Foal diarrhea is one of the major threats to equine industry that causes high morbidity and mortality. Electrolytes (Na, K, Ca, Fe, Cu and Li etc) and water losses reduced dietary intake and probable translocation between intracellular and extra cellular compartments. Electrolytes are essential for controlling membrane potential, muscle contraction, nerve condition, and enzyme reactions, and they play a central role in the physiological processes. Serum electrolytes and trace elements deficits are the major causes of fluid and acid-base imbalance in diarrheic foals. Keeping in view the importance of foal diarrhea and its impact on the equine industry the current study was designed to determine serum concentration of electrolytes (Ca, K, Na) and trace elements (Li, Cu, Fe) along with the associated risk factors in diarrheic foals.
The present study was designed to examine diarrhea in foals at various equine stud farms, private and public veterinary hospitals. For this purpose a total of (n=100 foals) suffering from clinical diarrhea irrespective of the cause of diarrhea selected randomly after clinical examination and (n=10 foals) negative for diarrhea as control were included. Data of each diarrheic foal was collected separately in a data capture form. Blood and serum sample were collected for hematological and serum biochemical studies, respectively. Concentrations of serum electrolytes (Ca, Na, and K) were analyzed by Flame Photometry and trace elements (Cu, Li, and Fe) were estimated through Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer. PCV was determined by micro hematocrit method. Risk factors including species and age were analyzed for association.
Foals which were suffered from diarrhea showed increase in Pack cell volume. Serum concentration of Sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, copper and lithium were measured in diarrheic foals by atomic absorption and flame photometer method and were compared with healthy group of foals.Foals having diarrhea showed an acid baseimbalance as a result decrease in serum electrolytes and trace elements. The blood acid-base balance is precisely controlled because even a minor deviation from the normal range can severely affect many organs. The body uses different mechanisms to control the blood's acid-base balance.Sodium and potassium and calcium are important electrolytes imbalance in diarrhea. Potassium level was increased in foals having diarrhea. Calcium concentration in ppm significantly decreased from its normal value. In some diarrheic foals increased in level of calcium was also observed because these foals have blood in their feces that result in the calcium to come in blood as a clotting factor. Trace elements such as Cu, Fe and Li are needed in a very little concentration for many physiological functions. The serum iron was measured in foals having diarrhea.The iron concentration was less than normal value.The deficiency of iron lead to anemia. Clinical signs of anemia because of irondeficiency are rarely seen in foals. Therefore, mineral imbalances influence iron metabolism and may cause iron deficiency in foals. The serum copper concentration was significantly decreased in the diarrheic foals. Copper concentration is also related to the packed cell volume as in anemia copper deficiency is a significant feature. Copper is important element and its deficiency lead to decrease in serum concentration of iron. This decreased level might be because most of the circulating copper in plasma is attached to the serum glycoprotein, ceruloplasmin. Ceruloplasmin has ferroxidase activity and may be required to deliver iron into the circulation Therefore it was observed that low iron concentrations might have resulted from copper deficiency.The concentration of Lithium was also decreased in diarrheic foals when compared to healthy foals.