Hematology in horses involves the study of blood, its components, and related disorders in equine species. This field encompasses the analysis of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels to assess the health status of horses. Hematological parameters are used to evaluate various physiological and pathological conditions, including anemia, infections, and immune-mediated diseases. Techniques such as complete blood counts (CBC) and blood smear evaluations are commonly employed to gather insights into the equine circulatory system. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, findings, and clinical implications of hematological assessments in equine medicine.
Van Heerden J, Dauth J, Dreyer MJ, Nichas E, Marshall C, De Waal DT.Selected haematological, blood chemical and serological variables were investigated in healthy Thoroughbreds (n = 45) in training. Haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, red, white and differential cell counts as well as serum concentrations of total and ionized calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, inorganic phosphorus, total bilirubin, iron, glucose, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and creatine kinase were found to be within ranges previously reported for...
McKeever KH, Hinchcliff KW, Kociba GJ, Reed SM, Muir WW.Changes in clotting time (CT) and fibrinolytic activity (FA) were evaluated in 6 mature, female horses during exercise. Two trials were performed on consecutive days, using a randomized crossover design. Each mare was assigned to either an exercise trial or a control trial on the first day, and to the alternate trial 24 hours later. Mares exercised for 20 minutes on a treadmill at an elevation of 2 degrees and a velocity of 5 m/s. Venous blood samples were collected immediately before exercise, at 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 minutes during exercise, and 15 minutes after cessation of exercise. Blood wa...
Simon F, Laczay P, Móra Z, Lehel J.The target animal safety of a dexamethasone-prednisolone combination was studied on 12 horses divided into two groups of six each. One group of horses received the therapeutic dose of the combination (25 mg/animal dexamethasone pivalate and 75 mg/animal prednisolone) and the second group was given the threefold dose of it. The preparation was administered intravenously for 2 consecutive days. For assessment of safety a wide range of clinical, haematological, biochemical and urine variables were tested as laid down in the guidelines of the FDA. All horses treated by the therapeutic or the three...
Kohn CW, Jacobs RM, Knight D, Hueston W, Gabel AA, Reed SM.At birth, 24 Standardbred foals were assigned at random to 1 of 2 groups and were given a placebo supplement (group 1) or an iron supplement (248 mg of iron/treatment; group 2). Foals were given iron supplement or placebo 4 times during the second and third weeks after birth. Hematologic variables and general health were monitored until foals were 4 months old. Mean PCV in foals of both groups decreased during the first 2 weeks after birth, but values remained within adult horse reference ranges. During the first 6 weeks after birth, foal erythrocytes were smaller than adult horse erythrocytes...
Andrews FM, Hamlin RL, Stalnaker PS.Whole blood viscosity (WBV) was measured on six healthy horses and ten horses presented for colic surgery. A Wells-Brookfield cone-and-plate microviscometer at 6 rpm was used to determine WBV and WBV was adjusted for packed cell volume (PCV). The ten colic horses were divided into two groups: five horses that died or were euthanatized (group 1) and five horses that were discharged after surgery and medical therapy (group 2). The mean WBV for each group was compared using analysis of variance followed by Duncan multiple-range tests. Mean WBV of group 2 (5.81 +/- 1.48 centipoise [cp]) and normal...
MacAllister CG, Mosier D, Qualls CW, Cowell RL.The primary hematologic abnormalities in 2 adult horses with chronic weight loss were hypoalbuminemia and hyperglobulinemia. One horse was anemic, had subclinical disseminated intravascular coagulation, and prolonged plasma sulfobromophthalein half-life. Small-intestinal dysfunction with malabsorption was indicated by abnormal D-xylose absorption test results. Clinicopathologic and pathologic findings were consistent with a diagnosis of malabsorption and protein-losing enteropathy, attributable to lymphocytic and plasmacytic infiltration of the intestine.
Mair TS, Hillyer MH, Taylor FG.The clinical signs in 21 adult horses affected by peritonitis (unassociated with gastrointestinal rupture or surgical interference of the abdomen) included colic (18 cases), pyrexia (15 cases), weight loss (six cases) and diarrhoea (five cases). The diagnosis was based on a nucleated cell count in peritoneal fluid greater than 10(10)/litre. Haematological abnormalities (either neutropenia or neutrophilia) were present in 17 animals, and hyperfibrinogenaemia was identified in 14. Twelve of the 21 horses survived after intensive antibiotic therapy; the other nine were destroyed either at explora...
Mair TS, de Westerlaken LV, Cripps PJ, Love S.Samples of faeces and blood were obtained from 66 adult horses with diarrhoea. The results of routine bacteriological, parasitological, haematological and biochemical tests were correlated with the outcome of the cases. Twenty-two (33 per cent) of the horses died or were destroyed as a consequence of the diarrhoea. A diagnosis was reached in only 23 cases (35 per cent), and in nine of them only at post mortem examination. Salmonella typhimurium was isolated from five cases. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the horses which survived and those which died in their pac...
Mason DK, Watkins KL, McNie JT, Luk CM.In late November 1988 large numbers of thoroughbred horses in training in Hong Kong developed a transient pyrexia with, in some cases, the clinical signs of viral respiratory disease. Serial blood samples for haematological examination were taken from 10 of the horses which were stabled in six different blocks. They had developed a high temperature within three days of each other and subsequently seroconverted to equine herpes virus 1 (EHV1). The absolute monocyte count was more than 0.5 x 10(9)/litre in all 10 within the first five days, and nine of them had a high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio...
Snow DH.The haematological, biochemical and physiological changes associated with the cross-country stage of driving trials were studied in horses and ponies competing in singles, pairs, tandems and teams at five, five-section and two, three-section events. Heart rates were monitored continuously and sometimes exceeded 200 beats/minute. The highest maximum, mean and recovery heart rates were found after the most severe competitions. Rectal temperatures were also highest after the most severe events and in some animals exceeded 41 degrees C. Respiratory rates were very variable. Blood taken five minute...
Mair TS, Taylor FG, Hillyer MH.Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia was diagnosed in eight horses on the basis of a positive Coomb's test. The disease was considered to be idiopathic in three cases and secondary to another condition in five. The clinical signs included dullness and depression, pyrexia, jaundice and haemoglobinuria. In addition to anaemia, haematological evaluation commonly revealed auto-agglutination of red cells and anisocytosis; reticulocytosis and an increased mean corpuscular volume were less commonly observed. Four horses were successfully treated with dexamethasone, but the other four were destroyed or died ...
Komosa M, Flisińska-Bojanowska A, Gill J.1. In six foals and their mothers (of Standard breed) diurnal changes in the haemoglobin level, red blood cell number and mean corpuscular haemoglobin during the first 13 weeks of foal life were studied. 2. Studies begun when a foal reached 7 days of age and were repeated every two weeks till 13 weeks of foal life. Blood was taken every 6 hr in foals and every 4 hr in mares. 3. No diurnal rhythmicity in parameters studied either in foals or in mares was found. 4. Decrease of haemoglobin level in lactating mares (14.0-12.5 g/100 ml) without changes in red blood cell number were observed. Mean c...
Meister D, Tschudi P, Hermann M, Lutz H.The QBC V hematology system was tested with respect to its application in veterinary medicine. PCV's and counts of total leukocytes, granulocytes, lympho/monocytes and platelets collected from 435 horses, dogs and cats were determined and compared with conventionally measured values. Precision and accuracy were found to be good for the majority of parameters. In the authors' opinion the QBC V hematology system is well suited for use in veterinary practice.
Taylor FG, Cooke BJ.The fragility of erythrocytes is easily demonstrated by their ability to withstand osmotic swelling and lysis in solutions of increasingly hypotonic saline. In healthy animals a plot of percentage haemolysis against increasing hypotonicity produces a sigmoid curve. Using the same data a derivative curve calculated from haemolytic increments shows a normal distribution of fragility within samples. In enhanced fragility due to immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia, these profiles of haemolysis are markedly altered and the derivative curve becomes multiphasic, indicating the presence of subpopulatio...
Lavoie JP, Madigan JE, Cullor JS, Powell WE.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of experimentally induced sublethal endotoxaemia in equine neonates. Four foals, between two and five days of age, were infused intravenously with 0.5 microgram/kg bodyweight of Salmonella typhimurium endotoxin (LPS) over a 5 h period. A four-day-old and a five-day-old foal, similarly infused with sterile isotonic saline, served as controls. Clinical signs were monitored, blood samples obtained for evaluation of selected haematological and biochemical parameters; and haemodynamic parameters were recorded hourly during the infusion, as well ...
Goldztein S, Carreras Vescio LA, Salamone HJ, Calahonra R, Kohan AI, Sánchez Avalos JC.A 24-year-old male patient with a severe aplastic anemia (SAA) was treated with equine-antilymphocyte globulin (ALG). As complication of this treatment he developed a severe heteroimmune hemolytic anemia mediated by anti-species pan-agglutinin antibodies present in ALG. In spite of the fact that ALG is absorbed with red-cell stroma and platelets to remove anti-erythrocyte and anti-platelet contaminating antibodies, often only partial absorption is achieved, and the remaining antibodies are passively acquired by the recipient. Neutropenia and especially thrombocytopenia are usual complications ...
Stadler P, van Amstel SR.The results of a study conducted to determine the clinico-pathological changes in 4 experimentally-induced cases of endotoxaemia in the horse are reported on. Endotoxaemia was induced by injecting commercially available E. coli 055:B5 lipopolysaccharide intravenously at a dose of 1 microgram kg-1. The haematocrit, red cell count, total and differential white cell counts, thrombocyte count, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen level, level of fibrin degradation products, arterial acid-base status, serum lactate and blood glucose were determined repeatedly. Changes that occu...
Smith JE, Erickson HH, Debowes RM, Clark M.Five horses were exercised at 10m/sec at a 3 degree incline for 2 mins. Packed cell volume, erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, plasma protein, total white cell count and lymphocytes increased significantly in blood samples taken after exercise, compared with those taken before exercise; but mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration decreased. Erythrocytes were more resistant to osmotic stress after exercise, but their shape and degree of deformity were unaffected by exercise.
Johnstone IB, Physick-Sheard P, Crane S.Plasma antithrombin-III activity was quantitated in plasma samples obtained from 165 clinically normal horses 3 years old or younger. In the horses as a group, antithrombin-III activity ranged from 63 to 131% of a species-specific reference plasma. Thoroughbred horses had significantly higher antithrombin-III activity (103.3 +/- 18.3; mean +/- SD) than did Standardbred horses (92.3 +/- 14.2). The plasma antithrombin-III activities were significantly lower in horses younger than 16 months old when compared with those in more mature horses (3 years old). There was no statistically significant ge...
Lavoie JP, Spensley MS, Smith BP, Bowling AT, Morse S.Serum complement activity and selected hematologic variables were evaluated in 5 newborn foals fed bovine colostrum (principal group) and 6 foals allowed to nurse their dam (control group). Also, bovine colostrum was evaluated for anti-equine antibodies. Precolostral serum hemolytic and conglutinating complement activities were low and increased similarly in foals of both groups to reach adult values between 1 and 3 weeks after birth. Bovine colostrum strongly agglutinated, but did not hemolyse principal foals' RBC and blood containing all known equine blood group alloantigens. Hemolysis was n...
Lochner F, Sangiah S, Burrows G, Shawley R, McNew R, Walker J.The effect of allopurinol pretreatment 12 hours before an intraperitoneal challenge with a sublethal dose of Escherichia coli endotoxin (50 micrograms kg-1) was evaluated in 18 horses. The horses were divided among three equal groups: 1-endotoxin alone; 2-5 mg allopurinol kg-1 bodyweight plus endotoxin; and 3-50 mg allopurinol kg-1 bodyweight plus endotoxin. A variety of evaluation parameters were used. No differences among the groups were noted in rectal temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, haematological values, blood PaO2, blood PaCO2, blood pH or blood bicarbonate. Significant (P les...
Jones JH, Taylor CR, Lindholm A, Straub R, Longworth KE, Karas RH.This study assessed the degree to which correcting blood gas measurements to rectal temperature (Tre) rather than to the temperatures at which gas exchange occurs [pulmonary arterial (Tpa) or intramuscular (Tm)] introduces errors into blood gas analysis of exercising mammals. Horses and steers weighing 450 kg were run on a treadmill at speeds up to those eliciting maximal rates of O2 consumption (VO2max), and temperatures were measured in various body compartments. In both species Tpa rose faster than Tre during the run, the degree of dissociation being a function of exercise intensity and dur...
Bailey M, Martin SC, Lloyd S.Immunologic and hematologic responses were examined in 4 ponies with experimentally induced Strongylus vulgaris infection and in 5 helminth-free ponies. Two ponies were inoculated with 200 larvae and 2 were inoculated with 700 larvae of S vulgaris and then were reinoculated with the same numbers of larvae 34 weeks later. Initial response of the ponies inoculated with S vulgaris was S vulgaris antigen-induced lymphocyte response that developed 1.5 to 3 weeks after inoculation and did not persist. Development of antigen-reactive lymphocytes was followed sequentially by a biphasic complement-fixi...
Martens RJ, Martens JG, Fiske RA, Hietala SK.The immunoprophylactic capacity of specific immune plasma was evaluated in pony foals infected experimentally with Rhodococcus equi. Immune plasma, produced by repeated parenteral administration of viable R. equi to adult horses, was harvested and frozen. Group I (six control foals) and Group II (six principal foals) received lactated Ringers solution and immune plasma respectively at three and five days of age. R. equi were aerosolised into a caudal lung lobe of all foals at seven days of age. Clinical signs, haematological alterations, immune responses, thoracic radiographs and technetium99m...
Mason DK, Watkins KL, Luk CM.An outbreak of respiratory disease among thoroughbred horses in training in Hong Kong was caused by equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) subtype 1 (abortion strain). Two of the horses affected by EHV-1 were serially blood sampled over a period of several weeks and their haematological values measured. There was an increase in monocyte count in the first few days which steadily decreased in one horse, but the other had a second monocyte peak after a period of exercise, thus demonstrating the importance of not working animals in the early stages of the disease.
Weaver BM, Staddon GE, Pearson MR.The blood content of tissue in eight anaesthetized sheep and three anaesthetized horses was measured using chromium labelled autologous red blood cells. 2. Approximately half the total blood volume was found to be distributed within the body tissues and, with the exception of the spleen and fat, the distribution was similar in these two species.
Fischer A, Lechner J, Kraft W, Hirschberger J.The QBC is a centrifugal haematology system. Modified haematocrit capillaries are measured optically. The parameters haematocrit, total leukocyte count, relative and absolute values of granulocyte and lympho-/monocyte fractions, and total thrombocyte count are stated. The microhaematocrit method, the counting chamber, and the differential blood count are reference methods. Blood samples of the dog, cat and horse were used for the study. As a screening method the QBC analysis meets all requirements for the veterinary practice.
Heidmann P, Tornquist SJ, Qu A, Cebra CK.To determine whether epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) administered IV affects hemostasis and fibrinolysis in clinically normal horses and ponies. Methods: 20 clinically normal adult horses and ponies. Methods: Blood samples were collected 24 hours before (baseline) and 1 and 5 hours after i.v. administration of a low dose (30 mg/kg) or high dose (100 mg/kg) of EACA. Platelet count, fibrinogen concentration, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time (PTT), D-dimer concentration, alpha2-antiplasmin activity, and thrombin-antithrombin complex concentration were measured. Values at 1 and 5 hou...
Cargile JL, MacKay RJ, Dankert JR, Skelley L.Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is an important mediator of endotoxin-induced pathologic changes. To help define the role of TNF in equids with endotoxemia, the effects of pretreatment with a murine monoclonal antibody (MAB) against equine TNF were evaluated in Miniature Horses given endotoxin. Five horses were given TNF MAB at a dosage of 1.86 mg/kg of body weight, IV, and 5 were given control MAB. Five minutes later, lipopolysaccharide (LPS; Escherichia coli O55:B5), 0.25 microgram/kg, was given to all horses by bolus IV infusion. Clinical signs of disease were monitored at intervals up to...
Huff NK, Thompson DL, Mitcham PB, Storer WA.Mares and geldings in good body condition selected for hyperleptinemia vs. normal leptin concentrations were studied to determine whether the hyperleptinemic condition affected various characteristics of the hematologic and hormonal systems after a challenge with lipopolysaccharide endotoxin. Four mares and 4 geldings that were determined to be hyperleptinemic (mean plasma leptin concentrations of 10.0 to 15.5 ng/mL) and 4 mares and 4 geldings with mean plasma leptin concentrations between 2.4 and 5.5 ng/mL were administered Escherichia coli O55:B5 endotoxin (35 ng/kg of BW in 500 mL of saline...
Smith JM, Meyers KM, Barbee DD, Schott H, Bayly WM.To determine whether plasma von Willebrand factor (vWf) concentration changes in horses during and after treadmill exercise. Methods: 5 mature, fit Thoroughbreds. Methods: A blood sampling catheter was placed in the right jugular vein. A warm-up period was followed by a 3-minute rest period. Horses were galloped at racing pace until fatigued (about 2 minutes). Blood samples were collected prior to warm-up, during the postwarm-up rest period, 1 minute into the run, at cessation of the run, and 5 to 120 minutes after cessation of the run. vWf activity was measured by ELISA and corrected for plas...
Kohn CW, Jacobs RM, Knight D, Hueston W, Gabel AA, Reed SM.At birth, 24 Standardbred foals were assigned at random to 1 of 2 groups and were given a placebo supplement (group 1) or an iron supplement (248 mg of iron/treatment; group 2). Foals were given iron supplement or placebo 4 times during the second and third weeks after birth. Hematologic variables and general health were monitored until foals were 4 months old. Mean PCV in foals of both groups decreased during the first 2 weeks after birth, but values remained within adult horse reference ranges. During the first 6 weeks after birth, foal erythrocytes were smaller than adult horse erythrocytes...
Chaiyabutr N, Wattanaphansak S, Tantilerdcharoen R, Akesowan S, Ouisuwan S, Naraporn D.African horse sickness (AHS) is a non-contagious, high mortality, and insect-borne disease caused by a double-stranded RNA virus from the genus Orbivirus. The study aimed to develop inactivated vaccines serotype 1 inactivated AHS vaccine (IAV) and to compare the effect of IAV on antibody responses in young naïve horses and adult horses pre-immunized with live-attenuated AHS virus (AHSV) serotypes 1, 3, and 4 live-attenuated vaccine (LAV). Unassigned: A total of 27 horses were vaccinated in two trials. Twelve AHS naïve young horses and 15 adult horses were divided into three groups of 4 and 5...
Arfuso F, Piccione G, Guttadauro A, Monteverde V, Giudice E, Giannetto C.Inflammaging or chronic, low-grade inflammation is a phenomenon characterizing age-related pathologies and natural processes in aging tissues. This study aimed to investigate the effect of age on the serum levels of C-reactive protein and protein electrophoretic pattern in horses. Thirty Italian Saddle horses from the same horse training center, were enrolled and divided in three equal groups according to their age: Group A (2-4 years), Group B (7-10 years), Group C (15-20 years). Blood samples were collected from each horse to evaluate hematological parameters and the serum concentration of C...
Paradis MR, Breeze RG, Bayly WM, Counts DF, Laegreid WW.The hematologic and pathologic effects of orally administered L-tryptophan and indoleactic acid and of L-tryptophan administered IV were studied in ponies. Sixteen adult Shetland ponies were allotted into 4 experimental groups. Group 1 consisted of 5 ponies (1-5) given 0.6 g of tryptophan/kg of body weight in a water slurry via stomach tube. Group 2 included 4 ponies (6-9) given 0.35 g of tryptophan/kg orally. Group-3 ponies (10-13) were given 0.35 g of indoleacetic acid/kg orally. Group 4 consisted of 3 ponies (14-16) given a single 4-hour IV infusion of 0.1 g of tryptophan/kg. Restlessness, ...
Garcia MC, Beech J.Two identical experiments, using Standardbred and Thoroughbred horses (experiment A, n = 31; experiment B, n = 17) on a swimming regimen, were performed 1 week apart to evaluate short-term heart rate, hematologic, and endocrinologic changes. Horses were placed in 4 categories based on duration of swimming (1 to 5, greater than 5 to 10, greater than 10 to 15, and greater than 15 minutes). Heart rate, PCV, and plasma concentrations of total protein, cortisol triiodothyronine, thyroxine, insulin, and glucose of each horse were evaluated before, immediately after, and 1 hour after swimming. For ex...
Clarke CR, MacAllister CG, Burrows GE, Ewing P, Spillers DK, Burrows SL.Pharmacokinetics, CSF penetration, and hematologic effects of oral administration of pyrimethamine were studied after multiple dosing. Pyrimethamine (1 mg/kg of body weight) was administered orally once a day for 10 days to 5 adult horses, and blood samples were collected frequently after the first, fifth, and tenth doses. The CSF samples were obtained by cisternal puncture 4 to 6 hours after administration of the first, third, seventh, and tenth doses. Pyrimethamine concentration in plasma and CSF was quantified by gas chromatography, and plasma concentration-time data were analyzed, using a ...
Wensley FM, Berryhill EH, Magdesian KG.Lymphoma is the most common hemopoietic neoplasia in horses. Common clinicopathologic abnormalities in equine lymphoma include hyperglobulinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperfibrinogenemia, anemia, thrombocytopenia and lymphocytosis. Hypoglobulinemia has been reported in other species with lymphoma, however it has not been well-described in horses. The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence of hypoglobulinemia in equine lymphoma, and to identify prognosis and clinicopathological abnormalities associated with serum globulin concentrations. Unassigned: Ninety-six horses with lymphoma ...
Geor RJ, Lund EM, Weiss DJ.Retrospective review of CBC and serum chemical data from 124 horses admitted to the veterinary teaching hospital over a 9-month period (Feb 1, 1990 to Oct 31, 1990) indicated that 54 horses had echinocytosis (prevalence = 44%). In horses with echinocytosis, the most frequent diagnosis was colitis (23 horses; 43%). Odds ratios (measure of association) were calculated to determine the association of echinocytosis with specific hematologic and biochemical abnormalities. When evaluated in a multivariate model, low serum sodium concentration (< 136 mEq/L) was the only variable significantly associa...
Poškienė I, Gruodytė R, Autukaitė J, Juozaitienė V, Antanaitis R.Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has described equine endurance racing as the second largest discipline in the world, above which is only show jumping. The Žemaitukai is an ancient indigenous Lithuanian horse breed known since the 6th or 7th century. The Arabian horse breed is one of the oldest human-developed horse breeds in the world. Compared with other race horse breeds, the muscle tissue of Arabian horses is characterized by significant differences in structure-a predominance of oxidative fiber type I is observed in Arabians, making them the prevailing breed in endurance racing...
Seddighi MR, Mohri M.To evaluate some of the clinical and laboratory parameters following diazepam-acepromazine, thiopental, and halothane anesthesia in Caspian ponies. Methods: Prospective experimental trial. Methods: Six healthy Caspian ponies of both sexes, aged 11 +/- 3 years and weighing 318 +/- 71 kg. Methods: The ponies were pre-medicated with diazepam (0.2 mg kg(-1)) and acepromazine (0.05 mg kg(-1)) IV. Sodium thiopental 5% was administered IV, 10 minutes later and anesthesia was maintained with halothane in oxygen for 1 hour. Heart and respiratory rates, mean arterial blood pressure, cardiac rhythm, and ...
Arfuso F, Quartuccio M, Bazzano M, Fazio F, Piccione G.Knowledge of hematologic function in postparturient mares and foals is crucial for the monitoring of their health status and for the prompt diagnosis of pathologic conditions. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) and select hematologic variables in mares and their foals during the first month after foaling. Methods: Blood samples were collected from each animal every 3 days from day 1 until day 30 after foaling, and tested for RBC count, HGB, HCT, MCV, and EOF. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc compari...
Vieira GS, Paludo GR, Ramos AF, Pivato I, de Oliveira RA.For a long time, Pantaneiro and Campeiro breeds were raised only within their places of origin. Consequently, there are few of these horses; therefore, establishing reproductive and clinical standards for these animals is necessary to implant new biotechnologies for reproduction to preserve their genetics. This study aimed to perform a descriptive evaluation of fetal age determination by fetus ocular orbit measurement in mares of the Campeiro and Pantaneiro breeds. We also evaluated sequential changes in hematology and biochemistry for foals from birth to six months of life by counting red blo...
Bailey M, Martin SC, Lloyd S.Immunologic and hematologic responses were examined in 4 ponies with experimentally induced Strongylus vulgaris infection and in 5 helminth-free ponies. Two ponies were inoculated with 200 larvae and 2 were inoculated with 700 larvae of S vulgaris and then were reinoculated with the same numbers of larvae 34 weeks later. Initial response of the ponies inoculated with S vulgaris was S vulgaris antigen-induced lymphocyte response that developed 1.5 to 3 weeks after inoculation and did not persist. Development of antigen-reactive lymphocytes was followed sequentially by a biphasic complement-fixi...
Segura D, Monreal L, Armengou L, Tarancón I, Brugués R, Escolar G.Mean platelet component (MPC) is a new platelet variable, measured by modern commercial complete blood count analyzers, that is reduced during platelet activation in humans and small animals. Objective: MPC decreases in horses with clinical conditions that cause platelet activation and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Methods: We obtained 418 CBCs from 100 sick and 20 healthy neonates and 178 sick and 45 sound adult horses. Sick neonates were classified into septic and nonseptic, and DIC and non-DIC groups. Adults were grouped by diagnoses (systemic inflammatory disorders, gastroi...
Wahdati A, Lindner A, Sommer H.The influence of temperature and duration of storage on glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in plasma and whole blood samples of horses was investigated. Furthermore the relationships between the GSH-Px activities in plasma and whole blood as well as the GSH-Px values related to hematocrit and the hemoglobin content of the blood samples of 93 different horses were calculated. At 20-22 degrees C, the GSH-Px activity in plasma and whole blood samples remained stable over at least three days while it was reduced by 38% and 65% after 2 and 3 days, if the whole blood samples were kept stored a...
Savage KA, Colahan PT, Tebbett IR, Rice BL, Freshwater LL, Jackson CA.To determine the effects of a dose of caffeine (2.5 mg/kg, IV) administered to physically fit Thoroughbreds during incremental exercise testing to fatigue on a treadmill. Methods: 10 conditioned Thoroughbreds. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to receive caffeine or a control solution. Each horse received both treatments in a crossover design with a 3-week interval between treatments. Each horse was administered caffeine (2.5 mg/kg) or an equivalent amount of a control solution IV. One hour after injection, each horse performed an incremental exercise test to exhaustion. Hematologic value...
Rainger JE, Evans DL, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ.The distribution of lactate between red blood cells (RBC) and plasma was examined at rest, during exercise and 30 min after exercise in six Standardbred horses. Lactate and water concentrations were measured in blood and plasma samples collected prior to exercise, during the last 15 s of each step of an incremental exercise test and at 5 min intervals during the first 30 min after exercise. The mean ratio of RBC lactate concentration (RBCLa) to plasma lactate concentration (PLa) prior to exercise was 1.02 +/- 0.34. Haemoconcentration during exercise was associated with more rapid accumulation ...
Endo Y, Hobo S, Korosue K, Ootsuka K, Kitauchi A, Kikkawa R, Hidaka Y, Hagio M, Tsuzuki N.The present study evaluated the effects of single-dose filgrastim on hematology in 16 healthy horses after long-distance transportation. Horses were assigned to receive filgrastim (0.23 µg/kg, SC, once; G-CSF group; n=8) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (0.3 ml, SC, once; control group; n=8) ≤ 1 hr before transportation. Horses were transported 2,530 km using commercial vans over the course of approximately 44 hr. Clinical examinations and hematologic analyses were performed on all horses before and after transportation. Because the post-transportation white blood cell counts and bacillary ne...
Souillard A, Audran M, Bressolle F, Jaussaud P, Gareau R.The pharmacokinetics of recombinant human Epo (rHuEpo) were investigated after subcutaneous administration to horses. Four horses received a single 30IU kg-1 dose of rHuEpo. One horse received three repeated doses of 120 IU kg-1 at 48 h intervals. Plasma erythropoietin (Epo) was measured by radioimmunoassay. In both cases pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated using a one-compartment open model and first-order input and output rates. The mean values (+/-SD) for elimination half-life, CL/F, and Vd/F after a single dose were 12.9 +/- 3.34 h, 11.8 +/- 4.96 L h-1, and 233 +/- 126 L, respectivel...
Lochner F, Sangiah S, Burrows G, Shawley R, McNew R, Walker J.The effect of allopurinol pretreatment 12 hours before an intraperitoneal challenge with a sublethal dose of Escherichia coli endotoxin (50 micrograms kg-1) was evaluated in 18 horses. The horses were divided among three equal groups: 1-endotoxin alone; 2-5 mg allopurinol kg-1 bodyweight plus endotoxin; and 3-50 mg allopurinol kg-1 bodyweight plus endotoxin. A variety of evaluation parameters were used. No differences among the groups were noted in rectal temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, haematological values, blood PaO2, blood PaCO2, blood pH or blood bicarbonate. Significant (P les...
Chu SAA, Stokol T.The myeloperoxidase index (MPXI), on ADVIA hematology analyzers, reflects the mean neutrophil myeloperoxidase staining. It is used as a marker of inflammation in animals and people, but assay variability and storage stability are unknown. Objective: We aimed to determine MPXI precision and stability with refrigerated storage of canine and equine EDTA-anticoagulated blood and compared MPXI results between two analyzers. Methods: Inter-assay coefficients of variations (CVs) were determined from three human-based controls assayed before and after a 20- or 21-day calibration. Blood from 14-16 dogs...
Cocco R, Rizzo M, Carta C, Arfuso F, Piccione G, Luridiana S, Crovace A, Passino ES, Sechi S.Among infection diseases transmitted by arthropods, the equine vector-borne diseases transmitted by ticks represent an emerging problem worldwide due to their morbidity and mortality and, in some cases, to their zoonotic relevance. Understanding the host immune/inflammatory response to the pathogens is crucial to develop effective methods of diagnosis, control and treatment. This study aimed to evaluate red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin content (MCH), mean cell hemoglobin (MCHC), platelets (PLT), white blood cel...
Revington M.Eight hundred and sixteen blood samples were collected from horses at Sydney race tracks, 1 to 3 h before racing, and subjected to haematological analysis. Haemograms were also performed on 65 blood samples taken from horses at rest in their stalls. These were used as reference values of prerace and resting haemograms, respectively. The haemograms of 29 of the resting horses were compared with the haemograms of the same 29 horses the following day at the race track. Both samples were considered to be representative of their reference populations. In general, there was a significant increase fr...
Alamaary M, Ali A.This report presents a case of uterine prolapse in a Thoroughbred mare. The uterine prolapse occurred after abortion of twins in the eighth month of gestation. The prolapsed uterus was bleeding and congested but not damaged. The placenta was still attached to the endometrium. Blood samples were collected for hematology and for estimation of calcium, progesterone and estrogen. The cervix and clitoris were swabbed for bacteriology. The mare showed a decrease in the number of lymphocytes. The concentrations of estrogen and progesterone seemed normal compared with mares that foaled. Pseudomonas ae...
Rottman JB, Roberts MC, Cullen JM.Rectal palpation of a 30-year-old mixed-breed mare with chronic weight loss and intermittent, refractory abdominal pain revealed a mass in the right caudoventral portion of the abdomen. Hematologic and serum biochemical findings were normal except for slight mature neutrophilia and mildly high alkaline phosphatase activity and total bilirubin concentration. Cytologic examination of a specimen obtained by abdominocentesis revealed equal numbers of nondegenerative neutrophils and macrophages, but no evidence of neoplastic cells. The mare continued to have signs of abdominal discomfort and was eu...
Onyiche TE, Igwenagu E, Malgwi SA, Omeh IJ, Biu AA, Thekisoe O.Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease of equines with resultant economic consequences. To date, little information is available regarding the effects of EP on the health of equids in Nigeria. Therefore, this study was carried out to ascertain the effects of natural sub-clinical infection with T. equi on the hematology and biochemical profiles of horses and donkeys. Blood and serum samples were subjected to hematology and serum biochemistry analyses, respectively. Data corresponding to PCR-positive (infected) and PCR-negative (uninfected) was computed to ascertain changes in any of ...
