Original ResearchCardiac Troponin I and Immune-Inflammatory Response in Horses With Strangles

•The levels of acute phase proteins were higher in horses with strangles than control.•The levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were higher in horses with strangles than in control.•Treatment success was negatively correlated with cTnI levels.•Acute phase proteins and cTnI could be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers for strangles in horses.•There is an association between strangles complication and horse age.

The objective of this study is to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic importance of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and acute phase proteins (APPs) in horses suffering from strangles. Forty-nine cases with clinical and laboratory evidence of strangles and 21 healthy control horses were included in this study. Serum samples from both case and control horses were tested for the levels of cTnI, creatinine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALP), haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The levels of cTnI, Hp, SAA, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly (P < .05) higher in cases compared to control horses. Successfully treated cases had significantly lower levels of cTnI, CK, ALP, AST, TNF-α, and IL-6 compared to nonresponsive ones. Cases with complications (n = 13) had significantly higher levels of cTnI, CK, ALP, TNF-α, and IL-6 compared to cases without complications. Cases were positively correlated with cTnI, CK, ALP, AST, Hp, SAA, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels. Treatment success was negatively correlated with cTnI, CK, ALP, AST, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels. Conclusively, APPs and cTnI could be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers for strangles in horses. The level of cTnI suggests that cardiac injury could occur in some horses with strangles.