Salivary alpha-amylase activity and cortisol in horses with acute abdominal disease: a pilot study

• DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1482-4
• Publication Date: 2018-05-10T13:04:33Z
• Authors: María Dolores Con...; Damián Escribano; María Martín-Cuervo; Fernando Tecles; Jose Joaquín Cerón
• Keywords: Male; Colic; Hydrocortisone; Veterinary medicine; Caballo; Pain; Pilot Projects; Salivary cortisol; Horse; Salivary alpha-amylase; 0403 veterinary science; SF600-1100; Animals; Horses; Prospective Studies; Saliva; Alfa-amilasa salival; Pain Measurement; Cortisol salival; Abdomen, Acute; 3109 Ciencias Veterinarias; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; Salivary alpha-Amylases; Acute Disease; Colorimetry; Female; Horse Diseases; Dolor; Cólico; Biomarkers; Research Article

The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), considered a non-invasive biomarker for sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity, and cortisol as possible pain-induced stress biomarker, in horses with acute abdominal disease. Therefore, prospective observational performed which both biomarkers were analyzed group abdomen syndrome, compared healthy control by an unpaired Student's t-test. In addition, the relationship between biomarkers, score Equine Acute Abdominal Pain scales version 1 (EAAPS-1 scale), Heart Rate (HR) Respiratory (RR), plasma lactate, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) serum amyloid A (SAA) concentration assessed Spearman correlation test. total 30 included study, 19 disease diagnosed large colon displacements, simple impactions pelvic flexure, spasmodic colics enteritis 11 ones. sAA activity (24.5 median-fold, P < 0.0001) (1.7 0.01) significantly higher than horses. correlated EAAPS-1 scale (r = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38–0.89, 0.001) SIRS 0.49, CI 0.03–0.78, 0.05). Neither nor HR, RR, lactate SAA. Although should be preliminary one, measurements saliva could