Avaliação clínico e metabólica de equinos crioulos atletas

Abstract

The search for early markers of inflammation has been the focus in human and veterinary medicine during the last decades. To determine the value of the measurement of proteins in the situations described, two studies were conducted. It is believed that both the physical exercise as obesity can generate an acute phase reaction. The first study aimed to characterize the acute phase reaction and its relation to performance of horses subjected to long distance competition. Was developed during the March of Resistance of Crioulo horses, consisting of a route of 750 km traveled. Were evaluated 23 horses, of wich were divided into two groups, with the first group consisting of the top 10 in the competition and the second group comprises the 13 animals that completed the competition in lower positions. Blood samples were collected at rest (day 0) and on the last day of competition and testing polyacrylamide electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gel were performed. The results showed that imposed physical exercise influenced significantly (p<0.0001) in serum concentrations of haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, immunoglobulin A, acid glycoprotein and the protein with molecular weight of 23 kDa. Haptoglobin was higher in animals with low performance. The second study aimed to associate adiposity and the shape of creation of foals with blood energy profile, blood concentrations of inflammatory proteins and osteoarticular lesions in the tarsus comparing animals raised in intensive or extensive regimes. Were evaluated 40 Crioulo foals at 18 months old, 20 animals kept in extensive systems and 20 animals in intensive system. Protein electrophoresis and biochemical evaluation were performed. Measurement of fat accumulation were made by ultrasound and radiological study of the tarsus region. Higher levels of total cholesterol and LDL, blood glucose, serum amyloid A, transferrin, haptoglobin, acid glycoprotein and unidentified protein 23Kda of animals in the intensive group compared to the extensive group was observed. The intensive group also showed greater deposit of fat in the crest of the neck, retroperitoneal area and base of the tail region. In 100% of the animals in the intensive group were observed lesions compatible with juvenile osteoarthritis while 23% of the animals in extensive group showed such changes. In Fisher's exact test was observed that the animals in the intensive group had 105% more likely to develop osteoarthritis than animals from extensive group. Still, the Pearson test positive correlation between fat on the crest of the neck with the degree of joint involvement of foals was observed. We conclude that both the exercise and the overweight were able to generate an acute phase reaction, and during prolonged exercise haptoglobin were related to animal performance. Already foals in intensive farming, besides the acute phase reaction, high incidence of juvenile osteoarthritis and changes in energy metabolism was observed.