Parturition Increases Serum Amyloid a Concentration in Healthy Pregnant Mares

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a major acute phase protein and its concentrations are usually below 7 mg/L in healthy horses. However, SAA concentration can increase quickly and with larger amplitude in response to inflammation than other acute phase proteins (e.g. fibrinogen). Therefore, SAA has the potential to be a sensitive indicator of presence and magnitude of inflammatory/infectious disease during pregnancy in mares. Our hypothesis was that that normal parturition would induce a rapid rise in circulating SAA in healthy pregnant mares. Objectives of the study were: 1) to determine baseline values for SAA in pregnant mares during the last eight weeks of gestation, and 2) to determine if normal parturition affects SAA concentration. [...]