Serum total proteins and related electrophoretic fractions in growing foals

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes of serum total proteins, albumin, alpha 1-, alpha 2-, beta 1-, beta 2 and gamma-globulins in growing foals during the first month of life. Nine clinically healthy foals (five females and four males, mean body weight 39.00 +/- 3.50 kg) were enrolled in the study. From each animal, blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture every 3 days during the first month of life starting from the day of birth. Serum concentration of total proteins, albumin, alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 1, beta 2 and gamma-globulins was assessed. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Bonferroni post hoc comparison test, was used to determine statistically significant effect of the day of life on studied parameters. A statistically significant effect of the day of life on serum total proteins (P < 0.0001), albumin (P < 0.0001) and gamma-globulins (P < 0.005) was observed during the first month of life. Our findings emphasize the importance of establishing different reference intervals for serum electrophoretic protein profiles in growing foals based on their physiological status. This study provides useful information that could help clinicians to better interpret clinical data and diagnose equine neonatal disease.