Clinical, serum-biochemical, minerals and thyroid hormones alterations in foals' upper airway affection caused by strangles

Abstract EN

Upper airway infections are common illness in foals' population, among them strangles, a bacterial infection known to affect respiratory tract of horses at any age particularly young horses.

This study aimed to investigate the clinical, serum biochemical, mineral and thyroid hormones alterations in association with strangles infection.

Seventeen foals "17" were involved in this study.

The most consistent clinical signs were mucopurulent nasal discharge and abscessation in submandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes.

Significant increase in total protein and globulin along with significant decrease in albumin were observed, non-significant increase in cholesterol and BUN were recorded.

In mineral profile assay, significant decrease in zinc with non-significant decrease in Ph accompanied with non-significant increase in Cu were recorded.

Thyroid hormones profile showed non-significant decrease in T3 and T4 with no subsequent increase in TSH were observed.

In conclusion, strangles affection appeared to have a direct effect on serum protein levels and mineral profile status, thyroid hormones appeared to be non-significantly decreased in association with infection.