Method for detecting equine bone injury
OwnerPeter John TUALLY, Christopher Neil COWCHERinventors
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for detecting pathological bone activity in an equine subject using a serum biomarker, and use of the serum biomarker for diagnosing and/or preventing risk of equine bone fracture and/or lameness, particularly in race horses.
Claims24
A method for detecting pathological bone activity in an equine subject comprising:
- (a) measuring osteocalcin level in a biological sample obtained from an equine subject;
- and
- (b) comparing the osteocalcin concentration in the biological sample to a reference value,
- wherein an elevated osteocalcin concentration in the biological sample relative to the reference value indicates the presence of pathological bone activity in the equine subject.
(canceled)
A method for predicting pathological bone fracture and/or lameness risk in an equine subject comprising:
- (a) measuring osteocalcin level in a biological sample obtained from an equine subject;
- (b) comparing the osteocalcin level in the biological sample to a reference value;
- and
- wherein an elevated osteocalcin concentration in the biological sample relative to the reference value is indicative of a positive prediction of bone fracture and/or lameness risk if the subject is exposed to increased biomechanical force.
A method for reducing risk of bone fracture and/or lameness in an equine subject comprising:
- (a) measuring osteocalcin level in a biological sample obtained from an equine subject;
- and
- (b) comparing the osteocalcin level in the biological sample to a reference value;
- wherein, if the osteocalcin concentration in the biological sample is elevated relative to the reference value, exposure of the equine subject to biomechanical force is reduced or substantially avoided so as to reduce the risk of bone fracture and/or lameness.
A kit for detecting osteocalcin level in an equine biological sample comprising:
- (a) a device for obtaining a biological sample from an equine subject;
- (b) a test for measuring osteocalcin concentration in the biological sample relative to a reference value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.