Fecal Secretory Immunoglobulin A and Lactate Level as a Biomarker of Mucosal Immune Dysfunction in Horses With Colic.
Authors: Żak-Bochenek Agnieszka, Drábková Zuzana, Sergedaite Vaiva, Siwińska Natalia, Bajzert Joanna, Pasak Dominika, Chełmońska-Soyta Anna
Journal: Journal of veterinary internal medicine
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Fecal SIgA and Lactate as Colic Biomarkers Colic-related intestinal obstruction compromises mucosal integrity and disrupts the microbial ecosystem, yet the precise mechanisms underlying immune barrier dysfunction remain poorly characterised. Researchers measured faecal secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and D/L-lactate levels in 62 hospitalised colic cases (medical and surgical) and eight healthy controls over seven days, using ELISA and commercial lactate assays respectively. Both medical and surgical colic groups demonstrated significantly elevated faecal SIgA at presentation compared to controls (p = 0.099 and p = 0.005), with a moderate positive correlation between SIgA and lactate levels on day zero (rs = 0.421, p = 0.038)—suggesting coupled activation of mucosal immune responses and bacterial metabolic stress. These findings indicate that faecal biomarkers can identify and potentially track intestinal barrier inflammation in colic patients, offering non-invasive tools for assessing mucosal damage severity and monitoring recovery of gut immune function alongside conventional clinical parameters. For practitioners, elevated faecal SIgA may signal active intestinal inflammation warranting closer monitoring of recovery trajectory, whilst the SIgA-lactate relationship hints at dysbiosis severity, though further work is needed to establish diagnostic thresholds and prognostic value in clinical decision-making.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Fecal SIgA and lactate levels can be used as non-invasive biomarkers to assess intestinal barrier integrity and immune status in colic cases, potentially aiding clinical assessment and treatment monitoring
- •Elevated fecal SIgA indicates intestinal inflammation even in medical colic cases, supporting the need for barrier-protective and anti-inflammatory management strategies alongside standard colic treatment
- •Serial fecal sampling over 7 days may help track mucosal recovery and guide decisions about treatment escalation or dietary changes in hospitalized colic patients
Key Findings
- •Fecal SIgA values were significantly higher in colic medical (p=0.099, Cliff's Δ=0.58) and colic surgical groups (p=0.005, Cliff's Δ=0.72) compared to healthy controls at Day 0
- •Significant positive correlation found between fecal SIgA and fecal lactate levels at Day 0 (rs=0.421, p=0.038)
- •Elevated fecal SIgA suggests intestinal inflammation and mucosal barrier disruption in horses with colic
- •Fecal biomarkers (SIgA and lactate) are feasible indicators for identifying colic-related gastrointestinal and immune dysfunction