2015 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

HAIR CORTISOL IN HORSES WITH PPID. Heidi Banse 1 , Michel Levy 1 , Fitsum Getachew 1 , Alycia Chrenek 2 , Candice Crosby 3 , Casey Gruber 2 , Suzon Schaal 3 , Ashley Whitehead 1 , Judit Smits 1 . 1 University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, 2 Moore Equine, Rocky View County, AB, Canada, 3 TD Equine Veterinary Group, Calgary, AB, Canada Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is the most common endocrine disorder of aged horses, affecting 15-30% of horses >15-20 years of age. A diagnostic test with good sensitivity and specificity in early disease remains to be identified. Cortisol accumulates in hair and reflects chronic cortisol levels (i.e., over the entire period of hair growth). Therefore, hair may be more useful than other matrices in evaluating chronic hypercortisolemia. Hair cortisol concentrations have been shown to be higher in both people and dogs with hyperadrenocorticism. We hypothesized that horses with PPID have higher hair cortisol concentrations compared to aged control horses.