Evaluation of serumic indices of renal function in horses with piroplasmosis

This study aims to examine serumic indices of renal function in horses suffering from piroplasmosis and to compare them with healthy animals. Based on clinical signs and laboratory findings, 17 horses (14 males and 3 females) were diagnosed with piroplasmosis in horse ranches of the suburb of Tabriz city. After taking the history of these animals, blood sample was taken from the jugular vein and serum was separated. Also, 16 healthy horses (13 males and 3 females) were sampled as a healthy group with the same age, feeding and managerial conditions. Renal function was evaluated based on serumic level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), total protein (Pr), albumin (Alb), sodium (Na) and potassium (K). Mean serumic level of total protein and albumin had an insignificant increase in horses suffering from piroplasmosis, but increment of mean serumic level of creatinine and BUN was significant in the diseased group (p=0.000 and p=0.001, respectively). Serum variations of sodium and potassium were not significant between the two groups. The difference between mean serum parameters in diseased group was significant between the two sexes only in respect to total protein and albumin (p=0.001 and p=0.012, respectively). In healthy group, age did not have any effect on serum variations of measured parameters, but in the diseased group, mean serum total protein increased with increase in age (p=0.033). The results of this study indicated that renal function is affected in horses suffering from piroplasmosis and improvement of renal function using fluid therapy should be considered in the treatment of this disease.