Summary

This project will focus on gaining useful reference data of the cardiac-sensitive biomarker, serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in adult Thoroughbreds and Thoroughbred foals. Different groups including clinically normal horses (foals and Thoroughbreds in race training), horses with primary cardiac disease, and horses (of a range of ages) with primary gastrointestinal tract disease that could effect mean arterial pressure and coronary perfusion, will be assessed. The project will focus on obtaining clinically relevent information by collecting data via telemetric electrocardiograms (ecg) and comparing any results of abnormal ecg traces with troponin levels in Thoroughbreds in training, horses with gastrointestinal compromise and in foals. Telemetric ecg is an excellent non-invasive assessment method that can be used in horses over a prolonged period of time, and at exercise as well as at rest. This study will assist in determining whether diagnosis of poor performance due to myocardial disease in horses can be made easier, whilst maintaining accuracy, by measurement of serum cTnI. The aim here is to reduce equine wastage and to predict dangerous cardiac disease before the horse is ridden in another race. It will also assist in knowledge of myocardial disease occurring in horses with a significant colic and/or endotoxaemic event.

Program

Thoroughbred Horses

Research Organisation

The University of Melbourne

Objective Summary

This project will focus on gaining useful reference data of the cardiac-sensitive biomarker serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in adult Thoroughbreds and Thoroughbred foals. Different groups including clinically normal horses (foals and Thoroughbreds in race training) horses with primary cardiac disease and horses (of a range of ages) with primary gastrointestinal tract disease that could effect mean arterial pressure and coronary perfusion will be assessed. The project will focus on obtaining clinically relevent information by collecting data via telemetric electrocardiograms (ecg) and comparing any results of abnormal ecg traces with troponin levels in Thoroughbreds in training horses with gastrointestinal compromise and in foals. Telemetric ecg isan excellent non-invasive assessment method that can be used in horses over a prolonged period of time and at exercise as well as at rest. This study will assist in determining whether diagnosis of poor performance due to myocardial disease in horses can be made easier whilst maintaining accuracy by measurement of serum cTnI. The aim here is to reduce equine wastage and to predict dangerous cardiac disease before the horse is ridden in another race. It will also assist in knowledge of myocardial disease occurring in horses with a significant colic and/or endotoxaemic event.