Red blood cells (RBCs) in horses are essential components of the circulatory system, responsible for the transport of oxygen from the lungs to tissues and the return of carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs for exhalation. These cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that binds oxygen, facilitating efficient gas exchange. Equine red blood cells are characterized by their biconcave shape, which increases surface area for gas exchange and allows flexibility as they navigate through capillaries. The lifespan of equine RBCs is approximately 140-150 days, after which they are removed from circulation and broken down, primarily in the spleen. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the physiology, lifespan, and clinical implications of red blood cells in equine health, including their role in conditions such as anemia and their response to exercise and altitude.
Stucchi L, Rossi R, Mainardi E, Ferrucci F.Endurance is an equestrian discipline that primarily relies on aerobic metabolism. Intense aerobic exercise produces reactive oxygen species due to an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant substances, known as oxidative stress, which may reduce athletic performance. This study evaluated the effects of a feed supplement containing natural antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids on the blood antioxidant activity and the athletic condition of endurance horses undergoing an exercise test. Twelve Arabian endurance horses were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups. At T0, blood lactate, ...
Deniz Ö, Aragona F, Murphy BA, Tümer KÇ, Bozacı S, Fazio F.The global climatic changes pose a substantial threat to the well-being and productivity of both humans and animals. Unassigned: This study examined the impact of climate changes during different seasons over a 3-year monitoring period (2021-2023) on various blood parameters including, white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HGB), red blood cells (RBC), platelets (PLT), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH). The study focused on 25 Tho...
Aragona F, Giannetto C, Piccione G, Licata P, Deniz Ö, Fazio F.The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the bioaccumulation of cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), Chrome (Cr), Lead (Pb), Iron (Fe) and Copper (Cu), in the blood, serum, tail and mane of horses from the industrialized area of Milazzo (Messina, Sicily), to understand the relationships between haematological parameters: Red Blood Cells (RBCs), White Blood Cells (WBCs), Haemoglobin (Hb), Haematocrit (Hct), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Platelets (PLTs) and the concentrations of trace elements. Blood and hair ...
Huangsaksri O, Sanigavatee K, Poochipakorn C, Wonghanchao T, Yalong M, Thongcham K, Srirattanamongkol C, Pornkittiwattanakul S, Sittiananwong T....Horses participating in endurance events encounter enormous physical challenges. Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) have been reported before and after endurance rides, but these have not been determined during the rides. Moreover, the modulation in HRV and haematology in horses with different ride results (completed a course or disqualified due to irregular gait) have not been elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate changes in HR, HRV, and haematological parameters during novice endurance rides and to compare these parameters between horses that successfully compl...
Sanigavatee K, Poochipakorn C, Huangsaksri O, Wonghanchao T, Yalong M, Poungpuk K, Thanaudom K, Chanda M.Strenuous exercise in traditional polo matches creates enormous stress on horses. Hematological and physiological measures may vary across different field-play positions. This study aimed to investigate the effort intensity and the impact of exertion on hematology and heart rate variability (HRV) in polo ponies with different positions. Thirty-two ponies, divided equally into eight teams, were studied. Each comprises forwards (number 1), midfielders (numbers 2 and 3), and defenders (number 4). Team pairs played the first chukka in four low-goal polo matches. Percent maximum heart rate (%HRmax)...
Inflammatory myopathy and perivasculitis have been recently described in horses with chronic equine piroplasmosis (EP). These alterations may be linked to poor performances. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence for EP in clinically healthy Italian Standardbred (IS) racehorses and to compare laboratory parameters and performance metrics between positive and negative horses. Real-time PCR was applied for the detection of T. equi and B. caballi positivity. Haematology parameters, blood chemistry results, subjective muscle mass scores, and performance metrics were compared betwee...
Miglio A, Rocconi F, Cremonini V, D'Alessandro A, Reisz JA, Maslanka M, Lacroix IS, Tiscar G, Di Tommaso M, Antognoni MT.Understanding of the biochemical and morphological lesions associated with storage of equine blood is limited. Objective: To demonstrate the temporal sequences of lipid and metabolic profiles of equine fresh and stored (up to 42 days) and leukoreduced packed red blood cells (LR-pRBC) and non-leukoreduced packed RBC (nLR-pRBC). Methods: Packed RBC units were obtained from 6 healthy blood donor horses enrolled in 2 blood banks. Methods: Observational study. Whole blood was collected from each donor using transfusion bags with a LR filter. Leukoreduction pRBC and nLR-pRBC units were obtained an...
Sawesi OK, Elbaz AK, Mahmoud AS, Duro EM, Alteab AA, Milad KK, Bennuor EM.Hematological evaluation is an important step for health assessment in equine medicine. Besides biochemical tests, that evaluation could be pivotal for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. In Libya, the horse population has drastically increased in the last years, and hitherto, no report addressed the reference hematological values for the existing equine breeds. Unassigned: This study aimed to establish the reference for hematological indices of traditional equestrian and stud-farm equine breeds in Western Libya in regard to some variables such as individual characteristics, manage...
Pieroni C, Grassi A, Pantoli M, Berretti M, Messina S, Giovannini C, Lubas G, Diamanti D.The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a widely used diagnostic assay in human medicine but nowadays poorly applied in veterinary medicine. This test measures the speed (millimeters per hour) at which red blood cells settle in a whole anticoagulated blood tube. In human medicine, high ESR values are associated with various disorders, including infections, rheumatoid arthritis, oncologic diseases, and other inflammatory conditions. The ESR can also be influenced by some factors such as age and gender. In veterinary medicine, the ESR with the Westergren manual method was almost forgotten ov...
Edwards L, Magdesian KG.To describe a population of horses with acute kidney injury (AKI) following administration of bisphosphonates including clinical signs, clinicopathologic data, treatment, and outcome. Methods: Retrospective study from August 2013 to July 2020. Methods: Veterinary university teaching hospital. Methods: Eight adult horses with AKI following administration of nonnitrogenous bisphosphonates. Methods: None. Results: Five horses received intramuscular clodronate (5/8; 62.5%) and 3 horses received intravenous tiludronate (3/8; 37.5%). Six horses (6/8; 75%) received concurrent nonsteroidal anti-inflam...
Bravo-Ramos JL, Sánchez-Montes S, Sánchez-Otero MG, Ballados-Gonzalez GG, Gamboa-Prieto J, Romero-Salas D, Olivares-Muñoz A.Equine piroplasmosis is a parasitic illness caused by various protozoa of the Babesia and Theileria genera, which parasitize within red blood cells. The transmission of these pathogens occurs through certain genus of ticks, including Amblyomma, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, and Rhipicephalus. In recent times, an increase in the identification of new Theileria species and genotypes has been observed. This is further complicated by the presence of mixed Theileria infections in both mammals and tick vectors, particularly in regions where wildlife and livestock share habitats and vectors. Therefore, th...
Frohlich M, Knights K, Springer NL.Differentiating immune-mediated causes from other causes of anemia and thrombocytopenia can be challenging. Flow cytometry can detect surface-associated immunoglobulin (sIg) on red blood cells (RBC) and platelets (PLT) in dogs and horses. Sample storage parameters for ideal assay performance has not been evaluated in horses. The study objective is to identify optimal storage time and temperature of equine whole blood for the detection of RBC-sIg and PLT-sIg via flow cytometry. Both assays were performed on samples at time 0, 4, 24, 48, and 72 h post collection. RBC-sIg samples were stored at ...
The aim of our study was to analyze circadian rhythm of the hematological profile of horses housed in a loose box and paddock during the different seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter). Blood samples were performed every 4 h for 48 consecutive hours. Red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets (PLTs), and leukocyte subpopulations (neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes) were analyzed, and, at the same time, environmental conditions were recorded. A statistically significant effect of housing conditions ( < 0...
da Conceição FFCB, de Mattos BHV, Sá PA, Marçola TG, da Silva GA, Teixeira HCA, Campebell RC.Due to the scarcity of information on Breton horses, the objective was to study hematobiochemical values of this breed. Blood samples were collected from 29 Bretons, males and females, of different ages, in Brasília-DF, distributed into groups, according to age, without distinction of sex (G1): animals from 4 to 9 years old (n=16) and (G2): from 10 to 26 years old (n=13). The horses were also distributed into males and females for comparisons between the sexes. Values for red blood cells, hemoglobin, creatinine, and urea were statistically higher in females. Fibrinogen was higher in males. Ly...
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...
Feringer-Júnior WH, de Carvalho JRG, Moranza HG, de Almeida MLM, Lemos EGM, Soares OAB, Ribeiro G, de Camargo Ferraz G.Cost of transport (COT) and monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) could affect the ability to perform fast actions during a jumping discipline. This study aimed to compare the COT and evaluate the MCT1, MCT4, and their auxiliary protein CD147 content in the gluteus medius and RBCs of Brazilian sport horses (BH), a breed developed for jumping competitions, with low-level (LL) or intermediate-level (IL) jumping capacities. The physiological difference between the horses was assessed by an incremental jump test (IJT), in which the cost of lactate (COT) and heart rate (COT) of running were determine...
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 ( = ...
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 ...
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...
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...
Rostang A, Desjardins I, Espana B, Panzuti P, Berny P, Prouillac C, Pin D.This study aimed to investigate both the pharmacokinetic behavior and tolerance of methotrexate (MTX) in horses to design a specific dosing regimen as a new immunomodulatory drug for long-term treatment. To determine the primary plasma pharmacokinetic variables after single intravenous, subcutaneous or oral administration, six horses were administered 0.3 mg/kg MTX in a crossover design study. After a 10-week washout, MTX was administered subcutaneously to three of the six previously treated horses at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg once per week for 3 months. In both studies, MTX and metabolite concen...
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...
Wenzel RG, Major D, Hesp KF, Hall E, Doble P.To monitor cobalt concentrations in urine, red blood cells and plasma after chronic parenteral administration of cobalt chloride evaluate these results against the current International Federation of Horseracing Authorities thresholds for detecting cobalt misuse. Methods: Eight mares were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, with two mares in each group: Group 1 - control group, Group 2 - 25 milligrams cobalt intravenously as CoCl weekly, Group 3 - 50 milligrams cobalt intravenously as CoCl weekly, and Group 4 - 25 milligrams cobalt intravenously mid-week and at the end of the week. Uri...
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...
Lee EB, Kim JW, Seo JP.Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is popularly used in the horse industry to enhance regeneration of tissue injury that has limitation of blood supply. This study aimed to compare the methods for platelet rich plasma preparation since they has not been established yet. Blood was collected from six horses and platelets were concentrated by three different methods (2-step centrifugation, separated centrifugation and separated centrifugation using histopaque). Concentrated blood was analyzed using Advia hematology systems. In the result, separated centrifugation with histopaque showed the significantly ...
The aims of this study were to (1) verify if significant changes occur in hematological and biochemical parameters in jennies during the last 2 months of pregnancy and the first 2 months of lactation, and (2) determine any differences with mares. Hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated in jennies every 15 days during late pregnancy, parturition, and early lactation. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, analysis of variance for repeated measurements and Tukey's multiple comparison test as post hoc were applied. The significance level was set at P < 0.05. Statistical analysis sho...
Burton AG, Clark KC, Borjesson DL, Carrade DD, Burges J, Owens SD.Volume reduction and RBC depletion of equine bone marrow specimens are necessary processing steps for the immediate therapeutic use of bone marrow (BM)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), and for MSC expansion in culture. Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the ability of the PrepaCyte-CB processing system to reduce volume, deplete RBC, and recover mononuclear cells (MNC) from equine BM specimens. Methods: One hundred and twenty mL of heparinized BM were obtained from each of 90 horses. A CBC was performed on the BM pre- and post-PrepaCyte-CB processing. Volume and RBC reduct...
Escribano BM, Molina A, Valera M, Tovar P, Agüera EI, Santisteban R, Vivo R, Agüera S, Rubio MD.The novel aim of this study was to describe the reference values of different haematological and biochemical parameters in the Spanish purebred horse (Andalusian, SPB) in each of the stages of a programmed exercise on a treadmill system, and to establish heritability and genetic correlations for these haematological and biochemical parameters. For this, 94 young SPB male horses (4.22 ± 2.27 years old) were used. An increasing intensity exercise test at 4, 5, 6 and 7 m/s was carried out on a treadmill (6% inclination). Total red blood cells, total white blood cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes...
The aims of this study were to (1) verify if significant changes occur in hematological and biochemical parameters in jennies during the last 2 months of pregnancy and the first 2 months of lactation, and (2) determine any differences with mares. Hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated in jennies every 15 days during late pregnancy, parturition, and early lactation. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, analysis of variance for repeated measurements and Tukey's multiple comparison test as post hoc were applied. The significance level was set at P < 0.05. Statistical analysis sho...
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;...
Muñoz A, Riber C, Trigo P, Castejón F.In order to assess which laboratorial parameters need specific age- and/or gender-related reference values, hematological and biochemical profiles (including hormones) were performed in 205 Spanish foals of 5 groups: A (1-2 months; 20 fillies, 10 colts), B (2-3 months; 24 fillies, 18 colts), C (3-6 months; 25 fillies, 16 colts), D (6-9 months; 20 fillies, 23 colts) and E (9-12 months; 25 fillies, 15 colts). Additionally, 120 adult horses were sampled in order to establish baseline data for this breed in our laboratory. Group E had lower red blood cell number and mean cell volume than B, C and ...
Williams CA, Kronfeldt DS, Hess TM, Saker KE, Waldron JN, Crandell KM, Hoffman RM, Harris PA.This study tested the development of oxidative stress and the effects of antioxidant supplementation in an 80-km ride. A precompetition survey revealed that no competitor would participate without vitamin E supplementation; therefore, 46 horses were paired for past performances and randomly assigned to two groups of 23 each for 3 wk of supplementation before the ride. One group (E) was orally supplemented with 5,000 IU of vitamin E per day; the other group (E+C) received that dose of vitamin E plus 7 g/d of vitamin C. Blood samples, temperature, and heart rate were taken the day before the rac...
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, ...
Hess TM, Rexford JK, Hansen DK, Harris M, Schauermann N, Ross T, Engle TE, Allen KG, Mulligan CM.The objective of this study was to examine the effects of different sources of dietary omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid supplementation on plasma, red blood cell, and skeletal muscle fatty acid compositions in horses. Twenty-one mares were blocked by age, BW, and BCS and assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments with 7 mares per treatment. Dietary treatments were: 1) control or no fatty acid supplement (CON), 2) 38 g of n-3 long chain, highly unsaturated fatty acid (LCHUFA) supplement/d provided by algae and fish oil (MARINE) containing alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaen...
Bruin G, Kuipers H, Keizer HA, Vander Vusse GJ.To evaluate markers for overtraining, seven male race horses were subjected to 272 days of training consisting of daily exercise bouts of either endurance running (heart rate 140/min) or interval training (maximal heart rate), both increasing in duration and intensity. An incremental exercise test was held every 4 wk, and from day 187 it was held every 2 wk. Muscle glycogen, muscle lactate, energy-rich phosphates, adrenal response to adrenocorticotropic hormone, plasma and red blood cell volumes, and a number of blood chemical variables were measured. The horses showed symptoms of weight loss,...
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 ...
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...
Montgomery JB, Wichtel JJ, Wichtel MG, McNiven MA, McClure JT, Markham F, Horohov DW.The effects of selenium (Se) supplementation and source on equine immune function have not been extensively studied. This study examined the effects of oral Se supplementation and Se source on aspects of innate and adaptive immunity in horses. Fifteen horses were assigned to 1 of 3 groups (5 horses/group): control, inorganic Se (sodium selenite), organic Se (Se yeast). Immune function tests performed included: lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogen concanavalin A, neutrophil phagocytosis, antibody production after rabies vaccination, relative cytokine gene expression in stimulated lym...
Plotka ED, Eagle TC, Gaulke SJ, Tester JR, Siniff DB.Blood was collected from 486 feral horses of mixed sex and age classes captured from three wild horse management areas in Nevada and Oregon from December 1985 to February 1986. Males were significantly outnumbered by females in the Flanigan area, but both sexes were represented in approximately equal numbers in the Wassuk and Beaty's Butte areas. Hematology and chemistry values averaged 16.4 +/- 0.11, 46.3 +/- 0.28, 9.9 +/- 0.07, 6.9 +/- 0.10, 47.1 +/- 0.24, 16.6 +/- 0.09, 35.2 +/- 0.09, 10.4 +/- 0.14 and 23.4 +/- 0.25 for hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), red blood cells (RBC), white blood ...
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...
Speake PF, Gibson JS.The effect of urea and its interactions with oxygen tension (PO2), cell volume and inhibitors of protein phosphatases/kinases (PP/PK) on the K influx into equine red blood cells were studied. K influx was measured using 86Rb as a radioactive tracer for K. As in other species, Cl-dependent K influxes were stimulated by urea, with peak fluxes occurring at about 750 mM. This effect was not mediated via changes in cell volume or following formation of cyanate, the hydrolysis product of urea. Stimulation by urea was prevented by pre-treatment with calyculin A (100 nM) at all urea concentrations tes...
Young LE, Bartram DH, Diamond MJ, Gregg AS, Jones RS.General anaesthesia was maintained in 40 horses by the continuous intravenous infusion of a mixture of 500 ml 10% guaifenesin solution, 1 g ketamine and 500 mg xylazine. The median duration of infusion was 65 mins (interquartile range 51-95 mins). Anaesthesia was characterised by active palpebral reflexes, variable degrees of nystagmus and occasional swallowing. Swallowing was considered to be undesirable in horses undergoing laryngeal surgery, but the infusion produced satisfactory conditions for all other surgical procedures performed. Arterial blood pressure was well maintained in all cases...
Sweeney CR, Russell GE.To examine total protein concentration and cell counts of sequentially collected samples of CSF to determine whether blood contamination decreases in subsequent samples and whether formulas used to correct nucleated cell count and total protein concentration are accurate. Methods: Case series. Methods: 22 horses. Methods: For each horse, 3 or 4 sequential 2-ml samples of CSF were collected from the subarachnoid space in the lumbosacral region into separate syringes, and blood was obtained from the jugular vein. Total protein concentration, nucleated cell count, and RBC counts were determined i...
Walton RM, Brown DE, Hamar DW, Meador VP, Horn JW, Thrall MA.Transient echinocytosis has been reported in association with snake envenomation in humans and dogs. An in vitro model of echinocytosis induced by venom of crotalus atrox (western diamondback rattlesnake) was established to characterize erythrocyte morphologic changes and to investigate potential mechanisms of echinocytic transformation. Erythrocyte morphologic changes produced after the addition of venom to canine, feline, equine, and human blood were characterized by dose-dependent echinocytosis. Type III echinocytosis were consistently induced in vitro at a dose comparable to in vivo enveno...
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...
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...
Valdéz-Cruz MP, Hernández-Gil M, Galindo-Rodríguez L, Alonso-Díaz MA.The east coast of Veracruz, Mexico, has an important equine population used for working in rural production systems. The objectives of this study were (1) to calculate the prevalence of tropical working equids (donkeys, mules and horses) infected with gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) and the GINs involved, and (2) to measure the body condition score (BCS) and haematological values for each working equid and its relationship with faecal worm egg count (EPG). One hundred and forty working equids were randomly selected from five different villages along the central coast of the state of Veracruz...
Wilson JW, Stevens JB.Data were obtained from 190 cerebrospinal fluid samples collected from both clinically normal and diseased dogs, cats, cows, and horses. Red blood cells, indicating blood contamination, were identified in 115 samples. White blood cells were a rare finding in normal animals. Blood contamination appeared to have little effect on white blood cell numbers even though, in several samples, thousands of red blood cells were identified. An accepted formula to correct for blood contamination was found to be an unreliable method to determine "uncontaminated" values for white blood cells, total protein, ...
Arai T, Takahashi M, Araki K, Washizu T.The activities of the enzymes related to the malate-aspartate shuttle, which convert cytosolic NADH into mitochondrial NADH, were measured in red and white blood cells from thoroughbred horses undergoing continuous training (race horses) and compared with those in blood cells from riding horses. The activities of malate dehydrogenase (MDH), a rate-limiting enzyme for the malate-aspartate shuttle, were significantly elevated in the white blood cells (WBC) from race horses compared with those from riding horses. There were no significant differences in the activities of the enzymes in the red bl...
Mills PC, Smith NC, Harris RC, Harris P.Allopurinol was administered to six horses in a cross-over study to determine the relative contribution of xanthine oxidase (XO) activity to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the horse during intense exercise. Exercise increased the mean (SEM) plasma lipid hydroperioxide concentration to a maximum of 492.7 (33.4) microM within one minute of exercise completion and maximum levels of both oxidised glutathione (GSSG) in haemolysates of red blood cells and the glutathione redox ratio (GRR) occurred 20 minutes after exercise (87.2 [12.2] microM and 8.9 [0.9] per cent, respectively)....
Langsetmo I, Meyer MR, Erickson HH.Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) is characterised by blood in the airways after strenuous exercise and results from stress failure of the pulmonary capillaries. The purpose of this experiment was to establish a threshold value of transmural pulmonary arterial pressure at which haemorrhage occurs in the exercising horse. Five geldings, age 4-14 years, were run in random order once every 2 weeks at 1 of 4 speeds (9, 11, 13, 15 m/s); one day with no run was used as a control. Heart rate, pulmonary arterial pressure and oesophageal pressure were recorded for the duration of the run. T...
Pösö AR, Essén-Gustavsson B, Persson SG.Plasma concentrations of lactate, amino acids, ammonia and products of purine catabolism were studied before, during and after a standardised incremental exercise test in 29 Standardbred trotters admitted to the clinic for exercise tolerance testing. According to their red cell volume the horses were divided into red cell normovolaemic and red cell hypervolaemic (polycythaemic) groups. The exercise-response curve for taurine differed significantly in the two groups, whereas all the other amino acids behaved similarly. The [branched-chain amino acid]/[alanine] ratio, a proposed indicator for th...
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...
Gerhards H.Low dose calcium heparin was administered subcutaneously at 12 hourly intervals to six healthy horses at an initial dose of 150 iu of heparin/kg bodyweight (bwt) and at a maintenance dose of 120 iu/kg bwt. All injections were given at 0900 and 2100 h. Blood samples for monitoring plasma heparin concentrations were obtained prior to, at 2 hourly intervals for 84 h (treatment period), and at Hours 24, 32, 48 and 96 of the control period. Blood samples for monitoring red blood cell (RBC) mass, plasma antithrombin III activity (AT III), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and thrombin ti...
Martel P, Calmettes P, Hennion B.Equine red blood cells were washed in saline heavy water (2H2O) to exchange the hydrogen atoms of the non-hemoglobin components with deuterons. This led to novel neutron scattering measurements of protein vibrations within a cellular system and permitted a comparison with inelastic neutron scattering measurements on purified horse hemoglobin, either dry or wetted with 2H2O. As a function of wavevector transfer Q and the frequency transfer v the neutron response typified by the dynamic structure factor S(Q, v) was found to be similar for extracted and cellular hemoglobin at low and high tempera...
