy neonatal foals aged 1-2 days, and in nonsurviving sick foals and those with positive bacterial cultures. Age was associated with triglyceride concentration regardless of health status.
Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Publication Date: 2017-08-08 PubMed ID: 29031326DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.08.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigates the impact of age and illness on the levels of triglycerides (a type of fat) in the blood of newborn horses and their mothers. It was found that triglyceride concentrations vary with the age of the foal, and that certain health conditions may influence these levels.
Study Design and Objectives
- The goal of this research was to understand how age and illness can affect triglyceride concentrations in newborn horses and their mothers.
- The researchers carried out regular testing on newborn horses just after birth, at 1-2 days old, and at around 10-12 days old. They also tested sick foals to see how illness influences triglyceride levels.
Results and Findings
- The research demonstrated that in healthy foals, triglyceride levels varied depending on their age. The highest readings were seen at 1-2 days old and then decreased by the time the foals were 10-12 days old.
- Triglyceride levels could vary significantly within individual foals, showing changes of up to 117mg/dL in one hour.
- The mothers of the foals presented lower triglyceride levels once the foals were more than 24 hours old.
- Interestingly, sick foals that were less than 24 hours old had lower triglyceride readings than those that were 1-7 days old.
- A non-linear association was found between the age of the foal and the concentration of triglycerides, irrespective of the health status of the foal.
- Sick foals with positive bacterial cultures had higher triglyceride readings than those with negative cultures.
- Most notably, foals that did not survive showed higher triglyceride concentrations than the ones that did.
Conclusions
- The research concludes that the highest levels of triglycerides were found in healthy newborn horses aged 1-2 days, and in sick foals that did not survive or had positive bacterial cultures.
- The findings imply that age plays a significant role in determining triglyceride levels, regardless of the horse’s health.
Cite This Article
APA
Berryhill EH, Magdesian KG, Kass PH, Edman JE.
(2017).
Triglyceride concentrations in neonatal foals: Serial measurement and effects of age and illness.
Vet J, 227, 23-29.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.08.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, Davis, One Garrod Dr., Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA, 9516, USA. Electronic address: kgmagdesian@ucdavis.edu.
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA, 9516, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / blood
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / blood
- Female
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horses / blood
- Reference Values
- Triglycerides / blood
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Drögemüller M, Fouché N, Wyler M, Gurtner C, Meister SL, Neuditschko M, Jagannathan V, Gerber V, Leeb T. LMF1 frameshift deletion in Franches-Montagnes horses with hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis. Sci Rep 2025 Aug 6;15(1):28667.
- Mendoza FJ, Toribio RE. An Overview of Donkey Neonatology. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 6;15(13).
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