Determinación de los niveles plasmáticos de cortisol en diferentes patologías de los équidos

Resumen

Concentration of plasmatic cortisol in horses was studied, as indication of stress, together with other parameters related to the degree of swelling, pain or dehydration (number of leucocytes, fibrinogenemia, overall proteins, hematocrit or PCV (Packed Cell Volumen), rectal temperature and heart rate). The studied horses were referred to the Veterinary Clinical Hospital at Murcia University, and were classified according to their clinical signs. Groups with levels of cortisol similar to the control group were chronic laminitis, proximal enteritis, Horner´s syndrome and umbilical hernia. Those with levels below control group were post-surgery hernia, anorexia, diarrhoea, castration, chronic swellings, babesiosis and chronic anaemia. Groups with higher cortisol levels than the control were large colon displacement, idiopathic ileus, strangulated obstruction of the small intestine and large intestine impactation. The groups with acute swellings and strangulated obstructions of the large intestine showed the highest levels of cortisolemia. Cortisol levels found in each group are related to the clinical severity and chronicity of the process, as well as to other clinical parameters of pain, swelling or dehidration.