Increased plasma nucleosomes are associated with severe sepsis in foals.
Authors: Birckhead E M, Raidal S L, Das S, Raidal S R
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
Neonatal sepsis remains a leading cause of mortality in foals, yet its diagnosis is hampered by non-specific clinical signs and unreliable diagnostic tools; this research investigated whether circulating nucleosomes—cell fragments released during immune cell death and neutrophil extracellular trap formation—might serve as a more reliable biomarker. Researchers measured plasma nucleosome concentrations via ELISA in 83 foals divided into three groups: 16 clinically healthy controls, 31 sick non-septic animals, and 36 septic foals (24 of which had severe sepsis with hypoperfusion and/or organ dysfunction). Nucleosome levels were significantly elevated in the severe sepsis group compared to all other cohorts, whilst sick non-septic and healthy foals showed no meaningful difference in nucleosome concentration. Although the study was limited by unmatched age groups and the inherent variability of clinical case material, these findings suggest that nucleosome measurement could represent a useful diagnostic adjunct for identifying severe neonatal sepsis in foals, potentially allowing clinicians to differentiate truly septic animals from those with non-infectious illness. The authors acknowledge that larger, prospective studies with age-matched cohorts are needed to validate nucleosomes and related biomarkers as reliable diagnostic and prognostic tools in equine neonatal sepsis.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Plasma nucleosome measurement via ELISA may help differentiate severe sepsis from other conditions in sick foals, potentially improving diagnostic accuracy when clinical signs are non-specific
- •Early identification of severe sepsis through nucleosome analysis could enable more timely intervention in neonatal foals, where sepsis remains a major cause of mortality
- •Further validation with age-matched foal cohorts and larger sample sizes is needed before nucleosome testing can be recommended for routine clinical practice
Key Findings
- •Plasma nucleosome levels were significantly increased in foals with severe sepsis (n=24) compared to sick non-septic (n=31) and clinically healthy foals (n=16)
- •No significant difference in nucleosome levels was detected between sick non-septic and clinically healthy foals
- •Nucleosomes are released during neutrophil extracellular trap formation and from damaged/dead cells, making them potential biomarkers for severe sepsis in foals