Due to the high variability of data drawn from the literature, aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of exercise on creatine-kinase (CK) serum activity and to determine CK reference intervals (RIs) at rest and post-exercise in healthy Standardbred racehorses. Data concerning history, physical examination, laboratory evaluation and ECG were collected retrospectively from a population of 258 Standardbred racehorses in training that underwent an incremental-maximal treadmill exercise. Those subjects with alterations potentially influencing CK serum activity were excluded. Finally, a reference sample of 194 horses was selected. Blood samples were collected 1 hour before exercise and 6 hour post-exercise and analysed with a spectrophotometric method. Values were compared by Wilcoxon test for paired samples. The effect of age and sex was evaluated by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn post-test. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. RIs were determined following Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute guidelines (CLSI), approved by the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Using a macroinstruction set for Microsoft Excel (RefValAdv), RIs were determined with a non-parametric method. A significant increase (P<0.0001) in CK activity post-exercise was observed. Partition by sex and age did not show any statistical difference, either at rest or post-exercise. In RIs determination no outliers were identified. RIs ranged from 25 to 394 U/l at rest and from 44 to 735 U/l post-exercise. To our knowledge, this is the first study considering CK post-exercise RIs in racehorses using CLSI’s guidelines and specific CK-related exclusion criteria. These RIs could be useful to discriminate between physiological and pathological CK post-exercise increase.
Summary Equine multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease (EMEED) is a rare condition characterised by eosinophilic infiltration of multiple organs. The aim of the present work was to describe two clinical cases that occurred in Italy, where no previous EMEED cases have been reported. A 2‐year‐old Standardbred colt was referred for poor body condition, multiple oral ulcerations, ventral and limb oedema, nasal discharge and coughing. Relative eosinophilia, increased ALP, GGT, LDH and hypoalbuminaemia were detected. Abdominal ultrasonography showed hepatomegaly and hepatic biopsy revealed eosinophilic hepatitis. After euthanasia, post‐mortem examination revealed eosinophilic infiltration and fibrosis of intestinal wall, liver, pancreas and mesenteric lymph nodes. The second case was a 13‐year‐old pony hospitalised for acute respiratory distress, poor body condition, nasal discharge, cough and dyspnoea. Leucocytosis with relative eosinophilia was detected. Thoracic ultrasonography showed disseminated comet tail artefacts. Endoscopy of the airways revealed disseminated white nodules in the nasal cavities and nasopharynx; biopsy showed eosinophilic infiltrates. After euthanasia, post‐mortem examination revealed eosinophilic infiltration of intestinal wall, liver, mediastinal lymph nodes, lungs and kidneys. Both patients presented with poor body condition, which is the most common sign of EMEED. They also showed nasal discharge, and the second case showed respiratory distress and disseminated white nodules, which have not been reported previously. In both cases, liver involvement was observed. Post‐mortem examination provided the most specific findings, such as lymphadenomegaly and eosinophilic infiltration of multiple organs. Although weight loss remains the main sign of EMEED, liver and airway evaluation was extremely useful for the diagnosis in these cases.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.