Oxidative stress in critically ill neonatal foals

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Biochemistry
• Neonatal Care

Background:

• Oxidative injury is known in septic humans, but its role in foals is understudied.
• Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants are crucial in cellular damage and defense mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify ROS, oxidative injury biomarkers, and antioxidants in neonatal foals.
• To test the hypothesis that ill foals have higher ROS/oxidative injury markers and lower antioxidants than healthy foals.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study involving 72 hospitalized and 21 healthy neonatal foals.
• Measurement of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione, glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx).
• Statistical comparison using 1-way ANOVA with Tukey's multiple comparisons test.

Main Results:

• Ill foals showed significantly higher concentrations of H2O2, MDA, and protein carbonyl compared to healthy foals.
• Concentrations of CAT, glutathione, GR, and GPx were significantly lower in ill foals than in healthy foals.
• These findings confirm the hypothesis of increased oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant capacity in ill neonatal foals.

Conclusions:

• Ill and bacteremic neonatal foals experience significant oxidative stress.
• Reduced antioxidant concentrations are a key feature of illness in neonatal foals.
• These oxidative stress markers and antioxidant levels warrant consideration in the clinical management of ill foals.