Fecal Secretory Immunoglobulin A and Lactate Level as a Biomarker of Mucosal Immune Dysfunction in Horses With Colic

Colic-related obstructions can reduced intestinal mucosa function and cause dysbiosis in horses, but it is unclear how defense barrier and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) secretion is disrupted.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of severity of colic signs and treatments on fecal SIgA and fecal lactate in horses.

Sixty-two client owned hospitalised horses with colic and eight healthy horses.

Prospective clinical trial. Fecal samples were taken daily for 7 days. SIgA was analyzed using ELISA, and D/L-lactate measured with a commercial kit.

At Day 0, SIgA values in the colic medical and colic surgical groups were significantly higher than in the control stable group (U = 126.0, p = 0.099, Cliff's ∆ = 0.58 and U = 248.0, p = 0.005, Cliff's ∆ = 0.72, respectively). We found significant correlation between fecal SIgA and fecal lactate level in D0 (r_s = 0.421, p = 0.038).

This study demonstrates the feasibility of using fecal samples to identify biomarkers of colic in horses. An increase in fecal SIgA in horses with colic might suggest the presence of inflammation within the intestines and disruption of the mucosal barrier. These data highlight changes in gastrointestinal barrier and immune function and the intestinal microbiota's metabolic activity in horses with colic.