Abstract
In order to investigate the levels of oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in horses with strangles, fifty horses with strangles and twenty healthy controls were included in this study. Blood and serum samples were tested for levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), malondialdehyde (MDA), super oxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The levels of cTnI were increased in ten diseased cases while normal cTnI levels were found in the others (n=40). The levels of MDA were increased in the horses with strangles when compared with the healthy ones. The levels of SOD, GSH, NO and TAC were lower in the horses with strangles when compared with the controls. Successfully treated cases had lower levels of cTnI and MDA compared to non-responsive ones. Only the SOD level was higher in the successfully treated cases compared to the non-responsive ones. The cases had a moderate and positive correlation with the cTnI and MDA levels. Conversely, the levels of SOD, GSH, NO, and TAC negatively correlated with being a case. Additionally, the treatment success negatively correlated with the cTnI and MDA levels, whereas it positively correlated with the SOD level. In conclusion, OS was detected in horses with strangles. These biomarkers could be used as diagnostic and prognostic tools.