Abstract
Acute phase reactants (APRs) have not been investigated in white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). This study aimed to identify clinically useful APRs in this species. Reference intervals (RIs) were generated for albumin, fibrinogen, haptoglobin, iron and serum amyloid A (SAA) from 48 free-ranging animals, except for SAA (n = 23). APR concentrations between healthy animals and those with tissue injury (inflammation) (n = 30) were compared. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve and logistic regression analyses. RIs were: albumin 18–31 g/L, fibrinogen 1.7–2.9 g/L, haptoglobin 1.0–4.3 g/L, iron 9.7–35.0 μmol/L, SAA <20 mg/L. Iron and albumin were lower and fibrinogen, haptoglobin and SAA higher in injured vs. healthy animals. Iron showed the best diagnostic accuracy followed by fibrinogen, albumin, haptoglobin and SAA. Iron ≤ 15.1 μmol/L and haptoglobin >4.7 g/L were significant predictors of inflammatory status and together correctly predicted the clinical status of 91% of cases. SAA > 20 mg/L had a specificity of 100%. In conclusion, albumin and iron are negative and fibrinogen, haptoglobin and SAA positive APRs in the white rhinoceros. The combination of iron and haptoglobin had an excellent diagnostic accuracy for detecting inflammation.
Highlights
The acute phase reaction is a systemic innate immune response to infection, inflammation, injury and stress [1]
Nine citrated plasma samples were available for fibrinogen determination and only enough material for 28 serum amyloid A (SAA) measurements from the injured group
Most of the Acute phase reactants (APRs) assays used in this study had an acceptable performance and were able to discriminate between white rhinoceros with and without inflammation with various degrees of diagnostic accuracy
Summary
The acute phase reaction is a systemic innate immune response to infection, inflammation, injury and stress [1]. Measurement of APRs is commonly used in domestic species to detect and monitor the course of inflammatory disease, to prognosticate and to evaluate health on a herd basis [1,2,3]. Measured APRs include albumin (negative APP; all species), C-reactive protein (CRP) (positive APP; dog), serum amyloid A (SAA) (positive APP; dog, cat, horse, cow), Acute Phase Response in White Rhinoceros haptoglobin (positive APP; dog, horse, cow), fibrinogen (positive APP; all species), and iron (negative APR; horse) [1,2,3,4]. Decreased serum iron has been shown to be a reliable indicator for inflammation in horses, a member of the same order of Perissodactyla as the white rhinoceros [4, 18, 19]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
