title: Serum protein concentrations from clinically healthy horses determined by agarose gel electrophoresis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum protein electrophoresis is a useful screening test in equine laboratory medicine. The method can provide valuable information about changes in the concentrations of albumin and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-globulins and thereby help characterize dysproteinemias in equine patients. Reference values for horses using agarose gel as a support medium have not been reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to establish reference intervals for serum protein concentrations in adult horses using agarose gel electrophoresis and to assess differences between warm-blooded and heavy draught horses. In addition, the precision of electrophoresis for determining fraction percentages and the detection limit were determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were obtained from 126 clinically healthy horses, including 105 Thoroughbreds and 21 heavy draught horses of both sexes and ranging from 2 to 20 years of age. The total protein concentration was determined by an automated biuret method. Serum protein electrophoresis was performed using a semi-automated agarose gel electrophoresis system. Coefficients of variation (CVs) were calculated for within-run and within-assay precision. Data from warm-blooded and draught horses were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within-run and within-assay CVs were <5% for all protein fractions. No significant difference was found between warm-blooded and heavy draught horses and so combined reference intervals (2.5-97.5%) were calculated for total protein (51.0-72.0 g/L), albumin (29.6-38.5 g/L), alpha(1)-globulin (1.9-3.1 g/L), alpha(2)-globulin (5.3-8.7 g/L), beta(1)-globulin (2.8-7.3g/L), beta(2)-globulin (2.2-6.0 g/L), and gamma-globulin (5.8-12.7 g/L) concentrations, and albumin/globulin ratio (0.93-1.65).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using agarose gel as the supporting matrix for serum protein electrophoresis in horses resulted in excellent resolution and accurate results that facilitated standardization into 6 protein fractions.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Riond
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wenger-Riggenbach
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hofmann-Lehmann
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lutz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel / Q000662:veterinary*; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins