Evaluation of serumic concentration of Haptoglobin and Serum Amyloid A in horses affected with strangles

This study was conducted on 29 horses with strangles and 27 healthy horses (negative culture) in order to investigate the serumic concentration of haptoglobin and serum amyloid A in stables of Tabriz area in Iran. Sick horses were detected by clinical and laboratory (culture of nasal discharge) findings. Blood samples were subsequently collected from the jugular vein in all horses and serum was separated. The concentration of acute phase proteins (Haptoglobin and Serum Amyloid A) were measured in all samples. Mean Serum Amyloid A in affected and healthy horses was 2749.13±569.95 mg/dl and 1602.97±357.76 mg/dl respectively. Mean serumic levels of Haptoglobin in affected and healthy horses was 1258.20±244.01 mg/dl and 721.97±187.18 mg/dl respectively. Average of both parameters in affected horses was significantly higher than the healthy group (in both p=0.000). There was no significant correlation between the measured parameters in diseased horses (p=0.158 & r=0.269). In conclusion, strangles induces increase in the serumic concentration of acute phase proteins which must be considered in the treatment of affected horses.