María Dolores Contreras-Aguilar

Universidad de Murcia

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J. M. Castro Cerón

Universidad de Murcia

Fernando Tecles

Universidad de Murcia

Damián Escribano

Universidad de Murcia

Silvia Martínez‐Subiela

Universidad de Murcia

Asta Tvarijonaviciute

Universidad de Murcia

Alberto Muñoz-Prieto

Universidad de Murcia

Camila Peres Rubio

Universidad de Murcia

Marina López-Arjona

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

María Martín Cuervo

Universidad de Extremadura

Lorena Franco‐Martínez

Universidad de Murcia

Cooperative Institutions

Universidad de Murcia

University of Zagreb

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Universidad de Extremadura

Hospital Reina Sofía de Murcia

Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia

University of Veterinary Medicine

Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria

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Fit-for-Purpose Validation of Hair Cortisol Concentration as a Biomarker of Dairy Cow Welfare

María Botía María Dolores Contreras-Aguilar J. M. Castro Cerón Pol Llonch Greta Veronica Berteselli

10.2139/ssrn.4739418

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Citations (0)

Association between Eosinophil Count and Cortisol Concentrations in Equids Admitted in the Emergency Unit with Abdominal Pain

Animals (2024)

María Villalba‐Orero María Dolores Contreras-Aguilar J. M. Castro Cerón Beatriz Fuentes‐Romero Marta Valero‐González

Stress leukogram includes eosinopenia as one of its main markers (neutrophilia, eosinopenia, lymphopenia, and mild monocytosis). Cortisol is the main stress biomarker, which is also strongly correlated with the severity of gastrointestinal diseases. This study aimed to determine the relationship between salivary cortisol and the eosinophil cell count (EC) in equids with abdominal pain. To do this, 39 horses with abdominal pain referred to an emergency service were included. All samples were taken on admission, and several parameters and clinical data were included. Equids were classified according to the outcome as survivors and non-survivors. Non-surviving equids presented higher salivary cortisol concentrations (Non-Survivors: 1.580 ± 0.816 µg/dL; Survivors 0.988 ± 0.653 µg/dL; p < 0.05) and lower EC (Non-Survivors: 0.0000 × 103/µL (0.000/0.0075); Survivors: 0.0450 × 103/µL (0.010/0.1825); p < 0.01). In addition, the relationship between salivary cortisol concentration, EC, and the WBC was determined. Only a strong correlation (negative) was observed between cortisol and EC (r = −0.523, p < 0.01). Since cortisol is not an analyte that can be measured routinely in clinical settings such as emergencies, the EC could be a good alternative. While the results are promising, further studies are needed before EC can be used confidently in routine practice to predict survival in cases of abdominal pain.

Eosinopenia

Neutrophilia

Monocytosis

10.3390/ani14010164

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Citations (1)

Evaluation of a Comprehensive Profile of Salivary Analytes for the Diagnosis of the Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome

Animals (2022)

Alberto Muñoz-Prieto J. M. Castro Cerón Camila Peres Rubio María Dolores Contreras-Aguilar Luis Pardo-Marín

In this report, the measurement of salivary biomarkers as an aid for diagnosis of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) was studied. A comprehensive panel of 23 salivary analytes was measured in the saliva of horses affected by EGUS and compared to healthy animals and horses with other diseases clinically similar to EGUS but with a negative diagnosis at gastroscopic examination. A total of 147 horses were included in the study and divided into heathy population (n = 12), the EGUS group (n = 110), and the group of horses with other diseases (n = 25). From the 23 analytes studied, 17 showed increased values in EGUS horses when compared to healthy ones, and uric acid, triglycerides, and calcium were significantly increased in horses with EGUS compared to the group of other diseases. The receiver operating characteristic curve analyses showed a modest but significant discriminatory power of those three analytes to identify EGUS from other diseases with similar symptoms. The discriminatory power enhanced when the results of the three analytes were combined. In conclusion, the results showed that selected salivary analytes could have potential use as biomarkers in horses with EGUS.

10.3390/ani12233261

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Citations (7)

Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) Proteomic Analysis of Saliva in Horses with Acute Abdominal Disease

Animals (2021)

Alberto Muñoz-Prieto Damián Escribano María Dolores Contreras-Aguilar Anita Horvatić Nicolas Guillemin

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the salivary proteome in horses with acute abdominal disease (AAD) using a tandem mass tags (TMT)-based proteomic approach. The saliva samples from eight horses with AAD were compared with six healthy horses in the proteomic study. Additionally, saliva samples from eight horses with AAD and eight controls were used to validate lactoferrin (LF) in saliva. The TMT analysis quantified 118 proteins. Of these, 17 differed significantly between horses with AAD and the healthy controls, 11 being downregulated and 6 upregulated. Our results showed the downregulation of gamma-enteric smooth muscle actin (ACTA2), latherin isoform X1, and LF. These proteins could be closely related to an impaired primary immune defense and antimicrobial capacity in the mucosa. In addition, there was an upregulation of mucin 19 (MUC19) and the serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 5 (SPINK5) associated with a protective effect during inflammation. The proteins identified in our study could have the potential to be novel biomarkers for diagnosis or monitoring the physiopathology of the disease, especially LF, which decreased in the saliva of horses with AAD and was successfully measured using a commercially available immunoassay.

Proteome

10.3390/ani11051304

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Influence of the way of reporting alpha-Amylase values in saliva in different naturalistic situations: A pilot study

PLoS ONE (2017)

María Dolores Contreras-Aguilar Damián Escribano Silvia Martínez‐Subiela Silvia Martínez-Miró Mónica Rubio

The objective of this pilot study was to compare the different ways of measuring salivary alpha-amylase (sAA, enzymatic vs. concentration) and to evaluate the influence that the different ways of reporting the results can have in sAA interpretation. For this purpose, sAA was measured by direct quantification and also by an enzymatic assay in three different naturalistic situations, a physical stressor (situation 1) and two mental stressors of different intensity (situations 2 and 3). The results were expressed in three different ways (without correction, multiplied by flow rate and divided by protein concentration). sAA concentration and activity increased just after situations 1 and 3. When values were multiplied by the flow rate, significant changes after situation 1 were detected only for sAA activity but not for sAA concentration, being these changes of lower significance and magnitude that those observed for sAA activity without any correction. In addition, a significant increase in sAA activity was found at T+15 in situation 2. In situation 3 the significant decrease in sAA at T+15 disappeared. When values were divided by protein concentration, there were no significant changes in situations 1 or 3, but a decrease in situation 2 at T+0 and an increase at T+15. sAA activity and concentration showed a significant correlation in all situations. This pilot study points out that the way of expressing sAA can influence the results obtained in different stress models and also their interpretation. Therefore, how sAA is reported and the factors involved in the different ways of expressing sAA, should be taken into consideration for an objective interpretation of sAA values.

Stressor

Alpha-amylase

Alpha (finance)

10.1371/journal.pone.0180100

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Citations (53)

Measurement of Trace Elements (Zinc, Copper, Magnesium, and Iron) in the Saliva of Horses: Validation Data and Changes in Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS)

Animals (2024)

Alberto Muñoz-Prieto J. M. Castro Cerón Fernando Tecles María Martín Cuervo María Dolores Contreras-Aguilar

The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible use of spectrophotometric assays for the measurement of trace elements, including Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) in the saliva of horses and study their possible changes in equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS). EGUS is a highly prevalent disease, with a current high incidence due to the increase in intensive management conditions. There are two EGUS diseases: equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) and equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD), which can appear individually or together. For this purpose, automated spectrophotometric assays for measuring these analytes in horse saliva were analytically validated. Then, these analytes were measured in the saliva of horses with only ESGD, only EGGD, both ESGD and EGGD and a group of healthy horses. The methods used to measure the analytes were precise and accurate. Horses diagnosed with EGGD presented significantly lower levels of Zn and Mg. Fe concentrations were significantly lower in the saliva of horses with ESGD and EGGD. Overall, these results indicate that there are changes in trace elements in saliva in EGUS that could reflect the physiopathological mechanisms involved in this process and open the possibility of using trace elements as biomarkers of this syndrome.

10.3390/ani14121724

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Changes in saliva analytes in equine acute abdominal disease: a sialochemistry approach

BMC Veterinary Research (2019)

María Dolores Contreras-Aguilar Damián Escribano Silvia Martínez‐Subiela María Martín Cuervo Elsa Lamy

The biochemical components of saliva can change in certain pathologies in horses, for example in acute abdominal disease. The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate if a panel of biochemical analytes usually used in serum can be measured in saliva of horses and (2) to study the possible changes of these biochemical analytes in saliva of horses affected by acute abdominal disease. A panel of 23 analytes was analytically validated in saliva of horses and possible changes in these analytes in a pilot study with six healthy horses and six horses with acute abdominal disease were evaluated. The analytes with significant changes were then evaluated in a larger population of 20 healthy and 37 diseased horses. Seven analytes showed significant increases in the pilot study which were confirmed in the larger population. The analytes which showed significant changes, and their median fold increase and significance shown in the larger population were salivary γ-glutamyl transferase (gGT, 2.3 fold, P = 0.001), creatine kinase (CK, 6.2 fold, P < 0.001), urea (2.3 fold, P = 0.001), total bilirubin (2.6 fold, P < 0.001), total proteins (3.2 fold, P < 0.001), phosphorus (P, 4.5 fold, P < 0.001) and alpha-amylase (sAA, 8.5 fold, P < 0.001). Total proteins, P and sAA showed sensitivities higher than 70% at their optimal cut-off points and a specificity of 100% in differentiating between healthy horses and those with acute abdominal disease. A panel of 23 biochemical analytes can be measured in saliva of horses, where gGT, CK, urea, total bilirubin, total protein, P and sAA levels are raised in horses with acute abdominal disease.

10.1186/s12917-019-1933-6

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Citations (30)

Evaluation of adenosine deaminase in saliva and serum, and salivary α-amylase, in canine pyometra at diagnosis and after ovariohysterectomy

The Veterinary Journal (2018)

Fernando Tecles Damián Escribano María Dolores Contreras-Aguilar Camila Peres Rubio Marek Szczubiał

Pyometra

10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.04.018

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Citations (15)

The Serum and Saliva Proteome of Dogs with Diabetes Mellitus

Animals (2020)

Lorena Franco‐Martínez Andrea Gelemanović Anita Horvatić María Dolores Contreras-Aguilar Vladimir Mrljak

This study aims to evaluate the changes in salivary and serum proteomes that occur in canine diabetes mellitus type-1 (DM) through a high-throughput quantitative proteomic analysis. The proteomes of 10 paired serum and saliva samples from healthy controls (HC group, n = 5) and dogs with untreated DM (DM group, n = 5) were analyzed using Tandem Mass Tags (TMT)-based proteomic approach. Additionally, 24 serum samples from healthy controls and untreated DM were used to validate haptoglobin in serum. The TMT analysis quantified 767 and 389 proteins in saliva and serum, respectively. Of those, 16 unique proteins in serum and 26 in saliva were differently represented between DM and HC groups. The verification of haptoglobin in serum was in concordance with the proteomic data. Our results pointed out changes in both saliva and serum proteomes that reflect different physiopathological changes in dogs with DM. Although some of the proteins identified here, such as malate dehydrogenase or glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, were previously related with DM in dogs, most of the proteins modulated in serum and saliva are described in canine DM for the first time and could be a source of potential biomarkers of the disease. Additionally, the molecular function, biological process, pathways and protein class of the differential proteins were revealed, which could improve the understanding of the disease’s pathological mechanisms.

Haptoglobin

Proteome

10.3390/ani10122261

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Citations (11)

Application of a score for evaluation of pain, distress and discomfort in pigs with lameness and prolapses: correlation with saliva biomarkers and severity of the disease

Research in Veterinary Science (2019)

María Dolores Contreras-Aguilar Damián Escribano Silvia Martínez-Miró Marina López-Arjona Camila Peres Rubio

10.1016/j.rvsc.2019.08.004

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Citations (47)