Two major ruminant acute phase proteins, haptoglobin and serum amyloid A, as serum biomarkers during active sheep scab infestation

Table 2 Distribution of sheep into “normal” and “elevated” groups for serum Hp and SAA concentration across the time course of primary infestation with Psoroptes ovis and treatment with an endectocide (PIT trial)

Biomarker	Week	0	1	2	3	4	5	6**	6.5	7	7.5	8
Hp	Normal*	12	11	11	11	10	4	2	2	7	11	12
Hp	Elevated	0	1	1	1	2	8	10	10	5	1	0
SAA	Normal	12	9	10	11	4	0	0	7	11	12	12
SAA	Elevated	0	3	2	1	8	12	12	5	1	0	0

* The status of APP levels in sheep sera (n = 12 for each time point) was determined by comparison to pre-infestation levels using the R Statistical Package.
** All sheep were treated with an injectable endectocide at week 6 post-infestation. In these analyses the animals were described as being “normal” as in day 0 (pre-infestation) or “elevated”. As the results showed a normal distribution, all values above the 0.999 quantile of the distribution were considered to be elevated, giving a 99.9% specificity and undefined sensitivity.

ISSN: 1297-9716