Evaluation of Serial Measurements of Selected Biomarkers in Serum and Peritoneal Fluid for the Diagnosis of Intestinal Ischemia in Donkeys: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Up to now, there has been limited evidence relating to the early diagnostic approach of colic in equine patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serial measurements of selected biomarkers in both serum and peritoneal fluid (PF) in donkeys underwent experimental intestinal obstruction owing to early detection of intestinal. For this purpose, four apparently healthy male donkeys (Equus asinus) were randomly purchased based on their health condition and were thoroughly examined to rule out concurrent or even previous ailments. Following a standard pre-surgical and surgical precautions, these animals were subjected to intestinal ischemia via complete ligation of ileum and its mesentery. The animals were clinically and ultrasonographically monitored for 72 hours. Paired samples of blood and PF were collected from each animal before surgery (T0) and following surgical intervention at the following time points: T12, T24, T48 and T72 to measure the respective levels of L-lactate, nitric oxide (NO), total alkaline phosphatase (TAP), lipase and cardiac troponin I (CTnI). The results herein demonstrated that the pattern of both PF and blood lactate were significantly higher at T72 than those at other time points (P< 0.05). Serum values of NO, AP, lipase and CTnI, despite being not significantly changed among the different time points, their respective levels in the PF were altered significantly when compared with their levels in serum (P