Topic:Blood Analysis
Blood analysis in horses involves the examination of blood samples to assess various physiological and pathological conditions. This process provides insights into the health status of horses by evaluating components such as red and white blood cells, platelets, and various biochemical parameters. Blood analysis can help identify infections, anemia, metabolic disorders, and other health issues. Common tests include complete blood counts (CBC) and blood chemistry panels, which measure electrolytes, enzymes, and other substances. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore methodologies, findings, and implications of blood analysis in equine veterinary medicine.
Plasma concentrations of prolactin, glucose, insulin, urea nitrogen, and total amino acids in stallions after ingestion of feed or gastric administration of feed components. Concentrations of prolactin, glucose, insulin, urea N, and total amino acids in plasma of stallions after ingestion of pelleted feed were compared to those after direct gastric administration of water, NaCl, egg albumin, or corn starch (Exp. 1) or water, egg albumin, hydrolyzed casein (Amicase), or a mixture of indispensable amino acids (Exp. 2). Stallions were fed once daily (75% pellet and 25% hay) at 1500 for 30 d. On d 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30, blood samples were collected every 30 min from 1 h before through 4 h after treatment, which occurred at 1100. In Exp. 1, there was a positive secret...
Measurements of blood flow and xanthine oxidase activity during postischemic reperfusion of the large colon of ponies. To assess right colic artery blood flow and relevance of xanthine dehydrogenase/xanthine oxidase after experimentally induced strangulation obstruction and reperfusion of the colon, 5 ponies were subjected to 2.5 hours of complete ischemia of the left dorsal and ventral colons, allowed to recover from surgery, and monitored during a 48-hour reperfusion period. Five ponies were subjected to sham surgery and served as controls. All ponies had a Doppler ultrasound blood flow monitor implanted on the right colic artery near the pelvic flexure 10 to 14 days prior to the ischemic period. Colic arter...
Variation in the concentration of long chain free fatty acids in equine plasma over 24 hours. The primary aim of this study was to examine the within-day variation in the concentration of total and individual long chain free fatty acids (C > 14) in normally fed horses. Plasma samples were collected over a 24 h period from 12 resting horses during three separate sessions (six horses in the first session and three in the second and third). Samples were analysed for individual long chain free fatty acids (FFA) and glucose. During normal feeding, the predominant FFA in plasma were palmitic (C16:0), linoleic (C18:2), oleic (C18:1), stearic (C18:0) and linolenic (C18:3). Together these ac...
The vitamin A and vitamin E status of horses raised in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The purpose of the study was to determine normal baseline levels of vitamin A and vitamin E in clinically normal horses under typical field conditions in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Heparinized blood samples were collected from approximately 400 clinically healthy horses selected from 24 locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan during a two-year period. For each horse, historical information including feed type, vitamin supplementation, time of year, sex, and age were recorded. From each blood sample, the plasma vitamin A (all-transretinol) and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) levels were measured usin...
Factors affecting the circadian rhythm in plasma cortisol concentrations in the horse. In horses, a circadian rhythm in plasma cortisol concentrations has been reported in some but not all studies. When a rhythm occurred, horses were accustomed to a management routine, comprising stabling, feeding and sometimes exercise, which may entrain a circadian pattern. In this work, we monitored plasma cortisol by collecting jugular blood through indwelling cannulae from four groups: 1): 10 untrained, unperturbed mares grazing excess pasture, bled hourly for 26 hr; 2) 4 mares housed in a barn for 48 hr before sampling every 15 min for 20-24 hr; 3) 5 mares placed in an outdoor yard for sam...
Comparison of the effects of ketoprofen and flunixin meglumine on the in vitro response of equine peripheral blood monocytes to bacterial endotoxin. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro effects of flunixin meglumine, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, and ketoprofen, a reported cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitor, on the synthesis of cyclo-oxygenase end-products thromboxane B2 and prostaglandin E2, lipoxygenase derived 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, tumor necrosis factor and tissue factor. Six adult horses were each randomly administered flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg) or ketoprofen (2.2 mg/kg) intravenously every 12 hours with the drug treatments separated by two weeks. Blood samples were obtained prior to initiatin...
The viscoelasticity of blood and plasma in pig, horse, dog, ox, and sheep. There is little data on blood viscosity in different animals. Therefore a comparison was performed between five species by an in-vitro method using oscillatory flow. At shear rates from 1 to 150/sec the viscous and the elastic component of the complex blood viscosity was highest in pig, followed by horse, dog, ox, and sheep. Plasma viscosity and plasma density were similar in dog and sheep and were higher in ox. The differences in whole blood viscosity were obviously related to the variable interspecies hematocrit, and may also be influenced by different aggregation tendencies. Aggregation in ...
Evaluation of pulse oximetry in horses surgically treated for colic. All 43 horses anaesthetised for colic surgery were premedicated with xylazine or diazepam. Anaesthesia was induced with guaifenesin and ketamine, horses were placed in dorsal recumbency and anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen and mechanical ventilation. Haemoglobin saturation readings (SpO2) were taken with a pulse oximeter and compared with computed haemoglobin saturation (SaO2) from arterial blood samples. Readings were taken over a range of SaO2 of 78-100%, mean arterial blood pressure ranged from 24 to 108 mmHg and PaO2 ranged from 53 to 490 mmHg. Analysis of 107 readings ...
Plasma lactate response to submaximal and maximal exercise tests with training, and its relationship to performance and muscle characteristics in standardbred trotters. Seven young Standardbred trotters, born, raised and trained at the same camp, performed submaximal and maximal work tests on a track. The submaximal test consisted of four 1,000 m runs at the trot, with increasing speed at each run. Each horse performed this test when 24, 26, 29 and 40 months old. The maximal test consisted of trotting 1,600 m and was performed at 24 and 29 months of age. Blood samples for plasma lactate analyses were obtained after each run, during the submaximal test and after the maximal test. Muscle biopsy samples were obtained at 24 and 29 months of age. The results showe...
Serological and microbiological findings on 3 farms with equine leptospiral abortions. Blood and urine samples from horses on 3 central Kentucky horse farms with prior histories of leptospiral abortions were analysed. Blood samples were obtained from all available horses on each farm and tested for antibodies to 6 leptospira serovars. Urine samples were collected from non-gravid mares with serum antibody titres > or = 1:800 and examined for leptospires by dark-field microscopy, fluorescent antibody testing and culture. Adult horses had the greatest serological evidence of exposure to leptospira, followed by yearlings, then foals. Of horses with anti-leptospiral antibodies, 76...
Identification and verification of the anabolic steroid boldenone in equine blood and urine by HPLC/ELISA. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect the anabolic steroid boldenone in equine blood and urine. The polyclonal antiserum was raised in rabbits, employing boldenone-17-hemisuccinate-bovine serum albumin as antigen. Boldenone-17-hemisuccinate-horseradish peroxidase served as enzyme conjugate. Sensitivity of the assay was 26.0 +/- 3.0 pg/well. Among the endogenous steroids tested only progesterone and testosterone exhibited moderate cross-reactivities, 3.4 and 2.5%, respectively. These cross-reactivities are of no importance for the boldenone assay. For the reductio...
[Effect of the time of sample collection after exertion and the specimen handling on the lactate content in the blood of horses]. The mean maximal lactate concentration of horses after exercise (Lamax) amounted to 4.5 +/- 2.2 mmol/l for gallop workouts of less than 11 m/s and more than 180 s (n = 35; category A), at more than 11 m/s and less than 180 s duration (n = 17; category B) to 16.3 +/- 4.8 mmol/l and at less than 11 m/s and less than 180 s duration (n = 10; category C) to 4.6 +/- 1.6 mmol/l. Lamax was always measured immediately after exercise following exercise of categories A and C. But for exercise bouts of category B Lamax was measured between the first and the tenth minute after exercise. Following exercise ...
[Hematological reference values for foals in the first two months of life]. Hematologic reference values were established in 18 healthy foals in the first two months of life. Blood samples were collected prior to colostrum consumption and at 30 hours, 1 week, 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks of age. PCV, Hb and RBC decreased during the first week and RBC, but not PCV and Hb, increased toward the end of the second month. With the exception of the sample at 1 week, the foals had mean RBC values significantly higher than those of controls. Mean MCV and MCH did not change during the first week, but decreased slightly thereafter; all means were smaller than in controls. The numbers of ...
The effect of added dietary soybean oil on vitamin E status of the horse. Fourteen 2-yr-old Quarter Horses and Quarter Horse x Thoroughbreds were randomly assigned to either a control (CTRL) diet or a diet supplemented with 6.4% soybean oil (SBO). The amounts of both diets that were fed met current NRC nutrient requirements and were isoenergetic with similar nutrient:energy ratios. Venous blood samples (20 mL) were taken at d 0, 30, 60, and 90 of the experiment and analyzed for serum alpha-tocopherol, serum cholesterol, and serum triglyceride. The sum of serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride values was used as an estimate of serum total lipid. The ratio of serum ...
[The development of the IgG concentration in the blood serum of newborn foals]. The aim of this study was to determine the course of the IgG concentration in blood serum of neonatal foals. A comparison of blood serum IgG concentration of the mares showed IgG values of 3356 +/- 671 mg/dl up to a maximum of 3579 +/- 766 mg/dl (means +/- s). In accordance with Eisenhauer (1981) and in contrast to Jeffcott (1974) no significant change of the IgG level in the blood serum of the mares could be observed during the test period. However, the IgG concentration in the colostrum of meanG = 11776 mg/dl during birth decreased considerably 96 hours later with meanG = 135 mg/dl. At birth...
Pharmacokinetics of metronidazole after rectal administration in horses. Five healthy adult mares and 1 gelding were given a single dose (15 mg/kg of body weight) of metronidazole per rectum. After manual evacuation of feces from the rectum, a suspension of crushed tablets and water (40 ml) was administered via a 28-F catheter advanced 30 cm into the rectum. Blood samples were obtained by jugular venipuncture, and metronidazole concentration was measured serially for the 14 hours after drug administration. Mean serum concentration of metronidazole peaked at 4.5 micrograms/ml, 0.83 hour after administration, and decreased to 0.38 microgram/ml, 14 hours after adminis...
Pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone and progesterone in mares during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. Existence of ultradian variation in serum progesterone concentration and the relation between progesterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretory patterns were investigated in nonpregnant and pregnant mares. Blood samples were taken every 15 minutes for a 24-hour period on day 8 of the estrous cycle and day 18 of pregnancy, respectively. Progesterone and LH concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Progesterone was secreted in pulsatile manner in nonpregnant and pregnant mares. Luteinizing hormone also was secreted in a pulsatile manner in both groups of mares. There was little tempo...
Correlation of racing performance with blood lactate and heart rate after exercise in thoroughbred horses. At 2 and 5 mins after an 800-m gallop, venous blood was collected from 26 Thoroughbred racehorses for measurement of blood lactate concentration, packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin concentration. In addition, 14 racehorses were given a strenuous submaximal treadmill exercise test. Heart rates during and after exercise at 10 m/sec on a treadmill inclined at 5 degrees were recorded. Blood samples at 2 and 5 mins after exercise were used to measure PCV, blood and plasma lactate and ammonia concentrations. Results of each exercise test were compared with the retrospective performance of hors...
Effect of furosemide and weight carriage on energetic responses of horses to incremental exertion. The effect of furosemide-induced weight loss on the energetic responses of horses to running was examined in a 3-way crossover study. Eight 2- to 3-year-old Standardbred mares received, in random order, 10 ml of saline solution 4 hours before running on a treadmill (control trial, C); or, during 2 trials, 1 mg of furosemide/kg of body weight, i.v., 4 hours before running. During one of the trials when the horses received furosemide, they carried weight equal to that lost over the 3.75 hours after furosemide administration while running (furosemide-loaded, FL), and during the other trial they d...
Analysis of hemostasis in horses with colic. Eight tests of hemostasis were measured in 233 horses with colic. Blood samples were obtained at admission and for 4 consecutive days of hospitalization. Data were analyzed retrospectively by outcome, by broad-category diagnosis group, by small intestinal disorder, and by smaller categories for comparing specific diseases. Nonsurviving horses and horses with the most severe forms of intestinal ischemia had changes interpreted as hypercoagulative, the intensity of which was increased on the first and second mornings (sample times 2 and 3) after admission, when most significant differences for r...
Role of decreased plasma volume in hematocrit alterations during incremental treadmill exercise in horses. Six intact (IN) and six splenectomized (SP) mares were subjected to an incremental exercise test to examine the role of decreases in plasma volume (PV) in the changes in hematocrit (Hct) normally seen with exercise. Each horse underwent an incremental exercise test in which it ran on a treadmill up a fixed incline of 6 degrees. The test started at a speed of 4 m/s, and speed was increased 1 m/s each min until heart rate reached a plateau. Blood samples were obtained at rest and at the end of the 4, 5, 6, and 7 m/s steps of the exercise test. Resting PV was greater (P < 0.05) in the IN group...
Keratan sulfate as a marker of articular cartilage catabolism and joint treatment in ponies. Keratan sulfate (KS) is a glycosaminoglycan, distribution of which is confined mostly to hyaline cartilage. As such, it is a putative marker of hyaline cartilage catabolism. In experiment 1, a focal osteochondral defect was made arthroscopically in 1 radial carpal bone of 2 ponies, and in 2 other ponies, chymopapain was injected into the radiocarpal joint to induce cartilage catabolism. Sequential and concurrent plasma and synovial fluid concentrations of KS were measured, up to 13 months after induction of cartilage injury, to determine whether changes in KS concentrations reflected cartilage...
Effects of sample collection and handling on concentration of osteocalcin in equine serum. A commercially available radioimmunoassay kit for measurement of human osteocalcin was validated for use in horses. For accurate measurement of equine serum osteocalcin, blood samples may be collected at a temperature between 20 and 25 C, then centrifuged within 90 minutes; serum may be stored at -20 C in plastic tubes for up to 26 weeks. Serum may be thawed and refrozen up to 5 times without significant change in measured equine serum osteocalcin concentration. Assay sensitivity was 0.16 ng/ml. Recovery of bovine osteocalcin standard added to equine serum was linear. Intra-assay coefficient o...
Effect of temperature, duration of storage and sampling procedure on ammonia concentration in equine blood plasma. The effect of storage duration at different storage temperatures on the plasma ammonia concentration of equine EDTA whole blood, EDTA plasma and heparin plasma samples was investigated. Further, the effect of jugular vein compression before and during blood sampling on the plasma ammonia values was evaluated. In EDTA whole blood kept at 4 degrees C there was no significant increase of ammonia content after 6 hours of storage, whereas the increase was already significant 3 hours after collection if the EDTA whole blood was kept at 20-22 degrees C. EDTA plasma samples stored at 20-22 degrees C, ...
Blood gas tensions, acid-base status, heart rates, and venous profiles in exercising horses with laryngeal hemiplegia before and after corrective surgery. The physiologic effects of exercise were studied in four horses with complete laryngeal hemiplegia. Right carotid arteries were surgically elevated to a subcutaneous position for percutaneous catheterization. Each horse was fitted with a device designed to obtain multiple arterial samples while the horse was exercised over a 1.6-km course. After each horse completed 10 test gallops, the laryngeal hemiplegia was treated using a laryngeal prothesis and ventriculectomy. The horses were then reconditioned, and the exercise test and sampling were repeated. Horses with laryngeal hemiplegia became ac...
Plasma constituents during incremental treadmill exercise in intact and splenectomised horses. Six intact and 6 splenectomised mares were given an incremental exercise test on a treadmill to examine the fluid and electrolyte changes associated with exercise and the role of the spleen in these changes. Blood samples were obtained at rest and at the end of each 1-min step of the test. Exercise at 7 m/sec caused significant (P 0.05) in either group (intact = 2.7%; splenectomised, = 3.5%). This appears to be the first record of substantial changes of these constituents during short-term exercise, even before the onset of visible sweat losses. The changes in the concentration of plasma prot...
Clearance of infused triglyceride by resting horses. 1. Clearance of infused lipid was observed in six mature resting horses, 2 to 6 hr after receiving a meal of alfalfa hay. 2. Intralipid, a 10% triglyceride emulsion, was infused at a rate of 0.2 ml/kg into the jugular vein. 3. Blood samples were obtained for 80 min post-infusion and assayed for plasma triglyceride concentration. 4. Clearance rate of the infused lipid was very slow (mean t1/2 = 269 min). 5. The clearance rate of the infused lipid in these horses was much slower than has been observed in other species. 6. The slow clearance of infused triglyceride in horses may suggest an inabil...
The effect of exploratory laparotomy on the serum and peritoneal haptoglobin concentrations of the pony. Serum haptoglobin concentration was used as an indicator of the acute phase response in ponies undergoing exploratory laparotomy. Preoperative, 1 h intraoperative, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h postoperative blood samples and 48 h postoperative peritoneal fluid samples were obtained for haptoglobin analysis. A spectrophotometric assay based on cyanmethemoglobin binding capacity (CyanBC) was used to determine haptoglobin concentrations. The preoperative reference range for serum haptoglobin concentrations in these ponies was 25-60 mg CyanBC/dL. Intraoperative and 3 h postoperative blood samples had d...
Muscle histopathology and plasma aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase and myoglobin changes with exercise in horses with recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis. Six horses with a history of recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) (Horses A-F) and 7 control horses performed a submaximal and later a near-maximal treadmill exercise test. Blood samples were obtained before, during and after exercise and muscle biopsies were taken before and after exercise. At rest, plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in horses with RER were above 95% confidence intervals for control horses. During submaximal exercise, 3 horses with RER (A, B and C) had much greater increases in plasma AST, creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin concentrations than did Horses ...
Nutrient utilisation by the hindlimb of thoroughbred horses at rest. Nutrient uptake by the hindlimb was investigated utilising the arteriovenous difference technique in 5 Thoroughbred horses fed to maintenance a diet of 100% roughage or 52% oat grain and 48% roughage. Arterial blood was obtained from a catheter inserted into the carotid artery while venous blood was simultaneously collected from a catheter placed into the iliac vein via the medial saphenous vein. The arteriovenous difference for glucose was significant and represented a mean extraction of 10 +/- 1% with no effect of diet. If fully oxidised, glucose uptake (corrected for lactate and pyruvate ar...