Background: Neonatal maladjustment syndrome (NMS) is a common disease of foals resulting in neurological dysfunction and increased mortality. Plasma biomarkers of brain injury, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial-fibrillary-acidic protein(GFAP), and astrocytic-protein-S100B may be used for diagnosis and monitoring of foals with NMS.
Objectives: To measure plasma concentration of biomarkers of neurological damage (BDNF,GFAP, and S100B) in foals with NMS, foals presented for other diseases (sick-foals), and healthy foals, and determine their association with outcome.Animals: 8 healthy foals, 10 NMS foals, 16 sick-foals hospitalized for other diseases (e.g.diarrhea) < 7 days of age. Of the NMS and sick-foals, 20 survived and 6 did not.
Methods: Biomarker concentrations were determined in all foals on admission and at 24h,48h, and 72h of hospitalization in this prospective, longitudinal study. Plasma concentration of biomarkers was measured with ELISA and single-molecule-array technology. Data were analyzed with parametric methods.
Results: GFAP concentration was decreased in NMS and sick-foals compared to healthy foals at time 0 (0.9±0.52, 0.6±0.21, 3.7±1.2 ng/mL), 24h (0.84±0.22, 0.73±0.25, 3.6±1.03), and 48h(0.5±0.1, 0.56±0.12, 3.1±0.8) (P<0.05), respectively. Non-survivors had a decreased concentration of GFAP (0.4±0.12 ng/mL) compared to healthy foals (3.7±1.2) and survivors(1.2±0.21) over the first 24h of hospitalization (P<0.05). BDNF and S100B concentrations were not different between groups of foals or time points (P>0.05).
Conclusions: Reduced GFAP concentration in NMS and sick-foals suggests astroglial dysfunction or delayed postnatal astrogliogenesis. GFAP may be used as a prognosticating factor in critically ill foals.
