The study of blood in horses encompasses the examination of its components, functions, and its role in equine health and disease. Blood consists of various elements, including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma, each serving specific functions such as oxygen transport, immune response, clotting, and nutrient distribution. Analyzing blood parameters can provide insights into the physiological and pathological states of horses. Common blood tests in equine medicine assess parameters like hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and white cell counts to monitor health status, diagnose conditions, and guide treatment decisions. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the composition, function, and clinical applications of blood analysis in horses.
Iwaszko A, Borowicz H, Graczyk S, Slowikowska M, Pliszczak-Krol A, Niedzwiedz A.Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), also known as heaves, is an allergic respiratory condition that develops in horses following an exposure to aeroallergens in hay and straw. This is manifested by airway hyperreactivity, inflammation, bronchoconstriction, as well as a leukocyte and platelet infiltration into the airways. Platelet activation and an increase in circulating platelet-leukocyte aggregates may lead to airway remodeling. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of seven-day antigen challenge on dynamics of platelet indices and CD41/61 and CD62 P expression on platelets in h...
Slobodchikova MN, Vasilyeva VT, Ivanov RV, Lebedeva UM.In the diet of the population of Yakutia, the meat of 6-month-old and local herd horses is especially valued for its high nutritive value, excellent taste and dietary properties. In addition to meat, a number of other slaughter products, such as by-products, intestinal raw materials, internal fat, blood, etc., can be received during primary processing. Many of them are not fully used. The relevance of this work is to study the possibilities of waste-free use of the Yakut horse products. Biochemical investigation of the composition of the secondary products of slaughter (fat, blood, by-products...
Costantini D, Seeber PA, Soilemetzidou SE, Azab W, Bohner J, Buuveibaatar B, Czirják GÁ, East ML, Greunz EM, Kaczensky P, Lamglait B, Melzheimer J....Viruses may have a dramatic impact on the health of their animal hosts. The patho-physiological mechanisms underlying viral infections in animals are, however, not well understood. It is increasingly recognized that oxidative stress may be a major physiological cost of viral infections. Here we compare three blood-based markers of oxidative status in herpes positive and negative individuals of the domestic horse (Equus ferus caballus) and of both captive and free-ranging Mongolian khulan (Equus hemionus hemionus) and plains zebra (Equus quagga). Herpes positive free-ranging animals had signifi...
Elmeshreghi TN, Grubb TL, Greene SA, Ragle CA, Wardrop JA.Point-of-care analyzers can provide a rapid turnaround time for critical blood test results. Agreement between the Enterprise Point-of-Care (EPOC) and bench-top laboratory analyzers is important to determine the clinical reliability of the EPOC. Objective: The aim of the study was (1) to evaluate the precision (repeatability) of blood gas values measured by the EPOC and (2) to determine the level of agreement between the EPOC and Nova Critical Care Express (Nova CCX) for the assessment of arterial pH, blood gases, and electrolyte variables in canine and equine blood. Methods: Arterial blood sa...
Brkljača Bottegaro N, Gotić J, Šuran J, Brozić D, Klobučar K, Bojanić K, Vrbanac Z.Oxidative stress (OS) associated with an intense exercise may have a negative influence on equine health. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of endurance races on oxidative and antioxidative status of horses by evaluating changes in reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs), malondialdehyde (MDA), biological antioxidant potential (BAP) and oxidative stress index (OSI) values. The study was carried out on 53 race starts (28 individual horses) competing at different endurance races according to distance (40 and 80 km) and difficulty (easy and demanding). Blood samples were taken befo...
Lansade L, Foury A, Reigner F, Vidament M, Guettier E, Bouvet G, Soulet D, Parias C, Ruet A, Mach N, Lévy F, Moisan MP.Early and definitive separation between offspring and their mothers has negative consequences on behavioral and physiological responses. This study compared sudden and definitive weaning (Sudd group, N = 16) and weaning involving progressive habituation to separation using a fence line during the month preceding definitive separation (Prog group, N = 18). The impact of these two methods was assessed in both foals and their mothers through behavioral and biological parameters, including salivary cortisol, telomere length and blood transcriptomes. On the day of definitive separation, Pro...
Sheldon S, Aleman M, Costa L, Santoyo AC, Howey Q, Madigan J.Trigeminal-nerve-mediated headshaking represents a major welfare challenge for owners and veterinarians and is caused by a low threshold firing of the trigeminal nerve resulting in pain manifested as violent head jerking that often terminates the horse’s career and life due to poor quality of life and suffering. As metabolic changes such as acid⁻base status and electrolytes play a role in nerve firing, this study sought to assess the effects following administration of hypertonic solutions on headshaking behavior in affected horses. This prospective randomized controlled crossover desi...
Knych HK, McKemie DS, Seminoff K, Hartmann P, Hovda L, Benson D.Ethylphenidate is a psychostimulant and analog of the commonly prescribed compound, methylphenidate (Ritalin®). There are a limited number of studies describing the disposition and pharmacologic/toxicological effects of ethylphenidate in any species. The abuse potential in equine athletes along with the limited data available regarding administration in horses necessitates further study. The objectives of the current study were to describe drug concentrations, develop an analytical method that could be used to regulate its use, and describe the pharmacodynamic effects of ethylphenidate in hor...
Høyer-Nielsen AK, Gaini S, Kjerulf A, Kollslíð R, Steig TÁ, Stegger M, Jóanesarson J. subspecies () is mostly known as an opportunistic pathogen found in horses and as a rare human zoonosis. An 82-year-old male, who had daily contact with horses, was admitted in a septic condition. The patient presented with dyspnea, hemoptysis, impaired general condition, and severe pain in a swollen left shoulder. Synovial fluid from the affected joint and blood cultures showed growth of subsp. . Transesophageal echocardiography showed a vegetation on the aortic valve consistent with endocarditis. Arthroscopic revision revealed synovitis and erosion of the rotator cuff. Technetium-99m scin...
Mok CH, Levesque CL, Urschel KL.Threonine has been reported to be the second limiting amino acid in typical equine diets, but its actual requirement has not been determined in horses. To evaluate amino acid metabolism and requirements, the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method has been successfully used in other species. The objective of this research was to estimate threonine requirements in mature horses fed timothy hay and concentrate in 4:1 ratio using the IAAO method. Six Thoroughbred mares (579.9 ± 46.7 kg) received each of 6 levels of threonine intake, 41, 51, 61, 70, 80 and 89 mg/kg BW/day, in a randomly ...
Conley AJ, Scholtz EL, Legacki EL, Corbin CJ, Knych HK, Dujovne GD, Ball BA, Moeller BC, Stanley SD. and evidence indicates that the bioactive, 5α-reduced progesterone metabolite, 5α-dihydroprogesterone (DHP) is synthesized in the placenta, supporting equine pregnancy, but its appearance in early pregnancy argues for other sites of synthesis also. It remains unknown if DHP circulates at relevant concentrations in cyclic mares and, if so, does synthesis involve the non-pregnant uterus? Jugular blood was drawn daily from cyclic mares ( = 5). Additionally, ovariectomized mares (OVX) and geldings were administered progesterone (300 mg) intramuscularly. Blood was drawn before and after t...
Mitchell KJ, De Clercq D, Stirn M, van Loon G, Schwarzwald CC.Homocysteine (HCY) is an amino acid produced from methionine metabolism. Plasma homocysteine concentrations ([HCY]p) are elevated (>13 μmol/L) in people with atrial fibrillation (AF) and can predict the recurrence of AF after cardioversion. This study aimed to validate a commercially available human HCY assay for use in horses to develop reference intervals for [HCY]p and compare [HCY]p in healthy horses and horses with AF. Methods: Healthy horses (n = 27) and horses with AF (n = 55, 34 of which were cardioverted using transvenous electrical cardioversion). Methods: Blood samples were a...
Stokol T, Serpa PBS, Brooks MB, Divers T, Ness S.Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is a major cause of infectious respiratory disease, abortion and neurologic disease. Thrombosis in placental and spinal vessels and subsequent ischemic injury in EHV-1-infected horses manifests clinically as abortion and myeloencephalopathy. We have previously shown that addition of heparin anticoagulants to equine platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can abolish ex vivo EHV-1-induced platelet activation. The goal of this study was to test whether platelets isolated from horses treated with unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) were resista...
Wormstrand B, Østevik L, Ekman S, Olstad K.Failure of the cartilage canal blood supply leads to ischemic chondronecrosis which causes osteochondrosis, and osteochondral lesions. Osteochondrosis is a disease with a heritable component and usually occurs under aseptic conditions. Because bacteria can bind to growth cartilage and disrupt the blood supply in pigs and chickens, we considered whether this might play a role in development of equine osteochondrosis. The aim of this study was to examine whether bacteria are present in canals in the growth cartilage of foals with septic arthritis/osteomyelitis, and whether this is associated wit...
Jeawon SS, Katz LM, Galvin NP, Fogarty UM, Duggan VE.Although umbilical cord blood gas analysis is considered the best way to assess in utero oxygenation in human neonates, there is limited evaluation of this method in equine neonatology. Our objectives were to assess the practicality of obtaining umbilical cord blood gas samples in the field and to determine umbilical cord arterial and venous blood gas reference intervals (RI) for healthy, newborn foals. Thoroughbred foals >320 days gestation from healthy mares with uneventful pregnancies at one stud farm were evaluated. All parturitions were observed, with paired umbilical arterial and venous ...
Santos RCD, Pinho FA, Passos GP, Larangeira DF, Barrouin-Melo SM.The most commonly used culture medium for the in vitro isolation of Leishmania spp. from canine biological samples is biphasic Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle (NNN) medium, whose solid phase is prepared using rabbit blood. Leishmania infantum parasites from natural infections are highly sensitive and demanding for growth in axenic conditions when firstly obtained from the dog's body. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether NNN medium (NNN-test) prepared with chicken blood (NNN-C), ox blood (NNN-O), horse blood (NNN-H) or sheep blood (NNN-S) was viable for the isolation of parasites from natur...
Pozor M, Conley AJ, Roser JF, Nolin M, Zambrano GL, Runyon SP, Kelleman AA, Macpherson ML.Recently, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) was validated as a reliable marker of testicular damage caused by various chemotherapy drugs in humans and in mice. In horses, the reference values of AMH concentrations in normal stallions, during different seasons of a year, have been recently reported. However, this hormone was not evaluated in subfertile or infertile stallions with testicular damage. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of experimentally induced testicular degeneration on the concentration of AMH in stallions. Severe but transient testicular degenerat...
Wilson ME, Holz CL, Kopec AK, Dau JJ, Luyendyk JP, Soboll Hussey G.Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is the cause of respiratory disease, abortion storms, and outbreaks of herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Infection of the spinal cord is characterised by multifocal regions of virally infected vascular endothelium, associated with vasculitis, thrombosis and haemorrhage that result in ischaemia and organ dysfunction. However, the mechanism of thrombosis in affected horses is unknown. Objective: To evaluate tissue factor (TF) procoagulant activity and thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) levels in horses following infection with EHV-1. Methods: In vitro and ...
Scarlet D, Wulf M, Kuhl J, Köhne M, Ille N, Conley AJ, Aurich C.Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has gained increasing interest as a biomarker for assessment of gonadal activity. The ability to predict the ovarian follicular reserve of prepubertal female horses (fillies) or to identify stallions with testicular pathologies already during their prepubertal life has not been analyzed so far. Both would help to select fertile horses and reduce costs associated with keeping animals. The objectives of the present study were to (1) assess AMH, LH, FSH, progesterone (females) and testosterone (males) dynamics in prepubertal horses from birth onwards and (2) determin...
Shawaf T, El-Deeb W, Hussen J, Hendi M, Al-Bulushi S.Recently, the complementary therapies such as cupping and acupuncture are being used in veterinary medicine. This research was carried out to determine the effects of wet cupping therapy (Hijama) on the hematological and the biochemical parameters in the healthy Arabian horses for the first time. Methods: In this study, seven clinically healthy Arabian horses were randomly selected. Four points on the animal body were selected to perform the cupping therapy. Two points were selected at the back just behind the scapula on the left and right sides; another two points were located in the rump. Cu...
Ellerbrock RE, Canisso IF, Lima FS, Shipley CF, Thompson DL, Conley AJ, Kline KH.The objectives of this study were to determine the concentrations of reproductive and metabolic hormones during the peripubertal period and to assess their relationship with testicular development and body fat deposition. Blood samples were collected from 23 healthy Standardbred colts every four weeks for twelve months. Colts were weighed monthly, and percent of body fat and testicular volume estimated by ultrasound. Onset of puberty was determined as the month when testosterone was two standard deviations above the previous mean. Plasma FSH, LH, leptin, estradiol-17β, androstenedione, IGF-1,...
Kamr AM, Dembek KA, Hildreth BE, Morresey PR, Rathgeber RA, Burns TA, Zaghawa AA, Toribio RE.Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) and klotho are key regulators of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) synthesis as well as phosphorus and calcium homeostasis; however, information on the FGF-23/klotho axis in healthy and hospitalised foals is lacking. Objective: The aims of this study were to measure serum FGF-23 and klotho concentrations and determine their association with serum phosphorus, total calcium (TCa), vitamin D metabolite [25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2 D], PTH, and aldosterone concentrations, disease severity, and mortality in hospitalised foals. Methods: Prospective, multicentre, cro...
Winter JC, Sponder G, Merle R, Aschenbach JR, Gehlen H.Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a worldwide disease in horses that parallels human diabetes mellitus type 2. In both diseases, patients show an altered peripheral insulin sensitivity as a key feature. In humans, multiple studies have demonstrated the beneficial effect of magnesium supplementation on insulin sensitivity. However, serum magnesium levels vary and are therefore not a reliable indicator of the patients' magnesium status. Determining the intracellular free magnesium concentration appears to be a more sensitive diagnostic indicator. In this study, the free intracellular magnesium ...
Dibiasi C, Plewka J, Ploszczanski L, Glanz V, Lichtenegger H, Windberger U.Although the coagulation system is evolutionary well preserved, profound species differences exist in viscoelastic as well as in common laboratory tests of coagulation. Objective: Evaluating differences in clot formation and material characterisation of clots of four mammalian species on macro-, micro- and nanoscales by the means of rheometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). Methods: Blood samples were collected from healthy human volunteers, laboratory rats (HL/LE inbred strain), warmblood horses and dromedary camels. Clot formation was observed by ...
Satué K, Marcilla M, Medica P, Ferlazzo A, Fazio E.The objectives of this study were to establish reference values for serum concentrations of placental growth factor (PlGF) and haptoglobin (Hp), and to analyze whether the levels of oestrone sulphate (E1S) and progesterone (P4) are physiologically involved in the dynamic modifications of the above parameters in pregnant mares. A total of 30 healthy Spanish Purebred mares ranging in age 9.33 ± 3.31 years were studied during the 11 months of gestation. Serum concentrations of PlGF were detected by EIA, Hp using commercial Phase Haptoglobin assay and E1S and P4 levels through RIA. The serum ...
The attention of sports community toward probiotic supplementation as a way to promote exercise and training performance, together with good health, has increased in recent years. This has applied also to horses, with promising results. Here, for the first time, we tested a probiotic mix of several strains of live bacteria typically employed for humans to improve the training performance of Standardbred horses in athletic activity. To evaluate its effects on the horse performance, we measured lactate concentration in blood, a translational outcome largely employed for the purpose, combined wit...
van Loon JP, de Grauw JC, van Oostrom H.The aim of this study was to compare different methods to determine venous admixture (Q˙/Q˙) in anaesthetized horses. The first objective was to estimate Q˙/Q˙ using jugular venous blood oxygen content (Q˙/Q˙), and a fixed value for the oxygen extraction (F-shunt). The second objective was to assess the influence of blood pressure and positioning on oxygen extraction. The third objective was to perform regression analysis between jugular and mixed venous blood oxygen tensions. Methods: Prospective, experimental trial. Methods: The study was performed with seven warmblood horses that were...
Hewetson M, Venner M, Volquardsen J, Sykes BW, Hallowell GD, Vervuert I, Fosgate GT, Tulamo RM.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome is an important cause of morbidity in weanling foals. Many foals are asymptomatic, and the development of an inexpensive screening test to ensure an early diagnosis is desirable. The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of blood sucrose for diagnosis of EGUS in weanling foals. Results: 45 foals were studied 7 days before and 14 days after weaning. The diagnostic accuracy of blood sucrose for diagnosis of gastric lesions (GL); glandular lesions (GDL); squamous lesions (SQL) and clinically significant gastric lesions (CSL) at 45 and 90...
It is currently unknown if the intrathecal administration of a high dose of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is safe, how MSCs migrate throughout the vertebral canal after intrathecal administration, and whether MSCs are able to home to a site of injury. The aims of the study were: 1) to evaluate the safety of intrathecal injection of 100 million allogeneic adipose-derived MSCs (ASCs); 2) to assess the distribution of ASCs after atlanto-occipital (AO) and lumbosacral (LS) injection in healthy horses; and 3) to determine if ASCs homed to the site of injury in neurologically diseased hor...
Wilson KA, Raisis AL, Drynan EA, Mosing M, Lester GD, Hayman J, Hosgood GL.To determine the agreement of invasive blood pressure measured in the facial, metatarsal and carotid arteries, and evaluate the effects of two haemodynamic conditions on agreement. Methods: Prospective randomized study. Methods: A group of eight horses aged 7 (4-23) years with a body weight of 493 ± 33 kg. Methods: Horses were anaesthetized and positioned in dorsal recumbency. Invasive blood pressure was measured simultaneously via catheters placed in the facial, metatarsal and carotid arteries. Cardiovascular function and agreement between arteries was assessed before and during administr...
Habibi G, Esmaeilnia K, Hablolvarid MH, Afshari A, Zamen M, Bozorgi S.Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is the cause of persistent tick-borne infection with no symptoms, but the most important problem of EP is due to the persistent carrier state. Carrier animals to Babesia (Theileria) equi (Laveran 1901) and B. caballi (Nuttall, 1910) infestation could be identified by extremely sensitive PCR-based method. The purpose of this study was to identify the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis based on molecular and microscopic assays in equids from Kurdistan Province, Iran. Methods: Thirty one horse and mule blood samples were used with history of living in Kurdistan Pro...
Wickler SJ, Anderson TP.This study had two goals: 1) measure hematologic changes with high-altitude acclimatization in horses; and 2) assess the effect of 9 days at high altitude on subsequent athletic performance at low altitude. Six horses performed standardized exercise tests on a dirt track (before and during time at altitude) and treadmill (pre- and postaltitude exposure). Resting and immediate postexercise blood samples were measured for blood volume, lactate, red cell number, packed cell volume, and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) concentrations at 225 m, over a 9-day period at 3,800 m, and shortly after returnin...
Bellier S, Cordonnier N.The goal of this article is to present the technical aspects and the applications of the blood cells examination and haemostasis in dogs and cats. Technical realisation of blood counts, cytology of normal and abnormal blood cells and significance of the pathologic cell counts are successively treated. Distinctive features of cytology and cell counts in herbivores, horses and cattle, are detailed in a separate chapter.Difficulties of veterinary haematology lie in qualitative and quantitative differences between blood cells of various animal species.Bone marrow cells exploration is not performed...
van der Kolk JH, Nachreiner RF, Refsal KR, Brouillet D, Wensing T.Our objectives were to 1) establish ionised calcium (ICa), C-terminal PTH and biologically active PTH (intact molecule) concentrations in blood from normal horses, 2) examine the stability of ionised calcium and acid-base values in stored equine heparinised blood and serum and 3) check the applicability of the formulas based on these parameters in certain disease states. Mean +/- s.d. % ionised calcium in heparinised blood of normal Warmbloods was 51 +/- 2.7 (n = 20) of total calcium, range 1.45-1.75 mmol/l (n = 15) at Michigan State University and 1.43-1.69 mmol/l (n = 20) at Utrecht Universi...
Wassmuth AK, Riond B, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Lutz H.The Mythic 18 is a fully automated hematology bench-top analyzer using impedance technology for a complete blood cell count (CBC) and a 3-part white blood cell count (WBC) differential. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the Mythic for assessment of agreement, precision, linearity, carry-over, stability, and usability under practice conditions. Ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid-blood samples from 122 dogs, 140 cats, and 123 horses were analyzed with the Mythic and reference methods (Sysmex XT-2000iV, manual hematocrit, and microscopic WBC differentiation). Pearson's coefficient o...
Schuback K, Essén-Gustavsson B.The purpose of this study was to develop a standardised maximal treadmill exercise test performed until fatigue in order to find reproducible markers for anaerobic metabolism, specifically adenine nucleotide degradation. Six Standardbred trotters performed an incremental maximal treadmill exercise test in 1 min steps (starting with 7 m/s) until they could no longer keep pace with the treadmill. The test was performed twice with at least one week between the tests. Heart rate was recorded and venous blood samples were obtained during the test and in the recovery period for determination of plas...
Ababneh MM, Troedsson MH.Real-time PCR was used to investigate the role of progesterone (P4) and oestradiol (E2) in regulation of endometrial cytosolic, secretory and calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (PLA2G4A, PLA2G2A and PLA2G6, respectively) gene expression. Ovariectomized mares underwent 6 days of E2 pre-treatment followed by 14 days of P4 supplementation. At the start of P4 treatment (Day 1), mares were assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial design to receive either E2 or vehicle starting on Day 11 and endometrial biopsy collection on either Day 14 when P4 concentrations remained high (>4 ng/ml) or Day 16 when P4 conc...
Filippo PAD, Duarte BR, Albernaz AP, Quirino CR.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feed restriction on some physical and blood parameters in horses kept outdoors under natural conditions. Twenty horses were deprived of food for 48 h. They were closely monitored and examined, and blood samples were taken at the beginning (0) of the experiment and 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 hours afterward. During the experimental period, the control group (12 animals) had free access to water and hay, while the restricted group had free access to water only. Data were submitted to two-way analysis of variance with repeated measur...
Assenza A, Casella S, Giannetto C, Fazio F, Tosto F, Piccione G.The aim of this study was to evaluate the modifications of some haematological parameters and iron profile during an 80-day training program and their relationship with athletic performance of performance horses. Methods: During the training period, 20 Thoroughbreds were subjected to a standardised exercise test, previously standardised for gallopers to evaluate athletic performance. The test was performed immediately before the beginning of the training program (T0) and after 30 days (T30), 60 days (T60) and 90 days (T90). For each horse, their velocities at blood lactate concentrations of 2 ...
Segabinazzi LGTM, Podico G, Rosser MF, Nanjappa SG, Alvarenga MA, Canisso IF.In light of PRP's increasing popularity in veterinary practice, this study aimed to compare three manual methods to prepare and cool equine PRP. The blood of 18 clinically healthy mares was collected via venipuncture in a blood transfusion bag (method 1), blood tubes (method 2), and a syringe (method 3). In method 1, samples were double centrifuged; method 2 involved one centrifugation, and in method 3 the syringe was kept in an upright position to sediment for 4 h. After processing with three methods, PRP and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) were extracted and assessed for red (RBC) and white blood...
Boscan P, Steffey EP.To assess the changes in colloid osmotic pressure (COP) in horses undergoing surgery for colic. Methods: Prospective clinical evaluation. Methods: Twenty-nine adult horses presented for emergency laparotomy. Methods: Horses were premedicated with intravenous (IV) xylazine and anesthesia was induced with ketamine, diazepam and guaifenesin and was maintained with isoflurane as required. Lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) was given to all horses during anesthesia. Blood was collected in heparin before, and every 30 minutes during, anesthesia to measure COP, total protein concentration (TP), osmolal...
Tranquilli WJ, Thurmon JC, Neff-Davis CA, Davis LE, Benson GJ, Hoffman W, Lock TF.Plasma glucose and serum insulin concentrations in Thoroughbreds administered xylazine hydrochloride (1.1 mg/kg; IV) and ketamine hydrochloride (2.2 mg/kg; IV) at dosages sufficient to induce short periods of recumbency and anesthesia were measured. Samples of blood were collected from 6 adult horses before, during, and after the anesthetic period. Plasma glucose (mg/dl) was significantly increased above control (-30 minute concentration) from 15 to 150 minutes after xylazine administration with the peak value occurring at 30 minutes. Serum insulin (microU/ml) was significantly decreased from ...
Stokol T, Erb HN, De Wilde L, Tornquist SJ, Brooks M.Fibrin(ogen) degradation products (FDPs) and D-dimer are sensitive indicators of excessive fibrinolysis due to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in dogs. To the authors' knowledge, latex-agglutination-based plasma FDP and D-dimer assays have not been validated for use in horses. Objective: To determine: 1) sensitivity and specificity of latex agglutination serum and plasma FDP and D-dimer assays for diagnosis of DIC; and 2) their prognostic value in horses with severe colic. Methods: At hospital admission and 24 hours later, blood was collected from 30 healthy horses and 20 horses w...
Sembratowicz I, Zięba G, Cholewinska E, Czech A.This study compared the effect of two dietary vegetable oils on plasma biochemical indices, haematological parameters, and redox status of horses. Forty riding horses (20 mares and 20 stallions) of the Malopolski breed were divided equally into two groups that were similar in terms of age, sex, and body weight (on average 530 ± 30 kg). The horses received soybean oil (SO) or flaxseed oil (FO) in the amount of 25 mL per 100 kg BW/day. After 60 days, blood was collected for biochemical and haematological analyses. The results show that horses receiving FO as compared to the SO group had signifi...
Khanna AK, McDonell WN, Dyson DH, Taylor PM.The cardiopulmonary effects of eucapnia (arterial CO2 tension [PaCO2] 40.4 +/- 2.9 mm Hg, mean +/- SD), mild hypercapnia (PaCO2, 59.1 +/- 3.5 mm Hg), moderate hypercapnia (PaCO2, 82.6 +/- 4.9 mm Hg), and severe hypercapnia (PaCO2, 110.3 +/- 12.2 mm Hg) were studied in 8 horses during isoflurane anesthesia with volume controlled intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) and neuromuscular blockade. The sequence of changes in PaCO2 was randomized. Mild hypercapnia produced bradycardia resulting in a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in cardiac index (CI) and oxygen delivery (DO2), while ...
Kirsch K, Fercher C, Horstmann S, von Reitzenstein C, Augustin J, Lagershausen H.Show jumping is a highly specialized equestrian discipline that requires technical skill but also power and fitness. Monitoring the horses' aerobic performance is therefore essential in order to verify whether the training has induced the desired cardiovascular and muscular adaptations. This study therefore aimed at evaluating the validity of non-specific and discipline-specific field exercise tests for objective evaluation of aerobic performance in show jumpers. For this purpose, data obtained from horses competing at Junior and Young Rider level during show jumping competitions as well as fi...
Leclere M, Lavoie JP, Dunn M, Bédard C.Thrombelastography (TEG) is used to evaluate the viscoelastic properties of blood during clotting and provides a global assessment of hemostasis and clot lysis. TEG analysis initiated with recombinant human tissue factor (TF) has not been evaluated in clinically healthy horses. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether TEG results are affected by the time elapsed between sampling and analysis (storage time) of equine blood samples and to establish a preliminary equine reference interval for a modified TEG assay, using recombinant human TF to initiate coagulation. Methods: C...
Gehlen H, Twickel S, Stöckle S, Weber C, Bartmann CP.Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is the most prevalent endocrine disease in horses. Although donkeys and mules may also be affected, only a few data have been published. Reference values for diagnostic parameters, such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), are especially scarce or even lacking. Therefore, in the present study, available data from the literature have been verified and completed to facilitate a reliable diagnosis. Clinical inspections and haematological and biochemical examinations were carried out four times in a three-month interval (February to November) in 44 donkeys a...
Rose RJ, Allen JR, Hodgson DR, Stewart JH, Chan W.Four standardbred horses with subcutaneously relocated carotid arteries were given a seven week training programme of treadmill exercise at a gradient of 19 per cent in order to assess if there were any effects of exercise and training on haematology, arterial blood gas and acid base measurements, plasma biochemistry and heart rate. The exercise consisted of one minute walking at 110 metres/minute followed by five minutes trotting at 200 metres/minute, twice daily in the first week. The period of trotting exercise was increased by one minute per week so that by the seventh week the horses were...
Manohar M, Goetz TE.The present study examined whether Thoroughbred horses performing strenuous exercise exhibit intrapulmonary arteriovenous shunting that may contribute to the observed arterial hypoxemia. Experiments were carried out on seven healthy, exercise-trained Thoroughbreds at rest, maximal exercise (galloping at 14 m/s on a 3.5% uphill grade for 120 s), and submaximal exertion (8 m/s on a 3.5% uphill grade for 150 s). Along with blood gas/hemodynamic parameters, intrapulmonary arteriovenous shunting was studied by injecting 15-microm-diameter microspheres, labeled with different stable isotopes, into t...
Proverbio D, Perego R, Baggiani L, Ferrucci F, Zucca E, Nobile F, Spada E.A knowledge of the blood groups and alloantibodies present is essential for the safe transfusion of blood products in horses. Pre-transfusion screening and blood typing minimizes the risk of incompatible RBC transfusions and prevents immunization of the recipient against incompatible RBC antigens. The frequencies of blood groups can vary among different breeds. Knowledge of a breed's blood group prevalence can be very useful for identifying the best blood donors during transfusion in clinical practice. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of the Ca blood type in horses from I...
Weiss DJ, Evanson OA.To evaluate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of equine neutrophils in blood. Methods: Blood samples from 5 healthy adult Thoroughbreds. Methods: Neutrophil integrin (CD11/CD18) expression, size variation, degranulation, and deformability were measured with and without incubation with LPS. Time and concentration studies were done. The mechanism of endotoxin-induced neutrophil activation was investigated by inactivating complement or preincubating neutrophils with inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) synthesis, prostaglandin-leukotriene synthesis, or platelet-activati...
Chaffin MK, Matthews NS, Cohen ND, Carter GK.A commercially available pulse oximeter was evaluated in anaesthetised foals to determine its accuracy for estimating arterial haemoglobin saturation (SaO2). Five different transducer/transducer attachment site (TTAS) combinations were evaluated; 1-3) a fingertip transmission transducer attached to the foal's ear, lip and tongue, 4) an adhesive transmission transducer positioned on the foal's ear and 5) a forehead reflectance transducer placed on the ventral aspect of the foal's tail-base. Eight normal, Quarter Horse foals (age 5-10 days) were studied while under general anaesthesia. Alteratio...
Raeside JI, Renaud RL, Christie HL.Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and 3 beta-hydroxyandrosta-5,7-dien-17-one (7-dehydro-DHEA) are secreted in large quantities by the remarkably hypertrophied fetal gonads of both sexes in the pregnant mare. Their secretion serves as the fetal component of a feto-placental unit for oestrogen production in equine pregnancies. They are secreted in large amounts but show a decline in late pregnancy when the fetal gonads regress and levels of oestrogens in the mare fall as a consequence. We have examined the levels of these precursor steroids in the newborn foal in the first days after birth. DHEA and...
Knych HK, Arthur RM, McKemie DS, Baden RW, Seminoff K, Kass PH.Flunixin meglumine (FM) and phenylbutazone (PBZ) are potent anti-inflammatory agents and as such their potential to mask injuries that would otherwise keep a horse from training or racing is concerning. A common practice in racetrack medicine in the USA is to administer the two drugs within close proximity (24 hours apart) of each other, raising the concern of pharmacokinetic interactions and enhanced anti-inflammatory effects. Objective: Describe the pharmacokinetics and effects of PBZ on the clearance of FM when administered in close proximity as well as effects on inflammatory mediators. M...
Lagos J, Tadich TA.Hematological and biochemical reference intervals are an important tool for health assessment and treatment decision-making in veterinary medicine. Lack of information about reference intervals (RI) in mules force professionals to apply reference intervals developed for horses or donkeys, with the risk of misinterpretation. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine hematological and biochemical RI for healthy mules and compare them with those proposed in literature for horses, donkeys and mules. A total of 142 healthy mules (mixed breed mares × Baudet du Poitou) of both sex, all between 7 ...
Piccione G, Bazzano M, Giannetto C, Marafioti S, Fazio F.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of training on prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and fibrinogen (Fb) concentrations in horses to assess potential adaptive response to training. Fifteen clinically healthy horses were enrolled in the present study and equally divided into three groups. Group A completed an intense training program, group B participated in a light training program, and group C included sedentary horses. After 5 weeks, group B was subjected to the same training program completed by group A and renamed group B1. Blood samples were col...
Satué K, Marcilla M, Medica P, Ferlazzo A, Fazio E.The objectives of this study were to establish reference values for serum concentrations of placental growth factor (PlGF) and haptoglobin (Hp), and to analyze whether the levels of oestrone sulphate (E1S) and progesterone (P4) are physiologically involved in the dynamic modifications of the above parameters in pregnant mares. A total of 30 healthy Spanish Purebred mares ranging in age 9.33 ± 3.31 years were studied during the 11 months of gestation. Serum concentrations of PlGF were detected by EIA, Hp using commercial Phase Haptoglobin assay and E1S and P4 levels through RIA. The serum ...
Bailey SR, Marr CM, Elliott J.Acute laminitis has been associated with the release of compounds, as yet unidentified, produced by hindgut fermentation which affect blood flow to the digit. The objectives of this study were to identify amine compounds in equine caecal and colonic contents, some of which are known to have vasoactive properties. In addition, the concentrations of amines in caecal contents of horses fed either grass or hay diets were compared. Fifteen amines were identified in equine hindgut contents in concentrations greater than 1 microM. The caecal concentrations of phenylethylamine, isoamylamine, cadaverin...
Dunkel B, Kapff JE, Naylor RJ, Boston R.Clinical impression suggested that pony and miniature breeds (collectively referred to as ponies) presenting to a referral hospital for investigation of gastrointestinal disease had higher blood lactate concentrations on admission than large breed horses. Objective: The study tested the hypothesis that ponies with gastrointestinal disease had higher blood lactate concentrations on admission than large breed horses with similar disease severity. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: Medical records from September 2006 to July 2011 were reviewed for ponies with a primary presenting...
