Comparison of Serum Levels of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium and the Activity of Glutathione Peroxidase Enzyme in Horses Affected with Strangles and Healthy Horses

Strangles is a prevalent infectious and contagious disease among Equidae that is caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi. The present study was performed on patient and healthy horses to evaluate serum levels of vitamin C (vitamin C), vitamin E (vitamin E), selenium (Sel) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Clinical signs and bacterial culture confirmed sixty patient horses. To separate the serum, blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of the studied horses. Blood samples were also taken from 52 healthy horses with similar conditions (age, diet, etc.). Serum levels of Vit E, Vit C, Se and serum’s activity of GPx were measured in samples taken from healthy and patient horses. The mean serum concentration of vitamin E, selenium and serum glutathione peroxidase activity in patient horses were significantly reduced. A significant increase in the patient's hemoglobin concentration was observed. The study of the relationship between serum selenium and antioxidants (serum glutathione peroxidase activity, vitamin E and hemoglobin) showed that increasing serum selenium also increased the antioxidants studied. Serum antioxidant markers were significant in patient horses in all three cases. The final outcome is that in horses which infected to strangles antioxidants like selenium, glutathione peroxidase and vitamin E reduced and these antioxidant intakes for dealing with them this issue should be considered in treating these patients.