Fibrinogen as a marker of infection and disease progress of rhodococcosis in foals [Polish]

摘要

The aim of the study was to establish the concentration of fibrinogen in the plasma of horses of different age groups in Polish conditions and demonstrate the usefulness of fibrinogen estimation to assess the progress and outcome of the disease in natural cases of rhodococcosis in foals. The studies were performed during one full breading season. Blood samples were taken from 68 foals and adult horses from stud J free from rhodococcosis and 116 foals from two studs (K, M) with enzootic rhodococcosis. To assess the fibrinogen concentration in the plasma a spectiophotometric measure according to Blomback and Blomback was used. The studies revealed that fibrinogen concentration in the foals from the stud free from rhodococcosis is different in various age groups. Differences were especially visible in the age interval up to I year. In this period two age intervals in which fibrinogen concentration exceeds mean values of this parameter for horses (200-400 mg/dl) were detected. In the foals from studs with enzootic rhodococcosis, showing clinical signs of disease and successfully treated with antibiotics, the fibrinogen concentration had a maximal value 850 +/- 56 mg/dl in the age group of, 3-4 months. At a later stage of the experiment the protein concentration decreased, reaching initial values (335 +/- 55 mg/dl) in the age group of 6-7 months. In four foals from group C that died from R. equi infection between 3-4-months-of-life, the maximal values from the whole experiment (1009-1058 mg/dl) were. found, exceeding the physiological values for horses 3 to 5 fold. The results of the study indicated a distinct relationship between, R. equi infection in foals and the course of the disease, as well as plasma fibrinogen concentration. The estimation, of this protein can be used as a marker of the infection and progress of the disease and to supervise the effects of antibiotic therapy of natural rhodococcosis in foals.