Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein found in the red blood cells of horses, responsible for the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and the return of carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs. It plays a vital role in maintaining cellular respiration and energy metabolism. The structure and function of hemoglobin can be influenced by various factors, including genetics, age, and health status. Research into equine hemoglobin includes studies on its biochemical properties, the impact of different physiological and pathological conditions on its levels, and its importance in performance and endurance. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the characteristics, regulation, and clinical implications of hemoglobin in equine physiology and health.
Soroko M, Górniak W, Zielińska P, Górniak A, Śniegucka K, Nawrot K, Korczyński M.Shiitake mushrooms have been highly regarded as possessing enormous nutritive and medicinal values. No clinical studies have yet investigated the effect of shitake supplementation on the health of horses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of shiitake mushroom supplementation on the morphological and biochemical blood properties in horses. A total of 17 adult horses were divided into two groups: supplemented and control. The supplemented group was fed 60 g of shiitake mushrooms per day for 5 months. Blood samples were collected in five sessions. Blood morphological analysis showe...
Delvescovo B.This article describes the most common causes of urine discoloration. The review includes a description of the most common disorders causing hematuria, highlighting clinical presentation, treatments, and pathophysiology. Causes of hemoglobinuria and myoglobinuria together with their mechanisms of renal injury are also reviewed.
Krumrych W, Danek J, Markiewicz H, Gołyński M.The aim of this study was to analyze the chemiluminescence (CL) of peripheral blood in clinically healthy horses of different sexes and ages. The tests were carried out on 119 half- -breed horses, representing various forms of use (66 recreational horses and 53 sport horses). The test material was peripheral blood, which was collected under resting conditions, i.e. before physical activity related to the use of these animals. In the blood samples, spontaneous and stimulated CL with zymosan and phorbol myristate acetate were determined. It has been found that regular training effort increases t...
Radcliffe RM, Bookbinder LC, Liu SY, Tomlinson JE, Cook VL, Hurcombe SDA, Divers TJ.Blood transfusion is a lifesaving treatment for horses with acute hemorrhage and other causes of anemia. Transfusions improve oxygen delivery to the tissues via increased blood volume and hemoglobin concentration. Certain aspects of equine blood transfusion are challenging, especially in the field situation, and practitioners may be unfamiliar or feel overwhelmed with the process. An understanding of the indications, materials, methods, and techniques as well as donor selection and possible complications will help practitioners successfully implement blood transfusion in clinical practice. Met...
Lizarraga I, Beeler-Marfisi J, Marshall DL, Hassan M, Castillo-Alcala F, Simon BT, Fraites T, Thrall MA.There is a large population of donkeys in Saint Kitts; however, hematological and biochemical reference intervals (RIs) are lacking. This study addressed this deficiency by following the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology RI guidelines. Sixty-six healthy, gelding standard donkeys with a median and interquartile range age of 5 years (3.5 - 8 years) and a mean ± standard deviation body weighed of 156 ± 16.7 kg were used to produce a five-part differential complete blood count using an impedance-based analyzer. Clinical chemistry analytes were quantified using a photometric-base...
Arfuso F, Giudice E, Panzera M, Rizzo M, Fazio F, Piccione G, Giannetto C.The monitoring of endocrine and immunologic markers during exercise is of paramount importance to assess and/or maintain the physical well-being of athletes as well as to optimize the athletic performance. This study aimed to investigate the linkage between acute stress response and immune status in Thoroughbred horses competing in an official 1300-m race. From 10 horses blood was collected 1 week before the day of the race (1W-BEFORE), before (REST) and immediately after the race to assess the cortisol, Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), total proteins, white blood cells (WBC), red b...
Giannetto C, Fazio F, Nava V, Arfuso F, Piccione G, Coelho C, Gugliandolo E, Licata P.The objective of this study was to evaluate the biomarkers of exposure to boron, nickel, arsenic, and antimony in an industrial region, evaluating the bioaccumulation in biological substrates and the correlation with biomarkers such as hematological parameters. Through indication of the accumulation of some minerals in the horse's biological substrates reflects environmental pollution. Moreover, an additional aim of the study was to show whether these contaminants have an influence on the hematological parameters in horses. Blood, serum, mane, and tail samples from 20 horses from an industrial...
Magdesian KG, Barnum S, Pusterla N. and cause significant morbidity and mortality in foals. Antemortem diagnosis of infection has been complicated by a paucity of tests available for toxin detection. Fecal PCR panels have assays for a variety of toxin gene sequences as well as for several other foal gastrointestinal pathogens. We evaluated results of a comprehensive fecal diarrhea PCR panel in 28 foals that had been presented to a referral hospital because of diarrhea. Sixteen (57%) foals were positive for and/or toxin gene sequences on fecal PCR, including 3 foals positive for NetF toxin. These foals were younger ( = ...
Tayari H, Flaherty D, Schauvliege S, La Rosa L, Auckburally A.To assess the accuracy and trending capability of continuous measurement of haemoglobin concentration [Hb], haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SaO) and oxygen content (CaO) measured by the Masimo Radical-7 pulse co-oximeter in horses undergoing inhalational anaesthesia. Methods: Prospective observational clinical study. Methods: A group of 23 anaesthetized adult horses. Methods: In 23 healthy adult horses undergoing elective surgical procedures, paired measurements of pulse co-oximetry-based haemoglobin concentration (SpHb), SaO (SpO), and CaO (SpOC) and simultaneous arterial blood samples were co...
Corradini I, Georges K, Jose-Cunilleras E.To determine the effects of time after sampling on CO-oximetry measurements of equine blood samples and the effects of adding ascorbic acid (AscAc) and methylene blue (MetBlue) to samples with methemoglobinemia. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: University teaching hospital. Methods: Thirty healthy adult horses assigned to 5 groups. Methods: Repeated CO-oximetry determinations were performed on venous (n = 6) and arterial blood samples (n = 7) stored at 0°C for 48 hours. Methemoglobinemia was induced in vitro in 17 additional blood samples. Six were used as untreated controls, 6 had ...
Rebalka IA, Lindinger MI.A commercially available equine fecal blood test (FBT) claims to be able to detect the presence of blood proteins (albumin and hemoglobin) in manure. The purpose of this study was to determine the FBT test sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV), lower threshold of detection, time to obtain a visual positive result, effect of temperature and result stability in lab and field conditions. The FBT was assessed for its sensitivity and specificity for detecting pure albumin and hemoglobin at two temperatures over a range of concentrations. Time to result was mea...
Roşu O, Melega I, Evans AL, Arnemo JM, Küker S.Feral horses are immobilized for a variety of reasons including population control via contraceptives. Although opioid combinations have been successfully used for immobilization of feral horses, there is a need for combinations using drugs that are more readily available and present less of a human health hazard. We evaluated the chemical immobilization with physiological measurements and blood gas analyses of 91 free-ranging feral horses () remotely immobilized with a combination of 30 mg medetomidine and 775 mg ketamine in a single disposable 6 ml dart. During immobilization, heart rate, re...
Dorneles TEA, Costa Junior JD, Almeida RM, Teixeira Neto AR.Anaerobic cellular metabolism causes a series of structural and physiologic changes during storage that could compromise post-transfusion viability, reducing the safety of using blood stored for an extended period. Objective: We aimed to follow the biochemical and hematologic alterations of equine blood stored in plastic bags containing citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1) for up to 28 days. Methods: Whole blood samples (450 mL) were collected from 20 Brazilian Saddle horses into CPDA-1 pouches and stored between 2°C and 6°C in a blood bank. On days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of storage, ...
Trimboli F, De Amicis I, Di Loria A, Ceniti C, Carluccio A.The Martina Franca donkey (MFd) is one of the largest Italian donkey breeds, considered as endangered breed. To support the conservation strategies, knowledge about the physiologic hematological parameters of MFds is needed. The aims of the study were to determine reference value for hematological and major serum parameters in a population of healthy MFds and to estimate the influence of age on these parameters. Eighty-one clinically healthy MFds (17 males and 64 females) in different ages were enrolled: group A (foals, n° 16, animals < 1 year old) group B (young animals, n° 36, from 1 to 3 ...
Resano-Zuazu M.A 24-year-old horse was presented with a clinical history of anaemia, large intestine impaction and hind limb weakness. Loss of body weight was also reported. Hematocrit and hemoglobin levels were low and piroplasmosis test was negative. Nasogastric intubation with laxative agents was performed and 50 ml of a red blood-cell-supplement was given daily during a month. An assessment following Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) principles was performed after the last episode of large intestine impaction. A swollen, pale and wet tongue was observed. A superficial, weak pulse combined p...
Jaramillo C, Arias MP, Mosqueda D, Darby S, Renaud D, Gómez DE.This study aimed at describing selected hematological, biochemical, and acid-base variables of adult horses living at sea level and comparing them to those living at 5 different altitudes. One hundred and thirty-eight healthy Paso Fino horses > 2 years old were enrolled. Altitudes included the following: altitude A (0 to 50 m above sea level, masl; n = 23), B (1000 to 1050 masl; n = 25), C (1450 masl; n = 30), D (1950 to 2050 masl; n = 30), and E (2950 to 3100 masl; n = 30). A portable blood gas analyzer was used to determine selected biochemical and acid-base variab...
Cappai MG, Taras A, Cossu I, Cherchi R, Dimauro C, Accioni F, Boatto G, Deroma M, Spanu E, Gatta D, Dall'Aglio C, Pinna W.Trace element status and metabolic milieu are sometimes overlooked in common veterinary clinical practice across animal species. The evaluation of requirements of trace elements, in fact, may be useful to prevent the perturbation of tissue-specific metabolic impair. In particular, essential trace elements in the diet play key roles within sub-cellular metabolic patterns with macro effects at the systemic level, like blood cell stability and semen quality. This effect was studied in breeding stallions, in which semen quality and haemogram are important for reproduction. A case-control feeding t...
Arfuso F, Giannetto C, Giudice E, Fazio F, Panzera F, Piccione G.The aim of this study was to assess whether acid-base profile exhibits changes in regularly trained show jumping horses undergoing increasing exercise workloads. Seven female Italian saddle horses were subjected to three different physical exercise trials of increasing workload identified as three exercise phases (EPs). During EPI horses were subjected to a standardized exercise test consisting of 15 minutes of treadmill, during EPII horses were subjected to a show jumping test (height, 0.9-1.1 m; course length, 300 m), during EPIII horses underwent two jumping sessions carried out over two...
Satué K, Hernández Á, Lorente C, Fazio E, Medica P.The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that age and sex significantly modulate the changes in hematological parameters of physiologically healthy Spanish Purebred horse, establishing the reference values. Blood samples were obtained on a total of 159 horses (n = 77 males and n = 82 females), classified in four age groups: group A (1-2 years; n = 39), group B (>2-3 years; n = 38), group C (>3-4 years; n = 41), and group D (>4-7 years; n = 41). By means ADVIA 2020i, red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (HB), packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mea...
Knych HK, Wilson WD, Vale A, Kass PH, Steffey EP, Jones JH, Arthur RM.Although controversial, due to its reported effectiveness in attenuating bleeding associated with exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), furosemide is currently a permitted race day medication in most North American racing jurisdictions. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of furosemide in reducing the presence and severity of EIPH when administered 24 hr prior to strenuous treadmill exercise. Eight exercised Thoroughbred horses received saline or 250 mg of furosemide either 4 or 24 hr prior to high-speed treadmill exercise in a balanced 3-way cross-over design. Bl...
Sodré TDRP, Sousa LN, Silva CA, Santos JM, Sampaio MQ, Coni ROS, Dantas RTS, Ferreira APG, Manso Filho HC, Fazio F, Coelho CS.Vaquejada is an important Brazilian equine discipline. Understanding physiological adaptations of these athletes is crucial to improve properly performance, guaranteeing welfare. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of three vaquejada simulation tests (VST) on physiological parameters of horses and standardize a possible rest interval between races. Ten clinically healthy Quarter horses, 8.9 ± 4.3 year-old and 441.3 ± 25.0 kg, executed three VST, 5 days apart from each other. Vaquejada simulation tests consisted of two horses, a puller, and a helper, running with a bul...
Meier M, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Schwarzwald CC, Portier K, Gysler A, Ringer SK.Dobutamine is routinely used to improve cardiovascular function in anaesthetized horses. However, dobutamine in conscious horses is insufficiently investigated. Ten research horses that were already instrumented for a preceding trial were included into the study. Cardiovascular variables were recorded and blood samples taken after instrumentation (Baseline), before starting dobutamine and after 10 min of dobutamine infusion (2 µg kg min ). A significant increase in systemic blood pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure and right atrial pressure, and a decrease in heart rate were observe...
Hurtado C, Torres R, Pérez-Macchi S, Sagredo K, Uberti B, de Souza Zanatto DC, Machado RZ, André MR, Bittencourt P, Müller A.Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the causative agent of equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA). This study aimed to perform serological and molecular surveys of A. phagocytophilum in thoroughbred horses from racecourses in Chile. Additionally, hematological findings related to A. phagocytophilum molecular positivity were addressed, and phylogenetic analysis of selected positive samples was performed. Complete blood count and msp2 gene real-time PCR were performed in 457 thoroughbred horses from three racecourses located in three different cities of Chile (Santiago, Viña del Mar and Concepción). ...
Kędzierski W, Janczarek I, Kowalik S, Jamioł M, Wawak T, Borsuk G, Przetacznik M.In humans and animals, aging leads to a decrease in immune function and an increased susceptibility to infection. Decreased immunity and an increase in the incidence of infectious diseases are particularly notable during the autumn. Bee pollen supplementation improves immunity and antioxidant enzyme activity, as well as general performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of bee pollen supplementation during the autumn on blood parameters in aged horses. The study was performed on 16 warmblood horses aged 15-26 years. Half of this group received 60 g of bee pollen (soaked i...
Krueger CR, Hackett ES, Hess AM, Mama KR.To compare the Element point-of-care (POC) portable blood gas analyzer with a laboratory-based bench-top reference analyzer using whole blood samples obtained from horses presenting to a referral center with various disorders in order to determine agreement between these analyzers. Methods: Prospective clinical study. Methods: The study was conducted at a university teaching hospital at moderate altitude. Methods: One hundred paired samples from 80 horses >1 year of age were collected after obtaining informed client consent. Fifty paired samples were from patients admitted for elective pro...
Kalantari M, Sharifiyazdi H, Ghane M, Nazifi S.Hemotropic mycoplasmas (haemoplasmas) are wall-less bacteria, which may lead to anemia and, even, mortality in mammals. The present study was aimed to characterize the causative agent(s) of haemoplasma infection in blood samples taken from horses (n = 133) in south of Iran. Microscopic examination of blood smears and PCR assay were performed for the detection of hemotropic Mycoplasma and equine piroplasma (Babesia caballi and Theileria equi). For the purpose of molecular characterization, 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA markers were used for hemotropic Mycoplasma and piroplasma pathogens, respective...
Zavistanaviciute P, Poskiene I, Lele V, Antanaitis R, Kantautaite J, Bartkiene E.The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the newly isolated Lactobacillus plantarum LUHS135 and Lactobacillus paracasei LUHS244 strains grown in potato juice (with a cell count of 8.0-9.0 log10 CFU/ml) on the blood and faeces parameters of exercising horses. The horses were classified into four different groups: a control group (which received no probiotics); the first group (which received 200 ml of L. plantarum culture in potato juice); the second group (which received 200 ml of L. paracasei culture in potato juice); and the third group (which received an L. plantarum and L. pa...
Daden R, Zarhouni FZ, Chakir J, Piro M, Achaâban MR, Ouassat M, El Allali K.To evaluate the effect of plasmapheresis on clinical, hematological, and biochemical parameters after exercise, a plasmapheresis session was realized on six jumping horses (plasmapheresis group) that underwent three consecutive days of physical graded exercise. The control group (n = 6) went through the same exercise but not subjected to the plasmapheresis session. Seventeen milliliters of plasma/kg of body weight was harvested from each horse. The procedure was well tolerated by the horses. The plasmapheresis leads to a significant increase of the hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell, whit...
Sheta E, Farghali H, Ragab S, Hassan N, El-Sherif A.Twenty-five Thoroughbred jumper geldings suffered back soreness with poor performance, and 5 control horses were assessed by archived computer data, clinical examination, and laboratory analyses of complete blood picture, serum enzymes, and cortisol level, before and after cloprostenol-pharmacopuncture. The 25 diseased horses before therapy showed significant increases in aspartate aminotransferase and creatine phosphokinase with clinical pains scored mild in 15 horses, moderate in 9 horses, and severe in one horse, without changes in the hormonal and hematological data. After therapy, they re...
Kämpf S, Seiler E, Bujok J, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Riond B, Makhro A, Bogdanova A.Detection of hematopoietic activity in horses is a challenge due to the lack of cells carrying reticulocyte markers such as RNA remnants or CD71 in the circulation. In this study, we fractionated equine red cells according to their density and analyzed the cells forming low (L), medium (M), and high (H) density fractions for markers of aging such as membrane loss, oxidation, and alterations in the intracellular free Ca levels. Cells forming L and M fraction were highly heterogeneous in projected areas and shapes, and had higher propensity to swell in response to hypo-osmotic challenge than the...
Clerbaux T, Gustin P, Detry B, Cao ML, Frans A.1. The entire oxygen dissociation curve (ODC) and the effects of temperature, pH and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) on this curve, have been compared in four mammalians: man, dog, horse and cattle. 2. If the oxyphoric capacities are similar between these species (around 1.39 ml O2/gHb), their P50, measured in standard conditions, i.e. at pH 7.4; pCO2 40 mmHg and T 37 degrees C, varies between 23.8 (+/- 0.8) mmHg for the horse, 25.0 (+/- 1.4) mmHg for cattle, 26.6 (+/- 1.2) for man and 28.8 (+/- 2.6) mmHg for the dog. 3. The higher dispersion of the dog's P 50 is due to difference between breeds;...
Hailat NQ, Lafi SQ, al-Darraji AM, al-Ani FK.Clinical, haematological and pathological studies were undertaken in Jordan in a stud of 103 racing horses clinically suffering from babesiosis and apparently healthy animals. Out of 47 horses which participated in strenuous exercise, three mares showed sudden onset of immobility and reluctance to move and two mares died. Clinical examination revealed that these five horses (group 1) had fever, anorexia, weakness and severe icterus and, in two mares, haemoglobinuria. Haematological examination revealed that all five horses were heavily parasitized with Babesia equi. This was also found in four...
Thomas DP, Fregin GF.The purpose of this study was to measure cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic responses to graded treadmill exercise in the horse. A five-stage treadmill test up to 90% of predicted maximal heart rate was administered to five sedentary horses. The highest measured level of exercise produced a sixfold increase in cardiac output and a 41% elevation of stroke volume over standing values. Left ventricular, arterial, and right atrial pressures as well as the maximal time derivative of left ventricular pressure were all elevated during exercise. Under the same two conditions hematocrit (Hct) i...
Waghmare AB, Salvi NC, Deopurkar RL, Shenoy PA, Sonpetkar JM.Several biochemical and hematological changes in horses are observed during production of snake antivenom. Although conventional adjuvants like Freund's (Complete and Incomplete) are good immunopotentiators, they produce considerable local reactions in animals. Variety of commercial adjuvants, like montanide adjuvants, having high immunopotentiation and showing lesser side effects are available. The prime objective during antivenom production is to strike a balance between safety of immunized horses and efficacy of the product. In our earlier work, efficacy of montanide group of adjuvants in a...
Voss B, Mohr E, Krzywanek H.The objectives of the present study were to investigate the effects of Aquatraining of horses (aqua-treadmill exercise; treadmill manufactured by Equitech - L.u.S. Equipment, Warendorf, Germany) on selected blood parameters [lactic acid concentration (mmol/l), haemoglobin content (g/l)] and on heart-rate variability (HRV) [heart rate (beats per min; b.p.m.), standard deviation of all NN-intervals (SDNN; ms), normalized power of the low and high frequency band (LFnorm, Hfnorm; au), % recurrence, % determinism and ratio(corr)]. Seven horses performed six exercise tests with different work loads ...
Svistunenko DA, Sharpe MA, Nicholls P, Blenkinsop C, Davies NA, Dunne J, Wilson MT, Cooper CE.The paramagnetic species in human metHb and horse metmyoglobin (metMb) have been studied at low temperature using EPR spectroscopy. The high-spin (HS) haem signal in aquometMb has a greater rhombic distortion than the HS metHb signal. Nevertheless, the individual line width (g=6) is smaller in metMb than in metHb, consistent with non-identical signals from the alpha and beta Hb subunits. Three low-spin (LS) haem forms are present in metHb, while metMb has only two. The major LS form in both proteins is the alkaline species (with OH(-) at the sixth co-ordination position). The minor LS forms ar...
Posada-Guzmán MF, Dolz G, Romero-Zúñiga JJ, Jiménez-Rocha AE.A cross-sectional study was carried out in four indigenous communities of Costa Rica to detect presence and prevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi and to investigate factors associated with presence of these hemoparasites. General condition of horses (n = 285) was evaluated, and hematocrits and hemoglobin were determined from blood samples of 130 horses, which were also analyzed using blood smears, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA). The general condition of the horses (n = 285) in terms of their body and coat was between regular and poor, and h...
Ferraz GC, Soares OA, Foz NS, Pereira MC, Queiroz-Neto A.This study was designed to consider the complexity of the physical effort inherent to horses in polo competitions and the absence of reports in the literature on the effort, intensity and electrolyte changes resulting from a collective team training session aimed at preparing for a polo championship. Objective: To determine the effort and ion changes caused by an outdoor polo training match for a 25 goal handicap (elite) based on physiological variables including acid-base status (venous pH, PCO(2) and HCO(3)(-)), packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), lactate, glucose, sodium, chloride a...
Gasa S, Makita A, Kinoshita Y.The chemical structure of an equine hematoside, which contained an ester group and comprised 72% of the total erythrocyte gangliosides, was determined by means of nondestructive and destructive procedures. A 400-MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of the ganglioside in perdeuterodimethyl sulfoxide demonstrated three protons due to a methyl group of an acetyl moiety, as well as amide and anomeric protons which were compatible with those of the ordinary hematoside. The spin decoupling difference spectroscopy of the ganglioside revealed the presence of the following structures. [formula: see ...
Cebulj-Kadunc N, Bozic M, Kosec M, Cestnik V.Haematological parameters [red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration, mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)] in resting Lipizzan horses were determined for 143 stallions, 104 mares and 25 foals. The mean RBC and WBC values in Lipizzans were in the lower part of the normal range for warm-blooded horses. The mean PCV, MCV and MCH values were higher, but the mean haemoglobin concentration and MCHC values were lower than reported for other warm-blooded horses. In foals, ...
Simonsen U, Prieto D, Sánez de Tejada I, García-Sacristán A.1. The involvement of nitric oxide (NO) and the signal transduction mechanisms mediating neurogenic relaxations were investigated in deep intracavernous penile arteries with an internal lumen diameter of 600-900 microns, isolated from the corpus cavernosum of young horses. 2. The presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-positive nerves was examined in cross and longitudinal sections of isolated penile arteries processed for NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry. NADPH-d-positive nerve fibres were observed in the adventitia-media junction of deep penile arteries and in relation to the trabec...
Parry BW, Anderson GA, Gay CC.The individual merit of the use of 43 variables to assess the prognosis of equine colic cases was examined. The following variables revealed highly significant (P less than 0.001) differences between cases which survived and those which died: blood pressure; heart rate; oral mucosal capillary refill time; degree of mental depression; venous haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, erythrocyte count, urea concentration and lactate concentration; peritoneal fluid lactate concentration; and haematocrit/plasma protein and serum protein concentration ratios. Thus, in general, variables which assesse...
Prins M, van Leeuwen MW, Teske E.Modern laser-based haematology analysers such as the ADVIA 120 have species-specific software and offer the possibility of assessing new haematological parameters. These parameters have yet to be evaluated, and as these analysers are often used in referral laboratories, it is important to know whether the values of haematological parameters change during sample transport. Therefore, samples of EDTA-anticoagulated blood from nine healthy dogs and EDTA- and citrate-anticoagulated blood from six healthy horses were collected and stored at room temperature for 72 and 48 hours, respectively. In can...
Kristensen L, Buhl R, Nostell K, Bak L, Petersen E, Lindholm M, Jacobsen S.The purpose of the study was to investigate whether acute strenuous exercise (1600- to 2500-m race) would elicit an acute phase response (APR) in Standardbred trotters. Blood levels of several inflammatory markers [serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin, fibrinogen, white blood cell count (WBC), and iron], muscle enzymes [creatinine kinase (CK) and aspartate transaminase (AST)], and hemoglobin were assessed in 58 Standardbred trotters before and after racing. Hemoglobin levels increased and iron levels decreased 12 to 14 h after racing and haptoglobin concentrations, white blood cell counts, and i...
Harvey JW, Asquith RL, McNulty PK, Kivipelto J, Bauer JE.Packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte counts, erythrocyte indices, serum iron, iron binding capacities, total and differential leucocyte counts, platelet counts, total plasma protein, fibrinogen, haptoglobin and icterus index values were determined at 14 different ages in eight Thoroughbred and 14 Quarterhorse foals during the first year of life. Absolute neutrophil numbers in blood decreased and lymphocyte numbers increased during the first months. Absolute eosinophil numbers tended to increase until three months old. Haemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume decre...
Honess NA, Gibson JS, Cossins AR.The effects of oxygen tension (PO2) upon the K influx pathways of equine red cells have been studied using 86Rb+ as congener for K. Equilibration of cells in 100% nitrogen led to a low and Cl-independent K flux. Change to an atmosphere of 100% air led to a rapid sixfold increase in K flux. The oxygen-activated flux was entirely Cl dependent and was maintained for up to 3 h. Oxygenation-evoked activation was dependent upon PO2 over the physiological range with little effect up to 70% saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen but significant effects between 70 and 100%. K flux at low PO2 was unaffec...
Ohmura H, Matsui A, Hada T, Jones JH.Training of young Thoroughbred horses must balance development of cardiopulmonary function and aerobic capacity with loading of the musculoskeletal system that can potentially cause structural damage and/or lameness. High-speed equine treadmills are sometimes used to supplement exercise on a track in the training of young Thoroughbreds because the horse can run at high speeds but without the added weight of a rider. We tested the hypothesis that intermittent high-intensity exercise on a treadmill of young Thoroughbred horses entering training can enhance development of aerobic capacity (VO2max...
Moczygemba C, Guidry J, Wittung-Stafshede P.Native myoglobin (Mb) consists of two populations which differ in the orientation of the heme by 180 degrees rotation (as verified by nuclear magnetic resonance) but have identical absorption spectra and equilibrium-thermodynamic stability. Here, we report that these two fractions of native oxidized Mb (from horse) both unfold and refold (chemical denaturant, pH 7, 20 degrees C) in two parallel kinetic reactions with rate constants differing 10-fold. In accord, the oxidized heme remains coordinated to unfolded horse Mb in up to 4 M guanidine hydrochloride (pH 7, 20 degrees C).
Muzyamba MC, Speake PF, Gibson JS.The effect of oxidants on K(+)-Cl(-) cotransport (KCC) was investigated in equine red blood cells. Carbon monoxide mimicked O(2). The substituted benzaldehyde, 12C79 (5 mM), markedly increased O(2) affinity. In N(2), however, O(2) saturation was low (<10%) but KCC remained active. Nitrite (NO(2)(-)) oxidized heme to methemoglobin (metHb). High concentrations of NO(2)(-) (1 and 5 mM vs. 0.5 mM) increased KCC activity above control levels; it became O(2) independent but remained sensitive to other stimuli. 1-Chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene (1-3 mM) depleted reduced glutathione (GSH). Prolonged exp...
Mariella J, Pirrone A, Gentilini F, Castagnetti C.The purposes of this study were to determine physiological changes occurring in hematologic and biochemical parameters in mares between the last month of gestation and the first week after parturition. If a significant change was observed with respect to the reference interval of an adult horse, a further aim of the study was to establish different reference intervals. Blood samples were collected from 62 healthy pregnant Standardbred mares. Seventeen nonpregnant and nonlactating mares were used as a control group. In pregnant mares, blood sampling was conducted every three days from 1 month b...
Trimboli F, De Amicis I, Di Loria A, Ceniti C, Carluccio A.The Martina Franca donkey (MFd) is one of the largest Italian donkey breeds, considered as endangered breed. To support the conservation strategies, knowledge about the physiologic hematological parameters of MFds is needed. The aims of the study were to determine reference value for hematological and major serum parameters in a population of healthy MFds and to estimate the influence of age on these parameters. Eighty-one clinically healthy MFds (17 males and 64 females) in different ages were enrolled: group A (foals, n° 16, animals < 1 year old) group B (young animals, n° 36, from 1 to 3 ...
McFarlane D, Sellon DC, Gaffney D, Hedgpeth V, Papich M, Gibbs S.To compare hematologic and serum biochemical variables and plasma ACTH concentration between healthy horses 5 to 12 years old and those more than 20 years old. Methods: 30 healthy horses 5 to 12 years old and 30 healthy horses more than 20 years old. Methods: Venous blood was collected from all horses, and CBC and serum biochemical analysis were performed for each horse. Plasma ACTH concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. Student's paired t-test or the Mann-Whitney rank sum test was used to compare values between control and aged horse groups. Results: Compared with values for contro...
Cywinska A, Szarska E, Kowalska A, Ostaszewski P, Schollenberger A.Exercise-induced intravascular haemolysis and "sport anemia" are widely reported in human sports medicine. It has been recognized also in horses, however, the clinical importance and the onset of this condition seem different than in human. In this study we investigated the episodes of intravascular haemolysis, indicated by the increase in plasma haemoglobin and the decrease in serum haptoglobin levels, after routine training sessions in race horses. Heart rate and changes in haematological parameters confirmed, that the exertion was relatively high. Intravascular haemolysis did not appear in ...
Smith HJ.A group of seven ponies naturally infected with large numbers of small strongyles and raised under conditions to minimize reinfection were treated periodically over a three year span with thiabendazole at the rate of 44 mg/kg body weight. Based on the absence of worm eggs in the feces following each treatment, thiabendazole removed the adult strongyles present with a new population subsequently developing by maturation of inhibited larvae. It took as many as four or five treatments to eliminate or reduce significantly the worm burdens present in the ponies under the conditions of this study. S...
Schott HC, Hodgson DR, Bayly WM.The effects of exercise on urinary excretion of red blood cells, pigments (haemoglobin and myoglobin) and protein were studied in 8 mares performing treadmill exercise at speeds eliciting 40, 60 and 95% of the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Gross haematuria and pigmenturia were observed in all horses during exercise at the 2 higher intensities, while these findings were detected in only one of 8 mares during exercise at 40% of the VO2max. For the remaining 7 mares exercised at 40% of the VO2max, increased urinary excretion of red blood cells (RBCs) and pigments was evident after centrifu...