Regular monitoring of SAA in Racehorse -How it helps?

Monitoring Serum Amyloid A (SAA) levels in racehorses can be valuable for several reasons, primarily as an indicator of inflammation and potential underlying health issues. Here are some ways in which regular monitoring of SAA can be helpful:

1. Early Detection of Inflammation: Elevated SAA levels can be an early sign of inflammation in the horse’s body, even before clinical symptoms become apparent. Detecting inflammation early allows for prompt intervention and treatment, which can prevent more significant health issues.
2. Monitoring Recovery: After intense training or competition, racehorses may experience minor muscle or joint inflammation. Regular SAA monitoring can help track the horse’s recovery progress and ensure that it is ready to perform at its best.
3. Infection Control: SAA can also increase in response to infections. Monitoring SAA levels can help identify and address infections promptly, minimizing their impact on the horse’s performance and well-being.
4. Assessing Overall Health: SAA levels can serve as an additional tool for veterinarians and trainers to assess the overall health of the horse. Low and stable SAA levels are indicative of good health, while consistent elevations may signal underlying problems.
5. Tailoring Training and Competition Schedules: By monitoring SAA levels, trainers can adjust training and competition schedules based on the horse’s inflammation status. This can help prevent overexertion and reduce the risk of injuries.
6. Individualized Care: Different horses may have varying SAA baseline levels, so regular monitoring allows for a more individualized approach to health management, ensuring each horse receives the care it needs.
7. For detecting SAA levels, there are a number of methods available in the market among them Rapid Tests can be performed in the stable https://biodx.com.au/product/saa/. Also, Fluorescence Immunoassay methods also used in Veterinary clinic and in laboratories Fluorescence Immunoassay Analyser – BIODX

References:

1. Jacobsen, S., et al. (2006). Acute phase response to surgery of varying intensity in horses: a preliminary study. Veterinary Surgery, 35(1), 60-64.
2. Jacobsen, S., et al. (2019). Evaluation of the diagnostic and prognostic utility of serum amyloid A in horses with signs of systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 33(2), 919-927.
3. Uzal, F. A., et al. (2018). Serum amyloid A (SAA) in horses: Diagnostic and prognostic usefulness. Veterinary Journal, 238, 1-6.
4. Traub-Dargatz, J. L., et al. (2001). The Association of Various Clinical and Laboratory Variables with Survival in Horses with Acute Abdominal Pain. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 15(5), 426-435.
5. Hackett, E. S., et al. (2021). The association of inflammation in racehorses and risk of injury. Veterinary Journal, 277, 105675.