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Influence of liver copper status of mare and newborn foal on the development of osteochondrotic lesions
Author(s) -
WEEREN P. R. van,
KNAAP J.,
FIRTH E. C.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.2746/042516403775467469
Subject(s) - foal , medicine , osteochondrosis , horse , hock , physiology , pathology , anatomy , biology , paleontology , genetics
Summary Reason for performing study : To elucidate the highly contentious role of copper in the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis. Hypothesis : There would be no relationship between liver copper concentration of mares and foals and incidence of radiographically detectable osteochondrotic lesions in foals and yearlings was tested. Methods : Liver copper concentration was assessed in biopsies taken within 4 days after birth from both mares and foals and from the same foals at age 5 months. Biopsies were taken in the standing, sedated animal under ultrasonographic guidance. Radiographs were taken of both hocks (lateromedial, dorsoplantar and dorsomedial‐plantarolateral oblique views) and stifles (lateromedial and caudolateral‐craniomedial oblique views) at ages 5 and 11 months and scored for the presence and severity of osteochondrotic lesions. Results : Copper concentrations in newborn foals were high with a large variation (351 ± 201 mg/kg DM). They declined until reaching values comparable to those in mature animals at 5 months (20 ± 8 mg/kg DM; mares: 19 ± 20 mg/kg DM). Radiographic osteochondrotic lesions decreased in number and severity from 5 to 11 months. This pattern was more predominant in the stifle than in the hock, as has been described previously. Conclusions : There was no relationship between foal or mare liver copper concentration and osteochondrosis status at either 5 or 11 months. However, osteochondrotic lesions in foals with low‐level copper status at birth decreased significantly less in number and severity than those in foals with high‐level copper status at birth. Potential relevance : It is concluded that copper is not likely to be an important factor in the aetiopathogenesis of osteochondrosis, but this study indicates that there may be a significant effect of high copper status on the natural process of repair of early lesions.