Journal for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and Biosafety
Volume
11, Issue 3, September 2025, Pages 16–22
ISSN 2411-3174 (print version) ISSN 2411-0388
(online version)
ASSESSMENT
OF BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE METABOLISM IN HORSES WITH LAMINITIS
Borovkov S. B. 1,
Tymoshenko O. P. 2, Matsenko O. V. 2,
Shchepetilnikov Yu. O. 2, Suietskyi O. V. 2
1 Institute of
Veterinary Medicine of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine,
Kyiv, Ukraine, е-mail: serg_b78@ukr.net
2 State
Biotechnological University, Kharkiv, Ukraine
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PDF (print version)
Citation for
print version: Borovkov, S. B., Tymoshenko, O. P.,
Matsenko, O. V., Shchepetilnikov, Yu. O. and
Suietskyi, O. V. (2025) ‘Assessment of biochemical markers of
connective tissue metabolism in horses with Laminitis’, Journal for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and
Biosafety, 11(3), pp. 16–22.
Download
PDF (online version)
Citation for
online version: Borovkov, S. B., Tymoshenko, O. P.,
Matsenko, O. V., Shchepetilnikov, Yu. O. and
Suietskyi, O. V. (2025) ‘Assessment of biochemical markers of
connective tissue metabolism in horses with Laminitis’, Journal for Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology and
Biosafety, 11(3), pp. 16–22. DOI: 10.36016/JVMBBS-2025-11-3-3.
Summary. This
study aimed to evaluate biochemical changes in urine associated with mineral
and connective tissue metabolism in horses diagnosed with laminitis, and to
identify potential markers for early diagnosis and monitoring of this
condition. Twenty horses participated in the study: 10 clinically healthy
(control group) and 10 animals with laminitis. A clinical examination was conducted, assessing behavior, posture, response to
palpation, and physiological indicators. Concentrations of calcium (Ca),
inorganic phosphorus (P), uronic acids, hydroxyproline, and creatinine were
determined in urine samples. To eliminate the influence of variations in urine
output, the ratio of each indicator to the creatinine level was calculated.
Animals with laminitis exhibited the following characteristic clinical signs:
weight transfer to the hind limbs; shortened gait; lameness; increased
pulsation of the palmar arteries; pain; and localized
temperature increase in the hoof area. Biochemical analysis of the urine
revealed significant increases in calcium (+31.1%), phosphorus (+78.8%), uronic
acids (+49.4%), and hydroxyproline (+50.6%) levels (p < 0.001). The Ca/P ratio decreased by 24% (p < 0.001).
Relative indicators also increased: Ca/creatinine
(30.2%), P/creatinine (75.0%), uronic acids/creatinine (47.4%), and
hydroxyproline/creatinine (50.0%). The obtained data showed that laminitis in
horses is accompanied by local and systemic metabolic
disorders. Urine markers and their creatinine ratios can be
used as additional, sensitive indicators of laminitis severity and
treatment effectiveness
Keywords: horses, urine, calcium, phosphorus,
hydroxyproline, uronic acids, creatinine
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