EQUINE CLINICAL PATHOLOGY - Rossdale & Partners

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T h e B e a u f o r t c o t t a g e l a b o r a t o r i e s Colostrometer reading Concentration IgG g/l Colostrum quality 30% >80 Excellent Plasma Fibrinogen This is an acute-phase reactive protein, which increases in response to inflammation. Elevations are found in the presence of tissue damage and this assay may help with diagnosis and prognosis in cases of internal abscessation, chronic infectious or parasitic disease and in cases of exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). The test can be performed on fresh, paired, non-haemolysed EDTA and serum samples by subtraction of total serum protein from plasma protein results, but more accurate results are obtained from samples collected into sodium citrate anticoagulant to measure fibrinogen by direct coagulometric assay. When measured serially with serum amyloid A (see right) the kinetics of the inflammatory response can often be determined (Fig.9) and this can be very helpful when monitoring response to treatment. Fibrinogen is a very useful test to help diagnose and monitor the response to treatment for a number of pyogenic conditions in foals and yearlings, e.g. Rh. equi and Strep. equi. Serum Amyloid A (SAA) This is a highly sensitive, rapidly reacting inflammatory protein, which can be very helpful in monitoring early responses to infection and their response to treatment. Most normal horses have zero measurable levels and in the face of acute, particularly septic inflammation, levels increase quickly (within 24 hours) to over 20 mg/l and often more than 100 mg/l. Levels peak and fall similarly quickly with subsidence of inflammation when the infection is controlled (Fig.9). SAA is a very useful addition to routine neonatal foal ‘profiles’ to help identify those who may have or may be developing septicaemia and require antibiotic therapy. Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST, AAT, SGOT) Elevations are seen in the presence of acute myopathy or hepatopathy. After myopathy, levels peak at 24-48 hours and return to baseline by 10-21 days, assuming that no further damage occurs. This test, taken with CK at first visit and then 10-14 days later, can therefore be a useful guide to recovery from acute myopathy (Fig.10). 22
G u i d e t o e q u i n e c l i n i c a l p a t h o l o g y Fig.9: schematic diagram showing equine inflammatory protein dynamics following an inflammatory challenge Magnitude Magnitude of response of (%) response (%) 100 80 100 60 80 40 60 20 40 20 Fig.9: schematic diagram showing equine inflammatory protein dynamics following an inflammatory challenge SAA Pfib SAA Pfib 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Days 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Days Fig.10: schematic diagram showing equine serum muscle enzyme levels during a relatively mild episode of exertional rhabdomyolysis iu/i iu/i 3500 3500 2500 3500 2000 3500 1500 2500 1000 2000 1500 Fig.10: schematic diagram showing equine serum muscle enzyme levels during a relatively mild episode of exertional rhabdomyolysis CK AST CK AST 1000 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 500 Days 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Days 23
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EQUINE CLINICAL PATHOLOGY - Rossdale & Partners

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