Equine protease inhibitor system as a marker for the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Abstract

The protease inhibitor system (PI) was investigated to ascertain if it can be used as a marker of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in thoroughbred horses. Serum samples were taken from healthy thoroughbreds (n = 13) and those diagnosed as having COPD (n = 24) or inflammatory airway disease (IAD, n = 38) as well as from 3,600 undiagnosed thoroughbred horses. PI allelic and genotypic frequencies were estimated using protein electrophoresis on starch and polyacrylamide gels. The four groups of horses showed high genotypic similarity and none of the observed alleles or genotypes of the equine PI system were found to be associated with COPD.

Spi2 gene polymorphism is not associated with recurrent airway obstruction and inflammatory airway disease in thoroughbred horses

“…No association was detected between exon 4 alleles and genotypes of the Spi2 gene and RAO or IAD. Although Matthews (1979) observed a higher frequency of certain PI alleles in cross-bred horses with RAO, Vinocur et al (2005) found no like association in thorough-bred horses. The drawback in SSCP screening is the lack of sensitivity.…”