title: Equine alpha-fetoprotein levels in Lipizzaner mares with normal pregnancies and with pregnancy loss.
abstract: Alpha-fetoprotein has proved to be a good indicator of fetal well-being in human medicine for decades. Although this molecule is present in most of the mammalian species including horses, reference values in healthy and high-risk pregnant mares have not yet been published. The aim of the present study was to determine whether equine alpha-fetoprotein (eqAFP) is a good indicator of complicated pregnancies in Lipizzaner mares. A total of 111 serum samples from 30 mares have been analyzed for eqAFP levels throughout gestation (Days 60-325). After the pregnancy was confirmed, 23 mares had normal pregnancies with viable foals, six had late embryonic loss, and one of the mares aborted in the ninth gestational month. Equine alpha-fetoprotein concentrations significantly differed in the normal group (72.93 ± 49.25 pg/mL; mean ± standard deviation) and in the complicated pregnancy loss group (152 ± 36.48 pg/mL; mean ± standard deviation). The mares' age, gestational age, and the conception rate significantly affected the alpha-fetoprotein concentrations in the normal group. Furthermore, notable individual differences occurred in eqAFP concentrations between mares. Equine alpha-fetoprotein seems to be an important indicator of fetal well-being in horses, but there are still some unanswered questions (levels in foals of different age, ponies, and draft horses) regarding this serum protein. Large-scale studies are needed to assess the specificity, sensitivity, and reliability of this test as a possible future diagnostic tool for fetal well-being in horses.
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Equine Medicine, Szent István University, Üllő, Hungary; MTA-SZIE Large Animal Clinical Research Group, Department and Clinic of Production Animal Medicine, Üllő, Hungary. Electronic address: Vincze.Boglarka@aotk.szie.hu.
authors.forename: Boglárka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vincze
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gáspárdy
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Obstetrics and Reproduction, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kulcsár
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baska
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate, National Food Chain Safety Office, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ádám
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Bálint
authors.affiliation: Vet-Med-Labor Ltd., Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: György Tamás
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Hegedűs
authors.affiliation: MTA-SZIE Large Animal Clinical Research Group, Department and Clinic of Production Animal Medicine, Üllő, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ottó
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Szenci
mesh_terms: D037881:Aborted Fetus; D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins
keywords: Equine alpha-fetoprotein; Equine fetus; Fetal well-being; Gestation; High-risk pregnancy