Kimi Asano

Twenty-eight element concentrations in mane hair samples of adult riding horses determined by particle-induced X-ray emission

The concentrations of 28 elements (Al, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Se, Si, Sr, Ti, V, Y, and Zn) were measured in mane hair by the particle-induced X-ray emission method. Except for Br, Cl, K, S, and P, the trace element concentrations in mane hair of horses are similar to literature values for human hair. The values obtained are not dependent on the horses age, breed, and sex and could be used as reference values in the assessment of diseases and nutritional status in equines.

Influence of the Coat Color on the Trace Elemental Status Measured by Particle-Induced X-ray Emission in Horse Hair

The influence of hair color on the trace elemental status in horses hair has been studied. A current analytical technique such as particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) used in this study has provided reliable, rapid, easy, and relatively inexpensive diagnostic methods. Twenty-eight elements (Al, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Se, Si, Sr, Ti, V, Y, and Zn) in mane hair were detected by the PIXE method. The gray hair contains significantly greter amounts of Cu, Ti, and Zn, and lower amounts of Br, Ca, Se, and Sr than those in other colored horse hairs (p<0.05). Those results measured in the horses hair were similar to those found in human and dog hair. When interpreting a result, it should be kept in mind that hair color, especially gray hair, influences the concentrations of some elements in horse hair.

Correlation between 25 element contents in mane hair in riding horses and atrioventricular block

The influence of atrioventricular block (AV-block) on the trace elemental status in a horse hair was studied. The particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method has provided a reliable, rapid, easy, and relatively inexpensive diagnostic method. Twenty-five elements (Al, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Se, Si, Ti, Y, and Zn) in mane hair and serum were measured by the PIXE method. A horse hair with first- and second-degree AV-block contained significantly greater amounts of Br, Ca, Sr, and Zn than those of horses without electrocardiographic abnormalities, whereas there was no significant differences in the elemental contents of the serum of the both groups. Those results in contents of a horse hair suggest that the evaluation of the degree of ionic imbalance by this method might be used to predict the susceptibility of a horse to heart disease much before symptoms appear.

Relationship between hair elements and severity of atrioventricular block in horses.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between the mean concentrations of trace elements and the severity of the seconddegree atrioventricular (AV) block in the mane hair of horses. Electrocardiographs of horses were continually recorded for 6 h using a holter cardiac monitor to determine dropped ventricular beats (DVBs) which can be used as an indicator of the severity of the AV block. Mane hair Ca, Cu, Mg, and Zn concentrations were measured by the particle-induced X-ray emission method. The Zn/Cu ratio and Ca concentration in mane hair were significantly and positively correlated with the hourly DVBs in horse with a second-degree AV block (p<0.01, r2=0.485; p<0.05, r2=0.351, respectively). Proposed diagnostic cutoff points for hair Ca concentration and Zn/Cu ratio based on receiver operating characteristics curves analysis in detecting second-degree AV block were set at 1536 μg/g and 26.0, respectively. Those results with horse hair suggest that the evaluation of the Ca, Cu, Mg, and Zn status in mane hair by this method is strongly related to the severity of second-degree AV block and might predict the susceptibility of an individual much before the development of the symptom.