Reference intervals of acute phase proteins in healthy Andalusian donkeys and response to experimentally induced endotoxemia

Abstract

Background: Assessment of acute phase proteins (APPs) may allow prompt detection of diseases in donkeys, that otherwise may be missed because of the stoic behavior of donkeys. Reference intervals (RIs) of APPs measured using immunoassays and a comparison of the response of these biomarkers to a controlled inflammatory insult are lacking in donkeys. Objectives: (a) To describe the RIs for APPs in healthy Andalusian donkeys, (b) to study the effects of sex and age on APPs, and (c) to assess the early response of APPs to experimentally induced endotoxemia. Animals: Seventy-three healthy Andalusian donkeys (67 for RIs and 6 for endotoxemia). Methods: Serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin (Cp), α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), procalcitonin (PCT), ferritin (Ft), and fibrinogen (Fb) RIs were determined. Endotoxemia was induced and samples for APP determination were obtained at regular intervals for 4 hours.

Characterisation of the oral glucose and sugar tolerance tests and the enteroinsular axis response in healthy adult donkeys

“…Physiological and clinical differences between horses and donkeys have been reported in recent years, [1][2][3] supporting the need for species-specific data and studies. Knowledge gaps remain in donkeys and data extrapolation from horses increases the risk of misdiagnosis, unnecessary treatments, potential complications and additional costs.…”