Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of medicine and infectious diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
2
Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
3
Department of internal medicine and infectious diseases, faculty of veterinary medicine, Cairo university, Giza, Egypt
4
Department of internal medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
Abstract
Equine colic is a common issue in the field of equine medicine, and it is considered as the number one cause of death among equines. The most common types of colic are spasmodic and flatulent colic. Dealing with a case of colic requires accurate decision and timing in which acute phase proteins (APPs), coagulation profile and venous blood gases can help to achieve that beside keen physical examination. This study includes thirty-two Arabian horses, in which 10 healthy horses used as control group, six were suffering from spasmodic colic, and sixteen were suffering from flatulent colic. All horses expressing colic signs are evaluated between 2-5 according to Equine Acute Abdominal Pain Scale (EAAPS). Cases were clinically evaluated based on vital signs, intestinal borborygmi, nasogastric intubation, and rectal examination. Jugular blood samples were collected and tested for complete blood count, coagulation profile, serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin, and venous blood gas (VBG) analysis. The results showed a significant decrease in red blood cells and hemoglobin contents in flatulent colic cases, a significant increase in serum D-dimer, and SAA concentrations with a significant decrease in fibrinogen in both groups. While haptoglobin showed no alterations in both groups. Venous blood gases showed a significant decrease in pCO2, HCO-3, and tCO2 in both colic groups along with a significant decrease in ionized calcium (iCa2+), and base excess with a significant increase in anion gap (AG) in the flatulent colic group compared to healthy group. Our conclusion indicates that SAA, serum D-dimer, and fibrinogen could be promising indicators of colic with no significant value in haptoglobin.
Keywords
Main Subjects