Title
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Antibodies to elastin peptides in sera of Warmblood horses at different ages
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Author
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Abstract
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Reasons for performing study: Early diagnosis and monitoring progression of chronic diseases in elastin-rich tissues, such as chronic progressive lymphoedema in draught horses and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is still a real challenge in the horse. Use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect anti-elastin antibody (AEAb) levels might be useful to assess the status of such diseases. Baseline levels, representing physiological breakdown of elastin in normal horses, are not available at present. Hypothesis: Levels of AEAb in healthy horses are generally low and follow the same age-related pattern as found in man. Therefore, elevation of AEAb levels in serum can be used to evaluate pathological elastin breakdown in elastinrich tissues. Methods: Sera of 84 clinically healthy Warmblood horses were evaluated for the presence of AEAbs by means of a modified version of an ELISA technique used in man. The horses were divided in 5 age groups: A) <4 months; B) 423 months; C) 23 years; D) 410 years; and E) >11 years. Results: Antibodies to elastin were found in all equine serum samples tested. Their levels were lowest in Group A, low in Groups B and E and highest in animals age 210 years. Conclusions: Measuring AEAbs in serum of horses by an ELISA technique proved to be possible and levels were stable during well-defined life stages. |
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Language
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Dutch
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Source (journal)
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Equine veterinary journal. - London
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Publication
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London
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2007
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ISSN
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0425-1644
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Volume/pages
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39
:5
(2007)
, p. 414-416
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ISI
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000249496000007
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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