Using a pioneering profiling technique, they found that a distinct set of proteins were present in horses with osteoarthritis of the fetlock joint. Although this is at an early stage, there are hopes it could lead to earlier diagnosis of the condition and more informed management of affected horses.
A PhD student at the university will now use the same research technique to look at horses at varying stages of the condition. Diagnosis involves a vet assessing the horse’s lameness, often using flexion tests, which can then be followed by nerve blocks, x-rays and other scans of the joints in question.
Peter Clegg, professor of musculoskeletal biology at the University of Liverpool, added that diagnosing arthritis can be difficult until the condition is quite advanced. He said it can be difficult to interpret arthritis from x-rays and that they were looking for a “marker” that would help them understand more about the condition.