Procalcitonin in healthy and endotoxemic horses

Procalcitonin (PCT) seems to be an early marker of bacterial infection (Maruna et al. 2000) and the increase of its concentration during inflammation is due to the bacterial endotoxin and to inflammatory cytokines (Dandona et al., 1994). In horses, GI diseases, characterized by hypersecretion fluid, motility disturbances, altered microbial flora and impaired mucosal barrier caused by direct injury, such as mural ischemic damage, or inflammation, may lead to endotoxin absorption and/or bacterial products through the compromised mucosa. The aim of this work was to evaluate the plasmatic PCT concentration in healthy and horses with acute GI diseases, in order to evaluate the differences between the two groups. Plasma procalcitonin concentration was evaluated in 45 horses referred to three different University Teaching Hospitals, and in 16 healthy horses that underwent similar management conditions. Clinical and clinical pathological data were recorded in order to divide horses in two groups: healthy group (N=16) and suspected endotoxiemic horses’ group (N=45). Plasma PCT concentrations were evaluated with a commercial equine PCT ELISA assay. Data were expressed as mean and standard deviation. T-test for unpaired data was performed between healthy and sick groups. PCT concentration in healthy and sick horses was 15.3±23.3 and 182.0±85.1 pg/mL, respectively. T-test showed differences between healthy vs sick horses (p<0.0001). Our results showed an increase in plasma PCT concentration in sick horses as reported in human medicine (Sneider et al. 1997). PCT could be used in the equine clinical practice for early therapy planning, in order to improve prognosis and restrain therapy costs.