Dynamics of Serum Amyloid a and Haptoglobin After Experimentally Induced Inflammation in Caspian Horses (Equus Ferus Caballus) Publisher



Vojdanifar N ; Safi S ; Forushani A R
Source: Archives of Razi Institute Published:2026

Abstract

Introduction: The Caspian horse (Equus ferus caballus), one of the rarest and oldest horse breeds worldwide, is native to northern Iran. Although it is not listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) endangered species list, the breed is endangered due to its small population and limited distribution. Health monitoring of this breed is crucial, particularly using biomarkers such as acute phase proteins (APPs) to detect inflammation and subclinical stress. This study aimed to evaluate changes in serum levels of total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), serum amyloid A (SAA), and haptoglobin (Hp) following experimentally induced inflammation in Caspian horses. A randomized controlled trial was conducted on healthy, purebred Caspian horses from the Khojir Research Center, Tehran, Iran. Materials & Methods: Thirty 10-year-old male Caspian horses were randomly assigned to a treatment group (subcutaneous turpentine injection, n=15) or a control group (saline injection, n=15). Inflammation was induced using 5 mL of turpentine, and blood samples were collected at baseline (1 h before injection) and at multiple time points up to 144 h post-injection. Serum TP and Alb were measured by spectrophotometry using commercial kits, while SAA and Hp were quantified via ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using t-tests, with significance level set at P<0.05. Results: TP concentrations were significantly lower in the treatment group compared to control at 48 and 72 h post-injection (P<0.05). Alb concentrations were significantly reduced in the treatment group from 4 to 72 h post-injection (P<0.05). Hp concentrations were significantly elevated in the treatment group at 72 and 144 h post-injection (P<0.05), while SAA concentrations were significantly increased from 16 to 144 h post-injection (P<0.05). Among the biomarkers, SAA showed the most rapid and pronounced response to inflammation, highlighting its reliability for early detection of the acute phase response in Caspian horses. Hp also increased significantly, though with a delayed onset. Conclusion: In contrast, while TP and Alb showed statistically significant changes, their values remained within reference intervals, suggesting limited diagnostic utility for these markers in this breed. © 2026 The Author(s).