title: Evaluation of serum amyloid A and surfactant protein D in sera for identification of the clinical condition of horses with bacterial pneumonia.
abstract: In the present study, the concentrations of serum amyloid A and surfactant protein D in sera were measured to evaluate them for identification of the clinical condition of horses with bacterial pneumonia. The study utilized 185 clinically healthy control thoroughbreds and 9 thoroughbreds for experimental infectious study with S. zooepidemicus. Blood samples were collected from the 185 healthy control thoroughbreds. The 9 thoroughbreds were experimentally infected S. zooepidemicus using an endoscopic injection to a lung lobe and were then observed of clinical conditions. Blood samples were collected before inoculation and on the 1-15th, 22nd, and 29th days after inoculation (follow-up group). The levels of SAA and SP-D in the healthy control thoroughbreds were very low. In the follow-up group, the levels of SAA and SP-D changed in parallel with the horses' clinical condition. The pyrexia observed after bacterial inoculation faded by the 11th day, and the changes in SAA and SP-D occurred simultaneous to disappearance of the clinical signs. Measurement of SAA and SP-D proved useful for monitoring the clinical condition of the horses with bacterial pneumonia. Changes in the SP-D value were preceded by changes in the SAA value. Since the changes in SP-D occurred approximately simultaneous to the changes in the horses' clinical signs, we believe that they reflect the condition of the alveolar membranes. We conclude that measurement of SAA and SP-D in sera is useful for identification of the clinical condition of horses with bacterial pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Epizootic Research Center, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shiba, Tochigi, Japan. hobo@epizoo.equinst.go.jp
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hobo
authors.forename: Hidekazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Niwa
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anzai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / Q000097:blood*; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D018502:Streptococcus equi; D013997:Time Factors