Proposal to update the classical methodology for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis in equines

Abstract

Equine neonatal sepsis is the most prevalent disorder in foals under 14 days. It has high mortality and comorbidity and other diseases that occur
in the foal. Therefore, it is necessary to make a quick and timely diagnosis to establish proper treatment. In 1988, a diagnostic procedure called “sepsis
score” was established. More than 30 years have passed since it was created new horizons of paraclinical tests in equine medicine have emerged, among
these, various biomarkers in sepsis. For this reason, it is important to update this diagnostic method for sepsis in foals. The biomarkers are molecules,
genes, or other natural characteristics that make it possible to identify physiological or pathological processes. These, in turn, makes it possible to give a prognosis on the evolution of the disease and the response to treatment. The new biomarkers that have undergone further investigation
to elucidate septic effects on foal physiology and, therefore, probable clinical reception in equine species are Procalcitonin, Serum Amyloid A,
Endothelin 1, Interleukins 6 and 10, Antithrombin, different steroids, soluble CD14, and triglycerides. The importance of these new biomarkers
and their link within the diagnostic methodology of sepsis in foals lies in the fact that they could discriminate sepsis from other critical diseases
with greater clinical precision, and the response to treatment of the disease could also be predicted with certainty, itself, establishing a good
prognosis.