Real-Time Decisions Using Biomarkers in Horses

Short Summary: Dr. Holly Helbig and Dr. David Levine describe how they use SAA and other biomarkers to spot infection early, guide treatment, support biosecurity, and monitor horses in real time.

Landing page copy: Acute phase proteins such as serum amyloid A (SAA) give veterinarians an early look at inflammation, infection, and how a horse responds to treatment. In this Equine Innovators episode, we dig into how SAA and other key biomarkers guide everyday decisions—from biosecurity on busy farms and showgrounds to managing postoperative cases, colic, and foal exams.

Host Stephanie Church, editorial director at The Horse, talks with Dr. Holly Helbig of Zoetis and Dr. David Levine from the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center about when they reach for SAA, how it compares with fibrinogen and white blood cell counts, and why serial testing often matters more than any single number. They share stall-side and hospital protocols, real-world case examples, and ways biomarker trends support smarter antimicrobial use and quarantine decisions.

In this episode, Drs. Helbig and Levine discuss:

• What acute phase proteins are and how SAA reflects early inflammation in horses
• How fast SAA and fibrinogen rise and fall, and how that timing shapes testing plans
• When stallside SAA testing shines in ambulatory practice, at horse shows, and on the farm
• Using SAA to help sort out joint flares vs. septic joints and guide post-surgical monitoring
• Practical cutoffs and patterns for foals, including how vaccination and IV plasma affect SAA
• Where SAA fits into antimicrobial stewardship and cost-conscious biosecurity strategies
• Emerging research and what might come next for biomarkers in equine practice

Tune in to hear how two equine veterinarians lean on SAA and other biomarkers to clarify tough calls, support horse owners, and keep diagnostics and treatments on the right track.

GUESTS AND LINKS – EPISODE 23:

• Host: Stephanie L. Church, editorial director at The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care/TheHorse.com | @stephlchurch on Instagram | Email Stephanie (schurch@thehorse.com)
• Links: (SAA and other Biomarker resources from TheHorse.com) SAA: A Magic 8 Ball for Detecting Infection in Horses?, SAA: Infection Detection in Horses (Infographic), SAA Measurements Can Help Detect Surgical Implant Infection, Advances in Equine Infectious Disease Detection
• Guest: Holly Helbig, DVM, joined Zoetis in 2023 as an equine technical services veterinarian. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a focus in lameness and sport horse medicine. Helbig was the official veterinarian for The World Equestrian Center Ohio; The Kentucky Horse Shows series; and various FEI competitions for 10 years prior to joining Zoetis. She also had an ambulatory practice serving patients...